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diff --git a/266-0.txt b/266-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e3afefc --- /dev/null +++ b/266-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,35307 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Confessio Amantis, by John Gower + +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: Confessio Amantis + Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins, 1330–1408 A.D. + +Author: John Gower + +Release Date: May, 1995 [eBook #266] +[Most recently updated: August 21, 2022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Douglas B. Killings, Diane M. Brendan and David Widger + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONFESSIO AMANTIS *** + + + + +CONFESSIO AMANTIS + +or + +TALES OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS + +By John Gower + +1330–1408 A.D. + +The following electronic text is based on that edition published in THE +WORKS OF JOHN GOWER, ed. Prof. G.C. Macauley. + + +Contents + + Prologus + Liber Primus + Liber Secundus + Liber Tercius + Liber Quartus + Liber Quintus + Liber Sextus + Liber Septimus + Liber Octavus + + + +Prologus + + +_Torpor, ebes sensus, scola parua labor minimusque + Causant quo minimus ipse minora canam: +Qua tamen Engisti lingua canit Insula Bruti + Anglica Carmente metra iuuante loquar. +Ossibus ergo carens que conterit ossa loquelis + Absit, et interpres stet procul oro malus._ + +Of hem that writen ous tofore +The bokes duelle, and we therfore +Ben tawht of that was write tho: +Forthi good is that we also +In oure tyme among ous hiere +Do wryte of newe som matiere, +Essampled of these olde wyse +So that it myhte in such a wyse, +Whan we ben dede and elleswhere, +Beleve to the worldes eere 10 +In tyme comende after this. +Bot for men sein, and soth it is, +That who that al of wisdom writ +It dulleth ofte a mannes wit +To him that schal it aldai rede, +For thilke cause, if that ye rede, +I wolde go the middel weie +And wryte a bok betwen the tweie, +Somwhat of lust, somewhat of lore, +That of the lasse or of the more 20 +Som man mai lyke of that I wryte: +And for that fewe men endite +In oure englissh, I thenke make +A bok for Engelondes sake, +The yer sextenthe of kyng Richard. +What schal befalle hierafterward +God wot, for now upon this tyde +Men se the world on every syde +In sondry wyse so diversed, +That it welnyh stant al reversed, 30 +As forto speke of tyme ago. +The cause whi it changeth so +It needeth nought to specifie, +The thing so open is at ije +That every man it mai beholde: +And natheles be daies olde, +Whan that the bokes weren levere, +Wrytinge was beloved evere +Of hem that weren vertuous; +For hier in erthe amonges ous, 40 +If noman write hou that it stode, +The pris of hem that weren goode +Scholde, as who seith, a gret partie +Be lost: so for to magnifie +The worthi princes that tho were, +The bokes schewen hiere and there, +Wherof the world ensampled is; +And tho that deden thanne amis +Thurgh tirannie and crualte, +Right as thei stoden in degre, 50 +So was the wrytinge of here werk. +Thus I, which am a burel clerk, +Purpose forto wryte a bok +After the world that whilom tok +Long tyme in olde daies passed: +Bot for men sein it is now lassed, +In worse plit than it was tho, +I thenke forto touche also +The world which neweth every dai, +So as I can, so as I mai. 60 +Thogh I seknesse have upon honde +And longe have had, yit woll I fonde +To wryte and do my bisinesse, +That in som part, so as I gesse, +The wyse man mai ben avised. +For this prologe is so assised +That it to wisdom al belongeth: +What wysman that it underfongeth, +He schal drawe into remembrance +The fortune of this worldes chance, 70 +The which noman in his persone +Mai knowe, bot the god al one. +Whan the prologe is so despended, +This bok schal afterward ben ended +Of love, which doth many a wonder +And many a wys man hath put under. +And in this wyse I thenke trete +Towardes hem that now be grete, +Betwen the vertu and the vice +Which longeth unto this office. 80 +Bot for my wittes ben to smale +To tellen every man his tale, +This bok, upon amendment +To stonde at his commandement, +With whom myn herte is of accord, +I sende unto myn oghne lord, +Which of Lancastre is Henri named: +The hyhe god him hath proclamed +Ful of knyhthode and alle grace. +So woll I now this werk embrace 90 +With hol trust and with hol believe; +God grante I mot it wel achieve. + +If I schal drawe in to my mynde +The tyme passed, thanne I fynde +The world stod thanne in al his welthe: +Tho was the lif of man in helthe, +Tho was plente, tho was richesse, +Tho was the fortune of prouesse, +Tho was knyhthode in pris be name, +Wherof the wyde worldes fame 100 +Write in Cronique is yit withholde; +Justice of lawe tho was holde, +The privilege of regalie +Was sauf, and al the baronie +Worschiped was in his astat; +The citees knewen no debat, +The poeple stod in obeissance +Under the reule of governance, +And pes, which ryhtwisnesse keste, +With charite tho stod in reste: 110 +Of mannes herte the corage +Was schewed thanne in the visage; +The word was lich to the conceite +Withoute semblant of deceite: +Tho was ther unenvied love, +Tho was the vertu sett above +And vice was put under fote. +Now stant the crop under the rote, +The world is changed overal, +And therof most in special 120 +That love is falle into discord. +And that I take to record +Of every lond for his partie +The comun vois, which mai noght lie; +Noght upon on, bot upon alle +It is that men now clepe and calle, +And sein the regnes ben divided, +In stede of love is hate guided, +The werre wol no pes purchace, +And lawe hath take hire double face, 130 +So that justice out of the weie +With ryhtwisnesse is gon aweie: +And thus to loke on every halve, +Men sen the sor withoute salve, +Which al the world hath overtake. +Ther is no regne of alle outtake, +For every climat hath his diel +After the tornynge of the whiel, +Which blinde fortune overthroweth; +Wherof the certain noman knoweth: 140 +The hevene wot what is to done, +Bot we that duelle under the mone +Stonde in this world upon a weer, +And namely bot the pouer +Of hem that ben the worldes guides +With good consail on alle sides +Be kept upriht in such a wyse, +That hate breke noght thassise +Of love, which is al the chief +To kepe a regne out of meschief. 150 +For alle resoun wolde this, +That unto him which the heved is +The membres buxom scholden bowe, +And he scholde ek her trowthe allowe, +With al his herte and make hem chiere, +For good consail is good to hiere. +Althogh a man be wys himselve, +Yit is the wisdom more of tuelve; +And if thei stoden bothe in on, +To hope it were thanne anon 160 +That god his grace wolde sende +To make of thilke werre an ende, +Which every day now groweth newe: +And that is gretly forto rewe +In special for Cristes sake, +Which wolde his oghne lif forsake +Among the men to yeve pes. +But now men tellen natheles +That love is fro the world departed, +So stant the pes unevene parted 170 +With hem that liven now adaies. +Bot forto loke at alle assaies, +To him that wolde resoun seche +After the comun worldes speche +It is to wondre of thilke werre, +In which non wot who hath the werre; +For every lond himself deceyveth +And of desese his part receyveth, +And yet ne take men no kepe. +Bot thilke lord which al may kepe, 180 +To whom no consail may ben hid, +Upon the world which is betid, +Amende that wherof men pleigne +With trewe hertes and with pleine, +And reconcile love ayeyn, +As he which is king sovereign +Of al the worldes governaunce, +And of his hyhe porveaunce +Afferme pes betwen the londes +And take her cause into hise hondes, 190 +So that the world may stonde apppesed +And his godhede also be plesed. + +To thenke upon the daies olde, +The lif of clerkes to beholde, +Men sein how that thei weren tho +Ensample and reule of alle tho +Whiche of wisdom the vertu soughten. +Unto the god ferst thei besoughten +As to the substaunce of her Scole, +That thei ne scholden noght befole 200 +Her wit upon none erthly werkes, +Which were ayein thestat of clerkes, +And that thei myhten fle the vice +Which Simon hath in his office, +Wherof he takth the gold in honde. +For thilke tyme I understonde +The Lumbard made non eschange +The bisschopriches forto change, +Ne yet a lettre for to sende +For dignite ne for Provende, 210 +Or cured or withoute cure. +The cherche keye in aventure +Of armes and of brygantaille +Stod nothing thanne upon bataille; +To fyhte or for to make cheste +It thoghte hem thanne noght honeste; +Bot of simplesce and pacience +Thei maden thanne no defence: +The Court of worldly regalie +To hem was thanne no baillie; 220 +The vein honour was noght desired, +Which hath the proude herte fyred; +Humilite was tho withholde, +And Pride was a vice holde. +Of holy cherche the largesse +Yaf thanne and dede gret almesse +To povere men that hadden nede: +Thei were ek chaste in word and dede, +Wherof the poeple ensample tok; +Her lust was al upon the bok, 230 +Or forto preche or forto preie, +To wisse men the ryhte weie +Of suche as stode of trowthe unliered. +Lo, thus was Petres barge stiered +Of hem that thilke tyme were, +And thus cam ferst to mannes Ere +The feith of Crist and alle goode +Thurgh hem that thanne weren goode +And sobre and chaste and large and wyse. +Bot now men sein is otherwise, 240 +Simon the cause hath undertake, +The worldes swerd on honde is take; +And that is wonder natheles, +Whan Crist him self hath bode pes +And set it in his testament, +How now that holy cherche is went, +Of that here lawe positif +Hath set to make werre and strif +For worldes good, which may noght laste. +God wot the cause to the laste 250 +Of every right and wrong also; +But whil the lawe is reuled so +That clerkes to the werre entende, +I not how that thei scholde amende +The woful world in othre thinges, +To make pes betwen the kynges +After the lawe of charite, +Which is the propre duete +Belongende unto the presthode. +Bot as it thenkth to the manhode, 260 +The hevene is ferr, the world is nyh, +And veine gloire is ek so slyh, +Which coveitise hath now withholde, +That thei non other thing beholde, +Bot only that thei myhten winne. +And thus the werres thei beginne, +Wherof the holi cherche is taxed, +That in the point as it is axed +The disme goth to the bataille, +As thogh Crist myhte noght availe 270 +To don hem riht be other weie. +In to the swerd the cherche keie +Is torned, and the holy bede +Into cursinge, and every stede +Which scholde stonde upon the feith +And to this cause an Ere leyth, +Astoned is of the querele. +That scholde be the worldes hele +Is now, men sein, the pestilence +Which hath exiled pacience 280 +Fro the clergie in special: +And that is schewed overal, +In eny thing whan thei ben grieved. +Bot if Gregoire be believed, +As it is in the bokes write, +He doth ous somdel forto wite +The cause of thilke prelacie, +Wher god is noght of compaignie: +For every werk as it is founded +Schal stonde or elles be confounded; 290 +Who that only for Cristes sake +Desireth cure forto take, +And noght for pride of thilke astat, +To bere a name of a prelat, +He schal be resoun do profit +In holy cherche upon the plit +That he hath set his conscience; +Bot in the worldes reverence +Ther ben of suche manie glade, +Whan thei to thilke astat ben made, 300 +Noght for the merite of the charge, +Bot for thei wolde hemself descharge +Of poverte and become grete; +And thus for Pompe and for beyete +The Scribe and ek the Pharisee +Of Moises upon the See +In the chaiere on hyh ben set; +Wherof the feith is ofte let, +Which is betaken hem to kepe. +In Cristes cause alday thei slepe, 310 +Bot of the world is noght foryete; +For wel is him that now may gete +Office in Court to ben honoured. +The stronge coffre hath al devoured +Under the keye of avarice +The tresor of the benefice, +Wherof the povere schulden clothe +And ete and drinke and house bothe; +The charite goth al unknowe, +For thei no grein of Pite sowe: 320 +And slouthe kepeth the libraire +Which longeth to the Saintuaire; +To studie upon the worldes lore +Sufficeth now withoute more; +Delicacie his swete toth +Hath fostred so that it fordoth +Of abstinence al that ther is. +And forto loken over this, +If Ethna brenne in the clergie, +Al openly to mannes ije 330 +At Avynoun thexperience +Therof hath yove an evidence, +Of that men sen hem so divided. +And yit the cause is noght decided; +Bot it is seid and evere schal, +Betwen tuo Stoles lyth the fal, +Whan that men wenen best to sitte: +In holy cherche of such a slitte +Is for to rewe un to ous alle; +God grante it mote wel befalle 340 +Towardes him which hath the trowthe. +Bot ofte is sen that mochel slowthe, +Whan men ben drunken of the cuppe, +Doth mochel harm, whan fyr is uppe, +Bot if somwho the flamme stanche; +And so to speke upon this branche, +Which proud Envie hath mad to springe, +Of Scisme, causeth forto bringe +This newe Secte of Lollardie, +And also many an heresie 350 +Among the clerkes in hemselve. +It were betre dike and delve +And stonde upon the ryhte feith, +Than knowe al that the bible seith +And erre as somme clerkes do. +Upon the hond to were a Schoo +And sette upon the fot a Glove +Acordeth noght to the behove +Of resonable mannes us: +If men behielden the vertus 360 +That Crist in Erthe taghte here, +Thei scholden noght in such manere, +Among hem that ben holden wise, +The Papacie so desguise +Upon diverse eleccioun, +Which stant after thaffeccioun +Of sondry londes al aboute: +Bot whan god wole, it schal were oute, +For trowthe mot stonde ate laste. +Bot yet thei argumenten faste 370 +Upon the Pope and his astat, +Wherof thei falle in gret debat; +This clerk seith yee, that other nay, +And thus thei dryve forth the day, +And ech of hem himself amendeth +Of worldes good, bot non entendeth +To that which comun profit were. +Thei sein that god is myhti there, +And schal ordeine what he wile, +Ther make thei non other skile 380 +Where is the peril of the feith, +Bot every clerk his herte leith +To kepe his world in special, +And of the cause general, +Which unto holy cherche longeth, +Is non of hem that underfongeth +To schapen eny resistence: +And thus the riht hath no defence, +Bot ther I love, ther I holde. +Lo, thus tobroke is Cristes folde, 390 +Wherof the flock withoute guide +Devoured is on every side, +In lacke of hem that ben unware +Schepherdes, whiche her wit beware +Upon the world in other halve. +The scharpe pricke in stede of salve +Thei usen now, wherof the hele +Thei hurte of that thei scholden hele; +And what Schep that is full of wulle +Upon his back, thei toose and pulle, 400 +Whil ther is eny thing to pile: +And thogh ther be non other skile +Bot only for thei wolden wynne, +Thei leve noght, whan thei begynne, +Upon her acte to procede, +Which is no good schepherdes dede. +And upon this also men sein, +That fro the leese which is plein +Into the breres thei forcacche +Her Orf, for that thei wolden lacche 410 +With such duresce, and so bereve +That schal upon the thornes leve +Of wulle, which the brere hath tore; +Wherof the Schep ben al totore +Of that the hierdes make hem lese. +Lo, how thei feignen chalk for chese, +For though thei speke and teche wel, +Thei don hemself therof no del: +For if the wolf come in the weie, +Her gostly Staf is thanne aweie, 420 +Wherof thei scholde her flock defende; +Bot if the povere Schep offende +In eny thing, thogh it be lyte, +They ben al redy forto smyte; +And thus, how evere that thei tale, +The strokes falle upon the smale, +And upon othre that ben grete +Hem lacketh herte forto bete. +So that under the clerkes lawe +Men sen the Merel al mysdrawe, 430 +I wol noght seie in general, +For ther ben somme in special +In whom that alle vertu duelleth, +And tho ben, as thapostel telleth, +That god of his eleccioun +Hath cleped to perfeccioun +In the manere as Aaron was: +Thei ben nothing in thilke cas +Of Simon, which the foldes gate +Hath lete, and goth in othergate, 440 +Bot thei gon in the rihte weie. +Ther ben also somme, as men seie, +That folwen Simon ate hieles, +Whos carte goth upon the whieles +Of coveitise and worldes Pride, +And holy cherche goth beside, +Which scheweth outward a visage +Of that is noght in the corage. +For if men loke in holy cherche, +Betwen the word and that thei werche 450 +Ther is a full gret difference: +Thei prechen ous in audience +That noman schal his soule empeire, +For al is bot a chirie feire +This worldes good, so as thei telle; +Also thei sein ther is an helle, +Which unto mannes sinne is due, +And bidden ous therfore eschue +That wikkid is, and do the goode. +Who that here wordes understode, 460 +It thenkth thei wolden do the same; +Bot yet betwen ernest and game +Ful ofte it torneth other wise. +With holy tales thei devise +How meritoire is thilke dede +Of charite, to clothe and fede +The povere folk and forto parte +The worldes good, bot thei departe +Ne thenken noght fro that thei have. +Also thei sein, good is to save 470 +With penance and with abstinence +Of chastite the continence; +Bot pleinly forto speke of that, +I not how thilke body fat, +Which thei with deynte metes kepe +And leyn it softe forto slepe, +Whan it hath elles al his wille, +With chastite schal stonde stille: +And natheles I can noght seie, +In aunter if that I misseye. 480 +Touchende of this, how evere it stonde, +I here and wol noght understonde, +For therof have I noght to done: +Bot he that made ferst the Mone, +The hyhe god, of his goodnesse, +If ther be cause, he it redresce. +Bot what as eny man accuse, +This mai reson of trowthe excuse; +The vice of hem that ben ungoode +Is no reproef unto the goode: 490 +For every man hise oghne werkes +Schal bere, and thus as of the clerkes +The goode men ben to comende, +And alle these othre god amende: +For thei ben to the worldes ije +The Mirour of ensamplerie, +To reulen and to taken hiede +Betwen the men and the godhiede. + +Now forto speke of the comune, +It is to drede of that fortune 500 +Which hath befalle in sondri londes: +Bot often for defalte of bondes +Al sodeinliche, er it be wist, +A Tonne, whanne his lye arist, +Tobrekth and renneth al aboute, +Which elles scholde noght gon oute; +And ek fulofte a litel Skar +Upon a Banke, er men be war, +Let in the Strem, which with gret peine, +If evere man it schal restreigne. 510 +Wher lawe lacketh, errour groweth, +He is noght wys who that ne troweth, +For it hath proeved ofte er this; +And thus the comun clamour is +In every lond wher poeple dwelleth, +And eche in his compleignte telleth +How that the world is al miswent, +And ther upon his jugement +Yifth every man in sondry wise. +Bot what man wolde himself avise, 520 +His conscience and noght misuse, +He may wel ate ferste excuse +His god, which evere stant in on: +In him ther is defalte non, +So moste it stonde upon ousselve +Nought only upon ten ne twelve, +Bot plenerliche upon ous alle, +For man is cause of that schal falle. + +And natheles yet som men wryte +And sein that fortune is to wyte, 530 +And som men holde oppinion +That it is constellacion, +Which causeth al that a man doth: +God wot of bothe which is soth. +The world as of his propre kynde +Was evere untrewe, and as the blynde +Improprelich he demeth fame, +He blameth that is noght to blame +And preiseth that is noght to preise: +Thus whan he schal the thinges peise, 540 +Ther is deceipte in his balance, +And al is that the variance +Of ous, that scholde ous betre avise; +For after that we falle and rise, +The world arist and falth withal, +So that the man is overal +His oghne cause of wel and wo. +That we fortune clepe so +Out of the man himself it groweth; +And who that other wise troweth, 550 +Behold the poeple of Irael: +For evere whil thei deden wel, +Fortune was hem debonaire, +And whan thei deden the contraire, +Fortune was contrariende. +So that it proeveth wel at ende +Why that the world is wonderfull +And may no while stonde full, +Though that it seme wel besein; +For every worldes thing is vein, 560 +And evere goth the whiel aboute, +And evere stant a man in doute, +Fortune stant no while stille, +So hath ther noman al his wille. +Als fer as evere a man may knowe, +Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe; +The world stant evere upon debat, +So may be seker non astat, +Now hier now ther, now to now fro, +Now up now down, this world goth so, 570 +And evere hath don and evere schal: +Wherof I finde in special +A tale writen in the Bible, +Which moste nedes be credible; +And that as in conclusioun +Seith that upon divisioun +Stant, why no worldes thing mai laste, +Til it be drive to the laste. +And fro the ferste regne of alle +Into this day, hou so befalle, 580 +Of that the regnes be muable +The man himself hath be coupable, +Which of his propre governance +Fortuneth al the worldes chance. + +The hyhe almyhti pourveance, +In whos eterne remembrance +Fro ferst was every thing present, +He hath his prophecie sent, +In such a wise as thou schalt hiere, +To Daniel of this matiere, 590 +Hou that this world schal torne and wende, +Till it be falle to his ende; +Wherof the tale telle I schal, +In which it is betokned al. + +As Nabugodonosor slepte, +A swevene him tok, the which he kepte +Til on the morwe he was arise, +For he therof was sore agrise. +To Daniel his drem he tolde, +And preide him faire that he wolde 600 +Arede what it tokne may; +And seide: “Abedde wher I lay, +Me thoghte I syh upon a Stage +Wher stod a wonder strange ymage. +His hed with al the necke also +Thei were of fin gold bothe tuo; +His brest, his schuldres and his armes +Were al of selver, bot the tharmes, +The wombe and al doun to the kne, +Of bras thei were upon to se; 610 +The legges were al mad of Stiel, +So were his feet also somdiel, +And somdiel part to hem was take +Of Erthe which men Pottes make; +The fieble meynd was with the stronge, +So myhte it wel noght stonde longe. +And tho me thoghte that I sih +A gret ston from an hull on hyh +Fel doun of sodein aventure +Upon the feet of this figure, 620 +With which Ston al tobroke was +Gold, Selver, Erthe, Stiel and Bras, +That al was in to pouldre broght, +And so forth torned into noght.” + +This was the swevene which he hadde, +That Daniel anon aradde, +And seide him that figure strange +Betokneth how the world schal change +And waxe lasse worth and lasse, +Til it to noght al overpasse. 630 +The necke and hed, that weren golde, +He seide how that betokne scholde +A worthi world, a noble, a riche, +To which non after schal be liche. +Of Selver that was overforth +Schal ben a world of lasse worth; +And after that the wombe of Bras +Tokne of a werse world it was. +The Stiel which he syh afterward +A world betokneth more hard: 640 +Bot yet the werste of everydel +Is last, whan that of Erthe and Stiel +He syh the feet departed so, +For that betokneth mochel wo. +Whan that the world divided is, +It moste algate fare amis, +For Erthe which is meynd with Stiel +Togedre may noght laste wiel, +Bot if that on that other waste; +So mot it nedes faile in haste. 650 +The Ston, which fro the hully Stage +He syh doun falle on that ymage, +And hath it into pouldre broke, +That swevene hath Daniel unloke, +And seide how that is goddes myht, +Which whan men wene most upryht +To stonde, schal hem overcaste. +And that is of this world the laste, +And thanne a newe schal beginne, +Fro which a man schal nevere twinne; 660 +Or al to peine or al to pes +That world schal lasten endeles. + +Lo thus expondeth Daniel +The kynges swevene faire and wel +In Babiloyne the Cite, +Wher that the wiseste of Caldee +Ne cowthen wite what it mente; +Bot he tolde al the hol entente, +As in partie it is befalle. +Of gold the ferste regne of alle 670 +Was in that kinges time tho, +And laste manye daies so, +Therwhiles that the Monarchie +Of al the world in that partie +To Babiloyne was soubgit; +And hield him stille in such a plit, +Til that the world began diverse: +And that was whan the king of Perse, +Which Cirus hyhte, ayein the pes +Forth with his Sone Cambises 680 +Of Babiloine al that Empire, +Ryht as thei wolde hemself desire, +Put under in subjeccioun +And tok it in possessioun, +And slayn was Baltazar the king, +Which loste his regne and al his thing. +And thus whan thei it hadde wonne, +The world of Selver was begonne +And that of gold was passed oute: +And in this wise it goth aboute 690 +In to the Regne of Darius; +And thanne it fell to Perse thus, +That Alisaundre put hem under, +Which wroghte of armes many a wonder, +So that the Monarchie lefte +With Grecs, and here astat uplefte, +And Persiens gon under fote, +So soffre thei that nedes mote. +And tho the world began of Bras, +And that of selver ended was; 700 +Bot for the time thus it laste, +Til it befell that ate laste +This king, whan that his day was come, +With strengthe of deth was overcome. +And natheles yet er he dyde, +He schop his Regnes to divide +To knyhtes whiche him hadde served, +And after that thei have deserved +Yaf the conquestes that he wan; +Wherof gret werre tho began 710 +Among hem that the Regnes hadde, +Thurgh proud Envie which hem ladde, +Til it befell ayein hem thus: +The noble Cesar Julius, +Which tho was king of Rome lond, +With gret bataille and with strong hond +Al Grece, Perse and ek Caldee +Wan and put under, so that he +Noght al only of thorient +Bot al the Marche of thoccident 720 +Governeth under his empire, +As he that was hol lord and Sire, +And hield thurgh his chivalerie +Of al this world the Monarchie, +And was the ferste of that honour +Which tok the name of Emperour. + +Wher Rome thanne wolde assaille, +Ther myhte nothing contrevaille, +Bot every contre moste obeie: +Tho goth the Regne of Bras aweie, 730 +And comen is the world of Stiel, +And stod above upon the whiel. +As Stiel is hardest in his kynde +Above alle othre that men finde +Of Metals, such was Rome tho +The myhtieste, and laste so +Long time amonges the Romeins +Til thei become so vileins, +That the fals Emperour Leo +With Constantin his Sone also 740 +The patrimoine and the richesse, +Which to Silvestre in pure almesse +The ferste Constantinus lefte, +Fro holy cherche thei berefte. +Bot Adrian, which Pope was, +And syh the meschief of this cas, +Goth in to France forto pleigne, +And preith the grete Charlemeine, +For Cristes sake and Soule hele +That he wol take the querele 750 +Of holy cherche in his defence. +And Charles for the reverence +Of god the cause hath undertake, +And with his host the weie take +Over the Montz of Lombardie; +Of Rome and al the tirandie +With blodi swerd he overcom, +And the Cite with strengthe nom; +In such a wise and there he wroghte, +That holy cherche ayein he broghte 760 +Into franchise, and doth restore +The Popes lost, and yaf him more: +And thus whan he his god hath served, +He tok, as he wel hath deserved, +The Diademe and was coroned. +Of Rome and thus was abandoned +Thempire, which cam nevere ayein +Into the hond of no Romein; +Bot a long time it stod so stille +Under the Frensche kynges wille, 770 +Til that fortune hir whiel so ladde, +That afterward Lombardz it hadde, +Noght be the swerd, bot be soffrance +Of him that tho was kyng of France, +Which Karle Calvus cleped was; +And he resigneth in this cas +Thempire of Rome unto Lowis +His Cousin, which a Lombard is. +And so hit laste into the yeer +Of Albert and of Berenger; 780 +Bot thanne upon dissencioun +Thei felle, and in divisioun +Among hemself that were grete, +So that thei loste the beyete +Of worschipe and of worldes pes. +Bot in proverbe natheles +Men sein, ful selden is that welthe +Can soffre his oghne astat in helthe; +And that was on the Lombardz sene, +Such comun strif was hem betwene 790 +Thurgh coveitise and thurgh Envie, +That every man drowh his partie, +Which myhte leden eny route, +Withinne Burgh and ek withoute: +The comun ryht hath no felawe, +So that the governance of lawe +Was lost, and for necessite, +Of that thei stode in such degre +Al only thurgh divisioun, +Hem nedeth in conclusioun 800 +Of strange londes help beside. + +And thus for thei hemself divide +And stonden out of reule unevene, +Of Alemaine Princes sevene +Thei chose in this condicioun, +That upon here eleccioun +Thempire of Rome scholde stonde. +And thus thei lefte it out of honde +For lacke of grace, and it forsoke, +That Alemans upon hem toke: 810 +And to confermen here astat, +Of that thei founden in debat +Thei token the possessioun +After the composicioun +Among hemself, and therupon +Thei made an Emperour anon, +Whos name as the Cronique telleth +Was Othes; and so forth it duelleth, +Fro thilke day yit unto this +Thempire of Rome hath ben and is 820 +To thalemans. And in this wise, +As ye tofore have herd divise +How Daniel the swevene expondeth +Of that ymage, on whom he foundeth +The world which after scholde falle, +Come is the laste tokne of alle; +Upon the feet of Erthe and Stiel +So stant this world now everydiel +Departed; which began riht tho, +Whan Rome was divided so: 830 +And that is forto rewe sore, +For alway siththe more and more +The world empeireth every day. +Wherof the sothe schewe may, +At Rome ferst if we beginne: +The wall and al the Cit withinne +Stant in ruine and in decas, +The feld is wher the Paleis was, +The toun is wast; and overthat, +If we beholde thilke astat 840 +Which whilom was of the Romeins, +Of knyhthode and of Citezeins, +To peise now with that beforn, +The chaf is take for the corn, +As forto speke of Romes myht: +Unethes stant ther oght upryht +Of worschipe or of worldes good, +As it before tyme stod. +And why the worschipe is aweie, +If that a man the sothe seie, 850 +The cause hath ben divisioun, +Which moder of confusioun +Is wher sche cometh overal, +Noght only of the temporal +Bot of the spirital also. +The dede proeveth it is so, +And hath do many day er this, +Thurgh venym which that medled is +In holy cherche of erthly thing: +For Crist himself makth knowleching 860 +That noman may togedre serve +God and the world, bot if he swerve +Froward that on and stonde unstable; +And Cristes word may noght be fable. +The thing so open is at ije, +It nedeth noght to specefie +Or speke oght more in this matiere; +Bot in this wise a man mai lere +Hou that the world is gon aboute, +The which welnyh is wered oute, 870 +After the forme of that figure +Which Daniel in his scripture +Expondeth, as tofore is told. +Of Bras, of Selver and of Gold +The world is passed and agon, +And now upon his olde ton +It stant of brutel Erthe and Stiel, +The whiche acorden nevere a diel; +So mot it nedes swerve aside +As thing the which men sen divide. 880 + +Thapostel writ unto ous alle +And seith that upon ous is falle +Thende of the world; so may we knowe, +This ymage is nyh overthrowe, +Be which this world was signified, +That whilom was so magnefied, +And now is old and fieble and vil, +Full of meschief and of peril, +And stant divided ek also +Lich to the feet that were so, 890 +As I tolde of the Statue above. +And this men sen, thurgh lacke of love +Where as the lond divided is, +It mot algate fare amis: +And now to loke on every side, +A man may se the world divide, +The werres ben so general +Among the cristene overal, +That every man now secheth wreche, +And yet these clerkes alday preche 900 +And sein, good dede may non be +Which stant noght upon charite: +I not hou charite may stonde, +Wher dedly werre is take on honde. +Bot al this wo is cause of man, +The which that wit and reson can, +And that in tokne and in witnesse +That ilke ymage bar liknesse +Of man and of non other beste. +For ferst unto the mannes heste 910 +Was every creature ordeined, +Bot afterward it was restreigned: +Whan that he fell, thei fellen eke, +Whan he wax sek, thei woxen seke; +For as the man hath passioun +Of seknesse, in comparisoun +So soffren othre creatures. +Lo, ferst the hevenly figures, +The Sonne and Mone eclipsen bothe, +And ben with mannes senne wrothe; 920 +The purest Eir for Senne alofte +Hath ben and is corrupt fulofte, +Right now the hyhe wyndes blowe, +And anon after thei ben lowe, +Now clowdy and now clier it is: +So may it proeven wel be this, +A mannes Senne is forto hate, +Which makth the welkne to debate. +And forto se the proprete +Of every thyng in his degree, 930 +Benethe forth among ous hiere +Al stant aliche in this matiere: +The See now ebbeth, now it floweth, +The lond now welketh, now it groweth, +Now be the Trees with leves grene, +Now thei be bare and nothing sene, +Now be the lusti somer floures, +Now be the stormy wynter shoures, +Now be the daies, now the nyhtes, +So stant ther nothing al upryhtes, 940 +Now it is lyht, now it is derk; +And thus stant al the worldes werk +After the disposicioun +Of man and his condicioun. +Forthi Gregoire in his Moral +Seith that a man in special +The lasse world is properly: +And that he proeveth redely; +For man of Soule resonable +Is to an Angel resemblable, 950 +And lich to beste he hath fielinge, +And lich to Trees he hath growinge; +The Stones ben and so is he: +Thus of his propre qualite +The man, as telleth the clergie, +Is as a world in his partie, +And whan this litel world mistorneth, +The grete world al overtorneth. +The Lond, the See, the firmament, +Thei axen alle jugement 960 +Ayein the man and make him werre: +Therwhile himself stant out of herre, +The remenant wol noght acorde: +And in this wise, as I recorde, +The man is cause of alle wo, +Why this world is divided so. + +Division, the gospell seith, +On hous upon another leith, +Til that the Regne al overthrowe: +And thus may every man wel knowe, 970 +Division aboven alle +Is thing which makth the world to falle, +And evere hath do sith it began. +It may ferst proeve upon a man; +The which, for his complexioun +Is mad upon divisioun +Of cold, of hot, of moist, of drye, +He mot be verray kynde dye: +For the contraire of his astat +Stant evermore in such debat, 980 +Til that o part be overcome, +Ther may no final pes be nome. +Bot other wise, if a man were +Mad al togedre of o matiere +Withouten interrupcioun, +Ther scholde no corrupcioun +Engendre upon that unite: +Bot for ther is diversite +Withinne himself, he may noght laste, +That he ne deieth ate laste. 990 +Bot in a man yit over this +Full gret divisioun ther is, +Thurgh which that he is evere in strif, +Whil that him lasteth eny lif: +The bodi and the Soule also +Among hem ben divided so, +That what thing that the body hateth +The soule loveth and debateth; +Bot natheles fulofte is sene +Of werre which is hem betwene 1000 +The fieble hath wonne the victoire. +And who so drawth into memoire +What hath befalle of old and newe, +He may that werre sore rewe, +Which ferst began in Paradis: +For ther was proeved what it is, +And what desese there it wroghte; +For thilke werre tho forth broghte +The vice of alle dedly Sinne, +Thurgh which division cam inne 1010 +Among the men in erthe hiere, +And was the cause and the matiere +Why god the grete flodes sende, +Of al the world and made an ende +Bot Noe with his felaschipe, +Which only weren saulf be Schipe. +And over that thurgh Senne it com +That Nembrot such emprise nom, +Whan he the Tour Babel on heihte +Let make, as he that wolde feihte 1020 +Ayein the hihe goddes myht, +Wherof divided anon ryht +Was the langage in such entente, +Ther wiste non what other mente, +So that thei myhten noght procede. +And thus it stant of every dede, +Wher Senne takth the cause on honde, +It may upriht noght longe stonde; +For Senne of his condicioun +Is moder of divisioun 1030 +And tokne whan the world schal faile. +For so seith Crist withoute faile, +That nyh upon the worldes ende +Pes and acord awey schol wende +And alle charite schal cesse, +Among the men and hate encresce; +And whan these toknes ben befalle, +Al sodeinly the Ston schal falle, +As Daniel it hath beknowe, +Which al this world schal overthrowe, 1040 +And every man schal thanne arise +To Joie or elles to Juise, +Wher that he schal for evere dwelle, +Or straght to hevene or straght to helle. +In hevene is pes and al acord, +Bot helle is full of such descord +That ther may be no loveday: +Forthi good is, whil a man may, +Echon to sette pes with other +And loven as his oghne brother; 1050 +So may he winne worldes welthe +And afterward his soule helthe. + +Bot wolde god that now were on +An other such as Arion, +Which hadde an harpe of such temprure, +And therto of so good mesure +He song, that he the bestes wilde +Made of his note tame and milde, +The Hinde in pes with the Leoun, +The Wolf in pes with the Moltoun, 1060 +The Hare in pees stod with the Hound; +And every man upon this ground +Which Arion that time herde, +Als wel the lord as the schepherde, +He broghte hem alle in good acord; +So that the comun with the lord, +And lord with the comun also, +He sette in love bothe tuo +And putte awey malencolie. +That was a lusti melodie, 1070 +Whan every man with other low; +And if ther were such on now, +Which cowthe harpe as he tho dede, +He myhte availe in many a stede +To make pes wher now is hate; +For whan men thenken to debate, +I not what other thing is good. +Bot wher that wisdom waxeth wod, +And reson torneth into rage, +So that mesure upon oultrage 1080 +Hath set his world, it is to drede; +For that bringth in the comun drede, +Which stant at every mannes Dore: +Bot whan the scharpnesse of the spore +The horse side smit to sore, +It grieveth ofte. And now nomore, +As forto speke of this matiere, +Which non bot only god may stiere. + +Explicit Prologus + + + + +Incipit Liber Primus + + +_Naturatus amor nature legibus orbem + Subdit, et vnanimes concitat esse feras: +Huius enim mundi Princeps amor esse videtur, + Cuius eget diues, pauper et omnis ope. +Sunt in agone pares amor et fortuna, que cecas + Plebis ad insidias vertit vterque rotas. +Est amor egra salus, vexata quies, pius error, + Bellica pax, vulnus dulce, suaue malum._ + +I may noght strecche up to the hevene +Min hand, ne setten al in evene +This world, which evere is in balance: +It stant noght in my sufficance +So grete thinges to compasse, +Bot I mot lete it overpasse +And treten upon othre thinges. +Forthi the Stile of my writinges +Fro this day forth I thenke change +And speke of thing is noght so strange, 10 +Which every kinde hath upon honde, +And wherupon the world mot stonde, +And hath don sithen it began, +And schal whil ther is any man; +And that is love, of which I mene +To trete, as after schal be sene. +In which ther can noman him reule, +For loves lawe is out of reule, +That of tomoche or of tolite +Welnyh is every man to wyte, 20 +And natheles ther is noman +In al this world so wys, that can +Of love tempre the mesure, +Bot as it falth in aventure: +For wit ne strengthe may noght helpe, +And he which elles wolde him yelpe +Is rathest throwen under fote, +Ther can no wiht therof do bote. +For yet was nevere such covine, +That couthe ordeine a medicine 30 +To thing which god in lawe of kinde +Hath set, for ther may noman finde +The rihte salve of such a Sor. +It hath and schal ben everemor +That love is maister wher he wile, +Ther can no lif make other skile; +For wher as evere him lest to sette, +Ther is no myht which him may lette. +Bot what schal fallen ate laste, +The sothe can no wisdom caste, 40 +Bot as it falleth upon chance; +For if ther evere was balance +Which of fortune stant governed, +I may wel lieve as I am lerned +That love hath that balance on honde, +Which wol no reson understonde. +For love is blind and may noght se, +Forthi may no certeinete +Be set upon his jugement, +Bot as the whiel aboute went 50 +He yifth his graces undeserved, +And fro that man which hath him served +Fulofte he takth aweye his fees, +As he that pleieth ate Dees, +And therupon what schal befalle +He not, til that the chance falle, +Wher he schal lese or he schal winne. +And thus fulofte men beginne, +That if thei wisten what it mente, +Thei wolde change al here entente. 60 + +And forto proven it is so, +I am miselven on of tho, +Which to this Scole am underfonge. +For it is siththe go noght longe, +As forto speke of this matiere, +I may you telle, if ye woll hiere, +A wonder hap which me befell, +That was to me bothe hard and fell, +Touchende of love and his fortune, +The which me liketh to comune 70 +And pleinly forto telle it oute. +To hem that ben lovers aboute +Fro point to point I wol declare +And wryten of my woful care, +Mi wofull day, my wofull chance, +That men mowe take remembrance +Of that thei schall hierafter rede: +For in good feith this wolde I rede, +That every man ensample take +Of wisdom which him is betake, 80 +And that he wot of good aprise +To teche it forth, for such emprise +Is forto preise; and therfore I +Woll wryte and schewe al openly +How love and I togedre mette, +Wherof the world ensample fette +Mai after this, whan I am go, +Of thilke unsely jolif wo, +Whos reule stant out of the weie, +Nou glad and nou gladnesse aweie, 90 +And yet it may noght be withstonde +For oght that men may understonde. + +Upon the point that is befalle +Of love, in which that I am falle, +I thenke telle my matiere: +Now herkne, who that wol it hiere, +Of my fortune how that it ferde. +This enderday, as I forthferde +To walke, as I yow telle may,— +And that was in the Monthe of Maii, 100 +Whan every brid hath chose his make +And thenkth his merthes forto make +Of love that he hath achieved; +Bot so was I nothing relieved, +For I was further fro my love +Than Erthe is fro the hevene above, +As forto speke of eny sped: +So wiste I me non other red, +Bot as it were a man forfare +Unto the wode I gan to fare, 110 +Noght forto singe with the briddes, +For whanne I was the wode amiddes, +I fond a swote grene pleine, +And ther I gan my wo compleigne +Wisshinge and wepinge al myn one, +For other merthes made I none. +So hard me was that ilke throwe, +That ofte sithes overthrowe +To grounde I was withoute breth; +And evere I wisshide after deth, 120 +Whanne I out of my peine awok, +And caste up many a pitous lok +Unto the hevene, and seide thus: +“O thou Cupide, O thou Venus, +Thou god of love and thou goddesse, +Wher is pite? wher is meknesse? +Now doth me pleinly live or dye, +For certes such a maladie +As I now have and longe have hadd, +It myhte make a wisman madd, 130 +If that it scholde longe endure. +O Venus, queene of loves cure, +Thou lif, thou lust, thou mannes hele, +Behold my cause and my querele, +And yif me som part of thi grace, +So that I may finde in this place +If thou be gracious or non.” +And with that word I sawh anon +The kyng of love and qweene bothe; +Bot he that kyng with yhen wrothe 140 +His chiere aweiward fro me caste, +And forth he passede ate laste. +Bot natheles er he forth wente +A firy Dart me thoghte he hente +And threw it thurgh myn herte rote: +In him fond I non other bote, +For lenger list him noght to duelle. +Bot sche that is the Source and Welle +Of wel or wo, that schal betide +To hem that loven, at that tide 150 +Abod, bot forto tellen hiere +Sche cast on me no goodly chiere: +Thus natheles to me sche seide, +“What art thou, Sone?” and I abreide +Riht as a man doth out of slep, +And therof tok sche riht good kep +And bad me nothing ben adrad: +Bot for al that I was noght glad, +For I ne sawh no cause why. +And eft scheo asketh, what was I: 160 +I seide, “A Caitif that lith hiere: +What wolde ye, my Ladi diere? +Schal I ben hol or elles dye?” +Sche seide, “Tell thi maladie: +What is thi Sor of which thou pleignest? +Ne hyd it noght, for if thou feignest, +I can do the no medicine.” +“Ma dame, I am a man of thyne, +That in thi Court have longe served, +And aske that I have deserved, 170 +Some wele after my longe wo.” +And sche began to loure tho, +And seide, “Ther is manye of yow +Faitours, and so may be that thow +Art riht such on, and be feintise +Seist that thou hast me do servise.” +And natheles sche wiste wel, +Mi world stod on an other whiel +Withouten eny faiterie: +Bot algate of my maladie 180 +Sche bad me telle and seie hir trowthe. +“Ma dame, if ye wolde have rowthe,” +Quod I, “than wolde I telle yow.” +“Sey forth,” quod sche, “and tell me how; +Schew me thi seknesse everydiel.” +“Ma dame, that can I do wel, +Be so my lif therto wol laste.” +With that hir lok on me sche caste, +And seide: “In aunter if thou live, +Mi will is ferst that thou be schrive; 190 +And natheles how that it is +I wot miself, bot for al this +Unto my prest, which comth anon, +I woll thou telle it on and on, +Bothe all thi thoght and al thi werk. +O Genius myn oghne Clerk, +Com forth and hier this mannes schrifte,” +Quod Venus tho; and I uplifte +Min hefd with that, and gan beholde +The selve Prest, which as sche wolde 200 +Was redy there and sette him doun +To hiere my confessioun. + +This worthi Prest, this holy man +To me spekende thus began, +And seide: “Benedicite, +Mi Sone, of the felicite +Of love and ek of all the wo +Thou schalt thee schrive of bothe tuo. +What thou er this for loves sake +Hast felt, let nothing be forsake, 210 +Tell pleinliche as it is befalle.” +And with that word I gan doun falle +On knees, and with devocioun +And with full gret contricioun +I seide thanne: “Dominus, +Min holi fader Genius, +So as thou hast experience +Of love, for whos reverence +Thou schalt me schriven at this time, +I prai the let me noght mistime 220 +Mi schrifte, for I am destourbed +In al myn herte, and so contourbed, +That I ne may my wittes gete, +So schal I moche thing foryete: +Bot if thou wolt my schrifte oppose +Fro point to point, thanne I suppose, +Ther schal nothing be left behinde. +Bot now my wittes ben so blinde, +That I ne can miselven teche.” +Tho he began anon to preche, 230 +And with his wordes debonaire +He seide tome softe and faire: +“Thi schrifte to oppose and hiere, +My Sone, I am assigned hiere +Be Venus the godesse above, +Whos Prest I am touchende of love. +Bot natheles for certein skile +I mot algate and nedes wile +Noght only make my spekynges +Of love, bot of othre thinges, 240 +That touchen to the cause of vice. +For that belongeth to thoffice +Of Prest, whos ordre that I bere, +So that I wol nothing forbere, +That I the vices on and on +Ne schal thee schewen everychon; +Wherof thou myht take evidence +To reule with thi conscience. +Bot of conclusion final +Conclude I wol in special 250 +For love, whos servant I am, +And why the cause is that I cam. +So thenke I to don bothe tuo, +Ferst that myn ordre longeth to, +The vices forto telle arewe, +Bot next above alle othre schewe +Of love I wol the propretes, +How that thei stonde be degrees +After the disposicioun +Of Venus, whos condicioun 260 +I moste folwe, as I am holde. +For I with love am al withholde, +So that the lasse I am to wyte, +Thogh I ne conne bot a lyte +Of othre thinges that ben wise: +I am noght tawht in such a wise; +For it is noght my comun us +To speke of vices and vertus, +Bot al of love and of his lore, +For Venus bokes of nomore 270 +Me techen nowther text ne glose. +Bot for als moche as I suppose +It sit a prest to be wel thewed, +And schame it is if he be lewed, +Of my Presthode after the forme +I wol thi schrifte so enforme, +That ate leste thou schalt hiere +The vices, and to thi matiere +Of love I schal hem so remene, +That thou schalt knowe what thei mene. 280 +For what a man schal axe or sein +Touchende of schrifte, it mot be plein, +It nedeth noght to make it queinte, +For trowthe hise wordes wol noght peinte: +That I wole axe of the forthi, +My Sone, it schal be so pleinly, +That thou schalt knowe and understonde +The pointz of schrifte how that thei stonde.” + +Betwen the lif and deth I herde +This Prestes tale er I answerde, 290 +And thanne I preide him forto seie +His will, and I it wolde obeie +After the forme of his apprise. +Tho spak he tome in such a wise, +And bad me that I scholde schrive +As touchende of my wittes fyve, +And schape that thei were amended +Of that I hadde hem misdispended. +For tho be proprely the gates, +Thurgh whiche as to the herte algates 300 +Comth alle thing unto the feire, +Which may the mannes Soule empeire. +And now this matiere is broght inne, +Mi Sone, I thenke ferst beginne +To wite how that thin yhe hath stonde, +The which is, as I understonde, +The moste principal of alle, +Thurgh whom that peril mai befalle. + +And forto speke in loves kinde, +Ful manye suche a man mai finde, 310 +Whiche evere caste aboute here yhe, +To loke if that thei myhte aspie +Fulofte thing which hem ne toucheth, +Bot only that here herte soucheth +In hindringe of an other wiht; +And thus ful many a worthi knyht +And many a lusti lady bothe +Have be fulofte sythe wrothe. +So that an yhe is as a thief +To love, and doth ful gret meschief; 320 +And also for his oghne part +Fulofte thilke firy Dart +Of love, which that evere brenneth, +Thurgh him into the herte renneth: +And thus a mannes yhe ferst +Himselve grieveth alther werst, +And many a time that he knoweth +Unto his oghne harm it groweth. +Mi Sone, herkne now forthi +A tale, to be war therby 330 +Thin yhe forto kepe and warde, +So that it passe noght his warde. + +Ovide telleth in his bok +Ensample touchende of mislok, +And seith hou whilom ther was on, +A worthi lord, which Acteon +Was hote, and he was cousin nyh +To him that Thebes ferst on hyh +Up sette, which king Cadme hyhte. +This Acteon, as he wel myhte, 340 +Above alle othre caste his chiere, +And used it fro yer to yere, +With Houndes and with grete Hornes +Among the wodes and the thornes +To make his hunting and his chace: +Where him best thoghte in every place +To finde gamen in his weie, +Ther rod he forto hunte and pleie. +So him befell upon a tide +On his hunting as he cam ride, 350 +In a Forest al one he was: +He syh upon the grene gras +The faire freisshe floures springe, +He herde among the leves singe +The Throstle with the nyhtingale: +Thus er he wiste into a Dale +He cam, wher was a litel plein, +All round aboute wel besein +With buisshes grene and Cedres hyhe; +And ther withinne he caste his yhe. 360 +Amidd the plein he syh a welle, +So fair ther myhte noman telle, +In which Diana naked stod +To bathe and pleie hire in the flod +With many a Nimphe, which hire serveth. +Bot he his yhe awey ne swerveth +Fro hire, which was naked al, +And sche was wonder wroth withal, +And him, as sche which was godesse, +Forschop anon, and the liknesse 370 +Sche made him taken of an Hert, +Which was tofore hise houndes stert, +That ronne besiliche aboute +With many an horn and many a route, +That maden mochel noise and cry: +And ate laste unhappely +This Hert his oghne houndes slowhe +And him for vengance al todrowhe. + +Lo now, my Sone, what it is +A man to caste his yhe amis, 380 +Which Acteon hath dere aboght; +Be war forthi and do it noght. +For ofte, who that hiede toke, +Betre is to winke than to loke. +And forto proven it is so, +Ovide the Poete also +A tale which to this matiere +Acordeth seith, as thou schalt hiere. + +In Metamor it telleth thus, +How that a lord which Phorceus 390 +Was hote, hadde dowhtres thre. +Bot upon here nativite +Such was the constellacion, +That out of mannes nacion +Fro kynde thei be so miswent, +That to the liknesse of Serpent +Thei were bore, and so that on +Of hem was cleped Stellibon, +That other soster Suriale, +The thridde, as telleth in the tale, 400 +Medusa hihte, and natheles +Of comun name Gorgones +In every contre ther aboute, +As Monstres whiche that men doute, +Men clepen hem; and bot on yhe +Among hem thre in pourpartie +Thei hadde, of which thei myhte se, +Now hath it this, now hath it sche; +After that cause and nede it ladde, +Be throwes ech of hem it hadde. 