diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:47:16 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:47:16 -0700 |
| commit | 96f5e2b2f650ccddbe7a95b4125a05dc438ca194 (patch) | |
| tree | b5194f06659b00d066e27a678b50450f13164ee8 /22120-0.txt | |
Diffstat (limited to '22120-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 22120-0.txt | 31144 |
1 files changed, 31144 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/22120-0.txt b/22120-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..928e18d --- /dev/null +++ b/22120-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,31144 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Chaucer’s Works, Volume 4 (of 7) — The +Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Chaucer’s Works, Volume 4 (of 7) — The Canterbury Tales + +Author: Geoffrey Chaucer + +Editor: Walter Skeat + +Release Date: July 22, 2007 [eBook #22120] +[Most recently updated: April 29, 2021] + +Language: Middle English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Jonathan Ingram, Keith Edkins and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +Revised by Richard Tonsing. + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHAUCER’S WORKS, VOLUME 4 *** + + + + +HENRY FROWDE, M.A. +PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD +LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK + + * * * * * + + +THE COMPLETE WORKS + +OF + +GEOFFREY CHAUCER + +_EDITED, FROM NUMEROUS MANUSCRIPTS_ + +BY THE + +REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A. + +LITT.D., LL.D., D.C.L., PH.D. +ELRINGTON AND BOSWORTH PROFESSOR OF ANGLO-SAXON +AND FELLOW OF CHRIST’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE + +* * * * + +THE CANTERBURY TALES: TEXT + + ‘Let every felawe telle his tale aboute, + And lat see now who shal the soper winne.’ + _The Knightes Tale;_ A 890 + +SECOND EDITION + +Oxford + +AT THE CLARENDON PRESS + +M DCCCC + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration: _Frontispiece_. CAMBRIDGE MS. (Gg. 4. 27). Prol. 326-342] + +Oxford +PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS +BY HORACE HART, M.A., +PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY + +[v] + + * * * * * + + +CONTENTS + +INTRODUCTION.—§ 1. The Present Text. § 2. The MSS.—I. In the British +Museum. II. In Oxford. III. In Cambridge. IV. In other Public Libraries. V. +In private hands. § 3. The Printed Editions. § 4. Plan of the present +Edition. § 5. Table of symbols denoting MSS. § 6. Table showing various +ways of numbering the lines. § 7. The four types of MSS. + + THE CANTERBURY TALES + + GROUP A. THE PROLOGUE + THE KNIGHTES TALE + THE MILLER’S PROLOGUE + THE MILLERES TALE + THE REEVE’S PROLOGUE + THE REVES TALE + THE COOK’S PROLOGUE + THE COKES TALE + + GROUP B. INTRODUCTION TO THE MAN OF LAW’S PROLOGUE + MAN OF LAW’S PROLOGUE + THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE + THE SHIPMAN’S PROLOGUE + THE SHIPMANNES TALE + THE PRIORESS’S PROLOGUE + THE PRIORESSES TALE + PROLOGUE TO SIR THOPAS + SIR THOPAS + PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS + THE TALE OF MELIBEUS + THE MONK’S PROLOGUE + THE MONKES TALE:—Lucifer; Adam; Sampson; Hercules; + Nabugodonosor; Balthasar; Cenobia; De Petro Rege Ispannie; + De Petro Rege De Cipro; De Barnabo de Lumbardia; + De Hugelino Comite de Pize; Nero; De Oloferno; + De Rege Anthiocho; De Alexandro; De Iulio Cesare; Cresus + [vi] + THE PROLOGUE OF THE NONNE PRESTES TALE + THE NONNE PRESTES TALE + EPILOGUE TO THE NONNE PRESTES TALE + + GROUP C. THE PHISICIENS TALE + WORDS OF THE HOST + PROLOGUE OF THE PARDONERS TALE + THE PARDONERS TALE + + GROUP D. THE WIFE OF BATH’S PROLOGUE + THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATHE + THE FRIAR’S PROLOGUE + THE FRERES TALE + THE SOMNOUR’S PROLOGUE + THE SOMNOURS TALE + + GROUP E. THE CLERK’S PROLOGUE + THE CLERKES TALE + THE MERCHANT’S PROLOGUE + THE MARCHANTES TALE + EPILOGUE TO THE MARCHANTES TALE + + GROUP F. THE SQUIERES TALE + WORDS OF THE FRANKLIN + THE FRANKLIN’S PROLOGUE + THE FRANKELEYNS TALE + + GROUP G. THE SECONDE NONNES TALE + THE CANON’S YEOMAN’S PROLOGUE + THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE + + GROUP H. THE MANCIPLE’S PROLOGUE + THE MAUNCIPLES TALE + + GROUP I. THE PARSON’S PROLOGUE + THE PERSONES TALE + + APPENDIX TO GROUP A. The Tale of Gamelyn + +[vii] + + * * * * * + + +INTRODUCTION + +§ 1. THE PRESENT TEXT. + +The text of the ‘Canterbury Tales,’ as printed in the present volume, is an +entirely new one, owing nothing to the numerous printed editions which have +preceded it. The only exceptions to this statement are to be found in the +case of such portions as have been formerly edited, for the Clarendon +Press, by Dr. Morris and myself. The reasons for the necessity of a +formation of an absolutely new text will appear on a perusal of the text +itself, as compared with any of its predecessors. + +On the other hand, it owes everything to the labours of Dr. Furnivall for +the Chaucer Society, but for which no satisfactory results could have been +obtained, except at the cost of more time and toil than I could well devote +to the subject. In other words, my work is entirely founded upon the +splendid ‘Six-text’ Edition published by that Society, supplemented by the +very valuable reprint of the celebrated ‘Harleian’ manuscript in the same +series. These Seven Texts are all exact reproductions of seven important +MSS., and are, in two respects, more important to the student than the MSS. +themselves; that is to say, they can be studied simultaneously instead of +separately, and they can be consulted and re-consulted at any moment, being +always accessible. The importance of such opportunities is obvious. + +§ 2. THE MANUSCRIPTS. + +The following list contains all the MSS. of the existence of which I am +aware. As to their types, see § 7. [viii] + +I. MSS. IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. + +1. Harl. 7334; denoted here by HL. By Tyrwhitt called ‘C.’ A MS of the +B-type (see below). Printed in full for the Chaucer Society, 1885. Collated +throughout. + + A MS. of great importance, but difficult to understand or describe. For + the greater clearness, I shall roughly describe the MSS. as being of + the A-type, the B-type, the C-type, and the D-type (really a second + C-type). Of the A-type, the best example is the Ellesmere MS.; of the + B-type, the best example is the Harleian MS. 7334; of the C-type, the + Corpus and Lansdowne MSS.; the D-type is that exhibited by Caxton and + Thynne in the early printed editions. They may be called the + ‘Ellesmere,’ ‘Harleian,’ ‘Corpus,’ and ‘Caxton’ types respectively. + These types differ as to the arrangement of the Tales, and even MSS. of + a similar type differ slightly, in this respect, among themselves. They + also frequently differ as to certain characteristic readings, although + many of the variations of reading are peculiar to one or two MSS. only. + + MS. Hl. contains the best copy of the Tale of Gamelyn, for which see p. + 645; this Tale is not found in MSS. of the A-type. Moreover, Group G + here precedes Group C and a large part of Group B, whereas in the + Ellesmere MS. it follows them. In the Monk’s Tale, the lines numbered B + 3565-3652 (containing the Tales called the ‘modern instances’) + immediately follow B 3564 (as in this edition), whereas in the + Ellesmere MS. these lines come at the end of the Tale. + + The ‘various readings’ of this MS. are often peculiar, and it is + difficult to appraise them. I take them to be of two kinds: (i) + readings which are better than those of the Six-text, and should + certainly be preferred, such as _halfe_ in A 8, _cloysterlees_ in A + 179, _a_ (not _a ful_) in A 196, and the like; and (2) readings due to + a terrible blundering on the part of the scribe, such as _fleyng_ for + _flikeringe_ in A 1962, _greene_ for _kene_ in A 1966, and the like. It + is, in fact, a most dangerous MS. to trust to, unless constantly + corrected by others, and is not at all fitted to be taken as the + _basis_ of a text. For further remarks, see the description of Wright’s + printed edition at p. xvi. + + As regards age, this MS. is one of the oldest; and it is beautifully + written. Its chief defect is the loss of eight leaves, so that ll. + 617-1223 in Group F are missing. It also misses several lines in + various places; as A 2013-8, 2958, 3721-2, 4355, 4358, 4375-6, 4415-22; + B 417, 1186-90, 1355, 1376-9, 1995, 3213-20, 4136-7, 4479-80; C 299, + 300, 305-6, 478-9; D 575-584, 605-612, 619-626, 717-720; E 2356-7; F + 1455-6, 1493-8; G 155, 210-216; besides some lines in Melibee and the + Persones Tale. Moreover, it has nine spurious lines, D 2004 _b_, _c_, + 2012 _b_, _c_, 2037 _b_, _c_ 2048 _b_, _c_, F 592. These imperfections + furnish an additional reason for not founding a text upon this MS. + +2. Harl. 7335; by Tyrwhitt called ‘A.’ Of the B-type. Very imperfect, +especially at the end. A few lines are printed in the Six-text edition to +fill up gaps in various MSS., viz. E 1646-7, F 1-8, 1423-4, 1433-4, G 158, +213-4, 326-337, 432-3, 484. Collated so far. + +[ix] 3. Harl. 7333; by Tyrwhitt called ‘E.’ Of the D-type. One of Shirley’s +MSS. Some lines are printed in the Six-text edition, viz. B 4233-8, E +1213-44, F 1147-8, 1567-8, G 156-9, 213-4, 326-337, 432. It also contains +some of the Minor Poems; see the description of MS. ‘Harl.’ in the +Introduction to those poems in vol. i.[1] + +4. Harl. 1758, denoted by HARL. at p. 645; by Tyrwhitt called ‘F.’ In +Urry’s list, i. Of the D-type, but containing Gamelyn. Many lines are +printed in the Six-text, including the whole of ‘Gamelyn.’ It is freely +used to fill up gaps, as B 1-9, 2096-2108, 3049-78, 4112, 4114, 4581-4636, +&c. + +5. Harl. 1239; in Tyrwhitt, ‘I.’ In Urry’s list, ii. Imperfect both at +beginning and end. + +6. Royal 18 C II; denoted by RL.; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B.’ In Urry, vii. Of the +D-type, but containing Gamelyn. Used to fill up gaps in the Six-text; e.g. +in B 1163-1190 (Shipman’s Prologue, called in this MS. the Squire’s +Prologue), 2109-73, 3961-80, E 65, 73, 81, 143, G 1337-40, I 472-511. The +whole of ‘Gamelyn’ is also printed from this MS. in the Six-text. + +7. Royal 17 D xv; in Tyrwhitt, ‘D.’ In Urry, viii. Of the D-type, but +containing Gamelyn. Used to fill up gaps in the Six-text; e.g. in B +2328-61, 3961-80, 4112, 4114, 4233-8, 4637-51, D 609-612, 619-626, 717-720, +E 1213-44, F 1423-4, 1433-4, H 47-52; and in the Tale of Gamelyn. + +8. Sloane 1685; denoted by SL. In Tyrwhitt, ‘G.’ In Urry, iii. Of the +D-type, but containing Gamelyn. In two handwritings, one later than the +other. Imperfect; has no Sir Thopas, Melibee, Manciple, or Parson. Very +frequently quoted in the Six-text, to fill up rather large gaps in the +Cambridge MS.; e.g. A 754-964, 3829-90, 4365-4422, &c. Gamelyn is printed +from this MS. in the Six-text, the gaps in it being filled up from MS. 7 +(above). + +9. Sloane 1686; in Tyrwhitt, ‘H.’ In Urry, iv. Of the C-type; containing +Gamelyn. A late MS., on paper. Imperfect; no Canon’s Yeoman or Parson. + +10. Lansdowne 851; denoted by LN. In Tyrwhitt, ‘W,’ because at that time in +the possession of P. C. Webb, Esq. Used by Mr. Wright to fill up the large +gap in Hl., viz. F 617-1223, and frequently consulted by him and others. +Printed in full as [x] the sixth MS. of the Six-text. Of the C-type; +containing Gamelyn. Not a good MS., being certainly the worst of the six; +but worth printing owing to the frequent use that has been made of it by +editors. + +11. Additional 5140; in Tyrwhitt, ‘Ask. _2_,’ as being one of two MSS. lent +to him by Dr. Askew. It has in it the arms of H. Deane, Archbp. of +Canterbury, 1501-3. Of the A-type. Quoted in the Six-text to fill up gaps; +e.g. B 3961-80, 4233-8, 4637-52, D 2158-2294, E 1213-44, 1646-7, 2419-40, F +1-8, 673-708, G 103, I 887-944, 1044-92. + +12. Additional 25718. A mere fragment. A short passage from it, C 409-427, +is quoted in the Six-text, to fill up a gap in Ln. + +13. Egerton 2726; called the ‘Haistwell MS.’; in Tyrwhitt denoted by ‘HA,’ +and formerly belonging to E. Haistwell, Esq. Of the A-type, but imperfect. +The Six-text quotes F 679, 680: also F 673-708 in the Preface. + +II. MSS. IN OXFORD. + +14. Bodley 686; no. 2527 in Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B α.’ A neat +MS., with illuminations. Of the A-type; imperfect. The latter part of +the Cook’s Tale is on an inserted leaf (leaf 55), and concludes the +Tale in a manner that is not Chaucer’s. After the Canterbury Tales +occur several poems by Lydgate. + +15. Bodley 414; not noticed by Tyrwhitt. Given to the library by B. +Heath in 1766. A late MS. of the D-type, and imperfect. No Cook, +Gamelyn, Squire, or Merchant. + +16. Laud 739: no. 1234 in Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B β.’ A poor +and late MS. of the D-type, but containing Gamelyn; imperfect at the +end; ends with Sir Thopas, down to B 2056. + +17. Laud 600; no. 1476 in Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B γ.’ +Imperfect; several leaves ‘restored.’ Apparently, of the B-type; but +Group D and the Clerk’s Tale follow Gamelyn. Some extracts from it are +given in the Six-text, viz. B 2328-61, D 717-20 (no other Oxford MS. +has these scarce lines), F 673-708. + +18. Arch. Selden B 14; no. 3360 in Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B δ.’ +Perhaps the best and earliest of the Bodleian MSS., but not very good. +Sometimes here quoted as SELD. Apparently of the A-type, having no +copy of Gamelyn; but it practically [xi] represents a transition-state +between the A and B types, and has one correction of prime importance, +as it is the only MS. which links together all the Tales in Group B, +making the Shipman follow the Man of Law. Frequent extracts from it +occur in the Six-text; e.g. A 1-72, B 1163-1190, &c. In particular, a +large portion of the Parson’s Tale, I 290-1086, is printed from this +MS. in the same. + +19. Barlow 20; no. 6420 in Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B ζ’ A clearly +written MS. of the D-type, including Gamelyn; imperfect after Sir +Thopas, but contains a portion of the Manciple’s Tale. It contains +the somewhat rare lines F 679, 680, which are quoted from it in the +Six-text. + +20. Hatton, Donat. 1 (not the same MS. as Hatton 1); no. 4138 in +Bernard’s list; in Tyrwhitt, ‘B ε.’ The Tales are in great disorder, +the Man of Law being thrust in between the Reeve and the Cook, as in no +other MS. It contains Gamelyn. Lines F 679, 680 are quoted from it in +the Six-text; and a few lines are again quoted from it at the end of +the Parson’s Tale. + +21. Rawlinson Poet. 149. Apparently of the D-type, but it is very +imperfect, having lost several leaves in various places. A late MS. + +22. Rawlinson Poet. 141. Not a bad MS., but several Tales are omitted, and +the Shipman follows the Clerk. Groups C and G do not appear at all. The +Latin side-notes are numerous. + +23. Rawlinson Poet. 223; the same as that called Rawl. Misc. 1133 in the +Six-text ‘Trial-table.’ No copy of Gamelyn. The Tales are strangely +misplaced. Slightly imperfect here and there. + +24. Corpus Christi College (Oxford), no. 198; denoted by CP. The best of +the Oxford MSS., printed in full as the fourth MS. in the Six-text edition. +Of the C-type; collated throughout. It contains a copy of Gamelyn, which is +duly printed. It is rather imperfect from the loss of leaves in various +places; the gaps being usually supplied from the Selden MS. (no. 18 above). + +25. Christ Church (Oxford), no. 152. Contains Gamelyn. The Tales are +extraordinarily arranged, but the MS. is nearly perfect, except at the end. +A large part of the Parson’s Tale, after I 550, being lost from the Hengwrt +MS., the gap is supplied, in the Six-text, from this MS. and Addit. 5140. +The Second Nun follows the Shipman. Of the A-type. + +[xii] 26. New College (Oxford), no. 314; called ‘NC’ in Tyrwhitt. Of the +D-type; imperfect at the beginning. No copy of Gamelyn. + +27. Trinity College (Oxford), no. 49; containing 302 leaves; formerly in +the possession of John Leche, temp. Edw. IV. It contains Gamelyn. The Tales +are misplaced; the Pardoner and Man of Law being thrust into the middle of +Group B, after the Prioress. + +III. MSS. AT CAMBRIDGE. + +28. University Library, Gg. 4. 27, not noticed by Tyrwhitt; here denoted by +CM. Also denoted, in vol. iii., by C.; and in vol. i., by GG. A highly +valuable and important MS. of the A-type, printed as the third text in the +Six-text edition. The best copy in any public library. See the description +of ‘Gg.’ in vol. i.; and the full description in the Library Catalogue. + +29. University Library, Dd. 4. 24; in Tyrwhitt, ‘C 1.’ Quoted as DD. A good +MS. of the A-type, much relied upon by Tyrwhitt, who made good use of it. +Has lost several leaves. The whole of the Clerk’s Tale was printed from +this MS. by Mr. Aldis Wright. The passage in B 4637-52 occurs only in this +MS. and a few others, viz. Royal 17 D xv, Addit. 5140, and the Chr. Ch. MS. +It also contains the rare lines D 575-84, 609-12, 619-26, 717-20, all +printed from this MS. in the Six-text. Lines E 1213-44 are also quoted, to +fill a gap in Cm. + +30. University Library, Ii. 3. 26; in Tyrwhitt, ‘C 2.’ Of the D-type, +including Gamelyn; but the Franklin’s Tale is inserted after the Merchant. +Contains many corrupt readings. + +31. University Library, Mm. 2. 5. The arrangement of the Tales is very +unusual, but resembles that in the Petworth MS., than which it is a little +more irregular. A complete MS. of the D-type, including Gamelyn. + +32. Trinity College (Cambridge), R. 3. 15; in Tyrwhitt, ‘Tt.’ In quarto, on +paper. Some leaves are missing, so that the Canon’s Yeoman, Prioress, and +Sir Thopas are lost. Of the D-type, without Gamelyn. + + N.B. This MS. also contains the three poems printed as Chaucer’s + (though not his) in the edition of 1687, and numbered 66, 67, and 68, + in my Account of ‘Speght’s edition’ in vol. i. It also contains the + best MS. of Pierce the Ploughman’s Crede, edited by me from this MS. in + 1867. + +[xiii] 33. Trinity College (Cambridge), R. 3. 3; in Tyrwhitt, ‘T.’ A folio +MS., on vellum; of the D-type, without Gamelyn; but several Tales are +misplaced. + +IV. IN OTHER PUBLIC LIBRARIES. + +34. Sion College, London. A mere fragment, containing only the Clerk’s Tale +and Group D. + +35. Lichfield Cathedral Library; quoted as LICH. or LI. Of the D-type, +omitting Gamelyn. The Tale of Melibee is missing. As the Hengwrt MS. has no +Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale, lines G 554-1481 are printed from this MS. in the +Six-text. + +36. Lincoln Cathedral Library; begins with A 381. Resembles no. 42. + +37. Glasgow; in the Hunterian Museum. Begins with A 353; dated 1476. + +38. MS. at Paris, mentioned by Dr. Furnivall. Of the B-type. + +39. MS. at Naples, mentioned by Dr. Furnivall.[2] + +V. MSS. IN PRIVATE HANDS. + +These include some of the very best. + +40. The ‘Ellesmere’ MS., in the possession of the Earl of Ellesmere; +denoted by E. It formerly belonged to the Duke of Bridgewater, and +afterwards to the Marquis of Stafford. The finest and best of all the MSS. +now extant. Of the A-type; printed as the first of the MSS. in the +Six-text, and taken as the basis of the present edition. + + It contains the curious coloured drawings of 23 of the Canterbury + Pilgrims which have been reproduced for the Chaucer Society. At the end + of the MS. is a valuable copy of Chaucer’s Balade of ‘Truth’; see vol. + i. At the beginning of the MS., in a later hand, are written two poems + printed in Todd’s Illustrations of Gower, &c., pp. 295-309, which Todd + absurdly attributed to Chaucer! They are of slight value or interest. + It may suffice to say that, at the beginning of the former poem, we + find _revyved_ rimed with _meved_, and many of the lines in it are too + long; e.g.—‘I supposed yt to have been some noxiall fantasy.’ In the + latter poem, a compliment to the family of Vere, _by_ rimes with + _auncestrye_, and _quarter_ with _hereafter_; and the lines are of + similar over-length, e.g.—‘Of whom prophesyes of antiquite makyth + mencion.’ + +41. The ‘Hengwrt’ MS., no. 154, belonging to Mr. Wm. W. E. Wynne, of +Peniarth; denoted by HN. A valuable MS.; [xiv] it is really of the A-type, +though the Tales are strangely misplaced, and the Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale is +missing. The readings frequently agree so closely with those of E. (no. 40) +that it is, to some extent, almost a duplicate of it. Printed as the second +MS. in the Six-text. It also contains Chaucer’s Boethius (imperfect). + +42. The ‘Petworth’ MS., belonging to Lord Leconfield; denoted by PT. A +folio MS., on vellum, of high value. Formerly in the possession of the Earl +of Egremont (Todd’s Illustrations, p. 118). Of the D-type, including +Gamelyn; but the Shipman and Prioress wrongly precede the Man of Law. +Printed as the fifth MS. in the Six-text. + +43. The ‘Holkham’ MS., noted by Todd (Illustrations, p. 127) as then +belonging to Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, and now belonging to the Earl of +Leicester. The Tales are out of order; perhaps the leaves are misarranged. +Imperfect in various places; has no Parson’s Tale. + +44. The ‘Helmingham’ MS., at Helmingham Hall, Suffolk, belonging to Lord +Tollemache. On paper and vellum; about 1460 A.D. For a specimen, see the +Shipman’s Prologue, printed in the Six-text, in the Preface, p. ix*. Either +of the C-type or the D-type. + +45-48. Four MSS. in the collection of the late Sir Thos. Phillipps, at +Cheltenham, viz. nos. 6570, 8136, 8137, 8299. + + Two of these are mentioned in Todd’s Illustrations, p. 127, as being + ‘now [in 1810] in the collection of John P. Kemble, Esq., and in that + belonging to the late Duke of Roxburghe; the latter is remarkably + beautiful, and is believed to have been once the property of Sir Henry + Spelman.’ No. 8299 contains the Clerk’s Tale only. + +49-52. Four MSS. belonging to the Earl of Ashburnham; numbered 124-127 in +the Appendix. Of these, no. 124 wants the end of the Man of Law’s Tale and +the beginning of the Squire’s, and therefore belongs to either the C-type +or D-type. Nos. 125 and 126 are imperfect. No. 127 seems to be complete. + +53. A MS. belonging to the Duke of Devonshire, at Chatsworth; and formerly +to Sir N. L’Estrange. (Of the A-type.) + +54. A MS. belonging to Sir Henry Ingilby, of Ripley Castle, Yorkshire. (Of +the A-type.) + +55. A MS. belonging to the Duke of Northumberland, at Alnwick; and formerly +to Mrs. Thynne. (Of the A-type.) + +[xv] 56. A MS. now (in 1891) in the possession of Lady Cardigan. + +57-59. Tyrwhitt uses the symbol ‘Ask. 1’ to denote a MS. lent to him by the +late Dr. Askew. He also uses the symbols ‘Ch.’ and ‘N.’ to denote ‘two MSS. +described in the Preface to Urry’s edition, the one as belonging to Chas. +Cholmondeley, Esq. of Vale Royal, in Cheshire, and the other to Mr. Norton, +of Southwick, in Hampshire.’ Of these, ‘Ch.’ is now Lord Delamere’s MS., +described by Dr. Furnivall in Notes and Queries, 4 Ser. ix. 353. The others +I cannot trace. + +§ 3. THE PRINTED EDITIONS. + +In the first five editions, the Canterbury Tales were published separately. + +1. Caxton; about 1477-8, from a poor MS. Copies are in the British Museum, +Merton College, and in the Pepysian Library (no. 2053). + +2. Caxton; about 1483, from a better MS. A perfect copy exists in St. +John’s College Library, Oxford. Caxton bravely issued this new edition +because he had found that his former one was faulty. + +3. Pynson; about 1493. Copied from Caxton’s 2nd edition. + +4. Wynkyn de Worde; in 1498. In the British Museum. + +5. Pynson; in 1526. Copied from Caxton’s 2nd edition. + +After this the Canterbury Tales were invariably issued with the rest of +Chaucer’s Works, until after 1721. Some account of these editions is given +in the Preface to the Minor Poems, in vol. i.; which see. They are: +Thynne’s three editions, in 1532, 1542, and 1550 (the last is undated); +Stowe’s edition, 1561; Speght’s editions, in 1598, 1602, and 1687; Urry’s +edition, in 1721. + +Two modernised editions of the Canterbury Tales were published in London in +1737 or 1740, and in 1741. + +Next came: ‘Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, to which is added, an Essay on his +Language and Versification; an introductory discourse; notes, and a +glossary. By Thomas Tyrwhitt, London, 1775-8, 8vo, 5 vols.’ A work of high +literary value, to which I am greatly indebted for many necessary notes. +Reprinted in 1798 in 4to, 2 vols., by the University of Oxford; and again, +at London, in 1822, in post 8vo, 5 vols.; (by Pickering) in 1830, 8vo, 5 +vols.; [xvi] and (by Moxon) in 1845, in 1 vol. imp. 8vo. The last of these +adds poor texts of the rest of Chaucer’s Works, from old black-letter +editions, with which Tyrwhitt had nothing to do. In Tyrwhitt’s text, the +number of grammatical errors is very large, and he frequently introduces +words into the text without authority. For some account of the later +editions of Chaucer’s Works, see the Introduction to the Legend of Good +Women, in vol. iii. I may note, by the way, that the editions by Wright, +Bell, and Morris are all founded on MS. Harl. 7334, a very unsafe MS. in +some respects; see p. viii (above). + + It is necessary to add here a few words of warning. Wright’s edition, + though it has many merits, turns out, in practice, to be dangerously + untrustworthy. He frequently inserts words, borrowed from Tyrwhitt’s + edition (which he heartily condemns as being full of errors in + grammar), without the least indication that they are _not in the MS._ + This becomes the more serious when we find, upon examination, that + Tyrwhitt had likewise no authority for some of such insertions, but + simply introduced them, by guess, to fill up a line in a way that + pleased him. For example, A 628 runs thus, in all the seven MSS.:— + + ‘Of his visage children were aferd.’ It is quite correct; for ‘viság-e’ + is trisyllabic. Tyrwhitt did not know this, and counted the syllables + as _two_ only, neglecting the final _e_. The line seemed then too short; + so he inserted _sore_ before _aferd_, thus ruining the scansion. Wright + follows suit, and inserts _sore_, though it is not in his MS.; giving + no notice at all of what he has done. Bell follows suit, and the word + is even preserved in Morris; but the latter prints the word in italics, + to shew that it is not in the MS. Nor is it in the Six-text. + + I shall not adduce more instances, but shall content myself with saying + that, until the publications of the Chaucer Society appeared, no reader + had the means of knowing what the best MS. texts were really like. All + who have been accustomed to former (complete) editions have necessarily + imbibed hundreds of false impressions, and have necessarily accepted + numberless theories as to the scansion of lines which they will, in + course of due time, be prepared to abandon. In the course of my work, + it has been made clear to me that Chaucer’s text has been manipulated + and sophisticated, frequently in most cunning and plausible ways, to a + far greater extent than I could have believed to be possible. This is + not a pleasant subject, and I only mention it for the use of scholars. + Such variations fortunately seldom affect the sense; but they vitiate + the scansion, the grammar, and the etymology in many cases. Of course + it will be understood that I am saying no more than I can fully + substantiate. + + It is absolutely appalling to read such a statement as the following in + Bell’s edition, vol. i. p. 60. ‘All deviations, either from Mr. + Wright’s edition, or from the original MS., are pointed out in the + footnotes for the ultimate satisfaction of the reader.’ For the + instances in which this is really done are very rare indeed, in spite + of the large number of such deviations. + + Of Tyrwhitt’s text, it is sufficient to remark that it was hardly + possible, at [xvii] that date, for a better text to have been produced. + The rules of Middle English grammar had not been formulated, so that we + are not surprised to find that he constantly makes the past tense of a + weak verb monosyllabic, when it should be dissyllabic, and treats the + past participle as dissyllabic, when it should be monosyllabic: which + makes wild work with the scansion. It is also to be regretted that he + based his text upon the faulty black-letter editions, though he took a + great deal of pains in collating them with various MSS. + + On the other hand, his literary notes are full of learning and + research; and the number of admirable illustrations by which he has + efficiently elucidated the text is very great. His reputation as one of + the foremost of our literary critics is thoroughly established, and + needs no comment. + + Mr. Wright’s notes are likewise excellent, and resulted from a wide + reading. I have also found some most useful hints in the notes to + Bell’s edition. Of all such sources of information I have been only too + glad to avail myself, as is more fully shewn in the succeeding volume. + +§ 4. PLAN OF THE PRESENT EDITION. + +The text of the present edition of the Canterbury Tales is founded upon +that of the Ellesmere MS. (E.) It has been collated throughout with that of +the other six MSS. published by the Chaucer Society. Of these seven MSS., +the Harleian MS. 7334 (Hl.) was printed separately. The other six were +printed in the valuable ‘Six-text’ edition, to which I constantly have +occasion to refer, in parallel columns. The six MSS. are: E. (Ellesmere), +Hn. (Hengwrt), Cm. (Cambridge, Gg. 4. 27), Cp. (Corpus Coll., Oxford), Pt. +(Petworth), and Ln. (Lansdowne). MSS. E. Hn. Cm. represent the earliest +type (A) of the text; Hl., a transitional type (B); Cp. and Ln., a still +later type (C); and Pt., the latest of all (D), but hardly differing from +C. + +In using these terms, ‘earliest,’ &c., I do not refer to the age of the +MSS., but to the type of text which they exhibit. + +In the list of MSS. given above, Hl. is no. 1; E., Hn., Cm., are nos. 40, +41, and 28; and Cp., Pt., Ln., are nos. 24, 42, and 10 respectively. + +Of all the MSS., E. is the best in nearly every respect. It not only gives +good lines and good sense, but is also (usually) grammatically accurate and +thoroughly well spelt. The publication of it has been a very great boon to +all Chaucer students, for which Dr. Furnivall will be ever gratefully +remembered. We must not omit, at the same time, to recognise the liberality +and generosity of the owner of the MS., who so freely permitted such full +use of it to be made; the same remark applies, equally, to the [xviii] +owners of the Hengwrt and the Petworth MSS. The names of the Earl of +Ellesmere, Mr. Wm. W. E. Wynne of Peniarth, and Lord Leconfield have +deservedly become as ‘familiar as household words’ to many a student of +Chaucer. + +This splendid MS. has also the great merit of being complete, requiring no +supplement from any other source, except in the few cases where a line or +two has been missed. For example, it does not contain A 252 _b-c_ (found in +Hn. only); nor A 2681-2 (also not in Hn. or Cm.); nor B 1163-1190 (also not +in Hn. or Cm.); nor B 1995 (very rare indeed). + +It is slightly imperfect in B 2510, 2514, 2525, 2526, 2623-4, 2746, 2967. +It drops B 3147-8, C 103-4, C 297-8 (not in Hn. Cm. Pt.), E 1358-61, G +564-5; and has a few defects in the Parson’s Tale in I 190, 273, &c. In the +Tale of Melibeus, the French original shews that _all_ the MSS. have lost B +2252-3, 2623-4, which have to be supplied by translation. + +None of the seven MSS. have B 4637-4652; these lines are genuine, but were +probably meant to be cancelled. They only occur, to my knowledge, in four +MSS., nos. 7, 11, 25, and 29; though found also in the old black-letter +editions. + +On the other hand, E. preserves lines rarely found elsewhere. Such are A +3155-6, 3721-2, F 1455-6, 1493-9; twelve genuine lines, none of which are +in Tyrwhitt, and only the first two are in Wright. Observe also the stanza +in the footnote to p. 424; with which compare B 3083, on p. 241. + +The text of the Ellesmere MS. has only been corrected in cases where +careful collation suggests a desirable improvement. Every instance of this +character is invariably recorded in the footnotes. Thus, in A 8, the +grammar and scansion require _half-e_, not _half_; though, curiously +enough, this correct form appears in Hl. only, among all the seven MSS. In +very difficult cases, other MSS. (besides the seven) have been collated, +but I have seldom gained much by it. The chief additional MSS. thus used +are Dd.= Cambridge, Dd. 4. 24 (no. 29 above); Slo. or Sl. = Sloane 1685 +(no. 8); Roy. or Rl. = Royal 18 C 2 (no. 6); Harl. = Harleian 1758 (see p. +645); Li. or Lich. = Lichfield MS. (no. 35), for the Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale; +and others that are sufficiently indicated. + +I have paid especial attention to the suffixes required by Middle-English +grammar, to the scansion, and to the pronunciation; and I suppose that this +is the first complete edition in which the [xix] spelling has been tested +by phonetic considerations. With a view to making the spelling a little +clearer and more consistent, I have ventured to adopt certain methods which +I here explain. + +In certain words of variable spelling in E., such as _whan_ or _whanne, +than_ or _thanne_, I have adopted that form which the scansion requires; +but the MS. is usually right. + +E. usually has _hise_ for _his_ with a plural sb., as in l. 1; I use _his_ +always, except in prose. E. has _hir, here_, for her, their; I use _hir_ +only, except at the end of a line. + +E. uses the endings _-ight_ or _-yght_, _-inde_ or _-ynde_; I use _-ight_ +_-inde_ only; and, in general, I use _i_ to represent short _i_, and _y_ to +represent long _i_, as in _king, wyf_. Such is the usual habit of the +scribe, but he often changes _i_ into _y_ before _m_ and _n_, to make his +writing clearer; such a precaution is needless in modern printing. Thus, in +l. 42, I replace the scribe’s _bigynne_ by _biginne_; and in l. 78, I +replace his _pilgrymage_ by _pilgrimage_. This makes the text easier to +read. + +For a like reason, where equivalent spellings occur, I select the simpler; +writing _couthe_ (as in Pt.) for _kowthe_, _sote_ for _soote_, _sege_ for +_seege_, and so on. In words such as _our_ or _oure_, _your_ or _youre_, +_hir_ or _hire_, _neuer_ or _neuere_, I usually give the simpler forms, +without the final _-e_, when the _-e_ is obviously silent. + +For consonantal _u_, as in _neuer_, I write _v_, as in _never_. This is +usual in all editions. But I could not bring myself to use _j_ for _i_ +consonant; the anachronism is too great. _Never_ for _neuer_ is common in +the fifteenth century, but _j_ does not occur even in the first folio of +Shakespeare. I therefore usually keep the capital _i_ of the MSS. and of +the Elizabethan printers, as in _Ioye_ (=_joye_) where initial, and the +small _i_, as in _enioinen_=_enjoinen_) elsewhere. Those who dislike such +conservatism may be comforted by the reflection that the sound rarely +occurs. + +The word _eye_ has to be altered to _yë_ at the end of a line, to preserve +the rimes. The scribes usually write _eye_ in the middle of a line, but +when they come to it at the end of one, they are fairly puzzled. In l. 10, +the scribe of Hn. writes _Iye_, and that of Ln. writes _yhe_; and the +variations on this theme are most curious. The spelling _ye_ (=_yë_) is, +however, common; as in A 1096 (Cm., Pt.). I print it ‘yë’ to distinguish it +from _ye_, the pl. pronoun. + +These minute variations are, I trust, legitimate, and I have not recorded +them. They cause trouble to the editor, but afford ease [xx] to the reader, +which seems a sufficient justification for adopting them. But the +scrupulous critic need not fear that the MS. has been departed from in any +case, where it could make any phonetic difference, without due notice. +Thus, in l. 9, where I have changed _foweles_ into _fowles_ as being a more +usual form, the fact that _foweles_ is the Ellesmere spelling is duly +recorded in the footnotes. And so in other cases. + +The footnotes do not record various readings where E. is correct as it +stands; they have purposely been made as concise as possible. It would have +been easy to multiply them fourfold without giving much information of +value; this is not unfrequently done, but the gain is slight. With so good +a MS. as the basis of the text, it did not seem desirable. + + The following methods for shortening the footnotes have been adopted. + + 1. Sometimes only the readings of _some_ of the MSS. are given. Thus at + l. 9 (p. 1), I omit the readings of Cp. and of Cm. As a fact, neither + of these MSS. contain the line; but it was not worth while to take up + space by saying so. At l. 10 (p. 1), I again omit the readings of Cp. + and of Cm., for the same reason; also of Ln., which is a poor MS., + though here it agrees with Hl. (having _yhe_); also of Pt., which has + _eyghe_, a spelling not here to be thought of. At l. 12, I just note + that E. has _pilgrimage_ (by mistake); of course this means that it + should have had _pilgrimages_ in the plural, as in other MSS., and as + required by the rime. + + 2. At l. 23 (p. 2), the remark ‘_rest_ was’ implies that all the rest + of the seven MSS. specially collated have ‘was.’ The word ‘_rest_’ is a + convenient abbreviation. + + 3. When, as at l. 53, I give _nacions_ as a rejected reading of E. in + the footnote, it will be understood that _naciouns_ is a better + spelling, justified by other MSS., and by other lines in E. itself. + E.g., _naciouns_ occurs in Hl. and Pt., and Cm. has _naciounnys_. + + 4. I often use ‘_om._’ for ‘_omit_,’ or ‘_omits_’ as in the footnote to + l. 188 (p. 6). + + 5. At l. 335 (p. 11), I give the footnote:—‘ever] Hl. al.’ This means + that MS. Hl. has _al_ instead of the word _ever_ of the other MSS. It + seemed worth noting; but _ever_ is probably right. + + 6. At l. 520 (p. 16), the note is:—‘_All but_ Hl. this was.’ That is, + Hl. has _was_, as in the text; the rest have _this was_, where the + addition of _this_ sadly clogs the line. + + With these hints, the footnotes present no difficulty. + +As a rule, I have refrained from all emendation; but, in B 1189, I have +ventured to suggest _physices_[3], for reasons explained in the Notes. +Those who prefer the reading _Phislyas_ can adopt it. + +For further details regarding particular passages, I beg leave to refer the +reader to the Notes in vol. v. + +[xxi] + +§ 5. TABLE OF SYMBOLS DENOTING MSS. + +Cm.—Cambridge Univ. Lib. Gg. 4. 27 (Ellesmere type). No. 28 in list. + +Cp.—Carpus Chr. Coll., Oxford, no. 198. No. 24. + +Dd.—Cambridge Univ. Lib. Dd. 4. 24 (Ellesmere type). No. 29. + +E.—Ellesmere MS. (basis of the text). No. 40. + +Harl.—Harl. 1758; Brit. Mus.; see p. 645. No. 4. + +Hl.—Harl. 7334; British Museum. No. 1. + +Hn.—Hengwrt MS. no. 154. No. 41. + +Li. _or_ Lich.—Lichfield MS.; see pp. 533-553. No. 35. + +Ln.—Lansdowne 851; Brit. Mus. (Corpus type). No. 10. + +Pt.—Petworth MS. No. 42. + +Rl. _or_ Roy.—Royal 18 C. II; Brit. Mus.; see p. 645. No. 6. + +Seld.—Arch. Selden, B. 14; Bodleian Library. No. 18. + +Sl. _or_ Slo.—Sloane 1685: Brit. Mus.; see p. 645. No. 8. + +§ 6. TABLE SHEWING THE VARIOUS WAYS OF NUMBERING THE LINES. + + SIX-TEXT (as here) TYRWHITT. WRIGHT. + + A—1-4422 1-4420[4] 1-4420[4] + B—1-1162 4421-5582 4421-5582 + B—1163-2156 12903-13894[5] 14384-15374[6] + B—2157-3078[7] Prose; not counted[8]. Prose; not counted. + B—3079-3564 13895-14380 15375-15860 + B—3565-3652 14685-14772 15861-15948 + [xxii] + B—3653-3956 14381-14684 15949-16262 + B—3957-4652 14773-15468 16253-16932[9] + _Spurious_; see p. 11929-11934 13410-13415 + 289, note. + C—1-968 11935-12902 13416-14383 + D (2294 lines); E 5583-11928[10] 5583-11928 + (2440); F(1624) + G—1-1481 15469-16949 11929-13409 + H—(362); I 1-74 16950-17385 16933-17368 + +Hence, to obtain the order of the lines in Tyrwhitt, see A-B 1162; D, E, F; +p. 289, footnote; C; B 1163-2156, 3079-3564, 3653-3956, 3565-3652, +3957-4652; G, H, I. + +Or (by pages), see pp. 1-164, 320-508, 289 (footnote), 290-319, 165-256 +(which includes Melibeus), 259-268, 256-258, 269-289, 509-end. + +To facilitate reference, the numbering of the lines in Tyrwhitt’s text is +marked at the top of every page, preceded by the letter ‘T.’; lines which +Tyrwhitt omits are marked ‘[T. _om._’, as on p. 90; and his paragraphs (all +numbered in this edition) are carefully preserved in Melibeus and the +Parson’s Tale, which are in prose. In the Prologue, after l. 250, his +numbering is given within marks of parenthesis. + +The lines in every piece are also numbered _separately_, within marks of +parenthesis, as (10), (20), on p. 26. This numbering (borrowed from Dr. +Murray) agrees with the references given in the New English Dictionary. It +also gives, in most cases, either exactly or approximately, the references +to Dr. Morris’s edition, who adopts a similar method, with a few variations +of detail. The lines in Bell’s edition are not numbered at all. + +To obtain the order in Wright’s edition, see pp. 1-164, 320-554, 289 +(footnote), 290-319, 165-289, 555-end. The variations are fewer. + +Some may find it more convenient to observe the names of the Tales. + +[xxiii] Tyrwhitt’s order of the Tales is as follows[11]:—Prologue, Knight, +Miller, Reeve, Cook—Man of Lawe—Wife, Friar, Somnour—Clerk, +Merchant—Squire, Franklin—Doctor (Physician), Pardoner—Shipman, +Prioress, Sir Thopas, Melibeus, Monk[12], Nun’s Priest—Second Nun, Canon’s +Yeoman—Manciple—Parson. + +§7. THE FOUR LEADING TYPES OF THE MSS. + +The four leading types of MSS. usually exhibit a variation in the order of +the Tales, as well as many minor differences. I only note here the former +(omitting Gamelyn, which is absent from MSS. of the A-type, and from some +of the D-type). + + A.—1. Prologue, Knight, Miller, Reeve, Cook. + 2. Man of Lawe. + 3. Wife of Bath, Friar, Sompnour. + 4. Clerk, Merchant. + 5. Squire, Franklin. + 6. Doctor, Pardoner. + 7. Shipman, Prioress, Sir Thopas, Melibeus, Monk, Nun’s Priest. + 8. Second Nun, Canon’s Yeoman. + 9. Manciple, (_slightly linked to_) Parson. + + B.—Places 8 before 6. Order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 6, 7, 9. + + C.—Not only places 8 before 6 (as B), but splits 5 into 5 _a_ + (Squire) and 5 _b_ (Franklin), and places 5 _a_ before 3. Order: 1, + 2, 5 _a_, 3, 4, 5 _b_, 8, 6, 7, 9. + + D.—As C, but further splits 4 into 4 _a_ (Clerk), and 4 _b_ + (Merchant), and places 4 _b_ after 5 _a_. Order: 1, 2, 5 _a_, 4 b, 3, 4 _a_, + 5 _b_, 8, 6, 7, 9. (D. is really a mere variety of C., with an external + difference.) + +Observe the position of the Franklin. Thus: A. Squire, Franklin, Doctor. B. +Squire, Franklin, Second Nun. C. Merchant, Franklin, Second Nun. D. Clerk, +Franklin, Second Nun. + +For further remarks on this subject, see vol. v. + +[xxiv] ERRATA + + N.B. The following are all the Errata that I have observed. Those + marked with an asterisk should be noticed. The rest are unimportant. + + P. 14. A 467. Perhaps the full stop at the end of the line should be a + colon. + + P. 15. Footnote to A 503. For ‘Hl. _alone_’ _read_ ‘Tyrwhitt.’ + + P. 85. A 3016. _For_ eye _read_ yë + + *P. 110. A 3822. _For_ celle _read_ selle + + *P. 131. B 59, 60. _For_ eek _and_ seek _read_ eke _and_ seke + + P. 133. B 115. Insert marks of quotation at the beginning and end of + the line. + + P. 133. B 120, 121. Insert marks of quotation at the beginning of l. + 120 and at the end of l. 121. + + P. 134. In the headline; _for_ T. 4454 _read_ T. 4554. + + P. 146. B 540, 541, 547. _For_ cristen _read_ Cristen + + P. 146. B 544 _For_ cristianitee _read_ Cristianitee. So also at p. + 525; G 535. + + P. 194. B 2043. _Dele_; _after_ spicerye + + P. 202. B 2222. _For_ yevynge _read_ yevinge + + P. 205. B 2253. _For_ owe _read_ ow + + P. 207. B 2303. _For_ se _read_ see + + P. 219, footnotes. _For_ 2251 and 2252 _read_ 2551 and 2552 + + *P. 222. B 2624. _For_ Iurisdicctioun _read_ Iurisdiccioun + + P. 232, ll. 9, 10. _Dele the quotation-mark after_ certeyne, _and + insert it after_ another. + + *P. 245. B 3230. _For_ my _read_ ny + + *P. 253. B 3490. _For_ warre _read_ werre + + P. 271. B 4011. _For_ stope _a better reading is_ stape + + P. 285. B 4510. _For_ charitee _perhaps read_ Charitee + + P. 285. B 4541. _For_ chide _read_ chyde + + P. 299. C 291. _Either read_ advocas, _or note that the_ t _in_ + advocats _is silent_. + + *P. 309. C 601. _For_ opinoun _read_ opinioun + + P. 318. C 955. _For_ Thay _read_ They + + P. 338. In the headline; _for_ 6225 _read_ 6235. + + P. 339. In the headline; for 6226 _read_ 6236. + + P. 344. D 846. _For_ But if _read_ But-if + + P. 345. D 859. _For_ All _read_ Al + + P. 354. Footnotes; last line. _For_ 1205 _read_ 1204 + + P. 355. D 1219, 1227. _For_ Chese _and_ chese _read_ Chees _and_ chees. + + P. 363. D 1436. _For_ But if _read_ But-if + + P. 387. D 2242. _Perhaps insert a comma after_ himself + + P. 419. E 994. _For_ gouernance _read_ governance + + P. 428. E 1304, 1306. Insert quotation-mark at the end of l. 1304, + instead of the end of l. 1306. + + P. 438. E 1635. _For_ Saue _read_ Save + + P. 444. E 1866. _Insert_ Auctor _opposite this line_. + + P. 449. E 2058. _For_ scorpion _read_ scorpioun; _as the last syllable + is accented_. + + P. 459. E 2418. _For_ bless _read_ blesse + + P. 461. F 20. After all, the right reading probably is that given by E. + Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl., but with the form _pietous_ for _pitous_ as in + Troilus, iii. 1444, and v. 451. Read—And piëtous and Iust, alwey + y-liche. + + P. 468. F 266. _For_ Cambynskan _read_ Cambinskan. So also at p. 480, + first line. + + P. 474. F 462. _For_ sle _read_ slee + + P. 505, footnotes. _For_ 1527 _read_ 1526 + + P. 527. G 558, footnote. _The real reading of_ E _is_— + + And vndernethe he wered a surplys + + P. 543. G 1107. _For_ shall _read_ shal + + *P. 545. G 1171. _For_ torned _read_ terved. [_The reading in_ E is + _really_ terued=terved, i.e. stripped, flayed. The _reading_ torned _is + a poor substitution_.] + + *P. 548. G 1274. _For_ torne, _read_ terve, + + *P. 560. H 144. _For_ hept _read_ kept + + P. 626. Footnotes; last line. _For_ E. Seld. Ln. beauteis; _read_ E. + Seld. Ln. beautees; + + P. 634. I 955. _For_ Daniel, _read_ David. [N.B. MSS. E. Cm. Danyel; + _the rest_, Dauid. Probably Chaucer wrote ‘Daniel’ at first, and + afterwards corrected it (by the original) to ‘David.’ Nevertheless, + ‘Daniel’ is a good reading.] + + * * * * * + + +[xxv] + +ADDITIONS + +TO + +‘THE MINOR POEMS’ IN VOL. I. + + * * * * * + +[Further researches have brought to light some more of Chaucer’s Minor +Poems. I first met with the excellent Balade on ‘Womanly Noblesse’ in MS. +Phillipps 9030 (now MS. Addit. 34360) on June 1, 1894; and on the following +day I noticed in MS. Harl. 7578 (partly described in vol. i. p. 58) two +Complaints that may perhaps be attributed to our author. As, from the +nature of the case, they could not be included in Vol. i, they are inserted +here.] + + * * * * * + +XXIV. WOMANLY NOBLESSE. + + * * * * * + + BALADE THAT CHAUCIER MADE. + + So hath my herte caught in rémembraunce + Your beautè hool, and stedfast governaunce, + Your vertues allè, and your hy noblesse, + That you to serve is set al my plesaunce; + So wel me lykth your womanly contenaunce, 5 + [xxvi] + Your fresshe fetures and your comlinesse, + That, whyl I live, my herte to his maistresse, + You hath ful chose, in trew perséveraunce, + Never to chaunge, for no maner distresse. + + From MS. Addit. 34360, fol. 21, back (with ascription by Shirley); + hitherto unprinted. Rejected readings of the MS. are here given. + + 1. hert. 2. Yowre (_throughout_); hoole; stidefast. 3. al; hie. + 4. yow; sette. 5. likith; _for_ womanly _perhaps read_ wyfly. 6: + comlynesse. 7: whiles; myn hert; maystresse. 8: triev. + + And sith I [you] shal do this observaunce 10 + Al my lyf, withouten displesaunce, + You for to serve with al my besinesse, + [Taketh me, lady, in your obeisaunce,] + And have me somwhat in your souvenaunce. + My woful herte suffreth greet duresse; 15 + And [loke] how humbl[el]y, with al simplesse, + My wil I cónforme to your ordenaunce, + As you best list, my peynes to redresse. + + 10: _I insert_ you. 11: (_Accent on_ Al); live. 12: besynesse. + 13. _Dr. Furnivall supplies this lost line_; cf. Complaint to Pity, l. + 84. 15. hert suffrith grete. 16: _I supply_ loke; humbly. 17: + ordynaunce. 18: for to (_I omit_ for). + + Considring eek how I hange in balaunce + In your servysè; swich, lo! is my chaunce, 20 + Abyding grace, whan that your gentilnesse + Of my gret wo list doon allegeaunce, + And with your pitè me som wyse avaunce, + In ful rebating of my hevinesse; + And thinkth, by reson, wommanly noblesse 25 + Shuld nat desyre for to doon outrance + Ther-as she findeth noon unbuxumnesse. + + 19: eke. 20: service suche loo. 21: (_Perhaps omit_ that). 22: + grete woo; do. 23: wise. 24: rebatyng; myn hevynesse. 25: And + thynkith be raison that (_too long_). 26: desire; for til do the (_I + omit_ the). 27: fyndith non vn-. + + _Lenvoye._ + + Auctour of norture, lady of plesaunce, + Soveraine of beautè, flour of wommanhede, + Take ye non hede unto myn ignoraunce, 30 + But this receyveth of your goodlihede, + Thinking that I have caught in remembraunce + Your beautè hool, your stedfast governaunce. + + 29. Soueraigne; floure. 31. receyvith; goodelyhede. 32. Thynkyng. + 33. hole; stidefast. + +[xxvii] + + * * * * * + +XXV. COMPLAINT TO MY MORTAL FOE. + + * * * * * + + Al hoolly youres, withouten otheres part! + Wherefore? y-wis, that I ne can ne may + My service chaungen; thus of al suche art + The lerninge I desyre for ever and ay. + And evermore, whyl that I live may, 5 + In trouthe I wol your servant stille abyde, + Although my wo encresè day by day, + Til that to me be come the dethes tyde. + + From MS. Harl. 7578, fol. 15. At the bottom of fol. 14, back, is the + last line of Chaucer’s Complaint to Pity, beneath which is written + ‘Balade.’ But the present poem is really a Complaint, like the + preceding one. Rejected readings of the MS. are here given. There is no + title in the MS. except ‘Balade.’ + + 1. holly; others parte. 2. I wisse. 3. By (_surely an error for_ + My); arte. 4. lernynge; desire; euer (_and_ u _for_ v _often_). 5. + while; leue. 6. trought (_sic_); youre; abide. 7. be (_for_ by). + + Seint Valentyne! to you I rénovele + My woful lyf, as I can, compleyninge; 10 + But, as me thinketh, to you a quarele + Right greet I have, whan I, rememberinge + Bitwene, how kinde, ayeins the yeres springe, + Upon your day, doth ech foul chese his make; + And you list not in swich comfórt me bringe, 15 + That to her grace my lady shulde me take. + + 9. valentine; Renouele. 10. compleynynge. 12. grete; whanne; + remembringe. 13. Bytwene howe kende. 14. Vppon youre; doith eche + foule. 15. lyste; suche comforte. + +[xxviii] + + Wherfor unto you, Cupide, I beseche, + Furth with Venús, noble lusty goddesse, + Sith ye may best my sorowe lesse and eche; + And I, your man, oppressed with distresse, 20 + Can not crye ‘help!’ but to your gentilnesse: + So voucheth sauf, sith I, your man, wol dye, + My ladies herte in pitè folde and presse, + That of my peyne I finde remedye. + + 21. cry helpe; vnto (_for_ to); gentelnesse. 22. safe. 24. peine; + fynde I may (_for_ I finde); remydie. + + To your conning, my hertes right princesse, 25 + My mortal fo, whiche I best love and serve, + I recommaunde my boistous lewednesse. + And, for I can not altherbest deserve + Your grace, I preye, as he that wol nat swerve, + That I may fare the better for my trouthe; 30 + Sith I am youres, til deth my herte kerve, + On me, your man, now mercy have and routhe. + + 25. konnyngge; princes. 26. foo. 27. leudenesse. 29. prey; + swerue. 30. trouth. 31. herte wol kerue (_I omit_ wol). 32. haue; + routh. + +[xxix] + + * * * * * + +XXVI. COMPLAINT TO MY LODE-STERRE. + + * * * * * + + Of gretter cause may no wight him compleyne + Than I; for love hath set me in swich caas + That lasse Ioye and more encrees of peyne + Ne hath no man; wherfore I crye ‘allas!’ + A thousand tyme, whan I have tyme and space. 5 + For she, that is my verray sorowes grounde, + Wol with her grace no wyse my sorowes sounde. + + From MS. Harl. 7578, fol. 15, back. No title but ‘Balade’; but it is + really a Complaint. Rejected readings of the MS. are here given. + + 2. y (_for_ I); hath me sette in swiche. 3. encrese. 5. whenne; + haue. 6. sheo; werry (_for_ verray). 7. Wolle; wise; (sounde + _means_ heal). + + And that, shulde be my sorowes hertes leche, + Is me ageins, and maketh me swich werre, + That shortly, [in] al maner thought and speche, 10 + Whether it be that I be nigh or ferre, + I misse the grace of you, my lode-sterre, + Which causeth me on you thus for to crye; + And al is it for lakke of remedye. + + 9. Ys; swide (_miswritten for_ swiche). 10. _I supply_ in; alle + manere. 11. Whethr_e_. 12. mys; loode-. 13. Whiche. 14. alle; + remydie. + + My soverain Ioye thus is my mortal fo; 15 + She that shulde causen al my lustinesse + List in no wyse of my sorowes saye ‘ho!’ + [xxx] + But let me thus darraine, in hevinesse, + With woful thoughtes and my grete distresse, + The which she might right wele, [at] every tyde, 20 + If that her liste, out of my herte gyde. + + 15. souu_er_aine; foo. 16. alle; lustynesse. 17. Liste; wise; say + hoo. 18. lete; heuinesse. 19. wooful; grette. 20. sheo; _I + supply_ at; eu_ery_. 21. oute; guyde. + + But it is so, that her list, in no wyse, + Have pitè on my woful besinesse; + And I ne can do no maner servyse + That may me torne out of my hevinesse; 25 + So woldè god, that she now wolde impresse + Right in her herte my trouthe and eek good wille; + And let me not, for lakke of mercy, spille. + + 22. liste; wise. 23. Haue pitee. 24. kanne; manere seruice. 25. + be (_for_ me); oute; heuynesse. 26. sheo nowe. 27. herre (_for_ + her); trough (_sic_); eke. 28. lette; lake. + + Now wele I woot why thus I smerte sore; + For couthe I wele, as othere folkes, feyne, 30 + Than neded me to live in peyne no more, + But, whan I were from you, unteye my reyne, + And, for the tyme, drawe in another cheyne. + But woldè god that alle swich were y-knowe, + And duely punisshed of hye and lowe. 35 + + 29. woote; why that I thus smerte so sore (_two syllables too much_). + 30. couth; sayne (_for_ feyne). 31. Thanne nedes; lyue. 32. whenne; + vnteye. 33. into (_for_ in); a-nothre. 35. punisshede both of high + (_I omit_ both). + + Swich lyf defye I, bothe in thoughte and worde, + For yet me were wel lever for to sterve + Than in my herte for to make an horde + Of any falshood; for, til deth to-kerve + My herte and body, shal I never swerve 40 + From you, that best may be my fynal cure, + But, at your liste, abyde myn aventure; + + 36. Swiche; defie. 37. yette; sterue. 38. Thanne; hoorde. 39. + falshode; til deth the kerue (_but see note on_ p. xxxii). 40. + neu_er_e swerue. 41. youre (_for_ my). 42. atte youre; abide. + + And preye to you, noble seint Valentyne, + My ladies herte that ye wolde enbrace, + [xxxi] + And make her pitè to me more enclyne 45 + That I may stonden in her noble grace + In hasty tyme, whyl I have lyves space: + For yit wiste I never noon, of my lyve, + So litel hony in so fayre hyve. + + 43. prey; sainte valentine. 45. pitee. 46. here. 47. whiles; haue + lyues. 48. yitte; neuere none; lyfe. 49. hiue. + + * * * * * + +NOTES TO THE PRECEDING POEMS. + + * * * * * + + XXIV.—I take the title from l. 25; cf. Troil. i. 287. + + The metre exhibits the nine-line stanza, as in Anelida, 211-9; but the + same rimes recur in all three stanzas. The six-line Envoy, with the + rime-formula _a b a b a a_, is unique in Chaucer. There are nineteen + lines ending in _-aunce_, twelve in _-esse_, and two in _-ede_. + + 1. Note how ll. 1 and 2 are re-echoed in ll. 32, 33. For a similar + effect, see Anelida, 211, 350. + + 8. _ful chose_, fully chosen; parallel to _ful drive_ in C. T., F 1230. + + 14. _souvenance_, remembrance; not found elswhere in Chaucer. + + 16. _humblely_ is trisyllabic; see Leg. 156, Troil. ii. 1719, v. 1354. + + 20. _lo_ emphasises _swich_; cf. _lo, this_, T. v. 54; _lo, which_, T. + iv. 1231. + + 22. _allegeaunce_, _alleviation_; the verb _allegge_ is in the + Glossary. + + 26. _outrance_, extreme violence, great hurt; see Godefroy. + + 27. _unbuxumnesse_, unsubmissiveness; cf. _buxumnesse_, Truth, 15. + + XXV.—I take the title from l. 26; cf. Compl. to his Lady, 41, 64. + + 1. Cf. Amorous Complaint, 87; Troil. v. 1318, i. 960. + + 3. ‘Love hath me taught no more of his art,’ &c.; Compl. to his Lady, + 42-3. + + 9. Cf. Compl. of Mars, 13, 14; p. xxx above, l. 43; Parl. Foules, + 386-9; Amorous Complaint, 85-6. + + 19. _eche_, augment; ‘hir sorwes _eche_,’ T. i. 705. + + 27. ‘And to your trouthe ay I me recomaunde;’ T. v. 1414. ‘I am a + _boistous_ man;’ C. T., H 211. + + XXVI.—I take the title from l. 12; see T. v. 232, 638, 1392. + + 7. _sounde_, heal, cure; as in Anelida, 242. + + 8. Perhaps read _hertes sorwes leche_; see T. ii. 1066. + + 10. Cf. ‘as _in_ his speche;’ T. ii. 1069. + + 26. _impresse_; cf. T. ii. 1371. + + [xxxii] 28. _spille_; cf. Compl. to his Lady, 121. + + 32. _reyne_, bridle. For this image, cf. Anelida, 184. + + 39. MS. _deth the kerue_. As _e_ and _o_ are constantly confused, the + prefix _to_ (written apart) may have looked like _te_, and would easily + be altered to _the_. Cf. _forkerveth_ in the Manc. Tale, H 340. + + 47. Here _spac-e_ rimes with _embrac-e_, but in l. 5 it rimes with + _allas_. This variation is no worse than the riming of _embrace_ with + _compas_ in Proverbs, 8 (vol. i. p. 407). Cf. _plac-e_ in C.T., B 1910, + with its variant _plas_, B 1971. + + N.B. The Complaints numbered XXV and XXVI are obviously by the same + author; compare XXV. 26 with XXVI. 15; XXV. 9 with XXVI. 43; and XXV. + 29-31 with XXVI. 39, 40. They were probably written nearly at the same + time. + + * * * * * + + +[1: T. 1-22.] + +THE CANTERBURY TALES. + + * * * * * + +GROUP A. THE PROLOGUE. + +HERE BIGINNETH THE BOOK OF THE TALES OF CAUNTERBURY. + + Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote + The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote, + And bathed every veyne in swich licour, + Of which vertu engendred is the flour; + Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth 5 + Inspired hath in every holt and heeth + The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne + Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne, + And smale fowles maken melodye, + That slepen al the night with open yë, 10 + (So priketh hem nature in hir corages): + Than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages + (And palmers for to seken straunge strondes) + To ferne halwes, couthe in sondry londes; + And specially, from every shires ende 15 + Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende, + The holy blisful martir for to seke, + That hem hath holpen, whan that they were seke. + + HEADING. _From_ E. 1. E. hise; _rest_ his. 8. Hl. halfe; _rest_ + half. 9. Hl. fowles; Pt. Ln. foules; E. Hn. foweles. 10. Hl. yhe; + Hn. Iye; E. eye. 12. Pt. Ln. Than; E. Thanne. E. pilg_ri_mage (_by + mistake_). 13. Pt. Hl. palmers; E. Palmeres. 16. Hn. Caunter-; E. + Cauntur-. 18. E. seeke. + + Bifel that, in that seson on a day, + In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay 20 + Redy to wenden on my pilgrimage + To Caunterbury with ful devout corage, + [2: T. 23-58.] + At night was come in-to that hostelrye + Wel nyne and twenty in a companye, + Of sondry folk, by aventure y-falle 25 + In felawshipe, and pilgrims were they alle, + That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde; + The chambres and the stables weren wyde, + And wel we weren esed atte beste. + And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, 30 + So hadde I spoken with hem everichon, + That I was of hir felawshipe anon, + And made forward erly for to ryse, + To take our wey, ther as I yow devyse. + + 19. Hn. Bifel; E. Bifil. 23. E. were; _rest_ was. 24. E. Hn. + compaignye. 26, 32. E. felaweship_e_. Hl. pilgryms; E. pilgrimes. + 34. E. oure. + + But natheles, whyl I have tyme and space, 35 + Er that I ferther in this tale pace, + Me thinketh it acordaunt to resoun, + To telle yow al the condicioun + Of ech of hem, so as it semed me, + And whiche they weren, and of what degree; 40 + And eek in what array that they were inne: + And at a knight than wol I first biginne. + + 35. E. Hn. nathelees. 40. Hl. weren; _rest_ were, weere. + + A KNIGHT ther was, and that a worthy man, =Knight.= + That fro the tyme that he first bigan + To ryden out, he loved chivalrye, 45 + Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye. + Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, + And therto hadde he riden (no man ferre) + As wel in Cristendom as hethenesse, + And ever honoured for his worthinesse. 50 + + 49. Hn. Hl. as; _rest_ as in. + + At Alisaundre he was, whan it was wonne; + Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne + Aboven alle naciouns in Pruce. + In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce, + No Cristen man so ofte of his degree. 55 + In Gernade at the sege eek hadde he be + Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye. + At Lyeys was he, and at Satalye, + [3: T. 59-92.] + Whan they were wonne; and in the Grete See + At many a noble aryve hadde he be. 60 + At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, + And foughten for our feith at Tramissene + In listes thryes, and ay slayn his foo. + This ilke worthy knight had been also + Somtyme with the lord of Palatye, 65 + Ageyn another hethen in Turkye: + And evermore he hadde a sovereyn prys. + And though that he were worthy, he was wys, + And of his port as meke as is a mayde. + He never yet no vileinye ne sayde 70 + In al his lyf, un-to no maner wight. + He was a verray parfit gentil knight. + But for to tellen yow of his array, + His hors were gode, but he was nat gay. + Of fustian he wered a gipoun 75 + Al bismotered with his habergeoun; + For he was late y-come from his viage, + And wente for to doon his pilgrimage. + + 53. E. nacions. 56. E. seege. 60. Hl. ariue; Cm. aryue; E. Hn. + armee; Cp. Ln. arme. 62. E. oure. 64. Pt. had; _rest_ hadde. 67. + E. -moore. 68. E. Hn. Cm. were; _rest_ was. 74. E. Pt. weren; Hl. + Ln. was; _rest_ were. Hl. Hn. he ne was. + + With him ther was his sone, a yong SQUYER, =SQUYER.= + A lovyere, and a lusty bacheler, 80 + With lokkes crulle, as they were leyd in presse. + Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. + Of his stature he was of evene lengthe, + And wonderly deliver, and greet of strengthe. + And he had been somtyme in chivachye, 85 + In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Picardye, + And born him wel, as of so litel space, + In hope to stonden in his lady grace. + Embrouded was he, as it were a mede + Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and rede. 90 + Singinge he was, or floytinge, al the day; + He was as fresh as is the month of May. + [4: T. 93-127.] + Short was his goune, with sleves longe and wyde. + Wel coude he sitte on hors, and faire ryde. + He coude songes make and wel endyte, 95 + Iuste and eek daunce, and wel purtreye and wryte, + So hote he lovede, that by nightertale + He sleep namore than dooth a nightingale. + Curteys he was, lowly, and servisable, + And carf biforn his fader at the table. 100 + + 83. Ln. euen; _rest_ euene. 84. Hl. Ln. delyuer; _rest_ delyuere. + E. Hn. of greet; Cm. of gret; _rest_ gret of. 85. Ln. had. 87. E. + weel. 89, 90. E. meede, reede. 92. E. fressh. E. in; _rest_ is. + E. Hn. Monthe; Cp. month; Hl. Pt. Ln. moneth; Cm. monyth. 96. E. + weel. 98. Hl. Cp. sleep; _rest_ slepte. E. -moore. 99. Hl. Cp. + Ln. lowly; E. Hn. Pt. lowely. + + A YEMAN hadde he, and servaunts namo =Yeman.= + At that tyme, for him liste ryde so; + And he was clad in cote and hood of grene; + A sheef of pecok-arwes brighte and kene + Under his belt he bar ful thriftily; 105 + (Wel coude he dresse his takel yemanly: + His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe), + And in his hand he bar a mighty bowe. + A not-heed hadde he, with a broun visage. + Of wode-craft wel coude he al the usage. 110 + Upon his arm he bar a gay bracer, + And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler, + And on that other syde a gay daggere, + Harneised wel, and sharp as point of spere; + A Cristofre on his brest of silver shene. 115 + An horn he bar, the bawdrik was of grene; + A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse. + + 101. E. seruantz. 102. E. soo. 104. Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln. pocok. Cm. + bryghte; _rest_ bright. 107. E. Hise. 108, 111. E. baar. 113. E. + oother. 115. Hn. Cristofre; E. Cristophere. E. sheene. + + Ther was also a Nonne, a PRIORESSE, =Prioresse.= + That of hir smyling was ful simple and coy; + Hir gretteste ooth was but by sëynt Loy; 120 + And she was cleped madame Eglentyne. + Ful wel she song the service divyne, + Entuned in hir nose ful semely; + And Frensh she spak ful faire and fetisly, + After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe, 125 + For Frensh of Paris was to hir unknowe. + At mete wel y-taught was she with-alle; + [5: T. 128-161.] + She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle, + Ne wette hir fingres in hir sauce depe. + Wel coude she carie a morsel, and wel kepe, 130 + That no drope ne fille up-on hir brest. + In curteisye was set ful muche hir lest. + Hir over lippe wyped she so clene, + That in hir coppe was no ferthing sene + Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte. 135 + Ful semely after hir mete she raughte, + And sikerly she was of greet disport, + And ful plesaunt, and amiable of port, + And peyned hir to countrefete chere + Of court, and been estatlich of manere, 140 + And to ben holden digne of reverence. + But, for to speken of hir conscience, + She was so charitable and so pitous, + She wolde wepe, if that she sawe a mous + Caught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 145 + Of smale houndes had she, that she fedde + With rosted flesh, or milk and wastel-breed. + But sore weep she if oon of hem were deed, + Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte: + And al was conscience and tendre herte. 150 + Ful semely hir wimpel pinched was; + Hir nose tretys; hir eyen greye as glas; + Hir mouth ful smal, and ther-to softe and reed; + But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed; + It was almost a spanne brood, I trowe; 155 + For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe. + Ful fetis was hir cloke, as I was war. + Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar + A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene; + And ther-on heng a broche of gold ful shene, 160 + On which ther was first write a crowned A, + [6: T. 162-195.] + And after, _Amor vincit omnia._ + + 122. E. soong. 123. E. semeely. 131. Cm. brest; E. Hn. brist. + 132. Cp. moche; Cm. meche; E. Hn. muchel. Hl. lest; E. Hn. Cm. + list. 134. Hl. was; _rest_ ther was. 137. E. Hn. desport; _rest_ + disport. 140. E. to been; Hl. Hn. _omit_ to. 144. Hl. Hn. Cp. Ln. + sawe; E. saugh; Cm. seye. 146. Pt. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 148. Ln. + wepped; _rest_ wepte; _read_ weep; _cf_. l. 2878. E. any; _rest_ oon, + on, one. 151. E. semyly. E. wympul; Hn. wympel. 160. E. Hn. brooch; + _rest_ broche. + + Another NONNE with hir hadde she, =Nonne.= + That was hir chapeleyne, and PREESTES three. =3 Preestes.= + + A MONK ther was, a fair for the maistrye, =Monk.= + An out-rydere, that lovede venerye; 166 + A manly man, to been an abbot able. + Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable: + And, whan he rood, men mighte his brydel here + Ginglen in a whistling wind as clere, 170 + And eek as loude as dooth the chapel-belle, + Ther as this lord was keper of the celle. + The reule of seint Maure or of seint Beneit, + By-cause that it was old and som-del streit, + This ilke monk leet olde thinges pace, 175 + And held after the newe world the space. + He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen, + That seith, that hunters been nat holy men; + Ne that a monk, whan he is cloisterlees, + Is lykned til a fish that is waterlees; 180 + This is to seyn, a monk out of his cloistre. + But thilke text held he nat worth an oistre; + And I seyde, his opinioun was good. + What sholde he studie, and make him-selven wood, + Upon a book in cloistre alwey to poure, 185 + Or swinken with his handes, and laboure, + As Austin bit? How shal the world be served? + Lat Austin have his swink to him reserved. + Therfore he was a pricasour aright; + Grehoundes he hadde, as swifte as fowel in flight; 190 + Of priking and of hunting for the hare + Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare. + I seigh his sleves purfiled at the hond + With grys, and that the fyneste of a lond; + And, for to festne his hood under his chin, 195 + [7: T. 196-231.] + He hadde of gold y-wroght a curious pin: + A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther was. + His heed was balled, that shoon as any glas, + And eek his face, as he had been anoint. + He was a lord ful fat and in good point; 200 + His eyen stepe, and rollinge in his heed, + That stemed as a forneys of a leed; + His botes souple, his hors in greet estat. + Now certeinly he was a fair prelat; + He was nat pale as a for-pyned goost. 205 + A fat swan loved he best of any roost. + His palfrey was as broun as is a berye. + + 170. Hl. Cp. whistlyng; E. whistlynge. E. Cm. als; Ln. al-so; Hl. so; + _rest_ as. 176. E. Hn. heeld; Cm. held. 178. Hn. Hl. been; E. + beth. 179. Hl. cloysterles; E. Hn. recchelees; Cp. Pt. Ln. recheles; + Cm. rekeles (Ten Brink _proposes_ recetlees). 182. E. Hn. heeld; Cm. + held. 188. E. his owene; _rest om._ owene. 190. Hl. swifte; _rest_ + swift. 193. Hl. Hn. purfiled; Cm. purfilid; E. ypurfiled. 196. Hl. + a; _rest_ a ful. 196, 218. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 199. E. it; + _rest_ he. 203, 4. E. estaat, prelaat. + + A FRERE ther was, a wantown and a merye, =Frere.= + A limitour, a ful solempne man. + In alle the ordres foure is noon that can 210 + So muche of daliaunce and fair langage. + He hadde maad ful many a mariage + Of yonge wommen, at his owne cost. + Un-to his ordre he was a noble post. + Ful wel biloved and famulier was he 215 + With frankeleyns over-al in his contree, + And eek with worthy wommen of the toun: + For he had power of confessioun, + As seyde him-self, more than a curat, + For of his ordre he was licentiat. 220 + Ful swetely herde he confessioun, + And plesaunt was his absolucioun; + He was an esy man to yeve penaunce + Ther as he wiste to han a good pitaunce; + For unto a povre ordre for to yive 225 + Is signe that a man is wel y-shrive. + For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt, + He wiste that a man was repentaunt. + For many a man so hard is of his herte, + He may nat wepe al-thogh him sore smerte. 230 + Therfore, in stede of weping and preyeres, + [8: T. 232-265.] + Men moot yeve silver to the povre freres. + His tipet was ay farsed ful of knyves + And pinnes, for to yeven faire wyves. + And certeinly he hadde a mery note; 235 + Wel coude he singe and pleyen on a rote. + Of yeddinges he bar utterly the prys. + His nekke whyt was as the flour-de-lys; + Ther-to he strong was as a champioun. + He knew the tavernes wel in every toun, 240 + And everich hostiler and tappestere + Bet than a lazar or a beggestere; + For un-to swich a worthy man as he + Acorded nat, as by his facultee, + To have with seke lazars aqueyntaunce. 245 + It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce + For to delen with no swich poraille, + But al with riche and sellers of vitaille. + And over-al, ther as profit sholde aryse, + Curteys he was, and lowly of servyse. 250 + Ther nas no man no-wher so vertuous. + He was the beste beggere in his hous; + [And yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt; 252 b + Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt;] 252 c + For thogh a widwe hadde noght a sho, + So plesaunt was his “_In principio_,” + Yet wolde he have a ferthing, er he wente. 255 + His purchas was wel bettre than his rente. + And rage he coude, as it were right a whelpe. + In love-dayes ther coude he muchel helpe. (260) + For there he was nat lyk a cloisterer, + With a thredbar cope, as is a povre scoler, 260 + But he was lyk a maister or a pope. + Of double worsted was his semi-cope, + That rounded as a belle out of the presse. + [9: T. 266-300.] + Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse, + To make his English swete up-on his tonge; 265 + And in his harping, whan that he had songe, + His eyen twinkled in his heed aright, + As doon the sterres in the frosty night. (270) + This worthy limitour was cleped Huberd. + + 208. E. wantowne. 211. Hn. muche; E. muchel. 213. Hl. owne; E. + owene. 215. E. And; _rest_ Ful. 217. Hl. Hn. eek; _rest omit_. + 224. Hl. Cm. han; E. haue. 229. E. harde. 231. E. wepynge. 232. + E. Hn. moote; _see note_. 234. E. yonge; _rest_ faire. 235. Hl. + mery; E. murye. 237. E. baar. Pt. vttirly; Hl. vtturly; E. Hn. + outrely. 240. E. al the; _rest_ euery. 245. E. Hn. Cm. sike; Pt. + Ln. seke; see l. 18. 246. Cm. honest; E. honeste. 248. E. + selleres. 250. E. lowely. _After_ l. 252, Hn. _alone inserts_ ll. 252 + _b_ and 252 _c_. 259. Hl. Cm. cloysterer; E. Hn. Cloystrer. 260. _So + all the_ MSS. (_but with_ -bare); _cf_. l. 290. 262. _All_ worstede + (_badly_). 266. Pt. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. + + A MARCHANT was ther with a forked berd, =Marchant.= + In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat, 271 + Up-on his heed a Flaundrish bever hat; + His botes clasped faire and fetisly. + His resons he spak ful solempnely, + Souninge alway thencrees of his winning. 275 + He wolde the see were kept for any thing + Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle. + Wel coude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle. (280) + This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette; + Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette, 280 + So estatly was he of his governaunce, + With his bargaynes, and with his chevisaunce. + For sothe he was a worthy man with-alle, + But sooth to seyn, I noot how men him calle. + + 271. Ln. motteley; Hl. motteleye; E. Hn. motlee. 272. E. beu_er_e. + 273. Cp. Pt. clapsed; Hl. clapsud. 274. E. Hise. 281. Cp. statly. + + A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also, =Clerk.= + That un-to logik hadde longe y-go. 286 + As lene was his hors as is a rake, + And he nas nat right fat, I undertake; (290) + But loked holwe, and ther-to soberly. + Ful thredbar was his overest courtepy; 290 + For he had geten him yet no benefyce, + Ne was so worldly for to have offyce. + For him was lever have at his beddes heed + Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed, + Of Aristotle and his philosophye, 295 + Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrye. + But al be that he was a philosophre, + Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; (300) + [10: T. 301-336.] + But al that he mighte of his freendes hente, + On bokes and on lerninge he it spente, 300 + And bisily gan for the soules preye + Of hem that yaf him wher-with to scoleye. + Of studie took he most cure and most hede. + Noght o word spak he more than was nede, + And that was seyd in forme and reverence, 305 + And short and quik, and ful of hy sentence. + Souninge in moral vertu was his speche, + And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche. (310) + + 287. E. And; Hl. Al so; _rest_ As. 289. E. Hn. sobrely; _rest_ + soburly. 290. _All_ -bare. Hl. ouerest; E. Hn. Cm. ouereste. 291. + Cp. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 293. Cp. Ln. Hl. leuer; _rest_ leuere. + 300. E. Hl. his; _rest_ on. + + A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war and wys, =Man of Lawe.= + That often hadde been at the parvys, 310 + Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. + Discreet he was, and of greet reverence: + He semed swich, his wordes weren so wyse. + Iustyce he was ful often in assyse, + By patente, and by pleyn commissioun; 315 + For his science, and for his heigh renoun + Of fees and robes hadde he many oon. + So greet a purchasour was no-wher noon. (320) + Al was fee simple to him in effect, + His purchasing mighte nat been infect. 320 + No-wher so bisy a man as he ther nas, + And yet he semed bisier than he was. + In termes hadde he caas and domes alle, + That from the tyme of king William were falle. + Therto he coude endyte, and make a thing, 325 + Ther coude no wight pinche at his wryting; + And every statut coude he pleyn by rote. + He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote (330) + Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres smale; + Of his array telle I no lenger tale. + + 324. E. yfalle; _rest_ falle. 326. E. Hn. pynchen; _rest_ pynche, + pinche. + + A FRANKELEYN was in his companye; =Frankeleyn.= + Whyt was his berd, as is the dayesye. + Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. + Wel loved he by the morwe a sop in wyn. + [11: T. 337-370.] + To liven in delyt was ever his wone, 335 + For he was Epicurus owne sone, + That heeld opinioun, that pleyn delyt + Was verraily felicitee parfyt. + An housholdere, and that a greet, was he; (340) + Seint Iulian he was in his contree. + His breed, his ale, was alwey after oon; + A bettre envyned man was no-wher noon. + With-oute bake mete was never his hous, + Of fish and flesh, and that so plentevous, + It snewed in his hous of mete and drinke, 345 + Of alle deyntees that men coude thinke. + After the sondry sesons of the yeer, + So chaunged he his mete and his soper. (350) + Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in mewe, + And many a breem and many a luce in stewe. 350 + Wo was his cook, but-if his sauce were + Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his gere. + His table dormant in his halle alway + Stood redy covered al the longe day. + At sessiouns ther was he lord and sire; 355 + Ful ofte tyme he was knight of the shire. + An anlas and a gipser al of silk + Heng at his girdel, whyt as morne milk. (360) + A shirreve hadde he been, and a countour; + Was no-wher such a worthy vavasour. 360 + + 332. E. heed; _ rest_ berd, berde. E. a; _rest_ the. 335. ever] Hl. + al. 336. E. Hn. Cm. owene; _rest_ owne. 338. Hl. verraily; _rest_ + verray, verrey, uery. 340. E. was he; _rest_ he was. 341. Cm. Ln. + alwey; Hl. alway; E. Hn. Cp. alweys. 342. Hl. Pt. nowher; Cm. nower: + _rest_ neuere; _cf_. l. 360. 349, 350. E. Hn. muwe, stuwe. 357. E. + Hn. anlaas; Hl. Cm. anlas. 358. E. Hn. heeng. 359. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ + a. + + An HABERDASSHER and a CARPENTER, =Habaerdassher.= + A WEBBE, a DYERE, and a TAPICER, =Carpenter.= + Were with us eek, clothed in o liveree, =Webbe. Dyere.= + Of a solempne and greet fraternitee. =Tapicer.= + Ful fresh and newe hir gere apyked was; 365 + Hir knyves were y-chaped noght with bras, + But al with silver, wroght ful clene and weel, + Hir girdles and hir pouches every-deel. (370) + [12: T. 371-406.] + Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys, + To sitten in a yeldhalle on a deys. 370 + Everich, for the wisdom that he can, + Was shaply for to been an alderman. + For catel hadde they y-nogh and rente, + And eek hir wyves wolde it wel assente; + And elles certein were they to blame. 375 + It is ful fair to been y-clept “_ma dame_,” + And goon to vigilyës al bifore, + And have a mantel royalliche y-bore. (380) + + 363. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ And they were clothed alle. 364. _All but_ Hl. + and a. 366. Hl. I-chapud; Cm. chapid; _rest_ chaped. 370. E. + yeldehalle. 376. E. Hn. ycleped; Hl. clept; _rest_ cleped, clepid. + 380. Hl. _om. 1st_ the. + + A COOK they hadde with hem for the nones, =Cook.= + To boille the chiknes with the mary-bones, 380 + And poudre-marchant tart, and galingale. + Wel coude he knowe a draughte of London ale. + He coude roste, and sethe, and broille, and frye, + Maken mortreux, and wel bake a pye. + But greet harm was it, as it thoughte me, 385 + That on his shine a mormal hadde he; + For blankmanger, that made he with the beste. (389) + + 383. E. Hl. boille; Cm. boyle; _rest_ broille, broile. 388. E. + wonynge; Hn. wonyng. + + A SHIPMAN was ther, woning fer by weste: =Shipman.= + For aught I woot, he was of Dertemouthe. + He rood up-on a rouncy, as he couthe, 390 + In a gowne of falding to the knee. + A daggere hanging on a laas hadde he + Aboute his nekke under his arm adoun. + The hote somer had maad his hewe al broun; + And, certeinly, he was a good felawe. 395 + Ful many a draughte of wyn had he y-drawe + From Burdeux-ward, whyl that the chapman sleep. + Of nyce conscience took he no keep. (400) + If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond, + By water he sente hem hoom to every lond. 400 + But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes, + His stremes and his daungers him bisydes, + His herberwe and his mone, his lodemenage, + Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage. + [13: T. 407-441.] + Hardy he was, and wys to undertake; 405 + With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake. + He knew wel alle the havenes, as they were, + From Gootlond to the cape of Finistere, (410) + And every cryke in Britayne and in Spayne; + His barge y-cleped was the Maudelayne. 410 + + 396. Cm. I-drawe; _rest_ drawe. 407. Hl. _ins._ wel; _rest om._ + + With us ther was a DOCTOUR OF PHISYK, =Doctour.= + In al this world ne was ther noon him lyk + To speke of phisik and of surgerye; + For he was grounded in astronomye. + He kepte his pacient a ful greet del 415 + In houres, by his magik naturel. + Wel coude he fortunen the ascendent + Of his images for his pacient. (420) + He knew the cause of everich maladye, + Were it of hoot or cold, or moiste, or drye, 420 + And where engendred, and of what humour; + He was a verrey parfit practisour. + The cause y-knowe, and of his harm the rote, + Anon he yaf the seke man his bote. + Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries, 425 + To sende him drogges and his letuaries, + For ech of hem made other for to winne; + Hir frendschipe nas nat newe to biginne. (430) + Wel knew he the olde Esculapius, + And Deiscorides, and eek Rufus, 430 + Old Ypocras, Haly, and Galien; + Serapion, Razis, and Avicen; + Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn; + Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn. + Of his diete mesurable was he, 435 + For it was of no superfluitee, + But of greet norissing and digestible. + His studie was but litel on the Bible. (440) + In sangwin and in pers he clad was al, + [14: T. 442-478.] + Lyned with taffata and with sendal; 440 + And yet he was but esy of dispence; + He kepte that he wan in pestilence. + For gold in phisik is a cordial, + Therfore he lovede gold in special. + + 415. Hl. wondurly wel; _rest_ a ful greet deel (del). 416. E. Hn. + natureel. 418. E. Hn. hise; Cm. hese. 421. E. Cm. Hl. where they; + Hn. where it. 424. Cm. Ln. seke; _rest_ sike. 425. E. hise. 426. + E. Hn. Cm. drogges; Cp. Pt. Ln. drugges; Hl. dragges. 430. Pt. Rufus; + Cm. Rufijs; Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. Rusus; E. Risus. 431. Hl. Pt. Old; _rest_ + Olde. + + A good WYF was ther of bisyde BATHE, =Wyf of Bathe.= + But she was som-del deef, and that was scathe. 446 + Of clooth-making she hadde swiche an haunt, + She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. (450) + In al the parisshe wyf ne was ther noon + That to the offring bifore hir sholde goon; 450 + And if ther dide, certeyn, so wrooth was she, + That she was out of alle charitee. + Hir coverchiefs ful fyne were of ground; + I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound + That on a Sonday were upon hir heed. 455 + Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, + Ful streite y-teyd, and shoos ful moiste and newe. + Bold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe. (460) + She was a worthy womman al hir lyve, + Housbondes at chirche-dore she hadde fyve, 460 + Withouten other companye in youthe; + But therof nedeth nat to speke as nouthe. + And thryes hadde she been at Ierusalem; + She hadde passed many a straunge streem; + At Rome she hadde been, and at Boloigne, 465 + In Galice at seint Iame, and at Coloigne. + She coude muche of wandring by the weye. + Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. (470) + Up-on an amblere esily she sat, + Y-wimpled wel, and on hir heed an hat 470 + As brood as is a bokeler or a targe; + A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large, + And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe. + In felawschip wel coude she laughe and carpe. + Of remedyes of love she knew per-chaunce, 475 + For she coude of that art the olde daunce. + + 452. Hl. was thanne out. 453, 455. E. weren. 457. Cp. Hl. schoos; + E. Pt. Ln. shoes. 458. E. Hn. Boold. 463. Ln. had. 467. Ln. + muche; Hl. Pt. Cp. moche; E. Hn. muchel. 474. E. Hn. felaweschip. + 476. Hl. For of that art sche knew. + +[15: T. 479-513.] + + A good man was ther of religioun, =Persoun.= + And was a povre PERSOUN of a toun; (480) + But riche he was of holy thoght and werk. + He was also a lerned man, a clerk, 480 + That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche; + His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche. + Benigne he was, and wonder diligent, + And in adversitee ful pacient; + And swich he was y-preved ofte sythes. 485 + Ful looth were him to cursen for his tythes, + But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute, + Un-to his povre parisshens aboute (490) + Of his offring, and eek of his substaunce. + He coude in litel thing han suffisaunce. 490 + Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer a-sonder, + But he ne lafte nat, for reyn ne thonder, + In siknes nor in meschief, to visyte + The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and lyte, + Up-on his feet, and in his hand a staf. 495 + This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf, + That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte; + Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte; (500) + And this figure he added eek ther-to, + That if gold ruste, what shal iren do? 500 + For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste, + No wonder is a lewed man to ruste; + And shame it is, if a preest take keep, + A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep. + Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive, 505 + By his clennesse, how that his sheep shold live. + He sette nat his benefice to hyre, + And leet his sheep encombred in the myre, (510) + And ran to London, un-to sëynt Poules, + To seken him a chaunterie for soules, 510 + Or with a bretherhed to been withholde; + [16: T. 514-547.] + But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde, + So that the wolf ne made it nat miscarie; + He was a shepherde and no mercenarie. + And though he holy were, and vertuous, 515 + He was to sinful man nat despitous, + Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne, + But in his teching discreet and benigne. (520) + To drawen folk to heven by fairnesse + By good ensample, was his bisinesse: 520 + But it were any persone obstinat, + What-so he were, of heigh or lowe estat, + Him wolde he snibben sharply for the nones. + A bettre preest, I trowe that nowher noon is. + He wayted after no pompe and reverence, 525 + Ne maked him a spyced conscience, + But Cristes lore, and his apostles twelve, + He taughte, and first he folwed it him-selve. (530) + + 485. Hl. I-proued; E. Cp. Pt. preued. 486. E. hise. 490. Hl. Cm. + Pt. han; E. Hn. Cp. Ln. haue. 493. E. siknesse. 497. E. firste. + E. _ins._ that (_by mistake_) _before_ he. 503. Hl. _alone ins._ that + _after_ if. 505. Hl. ȝiue; E. yeue. 509. Hl. Cp. seynte. 510. + Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. chaunterie; E. Hn. chauntrie. 512. E. dwelleth; + _rest_ dwelte. E. keepeth; Ln. keped; _rest_ kepte. 514. Hl. no; + _rest_ not a. 516. Hl. to senful man nought; _rest_ nat to sinful + man. 520. _All but_ Hl. this was. 522. Hn. lowe; E. lough. 523. + E. nonys. 525. E. waiteth; _rest_ waited. 527. E. hise. 528. Hl. + and; _rest_ but. + + With him ther was a PLOWMAN, was his brother, =Plowman.= + That hadde y-lad of dong ful many a fother, 530 + A trewe swinker and a good was he, + Livinge in pees and parfit charitee. + God loved he best with al his hole herte + At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte, + And thanne his neighebour right as him-selve. 535 + He wolde thresshe, and ther-to dyke and delve, + For Cristes sake, for every povre wight, + Withouten hyre, if it lay in his might. (540) + His tythes payed he ful faire and wel, + Bothe of his propre swink and his catel. 540 + In a tabard he rood upon a mere. + + 534. E. Pt. Ln. he; _rest_ him. 537. for] Hn. Hl. with. 539. Cp. + Pt. payed; Cm. Hl. payede; E. Hn. payde. 540. propre] Hl. owne. + + Ther was also a Reve and a Millere, + A Somnour and a Pardoner also, + A Maunciple, and my-self; ther were namo. + + The MILLER was a stout carl, for the nones, =Miller.= + [17: T. 548-582.] + Ful big he was of braun, and eek of bones; 546 + That proved wel, for over-al ther he cam, + At wrastling he wolde have alwey the ram. (550) + He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre, + Ther nas no dore that he nolde heve of harre, 550 + Or breke it, at a renning, with his heed. + His berd as any sowe or fox was reed, + And ther-to brood, as though it were a spade. + Up-on the cop right of his nose he hade + A werte, and ther-on stood a tuft of heres, 555 + Reed as the bristles of a sowes eres; + His nose-thirles blake were and wyde. + A swerd and bokeler bar he by his syde; (560) + His mouth as greet was as a greet forneys. + He was a Ianglere and a goliardeys, 560 + And that was most of sinne and harlotryes. + Wel coude he stelen corn, and tollen thryes; + And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee. + A whyt cote and a blew hood wered he. + A baggepype wel coude he blowe and sowne, 565 + And ther-with-al he broghte us out of towne. + + 550. Cp. Hl. nolde; Hn. noolde; E. ne wolde. 555. E. toft; Ln. tofte: + _rest_ tuft. E. herys. 556. Hn. bristles; E. brustles; Pt. brysteles; + Hl. Cp. berstles. E. erys. 558. _All but_ Cp. and a. 559. Hl. + wyde; _rest_ greet, gret. 565. Hl. _om._ wel. + + A gentil MAUNCIPLE was ther of a temple, =Maunciple.= + Of which achatours mighte take exemple (570) + For to be wyse in bying of vitaille. + For whether that he payde, or took by taille, 570 + Algate he wayted so in his achat, + That he was ay biforn and in good stat. + Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace, + That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace + The wisdom of an heep of lerned men? 575 + Of maistres hadde he mo than thryes ten, + That were of lawe expert and curious; + Of which ther were a doseyn in that hous, (580) + Worthy to been stiwardes of rente and lond + Of any lord that is in Engelond, 580 + [18: T. 583-615.] + To make him live by his propre good, + In honour dettelees, but he were wood, + Or live as scarsly as him list desire; + And able for to helpen al a shire + In any cas that mighte falle or happe; 585 + And yit this maunciple sette hir aller cappe. + + 570. E. Hn. wheither. 571. E. Achaat. 572. E. staat. 577. E. + weren. 578. E. whiche. Cm. doseyn; E. duszeyne. 581. E. maken. + 582. Cm. but; Cp. Pt. but if that; _rest_ but if. 585. E. Hn. caas. + + The REVE was a sclendre colerik man, =Reve.= + His berd was shave as ny as ever he can. (590) + His heer was by his eres round y-shorn. + His top was dokked lyk a preest biforn. 590 + Ful longe were his legges, and ful lene, + Y-lyk a staf, ther was no calf y-sene. + Wel coude he kepe a gerner and a binne; + Ther was noon auditour coude on him winne. + Wel wiste he, by the droghte, and by the reyn, 595 + The yelding of his seed, and of his greyn. + His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye, + His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his pultrye, (600) + Was hoolly in this reves governing, + And by his covenaunt yaf the rekening, 600 + Sin that his lord was twenty yeer of age; + Ther coude no man bringe him in arrerage. + Ther nas baillif, ne herde, ne other hyne, + That he ne knew his sleighte and his covyne; + They were adrad of him, as of the deeth. 605 + His woning was ful fair up-on an heeth, + With grene treës shadwed was his place. + He coude bettre than his lord purchace. (610) + Ful riche he was astored prively, + His lord wel coude he plesen subtilly, 610 + To yeve and lene him of his owne good, + And have a thank, and yet a cote and hood. + In youthe he lerned hadde a good mister; + [19: T. 616-652.] + He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter. + This reve sat up-on a ful good stot, 615 + That was al pomely grey, and highte Scot. + A long surcote of pers up-on he hade, + And by his syde he bar a rusty blade. (620) + Of Northfolk was this reve, of which I telle, + Bisyde a toun men clepen Baldeswelle. 620 + Tukked he was, as is a frere, aboute, + And ever he rood the hindreste of our route. + + 589. _All but_ Hl. Ln. _ins._ ful _after_ eres. 590. E. doked. 594. + E. of; _rest_ on. 603. ne (2)] E. Hn. Cp. Pt. nor. 604. Hl. they + (_for_ he). E. Cm. _om._ ne. 606. Hl. fair; E. faire. 607. E. Hn. + shadwed; Hl. I-schadewed; Cm. I-schadewid; Cp. Pt. shadewed; Ln. + schadowed. 611. Hl. owne; E. owene. 612. E. _om._ and. E. gowne; + _rest_ cote. 613. _So_ Hn. Hl.; E. _and rest_ hadde lerned. Cp. Hl. + mester. 618. E. baar. + + A SOMNOUR was ther with us in that place, =Somnour.= + That hadde a fyr-reed cherubinnes face, + For sawcefleem he was, with eyen narwe. 625 + As hoot he was, and lecherous, as a sparwe; + With scalled browes blake, and piled berd; + Of his visage children were aferd. (630) + Ther nas quik-silver, litarge, ne brimstoon, + Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon, 630 + Ne oynement that wolde dense and byte, + That him mighte helpen of his whelkes whyte, + Nor of the knobbes sittinge on his chekes. + Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek lekes, + And for to drinken strong wyn, reed as blood. 635 + Thanne wolde he speke, and crye as he were wood. + And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn, + Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn. (640) + A fewe termes hadde he, two or three, + That he had lerned out of som decree; 640 + No wonder is, he herde it al the day; + And eek ye knowen wel, how that a Iay + Can clepen ‘Watte,’ as well as can the pope. + But who-so coude in other thing him grope, + Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophye; 645 + Ay ‘_Questio quid iuris_’ wolde he crye. + He was a gentil harlot and a kinde; + A bettre felawe sholde men noght finde. (650) + He wolde suffre, for a quart of wyn, + A good felawe to have his concubyn 650 + [20: T. 653-687.] + A twelf-month, and excuse him atte fulle: + Ful prively a finch eek coude he pulle. + And if he fond o-wher a good felawe, + He wolde techen him to have non awe, + In swich cas, of the erchedeknes curs, 655 + But-if a mannes soule were in his purs; + For in his purs he sholde y-punisshed be. + ‘Purs is the erchedeknes helle,’ seyde he. (660) + But wel I woot he lyed right in dede; + Of cursing oghte ech gilty man him drede— 660 + For curs wol slee, right as assoilling saveth— + And also war him of a _significavit_. + In daunger hadde he at his owne gyse + The yonge girles of the diocyse, + And knew hir counseil, and was al hir reed. 665 + A gerland hadde he set up-on his heed, + As greet as it were for an ale-stake; + A bokeler hadde he maad him of a cake. (670) + + 623. Cm. Pt. Somnour; Hl. sompnour; E. Hn. Somonour. 627. E. Hn. Cm. + scaled. 629. Cp. Pt. Hl. bremston. 632. E. the; _rest_ his. 652. + E. Ln. Hl. And; _rest_ Ful. 655. Cm. Cp. erche-; E. erce-; Hl. + arche-. 660. Cp. Ln. him; Hl. Pt. to; _rest om._ 661. Hl. Pt. + saueth; E. sauith. 663. Hl. owne; E. owene. 668. E. bokeleer. + + With him ther rood a gentil PARDONER =Pardoner.= + Of Rouncival, his freend and his compeer, 670 + That streight was comen fro the court of Rome. + Ful loude he song, ‘Com hider, love, to me.’ + This somnour bar to him a stif burdoun, + Was never trompe of half so greet a soun. + This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, 675 + But smothe it heng, as dooth a strike of flex; + By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde, + And ther-with he his shuldres overspradde; (680) + But thinne it lay, by colpons oon and oon; + But hood, for Iolitee, ne wered he noon, 680 + For it was trussed up in his walet. + Him thoughte, he rood al of the newe Iet; + Dischevele, save his cappe, he rood al bare. + Swiche glaringe eyen hadde he as an hare. + A vernicle hadde he sowed on his cappe. 685 + [21: T. 688-722.] + His walet lay biforn him in his lappe, + Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al hoot. + A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot. (690) + No berd hadde he, ne never sholde have, + As smothe it was as it were late y-shave; 690 + I trowe he were a gelding or a mare. + But of his craft, fro Berwik into Ware, + Ne was ther swich another pardoner. + For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer, + Which that, he seyde, was our lady veyl: 695 + He seyde, he hadde a gobet of the seyl + That sëynt Peter hadde, whan that he wente + Up-on the see, til Iesu Crist him hente. (700) + He hadde a croys of latoun, ful of stones, + And in a glas he hadde pigges bones. 700 + But with thise relikes, whan that he fond + A povre person dwelling up-on lond, + Up-on a day he gat him more moneye + Than that the person gat in monthes tweye. + And thus, with feyned flaterye and Iapes, 705 + He made the person and the peple his apes. + But trewely to tellen, atte laste, + He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste. (710) + Wel coude he rede a lessoun or a storie, + But alderbest he song an offertorie; 710 + For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe, + He moste preche, and wel affyle his tonge, + To winne silver, as he ful wel coude; + Therefore he song so meriely and loude. + + 669. E. was; _rest_ rood, rode. 670. E. Cm. Pt. Rounciuale. 672. E. + soong. 676. E. heeng. 677, 678. E. hise. 680. But] Cm. Hl. And. + Hl. ne; _rest omit_. 683. E. Discheuelee. 685. Hl. Cp. on; _rest_ + vp on. 686. Hl. lay; _which the rest omit._ 687. Hl. Cm. come; + _rest_ comen. 688. Hl. eny (_for_ hath a). 690. Hn. yshaue; E. + shaue. 695. _All_ oure. 713. Hl. right (_for_ ful). 714. Cp. Pt. + Ln. so meriely; E. Hn. Cm. the murierly. + + Now have I told you shortly, in a clause, 715 + Thestat, tharray, the nombre, and eek the cause + Why that assembled was this companye + In Southwerk, at this gentil hostelrye, (720) + That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle. + But now is tyme to yow for to telle 720 + [22: T. 723-758.] + How that we baren us that ilke night, + Whan we were in that hostelrye alight. + And after wol I telle of our viage, + And al the remenaunt of our pilgrimage. + But first I pray yow, of your curteisye, 725 + That ye narette it nat my vileinye, + Thogh that I pleynly speke in this matere, + To telle yow hir wordes and hir chere; (730) + Ne thogh I speke hir wordes properly. + For this ye knowen al-so wel as I, 730 + Who-so shal telle a tale after a man, + He moot reherce, as ny as ever he can, + Everich a word, if it be in his charge, + Al speke he never so rudeliche and large; + Or elles he moot telle his tale untrewe, 735 + Or feyne thing, or finde wordes newe. + He may nat spare, al-thogh he were his brother; + He moot as wel seye o word as another. (740) + Crist spak him-self ful brode in holy writ, + And wel ye woot, no vileinye is it. 740 + Eek Plato seith, who-so that can him rede, + The wordes mote be cosin to the dede. + Also I prey yow to foryeve it me, + Al have I nat set folk in hir degree + Here in this tale, as that they sholde stonde; 745 + My wit is short, ye may wel understonde. + + 715. E. Hl. shortly; _rest_ soothly. 716. Hl. Thestat; Hn. Thestaat; + E. The staat; Cm. Cp. The estat. 718. E. as; _rest_ at. 724. E. + oure (_but_ our _in_ l. 723). 725. E. youre; Hl. ȝour. 726. E. + Hn. Cm. narette; Cp. Pt. Hl. ne rette. 734. E. or; Hl. ne; _rest_ + and. 741. _All but_ Hl. _om._ that. + + Greet chere made our hoste us everichon, + And to the soper sette he us anon; (750) + And served us with vitaille at the beste. + Strong was the wyn, and wel to drinke us leste. 750 + A semely man our hoste was with-alle + For to han been a marshal in an halle; + A large man he was with eyen stepe, + A fairer burgeys is ther noon in Chepe: + Bold of his speche, and wys, and wel y-taught, 755 + And of manhod him lakkede right naught. + [23: T. 759-793.] + Eek therto he was right a mery man, + And after soper pleyen he bigan, (760) + And spak of mirthe amonges othere thinges, + Whan that we hadde maad our rekeninges; 760 + And seyde thus: ‘Now, lordinges, trewely, + Ye been to me right welcome hertely: + For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye, + I ne saugh this yeer so mery a companye + At ones in this herberwe as is now. 765 + Fayn wolde I doon yow mirthe, wiste I how. + And of a mirthe I am right now bithoght, + To doon yow ese, and it shal coste noght. (770) + + 747. E. chiere. E. hoost (_see_ l. 751). 752. Hl. han; _rest om._ + 754. E. Hn. was. 755. E. Hn. Boold. 756. Cm. Cp. lakkede; E. + lakked. 761. now] Hl. lo. 764. Hl. ne saugh; _rest_ saugh nat + (seigh not, &c.). Hl. Cm. mery; E. myrie. + + Ye goon to Caunterbury; God yow spede, + The blisful martir quyte yow your mede. 770 + And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye, + Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye; + For trewely, confort ne mirthe is noon + To ryde by the weye doumb as a stoon; + And therfore wol I maken yow disport, 775 + As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort. + And if yow lyketh alle, by oon assent, + Now for to stonden at my Iugement, (780) + And for to werken as I shal yow seye, + To-morwe, whan ye ryden by the weye, 780 + Now, by my fader soule, that is deed, + But ye be merye, I wol yeve yow myn heed. + Hold up your hond, withouten more speche.’ + + 774. a] E. the; Hn. _om._ 778. _All but_ Hl. _om._ Now. 782. E. But + if; _rest_ But. E. myrie. Hl. merye smyteth of. + + Our counseil was nat longe for to seche; + Us thoughte it was noght worth to make it wys, 785 + And graunted him withouten more avys, + And bad him seye his verdit, as him leste. + + 785. Hl. nas. 787. Cp. verdit; Pt. veredit; Hl. Ln. verdite; Cm. + verdoit; E. Hn. voirdit. + + ‘Lordinges,’ quod he, ‘now herkneth for the beste; (790) + But tak it not, I prey yow, in desdeyn; + This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn, 790 + That ech of yow, to shorte with your weye, + [24: T. 794-827.] + In this viage, shal telle tales tweye, + To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so, + And hom-ward he shal tellen othere two, + Of aventures that whylom han bifalle. 795 + And which of yow that bereth him best of alle, + That is to seyn, that telleth in this cas + Tales of best sentence and most solas, (800) + Shal have a soper at our aller cost + Here in this place, sitting by this post, 800 + Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury. + And for to make yow the more mery, + I wol my-selven gladly with yow ryde, + Right at myn owne cost, and be your gyde. + And who-so wol my Iugement withseye 805 + Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye. + And if ye vouche-sauf that it be so, + Tel me anon, with-outen wordes mo, (810) + And I wol erly shape me therfore.’ + + 789. E. taak; Ln. tak; Cp. Pt. take; Hl. Hn. taketh. 791. Cp. Hl. + your; _rest_ our; _cf._ l. 803. 795. Hl. ther (_for_ whylom). 797, + 798. E. caas, solaas. 802. E. Hn. Cp. mury. 803. Hl. my seluen + gladly; E. my self goodly. 805. E. wole (_but_ wol _in_ l. 809). + + This thing was graunted, and our othes swore 810 + With ful glad herte, and preyden him also + That he wold vouche-sauf for to do so, + And that he wolde been our governour, + And of our tales Iuge and reportour, + And sette a soper at a certeyn prys; 815 + And we wold reuled been at his devys, + In heigh and lowe; and thus, by oon assent, + We been acorded to his Iugement. (820) + And ther-up-on the wyn was fet anon; + We dronken, and to reste wente echon, 820 + With-outen any lenger taryinge. + + 812. E. would. 816. Hl. wolde; Pt. wold; _rest_ wol, wolen, wiln, + wil. 817. Hl. lowe; E. lough. + + A-morwe, whan that day bigan to springe, + Up roos our host, and was our aller cok, + And gadrede us togidre, alle in a flok, + And forth we riden, a litel more than pas, 825 + [25: T. 828-860.] + Un-to the watering of seint Thomas. + And there our host bigan his hors areste, + And seyde; ‘Lordinges, herkneth, if yow leste. (830) + Ye woot your forward, and I it yow recorde. + If even-song and morwe-song acorde, 830 + Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale. + As ever mote I drinke wyn or ale, + Who-so be rebel to my Iugement + Shal paye for al that by the weye is spent. + Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twinne; 835 + He which that hath the shortest shal biginne. + Sire knight,’ quod he, ‘my maister and my lord, + Now draweth cut, for that is myn acord. (840) + Cometh neer,’ quod he, ‘my lady prioresse; + And ye, sir clerk, lat be your shamfastnesse, 840 + Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man.’ + + 822. E. Hn. that; Hl. that the; _rest_ the. E. gan for; Hn. Cp. Hl. + bigan. 823. E. Hn. aller; Hl. althur; Cp. alther; Pt. Ln. alder. + 825. E. paas. 829. E. foreward (_badly_). E. Hn. _om._ I. 831. + Hl. ferst a tale. 835. Cp. Pt. Ln. ferther; Hl. forther. 836. E. + Hn. shorteste. 840. E. shamefastnesse. + + Anon to drawen every wight bigan, + And shortly for to tellen, as it was, + Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas, + The sothe is this, the cut fil to the knight, 845 + Of which ful blythe and glad was every wight; + And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun, + By forward and by composicioun, (850) + As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes mo? + And whan this gode man saugh it was so, 850 + As he that wys was and obedient + To kepe his forward by his free assent, + He seyde: ‘Sin I shal biginne the game, + What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name! + Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye.’ 855 + + 848, 852. E. foreward (_badly_). 850. _All insert_ that _after_ saugh + (_needlessly_). 854. Hl. thou (_for_ the). + + And with that word we riden forth our weye; + And he bigan with right a mery chere + His tale anon, and seyde in this manere. (860) + +=Here endeth the prolog of this book; and here biginneth the first +tale, which is the knightes tale.= + + 857. Cm. mery; E. myrie. 858. _So_ E. Hl.; _rest_ as ye may here. + COLOPHON: _from_ MS. Sloane 1685, _which has_ Heere endith, heere, + knyghte (_sic_). + +[26: T. 861-885.] + + * * * * * + +THE KNIGHTES TALE. + + * * * * * + + _Iamque domos patrias, Scithice post aspera gentis_ + _Prelia, laurigero, &c._ + [Statius, _Theb._ xii. 519.] + + Whylom, as olde stories tellen us, + Ther was a duk that highte Theseus; 860 + Of Athenes he was lord and governour, + And in his tyme swich a conquerour, + That gretter was ther noon under the sonne. + Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne; + What with his wisdom and his chivalrye, 865 + He conquered al the regne of Femenye, + That whylom was y-cleped Scithia; + And weddede the quene Ipolita, (10) + And broghte hir hoom with him in his contree + With muchel glorie and greet solempnitee, 870 + And eek hir yonge suster Emelye. + And thus with victorie and with melodye + Lete I this noble duk to Athenes ryde, + And al his hoost, in armes, him bisyde. + + QUOTATION; _so in_ E. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. 865. E. Hl. That; _rest_ + What. 868. Cp. Hl. weddede; Slo. weddide; _rest_ wedded. 871. E. + faire; Pt. yenge; _rest_ yonge. + + And certes, if it nere to long to here, 875 + I wolde han told yow fully the manere, + How wonnen was the regne of Femenye + By Theseus, and by his chivalrye; (20) + And of the grete bataille for the nones + Bitwixen Athenës and Amazones; 880 + And how asseged was Ipolita, + The faire hardy quene of Scithia; + And of the feste that was at hir weddinge, + [27: T. 886-921.] + And of the tempest at hir hoom-cominge; + But al that thing I moot as now forbere. 885 + I have, God woot, a large feeld to ere, + And wayke been the oxen in my plough. + The remenant of the tale is long y-nough. (30) + I wol nat letten eek noon of this route; + Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute, 890 + And lat see now who shal the soper winne; + And ther I lefte, I wol ageyn biginne. + + 876. Hl. han told ȝow; E. yow haue toold; _rest_ haue toold + (told). 880. Tyrwhitt _inserts_ the _after_ and; _but see_ 968, 973, + 1023, &c. 889. Hl. lette eek non of al; _rest_ letten, _and omit_ + al. 892. Hl. agayn; E. Hn. Cp. Pt. ayeyn. + + This duk, of whom I make mencioun, + When he was come almost unto the toun, + In al his wele and in his moste pryde, 895 + He was war, as he caste his eye asyde, + Wher that ther kneled in the hye weye + A companye of ladies, tweye and tweye, (40) + Ech after other, clad in clothes blake; + But swich a cry and swich a wo they make, 900 + That in this world nis creature livinge, + That herde swich another weymentinge; + And of this cry they nolde never stenten, + Til they the reynes of his brydel henten. + + 897. E. _om._ hye; _rest_ hye, heighe, hihe, highe, high. + + ‘What folk ben ye, that at myn hoom-cominge 905 + Perturben so my feste with cryinge?’ + Quod Theseus, ‘have ye so greet envye + Of myn honour, that thus compleyne and crye? (50) + Or who hath yow misboden, or offended? + And telleth me if it may been amended; 910 + And why that ye ben clothed thus in blak?’ + + The eldest lady of hem alle spak, + When she hadde swowned with a deedly chere, + That it was routhe for to seen and here, + And seyde: ‘Lord, to whom Fortune hath yiven 915 + Victorie, and as a conquerour to liven, + Noght greveth us your glorie and your honour; + But we biseken mercy and socour. (60) + Have mercy on our wo and our distresse. + [28: T. 922-957.] + Som drope of pitee, thurgh thy gentillesse, 920 + Up-on us wrecched wommen lat thou falle. + For certes, lord, ther nis noon of us alle, + That she nath been a duchesse or a quene; + Now be we caitifs, as it is wel sene: + Thanked be Fortune, and hir false wheel, 925 + That noon estat assureth to be weel. + And certes, lord, to abyden your presence, + Here in the temple of the goddesse Clemence (70) + We han ben waytinge al this fourtenight; + Now help us, lord, sith it is in thy might. 930 + + 912. Cm. eldest; E. eldeste. 914. E. routhe; Ln. rewthe; Slo. + reuthe. Hl. or; _rest_ and. 915. Hn. yiuen; E. yeuen. 916. Hn. + conquerour; E. conqueror. 917. Hn. Hl. Noght; E. Pt. Ln. Nat. Hl. + _om. 2nd _ your. 922. Hl. nys; _rest_ is. 923. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. ne + hath. 924. Cp. Hl. caytifs; E. Hn. Pt. caytyues. + + I wrecche, which that wepe and waille thus, + Was whylom wyf to king Capaneus, + That starf at Thebes, cursed be that day! + And alle we, that been in this array, + And maken al this lamentacioun, 935 + We losten alle our housbondes at that toun, + Whyl that the sege ther-aboute lay. + And yet now the olde Creon, weylaway! (80) + That lord is now of Thebes the citee, + Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee, 940 + He, for despyt, and for his tirannye, + To do the dede bodyes vileinye, + Of alle our lordes, whiche that ben slawe, + Hath alle the bodyes on an heep y-drawe, + And wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent, 945 + Neither to been y-buried nor y-brent, + But maketh houndes ete hem in despyt.’ + And with that word, with-outen more respyt, (90) + They fillen gruf, and cryden pitously, + ‘Have on us wrecched wommen som mercy, 950 + And lat our sorwe sinken in thyn herte.’ + + 931. E. crie; Hn. Hl. waille; Cp. Pt. weile. 938. _Only_ Hl. _om._ + now. 943. Hl. i-slawe. 944. E. He hath; _rest_ Hath. + + This gentil duk doun from his courser sterte + With herte pitous, whan he herde hem speke. + Him thoughte that his herte wolde breke, + Whan he saugh hem so pitous and so mat, 955 + [29: T. 958-995.] + That whylom weren of so greet estat. + And in his armes he hem alle up hente, + And hem conforteth in ful good entente; (100) + And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knight, + He wolde doon so ferforthly his might 960 + Up-on the tyraunt Creon hem to wreke, + That al the peple of Grece sholde speke + How Creon was of Theseus y-served, + As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserved. + And right anoon, with-outen more abood, 965 + His baner he desplayeth, and forth rood + To Thebes-ward, and al his host bisyde; + No neer Athenës wolde he go ne ryde, (110) + Ne take his ese fully half a day, + But onward on his wey that night he lay; 970 + And sente anoon Ipolita the quene, + And Emelye hir yonge suster shene, + Un-to the toun of Athenës to dwelle; + And forth he rit; ther nis namore to telle. + + 955. E. maat. 956. E. estaat. 974. Hn. Cp. nys; _rest_ is. + + The rede statue of Mars, with spere and targe, 975 + So shyneth in his whyte baner large, + That alle the feeldes gliteren up and doun; + And by his baner born is his penoun (120) + Of gold ful riche, in which ther was y-bete + The Minotaur, which that he slough in Crete. 980 + Thus rit this duk, thus rit this conquerour, + And in his host of chivalrye the flour, + Til that he cam to Thebes, and alighte + Faire in a feeld, ther as he thoghte fighte. + But shortly for to speken of this thing, 985 + With Creon, which that was of Thebes king, + He faught, and slough him manly as a knight + In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flight; (130) + And by assaut he wan the citee after, + And rente adoun bothe wal, and sparre, and rafter; 990 + And to the ladyes he restored agayn + The bones of hir housbondes that were slayn, + To doon obsequies, as was tho the gyse. + [30: T. 996-1031.] + But it were al to long for to devyse + The grete clamour and the waymentinge 995 + That the ladyes made at the brenninge + Of the bodyes, and the grete honour + That Theseus, the noble conquerour, (140) + Doth to the ladyes, whan they from him wente; + But shortly for to telle is myn entente. 1000 + Whan that this worthy duk, this Theseus, + Hath Creon slayn, and wonne Thebes thus, + Stille in that feeld he took al night his reste, + And dide with al the contree as him leste. + + 984. Hn. thoghte; E. thoughte. 992. E. weren. 996. Hl. Which that. + + To ransake in the tas of bodyes dede, 1005 + Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede, + The pilours diden bisinesse and cure, + After the bataille and disconfiture. (150) + And so bifel, that in the tas they founde, + Thurgh-girt with many a grevous blody wounde, 1010 + Two yonge knightes ligging by and by, + Bothe in oon armes, wroght ful richely, + Of whiche two, Arcita hight that oon, + And that other knight hight Palamon. + Nat fully quike, ne fully dede they were, 1015 + But by hir cote-armures, and by hir gere, + The heraudes knewe hem best in special, + As they that weren of the blood royal (160) + Of Thebes, and of sustren two y-born. + Out of the tas the pilours han hem torn, 1020 + And han hem caried softe un-to the tente + Of Theseus, and he ful sone hem sente + To Athenës, to dwellen in prisoun + Perpetuelly, he nolde no raunsoun. + And whan this worthy duk hath thus y-don, 1025 + He took his host, and hoom he rood anon + With laurer crowned as a conquerour; + And there he liveth, in Ioye and in honour, (170) + Terme of his lyf; what nedeth wordes mo? + [31: T. 1032-1066.] + And in a tour, in angwish and in wo, 1030 + Dwellen this Palamoun and eek Arcite, + For evermore, ther may no gold hem quyte. + + 1005, 1009, 1020. E. Hn. Cm. taas; Hl. cas; Cp. Pt. Ln. caas; _read_ + tas. 1005. Hn. Cm. Hl. of; _rest_ of the. 1013, 1014. Hl. hight; E. + highte. 1022. E. Hl. ful soone he. 1023. Hl. Tathenes for to. + 1029. E. Cm. _om._ his. E. lyue; _rest_ lyf, lif. 1031. E. Cm. Hl. + This Palamon and his felawe Arcite. + + This passeth yeer by yeer, and day by day, + Til it fil ones, in a morwe of May, + That Emelye, that fairer was to sene 1035 + Than is the lilie upon his stalke grene, + And fressher than the May with floures newe— + For with the rose colour stroof hir hewe, (180) + I noot which was the fairer of hem two— + Er it were day, as was hir wone to do, 1040 + She was arisen, and al redy dight; + For May wol have no slogardye a-night. + The sesoun priketh every gentil herte, + And maketh him out of his sleep to sterte, + And seith, ‘Arys, and do thyn observaunce.’ 1045 + This maked Emelye have remembraunce + To doon honour to May, and for to ryse. + Y-clothed was she fresh, for to devyse; (190) + Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse, + Bihinde hir bak, a yerde long, I gesse. 1050 + And in the gardin, at the sonne up-riste, + She walketh up and doun, and as hir liste + She gadereth floures, party whyte and rede, + To make a sotil gerland for hir hede, + And as an aungel hevenly she song. 1055 + The grete tour, that was so thikke and strong, + Which of the castel was the chief dongeoun, + (Ther-as the knightes weren in prisoun, (200) + Of whiche I tolde yow, and tellen shal) + Was evene Ioynant to the gardin-wal, 1060 + Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyinge. + Bright was the sonne, and cleer that morweninge, + And Palamon, this woful prisoner, + As was his wone, by leve of his gayler, + [32: T. 1067-1103.] + Was risen, and romed in a chambre on heigh, 1065 + In which he al the noble citee seigh, + And eek the gardin, ful of braunches grene, + Ther-as this fresshe Emelye the shene (210) + Was in hir walk, and romed up and doun. + This sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun, 1070 + Goth in the chambre, roming to and fro, + And to him-self compleyning of his wo; + That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, ‘alas!’ + And so bifel, by aventure or cas, + That thurgh a window, thikke of many a barre 1075 + Of yren greet, and square as any sparre, + He caste his eye upon Emelya, + And ther-with-al he bleynte, and cryde ‘a!’ (220) + As though he stongen were un-to the herte. + And with that cry Arcite anon up-sterte, 1080 + And seyde, ‘Cosin myn, what eyleth thee, + That art so pale and deedly on to see? + Why crydestow? who hath thee doon offence? + For Goddes love, tak al in pacience + Our prisoun, for it may non other be; 1085 + Fortune hath yeven us this adversitee. + Som wikke aspect or disposicioun + Of Saturne, by sum constellacioun, (230) + Hath yeven us this, al-though we hadde it sworn; + So stood the heven whan that we were born; 1090 + We moste endure it: this is the short and pleyn.’ + + 1036. Hl. on hire. 1039. E. Hl. fyner; Cm. fynere; Hn. Cp. Pt. + fairer. 1042. E. slogardrie; _rest_ slogardye (sloggardye, + sluggardie). 1049. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. broyded; Pt. breided; Ln. Hl. + browded. 1054. Ln. sotil; Cp. sotyl; E. Hn. Cm. subtil; Pt. subtile; + Hl. certeyn. 1055. Hl. Pt. heuenly; Cm. heueneliche; E. Hn. Cp. Ln. + heuenysshly. 1063. E. And this Palamon. 1065. Hl. Cp. Pt. on; + _rest_ an. 1091. _Only_ E. _om._ it. + + This Palamon answerde, and seyde ageyn, + ‘Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun + Thou hast a veyn imaginacioun. + This prison caused me nat for to crye. 1095 + But I was hurt right now thurgh-out myn yë + In-to myn herte, that wol my bane be. + The fairnesse of that lady that I see (240) + Yond in the gardin romen to and fro, + Is cause of al my crying and my wo. 1100 + I noot wher she be womman or goddesse; + [33: T. 1104-1139.] + But Venus is it, soothly, as I gesse.’ + And ther-with-al on kneës doun he fil, + And seyde: ‘Venus, if it be thy wil + Yow in this gardin thus to transfigure 1105 + Bifore me, sorweful wrecche creature, + Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen. + And if so be my destinee be shapen (250) + By eterne word to dyen in prisoun, + Of our linage have som compassioun, 1110 + That is so lowe y-broght by tirannye.’ + And with that word Arcite gan espye + Wher-as this lady romed to and fro. + And with that sighte hir beautee hurte him so, + That, if that Palamon was wounded sore, 1115 + Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or more. + And with a sigh he seyde pitously: + ‘The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly (260) + Of hir that rometh in the yonder place; + And, but I have hir mercy and hir grace, 1120 + That I may seen hir atte leeste weye, + I nam but deed; ther nis namore to seye.’ + + 1096. Cm. Pt. ye; Hn. Iye; Cp. Hl. yhe; E. eye. 1101. Cm. wheþer; Hl. + wheþur. 1103. Hl. Cp. a doun. 1115. E. _wrongly om._ was. 1116. + Hn. muche; E. moche. 1122. E. is; _rest_ nys. + + This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde, + Dispitously he loked, and answerde: + ‘Whether seistow this in ernest or in pley?’ 1125 + + 1125 E. Wheither. + + ‘Nay,’ quod Arcite, ‘in ernest, by my fey! + God help me so, me list ful yvele pleye.’ + + This Palamon gan knitte his browes tweye: (270) + ‘It nere,’ quod he, ‘to thee no greet honour + For to be fals, ne for to be traytour 1130 + To me, that am thy cosin and thy brother + Y-sworn ful depe, and ech of us til other, + That never, for to dyen in the peyne, + Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne, + Neither of us in love to hindren other, 1135 + Ne in non other cas, my leve brother; + But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me + [34: T. 1140-1174.] + In every cas, and I shal forthren thee. (280) + This was thyn ooth, and myn also, certeyn; + I wot right wel, thou darst it nat withseyn. 1140 + Thus artow of my counseil, out of doute. + And now thou woldest falsly been aboute + To love my lady, whom I love and serve, + And ever shal, til that myn herte sterve. + Now certes, fals Arcite, thou shalt nat so. 1145 + I loved hir first, and tolde thee my wo + As to my counseil, and my brother sworn + To forthre me, as I have told biforn. (290) + For which thou art y-bounden as a knight + To helpen me, if it lay in thy might, 1150 + Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn.’ + + 1132. til] Cm. Pt. Ln. Hl. to. 1134. E. Ln. Hl. _om._ the. 1135. E. + hyndre; Cm. hynderyn. 1138. E. as; _rest_ and. 1141, 1151. E. Hn. + artow; _rest_ art thou. 1145. E. Nay; _rest_ Now. 1147. E. Cm. and + to my. + + This Arcitë ful proudly spak ageyn, + ‘Thou shalt,’ quod he, ‘be rather fals than I; + But thou art fals, I telle thee utterly; + For _par amour_ I loved hir first er thow. 1155 + What wiltow seyn? thou wistest nat yet now + Whether she be a womman or goddesse! + Thyn is affeccioun of holinesse, (300) + And myn is love, as to a creature; + For which I tolde thee myn aventure 1160 + As to my cosin, and my brother sworn. + I pose, that thou lovedest hir biforn; + Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe, + That ‘who shal yeve a lover any lawe?’ + Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan, 1165 + Than may be yeve to any erthly man. + And therefore positif lawe and swich decree + Is broke al-day for love, in ech degree. (310) + A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed. + He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be deed, 1170 + Al be she mayde, or widwe, or elles wyf. + And eek it is nat lykly, al thy lyf, + [35: T. 1175-1210.] + To stonden in hir grace; namore shal I; + For wel thou woost thy-selven, verraily, + That thou and I be dampned to prisoun 1175 + Perpetuelly; us gayneth no raunsoun. + We stryve as dide the houndes for the boon, + They foughte al day, and yet hir part was noon; (320) + Ther cam a kyte, whyl that they were wrothe, + And bar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe. 1180 + And therfore, at the kinges court, my brother, + Ech man for him-self, ther is non other. + Love if thee list; for I love and ay shal; + And soothly, leve brother, this is al. + Here in this prisoun mote we endure, 1185 + And everich of us take his aventure.’ + + 1154. E. Hn. And; _rest_ But. Hl. Cm. uttirly; Cp. Pt. Ln. witterly; E. + Hn. outrely. 1156. Cp. Pt. wilt thou; Hl. wolt thou. 1157. E. + Wheither. 1163. Cm. Wist thou; Hl. Ln. Wost thou; Pt. Woost thow. + 1166. E. of; _rest_ to. 1167. Hl. _om._ And. 1168. L. Cm. broken. + 1170. Hn. Cp. Pt. fleen; E. Hl. flee. 1177. Hn. Cm. Hl. stryue; + _rest_ stryuen. 1179. E. _om._ that. _All but_ Cm. Hl. _ins._ so + _after_ were. + + Greet was the stryf and long bitwixe hem tweye, + If that I hadde leyser for to seye; (330) + But to theffect. It happed on a day, + (To telle it yow as shortly as I may) 1190 + A worthy duk that highte Perotheus, + That felawe was un-to duk Theseus + Sin thilke day that they were children lyte, + Was come to Athenes, his felawe to visyte, + And for to pleye, as he was wont to do, 1195 + For in this world he loved no man so: + And he loved him as tendrely ageyn. + So wel they loved, as olde bokes seyn, (340) + That whan that oon was deed, sothly to telle, + His felawe wente and soghte him doun in helle; 1200 + But of that story list me nat to wryte. + Duk Perotheus loved wel Arcite, + And hadde him knowe at Thebes yeer by yere; + And fynally, at requeste and preyere + Of Perotheus, with-oute any raunsoun, 1205 + Duk Theseus him leet out of prisoun, + Freely to goon, wher that him liste over-al, + In swich a gyse, as I you tellen shal. (350) + [36: T. 1211-1247.] + This was the forward, pleynly for tendyte, + Bitwixen Theseus and him Arcite: 1210 + That if so were, that Arcite were y-founde + Ever in his lyf, by day or night or stounde + In any contree of this Theseus, + And he were caught, it was acorded thus, + That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed; 1215 + Ther nas non other remedye ne reed, + But taketh his leve, and homward he him spedde; + Let him be war, his nekke lyth to wedde! (360) + + 1192. E. to; Hl. to the; _rest_ un-to. 1195. E. won; Cm. wone; _rest_ + wont. 1197. E. Cp. als; Hn. Cm. Hl. as. 1198. E. louede. 1200. + Hn. soghte; E. soughte. 1205. Hl. Cp. Pt. with-oute; _rest_ + with-outen. 1217. Hl. (_alone_) took. + + How greet a sorwe suffreth now Arcite! + The deeth he feleth thurgh his herte smyte; 1220 + He wepeth, wayleth, cryeth pitously; + To sleen him-self he wayteth prively. + He seyde, ‘Allas that day that I was born! + Now is my prison worse than biforn; + Now is me shape eternally to dwelle 1225 + Noght in purgatorie, but in helle. + Allas! that ever knew I Perotheus! + For elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus (370) + Y-fetered in his prisoun ever-mo. + Than hadde I been in blisse, and nat in wo. 1230 + Only the sighte of hir, whom that I serve, + Though that I never hir grace may deserve, + Wolde han suffised right y-nough for me. + O dere cosin Palamon,’ quod he, + ‘Thyn is the victorie of this aventure, 1235 + Ful blisfully in prison maistow dure; + In prison? certes nay, but in paradys! + Wel hath fortune y-turned thee the dys, (380) + That hast the sighte of hir, and I thabsence. + For possible is, sin thou hast hir presence, 1240 + And art a knight, a worthy and an able, + That by som cas, sin fortune is chaungeable, + Thou mayst to thy desyr som-tyme atteyne. + But I, that am exyled, and bareyne + Of alle grace, and in so greet despeir, 1245 + [37: T. 1248-1283.] + That ther nis erthe, water, fyr, ne eir, + Ne creature, that of hem maked is, + That may me helpe or doon confort in this. (390) + Wel oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse; + Farwel my lyf, my lust, and my gladnesse! 1250 + + 1223. that (i)] Hn. Hl. the. E. he; _rest_ I. 1226. Hn. Noght; E. + Nat; Cm. Not; _rest_ Nought. E. _ins._ my _after_ in. 1228. Hl. + dweld. 1237. Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._ in. 1242. E. (_alone_) _om._ by. + 1248. E. heele; _rest_ helpe. + + Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune + Of purveyaunce of God, or of fortune, + That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse + Wel bettre than they can hem-self devyse? + Som man desyreth for to han richesse, 1255 + That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse. + And som man wolde out of his prison fayn, + That in his hous is of his meynee slayn. (400) + Infinite harmes been in this matere; + We witen nat what thing we preyen here. 1260 + We faren as he that dronke is as a mous; + A dronke man wot wel he hath an hous, + But he noot which the righte wey is thider; + And to a dronke man the wey is slider. + And certes, in this world so faren we; 1265 + We seken faste after felicitee, + But we goon wrong ful often, trewely. + Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I, (410) + That wende and hadde a greet opinioun, + That, if I mighte escapen from prisoun, 1270 + Than hadde I been in Ioye and perfit hele, + Ther now I am exyled fro my wele. + Sin that I may nat seen yow, Emelye, + I nam but deed; ther nis no remedye.’ + + 1256. Cp. Ln. mordre; E. Hn. moerdre; Cm. Pt: mordere; Hl. morthre. + 1260. E. (_alone_) _om._ thing. 1262. E. Cm. wel that he. 1268. Hl. + seyen; E. Hn. Cm. Cp. seyn. 1272. Ther] E. That. + + Up-on that other syde Palamon, 1275 + Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon, + Swich sorwe he maketh, that the grete tour + Resouneth of his youling and clamour. (420) + The pure fettres on his shines grete + Weren of his bittre salte teres wete. 1280 + ‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘Arcita, cosin myn, + [38: T. 1284-1317.] + Of al our stryf, God woot, the fruyt is thyn. + Thow walkest now in Thebes at thy large, + And of my wo thou yevest litel charge. + Thou mayst, sin thou hast wisdom and manhede, 1285 + Assemblen alle the folk of our kinrede, + And make a werre so sharp on this citee, + That by som aventure, or som tretee, (430) + Thou mayst have hir to lady and to wyf, + For whom that I mot nedes lese my lyf. 1290 + For, as by wey of possibilitee, + Sith thou art at thy large, of prison free, + And art a lord, greet is thyn avauntage, + More than is myn, that sterve here in a cage. + For I mot wepe and wayle, whyl I live, 1295 + With al the wo that prison may me yive, + And eek with peyne that love me yiveth also, + That doubleth al my torment and my wo.’ (440) + Ther-with the fyr of Ielousye up-sterte + With-inne his brest, and hente him by the herte 1300 + So woodly, that he lyk was to biholde + The box-tree, or the asshen dede and colde. + Tho seyde he; ‘O cruel goddes, that governe + This world with binding of your word eterne, + And wryten in the table of athamaunt 1305 + Your parlement, and your eterne graunt, + What is mankinde more un-to yow holde + Than is the sheep, that rouketh in the folde? (450) + For slayn is man right as another beste, + And dwelleth eek in prison and areste, 1310 + And hath siknesse, and greet adversitee, + And ofte tymes giltelees, pardee! + + 1278. E. Resouned; _rest_ Resouneth. Cp. Hl. yollyng; Pt. Ln. + yellinge. 1290. _All_ moste, most, muste; _but read_ mot: _see_ l. + 1295. 1296. Hl. ȝyue; E. yeue. 1297. E. yeueth. 1299. Hl. + Ielousye; E. Ialousie. 1303. Hl. Tho; E. Thanne. E. crueel + gooddes(!). 1305. Hl. Cm. athamaunte; E. Atthamaunt. 1309. Cm. Hl. + beste; E. beest. 1310. Cm. areste; Hl. arreste; E. arreest. 1312, + 1314. Cm. Cp. Hl. gilteles; E. giltlees. + + What governaunce is in this prescience, + That giltelees tormenteth innocence? + And yet encreseth this al my penaunce, 1315 + [39: T. 1318-1353.] + That man is bounden to his observaunce, + For Goddes sake, to letten of his wille, + Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille. (460) + And whan a beest is deed, he hath no peyne; + But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyne, 1320 + Though in this world he have care and wo: + With-outen doute it may stonden so. + The answere of this I lete to divynis, + But wel I woot, that in this world gret pyne is. + Allas! I see a serpent or a theef, 1325 + That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef, + Goon at his large, and wher him list may turne. + But I mot been in prison thurgh Saturne, (470) + And eek thurgh Iuno, Ialous and eek wood, + That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood 1330 + Of Thebes, with his waste walles wyde. + And Venus sleeth me on that other syde + For Ielousye, and fere of him Arcite.’ + + 1315. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. encreseth; E. encresseth. 1320. _So_ Hn. Cm. + Hl.; _rest_ after his deeth man. 1323. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ lete I. + 1331. E. hise. 1333. E. Ialousie. + + Now wol I stinte of Palamon a lyte, + And lete him in his prison stille dwelle, 1335 + And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle. + + The somer passeth, and the nightes longe + Encresen double wyse the peynes stronge (480) + Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner. + I noot which hath the wofullere mester. 1340 + For shortly for to seyn, this Palamoun + Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun, + In cheynes and in fettres to ben deed; + And Arcite is exyled upon his heed + For ever-mo as out of that contree, 1345 + Ne never-mo he shal his lady see. + + 1337. E. (_alone_) sonne. 1338. E. Encressen. 1344. Cm. Cp. Pt. vp + (_perhaps rightly_). + + Yow loveres axe I now this questioun, + Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun? (490) + That oon may seen his lady day by day, + But in prison he moot dwelle alway. 1350 + That other wher him list may ryde or go, + [40: T. 1354-1386.] + But seen his lady shal he never-mo. + Now demeth as yow liste, ye that can, + For I wol telle forth as I bigan. + + 1347. E. Now (_wrongly_); rest Yow. 1350. Hn. Cp. Pt. moot he. + 1353. Ln. liste; Cm. lyste; Hl. luste; _rest_ list. + + =Explicit prima Pars. Sequitur pars secunda.= + + Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was, 1355 + Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde ‘allas,’ + For seen his lady shal he never-mo. + And shortly to concluden al his wo, (500) + So muche sorwe had never creature + That is, or shal, whyl that the world may dure. 1360 + His sleep, his mete, his drink is him biraft, + That lene he wex, and drye as is a shaft. + His eyen holwe, and grisly to biholde; + His hewe falwe, and pale as asshen colde, + And solitarie he was, and ever allone, 1365 + And wailling al the night, making his mone. + And if he herde song or instrument, + Then wolde he wepe, he mighte nat be stent; (510) + So feble eek were his spirits, and so lowe, + And chaunged so, that no man coude knowe 1370 + His speche nor his vois, though men it herde. + And in his gere, for al the world he ferde + Nat oonly lyk the loveres maladye + Of Hereos, but rather lyk manye + Engendred of humour malencolyk, 1375 + Biforen, in his celle fantastyk. + And shortly, turned was al up-so-doun + Bothe habit and eek disposicioun (520) + Of him, this woful lovere daun Arcite. + + 1359. Hl. Pt. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 1362. E. Pt. wexeth. 1364. Hi. + Cm. Cp. falwe; E. Hn. falow. 1369. E. spiritz. 1376. E. Biforn his + owene; Cm. Be-forn hese owene; Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Biforn his; Hl. Beforne + in his. + + What sholde I al-day of his wo endyte? 1380 + Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two + This cruel torment, and this peyne and wo, + At Thebes, in his contree, as I seyde, + Up-on a night, in sleep as he him leyde, + [41: T. 1387-1424.] + Him thoughte how that the winged god Mercurie 1385 + Biforn him stood, and bad him to be murye. + His slepy yerde in hond he bar uprighte; + An hat he werede up-on his heres brighte. (530) + Arrayed was this god (as he took keep) + As he was whan that Argus took his sleep; 1390 + And seyde him thus: ‘To Athenes shaltou wende; + Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende.’ + And with that word Arcite wook and sterte. + ‘Now trewely, how sore that me smerte,’ + Quod he, ‘to Athenes right now wol I fare; 1395 + Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare + To see my lady, that I love and serve; + In hir presence I recche nat to sterve.’ (540) + + 1382. E. crueel. 1388. E. vp (_perhaps rightly_); _rest_ vp-on. + 1389. E. I; _rest_ he. + + And with that word he caughte a greet mirour, + And saugh that chaunged was al his colour, 1400 + And saugh his visage al in another kinde. + And right anoon it ran him in his minde, + That, sith his face was so disfigured + Of maladye, the which he hadde endured, + He mighte wel, if that he bar him lowe, 1405 + Live in Athenes ever-more unknowe, + And seen his lady wel ny day by day. + And right anon he chaunged his array, (550) + And cladde him as a povre laborer, + And al allone, save oonly a squyer, 1410 + That knew his privetee and al his cas, + Which was disgysed povrely, as he was, + To Athenes is he goon the nexte way. + And to the court he wente up-on a day, + And at the gate he profreth his servyse, 1415 + To drugge and drawe, what so men wol devyse. + And shortly of this matere for to seyn, + He fil in office with a chamberleyn, (560) + The which that dwelling was with Emelye. + For he was wys, and coude soon aspye 1420 + Of every servaunt, which that serveth here. + Wel coude he hewen wode, and water bere, + [42: T. 1425-1461.] + For he was yong and mighty for the nones, + And ther-to be was strong and big of bones + To doon that any wight can him devyse. 1425 + A yeer or two he was in this servyse, + Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte; + And ‘Philostrate’ he seide that he highte. (570) + But half so wel biloved a man as he + Ne was ther never in court, of his degree; 1430 + He was so gentil of condicioun, + That thurghout al the court was his renoun. + They seyden, that it were a charitee + That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree, + And putten him in worshipful servyse, 1435 + Ther as he mighte his vertu excercyse. + And thus, with-inne a whyle, his name is spronge + Bothe of his dedes, and his goode tonge, (580) + That Theseus hath taken him so neer + That of his chambre he made him a squyer, 1440 + And yaf him gold to mayntene his degree; + And eek men broghte him out of his contree + From yeer to yeer, ful prively, his rente; + But honestly and slyly he it spente, + That no man wondred how that he it hadde. 1445 + And three yeer in this wyse his lyf he ladde, + And bar him so in pees and eek in werre, + Ther nas no man that Theseus hath derre. (590) + And in this blisse lete I now Arcite, + And speke I wol of Palamon a lyte. 1450 + + 1424. E. Cm. long; _rest_ strong. 1431. E. Hl. _ins._ his _after_ + of. 1441. E. Hn. Cp. gaf. + + In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun + This seven yeer hath seten Palamoun, + Forpyned, what for wo and for distresse; + Who feleth double soor and hevinesse + But Palamon? that love destreyneth so, 1455 + That wood out of his wit he gooth for wo; + And eek therto he is a prisoner + Perpetuelly, noght oonly for a yeer. (600) + Who coude ryme in English proprely + [43: T. 1462-1497.] + His martirdom? for sothe, it am nat I; 1460 + Therefore I passe as lightly as I may. + + 1454. E. Hn. Pt. soor; Cp. Ln. sore; Cm. Hl. sorwe. E. _om._ and. + + It fel that in the seventhe yeer, in May, + The thridde night, (as olde bokes seyn, + That al this storie tellen more pleyn,) + Were it by aventure or destinee, 1465 + (As, whan a thing is shapen, it shal be,) + That, sone after the midnight, Palamoun, + By helping of a freend, brak his prisoun, (610) + And fleeth the citee, faste as he may go; + For he had yive his gayler drinke so 1470 + Of a clarree, maad of a certeyn wyn, + With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn, + That al that night, thogh that men wolde him shake, + The gayler sleep, he mighte nat awake; + And thus he fleeth as faste as ever he may. 1475 + The night was short, and faste by the day, + That nedes-cost he moste him-selven hyde, + And til a grove, faste ther besyde, (620) + With dredful foot than stalketh Palamoun. + For shortly, this was his opinioun, 1480 + That in that grove he wolde him hyde al day, + And in the night than wolde he take his way + To Thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye + On Theseus to helpe him to werreye; + And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lyf, 1485 + Or winnen Emelye un-to his wyf; + This is theffect and his entente pleyn. + + 1470. Hl. ȝiue; E. yeue. 1472. E. Of; _rest_ With. 1477. E. + moot; _rest_ moste, most, muste. 1479. E. Hn. Cm. thanne; _rest_ + than. + + Now wol I torne un-to Arcite ageyn, (630) + That litel wiste how ny that was his care, + Til that fortune had broght him in the snare. 1490 + + 1488. E. Hn. Ln. to; _rest_ vn-to. + + The bisy larke, messager of day, + Saluëth in hir song the morwe gray; + And fyry Phebus ryseth up so brighte, + That al the orient laugheth of the lighte, + And with his stremes dryeth in the greves 1495 + [44: T. 1498-1532.] + The silver dropes, hanging on the leves. + And Arcite, that is in the court royal + With Theseus, his squyer principal, (640) + Is risen, and loketh on the myrie day. + And, for to doon his observaunce to May, 1500 + Remembring on the poynt of his desyr, + He on a courser, sterting as the fyr, + Is riden in-to the feeldes, him to pleye, + Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye; + And to the grove, of which that I yow tolde, 1505 + By aventure, his wey he gan to holde, + To maken him a gerland of the greves, + Were it of wodebinde or hawethorn-leves, (650) + And loude he song ageyn the sonne shene: + ‘May, with alle thy floures and thy grene, 1510 + Wel-come be thou, faire fresshe May, + I hope that I som grene gete may.’ + And from his courser, with a lusty herte, + In-to the grove ful hastily he sterte, + And in a path he rometh up and doun, 1515 + Ther-as, by aventure, this Palamoun + Was in a bush, that no man mighte him see, + For sore afered of his deeth was he. (660) + No-thing ne knew he that it was Arcite: + God wot he wolde have trowed it ful lyte. 1520 + But sooth is seyd, gon sithen many yeres, + That ‘feeld hath eyen, and the wode hath eres.’ + It is ful fair a man to bere him evene, + For al-day meteth men at unset stevene. + Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe, 1525 + That was so ny to herknen al his sawe, + For in the bush he sitteth now ful stille. + + 1491. day] Hl. May. 1495. E. hise. 1497. Hl. Arcite; _rest_ + Arcita. 1502. E. Hn. Cm. a; _rest_ his. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. stertyng; + E. Hn. startlynge; Cm. stertelynge. 1511. Hl. wel faire; _rest om._ + wel. 1512. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. In; _rest_ I. 1514. E. a; _rest_ the. + 1518. Hn. Hl. afered; Cm. ofered; _rest_ aferd. E. (_alone_) _ins._ + thanne _bef._ was. 1521. Hl. Pt. goon; Cm. Ln. gon; E. Hn. Cp. go. + 1526. E. Hn. al; _rest_ of. + + Whan that Arcite had romed al his fille, (670) + And songen al the roundel lustily, + In-to a studie he fil sodeynly, 1530 + [45: T. 1533-1567.] + As doon thise loveres in hir queynte geres, + Now in the croppe, now doun in the breres, + Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle. + Right as the Friday, soothly for to telle, + Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste, 1535 + Right so can gery Venus overcaste + The hertes of hir folk; right as hir day + Is gerful, right so chaungeth she array. (680) + Selde is the Friday al the wyke y-lyke. + + 1530. E. fil al: _rest om._ al. 1532. E. Hn. Cm. crop; Cp. Hl. Pt. + croppe. 1536. E. Hn. Cm. kan; _rest_ gan. 1538. E. gereful; Cp. + geerful; Hl. grisful; _rest_ gerful. 1539. Hl. wyke; Hn. Cp. wike; + Pt. Ln. weke; Cm. wouke; E. wowke. + + Whan that Arcite had songe, he gan to syke, 1540 + And sette him doun with-outen any more: + ‘Alas!’ quod he, ‘that day that I was bore! + How longe, Iuno, thurgh thy crueltee, + Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee? + Allas! y-broght is to confusioun 1545 + The blood royal of Cadme and Amphioun; + Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man + That Thebes bulte, or first the toun bigan, 690 + And of the citee first was crouned king, + Of his linage am I, and his of-spring 1550 + By verray ligne, as of the stok royal: + And now I am so caitif and so thral, + That he, that is my mortal enemy, + I serve him as his squyer povrely. + And yet doth Iuno me wel more shame, 1555 + For I dar noght biknowe myn owne name; + But ther-as I was wont to highte Arcite, + Now highte I Philostrate, noght worth a myte. 700 + Allas! thou felle Mars, allas! Iuno, + Thus hath your ire our kinrede al fordo, 1560 + Save only me, and wrecched Palamoun, + That Theseus martyreth in prisoun. + And over al this, to sleen me utterly, + Love hath his fyry dart so brenningly + Y-stiked thurgh my trewe careful herte, 1565 + [46: T. 1568-1602.] + That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte. + Ye sleen me with your eyen, Emelye; + Ye been the cause wherfor that I dye. (710) + Of al the remenant of myn other care + Ne sette I nat the mountaunce of a tare, 1570 + So that I coude don aught to your plesaunce!’ + And with that word he fil doun in a traunce + A longe tyme; and after he up-sterte. + + 1551. Cm. Pt. Hl. lyne. 1556. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. owne; E. owene. 1557. + highte] Hl. hote. 1560. E. kynrede; _rest_ lynage (lignage). 1563. + Hl. vtterly; E. outrely. 1573. _So_ E.; _rest_ afterward (_for_ + after). Hl. _om_ he. + + This Palamoun, that thoughte that thurgh his herte + He felte a cold swerd sodeynliche glyde, 1575 + For ire he quook, no lenger wolde he byde. + And whan that he had herd Arcites tale, + As he were wood, with face deed and pale, (720) + He sterte him up out of the buskes thikke, + And seyde: ‘Arcite, false traitour wikke, 1580 + Now artow hent, that lovest my lady so, + For whom that I have al this peyne and wo, + And art my blood, and to my counseil sworn, + As I ful ofte have told thee heer-biforn, + And hast by-iaped here duk Theseus, 1585 + And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus; + I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye. + Thou shalt nat love my lady Emelye, (730) + But I wol love hir only, and namo; + For I am Palamoun, thy mortal fo. 1590 + And though that I no wepne have in this place, + But out of prison am astert by grace, + I drede noght that outher thou shalt dye, + Or thou ne shalt nat loven Emelye. + Chees which thou wilt, for thou shalt nat asterte.’ 1595 + + 1579. Hl. bussches; Cm. boschis; Ln. boskes. 1581. E. Hn. artow; + _rest_ art thou. 1584. told] E. Cm. seyd. 1589. E. Hn. namo; Hl. + Cm. no mo. 1595. E. Hn. wolt. Hl. for; _rest_ or. + + This Arcitë, with ful despitous herte, + Whan he him knew, and hadde his tale herd, + As fiers as leoun, pulled out a swerd, (740) + And seyde thus: ‘by God that sit above, + Nere it that thou art sik, and wood for love, 1600 + [47: T. 1603-1639.] + And eek that thou no wepne hast in this place, + Thou sholdest never out of this grove pace, + That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond. + For I defye the seurtee and the bond + Which that thou seyst that I have maad to thee. 1605 + What, verray fool, think wel that love is free, + And I wol love hir, maugre al thy might! + But, for as muche thou art a worthy knight, (750) + And wilnest to darreyne hir by batayle, + Have heer my trouthe, to-morwe I wol nat fayle, 1610 + With-outen witing of any other wight, + That here I wol be founden as a knight, + And bringen harneys right y-nough for thee; + And chees the beste, and leve the worste for me. + And mete and drinke this night wol I bringe 1615 + Y-nough for thee, and clothes for thy beddinge. + And, if so be that thou my lady winne, + And slee me in this wode ther I am inne, (760) + Thou mayst wel have thy lady, as for me.’ + This Palamon answerde: ‘I graunte it thee.’ 1620 + And thus they been departed til a-morwe, + When ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe. + + 1598. E. Hn. his; _rest_ a. 1599. E. sit; Cm. set; _rest_ sitteth. + 1604. Hl. seurte; Cp. sewrte; E. seurete; Hn. seuretee. 1609. Cp. + derreyne; Hl. dereyne. 1614. Hn. chees; Cm. Hl. ches; _rest_ chese. + + O Cupide, out of alle charitee! + O regne, that wolt no felawe have with thee! + Ful sooth is seyd, that love ne lordshipe 1625 + Wol noght, his thankes, have no felaweshipe; + Wel finden that Arcite and Palamoun. + Arcite is riden anon un-to the toun, (770) + And on the morwe, er it were dayes light, + Ful prively two harneys hath he dight, 1630 + Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne + The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne. + And on his hors, allone as he was born, + He carieth al this harneys him biforn; + And in the grove, at tyme and place y-set, 1635 + This Arcite and this Palamon ben met. + Tho chaungen gan the colour in hir face; + [48: T. 1640-1675.] + Right as the hunter in the regne of Trace, (780) + That stondeth at the gappe with a spere, + Whan hunted is the leoun or the bere, 1640 + And hereth him come russhing in the greves, + And breketh bothe bowes and the leves, + And thinketh, ‘heer cometh my mortel enemy, + With-oute faile, he moot be deed, or I; + For outher I mot sleen him at the gappe, 1645 + Or he mot sleen me, if that me mishappe:’ + So ferden they, in chaunging of hir hewe, + As fer as everich of hem other knewe. (790) + Ther nas no good day, ne no saluing; + But streight, with-outen word or rehersing, 1650 + Everich of hem halp for to armen other, + As freendly as he were his owne brother; + And after that, with sharpe speres stronge + They foynen ech at other wonder longe. + Thou mightest wene that this Palamoun 1655 + In his fighting were a wood leoun, + And as a cruel tygre was Arcite: + As wilde bores gonne they to smyte, (800) + That frothen whyte as foom for ire wood. + Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood. 1660 + And in this wyse I lete hem fighting dwelle; + And forth I wol of Theseus yow telle. + + 1626. E. hir; _rest_ his. 1634. E. the; Hn. Cm. Hl. this. 1637. Hl. + Tho; _rest_ To. 1638. Hl. honter_us_; _rest_ hunters, hunterys; _ed._ + 1542, hunter. 1640. E. and; _rest_ or. 1651. Cm. halp; Cp. hilp; E. + Hn. heelp; Hl. Pt. helpeth; Ln. helpe. Hl. Ln. _om._ for. 1652. E. + owene. 1656. Tyrwhitt _ins._ as _bef._ a. 1659. E. Hn. whit. + 1660. E. anclee. 1662. E. wole. + + The destinee, ministre general, + That executeth in the world over-al + The purveyaunce, that God hath seyn biforn, 1665 + So strong it is, that, though the world had sworn + The contrarie of a thing, by ye or nay, + Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day (810) + That falleth nat eft with-inne a thousand yere. + For certeinly, our appetytes here, 1670 + Be it of werre, or pees, or hate, or love, + Al is this reuled by the sighte above. + This mene I now by mighty Theseus, + [49: T. 1676-1712.] + That for to honten is so desirous, + And namely at the grete hert in May, 1675 + That in his bed ther daweth him no day, + That he nis clad, and redy for to ryde + With hunte and horn, and houndes him bisyde. (820) + For in his hunting hath he swich delyt, + That it is al his Ioye and appetyt 1680 + To been him-self the grete hertes bane; + For after Mars he serveth now Diane. + + 1672. this] Hl. it. + + Cleer was the day, as I have told er this, + And Theseus, with alle Ioye and blis, + With his Ipolita, the fayre quene, 1685 + And Emelye, clothed al in grene, + On hunting be they riden royally. + And to the grove, that stood ful faste by, (830) + In which ther was an hert, as men him tolde, + Duk Theseus the streighte wey hath holde. 1690 + And to the launde he rydeth him ful right, + For thider was the hert wont have his flight, + And over a brook, and so forth on his weye. + This duk wol han a cours at him, or tweye, + With houndes, swiche as that him list comaunde. 1695 + + 1693. E. Hl. in; _rest_ on. 1695. Hn. Cp. Pt. that; _rest om._ + + And whan this duk was come un-to the launde, + Under the sonne he loketh, and anon + He was war of Arcite and Palamon, (840) + That foughten breme, as it were bores two; + The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro 1700 + So hidously, that with the leeste strook + It seemed as it wolde felle an ook; + But what they were, no-thing he ne woot. + This duk his courser with his spores smoot, + And at a stert he was bitwix hem two, 1705 + And pulled out a swerd and cryed, ‘ho! + Namore, up peyne of lesing of your heed. + By mighty Mars, he shal anon be deed, (850) + That smyteth any strook, that I may seen! + But telleth me what mister men ye been, 1710 + [50: T. 1713-1749.] + That been so hardy for to fighten here + With-outen Iuge or other officere, + As it were in a listes royally?’ + + 1699. E. Cm. Hl. bores; _rest_ boles. 1702. E. fille. 1706. E. + cride; Hn. Cp. Pt. cryed. 1707. E. Hn. Ln. vp-on; _rest_ vp. 1710. + Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. myster; E. mystiers; Ln. mester; Hl. mestir. + + This Palamon answerde hastily, + And seyde: ‘sire, what nedeth wordes mo? 1715 + We have the deeth deserved bothe two. + Two woful wrecches been we, two caytyves, + That been encombred of our owne lyves; (860) + And as thou art a rightful lord and Iuge, + Ne yeve us neither mercy ne refuge, 1720 + But slee me first, for seynte charitee; + But slee my felawe eek as wel as me. + Or slee him first; for, though thou knowe it lyte, + This is thy mortal fo, this is Arcite, + That fro thy lond is banished on his heed, 1725 + For which he hath deserved to be deed. + For this is he that cam un-to thy gate, + And seyde, that he highte Philostrate. (870) + Thus hath he Iaped thee ful many a yeer, + And thou has maked him thy chief squyer; 1730 + And this is he that loveth Emelye. + For sith the day is come that I shal dye, + I make pleynly my confessioun, + That I am thilke woful Palamoun, + That hath thy prison broken wikkedly. 1735 + I am thy mortal fo, and it am I + That loveth so hote Emelye the brighte, + That I wol dye present in hir sighte. (880) + Therfore I axe deeth and my Iuwyse; + But slee my felawe in the same wyse, 1740 + For bothe han we deserved to be slayn.’ + + 1716. E. Hn. disserued. 1718. E. Hn. Cm. owene. 1723. Hl. Hn. + knowe; _rest_ knowest. 1741. Ln. Hl. we haue. + + This worthy duk answerde anon agayn, + And seyde, ‘This is a short conclusioun: + Youre owne mouth, by your confessioun, + Hath dampned you, and I wol it recorde, 1745 + It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the corde. + Ye shul be deed, by mighty Mars the rede!’ + [51: T. 1750-1787.] + The quene anon, for verray wommanhede, (890) + Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye, + And alle the ladies in the companye. 1750 + Gret pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle, + That ever swich a chaunce sholde falle; + For gentil men they were, of greet estat, + And no-thing but for love was this debat; + And sawe hir blody woundes wyde and sore; 1755 + And alle cryden, bothe lasse and more, + ‘Have mercy, lord, up-on us wommen alle!’ + And on hir bare knees adoun they falle, (900) + And wolde have kist his feet ther-as he stood, + Til at the laste aslaked was his mood; 1760 + For pitee renneth sone in gentil herte. + And though he first for ire quook and sterte, + He hath considered shortly, in a clause, + The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause: + And al-though that his ire hir gilt accused, 1765 + Yet in his reson he hem bothe excused; + As thus: he thoghte wel, that every man + Wol helpe him-self in love, if that he can, (910) + And eek delivere him-self out of prisoun; + And eek his herte had compassioun 1770 + Of wommen, for they wepen ever in oon; + And in his gentil herte he thoghte anoon, + And softe un-to himself he seyde: ‘fy + Up-on a lord that wol have no mercy, + But been a leoun, bothe in word and dede, 1775 + To hem that been in repentaunce and drede + As wel as to a proud despitous man + That wol maynteyne that he first bigan! (920) + That lord hath litel of discrecioun, + That in swich cas can no divisioun, 1780 + But weyeth pryde and humblesse after oon.’ + And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon, + He gan to loken up with eyen lighte, + And spak thise same wordes al on highte:— + The god of love, a! _benedicite_, 1785 + [52: T. 1788-1823.] + How mighty and how greet a lord is he! + Ayeins his might ther gayneth none obstacles, + He may be cleped a god for his miracles; (930) + For he can maken at his owne gyse + Of everich herte, as that him list devyse. 1790 + Lo heer, this Arcite and this Palamoun, + That quitly weren out of my prisoun, + And mighte han lived in Thebes royally, + And witen I am hir mortal enemy, + And that hir deeth lyth in my might also, 1795 + And yet hath love, maugree hir eyen two, + Y-broght hem hider bothe for to dye! + Now loketh, is nat that an heigh folye? (940) + Who may been a fool, but-if he love? + Bihold, for Goddes sake that sit above, 1800 + Se how they blede! be they noght wel arrayed? + Thus hath hir lord, the god of love, y-payed + Hir wages and hir fees for hir servyse! + And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse + That serven love, for aught that may bifalle! 1805 + But this is yet the beste game of alle, + That she, for whom they han this Iolitee, + Can hem ther-for as muche thank as me; (950) + She woot namore of al this hote fare, + By God, than woot a cokkow or an hare! 1810 + But al mot been assayed, hoot and cold; + A man mot been a fool, or yong or old; + I woot it by my-self ful yore agoon: + For in my tyme a servant was I oon. + And therfore, sin I knowe of loves peyne, 1815 + And woot how sore it can a man distreyne, + As he that hath ben caught ofte in his las, + I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespas, (960) + At requeste of the quene that kneleth here, + And eek of Emelye, my suster dere. 1820 + And ye shul bothe anon un-to me swere, + [53: T. 1824-1859.] + That never-mo ye shul my contree dere, + Ne make werre up-on me night ne day, + But been my freendes in al that ye may; + I yow foryeve this trespas every del.’ 1825 + And they him swore his axing fayre and wel, + And him of lordshipe and of mercy preyde, + And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he seyde: (970) + + 1744. E. Hn. Cm. owene; Hl. Cp. Pt. owne. 1747. Hn. Pt. shul; Cm. Hl. + schul; E. shal. 1753. E. estaat. 1754. E. debaat. 1767. Hn. Cm. + Cp. As; _rest_ And. 1770. Hl. Pt. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 1771. Hn. + wepten; _rest_ wepen. 1788. E. hise. 1789. E. Hn. Cm. owene; Cp. + Pt. owne. 1790. E. diuyse. 1797. Hl. I-brought; _rest_ Broght, + Brought. 1799. _See note._ Hl. if that; _rest_ but if. 1810. E. Hn. + Cp. of; _rest_ or. 1811. and] Cm. Hl. or. 1817. E. Hn. Cp. Pt. + laas; Cm. las; Hl. Ln. lace. 1818. E. Pt. trespaas. 1822. E. Hn. + Cp. Ln. shal. contree] Cp. Ln. Hl. coroune. 1825, 1826. E. deel, + weel; Hn. Cm. Cp. del, wel. Hl. Pt. swore; _rest_ sworen, sworne, + sworyn. 1828. Hl. Cm. graunted. + + ‘To speke of royal linage and richesse, + Though that she were a quene or a princesse, 1830 + Ech of yow bothe is worthy, doutelees, + To wedden whan tyme is, but nathelees + I speke as for my suster Emelye, + For whom ye have this stryf and Ielousye; + Ye woot your-self, she may not wedden two 1835 + At ones, though ye fighten ever-mo: + That oon of yow, al be him looth or leef, + He moot go pypen in an ivy-leef; (980) + This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe, + Al be ye never so Ielous, ne so wrothe. 1840 + And for-thy I yow putte in this degree, + That ech of yow shal have his destinee + As him is shape; and herkneth in what wyse; + Lo, heer your ende of that I shal devyse. + + 1832. E. _wrongly repeats_ doutelees. 1834. E. Hn. Cp. Ialousye. + 1837. E. Hn. Pt. lief. 1838. E. _om._ go. 1840. E. Hn. Cp. Ialouse. + + My wil is this, for plat conclusioun, 1845 + With-outen any replicacioun, + If that yow lyketh, tak it for the beste, + That everich of yow shal gon wher him leste (990) + Frely, with-outen raunson or daunger; + And this day fifty wykes, fer ne ner, 1850 + Everich of yow shal bringe an hundred knightes, + Armed for listes up at alle rightes, + Al redy to darreyne hir by bataille. + And this bihote I yow, with-outen faille, + Up-on my trouthe, and as I am a knight, 1855 + That whether of yow bothe that hath might, + This is to seyn, that whether he or thou + [54: T. 1860-1892.] + May with his hundred, as I spak of now, (1000) + Sleen his contrarie, or out of listes dryve, + Him shal I yeve Emelya to wyve, 1860 + To whom that fortune yeveth so fair a grace. + The listes shal I maken in this place, + And God so wisly on my soule rewe, + As I shal even Iuge been and trewe. + Ye shul non other ende with me maken, 1865 + That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken. + And if yow thinketh this is wel y-sayd, + Seyeth your avys, and holdeth yow apayd. (1010) + This is your ende and your conclusioun.’ + + 1856, 7. E. wheither. 1860. Hl. Him; Cp. Ln. That; E. Hn. Thanne; Cm. + Pt. Than. E. Cp. Ln. Emelya; Hl. Hn. Emelye. + + Who loketh lightly now but Palamoun? 1870 + Who springeth up for Ioye but Arcite? + Who couthe telle, or who couthe it endyte, + The Ioye that is maked in the place + Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace? + But doun on knees wente every maner wight, 1875 + And thanked him with al her herte and might, + And namely the Thebans ofte sythe. + And thus with good hope and with herte blythe (1020) + They take hir leve, and hom-ward gonne they ryde + To Thebes, with his olde walles wyde. 1880 + + 1872. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ it. 1876. Hl. thanked; Cm. thankede; Cp. Pt. + Ln. thonked; E. Hn. thonken. 1877. E. often; Ln. oft; Pt. mony; + _rest_ ofte. + + =Explicit secunda pars. Sequitur pars tercia.= + + I trowe men wolde deme it necligence, + If I foryete to tellen the dispence + Of Theseus, that goth so bisily + To maken up the listes royally; + That swich a noble theatre as it was, 1885 + I dar wel seyn that in this world ther nas. + The circuit a myle was aboute, + Walled of stoon, and diched al with-oute. (1030) + Round was the shap, in maner of compas, + Ful of degrees, the heighte of sixty pas, 1890 + [55: T. 1893-1928.] + That, whan a man was set on o degree, + He letted nat his felawe for to see. + + 1886. Hl. that; _rest om._ 1889. E. compaas. 1892. E. lette; Cm. + lettyth; _rest_ letted. + + Est-ward ther stood a gate of marbel whyt, + West-ward, right swich another in the opposit. + And shortly to concluden, swich a place 1895 + Was noon in erthe, as in so litel space; + For in the lond ther nas no crafty man, + That geometrie or ars-metrik can, (1040) + Ne purtreyour, ne kerver of images, + That Theseus ne yaf him mete and wages 1900 + The theatre for to maken and devyse. + And for to doon his ryte and sacrifyse, + He est-ward hath, up-on the gate above, + In worship of Venus, goddesse of love, + Don make an auter and an oratorie; 1905 + And west-ward, in the minde and in memorie + Of Mars, he maked hath right swich another, + That coste largely of gold a fother. (1050) + And north-ward, in a touret on the wal, + Of alabastre whyt and reed coral 1910 + An oratorie riche for to see, + In worship of Dyane of chastitee, + Hath Theseus don wroght in noble wyse. + + 1893. E. Hn. Hl. marbul. 1899. Hl. Hn. Cp. purtreyour; E. + portreitour. 1900. Cp. Pt. Cm. him; Hl. hem; _rest om._ 1906. _So_ + Hl.; E. Hn. Cm. (_wrongly_) And on the west-ward in memorie. + + But yet hadde I foryeten to devyse + The noble kerving, and the portreitures, 1915 + The shap, the countenaunce, and the figures, + That weren in thise oratories three. + + First in the temple of Venus maystow see (1060) + Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde, + The broken slepes, and the sykes colde; 1920 + The sacred teres, and the waymenting; + The fyry strokes of the desiring, + That loves servaunts in this lyf enduren; + The othes, that hir covenants assuren; + Plesaunce and hope, desyr, fool-hardinesse, 1925 + Beautee and youthe, bauderie, richesse, + [56: T. 1929-1963.] + Charmes and force, lesinges, flaterye, + Dispense, bisynesse, and Ielousye, (1070) + That wered of yelwe goldes a gerland, + And a cokkow sitting on hir hand; 1930 + Festes, instruments, caroles, daunces, + Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces + Of love, whiche that I rekne and rekne shal, + By ordre weren peynted on the wal, + And mo than I can make of mencioun. 1935 + For soothly, al the mount of Citheroun, + Ther Venus hath hir principal dwelling, + Was shewed on the wal in portreying, (1080) + With al the gardin, and the lustinesse. + Nat was foryeten the porter Ydelnesse, 1940 + Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon, + Ne yet the folye of king Salamon, + Ne yet the grete strengthe of Hercules— + Thenchauntements of Medea and Circes— + Ne of Turnus, with the hardy fiers corage, 1945 + The riche Cresus, caytif in servage. + Thus may ye seen that wisdom ne richesse, + Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe, ne hardinesse, (1090) + Ne may with Venus holde champartye; + For as hir list the world than may she gye. 1950 + Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las, + Til they for wo ful ofte seyde ‘allas!’ + Suffyceth heer ensamples oon or two, + And though I coude rekne a thousand mo. + + 1922. E. Hl. and; _rest_ of. 1928. E. Hn. Cp. Ialousye. 1929. Hl. + guldes. 1930. Cp. Ln. Cm. his. 1933. Cm. I reken and rekne schal; + Hn. Hl. I rekned and rekne shal; E. I rekned haue and rekne shal (_too + long_). 1942. E. Cm. And; _rest_ Ne. 1943. E. Cm. And eek; Hn. Cp. + Pt. Ln. Ne yet; Hl. Ne eek. E. Hn. Cm. Ercules. 1948. E. Hn. Pt. + _om._ ne. + + The statue of Venus, glorious for to see, 1955 + Was naked fleting in the large see, + And fro the navele doun all covered was + With wawes grene, and brighte as any glas. (1100) + A citole in hir right hand hadde she, + And on hir heed, ful semely for to see, 1960 + A rose gerland, fresh and wel smellinge; + [57: T. 1964-1997.] + Above hir heed hir dowves flikeringe. + Biforn hir stood hir sone Cupido, + Up-on his shuldres winges hadde he two; + And blind he was, as it is ofte sene; 1965 + A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene. + + 1965. E. it was; _rest_ it is. + + Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al + The portreiture, that was up-on the wal (1110) + With-inne the temple of mighty Mars the rede? + Al peynted was the wal, in lengthe and brede, 1970 + Lyk to the estres of the grisly place, + That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace, + In thilke colde frosty regioun, + Ther-as Mars hath his sovereyn mansioun. + + First on the wal was peynted a foreste, 1975 + In which ther dwelleth neither man ne beste, + With knotty knarry bareyn treës olde + Of stubbes sharpe and hidous to biholde; (1120) + In which ther ran a rumbel and a swough, + As though a storm sholde bresten every bough: 1980 + And downward from an hille, under a bente, + Ther stood the temple of Mars armipotente, + Wroght al of burned steel, of which thentree + Was long and streit, and gastly for to see. + And ther-out cam a rage and such a vese, 1985 + That it made al the gates for to rese. + The northren light in at the dores shoon, + For windowe on the wal ne was ther noon, (1130) + Thurgh which men mighten any light discerne. + The dores were alle of adamant eterne, 1990 + Y-clenched overthwart and endelong + With iren tough; and, for to make it strong, + Every piler, the temple to sustene, + Was tonne-greet, of iren bright and shene. + + 1975. Hl. foreste; E. forest. 1976. Hl. beste; E. best. 1977. E. + Hn. Cm. Cp. bareyne. 1979. E. rumbel; Cm. ru_m_bil; Hn. rombul; Cp. + Ln. rombel; Hl. swymbul. E. Pt. and; _rest_ in. 1980. Ln. berste; + Hl. berst. 1981. Hn. Hl. on (_for_ from). 1983. E. Hn. the + entree. 1985. Cp. vese; Cm. wese; E. Hn. Ln. veze; Hl. prise. 