410 +A wonder thing yet more amis +Ther was, wherof I telle al this: +What man on hem his chiere caste +And hem behield, he was als faste +Out of a man into a Ston +Forschape, and thus ful manyon +Deceived were, of that thei wolde +Misloke, wher that thei ne scholde. +Bot Perseus that worthi knyht, +Whom Pallas of hir grete myht 420 +Halp, and tok him a Schield therto, +And ek the god Mercurie also +Lente him a swerd, he, as it fell, +Beyende Athlans the hihe hell +These Monstres soghte, and there he fond +Diverse men of thilke lond +Thurgh sihte of hem mistorned were, +Stondende as Stones hiere and there. +Bot he, which wisdom and prouesse +Hadde of the god and the godesse, 430 +The Schield of Pallas gan enbrace, +With which he covereth sauf his face, +Mercuries Swerd and out he drowh, +And so he bar him that he slowh +These dredful Monstres alle thre. + +Lo now, my Sone, avise the, +That thou thi sihte noght misuse: +Cast noght thin yhe upon Meduse, +That thou be torned into Ston: +For so wys man was nevere non, 440 +Bot if he wel his yhe kepe +And take of fol delit no kepe, +That he with lust nys ofte nome, +Thurgh strengthe of love and overcome. +Of mislokynge how it hath ferd, +As I have told, now hast thou herd, +My goode Sone, and tak good hiede. +And overthis yet I thee rede +That thou be war of thin heringe, +Which to the Herte the tidinge 450 +Of many a vanite hath broght, +To tarie with a mannes thoght. +And natheles good is to hiere +Such thing wherof a man may lere +That to vertu is acordant, +And toward al the remenant +Good is to torne his Ere fro; +For elles, bot a man do so, +Him may fulofte mysbefalle. +I rede ensample amonges alle, 460 +Wherof to kepe wel an Ere +It oghte pute a man in fere. + +A Serpent, which that Aspidis +Is cleped, of his kynde hath this, +That he the Ston noblest of alle, +The which that men Carbuncle calle, +Berth in his hed above on heihte. +For which whan that a man be sleyhte, +The Ston to winne and him to daunte, +With his carecte him wolde enchaunte, 470 +Anon as he perceiveth that, +He leith doun his on Ere al plat +Unto the ground, and halt it faste, +And ek that other Ere als faste +He stoppeth with his tail so sore, +That he the wordes lasse or more +Of his enchantement ne hiereth; +And in this wise himself he skiereth, +So that he hath the wordes weyved +And thurgh his Ere is noght deceived. 480 + +An othre thing, who that recordeth, +Lich unto this ensample acordeth, +Which in the tale of Troie I finde. +Sirenes of a wonder kynde +Ben Monstres, as the bokes tellen, +And in the grete Se thei duellen: +Of body bothe and of visage +Lik unto wommen of yong age +Up fro the Navele on hih thei be, +And doun benethe, as men mai se, 490 +Thei bere of fisshes the figure. +And overthis of such nature +Thei ben, that with so swete a stevene +Lik to the melodie of hevene +In wommanysshe vois thei singe, +With notes of so gret likinge, +Of such mesure, of such musike, +Wherof the Schipes thei beswike +That passen be the costes there. +For whan the Schipmen leie an Ere 500 +Unto the vois, in here avys +Thei wene it be a Paradys, +Which after is to hem an helle. +For reson may noght with hem duelle, +Whan thei tho grete lustes hiere; +Thei conne noght here Schipes stiere, +So besiliche upon the note +Thei herkne, and in such wise assote, +That thei here rihte cours and weie +Foryete, and to here Ere obeie, 510 +And seilen til it so befalle +That thei into the peril falle, +Where as the Schipes be todrawe, +And thei ben with the Monstres slawe. +Bot fro this peril natheles +With his wisdom king Uluxes +Ascapeth and it overpasseth; +For he tofor the hond compasseth +That noman of his compaignie +Hath pouer unto that folie 520 +His Ere for no lust to caste; +For he hem stoppede alle faste, +That non of hem mai hiere hem singe. +So whan they comen forth seilinge, +Ther was such governance on honde, +That thei the Monstres have withstonde +And slain of hem a gret partie. +Thus was he sauf with his navie, +This wise king, thurgh governance. + +Wherof, my Sone, in remembrance 530 +Thou myht ensample taken hiere, +As I have told, and what thou hiere +Be wel war, and yif no credence, +Bot if thou se more evidence. +For if thou woldest take kepe +And wisly cowthest warde and kepe +Thin yhe and Ere, as I have spoke, +Than haddest thou the gates stoke +Fro such Sotie as comth to winne +Thin hertes wit, which is withinne, 540 +Wherof that now thi love excedeth +Mesure, and many a peine bredeth. +Bot if thou cowthest sette in reule +Tho tuo, the thre were eth to reule: +Forthi as of thi wittes five +I wole as now nomore schryve, +Bot only of these ilke tuo. +Tell me therfore if it be so, +Hast thou thin yhen oght misthrowe? + +Mi fader, ye, I am beknowe, 550 +I have hem cast upon Meduse, +Therof I may me noght excuse: +Min herte is growen into Ston, +So that my lady therupon +Hath such a priente of love grave, +That I can noght miselve save. + +What seist thou, Sone, as of thin Ere? + +Mi fader, I am gultyf there; +For whanne I may my lady hiere, +Mi wit with that hath lost his Stiere: 560 +I do noght as Uluxes dede, +Bot falle anon upon the stede, +Wher as I se my lady stonde; +And there, I do yow understonde, +I am topulled in my thoght, +So that of reson leveth noght, +Wherof that I me mai defende. + +My goode Sone, god thamende: +For as me thenketh be thi speche +Thi wittes ben riht feer to seche. 570 +As of thin Ere and of thin yhe +I woll nomore specefie, +Bot I woll axen overthis +Of othre thing how that it is. + +Mi Sone, as I thee schal enforme, +Ther ben yet of an other forme +Of dedly vices sevene applied, +Wherof the herte is ofte plied +To thing which after schal him grieve. +The ferste of hem thou schalt believe 580 +Is Pride, which is principal, +And hath with him in special +Ministres five ful diverse, +Of whiche, as I the schal reherse, +The ferste is seid Ypocrisie. +If thou art of his compaignie, +Tell forth, my Sone, and schrif the clene. + +I wot noght, fader, what ye mene: +Bot this I wolde you beseche, +That ye me be som weie teche 590 +What is to ben an ypocrite; +And thanne if I be forto wyte, +I wol beknowen, as it is. + +Mi Sone, an ypocrite is this,— +A man which feigneth conscience, +As thogh it were al innocence, +Withoute, and is noght so withinne; +And doth so for he wolde winne +Of his desir the vein astat. +And whanne he comth anon therat, 600 +He scheweth thanne what he was, +The corn is torned into gras, +That was a Rose is thanne a thorn, +And he that was a Lomb beforn +Is thanne a Wolf, and thus malice +Under the colour of justice +Is hid; and as the poeple telleth, +These ordres witen where he duelleth, +As he that of here conseil is, +And thilke world which thei er this 610 +Forsoken, he drawth in ayein: +He clotheth richesse, as men sein, +Under the simplesce of poverte, +And doth to seme of gret decerte +Thing which is litel worth withinne: +He seith in open, fy! to Sinne, +And in secre ther is no vice +Of which that he nis a Norrice: +And evere his chiere is sobre and softe, +And where he goth he blesseth ofte, 620 +Wherof the blinde world he dreccheth. +Bot yet al only he ne streccheth +His reule upon religioun, +Bot next to that condicioun +In suche as clepe hem holy cherche +It scheweth ek how he can werche +Among tho wyde furred hodes, +To geten hem the worldes goodes. +And thei hemself ben thilke same +That setten most the world in blame, 630 +Bot yet in contraire of her lore +Ther is nothing thei loven more; +So that semende of liht thei werke +The dedes whiche are inward derke. +And thus this double Ypocrisie +With his devolte apparantie +A viser set upon his face, +Wherof toward this worldes grace +He semeth to be riht wel thewed, +And yit his herte is al beschrewed. 640 +Bot natheles he stant believed, +And hath his pourpos ofte achieved +Of worschipe and of worldes welthe, +And takth it, as who seith, be stelthe +Thurgh coverture of his fallas. +And riht so in semblable cas +This vice hath ek his officers +Among these othre seculers +Of grete men, for of the smale +As for tacompte he set no tale, 650 +Bot thei that passen the comune +With suche him liketh to comune, +And where he seith he wol socoure +The poeple, there he woll devoure; +For now aday is manyon +Which spekth of Peter and of John +And thenketh Judas in his herte. +Ther schal no worldes good asterte +His hond, and yit he yifth almesse +And fasteth ofte and hiereth Messe: 660 +With mea culpa, which he seith, +Upon his brest fullofte he leith +His hond, and cast upward his yhe, +As thogh he Cristes face syhe; +So that it seemeth ate syhte, +As he al one alle othre myhte +Rescoue with his holy bede. +Bot yet his herte in other stede +Among hise bedes most devoute +Goth in the worldes cause aboute, 670 +How that he myhte his warisoun +Encresce. + + And in comparisoun +Ther ben lovers of such a sort, +That feignen hem an humble port, +And al is bot Ypocrisie, +Which with deceipte and flaterie +Hath many a worthi wif beguiled. +For whanne he hath his tunge affiled, +With softe speche and with lesinge, +Forth with his fals pitous lokynge, 680 +He wolde make a womman wene +To gon upon the faire grene, +Whan that sche falleth in the Mir. +For if he may have his desir, +How so falle of the remenant, +He halt no word of covenant; +Bot er the time that he spede, +Ther is no sleihte at thilke nede, +Which eny loves faitour mai, +That he ne put it in assai, 690 +As him belongeth forto done. +The colour of the reyni Mone +With medicine upon his face +He set, and thanne he axeth grace, +As he which hath sieknesse feigned. +Whan his visage is so desteigned, +With yhe upcast on hire he siketh, +And many a contenance he piketh, +To bringen hire in to believe +Of thing which that he wolde achieve, 700 +Wherof he berth the pale hewe; +And for he wolde seme trewe, +He makth him siek, whan he is heil. +Bot whanne he berth lowest the Seil, +Thanne is he swiftest to beguile +The womman, which that ilke while +Set upon him feith or credence. + +Mi Sone, if thou thi conscience +Entamed hast in such a wise, +In schrifte thou thee myht avise 710 +And telle it me, if it be so. + +Min holy fader, certes no. +As forto feigne such sieknesse +It nedeth noght, for this witnesse +I take of god, that my corage +Hath ben mor siek than my visage. +And ek this mai I wel avowe, +So lowe cowthe I nevere bowe +To feigne humilite withoute, +That me ne leste betre loute 720 +With alle the thoghtes of myn herte; +For that thing schal me nevere asterte, +I speke as to my lady diere, +To make hire eny feigned chiere. +God wot wel there I lye noght, +Mi chiere hath be such as my thoght; +For in good feith, this lieveth wel, +Mi will was betre a thousendel +Than eny chiere that I cowthe. +Bot, Sire, if I have in my yowthe 730 +Don other wise in other place, +I put me therof in your grace: +For this excusen I ne schal, +That I have elles overal +To love and to his compaignie +Be plein withoute Ypocrisie; +Bot ther is on the which I serve, +Althogh I may no thonk deserve, +To whom yet nevere into this day +I seide onlyche or ye or nay, 740 +Bot if it so were in my thoght. +As touchende othre seie I noght +That I nam somdel forto wyte +Of that ye clepe an ypocrite. + +Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht +To kepe his word in trowthe upryht +Towardes love in alle wise. +For who that wolde him wel avise +What hath befalle in this matiere, +He scholde noght with feigned chiere 750 +Deceive Love in no degre. +To love is every herte fre, +Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest +And therupon thi lust atteignest, +That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, +Thogh it thee like for a whyle, +Thou schalt it afterward repente. +And forto prove myn entente, +I finde ensample in a Croniqe +Of hem that love so beswike. 760 + +It fell be olde daies thus, +Whil themperour Tiberius +The Monarchie of Rome ladde, +Ther was a worthi Romein hadde +A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, +Which was to every mannes sihte +Of al the Cite the faireste, +And as men seiden, ek the beste. +It is and hath ben evere yit, +That so strong is no mannes wit, 770 +Which thurgh beaute ne mai be drawe +To love, and stonde under the lawe +Of thilke bore frele kinde, +Which makth the hertes yhen blinde, +Wher no reson mai be comuned: +And in this wise stod fortuned +This tale, of which I wolde mene; +This wif, which in hire lustes grene +Was fair and freissh and tendre of age, +Sche may noght lette the corage 780 +Of him that wole on hire assote. + +There was a Duck, and he was hote +Mundus, which hadde in his baillie +To lede the chivalerie +Of Rome, and was a worthi knyht; +Bot yet he was noght of such myht +The strengthe of love to withstonde, +That he ne was so broght to honde, +That malgre wher he wole or no, +This yonge wif he loveth so, 790 +That he hath put al his assay +To wynne thing which he ne may +Gete of hire graunt in no manere, +Be yifte of gold ne be preiere. +And whanne he syh that be no mede +Toward hir love he myhte spede, +Be sleyhte feigned thanne he wroghte; +And therupon he him bethoghte +How that ther was in the Cite +A temple of such auctorite, 800 +To which with gret Devocioun +The noble wommen of the toun +Most comunliche a pelrinage +Gon forto preie thilke ymage +Which the godesse of childinge is, +And cleped was be name Ysis: +And in hire temple thanne were, +To reule and to ministre there +After the lawe which was tho, +Above alle othre Prestes tuo. 810 +This Duck, which thoghte his love gete, +Upon a day hem tuo to mete +Hath bede, and thei come at his heste; +Wher that thei hadde a riche feste, +And after mete in prive place +This lord, which wolde his thonk pourchace, +To ech of hem yaf thanne a yifte, +And spak so that be weie of schrifte +He drowh hem unto his covine, +To helpe and schape how he Pauline 820 +After his lust deceive myhte. +And thei here trowthes bothe plyhte, +That thei be nyhte hire scholden wynne +Into the temple, and he therinne +Schal have of hire al his entente: +And thus acorded forth thei wente. + +Now lest thurgh which ypocrisie +Ordeigned was the tricherie, +Wherof this ladi was deceived. +These Prestes hadden wel conceived 830 +That sche was of gret holinesse; +And with a contrefet simplesse, +Which hid was in a fals corage, +Feignende an hevenely message +Thei come and seide unto hir thus: +“Pauline, the god Anubus +Hath sent ous bothe Prestes hiere, +And seith he woll to thee appiere +Be nyhtes time himself alone, +For love he hath to thi persone: 840 +And therupon he hath ous bede, +That we in Ysis temple a stede +Honestely for thee pourveie, +Wher thou be nyhte, as we thee seie, +Of him schalt take avisioun. +For upon thi condicioun, +The which is chaste and ful of feith, +Such pris, as he ous tolde, he leith, +That he wol stonde of thin acord; +And forto bere hierof record 850 +He sende ous hider bothe tuo.” +Glad was hire innocence tho +Of suche wordes as sche herde, +With humble chiere and thus answerde, +And seide that the goddes wille +Sche was al redy to fulfille, +That be hire housebondes leve +Sche wolde in Ysis temple at eve +Upon hire goddes grace abide, +To serven him the nyhtes tide. 860 +The Prestes tho gon hom ayein, +And sche goth to hire sovereign, +Of goddes wille and as it was +Sche tolde him al the pleine cas, +Wherof he was deceived eke, +And bad that sche hire scholde meke +Al hol unto the goddes heste. +And thus sche, which was al honeste +To godward after hire entente, +At nyht unto the temple wente, 870 +Wher that the false Prestes were; +And thei receiven hire there +With such a tokne of holinesse, +As thogh thei syhen a godesse, +And al withinne in prive place +A softe bedd of large space +Thei hadde mad and encourtined, +Wher sche was afterward engined. +Bot sche, which al honour supposeth, +The false Prestes thanne opposeth, 880 +And axeth be what observance +Sche myhte most to the plesance +Of godd that nyhtes reule kepe: +And thei hire bidden forto slepe +Liggende upon the bedd alofte, +For so, thei seide, al stille and softe +God Anubus hire wolde awake. +The conseil in this wise take, +The Prestes fro this lady gon; +And sche, that wiste of guile non, 890 +In the manere as it was seid +To slepe upon the bedd is leid, +In hope that sche scholde achieve +Thing which stod thanne upon bilieve, +Fulfild of alle holinesse. +Bot sche hath failed, as I gesse, +For in a closet faste by +The Duck was hid so prively +That sche him myhte noght perceive; +And he, that thoghte to deceive, 900 +Hath such arrai upon him nome, +That whanne he wolde unto hir come, +It scholde semen at hire yhe +As thogh sche verrailiche syhe +God Anubus, and in such wise +This ypocrite of his queintise +Awaiteth evere til sche slepte. +And thanne out of his place he crepte +So stille that sche nothing herde, +And to the bedd stalkende he ferde, 910 +And sodeinly, er sche it wiste, +Beclipt in armes he hire kiste: +Wherof in wommanysshe drede +Sche wok and nyste what to rede; +Bot he with softe wordes milde +Conforteth hire and seith, with childe +He wolde hire make in such a kynde +That al the world schal have in mynde +The worschipe of that ilke Sone; +For he schal with the goddes wone, 920 +And ben himself a godd also. +With suche wordes and with mo, +The whiche he feigneth in his speche, +This lady wit was al to seche, +As sche which alle trowthe weneth: +Bot he, that alle untrowthe meneth, +With blinde tales so hire ladde, +That all his wille of hire he hadde. +And whan him thoghte it was ynowh, +Ayein the day he him withdrowh 930 +So prively that sche ne wiste +Wher he becom, bot as him liste +Out of the temple he goth his weie. +And sche began to bidde and preie +Upon the bare ground knelende, +And after that made hire offrende, +And to the Prestes yiftes grete +Sche yaf, and homward be the Strete. +The Duck hire mette and seide thus: +“The myhti godd which Anubus 940 +Is hote, he save the, Pauline, +For thou art of his discipline +So holy, that no mannes myht +Mai do that he hath do to nyht +Of thing which thou hast evere eschuied. +Bot I his grace have so poursuied, +That I was mad his lieutenant: +Forthi be weie of covenant +Fro this day forth I am al thin, +And if thee like to be myn, 950 +That stant upon thin oghne wille.” + +Sche herde his tale and bar it stille, +And hom sche wente, as it befell, +Into hir chambre, and ther sche fell +Upon hire bedd to wepe and crie, +And seide: “O derke ypocrisie, +Thurgh whos dissimilacion +Of fals ymaginacion +I am thus wickedly deceived! +Bot that I have it aperceived 960 +I thonke unto the goddes alle; +For thogh it ones be befalle, +It schal nevere eft whil that I live, +And thilke avou to godd I yive.” +And thus wepende sche compleigneth, +Hire faire face and al desteigneth +With wofull teres of hire ije, +So that upon this agonie +Hire housebonde is inne come, +And syh how sche was overcome 970 +With sorwe, and axeth what hire eileth. +And sche with that hirself beweileth +Welmore than sche dede afore, +And seide, “Helas, wifhode is lore +In me, which whilom was honeste, +I am non other than a beste, +Now I defouled am of tuo.” +And as sche myhte speke tho, +Aschamed with a pitous onde +Sche tolde unto hir housebonde 980 +The sothe of al the hole tale, +And in hire speche ded and pale +Sche swouneth welnyh to the laste. +And he hire in hise armes faste +Uphield, and ofte swor his oth +That he with hire is nothing wroth, +For wel he wot sche may ther noght: +Bot natheles withinne his thoght +His herte stod in sori plit, +And seide he wolde of that despit 990 +Be venged, how so evere it falle, +And sende unto hise frendes alle. +And whan thei weren come in fere, +He tolde hem upon this matiere, +And axeth hem what was to done: +And thei avised were sone, +And seide it thoghte hem for the beste +To sette ferst his wif in reste, +And after pleigne to the king +Upon the matiere of this thing. 1000 +Tho was this wofull wif conforted +Be alle weies and desported, +Til that sche was somdiel amended; +And thus a day or tuo despended, +The thridde day sche goth to pleigne +With many a worthi Citezeine, +And he with many a Citezein. + +Whan themperour it herde sein, +And knew the falshed of the vice, +He seide he wolde do justice: 1010 +And ferst he let the Prestes take, +And for thei scholde it noght forsake, +He put hem into questioun; +Bot thei of the suggestioun +Ne couthen noght a word refuse, +Bot for thei wolde hemself excuse, +The blame upon the Duck thei leide. +Bot therayein the conseil seide +That thei be noght excused so, +For he is on and thei ben tuo, 1020 +And tuo han more wit then on, +So thilke excusement was non. +And over that was seid hem eke, +That whan men wolden vertu seke, +Men scholde it in the Prestes finde; +Here ordre is of so hyh a kinde, +That thei be Duistres of the weie: +Forthi, if eny man forsueie +Thurgh hem, thei be noght excusable. +And thus be lawe resonable 1030 +Among the wise jugges there +The Prestes bothe dampned were, +So that the prive tricherie +Hid under fals Ipocrisie +Was thanne al openliche schewed, +That many a man hem hath beschrewed. +And whan the Prestes weren dede, +The temple of thilke horrible dede +Thei thoghten purge, and thilke ymage, +Whos cause was the pelrinage, 1040 +Thei drowen out and als so faste +Fer into Tibre thei it caste, +Wher the Rivere it hath defied: +And thus the temple purified +Thei have of thilke horrible Sinne, +Which was that time do therinne. +Of this point such was the juise, +Bot of the Duck was other wise: +For he with love was bestad, +His dom was noght so harde lad; 1050 +For Love put reson aweie +And can noght se the rihte weie. +And be this cause he was respited, +So that the deth him was acquited, +Bot for al that he was exiled, +For he his love hath so beguiled, +That he schal nevere come ayein: +For who that is to trowthe unplein, +He may noght failen of vengance. + +And ek to take remembrance 1060 +Of that Ypocrisie hath wroght +On other half, men scholde noght +To lihtly lieve al that thei hiere, +Bot thanne scholde a wisman stiere +The Schip, whan suche wyndes blowe: +For ferst thogh thei beginne lowe, +At ende thei be noght menable, +Bot al tobreken Mast and Cable, +So that the Schip with sodein blast, +Whan men lest wene, is overcast; 1070 +As now fulofte a man mai se: +And of old time how it hath be +I finde a gret experience, +Wherof to take an evidence +Good is, and to be war also +Of the peril, er him be wo. + +Of hem that ben so derk withinne, +At Troie also if we beginne, +Ipocrisie it hath betraied: +For whan the Greks hadde al assaied, 1080 +And founde that be no bataille +Ne be no Siege it myhte availe +The toun to winne thurgh prouesse, +This vice feigned of simplesce +Thurgh sleyhte of Calcas and of Crise +It wan be such a maner wise. +An Hors of Bras thei let do forge +Of such entaile, of such a forge, +That in this world was nevere man +That such an other werk began. 1090 +The crafti werkman Epius +It made, and forto telle thus, +The Greks, that thoghten to beguile +The kyng of Troie, in thilke while +With Anthenor and with Enee, +That were bothe of the Cite +And of the conseil the wiseste, +The richeste and the myhtieste, +In prive place so thei trete +With fair beheste and yiftes grete 1100 +Of gold, that thei hem have engined; +Togedre and whan thei be covined, +Thei feignen forto make a pes, +And under that yit natheles +Thei schopen the destruccioun +Bothe of the kyng and of the toun. +And thus the false pees was take +Of hem of Grece and undertake, +And therupon thei founde a weie, +Wher strengthe myhte noght aweie, 1110 +That sleihte scholde helpe thanne; +And of an ynche a large spanne +Be colour of the pees thei made, +And tolden how thei weren glade +Of that thei stoden in acord; +And for it schal ben of record, +Unto the kyng the Gregois seiden, +Be weie of love and this thei preiden, +As thei that wolde his thonk deserve, +A Sacrifice unto Minerve, 1120 +The pes to kepe in good entente, +Thei mosten offre er that thei wente. +The kyng conseiled in this cas +Be Anthenor and Eneas +Therto hath yoven his assent: +So was the pleine trowthe blent +Thurgh contrefet Ipocrisie +Of that thei scholden sacrifie. + +The Greks under the holinesse +Anon with alle besinesse 1130 +Here Hors of Bras let faire dihte, +Which was to sen a wonder sihte; +For it was trapped of himselve, +And hadde of smale whieles twelve, +Upon the whiche men ynowe +With craft toward the toun it drowe, +And goth glistrende ayein the Sunne. +Tho was ther joie ynowh begunne, +For Troie in gret devocioun +Cam also with processioun 1140 +Ayein this noble Sacrifise +With gret honour, and in this wise +Unto the gates thei it broghte. +Bot of here entre whan thei soghte, +The gates weren al to smale; +And therupon was many a tale, +Bot for the worschipe of Minerve, +To whom thei comen forto serve, +Thei of the toun, whiche understode +That al this thing was do for goode, 1150 +For pes, wherof that thei ben glade, +The gates that Neptunus made +A thousend wynter ther tofore, +Thei have anon tobroke and tore; +The stronge walles doun thei bete, +So that in to the large strete +This Hors with gret solempnite +Was broght withinne the Cite, +And offred with gret reverence, +Which was to Troie an evidence 1160 +Of love and pes for everemo. +The Gregois token leve tho +With al the hole felaschipe, +And forth thei wenten into Schipe +And crossen seil and made hem yare, +Anon as thogh thei wolden fare: +Bot whan the blake wynter nyht +Withoute Mone or Sterre lyht +Bederked hath the water Stronde, +Al prively thei gon to londe 1170 +Ful armed out of the navie. +Synon, which mad was here aspie +Withinne Troie, as was conspired, +Whan time was a tokne hath fired; +And thei with that here weie holden, +And comen in riht as thei wolden, +Ther as the gate was tobroke. +The pourpos was full take and spoke: +Er eny man may take kepe, +Whil that the Cite was aslepe, 1180 +Thei slowen al that was withinne, +And token what thei myhten wynne +Of such good as was sufficant, +And brenden up the remenant. +And thus cam out the tricherie, +Which under fals Ypocrisie +Was hid, and thei that wende pees +Tho myhten finde no reles +Of thilke swerd which al devoureth. + +Fulofte and thus the swete soureth, 1190 +Whan it is knowe to the tast: +He spilleth many a word in wast +That schal with such a poeple trete; +For whan he weneth most beyete, +Thanne is he schape most to lese. +And riht so if a womman chese +Upon the wordes that sche hiereth +Som man, whan he most trewe appiereth, +Thanne is he forthest fro the trowthe: +Bot yit fulofte, and that is rowthe, 1200 +Thei speden that ben most untrewe +And loven every day a newe, +Wherof the lief is after loth +And love hath cause to be wroth. +Bot what man that his lust desireth +Of love, and therupon conspireth +With wordes feigned to deceive, +He schal noght faile to receive +His peine, as it is ofte sene. + +Forthi, my Sone, as I thee mene, 1210 +It sit the wel to taken hiede +That thou eschuie of thi manhiede +Ipocrisie and his semblant, +That thou ne be noght deceivant, +To make a womman to believe +Thing which is noght in thi bilieve: +For in such feint Ipocrisie +Of love is al the tricherie, +Thurgh which love is deceived ofte; +For feigned semblant is so softe, 1220 +Unethes love may be war. +Forthi, my Sone, as I wel dar, +I charge thee to fle that vice, +That many a womman hath mad nice; +Bot lok thou dele noght withal. + +Iwiss, fader, nomor I schal. + +Now, Sone, kep that thou hast swore: +For this that thou hast herd before +Is seid the ferste point of Pride: +And next upon that other side, 1230 +To schryve and speken overthis +Touchende of Pride, yit ther is +The point seconde, I thee behote, +Which Inobedience is hote. + +This vice of Inobedience +Ayein the reule of conscience +Al that is humble he desalloweth, +That he toward his god ne boweth +After the lawes of his heste. +Noght as a man bot as a beste, 1240 +Which goth upon his lustes wilde, +So goth this proude vice unmylde, +That he desdeigneth alle lawe: +He not what is to be felawe, +And serve may he noght for pride; +So is he badde on every side, +And is that selve of whom men speke, +Which wol noght bowe er that he breke. +I not if love him myhte plie, +For elles forto justefie 1250 +His herte, I not what mihte availe. + +Forthi, my Sone, of such entaile +If that thin herte be disposed, +Tell out and let it noght be glosed: +For if that thou unbuxom be +To love, I not in what degree +Thou schalt thi goode world achieve. + +Mi fader, ye schul wel believe, +The yonge whelp which is affaited +Hath noght his Maister betre awaited, 1260 +To couche, whan he seith “Go lowe,” +That I, anon as I may knowe +Mi ladi will, ne bowe more. +Bot other while I grucche sore +Of some thinges that sche doth, +Wherof that I woll telle soth: +For of tuo pointz I am bethoght, +That, thogh I wolde, I myhte noght +Obeie unto my ladi heste; +Bot I dar make this beheste, 1270 +Save only of that ilke tuo +I am unbuxom of no mo. + +Whan ben tho tuo? tell on, quod he. + +Mi fader, this is on, that sche +Comandeth me my mowth to close, +And that I scholde hir noght oppose +In love, of which I ofte preche, +Bot plenerliche of such a speche +Forbere, and soffren hire in pes. +Bot that ne myhte I natheles 1280 +For al this world obeie ywiss; +For whanne I am ther as sche is, +Though sche my tales noght alowe, +Ayein hir will yit mot I bowe, +To seche if that I myhte have grace: +Bot that thing may I noght enbrace +For ought that I can speke or do; +And yit fulofte I speke so, +That sche is wroth and seith, “Be stille.” +If I that heste schal fulfille 1290 +And therto ben obedient, +Thanne is my cause fully schent, +For specheles may noman spede. +So wot I noght what is to rede; +Bot certes I may noght obeie, +That I ne mot algate seie +Somwhat of that I wolde mene; +For evere it is aliche grene, +The grete love which I have, +Wherof I can noght bothe save 1300 +My speche and this obedience: +And thus fulofte my silence +I breke, and is the ferste point +Wherof that I am out of point +In this, and yit it is no pride. + +Now thanne upon that other side +To telle my desobeissance, +Ful sore it stant to my grevance +And may noght sinke into my wit; +For ofte time sche me bit 1310 +To leven hire and chese a newe, +And seith, if I the sothe knewe +How ferr I stonde from hir grace, +I scholde love in other place. +Bot therof woll I desobeie; +For also wel sche myhte seie, +“Go tak the Mone ther it sit,” +As bringe that into my wit: +For ther was nevere rooted tre, +That stod so faste in his degre, 1320 +That I ne stonde more faste +Upon hire love, and mai noght caste +Min herte awey, althogh I wolde. +For god wot, thogh I nevere scholde +Sen hir with yhe after this day, +Yit stant it so that I ne may +Hir love out of my brest remue. +This is a wonder retenue, +That malgre wher sche wole or non +Min herte is everemore in on, 1330 +So that I can non other chese, +Bot whether that I winne or lese, +I moste hire loven til I deie; +And thus I breke as be that weie +Hire hestes and hir comandinges, +Bot trewliche in non othre thinges. +Forthi, my fader, what is more +Touchende to this ilke lore +I you beseche, after the forme +That ye pleinly me wolde enforme, 1340 +So that I may myn herte reule +In loves cause after the reule. + +Toward this vice of which we trete +Ther ben yit tweie of thilke estrete, +Here name is Murmur and Compleignte: +Ther can noman here chiere peinte, +To sette a glad semblant therinne, +For thogh fortune make hem wynne, +Yit grucchen thei, and if thei lese, +Ther is no weie forto chese, 1350 +Wherof thei myhten stonde appesed. +So ben thei comunly desesed; +Ther may no welthe ne poverte +Attempren hem to the decerte +Of buxomnesse be no wise: +For ofte time thei despise +The goode fortune as the badde, +As thei no mannes reson hadde, +Thurgh pride, wherof thei be blinde. + +And ryht of such a maner kinde 1360 +Ther be lovers, that thogh thei have +Of love al that thei wolde crave, +Yit wol thei grucche be som weie, +That thei wol noght to love obeie +Upon the trowthe, as thei do scholde; +And if hem lacketh that thei wolde, +Anon thei falle in such a peine, +That evere unbuxomly thei pleigne +Upon fortune, and curse and crie, +That thei wol noght here hertes plie 1370 +To soffre til it betre falle. +Forthi if thou amonges alle +Hast used this condicioun, +Mi Sone, in thi Confessioun +Now tell me pleinly what thou art. + +Mi fader, I beknowe a part, +So as ye tolden hier above +Of Murmur and Compleignte of love, +That for I se no sped comende, +Ayein fortune compleignende 1380 +I am, as who seith, everemo: +And ek fulofte tyme also, +Whan so is that I se and hiere +Or hevy word or hevy chiere +Of my lady, I grucche anon; +Bot wordes dar I speke non, +Wherof sche myhte be desplesed, +Bot in myn herte I am desesed: +With many a Murmur, god it wot, +Thus drinke I in myn oghne swot, 1390 +And thogh I make no semblant, +Min herte is al desobeissant; +And in this wise I me confesse +Of that ye clepe unbuxomnesse. +Now telleth what youre conseil is. + +Mi Sone, and I thee rede this, +What so befalle of other weie, +That thou to loves heste obeie +Als ferr as thou it myht suffise: +For ofte sithe in such a wise 1400 +Obedience in love availeth, +Wher al a mannes strengthe faileth; +Wherof, if that the list to wite +In a Cronique as it is write, +A gret ensample thou myht fynde, +Which now is come to my mynde. + +Ther was whilom be daies olde +A worthi knyht, and as men tolde +He was Nevoeu to themperour +And of his Court a Courteour: 1410 +Wifles he was, Florent he hihte, +He was a man that mochel myhte, +Of armes he was desirous, +Chivalerous and amorous, +And for the fame of worldes speche, +Strange aventures forto seche, +He rod the Marches al aboute. +And fell a time, as he was oute, +Fortune, which may every thred +Tobreke and knette of mannes sped, 1420 +Schop, as this knyht rod in a pas, +That he be strengthe take was, +And to a Castell thei him ladde, +Wher that he fewe frendes hadde: +For so it fell that ilke stounde +That he hath with a dedly wounde +Feihtende his oghne hondes slain +Branchus, which to the Capitain +Was Sone and Heir, wherof ben wrothe +The fader and the moder bothe. 1430 +That knyht Branchus was of his hond +The worthieste of al his lond, +And fain thei wolden do vengance +Upon Florent, bot remembrance +That thei toke of his worthinesse +Of knyhthod and of gentilesse, +And how he stod of cousinage +To themperour, made hem assuage, +And dorsten noght slen him for fere: +In gret desputeisoun thei were 1440 +Among hemself, what was the beste. +Ther was a lady, the slyheste +Of alle that men knewe tho, +So old sche myhte unethes go, +And was grantdame unto the dede: +And sche with that began to rede, +And seide how sche wol bringe him inne, +That sche schal him to dethe winne +Al only of his oghne grant, +Thurgh strengthe of verray covenant 1450 +Withoute blame of eny wiht. +Anon sche sende for this kniht, +And of hire Sone sche alleide +The deth, and thus to him sche seide: +“Florent, how so thou be to wyte +Of Branchus deth, men schal respite +As now to take vengement, +Be so thou stonde in juggement +Upon certein condicioun, +That thou unto a questioun 1460 +Which I schal axe schalt ansuere; +And over this thou schalt ek swere, +That if thou of the sothe faile, +Ther schal non other thing availe, +That thou ne schalt thi deth receive. +And for men schal thee noght deceive, +That thou therof myht ben avised, +Thou schalt have day and tyme assised +And leve saufly forto wende, +Be so that at thi daies ende 1470 +Thou come ayein with thin avys. + +This knyht, which worthi was and wys, +This lady preith that he may wite, +And have it under Seales write, +What questioun it scholde be +For which he schal in that degree +Stonde of his lif in jeupartie. +With that sche feigneth compaignie, +And seith: “Florent, on love it hongeth +Al that to myn axinge longeth: 1480 +What alle wommen most desire +This wole I axe, and in thempire +Wher as thou hast most knowlechinge +Tak conseil upon this axinge.” + +Florent this thing hath undertake, +The day was set, the time take, +Under his seal he wrot his oth, +In such a wise and forth he goth +Hom to his Emes court ayein; +To whom his aventure plein 1490 +He tolde, of that him is befalle. +And upon that thei weren alle +The wiseste of the lond asent, +Bot natheles of on assent +Thei myhte noght acorde plat, +On seide this, an othre that. +After the disposicioun +Of naturel complexioun +To som womman it is plesance, +That to an other is grevance; 1500 +Bot such a thing in special, +Which to hem alle in general +Is most plesant, and most desired +Above alle othre and most conspired, +Such o thing conne thei noght finde +Be Constellacion ne kinde: +And thus Florent withoute cure +Mot stonde upon his aventure, +And is al schape unto the lere, +As in defalte of his answere. 1510 +This knyht hath levere forto dye +Than breke his trowthe and forto lye +In place ther as he was swore, +And schapth him gon ayein therfore. +Whan time cam he tok his leve, +That lengere wolde he noght beleve, +And preith his Em he be noght wroth, +For that is a point of his oth, +He seith, that noman schal him wreke, +Thogh afterward men hiere speke 1520 +That he par aventure deie. +And thus he wente forth his weie +Alone as knyht aventurous, +And in his thoght was curious +To wite what was best to do: +And as he rod al one so, +And cam nyh ther he wolde be, +In a forest under a tre +He syh wher sat a creature, +A lothly wommannysch figure, 1530 +That forto speke of fleisch and bon +So foul yit syh he nevere non. +This knyht behield hir redely, +And as he wolde have passed by, +Sche cleped him and bad abide; +And he his horse heved aside +Tho torneth, and to hire he rod, +And there he hoveth and abod, +To wite what sche wolde mene. +And sche began him to bemene, 1540 +And seide: “Florent be thi name, +Thou hast on honde such a game, +That bot thou be the betre avised, +Thi deth is schapen and devised, +That al the world ne mai the save, +Bot if that thou my conseil have.” + +Florent, whan he this tale herde, +Unto this olde wyht answerde +And of hir conseil he hir preide. +And sche ayein to him thus seide: 1550 +“Florent, if I for the so schape, +That thou thurgh me thi deth ascape +And take worschipe of thi dede, +What schal I have to my mede?” +“What thing,” quod he, “that thou wolt axe.” +“I bidde nevere a betre taxe,” +Quod sche, “bot ferst, er thou be sped, +Thou schalt me leve such a wedd, +That I wol have thi trowthe in honde +That thou schalt be myn housebonde.” 1560 +“Nay,” seith Florent, “that may noght be.” +“Ryd thanne forth thi wey,” quod sche, +“And if thou go withoute red, +Thou schalt be sekerliche ded.” +Florent behihte hire good ynowh +Of lond, of rente, of park, of plowh, +Bot al that compteth sche at noght. +Tho fell this knyht in mochel thoght, +Now goth he forth, now comth ayein, +He wot noght what is best to sein, 1570 +And thoghte, as he rod to and fro, +That chese he mot on of the tuo, +Or forto take hire to his wif +Or elles forto lese his lif. +And thanne he caste his avantage, +That sche was of so gret an age, +That sche mai live bot a while, +And thoghte put hire in an Ile, +Wher that noman hire scholde knowe, +Til sche with deth were overthrowe. 1580 +And thus this yonge lusti knyht +Unto this olde lothly wiht +Tho seide: “If that non other chance +Mai make my deliverance, +Bot only thilke same speche +Which, as thou seist, thou schalt me teche, +Have hier myn hond, I schal thee wedde.” +And thus his trowthe he leith to wedde. +With that sche frounceth up the browe: +“This covenant I wol allowe,” 1590 +Sche seith: “if eny other thing +Bot that thou hast of my techyng +Fro deth thi body mai respite, +I woll thee of thi trowthe acquite, +And elles be non other weie. +Now herkne me what I schal seie. +Whan thou art come into the place, +Wher now thei maken gret manace +And upon thi comynge abyde, +Thei wole anon the same tide 1600 +Oppose thee of thin answere. +I wot thou wolt nothing forbere +Of that thou wenest be thi beste, +And if thou myht so finde reste, +Wel is, for thanne is ther nomore. +And elles this schal be my lore, +That thou schalt seie, upon this Molde +That alle wommen lievest wolde +Be soverein of mannes love: +For what womman is so above, 1610 +Sche hath, as who seith, al hire wille; +And elles may sche noght fulfille +What thing hir were lievest have. +With this answere thou schalt save +Thiself, and other wise noght. +And whan thou hast thin ende wroght, +Com hier ayein, thou schalt me finde, +And let nothing out of thi minde.” + +He goth him forth with hevy chiere, +As he that not in what manere 1620 +He mai this worldes joie atteigne: +For if he deie, he hath a peine, +And if he live, he mot him binde +To such on which of alle kinde +Of wommen is thunsemlieste: +Thus wot he noght what is the beste: +Bot be him lief or be him loth, +Unto the Castell forth he goth +His full answere forto yive, +Or forto deie or forto live. 1630 +Forth with his conseil cam the lord, +The thinges stoden of record, +He sende up for the lady sone, +And forth sche cam, that olde Mone. +In presence of the remenant +The strengthe of al the covenant +Tho was reherced openly, +And to Florent sche bad forthi +That he schal tellen his avis, +As he that woot what is the pris. 1640 +Florent seith al that evere he couthe, +Bot such word cam ther non to mowthe, +That he for yifte or for beheste +Mihte eny wise his deth areste. +And thus he tarieth longe and late, +Til that this lady bad algate +That he schal for the dom final +Yive his answere in special +Of that sche hadde him ferst opposed: +And thanne he hath trewly supposed 1650 +That he him may of nothing yelpe, +Bot if so be tho wordes helpe, +Whiche as the womman hath him tawht; +Wherof he hath an hope cawht +That he schal ben excused so, +And tolde out plein his wille tho. +And whan that this Matrone herde +The manere how this knyht ansuerde, +Sche seide: “Ha treson, wo thee be, +That hast thus told the privite, 1660 +Which alle wommen most desire! +I wolde that thou were afire.” +Bot natheles in such a plit +Florent of his answere is quit: +And tho began his sorwe newe, +For he mot gon, or ben untrewe, +To hire which his trowthe hadde. +Bot he, which alle schame dradde, +Goth forth in stede of his penance, +And takth the fortune of his chance, 1670 +As he that was with trowthe affaited. + +This olde wyht him hath awaited +In place wher as he hire lefte: +Florent his wofull heved uplefte +And syh this vecke wher sche sat, +Which was the lothlieste what +That evere man caste on his yhe: +Hire Nase bass, hire browes hyhe, +Hire yhen smale and depe set, +Hire chekes ben with teres wet, 1680 +And rivelen as an emty skyn +Hangende doun unto the chin, +Hire Lippes schrunken ben for age, +Ther was no grace in the visage, +Hir front was nargh, hir lockes hore, +Sche loketh forth as doth a More, +Hire Necke is schort, hir schuldres courbe, +That myhte a mannes lust destourbe, +Hire body gret and nothing smal, +And schortly to descrive hire al, 1690 +Sche hath no lith withoute a lak; +Bot lich unto the wollesak +Sche proferth hire unto this knyht, +And bad him, as he hath behyht, +So as sche hath ben his warant, +That he hire holde covenant, +And be the bridel sche him seseth. +Bot godd wot how that sche him pleseth +Of suche wordes as sche spekth: +Him thenkth welnyh his herte brekth 1700 +For sorwe that he may noght fle, +Bot if he wolde untrewe be. + +Loke, how a sek man for his hele +Takth baldemoine with Canele, +And with the Mirre takth the Sucre, +Ryht upon such a maner lucre +Stant Florent, as in this diete: +He drinkth the bitre with the swete, +He medleth sorwe with likynge, +And liveth, as who seith, deyinge; 1710 +His youthe schal be cast aweie +Upon such on which as the weie +Is old and lothly overal. +Bot nede he mot that nede schal: +He wolde algate his trowthe holde, +As every knyht therto is holde, +What happ so evere him is befalle: +Thogh sche be the fouleste of alle, +Yet to thonour of wommanhiede +Him thoghte he scholde taken hiede; 1720 +So that for pure gentilesse, +As he hire couthe best adresce, +In ragges, as sche was totore, +He set hire on his hors tofore +And forth he takth his weie softe; +No wonder thogh he siketh ofte. +Bot as an oule fleth be nyhte +Out of alle othre briddes syhte, +Riht so this knyht on daies brode +In clos him hield, and schop his rode 1730 +On nyhtes time, til the tyde +That he cam there he wolde abide; +And prively withoute noise +He bringth this foule grete Coise +To his Castell in such a wise +That noman myhte hire schappe avise, +Til sche into the chambre cam: +Wher he his prive conseil nam +Of suche men as he most troste, +And tolde hem that he nedes moste 1740 +This beste wedde to his wif, +For elles hadde he lost his lif. + +The prive wommen were asent, +That scholden ben of his assent: +Hire ragges thei anon of drawe, +And, as it was that time lawe, +She hadde bath, sche hadde reste, +And was arraied to the beste. +Bot with no craft of combes brode +Thei myhte hire hore lockes schode, 1750 +And sche ne wolde noght be schore +For no conseil, and thei therfore, +With such atyr as tho was used, +Ordeinen that it was excused, +And hid so crafteliche aboute, +That noman myhte sen hem oute. +Bot when sche was fulliche arraied +And hire atyr was al assaied, +Tho was sche foulere on to se: +Bot yit it may non other be, 1760 +Thei were wedded in the nyht; +So wo begon was nevere knyht +As he was thanne of mariage. +And sche began to pleie and rage, +As who seith, I am wel ynowh; +Bot he therof nothing ne lowh, +For sche tok thanne chiere on honde +And clepeth him hire housebonde, +And seith, “My lord, go we to bedde, +For I to that entente wedde, 1770 +That thou schalt be my worldes blisse:” +And profreth him with that to kisse, +As sche a lusti Lady were. +His body myhte wel be there, +Bot as of thoght and of memoire +His herte was in purgatoire. +Bot yit for strengthe of matrimoine +He myhte make non essoine, +That he ne mot algates plie +To gon to bedde of compaignie: 1780 +And whan thei were abedde naked, +Withoute slep he was awaked; +He torneth on that other side, +For that he wolde hise yhen hyde +Fro lokynge on that foule wyht. +The chambre was al full of lyht, +The courtins were of cendal thinne, +This newe bryd which lay withinne, +Thogh it be noght with his acord, +In armes sche beclipte hire lord, 1790 +And preide, as he was torned fro, +He wolde him torne ayeinward tho; +“For now,” sche seith, “we ben bothe on.” +And he lay stille as eny ston, +Bot evere in on sche spak and preide, +And bad him thenke on that he seide, +Whan that he tok hire be the hond. + +He herde and understod the bond, +How he was set to his penance, +And as it were a man in trance 1800 +He torneth him al sodeinly, +And syh a lady lay him by +Of eyhtetiene wynter age, +Which was the faireste of visage +That evere in al this world he syh: +And as he wolde have take hire nyh, +Sche put hire hand and be his leve +Besoghte him that he wolde leve, +And seith that forto wynne or lese +He mot on of tuo thinges chese, 1810 +Wher he wol have hire such on nyht, +Or elles upon daies lyht, +For he schal noght have bothe tuo. +And he began to sorwe tho, +In many a wise and caste his thoght, +Bot for al that yit cowthe he noght +Devise himself which was the beste. +And sche, that wolde his hertes reste, +Preith that he scholde chese algate, +Til ate laste longe and late 1820 +He seide: “O ye, my lyves hele, +Sey what you list in my querele, +I not what ansuere I schal yive: +Bot evere whil that I may live, +I wol that ye be my maistresse, +For I can noght miselve gesse +Which is the beste unto my chois. +Thus grante I yow myn hole vois, +Ches for ous bothen, I you preie; +And what as evere that ye seie, 1830 +Riht as ye wole so wol I.” + +“Mi lord,” sche seide, “grant merci, +For of this word that ye now sein, +That ye have mad me soverein, +Mi destine is overpassed, +That nevere hierafter schal be lassed +Mi beaute, which that I now have, +Til I be take into my grave; +Bot nyht and day as I am now +I schal alwey be such to yow. 1840 +The kinges dowhter of Cizile +I am, and fell bot siththe awhile, +As I was with my fader late, +That my Stepmoder for an hate, +Which toward me sche hath begonne, +Forschop me, til I hadde wonne +The love and sovereinete +Of what knyht that in his degre +Alle othre passeth of good name: +And, as men sein, ye ben the same, 1850 +The dede proeveth it is so; +Thus am I youres evermo.” +Tho was plesance and joye ynowh, +Echon with other pleide and lowh; +Thei live longe and wel thei ferde, +And clerkes that this chance herde +Thei writen it in evidence, +To teche how that obedience +Mai wel fortune a man to love +And sette him in his lust above, 1860 +As it befell unto this knyht. + +Forthi, my Sone, if thou do ryht, +Thou schalt unto thi love obeie, +And folwe hir will be alle weie. + +Min holy fader, so I wile: +For ye have told me such a skile +Of this ensample now tofore, +That I schal evermo therfore +Hierafterward myn observance +To love and to his obeissance 1870 +The betre kepe: and over this +Of pride if ther oght elles is, +Wherof that I me schryve schal, +What thing it is in special, +Mi fader, axeth, I you preie. + +Now lest, my Sone, and I schal seie: +For yit ther is Surquiderie, +Which stant with Pride of compaignie; +Wherof that thou schalt hiere anon, +To knowe if thou have gult or non 1880 +Upon the forme as thou schalt hiere: +Now understond wel the matiere. + +Surquiderie is thilke vice +Of Pride, which the thridde office +Hath in his Court, and wol noght knowe +The trowthe til it overthrowe. +Upon his fortune and his grace +Comth “Hadde I wist” fulofte aplace; +For he doth al his thing be gesse, +And voideth alle sikernesse. 1890 +Non other conseil good him siemeth +Bot such as he himselve diemeth; +For in such wise as he compasseth, +His wit al one alle othre passeth; +And is with pride so thurghsoght, +That he alle othre set at noght, +And weneth of himselven so, +That such as he ther be nomo, +So fair, so semly, ne so wis; +And thus he wolde bere a pris 1900 +Above alle othre, and noght forthi +He seith noght ones “grant mercy” +To godd, which alle grace sendeth, +So that his wittes he despendeth +Upon himself, as thogh ther were +No godd which myhte availe there: +Bot al upon his oghne witt +He stant, til he falle in the pitt +So ferr that he mai noght arise. + +And riht thus in the same wise 1910 +This vice upon the cause of love +So proudly set the herte above, +And doth him pleinly forto wene +That he to loven eny qwene +Hath worthinesse and sufficance; +And so withoute pourveance +Fulofte he heweth up so hihe, +That chippes fallen in his yhe; +And ek ful ofte he weneth this, +Ther as he noght beloved is, 1920 +To be beloved alther best. +Now, Sone, tell what so thee lest +Of this that I have told thee hier. + +Ha, fader, be noght in a wer: +I trowe ther be noman lesse, +Of eny maner worthinesse, +That halt him lasse worth thanne I +To be beloved; and noght forthi +I seie in excusinge of me, +To alle men that love is fre. 1930 +And certes that mai noman werne; +For love is of himself so derne, +It luteth in a mannes herte: +Bot that ne schal me noght asterte, +To wene forto be worthi +To loven, bot in hir mercy. +Bot, Sire, of that ye wolden mene, +That I scholde otherwise wene +To be beloved thanne I was, +I am beknowe as in that cas. 1940 + +Mi goode Sone, tell me how. + +Now lest, and I wol telle yow, +Mi goode fader, how it is. +Fulofte it hath befalle or this +Thurgh hope that was noght certein, +Mi wenynge hath be set in vein +To triste in thing that halp me noght, +Bot onliche of myn oughne thoght. +For as it semeth that a belle +Lik to the wordes that men telle 1950 +Answerth, riht so ne mor ne lesse, +To yow, my fader, I confesse, +Such will my wit hath overset, +That what so hope me behet, +Ful many a time I wene it soth, +Bot finali no spied it doth. +Thus may I tellen, as I can, +Wenyng beguileth many a man; +So hath it me, riht wel I wot: +For if a man wole in a Bot 1960 +Which is withoute botme rowe, +He moste nedes overthrowe. +Riht so wenyng hath ferd be me: +For whanne I wende next have be, +As I be my wenynge caste, +Thanne was I furthest ate laste, +And as a foll my bowe unbende, +Whan al was failed that I wende. +Forthi, my fader, as of this, +That my wenynge hath gon amis 1970 +Touchende to Surquiderie, +Yif me my penance er I die. +Bot if ye wolde in eny forme +Of this matiere a tale enforme, +Which were ayein this vice set, +I scholde fare wel the bet. + +Mi Sone, in alle maner wise +Surquiderie is to despise, +Wherof I finde write thus. +The proude knyht Capaneus 1980 +He was of such Surquiderie, +That he thurgh his chivalerie +Upon himself so mochel triste, +That to the goddes him ne liste +In no querele to beseche, +Bot seide it was an ydel speche, +Which caused was of pure drede, +For lack of herte and for no nede. +And upon such presumpcioun +He hield this proude opinioun, 1990 +Til ate laste upon a dai, +Aboute Thebes wher he lay, +Whan it of Siege was belein, +This knyht, as the Croniqes sein, +In alle mennes sihte there, +Whan he was proudest in his gere, +And thoghte how nothing myhte him dere, +Ful armed with his schield and spere +As he the Cite wolde assaile, +Godd tok himselve the bataille 2000 +Ayein his Pride, and fro the sky +A firy thonder sodeinly +He sende, and him to pouldre smot. +And thus the Pride which was hot, +Whan he most in his strengthe wende, +Was brent and lost withouten ende: +So that it proeveth wel therfore, +The strengthe of man is sone lore, +Bot if that he it wel governe. +And over this a man mai lerne 2010 +That ek fulofte time it grieveth, +Whan that a man himself believeth, +As thogh it scholde him wel beseme +That he alle othre men can deme, +And hath foryete his oghne vice. +A tale of hem that ben so nyce, +And feigne hemself to be so wise, +I schal thee telle in such a wise, +Wherof thou schalt ensample take +That thou no such thing undertake. 2020 + +I finde upon Surquiderie, +How that whilom of Hungarie +Be olde daies was a King +Wys and honeste in alle thing: +And so befell upon a dai, +And that was in the Monthe of Maii, +As thilke time it was usance, +This kyng with noble pourveance +Hath for himself his Charr araied, +Wher inne he wolde ride amaied 2030 +Out of the Cite forto pleie, +With lordes and with gret nobleie +Of lusti folk that were yonge: +Wher some pleide and some songe, +And some gon and some ryde, +And some prike here hors aside +And bridlen hem now in now oute. +The kyng his yhe caste aboute, +Til he was ate laste war +And syh comende ayein his char 2040 +Two pilegrins of so gret age, +That lich unto a dreie ymage +Thei weren pale and fade hewed, +And as a bussh which is besnewed, +Here berdes weren hore and whyte; +Ther was of kinde bot a lite, +That thei ne semen fulli dede. +Thei comen to the kyng and bede +Som of his good par charite; +And he with gret humilite 2050 +Out of his Char to grounde lepte, +And hem in bothe hise armes kepte +And keste hem bothe fot and hond +Before the lordes of his lond, +And yaf hem of his good therto: +And whanne he hath this dede do, +He goth into his char ayein. +Tho was Murmur, tho was desdeign, +Tho was compleignte on every side, +Thei seiden of here oghne Pride 2060 +Eche until othre: “What is this? +Oure king hath do this thing amis, +So to abesse his realte +That every man it myhte se, +And humbled him in such a wise +To hem that were of non emprise.” +Thus was it spoken to and fro +Of hem that were with him tho +Al prively behinde his bak; +Bot to himselven noman spak. 2070 +The kinges brother in presence +Was thilke time, and gret offence +He tok therof, and was the same +Above alle othre which most blame +Upon his liege lord hath leid, +And hath unto the lordes seid, +Anon as he mai time finde, +Ther schal nothing be left behinde, +That he wol speke unto the king. + +Now lest what fell upon this thing. 2080 +The day was merie and fair ynowh, +Echon with othre pleide and lowh, +And fellen into tales newe, +How that the freisshe floures grewe, +And how the grene leves spronge, +And how that love among the yonge +Began the hertes thanne awake, +And every bridd hath chose hire make: +And thus the Maies day to thende +Thei lede, and hom ayein thei wende. 2090 +The king was noght so sone come, +That whanne he hadde his chambre nome, +His brother ne was redi there, +And broghte a tale unto his Ere +Of that he dede such a schame +In hindringe of his oghne name, +Whan he himself so wolde drecche, +That to so vil a povere wrecche +Him deigneth schewe such simplesce +Ayein thastat of his noblesce: 2100 +And seith he schal it nomor use, +And that he mot himself excuse +Toward hise lordes everychon. +The king stod stille as eny ston, +And to his tale an Ere he leide, +And thoghte more than he seide: +Bot natheles to that he herde +Wel cortaisly the king answerde, +And tolde it scholde be amended. +And thus whan that her tale is ended, 2110 +Al redy was the bord and cloth, +The king unto his Souper goth +Among the lordes to the halle; +And whan thei hadden souped alle, +Thei token leve and forth thei go. +The king bethoghte himselve tho +How he his brother mai chastie, +That he thurgh his Surquiderie +Tok upon honde to despreise +Humilite, which is to preise, 2120 +And therupon yaf such conseil +Toward his king that was noght heil; +Wherof to be the betre lered, +He thenkth to maken him afered. + +It fell so that in thilke dawe +Ther was ordeined be the lawe +A trompe with a sterne breth, +Which cleped was the Trompe of deth: +And in the Court wher the king was +A certein man this Trompe of bras 2130 +Hath in kepinge, and therof serveth, +That whan a lord his deth deserveth, +He schal this dredful trompe blowe +Tofore his gate, and make it knowe +How that the jugement is yove +Of deth, which schal noght be foryove. +The king, whan it was nyht, anon +This man asente and bad him gon +To trompen at his brother gate; +And he, which mot so don algate, 2140 +Goth forth and doth the kynges heste. +This lord, which herde of this tempeste +That he tofore his gate blew, +Tho wiste he be the lawe and knew +That he was sikerliche ded: +And as of help he wot no red, +Bot sende for hise frendes alle +And tolde hem how it is befalle. +And thei him axe cause why; +Bot he the sothe noght forthi 2150 +Ne wiste, and ther was sorwe tho: +For it stod thilke tyme so, +This trompe was of such sentence, +That therayein no resistence +Thei couthe ordeine be no weie, +That he ne mot algate deie, +Bot if so that he may pourchace +To gete his liege lordes grace. +Here wittes therupon thei caste, +And ben apointed ate laste. 2160 + +This lord a worthi ladi hadde +Unto his wif, which also dradde +Hire lordes deth, and children five +Betwen hem two thei hadde alyve, +That weren yonge and tendre of age, +And of stature and of visage +Riht faire and lusty on to se. +Tho casten thei that he and sche +Forth with here children on the morwe, +As thei that were full of sorwe, 2170 +Al naked bot of smok and scherte, +To tendre with the kynges herte, +His grace scholden go to seche +And pardoun of the deth beseche. +Thus passen thei that wofull nyht, +And erly, whan thei sihe it lyht, +Thei gon hem forth in such a wise +As thou tofore hast herd devise, +Al naked bot here schortes one. +Thei wepte and made mochel mone, 2180 +Here Her hangende aboute here Eres; +With sobbinge and with sory teres +This lord goth thanne an humble pas, +That whilom proud and noble was; +Wherof the Cite sore afflyhte, +Of hem that sihen thilke syhte: +And natheless al openly +With such wepinge and with such cri +Forth with hise children and his wif +He goth to preie for his lif. 2190 +Unto the court whan thei be come, +And men therinne have hiede nome, +Ther was no wiht, if he hem syhe, +Fro water mihte kepe his yhe +For sorwe which thei maden tho. +The king supposeth of this wo, +And feigneth as he noght ne wiste; +Bot natheles at his upriste +Men tolden him how that it ferde: +And whan that he this wonder herde, 2200 +In haste he goth into the halle, +And alle at ones doun thei falle, +If eny pite may be founde. +The king, which seth hem go to grounde, +Hath axed hem what is the fere, +Why thei be so despuiled there. +His brother seide: “Ha lord, mercy! +I wot non other cause why, +Bot only that this nyht ful late +The trompe of deth was at my gate 2210 +In tokne that I scholde deie; +Thus be we come forto preie +That ye mi worldes deth respite.” + +“Ha fol, how thou art forto wyte,” +The king unto his brother seith, +“That thou art of so litel feith, +That only for a trompes soun +Hast gon despuiled thurgh the toun, +Thou and thi wif in such manere +Forth with thi children that ben here, 2220 +In sihte of alle men aboute, +For that thou seist thou art in doute +Of deth, which stant under the lawe +Of man, and man it mai withdrawe, +So that it mai par chance faile. +Now schalt thou noght forthi mervaile +That I doun fro my Charr alihte, +Whanne I behield tofore my sihte +In hem that were of so grete age +Min oghne deth thurgh here ymage, 2230 +Which god hath set be lawe of kynde, +Wherof I mai no bote finde: +For wel I wot, such as thei be, +Riht such am I in my degree, +Of fleissh and blod, and so schal deie. +And thus, thogh I that lawe obeie +Of which the kinges ben put under, +It oghte ben wel lasse wonder +Than thou, which art withoute nede +For lawe of londe in such a drede, 2240 +Which for tacompte is bot a jape, +As thing which thou miht overscape. +Forthi, mi brother, after this +I rede, sithen that so is +That thou canst drede a man so sore, +Dred god with al thin herte more: +For al schal deie and al schal passe, +Als wel a Leoun as an asse, +Als wel a beggere as a lord, +Towardes deth in on acord 2250 +Thei schullen stonde.” And in this wise +The king hath with hise wordes wise +His brother tawht and al foryive. + +Forthi, mi Sone, if thou wolt live +In vertu, thou most vice eschuie, +And with low herte humblesce suie, +So that thou be noght surquidous. + +Mi fader, I am amorous, +Wherof I wolde you beseche +That ye me som ensample teche, 2260 +Which mihte in loves cause stonde. + +Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde, +In love and othre thinges alle +If that Surquiderie falle, +It may to him noght wel betide +Which useth thilke vice of Pride, +Which torneth wisdom to wenynge +And Sothfastnesse into lesynge +Thurgh fol ymaginacion. +And for thin enformacion, 2270 +That thou this vice as I the rede +Eschuie schalt, a tale I rede, +Which fell whilom be daies olde, +So as the clerk Ovide tolde. + +Ther was whilom a lordes Sone, +Which of his Pride a nyce wone +Hath cawht, that worthi to his liche, +To sechen al the worldes riche, +Ther was no womman forto love. +So hihe he sette himselve above 2280 +Of stature and of beaute bothe, +That him thoghte alle wommen lothe: +So was ther no comparisoun +As toward his condicioun. +This yonge lord Narcizus hihte: +No strengthe of love bowe mihte +His herte, which is unaffiled; +Bot ate laste he was beguiled: +For of the goddes pourveance +It fell him on a dai par chance, 2290 +That he in all his proude fare +Unto the forest gan to fare, +Amonges othre that ther were +To hunte and to desporte him there. +And whanne he cam into the place +Wher that he wolde make his chace, +The houndes weren in a throwe +Uncoupled and the hornes blowe: +The grete hert anon was founde, +Which swifte feet sette upon grounde, 2300 +And he with spore in horse side +Him hasteth faste forto ride, +Til alle men be left behinde. +And as he rod, under a linde +Beside a roche, as I thee telle, +He syh wher sprong a lusty welle: +The day was wonder hot withalle, +And such a thurst was on him falle, +That he moste owther deie or drinke; +And doun he lihte and be the brinke 2310 +He teide his Hors unto a braunche, +And leide him lowe forto staunche +His thurst: and as he caste his lok +Into the welle and hiede tok, +He sih the like of his visage, +And wende ther were an ymage +Of such a Nimphe as tho was faie, +Wherof that love his herte assaie +Began, as it was after sene, +Of his sotie and made him wene 2320 +It were a womman that he syh. +The more he cam the welle nyh, +The nerr cam sche to him ayein; +So wiste he nevere what to sein; +For whanne he wepte, he sih hire wepe, +And whanne he cride, he tok good kepe, +The same word sche cride also: +And thus began the newe wo, +That whilom was to him so strange; +Tho made him love an hard eschange, 2330 +To sette his herte and to beginne +Thing which he mihte nevere winne. +And evere among he gan to loute, +And preith that sche to him come oute; +And otherwhile he goth a ferr, +And otherwhile he draweth nerr, +And evere he fond hire in o place. +He wepth, he crith, he axeth grace, +There as he mihte gete non; +So that ayein a Roche of Ston, 2340 +As he that knew non other red, +He smot himself til he was ded. +Wherof the Nimphes of the welles, +And othre that ther weren elles +Unto the wodes belongende, +The body, which was ded ligende, +For pure pite that thei have +Under the grene thei begrave. +And thanne out of his sepulture +Ther sprong anon par aventure 2350 +Of floures such a wonder syhte, +That men ensample take myhte +Upon the dedes whiche he dede, +As tho was sene in thilke stede; +For in the wynter freysshe and faire +The floures ben, which is contraire +To kynde, and so was the folie +Which fell of his Surquiderie. + +Thus he, which love hadde in desdeign, +Worste of all othre was besein, 2360 +And as he sette his pris most hyhe, +He was lest worth in loves yhe +And most bejaped in his wit: +Wherof the remembrance is yit, +So that thou myht ensample take, +And ek alle othre for his sake. + +Mi fader, as touchende of me, +This vice I thenke forto fle, +Which of his wenynge overtroweth; +And nameliche of thing which groweth 2370 +In loves cause or wel or wo +Yit pryded I me nevere so. +Bot wolde god that grace sende, +That toward me my lady wende +As I towardes hire wene! +Mi love scholde so be sene, +Ther scholde go no pride a place. +Bot I am ferr fro thilke grace, +As forto speke of tyme now; +So mot I soffre, and preie yow 2380 +That ye wole axe on other side +If ther be eny point of Pride, +Wherof it nedeth to be schrive. + +Mi Sone, godd it thee foryive, +If thou have eny thing misdo +Touchende of this, bot overmo +Ther is an other yit of Pride, +Which nevere cowthe hise wordes hide, +That he ne wole himself avaunte; +Ther mai nothing his tunge daunte, 2390 +That he ne clappeth as a Belle: +Wherof if thou wolt that I telle, +It is behovely forto hiere, +So that thou myht thi tunge stiere, +Toward the world and stonde in grace, +Which lacketh ofte in many place +To him that can noght sitte stille, +Which elles scholde have al his wille. + +The vice cleped Avantance +With Pride hath take his aqueintance, 2400 +So that his oghne pris he lasseth, +When he such mesure overpasseth +That he his oghne Herald is. +That ferst was wel is thanne mis, +That was thankworth is thanne blame, +And thus the worschipe of his name +Thurgh pride of his avantarie +He torneth into vilenie. +I rede how that this proude vice +Hath thilke wynd in his office, 2410 +Which thurgh the blastes that he bloweth +The mannes fame he overthroweth +Of vertu, which scholde elles springe +Into the worldes knowlechinge; +Bot he fordoth it alto sore. +And riht of such a maner lore +Ther ben lovers: forthi if thow +Art on of hem, tell and sei how. +Whan thou hast taken eny thing +Of loves yifte, or Nouche or ring, 2420 +Or tok upon thee for the cold +Som goodly word that thee was told, +Or frendly chiere or tokne or lettre, +Wherof thin herte was the bettre, +Or that sche sende the grietinge, +Hast thou for Pride of thi likinge +Mad thin avant wher as the liste? + +I wolde, fader, that ye wiste, +Mi conscience lith noght hiere: +Yit hadde I nevere such matiere, 2430 +Wherof min herte myhte amende, +Noght of so mochel that sche sende +Be mowthe and seide, “Griet him wel:” +And thus for that ther is no diel +Wherof to make myn avant, +It is to reson acordant +That I mai nevere, bot I lye, +Of love make avanterie. +I wot noght what I scholde have do, +If that I hadde encheson so, 2440 +As ye have seid hier manyon; +Bot I fond cause nevere non: +Bot daunger, which welnyh me slowh, +Therof I cowthe telle ynowh, +And of non other Avantance: +Thus nedeth me no repentance. +Now axeth furthere of my lif, +For hierof am I noght gultif. + +Mi Sone, I am wel paid withal; +For wite it wel in special 2450 +That love of his verrai justice +Above alle othre ayein this vice +At alle times most debateth, +With al his herte and most it hateth. +And ek in alle maner wise +Avantarie is to despise, +As be ensample thou myht wite, +Which I finde in the bokes write. + +Of hem that we Lombars now calle +Albinus was the ferste of alle 2460 +Which bar corone of Lombardie, +And was of gret chivalerie +In werre ayein diverse kinges. +So fell amonges othre thinges, +That he that time a werre hadde +With Gurmond, which the Geptes ladde, +And was a myhti kyng also: +Bot natheles it fell him so, +Albinus slowh him in the feld, +Ther halp him nowther swerd ne scheld, 2470 +That he ne smot his hed of thanne, +Wherof he tok awey the Panne, +Of which he seide he wolde make +A Cuppe for Gurmoundes sake, +To kepe and drawe into memoire +Of his bataille the victoire. +And thus whan he the feld hath wonne, +The lond anon was overronne +And sesed in his oghne hond, +Wher he Gurmondes dowhter fond, 2480 +Which Maide Rosemounde hihte, +And was in every mannes sihte +A fair, a freissh, a lusti on. +His herte fell to hire anon, +And such a love on hire he caste, +That he hire weddeth ate laste; +And after that long time in reste +With hire he duelte, and to the beste +Thei love ech other wonder wel. +Bot sche which kepth the blinde whel, 2490 +Venus, whan thei be most above, +In al the hoteste of here love, +Hire whiel sche torneth, and thei felle +In the manere as I schal telle. + +This king, which stod in al his welthe +Of pes, of worschipe and of helthe, +And felte him on no side grieved, +As he that hath his world achieved, +Tho thoghte he wolde a feste make; +And that was for his wyves sake, 2500 +That sche the lordes ate feste, +That were obeissant to his heste, +Mai knowe: and so forth therupon +He let ordeine, and sende anon +Be lettres and be messagiers, +And warnede alle hise officiers +That every thing be wel arraied: +The grete Stiedes were assaied +For joustinge and for tornement, +And many a perled garnement 2510 +Embroudred was ayein the dai. +The lordes in here beste arrai +Be comen ate time set, +On jousteth wel, an other bet, +And otherwhile thei torneie, +And thus thei casten care aweie +And token lustes upon honde. +And after, thou schalt understonde, +To mete into the kinges halle +Thei come, as thei be beden alle: 2520 +And whan thei were set and served, +Thanne after, as it was deserved, +To hem that worthi knyhtes were, +So as thei seten hiere and there, +The pris was yove and spoken oute +Among the heraldz al aboute. +And thus benethe and ek above +Al was of armes and of love, +Wherof abouten ate bordes +Men hadde manye sondri wordes, 2530 +That of the merthe which thei made +The king himself began to glade +Withinne his herte and tok a pride, +And sih the Cuppe stonde aside, +Which mad was of Gurmoundes hed, +As ye have herd, whan he was ded, +And was with gold and riche Stones +Beset and bounde for the nones, +And stod upon a fot on heihte +Of burned gold, and with gret sleihte 2540 +Of werkmanschipe it was begrave +Of such werk as it scholde have, +And was policed ek so clene +That no signe of the Skulle is sene, +Bot as it were a Gripes Ey. +The king bad bere his Cuppe awey, +Which stod tofore him on the bord, +And fette thilke. Upon his word +This Skulle is fet and wyn therinne, +Wherof he bad his wif beginne: 2550 +“Drink with thi fader, Dame,” he seide. +And sche to his biddinge obeide, +And tok the Skulle, and what hire liste +Sche drank, as sche which nothing wiste +What Cuppe it was: and thanne al oute +The kyng in audience aboute +Hath told it was hire fader Skulle, +So that the lordes knowe schulle +Of his bataille a soth witnesse, +And made avant thurgh what prouesse 2560 +He hath his wyves love wonne, +Which of the Skulle hath so begonne. +Tho was ther mochel Pride alofte, +Thei speken alle, and sche was softe, +Thenkende on thilke unkynde Pride, +Of that hire lord so nyh hire side +Avanteth him that he hath slain +And piked out hire fader brain, +And of the Skulle had mad a Cuppe. +Sche soffreth al til thei were uppe, 2570 +And tho sche hath seknesse feigned, +And goth to chambre and hath compleigned +Unto a Maide which sche triste, +So that non other wyht it wiste. +This Mayde Glodeside is hote, +To whom this lady hath behote +Of ladischipe al that sche can, +To vengen hire upon this man, +Which dede hire drinke in such a plit +Among hem alle for despit 2580 +Of hire and of hire fader bothe; +Wherof hire thoghtes ben so wrothe, +Sche seith, that sche schal noght be glad, +Til that sche se him so bestad +That he nomore make avant. +And thus thei felle in covenant, +That thei acorden ate laste, +With suche wiles as thei caste +That thei wol gete of here acord +Som orped knyht to sle this lord: 2590 +And with this sleihte thei beginne, +How thei Helmege myhten winne, +Which was the kinges Boteler, +A proud a lusti Bacheler, +And Glodeside he loveth hote. +And sche, to make him more assote, +Hire love granteth, and be nyhte +Thei schape how thei togedre myhte +Abedde meete: and don it was +This same nyht; and in this cas 2600 +The qwene hirself the nyht secounde +Wente in hire stede, and there hath founde +A chambre derk withoute liht, +And goth to bedde to this knyht. +And he, to kepe his observance, +To love doth his obeissance, +And weneth it be Glodeside; +And sche thanne after lay aside, +And axeth him what he hath do, +And who sche was sche tolde him tho, 2610 +And seide: “Helmege, I am thi qwene, +Now schal thi love wel be sene +Of that thou hast thi wille wroght: +Or it schal sore ben aboght, +Or thou schalt worche as I thee seie. +And if thou wolt be such a weie +Do my plesance and holde it stille, +For evere I schal ben at thi wille, +Bothe I and al myn heritage.” +Anon the wylde loves rage, 2620 +In which noman him can governe, +Hath mad him that he can noght werne, +Bot fell al hol to hire assent: +And thus the whiel is al miswent, +The which fortune hath upon honde; +For how that evere it after stonde, +Thei schope among hem such a wyle, +The king was ded withinne a whyle. +So slihly cam it noght aboute +That thei ne ben descoevered oute, 2630 +So that it thoghte hem for the beste +To fle, for there was no reste: +And thus the tresor of the king +Thei trusse and mochel other thing, +And with a certein felaschipe +Thei fledde and wente awey be schipe, +And hielde here rihte cours fro thenne, +Til that thei come to Ravenne, +Wher thei the Dukes helpe soghte. +And he, so as thei him besoghte, 2640 +A place granteth forto duelle; +Bot after, whan he herde telle +Of the manere how thei have do, +This Duk let schape for hem so, +That of a puison which thei drunke +Thei hadden that thei have beswunke. + +And al this made avant of Pride: +Good is therfore a man to hide +His oghne pris, for if he speke, +He mai lihtliche his thonk tobreke. 2650 +In armes lith non avantance +To him which thenkth his name avance +And be renomed of his dede: +And also who that thenkth to spede +Of love, he mai him noght avaunte; +For what man thilke vice haunte, +His pourpos schal fulofte faile. +In armes he that wol travaile +Or elles loves grace atteigne, +His lose tunge he mot restreigne, 2660 +Which berth of his honour the keie. + +Forthi, my Sone, in alle weie +Tak riht good hiede of this matiere. + +I thonke you, my fader diere, +This scole is of a gentil lore; +And if ther be oght elles more +Of Pride, which I schal eschuie, +Now axeth forth, and I wol suie +What thing that ye me wole enforme. + +Mi Sone, yit in other forme 2670 +Ther is a vice of Prides lore, +Which lich an hauk whan he wol sore, +Fleith upon heihte in his delices +After the likynge of his vices, +And wol no mannes resoun knowe, +Till he doun falle and overthrowe. +This vice veine gloire is hote, +Wherof, my Sone, I thee behote +To trete and speke in such a wise, +That thou thee myht the betre avise. 2680 + +The proude vice of veine gloire +Remembreth noght of purgatoire, +Hise worldes joyes ben so grete, +Him thenkth of hevene no beyete; +This lives Pompe is al his pes: +Yit schal he deie natheles, +And therof thenkth he bot a lite, +For al his lust is to delite +In newe thinges, proude and veine, +Als ferforth as he mai atteigne. 2690 +I trowe, if that he myhte make +His body newe, he wolde take +A newe forme and leve his olde: +For what thing that he mai beholde, +The which to comun us is strange, +Anon his olde guise change +He wole and falle therupon, +Lich unto the Camelion, +Which upon every sondri hewe +That he beholt he moste newe 2700 +His colour, and thus unavised +Fulofte time he stant desguised. +Mor jolif than the brid in Maii +He makth him evere freissh and gay, +And doth al his array desguise, +So that of him the newe guise +Of lusti folk alle othre take; +And ek he can carolles make, +Rondeal, balade and virelai. +And with al this, if that he may 2710 +Of love gete him avantage, +Anon he wext of his corage +So overglad, that of his ende +Him thenkth ther is no deth comende: +For he hath thanne at alle tide +Of love such a maner pride, +Him thenkth his joie is endeles. + +Now schrif thee, Sone, in godes pes, +And of thi love tell me plein +If that thi gloire hath be so vein. 2720 + +Mi fader, as touchinge of al +I may noght wel ne noght ne schal +Of veine gloire excuse me, +That I ne have for love be +The betre adresced and arraied; +And also I have ofte assaied +Rondeal, balade and virelai +For hire on whom myn herte lai +To make, and also forto peinte +Caroles with my wordes qweinte, 2730 +To sette my pourpos alofte; +And thus I sang hem forth fulofte +In halle and ek in chambre aboute, +And made merie among the route, +Bot yit ne ferde I noght the bet. +Thus was my gloire in vein beset +Of al the joie that I made; +For whanne I wolde with hire glade, +And of hire love songes make, +Sche saide it was noght for hir sake, 2740 +And liste noght my songes hiere +Ne witen what the wordes were. +So forto speke of myn arrai, +Yit couthe I nevere be so gay +Ne so wel make a songe of love, +Wherof I myhte ben above +And have encheson to be glad; +Bot rathere I am ofte adrad +For sorwe that sche seith me nay. +And natheles I wol noght say, 2750 +That I nam glad on other side; +For fame, that can nothing hide, +Alday wol bringe unto myn Ere +Of that men speken hier and there, +How that my ladi berth the pris, +How sche is fair, how sche is wis, +How sche is wommanlich of chiere; +Of al this thing whanne I mai hiere, +What wonder is thogh I be fain? +And ek whanne I may hiere sain 2760 +Tidinges of my ladi hele, +Althogh I may noght with hir dele, +Yit am I wonder glad of that; +For whanne I wot hire good astat, +As for that time I dar wel swere, +Non other sorwe mai me dere, +Thus am I gladed in this wise. +Bot, fader, of youre lores wise, +Of whiche ye be fully tawht, +Now tell me if yow thenketh awht 2770 +That I therof am forto wyte. + +Of that ther is I thee acquite, +Mi sone, he seide, and for thi goode +I wolde that thou understode: +For I thenke upon this matiere +To telle a tale, as thou schalt hiere, +How that ayein this proude vice +The hihe god of his justice +Is wroth and gret vengance doth. +Now herkne a tale that is soth: 2780 +Thogh it be noght of loves kinde, +A gret ensample thou schalt finde +This veine gloire forto fle, +Which is so full of vanite. + +Ther was a king that mochel myhte, +Which Nabugodonosor hihte, +Of whom that I spak hier tofore. +Yit in the bible his name is bore, +For al the world in Orient +Was hol at his comandement: 2790 +As thanne of kinges to his liche +Was non so myhty ne so riche; +To his Empire and to his lawes, +As who seith, alle in thilke dawes +Were obeissant and tribut bere, +As thogh he godd of Erthe were. +With strengthe he putte kinges under, +And wroghte of Pride many a wonder; +He was so full of veine gloire, +That he ne hadde no memoire 2800 +That ther was eny good bot he, +For pride of his prosperite; +Til that the hihe king of kinges, +Which seth and knoweth alle thinges, +Whos yhe mai nothing asterte,— +The privetes of mannes herte +Thei speke and sounen in his Ere +As thogh thei lowde wyndes were,— +He tok vengance upon this pride. +Bot for he wolde awhile abide 2810 +To loke if he him wolde amende, +To him a foretokne he sende, +And that was in his slep be nyhte. +This proude kyng a wonder syhte +Hadde in his swevene, ther he lay: +Him thoghte, upon a merie day +As he behield the world aboute, +A tree fulgrowe he syh theroute, +Which stod the world amiddes evene, +Whos heihte straghte up to the hevene; 2820 +The leves weren faire and large, +Of fruit it bar so ripe a charge, +That alle men it myhte fede: +He sih also the bowes spriede +Above al Erthe, in whiche were +The kinde of alle briddes there; +And eke him thoghte he syh also +The kinde of alle bestes go +Under this tre aboute round +And fedden hem upon the ground. 2830 +As he this wonder stod and syh, +Him thoghte he herde a vois on hih +Criende, and seide aboven alle: +“Hew doun this tree and lett it falle, +The leves let defoule in haste +And do the fruit destruie and waste, +And let of schreden every braunche, +Bot ate Rote let it staunche. +Whan al his Pride is cast to grounde, +The rote schal be faste bounde, 2840 +And schal no mannes herte bere, +Bot every lust he schal forbere +Of man, and lich an Oxe his mete +Of gras he schal pourchace and ete, +Til that the water of the hevene +Have waisshen him be times sevene, +So that he be thurghknowe ariht +What is the heveneliche myht, +And be mad humble to the wille +Of him which al mai save and spille.” 2850 + +This king out of his swefne abreide, +And he upon the morwe it seide +Unto the clerkes whiche he hadde: +Bot non of hem the sothe aradde, +Was non his swevene cowthe undo. +And it stod thilke time so, +This king hadde in subjeccioun +Judee, and of affeccioun +Above alle othre on Daniel +He loveth, for he cowthe wel 2860 +Divine that non other cowthe: +To him were alle thinges cowthe, +As he it hadde of goddes grace. +He was before the kinges face +Asent, and bode that he scholde +Upon the point the king of tolde +The fortune of his swevene expounde, +As it scholde afterward be founde. +Whan Daniel this swevene herde, +He stod long time er he ansuerde, 2870 +And made a wonder hevy chiere. +The king tok hiede of his manere, +And bad him telle that he wiste, +As he to whom he mochel triste, +And seide he wolde noght be wroth. +Bot Daniel was wonder loth, +And seide: “Upon thi fomen alle, +Sire king, thi swevene mote falle; +And natheles touchende of this +I wol the tellen how it is, 2880 +And what desese is to thee schape: +God wot if thou it schalt ascape. + +The hihe tree, which thou hast sein +With lef and fruit so wel besein, +The which stod in the world amiddes, +So that the bestes and the briddes +Governed were of him al one, +Sire king, betokneth thi persone, +Which stant above all erthli thinges. +Thus regnen under the the kinges, 2890 +And al the poeple unto thee louteth, +And al the world thi pouer doubteth, +So that with vein honour deceived +Thou hast the reverence weyved +Fro him which is thi king above, +That thou for drede ne for love +Wolt nothing knowen of thi godd; +Which now for thee hath mad a rodd, +Thi veine gloire and thi folie +With grete peines to chastie. 2900 +And of the vois thou herdest speke, +Which bad the bowes forto breke +And hewe and felle doun the tree, +That word belongeth unto thee; +Thi regne schal ben overthrowe, +And thou despuiled for a throwe: +Bot that the Rote scholde stonde, +Be that thou schalt wel understonde, +Ther schal abyden of thi regne +A time ayein whan thou schalt regne. 2910 +And ek of that thou herdest seie, +To take a mannes herte aweie +And sette there a bestial, +So that he lich an Oxe schal +Pasture, and that he be bereined +Be times sefne and sore peined, +Til that he knowe his goddes mihtes, +Than scholde he stonde ayein uprihtes,— +Al this betokneth thin astat, +Which now with god is in debat: 2920 +Thi mannes forme schal be lassed, +Til sevene yer ben overpassed, +And in the liknesse of a beste +Of gras schal be thi real feste, +The weder schal upon thee reine. +And understond that al this peine, +Which thou schalt soffre thilke tide, +Is schape al only for thi pride +Of veine gloire, and of the sinne +Which thou hast longe stonden inne. 2930 + +So upon this condicioun +Thi swevene hath exposicioun. +Bot er this thing befalle in dede, +Amende thee, this wolde I rede: +Yif and departe thin almesse, +Do mercy forth with rihtwisnesse, +Besech and prei the hihe grace, +For so thou myht thi pes pourchace +With godd, and stonde in good acord.” + +Bot Pride is loth to leve his lord, 2940 +And wol noght soffre humilite +With him to stonde in no degree; +And whan a schip hath lost his stiere, +Is non so wys that mai him stiere +Ayein the wawes in a rage. +This proude king in his corage +Humilite hath so forlore, +That for no swevene he sih tofore, +Ne yit for al that Daniel +Him hath conseiled everydel, 2950 +He let it passe out of his mynde, +Thurgh veine gloire, and as the blinde, +He seth no weie, er him be wo. +And fell withinne a time so, +As he in Babiloine wente, +The vanite of Pride him hente; +His herte aros of veine gloire, +So that he drowh into memoire +His lordschipe and his regalie +With wordes of Surquiderie. 2960 +And whan that he him most avaunteth, +That lord which veine gloire daunteth, +Al sodeinliche, as who seith treis, +Wher that he stod in his Paleis, +He tok him fro the mennes sihte: +Was non of hem so war that mihte +Sette yhe wher that he becom. +And thus was he from his kingdom +Into the wilde Forest drawe, +Wher that the myhti goddes lawe 2970 +Thurgh his pouer dede him transforme +Fro man into a bestes forme; +And lich an Oxe under the fot +He graseth, as he nedes mot, +To geten him his lives fode. +Tho thoghte him colde grases goode, +That whilom eet the hote spices, +Thus was he torned fro delices: +The wyn which he was wont to drinke +He tok thanne of the welles brinke 2980 +Or of the pet or of the slowh, +It thoghte him thanne good ynowh: +In stede of chambres wel arraied +He was thanne of a buissh wel paied, +The harde ground he lay upon, +For othre pilwes hath he non; +The stormes and the Reines falle, +The wyndes blowe upon him alle, +He was tormented day and nyht, +Such was the hihe goddes myht, 2990 +Til sevene yer an ende toke. +Upon himself tho gan he loke; +In stede of mete gras and stres, +In stede of handes longe cles, +In stede of man a bestes lyke +He syh; and thanne he gan to syke +For cloth of gold and for perrie, +Which him was wont to magnefie. +Whan he behield his Cote of heres, +He wepte and with fulwoful teres 3000 +Up to the hevene he caste his chiere +Wepende, and thoghte in this manere; +Thogh he no wordes myhte winne, +Thus seide his herte and spak withinne: +“O mihti godd, that al hast wroght +And al myht bringe ayein to noght, +Now knowe I wel, bot al of thee, +This world hath no prosperite: +In thin aspect ben alle liche, +The povere man and ek the riche, 3010 +Withoute thee ther mai no wight, +And thou above alle othre miht. +O mihti lord, toward my vice +Thi merci medle with justice; +And I woll make a covenant, +That of my lif the remenant +I schal it be thi grace amende, +And in thi lawe so despende +That veine gloire I schal eschuie, +And bowe unto thin heste and suie 3020 +Humilite, and that I vowe.” +And so thenkende he gan doun bowe, +And thogh him lacke vois and speche, +He gan up with his feet areche, +And wailende in his bestly stevene +He made his pleignte unto the hevene. +He kneleth in his wise and braieth, +To seche merci and assaieth +His god, which made him nothing strange, +Whan that he sih his pride change. 3030 +Anon as he was humble and tame, +He fond toward his god the same, +And in a twinklinge of a lok +His mannes forme ayein he tok, +And was reformed to the regne +In which that he was wont to regne; +So that the Pride of veine gloire +Evere afterward out of memoire +He let it passe. And thus is schewed +What is to ben of Pride unthewed 3040 +Ayein the hihe goddes lawe, +To whom noman mai be felawe. + +Forthi, my Sone, tak good hiede +So forto lede thi manhiede, +That thou ne be noght lich a beste. +Bot if thi lif schal ben honeste, +Thou most humblesce take on honde, +For thanne myht thou siker stonde: +And forto speke it otherwise, +A proud man can no love assise; 3050 +For thogh a womman wolde him plese, +His Pride can noght ben at ese. + +Ther mai noman to mochel blame +A vice which is forto blame; +Forthi men scholde nothing hide +That mihte falle in blame of Pride, +Which is the werste vice of alle: +Wherof, so as it was befalle, +The tale I thenke of a Cronique +To telle, if that it mai thee like, 3060 +So that thou myht humblesce suie +And ek the vice of Pride eschuie, +Wherof the gloire is fals and vein; +Which god himself hath in desdeign, +That thogh it mounte for a throwe, +It schal doun falle and overthrowe. + +A king whilom was yong and wys, +The which sette of his wit gret pris. +Of depe ymaginaciouns +And strange interpretaciouns, 3070 +Problemes and demandes eke, +His wisdom was to finde and seke; +Wherof he wolde in sondri wise +Opposen hem that weren wise. +Bot non of hem it myhte bere +Upon his word to yeve answere, +Outaken on, which was a knyht; +To him was every thing so liht, +That also sone as he hem herde, +The kinges wordes he answerde; 3080 +What thing the king him axe wolde, +Therof anon the trowthe he tolde. +The king somdiel hadde an Envie, +And thoghte he wolde his wittes plie +To sette som conclusioun, +Which scholde be confusioun +Unto this knyht, so that the name +And of wisdom the hihe fame +Toward himself he wolde winne. +And thus of al his wit withinne 3090 +This king began to studie and muse, +What strange matiere he myhte use +The knyhtes wittes to confounde; +And ate laste he hath it founde, +And for the knyht anon he sente, +That he schal telle what he mente. +Upon thre pointz stod the matiere +Of questions, as thou schalt hiere. + +The ferste point of alle thre +Was this: “What thing in his degre 3100 +Of al this world hath nede lest, +And yet men helpe it althermest?” + +The secounde is: “What most is worth, +And of costage is lest put forth?” + +The thridde is: “Which is of most cost, +And lest is worth and goth to lost?” + +The king thes thre demandes axeth, +And to the knyht this lawe he taxeth, +That he schal gon and come ayein +The thridde weke, and telle him plein 3110 +To every point, what it amonteth. +And if so be that he misconteth, +To make in his answere a faile, +Ther schal non other thing availe, +The king seith, bot he schal be ded +And lese hise goodes and his hed. +The knyht was sori of this thing +And wolde excuse him to the king, +Bot he ne wolde him noght forbere, +And thus the knyht of his ansuere 3120 +Goth hom to take avisement: +Bot after his entendement +The more he caste his wit aboute, +The more he stant therof in doute. +Tho wiste he wel the kinges herte, +That he the deth ne scholde asterte, +And such a sorwe hath to him take, +That gladschipe he hath al forsake. +He thoghte ferst upon his lif, +And after that upon his wif, 3130 +Upon his children ek also, +Of whiche he hadde dowhtres tuo; +The yongest of hem hadde of age +Fourtiene yer, and of visage +Sche was riht fair, and of stature +Lich to an hevenely figure, +And of manere and goodli speche, +Thogh men wolde alle Londes seche, +Thei scholden noght have founde hir like. +Sche sih hire fader sorwe and sike, 3140 +And wiste noght the cause why; +So cam sche to him prively, +And that was where he made his mone +Withinne a Gardin al him one; +Upon hire knes sche gan doun falle +With humble herte and to him calle, +And seide: “O goode fader diere, +Why make ye thus hevy chiere, +And I wot nothing how it is? +And wel ye knowen, fader, this, 3150 +What aventure that you felle +Ye myhte it saufly to me telle, +For I have ofte herd you seid, +That ye such trust have on me leid, +That to my soster ne my brother, +In al this world ne to non other, +Ye dorste telle a privite +So wel, my fader, as to me. +Forthi, my fader, I you preie, +Ne casteth noght that herte aweie, 3160 +For I am sche that wolde kepe +Youre honour.” And with that to wepe +Hire yhe mai noght be forbore, +Sche wissheth forto ben unbore, +Er that hire fader so mistriste +To tellen hire of that he wiste: +And evere among merci sche cride, +That he ne scholde his conseil hide +From hire that so wolde him good +And was so nyh his fleissh and blod. 3170 +So that with wepinge ate laste +His chiere upon his child he caste, +And sorwfulli to that sche preide +He tolde his tale and thus he seide: +“The sorwe, dowhter, which I make +Is noght al only for my sake, +Bot for thee bothe and for you alle: +For such a chance is me befalle, +That I schal er this thridde day +Lese al that evere I lese may, 3180 +Mi lif and al my good therto: +Therfore it is I sorwe so.” +“What is the cause, helas!” quod sche, +“Mi fader, that ye scholden be +Ded and destruid in such a wise?” +And he began the pointz devise, +Whiche as the king told him be mowthe, +And seid hir pleinly that he cowthe +Ansuere unto no point of this. +And sche, that hiereth how it is, 3190 +Hire conseil yaf and seide tho: +“Mi fader, sithen it is so, +That ye can se non other weie, +Bot that ye moste nedes deie, +I wolde preie of you a thing: +Let me go with you to the king, +And ye schull make him understonde +How ye, my wittes forto fonde, +Have leid your ansuere upon me; +And telleth him, in such degre 3200 +Upon my word ye wole abide +To lif or deth, what so betide. +For yit par chaunce I may pourchace +With som good word the kinges grace, +Your lif and ek your good to save; +For ofte schal a womman have +Thing which a man mai noght areche.” +The fader herde his dowhter speche, +And thoghte ther was resoun inne, +And sih his oghne lif to winne 3210 +He cowthe don himself no cure; +So betre him thoghte in aventure +To put his lif and al his good, +Than in the maner as it stod +His lif in certein forto lese. +And thus thenkende he gan to chese +To do the conseil of this Maide, +And tok the pourpos which sche saide. + +The dai was come and forth thei gon, +Unto the Court thei come anon, 3220 +Wher as the king in juggement +Was set and hath this knyht assent. +Arraied in hire beste wise +This Maiden with hire wordes wise +Hire fader ladde be the hond +Into the place, wher he fond +The king with othre whiche he wolde, +And to the king knelende he tolde +As he enformed was tofore, +And preith the king that he therfore 3230 +His dowhtres wordes wolde take, +And seith that he wol undertake +Upon hire wordes forto stonde. +Tho was ther gret merveile on honde, +That he, which was so wys a knyht, +His lif upon so yong a wyht +Besette wolde in jeupartie, +And manye it hielden for folie: +Bot ate laste natheles +The king comandeth ben in pes, 3240 +And to this Maide he caste his chiere, +And seide he wolde hire tale hiere, +He bad hire speke, and sche began: + +“Mi liege lord, so as I can,” +Quod sche, “the pointz of whiche I herde, +Thei schul of reson ben ansuerde. + +The ferste I understonde is this, +What thing of al the world it is, +Which men most helpe and hath lest nede. +Mi liege lord, this wolde I rede: 3250 +The Erthe it is, which everemo +With mannes labour is bego; +Als wel in wynter as in Maii +The mannes hond doth what he mai +To helpe it forth and make it riche, +And forthi men it delve and dyche +And eren it with strengthe of plowh, +Wher it hath of himself ynowh, +So that his nede is ate leste. +For every man and bridd and beste, 3260 +And flour and gras and rote and rinde, +And every thing be weie of kynde +Schal sterve, and Erthe it schal become; +As it was out of Erthe nome, +It schal to therthe torne ayein: +And thus I mai be resoun sein +That Erthe is the most nedeles, +And most men helpe it natheles. +So that, my lord, touchende of this +I have ansuerd hou that it is. 3270 + +That other point I understod, +Which most is worth and most is good, +And costeth lest a man to kepe: +Mi lord, if ye woll take kepe, +I seie it is Humilite, +Thurgh which the hihe trinite +As for decerte of pure love +Unto Marie from above, +Of that he knew hire humble entente, +His oghne Sone adoun he sente, 3280 +Above alle othre and hire he ches +For that vertu which bodeth pes: +So that I may be resoun calle +Humilite most worth of alle. +And lest it costeth to maintiene, +In al the world as it is sene; +For who that hath humblesce on honde, +He bringth no werres into londe, +For he desireth for the beste +To setten every man in reste. 3290 +Thus with your hihe reverence +Me thenketh that this evidence +As to this point is sufficant. + +And touchende of the remenant, +Which is the thridde of youre axinges, +What leste is worth of alle thinges, +And costeth most, I telle it, Pride; +Which mai noght in the hevene abide, +For Lucifer with hem that felle +Bar Pride with him into helle. 3300 +Ther was Pride of to gret a cost, +Whan he for Pride hath hevene lost; +And after that in Paradis +Adam for Pride loste his pris: +In Midelerthe and ek also +Pride is the cause of alle wo, +That al the world ne may suffise +To stanche of Pride the reprise: +Pride is the heved of alle Sinne, +Which wasteth al and mai noght winne; 3310 +Pride is of every mis the pricke, +Pride is the werste of alle wicke, +And costneth most and lest is worth +In place where he hath his forth. +Thus have I seid that I wol seie +Of myn answere, and to you preie, +Mi liege lord, of youre office +That ye such grace and such justice +Ordeigne for mi fader hiere, +That after this, whan men it hiere, 3320 +The world therof mai speke good.” + +The king, which reson understod +And hath al herd how sche hath said, +Was inly glad and so wel paid +That al his wraththe is overgo: +And he began to loke tho +Upon this Maiden in the face, +In which he fond so mochel grace, +That al his pris on hire he leide, +In audience and thus he seide: 3330 +“Mi faire Maide, wel thee be! +Of thin ansuere and ek of thee +Me liketh wel, and as thou wilt, +Foryive be thi fader gilt. +And if thou were of such lignage, +That thou to me were of parage, +And that thi fader were a Pier, +As he is now a Bachilier, +So seker as I have a lif, +Thou scholdest thanne be my wif. 3340 +Bot this I seie natheles, +That I wol schape thin encress; +What worldes good that thou wolt crave, +Axe of my yifte and thou schalt have.” +And sche the king with wordes wise +Knelende thonketh in this wise: +“Mi liege lord, god mot you quite! +Mi fader hier hath bot a lite +Of warison, and that he wende +Hadde al be lost; bot now amende 3350 +He mai wel thurgh your noble grace.” +With that the king riht in his place +Anon forth in that freisshe hete +An Erldom, which thanne of eschete +Was late falle into his hond, +Unto this knyht with rente and lond +Hath yove and with his chartre sesed; +And thus was all the noise appesed. + +This Maiden, which sat on hire knes +Tofore the king, hise charitees 3360 +Comendeth, and seide overmore: +“Mi liege lord, riht now tofore +Ye seide, as it is of record, +That if my fader were a lord +And Pier unto these othre grete, +Ye wolden for noght elles lete, +That I ne scholde be your wif; +And this wot every worthi lif, +A kinges word it mot ben holde. +Forthi, my lord, if that ye wolde 3370 +So gret a charite fulfille, +God wot it were wel my wille: +For he which was a Bacheler, +Mi fader, is now mad a Pier; +So whenne as evere that I cam, +An Erles dowhter now I am.” + +This yonge king, which peised al, +Hire beaute and hir wit withal, +As he that was with love hent, +Anon therto yaf his assent. 