1986. + E. Hn. Cm. gate. Hl. rise. 1990. E. Hn. Pt. dore was. + + Ther saugh I first the derke imagining 1995 + [58: T. 1998-2033.] + Of felonye, and al the compassing; + The cruel ire, reed as any glede; + The pykepurs, and eek the pale drede; (1140) + The smyler with the knyf under the cloke; + The shepne brenning with the blake smoke; 2000 + The treson of the mordring in the bedde; + The open werre, with woundes al bi-bledde; + Contek, with blody knyf and sharp manace; + Al ful of chirking was that sory place. + The sleere of him-self yet saugh I ther, 2005 + His herte-blood hath bathed al his heer; + The nayl y-driven in the shode a-night; + The colde deeth, with mouth gaping up-right. (1150) + Amiddes of the temple sat meschaunce, + With disconfort and sory contenaunce. 2010 + Yet saugh I woodnesse laughing in his rage; + Armed compleint, out-hees, and fiers outrage. + The careyne in the bush, with throte y-corve: + A thousand slayn, and nat of qualm y-storve; + The tiraunt, with the prey by force y-raft; 2015 + The toun destroyed, ther was no-thing laft. + Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres; + The hunte strangled with the wilde beres: (1160) + The sowe freten the child right in the cradel; + The cook y-scalded, for al his longe ladel. 2020 + Noght was foryeten by the infortune of Marte; + The carter over-riden with his carte, + Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun. + Ther were also, of Martes divisioun, + The barbour, and the bocher, and the smith 2025 + That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his stith. + And al above, depeynted in a tour, + Saw I conquest sittinge in greet honour, (1170) + With the sharpe swerde over his heed + Hanginge by a sotil twynes threed. 2030 + Depeynted was the slaughtre of Iulius, + [59: T. 2034-2069.] + Of grete Nero, and of Antonius; + Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn, + Yet was hir deeth depeynted ther-biforn, + By manasinge of Mars, right by figure; 2035 + So was it shewed in that portreiture + As is depeynted in the sterres above, + Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love. (1180) + Suffyceth oon ensample in stories olde, + I may not rekne hem alle, thogh I wolde. 2040 + + 1995. E. Hn. dirke. 1996. E. Cm. on. al. 1998. E. Cm. _om._ eek. + 2012. Cm. outes. 2013. E. Cp. Ln. busk; Cm. bosch; Hn. Pt. bussh. + 2014. E. _ins._ oon _after_ nat. 2021. Hl. _om._ by. 2025. E. Cm. + laborer; _rest_ barbour. 2029. Pt. Ln. swerde; _rest_ swerd. 2030. + E. soutil; Hn. Cp. Ln. subtil. 2037. Hl. sterres; E. Pt. certres; + _rest_ sertres. + + The statue of Mars up-on a carte stood, + Armed, and loked grim as he were wood; + And over his he’ed ther shynen two figures + Of sterres, that been cleped in scriptures, + That oon Puella, that other Rubeus. 2045 + This god of armes was arrayed thus:— + A wolf ther stood biforn him at his feet + With eyen rede, and of a man he eet; (1190) + With sotil pencel was depeynt this storie, + In redoutinge of Mars and of his glorie. 2050 + + 2049. Cm. sotyl; E. soutil. _All_ depeynted (_badly_); _see_ C. 950. + + Now to the temple of Diane the chaste + As shortly as I can I wol me haste, + To telle yow al the descripcioun. + Depeynted been the walles up and doun + Of hunting and of shamfast chastitee. 2055 + Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee, + Whan that Diane agreved was with here, + Was turned from a womman til a bere, (1200) + And after was she maad the lode-sterre; + Thus was it peynt, I can say yow no ferre; 2060 + Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may see. + Ther saugh I Dane, y-turned til a tree, + I mene nat the goddesse Diane, + But Penneus doughter, which that highte Dane. + Ther saugh I Attheon an hert y-maked, 2065 + For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al naked; + I saugh how that his houndes have him caught, + [60: T. 2070-2106.] + And freten him, for that they knewe him naught. (1210) + Yet peynted was a litel forther-moor, + How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor, 2070 + And Meleagre, and many another mo, + For which Diane wroghte him care and wo. + Ther saugh I many another wonder storie, + The whiche me list nat drawen to memorie. + This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet, 2075 + With smale houndes al aboute hir feet; + And undernethe hir feet she hadde a mone, + Wexing it was, and sholde wanie sone. (1220) + In gaude grene hir statue clothed was, + With bowe in honde, and arwes in a cas. 2080 + Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun, + Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun. + A womman travailinge was hir biforn, + But, for hir child so longe was unborn, + Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle, 2085 + And seyde, ‘help, for thou mayst best of alle.’ + Wel couthe he peynten lyfly that it wroghte, + With many a florin he the hewes boghte. (1230) + + 2058. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. to; _rest_ til; _see_ l. 2062. 2060. _All_ + peynted; _see_ l. 2049. Hl. _om._ yow. 2062. Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln. + turned. 2067. E. Hn. hise; Cm. hese. 2069. E. _om._ was. 2071. E. + Hn. Meleagree. 2075. E. Cp. Pt. _ins._ wel _after_ ful. + + Now been thise listes maad, and Theseus, + That at his grete cost arrayed thus 2090 + The temples and the theatre every del, + Whan it was doon, him lyked wonder wel. + But stinte I wol of Theseus a lyte, + And speke of Palamon and of Arcite. + + 2089. thise] E. the. + + The day approcheth of hir retourninge, 2095 + That everich sholde an hundred knightes bringe, + The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde; + And til Athenes, hir covenant for to holde, (1240) + Hath everich of hem broght an hundred knightes + Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes. 2100 + And sikerly, ther trowed many a man + That never, sithen that the world bigan, + As for to speke of knighthod of hir hond, + As fer as God hath maked see or lond, + [61: T. 2107-2143.] + Nas, of so fewe, so noble a companye. 2105 + For every wight that lovede chivalrye, + And wolde, his thankes, han a passant name, + Hath preyed that he mighte ben of that game; (1250) + And wel was him, that ther-to chosen was. + For if ther fille to-morwe swich a cas, 2110 + Ye knowen wel, that every lusty knight, + That loveth paramours, and hath his might, + Were it in Engelond, or elles-where, + They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be there. + To fighte for a lady, _benedicite!_ 2115 + It were a lusty sighte for to see. + + 2098. E. couenantz. Hl. _om._ for. 2108. E. preyd; Hn. prayd; Hl. Cm. + preyed. 2110. E. Cp. Pt. Hl. caas. + + And right so ferden they with Palamon. + With him ther wenten knightes many oon; (1260) + Som wol ben armed in an habergeoun, + In a brest-plat and in a light gipoun; 2120 + And somme woln have a peyre plates large; + And somme woln have a Pruce sheld, or a targe; + Somme woln ben armed on hir legges weel, + And have an ax, and somme a mace of steel. + Ther nis no newe gyse, that it nas old. 2125 + Armed were they, as I have you told, + Everich after his opinioun. + + 2120. Hl. In a; E. And in; Hn. Cm. Cp. Ln. And in a; Pt. And a. + + Ther maistow seen coming with Palamoun (1270) + Ligurge him-self, the grete king of Trace; + Blak was his berd, and manly was his face. 2130 + The cercles of his eyen in his heed, + They gloweden bitwixe yelow and reed; + And lyk a griffon loked he aboute, + With kempe heres on his browes stoute; + His limes grete, his braunes harde and stronge, 2135 + His shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe. + And as the gyse was in his contree, + Ful hye up-on a char of gold stood he, (1280) + With foure whyte boles in the trays. + In-stede of cote-armure over his harnays, 2140 + With nayles yelwe and brighte as any gold, + [62: T. 2144-2179.] + He hadde a beres skin, col-blak, for-old. + His longe heer was kembd bihinde his bak, + As any ravenes fether it shoon for-blak: + A wrethe of gold arm-greet, of huge wighte, 2145 + Upon his heed, set ful of stones brighte, + Of fyne rubies and of dyamaunts. + Aboute his char ther wenten whyte alaunts, (1290) + Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer, + To hunten at the leoun or the deer, 2150 + And folwed him, with mosel faste y-bounde, + Colers of gold, and torets fyled rounde. + An hundred lordes hadde he in his route + Armed ful wel, with hertes sterne and stoute. + + 2132. E. Hn. bitwyxen. 2134, 5, 6. E. hise. 2141. Hn. Cm. yelwe; E. + yelewe; Hl. yolwe. 2148. E. chaar. 2152. Pt. Ln. Colers; Cp. + Coleres; Hl. Colerd; E. Hn. Colered; Cm. Colerid. E. to_u_rettes; Cp. + Pt. torettes; Hl. torettz (_better_ torets); Ln. turettes. 2154. E. + Hn. stierne. + + With Arcita, in stories as men finde, 2155 + The grete Emetreus, the king of Inde, + Up-on a stede bay, trapped in steel, + Covered in cloth of gold diapred weel, (1300) + Cam ryding lyk the god of armes, Mars. + His cote-armure was of cloth of Tars, 2160 + Couched with perles whyte and rounde and grete. + His sadel was of brend gold newe y-bete; + A mantelet upon his shuldre hanginge + Bret-ful of rubies rede, as fyr sparklinge. + His crispe heer lyk ringes was y-ronne, 2165 + And that was yelow, and glitered as the sonne. + His nose was heigh, his eyen bright citryn, + His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn, (1310) + A fewe fraknes in his face y-spreynd, + Betwixen yelow and somdel blak y-meynd, 2170 + And as a leoun he his loking caste. + Of fyve and twenty yeer his age I caste. + His berd was wel bigonne for to springe; + His voys was as a trompe thunderinge. + Up-on his heed he wered of laurer grene 2175 + A gerland fresh and lusty for to sene. + Up-on his hand he bar, for his deduyt, + [63: T. 2180-2215.] + An egle tame, as eny lilie whyt. (1320) + An hundred lordes hadde he with him there, + Al armed, sauf hir heddes, in al hir gere, 2180 + Ful richely in alle maner thinges. + For trusteth wel, that dukes, erles, kinges, + Were gadered in this noble companye, + For love and for encrees of chivalrye. + Aboute this king ther ran on every part 2185 + Ful many a tame leoun and lepart. + And in this wyse thise lordes, alle and some, + Ben on the Sonday to the citee come (1330) + Aboute pryme, and in the toun alight. + + 2155. E. Pt. Arcite; _rest_ Arcita. 2163. E. Cm. Pt. mantel. 2164. + E. Brat-ful. 2180. Hl. _om._ al. 2186. Hl. Cp. Ln. lepart; E. + leopard. + + This Theseus, this duk, this worthy knight, 2190 + Whan he had broght hem in-to his citee, + And inned hem, everich in his degree, + He festeth hem, and dooth so greet labour + To esen hem, and doon hem al honour, + That yet men weneth that no mannes wit 2195 + Of noon estat ne coude amenden it. + The minstralcye, the service at the feste, + The grete yiftes to the moste and leste, (1340) + The riche array of Theseus paleys, + Ne who sat first ne last up-on the deys, 2200 + What ladies fairest been or best daunsinge, + Or which of hem can dauncen best and singe, + Ne who most felingly speketh of love: + What haukes sitten on the perche above, + What houndes liggen on the floor adoun: 2205 + Of al this make I now no mencioun; + But al theffect, that thinketh me the beste; + Now comth the poynt, and herkneth if yow leste. (1350) + + 2192. E. in; Pt. after; _rest_ at. 2195. E. maner. 2198. E. Hn. + meeste; Cm. Cp. meste; _rest_ most. 2205. E. Cm. Hl. in; _rest_ on. + 2207. al] Hl. of. 2208. Hn. Hl. comth; _rest_ cometh. + + The Sonday night, er day bigan to springe, + When Palamon the larke herde singe, 2210 + Although it nere nat day by houres two, + Yet song the larke, and Palamon also. + With holy herte, and with an heigh corage + [64: T. 2216-2251.] + He roos, to wenden on his pilgrimage + Un-to the blisful Citherea benigne, 2215 + I mene Venus, honurable and digne. + And in hir houre he walketh forth a pas + Un-to the listes, ther hir temple was, (1360) + And doun he kneleth, and with humble chere + And herte soor, he seyde as ye shul here. 2220 + + 2212. also] Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. right tho. 2217. E. paas. 2219. E. with + ful; _rest_ and with. 2220. E. and seyde in this manere. + + ‘Faireste of faire, o lady myn, Venus, + Doughter to Iove and spouse of Vulcanus, + Thou glader of the mount of Citheroun, + For thilke love thou haddest to Adoun, + Have pitee of my bittre teres smerte, 2225 + And tak myn humble preyer at thyn herte. + Allas! I ne have no langage to telle + Theffectes ne the torments of myn helle; (1370) + Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye; + I am so confus, that I can noght seye. 2230 + But mercy, lady bright, that knowest weel + My thought, and seest what harmes that I feel, + Considere al this, and rewe up-on my sore, + As wisly as I shal for evermore, + Emforth my might, thy trewe servant be, 2235 + And holden werre alwey with chastitee; + That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe. + I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe, (1380) + Ne I ne axe nat to-morwe to have victorie, + Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie 2240 + Of pris of armes blowen up and doun, + But I wolde have fully possessioun + Of Emelye, and dye in thy servyse; + Find thou the maner how, and in what wyse. + I recche nat, but it may bettre be, 2245 + To have victorie of hem, or they of me, + So that I have my lady in myne armes. + For though so be that Mars is god of armes, (1390) + Your vertu is so greet in hevene above, + [65: T. 2252-2287.] + That, if yow list, I shal wel have my love, 2250 + Thy temple wol I worshipe evermo, + And on thyn auter, wher I ryde or go, + I wol don sacrifice, and fyres bete. + And if ye wol nat so, my lady swete, + Than preye I thee, to-morwe with a spere 2255 + That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere. + Thanne rekke I noght, whan I have lost my lyf, + Though that Arcita winne hir to his wyf. (1400) + This is theffect and ende of my preyere, + Yif me my love, thou blisful lady dere.’ 2260 + + 2222. to] Hn. Hl. of. of] _all but_ E. Cm. to. 2226. E. Cm. + preyere; Hn. prayere. at] Hl. to. 2227. to] Hl. for to. 2231, 2. + Cm. Hl. wel, fel; _rest_ wele, fele. 2239. Hl. aske. Hl. Ln. to + morn. + + Whan thorisoun was doon of Palamon, + His sacrifice he dide, and that anon + Ful pitously, with alle circumstaunces, + Al telle I noght as now his observaunces. + But atte laste the statue of Venus shook, 2265 + And made a signe, wher-by that he took + That his preyere accepted was that day. + For thogh the signe shewed a delay, (1410) + Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his bone; + And with glad herte he wente him hoom ful sone. 2270 + + 2261. Hl. thorisoun; _rest_ the orison (orisoun). 2263. E. Cm. + circumstaunce. 2264. E. Cm. obseruaunce. + + The thridde houre inequal that Palamon + Bigan to Venus temple for to goon, + Up roos the sonne, and up roos Emelye, + And to the temple of Diane gan hye. + Hir maydens, that she thider with hir ladde, 2275 + Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde, + Thencens, the clothes, and the remenant al + That to the sacrifyce longen shal; (1420) + The hornes fulle of meth, as was the gyse; + Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifyse. 2280 + Smoking the temple, ful of clothes faire, + This Emelye, with herte debonaire, + Hir body wessh with water of a welle; + But how she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle, + But it be any thing in general; 2285 + [66: T. 2288-2324.] + And yet it were a game to heren al; + To him that meneth wel, it were no charge: + But it is good a man ben at his large. (1430) + Hir brighte heer was kempt, untressed al; + A coroune of a grene ook cerial 2290 + Up-on hir heed was set ful fair and mete. + Two fyres on the auter gan she bete, + And dide hir thinges, as men may biholde + In Stace of Thebes, and thise bokes olde. + Whan kindled was the fyr, with pitous chere 2295 + Un-to Diane she spak, as ye may here. + + 2274. Pt. Hl. _ins._ she _after_ gan. 2276. E. ladde; _rest_ hadde. + 2279. Cp. Pt. Ln. methe; Hl. meth; E. meeth; Hn. mede. 2287. were] + Hn. Cp. Ln. nere. 2289. E. kempd. + + ‘O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene, + To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene, (1440) + Quene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe, + Goddesse of maydens, that myn herte hast knowe 2300 + Ful many a yeer, and woost what I desire, + As keep me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire, + That Attheon aboughte cruelly. + Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I + Desire to been a mayden al my lyf, 2305 + Ne never wol I be no love ne wyf. + I am, thou woost, yet of thy companye, + A mayde, and love hunting and venerye, (1450) + And for to walken in the wodes wilde, + And noght to been a wyf, and be with childe. 2310 + Noght wol I knowe companye of man. + Now help me, lady, sith ye may and can, + For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee. + And Palamon, that hath swich love to me, + And eek Arcite, that loveth me so sore, 2315 + This grace I preye thee with-oute more, + As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two; + And fro me turne awey hir hertes so, (1460) + That al hir hote love, and hir desyr, + And al hir bisy torment, and hir fyr 2320 + Be queynt, or turned in another place; + And if so be thou wolt not do me grace, + [67: T. 2325-2360.] + Or if my destinee be shapen so, + That I shal nedes have oon of hem two, + As sende me him that most desireth me. 2325 + Bihold, goddesse of clene chastitee, + The bittre teres that on my chekes falle. + Sin thou are mayde, and keper of us alle, (1470) + My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserve, + And whyl I live a mayde, I wol thee serve.’ 2330 + + 2303. Hl. Atheon. cruelly] Hl. trewely. 2311. E. Hl. _ins._ the + _after_ knowe. 2317. Hn. As; _rest_ And; _see_ l. 2325. 2322. not + do me] E. Hl. Pt. do me no. 2323. E. And; _rest_ Or. 2328. E. Cm. + Cp. kepere. + + The fyres brenne up-on the auter clere, + Whyl Emelye was thus in hir preyere; + But sodeinly she saugh a sighte queynte, + For right anon oon of the fyres queynte, + And quiked agayn, and after that anon 2335 + That other fyr was queynt, and al agon; + And as it queynte, it made a whistelinge, + As doon thise wete brondes in hir brenninge, (1480) + And at the brondes ende out-ran anoon + As it were blody dropes many oon; 2340 + For which so sore agast was Emelye, + That she was wel ny mad, and gan to crye, + For she ne wiste what it signifyed; + But only for the fere thus hath she cryed, + And weep, that it was pitee for to here. 2345 + And ther-with-al Diane gan appere, + With bowe in hond, right as an hunteresse, + And seyde: ‘Doghter, stint thyn hevinesse. (1490) + Among the goddes hye it is affermed, + And by eterne word write and confermed, 2350 + Thou shalt ben wedded un-to oon of tho + That han for thee so muchel care and wo; + But un-to which of hem I may nat telle. + Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle. + The fyres which that on myn auter brenne 2355 + Shul thee declaren, er that thou go henne, + Thyn aventure of love, as in this cas.’ + And with that word, the arwes in the cas (1500) + [68: T. 2361-2398.] + Of the goddesse clateren faste and ringe, + And forth she wente, and made a vanisshinge; 2360 + For which this Emelye astoned was, + And seyde, ‘What amounteth this, allas! + I putte me in thy proteccioun, + Diane, and in thy disposicioun.’ + And hoom she gooth anon the nexte weye. 2365 + This is theffect, ther is namore to seye. + + 2337. E. Hn. Cp. whistlynge. 2338. Hl. (_only_) As doth a wete brond + in his. 2344. Pt Hl. _om._ hath. 2350. Hl. write; Pt. writt; _rest_ + writen. 2356. E. Cp. Hl. declare. 2358. E. caas. + + The nexte houre of Mars folwinge this, + Arcite un-to the temple walked is (1510) + Of fierse Mars, to doon his sacrifyse, + With alle the rytes of his payen wyse. 2370 + With pitous herte and heigh devocioun, + Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun: + + 2369. E. Hn. fierse; Cm. ferse; Hl. fyry. + + ‘O stronge god, that in the regnes colde + Of Trace honoured art, and lord y-holde, + And hast in every regne and every lond 2375 + Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond, + And hem fortunest as thee list devyse, + Accept of me my pitous sacrifyse. (1520) + If so be that my youthe may deserve, + And that my might be worthy for to serve 2380 + Thy godhede, that I may been oon of thyne, + Than preye I thee to rewe up-on my pyne. + For thilke peyne, and thilke hote fyr, + In which thou whylom brendest for desyr, + Whan that thou usedest the grete beautee 2385 + Of fayre yonge fresshe Venus free, + And haddest hir in armes at thy wille, + Al-though thee ones on a tyme misfille (1530) + Whan Vulcanus had caught thee in his las, + And fond thee ligging by his wyf, allas! 2390 + For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte, + Have routhe as wel up-on my peynes smerte. + I am yong and unkonning, as thou wost, + And, as I trowe, with love offended most, + That ever was any lyves creature; 2395 + For she, that dooth me al this wo endure, + [69: T. 2399-2436.] + Ne reccheth never wher I sinke or flete. + And wel I woot, er she me mercy hete, (1540) + I moot with strengthe winne hir in the place; + And wel I woot, withouten help or grace 2400 + Of thee, ne may my strengthe noght availle. + Than help me, lord, to-morwe in my bataille, + For thilke fyr that whylom brente thee, + As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me; + And do that I to-morwe have victorie. 2405 + Myn be the travaille, and thyn be the glorie! + Thy soverein temple wol I most honouren + Of any place, and alwey most labouren (1550) + In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge, + And in thy temple I wol my baner honge, 2410 + And alle the armes of my companye; + And evere-mo, un-to that day I dye, + Eterne fyr I wol biforn thee finde. + And eek to this avow I wol me binde: + My berd, myn heer that hongeth long adoun, 2415 + That never yet ne felte offensioun + Of rasour nor of shere, I wol thee yive, + And ben thy trewe servant whyl I live. (1560) + Now lord, have routhe up-on my sorwes sore, + Yif me victorie, I aske thee namore.’ 2420 + + 2385. Hl. the gret; _rest om._ gret. 2402. E. Hn. Thanne. 2420. + _All ins._ the (Hl. thy) _after_ me; (_read_ victórie). + + The preyere stinte of Arcita the stronge, + The ringes on the temple-dore that honge, + And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste, + Of which Arcita som-what him agaste. + The fyres brende up-on the auter brighte, 2425 + That it gan al the temple for to lighte; + And swete smel the ground anon up-yaf, + And Arcita anon his hand up-haf, (1570) + And more encens in-to the fyr he caste, + With othere rytes mo; and atte laste 2430 + The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk ringe. + And with that soun he herde a murmuringe + Ful lowe and dim, that sayde thus, ‘Victorie:’ + For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie. + [70: T. 2437-2473.] + And thus with Ioye, and hope wel to fare, 2435 + Arcite anon un-to his inne is fare, + As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne. + + 2425. Hn. Cm. brende; E. Cp. Hl. brenden. 2433. E. Hn. Hl. and; + _rest_ that. 2436. E. Hn. Cm. in. + + And right anon swich stryf ther is bigonne (1580) + For thilke graunting, in the hevene above, + Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of love, 2440 + And Mars, the sterne god armipotente, + That Iupiter was bisy it to stente; + Til that the pale Saturnus the colde, + That knew so manye of aventures olde, + Fond in his olde experience an art, 2445 + That he ful sone hath plesed every part. + As sooth is sayd, elde hath greet avantage; + In elde is bothe wisdom and usage; (1590) + Men may the olde at-renne, and noght at-rede. + Saturne anon, to stinten stryf and drede, 2450 + Al be it that it is agayn his kynde, + Of al this stryf he gan remedie fynde. + + 2441. E. stierne. 2445. an] E. Pt. and. 2449. Hl. Pt. but; _rest_ + and. + + ‘My dere doghter Venus,’ quod Saturne, + ‘My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne, + Hath more power than wot any man. 2455 + Myn is the drenching in the see so wan; + Myn is the prison in the derke cote; + Myn is the strangling and hanging by the throte; (1600) + The murmure, and the cherles rebelling, + The groyning, and the pryvee empoysoning: 2460 + I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun + Whyl I dwelle in the signe of the leoun. + Myn is the ruine of the hye halles, + The falling of the toures and of the walles + Up-on the mynour or the carpenter. 2465 + I slow Sampsoun in shaking the piler; + And myne be the maladyes colde, + The derke tresons, and the castes olde; (1610) + My loking is the fader of pestilence. + Now weep namore, I shal doon diligence 2470 + That Palamon, that is thyn owne knight, + [71: T. 2474-2506.] + Shal have his lady, as thou hast him hight. + Though Mars shal helpe his knight, yet nathelees + Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees, + Al be ye noght of o complexioun, 2475 + That causeth al day swich divisioun. + I am thin ayel, redy at thy wille; + Weep thou namore, I wol thy lust fulfille.’ (1620) + + 2462. E. _om. 1st_ the. 2466. Hl. in; _rest om._ 2468. Hl. tresoun. + + Now wol I stinten of the goddes above, + Of Mars, and of Venus, goddesse of love, 2480 + And telle yow, as pleynly as I can, + The grete effect, for which that I bigan. + + =Explicit tercia pars. Sequitur pars quarta.= + + Greet was the feste in Athenes that day, + And eek the lusty seson of that May + Made every wight to been in swich plesaunce, 2485 + That al that Monday Iusten they and daunce, + And spenden it in Venus heigh servyse. + But by the cause that they sholde ryse (1630) + Erly, for to seen the grete fight, + Unto hir reste wente they at night. 2490 + And on the morwe, whan that day gan springe, + Of hors and harneys, noyse and clateringe + Ther was in hostelryes al aboute; + And to the paleys rood ther many a route + Of lordes, up-on stedes and palfreys. 2495 + Ther maystow seen devysing of herneys + So uncouth and so riche, and wroght so weel + Of goldsmithrie, of browding, and of steel; (1640) + The sheeldes brighte, testers, and trappures; + Gold-hewen helmes, hauberks, cote-armures; 2500 + Lordes in paraments on hir courseres, + Knightes of retenue, and eek squyeres + Nailinge the speres, and helmes bokelinge, + Gigginge of sheeldes, with layneres lacinge; + [72: T. 2507-2543.] + Ther as need is, they weren no-thing ydel; 2505 + The fomy stedes on the golden brydel + Gnawinge, and faste the armurers also + With fyle and hamer prikinge to and fro; (1650) + Yemen on fote, and communes many oon + With shorte staves, thikke as they may goon; 2510 + Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes, + That in the bataille blowen blody sounes; + The paleys ful of peples up and doun, + Heer three, ther ten, holding hir questioun, + Divyninge of thise Thebane knightes two. 2515 + Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it shal be so; + Somme helden with him with the blake berd, + Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke-herd; (1660) + Somme sayde, he loked grim and he wolde fighte; + He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte. 2520 + Thus was the halle ful of divyninge, + Longe after that the sonne gan to springe. + + 2489. Hl. Erly a-morwe for to see that fight. 2493. E. _ins._ the + _after_ in. 2500. Hl. Gold-beten. 2503. Nailinge] Hl. Rayhyng. + 2504. Hl. Girdyng. 2511. E. nakerers (_wrongly_). 2513. Hl. pepul; + Pt. puple; Ln. peple. + + The grete Theseus, that of his sleep awaked + With minstralcye and noyse that was maked, + Held yet the chambre of his paleys riche, 2525 + Til that the Thebane knightes, bothe y-liche + Honoured, were into the paleys fet. + Duk Theseus was at a window set, (1670) + Arrayed right as he were a god in trone. + The peple preesseth thider-ward ful sone 2530 + Him for to seen, and doon heigh reverence, + And eek to herkne his hest and his sentence. + + An heraud on a scaffold made an ho, + Til al the noyse of the peple was y-do; + And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille, 2535 + Tho showed he the mighty dukes wille. + + 2533. E. Hn. Pt. oo. 2534. E. _om. 2nd_ the. 2535. E. Cm. the noyse + of peple. + + ‘The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun + Considered, that it were destruccioun (1680) + To gentil blood, to fighten in the gyse + Of mortal bataille now in this empryse; 2540 + Wherfore, to shapen that they shul not dye, + [73: T. 2544-2579.] + He wol his firste purpos modifye. + No man therfor, up peyne of los of lyf, + No maner shot, ne pollax, ne short knyf + Into the listes sende, or thider bringe; 2545 + Ne short swerd for to stoke, with poynt bytinge, + No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde. + Ne no man shal un-to his felawe ryde (1690) + But o cours, with a sharp y-grounde spere; + Foyne, if him list, on fote, him-self to were. 2550 + And he that is at meschief, shal be take, + And noght slayn, but be broght un-to the stake + That shal ben ordeyned on either syde; + But thider he shal by force, and ther abyde. + And if so falle, the chieftayn be take 2555 + On either syde, or elles slee his make, + No lenger shal the turneyinge laste. + God spede yow; goth forth, and ley on faste. (1700) + With long swerd and with maces fight your fille. + Goth now your wey; this is the lordes wille.’ 2560 + + 2544. E. Cm. _om. 1st_ ne. 2545. or] E. Cm. Ln. ne. 2547. E. Hl. + _om._ it. 2555. falle] E. be. Cm. cheuynteyn; Cp. cheuentein; Hl. + cheuenten. 2556. Hl. sle; _rest_ sleen (sclayn). 2559. Hl. fight; + Ln. fihten; _rest_ fighteth. + + The voys of peple touchede the hevene, + So loude cryden they with mery stevene: + ‘God save swich a lord, that is so good, + He wilneth no destruccioun of blood!’ + Up goon the trompes and the melodye. 2565 + And to the listes rit the companye + By ordinaunce, thurgh-out the citee large, + Hanged with cloth of gold, and nat with sarge. (1710) + Ful lyk a lord this noble duk gan ryde, + Thise two Thebanes up-on either syde; 2570 + And after rood the quene, and Emelye, + And after that another companye + Of oon and other, after hir degree. + And thus they passen thurgh-out the citee, + And to the listes come they by tyme. 2575 + It nas not of the day yet fully pryme, + Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye, + [74: T. 2580-2617.] + Ipolita the quene and Emelye, (1720) + And other ladies in degrees aboute. + Un-to the seetes preesseth al the route. 2580 + And west-ward, thurgh the gates under Marte, + Arcite, and eek the hundred of his parte, + With baner reed is entred right anon; + And in that selve moment Palamon + Is under Venus, est-ward in the place, 2585 + With baner whyt, and hardy chere and face. + In al the world, to seken up and doun, + So even with-outen variacioun, (1730) + Ther nere swiche companyes tweye. + For ther nas noon so wys that coude seye, 2590 + That any hadde of other avauntage + Of worthinesse, ne of estaat, ne age, + So even were they chosen, for to gesse. + And in two renges faire they hem dresse. + Whan that hir names rad were everichoon, 2595 + That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon, + Tho were the gates shet, and cryed was loude: + ‘Do now your devoir, yonge knightes proude!’ (1740) + + 2561. Cm. Cp. touchede; Hl. touchith; _rest_ touched. 2562. Cm. + cryedyn; E. cride. E. murie. 2570. E. Hn. Hl. Thebans; _see_ l. + 2623. 2593. E. _om._ they. 2598. Hl. Dooth. + + The heraudes lefte hir priking up and doun; + Now ringen trompes loude and clarioun; 2600 + Ther is namore to seyn, but west and est + In goon the speres ful sadly in arest; + In goth the sharpe spore in-to the syde. + Ther seen men who can Iuste, and who can ryde; + Ther shiveren shaftes up-on sheeldes thikke; 2605 + He feleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke. + Up springen speres twenty foot on highte; + Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte. (1750) + The helmes they to-hewen and to-shrede; + Out brest the blood, with sterne stremes rede. 2610 + With mighty maces the bones they to-breste. + He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste. + Ther stomblen stedes stronge, and doun goth al. + He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal. + He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun, 2615 + [75: T. 2618-2655.] + And he him hurtleth with his hors adoun. + He thurgh the body is hurt, and sithen y-take, + Maugree his heed, and broght un-to the stake, (1760) + As forward was, right ther he moste abyde; + Another lad is on that other syde. 2620 + And som tyme dooth hem Theseus to reste, + Hem to refresshe, and drinken if hem leste. + Ful ofte a-day han thise Thebanes two + Togidre y-met, and wroght his felawe wo; + Unhorsed hath ech other of hem tweye. 2625 + Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye, + Whan that hir whelp is stole, whan it is lyte, + So cruel on the hunte, as is Arcite (1770) + For Ielous herte upon this Palamoun: + Ne in Belmarye ther nis so fel leoun, 2630 + That hunted is, or for his hunger wood, + Ne of his praye desireth so the blood, + As Palamon to sleen his fo Arcite. + The Ielous strokes on hir helmes byte; + Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede. 2635 + + 2608. E. gooth; _rest_ goon. 2613. stomblen] E. Cm. semblen. 2622. + E. fresshen. + + Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede; + For er the sonne un-to the reste wente, + The stronge king Emetreus gan hente (1780) + This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite, + And made his swerd depe in his flesh to byte; 2640 + And by the force of twenty is he take + Unyolden, and y-drawe unto the stake. + And in the rescous of this Palamoun + The stronge king Ligurge is born adoun; + And king Emetreus, for al his strengthe, 2645 + Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe, + So hitte him Palamon er he were take; + But al for noght, he was broght to the stake. (1790) + His hardy herte mighte him helpe naught; + He moste abyde, whan that he was caught 2650 + By force, and eek by composicioun. + + 2643. E. rescus; Pt. rescowe; _rest_ rescous. + + Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun, + That moot namore goon agayn to fighte? + [76: T. 2656-2691.] + And whan that Theseus had seyn this sighte, + Un-to the folk that foghten thus echoon 2655 + He cryde, ‘Ho! namore, for it is doon! + I wol be trewe Iuge, and no partye. + Arcite of Thebes shal have Emelye, (1800) + That by his fortune hath hir faire y-wonne.’ + Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne 2660 + For Ioye of this, so loude and heigh with-alle, + It semed that the listes sholde falle. + + What can now faire Venus doon above? + What seith she now? what dooth this quene of love? + But wepeth so, for wanting of hir wille, 2665 + Til that hir teres in the listes fille; + She seyde: ‘I am ashamed, doutelees.’ + Saturnus seyde: ‘Doghter, hold thy pees. (1810) + Mars hath his wille, his knight hath al his bone, + And, by myn heed, thou shalt ben esed sone.’ 2670 + + The trompes, with the loude minstralcye, + The heraudes, that ful loude yolle and crye, + Been in hir wele for Ioye of daun Arcite. + But herkneth me, and stinteth now a lyte, + Which a miracle ther bifel anon. 2675 + + 2671. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. trompours. + + This fierse Arcite hath of his helm y-don, + And on a courser, for to shewe his face, + He priketh endelong the large place, (1820) + Loking upward up-on this Emelye; + And she agayn him caste a freendlich yë, 2680 + (For wommen, as to speken in comune, + They folwen al the favour of fortune), + And she was al his chere, as in his herte. + Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte, + From Pluto sent, at requeste of Saturne, 2685 + For which his hors for fere gan to turne, + And leep asyde, and foundred as he leep; + And, er that Arcite may taken keep, (1830) + He pighte him on the pomel of his heed, + [77: T. 2692-2729.] + That in the place he lay as he were deed, 2690 + His brest to-brosten with his sadel-bowe. + As blak he lay as any cole or crowe, + So was the blood y-ronnen in his face. + Anon he was y-born out of the place + With herte soor, to Theseus paleys. 2695 + Tho was he corven out of his harneys, + And in a bed y-brought ful faire and blyve, + For he was yet in memorie and alyve, (1840) + And alway crying after Emelye. + + 2676. Cm. ferse; E. Hn. fierse. 2679. E. Pt. _om._ this. 2681. E. + Hn. Cm. _omit_ ll. 2681, 2682. 2683. Hn. she; _rest om._ 2684. E. + furie; Hn. Cm. furye; _rest_ fyr, fir, fire, fyre; _see note_. 2698. + Hl. Pt. on lyue. + + Duk Theseus, with al his companye, 2700 + Is comen hoom to Athenes his citee, + With alle blisse and greet solempnitee. + Al be it that this aventure was falle, + He nolde noght disconforten hem alle. + Men seyde eek, that Arcite shal nat dye; 2705 + He shal ben heled of his maladye. + And of another thing they were as fayn, + That of hem alle was ther noon y-slayn, (1850) + Al were they sore y-hurt, and namely oon, + That with a spere was thirled his brest-boon. 2710 + To othere woundes, and to broken armes, + Some hadden salves, and some hadden charmes; + Fermacies of herbes, and eek save + They dronken, for they wolde hir limes have. + For which this noble duk, as he wel can, 2715 + Conforteth and honoureth every man, + And made revel al the longe night, + Un-to the straunge lordes, as was right. (1860) + Ne ther was holden no disconfitinge, + But as a Iustes or a tourneyinge; 2720 + For soothly ther was no disconfiture, + For falling nis nat but an aventure; + Ne to be lad with fors un-to the stake + Unyolden, and with twenty knightes take, + O persone allone, with-outen mo, 2725 + And haried forth by arme, foot, and to, + And eek his stede driven forth with staves, + [78: T. 2730-2767.] + With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaves, (1870) + It nas aretted him no vileinye, + Ther may no man clepen it cowardye. 2730 + + 2714. limes] Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. lyues. 2726. E. Hn. Cm. arm. + + For which anon duk Theseus leet crye, + To stinten alle rancour and envye, + The gree as wel of o syde as of other, + And either syde y-lyk, as otheres brother; + And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree, 2735 + And fully heeld a feste dayes three; + And conveyed the kinges worthily + Out of his toun a Iournee largely. (1880) + And hoom wente every man the righte way. + Ther was namore, but ‘far wel, have good day!’ 2740 + Of this bataille I wol namore endyte, + But speke of Palamon and of Arcite. + + 2737. E. conuoyed. 2740. E. fare; Cm. Hl. far. + + Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the sore + Encreesseth at his herte more and more. + The clothered blood, for any lechecraft, 2745 + Corrupteth, and is in his bouk y-laft, + That neither veyne-blood, ne ventusinge, + Ne drinke of herbes may ben his helpinge. (1890) + The vertu expulsif, or animal, + Fro thilke vertu cleped natural 2750 + Ne may the venim voyden, ne expelle. + The pypes of his longes gonne to swelle, + And every lacerte in his brest adoun + Is shent with venim and corrupcioun. + Him gayneth neither, for to gete his lyf, 2755 + Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif; + Al is to-brosten thilke regioun, + Nature hath now no dominacioun. (1900) + And certeinly, ther nature wol nat wirche, + Far-wel, phisyk! go ber the man to chirche! 2760 + This al and som, that Arcita mot dye, + For which he sendeth after Emelye, + And Palamon, that was his cosin dere; + Than seyde he thus, as ye shul after here. + + 2746. Hl. Pt. Corrumpith. 2760. E. fare; Cm. Hl. far. + + ‘Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte 2765 + [79: T. 2768-2803.] + Declare o poynt of alle my sorwes smerte + To yow, my lady, that I love most; + But I biquethe the service of my gost (1910) + To yow aboven every creature, + Sin that my lyf may no lenger dure. 2770 + Allas, the wo! allas, the peynes stronge, + That I for yow have suffred, and so longe! + Allas, the deeth! allas, myn Emelye! + Allas, departing of our companye! + Allas, myn hertes quene! allas, my wyf! 2775 + Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf! + What is this world? what asketh men to have? + Now with his love, now in his colde grave (1920) + Allone, with-outen any companye. + Far-wel, my swete fo! myn Emelye! 2780 + And softe tak me in your armes tweye, + For love of God, and herkneth what I seye. + + 2770. Tyrwhitt _has_ ne may; ne _is not in the_ MSS. 2781. E. taak. + + I have heer with my cosin Palamon + Had stryf and rancour, many a day a-gon, + For love of yow, and for my Ielousye. 2785 + And Iupiter so wis my soule gye, + To speken of a servant proprely, + With alle circumstaunces trewely, (1930) + That is to seyn, trouthe, honour, and knighthede, + Wisdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kinrede, 2790 + Fredom, and al that longeth to that art, + So Iupiter have of my soule part, + As in this world right now ne knowe I non + So worthy to ben loved as Palamon, + That serveth yow, and wol don al his lyf. 2795 + And if that ever ye shul been a wyf, + Foryet nat Palamon, the gentil man.’ + And with that word his speche faille gan, (1940) + For from his feet up to his brest was come + The cold of deeth, that hadde him overcome. 2800 + And yet more-over, in his armes two + [80: T. 2804-2840.] + The vital strengthe is lost, and al ago. + Only the intellect, with-outen more, + That dwelled in his herte syk and sore, + Gan faillen, when the herte felte deeth, 2805 + Dusked his eyen two, and failled breeth. + But on his lady yet caste he his yë; + His laste word was, ‘mercy, Emelye!’ (1950) + His spirit chaunged hous, and wente ther, + As I cam never, I can nat tellen wher. 2810 + Therfor I stinte, I nam no divinistre; + Of soules finde I nat in this registre, + Ne me ne list thilke opiniouns to telle + Of hem, though that they wryten wher they dwelle. + Arcite is cold, ther Mars his soule gye; 2815 + Now wol I speken forth of Emelye. + + 2785. E. Hn. Cp. Ialousye. 2789. Cp. Pt. Hl. and; rest _om._ 2799. + For] E. And. feet] E. Hl. Cm. herte. 2801. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ for + _before_ in. + + Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon, + And Theseus his suster took anon (1960) + Swowninge, and bar hir fro the corps away. + What helpeth it to tarien forth the day, 2820 + To tellen how she weep, bothe eve and morwe? + For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe, + Whan that hir housbonds been from hem ago, + That for the more part they sorwen so, + Or elles fallen in swich maladye, 2825 + That at the laste certeinly they dye. + + 2819. E. Hn. baar. 2822. Hl. can haue; _rest om._ can. 2823. E. + housbond is. + + Infinite been the sorwes and the teres + Of olde folk, and folk of tendre yeres, (1970) + In al the toun, for deeth of this Theban; + For him ther wepeth bothe child and man; 2830 + So greet a weping was ther noon, certayn, + Whan Ector was y-broght, al fresh y-slayn, + To Troye; allas! the pitee that was ther, + Cracching of chekes, rending eek of heer. + ‘Why woldestow be deed,’ thise wommen crye, 2835 + ‘And haddest gold y-nough, and Emelye?’ + No man mighte gladen Theseus, + Savinge his olde fader Egeus, (1980) + [81: T. 2841-2876.] + That knew this worldes transmutacioun, + As he had seyn it chaungen up and doun, 2840 + Ioye after wo, and wo after gladnesse: + And shewed hem ensamples and lyknesse. + + 2828. E. eek; _for 2nd_ folk. 2834. E. Hn. Cm. Pt. rentynge. 2840. + Hn. chaungen; Hl. torne; _rest om._ + + ‘Right as ther deyed never man,’ quod he, + ‘That he ne livede in erthe in som degree, + Right so ther livede never man,’ he seyde, 2845 + ‘In al this world, that som tyme he ne deyde. + This world nis but a thurghfare ful of wo, + And we ben pilgrimes, passinge to and fro; (1990) + Deeth is an ende of every worldly sore.’ + And over al this yet seyde he muchel more 2850 + To this effect, ful wysly to enhorte + The peple, that they sholde hem reconforte. + + 2843. Hn. deyed; E. dyed. 2849. E. worldes. + + Duk Theseus, with al his bisy cure, + Caste now wher that the sepulture + Of good Arcite may best y-maked be, 2855 + And eek most honurable in his degree. + And at the laste he took conclusioun, + That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun (2000) + Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene, + That in that selve grove, swote and grene, 2860 + Ther as he hadde his amorous desires, + His compleynt, and for love his hote fires, + He wolde make a fyr, in which thoffice + Funeral he mighte al accomplice; + And leet comaunde anon to hakke and hewe 2865 + The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe + In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne; + His officers with swifte feet they renne (2010) + And ryde anon at his comaundement. + And after this, Theseus hath y-sent 2870 + After a bere, and it al over-spradde + With cloth of gold, the richest that he hadde. + And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite; + Upon his hondes hadde he gloves whyte; + [82: T. 2877-2913.] + Eek on his heed a croune of laurer grene, 2875 + And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene. + He leyde him bare the visage on the bere, + Therwith he weep that pitee was to here. (2020) + And for the peple sholde seen him alle, + Whan it was day, he broghte him to the halle, 2880 + That roreth of the crying and the soun. + + 2854. Hn. Caste; E. Hl. Cast. now] Hl. busyly. 2861. E. amorouse. + 2863. E. the office; Hl. thoffice. 2869. E. ryden. 2875. Cp. Pt. + Hl. croune; _rest_ coroune. + + Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun, + With flotery berd, and ruggy asshy heres, + In clothes blake, y-dropped al with teres; + And, passing othere of weping, Emelye, 2885 + The rewfulleste of al the companye. + In as muche as the service sholde be + The more noble and riche in his degree, (2030) + Duk Theseus leet forth three stedes bringe, + That trapped were in steel al gliteringe, 2890 + And covered with the armes of daun Arcite. + Up-on thise stedes, that weren grete and whyte, + Ther seten folk, of which oon bar his sheeld, + Another his spere up in his hondes heeld; + The thridde bar with him his bowe Turkeys, 2895 + Of brend gold was the cas, and eek the harneys; + And riden forth a pas with sorweful chere + Toward the grove, as ye shul after here. (2040) + The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were + Upon hir shuldres carieden the bere, 2900 + With slakke pas, and eyen rede and wete, + Thurgh-out the citee, by the maister-strete, + That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye + Right of the same is al the strete y-wrye. + Up-on the right hond wente old Egeus, 2905 + And on that other syde duk Theseus, + With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn, + Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn; (2050) + Eek Palamon, with ful greet companye; + And after that cam woful Emelye, 2910 + With fyr in honde, as was that tyme the gyse, + [83: T. 2914-2949.] + To do thoffice of funeral servyse. + + 2883. E. rugged. 2892. Hl. that weren; _rest om._ 2893. E. Ln. + sitten. 2894. E. _om._ up. 2901. Ln. slake (_for_ slakke); _rest_ + slak. 2904. Hl. al; _rest om._ 2912. _So_ Hl. Cp.; _rest_ the + office. + + Heigh labour, and ful greet apparaillinge + Was at the service and the fyr-makinge, + That with his grene top the heven raughte, 2915 + And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte; + This is to seyn, the bowes were so brode. + Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode. (2060) + But how the fyr was maked up on highte, + And eek the names how the treës highte, 2920 + As ook, firre, birch, asp, alder, holm, popler, + Wilow, elm, plane, ash, box, chasteyn, lind, laurer, + Mapul, thorn, beech, hasel, ew, whippeltree, + How they weren feld, shal nat be told for me; + Ne how the goddes ronnen up and doun, 2925 + Disherited of hir habitacioun, + In which they woneden in reste and pees, + Nymphes, Faunes, and Amadrides; (2070) + Ne how the bestes and the briddes alle + Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle; 2930 + Ne how the ground agast was of the light, + That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright; + Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree, + And than with drye stokkes cloven a three, + And than with grene wode and spycerye, 2935 + And than with cloth of gold and with perrye, + And gerlandes hanging with ful many a flour, + The mirre, thencens, with al so greet odour; (2080) + Ne how Arcite lay among al this, + Ne what richesse aboute his body is; 2940 + Ne how that Emelye, as was the gyse, + Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse; + Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr, + Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desyr; + Ne what Ieweles men in the fyr tho caste, 2945 + Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste; + Ne how som caste hir sheeld, and som hir spere, + [84: T. 2950-2986.] + And of hir vestiments, whiche that they were, (2090) + And cuppes ful of wyn, and milk, and blood, + Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood; 2950 + Ne how the Grekes with an huge route + Thryës riden al the fyr aboute + Up-on the left hand, with a loud shoutinge, + And thryës with hir speres clateringe; + And thryës how the ladies gonne crye; 2955 + Ne how that lad was hom-ward Emelye; + Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde; + Ne how that liche-wake was y-holde (2100) + Al thilke night, ne how the Grekes pleye + The wake-pleyes, ne kepe I nat to seye; 2960 + Who wrastleth best naked, with oille enoynt, + Ne who that bar him best, in no disioynt. + I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon + Hoom til Athenes, whan the pley is doon; + But shortly to the poynt than wol I wende, 2965 + And maken of my longe tale an ende. + + 2916. Hl. tharme. 2920. how] E. that. 2921. Hn. Hl. popler; _rest_ + popelere. 2924. E. fild. 2926. Hl. Disheryt. 2928. E. Cm. + Nymphus. 2934, 5, 6. Pt. Ln. than; _rest_ thanne. 2934. E. Cp. + stokkes; _rest_ stikkes. 2943. E. _om._ the. 2945. Hl. tho; _rest + om._ 2952. _So all but_ Hl., _which has_ Thre tymes; _see_ l. 2954. + E. place (_for_ fyr). 2956. E. Hn. And (_for_ Ne). 2958. E. Hn. + lych; _rest_ liche. + + By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres + Al stinted is the moorning and the teres (2110) + Of Grekes, by oon general assent. + Than semed me ther was a parlement 2970 + At Athenes, up-on certeyn poynts and cas; + Among the whiche poynts y-spoken was + To have with certeyn contrees alliaunce, + And have fully of Thebans obeisaunce. + For which this noble Theseus anon 2975 + Leet senden after gentil Palamon, + Unwist of him what was the cause and why; + But in his blake clothes sorwefully (2120) + He cam at his comaundement in hye. + Tho sente Theseus for Emelye. 2980 + Whan they were set, and hust was al the place, + And Theseus abiden hadde a space + Er any word cam from his wyse brest, + His eyen sette he ther as was his lest, + [85: T. 2987-3020.] + And with a sad visage he syked stille, 2985 + And after that right thus he seyde his wille. + + ‘The firste moevere of the cause above, + Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love, (2130) + Greet was theffect, and heigh was his entente; + Wel wiste he why, and what ther-of he mente; 2990 + For with that faire cheyne of love he bond + The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond + In certeyn boundes, that they may nat flee; + That same prince and that moevere,’ quod he, + ‘Hath stablissed, in this wrecched world adoun, 2995 + Certeyne dayes and duracioun + To al that is engendred in this place, + Over the whiche day they may nat pace, (2140) + Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge; + Ther needeth non auctoritee allegge, 3000 + For it is preved by experience, + But that me list declaren my sentence. + Than may men by this ordre wel discerne, + That thilke moevere stable is and eterne. + Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool, 3005 + That every part deryveth from his hool. + For nature hath nat take his beginning + Of no partye ne cantel of a thing, (2150) + But of a thing that parfit is and stable, + Descending so, til it be corrumpable. 3010 + And therfore, of his wyse purveyaunce, + He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce, + That speces of thinges and progressiouns + Shullen enduren by successiouns, + And nat eterne be, with-oute lye: 3015 + This maistow understonde and seen at eye. + + 2994. Hn. Ln. that; _rest_ (_except_ Hl.) that same. Hl. and moeuere + eek. 2995. Hl. Ln. stabled. 2997. Hl. alle that er; Cp. alle that + beth. 3000. E. Cp. _ins._ noght _bef._ noon. Hl. tallegge; Hn. to + allegge; Cm. Cp. Pt. to legge. 3006. E. dirryueth. 3007. Hl. Ln. + take; _rest_ taken; E. Cm. _om._ nat. 3008. Hl. ne; E. Hn. Pt. or of; + Cm. or of a. 3015. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ eterne with-outen any lye. + 3016. at] E. it. + + ‘Lo the ook, that hath so long a norisshinge + From tyme that it first biginneth springe, (2160) + [86: T. 3021-3058.] + And hath so long a lyf, as we may see, + Yet at the laste wasted is the tree. 3020 + + ‘Considereth eek, how that the harde stoon + Under our feet, on which we trede and goon, + Yit wasteth it, as it lyth by the weye. + The brode river somtyme wexeth dreye. + The grete tounes see we wane and wende. 3025 + Than may ye see that al this thing hath ende. + + 3025. E. toures. + + ‘Of man and womman seen we wel also, + That nedeth, in oon of thise termes two, (2170) + This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age, + He moot ben deed, the king as shal a page; 3030 + Som in his bed, som in the depe see, + Som in the large feeld, as men may se; + Ther helpeth noght, al goth that ilke weye. + Thanne may I seyn that al this thing moot deye. + What maketh this but Iupiter the king? 3035 + The which is prince and cause of alle thing, + Converting al un-to his propre welle, + From which it is deryved, sooth to telle. (2180) + And here-agayns no creature on lyve + Of no degree availleth for to stryve. 3040 + + 3034. E. Cm. _om._ that. 3036. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ That is. + + ‘Thanne is it wisdom, as it thinketh me, + To maken vertu of necessitee, + And take it wel, that we may nat eschue, + And namely that to us alle is due. + And who-so gruccheth ought, he dooth folye, 3045 + And rebel is to him that al may gye. + And certeinly a man hath most honour + To dyen in his excellence and flour, (2190) + Whan he is siker of his gode name; + Than hath he doon his freend, ne him, no shame. 3050 + And gladder oghte his freend ben of his deeth, + Whan with honour up-yolden is his breeth, + Than whan his name apalled is for age; + For al forgeten is his vasselage. + Than is it best, as for a worthy fame, 3055 + To dyen whan that he is best of name. + [87: T. 3059-3095.] + The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse. + Why grucchen we? why have we hevinesse, (2200) + That good Arcite, of chivalrye flour + Departed is, with duetee and honour, 3060 + Out of this foule prison of this lyf? + Why grucchen heer his cosin and his wyf + Of his wel-fare that loved hem so weel? + Can he hem thank? nay, God wot, never a deel, + That bothe his soule and eek hem-self offende, 3065 + And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende. + + 3056. Hl. whan a man. 3059. Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln. _ins._ the _bef._ flour. + + ‘What may I conclude of this longe serie, + But, after wo, I rede us to be merie, (2210) + And thanken Iupiter of al his grace? + And, er that we departen from this place, 3070 + I rede that we make, of sorwes two, + O parfyt Ioye, lasting ever-mo; + And loketh now, wher most sorwe is her-inne, + Ther wol we first amenden and biginne. + + 3071. Hl. that; _rest om._ + + ‘Suster,’ quod he, ‘this is my fulle assent, 3075 + With al thavys heer of my parlement, + That gentil Palamon, your owne knight, + That serveth yow with wille, herte, and might, (2220) + And ever hath doon, sin that ye first him knewe, + That ye shul, of your grace, up-on him rewe, 3080 + And taken him for housbonde and for lord: + Leen me your hond, for this is our acord. + Lat see now of your wommanly pitee. + He is a kinges brother sone, pardee; + And, though he were a povre bacheler, 3085 + Sin he hath served yow so many a yeer, + And had for yow so greet adversitee, + It moste been considered, leveth me; (2230) + For gentil mercy oghte to passen right.’ + + 3077. your] E. thyn. 3082. Hn. Leen; _rest_ Lene. + + Than seyde he thus to Palamon ful right; 3090 + ‘I trowe ther nedeth litel sermoning + To make yow assente to this thing. + Com neer, and tak your lady by the hond.’ + [88: T. 3096-3110.] + Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond, + That highte matrimoine or mariage, 3095 + By al the counseil and the baronage. + And thus with alle blisse and melodye + Hath Palamon y-wedded Emelye. (2240) + And God, that al this wyde world hath wroght, + Sende him his love, that hath it dere a-boght. 3100 + For now is Palamon in alle wele, + Living in blisse, in richesse, and in hele; + And Emelye him loveth so tendrely, + And he hir serveth al-so gentilly, + That never was ther no word hem bitwene 3105 + Of Ielousye, or any other tene. + Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye; + And God save al this faire companye!—Amen. (2250) + + HERE IS ENDED THE KNIGHTES TALE. + + 3095. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. matrimoigne; Pt. matrimoyne; Hl. matrimoyn. + 3100. E. _om._ hath. 3104. Hl. also; _rest_ so. 3106. E. Hn. Cp. + Ialousye. Hl. ne of non othir teene. COLOPHON; _so_ E. Hn.; Pt. Hl. + endeth. + +[89: T. 3111-3133.] + + * * * * * + +THE MILLER’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + HERE FOLWEN THE WORDES BITWENE THE HOST AND THE MILLERE. + + Whan that the Knight had thus his tale y-told, + In al the route nas ther yong ne old 3110 + That he ne seyde it was a noble storie, + And worthy for to drawen to memorie; + And namely the gentils everichoon. + Our Hoste lough and swoor, ‘so moot I goon, + This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male; 3115 + Lat see now who shal telle another tale: + For trewely, the game is wel bigonne. + Now telleth ye, sir Monk, if that ye conne, (10) + Sumwhat, to quyte with the Knightes tale.’ + The Miller, that for-dronken was al pale, 3120 + So that unnethe up-on his hors he sat, + He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat, + Ne abyde no man for his curteisye, + But in Pilates vois he gan to crye, + And swoor by armes and by blood and bones, 3125 + ‘I can a noble tale for the nones, + With which I wol now quyte the Knightes tale.’ + + HEADING. _From_ E. Heere; hoost. 3118. E. on; _rest_ ye. + + Our Hoste saugh that he was dronke of ale, (20) + And seyde: ‘abyd, Robin, my leve brother, + Som bettre man shal telle us first another: 3130 + Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily.’ + + 3128. Ln. oste; E. hoost; Hl. _has_—Oure hoost saugh wel how. + +[90: T. 3134-3166.] + + ‘By goddes soul,’ quod he, ‘that wol nat I; + For I wol speke, or elles go my wey.’ + Our Hoste answerde: ‘tel on, a devel wey! + Thou art a fool, thy wit is overcome.’ 3135 + + 3134. Pt. hooste; Ln. oste; E. hoost. + + ‘Now herkneth,’ quod the Miller, ‘alle and some! + But first I make a protestacioun + That I am dronke, I knowe it by my soun; (30) + And therfore, if that I misspeke or seye, + Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I yow preye; 3140 + For I wol telle a legende and a lyf + Bothe of a Carpenter, and of his wyf, + How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe.’ + + 3140. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ yow. + + The Reve answerde and seyde, ‘stint thy clappe, + Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye. 3145 + It is a sinne and eek a greet folye + To apeiren any man, or him diffame, + And eek to bringen wyves in swich fame. (40) + Thou mayst y-nogh of othere thinges seyn.’ + + 3147. E. Ln. Hl. defame; _rest_ diffame. + + This dronken Miller spak ful sone ageyn, 3150 + And seyde, ‘leve brother Osewold, + Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold. + But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon; + Ther been ful gode wyves many oon, 3154 + And ever a thousand gode ayeyns oon badde, [T. _om._ + That knowestow wel thy-self, but-if thou madde. [T. _om._ + Why artow angry with my tale now? + I have a wyf, pardee, as well as thou, (50) + Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh, + Taken up-on me more than y-nogh, 3160 + As demen of my-self that I were oon; + I wol beleve wel that I am noon. + An housbond shal nat been inquisitif + Of goddes privetee, nor of his wyf. + So he may finde goddes foyson there, 3165 + Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere.’ + + 3150. E. dronke; Cm. dronkyn; _rest_ dronken. 3155, 6. _These two + lines are in_ E. Cm. Hl. only. 3160. Cm. Takyn; _rest_ Take, Tak. + 3166. enquere] Cp. Pt. Ln. to enquere. + +[91: T. 3167-3186.] + + What sholde I more seyn, but this Millere + He nolde his wordes for no man forbere, (60) + But tolde his cherles tale in his manere; + Me thinketh that I shal reherce it here. 3170 + And ther-fore every gentil wight I preye, + For goddes love, demeth nat that I seye + Of evel entente, but that I moot reherce + Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse, + Or elles falsen som of my matere. 3175 + And therfore, who-so list it nat y-here, + Turne over the leef, and chese another tale; + For he shal finde y-nowe, grete and smale, (70) + Of storial thing that toucheth gentillesse, + And eek moralitee and holinesse; 3180 + Blameth nat me if that ye chese amis. + The Miller is a cherl, ye knowe wel this; + So was the Reve, and othere many mo, + And harlotrye they tolden bothe two. + Avyseth yow and putte me out of blame; 3185 + And eek men shal nat make ernest of game. + + HERE ENDETH THE PROLOGE. + + 3170. E. Mathynketh; Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. Me athynketh; Cm. Me thynkyth. + 3172. demeth] Hl. as deme. 3173. E. yuel; Cm. euyl. 3177. Cp. + chees; Cm. ches; _rest_ chese. 3185. E. Cm. _om._ and. E. Cp. + putteth; _rest_ putte, put. 3186. E. Hn. Cm. maken; _rest_ make. + COLOPHON. _From_ Cm.; Pt. Thus endeth the prologe; Ln. Explicit + prologus; Hl. Here endeth the prologe of the Miller. + +[92: T. 3187-3214.] + + * * * * * + +THE MILLERES TALE. + + * * * * * + + HERE BIGINNETH THE MILLERE HIS TALE. + + Whylom ther was dwellinge at Oxenford + A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord, + And of his craft he was a Carpenter. + With him ther was dwellinge a povre scoler, 3190 + Had lerned art, but al his fantasye + Was turned for to lerne astrologye, + And coude a certeyn of conclusiouns + To demen by interrogaciouns, + If that men axed him in certein houres, 3195 + Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures, (10) + Or if men axed him what sholde bifalle + Of every thing, I may nat rekene hem alle. + + 3187. Cm. Pt. in (_for_ at). 3190. Cm. Pt. Hl. pore; E. Hn. poure (= + povre); Cp. Ln. pouer (= pover). 3195, 7. E. asked; _rest_ axed. + + This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas; + Of derne love he coude and of solas; 3200 + And ther-to be was sleigh and ful privee, + And lyk a mayden meke for to see. + A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye + Allone, with-outen any companye, + Ful fetisly y-dight with herbes swote; 3205 + And he him-self as swete as is the rote (20) + Of licorys, or any cetewale. + His Almageste and bokes grete and smale, + His astrelabie, longinge for his art, + His augrim-stones layen faire a-part 3210 + On shelves couched at his beddes heed: + His presse y-covered with a falding reed. + And al above ther lay a gay sautrye, + On which he made a nightes melodye + [93: T. 3215-3250.] + So swetely, that al the chambre rong; 3215 + And _Angelus ad virginem_ he song; (30) + And after that he song the kinges note; + Ful often blessed was his mery throte. + And thus this swete clerk his tyme spente + After his freendes finding and his rente. 3220 + + 3218. Cm. Pt. Ln. Hl. mery; E. myrie. + + This Carpenter had wedded newe a wyf + Which that he lovede more than his lyf; + Of eightetene yeer she was of age. + Ialous he was, and heeld hir narwe in cage, + For she was wilde and yong, and he was old 3225 + And demed him-self ben lyk a cokewold. (40) + He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude, + That bad man sholde wedde his similitude. + Men sholde wedden after hir estaat, + For youthe and elde is often at debaat. 3230 + But sith that he was fallen in the snare, + He moste endure, as other folk, his care. + + 3223. Hl. eyghteteene; _rest_ xviij. 3225. E. yong and wylde. 3230. + Cm. Hl. ben; _rest_ is. + + Fair was this yonge wyf, and ther-with-al + As any wesele hir body gent and smal. + A ceynt she werede barred al of silk, 3235 + A barmclooth eek as whyt as morne milk (50) + Up-on hir lendes, ful of many a gore. + Whyt was hir smok, and brouded al bifore + And eek bihinde, on hir coler aboute, + Of col-blak silk, with-inne and eek with-oute. 3240 + The tapes of hir whyte voluper + Were of the same suyte of hir coler; + Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye: + And sikerly she hadde a likerous yë. + Ful smale y-pulled were hir browes two, 3245 + And tho were bent, and blake as any sloo. (60) + She was ful more blisful on to see + Than is the newe pere-ionette tree; + And softer than the wolle is of a wether. + And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether 3250 + [94: T. 3251-3285.] + Tasseld with silk, and perled with latoun. + In al this world, to seken up and doun, + There nis no man so wys, that coude thenche + So gay a popelote, or swich a wenche. + Ful brighter was the shyning of hir hewe 3255 + Than in the tour the noble y-forged newe. (70) + But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne + As any swalwe sittinge on a berne. + Ther-to she coude skippe and make game, + As any kide or calf folwinge his dame. 3260 + Hir mouth was swete as bragot or the meeth, + Or hord of apples leyd in hey or heeth. + Winsinge she was, as is a Ioly colt, + Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt. + A brooch she baar up-on hir lowe coler, 3265 + As brood as is the bos of a bocler. (80) + Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye; + She was a prymerole, a pigges-nye + For any lord to leggen in his bedde, + Or yet for any good yeman to wedde. 3270 + + 3235. E. y-barred; _rest_ barred. 3236. Hl. eek; _rest om._ 3238. + Cp. brouded; Hl. browdid; Cm. I-brouded; E. Hn. broyden. 3251. E. Hn. + Tasseled; Ln. Tassilde; Hl. Cp. Tassid. E. grene; _rest_ silk. + 3253. E. nas; Hn. Pt. Hl. nys; Cm. Cp. Ln. is. 3261. Cm. Pt. Cp. Ln. + braket. 3265. Cm. lowe; _rest_ loue. 3266. Cp. bocler; Hl. bocleer; + _rest_ bokeler. + + Now sire, and eft sire, so bifel the cas, + That on a day this hende Nicholas + Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye, + Whyl that hir housbond was at Oseneye, + As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte; 3275 + And prively he caughte hir by the queynte, (90) + And seyde, ‘y-wis, but if ich have my wille, + For derne love of thee, lemman, I spille.’ + And heeld hir harde by the haunche-bones, + And seyde, ‘lemman, love me al at-ones, 3280 + Or I wol dyen, also god me save!’ + And she sprong as a colt doth in the trave, + And with hir heed she wryed faste awey, + And seyde, ‘I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey, + Why, lat be,’ quod she, ‘lat be, Nicholas, 3285 + [95: T. 3286-3322.] + Or I wol crye out “harrow” and “allas.” (100) + Do wey your handes for your curteisye!’ + + 3283. Cm. wrythed. 3285. Pt. she; Cm. Hl. sche; Ln. iche; _rest_ ich. + + This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye, + And spak so faire, and profred hir so faste, + That she hir love him graunted atte laste, 3290 + And swoor hir ooth, by seint Thomas of Kent, + That she wol been at his comandement, + Whan that she may hir leyser wel espye. + ‘Myn housbond is so ful of Ialousye, + That but ye wayte wel and been privee, 3295 + I woot right wel I nam but deed,’ quod she. (110) + ‘Ye moste been ful derne, as in this cas.’ + + ‘Nay ther-of care thee noght,’ quod Nicholas, + ‘A clerk had litherly biset his whyle, + But-if he coude a Carpenter bigyle.’ 3300 + And thus they been acorded and y-sworn + To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn. + Whan Nicholas had doon thus everydeel, + And thakked hir aboute the lendes weel, + He kist hir swete, and taketh his sautrye, 3305 + And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodye. (120) + + 3289. E. hir; _rest_ him. + + Than fil it thus, that to the parish-chirche, + Cristes owne werkes for to wirche, + This gode wyf wente on an haliday; + Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day, 3310 + So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk. + + Now was ther of that chirche a parish-clerk, + The which that was y-cleped Absolon. + Crul was his heer, and as the gold it shoon, + And strouted as a fanne large and brode; 3315 + Ful streight and even lay his Ioly shode. (130) + His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos; + With Powles window corven on his shoos, + In hoses rede he wente fetisly. + Y-clad he was ful smal and proprely, 3320 + Al in a kirtel of a light wachet; + Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set. + [96: T. 3323-3358.] + And ther-up-on he hadde a gay surplys + As whyt as is the blosme up-on the rys. + A mery child he was, so god me save, 3325 + Wel coude he laten blood and clippe and shave, (140) + And make a chartre of lond or acquitaunce. + In twenty manere coude he trippe and daunce + After the scole of Oxenforde tho, + And with his legges casten to and fro, 3330 + And pleyen songes on a small rubible; + Ther-to he song som-tyme a loud quinible; + And as wel coude he pleye on his giterne. + In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne + That he ne visited with his solas, 3335 + Ther any gaylard tappestere was. (150) + But sooth to seyn, he was somdel squaymous + Of farting, and of speche daungerous. + + 3319. Cm. hosyn; Pt. hosen; _rest_ hoses. 3321. Hl. fyn (_for_ + light). Hl. Ln. wachet; Cm. vachet; _rest_ waget. 3325. E. myrie; + Hn. murye. 3327. E. Hn. maken. 3329. E. Hn. Oxenford; Cm. + Oxenforthe; _rest_ Oxenforde. 3333. E. his; _rest_ a. + + This Absolon, that Iolif was and gay, + Gooth with a sencer on the haliday, 3340 + Sensinge the wyves of the parish faste; + And many a lovely look on hem he caste, + And namely on this carpenteres wyf. + To loke on hir him thoughte a mery lyf, + She was so propre and swete and likerous. 3345 + I dar wel seyn, if she had been a mous, (160) + And he a cat, he wolde hir hente anon. + + 3344. E. myrie; Hn. murye. 3347. E. Hl. wold; _rest_ wolde. + + This parish-clerk, this Ioly Absolon, + Hath in his herte swich a love-longinge, + That of no wyf ne took he noon offringe; 3350 + For curteisye, he seyde, he wolde noon. + The mone, whan it was night, ful brighte shoon, + And Absolon his giterne hath y-take, + For paramours, he thoghte for to wake. + And forth he gooth, Iolif and amorous, 3353 + Til he cam to the carpenteres hous (170) + A litel after cokkes hadde y-crowe; + And dressed him up by a shot-windowe + [97: T. 3359-3392.] + That was up-on the carpenteres wal. + He singeth in his vois gentil and smal, 3360 + ‘Now, dere lady, if thy wille be, + I preye yow that ye wol rewe on me,’ + Ful wel acordaunt to his giterninge. + This carpenter awook, and herde him singe, + And spak un-to his wyf, and seyde anon, 3365 + ‘What! Alison! herestow nat Absolon (180) + That chaunteth thus under our boures wal?’ + And she answerde hir housbond ther-with-al, + ‘Yis, god wot, Iohn, I here it every-del.’ + + 3350. Hn. Hl. ne; _rest om._ 3362. Cm. preye; Hl. praye; Ln. preie; + E. Hn. Cp. Pt. pray. E. wole; Cm. wele; Hn. Hl. wol; _rest_ wil. E. + thynke; _rest_ rewe. 3364. E. _om._ him. + + This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than wel? 3370 + Fro day to day this Ioly Absolon + So woweth hir, that him is wo bigon. + He waketh al the night and al the day; + He kempte hise lokkes brode, and made him gay; + He woweth hir by menes and brocage, 3375 + And swoor he wolde been hir owne page; (190) + He singeth, brokkinge as a nightingale; + He sente hir piment, meeth, and spyced ale, + And wafres, pyping hote out of the glede; + And for she was of toune, he profred mede. 3380 + For som folk wol ben wonnen for richesse, + And som for strokes, and som for gentillesse. + + 3371. E. _repeats_ to day. 3374. Cm. kempte; Hn. Ln. kembed; Cp. + kembede; E. Pt. kembeth. 3379. Cm. Pt. Ln. hote; E. Hn. Cp. hoot. + 3380. E. profreth. + + Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye, + He pleyeth Herodes on a scaffold hye. + But what availleth him as in this cas? 3385 + She loveth so this hende Nicholas, (200) + That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn; + He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn; + And thus she maketh Absolon hir ape, + And al his ernest turneth til a Iape. 3390 + Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye, + Men seyn right thus, ‘alwey the nye slye + [98: T. 3393-3429.] + Maketh the ferre leve to be looth.’ + For though that Absolon be wood or wrooth, + By-cause that he fer was from hir sighte, 3395 + This nye Nicholas stood in his lighte. (210) + + 3384. Hl. Herodz; Ln. Heraude; _rest_ Herodes, Heraudes. Hl. on; + _rest_ vp on. 3390. Hl. Pt. to; _rest_ til. + + Now bere thee wel, thou hende Nicholas! + For Absolon may waille and singe ‘allas.’ + And so bifel it on a Saterday, + This carpenter was goon til Osenay; 3400 + And hende Nicholas and Alisoun + Acorded been to this conclusioun, + That Nicholas shal shapen him a wyle + This sely Ialous housbond to bigyle; + And if so be the game wente aright, 3405 + She sholde slepen in his arm al night, (220) + For this was his desyr and hir also. + And right anon, with-outen wordes mo, + This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie, + But doth ful softe un-to his chambre carie 3410 + Bothe mete and drinke for a day or tweye, + And to hir housbonde bad hir for to seye, + If that he axed after Nicholas, + She sholde seye she niste where he was, + Of al that day she saugh him nat with yë; 3415 + She trowed that he was in maladye, (230) + For, for no cry, hir mayde coude him calle; + He nolde answere, for no-thing that mighte falle. + + 3415. Cm. Pt. ye; Hl. Iye; _rest_ eye. 3418. Hn. Cm. Cp. Ln. no + thyng; Pt. Hl. nought; E. thyng. Pt. Hl. may bifalle. (_Read_ mighte + _as_ might’). + + This passeth forth al thilke Saterday, + That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay, 3420 + And eet and sleep, or dide what him leste, + Til Sonday, that the sonne gooth to reste. + + This sely carpenter hath greet merveyle + Of Nicholas, or what thing mighte him eyle, + And seyde, ‘I am adrad, by seint Thomas, 3425 + It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas. (240) + God shilde that he deyde sodeynly! + This world is now ful tikel, sikerly; + I saugh to-day a cors y-born to chirche + [99: T. 3430-3465.] + That now, on Monday last, I saugh him wirche. 3430 + + Go up,’ quod he un-to his knave anoon, + ‘Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a stoon, + Loke how it is, and tel me boldely.’ + + This knave gooth him up ful sturdily, + And at the chambre-dore, whyl that he stood, 3435 + He cryde and knokked as that he were wood:— (250) + ‘What! how! what do ye, maister Nicholay? + How may ye slepen al the longe day?’ + + But al for noght, he herde nat a word; + An hole he fond, ful lowe up-on a bord, 3440 + Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe; + And at that hole he looked in ful depe, + And at the laste he hadde of him a sighte. + This Nicholas sat gaping ever up-righte, + As he had kyked on the newe mone. 3445 + Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister sone (260) + In what array he saugh this ilke man. + + 3440. E. Hn. foond; Pt. foonde. 3444. E. Hn. Cp. capyng. 3445. Cp. + Ln. keked; Hl. loked. 3447. E. Pt. that; _rest_ this. + + This carpenter to blessen him bigan, + And seyde, ‘help us, seinte Frideswyde! + A man woot litel what him shal bityde. 3450 + This man is falle, with his astromye, + In som woodnesse or in som agonye; + I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be! + Men sholde nat knowe of goddes privetee. + Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man, 3455 + That noght but oonly his bileve can! (270) + So ferde another clerk with astromye; + He walked in the feeldes for to prye + Up-on the sterres, what ther sholde bifalle, + Til he was in a marle-pit y-falle; 3460 + He saugh nat that. But yet, by seint Thomas, + Me reweth sore of hende Nicholas. + He shal be rated of his studying, + If that I may, by Iesus, hevene king! + + 3451. E. Hn. Astromye; Ln. Arstromye; _rest_ astronomye; _but_ Astromye + _is meant; see_ l. 3457. 3457. _So_ E. Hn.; _rest_ astronomye. + 3460. E. -put. + + Get me a staf, that I may underspore, 3465 + [100: T. 3466-3498.] + Whyl that thou, Robin, hevest up the dore. (280) + He shal out of his studying, as I gesse’— + And to the chambre-dore he gan him dresse. + His knave was a strong carl for the nones, + And by the haspe he haf it up atones; 3470 + In-to the floor the dore fil anon. + This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon, + And ever gaped upward in-to the eir. + This carpenter wende he were in despeir, + And hente him by the sholdres mightily, 3475 + And shook him harde, and cryde spitously, (290) + ‘What! Nicholay! what, how! what! loke adoun! + Awake, and thenk on Cristes passioun; + I crouche thee from elves and fro wightes!’ + Ther-with the night-spel seyde he anon-rightes 3480 + On foure halves of the hous aboute, + And on the threshfold of the dore with-oute:— + ‘Iesu Crist, and seynt Benedight, + Blesse this hous from every wikked wight, + For nightes verye, the white _pater-noster_! 3485 + Where wentestow, seynt Petres soster?’ (300) + + 3466. E. of; _rest_ vp, vpe. 3470. Cm. Hl. haf; E. Hn. haaf; Cp. + heef. Hn. Pt. Ln. Hl. vp; _rest_ of. 3473. E. Hn. caped; Hl. capyd; + Cp. capede; _rest_ gaped, gapede. 3477. Hl. man (_for 3rd_ what); + _rest om._ 3485. _All but_ E. Hl. For the nyghtes. E. Hn. uerye; + Cm. verie; Cp. Pt. verye; Ln. very; Hl. verray. 3486. Cm. wonyst + þ_o_u; Hl. wonestow; _after which_ Cm. Hl. _ins._ now. + + And atte laste this hende Nicholas + Gan for to syke sore, and seyde, ‘allas! + Shal al the world be lost eftsones now?’ + + 3487. Hl. _om._ this. 3489. E. this; _rest_ the. + + This carpenter answerde, ‘what seystow? 3490 + What! thenk on god, as we don, men that swinke.’ + + 3491. Hn. Pt. Hl. thenk; _rest_ thynk; _see_ 3478. Cm. as men don whan + they swinke. + + This Nicholas answerde, ‘fecche me drinke; + And after wol I speke in privetee + Of certeyn thing that toucheth me and thee; + I wol telle it non other man, certeyn.’ 3495 + + This carpenter goth doun, and comth ageyn, (310) + And broghte of mighty ale a large quart; + And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part, + [101: T. 3499-3534.] + This Nicholas his dore faste shette, + And doun the carpenter by him he sette. 3500 + + He seyde, ‘Iohn, myn hoste lief and dere, + Thou shall up-on thy trouthe swere me here, + That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye; + For it is Cristes conseil that I seye, + And if thou telle it man, thou are forlore; 3505 + For this vengaunce thou shalt han therfore, (320) + That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be wood!’ + ‘Nay, Crist forbede it, for his holy blood!’ + Quod tho this sely man, ‘I nam no labbe, + Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe. 3510 + Sey what thou wolt, I shal it never telle + To child ne wyf, by him that harwed helle!’ + + 3501. Cp. Pt. hooste; Ln. ostee; Hl. host ful; E. Hn. hoost; Cm. ost. + 3505. E. _om._ it. 3510. E. Hl. am; _rest_ nam, ne am. + + ‘Now John,’ quod Nicholas, ‘I wol nat lye; + I have y-founde in myn astrologye, + As I have loked in the mone bright, 3515 + That now, a Monday next, at quarter-night, (330) + Shal falle a reyn and that so wilde and wood, + That half so greet was never Noës flood. + This world,’ he seyde, ‘in lasse than in an hour + Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour; 3520 + Thus shal mankynde drenche and lese hir lyf.’ + + 3516. a] Hl. on. 3519. Cm. Hl. _om. 2nd_ in. + + This carpenter answerde, ‘allas, my wyf! + And shal she drenche? allas! myn Alisoun!’ + For sorwe of this he fil almost adoun, + And seyde, ‘is ther no remedie in this cas?’ 3525 + + 3525. Pt. Ln. _om._ ther. + + ‘Why, yis, for gode,’ quod hende Nicholas, (340) + ‘If thou wolt werken after lore and reed; + Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene heed. + For thus seith Salomon, that was ful trewe, + “Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat rewe.” 3530 + And if thou werken wolt by good conseil, + I undertake, with-outen mast and seyl, + Yet shal I saven hir and thee and me + Hastow nat herd how saved was Noë, + [102: T. 3535-3570.] + Whan that our lord had warned him biforn 3535 + That al the world with water sholde be lorn?’ (350) + + 3527. E. aftir. 3534. E. hou. 3535. Hl. had; E. Hn. Cm. hadde. + + ‘Yis,’ quod this carpenter, ‘ful yore ago.’ + + ‘Hastow nat herd,’ quod Nicholas, ‘also + The sorwe of Noë with his felawshipe, + Er that he mighte gete his wyf to shipe? 3540 + Him had be lever, I dar wel undertake, + At thilke tyme, than alle hise wetheres blake, + That she hadde had a ship hir-self allone. + And ther-fore, wostou what is best to done? + This asketh haste, and of an hastif thing 3545 + Men may nat preche or maken tarying. (360) + + 3539. E. felaweshipe. 3540. E. brynge; _rest_ gete. 3541. E. hadde; + leuere. 3544. E. woostou; doone. + + Anon go gete us faste in-to this in + A kneding-trogh, or elles a kimelin, + For ech of us, but loke that they be large, + In whiche we mowe swimme as in a barge, 3550 + And han ther-inne vitaille suffisant + But for a day; fy on the remenant! + The water shal aslake and goon away + Aboute pryme up-on the nexte day. + But Robin may nat wite of this, thy knave, 3555 + Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat save; (370) + Axe nat why, for though thou aske me, + I wol nat tellen goddes privetee. + Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde, + To han as greet a grace as Noë hadde. 3560 + Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute, + Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer-aboute. + + 3548. E. ellis. E. kymelyn; Hl. kemelyn. + + But whan thou hast, for hir and thee and me, + Y-geten us thise kneding-tubbes three, + Than shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye, 3565 + That no man of our purveyaunce spye. (380) + And whan thou thus hast doon as I have seyd, + And hast our vitaille faire in hem y-leyd, + And eek an ax, to smyte the corde atwo + When that the water comth, that we may go, 3570 + [103: T. 3571-3606.] + And broke an hole an heigh, up-on the gable, + Unto the gardin-ward, over the stable, + That we may frely passen forth our way + Whan that the grete shour is goon away— + Than shaltow swimme as myrie, I undertake, 3575 + As doth the whyte doke after hir drake. (390) + Than wol I clepe, “how! Alison! how! John! + Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon.” + And thou wolt seyn, “hayl, maister Nicholay! + Good morwe, I se thee wel, for it is day.” 3580 + And than shul we be lordes al our lyf + Of al the world, as Noë and his wyf. + + 3565: E. Thanne. 3571. E. Pt. Ln. broke; _rest_ breke. 3575. E. + Thanne. E. shal I; _rest_ shaltow, shalt thou. 3577. E. Thanne. + + But of o thyng I warne thee ful right, + Be wel avysed, on that ilke night + That we ben entred in-to shippes bord, 3585 + That noon of us ne speke nat a word, (400) + Ne clepe, ne crye, but been in his preyere; + For it is goddes owne heste dere. + + 3588. E. heeste. + + Thy wyf and thou mote hange fer a-twinne, + For that bitwixe yow shal be no sinne 3590 + No more in looking than ther shal in dede; + This ordinance is seyd, go, god thee spede! + Tomorwe at night, whan men ben alle aslepe, + In-to our kneding-tubbes wol we crepe, + And sitten ther, abyding goddes grace. 3595 + Go now thy wey, I have no lenger space (410) + To make of this no lenger sermoning. + Men seyn thus, “send the wyse, and sey no-thing;” + Thou art so wys, it nedeth thee nat teche; + Go, save our lyf, and that I thee biseche.’ 3600 + + 3591. E. Hn. Na. 3592. E. Pt. Hl. so; _rest_ go. 3593. E. folk; Cm. + we; _rest_ men. 3598. E. sende. 3599. E. to preche; Cp. to teche; + _rest_ teche. + + This sely carpenter goth forth his wey. + Ful ofte he seith ‘allas’ and ‘weylawey,’ + And to his wyf he tolde his privetee; + And she was war, and knew it bet than he, + What al this queynte cast was for to seye. 3605 + But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye, (420) + [104: T. 3607-3641.] + And seyde, ‘allas! go forth thy wey anon, + Help us to scape, or we ben lost echon; + I am thy trewe verray wedded wyf; + Go, dere spouse, and help to save our lyf.’ 3610 + + 3608. Cm. er (_for_ or). E. lost; _rest_ dede, deede, ded. 3609. + Cm. Hl. verray trewe. + + Lo! which a greet thyng is affeccioun! + Men may dye of imaginacioun, + So depe may impressioun be take. + This sely carpenter biginneth quake; + Him thinketh verraily that he may see 3615 + Noës flood come walwing as the see (430) + To drenchen Alisoun, his hony dere. + He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory chere, + He syketh with ful many a sory swogh. + He gooth and geteth him a kneding-trogh, 3620 + And after that a tubbe and a kimelin, + And prively he sente hem to his in, + And heng hem in the roof in privetee. + His owne hand he made laddres three, + To climben by the ronges and the stalkes 3625 + Un-to the tubbes hanginge in the balkes, (440) + And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and tubbe, + With breed and chese, and good ale in a Iubbe, + Suffysinge right y-nogh as for a day. + But er that he had maad al this array, 3630 + He sente his knave, and eek his wenche also, + Up-on his nede to London for to go. + And on the Monday, whan it drow to night, + He shette his dore with-oute candel-light, + And dressed al thing as it sholde be. 3635 + And shortly, up they clomben alle three; (450) + They sitten stille wel a furlong-way. + + 3611. E. Auctor (_in margin_). 3612. Hl. A man. E. Hn. dyen. Pt. + Hl. for; Cm. thour; _rest_ of. 3624. E. _om._ he; Hl. _has_ þan. + 3626. E. In-to; Cm. Onto; _rest_ Vnto. 3627. E. vitailleth. 3630. + E. hadde. 3635. E. dresseth; _rest_ dressed. E. Hn. Cm. alle. + Hn. Cp. scholde; E. shal. + + ‘Now, _Pater-noster_, clom!’ seyde Nicholay, + And ‘clom,’ quod John, and ‘clom,’ seyde Alisoun. + This carpenter seyde his devocioun, 3640 + And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere, + [105: T. 3642-3677.] + Awaytinge on the reyn, if he it here. + + The dede sleep, for wery bisinesse, + Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse, + Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel more; 3645 + For travail of his goost he groneth sore, (460) + And eft he routeth, for his heed mislay. + Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay, + And Alisoun, ful softe adoun she spedde; + With-outen wordes mo, they goon to bedde 3650 + Ther-as the carpenter is wont to lye. + Ther was the revel and the melodye; + And thus lyth Alison and Nicholas, + In bisinesse of mirthe and of solas, + Til that the belle of laudes gan to ringe, 3655 + And freres in the chauncel gonne singe. (470) + + 3643. Cm. Hl. verray; _rest_ wery. + + This parish-clerk, this amorous Absolon, + That is for love alwey so wo bigon, + Up-on the Monday was at Oseneye + With companye, him to disporte and pleye, 3660 + And axed up-on cas a cloisterer + Ful prively after Iohn the carpenter; + And he drough him a-part out of the chirche, + And seyde, ‘I noot, I saugh him here nat wirche + Sin Saterday; I trow that he be went 3665 + For timber, ther our abbot hath him sent; (480) + For he is wont for timber for to go, + And dwellen at the grange a day or two; + Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn; + Wher that he be, I can nat sothly seyn.’ 3670 + + 3660. E. With a compaignye. 3661. E. Cloistrer; Pt. Ln. Cloystrere. + + This Absolon ful Ioly was and light, + And thoghte, ‘now is tyme wake al night; + For sikirly I saugh him nat stiringe + Aboute his dore sin day bigan to springe. + So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes crowe, 3675 + Ful prively knokken at his windowe (490) + That stant ful lowe up-on his boures wal. + [106: T. 3678-3712.] + To Alison now wol I tellen al + My love-longing, for yet I shal nat misse + That at the leste wey I shal hir kisse. 3680 + Som maner confort shal I have, parfay, + My mouth hath icched al this longe day; + That is a signe of kissing atte leste. + Al night me mette eek, I was at a feste. + Therfor I wol gon slepe an houre or tweye, 3685 + And al the night than wol I wake and pleye.’ (500) + + 3672. E. Hl. wake; Cm. to waky_n_; _rest_ to wake. 3676. Hn. Cp. Pt. + Ln. knokken; E. Cm. knokke; Hl. go knokke. + + Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, anon + Up rist this Ioly lover Absolon, + And him arrayeth gay, at point-devys. + But first he cheweth greyn and lycorys, 3690 + To smellen swete, er he had kembd his heer. + Under his tonge a trewe love he beer, + For ther-by wende he to ben gracious. + He rometh to the carpenteres hous, + And stille he stant under the shot-windowe; 3695 + Un-to his brest it raughte, it was so lowe; (510) + And softe he cogheth with a semi-soun— + ‘What do ye, hony-comb, swete Alisoun? + My faire brid, my swete cinamome, + Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me! 3700 + Wel litel thenken ye up-on my wo, + That for your love I swete ther I go. + No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete; + I moorne as doth a lamb after the tete. + Y-wis, lemman, I have swich love-longinge, 3705 + That lyk a turtel trewe is my moorninge; (520) + I may nat ete na more than a mayde.’ + + 3690. E. of; _rest_ and. 3696. E. brist. 3697. Hn. cogheth; Cp. + coughed; Hl. cowhith; Pt. kougheþ; Cm. coude; E. knokketh. 3701. Cp. + Pt. thenken; _rest_ thynken, thynke. + + ‘Go fro the window, Iakke fool,’ she sayde, + ‘As help me god, it wol nat be “com ba me,” + I love another, and elles I were to blame, 3710 + Wel bet than thee, by Iesu, Absolon! + Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston, + [107: T. 3713-3745.] + And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey!’ + + 3709. E. Hn. com pa me; Cp. com pame; Cm. cu_m_pame; Pt. compame; Hl. + Ln. compaine; _several_ MSS. come bame, combame; _see note_. + + ‘Allas,’ quod Absolon, ‘and weylawey! + That trewe love was ever so yvel biset! 3715 + Than kisse me, sin it may be no bet, (530) + For Iesus love and for the love of me.’ + + 3716. Cp. Pt. Ln. kisse; Hl. kisseth; _rest_ kys. + + ‘Wiltow than go thy wey ther-with?’ quod she. + + 3718. E. _om._ ther-with. + + ‘Ye, certes, lemman,’ quod this Absolon. + + ‘Thanne make thee redy,’ quod she, ‘I come anon;’ 3720 + And un-to Nicholas she seyde stille, [T. _om._ + ‘Now hust, and thou shall laughen al thy fille.’ [T. _om._ + + 3721, 2. _These 2 lines in_ E. _only._ + + This Absolon doun sette him on his knees, + And seyde, ‘I am a lord at alle degrees; + For after this I hope ther cometh more! 3725 + Lemman, thy grace, and swete brid, thyn ore!’ (540) + + 3724. E. _om._ a. + + The window she undoth, and that in haste, + ‘Have do,’ quod she, ‘com of, and speed thee faste, + Lest that our neighebores thee espye.’ + + 3728. Cm. don; Hl. doon; Pt. doo; _rest_ do. Hn. thee; _rest_ the. + + This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful drye; 3730 + Derk was the night as pich, or as the cole, + And at the window out she putte hir hole, + And Absolon, him fil no bet ne wers, + But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers + Ful savourly, er he was war of this. 3735 + + 3731. E. Dirk. 3732. E. pitte. + + Abak he sterte, and thoghte it was amis, (550) + For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd; + He felte a thing al rough and long y-herd, + And seyde, ‘fy! allas! what have I do?’ + + 3736. E. Cm. stirte. + + ‘Tehee!’ quod she, and clapte the window to; 3740 + And Absolon goth forth a sory pas. + + ‘A berd, a berd!’ quod hende Nicholas, + ‘By goddes _corpus_, this goth faire and weel!’ + + This sely Absolon herde every deel, + And on his lippe he gan for anger byte; 3745 + And to him-self he seyde, ‘I shal thee quyte!’ (560) + + 3743, 4. E. weel, deel; Ln. wele, dele; _rest_ wel, del. + + Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes + [108: T. 3746-3780.] + With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes, + But Absolon, that seith ful ofte, ‘allas! + My soule bitake I un-to Sathanas, 3750 + But me wer lever than al this toun,’ quod he, + ‘Of this despyt awroken for to be! + Allas!’ quod he, ‘allas! I ne hadde y-bleynt!’ + His hote love was cold and al y-queynt; + For fro that tyme that he had kiste hir ers, 3755 + Of paramours he sette nat a kers, (570) + For he was heled of his maladye; + Ful ofte paramours he gan deffye, + And weep as dooth a child that is y-bete. + A softe paas he wente over the strete 3760 + Un-til a smith men cleped daun Gerveys, + That in his forge smithed plough-harneys; + He sharpeth shaar and culter bisily. + This Absolon knokketh al esily, + And seyde, ‘undo, Gerveys, and that anon.’ 3765 + + 3753. Hl. nadde bleynt. 3759. Cm. wepte; Hl. wept. 3763. E. Hn. + kultour; Cp. Pt. Ln. culter. + + ‘What, who artow?’ ‘It am I, Absolon.’ (580) + ‘What, Absolon! for Cristes swete tree, + Why ryse ye so rathe, ey, _benedicite!_ + What eyleth yow? som gay gerl, god it woot, + Hath broght yow thus up-on the viritoot; 3770 + By sëynt Note, ye woot wel what I mene.’ + + 3766. E. I am heere; _rest_ it am I. 3770. E. Hn. Cp. viritoot; Pt. + Vyritote; Ln. veritote; Cm. merytot; Hl. verytrot. 3771. Pt. Ln. + seynt; _rest_ seinte. Pt. Hl. Noet. + + This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene + Of al his pley, no word agayn he yaf; + He hadde more tow on his distaf + Than Gerveys knew, and seyde, ‘freend so dere, 3775 + That hote culter in the chimenee here, (590) + As lene it me, I have ther-with to done, + And I wol bringe it thee agayn ful sone.’ + + 3776. E. kultour. + + Gerveys answerde, ‘certes, were it gold, + Or in a poke nobles alle untold, 3780 + Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe smith; + Ey, Cristes foo! what wol ye do ther-with?’ + [109: T. 3781-3815.] + + 3781. Hl. Ye schul him haue. 3782. Hl. fo; _rest_ foo; ed. 1561, + fote. + + ‘Ther-of,’ quod Absolon, ‘be as be may; + I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day’— + And caughte the culter by the colde stele. 3785 + Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele, (600) + And wente un-to the carpenteres wal. + He cogheth first, and knokketh ther-with-al + Upon the windowe, right as he dide er. + + 3785. E. kultour. + + This Alison answerde, ‘Who is ther 3790 + That knokketh so? I warante it a theef.’ + + ‘Why, nay,’ quod he, ‘god woot, my swete leef, + I am thyn Absolon, my dereling! + Of gold,’ quod he, ‘I have thee broght a ring; + My moder yaf it me, so god me save, 3795 + Ful fyn it is, and ther-to wel y-grave; (610) + This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse!’ + + 3793. E. Hn. my; Cm. myn; Hl. O my; Cp. thi; Pt. thine; Ln. þin. E. + deerelyng; Hn. Cm. Cp. derelyng. + + This Nicholas was risen for to pisse, + And thoghte he wolde amenden al the Iape, + He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape. 3800 + And up the windowe dide he hastily, + And out his ers he putteth prively + Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon; + And ther-with spak this clerk, this Absolon, + ‘Spek, swete brid, I noot nat wher thou art.’ 3805 + + 3800. E. _om._ ers. + + This Nicholas anon leet flee a fart, (620) + As greet as it had been a thonder-dent, + That with the strook he was almost y-blent; + And he was redy with his iren hoot, + And Nicholas amidde the ers he smoot. 3810 + + 3810. E. _om._ the. + + Of gooth the skin an hande-brede aboute, + The hole culter brende so his toute, + And for the smert he wende for to dye. + As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye— + Help! water! water! help, for goddes herte!’ 3815 + + 3812. E. kultour. 3813. And] Hn. That. + + This carpenter out of his slomber sterte, (630) + And herde oon cryen ‘water’ as he were wood, + [110: T. 3816-3848.] + And thoghte, ‘Allas! now comth Nowelis flood!’ + He sit him up with-outen wordes mo, + And with his ax he smoot the corde a-two, 3820 + And doun goth al; he fond neither to selle, + Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the celle + Up-on the floor; and ther aswowne he lay. + + 3818. E. Hn. Nowelis; Cp. Noweles (_intentionally_); Cm. Newel_is_; Pt. + Ln. Hl. noes. 3821. Hl. he goth (_for_ goth al). E. Hn. foond. + + Up sterte hir Alison, and Nicholay, + And cryden ‘out’ and ‘harrow’ in the strete. 3835 + The neighebores, bothe smale and grete, (640) + In ronnen, for to gauren on this man, + That yet aswowne he lay, bothe pale and wan; + For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm; + But stonde he moste un-to his owne harm. 3830 + For whan he spak, he was anon bore doun + With hende Nicholas and Alisoun. + They tolden every man that he was wood, + He was agast so of ‘Nowelis flood’ + Thurgh fantasye, that of his vanitee 3835 + He hadde y-boght him kneding-tubbes three, (650) + And hadde hem hanged in the roof above; + And that he preyed hem, for goddes love, + To sitten in the roof, _par companye_. + + 3828. E. Hn. he; _rest om._ 3831. Pt. Ln. Hl. born. 3834. E. Hn. + Nowelis; Cp. Ln. the Nowels; Pt. þe Noes; Hl. Noes. 3837. E. roue; + _see_ l. 3839. 3838. E. Hn. Ln. preyde. + + The folk gan laughen at his fantasye; 3840 + In-to the roof they kyken and they gape, + And turned al his harm un-to a Iape. + For what so that this carpenter answerde, + It was for noght, no man his reson herde; + With othes grete he was so sworn adoun, 3845 + That he was holden wood in al the toun; (660) + For every clerk anon-right heeld with other. + They seyde, ‘the man is wood, my leve brother;’ + And every wight gan laughen of this stryf. + + 3841. E. Hn. Cp. cape. 3846. E. holde. 3848. E. Hn. Hl. was; _rest_ + is. 3849. E. of this; Hn. at this; _rest_ at his. + + Thus swyved was the carpenteres wyf, 3850 + [111: T. 3849-3852.] + For al his keping and his Ialousye; + And Absolon hath kist hir nether yë; + And Nicholas is scalded in the toute. (667) + This tale is doon, and god save al the route! 3854 + + HERE ENDETH THE MILLERE HIS TALE. + + 3850. E. this; _rest_ the. 3852. Pt. Hl. ye; Hn. Iye; E. Ln. eye. + 3853. E. Hn. the; _rest_ his. COLOPHON. _So_ E. (_with_ Heere); Hl. + Pn. Here endeth the Millers tale; Hn. Here is ended the Millerys tale; + Cp. Ln. Explicit fabula Molendinarii. + +[112: T. 3853-3882.] + + * * * * * + +THE REEVE’S PROLOGUE + + * * * * * + + THE PROLOGE OF THE REVES TALE. + + Whan folk had laughen at this nyce cas 3855 + Of Absolon and hende Nicholas, + Diverse folk diversely they seyde; + But, for the more part, they loughe and pleyde, + Ne at this tale I saugh no man him greve, + But it were only Osewold the Reve, 3860 + By-cause he was of carpenteres craft. + A litel ire is in his herte y-laft, + He gan to grucche and blamed it a lyte. + + 3862. E. Pt. _om._ is. + + ‘So theek,’ quod he, ‘ful wel coude I yow quyte (10) + With blering of a proud milleres yë, 3865 + If that me liste speke of ribaudye. + But ik am old, me list not pley for age; + Gras-tyme is doon, my fodder is now forage, + This whyte top wryteth myne olde yeres, + Myn herte is al-so mowled as myne heres, 3870 + But-if I fare as dooth an open-ers; + That ilke fruit is ever leng the wers, + Til it be roten in mullok or in stree. + We olde men, I drede, so fare we; (20) + Til we be roten, can we nat be rype; 3875 + We hoppen ay, whyl that the world wol pype. + For in oure wil ther stiketh ever a nayl, + To have an hoor heed and a grene tayl, + As hath a leek; for thogh our might be goon, + Our wil desireth folie ever in oon. 3880 + For whan we may nat doon, than wol we speke; + Yet in our asshen olde is fyr y-reke. + + 3865. E. Ln. eye. 3867. E. Hn. no (_for_ not). 3869. Hl. My (_for_ + This). 3870. E. mowled also. 3872. E. leng; Ln. longe: _rest_ + lenger. 3876. E. ay whil that; Hn. alwey whil þat; _rest_ alwey + while. + + Foure gledes han we, whiche I shal devyse, + Avaunting, lying, anger, coveityse; (30) + [113: T. 3883-3918.] + Thise foure sparkles longen un-to elde. 3885 + Our olde lemes mowe wel been unwelde, + But wil ne shal nat faillen, that is sooth. + And yet ik have alwey a coltes tooth, + As many a yeer as it is passed henne + Sin that my tappe of lyf bigan to renne. 3890 + For sikerly, whan I was bore, anon + Deeth drogh the tappe of lyf and leet it gon; + And ever sith hath so the tappe y-ronne, + Til that almost al empty is the tonne. (40) + The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chimbe; 3895 + The sely tonge may wel ringe and chimbe + Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yore; + With olde folk, save dotage, is namore.’ + + 3885. E. eelde. 3886. E. vnweelde. 3893. Hn. sith; E. sithe. + + Whan that our host hadde herd this sermoning, + He gan to speke as lordly as a king; 3900 + He seide, ‘what amounteth al this wit? + What shul we speke alday of holy writ? + The devel made a reve for to preche, + And of a souter a shipman or a leche. (50) + Sey forth thy tale, and tarie nat the tyme, 3905 + Lo, Depeford! and it is half-way pryme. + Lo, Grenewich, ther many a shrewe is inne; + It were al tyme thy tale to biginne.’ + + 3904. E. Cm. And; _rest_ Or. _All but_ Hn. _om. 2nd_ a. 3907. Cp. + Pt. Ln. that (_for_ ther). 3908. Pt. hie (_for_ al). + + ‘Now, sires,’ quod this Osewold the Reve, + ‘I pray yow alle that ye nat yow greve, 3910 + Thogh I answere and somdel sette his howve; + For leveful is with force force of-showve. + + 3912. _In margin of_ E.—vim vi repellere. + + This dronke millere hath y-told us heer, + How that bigyled was a carpenteer, (60) + Peraventure in scorn, for I am oon. 3915 + And, by your leve, I shal him quyte anoon; + Right in his cherles termes wol I speke. + I pray to god his nekke mote breke; + He can wel in myn yë seen a stalke, + But in his owne he can nat seen a balke. 3920 + + 3918. Hl. tobreke; Pt. alto-breke. 3919. Pt. ye; Cp. ȝe; rest eye. + +[114: T. 3919-3943.] + + * * * * * + +THE REVES TALE. + + * * * * * + + HERE BIGINNETH THE REVES TALE. + + At Trumpington, nat fer fro Cantebrigge, + Ther goth a brook and over that a brigge, + Up-on the whiche brook ther stant a melle; + And this is verray soth that I yow telle. + A Miller was ther dwelling many a day; 3925 + As eny pecok he was proud and gay. + Pypen he coude and fisshe, and nettes bete, + And turne coppes, and wel wrastle and shete; + And by his belt he baar a long panade, + And of a swerd ful trenchant was the blade. 3930 + A Ioly popper baar he in his pouche; (11) + Ther was no man for peril dorste him touche. + A Sheffeld thwitel baar he in his hose; + Round was his face, and camuse was his nose. + As piled as an ape was his skulle. 3935 + He was a market-beter atte fulle. + Ther dorste no wight hand up-on him legge, + That he ne swoor he sholde anon abegge. + A theef he was for sothe of corn and mele, + And that a sly, and usaunt for to stele. 3940 + His name was hoten dëynous Simkin. (21) + A wyf he hadde, y-comen of noble kin; + The person of the toun hir fader was. + With hir he yaf ful many a panne of bras, + For that Simkin sholde in his blood allye. 3945 + [115: T. 3944-3976.] + She was y-fostred in a nonnerye; + For Simkin wolde no wyf, as he sayde, + But she were wel y-norissed and a mayde, + To saven his estaat of yomanrye. + And she was proud, and pert as is a pye. 3950 + A ful fair sighte was it on hem two; (31) + On haly-dayes biforn hir wolde he go + With his tipet bounden about his heed, + And she cam after in a gyte of reed; + And Simkin hadde hosen of the same. 3955 + Ther dorste no wight clepen hir but ‘dame.’ + Was noon so hardy that wente by the weye + That with hir dorste rage or ones pleye, + But-if he wolde be slayn of Simkin + With panade, or with knyf, or boydekin. 3960 + For Ialous folk ben perilous evermo, (41) + Algate they wolde hir wyves wenden so. + And eek, for she was somdel smoterlich, + She was as digne as water in a dich; + And ful of hoker and of bisemare. 3965 + Hir thoughte that a lady sholde hir spare, + What for hir kinrede and hir nortelrye + That she had lerned in the nonnerye. + + 3923. E. Hn. Cm. which; _rest_ whiche. 3928. Hl. wrastle wel (_om._ + and). 3934. Hl. camois; Pt. camoyse. 3939. E. was of corn and eek + of Mele. 3941. E. Cp. Hl. hoote; Cm. hotyn; _rest_ hoten. Pt. + deyneȝouse. 3944. panne] Cm. peny. 3948. E. But if; _rest_ + But. 3949. Hn. Cm. Pt. yemanrye. 3950. E. Hn. Pt. peert. 3951. + Cm. Hl. on; _rest_ vp-on. 3953. Cm. boundyn; Pt. bounden; Hn. Cp. Ln. + wounden; Hl. ybounde. 3956. Hl. ma dame. 3958. Hl. elles (_for_ + ones). 3959. Hl. Symekyn. 3965. Hn. Cm. And; _rest_ As. Hl. + bissemare; Cp. bisemare; E. Hn. Pt. Ln. bismare. + + A doghter hadde they bitwixe hem two + Of twenty yeer, with-outen any mo, 3970 + Savinge a child that was of half-yeer age; (51) + In cradel it lay and was a propre page. + This wenche thikke and wel y-growen was, + With camuse nose and yën greye as glas; + With buttokes brode and brestes rounde and hye, 3975 + But right fair was hir heer, I wol nat lye. + + 3974. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. camoys. MSS. eyen, eyȝen. 3975. E. Cm. + _om._ With. + + The person of the toun, for she was feir, + In purpos was to maken hir his heir + [116: T. 3977-4012.] + Bothe of his catel and his messuage, + And straunge he made it of hir mariage. 3980 + His purpos was for to bistowe hir hye (61) + In-to som worthy blood of auncetrye; + For holy chirches good moot been despended + On holy chirches blood, that is descended. + Therfore he wolde his holy blood honoure, 3985 + Though that he holy chirche sholde devoure. + + 3977. E. Cm. This; _rest_ The. + + Gret soken hath this miller, out of doute, + With whete and malt of al the land aboute; + And nameliche ther was a greet collegge, + Men clepen the Soler-halle at Cantebregge, 3990 + Ther was hir whete and eek hir malt y-grounde. (71) + And on a day it happed, in a stounde, + Sik lay the maunciple on a maladye; + Men wenden wisly that he sholde dye. + For which this miller stal bothe mele and corn 3995 + An hundred tyme more than biforn; + For ther-biforn he stal but curteisly, + But now he was a theef outrageously, + For which the wardeyn chidde and made fare. + But ther-of sette the miller nat a tare; 4000 + He craketh boost, and swoor it was nat so. (81) + + 3987. E. Cm. sokene. + + Than were ther yonge povre clerkes two, + That dwelten in this halle, of which I seye. + Testif they were, and lusty for to pleye, + And, only for hir mirthe and revelrye, 4005 + Up-on the wardeyn bisily they crye, + To yeve hem leve but a litel stounde + To goon to mille and seen hir corn y-grounde; + And hardily, they dorste leye hir nekke, + The miller shold nat stele hem half a pekke 4010 + Of corn by sleighte, ne by force hem reve; (91) + And at the laste the wardeyn yaf hem leve. + Iohn hight that oon, and Aleyn hight that other; + Of o toun were they born, that highte Strother, + [117: T. 4013-4045.] + Fer in the north, I can nat telle where. 4015 + + 4002. Pt. Ln. Than; _rest_ Thanne. 4004. Pt. Teestif. 4005. Ln. + revelrie; _rest_ reuerye; ed. 1561, reuelry. 4013. E. highte (_1st_); + heet (_2nd_). Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. hight. + + This Aleyn maketh redy al his gere, + And on an hors the sak he caste anon. + Forth goth Aleyn the clerk, and also Iohn, + With good swerd and with bokeler by hir syde. + Iohn knew the wey, hem nedede no gyde, 4020 + And at the mille the sak adoun he layth. (101) + Aleyn spak first, ‘al hayl, Symond, y-fayth; + How fares thy faire doghter and thy wyf?’ + + 4019. E. Cm. Pt. _om._ with. 4020. Cp. needede (_see_ l. 4161); E. + Hn. Pt. neded; Cm. Hl. nedyth; Ln. nedeþ. 4022. Hn. Symkyn; _rest_ + Symond, Symon; _see_ l. 4026. + + ‘Aleyn! welcome,’ quod Simkin, ‘by my lyf, + And Iohn also, how now, what do ye heer?’ 4025 + + ‘Symond,’ quod Iohn, ‘by god, nede has na peer; + Him boës serve him-selve that has na swayn, + Or elles he is a fool, as clerkes sayn. + Our manciple, I hope he wil be deed, + Swa werkes ay the wanges in his heed. 4030 + And forthy is I come, and eek Alayn, (111) + To grinde our corn and carie it ham agayn; + I pray yow spede us hethen that ye may.’ + + 4027. E. boes (= North. E. _bus_); Hn. Cp. bihoues; Pt. Ln. byhoueþ; + Cm. muste; Hl. falles. 4033. E. Hn. Cp. heythen; Ln. hethen (_the + right form_); Cm. hene; Pt. hepen (_for_ heþen). + + ‘It shal be doon,’ quod Simkin, ‘by my fay; + What wol ye doon whyl that it is in hande?’ 4035 + + ‘By god, right by the hoper wil I stande,’ + Quod Iohn, ‘and se how that the corn gas in; + Yet saugh I never, by my fader kin, + How that the hoper wagges til and fra.’ + + 4036. E. hopur. + + Aleyn answerde, ‘Iohn, and wiltow swa, 4040 + Than wil I be bynethe, by my croun, (121) + And se how that the mele falles doun + In-to the trough; that sal be my disport. + For Iohn, in faith, I may been of your sort; + I is as ille a miller as are ye.’ 4045 + + 4040. Cp. Hl. and; _rest om._ 4044. E. Cm. yfayth. 4045. Cm. Pt. is + (_for_ are); Ln. es. + + This miller smyled of hir nycetee, + And thoghte, ‘al this nis doon but for a wyle; + [118: T. 4046-4079.] + They wene that no man may hem bigyle; + But, by my thrift, yet shal I blere hir yë + For al the sleighte in hir philosophye. 4050 + The more queynte crekes that they make, (131) + The more wol I stele whan I take. + In stede of flour, yet wol I yeve hem bren. + “The gretteste clerkes been noght the wysest men,” + As whylom to the wolf thus spak the mare; 4055 + Of al hir art I counte noght a tare.’ + + 4049. E. Ln. eye. 4051. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. crekes; Hl. knakkes. 4053. + E. stide. 4054. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ the. 4056. Cm. I counte; Hl. ne + counte I; _rest_ counte I. + + Out at the dore he gooth ful prively, + Whan that he saugh his tyme, softely; + He loketh up and doun til he hath founde + The clerkes hors, ther as it stood y-bounde 4060 + Bihinde the mille, under a levesel; (141) + And to the hors he gooth him faire and wel; + He strepeth of the brydel right anon. + And whan the hors was loos, he ginneth gon + Toward the fen, ther wilde mares renne, 4065 + Forth with wehee, thurgh thikke and thurgh thenne. + + 4061. Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. leuesel; E. lefsel; Hn. leefsel. 4064. E. Hn. + Cp. Ln. laus; Hl. loos; Cm. los; Pt. louse; _see_ l. 4138. + + This miller gooth agayn, no word he seyde, + But dooth his note, and with the clerkes pleyde, + Til that hir corn was faire and wel y-grounde. + And whan the mele is sakked and y-bounde, 4070 + This Iohn goth out and fynt his hors away, (151) + And gan to crye ‘harrow’ and ‘weylaway! + Our hors is lorn! Alayn, for goddes banes, + Step on thy feet, com out, man, al at anes! + Allas, our wardeyn has his palfrey lorn.’ 4075 + This Aleyn al forgat, bothe mele and corn, + Al was out of his mynde his housbondrye. + ‘What? whilk way is he geen?’ he gan to crye. + + 4069. E. weel. 4074. E. out; Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. of; Hl. on. 4078. + E. geen; Hn. Ln. gane; Hl. gan; Cm. Cp. Pt. gon. + + The wyf cam leping inward with a ren, + She seyde, ‘allas! your hors goth to the fen 4080 + With wilde mares, as faste as he may go. (161) + [119: T. 4080-4114.] + Unthank come on his hand that bond him so, + And he that bettre sholde han knit the reyne.’ + + 4082. E. Hn. boond. + + ‘Allas,’ quod Iohn, ‘Aleyn, for Cristes peyne, + Lay doun thy swerd, and I wil myn alswa; 4085 + I is ful wight, god waat, as is a raa; + By goddes herte he sal nat scape us bathe. + Why nadstow pit the capul in the lathe? + Il-hayl, by god, Aleyn, thou is a fonne!’ + + 4084. E. Cm. _om._ Iohn. 4087. E. Hn. god; _rest_ goddes, goddis. + 4088. E. Hn. Cm. pit; _rest_ put (putte). + + This sely clerkes han ful faste y-ronne 4090 + To-ward the fen, bothe Aleyn and eek Iohn. (171) + + And whan the miller saugh that they were gon, + He half a busshel of hir flour hath take, + And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake. + He seyde, ‘I trowe the clerkes were aferd; 4095 + Yet can a miller make a clerkes berd + For al his art; now lat hem goon hir weye. + Lo wher they goon, ye, lat the children pleye; + They gete him nat so lightly, by my croun!’ + + 4094. E. _om._ a. + + Thise sely clerkes rennen up and doun 4100 + With ‘keep, keep, stand, stand, Iossa, warderere, (181) + Ga whistle thou, and I shal kepe him here!’ + But shortly, til that it was verray night, + They coude nat, though they do al hir might, + Hir capul cacche, he ran alwey so faste, 4105 + Til in a dich they caughte him atte laste. + + 4101. Cm. ware þe rere; Hl. ware derere; _rest_ warderere; ed. 1561, + wartherere. 4104. E. do; Cm. don; _rest_ dide (did). + + Wery and weet, as beste is in the reyn, + Comth sely Iohn, and with him comth Aleyn. + ‘Allas,’ quod Iohn, ‘the day that I was born! + Now are we drive til hething and til scorn. 4110 + Our corn is stole, men wil us foles calle, (191) + Bathe the wardeyn and our felawes alle, + And namely the miller; weylaway!’ + + 4107. Cm. beste; E. Hn. beest. 4110. E. Hl. dryue; _rest_ dryuen + (dreven). 4111. E. stoln me. + + Thus pleyneth Iohn as he goth by the way + Toward the mille, and Bayard in his hond. 4115 + The miller sitting by the fyr he fond, + [120: T. 4115-4147.] + For it was night, and forther mighte they noght; + But, for the love of god, they him bisoght + Of herberwe and of ese, as for hir peny. + + The miller seyde agayn, ‘if ther be eny, 4120 + Swich as it is, yet shal ye have your part. (201) + Myn hous is streit, but ye han lerned art; + Ye conne by argumentes make a place + A myle brood of twenty foot of space. + Lat see now if this place may suffyse, 4125 + Or make it roum with speche, as is youre gyse.’ + + 4123. E. Hn. Argumentz; Cm. argumentis; Cp. Hl. argumentes. 4126. E. + in (_for_ is). + + ‘Now, Symond,’ seyde Iohn, ‘by seint Cutberd, + Ay is thou mery, and this is faire answerd. + I have herd seyd, man sal taa of twa thinges + Slyk as he fyndes, or taa slyk as he bringes. 4130 + But specially, I pray thee, hoste dere, (211) + Get us som mete and drinke, and make us chere, + And we wil payen trewely atte fulle. + With empty hand men may na haukes tulle; + Lo here our silver, redy for to spende.’ 4135 + + 4128. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. mery; E. Hn. myrie. 4129. E. taa; Cm. tan; Pt. + taken; Hn. tak; Cp. take. 4131. E. Hn. hoost; Hl. host ful; Pt. + hooste; Cp. Ln. ooste. 4134. Hl. na; Cp. naan; E. Hn. Cm. none; Pt. + not. + + This miller in-to toun his doghter sende + For ale and breed, and rosted hem a goos, + And bond hir hors, it sholde nat gon loos; + And in his owne chambre hem made a bed + With shetes and with chalons faire y-spred, 4140 + Noght from his owne bed ten foot or twelve. (221) + His doghter hadde a bed, al by hir-selve, + Right in the same chambre, by and by; + It mighte be no bet, and cause why, + Ther was no roumer herberwe in the place. 4145 + They soupen and they speke, hem to solace, + And drinken ever strong ale atte beste. + Aboute midnight wente they to reste. + + 4138. E. Hn. Cp. boond. E. nat; Cm. not; Hn. namoore; Cp. namore; Pt. + Ln. Hl. no more. 4147. E. drynke; Hn. Cp. Pt. drynken; Hl. Cm. + dronken. + + Wel hath this miller vernisshed his heed; + [121: T. 4148-4180.] + Ful pale he was for-dronken, and nat reed. 4150 + He yexeth, and he speketh thurgh the nose (231) + As he were on the quakke, or on the pose. + To bedde he gooth, and with him goth his wyf. + As any Iay she light was and Iolyf, + So was hir Ioly whistle wel y-wet. 4155 + The cradel at hir beddes feet is set, + To rokken, and to yeve the child to souke. + And whan that dronken al was in the crouke, + To bedde went the doghter right anon; + To bedde gooth Aleyn and also Iohn; 4160 + Ther nas na more, hem nedede no dwale. (241) + This miller hath so wisly bibbed ale, + That as an hors he snorteth in his sleep, + Ne of his tayl bihinde he took no keep. + His wyf bar him a burdon, a ful strong, 4165 + Men mighte hir routing here two furlong; + The wenche routeth eek _par companye_. + + 4151. Hl. yoxeth. 4160. E. wente; _rest_ gooth (goth). 4161. Cp. + needede (_see_ l. 4020); _rest_ neded. 4162. Hl. wysly; Cm. wysely; + E. wisely; _rest_ wisly. 4166. Hl. Cp. a (_for_ two). + + Aleyn the clerk, that herd this melodye, + He poked Iohn, and seyde, ‘slepestow? + Herdestow ever slyk a sang er now? 4170 + Lo, whilk a compline is y-mel hem alle! (251) + A wilde fyr up-on thair bodyes falle! + Wha herkned ever slyk a ferly thing? + Ye, they sal have the flour of il ending. + This lange night ther tydes me na reste; 4175 + But yet, na fors; al sal be for the beste. + For Iohn,’ seyde he, ‘als ever moot I thryve, + If that I may, yon wenche wil I swyve. + Som esement has lawe y-shapen us; + For Iohn, ther is a lawe that says thus, 4180 + That gif a man in a point be y-greved, (261) + That in another he sal be releved. + [122: T. 4181-4216.] + Our corn is stoln, shortly, it is na nay, + And we han had an il fit al this day. + And sin I sal have neen amendement, 4185 + Agayn my los I wil have esement. + By goddes saule, it sal neen other be!’ + + 4170. Cp. Herdestow; Cm. Ln. Herdist thou; Hl. Herdistow; E. Herdtow; + Hn. Herd thow. 4171. E. whilk; Hn. Cp. Ln. swilke; Cm. swich; Pt. + sclike; Hl. slik. 4171. Ln. compline; Hn. conplyng; Pt. conplinge; + Hl. couplyng (_wrongly_); E. cowplyng; Cm. copil. 4181. Hl. + (_margin_) Qui in vno grauatur in alio debet releuari. 4183. E. Cm. + shortly; _rest_ sothly. E. is; _rest_ it is. Hn. Hl. na; E. ne; + _rest_ no (non). 4185. E. neen; Hn. naan; Hl. nan; _rest_ non (noon); + _so in_ 4187. + + This Iohn answerde, ‘Alayn, avyse thee, + The miller is a perilous man,’ he seyde, + ‘And gif that he out of his sleep abreyde, 4190 + He mighte doon us bathe a vileinye.’ (271) + + Aleyn answerde, ‘I count him nat a flye;’ + And up he rist, and by the wenche he crepte. + This wenche lay upright, and faste slepte, + Til he so ny was, er she mighte espye, 4195 + That it had been to late for to crye, + And shortly for to seyn, they were at on; + Now pley, Aleyn! for I wol speke of Iohn. + + This Iohn lyth stille a furlong-wey or two, + And to him-self he maketh routhe and wo: 4200 + ‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘this is a wikked Iape; (281) + Now may I seyn that I is but an ape. + Yet has my felawe som-what for his harm; + He has the milleris doghter in his arm. + He auntred him, and has his nedes sped, 4205 + And I lye as a draf-sek in my bed; + And when this Iape is tald another day, + I sal been halde a daf, a cokenay! + I wil aryse, and auntre it, by my fayth! + “Unhardy is unsely,” thus men sayth.’ 4210 + And up he roos and softely he wente (291) + Un-to the cradel, and in his hand it hente, + And baar it softe un-to his beddes feet. + + 4206. E. Cm. sek; _rest_ sak. 4213. E. the; _rest_ his. + + Sone after this the wyf hir routing leet, + And gan awake, and wente hir out to pisse, 4215 + And cam agayn, and gan hir cradel misse, + And groped heer and ther, but she fond noon. + ‘Allas!’ quod she, ‘I hadde almost misgoon; + [123: T. 4217-4252.] + I hadde almost gon to the clerkes bed. + By, _benedicite!_ thanne hadde I foule y-sped:’ 4220 + And forth she gooth til she the cradel fond. (301) + She gropeth alwey forther with hir hond, + And fond the bed, and thoghte noght but good, + By-cause that the cradel by it stood, + And niste wher she was, for it was derk; 4225, + But faire and wel she creep in to the clerk, + And lyth ful stille, and wolde han caught a sleep. + With-inne a whyl this Iohn the clerk up leep, + And on this gode wyf he leyth on sore. + So mery a fit ne hadde she nat ful yore; 4230 + He priketh harde and depe as he were mad. (311) + This Ioly lyf han thise two clerkes lad + Til that the thridde cok bigan to singe. + + 4217. E. Hn. Pt. foond. 4223. E. Hn. foond. 4226. to] Cm. bi. + 4230. E. myrie; _om._ ne. 4231. E. soore; Cm. sore; _rest_ depe + (deepe). + + Aleyn wex wery in the daweninge, + For he had swonken al the longe night; 4235 + And seyde, ‘far wel, Malin, swete wight! + The day is come, I may no lenger byde; + But evermo, wher so I go or ryde, + I is thyn awen clerk, swa have I seel!’ + + 4234. Cm. Ln. Pt. wex; _rest_ wax. 4236. Cm. Cp. Hl. far; _rest_ + fare; _see note._ + + ‘Now dere lemman,’ quod she, ‘go, far weel! 4240 + But er thou go, o thing I wol thee telle, (321) + Whan that thou wendest homward by the melle, + Right at the entree of the dore bihinde, + Thou shalt a cake of half a busshel finde + That was y-maked of thyn owne mele, 4245 + Which that I heelp my fader for to stele. + And, gode lemman, god thee save and kepe!’ + And with that word almost she gan to wepe. + + 4246. Cm. halp; E. Hn. heelp. + + Aleyn up-rist, and thoughte, ‘er that it dawe, + I wol go crepen in by my felawe; 4250 + And fond the cradel with his hand anon, (331) + ‘By god,’ thoghte he, ‘al wrang I have misgon; + Myn heed is toty of my swink to-night, + That maketh me that I go nat aright. + [124: T. 4253-4288.] + I woot wel by the cradel, I have misgo, 4255 + Heer lyth the miller and his wyf also.’ + And forth he goth, a twenty devel way, + Un-to the bed ther-as the miller lay. + He wende have cropen by his felawe Iohn; + And by the miller in he creep anon, 4260 + And caughte hym by the nekke, and softe he spak: (341) + He seyde, ‘thou, Iohn, thou swynes-heed, awak + For Cristes saule, and heer a noble game. + For by that lord that called is seint Iame, + As I have thryes, in this shorte night, 4265 + Swyved the milleres doghter bolt-upright, + Whyl thow hast as a coward been agast.’ + + ‘Ye, false harlot,’ quod the miller, ‘hast? + A! false traitour! false clerk!’ quod he, + ‘Thou shalt be deed, by goddes dignitee! 4270 + Who dorste be so bold to disparage (351) + My doghter, that is come of swich linage?’ + And by the throte-bolle he caughte Alayn. + And he hente hym despitously agayn, + And on the nose he smoot him with his fest. 4275 + Doun ran the blody streem up-on his brest; + And in the floor, with nose and mouth to-broke, + They walwe as doon two pigges in a poke. + And up they goon, and doun agayn anon, + Til that the miller sporned at a stoon, 4280 + And doun he fil bakward up-on his wyf, (361) + That wiste no-thing of this nyce stryf; + For she was falle aslepe a lyte wight + With Iohn the clerk, that waked hadde al night. + And with the fal, out of hir sleep she breyde— 4285 + ‘Help, holy croys of Bromeholm,’ she seyde, + _In manus tuas!_ lord, to thee I calle! + Awak, Symond! the feend is on us falle, + Myn herte is broken, help, I nam but deed; + There lyth oon up my wombe and up myn heed; 4290 + [125: T. 4289-4322.] + Help, Simkin, for the false clerkes fighte.’ (371) + + 4277. in] Hn. on. 4278. Hl. walweden as pigges. 4280. Hn. on; Cm. + aȝen; _rest_ at. 4283. E. lite; Cm. lyte; _rest_ litel. 4286. + Cm. Pt. Ln. Bromeholm; _rest_ Bromholm. 4290. Cp. Ln. vp (_twice_). + E. Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. vp on (_for 1st_ up). E. Cm. Pt. Hl. on (Hn. vp); + _for 2nd_ vp. + + This Iohn sterte up as faste as ever he mighte, + And graspeth by the walles to and fro, + To finde a staf; and she sterte up also, + And knew the estres bet than dide this Iohn, 4295 + And by the wal a staf she fond, anon, + And saugh a litel shimering of a light, + For at an hole in shoon the mone bright; + And by that light she saugh hem bothe two, + But sikerly she niste who was who, 4300 + But as she saugh a whyt thing in hir yë. (38l) + And whan she gan the whyte thing espye, + She wende the clerk hadde wered a volupeer. + And with the staf she drough ay neer and neer, + And wende han hit this Aleyn at the fulle, 4305 + And smoot the miller on the pyled skulle, + That doun he gooth and cryde, ‘harrow! I dye!’ + Thise clerkes bete him weel and lete him lye; + And greythen hem, and toke hir hors anon, + And eek hir mele, and on hir wey they gon. 4310 + And at the mille yet they toke hir cake (391) + Of half a busshel flour, ful wel y-bake. + + 4292. E. Cm. stirte. E. soone (_for_ faste). 4296. E. Hn. foond; + Hl. took. 4301. Hl. ye; Hn. Iye; _rest_ eye. 4307. E. Cm. Hl. And; + _rest_ That. 4309. Hl. greyth; Cm. hastede. + + Thus is the proude miller wel y-bete, + And hath y-lost the grinding of the whete, + And payed for the soper every-deel 4315 + Of Aleyn and of Iohn, that bette him weel. + His wyf is swyved, and his doghter als; + Lo, swich it is a miller to be fals! + And therfore this proverbe is seyd ful sooth, + ‘Him thar nat wene wel that yvel dooth; 4320 + A gylour shal him-self bigyled be.’ (401) + And God, that sitteth heighe in magestee, + Save al this companye grete and smale! + Thus have I quit the miller in my tale. + + HERE IS ENDED THE REVES TALE. + + 4320. E. Hn. yuele; Cm. euele. 4322. E. Trinitee; _rest_ magestee + (mageste). COLOPHON. Hn. Hl. Here endeth the Reves tale. + +[126: T. 4323-4347.] + + * * * * * + +THE COOK’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + THE PROLOGE OF THE COKES TALE. + + The Cook of London, whyl the Reve spak, 4325 + For Ioye, him thoughte, he clawed him on the bak, + ‘Ha! ha!’ quod he, ‘for Cristes passioun, + This miller hadde a sharp conclusioun + Upon his argument of herbergage! + Wel seyde Salomon in his langage, 4330 + “Ne bringe nat every man in-to thyn hous;” + For herberwing by nighte is perilous. + Wel oghte a man avysed for to be + Whom that he broghte in-to his privetee. (10) + I pray to god, so yeve me sorwe and care, 4335 + If ever, sith I highte Hogge of Ware, + Herde I a miller bettre y-set a-werk. + He hadde a Iape of malice in the derk. + But god forbede that we stinten here; + And therfore, if ye vouche-sauf to here 4340 + A tale of me, that am a povre man, + I wol yow telle as wel as ever I can + A litel Iape that fil in our citee.’ + + 4325. E. whil that the. 4332. Hl. herburgage. 4336. Hn. sith; E. + sitthe; Hl. siþþe; Cp. Pt. Ln. sithen. 4339. Hn. Hl. stynten; E. + stynte. 4339, 4340. _Last two words glossed_ hic _and_ audire _in_ E. + Hn. + + Our host answerde, and seide, ‘I graunte it thee; (20) + Now telle on, Roger, loke that it be good; 4345 + For many a pastee hastow laten blood, + And many a Iakke of Dover hastow sold + That hath been twyes hoot and twyes cold. + Of many a pilgrim hastow Cristes curs, + [127: T. 4348-4362.] + For of thy persly yet they fare the wors, 4350 + That they han eten with thy stubbel-goos; + For in thy shoppe is many a flye loos. + Now telle on, gentil Roger, by thy name. + But yet I pray thee, be nat wrooth for game, (30) + A man may seye ful sooth in game and pley.’ 4355 + + 4347. E. Hn. Cm. Ln. Douere. E. Hn. soold. 4348. E. Hn. coold. + 4350. Hl. persly; Hn. p_er_sle; E. p_er_cely. 4355. Hl. _omits_. + + ‘Thou seist ful sooth,’ quod Roger, ‘by my fey, + But “sooth pley, quaad pley,” as the Fleming seith; + And ther-fore, Herry Bailly, by thy feith, + Be thou nat wrooth, er we departen heer, + Though that my tale be of an hostileer. 4360 + But nathelees I wol nat telle it yit, + But er we parte, y-wis, thou shalt be quit.’ + And ther-with-al he lough and made chere, + And seyde his tale, as ye shul after here. (40) + + THUS ENDETH THE PROLOGE OF THE COKES TALE. + + 4357. E. Cm. quaad; Cp. Hl. quad; _rest_ quade. 4359. E. na (_for_ + nat). COLOPHON. _In_ Pt.; Ln. Explicit prologus. + +[128: T. 4363-4390.] + + * * * * * + +THE COKES TALE. + + * * * * * + + HEER BIGYNNETH THE COKES TALE. + + A prentis whylom dwelled in our citee, 4365 + And of a craft of vitaillers was he; + Gaillard he was as goldfinch in the shawe, + Broun as a berie, a propre short felawe, + With lokkes blake, y-kempt ful fetisly. + Dauncen he coude so wel and Iolily, 4370 + That he was cleped Perkin Revelour. + He was as ful of love and paramour + As is the hyve ful of hony swete; + Wel was the wenche with him mighte mete. (10) + At every brydale wolde he singe and hoppe, 4375 + He loved bet the taverne than the shoppe. + + 4366. E. vitailliers. 4369. E. ykempd; Hn. ykembd; _rest_ ykempt. + + For whan ther any ryding was in Chepe, + Out of the shoppe thider wolde he lepe. + Til that he hadde al the sighte y-seyn, + And daunced wel, he wolde nat come ageyn. 4380 + And gadered him a meinee of his sort + To hoppe and singe, and maken swich disport. + And ther they setten Steven for to mete + To pleyen at the dys in swich a strete. (20) + For in the toune nas ther no prentys, 4385 + That fairer coude caste a paire of dys + Than Perkin coude, and ther-to he was free + Of his dispense, in place of privetee. + That fond his maister wel in his chaffare; + For often tyme he fond his box ful bare. 4390 + For sikerly a prentis revelour, + That haunteth dys, riot, or paramour, + [129: T. 4391-4420.] + His maister shal it in his shoppe abye, + Al have he no part of the minstralcye; (30) + For thefte and riot, they ben convertible, 4395 + Al conne he pleye on giterne or ribible. + Revel and trouthe, as in a low degree, + They been ful wrothe al day, as men may see. + + 4380. E. ayeyn. 4383. Pt. Ln. steuen; _rest_ steuene. 4385. Pt. Ln. + toune; _rest_ toun. 4396. E. Ln. ribible; _rest_ rubible. 4397. E. + lowe. + + This Ioly prentis with his maister bood, + Til he were ny out of his prentishood, 4400 + Al were he snibbed bothe erly and late, + And somtyme lad with revel to Newgate; + But atte laste his maister him bithoghte, + Up-on a day, whan he his paper soghte, (40) + Of a proverbe that seith this same word, 4405 + ‘Wel bet is roten appel out of hord + Than that it rotie al the remenaunt.’ + So fareth it by a riotous servaunt; + It is wel lasse harm to lete him pace, + Than he shende alle the servants in the place. 4410 + Therfore his maister yaf him acquitance, + And bad him go with sorwe and with meschance; + And thus this Ioly prentis hadde his leve. + Now lat him riote al the night or leve. (50) + + 4402. E. Newegate. 4404. E. Hn. Hl. papir. 4406. E. Hn. Cp. Hl. + Appul. 4410. E. seruantz. + + And for ther is no theef with-oute a louke, 4415 + That helpeth him to wasten and to souke + Of that he brybe can or borwe may, + Anon he sente his bed and his array + Un-to a compeer of his owne sort, + That lovede dys and revel and disport, 4420 + And hadde a wyf that heeld for countenance + A shoppe, and swyved for hir sustenance. 4422 + + OF THIS COKES TALE MAKED CHAUCER NA MORE. + + [_For_ The Tale of Gamelin, _see the_ Appendix.] + + 4415-22. Hl. _omits._ 4415. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. lowke; Pt. louke; Cm. + loke. 4416. Pt. souke; _rest_ sowke. 4419. E. compier; Hn. compeer; + Cp. Pt. Ln. conpere. COLOPHON. _In_ Hn. _only. Blank space in_ E. + +[130: T. 4421-4446.] + + * * * * * + +GROUP B. + +INTRODUCTION TO THE MAN OF LAW’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + THE WORDES OF THE HOOST TO THE COMPANYE. + + Our Hoste sey wel that the brighte sonne + The ark of his artificial day had ronne + The fourthe part, and half an houre, and more; + And though he were not depe expert in lore, + He wiste it was the eightetethe day 5 + Of April, that is messager to May; + And sey wel that the shadwe of every tree + Was as in lengthe the same quantitee + That was the body erect that caused it. + And therfor by the shadwe he took his wit 10 + That Phebus, which that shoon so clere and brighte, + Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on highte; + And for that day, as in that latitude, + It was ten of the clokke, he gan conclude, + And sodeynly he plighte his hors aboute. 15 + + 1. Hl. Hoste; Ln. oste; _rest_ hoost (oost). _On_ sey, see note. 2. + E. Hn. Hl. hath; _rest_ had. 4. Cm. _wanting_; Cp. Pt. Ln. expert; E. + Hn. ystert; Hl. _om._ 5. Hn. xviijthe; Cp. xviije; Pt. Ln. xviij; E. + eighte and twentithe; Hl. threttenthe. 14. Cm. Pt. Hl. of the; E. Hn. + at the; Cp. atte; Ln. att. + + ‘Lordinges,’ quod he, ‘I warne yow, al this route, + The fourthe party of this day is goon; + Now, for the love of god and of seint Iohn, + Leseth no tyme, as ferforth as ye may; + Lordinges, the tyme wasteth night and day, 20 + And steleth from us, what prively slepinge, + And what thurgh necligence in our wakinge, + As dooth the streem, that turneth never agayn, + Descending fro the montaigne in-to playn. + Wel can Senek, and many a philosophre 25 + Biwailen tyme, more than gold in cofre. + [131: T. 4447-4483.] + “For los of catel may recovered be, + But los of tyme shendeth us,” quod he. + It wol nat come agayn, with-outen drede, + Na more than wol Malkins maydenhede, 30 + Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse; + Lat us nat moulen thus in ydelnesse. + Sir man of lawe,’ quod he, ‘so have ye blis, + Tel us a tale anon, as forward is; + Ye been submitted thurgh your free assent 35 + To stonde in this cas at my Iugement. + Acquiteth yow, and holdeth your biheste, + Than have ye doon your devoir atte leste.’ + + 37. Hl. and holdeth; _rest_ now of (_badly_). 38. E. do. + + ‘Hoste,’ quod he, ‘_depardieux_ ich assente, + To breke forward is not myn entente. 40 + Biheste is dette, and I wol holde fayn + Al my biheste; I can no better seyn. + For swich lawe as man yeveth another wight, + He sholde him-selven usen it by right; + Thus wol our text; but natheles certeyn 45 + I can right now no thrifty tale seyn, + But Chaucer, though he can but lewedly + On metres and on ryming craftily, + Hath seyd hem in swich English as he can + Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man. 50 + And if he have not seyd hem, leve brother, + In o book, he hath seyd hem in another. + For he hath told of loveres up and doun + Mo than Ovyde made of mencioun + In his Epistelles, that been ful olde. 55 + What sholde I tellen hem, sin they ben tolde? + In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcion, + And sithen hath he spoke of everichon, + Thise noble wyves and thise loveres eek. + Who-so that wol his large volume seek 60 + Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupyde, + Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde + Of Lucresse, and of Babilan Tisbee; + [132: T. 4484-4518.] + The swerd of Dido for the false Enee; + The tree of Phillis for hir Demophon; 65 + The pleinte of Dianire and Hermion, + Of Adriane and of Isiphilee; + The bareyne yle stonding in the see; + The dreynte Leander for his Erro; + The teres of Eleyne, and eek the wo 70 + Of Brixseyde, and of thee, Ladomëa; + The crueltee of thee, queen Medëa, + Thy litel children hanging by the hals + For thy Iason, that was of love so fals! + O Ypermistra, Penelopee, Alceste, 75 + Your wyfhod he comendeth with the beste! + + 43. Cm. man; _rest_ a man. 45. E. wole; Hn. wol. 47. MS. Camb. Dd. + 4. 24 _has_ But; _rest_ That; _see note_. 55. Hl. Cm. Epistelles; E. + Hn. Cp. Epistles. 56. E. Hn. telle; _rest_ tellen. 64. Hl. sorwe; + _rest_ swerd. 66. E. Cm. Hl. Diane; Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Dianire, _or_ + Dyanyre. 69. E. Hn. Ln. Leandre. 70. E. _omits_ eek. 71. E. + _omits_ of. 72. Cp. Hl. queen; _rest_ quene. 74. E. Cm. in; _rest_ + of. 75. E. Hn. Cm. Penolopee. 76. E. wifhede. + + But certeinly no word ne wryteth he + Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee, + That lovede hir owne brother sinfully; + Of swiche cursed stories I sey ‘fy’; 80 + Or elles of Tyro Apollonius, + How that the cursed king Antiochus + Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede, + That is so horrible a tale for to rede, + Whan he hir threw up-on the pavement. 85 + And therfor he, of ful avysement, + Nolde never wryte in none of his sermouns + Of swiche unkinde abhominaciouns, + Ne I wol noon reherse, if that I may. + + But of my tale how shal I doon this day? 90 + Me were looth be lykned, doutelees, + To Muses that men clepe Pierides— + _Metamorphoseos_ wot what I mene:— + But nathelees, I recche noght a bene + Though I come after him with hawe-bake; 95 + I speke in prose, and lat him rymes make.’ + And with that word he, with a sobre chere, + Bigan his tale, as ye shal after here. + + 95. Hn. Cp. Pt. Hl. hawe bake; E. hawebake; Cm. aw bake; Ln. halve + bake. + +[133: T. 4519-4553.] + + * * * * * + + THE PROLOGE OF THE MANNES TALE OF LAWE. + + O hateful harm! condicion of poverte! + With thurst, with cold, with hunger so confounded! 100 + To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte; + If thou noon aske, with nede artow so wounded, + That verray nede unwrappeth al thy wounde hid! + Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indigence + Or stele, or begge, or borwe thy despence! 105 + Thou blamest Crist, and seyst ful bitterly, + He misdeparteth richesse temporal; + Thy neighebour thou wytest sinfully, (10) + And seyst thou hast to lyte, and he hath al. + ‘Parfay,’ seistow, ‘somtyme he rekne shal, 110 + Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the glede, + For he noght helpeth needfulle in hir nede.’ + Herkne what is the sentence of the wyse:— + ‘Bet is to dyën than have indigence;’ + Thy selve neighebour wol thee despyse; 115 + If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence! + Yet of the wyse man tak this sentence:— + ‘Alle the dayes of povre men ben wikke;’ (20) + Be war therfor, er thou come in that prikke! + If thou be povre, thy brother hateth thee, 120 + And alle thy freendes fleen fro thee, alas! + O riche marchaunts, ful of wele ben ye, + O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas! + Your bagges been nat filled with _ambes as_, + But with _sis cink_, than renneth for your chaunce; 125 + At Cristemasse merie may ye daunce! + Ye seken lond and see for your winninges, + As wyse folk ye knowen al thestaat (30) + Of regnes; ye ben fadres of tydinges + And tales, bothe of pees and of debat. 130 + I were right now of tales desolat, + Nere that a marchaunt, goon is many a yere, + Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal here. + + 102. _So_ Hn.; Cp. Pt. art þou so; Ln. þou art so; Hl. so art thou; + _but_ E. so soore artow ywoundid. 109. E. Hn. lite; _rest_ litel. + 118. E. _om._ the. 119. E. Hn. Hl. to; Cp. Pt. Ln. in. 124. E. + fild. + +[134: T. 4554-4579.] + + * * * * * + +THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE. + + * * * * * + + HERE BEGINNETH THE MAN OF LAWE HIS TALE. + + In Surrie whylom dwelte a companye + Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe, 135 + That wyde-wher senten her spycerye, + Clothes of gold, and satins riche of hewe; + Her chaffar was so thrifty and so newe, (40) + That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare + With hem, and eek to sellen hem hir ware. 140 + + Now fel it, that the maistres of that sort + Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende; + Were it for chapmanhode or for disport, + Nan other message wolde they thider sende, + But comen hem-self to Rome, this is the ende; 145 + And in swich place, as thoughte hem avantage + For her entente, they take her herbergage. + + Soiourned han thise marchants in that toun (50) + A certein tyme, as fel to hir plesance. + And so bifel, that thexcellent renoun 150 + Of themperoures doghter, dame Custance, + Reported was, with every circumstance, + Un-to thise Surrien marchants in swich wyse, + Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse. + + 150. E. And; _rest_ But. 153. E. swich a wyse; _the rest omit_ a. + + This was the commune vois of every man— 155 + ‘Our Emperour of Rome, god him see, + A doghter hath that, sin the world bigan, + To rekne as wel hir goodnesse as beautee, (60) + Nas never swich another as is she; + [135: T. 4580-4616.] + I prey to god in honour hir sustene, 160 + And wolde she were of al Europe the quene. + + In hir is heigh beautee, with-oute pryde, + Yowthe, with-oute grenehede or folye; + To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde, + Humblesse hath slayn in hir al tirannye. 165 + She is mirour of alle curteisye; + Hir herte is verray chambre of holinesse, + Hir hand, ministre of fredom for almesse.’ (70) + + And al this vois was soth, as god is trewe, + But now to purpos lat us turne agayn; 170 + Thise marchants han doon fraught hir shippes newe, + And, whan they han this blisful mayden seyn, + Hoom to Surryë been they went ful fayn, + And doon her nedes as they han don yore, + And liven in wele; I can sey yow no more. 175 + + Now fel it, that thise marchants stode in grace + Of him, that was the sowdan of Surrye; + For whan they came from any strange place, (80) + He wolde, of his benigne curteisye, + Make hem good chere, and bisily espye 180 + Tydings of sondry regnes, for to lere + The wondres that they mighte seen or here. + + Amonges othere thinges, specially + Thise marchants han him told of dame Custance, + So gret noblesse in ernest, ceriously, 185 + That this sowdan hath caught so gret plesance + To han hir figure in his remembrance, + That al his lust and al his bisy cure (90) + Was for to love hir whyl his lyf may dure. + + Paraventure in thilke large book 190 + Which that men clepe the heven, y-writen was + With sterres, whan that he his birthe took, + That he for love shulde han his deeth, allas! + For in the sterres, clerer than is glas, + Is writen, god wot, who-so coude it rede, 195 + The deeth of every man, withouten drede. + + [136: T. 4617-4651.] + In sterres, many a winter ther-biforn, + Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles, (100) + Of Pompey, Iulius, er they were born; + The stryf of Thebes; and of Ercules, 200 + Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates + The deeth; but mennes wittes been so dulle, + That no wight can wel rede it atte fulle. + + This sowdan for his privee conseil sente, + And, shortly of this mater for to pace, 205 + He hath to hem declared his entente, + And seyde hem certein, ‘but he mighte have grace + To han Custance with-inne a litel space, (110) + He nas but deed;’ and charged hem, in hye, + To shapen for his lyf som remedye. 210 + + Diverse men diverse thinges seyden; + They argumenten, casten up and doun; + Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden, + They speken of magik and abusioun; + But finally, as in conclusioun, 215 + They can not seen in that non avantage, + Ne in non other wey, save mariage. + + 212. Hl. Cp. argumentes. + + Than sawe they ther-in swich difficultee (120) + By wey of resoun, for to speke al playn, + By-cause that ther was swich diversitee 220 + Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn, + They trowe ‘that no cristen prince wolde fayn + Wedden his child under oure lawes swete + That us were taught by Mahoun our prophete.’ + + 220. Cm. _om._ that. + + And he answerde, ‘rather than I lese 225 + Custance, I wol be cristned doutelees; + I mot ben hires, I may non other chese. + I prey yow holde your arguments in pees; (130) + Saveth my lyf, and beeth noght recchelees + To geten hir that hath my lyf in cure; 230 + For in this wo I may not longe endure.’ + + [137: T. 4652-4686.] + What nedeth gretter dilatacioun? + I seye, by tretis and embassadrye, + And by the popes mediacioun, + And al the chirche, and al the chivalrye, 235 + That, in destruccioun of Maumetrye, + And in encrees of Cristes lawe dere, + They ben acorded, so as ye shal here; (140) + + How that the sowdan and his baronage + And alle his liges shulde y-cristned be, 240 + And he shal han Custance in mariage, + And certein gold, I noot what quantitee, + And her-to founden suffisant seurtee; + This same acord was sworn on eyther syde; + Now, faire Custance, almighty god thee gyde! 245 + + Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse, + That I shulde tellen al the purveyance + That themperour, of his grete noblesse, (150) + Hath shapen for his doghter dame Custance. + Wel may men knowe that so gret ordinance 250 + May no man tellen in a litel clause + As was arrayed for so heigh a cause. + + 255. E. ynough; Hn. Cp. Hl. ynowe; Cm. Ln. Inowe. + + Bisshopes ben shapen with hir for to wende, + Lordes, ladyes, knightes of renoun, + And other folk y-nowe, this is the ende; 255 + And notifyed is thurgh-out the toun + That every wight, with gret devocioun, + Shulde preyen Crist that he this mariage (160) + Receyve in gree, and spede this viage. + + The day is comen of hir departinge, 260 + I sey, the woful day fatal is come, + That ther may be no lenger taryinge, + But forthward they hem dressen, alle and some; + Custance, that was with sorwe al overcome, + Ful pale arist, and dresseth hir to wende; 265 + For wel she seeth ther is non other ende. + + [138: T. 4687-4721.] + Allas! what wonder is it though she wepte, + That shal be sent to strange nacioun (170) + Fro freendes, that so tendrely hir kepte, + And to be bounden under subieccioun 270 + Of oon, she knoweth not his condicioun. + Housbondes been alle gode, and han ben yore, + That knowen wyves, I dar say yow no more. + + ‘Fader,’ she sayde, ‘thy wrecched child Custance, + Thy yonge doghter, fostred up so softe, 275 + And ye, my moder, my soverayn plesance + Over alle thing, out-taken Crist on-lofte, + Custance, your child, hir recomandeth ofte (180) + Un-to your grace, for I shal to Surryë, + Ne shal I never seen yow more with yë. 280 + + Allas! un-to the Barbre nacioun + I moste anon, sin that it is your wille; + But Crist, that starf for our redempcioun, + So yeve me grace, his hestes to fulfille; + I, wrecche womman, no fors though I spille. 285 + Wommen are born to thraldom and penance, + And to ben under mannes governance.’ + + 282. E. goon; _rest_ anon. 283. E. sauacioun; _rest_ redempcioun. + + I trowe, at Troye, whan Pirrus brak the wal (190) + Or Ylion brende, at Thebes the citee, + Nat Rome, for the harm thurgh Hanibal 290 + That Romayns hath venquisshed tymes thre, + Nas herd swich tendre weping for pitee + As in the chambre was for hir departinge; + Bot forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or singe. + + 289. Cm. at; _rest om._ (Or _means_ ere, _and_ brende _is + intransitive_.) 290. E. Hn. Cm. Nat (_for_ Ne at); Hl. Ne at. + + O firste moevyng cruel firmament, 295 + With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay + And hurlest al from Est til Occident, + That naturelly wolde holde another way, (200) + Thy crowding set the heven in swich array + At the beginning of this fiers viage, 300 + That cruel Mars hath slayn this mariage. + + [139: T. 4722-4756.] + Infortunat ascendent tortuous, + Of which the lord is helples falle, allas! + Out of his angle in-to the derkest hous. + O Mars, O Atazir, as in this cas! 305 + O feble mone, unhappy been thy pas! + Thou knittest thee ther thou art nat receyved, + Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow weyved. (210) + + 306. E. Hn. Cp. fieble. + + Imprudent emperour of Rome, allas! + Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun? 310 + Is no tyme bet than other in swich cas? + Of viage is ther noon eleccioun, + Namely to folk of heigh condicioun, + Nat whan a rote is of a birthe y-knowe? + Allas! we ben to lewed or to slowe. 315 + + To shippe is brought this woful faire mayde + Solempnely, with every circumstance. + ‘Now Iesu Crist be with yow alle,’ she sayde; (220) + Ther nis namore but ‘farewel! faire Custance!’ + She peyneth hir to make good countenance, 320 + And forth I lete hir sayle in this manere, + And turne I wol agayn to my matere. + + 316. E. come; _rest_ brought. + + The moder of the sowdan, welle of vyces, + Espyëd hath hir sones pleyn entente, + How he wol lete his olde sacrifyces, 325 + And right anon she for hir conseil sente; + And they ben come, to knowe what she mente. + And when assembled was this folk in-fere, (230) + She sette hir doun, and sayde as ye shal here. + + ‘Lordes,’ quod she, ‘ye knowen everichon, 330 + How that my sone in point is for to lete + The holy lawes of our Alkaron, + Yeven by goddes message Makomete. + But oon avow to grete god I hete, + The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte 335 + Than Makometes lawe out of myn herte! + + 330. E. she seyde; _rest_ quod she. 333. Cp. Pt. Ln. messager; Hl. + messanger; _see note._ + +[140: T. 4757-4791.] + + What shulde us tyden of this newe lawe + But thraldom to our bodies and penance? (240) + And afterward in helle to be drawe + For we reneyed Mahoun our creance? 340 + But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance, + As I shal seyn, assenting to my lore, + And I shall make us sauf for evermore?’ + + They sworen and assenten, every man, + To live with hir and dye, and by hir stonde; 345 + And everich, in the beste wyse he can, + To strengthen hir shal alle his freendes fonde; + And she hath this empryse y-take on honde, (250) + Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse, + And to hem alle she spak right in this wyse. 350 + + ‘We shul first feyne us cristendom to take, + Cold water shal not greve us but a lyte; + And I shal swich a feste and revel make, + That, as I trowe, I shal the sowdan quyte. + For though his wyf be cristned never so whyte, 355 + She shal have nede to wasshe awey the rede, + Thogh she a font-ful water with hir lede.’ + + O sowdanesse, rote of iniquitee, (260) + Virago, thou Semyram the secounde, + O serpent under femininitee, 360 + Lyk to the serpent depe in helle y-bounde, + O feyned womman, al that may confounde + Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malyce, + Is bred in thee, as nest of every vyce! + + O Satan, envious sin thilke day 365 + That thou were chased from our heritage, + Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way! + Thou madest Eva bringe us in servage. (270) + Thou wolt fordoon this cristen mariage. + Thyn instrument so, weylawey the whyle! 370 + Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt begyle. + + [141: T. 4792-4824.] + This sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warie, + Leet prively hir conseil goon hir way. + What sholde I in this tale lenger tarie? + She rydeth to the sowdan on a day, 375 + And seyde him, that she wolde reneye hir lay, + And cristendom of preestes handes fonge, + Repenting hir she hethen was so longe, (280) + + Biseching him to doon hir that honour, + That she moste han the cristen men to feste; 380 + ‘To plesen hem I wol do my labour.’ + The sowdan seith, ‘I wol don at your heste,’ + And kneling thanketh hir of that requeste. + So glad he was, he niste what to seye; + She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth hir weye. 385 + + 385. E. hoome; Hn. Cm. hom. + + Explicit prima pars. Sequitur pars secunda. + + Arryved ben this cristen folk to londe, + In Surrie, with a greet solempne route, + And hastily this sowdan sente his sonde, (290) + First to his moder, and al the regne aboute, + And seyde, his wyf was comen, out of doute, 390 + And preyde hir for to ryde agayn the quene, + The honour of his regne to sustene. + + Gret was the prees, and riche was tharray + Of Surriens and Romayns met y-fere; + The moder of the sowdan, riche and gay, 395 + Receyveth hir with al-so glad a chere + As any moder mighte hir doghter dere, + And to the nexte citee ther bisyde (300) + A softe pas solempnely they ryde. + + Noght trowe I the triumphe of Iulius, 400 + Of which that Lucan maketh swich a bost, + Was royaller, ne more curious + Than was thassemblee of this blisful host. + But this scorpioun, this wikked gost, + [142: T. 4825-4859.] + The sowdanesse, for al hir flateringe, 405 + Caste under this ful mortally to stinge. + + 402. E. or; _rest_ ne. E. curius. + + The sowdan comth him-self sone after this + So royally, that wonder is to telle, (310) + And welcometh hir with alle Ioye and blis. + And thus in merthe and Ioye I lete hem dwelle. 410 + The fruyt of this matere is that I telle. + Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste + That revel stinte, and men goon to hir reste. + + 411. E. Cm. Cp. matiere; Hn. Pt. matere. 413. E. The; _rest_ That. + + The tyme cam, this olde sowdanesse + Ordeyned hath this feste of which I tolde, 415 + And to the feste cristen folk hem dresse + In general, ye! bothe yonge and olde. + Here may men feste and royaltee biholde, (320) + And deyntees mo than I can yow devyse, + But al to dere they boughte it er they ryse. 420 + + 418. E. bihold. + + O sodeyn wo! that ever art successour + To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse; + Thende of the Ioye of our worldly labour; + Wo occupieth the fyn of our gladnesse. + Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse, 425 + Up-on thy glade day have in thy minde + The unwar wo or harm that comth bihinde. + + 423. _So_ Cm.; _rest_ The ende. + + For shortly for to tellen at o word, (330) + The sowdan and the cristen everichone + Ben al to-hewe and stiked at the bord, 430 + But it were only dame Custance allone. + This olde sowdanesse, cursed crone, + Hath with hir frendes doon this cursed dede, + For she hir-self wolde al the contree lede. + + 428. E. soothly; _rest_ shortly. 432. Pt. Hl. this cursed; _rest + omit_ this. + + Ne ther was Surrien noon that was converted 435 + That of the conseil of the sowdan woot, + That he nas al to-hewe er he asterted. + And Custance han they take anon, foot-hoot, (340) + And in a shippe al sterelees, god woot, + [143: T. 4860-4889.] + They han hir set, and bidde hir lerne sayle 440 + Out of Surrye agaynward to Itayle. + + 435. E. _omits_ ther. 440. Hn. Cm. bidde; Cp. Pt. bidden; Ln. beden; + E. biddeth; Hl. bad. + + A certein tresor that she thider ladde, + And, sooth to sayn, vitaille gret plentee + They han hir yeven, and clothes eek she hadde, + And forth she sayleth in the salte see. 445 + O my Custance, ful of benignitee, + O emperoures yonge doghter dere, + He that is lord of fortune be thy stere! (350) + + 442. E. with hir_e_; _rest_ thider. + + She blesseth hir, and with ful pitous voys + Un-to the croys of Crist thus seyde she, 450 + ‘O clere, o welful auter, holy croys, + Reed of the lambes blood full of pitee, + That wesh the world fro the olde iniquitee, + Me fro the feend, and fro his clawes kepe, + That day that I shal drenchen in the depe. 455 + + 451. E. woful; _rest_ welful, wilful, weleful. 453. E. wesshe; Cm. + wesch; Pt. wessh. + + Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe, + That only worthy were for to bere + The king of heven with his woundes newe, (360) + The whyte lamb, that hurt was with the spere, + Flemer of feendes out of him and here 460 + On which thy limes feithfully extenden, + Me keep, and yif me might my lyf tamenden.’ + + 462. Cm. Ln. kep; Hn. Pt. Hl. kepe; Cp. keepe; E. helpe. + + Yeres and dayes fleet this creature + Thurghout the see of Grece un-to the strayte + Of Marrok, as it was hir aventure; 465 + On many a sory meel now may she bayte; + After her deeth ful often may she wayte, + Er that the wilde wawes wole hir dryve (370) + Un-to the place, ther she shal arryve. + + 463. E. fleteth; but Hn. Cp. Pt. fleet. 469. _Read_ placë; Hl. _alone + inserts_ as _after_ ther. + +[144: T. 4890-4924.] + + Men mighten asken why she was not slayn? 470 + Eek at the feste who mighte hir body save? + And I answere to that demaunde agayn, + Who saved Daniel in the horrible cave, + Ther every wight save he, maister and knave, + Was with the leoun frete er he asterte? 475 + No wight but god, that he bar in his herte. + + 473. Hl. thorrible. + + God liste to shewe his wonderful miracle + In hir, for we sholde seen his mighty werkes; (380) + Crist, which that is to every harm triacle, + By certein menes ofte, as knowen clerkes, 480 + Doth thing for certein ende that ful derk is + To mannes wit, that for our ignorance + Ne conne not knowe his prudent purveyance. + + Now, sith she was not at the feste y-slawe, + Who kepte hir fro the drenching in the see? 485 + Who kepte Ionas in the fisshes mawe + Til he was spouted up at Ninivee? + Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he (390) + That kepte peple Ebraik fro hir drenchinge, + With drye feet thurgh-out the see passinge. 490 + + 489. Pt. Ln. _om._ hir. + + Who bad the foure spirits of tempest, + That power han tanoyen land and see, + ‘Bothe north and south, and also west and est, + Anoyeth neither see, ne land, ne tree?’ + Sothly, the comaundour of that was he, 495 + That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte + As wel whan [that] she wook as whan she slepte. + + 497. _I insert_ that; Hl. awok. + + Wher mighte this womman mete and drinke have? (400) + Three yeer and more how lasteth hir vitaille? + Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the cave, 500 + Or in desert? no wight but Crist, sans faille. + Fyve thousand folk it was as gret mervaille + With loves fyve and fisshes two to fede. + God sente his foison at hir grete nede. + + [145: T. 4925-4959.] + She dryveth forth in-to our occean 505 + Thurgh-out our wilde see, til, atte laste, + Under an hold that nempnen I ne can, + Fer in Northumberlond the wawe hir caste, (410) + And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste, + That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde, 510 + The wille of Crist was that she shulde abyde. + + The constable of the castel doun is fare + To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte, + And fond this wery womman ful of care; + He fond also the tresor that she broghte. 515 + In hir langage mercy she bisoghte + The lyf out of hir body for to twinne, + Hir to delivere of wo that she was inne. (420) + + A maner Latin corrupt was hir speche, + But algates ther-by was she understonde; 520 + The constable, whan him list no lenger seche, + This woful womman broghte he to the londe; + She kneleth doun, and thanketh goddes sonde. + But what she was, she wolde no man seye, + For foul ne fair, thogh that she shulde deye. 525 + + She seyde, she was so mased in the see + That she forgat hir minde, by hir trouthe; + The constable hath of hir so greet pitee, (430) + And eek his wyf, that they wepen for routhe, + She was so diligent, with-outen slouthe, 530 + To serve and plesen everich in that place, + That alle hir loven that loken on hir face. + + 531. MSS. plese. 532. E. Cm. in; _rest_ on. + + This constable and dame Hermengild his wyf + Were payens, and that contree every-where; + But Hermengild lovede hir right as hir lyf, 535 + And Custance hath so longe soiourned there, + In orisons, with many a bitter tere, + Til Iesu hath converted thurgh his grace (440) + Dame Hermengild, constablesse of that place. + + 536. soiourned] Hl. herberwed. + +[146: T. 4960-4994.] + + In al that lond no cristen durste route, 540 + Alle cristen folk ben fled fro that contree + Thurgh payens, that conquereden al aboute + The plages of the North, by land and see; + To Walis fled the cristianitee + Of olde Britons, dwellinge in this yle; 545 + Ther was hir refut for the mene whyle. + + But yet nere cristen Britons so exyled + That ther nere somme that in hir privetee (450) + Honoured Crist, and hethen folk bigyled; + And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten three. 550 + That oon of hem was blind, and mighte nat see + But it were with thilke yën of his minde, + With whiche men seen, after that they ben blinde. + + 553. E. whan; _rest_ after. + + Bright was the sonne as in that someres day, + For which the constable and his wyf also 555 + And Custance han y-take the righte way + Toward the see, a furlong wey or two, + To pleyen and to romen to and fro; (460) + And in hir walk this blinde man they mette + Croked and old, with yën faste y-shette. 560 + + 561. E. olde; Hl. old; _rest_ blynde, blynd. + + ‘In name of Crist,’ cryde this blinde Britoun, + ‘Dame Hermengild, yif me my sighte agayn.’ + This lady wex affrayed of the soun, + Lest that hir housbond, shortly for to sayn, + Wolde hir for Iesu Cristes love han slayn, 565 + Til Custance made hir bold, and bad hir werche + The wil of Crist, as doghter of his chirche. + + The constable wex abasshed of that sight, (470) + And seyde, ‘what amounteth al this fare?’ + Custance answerde, ‘sire, it is Cristes might, 570 + That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare.’ + And so ferforth she gan our lay declare, + That she the constable, er that it were eve, + Converted, and on Crist made him bileve. + + 574. Hl. Cm. Conuerted; _rest_ Conuerteth. E. maketh; Ln. maad; + _rest_ made. + +[147: T. 4995-5029.] + + This constable was no-thing lord of this place 575 + Of which I speke, ther he Custance fond, + But kepte it strongly, many wintres space, + Under Alla, king of al Northumberlond, (480) + That was ful wys, and worthy of his hond + Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel here, 580 + But turne I wol agayn to my matere. + + Sathan, that ever us waiteth to bigyle, + Saugh of Custance al hir perfeccioun, + And caste anon how he mighte quyte hir whyle, + And made a yong knight, that dwelte in that toun 585 + Love hir so hote, of foul affeccioun, + That verraily him thoughte he shulde spille + But he of hir mighte ones have his wille. (490) + + He woweth hir, but it availleth noght, + She wolde do no sinne, by no weye; 590 + And, for despyt, he compassed in his thoght + To maken hir on shamful deth to deye. + He wayteth whan the constable was aweye, + And prively, up-on a night, he crepte + In Hermengildes chambre whyl she slepte. 595 + + Wery, for-waked in her orisouns, + Slepeth Custance, and Hermengild also. + This knight, thurgh Sathanas temptaciouns, (500) + Al softely is to the bed y-go, + And kitte the throte of Hermengild a-two, 600 + And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custance, + And wente his wey, ther god yeve him meschance! + + 598. E. Hn. Sathans; Hl. Satanas; _but_ Sathanas _in_ Cp. Pt. Ln. + + Sone after comth this constable hoom agayn, + And eek Alla, that king was of that lond, + And saugh his wyf despitously y-slayn, 605 + For which ful ofte he weep and wrong his hond, + And in the bed the blody knyf he fond + By dame Custance; allas! what mighte she seye? (510) + For verray wo hir wit was al aweye. + + 606. E. Hn. weep; Cm. Cp. Pt. wepte; Hl. wept. E. wroong. + +[148: T. 5030-5064.] + + To king Alla was told al this meschance, 610 + And eek the tyme, and where, and in what wyse + That in a ship was founden dame Custance, + As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse. + The kinges herte of pitee gan agryse, + Whan he saugh so benigne a creature 615 + Falle in disese and in misaventure. + + For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght, + So stant this innocent bifore the king; (520) + This false knight that hath this tresoun wroght + Berth hir on hond that she hath doon this thing. 620 + But nathelees, ther was greet moorning + Among the peple, and seyn, ‘they can not gesse + That she hath doon so greet a wikkednesse. + + 620. _So in_ E.; _rest_ Bereth. 621. _All_ moorning (mornyng); + Tyrwhitt _has_ murmuring; _see note_. + + For they han seyn hir ever so vertuous, + And loving Hermengild right as her lyf.’ 625 + Of this bar witnesse everich in that hous + Save he that Hermengild slow with his knyf. + This gentil king hath caught a gret motyf (530) + Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere + Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere. 630 + + 626. E. baar. + + Allas! Custance! thou hast no champioun, + Ne fighte canstow nought, so weylawey! + But he, that starf for our redempcioun + And bond Sathan (and yit lyth ther he lay) + So be thy stronge champioun this day! 635 + For, but-if Crist open miracle kythe, + Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as swythe. + + She sette her doun on knees, and thus she sayde, (540) + ‘Immortal god, that savedest Susanne + Fro false blame, and thou, merciful mayde, 640 + Mary I mene, doghter to Seint Anne, + Bifore whos child aungeles singe Osanne, + If I be giltlees of this felonye, + My socour be, for elles I shal dye!’ + + 638. E. sit; Hn. Cm. Pt. sette; Hl. set. 644. E. or; _rest_ for. + +[149: T. 5065-5099.] + + Have ye nat seyn som tyme a pale face, 645 + Among a prees, of him that hath be lad + Toward his deeth, wher-as him gat no grace, + And swich a colour in his face hath had, (550) + Men mighte knowe his face, that was bistad, + Amonges alle the faces in that route: 650 + So stant Custance, and loketh hir aboute. + + 647. gat] Cp. get; Pt. gete; Hl. geyneth. + + O quenes, livinge in prosperitee, + Duchesses, and ye ladies everichone, + Haveth som routhe on hir adversitee; + An emperoures doghter stant allone; 655 + She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone. + O blood royal, that stondest in this drede, + Fer ben thy freendes at thy grete nede! (560) + + 654. E. Ln. _om._ ye. + + This Alla king hath swich compassioun, + As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee, 660 + That from his yën ran the water doun. + ‘Now hastily do fecche a book,’ quod he, + ‘And if this knight wol sweren how that she + This womman slow, yet wole we us avyse + Whom that we wole that shal ben our Iustyse.’ 665 + + A Briton book, writen with Evangyles, + Was fet, and on this book he swoor anoon + She gilty was, and in the mene whyles (570) + A hand him smoot upon the nekke-boon, + That doun he fil atones as a stoon, 670 + And bothe his yën broste out of his face + In sight of every body in that place. + + A vois was herd in general audience, + And seyde, ‘thou hast desclaundred giltelees + The doghter of holy chirche in hey presence; 675 + Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my pees.’ + Of this mervaille agast was al the prees; + As mased folk they stoden everichone, (580) + For drede of wreche, save Custance allone. + + [150: T. 5100-5134.] + Greet was the drede and eek the repentance 680 + Of hem that hadden wrong suspeccioun + Upon this sely innocent Custance; + And, for this miracle, in conclusioun, + And by Custances mediacioun, + The king, and many another in that place, 685 + Converted was, thanked be Cristes grace! + + This false knight was slayn for his untrouthe + By Iugement of Alla hastifly; (590) + And yet Custance hadde of his deeth gret routhe. + And after this Iesus, of his mercy, 690 + Made Alla wedden ful solempnely + This holy mayden, that is so bright and shene, + And thus hath Crist y-maad Custance a quene. + + But who was woful, if I shal nat lye, + Of this wedding but Donegild, and na mo, 695 + The kinges moder, ful of tirannye? + Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast a-two; + She wolde noght hir sone had do so; (600) + Hir thoughte a despit, that he sholde take + So strange a creature un-to his make. 700 + + Me list nat of the chaf nor of the stree + Maken so long a tale, as of the corn. + What sholde I tellen of the royaltee + At mariage, or which cours gooth biforn, + Who bloweth in a trompe or in an horn? 705 + The fruit of every tale is for to seye; + They ete, and drinke, and daunce, and singe, and pleye. + + 701. Cm. nor; E. or; _rest_ ne. 704. E. Hn. mariages; Ln. þe mariage; + _rest_ mariage; Hl. Of mariage. 705. a] E. the; Hn. Pt. _omit_. + + They goon to bedde, as it was skile and right; (610) + For, thogh that wyves been ful holy thinges, + They moste take in pacience at night 710 + Swich maner necessaries as been plesinges + To folk that han y-wedded hem with ringes, + And leye a lyte hir holinesse asyde + As for the tyme; it may no bet bityde. + + [151: T. 5135-5169.] + On hir he gat a knave-child anoon, 715 + And to a bishop and his constable eke + He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is goon + To Scotland-ward, his fo-men for to seke; (620) + Now faire Custance, that is so humble and meke, + So longe is goon with childe, til that stille 720 + She halt hir chambre, abyding Cristes wille. + + The tyme is come, a knave-child she ber; + Mauricius at the font-stoon they him calle; + This Constable dooth forth come a messager, + And wroot un-to his king, that cleped was Alle, 725 + How that this blisful tyding is bifalle, + And othere tydings speedful for to seye; + He takth the lettre, and forth he gooth his weye. (630) + + 728. Hn. tath; Cm. taath; _rest_ taketh. + + This messager, to doon his avantage, + Un-to the kinges moder rydeth swythe, 730 + And salueth hir ful faire in his langage, + ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘ye may be glad and blythe, + And thanke god an hundred thousand sythe; + My lady quene hath child, with-outen doute, + To Ioye and blisse of al this regne aboute. 