3380 +He myhte noght the maide asterte, +That sche nis ladi of his herte; +So that he tok hire to his wif, +To holde whyl that he hath lif: +And thus the king toward his knyht +Acordeth him, as it is riht. + +And over this good is to wite, +In the Cronique as it is write, +This noble king of whom I tolde +Of Spaine be tho daies olde 3390 +The kingdom hadde in governance, +And as the bok makth remembrance, +Alphonse was his propre name: +The knyht also, if I schal name, +Danz Petro hihte, and as men telle, +His dowhter wyse Peronelle +Was cleped, which was full of grace: +And that was sene in thilke place, +Wher sche hir fader out of teene +Hath broght and mad hirself a qweene, 3400 +Of that sche hath so wel desclosed +The pointz wherof sche was opposed. + +Lo now, my Sone, as thou myht hiere, +Of al this thing to my matiere +Bot on I take, and that is Pride, +To whom no grace mai betide: +In hevene he fell out of his stede, +And Paradis him was forbede, +The goode men in Erthe him hate, +So that to helle he mot algate, 3410 +Where every vertu schal be weyved +And every vice be received. +Bot Humblesce is al otherwise, +Which most is worth, and no reprise +It takth ayein, bot softe and faire, +If eny thing stond in contraire, +With humble speche it is redresced: +Thus was this yonge Maiden blessed, +The which I spak of now tofore, +Hire fader lif sche gat therfore, 3420 +And wan with al the kinges love. +Forthi, my Sone, if thou wolt love, +It sit thee wel to leve Pride +And take Humblesce upon thi side; +The more of grace thou schalt gete. + +Mi fader, I woll noght foryete +Of this that ye have told me hiere, +And if that eny such manere +Of humble port mai love appaie, +Hierafterward I thenke assaie: 3430 +Bot now forth over I beseche +That ye more of my schrifte seche. + +Mi goode Sone, it schal be do: +Now herkne and ley an Ere to; +For as touchende of Prides fare, +Als ferforth as I can declare +In cause of vice, in cause of love, +That hast thou pleinly herd above, +So that ther is nomor to seie +Touchende of that; bot other weie 3440 +Touchende Envie I thenke telle, +Which hath the propre kinde of helle, +Withoute cause to misdo +Toward himself and othre also, +Hierafterward as understonde +Thou schalt the spieces, as thei stonde. + +Explicit Liber Primus + + + + +Incipit Liber Secundus + + +_Inuidie culpa magis est attrita dolore, + Nam sua mens nullo tempore leta manet: +Quo gaudent alii, dolet ille, nec vnus amicus + Est, cui de puro comoda velle facit. +Proximitatis honor sua corda veretur, et omnis + Est sibi leticia sic aliena dolor. +Hoc etenim vicium quam sepe repugnat amanti, + Non sibi, set reliquis, dum fauet ipsa Venus. +Est amor ex proprio motu fantasticus, et que + Gaudia fert alius, credit obesse sibi._ + +Now after Pride the secounde +Ther is, which many a woful stounde +Towardes othre berth aboute +Withinne himself and noght withoute; +For in his thoght he brenneth evere, +Whan that he wot an other levere +Or more vertuous than he, +Which passeth him in his degre; +Therof he takth his maladie: +That vice is cleped hot Envie. 10 + +Forthi, my Sone, if it be so +Thou art or hast ben on of tho, +As forto speke in loves cas, +If evere yit thin herte was +Sek of an other mannes hele? + +So god avance my querele, +Mi fader, ye, a thousend sithe: +Whanne I have sen an other blithe +Of love, and hadde a goodly chiere, +Ethna, which brenneth yer be yere, 20 +Was thanne noght so hot as I +Of thilke Sor which prively +Min hertes thoght withinne brenneth. +The Schip which on the wawes renneth, +And is forstormed and forblowe, +Is noght more peined for a throwe +Than I am thanne, whanne I se +An other which that passeth me +In that fortune of loves yifte. +Bot, fader, this I telle in schrifte, 30 +That is nowher bot in o place; +For who that lese or finde grace +In other stede, it mai noght grieve: +Bot this ye mai riht wel believe, +Toward mi ladi that I serve, +Thogh that I wiste forto sterve, +Min herte is full of such sotie, +That I myself mai noght chastie. +Whan I the Court se of Cupide +Aproche unto my ladi side 40 +Of hem that lusti ben and freisshe,— +Thogh it availe hem noght a reisshe, +Bot only that thei ben in speche,— +My sorwe is thanne noght to seche: +Bot whan thei rounen in hire Ere, +Than groweth al my moste fere, +And namly whan thei talen longe; +My sorwes thanne be so stronge +Of that I se hem wel at ese, +I can noght telle my desese. 50 +Bot, Sire, as of my ladi selve, +Thogh sche have wowers ten or twelve, +For no mistrust I have of hire +Me grieveth noght, for certes, Sire, +I trowe, in al this world to seche, +Nis womman that in dede and speche +Woll betre avise hire what sche doth, +Ne betre, forto seie a soth, +Kepe hire honour ate alle tide, +And yit get hire a thank beside. 60 +Bot natheles I am beknowe, +That whanne I se at eny throwe, +Or elles if I mai it hiere, +That sche make eny man good chiere, +Thogh I therof have noght to done, +Mi thought wol entermette him sone. +For thogh I be miselve strange, +Envie makth myn herte change, +That I am sorghfully bestad +Of that I se an other glad 70 +With hire; bot of other alle, +Of love what so mai befalle, +Or that he faile or that he spede, +Therof take I bot litel heede. +Now have I seid, my fader, al +As of this point in special, +Als ferforthli as I have wist. +Now axeth further what you list. + +Mi Sone, er I axe eny more, +I thenke somdiel for thi lore 80 +Telle an ensample of this matiere +Touchende Envie, as thou schalt hiere. +Write in Civile this I finde: +Thogh it be noght the houndes kinde +To ete chaf, yit wol he werne +An Oxe which comth to the berne, +Therof to taken eny fode. +And thus, who that it understode, +It stant of love in many place: +Who that is out of loves grace 90 +And mai himselven noght availe, +He wolde an other scholde faile; +And if he may put eny lette, +He doth al that he mai to lette. +Wherof I finde, as thou schalt wite, +To this pourpos a tale write. + +Ther ben of suche mo than twelve, +That ben noght able as of hemselve +To gete love, and for Envie +Upon alle othre thei aspie; 100 +And for hem lacketh that thei wolde, +Thei kepte that non other scholde +Touchende of love his cause spede: +Wherof a gret ensample I rede, +Which unto this matiere acordeth, +As Ovide in his bok recordeth, +How Poliphemus whilom wroghte, +Whan that he Galathee besoghte +Of love, which he mai noght lacche. +That made him forto waite and wacche 110 +Be alle weies how it ferde, +Til ate laste he knew and herde +How that an other hadde leve +To love there as he mot leve, +As forto speke of eny sped: +So that he knew non other red, +Bot forto wayten upon alle, +Til he may se the chance falle +That he hire love myhte grieve, +Which he himself mai noght achieve. 120 +This Galathee, seith the Poete, +Above alle othre was unmete +Of beaute, that men thanne knewe, +And hadde a lusti love and trewe, +A Bacheler in his degree, +Riht such an other as was sche, +On whom sche hath hire herte set, +So that it myhte noght be let +For yifte ne for no beheste, +That sche ne was al at his heste. 130 +This yonge knyht Acis was hote, +Which hire ayeinward als so hote +Al only loveth and nomo. +Hierof was Poliphemus wo +Thurgh pure Envie, and evere aspide, +And waiteth upon every side, +Whan he togedre myhte se +This yonge Acis with Galathe. + +So longe he waiteth to and fro, +Til ate laste he fond hem tuo, 140 +In prive place wher thei stode +To speke and have here wordes goode. +The place wher as he hem syh, +It was under a banke nyh +The grete See, and he above +Stod and behield the lusti love +Which ech of hem to other made +With goodly chiere and wordes glade, +That al his herte hath set afyre +Of pure Envie: and as a fyre 150 +Which fleth out of a myhti bowe, +Aweie he fledde for a throwe, +As he that was for love wod, +Whan that he sih how that it stod. +This Polipheme a Geant was; +And whan he sih the sothe cas, +How Galathee him hath forsake +And Acis to hire love take, +His herte mai it noght forbere +That he ne roreth lich a Bere; 160 +And as it were a wilde beste, +The whom no reson mihte areste, +He ran Ethna the hell aboute, +Wher nevere yit the fyr was oute, +Fulfild of sorghe and gret desese, +That he syh Acis wel at ese. +Til ate laste he him bethoghte, +As he which al Envie soghte, +And torneth to the banke ayein, +Wher he with Galathee hath seyn 170 +Acis, whom that he thoghte grieve, +Thogh he himself mai noght relieve. +This Geant with his ruide myht +Part of the banke he schof doun riht, +The which evene upon Acis fell, +So that with fallinge of this hell +This Poliphemus Acis slowh, +Wherof sche made sorwe ynowh. +And as sche fledde fro the londe, +Neptunus tok hire into honde 180 +And kept hire in so sauf a place +Fro Polipheme and his manace, +That he with al his false Envie +Ne mihte atteigne hir compaignie. +This Galathee of whom I speke, +That of hirself mai noght be wreke, +Withouten eny semblant feigned +Sche hath hire loves deth compleigned, +And with hire sorwe and with hire wo +Sche hath the goddes moeved so, 190 +That thei of pite and of grace +Have Acis in the same place, +Ther he lai ded, into a welle +Transformed, as the bokes telle, +With freisshe stremes and with cliere, +As he whilom with lusti chiere +Was freissh his love forto qweme. +And with this ruide Polipheme +For his Envie and for his hate +Thei were wrothe. + +And thus algate, 200 +Mi Sone, thou myht understonde, +That if thou wolt in grace stonde +With love, thou most leve Envie: +And as thou wolt for thi partie +Toward thi love stonde fre, +So most thou soffre an other be, +What so befalle upon the chaunce: +For it is an unwys vengance, +Which to non other man is lief, +And is unto himselve grief. 210 + +Mi fader, this ensample is good; +Bot how so evere that it stod +With Poliphemes love as tho, +It schal noght stonde with me so, +To worchen eny felonie +In love for no such Envie. +Forthi if ther oght elles be, +Now axeth forth, in what degre +It is, and I me schal confesse +With schrifte unto youre holinesse. 220 + +Mi goode Sone, yit ther is +A vice revers unto this, +Which envious takth his gladnesse +Of that he seth the hevinesse +Of othre men: for his welfare +Is whanne he wot an other care: +Of that an other hath a fall, +He thenkth himself arist withal. +Such is the gladschipe of Envie +In worldes thing, and in partie 230 +Fulofte times ek also +In loves cause it stant riht so. +If thou, my Sone, hast joie had, +Whan thou an other sihe unglad, +Schrif the therof. + +Mi fader, yis: +I am beknowe unto you this. +Of these lovers that loven streyte, +And for that point which thei coveite +Ben poursuiantz fro yeer to yere +In loves Court, whan I may hiere 240 +How that thei clymbe upon the whel, +And whan thei wene al schal be wel, +Thei ben doun throwen ate laste, +Thanne am I fedd of that thei faste, +And lawhe of that I se hem loure; +And thus of that thei brewe soure +I drinke swete, and am wel esed +Of that I wot thei ben desesed. +Bot this which I you telle hiere +Is only for my lady diere; 250 +That for non other that I knowe +Me reccheth noght who overthrowe, +Ne who that stonde in love upriht: +Bot be he squier, be he knyht, +Which to my ladiward poursuieth, +The more he lest of that he suieth, +The mor me thenketh that I winne, +And am the more glad withinne +Of that I wot him sorwe endure. +For evere upon such aventure 260 +It is a confort, as men sein, +To him the which is wo besein +To sen an other in his peine, +So that thei bothe mai compleigne. +Wher I miself mai noght availe +To sen an other man travaile, +I am riht glad if he be let; +And thogh I fare noght the bet, +His sorwe is to myn herte a game: +Whan that I knowe it is the same 270 +Which to mi ladi stant enclined, +And hath his love noght termined, +I am riht joifull in my thoght. +If such Envie grieveth oght, +As I beknowe me coupable, +Ye that be wys and resonable, +Mi fader, telleth youre avis. + +Mi Sone, Envie into no pris +Of such a forme, I understonde, +Ne mihte be no resoun stonde 280 +For this Envie hath such a kinde, +That he wole sette himself behinde +To hindre with an othre wyht, +And gladly lese his oghne riht +To make an other lesen his. +And forto knowe how it so is, +A tale lich to this matiere +I thenke telle, if thou wolt hiere, +To schewe proprely the vice +Of this Envie and the malice. 290 + +Of Jupiter this finde I write, +How whilom that he wolde wite +Upon the pleigntes whiche he herde, +Among the men how that it ferde, +As of here wrong condicion +To do justificacion: +And for that cause doun he sente +An Angel, which about wente, +That he the sothe knowe mai. +So it befell upon a dai 300 +This Angel, which him scholde enforme, +Was clothed in a mannes forme, +And overtok, I understonde, +Tuo men that wenten over londe, +Thurgh whiche he thoghte to aspie +His cause, and goth in compaignie. +This Angel with hise wordes wise +Opposeth hem in sondri wise, +Now lowde wordes and now softe, +That mad hem to desputen ofte, 310 +And ech of hem his reson hadde. +And thus with tales he hem ladde +With good examinacioun, +Til he knew the condicioun, +What men thei were bothe tuo; +And sih wel ate laste tho, +That on of hem was coveitous, +And his fela was envious. +And thus, whan he hath knowlechinge, +Anon he feigneth departinge, 320 +And seide he mot algate wende. +Bot herkne now what fell at ende: +For thanne he made hem understonde +That he was there of goddes sonde, +And seide hem, for the kindeschipe +That thei have don him felaschipe, +He wole hem do som grace ayein, +And bad that on of hem schal sein +What thing him is lievest to crave, +And he it schal of yifte have; 330 +And over that ek forth withal +He seith that other have schal +The double of that his felaw axeth; +And thus to hem his grace he taxeth. + +The coveitous was wonder glad, +And to that other man he bad +And seith that he ferst axe scholde: +For he supposeth that he wolde +Make his axinge of worldes good; +For thanne he knew wel how it stod, 340 +That he himself be double weyhte +Schal after take, and thus be sleyhte, +Be cause that he wolde winne, +He bad his fela ferst beginne. +This Envious, thogh it be late, +Whan that he syh he mot algate +Make his axinge ferst, he thoghte, +If he worschipe or profit soghte, +It schal be doubled to his fiere: +That wolde he chese in no manere. 350 +Bot thanne he scheweth what he was +Toward Envie, and in this cas +Unto this Angel thus he seide +And for his yifte this he preide, +To make him blind of his on yhe, +So that his fela nothing syhe. +This word was noght so sone spoke, +That his on yhe anon was loke, +And his felawh forthwith also +Was blind of bothe his yhen tuo. 360 +Tho was that other glad ynowh, +That on wepte, and that other lowh, +He sette his on yhe at no cost, +Wherof that other two hath lost. + +Of thilke ensample which fell tho, +Men tellen now fulofte so, +The world empeireth comunly: +And yit wot non the cause why; +For it acordeth noght to kinde +Min oghne harm to seche and finde 370 +Of that I schal my brother grieve; +It myhte nevere wel achieve. + +What seist thou, Sone, of this folie? + +Mi fader, bot I scholde lie, +Upon the point which ye have seid +Yit was myn herte nevere leid, +Bot in the wise as I you tolde. +Bot overmore, if that ye wolde +Oght elles to my schrifte seie +Touchende Envie, I wolde preie. 380 + +Mi Sone, that schal wel be do: +Now herkne and ley thin Ere to. + +Touchende as of Envious brod +I wot noght on of alle good; +Bot natheles, suche as thei be, +Yit is ther on, and that is he +Which cleped in Detraccioun. +And to conferme his accioun, +He hath withholde Malebouche, +Whos tunge neither pyl ne crouche 390 +Mai hyre, so that he pronounce +A plein good word withoute frounce +Awher behinde a mannes bak. +For thogh he preise, he fint som lak, +Which of his tale is ay the laste, +That al the pris schal overcaste: +And thogh ther be no cause why, +Yit wole he jangle noght forthi, +As he which hath the heraldie +Of hem that usen forto lye. 400 +For as the Netle which up renneth +The freisshe rede Roses brenneth +And makth hem fade and pale of hewe, +Riht so this fals Envious hewe, +In every place wher he duelleth, +With false wordes whiche he telleth +He torneth preisinge into blame +And worschipe into worldes schame. +Of such lesinge as he compasseth, +Is non so good that he ne passeth 410 +Betwen his teeth and is bacbited, +And thurgh his false tunge endited: +Lich to the Scharnebudes kinde, +Of whos nature this I finde, +That in the hoteste of the dai, +Whan comen is the merie Maii, +He sprat his wynge and up he fleth: +And under al aboute he seth +The faire lusti floures springe, +Bot therof hath he no likinge; 420 +Bot where he seth of eny beste +The felthe, ther he makth his feste, +And therupon he wole alyhte, +Ther liketh him non other sihte. +Riht so this janglere Envious, +Thogh he a man se vertuous +And full of good condicioun, +Therof makth he no mencioun: +Bot elles, be it noght so lyte, +Wherof that he mai sette a wyte, 430 +Ther renneth he with open mouth, +Behinde a man and makth it couth. +Bot al the vertu which he can, +That wole he hide of every man, +And openly the vice telle, +As he which of the Scole of helle +Is tawht, and fostred with Envie +Of houshold and of compaignie, +Wher that he hath his propre office +To sette on every man a vice. 440 +How so his mouth be comely, +His word sit evermore awry +And seith the worste that he may. + +And in this wise now a day +In loves Court a man mai hiere +Fulofte pleigne of this matiere, +That many envious tale is stered, +Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered; +Bot yit fulofte it is believed, +And many a worthi love is grieved 450 +Thurgh bacbitinge of fals Envie. + +If thou have mad such janglerie +In loves Court, mi Sone, er this, +Schrif thee therof. + +Mi fader, yis: +Bot wite ye how? noght openly, +Bot otherwhile prively, +Whan I my diere ladi mete, +And thenke how that I am noght mete +Unto hire hihe worthinesse, +And ek I se the besinesse 460 +Of al this yonge lusty route, +Whiche alday pressen hire aboute, +And ech of hem his time awaiteth, +And ech of hem his tale affaiteth, +Al to deceive an innocent, +Which woll noght ben of here assent; +And for men sein unknowe unkest, +Hire thombe sche holt in hire fest +So clos withinne hire oghne hond, +That there winneth noman lond; 470 +Sche lieveth noght al that sche hiereth, +And thus fulofte hirself sche skiereth +And is al war of “hadde I wist”:— +Bot for al that myn herte arist, +Whanne I thes comun lovers se, +That woll noght holden hem to thre, +Bot welnyh loven overal, +Min herte is Envious withal, +And evere I am adrad of guile, +In aunter if with eny wyle 480 +Thei mihte hire innocence enchaunte. +Forthi my wordes ofte I haunte +Behynden hem, so as I dar, +Wherof my ladi may be war: +I sai what evere comth to mowthe, +And worse I wolde, if that I cowthe; +For whanne I come unto hir speche, +Al that I may enquere and seche +Of such deceipte, I telle it al, +And ay the werste in special. 490 +So fayn I wolde that sche wiste +How litel thei ben forto triste, +And what thei wolde and what thei mente, +So as thei be of double entente: +Thus toward hem that wicke mene +My wicked word was evere grene. +And natheles, the soth to telle, +In certain if it so befelle +That althertrewest man ybore, +To chese among a thousend score, 500 +Which were alfulli forto triste, +Mi ladi lovede, and I it wiste, +Yit rathere thanne he scholde spede, +I wolde swiche tales sprede +To my ladi, if that I myhte, +That I scholde al his love unrihte, +And therto wolde I do mi peine. +For certes thogh I scholde feigne, +And telle that was nevere thoght, +For al this world I myhte noght 510 +To soffre an othre fully winne, +Ther as I am yit to beginne. +For be thei goode, or be thei badde, +I wolde non my ladi hadde; +And that me makth fulofte aspie +And usen wordes of Envie, +Al forto make hem bere a blame. +And that is bot of thilke same, +The whiche unto my ladi drawe, +For evere on hem I rounge and gknawe 520 +And hindre hem al that evere I mai; +And that is, sothly forto say, +Bot only to my lady selve: +I telle it noght to ten ne tuelve, +Therof I wol me wel avise, +To speke or jangle in eny wise +That toucheth to my ladi name, +The which in ernest and in game +I wolde save into my deth; +For me were levere lacke breth 530 +Than speken of hire name amis. +Now have ye herd touchende of this, +Mi fader, in confessioun: +And therfor of Detraccioun +In love, of that I have mispoke, +Tel how ye wole it schal be wroke. +I am al redy forto bere +Mi peine, and also to forbere +What thing that ye wol noght allowe; +For who is bounden, he mot bowe. 540 +So wol I bowe unto youre heste, +For I dar make this beheste, +That I to yow have nothing hid, +Bot told riht as it is betid; +And otherwise of no mispeche, +Mi conscience forto seche, +I can noght of Envie finde, +That I mispoke have oght behinde +Wherof love owhte be mispaid. +Now have ye herd and I have said; 550 +What wol ye, fader, that I do? + +Mi Sone, do nomore so, +Bot evere kep thi tunge stille, +Thou miht the more have of thi wille. +For as thou saist thiselven here, +Thi ladi is of such manere, +So wys, so war in alle thinge, +It nedeth of no bakbitinge +That thou thi ladi mis enforme: +For whan sche knoweth al the forme, 560 +How that thiself art envious, +Thou schalt noght be so gracious +As thou peraunter scholdest elles. +Ther wol noman drinke of tho welles +Whiche as he wot is puyson inne; +And ofte swich as men beginne +Towardes othre, swich thei finde, +That set hem ofte fer behinde, +Whan that thei wene be before. +Mi goode Sone, and thou therfore 570 +Bewar and lef thi wicke speche, +Wherof hath fallen ofte wreche +To many a man befor this time. +For who so wole his handes lime, +Thei mosten be the more unclene; +For many a mote schal be sene, +That wolde noght cleve elles there; +And that schold every wys man fere: +For who so wol an other blame, +He secheth ofte his oghne schame, 580 +Which elles myhte be riht stille. +Forthi if that it be thi wille +To stonde upon amendement, +A tale of gret entendement +I thenke telle for thi sake, +Wherof thou miht ensample take. + +A worthi kniht in Cristes lawe +Of grete Rome, as is the sawe, +The Sceptre hadde forto rihte; +Tiberie Constantin he hihte, 590 +Whos wif was cleped Ytalie: +Bot thei togedre of progenie +No children hadde bot a Maide; +And sche the god so wel apaide, +That al the wide worldes fame +Spak worschipe of hire goode name. +Constance, as the Cronique seith, +Sche hihte, and was so ful of feith, +That the greteste of Barbarie, +Of hem whiche usen marchandie, 600 +Sche hath converted, as thei come +To hire upon a time in Rome, +To schewen such thing as thei broghte; +Whiche worthili of hem sche boghte, +And over that in such a wise +Sche hath hem with hire wordes wise +Of Cristes feith so full enformed, +That thei therto ben all conformed, +So that baptesme thei receiven +And alle here false goddes weyven. 610 +Whan thei ben of the feith certein, +Thei gon to Barbarie ayein, +And ther the Souldan for hem sente +And axeth hem to what entente +Thei have here ferste feith forsake. +And thei, whiche hadden undertake +The rihte feith to kepe and holde, +The matiere of here tale tolde +With al the hole circumstance. +And whan the Souldan of Constance 620 +Upon the point that thei ansuerde +The beaute and the grace herde, +As he which thanne was to wedde, +In alle haste his cause spedde +To sende for the mariage. +And furthermor with good corage +He seith, be so he mai hire have, +That Crist, which cam this world to save, +He woll believe: and this recorded, +Thei ben on either side acorded, 630 +And therupon to make an ende +The Souldan hise hostages sende +To Rome, of Princes Sones tuelve: +Wherof the fader in himselve +Was glad, and with the Pope avised +Tuo Cardinals he hath assissed +With othre lordes many mo, +That with his doghter scholden go, +To se the Souldan be converted. + +Bot that which nevere was wel herted, 640 +Envie, tho began travaile +In destourbance of this spousaile +So prively that non was war. +The Moder which this Souldan bar +Was thanne alyve, and thoghte this +Unto hirself: “If it so is +Mi Sone him wedde in this manere, +Than have I lost my joies hiere, +For myn astat schal so be lassed.” +Thenkende thus sche hath compassed 650 +Be sleihte how that sche may beguile +Hire Sone; and fell withinne a while, +Betwen hem two whan that thei were, +Sche feigneth wordes in his Ere, +And in this wise gan to seie: +“Mi Sone, I am be double weie +With al myn herte glad and blithe, +For that miself have ofte sithe +Desired thou wolt, as men seith, +Receive and take a newe feith, 660 +Which schal be forthringe of thi lif: +And ek so worschipful a wif, +The doughter of an Emperour, +To wedde it schal be gret honour. +Forthi, mi Sone, I you beseche +That I such grace mihte areche, +Whan that my doughter come schal, +That I mai thanne in special, +So as me thenkth it is honeste, +Be thilke which the ferste feste 670 +Schal make unto hire welcominge.” +The Souldan granteth hire axinge, +And sche therof was glad ynowh: +For under that anon sche drowh +With false wordes that sche spak +Covine of deth behinde his bak. +And therupon hire ordinance +She made so, that whan Constance +Was come forth with the Romeins, +Of clerkes and of Citezeins, 680 +A riche feste sche hem made: +And most whan that thei weren glade, +With fals covine which sche hadde +Hire clos Envie tho sche spradde, +And alle tho that hadden be +Or in apert or in prive +Of conseil to the mariage, +Sche slowh hem in a sodein rage +Endlong the bord as thei be set, +So that it myhte noght be let; 690 +Hire oghne Sone was noght quit, +Bot deide upon the same plit. +Bot what the hihe god wol spare +It mai for no peril misfare: +This worthi Maiden which was there +Stod thanne, as who seith, ded for feere, +To se the feste how that it stod, +Which al was torned into blod: +The Dissh forthwith the Coppe and al +Bebled thei weren overal; 700 +Sche sih hem deie on every side; +No wonder thogh sche wepte and cride +Makende many a wofull mone. +Whan al was slain bot sche al one, +This olde fend, this Sarazine, +Let take anon this Constantine +With al the good sche thider broghte, +And hath ordeined, as sche thoghte, +A nakid Schip withoute stiere, +In which the good and hire in fiere, 710 +Vitailed full for yeres fyve, +Wher that the wynd it wolde dryve, +Sche putte upon the wawes wilde. + +Bot he which alle thing mai schilde, +Thre yer, til that sche cam to londe, +Hire Schip to stiere hath take in honde, +And in Northumberlond aryveth; +And happeth thanne that sche dryveth +Under a Castel with the flod, +Which upon Humber banke stod 720 +And was the kynges oghne also, +The which Allee was cleped tho, +A Saxon and a worthi knyht, +Bot he believed noght ariht. +Of this Castell was Chastellein +Elda the kinges Chamberlein, +A knyhtly man after his lawe; +And whan he sih upon the wawe +The Schip drivende al one so, +He bad anon men scholden go 730 +To se what it betokne mai. +This was upon a Somer dai, +The Schip was loked and sche founde; +Elda withinne a litel stounde +It wiste, and with his wif anon +Toward this yonge ladi gon, +Wher that thei founden gret richesse; +Bot sche hire wolde noght confesse, +Whan thei hire axen what sche was. +And natheles upon the cas 740 +Out of the Schip with gret worschipe +Thei toke hire into felaschipe, +As thei that weren of hir glade: +Bot sche no maner joie made, +Bot sorweth sore of that sche fond +No cristendom in thilke lond; +Bot elles sche hath al hire wille, +And thus with hem sche duelleth stille. + +Dame Hermyngheld, which was the wif +Of Elda, lich hire oghne lif 750 +Constance loveth; and fell so, +Spekende alday betwen hem two, +Thurgh grace of goddes pourveance +This maiden tawhte the creance +Unto this wif so parfitly, +Upon a dai that faste by +In presence of hire housebonde, +Wher thei go walkende on the Stronde, +A blind man, which cam there lad, +Unto this wif criende he bad, 760 +With bothe hise hondes up and preide +To hire, and in this wise he seide: +“O Hermyngeld, which Cristes feith, +Enformed as Constance seith, +Received hast, yif me my sihte.” + +Upon his word hire herte afflihte +Thenkende what was best to done, +Bot natheles sche herde his bone +And seide, “In trust of Cristes lawe, +Which don was on the crois and slawe, 770 +Thou bysne man, behold and se.” +With that to god upon his kne +Thonkende he tok his sihte anon, +Wherof thei merveile everychon, +Bot Elda wondreth most of alle: +This open thing which is befalle +Concludeth him be such a weie, +That he the feith mot nede obeie. + +Now lest what fell upon this thing. +This Elda forth unto the king 780 +A morwe tok his weie and rod, +And Hermyngeld at home abod +Forth with Constance wel at ese. +Elda, which thoghte his king to plese, +As he that thanne unwedded was, +Of Constance al the pleine cas +Als goodliche as he cowthe tolde. +The king was glad and seide he wolde +Come thider upon such a wise +That he him mihte of hire avise, 790 +The time apointed forth withal. +This Elda triste in special +Upon a knyht, whom fro childhode +He hadde updrawe into manhode: +To him he tolde al that he thoghte, +Wherof that after him forthoghte; +And natheles at thilke tide +Unto his wif he bad him ride +To make redi alle thing +Ayein the cominge of the king, 800 +And seith that he himself tofore +Thenkth forto come, and bad therfore +That he him kepe, and told him whanne. +This knyht rod forth his weie thanne; +And soth was that of time passed +He hadde in al his wit compassed +How he Constance myhte winne; +Bot he sih tho no sped therinne, +Wherof his lust began tabate, +And that was love is thanne hate; 810 +Of hire honour he hadde Envie, +So that upon his tricherie +A lesinge in his herte he caste. +Til he cam home he hieth faste, +And doth his ladi tunderstonde +The Message of hire housebonde: +And therupon the longe dai +Thei setten thinges in arrai, +That al was as it scholde be +Of every thing in his degree; 820 +And whan it cam into the nyht, +This wif hire hath to bedde dyht, +Wher that this Maiden with hire lay. +This false knyht upon delay +Hath taried til thei were aslepe, +As he that wolde his time kepe +His dedly werkes to fulfille; +And to the bed he stalketh stille, +Wher that he wiste was the wif, +And in his hond a rasour knif 830 +He bar, with which hire throte he cutte, +And prively the knif he putte +Under that other beddes side, +Wher that Constance lai beside. +Elda cam hom the same nyht, +And stille with a prive lyht, +As he that wolde noght awake +His wif, he hath his weie take +Into the chambre, and ther liggende +He fond his dede wif bledende, 840 +Wher that Constance faste by +Was falle aslepe; and sodeinly +He cride alowd, and sche awok, +And forth withal sche caste a lok +And sih this ladi blede there, +Wherof swoundende ded for fere +Sche was, and stille as eny Ston +She lay, and Elda therupon +Into the Castell clepeth oute, +And up sterte every man aboute, 850 +Into the chambre and forth thei wente. +Bot he, which alle untrouthe mente, +This false knyht, among hem alle +Upon this thing which is befalle +Seith that Constance hath don this dede; +And to the bed with that he yede +After the falshed of his speche, +And made him there forto seche, +And fond the knif, wher he it leide, +And thanne he cride and thanne he seide, 860 +“Lo, seth the knif al blody hiere! +What nedeth more in this matiere +To axe?” And thus hire innocence +He sclaundreth there in audience +With false wordes whiche he feigneth. +Bot yit for al that evere he pleigneth, +Elda no full credence tok: +And happeth that ther lay a bok, +Upon the which, whan he it sih, +This knyht hath swore and seid on hih, 870 +That alle men it mihte wite, +“Now be this bok, which hier is write, +Constance is gultif, wel I wot.” +With that the hond of hevene him smot +In tokne of that he was forswore, +That he hath bothe hise yhen lore, +Out of his hed the same stounde +Thei sterte, and so thei weren founde. +A vois was herd, whan that they felle, +Which seide, “O dampned man to helle, 880 +Lo, thus hath god the sclaundre wroke +That thou ayein Constance hast spoke: +Beknow the sothe er that thou dye.” +And he told out his felonie, +And starf forth with his tale anon. +Into the ground, wher alle gon, +This dede lady was begrave: +Elda, which thoghte his honour save, +Al that he mai restreigneth sorwe. + +For the seconde day a morwe 890 +The king cam, as thei were acorded; +And whan it was to him recorded +What god hath wroght upon this chaunce, +He tok it into remembrance +And thoghte more than he seide. +For al his hole herte he leide +Upon Constance, and seide he scholde +For love of hire, if that sche wolde, +Baptesme take and Cristes feith +Believe, and over that he seith 900 +He wol hire wedde, and upon this +Asseured ech til other is. +And forto make schorte tales, +Ther cam a Bisschop out of Wales +Fro Bangor, and Lucie he hihte, +Which thurgh the grace of god almihte +The king with many an other mo +Hath cristned, and betwen hem tuo +He hath fulfild the mariage. +Bot for no lust ne for no rage 910 +Sche tolde hem nevere what sche was; +And natheles upon the cas +The king was glad, how so it stod, +For wel he wiste and understod +Sche was a noble creature. +The hihe makere of nature +Hire hath visited in a throwe, +That it was openliche knowe +Sche was with childe be the king, +Wherof above al other thing 920 +He thonketh god and was riht glad. +And fell that time he was bestad +Upon a werre and moste ride; +And whil he scholde there abide, +He lefte at hom to kepe his wif +Suche as he knew of holi lif, +Elda forth with the Bisschop eke; +And he with pouer goth to seke +Ayein the Scottes forto fonde +The werre which he tok on honde. 930 + +The time set of kinde is come, +This lady hath hire chambre nome, +And of a Sone bore full, +Wherof that sche was joiefull, +Sche was delivered sauf and sone. +The bisshop, as it was to done, +Yaf him baptesme and Moris calleth; +And therupon, as it befalleth, +With lettres writen of record +Thei sende unto here liege lord, 940 +That kepers weren of the qweene: +And he that scholde go betwene, +The Messager, to Knaresburgh, +Which toun he scholde passe thurgh, +Ridende cam the ferste day. +The kinges Moder there lay, +Whos rihte name was Domilde, +Which after al the cause spilde: +For he, which thonk deserve wolde, +Unto this ladi goth and tolde 950 +Of his Message al how it ferde. +And sche with feigned joie it herde +And yaf him yiftes largely, +Bot in the nyht al prively +Sche tok the lettres whiche he hadde, +Fro point to point and overradde, +As sche that was thurghout untrewe, +And let do wryten othre newe +In stede of hem, and thus thei spieke: + +“Oure liege lord, we thee beseke 960 +That thou with ous ne be noght wroth, +Though we such thing as is thee loth +Upon oure trowthe certefie. +Thi wif, which is of faierie, +Of such a child delivered is +Fro kinde which stant al amis: +Bot for it scholde noght be seie, +We have it kept out of the weie +For drede of pure worldes schame, +A povere child and in the name 970 +Of thilke which is so misbore +We toke, and therto we be swore, +That non bot only thou and we +Schal knowen of this privete: +Moris it hatte, and thus men wene +That it was boren of the qweene +And of thin oghne bodi gete. +Bot this thing mai noght be foryete, +That thou ne sende ous word anon +What is thi wille therupon.” 980 + +This lettre, as thou hast herd devise, +Was contrefet in such a wise +That noman scholde it aperceive: +And sche, which thoghte to deceive, +It leith wher sche that other tok. +This Messager, whan he awok, +And wiste nothing how it was, +Aros and rod the grete pas +And tok this lettre to the king. +And whan he sih this wonder thing, 990 +He makth the Messager no chiere, +Bot natheles in wys manere +He wrote ayein, and yaf hem charge +That thei ne soffre noght at large +His wif to go, bot kepe hire stille, +Til thei have herd mor of his wille. +This Messager was yifteles, +Bot with this lettre natheles, +Or be him lief or be him loth, +In alle haste ayein he goth 1000 +Be Knaresburgh, and as he wente, +Unto the Moder his entente +Of that he fond toward the king +He tolde; and sche upon this thing +Seith that he scholde abide al nyht +And made him feste and chiere ariht, +Feignende as thogh sche cowthe him thonk. +Bot he with strong wyn which he dronk +Forth with the travail of the day +Was drunke, aslepe and while he lay, 1010 +Sche hath hise lettres overseie +And formed in an other weie. + +Ther was a newe lettre write, +Which seith: “I do you forto wite, +That thurgh the conseil of you tuo +I stonde in point to ben undo, +As he which is a king deposed. +For every man it hath supposed, +How that my wif Constance is faie; +And if that I, thei sein, delaie 1020 +To put hire out of compaignie, +The worschipe of my Regalie +Is lore; and over this thei telle, +Hire child schal noght among hem duelle, +To cleymen eny heritage. +So can I se non avantage, +Bot al is lost, if sche abide: +Forthi to loke on every side +Toward the meschief as it is, +I charge you and bidde this, 1030 +That ye the same Schip vitaile, +In which that sche tok arivaile, +Therinne and putteth bothe tuo, +Hireself forthwith hire child also, +And so forth broght unto the depe +Betaketh hire the See to kepe. +Of foure daies time I sette, +That ye this thing no longer lette, +So that your lif be noght forsfet.” +And thus this lettre contrefet 1040 +The Messager, which was unwar, +Upon the kingeshalve bar, +And where he scholde it hath betake. +Bot whan that thei have hiede take, +And rad that writen is withinne, +So gret a sorwe thei beginne, +As thei here oghne Moder sihen +Brent in a fyr before here yhen: +Ther was wepinge and ther was wo, +Bot finaly the thing is do. 1050 + +Upon the See thei have hire broght, +Bot sche the cause wiste noght, +And thus upon the flod thei wone, +This ladi with hire yonge Sone: +And thanne hire handes to the hevene +Sche strawhte, and with a milde stevene +Knelende upon hire bare kne +Sche seide, “O hihe mageste, +Which sest the point of every trowthe, +Tak of thi wofull womman rowthe 1060 +And of this child that I schal kepe.” +And with that word sche gan to wepe, +Swounende as ded, and ther sche lay; +Bot he which alle thinges may +Conforteth hire, and ate laste +Sche loketh and hire yhen caste +Upon hire child and seide this: +“Of me no maner charge it is +What sorwe I soffre, bot of thee +Me thenkth it is a gret pite, 1070 +For if I sterve thou schalt deie: +So mot I nedes be that weie +For Moderhed and for tendresse +With al myn hole besinesse +Ordeigne me for thilke office, +As sche which schal be thi Norrice.” +Thus was sche strengthed forto stonde; +And tho sche tok hire child in honde +And yaf it sowke, and evere among +Sche wepte, and otherwhile song 1080 +To rocke with hire child aslepe: +And thus hire oghne child to kepe +Sche hath under the goddes cure. + +And so fell upon aventure, +Whan thilke yer hath mad his ende, +Hire Schip, so as it moste wende +Thurgh strengthe of wynd which god hath yive, +Estward was into Spaigne drive +Riht faste under a Castell wall, +Wher that an hethen Amirall 1090 +Was lord, and he a Stieward hadde, +Oon Thelous, which al was badde, +A fals knyht and a renegat. +He goth to loke in what astat +The Schip was come, and there he fond +Forth with a child upon hire hond +This lady, wher sche was al one. +He tok good hiede of the persone, +And sih sche was a worthi wiht, +And thoghte he wolde upon the nyht 1100 +Demene hire at his oghne wille, +And let hire be therinne stille, +That mo men sih sche noght that dai. +At goddes wille and thus sche lai, +Unknowe what hire schal betide; +And fell so that be nyhtes tide +This knyht withoute felaschipe +Hath take a bot and cam to Schipe, +And thoghte of hire his lust to take, +And swor, if sche him daunger make, 1110 +That certeinly sche scholde deie. +Sche sih ther was non other weie, +And seide he scholde hire wel conforte, +That he ferst loke out ate porte, +That noman were nyh the stede, +Which myhte knowe what thei dede, +And thanne he mai do what he wolde. +He was riht glad that sche so tolde, +And to the porte anon he ferde: +Sche preide god, and he hire herde, 1120 +And sodeinliche he was out throwe +And dreynt, and tho began to blowe +A wynd menable fro the lond, +And thus the myhti goddes hond +Hire hath conveied and defended. + +And whan thre yer be full despended, +Hire Schip was drive upon a dai, +Wher that a gret Navye lay +Of Schipes, al the world at ones: +And as god wolde for the nones, 1130 +Hire Schip goth in among hem alle, +And stinte noght, er it be falle +And hath the vessell undergete, +Which Maister was of al the Flete, +Bot there it resteth and abod. +This grete Schip on Anker rod; +The Lord cam forth, and whan he sih +That other ligge abord so nyh, +He wondreth what it myhte be, +And bad men to gon in and se. 1140 +This ladi tho was crope aside, +As sche that wolde hireselven hide, +For sche ne wiste what thei were: +Thei soghte aboute and founde hir there +And broghten up hire child and hire; +And therupon this lord to spire +Began, fro whenne that sche cam, +And what sche was. Quod sche, “I am +A womman wofully bestad. +I hadde a lord, and thus he bad, 1150 +That I forth with my litel Sone +Upon the wawes scholden wone, +Bot why the cause was, I not: +Bot he which alle thinges wot +Yit hath, I thonke him, of his miht +Mi child and me so kept upriht, +That we be save bothe tuo.” +This lord hire axeth overmo +How sche believeth, and sche seith, +“I lieve and triste in Cristes feith, 1160 +Which deide upon the Rode tree.” +“What is thi name?” tho quod he. +“Mi name is Couste,” sche him seide: +Bot forthermor for noght he preide +Of hire astat to knowe plein, +Sche wolde him nothing elles sein +Bot of hir name, which sche feigneth; +Alle othre thinges sche restreigneth, +That a word more sche ne tolde. +This lord thanne axeth if sche wolde 1170 +With him abide in compaignie, +And seide he cam fro Barbarie +To Romeward, and hom he wente. +Tho sche supposeth what it mente, +And seith sche wolde with him wende +And duelle unto hire lyves ende, +Be so it be to his plesance. +And thus upon here aqueintance +He tolde hire pleinly as it stod, +Of Rome how that the gentil blod 1180 +In Barbarie was betraied, +And therupon he hath assaied +Be werre, and taken such vengance, +That non of al thilke alliance, +Be whom the tresoun was compassed, +Is from the swerd alyve passed; +Bot of Constance hou it was, +That cowthe he knowe be no cas, +Wher sche becam, so as he seide. + +Hire Ere unto his word sche leide, 1190 +Bot forther made sche no chiere. +And natheles in this matiere +It happeth thilke time so: +This Lord, with whom sche scholde go, +Of Rome was the Senatour, +And of hir fader themperour +His brother doughter hath to wyve, +Which hath hir fader ek alyve, +And was Salustes cleped tho; +This wif Heleine hihte also, 1200 +To whom Constance was Cousine. +Thus to the sike a medicine +Hath god ordeined of his grace, +That forthwith in the same place +This Senatour his trowthe plihte, +For evere, whil he live mihte, +To kepe in worschipe and in welthe, +Be so that god wol yive hire helthe, +This ladi, which fortune him sende. +And thus be Schipe forth sailende 1210 +Hire and hir child to Rome he broghte, +And to his wif tho he besoghte +To take hire into compaignie: +And sche, which cowthe of courtesie +Al that a good wif scholde konne, +Was inly glad that sche hath wonne +The felaschip of so good on. +Til tuelve yeres were agon, +This Emperoures dowhter Custe +Forth with the dowhter of Saluste 1220 +Was kept, bot noman redily +Knew what sche was, and noght forthi +Thei thoghten wel sche hadde be +In hire astat of hih degre, +And every lif hire loveth wel. + +Now herke how thilke unstable whel, +Which evere torneth, wente aboute. +The king Allee, whil he was oute, +As thou tofore hast herd this cas, +Deceived thurgh his Moder was: 1230 +Bot whan that he cam hom ayein, +He axeth of his Chamberlein +And of the Bisschop ek also, +Wher thei the qweene hadden do. +And thei answerde, there he bad, +And have him thilke lettre rad, +Which he hem sende for warant, +And tolde him pleinli as it stant, +And sein, it thoghte hem gret pite +To se so worthi on as sche, 1240 +With such a child as ther was bore, +So sodeinly to be forlore. +He axeth hem what child that were; +And thei him seiden, that naghere, +In al the world thogh men it soghte, +Was nevere womman that forth broghte +A fairer child than it was on. +And thanne he axede hem anon, +Whi thei ne hadden write so: +Thei tolden, so thei hadden do. 1250 +He seide, “Nay.” Thei seiden, “Yis.” +The lettre schewed rad it is, +Which thei forsoken everidel. +Tho was it understonde wel +That ther is tresoun in the thing: +The Messager tofore the king +Was broght and sodeinliche opposed; +And he, which nothing hath supposed +Bot alle wel, began to seie +That he nagher upon the weie 1260 +Abod, bot only in a stede; +And cause why that he so dede +Was, as he wente to and fro, +At Knaresburgh be nyhtes tuo +The kinges Moder made him duelle. +And whan the king it herde telle, +Withinne his herte he wiste als faste +The treson which his Moder caste; +And thoghte he wolde noght abide, +Bot forth riht in the same tide 1270 +He tok his hors and rod anon. +With him ther riden manion, +To Knaresburgh and forth thei wente, +And lich the fyr which tunder hente, +In such a rage, as seith the bok, +His Moder sodeinliche he tok +And seide unto hir in this wise: +“O beste of helle, in what juise +Hast thou deserved forto deie, +That hast so falsly put aweie 1280 +With tresoun of thi bacbitinge +The treweste at my knowlechinge +Of wyves and the most honeste? +Bot I wol make this beheste, +I schal be venged er I go.” +And let a fyr do make tho, +And bad men forto caste hire inne: +Bot ferst sche tolde out al the sinne, +And dede hem alle forto wite +How sche the lettres hadde write, 1290 +Fro point to point as it was wroght. +And tho sche was to dethe broght +And brent tofore hire Sones yhe: +Wherof these othre, whiche it sihe +And herden how the cause stod, +Sein that the juggement is good, +Of that hir Sone hire hath so served; +For sche it hadde wel deserved +Thurgh tresoun of hire false tunge, +Which thurgh the lond was after sunge, 1300 +Constance and every wiht compleigneth. +Bot he, whom alle wo distreigneth, +This sorghfull king, was so bestad, +That he schal nevermor be glad, +He seith, eftsone forto wedde, +Til that he wiste how that sche spedde, +Which hadde ben his ferste wif: +And thus his yonge unlusti lif +He dryveth forth so as he mai. + +Til it befell upon a dai, 1310 +Whan he hise werres hadde achieved, +And thoghte he wolde be relieved +Of Soule hele upon the feith +Which he hath take, thanne he seith +That he to Rome in pelrinage +Wol go, wher Pope was Pelage, +To take his absolucioun. +And upon this condicioun +He made Edwyn his lieutenant, +Which heir to him was apparant, 1320 +That he the lond in his absence +Schal reule: and thus be providence +Of alle thinges wel begon +He tok his leve and forth is gon. +Elda, which tho was with him there, +Er thei fulliche at Rome were, +Was sent tofore to pourveie; +And he his guide upon the weie, +In help to ben his herbergour, +Hath axed who was Senatour, 1330 +That he his name myhte kenne. +Of Capadoce, he seide, Arcenne +He hihte, and was a worthi kniht. +To him goth Elda tho forth riht +And tolde him of his lord tidinge, +And preide that for his comynge +He wolde assigne him herbergage; +And he so dede of good corage. + +Whan al is do that was to done, +The king himself cam after sone. 1340 +This Senatour, whan that he com, +To Couste and to his wif at hom +Hath told how such a king Allee +Of gret array to the Citee +Was come, and Couste upon his tale +With herte clos and colour pale +Aswoune fell, and he merveileth +So sodeinly what thing hire eyleth, +And cawhte hire up, and whan sche wok, +Sche syketh with a pitous lok 1350 +And feigneth seknesse of the See; +Bot it was for the king Allee, +For joie which fell in hire thoght +That god him hath to toune broght. +This king hath spoke with the Pope +And told al that he cowthe agrope, +What grieveth in his conscience; +And thanne he thoghte in reverence +Of his astat, er that he wente, +To make a feste, and thus he sente 1360 +Unto the Senatour to come +Upon the morwe and othre some, +To sitte with him at the mete. +This tale hath Couste noght foryete, +Bot to Moris hire Sone tolde +That he upon the morwe scholde +In al that evere he cowthe and mihte +Be present in the kinges sihte, +So that the king him ofte sihe. +Moris tofore the kinges yhe 1370 +Upon the morwe, wher he sat, +Fulofte stod, and upon that +The king his chiere upon him caste, +And in his face him thoghte als faste +He sih his oghne wif Constance; +For nature as in resemblance +Of face hem liketh so to clothe, +That thei were of a suite bothe. +The king was moeved in his thoght +Of that he seth, and knoweth it noght; 1380 +This child he loveth kindely, +And yit he wot no cause why. +Bot wel he sih and understod +That he toward Arcenne stod, +And axeth him anon riht there, +If that this child his Sone were. +He seide, “Yee, so I him calle, +And wolde it were so befalle, +Bot it is al in other wise.” + +And tho began he to devise 1390 +How he the childes Moder fond +Upon the See from every lond +Withinne a Schip was stiereles, +And how this ladi helpeles +Forth with hir child he hath forthdrawe. +The king hath understonde his sawe, +The childes name and axeth tho, +And what the Moder hihte also +That he him wolde telle he preide. +“Moris this child is hote,” he seide, 1400 +“His Moder hatte Couste, and this +I not what maner name it is.” +But Allee wiste wel ynowh, +Wherof somdiel smylende he lowh; +For Couste in Saxoun is to sein +Constance upon the word Romein. +Bot who that cowthe specefie +What tho fell in his fantasie, +And how his wit aboute renneth +Upon the love in which he brenneth, 1410 +It were a wonder forto hiere: +For he was nouther ther ne hiere, +Bot clene out of himself aweie, +That he not what to thenke or seie, +So fain he wolde it were sche. +Wherof his hertes privete +Began the werre of yee and nay, +The which in such balance lay, +That contenance for a throwe +He loste, til he mihte knowe 1420 +The sothe: bot in his memoire +The man which lith in purgatoire +Desireth noght the hevene more, +That he ne longeth al so sore +To wite what him schal betide. +And whan the bordes were aside +And every man was rise aboute, +The king hath weyved al the route, +And with the Senatour al one +He spak and preide him of a bone, 1430 +To se this Couste, wher sche duelleth +At hom with him, so as he telleth. +The Senatour was wel appaied, +This thing no lengere is delaied, +To se this Couste goth the king; +And sche was warned of the thing, +And with Heleine forth sche cam +Ayein the king, and he tho nam +Good hiede, and whan he sih his wif, +Anon with al his hertes lif 1440 +He cawhte hire in his arm and kiste. +Was nevere wiht that sih ne wiste +A man that more joie made, +Wherof thei weren alle glade +Whiche herde tellen of this chance. + +This king tho with his wif Constance, +Which hadde a gret part of his wille, +In Rome for a time stille +Abod and made him wel at ese: +Bot so yit cowthe he nevere plese 1450 +His wif, that sche him wolde sein +Of hire astat the trowthe plein, +Of what contre that sche was bore, +Ne what sche was, and yit therfore +With al his wit he hath don sieke. +Thus as they lihe abedde and spieke, +Sche preide him and conseileth bothe, +That for the worschipe of hem bothe, +So as hire thoghte it were honeste, +He wolde an honourable feste 1460 +Make, er he wente, in the Cite, +Wher themperour himself schal be: +He graunteth al that sche him preide. +Bot as men in that time seide, +This Emperour fro thilke day +That ferst his dowhter wente away +He was thanne after nevere glad; +Bot what that eny man him bad +Of grace for his dowhter sake, +That grace wolde he noght forsake; 1470 +And thus ful gret almesse he dede, +Wherof sche hadde many a bede. + +This Emperour out of the toun +Withinne a ten mile enviroun, +Where as it thoghte him for the beste, +Hath sondry places forto reste; +And as fortune wolde tho, +He was duellende at on of tho. +The king Allee forth with thassent +Of Couste his wif hath thider sent 1480 +Moris his Sone, as he was taght, +To themperour and he goth straght, +And in his fader half besoghte, +As he which his lordschipe soghte, +That of his hihe worthinesse +He wolde do so gret meknesse, +His oghne toun to come and se, +And yive a time in the cite, +So that his fader mihte him gete +That he wolde ones with him ete. 1490 +This lord hath granted his requeste; +And whan the dai was of the feste, +In worschipe of here Emperour +The king and ek the Senatour +Forth with here wyves bothe tuo, +With many a lord and lady mo, +On horse riden him ayein; +Til it befell, upon a plein +Thei sihen wher he was comende. +With that Constance anon preiende 1500 +Spak to hir lord that he abyde, +So that sche mai tofore ryde, +To ben upon his bienvenue +The ferste which schal him salue; +And thus after hire lordes graunt +Upon a Mule whyt amblaunt +Forth with a fewe rod this qweene. +Thei wondren what sche wolde mene, +And riden after softe pas; +Bot whan this ladi come was 1510 +To themperour, in his presence +Sche seide alowd in audience, +“Mi lord, mi fader, wel you be! +And of this time that I se +Youre honour and your goode hele, +Which is the helpe of my querele, +I thonke unto the goddes myht.” +For joie his herte was affliht +Of that sche tolde in remembrance; +And whanne he wiste it was Constance, 1520 +Was nevere fader half so blithe. +Wepende he keste hire ofte sithe, +So was his herte al overcome; +For thogh his Moder were come +Fro deth to lyve out of the grave, +He mihte nomor wonder have +Than he hath whan that he hire sih. +With that hire oghne lord cam nyh +And is to themperour obeied; +Bot whan the fortune is bewreied, 1530 +How that Constance is come aboute, +So hard an herte was non oute, +That he for pite tho ne wepte. + +Arcennus, which hire fond and kepte, +Was thanne glad of that is falle, +So that with joie among hem alle +Thei riden in at Rome gate. +This Emperour thoghte al to late, +Til that the Pope were come, +And of the lordes sende some 1540 +To preie him that he wolde haste: +And he cam forth in alle haste, +And whan that he the tale herde, +How wonderly this chance ferde, +He thonketh god of his miracle, +To whos miht mai be non obstacle: +The king a noble feste hem made, +And thus thei weren alle glade. +A parlement, er that thei wente, +Thei setten unto this entente, 1550 +To puten Rome in full espeir +That Moris was apparant heir +And scholde abide with hem stille, +For such was al the londes wille. + +Whan every thing was fulli spoke, +Of sorwe and queint was al the smoke, +Tho tok his leve Allee the king, +And with full many a riche thing, +Which themperour him hadde yive, +He goth a glad lif forto live; 1560 +For he Constance hath in his hond, +Which was the confort of his lond. +For whan that he cam hom ayein, +Ther is no tunge it mihte sein +What joie was that ilke stounde +Of that he hath his qweene founde, +Which ferst was sent of goddes sonde, +Whan sche was drive upon the Stronde, +Be whom the misbelieve of Sinne +Was left, and Cristes feith cam inne 1570 +To hem that whilom were blinde. + +Bot he which hindreth every kinde +And for no gold mai be forboght, +The deth comende er he be soght, +Tok with this king such aqueintance, +That he with al his retenance +Ne mihte noght defende his lif; +And thus he parteth from his wif, +Which thanne made sorwe ynowh. +And therupon hire herte drowh 1580 +To leven Engelond for evere +And go wher that sche hadde levere, +To Rome, whenne that sche cam: +And thus of al the lond sche nam +Hir leve, and goth to Rome ayein. +And after that the bokes sein, +She was noght there bot a throwe, +Whan deth of kinde hath overthrowe +Hir worthi fader, which men seide +That he betwen hire armes deide. 1590 +And afterward the yer suiende +The god hath mad of hire an ende, +And fro this worldes faierie +Hath take hire into compaignie. +Moris hir Sone was corouned, +Which so ferforth was abandouned +To Cristes feith, that men him calle +Moris the cristeneste of alle. + +And thus the wel meninge of love +Was ate laste set above; 1600 +And so as thou hast herd tofore, +The false tunges weren lore, +Whiche upon love wolden lie. +Forthi touchende of this Envie +Which longeth unto bacbitinge, +Be war thou make no lesinge +In hindringe of an other wiht: +And if thou wolt be tawht ariht +What meschief bakbitinge doth +Be other weie, a tale soth 1610 +Now miht thou hiere next suiende, +Which to this vice is acordende. + +In a Cronique, as thou schalt wite, +A gret ensample I finde write, +Which I schal telle upon this thing. +Philippe of Macedoyne kyng +Two Sones hadde be his wif, +Whos fame is yit in Grece rif: +Demetrius the ferste brother +Was hote, and Perseus that other. 1620 +Demetrius men seiden tho +The betre knyht was of the tuo, +To whom the lond was entendant, +As he which heir was apparant +To regne after his fader dai: +Bot that thing which no water mai +Quenche in this world, bot evere brenneth, +Into his brother herte it renneth, +The proude Envie of that he sih +His brother scholde clymbe on hih, 1630 +And he to him mot thanne obeie: +That may he soffre be no weie. +With strengthe dorst he nothing fonde, +So tok he lesinge upon honde, +Whan he sih time and spak therto. +For it befell that time so, +His fader grete werres hadde +With Rome, whiche he streite ladde +Thurgh mihty hond of his manhode, +As he which hath ynowh knihthode, 1640 +And ofte hem hadde sore grieved. +Bot er the werre were achieved, +As he was upon ordinance +At hom in Grece, it fell per chance, +Demetrius, which ofte aboute +Ridende was, stod that time oute, +So that this Perse in his absence, +Which bar the tunge of pestilence, +With false wordes whiche he feigneth +Upon his oghne brother pleigneth 1650 +In privete behinde his bak, +And to his fader thus he spak: + +“Mi diere fader, I am holde +Be weie of kinde, as resoun wolde, +That I fro yow schal nothing hide, +Which mihte torne in eny side +Of youre astat into grevance: +Forthi myn hertes obeissance +Towardes you I thenke kepe; +For it is good ye take kepe 1660 +Upon a thing which is me told. +Mi brother hath ous alle sold +To hem of Rome, and you also; +For thanne they behote him so, +That he with hem schal regne in pes. +Thus hath he cast for his encress +That youre astat schal go to noght; +And this to proeve schal be broght +So ferforth, that I undertake +It schal noght wel mow be forsake.” 1670 + +The king upon this tale ansuerde +And seide, if this thing which he herde +Be soth and mai be broght to prove, +“It schal noght be to his behove, +Which so hath schapen ous the werste, +For he himself schal be the ferste +That schal be ded, if that I mai.” + +Thus afterward upon a dai, +Whan that Demetrius was come, +Anon his fader hath him nome, 1680 +And bad unto his brother Perse +That he his tale schal reherse +Of thilke tresoun which he tolde. +And he, which al untrowthe wolde, +Conseileth that so hih a nede +Be treted wher as it mai spede, +In comun place of juggement. +The king therto yaf his assent, +Demetrius was put in hold, +Wherof that Perseus was bold. 1690 +Thus stod the trowthe under the charge, +And the falshede goth at large, +Which thurgh beheste hath overcome +The greteste of the lordes some, +That privelich of his acord +Thei stonde as witnesse of record: +The jugge was mad favorable: +Thus was the lawe deceivable +So ferforth that the trowthe fond +Rescousse non, and thus the lond 1700 +Forth with the king deceived were. + +The gulteles was dampned there +And deide upon accusement: +Bot such a fals conspirement, +Thogh it be prive for a throwe, +Godd wolde noght it were unknowe; +And that was afterward wel proved +In him which hath the deth controved. +Of that his brother was so slain +This Perseus was wonder fain, 1710 +As he that tho was apparant, +Upon the Regne and expectant; +Wherof he wax so proud and vein, +That he his fader in desdeign +Hath take and set of non acompte, +As he which thoghte him to surmonte; +That wher he was ferst debonaire, +He was tho rebell and contraire, +And noght as heir bot as a king +He tok upon him alle thing 1720 +Of malice and of tirannie +In contempt of the Regalie, +Livende his fader, and so wroghte, +That whan the fader him bethoghte +And sih to whether side it drowh, +Anon he wiste well ynowh +How Perse after his false tunge +Hath so thenvious belle runge, +That he hath slain his oghne brother. +Wherof as thanne he knew non other, 1730 +Bot sodeinly the jugge he nom, +Which corrupt sat upon the dom, +In such a wise and hath him pressed, +That he the sothe him hath confessed +Of al that hath be spoke and do. + +Mor sori than the king was tho +Was nevere man upon this Molde, +And thoghte in certain that he wolde +Vengance take upon this wrong. +Bot thother parti was so strong, 1740 +That for the lawe of no statut +Ther mai no riht ben execut; +And upon this division +The lond was torned up so doun: +Wherof his herte is so distraght, +That he for pure sorwe hath caght +The maladie of which nature +Is queint in every creature. + +And whan this king was passed thus, +This false tunged Perseus 1750 +The regiment hath underfonge. +Bot ther mai nothing stonde longe +Which is noght upon trowthe grounded; +For god, which alle thing hath bounded +And sih the falshod of his guile, +Hath set him bot a litel while, +That he schal regne upon depos; +For sodeinliche as he aros +So sodeinliche doun he fell. + +In thilke time it so befell, 1760 +This newe king of newe Pride +With strengthe schop him forto ride, +And seide he wolde Rome waste, +Wherof he made a besi haste, +And hath assembled him an host +In al that evere he mihte most: +What man that mihte wepne bere +Of alle he wolde non forbere; +So that it mihte noght be nombred, +The folk which after was encombred 1770 +Thurgh him, that god wolde overthrowe. + +Anon it was at Rome knowe, +The pompe which that Perse ladde; +And the Romeins that time hadde +A Consul, which was cleped thus +Be name, Paul Emilius, +A noble, a worthi kniht withalle; +And he, which chief was of hem alle, +This werre on honde hath undertake. +And whanne he scholde his leve take 1780 +Of a yong dowhter which was his, +Sche wepte, and he what cause it is +Hire axeth, and sche him ansuerde +That Perse is ded; and he it herde, +And wondreth what sche meene wolde: +And sche upon childhode him tolde +That Perse hir litel hound is ded. +With that he pulleth up his hed +And made riht a glad visage, +And seide how that was a presage 1790 +Touchende unto that other Perse, +Of that fortune him scholde adverse, +He seith, for such a prenostik +Most of an hound was to him lik: +For as it is an houndes kinde +To berke upon a man behinde, +Riht so behinde his brother bak +With false wordes whiche he spak +He hath do slain, and that is rowthe. +“Bot he which hateth alle untrowthe, 1800 +The hihe god, it schal redresse; +For so my dowhter prophetesse +Forth with hir litel houndes deth +Betokneth.” And thus forth he geth +Conforted of this evidence, +With the Romeins in his defence +Ayein the Greks that ben comende. + +This Perseüs, as noght seende +This meschief which that him abod, +With al his multitude rod, 1810 +And prided him upon the thing, +Of that he was become a king, +And how he hadde his regne gete; +Bot he hath al the riht foryete +Which longeth unto governance. +Wherof thurgh goddes ordinance +It fell, upon the wynter tide +That with his host he scholde ride +Over Danubie thilke flod, +Which al befrose thanne stod 1820 +So harde, that he wende wel +To passe: bot the blinde whiel, +Which torneth ofte er men be war, +Thilke ys which that the horsmen bar +Tobrak, so that a gret partie +Was dreint; of the chivalerie +The rerewarde it tok aweie, +Cam non of hem to londe dreie. + +Paulus the worthi kniht Romein +Be his aspie it herde sein, 1830 +And hasteth him al that he may, +So that upon that other day +He cam wher he this host beheld, +And that was in a large feld, +Wher the Baneres ben desplaied. +He hath anon hise men arraied, +And whan that he was embatailled, +He goth and hath the feld assailed, +And slowh and tok al that he fond; +Wherof the Macedoyne lond, 1840 +Which thurgh king Alisandre honoured +Long time stod, was tho devoured. +To Perse and al that infortune +Thei wyte, so that the comune +Of al the lond his heir exile; +And he despeired for the while +Desguised in a povere wede +To Rome goth, and ther for nede +The craft which thilke time was, +To worche in latoun and in bras, 1850 +He lerneth for his sustienance. +Such was the Sones pourveance, +And of his fader it is seid, +In strong prisoun that he was leid +In Albe, wher that he was ded +For hunger and defalte of bred. +The hound was tokne and prophecie +That lich an hound he scholde die, +Which lich was of condicioun, +Whan he with his detraccioun 1860 +Bark on his brother so behinde. + +Lo, what profit a man mai finde, +Which hindre wole an other wiht. +Forthi with al thin hole miht, +Mi Sone, eschuie thilke vice. + +Mi fader, elles were I nyce: +For ye therof so wel have spoke, +That it is in myn herte loke +And evere schal: bot of Envie, +If ther be more in his baillie 1870 +Towardes love, sai me what. + +Mi Sone, as guile under the hat +With sleyhtes of a tregetour +Is hidd, Envie of such colour +Hath yit the ferthe deceivant, +The which is cleped Falssemblant, +Wherof the matiere and the forme +Now herkne and I thee schal enforme. + +Of Falssemblant if I schal telle, +Above alle othre it is the welle 1880 +Out of the which deceipte floweth. +Ther is noman so wys that knoweth +Of thilke flod which is the tyde, +Ne how he scholde himselven guide +To take sauf passage there. +And yit the wynd to mannes Ere +Is softe, and as it semeth oute +It makth clier weder al aboute; +Bot thogh it seme, it is noght so. +For Falssemblant hath everemo 1890 +Of his conseil in compaignie +The derke untrewe Ypocrisie, +Whos word descordeth to his thoght: +Forthi thei ben togedre broght +Of o covine, of on houshold, +As it schal after this be told. +Of Falssemblant it nedeth noght +To telle of olde ensamples oght; +For al dai in experience +A man mai se thilke evidence 1900 +Of faire wordes whiche he hiereth; +Bot yit the barge Envie stiereth +And halt it evere fro the londe, +Wher Falssemblant with Ore on honde +It roweth, and wol noght arive, +Bot let it on the wawes dryve +In gret tempeste and gret debat, +Wherof that love and his astat +Empeireth. And therfore I rede, +Mi Sone, that thou fle and drede 1910 +This vice, and what that othre sein, +Let thi Semblant be trewe and plein. +For Falssemblant is thilke vice, +Which nevere was withoute office: +Wher that Envie thenkth to guile, +He schal be for that ilke while +Of prive conseil Messagier. +For whan his semblant is most clier, +Thanne is he most derk in his thoght, +Thogh men him se, thei knowe him noght; 1920 +Bot as it scheweth in the glas +Thing which therinne nevere was, +So scheweth it in his visage +That nevere was in his corage: +Thus doth he al his thing with sleyhte. + +Now ley thi conscience in weyhte, +Mi goode Sone, and schrif the hier, +If thou were evere Custummer +To Falssemblant in eny wise. + +For ought I can me yit avise, 1930 +Mi goode fader, certes no. +If I for love have oght do so, +Now asketh, I wol praie yow: +For elles I wot nevere how +Of Falssemblant that I have gilt. + +Mi Sone, and sithen that thou wilt +That I schal axe, gabbe noght, +Bot tell if evere was thi thoght +With Falssemblant and coverture +To wite of eny creature 1940 +How that he was with love lad; +So were he sori, were he glad, +Whan that thou wistest how it were, +Al that he rounede in thin Ere +Thou toldest forth in other place, +To setten him fro loves grace +Of what womman that thee beste liste, +Ther as noman his conseil wiste +Bot thou, be whom he was deceived +Of love, and from his pourpos weyved; 1950 +And thoghtest that his destourbance +Thin oghne cause scholde avance, +As who saith, “I am so celee, +Ther mai no mannes privete +Be heled half so wel as myn.” +Art thou, mi Sone, of such engin? +Tell on. + +Mi goode fader, nay +As for the more part I say; +Bot of somdiel I am beknowe, +That I mai stonde in thilke rowe 1960 +Amonges hem that Saundres use. +I wol me noght therof excuse, +That I with such colour ne steyne, +Whan I my beste Semblant feigne +To my felawh, til that I wot +Al his conseil bothe cold and hot: +For be that cause I make him chiere, +Til I his love knowe and hiere; +And if so be myn herte soucheth +That oght unto my ladi toucheth 1970 +Of love that he wol me telle, +Anon I renne unto the welle +And caste water in the fyr, +So that his carte amidd the Myr, +Be that I have his conseil knowe, +Fulofte sithe I overthrowe, +Whan that he weneth best to stonde. +Bot this I do you understonde, +If that a man love elles where, +So that my ladi be noght there, 1980 +And he me telle, I wole it hide, +Ther schal no word ascape aside, +For with deceipte of no semblant +To him breke I no covenant; +Me liketh noght in other place +To lette noman of his grace, +Ne forto ben inquisitif +To knowe an other mannes lif: +Wher that he love or love noght, +That toucheth nothing to my thoght, 1990 +Bot al it passeth thurgh myn Ere +Riht as a thing that nevere were, +And is foryete and leid beside. +Bot if it touche on eny side +Mi ladi, as I have er spoken, +Myn Eres ben noght thanne loken; +For certes, whanne that betitt, +My will, myn herte and al my witt +Ben fully set to herkne and spire +What eny man wol speke of hire. 2000 +Thus have I feigned compaignie +Fulofte, for I wolde aspie +What thing it is that eny man +Telle of mi worthi lady can: +And for tuo causes I do this, +The ferste cause wherof is,— +If that I myhte ofherkne and seke +That eny man of hire mispeke, +I wolde excuse hire so fully, +That whan sche wist in inderly, 2010 +Min hope scholde be the more +To have hir thank for everemore. + +That other cause, I you assure, +Is, why that I be coverture +Have feigned semblant ofte time +To hem that passen alday byme +And ben lovers als wel as I, +For this I weene trewely, +That ther is of hem alle non, +That thei ne loven everich on 2020 +Mi ladi: for sothliche I lieve +And durste setten it in prieve, +Is non so wys that scholde asterte, +Bot he were lustles in his herte, +Forwhy and he my ladi sihe, +Hir visage and hir goodlych yhe, +Bot he hire lovede, er he wente. +And for that such is myn entente, +That is the cause of myn aspie, +Why that I feigne compaignie 2030 +And make felawe overal; +For gladly wolde I knowen al +And holde me covert alway, +That I fulofte ye or nay +Ne liste ansuere in eny wise, +Bot feigne semblant as the wise +And herkne tales, til I knowe +Mi ladi lovers al arowe. +And whanne I hiere how thei have wroght, +I fare as thogh I herde it noght 2040 +And as I no word understode; +Bot that is nothing for here goode: +For lieveth wel, the sothe is this, +That whanne I knowe al how it is, +I wol bot forthren hem a lite, +Bot al the worste I can endite +I telle it to my ladi plat +In forthringe of myn oghne astat, +And hindre hem al that evere I may. +Bot for al that yit dar I say, 2050 +I finde unto miself no bote, +Althogh myn herte nedes mote +Thurgh strengthe of love al that I hiere +Discovere unto my ladi diere: +For in good feith I have no miht +To hele fro that swete wiht, +If that it touche hire eny thing. +Bot this wot wel the hevene king, +That sithen ferst this world began, +Unto non other strange man 2060 +Ne feigned I semblant ne chiere, +To wite or axe of his matiere, +Thogh that he lovede ten or tuelve, +Whanne it was noght my ladi selve: +Bot if he wolde axe eny red +Al onlich of his oghne hed, +How he with other love ferde, +His tales with myn Ere I herde, +Bot to myn herte cam it noght +Ne sank no deppere in my thoght, 2070 +Bot hield conseil, as I was bede, +And tolde it nevere in other stede, +Bot let it passen as it com. +Now, fader, say what is thi dom, +And hou thou wolt that I be peined +For such Semblant as I have feigned. + +Mi Sone, if reson be wel peised, +Ther mai no vertu ben unpreised +Ne vice non be set in pris. +Forthi, my Sone, if thou be wys, 2080 +Do no viser upon thi face, +Which as wol noght thin herte embrace: +For if thou do, withinne a throwe +To othre men it schal be knowe, +So miht thou lihtli falle in blame +And lese a gret part of thi name. +And natheles in this degree +Fulofte time thou myht se +Of suche men that now aday +This vice setten in a say: 2090 +I speke it for no mannes blame, +Bot forto warne thee the same. +Mi Sone, as I mai hiere talke +In every place where I walke, +I not if it be so or non, +Bot it is manye daies gon +That I ferst herde telle this, +How Falssemblant hath ben and is +Most comunly fro yer to yere +With hem that duelle among ous here, 2100 +Of suche as we Lombardes calle. +For thei ben the slyeste of alle, +So as men sein in toune aboute, +To feigne and schewe thing withoute +Which is revers to that withinne: +Wherof that thei fulofte winne, +Whan thei be reson scholden lese; +Thei ben the laste and yit thei chese, +And we the ferste, and yit behinde +We gon, there as we scholden finde 2110 +The profit of oure oghne lond: +Thus gon thei fre withoute bond +To don her profit al at large, +And othre men bere al the charge. +Of Lombardz unto this covine, +Whiche alle londes conne engine, +Mai Falssemblant in special +Be likned, for thei overal, +Wher as they thenken forto duelle, +Among hemself, so as thei telle, 2120 +Ferst ben enformed forto lere +A craft which cleped is Fa crere: +For if Fa crere come aboute, +Thanne afterward hem stant no doute +To voide with a soubtil hond +The beste goodes of the lond +And bringe chaf and take corn. +Where as Fa crere goth toforn, +In all his weie he fynt no lette; +That Dore can non huissher schette 2130 +In which him list to take entre: +And thus the conseil most secre +Of every thing Fa crere knoweth, +Which into strange place he bloweth, +Where as he wot it mai most grieve. +And thus Fa crere makth believe, +So that fulofte he hath deceived, +Er that he mai ben aperceived. +Thus is this vice forto drede; +For who these olde bokes rede 2140 +Of suche ensamples as were ar, +Him oghte be the more war +Of alle tho that feigne chiere, +Wherof thou schalt a tale hiere. + +Of Falssemblant which is believed +Ful many a worthi wiht is grieved, +And was long time er we wer bore. +To thee, my Sone, I wol therfore +A tale telle of Falssemblant, +Which falseth many a covenant, 2150 +And many a fraude of fals conseil +Ther ben hangende upon his Seil: +And that aboghten gulteles +Bothe Deianire and Hercules, +The whiche in gret desese felle +Thurgh Falssemblant, as I schal telle. +Whan Hercules withinne a throwe +Al only hath his herte throwe +Upon this faire Deianire, +It fell him on a dai desire, 2160 +Upon a Rivere as he stod, +That passe he wolde over the flod +Withoute bot, and with him lede +His love, bot he was in drede +For tendresce of that swete wiht, +For he knew noght the forde ariht. +Ther was a Geant thanne nyh, +Which Nessus hihte, and whanne he sih +This Hercules and Deianyre, +Withinne his herte he gan conspire, 2170 +As he which thurgh his tricherie +Hath Hercules in gret envie, +Which he bar in his herte loke, +And thanne he thoghte it schal be wroke. +Bot he ne dorste natheles +Ayein this worthi Hercules +Falle in debat as forto feihte; +Bot feigneth Semblant al be sleihte +Of frendschipe and of alle goode, +And comth where as thei bothe stode, 2180 +And makth hem al the chiere he can, +And seith that as here oghne man +He is al redy forto do +What thing he mai; and it fell so +That thei upon his Semblant triste, +And axen him if that he wiste +What thing hem were best to done, +So that thei mihten sauf and sone +The water passe, he and sche. +And whan Nessus the privete 2190 +Knew of here herte what it mente, +As he that was of double entente, +He made hem riht a glad visage; +And whanne he herde of the passage +Of him and hire, he thoghte guile, +And feigneth Semblant for a while +To don hem plesance and servise, +Bot he thoghte al an other wise. +This Nessus with hise wordes slyhe +Yaf such conseil tofore here yhe 2200 +Which semeth outward profitable +And was withinne deceivable. +He bad hem of the Stremes depe +That thei be war and take kepe, +So as thei knowe noght the pas; +Bot forto helpe in such a cas, +He seith himself that for here ese +He wolde, if that it mihte hem plese, +The passage of the water take, +And for this ladi undertake 2210 +To bere unto that other stronde +And sauf to sette hire up alonde, +And Hercules may thanne also +The weie knowe how he schal go: +And herto thei acorden alle. +Bot what as after schal befalle, +Wel payd was Hercules of this, +And this Geant also glad is, +And tok this ladi up alofte +And set hire on his schuldre softe, 2220 +And in the flod began to wade, +As he which no grucchinge made, +And bar hire over sauf and sound. +Bot whanne he stod on dreie ground +And Hercules was fer behinde, +He sette his trowthe al out of mynde, +Who so therof be lief or loth, +With Deianyre and forth he goth, +As he that thoghte to dissevere +The compaignie of hem for evere. 2230 +Whan Hercules therof tok hiede, +Als faste as evere he mihte him spiede +He hyeth after in a throwe; +And hapneth that he hadde a bowe, +The which in alle haste he bende, +As he that wolde an Arwe sende, +Which he tofore hadde envenimed. +He hath so wel his schote timed, +That he him thurgh the bodi smette, +And thus the false wiht he lette. 2240 + +Bot lest now such a felonie: +Whan Nessus wiste he scholde die, +He tok to Deianyre his scherte, +Which with the blod was of his herte +Thurghout desteigned overal, +And tolde how sche it kepe schal +Al prively to this entente, +That if hire lord his herte wente +To love in eny other place, +The scherte, he seith, hath such a grace, 2250 +That if sche mai so mochel make +That he the scherte upon him take, +He schal alle othre lete in vein +And torne unto hire love ayein. +Who was tho glad bot Deianyre? +Hire thoghte hire herte was afyre +Til it was in hire cofre loke, +So that no word therof was spoke. + +The daies gon, the yeres passe, +The hertes waxen lasse and lasse 2260 +Of hem that ben to love untrewe: +This Hercules with herte newe +His love hath set on Eolen, +And therof spieken alle men. +This Eolen, this faire maide, +Was, as men thilke time saide, +The kinges dowhter of Eurice; +And sche made Hercules so nyce +Upon hir Love and so assote, +That he him clotheth in hire cote, 2270 +And sche in his was clothed ofte; +And thus fieblesce is set alofte, +And strengthe was put under fote, +Ther can noman therof do bote. +Whan Deianyre hath herd this speche, +Ther was no sorwe forto seche: +Of other helpe wot sche non, +Bot goth unto hire cofre anon; +With wepende yhe and woful herte +Sche tok out thilke unhappi scherte, 2280 +As sche that wende wel to do, +And broghte hire werk aboute so +That Hercules this scherte on dede, +To such entente as she was bede +Of Nessus, so as I seide er. +Bot therof was sche noght the ner, +As no fortune may be weyved; +With Falssemblant sche was deceived, +That whan sche wende best have wonne, +Sche lost al that sche hath begonne. 2290 +For thilke scherte unto the bon +His body sette afyre anon, +And cleveth so, it mai noght twinne, +For the venym that was therinne. +And he thanne as a wilde man +Unto the hihe wode he ran, +And as the Clerk Ovide telleth, +The grete tres to grounde he felleth +With strengthe al of his oghne myght, +And made an huge fyr upriht, 2300 +And lepte himself therinne at ones +And brende him bothe fleissh and bones. +Which thing cam al thurgh Falssemblant, +That false Nessus the Geant +Made unto him and to his wif; +Wherof that he hath lost his lif, +And sche sori for everemo. + +Forthi, my Sone, er thee be wo, +I rede, be wel war therfore; +For whan so gret a man was lore, 2310 +It oghte yive a gret conceipte +To warne alle othre of such deceipte. + +Grant mercy, fader, I am war +So fer that I nomore dar +Of Falssemblant take aqueintance; +Bot rathere I wol do penance +That I have feigned chiere er this. +Now axeth forth, what so ther is +Of that belongeth to my schrifte. + +Mi Sone, yit ther is the fifte 2320 +Which is conceived of Envie, +And cleped is Supplantarie, +Thurgh whos compassement and guile +Ful many a man hath lost his while +In love als wel as otherwise, +Hierafter as I schal devise. + +The vice of Supplantacioun +With many a fals collacioun, +Which he conspireth al unknowe, +Full ofte time hath overthrowe 2330 +The worschipe of an other man. +So wel no lif awayte can +Ayein his sleyhte forto caste, +That he his pourpos ate laste +Ne hath, er that it be withset. +Bot most of alle his herte is set +In court upon these grete Offices +Of dignitees and benefices: +Thus goth he with his sleyhte aboute +To hindre and schowve an other oute 2340 +And stonden with his slyh compas +In stede there an other was; +And so to sette himselven inne, +He reccheth noght, be so he winne, +Of that an other man schal lese, +And thus fulofte chalk for chese +He changeth with ful litel cost, +Wherof an other hath the lost +And he the profit schal receive. +For his fortune is to deceive 2350 +And forto change upon the whel +His wo with othre mennes wel: +Of that an other man avaleth, +His oghne astat thus up he haleth, +And takth the bridd to his beyete, +Wher othre men the buisshes bete. + +Mi Sone, and in the same wise +Ther ben lovers of such emprise, +That schapen hem to be relieved +Where it is wrong to ben achieved: 2360 +For it is other mannes riht, +Which he hath taken dai and niht +To kepe for his oghne Stor +Toward himself for everemor, +And is his propre be the lawe, +Which thing that axeth no felawe, +If love holde his covenant. +Bot thei that worchen be supplaunt, +Yit wolden thei a man supplaunte, +And take a part of thilke plaunte 2370 +Which he hath for himselve set: +And so fulofte is al unknet, +That som man weneth be riht fast. +For Supplant with his slyhe cast +Fulofte happneth forto mowe +Thing which an other man hath sowe, +And makth comun of proprete +With sleihte and with soubtilite, +As men mai se fro yer to yere. +Thus cleymeth he the bot to stiere, 2380 +Of which an other maister is. + +Forthi, my Sone, if thou er this +Hast ben of such professioun, +Discovere thi confessioun: +Hast thou supplanted eny man? + +For oght that I you telle can, +Min holi fader, as of the dede +I am withouten eny drede +Al gulteles; bot of my thoght +Mi conscience excuse I noght. 2390 +For were it wrong or were it riht, +Me lakketh nothing bote myht, +That I ne wolde longe er this +Of other mannes love ywiss +Be weie of Supplantacioun +Have mad apropriacioun +And holde that I nevere boghte, +Thogh it an other man forthoghte. +And al this speke I bot of on, +For whom I lete alle othre gon; 2400 +Bot hire I mai noght overpasse, +That I ne mot alwey compasse, +Me roghte noght be what queintise, +So that I mihte in eny wise +Fro suche that mi ladi serve +Hire herte make forto swerve +Withouten eny part of love. +For be the goddes alle above +I wolde it mihte so befalle, +That I al one scholde hem alle 2410 +Supplante, and welde hire at mi wille. +And that thing mai I noght fulfille, +Bot if I scholde strengthe make; +And that I dar noght undertake, +Thogh I were as was Alisaundre, +For therof mihte arise sklaundre; +And certes that schal I do nevere, +For in good feith yit hadde I levere +In my simplesce forto die, +Than worche such Supplantarie. 2420 +Of otherwise I wol noght seie +That if I founde a seker weie, +I wolde as for conclusioun +Worche after Supplantacioun, +So hihe a love forto winne. +Now, fader, if that this be Sinne, +I am al redy to redresce +The gilt of which I me confesse. + +Mi goode Sone, as of Supplant +Thee thar noght drede tant ne quant, 2430 +As for nothing that I have herd, +Bot only that thou hast misferd +Thenkende, and that me liketh noght, +For godd beholt a mannes thoght. +And if thou understode in soth +In loves cause what it doth, +A man to ben a Supplantour, +Thou woldest for thin oghne honour +Be double weie take kepe: +Ferst for thin oghne astat to kepe, 2440 +To be thiself so wel bethoght +That thou supplanted were noght, +And ek for worschipe of thi name +Towardes othre do the same, +And soffren every man have his. +Bot natheles it was and is, +That in a wayt at alle assaies +Supplant of love in oure daies +The lief fulofte for the levere +Forsakth, and so it hath don evere. 2450 + +Ensample I finde therupon, +At Troie how that Agamenon +Supplantede the worthi knyht +Achilles of that swete wiht, +Which named was Brexeida; +And also of Criseida, +Whom Troilus to love ches, +Supplanted hath Diomedes. + +Of Geta and Amphitrion, +That whilom weren bothe as on 2460 +Of frendschipe and of compaignie, +I rede how that Supplantarie +In love, as it betidde tho, +Beguiled hath on of hem tuo. +For this Geta that I of meene, +To whom the lusti faire Almeene +Assured was be weie of love, +Whan he best wende have ben above +And sikerest of that he hadde, +Cupido so the cause ladde, 2470 +That whil he was out of the weie, +Amphitrion hire love aweie +Hath take, and in this forme he wroghte. +Be nyhte unto the chambre he soghte, +Wher that sche lay, and with a wyle +He contrefeteth for the whyle +The vois of Gete in such a wise, +That made hire of hire bedd arise, +Wenende that it were he, +And let him in, and whan thei be 2480 +Togedre abedde in armes faste, +This Geta cam thanne ate laste +Unto the Dore and seide, “Undo.” +And sche ansuerde and bad him go, +And seide how that abedde al warm +Hir lief lay naked in hir arm; +Sche wende that it were soth. +Lo, what Supplant of love doth: +This Geta forth bejaped wente, +And yit ne wiste he what it mente; 2490 +Amphitrion him hath supplanted +With sleyhte of love and hire enchaunted: +And thus put every man out other, +The Schip of love hath lost his Rother, +So that he can no reson stiere. +And forto speke of this matiere +Touchende love and his Supplant, +A tale which is acordant +Unto thin Ere I thenke enforme. +Now herkne, for this is the forme. 2500 + +Of thilke Cite chief of alle +Which men the noble Rome calle, +Er it was set to Cristes feith, +Ther was, as the Cronique seith, +An Emperour, the which it ladde +In pes, that he no werres hadde: +Ther was nothing desobeissant +Which was to Rome appourtenant, +Bot al was torned into reste. +To some it thoghte for the beste, 2510 +To some it thoghte nothing so, +And that was only unto tho +Whos herte stod upon knyhthode: +Bot most of alle of his manhode +The worthi Sone of themperour, +Which wolde ben a werreiour, +As he that was chivalerous +Of worldes fame and desirous, +Began his fadre to beseche +That he the werres mihte seche, 2520 +In strange Marches forto ride. +His fader seide he scholde abide, +And wolde granten him no leve: +Bot he, which wolde noght beleve, +A kniht of his to whom he triste, +So that his fader nothing wiste, +He tok and tolde him his corage, +That he pourposeth a viage. +If that fortune with him stonde, +He seide how that he wolde fonde 2530 +The grete See to passe unknowe, +And there abyde for a throwe +Upon the werres to travaile. +And to this point withoute faile +This kniht, whan he hath herd his lord, +Is swore, and stant of his acord, +As thei that bothe yonge were; +So that in prive conseil there +Thei ben assented forto wende. +And therupon to make an ende, 2540 +Tresor ynowh with hem thei token, +And whan the time is best thei loken, +That sodeinliche in a Galeie +Fro Romelond thei wente here weie +And londe upon that other side. +The world fell so that ilke tide, +Which evere hise happes hath diverse, +The grete Soldan thanne of Perse +Ayein the Caliphe of Egipte +A werre, which that him beclipte, 2550 +Hath in a Marche costeiant. +And he, which was a poursuiant +Worschipe of armes to atteigne, +This Romein, let anon ordeigne, +That he was redi everydel: +And whan he was arraied wel +Of every thing which him belongeth, +Straght unto Kaire his weie he fongeth, +Wher he the Soldan thanne fond, +And axeth that withinne his lond 2560 +He mihte him for the werre serve, +As he which wolde his thonk deserve. + +The Soldan was riht glad with al, +And wel the more in special +Whan that he wiste he was Romein; +Bot what was elles in certein, +That mihte he wite be no weie. +And thus the kniht of whom I seie +Toward the Soldan is beleft, +And in the Marches now and eft, 2570 +Wher that the dedli werres were, +He wroghte such knihthode there, +That every man spak of him good. +And thilke time so it stod, +This mihti Soldan be his wif +A Dowhter hath, that in this lif +Men seiden ther was non so fair. +Sche scholde ben hir fader hair, +And was of yeres ripe ynowh: +Hire beaute many an herte drowh 2580 +To bowe unto that ilke lawe +Fro which no lif mai be withdrawe, +And that is love, whos nature +Set lif and deth in aventure +Of hem that knyhthode undertake. + +This lusti peine hath overtake +The herte of this Romein so sore, +That to knihthode more and more +Prouesce avanceth his corage. +Lich to the Leoun in his rage, 2590 +Fro whom that alle bestes fle, +Such was the knyht in his degre: +Wher he was armed in the feld, +Ther dorste non abide his scheld; +Gret pris upon the werre he hadde. +Bot sche which al the chance ladde, +Fortune, schop the Marches so, +That be thassent of bothe tuo, +The Soldan and the Caliphe eke, +Bataille upon a dai thei seke, 2600 +Which was in such a wise set +That lengere scholde it noght be let. +Thei made hem stronge on every side, +And whan it drowh toward the tide +That the bataille scholde be, +The Soldan in gret privete +A goldring of his dowhter tok, +And made hire swere upon a bok +And ek upon the goddes alle, +That if fortune so befalle 2610 +In the bataille that he deie, +That sche schal thilke man obeie +And take him to hire housebonde, +Which thilke same Ring to honde +Hire scholde bringe after his deth. +This hath sche swore, and forth he geth +With al the pouer of his lond +Unto the Marche, where he fond +His enemy full embatailled. + +The Soldan hath the feld assailed: 2620 +Thei that ben hardy sone assemblen, +Wherof the dredfull hertes tremblen: +That on sleth, and that other sterveth, +Bot above all his pris deserveth +This knihtly Romein; where he rod, +His dedly swerd noman abod, +Ayein the which was no defence; +Egipte fledde in his presence, +And thei of Perse upon the chace +Poursuien: bot I not what grace 2630 +Befell, an Arwe out of a bowe +Al sodeinly that ilke throwe +The Soldan smot, and ther he lay: +The chace is left for thilke day, +And he was bore into a tente. + +The Soldan sih how that it wente, +And that he scholde algate die; +And to this knyht of Romanie, +As unto him whom he most triste, +His Dowhter Ring, that non it wiste, 2640 +He tok, and tolde him al the cas, +Upon hire oth what tokne it was +Of that sche scholde ben his wif. +Whan this was seid, the hertes lif +Of this Soldan departeth sone; +And therupon, as was to done, +The dede body wel and faire +Thei carie til thei come at Kaire, +Wher he was worthily begrave. + +The lordes, whiche as wolden save 2650 +The Regne which was desolat, +To bringe it into good astat +A parlement thei sette anon. +Now herkne what fell therupon: +This yonge lord, this worthi kniht +Of Rome, upon the same niht +That thei amorwe trete scholde, +Unto his Bacheler he tolde +His conseil, and the Ring with al +He scheweth, thurgh which that he schal, 2660 +He seith, the kinges Dowhter wedde, +For so the Ring was leid to wedde, +He tolde, into hir fader hond, +That with what man that sche it fond +Sche scholde him take to hire lord. +And this, he seith, stant of record, +Bot noman wot who hath this Ring. + +This Bacheler upon this thing +His Ere and his entente leide, +And thoghte more thanne he seide, 2670 +And feigneth with a fals visage +That he was glad, bot his corage +Was al set in an other wise. +These olde Philosophres wise +Thei writen upon thilke while, +That he mai best a man beguile +In whom the man hath most credence; +And this befell in evidence +Toward this yonge lord of Rome. +His Bacheler, which hadde tome, 2680 +Whan that his lord be nihte slepte, +This Ring, the which his maister kepte, +Out of his Pours awey he dede, +And putte an other in the stede. + +Amorwe, whan the Court is set, +The yonge ladi was forth fet, +To whom the lordes don homage, +And after that of Mariage +Thei trete and axen of hir wille. +Bot sche, which thoghte to fulfille 2690 +Hire fader heste in this matiere, +Seide openly, that men mai hiere, +The charge which hire fader bad. + +Tho was this Lord of Rome glad +And drowh toward his Pours anon, +Bot al for noght, it was agon: +His Bacheler it hath forthdrawe, +And axeth ther upon the lawe +That sche him holde covenant. +The tokne was so sufficant 2700 +That it ne mihte be forsake, +And natheles his lord hath take +Querelle ayein his oghne man; +Bot for nothing that evere he can +He mihte as thanne noght ben herd, +So that his cleym is unansuerd, +And he hath of his pourpos failed. + +This Bacheler was tho consailed +And wedded, and of thilke Empire +He was coroned Lord and Sire, 2710 +And al the lond him hath received; +Wherof his lord, which was deceived, +A seknesse er the thridde morwe +Conceived hath of dedly sorwe: +And as he lay upon his deth, +Therwhile him lasteth speche and breth, +He sende for the worthieste +Of al the lond and ek the beste, +And tolde hem al the sothe tho, +That he was Sone and Heir also 2720 +Of themperour of grete Rome, +And how that thei togedre come, +This kniht and he; riht as it was, +He tolde hem al the pleine cas, +And for that he his conseil tolde, +That other hath al that he wolde, +And he hath failed of his mede: +As for the good he takth non hiede, +He seith, bot only of the love, +Of which he wende have ben above. 2730 +And therupon be lettre write +He doth his fader forto wite +Of al this matiere as it stod; +And thanne with an hertly mod +Unto the lordes he besoghte +To telle his ladi how he boghte +Hire love, of which an other gladeth; +And with that word his hewe fadeth, +And seide, “A dieu, my ladi swete.” +The lif hath lost his kindly hete, 2740 +And he lay ded as eny ston; +Wherof was sory manyon, +Bot non of alle so as sche. + +This false knyht in his degree +Arested was and put in hold: +For openly whan it was told +Of the tresoun which is befalle, +Thurghout the lond thei seiden alle, +If it be soth that men suppose, +His oghne untrowthe him schal depose. 2750 +And forto seche an evidence, +With honour and gret reverence, +Wherof they mihten knowe an ende, +To themperour anon thei sende +The lettre which his Sone wrot. +And whan that he the sothe wot, +To telle his sorwe is endeles, +Bot yit in haste natheles +Upon the tale which he herde +His Stieward into Perse ferde 2760 +With many a worthi Romein eke, +His liege tretour forto seke; +And whan thei thider come were, +This kniht him hath confessed there +How falsly that he hath him bore, +Wherof his worthi lord was lore. +Tho seiden some he scholde deie, +Bot yit thei founden such a weie +That he schal noght be ded in Perse; +And thus the skiles ben diverse. 2770 +Be cause that he was coroned, +And that the lond was abandoned +To him, althogh it were unriht, +Ther is no peine for him diht; +Bot to this point and to this ende +Thei granten wel that he schal wende +With the Romeins to Rome ayein. +And thus acorded ful and plein, +The qwike body with the dede +With leve take forth thei lede, 2780 +Wher that Supplant hath his juise. + +Wherof that thou thee miht avise +Upon this enformacioun +Touchende of Supplantacioun, +That thou, my Sone, do noght so: +And forto take hiede also +What Supplant doth in other halve, +Ther is noman can finde a salve +Pleinly to helen such a Sor; +It hath and schal ben everemor, 2790 +Whan Pride is with Envie joint, +He soffreth noman in good point, +Wher that he mai his honour lette. +And therupon if I schal sette +Ensample, in holy cherche I finde +How that Supplant is noght behinde; +God wot if that it now be so: +For in Cronique of time ago +I finde a tale concordable +Of Supplant, which that is no fable, 2800 +In the manere as I schal telle, +So as whilom the thinges felle. + +At Rome, as it hath ofte falle, +The vicair general of alle +Of hem that lieven Cristes feith +His laste day, which non withseith, +Hath schet as to the worldes ije, +Whos name if I schal specefie, +He hihte Pope Nicolas. +And thus whan that he passed was, 2810 +The Cardinals, that wolden save +The forme of lawe, in the conclave +Gon forto chese a newe Pope, +And after that thei cowthe agrope +Hath ech of hem seid his entente: +Til ate laste thei assente +Upon an holy clerk reclus, +Which full was of gostli vertus; +His pacience and his simplesse +Hath set him into hih noblesse. 2820 +Thus was he Pope canonized, +With gret honour and intronized, +And upon chance as it is falle, +His name Celestin men calle; +Which notefied was be bulle +To holi cherche and to the fulle +In alle londes magnified. +Bot every worschipe is envied, +And that was thilke time sene: +For whan this Pope of whom I meene 2830 +Was chose, and othre set beside, +A Cardinal was thilke tide +Which the papat longe hath desired +And therupon gretli conspired; +Bot whan he sih fortune is failed, +For which long time he hath travailed, +That ilke fyr which Ethna brenneth +Thurghout his wofull herte renneth, +Which is resembled to Envie, +Wherof Supplant and tricherie 2840 +Engendred is; and natheles +He feigneth love, he feigneth pes, +Outward he doth the reverence, +Bot al withinne his conscience +Thurgh fals ymaginacioun +He thoghte Supplantacioun. +And therupon a wonder wyle +He wroghte: for at thilke whyle +It fell so that of his lignage +He hadde a clergoun of yong age, 2850 +Whom he hath in his chambre affaited. +This Cardinal his time hath waited, +And with his wordes slyhe and queinte, +The whiche he cowthe wysly peinte, +He schop this clerk of which I telle +Toward the Pope forto duelle, +So that withinne his chambre anyht +He lai, and was a prive wyht +Toward the Pope on nyhtes tide. + +Mai noman fle that schal betide. 2860 +This Cardinal, which thoghte guile, +Upon a day whan he hath while +This yonge clerc unto him tok, +And made him swere upon a bok, +And told him what his wille was. +And forth withal a Trompe of bras +He hath him take, and bad him this: +“Thou schalt,” he seide, “whan time is +Awaite, and take riht good kepe, +Whan that the Pope is fast aslepe 2870 +And that non other man by nyh; +And thanne that thou be so slyh +Thurghout the Trompe into his Ere, +Fro hevene as thogh a vois it were, +To soune of such prolacioun +That he his meditacioun +Therof mai take and understonde, +As thogh it were of goddes sonde. +And in this wise thou schalt seie, +That he do thilke astat aweie 2880 +Of Pope, in which he stant honoured, +So schal his Soule be socoured +Of thilke worschipe ate laste +In hevene which schal evere laste.” + +This clerc, whan he hath herd the forme +How he the Pope scholde enforme, +Tok of the Cardinal his leve, +And goth him hom, til it was Eve, +And prively the trompe he hedde, +Til that the Pope was abedde. 2890 +And at the Midnyht, whan he knewh +The Pope slepte, thanne he blewh +Withinne his trompe thurgh the wal, +And tolde in what manere he schal +His Papacie leve, and take +His ferste astat: and thus awake +This holi Pope he made thries, +Wherof diverse fantasies +Upon his grete holinesse +Withinne his herte he gan impresse. 2900 +The Pope ful of innocence +Conceiveth in his conscience +That it is goddes wille he cesse; +Bot in what wise he may relesse +His hihe astat, that wot he noght. +And thus withinne himself bethoght, +He bar it stille in his memoire, +Til he cam to the Consistoire; +And there in presence of hem alle +He axeth, if it so befalle 2910 +That eny Pope cesse wolde, +How that the lawe it soffre scholde. +Thei seten alle stille and herde, +Was non which to the point ansuerde, +For to what pourpos that it mente +Ther was noman knew his entente, +Bot only he which schop the guile. + +This Cardinal the same while +Al openly with wordes pleine +Seith, if the Pope wolde ordeigne 2920 +That ther be such a lawe wroght, +Than mihte he cesse, and elles noght. +And as he seide, don it was; +The Pope anon upon the cas +Of his Papal Autorite +Hath mad and yove the decre: +And whan that lawe was confermed +In due forme and al affermed, +This innocent, which was deceived, +His Papacie anon hath weyved, 2930 +Renounced and resigned eke. +That other was nothing to seke, +Bot undernethe such a jape +He hath so for himselve schape, +That how as evere it him beseme, +The Mitre with the Diademe +He hath thurgh Supplantacion: +And in his confirmacion +Upon the fortune of his grace +His name is cleped Boneface. 2940 + +Under the viser of Envie, +Lo, thus was hid the tricherie, +Which hath beguiled manyon. +Bot such conseil ther mai be non, +With treson whan it is conspired, +That it nys lich the Sparke fyred +Up in the Rof, which for a throwe +Lith hidd, til whan the wyndes blowe +It blaseth out on every side. +This Bonefas, which can noght hyde 2950 +The tricherie of his Supplant, +Hath openly mad his avant +How he the Papacie hath wonne. +Bot thing which is with wrong begonne +Mai nevere stonde wel at ende; +Wher Pride schal the bowe bende, +He schet fulofte out of the weie: +And thus the Pope of whom I seie, +Whan that he stod on hih the whiel, +He can noght soffre himself be wel. 2960 +Envie, which is loveles, +And Pride, which is laweles, +With such tempeste made him erre, +That charite goth out of herre: +So that upon misgovernance +Ayein Lowyz the king of France +He tok querelle of his oultrage, +And seide he scholde don hommage +Unto the cherche bodily. +Bot he, that wiste nothing why 2970 +He scholde do so gret servise +After the world in such a wise, +Withstod the wrong of that demande; +For noght the Pope mai comande +The king wol noght the Pope obeie. +This Pope tho be alle weie +That he mai worche of violence +Hath sent the bulle of his sentence +With cursinge and with enterdit. + +The king upon this wrongful plyt, 2980 +To kepe his regne fro servage, +Conseiled was of his Barnage +That miht with miht schal be withstonde. +Thus was the cause take on honde, +And seiden that the Papacie +Thei wolde honoure and magnefie +In al that evere is spirital; +Bot thilke Pride temporal +Of Boneface in his persone, +Ayein that ilke wrong al one 2990 +Thei wolde stonden in debat: +And thus the man and noght the stat +The Frensche schopen be her miht +To grieve. And fell ther was a kniht, +Sire Guilliam de Langharet, +Which was upon this cause set; +And therupon he tok a route +Of men of Armes and rod oute, +So longe and in a wayt he lay, +That he aspide upon a day 3000 +The Pope was at Avinoun, +And scholde ryde out of the toun +Unto Pontsorge, the which is +A Castell in Provence of his. +Upon the weie and as he rod, +This kniht, which hoved and abod +Embuisshed upon horse bak, +Al sodeinliche upon him brak +And hath him be the bridel sesed, +And seide: “O thou, which hast desesed 3010 +The Court of France be thi wrong, +Now schalt thou singe an other song: +Thin enterdit and thi sentence +Ayein thin oghne conscience +Hierafter thou schalt fiele and grope. +We pleigne noght ayein the Pope, +For thilke name is honourable, +Bot thou, which hast be deceivable +And tricherous in al thi werk, +Thou Bonefas, thou proude clerk, 3020 +Misledere of the Papacie, +Thi false bodi schal abye +And soffre that it hath deserved.” + +Lo, thus the Supplantour was served; +For thei him ladden into France +And setten him to his penance +Withinne a tour in harde bondes, +Wher he for hunger bothe hise hondes +Eet of and deide, god wot how: +Of whom the wrytinge is yit now 3030 +Registred, as a man mai hiere, +Which spekth and seith in this manere: + +Thin entre lich the fox was slyh, +Thi regne also with pride on hih +Was lich the Leon in his rage; +Bot ate laste of thi passage +Thi deth was to the houndes like. + +Such is the lettre of his Cronique +Proclamed in the Court of Rome, +Wherof the wise ensample nome. 3040 +And yit, als ferforth as I dar, +I rede alle othre men be war, +And that thei loke wel algate +That non his oghne astat translate +Of holi cherche in no degree +Be fraude ne soubtilite: +For thilke honour which Aaron tok +Schal non receive, as seith the bok, +Bot he be cleped as he was. +What I schal thenken in this cas 3050 +Of that I hiere now aday, +I not: bot he which can and may, +Be reson bothe and be nature +The help of every mannes cure, +He kepe Simon fro the folde. +For Joachim thilke Abbot tolde +How suche daies scholden falle, +That comunliche in places alle +The Chapmen of such mercerie +With fraude and with Supplantarie 3060 +So manye scholden beie and selle, +That he ne may for schame telle +So foul a Senne in mannes Ere. +Bot god forbiede that it were +In oure daies that he seith: +For if the Clerc beware his feith +In chapmanhod at such a feire, +The remenant mot nede empeire +Of al that to the world belongeth; +For whan that holi cherche wrongeth, 3070 +I not what other thing schal rihte. +And natheles at mannes sihte +Envie forto be preferred +Hath conscience so differred, +That noman loketh to the vice +Which is the Moder of malice, +And that is thilke false Envie, +Which causeth many a tricherie; +For wher he may an other se +That is mor gracious than he, 3080 +It schal noght stonden in his miht +Bot if he hindre such a wiht: +And that is welnyh overal, +This vice is now so general. + +Envie thilke unhapp indrowh, +Whan Joab be deceipte slowh +Abner, for drede he scholde be +With king David such as was he. +And thurgh Envie also it fell +Of thilke false Achitofell, 3090 +For his conseil was noght achieved, +Bot that he sih Cusy believed +With Absolon and him forsake, +He heng himself upon a stake. + +Senec witnesseth openly +How that Envie proprely +Is of the Court the comun wenche, +And halt taverne forto schenche +That drink which makth the herte brenne, +And doth the wit aboute renne, 3100 +Be every weie to compasse +How that he mihte alle othre passe, +As he which thurgh unkindeschipe +Envieth every felaschipe; +So that thou miht wel knowe and se, +Ther is no vice such as he, +Ferst toward godd abhominable, +And to mankinde unprofitable: +And that be wordes bot a fewe +I schal be reson prove and schewe. 3110 + +Envie if that I schal descrive, +He is noght schaply forto wyve +In Erthe among the wommen hiere; +For ther is in him no matiere +Wherof he mihte do plesance. +Ferst for his hevy continance +Of that he semeth evere unglad, +He is noght able to ben had; +And ek he brenneth so withinne, +That kinde mai no profit winne, 3120 +Wherof he scholde his love plese: +For thilke blod which scholde have ese +To regne among the moiste veines, +Is drye of thilke unkendeli peines +Thurgh whiche Envie is fyred ay. +And thus be reson prove I may +That toward love Envie is noght; +And otherwise if it be soght, +Upon what side as evere it falle, +It is the werste vice of alle, 3130 +Which of himself hath most malice. +For understond that every vice +Som cause hath, wherof it groweth, +Bot of Envie noman knoweth +Fro whenne he cam bot out of helle. +For thus the wise clerkes telle, +That no spirit bot of malice +Be weie of kinde upon a vice +Is tempted, and be such a weie +Envie hath kinde put aweie 3140 +And of malice hath his steringe, +Wherof he makth his bakbitinge, +And is himself therof desesed. +So mai ther be no kinde plesed; +For ay the mor that he envieth, +The more ayein himself he plieth. +Thus stant Envie in good espeir +To ben himself the develes heir, +As he which is his nexte liche +And forthest fro the heveneriche, 3150 +For there mai he nevere wone. + +Forthi, my goode diere Sone, +If thou wolt finde a siker weie +To love, put Envie aweie. + +Min holy fader, reson wolde +That I this vice eschuie scholde: +Bot yit to strengthe mi corage, +If that ye wolde in avantage +Therof sette a recoverir, +It were tome a gret desir, 3160 +That I this vice mihte flee. + +Nou understond, my Sone, and se, +Ther is phisique for the seke, +And vertus for the vices eke. +Who that the vices wolde eschuie, +He mot be resoun thanne suie +The vertus; for be thilke weie +He mai the vices don aweie, +For thei togedre mai noght duelle: +For as the water of a welle 3170 +Of fyr abateth the malice, +Riht so vertu fordoth the vice. +Ayein Envie is Charite, +Which is the Moder of Pite, +That makth a mannes herte tendre, +That it mai no malice engendre +In him that is enclin therto. +For his corage is tempred so, +That thogh he mihte himself relieve, +Yit wolde he noght an other grieve, 3180 +Bot rather forto do plesance +He berth himselven the grevance, +So fain he wolde an other ese. +Wherof, mi Sone, for thin ese +Now herkne a tale which I rede, +And understond it wel, I rede. + +Among the bokes of latin +I finde write of Constantin +The worthi Emperour of Rome, +Suche infortunes to him come, 3190 +Whan he was in his lusti age, +The lepre cawhte in his visage +And so forth overal aboute, +That he ne mihte ryden oute: +So lefte he bothe Schield and spere, +As he that mihte him noght bestere, +And hield him in his chambre clos. +Thurgh al the world the fame aros, +The grete clerkes ben asent +And come at his comandement 3200 +To trete upon this lordes hele. +So longe thei togedre dele, +That thei upon this medicine +Apointen hem, and determine +That in the maner as it stod +Thei wolde him bathe in childes blod +Withinne sevene wynter age: +For, as thei sein, that scholde assuage +The lepre and al the violence, +Which that thei knewe of Accidence 3210 +And noght be weie of kinde is falle. +And therto thei acorden alle +As for final conclusioun, +And tolden here opinioun +To themperour: and he anon +His conseil tok, and therupon +With lettres and with seales oute +Thei sende in every lond aboute +The yonge children forto seche, +Whos blod, thei seiden, schal be leche 3220 +For themperoures maladie. +Ther was ynowh to wepe and crie +Among the Modres, whan thei herde +Hou wofully this cause ferde, +Bot natheles thei moten bowe; +And thus wommen ther come ynowhe +With children soukende on the Tete. +Tho was ther manye teres lete, +Bot were hem lieve or were hem lothe, +The wommen and the children bothe 3230 +Into the Paleis forth be broght +With many a sory hertes thoght +Of hem whiche of here bodi bore +The children hadde, and so forlore +Withinne a while scholden se. +The Modres wepe in here degre, +And manye of hem aswoune falle, +The yonge babes criden alle: +This noyse aros, the lord it herde, +And loked out, and how it ferde 3240 +He sih, and as who seith abreide +Out of his slep, and thus he seide: + +“O thou divine pourveance, +Which every man in the balance +Of kinde hast formed to be liche, +The povere is bore as is the riche +And deieth in the same wise, +Upon the fol, upon the wise +Siknesse and hele entrecomune; +Mai non eschuie that fortune 3250 +Which kinde hath in hire lawe set; +Hire strengthe and beaute ben beset +To every man aliche fre, +That sche preferreth no degre +As in the disposicioun +Of bodili complexioun: +And ek of Soule resonable +The povere child is bore als able +To vertu as the kinges Sone; +For every man his oghne wone 3260 +After the lust of his assay +The vice or vertu chese may. +Thus stonden alle men franchised, +Bot in astat thei ben divised; +To some worschipe and richesse, +To some poverte and distresse, +On lordeth and an other serveth; +Bot yit as every man deserveth +The world yifth noght his yiftes hiere. +Bot certes he hath gret matiere 3270 +To ben of good condicioun, +Which hath in his subjeccioun +The men that ben of his semblance.” +And ek he tok a remembrance +How he that made lawe of kinde +Wolde every man to lawe binde, +And bad a man, such as he wolde +Toward himself, riht such he scholde +Toward an other don also. +And thus this worthi lord as tho 3280 +Sette in balance his oghne astat +And with himself stod in debat, +And thoghte hou that it was noght good +To se so mochel mannes blod +Be spilt for cause of him alone. +He sih also the grete mone, +Of that the Modres were unglade, +And of the wo the children made, +Wherof that al his herte tendreth, +And such pite withinne engendreth, 3290 +That him was levere forto chese +His oghne bodi forto lese, +Than se so gret a moerdre wroght +Upon the blod which gulteth noght. +Thus for the pite which he tok +Alle othre leches he forsok, +And put him out of aventure +Al only into goddes cure; +And seith, “Who that woll maister be, +He mot be servant to pite.” 3300 +So ferforth he was overcome +With charite, that he hath nome +His conseil and hise officers, +And bad unto hise tresorers +That thei his tresour al aboute +Departe among the povere route +Of wommen and of children bothe, +Wherof thei mihte hem fede and clothe +And saufli tornen hom ayein +Withoute lost of eny grein. 3310 +Thurgh charite thus he despendeth +His good, wherof that he amendeth +The povere poeple, and contrevaileth +The harm, that he hem so travaileth: +And thus the woful nyhtes sorwe +To joie is torned on the morwe; +Al was thonkinge, al was blessinge, +Which erst was wepinge and cursinge; +Thes wommen gon hom glade ynowh, +Echon for joie on other lowh, 3320 +And preiden for this lordes hele, +Which hath relessed the querele, +And hath his oghne will forsake +In charite for goddes sake. + +Bot now hierafter thou schalt hiere +What god hath wroght in this matiere, +As he which doth al equite. +To him that wroghte charite +He was ayeinward charitous, +And to pite he was pitous: 3330 +For it was nevere knowe yit +That charite goth unaquit. +The nyht, whan he was leid to slepe, +The hihe god, which wolde him kepe, +Seint Peter and seint Poul him sende, +Be whom he wolde his lepre amende. +Thei tuo to him slepende appiere +Fro god, and seide in this manere: +“O Constantin, for thou hast served +Pite, thou hast pite deserved: 3340 +Forthi thou schalt such pite have +That god thurgh pite woll thee save. +So schalt thou double hele finde, +Ferst for thi bodiliche kinde, +And for thi wofull Soule also, +Thou schalt ben hol of bothe tuo. +And for thou schalt thee noght despeire, +Thi lepre schal nomore empeire +Til thou wolt sende therupon +Unto the Mont of Celion, 3350 +Wher that Silvestre and his clergie +Togedre duelle in compaignie +For drede of thee, which many day +Hast ben a fo to Cristes lay, +And hast destruid to mochel schame +The prechours of his holy name. +Bot now thou hast somdiel appesed +Thi god, and with good dede plesed, +That thou thi pite hast bewared +Upon the blod which thou hast spared. 3360 +Forthi to thi salvacion +Thou schalt have enformacioun, +Such as Silvestre schal the teche: +The nedeth of non other leche.” + +This Emperour, which al this herde, +“Grant merci lordes,” he ansuerde, +“I wol do so as ye me seie. +Bot of o thing I wolde preie: +What schal I telle unto Silvestre +Or of youre name or of youre estre?” 3370 +And thei him tolden what thei hihte, +And forth withal out of his sihte +Thei passen up into the hevene. +And he awok out of his swevene, +And clepeth, and men come anon: +He tolde his drem, and therupon +In such a wise as he hem telleth +The Mont wher that Silvestre duelleth +Thei have in alle haste soght, +And founde he was and with hem broght 3380 +To themperour, which to him tolde +His swevene and elles what he wolde. +And whan Silvestre hath herd the king, +He was riht joiful of this thing, +And him began with al his wit +To techen upon holi writ +Ferst how mankinde was forlore, +And how the hihe god therfore +His Sone sende from above, +Which bore was for mannes love, 3390 +And after of his oghne chois +He tok his deth upon the crois; +And how in grave he was beloke, +And how that he hath helle broke, +And tok hem out that were him lieve; +And forto make ous full believe +That he was verrai goddes Sone, +Ayein the kinde of mannes wone +Fro dethe he ros the thridde day, +And whanne he wolde, as he wel may, 3400 +He styh up to his fader evene +With fleissh and blod into the hevene; +And riht so in the same forme +In fleissh and blod he schal reforme, +Whan time comth, the qwike and dede +At thilke woful dai of drede, +Where every man schal take his dom, +Als wel the Maister as the grom. +The mihti kinges retenue +That dai may stonde of no value 3410 +With worldes strengthe to defende; +For every man mot thanne entende +To stonde upon his oghne dedes +And leve alle othre mennes nedes. +That dai mai no consail availe, +The pledour and the plee schal faile, +The sentence of that ilke day +Mai non appell sette in delay; +Ther mai no gold the Jugge plie, +That he ne schal the sothe trie 3420 +And setten every man upriht, +Als wel the plowman as the kniht: +The lewed man, the grete clerk +Schal stonde upon his oghne werk, +And such as he is founde tho, +Such schal he be for everemo. +Ther mai no peine be relessed, +Ther mai no joie ben encressed, +Bot endeles, as thei have do, +He schal receive on of the tuo. 3430 +And thus Silvestre with his sawe +The ground of al the newe lawe +With gret devocion he precheth, +Fro point to point and pleinly techeth +Unto this hethen Emperour; +And seith, the hihe creatour +Hath underfonge his charite, +Of that he wroghte such pite, +Whan he the children hadde on honde. +Thus whan this lord hath understonde 3440 +Of al this thing how that it ferde, +Unto Silvestre he thanne ansuerde, +With al his hole herte and seith +That he is redi to the feith. +And so the vessel which for blod +Was mad, Silvestre, ther it stod, +With clene water of the welle +In alle haste he let do felle, +And sette Constantin therinne +Al naked up unto the chinne. 3450 +And in the while it was begunne, +A liht, as thogh it were a Sunne, +Fro hevene into the place com +Wher that he tok his cristendom; +And evere among the holi tales +Lich as thei weren fisshes skales +Ther fellen from him now and eft, +Til that ther was nothing beleft +Of al his grete maladie. +For he that wolde him purefie, 3460 +The hihe god hath mad him clene, +So that ther lefte nothing sene; +He hath him clensed bothe tuo, +The bodi and the Soule also. + +Tho knew this Emperour in dede +That Cristes feith was forto drede, +And sende anon hise lettres oute +And let do crien al aboute, +Up peine of deth that noman weyve +That he baptesme ne receive: 3470 +After his Moder qweene Heleine +He sende, and so betwen hem tweine +Thei treten, that the Cite all +Was cristned, and sche forth withall. +This Emperour, which hele hath founde, +Withinne Rome anon let founde +Tuo cherches, which he dede make +For Peter and for Poules sake, +Of whom he hadde avisioun; +And yaf therto possessioun 3480 +Of lordschipe and of worldes good. +Bot how so that his will was good +Toward the Pope and his Franchise, +Yit hath it proved other wise, +To se the worchinge of the dede: +For in Cronique this I rede; +Anon as he hath mad the yifte, +A vois was herd on hih the lifte, +Of which al Rome was adrad, +And seith: “To day is venym schad 3490 +In holi cherche of temporal, +Which medleth with the spirital.” +And hou it stant of that degree +Yit mai a man the sothe se: +God mai amende it, whan he wile, +I can ther to non other skile. + +Bot forto go ther I began, +How charite mai helpe a man +To bothe worldes, I have seid: +And if thou have an Ere leid, 3500 +Mi Sone, thou miht understonde, +If charite be take on honde, +Ther folweth after mochel grace. +Forthi, if that thou wolt pourchace +How that thou miht Envie flee, +Aqueinte thee with charite, +Which is the vertu sovereine. + +Mi fader, I schal do my peine: +For this ensample which ye tolde +With al myn herte I have withholde, 3510 +So that I schal for everemore +Eschuie Envie wel the more: +And that I have er this misdo, +Yif me my penance er I go. +And over that to mi matiere +Of schrifte, why we sitten hiere +In privete betwen ous tweie, +Now axeth what ther is, I preie. + +Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore +I woll thee telle what is more, 3520 +So that thou schalt the vices knowe: +For whan thei be to thee full knowe, +Thou miht hem wel the betre eschuie. +And for this cause I thenke suie +The forme bothe and the matiere, +As now suiende thou schalt hiere +Which vice stant next after this: +And whan thou wost how that it is, +As thou schalt hiere me devise, +Thow miht thiself the betre avise. 3530 + +Explicit Liber Secundus + + + + +Incipit Liber Tercius + + +_Ira suis paribus est par furiis Acherontis, + Quo furor ad tempus nil pietatis habet. +Ira malencolicos animos perturbat, vt equo + Iure sui pondus nulla statera tenet. +Omnibus in causis grauat Ira, set inter amantes, + Illa magis facili sorte grauamen agit: +Est vbi vir discors leuiterque repugnat amori, + Sepe loco ludi fletus ad ora venit._ + +If thou the vices lest to knowe, +Mi Sone, it hath noght ben unknowe, +Fro ferst that men the swerdes grounde, +That ther nis on upon this grounde, +A vice forein fro the lawe, +Wherof that many a good felawe +Hath be distraght be sodein chance; +And yit to kinde no plesance +It doth, bot wher he most achieveth +His pourpos, most to kinde he grieveth, 10 +As he which out of conscience +Is enemy to pacience: +And is be name on of the Sevene, +Which ofte hath set this world unevene, +And cleped is the cruel Ire, +Whos herte is everemore on fyre +To speke amis and to do bothe, +For his servantz ben evere wrothe. + +Mi goode fader, tell me this: +What thing is Ire? Sone, it is 20 +That in oure englissh Wrathe is hote, +Which hath hise wordes ay so hote, +That all a mannes pacience +Is fyred of the violence. +For he with him hath evere fyve +Servantz that helpen him to stryve: +The ferst of hem Malencolie +Is cleped, which in compaignie +An hundred times in an houre +Wol as an angri beste loure, 30 +And noman wot the cause why. +Mi Sone, schrif thee now forthi: +Hast thou be Malencolien? + +Ye, fader, be seint Julien, +Bot I untrewe wordes use, +I mai me noght therof excuse: +And al makth love, wel I wot, +Of which myn herte is evere hot, +So that I brenne as doth a glede +For Wrathe that I mai noght spede. 40 +And thus fulofte a day for noght +Save onlich of myn oghne thoght +I am so with miselven wroth, +That how so that the game goth +With othre men, I am noght glad; +Bot I am wel the more unglad, +For that is othre mennes game +It torneth me to pure grame. +Thus am I with miself oppressed +Of thoght, the which I have impressed, 50 +That al wakende I dreme and meete +That I with hire al one meete +And preie hire of som good ansuere: +Bot for sche wol noght gladly swere, +Sche seith me nay withouten oth; +And thus wexe I withinne wroth, +That outward I am al affraied, +And so distempred and esmaied. +A thousand times on a day +Ther souneth in myn Eres nay, 60 +The which sche seide me tofore: +Thus be my wittes as forlore; +And namely whan I beginne +To rekne with miself withinne +How many yeres ben agon, +Siththe I have trewly loved on +And nevere tok of other hede, +And evere aliche fer to spede +I am, the more I with hir dele, +So that myn happ and al myn hele 70 +Me thenkth is ay the leng the ferre, +That bringth my gladschip out of herre, +Wherof my wittes ben empeired, +And I, as who seith, al despeired. +For finaly, whan that I muse +And thenke how sche me wol refuse, +I am with anger so bestad, +For al this world mihte I be glad: +And for the while that it lasteth +Al up so doun my joie it casteth, 80 +And ay the furthere that I be, +Whan I ne may my ladi se, +The more I am redy to wraththe, +That for the touchinge of a laththe +Or for the torninge of a stree +I wode as doth the wylde Se, +And am so malencolious, +That ther nys servant in myn hous +Ne non of tho that ben aboute, +That ech of hem ne stant in doute, 90 +And wenen that I scholde rave +For Anger that thei se me have; +And so thei wondre more and lasse, +Til that thei sen it overpasse. +Bot, fader, if it so betide, +That I aproche at eny tide +The place wher my ladi is, +And thanne that hire like ywiss +To speke a goodli word untome, +For al the gold that is in Rome 100 +Ne cowthe I after that be wroth, +Bot al myn Anger overgoth; +So glad I am of the presence +Of hire, that I all offence +Foryete, as thogh it were noght, +So overgladed is my thoght. +And natheles, the soth to telle, +Ayeinward if it so befelle +That I at thilke time sihe +On me that sche miscaste hire yhe, 110 +Or that sche liste noght to loke, +And I therof good hiede toke, +Anon into my ferste astat +I torne, and am with al so mat, +That evere it is aliche wicke. +And thus myn hand ayein the pricke +I hurte and have do many day, +And go so forth as I go may, +Fulofte bitinge on my lippe, +And make unto miself a whippe. 120 +With which in many a chele and hete +Mi wofull herte is so tobete, +That all my wittes ben unsofte +And I am wroth, I not how ofte; +And al it is Malencolie, +Which groweth of the fantasie +Of love, that me wol noght loute: +So bere I forth an angri snoute +Ful manye times in a yer. +Bot, fader, now ye sitten hier 130 +In loves stede, I yow beseche, +That som ensample ye me teche, +Wherof I mai miself appese. + +Mi Sone, for thin hertes ese +I schal fulfille thi preiere, +So that thou miht the betre lere +What mischief that this vice stereth, +Which in his Anger noght forbereth, +Wherof that after him forthenketh, +Whan he is sobre and that he thenketh 140 +Upon the folie of his dede; +And of this point a tale I rede. + +Ther was a king which Eolus +Was hote, and it befell him thus, +That he tuo children hadde faire, +The Sone cleped was Machaire, +The dowhter ek Canace hihte. +Be daie bothe and ek be nyhte, +Whil thei be yonge, of comun wone +In chambre thei togedre wone, 150 +And as thei scholden pleide hem ofte, +Til thei be growen up alofte +Into the youthe of lusti age, +Whan kinde assaileth the corage +With love and doth him forto bowe, +That he no reson can allowe, +Bot halt the lawes of nature: +For whom that love hath under cure, +As he is blind himself, riht so +He makth his client blind also. 160 +In such manere as I you telle +As thei al day togedre duelle, +This brother mihte it noght asterte +That he with al his hole herte +His love upon his Soster caste: +And so it fell hem ate laste, +That this Machaire with Canace +Whan thei were in a prive place, +Cupide bad hem ferst to kesse, +And after sche which is Maistresse 170 +In kinde and techeth every lif +Withoute lawe positif, +Of which sche takth nomaner charge, +Bot kepth hire lawes al at large, +Nature, tok hem into lore +And tawht hem so, that overmore +Sche hath hem in such wise daunted, +That thei were, as who seith, enchaunted. +And as the blinde an other ledeth +And til thei falle nothing dredeth, 180 +Riht so thei hadde non insihte; +Bot as the bridd which wole alihte +And seth the mete and noght the net, +Which in deceipte of him is set, +This yonge folk no peril sihe, +Bot that was likinge in here yhe, +So that thei felle upon the chance +Where witt hath lore his remembrance. +So longe thei togedre assemble, +The wombe aros, and sche gan tremble, 190 +And hield hire in hire chambre clos +For drede it scholde be disclos +And come to hire fader Ere: +Wherof the Sone hadde also fere, +And feigneth cause forto ryde; +For longe dorste he noght abyde, +In aunter if men wolde sein +That he his Soster hath forlein: +For yit sche hadde it noght beknowe +Whos was the child at thilke throwe. 200 +Machaire goth, Canace abit, +The which was noght delivered yit, +Bot riht sone after that sche was. + +Now lest and herkne a woful cas. +The sothe, which mai noght ben hid, +Was ate laste knowe and kid +Unto the king, how that it stod. +And whan that he it understod, +Anon into Malencolie, +As thogh it were a frenesie, 210 +He fell, as he which nothing cowthe +How maistrefull love is in yowthe: +And for he was to love strange, +He wolde noght his herte change +To be benigne and favorable +To love, bot unmerciable +Betwen the wawe of wod and wroth +Into his dowhtres chambre he goth, +And sih the child was late bore, +Wherof he hath hise othes swore 220 +That sche it schal ful sore abye. +And sche began merci to crie, +Upon hire bare knes and preide, +And to hire fader thus sche seide: +“Ha mercy! fader, thenk I am +Thi child, and of thi blod I cam. +That I misdede yowthe it made, +And in the flodes bad me wade, +Wher that I sih no peril tho: +Bot now it is befalle so, 230 +Merci, my fader, do no wreche!” +And with that word sche loste speche +And fell doun swounende at his fot, +As sche for sorwe nedes mot. +Bot his horrible crualte +Ther mihte attempre no pite: +Out of hire chambre forth he wente +Al full of wraththe in his entente, +And tok the conseil in his herte +That sche schal noght the deth asterte, 240 +As he which Malencolien +Of pacience hath no lien, +Wherof the wraththe he mai restreigne. +And in this wilde wode peine, +Whanne al his resoun was untame, +A kniht he clepeth be his name, +And tok him as be weie of sonde +A naked swerd to bere on honde, +And seide him that he scholde go +And telle unto his dowhter so 250 +In the manere as he him bad, +How sche that scharpe swerdes blad +Receive scholde and do withal +So as sche wot wherto it schal. +Forth in message goth this kniht +Unto this wofull yonge wiht, +This scharpe swerd to hire he tok: +Wherof that al hire bodi qwok, +For wel sche wiste what it mente, +And that it was to thilke entente 260 +That sche hireselven scholde slee. +And to the kniht sche seide: “Yee, +Now that I wot my fadres wille, +That I schal in this wise spille, +I wole obeie me therto, +And as he wole it schal be do. +Bot now this thing mai be non other, +I wole a lettre unto mi brother, +So as my fieble hand may wryte, +With al my wofull herte endite.” 270 +Sche tok a Penne on honde tho, +Fro point to point and al the wo, +Als ferforth as hireself it wot, +Unto hire dedly frend sche wrot, +And tolde how that hire fader grace +Sche mihte for nothing pourchace; +And overthat, as thou schalt hiere, +Sche wrot and seide in this manere: +“O thou my sorwe and my gladnesse, +O thou myn hele and my siknesse, 280 +O my wanhope and al my trust, +O my desese and al my lust, +O thou my wele, o thou my wo, +O thou my frend, o thou my fo, +O thou my love, o thou myn hate, +For thee mot I be ded algate. +Thilke ende may I noght asterte, +And yit with al myn hole herte, +Whil that me lasteth eny breth, +I wol the love into my deth. 290 +Bot of o thing I schal thee preie, +If that my litel Sone deie, +Let him be beried in my grave +Beside me, so schalt thou have +Upon ous bothe remembrance. +For thus it stant of my grevance; +Now at this time, as thou schalt wite, +With teres and with enke write +This lettre I have in cares colde: +In my riht hond my Penne I holde, 300 +And in my left the swerd I kepe, +And in my barm ther lith to wepe +Thi child and myn, which sobbeth faste. +Now am I come unto my laste: +Fare wel, for I schal sone deie, +And thenk how I thi love abeie.” +The pomel of the swerd to grounde +Sche sette, and with the point a wounde +Thurghout hire herte anon sche made, +And forth with that al pale and fade 310 +Sche fell doun ded fro ther sche stod. +The child lay bathende in hire blod +Out rolled fro the moder barm, +And for the blod was hot and warm, +He basketh him aboute thrinne. +Ther was no bote forto winne, +For he, which can no pite knowe, +The king cam in the same throwe, +And sih how that his dowhter dieth +And how this Babe al blody crieth; 320 +Bot al that mihte him noght suffise, +That he ne bad to do juise +Upon the child, and bere him oute, +And seche in the Forest aboute +Som wilde place, what it were, +To caste him out of honde there, +So that som best him mai devoure, +Where as noman him schal socoure. +Al that he bad was don in dede: +Ha, who herde evere singe or rede 330 +Of such a thing as that was do? +Bot he which ladde his wraththe so +Hath knowe of love bot a lite; +Bot for al that he was to wyte, +Thurgh his sodein Malencolie +To do so gret a felonie. + +Forthi, my Sone, how so it stonde, +Be this cas thou miht understonde +That if thou evere in cause of love +Schalt deme, and thou be so above 340 +That thou miht lede it at thi wille, +Let nevere thurgh thi Wraththe spille +Which every kinde scholde save. +For it sit every man to have +Reward to love and to his miht, +Ayein whos strengthe mai no wiht: +And siththe an herte is so constreigned, +The reddour oghte be restreigned +To him that mai no bet aweie, +Whan he mot to nature obeie. 350 +For it is seid thus overal, +That nedes mot that nede schal +Of that a lif doth after kinde, +Wherof he mai no bote finde. +What nature hath set in hir lawe +Ther mai no mannes miht withdrawe, +And who that worcheth therayein, +Fulofte time it hath be sein, +Ther hath befalle gret vengance, +Wherof I finde a remembrance. 360 + +Ovide after the time tho +Tolde an ensample and seide so, +How that whilom Tiresias, +As he walkende goth per cas, +Upon an hih Montaine he sih +Tuo Serpentz in his weie nyh, +And thei, so as nature hem tawhte, +Assembled were, and he tho cawhte +A yerde which he bar on honde, +And thoghte that he wolde fonde 370 +To letten hem, and smot hem bothe: +Wherof the goddes weren wrothe; +And for he hath destourbed kinde +And was so to nature unkinde, +Unkindeliche he was transformed, +That he which erst a man was formed +Into a womman was forschape. +That was to him an angri jape; +Bot for that he with Angre wroghte, +Hise Angres angreliche he boghte. 380 + +Lo thus, my Sone, Ovide hath write, +Wherof thou miht be reson wite, +More is a man than such a beste: +So mihte it nevere ben honeste +A man to wraththen him to sore +Of that an other doth the lore +Of kinde, in which is no malice, +Bot only that it is a vice: +And thogh a man be resonable, +Yit after kinde he is menable 390 +To love, wher he wole or non. +Thenk thou, my Sone, therupon +And do Malencolie aweie; +For love hath evere his lust to pleie, +As he which wolde no lif grieve. + +Mi fader, that I mai wel lieve; +Al that ye tellen it is skile: +Let every man love as he wile, +Be so it be noght my ladi, +For I schal noght be wroth therby. 400 +Bot that I wraththe and fare amis, +Al one upon miself it is, +That I with bothe love and kinde +Am so bestad, that I can finde +No weie how I it mai asterte: +Which stant upon myn oghne herte +And toucheth to non other lif, +Save only to that swete wif +For whom, bot if it be amended, +Mi glade daies ben despended, 410 +That I miself schal noght forbere +The Wraththe which that I now bere, +For therof is non other leche. +Now axeth forth, I yow beseche, +Of Wraththe if ther oght elles is, +Wherof to schryve. Sone, yis. + +Of Wraththe the secounde is Cheste, +Which hath the wyndes of tempeste +To kepe, and many a sodein blast +He bloweth, wherof ben agast 420 +Thei that desiren pes and reste. +He is that ilke ungoodlieste +Which many a lusti love hath twinned; +For he berth evere his mowth unpinned, +So that his lippes ben unloke +And his corage is al tobroke, +That every thing which he can telle, +It springeth up as doth a welle, +Which mai non of his stremes hyde, +Bot renneth out on every syde. 430 +So buillen up the foule sawes +That Cheste wot of his felawes: +For as a Sive kepeth Ale, +Riht so can Cheste kepe a tale; +Al that he wot he wol desclose, +And speke er eny man oppose. +As a Cite withoute wal, +Wher men mai gon out overal +Withouten eny resistence, +So with his croked eloquence 440 +He spekth al that he wot withinne: +Wherof men lese mor than winne, +For ofte time of his chidinge +He bringth to house such tidinge, +That makth werre ate beddeshed. +He is the levein of the bred, +Which soureth al the past aboute: +Men oghte wel such on to doute, +For evere his bowe is redi bent, +And whom he hit I telle him schent, 450 +If he mai perce him with his tunge. +And ek so lowde his belle is runge, +That of the noise and of the soun +Men feeren hem in al the toun +Welmore than thei don of thonder. +For that is cause of more wonder; +For with the wyndes whiche he bloweth +Fulofte sythe he overthroweth +The Cites and the policie, +That I have herd the poeple crie, 460 +And echon seide in his degre, +“Ha wicke tunge, wo thee be!” +For men sein that the harde bon, +Althogh himselven have non, +A tunge brekth it al to pieces. +He hath so manye sondri spieces +Of vice, that I mai noght wel +Descrive hem be a thousendel: +Bot whan that he to Cheste falleth, +Ful many a wonder thing befalleth, 470 +For he ne can nothing forbere. + +Now tell me, Sone, thin ansuere, +If it hath evere so betidd, +That thou at eny time hast chidd +Toward thi love. + +Fader, nay: +Such Cheste yit unto this day +Ne made I nevere, god forbede: +For er I sunge such a crede, +I hadde levere to be lewed; +For thanne were I al beschrewed 480 +And worthi to be put abak +With al the sorwe upon my bak +That eny man ordeigne cowthe. +Bot I spak nevere yit be mowthe +That unto Cheste mihte touche, +And that I durste riht wel vouche +Upon hirself as for witnesse; +For I wot, of hir gentilesse +That sche me wolde wel excuse, +That I no suche thinges use. 490 +And if it scholde so betide +That I algates moste chide, +It myhte noght be to my love: +For so yit was I nevere above, +For al this wyde world to winne +That I dorste eny word beginne, +Be which sche mihte have ben amoeved +And I of Cheste also reproeved. +Bot rathere, if it mihte hir like, +The beste wordes wolde I pike 500 +Whiche I cowthe in myn herte chese, +And serve hem forth in stede of chese, +For that is helplich to defie; +And so wolde I my wordes plie, +That mihten Wraththe and Cheste avale +With tellinge of my softe tale. +Thus dar I make a foreward, +That nevere unto my ladiward +Yit spak I word in such a wise, +Wherof that Cheste scholde arise. 510 +This seie I noght, that I fulofte +Ne have, whanne I spak most softe, +Per cas seid more thanne ynowh; +Bot so wel halt noman the plowh +That he ne balketh otherwhile, +Ne so wel can noman affile +His tunge, that som time in rape +Him mai som liht word overscape, +And yit ne meneth he no Cheste. +Bot that I have ayein hir heste 520 +Fulofte spoke, I am beknowe; +And how my will is, that ye knowe: +For whan my time comth aboute, +That I dar speke and seie al oute +Mi longe love, of which sche wot +That evere in on aliche hot +Me grieveth, thanne al my desese +I telle, and though it hir desplese, +I speke it forth and noght ne leve: +And thogh it be beside hire leve, 530 +I hope and trowe natheles +That I do noght ayein the pes; +For thogh I telle hire al my thoght, +Sche wot wel that I chyde noght. +Men mai the hihe god beseche, +And he wol hiere a mannes speche +And be noght wroth of that he seith; +So yifth it me the more feith +And makth me hardi, soth to seie, +That I dar wel the betre preie 540 +Mi ladi, which a womman is. +For thogh I telle hire that or this +Of love, which me grieveth sore, +Hire oghte noght be wroth the more, +For I withoute noise or cri +Mi pleignte make al buxomly +To puten alle wraththe away. +Thus dar I seie unto this day +Of Cheste in ernest or in game +Mi ladi schal me nothing blame. 550 + +Bot ofte time it hath betidd +That with miselven I have chidd, +That noman couthe betre chide: +And that hath ben at every tide, +Whanne I cam to miself al one; +For thanne I made a prive mone, +And every tale by and by, +Which as I spak to my ladi, +I thenke and peise in my balance +And drawe into my remembrance; 560 +And thanne, if that I finde a lak +Of eny word that I mispak, +Which was to moche in eny wise, +Anon my wittes I despise +And make a chidinge in myn herte, +That eny word me scholde asterte +Which as I scholde have holden inne. +And so forth after I beginne +And loke if ther was elles oght +To speke, and I ne spak it noght: 570 +And thanne, if I mai seche and finde +That eny word be left behinde, +Which as I scholde more have spoke, +I wolde upon miself be wroke, +And chyde with miselven so +That al my wit is overgo. +For noman mai his time lore +Recovere, and thus I am therfore +So overwroth in al my thoght, +That I myself chide al to noght: 580 +Thus for to moche or for to lite +Fulofte I am miself to wyte. +Bot al that mai me noght availe, +With cheste thogh I me travaile: +Bot Oule on Stock and Stock on Oule; +The more that a man defoule, +Men witen wel which hath the werse; +And so to me nys worth a kerse, +Bot torneth on myn oghne hed, +Thogh I, til that I were ded, 590 +Wolde evere chyde in such a wise +Of love as I to you devise. +Bot, fader, now ye have al herd +In this manere how I have ferd +Of Cheste and of dissencioun, +Yif me youre absolucioun. + +Mi Sone, if that thou wistest al, +What Cheste doth in special +To love and to his welwillinge, +Thou woldest flen his knowlechinge 600 +And lerne to be debonaire. +For who that most can speke faire +Is most acordende unto love: +Fair speche hath ofte brought above +Ful many a man, as it is knowe, +Which elles scholde have be riht lowe +And failed mochel of his wille. +Forthi hold thou thi tunge stille +And let thi witt thi wille areste, +So that thou falle noght in Cheste, 610 +Which is the source of gret destance: +And tak into thi remembrance +If thou miht gete pacience, +Which is the leche of alle offence, +As tellen ous these olde wise: +For whan noght elles mai suffise +Be strengthe ne be mannes wit, +Than pacience it oversit +And overcomth it ate laste; +Bot he mai nevere longe laste, 620 +Which wol noght bowe er that he breke. +Tak hiede, Sone, of that I speke. + +Mi fader, of your goodli speche +And of the witt which ye me teche +I thonke you with al myn herte: +For that world schal me nevere asterte, +That I ne schal your wordes holde, +Of Pacience as ye me tolde, +Als ferforth as myn herte thenketh; +And of my wraththe it me forthenketh. 630 +Bot, fader, if ye forth withal +Som good ensample in special +Me wolden telle of som Cronique, +It scholde wel myn herte like +Of pacience forto hiere, +So that I mihte in mi matiere +The more unto my love obeie +And puten mi desese aweie. + +Mi Sone, a man to beie him pes +Behoveth soffre as Socrates 640 +Ensample lefte, which is write: +And for thou schalt the sothe wite, +Of this ensample what I mene, +Althogh it be now litel sene +Among the men thilke evidence, +Yit he was upon pacience +So sett, that he himself assaie +In thing which mihte him most mispaie +Desireth, and a wickid wif +He weddeth, which in sorwe and strif 650 +Ayein his ese was contraire. +Bot he spak evere softe and faire, +Til it befell, as it is told, +In wynter, whan the dai is cold, +This wif was fro the welle come, +Wher that a pot with water nome +Sche hath, and broghte it into house, +And sih how that hire seli spouse +Was sett and loked on a bok +Nyh to the fyr, as he which tok 660 +His ese for a man of age. +And sche began the wode rage, +And axeth him what devel he thoghte, +And bar on hond that him ne roghte +What labour that sche toke on honde, +And seith that such an Housebonde +Was to a wif noght worth a Stre. +He seide nowther nay ne ye, +Bot hield him stille and let hire chyde; +And sche, which mai hirself noght hyde, 670 +Began withinne forto swelle, +And that sche broghte in fro the welle, +The waterpot sche hente alofte +And bad him speke, and he al softe +Sat stille and noght a word ansuerde; +And sche was wroth that he so ferde, +And axeth him if he be ded; +And al the water on his hed +Sche pourede oute and bad awake. +Bot he, which wolde noght forsake 680 +His Pacience, thanne spak, +And seide how that he fond no lak +In nothing which sche hadde do: +For it was wynter time tho, +And wynter, as be weie of kinde +Which stormy is, as men it finde, +Ferst makth the wyndes forto blowe, +And after that withinne a throwe +He reyneth and the watergates +Undoth; “and thus my wif algates, 690 +Which is with reson wel besein, +Hath mad me bothe wynd and rein +After the Sesoun of the yer.” +And thanne he sette him nerr the fer, +And as he mihte hise clothes dreide, +That he nomore o word ne seide; +Wherof he gat him somdel reste, +For that him thoghte was the beste. + +I not if thilke ensample yit +Acordeth with a mannes wit, 700 +To soffre as Socrates tho dede: +And if it falle in eny stede +A man to lese so his galle, +Him oghte among the wommen alle +In loves Court be juggement +The name bere of Pacient, +To yive ensample to the goode +Of pacience how that it stode, +That othre men it mihte knowe. +And, Sone, if thou at eny throwe 710 +Be tempted ayein Pacience, +Tak hiede upon this evidence; +It schal per cas the lasse grieve. + +Mi fader, so as I believe, +Of that schal be no maner nede, +For I wol take so good hiede, +That er I falle in such assai, +I thenke eschuie it, if I mai. +Bot if ther be oght elles more +Wherof I mihte take lore, 720 +I preie you, so as I dar, +Now telleth, that I mai be war, +Som other tale in this matiere. + +Sone, it is evere good to lere, +Wherof thou miht thi word restreigne, +Er that thou falle in eny peine. +For who that can no conseil hyde, +He mai noght faile of wo beside, +Which schal befalle er he it wite, +As I finde in the bokes write. 730 + +Yit cam ther nevere good of strif, +To seche in all a mannes lif: +Thogh it beginne on pure game, +Fulofte it torneth into grame +And doth grevance upon som side. +Wherof the grete Clerk Ovide +After the lawe which was tho +Of Jupiter and of Juno +Makth in his bokes mencioun +How thei felle at dissencioun 740 +In manere as it were a borde, +As thei begunne forto worde +Among hemself in privete: +And that was upon this degree, +Which of the tuo more amorous is, +Or man or wif. And upon this +Thei mihten noght acorde in on, +And toke a jugge therupon, +Which cleped is Tiresias, +And bede him demen in the cas; 750 +And he withoute avisement +Ayein Juno yaf juggement. +This goddesse upon his ansuere +Was wroth and wolde noght forbere, +Bot tok awey for everemo +The liht fro bothe hise yhen tuo. +Whan Jupiter this harm hath sein, +An other bienfait therayein +He yaf, and such a grace him doth, +That for he wiste he seide soth, 760 +A Sothseiere he was for evere: +Bot yit that other were levere, +Have had the lokinge of his yhe, +Than of his word the prophecie; +Bot how so that the sothe wente, +Strif was the cause of that he hente +So gret a peine bodily. + +Mi Sone, be thou war ther by, +And hold thi tunge stille clos: +For who that hath his word desclos 770 +Er that he wite what he mene, +He is fulofte nyh his tene +And lest ful many time grace, +Wher that he wolde his thonk pourchace. +And over this, my Sone diere, +Of othre men, if thou miht hiere +In privete what thei have wroght, +Hold conseil and descoevere it noght, +For Cheste can no conseil hele, +Or be it wo or be it wele: 780 +And tak a tale into thi mynde, +The which of olde ensample I finde. + +Phebus, which makth the daies lihte, +A love he hadde, which tho hihte +Cornide, whom aboven alle +He pleseth: bot what schal befalle +Of love ther is noman knoweth, +Bot as fortune hire happes throweth. +So it befell upon a chaunce, +A yong kniht tok hire aqueintance 790 +And hadde of hire al that he wolde: +Bot a fals bridd, which sche hath holde +And kept in chambre of pure yowthe, +Discoevereth all that evere he cowthe. +This briddes name was as tho +Corvus, the which was thanne also +Welmore whyt than eny Swan, +And he that schrewe al that he can +Of his ladi to Phebus seide; +And he for wraththe his swerd outbreide, 800 +With which Cornide anon he slowh. +Bot after him was wo ynowh, +And tok a full gret repentance, +Wherof in tokne and remembrance +Of hem whiche usen wicke speche, +Upon this bridd he tok this wreche, +That ther he was snow whyt tofore, +Evere afterward colblak therfore +He was transformed, as it scheweth, +And many a man yit him beschreweth, 810 +And clepen him into this day +A Raven, be whom yit men mai +Take evidence, whan he crieth, +That som mishapp it signefieth. +Be war therfore and sei the beste, +If thou wolt be thiself in reste, +Mi goode Sone, as I the rede. + +For in an other place I rede +Of thilke Nimphe which Laar hihte: +For sche the privete be nyhte, 820 +How Jupiter lay be Jutorne, +Hath told, god made hire overtorne: +Hire tunge he kutte, and into helle +For evere he sende hir forto duelle, +As sche that was noght worthi hiere +To ben of love a Chamberere, +For sche no conseil cowthe hele. +And suche adaies be now fele +In loves Court, as it is seid, +That lete here tunges gon unteid. 830 + +Mi Sone, be thou non of tho, +To jangle and telle tales so, +And namely that thou ne chyde, +For Cheste can no conseil hide, +For Wraththe seide nevere wel. + +Mi fader, soth is everydel +That ye me teche, and I wol holde +The reule to which I am holde, +To fle the Cheste, as ye me bidde, +For wel is him that nevere chidde. 840 +Now tell me forth if ther be more +As touchende unto Wraththes lore. + +Of Wraththe yit ther is an other, +Which is to Cheste his oghne brother, +And is be name cleped Hate, +That soffreth noght withinne his gate +That ther come owther love or pes, +For he wol make no reles +Of no debat which is befalle. + +Now spek, if thou art on of alle, 850 +That with this vice hast ben withholde. + +As yit for oght that ye me tolde, +Mi fader, I not what it is. + +In good feith, Sone, I trowe yis. + +Mi fader, nay, bot ye me lere. + +Now lest, my Sone, and thou schalt here. +Hate is a wraththe noght schewende, +Bot of long time gaderende, +And duelleth in the herte loken, +Til he se time to be wroken; 860 +And thanne he scheweth his tempeste +Mor sodein than the wilde beste, +Which wot nothing what merci is. +Mi Sone, art thou knowende of this? + +My goode fader, as I wene, +Now wot I somdel what ye mene; +Bot I dar saufly make an oth, +Mi ladi was me nevere loth. +I wol noght swere natheles +That I of hate am gulteles; 870 +For whanne I to my ladi plie +Fro dai to dai and merci crie, +And sche no merci on me leith +Bot schorte wordes to me seith, +Thogh I my ladi love algate, +Tho wordes moste I nedes hate; +And wolde thei were al despent, +Or so ferr oute of londe went +That I nevere after scholde hem hiere; +And yit love I my ladi diere. 880 +Thus is ther Hate, as ye mai se, +Betwen mi ladi word and me; +The word I hate and hire I love, +What so me schal betide of love. + +Bot forthere mor I wol me schryve, +That I have hated al my lyve +These janglers, whiche of here Envie +Ben evere redi forto lie; +For with here fals compassement +Fuloften thei have mad me schent 890 +And hindred me fulofte time, +Whan thei no cause wisten bime, +Bot onliche of here oghne thoght: +And thus fuloften have I boght +The lie, and drank noght of the wyn. +I wolde here happ were such as myn: +For how so that I be now schrive, +To hem ne mai I noght foryive, +Til that I se hem at debat +With love, and thanne myn astat 900 +Thei mihten be here oghne deme, +And loke how wel it scholde hem qweme +To hindre a man that loveth sore. +And thus I hate hem everemore, +Til love on hem wol don his wreche: +For that schal I alway beseche +Unto the mihti Cupido, +That he so mochel wolde do, +So as he is of love a godd, +To smyte hem with the same rodd 910 +With which I am of love smite; +So that thei mihten knowe and wite +How hindringe is a wofull peine +To him that love wolde atteigne. +Thus evere on hem I wayte and hope, +Til I mai sen hem lepe a lope, +And halten on the same Sor +Which I do now: for overmor +I wolde thanne do my myht +So forto stonden in here lyht, 920 +That thei ne scholden finde a weie +To that thei wolde, bot aweie +I wolde hem putte out of the stede +Fro love, riht as thei me dede +With that thei speke of me be mowthe. +So wolde I do, if that I cowthe, +Of hem, and this, so god me save, +Is al the hate that I have, +Toward these janglers everydiel; +I wolde alle othre ferde wel. 930 +Thus have I, fader, said mi wille; +Say ye now forth, for I am stille. + +Mi Sone, of that thou hast me said +I holde me noght fulli paid: +That thou wolt haten eny man, +To that acorden I ne can, +Thogh he have hindred thee tofore. +Bot this I telle thee therfore, +Thou miht upon my beneicoun +Wel haten the condicioun 940 +Of tho janglers, as thou me toldest, +Bot furthermor, of that thou woldest +Hem hindre in eny other wise, +Such Hate is evere to despise. +Forthi, mi Sone, I wol thee rede, +That thou drawe in be frendlihede +That thou ne miht noght do be hate; +So miht thou gete love algate +And sette thee, my Sone, in reste, +For thou schalt finde it for the beste. 950 +And over this, so as I dar, +I rede that thou be riht war +Of othre mennes hate aboute, +Which every wysman scholde doute: +For Hate is evere upon await, +And as the fisshere on his bait +Sleth, whan he seth the fisshes faste, +So, whan he seth time ate laste, +That he mai worche an other wo, +Schal noman tornen him therfro, 960 +That Hate nyle his felonie +Fulfille and feigne compaignie +Yit natheles, for fals Semblant +Is toward him of covenant +Withholde, so that under bothe +The prive wraththe can him clothe, +That he schal seme of gret believe. +Bot war thee wel that thou ne lieve +Al that thou sest tofore thin yhe, +So as the Gregois whilom syhe: 970 +The bok of Troie who so rede, +Ther mai he finde ensample in dede. + +Sone after the destruccioun, +Whan Troie was al bete doun +And slain was Priamus the king, +The Gregois, whiche of al this thing +Ben cause, tornen hom ayein. +Ther mai noman his happ withsein; +It hath be sen and felt fulofte, +The harde time after the softe: 980 +Be See as thei forth homward wente, +A rage of gret tempeste hem hente; +Juno let bende hire parti bowe, +The Sky wax derk, the wynd gan blowe, +The firy welkne gan to thondre, +As thogh the world scholde al to sondre; +Fro hevene out of the watergates +The reyni Storm fell doun algates +And al here takel made unwelde, +That noman mihte himself bewelde. 990 +Ther mai men hiere Schipmen crie, +That stode in aunter forto die: +He that behinde sat to stiere +Mai noght the forestempne hiere; +The Schip aros ayein the wawes, +The lodesman hath lost his lawes, +The See bet in on every side: +Thei nysten what fortune abide, +Bot sette hem al in goddes wille, +Wher he hem wolde save or spille. 1000 + +And it fell thilke time thus: +Ther was a king, the which Namplus +Was hote, and he a Sone hadde, +At Troie which the Gregois ladde, +As he that was mad Prince of alle, +Til that fortune let him falle: +His name was Palamades. +Bot thurgh an hate natheles +Of some of hem his deth was cast +And he be tresoun overcast. 