735 + + 733. Cp. Hl. thanke; E. Hn. thanketh; Cm. thankede; Pt. Ln. thonketh. + 735. E. Cm. to; _rest_ of. + + Lo, heer the lettres seled of this thing, + That I mot bere with al the haste I may; + If ye wol aught un-to your sone the king, (640) + I am your servant, bothe night and day.’ + Donegild answerde, ‘as now at this tyme, nay; 740 + But heer al night I wol thou take thy reste, + Tomorwe wol I seye thee what me leste.’ + + 740. Hl. _om._ at. + + This messager drank sadly ale and wyn, + And stolen were his lettres prively + Out of his box, whyl he sleep as a swyn; 745 + And countrefeted was ful subtilly + Another lettre, wroght ful sinfully, + Un-to the king direct of this matere (650) + Fro his constable, as ye shul after here. + + [152: T. 5170-5204.] + The lettre spak, ‘the queen delivered was 750 + Of so horrible a feendly creature, + That in the castel noon so hardy was + That any whyle dorste ther endure. + The moder was an elf, by aventure + Y-come, by charmes or by sorcerye, 755 + And every wight hateth hir companye.’ + + 750. MSS. queene, queen. 755. E. Hn. Cm. Y-comen. 756. E. Hn. _om._ + wight; Hl. man. + + Wo was this king whan he this lettre had seyn, + But to no wighte he tolde his sorwes sore, (660) + But of his owene honde he wroot ageyn, + ‘Welcome the sonde of Crist for evermore 760 + To me, that am now lerned in his lore; + Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce, + My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce! + + Kepeth this child, al be it foul or fair, + And eek my wyf, un-to myn hoom-cominge; 765 + Crist, whan him list, may sende me an heir + More agreable than this to my lykinge.’ + This lettre he seleth, prively wepinge, (670) + Which to the messager was take sone, + And forth he gooth; ther is na more to done. 770 + + O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse, + Strong is thy breeth, thy limes faltren ay, + And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse. + Thy mind is lorn, thou Ianglest as a Iay, + Thy face is turned in a newe array! 775 + Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route, + Ther is no conseil hid, with-outen doute. + + O Donegild, I ne have noon English digne (680) + Un-to thy malice and thy tirannye! + And therfor to the feend I thee resigne, 780 + Let him endyten of thy traitorye! + Fy, mannish, fy! o nay, by god, I lye, + Fy, _feendly_ spirit, for I dar wel telle, + Though thou heer walke, thy spirit is in helle! + + [153: T. 5205-5239.] + This messager comth fro the king agayn, 785 + And at the kinges modres court he lighte, + And she was of this messager ful fayn, + And plesed him in al that ever she mighte. (690) + He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte. + He slepeth, and he snoreth in his gyse 790 + Al night, un-til the sonne gan aryse. + + 791. Hl. vn-to; Pt. to; _rest_ til; _but_ vn-til (_as in_ Tyrwhitt) + _seems better_. + + Eft were his lettres stolen everichon + And countrefeted lettres in this wyse; + ‘The king comandeth his constable anon, + Up peyne of hanging, and on heigh Iuÿse, 795 + That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse + Custance in-with his regne for tabyde + Thre dayes and a quarter of a tyde; (700) + + 795. _So_ E. Hn.; Cm. and heigh; Cp. on a heih; Pt. on an high; Hl. of + an heigh; Ln. or an hihe. 797. regne] E. Reawme. + + But in the same ship as he hir fond, + Hir and hir yonge sone, and al hir gere, 800 + He sholde putte, and croude hir fro the lond, + And charge hir that she never eft come there.’ + O my Custance, wel may thy goost have fere + And sleping in thy dreem been in penance, + When Donegild caste al this ordinance! 805 + + This messager on morwe, whan he wook, + Un-to the castel halt the nexte wey, + And to the constable he the lettre took; (710) + And whan that he this pitous lettre sey, + Ful ofte he seyde ‘allas!’ and ‘weylawey!’ 810 + ‘Lord Crist,’ quod he, ‘how may this world endure? + So ful of sinne is many a creature! + + O mighty god, if that it be thy wille, + Sith thou art rightful Iuge, how may it be + That thou wolt suffren innocents to spille, 815 + And wikked folk regne in prosperitee? + O good Custance, allas! so wo is me + That I mot be thy tormentour, or deye (720) + On shames deeth; ther is noon other weye!’ + + 819. shames] Hl. schamful. + +[154: T. 5240-5274.] + + Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place, 820 + Whan that the king this cursed lettre sente, + And Custance, with a deedly pale face, + The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente. + But natheles she taketh in good entente + The wille of Crist, and, kneling on the stronde, 825 + She seyde, ‘lord! ay wel-com be thy sonde! + + 823. E. Ln. the; _rest_ hir. + + He that me kepte fro the false blame + Whyl I was on the londe amonges yow, (730) + He can me kepe from harme and eek fro shame + In salte see, al-thogh I se nat how. 830 + As strong as ever he was, he is yet now. + In him triste I, and in his moder dere, + That is to me my seyl and eek my stere.’ + + Hir litel child lay weping in hir arm, + And kneling, pitously to him she seyde, 835 + ‘Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee non harm.’ + With that hir kerchef of hir heed she breyde, + And over his litel yën she it leyde; (740) + And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste, + And in-to heven hir yën up she caste. 840 + + 837. Ln. Hl. kerchef; Pt. keerchef; E. Hn. couerchief; Cm. couerchif; + Cp. couerchef. E. Hn. Cm. ouer (_wrongly_); _rest_ of. + + ‘Moder,’ quod she, ‘and mayde bright, Marye, + Sooth is that thurgh wommannes eggement + Mankind was lorn and damned ay to dye, + For which thy child was on a croys y-rent; + Thy blisful yën sawe al his torment; 845 + Than is ther no comparisoun bitwene + Thy wo and any wo man may sustene. + + Thou sawe thy child y-slayn bifor thyn yën, (750) + And yet now liveth my litel child, parfay! + Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryën, 850 + Thou glorie of wommanhede, thou faire may, + Thou haven of refut, brighte sterre of day, + Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse + Rewest on every rewful in distresse! + + 849. E. Ln. _om._ litel; _rest have it_. + +[155: T. 5275-5302.] + + O litel child, allas! what is thy gilt, 855 + That never wroughtest sinne as yet, pardee, + Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt? + O mercy, dere Constable!’ quod she; (760) + ‘As lat my litel child dwelle heer with thee; + And if thou darst not saven him, for blame, 860 + So kis him ones in his fadres name!’ + + 861. E. Yet; _rest_ So. + + Ther-with she loketh bakward to the londe, + And seyde, ‘far-wel, housbond routhelees!’ + And up she rist, and walketh doun the stronde + Toward the ship; hir folweth al the prees, 865 + And ever she preyeth hir child to holde his pees; + And taketh hir leve, and with an holy entente + She blesseth hir; and in-to ship she wente. (770) + + 862. E. Ln. Hl. looked; rest looketh, loketh. 868. Hn. Pt. Hl. + blesseth; Cm. Cp. Ln. blisseth; E. blissed. + + Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede, + Habundantly for hir, ful longe space, 870 + And other necessaries that sholde nede + She hadde y-nogh, heried be goddes grace! + For wind and weder almighty god purchace, + And bringe hir hoom! I can no bettre seye; + But in the see she dryveth forth hir weye. 875 + + =Explicit secunda pars. Sequitur pars tercia.= + + Alla the king comth hoom, sone after this, + Unto his castel of the which I tolde, + And axeth wher his wyf and his child is. (780) + The constable gan aboute his herte colde, + And pleynly al the maner he him tolde 880 + As ye han herd, I can telle it no bettre, + And sheweth the king his seel and [eek] his lettre, + + 882. _The word_ eek _seems wanted; but is not in the MSS_. + +[156: T. 5303-5337.] + + And seyde, ‘lord, as ye comaunded me + Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, certein.’ + This messager tormented was til he 885 + Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and plein, + Fro night to night, in what place he had leyn. + And thus, by wit and subtil enqueringe, (790) + Ymagined was by whom this harm gan springe. + + The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot, 890 + And al the venim of this cursed dede, + But in what wyse, certeinly I noot. + Theffect is this, that Alla, out of drede, + His moder slow, that men may pleinly rede, + For that she traitour was to hir ligeaunce. 895 + Thus endeth olde Donegild with meschaunce. + + The sorwe that this Alla, night and day, + Maketh for his wyf and for his child also, (800) + Ther is no tonge that it telle may. + But now wol I un-to Custance go, 900 + That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo, + Fyve yeer and more, as lyked Cristes sonde, + Er that hir ship approched un-to londe. + + 903. _So_ Hn. Cp. Pt. Hl.; E. Ln. vn-to the; Cm. to the. + + Under an hethen castel, atte laste, + Of which the name in my text noght I finde, 905 + Custance and eek hir child the see up-caste. + Almighty god, that saveth al mankinde, + Have on Custance and on hir child som minde, (810) + That fallen is in hethen land eft-sone, + In point to spille, as I shal telle yow sone. 910 + + 907. E. saued; _rest_ saueth. + + Doun from the castel comth ther many a wight + To gauren on this ship and on Custance. + But shortly, from the castel, on a night, + The lordes styward—god yeve him meschaunce!— + A theef, that had reneyed our creaunce, 915 + Com in-to ship allone, and seyde he sholde + Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or nolde. + + 916. E. Cm. in-to the; _rest omit_ the. + +[157: T. 5338-5370.] + + Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon, (820) + Hir child cryde, and she cryde pitously; + But blisful Marie heelp hir right anon; 920 + For with hir strugling wel and mightily + The theef fil over bord al sodeinly, + And in the see he dreynte for vengeance; + And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept Custance. + + 920. E. Hn. heelp; Hl. hilp; Cm. Cp. halp; Pt. halpe; Ln. helped. + + O foule lust of luxurie! lo, thyn ende! =Auctor.= + 925 + Nat only that thou feyntest mannes minde, + But verraily thou wolt his body shende; + Thende of thy werk or of thy lustes blinde (830) + Is compleyning, how many-oon may men finde + That noght for werk som-tyme, but for thentente 930 + To doon this sinne, ben outher sleyn or shente! + + How may this wayke womman han this strengthe + Hir to defende agayn this renegat? + O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe, + How mighte David make thee so mat, 935 + So yong and of armure so desolat? + How dorste he loke up-on thy dredful face? + Wel may men seen, it nas but goddes grace! (840) + + 938. E. Hl. nas; Ln. is; _the rest_ was. + + Who yaf Iudith corage or hardinesse + To sleen him, Olofernus, in his tente, 940 + And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse + The peple of god? I seye, for this entente, + That, right as god spirit of vigour sente + To hem, and saved hem out of meschance, + So sente he might and vigour to Custance. 945 + + 940. E. Oloferne; Hl. Olefernes; _the rest_ Olofernus, Olefernus, _or_ + Olesphernus; _see note_. + + Forth goth hir ship thurgh-out the narwe mouth + Of Iubaltar and Septe, dryving ay, + Som-tyme West, som-tyme North and South, (850) + And som-tyme Est, ful many a wery day, + Til Cristes moder (blessed be she ay!) 950 + [158: T. 5371-5400.] + Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees goodnesse, + To make an ende of al hir hevinesse. + + 947. E. alway; _rest_ ay. (_The latter is better, but recurs in_ l. + 950.) 948. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ and _after_ West. + + Now lat us stinte of Custance but a throwe, + And speke we of the Romain Emperour, + That out of Surrie hath by lettres knowe 955 + The slaughtre of cristen folk, and dishonour + Don to his doghter by a fals traitour, + I mene the cursed wikked sowdanesse, (860) + That at the feste leet sleen both more and lesse. + + For which this emperour hath sent anoon 960 + His senatour, with royal ordinance, + And othere lordes, got wot, many oon, + On Surriens to taken heigh vengeance. + They brennen, sleen, and bringe hem to meschance + Ful many a day; but shortly, this is thende, 965 + Homward to Rome they shapen hem to wende. + + This senatour repaireth with victorie + To Rome-ward, sayling ful royally, (870) + And mette the ship dryving, as seith the storie, + In which Custance sit ful pitously. 970 + No-thing ne knew he what she was, ne why + She was in swich array; ne she nil seye + Of hir estaat, althogh she sholde deye. + + 971. E. Cm. _om._ ne _before_ knew; _the rest have it_. 973. Hl. + although; Pt. though that; _rest_ thogh, though, thow. + + He bringeth hir to Rome, and to his wyf + He yaf hir, and hir yonge sone also; 975 + And with the senatour she ladde her lyf. + Thus can our lady bringen out of wo + Woful Custance, and many another mo. (880) + And longe tyme dwelled she in that place, + In holy werkes ever, as was hir grace. 980 + + [159: T. 5401-5435.] + The senatoures wyf hir aunte was, + But for al that she knew hir never the more; + I wol no lenger tarien in this cas, + But to king Alla, which I spak of yore, + That for his wyf wepeth and syketh sore, 985 + I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance + Under the senatoures governance. + + 985. E. _puts_ wepeth _after_ That. + + King Alla, which that hadde his moder slayn, (890) + Upon a day fil in swich repentance, + That, if I shortly tellen shal and plain, 990 + To Rome he comth, to receyven his penance; + And putte him in the popes ordinance + In heigh and low, and Iesu Crist bisoghte + Foryeve his wikked werkes that he wroghte. + + The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is born, 995 + How Alla king shal come in pilgrimage, + By herbergeours that wenten him biforn; + For which the senatour, as was usage, (900) + Rood him ageyn, and many of his linage, + As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence 1000 + As to don any king a reverence. + + 995. E. thurgh out the toun; _rest_ thurgh Rome toun. 996. E. Hn. Cp. + Pt. comen. 999. E. Hn. agayns. + + Greet chere dooth this noble senatour + To king Alla, and he to him also; + Everich of hem doth other greet honour; + And so bifel that, in a day or two, 1005 + This senatour is to king Alla go + To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye, + Custances sone wente in his companye. (910) + + Som men wolde seyn, at requeste of Custance, + This senatour hath lad this child to feste; 1010 + I may nat tellen every circumstance, + Be as be may, ther was he at the leste. + But soth is this, that, at his modres heste, + Biforn Alla, during the metes space, + The child stood, loking in the kinges face. 1015 + + [160: T. 5436-5470.] + This Alla king hath of this child greet wonder, + And to the senatour he seyde anon, + ‘Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder?’ (920) + ‘I noot,’ quod he, ‘by god, and by seint Iohn! + A moder he hath, but fader hath he non 1020 + That I of woot’—but shortly, in a stounde, + He tolde Alla how that this child was founde. + + ‘But god wot,’ quod this senatour also, + ‘So vertuous a livere in my lyf, + Ne saugh I never as she, ne herde of mo 1025 + Of worldly wommen, mayden, nor of wyf; + I dar wel seyn hir hadde lever a knyf + Thurgh-out her breste, than been a womman wikke; (930) + Ther is no man coude bringe hir to that prikke.’ + + 1026. Hl. Cm. Ln. mayden; _rest_ mayde. Cm. nor; Hl. Ln. or; _rest_ ne. + + Now was this child as lyk un-to Custance 1030 + As possible is a creature to be. + This Alla hath the face in remembrance + Of dame Custance, and ther-on mused he + If that the childes moder were aught she + That was his wyf, and prively he sighte, 1035 + And spedde him fro the table that he mighte. + + ‘Parfay,’ thoghte he, ‘fantome is in myn heed! + I oghte deme, of skilful Iugement, (940) + That in the salte see my wyf is deed.’ + And afterward he made his argument— 1040 + ‘What woot I, if that Crist have hider y-sent + My wyf by see, as wel as he hir sente + To my contree fro thennes that she wente?’ + + 1041. E. haue; _rest_ hath. E. ysent; Cm. I-sent; _rest_ sent. + + And, after noon, hoom with the senatour + Goth Alla, for to seen this wonder chaunce. 1045 + This senatour dooth Alla greet honour, + And hastifly he sente after Custaunce. + But trusteth weel, hir liste nat to daunce (950) + Whan that she wiste wherefor was that sonde. + Unnethe up-on hir feet she mighte stonde. 1050 + + 1047. E. Pt. hastifly; _rest_ hastily, hastely. + +[161: T. 5471-5505.] + + When Alla saugh his wyf, faire he hir grette, + And weep, that it was routhe for to see. + For at the firste look he on hir sette + He knew wel verraily that it was she. + And she for sorwe as domb stant as a tree; 1055 + So was hir herte shet in hir distresse + Whan she remembred his unkindenesse. + + Twyës she swowned in his owne sighte; (960) + He weep, and him excuseth pitously:— + ‘Now god,’ quod he, ‘and alle his halwes brighte 1060 + So wisly on my soule as have mercy, + That of your harm as giltelees am I + As is Maurice my sone so lyk your face; + Elles the feend me fecche out of this place!’ + + 1060. Hl. alle; _which the rest omit_. + + Long was the sobbing and the bitter peyne 1065 + Er that hir woful hertes mighte cesse; + Greet was the pitee for to here hem pleyne, + Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse. (970) + I prey yow al my labour to relesse; + I may nat telle hir wo un-til tomorwe, 1070 + I am so wery for to speke of sorwe. + + But fynally, when that the sooth is wist + That Alla giltelees was of hir wo, + I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist, + And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two 1075 + That, save the Ioye that lasteth evermo, + Ther is non lyk, that any creature + Hath seyn or shal, whyl that the world may dure. (980) + + 1074. Hl. they ben. + + Tho preyde she hir housbond mekely, + In relief of hir longe pitous pyne, 1080 + That he wold preye hir fader specially + That, of his magestee, he wolde enclyne + To vouche-sauf som day with him to dyne; + She preyde him eek, he sholde by no weye + Un-to hir fader no word of hir seye. 1085 + + 1084. E. wolde; _rest_ sholde. + +[162: T. 5506-5540.] + + Som men wold seyn, how that the child Maurice + Doth this message un-to this emperour; + But, as I gesse, Alla was nat so nyce (990) + To him, that was of so sovereyn honour + As he that is of cristen folk the flour, 1090 + Sente any child, but it is bet to deme + He wente him-self, and so it may wel seme. + + This emperour hath graunted gentilly + To come to diner, as he him bisoghte; + And wel rede I, he loked bisily 1095 + Up-on this child, and on his doghter thoghte. + Alla goth to his in, and, as him oghte, + Arrayed for this feste in every wyse (1000) + As ferforth as his conning may suffyse. + + The morwe cam, and Alla gan him dresse, 1100 + And eek his wyf, this emperour to mete; + And forth they ryde in Ioye and in gladnesse. + And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete, + She lighte doun, and falleth him to fete. + ‘Fader,’ quod she, ‘your yonge child Custance 1105 + Is now ful clene out of your remembrance. + + I am your doghter Custance,’ quod she, + ‘That whylom ye han sent un-to Surrye. (1010) + It am I, fader, that in the salte see + Was put allone and dampned for to dye. 1110 + Now, gode fader, mercy I yow crye, + Send me namore un-to non hethenesse, + But thonketh my lord heer of his kindenesse.’ + + 1107. _So in all the MSS.; to be read as_ Cústancë (_three syllables_). + + Who can the pitous Ioye tellen al + Bitwix hem three, sin they ben thus y-mette? 1115 + But of my tale make an ende I shal; + The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette. + This glade folk to diner they hem sette; (1020) + In Ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle + A thousand fold wel more than I can telle. 1120 + + [163: T. 5541-5573.] + This child Maurice was sithen emperour + Maad by the pope, and lived cristenly. + To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour; + But I lete al his storie passen by, + Of Custance is my tale specially. 1125 + In olde Romayn gestes may men finde + Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in minde. + + 1126. E. Hn. Cm. In the; _rest om._ the. + + This king Alla, whan he his tyme sey, (1030) + With his Custance, his holy wyf so swete, + To Engelond been they come the righte wey, 1130 + Wher-as they live in Ioye and in quiete. + But litel whyl it lasteth, I yow hete, + Ioye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde; + Fro day to night it changeth as the tyde. + + Who lived ever in swich delyt o day 1135 + That him ne moeved outher conscience, + Or ire, or talent, or som kin affray, + Envye, or pryde, or passion, or offence? (1040) + I ne seye but for this ende this sentence, + That litel whyl in Ioye or in plesance 1140 + Lasteth the blisse of Alla with Custance. + + 1137. E. som kynnes; Cm. su_m_kenys; Hl. som maner; Hn. Cp. Pt. som + kyn; Ln. sumkin. + + For deeth, that taketh of heigh and low his rente, + When passed was a yeer, even as I gesse, + Out of this world this king Alla he hente, + For whom Custance hath ful gret hevinesse. 1145 + Now lat us preyen god his soule blesse! + And dame Custance; fynally to seye, + Towards the toun of Rome gooth hir weye. (1050) + + 1146. E. praye to; Hl. pray that; _rest_ preyen, prayen, preien, _or_ + preyne. + + To Rome is come this holy creature, + And fyndeth ther hir frendes hole and sounde: 1150 + Now is she scaped al hir aventure; + And whan that she hir fader hath y-founde, + Doun on hir kneës falleth she to grounde; + [164: T. 5574-5582.] + Weping for tendrenesse in herte blythe, + She herieth god an hundred thousand sythe. 1155 + + 1150. Hl. And fynt hir freendes ther bothe hool and sound. _The rest + omit_ ther. + + In vertu and in holy almes-dede + They liven alle, and never a-sonder wende; + Til deeth departed hem, this lyf they lede. (1060) + And fareth now weel, my tale is at an ende. + Now Iesu Crist, that of his might may sende 1160 + Ioye after wo, governe us in his grace, + And kepe us alle that ben in this place! Amen. + + =Here endeth the Tale of the Man of Lawe; and next folweth the + Shipmannes Prolog.= + + *** For l. 5583 _in_ Tyrwhitt’s Text, _see_ Group D, l. 1. + + COLOPHON. _The latter part is from_ MS. Arch. Selden B. 14. _Many MSS. + have_ The prolog of the squyers tale, _or_ the prolog of the Squier. + _The_ Petworth MS. _and some others have here an ill-written and + spurious_ Prologue to the Shipman’s Tale, _which is here subjoined:_ + + ‘Now freendes,’ seide our Hoost so dere, + ‘How lyketh you by Iohn the Pardonere? + For he hath unbokeled wel the male; + He hath us told right a thrifty tale + As touching of misgovernaunce— + I preye to God, yeve him good chaunce!— + As ye han herd of thise riotoures three. + Now, gentil Mariner, hertely I preye thee, + Telle us a good tale, and that right anon.’ + ‘It shall be doon, by god and by seint Iohn,’ + Seyde this Mariner, ‘as wel as ever I can,’ + And right anon his tale he bigan. + +[165: T. 12903-12924.] + + * * * * * + +THE SHIPMAN’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Shipmannes Prolog.= + + Our hoste up-on his stiropes stood anon, + And seyde, ‘good men, herkneth everich on; + This was a thrifty tale for the nones! 1165 + Sir parish prest,’ quod he, ‘for goddes bones, + Tel us a tale, as was thy forward yore. + I see wel that ye lerned men in lore + Can moche good, by goddes dignitee!’ + + 1163-1190. _From_ Cp., _collated with_ Hl. Pt. Ln. Seld. Royal, _and_ + Sloane; E. Hn. Cm. _omit_. 1164. Cp. herkeneth; Hl. herkneth. + + The Persone him answerde, ‘_benedicite_! 1170 + What eyleth the man, so sinfully to swere?’ + + Our hoste answerde, ‘O Iankin, be ye there? (10) + I smelle a loller in the wind,’ quod he. + ‘How! good men,’ quod our hoste, ‘herkneth me; + Abydeth, for goddes digne passioun, 1175 + For we shal han a predicacioun; + This loller heer wil prechen us som-what.’ + + 1174. Cp. herkeneth; Hl. herkneth. 1174. Hl. Now; _rest_ How + (Howe). 1175. Hl. _omits_. + + ‘Nay, by my fader soule! that shal be nat,’ + Seyde the Shipman; ‘heer he shal nat preche, + He shal no gospel glosen heer ne teche. 1180 + We leve alle in the grete god,’ quod he, + ‘He wolde sowen som difficultee, (20) + Or springen cokkel in our clene corn; + And therfor, hoste, I warne thee biforn, + [166: T. 12925-12930.] + My Ioly body shal a tale telle, 1185 + And I shal clinken yow so mery a belle, + That I shal waken al this companye; + But it shal nat ben of philosophye, + Ne _physices_, ne termes queinte of lawe; (27) + Ther is but litel Latin in my mawe.’ 1190 + + Here endeth the Shipman his Prolog. + + 1179. Seld. _has_ Shipman; Roy. Slo. Cp. Pt. Ln. squier; Hl. + sompnour. 1181. Seld. Hl. We leuen; Roy. Cp. Pt. Ln. He leueth. + 1182. Seld. Hl. quod, _which_ Cp. Pt. Ln. Roy. Slo. _omit_. 1186-90. + Hl. omits. 1189. Tyrwhitt _has_ of physike; _the_ MSS. _have the + unmeaning word_ phislyas (Sloane phillyas; Ln. fisleas); _read_ + physices; see note. COLOPHON. _From_ Seld. + +[167: T. 12931-12957.] + + * * * * * + +THE SHIPMANNES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Shipmannes Tale.= + + A marchant whylom dwelled at Seint Denys, + That riche was, for which men helde him wys; + A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee, + And compaignable and revelous was she, + Which is a thing that causeth more dispence 1195 + Than worth is al the chere and reverence + That men hem doon at festes and at daunces; + Swiche salutaciouns and contenaunces + Passen as dooth a shadwe up-on the wal. + But wo is him that payen moot for al; 1200 + The sely housbond, algate he mot paye; (11) + He moot us clothe, and he moot us arraye, + Al for his owene worship richely, + In which array we daunce Iolily. + And if that he noght may, par-aventure, 1205 + Or elles, list no swich dispence endure, + But thinketh it is wasted and y-lost, + Than moot another payen for our cost, + Or lene us gold, and that is perilous. + + 1191. Hl. hild. 1196. E. chiere. 1201. E. honsbonde. Hn. moot; + Pt. mot; rest moste. 1205. Pt. Hl. may not. 1206. E. ellis. 1208. + E. Thanne. + + This noble Marchant heeld a worthy hous, 1210 + For which he hadde alday so greet repair (21) + For his largesse, and for his wyf was fair, + That wonder is; but herkneth to my tale. + Amonges alle his gestes, grete and smale, + Ther was a monk, a fair man and a bold, 1215 + I trowe of thritty winter he was old, + That ever in oon was drawing to that place. + [168: T. 12958-12994.] + This yonge monk, that was so fair of face, + Aqueinted was so with the gode man, + Sith that hir firste knoweliche bigan, 1220 + That in his hous as famulier was he (31) + As it possible is any freend to be. + + 1214. E. Hn. hise; Hl. these; _rest_ his. 1216. E. of; Hn. Cp. Ln. a; + _rest om._ 1217. E. comynge; rest drawyng. 1220-3. Pt. _omits._ + + And for as muchel as this gode man + And eek this monk, of which that I bigan, + Were bothe two y-born in o village, 1225 + The monk him claimeth as for cosinage; + And he again, he seith nat ones nay, + But was as glad ther-of as fowel of day; + For to his herte it was a greet plesaunce. + Thus been they knit with eterne alliaunce, 1230 + And ech of hem gan other for tassure (41) + Of bretherhede, whyl that hir lyf may dure. + + 1222. E. _om._ is; Hl. possibil is; _rest_ is possible. 1231. E. Hn. + Pt. ech; Hl. ilk; _rest_ ilke. Cp. for to assure; Hl. Ln. to assure + (_om._ for). + + Free was daun Iohn, and namely of dispence, + As in that hous; and ful of diligence + To doon plesaunce, and also greet costage. 1235 + He noght forgat to yeve the leeste page + In al that hous; but, after hir degree, + He yaf the lord, and sitthe al his meynee, + When that he cam, som maner honest thing; + For which they were as glad of his coming 1240 + As fowel is fayn, whan that the sonne up-ryseth. (51) + Na more of this as now, for it suffyseth. + + 1237. E. the; _rest_ that. + + But so bifel, this marchant on a day + Shoop him to make redy his array + Toward the toun of Brugges for to fare, 1245 + To byën ther a porcioun of ware; + For which he hath to Paris sent anon + A messager, and preyed hath daun Iohn + That he sholde come to Seint Denys to pleye + With him and with his wyf a day or tweye, 1250 + Er he to Brugges wente, in alle wyse. (61) + + This noble monk, of which I yow devyse, + Hath of his abbot, as him list, licence, + By-cause he was a man of heigh prudence, + [169: T. 12995-13031.] + And eek an officer, out for to ryde, 1255 + To seen hir graunges and hir bernes wyde; + And un-to Seint Denys he comth anon. + Who was so welcome as my lord daun Iohn, + Our dere cosin, ful of curteisye? + With him broghte he a Iubbe of Malvesye, 1260 + And eek another, ful of fyn Vernage, (71) + And volatyl, as ay was his usage. + And thus I lete hem ete and drinke and pleye, + This marchant and this monk, a day or tweye. + + 1261. Cp. Ln. good (_for_ fyn); Hl. wyn. 1262. Hl. volantyn (!) + 1263. E. _om._ ete and. + + The thridde day, this marchant up aryseth, 1265 + And on his nedes sadly him avyseth, + And up in-to his countour-hous goth he + To rekene with him-self, as wel may be, + Of thilke yeer, how that it with him stood, + And how that he despended hadde his good; 1270 + And if that he encressed were or noon. (81) + His bokes and his bagges many oon + He leith biforn him on his counting-bord; + Ful riche was his tresor and his hord, + For which ful faste his countour-dore he shette; 1275 + And eek he nolde that no man sholde him lette + Of his accountes, for the mene tyme; + And thus he sit til it was passed pryme. + + 1266, 1272, 1277. E. hise. 1268. Pt. Hl. as; _rest om._ + + Daun Iohn was risen in the morwe also, + And in the gardin walketh to and fro, 1280 + And hath his thinges seyd ful curteisly. (91) + + This gode wyf cam walking prively + In-to the gardin, ther he walketh softe, + And him saleweth, as she hath don ofte. + A mayde child cam in hir companye, 1285 + Which as hir list she may governe and gye, + For yet under the yerde was the mayde. + ‘O dere cosin myn, daun Iohn,’ she sayde, + ‘What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse?’ + ‘Nece,’ quod he, ‘it oghte y-nough suffyse 1290 + Fyve houres for to slepe up-on a night, (101) + [170: T. 13032-13066.] + But it were for an old appalled wight, + As been thise wedded men, that lye and dare + As in a forme sit a wery hare, + Were al for-straught with houndes grete and smale. 1295 + But dere nece, why be ye so pale? + I trowe certes that our gode man + Hath yow laboured sith the night bigan, + That yow were nede to resten hastily?’ + And with that word he lough ful merily, 1300 + And of his owene thought he wex al reed. (111) + + 1294. E. fourme; _rest_ forme. 1300. E. murily. 1301. E. Cp. wax. + + This faire wyf gan for to shake hir heed, + And seyde thus, ‘ye, god wot al,’ quod she; + ‘Nay, cosin myn, it stant nat so with me. + For, by that god that yaf me soule and lyf, 1305 + In al the reme of France is ther no wyf + That lasse lust hath to that sory pley. + For I may singe “allas” and “weylawey, + That I was born,” but to no wight,’ quod she, + ‘Dar I nat telle how that it stant with me. 1310 + Wherfore I thinke out of this land to wende, (121) + Or elles of my-self to make an ende, + So ful am I of drede and eek of care.’ + + 1304. E. _repeats_ nay. 1306. Cp. Pt. rewme; Hl. Ln. reme; E. Hn. + Reawme; _see_ B. 4326. + + This monk bigan up-on this wyf to stare, + And seyde, ‘allas, my nece, god forbede 1315 + That ye, for any sorwe or any drede, + Fordo your-self; but telleth me your grief; + Paraventure I may, in your meschief, + Conseille or helpe, and therfore telleth me + Al your anoy, for it shal been secree; 1320 + For on my porthors here I make an ooth, (131) + That never in my lyf, for lief ne looth, + Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye.’ + + 1317. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. telleth; E. tel. E. me of; Cp. Ln. + forth; _rest_ me. 1318. E. I yow may; _rest om._ yow. 1321. Cm. + here; _rest_ om. + + ‘The same agayn to yow,’ quod she, ‘I seye; + By god and by this porthors, I yow swere, 1325 + Though men me wolde al in-to peces tere, + [171: T. 13067-13103.] + Ne shal I never, for to goon to helle, + Biwreye a word of thing that ye me telle, + Nat for no cosinage ne alliance, + But verraily, for love and affiance.’ 1330 + Thus been they sworn, and heer-upon they kiste, (141) + And ech of hem tolde other what hem liste. + + 1326. E. pieces; _rest_ peces, peeces. + + ‘Cosin,’ quod she, ‘if that I hadde a space, + As I have noon, and namely in this place, + Than wolde I telle a legende of my lyf, 1335 + What I have suffred sith I was a wyf + With myn housbonde, al be he your cosyn.’ + + 1335. E. Thanne. 1337. your cosyn] E. of youre kyn. + + ‘Nay,’ quod this monk, ‘by god and seint Martyn, + He is na more cosin un-to me + Than is this leef that hangeth on the tree! 1340 + I clepe him so, by Seint Denys of Fraunce, (151) + To have the more cause of aqueintaunce + Of yow, which I have loved specially + Aboven alle wommen sikerly; + This swere I yow on my professioun. 1345 + Telleth your grief, lest that he come adoun, + And hasteth yow, and gooth your wey anon.’ + + 1338. and] E. Cp. Pt. Ln. and by. 1340. E. lief. + + ‘My dere love,’ quod she, ‘o my daun Iohn, + Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde, + But out it moot, I may namore abyde. 1350 + Myn housbond is to me the worste man (161) + That ever was, sith that the world bigan. + But sith I am a wyf, it sit nat me + To tellen no wight of our privetee, + Neither a bedde, ne in non other place; 1355 + God shilde I sholde it tellen, for his grace! + A wyf ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde + But al honour, as I can understonde; + Save un-to yow thus muche I tellen shal; + As help me god, he is noght worth at al 1360 + In no degree the value of a flye. (171) + But yet me greveth most his nigardye; + And wel ye woot that wommen naturelly + [172: T. 13104-13140.] + Desyren thinges sixe, as wel as I. + They wolde that hir housbondes sholde be 1365 + Hardy, and wyse, and riche, and ther-to free, + And buxom to his wyf, and fresh a-bedde. + But, by that ilke lord that for us bledde, + For his honour, my-self for to arraye, + A Sonday next, I moste nedes paye 1370 + An hundred frankes, or elles am I lorn. (181) + Yet were me lever that I were unborn + Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileinye; + And if myn housbond eek it mighte espye, + I nere but lost, and therfore I yow preye 1375 + Lene me this somme, or elles moot I deye. + Daun Iohn, I seye, lene me thise hundred frankes; + Pardee, I wol nat faille yow my thankes, + If that yow list to doon that I yow praye. + For at a certein day I wol yow paye, 1380 + And doon to yow what plesance and servyce (191) + That I may doon, right as yow list devyse. + And but I do, god take on me vengeance + As foul as ever had Geniloun of France!’ + + 1351. E. housbonde. 1355. Hl. _om._ 1367. to] E. Hn. Cm. unto. + 1371, 1376. E. ellis. 1371. E. Ln. Hl. I am; _rest_ am I. 1374. E. + housbonde. 1376-9. Hl. _omits_. 1384. E. hadde. + + This gentil monk answerde in this manere; 1385 + ‘Now, trewely, myn owene lady dere, + I have,’ quod he, ‘on yow so greet a routhe, + That I yow swere and plighte yow my trouthe, + That whan your housbond is to Flaundres fare, + I wol delivere yow out of this care; 1390 + For I wol bringe yow an hundred frankes.’ (201) + And with that word he caughte hir by the flankes, + And hir embraceth harde, and kiste hir ofte. + ‘Goth now your wey,’ quod he, ‘al stille and softe, + And lat us dyne as sone as that ye may; 1395 + For by my chilindre it is pryme of day. + Goth now, and beeth as trewe as I shal be.’ + + 1389. E. housbonde. + + ‘Now, elles god forbede, sire,’ quod she, + And forth she gooth, as Iolif as a pye, + And bad the cokes that they sholde hem hye, 1400 + [173: T. 13141-13176.] + So that men mighte dyne, and that anon. (211) + Up to hir housbonde is this wyf y-gon, + And knokketh at his countour boldely. + + ‘_Qui la_?’ quod he. ‘Peter! it am I,’ + Quod she, ‘what, sire, how longe wol ye faste? 1405 + How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste + Your sommes, and your bokes, and your thinges? + The devel have part of alle swiche rekeninges! + Ye have y-nough, pardee, of goddes sonde; + Come doun to-day, and lat your bagges stonde. 1410 + Ne be ye nat ashamed that daun Iohn (221) + Shal fasting al this day elenge goon? + What! lat us here a messe, and go we dyne.’ + + 1404. E. Hn. Who ther (_with_ Qi la _in margin_); Hl. Qy la; Cp. Pt. + Quy la; Ln. Que la. 1408. Hl. Cm. of; _rest_ on. 1412. E. Cm. + alenge; _rest_ elenge. 1413. E. _om._ What. + + ‘Wyf,’ quod this man, ‘litel canstow devyne + The curious bisinesse that we have. 1415 + For of us chapmen, al-so god me save, + And by that lord that cleped is Seint Yve, + Scarsly amonges twelve ten shul thryve, + Continuelly, lastinge un-to our age. + We may wel make chere and good visage, 1420 + And dryve forth the world as it may be, (231) + And kepen our estaat in privetee, + Til we be deed, or elles that we pleye + A pilgrimage, or goon out of the weye. + And therfor have I greet necessitee 1425 + Up-on this queinte world tavyse me; + For evermore we mote stonde in drede + Of hap and fortune in our chapmanhede. + + 1417. E. clepid. 1418. E. xij. 1420. E. chiere. 1426. E. Hn. Cm. + tauyse; _rest_ to auyse. + + To Flaundres wol I go to-morwe at day, + And come agayn, as sone as ever I may. 1430 + For which, my dere wyf, I thee biseke, (241) + As be to every wight buxom and meke, + And for to kepe our good be curious, + And honestly governe wel our hous. + Thou hast y-nough, in every maner wyse, 1435 + That to a thrifty houshold may suffyse. + [174: T. 13177-13214.] + Thee lakketh noon array ne no vitaille, + Of silver in thy purs shaltow nat faille.’ + And with that word his countour-dore he shette, + And doun he gooth, no lenger wolde he lette, 1440 + But hastily a messe was ther seyd, (251) + And spedily the tables were y-leyd, + And to the diner faste they hem spedde; + And richely this monk the chapman fedde. + + 1441. E. Hn. But; _rest_ And. + + At-after diner daun Iohn sobrely 1445 + This chapman took a-part, and prively + He seyde him thus, ‘cosyn, it standeth so, + That wel I see to Brugges wol ye go. + God and seint Austin spede yow and gyde! + I prey yow, cosin, wysly that ye ryde; 1450 + Governeth yow also of your diete (261) + Atemprely, and namely in this hete. + Bitwix us two nedeth no strange fare; + Fare-wel, cosyn; god shilde yow fro care. + If any thing ther be by day or night, 1455 + If it lye in my power and my might, + That ye me wol comande in any wyse, + It shal be doon, right as ye wol devyse. + + 1445. E. Hn. Cm. At; _rest_ And. 1455. E. Hn. And if that any thyng + by day or night. + + O thing, er that ye goon, if it may be, + I wolde prey yow; for to lene me 1460 + An hundred frankes, for a wyke or tweye, (271) + For certein beestes that I moste beye, + To store with a place that is oures. + God help me so, I wolde it were youres! + I shal nat faille surely of my day, 1465 + Nat for a thousand frankes, a myle-way. + But lat this thing be secree, I yow preye, + For yet to-night thise beestes moot I beye; + And fare-now wel, myn owene cosin dere, + Graunt mercy of your cost and of your chere.’ 1470 + + 1465. E. at; _rest_ of. + + This noble marchant gentilly anon (281) + Answerde, and seyde, ‘o cosin myn, daun Iohn, + Now sikerly this is a smal requeste; + My gold is youres, whan that it yow leste. + [175: T. 13215-13250.] + And nat only my gold, but my chaffare; 1475 + Take what yow list, god shilde that ye spare. + + But o thing is, ye knowe it wel y-nogh, + Of chapmen, that hir moneye is hir plogh. + We may creaunce whyl we have a name, + But goldlees for to be, it is no game. 1480 + Paye it agayn whan it lyth in your ese; (291) + After my might ful fayn wolde I yow plese.’ + + 1479. Cm. encrece (_for_ creaunce). + + Thise hundred frankes he fette forth anon, + And prively he took hem to daun Iohn. + No wight in al this world wiste of this lone, 1485 + Savinge this marchant and daun Iohn allone. + They drinke, and speke, and rome a whyle and pleye, + Til that daun Iohn rydeth to his abbeye. + + 1483. E. fette hyrn forth; _rest om._ hym. + + The morwe cam, and forth this marchant rydeth + To Flaundres-ward; his prentis wel him gydeth, 1490 + Til he cam in-to Brugges merily. (301) + Now gooth this marchant faste and bisily + Aboute his nede, and byeth and creaunceth. + He neither pleyeth at the dees ne daunceth; + But as a marchant, shortly for to telle, 1495 + He let his lyf, and there I lete him dwelle. + + 1491. E. Hn. murily. 1494. E. Cm. _om._ the. 1496. E. Hn. let; Cm. + lat; Hl. Pt. lad; Cp. leet; Ln. leteþ (let = ledeth). + + The Sonday next this Marchant was agon, + To Seint Denys y-comen is daun Iohn, + With crowne and berd all fresh and newe y-shave. + In al the hous ther nas so litel a knave, 1500 + Ne no wight elles, that he nas ful fayn, (311) + For that my lord daun Iohn was come agayn. + And shortly to the point right for to gon, + This faire wyf accorded with daun Iohn, + That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al night 1505 + Have hir in his armes bolt-upright; + And this acord parfourned was in dede. + In mirthe al night a bisy lyf they lede + Til it was day, that daun Iohn wente his way, + And bad the meynee ‘fare-wel, have good day!’ 1510 + [176: T. 13251-13287.] + For noon of hem, ne no wight in the toun, (321) + Hath of daun Iohn right no suspecioun. + And forth he rydeth hoom to his abbeye, + Or where him list; namore of him I seye. + + 1502. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ For. 1503. E. right to the point. 1506. E. + hise. + + This marchant, whan that ended was the faire, 1515 + To Seint Denys he gan for to repaire, + And with his wyf he maketh feste and chere, + And telleth hir that chaffare is so dere, + That nedes moste he make a chevisaunce. + For he was bounde in a reconissaunce 1520 + To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon. (331) + For which this marchant is to Paris gon, + To borwe of certein frendes that he hadde + A certein frankes; and somme with him he ladde. + And whan that he was come in-to the toun, 1525 + For greet chertee and greet affeccioun, + Un-to daun Iohn he gooth him first, to pleye; + Nat for to axe or borwe of him moneye, + But for to wite and seen of his welfare, + And for to tellen him of his chaffare, 1530 + As freendes doon whan they ben met y-fere. (341) + Daun Iohn him maketh feste and mery chere; + And he him tolde agayn ful specially, + How he hadde wel y-boght and graciously, + Thanked be god, al hool his marchandyse. 1535 + Save that he moste, in alle maner wyse, + Maken a chevisaunce, as for his beste, + And thanne he sholde been in Ioye and reste. + + 1517, 1532. E. feeste. 1519, 1537. E. cheuyssau_n_ce. 1520. Hl. + bounde; _rest_ bounden. 1526. Pt. cheertee; Ln. chere; _rest_ + chiertee. 1532. E. murye. + + Daun Iohn answerde, ‘certes, I am fayn + That ye in hele ar comen hoom agayn. 1540 + And if that I were riche, as have I blisse, (351) + Of twenty thousand sheeld shold ye nat misse, + For ye so kindely this other day + Lente me gold; and as I can and may, + I thanke yow, by god and by seint Iame! 1545 + But nathelees I took un-to our dame, + Your wyf at hoom, the same gold ageyn + [177: T. 13288-13323.] + Upon your bench; she woot it wel, certeyn, + By certein tokenes that I can hir telle. + Now, by your leve, I may no lenger dwelle, 1550 + Our abbot wol out of this toun anon; (361) + And in his companye moot I gon. + Grete wel our dame, myn owene nece swete, + And fare-wel, dere cosin, til we mete!’ + + 1540. ar] Cp. Pt. Ln. be. 1549. E. Hn. Cm. yow; _rest_ hir. + + This Marchant, which that was ful war and wys, 1555 + Creaunced hath, and payd eek in Parys, + To certeyn Lumbardes, redy in hir hond, + The somme of gold, and gat of hem his bond; + And hoom he gooth, mery as a papeiay. + For wel he knew he stood in swich array, 1560 + That nedes moste he winne in that viage (371) + A thousand frankes above al his costage. + + 1558. E. hadde; Hl. took; _rest_ gat. _Over_ bond _is the + gloss_—obligacionem. 1559. E. murie. E. papeiay; _rest_ papyniay, + popiniay. 1562. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. abouen; _rest_ aboue. + + His wyf ful redy mette him atte gate, + As she was wont of old usage algate, + And al that night in mirthe they bisette; 1565 + For he was riche and cleerly out of dette. + Whan it was day, this marchant gan embrace + His wyf al newe, and kiste hir on hir face, + And up he gooth and maketh it ful tough. + + ‘Namore,’ quod she, ‘by god, ye have y-nough!’ 1570 + And wantounly agayn with him she pleyde; (381) + Til, atte laste, that this Marchant seyde, + ‘By god,’ quod he, ‘I am a litel wrooth + With yow, my wyf, al-thogh it be me looth. + And woot ye why? by god, as that I gesse, 1575 + That ye han maad a maner straungenesse + Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun Iohn. + Ye sholde han warned me, er I had gon, + That he yow hadde an hundred frankes payed + By redy tokene; and heeld him yvel apayed, 1580 + For that I to him spak of chevisaunce, (391) + Me semed so, as by his contenaunce. + But nathelees, by god our hevene king, + [178: T. 13324-13359.] + I thoghte nat to axe of him no-thing. + I prey thee, wyf, ne do namore so; 1585 + Tel me alwey, er that I fro thee go, + If any dettour hath in myn absence + Y-payëd thee; lest, thurgh thy necligence, + I mighte him axe a thing that he hath payed.’ + + 1571. E. wantownely. 1572. Cp. Pt. þat; Hl. þus; _rest om._ 1574. + E. were; _rest_ be. 1584. E. axen; _rest_ axe. E. Hl. _om._ of. + 1585. E. as; Hl. _om._; _rest_ ne. 1586. Hn. Hl. Tel; Ln. Til; _rest_ + Telle. + + This wyf was nat afered nor affrayed, 1590 + But boldely she seyde, and that anon: (401) + ‘Marie, I defye the false monk, daun Iohn! + I kepe nat of hise tokenes never a deel; + He took me certein gold, that woot I weel! + What! yvel thedom on his monkes snoute! 1595 + For, god it woot, I wende, withouten doute, + That he had yeve it me bycause of yow, + To doon ther-with myn honour and my prow, + For cosinage, and eek for bele chere + That he hath had ful ofte tymes here. 1600 + But sith I see I stonde in this disioint, (411) + I wol answere yow shortly, to the point. + Ye han mo slakker dettours than am I! + For I wol paye yow wel and redily + Fro day to day; and, if so be I faille, 1605 + I am your wyf; score it up-on my taille, + And I shal paye, as sone as ever I may. + For, by my trouthe, I have on myn array, + And nat on wast, bistowed every deel. + And for I have bistowed it so weel 1610 + For your honour, for goddes sake, I seye, (421) + As be nat wrooth, but lat us laughe and pleye. + Ye shal my Ioly body have to wedde; + By god, I wol nat paye yow but a-bedde. + Forgive it me, myn owene spouse dere; 1615 + Turne hiderward and maketh bettre chere.’ + + 1592. Cm. defye; _rest_ deffie. 1595. E. Hn. Cp. thedam. 1597. E. + hadde. 1599. E. beele; Cm. beel; _rest_ bele. 1601. E. Hn. Hl. + this; _rest_ suche, such. 1611. E. Hn. For; _rest_ To. + + This marchant saugh ther was no remedye, + And, for to chyde, it nere but greet folye, + Sith that the thing may nat amended be. + [179: T. 13360-13364.] + ‘Now, wyf,’ he seyde, ‘and I foryeve it thee; 1620 + But, by thy lyf, ne be namore so large; (431) + Keep bet our good, this yeve I thee in charge.’ + Thus endeth now my tale, and god us sende + Taling y-nough un-to our lyves ende. Amen. + + =Here endeth the Shipmannes Tale.= + + 1622. E. that; _rest_ this. 1623. E. Hn. _om._ now. 1624. Cm. + Talynge; Hl. Talyng; E. Hn. Pt. Taillynge; Cp. Ln. Toylyng(!). + COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn. Cp. Pt. + +[180: T. 13365-13382.] + + * * * * * + +THE PRIORESS’S PROLOGUE + + * * * * * + + =Bihold the mery wordes of the Host to the Shipman + and to the lady Prioresse.= + + ‘Wel seyd, by _corpus dominus_,’ quod our hoste, 1625 + ‘Now longe moot thou sayle by the coste, + Sir gentil maister, gentil marineer! + God yeve this monk a thousand last quad yeer! + A ha! felawes! beth ware of swiche a Iape! + The monk putte in the mannes hood an ape, 1630 + And in his wyves eek, by seint Austin! + Draweth no monkes more un-to your in. + + HEADING. _So_ E. (_with_ Bihoold, murie, Hoost); Hn. Herke the myrie + Wordes of the Worthy Hoost; Pt. And here bygynneth the prologe of the + priores; Ln. Incipit prologus Priorisse. 1625. E. Hn. Hoost. 1626. + E. Hn. moote; Ln. Hl. mot; _rest_ mote. E. saille; cost. 1628. E. + this; _rest_ the. Hn. quaad; _rest_ quade. + + But now passe over, and lat us seke aboute, + Who shal now telle first, of al this route, (10) + Another tale;’ and with that word he sayde, 1635 + As curteisly as it had been a mayde, + ‘My lady Prioresse, by your leve, + So that I wiste I sholde yow nat greve, + I wolde demen that ye tellen sholde + A tale next, if so were that ye wolde. 1640 + Now wol ye vouche-sauf, my lady dere?’ + + ‘Gladly,’ quod she, and seyde as ye shal here. (18) + + _Explicit_. + + 1642. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. sayde in this manere. + +[181: T. 13383-13403.] + + * * * * * + +THE PRIORESSES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =The Prologe of the Prioresses Tale.= + + _Domine, dominus noster_. + + O Lord our lord, thy name how merveillous + Is in this large worlde y-sprad—quod she:— + For noght only thy laude precious 1645 + Parfourned is by men of dignitee, + But by the mouth of children thy bountee + Parfourned is, for on the brest soukinge + Som tyme shewen they thyn heryinge. + + HEADING. _From_ E. Hn. (Hn. proheme, _for_ prologe). Cp. _has_—Here + begynneth the tale of Alma redemptoris, the prioresses Tale. Prolog. + _Domine Dominus noster_. + + Wherfor in laude, as I best can or may, 1650 + Of thee, and of the whyte lily flour + Which that thee bar, and is a mayde alway, (10) + To telle a storie I wol do my labour; + Not that I may encresen hir honour; + For she hir-self is honour, and the rote 1655 + Of bountee, next hir sone, and soules bote.— + + 1651. E. _om._ whyte. + + O moder mayde! o mayde moder free! + O bush unbrent, brenninge in Moyses sighte, + That ravisedest doun fro the deitee, + Thurgh thyn humblesse, the goost that in thalighte, 1660 + Of whos vertu, whan he thyn herte lighte, + Conceived was the fadres sapience, (20) + Help me to telle it in thy reverence! + + 1660. Hl. Cp. the alight. + +[182: T. 13404-13431.] + + Lady! thy bountee, thy magnificence, + Thy vertu, and thy grete humilitee 1665 + Ther may no tonge expresse in no science; + For som-tyme, lady, er men praye to thee, + Thou goost biforn of thy benignitee, + And getest us the light, thurgh thy preyere, + To gyden us un-to thy sone so dere. 1670 + + 1669. Hn. Slo. Ln. Hl. the] E. thurgh; Cp. Pt. to. E. Hn. of; _but + the rest_ thurgh. + + My conning is so wayk, o blisful quene, + For to declare thy grete worthinesse, (30) + That I ne may the weighte nat sustene, + But as a child of twelf monthe old, or lesse, + That can unnethes any word expresse, 1675 + Right so fare I, and therfor I yow preye, + Gydeth my song that I shal of yow seye. + + _Explicit_. + + 1675. Cp. Pt. Hl. vnnethes. E. Hn. vnnethe. + + =Here biginneth the Prioresses Tale. + + Ther was in Asie, in a greet citee, + Amonges cristen folk, a Iewerye, + Sustened by a lord of that contree 1680 + For foule usure and lucre of vilanye, + Hateful to Crist and to his companye; (40) + And thurgh the strete men mighte ryde or wende, + For it was free, and open at either ende. + + HEADING. _From_ E. Hn. _has_—Here biggynneth the Prioresse tale of + Alma redemptoris mater. + + A litel scole of cristen folk ther stood 1685 + Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther were + Children an heep, y-comen of cristen blood, + That lerned in that scole yeer by yere + Swich maner doctrine as men used there, + This is to seyn, to singen and to rede, 1690 + As smale children doon in hir childhede. + + [183: T. 13432-13466.] + Among thise children was a widwes sone, (50) + A litel clergeon, seven yeer of age, + That day by day to scole was his wone, + And eek also, wher-as he saugh thimage 1695 + Of Cristes moder, hadde he in usage, + As him was taught, to knele adoun and seye + His _Ave Marie_, as he goth by the weye. + + 1695. Cp. Pt. Ln. the ymage. 1696. E. he hadde. + + Thus hath this widwe hir litel sone y-taught + Our blisful lady, Cristes moder dere, 1700 + To worshipe ay, and he forgat it naught, + For sely child wol alday sone lere; (60) + But ay, whan I remembre on this matere, + Seint Nicholas stant ever in my presence, + For he so yong to Crist did reverence. 1705 + + 1701. E. Pt. forgate. 1702. Hn. Hl. alwey. + + This litel child, his litel book lerninge, + As he sat in the scole at his prymer, + He _Alma redemptoris_ herde singe, + As children lerned hir antiphoner; + And, as he dorste, he drough him ner and ner, 1710 + And herkned ay the wordes and the note, + Til he the firste vers coude al by rote. (70) + + Noght wiste he what this Latin was to seye, + For he so yong and tendre was of age; + But on a day his felaw gan he preye 1715 + Texpounden him this song in his langage, + Or telle him why this song was in usage; + This preyde he him to construe and declare + Ful ofte tyme upon his knowes bare. + + 1719. E. Hl. often. + + His felaw, which that elder was than he, 1720 + Answerde him thus: ‘this song, I have herd seye, + Was maked of our blisful lady free, (80) + Hir to salue, and eek hir for to preye + To been our help and socour whan we deye. + I can no more expounde in this matere; 1725 + I lerne song, I can but smal grammere.’ + + 1725. E. Hn. na. + +[184: T. 13467-13501.] + + ‘And is this song maked in reverence + Of Cristes moder?’ seyde this innocent; + ‘Now certes, I wol do my diligence + To conne it al, er Cristemasse is went; 1730 + Though that I for my prymer shal be shent, + And shal be beten thryës in an houre, (90) + I wol it conne, our lady for to honoure.’ + + 1733. Cp. Pt. Hl. _omit_ for. + + His felaw taughte him homward prively, + Fro day to day, til he coude it by rote, 1735 + And than he song it wel and boldely + Fro word to word, acording with the note; + Twyës a day it passed thurgh his throte, + To scoleward and homward whan he wente; + On Cristes moder set was his entente. 1740 + + As I have seyd, thurgh-out the Iewerye + This litel child, as he cam to and fro, (100) + Ful merily than wolde he singe, and crye + _O Alma redemptoris_ ever-mo. + The swetnes hath his herte perced so 1745 + Of Cristes moder, that, to hir to preye, + He can nat stinte of singing by the weye. + + 1741. E. Iuerie. 1743. Slo. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. than; E. Hn. _omit_. + 1745. Slo. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. hath; E. Hn. _omit_. + + Our firste fo, the serpent Sathanas, + That hath in Iewes herte his waspes nest, + Up swal, and seide, ‘o Hebraik peple, allas! 1750 + Is this to yow a thing that is honest, + That swich a boy shal walken as him lest (110) + In your despyt, and singe of swich sentence, + Which is agayn your lawes reverence?’ + + 1754. Hl. your; Pt. Ln. ȝoure; E. Hn. Cm. Cp. oure. + + Fro thennes forth the Iewes han conspyred 1755 + This innocent out of this world to chace; + An homicyde ther-to han they hyred, + That in an aley hadde a privee place; + And as the child gan for-by for to pace, + This cursed Iew him hente and heeld him faste, 1760 + And kitte his throte, and in a pit him caste. + + [185: T. 13502-13536.] + I seye that in a wardrobe they him threwe (120) + Wher-as these Iewes purgen hir entraille. + O cursed folk of Herodes al newe, + What may your yvel entente yow availle? 1765 + Mordre wol out, certein, it wol nat faille, + And namely ther thonour of god shal sprede, + The blood out cryeth on your cursed dede. + + 1767. thonour] Cp. Pt. Ln. honour. + + ‘O martir, souded to virginitee, + Now maystou singen, folwing ever in oon 1770 + The whyte lamb celestial,’ quod she, + ‘Of which the grete evangelist, seint Iohn, (130) + In Pathmos wroot, which seith that they that goon + Biforn this lamb, and singe a song al newe, + That never, fleshly, wommen they ne knewe.’ 1775 + + This povre widwe awaiteth al that night + After hir litel child, but he cam noght; + For which, as sone as it was dayes light, + With face pale of drede and bisy thoght, + She hath at scole and elles-wher him soght, 1780 + Til finally she gan so fer espye + That he last seyn was in the Iewerye. (140) + + With modres pitee in hir brest enclosed, + She gooth, as she were half out of hir minde, + To every place wher she hath supposed 1785 + By lyklihede hir litel child to finde; + And ever on Cristes moder meke and kinde + She cryde, and atte laste thus she wroghte, + Among the cursed Iewes she him soghte. + + She frayneth and she preyeth pitously 1790 + To every Iew that dwelte in thilke place, + To telle hir, if hir child wente oght for-by. (150) + They seyde, ‘nay’; but Iesu, of his grace, + Yaf in hir thought, inwith a litel space, + That in that place after hir sone she cryde, 1795 + Wher he was casten in a pit bisyde. + + 1794. inwith] Cm. Cp. Hl. withinne. + +[186: T. 13537-13569.] + + O grete god, that parfournest thy laude + By mouth of innocents, lo heer thy might! + This gemme of chastitee, this emeraude, + And eek of martirdom the ruby bright, 1800 + Ther he with throte y-corven lay upright, + He ‘_Alma redemptoris_’ gan to singe (160) + So loude, that al the place gan to ringe. + + The Cristen folk, that thurgh the strete wente, + In coomen, for to wondre up-on this thing, 1805 + And hastily they for the provost sente; + He cam anon with-outen tarying, + And herieth Crist that is of heven king, + And eek his moder, honour of mankinde, + And after that, the Iewes leet he binde, 1810 + + 1805. Cp. Pt. wondren on; Ln. wonderne of; E. Hn. wondre vpon; Hl. + wonder vpon; Cm. wonderyn vp-on. + + This child with pitous lamentacioun + Up-taken was, singing his song alway; (170) + And with honour of greet processioun + They carien him un-to the nexte abbay. + His moder swowning by the bere lay; 1815 + Unnethe might the peple that was there + This newe Rachel bringe fro his bere. + + 1815. E. Hn. his; _rest_ the; see l. 1817. 1817. Cm. Hl. the; _rest_ + his. + + With torment and with shamful deth echon + This provost dooth thise Iewes for to sterve + That of this mordre wiste, and that anon; 1820 + He nolde no swich cursednesse observe. + Yvel shal have, that yvel wol deserve. (180) + Therfor with wilde hors he dide hem drawe, + And after that he heng hem by the lawe. + + 1819. E. the; _rest_ thise, these. 1822. E. Cm. shal he; Pt. he shal; + _rest omit_ he. + + Up-on his here ay lyth this innocent 1825 + Biforn the chief auter, whyl masse laste, + And after that, the abbot with his covent + Han sped hem for to burien him ful faste; + And whan they holy water on him caste, + [187: T. 13570-13604.] + Yet spak this child, whan spreynd was holy water, 1830 + And song—‘_O Alma redemptoris mater_!’ + + 1825. Hn. Hl. his; _the rest_ this. 1826. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. the masse; + Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_ the. 1827. Hl. thabbot. + + This abbot, which that was an holy man (190) + As monkes been, or elles oghten be, + This yonge child to coniure he bigan, + And seyde, ‘o dere child, I halse thee, 1835 + In vertu of the holy Trinitee, + Tel me what is thy cause for to singe, + Sith that thy throte is cut, to my seminge?’ + + ‘My throte is cut un-to my nekke-boon,’ + Seyde this child, ‘and, as by wey of kinde, 1840 + I sholde have deyed, ye, longe tyme agoon, + But Iesu Crist, as ye in bokes finde, (200) + Wil that his glorie laste and be in minde, + And, for the worship of his moder dere, + Yet may I singe “_O Alma_” loude and clere. 1845 + + This welle of mercy, Cristes moder swete, + I lovede alwey, as after my conninge; + And whan that I my lyf sholde forlete, + To me she cam, and bad me for to singe + This antem verraily in my deyinge, 1850 + As ye han herd, and, whan that I had songe, + Me thoughte, she leyde a greyn up-on my tonge. (210) + + 1850. Cm. Cp. Pt. anteme; Ln. antime; Hl. antym; Hn. antheme; E. + Anthephen. + + Wherfor I singe, and singe I moot certeyn + In honour of that blisful mayden free, + Til fro my tonge of-taken is the greyn; 1855 + And afterward thus seyde she to me, + “My litel child, now wol I fecche thee + Whan that the greyn is fro thy tonge y-take; + Be nat agast, I wol thee nat forsake.”’ + + This holy monk, this abbot, him mene I, 1860 + His tonge out-caughte, and took a-wey the greyn, + And he yaf up the goost ful softely. (220) + And whan this abbot had this wonder seyn, + His salte teres trikled doun as reyn, + [188: T. 13605-13620.] + And gruf he fil al plat up-on the grounde, 1865 + And stille he lay as he had been y-bounde. + + 1864. E. Hn. Cm. trikled; Cp. Pt. stryked; Ln. strikled; Hl. striken. + 1866. Cp. Hl. ben; Pt. Ln. bene; E. Hn. Cm. Ieyn. + + The covent eek lay on the pavement + Weping, and herien Cristes moder dere, + And after that they ryse, and forth ben went, + And toke awey this martir fro his bere, 1870 + And in a tombe of marbul-stones clere + Enclosen they his litel body swete; (230) + Ther he is now, god leve us for to mete. + + 1869. Hl. thay went; _rest_ been, ben, bene went. 1870. E. tooken; + Hl. took; _rest_ toke. 1871. E. temple; _rest_ tombe, toumbe. 1873. + E. alle for; _rest omit_ alle. + + O yonge Hugh of Lincoln, slayn also + With cursed Iewes, as it is notable, 1875 + For it nis but a litel whyle ago; + Preye eek for us, we sinful folk unstable, + That, of his mercy, god so merciable + On us his grete mercy multiplye, (237) + For reverence of his moder Marye. Amen. 1880 + + =Here is ended the Prioresses Tale.= + + 1876. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. nys; E. Hn. Cm. is. COLOPHON. _From_ E. + +[189: T. 13621-13641.] + + * * * * * + +PROLOGUE TO SIR THOPAS. + + * * * * * + + =Bihold the murye wordes of the Host to Chaucer.= + + Whan seyd was al this miracle, every man + As sobre was, that wonder was to se, + Til that our hoste Iapen tho bigan, + And than at erst he loked up-on me, + And seyde thus, ‘what man artow?’ quod he; 1885 + ‘Thou lokest as thou woldest finde an hare, + For ever up-on the ground I see thee stare. + + HEADING. _From_ E. E. Bihoold; Hoost. 1883. _Only_ Hl. _inserts_ to + _before_ Iapen. Cm. Cp. tho; E. to; Hn. he; Pt. Ln. Hl. _omit_. + + Approche neer, and loke up merily. + Now war yow, sirs, and lat this man have place; + He in the waast is shape as wel as I; 1890 + This were a popet in an arm tenbrace (11) + For any womman, smal and fair of face. + He semeth elvish by his contenaunce, + For un-to no wight dooth he daliaunce. + + 1888. E. murily; Hl. merily. + + Sey now somwhat, sin other folk han sayd; 1895 + Tel us a tale of mirthe, and that anoon;’— + ‘Hoste,’ quod I, ‘ne beth nat yvel apayd, + For other tale certes can I noon, + But of a ryme I lerned longe agoon.’ + ‘Ye, that is good,’ quod he; ‘now shul we here 1900 + Som deyntee thing, me thinketh by his chere.’ (21) + + _Explicit._ + + 1897. Cp. Ln. Oste; E. Hn. Cm. Hoost. 1900. E. ye; _rest_ we. + +[190: T. 13642-13665.] + + * * * * * + +SIR THOPAS. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth Chaucers Tale of Thopas.= + + Listeth, lordes, in good entent, + And I wol telle verrayment + Of mirthe and of solas; + Al of a knyght was fair and gent 1905 + In bataille and in tourneyment, + His name was sir Thopas. + + HEADING. _From_ E. (E. Heere). + + Y-born he was in fer contree, + In Flaundres, al biyonde the see, + At Popering, in the place; 1910 + His fader was a man ful free, (10) + And lord he was of that contree, + As it was goddes grace. + + Sir Thopas wex a doghty swayn, + Whyt was his face as payndemayn, 1915 + His lippes rede as rose; + His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn, + And I yow telle in good certayn, + He hadde a semely nose. + + His heer, his berd was lyk saffroun, 1920 + That to his girdel raughte adoun; (20) + His shoon of Cordewane. + Of Brugges were his hosen broun, + His robe was of ciclatoun, + That coste many a Iane. 1925 + + 1922. E. shoos; Hn. Pt. shoon; _rest_ schoon, schon, schone. + +[191: T. 13666-13695.] + + He coude hunte at wilde deer, + And ryde an hauking for riveer, + With grey goshauk on honde; + Ther-to be was a good archeer, + Of wrastling was ther noon his peer, 1930 + Ther any ram shal stonde. (30) + + 1927. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. for; Cp. by þe; Pt. Ln. for þe. 1931. E. Hn. Cm. + Hl. shal; Cp. schulde; Pt. shulde; Ln. scholde. + + Ful many a mayde, bright in bour, + They moorne for him, paramour, + Whan hem were bet to slepe; + But he was chast and no lechour, 1935 + And sweet as is the bremble-flour + That bereth the rede hepe. + + And so bifel up-on a day, + For sothe, as I yow telle may, + Sir Thopas wolde out ryde; 1940 + He worth upon his stede gray, (40) + And in his honde a launcegay, + A long swerd by his syde. + + 1938. Hn. Hl. it fel; Cm. it fil. + + He priketh thurgh a fair forest, + Ther-inne is many a wilde best, 1945 + Ye, bothe bukke and hare; + And, as he priketh north and est, + I telle it yow, him hadde almest + Bitid a sory care. + + 1949. Cm. Hl. Bytid; _rest_ Bitidde, Betydde (!). + + Ther springen herbes grete and smale, 1950 + The lycorys and cetewale, (50) + And many a clowe-gilofre; + And notemuge to putte in ale, + Whether it be moyste or stale, + Or for to leye in cofre. 1955 + + [192: T. 13696-13725.] + The briddes singe, it is no nay, + The sparhauk and the papeiay, + That Ioye it was to here; + The thrustelcok made eek his lay, + The wodedowve upon the spray 1960 + She sang ful loude and clere. (60) + + 1959. E. hir; _rest_ his. 1960. E. a; _rest_ the. + + Sir Thopas fil in love-longinge + Al whan he herde the thrustel singe, + And priked as he were wood: + His faire stede in his prikinge 1965 + So swatte that men mighte him wringe, + His sydes were al blood. + + Sir Thopas eek so wery was + For prikinge on the softe gras, + So fiers was his corage, 1970 + That doun he leyde him in that plas (70) + To make his stede som solas, + And yaf him good forage. + + ‘O seinte Marie, _benedicite!_ + What eyleth this love at me 1975 + To binde me so sore? + Me dremed al this night, pardee, + An elf-queen shal my lemman be, + And slepe under my gore. + + An elf-queen wol I love, y-wis, 1980 + For in this world no womman is (80) + Worthy to be my make [T. 13722 + In toune; [T. 13722 + Alle othere wommen I forsake, [T. 13723 + And to an elf-queen I me take 1985 + By dale and eek by doune!’ + + 1980. Hn. Cm. Hl. haue; _rest_ loue. + +[193: T. 13726-13755.] + + In-to his sadel he clamb anoon, + And priketh over style and stoon + An elf-queen for tespye, + Til he so longe had riden and goon 1990 + That he fond, in a privee woon, (90) + The contree of Fairye [T. 13731 + So wilde; [T. 13734 + For in that contree was ther noon + That to him dorste ryde or goon, 1995 + Neither wyf ne childe. + + 1989. _So_ E. Hn. Cm.; Cp. Pt. Ln. to aspie; Hl. to spye. 1995. _Not + in the best_ MSS.; _supplied from_ MS. Reg. 17 D. 15 (Tyrwhitt). + + Til that ther cam a greet geaunt, + His name was sir Olifaunt, + A perilous man of dede; + He seyde, ‘child, by Termagaunt, 2000 + But-if thou prike out of myn haunt, (100) + Anon I slee thy stede [T. 13743 + With mace. [T. 13743 + Heer is the queen of Fayërye, + With harpe and pype and simphonye 2005 + Dwelling in this place.’ + + 2000. Hl. swar; _rest_ seyde. 2004. Cp. Hl. fayerye; E. Hn. Cm. + Fairye. 2005. Hl. lute; _rest_ pype _or_ pipe. + + The child seyde, ‘al-so mote I thee, + Tomorwe wol I mete thee + Whan I have myn armoure; + And yet I hope, _par ma fay_, 2010 + That thou shalt with this launcegay (110) + Abyen it ful soure; [T. 13752 + Thy mawe [T. 13752 + Shal I percen, if I may, + Er it be fully pryme of day, 2015 + For heer thou shalt be slawe.’ + + 2008. E. Hl. meete with; _rest omit_ with. 2012. E. Hn. sowre; Cm. + soure; _rest_ sore. 2014. E. Cm. Thyn hauberk shal I percen, if I + may; _but the rest rightly omit_ Thyn hauberk. + +[194: T. 13756-13785.] + + Sir Thopas drow abak ful faste; + This geaunt at him stones caste + Out of a fel staf-slinge; + But faire escapeth child Thopas, 2020 + And al it was thurgh goddes gras, (120) + And thurgh his fair beringe. + + 2020. E. Cm. sire; _rest_ child. + + Yet listeth, lordes, to my tale + Merier than the nightingale, + For now I wol yow roune 2025 + How sir Thopas with sydes smale, + Priking over hil and dale, + Is come agayn to toune. + + 2025. Cp. Pt. Ln. _insert_ For now, _which the rest omit_. 2027. hil] + Hl. hul; Cp. Pt. Ln. downe. 2028. E. Cm. comen. + + His merie men comanded he + To make him bothe game and glee, 2030 + For nedes moste he fighte (130) + With a geaunt with hevedes three, + For paramour and Iolitee + Of oon that shoon ful brighte. + + 2032. E. Hn. heuedes; Hl. heedes; Cm. hedis; Cp. Pt. Ln. hedes. + + ‘Do come,’ he seyde, ‘my minstrales, 2035 + And gestours, for to tellen tales + Anon in myn arminge; + Of romances that been royales, + Of popes and of cardinales, + And eek of love-lykinge.’ 2040 + + 2038. Hn. Pt. Hl. reales. + + They fette him first the swete wyn, (140) + And mede eek in a maselyn, + And royal spicerye; + Of gingebreed that was ful fyn, + And lycorys, and eek comyn, 2045 + With sugre that is so trye. + + 2041. E. sette; _rest_ fette _or_ fet. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ the. 2044. + E. And; Hn. Cm. Hl. Of. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_ ll. 2042-4. 2046. E. + _alone retains_ so. + +[195: T. 13786-13818.] + + He dide next his whyte lere + Of clooth of lake fyn and clere + A breech and eek a sherte; + And next his sherte an aketoun, 2050 + And over that an habergeoun (150) + For percinge of his herte; + + And over that a fyn hauberk, + Was al y-wroght of Iewes werk, + Ful strong it was of plate; 2055 + And over that his cote-armour + As whyt as is a lily-flour, + In which he wol debate. + + 2058. Cm. wolde; Hl. wold; _rest_ wol, wole, wil. + + His sheeld was al of gold so reed, + And ther-in was a bores heed, 2060 + A charbocle bisyde; (160) + And there he swoor, on ale and breed, + How that ‘the geaunt shal be deed, + Bityde what bityde!’ + + 2061. Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. by his syde; Cp. him besyde. 2063. Cm. Cp. Ln. + schulde. + + His Iambeux were of quirboilly, 2065 + His swerdes shethe of yvory, + His helm of laton bright; + His sadel was of rewel-boon, + His brydel as the sonne shoon, + Or as the mone light. 2070 + + 2068. Pt. Hl. rowel; Cp. Ln. ruel. + + His spere was of fyn ciprees, (170) + That bodeth werre, and no-thing pees, + The heed ful sharpe y-grounde; + His stede was al dappel-gray, + It gooth an ambel in the way 2075 + Ful softely and rounde [T. 13815 + In londe. [T. 13815 + Lo, lordes myne, heer is a fit! + If ye wol any more of it, + To telle it wol I fonde. 2080 + + 2071. E. it was; _rest omit_ it. + +[196: T. 13819-13846.] + + [_The Second Fit_.] + + Now hold your mouth, _par charitee_, (180) + Bothe knight and lady free, + And herkneth to my spelle; + Of bataille and of chivalry, + And of ladyes love-drury 2085 + Anon I wol yow telle. + + 2084. E. batailles; Hn. bataille; _rest_ bataile, batail, batell. + + Men speke of romances of prys, + Of Horn child and of Ypotys, + Of Bevis and sir Gy, + Of sir Libeux and Pleyn-damour; 2090 + But sir Thopas, he bereth the flour (190) + Of royal chivalry. + + 2089. E. Pt. and of; _rest omit_ of. + + His gode stede al he bistrood, + And forth upon his wey he glood + As sparkle out of the bronde; 2095 + Up-on his crest he bar a tour, + And ther-in stiked a lily-flour, + God shilde his cors fro shonde! + + 2094. E. rood; _rest_ glood, glod, glode. 2095. Hl. Pt. spark; Cp. + Ln. sparcles. + + And for he was a knight auntrous, + He nolde slepen in non hous, 2100 + But liggen in his hode; (200) + His brighte helm was his wonger, + And by him baiteth his dextrer + Of herbes fyne and gode. + + Him-self drank water of the wel, 2105 + As did the knight sir Percivel, + So worthy under wede, + Til on a day—— (207) + + =Here the host stinteth Chaucer of his Tale of Thopas.= + + 2107. Hl. worthy; E. Hn. worly; Pt. worthely; Cm. Cp. Ln. _omit_ ll. + 2105-8. COLOPHON. _From_ E. (E. Heere; Hoost). + +[197: T. 13847-13875.] + + * * * * * + +PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS. + + * * * * * + + ‘No more of this, for goddes dignitee,’ + Quod oure hoste, ‘for thou makest me 2110 + So wery of thy verray lewednesse + That, also wisly god my soule blesse, + Myn eres aken of thy drasty speche; + Now swiche a rym the devel I biteche! + This may wel be rym dogerel,’ quod he. 2115 + + ‘Why so?’ quod I, ‘why wiltow lette me + More of my tale than another man, + Sin that it is the beste rym I can?’ (10) + + 2118. E. tale; _rest_ rym, ryme. + + ‘By god,’ quod he, ‘for pleynly, at a word, + Thy drasty ryming is nat worth a tord; 2120 + Thou doost nought elles but despendest tyme, + Sir, at o word, thou shall no lenger ryme. + Lat see wher thou canst tellen aught in geste, + Or telle in prose somwhat at the leste + In which ther be som mirthe or som doctryne.’ 2125 + + ‘Gladly,’ quod I, ‘by goddes swete pyne, + I wol yow telle a litel thing in prose, + That oghte lyken yow, as I suppose, (20) + Or elles, certes, ye been to daungerous. + It is a moral tale vertuous, 2130 + Al be it told som-tyme in sondry wyse + Of sondry folk, as I shal yow devyse. + As thus; ye woot that every evangelist, + That telleth us the peyne of Iesu Crist, + Ne saith nat al thing as his felaw dooth, 2135 + But natheles, hir sentence is al sooth, + And alle acorden as in hir sentence, + [198: T. 13876-13894.] + Al be ther in hir telling difference. (30) + For somme of hem seyn more, and somme lesse, + Whan they his pitous passioun expresse; 2140 + I mene of Marke, Mathew, Luk and Iohn; + But doutelees hir sentence is al oon. + Therfor, lordinges alle, I yow biseche, + If that ye thinke I varie as in my speche, + As thus, thogh that I telle som-what more 2145 + Of proverbes, than ye han herd bifore, + Comprehended in this litel tretis here, + To enforce with the theffect of my matere, (40) + And thogh I nat the same wordes seye + As ye han herd, yet to yow alle I preye, 2150 + Blameth me nat; for, as in my sentence, + Ye shul not fynden moche difference + Fro the sentence of this tretis lyte + After the which this mery tale I wryte. + And therfor herkneth what that I shal seye, 2155 + And lat me tellen al my tale, I preye.’ (48) + + _Explicit_. + + 2131. E. take; _rest_ told, tolde, toold. 2139. E. Hn. Ln. somme + seyn; _but_ Cp. Pt. Hl. _omit 2nd_ seyn. 2141. Ed. 1561, Marke; E. + Cp. Pt. Hl. Marke (?); Hn. Ln. Mark. 2144. E. Hl. yow; _rest_ ye. + Cp. Ln. _om._ as. 2146. Cp. prouerbis. 2152. Cm. Cp. Ln. Ye schal + not fynden moche; E. Hn. Pt. Hl. Shul ye nowher fynden. 2154. E. + murye; Hn. myry; Hl. litil; _rest_ mery. + +[199] + + * * * * * + +THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth Chaucers Tale of Melibee.= + +§ 1. A yong man called Melibeus, mighty and riche, bigat up-on his wyf that +called was Prudence, a doghter which that called was Sophie. / + + HEADING. _From_ E. + +§ 2. Upon a day bifel, that he for his desport is went in-to the feeldes +him to pleye. / His wyf and eek his doghter hath he left inwith his hous, +of which the dores weren fast y-shette. / Thre of his olde foos han it +espyed, and setten laddres to the walles of his hous, and by the windowes +been entred, /2160 and betten his wyf, and wounded his doghter with fyve +mortal woundes in fyve sondry places; / this is to seyn, in hir feet, in +hir handes, in hir eres, in hir nose, and in hir mouth; and leften hir for +deed, and wenten awey. / + + 2159. inwith] Ln. Cp. within. 2160. Thre] Cp. Ln. Foure. E. hise. + E. foes; Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. foos. by the] E. Hn. _om._ the. 2162. E. + erys. + +§ 3. Whan Melibeus retourned was in-to his hous, and saugh al this +meschief, he, lyk a mad man, rendinge his clothes, gan to wepe and crye. / + + 2163. E. Hn. Ln. rentynge; _rest_ rendyng. + +§ 4. Prudence his wyf, as ferforth as she dorste, bisoghte him of his +weping for to stinte; / but nat for-thy he gan to crye and wepen ever +lenger the more. /2165 + +§ 5. This noble wyf Prudence remembered hir upon the sentence of Ovide, in +his book that cleped is The Remedie of Love, wher-as he seith; / ‘he is a +fool that destourbeth the moder to wepen in the deeth of hir child, til she +have wept hir fille, as for a certain tyme; / and thanne shal man doon his +diligence with amiable wordes hir to reconforte, and preyen hir of hir +weping for to stinte.’ / For which resoun this noble wyf Prudence suffred +hir housbond for to wepe and crye as for a certein space; / and whan she +saugh hir tyme, she seyde him in this wyse. ‘Allas, my lord,’ quod she,’ +why make ye your-self for to be lyk a fool? /2170 For [200] sothe, it +aperteneth nat to a wys man, to maken swiche a sorwe. / Your doghter, with +the grace of god, shal warisshe and escape. / And al were it so that she +right now were deed, ye ne oghte nat as for hir deeth your-self to +destroye. / Senek seith: “the wise man shal nat take to greet disconfort +for the deeth of his children, / but certes he sholde suffren it in +pacience, as wel as he abydeth the deeth of his owene propre persone.”’ +/2175 + + 2172. Cp. Ln. be warisshed; Hl. warischt be. 2173. _Only_ E. Cp. Ln. + _insert_ to _before_ destroye. + +§ 6. This Melibeus answerde anon and seyde, ‘What man,’ quod he, ‘sholde of +his weping stinte, that hath so greet a cause for to wepe? / Iesu Crist, +our lord, him-self wepte for the deeth of Lazarus his freend.’ / Prudence +answerde, ‘Certes, wel I woot, attempree weping is no-thing defended to him +that sorweful is, amonges folk in sorwe, but it is rather graunted him to +wepe. / The Apostle Paul un-to the Romayns wryteth, “man shal reioyse with +hem that maken Ioye, and wepen with swich folk as wepen.” / But thogh +attempree weping be y-graunted, outrageous weping certes is defended. /2180 +Mesure of weping sholde be considered, after the lore that techeth us +Senek. / “Whan that thy freend is deed,” quod he, “lat nat thyne eyen to +moyste been of teres, ne to muche drye; althogh the teres come to thyne +eyen, lat hem nat falle.” / And whan thou hast for-goon thy freend, do +diligence to gete another freend; and this is more wysdom than for to wepe +for thy freend which that thou hast lorn; for ther-inne is no bote. / And +therfore, if ye governe yow by sapience, put awey sorwe out of your herte. +/ Remembre yow that Iesus Syrak seith: “a man that is Ioyous and glad in +herte, it him conserveth florisshing in his age; but soothly sorweful herte +maketh his bones drye.” /2185 He seith eek thus: “that sorwe in herte +sleeth ful many a man.” / Salomon seith: “that, right as motthes in the +shepes flees anoyeth to the clothes, and the smale wormes to the tree, +right so anoyeth sorwe to the herte.” / Wherfore us oghte, as wel in the +deeth of our children as in the losse of our goodes temporels, have +pacience. / + + 2176. E. Pt. stente. 2178, 2180. E. deffended. 2182. E. teeris. + 2185. E. florissynge. 2187. E. Hl. Motthes; Pt. Cm. mothes; Hn. + moththes; Cp. moughtes. 2188. E. othere (_for_ our _before_ goodes); + _rest_ oure, our. + +§ 7. Remembre yow up-on the pacient Iob, whan he hadde lost his children +and his temporel substance, and in his body [201] endured and receyved ful +many a grevous tribulacioun; yet seyde he thus: / “our lord hath yeven it +me, our lord hath biraft it me; right as our lord hath wold, right so it is +doon; blessed be the name of our lord.”’ /2190 To thise foreseide thinges +answerde Melibeus un-to his wyf Prudence: ‘Alle thy wordes,’ quod he, ‘been +sothe, and ther-to profitable; but trewely myn herte is troubled with this +sorwe so grevously, that I noot what to done.’ / ‘Lat calle,’ quod +Prudence, ‘thy trewe freendes alle, and thy linage whiche that been wyse; +telleth your cas, and herkneth what they seye in conseiling, and yow +governe after hir sentence. / Salomon seith: “werk alle thy thinges by +conseil, and thou shalt never repente.”’ / + + 2189. E. temporeel. 2190. Cp. haþ ȝoue [_read_ yeuen] it me; Ln. + yaue it me; Hl. it sent vnto me; _rest omit_; _only_ Cp. Ln. Hl. + _repeat_ our lord. 2191. E. therwith; _rest_ ther-to. + +§ 8. Thanne, by the conseil of his wyf Prudence, this Melibeus leet callen +a greet congregacioun of folk; / as surgiens, phisiciens, olde folk and +yonge, and somme of hise olde enemys reconsiled as by hir semblaunt to his +love and in-to his grace; /2195 and ther-with-al ther comen somme of hise +neighebores that diden him reverence more for drede than for love, as it +happeth ofte. / Ther comen also ful many subtile flatereres, and wyse +advocats lerned in the lawe. / + + 2196, 7. E. coomen. + +§ 9. And whan this folk togidre assembled weren, this Melibeus in sorweful +wyse shewed hem his cas; / and by the manere of his speche it semed that in +herte he bar a cruel ire, redy to doon vengeaunce up-on hise foos, and +sodeynly desired that the werre sholde biginne; / but nathelees yet axed he +hir conseil upon this matere. /2200 A surgien, by licence and assent of +swiche as weren wyse, up roos and un-to Melibeus seyde as ye may here. / + + 2199. E. _only ins._ wel _after_ semed. E. baar a crueel; foes. + 2200. E. Cm. matiere; Hl. matier. 2201. E. Hl. to (_for_ un-to). + +§ 10. ‘Sir,’ quod he, ‘as to us surgiens aperteneth, that we do to every +wight the beste that we can, wher-as we been with-holde, and to our +pacients that we do no damage; / wherfore it happeth, many tyme and ofte, +that whan twey men han everich wounded other, oon same surgien heleth hem +bothe; / wherefore un-to our art it is nat pertinent to norice werre, ne +parties to supporte. / But certes, as to the warisshinge of your doghter, +al-be-it so that she perilously be wounded, we shullen do so ententif +bisinesse fro day to night, that with the grace of god she shal be hool and +[202] sound as sone as is possible.’ /2205 Almost right in the same wyse +the phisiciens answerden, save that they seyden a fewe wordes more: / +‘That, right as maladyes been cured by hir contraries, right so shul men +warisshe werre by vengeaunce.’ / His neighebores, ful of envye, his feyned +freendes that semeden reconsiled, and his flatereres, / maden semblant of +weping, and empeireden and agreggeden muchel of this matere, in preising +greetly Melibee of might, of power, of richesse, and of freendes, +despysinge the power of his adversaries, / and seiden outrely that he anon +sholde wreken him on his foos and biginne werre. /2210 + + 2209. E. matiere. 2210. E. foes. + +§ 11. Up roos thanne an advocat that was wys, by leve and by conseil of +othere that were wyse, and seyde: / ‘Lordinges, the nede for which we been +assembled in this place is a ful hevy thing and an heigh matere, / by-cause +of the wrong and of the wikkednesse that hath be doon, and eek by resoun of +the grete damages that in tyme cominge been possible to fallen for this +same cause; / and eek by resoun of the grete richesse and power of the +parties bothe; / for the whiche resouns it were a ful greet peril to erren +in this matere. /2215 Wherfore, Melibeus, this is our sentence: we +conseille yow aboven alle thing, that right anon thou do thy diligence in +kepinge of thy propre persone, in swich a wyse that thou ne wante noon +espye ne wacche, thy body for to save. / And after that we conseille, that +in thyn hous thou sette suffisant garnisoun, so that they may as wel thy +body as thyn hous defende. / But certes, for to moeve werre, or sodeynly +for to doon vengeaunce, we may nat demen in so litel tyme that it were +profitable. / Wherfore we axen leyser and espace to have deliberacioun in +this cas to deme. / For the commune proverbe seith thus: “he that sone +demeth, sone shal repente.” /2220 And eek men seyn that thilke Iuge is wys, +that sone understondeth a matere and Iuggeth by leyser. / For al-be-it so +that alle tarying be anoyful, algates it is nat to repreve in yevynge of +Iugement, ne in vengeance-taking, whan it is suffisant and resonable. / And +that shewed our lord Iesu Crist by ensample; for whan that the womman that +was taken in avoutrie was broght in his presence, to knowen what sholde be +doon with hir persone, al-be-it so that he wiste wel him-self what that he +[203] wolde answere, yet ne wolde he nat answere sodeynly, but he wolde +have deliberacioun, and in the ground he wroot twyes. / And by thise causes +we axen deliberacioun, and we shal thanne, by the grace of god, conseille +thee thing that shal be profitable.’ / + + 2212, 2215. E. matiere. 2216. E. _om. 1st._ ne. E. p_er_sone (_for_ + body). 2217. E. sufficeant; Cp. suffisaunt; Hn. Pt. suffisant. + 2218. or] _so_ E. Pt; _rest_ ne. 2221. E. matiere. 2222. E. + sufficeant; Cp. Pt. suffisaunt; Hn. Ln. suffisant. 2223. Cm. Pt. Hl. + of (_for_ with). + +§ 12. Up stirten thanne the yonge folk at-ones, and the moste partie of +that companye han scorned the olde wyse men, and bigonnen to make noyse, +and seyden: that, /2225 right so as whyl that iren is hoot, men sholden +smyte, right so, men sholde wreken hir wronges whyle that they been fresshe +and newe; and with loud voys they cryden, ‘werre! werre!’ / + + 2225. E. _om._ han. + +Up roos tho oon of thise olde wyse, and with his hand made contenaunce that +men sholde holden hem stille and yeven him audience. / ‘Lordinges,’ quod +he, ‘ther is ful many a man that cryeth “werre! werre!” that woot ful litel +what werre amounteth. / Werre at his biginning hath so greet an entree and +so large, that every wight may entre whan him lyketh, and lightly finde +werre. / But, certes, what ende that shal ther-of bifalle, it is nat light +to knowe. /2230 For sothly, whan that werre is ones bigonne, ther is ful +many a child unborn of his moder, that shal sterve yong by-cause of that +ilke werre, or elles live in sorwe and dye in wrecchednesse. / And +ther-fore, er that any werre biginne, men moste have greet conseil and +greet deliberacioun.’ / And whan this olde man wende to enforcen his tale +by resons, wel ny alle at-ones bigonne they to ryse for to breken his tale, +and beden him ful ofte his wordes for to abregge. / For soothly, he that +precheth to hem that listen nat heren his wordes, his sermon hem anoyeth. / +For Iesus Syrak seith: that “musik in wepinge is anoyous thing;” this is to +seyn: as muche availleth to speken bifore folk to whiche his speche +anoyeth, as dooth to singe biforn him that wepeth. /2235 And whan this wyse +man saugh that him wanted audience, al shamefast he sette him doun agayn. / +For Salomon seith: “ther-as thou ne mayst have noon audience, enforce thee +nat to speke.” / ‘I see wel,’ quod this wyse man, ‘that the commune +proverbe is sooth; that “good conseil wanteth whan it is most nede.”’ / + + 2229. Hn. entree; Cm. Pt. Hl. entre; E. Cp. Ln. entryng. 2235. Hn. + Cm. Hl. a noyous; E. anoyous; Cp. annoyous; Pt. noyous. Cm. doth; + _rest_ it is (_badly_). 2236. E. _om._ whan. E. and al (_for_ al). + 2238. E. _om._ nede. + +§ 13. Yet hadde this Melibeus in his conseil many folk, that [204] prively +in his ere conseilled him certeyn thing, and conseilled him the contrarie +in general audience. / + +Whan Melibeus hadde herd that the gretteste partie of his conseil weren +accorded that he sholde maken werre, anoon he consented to hir conseilling, +and fully affermed hir sentence. /2240 Thanne dame Prudence, whan that she +saugh how that hir housbonde shoop him for to wreken him on his foos, and +to biginne werre, she in ful humble wyse, when she saugh hir tyme, seide +him thise wordes: / ‘My lord,’ quod she, ‘I yow biseche as hertely as I dar +and can, ne haste yow nat to faste, and for alle guerdons as yeveth me +audience. / For Piers Alfonce seith: “who-so that dooth to that other good +or harm, haste thee nat to quyten it; for in this wyse thy freend wol +abyde, and thyn enemy shal the lenger live in drede.” / The proverbe seith: +“he hasteth wel that wysely can abyde;” and in wikked haste is no profit.’ +/ + + 2241. E. foes; to him (_rest om._ to). 2242. Pt. guerdons; Cp. Ln. + Hl. guerdouns; E. Hn. gerdons. + +§ 14. This Melibee answerde un-to his wyf Prudence: ‘I purpose nat,’ quod +he, ‘to werke by thy conseil, for many causes and resouns. For certes every +wight wolde holde me thanne a fool; /2245 this is to seyn, if I, for thy +conseilling, wolde chaungen thinges that been ordeyned and affermed by so +manye wyse. / Secoundly I seye, that alle wommen been wikke and noon good +of hem alle. For “of a thousand men,” seith Salomon, “I fond a good man: +but certes, of alle wommen, good womman fond I never.” / And also certes, +if I governed me by thy conseil, it sholde seme that I hadde yeve to thee +over me the maistrie; and god forbede that it so were. / For Iesus Syrak +seith; “that if the wyf have maistrie, she is contrarious to hir +housbonde.” / And Salomon seith: “never in thy lyf, to thy wyf, ne to thy +child, ne to thy freend, ne yeve no power over thy-self. For bettre it were +that thy children aske of thy persone thinges that hem nedeth, than thou +see thy-self in the handes of thy children.” /2250 And also, if I wolde +werke by thy conseilling, certes my conseilling moste som tyme be secree, +til it were tyme that it moste be knowe; and this ne may noght be. / [For +it is writen, that “the Ianglerie of wommen can hyden thinges that they +witen noght.” / [205] Furthermore, the philosophre seith, “in wikked +conseil wommen venquisshe men;” and for thise resouns I ne owe nat usen thy +conseil.’] / + + 2247. E. Hn. foond; Cm. fond. 2248. E. weere. 2250. see] E. be; Pt. + sese. 2251. E. _om._ also. 2252, 3. _Not in the_ MSS., _but + necessary; see_ ll. 2274, 2280, _and see_ Note. + +§ 15. Whanne dame Prudence, ful debonairly and with greet pacience, hadde +herd al that hir housbonde lyked for to seye, thanne axed she of him +licence for to speke, and seyde in this wyse. / ‘My lord,’ quod she, ‘as to +your firste resoun, certes it may lightly been answered. For I seye, that +it is no folie to chaunge conseil whan the thing is chaunged; or elles whan +the thing semeth otherweyes than it was biforn. /2255 And more-over I seye, +that though ye han sworn and bihight to perfourne your emprise, and +nathelees ye weyve to perfourne thilke same emprise by Iuste cause, men +sholde nat seyn therefore that ye were a lyer ne forsworn. / For the book +seith, that “the wyse man maketh no lesing whan he turneth his corage to +the bettre.” / And al-be-it so that your emprise be establissed and +ordeyned by greet multitude of folk, yet thar ye nat accomplice thilke same +ordinaunce but yow lyke. / For the trouthe of thinges and the profit been +rather founden in fewe folk that been wyse and ful of resoun, than by greet +multitude of folk, ther every man cryeth and clatereth what that him +lyketh. Soothly swich multitude is nat honeste. / As to the seconde resoun, +where-as ye seyn that “alle wommen been wikke,” save your grace, certes ye +despysen alle wommen in this wyse; and “he that alle despyseth alle +displeseth,” as seith the book. /2260 And Senek seith that “who-so wole +have sapience, shal no man dispreise; but he shal gladly techen the science +that he can, with-outen presumpcioun or pryde. / And swiche thinges as he +nought ne can, he shal nat been ashamed to lerne hem and enquere of lasse +folk than him-self.” / And sir, that ther hath been many a good womman, may +lightly be preved. / For certes, sir, our lord Iesu Crist wolde never have +descended to be born of a womman, if alle wommen hadden ben wikke. / And +after that, for the grete bountee that is in wommen, our lord Iesu Crist, +whan he was risen fro deeth to lyve, appeered rather to a womman than to +his apostles. /2265 And though that Salomon seith, that “he ne fond never +womman good,” it folweth nat therfore that alle wommen ben wikke. / For +though that he ne fond no good [206] womman, certes, ful many another man +hath founden many a womman ful good and trewe. / Or elles per-aventure the +entente of Salomon was this; that, as in sovereyn bountee, he fond no +womman; / this is to seyn, that ther is no wight that hath sovereyn bountee +save god allone; as he him-self recordeth in his Evaungelie. / For ther nis +no creature so good that him ne wanteth somwhat of the perfeccioun of god, +that is his maker. /2270 Your thridde resoun is this: ye seyn that “if ye +governe yow by my conseil, it sholde seme that ye hadde yeve me the +maistrie and the lordshipe over your persone.” / Sir, save your grace, it +is nat so. For if it were so, that no man sholde be conseilled but only of +hem that hadden lordshipe and maistrie of his persone, men wolden nat be +conseilled so ofte. / For soothly, thilke man that asketh conseil of a +purpos, yet hath he free chois, wheither he wole werke by that conseil or +noon. / And as to your fourthe resoun, ther ye seyn that “the Ianglerie of +wommen hath hid thinges that they woot noght,” as who seith, that “a womman +can nat hyde that she woot;” / sir, thise wordes been understonde of wommen +that been Iangleresses and wikked; /2275 of whiche wommen, men seyn that +“three thinges dryven a man out of his hous; that is to seyn, smoke, +dropping of reyn, and wikked wyves;” / and of swiche wommen seith Salomon, +that “it were bettre dwelle in desert, than with a womman that is riotous.” +/ And sir, by your leve, that am nat I; / for ye han ful ofte assayed my +grete silence and my gret pacience; and eek how wel that I can hyde and +hele thinges that men oghte secreely to hyde. / And soothly, as to your +fifthe resoun, wher-as ye seyn, that “in wikked conseil wommen venquisshe +men;” god woot, thilke resoun stant here in no stede. /2280 For understand +now, ye asken conseil to do wikkednesse; / and if ye wole werken +wikkednesse, and your wyf restreyneth thilke wikked purpos, and overcometh +yow by resoun and by good conseil; / certes, your wyf oghte rather to be +preised than y-blamed. / Thus sholde ye understonde the philosophre that +seith, “in wikked conseil wommen venquisshen hir housbondes.” / And ther-as +ye blamen alle wommen and hir resouns, I shal shewe yow by manye ensamples +that many a womman hath ben ful good, and yet been; and hir conseils ful +hoolsome and profitable. /2285 Eek som men han seyd, that “the [207] +conseillinge of wommen is outher to dere, or elles to litel of prys.” / But +al-be-it so, that ful many a womman is badde, and hir conseil vile and +noght worth, yet han men founde ful many a good womman, and ful discrete +and wise in conseillinge. / Lo, Iacob, by good conseil of his moder +Rebekka, wan the benisoun of Ysaak his fader, and the lordshipe over alle +his bretheren. / Iudith, by hir good conseil, delivered the citee of +Bethulie, in which she dwelled, out of the handes of Olofernus, that hadde +it biseged and wolde have al destroyed it. / Abigail delivered Nabal hir +housbonde fro David the king, that wolde have slayn him, and apaysed the +ire of the king by hir wit and by hir good conseilling. /2290 Hester by hir +good conseil enhaunced greetly the peple of god in the regne of Assuerus +the king. / And the same bountee in good conseilling of many a good womman +may men telle. / And moreover, whan our lord hadde creat Adam our +forme-fader, he seyde in this wyse: / “it is nat good to been a man allone; +make we to him an help semblable to himself.” / Here may ye se that, if +that wommen were nat goode, and hir conseils goode and profitable, /2295 +our lord god of hevene wolde never han wroght hem, ne called hem help of +man, but rather confusioun of man. / And ther seyde ones a clerk in two +vers: “what is bettre than gold? Iaspre. What is bettre than Iaspre? +Wisdom. / And what is bettre than wisdom? Womman. And what is bettre than a +good womman? No-thing.” / And sir, by manye of othre resons may ye seen, +that manye wommen been goode, and hir conseils goode and profitable. / And +therfore sir, if ye wol triste to my conseil, I shal restore yow your +doghter hool and sound. /2300 And eek I wol do to yow so muche, that ye +shul have honour in this cause.’ / + + 2258. E. Cp. Ln. _om._ same. 2260. E. (_only_) _om._ and he that _to_ + book. 2261. E. Ln. despise; _rest_ dispreise. 2266, 7. E. Hn. + foond; Cm. fond. 2271. E. _om._ that. 2274. E. wiste noght. 2277. + E. Cp. Pt. _om._ of. 2291. E. (_only_) _puts_ by ... conseil after + greetly. 2297, 8. E. wisedom. + +§ 16. Whan Melibee hadde herd the wordes of his wyf Prudence, he seyde +thus: / ‘I se wel that the word of Salomon is sooth; he seith, that “wordes +that been spoken discreetly by ordinaunce, been honycombes; for they yeven +swetnesse to the soule, and hoolsomnesse to the body.” / And wyf, by-cause +of thy swete wordes, and eek for I have assayed and preved thy grete +sapience and thy grete trouthe, I wol governe me by thy conseil in alle +thing.’ / + +§ 17. ‘Now sir,’ quod dame Prudence, ‘and sin ye vouche-sauf [208] to been +governed by my conseil, I wol enforme yow how ye shul governe your-self in +chesinge of your conseillours. /2305 Ye shul first, in alle your werkes, +mekely biseken to the heighe god that he wol be your conseillour; / and +shapeth yow to swich entente, that he yeve yow conseil and confort, as +taughte Thobie his sone. / “At alle tymes thou shalt blesse god, and praye +him to dresse thy weyes”; and looke that alle thy conseils been in him for +evermore. / Seint Iame eek seith: “if any of yow have nede of sapience, axe +it of god.” / And afterward thanne shul ye taken conseil in your-self, and +examine wel your thoghtes, of swich thing as yow thinketh that is best for +your profit. /2310 And thanne shul ye dryve fro your herte three thinges +that been contrariouse to good conseil, / that is to seyn, ire, coveitise, +and hastifnesse. / + + 2310. in] E. of. E. _om._ self. + +§ 18. First, he that axeth conseil of him-self, certes he moste been +with-outen ire, for manye causes. / The firste is this: he that hath greet +ire and wratthe in him-self, he weneth alwey that he may do thing that he +may nat do. / And secoundely, he that is irous and wroth, he ne may nat wel +deme; /2315 and he that may nat wel deme, may nat wel conseille. / The +thridde is this; that “he that is irous and wrooth,” as seith Senek, “ne +may nat speke but he blame thinges;” / and with his viciouse wordes he +stireth other folk to angre and to ire. / And eek sir, ye moste dryve +coveitise out of your herte. / For the apostle seith, that “coveitise is +rote of alle harmes.” /2320 And trust wel that a coveitous man ne can noght +deme ne thinke, but only to fulfille the ende of his coveitise; / and +certes, that ne may never been accompliced; for ever the more habundaunce +that he hath of richesse, the more he desyreth. / And sir, ye moste also +dryve out of your herte hastifnesse; for certes, / ye ne may nat deme for +the beste a sodeyn thought that falleth in youre herte, but ye moste avyse +yow on it ful ofte. / For as ye herde biforn, the commune proverbe is this, +that “he that sone demeth, sone repenteth.” /2325 + +§ 19. Sir, ye ne be nat alwey in lyke disposicioun; / for certes, som thing +that somtyme semeth to yow that it is good for to do, another tyme it +semeth to yow the contrarie. / + +§ 20. Whan ye han taken conseil in your-self, and han demed by good +deliberacion swich thing as you semeth best, / thanne rede I yow, that ye +kepe it secree. / Biwrey nat your conseil to no persone, [209] but-if so be +that ye wenen sikerly that, thurgh your biwreying, your condicioun shal be +to yow the more profitable. /2330 For Iesus Syrak seith: “neither to thy +foo ne to thy freend discovere nat thy secree ne thy folie; / for they wol +yeve yow audience and loking and supportacioun in thy presence, and scorne +thee in thyn absence.” / Another clerk seith, that “scarsly shaltou finden +any persone that may kepe conseil secreely.” / The book seith: “whyl that +thou kepest thy conseil in thyn herte, thou kepest it in thy prisoun: / and +whan thou biwreyest thy conseil to any wight, he holdeth thee in his +snare.” /2335 And therefore yow is bettre to hyde your conseil in your +herte, than praye him, to whom ye han biwreyed your conseil, that he wole +kepen it cloos and stille. / For Seneca seith: “if so be that thou ne mayst +nat thyn owene conseil hyde, how darstou prayen any other wight thy conseil +secreely to kepe?” / But nathelees, if thou wene sikerly that the biwreying +of thy conseil to a persone wol make thy condicioun to stonden in the +bettre plyt, thanne shaltou tellen him thy conseil in this wyse. / First, +thou shalt make no semblant whether thee were lever pees or werre, or this +or that, ne shewe him nat thy wille and thyn entente; / for trust wel, that +comunly thise conseillours been flatereres, /2340 namely the conseillours +of grete lordes; / for they enforcen hem alwey rather to speken plesante +wordes, enclyninge to the lordes lust, than wordes that been trewe or +profitable. / And therfore men seyn, that “the riche man hath seld good +conseil but-if he have it of him-self.” / And after that, thou shalt +considere thy freendes and thyne enemys. / And as touchinge thy freendes, +thou shalt considere whiche of hem been most feithful and most wyse, and +eldest and most approved in conseilling. /2345 And of hem shalt thou aske +thy conseil, as the caas requireth. / + + 2328. in] E. of; Ln. vnto. semeth] E. list. 2332. E. to (_after_ + loking); _rest_ and. 2333, 7. E. sikerly; _rest_ secreely. 2336. E. + hem; _rest_ him. 2339. E. wheither. 2340. E. co_m_e_n_li. 2343. + E. seeld. 2345. E. wiche. been] E. Hn. that been. + +§ 21. I seye that first ye shul clepe to your conseil your freendes that +been trewe. / For Salomon seith: that “right as the herte of a man delyteth +in savour that is sote, right so the conseil of trewe freendes yeveth +swetenesse to the soule.” / He seith also: “ther may no-thing be lykned to +the trewe freend.” / For certes, gold ne silver beth nat so muche worth as +the gode wil of a trewe freend. /2350 And eek he seith, that “a trewe +freend is a strong deffense; who-so that it findeth, certes he findeth a +greet tresour.” / Thanne [210] shul ye eek considere, if that your trewe +freendes been discrete and wyse. For the book seith: “axe alwey thy conseil +of hem that been wyse.” / And by this same resoun shul ye clepen to your +conseil, of your freendes that been of age, swiche as han seyn and been +expert in manye thinges, and been approved in conseillinges. / For the book +seith, that “in olde men is the sapience and in longe tyme the prudence.” / +And Tullius seith: that “grete thinges ne been nat ay accompliced by +strengthe, ne by delivernesse of body, but by good conseil, by auctoritee +of persones, and by science; the whiche three thinges ne been nat feble by +age, but certes they enforcen and encreesen day by day.” /2355 And thanne +shul ye kepe this for a general reule. First shul ye clepen to your conseil +a fewe of your freendes that been especiale; / for Salomon seith: “manye +freendes have thou; but among a thousand chese thee oon to be thy +conseillour.” / For al-be-it so that thou first ne telle thy conseil but to +a fewe, thou mayst afterward telle it to mo folk, if it be nede. / But loke +alwey that thy conseillours have thilke three condiciouns that I have seyd +bifore; that is to seyn, that they be trewe, wyse, and of old experience. / +And werke nat alwey in every nede by oon counseillour allone; for somtyme +bihoveth it to been conseilled by manye. /2360 For Salomon seith: +“salvacioun of thinges is wher-as ther been manye conseillours.” / + + 2355. E. Hn. fieble; Cp. Pt. Hl. feble; Cm. feblid; Ln. fiebled. E. + encreescen. + +§ 22. Now sith that I have told yow of which folk ye sholde been +counseilled, now wol I teche yow which conseil ye oghte to eschewe. / First +ye shul eschewe the conseilling of foles; for Salomon seith: “taak no +conseil of a fool, for he ne can noght conseille but after his owene lust +and his affeccioun.” / The book seith: that “the propretee of a fool is +this; he troweth lightly harm of every wight, and lightly troweth alle +bountee in him-self.” / Thou shalt eek eschewe the conseilling of alle +flatereres, swiche as enforcen hem rather to preise your persone by +flaterye than for to telle yow the sothfastnesse of thinges. /2365 + + 2362. Hn. Cm. Hl. that; Pt. what; _rest om._ 2365. E. _om._ alle. + +§ 23. ‘Wherfore Tullius seith: “amonges alle the pestilences that been in +freendshipe, the gretteste is flaterye.” And therfore is it more nede that +thou eschewe and drede flatereres than any other peple. / The book seith: +“thou shalt rather drede and flee fro the swete wordes of flateringe +preiseres, than fro the egre [211] wordes of thy freend that seith thee thy +sothes.” / Salomon seith, that “the wordes of a flaterere is a snare to +cacche with innocents.” / He seith also, that “he that speketh to his +freend wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce, setteth a net biforn his feet +to cacche him.” / And therfore seith Tullius: “enclyne nat thyne eres to +flatereres, ne taketh no conseil of wordes of flaterye.” /2370 And Caton +seith: “avyse thee wel, and eschewe the wordes of swetnesse and of +plesaunce.” / And eek thou shalt eschewe the conseilling of thyne olde +enemys that been reconsiled. / The book seith: that “no wight retourneth +saufly in-to the grace of his olde enemy.” / And Isope seith: “ne trust nat +to hem to whiche thou hast had som-tyme werre or enmitee, ne telle hem nat +thy conseil.” / And Seneca telleth the cause why. “It may nat be,” seith +he, “that, where greet fyr hath longe tyme endured, that ther ne dwelleth +som vapour of warmnesse.” /2375 And therfore seith Salomon: “in thyn olde +foo trust never.” / For sikerly, though thyn enemy be reconsiled and maketh +thee chere of humilitee, and louteth to thee with his heed, ne trust him +never. / For certes, he maketh thilke feyned humilitee more for his profit +than for any love of thy persone; by-cause that he demeth to have victorie +over thy persone by swich feyned contenance, the which victorie he mighte +nat have by stryf or werre. / And Peter Alfonce seith: “make no felawshipe +with thyne olde enemys; for if thou do hem bountee, they wol perverten it +in-to wikkednesse.” / And eek thou most eschewe the conseilling of hem that +been thy servants, and beren thee greet reverence; for peraventure they +seyn it more for drede than for love. /2380 And therfore seith a +philosophre in this wyse: “ther is no wight parfitly trewe to him that he +to sore dredeth.” / And Tullius seith: “ther nis no might so greet of any +emperour, that longe may endure, but-if he have more love of the peple than +drede.” / Thou shalt also eschewe the conseiling of folk that been +dronkelewe; for they ne can no conseil hyde. / For Salomon seith: “ther is +no privetee ther-as regneth dronkenesse.” / Ye shul also han in suspect the +conseilling of swich folk as conseille yow a thing prively, and conseille +yow the contrarie openly. /2385 For [212] Cassidorie seith: that “it is a +maner sleighte to hindre, whan he sheweth to doon a thing openly and +werketh prively the contrarie.” / Thou shalt also have in suspect the +conseilling of wikked folk. For the book seith: “the conseilling of wikked +folk is alwey ful of fraude:” / And David seith: “blisful is that man that +hath nat folwed the conseilling of shrewes.” / Thou shalt also eschewe the +conseilling of yong folk; for hir conseil is nat rype. / + + 2368. E. chacche (_for_ cacche). Pt. to cacchen innocentes withe; + _rest_ (_except_ E.) _om._ with. 2370. E. Cp. Ln. the wordes; _rest + om._ the. 2374. E. Hn. enemytee. 2377. E. chiere. 2378. E. nat + winne; _rest_ nat haue. 2380. E. doon; _rest_ seyn. 2382. E. for + drede; _rest om._ for. 2383. E. _om._ ne. 2388. E. sherewes. + +§ 24. Now sir, sith I have shewed yow of which folk ye shul take your +conseil, and of which folk ye shul folwe the conseil, /2390 now wol I teche +yow how ye shal examine your conseil, after the doctrine of Tullius. / In +the examininge thanne of your conseillour, ye shul considere manye thinges. +/ Alderfirst thou shalt considere, that in thilke thing that thou +purposest, and upon what thing thou wolt have conseil, that verray trouthe +be seyd and conserved; this is to seyn, telle trewely thy tale. / For he +that seith fals may nat wel be conseilled, in that cas of which he lyeth. / +And after this, thou shalt considere the thinges that acorden to that thou +purposest for to do by thy conseillours, if resoun accorde therto; /2395 +and eek, if thy might may atteine ther-to; and if the more part and the +bettre part of thy conseillours acorde ther-to, or no. / Thanne shaltou +considere what thing shal folwe of that conseilling; as hate, pees, werre, +grace, profit, or damage; and manye othere thinges. / And in alle thise +thinges thou shalt chese the beste, and weyve alle othere thinges. / Thanne +shaltow considere of what rote is engendred the matere of thy conseil, and +what fruit it may conceyve and engendre. / Thou shalt eek considere alle +thise causes, fro whennes they been sprongen. /2400 And whan ye han +examined your conseil as I have seyd, and which partie is the bettre and +more profitable, and hast approved it by manye wyse folk and olde; / thanne +shaltou considere, if thou mayst parfourne it and maken of it a good ende. +/ For certes, resoun wol nat that any man sholde biginne a thing, but-if he +mighte parfourne it as him oghte. / Ne no wight sholde take up-on hym so +hevy a charge that he mighte nat bere it. / For the proverbe seith: “he +that to muche embraceth, distreyneth litel.” /2405 And Catoun seith: “assay +to do swich thing as thou hast power to doon, lest that the charge [213] +oppresse thee so sore, that thee bihoveth to weyve thing that thou hast +bigonne.” / And if so be that thou be in doute, whether thou mayst +parfourne a thing or noon, chese rather to suffre than biginne. / And Piers +Alphonce seith: “if thou hast might to doon a thing of which thou most +repente thee, it is bettre ‘nay’ than ‘ye’;” / this is to seyn, that thee +is bettre holde thy tonge stille, than for to speke. / Thanne may ye +understonde by strenger resons, that if thou hast power to parfourne a werk +of which thou shalt repente, thanne is it bettre that thou suffre than +biginne. /2410 Wel seyn they, that defenden every wight to assaye any thing +of which he is in doute, whether he may parfourne it or no. / And after, +whan ye han examined your conseil as I have seyd biforn, and knowen wel +that ye may parfourne youre emprise, conferme it thanne sadly til it be at +an ende. / + + 2396. or no] E. or noon; Pt. anoon. 2397. of that] E. after hir. + 2398. E. Thanne of; _rest_ And in. 2399. E. matiere. conceyve] E. + Hl. conserue. 2407, 2411. E. wheither. 2411. Hn. Cm. no; _rest_ + noon (non). + +§ 25. Now is it resoun and tyme that I shewe yow, whanne, and wherfore, +that ye may chaunge your conseil with-outen your repreve. / Soothly, a man +may chaungen his purpos and his conseil if the cause cesseth, or whan a +newe caas bitydeth. / For the lawe seith: that “upon thinges that newely +bityden bihoveth newe conseil.” /2415 And Senek seith: “if thy conseil is +comen to the eres of thyn enemy, chaunge thy conseil.” / Thou mayst also +chaunge thy conseil if so be that thou finde that, by errour or by other +cause, harm or damage may bityde. / Also, if thy conseil be dishonest, or +elles cometh of dishoneste cause, chaunge thy conseil. / For the lawes +seyn: that “alle bihestes that been dishoneste been of no value.” / And +eek, if it so be that it be inpossible, or may nat goodly be parfourned or +kept. /2420 + + 2413. Hl. conseil; _rest_ conseillors. 2416. E. eeris. 2417. finde] + E. mayst finde. 2420. E. Cp. if; _rest_ if it. + +§ 26. And take this for a general reule, that every conseil that is +affermed so strongly that it may nat be chaunged, for no condicioun that +may bityde, I seye that thilke conseil is wikked.’ / + +§ 27. This Melibeus, whanne he hadde herd the doctrine of his wyf dame +Prudence, answerde in this wyse. / ‘Dame,’ quod he, ‘as yet in-to this tyme +ye han wel and covenably taught me as in general, how I shal governe me in +the chesinge and in the withholdinge of my conseillours. / But now wolde I +fayn that ye wolde condescende in especial, / and telle me how lyketh yow, +[214] or what semeth yow, by our conseillours that we han chosen in our +present nede.’ /2425 + + 2423. in-to] Cp. Ln. vnto. E. couenablely. + +§ 28. ‘My lord,’ quod she, ‘I biseke yow in al humblesse, that ye wol nat +wilfully replye agayn my resouns, ne distempre your herte thogh I speke +thing that yow displese. / For god wot that, as in myn entente, I speke it +for your beste, for your honour and for your profite eke. / And soothly, I +hope that your benignitee wol taken it in pacience. / Trusteth me wel,’ +quod she, ‘that your conseil as in this caas ne sholde nat, as to speke +properly, be called a conseilling, but a mocioun or a moevyng of folye; / +in which conseil ye han erred in many a sondry wyse. /2430 + + 2428. E. benyngnytee. + +§ 29. First and forward, ye han erred in thassemblinge of your +conseillours. / For ye sholde first have cleped a fewe folk to your +conseil, and after ye mighte han shewed it to mo folk, if it hadde been +nede. / But certes, ye han sodeynly cleped to your conseil a greet +multitude of peple, ful chargeant and ful anoyous for to here. / Also ye +han erred, for there-as ye sholden only have cleped to your conseil your +trewe freendes olde and wyse, / ye han y-cleped straunge folk, and yong +folk, false flatereres, and enemys reconsiled, and folk that doon yow +reverence withouten love. /2435 And eek also ye have erred, for ye han +broght with yow to your conseil ire, covetise, and hastifnesse; / the +whiche three thinges been contrariouse to every conseil honeste and +profitable; / the whiche three thinges ye han nat anientissed or destroyed +hem, neither in your-self ne in your conseillours, as yow oghte. / Ye han +erred also, for ye han shewed to your conseillours your talent, and your +affeccioun to make werre anon and for to do vengeance; / they han espyed by +your wordes to what thing ye been enclyned. /2440 And therfore han they +rather conseilled yow to your talent than to your profit. / Ye han erred +also, for it semeth that yow suffyseth to han been conseilled by thise +conseillours only, and with litel avys; / wher-as, in so greet and so heigh +a nede, it hadde been necessarie mo conseillours, and more deliberacioun to +parfourne your emprise. / Ye han erred also, for ye han nat examined your +conseil in the forseyde manere, ne in due manere as the caas requireth. / +Ye han erred also, for ye han maked no divisioun bitwixe your conseillours; +this is to [215] seyn, bitwixen your trewe freendes and your feyned +conseillours; /2445 ne ye han nat knowe the wil of your trewe freendes olde +and wyse; / but ye han cast alle hir wordes in an hochepot, and enclyned +your herte to the more part and to the gretter nombre; and ther been ye +condescended. / And sith ye wot wel that men shal alwey finde a gretter +nombre of foles than of wyse men, / and therfore the conseils that been at +congregaciouns and multitudes of folk, ther-as men take more reward to the +nombre than to the sapience of persones, / ye see wel that in swiche +conseillinges foles han the maistrie.’ /2450 Melibeus answerde agayn, and +seyde: ‘I graunte wel that I have erred; / but ther-as thou hast told me +heer-biforn, that he nis nat to blame that chaungeth hise conseillours in +certein caas, and for certeine Iuste causes, / I am al redy to chaunge my +conseillours, right as thow wolt devyse. / The proverbe seith: that “for to +do sinne is mannish, but certes for to persevere longe in sinne is werk of +the devel.”’ / + + 2438. E. _om._ thinges. Hl. _om._ hem. 2442. Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. yow; + E. it. 2445. E. nat maked; _rest om._ nat. 2447. E. partie; _rest_ + part. + +§ 30. To this sentence answerde anon dame Prudence, and seyde: /2455 +‘Examineth,’ quod she, ‘your conseil, and lat us see the whiche of hem han +spoken most resonably, and taught yow best conseil. / And for-as-muche as +that the examinacioun is necessarie, lat us biginne at the surgiens and at +the phisiciens, that first speken in this matere. / I sey yow, that the +surgiens and phisiciens han seyd yow in your conseil discreetly, as hem +oughte; / and in hir speche seyden ful wysly, that to the office of hem +aperteneth to doon to every wight honour and profit, and no wight for to +anoye; / and, after hir craft, to doon greet diligence un-to the cure of +hem whiche that they han in hir governaunce. /2460 And sir, right as they +han answered wysly and discreetly, / right so rede I that they been heighly +and sovereynly guerdoned for hir noble speche; / and eek for they sholde do +the more ententif bisinesse in the curacioun of your doghter dere. / For +al-be-it so that they been your freendes, therfore shal ye nat suffren that +they serve yow for noght; / but ye oghte the rather guerdone hem and shewe +hem your largesse. /2465 And as touchinge the proposicioun [216] which that +the phisiciens entreteden in this caas, this is to seyn, / that, in +maladyes, that oon contrarie is warisshed by another contrarie, / I wolde +fayn knowe how ye understonde thilke text, and what is your sentence.’ / +‘Certes,’ quod Melibeus, ‘I understonde it in this wyse: / that, right as +they han doon me a contrarie, right so sholde I doon hem another. /2470 For +right as they han venged hem on me and doon me wrong, right so shal I venge +me upon hem and doon hem wrong; / and thanne have I cured oon contrarie by +another.’ / + + 2455. E. answereth; _rest_ answerde (andswered). 2456. E. + resonablely. 2457. E. matiere. 2459. E. seyd; Hn. Cm. Hl. seyden. + 2460. E. in; _rest_ after. 2462. E. Hn. gerdoned; _rest_ guerdoned. + 2465. E. Hn. Pt. gerdone. 2466. E. encreesceden; Hn. Ln. encresceden; + Cp. Cm. encreseden; Pt. encresden; Hl. han schewed; ed. 1561, + entreteden. 2468. thilke] E. this. + +§ 31. ‘Lo, lo!’ quod dame Prudence, ‘how lightly is every man enclyned to +his owene desyr and to his owene plesaunce! / Certes,’ quod she, ‘the +wordes of the phisiciens ne sholde nat han been understonden in this wyse. +/ For certes, wikkednesse is nat contrarie to wikkednesse, ne vengeaunce to +vengeaunce, ne wrong to wrong; but they been semblable. /2475 And therfore, +o vengeaunce is nat warisshed by another vengeaunce, ne o wrong by another +wrong; / but everich of hem encreesceth and aggreggeth other. / But certes, +the wordes of the phisiciens sholde been understonden in this wyse: / for +good and wikkednesse been two contraries, and pees and werre, vengeaunce +and suffraunce, discord and accord, and manye othere thinges. / But certes, +wikkednesse shal be warisshed by goodnesse, discord by accord, werre by +pees, and so forth of othere thinges. /2480 And heer-to accordeth Seint +Paul the apostle in manye places. / He seith: “ne yeldeth nat harm for +harm, ne wikked speche for wikked speche; / but do wel to him that dooth +thee harm, and blesse him that seith to thee harm.” / And in manye othere +places he amonesteth pees and accord. / But now wol I speke to yow of the +conseil which that was yeven to yow by the men of lawe and the wyse folk, +/2485 that seyden alle by oon accord as ye han herd bifore; / that, over +alle thynges, ye sholde doon your diligence to kepen your persone and to +warnestore your hous. / And seyden also, that in this caas ye oghten for to +werken ful avysely and with greet deliberacioun. / And sir, as to the +firste point, that toucheth to the keping of your persone; / ye shul +understonde that he that hath werre shal evermore mekely and devoutly +preyen biforn alle thinges, /2490 that Iesus Crist of his grete [217] mercy +wol han him in his proteccioun, and been his sovereyn helping at his nede. +/ For certes, in this world ther is no wight that may be conseilled ne kept +suffisantly withouten the keping of our lord Iesu Crist. / To this sentence +accordeth the prophete David, that seith: / “if god ne kepe the citee, in +ydel waketh he that it kepeth.” / Now sir, thanne shul ye committe the +keping of your persone to your trewe freendes that been approved and +y-knowe; /2495 and of hem shul ye axen help your persone for to kepe. For +Catoun seith: “if thou hast nede of help, axe it of thy freendes; / for +ther nis noon so good a phisicien as thy trewe freend.” / And after this, +thanne shul ye kepe yow fro alle straunge folk, and fro lyeres, and have +alwey in suspect hir companye. / For Piers Alfonce seith: “ne tak no +companye by the weye of a straunge man, but-if so be that thou have knowe +him of a lenger tyme. / And if so be that he falle in-to thy companye +paraventure withouten thyn assent, /2500 enquere thanne, as subtilly as +thou mayst, of his conversacioun and of his lyf bifore, and feyne thy wey; +seye that thou goost thider as thou wolt nat go; / and if he bereth a +spere, hold thee on the right syde, and if he bere a swerd, hold thee on +the lift syde.” / And after this, thanne shul ye kepe yow wysely from alle +swich manere peple as I have seyd bifore, and hem and hir conseil eschewe. +/ And after this, thanne shul ye kepe yow in swich manere, / that for any +presumpcioun of your strengthe, that ye ne dispyse nat ne acounte nat the +might of your adversarie so litel, that ye lete the keping of your persone +for your presumpcioun; /2505 for every wys man dredeth his enemy. / And +Salomon seith: “weleful is he that of alle hath drede; / for certes, he +that thurgh the hardinesse of his herte and thurgh the hardinesse of +him-self hath to greet presumpcioun, him shal yvel bityde.” / Thanne shul +ye evermore countrewayte embusshements and alle espiaille. / For Senek +seith: that “the wyse man that dredeth harmes escheweth harmes; /2510 ne he +ne falleth in-to perils, that perils escheweth.” / And al-be-it so that it +seme that thou art in siker place, yet shaltow alwey do thy diligence in +kepinge of thy persone; / this is to seyn, ne be nat necligent to kepe thy +persone, nat only fro [218] thy gretteste enemys but fro thy leeste enemy. +/ Senek seith: “a man that is wel avysed, he dredeth his leste enemy.” / +Ovide seith: that “the litel wesele wol slee the grete bole and the wilde +hert.” /2515 And the book seith: “a litel thorn may prikke a greet king ful +sore; and an hound wol holde the wilde boor.” / But nathelees, I sey nat +thou shall be so coward that thou doute ther wher-as is no drede. / The +book seith: that “somme folk han greet lust to deceyve, but yet they dreden +hem to be deceyved.” / Yet shaltou drede to been empoisoned, and kepe yow +from the companye of scorneres. / For the book seith: “with scorneres make +no companye, but flee hir wordes as venim.” /2520 + + 2488. E. Ln. Hl. yow; _rest_ ye. 2491. E grete; _rest om._ 2492. E. + sufficeantly; Hn. suffisantly. 2495. y-knowe] E. knowe. 2499. E. + taak; compaignye. E. straunge men; Cp. straunge man; _rest_ a + straunge man. 2500. he] E. he be. 2502. E. his lift; _rest_ the + lift. 2510. E. he dredeth; _rest_ that dredeth. Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. + escheweth harmes; _rest om._ 2513. fro] E. Hl. for. 2514. E. + _omits_ Senek ... enemy; _the rest have it_. 2517. E. _om._ so. + +§ 32. Now as to the seconde point, wher-as your wyse conseillours +conseilled yow to warnestore your hous with gret diligence, / I wolde fayn +knowe, how that ye understonde thilke wordes, and what is your sentence.’ / + +§ 33. Melibeus answerde and seyde, ‘Certes I understande it in this wise; +that I shal warnestore myn hous with toures, swiche as han castelles and +othere manere edifices, and armure and artelleries, / by whiche thinges I +may my persone and myn hous so kepen and defenden, that myne enemys shul +been in drede myn hous for to approche.’ / + + 2523. Cm. artelleryes; E. Hn. artelries; Hl. artilries; Cp. Ln. + archers. + +§ 34. To this sentence answerde anon Prudence; ‘warnestoring,’ quod she, +‘of heighe toures and of grete edifices apperteneth som-tyme to pryde; +/2525 and eek men make heighe toures and grete edifices with grete costages +and with greet travaille; and whan that they been accompliced, yet be they +nat worth a stree, but-if they be defended by trewe freendes that been olde +and wyse. / And understond wel, that the gretteste and strongeste garnison +that a riche man may have, as wel to kepen his persone as hise goodes, is / +that he be biloved amonges his subgets and with hise neighebores. / For +thus seith Tullius: that “ther is a maner garnison that no man may +venquisse ne disconfite, and that is, / a lord to be biloved of hise +citezeins and of his peple.” /2530 + + 2525, 6. E. Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. _omit_ apperteneth ... edifices; Cp. Ln. + _have it_; _see note_. + +§ 35. Now sir, as to the thridde point; wher-as your olde and wise +conseillours seyden, that yow ne oghte nat sodeynly ne hastily proceden in +this nede, / but that yow oghte purveyen and [219] apparaillen yow in this +caas with greet diligence and greet deliberacioun; / trewely, I trowe that +they seyden right wysly and right sooth. / For Tullius seith, “in every +nede, er thou biginne it, apparaille thee with greet diligence.” / Thanne +seye I, that in vengeance-taking, in werre, in bataille, and in +warnestoring, /2535 er thow biginne, I rede that thou apparaille thee +ther-to, and do it with greet deliberacioun. / For Tullius seith: that +“long apparailling biforn the bataille maketh short victorie.” / And +Cassidorus seith: “the garnison is stronger whan it is longe tyme avysed.” +/ + + 2537. E. Ln. The longe; _rest_ that long. + +§ 36. But now lat us speken of the conseil that was accorded by your +neighebores, swiche as doon yow reverence withouten love, / your olde +enemys reconsiled, your flatereres, /2540 that conseilled yow certeyne +thinges prively, and openly conseilleden yow the contrarie; / the yonge +folk also, that conseilleden yow to venge yow and make werre anon. / And +certes, sir, as I have seyd biforn, ye han greetly erred to han cleped +swich maner folk to your conseil; / which conseillours been y-nogh repreved +by the resouns afore-seyd. / But nathelees, lat us now descende to the +special. Ye shuln first procede after the doctrine of Tullius. /2545 +Certes, the trouthe of this matere or of this conseil nedeth nat diligently +enquere; / for it is wel wist whiche they been that han doon to yow this +trespas and vileinye, / and how manye trespassours, and in what manere they +han to yow doon al this wrong and al this vileinye. / And after this, +thanne shul ye examine the seconde condicioun, which that the same Tullius +addeth in this matere. / For Tullius put a thing, which that he clepeth +“consentinge,” this is to seyn; /2550 who been they and how manye, and +whiche been they, that consenteden to thy conseil, in thy wilfulnesse to +doon hastif vengeance. / And lat us considere also who been they, and how +manye been they, and whiche been they, that consenteden to your +adversaries. / And certes, as to the firste poynt, it is wel knowen whiche +folk been they that consenteden to your hastif wilfulnesse; / for trewely, +alle tho that conseilleden yow to maken sodeyn werre ne been nat your +freendes. / Lat us now considere whiche been they, that ye holde so greetly +your freendes as to your persone. /2555 For al-be-it so that ye be mighty +[220] and riche, certes ye ne been nat but allone. / For certes, ye ne han +no child but a doghter; / ne ye ne han bretheren ne cosins germayns, ne +noon other neigh kinrede, / wherfore that your enemys, for drede, sholde +stinte to plede with yow or to destroye your persone. / Ye knowen also, +that your richesses moten been dispended in diverse parties; /2560 and whan +that every wight hath his part, they ne wollen taken but litel reward to +venge thy deeth. / But thyne enemys been three, and they han manie +children, bretheren, cosins, and other ny kinrede; / and, though so were +that thou haddest slayn of hem two or three, yet dwellen ther y-nowe to +wreken hir deeth and to slee thy persone. / And though so be that your +kinrede be more siker and stedefast than the kin of your adversarie, / yet +nathelees your kinrede nis but a fer kinrede; they been but litel sib to +yow, /2565 and the kin of your enemys been ny sib to hem. And certes, as in +that, hir condicioun is bet than youres. / Thanne lat us considere also if +the conseilling of hem that conseilleden yow to taken sodeyn vengeaunce, +whether it accorde to resoun? / And certes, ye knowe wel “nay.” / For as by +right and resoun, ther may no man taken vengeance on no wight, but the Iuge +that hath the Iurisdiccioun of it, / whan it is graunted him to take thilke +vengeance, hastily or attemprely, as the lawe requireth. /2570 And yet +more-over, of thilke word that Tullius clepeth “consentinge,” / thou shalt +considere if thy might and thy power may consenten and suffyse to thy +wilfulnesse and to thy conseillours. / And certes, thou mayst wel seyn that +“nay.” / For sikerly, as for to speke proprely, we may do no-thing but only +swich thing as we may doon rightfully. / And certes, rightfully ne mowe ye +take no vengeance as of your propre auctoritee. /2575 Thanne mowe ye seen, +that your power ne consenteth nat ne accordeth nat with your wilfulnesse. / +Lat us now examine the thridde point that Tullius clepeth “consequent.” / +Thou shalt understonde that the vengeance that thou purposest for to take +is the consequent. / And ther-of folweth another vengeaunce, peril, and +werre; and othere damages with-oute nombre, of whiche we be nat war as at +this tyme. / And as touchinge the fourthe point, that Tullius clepeth +“engendringe,” /2580 thou shalt considere, that this wrong which that is +doon to thee is engendred of the hate of thyne enemys; / and of the +vengeance-takinge upon that wolde engendre another vengeance, and muchel +sorwe and wastinge of richesses, as I seyde. / + + 2551. E. _om._ and whiche been they; _see_ 2552. Hk. consentid; + _rest_ consenten (_for_ consenteden); _see_ 2552. + +[221] § 37. Now sir, as to the point that Tullius clepeth “causes,” which +that is the laste point, / thou shall understonde that the wrong that thou +hast receyved hath certeine causes, / whiche that clerkes clepen _Oriens_ +and _Efficiens_, and _Causa longinqua_ and _Causa propinqua_; this is to +seyn, the fer cause and the ny cause. /2585 The fer cause is almighty god, +that is cause of alle thinges. / The neer cause is thy three enemys. / The +cause accidental was hate. / The cause material been the fyve woundes of +thy doghter. / The cause formal is the manere of hir werkinge, that +broghten laddres and cloumben in at thy windowes. /2590 The cause final was +for to slee thy doghter; it letted nat in as muche as in hem was. / But for +to speken of the fer cause, as to what ende they shul come, or what shal +finally bityde of hem in this caas, ne can I nat deme but by coniectinge +and by supposinge. / For we shul suppose that they shul come to a wikked +ende, / by-cause that the Book of Decrees seith: “selden or with greet +peyne been causes y-broght to good ende whanne they been baddely bigonne.” +/ + + 2594. E. seelden. + +§ 38. Now sir, if men wolde axe me, why that god suffred men to do yow this +vileinye, certes, I can nat wel answere as for no sothfastnesse. /2595 For +thapostle seith, that “the sciences and the Iuggementz of our lord god +almighty been ful depe; / ther may no man comprehende ne serchen hem +suffisantly.” / Nathelees, by certeyne presumpcions and coniectinges, I +holde and bileve / that god, which that is ful of Iustice and of +rightwisnesse, hath suffred this bityde by Iuste cause resonable. / + +§ 39. Thy name is Melibee, this is to seyn, “a man that drinketh hony.” +/2600 Thou hast y-dronke so muchel hony of swete temporel richesses and +delices and honours of this world, / that thou art dronken; and hast +forgeten Iesu Crist thy creatour; / thou ne hast nat doon to him swich +honour and reverence as thee oughte. / Ne thou ne hast nat wel y-taken kepe +to the wordes of Ovide, that seith: / “under the hony of the godes of the +body is hid the venim that sleeth the soule.” /2605 And Salomon seith, “if +thou hast founden hony, ete of it that suffyseth; / for if thou ete of it +out of mesure, thou shalt spewe,” and be nedy and povre. / And peraventure +Crist hath thee in despit, and hath turned awey fro thee his face and hise +eres of misericorde; / and also he hath suffred that thou hast been +punisshed in the manere that thow [222] hast y-trespassed. / Thou hast doon +sinne agayn our lord Crist; /2610 for certes, the three enemys of mankinde, +that is to seyn, the flessh, the feend, and the world, / thou hast suffred +hem entre in-to thyn herte wilfully by the windowes of thy body, / and hast +nat defended thy-self suffisantly agayns hir assautes and hir temptaciouns, +so that they han wounded thy soule in fyve places; / this is to seyn, the +deedly sinnes that been entred in-to thyn herte by thy fyve wittes. / And +in the same manere our lord Crist hath wold and suffred, that thy three +enemys been entred in-to thyn hous by the windowes, /2615 and han y-wounded +thy doghter in the fore-seyde manere.’ / + + 2601. E. sweete temporeel. 2608. E. eeris. + +§ 40. ‘Certes,’ quod Melibee, ‘I see wel that ye enforce yow muchel by +wordes to overcome me in swich manere, that I shal nat venge me of myne +enemys; / shewinge me the perils and the yveles that mighten falle of this +vengeance. / But who-so wolde considere in alle vengeances the perils and +yveles that mighte sewe of vengeance-takinge, / a man wolde never take +vengeance, and that were harm; /2620 for by the vengeance-takinge been the +wikked men dissevered fro the gode men. / And they that han wil to do +wikkednesse restreyne hir wikked purpos, whan they seen the punissinge and +chastysinge of the trespassours.’ / [And to this answerde dame Prudence: +‘Certes,’ seyde she, ‘I graunte wel that of vengeaunce cometh muchel yvel +and muchel good; / but vengeaunce-taking aperteneth nat unto everichoon, +but only unto Iuges and unto hem that han Iurisdicctioun upon the +trespassours.] / And yet seye I more, that right as a singuler persone +sinneth in takinge vengeance of another man, /2625 right so sinneth the +Iuge if he do no vengeance of hem that it han deserved. / For Senek seith +thus: “that maister,” he seith, “is good that proveth shrewes.” / And as +Cassidore seith: “A man dredeth to do outrages, whan he woot and knoweth +that it displeseth to the Iuges and sovereyns.” / And another seith: “the +Iuge that dredeth to do right, maketh men shrewes.” / And Seint Paule the +apostle seith in his epistle, whan he wryteth un-to the Romayns: that “the +Iuges beren nat the spere with-outen cause;” /2630 but they beren it to +punisse the shrewes and misdoeres, and for to defende the gode men. / If ye +wol thanne take vengeance of [223] your enemys, ye shul retourne or have +your recours to the Iuge that hath the Iurisdiccion up-on hem; / and he +shal punisse hem as the lawe axeth and requyreth.’ / + + 2623, 2624. _Not in the_ MSS. _Supplied by translating the French + text_. 2626. E. Hn. disserued. 2629. E. _om._ And. 2631. E. Ln. + _om._ for. + +§ 41. ‘A!’ quod Melibee, ‘this vengeance lyketh me no-thing. / I bithenke +me now and take hede, how fortune hath norissed me fro my childhede, and +hath holpen me to passe many a strong pas. /2635 Now wol I assayen hir, +trowinge, with goddes help, that she shal helpe me my shame for to venge.’ +/ + +§ 42. ‘Certes,’ quod Prudence, ‘if ye wol werke by my conseil, ye shul nat +assaye fortune by no wey; / ne ye shul nat lene or bowe unto hir, after the +word of Senek: / for “thinges that been folily doon, and that been in hope +of fortune, shullen never come to good ende.” / And as the same Senek +seith: “the more cleer and the more shyning that fortune is, the more +brotil and the sonner broken she is.” /2640 Trusteth nat in hir, for she +nis nat stidefast ne stable; / for whan thow trowest to be most seur or +siker of hir help, she wol faille thee and deceyve thee. / And wher-as ye +seyn that fortune hath norissed yow fro your childhede, / I seye, that in +so muchel shul ye the lasse truste in hir and in hir wit. / For Senek +seith: “what man that is norissed by fortune, she maketh him a greet fool.” +/2645 Now thanne, sin ye desyre and axe vengeance, and the vengeance that +is doon after the lawe and bifore the Iuge ne lyketh yow nat, / and the +vengeance that is doon in hope of fortune is perilous and uncertein, / +thanne have ye noon other remedie but for to have your recours unto the +sovereyn Iuge that vengeth alle vileinyes and wronges; / and he shal venge +yow after that him-self witnesseth, wher-as he seith: / “leveth the +vengeance to me, and I shal do it.”’ /2650 + + 2642. E. and (_before_ siker); _rest_ or; Hl. _om._ or siker. + +§ 43. Melibee answerde, ‘if I ne venge me nat of the vileinye that men han +doon to me, / I sompne or warne hem that han doon to me that vileinye and +alle othere, to do me another vileinye. / For it is writen: “if thou take +no vengeance of an old vileinye, thou sompnest thyne adversaries to do thee +a newe vileinye.” / And also, for my suffrance, men wolden do to me so +muchel vileinye, that I mighte neither here it ne sustene; / and so sholde +I been put and holden over lowe. /2655 For men seyn: “in muchel suffringe +shul manye thinges falle un-to thee whiche thou shalt nat mowe suffre.”’ / + +[224] § 44. ‘Certes,’ quod Prudence, ‘I graunte yow that over muchel +suffraunce nis nat good; / but yet ne folweth it nat ther-of, that every +persone to whom men doon vileinye take of it vengeance; / for that +aperteneth and longeth al only to the Iuges, for they shul venge the +vileinyes and iniuries. / And ther-fore tho two auctoritees that ye han +seyd above, been only understonden in the Iuges; /2660 for whan they +suffren over muchel the wronges and the vileinyes to be doon withouten +punisshinge, / they sompne nat a man al only for to do newe wronges, but +they comanden it. / Also a wys man seith: that “the Iuge that correcteth +nat the sinnere comandeth and biddeth him do sinne.” / And the Iuges and +sovereyns mighten in hir land so muchel suffre of the shrewes and +misdoeres, / that they sholden by swich suffrance, by proces of tyme, wexen +of swich power and might, that they sholden putte out the Iuges and the +sovereyns from hir places, /2665 and atte laste maken hem lesen hir +lordshipes. / + +§ 45. But lat us now putte, that ye have leve to venge yow. / I seye ye +been nat of might and power as now to venge yow. / For if ye wole maken +comparisoun un-to the might of your adversaries, ye shul finde in manye +thinges, that I have shewed yow er this, that hir condicioun is bettre than +youres. / And therfore seye I, that it is good as now that ye suffre and be +pacient. /2670 + +§ 46. Forther-more, ye knowen wel that, after the comune sawe, “it is a +woodnesse a man to stryve with a strenger or a more mighty man than he is +him-self; / and for to stryve with a man of evene strengthe, that is to +seyn, with as strong a man as he, it is peril; / and for to stryve with a +weyker man, it is folie.” / And therfore sholde a man flee stryvinge as +muchel as he mighte. / For Salomon seith: “it is a greet worship to a man +to kepen him fro noyse and stryf.” /2675 And if it so bifalle or happe that +a man of gretter might and strengthe than thou art do thee grevaunce, / +studie and bisie thee rather to stille the same grevaunce, than for to +venge thee. / For Senek seith: that “he putteth him in greet peril that +stryveth with a gretter man than he is him-self.” / And Catoun seith: “if a +man of hyer estaat or degree, or more mighty than thou, do thee anoy or +grevaunce, suffre him; / for he that ones hath greved thee may another tyme +releve thee and helpe.” /2680 Yet sette I caas, ye have bothe might and +licence for to [225] venge yow. / I seye, that ther be ful manye thinges +that shul restreyne yow of vengeance-takinge, / and make yow for to enclyne +to suffre, and for to han pacience in the thinges that han been doon to +yow. / First and foreward, if ye wole considere the defautes that been in +your owene persone, / for whiche defautes god hath suffred yow have this +tribulacioun, as I have seyd yow heer-biforn. /2685 For the poete seith, +that “we oghte paciently taken the tribulacions that comen to us, whan we +thinken and consideren that we han deserved to have hem.” / And Seint +Gregorie seith: that “whan a man considereth wel the nombre of hise +defautes and of his sinnes, / the peynes and the tribulaciouns that he +suffreth semen the lesse un-to hym; / and in-as-muche as him thinketh hise +sinnes more hevy and grevous, / in-so-muche semeth his peyne the lighter +and the esier un-to him.” /2690 Also ye owen to enclyne and bowe your herte +to take the pacience of our lord Iesu Crist, as seith seint Peter in hise +epistles: / “Iesu Crist,” he seith, “hath suffred for us, and yeven +ensample to every man to folwe and sewe him; / for he dide never sinne, ne +never cam ther a vileinous word out of his mouth: / whan men cursed him, he +cursed hem noght; and whan men betten him, he manaced hem noght.” / Also +the grete pacience, which the seintes that been in paradys han had in +tribulaciouns that they han y-suffred, with-outen hir desert or gilt, /2695 +oghte muchel stiren yow to pacience. / Forthermore, ye sholde enforce yow +to have pacience, / consideringe that the tribulaciouns of this world but +litel whyle endure, and sone passed been and goon. / And the Ioye that a +man seketh to have by pacience in tribulaciouns is perdurable, after that +the apostle seith in his epistle: / “the Ioye of god,” he seith, “is +perdurable,” that is to seyn, everlastinge. /2700 Also troweth and bileveth +stedefastly, that he nis nat wel y-norissed ne wel y-taught, that can nat +have pacience or wol nat receyve pacience. / For Salomon seith: that “the +doctrine and the wit of a man is knowen by pacience.” / And in another +place he seith: that “he that is pacient governeth him by greet prudence.” +/ And the same Salomon seith: “the angry and wrathful man maketh noyses, +and the pacient man atempreth hem and stilleth.” / He seith also: “it is +more worth to be pacient than for to be right strong; /2705 and he that may +have the lordshipe of his owene herte is more to preyse, than [226] he that +by his force or strengthe taketh grete citees.” / And therfore seith seint +Iame in his epistle: that “pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun.”’ / + + 2680. E. (_only_) _puts_ may _after_ tyme. 2686. E. Hn. Cp. + disserued. 2698. E. Cm. goone. + +§ 47. ‘Certes,’ quod Melibee, ‘I graunte yow, dame Prudence, that pacience +is a greet vertu of perfeccioun; / but every man may nat have the +perfeccioun that ye seken; / ne I nam nat of the nombre of right parfite +men, /2710 for myn herte may never been in pees un-to the tyme it be +venged. / And al-be-it so that it was greet peril to myne enemys, to do me +a vileinye in takinge vengeance up-on me, / yet token they noon hede of the +peril, but fulfilleden hir wikked wil and hir corage. / And therfore, me +thinketh men oghten nat repreve me, though I putte me in a litel peril for +to venge me, / and though I do a greet excesse, that is to seyn, that I +venge oon outrage by another.’ /2715 + +§ 48. ‘A!’ quod dame Prudence, ‘ye seyn your wil and as yow lyketh; / but +in no caas of the world a man sholde nat doon outrage ne excesse for to +vengen him. / For Cassidore seith: that “as yvel doth he that vengeth him +by outrage, as he that doth the outrage.” / And therfore ye shul venge yow +after the ordre of right, that is to seyn by the lawe, and noght by excesse +ne by outrage. / And also, if ye wol venge yow of the outrage of your +adversaries in other maner than right comandeth, ye sinnen; /2720 and +therfore seith Senek: that “a man shal never vengen shrewednesse by +shrewednesse.” / And if ye seye, that right axeth a man to defenden +violence by violence, and fighting by fighting, / certes ye seye sooth, +whan the defense is doon anon with-outen intervalle or with-outen tarying +or delay, / for to defenden him and nat for to vengen him. / And it +bihoveth that a man putte swich attemperance in his defence, /2725 that men +have no cause ne matere to repreven him that defendeth him of excesse and +outrage; for elles were it agayn resoun. / Pardee, ye knowen wel, that ye +maken no defence as now for to defende yow, but for to venge yow; / and so +seweth it that ye han no wil to do your dede attemprely. / And therfore, me +thinketh that pacience is good. For Salomon seith: that “he that is nat +pacient shal have greet harm.”’ / + + 2724-7. E. deffenden, deffense. 2728. E. sheweth; Hl. semeth; _rest_ + seweth. + +§ 49. ‘Certes,’ quod Melibee, ‘I graunte yow, that whan [227] a man is +inpacient and wroth, of that that toucheth him noght and that aperteneth +nat un-to him, though it harme him, it is no wonder. /2730 For the lawe +seith: that “he is coupable that entremetteth or medleth with swich thyng +as aperteneth nat un-to him.” / And Salomon seith: that “he that +entremetteth him of the noyse or stryf of another man, is lyk to him that +taketh an hound by the eres.” / For right as he that taketh a straunge +hound by the eres is outherwhyle biten with the hound, / right in the same +wyse is it resoun that he have harm, that by his inpacience medleth him of +the noyse of another man, wher-as it aperteneth nat un-to him. / But ye +knowen wel that this dede, that is to seyn, my grief and my disese, +toucheth me right ny. /2735 And therfore, though I be wroth and inpacient, +it is no merveille. / And savinge your grace, I can nat seen that it mighte +greetly harme me though I toke vengeaunce; / for I am richer and more +mighty than myne enemys been. / And wel knowen ye, that by moneye and by +havinge grete possessions been all the thinges of this world governed. / +And Salomon seith: that “alle thinges obeyen to moneye.”’ /2740 + +§ 50. Whan Prudence hadde herd hir housbonde avanten him of his richesse +and of his moneye, dispreisinge the power of hise adversaries, she spak, +and seyde in this wyse: / ‘certes, dere sir, I graunte yow that ye been +rich and mighty, / and that the richesses been goode to hem that han wel +y-geten hem and wel conne usen hem. / For right as the body of a man may +nat liven with-oute the soule, namore may it live with-outen temporel +goodes. / And by richesses may a man gete him grete freendes. /2745 And +therfore seith Pamphilles: “if a net-herdes doghter,” seith he, “be riche, +she may chesen of a thousand men which she wol take to hir housbonde; / +for, of a thousand men, oon wol nat forsaken hir ne refusen hir.” / And +this Pamphilles seith also: “if thou be right happy, that is to seyn, if +thou be right riche, thou shalt find a greet nombre of felawes and +freendes. / And if thy fortune change that thou wexe povre, farewel +freendshipe and felaweshipe; / for thou shalt be allone with-outen any +companye, but-if it be the companye of povre folk.” /2750 And yet seith +this Pamphilles moreover: that “they that been thralle and bonde of [228] +linage shullen been maad worthy and noble by the richesses.” / And right so +as by richesses ther comen manye goodes, right so by poverte come ther +manye harmes and yveles. / For greet poverte constreyneth a man to do manye +yveles. / And therfore clepeth Cassidore poverte “the moder of ruine,” / +that is to seyn, the moder of overthrowinge or fallinge doun. /2755 And +therfore seith Piers Alfonce: “oon of the gretteste adversitees of this +world is / whan a free man, by kinde or by burthe, is constreyned by +poverte to eten the almesse of his enemy.” / And the same seith Innocent in +oon of hise bokes; he seith: that “sorweful and mishappy is the condicioun +of a povre begger; / for if he axe nat his mete, he dyeth for hunger; / and +if he axe, he dyeth for shame; and algates necessitee constreyneth him to +axe.” /2760 And therfore seith Salomon: that “bet it is to dye than for to +have swich poverte.” / And as the same Salomon seith: “bettre it is to dye +of bitter deeth than for to liven in swich wyse.” / By thise resons that I +have seid un-to yow, and by manye othere resons that I coude seye, / I +graunte yow that richesses been goode to hem that geten hem wel, and to hem +that wel usen tho richesses. / And therfore wol I shewe yow how ye shul +have yow, and how ye shul here yow in gaderinge of richesses, and in what +manere ye shul usen hem. /2765 + + 2744. E. tempered. 2745. by] E. for. 2746. _All_ Pamphilles. Hn. + Hl. which she ... housbonde; _rest om._ 2750. E. Hn. al alloone; + _rest omit_ al. + +§ 51. First, ye shul geten hem with-outen greet desyr, by good leyser +sokingly, and nat over hastily. / For a man that is to desyringe to gete +richesses abaundoneth him first to thefte and to alle other yveles. / And +therfore seith Salomon: “he that hasteth him to bisily to wexe riche shal +be noon innocent.” / He seith also: that “the richesse that hastily cometh +to a man, sone and lightly gooth and passeth fro a man; / but that richesse +that cometh litel and litel wexeth alwey and multiplyeth.” /2770 And sir, +ye shul geten richesses by your wit and by your travaille un-to your +profit; / and that with-outen wrong or harm-doinge to any other persone. / +For the lawe seith: that “ther maketh no man himselven riche, if he do harm +to another wight;” / this is to seyn, that nature defendeth and forbedeth +by right, that no man make him-self riche un-to the harm of another +persone. / And Tullius seith: that “no sorwe ne no drede of deeth, ne +no-thing that may falle un-to a man /2775 is so muchel agayns nature, as a +man to [229] encressen his owene profit to the harm of another man. / And +though the grete men and the mighty men geten richesses more lightly than +thou, / yet shaltou nat been ydel ne slow to do thy profit; for thou shalt +in alle wyse flee ydelnesse.” / For Salomon seith: that “ydelnesse techeth +a man to do manye yveles.” / And the same Salomon seith: that “he that +travailleth and bisieth him to tilien his land, shal eten breed; /2780 but +he that is ydel and casteth him to no bisinesse ne occupacioun, shal falle +in-to poverte, and dye for hunger.” / And he that is ydel and slow can +never finde covenable tyme for to doon his profit. / For ther is a +versifiour seith: that “the ydel man excuseth hym in winter, by cause of +the grete cold; and in somer, by enchesoun of the hete.” / For thise causes +seith Caton: “waketh and enclyneth nat yow over muchel for to slepe; for +over muchel reste norisseth and causeth manye vices.” / And therfore seith +seint Ierome: “doth somme gode dedes, that the devel which is our enemy ne +finde yow nat unoccupied.” /2785 For the devel ne taketh nat lightly un-to +his werkinge swiche as he findeth occupied in gode werkes. / + + 2766. E. Hn. sekyngly; _rest_ sokyngly. 2785. E. goodes; _rest_ goode + dedes. + +§ 52. Thanne thus, in getinge richesses, ye mosten flee ydelnesse. / And +afterward, ye shul use the richesses, whiche ye have geten by your wit and +by your travaille, / in swich a manere, that men holde nat yow to scars, ne +to sparinge, ne to fool-large, that is to seyn, over-large a spender. / For +right as men blamen an avaricious man by-cause of his scarsetee and +chincherye, /2790 in the same wyse is he to blame that spendeth over +largely. / And therfore seith Caton: “use,” he seith, “thy richesses that +thou hast geten / in swich a manere, that men have no matere ne cause to +calle thee neither wrecche ne chinche; / for it is a greet shame to a man +to have a povere herte and a riche purs.” / He seith also: “the goodes that +thou hast y-geten, use hem by mesure,” that is to seyn, spende hem +mesurably; /2795 for they that folily wasten and despenden the goodes that +they han, / whan they han namore propre of hir owene, they shapen hem to +take the goodes of another man. / I seye thanne, that ye shul fleen +avarice; / usinge your richesses in swich manere, that men seye nat that +your richesses been y-buried, / but that ye have hem in [230] your might +and in your weeldinge. /2800 For a wys man repreveth the avaricious man, +and seith thus, in two vers: / “wherto and why burieth a man hise goodes by +his grete avarice, and knoweth wel that nedes moste he dye; / for deeth is +the ende of every man as in this present lyf.” / And for what cause or +enchesoun Ioyneth he him or knitteth he him so faste un-to hise goodes, / +that alle his wittes mowen nat disseveren him or departen him from hise +goodes; /2805 and knoweth wel, or oghte knowe, that whan he is deed, he +shal no-thing bere with him out of this world. / And ther-fore seith seint +Augustin: that “the avaricious man is likned un-to helle; / that the more +it swelweth, the more desyr it hath to swelwe and devoure.” / And as wel as +ye wolde eschewe to be called an avaricious man or chinche, / as wel sholde +ye kepe yow and governe yow in swich a wyse that men calle yow nat +fool-large. /2810 Therfore seith Tullius: “the goodes,” he seith, “of thyn +hous ne sholde nat been hid, ne kept so cloos but that they mighte been +opened by pitee and debonairetee;” / that is to seyn, to yeven part to hem +that han greet nede; / “ne thy goodes shullen nat been so opene, to been +every mannes goodes.” / Afterward, in getinge of your richesses and in +usinge hem, ye shul alwey have three thinges in your herte; / that is to +seyn, our lord god, conscience, and good name. /2815 First, ye shul have +god in your herte; / and for no richesse ye shullen do nothing, which may +in any manere displese god, that is your creatour and maker. / For after +the word of Salomon: “it is bettre to have a litel good with the love of +god, / than to have muchel good and tresour, and lese the love of his lord +god.” / And the prophete seith: that “bettre it is to been a good man and +have litel good and tresour, /2820 than to been holden a shrewe and have +grete richesses.” / And yet seye I ferthermore, that ye sholde alwey doon +your bisinesse to gete yow richesses, / so that ye gete hem with good +conscience. / And thapostle seith: that “ther nis thing in this world, of +which we sholden have so greet Ioye as whan our conscience bereth us good +witnesse.” / And the wyse man seith: “the substance of a man is ful good, +whan sinne is nat in mannes conscience.” /2825 Afterward, in getinge of +your richesses, and in usinge of hem, / yow moste have greet bisinesse and +greet diligence, that your goode name be alwey kept and conserved. / For +Salomon seith: that “bettre it is and more it availleth a man to have a +good name, than for to have grete richesses.” / [231] And therfore he seith +in another place: “do greet diligence,” seith Salomon, “in keping of thy +freend and of thy gode name; / for it shal lenger abide with thee than any +tresour, be it never so precious.” /2830 And certes he sholde nat be called +a gentil man, that after god and good conscience, alle thinges left, ne +dooth his diligence and bisinesse to kepen his good name. / And Cassidore +seith: that “it is signe of a gentil herte, whan a man loveth and desyreth +to han a good name.” / And therfore seith seint Augustin: that “ther been +two thinges that arn necessarie and nedefulle, / and that is good +conscience and good loos; / that is to seyn, good conscience to thyn owene +persone inward, and good loos for thy neighebore outward.” /2835 And he +that trusteth him so muchel in his gode conscience, / that he displeseth +and setteth at noght his gode name or loos, and rekketh noght though he +kepe nat his gode name, nis but a cruel cherl. / + + 2790. E. chyngerie; Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. chyncherye. 2837. E. crueel. + +§ 53. Sire, now have I shewed yow how ye shul do in getinge richesses, and +how ye shullen usen hem; / and I se wel, that for the trust that ye han in +youre richesses, ye wole moeve werre and bataille. / I conseille yow, that +ye biginne no werre in trust of your richesses; for they ne suffysen noght +werres to mayntene. /2840 And therfore seith a philosophre: “that man that +desyreth and wole algates han werre, shal never have suffisaunce; / for the +richer that he is, the gretter despenses moste he make, if he wole have +worship and victorie.” / And Salomon seith: that “the gretter richesses +that a man hath, the mo despendours he hath.” / And dere sire, al-be-it so +that for your richesses ye mowe have muchel folk, / yet bihoveth it nat, ne +it is nat good, to biginne werre, where-as ye mowe in other manere have +pees, un-to your worship and profit. /2845 For the victories of batailles +that been in this world, lyen nat in greet nombre or multitude of the peple +ne in the vertu of man; / but it lyth in the wil and in the hand of our +lord god almighty. / And therfore Iudas Machabeus, which was goddes knight, +/ whan he sholde fighte agayn his adversarie that hadde a greet nombre, and +a gretter multitude of folk and strenger than was this peple of Machabee, / +yet he reconforted his litel companye, and seyde right in this wyse: /2850 +“als lightly,” quod he, “may our lord god almighty yeve victorie to a fewe +folk as to many folk; / for the victorie of bataile cometh nat by the grete +[232] nombre of peple, / but it cometh from our lord god of hevene.” / And +dere sir, for as muchel as there is no man certein, if he be worthy that +god yeve him victorie, [namore than he is certein whether he be worthy of +the love of god] or naught, after that Salomon seith, / therfore every man +sholde greetly drede werres to biginne. /2855 And by-cause that in +batailles fallen manye perils, / and happeth outher-while, that as sone is +the grete man sleyn as the litel man; / and, as it is written in the +seconde book of Kinges, “the dedes of batailles been aventurouse and +nothing certeyne;” / for as lightly is oon hurt with a spere as another. / +And for ther is gret peril in werre, therfore sholde a man flee and eschewe +werre, in as muchel as a man may goodly. /2860 For Salomon seith: “he that +loveth peril shal falle in peril.”’ / + + 2852. E. Hn. a bataile; _rest om._ a. E. comth. 2853. E. come; + _rest_ cometh. 2854. E. he be; _rest_ it be. _I supply from_ namore + _to_ god; _see_ Note. + +§ 54. After that Dame Prudence hadde spoken in this manere, Melibee +answerde and seyde, / ‘I see wel, dame Prudence, that by your faire wordes +and by your resons that ye han shewed me, that the werre lyketh yow +no-thing; / but I have nat yet herd your conseil, how I shal do in this +nede.’ / + +§ 55. ‘Certes,’ quod she, ‘I conseille yow that ye accorde with youre +adversaries, and that ye haue pees with hem. /2865 For seint Iame seith in +hise epistles: that “by concord and pees the smale richesses wexen grete, / +and by debaat and discord the grete richesses fallen doun.” / And ye knowen +wel that oon of the gretteste and most sovereyn thing, that is in this +world, is unitee and pees. / And therfore seyde oure lord Iesu Crist to +hise apostles in this wyse: / “wel happy and blessed been they that loven +and purchacen pees; for they been called children of god.”’ /2870 ‘A!’ quod +Melibee, ‘now se I wel that ye loven nat myn honour ne my worshipe. / Ye +knowen wel that myne adversaries han bigonnen this debaat and brige by hir +outrage; / and ye see wel that they ne requeren ne preyen me nat of pees, +ne they asken nat to be reconsiled. / Wol ye thanne that I go and meke me +and obeye me to hem, and crye hem mercy? / For sothe, that were nat my +worship. /2875 For right as men seyn, that “over-greet homlinesse +engendreth dispreysinge,” so fareth it by to greet humylitee or mekenesse.’ +/ + + 2866. seint Iame] F. text, Seneques. 2872. E. bryge; Hn. Cm. Hl. + brige; Cp. Pt. brigge (F. text, _brigue_). + +[233] § 56. Thanne bigan dame Prudence to maken semblant of wratthe, and +seyde, / ‘certes, sir, sauf your grace, I love your honour and your profit +as I do myn owene, and ever have doon; / ne ye ne noon other syen never the +contrarie. / And yit, if I hadde seyd that ye sholde han purchaced the pees +and the reconsiliacioun, I ne hadde nat muchel mistaken me, ne seyd amis. +/2880 For the wyse man seith: “the dissensioun biginneth by another man, +and the reconsiling bi-ginneth by thy-self.” / And the prophete seith: +“flee shrewednesse and do goodnesse; / seke pees and folwe it, as muchel as +in thee is.” / Yet seye I nat that ye shul rather pursue to your +adversaries for pees than they shuln to yow; / for I knowe wel that ye been +so hard-herted, that ye wol do no-thing for me. /2885 And Salomon seith: +“he that hath over-hard an herte, atte laste he shal mishappe and +mistyde.”’ / + +§ 57. Whanne Melibee hadde herd dame Prudence maken semblant of wratthe, he +seyde in this wyse, / ‘dame, I prey yow that ye be nat displesed of thinges +that I seye; / for ye knowe wel that I am angry and wrooth, and that is no +wonder; / and they that been wrothe witen nat wel what they doon, ne what +they seyn. /2890 Therfore the prophete seith: that “troubled eyen han no +cleer sighte.” / But seyeth and conseileth me as yow lyketh; for I am redy +to do right as ye wol desyre; / and if ye repreve me of my folye, I am the +more holden to love yow and to preyse yow. / For Salomon seith: that “he +that repreveth him that doth folye, / he shal finde gretter grace than he +that deceyveth him by swete wordes.”’ /2895 + + 2893. to preyse] E. _om._ to. + +§ 58. Thanne seide dame Prudence, ‘I make no semblant of wratthe ne anger +but for your grete profit. / For Salomon seith: “he is more worth, that +repreveth or chydeth a fool for his folye, shewinge him semblant of +wratthe, / than he that supporteth him and preyseth him in his misdoinge, +and laugheth at his folye.” / And this same Salomon seith afterward: that +“by the sorweful visage of a man,” that is to seyn, by the sory and hevy +countenaunce of a man, / “the fool correcteth and amendeth him-self.”’ +/2900 + + 2898. E. peyseth (_for_ preyseth). + +§ 59. Thanne seyde Melibee, ‘I shal nat conne answere to so manye faire +resouns as ye putten to me and shewen. / Seyeth shortly your wil and your +conseil, and I am al ready to fulfille and parfourne it.’ / + +[234] § 60. Thanne dame Prudence discovered al hir wil to him, and seyde, / +‘I conseille yow,’ quod she, ‘aboven alle thinges, that ye make pees +bitwene god and yow; / and beth reconsiled un-to him and to his grace. +/2905 For as I have seyd yow heer-biforn, god hath suffred yow to have this +tribulacioun and disese for your sinnes. / And if ye do as I sey yow, god +wol sende your adversaries un-to yow, / and maken hem fallen at your feet, +redy to do your wil and your comandements. / For Salomon seith: “whan the +condicioun of man is plesaunt and likinge to god, / he chaungeth the hertes +of the mannes adversaries, and constreyneth hem to biseken him of pees and +of grace.” /2910 And I prey yow, lat me speke with your adversaries in +privee place; / for they shul nat knowe that it be of your wil or your +assent. / And thanne, whan I knowe hir wil and hir entente, I may conseille +yow the more seurly.’ / + + 2913. E. seurely; Hn. Cp. Hl. seurly. + +§ 61. ‘Dame,’ quod Melibee, ‘dooth your wil and your lykinge, / for I putte +me hoolly in your disposicioun and ordinaunce.’ /2915 + +§ 62. Thanne Dame Prudence, whan she saugh the gode wil of her housbonde, +delibered and took avys in hir-self, / thinkinge how she mighte bringe this +nede un-to a good conclusioun and to a good ende. / And whan she saugh hir +tyme, she sente for thise adversaries to come un-to hir in-to a privee +place, / and shewed wysly un-to hem the grete goodes that comen of pees, / +and the grete harmes and perils that been in werre; /2920 and seyde to hem +in a goodly manere, how that hem oughte have greet repentaunce / of the +iniurie and wrong that they hadden doon to Melibee hir lord, and to hir, +and to hir doghter. / + + 2921. Cm. oughte; Cp. Hl. aughte; _rest_ oughten. + +§ 63. And whan they herden the goodliche wordes of dame Prudence, / they +weren so surprised and ravisshed, and hadden so greet Ioye of hir, that +wonder was to telle. / ‘A! lady!’ quod they, ‘ye han shewed un-to us “the +blessinge of swetnesse,” after the sawe of David the prophete; /2925 for +the reconsilinge which we been nat worthy to have in no manere, / but we +oghte requeren it with greet contricioun and humilitee, / ye of your grete +goodnesse have presented unto us. / Now see we wel that the science and the +conninge of Salomon is ful trewe; / for he seith: that “swete wordes +multiplyen and encresen freendes, and maken shrewes to be debonaire and +meke.” /2930 + + 2924. Hl. surprised; Cm. suppreysed; _rest_ supprised. + +[235] § 64. ‘Certes,’ quod they, ‘we putten our dede and al our matere and +cause al hoolly in your goode wil; / and been redy to obeye to the speche +and comandement of my lord Melibee. / And therfore, dere and benigne lady, +we preyen yow and biseke yow as mekely as we conne and mowen, / that it +lyke un-to your grete goodnesse to fulfillen in dede your goodliche wordes; +/ for we consideren and knowlichen that we han offended and greved my lord +Melibee out of mesure; /2935 so ferforth, that we be nat of power to maken +hise amendes. / And therfore we oblige and binden us and our freendes to +doon al his wil and hise comandements. / But peraventure he hath swich +hevinesse and swich wratthe to us-ward, by-cause of our offence, / that he +wole enioyne us swich a peyne as we mowe nat here ne sustene. / And +therfore, noble lady, we biseke to your wommanly pitee, /2940 to taken +swich avysement in this nede, that we, ne our freendes, be nat desherited +ne destroyed thurgh our folye.’ / + +§ 65. ‘Certes,’ quod Prudence, ‘it is an hard thing and right perilous, / +that a man putte him al outrely in the arbitracioun and Iuggement, and in +the might and power of hise enemys. / For Salomon seith: “leveth me, and +yeveth credence to that I shal seyn; I seye,” quod he, “ye peple, folk, and +governours of holy chirche, / to thy sone, to thy wyf, to thy freend, ne to +thy brother /2945 ne yeve thou never might ne maistrie of thy body, whyl +thou livest.” / Now sithen he defendeth, that man shal nat yeven to his +brother ne to his freend the might of his body, / by a strenger resoun he +defendeth and forbedeth a man to yeven him-self to his enemy. / And +nathelees I conseille you, that ye mistruste nat my lord. / For I wool wel +and knowe verraily, that he is debonaire and meke, large, curteys, /2950 +and nothing desyrous ne coveitous of good ne richesse. / For ther nis +no-thing in this world that he desyreth, save only worship and honour. / +Forther-more I knowe wel, and am right seur, that he shal no-thing doon in +this nede with-outen my conseil. / And I shal so werken in this cause, +that, by grace of our lord god, ye shul been reconsiled un-to us.’ / + +§ 66. Thanne seyden they with o vois, ‘worshipful lady, we putten us and +our goodes al fully in your wil and disposicioun; /2955 and been redy to +comen, what day that it lyke un-to your noblesse to limite us or assigne +us, / for to maken our obligacioun and bond as strong as it lyketh un-to +your goodnesse; / that we mowe fulfille the wille of yow and of my lord +Melibee.’ / + +[236] § 67. Whan dame Prudence hadde herd the answeres of thise men, she +bad hem goon agayn prively; / and she retourned to hir lord Melibee, and +tolde him how she fond hise adversaries ful repentant, /2960 knowlechinge +ful lowely hir sinnes and trespas, and how they were redy to suffren al +peyne, / requiringe and preyinge him of mercy and pitee. / + +§ 68. Thanne seyde Melibee, ‘he is wel worthy to have pardoun and +foryifnesse of his sinne, that excuseth nat his sinne, / but knowlecheth it +and repenteth him, axinge indulgence. / For Senek seith: “ther is the +remissioun and foryifnesse, where-as confessioun is;” /2965 for confession +is neighebore to innocence. / And he seith in another place: “he that hath +shame for his sinne and knowlecheth it, is worthy remissioun.” And therfore +I assente and conferme me to have pees; / but it is good that we do it nat +with-outen the assent and wil of our freendes.’ / + + 2967. E. Cm. _omit from_ And he _to_ remissioun; Hn. Cp. Hl. _om. only_ + is worthy remissioun, _which occurs in_ Pt., _where_ Ln. _has_ is + worthi haue mercy. E. corforme (_sic_); _rest_ conferme. + +§ 69. Thanne was Prudence right glad and loyeful, and seyde, / ‘Certes, +sir,’ quod she, ‘ye han wel and goodly answered. /2970 For right as by the +conseil, assent, and help of your freendes, ye han been stired to venge yow +and maken werre, / right so with-outen hir conseil shul ye nat accorden +yow, ne have pees with your adversaries. / For the lawe seith: “ther nis +no-thing so good by wey of kinde, as a thing to been unbounde by him that +it was y-bounde.”’ / + +§ 70. And thanne dame Prudence, with-outen delay or taryinge, sente anon +hir messages for hir kin, and for hir olde freendes whiche that were trewe +and wyse, / and tolde hem by ordre, in the presence of Melibee, al this +matere as it is aboven expressed and declared; /2975 and preyden hem that +they wolde yeven hir avys and conseil, what best were to doon in this nede. +/ And whan Melibees freendes hadde taken hir avys and deliberacioun of the +forseide matere, / and hadden examined it by greet bisinesse and greet +diligence, / they yave ful conseil for to have pees and reste; / and that +Melibee sholde receyve with good herte hise adversaries to foryifnesse and +mercy. /2980 + + 2976. E. _om._ hem. + +§ 71. And whan dame Prudence hadde herd the assent of hir lord Melibee, and +the conseil of hise freendes, / accorde with hir wille and hir entencioun, +/ she was wonderly glad in hir herte, and [237] seyde: / ‘ther is an old +proverbe,’ quod she, ‘seith: that “the goodnesse that thou mayst do this +day, do it; / and abyde nat ne delaye it nat til to-morwe.” /2985 And +therfore I conseille that ye sende your messages, swiche as been discrete +and wyse, / un-to your adversaries; tellinge hem, on your bihalve, / that +if they wole trete of pees and of accord, / that they shape hem, with-outen +delay or tarying, to comen un-to us.’ / Which thing parfourned was in dede. +/2990 And whanne thise trespassours and repentinge folk of hir folies, that +is to seyn, the adversaries of Melibee, / hadden herd what thise messagers +seyden un-to hem, / they weren right glad and Ioyeful, and answereden ful +mekely and benignely, / yeldinge graces and thankinges to hir lord Melibee +and to al his companye; / and shopen hem, with-outen delay, to go with the +messagers, and obeye to the comandement of hir lord Melibee. /2995 + +§ 72. And right anon they token hir wey to the court of Melibee, / and +token with hem somme of hir trewe freendes, to maken feith for hem and for +to been hir borwes. / And whan they were comen to the presence of Melibee, +he seyde hem thise wordes: / ‘it standeth thus,’ quod Melibee, ‘and sooth +it is, that ye, / causeless, and with-outen skile and resoun, /3000 han +doon grete iniuries and wronges to me and to my wyf Prudence, and to my +doghter also. / For ye han entred in-to myn hous by violence, / and have +doon swich outrage, that alle men knowen wel that ye have deserved the +deeth; / and therfore wol I knowe and wite of yow, / whether ye wol putte +the punissement and the chastysinge and the vengeance of this outrage in +the wil of me and of my wyf Prudence; or ye wol nat?’ /3005 + + 3003. E. disserued. + +§ 73. Thanne the wyseste of hem three answerde for hem alle, and seyde: / +‘sire,’ quod he, ‘we knowen wel, that we been unworthy to comen un-to the +court of so greet a lord and so worthy as ye been. / For we han so greetly +mistaken us, and han offended and agilt in swich a wyse agayn your heigh +lordshipe, / that trewely we han deserved the deeth. / But yet, for the +grete goodnesse and debonairetee that all the world witnesseth of your +persone, /3010 we submitten us to the excellence and benignitee of your +gracious lordshipe, / and been redy to obeie to alle your comandements; / +bisekinge yow, that of your merciable pitee ye wol [238] considere our +grete repentaunce and lowe submissioun, / and graunten us foryevenesse of +our outrageous trespas and offence. / For wel we knowe, that your liberal +grace and mercy strecchen hem ferther in-to goodnesse, than doon our +outrageouse giltes and trespas in-to wikkednesse; /3015 al-be-it that +cursedly and dampnably we han agilt agayn your heigh lordshipe.’ / + + 3005. E. wheither. 3009. E. disserued. 3010. of] E. in. 3013. E. + lough; _rest_ lowe. 3016. E. Hn. dampnablely. + +§ 74. Thanne Melibee took hem up fro the ground ful benignely, / and +receyved hir obligaciouns and hir bondes by hir othes up-on hir plegges and +borwes, / and assigned hem a certeyn day to retourne un-to his court, / for +to accepte and receyve the sentence and Iugement that Melibee wolde comande +to be doon on hem by the causes afore-seyd; /3020 whiche thinges ordeyned, +every man retourned to his hous. / + +§ 75. And whan that dame Prudence saugh hir tyme, she freyned and axed hir +lord Melibee, / what vengeance he thoughte to taken of hise adversaries? / + +§ 76. To which Melibee answerde and seyde, ‘certes,’ quod he, ‘I thinke and +purpose me fully / to desherite hem of al that ever they han, and for to +putte hem in exil for ever.’ /3025 + +§ 77. ‘Certes,’ quod dame Prudence, ‘this were a cruel sentence, and muchel +agayn resoun. / For ye been riche y-nough, and han no nede of other mennes +good; / and ye mighte lightly in this wyse gete yow a coveitous name, / +which is a vicious thing, and oghte been eschewed of every good man. / For +after the sawe of the word of the apostle: “coveitise is rote of alle +harmes.” /3030 And therfore, it were bettre for yow to lese so muchel good +of your owene, than for to taken of hir good in this manere. / For bettre +it is to lesen good with worshipe, than it is to winne good with vileinye +and shame. / And every man oghte to doon his diligence and his bisinesse to +geten him a good name. / And yet shal he nat only bisie him in kepinge of +his good name, / but he shal also enforcen him alwey to do som-thing by +which he may renovelle his good name; /3035 for it is writen, that “the +olde good loos or good name of a man is sone goon and passed, whan it is +nat newed ne renovelled.” / And as touchinge that ye seyn, ye wole exile +your adversaries, / that thinketh me muchel agayn resoun and out of mesure, +/ considered the power that they han yeve yow [239] up-on hem-self. / And +it is writen, that “he is worthy to lesen his privilege that misuseth the +might and the power that is yeven him.” /3040 And I sette cas ye mighte +enioyne hem that peyne by right and by lawe, / which I trowe ye mowe nat +do, / I seye, ye mighte nat putten it to execucioun per-aventure, / and +thanne were it lykly to retourne to the werre as it was biforn. / And +therfore, if ye wole that men do yow obeisance, ye moste demen more +curteisly; /3045 this is to seyn, ye moste yeven more esy sentences and +Iugements. / For it is writen, that “he that most curteisly comandeth, to +him men most obeyen.” / And therfore, I prey yow that in this necessitee +and in this nede, ye caste yow to overcome your herte. / For Senek seith: +that “he that overcometh his herte, overcometh twyes.” / And Tullius seith: +“ther is nothing so comendable in a greet lord /3050 as whan he is +debonaire and meke, and appeseth him lightly.” / And I prey yow that ye +wole forbere now to do vengeance, / in swich a manere, that your goode name +may be kept and conserved; / and that men mowe have cause and matere to +preyse yow of pitee and of mercy; / and that ye have no cause to repente +yow of thing that ye doon. /3055 For Senek seith: “he overcometh in an yvel +manere, that repenteth him of his victorie.” / Wherfore I pray yow, lat +mercy been in your minde and in your herte, / to theffect and entente that +god almighty have mercy on yow in his laste Iugement. / For seint Iame +seith in his epistle: “Iugement withouten mercy shal be doon to him, that +hath no mercy of another wight.”’ / + + 3026. E. crueel. 3032. E. _om._ good (_twice_). 3036. or] E. and. + 3051. E. _om._ him. 3057. E. in youre mynde and; _rest om._ + +§ 78. Whanne Melibee hadde herd the grete skiles and resouns of dame +Prudence, and hir wise informaciouns and techinges, /3060 his herte gan +enclyne to the wil of his wyf, consideringe hir trewe entente; / and +conformed him anon, and assented fully to werken after hir conseil; / and +thonked god, of whom procedeth al vertu and alle goodnesse, that him sente +a wyf of so greet discrecioun. / And whan the day cam that hise adversaries +sholde apperen in his presence, / he spak unto hem ful goodly, and seyde in +this wyse: /3065 ‘al-be-it so that of your pryde and presumpcioun and +folie, and of your necligence and unconninge, / ye have misborn yow and +trespassed un-to me; / yet, for as much as I see and biholde your grete +humilitee, / and that ye [240] been sory and repentant of your giltes, / it +constreyneth me to doon yow grace and mercy. /3070 Therfore I receyve yow +to my grace, / and foryeve yow outrely alle the offences, iniuries, and +wronges, that ye have doon agayn me and myne; / to this effect and to this +ende, that god of his endelees mercy / wole at the tyme of our dyinge +foryeven us our giltes that we han trespassed to him in this wrecched +world. / For doutelees, if we be sory and repentant of the sinnes and +giltes whiche we han trespassed in the sighte of our lord god, /3075 he is +so free and so merciable, / that he wole foryeven us our giltes, / and +bringen us to his blisse that never hath ende. Amen.’ /3078 + + =Here is ended Chaucers Tale of Melibee and of Dame Prudence.= + + 3064 E. Hn., appieren. 3078. E. his; Hn. Pt. Hl. the; Cp. Ln. + thilke. _After_ ende, Cp. Ln. _have this spurious couplet_:— + + To whiche blisse he us bringe + That blood on crosse for us gan springe, + + followed by—_Qui cum patre_, &c. + + COLOPHON. _From_ E.; Hn. _has_—Here is endid Chaucers tale of Melibe; + Hl. _has_—Here endith Chaucer his tale of Melibe. + +[241: T. 13895-13924.] + + * * * * * + +THE MONK’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + =The mery wordes of the Host to the Monk.= + + Whan ended was my tale of Melibee, + And of Prudence and hir benignitee, 3080 + Our hoste seyde, ‘as I am faithful man, + And by the precious _corpus Madrian_, + I hadde lever than a barel ale + That goode lief my wyf hadde herd this tale! + For she nis no-thing of swich pacience 3085 + As was this Melibeus wyf Prudence. + By goddes bones! whan I bete my knaves, + She bringth me forth the grete clobbed staves, (10) + And cryeth, “slee the dogges everichoon, + And brek hem, bothe bak and every boon.” 3090 + And if that any neighebor of myne + Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne, + Or be so hardy to hir to trespace, + Whan she comth hoom, she rampeth in my face, + And cryeth, “false coward, wreek thy wyf, 3095 + By _corpus_ bones! I wol have thy knyf, + And thou shalt have my distaf and go spinne!” + Fro day to night right thus she wol biginne;— (20) + “Allas!” she seith, “that ever I was shape + To wedde a milksop or a coward ape, 3100 + That wol be overlad with every wight! + Thou darst nat stonden by thy wyves right!” + This is my lyf, but-if that I wol fighte; + And out at dore anon I moot me dighte, + Or elles I am but lost, but-if that I 3105 + Be lyk a wilde leoun fool-hardy. + I woot wel she wol do me slee som day + Som neighebor, and thanne go my wey. (30) + [242: T. 13925-13962.] + For I am perilous with knyf in honde, + Al be it that I dar nat hir withstonde, 3110 + For she is big in armes, by my feith, + That shal he finde, that hir misdooth or seith. + But lat us passe awey fro this matere. + + HEADING. _From_ E.; Hn. Here bigynneth The Prologe of the Monkes + tale. E. murye. 3082. the] E. Hn. that. 3085. E. Hn. _omit_ + For. 3094. Pt. hoom; Hl. hom; Cp. Ln. home; E. Hn. _omit._ 3099. E. + Hn. euere that I. 3110. E. Cp. Ln. hire nat; Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. nat + hire. + + My lord the Monk,’ quod he, ‘be mery of chere; + For ye shul telle a tale trewely. 3115 + Lo! Rouchestre stant heer faste by! + Ryd forth, myn owene lord, brek nat our game, + But, by my trouthe, I knowe nat your name, (40) + Wher shal I calle yow my lord dan Iohn, + Or dan Thomas, or elles dan Albon? 3120 + Of what hous be ye, by your fader kin? + I vow to god, thou, hast a ful fair skin, + It is a gentil pasture ther thou goost; + Thou art nat lyk a penaunt or a goost. + Upon my feith, thou art som officer, 3125 + Som worthy sexteyn, or som celerer, + For by my fader soule, as to my doom, + Thou art a maister whan thou art at hoom; (50) + No povre cloisterer, ne no novys, + But a governour, wyly and wys. 3130 + And therwithal of brawnes and of bones + A wel-faring persone for the nones. + I pray to god, yeve him confusioun + That first thee broghte un-to religioun; + Thou woldest han been a trede-foul aright. 3135 + Haddestow as greet a leve, as thou hast might + To parfourne al thy lust in engendrure, + Thou haddest bigeten many a creature. (60) + Alas! why werestow so wyd a cope? + God yeve me sorwe! but, and I were a pope, 3140 + Not only thou, but every mighty man, + Thogh he were shorn ful hye upon his pan, + Sholde have a wyf; for al the world is lorn! + Religioun hath take up al the corn + Of treding, and we borel men ben shrimpes! 3145 + Of feble trees ther comen wrecched impes. + [243: T. 13963-13996.] + This maketh that our heires been so sclendre + And feble, that they may nat wel engendre. (70) + This maketh that our wyves wol assaye + Religious folk, for ye may bettre paye 3150 + Of Venus payements than mowe we; + God woot, no lussheburghes payen ye! + But be nat wrooth, my lord, for that I pleye; + Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd seye.’ + + 3114. E. Hn. myrie. 3119, 20. E. daun. 3129. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. + cloistrer. 3138. E. Hn. ful many. 3147, 8. E. _om. these lines; + from_ Hn.; Hn. Cm. sklendre; Cp. Pt. sclendre (sclender_e_). 3151. E. + paiementz. 3152. E. Hn. lussheburgh; Cp. lussheburghes; Hl. + lusscheburghes. + + This worthy monk took al in pacience, 3155 + And seyde, ‘I wol doon al my diligence, + As fer as souneth in-to honestee, + To telle yow a tale, or two, or three. (80) + And if yow list to herkne hiderward, + I wol yow seyn the lyf of seint Edward; 3160 + Or elles first Tragedies wol I telle + Of whiche I have an hundred in my celle. + Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storie, + As olde bokes maken us memorie, + Of him that stood in greet prosperitee 3165 + And is y-fallen out of heigh degree + Into miserie, and endeth wrecchedly. + And they ben versifyed comunly (90) + Of six feet, which men clepe _exametron_. + In prose eek been endyted many oon, 3170 + And eek in metre, in many a sondry wyse. + Lo! this declaring oughte y-nough suffise. + + 3160. E. _omits_ yow. 3163. Cp. Pt. Ln. for to; _rest omit_ for. + 3168. E. communely; Cm. comounly; Hn. Hl. comunly. + + Now herkneth, if yow lyketh for to here; + But first I yow biseke in this matere, + Though I by ordre telle nat thise thinges, 3175 + Be it of popes, emperours, or kinges, + After hir ages, as men writen finde, + But telle hem som bifore and som bihinde, (100) + As it now comth un-to my remembraunce; + Have me excused of myn ignoraunce.’ 3180 + + _Explicit_. + +[244: T. 13997-14016.] + + * * * * * + +THE MONKES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Monkes Tale, De Casibus Virorum Illustrium.= + + I wol biwayle in maner of Tragedie + The harm of hem that stode in heigh degree, + And fillen so that ther nas no remedie + To bringe hem out of hir adversitee; + For certein, whan that fortune list to flee, 3185 + Ther may no man the cours of hir withholde; + Lat no man truste on blind prosperitee; + Be war by thise ensamples trewe and olde. + + HEADING. _From_ E. (E. Heere). 3188. E. Pt. of; _rest_ by. + + LUCIFER. + + At Lucifer, though he an angel were, + And nat a man, at him I wol biginne; 3190 + For, thogh fortune may non angel dere, (11) + From heigh degree yet fel he for his sinne + Doun in-to helle, wher he yet is inne. + O Lucifer! brightest of angels alle, + Now artow Sathanas, that maist nat twinne 3195 + Out of miserie, in which that thou art falle. + + 3191. E. though; Hn. thogh. + + ADAM. + + Lo Adam, in the feld of Damassene, + With goddes owene finger wroght was he, + And nat bigeten of mannes sperme unclene, + And welte al Paradys, saving o tree. 3200 + [245: T. 14017-14048.] + Had never worldly man so heigh degree (21) + As Adam, til he for misgovernaunce + Was drive out of his hye prosperitee + To labour, and to helle, and to meschaunce. + + 3197. Cm. Hl. Damassene; E. Hn. Damyssene. + + SAMPSON. + + Lo Sampson, which that was annunciat 3205 + By thangel, longe er his nativitee, + And was to god almighty consecrat, + And stood in noblesse, whyl he mighte see. + Was never swich another as was he, + To speke of strengthe, and therwith hardinesse; 3210 + But to his wyves tolde he his secree, (31) + Through which he slow him-self, for wrecchednesse. + + 3206. Hl. Cp. thangel; Hn. Pt. Ln. the aungel; E. Cm. angel. + + Sampson, this noble almighty champioun, + Withouten wepen save his hondes tweye, + He slow and al to-rente the leoun, 3215 + Toward his wedding walking by the weye. + His false wyf coude him so plese and preye + Til she his conseil knew, and she untrewe + Un-to his foos his conseil gan biwreye, + And him forsook, and took another newe. 3220 + + Three hundred foxes took Sampson for ire, (41) + And alle hir tayles he togider bond, + And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire, + For he on every tayl had knit a brond; + And they brende alle the cornes in that lond, 3225 + And alle hir oliveres and vynes eek. + A thousand men he slow eek with his hond, + And had no wepen but an asses cheek. + + Whan they were slayn, so thursted him that he + Was wel my lorn, for which he gan to preye 3230 + That god wolde on his peyne han som pitee, (51) + And sende him drinke, or elles moste he deye; + [246: T. 14049-14080.] + And of this asses cheke, that was dreye, + Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle, + Of which he drank y-nogh, shortly to seye, 3235 + Thus heelp him god, as _Iudicum_ can telle. + + 3235. E. anon; _rest_ ynogh, ynough, ynouhe, &c. + + By verray force, at Gazan, on a night, + Maugree Philistiens of that citee, + The gates of the toun he hath up-plight, + And on his bak y-caried hem hath he 3240 + Hye on an hille, that men mighte hem see. (61) + O noble almighty Sampson, leef and dere, + Had thou nat told to wommen thy secree, + In al this worlde ne hadde been thy pere! + + This Sampson never sicer drank ne wyn, 3245 + Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne shere, + By precept of the messager divyn, + For alle his strengthes in his heres were; + And fully twenty winter, yeer by yere, + He hadde of Israel the governaunce. 3250 + But sone shal he wepen many a tere, (71) + For wommen shal him bringen to meschaunce! + + 3245. E. Hn. ciser (_for_ sicer); Hl. siser; Cm. Pt. Ln. sythir; Cp. + cyder. + + Un-to his lemman Dalida he tolde + That in his heres al his strengthe lay, + And falsly to his fo-men she him solde. 3255 + And sleping in hir barme up-on a day + She made to clippe or shere his heer awey, + And made his fo-men al his craft espyen; + And whan that they him fonde in this array, + They bounde him faste, and putten out his yën. 3260 + + 3257. E. Hl. heres; _rest_ heer, here. 3258. E. Hn. this craft; + _rest_ his craft. + + But er his heer were clipped or y-shave, (81) + Ther was no bond with which men might him binde; + But now is he in prisoun in a cave, + Wher-as they made him at the querne grinde. + [247: T. 14081-14112.] + O noble Sampson, strongest of mankinde, 3265 + O whylom Iuge in glorie and in richesse, + Now maystow wepen with thyn yën blinde, + Sith thou fro wele art falle in wrecchednesse. + + 3261. E. were; _rest_ was; _see l._ 3328. + + Thende of this caytif was as I shal seye; + His fo-men made a feste upon a day, 3270 + And made him as hir fool bifore hem pleye, (91) + And this was in a temple of greet array. + But atte laste he made a foul affray; + For he two pilers shook, and made hem falle, + And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay, 3275 + And slow him-self, and eek his fo-men alle. + + 3271. E. Cm. a; _rest_ hire, here. 3274. E. the; _rest_ two. + + This is to seyn, the princes everichoon, + And eek three thousand bodies wer ther slayn + With falling of the grete temple of stoon. + Of Sampson now wol I na-more seyn. 3280 + Beth war by this ensample old and playn (101) + That no men telle hir conseil til hir wyves + Of swich thing as they wolde han secree fayn, + If that it touche hir limmes or hir lyves. + + HERCULES. + + Of Hercules the sovereyn conquerour 3285 + Singen his workes laude and heigh renoun; + For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour. + He slow, and rafte the skin of the leoun; + He of Centauros leyde the boost adoun; + He Arpies slow, the cruel briddes felle; 3290 + He golden apples rafte of the dragoun; (111) + He drow out Cerberus, the hound of helle: + + He slow the cruel tyrant Busirus, + And made his hors to frete him, flesh and boon; + He slow the firy serpent venimous; 3295 + Of Achelois two hornes, he brak oon; + [248: T. 14113-14148.] + And he slow Cacus in a cave of stoon; + He slow the geaunt Antheus the stronge; + He slow the grisly boor, and that anoon, + And bar the heven on his nekke longe. 3300 + + 3294. E. flessh. 3296. E. Cm. hornes two; _rest_ two hornes. + + Was never wight, sith that the world bigan, (121) + That slow so many monstres as dide he. + Thurgh-out this wyde world his name ran, + What for his strengthe, and for his heigh bountee, + And every reaume wente he for to see. 3305 + He was so strong that no man mighte him lette; + At bothe the worldes endes, seith Trophee, + In stede of boundes, he a piler sette. + + 3308. E. stide; pileer. + + A lemman hadde this noble champioun, + That highte Dianira, fresh as May; 3310 + And, as thise clerkes maken mencioun, (131) + She hath him sent a sherte fresh and gay. + Allas! this sherte, allas and weylaway! + Envenimed was so subtilly with-alle, + That, er that he had wered it half a day, 3315 + It made his flesh al from his bones falle. + + 3310, 2. E. fressh. 3316. E. flessh. + + But nathelees somme clerkes hir excusen + By oon that highte Nessus, that it maked; + Be as be may, I wol hir noght accusen; + But on his bak this sherte he wered al naked, 3320 + Til that his flesh was for the venim blaked. (141) + And whan he sey noon other remedye, + In hote coles he hath him-selven raked, + For with no venim deyned him to dye. + + Thus starf this worthy mighty Hercules; 3325 + Lo, who may truste on fortune any throwe? + For him that folweth al this world of prees, + Er he be war, is ofte y-leyd ful lowe. + Ful wys is he that can him-selven knowe. + Beth war, for whan that fortune list to glose, 3330 + Than wayteth she hir man to overthrowe (151) + By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose. + +[249: T. 14149-14180.] + + NABUGODONOSOR (NEBUCHADNEZZAR). + + The mighty trone, the precious tresor, + The glorious ceptre and royal magestee + That hadde the king Nabugodonosor, 3335 + With tonge unnethe may discryved be. + He twyes wan Ierusalem the citee; + The vessel of the temple he with him ladde. + At Babiloyne was his sovereyn see, + In which his glorie and his delyt he hadde. 3340 + + 3336. Hl. vnnethes. + + The fairest children of the blood royal (161) + Of Israel he leet do gelde anoon, + And maked ech of hem to been his thral. + Amonges othere Daniel was oon, + That was the wysest child of everichoon; 3345 + For he the dremes of the king expouned, + Wher-as in Chaldey clerk ne was ther noon + That wiste to what fyn his dremes souned. + + This proude king leet make a statue of golde, + Sixty cubytes long, and seven in brede, 3350 + To which image bothe yonge and olde (171) + Comaunded he to loute, and have in drede; + Or in a fourneys ful of flambes rede + He shal be brent, that wolde noght obeye. + But never wolde assente to that dede 3355 + Daniel, ne his yonge felawes tweye. + + 3351. E. The; _rest_ To. E. Hn. Cm. he bothe; _rest omit_ he. 3352. + E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ he. + + This king of kinges proud was and elaat, + He wende that god, that sit in magestee, + Ne mighte him nat bireve of his estaat: + But sodeynly he loste his dignitee, 3360 + And lyk a beste him semed for to be, (181) + And eet hay as an oxe, and lay ther-oute; + In reyn with wilde bestes walked he, + Til certein tyme was y-come aboute. + + [250: T. 14181-14212.] + And lyk an egles fetheres wexe his heres, 3365 + His nayles lyk a briddes clawes were; + Til god relessed him a certein yeres, + And yaf him wit; and than with many a tere + He thanked god, and ever his lyf in fere + Was he to doon amis, or more trespace; 3370 + And, til that tyme he leyd was on his bere, (191) + He knew that god was ful of might and grace. + + 3365. Wexe _is the right reading, whence_ Cm. wexsyn, _and_ Hl. Cp. + were (_for_ wexe); E. Hn. wax; Pt. Ln. was (_for_ wax). + + BALTHASAR (BELSHAZZAR). + + His sone, which that highte Balthasar, + That heeld the regne after his fader day, + He by his fader coude nought be war, 3375 + For proud he was of herte and of array; + And eek an ydolastre was he ay. + His hye estaat assured him in pryde. + But fortune caste him doun, and ther he lay, + And sodeynly his regne gan divyde. 3380 + + 3377. E. he was; _rest_ was he. + + A feste he made un-to his lordes alle (201) + Up-on a tyme, and bad hem blythe be, + And than his officeres gan he calle— + ‘Goth, bringeth forth the vessels,’ [tho] quod he, + ‘Which that my fader, in his prosperitee, 3385 + Out of the temple of Ierusalem birafte, + And to our hye goddes thanke we + Of honour, that our eldres with us lafte.’ + + 3384. _I supply_ tho. _For_ vessels, _see_ 3391, 3416, 3418. + + His wyf, his lordes, and his concubynes + Ay dronken, whyl hir appetytes laste, 3390 + Out of thise noble vessels sundry wynes; (211) + And on a wal this king his yën caste, + And sey an hond armlees, that wroot ful faste, + For fere of which he quook and syked sore. + This hond, that Balthasar so sore agaste, 3395 + Wroot _Mane, techel, phares_, and na-more. + + [251: T. 14213-14244.] + In al that lond magicien was noon + That coude expoune what this lettre mente; + But Daniel expouned it anoon, + And seyde, ‘king, god to thy fader lente 3400 + Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, rente: (221) + And he was proud, and no-thing god ne dradde, + And therfor god gret wreche up-on him sente, + And him birafte the regne that he hadde. + + 3400. Hn. lente; _rest_ sente (_but see_ l. 3403). + + He was out cast of mannes companye, 3405 + With asses was his habitacioun, + And eet hey as a beste in weet and drye, + Til that he knew, by grace and by resoun, + That god of heven hath dominacioun + Over every regne and every creature; 3410 + And thanne had god of him compassioun, (231) + And him restored his regne and his figure. + + Eek thou, that art his sone, art proud also, + And knowest alle thise thinges verraily, + And art rebel to god, and art his fo. 3415 + Thou drank eek of his vessels boldely; + Thy wyf eek and thy wenches sinfully + Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynes, + And heriest false goddes cursedly; + Therfor to thee y-shapen ful gret pyne is. 3420 + + This hand was sent from god, that on the walle (241) + Wroot _mane, techel, phares_, truste me; + Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at alle; + Divyded is thy regne, and it shal be + To Medes and to Perses yeven,’ quod he. 3425 + And thilke same night this king was slawe, + And Darius occupyeth his degree, + Thogh he therto had neither right ne lawe. + + 3422. E. Hn. Cp. Hl. truste; Pt. trest; Ln. trust; Cm. trust to. See + B. 4214. 3425. E. _om._ yeven. + +[252: T. 14245-14276.] + + Lordinges, ensample heer-by may ye take + How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse; 3430 + For whan fortune wol a man forsake, (251) + She bereth awey his regne and his richesse, + And eek his freendes, bothe more and lesse; + For what man that hath freendes thurgh fortune, + Mishap wol make hem enemys, I gesse: 3435 + This proverbe is ful sooth and ful commune. + + 3435. E. as I; _the rest omit_ as. + + CENOBIA (ZENOBIA). + + Cenobia, of Palimerie quene, + As writen Persiens of hir noblesse, + So worthy was in armes and so kene, + That no wight passed hir in hardinesse, 3440 + Ne in linage, ne in other gentillesse. (261) + Of kinges blode of Perse is she descended; + I seye nat that she hadde most fairnesse, + But of hir shape she mighte nat been amended. + + 3437. _So_ E. Hn. Cm.; _and_ Cp. _has the heading_—De Cenobia + Palymerie regina. 3441. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. ne in; E. nor in; Hn. ne; Cm. + nor; (ne in = n’in). + + From hir childhede I finde that she fledde 3445 + Office of wommen, and to wode she wente; + And many a wilde hertes blood she shedde + With arwes brode that she to hem sente. + She was so swift that she anon hem hente, + And whan that she was elder, she wolde kille 3450 + Leouns, lepardes, and beres al to-rente, (271) + And in hir armes welde hem at hir wille. + + She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke, + And rennen in the montaignes al the night, + And slepen under a bush, and she coude eke 3455 + Wrastlen by verray force and verray might + With any yong man, were he never so wight; + Ther mighte no-thing in hir armes stonde. + She kepte hir maydenhod from every wight, + To no man deigned hir for to be bonde. 3460 + + 3455. E. Hn. Cm. the; _rest_ a. E. bussh. + +[253: T. 14277-14308.] + + But atte laste hir frendes han hir maried (281) + To Odenake, a prince of that contree, + Al were it so that she hem longe taried; + And ye shul understonde how that he + Hadde swiche fantasyes as hadde she. 3465 + But nathelees, whan they were knit in-fere, + They lived in Ioye and in felicitee; + For ech of hem hadde other leef and dere. + + 3462. E. Hn. Cm. Onedake; Cp. Ln. Hl. Odenake; Pt. Odonak. 3468. E. + oother lief. + + Save o thing, that she never wolde assente + By no wey, that he sholde by hir lye 3470 + But ones, for it was hir pleyn entente (291) + To have a child, the world to multiplye; + And al-so sone as that she mighte espye + That she was nat with childe with that dede, + Than wolde she suffre him doon his fantasye 3475 + Eft-sone, and nat but ones, out of drede. + + And if she were with childe at thilke cast, + Na-more sholde he pleyen thilke game + Til fully fourty dayes weren past; + Than wolde she ones suffre him do the same. 3480 + Al were this Odenake wilde or tame, (301) + He gat na-more of hir, for thus she seyde, + ‘It was to wyves lecherye and shame + In other cas, if that men with hem pleyde.’ + + 3481. E. Hn. Cm. Onedake; _rest_ Odenake. + + Two sones by this Odenake hadde she, 3485 + The whiche she kepte in vertu and lettrure; + But now un-to our tale turne we. + I seye, so worshipful a creature, + And wys therwith, and large with mesure, + So penible in the warre, and curteis eke, 3490 + Ne more labour mighte in werre endure, (311) + Was noon, thogh al this world men sholde seke. + + 3485. E. _om._ this. E. Hn. Cm. Onedake; _rest_ Odenake. 3492. E. + though; Hn. thogh. E. wolde; _rest_ sholde (schulde). + +[254: T. 14309-14340.] + + Hir riche array ne mighte nat be told + As wel in vessel as in hir clothing; + She was al clad in perree and in gold, 3495 + And eek she lafte noght, for noon hunting, + To have of sondry tonges ful knowing, + Whan that she leyser hadde, and for to entende + To lernen bokes was al hir lyking, + How she in vertu mighte hir lyf dispende. 3500 + + And, shortly of this storie for to trete, (321) + So doughty was hir housbonde and eek she, + That they conquered many regnes grete + In the orient, with many a fair citee, + Apertenaunt un-to the magestee 3505 + Of Rome, and with strong hond helde hem ful faste; + Ne never mighte hir fo-men doon hem flee, + Ay whyl that Odenakes dayes laste. + + 3501. E. proces; _rest_ storie. 3508. Hl. Odenakes; _rest_ Onedakes, + Odenake. + + Hir batailes, who-so list hem for to rede, + Agayn Sapor the king and othere mo, 3510 + And how that al this proces fil in dede, (331) + Why she conquered and what title had therto, + And after of hir meschief and hir wo, + How that she was biseged and y-take, + Let him un-to my maister Petrark go, 3515 + That writ y-nough of this, I undertake. + + 3511. E. _omits_ that. 3512. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. had; _which_ E. Hn. Cm. + _omit._ + + When Odenake was deed, she mightily + The regnes heeld, and with hir propre honde + Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly, + That ther nas king ne prince in al that londe 3520 + That he nas glad, if that he grace fonde, (341) + That she ne wolde up-on his lond werreye; + With hir they made alliaunce by bonde + To been in pees, and lete hir ryde and pleye. + + 3517. _So_ Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl.; E. Hn. Cm. Onedake. 3518. E. hond_e_; Pt. + honde; Ln. hande; _rest_ hond. 3523. _MSS._ made; _read_ maden? + +[255: T. 14341-14372.] + + The emperour of Rome, Claudius, 3525 + Ne him bifore, the Romayn Galien, + Ne dorste never been so corageous, + Ne noon Ermyn, ne noon Egipcien, + Ne Surrien, ne noon Arabien, + Within the feld that dorste with hir fighte 3530 + Lest that she wolde hem with hir hondes slen, (351) + Or with hir meynee putten hem to flighte. + + 3530. Cp. feeld; Hl. feld; Ln. felde; Pt. feelde; E. Hn. Cm. feeldes. + + In kinges habit wente hir sones two, + As heires of hir fadres regnes alle, + And Hermanno, and Thymalaö 3535 + Her names were, as Persiens hem calle. + But ay fortune hath in hir hony galle; + This mighty quene may no whyl endure. + Fortune out of hir regne made hir falle + To wrecchednesse and to misaventure. 3540 + + Aurelian, whan that the governaunce (361) + Of Rome cam in-to his hondes tweye, + He shoop up-on this queen to do vengeaunce, + And with his legiouns he took his weye + Toward Cenobie, and, shortly for to seye, 3545 + He made hir flee, and atte laste hir hente, + And fettred hir, and eek hir children tweye, + And wan the lond, and hoom to Rome he wente. + + Amonges othere thinges that he wan, + Hir char, that was with gold wrought and perree, 3550 + This grete Romayn, this Aurelian, (371) + Hath with him lad, for that men sholde it see. + Biforen his triumphe walketh she + With gilte cheynes on hir nekke hanging; + Corouned was she, as after hir degree, 3555 + And ful of perree charged hir clothing. + + 3553. _MSS._ Biforn, Bifore (Hl. Bifore this). 3555. E. _omits_ as. + +[256: T. 14373-14708.] + + Allas, fortune! she that whylom was + Dredful to kinges and to emperoures, + Now gaureth al the peple on hir, allas! + And she that helmed was in starke stoures, 3560 + And wan by force tounes stronge and toures, (381) + Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte; + And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures + Shal bere a distaf, hir cost for to quyte. [T. 14380. + + 3560. E. shoures. 3562. Hl. wyntermyte. 3564. Hn. Cm. Ln. cost; Pt. + coste; E. Cp. costes; Hl. self. + + (NERO _follows in_ T.; _see_ p. 259.) + + DE PETRO REGE ISPANNIE. + + O noble, o worthy Petro, glorie of Spayne, [T. 14685. + Whom fortune heeld so hy in magestee, 3566 + Wel oughten men thy pitous deeth complayne! + Out of thy lond thy brother made thee flee; + And after, at a sege, by subtiltee, + Thou were bitrayed, and lad un-to his tente, 3570 + Wher-as he with his owene hond slow thee, (391) + Succeding in thy regne and in thy rente. + + 3570. E. Hn. Cm. bitraysed. + + The feeld of snow, with thegle of blak ther-inne, [T. 14693. + Caught with the lymrod, coloured as the glede, + He brew this cursednes and al this sinne. 3575 + The ‘wikked nest’ was werker of this nede; + Noght Charles Oliver, that ay took hede + Of trouthe and honour, but of Armorike + Genilon Oliver, corrupt for mede, + Broghte this worthy king in swich a brike. 3580 + + 3577. E. Hn. Cm. took ay; _rest_ ay took. + + DE PETRO REGE DE CIPRO. + + O worthy Petro, king of Cypre, also, (401) + That Alisaundre wan by heigh maistrye, + Ful many a hethen wroghtestow ful wo, + Of which thyn owene liges hadde envye, + And, for no thing but for thy chivalrye, 3585 + They in thy bedde han slayn thee by the morwe. + Thus can fortune hir wheel governe and gye, + And out of Ioye bringe men to sorwe. [T. 14708. + +[257: T. 14709-14740.] + + DE BARNABO DE LUMBARDIA. + + Of Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte, + God of delyt, and scourge of Lumbardye, 3590 + Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte, (411) + Sith in estaat thou clombe were so hye? + Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye, + For he thy nevew was, and sone-in-lawe, + With-inne his prisoun made thee to dye; 3595 + But why, ne how, noot I that thou were slawe. + + DE HUGELINO, COMITE DE PIZE. + + Of the erl Hugelyn of Pyse the langour + Ther may no tonge telle for pitee; + But litel out of Pyse stant a tour, + In whiche tour in prisoun put was he, 3600 + And with him been his litel children three. (421) + The eldeste scarsly fyf yeer was of age. + Allas, fortune! it was greet crueltee + Swiche briddes for to putte in swiche a cage! + + 3597. E. Pyze; Hn. Pize; Cp. Pyse; Pt. Ln. Hl. Pise. 3599. E. Hn. Cm. + Pize; Cp. Pyse; Pt. Ln. Hl. Pise. + + Dampned was he to deye in that prisoun, 3605 + For Roger, which that bisshop was of Pyse, + Hadde on him maad a fals suggestioun, + Thurgh which the peple gan upon him ryse, + And putten him to prisoun in swich wyse + As ye han herd, and mete and drink he hadde 3610 + So smal, that wel unnethe it may suffyse, (431) + And therwith-al it was ful povre and badde. + + 3606. E. Hn. Pize; Cm. Pyze; Cp. Pyse; Pt. Ln. Hl. Pise. 3611. E. Pt. + _omit_ wel. + + And on a day bifil that, in that hour, + Whan that his mete wont was to be broght, + The gayler shette the dores of the tour. 3615 + He herde it wel,—but he spak right noght, + And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght, + That they for hunger wolde doon him dyen. + ‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘allas! that I was wroght!’ + Therwith the teres fillen from his yën. 3620 + + 3616. E. Hn. spak right; Cp. Hl. saugh it; Pt. seegh it; Ln. sawe it. + +[258: T. 14741-14772.] + + His yonge sone, that three yeer was of age, (441) + Un-to him seyde, ‘fader, why do ye wepe? + Whan wol the gayler bringen our potage, + Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe? + I am so hungry that I may nat slepe, 3625 + Now wolde god that I mighte slepen ever! + Than sholde nat hunger in my wombe crepe; + Ther is no thing, save breed, that me were lever.’ + + 3622. E. Hn. _repeat_ fader. 3628. Ln. Hl. saue; Cp. Pt. sauf; E. Hn. + but. + + Thus day by day this child bigan to crye, + Til in his fadres barme adoun it lay, 3630 + And seyde, ‘far-wel, fader, I moot dye,’ (451) + And kiste his fader, and deyde the same day. + And whan the woful fader deed it sey, + For wo his armes two he gan to byte, + And seyde, ‘allas, fortune! and weylaway! 3635 + Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte!’ + + 3632. E. Hl. dyde; Hn. Cp. deyde; _see_ l. 3644. + + His children wende that it for hunger was + That he his armes gnow, and nat for wo, + And seyde, ‘fader, do nat so, allas! + But rather eet the flesh upon us two; 3640 + Our flesh thou yaf us, tak our flesh us fro (461) + And eet y-nough:’ right thus they to him seyde, + And after that, with-in a day or two, + They leyde hem in his lappe adoun, and deyde. + + 3640. E. flessh. 3641. E. flessh. E. Hn. _omit_ vs _after_ yaf. + + Him-self, despeired, eek for hunger starf; 3645 + Thus ended is this mighty Erl of Pyse; + From heigh estaat fortune awey him carf. + Of this Tragedie it oghte y-nough suffyse. + Who-so wol here it in a lenger wyse, + Redeth the grete poete of Itaille, 3650 + That highte Dant, for he can al devyse (471) + Fro point to point, nat o word wol he faille. [T. 14772. + + 3646. _See note to _ l. 3597. + +[259: T. 14381-14412.] (_For_ T. 14773, _see_ p. 269; _for_ T. 14380, _see_ +p. 256.) + + NERO. + + Al-though that Nero were as vicious [T. 14381. + As any feend that lyth ful lowe adoun, + Yet he, as telleth us Swetonius, 3655 + This wyde world hadde in subieccioun, + Both Est and West, South and Septemtrioun; + Of rubies, saphires, and of perles whyte + Were alle his clothes brouded up and doun; + For he in gemmes greetly gan delyte. 3660 + + 3653. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ as. 3654. E. in helle; _rest_ full lowe. + 3657. E. Hn. Cm. North (_but read_ South); Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl _omit_! + + More delicat, more pompous of array, (481) + More proud was never emperour than he; + That ilke cloth, that he had wered o day, + After that tyme he nolde it never see. + Nettes of gold-thred hadde he gret plentee 3665 + To fisshe in Tybre, whan him liste pleye. + His lustes were al lawe in his decree, + For fortune as his freend him wolde obeye. + + He Rome brende for his delicacye; + The senatours he slow up-on a day. 3670 + To here how men wolde wepe and crye; (491) + And slow his brother, and by his sister lay. + His moder made he in pitous array; + For he hir wombe slitte, to biholde + Wher he conceyved was; so weilawey! 3675 + That he so litel of his moder tolde! + + 3673, 6. E. mooder. + + No tere out of his yën for that sighte + Ne cam, but seyde, ‘a fair womman was she.’ + Gret wonder is, how that he coude or mighte + Be domesman of hir dede beautee. 3680 + The wyn to bringen him comaunded he, (501) + And drank anon; non other wo he made. + Whan might is Ioyned un-to crueltee, + Allas! to depe wol the venim wade! + + 3682. E. noon oother. + +[260: T. 14413-14444.] + + In youthe a maister hadde this emperour, 3685 + To teche him letterure and curteisye, + For of moralitee he was the flour, + As in his tyme, but-if bokes lye; + And whyl this maister hadde of him maistrye, + He maked him so conning and so souple 3690 + That longe tyme it was er tirannye (511) + Or any vyce dorste on him uncouple. + + This Seneca, of which that I devyse, + By-cause Nero hadde of him swich drede, + For he fro vyces wolde him ay chastyse 3695 + Discreetly as by worde and nat by dede;— + ‘Sir,’ wolde he seyn, ‘an emperour moot nede + Be vertuous, and hate tirannye’— + For which he in a bath made him to blede + On bothe his armes, til he moste dye. 3700 + + 3694. Cm. Bycause that. 3695. Hn. Cm. ay; _rest omit._ [3699. + _Misnumbered_ 520 _in the_ Aldine Edition; _but corrected further on._] + + This Nero hadde eek of acustumaunce (521) + In youthe ageyn his maister for to ryse, + Which afterward him thoughte a greet grevaunce; + Therfor he made him deyen in this wyse. + But natheles this Seneca the wyse 3705 + Chees in a bath to deye in this manere + Rather than han another tormentyse; + And thus hath Nero slayn his maister dere. + + 3703. E. (_only_) _omits_ a. 3707. E. any oother. + + Now fil it so that fortune list no lenger + The hye pryde of Nero to cheryce; 3710 + For though that he were strong, yet was she strenger; (531) + She thoughte thus, ‘by god, I am to nyce + To sette a man that is fulfild of vyce + In heigh degree, and emperour him calle. + By god, out of his sete I wol him tryce; 3715 + When he leest weneth, sonest shal he falle.’ + + 3711. E. Hn. was; _the rest_ were. + +[261: T. 14445-14476.] + + The peple roos up-on him on a night + For his defaute, and whan he it espyed, + Out of his dores anon he hath him dight + Alone, and, ther he wende han ben allyed, 3720 + He knokked faste, and ay, the more he cryed, (541) + The faster shette they the dores alle; + Tho wiste he wel he hadde him-self misgyed, + And wente his wey, no lenger dorste he calle. + + 3723. E. Hn. _wrongly repeat_ l. 3731 _here._ + + The peple cryde and rombled up and doun, 3725 + That with his eres herde he how they seyde, + ‘Wher is this false tyraunt, this Neroun?’ + For fere almost out of his wit he breyde, + And to his goddes pitously he preyde + For socour, but it mighte nat bityde. 3730 + For drede of this, him thoughte that he deyde, (551) + And ran in-to a gardin, him to hyde. + + And in this gardin fond he cherles tweye + That seten by a fyr ful greet and reed, + And to thise cherles two he gan to preye 3735 + To sleen him, and to girden of his heed, + That to his body, whan that he were deed, + Were no despyt y-doon, for his defame. + Him-self he slow, he coude no better reed, + Of which fortune lough, and hadde a game. 3740 + + 3733. E. Hn. foond. 3734. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ ful. + + DE OLOFERNO (HOLOFERNES). + + Was never capitayn under a king (561) + That regnes mo putte in subieccioun, + Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thing, + As in his tyme, ne gretter of renoun, + Ne more pompous in heigh presumpcioun 3745 + Than Oloferne, which fortune ay kiste + So likerously, and ladde him up and doun + Til that his heed was of, er that he wiste. + + [262: T. 14477-14508.] + Nat only that this world hadde him in awe + For lesinge of richesse or libertee, 3750 + But he made every man reneye his lawe. (571) + ‘Nabugodonosor was god,’ seyde he, + ‘Noon other god sholde adoured be.’ + Ageyns his heste no wight dar trespace + Save in Bethulia, a strong citee, 3755 + Wher Eliachim a prest was of that place. + + 3751. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _omit_ he. 3753. E. Hn. Cm. adoured; Cp. Pt. Ln. + Hl. honoured. 3754. E. Hn. dorste; _rest_ dar. + + But tak kepe of the deeth of Olofern; + Amidde his host he dronke lay a night, + With-inne his tente, large as is a bern, + And yit, for al his pompe and al his might, 3760 + Iudith, a womman, as he lay upright, (581) + Sleping, his heed of smoot, and from his tente + Ful prively she stal from every wight, + And with his heed unto hir toun she wente. + + DE REGE ANTHIOCHO ILLUSTRI. + + What nedeth it of King Anthiochus 3765 + To telle his hye royal magestee, + His hye pryde, his werkes venimous? + For swich another was ther noon as he. + Rede which that he was in Machabee, + And rede the proude wordes that he seyde, 3770 + And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee, (591) + And in an hil how wrechedly he deyde. + + Fortune him hadde enhaunced so in pryde + That verraily he wende he mighte attayne + Unto the sterres, upon every syde, 3775 + And in balance weyen ech montayne, + And alle the flodes of the see restrayne. + And goddes peple hadde he most in hate, + Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne, + Wening that god ne mighte his pryde abate. 3780 + + 3777. Cm. flodys; _rest_ floodes. 3778. E. Hn. moost. + +[263: T. 14509-14540.] + + And for that Nichanor and Thimothee (601) + Of Iewes weren venquisshed mightily, + Unto the Iewes swich an hate hadde he + That he bad greithe his char ful hastily, + And swoor, and seyde, ful despitously, 3785 + Unto Ierusalem he wolde eft-sone, + To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly; + But of his purpos he was let ful sone. + + 3784. E. greithen; Hn. greithe; Cm. ordeyne. E. Hn. chaar; Cm. char. + + God for his manace him so sore smoot + With invisible wounde, ay incurable, 3790 + That in his guttes carf it so and boot (611) + That his peynes weren importable. + And certeinly, the wreche was resonable, + For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne; + But from his purpos cursed and dampnable 3795 + For al his smert he wolde him nat restreyne; + + But bad anon apparaillen his host, + And sodeynly, er he of it was war, + God daunted al his pryde and al his bost. + For he so sore fil out of his char, 3800 + That it his limes and his skin to-tar, (621) + So that he neither mighte go ne ryde, + But in a chayer men aboute him bar, + Al for-brused, bothe bak and syde. + + 3797, 9. E. hoost, boost. 3801. E. lemes; Hn. Cp. Hl. lymes; Cm. + lymys; Ln. limes. + + The wreche of god him smoot so cruelly 3805 + That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte; + And ther-with-al he stank so horribly, + That noon of al his meynee that him kepte, + Whether so he wook or elles slepte, + Ne mighte noght for stink of him endure. 3810 + In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte, (631) + And knew god lord of every creature. + + 3807. E. _om._ so; E. horriblely. 3809. E. Hn. Cm. so; Pt. Hl. that; + Cp. Ln. so that. 3810. E. Hn. for; _rest_ the. + +[264: T. 14541-14572.] + + To al his host and to him-self also + Ful wlatsom was the stink of his careyne; + No man ne mighte him bere to ne fro. 3815 + And in this stink and this horrible peyne + He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne. + Thus hath this robbour and this homicyde, + That many a man made to wepe and pleyne, + Swich guerdon as bilongeth unto pryde. 3820 + + DE ALEXANDRO. + + The storie of Alisaundre is so comune, (641) + That every wight that hath discrecioun + Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune. + This wyde world, as in conclusioun, + He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun 3825 + They weren glad for pees un-to him sende. + The pryde of man and beste he leyde adoun, + Wher-so he cam, un-to the worldes ende. + + 3827. beste] Hl. bost. + + Comparisoun might never yit be maked + Bitwixe him and another conquerour; 3830 + For al this world for drede of him hath quaked, (651) + He was of knighthode and of fredom flour; + Fortune him made the heir of hir honour; + Save wyn and wommen, no-thing mighte aswage + His hye entente in armes and labour; 3835 + So was he ful of leonyn corage. + + 3830. E. Hn. Bitwixen. 3832. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ was. 3834. E. man: + _rest_ thing. + + What preys were it to him, though I yow tolde + Of Darius, and an hundred thousand mo, + Of kinges, princes, erles, dukes bolde, + Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem in-to wo? 3840 + I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go, (661) + The world was his, what sholde I more devyse? + For though I write or tolde you evermo + Of his knighthode, it mighte nat suffyse. + + 3837. Cm. preys; E. Hn. pris: Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. pite. 3843. Hl. + _omits._ + +[265: T. 14573-14604.] + + Twelf yeer he regned, as seith Machabee; 3845 + Philippes sone of Macedoyne he was, + That first was king in Grece the contree. + O worthy gentil Alisaundre, allas! + That ever sholde fallen swich a cas! + Empoisoned of thyn owene folk thou were; 3850 + Thy _sys_ fortune hath turned into _as;_ (671) + And yit for thee ne weep she never a tere! + + 3851. E. Hn. Cm. aas; Cp. Pt. Hl. an aas; Ln. an as. 3852. E. Hn. Cm. + _omit_ yit; Hl. _has_ right. + + Who shal me yeven teres to compleyne + The deeth of gentillesse and of fraunchyse, + That al the world welded in his demeyne, 3855 + And yit him thoughte it mighte nat suffyse? + So ful was his corage of heigh empryse. + Allas! who shal me helpe to endyte + False fortune, and poison to despyse, + The whiche two of al this wo I wyte? 3860 + + DE IULIO CESARE. + + By wisdom, manhede, and by greet labour (681) + Fro humble bed to royal magestee, + Up roos he, Iulius the conquerour, + That wan al thoccident by lond and see, + By strengthe of hond, or elles by tretee, 3865 + And un-to Rome made hem tributarie; + And sitthe of Rome the emperour was he, + Til that fortune wex his adversarie. + + 3861. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_ greet. 3862. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. humble bed; + Pt. Cp. Ln. humblehede. + + O mighty Cesar, that in Thessalye + Ageyn Pompeius, fader thyn in lawe, 3870 + That of thorient hadde al the chivalrye (691) + As fer as that the day biginneth dawe, + Thou thurgh thy knighthode hast hem take and slawe, + Save fewe folk that with Pompeius fledde, + Thurgh which thou puttest al thorient in awe. 3875 + Thanke fortune, that so wel thee spedde! + + 3870. _MSS._ Pompeus, Pompius. + +[266: T. 14605-14636.] + + But now a litel whyl I wol biwaille + This Pompeius, this noble governour + Of Rome, which that fleigh at this bataille; + I seye, oon of his men, a fals traitour, 3880 + His heed of smoot, to winnen him favour (701) + Of Iulius, and him the heed he broghte. + Allas, Pompey, of thorient conquerour, + That fortune unto swich a fyn thee broghte! + + [3881. _Misnumbered_ 700 _in the_ Aldine edition.] + + To Rome ageyn repaireth Iulius 3885 + With his triumphe, laureat ful hye, + But on a tyme Brutus Cassius, + That ever hadde of his hye estaat envye, + Ful prively hath maad conspiracye + Ageins this Iulius, in subtil wyse, 3890 + And cast the place, in whiche he sholde dye (711) + With boydekins, as I shal yow devyse. + + 3887. _So in the MSS.; observe_ hath _in l._ 3889. + + This Iulius to the Capitolie wente + Upon a day, as he was wont to goon, + And in the Capitolie anon him hente 3895 + This false Brutus, and his othere foon, + And stikede him with boydekins anoon + With many a wounde, and thus they lete him lye; + But never gronte he at no strook but oon, + Or elles at two, but-if his storie lye. 3900 + + So manly was this Iulius at herte (721) + And so wel lovede estaatly honestee, + That, though his deedly woundes sore smerte, + His mantel over his hippes casteth he, + For no man sholde seen his privitee. 3905 + And, as he lay on deying in a traunce, + And wiste verraily that deed was he, + Of honestee yit hadde he remembraunce. + + 3904. Cm. castyth; _rest_ caste, cast. 3906. Cm. on deyinge; Pt. on + dyinge; Ln. in deynge; E. Hn. of dyyng. + +[267: T. 14637-14668.] + + Lucan, to thee this storie I recomende, + And to Sweton, and to Valerie also, 3910 + That of this storie wryten word and ende, (731) + How that to thise grete conqueroures two + Fortune was first freend, and sithen fo. + No man ne truste up-on hir favour longe, + But have hir in awayt for ever-mo. 3915 + Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures stronge. + + 3910. Hl. Valirien; _rest_ Valerius; ed. 1561, Valerie. 3911. _The + MSS. have_ word (_for_ ord); _see the note._ 3913. E. sitthe; Hl. + siththen; Hn. Cm. siththe a. + + CRESUS. + + This riche Cresus, whylom king of Lyde, + Of whiche Cresus Cyrus sore him dradde, + Yit was he caught amiddes al his pryde, + And to be brent men to the fyr him ladde. 3920 + But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde (741) + That slow the fyr, and made him to escape; + But to be war no grace yet he hadde, + Til fortune on the galwes made him gape. + + Whan he escaped was, he can nat stente 3925 + For to biginne a newe werre agayn. + He wende wel, for that fortune him sente + Swich hap, that he escaped thurgh the rayn, + That of his foos he mighte nat be slayn; + And eek a sweven up-on a night he mette, 3930 + Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn, (751) + That in vengeaunce he al his herte sette. + + Up-on a tree he was, as that him thoughte, + Ther Iuppiter him wesh, bothe bak and syde, + And Phebus eek a fair towaille him broughte 3935 + To drye him with, and ther-for wex his pryde; + And to his doghter, that stood him bisyde, + Which that he knew in heigh science habounde, + He bad hir telle him what it signifyde, + And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde. 3940 + + 3936. Cm. Pt. Ln. wex; _rest_ wax. + +[268: T. 14669-14684.] + + ‘The tree,’ quod she, ‘the galwes is to mene, (761) + And Iuppiter bitokneth snow and reyn, + And Phebus, with his towaille so clene, + Tho ben the sonne stremes for to seyn; + Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn; 3945 + Reyn shal thee wasshe, and sonne shal thee drye;’ + Thus warned she him ful plat and ful pleyn, + His doughter, which that called was Phanye. + + 3944. E. bemes; _rest_ stremes. 3947. Pt. Ln. Hl. she; _rest omit_. + + Anhanged was Cresus, the proude king, + His royal trone mighte him nat availle.— 3950 + Tragedie is noon other maner thing, (771) + Ne can in singing crye ne biwaille, + But for that fortune alwey wol assaille + With unwar strook the regnes that ben proude; + For when men trusteth hir, than wol she faille, 3955 + And covere hir brighte face with a cloude. [See p. 256. + + _Explicit Tragedia_. + + =Here stinteth the Knight the Monk of his Tale.= + + 3951. Cm. Tragedy is; _so_ Cp. Pt.; Ln. Tregedrye in; E. Hn. Tragedies; + Hl. Tegredis(!). 3953. Cm. Hl. for; _rest omit_. [3956. _Reckoned + as 775 in the_ Aldine edition; _but really_ 776.] _After l._ 3956, E. + Hn. Cm. _have_ ll. 3565-3652. COLOPHON. _From_ E. Hn. Here is ended + the Monkes tale. + +[269: T. 14773-14798.] + + * * * * * + +THE PROLOGUE OF THE NONNE PRESTES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =The prologue of the Nonne Preestes Tale.= + + ‘Ho!’ quod the knight, ‘good sir, na-more of this, + That ye han seyd is right y-nough, y-wis, + And mochel more; for litel hevinesse + Is right y-nough to mochel folk, I gesse. 3960 + I seye for me, it is a greet disese + Wher-as men han ben in greet welthe and ese, + To heren of hir sodeyn fal, allas! + And the contrarie is Ioie and greet solas, + As whan a man hath been in povre estaat, 3965 + And clymbeth up, and wexeth fortunat, (10) + And ther abydeth in prosperitee, + Swich thing is gladsom, as it thinketh me, + And of swich thing were goodly for to telle.’ + ‘Ye,’ quod our hoste, ‘by seint Poules belle, 3970 + Ye seye right sooth; this monk, he clappeth loude, + He spak how “fortune covered with a cloude” + I noot never what, and als of a “Tragedie” + Right now ye herde, and parde! no remedie + It is for to biwaille, ne compleyne 3975 + That that is doon, and als it is a peyne, (20) + As ye han seyd, to here of hevinesse. + Sir monk, na-more of this, so god yow blesse! + Your tale anoyeth al this companye; + Swich talking is nat worth a boterflye; 3980 + For ther-in is ther no desport ne game. + Wherfor, sir Monk, or dan Piers by your name, + [270: T. 14799-14826.] + I preye yow hertely, telle us somwhat elles, + For sikerly, nere clinking of your belles, + That on your brydel hange on every syde, 3985 + By heven king, that for us alle dyde, (30) + I sholde er this han fallen doun for slepe, + Although the slough had never been so depe; + Than had your tale al be told in vayn. + For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn, 3990 + “Wher-as a man may have noon audience, + Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence.” + And wel I woot the substance is in me, + If any thing shal wel reported be. + Sir, sey somwhat of hunting, I yow preye.’ 3995 + ‘Nay,’ quod this monk, ‘I have no lust to pleye; (40) + Now let another telle, as I have told.’ + Than spak our host, with rude speche and bold, + And seyde un-to the Nonnes Preest anon, + ‘Com neer, thou preest, com hider, thou sir Iohn, 4000 + Tel us swich thing as may our hertes glade, + Be blythe, though thou ryde up-on a Iade. + What though thyn hors be bothe foule and lene, + If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene; + Look that thyn herte be mery evermo.’ 4005 + ‘Yis, sir,’ quod he, ‘yis, host, so mote I go, (50) + But I be mery, y-wis, I wol be blamed:‘— + And right anon his tale he hath attamed, + And thus he seyde un-to us everichon, + This swete preest, this goodly man, sir Iohn. 4010 + + _Explicit._ + + 3982. Pt. or; Hn. o; _rest omit._ 4002. though] Hl. al-though. + 4004. Pt. Hl. rek. 4005. E. Hn. murie; _rest_ mery. 4006. Cp. Ln. + Yis, ost, quod he, so mote I ryde or go. + +[271: T. 14827-14852.] + + * * * * * + +THE NONNE PREESTES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Nonne Preestes Tale of the Cok + and Hen, Chauntecleer and Pertelote.= + + A povre widwe, somdel stope in age, + Was whylom dwelling in a narwe cotage, + Bisyde a grove, stonding in a dale. + This widwe, of which I telle yow my tale, + Sin thilke day that she was last a wyf, 4015 + In pacience ladde a ful simple lyf, + For litel was hir catel and hir rente; + By housbondrye, of such as God hir sente, + She fond hir-self, and eek hir doghtren two. + Three large sowes hadde she, and namo, 4020 + Three kyn, and eek a sheep that highte Malle. (11) + Ful sooty was hir bour, and eek hir halle, + In which she eet ful many a sclendre meel. + Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a deel. + No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte; 4025 + Hir dyete was accordant to hir cote. + Repleccioun ne made hir never syk; + Attempree dyete was al hir phisyk, + And exercyse, and hertes suffisaunce. + The goute lette hir no-thing for to daunce, 4030 + Napoplexye shente nat hir heed; (21) + No wyn ne drank she, neither whyt ne reed; + Hir bord was served most with whyt and blak, + Milk and broun breed, in which she fond no lak, + Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or tweye, 4035 + For she was as it were a maner deye. + + 4011. E. Hn. stape; Ln. stoupe; _rest_ stope. 4013. E. grene. 4021. + E. keen; Hn. Hl. Cp. kyn. 4031. E. Hn. Napoplexie; _rest_ Ne + poplexie. + +[272: T. 14853-14887.] + + A yerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute + With stikkes, and a drye dich with-oute, + In which she hadde a cok, hight Chauntecleer, + In al the land of crowing nas his peer. 4040 + His vois was merier than the mery orgon (31) + On messe-dayes that in the chirche gon; + Wel sikerer was his crowing in his logge, + Than is a clokke, or an abbey orlogge. + By nature knew he ech ascencioun 4045 + Of equinoxial in thilke toun; + For whan degrees fiftene were ascended, + Thanne crew he, that it mighte nat ben amended. + His comb was redder than the fyn coral, + And batailed, as it were a castel-wal. 4050 + His bile was blak, and as the Ieet it shoon; (41) + Lyk asur were his legges, and his toon; + His nayles whytter than the lilie flour, + And lyk the burned gold was his colour. + This gentil cok hadde in his governaunce 4055 + Sevene hennes, for to doon al his plesaunce, + Whiche were his sustres and his paramours, + And wonder lyk to him, as of colours. + Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir throte + Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote. 4060 + Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire, (51) + And compaignable, and bar hir-self so faire, + Sin thilke day that she was seven night old, + That trewely she hath the herte in hold + Of Chauntecleer loken in every lith; 4065 + He loved hir so, that wel was him therwith. + But such a Ioye was it to here hem singe, + Whan that the brighte sonne gan to springe, + In swete accord, ‘my lief is faren in londe.’ + For thilke tyme, as I have understonde, 4070 + Bestes and briddes coude speke and singe. (61) + + 4039. E. Hn. heet; Cp. that highte; _rest_ that hight. 4041. E. Hn. + Cm. murier. E. Cm. murie. 4045. Hl. knew he; E. Pt. he crew; _rest_ + he knew. 4046. E. Ln. _ins._ the _after_ Of. 4051. Hl. geet; Pt. + Ln. gete. 4054. Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln. burnischt. 4062. Hl. ful (_for_ + so). 4068. E. Cm. Ln. bigan. + +[273: T. 14888-14924.] + + And so bifel, that in a daweninge, + As Chauntecleer among his wyves alle + Sat on his perche, that was in the halle, + And next him sat this faire Pertelote, 4075 + This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte, + As man that in his dreem is drecched sore. + And whan that Pertelote thus herde him rore, + She was agast, and seyde, ‘O herte dere, + What eyleth yow, to grone in this manere? 4080 + Ye been a verray sleper, fy for shame!’ (71) + And he answerde and seyde thus, ‘madame, + I pray yow, that ye take it nat a-grief: + By god, me mette I was in swich meschief + Right now, that yet myn herte is sore afright. 4085 + Now god,’ quod he, ‘my swevene recche aright, + And keep my body out of foul prisoun! + Me mette, how that I romed up and doun + Withinne our yerde, wher-as I saugh a beste, + Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areste 4090 + Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed. (81) + His colour was bitwixe yelwe and reed; + And tipped was his tail, and bothe his eres, + With blak, unlyk the remenant of his heres; + His snowte smal, with glowinge eyen tweye. 4095 + Yet of his look for fere almost I deye; + This caused me my groning, doutelees.’ + + 4072. a] E. Pt. the. 4079. E. o; _rest om._ 4084. mette] E. + thoughte. 4086. E. Hn. recche; Cm. reche; _rest_ rede, reed. 4091. + E. Hn. Cm. _om._ wolde. + + ‘Avoy!’ quod she, ‘fy on yow, hertelees! + Allas!’ quod she, ‘for, by that god above, + Now han ye lost myn herte and al my love; 4100 + I can nat love a coward, by my feith. (91) + For certes, what so any womman seith, + We alle desyren, if it mighte be, + To han housbondes hardy, wyse, and free, + And secree, and no nigard, ne no fool, 4105 + Ne him that is agast of every tool, + Ne noon avauntour, by that god above! + How dorste ye seyn for shame unto your love, + [274: T. 14925-14960.] + That any thing mighte make yow aferd? + Have ye no mannes herte, and han a berd? 4110 + Allas! and conne ye been agast of swevenis? (101) + No-thing, god wot, but vanitee, in sweven is. + Swevenes engendren of replecciouns, + And ofte of fume, and of complecciouns, + Whan humours been to habundant in a wight. 4115 + Certes this dreem, which ye han met to-night, + Cometh of the grete superfluitee + Of youre rede _colera_, pardee, + Which causeth folk to dreden in here dremes + Of arwes, and of fyr with rede lemes, 4120 + Of grete bestes, that they wol hem byte, (111) + Of contek, and of whelpes grete and lyte; + Right as the humour of malencolye + Causeth ful many a man, in sleep, to crye, + For fere of blake beres, or boles blake, 4125 + Or elles, blake develes wole hem take. + Of othere humours coude I telle also, + That werken many a man in sleep ful wo; + But I wol passe as lightly as I can. + + 4117. E. _om._ the, _and has_ greet. 4119. E. Hn. Cm. dreden; _rest_ + dremen; _see_ 4159. 4121. E. grete; _rest_ rede. 4125. _So_ E. Hn. + Cm.; Cp. of beres and of boles; Ln. Pt. of beres and boles; Hl. of + beres or of boles. + + Lo Catoun, which that was so wys a man, 4130 + Seyde he nat thus, ne do no fors of dremes? (121) + Now, sire,’ quod she, ‘whan we flee fro the bemes, + For Goddes love, as tak som laxatyf; + Up peril of my soule, and of my lyf, + I counseille yow the beste, I wol nat lye, 4135 + That bothe of colere and of malencolye + Ye purge yow; and for ye shul nat tarie, + Though in this toun is noon apotecarie, + I shal my-self to herbes techen yow, + That shul ben for your hele, and for your prow; 4140 + And in our yerd tho herbes shal I finde, (131) + The whiche han of hir propretee, by kinde, + To purgen yow binethe, and eek above. + Forget not this, for goddes owene love! + [275: T. 14961-14996.] + Ye been ful colerik of compleccioun. 4145 + Ware the sonne in his ascencioun + Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours hote; + And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote, + That ye shul have a fevere terciane, + Or an agu, that may be youre bane. 4150 + A day or two ye shul have digestyves (141) + Of wormes, er ye take your laxatyves, + Of lauriol, centaure, and fumetere, + Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there, + Of catapuce, or of gaytres beryis, 4155 + Of erbe yve, growing in our yerd, that mery is; + Pekke hem up right as they growe, and ete hem in. + Be mery, housbond, for your fader kin! + Dredeth no dreem; I can say yow na-more.’ + + 4132. E. ye; _rest_ we. 4136, 7. Hl. _om._ 4155. Cp. Ln. gaytres; + E. gaitrys; Hn. gaytrys; Hl. gaytre; Cm. gattris; Pt. gatys. 4156. + Ln. that; Hn. they; _rest_ ther. + + ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘_graunt mercy_ of your lore. 4160 + But nathelees, as touching daun Catoun, (151) + That hath of wisdom such a greet renoun, + Though that he bad no dremes for to drede, + By god, men may in olde bokes rede + Of many a man, more of auctoritee 4165 + Than ever Catoun was, so mote I thee, + Than al the revers seyn of his sentence, + And han wel founden by experience, + That dremes ben significaciouns, + As wel of Ioye as tribulaciouns 4170 + That folk enduren in this lyf present. (161) + Ther nedeth make of this noon argument; + The verray preve sheweth it in dede. + + 4166. Hn. Cm. Cp. mote; E. moot. 4167. his] E. Pt. this. 4170. E. + Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. _ins._ of _after_ as. + + Oon of the gretteste auctours that men rede + Seith thus, that whylom two felawes wente 4175 + On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente; + And happed so, thay come into a toun, + Wher-as ther was swich congregacioun + Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage, + That they ne founde as muche as o cotage, 4180 + [276: T. 14997-15033.] + In which they bothe mighte y-logged be. (171) + Wherfor thay mosten, of necessitee, + As for that night, departen compaignye; + And ech of hem goth to his hostelrye, + And took his logging as it wolde falle. 4185 + That oon of hem was logged in a stalle, + Fer in a yerd, with oxen of the plough; + That other man was logged wel y-nough, + As was his aventure, or his fortune, + That us governeth alle as in commune. 4190 + + 4174. Cm. autourys; Hl. auctorite; _rest_ auctour (_sic_). 4177. E. + Hn. coomen in; Cm. comyn in. 4181. E. logged. + + And so bifel, that, longe er it were day, (181) + This man mette in his bed, ther-as he lay, + How that his felawe gan up-on him calle, + And seyde, ‘allas! for in an oxes stalle + This night I shal be mordred ther I lye. 4195 + Now help me, dere brother, er I dye; + In alle haste com to me,’ he sayde. + This man out of his sleep for fere abrayde; + But whan that he was wakned of his sleep, + He turned him, and took of this no keep; 4200 + Him thoughte his dreem nas but a vanitee. (191) + Thus twyës in his sleping dremed he. + And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe + Cam, as him thoughte, and seide, ‘I am now slawe; + Bihold my blody woundes, depe and wyde! 4205 + Arys up erly in the morwe-tyde, + And at the west gate of the toun,’ quod he, + ‘A carte ful of donge ther shaltow see, + In which my body is hid ful prively; + Do thilke carte aresten boldely. 4210 + My gold caused my mordre, sooth to sayn;’ (201) + And tolde him every poynt how he was slayn, + With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe. + And truste wel, his dreem he fond ful trewe; + For on the morwe, as sone as it was day, 4215 + To his felawes in he took the way; + And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle, + [277: T. 15034-15069.] + After his felawe he bigan to calle. + + 4194. Hl. Cp. Ln. oxe. 4196. er] Ln. ar; E. Hn. Hl. or. 4200. E. + it; _rest_ this. 4210. E. arresten. 4217. Hl. Cp. Ln. oxe. + + The hostiler answered him anon, + And seyde, ‘sire, your felawe is agon, 4220 + As sone as day he wente out of the toun.’ (211) + This man gan fallen in suspecioun, + Remembring on his dremes that he mette, + And forth he goth, no lenger wolde he lette, + Unto the west gate of the toun, and fond 4225 + A dong-carte, as it were to donge lond, + That was arrayed in the same wyse + As ye han herd the dede man devyse; + And with an hardy herte he gan to crye + Vengeaunce and Iustice of this felonye:— 4230 + ‘My felawe mordred is this same night, (221) + And in this carte he lyth gapinge upright. + I crye out on the ministres,’ quod he, + ‘That sholden kepe and reulen this citee; + Harrow! allas! her lyth my felawe slayn!’ 4235 + What sholde I more un-to this tale sayn? + The peple out-sterte, and caste the cart to grounde, + And in the middel of the dong they founde + The dede man, that mordred was al newe. + + 4219. Cp. Hl. answered; E. Hn. answerde. 4222. Hl. _ins._ a _after_ + in; Cp. Pt. Ln. _ins._ gret (grete). 4226. Hn. Cm. Hl. wente as it + were; Cp. Pt. Ln. as he wente. 4232. E. Hn. Cm. _ins._ heere _after_ + carte. + + O blisful god, that art so Iust and trewe! 4240 + Lo, how that thou biwreyest mordre alway! (231) + Mordre wol out, that see we day by day. + Mordre is so wlatsom and abhominable + To god, that is so Iust and resonable, + That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be; 4245 + Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or three, + Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun. + And right anoon, ministres of that toun + Han hent the carter, and so sore him pyned, + And eek the hostiler so sore engyned, 4250 + That thay biknewe hir wikkednesse anoon, (241) + And were an-hanged by the nekke-boon. + + 4247. E. Hn. Cm. this (this is _being pronounced_ this); _rest_ this + is. 4248. Hl. _ins._ the _after_ anoon. + + Here may men seen that dremes been to drede. + [278: T. 15070-15105.] + And certes, in the same book I rede, + Right in the nexte chapitre after this, 4255 + (I gabbe nat, so have I Ioye or blis,) + Two men that wolde han passed over see, + For certeyn cause, in-to a fer contree, + If that the wind ne hadde been contrarie, + That made hem in a citee for to tarie, 4260 + That stood ful mery upon an haven-syde. (251) + But on a day, agayn the even-tyde, + The wind gan chaunge, and blew right as hem leste. + Iolif and glad they wente un-to hir reste, + And casten hem ful erly for to saille; 4265 + But to that oo man fil a greet mervaille. + That oon of hem, in sleping as he lay, + Him mette a wonder dreem, agayn the day; + Him thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde, + And him comaunded, that he sholde abyde, 4270 + And seyde him thus, ‘if thou to-morwe wende, (261) + Thou shalt be dreynt; my tale is at an ende.’ + He wook, and tolde his felawe what he mette, + And preyde him his viage for to lette; + As for that day, he preyde him to abyde. 4275 + His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde, + Gan for to laughe, and scorned him ful faste. + ‘No dreem,’ quod he, ‘may so myn herte agaste, + That I wol lette for to do my thinges. + I sette not a straw by thy dreminges, 4280 + For swevenes been but vanitees and Iapes. (271) + Men dreme al-day of owles or of apes, + And eke of many a mase therwithal; + Men dreme of thing that nevere was ne shal. + But sith I see that thou wolt heer abyde, 4285 + And thus for-sleuthen wilfully thy tyde, + God wot it reweth me; and have good day.’ + And thus he took his leve, and wente his way. + But er that he hadde halfe his cours y-seyled, + [279: T. 15106-15141.] + Noot I nat why, ne what mischaunce it eyled, 4290 + But casuelly the shippes botme rente, (281) + And ship and man under the water wente + In sighte of othere shippes it byside, + That with hem seyled at the same tyde. + And therfor, faire Pertelote so dere, 4295 + By swiche ensamples olde maistow lere, + That no man sholde been to recchelees + Of dremes, for I sey thee, doutelees, + That many a dreem ful sore is for to drede. + + 4256. Cp. Ln. and (_for_ or). 4266. _All ins._ herkneth (herken) + _after_ But. 4274. E. Hn. Hl. _om._ for; _cf._ l. 4265. 4275. E. + Hn. byde. 4282. E. Hn. or; _rest_ and. 4283. Hl. eke; _rest om._ + 4293. it] Cp. Pt. him; Ln. hem; Hl. ther. 4296. E. _ins._ yet _after_ + olde. + + Lo, in the lyf of seint Kenelm, I rede, 4300 + That was Kenulphus sone, the noble king (291) + Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thing; + A lyte er he was mordred, on a day, + His mordre in his avisioun he say. + His norice him expouned every del 4305 + His sweven, and bad him for to kepe him wel + For traisoun; but he nas but seven yeer old, + And therfore litel tale hath he told + Of any dreem, so holy was his herte. + By god, I hadde lever than my sherte 4310 + That ye had rad his legende, as have I. (301) + Dame Pertelote, I sey yow trewely, + Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun + In Affrike of the worthy Cipioun, + Affermeth dremes, and seith that they been 4315 + Warning of thinges that men after seen. + + 4309. E. is; _rest_ was. 4313. Cm. thauysioun. + + And forther-more, I pray yow loketh wel + In the olde testament, of Daniel, + If he held dremes any vanitee. + Reed eek of Ioseph, and ther shul ye see 4320 + Wher dremes ben somtyme (I sey nat alle) (311) + Warning of thinges that shul after falle. + Loke of Egipt the king, daun Pharao, + His bakere and his boteler also, + Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes. 4325 + [280: T. 15142-15177.] + Who-so wol seken actes of sondry remes, + May rede of dremes many a wonder thing. + + 4319. E. Hn. Cp. heeld. 4324. Cm. Ln. boteler: Pt. botelere; E. Hn. + butiller. + + Lo Cresus, which that was of Lyde king, + Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree, + Which signified he sholde anhanged be? 4330 + Lo heer Andromacha, Ectores wyf, (321) + That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf, + She dremed on the same night biforn, + How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn, + If thilke day he wente in-to bataille; 4335 + She warned him, but it mighte nat availle; + He wente for to fighte nathelees, + But he was slayn anoon of Achilles. + But thilke tale is al to long to telle, + And eek it is ny day, I may nat dwelle. 4340 + Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun, (331) + That I shal han of this avisioun + Adversitee; and I seye forther-more, + That I ne telle of laxatyves no store, + For they ben venimous, I woot it wel; 4345 + I hem defye, I love hem never a del. + + 4331. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. Adromacha. 4338. Hn. And (_for_ But). 4345. + Hn. Cm. venymes. it] Cp. Pt. Ln. right. 4346. E. Cp. diffye. + + Now let us speke of mirthe, and stinte al this; + Madame Pertelote, so have I blis, + Of o thing god hath sent me large grace; + For whan I see the beautee of your face, 4350 + Ye ben so scarlet-reed about your yën, (341) + It maketh al my drede for to dyen; + For, also siker as _In principio_, + _Mulier est hominis confusio_; + Madame, the sentence of this Latin is— 4355 + Womman is mannes Ioye and al his blis. + For whan I fele a-night your softe syde, + Al-be-it that I may nat on you ryde, + For that our perche is maad so narwe, alas! + I am so ful of Ioye and of solas 4360 + That I defye bothe sweven and dreem.’ (351) + [281: T. 15178-15211.] + And with that word he fley doun fro the beem, + For it was day, and eek his hennes alle; + And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle, + For he had founde a corn, lay in the yerd. 4365 + Royal he was, he was namore aferd; + He fethered Pertelote twenty tyme, + And trad as ofte, er that it was pryme. + He loketh as it were a grim leoun; + And on his toos he rometh up and doun, 4370 + Him deyned not to sette his foot to grounde. (361) + He chukketh, whan he hath a corn y-founde, + And to him rennen thanne his wyves alle. + Thus royal, as a prince is in his halle, + Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture; 4375 + And after wol I telle his aventure. + + 4361. E. Cp. diffye. 4362. Hn. Cm. fley; E. fly; Hl. Cp. fleigh. + 4365. E. Hn. Cm. hadde. 4366. Cm. Ln. Royal; _rest_ Real; _but see_ + l. 4374. 4367. He] E. And. 4368. Hl. that; _rest om._ Cp. Pt. Ln. + were. Hl. er that it was prime. 4370. Hl. toon. 4371. Cm. + deynyth. 4374. his] E. Cm. an. + + Whan that the month in which the world bigan, + That highte March, whan god first maked man, + Was complet, and [y]-passed were also, + Sin March bigan, thritty dayes and two, 4380 + Bifel that Chauntecleer, in al his pryde, (371) + His seven wyves walking by his syde, + Caste up his eyen to the brighte sonne, + That in the signe of Taurus hadde y-ronne + Twenty degrees and oon, and somwhat more; 4385 + And knew by kynde, and by noon other lore, + That it was pryme, and crew with blisful stevene. + ‘The sonne,’ he sayde, ‘is clomben up on hevene + Fourty degrees and oon, and more, y-wis. + Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis, 4390 + Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they singe, (381) + And see the fresshe floures how they springe; + Ful is myn herte of revel and solas.’ + But sodeinly him fil a sorweful cas; + For ever the latter ende of Ioye is wo. 4395 + [282: T. 15212-15248.] + God woot that worldly Ioye is sone ago; + And if a rethor coude faire endyte, + He in a cronique saufly mighte it wryte, + As for a sovereyn notabilitee. + Now every wys man, lat him herkne me; 4400 + This storie is al-so trewe, I undertake, (391) + As is the book of Launcelot de Lake, + That wommen holde in ful gret reverence. + Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence. + + 4379. _All_ passed. 4380. Hl. tway monthes and dayes tuo. 4386. + And] Cp. Pt. Ln. He. 4398. Hl. Cp. cronique; _rest_ cronicle. 4404. + torne] E. come. + + A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee, 4405 + That in the grove hadde woned yeres three, + By heigh imaginacioun forn-cast, + The same night thurgh-out the hegges brast + Into the yerd, ther Chauntecleer the faire + Was wont, and eek his wyves, to repaire; 4410 + And in a bed of wortes stille he lay, (401) + Til it was passed undern of the day, + Wayting his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle, + As gladly doon thise homicydes alle, + That in awayt liggen to mordre men. 4415 + O false mordrer, lurking in thy den! + O newe Scariot, newe Genilon! + False dissimilour, O Greek Sinon, + That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe! + O Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe, 4420 + That thou into that yerd flough fro the bemes! (411) + Thou were ful wel y-warned by thy dremes, + That thilke day was perilous to thee. + But what that god forwoot mot nedes be, + After the opinioun of certeyn clerkis. 4425 + Witnesse on him, that any perfit clerk is, + That in scole is gret altercacioun + In this matere, and greet disputisoun, + And hath ben of an hundred thousand men. + But I ne can not bulte it to the bren, 4430 + As can the holy doctour Augustyn, (421) + Or Boece, or the bishop Bradwardyn, + [283: T. 15249-15284.] + Whether that goddes worthy forwiting + Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thing, + (Nedely clepe I simple necessitee); 4435 + Or elles, if free choys be graunted me + To do that same thing, or do it noght, + Though god forwoot it, er that it was wroght; + Or if his witing streyneth nevere a del + But by necessitee condicionel. 4440 + I wol not han to do of swich matere; (431) + My tale is of a cok, as ye may here, + That took his counseil of his wyf, with sorwe, + To walken in the yerd upon that morwe + That he had met the dreem, that I yow tolde. 4445 + Wommennes counseils been ful ofte colde; + Wommannes counseil broghte us first to wo, + And made Adam fro paradys to go, + Ther-as he was ful mery, and wel at ese. + But for I noot, to whom it mighte displese, 4450 + If I counseil of wommen wolde blame, (441) + Passe over, for I seyde it in my game. + Rede auctours, wher they trete of swich matere, + And what thay seyn of wommen ye may here. + Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat myne; 4455 + I can noon harm of no womman divyne. + + 4412. E. Hn. Pt. vndren. 4421. E. Hn. flaugh; Cm. flaw; Cp. + fleyȝe; Hl. flough. 4433. E. Wheither. 4434. E. nedefully to + doon. 4442. may] Hl. Cp. Pt. schal (schuln). 4445. yow] E. of. + 4448. E. out of (_for_ fro). 4452. seyde] E. seye. + + Faire in the sond, to bathe hir merily, + Lyth Pertelote, and alle hir sustres by, + Agayn the sonne; and Chauntecleer so free + Song merier than the mermayde in the see; 4460 + For Phisiologus seith sikerly, (451) + How that they singen wel and merily. + And so bifel that, as he caste his yë, + Among the wortes, on a boterflye, + He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe. 4465 + No-thing ne liste him thanne for to crowe, + But cryde anon, ‘cok, cok,’ and up he sterte, + As man that was affrayed in his herte. + [284: T. 15285-15322.] + For naturelly a beest desyreth flee + Fro his contrarie, if he may it see, 4470 + Though he never erst had seyn it with his yë. (461) + + 4460. E murier. 4462. E. myrily. + + This Chauntecleer, whan he gan him espye, + He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon + Seyde, ‘Gentil sire, allas! wher wol ye gon? + Be ye affrayed of me that am your freend? 4475 + Now certes, I were worse than a feend, + If I to yow wolde harm or vileinye. + I am nat come your counseil for tespye; + But trewely, the cause of my cominge + Was only for to herkne how that ye singe. 4480 + For trewely ye have as mery a stevene (471) + As eny aungel hath, that is in hevene; + Therwith ye han in musik more felinge + Than hadde Boece, or any that can singe. + My lord your fader (god his soule blesse!) 4485 + And eek your moder, of hir gentilesse, + Han in myn hous y-been, to my gret ese; + And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese. + But for men speke of singing, I wol saye, + So mote I brouke wel myn eyen tweye, 4490 + Save yow, I herde never man so singe, (48l) + As dide your fader in the morweninge; + Certes, it was of herte, al that he song. + And for to make his voys the more strong, + He wolde so peyne him, that with bothe his yën 4495 + He moste winke, so loude he wolde cryen, + And stonden on his tiptoon ther-with-al, + And strecche forth his nekke long and smal. + And eek he was of swich discrecioun, + That ther nas no man in no regioun 4500 + That him in song or wisdom mighte passe. (491) + I have wel rad in daun Burnel the Asse, + Among his vers, how that ther was a cok, + For that a preestes sone yaf him a knok + Upon his leg, whyl he was yong and nyce, 4505 + He made him for to lese his benefyce. + [285: T. 15323-15359.] + But certeyn, ther nis no comparisoun + Bitwix the wisdom and discrecioun + Of youre fader, and of his subtiltee. + Now singeth, sire, for seinte charitee, 4510 + Let see, conne ye your fader countrefete?’ (501) + This Chauntecleer his winges gan to bete, + As man that coude his tresoun nat espye, + So was he ravisshed with his flaterye. + + 4482. E. _om._ hath. 4484. Hl. Pt. had. 4489. E. _ins._ yow _after_ + wol. 4491. E. herde I; yet (_for_ so). 4508. E. Cm. Cp. Bitwixe. + + Allas! ye lordes, many a fals flatour 4515 + Is in your courtes, and many a losengeour, + That plesen yow wel more, by my feith, + Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow seith. + Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye; + Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye. 4520 + + This Chauntecleer stood hye up-on his toos, (511) + Strecching his nekke, and heeld his eyen cloos, + And gan to crowe loude for the nones; + And daun Russel the fox sterte up at ones, + And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer, 4525 + And on his bak toward the wode him beer, + For yet ne was ther no man that him sewed. + O destinee, that mayst nat been eschewed! + Allas, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the bemes! + Allas, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes! 4530 + And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce. (521) + O Venus, that art goddesse of plesaunce, + Sin that thy servant was this Chauntecleer, + And in thy service dide al his poweer, + More for delyt, than world to multiplye, 4535 + Why woldestow suffre him on thy day to dye? + O Gaufred, dere mayster soverayn, + That, whan thy worthy king Richard was slayn + With shot, compleynedest his deth so sore, + Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy lore, 4540 + The Friday for to chide, as diden ye? (531) + (For on a Friday soothly slayn was he.) + Than wolde I shewe yow how that I coude pleyne + [286: T. 15360-15395.] + For Chauntecleres drede, and for his peyne. + + 4524. E. Hn. Cm. stirte. 4525. E. Hn. gargat; Cm. Hl. garget; Ln. + gorge. 4531. E. Hn. Cm. fil; _rest_ fel. + + Certes, swich cry ne lamentacioun 4545 + Was never of ladies maad, whan Ilioun + Was wonne, and Pirrus with his streite swerd, + Whan he hadde hent king Priam by the berd, + And slayn him (as saith us _Eneydos_), + As maden alle the hennes in the clos, 4550 + Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte. (541) + But sovereynly dame Pertelote shrighte, + Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf, + Whan that hir housbond hadde lost his lyf, + And that the Romayns hadde brend Cartage; 4555 + She was so ful of torment and of rage, + That wilfully into the fyr she sterte, + And brende hir-selven with a stedfast herte. + O woful hennes, right so cryden ye, + As, whan that Nero brende the citee 4560 + Of Rome, cryden senatoures wyves, (551) + For that hir housbondes losten alle hir lyves; + Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn. + Now wol I torne to my tale agayn:— + + 4552. E. sodeynly (_for_ sovereynly). 4554. Hn. Cm. y-lost. 4564. + E. Now turne I wole. + + This sely widwe, and eek hir doghtres two, 4565 + Herden thise hennes crye and maken wo, + And out at dores sterten they anoon, + And syen the fox toward the grove goon, + And bar upon his bak the cok away; + And cryden, ‘Out! harrow! and weylaway! 4570 + Ha, ha, the fox!’ and after him they ran, (561) + And eek with staves many another man; + Ran Colle our dogge, and Talbot, and Gerland, + And Malkin, with a distaf in hir hand; + Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray hogges 4575 + So were they fered for berking of the dogges + And shouting of the men and wimmen eke, + They ronne so, hem thoughte hir herte breke. + They yelleden as feendes doon in helle; + [287: T. 15396-15431.] + The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle; 4580 + The gees for fere flowen over the trees; (571) + Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees; + So hidous was the noyse, a! _benedicite_! + Certes, he Iakke Straw, and his meynee, + Ne made never shoutes half so shrille, 4585 + Whan that they wolden any Fleming kille, + As thilke day was maad upon the fox. + Of bras thay broghten bemes, and of box, + Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and pouped, + And therwithal thay shryked and they houped; 4590 + It semed as that heven sholde falle. (581) + Now, gode men, I pray yow herkneth alle! + + 4567. E. Hn. Cm. stirten. 4570. Pt. They. 4575. E. Hl. _om._ eek. + 4576. Hl. were they; _rest om._ 4579. E. yolleden. 4585. E. Ln. + shille. 4590. E. Hn. skriked. + + Lo, how fortune turneth sodeinly + The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy! + This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak, 4595 + In al his drede, un-to the fox he spak, + And seyde, ‘sire, if that I were as ye, + Yet sholde I seyn (as wis god helpe me), + Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle! + A verray pestilence up-on yow falle! 4600 + Now am I come un-to this wodes syde, (591) + Maugree your heed, the cok shal heer abyde; + I wol him ete in feith, and that anon.’— + The fox answerde, ‘in feith, it shal be don,’— + And as he spak that word, al sodeinly 4605 + This cok brak from his mouth deliverly, + And heighe up-on a tree he fleigh anon. + And whan the fox saugh that he was y-gon, + ‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘O Chauntecleer, allas! + I have to yow,’ quod he, ‘y-doon trespas, 4610 + In-as-muche as I maked yow aferd, (601) + Whan I yow hente, and broghte out of the yerd; + But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente; + Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I mente. + I shal seye sooth to yow, god help me so.’ 4615 + [288: T. 15432-15452.] + ‘Nay than,’ quod he, ‘I shrewe us bothe two, + And first I shrewe my-self, bothe blood and bones, + If thou bigyle me ofter than ones. + Thou shalt na-more, thurgh thy flaterye, + Do me to singe and winke with myn yë. 4620 + For he that winketh, whan he sholde see, (611) + Al wilfully, god lat him never thee!’ + ‘Nay,’ quod the fox, ‘but god yeve him meschaunce, + That is so undiscreet of governaunce, + That Iangleth whan he sholde holde his pees.’ 4625 + + 4594. E. _om._ eek. 4598. E. wolde (_for_ sholde). 4601. E. the + (_for_ this). 4608. Hl. i-goon; _rest_ gon, goon. 4612. E. Hn. into + this (_for_ out of the). 4613. E. of (_for_ in). 4618. E. Hn. Hl. + _ins._ any _before_ ofter. + + Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees, + And necligent, and truste on flaterye. + But ye that holden this tale a folye, + As of a fox, or of a cok and hen, + Taketh the moralitee, good men. 4630 + For seint Paul seith, that al that writen is, (621) + To our doctryne it is y-write, y-wis. + Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille. + + 4630. Pt. good; _rest_ goode. + + Now, gode god, if that it be thy wille, + As seith my lord, so make us alle good men; 4635 + And bringe us to his heighe blisse. Amen. + + =Here is ended the Nonne Preestes Tale.= + + 4635. Hl. Pt. Ln. good; _rest_ goode. COLOPHON. Cp. Nonne; E. Hn. + Nonnes. Hl. Here endeth the tale of Chaunteclere and p_er_telote. + +[289: T. 15453-15468.] + + * * * * * + +EPILOGUE TO THE NONNE PREESTES TALE. + + * * * * * + + ‘Sir Nonnes Preest,’ our hoste seyde anoon, + ‘Y-blessed be thy breche, and every stoon! + This was a mery tale of Chauntecleer. + But, by my trouthe, if thou were seculer, 4640 + Thou woldest been a trede-foul a-right. + For, if thou have corage as thou hast might, + Thee were nede of hennes, as I wene, + Ya, mo than seven tymes seventene. + See, whiche braunes hath this gentil Preest, 4645 + So greet a nekke, and swich a large breest! (10) + He loketh as a sperhauk with his yën; + Him nedeth nat his colour for to dyen + With brasil, ne with greyn of Portingale. + Now sire, faire falle yow for youre tale!’ 4650 + + And after that he, with ful mery chere, + Seide to another, as ye shullen here. + + _These genuine lines only occur in_ Dd., _in_ MS. Reg. 17 D. xv, _and + in_ MS. Addit. 5140 (B. M.). _The text is founded on_ Dd. + + 4637. Dd. oure hoost. 4639. Dd. murie; Reg. Add. mery. 4641. Dd. + ben. Dd. tredfoul; Reg. Add. trede foule. 4645. Dd. which; Reg. + whiche; Add. suche. 4646. Dd. gret. 4647. Dd. sp_er_hauke; eyen. + 4648. Dd. dyghen; Reg. Add. dyen. 4650-2. _I suspect these three + lines to be spurious._ 4650. Reg. youre mery tale. 4652. to] _all_ + un-to. another] Add. the Nonne. + + NOTE. _Three varieties of a_ Doctour’s Prologue _are given, + respectively, by_ Tyrwhitt, Wright, _and_ Morris; _but are all + spurious. Perhaps the best is the very short one in_ Tyrwhitt, _as + follows:—_ + + ‘Ye, let that passen,’ quod our Hoste, ‘as now. + Sire Doctour of Phisyk, I preye yow, + Telle us a tale of som honest matere.’ + ‘It shal be doon, if that ye wol it here,’ + Seyde this Doctour, and his tale bigan anon. + ‘Now, good men,’ quod he, ‘herkneth everichon.’ + +[290: T. 11935-11957.] + + * * * * * + +GROUP C. + +THE PHISICIENS TALE. + + * * * * * + + *** _For a spurious_ Prologue, _see p._ 289. + + =Here folweth the Phisiciens Tale.= + + Ther was, as telleth Titus Livius, + A knight that called was Virginius, + Fulfild of honour and of worthinesse, + And strong of freendes and of greet richesse. + + 2. Hn. called was; E. was called; _rest_ cleped was. + + This knight a doghter hadde by his wyf, 5 + No children hadde he mo in al his lyf. + Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee + Aboven every wight that man may see; + For nature hath with sovereyn diligence + Y-formed hir in so greet excellence, 10 + As though she wolde seyn, ‘lo! I, Nature, + Thus can I forme and peynte a creature, + Whan that me list; who can me countrefete? + Pigmalion noght, though he ay forge and bete, + Or grave, or peynte; for I dar wel seyn, 15 + Apelles, Zanzis, sholde werche in veyn, + Outher to grave or peynte or forge or bete, + If they presumed me to countrefete. + For he that is the former principal + Hath maked me his vicaire general, 20 + To forme and peynten erthely creaturis + Right as me list, and ech thing in my cure is + Under the mone, that may wane and waxe, + [291: T. 11958-11993.] + And for my werk right no-thing wol I axe; + My lord and I ben ful of oon accord; 25 + I made hir to the worship of my lord. + So do I alle myne othere creatures, + What colour that they han, or what figures.’— + Thus semeth me that Nature wolde seye. + + 16. E. Hn. Apelles; Hl. Appollus; rest Apollus. E. Hn. Zanzis; rest + zephirus (!). 25. E. Hn. ful of oon; _rest_ fully at. + + This mayde of age twelf yeer was and tweye, 30 + In which that Nature hadde swich delyt. + For right as she can peynte a lilie whyt + And reed a rose, right with swich peynture + She peynted hath this noble creature + Er she were born, up-on hir limes free, 35 + Wher-as by right swiche colours sholde be; + And Phebus dyed hath hir tresses grete + Lyk to the stremes of his burned hete. + And if that excellent was hir beautee, + A thousand-fold more vertuous was she. 40 + In hir ne lakked no condicioun, + That is to preyse, as by discrecioun. + As wel in goost as body chast was she; + For which she floured in virginitee + With alle humilitee and abstinence, 45 + With alle attemperaunce and pacience, + With mesure eek of bering and array. + Discreet she was in answering alway; + Though she were wys as Pallas, dar I seyn, + Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn, 50 + No countrefeted termes hadde she + To seme wys; but after hir degree + She spak, and alle hir wordes more and lesse + Souninge in vertu and in gentillesse. + Shamfast she was in maydens shamfastnesse, 55 + Constant in herte, and ever in bisinesse + To dryve hir out of ydel slogardye. + Bacus hadde of hir mouth right no maistrye; + For wyn and youthe doon Venus encrece, + [292: T. 11994-12028.] + As men in fyr wol casten oile or grece. 60 + And of hir owene vertu, unconstreyned, + She hath ful ofte tyme syk hir feyned, + For that she wolde fleen the companye + Wher lykly was to treten of folye, + As is at festes, revels, and at daunces, 65 + That been occasions of daliaunces. + Swich thinges maken children for to be + To sone rype and bold, as men may see, + Which is ful perilous, and hath ben yore. + For al to sone may she lerne lore 70 + Of boldnesse, whan she woxen is a wyf. + + 49. Cp. Pt. Ln. as; _rest om._ 50. E. a (_for_ and). 55. E. + Shamefast. E. _om._ in. 59. E. Hn. dooth; _rest_ doon. E. Hn. + encresse. 60. E. man; _rest_ men. E. wasten; _rest_ casten. E. + oille; greesse. 67. E. Hn. thyng; _rest_ thinges. 70. E. Hn. they; + _rest_ she. + + And ye maistresses in your olde lyf, + That lordes doghtres han in governaunce, + Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce; + Thenketh that ye ben set in governinges 75 + Of lordes doghtres, only for two thinges; + Outher for ye han kept your honestee, + Or elles ye han falle in freletee, + And knowen wel y-nough the olde daunce, + And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce 80 + For evermo; therfore, for Cristes sake, + To teche hem vertu loke that ye ne slake. + A theef of venisoun, that hath forlaft + His likerousnesse, and al his olde craft, + Can kepe a forest best of any man. 85 + Now kepeth hem wel, for if ye wol, ye can; + Loke wel that ye un-to no vice assente, + Lest ye be dampned for your wikke entente; + For who-so doth, a traitour is certeyn. + And taketh kepe of that that I shal seyn; 90 + Of alle tresons sovereyn pestilence + Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence. + + 80. E. Hn. han; _rest_ conne. 82. _So_ E. Hn.; _rest_ Kepeth wel tho + that ye undertake. 84. E. Hn. olde; _rest_ theves. 86. _Read_ + kep’th; E. Hn. _om._ hem; Hl. hir(!). E. wolde; _rest_ wole (wil). + 92. E. Hn. bitrayseth; _rest_ betrayeth. + + Ye fadres and ye modres eek also, + Though ye han children, be it oon or two, + [293: T. 12029-12063.] + Your is the charge of al hir surveyaunce, 95 + Whyl that they been under your governaunce. + Beth war that by ensample of your livinge, + Or by your necligence in chastisinge, + That they ne perisse; for I dar wel seye, + If that they doon, ye shul it dere abeye. 100 + Under a shepherde softe and necligent + The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to-rent. + Suffyseth oon ensample now as here, + For I mot turne agayn to my matere. + + 95. E. Hn. surveiaunce; _rest_ sufferaunce (suffraunce). 97. E. Hn. + if; _rest_ that. 99. E. Hn. _om._ ne. 103, 4. E. _om. both lines; I + follow_ Hn. _and the rest_. + + This mayde, of which I wol this tale expresse, 105 + So kepte hir-self, hir neded no maistresse; + For in hir living maydens mighten rede, + As in a book, every good word or dede, + That longeth to a mayden vertuous; + She was so prudent and so bountevous. 110 + For which the fame out-sprong on every syde + Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde; + That thurgh that land they preysed hir echone, + That loved vertu, save envye allone, + That sory is of other mennes wele, 115 + And glad is of his sorwe and his unhele; + (The doctour maketh this descripcioun). + This mayde up-on a day wente in the toun + Toward a temple, with hir moder dere, + As is of yonge maydens the manere. 120 + + 105. E. Hn. I wol this; _rest_ I telle my. 119. E. Hn. a; _rest_ the. + + Now was ther thanne a Iustice in that toun, + That governour was of that regioun. + And so bifel, this Iuge his eyen caste + Up-on this mayde, avysinge him ful faste, + As she cam forby ther this Iuge stood. 125 + Anon his herte chaunged and his mood, + So was he caught with beautee of this mayde; + And to him-self ful prively he sayde, + ‘This mayde shal be myn, for any man.’ + + 125. E. Hn. ther as; _rest om._ as. + +[294: T. 12064-12100.] + + Anon the feend in-to his herte ran, 130 + And taughte him sodeynly, that he by slighte + The mayden to his purpos winne mighte. + For certes, by no force, ne by no mede, + Him thoughte, he was nat able for to spede; + For she was strong of freendes, and eek she 135 + Confermed was in swich soverayn bountee, + That wel he wiste he mighte hir never winne + As for to make hir with hir body sinne. + For which, by greet deliberacioun, + He sente after a cherl, was in the toun, 140 + Which that he knew for subtil and for bold. + This Iuge un-to this cherl his tale hath told + In secree wyse, and made him to ensure, + He sholde telle it to no creature, + And if he dide, he sholde lese his heed. 145 + Whan that assented was this cursed reed, + Glad was this Iuge and maked him greet chere, + And yaf hym yiftes preciouse and dere. + + 138. E. maken; _rest_ make. 140, 142. E. Hn. cherl; _rest_ clerk. + 147. E. Hn. this; _rest_ the. + + Whan shapen was al hir conspiracye + Fro point to point, how that his lecherye 150 + Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly, + As ye shul here it after openly, + Hoom gooth the cherl, that highte Claudius. + This false Iuge that highte Apius, + So was his name, (for this is no fable, 155 + But knowen for historial thing notable, + The sentence of it sooth is, out of doute), + This false Iuge gooth now faste aboute + To hasten his delyt al that he may. + And so bifel sone after, on a day, 160 + This false Iuge, as telleth us the storie, + As he was wont, sat in his consistorie, + And yaf his domes up-on sondry cas. + This false cherl cam forth a ful greet pas, + And seyde, ‘lord, if that it be your wille, 165 + As dooth me right up-on this pitous bille, + [295: T. 12101-12136.] + In which I pleyne up-on Virginius. + And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus, + I wol it preve, and finde good witnesse, + That sooth is that my bille wol expresse.’ 170 + + 149. E. Hn. hir; _rest_ this. 153, 164. E. Hn. cherl; _rest_ clerk. + 155. E. Hn. this; _rest_ it. + + The Iuge answerde, ‘of this, in his absence, + I may nat yeve diffinitif sentence. + Lat do him calle, and I wol gladly here; + Thou shall have al right, and no wrong here.’ + + 172. E. diffynyue; rest diffinitif. 173, 174. E. heere, glossed + audire; and heere, glossed hie. + + Virginius cam, to wite the Iuges wille, 175 + And right anon was rad this cursed bille; + The sentence of it was as ye shul here. + + ‘To yow, my lord, sire Apius so dere, + Sheweth your povre servant Claudius, + How that a knight, called Virginius, 180 + Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitee, + Holdeth, expres agayn the wil of me, + My servant, which that is my thral by right, + Which fro myn hous was stole up-on a night, + Whyl that she was ful yong; this wol I preve 185 + By witnesse, lord, so that it nat yow greve. + She nis his doghter nat, what so he seye; + Wherfore to yow, my lord the Iuge, I preye, + Yeld me my thral, if that it be your wille.’ + Lo! this was al the sentence of his bille. 190 + + Virginius gan up-on the cherl biholde, + But hastily, er he his tale tolde, + And wolde have preved it, as sholde a knight, + And eek by witnessing of many a wight, + That it was fals that seyde his adversarie, 195 + This cursed Iuge wolde no-thing tarie, + Ne here a word more of Virginius, + But yaf his Iugement, and seyde thus:— + + 191. E. Hn. Cm. cherl; rest clerk. + + ‘I deme anon this cherl his servant have; + Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir save. 200 + Go bring hir forth, and put hir in our warde, + The cherl shal have his thral, this I awarde.’ + + 199, 202. E. Hn. Cm. cherl; rest clerk. + +[296: T. 12137-12173.] + + And whan this worthy knight Virginius, + Thurgh sentence of this Iustice Apius, + Moste by force his dere doghter yiven 205 + Un-to the Iuge, in lecherye to liven, + He gooth him hoom, and sette him in his halle, + And leet anon his dere doghter calle, + And, with a face deed as asshen colde, + Upon hir humble face he gan biholde, 210 + With fadres pitee stiking thurgh his herte, + Al wolde he from his purpos nat converte. + + 202. E. Hn. Cm. this; rest thus. 205. Hl. Cp. yiuen; rest yeuen. + + ‘Doghter,’ quod he, ‘Virginia, by thy name, + Ther been two weyes, outher deeth or shame, + That thou most suffre; allas! that I was bore! 215 + For never thou deservedest wherfore + To dyen with a swerd or with a knyf. + O dere doghter, ender of my lyf, + Which I have fostred up with swich plesaunce, + That thou were never out of my remembraunce! 220 + O doghter, which that art my laste wo, + And in my lyf my laste Ioye also, + O gemme of chastitee, in pacience + Take thou thy deeth, for this is my sentence. + For love and nat for hate, thou most be deed; 225 + My pitous hand mot smyten of thyn heed. + Allas! that ever Apius thee say! + Thus hath he falsly Iuged thee to-day’— + And tolde hir al the cas, as ye bifore + Han herd; nat nedeth for to telle it more. 230 + + 223. E. o; rest of. + + ‘O mercy, dere fader,’ quod this mayde, + And with that word she both hir armes layde + About his nekke, as she was wont to do: + The teres broste out of hir eyen two, + And seyde, ‘gode fader, shal I dye? 235 + Is ther no grace? is ther no remedye?’ + + 234. E. Hn. teeris. E. bruste; Cm. broste; Pt. brosten; Hn. borste; + Cp. Ln. barsten; Hl. brast. + + ‘No, certes, dere doghter myn,’ quod he. + + ‘Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn,’ quod she, + ‘My deeth for to compleyne a litel space; + [297: T. 12174-12208.] + For pardee, Iepte yaf his doghter grace 240 + For to compleyne, er he hir slow, allas! + And god it woot, no-thing was hir trespas, + But for she ran hir fader first to see, + To welcome him with greet solempnitee.’ + And with that word she fil aswowne anon, 245 + And after, whan hir swowning is agon, + She ryseth up, and to hir fader sayde, + ‘Blessed be god, that I shal dye a mayde. + Yif me my deeth, er that I have a shame; + Doth with your child your wil, a goddes name!’ 250 + + 243. E. Hn. for; _rest_ first. 248. E. Ln. Blissed; _rest_ Blessed. + + And with that word she preyed him ful ofte, + That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe, + And with that word aswowne doun she fil. + Hir fader, with ful sorweful herte and wil, + Hir heed of smoot, and by the top it hente, 255 + And to the Iuge he gan it to presente, + As he sat yet in doom in consistorie. + And whan the Iuge it saugh, as seith the storie, + He bad to take him and anhange him faste. + But right anon a thousand peple in thraste, 260 + To save the knight, for routhe and for pitee, + For knowen was the false iniquitee. + The peple anon hath suspect of this thing, + By manere of the cherles chalanging, + That it was by the assent of Apius; 265 + They wisten wel that he was lecherous. + For which un-to this Apius they gon, + And caste him in a prison right anon, + Wher-as he slow him-self; and Claudius, + That servant was un-to this Apius, 270 + Was demed for to hange upon a tree; + But that Virginius, of his pitee, + So preyde for him that he was exyled; + And elles, certes, he had been bigyled. + [298: T. 12209-12220.] + The remenant were anhanged, more and lesse, 275 + That were consentant of this cursednesse.— + + 252. _All but_ E. Hn. _ins._ hir _before_ softe. 259. E. Hn. anhange; + _rest_ honge. 260. E. Hn. a thousand; _rest_ al the. 263. E. of; + _rest_ in. 264. E. Hn. the cherles; _rest_ this clerkes. 269. E. + Hn. Ther; _rest_ Wher. 271. E. And; _rest_ Was. 275. E. Hn. Hl. + anhanged; _rest_ honged. + + Heer men may seen how sinne hath his meryte! + Beth war, for no man woot whom god wol smyte + In no degree, ne in which maner wyse + The worm of conscience may agryse 280 + Of wikked lyf, though it so privee be, + That no man woot ther-of but god and he. + For be he lewed man, or elles lered, + He noot how sone that he shal been afered. + Therfore I rede yow this conseil take, 285 + Forsaketh sinne, er sinne yow forsake. + + =Here endeth the Phisiciens Tale.= + + 278. E. Hn. whom; _rest_ how. 280. E. Hn. may agryse; _rest_ wol + (wil) arise. 283. E. ellis. Cp. Ln. Whether he be lewed man or + lered; _so_ Pt. (_with_ Where _for_ Whether); so Hl. (_with_ Wher that + _for_ Whether). COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn.; Sloane _has_ Here endethe the + tale of the Mayster of phisyk; Hl. Here endeth the Doctor of phisique + his tale. + +[299: T. 12221-12239.] + + * * * * * + +WORDS OF THE HOST. + + * * * * * + + =The wordes of the Host to the Phisicien and the Pardoner.= + + Our Hoste gan to swere as he were wood, + ‘Harrow!’ quod he, ‘by nayles and by blood!. + This was a fals cherl and a fals Iustyse! + As shamful deeth as herte may devyse 290 + Come to thise Iuges and hir advocats! + Algate this sely mayde is slayn, allas! + Allas! to dere boghte she beautee! + Wherfore I seye al day, as men may see, + That yiftes of fortune or of nature 295 + Ben cause of deeth to many a creature. (10) + Hir beautee was hir deeth, I dar wel sayn; + Allas! so pitously as she was slayn! + Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now + Men han ful ofte more harm than prow. 300 + But trewely, myn owene mayster dere, + This is a pitous tale for to here. + But natheles, passe over, is no fors; + I prey to god, so save thy gentil cors, + And eek thyne urinals and thy Iordanes, 305 + [300: T. 12240-12262.] + Thyn Ypocras, and eek thy Galianes, (20) + And every boist ful of thy letuarie; + God blesse hem, and our lady seinte Marie! + So mot I theen, thou art a propre man, + And lyk a prelat, by seint Ronyan! 310 + Seyde I nat wel? I can nat speke in terme; + But wel I woot, thou doost my herte to erme, + That I almost have caught a cardiacle. + By corpus bones! but I have triacle, + Or elles a draught of moyste and corny ale, 315 + Or but I here anon a mery tale, (30) + Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde. + Thou bel amy, thou Pardoner,’ he seyde, + ‘Tel us som mirthe or Iapes right anon.’ + ‘It shall be doon,’ quod he, ‘by seint Ronyon! 320 + But first,’ quod he, ‘heer at this ale-stake + I wol both drinke, and eten of a cake.’ + + HEADING. _So_ E. E. Hoost. 287. Ln. oste; _rest_ hoost, ost. 290. + E. shameful. 291, 292. _So_ E. Hn. Pt.; _but_ Cp. _has_—So falle + vpon his body and his bones The deuyl I bekenne him al at ones; _so + also_ Ln. Hl. 291. E. (_alone_) _ins._ false _before_ Iuges. E. Hn. + Aduocatz; Pt. aduocas. 295. E. Hn. and; _rest_ or. 296. E. Hn. to; + _rest_ of. 297, 298. _So_ Cp. Ln. Hl.; _rest omit these lines._ + 300. E. Hn. for harm; _rest om._ for. 303. Hl. this is; _the rest + omit_ this. 305. Ln. Iordanes; Cp. Iurdanes; E. Hn. Iurdones. 306. + Cp. Galianes; E. Hn. Galiones. 307. Hl. boist; E. Hn. boyste; Cp. Pt. + Ln. box. 313. E. Hn. cardynacle(!). 322. eten of] Hl. byt on. + + But right anon thise gentils gonne to crye, + ‘Nay! lat him telle us of no ribaudye; + Tel us som moral thing, that we may lere 325 + Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly here.’ (40) + ‘I graunte, y-wis,’ quod he, ‘but I mot thinke + Up-on som honest thing, whyl that I drinke. + + 323. E. Hn. And; _the rest_ But. 324. E. Hn. Cp. Hl. ribaudye; Ln. + rebaudie; Pt. rybaudrye. 327. _For ll._ 326, 327, Hl. _has_—Gladly, + quod he, and sayde as ye schal heere: But in the cuppe wil I me + bethinke. + +[301: T. 12263-12288.] + + * * * * * + +THE PROLOGUE OF THE PARDONERS TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here folweth the Prologe of the Pardoners Tale.= + + _Radix malorum est Cupiditas: Ad Thimotheum, sexto._ + + ‘Lordings,’ quod he, ‘in chirches whan I preche, + I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche, 330 + And ringe it out as round as gooth a belle, + For I can al by rote that I telle. + My theme is alwey oon, and ever was— + “_Radix malorum est Cupiditas_.” + + First I pronounce whennes that I come, 335 + And than my bulles shewe I, alle and somme. + Our lige lordes seel on my patente, + That shewe I first, my body to warente, (10) + That no man be so bold, ne preest ne clerk, + Me to destourbe of Cristes holy werk; 340 + And after that than telle I forth my tales, + Bulles of popes and of cardinales, + Of patriarkes, and bishoppes I shewe; + And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe, + To saffron with my predicacioun, 345 + And for to stire men to devocioun. + Than shewe I forth my longe cristal stones, + Y-crammed ful of cloutes and of bones; (20) + Reliks been they, as wenen they echoon. + Than have I in latoun a sholder-boon 350 + Which that was of an holy Iewes shepe. + “Good men,” seye I, “tak of my wordes kepe; + If that this boon be wasshe in any welle, + If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swelle + [302: T. 12289-12324.] + That any worm hath ete, or worm y-stonge, 355 + Tak water of that welle, and wash his tonge, + And it is hool anon; and forthermore, + Of pokkes and of scabbe, and every sore (30) + Shal every sheep be hool, that of this welle + Drinketh a draughte; tak kepe eek what I telle. 360 + If that the good-man, that the bestes oweth, + Wol every wike, er that the cok him croweth, + Fastinge, drinken of this welle a draughte, + As thilke holy Iewe our eldres taughte, + His bestes and his stoor shal multiplye. 565 + And, sirs, also it heleth Ialousye; + For, though a man be falle in Ialous rage, + Let maken with this water his potage, (40) + And never shal he more his wyf mistriste, + Though he the sooth of hir defaute wiste; 370 + Al had she taken preestes two or three. + + 346. E. Hn. Hl. hem; _rest_ men. 350. E. _omits_ I _by accident._ + 352. E. Hl. Pt. Ln. Good; E. Hn. Cp. Goode. Hn. I seye; _rest_ say I, + saie I. 366. E. Hn. sire; _rest_ sires, sirs. + + Heer is a miteyn eek, that ye may see. + He that his hond wol putte in this miteyn, + He shal have multiplying of his greyn, + Whan he hath sowen, be it whete or otes, 375 + So that he offre pens, or elles grotes. + + Good men and wommen, o thing warne I yow, + If any wight be in this chirche now, (50) + That hath doon sinne horrible, that he + Dar nat, for shame, of it y-shriven be, 380 + Or any womman, be she yong or old, + That hath y-maad hir housbond cokewold, + Swich folk shul have no power ne no grace + To offren to my reliks in this place. + And who-so findeth him out of swich blame, 385 + He wol com up and offre in goddes name, + And I assoille him by the auctoritee + Which that by bulle y-graunted was to me.” (60) + + 377. E. Hn. Goode; _rest_ And. 382. Cp. Ln. Hl. ymaad; Pt. made; E. + Hn. ymaked. 385. E. fame; _rest_ blame. 386. Hn. He; _rest_ They. + E. on; Hn. a; _rest_ in. 387. E. Hl. hem; _rest_ him or hym. + + By this gaude have I wonne, yeer by yeer, + An hundred mark sith I was Pardoner. 390 + [303: T. 12325-12361.] + I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet, + And whan the lewed peple is doun y-set, + I preche, so as ye han herd bifore, + And telle an hundred false Iapes more. + Than peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke, 395 + And est and west upon the peple I bekke, + As doth a dowve sitting on a berne. + Myn hondes and my tonge goon so yerne, (70) + That it is Ioye to see my bisinesse. + Of avaryce and of swich cursednesse 400 + Is al my preching, for to make hem free + To yeve her pens, and namely un-to me. + For my entente is nat but for to winne, + And no-thing for correccioun of sinne. + I rekke never, whan that they ben beried, 405 + Though that her soules goon a-blakeberied! + For certes, many a predicacioun + Comth ofte tyme of yvel entencioun; (80) + Som for plesaunce of folk and flaterye, + To been avaunced by ipocrisye, 410 + And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate. + For, whan I dar non other weyes debate, + Than wol I stinge him with my tonge smerte + In preching, so that he shal nat asterte + To been defamed falsly, if that he 415 + Hath trespased to my brethren or to me. + For, though I telle noght his propre name, + Men shal wel knowe that it is the same (90) + By signes and by othere circumstances. + Thus quyte I folk that doon us displesances; 420 + Thus spitte I out my venim under hewe + Of holynesse, to seme holy and trewe. + + 395. the] Cm. myn; Cp. Ln. Hl. my. 405. E. Hl. _omit_ that. + + But shortly myn entente I wol devyse; + I preche of no-thing but for coveityse. + Therfor my theme is yet, and ever was— 425 + “_Radix malorum est cupiditas_.” + Thus can I preche agayn that same vyce + [304: T. 12362-12396.] + Which that I use, and that is avaryce. (100) + But, though my-self be gilty in that sinne, + Yet can I maken other folk to twinne 430 + From avaryce, and sore to repente. + But that is nat my principal entente. + I preche no-thing but for coveityse; + Of this matere it oughte y-nogh suffyse. + + 425. E. Hn. theme; _rest_ teme (teem). + + Than telle I hem ensamples many oon 435 + Of olde stories, longe tyme agoon: + For lewed peple loven tales olde; + Swich thinges can they wel reporte and holde. (110) + What? trowe ye, the whyles I may preche, + And winne gold and silver for I teche, 440 + That I wol live in povert wilfully? + Nay, nay, I thoghte it never trewely! + For I wol preche and begge in sondry londes; + I wol not do no labour with myn hondes, + Ne make baskettes, and live therby, 445 + Because I wol nat beggen ydelly. + I wol non of the apostles counterfete; + I wol have money, wolle, chese, and whete, (120) + Al were it yeven of the povrest page, + Or of the povrest widwe in a village, 450 + Al sholde hir children sterve for famyne. + Nay! I wol drinke licour of the vyne, + And have a Ioly wenche in every toun. + But herkneth, lordings, in conclusioun; + Your lyking is that I shal telle a tale. 455 + Now, have I dronke a draughte of corny ale, + By god, I hope I shal yow telle a thing + That shal, by resoun, been at your lyking. (130) + For, though myself be a ful vicious man, + A moral tale yet I yow telle can, 460 + Which I am wont to preche, for to winne. + Now holde your pees, my tale I wol beginne. + + 439. E. Pt. the whiles; Cm. that whilis that; Cp. Ln. whiles that; Hl. + whiles; Hn. that whiles. 449. Hl. prestes (_for_ povrest). + +[305: T. 12397-12422.] + + * * * * * + +THE PARDONERS TALE. + +(_Numbered in continuation of the preceding_.) + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Pardoners Tale.= + + In Flaundres whylom was a companye + Of yonge folk, that haunteden folye, + As ryot, hasard, stewes, and tavernes, 465 + Wher-as, with harpes, lutes, and giternes, + They daunce and pleye at dees bothe day and night, + And ete also and drinken over hir might, (140) + Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifyse + With-in that develes temple, in cursed wyse, 470 + By superfluitee abhominable; + Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable, + That it is grisly for to here hem swere; + Our blissed lordes body they to-tere; + Hem thoughte Iewes rente him noght y-nough; 475 + And ech of hem at otheres sinne lough. + And right anon than comen tombesteres + Fetys and smale, and yonge fruytesteres, (150) + Singers with harpes, baudes, wafereres, + Whiche been the verray develes officeres 480 + To kindle and blowe the fyr of lecherye, + That is annexed un-to glotonye; + The holy writ take I to my witnesse, + That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse. + + HEADING; _from_ E. Hn. 465. E. Hl. stywes. 475. _So_ Cp. Ln. Hl.; + E. Hn. Cm. that Iewes; Pt. þe Iwes. 478, 479. Hl. _omits._ + + Lo, how that dronken Loth, unkindely, 485 + Lay by his doghtres two, unwitingly; + So dronke he was, he niste what he wroghte. + + Herodes, (who-so wel the stories soghte), (160) + [306: T. 12423-12459.] + Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste, + Right at his owene table he yaf his heste 490 + To sleen the Baptist Iohn ful giltelees. + + 488. E. Hn. Cm. P. Hl. _agree here_; Cp. Ln. _have two additional + (spurious) lines; see_ note. + + Senek seith eek a good word doutelees; + He seith, he can no difference finde + Bitwix a man that is out of his minde + And a man which that is dronkelewe, 495 + But that woodnesse, y-fallen in a shrewe, + Persevereth lenger than doth dronkenesse. + O glotonye, ful of cursednesse, (170) + O cause first of our confusioun, + O original of our dampnacioun, 500 + Til Crist had boght us with his blood agayn! + Lo, how dere, shortly for to sayn, + Aboght was thilke cursed vileinye; + Corrupt was al this world for glotonye! + + 492. Hl. Seneca (_for_ Senek). Cp. Ln. eek; _rest omit._ 495. which + that] Hl. the which; Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._ which. 496. E. Hl. fallen; Hn. + Cm. y-fallen. + + Adam our fader, and his wyf also, 505 + Fro Paradys to labour and to wo + Were driven for that vyce, it is no drede; + For whyl that Adam fasted, as I rede, (180) + He was in Paradys; and whan that he + Eet of the fruyt defended on the tree, 510 + Anon he was out-cast to wo and peyne. + O glotonye, on thee wel oghte us pleyne! + O, wiste a man how many maladyes + Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes, + He wolde been the more mesurable 515 + Of his diete, sittinge at his table. + Allas! the shorte throte, the tendre mouth, + Maketh that, Est and West, and North and South, (190) + In erthe, in eir, in water men to-swinke + To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drinke! 520 + Of this matere, o Paul, wel canstow trete, + ‘Mete un-to wombe, and wombe eek un-to mete, + Shal god destroyen bothe,’ as Paulus seith. + Allas! a foul thing is it, by my feith, + To seye this word, and fouler is the dede, 525 + [307: T. 12460-12496.] + Whan man so drinketh of the whyte and rede, + That of his throte he maketh his privee, + Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee. (200) + + 519. E. Hl. man; _rest_ men. + + The apostel weping seith ful pitously, + ‘Ther walken many of whiche yow told have I, 530 + I seye it now weping with pitous voys, + That they been enemys of Cristes croys, + Of whiche the ende is deeth, wombe is her god.’ + O wombe! O bely! O stinking cod, + Fulfild of donge and of corrupcioun! 535 + At either ende of thee foul is the soun. + How greet labour and cost is thee to finde! + Thise cokes, how they stampe, and streyne, and grinde, (210) + And turnen substaunce in-to accident, + To fulfille al thy likerous talent! 540 + Out of the harde bones knokke they + The mary, for they caste noght a-wey + That may go thurgh the golet softe and swote; + Of spicerye, of leef, and bark, and rote + Shal been his sauce y-maked by delyt, 545 + To make him yet a newer appetyt. + But certes, he that haunteth swich delyces + Is deed, whyl that he liveth in tho vyces. (220) + + 532. That they _is_ Tyrwhitt’s _reading_; Hl. Thay; _but the rest have_ + Ther, _probably repeated by mistake from_ l. 530. 534. Hl. o stynking + is thi cod. + + A lecherous thing is wyn, and dronkenesse + Is ful of stryving and of wrecchednesse. 550 + O dronke man, disfigured is thy face, + Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace, + And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun + As though thou seydest ay ‘Sampsoun, Sampsoun’; + And yet, god wot, Sampsoun drank never no wyn. 555 + Thou fallest, as it were a stiked swyn; + Thy tonge is lost, and al thyn honest cure; + For dronkenesse is verray sepulture (230) + Of mannes wit and his discrecioun. + In whom that drinke hath dominacioun, 560 + He can no conseil kepe, it is no drede. + Now kepe yow fro the whyte and fro the rede, + [308: T. 12497-12533.] + And namely fro the whyte wyn of Lepe, + That is to selle in Fish-strete or in Chepe. + This wyn of Spayne crepeth subtilly 565 + In othere wynes, growing faste by, + Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee, + That whan a man hath dronken draughtes three, (240) + And weneth that he be at hoom in Chepe, + He is in Spayne, right at the toune of Lepe, 570 + Nat at the Rochel, ne at Burdeux toun; + And thanne wol he seye, ‘Sampsoun, Sampsoun.’ + + But herkneth, lordings, o word, I yow preye, + That alle the sovereyn actes, dar I seye, + Of victories in the olde testament, 575 + Thurgh verray god, that is omnipotent, + Were doon in abstinence and in preyere; + Loketh the Bible, and ther ye may it lere. (250) + + 573. E. lordes; _rest_ lordinges, lordynges, lordyngs. + + Loke, Attila, the grete conquerour, + Deyde in his sleep, with shame and dishonour, 580 + Bledinge ay at his nose in dronkenesse; + A capitayn shoulde live in sobrenesse. + And over al this, avyseth yow right wel + What was comaunded un-to Lamuel— + Nat Samuel, but Lamuel, seye I— 585 + Redeth the Bible, and finde it expresly + Of wyn-yeving to hem that han Iustyse. + Na-more of this, for it may wel suffyse. (260) + + And now that I have spoke of glotonye, + Now wol I yow defenden hasardrye. 590 + Hasard is verray moder of lesinges, + And of deceite, and cursed forsweringes, + Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre, and wast also + Of catel and of tyme; and forthermo, + It is repreve and contrarie of honour 595 + For to ben holde a commune hasardour. + And ever the hyër he is of estaat, + The more is he holden desolaat. (270) + If that a prince useth hasardrye, + [309: T. 12534-12569.] + In alle governaunce and policye 600 + He is, as by commune opinoun, + Y-holde the lasse in reputacioun. + + 589. E. Hl. _omit_ that. 593. E. Blasphemyng; _rest_ Blaspheme. + + Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour, + Was sent to Corinthe, in ful greet honour, + Fro Lacidomie, to make hir alliaunce. 605 + And whan he cam, him happede, par chaunce, + That alle the grettest that were of that lond, + Pleyinge atte hasard he hem fond. (280) + For which, as sone as it mighte be, + He stal him hoom agayn to his contree, 610 + And seyde, ‘ther wol I nat lese my name; + Ne I wol nat take on me so greet defame, + Yow for to allye un-to none hasardours. + Sendeth othere wyse embassadours; + For, by my trouthe, me were lever dye, 615 + Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye. + For ye that been so glorious in honours + Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours (290) + As by my wil, ne as by my tretee.’ + This wyse philosophre thus seyde he. 620 + + 606. Cm. Cp. Hl. happede; _rest_ happed. 612. Hn. Ny; Cm. Nay (_both + put for_ Ne I) _which shews the scansion._ Hl. I nyl not. 614. _So + all_. + + Loke eek that, to the king Demetrius + The king of Parthes, as the book seith us, + Sente him a paire of dees of gold in scorn, + For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn; + For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun 625 + At no value or reputacioun. + Lordes may finden other maner pley + Honeste y-nough to dryve the day awey. (300) + + 621. E. Ln. Hl. _omit_ to. + + Now wol I speke of othes false and grete + A word or two, as olde bokes trete. 630 + Gret swering is a thing abhominable, + And false swering is yet more reprevable. + The heighe god forbad swering at al, + Witnesse on Mathew; but in special + Of swering seith the holy Ieremye, 635 + [310: T. 12570-12605.] + ‘Thou shalt seye sooth thyn othes, and nat lye, + And swere in dome, and eek in rightwisnesse;’ + But ydel swering is a cursednesse. (310) + Bihold and see, that in the firste table + Of heighe goddes hestes honurable, 640 + How that the seconde heste of him is this— + ‘Tak nat my name in ydel or amis.’ + Lo, rather he forbedeth swich swering + Than homicyde or many a cursed thing; + I seye that, as by ordre, thus it stondeth; 645 + This knowen, that his hestes understondeth, + How that the second heste of god is that. + And forther over, I wol thee telle al plat, (320) + That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous, + That of his othes is to outrageous. 650 + ‘By goddes precious herte, and by his nayles, + And by the blode of Crist, that it is in Hayles, + Seven is my chaunce, and thyn is cink and treye; + By goddes armes, if thou falsly pleye, + This dagger shal thurgh-out thyn herte go’— 655 + This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two, + Forswering, ire, falsnesse, homicyde. + Now, for the love of Crist that for us dyde, (330) + Leveth your othes, bothe grete and smale; + But, sirs, now wol I telle forth my tale. 660 + + 632. Cp. Ln. Hl. _om._ yet. 644. Hn. Cm. Hl. many a.; E. any; Cp. Pt. + Ln. eny other. 656. Hl. bicchid; Ln. becched; Hn. Cm. bicche; Pt. + thilk. 659. E. Hn. Lete; _rest_ Leueth. + + Thise ryotoures three, of whiche I telle, + Longe erst er pryme rong of any belle, + Were set hem in a taverne for to drinke; + And as they satte, they herde a belle clinke + Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave; 665 + That oon of hem gan callen to his knave, + ‘Go bet,’ quod he, ‘and axe redily, + What cors is this that passeth heer forby; (340) + And look that thou reporte his name wel.’ + + 661. E. Hn. Pt. Hl. riotours. 663. Cp. Pt. Hl. for; _rest om._ + + ‘Sir,’ quod this boy, ‘it nedeth never-a-del. 670 + It was me told, er ye cam heer, two houres; + [311: T. 12606-12642.] + He was, pardee, an old felawe of youres; + And sodeynly he was y-slayn to-night, + For-dronke, as he sat on his bench upright; + Ther cam a privee theef, men clepeth Deeth, 675 + That in this contree al the peple sleeth, + And with his spere he smoot his herte a-two, + And wente his wey with-outen wordes mo. (350) + He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence: + And, maister, er ye come in his presence, 680 + Me thinketh that it were necessarie + For to be war of swich an adversarie: + Beth redy for to mete him evermore. + Thus taughte me my dame, I sey na-more.’ + ‘By seinte Marie,’ seyde this taverner, 685 + ‘The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yeer, + Henne over a myle, with-in a greet village, + Both man and womman, child and hyne, and page. (360) + I trowe his habitacioun be there; + To been avysed greet wisdom it were, 690 + Er that he dide a man a dishonour.’ + ‘Ye, goddes armes,’ quod this ryotour, + ‘Is it swich peril with him for to mete? + I shal him seke by wey and eek by strete, + I make avow to goddes digne bones! 695 + Herkneth, felawes, we three been al ones; + Lat ech of us holde up his hond til other, (370) + And ech of us bicomen otheres brother, + And we wol sleen this false traytour Deeth; + He shal be slayn, which that so many sleeth, 700 + By goddes dignitee, er it be night.’ + + Togidres han thise three her trouthes plight, + To live and dyen ech of hem for other, + As though he were his owene y-boren brother. + And up they sterte al dronken, in this rage, 705 + And forth they goon towardes that village, + Of which the taverner had spoke biforn, + And many a grisly ooth than han they sworn, (380) + [312: T. 12643-12680.] + And Cristes blessed body they to-rente— + ‘Deeth shal be deed, if that they may him hente.’ 710 + + 704. E. yborn; Hn. ybore; Cm. bore; Pt. born; Cp. Ln. Hl. sworne. + 705. E. Hn. stirte. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. al; E. Cm. Pt. and. 710. they] + Cp. Pt. Ln. we. + + Whan they han goon nat fully half a myle, + Right as they wolde han troden over a style, + An old man and a povre with hem mette. + This olde man ful mekely hem grette, + And seyde thus, ‘now, lordes, god yow see!’ 715 + + The proudest of thise ryotoures three + Answerde agayn, ‘what? carl, with sory grace, + Why artow al forwrapped save thy face? (390) + Why livestow so longe in so greet age?’ + + This olde man gan loke in his visage, 720 + And seyde thus, ‘for I ne can nat finde + A man, though that I walked in-to Inde, + Neither in citee nor in no village, + That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age; + And therfore moot I han myn age stille, 725 + As longe time as it is goddes wille. + + Ne deeth, allas! ne wol nat han my lyf; + Thus walke I, lyk a restelees caityf, (400) + And on the ground, which is my modres gate, + I knokke with my staf, bothe erly and late, 730 + And seye, “leve moder, leet me in! + Lo, how I vanish, flesh, and blood, and skin! + Allas! whan shul my bones been at reste? + Moder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste, + That in my chambre longe tyme hath be, 735 + Ye! for an heyre clout to wrappe me!” + But yet to me she wol nat do that grace, + For which ful pale and welked is my face. (410) + + But, sirs, to yow it is no curteisye + To speken to an old man vileinye, 740 + But he trespasse in worde, or elles in dede. + In holy writ ye may your-self wel rede, + “Agayns an old man, hoor upon his heed, + Ye sholde aryse;” wherfor I yeve yow reed, + Ne dooth un-to an old man noon harm now, 745 + Na-more than ye wolde men dide to yow + [313: T. 12681-12718.] + In age, if that ye so longe abyde; + And god be with yow, wher ye go or ryde. (420) + I moot go thider as I have to go.’ + + 746. E. Hn. than that; _rest omit_ that. + + ‘Nay, olde cherl, by god, thou shall nat so,’ 750 + Seyde this other hasardour anon; + ‘Thou partest nat so lightly, by seint Iohn! + Thou spak right now of thilke traitour Deeth, + That in this contree alle our frendes sleeth. + Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his aspye, 755 + Tel wher he is, or thou shalt it abye, + By god, and by the holy sacrament! + For soothly thou art oon of his assent, (430) + To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef!’ + + ‘Now, sirs,’ quod he, ‘if that yow be so leef 760 + To finde Deeth, turne up this croked wey, + For in that grove I lafte him, by my fey, + Under a tree, and ther he wol abyde; + Nat for your boost he wol him no-thing hyde. + See ye that ook? right ther ye shul him finde. 765 + God save yow, that boghte agayn mankinde, + And yow amende!’—thus seyde this olde man. + And everich of thise ryotoures ran, (440) + Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde + Of florins fyne of golde y-coyned rounde 770 + Wel ny an eighte busshels, as hem thoughte. + No lenger thanne after Deeth they soughte, + But ech of hem so glad was of that sighte, + For that the florins been so faire and brighte, + That doun they sette hem by this precious hord. 775 + The worste of hem he spake the firste word. + + 760. E. Cm. ye; Hn. Hl. yow. + + ‘Brethren,’ quod he, ‘tak kepe what I seye; + My wit is greet, though that I bourde and pleye. (450) + This tresor hath fortune un-to us yiven, + In mirthe and Iolitee our lyf to liven, 780 + And lightly as it comth, so wol we spende. + Ey! goddes precious dignitee! who wende + To-day, that we sholde han so fair a grace? + But mighte this gold be caried fro this place + [314: T. 12719-12754.] + Hoom to myn hous, or elles un-to youres— 785 + For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures— + Than were we in heigh felicitee. + But trewely, by daye it may nat be; (460) + Men wolde seyn that we were theves stronge, + And for our owene tresor doon us honge. 790 + This tresor moste y-caried be by nighte + As wysly and as slyly as it mighte. + Wherfore I rede that cut among us alle + Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle; + And he that hath the cut with herte blythe 795 + Shal renne to the toune, and that ful swythe, + And bringe us breed and wyn ful prively. + And two of us shul kepen subtilly (470) + This tresor wel; and, if he wol nat tarie, + Whan it is night, we wol this tresor carie 800 + By oon assent, wher-as us thinketh best.’ + That oon of hem the cut broughte in his fest, + And bad hem drawe, and loke wher it wol falle; + And it fil on the yongeste of hem alle; + And forth toward the toun he wente anon. 805 + And al-so sone as that he was gon, + That oon of hem spak thus un-to that other, + ‘Thou knowest wel thou art my sworne brother, (480) + Thy profit wol I telle thee anon. + Thou woost wel that our felawe is agon; 810 + And heer is gold, and that ful greet plentee, + That shal departed been among us three. + But natheles, if I can shape it so + That it departed were among us two, + Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?’ 815 + + 779. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. yeuen. 780. E. Ioliftee. 796. Hl. Ln. the; + _rest omit._ 803. E. hym; _rest_ hem. E. Hn. Cp. wol; Hl. wil; Cm. + Pt. Ln. wolde. 807. E. _omits_ of hem. 808. E. Hn. Pt. sworn; Cm. + swore: Cp. Ln. Hl. sworne. + + That other answerde, ‘I noot how that may be; + He woot how that the gold is with us tweye, + What shal we doon, what shal we to him seye?’ (490) + + ‘Shal it be conseil?’ seyde the firste shrewe, + ‘And I shal tellen thee, in wordes fewe, 820 + [315: T. 12755-12790.] + What we shal doon, and bringe it wel aboute.’ + + 820. Hl. the (=thee); _rest omit._ E. Hn. Cm. in a; _rest omit_ a. + + ‘I graunte,’ quod that other, ‘out of doute, + That, by my trouthe, I wol thee nat biwreye.’ + + 823. E. shal; _rest_ wol (wil, wyl). + + ‘Now,’ quod the firste, ‘thou woost wel we be tweye, + And two of us shul strenger be than oon. 825 + Look whan that he is set, and right anoon + Arys, as though thou woldest with him pleye; + And I shal ryve him thurgh the sydes tweye (500) + Whyl that thou strogelest with him as in game, + And with thy dagger look thou do the same; 830 + And than shal al this gold departed be, + My dere freend, bitwixen me and thee; + Than may we bothe our lustes al fulfille, + And pleye at dees right at our owene wille.’ + And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye 835 + To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye. + + 826. E. Hn. Cm. that right; Cp. and thanne; Pt. Ln. Hl. and that. _I + take_ and _from_ Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl., _and_ right _from_ E. Hn. Cm. + + This yongest, which that wente un-to the toun, + Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun (510) + The beautee of thise florins newe and brighte. + ‘O lord!’ quod he, ‘if so were that I mighte 840 + Have al this tresor to my-self allone, + Ther is no man that liveth under the trone + Of god, that sholde live so mery as I!’ + And atte laste the feend, our enemy, + Putte in his thought that he shold poyson beye, 845 + With which he mighte sleen his felawes tweye; + For-why the feend fond him in swich lyvinge, + That he had leve him to sorwe bringe, (520) + For this was outrely his fulle entente + To sleen hem bothe, and never to repente. 850 + And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he tarie, + Into the toun, un-to a pothecarie, + And preyed him, that he him wolde selle + Som poyson, that he mighte his rattes quelle; + And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe, 855 + That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde y-slawe, + [316: T. 12791-12826.] + And fayn he wolde wreke him, if he mighte, + On vermin, that destroyed him by nighte. (530) + + 847. E. Hn. foond. 848. E. Cm. hem; _rest_ hym _or_ him. 853. Hn. + preyed; Cm. preyede; _rest_ preyde. + + The pothecarie answerde, ‘and thou shalt have + A thing that, al-so god my soule save, 860 + In al this world ther nis no creature, + That ete or dronke hath of this confiture + Noght but the mountance of a corn of whete, + That he ne shal his lyf anon forlete; + Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lasse whyle 865 + Than thou wolt goon a paas nat but a myle; + This poyson is so strong and violent.’ + + 861. E. Hn. Cm. is; _rest_ nys _or_ nis. + + This cursed man hath in his hond y-hent (540) + This poyson in a box, and sith he ran + In-to the nexte strete, un-to a man, 870 + And borwed [of] him large botels three; + And in the two his poyson poured he; + The thridde he kepte clene for his drinke. + For al the night he shoop him for to swinke + In caryinge of the gold out of that place. 875 + And whan this ryotour, with sory grace, + Had filled with wyn his grete botels three, + To his felawes agayn repaireth he. (550) + + 871. _All_ omit of. 873. E. his owene; _rest omit_ owene. + + What nedeth it to sermone of it more? + For right as they had cast his deeth bifore, 880 + Right so they han him slayn, and that anon. + And whan that this was doon, thus spak that oon, + ‘Now lat us sitte and drinke, and make us merie, + And afterward we wol his body berie.’ + And with that word it happed him, par cas, 885 + To take the botel ther the poyson was, + And drank, and yaf his felawe drinke also, + For which anon they storven bothe two. (560) + + 880. E. so as; _rest omit_ so. + + But, certes, I suppose that Avicen + Wroot never in no canon, ne in no fen, 890 + Mo wonder signes of empoisoning + Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir ending. + [317: T. 12827-12861.] + Thus ended been thise homicydes two, + And eek the false empoysoner also. + + 891. E. Hn. Cm. signes; Cp. Ln. Hl. sorwes; Pt. sorowes. + + O cursed sinne, ful of cursednesse! 895 + O traytours homicyde, o wikkednesse! + O glotonye, luxurie, and hasardrye! + Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileinye (570) + And othes grete, of usage and of pryde! + Allas! mankinde, how may it bityde, 900 + That to thy creatour which that thee wroghte, + And with his precious herte-blood thee boghte, + Thou art so fals and so unkinde, allas! + + 895. E. Hn. Cm. of alle; Cp. Ln. Hl. ful of; Pt. ful of al. + + Now, goode men, god forgeve yow your trespas, + And ware yow fro the sinne of avaryce. 905 + Myn holy pardoun may yow alle waryce, + So that ye offre nobles or sterlinges, + Or elles silver broches, spones, ringes. (580) + Boweth your heed under this holy bulle! + Cometh up, ye wyves, offreth of your wolle! 910 + Your name I entre heer in my rolle anon; + In-to the blisse of hevene shul ye gon; + I yow assoile, by myn heigh power, + Yow that wol offre, as clene and eek as cleer + As ye were born; and, lo, sirs, thus I preche. 915 + And Iesu Crist, that is our soules leche, + So graunte yow his pardon to receyve; + For that is best; I wol yow nat deceyve. (590) + + 910. E. Com; _rest_ Cometh, Comyth. 911. E. Hl. names; _rest_ name. + + But sirs, o word forgat I in my tale, + I have relikes and pardon in my male, 920 + As faire as any man in Engelond, + Whiche were me yeven by the popes hond. + If any of yow wol, of devocioun, + Offren, and han myn absolucioun, + Cometh forth anon, and kneleth heer adoun, 925 + And mekely receyveth my pardoun: + Or elles, taketh pardon as ye wende, + [318: T. 12862-12897.] + Al newe and fresh, at every tounes ende, (600) + So that ye offren alwey newe and newe + Nobles and pens, which that be gode and trewe. 930 + It is an honour to everich that is heer, + That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer + Tassoille yow, in contree as ye ryde, + For aventures which that may bityde. + Peraventure ther may falle oon or two 935 + Doun of his hors, and breke his nekke atwo. + Look which a seuretee is it to yow alle + That I am in your felaweship y-falle, (610) + That may assoille yow, bothe more and lasse, + Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe, 940 + I rede that our hoste heer shal biginne, + For he is most envoluped in sinne. + Com forth, sir hoste, and offre first anon, + And thou shalt kisse the reliks everichon, + Ye, for a grote! unbokel anon thy purs.’ 945 + + 925. E. Hn. Com; _rest_ Cometh, Comyth. 928. E. Hn. Cm. myles; _rest_ + tounes. 930. E. Hn. or; _rest_ and. 935. E. fallen. 941. E. Cm. + heere; _rest om._ 944. E. my; Cm. myne; _rest_ the. + + ‘Nay, nay,’ quod he, ‘than have I Cristes curs! + Lat be,’ quod he, ‘it shal nat be, so theech! + Thou woldest make me kisse thyn old breech, (620) + And swere it were a relik of a seint, + Thogh it were with thy fundement depeint! 950 + But by the croys which that seint Eleyne fond, + I wolde I hadde thy coillons in myn hond + In stede of relikes or of seintuarie; + Lat cutte hem of, I wol thee helpe hem carie; + Thay shul be shryned in an hogges tord.’ 955 + + 947. Hn. thee ich; _rest_ theech. 954. Cp. Ln. the helpe; Pt. Hl. + helpe; E. with thee; Cm. from the; Hn. thee. + + This pardoner answerde nat a word; + So wrooth he was, no word ne wolde he seye. + + ‘Now,’ quod our host, ‘I wol no lenger pleye (630) + With thee, ne with noon other angry man.’ + But right anon the worthy knight bigan, 960 + Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough, + ‘Na-more of this, for it is right y-nough; + Sir pardoner, be glad and mery of chere; + [319: T. 12898-12902.] + And ye, sir host, that been to me so dere, + I prey yow that ye kisse the pardoner. 965 + And pardoner, I prey thee, drawe thee neer, + And, as we diden, lat us laughe and pleye.’ (639) + Anon they kiste, and riden forth hir weye. [T. 12902. + + =Here is ended the Pardoners Tale.= + + (_For_ T. 12903, _see_ p. 165). + + COLOPHON. _From_ E. Hn.; Hl. Here endeth the pardoneres tale. + +[320: T. 5583-5602.] + + * * * * * + +GROUP D. + +THE WIFE OF BATH’S PROLOGUE. + +T. 5583 sqq.; _for_ T. 5582, _see_ p. 164.) + + * * * * * + + =The prologe of the Wyves Tale of Bathe.= + + ‘Experience, though noon auctoritee + Were in this world, were right y-nough to me + To speke of wo that is in mariage; + For, lordinges, sith I twelf yeer was of age, + Thonked be god that is eterne on lyve, 5 + Housbondes at chirche-dore I have had fyve; + For I so ofte have y-wedded be; + And alle were worthy men in hir degree. + But me was told certeyn, nat longe agon is, + That sith that Crist ne wente never but onis 10 + To wedding in the Cane of Galilee, + That by the same ensample taughte he me + That I ne sholde wedded be but ones. + Herke eek, lo! which a sharp word for the nones + Besyde a welle Iesus, god and man, 15 + Spak in repreve of the Samaritan: + “Thou hast y-had fyve housbondes,” quod he, + “And thilke man, the which that hath now thee, + Is noght thyn housbond;” thus seyde he certeyn; + What that he mente ther-by, I can nat seyn; 20 + [321: T. 5603-5636.] + But that I axe, why that the fifthe man + Was noon housbond to the Samaritan? + How manye mighte she have in mariage? + Yet herde I never tellen in myn age + Upon this nombre diffinicioun; 25 + Men may devyne and glosen up and doun. + But wel I woot expres, with-oute lye, + God bad us for to wexe and multiplye; + That gentil text can I wel understonde. + Eek wel I woot he seyde, myn housbonde 30 + Sholde lete fader and moder, and take me; + But of no nombre mencioun made he, + Of bigamye or of octogamye; + Why sholde men speke of it vileinye? + + HEADING. _So_ E.; Hn. Here bigynneth the prologe of the tale of the Wyf + of Bathe; Hl. Here bygynneth the prologe of the wyf of Bathe. 5. Hn. + Pt. Ln. Thonked; E. Ythonked. 7. _So_ E.; _rest_ If (Hl. For) I so + ofte myghte haue wedded be. 12. E. _om._ That. E. thoughte; _rest_ + taughte he. 14. E. Herkne; Hl. Herken; _rest_ Herke (Herk). E. Hl. + _om._ lo. 18. E. And that; _rest_ And that ilke (_read_ thilke). + 29. E. _om._ wel. 31. E. take; Hl. folwe; _rest_ take to. + + Lo, here the wyse king, dan Salomon; 35 + I trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon; + As, wolde god, it leveful were to me + To be refresshed half so ofte as he! + Which yifte of god hadde he for alle his wyvis! + No man hath swich, that in this world alyve is. 40 + God woot, this noble king, as to my wit, + The firste night had many a mery fit + With ech of hem, so wel was him on lyve! + Blessed be god that I have wedded fyve! + Welcome the sixte, whan that ever he shal. 45 + For sothe, I wol nat kepe me chast in al; + Whan myn housbond is fro the world y-gon, + Som Cristen man shal wedde me anon; + For thanne thapostle seith, that I am free + To wedde, a goddes half, wher it lyketh me. 50 + He seith that to be wedded is no sinne; + Bet is to be wedded than to brinne. + What rekketh me, thogh folk seye vileinye + Of shrewed Lameth and his bigamye? + [322: T. 5637-5672.] + I woot wel Abraham was an holy man, 55 + And Iacob eek, as ferforth as I can; + And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than two; + And many another holy man also. + Whan saugh ye ever, in any maner age, + That hye god defended mariage 60 + By expres word? I pray you, telleth me; + Or wher comanded he virginitee? + I woot as wel as ye, it is no drede, + Thapostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede; + He seyde, that precept ther-of hadde he noon. 65 + Men may conseille a womman to been oon, + But conseilling is no comandement; + He putte it in our owene Iugement. + For hadde god comanded maydenhede, + Thanne hadde he dampned wedding with the dede; 70 + And certes, if ther were no seed y-sowe, + Virginitee, wher-of than sholde it growe? + Poul dorste nat comanden atte leste + A thing of which his maister yaf noon heste. + The dart is set up for virginitee; 75 + Cacche who so may, who renneth best lat see. + + 37. _So all but_ E., _which has_ it were leueful vn-to me. 42. E. + myrie; Hn. murye. 44. E. Hl. Yblessed; _rest_ Blessed (Blissed). + 46. E. chaast. 49. E. _om._ that. 50. Hl. wher so it be; _rest_ + wher it liketh me (_correctly; for_ a goddes half = a god’s half). + 51. E. _om._ that. 52. E. Hn. Hl. Bet; _rest_ Better. 54. E. Hl. + of; _rest_ his. 58. E. _om._ holy. 59. Hl. Whan; E. Whanne; _rest_ + Where (Wher). E. _om._ any. 64. E. Whan thapostel speketh. 67. E. + nat; _rest_ no (non). 71. E. certein. 73. E. Hl. _ins._ ne _after_ + Poul. 75. E. of; Cp. fro; Hl. on; _rest_ for. + + But this word is nat take of every wight, + But ther as god list give it of his might. + I woot wel, that thapostel was a mayde; + But natheless, thogh that he wroot and sayde, 80 + He wolde that every wight were swich as he, + Al nis but conseil to virginitee; + And for to been a wyf, he yaf me leve + Of indulgence; so it is no repreve + To wedde me, if that my make dye, 85 + With-oute excepcioun of bigamye. + Al were it good no womman for to touche, + He mente as in his bed or in his couche; + For peril is bothe fyr and tow tassemble; + Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble. 90 + [323: T. 5673-5706.] + This is al and som, he heeld virginitee + More parfit than wedding in freletee. + Freeltee clepe I, but-if that he and she + Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee. + + 77. E. Hl. taken. 78. E. Cm. lust; Hn. Hl. list. 79. E. _om._ + that. 85. E. Cm. _om._ that. 89. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. to assemble. 91. + E. Cm that; Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. he heeld; Hl. he holdith. 92. E. Cm. + profiteth; _rest_ parfit. 94. Hn. Hl. leden; _rest_ lede. + + I graunte it wel, I have noon envye, 95 + Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye; + Hem lyketh to be clene, body and goost, + Of myn estaat I nil nat make no boost. + For wel ye knowe, a lord in his houshold, + He hath nat every vessel al of gold; 100 + Somme been of tree, and doon hir lord servyse. + God clepeth folk to him in sondry wyse, + And everich hath of god a propre yifte, + Som this, som that,—as him lyketh shifte. + + 104. _So all but_ Hl. Ln. _which have_ to schifte. _Perhaps read_ right + as him. + + Virginitee is greet perfeccioun, 105 + And continence eek with devocioun. + But Crist, that of perfeccioun is welle, + Bad nat every wight he shold go selle + All that he hadde, and give it to the pore, + And in swich wyse folwe hime and his fore. 110 + He spak to hem that wolde live parfitly; + And lordinges, by your leve, that am nat I. + I wol bistowe the flour of al myn age + In the actes and in fruit of mariage. + + 108. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ he. 109, 110. E poore, foore; _and_ foore _is + glossed by_ steppes. 113. E Hl. _om._ al. + + Telle me also, to what conclusioun 115 + Were membres maad of generacioun, + And for what profit was a wight y-wroght? + Trusteth right wel, they wer nat maad for noght. + Glose who-so wole, and seye bothe up and doun, + That they were maked for purgacioun + Of urine, and our bothe thinges smale + Were eek to knowe a femele from a male, + And for noone other cause: sey ye no? + The experience woot wel it is noght so; + [324: T. 5707-5741.] + So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe, 125 + I sey this, that they maked been for bothe, + This is to seye, for office, and for ese + Of engendrure, ther we nat god displese. + Why sholde men elles in hir bokes sette, + That man shal yelde to his wyf hir dette? 130 + Now wher-with sholde he make his payement, + If he ne used his sely instrument? + Than were they maad up-on a creature, + To purge uryne, and eek for engendrure. + + 116 E. ymaad. 120. Cm. makyd; _rest_ maad; _see_ l. 126. 121. _So_ + Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln.; E. vryne bothe and thynges. 122. E. Cm. And; Hn. Hl. + Was; _rest_ Were. 126. this] E. yis. E. Cm. beth maked. 130. E. + Cm. a man. 133. E. Thanne. 134. E. Cm. _om._ eek. + + But I seye noght that every wight is holde, 135 + That hath swich harneys as I to yow tolde, + To goon and usen hem in engendrure; + Than sholde men take of chastitee no cure. + Crist was a mayde, and shapen as a man, + And many a seint, sith that the world bigan, 140 + Yet lived they ever in parfit chastitee. + I nil envye no virginitee; + Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed, + And lat us wyves hoten barly-breed; + And yet with barly-breed, Mark telle can, 145 + Our lord Iesu refresshed many a man. + In swich estaat as god hath cleped us + I wol persevere, I nam nat precious. + In wyfhode I wol use myn instrument + As frely as my maker hath it sent. 150 + If I be daungerous, god yeve me sorwe! + Myn housbond shal it have bothe eve and morwe, + Whan that him list com forth and paye his dette. + An housbonde I wol have, I nil nat lette, + Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral, 155 + And have his tribulacioun with-al + Up-on his flessh, whyl that I am his wyf. + I have the power duringe al my lyf + Up-on his propre body, and noght he. + [325: T. 5742-5776.] + Right thus the apostel tolde it un-to me; 160 + And bad our housbondes for to love us weel. + Al this sentence me lyketh every-deel’— + + 136. Hn. Hl. to yow; E. Cm. of. 138. E. Cm. They shul nat; _rest_ + Than sholde men. 140. E. Cm. _om._ that (_perhaps read_ së-int). + 142. E. Cm. nil nat. 144. E. hoten; Hn. Cm. hote; Cp. Pt. Ln. ete(!); + Hl. eten(!). 146. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ Iesu. 148. E. Hn. precius. + + Up sterte the Pardoner, and that anon, + ‘Now dame,’ quod he, ‘by god and by seint Iohn, + Ye been a noble prechour in this cas! 165 + I was aboute to wedde a wyf; allas! + What sholde I bye it on my flesh so dere? + Yet hadde I lever wedde no wyf to-yere!’ + + 163. E. Hn. stirte. + + ‘Abyde!’ quod she, ‘my tale is nat bigonne; + Nay, thou shalt drinken of another tonne 170 + Er that I go, shal savoure wors than ale. + And whan that I have told thee forth my tale + Of tribulacioun in mariage, + Of which I am expert in al myn age, + This to seyn, my-self have been the whippe;— 175 + Than maystow chese whether thou wolt sippe + Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche. + Be war of it, er thou to ny approche; + For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten. + Who-so that nil be war by othere men, 180 + By him shul othere men corrected be. + The same wordes wryteth Ptholomee; + Rede in his Almageste, and take it there.’ + + 172. Hn. Hl. thee; _rest om._ 173. E. Cm. that is in (_for_ in). + 176. E. wheither. 177. E. Cm. that; _rest_ thilke. 180. Hn. nyle; + Hl. nyl; _rest_ wol nat. 182. Ln. tholome; Pt. ptholome; Hl. + p_ro_tholome; E. Hn. Cm. Cp. Protholome(!). 183. E. Cm. Rede it in. + + ‘Dame, I wolde praye yow, if your wil it were,’ + Seyde this Pardoner, ‘as ye bigan, 185 + Telle forth your tale, spareth for no man, + And teche us yonge men of your praktike.’ + + 184. E. Cm. _om._ yow. + + ‘Gladly,’ quod she, ‘sith it may yow lyke. + But yet I praye to al this companye, + If that I speke after my fantasye, 190 + As taketh not a-grief of that I seye; + For myn entente nis but for to pleye. + + 188. E. sires; Cm. sire; _rest_ quod she. 191. E. Cm. _om._ of. + 192. Hn. nis; E. Cm. is; _rest_ is not. + + Now sires, now wol I telle forth my tale.— + As ever mote I drinken wyn or ale, + [326: T. 5777-5811.] + I shal seye sooth, tho housbondes that I hadde, 195 + As three of hem were gode and two were badde. + The three men were gode, and riche, and olde; + Unnethe mighte they the statut holde + In which that they were bounden un-to me. + Ye woot wel what I mene of this, pardee! 200 + As help me god, I laughe whan I thinke + How pitously a-night I made hem swinke; + And by my fey, I tolde of it no stoor. + They had me yeven hir gold and hir tresoor; + Me neded nat do lenger diligence 205 + To winne hir love, or doon hem reverence. + They loved me so wel, by god above, + That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love! + A wys womman wol sette hir ever in oon + To gete hir love, ther as she hath noon. 210 + But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond, + And sith they hadde me yeven all hir lond, + What sholde I taken hede hem for to plese, + But it were for my profit and myn ese? + I sette hem so a-werke, by my fey, 215 + That many a night they songen “weilawey!” + The bacoun was nat fet for hem, I trowe, + That som men han in Essex at Dunmowe. + I governed hem so wel, after my lawe, + That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe 220 + To bringe me gaye thinges fro the fayre. + They were ful glad whan I spak to hem fayre; + For god it woot, I chidde hem spitously. + + 193. E. Hn. Cm. sire. 195. E. of tho; Hl. Cm. of; Hn. Cp. Pt. tho; + Ln. the. 197. Cp. Pt. Ln. men; _rest om._ 210. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. ye + ther; _but read_ lov-ë. 215. E. Hn. a-werk; _rest_ a-werke. 220. E. + was ful blisful; Cm. was blysful and ful. + + Now herkneth, how I bar me proprely, + Ye wyse wyves, that can understonde. 225 + + 224. E. baar. + + Thus shul ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde; + For half so boldely can ther no man + Swere and lyen as a womman can. + I sey nat this by wyves that ben wyse, + [327: T. 5812-5845.] + But-if it be whan they hem misavyse. 230 + A wys wyf, if that she can hir good, + Shal beren him on hond the cow is wood, + And take witnesse of hir owene mayde + Of hir assent; but herkneth how I sayde. + + 226. E. beren: _om._ wrong. 228. MSS. lye; _read_ lyen. Hn. Ln. a + womman kan; Pt. womman can; _rest_ kan a womman. 231. E. Hn. Cm. A + wys; Hl. I-wis a; _rest_ wise. _Read_ wys-e? 232. Hl. beren; _rest_ + bere. Cm. cou; Pt. Ln. cowe. + + ‘Sir olde kaynard, is this thyn array? 235 + Why is my neighebores wyf so gay? + She is honoured over-al ther she goth; + I sitte at hoom, I have no thrifty cloth. + What dostow at my neighebores hous? + Is she so fair? artow so amorous? 240 + What rowne ye with our mayde? _benedicite_! + Sir olde lechour, lat thy Iapes be! + And if I have a gossib or a freend, + With-outen gilt, thou chydest as a feend, + If that I walke or pleye un-to his hous! 245 + Thou comest hoom as dronken as a mous, + And prechest on thy bench, with yvel preef! + Thou seist to me, it is a greet meschief + To wedde a povre womman, for costage; + And if that she be riche, of heigh parage, 250 + Than seistow that it is a tormentrye + To suffre hir pryde and hir malencolye. + And if that she be fair, thou verray knave, + Thou seyst that every holour wol hir have; + She may no whyle in chastitee abyde, 255 + That is assailled up-on ech a syde. + + 242. E. Pt. Hl. lecchour. 250. E. Cm. _om._ that. E. Cm. Hl. and + of; _rest_ of. 251. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ that. 252. E. soffren. + + Thou seyst, som folk desyre us for richesse, + Somme for our shap, and somme for our fairnesse; + And som, for she can outher singe or daunce, + And som, for gentillesse and daliaunce; 260 + Som, for hir handes and hir armes smale; + Thus goth al to the devel by thy tale. + Thou seyst, men may nat kepe a castel-wal; + [328: T. 5846-5880.] + It may so longe assailled been over-al. + + 257. E. Cm. that som. E. Hn. Cm. desiren. 258. E. Cm. _om._ and. + 259. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ outher. E. Cm. Hl. and (_for_ or). 260. and] + E. Cm. and som for; Hl. or. + + And if that she be foul, thou seist that she 265 + Coveiteth every man that she may se; + For as a spaynel she wol on him lepe, + Til that she finde som man hir to chepe; + Ne noon so grey goos goth ther in the lake, + As, seistow, that wol been with-oute make. 270 + And seyst, it is an hard thing for to welde + A thing that no man wol, his thankes, helde. + Thus seistow, lorel, whan thow goost to bedde; + And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde, + Ne no man that entendeth un-to hevene. 275 + With wilde thonder-dint and firy levene + Mote thy welked nekke be to-broke! + + 269. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. ther; _rest om._ 270. Cp. Pt. Ln. that; _rest + om._ 271, 272. Hn. Hl. wolde, holde. 277. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. welked; + Cm. wekede; Cp. Hl. wicked. + + Thow seyst that dropping houses, and eek smoke, + And chyding wyves, maken men to flee + Out of hir owene hous; a! _benedicite_! 280 + What eyleth swich an old man for to chyde? + + 280. E. Hn. Cp. houses. + + Thow seyst, we wyves wol our vyces hyde + Til we be fast, and than we wol hem shewe; + Wel may that be a proverbe of a shrewe! + + 282. E. Cm. that we. + + Thou seist, that oxen, asses, hors, and houndes, 285 + They been assayed at diverse stoundes; + Bacins, lavours, er that men hem bye, + Spones and stoles, and al swich housbondrye, + And so been pottes, clothes, and array; + But folk of wyves maken noon assay 290 + Til they be wedded; olde dotard shrewe! + And than, seistow, we wol oure vices shewe. + + 286. E. assayd; Pt. Ln. assaide; _rest_ assayed. 292. Hn. Hl. + _supply_ And. + + Thou seist also, that it displeseth me + But-if that thou wolt preyse my beautee, + And but thou poure alwey up-on my face, 295 + And clepe me “faire dame” in every place; + And but thou make a feste on thilke day + That I was born, and make me fresh and gay, + [329: T. 5881-5913.] + And but thou do to my norice honour, + And to my chamberere with-inne my bour, 300 + And to my fadres folk and his allyes;— + Thus seistow, olde barel ful of lyes! + + 295. Hl. pore; _rest_ poure. 300. Cm. chaumberere; Hl. chamberer; E. + Hn. chambrere. + + And yet of our apprentice Ianekyn, + For his crisp heer, shyninge as gold so fyn, + And for he squiereth me bothe up and doun, 305 + Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun; + I wol hym noght, thogh thou were deed to-morwe. + + 303. E. Ianekyn; _rest_ Iankyn. + + But tel me this, why hydestow, with sorwe, + The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me? + It is my good as wel as thyn, pardee. 310 + What wenestow make an idiot of our dame? + Now by that lord, that called is seint Iame, + Thou shalt nat bothe, thogh that thou were wood, + Be maister of my body and of my good; + That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree thyne yën; 315 + What nedeth thee of me to enquere or spyën? + I trowe, thou woldest loke me in thy chiste! + Thou sholdest seye, “wyf, go wher thee liste, + Tak your disport, I wol nat leve no talis; + I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame Alis.” 320 + We love no man that taketh kepe or charge + Wher that we goon, we wol ben at our large. + + 308. E. Cm. Hl. _om._ this. 309. thy] E. Cm. my. 311. E. Cm. to + make; _rest om._ to. 313. Hn. Ln. that; _rest om._ 315. Hl. yen; E. + eyen. 316. E. nedeth thee; _rest_ helpeth it. Hn. Cp. Ln. _om._ + to. Hl. tenqueren; _read_ t’enquere. 319. _All but_ Cp. Ln. _om._ + not (nat). 320. E. Pt. Alys; Ln. Ales. + + Of alle men y-blessed moot he be, + The wyse astrologien Dan Ptholome, + That seith this proverbe in his Almageste, 325 + “Of alle men his wisdom is the hyeste, + That rekketh never who hath the world in honde.” + By this proverbe thou shalt understonde, + Have thou y-nogh, what thar thee recche or care + How merily that othere folkes fare? 330 + For certeyn, olde dotard, by your leve, + [330: T. 5914-5949.] + Ye shul have queynte right y-nough at eve. + He is to greet a nigard that wol werne + A man to lighte his candle at his lanterne; + He shal have never the lasse light, pardee; 335 + Have thou y-nough, thee thar nat pleyne thee. + + 323. Hn. Hl. yblessed; _rest_ blessed. 324. MSS. Daun. E. + Protholome; Hn. Cm. Hl. P_ro_tholome. 326. E. Cm. _ins._ the _before_ + hyeste; (_read_ th’ hy-est-e). 328. Cp. Pt. Ln. shal wel. 330. E. + myrily. 333. E. Cm. wolde. + + Thou seyst also, that if we make us gay + With clothing and with precious array, + That it is peril of our chastitee; + And yet, with sorwe, thou most enforce thee, 340 + And seye thise wordes in the apostles name, + “In habit, maad with chastitee and shame, + Ye wommen shul apparaille yow,” quod he, + “And noght in tressed heer and gay perree, + As perles, ne with gold, ne clothes riche;” 345 + After thy text, ne after thy rubriche + I wol nat wirche as muchel as a gnat. + Thou seydest this, that I was lyk a cat; + For who-so wolde senge a cattes skin, + Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in; 350 + And if the cattes skin be slyk and gay, + She wol nat dwelle in house half a day, + But forth she wole, er any day be dawed, + To shewe hir skin, and goon a-caterwawed; + This is to seye, if I be gay, sir shrewe, 355 + I wol renne out, my borel for to shewe. + + 348. Hl. thus; Cp. Pt. Ln. als; _rest_ this. 350. _All_ his. + + Sire olde fool, what eyleth thee to spyën? + Thogh thou preye Argus, with his hundred yën, + To be my warde-cors, as he can best, + In feith, he shal nat kepe me but me lest; 360 + Yet coude I make his berd, so moot I thee. + + 358. Hl. yen; E. eyen. 359. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. -corps. 360. E. + _om. 2nd_ me. + + Thou seydest eek, that ther ben thinges three, + The whiche thinges troublen al this erthe, + And that no wight ne may endure the ferthe; + O leve sir shrewe, Iesu shorte thy lyf! 365 + Yet prechestow, and seyst, an hateful wyf + Y-rekened is for oon of thise meschances. + [331: T. 5950-5982.] + Been ther none othere maner resemblances + That ye may lykne your parables to, + But-if a sely wyf be oon of tho? 370 + + 364. _All but_ Pt. Ln. _om._ ne. 366. E. and (_for_ an). 368. Cp. + Pt. Ln. maner; Cm. of these; Hl. of thy; E. _om._ + + Thou lykenest wommanes love to helle, + To bareyne lond, ther water may not dwelle. + Thou lyknest it also to wilde fyr; + The more it brenneth, the more it hath desyr + To consume every thing that brent wol be. 375 + Thou seyst, that right as wormes shende a tree, + Right so a wyf destroyeth hir housbonde; + This knowe they that been to wyves bonde.’ + + 371. Cp. Ln. Hl. likenest; Cm. likkenyst; E. Hn. Pt. liknest. E. + wommennes. 375. E. Hn. consumen. 376. Cp. Pt. that; _rest om._ + Hn. Cp. Pt. shende; E. Pt. shendeth. + + Lordinges, right thus, as ye have understonde, + Bar I stifly myne olde housbondes on honde, 380 + That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse; + And al was fals, but that I took witnesse + On Ianekin and on my nece also. + O lord, the peyne I dide hem and the wo, + Ful giltelees, by goddes swete pyne! 385 + For as an hors I coude byte and whyne. + I coude pleyne, thogh I were in the gilt, + Or elles often tyme hadde I ben spilt. + Who-so that first to mille comth, first grint; + I pleyned first, so was our werre y-stint. 390 + They were ful glad to excusen hem ful blyve + Of thing of which they never agilte hir lyve. + + 383. Hl. vpon. 385. E. Hn. giltlees. 