1010 +His fader, whan he herde it telle, +He swor, if evere his time felle, +He wolde him venge, if that he mihte, +And therto his avou behihte: +And thus this king thurgh prive hate +Abod upon await algate, +For he was noght of such emprise +To vengen him in open wise. +The fame, which goth wyde where, +Makth knowe how that the Gregois were 1020 +Homward with al the felaschipe +Fro Troie upon the See be Schipe. +Namplus, whan he this understod, +And knew the tydes of the flod, +And sih the wynd blew to the lond, +A gret deceipte anon he fond +Of prive hate, as thou schalt hiere, +Wherof I telle al this matiere. +This king the weder gan beholde, +And wiste wel thei moten holde 1030 +Here cours endlong his marche riht, +And made upon the derke nyht +Of grete Schydes and of blockes +Gret fyr ayein the grete rockes, +To schewe upon the helles hihe, +So that the Flete of Grece it sihe. +And so it fell riht as he thoghte: +This Flete, which an havene soghte, +The bryghte fyres sih a ferr, +And thei hem drowen nerr and nerr, 1040 +And wende wel and understode +How al that fyr was made for goode, +To schewe wher men scholde aryve, +And thiderward thei hasten blyve. +In Semblant, as men sein, is guile, +And that was proved thilke while; +The Schip, which wende his helpe acroche, +Drof al to pieces on the roche, +And so ther deden ten or twelve; +Ther mihte noman helpe himselve, 1050 +For ther thei wenden deth ascape, +Withouten help here deth was schape. +Thus thei that comen ferst tofore +Upon the Rockes be forlore, +Bot thurgh the noise and thurgh the cri +These othre were al war therby; +And whan the dai began to rowe, +Tho mihten thei the sothe knowe, +That wher they wenden frendes finde, +Thei founden frenschipe al behinde. 1060 +The lond was thanne sone weyved, +Wher that thei hadden be deceived, +And toke hem to the hihe See; +Therto thei seiden alle yee, +Fro that dai forth and war thei were +Of that thei hadde assaied there. + +Mi Sone, hierof thou miht avise +How fraude stant in many wise +Amonges hem that guile thenke; +Ther is no Scrivein with his enke 1070 +Which half the fraude wryte can +That stant in such a maner man: +Forthi the wise men ne demen +The thinges after that thei semen, +Bot after that thei knowe and finde. +The Mirour scheweth in his kinde +As he hadde al the world withinne, +And is in soth nothing therinne; +And so farth Hate for a throwe: +Til he a man hath overthrowe, 1080 +Schal noman knowe be his chere +Which is avant, ne which arere. +Forthi, mi Sone, thenke on this. + +Mi fader, so I wole ywiss; +And if ther more of Wraththe be, +Now axeth forth per charite, +As ye be youre bokes knowe, +And I the sothe schal beknowe. + +Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde +That yit towardes Wraththe stonde 1090 +Of dedly vices othre tuo: +And forto telle here names so, +It is Contek and Homicide, +That ben to drede on every side. +Contek, so as the bokes sein, +Folhast hath to his Chamberlein, +Be whos conseil al unavised +Is Pacience most despised, +Til Homicide with hem meete. +Fro merci thei ben al unmeete, 1100 +And thus ben thei the worste of alle +Of hem whiche unto wraththe falle, +In dede bothe and ek in thoght: +For thei acompte here wraththe at noght, +Bot if ther be schedinge of blod; +And thus lich to a beste wod +Thei knowe noght the god of lif. +Be so thei have or swerd or knif +Here dedly wraththe forto wreke, +Of Pite list hem noght to speke; 1110 +Non other reson thei ne fonge, +Bot that thei ben of mihtes stronge. +Bot war hem wel in other place, +Where every man behoveth grace, +Bot ther I trowe it schal hem faile, +To whom no merci mihte availe, +Bot wroghten upon tiraundie, +That no pite ne mihte hem plie. +Now tell, my Sone. + +Fader, what? + +If thou hast be coupable of that. 1120 + +Mi fader, nay, Crist me forbiede: +I speke onliche as of the dede, +Of which I nevere was coupable +Withoute cause resonable. + +Bot this is noght to mi matiere +Of schrifte, why we sitten hiere; +For we ben sett to schryve of love, +As we begunne ferst above: +And natheles I am beknowe +That as touchende of loves throwe, 1130 +Whan I my wittes overwende, +Min hertes contek hath non ende, +Bot evere it stant upon debat +To gret desese of myn astat +As for the time that it lasteth. +For whan mi fortune overcasteth +Hire whiel and is to me so strange, +And that I se sche wol noght change, +Than caste I al the world aboute, +And thenke hou I at home and oute 1140 +Have al my time in vein despended, +And se noght how to ben amended, +Bot rathere forto be empeired, +As he that is welnyh despeired: +For I ne mai no thonk deserve, +And evere I love and evere I serve, +And evere I am aliche nerr. +Thus, for I stonde in such a wer, +I am, as who seith, out of herre; +And thus upon miself the werre 1150 +I bringe, and putte out alle pes, +That I fulofte in such a res +Am wery of myn oghne lif. +So that of Contek and of strif +I am beknowe and have ansuerd, +As ye, my fader, now have herd. +Min herte is wonderly begon +With conseil, wherof witt is on, +Which hath resoun in compaignie; +Ayein the whiche stant partie 1160 +Will, which hath hope of his acord, +And thus thei bringen up descord. +Witt and resoun conseilen ofte +That I myn herte scholde softe, +And that I scholde will remue +And put him out of retenue, +Or elles holde him under fote: +For as thei sein, if that he mote +His oghne rewle have upon honde, +Ther schal no witt ben understonde. 1170 +Of hope also thei tellen this, +That overal, wher that he is, +He set the herte in jeupartie +With wihssinge and with fantasie, +And is noght trewe of that he seith, +So that in him ther is no feith: +Thus with reson and wit avised +Is will and hope aldai despised. +Reson seith that I scholde leve +To love, wher ther is no leve 1180 +To spede, and will seith therayein +That such an herte is to vilein, +Which dar noght love and til he spede, +Let hope serve at such a nede: +He seith ek, where an herte sit +Al hol governed upon wit, +He hath this lyves lust forlore. +And thus myn herte is al totore +Of such a Contek as thei make: +Bot yit I mai noght will forsake, 1190 +That he nys Maister of my thoght, +Or that I spede, or spede noght. + +Thou dost, my Sone, ayein the riht; +Bot love is of so gret a miht, +His lawe mai noman refuse, +So miht thou thee the betre excuse. +And natheles thou schalt be lerned +That will scholde evere be governed +Of reson more than of kinde, +Wherof a tale write I finde. 1200 + +A Philosophre of which men tolde +Ther was whilom be daies olde, +And Diogenes thanne he hihte. +So old he was that he ne mihte +The world travaile, and for the beste +He schop him forto take his reste, +And duelte at hom in such a wise, +That nyh his hous he let devise +Endlong upon an Axeltre +To sette a tonne in such degre, 1210 +That he it mihte torne aboute; +Wherof on hed was taken oute, +For he therinne sitte scholde +And torne himself so as he wolde, +To take their and se the hevene +And deme of the planetes sevene, +As he which cowthe mochel what. +And thus fulofte there he sat +To muse in his philosophie +Solein withoute compaignie: 1220 +So that upon a morwetyde, +As thing which scholde so betyde, +Whan he was set ther as him liste +To loke upon the Sonne ariste, +Wherof the propretes he sih, +It fell ther cam ridende nyh +King Alisandre with a route; +And as he caste his yhe aboute, +He sih this Tonne, and what it mente +He wolde wite, and thider sente 1230 +A knyht, be whom he mihte it knowe, +And he himself that ilke throwe +Abod, and hoveth there stille. +This kniht after the kinges wille +With spore made his hors to gon +And to the tonne he cam anon, +Wher that he fond a man of Age, +And he him tolde the message, +Such as the king him hadde bede, +And axeth why in thilke stede 1240 +The Tonne stod, and what it was. +And he, which understod the cas, +Sat stille and spak no word ayein. +The kniht bad speke and seith, “Vilein, +Thou schalt me telle, er that I go; +It is thi king which axeth so.” +“Mi king,” quod he, “that were unriht.” +“What is he thanne?” seith the kniht, +“Is he thi man?” “That seie I noght,” +Quod he, “bot this I am bethoght, 1250 +Mi mannes man hou that he is.” +“Thou lyest, false cherl, ywiss,” +The kniht him seith, and was riht wroth, +And to the king ayein he goth +And tolde him how this man ansuerde. +The king, whan he this tale herde, +Bad that thei scholden alle abyde, +For he himself wol thider ryde. +And whan he cam tofore the tonne, +He hath his tale thus begonne: 1260 +“Alheil,” he seith, “what man art thou?” +Quod he, “Such on as thou sest now.” +The king, which hadde wordes wise, +His age wolde noght despise, +Bot seith, “Mi fader, I thee preie +That thou me wolt the cause seie, +How that I am thi mannes man.” +“Sire king,” quod he, “and that I can, +If that thou wolt.” “Yis,” seith the king. +Quod he, “This is the sothe thing: 1270 +Sith I ferst resoun understod, +And knew what thing was evel and good, +The will which of my bodi moeveth, +Whos werkes that the god reproeveth, +I have restreigned everemore, +As him which stant under the lore +Of reson, whos soubgit he is, +So that he mai noght don amis: +And thus be weie of covenant +Will is my man and my servant, 1280 +And evere hath ben and evere schal. +And thi will is thi principal, +And hath the lordschipe of thi witt, +So that thou cowthest nevere yit +Take o dai reste of thi labour; +Bot forto ben a conquerour +Of worldes good, which mai noght laste, +Thou hiest evere aliche faste, +Wher thou no reson hast to winne: +And thus thi will is cause of Sinne, 1290 +And is thi lord, to whom thou servest, +Wherof thou litel thonk deservest.” +The king of that he thus answerde +Was nothing wroth, bot whanne he herde +The hihe wisdom which he seide, +With goodly wordes this he preide, +That he him wolde telle his name. +“I am,” quod he, “that ilke same, +The which men Diogenes calle.” +Tho was the king riht glad withalle, 1300 +For he hadde often herd tofore +What man he was, so that therfore +He seide, “O wise Diogene, +Now schal thi grete witt be sene; +For thou schalt of my yifte have +What worldes thing that thou wolt crave.” +Quod he, “Thanne hove out of mi Sonne, +And let it schyne into mi Tonne; +For thou benymst me thilke yifte, +Which lith noght in thi miht to schifte: 1310 +Non other good of thee me nedeth.” + +This king, whom every contre dredeth, +Lo, thus he was enformed there: +Wherof, my Sone, thou miht lere +How that thi will schal noght be lieved, +Where it is noght of wit relieved. +And thou hast seid thiself er this +How that thi will thi maister is; +Thurgh which thin hertes thoght withinne +Is evere of Contek to beginne, 1320 +So that it is gretli to drede +That it non homicide brede. +For love is of a wonder kinde, +And hath hise wittes ofte blinde, +That thei fro mannes reson falle; +Bot whan that it is so befalle +That will schal the corage lede, +In loves cause it is to drede: +Wherof I finde ensample write, +Which is behovely forto wite. 1330 + +I rede a tale, and telleth this: +The Cite which Semiramis +Enclosed hath with wall aboute, +Of worthi folk with many a route +Was enhabited here and there; +Among the whiche tuo ther were +Above alle othre noble and grete, +Dwellende tho withinne a Strete +So nyh togedre, as it was sene, +That ther was nothing hem betwene, 1340 +Bot wow to wow and wall to wall. +This o lord hadde in special +A Sone, a lusti Bacheler, +In al the toun was non his pier: +That other hadde a dowhter eke, +In al the lond that forto seke +Men wisten non so faire as sche. +And fell so, as it scholde be, +This faire dowhter nyh this Sone +As thei togedre thanne wone, 1350 +Cupide hath so the thinges schape, +That thei ne mihte his hand ascape, +That he his fyr on hem ne caste: +Wherof her herte he overcaste +To folwe thilke lore and suie +Which nevere man yit miht eschuie; +And that was love, as it is happed, +Which hath here hertes so betrapped, +That thei be alle weies seche +How that thei mihten winne a speche, 1360 +Here wofull peine forto lisse. + +Who loveth wel, it mai noght misse, +And namely whan ther be tuo +Of on acord, how so it go, +Bot if that thei som weie finde; +For love is evere of such a kinde +And hath his folk so wel affaited, +That howso that it be awaited, +Ther mai noman the pourpos lette: +And thus betwen hem tuo thei sette 1370 +And hole upon a wall to make, +Thurgh which thei have her conseil take +At alle times, whan thei myhte. +This faire Maiden Tisbee hihte, +And he whom that sche loveth hote +Was Piramus be name hote. +So longe here lecoun thei recorden, +Til ate laste thei acorden +Be nihtes time forto wende +Al one out fro the tounes ende, 1380 +Wher was a welle under a Tree; +And who cam ferst, or sche or he, +He scholde stille there abide. +So it befell the nyhtes tide +This maiden, which desguised was, +Al prively the softe pas +Goth thurgh the large toun unknowe, +Til that sche cam withinne a throwe +Wher that sche liketh forto duelle, +At thilke unhappi freisshe welle, 1390 +Which was also the Forest nyh. +Wher sche comende a Leoun syh +Into the feld to take his preie, +In haste and sche tho fledde aweie, +So as fortune scholde falle, +For feere and let hire wympel falle +Nyh to the welle upon therbage. +This Leoun in his wilde rage +A beste, which that he fond oute, +Hath slain, and with his blodi snoute, 1400 +Whan he hath eten what he wolde, +To drynke of thilke stremes colde +Cam to the welle, where he fond +The wympel, which out of hire hond +Was falle, and he it hath todrawe, +Bebled aboute and al forgnawe; +And thanne he strawhte him forto drinke +Upon the freisshe welles brinke, +And after that out of the plein +He torneth to the wode ayein. 1410 +And Tisbee dorste noght remue, +Bot as a bridd which were in Mue +Withinne a buissh sche kepte hire clos +So stille that sche noght aros; +Unto hirself and pleigneth ay. + +And fell, whil that sche there lay, +This Piramus cam after sone +Unto the welle, and be the Mone +He fond hire wimpel blodi there. +Cam nevere yit to mannes Ere 1420 +Tidinge, ne to mannes sihte +Merveile, which so sore aflihte +A mannes herte, as it tho dede +To him, which in the same stede +With many a wofull compleignynge +Began his handes forto wringe, +As he which demeth sikerly +That sche be ded: and sodeinly +His swerd al nakid out he breide +In his folhaste, and thus he seide: 1430 +“I am cause of this felonie, +So it is resoun that I die, +As sche is ded be cause of me.” +And with that word upon his kne +He fell, and to the goddes alle +Up to the hevene he gan to calle, +And preide, sithen it was so +That he may noght his love as tho +Have in this world, that of her grace +He miht hire have in other place, 1440 +For hiere wolde he noght abide, +He seith: bot as it schal betide, +The Pomel of his swerd to grounde +He sette, and thurgh his herte a wounde +He made up to the bare hilte: +And in this wise himself he spilte +With his folhaste and deth he nam; +For sche withinne a while cam, +Wher he lai ded upon his knif. +So wofull yit was nevere lif 1450 +As Tisbee was, whan sche him sih: +Sche mihte noght o word on hih +Speke oute, for hire herte schette, +That of hir lif no pris sche sette, +Bot ded swounende doun sche fell. +Til after, whanne it so befell +That sche out of hire traunce awok, +With many a wofull pitous lok +Hire yhe alwei among sche caste +Upon hir love, and ate laste 1460 +Sche cawhte breth and seide thus: +“O thou which cleped art Venus, +Goddesse of love, and thou, Cupide, +Which loves cause hast forto guide, +I wot now wel that ye be blinde, +Of thilke unhapp which I now finde +Only betwen my love and me. +This Piramus, which hiere I se +Bledende, what hath he deserved? +For he youre heste hath kept and served, 1470 +And was yong and I bothe also: +Helas, why do ye with ous so? +Ye sette oure herte bothe afyre, +And maden ous such thing desire +Wherof that we no skile cowthe; +Bot thus oure freisshe lusti yowthe +Withoute joie is al despended, +Which thing mai nevere ben amended: +For as of me this wol I seie, +That me is levere forto deie 1480 +Than live after this sorghful day.” +And with this word, where as he lay, +Hire love in armes sche embraseth, +Hire oghne deth and so pourchaseth +That now sche wepte and nou sche kiste, +Til ate laste, er sche it wiste, +So gret a sorwe is to hire falle, +Which overgoth hire wittes alle. +As sche which mihte it noght asterte, +The swerdes point ayein hire herte 1490 +Sche sette, and fell doun therupon, +Wherof that sche was ded anon: +And thus bothe on o swerd bledende +Thei weren founde ded liggende. + +Now thou, mi Sone, hast herd this tale, +Bewar that of thin oghne bale +Thou be noght cause in thi folhaste, +And kep that thou thi witt ne waste +Upon thi thoght in aventure, +Wherof thi lyves forfeture 1500 +Mai falle: and if thou have so thoght +Er this, tell on and hyde it noght. + +Mi fader, upon loves side +Mi conscience I woll noght hyde, +How that for love of pure wo +I have ben ofte moeved so, +That with my wisshes if I myhte, +A thousand times, I yow plyhte, +I hadde storven in a day; +And therof I me schryve may, 1510 +Though love fully me ne slowh, +Mi will to deie was ynowh, +So am I of my will coupable: +And yit is sche noght merciable, +Which mai me yive lif and hele. +Bot that hir list noght with me dele, +I wot be whos conseil it is, +And him wolde I long time er this, +And yit I wolde and evere schal, +Slen and destruie in special. 1520 +The gold of nyne kinges londes +Ne scholde him save fro myn hondes, +In my pouer if that he were; +Bot yit him stant of me no fere +For noght that evere I can manace. +He is the hindrere of mi grace, +Til he be ded I mai noght spede; +So mot I nedes taken hiede +And schape how that he were aweie, +If I therto mai finde a weie. 1530 + +Mi Sone, tell me now forthi, +Which is that mortiel enemy +That thou manacest to be ded. + +Mi fader, it is such a qwed, +That wher I come, he is tofore, +And doth so, that mi cause is lore. + +What is his name? + +It is Daunger, +Which is mi ladi consailer: +For I was nevere yit so slyh, +To come in eny place nyh 1540 +Wher as sche was be nyht or day, +That Danger ne was redy ay, +With whom for speche ne for mede +Yit mihte I nevere of love spede; +For evere this I finde soth, +Al that my ladi seith or doth +To me, Daunger schal make an ende, +And that makth al mi world miswende: +And evere I axe his help, bot he +Mai wel be cleped sanz pite; 1550 +For ay the more I to him bowe, +The lasse he wol my tale alowe. +He hath mi ladi so englued, +Sche wol noght that he be remued; +For evere he hangeth on hire Seil, +And is so prive of conseil, +That evere whanne I have oght bede, +I finde Danger in hire stede +And myn ansuere of him I have; +Bot for no merci that I crave, 1560 +Of merci nevere a point I hadde. +I finde his ansuere ay so badde, +That werse mihte it nevere be: +And thus betwen Danger and me +Is evere werre til he dye. +Bot mihte I ben of such maistrie, +That I Danger hadde overcome, +With that were al my joie come. +Thus wolde I wonde for no Sinne, +Ne yit for al this world to winne; 1570 +If that I mihte finde a sleyhte, +To leie al myn astat in weyhte, +I wolde him fro the Court dissevere, +So that he come ayeinward nevere. +Therfore I wisshe and wolde fain +That he were in som wise slain; +For while he stant in thilke place, +Ne gete I noght my ladi grace. +Thus hate I dedly thilke vice, +And wolde he stode in non office 1580 +In place wher mi ladi is; +For if he do, I wot wel this, +That owther schal he deie or I +Withinne a while; and noght forthi +On my ladi fulofte I muse, +How that sche mai hirself excuse, +If that I deie in such a plit. +Me thenkth sche mihte noght be qwyt +That sche ne were an homicide: +And if it scholde so betide, 1590 +As god forbiede it scholde be, +Be double weie it is pite. +For I, which al my will and witt +Have yove and served evere yit, +And thanne I scholde in such a wise +In rewardinge of my servise +Be ded, me thenkth it were a rowthe: +And furthermor, to telle trowthe, +Sche, that hath evere be wel named, +Were worthi thanne to be blamed 1600 +And of reson to ben appeled, +Whan with o word sche mihte have heled +A man, and soffreth him so deie. +Ha, who sawh evere such a weie? +Ha, who sawh evere such destresse? +Withoute pite gentilesse, +Withoute mercy wommanhede, +That wol so quyte a man his mede, +Which evere hath be to love trewe. +Mi goode fader, if ye rewe 1610 +Upon mi tale, tell me now, +And I wol stinte and herkne yow. + +Mi Sone, attempre thi corage +Fro Wraththe, and let thin herte assuage: +For who so wole him underfonge, +He mai his grace abide longe, +Er he of love be received; +And ek also, bot it be weyved, +Ther mihte mochel thing befalle, +That scholde make a man to falle 1620 +Fro love, that nevere afterward +Ne durste he loke thiderward. +In harde weies men gon softe, +And er thei clymbe avise hem ofte: +Men sen alday that rape reweth; +And who so wicked Ale breweth, +Fulofte he mot the werse drinke: +Betre is to flete than to sincke; +Betre is upon the bridel chiewe +Thanne if he felle and overthrewe, 1630 +The hors and stikede in the Myr: +To caste water in the fyr +Betre is than brenne up al the hous: +The man which is malicious +And folhastif, fulofte he falleth, +And selden is whan love him calleth. +Forthi betre is to soffre a throwe +Than be to wilde and overthrowe; +Suffrance hath evere be the beste +To wissen him that secheth reste: 1640 +And thus, if thou wolt love and spede, +Mi Sone, soffre, as I the rede. +What mai the Mous ayein the Cat? +And for this cause I axe that, +Who mai to love make a werre, +That he ne hath himself the werre? +Love axeth pes and evere schal, +And who that fihteth most withal +Schal lest conquere of his emprise: +For this thei tellen that ben wise, 1650 +Wicke is to stryve and have the werse; +To hasten is noght worth a kerse; +Thing that a man mai noght achieve, +That mai noght wel be don at Eve, +It mot abide til the morwe. +Ne haste noght thin oghne sorwe, +Mi Sone, and tak this in thi witt, +He hath noght lost that wel abitt. + +Ensample that it falleth thus, +Thou miht wel take of Piramus, 1660 +Whan he in haste his swerd outdrowh +And on the point himselve slowh +For love of Tisbee pitously, +For he hire wympel fond blody +And wende a beste hire hadde slain; +Wher as him oghte have be riht fain, +For sche was there al sauf beside: +Bot for he wolde noght abide, +This meschief fell. Forthi be war, +Mi Sone, as I the warne dar, 1670 +Do thou nothing in such a res, +For suffrance is the welle of Pes. +Thogh thou to loves Court poursuie, +Yit sit it wel that thou eschuie +That thou the Court noght overhaste, +For so miht thou thi time waste; +Bot if thin happ therto be schape, +It mai noght helpe forto rape. +Therfore attempre thi corage; +Folhaste doth non avantage, 1680 +Bot ofte it set a man behinde +In cause of love, and that I finde +Be olde ensample, as thou schalt hiere, +Touchende of love in this matiere. + +A Maiden whilom ther was on, +Which Daphne hihte, and such was non +Of beaute thanne, as it was seid. +Phebus his love hath on hire leid, +And therupon to hire he soghte +In his folhaste, and so besoghte, 1690 +That sche with him no reste hadde; +For evere upon hire love he gradde, +And sche seide evere unto him nay. +So it befell upon a dai, +Cupide, which hath every chance +Of love under his governance, +Syh Phebus hasten him so sore: +And for he scholde him haste more, +And yit noght speden ate laste, +A dart thurghout his herte he caste, 1700 +Which was of gold and al afyre, +That made him manyfold desire +Of love more thanne he dede. +To Daphne ek in the same stede +A dart of Led he caste and smot, +Which was al cold and nothing hot. +And thus Phebus in love brenneth, +And in his haste aboute renneth, +To loke if that he mihte winne; +Bot he was evere to beginne, 1710 +For evere awei fro him sche fledde, +So that he nevere his love spedde. +And forto make him full believe +That no Folhaste mihte achieve +To gete love in such degree, +This Daphne into a lorer tre +Was torned, which is evere grene, +In tokne, as yit it mai be sene, +That sche schal duelle a maiden stille, +And Phebus failen of his wille. 1720 + +Be suche ensamples, as thei stonde, +Mi Sone, thou miht understonde, +To hasten love is thing in vein, +Whan that fortune is therayein. +To take where a man hath leve +Good is, and elles he mot leve; +For whan a mannes happes failen, +Ther is non haste mai availen. + +Mi fader, grant merci of this: +Bot while I se mi ladi is 1730 +No tre, but halt hire oghne forme, +Ther mai me noman so enforme, +To whether part fortune wende, +That I unto mi lyves ende +Ne wol hire serven everemo. + +Mi Sone, sithen it is so, +I seie nomor; bot in this cas +Bewar how it with Phebus was. +Noght only upon loves chance, +Bot upon every governance 1740 +Which falleth unto mannes dede, +Folhaste is evere forto drede, +And that a man good consail take, +Er he his pourpos undertake, +For consail put Folhaste aweie. + +Now goode fader, I you preie, +That forto wisse me the more, +Som good ensample upon this lore +Ye wolden telle of that is write, +That I the betre mihte wite 1750 +How I Folhaste scholde eschuie, +And the wisdom of conseil suie. + +Mi Sone, that thou miht enforme +Thi pacience upon the forme +Of old essamples, as thei felle, +Now understond what I schal telle. + +Whan noble Troie was belein +And overcome, and hom ayein +The Gregois torned fro the siege, +The kinges founde here oghne liege 1760 +In manye places, as men seide, +That hem forsoke and desobeide. +Among the whiche fell this cas +To Demephon and Athemas, +That weren kinges bothe tuo, +And bothe weren served so: +Here lieges wolde hem noght receive, +So that thei mote algates weyve +To seche lond in other place, +For there founde thei no grace. 1770 +Wherof they token hem to rede, +And soghten frendes ate nede, +And ech of hem asseureth other +To helpe as to his oghne brother, +To vengen hem of thilke oultrage +And winne ayein here heritage. +And thus thei ryde aboute faste +To gete hem help, and ate laste +Thei hadden pouer sufficant, +And maden thanne a covenant, 1780 +That thei ne scholden no lif save, +Ne prest, ne clerc, ne lord, ne knave, +Ne wif, ne child, of that thei finde, +Which berth visage of mannes kinde, +So that no lif schal be socoured, +Bot with the dedly swerd devoured: +In such Folhaste here ordinance +Thei schapen forto do vengance. +Whan this pourpos was wist and knowe +Among here host, tho was ther blowe 1790 +Of wordes many a speche aboute: +Of yonge men the lusti route +Were of this tale glad ynowh, +Ther was no care for the plowh; +As thei that weren Folhastif, +Thei ben acorded to the strif, +And sein it mai noght be to gret +To vengen hem of such forfet: +Thus seith the wilde unwise tonge +Of hem that there weren yonge. 1800 +Bot Nestor, which was old and hor, +The salve sih tofore the sor, +As he that was of conseil wys: +So that anon be his avis +Ther was a prive conseil nome. +The lordes ben togedre come; +This Demephon and Athemas +Here pourpos tolden, as it was; +Thei sieten alle stille and herde, +Was non bot Nestor hem ansuerde. 1810 +He bad hem, if thei wolde winne, +They scholden se, er thei beginne, +Here ende, and sette here ferste entente, +That thei hem after ne repente: +And axeth hem this questioun, +To what final conclusioun +Thei wolde regne Kinges there, +If that no poeple in londe were; +And seith, it were a wonder wierde +To sen a king become an hierde, 1820 +Wher no lif is bot only beste +Under the liegance of his heste; +For who that is of man no king, +The remenant is as no thing. +He seith ek, if the pourpos holde +To sle the poeple, as thei tuo wolde, +Whan thei it mihte noght restore, +Al Grece it scholde abegge sore, +To se the wilde beste wone +Wher whilom duelte a mannes Sone: 1830 +And for that cause he bad hem trete, +And stinte of the manaces grete. +Betre is to winne be fair speche, +He seith, than such vengance seche; +For whanne a man is most above, +Him nedeth most to gete him love. + +Whan Nestor hath his tale seid, +Ayein him was no word withseid; +It thoghte hem alle he seide wel: +And thus fortune hire dedly whiel 1840 +Fro werre torneth into pes. +Bot forth thei wenten natheles; +And whan the Contres herde sein +How that here kinges be besein +Of such a pouer as thei ladde, +Was non so bold that hem ne dradde, +And forto seche pes and grith +Thei sende and preide anon forthwith, +So that the kinges ben appesed, +And every mannes herte is esed; 1850 +Al was foryete and noght recorded. +And thus thei ben togedre acorded; +The kinges were ayein received, +And pes was take and wraththe weived, +And al thurgh conseil which was good +Of him that reson understod. + +Be this ensample, Sone, attempre +Thin herte and let no will distempre +Thi wit, and do nothing be myht +Which mai be do be love and riht. 1860 +Folhaste is cause of mochel wo; +Forthi, mi Sone, do noght so. +And as touchende of Homicide +Which toucheth unto loves side, +Fulofte it falleth unavised +Thurgh will, which is noght wel assised, +Whan wit and reson ben aweie +And that Folhaste is in the weie, +Wherof hath falle gret vengance. +Forthi tak into remembrance 1870 +To love in such a maner wise +That thou deserve no juise: +For wel I wot, thou miht noght lette, +That thou ne schalt thin herte sette +To love, wher thou wolt or non; +Bot if thi wit be overgon, +So that it torne into malice, +Ther wot noman of thilke vice, +What peril that ther mai befalle: +Wherof a tale amonges alle, 1880 +Which is gret pite forto hiere, +I thenke forto tellen hiere, +That thou such moerdre miht withstonde, +Whan thou the tale hast understonde. + +Of Troie at thilke noble toun, +Whos fame stant yit of renoun +And evere schal to mannes Ere, +The Siege laste longe there, +Er that the Greks it mihten winne, +Whil Priamus was king therinne; 1890 +Bot of the Greks that lyhe aboute +Agamenon ladde al the route. +This thing is knowen overal, +Bot yit I thenke in special +To my matiere therupon +Telle in what wise Agamenon, +Thurgh chance which mai noght be weived, +Of love untrewe was deceived. +An old sawe is, “Who that is slyh +In place where he mai be nyh, 1900 +He makth the ferre Lieve loth”: +Of love and thus fulofte it goth. +Ther while Agamenon batailleth +To winne Troie, and it assailleth, +Fro home and was long time ferr, +Egistus drowh his qweene nerr, +And with the leiser which he hadde +This ladi at his wille he ladde: +Climestre was hire rihte name, +Sche was therof gretli to blame, 1910 +To love there it mai noght laste. +Bot fell to meschief ate laste; +For whan this noble worthi kniht +Fro Troie cam, the ferste nyht +That he at home abedde lay, +Egistus, longe er it was day, +As this Climestre him hadde asent, +And weren bothe of on assent, +Be treson slowh him in his bedd. +Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd, 1920 +Sprong out to every mannes Ere, +Wherof the lond was full of fere. + +Agamenon hath be this qweene +A Sone, and that was after sene; +Bot yit as thanne he was of yowthe, +A babe, which no reson cowthe, +And as godd wolde, it fell him thus. +A worthi kniht Taltabius +This yonge child hath in kepinge, +And whan he herde of this tidinge, 1930 +Of this treson, of this misdede, +He gan withinne himself to drede, +In aunter if this false Egiste +Upon him come, er he it wiste, +To take and moerdre of his malice +This child, which he hath to norrice: +And for that cause in alle haste +Out of the lond he gan him haste +And to the king of Crete he strawhte +And him this yonge lord betawhte, 1940 +And preide him for his fader sake +That he this child wolde undertake +And kepe him til he be of Age, +So as he was of his lignage; +And tolde him over al the cas, +How that his fadre moerdred was, +And hou Egistus, as men seide, +Was king, to whom the lond obeide. +And whanne Ydomeneux the king +Hath understondinge of this thing, 1950 +Which that this kniht him hadde told, +He made sorwe manyfold, +And tok this child into his warde, +And seide he wolde him kepe and warde, +Til that he were of such a myht +To handle a swerd and ben a knyht, +To venge him at his oghne wille. +And thus Horestes duelleth stille, +Such was the childes rihte name, +Which after wroghte mochel schame 1960 +In vengance of his fader deth. + +The time of yeres overgeth, +That he was man of brede and lengthe, +Of wit, of manhod and of strengthe, +A fair persone amonges alle. +And he began to clepe and calle, +As he which come was to manne, +Unto the King of Crete thanne, +Preiende that he wolde him make +A kniht and pouer with him take, 1970 +For lengere wolde he noght beleve, +He seith, bot preith the king of leve +To gon and cleyme his heritage +And vengen him of thilke oultrage +Which was unto his fader do. +The king assenteth wel therto, +With gret honour and knyht him makth, +And gret pouer to him betakth, +And gan his journe forto caste: +So that Horestes ate laste 1980 +His leve tok and forth he goth. +As he that was in herte wroth, +His ferste pleinte to bemene, +Unto the Cite of Athene +He goth him forth and was received, +So there was he noght deceived. +The Duc and tho that weren wise +Thei profren hem to his servise; +And he hem thonketh of here profre +And seith himself he wol gon offre 1990 +Unto the goddes for his sped, +As alle men him yeven red. +So goth he to the temple forth: +Of yiftes that be mochel worth +His sacrifice and his offringe +He made; and after his axinge +He was ansuerd, if that he wolde +His stat recovere, thanne he scholde +Upon his Moder do vengance +So cruel, that the remembrance 2000 +Therof mihte everemore abide, +As sche that was an homicide +And of hire oghne lord Moerdrice. +Horestes, which of thilke office +Was nothing glad, as thanne he preide +Unto the goddes there and seide +That thei the juggement devise, +How sche schal take the juise. +And therupon he hadde ansuere, +That he hire Pappes scholde of tere 2010 +Out of hire brest his oghne hondes, +And for ensample of alle londes +With hors sche scholde be todrawe, +Til houndes hadde hire bones gnawe +Withouten eny sepulture: +This was a wofull aventure. +And whan Horestes hath al herd, +How that the goddes have ansuerd, +Forth with the strengthe which he ladde +The Duc and his pouer he hadde, 2020 +And to a Cite forth thei gon, +The which was cleped Cropheon, +Where as Phoieus was lord and Sire, +Which profreth him withouten hyre +His help and al that he mai do, +As he that was riht glad therto, +To grieve his mortiel enemy: +And tolde hem certein cause why, +How that Egiste in Mariage +His dowhter whilom of full Age 2030 +Forlai, and afterward forsok, +Whan he Horestes Moder tok. + +Men sein, “Old Senne newe schame”: +Thus more and more aros the blame +Ayein Egiste on every side. +Horestes with his host to ride +Began, and Phoieus with hem wente; +I trowe Egiste him schal repente. +Thei riden forth unto Micene, +Wher lay Climestre thilke qweene, 2040 +The which Horestes moder is: +And whan sche herde telle of this, +The gates weren faste schet, +And thei were of here entre let. +Anon this Cite was withoute +Belein and sieged al aboute, +And evere among thei it assaile, +Fro day to nyht and so travaile, +Til ate laste thei it wonne; +Tho was ther sorwe ynowh begonne. 2050 + +Horestes dede his moder calle +Anon tofore the lordes alle +And ek tofor the poeple also, +To hire and tolde his tale tho, +And seide, “O cruel beste unkinde, +How mihtest thou thin herte finde, +For eny lust of loves drawhte, +That thou acordest to the slawhte +Of him which was thin oghne lord? +Thi treson stant of such record, 2060 +Thou miht thi werkes noght forsake; +So mot I for mi fader sake +Vengance upon thi bodi do, +As I comanded am therto. +Unkindely for thou hast wroght, +Unkindeliche it schal be boght, +The Sone schal the Moder sle, +For that whilom thou seidest yee +To that thou scholdest nay have seid.” +And he with that his hond hath leid 2070 +Upon his Moder brest anon, +And rente out fro the bare bon +Hire Pappes bothe and caste aweie +Amiddes in the carte weie, +And after tok the dede cors +And let it drawe awey with hors +Unto the hound and to the raven; +Sche was non other wise graven. + +Egistus, which was elles where, +Tidinges comen to his Ere 2080 +How that Micenes was belein, +Bot what was more herd he noght sein; +With gret manace and mochel bost +He drowh pouer and made an host +And cam in rescousse of the toun. +Bot al the sleyhte of his tresoun +Horestes wiste it be aspie, +And of his men a gret partie +He made in buisshement abide, +To waite on him in such a tide 2090 +That he ne mihte here hond ascape: +And in this wise as he hath schape +The thing befell, so that Egiste +Was take, er he himself it wiste, +And was forth broght hise hondes bounde, +As whan men han a tretour founde. +And tho that weren with him take, +Whiche of tresoun were overtake, +Togedre in o sentence falle; +Bot false Egiste above hem alle 2100 +Was demed to diverse peine, +The worste that men cowthe ordeigne, +And so forth after be the lawe +He was unto the gibet drawe, +Where he above alle othre hongeth, +As to a tretour it belongeth. + +Tho fame with hire swifte wynges +Aboute flyh and bar tidinges, +And made it cowth in alle londes +How that Horestes with hise hondes 2110 +Climestre his oghne Moder slowh. +Some sein he dede wel ynowh, +And som men sein he dede amis, +Diverse opinion ther is: +That sche is ded thei speken alle, +Bot pleinli hou it is befalle, +The matiere in so litel throwe +In soth ther mihte noman knowe +Bot thei that weren ate dede: +And comunliche in every nede 2120 +The worste speche is rathest herd +And lieved, til it be ansuerd. +The kinges and the lordes grete +Begonne Horestes forto threte +To puten him out of his regne: +“He is noght worthi forto regne, +The child which slowh his moder so,” +Thei saide; and therupon also +The lordes of comun assent +A time sette of parlement, 2130 +And to Athenes king and lord +Togedre come of on accord, +To knowe hou that the sothe was: +So that Horestes in this cas +Thei senden after, and he com. +King Menelay the wordes nom +And axeth him of this matiere: +And he, that alle it mihten hiere, +Ansuerde and tolde his tale alarge, +And hou the goddes in his charge 2140 +Comanded him in such a wise +His oghne hond to do juise. +And with this tale a Duc aros, +Which was a worthi kniht of los, +His name was Menesteus, +And seide unto the lordes thus: +“The wreeche which Horeste dede, +It was thing of the goddes bede, +And nothing of his crualte; +And if ther were of mi degree 2150 +In al this place such a kniht +That wolde sein it was no riht, +I wole it with my bodi prove.” +And therupon he caste his glove, +And ek this noble Duc alleide +Ful many an other skile, and seide +Sche hadde wel deserved wreche, +Ferst for the cause of Spousebreche, +And after wroghte in such a wise +That al the world it oghte agrise, 2160 +Whan that sche for so foul a vice +Was of hire oghne lord moerdrice. +Thei seten alle stille and herde, +Bot therto was noman ansuerde, +It thoghte hem alle he seide skile, +Ther is noman withseie it wile; +Whan thei upon the reson musen, +Horestes alle thei excusen: +So that with gret solempnete +He was unto his dignete 2170 +Received, and coroned king. +And tho befell a wonder thing: +Egiona, whan sche this wiste, +Which was the dowhter of Egiste +And Soster on the moder side +To this Horeste, at thilke tide, +Whan sche herde how hir brother spedde, +For pure sorwe, which hire ledde, +That he ne hadde ben exiled, +Sche hath hire oghne lif beguiled 2180 +Anon and hyng hireselve tho. +It hath and schal ben everemo, +To moerdre who that wole assente, +He mai noght faille to repente: +This false Egiona was on, +Which forto moerdre Agamenon +Yaf hire acord and hire assent, +So that be goddes juggement, +Thogh that non other man it wolde, +Sche tok hire juise as sche scholde; 2190 +And as sche to an other wroghte, +Vengance upon hireself sche soghte, +And hath of hire unhappi wit +A moerdre with a moerdre quit. +Such is of moerdre the vengance. + +Forthi, mi Sone, in remembrance +Of this ensample tak good hiede: +For who that thenkth his love spiede +With moerdre, he schal with worldes schame +Himself and ek his love schame. 2200 + +Mi fader, of this aventure +Which ye have told, I you assure +Min herte is sory forto hiere, +Bot only for I wolde lere +What is to done, and what to leve. + +And over this now be your leve, +That ye me wolden telle I preie, +If ther be lieffull eny weie +Withoute Senne a man to sle. + +Mi Sone, in sondri wise ye. 2210 +What man that is of traiterie, +Of moerdre or elles robberie +Atteint, the jugge schal noght lette, +Bot he schal slen of pure dette, +And doth gret Senne, if that he wonde. +For who that lawe hath upon honde, +And spareth forto do justice +For merci, doth noght his office, +That he his mercy so bewareth, +Whan for o schrewe which he spareth 2220 +A thousand goode men he grieveth: +With such merci who that believeth +To plese god, he is deceived, +Or elles resoun mot be weyved. +The lawe stod er we were bore, +How that a kinges swerd is bore +In signe that he schal defende +His trewe poeple and make an ende +Of suche as wolden hem devoure. +Lo thus, my Sone, to socoure 2230 +The lawe and comun riht to winne, +A man mai sle withoute Sinne, +And do therof a gret almesse, +So forto kepe rihtwisnesse. +And over this for his contre +In time of werre a man is fre +Himself, his hous and ek his lond +Defende with his oghne hond, +And slen, if that he mai no bet, +After the lawe which is set. 2240 + +Now, fader, thanne I you beseche +Of hem that dedly werres seche +In worldes cause and scheden blod, +If such an homicide is good. + +Mi Sone, upon thi question +The trowthe of myn opinion, +Als ferforth as my wit arecheth +And as the pleine lawe techeth, +I woll thee telle in evidence, +To rewle with thi conscience. 2250 + +The hihe god of his justice +That ilke foule horrible vice +Of homicide he hath forbede, +Be Moises as it was bede. +Whan goddes Sone also was bore, +He sende hise anglis doun therfore, +Whom the Schepherdes herden singe, +Pes to the men of welwillinge +In erthe be among ous here. +So forto speke in this matiere 2260 +After the lawe of charite, +Ther schal no dedly werre be: +And ek nature it hath defended +And in hir lawe pes comended, +Which is the chief of mannes welthe, +Of mannes lif, of mannes helthe. +Bot dedly werre hath his covine +Of pestilence and of famine, +Of poverte and of alle wo, +Wherof this world we blamen so, 2270 +Which now the werre hath under fote, +Til god himself therof do bote. +For alle thing which god hath wroght +In Erthe, werre it bringth to noght: +The cherche is brent, the priest is slain, +The wif, the maide is ek forlain, +The lawe is lore and god unserved: +I not what mede he hath deserved +That suche werres ledeth inne. +If that he do it forto winne, 2280 +Ferst to acompte his grete cost +Forth with the folk that he hath lost, +As to the wordes rekeninge +Ther schal he finde no winnynge; +And if he do it to pourchace +The hevene mede, of such a grace +I can noght speke, and natheles +Crist hath comanded love and pes, +And who that worcheth the revers, +I trowe his mede is ful divers. 2290 +And sithen thanne that we finde +That werres in here oghne kinde +Ben toward god of no decerte, +And ek thei bringen in poverte +Of worldes good, it is merveile +Among the men what it mai eyle, +That thei a pes ne conne sette. +I trowe Senne be the lette, +And every mede of Senne is deth; +So wot I nevere hou that it geth: 2300 +Bot we that ben of o believe +Among ousself, this wolde I lieve, +That betre it were pes to chese, +Than so be double weie lese. + +I not if that it now so stonde, +Bot this a man mai understonde, +Who that these olde bokes redeth, +That coveitise is on which ledeth, +And broghte ferst the werres inne. +At Grece if that I schal beginne, 2310 +Ther was it proved hou it stod: +To Perce, which was ful of good, +Thei maden werre in special, +And so thei deden overal, +Wher gret richesse was in londe, +So that thei leften nothing stonde +Unwerred, bot onliche Archade. +For there thei no werres made, +Be cause it was bareigne and povere, +Wherof thei mihten noght recovere; 2320 +And thus poverte was forbore, +He that noght hadde noght hath lore. +Bot yit it is a wonder thing, +Whan that a riche worthi king, +Or other lord, what so he be, +Wol axe and cleyme proprete +In thing to which he hath no riht, +Bot onliche of his grete miht: +For this mai every man wel wite, +That bothe kinde and lawe write 2330 +Expressly stonden therayein. +Bot he mot nedes somwhat sein, +Althogh ther be no reson inne, +Which secheth cause forto winne: +For wit that is with will oppressed, +Whan coveitise him hath adressed, +And alle resoun put aweie, +He can wel finde such a weie +To werre, where as evere him liketh, +Wherof that he the world entriketh, 2340 +That many a man of him compleigneth: +Bot yit alwei som cause he feigneth, +And of his wrongful herte he demeth +That al is wel, what evere him semeth, +Be so that he mai winne ynowh. +For as the trew man to the plowh +Only to the gaignage entendeth, +Riht so the werreiour despendeth +His time and hath no conscience. +And in this point for evidence 2350 +Of hem that suche werres make, +Thou miht a gret ensample take, +How thei her tirannie excusen +Of that thei wrongfull werres usen, +And how thei stonde of on acord, +The Souldeour forth with the lord, +The povere man forth with the riche, +As of corage thei ben liche, +To make werres and to pile +For lucre and for non other skyle: 2360 +Wherof a propre tale I rede, +As it whilom befell in dede. + +Of him whom al this Erthe dradde, +Whan he the world so overladde +Thurgh werre, as it fortuned is, +King Alisandre, I rede this; +How in a Marche, where he lay, +It fell per chance upon a day +A Rovere of the See was nome, +Which many a man hadde overcome 2370 +And slain and take here good aweie: +This Pilour, as the bokes seie, +A famous man in sondri stede +Was of the werkes whiche he dede. +This Prisoner tofor the king +Was broght, and there upon this thing +In audience he was accused: +And he his dede hath noght excused, +Bot preith the king to don him riht, +And seith, “Sire, if I were of miht, 2380 +I have an herte lich to thin; +For if the pouer were myn, +Mi will is most in special +To rifle and geten overal +The large worldes good aboute. +Bot for I lede a povere route +And am, as who seith, at meschief, +The name of Pilour and of thief +I bere; and thou, which routes grete +Miht lede and take thi beyete, 2390 +And dost riht as I wolde do, +Thi name is nothing cleped so, +Bot thou art named Emperour. +Oure dedes ben of o colour +And in effect of o decerte, +Bot thi richesse and my poverte +Tho ben noght taken evene liche. +And natheles he that is riche +This dai, tomorwe he mai be povere; +And in contraire also recovere 2400 +A povere man to gret richesse +Men sen: forthi let rihtwisnesse +Be peised evene in the balance. + +The king his hardi contienance +Behield, and herde hise wordes wise, +And seide unto him in this wise: +“Thin ansuere I have understonde, +Wherof my will is, that thou stonde +In mi service and stille abide.” +And forth withal the same tide 2410 +He hath him terme of lif withholde, +The mor and for he schal ben holde, +He made him kniht and yaf him lond, +Which afterward was of his hond +And orped kniht in many a stede, +And gret prouesce of armes dede, +As the Croniqes it recorden. + +And in this wise thei acorden, +The whiche of o condicioun +Be set upon destruccioun: 2420 +Such Capitein such retenue. +Bot forto se to what issue +The thing befalleth ate laste, +It is gret wonder that men caste +Here herte upon such wrong to winne, +Wher no beyete mai ben inne, +And doth desese on every side: +Bot whan reson is put aside +And will governeth the corage, +The faucon which that fleth ramage 2430 +And soeffreth nothing in the weie, +Wherof that he mai take his preie, +Is noght mor set upon ravine, +Than thilke man which his covine +Hath set in such a maner wise: +For al the world ne mai suffise +To will which is noght resonable. + +Wherof ensample concordable +Lich to this point of which I meene, +Was upon Alisandre sene, 2440 +Which hadde set al his entente, +So as fortune with him wente, +That reson mihte him non governe, +Bot of his will he was so sterne, +That al the world he overran +And what him list he tok and wan. +In Ynde the superiour +Whan that he was ful conquerour, +And hadde his wilful pourpos wonne +Of al this Erthe under the Sonne, 2450 +This king homward to Macedoine, +Whan that he cam to Babiloine, +And wende most in his Empire, +As he which was hol lord and Sire, +In honour forto be received, +Most sodeinliche he was deceived, +And with strong puison envenimed. +And as he hath the world mistimed +Noght as he scholde with his wit, +Noght as he wolde it was aquit. 2460 + +Thus was he slain that whilom slowh, +And he which riche was ynowh +This dai, tomorwe he hadde noght: +And in such wise as he hath wroght +In destorbance of worldes pes, +His werre he fond thanne endeles, +In which for evere desconfit +He was. Lo now, for what profit +Of werre it helpeth forto ryde, +For coveitise and worldes pride 2470 +To sle the worldes men aboute, +As bestes whiche gon theroute. +For every lif which reson can +Oghth wel to knowe that a man +Ne scholde thurgh no tirannie +Lich to these othre bestes die, +Til kinde wolde for him sende. +I not hou he it mihte amende, +Which takth awei for everemore +The lif that he mai noght restore. 