389. _So_ Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln.; E. + Who so comth first to mille; Hl. Who-so first cometh to the mylle. + 391. E. Cm. _om. 2nd_ ful. + + Of wenches wolde I beren him on honde, + Whan that for syk unnethes mighte he stonde. + Yet tikled it his herte, for that he 395 + Wende that I hadde of him so greet chiertee. + I swoor that al my walkinge out by nighte + Was for tespye wenches that he dighte; + Under that colour hadde I many a mirthe. + For al swich wit is yeven us in our birthe; 400 + [332: T. 5983-6019.] + Deceite, weping, spinning god hath yive + To wommen kindely, whyl they may live. + And thus of o thing I avaunte me, + Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech degree, + By sleighte, or force, or by som maner thing, 405 + As by continuel murmur or grucching; + Namely a bedde hadden they meschaunce, + Ther wolde I chyde and do hem no plesaunce; + I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde, + If that I felte his arm over my syde, 410 + Til he had maad his raunson un-to me; + Than wolde I suffre him do his nycetee. + And ther-fore every man this tale I telle, + Winne who-so may, for al is for to selle. + With empty hand men may none haukes lure; 415 + For winning wolde I al his lust endure, + And make me a feyned appetyt; + And yet in bacon hadde I never delyt; + That made me that ever I wolde hem chyde. + For thogh the pope had seten hem biside, 420 + I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord. + For by my trouthe, I quitte hem word for word. + As help me verray god omnipotent, + Thogh I right now sholde make my testament, + I ne owe hem nat a word that it nis quit. 425 + I broghte it so aboute by my wit, + That they moste yeve it up, as for the beste; + Or elles hadde we never been in reste. + For thogh he loked as a wood leoun, + Yet sholde he faille of his conclusioun. 430 + + 393. E. hym; _rest_ hem; _but see_ 394. 395. E. it; _rest_ I. 400. + E. thyng was; _rest_ wit is. 401. E. yeue. 402. _All but_ Hn. Hl. + _ins._ that _before_ they. 406. E. continueel. 428. E. rest. + + Thanne wolde I seye, ‘gode lief, tak keep + How mekely loketh Wilkin oure sheep; + Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke! + Ye sholde been al pacient and meke, + And han a swete spyced conscience, 435 + Sith ye so preche of Iobes pacience. + Suffreth alwey, sin ye so wel can preche; + [333: T. 6020-6056.] + And but ye do, certain we shal yow teche + That it is fair to have a wyf in pees. + Oon of us two moste bowen, doutelees; 440 + And sith a man is more resonable + Than womman is, ye moste been suffrable. + What eyleth yow to grucche thus and grone? + Is it for ye wolde have my queynte allone? + Why taak it al, lo, have it every-deel; 445 + Peter! I shrewe yow but ye love it weel! + For if I wolde selle my _bele chose,_ + I coude walke as fresh as is a rose; + But I wol kepe it for your owene tooth. + Ye be to blame, by god, I sey yow sooth.’ 450 + + 431. Cp. Pt. Hl. _ins._ now _before_ goode. 445. E. Hn. Pt. Wy. + + Swiche maner wordes hadde we on honde. + Now wol I speken of my fourthe housbonde. + + My fourthe housbonde was a revelour, + This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour; + And I was yong and ful of ragerye, 455 + Stiborn and strong, and Ioly as a pye. + Wel coude I daunce to an harpe smale, + And singe, y-wis, as any nightingale, + Whan I had dronke a draughte of swete wyn. + Metellius, the foule cherl, the swyn, 460 + That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf, + For she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been his wyf, + He sholde nat han daunted me fro drinke; + And, after wyn, on Venus moste I thinke: + For al so siker as cold engendreth hayl, 465 + A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl. + In womman vinolent is no defence, + This knowen lechours by experience. + + 456. Cm. Cp. Ln. Styborne; Pt. Hl. Stiborn; E. Hn. Stibourne. 464. + Cm. muste; Ln. must. 467. E. Hl. wommen. + + But, lord Crist! whan that it remembreth me + Up-on my yowthe, and on my Iolitee, 470 + It tikleth me aboute myn herte rote. + Unto this day it dooth myn herte bote + That I have had my world as in my tyme. + But age, allas! that al wol envenyme, + [334: T. 6057-6093.] + Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith; 475 + Lat go, fare-wel, the devel go therwith! + The flour is goon, ther is na-more to telle, + The bren, as I best can, now moste I selle; + But yet to be right mery wol I fonde. + Now wol I tellen of my fourthe housbonde. 480 + + 479. E. myrie; Hn. murye. + + I seye, I hadde in herte greet despyt + That he of any other had delyt. + But he was quit, by god and by seint Ioce! + I made him of the same wode a croce; + Nat of my body in no foul manere, 485 + But certeinly, I made folk swich chere, + That in his owene grece I made him frye + For angre, and for verray Ialousye. + By god, in erthe I was his purgatorie, + For which I hope his soule be in glorie. 490 + For god it woot, he sat ful ofte and song + Whan that his shoo ful bitterly him wrong. + Ther was no wight, save god and he, that wiste, + In many wyse, how sore I him twiste. + He deyde whan I cam fro Ierusalem, 495 + And lyth y-grave under the rode-beem, + Al is his tombe noght so curious + As was the sepulcre of him, Darius, + Which that Appelles wroghte subtilly; + It nis but wast to burie him preciously. 500 + Lat him fare-wel, god yeve his soule reste, + He is now in the grave and in his cheste. + + 486. E. c_er_tein. 497. E. Hn. curyus. + + Now of my fifthe housbond wol I telle. + God lete his soule never come in helle! + And yet was he to me the moste shrewe; 505 + That fele I on my ribbes al by rewe, + And ever shal, un-to myn ending-day. + But in our bed he was so fresh and gay, + And ther-with-al so wel coude he me glose, + Whan that he wolde han my _bele chose,_ 510 + That thogh he hadde me bet on every boon, + [335: T. 6094-6129.] + He coude winne agayn my love anoon. + I trowe I loved him beste, for that he + Was of his love daungerous to me. + We wommen han, if that I shal nat lye, 515 + In this matere a queynte fantasye; + Wayte what thing we may nat lightly have, + Ther-after wol we crye al-day and crave. + Forbede us thing, and that desyren we; + Prees on us faste, and thanne wol we flee. 520 + With daunger oute we al our chaffare; + Greet prees at market maketh dere ware, + And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys; + This knoweth every womman that is wys. + + 508. E. ful; _rest_ so. 511. Cp. Hl. boon; _rest_ bon. 513. Cm. Hl. + beste; E. Hn. best; Cp. Pt. the bet; Ln. bette. 520. E. Hn. Preesse; + Cm Presse. 521. E. Hn. Cm. oute; Cp. Ln. Hl. outen; Pt. outer. + + My fifthe housbonde, god his soule blesse! 525 + Which that I took for love and no richesse, + He som-tyme was a clerk of Oxenford, + And had left scole, and wente at hoom to bord + With my gossib, dwellinge in oure toun, + God have hir soule! hir name was Alisoun. 530 + She knew myn herte and eek my privetee + Bet than our parisshe-preest, so moot I thee! + To hir biwreyed I my conseil al. + For had myn housbonde pissed on a wal, + Or doon a thing that sholde han cost his lyf, 535 + To hir, and to another worthy wyf, + And to my nece, which that I loved weel, + I wolde han told his conseil every-deel. + And so I dide ful often, god it woot, + That made his face ful often reed and hoot 540 + For verray shame, and blamed him-self for he + Had told to me so greet a privetee. + + 528. E. hadde; hom. 532. E. Hn. as; _rest_ so. 534. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. + hadde. + + And so bifel that ones, in a Lente, + (So often tymes I to my gossib wente, + For ever yet I lovede to be gay, 545 + And for to walke, in March, Averille, and May, + Fro hous to hous, to here sondry talis), + [336: T. 6130-6164.] + That Iankin clerk, and my gossib dame Alis, + And I my-self, in-to the feldes wente. + Myn housbond was at London al that Lente; 550 + I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye, + And for to see, and eek for to be seye + Of lusty folk; what wiste I wher my grace + Was shapen for to be, or in what place? + Therefore I made my visitaciouns, 555 + To vigilies and to processiouns, + To preching eek and to thise pilgrimages, + To pleyes of miracles and mariages, + And wered upon my gaye scarlet gytes. + Thise wormes, ne thise motthes, ne thise mytes, 560 + Upon my peril, frete hem never a deel; + And wostow why? for they were used weel. + + 545. Hn. Cm. louede; E. Hl. loued. 550. E. the; _rest_ that. 558. + E. Hn. and to; Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. and of; Hl. _om._ to (_or_ of). 561. + E. Hn. Cm. Cp. peril (_correctly_); Pt. perile; Ln. Hl. perel. + + Now wol I tellen forth what happed me. + I seye, that in the feeldes walked we, + Til trewely we hadde swich daliance, 565 + This clerk and I, that of my purveyance + I spak to him, and seyde him, how that he, + If I were widwe, sholde wedde me. + For certeinly, I sey for no bobance, + Yet was I never with-outen purveyance 570 + Of mariage, nof othere thinges eek. + I holde a mouses herte nat worth a leek, + That hath but oon hole for to sterte to, + And if that faille, thanne is al y-do. + + 571. E. Hn. nof; Cm. and more; _rest_ ne of. 572. herte] Cp. Pt. Ln. + witte. + + I bar him on honde, he hadde enchanted me; 575 + My dame taughte me that soutiltee. + And eek I seyde, I mette of him al night; + He wolde han slayn me as I lay up-right, + And al my bed was ful of verray blood, + But yet I hope that he shal do me good; 580 + For blood bitokeneth gold, as me was taught. + And al was fals, I dremed of it right naught, + [337: T. 6165-6199.] + But as I folwed ay my dames lore, + As wel of this as of other thinges more. + + 575-584. _All but_ E. Cm. _omit these lines;_ (Dd. _has them_). 583. + E. Cm. _om._ as; _but it occurs in_ MSS. Camb. Dd. 4. 24, Ii. I. 36, + &c. + + But now sir, lat me see, what I shal seyn? 585 + A! ha! by god, I have my tale ageyn. + + Whan that my fourthe housbond was on bere, + I weep algate, and made sory chere, + As wyves moten, for it is usage, + And with my coverchief covered my visage; 590 + But for that I was purveyed of a make, + I weep but smal, and that I undertake. + + 592. E. wepte; _but see_ 588. + + To chirche was myn housbond born a-morwe + With neighebores, that for him maden sorwe; + And Iankin oure clerk was oon of tho. 595 + As help me god, whan that I saugh him go + After the bere, me thoughte he hadde a paire + Of legges and of feet so clene and faire, + That al myn herte I yaf un-to his hold. + He was, I trowe, a twenty winter old, 600 + And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth; + But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth. + Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me weel; + I hadde the prente of sëynt Venus seel. + As help me god, I was a lusty oon, 605 + And faire and riche, and yong, and wel bigoon; + And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde me, + I had the beste _quoniam_ mighte be. + For certes, I am al Venerien + In felinge, and myn herte is Marcien. 610 + Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse, + And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardinesse. + Myn ascendent was Taur, and Mars ther-inne. + Allas! allas! that ever love was sinne! + I folwed ay myn inclinacioun 615 + By vertu of my constellacioun; + That made me I coude noght withdrawe + [338: T. 6200-6225.] + My chambre of Venus from a good felawe. + Yet have I Martes mark up-on my face, + And also in another privee place. 620 + For, god so wis be my savacioun, + I ne loved never by no discrecioun, + But ever folwede myn appetyt, + Al were he short or long, or blak or whyt; + I took no kepe, so that he lyked me, 625 + How pore he was, ne eek of what degree. + + 595. _Or_ Ianekin, _see_ 383; MSS. Iankyn. 603. Ln. Gate-toþede. + 605-612. Hl. _omits._ 608. E. hadde. E. Hn. quonyam; Cm. Pt. Ln. + quoniam; Cp. queynte. 609-612. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit._ 619-626. Hn. + Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. _omit._ 623. Cm. folwede; E. folwed. 626. Cm. pore; + E. poore. + + What sholde I seye, but, at the monthes ende, + This Ioly clerk Iankin, that was so hende, + Hath wedded me with greet solempnitee, + And to him yaf I al the lond and fee 630 + That ever was me yeven ther-bifore; + But afterward repented me ful sore. + He nolde suffre nothing of my list. + By god, he smoot me ones on the list, + For that I rente out of his book a leef, 635 + That of the strook myn ere wex al deef. + Stiborn I was as is a leonesse, + And of my tonge a verray Iangleresse, + And walke I wolde, as I had doon biforn, + From hous to hous, al-though he had it sworn. 640 + For which he often tymes wolde preche, + And me of olde Romayn gestes teche, + How he, Simplicius Gallus, lefte his wyf, + And hir forsook for terme of al his lyf, + Noght but for open-heeded he hir say 645 + Lokinge out at his dore upon a day. + + 634. E. Hn. on the lyst; (Ln. luste; Cp. Pt. lest); Hl. Cm. with his + fist. 636. E. Hl. wax. 637. E. Hn. Stibourne. 645. E. Hn. + -heueded; Hl. heedid. + + Another Romayn tolde he me by name, + That, for his wyf was at a someres game + With-oute his witing, he forsook hir eke. + And than wolde he up-on his Bible seke 650 + That ilke proverbe of Ecclesiaste, + Wher he comandeth and forbedeth faste, + Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute; + [339: T. 6226-6271.] + Than wolde he seye right thus, with-outen doute, + “Who-so that buildeth his hous al of salwes, 655 + And priketh his blinde hors over the falwes, + And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes, + Is worthy to been hanged on the galwes!” + But al for noght, I sette noght an hawe + Of his proverbes nof his olde sawe, 660 + Ne I wolde nat of him corrected be. + I hate him that my vices telleth me, + And so do mo, god woot! of us than I. + This made him with me wood al outrely; + I nolde noght forbere him in no cas. 665 + + 649. E. Hn. Cm. With-outen. 650. E. thanne. 654. E. Thanne. 660. + E. Hn. nof; _rest_ ne of. E. awe; Hn. Cm. Hl. sawe; Cp. Pt. Ln. lawe. + + Now wol I seye yow sooth, by seint Thomas, + Why that I rente out of his book a leef, + For which he smoot me so that I was deef. + + He hadde a book that gladly, night and day, + For his desport he wolde rede alway. 670 + He cleped it Valerie and Theofraste, + At whiche book he lough alwey ful faste. + And eek ther was som-tyme a clerk at Rome, + A cardinal, that highte Seint Ierome, + That made a book agayn Iovinian; 675 + In whiche book eek ther was Tertulan, + Crisippus, Trotula, and Helowys, + That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys; + And eek the Parables of Salomon, + Ovydes Art, and bokes many on, 680 + And alle thise wer bounden in o volume. + And every night and day was his custume, + Whan he had leyser and vacacioun + From other worldly occupacioun, + To reden on this book of wikked wyves. 685 + He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves + Than been of gode wyves in the Bible. + For trusteth wel, it is an impossible + That any clerk wol speke good of wyves, + [340: T. 6272-6305.] + But-if it be of holy seintes lyves, 690 + Ne of noon other womman never the mo. + Who peyntede the leoun, tel me who? + By god, if wommen hadde writen stories, + As clerkes han with-inne hir oratories, + They wolde han writen of men more wikkednesse 695 + Than all the mark of Adam may redresse. + The children of Mercurie and of Venus + Been in hir wirking ful contrarious; + Mercurie loveth wisdom and science, + And Venus loveth ryot and dispence. 700 + And, for hir diverse disposicioun, + Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun; + And thus, god woot! Mercurie is desolat + In Pisces, wher Venus is exaltat; + And Venus falleth ther Mercurie is reysed; 705 + Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed. + The clerk, whan he is old, and may noght do + Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho, + Than sit he doun, and writ in his dotage + That wommen can nat kepe hir mariage! 710 + + 676. Cm. Ln. whiche; _rest_ which. Cp. Pt. Hl. Terculan. 680. Hl. + bourdes; _rest_ bookes (bokes). 683. E. hadde. 691. E. Ne; Hn. Nof; + _rest_ Ne of. 692. Cm. peyntede; _rest_ peynted. 697. Cm. Hl. and + of; _rest om._ of. 698. E. Hn. Ln. Hl. contrarius. 699. E. + wysdam. 705. _Over_ is reysed E. _has_ i. in Virgine. 709. E. + Thanne. + + But now to purpos, why I tolde thee + That I was beten for a book, pardee. + Up-on a night Iankin, that was our syre, + Redde on his book, as he sat by the fyre, + Of Eva first, that, for hir wikkednesse, 715 + Was al mankinde broght to wrecchednesse, + For which that Iesu Crist him-self was slayn, + That boghte us with his herte-blood agayn. + Lo, here expres of womman may ye finde, + That womman was the los of al mankinde. 720 + + 717-720. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. _omit._ 717. E. _om._ that Iesu; + _which occurs in_ MS. Bibl. Reg. 17. D. xv. _and in_ Dd. + + Tho redde he me how Sampson loste his heres, + Slepinge, his lemman kitte hem with hir sheres; + Thurgh whiche tresoun loste he bothe his yën. + + 721, 723. E. hise. 722. Cm. hem; _rest_ it (_badly_). 723. Pt. Ln. + whiche; _rest_ which (_badly_). E. eyen. + +[341: T. 6306-6340.] + + Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen, + Of Hercules and of his Dianyre, 725 + That caused him to sette himself a-fyre. + + No-thing forgat he the penaunce and wo + That Socrates had with hise wyves two; + How Xantippa caste pisse up-on his heed; + This sely man sat stille, as he were deed; 730 + He wyped his heed, namore dorste he seyn + But “er that thonder stinte, comth a reyn.” + + 727. Cp. Pt. Ln. penaunce; E. Hn. sorwe; Cm. Hl. care. 728. E. hadde. + + Of Phasipha, that was the quene of Crete, + For shrewednesse, him thoughte the tale swete; + Fy! spek na-more—it is a grisly thing— 735 + Of hir horrible lust and hir lyking. + + 733. E. Hn. Phasifpha; Cm. Phasippa; _rest_ Phasipha. 735. E. speke; + Hn. Cm. Cp. Hl. spek. + + Of Clitemistra, for hir lecherye, + That falsly made hir housbond for to dye, + He redde it with ful good devocioun. + + 737. E. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Clitermystra; Cm. Clitemysta; Hl. Clydemystra. + + He tolde me eek for what occasioun 740 + Amphiorax at Thebes loste his lyf; + Myn housbond hadde a legende of his wyf, + Eriphilem, that for an ouche of gold + Hath prively un-to the Grekes told + Wher that hir housbonde hidde him in a place, 745 + For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace. + + Of Lyma tolde he me, and of Lucye, + They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye; + That oon for love, that other was for hate; + Lyma hir housbond, on an even late, 750 + Empoysoned hath, for that she was his fo. + Lucya, likerous, loved hir housbond so, + That, for he sholde alwey up-on hir thinke, + She yaf him swich a maner love-drinke, + That he was deed, er it were by the morwe; 755 + And thus algates housbondes han sorwe. + + 750. E. vpon; _rest_ on. + + Than tolde he me, how oon Latumius + Compleyned to his felawe Arrius, + [342: T. 6341-6376.] + That in his gardin growed swich a tree, + On which, he seyde, how that his wyves three 760 + Hanged hem-self for herte despitous. + “O leve brother,” quod this Arrius, + “Yif me a plante of thilke blissed tree, + And in my gardin planted shal it be!” + + 757. E. Thanne. E. Hn. how that oon. Cm. Latymyus; _rest_ Latumyus. + 758. E. Hn. Hl. vnto; _rest_ to. 764. E. Ln. it shal; Pt. shal he; + _rest_ shal it. + + Of latter date, of wyves hath he red, 765 + That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed, + And lete hir lechour dighte hir al the night + Whyl that the corps lay in the floor up-right. + And somme han drive nayles in hir brayn + Whyl that they slepte, and thus they han hem slayn. 770 + Somme han hem yeve poysoun in hir drinke. + He spak more harm than herte may bithinke. + And ther-with-al, he knew of mo proverbes + Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes. + “Bet is,” quod he, “thyn habitacioun 775 + Be with a leoun or a foul dragoun, + Than with a womman usinge for to chyde. + Bet is,” quod he, “hye in the roof abyde + Than with an angry wyf doun in the hous; + They been so wikked and contrarious; 780 + They haten that hir housbondes loveth ay.” + He seyde, “a womman cast hir shame away, + Whan she cast of hir smok;” and forther-mo, + “A fair womman, but she be chaast also, + Is lyk a gold ring in a sowes nose.” 785 + Who wolde wenen, or who wolde suppose + The wo that in myn herte was, and pyne? + + 767. E. lecchour. 768. Cm. Whils; Hl. Whil; _rest_ Whan; _see_ 770. + 786. E. leeue; _rest_ wene; _but read_ wenen. + + And whan I saugh he wolde never fyne + To reden on this cursed book al night, + Al sodeynly three leves have I plight 790 + Out of his book, right as he radde, and eke, + I with my fist so took him on the cheke, + That in our fyr he fil bakward adoun. + And he up-stirte as dooth a wood leoun, + [343: T. 6377-6410.] + And with his fist he smoot me on the heed, 795 + That in the floor I lay as I were deed. + And when he saugh how stille that I lay, + He was agast, and wolde han fled his way, + Til atte laste out of my swogh I breyde: + “O! hastow slayn me, false theef?” I seyde, 800 + “And for my land thus hastow mordred me? + Er I be deed, yet wol I kisse thee.” + + 792. E. Cp. fest; _rest_ fist. 795. E. Hn. Cp. fest; _rest_ fist. + + And neer he cam, and kneled faire adoun, + And seyde, “dere suster Alisoun, + As help me god, I shal thee never smyte; 805 + That I have doon, it is thy-self to wyte. + Foryeve it me, and that I thee biseke”— + And yet eft-sones I hitte him on the cheke, + And seyde, “theef, thus muchel am I wreke; + Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke.” 810 + But atte laste, with muchel care and wo, + We fille acorded, by us selven two. + He yaf me al the brydel in myn hond + To han the governance of hous and lond, + And of his tonge and of his hond also, 815 + And made him brenne his book anon right tho. + And whan that I hadde geten un-to me, + By maistrie, al the soveraynetee, + And that he seyde, “myn owene trewe wyf, + Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf, 820 + Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn estaat”— + After that day we hadden never debaat. + God help me so, I was to him as kinde + As any wyf from Denmark un-to Inde, + And also trewe, and so was he to me. 825 + I prey to god that sit in magestee, + So blesse his soule, for his mercy dere! + Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol here.’ + + 812. E. Hn. Cp. Pt. vs; Cm. Ln. Hl. oure. 815. E. Hn. Pt. _om. 2nd_ + of. 820. E. to; Cm. for; Hl. in; _rest_ the (_before_ terme). 822. + Hl. neuer had. + +[344: T. 6411-6438.] + + =Biholde the wordes bitween the Somonour and the Frere.= + + The Frere lough, whan he hadde herd al this, + ‘Now, dame,’ quod he, ‘so have I Ioye or blis, 830 + This is a long preamble of a tale!’ + And whan the Somnour herde the Frere gale, + ‘Lo!’ quod the Somnour, ‘goddes armes two! + A frere wol entremette him ever-mo. + Lo, gode men, a flye and eek a frere 835 + Wol falle in every dish and eek matere. + What spekestow of preambulacioun? + What! amble, or trotte, or pees, or go sit doun; + Thou lettest our disport in this manere.’ + + 832. E. Somonour; Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. somnour. 836. Cp. Pt. Ln. eek; + _rest om._ + + ‘Ye, woltow so, sir Somnour?’ quod the Frere, 840 + ‘Now, by my feith, I shal, er that I go, + Telle of a Somnour swich a tale or two, + That alle the folk shal laughen in this place.’ + + ‘Now elles, Frere, I bishrewe thy face,’ + Quod this Somnour, ‘and I bishrewe me, 845 + But if I telle tales two or thre + Of freres er I come to Sidingborne, + That I shal make thyn herte for to morne; + For wel I wool thy patience is goon.’ + + Our hoste cryde ‘pees! and that anoon!’ 850 + And seyde, ‘lat the womman telle hir tale. + Ye fare as folk that dronken been of ale. + Do, dame, tel forth your tale, and that is best.’ + + 850. Cp. Hl. hoste; Ln. oste; E. Hn. hoost. 852. E. Cm. were; _rest_ + ben. 853. E. telle (_but_ tel _in_ 856). + + ‘Al redy, sir,’ quod she, ‘right as yow lest, + If I have licence of this worthy Frere.’ 855 + + ‘Yis, dame,’ quod he, ‘tel forth, and I wol here.’ + + =Here endeth the Wyf of Bathe hir Prologe.= + + COLOPHON. Hn. Here endeth the prologe of the Wyf of Bathe. E. _adds_ + and bigynneth hir tale. + +[345: T. 6439-6463.] + + * * * * * + +THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATHE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Tale of the Wyf of Bathe.= + + In tholde dayes of the king Arthour, + Of which that Britons speken greet honour, + All was this land fulfild of fayerye. + The elf-queen, with hir Ioly companye, 860 + Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede; + This was the olde opinion, as I rede, + I speke of manye hundred yeres ago; + But now can no man see none elves mo. + For now the grete charitee and prayeres 865 + Of limitours and othere holy freres, (10) + That serchen every lond and every streem, + As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem, + Blessinge halles, chambres, kichenes, boures, + Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures, 870 + Thropes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes, + This maketh that ther been no fayeryes. + For ther as wont to walken was an elf, + Ther walketh now the limitour him-self + In undermeles and in morweninges, 875 + And seyth his matins and his holy thinges (20) + As he goth in his limitacioun. + Wommen may go saufly up and doun, + In every bush, or under every tree; + Ther is noon other incubus but he, 880 + And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour. + + HEADING. _From_ Hn. 857. E. Cm. _om._ the. 859. Cp. fayerie; _rest_ + fairye. 872. Cp. fayeries; E. Hn. fairyes. 880. Hl. incumbent + (!). 881. Cm. non; _rest_ but. Hl. ne wol but doon hem. + +[346: T. 6464-6498.] + + And so bifel it, that this king Arthour + Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler, + That on a day cam rydinge fro river; + And happed that, allone as she was born, 885 + He saugh a mayde walkinge him biforn, (30) + Of whiche mayde anon, maugree hir heed, + By verray force he rafte hir maydenheed; + For which oppressioun was swich clamour + And swich pursute un-to the king Arthour, 890 + That dampned was this knight for to be deed + By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed + Paraventure, swich was the statut tho; + But that the quene and othere ladies mo + So longe preyeden the king of grace, 895 + Til he his lyf him graunted in the place, (40) + And yaf him to the quene al at hir wille, + To chese, whether she wolde him save or spille. + + 882. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ it. 883. E. _om._ his. 885. E. Hn. he(!). + 887. Cm. Ln. whiche; _rest_ which. 888. E. Cm. Hl. birafte; _rest_ he + rafte (refte). 895. Hl. Cm. preyeden; E. Hn. preyden. 898. E. + wheither. + + The quene thanketh the king with al hir might, + And after this thus spak she to the knight, 900 + Whan that she saugh hir tyme, up-on a day: + ‘Thou standest yet,’ quod she, ‘in swich array, + That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee. + I grante thee lyf, if thou canst tellen me + What thing is it that wommen most desyren? 905 + Be war, and keep thy nekke-boon from yren. (50) + And if thou canst nat tellen it anon, + Yet wol I yeve thee leve for to gon + A twelf-month and a day, to seche and lere + An answere suffisant in this matere. 910 + And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace, + Thy body for to yelden in this place.’ + + 907. E. Hl. tellen it; Hn. tellen me; Cm. telle me; _rest_ telle it + me. 908. E. shal (_for_ wol). + + Wo was this knight and sorwefully he syketh; + But what! he may nat do al as him lyketh. + And at the laste, he chees him for to wende, 915 + And come agayn, right at the yeres ende, (60) + [347: T. 6499-6536.] + With swich answere as god wolde him purveye; + And taketh his leve, and wendeth forth his weye. + + 914. Cm. ȝit (_for_ what); E. _om._ + + He seketh every hous and every place, + Wher-as he hopeth for to finde grace, 920 + To lerne, what thing wommen loven most; + But he ne coude arryven in no cost, + Wher-as he mighte finde in this matere + Two creatures accordinge in-fere. + + Somme seyde, wommen loven best richesse, 925 + Somme seyde, honour, somme seyde, Iolynesse; (70) + Somme, riche array, somme seyden, lust abedde, + And ofte tyme to be widwe and wedde. + + Somme seyde, that our hertes been most esed, + Whan that we been y-flatered and y-plesed. 930 + He gooth ful ny the sothe, I wol nat lye; + A man shal winne us best with flaterye; + And with attendance, and with bisinesse, + Been we y-lymed, bothe more and lesse. + + And somme seyn, how that we loven best 935 + For to be free, and do right as us lest, (80) + And that no man repreve us of our vyce, + But seye that we be wyse, and no-thing nyce. + For trewely, ther is noon of us alle, + If any wight wol clawe us on the galle, 940 + That we nil kike, for he seith us sooth; + Assay, and he shal finde it that so dooth. + For be we never so vicious with-inne, + We wol been holden wyse, and clene of sinne. + + 935. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _om._ how. 941. nil] E. nel; Cm. nolde. + + And somme seyn, that greet delyt han we 945 + For to ben holden stable and eek secree, (90) + And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle, + And nat biwreye thing that men us telle. + But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele; + Pardee, we wommen conne no-thing hele; 950 + Witnesse on Myda; wol ye here the tale? + + Ovyde, amonges othere thinges smale, + Seyde, Myda hadde, under his longe heres, + Growinge up-on his heed two asses eres, + [348: T. 6537-6572.] + The which vyce he hidde, as he best mighte, 955 + Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte, (100) + That, save his wyf, ther wiste of it na-mo. + He loved hir most, and trusted hir also; + He preyede hir, that to no creature + She sholde tellen of his disfigure. 960 + + 958. Hn. Cp. Hl. trusted; Cm. trostid; E. triste. 959. Cm. preyede; + Hl. prayed; Hn. preyed; E. preyde. + + She swoor him ‘nay, for al this world to winne, + She nolde do that vileinye or sinne, + To make hir housbond han so foul a name; + She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame.’ + But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde, 965 + That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde; (110) + Hir thoughte it swal so sore aboute hir herte, + That nedely som word hir moste asterte; + And sith she dorste telle it to no man, + Doun to a mareys faste by she ran; 970 + Til she came there, hir herte was a-fyre, + And, as a bitore bombleth in the myre, + She leyde hir mouth un-to the water doun: + ‘Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy soun,’ + Quod she, ‘to thee I telle it, and namo; 975 + Myn housbond hath longe asses eres two! (120) + Now is myn herte all hool, now is it oute; + I mighte no lenger kepe it, out of doute,’ + Heer may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde, + Yet out it moot, we can no conseil hyde; 980 + The remenant of the tale if ye wol here, + Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it lere. + + 972. Cm. bumbith; Cp. Pt. bumlith; Hl. bumblith. + + This knight, of which my tale is specially, + Whan that he saugh he mighte nat come therby, + This is to seye, what wommen loven moost, 985 + With-inne his brest ful sorweful was the goost; (130) + But hoom he gooth, he mighte nat soiourne. + The day was come, that hoomward moste he tourne, + And in his wey it happed him to ryde, + In al this care, under a forest-syde, 990 + [349: T. 6573-6609.] + Wher-as he saugh up-on a daunce go + Of ladies foure and twenty, and yet mo; + Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne, + In hope that som wisdom sholde he lerne. + But certeinly, er he came fully there, 995 + Vanisshed was this daunce, he niste where. (140) + No creature saugh he that bar lyf, + Save on the grene he saugh sittinge a wyf; + A fouler wight ther may no man devyse. + Agayn the knight this olde wyf gan ryse, 1000 + And seyde, ‘sir knight, heer-forth ne lyth no wey. + Tel me, what that ye seken, by your fey? + Paraventure it may the bettre be; + Thise olde folk can muchel thing,’ quod she. + + 985. E. loue. 990. E. Hn. this; _rest_ his. 993. Hn. whiche; E. + which; _rest vary_. + + ‘My leve mooder,’ quod this knight certeyn, 1005 + ‘I nam but deed, but-if that I can seyn (150) + What thing it is that wommen most desyre; + Coude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quyte your hyre.’ + + ‘Plighte me thy trouthe, heer in myn hand,’ quod she, + ‘The nexte thing that I requere thee, 1010 + Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy might; + And I wol telle it yow er it be night.’ + ‘Have heer my trouthe,’ quod the knight, ‘I grante.’ + + ‘Thanne,’ quod she, ‘I dar me wel avante, + Thy lyf is sauf, for I wol stonde therby, 1015 + Up-on my lyf, the queen wol seye as I. (160) + Lat see which is the proudeste of hem alle, + That wereth on a coverchief or a calle, + That dar seye nay, of that I shal thee teche; + Lat us go forth with-outen lenger speche.’ 1020 + Tho rouned she a pistel in his ere, + And bad him to be glad, and have no fere. + + 1016. E. queene. + + Whan they be comen to the court, this knight + Seyde, ‘he had holde his day, as he hadde hight, + And redy was his answere,’ as he sayde. 1025 + Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde, (170) + And many a widwe, for that they ben wyse, + [350: T. 6610-6645.] + The quene hir-self sittinge as a Iustyse, + Assembled been, his answere for to here; + And afterward this knight was bode appere. 1030 + + 1028. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. _om._ a. + + To every wight comanded was silence, + And that the knight sholde telle in audience, + What thing that worldly wommen loven best. + This knight ne stood nat stille as doth a best, + But to his questioun anon answerde 1035 + With manly voys, that al the court it herde: (180) + + ‘My lige lady, generally,’ quod he, + ‘Wommen desyren to have sovereyntee + As wel over hir housbond as hir love, + And for to been in maistrie him above; 1040 + This is your moste desyr, thogh ye me kille, + Doth as yow list, I am heer at your wille.’ + + 1038. E. _om._ to. 1042. E. _om._ heer; Cm. al. + + In al the court ne was ther wyf ne mayde, + Ne widwe, that contraried that he sayde, + But seyden, ‘he was worthy han his lyf.’ 1045 + + And with that word up stirte the olde wyf, (190) + Which that the knight saugh sittinge in the grene: + ‘Mercy,’ quod she, ‘my sovereyn lady quene! + Er that your court departe, do me right. + I taughte this answere un-to the knight; 1050 + For which he plighte me his trouthe there, + The firste thing I wolde of him requere, + He wolde it do, if it lay in his might. + Bifore the court than preye I thee, sir knight,’ + Quod she, ‘that thou me take un-to thy wyf; 1055 + For wel thou wost that I have kept thy lyf. (200) + If I sey fals, sey nay, up-on thy fey!’ + + 1052. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _om._ of. 1054. E. thanne. + + This knight answerde, ‘allas! and weylawey! + I woot right wel that swich was my biheste. + For goddes love, as chees a newe requeste; 1060 + Tak al my good, and lat my body go.’ + + 1061. E. Hn. Taak. + + ‘Nay than,’ quod she, ‘I shrewe us bothe two! + For thogh that I be foul, and old, and pore, + [351: T. 6646-6682.] + I nolde for al the metal, ne for ore, + That under erthe is grave, or lyth above, 1065 + But-if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love.’ (210) + + 1062. E. thanne. 1063. _All but_ Cp. Pt. _om. 1st_ and. E. oold, + poore. 1064. Hl. the oure; E. Hn. oore; Cm. Pt. ore; Cp. oure; Ln. + oer. + + ‘My love?’ quod he; ‘nay, my dampnacioun! + Allas! that any of my nacioun + Sholde ever so foule disparaged be!’ + But al for noght, the ende is this, that he 1070 + Constreyned was, he nedes moste hir wedde; + And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to bedde. + + 1070. E. Hn. thende. + + Now wolden som men seye, paraventure, + That, for my necligence, I do no cure + To tellen yow the Ioye and al tharray 1075 + That at the feste was that ilke day. (220) + To whiche thing shortly answere I shal; + I seye, ther nas no Ioye ne feste at al, + Ther nas but hevinesse and muche sorwe; + For prively he wedded hir on a morwe, 1080 + And al day after hidde him as an oule; + So wo was him, his wyf looked so foule. + + Greet was the wo the knight hadde in his thoght, + Whan he was with his wyf a-bedde y-broght; + He walweth, and he turneth to and fro. 1085 + His olde wyf lay smylinge evermo, (230) + And seyde, ‘o dere housbond, _benedicite_! + Fareth every knight thus with his wyf as ye? + Is this the lawe of king Arthures hous? + Is every knight of his so dangerous? 1090 + I am your owene love and eek your wyf; + I am she, which that saved hath your lyf; + And certes, yet dide I yow never unright; + Why fare ye thus with me this firste night? + Ye faren lyk a man had lost his wit; 1095 + What is my gilt? for goddes love, tel me it, (240) + And it shal been amended, if I may.’ + + 1091. Cp. Pt. Ln. eek; _rest om._ 1093. E. Hn. yet ne dide. 1096. + Cm. Hl. me; _rest om._ (_Read_ goddes _as_ god’s). + + ‘Amended?’ quod this knight, ‘allas! nay, nay! + It wol nat been amended never mo! + Thou art so loothly, and so old also, 1100 + [352: T. 6683-6718.] + And ther-to comen of so lowe a kinde, + That litel wonder is, thogh I walwe and winde. + So wolde god myn herte wolde breste!’ + + 1101. E. lough. 1102. Pt. no (_for_ litel). _Read_ wonder’s. + + ‘Is this,’ quod she, ‘the cause of your unreste?’ + + ‘Ye, certainly,’ quod he, ‘no wonder is.’ 1105 + + ‘Now, sire,’ quod she, ‘I coude amende al this, (250) + If that me liste, er it were dayes three, + So wel ye mighte here yow un-to me. + + But for ye speken of swich gentillesse + As is descended out of old richesse, 1110 + That therfore sholden ye be gentil men, + Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen. + Loke who that is most vertuous alway, + Privee and apert, and most entendeth ay + To do the gentil dedes that he can, 1115 + And tak him for the grettest gentil man. (260) + Crist wol, we clayme of him our gentillesse, + Nat of our eldres for hir old richesse. + For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage, + For which we clayme to been of heigh parage, 1120 + Yet may they nat biquethe, for no-thing, + To noon of us hir vertuous living, + That made hem gentil men y-called be; + And bad us folwen hem in swich degree. + + 1112. Cp. Pt. nys (_for_ is). 1116. Cp. Pt. Ln. And take; _rest om._ + And. + + Wel can the wyse poete of Florence, 1125 + That highte Dant, speken in this sentence; (270) + Lo in swich maner rym is Dantes tale: + “Ful selde up ryseth by his branches smale + Prowesse of man, for god, of his goodnesse, + Wol that of him we clayme our gentillesse;” 1130 + For of our eldres may we no-thing clayme + But temporel thing, that man may hurte and mayme. + + 1126. Hl. of (_for_ in). Cm. declare (_for_ speken in). 1129. E. + goodnesse; _rest_ prowesse. + + Eek every wight wot this as wel as I, + If gentillesse were planted naturelly + Un-to a certeyn linage, doun the lyne, 1135 + Privee ne apert, than wolde they never fyne (280) + [353: T. 6719-6753.] + To doon of gentillesse the faire offyce; + They mighte do no vileinye or vyce. + + 1134. E. natureelly. 1136. E. Cm. nor; Hl. ne; _rest_ and. E. thanne. + + Tak fyr, and ber it in the derkeste hous + Bitwix this and the mount of Caucasus, 1140 + And lat men shette the dores and go thenne; + Yet wol the fyr as faire lye and brenne, + As twenty thousand men mighte it biholde; + His office naturel ay wol it holde, + Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye. 1145 + + 1139. E. Taak. 1140. E. Kaukasous. 1144. E. natureel. + + Heer may ye see wel, how that genterye (290) + Is nat annexed to possessioun, + Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun + Alwey, as dooth the fyr, lo! in his kinde. + For, god it woot, men may wel often finde 1150 + A lordes sone do shame and vileinye; + And he that wol han prys of his gentrye + For he was boren of a gentil hous, + And hadde hise eldres noble and vertuous, + And nil him-selven do no gentil dedis, 1155 + Ne folwe his gentil auncestre that deed is, (300) + He nis nat gentil, be he duk or erl; + For vileyns sinful dedes make a cherl. + For gentillesse nis but renomee + Of thyne auncestres, for hir heigh bountee, 1160 + Which is a strange thing to thy persone. + Thy gentillesse cometh fro god allone; + Than comth our verray gentillesse of grace, + It was no-thing biquethe us with our place. + + 1153. Cp. Hl. boren; Cm. bore; _rest_ born. 1155. E. nel; _rest_ + nyl. 1156. E. Hn. folwen. 1162. _Read_ comth; _see_ 1163. 1163. + E. Thanne. + + Thenketh how noble, as seith Valerius, 1165 + Was thilke Tullius Hostilius, (310) + That out of povert roos to heigh noblesse. + Redeth Senek, and redeth eek Boëce, + Ther shul ye seen expres that it no drede is, + That he is gentil that doth gentil dedis; 1170 + And therfore, leve housbond, I thus conclude, + [354: T. 6754-6788.] + Al were it that myne auncestres were rude, + Yet may the hye god, and so hope I, + Grante me grace to liven vertuously. + Thanne am I gentil, whan that I biginne 1175 + To liven vertuously and weyve sinne. (320) + + 1166. E. Hn. Hostillius. 1167. Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. pouert; _rest_ + pouerte. 1168. E. Reed; _rest_ Redeth. 1169. Cp. Pt. Ln. it; _rest + om._ 1172. E. Hn. weren (_2nd_). 1176. Cm. leuyn; Pt. leuen; _rest_ + weyue (weyuen). + + And ther-as ye of povert me repreve, + The hye god, on whom that we bileve, + In wilful povert chees to live his lyf. + And certes every man, mayden, or wyf, 1180 + May understonde that Iesus, hevene king, + Ne wolde nat chese a vicious living. + Glad povert is an honest thing, certeyn; + This wol Senek and othere clerkes seyn. + Who-so that halt him payd of his poverte, 1185 + I holde him riche, al hadde he nat a sherte. (330) + He that coveyteth is a povre wight, + For he wolde han that is nat in his might. + But he that noght hath, ne coveyteth have, + Is riche, al-though ye holde him but a knave. 1190 + + 1177. E. Hn. pouerte; _rest_ pouert. 1179. E. Hn. Pt. pouerte; _rest_ + pouert; _so in_ 1183, 1191. 1182. E. chesen; E. _om._ a. 1183. E. + Hn. honeste; Cm. oneste. + + Verray povert, it singeth proprely; + Iuvenal seith of povert merily: + “The povre man, whan he goth by the weye, + Bifore the theves he may singe and pleye.” + Povert is hateful good, and, as I gesse, 1195 + A ful greet bringer out of bisinesse; (340) + A greet amender eek of sapience + To him that taketh it in pacience. + Povert is this, al-though it seme elenge: + Possessioun, that no wight wol chalenge. 1200 + Povert ful ofte, whan a man is lowe, + Maketh his god and eek him-self to knowe. + Povert a spectacle is, as thinketh me, + Thurgh which he may his verray frendes see. + And therfore, sire, sin that I noght yow greve, 1205 + Of my povert na-more ye me repreve. (350) + + 1191. E. Cm. it syngeth; _rest_ is sinne (!). 1192. E. Hn. Cp. + myrily. 1195. Cp. Pt. Ln. hatel. 1199. Hn. Hl. elenge; Ln. alinge; + _rest_ alenge. 1205. E. hise. + +[355: T. 6789-6826.] + + Now, sire, of elde ye repreve me; + And certes, sire, thogh noon auctoritee + Were in no book, ye gentils of honour + Seyn that men sholde an old wight doon favour, 1210 + And clepe him fader, for your gentillesse; + And auctours shal I finden, as I gesse. + + Now ther ye seye, that I am foul and old, + Than drede you noght to been a cokewold; + For filthe and elde, al-so moot I thee, 1215 + Been grete wardeyns up-on chastitee. (360) + But nathelees, sin I knowe your delyt, + I shal fulfille your worldly appetyt. + + Chese now,’ quod she, ‘oon of thise thinges tweye, + To han me foul and old til that I deye, 1220 + And be to yow a trewe humble wyf, + And never yow displese in al my lyf, + Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair, + And take your aventure of the repair + That shal be to your hous, by-cause of me, 1225 + Or in som other place, may wel be. (370) + Now chese your-selven, whether that yow lyketh.’ + + 1227. E. wheither. + + This knight avyseth him and sore syketh, + But atte laste he seyde in this manere, + ‘My lady and my love, and wyf so dere, 1230 + I put me in your wyse governance; + Cheseth your-self, which may be most plesance, + And most honour to yow and me also. + I do no fors the whether of the two; + For as yow lyketh, it suffiseth me.’ 1235 + + ‘Thanne have I gete of yow maistrye,’ quod she, (380) + ‘Sin I may chese, and governe as me lest?’ + + 1234. E. wheither. 1236. of—maistrye] Cm. the maysterye. + + ‘Ye, certes, wyf,’ quod he, ‘I holde it best.’ + + ‘Kis me,’ quod she, ‘we be no lenger wrothe; + For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow bothe, 1240 + This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good. + I prey to god that I mot sterven wood, + But I to yow be al-so good and trewe + As ever was wyf, sin that the world was newe. + [356: T. 6827-6846.] + And, but I be to-morn as fair to sene 1245 + As any lady, emperyce, or quene, (390) + That is bitwixe the est and eke the west, + Doth with my lyf and deeth right as yow lest. + Cast up the curtin, loke how that it is.’ + + And whan the knight saugh verraily al this, 1250 + That she so fair was, and so yong ther-to, + For Ioye he hente hir in his armes two, + His herte bathed in a bath of blisse; + A thousand tyme a-rewe he gan hir kisse. + And she obeyed him in every thing 1255 + That mighte doon him plesance or lyking. (400) + + 1254. E. Hn. Ln. a rewe; Hl. on rowe; _rest_ a rowe. + + And thus they live, un-to hir lyves ende, + In parfit Ioye; and Iesu Crist us sende + Housbondes meke, yonge, and fresshe a-bedde, + And grace toverbyde hem that we wedde. 1260 + And eek I preye Iesu shorte hir lyves + That wol nat be governed by hir wyves; + And olde and angry nigardes of dispence, + God sende hem sone verray pestilence. + + =Here endeth the Wyves Tale of Bathe.= + + 1259. E. _om._ and Ln. fresshe; E. fressh. 1260. E. Hn. touerbyde; + Cm. Hl. to ouerbyde; Cp. Pt. Ln. to ouerlede (!). 1261. Cm. preye; + Hn. praye; E. pray. 1262. E. Hn. nat wol; _rest transpose_. + COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn. + +[357: T. 6847-6868.] + + * * * * * + +THE FRIAR’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + =The prologe of the Freres Tale.= + + This worthy limitour, this noble Frere, 1265 + He made alwey a maner louring chere + Upon the Somnour, but for honestee + No vileyns word as yet to him spak he. + But atte laste he seyde un-to the Wyf, + ‘Dame,’ quod he, ‘god yeve yow right good lyf! 1270 + Ye han heer touched, al-so moot I thee, + In scole-matere greet difficultee; + Ye han seyd muchel thing right wel, I seye; + But dame, here as we ryden by the weye, (10) + Us nedeth nat to speken but of game, 1275 + And lete auctoritees, on goddes name, + To preching and to scole eek of clergye. + But if it lyke to this companye, + I wol yow of a somnour telle a game. + Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the name, 1280 + That of a somnour may no good be sayd; + I praye that noon of you be yvel apayd. + A somnour is a renner up and doun + With mandements for fornicacioun, (20) + And is y-bet at every tounes ende.’ 1285 + + HEADING. _So_ E. Hn. 1266. E. chiere. 1267. E. Somonour; Hn. + Somnour. 1273. E. Hn. muche; Ln. muchel; _rest_ mochel. 1274. E. + ryde; _rest_ ryden. 1277. Hl. scoles. E. Hn. Hl. _om._ eek. 1278. + K. And; _rest_ But. 1284. E. Hn. mandementz. + + Our host tho spak, ‘a! sire, ye sholde be hende + [358: T. 6869-6882.] + And curteys, as a man of your estaat; + In companye we wol have no debaat. + Telleth your tale, and lat the Somnour be.’ + + 1286. Hl. oste (_om._ tho). + + ‘Nay,’ quod the Somnour, ‘lat him seye to me 1290 + What so him list; whan it comth to my lot, + By god, I shal him quyten every grot. + I shal him tellen which a greet honour (29) + It is to be a flateringe limitour; [T. 6876 + And his offyce I shal him telle, y-wis.’ [T. 6879 + + _After_ l. 1294 _all but_ Hl. _wrongly insert_ ll. 1307 _and_ 1308; + _which see_. Tyrwhitt _also inserts them._ + + Our host answerde, ‘pees, na-more of this.’ 1296 + And after this he seyde un-to the Frere, + ‘Tel forth your tale, leve maister deere.’ + + =Here endeth the Prologe of the Frere.= + + 1298. E. Hn. leeue; Hl. my; Cp. Ln. my leue; Pt. my owen. COLOPHON. + _From_ Hn.; _so_ Pt.(_with_ Thus _for_ Here). + +[359: T. 6883-6902.] + + * * * * * + +THE FRERES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Freres Tale.= + + Whilom ther was dwellinge in my contree + An erchedeken, a man of heigh degree, 1300 + That boldely dide execucioun + In punisshinge of fornicacioun, + Of wicchecraft, and eek of bauderye, + Of diffamacioun, and avoutrye, + Of chirche-reves, and of testaments, 1305 + Of contractes, and of lakke of sacraments, + And eek of many another maner cryme [T. _om._ + Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme; [T. _om._ + Of usure, and of symonye also. (11) + But certes, lechours dide he grettest wo; 1310 + They sholde singen, if that they were hent; + And smale tytheres weren foule y-shent. + If any persone wolde up-on hem pleyne, + Ther mighte asterte him no pecunial peyne. + For smale tythes and for smal offringe, 1315 + He made the peple pitously to singe. + For er the bisshop caughte hem with his hook, + They weren in the erchedeknes book. (20) + Thanne hadde he, thurgh his Iurisdiccioun, + Power to doon on hem correccioun. 1320 + [360: T. 6903-6937.] + He hadde a Somnour redy to his hond, + A slyer boy was noon in Engelond; + For subtilly he hadde his espiaille, + That taughte him, wher that him mighte availle. + He coude spare of lechours oon or two, 1325 + To techen him to foure and twenty mo. + For thogh this Somnour wood were as an hare, + To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare; (30) + For we been out of his correccioun; + They han of us no Iurisdiccioun, 1330 + Ne never shullen, terme of alle hir lyves. + + HEADING. _So_ E. Pt. 1306. E. Hn. and eek; _rest_ and. 1307, 1308. + _Wrongly inserted after_ l. 1294 _in all but_ Hl. 1307. E. Hn. Ln. + _om._ eek. 1308. E. Hn. for; _rest_ at. 1310. Ln. lychoures; _rest_ + lecchours. 1315. Hn. Hl. for; Cp. eek for; Pt. Ln. eek; E. _om._ + 1317. E. Hl. him. 1318. Cp. Pt. Hl. weren; _rest_ were. 1319. Hl. + And; _rest_ And thanne; _read_ Thanne. 1321. E. Somonour; Hl. + Sompnour; _rest_ Somnour. 1322. E. Pt. Ln. boye. 1324. _Read_ + taughten(?), _or_ taught-e. Cp. Pt. that; _rest om._ 1325. E. + lecchours. 1327. E. was; _rest_ were. 1331. E. Hn. _om._ alle. + + ‘Peter! so been the wommen of the styves,’ + Quod the Somnour, ‘y-put out of my cure!’ + + 1332. E. Cm. _om. 1st_ the. + + ‘Pees, with mischance and with misaventure,’ + Thus seyde our host, ‘and lat him telle his tale. 1335 + Now telleth forth, thogh that the Somnour gale, + Ne spareth nat, myn owene maister dere.’ + + This false theef, this Somnour, quod the Frere, (40) + Hadde alwey baudes redy to his hond, + As any hauk to lure in Engelond, 1340 + That tolde him al the secree that they knewe; + For hir acqueyntance was nat come of-newe. + They weren hise approwours prively; + He took him-self a greet profit therby; + His maister knew nat alwey what he wan. 1345 + With-outen mandement, a lewed man + He coude somne, on peyne of Cristes curs, + And they were gladde for to fille his purs, (50) + And make him grete festes atte nale. + And right as Iudas hadde purses smale, 1350 + And was a theef, right swich a theef was he; + His maister hadde but half his duëtee. + He was, if I shal yeven him his laude, + A theef, and eek a Somnour, and a baude. + He hadde eek wenches at his retenue, 1355 + [361: T. 6938-6971.] + That, whether that sir Robert or sir Huwe, + Or Iakke, or Rauf, or who-so that it were, + That lay by hem, they tolde it in his ere; (60) + Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent. + And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement, 1360 + And somne hem to the chapitre bothe two, + And pile the man, and lete the wenche go. + Thanne wolde he seye, ‘frend, I shal for thy sake + Do stryken hir out of our lettres blake; + Thee thar na-more as in this cas travaille; 1365 + I am thy freend, ther I thee may availle.’ + Certeyn he knew of bryberyes mo + Than possible is to telle in yeres two. (70) + For in this world nis dogge for the bowe, + That can an hurt deer from an hool y-knowe, 1370 + Bet than this Somnour knew a sly lechour, + Or an avouter, or a paramour. + And, for that was the fruit of al his rente, + Therfore on it he sette al his entente. + + 1343. Ln. approwers; Cm. apprououris; Pt. aprouers; _rest_ + approuwours. 1348. Cp. gladde; E. Hn. glade. 1349. Cm. at the nale; + (atte nale = atten ale). 1352. Hl. not (_for_ but). Cp. dewete. + 1356. E. wheither. 1364. E. Hn. hir; _rest_ þe. 1367. E. + bribryes. 1370. Hl. y-knowe; _rest_ knowe [_perhaps read_ hole + knowe). 1371. Cm. lechour; E. Hn. lecchour. 1372. Hn. Cp. Pt. + auouter; E. Hl. auowtier. + + And so bifel, that ones on a day 1375 + This Somnour, ever waiting on his pray, + Rood for to somne a widwe, an old ribybe, + Feynynge a cause, for he wolde brybe. (80) + And happed that he saugh bifore him ryde + A gay yeman, under a forest-syde. 1380 + A bowe he bar, and arwes brighte and kene; + He hadde up-on a courtepy of grene; + An hat up-on his heed with frenges blake. + + 1377. Hl. Rod; Cp. Pt. Ln. Rode; Cm. Wente; E. Hn. _om._ Cm. a wedewe + an old; Hl. a widew and(!) old; E. Hn. an old wydwe a. 1379. E. + Hn._om._ And + + ‘Sir,’ quod this Somnour, ‘hayl! and wel a-take!’ + ‘Wel-come,’ quod he, ‘and every good felawe! 1385 + Wher rydestow under this grene shawe?’ + Seyde this yeman, ‘wiltow fer to day?’ + + 1386. E. Cm. Pt. Ln. grene wode shawe (_too long_). + + This Somnour him answerde, and seyde, ‘nay; (90) + Heer faste by,’ quod he, ‘is myn entente + [362: T. 6972-7007.] + To ryden, for to reysen up a rente 1390 + That longeth to my lordes duëtee. + + 1391. Cp. dewete. + + ‘Artow thanne a bailly?’ ‘Ye!’ quod he. + He dorste nat, for verray filthe and shame, + Seye that he was a somnour, for the name. + + ‘_Depardieux_,’ quod this yeman, ‘dere brother, 1395 + Thou art a bailly, and I am another. + I am unknowen as in this contree; + Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee, (100) + And eek of brotherhede, if that yow leste. + I have gold and silver in my cheste; 1400 + If that thee happe to comen in our shyre, + Al shal be thyn, right as thou wolt desyre.’ + + 1395. Cm. leue; Hl. lieue; _rest_ dere (deere). 1399. Cm. + brotherhode; Hl. brotherheed; _rest_ brether-. + + ‘Grantmercy,’ quod this Somnour, ‘by my feith!’ + Everich in otheres hand his trouthe leith, + For to be sworne bretheren til they deye. 1405 + In daliance they ryden forth hir weye. + + 1405. Hl. sworne; E. Hn. sworn; _rest_ swore. + + This Somnour, which that was as ful of Iangles, + As ful of venim been thise wariangles, (no) + And ever enquering up-on every thing, + ‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘where is now your dwelling, 1410 + Another day if that I sholde yow seche?’ + + 1407. E. Cm. _om._ which. + + This yeman him answerde in softe speche, + ‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘fer in the north contree, + Wher, as I hope, som-tyme I shal thee see. + Er we departe, I shal thee so wel wisse, 1415 + That of myn hous ne shaltow never misse.’ + + ‘Now, brother,’ quod this Somnour, ‘I yow preye, + Teche me, whyl that we ryden by the weye, (120) + Sin that ye been a baillif as am I, + Som subtiltee, and tel me feithfully 1420 + In myn offyce how I may most winne; + And spareth nat for conscience ne sinne, + But as my brother tel me, how do ye?’ + + 1421. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. how that I. + + ‘Now, by my trouthe, brother dere,’ seyde he, + ‘As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale, 1425 + [363: T. 7008-7043.] + My wages been ful streite and ful smale. + My lord is hard to me and daungerous, + And myn offyce is ful laborous; (130) + And therfore by extorcions I live. + For sothe, I take al that men wol me yive; 1430 + Algate, by sleyghte or by violence, + Fro yeer to yeer I winne al my dispence. + I can no bettre telle feithfully.’ + + 1426. Hl. and eek (_but read_ streit-e). 1428. Cp. laborious; _rest_ + laborous. 1430. E. yeue. + + ‘Now, certes,’ quod this Somnour, ‘so fare I; + I spare nat to taken, god it woot, 1435 + But if it be to hevy or to hoot. + What I may gete in conseil prively, + No maner conscience of that have I; (140) + Nere myn extorcioun, I mighte nat liven, + Ne of swiche Iapes wol I nat be shriven. 1440 + Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon; + I shrewe thise shrifte-fadres everichoon. + Wel be we met, by god and by seint Iame! + But, leve brother, tel me than thy name,’ + Quod this Somnour; and in this mene-whyle, 1445 + This yeman gan a litel for to smyle. + + 1440. E. Nor; Hn. Cm. Hl. Ne. 1444. E. thanne. 1445. Cm. and; _rest + om._ + + ‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘wiltow that I thee telle? + I am a feend, my dwelling is in helle. (150) + And here I ryde about my purchasing, + To wite wher men wolde yeve me any thing. 1450 + My purchas is theffect of al my rente. + Loke how thou rydest for the same entente, + To winne good, thou rekkest never how; + Right so fare I, for ryde wolde I now + Un-to the worldes ende for a preye.’ 1455 + + 1450. E. me yeuen; _rest_ yeue (yiue) me. 1454. E. I wolde right; Hl. + I wolde; _rest_ wolde I. + + ‘A,’ quod this Somnour, ‘_benedicite_, what sey ye? + I wende ye were a yeman trewely. + Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I; (160) + Han ye figure than determinat + In helle, ther ye been in your estat?’ 1460 + + 1459. E. thanne. + + ‘Nay, certeinly,’ quod he, ‘ther have we noon; + [364: T. 7044-7080.] + But whan us lyketh, we can take us oon, + Or elles make yow seme we ben shape + Som-tyme lyk a man, or lyk an ape; + Or lyk an angel can I ryde or go. 1465 + It is no wonder thing thogh it be so; + A lousy Iogelour can deceyve thee, + And pardee, yet can I more craft than he.’ (170) + + ‘Why,’ quod the Somnour, ‘ryde ye thanne or goon + In sondry shap, and nat alwey in oon?’ 1470 + + ‘For we,’ quod he, ‘wol us swich formes make + As most able is our preyes for to take.’ + + 1471. E. Hn. swiche; Cm. Cp. swich. + + ‘What maketh yow to han al this labour?’ + + ‘Ful many a cause, leve sir Somnour,’ + Seyde this feend, ‘but alle thing hath tyme. 1475 + The day is short, and it is passed pryme, + And yet ne wan I no-thing in this day. + I wol entende to winnen, if I may, (180) + And nat entende our wittes to declare. + For, brother myn, thy wit is al to bare 1480 + To understonde, al-thogh I tolde hem thee. + But, for thou axest why labouren we; + For, som-tyme, we ben goddes instruments, + And menes to don his comandements, + Whan that him list, up-on his creatures, 1485 + In divers art and in divers figures. + With-outen him we have no might, certayn, + If that him list to stonden ther-agayn. (190) + And som-tyme, at our prayere, han we leve + Only the body and nat the soule greve; 1490 + Witnesse on Iob, whom that we diden wo. + And som-tyme han we might of bothe two, + This is to seyn, of soule and body eke. + And somtyme be we suffred for to seke + Up-on a man, and doon his soule unreste, 1495 + And nat his body, and al is for the beste. + Whan he withstandeth our temptacioun, + It is a cause of his savacioun; (200) + [365: T. 7081-7118.] + Al-be-it that it was nat our entente + He sholde be sauf, but that we wolde him hente. 1500 + And som-tyme be we servant un-to man, + As to the erchebisshop Seint Dunstan, + And to the apostles servant eek was I.’ + + 1479. E. hir; _rest_ oure. Cm. wordis; Hl. thinges; _rest_ wittes. + 1486. E. Hn. Cm. diuerse (_2nd time_). 1496. body] E. soule(!). + 1498. E. _om._ a; Cm. the. 1502. E. bisshop(!). + + ‘Yet tel me,’ quod the Somnour, ‘feithfully, + Make ye yow newe bodies thus alway 1505 + Of elements?’ the feend answerde, ‘nay; + Som-tyme we feyne, and som-tyme we aryse + With dede bodies in ful sondry wyse, (210) + And speke as renably and faire and wel + As to the Phitonissa dide Samuel. 1510 + And yet wol som men seye it was nat he; + I do no fors of your divinitee. + But o thing warne I thee, I wol nat Iape, + Thou wolt algates wite how we ben shape; + Thou shalt her-afterward, my brother dere, 1515 + Com ther thee nedeth nat of me to lere. + For thou shalt by thyn owene experience + Conne in a chayer rede of this sentence (220) + Bet than Virgyle, whyl he was on lyve, + Or Dant also; now lat us ryde blyve. 1520 + For I wol holde companye with thee + Til it be so, that thou forsake me.’ + + 1515. E Hn. -wardes; _rest_ -ward. + + ‘Nay,’ quod this Somnour, ‘that shal nat bityde; + I am a yeman, knowen is ful wyde; + My trouthe wol I holde as in this cas. 1525 + For though thou were the devel Sathanas, + My trouthe wol I holde to my brother, + As I am sworn, and ech of us til other (230) + For to be trewe brother in this cas; + And bothe we goon abouten our purchas. 1530 + Tak thou thy part, what that men wol thee yive, + And I shal myn; thus may we bothe live. + And if that any of us have more than other, + Lat him be trewe, and parte it with his brother.’ + + 1528, 1533. E. oother. 1531. E. Taak; yeue. + + ‘I graunte,’ quod the devel, ‘by my fey.’ 1535 + And with that word they ryden forth hir wey. + [366: T. 7119-7153.] + And right at the entring of the tounes ende, + To which this Somnour shoop him for to wende, (240) + They saugh a cart, that charged was with hey, + Which that a carter droof forth in his wey. 1540 + Deep was the wey, for which the carte stood. + The carter smoot, and cryde, as he were wood, + ‘Hayt, Brok! hayt, Scot! what spare ye for the stones? + The feend,’ quod he, ‘yow fecche body and bones, + As ferforthly as ever were ye foled! 1545 + So muche wo as I have with yow tholed! + The devel have al, bothe hors and cart and hey!’ + + This Somnour seyde, ‘heer shal we have a pley;’ (250) + And neer the feend he drough, as noght ne were, + Ful prively, and rouned in his ere: 1550 + ‘Herkne, my brother, herkne, by thy feith; + Herestow nat how that the carter seith? + Hent it anon, for he hath yeve it thee, + Bothe hey and cart, and eek hise caples three.’ + + ‘Nay,’ quod the devel, ‘god wot, never a deel; 1555 + It is nat his entente, trust me weel. + Axe him thy-self, if thou nat trowest me, + Or elles stint a while, and thou shall see.’ (260) + + 1556. E. Hn. trust thou; _rest om._ thou. + + This carter thakketh his hors upon the croupe, + And they bigonne drawen and to-stoupe; 1560 + ‘Heyt, now!’ quod he, ‘ther Iesu Crist yow blesse, + And al his handwerk, bothe more and lesse! + That was wel twight, myn owene lyard boy! + I pray god save thee and sëynt Loy! + Now is my cart out of the slow, pardee!’ 1565 + + 1559. Cm. thakkyth; Hl. thakketh; Ln. thakkes; Cp. Pt. thakked; E. Hn. + taketh. Hn. Cm. Hl. upon; _rest om._ 1562. Cp. hondywerk; Hn. + handes werk. 1564. E. to god; _rest om._ to. 1565. Cp. slough; Pt. + schlough; Ln. slouhe; Hl. sloo. + + ‘Lo! brother,’ quod the feend, ‘what tolde I thee? + Heer may ye see, myn owene dere brother, + The carl spak oo thing, but he thoghte another. (270) + Lat us go forth abouten our viage; + Heer winne I no-thing up-on cariage.’ 1570 + + 1568. E. Hl. oon; Cm. on; _rest_ o (oo). E. _om._ thing. + + Whan that they comen som-what out of toune, + [367: T. 7154-7187.] + This Somnour to his brother gan to roune, + ‘Brother,’ quod he, ‘heer woneth an old rebekke, + That hadde almost as lief to lese hir nekke + As for to yeve a peny of hir good. 1575 + I wol han twelf pens, though that she be wood, + Or I wol sompne hir un-to our offyce; + And yet, god woot, of hir knowe I no vyce. (280) + But for thou canst nat, as in this contree, + Winne thy cost, tak heer ensample of me.’ 1580 + + 1571. E. coomen. + + This Somnour clappeth at the widwes gate. + ‘Com out,’ quod he, ‘thou olde viritrate! + I trowe thou hast som frere or preest with thee!’ + + 1582. Hn. Cp. Hl. viritrate; E. virytrate; Cm. verye crate; Pt. + viritate; Ln. veritate. + + ‘Who clappeth?’ seyde this widwe, ‘_benedicite_! + God save you, sire, what is your swete wille?’ 1585 + + 1584. Cm. widew; Hl. widow; _rest_ wyf (_but read_ ben’cite). + + ‘I have,’ quod he, ‘of somonce here a bille; + Up peyne of cursing, loke that thou be + To-morn bifore the erchedeknes knee (290) + Tanswere to the court of certeyn thinges.’ + + 1586. Cp. Pt. Ln. here; _rest om._ 1587. E. Vp-on; _rest_ Vp. 1589. + E. Hn. Tanswere; _rest_ To answere (answer). + + ‘Now, lord,’ quod she, ‘Crist Iesu, king of kinges, 1590 + So wisly helpe me, as I ne may. + I have been syk, and that ful many a day. + I may nat go so fer,’ quod she, ‘ne ryde, + But I be deed, so priketh it in my syde. + May I nat axe a libel, sir Somnour, 1595 + And answere there, by my procutour, + To swich thing as men wol opposen me?’ + + 1596. Hl. ther; Ln. the; _rest_ there. Hl. procuratour; Cm. Ln. + procatour; _rest_ procutour. + + ‘Yis,’ quod this Somnour, ‘pay anon, lat se, (300) + Twelf pens to me, and I wol thee acquyte. + I shall no profit han ther-by but lyte; 1600 + My maister hath the profit, and nat I. + Com of, and lat me ryden hastily; + Yif me twelf pens, I may no lenger tarie.’ + + ‘Twelf pens,’ quod she, ‘now lady Seinte Marie + So wisly help me out of care and sinne, 1605 + [368: T. 7188-7225.] + This wyde world thogh that I sholde winne, + Ne have I nat twelf pens with-inne myn hold. + Ye knowen wel that I am povre and old; (310) + Kythe your almesse on me povre wrecche.’ + + 1605. E. Hn. me god; _rest om._ god. + + ‘Nay than,’ quod he, ‘the foule feend me fecche 1610 + If I thexcuse, though them shul be spilt!’ + + 1610. E. thanne. + + ‘Alas,’ quod she, ‘god woot, I have no gilt.’ + + ‘Pay me,’ quod he, ‘or by the swete seinte Anne, + As I wol bere awey thy newe panne + For dette, which that thou owest me of old, 1615 + Whan that thou madest thyn housbond cokewold, + I payde at hoom for thy correccioun.’ + + ‘Thou lixt,’ quod she, ‘by my savacioun! (320) + Ne was I never er now, widwe ne wyf, + Somoned un-to your court in al my lyf; 1620 + Ne never I nas but of my body trewe! + Un-to the devel blak and rough of hewe + Yeve I thy body and my panne also!’ + + And whan the devel herde hir cursen so + Up-on hir knees, he seyde in this manere, 1625 + ‘Now Mabely, myn owene moder dere, + Is this your wil in ernest, that ye seye?’ + + 1626. Cm. Mabelyn. + + ‘The devel,’ quod she, ‘so fecche him er he deye, (330) + And panne and al, but he wol him repente!’ + + ‘Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn entente,’ 1630 + Quod this Somnour, ‘for to repente me, + For any thing that I have had of thee; + I wolde I hadde thy smok and every clooth!’ + + ‘Now, brother,’ quod the devel, ‘be nat wrooth; + Thy body and this panne ben myne by right. 1635 + Thou shalt with me to helle yet to-night, + Where thou shalt knowen of our privetee + More than a maister of divinitee:’ (340) + And with that word this foule feend him hente; + Body and soule, he with the devel wente 1640 + Wher-as that somnours han hir heritage. + And god, that maked after his image + Mankinde, save and gyde us alle and some; + [369: T. 7226-7246.] + And leve this Somnour good man to bicome! + + 1642. Hl. maked; _rest_ made. 1644. E. Hn. this Somonours goode men + bicome. + + Lordinges, I coude han told yow, quod this Frere, 1645 + Hadde I had leyser for this Somnour here, + After the text of Crist [and] Poul and Iohn + And of our othere doctours many oon, (350) + Swiche peynes, that your hertes mighte agryse, + Al-be-it so, no tonge may devyse, 1650 + Thogh that I mighte a thousand winter telle, + The peyne of thilke cursed hous of helle. + But, for to kepe us fro that cursed place, + Waketh, and preyeth Iesu for his grace + So kepe us fro the temptour Sathanas. 1655 + Herketh this word, beth war as in this cas; + The leoun sit in his await alway + To slee the innocent, if that he may. (360) + Disposeth ay your hertes to withstonde + The feend, that yow wolde make thral and bonde. 1660 + He may nat tempten yow over your might; + For Crist wol be your champion and knight. + And prayeth that thise Somnours hem repente + Of hir misdedes, er that the feend hem hente. + + =Here endeth the Freres Tale.= + + 1647. _I supply_ and. 1649. E. Ln. Hl. herte (_see_ l. 1659). 1650. + E. Hn. may it; _rest om._ it. 1652. E. Hn. Pt. peynes; _rest_ + peyne. 1661. E. Hn. Hl. tempte; _rest_ tempten. 1663. _So_ E. Hn.; + Cp. Pt. Ln. this somnour him; Hl. oure sompnour him. 1664. _So_ E. + Hn.; _rest_ his mysdede ... him. Cm. _om._ that (_perhaps + rightly_). COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn. Cm.; Cp. Hl. Her endeth the Frere + his tale. + +[370: T. 7247-7270.] + + * * * * * + +THE SOMNOUR’S PROLOGUE + + * * * * * + + =The prologe of the Somnours Tale.= + + This Somnour in his stiropes hye stood; 1665 + Up-on this Frere his herte was so wood, + That lyk an aspen leef he quook for yre. + + HEADING. _So_ E. Hn.; E. Somonours. 1665. E. Somonour; Hl. sompnour; + _rest_ Somnour. + + ‘Lordinges,’ quod he, ‘but o thing I desyre; + I yow biseke that, of your curteisye, + Sin ye han herd this false Frere lye, 1670 + As suffereth me I may my tale telle! + This Frere bosteth that he knoweth helle, + And god it woot, that it is litel wonder; + Freres and feendes been but lyte a-sonder. (10) + For pardee, ye han ofte tyme herd telle, 1675 + How that a frere ravisshed was to helle + In spirit ones by a visioun; + And as an angel ladde him up and doun, + To shewen him the peynes that ther were, + In al the place saugh he nat a frere; 1680 + Of other folk he saugh y-nowe in wo. + Un-to this angel spak the frere tho: + + 1676. E. vanysshed(!); _rest_ rauysshed. + + “Now, sir,” quod he, “han freres swich a grace + That noon of hem shal come to this place?” (20) + + “Yis,” quod this angel, “many a millioun!” 1685 + And un-to Sathanas he ladde him doun. + “And now hath Sathanas,” seith he, “a tayl + Brodder than of a carrik is the sayl. + [371: T. 7271-7290.] + Hold up thy tayl, thou Sathanas!” quod he, + “Shewe forth thyn ers, and lat the frere see 1690 + Wher is the nest of freres in this place!” + And, er that half a furlong-wey of space, + Right so as bees out swarmen from an hyve, + Out of the develes ers ther gonne dryve (30) + Twenty thousand freres in a route, 1695 + And thurgh-out helle swarmeden aboute; + And comen agayn, as faste as they may gon, + And in his ers they crepten everichon. + He clapte his tayl agayn, and lay ful stille. + This frere, whan he loked hadde his fille 1700 + Upon the torments of this sory place, + His spirit god restored of his grace + Un-to his body agayn, and he awook; + But natheles, for fere yet he quook, (40) + So was the develes ers ay in his minde, 1705 + That is his heritage of verray kinde. + God save yow alle, save this cursed Frere; + My prologe wol I ende in this manere.’ + + =Here endeth the prologe of the Somnours Tale.= + + 1692. Pt. Hl. than; _rest_ that. 1693. E. Hn. swarmeden; Hl. swarmed + al. 1700. Cp. Hn. loked hadde; Pt. Ln. Hl. loked had; E. hadde looke + al (_sic_). COLOPHON. _From_ Hn. + +[372: T. 7291-7314.] + + * * * * * + +THE SOMNOURS TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Somonour his Tale.= + + Lordinges, ther is in Yorkshire, as I gesse, + A mersshy contree called Holdernesse, 1710 + In which ther wente a limitour aboute, + To preche, and eek to begge, it is no doute. + And so bifel, that on a day this frere + Had preched at a chirche in his manere, + And specially, aboven every thing, 1715 + Excited he the peple in his preching, + To trentals, and to yeve, for goddes sake, + Wher-with men mighten holy houses make, (10) + Ther as divyne service is honoured, + Nat ther as it is wasted and devoured, 1720 + Ne ther it nedeth nat for to be yive, + As to possessioners, that mowen live, + Thanked be god, in wele and habundaunce. + ‘Trentals,’ seyde he, ‘deliveren fro penaunce + Hir freendes soules, as wel olde as yonge, 1725 + Ye, whan that they been hastily y-songe; + Nat for to holde a preest Ioly and gay, + He singeth nat but o masse in a day; (20) + Delivereth out,’ quod he, ‘anon the soules; + Ful hard it is with fleshhook or with oules 1730 + To been y-clawed, or to brenne or bake; + Now spede yow hastily, for Cristes sake.’ + [373: T. 7315-7349.] + And whan this frere had seyd al his entente, + With _qui cum patre_ forth his wey he wente. + + HEADING. _So_ E.; Hn. Somnours (_for_ Somonour his). 1710. Cp. Pt. + Ln. mersshy; Hl. mersschly; E. Hn. merssh. 1718. Cp. Hl. mighten; E. + Hn. myghte. 1721. Cp. Hl. yiue; _rest_ yeue. + + Whan folk in chirche had yeve him what hem leste, 1735 + He wente his wey, no lenger wolde he reste, + With scrippe and tipped staf, y-tukked hye; + In every hous he gan to poure and prye, (30) + And beggeth mele, and chese, or elles corn. + His felawe hadde a staf tipped with horn, 1740 + A peyre of tables al of yvory, + And a poyntel polisshed fetisly, + And wroot the names alwey, as he stood, + Of alle folk that yaf him any good, + Ascaunces that he wolde for hem preye. 1745 + ‘Yeve us a busshel whete, malt, or reye, + A goddes kechil, or a trip of chese, + Or elles what yow list, we may nat chese; (40) + A goddes halfpeny or a masse-peny, + Or yeve us of your brawn, if ye have eny; 1750 + A dagon of your blanket, leve dame, + Our suster dere, lo! here I write your name; + Bacon or beef, or swich thing as ye finde.’ + + 1735. E. lest. 1736. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. went. 1738. E. Hn. Ln. poure; + _rest_ pore. 1743. E. wroote. 1745. Hn. Ascaunces; E. Asaunces; Hl. + Pt. Ln. Ascaunce; Cp. Ascance. E. prey. 1746. Ln. Yeue; Cp. Yiue; + _rest_ Yif (_see_ 1750). E. him; _rest_ vs. 1747. Ln. kechel; Hl. + kichil. Cp. Pt. trippe; Ln. trep. 1750. E. Hn. Hl. yif; _rest_ yeue + (yiue). 1751. Cm. Cp. Hl. dagoun. + + A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihinde, + That was hir hostes man, and bar a sak, 1755 + And what men yaf hem, leyde it on his bak. + And whan that he was out at dore anon, + He planed awey the names everichon (50) + That he biforn had writen in his tables; + He served hem with nyfles and with fables. 1760 + + ‘Nay, ther thou lixt, thou Somnour,’ quod the Frere. + ‘Pees,’ quod our Host, ‘for Cristes moder dere; + Tel forth thy tale and spare it nat at al.’ + So thryve I, quod this Somnour, so I shal.— + + So longe he wente hous by hous, til he 1765 + Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be + Refresshed more than in an hundred placis. + [374: T. 7350-7385.] + Sik lay the gode man, whos that the place is; (60) + Bedrede up-on a couche lowe he lay. + ‘_Deus hic_,’ quod he, ‘O Thomas, freend, good day,’ 1770 + Seyde this frere curteisly and softe. + ‘Thomas,’ quod he, ‘god yelde yow! ful ofte + Have I up-on this bench faren ful weel. + Here have I eten many a mery meel’; + And fro the bench he droof awey the cat, 1775 + And leyde adoun his potente and his hat, + And eek his scrippe, and sette him softe adoun. + His felawe was go walked in-to toun, (70) + Forth with his knave, in-to that hostelrye + Wher-as he shoop him thilke night to lye. 1780 + + 1768. Hl. that; _rest om._ 1769. Pt. Hl. Bedred. 1772. Hl. yeld + it. 1774. E. myrie; Hn. Cm. murye; _rest_ mery. + + ‘O dere maister,’ quod this syke man, + ‘How han ye fare sith that March bigan? + I saugh yow noght this fourtenight or more.’ + ‘God woot,’ quod he, ‘laboured have I ful sore; + And specially, for thy savacioun 1785 + Have I seyd many a precious orisoun, + And for our othere frendes, god hem blesse! + I have to-day been at your chirche at messe, (80) + And seyd a sermon after my simple wit, + Nat al after the text of holy writ; 1790 + For it is hard to yow, as I suppose, + And therfore wol I teche yow al the glose. + Glosinge is a glorious thing, certeyn, + For lettre sleeth, so as we clerkes seyn. + Ther have I taught hem to be charitable, 1795 + And spende hir good ther it is resonable, + And ther I saugh our dame; a! wher is she?’ + + 1783. E. Hn. fourtnyght; _rest_ fourtenight. 1784. E. Hn. I haue; + _rest_ haue I. 1792. Hl. ay (_for_ al). 1793. Hl. a ful glorious. + 1794. E. thise; Hn. Cm. Pt. Hl. we. + + ‘Yond in the yerd I trowe that she be,’ (90) + Seyde this man, ‘and she wol come anon.’ + + ‘Ey, maister! wel-come be ye, by seint Iohn!’ 1800 + Seyde this wyf, ‘how fare ye hertely?’ + + The frere aryseth up ful curteisly, + And hir embraceth in his armes narwe, + [375: T. 7386-7422.] + And kiste hir swete, and chirketh as a sparwe + With his lippes: ‘dame,’ quod he, ‘right weel, 1805 + As he that is your servant every deel. + Thanked be god, that yow yaf soule and lyf, + Yet saugh I nat this day so fair a wyf (100) + In al the chirche, god so save me!’ + + 1804. E. Hn. chirteth. + + ‘Ye, god amende defautes, sir,’ quod she, 1810 + ‘Algates wel-come be ye, by my fey!’ + ‘Graunt mercy, dame, this have I founde alwey. + But of your grete goodnesse, by your leve, + I wolde prey yow that ye nat yow greve, + I wol with Thomas speke a litel throwe. 1815 + Thise curats been ful necligent and slowe + To grope tendrely a conscience. + In shrift, in preching is my diligence, (110) + And studie in Petres wordes, and in Poules. + I walke, and fisshe Cristen mennes soules, 1820 + To yelden Iesu Crist his propre rente; + To sprede his word is set al myn entente.’ + + ‘Now, by your leve, o dere sir,’ quod she, + ‘Chydeth him weel, for seinte Trinitee. + He is as angry as a pissemyre, 1825 + Though that he have al that he can desyre. + Though I him wrye a-night and make him warm, + And on hym leye my leg outher myn arm, (120) + He groneth lyk our boor, lyth in our sty. + Other desport right noon of him have I; 1830 + I may nat plese him in no maner cas.’ + + 1830. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. of him right non. + + ‘O Thomas! _Ie vous dy_, Thomas! Thomas! + This maketh the feend, this moste ben amended. + Ire is a thing that hye god defended, + And ther-of wol I speke a word or two.’ 1835 + + 1832. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. _Ieo_. + + ‘Now maister,’ quod the wyf, ‘er that I go, + What wol ye dyne? I wol go ther-aboute.’ + + ‘Now dame,’ quod he, ‘_Ie vous dy sanz doute_, (130) + Have I nat of a capon but the livere, + And of your softe breed nat but a shivere, 1840 + [376: T. 7423-7459.] + And after that a rosted pigges heed, + (But that I nolde no beest for me were deed), + Thanne hadde I with yow hoomly suffisaunce. + I am a man of litel sustenaunce. + My spirit hath his fostring in the Bible. 1845 + The body is ay so redy and penyble + To wake, that my stomak is destroyed. + I prey yow, dame, ye be nat anoyed, (140) + Though I so freendly yow my conseil shewe; + By god, I wolde nat telle it but a fewe.’ 1850 + + 1838. Cp. Pt. Hl. _Ieo_. + + ‘Now, sir,’ quod she, ‘but o word er I go; + My child is deed with-inne thise wykes two, + Sone after that ye wente out of this toun.’ + + ‘His deeth saugh I by revelacioun,’ + Seith this frere, ‘at hoom in our dortour. 1855 + I dar wel seyn that, er that half an hour + After his deeth, I saugh him born to blisse + In myn avisioun, so god me wisse! (150) + So dide our sexteyn and our fermerer, + That han been trewe freres fifty yeer; 1860 + They may now, god be thanked of his lone, + Maken hir Iubilee and walke allone. + And up I roos, and al our covent eke, + With many a tere trikling on my cheke, + Withouten noyse or clateringe of belles; 1865 + _Te deum_ was our song and no-thing elles, + Save that to Crist I seyde an orisoun, + Thankinge him of his revelacioun. (160) + For sir and dame, trusteth me right weel, + Our orisons been more effectueel, 1870 + And more we seen of Cristes secree thinges + Than burel folk, al-though they weren kinges. + We live in povert and in abstinence, + And burel folk in richesse and despence + Of mete and drinke, and in hir foul delyt. 1875 + We han this worldes lust al in despyt. + Lazar and Dives liveden diversly, + [377: T. 7460-7496.] + And diverse guerdon hadden they ther-by. (170) + Who-so wol preye, he moot faste and be clene, + And fatte his soule and make his body lene. 1880 + We fare as seith thapostle; cloth and fode + Suffysen us, though they be nat ful gode. + The clennesse and the fastinge of us freres + Maketh that Crist accepteth our preyeres. + + 1856. Ln. than; _rest_ that. 1870. E. Hn. wel moore; _rest om._ + wel. 1872. Hl. borel. 1873. Cm. Hl. pouert; _rest_ pouerte. 1874. + Hl. borel. 1878. E. Hn. gerdon; Cm. gerdoun; Pt. guardon. + + Lo, Moyses fourty dayes and fourty night 1885 + Fasted, er that the heighe god of might + Spak with him in the mountain of Sinay. + With empty wombe, fastinge many a day, (180) + Receyved he the lawe that was writen + With goddes finger; and Elie, wel ye witen, 1890 + In mount Oreb, er he hadde any speche + With hye god, that is our lyves leche, + He fasted longe and was in contemplaunce. + + 1887. Hn. mountayne; Ln. Dd. mounte; _rest_ mount. + + Aaron, that hadde the temple in governaunce, + And eek the othere preestes everichon, 1895 + In-to the temple whan they sholde gon + To preye for the peple, and do servyse, + They nolden drinken, in no maner wyse, (190) + No drinke, which that mighte hem dronke make, + But there in abstinence preye and wake, 1900 + Lest that they deyden; tak heed what I seye. + But they be sobre that for the peple preye, + War that I seye,—namore! for it suffyseth. + Our lord Iesu, as holy writ devyseth, + Yaf us ensample of fastinge and preyeres. 1905 + Therfor we mendinants, we sely freres, + Been wedded to poverte and continence, + To charitee, humblesse, and abstinence, (200) + To persecucion for rightwisnesse, + To wepinge, misericorde, and clennesse. 1910 + And therfor may ye see that our preyeres— + I speke of us, we mendinants, we freres— + Ben to the hye god more acceptable + Than youres, with your festes at the table. + [378: T. 7497-7530.] + Fro Paradys first, if I shal nat lye, 1915 + Was man out chaced for his glotonye; + And chaast was man in Paradys, certeyn. + + 1895. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. that; Cm. Hl. Pt. the. 1901. E. taak heede. + 1906, 12. E. mendynantz. + + But herkne now, Thomas, what I shal seyn. (210) + I ne have no text of it, as I suppose, + But I shall finde it in a maner glose, 1930 + That specially our swete lord Iesus + Spak this by freres, whan he seyde thus: + “Blessed be they that povre in spirit been.” + And so forth al the gospel may ye seen, + Wher it be lyker our professioun, 1925 + Or hirs that swimmen in possessioun. + Fy on hir pompe and on hir glotonye! + And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye. (220) + + 1918. Cm. Pt. Hl. now; _rest om._ 1923. E. pouere; Hn. poure; Ln. Hl. + pouer; Cm. poore; Cp. pore. 1925. E. Hn. likker; Cm. lykere. 1927. + E. Hn. _om. 2nd_ on. + + Me thinketh they ben lyk Iovinian, + Fat as a whale, and walkinge as a swan; 1930 + Al vinolent as botel in the spence. + Hir preyer is of ful gret reverence; + Whan they for soules seye the psalm of Davit, + Lo, “buf!” they seye, “_cor meum eructavit_!” + Who folweth Cristes gospel and his fore, 1935 + But we that humble been and chast and pore, + Werkers of goddes word, not auditours? + Therfore, right as an hauk up, at a sours, (230) + Up springeth in-to their, right so prayeres + Of charitable and chaste bisy freres 1940 + Maken hir sours to goddes eres two. + Thomas! Thomas! so mote I ryde or go, + And by that lord that clepid is seint Yve, + Nere thou our brother, sholdestou nat thryve! + In our chapitre praye we day and night 1945 + To Crist, that he thee sende hele and might, + Thy body for to welden hastily.’ + + 1934. buf] E. but; Hl. boef. 1935. E. Hn. foore; Cm. Hl. fore; _rest_ + lore. 1937. E. Cm. Werkeris. 1938. up at] Hl. vpon. 1939. Hl. + thaer; Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. the eyre (ayre). 1947. E. weelden. + + ‘God woot,’ quod he, ‘no-thing ther-of fele I; (240) + [379: T. 7531-7565.] + As help me Crist, as I, in fewe yeres, + Han spended, up-on dyvers maner freres, 1950 + Ful many a pound; yet fare I never the bet. + Certeyn, my good have I almost biset. + Farwel, my gold! for it is al ago!’ + + 1949. Hn. Hl. I in; E. Cm. in a; Pt. I haue in. 1950. Hn. Hl. Haue + spended; E. I han spent. 1952. E. I haue. + + The frere answerde, ‘O Thomas, dostow so? + What nedeth yow diverse freres seche? 1955 + What nedeth him that hath a parfit leche + To sechen othere leches in the toun? + Your inconstance is your confusioun. (250) + Holde ye than me, or elles our covent, + To praye for yow ben insufficient? 1960 + Thomas, that Iape nis nat worth a myte; + Your maladye is for we han to lyte. + “A! yif that covent half a quarter otes!” + “A! yif that covent four and twenty grotes!” + “A! yif that frere a peny, and lat him go!” 1965 + Nay, nay, Thomas! it may no-thing be so. + What is a ferthing worth parted in twelve? + Lo, ech thing that is oned in him-selve (260) + Is more strong than whan it is to-scatered. + Thomas, of me thou shalt nat been y-flatered; 1970 + Thou woldest han our labour al for noght. + The hye god, that al this world hath wroght, + Seith that the werkman worthy is his hyre. + Thomas! noght of your tresor I desyre + As for my-self, but that al our covent 1975 + To preye for yow is ay so diligent, + And for to builden Cristes owene chirche. + Thomas! if ye wol lernen for to wirche, (270) + Of buildinge up of chirches may ye finde + If it be good, in Thomas lyf of Inde. 1980 + Ye lye heer, ful of anger and of yre, + With which the devel set your herte a-fyre, + And chyden heer this sely innocent, + [380: T. 7566-7597.] + Your wyf, that is so meke and pacient. + And therfor, Thomas, trowe me if thee leste, 1985 + Ne stryve nat with thy wyf, as for thy beste; + And ber this word awey now, by thy feith, + Touchinge this thing, lo, what the wyse seith: (280) + “With-in thyn hous ne be thou no leoun; + To thy subgits do noon oppressioun; 1990 + Ne make thyne aqueyntances nat to flee.” + And Thomas, yet eft-sones I charge thee, + Be war from hir that in thy bosom slepeth; + War fro the serpent that so slyly crepeth + Under the gras, and stingeth subtilly. 1995 + Be war, my sone, and herkne paciently, + That twenty thousand men han lost hir lyves, + For stryving with hir lemmans and hir wyves. (290) + Now sith ye han so holy and meke a wyf, + What nedeth yow, Thomas, to maken stryf? 2000 + Ther nis, y-wis, no serpent so cruel, + Whan man tret on his tayl, ne half so fel, + As womman is, whan she hath caught an ire; + Vengeance is thanne al that they desyre. + Ire is a sinne, oon of the grete of sevene, 2005 + Abhominable un-to the god of hevene; + And to him-self it is destruccion. + This every lewed viker or person (300) + Can seye, how Ire engendreth homicyde. + Ire is, in sooth, executour of pryde. 2010 + I coude of Ire seye so muche sorwe, + My tale sholde laste til to-morwe. + And therfor preye I god bothe day and night, + An irous man, god sende him litel might! + It is greet harm and, certes, gret pitee, 2015 + [381: T. 7598-7632.] + To sette an irous man in heigh degree. + + 1959. E. thanne. 1968. E. it-; _rest_ him-. 1977. E. Hn. Hl. + buylden; Cm. bildyn; Cp. bulden; Pt. beelden; Ln. bilden. 1981. E. + _om._ and. 1983. E. Hn. Hl. the; _rest_ this. 1988. E. this; _rest_ + swich (such). 1989. _All_ With-inne. 1991. E. Hn. Cm. aqueyntances; + Hl. acqueyntis; _rest_ aqueintance. Cm. not to; Pt. for to; Hl. fro + thee; _rest_ nat for to. 1993. Pt. yre (_for_ hir). 1994. Hn. War + fro; Hl. War for; Pt. Ware the for; Cm. By-war from; E. Be war fro; Cp. + Ln. Be war of. 1999. Hl. and meke; Cp. Ln. and so meke; _rest_ + meke. 2002. E. What (_for_ Whan). E. Hn. man tret; Cm. man trat; + _rest_ men trede. After 2004 Hl. _ins. 2 spurious lines_: Schortly + may no man by rym and vers Tellen her thoughtes, thay ben so diuers. + _After_ 2012 Hl. _ins. 2 spurious lines_: Ire is the grate of synne as + saith the wise To fle ther-fro ech man schuld him deuyse. 2015. Hn. + Cp. Ln. certes; Hl. also; _rest_ eke (eek). + + Whilom ther was an irous potestat, + As seith Senek, that, duringe his estaat, (310) + Up-on a day out riden knightes two, + And as fortune wolde that it were so, 2020 + That oon of hem cam hoom, that other noght. + Anon the knight bifore the Iuge is broght, + That seyde thus, ‘thou hast thy felawe slayn, + For which I deme thee to the deeth, certayn.’ + And to another knight comanded he, 2025 + ‘Go lede him to the deeth, I charge thee.’ + And happed, as they wente by the weye + Toward the place ther he sholde deye, (320) + The knight cam, which men wenden had be deed. + Thanne thoughte they, it was the beste reed, 2030 + To lede hem bothe to the Iuge agayn. + They seiden, ‘lord, the knight ne hath nat slayn + His felawe; here he standeth hool alyve.’ + ‘Ye shul be deed,’ quod he, ‘so moot I thryve! + That is to seyn, bothe oon, and two, and three!’ 2035 + And to the firste knight right thus spak he, + ‘I dampned thee, thou most algate be deed. + And thou also most nedes lese thyn heed, (330) + For thou art cause why thy felawe deyth.’ + And to the thridde knight right thus he seyth, 2040 + ‘Thou hast nat doon that I comanded thee.’ + And thus he dide don sleen hem alle three. + + 2037. _Here_ Hl. _adds two spurious lines_: Than thoughte thay it were + the beste rede To lede him forth into a fair mede. + + Irous Cambyses was eek dronkelewe, + And ay delyted him to been a shrewe. + And so bifel, a lord of his meynee, 2045 + That lovede vertuous moralitee, + Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right thus: + ‘A lord is lost, if he be vicious; (340) + And dronkenesse is eek a foul record + Of any man, and namely in a lord. 2050 + [382: T. 7633-7669.] + Ther is ful many an eye and many an ere + Awaiting on a lord, and he noot where. + For goddes love, drink more attemprely; + Wyn maketh man to lesen wrecchedly + His minde, and eek his limes everichon.’ 2055 + + 2046. Hn. Cm. louede (= lov’de); E. loued. 2047. E. bitwene. 2048. + _Here_ Hl. _adds two spurious lines_: An irous man is lik a frentik + best In which ther is of wisdom noon arrest. 2048. E. Pt. vicius. + 2050. Hl. of (_for_ in). 2055. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. eek; _rest om._ + + ‘The revers shaltou se,’ quod he, ‘anon; + And preve it, by thyn owene experience, + That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich offence. (350) + Ther is no wyn bireveth me my might + Of hand ne foot, ne of myn eyen sight’— 2060 + And, for despyt, he drank ful muchel more + An hondred part than he had doon bifore; + And right anon, this irous cursed wrecche + Leet this knightes sone bifore him fecche, + Comandinge him he sholde bifore him stonde. 2065 + And sodeynly he took his bowe in honde, + And up the streng he pulled to his ere, + And with an arwe he slow the child right there: (360) + ‘Now whether have I a siker hand or noon?’ + Quod he, ‘is al my might and minde agoon? 2070 + Hath wyn bireved me myn eyen sight?’ + + 2062. E. _om._ doon. 2064. Hl. sone anoon; _rest_ sone. 2069. E. + wheither. 2071. E. bireft; _rest_ byreued. + + What sholde I telle thanswere of the knight? + His sone was slayn, ther is na-more to seye. + Beth war therfor with lordes how ye pleye. + Singeth _Placebo_, and I shal, if I can, 2075 + But if it be un-to a povre man. + To a povre man men sholde hise vyces telle, + But nat to a lord, thogh he sholde go to helle. (370) + + Lo irous Cirus, thilke Percien, + How he destroyed the river of Gysen, 2080 + For that an hors of his was dreynt ther-inne, + Whan that he wente Babiloigne to winne. + He made that the river was so smal, + That wommen mighte wade it over al. + Lo, what seyde he, that so wel teche can? 2085 + “Ne be no felawe to an irous man, + Ne with no wood man walke by the weye, + [383: T. 7670-7704.] + Lest thee repente;” ther is na-more to seye. (380) + + Now Thomas, leve brother, lef thyn ire; + Thou shall me finde as Iust as is a squire. 2090 + Hold nat the develes knyf ay at thyn herte; + Thyn angre dooth thee al to sore smerte; + But shewe to me al thy confessioun.’ + + 2091, 2. Hl. _transposes these lines._ + + ‘Nay,’ quod the syke man, ‘by Seint Simoun! + I have be shriven this day at my curat; 2095 + I have him told al hoolly myn estat; + Nedeth na-more to speke of it,’ seith he, + ‘But if me list of myn humilitee.’ (390) + + 2095. Hl. of (_for_ at). 2096. E. Hn. Hl. hoolly al; _rest_ al holly + (holy). 2097. E. Hl. speken. + + ‘Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make our cloistre,’ + Quod he, ‘for many a muscle and many an oistre, 2100 + Whan other men han ben ful wel at eyse, + Hath been our fode, our cloistre for to reyse. + And yet, god woot, unnethe the fundement + Parfourned is, ne of our pavement + Nis nat a tyle yet with-inne our wones; 2105 + By god, we owen fourty pound for stones! + Now help, Thomas, for him that harwed helle! + For elles moste we our bokes selle. (400) + And if ye lakke our predicacioun, + Than gooth the world al to destruccioun. 2110 + For who-so wolde us fro this world bireve, + So god me save, Thomas, by your leve, + He wolde bireve out of this world the sonne. + For who can teche and werchen as we conne? + And that is nat of litel tyme,’ quod he; 2115 + ‘But sith that Elie was, or Elisee, + Han freres been, that finde I of record, + In charitee, y-thanked be our lord. (410) + Now Thomas, help, for seinte charitee!’ + And doun anon he sette him on his knee. 2120 + + 2101, 2. Hl. _transposes these lines_. 2105. E. Cm. tyl; _rest_ + tyle. 2110. E. Thanne. 2116. Hl. siththen; Cp. Ln. sethyns; Cm. + sithe that; E. syn; Hn. Ln. sith. E. Ennok; _rest_ Elie (Elye). + + This syke man wex wel ny wood for ire; + He wolde that the frere had been on-fire + [384: T. 7705-7738.] + With his false dissimulacioun. + ‘Swich thing as is in my possessioun,’ + Quod he, ‘that may I yeven, and non other. 2125 + Ye sey me thus, how that I am your brother?’ + + 2121. E. wax; Hn. weex; _rest_ wex. 2125. Hl. yeue yow; _rest om._ + yow. 2126. E. Cp. Ln. _om._ how. + + ‘Ye, certes,’ quod the frere, ‘trusteth weel; + I took our dame our lettre with our seel.’ (420) + + 2128. Hn. Cm. Cp. Ln. with; E. and; Pt. of; Hl. vnder. + + ‘Now wel,’ quod he, ‘and som-what shal I yive + Un-to your holy covent whyl I live, 2130 + And in thyn hand thou shalt it have anoon; + On this condicioun, and other noon, + That thou departe it so, my dere brother, + That every frere have also muche as other. + This shaltou swere on thy professioun, 2135 + With-outen fraude or cavillacioun.’ + + 2129. Cp. Hl. yiue; _rest_ yeue. 2133. E. leeue; _rest_ dere (deere). + + ‘I swere it,’ quod this frere, ‘upon my feith!’ + And ther-with-al his hand in his he leith: (430) + ‘Lo, heer my feith! in me shal be no lak.’ + + 2137. E. Pt. by; _rest_ vpon. + + ‘Now thanne, put thyn hand doun by my bak,’ 2140 + Seyde this man, ‘and grope wel bihinde; + Bynethe my buttok ther shaltow finde + A thing that I have hid in privetee.’ + + 2140. E. Now thanne put in; Hn. Hl. Now thanne put; Pt. Now than put; + Cp. Ln. Than putte (put). + + ‘A!’ thoghte this frere, ‘this shal go with me!’ + And doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte, 2145 + In hope for to finde ther a yifte. + And whan this syke man felte this frere + Aboute his tuwel grope there and here, (440) + Amidde his hand he leet the frere a fart. + Ther nis no capul, drawinge in a cart, 2150 + That mighte have lete a fart of swich a soun. + + 2145. Hl. launched; Cp. Pt. Ln. launceth. 2148. Cm. tewel; Hl. tuel; + Ln. touele. + + ‘The frere up stirte as doth a wood leoun: + ‘A! false cherl,’ quod he, ‘for goddes bones, + This hastow for despyt doon, for the nones! + Thou shalt abye this fart, if that I may!’ 2155 + + 2153. E. Pt. Ln. fals. + + His meynee, whiche that herden this affray, + [385: T. 7739-7773.] + Cam lepinge in, and chaced out the frere; + And forth he gooth, with a ful angry chere, (450) + And fette his felawe, ther-as lay his stoor. + He looked as it were a wilde boor; 2160 + He grinte with his teeth, so was he wrooth. + A sturdy pas doun to the court he gooth, + Wher-as ther woned a man of greet honour, + To whom that he was alwey confessour; + This worthy man was lord of that village. 2165 + This frere cam, as he were in a rage, + Wher-as this lord sat eting at his bord. + Unnethes mighte the frere speke a word, (460) + Til atte laste he seyde: ‘god yow see!’ + + 2161. Hn. Cm. Pt. grynt; Cp. grynded; Ln. grenteth. 2162. E. Hn. Cp. + Hl. paas. E. lordes court; _rest om._ lordes. 2163. E. _om._ ther. + + This lord gan loke, and seide, ‘_benedicite!_ 2170 + What, frere Iohn, what maner world is this? + I see wel that som thing ther is amis. + Ye loken as the wode were ful of thevis, + Sit doun anon, and tel me what your greef is, + And it shal been amended, if I may.’ 2175 + + 2170. E. bigan to; Cm. gan to; _rest_ gan. 2172. _So_ Hn. Cm.; E. I + trowe som manerthing. 2174. Cp. greef; Cm. Hl. gref; E. Hn. grief. + 2175. E. Cp. Ln. Hl. if that; _rest om._ that. + + ‘I have,’ quod he, ‘had a despyt this day, + God yelde yow! adoun in your village, + That in this world is noon so povre a page, (470) + That he nolde have abhominacioun + Of that I have receyved in your toun. 2180 + And yet ne greveth me no-thing so sore, + As that this olde cherl, with lokkes hore, + Blasphemed hath our holy covent eke.’ + + 2181. E. Cp. Ln. _om._ ne. + + ‘Now, maister,’ quod this lord, ‘I yow biseke.’ + + ‘No maister, sire,’ quod he, ‘but servitour, 2185 + Thogh I have had in scole swich honour. + God lyketh nat that “Raby” men us calle, + Neither in market ne in your large halle.’ (480) + + 2185. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._ sire. 2186. E. swich; Hl. such; _rest_ + that. + + ‘No fors,’ quod he, ‘but tel me al your grief.’ + + ‘Sire,’ quod this frere, ‘an odious meschief 2190 + This day bitid is to myn ordre and me, + [386: T. 7774-7808.] + And so _per consequens_ to ech degree + Of holy chirche, god amende it sone!’ + + 2190. E. he (_for_ this frere). 2192. E. Pt. in; _rest_ to. + + ‘Sir,’ quod the lord, ‘ye woot what is to done. + Distempre yow noght, ye be my confessour; 2195 + Ye been the salt of the erthe and the savour. + For goddes love your pacience ye holde; + Tel me your grief:’ and he anon him tolde, (490) + As ye han herd biforn, ye woot wel what. + + The lady of the hous ay stille sat, 2200 + Til she had herd al what the frere sayde: + ‘Ey, goddes moder,’ quod she, ‘blisful mayde! + Is ther oght elles? telle me faithfully.’ + + 2200. E. al; _rest_ ay. 2201. MS. Add. 5140. all; _rest om._ + + ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘how thinketh yow her-by?’ + + 2204. Hn. thynketh yow; Cp. thenke you; Hl. Ln. thynke yow; E. thynke + ye. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl. ther-by. + + ‘How that me thinketh?’ quod she; ‘so god me speede, + I seye, a cherl hath doon a cherles dede. + What shold I seye? god lat him never thee! + His syke heed is ful of vanitee, (500) + I hold him in a maner frenesye.’ + + 2205. thinketh = think’th. + + ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘by god I shal nat lye; 2210 + But I on other weyes may be wreke, + I shal diffame him over-al ther I speke, + This false blasphemour, that charged me + To parte that wol nat departed be, + To every man y-liche, with meschaunce!’ 2215 + + 2211. E. _ins._ hym _after_ on (_wrongly_). E. _om._ may. 2212. Hn. + Cp. diffame; Cm. Hl. defame; E. disclaundre. + + The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce, + And in his herte he rolled up and doun, + ‘How hadde this cherl imaginacioun (510) + To shewe swich a probleme to the frere? + Never erst er now herde I of swich matere; 2220 + I trowe the devel putte it in his minde. + In ars-metryke shal ther no man finde, + Biforn this day, of swich a questioun. + Who sholde make a demonstracioun, + That every man sholde have y-liche his part 2225 + As of the soun or savour of a fart? + [387: T. 7809-7843.] + O nyce proude cherl, I shrewe his face! + Lo, sires,’ quod the lord, with harde grace, (520) + ‘Who ever herde of swich a thing er now? + To every man y-lyke? tel me how? 2230 + It is an inpossible, it may nat be! + Ey, nyce cherl, god lete him never thee! + The rumblinge of a fart, and every soun, + Nis but of eir reverberacioun, + And ever it wasteth lyte and lyte awey. 2235 + Ther is no man can demen, by my fey, + If that it were departed equally. + What, lo, my cherl, lo, yet how shrewedly (530) + Un-to my confessour to-day he spak! + I holde him certeyn a demoniak! 2240 + Now ete your mete, and lat the cherl go pleye, + Lat him go honge himself a devel weye!’ + + 2218. E. the (_for_ this). E. Cm. _insert_ this _after_ cherl. + 2222. Ln. metrike; _rest_ metrik. 2224. _So the rest_; E. Certes it + was a shrewed conclusion. 2227. E. vile; _rest_ nyce. 2229. E. + herd; _rest_ herde. E. Cm. Cp. herd euere. 2232. him] E. thee. + 2235. E. Cp. Pt. Hl. litel and litel. + + Now stood the lordes squyer at the bord, + That carf his mete, and herde, word by word, + Of alle thinges of which I have yow sayd. 2245 + ‘My lord,’ quod he, ‘be ye nat yvel apayd; + I coude telle, for a goune-clooth, + To yow, sir frere, so ye be nat wrooth, (540) + How that this fart sholde even deled be + Among your covent, if it lyked me.’ 2250 + + 2245. _So_ Hn. Cp. Ln.; E. which that I haue. 2246. E. Cp. beth; Ln. + be; _rest_ be ye. 2249. E. euene delt shal; Hl. euen departed schuld; + _rest as above_. + + ‘Tel,’ quod the lord, ‘and thou shall have anon + A goune-cloth, by god and by Seint Iohn!’ + + ‘My lord,’ quod he, ‘whan that the weder is fair, + With-outen wind or perturbinge of air, + Lat bringe a cartwheel here in-to this halle, 2255 + But loke that it have his spokes alle. + Twelf spokes hath a cartwheel comunly. + And bring me than twelf freres, woot ye why? (550) + For thrittene is a covent, as I gesse. + The confessour heer, for his worthinesse, 2260 + Shal parfourne up the nombre of his covent. + [388: T. 7844-7876.] + Than shal they knele doun, by oon assent, + And to every spokes ende, in this manere, + Ful sadly leye his nose shal a frere. + Your noble confessour, ther god him save, 2265 + Shal holde his nose upright, under the nave. + Than shal this cherl, with bely stif and toght + As any tabour, hider been y-broght; (560) + And sette him on the wheel right of this cart, + Upon the nave, and make him lete a fart. 2270 + And ye shul seen, up peril of my lyf, + By preve which that is demonstratif, + That equally the soun of it wol wende, + And eek the stink, un-to the spokes ende; + Save that this worthy man, your confessour, 2275 + By-cause he is a man of greet honour, + Shal have the firste fruit, as reson is; + The noble usage of freres yet is this, (570) + The worthy men of hem shul first be served; + And certeinly, he hath it weel deserved. 2280 + He hath to-day taught us so muchel good + With preching in the pulpit ther he stood, + That I may vouche-sauf, I sey for me, + He hadde the firste smel of fartes three, + And so wolde al his covent hardily; 2285 + He bereth him so faire and holily.’ + + 2255. E. Hl. _om._ here. Hl. a large wheel. 2257. Hn. Hl. Twelf; E. + Cm. Twelue. 2258. E. thanne. xij. 2259. E. Ln. twelue (_for_ + thrittene). 2262, 7. E. Thanne. 2268. E. Cm. been hyder. 2272. + Hl. By verray proef. 2274. E. eke; Hn. eek. 2278. _So_ Hn. Cp. Ln.; + Pt. it (_for_ yet); Hl. _om._ yet; E. As yet the noble vsage of freres + is. 2280. E. Hn. Cp. disserued. 2281. Hn. muchel; Hl. Cp. mochil; + E. Ln. muche. 2285. E. the (_for_ his). + + The lord, the lady, and ech man, save the frere, + Seyde that Iankin spak, in this matere, (580) + As wel as Euclide or [as] Ptholomee. + Touchinge this cherl, they seyde, subtiltee 2290 + And heigh wit made him speken as he spak; + He nis no fool, ne no demoniak. + And Iankin hath y-wonne a newe goune.— + My tale is doon; we been almost at toune. 2294 + + =Here endeth the Somnours Tale.= + + 2287. E. alle men. 2289. E. Euclude. _I supply 2nd_ as (Hl. + _supplies_ elles); Ln. _has_ ptholome; E. Hn. Protholomee; Cp. Hl. + p_ro_tholome. 2291. Hl. speken; _rest_ speke. COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn. + Cp. Hl.; E. Somonours. + +[389: T. 7877-7898.] + + * * * * * + +GROUP E + +THE CLERK’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + =Here folweth the Prologe of the Clerkes Tale of Oxenford.= + + ‘Sir clerk of Oxenford,’ our hoste sayde, + ‘Ye ryde as coy and stille as dooth a mayde, + Were newe spoused, sitting at the bord; + This day ne herde I of your tonge a word. + I trowe ye studie aboute som sophyme, 5 + But Salomon seith, “every thing hath tyme.” + + 1. Hl. hoste; Cp. Ln. oste; E. Hn. hoost. + + For goddes sake, as beth of bettre chere, + It is no tyme for to studien here. + Telle us som mery tale, by your fey; + For what man that is entred in a pley, 10 + He nedes moot unto the pley assente. + But precheth nat, as freres doon in Lente, + To make us for our olde sinnes wepe, + Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe. + + Telle us som mery thing of aventures;— 15 + Your termes, your colours, and your figures, + Kepe hem in stoor til so be ye endyte + Heigh style, as whan that men to kinges wryte. + Speketh so pleyn at this tyme, I yow preye, + That we may understonde what ye seye.’ 20 + + 17. E. Hl. that ye; _rest omit_ that. 19. E. Hn. we; _rest_ I. + + This worthy clerk benignely answerde, + ‘Hoste,’ quod he, ‘I am under your yerde; + [390: T. 7899-7932.] + Ye han of us as now the governaunce, + And therfor wol I do yow obeisaunce, + As fer as reson axeth, hardily. 25 + I wol yow telle a tale which that I + Lerned at Padowe of a worthy clerk, + As preved by his wordes and his werk. + He is now deed and nayled in his cheste, + I prey to god so yeve his soule reste! 30 + + 22. Ln. Oste; E. Hn. Pt. Hoost; Hl. Sir host. + + Fraunceys Petrark, the laureat poete, + Highte this clerk, whos rethoryke sweete + Enlumined al Itaille of poetrye, + As Linian dide of philosophye + Or lawe, or other art particuler; 35 + But deeth, that wol nat suffre us dwellen heer + But as it were a twinkling of an yë, + Hem bothe hath slayn, and alle shul we dyë. + + 32. Hl. rethorique; Cp. retorique; Pt. retorike; E. Hn. Ln. rethorik. + 36. E. _omits_ suffre us. + + But forth to tellen of this worthy man, + That taughte me this tale, as I bigan, 40 + I seye that first with heigh style he endyteth, + Er he the body of his tale wryteth, + A proheme, in the which discryveth he + Pemond, and of Saluces the contree, + And speketh of Apennyn, the hilles hye, 45 + That been the boundes of West Lumbardye, + And of Mount Vesulus in special, + Where as the Poo, out of a welle smal, + Taketh his firste springing and his sours, + That estward ay encresseth in his cours 50 + To Emelward, to Ferrare, and Venyse: + The which a long thing were to devyse. + And trewely, as to my Iugement, + Me thinketh it a thing impertinent, + Save that he wol convey en his matere: 55 + But this his tale, which that ye may here.’ + + 51. E. Hn. Emele; Hl. Emyl; Cp. Pt. Ln. Emel. 55. E. Hn. conuoyen; + _rest_ conueyen (-eye). 56. E. Hn. this his tale (_where_ this _is a + contraction for_ this is; _cf. mod._ E. ’tis); Hl. Pt. this is the + tale; Ln. this is tale. + +[391: T. 7933-7957.] + + * * * * * + +THE CLERKES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Tale of the Clerk of Oxenford.= + + Ther is, at the west syde of Itaille, + Doun at the rote of Vesulus the colde, + A lusty playne, habundant of vitaille, + Wher many a tour and toun thou mayst biholde, 60 + That founded were in tyme of fadres olde, + And many another delitable sighte, + And Saluces this noble contree highte. + + A markis whylom lord was of that londe, + As were his worthy eldres him bifore; 65 + And obeisant and redy to his honde (10) + Were alle his liges, bothe lasse and more. + Thus in delyt he liveth, and hath don yore, + Biloved and drad, thurgh favour of fortune, + Bothe of his lordes and of his commune. 70 + + Therwith he was, to speke as of linage, + The gentilleste y-born of Lumbardye, + A fair persone, and strong, and yong of age, + And ful of honour and of curteisye; + Discreet y-nogh his contree for to gye, 75 + Save in somme thinges that he was to blame, (20) + And Walter was this yonge lordes name. + + 76. E. Saue that; _rest omit_ that. + + I blame him thus, that he considereth noght + In tyme cominge what mighte him bityde, + But on his lust present was al his thoght, 80 + As for to hauke and hunte on every syde; + [392: T. 7958-7988.] + Wel ny alle othere cures leet he slyde, + And eek he nolde, and that was worst of alle, + Wedde no wyf, for noght that may bifalle. + + 79. _So_ Hn. Ln.; E. hym myghte; Pt. myȝt; Hl. mighte. 84. Pt. Ln. + ouȝt; E. Hn. noght; Hl. no thing. + + Only that point his peple bar so sore, 85 + That flokmele on a day they to him wente, (30) + And oon of hem, that wysest was of lore, + Or elles that the lord best wolde assente + That he sholde telle him what his peple mente, + Or elles coude he shewe wel swich matere, 90 + He to the markis seyde as ye shul here. + + ‘O noble markis, your humanitee + Assureth us and yeveth us hardinesse, + As ofte as tyme is of necessitee + That we to yow mowe telle our hevinesse; 95 + Accepteth, lord, now for your gentillesse, (40) + That we with pitous herte un-to yow pleyne, + And lete your eres nat my voys disdeyne. + + 93. Hn. Pt. and yeueth; Hl. and yiueth; E. to yeue; Ln. and whisse. + + Al have I noght to done in this matere + More than another man hath in this place, 100 + Yet for as muche as ye, my lord so dere, + Han alwey shewed me favour and grace, + I dar the better aske of yow a space + Of audience, to shewen our requeste, + And ye, my lord, to doon right as yow leste. 105 + + 103. E. Hn. bettre; _rest_ better. + + For certes, lord, so wel us lyketh yow (50) + And al your werk and ever han doon, that we + Ne coude nat us self devysen how + We mighte liven in more felicitee, + Save o thing, lord, if it your wille be, 110 + That for to been a wedded man yow leste, + Than were your peple in sovereyn hertes reste. + + 108. Pt. Ln. oure; E. Hn. Cp. vs. 110. E. Ln. _omit_ it. + +[393: T. 7989-8023.] + + Boweth your nekke under that blisful yok + Of soveraynetee, noght of servyse, + Which that men clepeth spousaille or wedlok; 115 + And thenketh, lord, among your thoghtes wyse, (60) + How that our dayes passe in sondry wyse; + For though we slepe or wake, or rome, or ryde, + Ay fleeth the tyme, it nil no man abyde. + + And though your grene youthe floure as yit, 120 + In crepeth age alwey, as stille as stoon, + And deeth manaceth every age, and smit + In ech estaat, for ther escapeth noon: + And al so certein as we knowe echoon + That we shul deye, as uncerteyn we alle 125 + Been of that day whan deeth shal on us falle. (70) + + Accepteth than of us the trewe entente, + That never yet refuseden your heste, + And we wol, lord, if that ye wol assente, + Chese yow a wyf in short tyme, atte leste, 130 + Born of the gentilleste and of the meste + Of al this lond, so that it oghte seme + Honour to god and yow, as we can deme. + + 128. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. your; E. Hn. Cm. thyn. 128, 130, 131. E. heeste, + leeste, meeste; Cm. heste, leste, meste. + + Deliver us out of al this bisy drede, + And tak a wyf, for hye goddes sake; 135 + For if it so bifelle, as god forbede, (80) + That thurgh your deeth your linage sholde slake, + And that a straunge successour sholde take + Your heritage, o! wo were us alyve! + Wherfor we pray you hastily to wyve.’ 140 + + 137. Cp. Pt. lynage; Ln. Hl. lignage; E. lyne; Hn. ligne; Cm. lyf. + + Hir meke preyere and hir pitous chere + Made the markis herte han pitee. + ‘Ye wol,’ quod he, ‘myn owene peple dere, + To that I never erst thoghte streyne me. + I me reioysed of my libertee, 145 + That selde tyme is founde in mariage; (90) + Ther I was free, I moot been in servage. + + 144. E. thoughte; Hn. thoghte. + +[394: T. 8024-8058.] + + But nathelees I see your trewe entente, + And truste upon your wit, and have don ay; + Wherfor of my free wil I wol assente 150 + To wedde me, as sone as ever I may. + But ther-as ye han profred me to-day + To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse + That choys, and prey yow of that profre cesse. + + 152. to-] E. this. 154. E. (_only_) _omits_ yow. + + For god it woot, that children ofte been 155 + Unlyk her worthy eldres hem bifore; (100) + Bountee comth al of god, nat of the streen + Of which they been engendred and y-bore; + I truste in goddes bountee, and therfore + My mariage and myn estaat and reste 160 + I him bitake; he may don as him leste. + + Lat me alone in chesinge of my wyf, + That charge up-on my bak I wol endure; + But I yow preye, and charge up-on your lyf, + That what wyf that I take, ye me assure 165 + To worshipe hir, whyl that hir lyf may dure, (110) + In word and werk, bothe here and everywhere, + As she an emperoures doghter were. + + 165. So Hn. Cp. Ln.; E. Cm. _omit_ That; Pt. _om._ what. + + And forthermore, this shal ye swere, that ye + Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne stryve; 170 + For sith I shal forgoon my libertee + At your requeste, as ever moot I thryve, + Ther as myn herte is set, ther wol I wyve; + And but ye wole assente in swich manere, + I prey yow, speketh na-more of this matere.’ 175 + + 174. E. this; _rest_ swich, such. + + With hertly wil they sworen, and assenten (120) + To al this thing, ther seyde no wight nay; + Bisekinge him of grace, er that they wenten, + That he wolde graunten hem a certein day + Of his spousaille, as sone as ever he may; 180 + For yet alwey the peple som-what dredde + Lest that this markis no wyf wolde wedde. + + [395: T. 8059-8089.] + He graunted hem a day, swich as him leste, + On which he wolde be wedded sikerly, + And seyde, he dide al this at hir requeste; 185 + And they, with humble entente, buxomly, (130) + Knelinge up-on her knees ful reverently + Him thanken alle, and thus they han an ende + Of hir entente, and hoom agayn they wende. + + And heer-up-on he to his officeres 190 + Comaundeth for the feste to purveye, + And to his privee knightes and squyeres + Swich charge yaf, as him liste on hem leye; + And they to his comandement obeye, + And ech of hem doth al his diligence 195 + To doon un-to the feste reverence. (140) + + =Explicit prima pars. Incipit secunda pars.= + + Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable + Ther-as this markis shoop his mariage, + Ther stood a throp, of site delitable, + In which that povre folk of that village 200 + Hadden hir bestes and hir herbergage, + And of hir labour took hir sustenance + After that the erthe yaf hem habundance. + + 199. Hl. throp; E. Hn. Cp. throop. + + Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man + Which that was holden povrest of hem alle; 205 + But hye god som tyme senden can (150) + His grace in-to a litel oxes stalle: + Ianicula men of that throp him calle. + A doghter hadde he, fair y-nogh to sighte, + And Grisildis this yonge mayden highte. 210 + + 208. Pt. throp; E. Hn. Cp. throop; Cm. thorp; Ln. thorpe. + + But for to speke of vertuous beautee, + Than was she oon the faireste under sonne; + For povreliche y-fostred up was she, + [396: T. 8090-8121.] + No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte y-ronne; + Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne 215 + She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese, (160) + She knew wel labour, but non ydel ese. + + 211. E. bountee; _rest_ beautee, beute. + + But thogh this mayde tendre were of age, + Yet in the brest of hir virginitee + Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage; 220 + And in greet reverence and charitee + Hir olde povre fader fostred she; + A fewe sheep spinning on feeld she kepte, + She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte. + + And whan she hoomward cam, she wolde bringe 225 + Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte, (170) + The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir livinge, + And made hir bed ful harde and no-thing softe; + And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on-lofte + With everich obeisaunce and diligence 230 + That child may doon to fadres reverence. + + Up-on Grisilde, this povre creature, + Ful ofte sythe this markis sette his yë + As he on hunting rood paraventure; + And whan it fil that he mighte hir espye, 235 + He noght with wantoun loking of folye (180) + His yën caste on hir, but in sad wyse + Up-on hir chere he wolde him ofte avyse, + + 233. E. caste; _rest_ sette (set). 235. E. that it; _rest omit_ + that. 238. E. gan; _rest_ wolde. 238. E. chiere. + + Commending in his herte hir wommanhede, + And eek hir vertu, passing any wight 240 + Of so yong age, as wel in chere as dede. + For thogh the peple have no greet insight + In vertu, he considered ful right + Hir bountee, and disposed that he wolde + Wedde hir only, if ever he wedde sholde. 245 + + 241. E. chiere. 242. E. hadde; Hn. Cm. hath; Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. haue. + +[397: T. 8122-8156.] + + The day of wedding cam, but no wight can (190) + Telle what womman that it sholde be; + For which merveille wondred many a man, + And seyden, whan they were in privetee, + ‘Wol nat our lord yet leve his vanitee? 250 + Wol he nat wedde? allas, allas the whyle! + Why wol he thus him-self and us bigyle?’ + + 249. E. Cm. that they; _rest omit_ that. + + But natheles this markis hath don make + Of gemmes, set in gold and in asure, + Broches and ringes, for Grisildis sake, 255 + And of hir clothing took he the mesure (200) + By a mayde, lyk to hir stature, + And eek of othere ornamentes alle + That un-to swich a wedding sholde falle. + + 257. Hl. y-lik to hir of stature. + + The tyme of undern of the same day 360 + Approcheth, that this wedding sholde be; + And al the paleys put was in array, + Bothe halle and chambres, ech in his degree; + Houses of office stuffed with plentee + Ther maystow seen of deyntevous vitaille, 265 + That may be founde, as fer as last Itaille. (210) + + This royal markis, richely arrayed, + Lordes and ladyes in his companye, + The whiche unto the feste were y-prayed, + And of his retenue the bachelrye, 270 + With many a soun of sondry melodye, + Un-to the village, of the which I tolde, + In this array the righte wey han holde. + + 269. Cp. Ln. Hl. vnto; Cm. Pt. to; E. Hn. that to. E. weren. + + Grisilde of this, god woot, ful innocent, + That for hir shapen was al this array, 275 + To fecchen water at a welle is went, (220) + And cometh hoom as sone as ever she may. + For wel she hadde herd seyd, that thilke day + The markis sholde wedde, and, if she mighte, + She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte. 280 + + [398: T. 8157-8191.] + She thoghte, ‘I wol with othere maydens stonde, + That been my felawes, in our dore, and see + The markisesse, and therfor wol I fonde + To doon at hoom, as sone as it may be, + The labour which that longeth un-to me; 285 + And than I may at leyser hir biholde, (230) + If she this wey un-to the castel holde.’ + + And as she wolde over hir threshfold goon, + The markis cam and gan hir for to calle; + And she sette doun hir water-pot anoon 290 + Bisyde the threshfold, in an oxes stalle, + And doun up-on hir knees she gan to falle, + And with sad contenance kneleth stille + Til she had herd what was the lordes wille. + + This thoghtful markis spak un-to this mayde 295 + Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere, (240) + ‘Wher is your fader, Grisildis?’ he sayde, + And she with reverence, in humble chere, + Answerde, ‘lord, he is al redy here.’ + And in she gooth with-outen lenger lette, 300 + And to the markis she hir fader fette. + + 297. E. Hn. Cm. _insert_ o _after_ fader. + + He by the hond than took this olde man, + And seyde thus, whan he him hadde asyde, + ‘Ianicula, I neither may ne can + Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde. 305 + If that thou vouche-sauf, what-so bityde, (250) + Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende, + As for my wyf, un-to hir lyves ende. + + 302. E. thanne; Hn, than. + + Thou lovest me, I woot it wel, certeyn, + And art my feithful lige man y-bore; 310 + And al that lyketh me, I dar wel seyn + It lyketh thee, and specially therfore + Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore, + If that thou wolt un-to that purpos drawe, + To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe?’ 315 + + [399: T. 8192-8226.] + This sodeyn cas this man astoned so, (260) + That reed he wex, abayst, and al quaking + He stood unnethes seyde he wordes mo, + But only thus: ‘lord,’ quod he, ‘my willing + Is as ye wole, ne ayeines your lyking 320 + I wol no-thing; ye be my lord so dere; + Right as yow lust governeth this matere.’ + + 317. E. Cp. Hl. wax; Hn. weex; _rest_ wex. 320. E. ayeins; Ln. + a-yeines; see l. 2325 _below_ (Group E). + + ‘Yet wol I,’ quod this markis softely, + ‘That in thy chambre I and thou and she + Have a collacion, and wostow why? 325 + For I wol axe if it hir wille be (270) + To be my wyf, and reule hir after me; + And al this shal be doon in thy presence, + I wol noght speke out of thyn audience.’ + + And in the chambre whyl they were aboute 330 + Hir tretis, which as ye shal after here, + The peple cam un-to the hous with-oute, + And wondred hem in how honest manere + And tentifly she kepte hir fader dere. + But outerly Grisildis wondre mighte, 335 + For never erst ne saugh she swich a sighte. (280) + + No wonder is thogh that she were astoned + To seen so greet a gest come in that place; + She never was to swiche gestes woned, + For which she loked with ful pale face. 340 + But shortly forth this tale for to chace, + Thise arn the wordes that the markis sayde + To this benigne verray feithful mayde. + + 337. E. Pt. _omit_ that. + + ‘Grisilde,’ he seyde, ‘ye shul wel understonde + It lyketh to your fader and to me 345 + That I yow wedde, and eek it may so stonde, (290) + As I suppose, ye wol that it so be. + But thise demandes axe I first,’ quod he, + ‘That, sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse, + Wol ye assente, or elles yow avyse? 350 + + [400: T. 8227-8261.] + I seye this, be ye redy with good herte + To al my lust, and that I frely may, + As me best thinketh, do yow laughe or smerte, + And never ye to grucche it, night ne day? + And eek whan I sey “ye,” ne sey nat “nay,” 355 + Neither by word ne frowning contenance; (300) + Swer this, and here I swere our alliance.’ + + 357. E. yow; _rest_ oure. + + Wondring upon this word, quaking for drede, + She seyde, ‘lord, undigne and unworthy + Am I to thilke honour that ye me bede; 360 + But as ye wol your-self, right so wol I. + And heer I swere that never willingly + In werk ne thoght I nil yow disobeye, + For to be deed, though me were looth to deye.’ + + ‘This is y-nogh, Grisilde myn!’ quod he. 365 + And forth he gooth with a ful sobre chere (310) + Out at the dore, and after that cam she, + And to the peple he seyde in this manere, + ‘This is my wyf,’ quod he, ‘that standeth here. + Honoureth hir, and loveth hir, I preye, 370 + Who-so me loveth; ther is na-more to seye.’ + + And for that no-thing of hir olde gere + She sholde bringe in-to his hous, he bad + That wommen sholde dispoilen hir right there; + Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad 375 + To handle hir clothes wher-in she was clad. (320) + But natheles this mayde bright of hewe + Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe. + + Hir heres han they kembd, that lay untressed + Ful rudely, and with hir fingres smale 380 + A corone on hir heed they han y-dressed, + And sette hir ful of nowches grete and smale; + Of hir array what sholde I make a tale? + Unnethe the peple hir knew for hir fairnesse, + Whan she translated was in swich richesse. 385 + + 385. translated] Cp. transmewed; Pt. transformed. + +[401: T. 8262-8296.] + + This markis hath hir spoused with a ring (330) + Broght for the same cause, and than hir sette + Up-on an hors, snow-whyt and wel ambling, + And to his paleys, er he lenger lette, + With Ioyful peple that hir ladde and mette, 390 + Conveyed hir, and thus the day they spende + In revel, til the sonne gan descende. + + And shortly forth this tale for to chace, + I seye that to this newe markisesse + God hath swich favour sent hir of his grace, 395 + That it ne semed nat by lyklinesse (340) + That she was born and fed in rudenesse, + As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle, + But norished in an emperoures halle. + + To every wight she woxen is so dere 400 + And worshipful, that folk ther she was bore + And from hir birthe knewe hir yeer by yere, + Unnethe trowed they, but dorste han swore + That to Ianicle, of which I spak bifore, + She doghter nas, for, as by coniecture, 405 + Hem thoughte she was another creature. (350) + + 404. E. That she; _rest omit_ she. 405. Cp. Ln. nas; E. Hn. Cm. Hl. + were; Pt. ne were. + + For thogh that ever vertuous was she, + She was encressed in swich excellence + Of thewes gode, y-set in heigh bountee, + And so discreet and fair of eloquence, 410 + So benigne and so digne of reverence, + And coude so the peples herte embrace, + That ech hir lovede that loked on hir face. + + Noght only of Saluces in the toun + Publiced was the bountee of hir name, 415 + But eek bisyde in many a regioun, (360) + If oon seyde wel, another seyde the same; + So spradde of hir heigh bountee the fame, + That men and wommen, as wel yonge as olde, + Gon to Saluce, upon hir to biholde. 420 + + 415. E. Publiced; Pt. Publisshed; Hn. Publissed. E. beautee; _rest_ + bountee. 418. E. heighe. E. name; _rest_ fame. + +[402: T. 8297-8324.] + + Thus Walter lowly, nay but royally, + Wedded with fortunat honestetee, + In goddes pees liveth ful esily + At hoom, and outward grace y-nogh had he; + And for he saugh that under low degree 425 + Was ofte vertu hid, the peple him helde (370) + A prudent man, and that is seyn ful selde. + + 425. E. saugh; _see_ B. 810. E. heigh; _the rest_ lowe, low. 426. E + _omits_ ofte. + + Nat only this Grisildis thurgh hir wit + Coude al the feet of wyfly hoomlinesse, + But eek, whan that the cas requyred it, 430 + The commune profit coude she redresse. + Ther nas discord, rancour, ne hevinesse + In al that lond, that she ne coude apese, + And wysly bringe hem alle in reste and ese. + + 429. _So_ Cp. Ln.; Hl. humblesse; _rest_ humblenesse. + + Though that hir housbonde absent were anoon, 435 + If gentil men, or othere of hir contree (380) + Were wrothe, she wolde bringen hem atoon; + So wyse and rype wordes hadde she, + And Iugements of so greet equitee, + That she from heven sent was, as men wende, 440 + Peple to save and every wrong tamende. + + 439. E. Iuggementz. + + Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild + Was wedded, she a doughter hath y-bore, + Al had hir lever have born a knave child. + Glad was this markis and the folk therfore; 445 + For though a mayde child come al bifore, (390) + She may unto a knave child atteyne + By lyklihed, sin she nis nat bareyne. + + =Explicit secunda pars. Incipit tercia pars.= + + 444. E. man; _rest_ knaue. 447. E. man; _the rest_ knaue. 448. Cm. + liklyhed; E. Hn. liklihede. + +[403: T. 8325-8359.] + + Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo, + Whan that this child had souked but a throwe, 450 + This markis in his herte longeth so + To tempte his wyf, hir sadnesse for to knowe, + That he ne mighte out of his herte throwe + This merveillous desyr, his wyf tassaye, + Needless, god woot, he thoughte hir for taffraye. 455 + + He hadde assayed hir y-nogh bifore, (400) + And fond hir ever good; what neded it + Hir for to tempte and alwey more and more? + Though som men preise it for a subtil wit, + But as for me, I seye that yvel it sit 460 + Tassaye a wyf whan that it is no nede, + And putten her in anguish and in drede. + + 457. E. foond; Hn. Cm. fond. + + For which this markis wroghte in this manere; + He cam alone a-night, ther as she lay, + With sterne face and with ful trouble chere, 465 + And seyde thus, ‘Grisild,’ quod he, ‘that day (410) + That I yow took out of your povre array, + And putte yow in estaat of heigh noblesse, + Ye have nat that forgeten, as I gesse. + + 465. Cm. sterne; E. stierne. 466, 470. Hl. Grisild; E. Hn. Cm. + Grisilde. + + I seye, Grisild, this present dignitee, 470 + In which that I have put yow, as I trowe, + Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be + That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe + For any wele ye moot your-selven knowe. + Tak hede of every word that I yow seye, 475 + Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye. (420) + + Ye woot your-self wel, how that ye cam here + In-to this hous, it is nat longe ago, + And though to me that ye be lief and dere, + Un-to my gentils ye be no-thing so; 480 + They seyn, to hem it is greet shame and wo + For to be subgets and ben in servage + To thee, that born art of a smal village. + + 477. E. Hn. Cm. cam; Cp. Pt. come; Ln. com; Hl. comen. 482. E. + subgetz and to; _rest omit_ to. + +[404: T. 8360-8394.] + + And namely, sith thy doghter was y-bore, + Thise wordes han they spoken doutelees; 485 + But I desyre, as I have doon bifore, (430) + To live my lyf with hem in reste and pees; + I may nat in this caas be recchelees. + I moot don with thy doghter for the beste, + Nat as I wolde, but as my peple leste. 490 + + And yet, god wot, this is ful looth to me; + But nathelees with-oute your witing + I wol nat doon, but this wol I,’ quod he, + ‘That ye to me assente as in this thing. + Shewe now your pacience in your werking 495 + That ye me highte and swore in your village (440) + That day that maked was our mariage.’ + + Whan she had herd al this, she noght ameved + Neither in word, or chere, or countenaunce; + For, as it semed, she was nat agreved: 500 + She seyde, ‘lord, al lyth in your plesaunce, + My child and I with hertly obeisaunce + Ben youres al, and ye mowe save or spille + Your owene thing; werketh after your wille. + + 499. E. chiere. 503. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. and; _rest_ or. + + Ther may no-thing, god so my soule save, 505 + Lyken to yow that may displese me; (450) + Ne I desyre no-thing for to have, + Ne drede for to lese, save only ye; + This wil is in myn herte and ay shal be. + No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this deface, 510 + Ne chaunge my corage to another place.’ + + 507. E. Hn. Ne I ne; _rest omit_ ne. 508. E. Hn. thee _vel_ yee; Pt. + Hl. ȝe; Cm. Cp. Ln. thee. + + Glad was this markis of hir answering, + But yet he feyned as he were nat so; + Al drery was his chere and his loking + Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go. 515 + Sone after this, a furlong wey or two, (460) + He prively hath told al his entente + Un-to a man, and to his wyf him sente. + + [405: T. 8395-8429.] + A maner sergeant was this privee man, + The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde 520 + In thinges grete, and eek swich folk wel can + Don execucioun on thinges badde. + The lord knew wel that he him loved and dradde; + And whan this sergeant wiste his lordes wille, + In-to the chambre he stalked him ful stille. 525 + + 524. his] E. the; Cm. this. + + ‘Madame,’ he seyde, ‘ye mote foryeve it me, (470) + Thogh I do thing to which I am constreyned; + Ye ben so wys that ful wel knowe ye + That lordes hestes mowe nat been y-feyned; + They mowe wel been biwailled or compleyned, 530 + But men mot nede un-to her lust obeye, + And so wol I; ther is na-more to seye. + + 530. E. Cm. and; _rest_ or. + + This child I am comanded for to take’— + And spak na-more, but out the child he hente + Despitously, and gan a chere make 535 + As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente. (480) + Grisildis mot al suffren and consente; + And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille, + And leet this cruel sergeant doon his wille. + + Suspecious was the diffame of this man, 540 + Suspect his face, suspect his word also; + Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan. + Allas! hir doghter that she lovede so + She wende he wolde han slawen it right tho. + But natheles she neither weep ne syked, 545 + Consenting hir to that the markis lyked. (490) + + But atte laste speken she bigan, + And mekely she to the sergeant preyde, + So as he was a worthy gentil man, + That she moste kisse hir child er that it deyde; 550 + And in her barm this litel child she leyde + With ful sad face, and gan the child to kisse + And lulled it, and after gan it blisse. + + 547. E. to speken; _rest omit_ to. 552, 3. E. kisse, blisse; _rest_ + blisse, kisse; _see_ 678. + +[406: T. 8430-8462.] + + And thus she seyde in hir benigne voys, + ‘Far weel, my child; I shal thee never see; 555 + But, sith I thee have marked with the croys, (500) + Of thilke fader blessed mote thou be, + That for us deyde up-on a croys of tree. + Thy soule, litel child, I him bitake, + For this night shaltow dyen for my sake.’ 560 + + 557. E. Hn. Cm. he; _rest_ thou. + + I trowe that to a norice in this cas + It had ben hard this rewthe for to se; + Wel mighte a mooder than han cryed ‘allas!’ + But nathelees so sad stedfast was she, + That she endured all adversitee, 565 + And to the sergeant mekely she sayde, (510) + ‘Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde. + + 564. E. Cm. Pt. sad and; _rest omit_ and. E. stide-; Pt. Ln. sted-; + _rest_ stede-. + + Goth now,’ quod she, ‘and dooth my lordes heste, + But o thing wol I preye yow of your grace, + That, but my lord forbad yow, atte leste 570 + Burieth this litel body in som place + That bestes ne no briddes it to-race.’ + But he no word wol to that purpos seye, + But took the child and wente upon his weye. + + 569. E. Pt. And; _rest_ But. + + This sergeant cam un-to his lord ageyn, 575 + And of Grisildis wordes and hir chere (520) + He tolde him point for point, in short and playn, + And him presenteth with his doghter dere. + Somwhat this lord hath rewthe in his manere; + But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille, 580 + As lordes doon, whan they wol han hir wille; + + And bad his sergeant that he prively + Sholde this child ful softe winde and wrappe + With alle circumstances tendrely, + And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe; 585 + But, up-on peyne his heed of for to swappe, (530) + [407: T. 8463-8492.] + That no man sholde knowe of his entente, + Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente; + + 583. Cp. Pt. Ln. ful; _rest omit._ 588. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Hl. he cam + (com); E. Ln. _omit._ + + But at Boloigne to his suster dere, + That thilke tyme of Panik was countesse, 590 + He sholde it take, and shewe hir this matere, + Bisekinge hir to don hir bisinesse + This child to fostre in alle gentilesse; + And whos child that it was he bad hir hyde + From every wight, for oght that may bityde. 595 + + 590. Hl. panik; Cp. Panyke; _rest_ Pavik, Pauyk, Pavie. 594. E. him; + _rest_ hire, hir. + + The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this thing; (540) + But to this markis now retourne we; + For now goth he ful faste imagining + If by his wyves chere he mighte see, + Or by hir word aperceyve that she 600 + Were chaunged; but he never hir coude finde + But ever in oon y-lyke sad and kinde. + + As glad, as humble, as bisy in servyse, + And eek in love as she was wont to be, + Was she to him in every maner wyse; 605 + Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she. (550) + Non accident for noon adversitee + Was seyn in hir, ne never hir doghter name + Ne nempned she, in ernest nor in game. + + =Explicit tercia pars. Sequitur pars quarta.= + + In this estaat ther passed been foure yeer 610 + Er she with childe was; but, as god wolde, + A knave child she bar by this Walter, + Ful gracious and fair for to biholde. + And whan that folk it to his fader tolde, + Nat only he, but al his contree, merie 615 + Was for this child, and god they thanke and herie. (560) + + 612. E. man; _rest_ knaue. + +[408: T. 8493-8527.] + + Whan it was two yeer old, and fro the brest + Departed of his norice, on a day + This markis caughte yet another lest + To tempte his wyf yet ofter, if he may. 620 + O needles was she tempted in assay! + But wedded men ne knowe no mesure, + Whan that they finde a pacient creature. + + ‘Wyf,’ quod this markis, ‘ye han herd er this, + My peple sikly berth our mariage, 625 + And namely, sith my sone y-boren is, (570) + Now is it worse than ever in al our age. + The murmur sleeth myn herte and my corage; + For to myne eres comth the voys so smerte, + That it wel ny destroyed hath myn herte. 630 + + 626. Hl. y-boren; E. Hn. Cm. yborn. + + Now sey they thus, “whan Walter is agoon, + Then shal the blood of Ianicle succede + And been our lord, for other have we noon;” + Swiche wordes seith my peple, out of drede. + Wel oughte I of swich murmur taken hede; 635 + For certeinly I drede swich sentence, (580) + Though they nat pleyn speke in myn audience. + + I wolde live in pees, if that I mighte; + Wherfor I am disposed outerly, + As I his suster servede by nighte, 640 + Right so thenke I to serve him prively; + This warne I yow, that ye nat sodeynly + Out of your-self for no wo sholde outraye; + Beth pacient, and ther-of I yow preye.’ + + 640. Cm. Cp. Hl. seruede; _rest_ serued. 643. E. outreye. + + ‘I have,’ quod she, ‘seyd thus, and ever shal, 645 + I wol no thing, ne nil no thing, certayn, (590) + But as yow list; noght greveth me at al, + Thogh that my doghter and my sone be slayn, + At your comandement, this is to sayn. + I have noght had no part of children tweyne 650 + But first siknesse, and after wo and peyne. + + [409: T. 8528-8562.] + Ye been our lord, doth with your owene thing + Right as yow list; axeth no reed at me. + For, as I lefte at hoom al my clothing, + Whan I first cam to yow, right so,’ quod she, 655 + ‘Left I my wil and al my libertee, (600) + And took your clothing; wherfor I yow preye, + Doth your plesaunce, I wol your lust obeye. + + And certes, if I hadde prescience + Your wil to knowe er ye your lust me tolde, 660 + I wolde it doon with-outen necligence; + But now I woot your lust and what ye wolde, + Al your plesaunce ferme and stable I holde; + For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese, + Right gladly wolde I dyen, yow to plese. 665 + + Deth may noght make no comparisoun (610) + Un-to your love:’ and, whan this markis sey + The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun + His yën two, and wondreth that she may + In pacience suffre al this array. 670 + And forth he gooth with drery contenaunce, + But to his herte it was ful greet plesaunce. + + 667. MSS. say. + + This ugly sergeant, in the same wyse + That he hir doghter caughte, right so he, + Or worse, if men worse can devyse, 675 + Hath hent hir sone, that ful was of beautee. (620) + And ever in oon so pacient was she, + That she no chere made of hevinesse, + But kiste hir sone, and after gan it blesse; + + Save this; she preyed him that, if he mighte, 680 + Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe grave, + His tendre limes, delicat to sighte, + Fro foules and fro bestes for to save. + But she non answer of him mighte have. + He wente his wey, as him no-thing ne roghte; 685 + But to Boloigne he tendrely it broghte. (630) + + 680. Cm. preyede; Hl. prayed; E. Hn. preyde. + +[410: T. 8563-8597.] + + This markis wondreth ever lenger the more + Up-on hir pacience, and if that he + Ne hadde soothly knowen ther-bifore, + That parfitly hir children lovede she, 690 + He wolde have wend that of som subtiltee, + And of malice or for cruel corage, + That she had suffred this with sad visage. + + 687. E. wondred; _rest_ wondreth. 692. E. crueel. + + But wel he knew that next him-self, certayn, + She loved hir children best in every wyse. 695 + But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn, (640) + If thise assayes mighte nat suffyse? + What coude a sturdy housbond more devyse + To preve hir wyfhod and hir stedfastnesse, + And he continuing ever in sturdinesse? 700 + + 699. E. or; _rest_ and. E. stede-. + + But ther ben folk of swich condicioun, + That, whan they have a certein purpos take, + They can nat stinte of hir entencioun, + But, right as they were bounden to a stake, + They wol nat of that firste purpos slake. 705 + Right so this markis fulliche hath purposed (650) + To tempte his wyf, as he was first disposed. + + 704. E. Hn. Cm. that; _the rest_ a. + + He waiteth, if by word or contenance + That she to him was changed of corage; + But never coude he finde variance; 710 + She was ay oon in herte and in visage; + And ay the forther that she was in age, + The more trewe, if that it were possible, + She was to him in love, and more penible. + + For which it semed thus, that of hem two 715 + Ther nas but o wil; for, as Walter leste, (660) + The same lust was hir plesance also, + And, god be thanked, al fil for the beste. + She shewed wel, for no worldly unreste + A wyf, as of hir-self, no-thing ne sholde 720 + Wille in effect, but as hir housbond wolde. + + [411: T. 8598-8630.] + The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde spradde, + That of a cruel herte he wikkedly, + For he a povre womman wedded hadde, + Hath mordred bothe his children prively. 725 + Swich murmur was among hem comunly. (670) + No wonder is, for to the peples ere + Ther cam no word but that they mordred were. + + For which, wher-as his peple ther-bifore + Had loved him wel, the sclaundre of his diffame 730 + Made hem that they him hatede therfore; + To been a mordrer is an hateful name. + But natheles, for ernest ne for game + He of his cruel purpos nolde stente; + To tempte his wyf was set al his entente. 735 + + 731. Cp. Hl. hatede; _rest_ hated. 734. E. crueel. + + Whan that his doghter twelf yeer was of age, (680) + He to the court of Rome, in subtil wyse + Enformed of his wil, sente his message, + Comaunding hem swiche bulles to devyse + As to his cruel purpos may suffyse, 740 + How that the pope, as for his peples reste, + Bad him to wedde another, if him leste. + + 740. E. crueel. + + I seye, he bad they sholde countrefete + The popes bulles, making mencioun + That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete, 745 + As by the popes dispensacioun, (690) + To stinte rancour and dissencioun + Bitwixe his peple and him; thus seyde the bulle, + The which they han publiced atte fulle. + + 749. E. publiced; Cp. publisshed; Hn. publissed. + + The rude peple, as it no wonder is, 750 + Wenden ful wel that it had been right so; + But whan thise tydinges cam to Grisildis, + I deme that hir herte was ful wo. + But she, y-lyke sad for evermo, + [412: T. 8631-8660.] + Disposed was, this humble creature, 755 + Thadversitee of fortune al tendure. (700) + + 751. Cm. been; Hn. ben; _rest_ be. + + Abyding ever his lust and his plesaunce, + To whom that she was yeven, herte and al, + As to hir verray worldly suffisaunce; + But shortly if this storie I tellen shal, 760 + This markis writen hath in special + A lettre in which he sheweth his entente, + And secrely he to Boloigne it sente. + + To the erl of Panik, which that hadde tho + Wedded his suster, preyde he specially 765 + To bringen boom agayn his children two (710) + In honurable estaat al openly. + But o thing he him preyede outerly, + That he to no wight, though men wolde enquere, + Sholde nat telle, whos children that they were, 770 + + 764. Hl. panyk; Cp. Panyke; _rest_ Pavyk, Pauyke, Pavie. 770. E. Hn. + Cp. Ln. that they; _the rest omit_ that. + + But seye, the mayden sholde y-wedded be + Un-to the markis of Saluce anon. + And as this erl was preyed, so dide he; + For at day set he on his wey is goon + Toward Saluce, and lordes many oon, 775 + In riche array, this mayden for to gyde; (720) + Hir yonge brother ryding hir bisyde. + + 773. Cp. Cm. preyed; E. preyd; Hn. Hl. prayd. + + Arrayed was toward hir mariage + This fresshe mayde, ful of gemmes clere; + Hir brother, which that seven yeer was of age, 780 + Arrayed eek ful fresh in his manere. + And thus in greet noblesse and with glad chere, + Toward Saluces shaping hir Iourney, + Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey. + + =Explicit quarta pars. Sequitur quinta pars.= + + [413: T. 8661-8695.] + Among al this, after his wikke usage, 785 + This markis, yet his wyf to tempte more (730) + To the uttereste preve of hir corage, + Fully to han experience and lore + If that she were as stedfast as bifore, + He on a day in open audience 790 + Ful boistously hath seyd hir this sentence: + + 787. Cm. vttyreste; E. outtreste. 789. E. Cp. stide-; Pt. Ln. sted-; + _rest_ stede-. + + ‘Certes, Grisilde, I hadde y-nough plesaunce + To han yow to my wyf for your goodnesse, + As for your trouthe and for your obeisaunce, + Nought for your linage ne for your richesse; 795 + But now knowe I in verray soothfastnesse (740) + That in gret lordshipe, if I wel avyse, + Ther is gret servitute in sondry wyse. + + I may nat don as every plowman may; + My peple me constreyneth for to take 800 + Another wyf, and cryen day by day; + And eek the pope, rancour for to slake, + Consenteth it, that dar I undertake; + And treweliche thus muche I wol yow seye, + My newe wyf is coming by the weye. 805 + + Be strong of herte, and voyde anon hir place, (750) + And thilke dower that ye broghten me + Tak it agayn, I graunte it of my grace; + Retourneth to your fadres hous,’ quod he; + ‘No man may alwey han prosperitee; 810 + With evene herte I rede yow tendure + The strook of fortune or of aventure.’ + + 812. E. This; _the rest_ The. + + And she answerde agayn in pacience, + ‘My lord,’ quod she, ‘I woot, and wiste alway + How that bitwixen your magnificence 815 + And my poverte no wight can ne may (760) + Maken comparison; it is no nay. + I ne heeld me never digne in no manere + To be your wyf, no, ne your chamberere. + + [414: T. 8696-8730.] + And in this hous, ther ye me lady made— 820 + The heighe god take I for my witnesse, + And also wisly he my soule glade— + I never heeld me lady ne maistresse, + But humble servant to your worthinesse, + And ever shal, whyl that my lyf may dure, 825 + Aboven every worldly creature. (770) + + That ye so longe of your benignitee + Han holden me in honour and nobleye, + Wher-as I was noght worthy for to be, + That thonke I god and yow, to whom I preye 830 + Foryelde it yow; there is na-more to seye. + Un-to my fader gladly wol I wende, + And with him dwelle un-to my lyves ende. + + 829. E. _omits_ for to. + + Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal, + Til I be deed, my lyf ther wol I lede 835 + A widwe clene, in body, herte, and al. (780) + For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede, + And am your trewe wyf, it is no drede, + God shilde swich a lordes wyf to take + Another man to housbonde or to make. 840 + + And of your newe wyf, god of his grace + So graunte yow wele and prosperitee: + For I wol gladly yelden hir my place, + In which that I was blisful wont to be, + For sith it lyketh yow, my lord,’ quod she, 845 + ‘That whylom weren al myn hertes reste, (790) + That I shal goon, I wol gon whan yow leste. + + But ther-as ye me profre swich dowaire + As I first broghte, it is wel in my minde + It were my wrecched clothes, no-thing faire, 850 + The which to me were hard now for to finde. + O gode god! how gentil and how kinde + Ye semed by your speche and your visage + The day that maked was our mariage! + + [415: T. 8731-8765.] + But sooth is seyd, algate I finde it trewe— 855 + For in effect it preved is on me— (800) + Love is noght old as whan that it is newe. + But certes, lord, for noon adversitee, + To dyen in the cas, it shal nat be + That ever in word or werk I shal repente 860 + That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente. + + My lord, ye woot that, in my fadres place, + Ye dede me strepe out of my povre wede, + And richely me cladden, of your grace. + To yow broghte I noght elles, out of drede, 865 + But feyth and nakednesse and maydenhede. (810) + And here agayn my clothing I restore, + And eek my wedding-ring, for evermore. + + 867, 868. my] Cp. Pt. Ln. your. + + The remenant of your Iewels redy be + In-with your chambre, dar I saufly sayn; 870 + Naked out of my fadres hous,’ quod she, + ‘I cam, and naked moot I turne agayn. + Al your plesaunce wol I folwen fayn; + But yet I hope it be nat your entente + That I smoklees out of your paleys wente. 875 + + 869. Hn. Hl. Ln. Iewels; E. Iueles. + + Ye coude nat doon so dishoneste a thing, (820) + That thilke wombe in which your children leye + Sholde, biforn the peple, in my walking, + Be seyn al bare; wherfor I yow preye, + Lat me nat lyk a worm go by the weye. 880 + Remembre yow, myn owene lord so dere, + I was your wyf, thogh I unworthy were. + + Wherfor, in guerdon of my maydenhede, + Which that I broghte, and noght agayn I bere, + As voucheth sauf to yeve me, to my mede, 885 + But swich a smok as I was wont to were, (830) + That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here + That was your wyf; and heer take I my leve + Of yow, myn owene lord, lest I yow greve.’ + + 883. E. Hn. gerdon; _rest_ guerdon, guerdo_u_n. + +[416: T. 8766-8798.] + + ‘The smok,’ quod he, ‘that thou hast on thy bak, 890 + Lat it be stille, and ber it forth with thee.’ + But wel unnethes thilke word he spak, + But wente his wey for rewthe and for pitee. + Biforn the folk hir-selven strepeth she, + And in hir smok, with heed and foot al bare, 895 + Toward hir fader hous forth is she fare. (840) + + The folk hir folwe wepinge in hir weye, + And fortune ay they cursen as they goon; + But she fro weping kepte hir yën dreye, + Ne in this tyme word ne spak she noon. 900 + Hir fader, that this tyding herde anoon, + Curseth the day and tyme that nature + Shoop him to been a lyves creature. + + For out of doute this olde povre man + Was ever in suspect of hir mariage; 905 + For ever he demed, sith that it bigan, (850) + That whan the lord fulfild had his corage, + Him wolde thinke it were a disparage + To his estaat so lowe for talighte, + And voyden hir as sone as ever he mighte. 910 + + Agayns his doghter hastilich goth he, + For he by noyse of folk knew hir cominge, + And with hir olde cote, as it mighte be, + He covered hir, ful sorwefully wepinge; + But on hir body mighte he it nat bringe. 915 + For rude was the cloth, and more of age (860) + By dayes fele than at hir mariage. + + 916. E. Hn. Cm. and she moore; _rest omit_ she. + + Thus with hir fader, for a certeyn space, + Dwelleth this flour of wyfly pacience, + That neither by hir wordes ne hir face 920 + Biforn the folk, ne eek in hir absence, + Ne shewed she that hir was doon offence; + [417: T. 8799-8828.] + Ne of hir heigh estaat no remembraunce + Ne hadde she, as by hir countenaunce. + + No wonder is, for in hir grete estaat 925 + Hir goost was ever in pleyn humylitee; (870) + No tendre mouth, non herte delicaat, + No pompe, no semblant of royaltee, + But ful of pacient benignitee, + Discreet and prydeles, ay honurable, 930 + And to hir housbonde ever meke and stable. + + Men speke of Iob and most for his humblesse, + As clerkes, whan hem list, can wel endyte, + Namely of men, but as in soothfastnesse, + Thogh clerkes preyse wommen but a lyte, 935 + Ther can no man in humblesse him acquyte (880) + As womman can, ne can ben half so trewe + As wommen been, but it be falle of-newe. + + 933. E. Hn. conne; _rest_ can. 937. Hn. kan; Cp. Ln. Hl. can; _rest + omit (2nd time)_. + + [_Pars Sexta._] + + Fro Boloigne is this erl of Panik come, + Of which the fame up-sprang to more and lesse, 940 + And in the peples eres alle and some + Was couth eek, that a newe markisesse + He with him broghte, in swich pompe and richesse, + That never was ther seyn with mannes yë + So noble array in al West Lumbardye. 945 + + 939. Hl. panik; Cp. Panyke; Pt. Pavie; _rest_ Pavyk, Pauyk. 944. Hl. + ye; _rest_ eye. + + The markis, which that shoop and knew al this, (890) + Er that this erl was come, sente his message + For thilke sely povre Grisildis; + And she with humble herte and glad visage, + Nat with no swollen thoght in hir corage, 950 + Cam at his heste, and on hir knees hir sette, + And reverently and wysly she him grette. + + [418: T. 8829-8863.] + ‘Grisild,’ quod he, ‘my wille is outerly, + This mayden, that shal wedded been to me, + Receyved be to-morwe as royally 955 + As it possible is in myn hous to be. (900) + And eek that every wight in his degree + Have his estaat in sitting and servyse + And heigh plesaunce, as I can best devyse. + + 953. Cp. Pt. wille; _rest_ wil. + + I have no wommen suffisaunt certayn 960 + The chambres for tarraye in ordinaunce + After my lust, and therfor wolde I fayn + That thyn were al swich maner governaunce; + Thou knowest eek of old al my plesaunce; + Though thyn array be badde and yvel biseye, 965 + Do thou thy devoir at the leeste weye.’ (910) + + ‘Nat only, lord, that I am glad,’ quod she, + ‘To doon your lust, but I desyre also + Yow for to serve and plese in my degree + With-outen feynting, and shal evermo. 970 + Ne never, for no wele ne no wo, + Ne shal the gost with-in myn herte stente + To love yow best with al my trewe entente.’ + + And with that word she gan the hous to dighte, + And tables for to sette and beddes make; 975 + And peyned hir to doon al that she mighte, (920) + Preying the chambereres, for goddes sake, + To hasten hem, and faste swepe and shake; + And she, the moste servisable of alle, + Hath every chambre arrayed and his halle. 980 + + 977. Cp. Hl. Cm. chambereres; E. Hn. Pt. Ln. chambreres. + + Abouten undern gan this erl alighte, + That with him broghte thise noble children tweye, + For which the peple ran to seen the sighte + Of hir array, so richely biseye; + And than at erst amonges hem they seye, 985 + That Walter was no fool, thogh that him leste (930) + To chaunge his wyf, for it was for the beste. + + 981. Hl. Pt. Ln. vndern; E. Hn. Cp. vndren; Cm. vndryn. + +[419: T. 8864-8898.] + + For she is fairer, as they demen alle, + Than is Grisild, and more tendre of age, + And fairer fruit bitwene hem sholde falle, 990 + And more plesant, for hir heigh linage; + Hir brother eek so fair was of visage, + That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesaunce, + Commending now the markis gouernaunce.— + + _Auctor_. ‘O stormy peple! unsad and ever untrewe! 995 + Ay undiscreet and chaunging as a vane, (940) + Delyting ever in rumbel that is newe, + For lyk the mone ay wexe ye and wane; + Ay ful of clapping, dere y-nogh a Iane; + Your doom is fals, your constance yvel preveth, 1000 + A ful greet fool is he that on yow leveth!’ + + 997. E. Cm. rumbul; Hn. rumbel; Hl. rombel. 1000. Hl. yuel; Cm. euel; + E. Hn. yuele. + + Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee, + Whan that the peple gazed up and doun, + For they were glad, right for the noveltee, + To han a newe lady of hir toun. 1005 + Na-more of this make I now mencioun; (950) + But to Grisilde agayn wol I me dresse, + And telle hir constance and hir bisinesse.— + + Ful bisy was Grisilde in every thing + That to the feste was apertinent; 1010 + Right noght was she abayst of hir clothing, + Though it were rude and somdel eek to-rent. + But with glad chere to the yate is went, + With other folk, to grete the markisesse, + And after that doth forth hir bisinesse. 1015 + + 1013. E. Hn. Hl. is she; _rest omit_ she. E. Hn. Ln. chiere; Hl. + chier. + + With so glad chere his gestes she receyveth, (960) + And conningly, everich in his degree, + That no defaute no man aperceyveth; + But ay they wondren what she mighte be + That in so povre array was for to see, 1020 + And coude swich honour and reverence; + And worthily they preisen hir prudence. + + 1017. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. And so; Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_ so. + +[420: T. 8899-8933.] + + In al this mene whyle she ne stente + This mayde and eek hir brother to commende + With al hir herte, in ful benigne entente, 1025 + So wel, that no man coude hir prys amende. (970) + But atte laste, whan that thise lordes wende + To sitten doun to mete, he gan to calle + Grisilde, as she was bisy in his halle. + + ‘Grisilde,’ quod he, as it were in his pley, 1030 + ‘How lyketh thee my wyf and hir beautee?’ + ‘Right wel,’ quod she, ‘my lord; for, in good fey, + A fairer say I never noon than she. + I prey to god yeve hir prosperitee; + And so hope I that he wol to yow sende 1035 + Plesance y-nogh un-to your lyves ende. (980) + + 1033. E. saugh; see l. 1114. + + O thing biseke I yow and warne also, + That ye ne prikke with no tormentinge + This tendre mayden, as ye han don mo; + For she is fostred in hir norishinge 1040 + More tendrely, and, to my supposinge, + She coude nat adversitee endure + As coude a povre fostred creature.’ + + 1040. E. Hn. norissynge. + + And whan this Walter say hir pacience, + Hir glade chere and no malice at al, 1045 + And he so ofte had doon to hir offence, (990) + And she ay sad and constant as a wal, + Continuing ever hir innocence overal, + This sturdy markis gan his herte dresse + To rewen up-on hir wyfly stedfastnesse. 1050 + + 1044. E. saugh; see l. 1114. 1045. E. Ln. chiere. + + ‘This is y-nogh, Grisilde myn,’ quod he, + ‘Be now na-more agast ne yvel apayed; + I have thy feith and thy benignitee, + As wel as ever womman was, assayed, + In greet estaat, and povreliche arrayed. 1055 + Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedfastnesse,’— (1000) + And hir in armes took and gan hir kesse. + + 1056. E. goode; _rest_ dere. + +[421: T. 8934-8968.] + + And she for wonder took of it no keep; + She herde nat what thing he to hir seyde; + She ferde as she had stert out of a sleep, 1060 + Til she out of hir masednesse abreyde. + ‘Grisilde,’ quod he, ‘by god that for us deyde, + Thou art my wyf, ne noon other I have, + Ne never hadde, as god my soule save! + + 1063. Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. ne; Pt. and; E. Hn. _omit_ ne. + + This is thy doghter which thou hast supposed 1065 + To be my wyf; that other feithfully (1010) + Shal be myn heir, as I have ay purposed; + Thou bare him in thy body trewely. + At Boloigne have I kept hem prively; + Tak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye 1070 + That thou hast lorn non of thy children tweye. + + 1067. Cp. Ln. Hl. purposed; E. Hn. Cm. supposed (_wrongly_); Pt. + disposed. 1070. E. Taak. + + And folk that otherweyes han seyd of me, + I warne hem wel that I have doon this dede + For no malice ne for no crueltee, + But for tassaye in thee thy wommanhede, 1075 + And nat to sleen my children, god forbede! (1020) + But for to kepe hem prively and stille, + Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille.’ + + Whan she this herde, aswowne doun she falleth + For pitous Ioye, and after hir swowninge 1080 + She bothe hir yonge children un-to hir calleth, + And in hir armes, pitously wepinge, + Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissinge + Ful lyk a mooder, with hir salte teres + She batheth bothe hir visage and hir heres. 1085 + + O, which a pitous thing it was to see (1030) + Hir swowning, and hir humble voys to here! + ‘Grauntmercy, lord, that thanke I yow,’ quod she, + ‘That ye han saved me my children dere! + Now rekke I never to ben deed right here; 1090 + Sith I stonde in your love and in your grace, + No fors of deeth, ne whan my spirit pace! + + [422: T. 8969-9003.] + O tendre, o dere, o yonge children myne, + Your woful mooder wende stedfastly + That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne 1095 + Hadde eten yow; but god, of his mercy, (1040) + And your benigne fader tendrely + Hath doon yow kept;’ and in that same stounde + Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde. + + 1095. E. crueel. + + And in her swough so sadly holdeth she 1100 + Hir children two, whan she gan hem tembrace, + That with greet sleighte and greet difficultee + The children from hir arm they gonne arace. + O many a teer on many a pitous face + Doun ran of hem that stoden hir bisyde; 1105 + Unnethe abouten hir mighte they abyde. (1050) + + Walter hir gladeth, and hir sorwe slaketh; + She ryseth up, abaysed, from hir traunce, + And every wight hir Ioye and feste maketh, + Til she hath caught agayn hir contenaunce. 1110 + Walter hir dooth so feithfully plesaunce, + That it was deyntee for to seen the chere + Bitwixe hem two, now they ben met y-fere. + + Thise ladyes, whan that they hir tyme say, + Han taken hir, and in-to chambre goon, 1115 + And strepen hir out of hir rude array, (1060) + And in a cloth of gold that brighte shoon, + With a coroune of many a riche stoon + Up-on hir heed, they in-to halle hir broghte, + And ther she was honoured as hir oghte. 1120 + + 1117. Cm. cloth; E. Hn. clooth. + + Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende, + For every man and womman dooth his might + This day in murthe and revel to dispende + Til on the welkne shoon the sterres light. + For more solempne in every mannes sight 1125 + This feste was, and gretter of costage, (1070) + Than was the revel of hir mariage. + + [423: T. 9004-9036.] + Ful many a yeer in heigh prosperitee + Liven thise two in concord and in reste, + And richely his doghter maried he 1130 + Un-to a lord, oon of the worthieste + Of al Itaille; and than in pees and reste + His wyves fader in his court he kepeth, + Til that the soule out of his body crepeth. + + His sone succedeth in his heritage 1135 + In reste and pees, after his fader day; (1080) + And fortunat was eek in mariage, + Al putte he nat his wyf in greet assay. + This world is nat so strong, it is no nay, + As it hath been in olde tymes yore, 1140 + And herkneth what this auctour seith therfore. + + 1140. in] E. of. + + This storie is seyd, nat for that wyves sholde + Folwen Grisilde as in humilitee, + For it were importable, though they wolde; + But for that every wight, in his degree, 1145 + Sholde be constant in adversitee (1090) + As was Grisilde; therfor Petrark wryteth + This storie, which with heigh style he endyteth. + + 1147. Cm. this Petrak; _rest omit_ this. Hl. Petrark; E. Hn. Cm. + Petrak. + + For, sith a womman was so pacient + Un-to a mortal man, wel more us oghte 1150 + Receyven al in gree that god us sent; + For greet skile is, he preve that he wroghte. + But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte, + As seith seint Iame, if ye his pistel rede; + He preveth folk al day, it is no drede, 1155 + + And suffreth us, as for our excercyse, (1100) + With sharpe scourges of adversitee + Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wyse; + Nat for to knowe our wil, for certes he, + Er we were bom, knew al our freletee; 1160 + [424: T. 9037-9055.] + And for our beste is al his governaunce; + Lat us than live in vertuous suffraunce. + + 1160. E. _omits_ al; _the rest have it_. + + * * * * * + + _It seems to have been Chaucer’s intention, in the first instance, to + end this_ Tale _here. Hence, we find, in_ MSS. E. Hn. Cm. Dd., _the + following genuine, but rejected stanza, suitable for insertion at this + point_:— + + =Bihold the merye wordes of the Hoste.= + + This worthy Clerk, whan ended was his tale, + Our hoste seyde, and swoor by goddes bones, + ‘Me were lever than a barel ale + My wyf at hoom had herd this legende ones; + This is a gentil tale for the nones, 5 + As to my purpos, wiste ye my wille; + But thing that wol nat be, lat it be stille.’ + + =Here endeth the Tale of the Clerk of Oxenford.= + + HEADING. E. Bihoold; murye; Hoost. 2. E. Oure hoost. 3. E. leuere. + Dd. barel of ale. 5. E. Hn. Dd. is; Cm. was. 6. E. Hn. wiste; Dd. + wyst; Cm. woste. N.B. _With_ 1. 3, _compare_ B. 3083. + + * * * * * + + But o word, lordinges, herkneth er I go:— + It were ful hard to finde now a dayes + In al a toun Grisildes three or two; 1165 + For, if that they were put to swiche assayes, (1110) + The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes + With bras, that thogh the coyne be fair at yë, + It wolde rather breste a-two than plye. + + For which heer, for the wyves love of Bathe, 1170 + Whos lyf and al hir secte god mayntene + In heigh maistrye, and elles were it scathe, + I wol with lusty herte fresshe and grene + Seyn yow a song to glade yow, I wene, + And lat us stinte of ernestful matere:— 1175 + Herkneth my song, that seith in this manere. (1120) + + =Lenvoy De Chaucer.= + + Grisilde is deed, and eek hir pacience, + And bothe atones buried in Itaille; + For which I crye in open audience, + [425: T. 9056-9088.] + No wedded man so hardy be tassaille 1180 + His wyves pacience, in hope to finde + Grisildes, for in certein he shall faille! + + O noble wyves, ful of heigh prudence, + Lat noon humilitee your tonge naille, + Ne lat no clerk have cause or diligence 1185 + To wryte of yow a storie of swich mervaille (1130) + As of Grisildis pacient and kinde; + Lest Chichevache yow swelwe in hir entraille! + + Folweth Ekko, that holdeth no silence, + But evere answereth at the countretaille; 1190 + Beth nat bidaffed for your innocence, + But sharply tak on yow the governaille. + Emprinteth wel this lesson in your minde + For commune profit, sith it may availle. + + Ye archewyves, stondeth at defence, 1195 + Sin ye be stronge as is a greet camaille; (1140) + Ne suffreth nat that men yow doon offence. + And sclendre wyves, feble as in bataille, + Beth egre as is a tygre yond in Inde; + Ay clappeth as a mille, I yow consaille. 1200 + + Ne dreed hem nat, do hem no reverence; + For though thyn housbonde armed be in maille, + The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence + Shal perce his brest, and eek his aventaille; + In Ialousye I rede eek thou him binde, 1205 + And thou shalt make him couche as dooth a quaille. + + 1201. Cm. Ln. Hl. do; rest doth. + + If thou be fair, ther folk ben in presence + Shew thou thy visage and thyn apparaille; + If thou be foul, be free of thy dispence, + To gete thee freendes ay do thy travaille; 1210 + Be ay of chere as light as leef on linde, + And lat him care, and wepe, and wringe, and waille! + + =Here endeth the Clerk of Oxonford his Tale.= + + 1211. E. chiere; Hn. cheere. COLOPHON. _From_ Cp. + +[426: T. 9089-9120.] + + * * * * * + +THE MERCHANT’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + =The Prologe of the Marchantes Tale.= + + ‘Weping and wayling, care, and other sorwe + I know y-nogh, on even and a-morwe,’ + Quod the Marchaunt, ‘and so don othere mo 1215 + That wedded been, I trowe that it be so. + For, wel I woot, it fareth so with me. + I have a wyf, the worste that may be; + For thogh the feend to hir y-coupled were, + She wolde him overmacche, I dar wel swere. 1220 + What sholde I yow reherce in special + Hir hye malice? she is a shrewe at al. (10) + Ther is a long and large difference + Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience + And of my wyf the passing crueltee. 1225 + Were I unbounden, al-so moot I thee! + I wolde never eft comen in the snare. + We wedded men live in sorwe and care; + Assaye who-so wol, and he shal finde + I seye sooth, by seint Thomas of Inde, 1230 + As for the more part, I sey nat alle. + God shilde that it sholde so bifalle! (20) + + A! good sir hoost! I have y-wedded be + Thise monthes two, and more nat, pardee; + And yet, I trowe, he that all his lyve 1235 + Wyflees hath been, though that men wolde him ryve + Un-to the herte, ne coude in no manere + Tellen so muchel sorwe, as I now here + Coude tellen of my wyves cursednesse!’ + + ‘Now,’ quod our hoost, ‘Marchaunt, so god yow blesse, 1240 + Sin ye so muchel knowen of that art, + Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part.’ (30) + + ‘Gladly,’ quod he, ‘but of myn owene sore, + For sory herte, I telle may na-more.’ + +[427: T. 9121-9147.] + + * * * * * + +THE MARCHANTES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Marchantes Tale.= + + Whylom ther was dwellinge in Lumbardye 1245 + A worthy knight, that born was of Pavye, + In which he lived in greet prosperitee; + And sixty yeer a wyflees man was he, + And folwed ay his bodily delyt + On wommen, ther-as was his appetyt, 1250 + As doon thise foles that ben seculeer. + And whan that he was passed sixty yeer, + Were it for holinesse or for dotage, + I can nat seye, but swich a greet corage (10) + Hadde this knight to been a wedded man, 1255 + That day and night he dooth al that he can + Tespyen where he mighte wedded be; + Preyinge our lord to granten him, that he + Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf + That is bitwixe an housbond and his wyf; 1260 + And for to live under that holy bond + With which that first god man and womman bond, + ‘Non other lyf,’ seyde he, ‘is worth a bene; + For wedlok is so esy and so clene, (20) + That in this world it is a paradys.’ 1265 + Thus seyde this olde knight, that was so wys. + + HEADING. _So_ E. Hn. Pt. 1246. Pt. at; Ln. in (_for_ of). + + And certeinly, as sooth as god is king, + To take a wyf, it is a glorious thing, + And namely whan a man is old and hoor; + Thanne is a wyf the fruit of his tresor. 1270 + Than sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir, + [428: T. 9148-9180.] + On which he mighte engendren him an heir, + And lede his lyf in Ioye and in solas, + Wher-as thise bacheleres singe ‘allas,’ (30) + Whan that they finden any adversitee 1275 + In love, which nis but childish vanitee. + And trewely it sit wel to be so, + That bacheleres have often peyne and wo; + On brotel ground they builde, and brotelnesse + They finde, whan they wene sikernesse. 1280 + They live but as a brid or as a beste, + In libertee, and under non areste, + Ther-as a wedded man in his estaat + Liveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat, (40) + Under the yok of mariage y-bounde; 1285 + Wel may his herte in Ioye and blisse habounde. + For who can be so buxom as a wyf? + Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf + To kepe him, syk and hool, as is his make? + For wele or wo, she wol him nat forsake. 1290 + She nis nat wery him to love and serve, + Thogh that he lye bedrede til he sterve. + And yet somme clerkes seyn, it nis nat so, + Of whiche he, Theofraste, is oon of tho. (50) + What force though Theofraste liste lye? 1295 + ‘Ne take no wyf,’ quod he, ‘for housbondrye, + As for to spare in houshold thy dispence; + A trewe servant dooth more diligence, + Thy good to kepe, than thyn owene wyf. + For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf; 1300 + And if that thou be syk, so god me save, + Thy verray frendes or a trewe knave + Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth ay + After thy good, and hath don many a day. (60) + And if thou take a wyf un-to thyn hold, [T. _om._ + Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold.’ [T. _om._ + [429: T. 9181-9216.] + This sentence, and an hundred thinges worse, + Wryteth this man, ther god his bones corse! + But take no kepe of al swich vanitee; + Deffye Theofraste and herke me. 1310 + + 1271. E. Thanne. 1274, 1278. E. bacheleris. 1281, 2. E. Pt. beest, + arreest; Cm. Ln. beste, areste. 1285. E. Hn. this; _rest_ the. + 1293. E. Cp. nis; _rest_ is. 1301. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ that. 1305, 6. + _Not in_ Cp. Ln.; _in a spurious form in _Hn. Pt. Hl. 1310. Cp. Hl. + herkne; Pt. Ln. herkeneth. + + A wyf is goddes yifte verraily; + Alle other maner yiftes hardily, + As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune, + Or moebles, alle ben yiftes of fortune, (70) + That passen as a shadwe upon a wal. 1315 + But dredelees, if pleynly speke I shal, + A wyf wol laste, and in thyn hous endure, + Wel lenger than thee list, paraventure. + + 1316. Cm. dredles; Hn. Hl. dreed nat; Cp. Ln. drede nought; Pt. drede + it nouȝt. + + Mariage is a ful gret sacrement; + He which that hath no wyf, I holde him shent; 1320 + He liveth helplees and al desolat, + I speke of folk in seculer estaat. + And herke why, I sey nat this for noght, + That womman is for mannes help y-wroght. (80) + The hye god, whan he hadde Adam maked, 1325 + And saugh him al allone, bely-naked, + God of his grete goodnesse seyde than, + ‘Lat us now make an help un-to this man + Lyk to him-self;’ and thanne he made him Eve. + Heer may ye se, and heer-by may ye preve, 1330 + That wyf is mannes help and his confort, + His paradys terrestre and his disport. + So buxom and so vertuous is she, + They moste nedes live in unitee. (90) + O flesh they been, and o flesh, as I gesse, 1335 + Hath but on herte, in wele and in distresse. + + 1323. Cp. herkne; Pt. Ln. Hl. herken. + + A wyf! a! Seinte Marie, _benedicite!_ + How mighte a man han any adversitee + That hath a wyf? certes, I can nat seye. + The blisse which that is bitwixe hem tweye 1340 + Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thinke. + If he be povre, she helpeth him to swinke; + [430: T. 9217-9252.] + She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel; + Al that hir housbonde lust, hir lyketh weel; (100) + She seith not ones ‘nay,’ whan he seith ‘ye.’ 1345 + ‘Do this,’ seith he; ‘al redy, sir,’ seith she. + O blisful ordre of wedlok precious, + Thou art so mery, and eek so vertuous, + And so commended and appreved eek, + That every man that halt him worth a leek, 1350 + Up-on his bare knees oghte al his lyf + Thanken his god that him hath sent a wyf; + Or elles preye to god him for to sende + A wyf, to laste un-to his lyves ende. (110) + For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse; 1355 + He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse, + So that he werke after his wyves reed; + Than may he boldly beren up his heed, + They been so trewe and ther-with-al so wyse; + For which, if thou wolt werken as the wyse, 1360 + Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede. + + 1340. Hl. ioye (_for_ blisse). 1348. E. Hn. murye. 1350. Hl. holt; + Ln. holdeth. 1351. E. oughte; Hn. Cm. oghte. 1357. E. reede; Hn. + Cm. Cp. reed. _The scribe of_ E. _misses 1358-61, by confusing this_ + reed _with_ rede (1361). 1358-61. _From_ Hn.; _so_ Cm.; _so the rest + (nearly)_. 1358. Hn. kepen; _rest_ beren, bere. + + Lo, how that Iacob, as thise clerkes rede, + By good conseil of his moder Rebekke, + Bond the kides skin aboute his nekke; (120) + Thurgh which his fadres benisoun he wan. 1365 + + Lo, Iudith, as the storie eek telle can, + By wys conseil she goddes peple kepte, + And slow him, Olofernus, whyl he slepte. + + Lo Abigayl, by good conseil how she + Saved hir housbond Nabal, whan that he 1370 + Sholde han be slayn; and loke, Ester also + By good conseil delivered out of wo + The peple of god, and made him, Mardochee, + Of Assuere enhaunced for to be. (130) + + Ther nis no-thing in gree superlatyf, 1375 + As seith Senek, above an humble wyf. + + Suffre thy wyves tonge, as Caton bit; + She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren it; + [431: T. 9253-9289.] + And yet she wol obeye of curteisye. + A wyf is keper of thyn housbondrye; 1380 + Wel may the syke man biwaille and wepe, + Ther-as ther nis no wyf the hous to kepe. + I warne thee, if wysly thou wolt wirche, + Love wel thy wyf, as Crist loveth his chirche. (140) + If thou lovest thy-self, thou lovest thy wyf; 1385 + No man hateth his flesh, but in his lyf + He fostreth it, and therfore bidde I thee, + Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt never thee. + Housbond and wyf, what so men Iape or pleye, + Of worldly folk holden the siker weye; 1390 + They been so knit, ther may noon harm bityde; + And namely, up-on the wyves syde. + For which this Ianuarie, of whom I tolde, + Considered hath, in with his dayes olde, (150) + The lusty lyf, the vertuous quiete, 1395 + That is in mariage hony-swete; + And for his freendes on a day he sente, + To tellen hem theffect of his entente. + + 1384. E. Hn. loued; Cm. louede; Cp. Pt. Ln. loueth; Hl. doth. + + With face sad, his tale he hath hem told; + He seyde, ‘freendes, I am hoor and old, 1400 + And almost, god wot, on my pittes brinke; + Up-on my soule somwhat moste I thinke. + I have my body folily despended; + Blessed be god, that it shal been amended! (160) + For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man, 1405 + And that anoon in al the haste I can, + Un-to som mayde fair and tendre of age. + I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage + Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde; + And I wol fonde tespyen, on my syde, 1410 + To whom I may be wedded hastily. + But for-as-muche as ye ben mo than I, + Ye shullen rather swich a thing espyen + Than I, and wher me best were to allyen. (170) + + 1402. E. Cm. the; _rest_ my. 1410. Cp. Ln. aspye. + + But o thing warne I yow, my freendes dere, 1415 + [432: T. 9290-9324.] + I wol non old wyf han in no manere. + She shal nat passe twenty yeer, certayn; + Old fish and yong flesh wolde I have ful fayn. + Bet is,’ quod he, ‘a pyk than a pikerel; + And bet than old boef is the tendre veel. 1420 + I wol no womman thritty yeer of age, + It is but bene-straw and greet forage. + And eek thise olde widwes, god it woot, + They conne so muchel craft on Wades boot, (180) + So muchel broken harm, whan that hem leste, 1425 + That with hem sholde I never live in reste. + For sondry scoles maken sotil clerkis; + Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is. + But certeynly, a yong thing may men gye, + Right as men may warm wex with handes plye. 1430 + Wherfore I sey yow pleynly, in a clause, + I wol non old wyf han right for this cause. + For if so were, I hadde swich mischaunce, + That I in hir ne coude han no plesaunce, (190) + Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye, 1435 + And go streight to the devel, whan I dye. + Ne children sholde I none up-on hir geten; + Yet were me lever houndes had me eten, + Than that myn heritage sholde falle + In straunge hand, and this I tell yow alle. 1440 + I dote nat, I woot the cause why + Men sholde wedde, and forthermore wot I, + Ther speketh many a man of mariage, + That woot na-more of it than woot my page, (200) + For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf. 1445 + If he ne may nat liven chast his lyf, + Take him a wyf with greet devocioun, + By-cause of leveful procreacioun + Of children, to thonour of god above, + And nat only for paramour or love; 1450 + [433: T. 9325-9360.] + And for they sholde lecherye eschue, + And yelde hir dettes whan that they ben due; + Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen other + In meschief, as a suster shal the brother; (210) + And live in chastitee ful holily. 1455 + But sires, by your leve, that am nat I. + For god be thanked, I dar make avaunt, + I fele my limes stark and suffisaunt + To do al that a man bilongeth to; + I woot my-selven best what I may do. 1460 + Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree + That blosmeth er that fruyt y-woxen be; + A blosmy tree nis neither drye ne deed. + I fele me nowher hoor but on myn heed; (220) + Myn herte and alle my limes been as grene 1465 + As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene. + And sin that ye han herd al myn entente, + I prey yow to my wil ye wole assente.’ + + 1418. E. Hn. Pt. _om._ ful. 1420. Cm. bef; Cp. Pt. beef. Hl. Ln. + _om._ the. 1427. E. sotile. 1432. E. Cm. Cp. Ln. _om._ right. + 1433. E. were that I. 1436. Hl. Hn. go; Cp. Pt. Ln. so; E. Cm. + _om._ E. vnto (_for_ to). 1438. E. Pt. leuere that houndes. 1446. + E. Siththe; Cm. Sith (_for_ If). Hn. Cm. Hl. ne; _rest om._ 1451. + E. Hl. Cp. Pt. leccherye. 1456. Cm. siris. 1462. E. Cp. that; Ln. + Hl. that the; Cm. than; Hn. Pt. the. 1463. E. Hn. And; Pt. That; + _rest_ A. + + Diverse men diversely him tolde + Of mariage manye ensamples olde. 1470 + Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, certeyn; + But atte laste, shortly for to seyn, + As al day falleth altercacioun + Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun, (230) + Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two, 1475 + Of whiche that oon was cleped Placebo, + Iustinus soothly called was that other. + + Placebo seyde, ‘o Ianuarie, brother, + Ful litel nede had ye, my lord so dere, + Conseil to axe of any that is here; 1480 + But that ye been so ful of sapience, + That yow ne lyketh, for your heighe prudence, + To weyven fro the word of Salomon. + This word seyde he un-to us everichon: (240) + “Wirk alle thing by conseil,” thus seyde he, 1485 + “And thanne shaltow nat repente thee.” + [434: T. 9361-9394.] + But though that Salomon spak swich a word, + Myn owene dere brother and my lord, + So wisly god my soule bringe at reste, + I hold your owene conseil is the beste. 1490 + For brother myn, of me tak this motyf, + I have now been a court-man al my lyf. + And god it woot, though I unworthy be, + I have stonden in ful greet degree (250) + Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat; 1495 + Yet hadde I never with noon of hem debaat. + I never hem contraried, trewely; + I woot wel that my lord can more than I. + What that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable; + I seye the same, or elles thing semblable. 1500 + A ful gret fool is any conseillour, + That serveth any lord of heigh honour, + That dar presume, or elles thenken it, + That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit. (260) + Nay, lordes been no foles, by my fay; 1505 + Ye han your-selven shewed heer to-day + So heigh sentence, so holily and weel, + That I consente and conferme every-deel + Your wordes alle, and your opinioun. + By god, ther nis no man in al this toun 1510 + Nin al Itaille, that coude bet han sayd; + Crist halt him of this conseil wel apayd. + And trewely, it is an heigh corage + Of any man, that stopen is in age, (270) + To take a yong wyf; by my fader kin, 1515 + Your herte hangeth on a Ioly pin. + Doth now in this matere right as yow leste, + For finally I holde it for the beste.’ + + 1479. E. hadde. 1490. MSS. holde. 1491. E. taak. 1503. E. Hn. Cm. + elles; _rest_ ones. 1506. Hn. Cm. shewed; E. seyd; Hl. y-spoken; + _rest_ spoken. 1511. E. Nyn; _rest_ Ne in. Cm. al; _rest om._ + 1512. E. Hn. _ins._ ful (Cm. wol) _before_ wel; _rest_ Crist holdeth + him of this ful wel apayd. 1514. Cp. Hl. stopen; Ln. stoupin; E. Hn. + stapen; Cm. schapyn. 1517. E. matiere. + + Iustinus, that ay stille sat and herde, + Right in this wyse to Placebo answerde: 1520 + [435: T. 9395-9430.] + ‘Now brother myn, be pacient, I preye, + Sin ye han seyd, and herkneth what I seye. + Senek among his othere wordes wyse + Seith, that a man oghte him right wel avyse, (280) + To whom he yeveth his lond or his catel. 1525 + And sin I oghte avyse me right wel + To whom I yeve my good awey fro me, + Wel muchel more I oghte avysed be + To whom I yeve my body; for alwey + I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley 1530 + To take a wyf with-oute avysement. + Men moste enquere, this is myn assent, + Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe, + Or proud, or elles other-weys a shrewe; (290) + A chydester, or wastour of thy good, 1535 + Or riche, or poore, or elles mannish wood. + Al-be-it so that no man finden shal + Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al, + Ne man ne beest, swich as men coude devyse; + But nathelees, it oghte y-nough suffise 1540 + With any wyf, if so were that she hadde + Mo gode thewes than hir vyces badde; + And al this axeth leyser for tenquere. + For god it woot, I have wept many a tere (300) + Ful prively, sin I have had a wyf. 1545 + Preyse who-so wole a wedded mannes lyf, + Certein, I finde in it but cost and care, + And observances, of alle blisses bare. + And yet, god woot, my neighebores aboute, + And namely of wommen many a route, 1550 + Seyn that I have the moste stedefast wyf, + And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf. + But I wot best wher wringeth me my sho. + Ye mowe, for me, right as yow lyketh do; (300) + Avyseth yow, ye been a man of age, 1555 + How that ye entren in-to mariage, + [436: T. 9431-9465.] + And namely with a yong wyf and a fair. + By him that made water, erthe, and air, + The yongest man that is in al this route + Is bisy y-nogh to bringen it aboute 1560 + To han his wyf allone, trusteth me. + Ye shul nat plese hir fully yeres three, + This is to seyn, to doon hir ful plesaunce. + A wyf axeth ful many an observaunce. (320) + I prey yow that ye be nat yvel apayd.’ 1565 + + 1520. _All but_ Cm. _insert_ he _before_ Right, _or_ to, _or_ + answerde. 1531. E. Hn. Ln. withouten. 1539. E. Cm. which. Hl. man + can; Cp. Pt. men conne; E. Hn. Cm. men koude. 1543. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. + to enquere. 1545. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. sin that I hadde. 1551. Ln. + stedfast. 1559. E. yongeste. 1560. E. ynough; Cm. I-nogh. 1562. + Cm. Hl. plese; _rest_ plesen. + + ‘Wel,’ quod this Ianuarie, ‘and hastow sayd? + Straw for thy Senek, and for thy proverbes, + I counte nat a panier ful of herbes + Of scole-termes; wyser men than thow, + As thou hast herd, assenteden right now 1570 + To my purpos; Placebo, what sey ye?’ + + 1566. E. Hn. ysayd; Cm. Hl. sayd; Cp. Pt. Ln. al said. + + ‘I seye, it is a cursed man,’ quod he, + ‘That letteth matrimoine, sikerly.’ + And with that word they rysen sodeynly, (330) + And been assented fully, that he sholde 1575 + Be wedded whanne him list and wher he wolde. + + 1573. E. Hn. Hl. matrimoigne; Pt. matrimoyne; _rest_ matrimonye. + + Heigh fantasye and curious bisinesse + Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse + Of Ianuarie aboute his mariage. + Many fair shap, and many a fair visage 1580 + Ther passeth thurgh his herte, night by night. + As who-so toke a mirour polished bright, + And sette it in a commune market-place, + Than sholde he see many a figure pace (340) + By his mirour; and, in the same wyse, 1585 + Gan Ianuarie inwith his thoght devyse + Of maydens, whiche that dwelten him bisyde. + He wiste nat wher that he mighte abyde. + For if that oon have beaute in hir face, + Another stant so in the peples grace 1590 + For hir sadnesse, and hir benignitee, + [437: T. 9466-9503.] + That of the peple grettest voys hath she. + And somme were riche, and hadden badde name. + But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game, (350) + He atte laste apoynted him on oon, 1595 + And leet alle othere from his herte goon, + And chees hir of his owene auctoritee; + For love is blind al day, and may nat see. + And whan that he was in his bed y-broght, + He purtreyed, in his herte and in his thoght, 1600 + Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre, + Hir myddel smal, hir armes longe and sclendre, + Hir wyse governaunce, hir gentillesse, + Hir wommanly beringe and hir sadnesse. (360) + And whan that he on hir was condescended, 1605 + Him thoughte his chois mighte nat ben amended. + For whan that he him-self concluded hadde, + Him thoughte ech other mannes wit so badde, + That inpossible it were to replye + Agayn his chois, this was his fantasye. 1610 + His freendes sente he to at his instaunce, + And preyed hem to doon him that plesaunce, + That hastily they wolden to him come; + He wolde abregge hir labour, alle and some. (370) + Nedeth na-more for him to go ne ryde, 1615 + He was apoynted ther he wolde abyde. + + 1582. E. And; _rest_ As. E. polisshed. 1584. E. Thanne. E. Hn. se + ful many. 1587. E. Cm. Pt. dwellen. 1591. E. Cm. benyngnytee. + 1602. E. sklendre. 1609. E. repplye. 1611. E. Cm. Hise. 1615. Ln. + hem. + + Placebo cam, and eek his freendes sone, + And alderfirst he bad hem alle a bone, + That noon of hem none argumentes make + Agayn the purpos which that he hath take; 1620 + ‘Which purpos was plesant to god,’ seyde he, + ‘And verray ground of his prosperitee.’ + + 1617. E. Cm. Hise. + + He seyde, ther was a mayden in the toun, + Which that of beautee hadde greet renoun, (380) + Al were it so she were of smal degree; 1625 + Suffyseth him hir youthe and hir beautee. + Which mayde, he seyde, he wolde han to his wyf, + To lede in ese and holinesse his lyf. + And thanked god, that he mighte han hire al, + [438: T. 9504-9539.] + That no wight of his blisse parten shal. 1630 + And preyde hem to labouren in this nede, + And shapen that he faille nat to spede; + For thanne, he seyde, his spirit was at ese. + ‘Thanne is,’ quod he, ‘no-thing may me displese, (390) + Saue o thing priketh in my conscience, 1635 + The which I wol reherce in your presence. + + 1630. Cm. of; Cp. Ln. with; _rest om._ 1631. Hn. labouren; _rest_ + laboure. + + I have,’ quod he, ‘herd seyd, ful yore ago, + Ther may no man han parfite blisses two, + This is to seye, in erthe and eek in hevene. + For though he kepe him fro the sinnes sevene, 1640 + And eek from every branche of thilke tree, + Yet is ther so parfit felicitee, + And so greet ese and lust in mariage, + That ever I am agast, now in myn age, (400) + That I shal lede now so mery a lyf, 1645 + So delicat, with-outen wo and stryf, + That I shal have myn hevene in erthe here. + For sith that verray hevene is boght so dere, + With tribulacioun and greet penaunce, + How sholde I thanne, that live in swich plesaunce 1650 + As alle wedded men don with hir wyvis, + Come to the blisse ther Crist eterne on lyve is? + This is my drede, and ye, my bretheren tweye, + Assoilleth me this questioun, I preye.’ (410) + + 1645. E. myrie; Hn. murye. + + Iustinus, which that hated his folye, 1655 + Answerde anon, right in his Iaperye; + And for he wolde his longe tale abregge, + He wolde noon auctoritee allegge, + But seyde, ‘sire, so ther be noon obstacle + Other than this, god of his hye miracle 1660 + And of his mercy may so for yow wirche, + That, er ye have your right of holy chirche, + Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf, + In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf. (420) + And elles, god forbede but he sente 1665 + [439: T. 9540-9576.] + A wedded man him grace to repente + Wel ofte rather than a sengle man! + And therfore, sire, the beste reed I can, + Dispeire yow noght, but have in your memorie, + Paraunter she may be your purgatorie! 1670 + She may be goddes mene, and goddes whippe; + Than shal your soule up to hevene skippe + Swifter than dooth an arwe out of the bowe! + I hope to god, her-after shul ye knowe, (430) + That their nis no so greet felicitee 1675 + In mariage, ne never-mo shal be, + That yow shal lette of your savacioun, + So that ye use, as skile is and resoun, + The lustes of your wyf attemprely, + And that ye plese hir nat to amorously, 1680 + And that ye kepe yow eek from other sinne. + My tale is doon:—for my wit is thinne. + Beth nat agast her-of, my brother dere.’— + (But lat us waden out of this matere. (440) + The Wyf of Bathe, if ye han understonde, 1685 + Of mariage, which we have on honde, + Declared hath ful wel in litel space).— + ‘Fareth now wel, god have yow in his grace.’ + + 1660. Hn. Pt. hye; E. hygh. 1661. E. his hygh mercy; _rest om._ + hygh. 1665. Cp. Pt. Ln. but if. 1672. E. Thanne. 1682. + _Incomplete_. 1686. Hn. we; _rest_ ye. + + And with this word this Justin and his brother + Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of other. 1690 + For whan they sawe it moste nedes be, + They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee, + That she, this mayden, which that Maius highte, + As hastily as ever that she mighte, (450) + Shal wedded be un-to this Ianuarie. 1695 + I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie, + If I yow tolde of every scrit and bond, + By which that she was feffed in his lond; + Or for to herknen of hir riche array. + But finally y-comen is the day 1700 + That to the chirche bothe be they went + For to receyve the holy sacrement. + [440: T. 9577-9612.] + Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute his nekke, + And bad hir be lyk Sarra and Rebekke, (460) + In wisdom and in trouthe of mariage; 1705 + And seyde his orisons, as is usage, + And crouched hem, and bad god sholde hem blesse, + And made al siker y-nogh with holinesse. + + 1691. Hn. Cp. sawe; E. Hl. saugh. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _ins._ that _bef_. + it. E. _om._ nedes. 1692. sly] Hl. sleighte. 1693. MSS. Mayus. + 1698. Hl. feoffed. 1704. E. lyk to; _rest om._ to. 1706. his] E. + hir. 1707. E. Hn. Cm. croucheth. + + Thus been they wedded with solempnitee, + And at the feste sitteth he and she 1710 + With other worthy folk up-on the deys. + Al ful of Ioye and blisse is the paleys, + And ful of instruments and of vitaille, + The moste deyntevous of al Itaille. (470) + Biforn hem stoode swiche instruments of soun, 1715 + That Orpheus, ne of Thebes Amphioun, + Ne maden never swich a melodye. + + 1715. _So_ Cm. Hl.; E. _puts_ swich _before_ soun; Hn. _repeats_ swich + _before_ soun. + + At every cours than cam loud minstraleye, + That never tromped Ioab, for to here, + Nor he, Theodomas, yet half so clere, 1720 + At Thebes, whan the citee was in doute. + Bacus the wyn hem skinketh al aboute, + And Venus laugheth up-on every wight. + For Ianuarie was bicome hir knight, (480) + And wolde bothe assayen his corage 1725 + In libertee, and eek in mariage; + And with hir fyrbrond in hir hand aboute + Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the route. + And certeinly, I dar right wel seyn this, + Ymenëus, that god of wedding is, 1730 + Saugh never his lyf so mery a wedded man. + Hold thou thy pees, thou poete Marcian, + That wrytest us that ilke wedding murie + Of hir, Philologye, and him, Mercurie (490) + And of the songes that the Muses songe. 1735 + To smal is bothe thy penne, and eek thy tonge, + For to descryven of this mariage. + Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stouping age, + [441: T. 9613-9648.] + Ther is swich mirthe that it may nat be writen; + Assayeth it your-self, than may ye witen 1740 + If that I lye or noon in this matere. + + 1718. E. Hn. thanne; Hl. ther. 1731. E. myrie; Hn. murye. 1740. E. + thanne. 1741. E. matiere. + + Maius, that sit with so benigne a chere, + Hir to biholde it semed fayëryë; + Quene Ester loked never with swich an yë (500) + On Assuer, so meke a look hath she. 1745 + I may yow nat devyse al hir beautee; + But thus muche of hir beautee telle I may, + That she was lyk the brighte morwe of May, + Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce. + + 1742. E. benyngne; chiere. 1743. Cp. Pt. Hl. fayerye: _rest_ + fairye. 1744. Pt. Hl. ye; Cp. yhe; _rest_ eye. + + This Ianuarie is ravisshed in a traunce 1750 + At every time he loked on hir face; + But in his herte he gan hir to manace, + That he that night in armes wolde hir streyne + Harder than ever Paris dide Eleyne. (510) + But nathelees, yet hadde he greet pitee, 1755 + That thilke night offenden hir moste he; + And thoughte, ‘allas! o tendre creature! + Now wolde god ye mighte wel endure + Al my corage, it is so sharp and kene; + I am agast ye shul it nat sustene. 1760 + But god forbede that I dide al my might! + Now wolde god that it were woxen night, + And that the night wolde lasten evermo. + I wolde that al this peple were ago.’ (520) + And finally, he doth al his labour, 1765 + As he best mighte, savinge his honour, + To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse. + + 1751. Hl. lokith. + + The tyme cam that reson was to ryse; + And after that, men daunce and drinken faste, + And spyces al aboute the hous they caste; 1770 + And ful of Ioye and blisse is every man; + All but a squyer, highte Damian, + Which carf biforn the knight ful many a day. + He was so ravisshed on his lady May, (530) + [442: T. 9649-9683.] + That for the verray peyne he was ny wood; 1775 + Almost he swelte and swowned ther he stood. + So sore hath Venus hurt him with hir brond, + As that she bar it daunsinge in hir hond. + And to his bed he wente him hastily; + Na-more of him as at this tyme speke I. 1780 + But ther I lete him wepe y-nough and pleyne, + Til fresshe May wol rewen on his peyne. + + 1772. E. Hn. Cm. highte; _rest_ that highte (hight). 1780. Hl. as; + _rest om._ E. _om._ I. + + O perilous fyr, that in the bedstraw bredeth! =Auctor.= + O famulier foo, that his servyce bedeth! (540) + O servant traitour, false hoomly hewe, 1785 + Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe, + God shilde us alle from your aqueyntaunce! + O Ianuarie, dronken in plesaunce + Of mariage, see how thy Damian, + Thyn owene squyer and thy borne man, 1790 + Entendeth for to do thee vileinye. + God graunte thee thyn hoomly fo tespye. + For in this world nis worse pestilence + Than hoomly foo al day in thy presence. (550) + + 1784. Cp. Hl. famuler; Pt. famulere; Ln. famylere. 1786. Hn. Cp. + neddre; Cm. neddere; Hl. nedder; Pt. adder. 1789. Pt. Hl. Of; Cp. Ln. + O(!); _rest_ In. 1790. Cm. bore; Cp. Ln. Hl. borne; _rest_ born. + 1792. Cp. Ln. to espye; Hn. Hl. espye. + + Parfourned hath the sonne his ark diurne, 1795 + No lenger may the body of him soiurne + On thorisonte, as in that latitude. + Night with his mantel, that is derk and rude, + Gan oversprede the hemisperie aboute; + For which departed is this lusty route 1800 + Fro Ianuarie, with thank on every syde. + Hom to hir houses lustily they ryde, + Wher-as they doon hir thinges as hem leste, + And whan they sye hir tyme, goon to reste. (560) + Sone after that, this hastif Ianuarie 1805 + Wolde go to bedde, he wolde no lenger tarie. + He drinketh ipocras, clarree, and vernage + Of spyces hote, tencresen his corage; + And many a letuarie hadde he ful fyn, + [443: T. 9684-9719.] + Swiche as the cursed monk dan Constantyn 1810 + Hath writen in his book _de Coitu_; + To eten hem alle, he nas no-thing eschu. + And to his privee freendes thus seyde he: + ‘For goddes love, as sone as it may be, (570) + Lat voyden al this hous in curteys wyse.’ 1815 + And they han doon right as he wol devyse. + Men drinken, and the travers drawe anon; + The bryde was broght a-bedde as stille as stoon; + And whan the bed was with the preest y-blessed, + Out of the chambre hath every wight him dressed. 1820 + And Ianuarie hath faste in armes take + His fresshe May, his paradys, his make. + He lulleth hir, he kisseth hir ful ofte + With thikke bristles of his berd unsofte, (580) + Lyk to the skin of houndfish, sharp as brere, 1825 + For he was shave al newe in his manere. + He rubbeth hir aboute hir tendre face, + And seyde thus, ‘allas! I moot trespace + To yow, my spouse, and yow gretly offende, + Er tyme come that I wil doun descende. 1830 + But nathelees, considereth this,’ quod he, + ‘Ther nis no werkman, what-so-ever he be, + That may bothe werke wel and hastily; + This wol be doon at leyser parfitly. (590) + It is no fors how longe that we pleye; 1835 + In trewe wedlok wedded be we tweye; + And blessed be the yok that we been inne, + For in our actes we mowe do no sinne. + A man may do no sinne with his wyf, + Ne hurte him-selven with his owene knyf; 1840 + For we han leve to pleye us by the lawe.’ + Thus laboureth he til that the day gan dawe; + And than he taketh a sop in fyn clarree, + And upright in his bed than sitteth he, (600) + And after that he sang ful loude and clere, 1845 + [444: T. 9720-9755.] + And kiste his wyf, and made wantoun chere. + He was al coltish, ful of ragerye, + And ful of Iargon as a flekked pye. + The slakke skin aboute his nekke shaketh, + Whyl that he sang; so chaunteth he and craketh. 1850 + But god wot what that May thoughte in hir herte, + Whan she him saugh up sittinge in his sherte, + In his night-cappe, and with his nekke lene; + She preyseth nat his pleying worth a bene. (610) + Than seide he thus, ‘my reste wol I take; 1855 + Now day is come, I may no lenger wake.’ + And doun he leyde his heed, and sleep til pryme. + And afterward, whan that he saugh his tyme, + Up ryseth Ianuarie; but fresshe May + Holdeth hir chambre un-to the fourthe day, 1860 + As usage is of wyves for the beste. + For every labour som-tyme moot han reste, + Or elles longe may he nat endure; + This is to seyn, no lyves creature, (620) + Be it of fish, or brid, or beest, or man. 1865 + + 1802. E. Hl. hous; _rest_ houses. 1808. Cp. Pt. Hl. to encresen. + 1809. E. hath. 1810. E. _om._ cursed. 1812. Cm. Ln. was; _rest_ + nas. 1824. Cp. HL. thikke; _rest_ thilke (_with_ lk = kk). E. Cm. + brustles. 1838. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ our. 1843. E. thanne; fyne. + 1844. E. thanne. 1846. E. wantowne. 1847. E. coltissh. 1848. Cp. + Pt. Girgoun; Ln. Girgun. 1851. Hn. thoghte. 1855. E. Thanne. + 1860. Pt. Ln. Hl. Holdeth; Cp. Holt; E. Hn. Heeld; Cm. Held. + + Now wol I speke of woful Damian, + That languissheth for love, as ye shul here; + Therfore I speke to him in this manere: + I seye, ‘O sely Damian, allas! + Answere to my demaunde, as in this cas, 1870 + How shaltow to thy lady fresshe May + Telle thy wo? She wole alwey seye “nay”; + Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo biwreye; + God be thyn help, I can no bettre seye.’ (630) + + 1867. Cp. langureth; Pt. languowreth; Ln. longurith. 1870. E. + Andswere. + + This syke Damian in Venus fyr 1875 + So brenneth, that he dyeth for desyr; + For which he putte his lyf in aventure, + No lenger mighte he in this wyse endure; + But prively a penner gan he borwe, + And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe, 1880 + In manere of a compleynt or a lay, + [445: T. 9756-9792.] + Un-to his faire fresshe lady May. + And in a purs of silk, heng on his sherte, + He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte. (640) + + The mone that, at noon, was, thilke day 1885 + That Ianuarie hath wedded fresshe May, + In two of Taur, was in-to Cancre gliden; + So longe hath Maius in hir chambre biden, + As custume is un-to thise nobles alle. + A bryde shal nat eten in the halle, 1890 + Til dayes foure or three dayes atte leste + Y-passed been; than lat hir go to feste. + The fourthe day compleet fro noon to noon, + Whan that the heighe masse was y-doon, (650) + In halle sit this Ianuarie, and May 1895 + As fresh as is the brighte someres day. + And so bifel, how that this gode man + Remembred him upon this Damian, + And seyde, ‘Seinte Marie! how may this be, + That Damian entendeth nat to me? 1900 + Is he ay syk, or how may this bityde?’ + His squyeres, whiche that stoden ther bisyde, + Excused him by-cause of his siknesse, + Which letted him to doon his bisinesse; (660) + Noon other cause mighte make him tarie. 1905 + + 1888. Hl. Hn. Cp. abiden. 1892. E. thanne. 1896. E. fressh. 1902. + E. Hise. + + ‘That me forthinketh,’ quod this Ianuarie, + ‘He is a gentil squyer, by my trouthe! + If that he deyde, it were harm and routhe; + He is as wys, discreet, and as secree + As any man I woot of his degree; 1910 + And ther-to manly and eek servisable, + And for to been a thrifty man right able. + But after mete, as sone as ever I may, + I wol my-self visyte him and eek May, (670) + To doon him al the confort that I can.’ 1915 + And for that word him blessed every man, + That, of his bountee and his gentillesse, + He wolde so conforten in siknesse + [446: T. 9793-9830.] + His squyer, for it was a gentil dede. + ‘Dame,’ quod this Ianuarie, ‘tak good hede, 1920 + At-after mete ye, with your wommen alle, + Whan ye han been in chambre out of this halle, + That alle ye go see this Damian; + Doth him disport, he is a gentil man; (680) + And telleth him that I wol him visyte, 1925 + Have I no-thing but rested me a lyte; + And spede yow faste, for I wole abyde + Til that ye slepe faste by my syde.’ + And with that word he gan to him to calle + A squyer, that was marchal of his halle, 1930 + And tolde him certeyn thinges, what he wolde. + + 1920. E. taak. 1921. E. noon; _rest_ mete. + + This fresshe May hath streight hir wey y-holde, + With alle hir wommen, un-to Damian. + Doun by his beddes syde sit she than, (690) + Confortinge him as goodly as she may. 1935 + This Damian, whan that his tyme he say, + In secree wise his purs, and eek his bille, + In which that he y-writen hadde his wille, + Hath put in-to hir hand, with-outen more, + Save that he syketh wonder depe and sore, 1940 + And softely to hir right thus seyde he: + ‘Mercy! and that ye nat discovere me; + For I am deed, if that this thing be kid.’ + This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hid, (700) + And wente hir wey; ye gete namore of me. 1945 + But un-to Ianuarie y-comen is she, + That on his beddes syde sit ful softe. + He taketh hir, and kisseth hir ful ofte, + And leyde him doun to slepe, and that anon. + She feyned hir as that she moste gon 1950 + Ther-as ye woot that every wight mot nede. + And whan she of this bille hath taken hede, + She rente it al to cloutes atte laste, + And in the privee softely it caste. (710) + + Who studieth now but faire fresshe May? 1955 + Adoun by olde Ianuarie she lay, + [447: T. 9831-9866.] + That sleep, til that the coughe hath him awaked; + Anon he preyde hir strepen hir al naked; + He wolde of hir, he seyde, han som plesaunce, + And seyde, hir clothes dide him encombraunce, 1960 + And she obeyeth, be hir lief or looth. + But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth, + How that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow telle; + Or whether hir thoughte it paradys or helle; (720) + But here I lete hem werken in hir wyse 1965 + Til evensong rong, and that they moste aryse. + + 1957. Hn. Cm. coghe; Ln. couhe. 1962. E. ye; Cm. the; _rest_ that. + 1964. E. wheither that; Hn. Cm. Hl. _om._ that. 1966. Cp. Ln. + euesong. + + Were it by destinee or aventure, + Were it by influence or by nature, + Or constellacion, that in swich estat + The hevene stood, that tyme fortunat 1970 + Was for to putte a bille of Venus werkes + (For alle thing hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes) + To any womman, for to gete hir love, + I can nat seye; but grete god above, (730) + That knoweth that non act is causelees, 1975 + He deme of al, for I wol holde my pees. + But sooth is this, how that this fresshe May + Hath take swich impression that day, + For pitee of this syke Damian, + That from hir herte she ne dryve can 1980 + The remembraunce for to doon him ese. + ‘Certeyn,’ thoghte she, ‘whom that this thing displese, + I rekke noght, for here I him assure, + To love him best of any creature, (740) + Though he na-more hadde than his sherte.’ 1985 + Lo, pitee renneth sone in gentil herte. + + 1967. _All but_ Ln. Hl. _ins._ by _after_ or. 1969, 70. E. estaat, + fortunaat. 1971. Hn. Hl. As; E. Cp. Pt. Ln. Was. + + Heer may ye se how excellent franchyse + In wommen is, whan they hem narwe avyse. + Som tyrant is, as ther be many oon, + That hath an herte as hard as any stoon, 1990 + Which wolde han lete him sterven in the place + Wel rather than han graunted him hir grace; + [448: T. 9867-9902.] + And hem reioysen in hir cruel pryde, + And rekke nat to been an homicyde. (750) + + 1991. E. Cm. lat. E. storuen. 1993. E. crueel. + + This gentil May, fulfilled of pitee, 1995 + Right of hir hande a lettre made she, + In which she graunteth him hir verray grace; + Ther lakketh noght but only day and place, + Wher that she mighte un-to his lust suffyse: + For it shal be right as he wol devyse. 2000 + And whan she saugh hir time, up-on a day, + To visite this Damian goth May, + And sotilly this lettre doun she threste + Under his pilwe, rede it if him leste. (760) + She taketh him by the hand, and harde him twiste 2005 + So secrely, that no wight of it wiste, + And bad him been al hool, and forth she wente + To Ianuarie, whan that he for hir sente. + + 1996. Hn. Hl. maked; Cm. makede. 1998. Cm. Hl. but only; _rest_ only + but. 2002. _All_ visite; _perhaps read_ visiten. 2007. she] E. + he. 2008. hir] E. him. + + Up ryseth Damian the nexte morwe, + Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe. 2010 + He kembeth him, he proyneth him and pyketh, + He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh; + And eek to Ianuarie he gooth as lowe + As ever dide a dogge for the bowe. (770) + He is so plesant un-to every man, 2015 + (For craft is al, who-so that do it can) + That every wight is fayn to speke him good; + And fully in his lady grace he stood. + Thus lete I Damian aboute his nede, + And in my tale forth I wol procede. 2020 + + 2011. E. preyneth; Hn. prayneth; Hl. pruneth. 2018. Hn. Cm. ladyes; + _rest_ lady. + + Somme clerkes holden that felicitee + Stant in delyt, and therefor certeyn he, + This noble Ianuarie, with al his might, + In honest wyse, as longeth to a knight, (780) + Shoop him to live ful deliciously. 2025 + His housinge, his array, as honestly + To his degree was maked as a kinges. + Amonges othere of his honest thinges, + [449: T. 9903-9938.] + He made a gardin, walled al with stoon; + So fair a gardin woot I nowher noon. 2030 + For out of doute, I verraily suppose, + That he that wroot the Romance of the Rose + Ne coude of it the beautee wel devyse; + Ne Priapus ne mighte nat suffyse, (790) + Though he be god of gardins, for to telle 2035 + The beautee of the gardin and the welle, + That stood under a laurer alwey grene. + Ful ofte tyme he, Pluto, and his quene, + Proserpina, and al hir fayërye + Disporten hem and maken melodye + Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde. + + 2024, 2028. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. honeste. 2032. Cm. Hl. romanus; Ln. + romans. 2039. Cp. Hl. fayerie; _rest_ fairye. + + This noble knight, this Ianuarie the olde, + Swich deintee hath in it to walke and pleye, + That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye (800) + Save he him-self; for of the smale wiket 2045 + He bar alwey of silver a smal cliket, + With which, whan that him leste, he it unshette. + And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette + In somer seson, thider wolde he go, + And May his wyf, and no wight but they two; + And thinges whiche that were nat doon a-bedde, + He in the gardin parfourned hem and spedde. + And in this wyse, many a mery day, + Lived this Ianuarie and fresshe May. (810) + But worldly Ioye may nat alwey dure 2055 + To Ianuarie, ne to no creature. + + 2046. E. baar. Hl. smal; _rest om._ 2053. E. Hn. murye. + + O sodeyn hap, o thou fortune instable, =Auctor.= + Lyk to the scorpion so deceivable, + That flaterest with thyn heed when thou wolt stinge; + Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn enveniminge. 2060 + O brotil Ioye! o swete venim queynte! + O monstre, that so subtilly canst peynte + Thy yiftes, under hewe of stedfastnesse, + That thou deceyvest bothe more and lesse! (820) + [450: T. 9939-9974.] + Why hastow Ianuarie thus deceyved, 2065 + That haddest him for thy ful frend receyved? + And now thou hast biraft him bothe hise yën, + For sorwe of which desyreth he to dyen. + + 2059. E. synge; _rest_ stinge. 2061. venim] Cp. Pt. Ln. poyson. + 2063. E. stidefastnesse. 2067. Hl. yen; Cm. Iyen; _rest_ eyen. + + Allas! this noble Ianuarie free, + Amidde his lust and his prosperitee, 2070 + Is woxen blind, and that al sodeynly. + He wepeth and he wayleth pitously; + And ther-with-al the fyr of Ialousye, + Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye, (830) + So brente his herte, that he wolde fayn 2075 + That som man bothe him and hir had slayn. + For neither after his deeth, nor in his lyf, + Ne wolde he that she were love ne wyf, + But ever live as widwe in clothes blake, + Soul as the turtle that lost hath hir make. 2080 + But atte laste, after a monthe or tweye, + His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye; + For whan he wiste it may noon other be, + He paciently took his adversitee; (840) + Save, out of doute, he may nat forgoon 2085 + That he nas Ialous evermore in oon; + Which Ialousye it was so outrageous, + That neither in halle, nin noon other hous, + Ne in noon other place, never-the-mo, + He nolde suffre hir for to ryde or go, 2090 + But-if that he had hand on hir alway; + For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe May, + That loveth Damian so benignely, + That she mot outher dyen sodeynly, (850) + Or elles she mot han him as hir leste; 2095 + She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste. + + 2074. E. swich; _rest_ som (sum). 2080. Cp. Ln. Soule; Pt. Sool; + _rest_ Soul. 2089. E. Nyn; _rest_ Ne in. 2091. E. hond (_but_ hand + _in_ l. 2103). 2093. E. benyngnely. + + Up-on that other syde Damian + Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man + That ever was; for neither night ne day + Ne mighte he speke a word to fresshe May, 2100 + [451: T. 9975-10010.] + As to his purpos, of no swich matere, + But-if that Ianuarie moste it here, + That hadde an hand up-on hir evermo. + But nathelees, by wryting to and fro (860) + And privee signes, wiste he what she mente; 2105 + And she knew eek the fyn of his entente. + + O Ianuarie, what mighte it thee availle, =Auctor.= + Thou mightest see as fer as shippes saille? + For also good is blind deceyved be, + As be deceyved whan a man may se. 2110 + Lo, Argus, which that hadde an hondred yën, + For al that ever he coude poure or pryen, + Yet was he blent; and, god wot, so ben mo, + That wenen wisly that it be nat so. (870) + Passe over is an ese, I sey na-more. 2115 + + 2108. E. Ln. Thogh thou; Hl. If thou; _rest_ Thou. 2109. Cm. Ln. + also; _rest_ as. 2110. _All_ As to be. 2111. Ln. yene; _rest_ eyen. + + This fresshe May, that I spak of so yore, + In warme wex hath emprented the cliket, + That Ianuarie bar of the smale wiket, + By which in-to his gardin ofte he wente. + And Damian, that knew al hir entente, 2120 + The cliket countrefeted prively; + Ther nis na-more to seye, but hastily + Som wonder by this cliket shal bityde, + Which ye shul heren, if ye wole abyde. (880) + + 2117. Pt. Ln. warme; _rest_ warm. _Perhaps read_ emprented hath. + 2118. Pt. smal; _rest_ smale. + + O noble Ovyde, ful sooth seystou, god woot! =Auctor.= + What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and hoot, 2126 + That he nil finde it out in som manere? + By Piramus and Tesbee may men lere; + Thogh they were kept ful longe streite overal, + They been accorded, rouninge thurgh a wal, 2130 + Ther no wight coude han founde out swich a sleighte. + + But now to purpos; er that dayes eighte + Were passed, er the monthe of Iuil, bifil + That Ianuarie hath caught so greet a wil, (890) + Thurgh egging of his wyf, him for to pleye 2135 + In his gardin, and no wight but they tweye, + [452: T. 10011-10046.] + That in a morwe un-to this May seith he: + ‘Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free; + The turtles vois is herd, my douve swete; + The winter is goon, with alle his reynes wete; 2140 + Com forth now, with thyn eyën columbyn! + How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn! + The gardin is enclosed al aboute; + Com forth, my whyte spouse; out of doute, (900) + Thou hast me wounded in myn herte, o wyf! 2145 + No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf. + Com forth, and lat us taken our disport; + I chees thee for my wyf and my confort.’ + + 2133, 4. Cm. befel, wyl; _rest_ bifille, wille; _see note._ 2139. E. + turtle. 2140. Cp. Pt. Ln. alle (al); _rest om._ 2146. Cp. Pt. Ln. + in (_for_ of). 2147. E. som; _rest_ our (oure). + + Swiche olde lewed wordes used he; + On Damian a signe made she, 2150 + That he sholde go biforen with his cliket: + This Damian thanne hath opened the wiket, + And in he stirte, and that in swich manere, + That no wight mighte it see neither y-here; (910) + And stille he sit under a bush anoon. 2155 + + 2151. Ln. beforne; _rest_ biforn; _read_ biforen. + + This Ianuarie, as blind as is a stoon, + With Maius in his hand, and no wight mo, + In-to his fresshe gardin is ago, + And clapte to the wiket sodeynly. + + ‘Now, wyf,’ quod he, ‘heer nis but thou and I, 2160 + That art the creature that I best love. + For, by that lord that sit in heven above, + Lever ich hadde dyen on a knyf, + Than thee offende, trewe dere wyf! (920) + For goddes sake, thenk how I thee chees, 2165 + Noght for no coveityse, doutelees, + But only for the love I had to thee. + And though that I be old, and may nat see, + Beth to me trewe, and I shal telle yow why. + Three thinges, certes, shul ye winne ther-by; 2170 + First, love of Crist, and to your-self honour, + And al myn heritage, toun and tour; + [453: T. 10047-10082.] + I yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow leste; + This shal be doon to-morwe er sonne reste. (930) + So wisly god my soule bringe in blisse, 2175 + I prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse. + And thogh that I be Ialous, wyte me noght. + Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght, + That, whan that I considere your beautee, + And ther-with-al the unlykly elde of me, 2180 + I may nat, certes, thogh I sholde dye, + Forbere to been out of your companye + For verray love; this is with-outen doute. + Now kis me, wyf, and lat us rome aboute.’ (940) + + 2163. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. to dyen; Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._ to. 2170. E. Hn. + shal; Pt. Cm. Hl. shul. 2177, 2181. E. though. 2179. E. Pt. _om._ + that. + + This fresshe May, whan she thise wordes herde, 2185 + Benignely to Ianuarie answerde, + But first and forward she bigan to wepe, + ‘I have,’ quod she, ‘a soule for to kepe + As wel as ye, and also myn honour, + And of my wyfhod thilke tendre flour, 2190 + Which that I have assured in your hond, + Whan that the preest to yow my body bond; + Wherfore I wole answere in this manere + By the leve of yow, my lord so dere: (950) + I prey to god, that never dawe the day 2195 + That I ne sterve, as foule as womman may, + If ever I do un-to my kin that shame, + Or elles I empeyre so my name, + That I be fals; and if I do that lakke, + Do strepe me and put me in a sakke, 2200 + And in the nexte river do me drenche. + I am a gentil womman and no wenche. + Why speke ye thus? but men ben ever untrewe, + And wommen have repreve of yow ay newe. (960) + Ye han non other contenance, I leve, 2205 + But speke to us of untrust and repreve.’ + + 2186. E. Benyngnely. 2194. Cp. Pt. Ln. With (_for_ By). 2205. Cm. + Cp. Pt. Ln. can (_for_ han). + + And with that word she saugh wher Damian + Sat in the bush, and coughen she bigan, + [454: T. 10083-10114.] + And with hir finger signes made she, + That Damian sholde climbe up-on a tree, 2210 + That charged was with fruit, and up he wente; + For verraily he knew al hir entente, + And every signe that she coude make + Wel bet than Ianuarie, hir owene make. (970) + For in a lettre she had told him al 2215 + Of this matere, how he werchen shal. + And thus I lete him sitte up-on the pyrie, + And Ianuarie and May rominge myrie. + + 2208. E. Hl. coughen; Hn. coghen; Cm. coghe. 2215. E. hadde toold. + 2217. Pt. pirry; Hn. purye; _rest_ pyrie (pirie, pyry). 2218. Hn. + murye; Cp. myry; Hl. mirye; Cm. Pt. Ln. merie (mery). + + Bright was the day, and blew the firmament, + Phebus of gold his stremes doun hath sent, 2220 + To gladen every flour with his warmnesse. + He was that tyme _in Geminis_, as I gesse, + But litel fro his declinacioun + Of Cancer, Iovis exaltacioun. (980) + And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde, 2225 + That in that gardin, in the ferther syde, + Pluto, that is the king of fayërye, + And many a lady in his companye, + Folwinge his wyf, the quene Proserpyne, + Ech after other, right as any lyne— 2230 + Whil that she gadered floures in the mede, + In Claudian ye may the story rede, + How in his grisly carte he hir fette:— + This king of fairye thanne adoun him sette (990) + Up-on a bench of turves, fresh and grene, 2235 + And right anon thus seyde he to his quene. + + 2220. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _put_ hath _before_ of gold; Cp. Pt. Ln. doun hath + his stremes sent. E. Hn. Hl. ysent; _rest_ sent. 2227. Cp. Pt. Ln. + the; _rest_ on. Cp. Hl. fayerye; _rest_ fairye. 2230. Cm. ony; E. Hl. + a (_for_ any). Cp. Pt. Ln. _have_ Which that he rauysshed out of + Proserpyna(!). 2232. Hl. story; _rest_ stories. 2233. E. And; + _rest_ How. E. grisely. E. Hn. Cm. sette; _rest_ fette. 2234. Cp. + Pt. Ln. _om._ thanne. + + ‘My wyf,’ quod he, ‘ther may no wight sey nay; + Thexperience so preveth every day + The treson whiche that wommen doon to man. + Ten hondred thousand [stories] telle I can 2240 + [455: T. 10115-10149.] + Notable of your untrouthe and brotilnesse. + O Salomon, wys, richest of richesse, + Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie, + Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie (1000) + To every wight that wit and reson can. 2245 + Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man: + “Amonges a thousand men yet fond I oon, + But of wommen alle fond I noon.” + + 2237. E. seye. 2239. E. tresons. 2240. _I supply_ stories. Pt. + Ln. telle; _rest_ tellen. 2242. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. wys and; Cp. Pt. Ln. + _om. both_ wys _and_ and. 2247, 8. E. foond. + + Thus seith the king that knoweth your wikkednesse; + And Iesus _filius Syrak_, as I gesse, 2250 + Ne speketh of yow but selde reverence. + A wilde fyr and corrupt pestilence + So falle up-on your bodies yet to-night! + Ne see ye nat this honurable knight, (1010) + By-cause, allas! that he is blind and old, 2255 + His owene man shal make him cokewold; + Lo heer he sit, the lechour, in the tree. + Now wol I graunten, of my magestee, + Un-to this olde blinde worthy knight + That he shal have ayeyn his eyen sight, 2260 + Whan that his wyf wold doon him vileinye; + Than shal he knowen al hir harlotrye + Both in repreve of hir and othere mo.’ + + 2262. E. Thanne. + + ‘Ye shal,’ quod Proserpyne, ‘wol ye so; (1020) + Now, by my modres sires soule I swere, 2265 + That I shal yeven hir suffisant answere, + And alle wommen after, for hir sake; + That, though they be in any gilt y-take, + With face bold they shulle hem-self excuse, + And bere hem doun that wolden hem accuse. 2270 + For lakke of answer, noon of hem shal dyen. + Al hadde man seyn a thing with bothe his yën, + Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily, + And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly, (1030) + So that ye men shul been as lewed as gees. + [456: T. 10150-10184.] + What rekketh me of your auctoritees? + + 2264. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. and wol (_for_ wol). 2272. Pt. Hl. yen; _rest_ + eyen (eyȝen). 2273. Cp. Pt. Ln. so (_for_ wommen). 2274. E. + visage it (_for_ chyde, _by mistake_). + + I woot wel that this Iew, this Salomon, + Fond of us wommen foles many oon. + But though that he ne fond no good womman, + Yet hath ther founde many another man 2280 + Wommen ful trewe, ful gode, and vertuous. + Witnesse on hem that dwelle in Cristes hous, + With martirdom they preved hir constance. + The Romayn gestes maken remembrance (1040) + Of many a verray trewe wyf also. 2285 + But sire, ne be nat wrooth, al-be-it so, + Though that he seyde he fond no good womman, + I prey yow take the sentence of the man; + He mente thus, that in sovereyn bontee + Nis noon but god, that sit in Trinitee. 2290 + + 2278. E. Foond; fooles. 2279. E. foond. 2284. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. eek + maken; _rest om._ eek. 2287. E. foond. 2290. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. but + neither he ne she (_for_ that ... Trinitee). + + Ey! for verray god, that nis but oon, + What make ye so muche of Salomon? + What though he made a temple, goddes hous? + What though he were riche and glorious? (1050) + So made he eek a temple of false goddis, 2295 + How mighte he do a thing that more forbode is? + Pardee, as faire as ye his name emplastre, + He was a lechour and an ydolastre; + And in his elde he verray god forsook. + And if that god ne hadde, as seith the book, 2300 + Y-spared him for his fadres sake, he sholde + Have lost his regne rather than he wolde. + I sette noght of al the vileinye, + That ye of wommen wryte, a boterflye. (1060) + I am a womman, nedes moot I speke, 2305 + Or elles swelle til myn herte breke. + For sithen he seyde that we ben Iangleresses, + As ever hool I mote brouke my tresses, + I shal nat spare, for no curteisye, + To speke him harm that wolde us vileinye.’ 2310 + [457: T. 10185-10221.] + ‘Dame,’ quod this Pluto, ‘be no lenger wrooth; + I yeve it up; but sith I swoor myn ooth + That I wolde graunten him his sighte ageyn, + My word shal stonde, I warne yow, certeyn. (1070) + I am a king, it sit me noght to lye.’ 2315 + + 2291. _So all_. 2298. E. lecchour. 2300. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. _om._ + that. 2301. E. Cm. _om._ him. 2303. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. sette right + noght. + + ‘And I,’ quod she, ‘a queene of fayërye. + Hir answere shal she have, I undertake; + Lat us na-more wordes heer-of make. + For sothe, I wol no lenger yow contrarie.’ + + 2316. Cp. Hl. fayerye; _rest_ fairye (fayre). + + Now lat us turne agayn to Ianuarie, 2320 + That in the gardin with his faire May + Singeth, ful merier than the papeiay, + ‘Yow love I best, and shal, and other noon.’ + So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon, (1080) + Til he was come agaynes thilke pyrie, 2325 + Wher-as this Damian sitteth fill myrie + An heigh, among the fresshe leves grene. + + 2322. E. Hn. Cm. murier. 2325. Hl. agaynes; _rest_ agayns. 2327. + Pt. Ln. Hl. On (_for_ An). + + This fresshe May, that is so bright and shene, + Gan for to syke, and seyde, ‘allas, my syde! + Now sir,’ quod she, ‘for aught that may bityde, 2330 + I moste han of the peres that I see, + Or I mot dye, so sore longeth me + To eten of the smale peres grene. + Help, for hir love that is of hevene quene! (1090) + I telle yow wel, a womman in my plyt 2335 + May han to fruit so greet an appetyt, + That she may dyen, but she of it have.’ + + ‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘that I ne had heer a knave + That coude climbe; allas! allas!’ quod he, + ‘That I am blind.’ ‘Ye, sir, no fors,’ quod she: 2340 + ‘But wolde ye vouche-sauf, for goddes sake, + The pyrie inwith your armes for to take, + (For wel I woot that ye mistruste me) + Thanne sholde I climbe wel y-nogh,’ quod she, (1100) + ‘So I my foot mighte sette upon your bak.’ 2345 + + ‘Certes,’ quod he, ‘ther-on shal be no lak, + Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte blood.’ + [458: T. 10222-10257.] + He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she stood, + And caughte hir by a twiste, and up she gooth. + Ladies, I prey yow that ye be nat wrooth; 2350 + I can nat glose, I am a rude man. + And sodeynly anon this Damian + Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng. + + And whan that Pluto saugh this grete wrong, (1110) + To Ianuarie he gaf agayn his sighte, 2355 + And made him see, as wel as ever he mighte. + And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn, + Ne was ther never man of thing so fayn. + But on his wyf his thoght was evermo; + Up to the tree he caste his eyen two, 2360 + And saugh that Damian his wyf had dressed + In swich manere, it may nat ben expressed + But if I wolde speke uncurteisly: + And up he yaf a roring and a cry (1120) + As doth the moder whan the child shal dye: 2365 + ‘Out! help! allas! harrow!’ he gan to crye, + ‘O stronge lady store, what dostow?’ + + 2355. Pt. Ln. Hl. his sight ageyn (_and miss_ ll. 2356, 2357, _by + confusion with_ agayn _in_ 2357). 2367. E. Hn. Cm. stoore; Pt. stoor; + Cp. Ln. Hl. stoure. + + And she answerde, ‘sir, what eyleth yow? + Have pacience, and reson in your minde, + I have yow holpe on bothe your eyen blinde. 2370 + Up peril of my soule, I shal nat lyen, + As me was taught, to hele with your yën, + Was no-thing bet to make yow to see + Than strugle with a man up-on a tree. (1130) + God woot, I dide it in ful good entente.’ 2375 + + 2372. Ln. Hl. yen; _rest_ eyen (eyȝen). + + ‘Strugle!’ quod he, ‘ye, algate in it wente! + God yeve yow bothe on shames deeth to dyen! + He swyved thee, I saugh it with myne yën, + And elles be I hanged by the hals!’ + + 2378. Ln. Hl. yen; _rest_ eyen (eyȝen). + + ‘Thanne is,’ quod she, ‘my medicyne al fals; 2380 + For certeinly, if that ye mighte see, + Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes un-to me; + Ye han som glimsing and no parfit sighte.’ + + 2380. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. _om._ al. + +[459: T. 10258-10292.] + + ‘I see,’ quod he, ‘as wel as ever I mighte, (1140) + Thonked be god! with bothe myne eyen two, 2385 + And by my trouthe, me thoughte he dide thee so.’ + + ‘Ye maze, maze, gode sire,’ quod she, + ‘This thank have I for I have maad yow see; + Allas!’ quod she, ‘that ever I was so kinde!’ + + ‘Now, dame,’ quod he, ‘lat al passe out of minde. 2390 + Com doun, my lief, and if I have missayd, + God help me so, as I am yvel apayd. + But, by my fader soule, I wende han seyn, + How that this Damian had by thee leyn, (1150) + And that thy smok had leyn up-on his brest.’ 2395 + + 2394, 5. E. hadde. + + ‘Ye, sire,’ quod she, ‘ye may wene as yow lest; + But, sire, a man that waketh out of his sleep, + He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep + Up-on a thing, ne seen it parfitly, + Til that he be adawed verraily; 2400 + Right so a man, that longe hath blind y-be, + Ne may nat sodeynly so wel y-see, + First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn, + As he that hath a day or two y-seyn. (1160) + Til that your sighte y-satled be a whyle, 2405 + Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigyle. + Beth war, I prey yow; for, by hevene king, + Ful many a man weneth to seen a thing, + And it is al another than it semeth. + He that misconceyveth, he misdemeth.’ 2410 + And with that word she leep doun fro the tree. + + 2397. Cm. Pt. _om._ his. 2405. Cp. Pt. Hl. I-stabled; Ln. stablid. + + This Ianuarie, who is glad but he? + He kisseth hir, and clippeth hir ful ofte, + And on hir wombe he stroketh hir ful softe, (1170) + And to his palays hoom he hath hir lad. 2415 + Now, gode men, I pray yow to be glad. + Thus endeth heer my tale of Ianuarie; + God bless us and his moder Seinte Marie! + + =Here Is Ended the Marchantes Tale of Ianuarie.= + + 2416. E. _om._ to. 2418. Hn. Hl. _add_ Amen. COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn.; + Hl. Here endith the marchauntes tale. + +[460: T. 10293-10314.] + + * * * * * + +EPILOGUE TO THE MARCHANTES TALE. + + * * * * * + + ‘Ey! goddes mercy!’ seyde our Hoste tho, + ‘Now swich a wyf I pray god kepe me fro! 2420 + Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees + In wommen been! for ay as bisy as bees + Ben they, us sely men for to deceyve, + And from a sothe ever wol they weyve; + By this Marchauntes Tale it preveth weel. 2425 + But doutelees, as trewe as any steel + I have a wyf, though that she povre be; + But of hir tonge a labbing shrewe is she, (10) + And yet she hath an heep of vyces mo; + Ther-of no fors, lat alle swiche thinges go. 2430 + But, wite ye what? in conseil be it seyd, + Me reweth sore I am un-to hir teyd. + For, and I sholde rekenen every vyce + Which that she hath, y-wis, I were to nyce, + And cause why; it sholde reported be 2435 + And told to hir of somme of this meynee; + Of whom, it nedeth nat for to declare, + Sin wommen connen outen swich chaffare; (20) + And eek my wit suffyseth nat ther-to + To tellen al; wherfor my tale is do.’ 2440 + + HEADING. E. The Prologe of the Squieres Tale; Hn. Here folwen the + Wordes of the Worthy Hoost to the Frankeleyn; Pt. The prologe of the + Fraunkeleyn. 2419. E. oure Hoost; Hl. our hoste. 2421. Hl. + subtilitees; E. Hn. subtiltees. 2424. E. Hn. sooth; Pt. Hl. soth + (_not_ sothe); _see_ G. 167, 662. + +[461: T. 10315-10334.] + + * * * * * + +GROUP F. + +THE SQUIERES TALE. + + * * * * * + + [THE SQUIRE’S PROLOGUE.] + + ‘Squier, com neer, if it your wille be, + And sey somwhat of love; for, certes, ye + Connen ther-on as muche as any man.’ + ‘Nay, sir,’ quod he, ‘but I wol seye as I can + With hertly wille; for I wol nat rebelle 5 + Agayn your lust; a tale wol I telle. + Have me excused if I speke amis, + My wil is good; and lo, my tale is this. + + =Here biginneth the Squieres Tale.= + + At Sarray, in the land of Tartarye, (1) + Ther dwelte a king, that werreyed Russye, 10 + Thurgh which ther deyde many a doughty man. + This noble king was cleped Cambinskan, + Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun + That ther nas no-wher in no regioun + So excellent a lord in alle thing; 15 + Him lakked noght that longeth to a king. + As of the secte of which that he was born + He kepte his lay, to which that he was sworn; (10) + And ther-to be was hardy, wys, and riche, + Pitous and Iust, and ever-more y-liche 20 + [462: T. 10335-10371.] + Sooth of his word, benigne and honurable, + Of his corage as any centre stable; + Yong, fresh, and strong, in armes desirous + As any bacheler of al his hous. + A fair persone he was and fortunat, 25 + And kepte alwey so wel royal estat, + That ther was nowher swich another man. + This noble king, this Tartre Cambinskan (20) + Hadde two sones on Elpheta his wyf, + Of whiche the eldeste highte Algarsyf, 30 + That other sone was cleped Cambalo. + A doghter hadde this worthy king also, + That yongest was, and highte Canacee. + But for to telle yow al hir beautee, + It lyth nat in my tonge, nin my conning; 35 + I dar nat undertake so heigh a thing. + Myn English eek is insufficient; + It moste been a rethor excellent, (30) + That coude his colours longing for that art, + If he sholde hir discryven every part. 40 + I am non swich, I moot speke as I can. + + HEADING (_after_ l. 8). _So_ E. Hn. Pt. Hl. 20. Hn. Pietous and Iust + and euere moore yliche; E. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. And pitous and Iust alwey + yliche (_with first syllable deficient_). 23. and strong] E. strong + and. 35. nin] Cp. Pt. Ln. ne in; Hl. ne. 38. E. I moste, + _miswritten_; Hl. He moste; _rest_ It moste. + + And so bifel that, whan this Cambinskan + Hath twenty winter born his diademe, + As he was wont fro yeer to yeer, I deme, + He leet the feste of his nativitee 45 + Don cryen thurghout Sarray his citee, + The last Idus of March, after the yeer. + Phebus the sonne ful Iory was and cleer; (40) + For he was neigh his exaltacioun + In Martes face, and in his mansioun 50 + In Aries, the colerik hote signe. + Ful lusty was the weder and benigne, + For which the foules, agayn the sonne shene, + What for the seson and the yonge grene, + Ful loude songen hir affecciouns; 55 + Him semed han geten hem protecciouns + Agayn the swerd of winter kene and cold. + + 46. Hn. thurghout; _rest_ thurgh. 53. E. Hn. foweles. + +[463: T. 10372-10408.] + + This Cambinskan, of which I have yow told, (50) + In royal vestiment sit on his deys, + With diademe, ful heighe in his paleys, 60 + And halt his feste, so solempne and so riche + That in this world ne was ther noon it liche. + Of which if I shal tellen al tharray, + Than wolde it occupye a someres day; + And eek it nedeth nat for to devyse 65 + At every cours the ordre of hir servyse. + I wol nat tellen of hir strange sewes, + Ne of hir swannes, ne of hir heronsewes. (60) + Eek in that lond, as tellen knightes olde, + Ther is som mete that is ful deyntee holde, 70 + That in this lond men recche of it but smal; + Ther nis no man that may reporten al. + I wol nat tarien yow, for it is pryme, + And for it is no fruit but los of tyme; + Un-to my firste I wol have my recours. 75 + + 62. E. Hl. _om._ ne. 68. E. nor; _rest_ ne. + + And so bifel that, after the thridde cours, + Whyl that this king sit thus in his nobleye, + Herkninge his minstralles hir thinges pleye (70) + Biforn him at the bord deliciously, + In at the halle-dore al sodeynly 80 + Ther cam a knight up-on a stede of bras, + And in his hand a brood mirour of glas. + Upon his thombe he hadde of gold a ring, + And by his syde a naked swerd hanging; + And up he rydeth to the heighe bord. 85 + In al the halle ne was ther spoke a word + For merveille of this knight; him to biholde + Ful bisily ther wayten yonge and olde. (80) + + 78. E. Hn. mynstrals. 86. E. spoken; Cm. spokyn; _rest_ spoke. + + This strange knight, that cam thus sodeynly, + Al armed save his heed ful richely, 90 + Saluëth king and queen, and lordes alle, + By ordre, as they seten in the halle, + With so heigh reverence and obeisaunce + As wel in speche as in contenaunce, + [464: T. 10409-10444.] + That Gawain, with his olde curteisye, 95 + Though he were come ageyn out of Fairye, + Ne coude him nat amende with a word. + And after this, biforn the heighe bord, (90) + He with a manly voys seith his message, + After the forme used in his langage, 100 + With-outen vyce of sillable or of lettre; + And, for his tale sholde seme the bettre, + Accordant to his wordes was his chere, + As techeth art of speche hem that it lere; + Al-be-it that I can nat soune his style, 105 + Ne can nat climben over so heigh a style, + Yet seye I this, as to commune entente, + Thus muche amounteth al that ever he mente, (100) + If it so be that I have it in minde. + + 91. E. Saleweth; Hn. Cm. Salueth; _rest_ salued. 96. E. Cm. comen. + 105. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. it; E. Hn. Cm. _omit_. + + He seyde, ‘the king of Arabie and of Inde, 110 + My lige lord, on this solempne day + Saluëth yow as he best can and may, + And sendeth yow, in honour of your feste, + By me, that am al redy at your heste, + This stede of bras, that esily and wel 115 + Can, in the space of o day naturel, + This is to seyn, in foure and twenty houres, + Wher-so yow list, in droghte or elles shoures, (110) + Beren your body in-to every place + To which your herte wilneth for to pace 120 + With-outen wem of yow, thurgh foul or fair; + Or, if yow list to fleen as hye in the air + As doth an egle, whan him list to sore, + This same stede shal bere yow ever-more + With-outen harm, til ye be ther yow leste, 125 + Though that ye slepen on his bak or reste; + And turne ayeyn, with wrything of a pin. + He that it wroghte coude ful many a gin; (120) + He wayted many a constellacioun + Er he had doon this operacioun; 130 + [465: T. 10445-10480.] + And knew ful many a seel and many a bond. + + 110. E. Hn. Arabe. 113, 114. E. feeste, heeste. 115. E. Hn. weel. + 116. E. natureel. 123. E. whan þat; _rest omit_ þat. + + This mirour eek, that I have in myn hond, + Hath swich a might, that men may in it see + Whan ther shal fallen any adversitee + Un-to your regne or to your-self also; 135 + And openly who is your freend or foo. + And over al this, if any lady bright + Hath set hir herte on any maner wight, (130) + If he be fals, she shal his treson see, + His newe love and al his subtiltee 140 + So openly, that ther shal no-thing hyde. + Wherfor, ageyn this lusty someres tyde, + This mirour and this ring, that ye may see, + He hath sent to my lady Canacee, + Your excellente doghter that is here. 145 + + 138. E. Pt. in; _rest_ on. 144. E. vn-to; Cm. on-to; _rest_ to. + + The vertu of the ring, if ye wol here, + Is this; that, if hir lust it for to were + Up-on hir thombe, or in hir purs it bere, (140) + Ther is no foul that fleeth under the hevene + That she ne shal wel understonde his stevene, 150 + And knowe his mening openly and pleyn, + And answere him in his langage ageyn. + And every gras that groweth up-on rote + She shal eek knowe, and whom it wol do bote, + Al be his woundes never so depe and wyde. 155 + + This naked swerd, that hangeth by my syde, + Swich vertu hath, that what man so ye smyte, + Thurgh-out his armure it wol kerve and byte, (150) + Were it as thikke as is a branched ook; + And what man that is wounded with the strook 160 + Shal never be hool til that yow list, of grace, + To stroke him with the platte in thilke place + Ther he is hurt: this is as muche to seyn, + Ye mote with the platte swerd ageyn + Stroke him in the wounde, and it wol close; 165 + This is a verray sooth, with-outen glose, + [466: T. 10481-10516.] + It failleth nat whyl it is in your hold.’ + + 158. E. wol hym; _rest omit_ hym. 160. E. a; Cm. that; _rest_ the. + 162. Hn. platte; _rest_ plat (see 164). E. Cm. that; _rest_ thilke. + 164. E. Cm. Pt. plat; _rest_ platte. 165. E. Cm. Strike; _rest_ + Stroke. + + And whan this knight hath thus his tale told, (160) + He rydeth out of halle, and doun he lighte. + His stede, which that shoon as sonne brighte, 170 + Stant in the court, as stille as any stoon. + This knight is to his chambre lad anon, + And is unarmed and to mete y-set. + + 171. Hl. as stille; _rest om._ as. 173. E. vn-to; _the rest_ to. + + The presentes ben ful royally y-fet, + This is to seyn, the swerd and the mirour, 175 + And born anon in-to the heighe tour + With certeine officers ordeyned therfore; + And un-to Canacee this ring was bore (170) + Solempnely, ther she sit at the table. + But sikerly, with-outen any fable, 180 + The hors of bras, that may nat be remewed, + It stant as it were to the ground y-glewed. + Ther may no man out of the place it dryve + For noon engyn of windas or polyve; + And cause why, for they can nat the craft. 185 + And therefore in the place they han it laft + Til that the knight hath taught hem the manere + To voyden him, as ye shal after here. (180) + + 178. E. Cm. this; _rest_ the. 184. E. ne; _rest_ or. + + Greet was the prees, that swarmeth to and fro, + To gauren on this hors that stondeth so; 190 + For it so heigh was, and so brood and long, + So wel proporcioned for to ben strong, + Right as it were a stede of Lumbardye; + Ther-with so horsly, and so quik of yë + As it a gentil Poileys courser were. 195 + For certes, fro his tayl un-to his ere, + Nature ne art ne coude him nat amende + In no degree, as al the peple wende. (190) + But evermore hir moste wonder was, + How that it coude goon, and was of bras; 200 + It was of Fairye, as the peple semed. + Diverse folk diversely they demed; + [467: T. 10517-10552.] + As many hedes, as many wittes ther been. + They murmureden as dooth a swarm of been, + And maden skiles after hir fantasyes, 205 + Rehersinge of thise olde poetryes, + And seyden, it was lyk the Pegasee, + The hors that hadde winges for to flee; (200) + Or elles it was the Grekes hors Synon, + That broghte Troye to destruccion, 210 + As men may in thise olde gestes rede, + ‘Myn herte,’ quod oon, ‘is evermore in drede; + I trowe som men of armes been ther-inne, + That shapen hem this citee for to winne. + It were right good that al swich thing were knowe.’ 215 + Another rowned to his felawe lowe, + And seyde, ‘he lyeth, it is rather lyk + An apparence y-maad by som magyk, (210) + As Iogelours pleyen at thise festes grete.’ + Of sondry doutes thus they Iangle and trete, 220 + As lewed peple demeth comunly + Of thinges that ben maad more subtilly + Than they can in her lewednes comprehende; + They demen gladly to the badder ende. + + 189. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. swarmed. 195. E. Poilleys. 200. E. go. 201. + E. Hn. a; Cm. as; _rest_ of. E. Cm. al the; _rest omit_ al. 202. + they] Hn. Cp. Pt. han; Ln. haue. 203. E. heddes; Hn. heuedes; Cp. + heedes; _rest_ hedes (hedis). Hl. _om._ ther. 206. thise] Cp. Pt. + Ln. Hl. the. 207. E. that it; _rest omit_ that. 211. Hl. may; _rest + omit_. 217. E. Cm. it; _rest_ for it. 223. E. lewednesse; Hl. + lewednes. + + And somme of hem wondred on the mirour, 225 + That born was up in-to the maister-tour, + How men mighte in it swiche thinges see. + Another answerde, and seyde it mighte wel be (220) + Naturelly, by composiciouns + Of angles and of slye reflexiouns, 230 + And seyden, that in Rome was swich oon. + They speken of Alocen and Vitulon, + And Aristotle, that writen in hir lyves + Of queynte mirours and of prospectyves, + As knowen they that han hir bokes herd. 235 + + 226. E. hye; Cm. hyghe; _rest_ maister. + + And othere folk han wondred on the swerd + That wolde percen thurgh-out every-thing; + And fille in speche of Thelophus the king, (230) + [468: T. 10553-10587.] + And of Achilles with his queynte spere, + For he coude with it bothe hele and dere, 240 + Right in swich wyse as men may with the swerd + Of which right now ye han your-selven herd. + They speken of sondry harding of metal, + And speke of medicynes ther-with-al, + And how, and whanne, it sholde y-harded be; 245 + Which is unknowe algates unto me. + + 239. E. Cm. with; _rest_ for. + + Tho speke they of Canaceës ring, + And seyden alle, that swich a wonder thing (240) + Of craft of ringes herde they never non, + Save that he, Moyses, and king Salomon 250 + Hadde a name of konning in swich art. + Thus seyn the peple, and drawen hem apart. + But nathelees, somme seyden that it was + Wonder to maken of fern-asshen glas, + And yet nis glas nat lyk asshen of fern; 255 + But for they han y-knowen it so fern, + Therfore cesseth her Iangling and her wonder. + As sore wondren somme on cause of thonder, (250) + On ebbe, on flood, on gossomer, and on mist, + And alle thing, til that the cause is wist. 260 + Thus Iangle they and demen and devyse, + Til that the king gan fro the bord aryse. + + 251. _All_ Hadde (Had). 256. Hl. i-knowen; _rest_ knowen. 260. E. + Hl. on alle; _rest om._ on. 262. E. Hn. the bord; _rest_ his bord. + + Phebus hath laft the angle meridional, + And yet ascending was the beest royal, + The gentil Leon, with his Aldiran, 265 + Whan that this Tartre king, this Cambynskan, + Roos fro his bord, ther that he sat ful hye. + Toforn him gooth the loude minstralcye, (260) + Til he cam to his chambre of parements, + Ther as they sownen diverse instruments, 270 + That it is lyk an heven for to here. + Now dauncen lusty Venus children dere, + For in the Fish hir lady sat ful hye, + [469: T. 10588-10623.] + And loketh on hem with a freendly yë. + + 265. Hn. Aldiran; Hl. adryan; _rest_ Aldrian. 266. Hl. _repeats_ + this; _rest omit 2nd_ this. 269, 270. E. parementz, Instrumentz. + 271. Hl. Ln. heuen; _rest_ heuene. + + This noble king is set up in his trone. 275 + This strange knight is fet to him ful sone, + And on the daunce he gooth with Canacee. + Heer is the revel and the Iolitee (270) + That is nat able a dul man to devyse. + He moste han knowen love and his servyse, 280 + And been a festlich man as fresh as May, + That sholde yow devysen swich array. + + 275. E. Cm. vp in; _rest_ vp on. + + Who coude telle yow the forme of daunces, + So uncouthe and so fresshe contenaunces, + Swich subtil loking and dissimulinges 285 + For drede of Ialouse mennes aperceyvinges? + No man but Launcelot, and he is deed. + Therefor I passe of al this lustiheed; (280) + I seye na-more, but in this Iolynesse + I lete hem, til men to the soper dresse. 290 + + 288. E. Hn. of; _rest_ ouer. + + The styward bit the spyces for to hye, + And eek the wyn, in al this melodye. + The usshers and the squyers ben y-goon; + The spyces and the wyn is come anoon. + They ete and drinke; and whan this hadde an ende, 295 + Un-to the temple, as reson was, they wende. + + 291. Hl. the; _rest omit._ + + The service doon, they soupen al by day. + What nedeth yow rehercen hir array? (290) + Ech man wot wel, that at a kinges feeste + Hath plentee, to the moste and to the leeste, 300 + And deyntees mo than been in my knowing. + At-after soper gooth this noble king + To seen this hors of bras, with al the route + Of lordes and of ladyes him aboute. + + 298. E. me; _the rest_ yow. 299. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. that at; E. Cm. Hl. + _om._ at. 300. Hath (_so; for_ Is; _cf. French _il y a.) 303. E. + Cm. the; Hl. his; _rest_ a. + + Swich wondring was ther on this hors of bras 305 + That, sin the grete sege of Troye was, + Ther-as men wondreden on an hors also, + Ne was ther swich a wondring as was tho. (300) + But fynally the king axeth this knight + [470: T. 10624-10657.] + The vertu of this courser and the might, 310 + And preyede him to telle his governaunce. + + 311. Cm. preyede; Hn. preyed; E. preyde. + + This hors anoon bigan to trippe and daunce, + Whan that this knight leyde hand up-on his reyne, + And seyde, ‘sir, ther is na-more to seyne, + But, whan yow list to ryden any-where, 315 + Ye moten trille a pin, stant in his ere, + Which I shall telle yow bitwix vs two. + Ye mote nempne him to what place also (310) + Or to what contree that yow list to ryde. + And whan ye come ther as yow list abyde, 320 + Bidde him descende, and trille another pin, + For ther-in lyth the effect of al the gin, + And he wol doun descende and doon your wille; + And in that place he wol abyde stille, + Though al the world the contrarie hadde y-swore; 325 + He shal nat thennes ben y-drawe ne y-bore. + Or, if yow liste bidde him thennes goon, + Trille this pin, and he wol vanishe anoon (320) + Out of the sighte of every maner wight, + And come agayn, be it by day or night, 330 + When that yow list to clepen him ageyn + In swich a gyse as I shal to yow seyn + Bitwixe yow and me, and that ful sone. + Ryde whan yow list, ther is na-more to done.’ + + 317. E. Hn. Cm. yow telle; _rest_ telle yow. 322. E. ther; Cm. + theere; _rest_ ther-inne, ther-in. 324. Cp. Hl. abyde; Hn. abiden; + Pt. Ln. abide; E. Cm. stonde; _see l._ 320. 326. E. Hn. nor; _the + rest_ ne. 327. Cp. liste; Ln. luste; Hl. lust to; Cm. wit; E. Hn. Pt. + list. 330. Hl. by; _rest omit._ + + Enformed whan the king was of that knight, 335 + And hath conceyved in his wit aright + The maner and the forme of al this thing, + Thus glad and blythe, this noble doughty king (330) + Repeireth to his revel as biforn. + The brydel is un-to the tour y-born, 340 + And kept among his Iewels leve and dere. + The hors vanisshed, I noot in what manere, + Out of hir sighte; ye gete na-more of me. + [471: T. 10658-10692.] + But thus I lete in lust and Iolitee + This Cambynskan his lordes festeyinge, 345 + Til wel ny the day bigan to springe. + + 338. E. Cm. Thus; _rest_ Ful. E. Cm. _omit_ doughty. 341. E. + Iueles. + + =Explicit prima pars. Sequitur pars secunda.= + + The norice of digestioun, the slepe, + Gan on hem winke, and bad hem taken kepe, (340) + That muchel drink and labour wolde han reste; + And with a galping mouth hem alle he keste, 350 + And seyde, ‘it was tyme to lye adoun, + For blood was in his dominacioun; + Cherissheth blood, natures freend,’ quod he. + They thanken him galpinge, by two, by three, + And every wight gan drawe him to his reste, 355 + As slepe hem bad; they toke it for the beste. + Hir dremes shul nat been y-told for me; + Ful were hir hedes of fumositee, (350) + That causeth dreem, of which ther nis no charge. + They slepen til that it was pryme large, 360 + The moste part, but it were Canacee; + She was ful mesurable, as wommen be. + For of hir fader hadde she take leve + To gon to reste, sone after it was eve; + Hir liste nat appalled for to be, 365 + Nor on the morwe unfestlich for to see; + And slepte hir firste sleep, and thanne awook. + For swich a Ioye she in hir herte took (360) + Both of hir queynte ring and hir mirour, + That twenty tyme she changed hir colour; 370 + And in hir slepe, right for impressioun + Of hir mirour, she hadde a visioun. + Wherfore, er that the sonne gan up glyde, + She cleped on hir maistresse hir bisyde, + And seyde, that hir liste for to ryse. 375 + + 358. E. heddes; Cm. heedys. 366. Hn. Cm. Nor; E. Hl. Ne; Cp. Pt. Ln. + For [_for_ Nor]. 372. E. Avisioun; _rest_ a visioun. + + Thise olde wommen that been gladly wyse, + As is hir maistresse, answerde hir anoon, + And seyde, ‘madame, whider wil ye goon (370) + [472: T. 10693-10728.] + Thus erly? for the folk ben alle on reste.’ + ‘I wol,’ quod she, ‘aryse, for me leste 380 + No lenger for to slepe, and walke aboute.’ + + 377. E. _omits_ is. 379. E. Hn. on; Cm. at; _rest_ in. + + Hir maistresse clepeth wommen a gret route, + And up they rysen, wel a ten or twelve; + Up ryseth fresshe Canacee hir-selve, + As rody and bright as dooth the yonge sonne, 385 + That in the Ram is four degrees up-ronne; + Noon hyer was he, whan she redy was; + And forth she walketh esily a pas, (380) + Arrayed after the lusty seson sote + Lightly, for to pleye and walke on fote; 390 + Nat but with fyve or six of hir meynee; + And in a trench, forth in the park, goth she. + The vapour, which that fro the erthe glood, + Made the sonne to seme rody and brood; + But nathelees, it was so fair a sighte 395 + That it made alle hir hertes for to lighte, + What for the seson and the morweninge, + And for the foules that she herde singe; (390) + For right anon she wiste what they mente + Right by hir song, and knew al hir entente. 400 + + 382. E. Hn. an; Cm. Hl. a. 386. E. Cm. foure (_rightly_); Hn. 4; + _rest_ ten. + + The knotte, why that every tale is told, + If it be taried til that lust be cold + Of hem that han it after herkned yore, + The savour passeth ever lenger the more, + For fulsomnesse of his prolixitee. 405 + And by the same reson thinketh me, + I sholde to the knotte condescende, + And maken of hir walking sone an ende. (400) + + Amidde a tree fordrye, as whyt as chalk, + As Canacee was pleying in hir walk, 410 + Ther sat a faucon over hir heed ful hye, + That with a pitous voys so gan to crye + That all the wode resouned of hir cry. + Y-beten hath she hir-self so pitously + [473: T. 10729-10763.] + With bothe hir winges, til the rede blood 415 + Ran endelong the tree ther-as she stood. + And ever in oon she cryde alwey and shrighte, + And with hir beek hir-selven so she prighte, (410) + That ther nis tygre, ne noon so cruel beste, + That dwelleth either in wode or in foreste 420 + That nolde han wept, if that he wepe coude, + For sorwe of hir, she shrighte alwey so loude. + For ther nas never yet no man on lyve— + If that I coude a faucon wel discryve— + That herde of swich another of fairnesse, 425 + As wel of plumage as of gentillesse + Of shap, and al that mighte y-rekened be. + A faucon peregryn than semed she (420) + Of fremde land; and evermore, as she stood, + She swowneth now and now for lakke of blood, 430 + Til wel neigh is she fallen fro the tree. + + 409. E. fordryed; Cm. fordreyed; _but_ Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. for-drye; Hl. + for-druye. 414. E. Cm. hath; _rest_ hadde (had). 416. E. Cm. omit + as. 419, 420. E. Hn. Pt. beest, forest; rest beste, foreste. 420. + E. Hn. outher; rest eyther. 421. E. Pt. she; the rest he. 423. So + Cp. Hl.; E. Hn. Cm. neuere man yet; Pt. Ln. neuere yit man. + + This faire kinges doghter, Canacee, + That on hir finger bar the queynte ring, + Thurgh which she understood wel every thing + That any foul may in his ledene seyn, 435 + And coude answere him in his ledene ageyn, + Hath understonde what this faucon seyde, + And wel neigh for the rewthe almost she deyde. (430) + And to the tree she gooth ful hastily, + And on this faucon loketh pitously, 440 + And heeld hir lappe abrood, for wel she wiste + The faucon moste fallen fro the twiste, + When that it swowned next, for lakke of blood. + A longe while to wayten hir she stood + Till atte laste she spak in this manere 445 + Un-to the hauk, as ye shul after here. + + 433. E. Hn. baar. 435. E. fowel. 438. Hl. rewthe; Ln. reuthe; rest + routhe. + + ‘What is the cause, if it be for to telle, + That ye be in this furial pyne of helle?’ (440) + Quod Canacee un-to this hauk above. + [474: T. 10764-10798.] + ‘Is this for sorwe of deeth or los of love? 450 + For, as I trowe, thise ben causes two + That causen moost a gentil herte wo; + Of other harm it nedeth nat to speke. + For ye your-self upon your-self yow wreke, + Which proveth wel, that either love or drede 455 + Mot been encheson of your cruel dede, + Sin that I see non other wight yow chace. + For love of god, as dooth your-selven grace (450) + Or what may ben your help; for west nor eest + Ne sey I never er now no brid ne beest 460 + That ferde with him-self so pitously. + Ye sle me with your sorwe, verraily; + I have of yow so gret compassioun. + For goddes love, com fro the tree adoun; + And, as I am a kinges doghter trewe, 465 + If that I verraily the cause knewe + Of your disese, if it lay in my might, + I wolde amende it, er that it were night, (460) + As wisly helpe me gret god of kinde! + And herbes shal I right y-nowe y-finde 470 + To hele with your hurtes hastily.’ + + 448. E. Hn. pyne; rest peyne. 449. E. the; rest this. 452. E. + causeth; _rest_ causen. 455. E. Hn. outher; _rest_ either. 459, + 460. E. Hn. Est, beest; Cp. est, best; Cm. est, beste; _rest_ este, + beste. 463. E. passioun; _rest_ compassioun. 469. E. the grete; + _rest omit_ the. + + Tho shrighte this faucon more pitously + Than ever she dide, and fil to grounde anoon, + And lyth aswowne, deed, and lyk a stoon, + Til Canacee hath in hir lappe hir take 475 + Un-to the tyme she gan of swough awake. + And, after that she of hir swough gan breyde, + Right in hir haukes ledene thus she seyde:— (470) + ‘That pitee renneth sone in gentil herte, + Feling his similitude in peynes smerte, 480 + Is preved al-day, as men may it see, + As wel by werk as by auctoritee; + For gentil herte kytheth gentillesse. + I see wel, that ye han of my distresse + [475: T. 10799-10833.] + Compassioun, my faire Canacee, 485 + Of verray wommanly benignitee + That nature in your principles hath set. + But for non hope for to fare the bet, (480) + But for to obeye un-to your herte free, + And for to maken other be war by me, 490 + As by the whelp chasted is the leoun, + Right for that cause and that conclusioun, + Whyl that I have a leyser and a space, + Myn harm I wol confessen, er I pace.’ + And ever, whyl that oon hir sorwe tolde, 495 + That other weep, as she to water wolde, + Til that the faucon bad hir to be stille; + And, with a syk, right thus she seyde hir wille. (490) + + 472. Hn. Cp. Pt. yet moore; E. Cm. moore yet; Hl. Ln. more. 477. Cm. + swow a-breyde. 481. E. Hl. _omit_ it. 484. E. Cm. _omit_ that. + 487. E. yset; Cm. I-set; the _rest_ set, sette. 489. E. _omits_ to. + 491. E. Hn. chasted; _rest_ chastysed; _I should propose to read_ is + chasted; _but authority is lacking._ 492. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ and for + that. 498. E. Hn. wille; _rest_ tille (!) + + ‘Ther I was bred (allas! that harde day!) + And fostred in a roche of marbul gray 500 + So tendrely, that nothing eyled me, + I niste nat what was adversitee, + Til I coude flee ful hye under the sky. + Tho dwelte a tercelet me faste by, + That semed welle of alle gentillesse; 505 + Al were he ful of treson and falsnesse, + It was so wrapped under humble chere, + And under hewe of trouthe in swich manere, (500) + Under plesance, and under bisy peyne, + That no wight coude han wend he coude feyne, 510 + So depe in greyn he dyed his coloures. + Right as a serpent hit him under floures + Til he may seen his tyme for to byte, + Right so this god of love, this ypocryte, + Doth so his cerimonies and obeisaunces, 515 + And kepeth in semblant alle his observances + That sowneth in-to gentillesse of love. + As in a toumbe is al the faire above, (510) + And under is the corps, swich as ye woot, + [476: T. 10834-10868.] + Swich was this ypocryte, bothe cold and hoot, 520 + And in this wyse he served his entente, + That (save the feend) non wiste what he mente. + Til he so longe had wopen and compleyned, + And many a yeer his service to me feyned, + Til that myn herte, to pitous and to nyce, 525 + Al innocent of his crouned malice, + For-fered of his deeth, as thoughte me, + Upon his othes and his seuretee, (520) + Graunted him love, on this condicioun, + That evermore myn honour and renoun 530 + Were saved, bothe privee and apert; + This is to seyn, that, after his desert, + I yaf him al myn herte and al my thoght— + God woot and he, that otherwyse noght— + And took his herte in chaunge for myn for ay. 535 + But sooth is seyd, gon sithen many a day, + “A trew wight and a theef thenken nat oon.” + And, whan he saugh the thing so fer y-goon, (530) + That I had graunted him fully my love, + In swich a gyse as I have seyd above, 540 + And yeven him my trewe herte, as free + As he swoor he his herte yaf to me; + Anon this tygre, ful of doublenesse, + Fil on his knees with so devout humblesse, + With so heigh reverence, and, as by his chere, 545 + So lyk a gentil lovere of manere, + So ravisshed, as it semed, for the Ioye, + That never Iason, ne Parys of Troye, (540) + Iason? certes, ne non other man, + Sin Lameth was, that alderfirst bigan 550 + To loven two, as writen folk biforn, + Ne never, sin the firste man was born, + Ne coude man, by twenty thousand part, + Countrefete the sophimes of his art; + [477: T. 10869-10905.] + Ne were worthy unbokele his galoche, 555 + Ther doublenesse or feyning sholde approche, + Ne so coude thanke a wight as he did me! + His maner was an heven for to see (550) + Til any womman, were she never so wys; + So peynted he and kembde at point-devys 560 + As wel his wordes as his contenaunce. + And I so lovede him for his obeisaunce, + And for the trouthe I demed in his herte, + That, if so were that any thing him smerte, + Al were it never so lyte, and I it wiste, 565 + Me thoughte, I felte deeth myn herte twiste. + And shortly, so ferforth this thing is went, + That my wil was his willes instrument; (560) + This is to seyn, my wil obeyed his wil + In alle thing, as fer as reson fil, 570 + Keping the boundes of my worship ever. + Ne never hadde I thing so leef, ne lever, + As him, god woot! ne never shal na-mo. + + 499. E. Cm. That; _rest_ Ther. 508. MSS. trouthe, trowthe. 510. E. + I ne; Cm. I not; _rest_ no wight. 511. E. Hn. Cp. Hl. colours. 512. + hit] Hl. hut; Ln. hideth. 516. _Pronounced_ kep’th. 520. E. the; + _the rest_ this. 526. Hl. crouned; Hn. Cp. Pt. crowned; E. + coronned. 529. MSS. vp-on (_for_ on). 533. Cm. Ln. Hl. and al; + _rest omit_ al. 535. E. for myn; _rest_ of myn. 537. Hl. Pt. trew; + _rest_ trewe. 542. _All_ yaf his herte. 545. _Only_ Cm. _om._ + and. 548. E. Cm. Troilus; _rest_ Iason. 551. Cm. wrytyn; _rest_ + writen. 555. E. vnbokelen. 557. E. Cp. dide; Cm. dede; _rest_ + did. 562. E. Cm. _omit_ so. 572. E. Hn. lief; Ln. lefe; _rest_ + leef. + + This lasteth lenger than a yeer or two, + That I supposed of him noght but good. 575 + But fynally, thus atte laste it stood, + That fortune wolde that he moste twinne + Out of that place which that I was inne. (570) + Wher me was wo, that is no questioun; + I can nat make of it discripcioun; 580 + For o thing dar I tellen boldely, + I knowe what is the peyne of deth ther-by; + Swich harm I felte for he ne mighte bileve. + So on a day of me he took his leve, + So sorwefully eek, that I wende verraily 585 + That he had felt as muche harm as I, + Whan that I herde him speke, and saugh his hewe. + But nathelees, I thoughte he was so trewe, (580) + And eek that he repaire sholde ageyn + With-inne a litel whyle, sooth to seyn; 590 + And reson wolde eek that he moste go + [478: T. 10906-10940.] + For his honour, as ofte it happeth so, + That I made vertu of necessitee, + And took it wel, sin that it moste be. + As I best mighte, I hidde fro him my sorwe, 595 + And took him by the hond, seint Iohn to borwe, + And seyde him thus: “lo, I am youres al; + Beth swich as I to yow have been, and shal.” (590) + What he answerde, it nedeth noght reherce, + Who can sey bet than he, who can do werse? 600 + Whan he hath al wel seyd, thanne hath he doon. + “Therfor bihoveth him a ful long spoon + That shal ete with a feend,” thus herde I seye. + So atte laste he moste forth his weye, + And forth he fleeth, til he cam ther him leste. 605 + Whan it cam him to purpos for to reste, + I trowe he hadde thilke text in minde, + That “alle thing, repairing to his kinde, (600) + Gladeth him-self”; thus seyn men, as I gesse; + Men loven of propre kinde newfangelnesse, 610 + As briddes doon that men in cages fede. + For though thou night and day take of hem hede, + And strawe hir cage faire and softe as silk, + And yeve hem sugre, hony, breed and milk, + Yet right anon, as that his dore is uppe, 615 + He with his feet wol spurne adoun his cuppe, + And to the wode he wol and wormes ete; + So newefangel been they of hir mete, (610) + And loven novelryes of propre kinde; + No gentillesse of blood [ne] may hem binde. 620 + So ferde this tercelet, allas the day! + Though he were gentil born, and fresh and gay, + And goodly for to seen, and humble and free, + He saugh up-on a tyme a kyte flee, + And sodeynly he loved this kyte so, 625 + That al his love is clene fro me ago, + [479: T. 10941-10974.] + And hath his trouthe falsed in this wyse; + Thus hath the kyte my love in hir servyse, (620) + And I am lorn with-outen remedye!’ + And with that word this faucon gan to crye, 630 + And swowned eft in Canaceës barme. + + 585. Cp. _om._ that. 601. Hn. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. wel seyd; Cm. I-seyd; + E. seyd. 602. E. Hn. Cm. hire; _rest_ him. 616. Hl. _has here lost + 8 leaves, to_ 1. 1223. 619. E. nouelrie; _the rest have the plural, + except_ Ln. none leueres, _a corruption of_ nouelries. 620. _I + supply_ ne. 622. Hn. and fressh; _rest omit_ and. 623. E. Hn. + goodlich; _rest_ goodly. E. Pt. _om._ and _before_ humble. + + Greet was the sorwe, for the haukes harme, + That Canacee and alle hir wommen made; + They niste how they mighte the faucon glade. + But Canacee hom bereth hir in hir lappe, 635 + And softely in plastres gan hir wrappe, + Ther as she with hir beek had hurt hir-selve. + Now can nat Canacee but herbes delve (630) + Out of the grounde, and make salves newe + Of herbes precious, and fyne of hewe, 640 + To helen with this hauk; fro day to night + She dooth hir bisinesse and al hir might. + And by hir beddes heed she made a mewe, + And covered it with veluëttes blewe, + In signe of trouthe that is in wommen sene. 645 + And al with-oute, the mewe is peynted grene, + In which were peynted alle thise false foules, + As beth thise tidifs, tercelets, and oules, (640) + Right for despyt were peynted hem bisyde, + And pyes, on hem for to crye and chyde. 650 + + 632, 633. E. Hn. Cp. barm, harm; _rest_ barme, harme. 639. E. Hn. + saues; _the rest_ salues. 642. E. hire fulle; _the rest_ al hir. + 644. Slo. velowetys. 647. E. ther were ypeynted; _rest_ were + peynted. 648. E. Hn. tidyues; Ln. tideues; _rest_ tidifs. 649, 650. + _Transposed by_ Tyrwhitt. 650. And] Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._ + + Thus lete I Canacee hir hauk keping; + I wol na-more as now speke of hir ring, + Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn + How that this faucon gat hir love ageyn + Repentant, as the storie telleth us, 655 + By mediacioun of Cambalus, + The kinges sone, of whiche I yow tolde. + But hennes-forth I wol my proces holde (650) + To speke of aventures and of batailles, + That never yet was herd so grete mervailles. 660 + + 657. Slo. Ln. whiche; _rest_ which. Hn. of which I to yow tolde. + +[480: T. 10975-10998.] + + First wol I telle yow of Cambynskan, + That in his tyme many a citee wan; + And after wol I speke of Algarsyf, + How that he wan Theodora to his wyf, + For whom ful ofte in greet peril he was, 665 + Ne hadde he ben holpen by the stede of bras; + And after wol I speke of Cambalo, + That faught in listes with the bretheren two (660) + For Canacee, er that he mighte hir winne. + And ther I lefte I wol ageyn biginne. 670 + + 664. E. Theodera. + + =Explicit secunda pars. Incipit pars tercia.= + + Appollo whirleth up his char so hye, [T. _om._ + Til that the god Mercurius hous the slye— [T. _om._ + . . . . . . + + 672. _Here the_ MSS. _fail_. Ln. _has 8 spurious lines in place of_ ll. + 671, 672. + + * * * * * + + =Here folwen the wordes of the Frankelin to the Squier, + and the wordes of the Host to the Frankelin.= + + ‘In feith, Squier, thou hast thee wel y-quit, + And gentilly I preise wel thy wit,’ + Quod the Frankeleyn, ‘considering thy youthe, 675 + So feelingly thou spekest, sir, I allow the! + As to my doom, there is non that is here + Of eloquence that shal be thy pere, + If that thou live; god yeve thee good chaunce, + And in vertu sende thee continuaunce! 680 + For of thy speche I have greet deyntee. + I have a sone, and, by the Trinitee, (10) + I hadde lever than twenty pound worth lond, + Though it right now were fallen in myn hond, + He were a man of swich discrecioun 685 + As that ye been! fy on possessioun + [481: T. 10999-11020.] + But-if a man be vertuous with-al. + I have my sone snibbed, and yet shal, + For he to vertu listeth nat entende; + But for to pleye at dees, and to despende, 690 + And lese al that he hath, is his usage. + And he hath lever talken with a page (20) + Than to comune with any gentil wight + Ther he mighte lerne gentillesse aright.’— + + HEADING. _So_ E.; Hn. The prologe of the Marchauntes tale. 676. E. + allowethe; Hn. allowthe. 689. E. listneth; _rest_ listeth, lusteth. + + ‘Straw for your gentillesse,’ quod our host; 695 + ‘What, frankeleyn? pardee, sir, wel thou wost + That eche of yow mot tellen atte leste + A tale or two, or breken his biheste.’ + + 695, 696. Laud 600 _has_ host, wost; E. Hn. Pt. hoost, woost. + + ‘That knowe I wel, sir,’ quod the frankeleyn; + ‘I prey yow, haveth me nat in desdeyn 700 + Though to this man I speke a word or two.’ + + ‘Telle on thy tale with-outen wordes mo.’ (30) + ‘Gladly, sir host,’ quod he, ‘I wol obeye + Un-to your wil; now herkneth what I seye. + I wol yow nat contrarien in no wyse 705 + As fer as that my wittes wol suffyse; + I prey to god that it may plesen yow, + Than woot I wel that it is good y-now.’ + + [_The_ Frankleyn’s Prologue _follows immediately; see_ p. 482.] + +[482: T. 11021-11040.] + + * * * * * + +THE FRANKLIN’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + =The prologe of the Frankeleyns Tale.= + + [_This_ Prologue _follows immediately after the_ Words _on_ p. 481.] + + Thise olde gentil Britons in hir dayes + Of diverse aventures maden layes, 710 + Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge; + Which layes with hir instruments they songe, (40) + Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce; + And oon of hem have I in remembraunce, + Which I shal seyn with good wil as I can. 715 + + HEADING. _So_ E.; Ln. Incipit prologus de le Frankeleyne; Hn. Pt. Here + bigynneth the Frankeleyns tale. Hl. _omits_ ll. 709-1223. 712. E. + whiche. + + But, sires, by-cause I am a burel man, + At my biginning first I yow biseche + Have me excused of my rude speche; + I lerned never rethoryk certeyn; + Thing that I speke, it moot be bare and pleyn. 720 + I sleep never on the mount of Pernaso, + Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Cithero. (50) + Colours ne knowe I none, with-outen drede, + But swiche colours as growen in the mede, + Or elles swiche as men dye or peynte. 725 + Colours of rethoryk ben me to queynte; + My spirit feleth noght of swich matere. + But if yow list, my tale shul ye here. + + 722. E. Hn. Scithero. 726. Cp. Ln. ben me to; Pt. bene to me; Hn. + they ben to; E. been to. + +[483: T. 11041-11068.] + + * * * * * + +THE FRANKELEYNS TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Frankeleyns Tale.= + + In Armorik, that called is Britayne, + Ther was a knight that loved and dide his payne 730 + To serve a lady in his beste wyse; + And many a labour, many a greet empryse + He for his lady wroghte, er she were wonne. + For she was oon, the faireste under sonne, + And eek therto come of so heigh kinrede, 735 + That wel unnethes dorste this knight, for drede, + Telle hir his wo, his peyne, and his distresse. + But atte laste, she, for his worthinesse, (10) + And namely for his meke obeysaunce, + Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce, 740 + That prively she fil of his accord + To take him for hir housbonde and hir lord, + Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves; + And for to lede the more in blisse hir lyves, + Of his free wil he swoor hir as a knight, 745 + That never in al his lyf he, day ne night, + Ne sholde up-on him take no maistrye + Agayn hir wil, ne kythe hir Ialousye, (20) + But hir obeye, and folwe hir wil in al + As any lovere to his lady shal; 750 + Save that the name of soveraynetee, + That wolde he have for shame of his degree. + + She thanked him, and with ful greet humblesse + She seyde, ‘sire, sith of your gentillesse + Ye profre me to have so large a reyne, 755 + Ne wolde never god bitwixe us tweyne, + [484: T. 11069-11106.] + As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf. + Sir, I wol be your humble trewe wyf, (30) + Have heer my trouthe, til that myn herte breste.’ + Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste. 760 + + For o thing, sires, saufly dar I seye, + That frendes everich other moot obeye, + If they wol longe holden companye. + Love wol nat ben constreyned by maistrye; + Whan maistrie comth, the god of love anon 765 + Beteth hise winges, and farewel! he is gon! + Love is a thing as any spirit free; + Wommen of kinde desiren libertee, (40) + And nat to ben constreyned as a thral; + And so don men, if I soth seyen shal. 770 + Loke who that is most pacient in love, + He is at his avantage al above. + Pacience is an heigh vertu certeyn; + For it venquisseth, as thise clerkes seyn, + Thinges that rigour sholde never atteyne. 775 + For every word men may nat chyde or pleyne. + Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I goon, + Ye shul it lerne, wher-so ye wole or noon. (50) + For in this world, certein, ther no wight is, + That he ne dooth or seith som-tyme amis. 780 + Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun, + Wyn, wo, or chaunginge of complexioun + Causeth ful ofte to doon amis or speken. + On every wrong a man may nat be wreken; + After the tyme, moste be temperaunce 785 + To every wight that can on governaunce. + And therfore hath this wyse worthy knight, + To live in ese, suffrance hir bihight, (60) + And she to him ful wisly gan to swere + That never sholde ther be defaute in here. 790 + + 772. E. auantate (_sic_). + + Heer may men seen an humble wys accord; + Thus hath she take hir servant and hir lord, + Servant in love, and lord in mariage; + Than was he bothe in lordship and servage; + [485: T. 11107-11144.] + Servage? nay, but in lordshipe above, 795 + Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love; + His lady, certes, and his wyf also, + The which that lawe of love acordeth to. (70) + And whan he was in this prosperitee, + Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his contree, 800 + Nat fer fro Penmark, ther his dwelling was, + Wher-as he liveth in blisse and in solas. + + 791. E. Heere. 794. E. Thanne. 801. Ln. penmarke; _rest_ Pedmark. + + Who coude telle, but he had wedded be, + The Ioye, the ese, and the prosperitee + That is bitwixe an housbonde and his wyf? 805 + A yeer and more lasted this blisful lyf, + Til that the knight of which I speke of thus, + That of Kayrrud was cleped Arveragus, (80) + Shoop him to goon, and dwelle a yeer or tweyne + In Engelond, that cleped was eek Briteyne, 810 + To seke in armes worship and honour; + For al his lust he sette in swich labour; + And dwelled ther two yeer, the book seith thus. + + 803. Pt. Ln. had; _rest_ hadde. 810. Cm. er (_for_ eek); Pt. _om._ + + Now wol I stinte of this Arveragus, + And speken I wole of Dorigene his wyf, 815 + That loveth hir housbonde as hir hertes lyf. + For his absence wepeth she and syketh, + As doon thise noble wyves whan hem lyketh. (90) + She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, pleyneth; + Desyr of his presence hir so distreyneth, 820 + That al this wyde world she sette at noght. + Hir frendes, whiche that knewe hir hevy thoght, + Conforten hir in al that ever they may; + They prechen hir, they telle hir night and day, + That causelees she sleeth hir-self, allas! 825 + And every confort possible in this cas + They doon to hir with al hir bisinesse, + Al for to make hir leve hir hevinesse. (100) + + 814. E. stynten. + + By proces, as ye knowen everichoon, + Men may so longe graven in a stoon, 830 + Til som figure ther-inne emprented be. + So longe han they conforted hir, til she + [486: T. 11145-11181.] + Receyved hath, by hope and by resoun, + The emprenting of hir consolacioun, + Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage; 835 + She may nat alwey duren in swich rage. + + And eek Arveragus, in al this care, + Hath sent hir lettres hoom of his welfare, (110) + And that he wol come hastily agayn; + Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn. 840 + + Hir freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake, + And preyede hir on knees, for goddes sake, + To come and romen hir in companye, + Awey to dryve hir derke fantasye. + And finally, she graunted that requeste; 845 + For wel she saugh that it was for the beste. + + 842. Cm. preyede; Cp. preyed; E. Hn. preyde; Pt. preiden. + + Now stood hir castel faste by the see, + And often with hir freendes walketh she (120) + Hir to disporte up-on the bank an heigh, + Wher-as she many a ship and barge seigh 850 + Seilinge hir cours, wher-as hem liste go; + But than was that a parcel of hir wo. + For to hir-self ful ofte ‘allas!’ seith she, + ‘Is ther no ship, of so manye as I see, + Wol bringen hom my lord? than were myn herte 855 + Al warisshed of his bittre peynes smerte.’ + + 851. E. Hn. Seillynge. 852. E. thanne. 855. E. thanne. + + Another tyme ther wolde she sitte and thinke, + And caste hir eyen dounward fro the brinke. (130) + But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes blake, + For verray fere so wolde hir herte quake, 860 + That on hir feet she mighte hir noght sustene. + Than wolde she sitte adoun upon the grene, + And pitously in-to the see biholde, + And seyn right thus, with sorweful sykes colde: + + 862. E. Thanne. + + ‘Eterne god, that thurgh thy purveyaunce 865 + Ledest the world by certein governaunce, + In ydel, as men seyn, ye no-thing make; + But, lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes blake, (140) + That semen rather a foul confusioun + [487: T. 11182-11217.] + Of werk than any fair creacioun 870 + Of swich a parfit wys god and a stable, + Why han ye wroght this werk unresonable? + For by this werk, south, north, ne west, ne eest, + Ther nis y-fostred man, ne brid, ne beest; + It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoyeth. 875 + See ye nat, lord, how mankinde it destroyeth? + An hundred thousand bodies of mankinde + Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in minde, (150) + Which mankinde is so fair part of thy werk + That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene merk. 880 + Than semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee + Toward mankinde; but how than may it be + That ye swiche menes make it to destroyen, + Whiche menes do no good, but ever anoyen? + I wool wel clerkes wol seyn, as hem leste, 885 + By arguments, that al is for the beste, + Though I ne can the causes nat y-knowe. + But thilke god, that made wind to blowe, (160) + As kepe my lord! this my conclusioun; + To clerkes lete I al disputisoun. 890 + But wolde god that alle thise rokkes blake + Were sonken in-to helle for his sake! + Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the fere.’ + Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous tere. + + 873. MSS. eest, est. 874. MSS. beest, best. 881. E. Thanne. Pt. + cheerte. 882. E. thanne. 887. E. _om._ ne. 889. Cm. Cp. Pt. this + is (this = this is). 890. E. al this: _rest om._ this. + + Hir freendes sawe that it was no disport 895 + To romen by the see, but disconfort; + And shopen for to pleyen somwher elles. + They leden hir by riveres and by welles, (170) + And eek in othere places delitables; + They dauncen, and they pleyen at ches and tables. 900 + + So on a day, right in the morwe-tyde, + Un-to a gardin that was ther bisyde, + In which that they had maad hir ordinaunce + Of vitaille and of other purveyaunce, + They goon and pleye hem al the longe day. 905 + [488: T. 11218-11253.] + And this was on the sixte morwe of May, + Which May had peynted with his softe shoures + This gardin ful of leves and of floures; (180) + And craft of mannes hand so curiously + Arrayed hadde this gardin, trewely, 910 + That never was ther gardin of swich prys, + But-if it were the verray paradys. + The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte + Wolde han maad any herte for to lighte + That ever was born, but-if to gret siknesse, 915 + Or to gret sorwe helde it in distresse; + So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce. + At-after diner gonne they to daunce, (190) + And singe also, save Dorigen allone, + Which made alwey hir compleint and hir mone; 920 + For she ne saugh him on the daunce go, + That was hir housbonde and hir love also. + But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde, + And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde. + + 903. E. hadde. 906. E. in; _rest_ on. 907. E. hadde. 914. _So_ + Cm. (_see_ Group F, l. 396); E. Hn. maked, _and om._ for to; Cp. Pt. + Wold han made ony pensif herte light. + + Up-on this daunce, amonges othere men, 925 + Daunced a squyer biforen Dorigen, + That fressher was and Iolyer of array, + As to my doom, than is the monthe of May. (200) + He singeth, daunceth, passinge any man + That is, or was, sith that the world bigan. 930 + Ther-with he was, if men sholde him discryve, + Oon of the beste faringe man on-lyve; + Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche and wys, + And wel biloved, and holden in gret prys. + And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal, 935 + Unwiting of this Dorigen at al, + This lusty squyer, servant to Venus, + Which that y-cleped was Aurelius, (210) + Had loved hir best of any creature + Two yeer and more, as was his aventure, 940 + But never dorste he telle hir his grevaunce; + [489: T. 11254-11290.] + With-outen coppe he drank al his penaunce. + He was despeyred, no-thing dorste he seye, + Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye + His wo, as in a general compleyning; 945 + He seyde he lovede, and was biloved no-thing. + Of swich matere made he manye layes, + Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes, (220) + How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle, + But languissheth, as a furie dooth in helle; 950 + And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide Ekko + For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo. + In other manere than ye here me seye, + Ne dorste he nat to hir his wo biwreye; + Save that, paraventure, som-tyme at daunces, 955 + Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces, + It may wel be he loked on hir face + In swich a wyse, as man that asketh grace; (230) + But no-thing wiste she of his entente. + Nathelees, it happed, er they thennes wente, 960 + By-cause that he was hir neighebour, + And was a man of worship and honour, + And hadde y-knowen him of tyme yore, + They fille in speche; and forth more and more + Un-to his purpos drough Aurelius, 965 + And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus: + + 926. Cp. biforen; Hn. Cm. bifore; E. biforn. 939. E. hadde. 941. E. + Hn. tellen. 950. E. Cm. a furye; Hn. Pt. a fuyre; Cp. fuyre; Ln. + fire. 956. E. Hn. yong. 965. E. Hn. this; _rest_ his. + + ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘by god that this world made, + So that I wiste it mighte your herte glade, (240) + I wolde, that day that your Arveragus + Wente over the see, that I, Aurelius, 970 + Had went ther never I sholde have come agayn; + For wel I woot my service is in vayn. + My guerdon is but bresting of myn herte; + Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte; + For with a word ye may me sleen or save, 975 + Heer at your feet god wolde that I were grave! + I ne have as now no leyser more to seye; + Have mercy, swete, or ye wol do me deye!’ (250) + [490: T. 11291-11327.] + She gan to loke up-on Aurelius: + ‘Is this your wil,’ quod she, ‘and sey ye thus? 980 + Never erst,’ quod she, ‘ne wiste I what ye mente. + But now, Aurelie, I knowe your entente, + By thilke god that yaf me soule and lyf, + Ne shal I never been untrewe wyf + In word ne werk, as fer as I have wit: 985 + I wol ben his to whom that I am knit; + Tak this for fynal answer as of me.’ + But after that in pley thus seyde she: (260) + + 971. E. Hn. Cm. Ln. Hadde. 973. E. Hn. gerdon. 987. E. Hn. Taak. + + ‘Aurelie,’ quod she, ‘by heighe god above, + Yet wolde I graunte yow to been your love, 990 + Sin I yow see so pitously complayne; + Loke what day that, endelong Britayne, + Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon, + That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon— + I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so clene 995 + Of rokkes, that ther nis no stoon y-sene, + Than wol I love yow best of any man; + Have heer my trouthe in al that ever I can.’ (270) + + 993. Cm. remoue; Cp. Ln. remewe; Pt. remeue. 997. E. Thanne. + + ‘Is ther non other grace in yow,’ quod he. + + ‘No, by that lord,’ quod she, ‘that maked me! 1000 + For wel I woot that it shal never bityde. + Lat swiche folies out of your herte slyde. + What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf + For to go love another mannes wyf, + That hath hir body whan so that him lyketh?’ 1005 + + Aurelius ful ofte sore syketh; + Wo was Aurelie, whan that he this herde, + And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde: (280) + + ‘Madame,’ quod he, ‘this were an inpossible! + Than moot I dye of sodein deth horrible.’ 1010 + And with that word he turned him anoon. + Tho come hir othere freendes many oon, + And in the aleyes romeden up and doun, + And no-thing wiste of this conclusioun, + But sodeinly bigonne revel newe 1015 + [491: T. 11328-11362.] + Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe; + For thorisonte hath reft the sonne his light; + This is as muche to seye as it was night. (290) + And hoom they goon in Ioye and in solas, + Save only wrecche Aurelius, allas! 1020 + He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte; + He seeth he may nat fro his deeth asterte. + Him semed that he felte his herte colde; + Up to the hevene his handes he gan holde, + And on his knowes bare he sette him doun, 1025 + And in his raving seyde his orisoun. + For verray wo out of his wit he breyde. + He niste what he spak, but thus he seyde; (300) + With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne + Un-to the goddes, and first un-to the sonne: 1030 + + 1010. E. Thanne. 1011. MSS. anon, anone. 1012. E. Hn. coome. + 1017. Ln. the orizonte; 1025. Cm. kneis; Cp. Pt. knees. + + He seyde, ‘Appollo, god and governour + Of every plaunte, herbe, tree and flour, + That yevest, after thy declinacioun, + To ech of hem his tyme and his sesoun, + As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or hye, 1035 + Lord Phebus, cast thy merciable yë + On wrecche Aurelie, which that am but lorn. + Lo, lord! my lady hath my deeth y-sworn (310) + With-oute gilt, but thy benignitee + Upon my dedly herte have som pitee! 1040 + For wel I woot, lord Phebus, if yow lest, + Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best. + Now voucheth sauf that I may yow devyse + How that I may been holpe and in what wyse. + + 1035. E. Hn. or; _rest_ and. Pt. hie; E. Hn. Cp. heighe; Cm. hyghe; + Ln. hihe. 1036. Pt. ye; Cm. lye; E. Hn. Cp. eighe; Ln. eyhe. 1037. + E._om._ that. 1044. E. holpen. + + Your blisful suster, Lucina the shene, 1045 + That of the see is chief goddesse and quene, + Though Neptunus have deitee in the see, + Yet emperesse aboven him is she: (320) + Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desyr + Is to be quiked and lightned of your fyr, 1050 + [492: T. 11363-11400.] + For which she folweth yow ful bisily, + Right so the see desyreth naturelly + To folwen hir, as she that is goddesse + Bothe in the see and riveres more and lesse. + Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my requeste— 1055 + Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste— + That now, next at this opposicioun, + Which in the signe shal be of the Leoun, (330) + As preyeth hir so greet a flood to bringe, + That fyve fadme at the leeste it overspringe 1060 + The hyeste rokke in Armorik Briteyne; + And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne; + Than certes to my lady may I seye: + “Holdeth your heste, the rokkes been aweye.” + + 1045. E. Lucina, _glossed_ i. luna. 1048. E. Emperisse. 1050. Hn. + lighted; Cm. lyghtenyd. 1063. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. Thanne. + + Lord Phebus, dooth this miracle for me; 1065 + Preye hir she go no faster cours than ye; + I seye, preyeth your suster that she go + No faster cours than ye thise yeres two. (340) + Than shal she been evene atte fulle alway, + And spring-flood laste bothe night and day. 1070 + And, but she vouche-sauf in swiche manere + To graunte me my sovereyn lady dere, + Prey hir to sinken every rok adoun + In-to hir owene derke regioun + Under the ground, ther Pluto dwelleth inne, 1075 + Or never-mo shal I my lady winne. + Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot seke; + Lord Phebus, see the teres on my cheke, (350) + And of my peyne have som compassioun.’ + And with that word in swowne he fil adoun, 1080 + And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce. + + 1069. E. Hn. Cm. Cp. Thanne. 1074. E. Hn. dirke. 1078. E. teeris. + + His brother, which that knew of his penaunce, + Up caughte him and to bedde he hath him broght. + Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght + Lete I this woful creature lye; 1085 + Chese he, for me, whether he wol live or dye. + + 1086. E. wheither. + + Arveragus, with hele and greet honour, + As he that was of chivalrye the flour, (360) + [493: T. 11401-11436.] + Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men. + O blisful artow now, thou Dorigen, 1090 + That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne armes, + The fresshe knight, the worthy man of armes, + That loveth thee, as his owene hertes lyf. + No-thing list him to been imaginatyf + If any wight had spoke, whyl he was oute, 1095 + To hire of love; he hadde of it no doute. + He noght entendeth to no swich matere, + But daunceth, Iusteth, maketh hir good chere; (370) + And thus in Ioye and blisse I lete hem dwelle, + And of the syke Aurelius wol I telle. 1100 + + 1096. Cp. Pt. Ln. ther-of (_for_ of it). 1100. E. Cm. I wol (wele) + yow; _rest_ wol (wil) I. + + In langour and in torment furious + Two yeer and more lay wrecche Aurelius, + Er any foot he mighte on erthe goon; + Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon, + Save of his brother, which that was a clerk; 1105 + He knew of al this wo and al this werk. + For to non other creature certeyn + Of this matere he dorste no word seyn. (380) + Under his brest he bar it more secree + Than ever dide Pamphilus for Galathee. 1110 + His brest was hool, with-oute for to sene, + But in his herte ay was the arwe kene. + And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure + In surgerye is perilous the cure, + But men mighte touche the arwe, or come therby. 1115 + His brother weep and wayled prively, + Til atte laste him fil in remembraunce, + That whyl he was at Orliens in Fraunce, (390) + As yonge clerkes, that been likerous + To reden artes that been curious, 1120 + Seken in every halke and every herne + Particuler sciences for to lerne, + He him remembred that, upon a day, + At Orliens in studie a book he say + [494: T. 11437-11471.] + Of magik natural, which his felawe, 1125 + That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe, + Al were he ther to lerne another craft, + Had prively upon his desk y-laft; (400) + Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns, + Touchinge the eighte and twenty mansiouns 1130 + That longen to the mone, and swich folye, + As in our dayes is nat worth a flye; + For holy chirches feith in our bileve + Ne suffreth noon illusion us to greve. + And whan this book was in his remembraunce, 1135 + Anon for Ioye his herte gan to daunce, + And to him-self he seyde prively: + ‘My brother shal be warisshed hastily; (410) + For I am siker that ther be sciences, + By whiche men make diverse apparences 1140 + Swiche as thise subtile tregetoures pleye. + For ofte at festes have I wel herd seye, + That tregetours, with-inne an halle large, + Have maad come in a water and a barge, + And in the halle rowen up and doun. 1145 + Somtyme hath semed come a grim leoun; + And somtyme floures springe as in a mede; + Somtyme a vyne, and grapes whyte and rede; (420) + Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon; + And whan hem lyked, voyded it anoon. 1150 + Thus semed it to every mannes sighte. + + 1101. E. Hn. Cm. furyus. 1109. E. Hn. baar. 1118. Cm. whil; _rest_ + whiles. Ln. Cp. Pt. Orliaunce. 1125. E. natureel. 1129. Pt. _om._ + the (_which seems better_). 1140. E. whee(!); _for_ whiche. 1141. + Cm tregettourys; Cp. tregetoures; _rest_ tregetours. 1147, 8. Cp. Pt. + Ln. _omit these two lines_. 1150. E. Cm. Ln. hym; _rest_ hem. + + Now than conclude I thus, that if I mighte + At Orliens som old felawe y-finde, + That hadde this mones mansions in minde, + Or other magik naturel above, 1155 + He sholde wel make my brother han his love. + For with an apparence a clerk may make + To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes blake (430) + Of Britaigne weren y-voyded everichon, + [495: T. 11472-11507.] + And shippes by the brinke comen and gon, 1160 + And in swich forme endure a day or two; + Than were my brother warisshed of his wo. + Than moste she nedes holden hir biheste, + Or elles he shal shame hir atte leste.’ + + 1152. E. thanne. 1155. E. natureel. 1161. E. Hn. Pt. enduren. Hn. + Cm. day; E. wowke; Cp. Pt. Ln. yeer. 1162, 3. E. Thanne. + + What sholde I make a lenger tale of this? 1165 + Un-to his brotheres bed he comen is, + And swich confort he yaf him for to gon + To Orliens, that he up stirte anon, (440) + And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare, + In hope for to ben lissed of his care. 1170 + + Whan they were come almost to that citee, + But-if it were a two furlong or three, + A yong clerk rominge by him-self they mette, + Which that in Latin thriftily hem grette, + And after that he seyde a wonder thing: 1175 + ‘I knowe,’ quod he, ‘the cause of your coming’; + And er they ferther any fote wente, + He tolde hem al that was in hir entente. (450) + + This Briton clerk him asked of felawes + The whiche that he had knowe in olde dawes; 1180 + And he answerde him that they dede were, + For which he weep ful ofte many a tere. + + Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon, + And forth with this magicien is he gon + Hoom to his hous, and made hem wel at ese. 1185 + Hem lakked no vitaille that mighte hem plese; + So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon + Aurelius in his lyf saugh never noon. (460) + + 1184. E. Hn. Cm. _put_ forth _before_ is. 1185. E. Hn. maden. + + He shewed him, er he wente to sopeer, + Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer; 1190 + Ther saugh he hertes with hir homes hye, + The gretteste that ever were seyn with yë. + He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with houndes, + And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes. + He saugh, whan voided were thise wilde deer, 1195 + [496: T. 11508-11543.] + Thise fauconers upon a fair river, + That with hir haukes han the heron slayn. + + 1191-1196. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit six lines._ 1192. Cm. Iye; E. Hn. eye. + + Tho saugh he knightes Iusting in a playn; (470) + And after this, he dide him swich plesaunce, + That he him shewed his lady on a daunce 1200 + On which him-self he daunced, as him thoughte. + And whan this maister, that this magik wroughte, + Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two, + And farewel! al our revel was ago. + And yet remoeved they never out of the hous, 1205 + Whyl they saugh al this sighte merveillous, + But in his studie, ther-as his bookes be, + They seten stille, and no wight but they three. (480) + + To him this maister called his squyer, + And seyde him thus: ‘is redy our soper? 1210 + Almost an houre it is, I undertake, + Sith I yow bad our soper for to make, + Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me + In-to my studie, ther-as my bookes be.’ + + ‘Sire,’ quod this squyer, ‘whan it lyketh yow, 1215 + It is al redy, though ye wol right now.’ + ‘Go we than soupe,’ quod he, ‘as for the beste; + This amorous folk som-tyme mote han reste.’ (490) + + 1216. E. though; Hn. thogh. 1217. E. Hn. Cm. thanne. 1218. E. Hn. + hir reste; _rest om._ hir. + + At-after soper fille they in tretee, + What somme sholde this maistres guerdon be, 1220 + To remoeven alle the rokkes of Britayne, + And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne. + + 1220. E. Hn. Cm. gerdou_n_. 1221. Cm. remeuy_n_; Cp. remewe; Ln. + remoue]. + + He made it straunge, and swoor, so god him save, + Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat have, + Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat goon. 1225 + + 1224. _Here Hl. begins again._ + + Aurelius, with blisful herte anoon, + Answerde thus, ‘fy on a thousand pound! + This wyde world, which that men seye is round, (500) + I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it. + This bargayn is ful drive, for we ben knit. 1230 + Ye shal be payed trewely, by my trouthe! + [497: T. 11544-11578.] + But loketh now, for no necligence or slouthe, + Ye tarie us heer no lenger than to-morwe.’ + ‘Nay,’ quod this clerk, ‘have heer my feith to borwe.’ + + To bedde is goon Aurelius whan him leste, 1235 + And wel ny al that night he hadde his reste; + What for his labour and his hope of blisse, + His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse. (510) + + Upon the morwe, whan that it was day, + To Britaigne toke they the righte way, 1240 + Aurelius, and this magicien bisyde, + And been descended ther they wolde abyde; + And this was, as the bokes me remembre, + The colde frosty seson of Decembre. + + 1241. _So all; see_ 1184. 1243. E. Hn. thise; Hl. these; _rest_ the. + + Phebus wex old, and hewed lyk latoun, 1245 + That in his hote declinacioun + Shoon as the burned gold with stremes brighte; + But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte, (520) + Wher-as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn. + The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn, 1250 + Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd. + Ianus sit by the fyr, with double berd, + And drinketh of his bugle-horn the wyn. + Biforn him stant braun of the tusked swyn, + And “Nowel” cryeth every lusty man. 1255 + + 1245. Cm. Pt. wex; E. Hn. Hl. Cp. wax. 1254. Hl. Cm. Cp. braun; Pt. + brawne; E. Hn. brawen. + + Aurelius, in al that ever he can, + Doth to his maister chere and reverence, + And preyeth him to doon his diligence (530) + To bringen him out of his peynes smerte, + Or with a swerd that he wolde slitte his herte. 1260 + + 1257. E. chiere; Cm. Ln. Hl. chier. + + This subtil clerk swich routhe had of this man, + That night and day he spedde him that he can, + To wayte a tyme of his conclusioun; + This is to seye, to make illusioun, + By swich an apparence or Iogelrye, 1265 + I ne can no termes of astrologye, + [498: T. 11579-11611.] + That she and every wight sholde wene and seye, + That of Britaigne the rokkes were aweye, (540) + Or elles they were sonken under grounde. + So atte laste he hath his tyme y-founde 1270 + To maken his Iapes and his wrecchednesse + Of swich a superstitious cursednesse. + His tables Toletanes forth he broght, + Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked noght, + Neither his collect ne his expans yeres, 1275 + Ne his rotes ne his othere geres, + As been his centres and his arguments, + And his proporcionels convenients (550) + For his equacions in every thing. + And, by his eighte spere in his wirking, 1280 + He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shove + Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries above + That in the ninthe speere considered is; + Ful subtilly he calculed al this. + + 1263. E. Hn. Cm. wayten. 1264. E. Cm. maken. 1265. E. a (_for_ + an). 1269. E. ellis. 1273. E. Hn. tolletanes; Hl. tollitanes; + _rest_ colletanes(!). E. brought; Hn. broght. 1274. E. nought; Hn. + noght. 1275. E. yeeris. 1276. _So all_: (E. hise, rootes, geris). + 1277. Ln. centres; _rest_ centris. 1278. Hn. Hl. proporcionels; E. + -cioneles; Cm. -ciounnys; Cp. Pt. -cions. 1280. E. speere. 1283. + Cm. nynte; Hl. fourthe(!); _rest_ 9. 1284. E. he hadde kalkuled; + _rest om._ hadde. + + Whan he had founde his firste mansioun, 1285 + He knew the remenant by proporcioun; + And knew the arysing of his mone weel, + And in whos face, and terme, and every-deel; (560) + And knew ful weel the mones mansioun + Acordaunt to his operacioun, 1290 + And knew also his othere observaunces + For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces + As hethen folk used in thilke dayes; + For which no lenger maked he delayes, + But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or tweye, 1295 + It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye. + + 1285. E. hadde. 1293. Cp. Pt. Hl. vsed; E. Hn. vseden. 1295. E. Hn. + Cm. wyke; Hl. Cp. wike; Pt. Ln. weke. 1296. Hl. _om._ alle. + + Aurelius, which that yet despeired is + Wher he shal han his love or fare amis, (570) + Awaiteth night and day on this miracle; + [499: T. 11612-11648.] + And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle, 1300 + That voided were thise rokkes everichon, + Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon, + And seyde, ‘I woful wrecche, Aurelius, + Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn Venus, + That me han holpen fro my cares colde:’ 1305 + And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde, + Wher-as he knew he sholde his lady see. + And whan he saugh his tyme, anon-right he, (580) + With dredful herte and with ful humble chere, + Salewed hath his sovereyn lady dere: 1310 + + 1302. E. Cm. hise. + + ‘My righte lady,’ quod this woful man, + ‘Whom I most drede and love as I best can, + And lothest were of al this world displese, + Nere it that I for yow have swich disese, + That I moste dyen heer at your foot anon, 1315 + Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon; + But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne; + Ye slee me giltelees for verray peyne. (590) + But of my deeth, thogh that ye have no routhe, + Avyseth yow, er that ye breke your trouthe. 1320 + Repenteth yow, for thilke god above, + Er ye me sleen by-cause that I yow love. + For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight; + Nat that I chalange any thing of right + Of yow my sovereyn lady, but your grace; 1325 + But in a gardin yond, at swich a place, + Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me; + And in myn hand your trouthe plighten ye (600) + To love me best, god woot, ye seyde so, + Al be that I unworthy be therto. 1330 + Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow, + More than to save myn hertes lyf right now; + I have do so as ye comanded me; + And if ye vouche-sauf, ye may go see. + Doth as yow list, have your biheste in minde, 1335 + For quik or deed, right ther ye shul me finde; + [500: T. 11649-11683.] + In yow lyth al, to do me live or deye;— + But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye!’ (610) + + 1318. Pt. Cp. giltelees; Hl. gulteles; _rest_ giltless (-les). 1333. + E. Hn. Hl. do; _rest_ don. 1336. E. Hn. shal; Ln. schal. + + He taketh his leve, and she astonied stood, + In al hir face nas a drope of blood; 1340 + She wende never han come in swich a trappe: + ‘Allas!’ quod she, ‘that ever this sholde happe! + For wende I never, by possibilitee, + That swich a monstre or merveille mighte be! + It is agayns the proces of nature’: 1345 + And hoom she gooth a sorweful creature. + For verray fere unnethe may she go, + She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two, (620) + And swowneth, that it routhe was to see; + But why it was, to no wight tolde she; 1350 + For out of toune was goon Arveragus. + But to hir-self she spak, and seyde thus, + With face pale and with ful sorweful chere, + In hir compleynt, as ye shul after here: + + 1340. Hl. oon; Pt. on (_for_ a). 1354. E. Hn. Cm. shal. + + ‘Allas,’ quod she, ‘on thee, Fortune, I pleyne, 1355 + That unwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne; + For which, tescape, woot I no socour + Save only deeth or elles dishonour; (630) + Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese. + But nathelees, yet have I lever to lese 1360 + My lyf than of my body have a shame, + Or knowe my-selven fals, or lese my name, + And with my deth I may be quit, y-wis. + Hath ther nat many a noble wyf, er this, + And many a mayde y-slayn hir-self, allas! 1365 + Rather than with hir body doon trespas? + + 1357. Hl. Fro; _rest_ For. 1358. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. _om._ elles. 1360. + Pt. Hl. _om._ to. + + Yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren witnesse; + Whan thretty tyraunts, ful of cursednesse, (640) + Had slayn Phidoun in Athenes, atte feste, + They comanded his doghtres for tareste, 1370 + And bringen hem biforn hem in despyt + [501: T. 11684-11719.] + Al naked, to fulfille hir foul delyt, + And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce + Upon the pavement, god yeve hem mischaunce! + For which thise woful maydens, ful of drede, 1375 + Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede, + They prively ben stirt in-to a welle, + And dreynte hem-selven, as the bokes telle. (650) + + 1367. Cm. bere. 1368. Cm. thretty; Hl. thritty; _rest_ xxx. 1369. + E. Hadde. E. Hn. Cm. Atthenes. E. at; _rest_ atte, at the. 1374. + Cp. Ln. pament. + + They of Messene lete enquere and seke + Of Lacedomie fifty maydens eke, 1380 + On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye; + But was ther noon of al that companye + That she nas slayn, and with a good entente + Chees rather for to dye than assente + To been oppressed of hir maydenhede. 1385 + Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede? + + 1379. Cm. Messene; E. Hn. Hl. Mecene. + + Lo, eek, the tiraunt Aristoclides + That loved a mayden, heet Stimphalides, (660) + Whan that hir fader slayn was on a night, + Un-to Dianes temple goth she right, 1390 + And hente the image in hir handes two, + Fro which image wolde she never go. + No wight ne mighte hir handes of it arace, + Til she was slayn right in the selve place. + Now sith that maydens hadden swich despyt 1395 + To been defouled with mannes foul delyt, + Wel oghte a wyf rather hir-selven slee + Than be defouled, as it thinketh me. (670) + + 1388. E. Hl. heet; Hn. Cm. highte; Cp. Ln. that hight (hiht); Pt. which + hiȝt. + + What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf, + That at Cartage birafte hir-self hir lyf? 1400 + For whan she saugh that Romayns wan the toun, + She took hir children alle, and skipte adoun + In-to the fyr, and chees rather to dye + Than any Romayn dide hir vileinye. + + Hath nat Lucresse y-slayn hir-self, allas! 1405 + At Rome, whanne she oppressed was + Of Tarquin, for hir thoughte it was a shame + [502: T. 11720-11753.] + To liven whan she hadde lost hir name? (680) + + 1406. Hl. whanne; E. Hn. Cm. whan; Cp. Pt. there; Ln. thare. 1408. + Hn. Cm. Hl. hadde; _rest_ had. + + The sevene maydens of Milesie also + Han slayn hem-self, for verray drede and wo, 1410 + Rather than folk of Gaule hem sholde oppresse. + Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse, + Coude I now telle as touchinge this matere. + + 1409. Hn. Cp. Ln. Milesie; E. Cm. Melesie. 1410. Hn. Cm. Hl. verray; + _rest om._ + + Whan Habradate was slayn, his wyf so dere + Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to glyde 1415 + In Habradates woundes depe and wyde, + And seyde, “my body, at the leeste way, + Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may.” (690) + + 1414. Hn. Hl. habradace; Cp. Pt. habradas; Ln. Abradas. + + What sholde I mo ensamples heer-of sayn, + Sith that so manye han hem-selven slayn 1420 + Wel rather than they wolde defouled be? + I wol conclude, that it is bet for me + To sleen my-self, than been defouled thus. + I wol be trewe un-to Arveragus, + Or rather sleen my-self in som manere, 1425 + As dide Demociones doghter dere, + By-cause that she wolde nat defouled be. + + O Cedasus! it is ful greet pitee, (700) + To reden how thy doghtren deyde, allas! + That slowe hem-selven for swich maner cas. 1430 + + 1430. _All_ hem-self; _see_ l. 1420. + + As greet a pitee was it, or wel more, + The Theban mayden, that for Nichanore + Hir-selven slow, right for swich maner wo. + + Another Theban mayden dide right so; + For oon of Macedoine hadde hir oppressed, 1435 + She with hir deeth hir maydenhede redressed. + + 1435. Cm. Massedoyne; Ln. Macedoyne; Cp. Macedoigne; Pt. Masidoigne; + Hl. Macidone; E. Hn. Macidonye. + + What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf, + That for swich cas birafte hir-self hir lyf? (710) + + 1437. Hn. Hl. Niceratis; Cm. Nycherates. + + How trewe eek was to Alcebiades + His love, that rather for to dyen chees 1440 + Than for to suffre his body unburied be! + [503: T. 11754-11785.] + Lo which a wyf was Alceste,’ quod she. + + 1440. Cm. al (_for_ that); E. _om._ 1442. Cp. Ln. Alcestem; Pt. + Alcesteyn; _rest_ Alceste. + + ‘What seith Omer of gode Penalopee? + Al Grece knoweth of hir chastitee. + + 1443. E. Penalopee; _rest_ Penolopee (-pe). + + Pardee, of Laodomya is writen thus, 1445 + That whan at Troye was slayn Protheselaus, + No lenger wolde she live after his day. + + 1445. Hn. Hl. Laodomya; E. Cm. Lacedomya; _rest_ Leodamya. + + The same of noble Porcia telle I may; (720) + With-oute Brutus coude she nat live, + To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yive. 1450 + + 1450. Cp. Cm. Hl. yiue; E. Hn. Pt. yeue. + + The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesye + Honoured is thurgh al the Barbarye, + + 1452. E. Honured. + + O Teuta, queen! thy wyfly chastitee + To alle wyves may a mirour be. + The same thing I seye of Bilia, [T. _om._ + Of Rodogone, and eek Valeria.’ [T. _om._ + + 1453. Cm. Cp. Hl. queen; _rest_ queene (quene). 1455, 1456. _These + two lines are in_ E. _and_ edd. _only_. E. Bilyea (_edd._ Bilia; _see + note_). + + Thus pleyned Dorigene a day or tweye, + Purposinge ever that she wolde deye. (730) + + 1457. E. pleyne; _rest_ pleyned. + + But nathelees, upon the thridde night, + Hom cam Arveragus, this worthy knight, 1460 + And asked hir, why that she weep so sore? + And she gan wepen ever lenger the more. + + ‘Allas!’ quod she, ‘that ever was I born! + Thus have I seyd,’ quod she, ‘thus have I sworn’— + And told him al as ye han herd bifore; 1465 + It nedeth nat reherce it yow na-more. + + 1463. E. I was; _rest_ was I. + + This housbond with glad chere, in freendly wyse, + Answerde and seyde as I shal yow devyse: (740) + ‘Is ther oght elles, Dorigen, but this?’ + + 1467. E. Hl. chiere. + + ‘Nay, nay,’ quod she, ‘god help me so, as wis; 1470 + This is to muche, and it were goddes wille.’ + + ‘Ye, wyf,’ quod he, ‘lat slepen that is stille; + It may be wel, paraventure, yet to-day. + Ye shul your trouthe holden, by my fay! + For god so wisly have mercy on me, 1475 + [504: T. 11786-11816.] + I hadde wel lever y-stiked for to be, + For verray love which that I to yow have, + But-if ye sholde your trouthe kepe and save. (750) + Trouthe is the hyeste thing that man may kepe’:— + But with that word he brast anon to wepe, 1480 + And seyde, ‘I yow forbede, up peyne of deeth, + That never, whyl thee lasteth lyf ne breeth, + To no wight tel thou of this aventure. + As I may best, I wol my wo endure, + Ne make no contenance of hevinesse, 1485 + That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse.’ + + 1475. Hl. on; E. Hn. Cm. vp on. 1481. E. _om._ of. 1483. Hn. tel; + _rest_ telle; _see_ l. 1591. + + And forth he cleped a squyer and a mayde: + ‘Goth forth anon with Dorigen,’ he sayde, (760) + ‘And bringeth hir to swich a place anon.’ + They take hir leve, and on hir wey they gon; 1490 + But they ne wiste why she thider wente. + He nolde no wight tellen his entente. (764) + + Paraventure an heep of yow, y-wis, [T. _om._ + Wol holden him a lewed man in this, [T. _om._ + That he wol putte his wyf in Iupartye; [T. _om._ + Herkneth the tale, er ye up-on hir crye. [T. _om._ + She may have bettre fortune than yow semeth; [T. _om._ + And whan that ye han herd the tale, demeth. [T. _om._ + + 1493-98. _found in_ E. _only_. + + This squyer, which that highte Aurelius, (771) + On Dorigen that was so amorous, 1500 + Of aventure happed hir to mete + Amidde the toun, right in the quikkest strete, + As she was boun to goon the wey forth-right + Toward the gardin ther-as she had hight. + And he was to the gardinward also; 1505 + For wel he spyed, whan she wolde go + Out of hir hous to any maner place. + But thus they mette, of aventure or grace; (780) + And he saleweth hir with glad entente, + And asked of hir whiderward she wente? + + 1500. E. Hn. Cm. amorus. 1503. E. bown; _rest_ boun. + + And she answerde, half as she were mad, + ‘Un-to the gardin, as myn housbond bad, + [505: T. 11817-11854.] + My trouthe for to holde, allas! allas!’ + + Aurelius gan wondren on this cas, + And in his herte had greet compassioun 1515 + Of hir and of hir lamentacioun, + And of Arveragus, the worthy knight, + That bad hir holden al that she had hight, (790) + So looth him was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe; + And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe, 1520 + Consideringe the beste on every syde, + That fro his lust yet were him lever abyde + Than doon so heigh a cherlish wrecchednesse + Agayns franchyse and alle gentillesse; + For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus: 1525 + + 1515. E. Hn. Cm. hadde. + + ‘Madame, seyth to your lord Arveragus, + That sith I see his grete gentillesse (800) + To yow, and eek I see wel your distresse, + That him were lever han shame (and that were routhe) + Than ye to me sholde breke thus your trouthe, 1530 + I have wel lever ever to suffre wo + Than I departe the love bitwix yow two. + I yow relesse, madame, in-to your hond + Quit every surement and every bond, + That ye han maad to me as heer-biforn, 1535 + Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born. + My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never repreve + Of no biheste, and here I take my leve, (810) + As of the treweste and the beste wyf + That ever yet I knew in al my lyf. 1540 + But every wyf be-war of hir biheste, + On Dorigene remembreth atte leste. + Thus can a squyer doon a gentil dede, + As well as can a knight, with-outen drede.’ + + 1527. E. Hn. seyeth. 1534. Hn. serement; Hl. seurement. + + She thonketh him up-on hir knees al bare, 1545 + And hoom un-to hir housbond is she fare, + And tolde him al as ye han herd me sayd; + And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd, (820) + That it were inpossible me to wryte; + What sholde I lenger of this cas endyte? 1550 + [506: T. 11855-11889.] + + Arveragus and Dorigene his wyf + In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf. + Never eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene; + He cherisseth hir as though she were a quene; + And she was to him trewe for evermore. 1555 + Of thise two folk ye gete of me na-more. + + 1556. E. _om._ two. + + Aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn, + Curseth the tyme that ever he was born: (830) + ‘Allas,’ quod he, ‘allas! that I bihighte + Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte 1560 + Un-to this philosophre! how shal I do? + I see na-more but that I am fordo. + Myn heritage moot I nedes selle, + And been a begger; heer may I nat dwelle, + And shamen al my kinrede in this place, 1565 + But I of him may gete bettre grace. + But nathelees, I wol of him assaye, + At certeyn dayes, yeer by yeer, to paye, (840) + And thanke him of his grete curteisye; + My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye.’ 1570 + + With herte soor he gooth un-to his cofre, + And broghte gold un-to this philosophre, + The value of fyve hundred pound, I gesse, + And him bisecheth, of his gentillesse, + To graunte him dayes of the remenaunt, 1575 + And seyde, ‘maister, I dar wel make avaunt, + I failled never of my trouthe as yit; + For sikerly my dette shal be quit (850) + Towardes yow, how-ever that I fare + To goon a-begged in my kirtle bare. 1580 + But wolde ye vouche-sauf, up-on seurtee, + Two yeer or three for to respyten me, + Than were I wel; for elles moot I selle + Myn heritage; ther is na-more to telle.’ + + 1580. E. Hn. Cp. a-begged; Ln. abigged; Hl. a begge; Cm. Pt. a + beggere. 1581. Cm. Cp. Hl. seurte; Pt. swerte; E. Hn. seuretee. + 1583. E. Thanne. + + This philosophre sobrely answerde, 1585 + [507: T. 11890-11924.] + And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes herde: + ‘Have I nat holden covenant un-to thee?’ + ‘Yes, certes, wel and trewely,’ quod he. (860) + ‘Hastow nat had thy lady as thee lyketh?’ + ‘No, no,’ quod he, and sorwefully he syketh. 1590 + ‘What was the cause? tel me if thou can.’ + Aurelius his tale anon bigan, + And tolde him al, as ye han herd bifore; + It nedeth nat to yow reherce it more. + + He seide, ‘Arveragus, of gentillesse, 1595 + Had lever dye in sorwe and in distresse + Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals.’ + The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde him als, (870) + How looth hir was to been a wikked wyf, + And that she lever had lost that day hir lyf, 1600 + And that hir trouthe she swoor, thurgh innocence: + ‘She never erst herde speke of apparence; + That made me han of hir so greet pitee. + And right as frely as he sente hir me, + As frely sente I hir to him ageyn. 1605 + This al and som, ther is na-more to seyn.’ + + 1596. E. Hn. Hadde. 1602. E. Hn. Hl. hadde herd; _rest_ herde + (herd). 1606. E. Hn. This; _rest_ This is. + + This philosophre answerde, ‘leve brother, + Everich of yow dide gentilly til other. (880) + Thou art a squyer, and he is a knight; + But god forbede, for his blisful might, 1610 + But-if a clerk coude doon a gentil dede + As wel as any of yow, it is no drede! + + Sire, I relesse thee thy thousand pound, + As thou right now were cropen out of the ground, + Ne never er now ne haddest knowen me. 1615 + For sire, I wol nat take a peny of thee + For al my craft, ne noght for my travaille. + Thou hast y-payed wel for my vitaille; (890) + It is y-nogh, and farewel, have good day:’ + And took his hors, and forth he gooth his way. 1620 + + 1613. E. releesse. 1614. Cp. Hl. crope; Ln. crepe. Cm. _om._ the. + 1616. E. Cm. Cp. taken. + +[508: T. 11925-11928.] + + Lordinges, this question wolde I aske now, 1621 + Which was the moste free, as thinketh yow? + Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende. + I can na-more, my tale is at an ende. (896) + + HERE IS ENDED THE FRANKELEYNS TALE. + + 1621. E. Hn. Cp. Ln. _ins._ thanne _before_ wolde. COLOPHON. _From_ + E.; Hn. Here endeth, &c.; Pt. Thus endeth the Frankleyn his tale. + + *** For ll. 11929-34 _in_ Tyrwhitt’s text, _see_ Note _at the foot of_ + p. 289; _for_ ll. 11935-12902, _see_ pp. 290-319; _for_ ll. + 12903-15468, _see_ pp. 165-289. + +[509: T. 15469-15489.] + + * * * * * + +GROUP G. + +THE SECONDE NONNES TALE. + +***In Tyrwhitt’s text, ll. 15469 sqq.; see p. 508. + + * * * * * + + =The Prologe of the Seconde Nonnes Tale.= + + The ministre and the norice un-to vyces, + Which that men clepe in English ydelnesse, + That porter of the gate is of delyces, + To eschue, and by hir contrarie hir oppresse, + That is to seyn, by leveful bisinesse, 5 + Wel oghten we to doon al our entente, + Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse us hente. + + 7. Hn. Hl. hente; E. shente, Pt. shent, Ln. schent, _wrongly._ + + For he, that with his thousand cordes slye + Continuelly us waiteth to biclappe, + Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye, 10 + He can so lightly cacche him in his trappe, + Til that a man be hent right by the lappe, + He nis nat war the feend hath him in honde; + Wel oughte us werche, and ydelnes withstonde. + + And though men dradden never for to dye, 15 + Yet seen men wel by reson doutelees, + That ydelnesse is roten slogardye, + Of which ther never comth no good encrees; + And seen, that slouthe hir holdeth in a lees + Only to slepe, and for to ete and drinke, 20 + And to devouren al that othere swinke. + + 17. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. Hl. roten; Cm. rote. 18. E. Hn. no good nencrees; + Pt. Ln. non encrese; Hl. good encres; Cm. encrees. 19. Cm. hire; Pt. + hure; Hn. Ln. hir; E. it; Hl. her. + +[510: T. 15490-15520.] + + And for to putte us fro swich ydelnesse, + That cause is of so greet confusioun, + I have heer doon my feithful bisinesse, + After the legende, in translacioun 25 + Right of thy glorious lyf and passioun, + Thou with thy gerland wroght of rose and lilie; + Thee mene I, mayde and martir, seint Cecilie! + + 27. Hn. Pt. of; E. Cm. Ln. Hl. with. 28. Hn. Cm. Pt. Ln. martir + seinte (seint); Hl. martir; E. mooder. + + _Inuocacio ad Mariam._ + + And thou that flour of virgines art alle, + Of whom that Bernard list so wel to wryte, 30 + To thee at my biginning first I calle; + Thou comfort of us wrecches, do me endyte + Thy maydens deeth, that wan thurgh hir meryte + The eternal lyf, and of the feend victorie, + As man may after reden in hir storie. 35 + + 32. Hn. mendite (_shewing the scansion_). 34. E. eterneel; Hn. Cm. + eternal. + + Thou mayde and mooder, doghter of thy sone, + Thou welle of mercy, sinful soules cure, + In whom that god, for bountee, chees to wone, + Thou humble, and heigh over every creature, + Thou nobledest so ferforth our nature, 40 + That no desdeyn the maker hadde of kinde, + His sone in blode and flesh to clothe and winde. + + Withinne the cloistre blisful of thy sydes + Took mannes shap the eternal love and pees, + That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is, 45 + Whom erthe and see and heven, out of relees, + Ay herien; and thou, virgin wemmelees, + Bar of thy body, and dweltest mayden pure, + The creatour of every creature. + + 43. E. Hn. Cm. Pt. sydis. 44. E. eterneel; Hn. Cm. eternal. + + Assembled is in thee magnificence 50 + With mercy, goodnesse, and with swich pitee + That thou, that art the sonne of excellence, + [511: T. 15521-15552.] + Nat only helpest hem that preyen thee, + But ofte tyme, of thy benignitee, + Ful frely, er that men thyn help biseche, 55 + Thou goost biforn, and art hir lyves leche. + + 54. E. often; Hn. Cm. ofte. + + Now help, thou meke and blisful fayre mayde, + Me, flemed wrecche, in this desert of galle; + Think on the womman Cananee, that sayde + That whelpes eten somme of the crommes alle 60 + That from hir lordes table been y-falle; + And though that I, unworthy sone of Eve, + Be sinful, yet accepte my bileve. + + And, for that feith is deed with-outen werkes, + So for to werken yif me wit and space, 65 + That I be quit fro thennes that most derk is! + O thou, that art so fayr and ful of grace, + Be myn advocat in that heighe place + Ther-as withouten ende is songe ‘Osanne,’ + Thou Cristes mooder, doghter dere of Anne! 70 + + And of thy light my soule in prison lighte, + That troubled is by the contagioun + Of my body, and also by the wighte + Of erthly luste and fals affeccioun; + O haven of refut, o salvacioun 75 + Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresse, + Now help, for to my werk I wol me dresse. + + Yet preye I yow that reden that I wryte, + Foryeve me, that I do no diligence + This ilke storie subtilly to endyte; 80 + For both have I the wordes and sentence + Of him that at the seintes reverence + The storie wroot, and folwe hir legende, + And prey yow, that ye wol my werk amende. + + 80. Hn. Cm. tendite (_shewing the scansion_). 82. E. Hn. Cm. Hl. him; + _but_ Cp. Pt. Ln. hem. 83. Cm. folwe; E. Hn. Hl. folwen; Cp. Pt. Ln. + folowen. 84. E. I pray; Cp. And pray I; _rest_ And pray (_or_ prei, + _or_ preye). + +[512: T. 15552-15580.] + + _Interpretado nominis Cecilie, quam ponit frater Iacobus_ + _Ianuensis in Legenda Aurea._ + + First wolde I yow the name of seint Cecilie 85 + Expoune, as men may in hir storie see, + It is to seye in English ‘hevenes lilie,’ + For pure chastnesse of virginitee; + Or, for she whytnesse hadde of honestee, + And grene of conscience, and of good fame 90 + The sole savour, ‘lilie’ was hir name. + + HEADING. _In margin of _E. Hn. (E. om. _Aurea_). 85. E. _omits_ + yow. 91. E. favour; _rest_ savour; _see_ l. 229. + + Or Cecile is to seye ‘the wey to blinde,’ + For she ensample was by good techinge; + Or elles Cecile, as I writen finde, + Is ioyned, by a maner conioininge 95 + Of ‘hevene’ and ‘Lia’; and heer, in figuringe, + The ‘heven’ is set for thoght of holinesse, + And ‘Lia’ for hir lasting bisinesse. + + 95. E. manere. + + Cecile may eek be seyd in this manere, + ‘Wanting of blindnesse,’ for hir grete light 100 + Of sapience, and for hir thewes clere; + Or elles, lo! this maydens name bright + Of ‘hevene’ and ‘leos’ comth, for which by right + Men mighte hir wel ‘the heven of peple’ calle, + Ensample of gode and wyse werkes alle. 105 + + For ‘leos’ ‘peple’ in English is to seye, + And right as men may in the hevene see + The sonne and mone and sterres every weye, + Right so men gostly, in this mayden free, + Seyen of feith the magnanimitee, 110 + And eek the cleernesse hool of sapience, + And sondry werkes, brighte of excellence. + + 110. E. Syen; Cp. Ln. Seyen; Hn. Sayen. + + [513: T. 15581-15608.] + And right so as thise philosophres wryte + That heven is swift and round and eek brenninge, + Right so was fayre Cecilie the whyte 115 + Ful swift and bisy ever in good werkinge, + And round and hool in good perseveringe, + And brenning ever in charitee ful brighte; + Now have I yow declared what she highte. + + _Explicit_. + + =Here Biginneth the Seconde Nonnes Tale, of the Lyf of Seinte Cecile.= + + This mayden bright Cecilie, as hir lyf seith, 120 + Was comen of Romayns, and of noble kinde, + And from hir cradel up fostred in the feith + Of Crist, and bar his gospel in hir minde; + She never cessed, as I writen finde, + Of hir preyere, and god to love and drede, 125 + Biseking him to kepe hir maydenhede. + + And when this mayden sholde unto a man + Y-wedded be, that was ful yong of age, + Which that y-cleped was Valerian, + And day was comen of hir mariage, 130 + She, ful devout and humble in hir corage, + Under hir robe of gold, that sat ful fayre, + Had next hir flesh y-clad hir in an heyre. + + And whyl the organs maden melodye, + To god alone in herte thus sang she; 135 + ‘O lord, my soule and eek my body gye + Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be:’ + And, for his love that deyde upon a tree, + Every seconde or thridde day she faste, + Ay biddinge in hir orisons ful faste. 140 + + 134. Hl. Hn. organs; Ln. orgens; E. Orgues; Cp. Orgles; Pt. Orgels. + 137. E. it; _rest_ I. 138. Hn. Cm. Cp. Hl. deyde; E. dyde. 139. E. + Hn. and; _rest_ or. + +[514: T. 15609-15643.] + + The night cam, and to bedde moste she gon + With hir housbonde, as ofte is the manere, + And prively to him she seyde anon, + ‘O swete and wel biloved spouse dere, + Ther is a conseil, and ye wolde it here, 145 + Which that right fain I wolde unto yow seye, + So that ye swere ye shul me nat biwreye.’ + + 147. E. me; _rest_ it; _see_ l. 150. + + Valerian gan faste unto hir swere, + That for no cas, ne thing that mighte be, + He sholde never-mo biwreyen here; 150 + And thanne at erst to him thus seyde she, + ‘I have an angel which that loveth me, + That with greet love, wher-so I wake or slepe, + Is redy ay my body for to kepe. + + 152. E. aungel. + + And if that he may felen, out of drede, 155 + That ye me touche or love in vileinye, + He right anon wol slee yow with the dede, + And in your yowthe thus ye shulden dye; + And if that ye in clene love me gye, + He wol yow loven as me, for your clennesse, 160 + And shewen yow his Ioye and his brightnesse.’ + + Valerian, corrected as god wolde, + Answerde agayn, ‘if I shal trusten thee, + Lat me that angel se, and him biholde; + And if that it a verray angel be, 165 + Than wol I doon as thou hast preyed me; + And if thou love another man, for sothe + Right with this swerd than wol I slee yow bothe.’ + + 164. E. aungel; _but_ angel _in_ 165, 170. + + Cecile answerde anon right in this wyse, + ‘If that yow list, the angel shul ye see, 170 + So that ye trowe on Crist and yow baptyse. + Goth forth to Via Apia,’ quod she, + ‘That fro this toun ne stant but myles three, + And, to the povre folkes that ther dwelle, + Sey hem right thus, as that I shal yow telle. 175 + + 171. on] E. in. + +[515: T. 15644-15674.] + + Telle hem that I, Cecile, yow to hem sente, + To shewen yow the gode Urban the olde, + For secree nedes and for good entente. + And whan that ye seint Urban han biholde, + Telle him the wordes whiche I to yow tolde; 180 + And whan that he hath purged yow fro sinne, + Thanne shul ye see that angel, er ye twinne.’ + + 178. E. thynges; _rest_ nedes, nedis, needes. 180. E. Cp. Ln. Hl. + whiche þat I; _but_ Hn. Cm. Pt. _omit_ that. + + Valerian is to the place y-gon, + And right as him was taught by his lerninge, + He fond this holy olde Urban anon 185 + Among the seintes buriels lotinge. + And he anon, with-outen taryinge, + Dide his message; and whan that he it tolde, + Urban for Ioye his hondes gan up holde. + + The teres from his yën leet he falle— 190 + ‘Almighty lord, o Iesu Crist,’ quod he, + ‘Sower of chast conseil, herde of us alle, + The fruit of thilke seed of chastitee + That thou hast sowe in Cecile, tak to thee! + Lo, lyk a bisy bee, with-outen gyle, 195 + Thee serveth ay thyn owene thral Cecile! + + 190. Ln. yen; _rest_ eyen, eyhen. 192. E. Hn. hierde. + + For thilke spouse, that she took but now + Ful lyk a fiers leoun, she sendeth here, + As meke as ever was any lamb, to yow!’ + And with that worde, anon ther gan appere 200 + An old man, clad in whyte clothes clere, + That hadde a book with lettre of golde in honde, + And gan biforn Valerian to stonde. + + 197. E. Hl. right; _rest_ but. 203. E. bifore; Hl. to-forn; _rest_ + biforn, biforne, beforne. + + Valerian as deed fil doun for drede + Whan he him saugh, and he up hente him tho, 205 + And on his book right thus he gan to rede— + [516: T. 15675-15706.] + ‘Oo Lord, oo feith, oo god with-outen mo, + Oo Cristendom, and fader of alle also, + Aboven alle and over al everywhere’— + Thise wordes al with gold y-writen were. 210 + + 208. E. Hn. Cm. O; Hl. On; Cp. Pt. Ln. Of. 209. E. _omits_ and. + + Whan this was rad, than seyde this olde man, + ‘Levestow this thing or no? sey ye or nay.’ + ‘I leve al this thing,’ quod Valerian, + ‘For sother thing than this, I dar wel say, + Under the hevene no wight thinke may.’ 215 + Tho vanisshed the olde man, he niste where, + And pope Urban him cristened right there. + + 210-216. Hl. _omits_. 214. E. oother; _rest_ sother. 216. E. Hn. + Cm. this; Pt. that; Cp. Ln. the. 217. Hl. Pt. cristened; Cm. + cristenede; E. Hn. Cp. cristned. + + Valerian goth hoom, and fint Cecilie + With-inne his chambre with an angel stonde; + This angel hadde of roses and of lilie 220 + Corones two, the which he bar in honde; + And first to Cecile, as I understonde, + He yaf that oon, and after gan he take + That other to Valerian, hir make. + + ‘With body clene and with unwemmed thoght 225 + Kepeth ay wel thise corones,’ quod he; + ‘Fro Paradys to yow have I hem broght, + Ne never-mo ne shal they roten be, + Ne lese her sote savour, trusteth me; + Ne never wight shal seen hem with his yë, 230 + But he be chaast and hate vileinyë. + + 226. E. three; Hl. thre; _rest_ quod he. + + And thou, Valerian, for thou so sone + Assentedest to good conseil also, + Sey what thee list, and thou shalt han thy bone.’ + ‘I have a brother,’ quod Valerian tho, 235 + ‘That in this world I love no man so. + I pray yow that my brother may han grace + To knowe the trouthe, as I do in this place.’ + + [517: T. 15707-15737.] + The angel seyde, ‘god lyketh thy requeste, + And bothe, with the palm of martirdom, 240 + Ye shullen come unto his blisful feste.’ + And with that word Tiburce his brother com. + And whan that he the savour undernom + Which that the roses and the lilies caste, + With-inne his herte he gan to wondre faste, 245 + + And seyde, ‘I wondre, this tyme of the yeer, + Whennes that sote savour cometh so + Of rose and lilies that I smelle heer. + For though I hadde hem in myn hondes two, + The savour mighte in me no depper go. 250 + The sote smel that in myn herte I finde + Hath chaunged me al in another kinde.’ + + 251. _The MSS. have_ swete _here; but in_ l. 247 _we find only _sote, + soote, swote, suote, _except_ swete _in_ Pt.; _in_ l. 229, E. Hl. + soote; Hn. swote; Cm. sote; Cp. Pt. Ln. swete. + + Valerian seyde, ‘two corones han we, + Snow-whyte and rose-reed, that shynen clere, + Whiche that thyn yën han no might to see; 255 + And as thou smellest hem thurgh my preyere, + So shaltow seen hem, leve brother dere, + If it so be thou wolt, withouten slouthe, + Bileve aright and knowen verray trouthe.’ + + Tiburce answerde, ‘seistow this to me 260 + In soothnesse, or in dreem I herkne this?’ + ‘In dremes,’ quod Valerian, ‘han we be + Unto this tyme, brother myn, y-wis. + But now at erst in trouthe our dwelling is.’ + ‘How woostow this,’ quod Tiburce, ‘in what wyse?’ 265 + Quod Valerian, ‘that shal I thee devyse. + + The angel of god hath me the trouthe y-taught + Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wolt reneye + The ydoles and be clene, and elles naught.’— + [518: T. 15738-15769.] + And of the miracle of thise corones tweye 270 + Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye; + Solempnely this noble doctour dere + Commendeth it, and seith in this manere: + + 267. E. Ln. Hl. _omit_ the. 273. E. hym; _rest_ it. + + The palm of martirdom for to receyve, + Seinte Cecile, fulfild of goddes yifte, 275 + The world and eek hir chambre gan she weyve; + Witnes Tyburces and Valerians shrifte, + To whiche god of his bountee wolde shifte + Corones two of floures wel smellinge, + And made his angel hem the corones bringe: 280 + + 277. _The MSS. have_ Cecilies, _wrongly_ (for Valerians); Lat. + _text_—Ualeriani; cf. l. 281. + + The mayde hath broght thise men to blisse above; + The world hath wist what it is worth, certeyn, + Devocioun of chastitee to love.— + Tho shewede him Cecile al open and pleyn + That alle ydoles nis but a thing in veyn; 285 + For they been dombe, and therto they been deve, + And charged him his ydoles for to leve. + + 281. E. Hn. _omit_ thise; _the rest retain it, except_ Cm., _which has_ + brought hem to blysse. 284. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_ al. + + ‘Who so that troweth nat this, a beste he is,’ + Quod tho Tiburce, ‘if that I shal nat lye.’ + And she gan kisse his brest, that herde this, 290 + And was ful glad he coude trouthe espye. + ‘This day I take thee for myn allye,’ + Seyde this blisful fayre mayde dere; + And after that she seyde as ye may here: + + 288. E. Hn. Pt. beest; Hl. best; Cm. Cp. Ln. beste. + + ‘Lo, right so as the love of Crist,’ quod she, 295 + ‘Made me thy brotheres wyf, right in that wyse + Anon for myn allye heer take I thee, + Sin that thou wolt thyn ydoles despyse. + Go with thy brother now, and thee baptyse, + And make thee clene; so that thou mowe biholde 300 + The angels face of which thy brother tolde.’ + + [519: T. 15770-15804.] + Tiburce answerde and seyde, ‘brother dere, + First tel me whider I shal, and to what man?’ + ‘To whom?’ quod he, ‘com forth with right good chere, + I wol thee lede unto the pope Urban.’ 305 + ’Til Urban? brother myn Valerian,’ + Quod tho Tiburce, ‘woltow me thider lede? + Me thinketh that it were a wonder dede. + + 303. E. Hn. Cm. that I; _rest omit_ that. 304. Hl. _om._ right. + + Ne menestow nat Urban,’ quod he tho, + ‘That is so ofte dampned to be deed, 310 + And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro, + And dar nat ones putte forth his heed? + Men sholde him brennen in a fyr so reed + If he were founde, or that men mighte him spye; + And we also, to bere him companye— 315 + + And whyl we seken thilke divinitee + That is y-hid in hevene prively, + Algate y-brend in this world shul we be!’ + To whom Cecile answerde boldely, + ‘Men mighten dreden wel and skilfully 320 + This lyf to lese, myn owene dere brother, + If this were livinge only and non other. + + But ther is better lyf in other place, + That never shal be lost, ne drede thee noght, + Which goddes sone us tolde thurgh his grace; 325 + That fadres sone hath alle thinges wroght; + And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght, + The goost, that fro the fader gan precede, + Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede. + + 323. Ln. Hl. Pt. better; E. Hn. bettre. 326. E. thyng ywroght; Hn. + Cm. thynges wroght. 326-337. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_. + + By word and by miracle goddes sone, 330 + Whan he was in this world, declared here + That ther was other lyf ther men may wone.’ + To whom answerde Tiburce, ‘o suster dere, + Ne seydestow right now in this manere, + Ther nis but o god, lord in soothfastnesse; 335 + And now of three how maystow bere witnesse?’ + + [520: T. 15805-15839.] + ‘That shal I telle,’ quod she, ‘er I go. + Right as a man hath sapiences three, + Memorie, engyn, and intellect also, + So, in o being of divinitee, 340 + Three persones may ther right wel be.’ + Tho gan she him ful bisily to preche + Of Cristes come and of his peynes teche, + + 340. E. _omits_ o. + + And many pointes of his passioun; + How goddes sone in this world was withholde, 345 + To doon mankinde pleyn remissioun, + That was y-bounde in sinne and cares colde: + Al this thing she unto Tiburce tolde. + And after this Tiburce, in good entente, + With Valerian to pope Urban he wente, 350 + + That thanked god; and with glad herte and light + He cristned him, and made him in that place + Parfit in his lerninge, goddes knight. + And after this Tiburce gat swich grace, + That every day he saugh, in tyme and space, 355 + The angel of god; and every maner bone + That he god axed, it was sped ful sone. + + 355. E. saugh; Hl. say. + + It were ful hard by ordre for to seyn + How many wondres Iesus for hem wroghte; + But atte laste, to tellen short and pleyn, 360 + The sergeants of the toun of Rome hem soghte, + And hem biforn Almache the prefect broghte, + Which hem apposed, and knew al hir entente, + And to the image of Iupiter hem sente, + + 363. Hl. apposed; _the rest _opposed, _wrongly._ + + And seyde, ‘who so wol nat sacrifyse, 365 + Swap of his heed, this is my sentence here.’ + Anon thise martirs that I yow devyse, + Oon Maximus, that was an officere + Of the prefectes and his corniculere, + Hem hente; and whan he forth the seintes ladde, 370 + Him-self he weep, for pitee that he hadde. + + 366. E. Cm. Hl. _omit_ is. + +[521: T. 15840-15872.] + + Whan Maximus had herd the seintes lore, + He gat him of the tormentoures leve, + And ladde hem to his hous withoute more; + And with hir preching, er that it were eve, 375 + They gonnen fro the tormentours to reve, + And fro Maxime, and fro his folk echone + The false feith, to trowe in god allone. + + 373. E. Hn. Pt. Ln. tormentours. + + Cecilie cam, whan it was woxen night, + With preestes that hem cristned alle y-fere; 380 + And afterward, whan day was woxen light, + Cecile hem seyde with a ful sobre chere, + ‘Now, Cristes owene knightes leve and dere, + Caste alle awey the werkes of derknesse, + And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse. 385 + + 382. E. Hn. Hl. ful stedefast; Cm. ful sobere; Cp. Pt. Ln. sobre. + 384. Cp. Pt. Casteth; _rest_ Cast. + + Ye han for sothe y-doon a greet bataille, + Your cours is doon, your feith han ye conserved, + Goth to the corone of lyf that may nat faille; + The rightful Iuge, which that ye han served, + Shall yeve it yow, as ye han it deserved.’ 390 + And whan this thing was seyd as I devyse, + Men ladde hem forth to doon the sacrifyse. + + 392. E. Hn. Cm. ledde. + + But whan they weren to the place broght, + To tellen shortly the conclusioun, + They nolde encense ne sacrifice right noght, 395 + But on hir knees they setten hem adoun + With humble herte and sad devocioun, + And losten bothe hir hedes in the place. + Hir soules wenten to the king of grace. + + 398. E. Hn. Cm. heuedes; _rest_ hedes. + + This Maximus, that saugh this thing bityde, 400 + With pitous teres tolde it anon-right, + That he hir soules saugh to heven glyde + With angels ful of cleernesse and of light, + And with his word converted many a wight; + [522: T. 15873-15905.] + For which Almachius dide him so to-bete 405 + With whippe of leed, til he his lyf gan lete. + + 400. E. saugh; Hn. Cp. Hl. say. 404. E. this; _rest_ his. 405. E. + Hn. Cm. Hl. so bete; Cp. Pt. Ln. so to-bete. 406. E. the; _rest_ his. + + Cecile him took and buried him anoon + By Tiburce and Valerian softely, + Withinne hir burying-place, under the stoon. + And after this Almachius hastily 410 + Bad his ministres fecchen openly + Cecile, so that she mighte in his presence + Doon sacrifyce, and Iupiter encense. + + But they, converted at hir wyse lore, + Wepten ful sore, and yaven ful credence 415 + Unto hir word, and cryden more and more, + ‘Crist, goddes sone withouten difference, + Is verray god, this is al our sentence, + That hath so good a servant him to serve; + This with o voys we trowen, thogh we sterve!’ 420 + + 418. E. _omits_ al. + + Almachius, that herde of this doinge, + Bad fecchen Cecile, that he might hir see, + And alderfirst, lo! this was his axinge, + ‘What maner womman artow?’ tho quod he. + ‘I am a gentil womman born,’ quod she. 425 + ‘I axe thee,’ quod he, ‘thogh it thee greve, + Of thy religioun and of thy bileve.’ + + 424. Cp. Pt. Ln. tho; _rest omit._ + + ‘Ye han bigonne your question folily,’ + Quod she, ‘that wolden two answeres conclude + In oo demande; ye axed lewedly.’ 430 + Almache answerde unto that similitude, + ‘Of whennes comth thyn answering so rude?’ + ‘Of whennes?’ quod she, whan that she was freyned, + ‘Of conscience and of good feith unfeyned.’ + + Almachius seyde, ‘ne takestow non hede 435 + Of my power?’ and she answerde him this— + ‘Your might,’ quod she, ‘ful litel is to drede; + [523: T. 15906-15937.] + For every mortal mannes power nis + But lyk a bladdre, ful of wind, y-wis. + For with a nedles poynt, whan it is blowe, 440 + May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe.’ + + 436. Hn. Hl. this; Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. thus; E. _omits._ + + ‘Ful wrongfully bigonne thou,’ quod he, + ‘And yet in wrong is thy perseveraunce; + Wostow nat how our mighty princes free + Han thus comanded and maad ordinaunce, 445 + That every cristen wight shal han penaunce + But-if that he his cristendom withseye, + And goon al quit, if he wol it reneye?’ + + ‘Your princes erren, as your nobley dooth,’ + Quod tho Cecile, ‘and with a wood sentence 450 + Ye make us gilty, and it is nat sooth; + For ye, that knowen wel our innocence, + For as muche as we doon a reverence + To Crist, and for we bere a cristen name, + Ye putte on us a cryme, and eek a blame. 455 + + 451. E. Hn. Cm. _omit_ it. + + But we that knowen thilke name so + For vertuous, we may it nat withseye.’ + Almache answerde, ‘chees oon of thise two, + Do sacrifyce, or cristendom reneye, + That thou mowe now escapen by that weye.’ 460 + At which the holy blisful fayre mayde + Gan for to laughe, and to the Iuge seyde, + + ‘O Iuge, confus in thy nycetee, + Woltow that I reneye innocence, + To make me a wikked wight?’ quod she; 465 + ‘Lo! he dissimuleth here in audience, + He stareth and woodeth in his advertence!’ + To whom Almachius, ‘unsely wrecche, + Ne woostow nat how far my might may strecche? + + 467. E. and he; _rest omit_ he. + +[524: T. 15938-15972.] + + Han noght our mighty princes to me yeven, 470 + Ye, bothe power and auctoritee + To maken folk to dyen or to liven? + Why spekestow so proudly than to me?’ + ‘I speke noght but stedfastly,’ quod she, + ‘Nat proudly, for I seye, as for my syde, 475 + We haten deedly thilke vyce of pryde. + + 475. E. speke; _rest_ seye. + + And if thou drede nat a sooth to here, + Than wol I shewe al openly, by right, + That thou hast maad a ful gret lesing here. + Thou seyst, thy princes han thee yeven might 480 + Bothe for to sleen and for to quiken a wight; + Thou, that ne mayst but only lyf bireve, + Thou hast non other power ne no leve! + + But thou mayst seyn, thy princes han thee maked + Ministre of deeth; for if thou speke of mo, 485 + Thou lyest, for thy power is ful naked.’ + ‘Do wey thy boldnes,’ seyde Almachius tho, + ‘And sacrifyce to our goddes, er thou go; + I recche nat what wrong that thou me profre, + For I can suffre it as a philosophre; 490 + + 487. Hl. lewednes; _rest_ boldnesse. + + But thilke wronges may I nat endure + That thou spekest of our goddes here,’ quod he. + Cecile answerede, ‘o nyce creature, + Thou seydest no word sin thou spak to me + That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee; 495 + And that thou were, in every maner wyse, + A lewed officer and a veyn Iustyse. + + Ther lakketh no-thing to thyn utter yën + That thou nart blind, for thing that we seen alle + That it is stoon, that men may wel espyen, 500 + That ilke stoon a god thou wolt it calle. + I rede thee, lat thyn hand upon it falle, + And taste it wel, and stoon thou shalt it finde, + Sin that thou seest nat with thyn yën blinde. + + [525: T. 15973-16005.] + It is a shame that the peple shal 505 + So scorne thee, and laughe at thy folye; + For comunly men woot it wel overal, + That mighty god is in his hevenes hye, + And thise images, wel thou mayst espye, + To thee ne to hem-self mowe nought profyte, 510 + For in effect they been nat worth a myte.’ + + 510. E. Ln. _insert_ ne _before_ mowe; E. mowen; Hn. mowe. + + Thise wordes and swiche othere seyde she, + And he weex wroth, and bad men sholde hir lede + Hom til hir hous, ‘and in hir hous,’ quod he, + ‘Brenne hir right in a bath of flambes rede.’ 515 + And as he bad, right so was doon in dede; + For in a bath they gonne hir faste shetten, + And night and day greet fyr they under betten. + + 518. E. fyre; Hn. Cm. fyr. + + The longe night and eek a day also, + For al the fyr and eek the bathes hete, 520 + She sat al cold, and felede no wo, + It made hir nat a drope for to swete. + But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete; + For he, Almachius, with ful wikke entente + To sleen hir in the bath his sonde sente. 525 + + 521. Cm. felede; E. Hn. feled; Cp. Pt. Ln. felt of it. 524. E. Hn. a + ful; Cm. a; _rest_ ful. + + Three strokes in the nekke he smoot hir tho, + The tormentour, but for no maner chaunce + He mighte noght smyte al hir nekke a-two; + And for ther was that tyme an ordinaunce, + That no man sholde doon man swich penaunce 530 + The ferthe strook to smyten, softe or sore, + This tormentour ne dorste do na-more. + + 528. Cp. Pt. smyten; _rest_ smyte. 530. man (2)] E. men. + + But half-deed, with hir nekke y-corven there, + He lefte hir lye, and on his wey is went. + The cristen folk, which that aboute hir were, 535 + With shetes han the blood ful faire y-hent. + Thre dayes lived she in this torment, + [526: T. 16006-16021.] + And never cessed hem the feith to teche; + That she hadde fostred, hem she gan to preche; + + 534. Cm. is went; _rest_ he wente (_or_ he went) _against the rime._ + + And hem she yaf hir moebles and hir thing, 540 + And to the pope Urban bitook hem tho, + And seyde, ‘I axed this at hevene king, + To han respyt three dayes and na-mo, + To recomende to yow, er that I go, + Thise soules, lo! and that I mighte do werche 545 + Here of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche.’ + + 542. E. at; _rest_ of; _see_ G 621. + + Seint Urban, with his deknes, prively + The body fette, and buried it by nighte + Among his othere seintes honestly. + Hir hous the chirche of seint Cecilie highte; 550 + Seint Urban halwed it, as he wel mighte; + In which, into this day, in noble wyse, + Men doon to Crist and to his seint servyse. + + =Here is ended the Seconde Nonnes Tale.= + + 548. E. This; _rest_ The. 550. E. Hn. Ln. seinte. 553. E. Hn. Pt. + seinte; Cp. seintz; Pt. seintes. COLOPHON. _From_ E. Hn.; Hl. Here + endeth the secounde Nonne hir tale of the lif of seint Cecilie. + +[527: T. 16022-16043.] + + * * * * * + +THE CANON’S YEOMAN’S PROLOGUE + + * * * * * + + =The prologe of the Chanons Yemannes Tale.= + + Whan ended was the lyf of seint Cecyle, + Er we had riden fully fyve myle, 555 + At Boghton under Blee us gan atake + A man, that clothed was in clothes blake, + And undernethe he hadde a whyt surplys. + His hakeney, that was al pomely grys, + So swatte, that it wonder was to see; 560 + It semed he had priked myles three. + The hors eek that his yeman rood upon + So swatte, that unnethe mighte it gon. (10) + Aboute the peytrel stood the foom ful hye, + He was of fome al flekked as a pye. 565 + A male tweyfold on his croper lay, + It semed that he caried lyte array. + Al light for somer rood this worthy man, + And in myn herte wondren I bigan + What that he was, til that I understood 570 + How that his cloke was sowed to his hood; + For which, when I had longe avysed me, + I demed him som chanon for to be. (20) + His hat heng at his bak doun by a laas, + For he had riden more than trot or paas; 575 + [528: T. 16044-16079.] + He had ay priked lyk as he were wood. + A clote-leef he hadde under his hood + For swoot, and for to kepe his heed from hete. + But it was Ioye for to seen him swete! + His forheed dropped as a stillatorie, 580 + Were ful of plantain and of paritorie. + And whan that he was come, he gan to crye, + ‘God save,’ quod he, ‘this Ioly companye! (30) + Faste have I priked,’ quod he, ‘for your sake, + By-cause that I wolde yow atake, 585 + To ryden in this mery companye.’ + His yeman eek was ful of curteisye, + And seyde, ‘sires, now in the morwe-tyde + Out of your hostelrye I saugh you ryde, + And warned heer my lord and my soverayn, 590 + Which that to ryden with yow is ful fayn, + For his desport; he loveth daliaunce.’ + + 554. E. toold was al; Cm. told was; _rest_ ended was. E. Pt. + seinte. 558. So E.; _rest_ And vnder that he hadde a whit surplys. + 559. E. which þat; _rest omit_ which. 561. E. as he; Cm. that he; + _rest_ he. 562. E. hakeney; _rest_ hors. 564. E. _omits_ ll. 564, + 565. 566. E. Hn. vpon; _rest_ on. 569. E. to wondren; _rest omit_ + to. 574. E. Hn. heeng; Hl. heng; Cm. Cp. hyng. 586. E. som; _rest_ + this. 589. E. Hn. sangh; Pt. segh. 591. E. _omits_ that. + + ‘Freend, for thy warning god yeve thee good chaunce,’ + Than seyde our host, ‘for certes, it wolde seme (41) + Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel deme; 595 + He is ful Iocund also, dar I leye. + Can he oght telle a mery tale or tweye, + With which he glade may this companye?’ + + 593. E. _omits_ good. 594. E. certain; _rest_ certes. + + ‘Who, sire? my lord? ye, ye, withouten lye, + He can of murthe, and eek of Iolitee 600 + Nat but ynough; also sir, trusteth me, + And ye him knewe as wel as do I, + Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily (50) + He coude werke, and that in sondry wyse. + He hath take on him many a greet empryse, 605 + Which were ful hard for any that is here + To bringe aboute, but they of him it lere. + As homely as he rit amonges yow, + If ye him knewe, it wolde be for your prow; + Ye wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce 610 + For mochel good, I dar leye in balaunce + [529: T. 16080-16117.] + Al that I have in my possessioun. + He is a man of heigh discrecioun, (60) + I warne you wel, he is a passing man.’ + + 603. E. Cm. craftily; _rest_ thriftily. + + ‘Wel,’ quod our host, ‘I pray thee, tel me than, 615 + Is he a clerk, or noon? tel what he is.’ + + ‘Nay, he is gretter than a clerk, y-wis,’ + Seyde this yeman, ‘and in wordes fewe, + Host, of his craft som-what I wol yow shewe. + + I seye, my lord can swich subtilitee— 620 + (But al his craft ye may nat wite at me; + And som-what helpe I yet to his werking)— + That al this ground on which we been ryding, (70) + Til that we come to Caunterbury toun, + He coude al clene turne it up-so-doun, 625 + And pave it al of silver and of gold.’ + + 621. E. for; Hl. of; _rest_ at. + + And whan this yeman hadde thus y-told + Unto our host, he seyde, ‘_benedicite!_ + This thing is wonder merveillous to me, + Sin that thy lord is of so heigh prudence, 630 + By-cause of which men sholde him reverence, + That of his worship rekketh he so lyte; + His oversloppe nis nat worth a myte, (80) + As in effect, to him, so mote I go! + It is al baudy and to-tore also. 635 + Why is thy lord so sluttish, I thee preye, + And is of power better cloth to beye, + If that his dede accorde with thy speche? + Telle me that, and that I thee biseche.’ + + 627. E. this tale; Cm. this; _rest_ thus. + + ‘Why?’ quod this yeman, ‘wherto axe ye me? 640 + God help me so, for he shal never thee! + (But I wol nat avowe that I seye, + And therfor kepe it secree, I yow preye). (90) + He is to wys, in feith, as I bileve; + That that is overdoon, it wol nat preve 645 + Aright, as clerkes seyn, it is a vyce. + Wherfor in that I holde him lewed and nyce. + For whan a man hath over-greet a wit, + Ful oft him happeth to misusen it; + [530: T. 16118-16154.] + So dooth my lord, and that me greveth sore. 650 + God it amende, I can sey yow na-more.’ + + ‘Ther-of no fors, good yeman,’ quod our host; + ‘Sin of the conning of thy lord thou wost, (100) + Tel how he dooth, I pray thee hertely, + Sin that he is so crafty and so sly. 655 + Wher dwellen ye, if it to telle be?’ + + ‘In the suburbes of a toun,’ quod he, + ‘Lurkinge in hernes and in lanes blinde, + Wher-as thise robbours and thise theves by kinde + Holden hir privee fereful residence, 660 + As they that dar nat shewen hir presence; + So faren we, if I shal seye the sothe.’ + + ‘Now,’ quod our host, ‘yit lat me talke to the; (110) + Why artow so discoloured of thy face?’ + + 663. Cm. Hl. yit; _rest omit_. E. telle; Cm. speke; _rest_ talke. + + ‘Peter!’ quod he, ‘god yeve it harde grace, 665 + I am so used in the fyr to blowe, + That it hath chaunged my colour, I trowe. + I am nat wont in no mirour to prye, + But swinke sore and lerne multiplye. + We blondren ever and pouren in the fyr, 670 + And for al that we fayle of our desyr, + For ever we lakken our conclusioun. + To mochel folk we doon illusioun, (120) + And borwe gold, be it a pound or two, + Or ten, or twelve, or many sommes mo, 675 + And make hem wenen, at the leeste weye, + That of a pound we coude make tweye! + Yet is it fals, but ay we han good hope + It for to doon, and after it we grope. + But that science is so fer us biforn, 680 + We mowen nat, al-though we hadde it sworn, + It overtake, it slit awey so faste; + It wol us maken beggers atte laste.’ (130) + + 672. E. Cm. lakke; _rest_ lakken. E. of oure; _rest omit_ of. 681. + E. _omits_ it. + + Whyl this yeman was thus in his talking, + This chanoun drough him neer, and herde al thing 685 + Which this yeman spak, for suspecioun + [531: T. 16155-16187.] + Of mennes speche ever hadde this chanoun. + For Catoun seith, that he that gilty is + Demeth al thing be spoke of him, y-wis. + That was the cause he gan so ny him drawe 690 + To his yeman, to herknen al his sawe. + And thus he seyde un-to his yeman tho, + ‘Hold thou thy pees, and spek no wordes mo, (140) + For if thou do, thou shalt it dere abye; + Thou sclaundrest me heer in this companye, 695 + And eek discoverest that thou sholdest hyde.’ + + 686. E. Cm. Which this; _rest_ Which that this; cf. ll. 684, 691, 701 + (yemán). + + ‘Ye,’ quod our host, ‘telle on, what so bityde; + Of al his threting rekke nat a myte!’ + + 698. E. his; _rest_ this. E. Cm. rekke; Cp. recche I; Hl. Pt. Ln. + recche the. + + ‘In feith,’ quod he, ‘namore I do but lyte.’ + + And whan this chanon saugh it wolde nat be, 700 + But his yeman wolde telle his privetee, + He fledde awey for verray sorwe and shame. + + ‘A!’ quod the yeman, ‘heer shal aryse game, (150) + Al that I can anon now wol I telle. + Sin he is goon, the foule feend him quelle! 705 + For never her-after wol I with him mete + For peny ne for pound, I yow bihete! + He that me broghte first unto that game, + Er that he dye, sorwe have he and shame! + For it is ernest to me, by my feith; 710 + That fele I wel, what so any man seith. + And yet, for al my smert and al my grief, + For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief, (160) + I coude never leve it in no wyse. + Now wolde god my wit mighte suffyse 715 + To tellen al that longeth to that art! + But natheles yow wol I tellen part; + Sin that my lord is gon, I wol nat spare; + Swich thing as that I knowe, I wol declare.— 719 + + =Here endeth the Prologe of the Chanouns Yemannes Tale.= + + 706. _So_ Hl. Cp. Pt. Ln.; E. _omits_ after, _having_ heer _only_. + 711. E. that; _rest_ so. 717. E. And; _rest_ But. + +[532: T. 16188-16211.] + + * * * * * + +THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Chanouns Yeman his Tale.= + + [_Prima pars_.] + + With this chanoun I dwelt have seven yeer, 720 + And of his science am I never the neer. + Al that I hadde, I have y-lost ther-by; + And god wot, so hath many mo than I. (170) + Ther I was wont to be right fresh and gay + Of clothing and of other good array, 725 + Now may I were an hose upon myn heed; + And wher my colour was bothe fresh and reed, + Now is it wan and of a leden hewe; + Who-so it useth, sore shal he rewe. + And of my swink yet blered is myn yë, 730 + Lo! which avantage is to multiplye! + That slyding science hath me maad so bare, + That I have no good, wher that ever I fare; (180) + And yet I am endetted so ther-by + Of gold that I have borwed, trewely, 735 + That whyl I live, I shal it quyte never. + Lat every man be war by me for ever! + What maner man that casteth him ther-to, + If he continue, I holde his thrift y-do. + So helpe me god, ther-by shal he nat winne, 740 + But empte his purs, and make his wittes thinne. + And whan he, thurgh his madnes and folye, + Hath lost his owene good thurgh Iupartye, (190) + [533: T. 16212-16246.] + Thanne he excyteth other folk ther-to, + To lese hir good as he him-self hath do. 745 + For unto shrewes Ioye it is and ese + To have hir felawes in peyne and disese; + Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk. + Of that no charge, I wol speke of our werk. + + 728. E. _omits_ a. 740. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. For so; _but_ Cp. _omits_ For. + + Whan we been ther as we shul exercyse 750 + Our elvish craft, we semen wonder wyse, + Our termes been so clergial and so queynte. + I blowe the fyr til that myn herte feynte. (200) + + What sholde I tellen ech proporcioun + Of thinges whiche that we werche upon, 755 + As on fyve or sixe ounces, may wel be, + Of silver or som other quantite, + And bisie me to telle yow the names + Of orpiment, brent bones, yren squames, + That into poudre grounden been ful smal? 760 + And in an erthen potte how put is al, + And salt y-put in, and also papeer, + Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer, (210) + And wel y-covered with a lampe of glas, + And mochel other thing which that ther was? 765 + And of the pot and glasses enluting, + That of the eyre mighte passe out no-thing? + And of the esy fyr and smart also, + Which that was maad, and of the care and wo + That we hadde in our matires sublyming, 770 + And in amalgaming and calcening + Of quik-silver, y-clept Mercurie crude? + For alle our sleightes we can nat conclude. (220) + Our orpiment and sublymed Mercurie, + Our grounden litarge eek on the porphurie, 775 + Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn + Nought helpeth us, our labour is in veyn. + Ne eek our spirites ascencioun, + [534: T. 16247-16281.] + Ne our materes that lyen al fixe adoun, + Mowe in our werking no-thing us avayle. 780 + For lost is al our labour and travayle, + And al the cost, a twenty devel weye, + Is lost also, which we upon it leye. (230) + + 761. E. _omits_ how. 762. E. Cm. papeer; Ln. papere; Lich. papire; + Cp. Pt. Hl. paupere. (Tyrwhitt _reads_ pepere.) 764. _The MSS. have_ + lampe, laumpe, lamp. 767. Lich. Pt. eyre; Ln. eyere; E. eyr; Cm. ayr; + Cp. Hl. aier. 775. E. in; Cm. &c; _rest_ on. 776. E. And; _rest_ + Of. 782. E. Cm. a; Ln. in; _rest_ on. 782, 3. Cm. Pt. Ln. weye, + leye; _rest_ way, lay. + + Ther is also ful many another thing + That is unto our craft apertening; 785 + Though I by ordre hem nat reherce can, + By-cause that I am a lewed man, + Yet wol I telle hem as they come to minde, + Though I ne can nat sette hem in hir kinde; + As bole armoniak, verdegrees, boras, 790 + And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas, + Our urinales and our descensories, + Violes, croslets, and sublymatories, (240) + Cucurbites, and alembykes eek, + And othere swiche, dere y-nough a leek. 795 + Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle, + Watres rubifying and boles galle, + Arsenik, sal armoniak, and brimstoon; + And herbes coude I telle eek many oon, + As egremoine, valerian, and lunarie, 800 + And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie. + Our lampes brenning bothe night and day, + To bringe aboute our craft, if that we may. (250) + Our fourneys eek of calcinacioun, + And of watres albificacioun, 805 + Unslekked lym, chalk, and gleyre of an ey, + Poudres diverse, asshes, dong, pisse, and cley, + Cered pokets, sal peter, vitriole; + And divers fyres maad of wode and cole; + Sal tartre, alkaly, and sal preparat, 810 + And combust materes and coagulat, + Cley maad with hors or mannes heer, and oile + Of tartre, alum, glas, berm, wort, and argoile, (260) + [535: T. 16282-16317.] + Resalgar, and our materes enbibing; + And eek of our materes encorporing, 815 + And of our silver citrinacioun, + Our cementing and fermentacioun, + Our ingottes, testes, and many mo. + + 790. E. vertgrees; Li. Cm. Cp. Hl. verdegres; Pt. verdegrees. 792. E. + Li. Hl. vrinals; Cm. vrynallis; Cp. Pt. vrinales. 803. E. purpos if; + _rest_ craft if that. 806. _The MSS. all retain_ an. 808. + _Miswritten_ pottes in E.; Hl. poketts. 812. E. and; _rest_ or. + 813. _Accent_ alum _on the_ u. 817. E. And of oure; _rest omit_ And + of. + + I wol yow telle, as was me taught also, + The foure spirites and the bodies sevene, 820 + By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene. + The firste spirit quik-silver called is, + The second orpiment, the thridde, y-wis, (270) + Sal armoniak, and the ferthe brimstoon. + The bodies sevene eek, lo! hem heer anoon: 825 + Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe, + Mars yren, Mercurie quik-silver we clepe, + Saturnus leed, and Iupiter is tin, + And Venus coper, by my fader kin! + + 820. E. seuene; _rest_ foure. + + This cursed craft who-so wol exercyse, 830 + He shal no good han that him may suffyse; + For al the good he spendeth ther-aboute, + He lese shal, ther-of have I no doute. (280) + Who-so that listeth outen his folye, + Lat him come forth, and lerne multiplye; 835 + And every man that oght hath in his cofre, + Lat him appere, and wexe a philosofre. + Ascaunce that craft is so light to lere? + Nay, nay, god woot, al be he monk or frere, + Preest or chanoun, or any other wight, 840 + Though he sitte at his book bothe day and night, + In lernyng of this elvish nyce lore, + Al is in veyn, and parde, mochel more! (290) + To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee, + Fy! spek nat ther-of, for it wol nat be; 845 + Al conne he letterure, or conne he noon, + As in effect, he shal finde it al oon. + For bothe two, by my savacioun, + Concluden, in multiplicacioun, + [536: T. 16318-16352.] + Y-lyke wel, whan they han al y-do; 850 + This is to seyn, they faylen bothe two. + + 834. E. _omits_ so. 836. E. oght hath; _rest_ hath oght (ought). + 838. E. Cm. Hl. Askauns; Ln. Ascance; _rest_ Ascaunce. 846. E. Cm. + And; _rest_ Al. + + Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille + Of watres corosif and of limaille, (300) + And of bodyes mollificacioun, + And also of hir induracioun, 855 + Oiles, ablucions, and metal fusible, + To tellen al wolde passen any bible + That o-wher is; wherfor, as for the beste, + Of alle thise names now wol I me reste. + For, as I trowe, I have yow told y-nowe 860 + To reyse a feend, al loke he never so rowe. + + 860, 861. E. Pt. Hl. ynowe, rowe; Li. ynogh, rogh; Cm. I-nogh, rogh; + Cp. ynough, rough. + + A! nay! lat be; the philosophres stoon, + Elixir clept, we sechen faste echoon; (310) + For hadde we him, than were we siker y-now. + But, unto god of heven I make avow, 865 + For al our craft, whan we han al y-do, + And al our sleighte, he wol nat come us to. + He hath y-maad us spenden mochel good, + For sorwe of which almost we wexen wood, + But that good hope crepeth in our herte, 870 + Supposinge ever, though we sore smerte, + To be releved by him afterward; + Swich supposing and hope is sharp and hard; (320) + I warne yow wel, it is to seken ever; + That futur temps hath maad men to dissever, 875 + In trust ther-of, from al that ever they hadde. + Yet of that art they can nat wexen sadde, + For unto hem it is a bitter swete; + So semeth it; for nadde they but a shete + Which that they mighte wrappe hem inne a-night, 880 + And a bak to walken inne by day-light, + They wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft; + They can nat stinte til no-thing be laft. (330) + And evermore, wher that ever they goon, + [537: T. 16353-16387.] + Men may hem knowe by smel of brimstoon; 885 + For al the world, they stinken as a goot; + Her savour is so rammish and so hoot, + That, though a man from hem a myle be, + The savour wol infecte him, trusteth me; + Lo, thus by smelling and threedbare array, 890 + If that men liste, this folk they knowe may. + And if a man wol aske hem prively, + Why they been clothed so unthriftily, (340) + They right anon wol rownen in his ere, + And seyn, that if that they espyed were, 895 + Men wolde hem slee, by-cause of hir science; + Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence! + + 864. we (2)] E. it. 867. E. With; _rest_ And. 868. Cm. I-mad vs; + Hl. I-made vs; E. maad vs; _rest_ vs made. 871. E. _omits_ euer. + 875. Cm. to; _rest omit_. 880. E. Inne at; _rest_ in a. 881. E. + brat; _rest_ bak. 882. E. Li. the; _rest_ this. 888. E. a Mile from + hem; _rest_ from hem a myle. 889. E. truste; _rest_ trusteth. 890. + E. And; _rest_ Lo. E. smel; _rest_ smellyng. + + Passe over this; I go my tale un-to. + Er than the pot be on the fyr y-do, + Of metals with a certein quantite, 900 + My lord hem tempreth, and no man but he— + Now he is goon, I dar seyn boldely— + For, as men seyn, he can don craftily; (350) + Algate I wool wel he hath swich a name, + And yet ful ofte he renneth in a blame; 905 + And wite ye how? ful ofte it happeth so, + The pot to-breketh, and farewel! al is go! + Thise metals been of so greet violence, + Our walles mowe nat make hem resistence, + But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon; 910 + They percen so, and thurgh the wal they goon, + And somme of hem sinken in-to the ground— + Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound— (360) + And somme are scatered al the floor aboute, + Somme lepe in-to the roof; with-outen doute, 915 + Though that the feend noght in our sighte him shewe, + I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe! + In helle wher that he is lord and sire, + Nis ther more wo, ne more rancour ne ire. + [538: T. 16388-16423.] + Whan that our pot is broke, as I have sayd, 920 + Every man chit, and halt him yvel apayd. + + 899. E. Ln. Lich. that; _rest_ than. 902. dar] E. Ln. dare. 905. E. + oft. 912. E. Cm. synke; _rest_ sinken. 915. E. lepte; _rest_ lepe, + lepen. 918. E. lord is; _rest_ is lord. 919. _So_ E. Cm.; _rest_ + Nis ther no more wo ne anger ne ire. + + Som seyde, it was long on the fyr-making, + Som seyde, nay! it was on the blowing; (370) + (Than was I fered, for that was myn office); + ‘Straw!’ quod the thridde, ‘ye been lewed and nyce, 925 + It was nat tempred as it oghte be.’ + ‘Nay!’ quod the ferthe, ‘stint, and herkne me; + By-cause our fyr ne was nat maad of beech, + That is the cause, and other noon, so theech!’ + I can nat telle wher-on it was long, 930 + But wel I wot greet stryf is us among. + + 922. E. Cm. along; _rest_ long. 927. E. fourthe; _see_ l. 824. 930. + Cm. Hl. long; _rest_ along; see l. 922. 931. E. vs is; _rest_ is vs. + + ‘What!’ quod my lord, ‘ther is na-more to done, + Of thise perils I wol be war eft-sone; (380) + I am right siker that the pot was crased. + Be as be may, be ye no-thing amased; 935 + As usage is, lat swepe the floor as swythe, + Plukke up your hertes, and beth gladde and blythe.’ + + The mullok on an hepe y-sweped was, + And on the floor y-cast a canevas, + And al this mullok in a sive y-throwe, 940 + And sifted, and y-piked many a throwe. + + 938. Cm. I-swepid; Ln. yswepped; E. sweped; Cp. Pt. Hl. yswoped. + + ‘Pardee,’ quod oon, ‘somwhat of our metal + Yet is ther heer, though that we han nat al. (390) + Al-though this thing mishapped have as now, + Another tyme it may be wel y-now, 945 + Us moste putte our good in aventure; + A marchant, parde! may nat ay endure, + Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee; + Somtyme his good is drenched in the see, + And somtym comth it sauf un-to the londe.’ 950 + + ‘Pees!’ quod my lord, ‘the next tyme I wol fonde + To bringe our craft al in another plyte; + And but I do, sirs, lat me han the wyte; (400) + Ther was defaute in som-what, wel I woot.’ + + 951. E. shal; _rest_ wol, wil, wele. 952. E. bryngen; _rest_ + bringe. 953. E. _omits_ sirs. + + Another seyde, the fyr was over hoot:— 955 + [539: T. 16424-16454.] + But, be it hoot or cold, I dar seye this, + That we concluden evermore amis. + We fayle of that which that we wolden have, + And in our madnesse evermore we rave. + And whan we been togidres everichoon, 960 + Every man semeth a Salomon. + But al thing which that shyneth as the gold + Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it told; (410) + Ne every appel that is fair at yë + Ne is nat good, what-so men clappe or crye. 965 + Right so, lo! fareth it amonges us; + He that semeth the wysest, by Iesus! + Is most fool, whan it cometh to the preef; + And he that semeth trewest is a theef; + That shul ye knowe, er that I fro yow wende, 970 + By that I of my tale have maad an ende. + + _Explicit prima pars. Et sequitur pars secunda_. + + 956. E. And; _rest_ But. 962. E. eu_er_y; _rest_ al, alle. Cm. + schynyth; Ln. schyneth; Hl. schineth; E. seineth; Cp. semeth. 963. + Cp. Pt. Ln. it; E. Cm. Hl. _omit_ it. 964. E. to; _rest_ at. 965. + E. Nis; _rest_ Ne is. 966. E. _omits_ lo. 967. E. Cm. wiseste; + _rest_ wisest. 972. E. was; _rest_ is. Cf. l. 987. + + Ther is a chanoun of religioun + Amonges us, wolde infecte al a toun, (420) + Though it as greet were as was Ninivee, + Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere three. 975 + His sleightes and his infinit falsnesse + Ther coude no man wryten, as I gesse, + Thogh that he mighte liven a thousand yeer. + In al this world of falshede nis his peer; + For in his termes so he wolde him winde, 980 + And speke his wordes in so sly a kinde, + Whan he commune shal with any wight, + That he wol make him doten anon right, (430) + But it a feend be, as him-selven is. + Ful many a man hath he bigyled er this, 985 + And wol, if that he live may a whyle; + [540: T. 16455-16488.] + And yet men ryde and goon ful many a myle + Him for to seke and have his aqueyntaunce, + Noght knowinge of his false governaunce. + And if yow list to yeve me audience, 990 + I wol it tellen heer in your presence. + + 976. E. sleighte; Hl. sleight; _rest_ sleightes. 978. E. lyne myghte; + _rest_ myghte lyuen. 979. E. nas; Ln. ne is; _rest_ nis, nys. 991. + Cp. Pt. Ln. tellen; _rest_ telle. + + But worshipful chanouns religious, + Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre your hous, (440) + Al-though my tale of a chanoun be. + Of every ordre som shrewe is, parde, 995 + And god forbede that al a companye + Sholde rewe a singuler mannes folye. + To sclaundre yow is no-thing myn entente, + But to correcten that is mis I mente. + This tale was nat only told for yow, 1000 + But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel how + That, among Cristes apostelles twelve, + Ther nas no traytour but Iudas him-selve. (450) + Than why sholde al the remenant have blame + That giltlees were? by yow I seye the same. 1005 + Save only this, if ye wol herkne me, + If any Iudas in your covent be, + Remeveth him bitymes, I yow rede, + If shame or los may causen any drede. + And beth no-thing displesed, I yow preye, 1010 + But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye. + + 993. E. desclaundre; _rest_ sclaundre; see l. 998. 994. E. Al-though + that; _rest omit_ that. 997. E. o; _rest_ a. 1002. Cm. apostellis; + Li. aposteles; E. apostles. 1004. E. Hl. a blame; _rest omit_ a. + 1008. Cm. Remeuyth; E. Remoeueth. 1011. E. herketh. + + In London was a preest, an annueleer, + That therin dwelled hadde many a yeer, (460) + Which was so plesaunt and so servisable + Unto the wyf, wher-as he was at table, 1015 + That she wolde suffre him no-thing for to paye + For bord ne clothing, wente he never so gaye; + And spending-silver hadde he right y-now. + Therof no fors; I wol precede as now, + And telle forth my tale of the chanoun, 1020 + [541: T. 16489-16524.] + That broghte this preest to confusioun. + + 1012. E. _omits_ an. 1013. E. had dwelled; _rest_ dwelled hadde (or + had). + + This false chanoun cam up-on a day + Unto this preestes chambre, wher he lay, (470) + Biseching him to lene him a certeyn + Of gold, and he wolde quyte it him ageyn. 1025 + ‘Lene me a mark,’ quod he, ‘but dayes three, + And at my day I wol it quyten thee. + And if so be that thou me finde fals, + Another day do hange me by the hals!’ + + This preest him took a mark, and that as swythe, 1030 + And this chanoun him thanked ofte sythe, + And took his leve, and wente forth his weye, + And at the thridde day broghte his moneye, (480) + And to the preest he took his gold agayn, + Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fayn. 1035 + + ‘Certes,’ quod he, ‘no-thing anoyeth me + To lene a man a noble, or two or three, + Or what thing were in my possessioun, + Whan he so trewe is of condicioun, + That in no wyse he breke wol his day; 1040 + To swich a man I can never seye nay.’ + + ‘What!’ quod this chanoun, ‘sholde I be untrewe? + Nay, that were thing y-fallen al of-newe. (490) + Trouthe is a thing that I wol ever kepe + Un-to that day in which that I shal crepe 1045 + In-to my grave, and elles god forbede; + Bileveth this as siker as is your crede. + God thanke I, and in good tyme be it sayd, + That ther was never man yet yvel apayd + For gold ne silver that he to me lente, 1050 + Ne never falshede in myn herte I mente. + And sir,’ quod he, ‘now of my privetee, + Sin ye so goodlich han been un-to me, (500) + And kythed to me so greet gentillesse, + Somwhat to quyte with your kindenesse, 1055 + I wol yow shewe, and, if yow list to lere, + [542: T. 16525-16559.] + I wol yow teche pleynly the manere, + How I can werken in philosophye. + Taketh good heed, ye shul wel seen at yë, + That I wol doon a maistrie er I go.’ 1060 + + 1043. E. Cm. a thyng; _rest omit_ a. 1045. E. Ln. In-to; _rest_ + Vn-to. 1046. E. or; _rest_ and. 1047. E. the; Hl. your; _rest_ is + your. 1056. E. if that; _rest_ and if (_or_ yif.) 1059. Cp. Hl. + heed; E. Li. heede. + + ‘Ye,’ quod the preest, ‘ye, sir, and wol ye so? + Marie! ther-of I pray yow hertely!’ + + 1061. _After_ sir, E. _wrongly inserts_ quod he. + + ‘At your comandement, sir, trewely,’ (510) + Quod the chanoun, ‘and elles god forbede!’ + + Lo, how this theef coude his servyse bede! 1065 + Ful sooth it is, that swich profred servyse + Stinketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse; + And that ful sone I wol it verifye + In this chanoun, rote of al trecherye, + That ever-more delyt hath and gladnesse— 1070 + Swich feendly thoughtes in his herte impresse— + How Cristes peple he may to meschief bringe; + God kepe us from his fals dissimulinge! (520) + + 1073. E. Cm. false; _rest_ fals. + + Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte, + Ne of his harm cominge he no-thing felte. 1075 + O sely preest! o sely innocent! + With coveityse anon thou shall be blent! + O gracelees, ful blind is thy conceit, + No-thing ne artow war of the deceit + Which that this fox y-shapen hath to thee! 1080 + His wyly wrenches thou ne mayst nat flee. + Wherfor, to go to the conclusioun + That refereth to thy confusioun, (530) + Unhappy man! anon I wol me hye + To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye, 1085 + And eek the falsnesse of that other wrecche, + As ferforth as that my conning may strecche. + + 1078, 1079. Hn. Hl. conceyt, deceyt; E. conceite, deceite. 1080. E. + for; _rest_ to. 1085. E. his; Cm. heigh; _rest_ thy. 1087. Cm. + that, _which seems required; rest omit_. + + This chanoun was my lord, ye wolden wene? + Sir host, in feith, and by the hevenes quene, + It was another chanoun, and nat he, 1090 + That can an hundred fold more subtiltee! + [543: T. 16560-16594.] + He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme; + Of his falshede it dulleth me to ryme. (540) + Ever whan that I speke of his falshede, + For shame of him my chekes wexen rede; 1095 + Algates, they biginnen for to glowe, + For reednesse have I noon, right wel I knowe, + In my visage; for fumes dyverse + Of metals, which ye han herd me reherce, + Consumed and wasted han my reednesse. 1100 + Now tak heed of this chanouns cursednesse! + + 1101. E. heede; Hl. heed; Cm. hed. + + ‘Sir,’ quod he to the preest, ‘lat your man gon + For quik-silver, that we it hadde anon; (550) + And lat him bringen ounces two or three; + And whan he comth, as faste shul ye see 1105 + A wonder thing, which ye saugh never er this.’ + + 1103. E. Cm. hadde it; _rest_ it hadde. 1106. Cm. Cp. say; E. saugh. + + ‘Sir,’ quod the preest, ‘it shall be doon, y-wis.’ + He bad his servant fecchen him this thing, + And he al redy was at his bidding, + And wente him forth, and cam anon agayn 1110 + With this quik-silver, soothly for to sayn, + And took thise ounces three to the chanoun; + And he hem leyde fayre and wel adoun, (560) + And bad the servant coles for to bringe, + That he anon mighte go to his werkinge. 1115 + + 1111. E. Cm. soothly; _rest_ schortly. 1112. Hl. took; E. toke. + 1113. E. Cm. hem; _rest_ it. + + The coles right anon weren y-fet, + And this chanoun took out a crosselet + Of his bosom, and shewed it the preest. + ‘This instrument,’ quod he, ‘which that thou seest, + Tak in thyn hand, and put thy-self ther-inne 1120 + Of this quik-silver an ounce, and heer biginne, + In the name of Crist, to wexe a philosofre. + Ther been ful fewe, whiche that I wolde profre (570) + To shewen hem thus muche of my science. + For ye shul seen heer, by experience, 1125 + That this quik-silver wol I mortifye + [544: T. 16595-16627.] + Right in your sighte anon, withouten lye, + And make it as good silver and as fyn + As ther is any in your purs or myn, + Or elleswher, and make it malliable; 1130 + And elles, holdeth me fals and unable + Amonges folk for ever to appere! + I have a poudre heer, that coste me dere, (580) + Shal make al good, for it is cause of al + My conning, which that I yow shewen shal. 1135 + Voydeth your man, and lat him be ther-oute, + And shet the dore, whyls we been aboute + Our privetee, that no man us espye + Whyls that we werke in this philosophye.’ + Al as he bad, fulfilled was in dede, 1140 + This ilke servant anon-right out yede, + And his maister shette the dore anon, + And to hir labour speedily they gon. (590) + + 1118. E. to the; _rest_ omit to. 1120. Hl. Cp. Tak; E. Taake. 1123. + E. to whiche; Cm. to whiche that; _rest_ whiche that. 1127. E. I wol + nat; Hl. with-outen; Cm. w_i_t_h_-outyn; _the rest_ withoute (_or_ + without.) 1128. E. _omits_ it. 1135. E. to yow; _rest omit_ to. + 1137. Hl. Cp. Pt. schitte. + + This preest, at this cursed chanouns bidding, + Up-on the fyr anon sette this thing, 1145 + And blew the fyr, and bisied him ful faste; + And this chanoun in-to the croslet caste + A poudre, noot I wher-of that it was + Y-maad, other of chalk, other of glas, + Or som-what elles, was nat worth a flye, 1150 + To blynde with the preest; and bad him hye + The coles for to couchen al above + The croslet, ‘for, in tokening I thee love,’ (600) + Quod this chanoun, ‘thyn owene hondes two + Shul werche al thing which that shal heer be do.’ 1155 + + 1147. Cm. Hl. croslet; E. Li. crosselet. _So in_ 1153. 1149. other + (2)] E. Li. or: Pt. or ellis. 1155. Cm. Hl. that; E. _om._; _rest_ + as. E. Cm. heer; _rest om._ + + ‘Graunt mercy,’ quod the preest, and was ful glad, + And couched coles as the chanoun bad. + And whyle he bisy was, this feendly wrecche, + This fals chanoun, the foule feend him fecche! + [545: T. 16628-16659.] + Out of his bosom took a bechen cole, 1160 + In which ful subtilly was maad an hole, + And ther-in put was of silver lymaille + An ounce, and stopped was, with-outen fayle, (610) + The hole with wex, to kepe the lymail in. + And understondeth, that this false gin 1165 + Was nat maad ther, but it was maad bifore; + And othere thinges I shal telle more + Herafterward, which that he with him broghte; + Er he cam ther, him to bigyle he thoghte, + And so he dide, er that they wente a-twinne; 1170 + Til he had torned him, coude he not blinne. + It dulleth me whan that I of him speke, + On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke, (620) + If I wiste how; but he is heer and ther: + He is so variaunt, he abit no-wher. 1175 + + 1157. E. Cm. cole; _rest_ coles. E. that; Cm. that the; _rest_ the. + 1159. Li. Pt. Ln. fals; _rest_ false. 1160. E. he took; _rest omit_ + he. 1162, 1164. E. lemaille; _but_ Cm. lymayle, lymayl; _see_ l. + 853. 1171. E. terned; Cm. ternede; _rest_ torned, turned. E. he + coude. 1175. E. Cp. that he; _rest omit_ that. + + But taketh heed now, sirs, for goddes love! + He took his cole of which I spak above, + And in his hond he baar it prively. + And whyls the preest couchede busily + The coles, as I tolde yow er this, 1180 + This chanoun seyde, ‘freend, ye doon amis; + This is nat couched as it oghte be; + But sone I shal amenden it,’ quod he. (630) + ‘Now lat me medle therwith but a whyle, + For of yow have I pitee, by seint Gyle! 1185 + Ye been right hoot, I see wel how ye swete, + Have heer a cloth, and wype awey the wete.’ + And whyles that the preest wyped his face, + This chanoun took his cole with harde grace, + And leyde it above, up-on the middeward 1190 + Of the croslet, and blew wel afterward, + [546: T. 16660-16695.] + Til that the coles gonne faste brenne. + + 1177. E. this; _rest_ his; _see_ l. 1189. 1179. Cm. couchede; Cp. + couchide; _rest_ couched. 1188. Cm. Pt. whilis; Hl. Lichf. whiles; E. + whils. 1189. _So_ E.; Cm. with sory grace (_see_ l. 665). _Most MSS. + have_. I shrewe his face, _and make_ l. 1188 _end with_ him wyped + has. 1190. E. _has_ aboue vp on; Cm. _the same, but omitting_ it; Hl. + abouen on; _the rest_ vpon abouen. 1191. Cm. Hl. croslet; E. Cp. + crosselet. + + ‘Now yeve us drinke,’ quod the chanoun thenne, (640) + ‘As swythe al shal be wel, I undertake; + Sitte we doun, and lat us mery make.’ 1195 + And whan that this chanounes bechen cole + Was brent, al the lymaille, out of the hole, + Into the croslet fil anon adoun; + And so it moste nedes, by resoun, + Sin it so even aboven couched was; 1200 + But ther-of wiste the preest no-thing, alas! + He demed alle the coles y-liche good, + For of the sleighte he no-thing understood. (650) + And whan this alkamistre saugh his tyme, + ‘Rys up,’ quod he, ‘sir preest, and stondeth by me; 1205 + And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon, + Goth, walketh forth, and bring us a chalk-stoon; + For I wol make oon of the same shap + That is an ingot, if I may han hap. + And bringeth eek with yow a bolle or a panne, 1210 + Ful of water, and ye shul see wel thanne + How that our bisinesse shal thryve and preve. + And yet, for ye shul han no misbileve (660) + Ne wrong conceit of me in your absence, + I ne wol nat been out of your presence, 1215 + But go with yow, and come with yow ageyn.’ + The chambre-dore, shortly for to seyn, + They opened and shette, and wente hir weye. + And forth with hem they carieden the keye, + And come agayn with-outen any delay. 1220 + What sholde I tarien al the longe day? + He took the chalk, and shoop it in the wyse + Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse. (670) + + 1195. E. myrie; Cm. Cp. merye; _rest_ mery. 1200. E. abouen it; + _rest_ aboue. 1203. the] E. that. 1205. Lichf. Cp. Pt. stondeth; + Ln. Hl. stonde; Cm. stand; E. sit. 1206. ye] E. I. 1214. E. + conceite. + + I seye, he took out of his owene sleve, + A teyne of silver (yvele mote he cheve!) 1225 + Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte; + And taketh heed now of his cursed sleighte! + + 1226. Cm. ne; _rest omit_. 1227. E. taak; _rest_ taketh. 1228. E. + eek; _rest omit_. + +[547: T. 16696-16730.] + + He shoop his ingot, in lengthe and eek in brede, + Of this teyne, with-outen any drede, + So slyly, that the preest it nat espyde; 1230 + And in his sleve agayn he gan it hyde; + And fro the fyr he took up his matere, + And in thingot putte it with mery chere, (680) + And in the water-vessel he it caste + Whan that him luste, and bad the preest as faste, 1235 + ‘Look what ther is, put in thyn hand and grope, + Thow finde shalt ther silver, as I hope; + What, devel of helle! sholde it elles be? + Shaving of silver silver is, pardee!’ + He putte his hond in, and took up a teyne 1240 + Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne + Was this preest, whan he saugh that it was so. + ‘Goddes blessing, and his modres also, (690) + And alle halwes have ye, sir chanoun,’ + Seyde this preest, ‘and I hir malisoun, 1245 + But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me + This noble craft and this subtilitee, + I wol be youre, in al that ever I may!’ + + 1229. Tyrwhitt _reads_ Of thilke; _I propose_—As of this teyne. + 1236. E. What that heer is; _rest_ Look what ther is. 1239. E. + _omits_ ll. 1238, 1239. _From_ Lichf. 1242. E. Hl. _omit_ that; + _found in_ Cm. Cp. Pt. Ln. 1247. Hl. subtilite; Cm. sotylete; E. + subtiltee; _rest_ sotilte, sotiltie; _see_ l. 620. + + Quod the chanoun, ‘yet wol I make assay + The second tyme, that ye may taken hede 1250 + And been expert of this, and in your nede + Another day assaye in myn absence + This disciplyne and this crafty science. (700) + Lat take another ounce,’ quod he tho, + ‘Of quik-silver, with-outen wordes mo, 1255 + And do ther-with as ye han doon er this + With that other, which that now silver is.’ + + 1249. E. preest; _rest_ chanoun. + + This preest him bisieth in al that he can + To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man, + Comanded him, and faste he blew the fyr, 1260 + For to come to theffect of his desyr. + And this chanoun, right in the mene whyle, + [548: T. 16731-16763.] + Al redy was, the preest eft to bigyle, (710) + And, for a countenance, in his hande he bar + An holwe stikke (tak keep and be war!) 1265 + In the ende of which an ounce, and na-more, + Of silver lymail put was, as bifore + Was in his cole, and stopped with wex weel + For to kepe in his lymail every deel. + And whyl this preest was in his bisinesse, 1270 + This chanoun with his stikke gan him dresse + To him anon, and his pouder caste in + As he did er; (the devel out of his skin (720) + Him torne, I pray to god, for his falshede; + For he was ever fals in thoght and dede); 1275 + And with this stikke, above the croslet, + That was ordeyned with that false get, + He stired the coles, til relente gan + The wex agayn the fyr, as every man, + But it a fool be, woot wel it mot nede, 1280 + And al that in the stikke was out yede, + And in the croslet hastily it fel. + + 1260. E. he; _rest om._ 1265. Hl. keep; E. kepe; Cm. keepe; _rest_ + hede. 1268. E. _omits_ Was. 1272. Lichf. Ln. pouder; Cm. poudere; + E. Cp. poudre. 1274. E. terve; Cm. Pt. turne; _rest_ torne. 1277. + E. Cm. Iet ( = jet); Hl. get; Ln. gett; Cp. Pt. gette. + + Now gode sirs, what wol ye bet than wel? (730) + Whan that this preest thus was bigyled ageyn, + Supposing noght but trouthe, soth to seyn, 1285 + He was so glad, that I can nat expresse + In no manere his mirthe and his gladnesse; + And to the chanoun he profred eftsone + Body and good; ‘ye,’ quod the chanoun sone, + ‘Though povre I be, crafty thou shalt me finde; 1290 + I warne thee, yet is ther more bihinde. + Is ther any coper her-inne?’ seyde he. + ‘Ye,’ quod the preest, ‘sir, I trowe wel ther be.’ (740) + ‘Elles go by us som, and that as swythe, + Now, gode sir, go forth thy wey and hy the.’ 1295 + + 1283. Cm. goode: E. good; see l. 1295. Cp. Pt. Ln. The preest + supposede nothing but wel. 1284. Cp. Pt. Ln. But busyed him faste, + and was wonder fayn. 1286. E. ne kan; _rest omit_ ne. 1292. _So + all_. 1295. Cm. Hl. goode; E. good; _rest omit_. + +[549: T. 16764-16799.] + + He wente his wey, and with the coper cam, + And this chanoun it in his handes nam, + And of that coper weyed out but an ounce. + Al to simple is my tonge to pronounce, + As ministre of my wit, the doublenesse 1300 + Of this chanoun, rote of al cursednesse. + He semed freendly to hem that knewe him noght, + But he was feendly bothe in herte and thoght. (750) + It werieth me to telle of his falsnesse, + And nathelees yet wol I it expresse, 1305 + To thentente that men may be war therby, + And for noon other cause, trewely. + + 1301. E. Cm. alle; _rest omit; read_ al. + + He putte his ounce of coper in the croslet, + And on the fyr as swythe he hath it set, + And caste in poudre, and made the preest to blowe, 1310 + And in his werking for to stoupe lowe, + As he dide er, and al nas but a Iape; + Right as him liste, the preest he made his ape; (760) + And afterward in the ingot he it caste, + And in the panne putte it at the laste 1315 + Of water, and in he putte his owene hond. + And in his sleve (as ye biforn-hond + Herde me telle) he hadde a silver teyne. + He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne— + Unwiting this preest of his false craft— 1320 + And in the pannes botme he hath it laft; + And in the water rombled to and fro, + And wonder prively took up also (770) + The coper teyne, noght knowing this preest, + And hidde it, and him hente by the breest, 1325 + And to him spak, and thus seyde in his game, + ‘Stoupeth adoun, by god, ye be to blame, + Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whyl-er, + Putte in your hand, and loketh what is ther.’ + + 1308. Cm. his; E. the; _rest_ this. 1316. E. the water; _rest_ water + and. 1318. E. _omits_ he. 1319. Cp. Hl. took; Cm. tok; E. tooke. + 1328. E. a; _rest_ I. + + This preest took up this silver teyne anon, 1330 + And thanne seyde the chanoun, ‘lat us gon + [550: T. 16800-16836.] + With thise three teynes, which that we han wroght, + To som goldsmith, and wite if they been oght. (780) + For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood, + But-if that they were silver, fyn and good, 1335 + And that as swythe preved shal it be.’ + + 1336. E. it shal; Ln. schal he; _rest_ shal it. + + Un-to the goldsmith with thise teynes three + They wente, and putte thise teynes in assay + To fyr and hamer; mighte no man sey nay, + But that they weren as hem oghte be. 1340 + + 1339. E. seye; Cm. sey. + + This sotted preest, who was gladder than he? + Was never brid gladder agayn the day, + Ne nightingale, in the sesoun of May, (790) + Nas never noon that luste bet to singe; + Ne lady lustier in carolinge 1345 + Or for to speke of love and wommanhede, + Ne knight in armes to doon an hardy dede + To stonde in grace of his lady dere, + Than had this preest this sory craft to lere; + And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde, 1350 + ‘For love of god, that for us alle deyde, + And as I may deserve it un-to yow, + What shal this receit coste? telleth now!’ (800) + + 1344. E. man; _rest_ noon (non). 1353. E. receite; Lichf. Cp. Hl. + receyt. + + ‘By our lady,’ quod this chanoun, ‘it is dere, + I warne yow wel; for, save I and a frere, 1355 + In Engelond ther can no man it make.’ + + ‘No fors,’ quod he, ‘now, sir, for goddes sake, + What shal I paye? telleth me, I preye.’ + + ‘Y-wis,’ quod he, ‘it is ful dere, I seye; + Sir, at o word, if that thee list it have, 1360 + Ye shul paye fourty pound, so god me save! + And, nere the freendship that ye dide er this + To me, ye sholde paye more, y-wis.’ (810) + + This preest the somme of fourty pound anon + Of nobles fette, and took hem everichon 1365 + To this chanoun, for this ilke receit; + Al his werking nas but fraude and deceit. + + ‘Sir preest,’ he seyde, ‘I kepe han no loos + [551: T. 16837-16871.] + Of my craft, for I wolde it kept were cloos; + And as ye love me, kepeth it secree; 1370 + For, and men knewe al my subtilitee, + By god, they wolden han so greet envye + To me, by-cause of my philosophye, (820) + I sholde be deed, ther were non other weye.’ + + 1371. E. Cp. knewen; Cm. knewyn; _rest_ knewe. Ln. subtilite; Cm. + subtilete; E. soutiltee; _see_ ll. 620, 1247. + + ‘God it forbede!’ quod the preest, ‘what sey ye?’ 1375 + Yet hadde I lever spenden al the good + Which that I have (and elles wexe I wood!) + Than that ye sholden falle in swich mescheef.’ + + 1377. E. or; _rest_ and. + + ‘For your good wil, sir, have ye right good preef,’ + Quod the chanoun, ‘and far-wel, grant mercy!’ 1380 + He wente his wey and never the preest him sy + After that day; and whan that this preest sholde + Maken assay, at swich tyme as he wolde, (830) + Of this receit, far-wel! it wolde nat be! + Lo, thus byiaped and bigyled was he! 1385 + Thus maketh he his introduccioun + To bringe folk to hir destruccioun.— + + 1387. E. Cm. _omit_ hir. + + Considereth, sirs, how that, in ech estaat, + Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat + So ferforth, that unnethes is ther noon. 1390 + This multiplying blent so many oon, + That in good feith I trowe that it be + The cause grettest of swich scarsetee. (840) + Philosophres speken so mistily + In this craft, that men can nat come therby, 1395 + For any wit that men han now a-dayes. + They mowe wel chiteren, as doon thise Iayes, + And in her termes sette hir lust and peyne, + But to hir purpos shul they never atteyne. + A man may lightly lerne, if he have aught, 1400 + To multiplye, and bringe his good to naught! + + 1390. E. Hl. vnnethe; _rest_ vnnethes. 1397. E. as that doon; Cm. as + don; _rest_ as doon thise. + + Lo! swich a lucre is in this lusty game, + A mannes mirthe it wol torne un-to grame, (850) + [552: T. 16872-16907.] + And empten also grete and hevy purses, + And maken folk for to purchasen curses 1405 + Of hem, that han hir good therto y-lent. + O! fy! for shame! they that han been brent, + Allas! can they nat flee the fyres hete? + Ye that it use, I rede ye it lete, + Lest ye lese al; for bet than never is late. 1410 + Never to thryve were to long a date. + Though ye prolle ay, ye shul it never finde; + Ye been as bolde as is Bayard the blinde, (860) + That blundreth forth, and peril casteth noon; + He is as bold to renne agayn a stoon 1415 + As for to goon besydes in the weye. + So faren ye that multiplye, I seye. + If that your yën can nat seen aright, + Loke that your minde lakke nought his sight. + For, though ye loke never so brode, and stare, 1420 + Ye shul nat winne a myte on that chaffare, + But wasten al that ye may rape and renne. + Withdrawe the fyr, lest it to faste brenne; (870) + Medleth na-more with that art, I mene, + For, if ye doon, your thrift is goon ful clene. 1425 + And right as swythe I wol yow tellen here, + What philosophres seyn in this matere. + + 1404. E. Cp. heuye; _rest_ hevy. 1407. E. _omits_ O. 1414. E. + blondreth. 1421. E. Cm. no thyng wynne; Hl. nought Wynne (upon); + _rest_ nat wynne a myte. 1427. Cm. What that ȝe; _rest_ What that + the (_badly_). 1434. E. fader first was; _rest omit_ first. + + Lo, thus seith Arnold of the Newe Toun, + As his Rosarie maketh mencioun; + He seith right thus, with-outen any lye, 1430 + ‘Ther may no man Mercurie mortifye, + But it be with his brother knowleching. + How that he, which that first seyde this thing, (880) + Of philosophres fader was, Hermes; + He seith, how that the dragoun, doutelees, 1435 + Ne deyeth nat, but-if that he be slayn + With his brother; and that is for to sayn, + By the dragoun, Mercurie and noon other + He understood; and brimstoon by his brother, + [553: T. 16908-16942.] + That out of _sol_ and _luna_ were y-drawe. 1440 + And therfor,’ seyde he, ‘tak heed to my sawe, + Let no man bisy him this art for to seche, + But-if that he thentencioun and speche (890) + Of philosophres understonde can; + And if he do, he is a lewed man. 1445 + For this science and this conning,’ quod he, + ‘Is of the secree of secrees, parde.’ + + 1441. Cm. Cp. Hl. heed; _rest_ heede, hede. 1447. E. Cm. of the + secretes; Cp. Pt. of secrees; Hl. of secretz; Ln. of secretees. + + Also ther was a disciple of Plato, + That on a tyme seyde his maister to, + As his book Senior wol bere witnesse, 1450 + And this was his demande in soothfastnesse: + ‘Tel me the name of the privy stoon?’ + + And Plato answerde unto him anoon, (900) + ‘Tak the stoon that Titanos men name.’ + + ‘Which is that?’ quod he. ‘Magnesia is the same,’ 1455 + Seyde Plato. ‘Ye, sir, and is it thus? + This is _ignotum per ignotius_. + What is Magnesia, good sir, I yow preye?’ + + 1455, 8. Lichf. Ln. magnesia; _rest_ magnasia. + + ‘It is a water that is maad, I seye, + Of elementes foure,’ quod Plato. 1460 + + ‘Tel me the rote, good sir,’ quod he tho, + ‘Of that water, if that it be your wille?’ + + 1461. E. roote; _rest_ roche, rooche, roches. 1462. Cm. that it; + _rest omit_ that. + + ‘Nay, nay,’ quod Plato, ‘certein, that I nille. (910) + The philosophres sworn were everichoon, + That they sholden discovere it un-to noon, 1465 + Ne in no book it wryte in no manere; + For un-to Crist it is so leef and dere + That he wol nat that it discovered be, + But wher it lyketh to his deitee + Man for tenspyre, and eek for to defende 1470 + Whom that him lyketh; lo, this is the ende.’ + + 1467. E. lief; Lichf. Cp. Pt. Hl. leef; Cm. lef. + + Thanne conclude I thus; sith god of hevene + Ne wol nat that the philosophres nevene (920) + How that a man shal come un-to this stoon, + [554: T. 16943-9.] + I rede, as for the beste, lete it goon. 1475 + For who-so maketh god his adversarie, + As for to werken any thing in contrarie + Of his wil, certes, never shal he thryve, + Thogh that he multiplye terme of his lyve. + And ther a poynt; for ended is my tale; 1480 + God sende every trewe man bote of his bale!—Amen. (928) + + =Here is ended the Chanouns Yemannes Tale.= + + 1472. Hl. syn; Lichf. Cm. syn that; E. sith that; Cp. Pt. sithens that; + _rest_ sith that, sithens that. 1475. E. _vs_; _the rest_ as. 1477. + E. werken; Cm. werkyn; Hl. werke; _rest_ worche. 1479. E. Cm. _omit_ + his. COLOPHON. _So in_ E. Cm.; Hl. has—Here endeth the chanouns + yeman his tale. + +[555: T. 16950-16968.] + + * * * * * + +GROUP H + +THE MANCIPLE’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + =Here folweth the Prologe of the Maunciples Tale.= + + Wite ye nat wher ther stant a litel toun + Which that y-cleped is Bob-up-and-doun, + Under the Blee, in Caunterbury weye? + Ther gan our hoste for to Iape and pleye, + And seyde, ‘sirs, what! Dun is in the myre! + Is ther no man, for preyere ne for hyre, + That wol awake our felawe heer bihinde? + A theef mighte him ful lightly robbe and binde. + See how he nappeth! see, for cokkes bones, + As he wol falle from his hors at ones. + Is that a cook of Londoun, with meschaunce? + Do him come forth, he knoweth his penaunce, + For he shal telle a tale, by my fey! + Al-though it be nat worth a botel hey. + Awake, thou cook,’ quod he, ‘god yeve thee sorwe, + What eyleth thee to slepe by the morwe? + Hastow had fleen al night, or artow dronke, + Or hastow with som quene al night y-swonke, + So that thou mayst nat holden up thyn heed?’ + + HEADING: _from_ E. Cp.; Cm. _has_—Heryth the merye wordys of the Host + to the cok of Lundene. 1. E. Hn. Woot; Cp. Hl. Wot; Cm. Wote; Pt. Ln. + Wete; Wite _is better, as in_ l. 82. 7. Cm. here; E. Hn. Hl. al; + _rest omit_. 9. _So_ Cp. Hl.; E. see how for; Hn. se how for; Cm. so + how for. + +[556: T. 16969-17003.] + + This cook, that was ful pale and no-thing reed, 20 + Seyde to our host, ‘so god my soule blesse, + As ther is falle on me swich hevinesse, + Noot I nat why, that me were lever slepe + Than the beste galoun wyn in Chepe.’ + + ‘Wel,’ quod the maunciple, ‘if it may doon ese 25 + To thee, sir cook, and to no wight displese + Which that heer rydeth in this companye, + And that our host wol, of his curteisye, + I wol as now excuse thee of thy tale; + For, in good feith, thy visage is ful pale, 30 + Thyn yën daswen eek, as that me thinketh, + And wel I woot, thy breeth ful soure stinketh, + That sheweth wel thou art not wel disposed; + Of me, certein, thou shalt nat been y-glosed. + Se how he ganeth, lo, this dronken wight, 35 + As though he wolde us swolwe anon-right. + Hold cloos thy mouth, man, by thy fader kin! + The devel of helle sette his foot ther-in! + Thy cursed breeth infecte wol us alle; + Fy, stinking swyn, fy! foule moot thee falle! 40 + A! taketh heed, sirs, of this lusty man. + Now, swete sir, wol ye Iusten atte fan? + Ther-to me thinketh ye been wel y-shape! + I trowe that ye dronken han wyn ape, + And that is whan men pleyen with a straw.’ 45 + And with this speche the cook wex wrooth and wraw, + And on the maunciple he gan nodde faste + For lakke of speche, and doun the hors him caste, + Wher as he lay, til that men up him took; + This was a fayr chivachee of a cook! 50 + Allas! he nadde holde him by his ladel! + And, er that he agayn were in his sadel, + Ther was greet showving bothe to and fro, + To lifte him up, and muchel care and wo, + [557: T. 17004-17038.] + So unweldy was this sory palled gost. 55 + And to the maunciple thanne spak our host, + ‘By-cause drink hath dominacioun + Upon this man, by my savacioun + I trowe he lewedly wolde telle his tale. + For, were it wyn, or old or moysty ale, 60 + That he hath dronke, he speketh in his nose, + And fneseth faste, and eek he hath the pose. + He hath also to do more than y-nough + To kepe him and his capel out of slough; + And, if he falle from his capel eft-sone, 65 + Than shul we alle have y-nough to done, + In lifting up his hevy dronken cors. + Telle on thy tale, of him make I no fors. + + 29. E. _omits_ as. 31. E. Hn. Hl. daswen; Cm. daswe; Cp. dasewen; Pt. + dasen; Ln. dasoweþe. 36. Cp. Ln. vs swolwe; _rest_ swolwe vs. 40. + E. thou; _rest_ thee _or_ the. 46. Cm. Pt, Ln. wex; _rest_ wax. 49. + E. Hn. vp hym; _rest_ him vp. 55. E. vnweeldy. 59. E. Cm. Ln. _put_ + lewedly _before_ he. 62. _So_ E. Hn. Cp. Ln. Hl.; Cm. sneseth; Pt. + galpeth. 64. E. of; _rest_ of the. + + But yet, maunciple, in feith thou art to nyce, + Thus openly repreve him of his vyce. 70 + Another day he wol, peraventure, + Reclayme thee, and bringe thee to lure; + I mene, he speke wol of smale thinges, + As for to pinchen at thy rekeninges, + That wer not honeste, if it cam to preef.’ 75 + + ‘No,’ quod the maunciple, ‘that were a greet mescheef! + So mighte he lightly bringe me in the snare. + Yet hadde I lever payen for the mare + Which he rit on, than he sholde with me stryve; + I wol nat wratthe him, al-so mote I thryve! 80 + That that I spak, I seyde it in my bourde; + And wite ye what? I have heer, in a gourde, + A draught of wyn, ye, of a rype grape, + And right anon ye shul seen a good Iape. + This cook shal drinke ther-of, if I may; 85 + Up peyne of deeth, he wol nat seye me nay!’ + + 76. _All the 7 MSS. retain_ a: Hl. _omits_ No. 79. E. Which that; + _rest omit_ that. 81. E. speke; _rest_ spak. 85. E. Pt. if that; + _rest omit_ that. + + And certeinly, to tellen as it was, + Of this vessel the cook drank faste, allas! + What neded him? he drank y-nough biforn. + [558: T. 17039-17053.] + And whan he hadde pouped in this horn, 90 + To the maunciple he took the gourde agayn; + And of that drinke the cook was wonder fayn, + And thanked him in swich wyse as he coude. + + 89. So E.; Cm. nedith hym; Hn. Hl. neded it; _rest_ needeth it. 90. + E. Hn. Cm. this; _rest_ his. + + Than gan our host to laughen wonder loude, + And seyde, ‘I see wel, it is necessarie, 95 + Wher that we goon, good drink we with us carie; + For that wol turne rancour and disese + Tacord and love, and many a wrong apese. + + 96. E. that; _rest_ good. 98. _So_ E. Hn.; Cm. Cp. Ln. Hl. To acord; + Pt. To pees. + + O thou Bachus, y-blessed be thy name, + That so canst turnen ernest in-to game! 100 + Worship and thank be to thy deitee! + Of that matere ye gete na-more of me. + Tel on thy tale, maunciple, I thee preye.’ + + 99. Hl. thou; _rest omit_. Cp. Pt. Ln. Bachus; _rest_ Bacus. + + ‘Wel, sir,’ quod he, ‘now herkneth what I seye.’ + + =Thus Endeth the Prologe of the Manciple.= + + COLOPHON. _From_ Pt. + +[559: T. 17054-17079.] + + * * * * * + +THE MAUNCIPLES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Maunciples Tale of the Crowe.= + + Whan Phebus dwelled here in this erthe adoun, 105 + As olde bokes maken mencioun, + He was the moste lusty bachiler + In al this world, and eek the beste archer; + He slow Phitoun, the serpent, as he lay + Slepinge agayn the sonne upon a day; 110 + And many another noble worthy dede + He with his bowe wroghte, as men may rede. + + 105. E. world; _rest_ erthe. 108. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. Of (_for In_). + + Pleyen he coude on every minstralcye, + And singen, that it was a melodye, (10) + To heren of his clere vois the soun. 115 + Certes the king of Thebes, Amphioun, + That with his singing walled that citee, + Coude never singen half so wel as he. + Therto he was the semelieste man + That is or was, sith that the world bigan. 120 + What nedeth it his fetures to discryve? + For in this world was noon so fair on lyve. + He was ther-with fulfild of gentillesse, + Of honour, and of parfit worthinesse. (20) + + This Phebus, that was flour of bachelrye, 125 + As wel in fredom as in chivalrye, + For his desport, in signe eek of victorie + Of Phitoun, so as telleth us the storie, + Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe. + + 125. Hn. Cp. bachelrye; E. Bachilrie. + + Now had this Phebus in his hous a crowe, 130 + [560: T. 17080-17114.] + Which in a cage he fostred many a day, + And taughte it speken, as men teche a Iay. + Whyt was this crowe, as is a snow-whyt swan, + And countrefete the speche of every man (30) + He coude, whan he sholde telle a tale. 135 + Ther-with in al this world no nightingale + Ne coude, by an hondred thousand deel, + Singen so wonder merily and weel. + + 130. E. hadde. 132. Hl. speken; _rest_ speke. 133. E. _om._ is. + 138. E. Hn. myrily. + + Now had this Phebus in his hous a wyf, + Which that he lovede more than his lyf, 140 + And night and day dide ever his diligence + Hir for to plese, and doon hir reverence, + Save only, if the sothe that I shal sayn, + Ialous he was, and wolde have hept hir fayn; (40) + For him were looth by-iaped for to be. 145 + And so is every wight in swich degree; + But al in ydel, for it availleth noght. + A good wyf, that is clene of werk and thoght, + Sholde nat been kept in noon await, certayn; + And trewely, the labour is in vayn 150 + To kepe a shrewe, for it wol nat be. + This holde I for a verray nycetee, + To spille labour, for to kepe wyves; + Thus writen olde clerkes in hir lyves. (50) + + 139. E. hadde. 143. E. Cm. _om._ if; Hn. that. that] Hn. if. 147. + E. Cm. in ydel; _rest_ for naught. + + But now to purpos, as I first bigan: 155 + This worthy Phebus dooth all that he can + To plesen hir, weninge by swich plesaunce, + And for his manhede and his governaunce, + That no man sholde han put him from hir grace. + But god it woot, ther may no man embrace 160 + As to destreyne a thing, which that nature + Hath naturelly set in a creature. + + 157. E. Cm. that; Hn. for; _rest_ by (be). 162. E. natureelly. + + Tak any brid, and put it in a cage, + And do al thyn entente and thy corage (60) + To fostre it tendrely with mete and drinke, 165 + [561: T. 17115-17149.] + Of alle deyntees that thou canst bithinke, + And keep it al-so clenly as thou may; + Al-though his cage of gold be never so gay, + Yet hath this brid, by twenty thousand fold, + Lever in a forest, that is rude and cold, 170 + Gon ete wormes and swich wrecchednesse. + For ever this brid wol doon his bisinesse + To escape out of his cage, if he may; + His libertee this brid desireth ay. (70) + + 163. E. Taak. 170. Cp. Pt. Ln. wilde (_for_ rude); Hl. wyd. 173. + Cp. when; Ln. Hl. whan; _rest_ if. 174. E. Hn. Cm. this; _rest_ the. + + Lat take a cat, and fostre him wel with milk, 175 + And tendre flesh, and make his couche of silk, + And lat him seen a mous go by the wal; + Anon he weyveth milk, and flesh, and al, + And every deyntee that is in that hous, + Swich appetyt hath he to ete a mous. 180 + Lo, here hath lust his dominacioun, + And appetyt flemeth discrecioun. + + 180. E. he hath; Cp. hath sche; _rest_ hath he. + + A she-wolf hath also a vileins kinde; + The lewedeste wolf that she may finde, (80) + Or leest of reputacion wol she take, 185 + In tyme whan hir lust to han a make. + + 185. Hl. _ins._ him, _and the rest_ that, _before_ wol (_badly_). + + Alle thise ensamples speke I by thise men + That been untrewe, and no-thing by wommen. + For men han ever a likerous appetyt + On lower thing to parfourne hir delyt 190 + Than on hir wyves, be they never so faire, + Ne never so trewe, ne so debonaire. + Flesh is so newefangel, with meschaunce, + That we ne conne in no-thing han plesaunce (90) + That souneth in-to vertu any whyle. 195 + + 195. Hl. Cm. souneth; _rest_ sowneth. + + This Phebus, which that thoghte upon no gyle, + Deceyved was, for al his Iolitee; + For under him another hadde she, + A man of litel reputacioun, + Noght worth to Phebus in comparisoun. 200 + [562: T. 17150-17184.] + The more harm is; it happeth ofte so, + Of which ther cometh muchel harm and wo. + + 200. Cp. Hl. Nought; E. Hn. Nat; _rest_ Not; _see_ l. 254. + + And so bifel, whan Phebus was absent, + His wyf anon hath for hir lemman sent, (100) + Hir lemman? certes, this is a knavish speche! 205 + Foryeveth it me, and that I yow biseche. + + The wyse Plato seith, as ye may rede, + The word mot nede accorde with the dede. + If men shal telle proprely a thing, + The word mot cosin be to the werking. 210 + I am a boistous man, right thus seye I, + Ther nis no difference, trewely, + Bitwixe a wyf that is of heigh degree, + If of hir body dishonest she be, (110) + And a povre wenche, other than this— 215 + If it so be, they werke bothe amis— + But that the gentile, in estaat above, + She shal be cleped his lady, as in love; + And for that other is a povre womman, + She shal be cleped his wenche, or his lemman. 220 + And, god it wool, myn owene dere brother, + Men leyn that oon as lowe as lyth that other. + + 214. E. Cp. dishoneste; Hn. deshoneste. 215. _For_ a, Tyrwhitt + _reads_ any. 217. E. Cm. hir estaat (stat); _rest om._ hir. + + Right so, bitwixe a titlelees tiraunt + And an outlawe, or a theef erraunt, (120) + The same I seye, ther is no difference. 225 + To Alisaundre told was this sentence; + That, for the tyrant is of gretter might, + By force of meynee for to sleen doun-right, + And brennen hous and hoom, and make al plain, + Lo! therfor is he cleped a capitain; 230 + And, for the outlawe hath but smal meynee, + And may nat doon so greet an harm as he, + Ne bringe a contree to so greet mescheef, + Men clepen him an outlawe or a theef. (130) + But, for I am a man noght textuel, 235 + [563: T. 17185-17219.] + I wol noght telle of textes never a del; + I wol go to my tale, as I bigan. + Whan Phebus wyf had sent for hir lemman, + Anon they wroghten al hir lust volage. + + 223. In Hn., titlelees _is glossed by_ sine titulo. 226. Hl. told + was; _rest_ was told. 235, 236. E. textueel, deel. + + The whyte crowe, that heng ay in the cage, 240 + Biheld hir werk, and seyde never a word. + And whan that hoom was come Phebus, the lord, + This crowe sang ‘cokkow! cokkow! cokkow!’ + + 240. E. they (_for_ that). E. heeng; Ln. honge; _rest_ heng. 241. + E. Biheeld. + + ‘What, brid?’ quod Phebus, ‘what song singestow? (140) + Ne were thow wont so merily to singe 245 + That to myn herte it was a reioisinge + To here thy vois? allas! what song is this?’ + + 245. E. Hn. myrily. + + ‘By god,’ quod he, ‘I singe nat amis; + Phebus,’ quod he, ‘for al thy worthinesse, + For al thy beautee and thy gentilesse, 250 + For al thy song and al thy minstralcye, + For al thy waiting, blered is thyn yë + With oon of litel reputacioun, + Noght worth to thee, as in comparisoun, (150) + The mountance of a gnat; so mote I thryve! 255 + For on thy bed thy wyf I saugh him swyve.’ + + 251. E. Cm. Hl. _om. 2nd_ al. 254. E. Hn. Cm. _om._ as. 255. E. Hn. + montance. + + What wol ye more? the crowe anon him tolde, + By sadde tokenes and by wordes bolde, + How that his wyf had doon hir lecherye, + Him to gret shame and to gret vileinye; 260 + And tolde him ofte, he saugh it with his yën. + This Phebus gan aweyward for to wryen, + Him thoughte his sorweful herte brast a-two; + His bowe he bente, and sette ther-inne a flo, (160) + And in his ire his wyf thanne hath he slayn. 265 + This is theffect, ther is na-more to sayn; + For sorwe of which he brak his minstralcye, + Bothe harpe, and lute, and giterne, and sautrye; + And eek he brak his arwes and his bowe. + And after that, thus spak he to the crowe: 270 + + 261. Cm. Hl. yen; Ln. eyȝen; _rest_ eyen. 263. E. Hn. Cm. And; + _rest_ Him. + +[564: T. 17220-17254.] + + ‘Traitour,’ quod he, ‘with tonge of scorpioun, + Thou hast me broght to my confusioun! + Allas! that I was wroght! why nere I deed? + O dere wyf, o gemme of lustiheed, (170) + That were to me so sad and eek so trewe, 275 + Now lystow deed, with face pale of hewe, + Ful giltelees, that dorste I swere, y-wis! + O rakel hand, to doon so foule amis! + O trouble wit, o ire recchelees, + That unavysed smytest giltelees! 280 + O wantrust, ful of fals suspecioun, + Where was thy wit and thy discrecioun? + O every man, be-war of rakelnesse, + Ne trowe no-thing with-outen strong witnesse; (180) + Smyt nat to sone, er that ye witen why, 285 + And beeth avysed wel and sobrely + Er ye doon any execucioun, + Up-on your ire, for suspecioun. + Allas! a thousand folk hath rakel ire + Fully fordoon, and broght hem in the mire. 290 + Allas! for sorwe I wol my-selven slee!’ + + 276. Cm. Hl. lyst thow; Pt. Ln. liest thou; Cp. lyes thou. 277. Cm. + gylteles; Cp. Hl. gulteles; E. Hn. giltlees; _rest_ giltles. 278. Cm. + troubele; _rest_ trouble. 280. E. smyteth; _rest_ smytest. Cm. + gilteles; Cp. Hl. gulteles; E. giltles. + + And to the crowe, ‘o false theef!’ seyde he, + ‘I wol thee quyte anon thy false tale! + Thou songe whylom lyk a nightingale; (190) + Now shaltow, false theef, thy song forgon, 295 + And eek thy whyte fetheres everichon, + Ne never in al thy lyf ne shaltou speke. + Thus shal men on a traitour been awreke; + Thou and thyn of-spring ever shul be blake, + Ne never swete noise shul ye make, 300 + But ever crye agayn tempest and rayn, + In tokeninge that thurgh thee my wyf is slayn.’ + And to the crowe he stirte, and that anon, + And pulled his whyte fetheres everichon, (200) + And made him blak, and refte him al his song, 305 + [565: T. 17255-17289.] + And eek his speche, and out at dore him slong + Un-to the devel, which I him bitake; + And for this caas ben alle crowes blake.— + + 300. E. voys (_for_ noyse). 302. is] Cp. Hl. was. 308. E. Cp. caas; + Hn. Cm. Ln. cas; Pt. caus; Hl. cause. + + Lordings, by this ensample I yow preye, + Beth war, and taketh kepe what I seye: 310 + Ne telleth never no man in your lyf + How that another man hath dight his wyf; + He wol yow haten mortally, certeyn. + Daun Salomon, as wyse clerkes seyn, (210) + Techeth a man to kepe his tonge wel; 315 + But as I seyde, I am noght textuel. + But nathelees, thus taughte me my dame: + ‘My sone, thenk on the crowe, a goddes name; + My sone, keep wel thy tonge and keep thy freend. + A wikked tonge is worse than a feend. 320 + My sone, from a feend men may hem blesse; + My sone, god of his endelees goodnesse + Walled a tonge with teeth and lippes eke, + For man sholde him avyse what he speke. (220) + My sone, ful ofte, for to muche speche, 325 + Hath many a man ben spilt, as clerkes teche; + But for a litel speche avysely + Is no men shent, to speke generally. + My sone, thy tonge sholdestow restreyne + At alle tyme, but whan thou doost thy peyne 330 + To speke of god, in honour and preyere. + The firste vertu, sone, if thou wolt lere, + Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge.— + Thus lerne children whan that they ben yonge.— (230) + My sone, of muchel speking yvel-avysed, 335 + Ther lasse speking hadde y-nough suffysed, + Comth muchel harm, thus was me told and taught. + In muchel speche sinne wanteth naught. + Wostow wher-of a rakel tonge serveth? + Right as a swerd forcutteth and forkerveth 340 + [566: T. 17290-17311.] + An arm a-two, my dere sone, right so + A tonge cutteth frendship al a-two. + A Iangler is to god abhominable; + Reed Salomon, so wys and honurable; (240) + Reed David in his psalmes, reed Senekke. 345 + My sone, spek nat, but with thyn heed thou bekke. + Dissimule as thou were deef, if that thou here + A Iangler speke of perilous matere. + The Fleming seith, and lerne it, if thee leste, + That litel Iangling causeth muchel reste. 350 + My sone, if thou no wikked word hast seyd, + Thee thar nat drede for to be biwreyd; + But he that hath misseyd, I dar wel sayn, + He may by no wey clepe his word agayn. (250) + Thing that is seyd, is seyd; and forth it gooth, 355 + Though him repente, or be him leef or looth. + He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd + A tale, of which he is now yvel apayd. + My sone, be war, and be non auctour newe + Of tydinges, whether they ben false or trewe. 360 + Wher-so thou come, amonges hye or lowe, + Kepe wel thy tonge, and thenk up-on the crowe. + + =Here is ended the Maunciples Tale of the Crowe.= + + 310. E. Hn. Cm. I; Hl. ye; _rest_ that ye. 315. E. Hn. kepen; _rest_ + kepe. E. Cm. weel. 316. E. textueel; Hl. tixted wel. 318. a] E. + on; Hl. in. 319, 320. E. Hn. freend, feend. 327. Hl. a; _rest + om._ 330. E. Hn. Cm. tymes. 356. leef or] Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. neuer + so. 360. E. wheither. COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn. + +[567: T. 17312-17330.] + + * * * * * + +GROUP I. + +THE PARSON’S PROLOGUE. + + * * * * * + + =Here folweth the Prologe of the Persones Tale.= + + By that the maunciple hadde his tale al ended, + The sonne fro the south lyne was descended + So lowe, that he nas nat, to my sighte, + Degreës nyne and twenty as in highte. + Foure of the clokke it was tho, as I gesse; 5 + For eleven foot, or litel more or lesse, + My shadwe was at thilke tyme, as there, + Of swich feet as my lengthe parted were + In six feet equal of proporcioun. + Ther-with the mones exaltacioun, 10 + I mene Libra, alwey gan ascende, + As we were entringe at a thropes ende; + For which our host, as he was wont to gye, + As in this caas, our Ioly companye, + Seyde in this wyse, ‘lordings everichoon, 15 + Now lakketh us no tales mo than oon. + Fulfild is my sentence and my decree; + I trowe that we han herd of ech degree. + Almost fulfild is al myn ordinaunce; + [568: T. 17331-17366.] + I prey to god, so yeve him right good chaunce, 20 + That telleth this tale to us lustily. + Sir preest,’ quod he, ‘artow a vicary? + Or art a person? sey sooth, by thy fey! + Be what thou be, ne breke thou nat our pley; + For every man, save thou, hath told his tale, 25 + Unbokel, and shewe us what is in thy male; + For trewely, me thinketh, by thy chere, + Thou sholdest knitte up wel a greet matere. + Tel us a tale anon, for cokkes bones!’ + + 1. E. Hn. al; _rest om._ 2. E. Cm. was; _rest_ is. 3. E. ne nas; + Cm. ne was; Cp. Pt. Ln. was. 5. _The MSS. have_ Ten; _but see the + note._ 8. Hn. swich; E. swiche. 10. _Perhaps for_ the mones _we + should read_ Saturnes; _see the note._ 11. _So all but_ Hl., _which + has_ In mena. 12. thropes] Hl. townes. 17. E. Fulfilled; Hn. Cp. + Fulfild; _see_ l. 19. 23. Cm. art; E. Hn. arte; Hl. artow; _rest_ art + thou. + + This Persone him answerde, al at ones, 30 + ‘Thou getest fable noon y-told for me; + For Paul, that wryteth unto Timothee, + Repreveth hem that weyven soothfastnesse, + And tellen fables and swich wrecchednesse. + Why sholde I sowen draf out of my fest, 35 + Whan I may sowen whete, if that me lest? + For which I seye, if that yow list to here + Moralitee and vertuous matere, + And thanne that ye wol yeve me audience, + I wol ful fayn, at Cristes reverence, 40 + Do yow plesaunce leefful, as I can. + But trusteth wel, I am a Southren man, + I can nat geste—rum, ram, ruf—by lettre, + Ne, god wot, rym holde I but litel bettre; + And therfor, if yow list, I wol nat glose. 45 + I wol yow telle a mery tale in prose + To knitte up al this feeste, and make an ende. + And Iesu, for his grace, wit me sende + To shewe yow the wey, in this viage, + Of thilke parfit glorious pilgrimage 50 + That highte Ierusalem celestial. + And, if ye vouche-sauf, anon I shal + Biginne upon my tale, for whiche I preye + Telle your avys, I can no bettre seye. + But nathelees, this meditacioun 55 + [569: T. 17367-17385.] + I putte it ay under correccioun + Of clerkes, for I am nat textual; + I take but the sentens, trusteth wel. + Therfor I make protestacioun + That I wol stonde to correccioun.’ 60 + + 30. _I supply_ him _from_ ed. 1550. 32. E. Hn. Thymothee. 33. E. + Hl. weyueth. 40. E. _omits_ ful. 41. E. leefful; Hn. leueful; Pt. + leefull; Cp. Ln. lefful. 43. E. geeste. rum] Hn. Cp. Ln. rom. 46. + E. Hn. myrie. 57, 58. E. textueel, weel. 58. E. _omits_ the. Hl. + sentens; _rest_ sentence. 59. E. make a; _rest omit_ a. + + Up-on this word we han assented sone, + For, as us semed, it was for to done, + To enden in som vertuous sentence, + And for to yeve him space and audience; + And bede our host he sholde to him seye, 65 + That alle we to telle his tale him preye. + + 62. E. vs; _rest_ it, _which is inferior._ + + Our host hadde the wordes for us alle:— + ‘Sir preest,’ quod he, ‘now fayre yow bifalle! + Sey what yow list, and we wol gladly here’— + And with that word he seyde in this manere— 70 + ‘Telleth,’ quod he, ‘your meditacioun. + But hasteth yow, the sonne wol adoun; + Beth fructuous, and that in litel space, + And to do wel god sende yow his grace!’ + + =Explicit prohemium.= + + COLOPHON. _So_ E. Hn. Ln.; Pt.—Thus endeth the prolog of the persons + tale. + +[570] + + * * * * * + +THE PERSONES TALE. + + * * * * * + + =Here biginneth the Persones Tale.= + +_Ier._ 6º. _State super vias et videte et interrogate de viis antiquis, que +sit via bona; et ambulate in ea, et inuenietis refrigerium animabus +vestris, &c._ + +§ 1. Our swete lord god of hevene, that no man wole perisse, but wole that +we comen alle to the knoweleche of him, and to the blisful lyf that is +perdurable, /75 amonesteth us by the prophete Ieremie, that seith in this +wyse: / ‘stondeth upon the weyes, and seeth and axeth of olde pathes (that +is to seyn, of olde sentences) which is the goode wey; / and walketh in +that wey, and ye shul finde refresshinge for your soules,’ &c. / Manye been +the weyes espirituels that leden folk to oure Lord Iesu Crist, and to the +regne of glorie. / Of whiche weyes, ther is a ful noble wey and a ful +covenable, which may nat faile to man ne to womman, that thurgh sinne hath +misgoon fro the righte wey of Ierusalem celestial; /80 and this wey is +cleped Penitence, of which man sholde gladly herknen and enquere with al +his herte; / to witen what is Penitence, and whennes it is cleped +Penitence, and in how manye maneres been the accions or werkinges of +Penitence, / and how manye spyces ther been of Penitence, and whiche +thinges apertenen and bihoven to Penitence, and whiche thinges destourben +Penitence. / + + HEADING. _From_ E. (E. Heere; Persouns). 75. E. _om. 2nd _to. 76. + E. and seith; _rest _that seith. 78. E. Hn. Ln. shal; Pt. shul. 79. + Pt. espiritual; Ln. spirituele. 80. E. _om. 2nd _ful. E. to no man; + _rest om._ no. 82. Ln. penance (_for 2nd and 3rd _Penitence). 83. + E. speces; Hl. spieces; _rest _spices. + +§ 2. Seint Ambrose seith, that ‘Penitence is the pleyninge of man for the +gilt that he hath doon, and na-more to do any thing for which him oghte to +pleyne.’ / And som doctour seith: ‘Penitence is the waymentinge of man, +that sorweth for his sinne [571] and pyneth him-self for he hath misdoon.’ +/85 Penitence, with certeyne circumstances, is verray repentance of a man +that halt him-self in sorwe and other peyne for hise giltes. / And for he +shal be verray penitent, he shal first biwailen the sinnes that he hath +doon, and stidefastly purposen in his herte to have shrift of mouthe, and +to doon satisfaccioun, / and never to doon thing for which him oghte more +to biwayle or to compleyne, and to continue in goode werkes: or elles his +repentance may nat availle. / For as seith seint Isidre: ‘he is a Iaper and +a gabber, and no verray repentant, that eftsoone dooth thing, for which him +oghte repente.’ / Wepinge, and nat for to stinte to doon sinne, may nat +avaylle. /90 But nathelees, men shal hope that every tyme that man falleth, +be it never so ofte, that he may arise thurgh Penitence, if he have grace: +but certeinly it is greet doute. / For as seith Seint Gregorie: ‘unnethe +aryseth he out of sinne, that is charged with the charge of yvel usage.’ / +And therfore repentant folk, that stinte for to sinne, and forlete sinne er +that sinne forlete hem, holy chirche holdeth hem siker of hir savacioun. / +And he that sinneth, and verraily repenteth him in his laste ende, holy +chirche yet hopeth his savacioun, by the grete mercy of oure lord Iesu +Crist, for his repentaunce; but tak the siker wey. / + + 84. E. _om._ the _before _gilt. 85. Ln. Hl. peyneth. 86. Hl. + holt. 88. E. _om._ to _bef_. biwayle _and_ continue. 90. Hl. doon; + E. _om._; _rest_ do. 94. Hl. Ln. ende; E. Hn. Pt. _om._ E. taak + (_glossed_ tene); siker (_glossed_ certum). Cm. sikerer. _After_ + wey, Cm. _adds_—& the more certeyn. + +§ 3. And now, sith I have declared yow what thing is Penitence, now shul ye +understonde that ther been three accions of Penitence. /95 The firste +accion of Penitence is, that a man be baptized after that he hath sinned. / +Seint Augustin seith: ‘but he be penitent for his olde sinful lyf, he may +nat biginne the newe clene lif.’ / For certes, if he be baptized withouten +penitence of his olde gilt, he receiveth the mark of baptisme, but nat the +grace ne the remission of his sinnes, til he have repentance verray. / +Another defaute is this, that men doon deedly sinne after that they han +received baptisme. / The thridde defaute is, that men fallen in venial +sinnes after hir baptisme, fro day to day. /100 Ther-of seith Seint +Augustin, that ‘penitence of goode and humble folk is the penitence of +every day.’ / + + 96. _All but_ E. _om._ accion of Penitence. 97. Hl. but if. 98-100. + E. Hn. baptesme. 100. Hl. in-to venial synne. + +[572] § 4. The spyces of Penitence been three. That oon of hem is solempne, +another is commune, and the thridde is privee. / Thilke penance that is +solempne, is in two maneres; as to be put out of holy chirche in lente, for +slaughtre of children, and swich maner thing. / Another is, whan a man hath +sinned openly, of which sinne the fame is openly spoken in the contree; and +thanne holy chirche by Iugement destreineth him for to do open penaunce. / +Commune penaunce is that preestes enioinen men comunly in certeyn caas; as +for to goon, peraventure, naked in pilgrimages, or bare-foot. /105 Privee +penaunce is thilke that men doon alday for privee sinnes, of whiche we +shryve us prively and receyve privee penaunce. / + + 102. E. Hn. speces (_glossed_ species); _rest_ spices. 103. E. Hn. As + to; _rest_ as is to. 104. E. Another thyng is; _rest om._ thyng. + Hl. streyneth. 105. E. Cm. _om._ comunly. 106. E. they shryue hem. + +§ 5. Now shaltow understande what is bihovely and necessarie to verray +parfit Penitence. And this stant on three thinges; / Contricioun of herte, +Confessioun of Mouth, and Satisfaccioun. / For which seith Seint Iohn +Crisostom: ‘Penitence destreyneth a man to accepte benignely every peyne +that him is enioyned, with contricion of herte, and shrift of mouth, with +satisfaccion; and in werkinge of alle maner humilitee.’ / And this is +fruitful Penitence agayn three thinges in whiche we wratthe oure lord Iesu +Crist: /110 this is to seyn, by delyt in thinkinge, by recchelesnesse in +spekinge, and by wikked sinful werkinge. / And agayns thise wikkede giltes +is Penitence, that may be lykned un-to a tree. / + + 107. E. is bihouely; Cm. is behofly; _rest_ bihoueth (behoueth). Hl. + stondith. 109. Hl. humblete. 112. Hl. these thre wickid. + +§ 6. The rote of this tree is Contricion, that hydeth him in the herte of +him that is verray repentant, right as the rote of a tree hydeth him in the +erthe. / Of the rote of Contricion springeth a stalke, that bereth +braunches and leves of Confession, and fruit of Satisfaccion. / For which +Crist seith in his gospel: ‘dooth digne fruit of Penitence’; for by this +fruit may men knowe this tree, and nat by the rote that is hid in the herte +of man, ne by the braunches ne by the leves of Confession. /115 And +therefore oure Lord Iesu Crist seith thus: ‘by the fruit of hem ye shul +knowen hem.’ / Of this rote eek springeth a seed of grace, the which seed +is moder of sikernesse, and this seed is egre and [573] hoot. / The grace +of this seed springeth of god, thurgh remembrance of the day of dome and on +the peynes of helle. / Of this matere seith Salomon, that ‘in the drede of +god man forleteth his sinne.’ / The hete of this seed is the love of god, +and the desiring of the Ioye perdurable. /120 This hete draweth the herte +of a man to god, and dooth him haten his sinne. / For soothly, ther is +no-thing that savoureth so wel to a child as the milk of his norice, ne +no-thing is to him more abhominable than thilke milk whan it is medled with +other mete. / Right so the sinful man that loveth his sinne, him semeth +that it is to him most swete of any-thing; / but fro that tyme that he +loveth sadly our lord Iesu Crist, and desireth the lif perdurable, ther nis +to him no-thing more abhominable. / For soothly, the lawe of god is the +love of god; for which David the prophete seith: ‘I have loved thy lawe and +hated wikkednesse and hate’; he that loveth god kepeth his lawe and his +word. /125 This tree saugh the prophete Daniel in spirit, up-on the avision +of the king Nabugodonosor, whan he conseiled him to do penitence. / +Penaunce is the tree of lyf to hem that it receiven, and he that holdeth +him in verray penitence is blessed; after the sentence of Salomon. / + + 117. E. a grace (_for_ of grace). 122. E. _om._ is to him. 125. E. + loued god; _rest_ loueth god. 126. E. _om._ in spirit. up-on] E. + in. + +§ 7. In this Penitence or Contricion man shal understonde foure thinges, +that is to seyn, what is Contricion: and whiche been the causes that moeven +a man to Contricion: and how he sholde be contrit: and what Contricion +availleth to the soule. / Thanne is it thus: that Contricion is the verray +sorwe that a man receiveth in his herte for his sinnes, with sad purpos to +shryve him, and to do penaunce, and nevermore to do sinne. / And this sorwe +shal been in this manere, as seith seint Bernard: ‘it shal been hevy and +grevous, and ful sharpe and poinant in herte.’ /130 First, for man hath +agilt his lord and his creatour; and more sharpe and poinant, for he hath +agilt his fader celestial; / and yet more sharpe and poinant, for he hath +wrathed and agilt him that boghte him; which with his precious blood hath +delivered us fro the bondes of sinne, and fro the crueltee of the devel and +fro the peynes of helle. / + + 131. Cp. agult; Hl. agiltid. + +§ 8. The causes that oghte moeve a man to Contricion been six. First, a man +shal remembre him of hise sinnes; / but loke [574] he that thilke +remembrance ne be to him no delyt by no wey, but greet shame and sorwe for +his gilt. For Iob seith: ‘sinful men doon werkes worthy of Confession.’ / +And therfore seith Ezechie: ‘I wol remembre me alle the yeres of my lyf, in +bitternesse of myn herte.’ /135 And god seith in the Apocalips: remembreth +yow fro whennes that ye been falle’; for biforn that tyme that ye sinned, +ye were the children of god, and limes of the regne of god; / but for your +sinne ye been woxen thral and foul, and membres of the feend, hate of +aungels, sclaundre of holy chirche, and fode of the false serpent; +perpetuel matere of the fyr of helle. / And yet more foul and abhominable, +for ye trespassen so ofte tyme, as doth the hound that retourneth to eten +his spewing. / And yet be ye fouler for your longe continuing in sinne and +your sinful usage, for which ye be roten in your sinne, as a beest in his +dong. / Swiche manere of thoghtes maken a man to have shame of his sinne, +and no delyt, as god seith by the prophete Ezechiel: /140 ‘ye shal remembre +yow of youre weyes, and they shuln displese yow.’ Sothly, sinnes been the +weyes that leden folk to helle. / + + 134. E. looke he; _rest om._ he. 135. Hl. Ln. Ezechiel. 137. E. + p_er_petueel. + +§ 9. The seconde cause that oghte make a man to have desdeyn of sinne is +this: that, as seith seint Peter, ‘who-so that doth sinne is thral of +sinne’; and sinne put a man in greet thraldom. / And therfore seith the +prophete Ezechiel: ‘I wente sorweful in desdayn of my-self.’ And certes, +wel oghte a man have desdayn of sinne, and withdrawe him from that thraldom +and vileinye. / And lo, what seith Seneca in this matere. He seith thus: +‘though I wiste that neither god ne man ne sholde nevere knowe it, yet +wolde I have desdayn for to do sinne.’ / And the same Seneca also seith: ‘I +am born to gretter thinges than to be thral to my body, or than for to +maken of my body a thral.’ /145 Ne a fouler thral may no man ne womman +maken of his body, than for to yeven his body to sinne. / Al were it the +fouleste cherl, or the fouleste womman that liveth, and leest of value, yet +is he thanne more foule and more in servitute. / Evere fro the hyer degree +that man falleth, the more is he thral, and more to god and to the world +vile and abhominable. / O gode god, wel oghte [575] man have desdayn of +sinne; sith that, thurgh sinne, ther he was free, now is he maked bonde. / +And therfore seyth Seint Augustin: ‘if thou hast desdayn of thy servant, if +he agilte or sinne, have thou thanne desdayn that thou thy-self sholdest do +sinne.’ /150 Take reward of thy value, that thou ne be to foul to thy-self. +/ Allas! wel oghten they thanne have desdayn to been servauntz and thralles +to sinne, and sore been ashamed of hem-self, / that god of his endelees +goodnesse hath set hem in heigh estaat, or yeven hem wit, strengthe of +body, hele, beautee, prosperitee, / and boghte hem fro the deeth with his +herte blood, that they so unkindely, agayns his gentilesse, quyten him so +vileinsly, to slaughtre of hir owene soules. / O gode god, ye wommen that +been of so greet beautee, remembreth yow of the proverbe of Salomon, that +seith: /155 ‘he lykneth a fair womman, that is a fool of hir body, lyk to a +ring of gold that were in the groyn of a sowe.’ / For right as a sowe +wroteth in everich ordure, so wroteth she hir beautee in the stinkinge +ordure of sinne. / + + 143. E. And certes; _rest om._ And. 144. E. Hn. _wrongly ins_, god + _after_ that. 147. _All_ seruitute. 148. E. _om._ vile and. 150. + Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. Austyn. 152. Hl. men (_for_ they). 154. Cm. + vileynly. 155, 6. _So_ Hl.; E. Hn. he seith likneth; Cp. he seith he + likeneth; Cm. he seith & likkenyth; Pt. He likneth. E. soughe; + _rest_ sowe. 157. E. soughe; _om._ she. + +§ 10. The thridde cause that oghte moeve a man to Contricion, is drede of +the day of dome, and of the horrible peynes of helle. / For as seint Ierome +seith: ‘at every tyme that me remembreth of the day of dome, I quake; / for +whan I ete or drinke, or what-so that I do, evere semeth me that the trompe +sowneth in myn ere: /160 riseth up, ye that been dede, and cometh to the +Iugement.’ / O gode god, muchel oghte a man to drede swich a Iugement, +‘ther-as we shullen been alle,’ as seint Poul seith, ‘biforn the sete of +oure lord Iesu Crist’; / wher-as he shal make a general congregacion, +wher-as no man may been absent. / For certes, there availleth noon essoyne +ne excusacion. / And nat only that oure defautes shullen be iuged, but eek +that alle oure werkes shullen openly be knowe. /165 And as seith Seint +Bernard: ‘ther ne shal no pledinge availle, ne no sleighte; we shullen +yeven rekeninge of everich ydel word.’ / Ther shul we han a Iuge that may +nat been deceived ne corrupt. And why? For, certes, alle our thoghtes been +discovered as to him; ne for preyere ne for mede he shal nat been corrupt. +/ And therfore [576] seith Salomon: ‘the wratthe of god ne wol nat spare no +wight, for preyere ne for yifte’; and therfore, at the day of doom, ther +nis noon hope to escape. / Wherfore, as seith Seint Anselm: ‘ful greet +angwissh shul the sinful folk have at that tyme; / ther shal the sterne and +wrothe Iuge sitte above, and under him the horrible put of helle open to +destroyen him that moot biknowen hise sinnes, whiche sinnes openly been +shewed biforn god and biforn every creature. /170 And on the left syde, mo +develes than herte may bithinke, for to harie and drawe the sinful soules +to the pyne of helle. / And with-inne the hertes of folk shal be the +bytinge conscience, and with-oute-forth shal be the world al brenninge. / +Whider shal thanne the wrecched sinful man flee to hyden him? Certes, he +may nat hyden him; he moste come forth and shewen him.’ / For certes, as +seith seint Ierome: ‘the erthe shal casten him out of him, and the see +also; and the eyr also, that shal be ful of thonder-clappes and +lightninges.’ / Now sothly, who-so wel remembreth him of thise thinges, I +gesse that his sinne shal nat turne him in-to delyt, but to greet sorwe, +for drede of the peyne of helle. /175 And therfore seith Iob to god: +‘suffre, lord, that I may a whyle biwaille and wepe, er I go with-oute +returning to the derke lond, covered with the derknesse of deeth; / to the +lond of misese and of derknesse, where-as is the shadwe of deeth; where-as +ther is noon ordre or ordinance, but grisly drede that evere shal laste.’ / +Lo, here may ye seen that Iob preyde respyt a whyle, to biwepe and waille +his trespas; for soothly oon day of respyt is bettre than al the tresor of +the world. / And for-as-muche as a man may acquiten him-self biforn god by +penitence in this world, and nat by tresor, therfore sholde he preye to god +to yeve him respyt a whyle, to biwepe and biwaillen his trespas. / For +certes, al the sorwe that a man mighte make fro the beginning of the world, +nis but a litel thing at regard of the sorwe of helle. /180 The cause why +that Iob clepeth helle ‘the lond of derknesse’; / under-stondeth that he +clepeth it ‘londe’ or erthe, for it is stable, and nevere shal faille; +‘derk,’ for he that is in helle hath defaute of light material. / For +certes, [577] the derke light, that shal come out of the fyr that evere +shal brenne, shal turne him al to peyne that is in helle; for it sheweth +him to the horrible develes that him tormenten. / ‘Covered with the +derknesse of deeth’: that is to seyn, that he that is in helle shal have +defaute of the sighte of god; for certes, the sighte of god is the lyf +perdurable. / ‘The derknesse of deeth’ been the sinnes that the wrecched +man hath doon, whiche that destourben him to see the face of god; right as +doth a derk cloude bitwixe us and the sonne. /185 ‘Lond of misese’: +by-cause that ther been three maneres of defautes, agayn three thinges that +folk of this world han in this present lyf, that is to seyn, honours, +delyces, and richesses. / Agayns honour, have they in helle shame and +confusion. / For wel ye woot that men clepen ‘honour’ the reverence that +man doth to man; but in helle is noon honour ne reverence. For certes, +na-more reverence shal be doon there to a king than to a knave. / For which +god seith by the prophete Ieremye: ‘thilke folk that me despysen shul been +in despyt.’ / ‘Honour’ is eek cleped greet lordshipe; ther shal no man +serven other but of harm and torment. ‘Honour’ is eek cleped greet dignitee +and heighnesse; but in helle shul they been al fortroden of develes. /190 +And god seith: ‘the horrible develes shulle goon and comen up-on the +hevedes of the dampned folk.’ And this is for-as-muche as, the hyer that +they were in this present lyf, the more shulle they been abated and +defouled in helle. / Agayns the richesses of this world, shul they han +misese of poverte; and this poverte shal been in foure thinges: / in +defaute of tresor, of which that David seith; ‘the riche folk, that +embraceden and oneden al hir herte to tresor of this world, shul slepe in +the slepinge of deeth; and no-thing ne shul they finden in hir handes of al +hir tresor.’ / And more-over, the miseise of helle shal been in defaute of +mete and drinke. / For god seith thus by Moyses; ‘they shul been wasted +with hunger, and the briddes of helle shul devouren hem with bitter deeth, +and the galle of the dragon shal been hir drinke, and the venim of the +dragon hir morsels.’ /195 And forther-over, hir miseise shal been in +defaute of clothing: for they shulle be naked in body as of clothing, save +the fyr in which they brenne and othere filthes; / and naked shul they been +of [578] soule, of alle manere vertues, which that is the clothing of the +soule. Where been thanne the gaye robes and the softe shetes and the smale +shertes? / Lo, what seith god of hem by the prophete Isaye: ‘that under hem +shul been strawed motthes, and hir covertures shulle been of wormes of +helle.’ / And forther-over, hir miseise shal been in defaute of freendes; +for he nis nat povre that hath goode freendes, but there is no freend; / +for neither god ne no creature shal been freend to hem, and everich of hem +shal haten other with deedly hate. /200 ‘The sones and the doghtren shullen +rebellen agayns fader and mooder, and kinrede agayns kinrede, and chyden +and despysen everich of hem other,’ bothe day and night, as god seith by +the prophete Michias. / And the lovinge children, that whylom loveden so +fleshly everich other, wolden everich of hem eten other if they mighte. / +For how sholden they love hem togidre in the peyne of helle, whan they +hated ech of hem other in the prosperitee of this lyf? / For truste wel, +hir fleshly love was deedly hate; as seith the prophete David: ‘who-so that +loveth wikkednesse he hateth his soule.’ / And who-so hateth his owene +soule, certes, he may love noon other wight in no manere. /205 And +therefore, in helle is no solas ne no frendshipe, but evere the more +fleshly kinredes that been in helle, the more cursinges, the more +chydinges, and the more deedly hate ther is among hem. / And forther-over, +they shul have defaute of alle manere delyces; for certes, delyces been +after the appetytes of the fyve wittes, as sighte, heringe, smellinge, +savoringe, and touchinge. / But in helle hir sighte shal be ful of +derknesse and of smoke, and therfore ful of teres; and hir heringe, ful of +waymentinge and of grintinge of teeth, as seith Iesu Crist; / hir +nosethirles shullen be ful of stinkinge stink. And as seith Isaye the +prophete: ‘hir savoring shal be ful of bitter galle.’ / And touchinge of al +hir body, y-covered with ‘fyr that nevere shal quenche, and with wormes +that nevere shul dyen,’ as god seith by the mouth of Isaye. /210 And +for-as-muche as they shul nat wene that they may dyen for peyne, and by hir +deeth flee fro peyne, that may they understonden by the word of Iob, that +seith: ‘ther-as is the [579] shadwe of deeth.’ / Certes, a shadwe hath the +lyknesse of the thing of which it is shadwe, but shadwe is nat the same +thing of which it is shadwe. / Right so fareth the peyne of helle; it is +lyk deeth for the horrible anguissh, and why? For it peyneth hem evere, as +though they sholde dye anon; but certes they shal nat dye. / For as seith +Seint Gregorie: ‘to wrecche caytives shal be deeth with-oute deeth, and +ende with-outen ende, and defaute with-oute failinge. / For hir deeth shal +alwey liven, and hir ende shal everemo biginne, and hir defaute shal nat +faille.’ /215 And therfore seith Seint Iohn the Evangelist: ‘they shullen +folwe deeth, and they shul nat finde him; and they shul desyren to dye, and +deeth shal flee fro hem.’ / And eek Iob seith: that ‘in helle is noon ordre +of rule.’ / And al-be-it so that god hath creat alle thinges in right +ordre, and no-thing with-outen ordre, but alle thinges been ordeyned and +nombred; yet nathelees they that been dampned been no-thing in ordre, ne +holden noon ordre. / For the erthe ne shal bere hem no fruit. / For, as the +prophete David seith: ‘god shal destroie the fruit of the erthe as fro +hem;’ ne water ne shal yeve hem no moisture; ne the eyr no refresshing, ne +fyr no light. /220 For as seith seint Basilie: ‘the brenninge of the fyr of +this world shal god yeven in helle to hem that been dampned; / but the +light and the cleernesse shal be yeven in hevene to hise children’; right +as the gode man yeveth flesh to hise children, and bones to his houndes. / +And for they shullen have noon hope to escape, seith seint Iob atte laste: +that ‘ther shal horrour and grisly drede dwellen with-outen ende.’ / +Horrour is alwey drede of harm that is to come, and this drede shal evere +dwelle in the hertes of hem that been dampned. And therefore han they lorn +al hir hope, for sevene causes. / First, for god that is hir Iuge shal be +with-outen mercy to hem; ne they may nat plese him, ne noon of hise halwes; +ne they ne may yeve no-thing for hir raunson; /225 ne they have no vois to +speke to him; ne they may nat flee fro peyne; ne they have no goodnesse in +hem, that they mowe shewe to delivere hem fro peyne. / And therfore seith +Salomon: ‘the wikked man dyeth; and whan he is deed, he shal have noon hope +to escape fro peyne.’ / Who-so thanne wolde wel understande these peynes, +[580] and bithinke him weel that he hath deserved thilke peynes for his +sinnes, certes, he sholde have more talent to syken and to wepe than for to +singen and to pleye. / For as that seith Salomon: ‘who-so that hadde the +science to knowe the peynes that been establissed and ordeyned for sinne, +he wolde make sorwe.’ / ‘Thilke science,’ as seith seint Augustin, ‘maketh +a man to waymenten in his herte.’ /230 + + 166. E. _om. 2nd_ no. 168. Cp. Pt. Ln. repeat (after god) wol nought + ben corrupte and therefore saith Salamon. 170. E. Hn. stierne. + moot] E. noot. 171. on] E. in. E. Ln. peyne; Cm. pit; _rest_ + pyne. 175. E. Hn. in; Hl. to; _rest_ in-to. 178. Hl. oon; Cm. on; + E. a; _rest_ oo (o). 182. or] E. Cp. Ln. of. E. Hn. dirk. 188. E. + Hn. woot; Cm. wote; Hl. witen; Cp. wite; Ln. weten. 189. Hl. + displesen (_for_ despysen). 190. E. _om. from_ ther shal _to 2nd_ + greet. 195. E. with the bitter; _rest om._ the. Hl. teeth (_for_ + deeth). 197. E. as of alle; _rest om._ as. E. (_only_) smale shetes + and the softe shertes. 203. E. _om._ hem _after_ love. 206. E. _om. + 1st_ in helle. 207. Cp. Pt. Ln. Hl. _om._ after. 208. Cp. Hl. Ln. + gruntynge; Cm. grochynge; Pt. gnaistynge. 214. Hl. shal be yiue + deth. 218. E. in the ordre. 221. E. Cm. Basilie; _rest_ Basile. + 225. E. Cm. and they (_1st time_). 228. E. the (_for_ these). + +§ 11. The fourthe point, that oghte maken a man to have contricion, is the +sorweful remembrance of the good that he hath left to doon here in erthe; +and eek the good that he hath lorn. / Soothly, the gode werkes that he hath +left, outher they been the gode werkes that he wroghte er he fel in-to +deedly sinne, or elles the gode werkes that he wroghte while he lay in +sinne. / Soothly, the gode werkes, that he dide biforn that he fil in +sinne, been al mortified and astoned and dulled by the ofte sinning. / The +othere gode werkes, that he wroghte whyl he lay in deedly sinne, they been +outrely dede as to the lyf perdurable in hevene. / Thanne thilke gode +werkes that been mortified by ofte sinning, whiche gode werkes he dide whyl +he was in charitee, ne mowe nevere quiken agayn with-outen verray +penitence. /235 And ther-of seith god, by the mouth of Ezechiel: that, ‘if +the rightful man returne agayn from his rightwisnesse and werke +wikkednesse, shal he live?’ / Nay; for alle the gode werkes that he hath +wroght ne shul nevere been in remembrance; for he shal dyen in his sinne. / +And up-on thilke chapitre seith seint Gregorie thus: ‘that we shulle +understonde this principally; / that whan we doon deedly sinne, it is for +noght thanne to rehercen or drawen in-to memorie the gode werkes that we +han wroght biforn.’ / For certes, in the werkinge of the deedly sinne, ther +is no trust to no good werk that we han doon biforn; that is to seyn, as +for to have therby the lyf perdurable in hevene. /240 But nathelees, the +gode werkes quiken agayn, and comen agayn, and helpen, and availlen to have +the lyf perdurable in hevene, whan we han contricion. / But soothly, the +gode werkes that men doon whyl they been in deedly sinne, for-as-muche as +they were doon in deedly sinne, they may nevere quiken agayn. / For certes, +thing that nevere hadde lyf may nevere quikene; and nathelees, al-be-it +that [581] they ne availle noght to han the lyf perdurable, yet availlen +they to abregge of the peyne of helle, or elles to geten temporal richesse, +/ or elles that god wole the rather enlumine and lightne the herte of the +sinful man to have repentance; / and eek they availlen for to usen a man to +doon gode werkes, that the feend have the lasse power of his soule. /245 +And thus the curteis lord Iesu Crist wole that no good werk be lost; for in +somwhat it shal availle. / But for-as-muche as the gode werkes that men +doon whyl they been in good lyf, been al mortified by sinne folwinge; and +eek, sith that alle the gode werkes that men doon whyl they been in deedly +synne, been outrely dede as for to have the lyf perdurable; / wel may that +man, that no good werke ne dooth, singe thilke newe Frenshe song: “_Iay +tout perdu mon temps et mon labour_.” / For certes, sinne bireveth a man +bothe goodnesse of nature and eek the goodnesse of grace. / For soothly, +the grace of the holy goost fareth lyk fyr, that may nat been ydel; for fyr +faileth anoon as it forleteth his wirkinge, and right so grace fayleth +anoon as it forleteth his werkinge. /250 Than leseth the sinful man the +goodnesse of glorie, that only is bihight to gode men that labouren and +werken. / Wel may he be sory thanne, that oweth al his lif to god as longe +as he hath lived, and eek as longe as he shal live, that no goodnesse ne +hath to paye with his dette to god, to whom he oweth al his lyf. / For +trust wel, ‘he shal yeven acountes,’ as seith seint Bernard, ‘of alle the +godes that han be yeven him in this present lyf, and how he hath hem +despended; / in so muche that ther shal nat perisse an heer of his heed, ne +a moment of an houre ne shal nat perisse of his tyme, that he ne shal yeve +of it a rekening.’ / + + 232. E. Pt. Ln. that he hath wroght (_1st time_). 233. Ln. mortified; + Hl. amortised; _rest_ mortefied. Cp. Pt. astonyed; Hl. astoneyed. + 235. Ln. Hl. mortified; _rest_ mortefied. 240. E. is for to seyn. + 242. E. quyke. 247. Ln. mortified; Hn. Hl. amortised; _rest_ + mortefied. 254. _All_ noght (nat) _so_; ed. 1550, in so (_better_). + +§ 12. The fifthe thing that oghte moeve a man to contricion, is remembrance +of the passion that oure lord Iesu Crist suffred for our sinnes. /255 For, +as seith seint Bernard: ‘whyl that I live, I shal have remembrance of the +travailles that oure lord Crist suffred in preching; / his werinesse in +travailling, hise temptacions whan he fasted, hise longe wakinges whan he +preyde, hise teres whan that he weep for pitee of good peple; / the wo and +the shame and the filthe that men seyden to him; of the foule spitting that +men spitte in his face, of the buffettes that men yaven [582] him, of the +foule mowes, and of the repreves that men to him seyden; / of the nayles +with whiche he was nailed to the croys, and of al the remenant of his +passion that he suffred for my sinnes, and no-thing for his gilt.’ / And ye +shul understonde, that in mannes sinne is every manere of ordre or +ordinance turned up-so-doun. /260 For it is sooth, that god, and reson, and +sensualitee, and the body of man been so ordeyned, that everich of thise +foure thinges sholde have lordshipe over that other; / as thus: god sholde +have lordshipe over reson, and reson over sensualitee, and sensualitee over +the body of man. / But sothly, whan man sinneth, al this ordre or ordinance +is turned up-so-doun. / And therfore thanne, for-as-muche as the reson of +man ne wol nat be subget ne obeisant to god, that is his lord by right, +therfore leseth it the lordshipe that it sholde have over sensualitee, and +eek over the body of man. / And why? For sensualitee rebelleth thanne +agayns reson; and by that wey leseth reson the lordshipe over sensualitee +and over the body. /265 For right as reson is rebel to god, right so is +bothe sensualitee rebel to reson and the body also. / And certes, this +disordinance and this rebellion oure lord Iesu Crist aboghte up-on his +precious body ful dere, and herkneth in which wyse. / For-as-muche thanne +as reson is rebel to god, therfore is man worthy to have sorwe and to be +deed. / This suffred oure lord Iesu Crist for man, after that he hadde be +bitraysed of his disciple, and distreyned and bounde, ‘so that his blood +brast out at every nail of hise handes,’ as seith seint Augustin. / And +forther-over, for-as-muchel as reson of man ne wol nat daunte sensualitee +whan it may, therfore is man worthy to have shame; and this suffred oure +lord Iesu Crist for man, whan they spetten in his visage. /270 And +forther-over, for-as-muchel thanne as the caitif body of man is rebel bothe +to reson and to sensualitee, therfore is it worthy the deeth. / And this +suffred oure lord Iesu Crist for man up-on the croys, where-as ther was no +part of his body free, withouten greet peyne and bitter passion. / And al +this suffred Iesu Crist, that nevere forfeted. And therfore resonably may +be seyd of Iesu in this manere: ‘to muchel am I peyned for the thinges that +I nevere deserved, and to muche defouled for shend-shipe that man is worthy +to have.’ / And therfore may the sinful [583] man wel seye, as seith seint +Bernard: ‘acursed be the bitternesse of my sinne, for which ther moste be +suffred so muchel bitternesse.’ / For certes, after the diverse +discordances of oure wikkednesses, was the passion of Iesu Crist ordeyned +in diverse thinges, /275 as thus. Certes, sinful mannes soule is bitraysed +of the devel by coveitise of temporel prosperitee, and scorned by deceite +whan he cheseth fleshly delyces; and yet is it tormented by inpacience of +adversitee, and bispet by servage and subieccion of sinne; and atte laste +it is slayn fynally. / For this disordinaunce of sinful man was Iesu Crist +first bitraysed, and after that was he bounde, that cam for to unbynden us +of sinne and peyne. / Thanne was he biscorned, that only sholde han been +honoured in alle thinges and of alle thinges. / Thanne was his visage, that +oghte be desired to be seyn of al man-kinde, in which visage aungels +desyren to looke, vileynsly bispet. / Thanne was he scourged that no-thing +hadde agilt; and fynally, thanne was he crucified and slayn. /280 Thanne +was acompliced the word of Isaye: ‘he was wounded for oure misdedes, and +defouled for oure felonies.’ / Now sith that Iesu Crist took up-on him-self +the peyne of alle oure wikkednesses, muchel oghte sinful man wepen and +biwayle, that for hise sinnes goddes sone of hevene sholde al this peyne +endure. / + + 255. Hl. for vs and for our synnes. 261. E. Cm. _om._ so. 269. E. + Cm. his blood; _rest_ the blood. 270. Hl. face (_for_ visage). 273. + Cm. (_and_ ed. 1550) And therfore ... manere; _rest om._ 275. E. + disconcordances. 276. E. temporeel. bispet] E. dispeir (!). 277. + E. _om._ first. 281. E. Ysaye that seith that he; _rest om._ that + seith that. + +§ 13. The sixte thing that oghte moeve a man to contricion, is the hope of +three thynges; that is to seyn, foryifnesse of sinne, and the yifte of +grace wel for to do, and the glorie of hevene, with which god shal guerdone +a man for hise gode dedes. / And for-as-muche as Iesu Crist yeveth us thise +yiftes of his largesse and of his sovereyn bountee, therfore is he cleped +_Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum._ / Iesus is to seyn ‘saveour’ or +‘salvacion,’ on whom men shul hope to have foryifnesse of sinnes, which +that is proprely salvacion of sinnes. /285 And therfore seyde the aungel to +Ioseph: ‘thou shall clepen his name Iesus, that shal saven his peple of hir +sinnes.’ / And heer-of seith seint Peter: ‘ther is noon other name under +hevene that is yeve to any man, by which a man may be saved, but only +Iesus.’ / _Nazarenus_ is as muche for to seye as ‘florisshinge,’ in which a +man shal hope, that he that yeveth him remission of sinnes shal yeve him +eek grace wel [584] for to do. For in the flour is hope of fruit in tyme +cominge; and in foryifnesse of sinnes hope of grace wel for to do. / ‘I was +atte dore of thyn herte,’ seith Iesus, ‘and cleped for to entre; he that +openeth to me shal have foryifnesse of sinne. / I wol entre in-to him by my +grace, and soupe with him,’ by the goode werkes that he shal doon; whiche +werkes been the foode of god; ‘and he shal soupe with me,’ by the grete +Ioye that I shal yeven him. /290 Thus shal man hope, for hise werkes of +penaunce, that god shall yeven him his regne; as he bihoteth him in the +gospel. / + + 283. E. Hn. gerdone; Cm. gerdounnyn. 285. E. _om._ is _after_ that. + 291. Hn. Cm. Hl. byheteth. + +§ 14. Now shal a man understonde, in which manere shal been his contricion. +I seye, that it shal been universal and total; this is to seyn, a man shal +be verray repentant for alle hise sinnes that he hath doon in delyt of his +thoght; for delyt is ful perilous. / For ther been two manere of +consentinges; that oon of hem is cleped consentinge of affeccion, when a +man is moeved to do sinne, and delyteth him longe for to thinke on that +sinne; / and his reson aperceyveth it wel, that it is sinne agayns the lawe +of god, and yet his reson refreyneth nat his foul delyt or talent, though +he se wel apertly that it is agayns the reverence of god; al-though his +reson ne consente noght to doon that sinne in dede, / yet seyn somme +doctours that swich delyt that dwelleth longe, it is ful perilous, al be it +nevere so lite. /295 And also a man sholde sorwe, namely, for al that evere +he hath desired agayn the lawe of god with perfit consentinge of his reson; +for ther-of is no doute, that it is deedly sinne in consentinge. / For +certes, ther is no deedly sinne, that it nas first in mannes thought, and +after that in his delyt; and so forth in-to consentinge and in-to dede. / +Wherfore I seye, that many men ne repenten hem nevere of swiche thoghtes +and delytes, ne nevere shryven hem of it, but only of the dede of grete +sinnes outward. / Wherfore I seye, that swiche wikked delytes and wikked +thoghtes been subtile bigyleres of hem that shullen be dampned. / +More-over, man oghte to sorwe for hise wikkede wordes as wel as for hise +wikkede dedes; for certes, the repentance of a singuler sinne, and nat +repente of alle hise othere sinnes, or elles repenten him of alle hise +othere sinnes, and nat of a singuler sinne, may nat availle. /300 For +certes, god almighty is al good; and ther-fore he foryeveth al, [585] or +elles right noght. / And heer-of seith seint Augustin: ‘I woot certainly / +that god is enemy to everich sinnere’; and how thanne? He that observeth o +sinne, shal he have foryifnesse of the remenaunt of hise othere sinnes? +Nay. / And forther-over, contricion sholde be wonder sorweful and +anguissous, and therfore yeveth him god pleynly his mercy; and therfore, +whan my soule was anguissous with-inne me, I hadde remembrance of god that +my preyere mighte come to him. / Forther-over, contricion moste be +continuel, and that man have stedefast purpos to shryven him, and for to +amenden him of his lyf. /305 For soothly, whyl contricion lasteth, man may +evere have hope of foryifnesse; and of this comth hate of sinne, that +destroyeth sinne bothe in himself, and eek in other folk, at his power. / +For which seith David: ‘ye that loven god hateth wikkednesse.’ For trusteth +wel, to love god is for to love that he loveth, and hate that he hateth. / + + 303. E. _om._ I woot certeinly. 305. E. continueel. + +§ 15. The laste thing that man shal understonde in contricion is this; +wher-of avayleth contricion. I seye, that som tyme contricion delivereth a +man fro sinne; / of which that David seith: ‘I seye,’ quod David, that is +to seyn, ‘I purposed fermely to shryve me; and thow, Lord, relesedest my +sinne.’ / And right so as contricion availleth noght, with-outen sad purpos +of shrifte, if man have oportunitee, right so litel worth is shrifte or +satisfaccion with-outen contricion. /310 And more-over, contricion +destroyeth the prison of helle, and maketh wayk and feble alle the +strengthes of the develes, and restoreth the yiftes of the holy goost and +of alle gode vertues; / and it clenseth the soule of sinne, and delivereth +the soule fro the peyne of helle, and fro the companye of the devel, and +fro the servage of sinne, and restoreth it to alle godes espirituels, and +to the companye and communion of holy chirche. / And forther-over, it +maketh him that whylom was sone of ire to be sone of grace; and alle thise +thinges been preved by holy writ. / And therfore, he that wolde sette his +entente to thise thinges, he were ful wys; for soothly, he ne sholde nat +thanne in al his lyf have corage to sinne, but yeven his body and al his +herte to the service of Iesu Crist, and ther-of doon him hommage. / For +soothly, oure swete lord Iesu Crist hath spared [586] us so debonairly in +our folies, that if he ne hadde pitee of mannes soule, a sory song we +mighten alle singe. /315 + + 308. E. Ln. a man fro; _rest om._ a. 311. E. fieble. 313. Hl. Pt. + Ln. thinges he prouith by. 314. Hl. herte (_for_ entente). + +=Explicit prima pars penitentie; et sequitur secunda pars eiusdem.= + +§ 16. The seconde partie of Penitence is Confession, that is signe of +contricion. / Now shul ye understonde what is Confession, and whether it +oghte nedes be doon or noon, and whiche thinges been covenable to verray +Confession. / + + 317. E. wheither. + +§ 17. First shaltow understonde that Confession is verray shewinge of +sinnes to the preest; / this is to seyn ‘verray,’ for he moste confessen +him of alle the condiciouns that bilongen to his sinne, as ferforth as he +can. / Al moot be seyd, and no thing excused ne hid ne forwrapped, and +noght avaunte him of his gode werkes. /320 And forther over, it is +necessarie to understonde whennes that sinnes springen, and how they +encresen, and whiche they been. / + + 320. him of his] E. Cm. thee of thy. 321. E. encreessen. + +§ 18. Of the springinge of sinnes seith seint Paul in this wise: that +‘right as by a man sinne entred first in-to this world, and thurgh that +sinne deeth, right so thilke deeth entred in-to alle men that sinneden.’ / +And this man was Adam, by whom sinne entred in-to this world whan he brak +the comaundement of god. / And therfore, he that first was so mighty that +he sholde not have dyed, bicam swich oon that he moste nedes dye, whether +he wolde or noon; and all his progenie in this world that in thilke man +sinneden. / Loke that in thestaat of innocence, when Adam and Eve naked +weren in paradys, and no-thing ne hadden shame of hir nakednesse, /325 how +that the serpent, that was most wyly of alle othere bestes that god hadde +maked, seyde to the womman: ‘why comaunded god to yow, ye sholde nat eten +of every tree in paradys?’ / The womman answerde: ‘of the fruit,’ quod she, +‘of the trees in paradys we feden us; but soothly, of the fruit of the tree +that is in the middel of paradys, god forbad us for to ete, ne nat touchen +it, lest per-aventure we should dyen.’ / The serpent seyde to the womman: +‘nay, nay, ye shul nat dyen of deeth; for sothe, god woot, that what day +that ye eten ther-of, youre eyen shul opene, and ye shul been as goddes, +knowinge [587] good and harm.’ / The womman thanne saugh that the tree was +good to feding, and fair to the eyen, and delytable to the sighte; she tok +of the fruit of the tree, and eet it, and yaf to hir housbonde, and he eet; +and anoon the eyen of hem bothe openeden. / And whan that they knewe that +they were naked, they sowed of fige-leves a manere of breches to hiden hir +membres. /330 There may ye seen that deedly sinne hath first suggestion of +the feend, as sheweth here by the naddre; and afterward, the delyt of the +flesh, as sheweth here by Eve; and after that, the consentinge of resoun, +as sheweth here by Adam. / For trust wel, thogh so were that the feend +tempted Eve, that is to seyn the flesh, and the flesh hadde delyt in the +beautee of the fruit defended, yet certes, til that resoun, that is to +seyn, Adam, consented to the etinge of the fruit, yet stood he in thestaat +of innocence. / Of thilke Adam toke we thilke sinne original; for of him +fleshly descended be we alle, and engendred of vile and corrupt matere. / +And whan the soule is put in our body, right anon is contract original +sinne; and that, that was erst but only peyne of concupiscence, is +afterward bothe peyne and sinne. / And therfore be we alle born sones of +wratthe and of dampnacion perdurable, if it nere baptesme that we receyven, +which binimeth us the culpe; but for sothe, the peyne dwelleth with us, as +to temptacion, which peyne highte concupiscence. /335 Whan it is wrongfully +disposed or ordeyned in man, it maketh him coveite, by coveitise of flesh, +fleshly sinne, by sighte of hise eyen as to erthely thinges. and coveitise +of hynesse by pryde of herte. / + + 323. E. Hn. comaundementz; _rest_ comaundement. 324. E. wheither. + 325. Pt. þe astate; Ln. þe state; Cm. stat. 327. ne] E. and. 328. + E. _om._ ye _before_ shul. 330. E. Cm. a manere; _rest_ in manere. + 335. E. bynyneth; Hn. Pt. Hl. bynymeth. + +§ 19. Now as for to speken of the firste coveitise, that is, concupiscence +after the lawe of oure membres, that weren lawe-fulliche y-maked and by +rightful Iugement of god; / I seye, for-as-muche as man is nat obeisaunt to +god, that is his lord, therfore is the flesh to him disobeisaunt thurgh +concupiscence, which yet is cleped norissinge of sinne and occasion of +sinne. / Therfore, al the whyle that a man hath in him the peyne of +concupiscence, it is impossible but he be tempted somtyme, and moeved in +his flesh to sinne. And this thing may nat faille as longe as he liveth; it +may wel wexe feble and faille, by vertu of baptesme and by the grace of god +thurgh penitence; /340 but fully [588] ne shal it nevere quenche, that he +ne shal som tyme be moeved in him-self, but-if he were al refreyded by +siknesse, or by malefice of sorcerie or colde drinkes. / For lo, what seith +seint Paul: ‘the flesh coveiteth agayn the spirit, and the spirit agayn the +flesh; they been so contrarie and so stryven, that a man may nat alwey doon +as he wolde.’ / The same seint Paul, after his grete penaunce in water and +in lond (in water by night and by day, in greet peril and in greet peyne, +in lond, in famine, in thurst, in cold and clothlees, and ones stoned +almost to the deeth) / yet seyde he: ‘allas! I, caytif man, who shal +delivere me fro the prisoun of my caytif body?’ / And seint Ierome, whan he +longe tyme hadde woned in desert, where-as he hadde no companye but of +wilde bestes, where-as he ne hadde no mete but herbes and water to his +drinke, ne no bed but the naked erthe, for which his flesh was blak as an +Ethiopen for hete and ny destroyed for cold, /345 yet seyde he: that ‘the +brenninge of lecherie boiled in al his body.’ / Wherfore I woot wel +sikerly, that they been deceyved that seyn, that they ne be nat tempted in +hir body. / Witnesse on Seint Iame the Apostel, that seith: that ‘every +wight is tempted in his owen concupiscence’: that is to seyn, that everich +of us hath matere and occasion to be tempted of the norissinge of sinne +that is in his body. / And therfore seith Seint Iohn the Evaungelist: ‘if +that we seyn that we beth with-oute sinne, we deceyve us-selve, and trouthe +is nat in us.’ / + + 338. E. norrissynge. 340. E. fieble; _rest_ feble. 345. E. + Ethiopeen; _rest_ -pen. + +§ 20. Now shal ye understonde in what manere that sinne wexeth or encreseth +in man. The firste thing is thilke norissinge of sinne, of which I spak +biforn, thilke fleshly concupiscence. /350 And after that comth the +subieccion of the devel, this is to seyn, the develes bely, with which he +bloweth in man the fyr of fleshly concupiscence. / And after that, a man +bithinketh him whether he wol doon, or no, thilke thing to which he is +tempted. / And thanne, if that a man withstonde and weyve the firste +entysinge of his flesh and of the feend, thanne is it no sinne; and if it +so be that he do nat so, thanne feleth he anon a flambe of delyt. / And +thanne is it good to be war, and kepen him wel, or elles he wol falle anon +in-to consentinge of sinne; and thanne wol he do it, if he may have tyme +and place. / And of this matere seith Moyses by the devel in this manere: +‘the feend seith, I wole [589] chace and pursue the man by wikked +suggestion, and I wole hente him by moevynge or stiringe of sinne. I wol +departe my pryse or my praye by deliberacion, and my lust shal been +accompliced in delyt; I wol drawe my swerd in consentinge:’ /355 for +certes, right as a swerd departeth a thing in two peces, right so +consentinge departeth god fro man: ‘and thanne wol I sleen him with myn +hand in dede of sinne’; thus seith the feend. / For certes, thanne is a man +al deed in soule. And thus is sinne accompliced by temptacion, by delyt, +and by consentinge; and thanne is the sin cleped actuel. / + + 350. E. encreesseth. 352. E. wheither. 357. E. Actueel. + +§ 21. For sothe, sinne is in two maneres; outher it is venial, or deedly +sinne. Soothly, whan man loveth any creature more than Iesu Crist oure +creatour, thanne is it deedly sinne. And venial synne is it, if man love +Iesu Crist lasse than him oghte. / For sothe, the dede of this venial sinne +is ful perilous; for it amenuseth the love that men sholde han to god more +and more. / And therfore, if a man charge him-self with manye swiche venial +sinnes, certes, but-if so be that he som tyme descharge him of hem by +shrifte, they mowe ful lightly amenuse in him al the love that he hath to +Iesu Crist; /360 and in this wise skippeth venial in-to deedly sinne. For +certes, the more that a man chargeth his soule with venial sinnes, the more +is he enclyned to fallen in-to deedly sinne. / And therfore, lat us nat be +necligent to deschargen us of venial sinnes. For the proverbe seith: that +manye smale maken a greet. / And herkne this ensample. A greet wawe of the +see comth som-tyme with so greet a violence that it drencheth the ship. And +the same harm doth som-tyme the smale dropes of water, that entren thurgh a +litel crevace in-to the thurrok, and in-to the botme of the ship, if men be +so necligent that they ne descharge hem nat by tyme. / And therfore, +al-thogh ther be a difference bitwixe thise two causes of drenchinge, +algates the ship is dreynt. / Right so fareth it somtyme of deedly sinne, +and of anoyouse veniale sinnes, whan they multiplye in a man so greetly, +that thilke worldly thinges that he loveth, thurgh whiche he sinneth +venially, is as greet in his herte as the love of god, or more. /365 And +therfore, the love of every thing, that is nat biset in god ne doon +principally for goddes sake, al-though that a man love [590] it lasse than +god, yet is it venial sinne; / and deedly sinne, whan the love of any thing +weyeth in the herte of man as muchel as the love of god, or more. / ‘Deedly +sinne,’ as seith seint Augustin, ‘is, whan a man turneth his herte fro god, +which that is verray sovereyn bountee, that may nat chaunge, and yeveth his +herte to thing that may chaunge and flitte’; / and certes, that is every +thing, save god of hevene. For sooth is, that if a man yeve his love, the +which that he oweth al to god with al his herte, un-to a creature, certes, +as muche of his love as he yeveth to thilke creature, so muche he bireveth +fro god; / and therfore doth he sinne. For he, that is dettour to god, ne +yeldeth nat to god al his dette, that is to seyn, al the love of his herte. +/370 + + 358. E. _om._ oghte. 361. sinnes] E. sinne. 363. E. Hn. Cm. in the + botme. 367. E. wexeth (_for_ weyeth). 369. E. as he yeueth of his + loue. + +§ 22. Now sith man understondeth generally, which is venial sinne, thanne +is it covenable to tellen specially of sinnes whiche that many a man +per-aventure ne demeth hem nat sinnes, and ne shryveth him nat of the same +thinges; and yet nathelees they been sinnes. / Soothly, as thise clerkes +wryten, this is to seyn, that at every tyme that a man eteth or drinketh +more than suffyseth to the sustenaunce of his body, in certein he dooth +sinne. / And eek whan he speketh more than nedeth, it is sinne. Eke whan he +herkneth nat benignely the compleint of the povre. / Eke whan he is in hele +of body and wol nat faste, whan othere folk faste, withouten cause +resonable. Eke whan he slepeth more than nedeth, or whan he comth by thilke +enchesoun to late to chirche, or to othere werkes of charite. / Eke whan he +useth his wyf, withouten sovereyn desyr of engendrure, to the honour of +god, or for the entente to yelde to his wyf the dette of his body. /375 Eke +whan he wol nat visite the sike and the prisoner, if he may. Eke if he love +wyf or child, or other worldly thing, more than resoun requyreth. Eke if he +flatere or blandishe more than him oghte for any necessitee. / Eke if he +amenuse or withdrawe the almesse of the povre. Eke if he apparailleth his +mete more deliciously than nede is, or ete it to hastily by likerousnesse. +/ Eke if he tale vanitees at chirche or at goddes service, or that he be a +talker of ydel wordes of folye or of vileinye; for he shal yelden acountes +of it at the day of dome. / Eke whan he biheteth or assureth to do [591] +thinges that he may nat perfourne. Eke whan that he, by lightnesse or +folie, misseyeth or scorneth his neighebore. / Eke whan he hath any wikked +suspecion of thing, ther he ne woot of it no soothfastnesse. /380 Thise +thinges and mo with-oute nombre been sinnes, as seith seint Augustin. / + + 371. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. hem (_for_ him). 374. E. hym oghte (_for_ othere + folk). 376. E. Hn. blandise. 377. Hl. body (_for_ mete). E. Cm. + _om._ it. 378. Hl. talke of (_for_ tale). 379. Hn. Hl. acounte. + +Now shal men understonde, that al-be-it so that noon erthely man may eschue +alle venial sinnes, yet may he refreyne him by the brenninge love that he +hath to oure lord Iesu Crist, and by preyeres and confession and othere +gode werkes, so that it shal but litel greve. / For, as seith seint +Augustin: ‘if a man love god in swiche manere, that al that evere he doth +is in the love of god, and for the love of god verraily, for he brenneth in +the love of god: / loke, how muche that a drope of water that falleth in a +fourneys ful of fyr anoyeth or greveth, so muche anoyeth a venial sinne +un-to a man that is parfit in the love of Iesu Crist.’ / Men may also +refreyne venial sinne by receyvinge worthily of the precious body of Iesu +Crist; /385 by receyving eek of holy water; by almesdede; by general +confession of _Confiteor_ at masse and at complin; and by blessinge of +bisshopes and of preestes, and by othere gode werkes. / + + 382. E. restreyne (_for_ refreyne); _see_ 385. 386. E. _om._ by + _before_ othere. + +=Explicit secunda pars penitentie.= + +=Sequitur De Septem Peccatis Mortalibus et eorum dependenciis +circumstanciis et speciebus.= + +§ 23. Now is it bihovely thing to telle whiche been the deedly sinnes, this +is to seyn, chieftaines of sinnes; alle they renne in o lees, but in +diverse maneres. Now been they cleped chieftaines for-as-muche as they been +chief, and springers of alle othere sinnes. / Of the roote of thise sevene +sinnes thanne is Pryde, the general rote of alle harmes; for of this rote +springen certein braunches, as Ire, Envye, Accidie or Slewthe, Avarice or +Coveitise (to commune understondinge), Glotonye, and Lecherye. / And +everich of thise chief sinnes hath hise braunches and hise twigges, as shal +be declared in hir chapitres folwinge. / + + HEADING. _So in_ E.; _but_ E. _adds_ De Superbia, _which should come at + the head of_ § 24, _as in_ Hn. 387. Hl. springers; Hn. sprynge; E. + Pt. Ln. spryngen. + +=De Superbia.= + +§ 24. And thogh so be that no man can outrely telle the [592] nombre of the +twigges and of the harmes that cometh of Pryde, yet wol I shewe a partie of +hem, as ye shul understonde. /390 Ther is Inobedience, Avauntinge, +Ipocrisie, Despyt, Arrogance, Impudence, Swellinge of herte, Insolence, +Elacion, Impacience, Strif, Contumacie, Presumpcion, Irreverence, +Pertinacie, Veyne Glorie; and many another twig that I can nat declare. / +Inobedient, is he that disobeyeth for despyt to the comandements of god and +to hise sovereyns, and to his goostly fader. / Avauntour, is he that +bosteth of the harm or of the bountee that he hath doon. / Ipocrite, is he +that hydeth to shewe him swiche as he is, and sheweth him swiche as he +noght is. / Despitous, is he that hath desdeyn of his neighebore, that is +to seyn, of his evene-cristene, or hath despyt to doon that him oghte to +do. /395 Arrogant, is he that thinketh that he hath thilke bountees in him +that he hath noght, or weneth that he sholde have hem by hise desertes; or +elles he demeth that he be that he nis nat. / Impudent, is he that for his +pride hath no shame of hise sinnes. / Swellinge of herte, is whan a man +reioyseth him of harm that he hath doon. / Insolent, is he that despyseth +in his Iugement alle othere folk as to regard of his value, and of his +conning, and of his speking, and of his bering. / Elacion, is whan he ne +may neither suffre to have maister ne felawe. /400 Impacient, is he that +wol nat been y-taught ne undernome of his vyce, and by stryf werreieth +trouthe witingly, and deffendeth his folye. / _Contumax_, is he that thurgh +his indignacion is agayns everich auctoritee or power of hem that been hise +sovereyns. / Presumpcion, is whan a man undertaketh an empryse that him +oghte nat do, or elles that he may nat do; and that is called Surquidrie. +Irreverence, is whan men do nat honour thereas hem oghte to doon, and +waiten to be reverenced. / Pertinacie, is whan man deffendeth his folye, +and trusteth to muchel in his owene wit. / Veyne glorie, is for to have +pompe and delyt in his temporel hynesse, and glorifie him in this worldly +estaat. /405 Ianglinge, is whan men speken to muche biforn folk, and +clappen as a mille, and taken no kepe what they seye. / + + 390. E. Hn. _om. 2nd_ the. 391. Pt. Hl. Imprudence; E. Hn. Inpudence. + E. Hn. Pt. Inpatience; _rest imperfect here._ 395. E. _om. 2nd_ + his. 401. Ln. Hl. Impacient; _rest_ Inpatient (_or imperfect_). Pt. + Hl. vices. 403. E. and this is. E. Hn. surquidie. 404. E. hise + folies. 405. E. temporeel. + +§ 25. And yet is ther a privee spece of Pryde, that waiteth first to be +salewed er he wole salewe, al be he lasse worth than that [593] other is, +per-aventure; and eek he waiteth or desyreth to sitte, or elles to goon +above him in the wey, or kisse pax, or been encensed, or goon to offring +biforn his neighebore, / and swiche semblable thinges; agayns his duetee, +per-aventure, but that he hath his herte and his entente in swich a proud +desyr to be magnifyed and honoured biforn the peple. / + +§ 26. Now been ther two maneres of Pryde; that oon of hem is with-inne the +herte of man, and that other is with-oute. / Of whiche soothly thise +forseyde thinges, and mo than I have seyd, apertenen to pryde that is in +the herte of man; and that othere speces of pryde been with-oute. /410 But +natheles that oon of thise speces of pryde is signe of that other, right as +the gaye leefsel atte taverne is signe of the wyn that is in the celer. / +And this is in manye thinges: as in speche and contenaunce, and in +outrageous array of clothing; / for certes, if ther ne hadde be no sinne in +clothing, Crist wolde nat have noted and spoken of the clothing of thilke +riche man in the gospel. / And, as seith Seint Gregorie, that precious +clothing is coupable for the derthe of it, and for his softenesse, and for +his strangenesse and degysinesse, and for the superfluitee, or for the +inordinat scantnesse of it. / Allas! may men nat seen, as in oure dayes, +the sinful costlewe array of clothinge, and namely in to muche +superfluitee, or elles in to desordinat scantnesse? /415 + + 410. _So_ E. Hn. Hl.; _perhaps read_ and that other spece of pryde is; + Pt. Ln. and ther-to other spices of pride bene. 411. Pt. Ln. Hl. + spices. Hn. leuesel; Hl. leuesselle; Pt. leeuesell; Ln. leuesal. + 414. Pt. disgisenesse; Ln. Hl. disgisinesse. or] E. and. + +§ 27. As to the firste sinne, that is in superfluitee of clothinge, which +that maketh it so dere, to harm of the peple; / nat only the cost of +embroudinge, the degyse endentinge or barringe, oundinge, palinge, +windinge, or bendinge, and semblable wast of clooth in vanitee; / but ther +is also costlewe furringe in hir gounes, so muche pounsoninge of chisels to +maken holes, so muche dagginge of sheres; / forth-with the superfluitee in +lengthe of the forseide gounes, trailinge in the dong and in the myre, on +horse and eek on fote, as wel of man as of womman, that al thilke trailing +is verraily as in effect wasted, consumed, thredbare, and roten with donge, +rather than it is yeven to the povre; to greet [594] damage of the forseyde +povre folk. / And that in sondry wyse: this is to seyn, that the more that +clooth is wasted, the more it costeth to the peple for the scantnesse; /420 +and forther-over, if so be that they wolde yeven swich pounsoned and dagged +clothing to the povre folk, it is nat convenient to were for hir estaat, ne +suffisant to bete hir necessitee, to kepe hem fro the distemperance of the +firmament. / Upon that other syde, to speken of the horrible disordinat +scantnesse of clothing, as been thise cutted sloppes or hainselins, that +thurgh hir shortnesse ne covere nat the shameful membres of man, to wikked +entente. / Allas! somme of hem shewen the boce of hir shap, and the +horrible swollen membres, that semeth lyk the maladie of hirnia, in the +wrappinge of hir hoses; / and eek the buttokes of hem faren as it were the +hindre part of a she-ape in the fulle of the mone. / And more-over, the +wrecched swollen membres that they shewe thurgh the degysinge, in +departinge of hir hoses in whyt and reed, semeth that half hir shameful +privee membres weren flayn. /425 And if so be that they departen hire hoses +in othere colours, as is whyt and blak, or whyt and blew, or blak and reed, +and so forth; / thanne semeth it, as by variance of colour, that half the +partie of hir privee membres were corrupt by the fyr of seint Antony, or by +cancre, or by other swich meschaunce. / Of the hindre part of hir buttokes, +it is ful horrible for to see. For certes, in that partie of hir body +ther-as they purgen hir stinkinge ordure, / that foule partie shewe they to +the peple proudly in despyt of honestetee, the which honestetee that Iesu +Crist and hise freendes observede to shewen in hir lyve. / Now as of the +outrageous array of wommen, god woot, that though the visages of somme of +hem seme ful chaast and debonaire, yet notifie they in hir array of atyr +likerousnesse and pryde. /430 I sey nat that honestetee in clothinge of man +or womman is uncovenable, but certes the superfluitee or disordinat +scantitee of clothinge is reprevable. / Also the sinne of aornement or of +apparaille is in thinges that apertenen to rydinge, as in to manye delicat +horses that been holden for delyt, that been so faire, fatte, and costlewe; +/ and also to many a vicious knave that is sustened [595] by cause of hem; +in to curious harneys, as in sadeles, in crouperes, peytrels, and brydles +covered with precious clothing and riche, barres and plates of gold and of +silver. / For which god seith by Zakarie the prophete, ‘I wol confounde the +ryderes of swiche horses.’ / This folk taken litel reward of the rydinge of +goddes sone of hevene, and of his harneys whan he rood up-on the asse, and +ne hadde noon other harneys but the povre clothes of hise disciples; ne we +ne rede nat that evere he rood on other beest. /435 I speke this for the +sinne of superfluitee, and nat for reasonable honestetee, whan reson it +requyreth. / And forther, certes pryde is greetly notified in holdinge of +greet meinee, whan they be of litel profit or of right no profit. / And +namely, whan that meinee is felonous and damageous to the peple, by +hardinesse of heigh lordshipe or by wey of offices. / For certes, swiche +lordes sellen thanne hir lordshipe to the devel of helle, whanne they +sustenen the wikkednesse of hir meinee. / Or elles whan this folk of lowe +degree, as thilke that holden hostelries, sustenen the thefte of hir +hostilers, and that is in many manere of deceites. /440 Thilke manere of +folk been the flyes that folwen the hony, or elles the houndes that folwen +the careyne. Swiche forseyde folk stranglen spiritually hir lordshipes; / +for which thus seith David the prophete, ‘wikked deeth mote come up-on +thilke lordshipes, and god yeve that they mote descenden in-to helle al +doun; for in hir houses been iniquitees and shrewednesses,’ and nat god of +hevene. / And certes, but-if they doon amendement, right as god yaf his +benison to Laban by the service of Iacob, and to Pharao by the service of +Ioseph, right so god wol yeve his malison to swiche lordshipes as sustenen +the wikkednesse of hir servaunts, but-if they come to amendement. / Pryde +of the table appereth eek ful ofte; for certes, riche men been cleped to +festes, and povre folk been put awey and rebuked. / Also in excesse of +diverse metes and drinkes; and namely, swiche manere bake metes and +dish-metes, brenninge of wilde fyr, and peynted and castelled with papir, +and semblable wast; so that it is abusion for to thinke. /445 And eek in to +greet preciousnesse of vessel and curiositee of minstralcie, by whiche a +man is stired the more to delyces of luxurie, / [596] if so be that he +sette his herte the lasse up-on oure lord Iesu Crist, certein it is a +sinne; and certeinly the delyces mighte been so grete in this caas, that +man mighte lightly falle by hem in-to deedly sinne. / The especes that +sourden of pryde, soothly whan they sourden of malice ymagined, avysed, and +forncast, or elles of usage, been deedly synnes, it is no doute. / And whan +they sourden by freletee unavysed sodeinly, and sodeinly withdrawen ayein, +al been they grevouse sinnes, I gesse that they ne been nat deedly. / Now +mighte men axe wher-of that Pryde sourdeth and springeth, and I seye: +somtyme it springeth of the goodes of nature, and som-tyme of the goodes of +fortune, and som-tyme of the goodes of grace. /450 Certes, the goodes of +nature stonden outher in goodes of body or in goodes of soule. / Certes, +goodes of body been hele of body, as strengthe, delivernesse, beautee, +gentrye, franchise. / Goodes of nature of the soule been good wit, sharp +understondynge, subtil engin, vertu naturel, good memorie. / Goodes of +fortune been richesses, highe degrees of lordshipes, preisinges of the +peple. / Goodes of grace been science, power to suffre spirituel travaille, +benignitee, vertuous contemplacion, withstondinge of temptacion, and +semblable thinges. /455 Of whiche forseyde goodes, certes it is a ful greet +folye a man to pryden him in any of hem alle. / Now as for to speken of +goodes of nature, god woot that som-tyme we han hem in nature as muche to +oure damage as to oure profit. / As, for to speken of hele of body; certes +it passeth ful lightly, and eek it is ful ofte encheson of the siknesse of +oure soule; for god woot, the flesh is a ful greet enemy to the soule: and +therfore, the more that the body is hool, the more be we in peril to falle. +/ Eke for to pryde him in his strengthe of body, it is an heigh folye; for +certes, the flesh coveiteth agayn the spirit, and ay the more strong that +the flesh is, the sorier may the soule be: / and, over al this, strengthe +of body and worldly hardinesse causeth ful ofte many a man to peril and +meschaunce. /460 Eek for to pryde him of his gentrye is ful greet folye; +for ofte tyme the gentrye of the body binimeth the gentrye of the soule; +and eek we ben alle of o fader and of o moder; and alle we been of o nature +roten and corrupt, both riche and povre. / [597] For sothe, o manere +gentrye is for to preise, that apparailleth mannes corage with vertues and +moralitees, and maketh him Cristes child. / For truste wel, that over what +man sinne hath maistrie, he is a verray cherl to sinne. / + + 416. E. _om._ that is. 417. Hn. Pt. enbrawdynge. E. _om._ or _bef._ + barringe. E. owndynge. 418. E. powsonynge; Hn. pownsonynge; Ln. + pounseinge; Hl. pounsyng. Pt. chisels; E. Hn. chisel; _rest_ + chiseles (cheseles). 419. E. men; wo_m_men. 421. E. powsoned; Hn. + pownsonyd; Pt. pounsoned; Ln. Hl. pounsed. 422. E. haynselyns; Hn. + hanselyns; Ln. hanslynes; Pt. hanselynes; Hl. anslets; Harl. 1758, + haunseleynys. 425. _All but_ E. _om._ the _bef._ degysinge. E. + flayne. 429. E. honestitee (_twice_); Hn. honestetee; _rest_ honeste; + _so in_ 431, 436. 430. E. _om._ as. 432. Pt. anornement; Hl. here + ornament. 440. E. sustenynge; Hn. sustenen; Cm. Hl. susteyne. 442. + E. vp; Hn. vp on; Hl. vpon; Pt. Ln. on. E. al doun (_twice_); Hn. + adown (_twice_); Cm. al doun (_once_). 443. _All_ MSS. _transpose_ + Laban _and_ Pharao. E. seruauntz. 448. Pt. Ln. Hl. espices. 449. + E. _om. 1st_ sodeinly. 452. E. gentries; Hl. Pt. gentrie; _rest_ + genterye; _see_ 461. 453. E. natureel. 454. E. Ln. richesse. 455. + E. spiritueel. 460. _So in all_. + +§ 28. Now been ther generale signes of gentilesse; as eschewinge of vyce +and ribaudye and servage of sinne, in word, in werk, and contenance; / and +usinge vertu, curteisye, and clennesse, and to be liberal, that is to seyn, +large by mesure; for thilke that passeth mesure is folye and sinne. /465 +Another is, to remembre him of bountee that he of other folk hath receyved. +/ Another is, to be benigne to hise goode subgetis; wherfore, as seith +Senek, ‘ther is no-thing more covenable to a man of heigh estaat than +debonairetee and pitee. / And therfore thise flyes that men clepeth bees, +whan they maken hir king, they chesen oon that hath no prikke wherwith he +may stinge.’ / Another is, a man to have a noble herte and a diligent, to +attayne to heighe vertuouse thinges. / Now certes, a man to pryde him in +the goodes of grace is eek an outrageous folye; for thilke yiftes of grace +that sholde have turned him to goodnesse and to medicine, turneth him to +venim and to confusion, as seith seint Gregorie. /470 Certes also, who-so +prydeth him in the goodes of fortune, he is a ful greet fool; for som-tyme +is a man a greet lord by the morwe, that is a caitif and a wrecche er it be +night: / and somtyme the richesse of a man is cause of his deeth; somtyme +the delyces of a man is cause of the grevous maladye thurgh which he dyeth. +/ Certes, the commendacion of the peple is somtyme ful fals and ful brotel +for to triste; this day they preyse, tomorwe they blame. / God woot, desyr +to have commendacion of the peple hath caused deeth to many a bisy man. / + + 467. E. Cm. _om._ as. 469. E. man; _rest_ a man. 470. E. yifte; + _rest_ yiftes. N.B. Section 470 _follows_ 474 _in_ Hn. Pt.; _see + note_. + +=Remedium contra peccatum Superbie.= + +§ 29. Now sith that so is, that ye han understonde what is pryde, and +whiche been the speces of it, and whennes pride sourdeth and springeth; +/475 now shul ye understonde which is the remedie agayns the sinne of +pryde, and that is, humilitee or mekenesse. / That is a vertu, thurgh which +a man hath verray knoweleche of him-self, and holdeth of him-self no prys +ne deyntee as in regard of hise desertes, consideringe evere his freletee. +/ Now [598] been ther three maneres of humilitee; as humilitee in herte, +and another humilitee in his mouth; the thridde in hise werkes. / The +humilitee in herte is in foure maneres: that oon is, whan a man holdeth +him-self as noght worth biforn god of hevene. Another is, whan he ne +despyseth noon other man. / The thridde is, whan he rekketh nat thogh men +holde him noght worth. The ferthe is, whan he nis nat sory of his +humiliacion. /480 Also, the humilitee of mouth is in foure thinges: in +attempree speche, and in humblesse of speche, and whan he biknoweth with +his owene mouth that he is swich as him thinketh that he is in his herte. +Another is, whan he preiseth the bountee of another man, and nothing +ther-of amenuseth. / Humilitee eek in werkes is in foure maneres: the +firste is, whan he putteth othere men biforn him. The seconde is, to chese +the loweste place over-al. The thridde is, gladly to assente to good +conseil. / The ferthe is, to stonde gladly to the award of hise sovereyns, +or of him that is in hyer degree; certein, this is a greet werk of +humilitee. / + + 482. E. _om._ good. + +=Sequitur de Inuidia.= + +§ 30. After Pryde wol I speken of the foule sinne of Envye, which is, as by +the word of the philosophre, sorwe of other mannes prosperitee; and after +the word of seint Augustin, it is sorwe of other mannes wele, and Ioye of +othere mennes harm. / This foule sinne is platly agayns the holy goost. +Al-be-it so that every sinne is agayns the holy goost, yet nathelees, for +as muche as bountee aperteneth proprely to the holy goost, and Envye comth +proprely of malice, therfore it is proprely agayn the bountee of the holy +goost. /485 Now hath malice two speces, that is to seyn, hardnesse of herte +in wikkednesse, or elles the flesh of man is so blind, that he considereth +nat that he is in sinne, or rekketh nat that he is in sinne; which is the +hardnesse of the devel. / That other spece of malice is, whan a man +werreyeth trouthe, whan he woot that it is trouthe. And eek, whan he +werreyeth the grace that god hath yeve to his neighebore; and al this is by +Envye. / Certes, thanne is Envye the worste sinne that is. For soothly, +alle othere sinnes been som-tyme only agayns o special vertu; / but certes, +Envye is agayns alle vertues and agayns alle goodnesses; for it is [599] +sory of alle the bountees of his neighebore; and in this manere it is +divers from alle othere sinnes. / For wel unnethe is ther any sinne that it +ne hath som delyt in itself, save only Envye, that evere hath in itself +anguish and sorwe. /490 The speces of Envye been thise: ther is first, +sorwe of other mannes goodnesse and of his prosperitee; and prosperitee is +kindely matere of Ioye; thanne is Envye a sinne agayns kinde. / The seconde +spece of Envye is Ioye of other mannes harm; and that is proprely lyk to +the devel, that evere reioyseth him of mannes harm. / Of thise two speces +comth bakbyting; and this sinne of bakbyting or detraccion hath certeine +speces, as thus. Som man preiseth his neighebore by a wikke entente; / for +he maketh alwey a wikked knotte atte laste ende. Alwey he maketh a ‘but’ +atte laste ende, that is digne of more blame, than worth is al the +preisinge. / The seconde spece is, that if a man be good and dooth or seith +a thing to good entente, the bakbyter wol turne all thilke goodnesse +up-so-doun to his shrewed entente. /495 The thridde is, to amenuse the +bountee of his neighebore. / The fourthe spece of bakbyting is this; that +if men speke goodnesse of a man, thanne wol the bakbyter seyn, ‘parfey, +swich a man is yet bet than he’; in dispreisinge of him that men preise. / +The fifte spece is this; for to consente gladly and herkne gladly to the +harm that men speke of other folk. This sinne is ful greet, and ay +encreseth after the wikked entente of the bakbyter. / After bakbyting +cometh grucching or murmuracion; and somtyme it springeth of inpacience +agayns god, and somtyme agayns man. / Agayns god it is, whan a man +gruccheth agayn the peynes of helle, or agayns poverte, or los of catel, or +agayn reyn or tempest; or elles gruccheth that shrewes han prosperitee, or +elles for that goode men han adversitee. /500 And alle thise thinges sholde +men suffre paciently, for they comen by the rightful Iugement and ordinance +of god. / Som-tyme comth grucching of avarice; as Iudas grucched agayns the +Magdaleyne, whan she enoynte the heved of oure lord Iesu Crist with hir +precious oynement. / This maner murmure is swich as whan man gruccheth of +goodnesse that him-self dooth, or that other folk doon of hir owene catel. +/ Som-tyme comth murmure of pryde; as whan Simon the Pharisee grucched +agayn the Magdaleyne, whan she approched to Iesu Crist, and weep at his +feet for hir sinnes. / [600] And somtyme grucching sourdeth of Envye; whan +men discovereth a mannes harm that was privee, or bereth him on hond thing +that is fals. /505 Murmure eek is ofte amonges servaunts, that grucchen +whan hir sovereyns bidden hem doon leveful thinges; / and, for-as-muche as +they dar nat openly withseye the comaundements of hir sovereyns, yet wol +they seyn harm, and grucche, and murmure prively for verray despyt; / +whiche wordes men clepen the develes _Pater-noster_, though so be that the +devel ne hadde nevere _Pater-noster_, but that lewed folk yeven it swich a +name. / Som tyme grucching comth of ire or prive hate, that norisseth +rancour in herte, as afterward I shal declare. / Thanne cometh eek +bitternesse of herte; thurgh which bitternesse every good dede of his +neighebor semeth to him bitter and unsavory. /510 Thanne cometh discord, +that unbindeth alle manere of frendshipe. Thanne comth scorninge, as whan a +man seketh occasioun to anoyen his neighebor, al do he never so weel. / +Thanne comth accusinge, as whan man seketh occasion to anoyen his +neighebor, which that is lyk to the craft of the devel, that waiteth bothe +night and day to accusen us alle. / Thanne comth malignitee, thurgh which a +man anoyeth his neighebor prively if he may; / and if he noght may, algate +his wikked wil ne shal nat wante, as for to brennen his hous prively, or +empoysone or sleen hise bestes, and semblable thinges. / + + 485. E. _om._ foule. E. _om. 1st and 3rd_ goost. 486. Cm. + hardynesse (_twice_). 487. E. speche (_for_ spece); Hn. spece; _rest_ + spice. E. malice (_and so_ Selden MS., _rightly_); _rest_ enuye. + 497. parfey] E. pardee. 500. E. _om._ or _after_ catel. 502. E. Hn. + enoynte; Cm. Hl. anoynted; Pt. ennoynted. 506. E. seruauntz. Cm. + lefful; Pt. Hl. leeful. 507. E. comaundementz. 511. Cm. scornynge + as whanne a man sekyth occasioun to anoyen his; _rest_ scornynge of his + (_merely_). + +=Remedium contra peccatum Inuidie.= + +§ 31. Now wol I speke of the remedie agayns this foule sinne of Envye. +First, is the love of god principal, and loving of his neighebor as +him-self; for soothly, that oon ne may nat been withoute that other. /515 +And truste wel, that in the name of thy neighebore thou shalt understonde +the name of thy brother; for certes alle we have o fader fleshly, and o +moder, that is to seyn, Adam and Eve; and eek o fader espirituel, and that +is god of hevene. / Thy neighebore artow holden for to love, and wilne him +alle goodnesse; and therfore seith god, ‘love thy neighebore as thyselve,’ +that is to seyn, to salvacion bothe of lyf and of soule. / And more-over, +thou shalt love him in word, and in benigne amonestinge, and chastysinge; +and conforten him in hise anoyes, and preye [601] for him with al thyn +herte. / And in dede thou shall love him in swich wyse, that thou shalt +doon to him in charitee as thou woldest that it were doon to thyn owene +persone. / And therfore, thou ne shalt doon him no damage in wikked word, +ne harm in his body, ne in his catel, ne in his soule, by entysing of +wikked ensample. /520 Thou shalt nat desyren his wyf, ne none of hise +thinges. Understond eek, that in the name of neighebor is comprehended his +enemy. / Certes man shal loven his enemy by the comandement of god; and +soothly thy frend shaltow love in God. / I seye, thyn enemy shaltow love +for goddes sake, by his comandement. For if it were reson that a man sholde +haten his enemy, for sothe god nolde nat receiven us to his love that been +hise enemys. / Agayns three manere of wronges that his enemy dooth to hym, +he shal doon three thinges, as thus. / Agayns hate and rancour of herte, he +shal love him in herte. Agayns chyding and wikkede wordes, he shal preye +for his enemy. And agayn the wikked dede of his enemy, he shal doon him +bountee. /525 For Crist seith, ‘loveth youre enemys, and preyeth for hem +that speke yow harm; and eek for hem that yow chacen and pursewen, and doth +bountee to hem that yow haten.’ Lo, thus comaundeth us oure lord Iesu +Crist, to do to oure enemys. / For soothly, nature dryveth us to loven oure +freendes, and parfey, oure enemys han more nede to love than oure freendes; +and they that more nede have, certes, to hem shal men doon goodnesse; / and +certes, in thilke dede have we remembrance of the love of Iesu Crist, that +deyde for hise enemys. / And in-as-muche as thilke love is the more grevous +to perfourne, in-so-muche is the more gretter the merite; and therfore the +lovinge of oure enemy hath confounded the venim of the devel. / For right +as the devel is disconfited by humilitee, right so is he wounded to the +deeth by love of oure enemy. /530 Certes, thanne is love the medicine that +casteth out the venim of Envye fro mannes herte. / The speces of this pas +shullen be more largely in hir chapitres folwinge declared. / + + 515. this] E. the. love] E. louynge. 516. E. espiritueel. 517. E. + _om._ bothe. 520. E. entissyng. 521. E. Hn. Vnderstoond. 524. + wronges] E. thinges. 525. E. _om._ the. 529. Ln. Hl. parforme; Pt. + perfourme. 532. E. paas; Hl. pa_r_t; _rest_ pas. + +=Sequitur de Ira.= + +§ 32. After Envye wol I discryven the sinne of Ire. For soothly, who-so +hath envye upon his neighebor, anon he wole comunly [602] finde him a +matere of wratthe, in word or in dede, agayns him to whom he hath envye. / +And as wel comth Ire of Pryde, as of Envye; for soothly, he that is proude +or envious is lightly wrooth. / + + 533. Hn. Pt. Ln. _om._ a _bef._ matere. + +§ 33. This sinne of Ire, after the discryving of seint Augustin, is wikked +wil to been avenged by word or by dede. /535 Ire, after the philosophre, is +the fervent blood of man y-quiked in his herte, thurgh which he wole harm +to him that he hateth. / For certes the herte of man, by eschaufinge and +moevinge of his blood, wexeth so trouble, that he is out of alle Iugement +of resoun. / But ye shal understonde that Ire is in two maneres; that oon +of hem is good, and that other is wikked. / The gode Ire is by Ialousye of +goodnesse, thurgh which a man is wrooth with wikkednesse and agayns +wikkednesse; and therfore seith a wys man, that ‘Ire is bet than pley.’ / +This Ire is with debonairetee, and it is wrooth withouten bitternesse; nat +wrooth agayns the man, but wrooth with the misdede of the man; as seith the +prophete David, _Irascimini et nolite peccare_. /540 Now understondeth, +that wikked Ire is in two maneres, that is to seyn, sodeyn Ire or hastif +Ire, withouten avisement and consentinge of resoun. / The mening and the +sens of this is, that the resoun of man ne consente nat to thilke sodeyn +Ire; and thanne it is venial. / Another Ire is ful wikked, that comth of +felonye of herte avysed and cast biforn; with wikked wil to do vengeance, +and therto his resoun consenteth; and soothly this is deedly sinne. / This +Ire is so displesant to god, that it troubleth his hous and chaceth the +holy goost out of mannes soule, and wasteth and destroyeth the lyknesse of +god, that is to seyn, the vertu that is in mannes soule; / and put in him +the lyknesse of the devel, and binimeth the man fro god that is his +rightful lord. /545 This Ire is a ful greet plesaunce to the devel; for it +is the develes fourneys, that is eschaufed with the fyr of helle. / For +certes, right so as fyr is more mighty to destroyen erthely thinges than +any other element, right so Ire is mighty to destroyen alle spirituel +thinges. / Loke how that fyr of smale gledes, that been almost dede under +asshen, wollen quike agayn whan they been touched with brimstoon; right so +Ire wol everemo quiken agayn, whan it is touched by the pryde that is +covered in mannes herte. / For certes fyr ne may nat comen out of no-thing, +but-if it were first in the same thing naturelly; as fyr is drawen out of +flintes [603] with steel. / And right so as pryde is ofte tyme matere of +Ire, right so is rancour norice and keper of Ire. /550 Ther is a maner +tree, as seith seint Isidre, that whan men maken fyr of thilke tree, and +covere the coles of it with asshen, soothly the fyr of it wol lasten al a +yeer or more. / And right so fareth it of rancour; whan it is ones +conceyved in the hertes of som men, certein, it wol lasten peraventure from +oon Estre-day unto another Estre-day, and more. / But certes, thilke man is +ful fer fro the mercy of god al thilke while. / + + 547. E. spiritueel. 549. E. natureelly. 551. E. fire. 553. E. in + (_for_ al). + +§ 34. In this forseyde develes fourneys ther forgen three shrewes: Pryde, +that ay bloweth and encreseth the fyr by chydinge and wikked wordes. / +Thanne stant Envye, and holdeth the hote iren upon the herte of man with a +peire of longe tonges of long rancour. /555 And thanne stant the sinne of +contumelie or stryf and cheeste, and batereth and forgeth by vileyns +reprevinges. / Certes, this cursed sinne anoyeth bothe to the man him-self +and eek to his neighebor. For soothly, almost al the harm that any man +dooth to his neighebore comth of wratthe. / For certes, outrageous wratthe +doth al that evere the devel him comaundeth; for he ne spareth neither +Crist, ne his swete mooder. / And in his outrageous anger and Ire, allas! +allas! ful many oon at that tyme feleth in his herte ful wikkedly, bothe of +Crist and of alle hise halwes. / Is nat this a cursed vice? Yis, certes. +Allas! it binimeth from man his wit and his resoun, and al his debonaire +lyf espirituel that sholde kepen his soule. /560 Certes, it binimeth eek +goddes due lordshipe, and that is mannes soule, and the love of hise +neighebores. It stryveth eek alday agayn trouthe. It reveth him the quiete +of his herte, and subverteth his soule. / + + 554. E. encreesseth. 