2480 + +Forthi, mi Sone, in alle weie +Be wel avised, I thee preie, +Of slawhte er that thou be coupable +Withoute cause resonable. + +Mi fader, understonde it is, +That ye have seid; bot over this +I prei you tell me nay or yee, +To passe over the grete See +To werre and sle the Sarazin, +Is that the lawe? + +Sone myn, 2490 +To preche and soffre for the feith, +That have I herd the gospell seith; +Bot forto slee, that hiere I noght. +Crist with his oghne deth hath boght +Alle othre men, and made hem fre, +In tokne of parfit charite; +And after that he tawhte himselve, +Whan he was ded, these othre tuelve +Of hise Apostles wente aboute +The holi feith to prechen oute, 2500 +Wherof the deth in sondri place +Thei soffre, and so god of his grace +The feith of Crist hath mad aryse: +Bot if thei wolde in other wise +Be werre have broght in the creance, +It hadde yit stonde in balance. +And that mai proven in the dede; +For what man the Croniqes rede, +Fro ferst that holi cherche hath weyved +To preche, and hath the swerd received, 2510 +Wherof the werres ben begonne, +A gret partie of that was wonne +To Cristes feith stant now miswent: +Godd do therof amendement, +So as he wot what is the beste. +Bot, Sone, if thou wolt live in reste +Of conscience wel assised, +Er that thou sle, be wel avised: +For man, as tellen ous the clerkes, +Hath god above alle ertheli werkes 2520 +Ordeined to be principal, +And ek of Soule in special +He is mad lich to the godhiede. +So sit it wel to taken hiede +And forto loke on every side, +Er that thou falle in homicide, +Which Senne is now so general, +That it welnyh stant overal, +In holi cherche and elles where. +Bot al the while it stant so there, 2530 +The world mot nede fare amis: +For whan the welle of pite is +Thurgh coveitise of worldes good +Defouled with schedinge of blod, +The remenant of folk aboute +Unethe stonden eny doute +To werre ech other and to slee. +So is it all noght worth a Stree, +The charite wherof we prechen, +For we do nothing as we techen: 2540 +And thus the blinde conscience +Of pes hath lost thilke evidence +Which Crist upon this Erthe tawhte. +Now mai men se moerdre and manslawhte +Lich as it was be daies olde, +Whan men the Sennes boghte and solde. + +In Grece afore Cristes feith, +I rede, as the Cronique seith, +Touchende of this matiere thus, +In thilke time hou Peleüs 2550 +His oghne brother Phocus slowh; +Bot for he hadde gold ynowh +To yive, his Senne was despensed +With gold, wherof it was compensed: +Achastus, which with Venus was +Hire Priest, assoilede in that cas, +Al were ther no repentance. +And as the bok makth remembrance, +It telleth of Medee also; +Of that sche slowh her Sones tuo, 2560 +Egeüs in the same plit +Hath mad hire of hire Senne quit. +The Sone ek of Amphioras, +Whos rihte name Almeus was, +His Moder slowh, Eriphile; +Bot Achilo the Priest and he, +So as the bokes it recorden, +For certein Somme of gold acorden +That thilke horrible sinfull dede +Assoiled was. And thus for mede 2570 +Of worldes good it falleth ofte +That homicide is set alofte +Hiere in this lif; bot after this +Ther schal be knowe how that it is +Of hem that suche thinges werche, +And hou also that holi cherche +Let suche Sennes passe quyte, +And how thei wole hemself aquite +Of dedly werres that thei make. +For who that wolde ensample take, 2580 +The lawe which is naturel +Be weie of kinde scheweth wel +That homicide in no degree, +Which werreth ayein charite, +Among the men ne scholde duelle. +For after that the bokes telle, +To seche in al this worldesriche, +Men schal noght finde upon his liche +A beste forto take his preie: +And sithen kinde hath such a weie, 2590 +Thanne is it wonder of a man, +Which kynde hath and resoun can, +That he wol owther more or lasse +His kinde and resoun overpasse, +And sle that is to him semblable. +So is the man noght resonable +Ne kinde, and that is noght honeste, +Whan he is worse than a beste. + +Among the bokes whiche I finde +Solyns spekth of a wonder kinde, 2600 +And seith of fowhles ther is on, +Which hath a face of blod and bon +Lich to a man in resemblance. +And if it falle him so per chance, +As he which is a fowhl of preie, +That he a man finde in his weie, +He wol him slen, if that he mai: +Bot afterward the same dai, +Whan he hath eten al his felle, +And that schal be beside a welle, 2610 +In which whan he wol drinke take, +Of his visage and seth the make +That he hath slain, anon he thenketh +Of his misdede, and it forthenketh +So gretly, that for pure sorwe +He liveth noght til on the morwe. +Be this ensample it mai well suie +That man schal homicide eschuie, +For evere is merci good to take, +Bot if the lawe it hath forsake 2620 +And that justice is therayein. +For ofte time I have herd sein +Amonges hem that werres hadden, +That thei som while here cause ladden +Be merci, whan thei mihte have slain, +Wherof that thei were after fain: +And, Sone, if that thou wolt recorde +The vertu of Misericorde, +Thou sihe nevere thilke place, +Where it was used, lacke grace. 2630 +For every lawe and every kinde +The mannes wit to merci binde; +And namely the worthi knihtes, +Whan that thei stonden most uprihtes +And ben most mihti forto grieve, +Thei scholden thanne most relieve +Him whom thei mihten overthrowe, +As be ensample a man mai knowe. + +He mai noght failen of his mede +That hath merci: for this I rede, 2640 +In a Cronique and finde thus. +Whan Achilles with Telaphus +His Sone toward Troie were, +It fell hem, er thei comen there, +Ayein Theucer the king of Mese +To make werre and forto sese +His lond, as thei that wolden regne +And Theucer pute out of his regne. +And thus the Marches thei assaile, +Bot Theucer yaf to hem bataille; 2650 +Thei foghte on bothe sides faste, +Bot so it hapneth ate laste, +This worthi Grek, this Achilles, +The king among alle othre ches: +As he that was cruel and fell, +With swerd in honde on him he fell, +And smot him with a dethes wounde, +That he unhorsed fell to grounde. +Achilles upon him alyhte, +And wolde anon, as he wel mihte, 2660 +Have slain him fullich in the place; +Bot Thelaphus his fader grace +For him besoghte, and for pite +Preith that he wolde lete him be, +And caste his Schield betwen hem tuo. +Achilles axeth him why so, +And Thelaphus his cause tolde, +And seith that he is mochel holde, +For whilom Theucer in a stede +Gret grace and socour to him dede, 2670 +And seith that he him wolde aquite, +And preith his fader to respite. +Achilles tho withdrowh his hond; +Bot al the pouer of the lond, +Whan that thei sihe here king thus take, +Thei fledde and han the feld forsake: +The Grecs unto the chace falle, +And for the moste part of alle +Of that contre the lordes grete +Thei toke, and wonne a gret beyete. 2680 +And anon after this victoire +The king, which hadde good memoire, +Upon the grete merci thoghte, +Which Telaphus toward him wroghte, +And in presence of al the lond +He tok him faire be the hond, +And in this wise he gan to seie: +“Mi Sone, I mot be double weie +Love and desire thin encress; +Ferst for thi fader Achilles 2690 +Whilom ful many dai er this, +Whan that I scholde have fare amis, +Rescousse dede in mi querele +And kepte al myn astat in hele: +How so ther falle now distance +Amonges ous, yit remembrance +I have of merci which he dede +As thanne: and thou now in this stede +Of gentilesce and of franchise +Hast do mercy the same wise. 2700 +So wol I noght that eny time +Be lost of that thou hast do byme; +For hou so this fortune falle, +Yit stant mi trust aboven alle, +For the mercy which I now finde, +That thou wolt after this be kinde: +And for that such is myn espeir, +As for my Sone and for myn Eir +I thee receive, and al my lond +I yive and sese into thin hond.” 2710 +And in this wise thei acorde, +The cause was Misericorde: +The lordes dede here obeissance +To Thelaphus, and pourveance +Was mad so that he was coroned: +And thus was merci reguerdoned, +Which he to Theucer dede afore. + +Lo, this ensample is mad therfore, +That thou miht take remembrance, +Mi Sone; and whan thou sest a chaunce, 2720 +Of other mennes passioun +Tak pite and compassioun, +And let nothing to thee be lief, +Which to an other man is grief. +And after this if thou desire +To stonde ayein the vice of Ire, +Consaile thee with Pacience, +And tak into thi conscience +Merci to be thi governour. +So schalt thou fiele no rancour, 2730 +Wherof thin herte schal debate +With homicide ne with hate +For Cheste or for Malencolie: +Thou schalt be soft in compaignie +Withoute Contek or Folhaste: +For elles miht thou longe waste +Thi time, er that thou have thi wille +Of love; for the weder stille +Men preise, and blame the tempestes. + +Mi fader, I wol do youre hestes, 2740 +And of this point ye have me tawht, +Toward miself the betre sawht +I thenke be, whil that I live. +Bot for als moche as I am schrive +Of Wraththe and al his circumstance, +Yif what you list to my penance, +And asketh forthere of my lif, +If otherwise I be gultif +Of eny thing that toucheth Sinne. + +Mi Sone, er we departe atwinne, 2750 +I schal behinde nothing leve. + +Mi goode fader, be your leve +Thanne axeth forth what so you list, +For I have in you such a trist, +As ye that be my Soule hele, +That ye fro me wol nothing hele, +For I schal telle you the trowthe. + +Mi Sone, art thou coupable of Slowthe +In eny point which to him longeth? + +My fader, of tho pointz me longeth 2760 +To wite pleinly what thei meene, +So that I mai me schrive cleene. + +Now herkne, I schal the pointz devise; +And understond wel myn aprise: +For schrifte stant of no value +To him that wol him noght vertue +To leve of vice the folie: +For word is wynd, bot the maistrie +Is that a man himself defende +Of thing which is noght to comende, 2770 +Wherof ben fewe now aday. +And natheles, so as I may +Make unto thi memoire knowe, +The pointz of Slowthe thou schalt knowe. + +Explicit Liber Tercius + + + + +Incipit Liber Quartus + + +_Dicunt accidiam fore nutricem viciorum, + Torpet et in cunctis tarda que lenta bonis: +Que fieri possent hodie transfert piger in cras, + Furatoque prius ostia claudit equo. +Poscenti tardo negat emolumenta Cupido, + Set Venus in celeri ludit amore viri._ + +Upon the vices to procede +After the cause of mannes dede, +The ferste point of Slowthe I calle +Lachesce, and is the chief of alle, +And hath this propreliche of kinde, +To leven alle thing behinde. +Of that he mihte do now hier +He tarieth al the longe yer, +And everemore he seith, “Tomorwe”; +And so he wol his time borwe, 10 +And wissheth after “God me sende,” +That whan he weneth have an ende, +Thanne is he ferthest to beginne. +Thus bringth he many a meschief inne +Unwar, til that he be meschieved, +And may noght thanne be relieved. + +And riht so nowther mor ne lesse +It stant of love and of lachesce: +Som time he slowtheth in a day +That he nevere after gete mai. 20 +Now, Sone, as of this ilke thing, +If thou have eny knowleching, +That thou to love hast don er this, +Tell on. + +Mi goode fader, yis. +As of lachesce I am beknowe +That I mai stonde upon his rowe, +As I that am clad of his suite: +For whanne I thoghte mi poursuite +To make, and therto sette a day +To speke unto the swete May, 30 +Lachesce bad abide yit, +And bar on hond it was no wit +Ne time forto speke as tho. +Thus with his tales to and fro +Mi time in tariinge he drowh: +Whan ther was time good ynowh, +He seide, “An other time is bettre; +Thou schalt mowe senden hire a lettre, +And per cas wryte more plein +Than thou be Mowthe durstest sein.” 40 +Thus have I lete time slyde +For Slowthe, and kepte noght my tide, +So that lachesce with his vice +Fulofte hath mad my wit so nyce, +That what I thoghte speke or do +With tariinge he hield me so, +Til whanne I wolde and mihte noght. +I not what thing was in my thoght, +Or it was drede, or it was schame; +Bot evere in ernest and in game 50 +I wot ther is long time passed. +Bot yit is noght the love lassed, +Which I unto mi ladi have; +For thogh my tunge is slowh to crave +At alle time, as I have bede, +Min herte stant evere in o stede +And axeth besiliche grace, +The which I mai noght yit embrace. +And god wot that is malgre myn; +For this I wot riht wel a fin, 60 +Mi grace comth so selde aboute, +That is the Slowthe of which I doute +Mor than of al the remenant +Which is to love appourtenant. +And thus as touchende of lachesce, +As I have told, I me confesse +To you, mi fader, and beseche +That furthermor ye wol me teche; +And if ther be to this matiere +Som goodly tale forto liere 70 +How I mai do lachesce aweie, +That ye it wolden telle I preie. + +To wisse thee, my Sone, and rede, +Among the tales whiche I rede, +An old ensample therupon +Now herkne, and I wol tellen on. + +Ayein Lachesce in loves cas +I finde how whilom Eneas, +Whom Anchises to Sone hadde, +With gret navie, which he ladde 80 +Fro Troie, aryveth at Cartage, +Wher for a while his herbergage +He tok; and it betidde so, +With hire which was qweene tho +Of the Cite his aqueintance +He wan, whos name in remembrance +Is yit, and Dido sche was hote; +Which loveth Eneas so hote +Upon the wordes whiche he seide, +That al hire herte on him sche leide 90 +And dede al holi what he wolde. + +Bot after that, as it be scholde, +Fro thenne he goth toward Ytaile +Be Schipe, and there his arivaile +Hath take, and schop him forto ryde. +Bot sche, which mai noght longe abide +The hote peine of loves throwe, +Anon withinne a litel throwe +A lettre unto hir kniht hath write, +And dede him pleinly forto wite, 100 +If he made eny tariinge, +To drecche of his ayeincomynge, +That sche ne mihte him fiele and se, +Sche scholde stonde in such degre +As whilom stod a Swan tofore, +Of that sche hadde hire make lore; +For sorwe a fethere into hire brain +Sche schof and hath hireselve slain; +As king Menander in a lay +The sothe hath founde, wher sche lay 110 +Sprantlende with hire wynges tweie, +As sche which scholde thanne deie +For love of him which was hire make. + +“And so schal I do for thi sake,” +This qweene seide, “wel I wot.” +Lo, to Enee thus sche wrot +With many an other word of pleinte: +Bot he, which hadde hise thoghtes feinte +Towardes love and full of Slowthe, +His time lette, and that was rowthe: 120 +For sche, which loveth him tofore, +Desireth evere more and more, +And whan sche sih him tarie so, +Hire herte was so full of wo, +That compleignende manyfold +Sche hath hire oghne tale told, +Unto hirself and thus sche spak: +“Ha, who fond evere such a lak +Of Slowthe in eny worthi kniht? +Now wot I wel my deth is diht 130 +Thurgh him which scholde have be mi lif.” +Bot forto stinten al this strif, +Thus whan sche sih non other bote, +Riht evene unto hire herte rote +A naked swerd anon sche threste, +And thus sche gat hireselve reste +In remembrance of alle slowe. + +Wherof, my Sone, thou miht knowe +How tariinge upon the nede +In loves cause is forto drede; 140 +And that hath Dido sore aboght, +Whos deth schal evere be bethoght. +And overmore if I schal seche +In this matiere an other spieche, +In a Cronique I finde write +A tale which is good to wite. + +At Troie whan king Ulixes +Upon the Siege among the pres +Of hem that worthi knihtes were +Abod long time stille there, 150 +In thilke time a man mai se +How goodli that Penolope, +Which was to him his trewe wif, +Of his lachesce was pleintif; +Wherof to Troie sche him sende +Hire will be lettre, thus spekende: + +“Mi worthi love and lord also, +It is and hath ben evere so, +That wher a womman is al one, +It makth a man in his persone 160 +The more hardi forto wowe, +In hope that sche wolde bowe +To such thing as his wille were, +Whil that hire lord were elleswhere. +And of miself I telle this; +For it so longe passed is, +Sithe ferst than ye fro home wente, +That welnyh every man his wente +To there I am, whil ye ben oute, +Hath mad, and ech of hem aboute, 170 +Which love can, my love secheth, +With gret preiere and me besecheth: +And some maken gret manace, +That if thei mihten come in place, +Wher that thei mihte here wille have, +Ther is nothing me scholde save, +That thei ne wolde werche thinges; +And some tellen me tidynges +That ye ben ded, and some sein +That certeinly ye ben besein 180 +To love a newe and leve me. +Bot hou as evere that it be, +I thonke unto the goddes alle, +As yit for oght that is befalle +Mai noman do my chekes rede: +Bot natheles it is to drede, +That Lachesse in continuance +Fortune mihte such a chance, +Which noman after scholde amende.” +Lo, thus this ladi compleignende 190 +A lettre unto hire lord hath write, +And preyde him that he wolde wite +And thenke hou that sche was al his, +And that he tarie noght in this, +Bot that he wolde his love aquite, +To hire ayeinward and noght wryte, +Bot come himself in alle haste, +That he non other paper waste; +So that he kepe and holde his trowthe +Withoute lette of eny Slowthe. 200 + +Unto hire lord and love liege +To Troie, wher the grete Siege +Was leid, this lettre was conveied. +And he, which wisdom hath pourveied +Of al that to reson belongeth, +With gentil herte it underfongeth: +And whan he hath it overrad, +In part he was riht inly glad, +And ek in part he was desesed: +Bot love his herte hath so thorghsesed 210 +With pure ymaginacioun, +That for non occupacioun +Which he can take on other side, +He mai noght flitt his herte aside +Fro that his wif him hadde enformed; +Wherof he hath himself conformed +With al the wille of his corage +To schape and take the viage +Homward, what time that he mai: +So that him thenketh of a day 220 +A thousand yer, til he mai se +The visage of Penolope, +Which he desireth most of alle. +And whan the time is so befalle +That Troie was destruid and brent, +He made non delaiement, +Bot goth him home in alle hihe, +Wher that he fond tofore his yhe +His worthi wif in good astat: +And thus was cessed the debat 230 +Of love, and Slowthe was excused, +Which doth gret harm, where it is used, +And hindreth many a cause honeste. + +For of the grete Clerc Grossteste +I rede how besy that he was +Upon clergie an Hed of bras +To forge, and make it forto telle +Of suche thinges as befelle. +And sevene yeres besinesse +He leyde, bot for the lachesse 240 +Of half a Minut of an houre, +Fro ferst that he began laboure +He loste all that he hadde do. + +And otherwhile it fareth so, +In loves cause who is slow, +That he withoute under the wow +Be nyhte stant fulofte acold, +Which mihte, if that he hadde wold +His time kept, have be withinne. + +Bot Slowthe mai no profit winne, 250 +Bot he mai singe in his karole +How Latewar cam to the Dole, +Wher he no good receive mihte. +And that was proved wel be nyhte +Whilom of the Maidenes fyve, +Whan thilke lord cam forto wyve: +For that here oyle was aweie +To lihte here lampes in his weie, +Here Slowthe broghte it so aboute, +Fro him that thei ben schet withoute. 260 + +Wherof, my Sone, be thou war, +Als ferforth as I telle dar. +For love moste ben awaited: +And if thou be noght wel affaited +In love to eschuie Slowthe, +Mi Sone, forto telle trowthe, +Thou miht noght of thiself ben able +To winne love or make it stable, +All thogh thou mihtest love achieve. + +Mi fader, that I mai wel lieve. 270 +Bot me was nevere assigned place, +Wher yit to geten eny grace, +Ne me was non such time apointed; +For thanne I wolde I were unjoynted +Of every lime that I have, +If I ne scholde kepe and save +Min houre bothe and ek my stede, +If my ladi it hadde bede. +Bot sche is otherwise avised +Than grante such a time assised; 280 +And natheles of mi lachesse +Ther hath be no defalte I gesse +Of time lost, if that I mihte: +Bot yit hire liketh noght alyhte +Upon no lure which I caste; +For ay the more I crie faste, +The lasse hire liketh forto hiere. +So forto speke of this matiere, +I seche that I mai noght finde, +I haste and evere I am behinde, 290 +And wot noght what it mai amounte. +Bot, fader, upon myn acompte, +Which ye be sett to examine +Of Schrifte after the discipline, +Sey what your beste conseil is. + +Mi Sone, my conseil is this: +Hou so it stonde of time go, +Do forth thi besinesse so, +That no Lachesce in the be founde: +For Slowthe is mihti to confounde 300 +The spied of every mannes werk. +For many a vice, as seith the clerk, +Ther hongen upon Slowthes lappe +Of suche as make a man mishappe, +To pleigne and telle of hadde I wist. +And therupon if that thee list +To knowe of Slowthes cause more, +In special yit overmore +Ther is a vice full grevable +To him which is therof coupable, 310 +And stant of alle vertu bare, +Hierafter as I schal declare. + +Touchende of Slowthe in his degre, +Ther is yit Pusillamite, +Which is to seie in this langage, +He that hath litel of corage +And dar no mannes werk beginne: +So mai he noght be resoun winne; +For who that noght dar undertake, +Be riht he schal no profit take. 320 +Bot of this vice the nature +Dar nothing sette in aventure, +Him lacketh bothe word and dede, +Wherof he scholde his cause spede: +He woll no manhed understonde, +For evere he hath drede upon honde: +Al is peril that he schal seie, +Him thenkth the wolf is in the weie, +And of ymaginacioun +He makth his excusacioun 330 +And feigneth cause of pure drede, +And evere he faileth ate nede, +Til al be spilt that he with deleth. +He hath the sor which noman heleth, +The which is cleped lack of herte; +Thogh every grace aboute him sterte, +He wol noght ones stere his fot; +So that be resoun lese he mot, +That wol noght auntre forto winne. + +And so forth, Sone, if we beginne 340 +To speke of love and his servise, +Ther ben truantz in such a wise, +That lacken herte, whan best were +To speke of love, and riht for fere +Thei wexen doumb and dar noght telle, +Withoute soun as doth the belle, +Which hath no claper forto chyme; +And riht so thei as for the tyme +Ben herteles withoute speche +Of love, and dar nothing beseche; 350 +And thus thei lese and winne noght. +Forthi, my Sone, if thou art oght +Coupable as touchende of this Slowthe, +Schrif thee therof and tell me trowthe. + +Mi fader, I am al beknowe +That I have ben on of tho slowe, +As forto telle in loves cas. +Min herte is yit and evere was, +As thogh the world scholde al tobreke, +So ferful, that I dar noght speke 360 +Of what pourpos that I have nome, +Whan I toward mi ladi come, +Bot let it passe and overgo. + +Mi Sone, do nomore so: +For after that a man poursuieth +To love, so fortune suieth, +Fulofte and yifth hire happi chance +To him which makth continuance +To preie love and to beseche; +As be ensample I schal thee teche. 370 + +I finde hou whilom ther was on, +Whos name was Pymaleon, +Which was a lusti man of yowthe: +The werkes of entaile he cowthe +Above alle othre men as tho; +And thurgh fortune it fell him so, +As he whom love schal travaile, +He made an ymage of entaile +Lich to a womman in semblance +Of feture and of contienance, 380 +So fair yit nevere was figure. +Riht as a lyves creature +Sche semeth, for of yvor whyt +He hath hire wroght of such delit, +That sche was rody on the cheke +And red on bothe hire lippes eke; +Wherof that he himself beguileth. +For with a goodly lok sche smyleth, +So that thurgh pure impression +Of his ymaginacion 390 +With al the herte of his corage +His love upon this faire ymage +He sette, and hire of love preide; +Bot sche no word ayeinward seide. +The longe day, what thing he dede, +This ymage in the same stede +Was evere bi, that ate mete +He wolde hire serve and preide hire ete, +And putte unto hire mowth the cuppe; +And whan the bord was taken uppe, 400 +He hath hire into chambre nome, +And after, whan the nyht was come, +He leide hire in his bed al nakid. +He was forwept, he was forwakid, +He keste hire colde lippes ofte, +And wissheth that thei weren softe, +And ofte he rouneth in hire Ere, +And ofte his arm now hier now there +He leide, as he hir wolde embrace, +And evere among he axeth grace, 410 +As thogh sche wiste what he mente: +And thus himself he gan tormente +With such desese of loves peine, +That noman mihte him more peine. +Bot how it were, of his penance +He made such continuance +Fro dai to nyht, and preith so longe, +That his preiere is underfonge, +Which Venus of hire grace herde; +Be nyhte and whan that he worst ferde, 420 +And it lay in his nakede arm, +The colde ymage he fieleth warm +Of fleissh and bon and full of lif. + +Lo, thus he wan a lusti wif, +Which obeissant was at his wille; +And if he wolde have holde him stille +And nothing spoke, he scholde have failed: +Bot for he hath his word travailed +And dorste speke, his love he spedde, +And hadde al that he wolde abedde. 430 +For er thei wente thanne atwo, +A knave child betwen hem two +Thei gete, which was after hote +Paphus, of whom yit hath the note +A certein yle, which Paphos +Men clepe, and of his name it ros. + +Be this ensample thou miht finde +That word mai worche above kinde. +Forthi, my Sone, if that thou spare +To speke, lost is al thi fare, 440 +For Slowthe bringth in alle wo. +And over this to loke also, +The god of love is favorable +To hem that ben of love stable, +And many a wonder hath befalle: +Wherof to speke amonges alle, +If that thee list to taken hede, +Therof a solein tale I rede, +Which I schal telle in remembraunce +Upon the sort of loves chaunce. 450 + +The king Ligdus upon a strif +Spak unto Thelacuse his wif, +Which thanne was with childe grete; +He swor it scholde noght be lete, +That if sche have a dowhter bore, +That it ne scholde be forlore +And slain, wherof sche sory was. +So it befell upon this cas, +Whan sche delivered scholde be, +Isis be nyhte in privete, 460 +Which of childinge is the goddesse, +Cam forto helpe in that destresse, +Til that this lady was al smal, +And hadde a dowhter forth withal; +Which the goddesse in alle weie +Bad kepe, and that thei scholden seie +It were a Sone: and thus Iphis +Thei namede him, and upon this +The fader was mad so to wene. +And thus in chambre with the qweene 470 +This Iphis was forthdrawe tho, +And clothed and arraied so +Riht as a kinges Sone scholde. +Til after, as fortune it wolde, +Whan it was of a ten yer age, +Him was betake in mariage +A Duckes dowhter forto wedde, +Which Iante hihte, and ofte abedde +These children leien, sche and sche, +Whiche of on age bothe be. 480 +So that withinne time of yeeres, +Togedre as thei ben pleiefieres, +Liggende abedde upon a nyht, +Nature, which doth every wiht +Upon hire lawe forto muse, +Constreigneth hem, so that thei use +Thing which to hem was al unknowe; +Wherof Cupide thilke throwe +Tok pite for the grete love, +And let do sette kinde above, 490 +So that hir lawe mai ben used, +And thei upon here lust excused. +For love hateth nothing more +Than thing which stant ayein the lore +Of that nature in kinde hath sett: +Forthi Cupide hath so besett +His grace upon this aventure, +That he acordant to nature, +Whan that he syh the time best, +That ech of hem hath other kest, 500 +Transformeth Iphe into a man, +Wherof the kinde love he wan +Of lusti yonge Iante his wif; +And tho thei ladde a merie lif, +Which was to kinde non offence. + +And thus to take an evidence, +It semeth love is welwillende +To hem that ben continuende +With besy herte to poursuie +Thing which that is to love due. 510 +Wherof, my Sone, in this matiere +Thou miht ensample taken hiere, +That with thi grete besinesse +Thou miht atteigne the richesse +Of love, if that ther be no Slowthe. + +I dar wel seie be mi trowthe, +Als fer as I my witt can seche, +Mi fader, as for lacke of speche, +Bot so as I me schrof tofore, +Ther is non other time lore, 520 +Wherof ther mihte ben obstacle +To lette love of his miracle, +Which I beseche day and nyht. +Bot, fader, so as it is riht +In forme of schrifte to beknowe +What thing belongeth to the slowe, +Your faderhode I wolde preie, +If ther be forthere eny weie +Touchende unto this ilke vice. + +Mi Sone, ye, of this office 530 +Ther serveth on in special, +Which lost hath his memorial, +So that he can no wit withholde +In thing which he to kepe is holde, +Wherof fulofte himself he grieveth: +And who that most upon him lieveth, +Whan that hise wittes ben so weyved, +He mai full lihtly be deceived. + +To serve Accidie in his office, +Ther is of Slowthe an other vice, 540 +Which cleped is Foryetelnesse; +That noght mai in his herte impresse +Of vertu which reson hath sett, +So clene his wittes he foryet. +For in the tellinge of his tale +Nomore his herte thanne his male +Hath remembrance of thilke forme, +Wherof he scholde his wit enforme +As thanne, and yit ne wot he why. +Thus is his pourpos noght forthi 550 +Forlore of that he wolde bidde, +And skarsly if he seith the thridde +To love of that he hadde ment: +Thus many a lovere hath be schent. +Tell on therfore, hast thou be oon +Of hem that Slowthe hath so begon? + +Ye, fader, ofte it hath be so, +That whanne I am mi ladi fro +And thenke untoward hire drawe, +Than cast I many a newe lawe 560 +And al the world torne up so doun, +And so recorde I mi lecoun +And wryte in my memorial +What I to hire telle schal, +Riht al the matiere of mi tale: +Bot al nys worth a note schale; +For whanne I come ther sche is, +I have it al foryete ywiss; +Of that I thoghte forto telle +I can noght thanne unethes spelle 570 +That I wende altherbest have rad, +So sore I am of hire adrad. +For as a man that sodeinli +A gost behelde, so fare I; +So that for feere I can noght gete +Mi witt, bot I miself foryete, +That I wot nevere what I am, +Ne whider I schal, ne whenne I cam, +Bot muse as he that were amased. +Lich to the bok in which is rased 580 +The lettre, and mai nothing be rad, +So ben my wittes overlad, +That what as evere I thoghte have spoken, +It is out fro myn herte stoken, +And stonde, as who seith, doumb and def, +That all nys worth an yvy lef, +Of that I wende wel have seid. +And ate laste I make abreid, +Caste up myn hed and loke aboute, +Riht as a man that were in doute 590 +And wot noght wher he schal become. +Thus am I ofte al overcome, +Ther as I wende best to stonde: +Bot after, whanne I understonde, +And am in other place al one, +I make many a wofull mone +Unto miself, and speke so: +“Ha fol, wher was thin herte tho, +Whan thou thi worthi ladi syhe? +Were thou afered of hire yhe? 600 +For of hire hand ther is no drede: +So wel I knowe hir wommanhede, +That in hire is nomore oultrage +Than in a child of thre yeer age. +Whi hast thou drede of so good on, +Whom alle vertu hath begon, +That in hire is no violence +Bot goodlihiede and innocence +Withouten spot of eny blame? +Ha, nyce herte, fy for schame! 610 +Ha, couard herte of love unlered, +Wherof art thou so sore afered, +That thou thi tunge soffrest frese, +And wolt thi goode wordes lese, +Whan thou hast founde time and space? +How scholdest thou deserve grace, +Whan thou thiself darst axe non, +Bot al thou hast foryete anon?” +And thus despute I loves lore, +Bot help ne finde I noght the more, 620 +Bot stomble upon myn oghne treine +And make an ekinge of my peine. +For evere whan I thenke among +How al is on miself along, +I seie, “O fol of alle foles, +Thou farst as he betwen tuo stoles +That wolde sitte and goth to grounde. +It was ne nevere schal be founde, +Betwen foryetelnesse and drede +That man scholde any cause spede.” 630 +And thus, myn holi fader diere, +Toward miself, as ye mai hiere, +I pleigne of my foryetelnesse; +Bot elles al the besinesse, +That mai be take of mannes thoght, +Min herte takth, and is thorghsoght +To thenken evere upon that swete +Withoute Slowthe, I you behete. +For what so falle, or wel or wo, +That thoght foryete I neveremo, 640 +Wher so I lawhe or so I loure: +Noght half the Minut of an houre +Ne mihte I lete out of my mende, +Bot if I thoghte upon that hende. +Therof me schal no Slowthe lette, +Til deth out of this world me fette, +Althogh I hadde on such a Ring, +As Moises thurgh his enchanting +Som time in Ethiope made, +Whan that he Tharbis weddid hade. 650 +Which Ring bar of Oblivion +The name, and that was be resoun +That where it on a finger sat, +Anon his love he so foryat, +As thogh he hadde it nevere knowe: +And so it fell that ilke throwe, +Whan Tharbis hadde it on hire hond, +No knowlechinge of him sche fond, +Bot al was clene out of memoire, +As men mai rede in his histoire; 660 +And thus he wente quit away, +That nevere after that ilke day +Sche thoghte that ther was such on; +Al was foryete and overgon. +Bot in good feith so mai noght I: +For sche is evere faste by, +So nyh that sche myn herte toucheth, +That for nothing that Slowthe voucheth +I mai foryete hire, lief ne loth; +For overal, where as sche goth, 670 +Min herte folwith hire aboute. +Thus mai I seie withoute doute, +For bet, for wers, for oght, for noght, +Sche passeth nevere fro my thoght; +Bot whanne I am ther as sche is, +Min herte, as I you saide er this, +Som time of hire is sore adrad, +And som time it is overglad, +Al out of reule and out of space. +For whan I se hir goodli face 680 +And thenke upon hire hihe pris, +As thogh I were in Paradis, +I am so ravisht of the syhte, +That speke unto hire I ne myhte +As for the time, thogh I wolde: +For I ne mai my wit unfolde +To finde o word of that I mene, +Bot al it is foryete clene; +And thogh I stonde there a myle, +Al is foryete for the while, 690 +A tunge I have and wordes none. +And thus I stonde and thenke al one +Of thing that helpeth ofte noght; +Bot what I hadde afore thoght +To speke, whanne I come there, +It is foryete, as noght ne were, +And stonde amased and assoted, +That of nothing which I have noted +I can noght thanne a note singe, +Bot al is out of knowlechinge: 700 +Thus, what for joie and what for drede, +Al is foryeten ate nede. +So that, mi fader, of this Slowthe +I have you said the pleine trowthe; +Ye mai it as you list redresce: +For thus stant my foryetelnesse +And ek my pusillamite. +Sey now forth what you list to me, +For I wol only do be you. + +Mi Sone, I have wel herd how thou 710 +Hast seid, and that thou most amende: +For love his grace wol noght sende +To that man which dar axe non. +For this we knowen everichon, +A mannes thoght withoute speche +God wot, and yit that men beseche +His will is; for withoute bedes +He doth his grace in fewe stedes: +And what man that foryet himselve, +Among a thousand be noght tuelve, 720 +That wol him take in remembraunce, +Bot lete him falle and take his chaunce. +Forthi pull up a besi herte, +Mi Sone, and let nothing asterte +Of love fro thi besinesse: +For touchinge of foryetelnesse, +Which many a love hath set behinde, +A tale of gret ensample I finde, +Wherof it is pite to wite +In the manere as it is write. 730 + +King Demephon, whan he be Schipe +To Troieward with felaschipe +Sailende goth, upon his weie +It hapneth him at Rodopeie, +As Eolus him hadde blowe, +To londe, and rested for a throwe. +And fell that ilke time thus, +The dowhter of Ligurgius, +Which qweene was of the contre, +Was sojournende in that Cite 740 +Withinne a Castell nyh the stronde, +Wher Demephon cam up to londe. +Phillis sche hihte, and of yong age +And of stature and of visage +Sche hadde al that hire best besemeth. +Of Demephon riht wel hire qwemeth, +Whan he was come, and made him chiere; +And he, that was of his manere +A lusti knyht, ne myhte asterte +That he ne sette on hire his herte; 750 +So that withinne a day or tuo +He thoghte, how evere that it go, +He wolde assaie the fortune, +And gan his herte to commune +With goodly wordes in hire Ere; +And forto put hire out of fere, +He swor and hath his trowthe pliht +To be for evere hire oghne knyht. +And thus with hire he stille abod, +Ther while his Schip on Anker rod, 760 +And hadde ynowh of time and space +To speke of love and seche grace. + +This ladi herde al that he seide, +And hou he swor and hou he preide, +Which was as an enchantement +To hire, that was innocent: +As thogh it were trowthe and feith, +Sche lieveth al that evere he seith, +And as hire infortune scholde, +Sche granteth him al that he wolde. 770 +Thus was he for the time in joie, +Til that he scholde go to Troie; +Bot tho sche made mochel sorwe, +And he his trowthe leith to borwe +To come, if that he live may, +Ayein withinne a Monthe day, +And therupon thei kisten bothe: +Bot were hem lieve or were hem lothe, +To Schipe he goth and forth he wente +To Troie, as was his ferste entente. 780 + +The daies gon, the Monthe passeth, +Hire love encresceth and his lasseth, +For him sche lefte slep and mete, +And he his time hath al foryete; +So that this wofull yonge qweene, +Which wot noght what it mihte meene, +A lettre sende and preide him come, +And seith how sche is overcome +With strengthe of love in such a wise, +That sche noght longe mai suffise 790 +To liven out of his presence; +And putte upon his conscience +The trowthe which he hath behote, +Wherof sche loveth him so hote, +Sche seith, that if he lengere lette +Of such a day as sche him sette, +Sche scholde sterven in his Slowthe, +Which were a schame unto his trowthe. +This lettre is forth upon hire sonde, +Wherof somdiel confort on honde 800 +Sche tok, as she that wolde abide +And waite upon that ilke tyde +Which sche hath in hire lettre write. + +Bot now is pite forto wite, +As he dede erst, so he foryat +His time eftsone and oversat. +Bot sche, which mihte noght do so, +The tyde awayteth everemo, +And caste hire yhe upon the See: +Somtime nay, somtime yee, 810 +Somtime he cam, somtime noght, +Thus sche desputeth in hire thoght +And wot noght what sche thenke mai; +Bot fastende al the longe day +Sche was into the derke nyht, +And tho sche hath do set up lyht +In a lanterne on hih alofte +Upon a Tour, wher sche goth ofte, +In hope that in his cominge +He scholde se the liht brenninge, 820 +Wherof he mihte his weies rihte +To come wher sche was be nyhte. +Bot al for noght, sche was deceived, +For Venus hath hire hope weyved, +And schewede hire upon the Sky +How that the day was faste by, +So that withinne a litel throwe +The daies lyht sche mihte knowe. +Tho sche behield the See at large; +And whan sche sih ther was no barge 830 +Ne Schip, als ferr as sche may kenne, +Doun fro the Tour sche gan to renne +Into an Herber all hire one, +Wher many a wonder woful mone +Sche made, that no lif it wiste, +As sche which all hire joie miste, +That now sche swouneth, now sche pleigneth, +And al hire face sche desteigneth +With teres, whiche, as of a welle +The stremes, from hire yhen felle; 840 +So as sche mihte and evere in on +Sche clepede upon Demephon, +And seide, “Helas, thou slowe wiht, +Wher was ther evere such a knyht, +That so thurgh his ungentilesce +Of Slowthe and of foryetelnesse +Ayein his trowthe brak his stevene?” +And tho hire yhe up to the hevene +Sche caste, and seide, “O thou unkinde, +Hier schalt thou thurgh thi Slowthe finde, 850 +If that thee list to come and se, +A ladi ded for love of thee, +So as I schal myselve spille; +Whom, if it hadde be thi wille, +Thou mihtest save wel ynowh.” +With that upon a grene bowh +A Ceinte of Selk, which sche ther hadde, +Sche knette, and so hireself sche ladde, +That sche aboute hire whyte swere +It dede, and hyng hirselven there. 860 +Wherof the goddes were amoeved, +And Demephon was so reproeved, +That of the goddes providence +Was schape such an evidence +Evere afterward ayein the slowe, +That Phillis in the same throwe +Was schape into a Notetre, +That alle men it mihte se, +And after Phillis Philliberd +This tre was cleped in the yerd, 870 +And yit for Demephon to schame +Into this dai it berth the name. +This wofull chance how that it ferde +Anon as Demephon it herde, +And every man it hadde in speche, +His sorwe was noght tho to seche; +He gan his Slowthe forto banne, +Bot it was al to late thanne. + +Lo thus, my Sone, miht thou wite +Ayein this vice how it is write; 880 +For noman mai the harmes gesse, +That fallen thurgh foryetelnesse, +Wherof that I thi schrifte have herd. +Bot yit of Slowthe hou it hath ferd +In other wise I thenke oppose, +If thou have gult, as I suppose. + +Fulfild of Slowthes essamplaire +Ther is yit on, his Secretaire, +And he is cleped Negligence: +Which wol noght loke his evidence, 890 +Wherof he mai be war tofore; +Bot whanne he hath his cause lore, +Thanne is he wys after the hond: +Whanne helpe may no maner bond, +Thanne ate ferste wolde he binde: +Thus everemore he stant behinde. +Whanne he the thing mai noght amende, +Thanne is he war, and seith at ende, +“Ha, wolde god I hadde knowe!” +Wherof bejaped with a mowe 900 +He goth, for whan the grete Stiede +Is stole, thanne he taketh hiede, +And makth the stable dore fast: +Thus evere he pleith an aftercast +Of al that he schal seie or do. +He hath a manere eke also, +Him list noght lerne to be wys, +For he set of no vertu pris +Bot as him liketh for the while; +So fieleth he fulofte guile, 910 +Whan that he weneth siker stonde. +And thus thou miht wel understonde, +Mi Sone, if thou art such in love, +Thou miht noght come at thin above +Of that thou woldest wel achieve. + +Mi holi fader, as I lieve, +I mai wel with sauf conscience +Excuse me of necgligence +Towardes love in alle wise: +For thogh I be non of the wise, 920 +I am so trewly amerous, +That I am evere curious +Of hem that conne best enforme +To knowe and witen al the forme, +What falleth unto loves craft. +Bot yit ne fond I noght the haft, +Which mihte unto that bladd acorde; +For nevere herde I man recorde +What thing it is that myhte availe +To winne love withoute faile. 930 +Yit so fer cowthe I nevere finde +Man that be resoun ne be kinde +Me cowthe teche such an art, +That he ne failede of a part; +And as toward myn oghne wit, +Controeve cowthe I nevere yit +To finden eny sikernesse, +That me myhte outher more or lesse +Of love make forto spede: +For lieveth wel withoute drede, 940 +If that ther were such a weie, +As certeinliche as I schal deie +I hadde it lerned longe ago. +Bot I wot wel ther is non so: +And natheles it may wel be, +I am so rude in my degree +And ek mi wittes ben so dulle, +That I ne mai noght to the fulle +Atteigne to so hih a lore. +Bot this I dar seie overmore, 950 +Althogh mi wit ne be noght strong, +It is noght on mi will along, +For that is besi nyht and day +To lerne al that he lerne may, +How that I mihte love winne: +Bot yit I am as to beginne +Of that I wolde make an ende, +And for I not how it schal wende, +That is to me mi moste sorwe. +Bot I dar take god to borwe, 960 +As after min entendement, +Non other wise necgligent +Thanne I yow seie have I noght be: +Forthi per seinte charite +Tell me, mi fader, what you semeth. + +In good feith, Sone, wel me qwemeth, +That thou thiself hast thus aquit +Toward this vice, in which no wit +Abide mai, for in an houre +He lest al that he mai laboure 970 +The longe yer, so that men sein, +What evere he doth it is in vein. +For thurgh the Slowthe of Negligence +Ther was yit nevere such science +Ne vertu, which was bodely, +That nys destruid and lost therby. +Ensample that it hath be so +In boke I finde write also. + +Phebus, which is the Sonne hote, +That schyneth upon Erthe hote 980 +And causeth every lyves helthe, +He hadde a Sone in al his welthe, +Which Pheton hihte, and he desireth +And with his Moder he conspireth, +The which was cleped Clemenee, +For help and conseil, so that he +His fader carte lede myhte +Upon the faire daies brihte. +And for this thing thei bothe preide +Unto the fader, and he seide 990 +He wolde wel, bot forth withal +Thre pointz he bad in special +Unto his Sone in alle wise, +That he him scholde wel avise +And take it as be weie of lore. +Ferst was, that he his hors to sore +Ne prike, and over that he tolde +That he the renes faste holde; +And also that he be riht war +In what manere he lede his charr, 1000 +That he mistake noght his gate, +Bot up avisement algate +He scholde bere a siker yhe, +That he to lowe ne to hyhe +His carte dryve at eny throwe, +Wherof that he mihte overthrowe. +And thus be Phebus ordinance +Tok Pheton into governance +The Sonnes carte, which he ladde: +Bot he such veine gloire hadde 1010 +Of that he was set upon hyh, +That he his oghne astat ne syh +Thurgh negligence and tok non hiede; +So mihte he wel noght longe spede. +For he the hors withoute lawe +The carte let aboute drawe +Wher as hem liketh wantounly, +That ate laste sodeinly, +For he no reson wolde knowe, +This fyri carte he drof to lowe, 1020 +And fyreth al the world aboute; +Wherof thei weren alle in doubte, +And to the god for helpe criden +Of suche unhappes as betyden. +Phebus, which syh the necgligence, +How Pheton ayein his defence +His charr hath drive out of the weie, +Ordeigneth that he fell aweie +Out of the carte into a flod +And dreynte. Lo now, hou it stod 1030 +With him that was so necgligent, +That fro the hyhe firmament, +For that he wolde go to lowe, +He was anon doun overthrowe. + +In hih astat it is a vice +To go to lowe, and in service +It grieveth forto go to hye, +Wherof a tale in poesie +I finde, how whilom Dedalus, +Which hadde a Sone, and Icharus 1040 +He hihte, and thogh hem thoghte lothe, +In such prison thei weren bothe +With Minotaurus, that aboute +Thei mihten nawher wenden oute; +So thei begonne forto schape +How thei the prison mihte ascape. +This Dedalus, which fro his yowthe +Was tawht and manye craftes cowthe, +Of fetheres and of othre thinges +Hath mad to fle diverse wynges 1050 +For him and for his Sone also; +To whom he yaf in charge tho +And bad him thenke therupon, +How that his wynges ben set on +With wex, and if he toke his flyhte +To hyhe, al sodeinliche he mihte +Make it to melte with the Sonne. +And thus thei have her flyht begonne +Out of the prison faire and softe; +And whan thei weren bothe alofte, 1060 +This Icharus began to monte, +And of the conseil non accompte +He sette, which his fader tawhte, +Til that the Sonne his wynges cawhte, +Wherof it malt, and fro the heihte +Withouten help of eny sleihte +He fell to his destruccion. +And lich to that condicion +Ther fallen ofte times fele +For lacke of governance in wele, 1070 +Als wel in love as other weie. + +Now goode fader, I you preie, +If ther be more in the matiere +Of Slowthe, that I mihte it hiere. + +Mi Sone, and for thi diligence, +Which every mannes conscience +Be resoun scholde reule and kepe, +If that thee list to taken kepe, +I wol thee telle, aboven alle +In whom no vertu mai befalle, 1080 +Which yifth unto the vices reste +And is of slowe the sloweste. + +Among these othre of Slowthes kinde, +Which alle labour set behinde, +And hateth alle besinesse, +Ther is yit on, which Ydelnesse +Is cleped, and is the Norrice +In mannes kinde of every vice, +Which secheth eases manyfold. +In Wynter doth he noght for cold, 1090 +In Somer mai he noght for hete; +So whether that he frese or swete, +Or he be inne, or he be oute, +He wol ben ydel al aboute, +Bot if he pleie oght ate Dees. +For who as evere take fees +And thenkth worschipe to deserve, +Ther is no lord whom he wol serve, +As forto duelle in his servise, +Bot if it were in such a wise, 1100 +Of that he seth per aventure +That be lordschipe and coverture +He mai the more stonde stille, +And use his ydelnesse at wille. +For he ne wol no travail take +To ryde for his ladi sake, +Bot liveth al upon his wisshes; +And as a cat wolde ete fisshes +Withoute wetinge of his cles, +So wolde he do, bot natheles 1110 +He faileth ofte of that he wolde. + +Mi Sone, if thou of such a molde +Art mad, now tell me plein thi schrifte. + +Nay, fader, god I yive a yifte. +That toward love, as be mi wit, +Al ydel was I nevere yit, +Ne nevere schal, whil I mai go. + +Now, Sone, tell me thanne so, +What hast thou don of besischipe +To love and to the ladischipe 1120 +Of hire which thi ladi is? + +Mi fader, evere yit er this +In every place, in every stede, +What so mi lady hath me bede, +With al myn herte obedient +I have therto be diligent. +And if so is sche bidde noght, +What thing that thanne into my thoght +Comth ferst of that I mai suffise, +I bowe and profre my servise, 1130 +Somtime in chambre, somtime in halle, +Riht as I se the times falle. +And whan sche goth to hiere masse, +That time schal noght overpasse, +That I naproche hir ladihede, +In aunter if I mai hire lede +Unto the chapelle and ayein. +Thanne is noght al mi weie in vein, +Somdiel I mai the betre fare, +Whan I, that mai noght fiele hir bare, 1140 +Mai lede hire clothed in myn arm: +Bot afterward it doth me harm +Of pure ymaginacioun; +For thanne this collacioun +I make unto miselven ofte, +And seie, “Ha lord, hou sche is softe, +How sche is round, hou sche is smal! +Now wolde god I hadde hire al +Withoute danger at mi wille!” +And thanne I sike and sitte stille, 1150 +Of that I se mi besi thoght +Is torned ydel into noght. +Bot for al that lete I ne mai, +Whanne I se time an other dai, +That I ne do my besinesse +Unto mi ladi worthinesse. +For I therto mi wit afaite +To se the times and awaite +What is to done and what to leve: +And so, whan time is, be hir leve, 1160 +What thing sche bit me don, I do, +And wher sche bidt me gon, I go, +And whanne hir list to clepe, I come. +Thus hath sche fulliche overcome +Min ydelnesse til I sterve, +So that I mot hire nedes serve, +For as men sein, nede hath no lawe. +Thus mot I nedly to hire drawe, +I serve, I bowe, I loke, I loute, +Min yhe folweth hire aboute, 1170 +What so sche wole so wol I, +Whan sche wol sitte, I knele by, +And whan sche stant, than wol I stonde: +Bot whan sche takth hir werk on honde +Of wevinge or enbrouderie, +Than can I noght bot muse and prie +Upon hir fingres longe and smale, +And now I thenke, and now I tale, +And now I singe, and now I sike, +And thus mi contienance I pike. 1180 +And if it falle, as for a time +Hir liketh noght abide bime, +Bot besien hire on other thinges, +Than make I othre tariinges +To dreche forth the longe dai, +For me is loth departe away. +And thanne I am so simple of port, +That forto feigne som desport +I pleie with hire litel hound +Now on the bedd, now on the ground, 1190 +Now with hir briddes in the cage; +For ther is non so litel page, +Ne yit so simple a chamberere, +That I ne make hem alle chere, +Al for thei scholde speke wel: +Thus mow ye sen mi besi whiel, +That goth noght ydeliche aboute. +And if hir list to riden oute +On pelrinage or other stede, +I come, thogh I be noght bede, 1200 +And take hire in min arm alofte +And sette hire in hire sadel softe, +And so forth lede hire be the bridel, +For that I wolde noght ben ydel. +And if hire list to ride in Char, +And thanne I mai therof be war, +Anon I schape me to ryde +Riht evene be the Chares side; +And as I mai, I speke among, +And otherwhile I singe a song, 1210 +Which Ovide in his bokes made, +And seide, “O whiche sorwes glade, +O which wofull prosperite +Belongeth to the proprete +Of love, who so wole him serve! +And yit therfro mai noman swerve, +That he ne mot his lawe obeie.” +And thus I ryde forth mi weie, +And am riht besi overal +With herte and with mi body al, 1220 +As I have said you hier tofore. +My goode fader, tell therfore, +Of Ydelnesse if I have gilt. + +Mi Sone, bot thou telle wilt +Oght elles than I mai now hiere, +Thou schalt have no penance hiere. +And natheles a man mai se, +How now adayes that ther be +Ful manye of suche hertes slowe, +That wol noght besien hem to knowe 1230 +What thing love is, til ate laste, +That he with strengthe hem overcaste, +That malgre hem thei mote obeie +And don al ydelschipe aweie, +To serve wel and besiliche. +Bot, Sone, thou art non of swiche, +For love schal the wel excuse: +Bot otherwise, if thou refuse +To love, thou miht so per cas +Ben ydel, as somtime was 1240 +A kinges dowhter unavised, +Til that Cupide hire hath chastised: +Wherof thou schalt a tale hiere +Acordant unto this matiere. + +Of Armenye, I rede thus, +Ther was a king, which Herupus +Was hote, and he a lusti Maide +To dowhter hadde, and as men saide +Hire name was Rosiphelee; +Which tho was of gret renomee, 1250 +For sche was bothe wys and fair +And scholde ben hire fader hair. +Bot sche hadde o defalte of Slowthe +Towardes love, and that was rowthe; +For so wel cowde noman seie, +Which mihte sette hire in the weie +Of loves occupacion +Thurgh non ymaginacion; +That scole wolde sche noght knowe. +And thus sche was on of the slowe 1260 +As of such hertes besinesse, +Til whanne Venus the goddesse, +Which loves court hath forto reule, +Hath broght hire into betre reule, +Forth with Cupide and with his miht: +For thei merveille how such a wiht, +Which tho was in hir lusti age, +Desireth nother Mariage +Ne yit the love of paramours, +Which evere hath be the comun cours 1270 +Amonges hem that lusti were. +So was it schewed after there: +For he that hihe hertes loweth +With fyri Dartes whiche he throweth, +Cupide, which of love is godd, +