555. E. toonges. 558. Hl. _om._ swete. 560. + E. espiritueel. + +§ 35. Of Ire comen thise stinkinge engendrures: first hate, that is old +wratthe; discord, thurgh which a man forsaketh his olde freend that he hath +loved ful longe. / And thanne cometh werre, and every manere of wrong that +man dooth to his neighebore, in body or in catel. / Of this cursed sinne of +Ire cometh eek manslaughtre. And understonde wel, that homicyde, that is +manslaughtre, is in dyverse wyse. Som manere of homicyde is spirituel, and +som is bodily. / Spirituel manslaughtre is in six [604] thinges. First, by +hate; as seint Iohn seith, ‘he that hateth his brother is homicyde.’ /565 +Homicyde is eek by bakbytinge; of whiche bakbyteres seith Salomon, that +‘they han two swerdes with whiche they sleen hir neighebores.’ For soothly, +as wikke is to binime his good name as his lyf. / Homicyde is eek, in +yevinge of wikked conseil by fraude; as for to yeven conseil to areysen +wrongful custumes and taillages. / Of whiche seith Salomon, ‘Leon rorynge +and bere hongry been lyke to the cruel lordshipes,’ in withholdinge or +abregginge of the shepe (or the hyre), or of the wages of servaunts, or +elles in usure or in withdrawinge of the almesse of povre folk. / For which +the wyse man seith, ‘fedeth him that almost dyeth for honger’; for soothly, +but-if thou fede him, thou sleest him; and alle thise been deadly sinnes. / +Bodily manslaughtre is, whan thow sleest him with thy tonge in other +manere; as whan thou comandest to sleen a man, or elles yevest him conseil +to sleen a man. /570 Manslaughtre in dede is in foure maneres. That oon is +by lawe; right as a Iustice dampneth him that is coupable to the deeth. But +lat the Iustice be war that he do it rightfully, and that he do it nat for +delyt to spille blood, but for kepinge of rightwisenesse. / Another +homicyde is, that is doon for necessitee, as whan o man sleeth another in +his defendaunt, and that he ne may noon otherwise escape from his owene +deeth. / But certeinly, if he may escape withouten manslaughtre of his +adversarie, and sleeth him, he doth sinne, and he shal bere penance as for +deedly sinne. / Eek if a man, by caas or aventure, shete an arwe or caste a +stoon with which he sleeth a man, he is homicyde. / Eek if a womman by +necligence overlyeth hir child in hir sleping, it is homicyde and deedly +sinne. /575 Eek whan man destourbeth concepcion of a child, and maketh a +womman outher bareyne by drinkinge venemouse herbes, thurgh which she may +nat conceyve, or sleeth a child by drinkes wilfully, or elles putteth +certeine material thinges in hir secree places to slee the child; / or +elles doth unkindely sinne, by which man or womman shedeth hir nature in +manere or in place ther-as a child may nat be conceived; or elles, if a +womman have conceyved and hurt hir-self, [605] and sleeth the child, yet is +it homicyde. / What seye we eek of wommen that mordren hir children for +drede of worldly shame? Certes, an horrible homicyde. / Homicyde is eek if +a man approcheth to a womman by desir of lecherye, thurgh which the child +is perissed, or elles smyteth a womman witingly, thurgh which she leseth +hir child. Alle thise been homicydes and horrible deedly sinnes. / Yet +comen ther of Ire manye mo sinnes, as wel in word as in thoght and in dede; +as he that arretteth upon god, or blameth god, of thing of which he is +him-self gilty; or despyseth god and alle hise halwes, as doon thise +cursede hasardours in diverse contrees. /580 This cursed sinne doon they, +whan they felen in hir hertes ful wikkedly of god and of hise halwes. / +Also, whan they treten unreverently the sacrement of the auter, thilke +sinne is so greet, that unnethe may it been relesed, but that the mercy of +god passeth alle hise werkes; it is so greet and he so benigne. / Thanne +comth of Ire attry angre; whan a man is sharply amonested in his shrifte to +forleten his sinne, / than wole he be angry and answeren hokerly and +angrily, and deffenden or excusen his sinne by unstedefastnesse of his +flesh; or elles he dide it for to holde companye with hise felawes, or +elles, he seith, the fend entyced him; / or elles he dide it for his +youthe, or elles his complexioun is so corageous, that he may nat forbere; +or elles it is his destinee, as he seith, unto a certein age; or elles, he +seith, it cometh him of gentillesse of hise auncestres; and semblable +thinges. /585 Alle this manere of folk so wrappen hem in hir sinnes, that +they ne wol nat delivere hem-self. For soothly, no wight that excuseth him +wilfully of his sinne may nat been delivered of his sinne, til that he +mekely biknoweth his sinne. / After this, thanne cometh swering, that is +expres agayn the comandement of god; and this bifalleth ofte of anger and +of Ire. / God seith: ‘thou shalt nat take the name of thy lord god in veyn +or in ydel.’ Also oure lord Iesu Crist seith by the word of seint Mathew: +‘_Nolite iurare omnino_: / ne wol ye nat swere in alle manere; neither by +hevene, for it is goddes trone; ne by erthe, for it is the bench of his +feet; ne by Ierusalem, for it is the citee of a greet king; ne by thyn +heed, for thou mayst nat make an heer whyt ne blak. / But seyeth by youre +word, “ye, ye,” and “nay, nay”; and what [606] that is more, it is of +yvel,’ seith Crist. /590 For Cristes sake, ne swereth nat so sinfully, in +dismembringe of Crist by soule, herte, bones, and body. For certes, it +semeth that ye thinke that the cursede Iewes ne dismembred nat y-nough the +preciouse persone of Crist, but ye dismembre him more. / And if so be that +the lawe compelle yow to swere, thanne rule yow after the lawe of god in +youre swering, as seith Ieremye _quarto capitulo_, ‘_Iurabis in veritate, +in iudido et in iustida_: thou shalt kepe three condicions; thou shalt +swere in trouthe, in doom, and in rightwisnesse.’ / This is to seyn, thou +shalt swere sooth; for every lesinge is agayns Crist. For Crist is verray +trouthe. And think wel this, that every greet swerere, nat compelled +lawefully to swere, the wounde shal nat departe from his hous whyl he useth +swich unleveful swering. / Thou shalt sweren eek in doom, whan thou art +constreyned by thy domesman to witnessen the trouthe. / Eek thou shalt nat +swere for envye ne for favour, ne for mede, but for rightwisnesse; for +declaracioun of it to the worship of god and helping of thyne +evene-cristene. /595 And therfore, every man that taketh goddes name in +ydel, or falsly swereth with his mouth, or elles taketh on him the name of +Crist, to be called a Cristene man, and liveth agayns Cristes livinge and +his techinge, alle they taken goddes name in ydel. / Loke eek what seint +Peter seith, _Actuum quarto capitulo_, ‘_Non est aliud nomen sub celo_,’ +&c. ‘Ther nis noon other name,’ seith seint Peter, ‘under hevene, yeven to +men, in which they mowe be saved;’ that is to seyn, but the name of Iesu +Crist. / Take kepe eek how that the precious name of Crist, as seith seint +Paul _ad Philipenses secundo_, ‘_In nomine Iesu_, &c.: that in the name of +Iesu every knee of hevenely creatures, or erthely, or of helle sholden +bowe’; for it is so heigh and so worshipful, that the cursede feend in +helle sholde tremblen to heren it y-nempned. / Thanne semeth it, that men +that sweren so horribly by his blessed name, that they despyse him more +boldely than dide the cursede Iewes, or elles the devel, that trembleth +whan he hereth his name. / + + 562. E. _om._ that he hath loved. 564, 565. E. spiritueel. 565. Pt. + Hl. an homicide. 566. E. the (_for 2nd_ they). 568. E. crueel. + Hl. Ln. schipe. E. vsures. 570. Hl. _om._ him _before_ conseil. + 572. Hl. him (_for_ in his). 576. E. Cm. venenouse; Hl. venenous. + Hl. place. 577. -self] E. child. 577. is it] E. it is. 582. E. + releessed. 585. E. conplecciou_n_. 588. Christchurch MS. + _Nolite—omnino_; _and in margin of_ E.; _rest om._ 589. Ln. + throne. 592. E. (_in margin_) _Iurabis—iusticia_; Chr. (_in text_); + _rest om._ 593. Hl. wonder (_for_ wounde!). 595. E. and for + declaracioun; Chr. for declaracioun; Cm. Pt. Ln. Hl. for declarynge. + 597. Cm. cº; Hl. caº (i.e. _capitulo_); _rest om._ 599. E. + horriblely. + +§ 36. Now certes, sith that swering, but-if it be lawefully doon, [607] is +so heighly deffended, muche worse is forswering falsly, and yet nedelees. +/600 + +§ 37. What seye we eek of hem that delyten hem in swering, and holden it a +gentrie or a manly dede to swere grete othes? And what of hem that, of +verray usage, ne cesse nat to swere grete othes, al be the cause nat worth +a straw? Certes, this is horrible sinne. / Sweringe sodeynly with-oute +avysement is eek a sinne. / But lat us go now to thilke horrible swering of +adiuracioun and coniuracioun, as doon thise false enchauntours or +nigromanciens in bacins ful of water, or in a bright swerd, in a cercle, or +in a fyr, or in a shulder-boon of a sheep. / I can nat seye but that they +doon cursedly and damnably, agayns Crist and al the feith of holy chirche. +/ + + 601. E. it (_for_ this). 603. E. Nigromanens. 604. E. damnablely. + +§ 38. What seye we of hem that bileven in divynailes, as by flight or by +noyse of briddes, or of bestes, or by sort, by geomancie, by dremes, by +chirkinge of dores, or crakkinge of houses, by gnawynge of rattes, and +swich manere wrecchednesse? /605 Certes, al this thing is deffended by god +and by al holy chirche. For which they been acursed, til they come to +amendement, that on swich filthe setten hir bileve. / Charmes for woundes +or maladye of men, or of bestes, if they taken any effect, it may be +peraventure that god suffreth it, for folk sholden yeve the more feith and +reverence to his name. / + + 605. Cm. Pt. dyuynalis. Hl. crakking; Ln. crakkeynge; E. Cm. Cp. Pt. + crakynge. 607. E. Pt. _om._ may. + +§ 39. Now wol I speken of lesinges, which generally is fals significacioun +of word, in entente to deceyven his evene-cristene. / Som lesinge is of +which ther comth noon avantage to no wight: and som lesinge turneth to the +ese or profit of o man, and to disese and damage of another man. / Another +lesinge is for to saven his lyf or his catel. Another lesinge comth of +delyt for to lye, in which delyt they wol forge a long tale, and peynten it +with alle circumstaunces, where al the ground of the tale is fals. /610 Som +lesinge comth, for he wole sustene his word; and som lesinge comth of +recchelesnesse, with-outen avysement; and semblable thinges. / + + 609. E. and (_for_ or); Pt. either. 610. Selden, Pt. lesinge is; + _rest om._ is. _All but_ Selden, Pt. Ln. _om. 2nd_ Another lesinge. + +§ 40. Lat us now touche the vyce of flateringe, which ne comth nat gladly +but for drede or for coveitise. / Flaterye is generally wrongful preisinge. +Flatereres been the develes norices, that [608] norissen hise children with +milk of losengerie. / For sothe, Salomon seith, that ‘flaterie is wors than +detraccioun.’ For som-tyme detraccion maketh an hautein man be the more +humble, for he dredeth detraccion; but certes flaterye, that maketh a man +to enhauncen his herte and his contenaunce. / Flatereres been the develes +enchauntours; for they make a man to wene of him-self be lyk that he nis +nat lyk. /615 They been lyk to Iudas that bitraysed [god; and thise +flatereres bitraysen] a man to sellen him to his enemy, that is, to the +devel. / Flatereres been the develes chapelleyns, that singen evere +_Placebo_. / I rekene flaterye in the vyces of Ire; for ofte tyme, if o man +be wrooth with another, thanne wol he flatere som wight to sustene him in +his querele. / + + 615. E. the (_for_ they). 616. _All 7_ MSS. _om._ god ... + bitraysen. E. hise. 618. E. flarie (_for_ flaterye). + +§ 41. Speke we now of swich cursinge as comth of irous herte. Malisoun +generally may be seyd every maner power or harm. Swich cursinge bireveth +man fro the regne of god, as seith seint Paul. / And ofte tyme swich +cursinge wrongfully retorneth agayn to him that curseth, as a brid that +retorneth agayn to his owene nest. /620 And over alle thing men oghten +eschewe to cursen hir children, and yeven to the devel hir engendrure, as +ferforth as in hem is; certes, it is greet peril and greet sinne. / + +§ 42. Lat us thanne speken of chydinge and reproche, whiche been ful grete +woundes in mannes herte; for they unsowen the semes of frendshipe in mannes +herte. / For certes, unnethes may a man pleynly been accorded with him that +hath him openly revyled and repreved in disclaundre. This is a ful grisly +sinne, as Crist seith in the gospel. / And tak kepe now, that he that +repreveth his neighebor, outher he repreveth him by som harm of peyne that +he hath on his body, as ‘mesel,’ ‘croked harlot,’ or by som sinne that he +dooth. / Now if he repreve him by harm of peyne, thanne turneth the repreve +to Iesu Crist; for peyne is sent by the rightwys sonde of god, and by his +suffrance, be it meselrie, or maheym, or maladye. /625 And if he repreve +him uncharitably of sinne, as, ‘thou holour,’ ‘thou dronkelewe harlot,’ and +so forth; thanne aperteneth that to the reioysinge of the devel, that evere +hath Ioye that men doon sinne. / And certes, chydinge may nat come but out +of a vileyns herte. For after the habundance of the herte speketh the mouth +ful ofte. / And ye shul understonde [609] that loke, by any wey, whan any +man shal chastyse another, that he be war from chydinge or reprevinge. For +trewely, but he be war, he may ful lightly quiken the fyr of angre and of +wratthe, which that he sholde quenche, and per-aventure sleeth him which +that he mighte chastyse with benignitee. / For as seith Salomon, ‘the +amiable tonge is the tree of lyf,’ that is to seyn, of lyf espirituel: and +sothly, a deslavee tonge sleeth the spirites of him that repreveth, and eek +of him that is repreved. / Lo, what seith seint Augustin: ‘ther is no-thing +so lyk the develes child as he that ofte chydeth.’ Seint Paul seith eek: +‘I, servant of god, bihove nat to chyde.’ /630 And how that chydinge be a +vileyns thing bitwixe alle manere folk, yet it is certes most uncovenable +bitwixe a man and his wyf; for there is nevere reste. And therfore seith +Salomon, ‘an hous that is uncovered and droppinge, and a chydinge wyf, been +lyke.’ / A man that is in a droppinge hous in many places, though he +eschewe the droppinge in o place, it droppeth on him in another place; so +fareth it by a chydinge wyf. But she chyde him in o place, she wol chyde +him in another. / And therfore, ‘bettre is a morsel of breed with Ioye than +an hous ful of delyces, with chydinge,’ seith Salomon. / Seint Paul seith: +‘O ye wommen, be ye subgetes to youre housbondes as bihoveth in god; and ye +men, loveth youre wyves.’ _Ad Colossenses, tertio_. / + + 623. E. in disclaundre; _rest_ and desclaundered. 624. E. taak. + 625. Ln. mayme; Cm. Pt. maym. 626. E. _om._ thou holour. 628. or] + E. and. 629. E. espiritueel. Hn. deslaue; Cm. Ln. Hl. dislaue; Pt. + disselaue. 630. Cm. Selden, behoue; _rest_ byhoueth (!). 632. E. + manye. 634. E. _om._ as ... god. E. _Colonienses_; Cm. + _Colonienes_; Hn. Pt. _Colonisenses_; Ln. _Clonicenses_; Hl. + _Colocenses_. + +§ 43. Afterward speke we of scorninge, which is a wikked sinne; and namely, +whan he scorneth a man for hise gode werkes. /635 For certes, swiche +scorneres faren lyk the foule tode, that may nat endure to smelle the sote +savour of the vyne whanne it florissheth. / Thise scorneres been parting +felawes with the devel; for they han Ioye whan the devel winneth, and sorwe +whan he leseth. / They been adversaries of Iesu Crist; for they haten that +he loveth, that is to seyn, salvacion of soule. / + +§ 44. Speke we now of wikked conseil; for he that wikked conseil yeveth is +a traytour. For he deceyveth him that trusteth in him, _ut Achitofel ad +Absolonem_. But natheless, yet is his wikked conseil first agayn him-self. +/ For, as seith the wyse man, [610] every fals livinge hath this propertee +in him-self, that he that wole anoye another man, he anoyeth first +him-self. /640 And men shul understonde, that man shal nat taken his +conseil of fals folk, ne of angry folk, or grevous folk, ne of folk that +loven specially to muchel hir owene profit, ne to muche worldly folk, +namely, in conseilinge of soules. / + + 639. E. _om. 2nd_ for. 640. _All_ lyuynge (levyng, leueyng); _after + which_ Selden (_alone_) _adds_ man. Selden, Ln. Hl. this; _rest_ + his. 641. E. Hn. _om._ ne of folk. + +§ 45. Now comth the sinne of hem that sowen and maken discord amonges folk, +which is a sinne that Crist hateth outrely; and no wonder is. For he deyde +for to make concord. / And more shame do they to Crist, than dide they that +him crucifyede; for god loveth bettre, that frendshipe be amonges folk, +than he dide his owene body, the which that he yaf for unitee. Therfore +been they lykned to the devel, that evere been aboute to maken discord. / + + 643. E. been; Hl. ben (_before_ aboute); _rest_ is. + +§ 46. Now comth the sinne of double tonge; swiche as speken faire biforn +folk, and wikkedly bihinde; or elles they maken semblant as though they +speke of good entencioun, or elles in game and pley, and yet they speke of +wikked entente. / + + 644. E. speeke (_1st time_); Hn. Hl. speke; Cm. spoke; Pt. speken; Ln. + spake. + +§ 47. Now comth biwreying of conseil, thurgh which a man is defamed; +certes, unnethe may he restore the damage. /645 + +Now comth manace, that is an open folye; for he that ofte manaceth, he +threteth more than he may perfourne ful ofte tyme. / + +Now cometh ydel wordes, that is with-outen profit of him that speketh tho +wordes, and eek of him that herkneth tho wordes. Or elles ydel wordes been +tho that been nedelees, or with-outen entente of naturel profit. / And +al-be-it that ydel wordes been som tyme venial sinne, yet sholde men douten +hem; for we shul yeve rekeninge of hem bifore god. / + + 647. E. natureel. + +Now comth Ianglinge, that may nat been withoute sinne. And, as seith +Salomon, ‘it is a sinne of apert folye.’ / And therfore a philosophre +seyde, whan men axed him how that men sholde plese the peple; and he +answerde, ‘do many gode werkes, and spek fewe Iangles.’ /650 + +After this comth the sinne of Iaperes, that been the develes apes; for they +maken folk to laughe at hir Iaperie, as folk doon at [611] the gaudes of an +ape. Swiche Iaperes deffendeth seint Paul. / Loke how that vertuouse wordes +and holy conforten hem that travaillen in the service of Crist; right so +conforten the vileyns wordes and knakkes of Iaperis hem that travaillen in +the service of the devel. / Thise been the sinnes that comen of the tonge, +that comen of Ire and of othere sinnes mo. / + + 651. Hl. Pt. Ln. Suche iapes. 652. E. _adds_ woordes (_after_ holy). + +=Sequitur remedium contra peccatum Ire.= + +§ 48. The remedye agayns Ire is a vertu that men clepen Mansuetude, that is +Debonairetee; and eek another vertu, that men callen Pacience or Suffrance. +/ + + 654. Cm. (_only_) that Ihon de Bonania clepith debonayretee. + +§ 49. Debonairetee withdraweth and refreyneth the stiringes and the +moevynges of mannes corage in his herte, in swich manere that they ne +skippe nat out by angre ne by Ire. /655 Suffrance suffreth swetely alle the +anoyaunces and the wronges that men doon to man outward. / Seint Ierome +seith thus of debonairetee, that ‘it doth noon harm to no wight, ne seith; +ne for noon harm that men doon or seyn, he ne eschaufeth nat agayns, his +resoun.’ / This vertu som-tyme comth of nature; for, as seith the +philosophre, ‘a man is a quik thing, by nature debonaire and tretable to +goodnesse; but whan debonairetee is enformed of grace, thanne is it the +more worth.’ / + +§ 50. Pacience, that is another remedye agayns Ire, is a vertu that +suffreth swetely every mannes goodnesse, and is nat wrooth for noon harm +that is doon to him. / The philosophre seith, that ‘pacience is thilke +vertu that suffreth debonairely alle the outrages of adversitee and every +wikked word.’ /660 This vertu maketh a man lyk to god, and maketh him +goddes owene dere child, as seith Crist. This vertu disconfiteth thyn +enemy. And therfore seith the wyse man, ‘if thou wolt venquisse thyn enemy, +lerne to suffre.’ / And thou shalt understonde, that man suffreth foure +manere of grevances in outward thinges, agayns the whiche foure he moot +have foure manere of paciences. / + + 659. E. Ln. it is a; _rest_ is a. + +§ 51. The firste grevance is of wikkede wordes; thilke suffrede Iesu Crist +with-outen grucching, ful paciently, whan the Iewes despysed and repreved +him ful ofte. / Suffre thou therfore paciently; for the wyse man seith: ‘if +thou stryve with a [612] fool, though the fool be wrooth or though he +laughe, algate thou shalt have no reste.’ / That other grevance outward is +to have damage of thy catel. Ther-agayns suffred Crist ful paciently, whan +he was despoyled of al that he hadde in this lyf, and that nas but hise +clothes. /665 The thridde grevance is a man to have harm in his body. That +suffred Crist ful paciently in al his passioun. / The fourthe grevance is +in outrageous labour in werkes. Wherfore I seye, that folk that maken hir +servants to travaillen to grevously, or out of tyme, as on halydayes, +soothly they do greet sinne. / Heer-agayns suffred Crist ful paciently, and +taughte us pacience, whan he bar up-on his blissed shulder the croys, up-on +which he sholde suffren despitous deeth. / Heer may men lerne to be +pacient; for certes, noght only Cristen men been pacient for love of Iesu +Crist, and for guerdoun of the blisful lyf that is perdurable; but certes, +the olde payens, that nevere were Cristene, commendeden and useden the +vertu of pacience. / + + 668. E. baar. Cm. Ln. cros. 669. Hl. Pt. Ln. guerdoun; E. Cm. + gerdoun; Hn. gerdon. E. p_er_durale. + +§ 52. A philosophre up-on a tyme, that wolde have beten his disciple for +his grete trespas, for which he was greetly amoeved, and broghte a yerde to +scourge the child; /670 and whan this child saugh the yerde, he seyde to +his maister, ‘what thenke ye to do?’ ‘I wol bete thee,’ quod the maister, +‘for thy correccion.’ / ‘For sothe,’ quod the child, ‘ye oghten first +correcte youre-self, that han lost al youre pacience for the gilt of a +child.’ / ‘For sothe,’ quod the maister al wepinge, ‘thou seyst sooth; have +thou the yerde, my dere sone, and correcte me for myn inpacience.’ / Of +Pacience comth Obedience, thurgh which a man is obedient to Crist and to +alle hem to whiche he oghte to been obedient in Crist. / And understond wel +that obedience is perfit, whan that a man doth gladly and hastily, with +good herte entierly, al that he sholde do. /675 Obedience generally, is to +perfourne the doctrine of god and of his sovereyns, to whiche him oghte to +ben obeisaunt in alle rightwysnesse. / + + 670. Hn. scourge; E. scoure with; _rest_ scoure(!). 671. Cm. Hl. to + do; E. do. Pt. Ln. what wil ye do. + +=Sequitur de Accidia.= + +§ 53. After the sinnes of Envie and of Ire, now wol I speken of the sinne +of Accidie. For Envye blindeth the herte of a man, [613] and Ire troubleth +a man; and Accidie maketh him hevy, thoghtful, and wrawe. / Envye and Ire +maken bitternesse in herte; which bitternesse is moder of Accidie, and +binimeth him the love of alle goodnesse. Thanne is Accidie the anguissh of +a trouble herte; and seint Augustin seith: ‘it is anoy of goodnesse and +Ioye of harm.’ / Certes, this is a dampnable sinne; for it doth wrong to +Iesu Crist, in-as-muche as it binimeth the service that men oghte doon to +Crist with alle diligence, as seith Salomon. / But Accidie dooth no swich +diligence; he dooth alle thing with anoy, and with wrawnesse, slaknesse, +and excusacioun, and with ydelnesse and unlust; for which the book seith: +‘acursed be he that doth the service of god necligently.’ /680 Thanne is +Accidie enemy to everich estaat of man; for certes, the estaat of man is in +three maneres. / Outher it is thestaat of innocence, as was thestaat of +Adam biforn that he fil into sinne; in which estaat he was holden to +wirche, as in heryinge and adouringe of god. / Another estaat is the estaat +of sinful men, in which estaat men been holden to laboure in preyinge to +god for amendement of hir sinnes, and that he wole graunte hem to arysen +out of hir sinnes. / Another estaat is thestaat of grace, in which estaat +he is holden to werkes of penitence; and certes, to alle thise thinges is +Accidie enemy and contrarie. For he loveth no bisinesse at al. / Now +certes, this foule sinne Accidie is eek a ful greet enemy to the lyflode of +the body; for it ne hath no purveaunce agayn temporel necessitee; for it +forsleweth and forsluggeth, and destroyeth alle goodes temporeles by +reccheleesnesse. /685 + + 677. Selden, Pt. Ln. sinnes; _rest_ synne. E. _om._ a _after_ herte + of. E. wrawful; Pt. wrowe; _rest_ wrawe. 678. E. Hl. _om._ a. E. + troubled. 683. E. _om._ the. 685. sinne] E. swyn. E. temporeel + (for temporel). + +§ 54. The fourthe thinge is, that Accidie is lyk to hem that been in the +peyne of helle, by-cause of hir slouthe and of hir hevinesse; for they that +been dampned been so bounde, that they ne may neither wel do ne wel thinke. +/ Of Accidie comth first, that a man is anoyed and encombred for to doon +any goodnesse, and maketh that god hath abhominacion of swich Accidie, as +seith seint Iohan. / + + 687. E. _om._ as ... Iohan. + +§ 55. Now comth Slouthe, that wol nat suffre noon hardnesse ne no penaunce. +For soothly, Slouthe is so tendre, and so delicat, as seith Salomon, that +he wol nat suffre noon hardnesse ne penaunce, and therfore he shendeth al +that he dooth. / Agayns [614] this roten-herted sinne of Accidie and +Slouthe sholde men exercise hem-self to doon gode werkes, and manly and +vertuously cacchen corage wel to doon; thinkinge that oure lord Iesu Crist +quyteth every good dede, be it never so lyte. / Usage of labour is a greet +thing; for it maketh, as seith seint Bernard, the laborer to have stronge +armes and harde sinwes; and Slouthe maketh hem feble and tendre. /690 +Thanne comth drede to biginne to werke any gode werkes; for certes, he that +is enclyned to sinne, him thinketh it is so greet an empryse for to +undertake to doon werkes of goodnesse, / and casteth in his herte that the +circumstaunces of goodnesse been so grevouse and so chargeaunt for to +suffre, that he dar nat undertake to do werkes of goodnesse, as seith seint +Gregorie. / + + 688. E. delicaat. 691. E. anye. + +§ 56. Now comth wanhope, that is despeir of the mercy of god, that comth +somtyme of to muche outrageous sorwe, and somtyme of to muche drede; +imagininge that he hath doon so muche sinne, that it wol nat availlen him, +though he wolde repenten him and forsake sinne: / thurgh which despeir or +drede he abaundoneth al his herte to every maner sinne, as seith seint +Augustin. / Which dampnable sinne, if that it continue un-to his ende, it +is cleped sinning in the holy gost. /695 This horrible sinne is so +perilous, that he that is despeired, ther nis no felonye ne no sinne that +he douteth for to do; as shewed wel by Iudas. / Certes, aboven alle sinnes +thanne is this sinne most displesant to Crist, and most adversarie. / +Soothly, he that despeireth him is lyk the coward champioun recreant, that +seith creant withoute nede. Allas! allas! nedeles is he recreant and +nedeles despeired. / Certes, the mercy of god is evere redy to every +penitent, and is aboven alle hise werkes. / Allas! can nat a man bithinke +him on the gospel of seint Luk, 15., where-as Crist seith that ‘as wel shal +ther be Ioye in hevene upon a sinful man that doth penitence, as up-on +nynety and nyne rightful men that neden no penitence?’ /700 Loke forther, +in the same gospel, the Ioye and the feste of the gode man that hadde lost +his sone, whan his sone with repentaunce was retourned to his fader. / Can +they nat remembren hem eek, that, as seith seint Luk _xxiii_º _capitulo_, +how that the theef that was hanged [615] bisyde Iesu Crist, seyde: ‘Lord, +remembre of me, whan thou comest in-to thy regne?’ / ‘For sothe,’ seyde +Crist, ‘I seye to thee, to-day shaltow been with me in Paradys.’ / Certes, +ther is noon so horrible sinne of man, that it ne may, in his lyf, be +destroyed by penitence, thurgh vertu of the passion and of the deeth of +Crist. / Allas! what nedeth man thanne to been despeired, sith that his +mercy so redy is and large? Axe and have. /705 Thanne cometh Sompnolence, +that is, sluggy slombringe, which maketh a man be hevy and dul, in body and +in soule; and this sinne comth of Slouthe. / And certes, the tyme that, by +wey of resoun, men sholde nat slepe, that is by the morwe; but-if ther were +cause resonable. / For soothly, the morwe-tyde is most covenable, a man to +seye his preyeres, and for to thinken on god, and for to honoure god, and +to yeven almesse to the povre, that first cometh in the name of Crist. / +Lo! what seith Salomon: ‘who-so wolde by the morwe awaken and seke me, he +shal finde.’ / Thanne cometh Necligence, or recchelesnesse, that rekketh of +no-thing. And how that ignoraunce be moder of alle harm, certes, Necligence +is the norice. /710 Necligence ne doth no fors, whan he shal doon a thing, +whether he do it weel or baddely. / + + 696. E. sheweth. 698. E. _om._ that seith ... recreant. Hl. + recreaunt (_for_ creant). 700. E. a man nat; Pt. a man not. Hl. as + vp-on; _rest_ than vp-on. Hl. Selden, nynety and nyne; _rest_ 90 and + 19(!). 702. _All but_ Seld. Ln. _om._ capitulo. Seld. Pt. Ln. on + me. 706. E. Seld. sloggy; Ln. slogge. 707. E. _om._ the morwe. + 711. E. wheither. + +§ 57. Of the remedie of thise two sinnes, as seith the wyse man, that ‘he +that dredeth god, he spareth nat to doon that him oghte doon.’ / And he +that loveth god, he wol doon diligence to plese god by his werkes, and +abaundone him-self, with al his might, wel for to doon. / Thanne comth +ydelnesse, that is the yate of alle harmes. An ydel man is lyk to a place +that hath no walles; the develes may entre on every syde and sheten at him +at discovert, by temptacion on every syde. / This ydelnesse is the thurrok +of alle wikked and vileyns thoghtes, and of alle Iangles, trufles, and of +alle ordure. /715 Certes, the hevene is yeven to hem that wol labouren, and +nat to ydel folk. Eek David seith: that ‘they ne been nat in the labour of +men, ne they shul nat been whipped with men,’ that is to seyn, in +purgatorie. / Certes, thanne semeth it, they shul be tormented with the +devel in helle, but-if they doon penitence. / + + 715. Hl. tryfles; Seld. triflis. + +§ 58. Thanne comth the sinne that men clepen _Tarditas_, as whan a man is +to latrede or taryinge, er he wole turne to god; and [616] certes, that is +a greet folye. He is lyk to him that falleth in the dich, and wol nat +aryse. / And this vyce comth of a fals hope, that he thinketh that he shal +live longe; but that hope faileth ful ofte. / + + 718. Cm. Pt. Ln. Hl. so (_for_ to). E. Cm. laterede; Hl. Seld. + latrede; Pt. lattred; Ln. latred. + +§ 59. Thanne comth Lachesse; that is he, that whan he biginneth any good +werk, anon he shal forleten it and stinten; as doon they that han any wight +to governe, and ne taken of him na-more kepe, anon as they finden any +contrarie or any anoy. /720 Thise been the newe shepherdes, that leten hir +sheep witingly go renne to the wolf that is in the breres, or do no fors of +hir owene governaunce. / Of this comth poverte and destruccioun, bothe of +spirituel and temporel thinges. Thanne comth a manere coldnesse, that +freseth al the herte of man. / Thanne comth undevocioun, thurgh which a man +is so blent, as seith Seint Bernard, and hath swiche langour in soule, that +he may neither rede ne singe in holy chirche, ne here ne thinke of no +devocioun, ne travaille with hise handes in no good werk, that it nis him +unsavory and al apalled. / Thanne wexeth he slow and slombry, and sone wol +be wrooth, and sone is enclyned to hate and to envye. / Thanne comth the +sinne of worldly sorwe, swich as is cleped _tristicia_, that sleeth man, as +seint Paul seith. /725 For certes, swich sorwe werketh to the deeth of the +soule and of the body also; for ther-of comth, that a man is anoyed of his +owene lyf. / Wherfore swich sorwe shorteth ful ofte the lyf of a man, er +that his tyme be come by wey of kinde. / + + 722. E. spiritueel; temporeel. E. Pt. of a man. 723. E. _om._ so. + blent] Ln. blonte; Hl. blunt. 724. E. slough (for slow). 725. Cm. + swich as; Hl. such as; E. which as. + +=Remedium contra peccatum Accidie.= + +§ 60. Agayns this horrible sinne of Accidie, and the branches of the same, +ther is a vertu that is called _Fortitudo_ or Strengthe; that is, an +affeccioun thurgh which a man despyseth anoyous thinges. / This vertu is so +mighty and so vigorous, that it dar withstonde mightily and wysely kepen +him-self fro perils that been wikked, and wrastle agayn the assautes of the +devel. / For it enhaunceth and enforceth the soule, right as Accidie +abateth it and maketh it feble. For this _Fortitudo_ may endure by long +suffraunce the travailles that been covenable. /730 + + 727. E. Cm. of man; Seld. of men; _rest_ of a man. 728. E. anoyouse; + Cm. noyouse; _rest_ noyous. 729. E. Cm. vigerous. 730. E. fieble. + Hl. conuenables. + +[617] + +§ 61. This vertu hath manye speces; and the firste is cleped Magnanimitee, +that is to seyn, greet corage. For certes, ther bihoveth greet corage +agains Accidie, lest that it ne swolwe the soule by the sinne of sorwe, or +destroye it by wanhope. / This vertu maketh folk to undertake harde thinges +and grevouse thinges, by hir owene wil, wysely and resonably. / And for as +muchel as the devel fighteth agayns a man more by queyntise and by sleighte +than by strengthe, therfore men shal withstonden him by wit and by resoun +and by discrecioun. / Thanne arn ther the vertues of feith, and hope in god +and in hise seintes, to acheve and acomplice the gode werkes in the whiche +he purposeth fermely to continue. / Thanne comth seuretee or sikernesse; +and that is, whan a man ne douteth no travaille in tyme cominge of the gode +werkes that a man hath bigonne. /735 Thanne comth Magnificence, that is to +seyn, whan a man dooth and perfourneth grete werkes of goodnesse that he +hath bigonne; and that is the ende why that men sholde do gode werkes; for +in the acomplissinge of grete goode werkes lyth the grete guerdoun. / +Thanne is ther Constaunce, that is, stablenesse of corage; and this sholde +been in herte by stedefast feith, and in mouth, and in beringe, and in +chere and in dede. / Eke ther been mo speciale remedies agains Accidie, in +diverse werkes, and in consideracioun of the peynes of helle, and of the +Ioyes of hevene, and in trust of the grace of the holy goost, that wole +yeve him might to perfourne his gode entente. / + + 731. E. Magnificence (_by error; with_ Of Magnanimitee _in the + margin_). 732. E. wesely (_for_ wysely). 736. E. _om._ that he hath + bigonne. E. gerdo_u_n. 737. E. chiere. + +=Sequitur de Auaricia.= + +§ 62. After Accidie wol I speke of Avarice and of Coveitise, of which sinne +seith seint Paule, that ‘the rote of alle harmes is Coveitise’: _Ad +Timotheum, sexto capitulo_. / For soothly, whan the herte of a man is +confounded in it-self and troubled, and that the soule hath lost the +confort of god, thanne seketh he an ydel solas of worldly thinges. /740 + + 739. Pt. _Capitulo_; _rest om._ + +§ 63. Avarice, after the descripcion of seint Augustin, is likerousnesse in +herte to have erthely thinges. / Som other folk seyn, that Avarice is, for +to purchacen manye erthely thinges, and nothing yeve to hem that han nede. +/ And understond, that Avarice ne stant nat only in lond ne catel, but +somtyme in science [618] and in glorie, and in every manere of outrageous +thing is Avarice and Coveitise. / And the difference bitwixe Avarice and +Coveitise is this. Coveitise is for to coveite swiche thinges as thou hast +nat; and Avarice is for to withholde and kepe swiche thinges as thou hast, +with-oute rightful nede. / Soothly, this Avarice is a sinne that is ful +dampnable; for al holy writ curseth it, and speketh agayns that vyce; for +it dooth wrong to Iesu Crist. /745 For it bireveth him the love that men to +him owen, and turneth it bakward agayns alle resoun; / and maketh that the +avaricious man hath more hope in his catel than in Iesu Crist, and dooth +more observance in kepinge of his tresor than he dooth to service of Iesu +Crist. / And therfore seith seint Paul _ad Ephesios, quinto_, that ‘an +avaricious man is in the thraldom of ydolatrie.’ / + + 743. E. vnderstoond. 748. E. Hl. _om._ in _after_ is; Pt. hath more + hope in his thraldome; Ln. is thral. _No_ MS. _has the precise reading + given; but it is clear that_ in _has been dropped_. + +§ 64. What difference is bitwixe an ydolastre and an avaricious man, but +that an ydolastre, per aventure, ne hath but o mawmet or two, and the +avaricious man hath manye? For certes, every florin in his cofre is his +mawmet. / And certes, the sinne of Mawmetrye is the firste thing that God +deffended in the ten comaundments, as bereth witnesse _Exodi, capitulo +xx_º: /750 ‘Thou shall have no false goddes bifore me, ne thou shall make +to thee no grave thing.’ Thus is an avaricious man, that loveth his tresor +biforn god, an ydolastre, / thurgh this cursed sinne of Avarice. Of +Coveitise comen thise harde lordshipes, thurgh whiche men been distreyned +by tailages, custumes, and cariages, more than hir duetee or resoun is. And +eek they taken of hir bonde-men amerciments, whiche mighten more resonably +ben cleped extorcions than amerciments. / Of whiche amerciments and +raunsoninge of bondemen, somme lordes stywardes seyn, that it is rightful; +for-as-muche as a cherl hath no temporel thing that it ne is his lordes, as +they seyn. / But certes, thise lordshipes doon wrong, that bireven hir +bonde-folk thinges that they nevere yave hem: _Augustinus de Civitate, +libro nono_. / Sooth is, that the condicioun of thraldom and the firste +cause of thraldom is for sinne; _Genesis, quinto_. /755 + + 752. E. Am_er_cimentz (_twice_); whice (_sic_). 753. E. temporeel. + +§ 65. Thus may ye seen that the gilt disserveth thraldom, but nat nature. / +Wherfore thise lordes ne sholde nat muche glorifyen hem in hir lordshipes, +sith that by naturel condicion they been nat [619] lordes of thralles; but +for that thraldom comth first by the desert of sinne. / And forther-over, +ther-as the lawe seith, that temporel godes of bonde-folk been the godes of +hir lordshipes, ye, that is for to understonde, the godes of the emperour, +to deffenden hem in hir right, but nat for to robben hem ne reven hem. / +And therfore seith Seneca: ‘thy prudence sholde live benignely with thy +thralles.’ / Thilke that thou clepest thy thralles been goddes peple; for +humble folk been Cristes freendes; they been contubernial with the lord. +/760 + + 757. E. natureel; _om._ for. 758. E. temporeel. + +§ 66. Think eek, that of swich seed as cherles springeth, of swich seed +springen lordes. As wel may the cherl be saved as the lord. / The same +deeth that taketh the cherl, swich deeth taketh the lord. Wherfore I rede, +do right so with thy cherl, as thou woldest that thy lord dide with thee, +if thou were in his plyt. / Every sinful man is a cherl to sinne. I rede +thee, certes, that thou, lord, werke in swiche wyse with thy cherles, that +they rather love thee than drede. / I woot wel ther is degree above degree, +as reson is; and skile it is, that men do hir devoir ther-as it is due; but +certes, extorcions and despit of youre underlinges is dampnable. / + +§ 67. And forther-over understand wel, that thise conquerours or tiraunts +maken ful ofte thralles of hem, that been born of as royal blood as been +they that hem conqueren. /765 This name of thraldom was nevere erst couth, +til that Noe seyde, that his sone Canaan sholde be thral to hise bretheren +for his sinne. / What seye we thanne of hem that pilen and doon extorcions +to holy chirche? Certes, the swerd, that men yeven first to a knight whan +he is newe dubbed, signifyeth that he sholde deffenden holy chirche, and +nat robben it ne pilen it; and who so dooth, is traitour to Crist. / And, +as seith seint Augustin, ‘they been the develes wolves, that stranglen the +sheep of Iesu Crist’; and doon worse than wolves. / For soothly, whan the +wolf hath ful his wombe, he stinteth to strangle sheep. But soothly, the +pilours and destroyours of goddes holy chirche ne do nat so; for they ne +stinte nevere to pile. / Now, as I have seyd, sith so is that sinne was +first cause of thraldom, thanne is it thus; that thilke tyme that al this +world was in sinne, thanne was al this world in thraldom and subieccioun. +/770 But certes, sith the tyme of grace cam, god ordeyned that som folk +sholde be more heigh [620] in estaat and in degree, and som folk more lowe, +and that everich sholde be served in his estaat and in his degree. / And +therfore, in somme contrees ther they byen thralles, whan they han turned +hem to the feith, they maken hir thralles free out of thraldom. And +therfore, certes, the lord oweth to his man that the man oweth to his lord. +/ The Pope calleth him-self servant of the servaunts of god; but +for-as-muche as the estaat of holy chirche ne mighte nat han be, ne the +commune profit mighte nat han be kept, ne pees and reste in erthe, but-if +god hadde ordeyned that som men hadde hyer degree and som men lower: / +therfore was sovereyntee ordeyned to kepe and mayntene and deffenden hir +underlinges or hir subgets in resoun, as ferforth as it lyth in hir power; +and nat to destroyen hem ne confounde. / Wherfore I seye, that thilke +lordes that been lyk wolves, that devouren the possessiouns or the catel of +povre folk wrongfully, with-outen mercy or mesure, /775 they shul receyven, +by the same mesure that they han mesured to povre folk, the mercy of Iesu +Crist, but-if it be amended. / Now comth deceite bitwixe marchant and +marchant. And thow shalt understonde, that marchandyse is in two maneres; +that oon is bodily, and that other is goostly. That oon is honeste and +leveful, and that other is deshoneste and unleveful. / Of thilke bodily +marchandyse, that is leveful and honeste, is this; that, there-as god hath +ordeyned that a regne or a contree is suffisaunt to him-self, thanne is it +honeste and leveful, that of habundaunce of this contree, that men helpe +another contree that is more nedy. / And therfore, ther mote been marchants +to bringen fro that o contree to that other hire marchandyses. / That other +marchandise, that men haunten with fraude and trecherie and deceite, with +lesinges and false othes, is cursed and dampnable. /780 Espirituel +marchandyse is proprely Symonye, that is, ententif desyr to byen thing +espirituel, that is, thing that aperteneth to the seintuarie of god and to +cure of the soule. / This desyr, if so be that a man do his diligence to +parfournen it, al-be-it that his desyr ne take noon effect, yet is it to +him a deedly sinne; and if he be ordred, he is irreguler. / Certes, Symonye +is cleped of Symon Magus, that wolde han boght, for temporel catel, the +yifte that god hadde yeven, by the holy goost, to seint Peter and to [621] +the apostles. / And therfore understond, that bothe he that selleth and he +that byeth thinges espirituels, been cleped Symonials; be it by catel, be +it by procuringe, or by fleshly preyere of hise freendes, fleshly freendes, +or espirituel freendes. / Fleshly, in two maneres; as by kinrede or othere +freendes. Soothly, if they praye for him that is nat worthy and able, it is +Symonye if he take the benefice; and if he be worthy and able, ther nis +noon. /785 That other manere is, whan a man or womman preyen for folk to +avauncen hem, only for wikked fleshly affeccioun that they have un-to the +persone; and that is foul Symonye. / But certes, in service, for which men +yeven thinges espirituels un-to hir servants, it moot been understonde that +the service moot been honeste, and elles nat; and eek that it be with-outen +bargayninge, and that the persone be able. / For, as seith Seint Damasie, +‘alle the sinnes of the world, at regard of this sinne, am as thing of +noght’; for it is the gretteste sinne that may be, after the sinne of +Lucifer and Antecrist. / For, by this sinne, god forleseth the chirche, and +the soule that he boghte with his precious blood, by hem that yeven +chirches to hem that been nat digne. / For they putten in theves, that +stelen the soules of Iesu Christ and destroyen his patrimoine. /790 By +swiche undigne preestes and curates han lewed men the lasse reverence of +the sacraments of holy chirche; and swiche yeveres of chirches putten out +the children of Crist, and putten in-to the chirche the develes owene sone. +/ They sellen the soules that lambes sholde kepen to the wolf that +strangleth hem. And therfore shul they nevere han part of the pasture of +lambes, that is, the blisse of hevene. / Now comth hasardrye with hise +apurtenaunces, as tables and rafles; of which comth deceite, false othes, +chydinges, and alle ravines, blaspheminge and reneyinge of god, and hate of +hise neighebores, wast of godes, misspendinge of tyme, and somtyme +manslaughtre. / Certes, hasardours ne mowe nat been with-outen greet sinne +whyles they haunte that craft. / Of avarice comen eek lesinges, thefte, +fals witnesse, and false othes. And ye shul understonde that thise been +grete sinnes, and expres agayn the comaundements of god, as I have seyd. +/795 Fals witnesse is in word and eek in dede. In word, as for to bireve +thy neighebores goode name by thy fals witnessing, or [622] bireven him his +catel or his heritage by thy fals witnessing; whan thou, for ire or for +mede, or for envye, berest fals witnesse, or accusest him or excusest him +by thy fals witnesse, or elles excusest thy-self falsly. / Ware yow, +questemongeres and notaries! Certes, for fals witnessing was Susanna in ful +gret sorwe and peyne, and many another mo. / The sinne of thefte is eek +expres agayns goddes heste, and that in two maneres, corporel and +espirituel. / Corporel, as for to take thy neighebores catel agayn his wil, +be it by force or by sleighte, be it by met or by mesure. / By steling eek +of false enditements upon him, and in borwinge of thy neighebores catel, in +entente nevere to payen it agayn, and semblable thinges. /800 Espirituel +thefte is Sacrilege, that is to seyn, hurtinge of holy thinges, or of +thinges sacred to Crist, in two maneres; by reson of the holy place, as +chirches or chirche-hawes, / for which every vileyns sinne that men doon in +swiche places may be cleped sacrilege, or every violence in the semblable +places. Also, they that withdrawen falsly the rightes that longen to holy +chirche. / And pleynly and generally, sacrilege is to reven holy thing fro +holy place, or unholy thing out of holy place, or holy thing out of unholy +place. / + + 765. E. vnderstoond; tirauntz. 767. to (1)] E. in. 771. E. lough; + _om._ and in his degree. 774. E. subgetz. 777. Ed. 1550, two; + _MSS._ manye. 781. E. Espiritueel (_twice_). 782. E. irreguleer. + 783. E. temporeel. 784. E. vnderstoond; beyeth; espiritueel. 791. + E. sacramentz. 793. Hl. raueynes; Pt. ravanys; Cm. rauynesse; Ln. + rauynges. 794. E. Cm. _om._ whyles ... craft. 798. E. heeste; _om._ + that; corporeel. Hl. Pt. Ln. and; _rest_ or. E. espiritueel. 799. + Hl. Corporel; _rest om._ 801. E. Espiritueel. + +=Relevacio contra peccatum Avaricie.= + +§ 68. Now shul ye understonde, that the relevinge of Avarice is +misericorde, and pitee largely taken. And men mighten axe, why that +misericorde and pitee is relevinge of Avarice? / Certes, the avaricious man +sheweth no pitee ne misericorde to the nedeful man; for he delyteth him in +the kepinge of his tresor, and nat in the rescowinge ne relevinge of his +evene-cristene. And therfore fore speke I first of misericorde. /805 Thanne +is misericorde, as seith the philosophre, a vertu, by which the corage of +man is stired by the misese of him that is misesed. / Up-on which +misericorde folweth pitee, in parfourninge of charitable werkes of +misericorde. / And certes, thise thinges moeven a man to misericorde of +Iesu Crist, that he yaf him-self for oure gilt, and suffred deeth for +misericorde, and forgaf us oure originale sinnes; / and therby relessed us +fro the peynes of helle, and amenused the peynes of purgatorie by +penitence, and yeveth grace wel to do, and atte laste [623] the blisse of +hevene. / The speces of misericorde been, as for to lene and for to yeve +and to foryeven and relesse, and for to han pitee in herte, and compassioun +of the meschief of his evene-cristene, and eek to chastyse there as nede +is. /810 Another manere of remedie agayns Avarice is resonable largesse; +but soothly, here bihoveth the consideracioun of the grace of Iesu Crist, +and of hise temporel goodes, and eek of the godes perdurables that Crist +yaf to us; / and to han remembrance of the deeth that he shal receyve, he +noot whanne, where, ne how; and eek that he shal forgon al that he hath, +save only that he hath despended in gode werkes. / + + TITLE. Hl. Remedium (_for_ Releuacio). 806. Cm. Ln. sterid. 811. E. + temporeel. + +§ 69. But for-as-muche as som folk been unmesurable, men oghten eschue +fool-largesse, that men clepen wast. / Certes, he that is fool-large ne +yeveth nat his catel, but he leseth his catel. Soothly, what thing that he +yeveth for veyne glorie, as to minstrals and to folk, for to beren his +renoun in the world, he hath sinne ther-of and noon almesse. / Certes, he +leseth foule his good, that ne seketh with the yifte of his good no-thing +but sinne. /815 He is lyk to an hors that seketh rather to drinken drovy or +trouble water than for to drinken water of the clere welle. / And +for-as-muchel as they yeven ther as they sholde nat yeven, to hem +aperteneth thilke malisoun that Crist shal yeven at the day of dome to hem +that shullen been dampned. / + + 813. E. oughten. 816. Seld. droupy (_for_ drovy). + +=Sequitur de Gula.= + +§ 70. After Avarice comth Glotonye, which is expres eek agayn the +comandement of god. Glotonye is unmesurable appetyt to ete or to drinke, or +elles to doon y-nogh to the unmesurable appetyt and desordeynce coveityse +to eten or to drinke. / This sinne corrumped al this world, as is wel +shewed in the sinne of Adam and of Eve. Loke eek, what seith seint Paul of +Glotonye. / ‘Manye,’ seith seint Paul, ‘goon, of whiche I have ofte seyd to +yow, and now I seye it wepinge, that they been the enemys of the croys of +Crist; of whiche the ende is deeth, and of whiche hir wombe is hir god, and +hir glorie in confusioun of hem that so saveren erthely thinges.’ /820 He +that is usaunt to this sinne of Glotonye, he ne may no sinne withstonde. He +moot been in servage of alle vyces, for it is the develes hord ther he +hydeth him and resteth. / This [624] sinne hath manye speces. The firste is +dronkenesse, that is the horrible sepulture of mannes resoun; and therfore, +whan a man is dronken, he hath lost his resoun; and this is deedly sinne. / +But soothly, whan that a man is nat wont to strong drinke, and peraventure +ne knoweth nat the strengthe of the drinke, or hath feblesse in his heed, +or hath travailed, thurgh which he drinketh the more, al be he sodeynly +caught with drinke, it is no deedly sinne, but venial. / The seconde spece +of Glotonye is, that the spirit of a man wexeth al trouble; for dronkenesse +bireveth him the discrecioun of his wit. / The thridde spece of Glotonye +is, whan a man devoureth his mete, and hath no rightful manere of etinge. +/825 The fourthe is whan, thurgh the grete habundaunce of his mete, the +humours in his body been destempred. / The fifthe is, foryetelnesse by to +muchel drinkinge; for which somtyme a man foryeteth er the morwe what he +dide at even or on the night biforn. / + + 820. Pt. Ln. thei; _rest om._ Hl. Pt. Ln. saueren; _rest_ deuouren. + 821. E. hoord. 823. Cm. woned. 827. Cm. forȝetefulnesse. + +§ 71. In other manere been distinct the speces of Glotonye, after seint +Gregorie. The firste is, for to ete biforn tyme to ete. The seconde is, +whan a man get him to delicat mete or drinke. / The thridde is, whan men +taken to muche over mesure. The fourthe is curiositee, with greet entente +to maken and apparaillen his mete. The fifthe is, for to eten to gredily. / +Thise been the fyve fingres of the develes hand, by whiche he draweth folk +to sinne. /830 + + 828. E. delicaat. + +=Remedium contra peccatum Gule.= + +§ 72. Agayns Glotonye is the remedie Abstinence, as seith Galien; but that +holde I nat meritorie, if he do it only for the hele of his body. Seint +Augustin wole, that Abstinence be doon for vertu and with pacience. / +Abstinence, he seith, is litel worth, but if a man have good wil ther-to, +and but it be enforced by pacience and by charitee, and that men doon it +for godes sake, and in hope to have the blisse of hevene. / + +§ 73. The felawes of Abstinence been Attemperaunce, that holdeth the mene +in alle thinges: eek Shame, that eschueth alle deshonestee: Suffisance, +that seketh no riche metes ne drinkes, ne dooth no fors of to outrageous +apparailinge of mete. / Mesure also, that restreyneth by resoun the +deslavee appetyt of etinge: [625] Sobrenesse also, that restreyneth the +outrage of drinke: / Sparinge also, that restreyneth the delicat ese to +sitte longe at his mete and softely; wherfore som folk stonden of hir owene +wil, to eten at the lasse leyser. /835 + + 835. E. delicaat. + +=Sequitur de Luxuria.= + +§ 74. After Glotonye, thanne comth Lecherie; for thise two sinnes been so +ny cosins, that ofte tyme they wol nat departe. / God woot, this sinne is +ful displesaunt thing to god; for he seyde himself, ‘do no lecherie.’ And +therfore he putte grete peynes agayns this sinne in the olde lawe. / If +womman thral were taken in this sinne, she sholde be beten with staves to +the deeth. And if she were a gentil womman, she sholde be slayn with +stones. And if she were a bisshoppes doghter, she sholde been brent, by +goddes comandement. / Forther over, by the sinne of Lecherie, god dreynte +al the world at the diluge. And after that, he brente fyve citees with +thonder-leyt, and sank hem in-to helle. / + + 838. Cm. stonys; Ln. stones; Hl. stoones (_for_ staues). 839. Pt. Ln. + diluve; Hl. diluue (_for_ diluge). E. thonder-leyt; Hl. -layt; _rest_ + -light. + +§ 75. Now lat us speke thanne of thilke stinkinge sinne of Lecherie that +men clepe Avoutrie of wedded folk, that is to seyn, if that oon of hem be +wedded, or elles bothe. /840 Seint Iohn seith, that avoutiers shullen been +in helle in a stank brenninge of fyr and of brimston; in fyr, for the +lecherie; in brimston, for the stink of hir ordure. / Certes, the brekinge +of this sacrement is an horrible thing; it was maked of god him-self in +paradys, and confermed by Iesu Crist, as witnesseth seint Mathew in the +gospel: ‘A man shal lete fader and moder, and taken him to his wyf, and +they shullen be two in o flesh.’ / This sacrement bitokneth the knittinge +togidre of Crist and of holy chirche. / And nat only that god forbad +avoutrie in dede, but eek he comanded that thou sholdest nat coveite thy +neighebores wyf. / In this heeste, seith seint Augustin, is forboden alle +manere coveitise to doon lecherie. Lo what seith seint Mathew in the +gospel: that ‘who-so seeth a womman to coveitise of his lust, he hath doon +lecherie with hir in his herte.’ /845 Here may ye seen that nat only the +dede of this sinne is forboden, but eek the desyr to doon that sinne. / +This cursed sinne anoyeth grevousliche [626] hem that it haunten. And +first, to hir soule; for he oblygeth it to sinne and to peyne of deeth that +is perdurable. / Un-to the body anoyeth it grevously also, for it dreyeth +him, and wasteth, and shent him, and of his blood he maketh sacrifyce to +the feend of helle; it wasteth his catel and his substaunce. / And certes, +if it be a foul thing, a man to waste his catel on wommen, yet is it a +fouler thing whan that, for swich ordure, wommen dispenden up-on men hir +catel and substaunce. / This sinne, as seith the prophete, bireveth man and +womman hir gode fame, and al hir honour; and it is ful pleasaunt to the +devel; for ther-by winneth he the moste partie of this world. /850 And +right as a marchant delyteth him most in chaffare that he hath most +avantage of, right so delyteth the feend in this ordure. / + + 841. Pt. in fuyre for lechery in bremstone; Hl. In fuyr for the + leccherie in brimston; Ln. for licherye in brimstone (_om._ in fyr); E. + Cm. _omit_. 848. Pt. Ln. drieth. + +§ 76. This is that other hand of the devel, with fyve fingres, to cacche +the peple to his vileinye. / The firste finger is the fool lookinge of the +fool womman and of the fool man, that sleeth, right as the basilicok sleeth +folk by the venim of his sighte; for the coveitise of eyen folweth the +coveitise of the herte. / The seconde finger is the vileyns touchinge in +wikkede manere; and ther-fore seith Salomon, that who-so toucheth and +handleth a womman, he fareth lyk him that handleth the scorpioun that +stingeth and sodeynly sleeth thurgh his enveniminge; as who-so toucheth +warm pich, it shent hise fingres. / The thridde, is foule wordes, that +fareth lyk fyr, that right anon brenneth the herte. /855 The fourthe finger +is the kissinge; and trewely he were a greet fool that wolde kisse the +mouth of a brenninge ovene or of a fourneys. / And more fooles been they +that kissen in vileinye; for that mouth is the mouth of helle: and namely, +thise olde dotardes holours, yet wol they kisse, though they may nat do, +and smatre hem. / Certes, they been lyk to houndes; for an hound, whan he +comth by the roser or by othere [busshes], though he may nat pisse, yet +wole he heve up his leg and make a contenaunce to pisse. / And for that +many man weneth that he may nat sinne, for no likerousnesse that he doth +with his wyf; certes, that opinion is fals. God woot, a man may sleen +him-self with his owene knyf, and make him-selven dronken of his owene +tonne. / Certes, be it wyf, be it child, or any worldly thing that he +loveth [627] biforn god, it is his maumet, and he is an ydolastre. /860 Man +sholde loven his wyf by discrecioun, paciently and atemprely; and thanne is +she as though it were his suster. / The fifthe finger of the develes hand +is the stinkinge dede of Lecherie. / Certes, the fyve fingres of Glotonie +the feend put in the wombe of a man, and with hise fyve fyngres of Lecherie +he gripeth him by the reynes, for to throwen him in-to the fourneys of +helle; / ther-as they shul han the fyr and the wormes that evere shul +lasten, and wepinge and wailinge, sharp hunger and thurst, and grimnesse of +develes that shullen al to-trede hem, with-outen respit and withouten ende. +/ Of Lecherie, as I seyde, sourden diverse speces; as fornicacioun, that is +bitwixe man and womman that been nat maried; and this is deedly sinne and +agayns nature. /865 Al that is enemy and destruccioun to nature is agayns +nature. / Parfay, the resoun of a man telleth eek him wel that it is deedly +sinne, for-as-muche as god forbad Lecherie. And seint Paul yeveth hem the +regne, that nis dewe to no wight but to hem that doon deedly sinne. / +Another sinne of Lecherie is to bireve a mayden of hir maydenhede; for he +that so dooth, certes, he casteth a mayden out of the hyeste degree that is +in this present lyf, / and bireveth hir thilke precious fruit that the book +clepeth ‘the hundred fruit.’ I ne can seye it noon other weyes in English, +but in Latin it highte _Centesimus fructus_. / Certes, he that so dooth is +cause of manye damages and vileinyes, mo than any man can rekene; right as +he som-tyme is cause of alle damages that bestes don in the feeld, that +breketh the hegge or the closure; thurgh which he destroyeth that may nat +been restored. /870 For certes, na-more may maydenhede be restored than an +arm that is smiten fro the body may retourne agayn to wexe. / She may have +mercy, this woot I wel, if she do penitence; but nevere shal it be that she +nas corrupt. / And al-be-it so that I have spoken somwhat of Avoutrie, it +is good to shewen mo perils that longen to Avoutrie, for to eschue that +foule sinne. / Avoutrie in Latin is for to seyn, approchinge of other +mannes bed, thurgh which tho that whylom weren o flessh abaundone hir +bodyes to othere persones. / Of this sinne, as seith the wyse man, folwen +manye harmes. First, brekinge of feith; and certes, in feith is the keye of +Cristendom. /875 And whan that feith is broken and lorn, soothly Cristendom +stant [628] veyn and with-outen fruit. / This sinne is eek a thefte; for +thefte generally is for to reve a wight his thing agayns his wille. / +Certes, this is the fouleste thefte that may be, whan a womman steleth hir +body from hir housbonde and yeveth it to hire holour to defoulen hir; and +steleth hir soule fro Crist, and yeveth it to the devel. / This is a fouler +thefte, than for to breke a chirche and stele the chalice; for thise +Avoutiers breken the temple of god spiritually, and stelen the vessel of +grace, that is, the body and the soule, for which Crist shal destroyen hem, +as seith Seint Paul. / Soothly of this thefte douted gretly Joseph, whan +that his lordes wyf preyed him of vileinye, whan he seyde, ‘lo, my lady, +how my lord hath take to me under my warde al that he hath in this world; +ne no-thing of hise thinges is out of my power, but only ye that been his +wyf. /880 And how sholde I thanne do this wikkednesse, and sinne so +horribly agayns god, and agayns my lord? God it forbede.’ Allas! al to +litel is swich trouthe now y-founde! / The thridde harm is the filthe +thurgh which they breken the comandement of god, and defoulen the auctour +of matrimoine, that is Crist. / For certes, in-so-muche as the sacrement of +mariage is so noble and so digne, so muche is it gretter sinne for to +breken it; for god made mariage in paradys, in the estaat of Innocence, to +multiplye man-kinde to the service of god. / And therfore is the brekinge +ther-of more grevous. Of which brekinge comen false heires ofte tyme, that +wrongfully occupyen folkes heritages. And therfore wol Crist putte hem out +of the regne of hevene, that is heritage to gode folk. / Of this brekinge +comth eek ofte tyme, that folk unwar wedden or sinnen with hir owene +kinrede; and namely thilke harlottes that haunten bordels of thise fool +wommen, that mowe be lykned to a commune gonge, where-as men purgen hir +ordure. /885 What seye we eek of putours that liven by the horrible sinne +of putrie, and constreyne wommen to yelden to hem a certeyn rente of hir +bodily puterie, ye, somtyme of his owene wyf or his child; as doon this +baudes? Certes, thise been cursede sinnes. / Understond eek, that avoutrie +is set gladly in the ten comandements bitwixe thefte and manslaughtre; for +it is the gretteste thefte that may be; for it is thefte of body and of +soule. / And it is lyk to homicyde; for it kerveth a-two and [629] breketh +a-two hem that first were maked o flesh, and therfore, by the olde lawe of +god, they sholde be slayn. / But nathelees, by the lawe of Iesu Crist, that +is lawe of pitee, whan he seyde to the womman that was founden in avoutrie, +and sholde han been slayn with stones, after the wil of the Iewes, as was +hir lawe: ‘Go,’ quod Iesu Crist, ‘and have na-more wil to sinne’; or, +‘wille na-more to do sinne.’ / Soothly, the vengeaunce of avoutrie is +awarded to the peynes of helle, but-if so be that it be destourbed by +penitence. /890 Yet been ther mo speces of this cursed sinne; as whan that +oon of hem is religious, or elles bothe; or of folk that been entred in-to +ordre, as subdekne or dekne, or preest, or hospitaliers. And evere the hyer +that he is in ordre, the gretter is the sinne. / The thinges that gretly +agreggen hir sinne is the brekinge of hir avow of chastitee, whan they +receyved the ordre. / And forther-over, sooth is, that holy ordre is chief +of al the tresorie of god, and his especial signe and mark of chastitee; to +shewe that they been ioyned to chastitee, which that is most precious lyf +that is. / And thise ordred folk been specially tytled to god, and of the +special meynee of god; for which, whan they doon deedly sinne, they been +the special traytours of god and of his peple; for they liven of the peple, +to preye for the peple, and whyle they been suche traitours, hir preyers +availen nat to the peple. / Preestes been aungeles, as by the dignitee of +hir misterye; but for sothe, seint Paul seith, that ‘Sathanas transformeth +him in an aungel of light.’ /895 Soothly, the preest that haunteth deedly +sinne, he may be lykned to the aungel of derknesse transformed in the +aungel of light; he semeth aungel of light, but for sothe he is aungel of +derknesse. / Swiche preestes been the sones of Helie, as sheweth in the +book of Kinges, that they weren the sones of Belial, that is, the devel. / +Belial is to seyn ‘with-outen Iuge’; and so faren they; hem thinketh they +been free, and han no Iuge, na-more than hath a free bole that taketh which +cow that him lyketh in the toun. / So faren they by wommen. For right as a +free bole is y-nough for al a toun, right so is a wikked preest corrupcioun +y-nough for al a parisshe, or for al a contree. / Thise preestes, as seith +the book, ne conne nat the misterie of preesthode to the peple, ne god ne +knowe they nat; they ne helde hem nat apayd, as seith the book, [630] of +soden flesh that was to hem offred, but they toke by force the flesh that +is rawe. /900 Certes, so thise shrewes ne holden hem nat apayed of rosted +flesh and sode flesh, with which the peple fedden hem in greet reverence, +but they wole have raw flesh of folkes wyves and hir doghtres. / And +certes, thise wommen that consenten to hir harlotrie doon greet wrong to +Crist and to holy chirche and alle halwes, and to alle soules; for they +bireven alle thise him that sholde worshipe Crist and holy chirche, and +preye for cristene soules. / And therfore han swiche preestes, and hir +lemmanes eek that consenten to hir lecherie, the malisoun of al the court +cristen, till they come to amendement. / The thridde spece of avoutrie is +som-tyme bitwixe a man and his wyf; and that is whan they take no reward in +hir assemblinge, but only to hire fleshly delyt, as seith seint Ierome; / +and ne rekken of nothing but that they been assembled; by-cause that they +been maried, al is good y-nough, as thinketh to hem. /905 But in swich folk +hath the devel power, as seyde the aungel Raphael to Thobie; for in hir +assemblinge they putten Iesu Crist out of hir herte, and yeven hem-self to +alle ordure. / The fourthe spece is, the assemblee of hem that been of hire +kinrede, or of hem that been of oon affinitee, or elles with hem with +whiche hir fadres or hir kinrede han deled in the sinne of lecherie; this +sinne maketh hem lyk to houndes, that taken no kepe to kinrede. / And +certes, parentele is in two maneres, outher goostly or fleshly; goostly, as +for to delen with hise godsibbes. / For right so as he that engendreth a +child is his fleshly fader, right so is his godfader his fader espirituel. +For which a womman may in no lasse sinne assemblen with hir godsib than +with hir owene fleshly brother. / The fifthe spece is thilke abhominable +sinne, of which that no man unnethe oghte speke ne wryte, nathelees it is +openly reherced in holy writ. /910 This cursednesse doon men and wommen in +diverse entente and in diverse manere; but though that holy writ speke of +horrible sinne, certes, holy writ may nat been defouled, na-more than the +sonne that shyneth on the mixen. / Another sinne aperteneth to lecherie, +that comth in slepinge; and this sinne cometh ofte to hem that been +maydenes, and eek to hem that been corrupt; and this sinne men clepen +pollucioun, that [631] comth in foure maneres. / Somtyme, of languissinge +of body; for the humours been to ranke and habundaunt in the body of man. +Somtyme of infermetee; for the feblesse of the vertu retentif, as phisik +maketh mencioun. Som-tyme, for surfeet of mete and drinke. / And somtyme of +vileyns thoghtes, that been enclosed in mannes minde whan he goth to slepe; +which may nat been with-oute sinne. For which men moste kepen hem wysely, +or elles may men sinnen ful grevously. / + + 853. Hl. as a basiliskoc. 857. Hl. dotard fooles holours. C m. and + smatere hem thow they may nat doon. 858. Tyrwhitt _has_ bushes; E. + Seld. Ln. beauteis; Cm. beauteis; Hl. beautes; Pt. bewtees. 869. + After _fructus_, Hl. _adds_ secundum Ieronimum contra Iouinianum. + 881. Hl. Pt. horribly; E. Cm. horrible. 882. E. Actour (_error for_ + Auctour). 884. E. Hl. _om._ ther-of. E. ocupien. 887. E. + Vnderstoond. E. Pt. Ln. Hl. Seld. gladly; Cm. _om._ E. + comandementz. 891. Pt. Hl. or deken; Ln. & deken; Cm. dekene; E. + _om._ 894. E. meignee; Ln. Hl. meyne. E. Cm. _om._ to preye ... to + the peple; _the clause occurs in_ Pt. Ln. Selden, _and partly in_ Hl. + 897. Seld. Pt. Ln. Hl. Belye (_for_ Helye); Cm. Belyal. 900. Cm. + helde; _rest_ holde. 903. E. cristiene; Hl. cristian; Cm. cristene; + _rest_ cristen. 908. Pt. Ln. Parentela; Hl. parenteal. 909. E. + espiritueel. 911. Pt. myxen; Cm. myxene; E. Mixne; Seld. Ln. mexen; + Hl. dongehul. 912. E. Poluciou_n_. 912. E. Cm. iij; _rest_ iiij. + 913. Pt. feblesse; E. fieblesse; Cm. febillesse; Ln. Hl. feblenesse. + 914. Cm. muste (_for_ moste). E. greously (!). + +=Remedium contra peccatum Luxurie.= + +§ 77. Now comth the remedie agayns Lecherie, and that is, generally, +Chastitee and Continence, that restreyneth alle the desordeynee moevinges +that comen of fleshly talentes. /915 And evere the gretter merite shal he +han, that most restreyneth the wikkede eschaufinges of the ordure of this +sinne. And this is in two maneres, that is to seyn, chastitee in mariage, +and chastitee of widwehode. / Now shaltow understonde, that matrimoine is +leefful assemblinge of man and of womman, that receyven by vertu of the +sacrement the bond, thurgh which they may nat be departed in al hir lyf, +that is to seyn, whyl that they liven bothe. / This, as seith the book, is +a ful greet sacrement. God maked it, as I have seyd, in paradys, and wolde +him-self be born in mariage. / And for to halwen mariage, he was at a +weddinge, where-as he turned water in-to wyn; which was the firste miracle +that he wroghte in erthe biforn hise disciples. / Trewe effect of mariage +clenseth fornicacioun and replenisseth holy chirche of good linage; for +that is the ende of mariage; and it chaungeth deedly sinne in-to venial +sinne bitwixe hem that been y-wedded, and maketh the hertes al oon of hem +that been y-wedded, as wel as the bodies. /920 This is verray mariage, that +was establissed by god er that sinne bigan, whan naturel lawe was in his +right point in paradys; and it was ordeyned that o man sholde have but o +womman, and o womman but o man, as seith Seint Augustin, by manye resouns. +/ + + 917. E. boond. 921. E. Cm. _om._ This is. E. natureel. + +§ 78. First, for mariage is figured bitwixe Crist and holy chirche. And +that other is, for a man is heved of a womman; algate, by ordinaunce it +sholde be so. / For if a womman had mo men [632] than oon, thanne sholde +she have mo hevedes than oon, and that were an horrible thing biforn god; +and eek a womman ne mighte nat plese to many folk at ones. And also ther ne +sholde nevere be pees ne reste amonges hem; for everich wolde axen his +owene thing. / And forther-over, no man ne sholde knowe his owene +engendrure, ne who sholde have his heritage; and the womman sholde been the +lasse biloved, fro the time that she were conioynt to many men. / + + 923. E. no (_for_ mo) _before_ men. + +§ 79. Now comth, how that a man sholde bere him with his wyf; and namely, +in two thinges, that is to seyn in suffraunce and reverence, as shewed +Crist whan he made first womman. /925 For he ne made hir nat of the heved +of Adam, for she sholde nat clayme to greet lordshipe. / For ther-as the +womman hath the maistrie, she maketh to muche desray; ther neden none +ensamples of this. The experience of day by day oghte suffyse. / Also +certes, god ne made nat womman of the foot of Adam, for she ne sholde nat +been holden to lowe; for she can nat paciently suffre: but god made womman +of the rib of Adam, for womman sholde be felawe un-to man. / Man sholde +bere him to his wyf in feith, in trouthe, and in love, as seith seint Paul: +that ‘a man sholde loven his wyf as Crist loved holy chirche, that loved it +so wel that he deyde for it.’ So sholde a man for his wyf, if it were nede. +/ + + 927. Hl. disaray; Pt. Ln. disaraye. + +§ 80. Now how that a womman sholde be subget to hir housbonde, that telleth +seint Peter. First, in obedience. /930 And eek, as seith the decree, a +womman that is a wyf, as longe as she is a wyf, she hath noon auctoritee to +swere ne bere witnesse with-oute leve of hir housbonde, that is hir lord; +algate, he sholde be so by resoun. / She sholde eek serven him in alle +honestee, and been attempree of hir array. I wot wel that they sholde +setten hir entente to plesen hir housbondes, but nat by hir queyntise of +array. / Seint Ierome seith, that wyves that been apparailled in silk and +in precious purpre ne mowe nat clothen hem in Iesu Crist. What seith seint +Iohn eek in this matere? / Seint Gregorie eek seith, that no wight seketh +precious array but only for veyne glorie, to been honoured the more biforn +the peple. / It is a greet folye, a womman to have a fair array outward and +in hir-self be foul inward. /935 [633] A wyf sholde eek be mesurable in +lokinge and in beringe and in laughinge, and discreet in alle hir wordes +and hir dedes. / And aboven alle worldly thing she sholde loven hir +housbonde with al hir herte, and to him be trewe of hir body / so sholde an +housbonde eek be to his wyf. For sith that al the body is the housbondes, +so sholde hir herte been, or elles ther is bitwixe hem two, as in that, no +parfit mariage. / Thanne shal men understonde that for three thinges a man +and his wyf fleshly mowen assemble. The firste is in entente of engendrure +of children to the service of god, for certes that is the cause fynal of +matrimoine. / Another cause is, to yelden everich of hem to other the dette +of hir bodies, for neither of hem hath power over his owene body. The +thridde is, for to eschewe lecherye and vileinye. The ferthe is for sothe +deadly sinne. /940 As to the firste, it is meritorie; the seconde also; +for, as seith the decree, that she hath merite of chastitee that yeldeth to +hir housbonde the dette of hir body, ye, though it be agayn hir lykinge and +the lust of hir herte. / The thridde manere is venial sinne, and trewely +scarsly may ther any of thise be with-oute venial sinne, for the corrupcion +and for the delyt. / The fourthe manere is for to understonde, if they +assemble only for amorous love and for noon of the forseyde causes, but for +to accomplice thilke brenninge delyt, they rekke nevere how ofte, sothly it +is deedly sinne; and yet, with sorwe, somme folk wol peynen hem more to +doon than to hir appetyt suffyseth. / + + 931. E. Cm. that is wyf; Hl. that is a wif. 935. Cm. Pt. be; Hl. to + ben; Ln. bue; E. _om._ 941. E. _om._ merite of chastitee. 942. E. + _om._ of. + +§ 81. The seconde manere of chastitee is for to been a clene widewe, and +eschue the embracinges of man, and desyren the embracinge of Iesu Crist. / +Thise been tho that han been wyves and han forgoon hir housbondes, and eek +wommen that han doon lecherie and been releeved by Penitence. /945 And +certes, if that a wyf coude kepen hir al chaast by licence of hir +housbonde, so that she yeve nevere noon occasion that he agilte, it were to +hire a greet merite. / Thise manere wommen that observen chastitee moste be +clene in herte as well as in body and in thoght, and mesurable in clothinge +and in contenaunce; and been abstinent in etinge and drinkinge, in +spekinge, and in dede. They been the vessel or the boyste of the blissed +Magdelene, that fulfilleth holy chirche of good odour. / The thridde manere +of chastitee is [634] virginitee, and it bihoveth that she be holy in herte +and clene of body; thanne is she spouse to Iesu Crist, and she is the lyf +of angeles. / She is the preisinge of this world, and she is as thise +martirs in egalitee; she hath in hir that tonge may nat telle ne herte +thinke. / Virginitee baar oure lord Iesu Crist, and virgin was him-selve. +/950 + + 947. E. _om._ moste be ... mesurable. + +§ 82. Another remedie agayns Lecherie is, specially to withdrawen swiche +thinges as yeve occasion to thilke vileinye; as ese, etinge and drinkinge; +for certes, whan the pot boyleth strongly, the beste remedie is to +withdrawe the fyr. Slepinge longe in greet quiete is eek a greet norice to +Lecherie. / + +§ 83. Another remedie agayns Lecherie is, that a man or a womman eschue the +companye of hem by whiche he douteth to be tempted; for al-be-it so that +the dede is withstonden, yet is ther greet temptacioun. / Soothly a whyt +wal, al-though it ne brenne noght fully by stikinge of a candele, yet is +the wal blak of the leyt. / Ful ofte tyme I rede, that no man truste in his +owene perfeccioun, but he be stronger than Sampson, and holier than Daniel, +and wyser than Salomon. /955 + + 954. E. leyt; Pt. Ln. leyte; Cm. lyght. + +§ 84. Now after that I have declared yow, as I can, the sevene deedly +sinnes, and somme of hir braunches and hir remedies, soothly, if I coude, I +wolde telle yow the ten comandements. / But so heigh a doctrine I lete to +divines. Nathelees, I hope to god they been touched in this tretice, +everich of hem alle. / + +=De Confessione.= + +§ 85. Now for-as-muche as the second partie of Penitence stant in +Confessioun of mouth, as I bigan in the firste chapitre, I seye, seint +Augustin seith: / sinne is every word and every dede, and al that men +coveiten agayn the lawe of Iesu Crist; and this is for to sinne in herte, +in mouth, and in dede, by thy fyve wittes, that been sighte, heringe, +smellinge, tastinge or savouringe, and felinge. / Now is it good to +understonde that that agreggeth muchel every sinne. /960 Thou shall +considere what thou art that doost the sinne, whether thou be male or +femele, yong or old, gentil or thral, free or servant, hool or syk, wedded +or sengle, ordred or unordred, wys or fool, clerk or seculer; / if she be +of [635] thy kinrede, bodily or goostly, or noon; if any of thy kinrede +have sinned with hir or noon, and manye mo thinges. / + + 960. Pt. Hl. the circumstances that; Ln. the circumstance that (_for_ + that that). 961. E. seculeer. + +§ 86. Another circumstaunce is this; whether it be doon in fornicacioun, or +in avoutrie, or noon; incest, or noon; mayden, or noon; in manere of +homicyde, or noon; horrible grete sinnes, or smale; and how longe thou hast +continued in sinne. / The thridde circumstaunce is the place ther thou hast +do sinne; whether in other mennes hous or in thyn owene; in feeld or in +chirche, or in chirche-hawe; in chirche dedicat, or noon. / For if the +chirche be halwed, and man or womman spille his kinde inwith that place by +wey of sinne, or by wikked temptacion, the chirche is entredited til it be +reconciled by the bishop; /965 and the preest that dide swich a vileinye, +to terme of al his lyf, he sholde na-more singe masse; and if he dide, he +sholde doon deedly sinne at every tyme that he so songe masse. / The +fourthe circumstaunce is, by whiche mediatours or by whiche messagers, as +for entycement, or for consentement to bere companye with felaweshipe; for +many a wrecche, for to bere companye, wil go to the devel of helle. / +Wher-fore they that eggen or consenten to the sinne been parteners of the +sinne, and of the dampnacioun of the sinner. / The fifthe circumstaunce is, +how manye tymes that he hath sinned, if it be in his minde, and how ofte +that he hath falle. / For he that ofte falleth in sinne, he despiseth the +mercy of god, and encreesseth his sinne, and is unkinde to Crist; and he +wexeth the more feble to withstonde sinne, and sinneth the more lightly, +/970 and the latter aryseth, and is the more eschew for to shryven him, +namely, to him that is his confessour. / For which that folk, whan they +falle agayn in hir olde folies, outher they forleten hir olde confessours +al outrely, or elles they departen hir shrift in diverse places; but +soothly, swich departed shrift deserveth no mercy of god of hise sinnes. / +The sixte circumstaunce is, why that a man sinneth, as by whiche +temptacioun; and if him-self procure thilke temptacioun, or by the +excytinge of other folk; or if he sinne with a womman by force, or by hir +owene assent; / or if the womman, maugree hir heed, hath been afforced, or +noon; this shal she telle; for coveitise, or for poverte, and if it was hir +procuringe or noon; and swiche manere harneys. / The seventhe [636] +circumstaunce is, in what manere he hath doon his sinne, or how that she +hath suffred that folk han doon to hir. /975 And the same shal the man +telle pleynly, with alle circumstaunces; and whether he hath sinned with +comune bordel-wommen, or noon; / or doon his sinne in holy tymes, or noon; +in fasting-tymes, or noon; or biforn his shrifte, or after his latter +shrifte; / and hath, per-aventure, broken ther-fore his penance enioyned; +by whos help and whos conseil; by sorcerie or craft; al moste be told. / +Alle thise thinges, after that they been grete or smale, engreggen the +conscience of man. And eek the preest that is thy Iuge, may the bettre been +avysed of his Iugement in yevinge of thy penaunce, and that is after thy +contricioun. / For understond wel, that after tyme that a man hath defouled +his baptesme by sinne, if he wole come to salvacioun, ther is noon other +wey but by penitence and shrifte and satisfaccioun; /980 and namely by the +two, if ther be a confessour to which he may shryven him; and the thridde, +if he have lyf to parfournen it. / + + 964. E. dedicaat. 965. E. Cm. _om._ til ... bishop. 967. wil] E. + shal. 968. dampnacioun] E. Cm. temptacioun. 970. E. fieble. 973. + Pt. Ln. H. whiche; _rest om._ + +§ 87. Thanne shal man looke and considere, that if he wole maken a trewe +and a profitable confessioun, ther moste be foure condiciouns. / First, it +moot been in sorweful bitternesse of herte, as seyde the king Ezekias to +god: ‘I wol remembre me alle the yeres of my lyf in bitternesse of myn +herte.’ / This condicioun of bitternesse hath fyve signes. The firste is, +that confessioun moste be shamefast, nat for to covere ne hyden his sinne, +for he hath agilt his god and defouled his soule. / And her-of seith seint +Augustin: ‘the herte travailleth for shame of his sinne’; and for he hath +greet shamefastnesse, he is digne to have greet mercy of god. /985 Swich +was the confession of the publican, that wolde nat heven up hise eyen to +hevene, for he hadde offended god of hevene; for which shamefastnesse he +hadde anon the mercy of god. / And ther-of seith seint Augustin, that swich +shamefast folk been next foryevenesse and remissioun. / Another signe is +humilitee in confessioun; of which seith seint Peter, ‘Humbleth yow under +the might of god.’ The hond of god is mighty in confession, for ther-by god +foryeveth thee thy sinnes; for he allone hath the power. / And this +humilitee shal been in herte, and in signe outward; for right as he hath +humilitee to god [637] in his herte, right so sholde he humble his body +outward to the preest that sit in goddes place. / For which in no manere, +sith that Crist is sovereyn and the preest mene and mediatour bitwixe Crist +and the sinnere, and the sinnere is the laste by wey of resoun, /990 thanne +sholde nat the sinnere sitte as heighe as his confessour, but knele biforn +him or at his feet, but-if maladie destourbe it. For he shal nat taken kepe +who sit there, but in whos place that he sitteth. / A man that hath +trespased to a lord, and comth for to axe mercy and maken his accord, and +set him doun anon by the lord, men wolde holden him outrageous, and nat +worthy so sone for to have remissioun ne mercy. / The thridde signe is, how +that thy shrift sholde be ful of teres, if man may; and if man may nat wepe +with hise bodily eyen, lat him wepe in herte. / Swich was the confession of +seint Peter; for after that he hadde forsake Iesu Crist, he wente out and +weep ful bitterly. / The fourthe signe is, that he ne lette nat for shame +to shewen his confessioun. /995 Swich was the confessioun of the Magdelene, +that ne spared, for no shame of hem that weren atte feste, for to go to +oure lord Iesu Crist and biknowe to him hir sinnes. / The fifthe signe is, +that a man or a womman be obeisant to receyven the penaunce that him is +enioyned for hise sinnes; for certes Iesu Crist, for the giltes of a man, +was obedient to the deeth. / + + 983. _All_ Ezekiel; _read_ Ezekias (Isaiah xxxviii. 15). 985. E. + ther-of; _rest_ her-of. 986. E. Ln. puplican. 993. E. teeris. + +§ 88. The seconde condicion of verray confession is, that it be hastily +doon; for certes, if a man hadde a deedly wounde, evere the lenger that he +taried to warisshe him-self, the more wolde it corrupte and haste him to +his deeth; and eek the wounde wolde be the wors for to hele. / And right so +fareth sinne, that longe tyme is in a man unshewed. / Certes, a man oghte +hastily shewen hise sinnes for manye causes; as for drede of deeth, that +cometh ofte sodenly, and is in no certeyn what tyme it shal be, ne in what +place; and eek the drecchinge of o synne draweth in another; /1000 and eek +the lenger that he tarieth, the ferther he is fro Crist. And if he abyde to +his laste day, scarsly may he shryven him or remembre him of hise sinnes, +or repenten him, for the grevous maladie of his deeth. / And for-as-muche +as he ne hath nat in his lyf herkned Iesu Crist, whanne he hath spoken, he +shal crye to Iesu Crist at his laste day, and scarsly wol he herkne him. / +And understond that this condicioun moste han foure thinges. [638] Thy +shrift moste be purveyed bifore and avysed; for wikked haste doth no +profit; and that a man conne shryve him of hise sinnes be it of pryde, or +of envye, and so forth of the speces and circumstances; / and that he have +comprehended in his minde the nombre and the greetnesse of hise sinnes, and +how longe that he hath leyn in sinne; / and eek that he be contrit of hise +sinnes, and in stedefast purpos, by the grace of god, nevere eft to falle +in sinne; and eek that he drede and countrewaite him-self, that he flee the +occasiouns of sinne to whiche he is enclyned. /1005 Also thou shalt shryve +thee of alle thy sinnes to o man, and nat a parcel to o man and a parcel to +another; that is to understonde, in entente to departe thy confessioun as +for shame or drede; for it nis but stranglinge of thy soule. / For certes, +Iesu Crist is entierly al good; in him nis noon inperfeccioun; and therfore +outher he foryeveth al parfitly or never a deel. / I seye nat that if thou +be assigned to the penitauncer for certein sinne, that thou art bounde to +shewen him al the remenaunt of thy sinnes, of whiche thou hast be shriven +to thy curat, but-if it lyke to thee of thyn humilitee; this is no +departinge of shrifte. / Ne I seye nat, ther-as I speke of divisioun of +confessioun, that if thou have lycence for to shryve thee to a discreet and +an honeste preest, where thee lyketh, and by lycence of thy curat, that +thou ne mayst wel shryve thee to him of alle thy sinnes. / But lat no +blotte be bihinde; lat no sinne been untold, as fer as thou hast +remembraunce. /1010 And whan thou shalt be shriven to thy curat, telle him +eek alle the sinnes that thou hast doon sin thou were last y-shriven; this +is no wikked entente of divisioun of shrifte. / + + 1000. Pt. Ln. Seld. is in; _rest om._ 1005. E. stidefast; Cm. Hl. + stedefast. 1008, 1009, 1011. E. curaat. + +§ 89. Also the verray shrifte axeth certeine condiciouns. First, that thou +shryve thee by thy free wil, noght constreyned, ne for shame of folk, ne +for maladie, ne swiche thinges; for it is resoun that he that trespasseth +by his free wil, that by his free wil he confesse his trespas; / and that +noon other man telle his sinne but he him-self, ne he shal nat nayte ne +denye his sinne, ne wratthe him agayn the preest for his amonestinge to +leve sinne. / The seconde condicioun is, that thy shrift be laweful; that +is to seyn, that thou that shryvest thee, and eek the preest that hereth +thy confessioun, been verraily in the feith of holy chirche; / and that a +man ne be nat despeired of the mercy of Iesu Crist, as [639] Caym or Iudas. +/1015 And eek a man moot accusen him-self of his owene trespas, and nat +another; but he shal blame and wyten him-self and his owene malice of his +sinne, and noon other; / but nathelees, if that another man be occasioun or +entycer of his sinne, or the estaat of a persone be swich thurgh which his +sinne is agregged, or elles that he may nat pleynly shryven him but he +telle the persone with which he hath sinned; thanne may he telle; / so that +his entente ne be nat to bakbyte the persone, but only to declaren his +confessioun. / + +§ 90. Thou ne shall nat eek make no lesinges in thy confessioun; for +humilitee, per-aventure, to seyn that thou hast doon sinnes of whiche that +thou were nevere gilty. / For Seint Augustin seith: if thou, by cause of +thyn humilitee, makest lesinges on thy-self, though thou ne were nat in +sinne biforn, yet artow thanne in sinne thurgh thy lesinges. /1020 Thou +most eek shewe thy sinne by thyn owene propre mouth, but thou be wexe +doumb, and nat by no lettre; for thou that hast doon the sinne, thou shalt +have the shame therfore. / Thou shalt nat eek peynte thy confessioun by +faire subtile wordes, to covere the more thy sinne; for thanne bigylestow +thy-self and nat the preest; thou most tellen it pleynly, be it nevere so +foul ne so horrible. / Thou shalt eek shryve thee to a preest that is +discreet to conseille thee, and eek thou shalt nat shryve thee for veyne +glorie, ne for ypocrisye, ne for no cause, but only for the doute of Iesu +Crist and the hele of thy soule. / Thou shalt nat eek renne to the preest +sodeynly, to tellen him lightly thy sinne, as who-so telleth a Iape or a +tale, but avysely and with greet devocioun. / And generally, shryve thee +ofte. If thou ofte falle, ofte thou aryse by confessioun. /1025 And thogh +thou shryve thee ofter than ones of sinne, of which thou hast be shriven, +it is the more merite. And, as seith seint Augustin, thou shalt have the +more lightly relesing and grace of god, bothe of sinne and of peyne. / And +certes, ones a yere atte leeste wey it is laweful for to been housled; for +certes ones a yere alle thinges renovellen. / + + 1021. Cm. Pt. wexe; E. Hl. woxe. 1023. E. _om. 2nd_ thee. + + =Explicit secunda pars penitencie; et sequitur tercia pars eiusdem, de + satisfaccione.= + +§ 91. Now have I told you of verray Confessioun, that is the seconde partie +of Penitence. / + + 1028. E. toolde. + +[640] The thridde partie of Penitence is Satisfaccioun; and that stant most +generally in almesse and in bodily peyne. / Now been ther three manere of +almesses; contricion of herte, where a man offreth himself to god; another +is, to han pitee of defaute of hise neighebores; and the thridde is, in +yevinge of good conseil goostly and bodily, where men han nede, and namely +in sustenaunce of mannes fode. /1030 And tak keep, that a man hath need of +thise thinges generally; he hath need of fode, he hath nede of clothing, +and herberwe, he hath nede of charitable conseil, and visitinge in prisone +and in maladie, and sepulture of his dede body. / And if thou mayst nat +visite the nedeful with thy persone, visite him by thy message and by thy +yiftes. / Thise been generally almesses or werkes of charitee of hem that +han temporel richesses or discrecioun in conseilinge. Of thise werkes +shaltow heren at the day of dome. / + + 1031. Hl. keep; Pt. Ln. kepe; E. Cm. _om._ 1033. E. temporeel. + +§ 92. Thise almesses shaltow doon of thyne owene propre thinges, and +hastily, and prively if thou mayst; / but nathelees, if thou mayst nat doon +it prively, thou shalt nat forbere to doon almesse though men seen it; so +that it be nat doon for thank of the world, but only for thank of Iesu +Crist. /1035 For as witnesseth Seint Mathew, _capitulo quinto_, ‘A citee +may nat been hid that is set on a montayne; ne men lighte nat a lanterne +and put it under a busshel; but men sette it on a candle-stikke, to yeve +light to the men in the hous. / Right so shal youre light lighten bifore +men, that they may seen youre gode werkes, and glorifie youre fader that is +in hevene.’ / + +§ 93. Now as to speken of bodily peyne, it stant in preyeres, in wakinges, +in fastinges, in vertuouse techinges of orisouns. / And ye shul +understonde, that orisouns or preyeres is for to seyn a pilous wil of +herte, that redresseth it in god and expresseth it by word outward, to +remoeven harmes and to han thinges espirituel and durable, and somtyme +temporel thinges; of whiche orisouns, certes, in the orisoun of the +_Pater-noster_, hath Iesu Crist enclosed most thinges. / Certes, it is +privileged of three thinges in his dignitee, for which it is more digne +than any other preyere; for that Iesu Crist him-self maked it; /1040 and it +is short, for it sholde be coud the more lightly, and for to withholden it +the more esily in herte, and helpen him-self the ofter with the orisoun; / +[641] and for a man sholde be the lasse wery to seyen it, and for a man may +nat excusen him to lerne it, it is so short and so esy; and for it +comprehendeth in it-self alle gode preyeres. / The exposicioun of this holy +preyere, that is so excellent and digne, I bitake to thise maistres of +theologie; save thus muchel wol I seyn: that, whan thou prayest that god +sholde foryeve thee thy giltes as thou foryevest hem that agilten to thee, +be ful wel war that thou be nat out of charitee. / This holy orisoun +amenuseth eek venial sinne; and therfore it aperteneth specially to +penitence. / + + 1039. E. espiritueel; temporele. + +§ 94. This preyere moste be trewely seyd and in verray feith, and that men +preye to god ordinatly and discreetly and devoutly; and alwey a man shal +putten his wil to be subget to the wille of god. /1045 This orisoun moste +eek been seyd with greet humblesse and ful pure; honestly, and nat to the +anoyaunce of any man or womman. It moste eek been continued with the werkes +of charitee. / It avayleth eek agayn the vyces of the soule; for, as seith +seint Ierome, ‘By fastinge been saved the vyces of the flesh, and by +preyere the vyces of the soule.’ / + + 1047. vyces (3)] E. vertues; Cm. vertu. + +§ 95. After this, thou shalt understonde, that bodily peyne stant in +wakinge; for Iesu Crist seith, ‘waketh, and preyeth that ye ne entre in +wikked temptacioun.’ / Ye shul understanden also, that fastinge stant in +three thinges; in forberinge of bodily mete and drinke, and in forberinge +of worldly Iolitee, and in forberinge of deedly sinne; this is to seyn, +that a man shal kepen him fro deedly sinne with al his might. / + +§ 96. And thou shalt understanden eek, that god ordeyned fastinge; and to +fastinge appertenen foure thinges. /1050 Largenesse to povre folk, +gladnesse of herte espirituel, nat to been angry ne anoyed, ne grucche for +he fasteth; and also resonable houre for to ete by mesure; that is for to +seyn, a man shal nat ete in untyme, ne sitte the lenger at his table to ete +for he fasteth. / + + 1051. E. espiritueel. + +§ 97. Thanne shaltow understonde, that bodily peyne stant in disciplyne or +techinge, by word or by wrytinge, or in ensample. Also in weringe of heyres +or of stamin, or of haubergeons on hir naked flesh, for Cristes sake, and +swiche manere penances. / But war thee wel that swiche manere penances on +thy flesh ne make nat thyn herte bitter or angry or anoyed of thy-self; for +bettre is to caste [642] awey thyn heyre, than for to caste away the +sikernesse of Iesu Crist. / And therfore seith seint Paul: ‘Clothe yow, as +they that been chosen of god, in herte of misericorde, debonairetee, +suffraunce, and swich manere of clothinge’; of whiche Iesu Crist is more +apayed than of heyres, or haubergeons, or hauberkes. / + + 1052. or by] E. and by. 1053. nat ... bitter] E. Cm. thee nat. + 1053. sikernesse] Pt. Ln. Hl. swetnesse. + +§ 98. Thanne is disciplyne eek in knokkinge of thy brest, in scourginge +with yerdes, in knelinges, in tribulacions; /1055 in suffringe paciently +wronges that been doon to thee, and eek in pacient suffraunce of maladies, +or lesinge of worldly catel, or of wyf, or of child, or othere freendes. / + +§ 99. Thanne shaltow understonde, whiche thinges destourben penaunce; and +this is in foure maneres, that is, drede, shame, hope, and wanhope, that +is, desperacion. / And for to speke first of drede; for which he weneth +that he may suffre no penaunce; / ther-agayns is remedie for to thinke, +that bodily penaunce is but short and litel at regard of the peyne of +helle, that is so cruel and so long, that it lasteth with-outen ende. / + + 1058. weneth] E. demeth. 1059. E. crueel; peynes. + +§ 100. Now again the shame that a man hath to shryven him, and namely, +thise ypocrites that wolden been holden so parfite that they han no nede to +shryven hem; /1060 agayns that shame, sholde a man thinke that, by wey of +resoun, that he that hath nat been ashamed to doon foule thinges, certes +him oghte nat been ashamed to do faire thinges, and that is confessiouns. / +A man sholde eek thinke, that god seeth and wool alle hise thoghtes and +alle hise werkes; to him may no thing been hid ne covered. / Men sholden +eek remembren hem of the shame that is to come at the day of dome, to hem +that been nat penitent and shriven in this present lyf. / For alle the +creatures in erthe and in helle shullen seen apertly al that they hyden in +this world. / + + 1061. ashamed (1)] E. shamed. + +§ 101. Now for to speken of the hope of hem that been necligent and slowe +to shryven hem, that stant in two maneres. /1065 That oon is, that he +hopeth for to live longe and for to purchacen muche richesse for his delyt, +and thanne he wol shryven him; and, as he seith, him semeth thanne tymely +y-nough to come to shrifte. Another is, surquidrie that he hath in Cristes +mercy. / Agayns the firste vyce, he shal thinke, that oure lyf is in no +sikernesse; and eek that alle the richesses in this world ben in aventure, +and passen as a shadwe on the wal. / And, as seith seint Gregorie, [643] +that it aperteneth to the grete rightwisnesse of god, that nevere shal the +peyne stinte of hem that nevere wolde withdrawen hem fro sinne, hir +thankes, but ay continue in sinne; for thilke perpetuel wil to do sinne +shul they han perpetuel peyne. / + + 1065. E. _om._ the. 1069. E. perpetueel (_twice_). + +§ 102. Wanhope is in two maneres: the firste wanhope is in the mercy of +Crist; that other is that they thinken, that they ne mighte nat longe +persevere in goodnesse. /1070 The firste wanhope comth of that he demeth +that he hath sinned so greetly and so ofte, and so longe leyn in sinne, +that he shal nat be saved. / Certes, agayns that cursed wanhope sholde he +thinke, that the passion of Iesu Crist is more strong for to unbinde than +sinne is strong for to binde. / Agayns the seconde wanhope, he shal thinke, +that as ofte as he falleth he may aryse agayn by penitence. And thogh he +never so longe have leyn in sinne, the mercy of Crist is alwey redy to +receiven him to mercy. / Agayns the wanhope, that he demeth that he sholde +nat longe persevere in goodnesse, he shal thinke, that the feblesse of the +devel may no-thing doon but-if men wol suffren him; / and eek he shal han +strengthe of the help of god, and of al holy chirche, and of the +proteccioun of aungels, if him list. /1075 + +§ 103. Thanne shal men understonde what is the fruit of penaunce; and, +after the word of Iesu Crist, it is the endelees blisse of hevene, / ther +Ioye hath no contrarioustee of wo ne grevaunce, ther alle harmes been +passed of this present lyf; ther-as is the sikernesse fro the peyne of +helle; ther-as is the blisful companye that reioysen hem everemo, everich +of otheres Ioye; / ther-as the body of man, that whylom was foul and derk, +is more cleer than the sonne; ther-as the body, that whylom was syk, +freele, and feble, and mortal, is inmortal, and so strong and so hool that +ther may no-thing apeyren it; / ther-as ne is neither hunger, thurst, ne +cold, but every soule replenissed with the sighte of the parfit knowinge of +god. / This blisful regne may men purchace by poverte espirituel, and the +glorie by lowenesse; the plentee of Ioye by hunger and thurst, and the +reste by travaille; and the lyf by deeth and mortificacion of sinne. /1080 + + 1078. E. fieble. 1080. E. espiritueel; _om._ deeth and. + +[644] =Here taketh the makere of this book his leve.= + +§ 104. Now preye I to hem alle that herkne this litel tretis or rede, that +if ther be any thing in it that lyketh hem, that ther-of they thanken oure +lord Iesu Crist, of whom procedeth al wit and al goodnesse. / And if ther +be any thing that displese hem, I preye hem also that they arrette it to +the defaute of myn unconninge, and nat to my wil, that wolde ful fayn have +seyd bettre if I hadde had conninge. / For oure boke seith, ‘al that is +writen is writen for oure doctrine’; and that is myn entente. / Wherfore I +biseke yow mekely for the mercy of god, that ye preye for me, that Crist +have mercy on me and foryeve me my giltes: / —and namely, of my +translacions and endytinges of worldly vanitees, the whiche I revoke in my +retracciouns: /1085 as is the book of Troilus; The book also of Fame; The +book of the nynetene Ladies; The book of the Duchesse; The book of seint +Valentynes day of the Parlement of Briddes; The tales of Caunterbury, +thilke that sounen in-to sinne; / The book of the Leoun; and many another +book, if they were in my remembrance; and many a song and many a lecherous +lay; that Crist for his grete mercy foryeve me the sinne. / But of the +translacion of Boece de Consolacione, and othere bokes of Legendes of +seintes, and omelies, and moralitee, and devocioun, / that thanke I oure +lord Iesu Crist and his blisful moder, and alle the seintes of hevene; / +bisekinge hem that they from hennes-forth, un-to my lyves ende, sende me +grace to biwayle my giltes, and to studie to the salvacioun of my +soule:—and graunte me grace of verray penitence, confessioun and +satisfaccioun to doon in this present lyf; /1090 thurgh the benigne grace +of him that is king of kinges and preest over alle preestes, that boghte us +with the precious blood of his herte; / so that I may been oon of hem at +the day of dome that shulle be saved: _Qui cum patre, &c._ /1092 + + 1086. E. Pt. xxv; Ln. xv; Hl. 29; _read_ nynetene. + +=Here is ended the book of the Tales of Caunterbury, compiled by Geffrey +Chaucer, of whos soule Iesu Crist have mercy. Amen.= + +[645] + + * * * * * + +APPENDIX TO GROUP A. + +THE TALE OF GAMELYN. + + * * * * * + + Litheth, and lesteneth · and herkeneth aright, + And ye schulle heere a talking · of a doughty knight; + Sire Iohan of Boundys · was his righte name, + He cowde of norture y-nough · and mochil of game. + Thre sones the knight hadde · that with his body he wan; 5 + The eldest was a moche schrewe · and sone he bigan. + His bretheren loved wel here fader · and of him were agast, + The eldest deserved his fadres curs · and had it at the last. + The goode knight his fader · livede so yore, + That deth was comen him to · and handled him ful sore. 10 + The goode knight cared sore · syk ther he lay, + How his children scholde · liven after his day. + He hadde ben wyde-wher · but non housbond he was, + Al the lond that he hadde · it was verrey purchas. + Fayn he wolde it were · dressed among hem alle, 15 + That ech of hem hadde his part · as it mighte falle. + Tho sente he in-to cuntre · after wyse knightes, + To helpe delen his londes · and dressen hem to-rightes. + He sente hem word by lettres · they schulden hye blyve, + If they wolde speke with him · whyl he was on lyve. 20 + + N.B.—Hl.=Harleian MS. no. 7334 (_taken as the foundation of the + text_); Harl.=Harleian MS. no. 1758; Cp.=MS. Corp. Chr. Coll. Oxford; + Ln.=Lansdowne MS. no. 851; Pt.=Petworth MS.; Rl.=MS. Royal 18 c.ii; + Sl.= MS. Sloane, no. 1685. _Note that_ Cp. _and_ Ln. _are next in value + to_ Hl., _and often agree with it as against the rest._ + + 1. Cp. lesteneth; Sl. Ln. listeneth; Hl. lestneth. Cp. herkeneth; Rl. + Sl. herkenyth; Hl. herkneth. 2. Cp. schulle; Ln. schullen; Hl. + schul. Hl. a talkyng; _rest om._ 3. Hl. right; _rest om._; _read_ + righte. 4. Hl. ynough; _rest om._ 5. Cp. hadde; Rl. Sl. Pt. Ln. + had; Hl. _om._ 14. Cp. Rl. hadde; Hl. had (_and in l._ 16). 15. Cp. + Ln. wolde; Hl. wold. Hl. amonges; _rest_ among; _see l._ 36. 16. + Hl. might. 17. Cp. Sl. Rl. Pt. Ln. sente; Hl. sent. _So in l._ 19, + _where the MSS. wrongly have_ sent. + + Tho the knightes herden · syk that he lay, + Hadde they no reste · nother night ne day, + Til they comen to him · ther he lay stille + On his deth-bedde · to abyde goddes wille. + Than seyde the goode knight · syk ther he lay, 25 + ‘Lordes, I you warne · for soth, withoute nay, + I may no lenger liven · heer in this stounde; + [646] + For thurgh goddes wille · deth draweth me to grounde.’ + Ther nas non of hem alle · that herde him aright, + That they ne hadden reuthe · of that ilke knight, 30 + And seyde, ‘sir, for goddes love · ne dismay you nought; + God may do bote of bale · that is now y-wrought.’ + + 21. Hl. ther; _rest_ that. 27. Hl. Cp. lengere; Ln, longer; _rest_ + lenger. 29. Sl. Cp. Ln. herde; Hl. herd. 30. Harl. Pt. ne; _rest + om._ + + Than spak the goode knight · syk ther he lay, + ‘Boote of bale god may sende · I wot it is no nay; + But I byseke you, knightes · for the love of me, 35 + Goth and dresseth my lond · among my sones three. + And sires, for the love of god · deleth hem nat amis, + And forgetith nat Gamelyn · my yonge sone that is. + Taketh heed to that on · as wel as to that other; + Selde ye see ony eyr · helpen his brother.’ 40 + + 36. Hl. thre. 37. Hl. And sires; _rest om._ sires. + + Tho leete they the knight lyen · that was nought in hele, + And wenten in-to counsel · his londes for to dele; + For to delen hem alle · to oon, that was her thought, + And for Gamelyn was yongest · he schulde have nought. + Al the lond that ther was · they dalten it in two, 45 + And leeten Gamelyn the yonge · withoute londe go, + And ech of hem seyde · to other ful lowde, + His bretheren mighte yeve him lond · whan he good cowde. + Whan they hadde deled · the lond at here wille, + They comen ayein to the knight · ther he lay ful stille, 50 + And tolden him anon-right · how they hadden wrought; + And the knight ther he lay · lyked it right nought. + Than seyde the knight · ‘by seynt Martyn, + For al that ye have y-doon · yit is the lond myn; + For goddes love, neyhebours · stondeth alle stille, 55 + And I wil dele my lond · right after my wille. + Iohan, myn eldeste sone · schal have plowes fyve, + That was my fadres heritage · whyl he was on lyve; + And my middeleste sone · fyve plowes of lond, + That I halp for to gete · with my righte hond; 60 + And al myn other purchas · of londes and leedes, + That I biquethe Gamelyn · and alle my goode steedes. + And I biseke yow, goode men · that lawe conne of londe, + For Gamelynes love · that my queste stonde.’ + Thus dalte the knight · his lond by his day, 65 + Right on his deth-bedde · syk ther he lay; + And sone aftirward · he lay stoon-stille, + And deyde whan tyme com · as it was Cristes wille. + [647] + And anon as he was deed · and under gras y-grave, + Sone the elder brother · gyled the yonge knave; 70 + He took into his hond · his lond and his leede, + And Gamelyn himselfe · to clothen and to feede. + He clothed him and fedde him · yvel and eek wrothe, + And leet his londes for-fare · and his houses bothe, + His parkes and his woodes · and dede nothing wel; 75 + And seththen he it aboughte · on his faire fel. + So longe was Gamelyn · in his brotheres halle, + For the strengest, of good wil · they doutiden him alle; + Ther was non ther-inne · nowther yong ne old, + That wolde wraththe Gamelyn · were he never so bold. 80 + Gamelyn stood on a day · in his brotheres yerde, + And bigan with his hond · to handlen his berde; + He thoughte on his londes · that layen unsawe, + And his faire okes · that down were y-drawe; + His parkes were y-broken · and his deer bireved; 85 + Of alle his goode steedes · noon was him bileved; + His howses were unhiled · and ful yvel dight; + Tho thoughte Gamelyn · it wente nought aright. + Afterward cam his brother · walkinge thare, + And seyde to Gamelyn · ‘is our mete yare?’ 90 + Tho wraththed him Gamelyn · and swor by goddes book, + ‘Thou schalt go bake thy-self · I wil nought be thy cook!’ + ‘How? brother Gamelyn · how answerest thou now? + Thou spake never such a word · as thou dost now.’ + ‘By my faith,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘now me thinketh neede, 95 + Of alle the harmes that I have · I tok never ar heede. + My parkes ben to-broken · and my deer bireved, + Of myn armure and my steedes · nought is me bileved; + Al that my fader me biquath · al goth to schame, + And therfor have thou goddes curs · brother by thy name!’ 100 + Than bispak his brother · that rape was of rees, + ‘Stond stille, gadeling · and hold right thy pees; + Thou schalt be fayn for to have · thy mete and thy wede; + What spekest thou, Gamelyn · of lond other of leede?’ + Thanne seyde Gamelyn · the child that was ying, 105 + ‘Cristes curs mot he have · that clepeth me gadeling! + I am no worse gadeling · ne no worse wight, + But born of a lady · and geten of a knight.’ + Ne durste he nat to Gamelyn · ner a-foote go, + But clepide to him his men · and seyde to hem tho, 110 + [648] + ‘Goth and beteth this boy · and reveth him his wit, + And lat him lerne another tyme · to answere me bet.’ + Thanne seyde the child · yonge Gamelyn, + ‘Cristes curs mot thou have · brother art thou myn! + And if I schal algate · be beten anon, 115 + Cristes curs mot thou have · but thou be that oon!’ + And anon his brother · in that grete hete + Made his men to fette staves · Gamelyn to bete. + Whan that everich of hem · a staf hadde y-nome, + Gamelyn was war anon · tho he seigh hem come; 120 + Tho Gamelyn seigh hem come · he loked over-al, + And was war of a pestel · stood under a wal; + Gamelyn was light of foot · and thider gan he lepe, + And drof alle his brotheres men · right on an hepe. + He loked as a wilde lyoun · and leyde on good woon; 125 + Tho his brother say that · he bigan to goon; + He fley up in-til a loft · and schette the dore fast; + Thus Gamelyn with the pestel · made hem alle agast. + Some for Gamelynes love · and some for his eye, + Alle they drowe by halves · tho he gan to pleye. 130 + ‘What! how now?’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘evel mot ye thee! + Wil ye biginne contek · and so sone flee?’ + Gamelyn soughte his brother · whider he was flowe, + And saugh wher he loked · out at a windowe. + ‘Brother,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘com a litel ner, 135 + And I wil teche thee a play · atte bokeler.’ + His brother him answerde · and swor by seynt Richer, + ‘Whyl the pestel is in thin hond · I wil come no neer: + Brother, I wil make thy pees · I swere by Cristes ore; + Cast away the pestel · and wraththe thee no-more.’ 140 + ‘I mot neede,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘wraththe me at oones, + For thou wolde make thy men · to breke myne boones, + Ne hadde I had mayn · and might in myn armes, + To have y-put hem fro me · they wolde have do me harmes.’ + ‘Gamelyn,’ sayde his brother · ‘be thou nought wroth, 145 + For to seen thee have harm · it were me right loth; + I ne dide it nought, brother · but for a fonding, + For to loken if thou were strong · and art so ying.’ + ‘Com a-doun than to me · and graunte me my bone + Of thing I wil thee aske · and we schul saughte sone.’ 150 + Doun than cam his brother · that fikil was and fel, + [649] + And was swithe sore · agast of the pestel. + He seyde, ‘brother Gamelyn · aske me thy boone, + And loke thou me blame · but I graunte sone.’ + Thanne seyde Gamelyn · ‘brother, y-wis, 155 + And we schulle ben at oon · thou most me graunte this: + Al that my fader me biquath · whyl he was on lyve, + Thou most do me it have · yif we schul nat stryve.’ + ‘That schalt thou have, Gamelyn · I swere by Cristes ore! + Al that thy fader thee biquath · though thou woldest have more; 160 + Thy lond, that lyth laye · ful wel it schal be sowe, + And thyn howses reysed up · that ben leyd so lowe.’ + Thus seyde the knight · to Gamelyn with mowthe, + And thoughte eek of falsnes · as he wel couthe. + The knight thoughte on tresoun · and Gamelyn on noon, 165 + And wente and kiste his brother · and, whan they were at oon, + Allas! yonge Gamelyn · nothing he ne wiste + With which a false tresoun · his brother him kiste! + + 44. Hl. schuld; Cp. scholde. 46. Pt. londe; Ln. lande; _rest_ lond. + 48. Hl. might; _read_ mighte. 50. Hl. come aȝein; _rest omit_ + aȝein, _and read_ comen, camen, co_m_men. 51. Hl. anon right; + _rest_ anon, anoon. 56. Hl. Pt. _om._ right. 59. Hl. fyf; _rest_ + fyue; _see l._ 57. 60. _Read_ righte; _MSS_. right. 61. Ln. and of + ledes. 64. Cp. bequeste. 66. Hl. bed; Cp. bedde; _see l_. 24. 69. + Hl. And anon; _rest om._ And. 71. Hl. as his (_for_ and his). 73. + Hl. fed; _rest_ fedde. 76. Cp. aboughte; Ln. abouhte; _rest_ abought, + abowght. 79, 80. Rl. Sl. old, bold; _rest_ olde, bolde. 83. Ln. + þouhte; _rest om. the final_ e; _see l_. 88. 85. Hl. byreeued; _rest + om._ by-. 103. Rl. Sl. Pt. Harl. _om._ for. 109. Hl. durst; Cp. + durste; Ln. dorste. 112. Cp. lere; Hl. Ln. leren; _rest_ lerne. + 119. Hl. a staf had; _rest_ hadde (had) a staf. 120. Hl. anon; _rest + om._ 121. Hl. seyh. 123. Hl. of foot; _rest om._ 124. Hl. Ln. on; + _rest_ sone on. 128. Hl. the; _rest_ his. 129, 130. Hl. eyȝe, + pleyȝe; _rest_ eye, pleye. 131. Hl. how; _rest om._ 133. MSS. + _omit final_ e _in_ soughte. 137. Hl. Rycher. 138. Hl. Whil. 140, + 146, 150, &c. Hl. the. 143. Cp. hadde I had; Hl. had I hadde. 144. + Hl. he; _rest_ thei. 148. Harl. Ln. if; Pt. wher; _rest_ or. 150. + Hl. Cp. Ln. Of; Harl. Of oo; Rl. Of a; Sl. Of o; Pt. Of oon. 151, + 152. Ln. fel, pestel; _rest_ felle, pestelle. 154. Hl. I; _rest_ I + it. 157. Hl. whil. 161. Hl. Cp. laye; Rl. leie; Sl. leye; Pt. Ln. + ley. 164. Cp. þoughte; _rest om. final_ e. Hl. eek; _rest om._ + Hl. Cp. Ln. of; _rest_ on. 165. _For_ knight, Hl. _wrongly has_ + king. MSS. _omit_ e _in_ thoughte. 166. Pt. Harl. wente; _rest_ + went. Hl. kist; _rest_ kissed; _see l._ 168. + + Litheth, and lesteneth · and holdeth your tonge, + And ye schul heere talking · of Gamelyn the yonge. 170 + Ther was ther bisyden · cryed a wrastling, + And therfor ther was set up · a ram and a ring; + And Gamelyn was in good wil · to wende therto, + For to preven his might · what he cowthe do. + ‘Brother,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘by seynt Richer, 175 + Thou most lene me to-night · a litel courser + That is freisch to the spore · on for to ryde; + I most on an erande · a litel her bisyde.’ + ‘By god!’ seyde his brother · ‘of steedes in my stalle + Go and chese thee the best · and spare non of alle 180 + Of steedes or of coursers · that stonden hem bisyde; + And tel me, goode brother · whider thou wolt ryde.’ + + 169. Rl. lysteneth; Cp. lesteneth; Pt. listeneth; Hl. lestneth. 171. + Hl. wrastlyng; Cp. wrasteling; Rl. wrastelynge; Pt. wrastelinge. 172. + Hl. sette (_wrongly_); _see l._ 184. 173. Hl. good wil; Ln. wil; + _rest_ wille. 177. Hl. Pt. spore; _rest_ spores. 178. Hl. byside; + _so in_ 183. 179. Hl. seyd; _rest have final_ e. 180. Hl. the + the. 181. _For_ coursers, Hl. _wrongly has_ course. + + ‘Her bisyde, brother · is cryed a wrastling, + And therfor schal be set up · a ram and a ring; + Moche worschip it were · brother, to us alle, 185 + Might I the ram and the ring · bring home to this halle.’ + A steede ther was sadeled · smertely and skeet; + Gamelyn did a paire spores · fast on his feet. + He sette his foot in the styrop · the steede he bistrood, + [650] + And toward the wrasteling · the yonge child rood. 190 + Tho Gamelyn the yonge · was ride out at the gat, + The false knight his brother · lokked it after that, + And bisoughte Iesu Crist · that is heven king, + He mighte breke his nekke · in that wrasteling. + As sone as Gamelyn com · ther the place was, 195 + He lighte doun of his steede · and stood on the gras, + And ther he herd a frankeleyn · wayloway singe, + And bigan bitterly · his hondes for to wringe. + ‘Goode man,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘why makestow this fare? + Is ther no man that may · you helpe out of this care?’ 200 + ‘Allas!’ seyde this frankeleyn · ‘that ever was I bore! + For tweye stalworthe sones · I wene that I have lore; + A champioun is in the place · that hath y-wrought me sorwe, + For he hath slayn my two sones · but-if god hem borwe. + I wold yeve ten pound · by Iesu Crist! and more, 205 + With the nones I fand a man · to handelen him sore.’ + ‘Goode man,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘wilt thou wel doon, + Hold myn hors, whyl my man · draweth of my schoon, + And help my man to kepe · my clothes and my steede, + And I wil into place go · to loke if I may speede.’ 210 + ‘By god!’ sayde the frankeleyn · ‘anon it schal be doon; + I wil my-self be thy man · and drawen of thy schoon, + And wende thou into the place · Iesu Crist thee speede, + And drede not of thy clothes · nor of thy goode steede.’ + + 183. Pt. wrasteling; Ln. warsteling; _rest_ wrastlyng, wrastlynge. + 184. Hl. vp; _rest om._ 189. Hl. set; Ln. sete; _rest_ sette. Hl. + _om. 1st_ the. 191. Hl. ride; _rest_ riden, reden. Hl. Ln. at the; + Cp. Pt. atte; _rest_ at. _All_ gate (_wrongly_); _and_ thate (_for_ + that) _in next line_. 192. Cp. Ln. false: _rest_ fals. 194. Pt. + wrestelinge; _rest_ wrastlyng, wrastlinge, wrestlinge. 197, 198. Hl. + syng, wryng. 206. Cp. handelen; Hl. handil. 211. Hl. anon; _rest + om._ 213. Hl. Cp. Ln. the place; _rest om._ the. Hl. the. + + Barfoot and ungert · Gamelyn in cam, 215 + Alle that weren in the place · heede of him they nam, + How he durste auntre him · of him to doon his might + That was so doughty champioun · in wrastling and in fight. + Up sterte the champioun · rapely and anoon, + Toward yonge Gamelyn · he bigan to goon, 220 + And sayde, ‘who is thy fader · and who is thy sire? + For sothe thou art a gret fool · that thou come hire!’ + Gamelyn answerde · the champioun tho, + ‘Thou knewe wel my fader · whyl he couthe go, + Whyles he was on lyve · by seint Martyn! 225 + Sir Iohan of Boundys was his name · and I Gamelyn.’ + ‘Felaw,’ seyde the champioun · ‘al-so mot I thryve, + I knew wel thy fader · whyl he was on lyve; + And thyself, Gamelyn · I wil that thou it heere, + [651] + Whyl thou were a yong boy · a moche schrewe thou were.’ 230 + Than seyde Gamelyn · and swor by Cristes ore, + ‘Now I am older woxe · thou schalt me finde a more!’ + ‘By god!’ sayde the champioun · ‘welcome mote thou be! + Come thou ones in myn hond · schalt thou never thee.’ + It was wel withinne the night · and the moone schon, 235 + Whan Gamelyn and the champioun · togider gonne goon. + The champioun caste tornes · to Gamelyn that was prest, + And Gamelyn stood stille · and bad him doon his best. + Thanne seyde Gamelyn · to the champioun, + ‘Thou art faste aboute · to bringe me adoun; 240 + Now I have y-proved · many tornes of thyne, + Thow most,’ he seyde, ‘proven · on or two of myne.’ + Gamelyn to the champioun · yede smertely anon, + Of all the tornes that he cowthe · he schewed him but oon, + And caste him on the lefte syde · that three ribbes to-brak, 245 + And ther-to his oon arm · that yaf a gret crak. + Thanne seyde Gamelyn · smertely anoon, + ‘Schal it be holde for a cast · or elles for noon?’ + ‘By god!’ seyde the champioun · ‘whether that it be, + He that cometh ones in thin hand · schal he never thee!’ 250 + Than seyde the frankeleyn · that had his sones there, + ‘Blessed be thou, Gamelyn · that ever thou bore were!’ + The frankeleyn seyde to the champioun · of him stood him noon eye, + ‘This is yonge Gamelyn · that taughte thee this pleye.’ + Agein answerd the champioun · that lyked nothing wel, 255 + ‘He is a lither mayster · and his pley is right fel; + Sith I wrastled first · it is y-go ful yore, + But I was nevere in my lyf · handeled so sore.’ + Gamelyn stood in the place · allone withoute serk, + And seyde, ‘if ther be eny mo · lat hem come to werk; 260 + The champioun that peyned him · to werke so sore, + It semeth by his continaunce · that he wil no-more.’ + Gamelyn in the place · stood as stille as stoon, + For to abyde wrasteling · but ther com noon; + Ther was noon with Gamelyn · wolde wrastle more, 265 + For he handled the champioun · so wonderly sore. + Two gentil-men ther were · that yemede the place, + Comen to Gamelyn · (god yeve him goode grace!) + And sayde to him, ‘do on · thyn hosen and thy schoon, + [652] + For sothe at this tyme · this feire is y-doon.’ 270 + And than seyde Gamelyn · ‘so mot I wel fare, + I have nought yet halven-del · sold up my ware.’ + Tho seyde the champioun · ‘so brouke I my sweere, + He is a fool that ther-of byeth · thou sellest it so deere.’ + Tho sayde the frankeleyn · that was in moche care, 275 + ‘Felaw,’ he seyde · ‘why lakkest thou his ware? + By seynt Iame in Galys · that many man hath sought, + Yet it is to good cheep · that thou hast y-bought.’ + Tho that wardeynes were · of that wrasteling + Come and broughte Gamelyn · the ram and the ring, 280 + And seyden, ‘have, Gamelyn · the ring and the ram, + For the beste wrasteler · that ever here cam.’ + Thus wan Gamelyn · the ram and the ring, + And wente with moche Ioye · home in the morning. + His brother seih wher he cam · with the grete rowte, 285 + And bad schitte the gate · and holde him withoute. + The porter of his lord · was ful sore agast, + And sterte anon to the gate · and lokked it fast. + + 217. Hl. Pt. durst; _rest_ durste, dorste. 218. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ + a _bef_. champioun. 219. Hl. raply and; _rest_ rapely (_omitting_ + and). 222. Rl. Harl. Sl. here. 224, 225. Hl. whil, Whiles. 227. + Hl. al; _rest om._ 232. Hl. fynd; _rest_ fynde, finde. 234. Hl. + the. 236. Hl. gon to; Cp. Ln. gonne; _rest_ gon. 242. Hl. tuo. + 243. Hl. Ln. smartly; Rl. Pt. smertely; _see l._ 187. 245. _All_ kast + _or_ kest. _All_ left, lift; _read_ lefte. Hl. thre. 247. Hl. + smertly; _see l._ 243. 249, 253, 260. Hl. seyd; _rest have final_ + e. 250. Hl. Ln. comes; _rest_ cometh; _read it as_ comth. 254. Hl. + the. 255. Hl. well_e_. 256. Hl. a lither; Cp. oure alther; _rest_ + alther. _For_ fel, _all have_ felle _or_ fell_e_. 258. Hl. Cp. Ln. + my; _rest_ in my. Rl. Pt. Ln. handeled; Hl. Sl. Cp. handled. 260. + Hl. eny; _rest om._ 267. ther were that] Pt. that; _rest om._ 273. + H. brouk; Cp. Ln. brouke; Pt. broke. 274. Hl. beyeth; _rest_ byeth, + bieth. 279. Pt. wrasteling; Ln. warstelinge; Rl. wrastlinge; _rest_ + wrastlyng. 282. Cp. beste; Hl. Ln. best; _rest om. ll._ 281, 282. + 287. Hl. ful; _rest om._ 288. Rl. Harl. sterte; _rest_ stert. + + Now litheth, and lesteneth · bothe yonge and olde, + And ye schul heere gamen · of Gamelyn the bolde. 290 + Gamelyn come ther-to · for to have comen in, + And thanne was it y-schet · faste with a pin; + Than seyde Gamelyn · ‘porter, undo the yat, + For many good mannes sone · stondeth ther-at.’ + Than answerd the porter · and swor by goddes berde, 295 + ‘Thow ne schalt, Gamelyn · come into this yerde.’ + ‘Thow lixt,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘so browke I my chin!’ + He smot the wiket with his foot · and brak awey the pin. + The porter seyh tho · it might no better be, + He sette foot on erthe · and bigan to flee. 300 + ‘By my faith,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘that travail is y-lore, + For I am of foot as light as thou · though thou haddest swore.’ + Gamelyn overtook the porter · and his teene wrak, + And gerte him in the nekke · that the bon to-brak, + And took him by that oon arm · and threw him in a welle, 305 + Seven fadmen it was deep · as I have herd telle. + Whan Gamelyn the yonge · thus hadde pleyd his play, + Alle that in the yerde were · drewen hem away; + They dredden him ful sore · for werkes that he wroughte, + And for the faire company · that he thider broughte. 310 + [653] + Gamelyn yede to the gate · and leet it up wyde; + He leet in alle maner men · that gon in wolde or ryde, + And seyde, ‘ye be welcome · withouten eny greeve, + For we wiln be maistres heer · and aske no man leve. + Yestirday I lefte’ · seyde yonge Gamelyn, 315 + ‘In my brother seller · fyve tonne of wyn; + I wil not that this compaignye · parten a-twinne, + And ye wil doon after me · whyl eny sope is thrinne, + And if my brother grucche · or make foul cheere, + Other for spense of mete or drink · that we spenden heere, 320 + I am oure catour · and bere oure aller purs, + He schal have for his grucching · seint Maries curs. + My brother is a niggoun · I swer by Cristes ore, + And we wil spende largely · that he hath spared yore; + And who that maketh grucching · that we here dwelle, 325 + He schal to the porter · into the draw-welle.’ + Seven dayes and seven night · Gamelyn held his feste, + With moche mirth and solas · that was ther, and no cheste; + In a little toret · his brother lay y-steke, + And sey hem wasten his good · but durste he not speke. 330 + Erly on a morning · on the eighte day, + The gestes come to Gamelyn · and wolde gon here way. + ‘Lordes,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘wil ye so hyë? + Al the wyn is not yet dronke · so brouke I myn yë.’ + Gamelyn in his herte · was he ful wo, 335 + Whan his gestes took her leve · from him for to go; + He wolde they had lenger abide · and they seyde ‘nay,’ + But bitaughte Gamelyn · god, and good day. + Thus made Gamelyn his feest · and broughte it wel to ende, + And after his gestes · toke leve to wende. 340 + + 289. Hl. lestneth; Pt. listneþ; _rest_ lesteneth, listenythe, + listeneth, lysteneyth. Pt. Ln. ȝonge; _rest_ yong, ȝong. + 293. _All_ yate, gate; _and in the next line_ ther-ate. 295. Hl. + berd. 300. and] Hl. Cp. he. 304. Hl. Cp. gert; _rest_ girt. 306. + Hl. Cp. fadmen; Pt. fadme; Rl. Sl. fadame; Ln. faþem; Harl. fadome. + 312. Hl. maner men; _rest om._ Hl. _has 2nd_ in; _rest om._ Hl. Rl. + Pt. wold; Cp. Ln. wolde. 317. Hl. that; _rest om._ 318. Hl. while. + Hl. thrynne; Cp. thrinne; Sl. Pt. þ_er_-inne; Ln. þ_e_re-inne. 323. + Hl. nyggou_n_; Rl. Sl. nygon; Pt. nigon; Cp. Ln. negon. 328. Hl. + myrth and; _rest om._ Hl. that was; _rest om._ that (_as being + understood_). 330. Hl. Cp. durst; _rest_ dorst. 334. Hl. y-dronke; + _rest omit_ y-. Pt. Ln. brouke; Rl. browke; Hl. brouk. 335. Hl. he; + _rest om._ 337. Hl. wold. Hl. lenger abide; _rest_ dwelled + lenger. 339. Pt. feest; Hl. fest. MSS. brought, broght. 340. Hl. + gestys; _see l._ 336. Hl. took; Ln. had take; Cp. tok_e_; Sl. to + (_sic_); _rest_ toke. + + Litheth, and lesteneth · and holdeth youre tonge, + And ye schul heere gamen · of Gamelyn the yonge; + Herkeneth, lordinges · and lesteneth aright, + Whan alle gestes were goon · how Gamelyn was dight. + Al the whyl that Gamelyn · heeld his mangerye, 345 + His brother thoughte on him be wreke · with his treccherye. + Tho Gamelyns gestes · were riden and y-goon, + Gamelyn stood allone · frendes had he noon; + Tho after ful soone · withinne a litel stounde, + [654] + Gamelyn was y-taken · and ful harde y-bounde. 350 + Forth com the false knight · out of the soleer, + To Gamelyn his brother · he yede ful neer, + And sayde to Gamelyn · ‘who made thee so bold + For to stroye my stoor · of myn houshold?’ + ‘Brother,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘wraththe thee right nought, 355 + For it is many day y-gon · siththen it was bought; + For, brother, thou hast y-had · by seynt Richer, + Of fiftene plowes of lond · this sixtene yer, + And of alle the beestes · thou hast forth bred, + That my fader me biquath · on his deth-bed; 360 + Of al this sixtene yeer · I yeve thee the prow, + For the mete and the drink · that we have spended now.’ + Thanne seyde the false knight · (evel mot he thee!) + ‘Herkne, brother Gamelyn · what I wol yeve thee; + For of my body, brother · heir geten have I noon, 365 + I wil make thee myn heir · I swere by seint Iohan.’ + ‘_Par ma foy!_’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘and if it so be, + And thou thenke as thou seyst · god yelde it thee!’ + Nothing wiste Gamelyn · of his brotheres gyle; + Therfore he him bigyled · in a litel whyle. 370 + ‘Gamelyn,’ seyde he · ‘o thing I thee telle; + Tho thou threwe my porter · in the draw-welle, + I swor in that wraththe · and in that grete moot, + That thou schuldest be bounde · bothe hand and foot; + Therfore I thee biseche · brother Gamelyn, 375 + Lat me nought be forsworen · brother art thou myn; + Lat me binde thee now · bothe hand and feet, + For to holde myn avow · as I thee biheet.’ + ‘Brother,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘al-so mot I thee! + Thou schalt not be forsworen · for the love of me.’ 380 + Tho made they Gamelyn to sitte · mighte he nat stonde, + Til they hadde him bounde · bothe foot and honde. + The false knight his brother · of Gamelyn was agast, + And sente aftir feteres · to feteren him fast. + His brother made lesinges · on him ther he stood, 385 + And tolde hem that comen in · that Gamelyn was wood. + Gamelyn stood to a post · bounden in the halle, + Tho that comen in ther · lokede on him alle. + Ever stood Gamelyn · even upright; + [655] + But mete ne drink had he non · neither day ne night. 390 + Than seyde Gamelyn · ‘brother, by myn hals, + Now I have aspyed · thou art a party fals; + Had I wist that tresoun · that thou haddest y-founde, + I wolde have yeve thee strokes · or I had be bounde!’ + Gamelyn stood bounden · stille as eny stoon; 395 + Two dayes and two nightes · mete had he noon. + Thanne seyde Gamelyn · that stood y-bounde stronge, + ‘Adam spenser · me thinkth I faste to longe; + Adam spenser · now I byseche thee, + For the mochel love · my fader loved thee, 400 + If thou may come to the keyes · lese me out of bond, + And I wil parte with thee · of my free lond.’ + Thanne seyde Adam · that was the spencer, + ‘I have served thy brother · this sixtene yeer, + If I leete thee goon · out of his bour, 405 + He wolde say afterward · I were a traytour.’ + ‘Adam,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘so brouke I myn hals! + Thou schalt finde my brother · atte laste fals; + Therfor, brother Adam · louse me out of bond, + And I wil parte with thee · of my free lond.’ 410 + ‘Up swich a forward’ · seyde Adam, ‘y-wis, + I wil do therto · al that in me is.’ + ‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘al-so mot I thee, + I wol holde thee covenant · and thou wil me.’ + Anon as Adames lord · to bedde was y-goon, 415 + Adam took the keyes, and leet · Gamelyn out anoon; + He unlokked Gamelyn · bothe handes and feet, + In hope of avauncement · that he him biheet. + Than seyde Gamelyn · ‘thanked be goddes sonde! + Now I am loosed · bothe foot and honde; 420 + Had I now eten · and dronken aright, + Ther is noon in this hous · schulde binde me this night.’ + Adam took Gamelyn · as stille as ony stoon, + And ladde him in-to spence · rapely and anon, + And sette him to soper · right in a privee stede, 425 + He bad him do gladly · and Gamelyn so dede. + Anon as Gamelyn hadde · eten wel and fyn, + And therto y-dronke wel · of the rede wyn, + ‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘what is now thy reed? + Wher I go to my brother · and girde of his heed?’ 430 + ‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘it schal not be so. + I can teche thee a reed · that is worth the two. + [656] + I wot wel for sothe · that this is no nay, + We schul have a mangery · right on Soneday; + Abbotes and priours · many heer schal be, 435 + And other men of holy chirche · as I telle thee; + Thow schalt stonde up by the post · as thou were hond-fast, + And I schal leve hem unloke · awey thou may hem cast. + Whan that they have eten · and wasschen here hondes, + Thou schalt biseke hem alle · to bring thee out of bondes; 440 + And if they wille borwe thee · that were good game, + Then were thou out of prisoun · and I out of blame; + And if everich of hem · say unto us ‘nay,’ + I schal do an other · I swere by this day! + Thou schalt have a good staf · and I wil have another, 445 + And Cristes curs have that oon · that faileth that other!’ + ‘Ye, for gode!’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘I say it for me, + If I fayle on my syde · yvel mot I thee! + If we schul algate · assoile hem of here sinne, + Warne me, brother Adam · whan I schal biginne.’ 450 + ‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘by seynte Charite, + I wil warne thee biforn · whan that it schal be; + Whan I twinke on thee · loke for to goon, + And cast awey the feteres · and com to me anoon.’ + ‘Adam,’ seide Gamelyn · ‘blessed be thy bones! 455 + That is a good counseil · yeven for the nones; + If they werne me thanne · to bringe me out of bendes, + I wol sette goode strokes · right on here lendes.’ + + 341. Hl. lestneth; Pt. listen; _rest_ lesteneth, listenyth. 343. Hl. + herkneth; _rest_ Herkeneth, Herkenyth, Harkeneth. 346. MSS. + thought. 350. Hl. I-take; _rest_ taken. Cp. Ln. harde; _rest_ + hard. 351. Cp. Rl. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. Hl. selleer; Cp. + sellere; Ln. selere; _rest_ solere (_rightly; cf._ toret _in l_. + 329). 360. Pt. dethes; _rest_ deth; _see l_. 24. 363. Rl. Sl. Cp. + Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 365. Hl. Cp. Ln. geten heir (heer, here); + _rest_ heir (heire, here) geten. 367. Hl. sayd; _rest have final_ + e. 376. Hl. forsworn; _but see l._ 380. 381. Hl. might; _read_ + mighte; _rest vary_. 382. Sl. Ln. hadde; Cp. hadden; _rest_ had, + hadd. 383. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 384. Cp. sente; Sl. sende; + _rest_ sent. 386. Hl. Rl. told; Ln. tolden; _rest_ tolde. 388. Hl. + ther; _rest om._ Cp. lokeden; _rest_ loked; _read_ lokede. 394. Hl. + the; _rest om._ 400, 405, 432. _All_ the (_for_ thee). 407. Hl. + brouk; Cp. Pt. Ln. brouke. 414. Hl. Sl. hold; _rest_ holde, halde. + _After_ wil Cp. _ins._ lose, _and_ Harl. helpe. 417. Hl. hand; Cp. + handes; _rest_ hondes. 424. Hl. Cp. rapely and; _rest om._ and. + 430. Hl. Wher; Ln. Where; Cp. For; _rest_ Or. 434. Ln. sonondaye; Hl. + _and rest_ sonday; _read_ sonnenday _or_ soneday. 437. Pt. Ln. Harl. + bound fast; _rest_ hond-fast (_rightly_). 438. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ + that _bef_. awey. 439. Hl. waisschen; _rest_ wasschen, wasshen. + 443. Hl. vnto; _rest_ to. 450. Hl. I; _rest_ we. 453. Ln. twynke; + Hl. Cp. twynk; _rest_ wynke, winke, wynk. 456. Hl. ȝeuyng; Cp. + yeuyng; _rest_ yeuen, ȝeuen, or ȝiuen. 457. Hl. thanne; _rest + om._ + + Tho the Sonday was y-come · and folk to the feste, + Faire they were welcomed · both leste and meste; 460 + And ever atte halle-dore · as they comen in, + They caste their eye · on yonge Gamelyn. + The false knight his brother · ful of trechery, + Alle the gestes that ther were · atte mangery, + Of Gamelyn his brother · he tolde hem with mouthe 465 + Al the harm and the schame · that he telle couthe. + Tho they were served · of messes two or three, + Than seyde Gamelyn · ‘how serve ye me? + It is nought wel served · by god that al made! + That I sitte fasting · and other men make glade.’ 470 + The false knight his brother · ther that he stood, + Tolde alle his gestes · that Gamelyn was wood; + [657] + And Gamelyn stood stille · and answerde nought, + But Adames wordes · he held in his thought. + Tho Gamelyn gan speke · dolfully with-alle 475 + To the grete lordes · that saten in the halle: + ‘Lordes,’ he seyde · ‘for Cristes passioun, + Helpeth bringe Gamelyn · out of prisoun.’ + Than seyde an abbot · sorwe on his cheeke! + ‘He schal have Cristes curs · and seynte Maries eeke, 480 + That thee out of prisoun · beggeth other borwe, + But ever worthe hem wel · that doth thee moche sorwe.’ + After that abbot · than spak another, + ‘I wold thin heed were of · though thou were my brother! + Alle that thee borwe · foule mot hem falle!’ 485 + Thus they seyden alle · that weren in the halle. + Than seyde a priour · yvel mot he thryve! + ‘It is moche scathe, boy · that thou art on lyve.’ + ‘Ow!’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so brouke I my bon! + Now I have aspyed · that freendes have I non. 490 + Cursed mot he worthe · bothe fleisch and blood, + That ever do priour · or abbot ony good!’ + Adam the spencer · took up the cloth, + And loked on Gamelyn · and say that he was wroth; + Adam on the pantrye · litel he thoughte, 495 + But two goode staves · to halle-dore he broughte, + Adam loked on Gamelyn · and he was war anoon, + And caste awey the feteres · and he bigan to goon: + Tho he com to Adam · he took that oo staf, + And bigan to worche · and goode strokes yaf. 500 + Gamelyn cam in-to the halle · and the spencer bothe, + And loked hem aboute · as they had be wrothe; + Gamelyn sprengeth holy-water · with an oken spire, + That some that stoode upright · fellen in the fire. + There was no lewed man · that in the halle stood, 505 + That wolde do Gamelyn · eny thing but good, + But stood bisyden · and leet hem bothe werche, + For they hadde no rewthe · of men of holy cherche; + Abbot or priour · monk or chanoun, + That Gamelyn overtok · anon they yeeden doun. 510 + Ther was non of hem alle · that with his staf mette, + That he ne made him overthrowe · and quitte him his dette. + ‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘for seynte Charite, + Pay large liverey · for the love of me, + [658] + And I wil kepe the dore · so ever here I masse! 515 + Er they ben assoyled · there shal noon passe.’ + ‘Dowt thee nought,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘whyl we ben in-feere, + Kep thou wel the dore · and I wol werche heere; + Stere thee, good Adam · and lat ther noon flee, + And we schul telle largely · how many that ther be.’ 520 + ‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘do hem but good; + They ben men of holy chirche · draw of hem no blood, + Save wel the croune · and do hem non harmes, + But brek bothe her legges · and siththen here armes.’ + Thus Gamelyn and Adam · wroughte right fast, 525 + And pleyden with the monkes · and made hem agast. + Thider they come ryding · Iolily with swaynes, + And hom ayen they were y-lad · in cartes and in waynes. + Tho they hadden al y-don · than seyde a gray frere, + ‘Allas! sire abbot · what dide we now heere? 530 + Tho that we comen hider · it was a cold reed, + Us hadde ben better at home · with water and with breed.’ + Whyl Gamelyn made ordres · of monkes and frere, + Ever stood his brother · and made foul chere; + Gamelyn up with his staf · that he wel knew, 535 + And gerte him in the nekke · that he overthrew; + A litel above the girdel · the rigge-bon to-barst; + And sette him in the feteres · ther he sat arst. + ‘Sitte ther, brother’ · sayde Gamelyn, + ‘For to colen thy blood · as I dide myn.’ 540 + As swithe as they hadde · y-wroken hem on here foon, + They askeden watir · and wisschen anoon, + What some for here love · and some for here awe, + Alle the servants served hem · of the beste lawe. + The scherreve was thennes · but a fyve myle, 545 + And al was y-told him · in a litel whyle, + How Gamelyn and Adam · had doon a sory rees, + Bounden and y-wounded men · ayein the kinges pees; + Tho bigan sone · stryf for to wake, + And the scherref was aboute · Gamelyn for to take. 550 + + 460. Hl. lest; Cp. leste. 461. _This is_ Zupitza’s _emendation_; MSS. + as they atte halle dore comen in. 463. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. + 464. Hl. wer; _rest_ were. 467. or] Hl. other. 471. Ln. false; + _rest_ fals. 478. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ to _bef._ bringe. 486. Hl. + seyde; Pt. Ln. Harl. seiden. Hl. were; Cp. Ln. weren. 488. _All + but_ Hl. _ins._ sorwe and _bef._ scathe. 489. Hl. brouk; _rest_ + brouke, browke, broke. 495, 496. MSS. thought, brought; _against + grammar_. 498. Ln. keste; _rest_ cast. 504. Ln. fellen; _rest_ + felle, fell. 505. Hl. lewede; Pt. Ln. lewe; _rest_ lewed, lewid. + 507. Hl. besyde; Rl. by-siden; Sl. bisiden; Cp. besyden. 512. Pt. Ln. + ne; _rest_ om. Hl. him; _rest_ hem (_twice_). Sl. Cp. quitte; Hl. + quyt. 516. Hl. schan; _rest_ shal, schal. 520. Hl. Cp. Ln. _om._ + that. 531. Hl. _om._ we. 532. Hl. Pt. Ln. _omit second_ with. + 536. Cp. gerte; _rest_ gert, girt, gerd. 540. Hl. colyn; Cp. coole; + Ln. coly; _rest_ colen 543. Rl. Sl. Pt. Harl. _insert_ her (here) + _before_ awe; Hl. Cp. Ln. _omit_. 545. Hl. a; _rest om._ 550. _I + supply_ was; _the two_ Cambridge MSS. _have_ come; _which the rest + omit; see ll._ 240, 785. + + Now lytheth and lesteneth · so god yif you good fyn! + And ye schul heere good game · of yonge Gamelyn. + Four and twenty yonge men · that heelden hem ful bolde, + Come to the schirref · and seyde that they wolde + Gamelyn and Adam · fetten, by her fay; 555 + The scherref yaf hem leve · soth as I you say; + [659] + They hyeden faste · wold they nought bilinne, + Til they come to the gate · ther Gamelyn was inne. + They knokked on the gate · the porter was ny, + And loked out at an hol · as man that was sly. 560 + The porter hadde biholde · hem a litel whyle, + He loved wel Gamelyn · and was adrad of gyle, + And leet the wicket stonden · y-steke ful stille, + And asked hem withoute · what was here wille. + For al the grete company · thanne spak but oon, 565 + ‘Undo the gate, porter · and lat us in goon.’ + Than seyde the porter · ‘so brouke I my chin, + Ye schul sey your erand · er ye comen in.’ + ‘Sey to Gamelyn and Adam · if here wille be, + We wil speke with hem · wordes two or thre.’ 570 + ‘Felaw,’ seyde the porter · ‘stond there stille, + And I wil wende to Gamelyn · to witen his wille.’ + In wente the porter · to Gamelyn anoon, + And seyde, ‘Sir, I warne you · her ben come your foon; + The scherreves meyne · ben atte gate, 575 + For to take you bothe · schulle ye nat scape.’ + ‘Porter,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so moot I wel thee! + I wil allowe thee thy wordes · whan I my tyme see; + Go agayn to the yate · and dwel with hem a whyle, + And thou schalt see right sone · porter, a gyle. 580 + Adam,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘looke thee to goon; + We have foo-men atte gate · and frendes never oon; + It ben the schirrefes men · that hider ben y-come, + They ben swore to-gidere · that we schul be nome.’ + ‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘hye thee right blyve, 585 + And if I faile thee this day · evel mot I thryve! + And we schul so welcome · the scherreves men, + That some of hem schul make · here beddes in the fen.’ + Atte posterne-gate · Gamelyn out wente, + And a good cart-staf · in his hand he hente; 590 + Adam hente sone · another gret staf + For to helpe Gamelyn · and goode strokes yaf. + Adam felde tweyne · and Gamelyn felde three, + The other setten feet on erthe · and bigonne flee. + ‘What?’ seyde Adam · ‘so ever here I masse! 595 + I have a draught of good wyn! · drink er ye passe!’ + ‘Nay, by god!’ sayde thay · ‘thy drink is not good, + It wolde make mannes brayn · to lyen in his hood.’ + Gamelyn stood stille · and loked him aboute, + [660] + And seih the scherreve come · with a gret route. 600 + ‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘what be now thy reedes? + Here cometh the scherreve · and wil have cure heedes.’ + Adam sayde, ‘Gamelyn · my reed is now this, + Abyde we no lenger · lest we fare amis: + I rede that we to wode goon · ar that we be founde, 605 + Better is us ther loos · than in town y-bounde.’ + Adam took by the hond · yonge Gamelyn; + And everich of hem two · drank a draught of wyn, + And after took her cours · and wenten her way; + Tho fond the scherreve · nest, but non ay. 610 + The scherreve lighte adoun · and went in-to the halle, + And fond the lord y-fetered · faste with-alle. + The scherreve unfetered him · sone, and that anoon, + And sente after a leche · to hele his rigge-boon. + + 551. Hl. lestneth; Cp. lesteneth. Hl. goode. 555. Rl. Sl. Pt. Harl. + by her (here) fay; Cp. be way; Hl. Ln. away. 563. Hl. y-steke; _rest + om._ 573. Cp. Ln. Harl. wente; _rest_ went. 576. Cp. schulle; Hl. + schul. Hl. na (_for_ nat); _rest_ not, nouht. 588. Hl. den; Pt. + fenne; _rest_ fen. 589. Cp. Ln. wente; _rest_ went. 594. Hl. fle; + _rest_ to fle (flee). 602. Hl. comth; _rest_ cometh. 603. _So_ Hl.; + _rest_ sayde to. 606. Hl. vs; _rest_ om. 608. Hl. tuo; _rest_ om. + 609. Hl. coursers; _but see l._ 617. 611. Hl. adoun; _rest_ doun. + 614. Hl. sent; Cp. Sl. sente. + + Lete we now this false knight · lyen in his care, 615 + And talke we of Gamelyn · and loke how he fare. + Gamelyn in-to the woode · stalkede stille, + And Adam the spenser · lykede ful ille; + Adam swor to Gamelyn · by seynt Richer, + ‘Now I see it is mery · to be a spencer, 620 + That lever me were · keyes for to bere, + Than walken in this wilde woode · my clothes to tere.’ + ‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘dismaye thee right nought; + Many good mannes child · in care is y-brought.’ + And as they stoode talking · bothen in-feere, 625 + Adam herd talking of men · and neyh, him thought, they were. + Tho Gamelyn under the woode · lokede aright, + Sevene score of yonge men · he saugh wel a-dight; + Alle satte atte mete · in compas aboute. + ‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘now have we no doute, 630 + After bale cometh boote · thurgh grace of god almight; + Me thinketh of mete and drink · that I have a sight.’ + Adam lokede tho · under woode-bowgh, + And whan he seyh mete · he was glad y-nough; + For he hopede to god · for to have his deel, 635 + And he was sore alonged · after a good meel. + As he seyde that word · the mayster outlawe + Saugh Gamelyn and Adam · under woode-schawe. + ‘Yonge men,’ seyde the maister · ‘by the goode roode, + I am war of gestes · god sende us non but goode; 640 + [661] + Yonder ben two yonge men · wonder wel a-dight, + And paraventure ther ben mo · who-so lokede aright. + Ariseth up, ye yonge men · and fetteth hem to me; + It is good that we witen · what men they be.’ + Up ther sterten sevene · fro the diner, 645 + And metten with Gamelyn · and Adam spenser. + Whan they were neyh hem · than seyde that oon, + ‘Yeldeth up, yonge men · your bowes and your floon.’ + Thanne seyde Gamelyn · that yong was of elde, + ‘Moche sorwe mot he have · that to you hem yelde! 650 + I curse non other · but right my-selve; + They ye fette to yow fyve · thanne ye be twelve!’ + Tho they herde by his word · that might was in his arm, + Ther was non of hem alle · that wolde do him harm, + But sayde unto Gamelyn · mildely and stille, 655 + ‘Com afore our maister · and sey to him thy wille.’ + ‘Yonge men,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘by your lewte, + What man is your maister · that ye with be?’ + Alle they answerde · withoute lesing, + ‘Oure maister is y-crouned · of outlawes king.’ 660 + ‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘go-we in Cristes name; + He may neyther mete nor drink · werne us, for schame. + If that he be hende · and come of gentil blood, + He wol yeve us mete and drink · and doon us som good.’ + ‘By seynt Iame!’ seyde Adam · ‘what harm that I gete, 665 + I wil auntre to the dore · that I hadde mete.’ + Gamelyn and Adam · wente forth in-feere, + And they grette the maister · that they founde there. + Than seide the maister · king of outlawes, + ‘What seeke ye, yonge men · under woode-schawes?’ 670 + Gamelyn answerde · the king with his croune, + ‘He moste needes walke in woode · that may not walke in towne. + Sire, we walke not heer · noon harm for to do, + But-if we meete with a deer · to scheete ther-to, + As men that ben hungry · and mow no mete finde, 675 + And ben harde bistad · under woode-linde.’ + Of Gamelynes wordes · the maister hadde routhe, + And seyde, ‘ye schal have y-nough · have god my trouthe!’ + He bad hem sitte ther adoun · for to take reste; + And bad hem ete and drinke · and that of the beste. 680 + As they sete and eeten · and dronke wel and fyn, + [662] + Than seyde that oon to that other · ‘this is Gamelyn.’ + Tho was the maister outlawe · in-to counseil nome, + And told how it was Gamelyn · that thider was y-come. + Anon as he herde · how it was bifalle, 685 + He made him maister under him · over hem alle. + Within the thridde wyke · him com tyding, + To the maister outlawe · that tho was her king, + That he schulde come hom · his pees was y-mad; + And of that goode tyding · he was tho ful glad. 690 + Tho seyde he to his yonge men · ‘soth for to telle, + Me ben comen tydinges · I may no lenger dwelle.’ + Tho was Gamelyn anon · withoute tarying, + Maad maister outlawe · and crouned here king. + + 615. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 618. Cp. likede; Ln. loked; _rest_ + liked. 621. Hl. for; _rest om._ 625. Hl. And; _rest om._ 627, + 642. Hl. loked. 627. Hl. the; _rest om._ 640. Cp. Pt. Harl. sende; + _rest_ send. Hl. non but; _rest om._ 643. Hl. ȝe; _rest om._ + 652. Hl. Cp. They; Rl. Thei; Sl. Ln. Though. 654. Hl. alle; _rest + om._ 655. Hl. sayd; _rest add_ e. Hl. vnto; _rest_ to. 663. Hl. + heende; Cp. kynde; _rest_ hende. 664. Hl. an (_for 1st_ and). 665. + Hl. seyd; Ln. seid; _rest add_ e. 666. Hl. auntre; _rest_ auenture + me. Hl. Cp. Ln. to the dore; _rest om._ 673. Hl. for; _rest om._ + 674. Hl. with; _rest om._ 679. Hl. ther; _rest om._ Hl. adoun; + _rest_ doun. 681. Hl. sete and; _rest om._ 682. Hl. seyd; _rest + add_ e. Hl. Pt. Ln. that oon ... other; _rest_ on to an other. 688, + 690. Hl. tho; _rest om._ 689. Hl. I-made; Cp. Sl. maad; _rest_ + made. 694. Cp. Maad; _rest_ Made (_badly_). Cp. Ln. here; _rest_ + her. + + Tho was Gamelyn crouned · king of outlawes, 695 + And walked a whyle · under woode-schawes. + The false knight his brother · was scherreve and sire, + And leet his brother endite · for hate and for ire. + Tho were his bonde-men · sory and nothing glad, + When Gamelyn her lord · ‘wolves-heed’ was cryed and maad; + And sente out of his men · wher they might him finde, 701 + For to seke Gamelyn · under woode-linde, + To telle him tydinges · how the wind was went, + And al his good reved · and his men schent. + + 697. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 699. Rl. Sl. glad; _rest_ glade, + gladde. 700. Sl. Cp. maad; _rest_ made, maade. 703. Hl. how; _rest + om._ 704. _So_ Hl. Cp. Ln.; _rest_ and alle his. + + Whan they had him founde · on knees they hem sette, 705 + And a-doun with here hood · and here lord grette; + ‘Sire, wraththe you nought · for the goode roode, + For we have brought you tydinges · but they be nat goode. + Now is thy brother scherreve · and hath the baillye, + And he hath endited thee · and ‘wolves-heed’ doth thee crye.’ 710 + + ‘Allas!’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘that ever I was so slak + That I ne hadde broke his nekke · tho I his rigge brak! + Goth, greteth hem wel · myn housbondes and wyf, + I wol ben atte nexte schire · have god my lyf!’ + Gamelyn com wel redy · to the nexte schire, 715 + And ther was his brother · bothe lord and sire. + Gamelyn com boldelich · in-to the moot-halle, + And putte a-doun his hood · among the lordes alle; + ‘God save you alle, lordinges · that now here be! + But broke-bak scherreve · evel mot thou thee! 720 + Why hast thou do me · that schame and vilonye, + For to late endite me · and ‘wolves-heed’ me crye?’ + [663] + Tho thoughte the false knight · for to ben awreke, + And leet take Gamelyn · moste he no more speke; + Might ther be no more grace · but Gamelyn atte laste 725 + Was cast in-to prisoun · and fetered ful faste. + + 712. Hl. _om. 2nd_ I. 713. Hl. hem; rest _om._ Harl. boþe housbonde; + _rest_ myn housbondes. 715. Hl. came; _see_ l. 717. 718. Rl. Sl. + Cp. putte; _rest_ put. 719. Hl. alle; rest _om._ 722. Hl. me; + _rest_ do me. 723. Cp. thoughte the false; _rest_ thought the fals. + 724. MSS. most, _the_ e _being elided_. 725, 726. Rl. Sl. Cp. laste, + faste; _rest_ last, fast. + + Gamelyn hath a brother · that highte sir Ote, + As good a knight and hende · as mighte gon on foote. + Anon ther yede a messager · to that goode knight, + And tolde him al-togidere · how Gamelyn was dight. 730 + Anon as sire Ote herde · how Gamelyn was a-dight, + He was wonder sory · was he no-thing light, + And leet sadle a steede · and the way he nam, + And to his tweyne bretheren · anon-right he cam. + ‘Sire,’ seyde sire Ote · to the scherreve tho, 735 + ‘We ben but three bretheren · schul we never be mo; + And thou hast y-prisoned · the beste of us alle; + Swich another brother · yvel mot him bifalle!’ + ‘Sire Ote,’ seide the false knight · ‘lat be thy curs; + By god, for thy wordes · he schal fare the wurs; 740 + To the kinges prisoun · anon he is y-nome, + And ther he schal abyde · til the Iustice come.’ + ‘Parde!’ seyde sir Ote · ‘better it schal be; + I bidde him to maynpris · that thou graunte him me + Til the nexte sitting · of deliveraunce, 745 + And thanne lat Gamelyn · stande to his chaunce.’ + ‘Brother, in swich a forward · I take him to thee; + And by thy fader soule · that thee bigat and me, + But-if he be redy · whan the Iustice sitte, + Thou schalt bere the Iuggement · for al thy grete witte.’ 750 + ‘I graunte wel,’ seide sir Ote · ‘that it so be. + Let deliver him anon · and tak him to me.’ + Tho was Gamelyn delivered · to sire Ote his brother, + And that night dwellede · that on with that other. + On the morn seyde Gamelyn · to sire Ote the hende, 755 + ‘Brother,’ he seide, ‘I moot · for sothe, from thee wende, + To loke how my yonge men · leden here lyf, + Whether they liven in Ioye · or elles in stryf.’ + ‘By god!’ seyde sire Ote · ‘that is a cold reed, + Now I see that al the cark · schal fallen on myn heed; 760 + For when the Iustice sitte · and thou be nought y-founde, + [664] + I schal anon be take · and in thy stede y-bounde.’ + ‘Brother,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘dismaye thee nought, + For by seint Iame in Gales · that many man hath sought, + If that god almighty · holde my lyf and wit, 765 + I wil be ther redy · whan the Iustice sit.’ + Than seide sir Ote to Gamelyn · ‘god schilde thee fro schame; + Com whan thou seest tyme · and bring us out of blame.’ + + 728. Hl. Cp. heende; _rest_ hende. 729. Hl. ther; _rest om._ 730. + Hl. Cp. told; _rest_ tolde. 734. Hl. anon right; Ln. ful sone; _rest_ + right sone. 737. Rl. Cp. beste; _rest_ best. 739. Pt. Ln. false; + _rest_ fals. 741. Hl. anon; _rest om._ 744. Hl. Cp. maymp_ri_s. + Hl. Sl. Ln. graunt; _rest_ graunte. Hl. him; Cp. Ln. to; _rest on_. + 747. Hl. forthward; _rest_ forward. 749. Hl. if; rest om. 754. Hl. + Cp. dwelleden; Ln. dwelden; _rest_ dwellide, dwellid, dwelled. 755. + Hl. Cp. heende: Rl. hynde; _rest_ hende. 761, 766. MSS. sitte, + _except_ Hl. sitt _in l._ 766. _Here_ sitte _is subj_.; _but in_ l. 766 + sit = sitteth. 765. Hl. hold; Rl. hold me; _rest_ holde me. 765, + 766. Hl. witt, sitt. + + Litheth, and lesteneth · and holdeth you stille, + And ye schul here how Gamelyn · hadde al his wille. 770 + Gamelyn wente ayein · under woode-rys, + And fond there pleying · yonge men of prys. + Tho was yong Gamelyn · glad and blithe y-nough, + Whan he fond his mery men · under woode-bough. + Gamelyn and his men · talkeden in-feere, 775 + And they hadde good game · here maister to heere; + They tolden him of aventures · that they hadde founde, + And Gamelyn hem tolde ayein · how he was fast y-bounde. + Whyl Gamelyn was outlawed · hadde he no cors; + There was no man that for him · ferde the wors, 780 + But abbotes and priours · monk and chanoun; + On hem left he no-thing · whan he mighte hem nom. + Whyl Gamelyn and his men · made merthes ryve, + The false knight his brother · yvel mot he thryve! + For he was fast aboute · bothe day and other, 785 + For to hyre the quest · to hangen his brother. + Gamelyn stood on a day · and, as he biheeld + The woodes and the schawes · in the wilde feeld, + He thoughte on his brother · how he him beheet + That he wolde be redy · whan the Iustice seet; 790 + He thoughte wel that he wolde · withoute delay, + Come afore the Iustice · to kepen his day, + And seide to his yonge men · ‘dighteth you yare, + For whan the Iustice sitte · we moote be thare, + For I am under borwe · til that I come, 795 + And my brother for me · to prisoun schal be nome.’ + ‘By seint Iame!’ seyde his yonge men · ‘and thou rede therto, + Ordeyne how it schal be · and it schal be do.’ + Whyl Gamelyn was coming · ther the Iustice sat, + The false knight his brother · foryat he nat that, 800 + To huyre the men on his quest · to hangen his brother; + Though he hadde nought that oon · he wolde have that other. + [665] + Tho cam Gamelyn · fro under woode-rys, + And broughte with him · his yonge men of prys. + + 769. Hl. lestneth; Cp. lesteneth; Rl. Pt. listeneth. 770. Rl. Sl. Cp. + hadde; _rest_ had. Hl. Pt. al; _rest om._. 771. Hl. aȝein; _rest + om._. 773. Hl. Cp. Ln. ȝonge; _rest_ ȝong. 774. Hl. mery; + _rest om._. 775. Hl. talked; Rl. Pt. talkeden; Sl. talkiden. 779. + Sl. Cp. Ln. hadde; Rl. hade; _rest_ had. 782. MSS. might; _the_ e + _being elided._ 784. Cp. false; _rest_ fals. 789. Hl. thought; _see + l._ 791. 794. Hl. sitt. 800. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 804. Hl. + his; _rest om._ + + ‘I see wel,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘the Iustice is set; 805 + Go aforn, Adam · and loke how it spet.’ + Adam wente into the halle · and loked al aboute, + He seyh there stonde · lordes grete and stoute, + And sir Ote his brother · fetered wel fast; + Tho went Adam out of halle · as he were agast. 810 + Adam said to Gamelyn · and to his felawes alle, + ‘Sir Ote stant y-fetered · in the moot-halle.’ + ‘Yonge men,’ seide Gamelyn · ‘this ye heeren alle; + Sire Ote stant y-fetered · in the moot-halle. + If god yif us grace · wel for to doo, 815 + He schal it abegge · that broughte him ther-too.’ + Thanne sayde Adam · that lokkes hadde hore, + ‘Cristes curs mote he have · that him bond so sore! + And thou wilt, Gamelyn · do after my reed, + Ther is noon in the halle · schal bere awey his heed.’ 820 + ‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘we wiln nought don so, + We wil slee the giltif · and lat the other go. + I wil into the halle · and with the Iustice speke; + On hem that ben gultif · I wil ben awreke. + Lat non scape at the dore · take, yonge men, yeme; 825 + For I wil be Iustice this day · domes for to deme. + God spede me this day · at my newe werk! + Adam, com on with me · for thou schalt be my clerk.’ + His men answereden him · and bade him doon his best, + ‘And if thou to us have neede · thou schalt finde us prest; 830 + We wiln stande with thee · whyl that we may dure, + And but we werke manly · pay us non hure.’ + ‘Yonge men,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so mot I wel thee! + As trusty a maister · ye schal finde of me.’ + Right there the Iustice · sat in the halle, 835 + In wente Gamelyn · amonges hem alle. + + 805, 806. MSS. sette, spette (_wrongly_). 807. Cp. wente; _rest_ + went. 808. Hl. gret; _rest_ grete. 811. Hl. felaws; _rest_ felawes, + felowes. 816. Ln brouht it; Hl. _om._ it; _rest_ it broughte; but + read broughte him. 818. Rl. Sl, Pt. mote; Ln. mot; Hl. Cp. most. + 819. Cp. reed; Hl. red; _rest_ rede. 822. Hl. Pt. lat; _rest_ late + 826. for to _in_ MS. Camb. Mm. 2. 5; _rest om._ for. 828. Hl. on; + _rest om._ 829. Rl. bade; _rest_ bad. + + Gamelyn leet unfetere · his brother out of bende. + Thanne seyde sire Ote · his brother that was hende, + ‘Thou haddest almost, Gamelyn · dwelled to longe, + For the quest is oute on me · that I schulde honge.’ 840 + ‘Brother,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so god yif me good rest! + This day they schuln ben hanged · that ben on thy quest; + And the Iustice bothe · that is the Iugge-man, + [666] + And the scherreve bothe · thurgh him it bigan.’ + Thanne seyde Gamelyn · to the Iustise, 845 + Now is thy power y-don · thou most nedes arise; + Thow hast yeven domes · that ben yvel dight, + I wil sitten in thy sete · and dressen hem aright.’ + The Iustice sat stille · and roos nought anoon; + And Gamelyn clevede · [a-two] his cheeke-boon; 850 + Gamelyn took him in his arm · and no more spak, + But threw him over the barre · and his arm to-brak. + Durste non to Gamelyn · seye but good, + For ferd of the company · that withoute stood. + Gamelyn sette him doun · in the Iustices seet, 855 + And sire Ote his brother by him · and Adam at his feet. + Whan Gamelyn was y-set · in the Iustices stede, + Herkneth of a bourde · that Gamelyn dede. + He leet fetre the Iustice · and his false brother, + And dede hem come to the barre · that oon with that other. 860 + Tho Gamelyn hadde thus y-doon · hadde he no reste, + Til he had enquered · who was on the queste + For to deme his brother · sir Ote, for to honge; + Er he wiste which they were · him thoughte ful longe. + But as sone as Gamelyn · wiste wher they were, 865 + He dede hem everichone · feteren in-feere, + And bringen hem to the barre · and sette hem in rewe; + ‘By my faith!’ seyde the Iustice · ‘the scherreve is a schrewe!’ + Than seyde Gamelyn · to the Iustise, + ‘Thou hast y-yeve domes · of the wors assise; 870 + And the twelve sisours · that weren of the queste, + They schul ben hanged this day · so have I good reste!’ + Thanne seide the scherreve · to yonge Gamelyn, + ‘Lord, I crye the mercy · brother art thou myn.’ + ‘Therfore,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘have thou Cristes curs, 875 + For, and thou were maister · yit I schulde have wors.’ + For to make short tale · and nought to tarie longe, + He ordeyned him a queste · of his men so stronge; + The Iustice and the scherreve · bothe honged hye, + To weyven with the ropes · and with the winde drye; 880 + And the twelve sisours · (sorwe have that rekke!) + Alle they were hanged · faste by the nekke. + Thus ended the false knight · with his treccherye, + [667] + That ever hadde y-lad his lyf · in falsnes and folye. + He was hanged by the nekke · and nought by the purs; 885 + That was the meede that he hadde · for his fadres curs. + + 837. Hl. beende; Cp. Pt. Ln. bende. 838. Hl. Cp. heende; _rest_ + hende. 843. Hl. _om._ the. Hl. Iugges; _rest_ Iugge, Iuge. 845. + Cp. Thanne; _rest_ Than. 850. _I supply_ a-two. 851. Hl. arm; + _rest_ armes. 854. Rl. Harl. ferd; Pt. feerd; Hl. Cp. fered; Ln. + ferde. 855. MSS. sete. 857. stede] Hl. Rl. Cp. sete (_wrongly_). + 859. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 861. Cp. hadde; Rl. hade; Hl. had + (_2nd time_). 861, 862. Hl. rest, quest; _see ll._ 871, 872. 864. + Hl. Cp. Ln. he; Rl. Pt. him; Harl. (1758) hym. 866. Cp. feteren; Hl. + fetere. 872. Hl. _om._ good. 877. Hl. tarie; _rest om._ 878. Rl. + Pt. Harl. quest; _rest_ queste. 879. Cp. beþ; _rest_ bothe, both. + 880. Hl. _om._ the _before_ ropes. Hl. Rl. Cp. wynd; _rest_ wynde, + winde. 883. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 884. Cp. hadde; Ln. hade; + _rest_ had. 885. Hl. Pt. nek; _rest_ necke, nekke. 886. Rl. Cp. + hadde; _rest_ had. + + Sire Ote was eldest · and Gamelyn was ying, + They wenten with here frendes · even to the king; + They made pees with the king · of the best assise. + The king loved wel sir Ote · and made him Iustise. 890 + And after, the king made Gamelyn · bothe in est and west, + Chief Iustice · of al his free forest; + Alle his wighte yonge men · the king foryaf here gilt, + And sitthen in good office · the king hem hath y-pilt. + Thus wan Gamelyn · his lond and his leede, 895 + And wrak him of his enemys · and quitte hem here meede; + And sire Ote his brother · made him his heir, + And siththen wedded Gamelyn · a wyf bothe good and feyr; + They liveden to-gidere · whyl that Crist wolde, + And sithen was Gamelyn · graven under molde. 900 + And so schal we alle · may ther no man flee: + God bringe us to the Ioye · that ever schal be! + + 888. Hl. They; _rest om._ Hl. freendes. Hl. euen to; Rl. Harl. and + passeden to; Pt. and passed to; Cp. and passed with; Ln. and pesed + with. 892. Hl. al; _rest om._ 896. Cp. Pt. quitte; Hl. quyt. 902. + Ln. bringe; _rest_ bryng, bring. + + * * * * * + +END OF VOL. IV. + +NOTES + +[1] Not the same MS. as that called ‘Harl.’ in the foot-notes to Gamelyn. + +[2] It only contains the clerk’s Tale; see Reliquiae, ii. 68. The Longleat +MS. no. 25, belonging to the Marquis of Bath, contains both the Knight’s +Tale and the Clerk’s Tale. + +[3] i.e. the gen. case of _physice_; ‘Magister Artium et Physices’ occurs +in Longfellow’s Golden Legend, § vi. + +[4] Tyrwhitt counts 252_b_ and 252_c_ as 253 and 254; but omits 3155, 3156; +hence, in 3157-3720, the numbering is alike in the Six-text and T. He then +omits 3721, 3722, making a difference of _two_ lines. Wright follows +Tyrwhitt’s numbering in Group A, and in B 1-1162. + +[5] T. counts B 1982, 1983 as one line; so also B 2002, 2003, and B 2012, +2013, and B 2076, 2077, making a difference of _four_ lines; but, on the +other hand, he expands B 1993 into _three_ lines; hence, on the whole, a +difference of _two_ lines in this portion. See pp. 192, 193, and note to B +1993 in vol. v. + +[6] Wright counts the lines as I do, but his numbering is in one place +incorrect; after the line which he calls 15260, he counts the next thirteen +lines as ten. + +[7] As in the Six-text, I call each clause of Melibeus between the sloping +marks _a line_, and so number it. So also in the Parson’s Tale. + +[8] T. cuts up the Tale into paragraphs. So also in the Parson’s Tale +(Group I). I have _numbered_ these, for convenience; see head-lines, pp. +199-240. + +[9] Sixteen lines short in Wright, because the Epilogue to the Nonne +Prestes Tale (see p. 289) is relegated to a footnote. + +[10] Twelve lines short; T. omits E 1305-6, F 671-2, 1455-6, 1493-8. Wright +keeps E 1305-6, but does not count them, and omits the other ten. + +[11] The dash (—) shews where the Groups end or are interrupted. + +[12] The order of the divisions of this tale is different. The ‘modern +instances,’ viz. Peter of Spain, Peter of Cyrus, Barnabo of Lombardy, and +Ugolino of Pisa are placed at the end instead of coming in the middle. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHAUCER’S WORKS, VOLUME 4 *** + +***** This file should be named 22120-0.txt or 22120-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/1/2/22120/ + +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. + +START: FULL LICENSE + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the +person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph +1.E.8. + +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when +you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and + most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no + restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it + under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this + eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the + United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where + you are located before using this eBook. + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +provided that: + +* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + +* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by email) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm + works. + +* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + +* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you —AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at +www.gutenberg.org + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. + +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without +widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular +state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. + +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: www.gutenberg.org + +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |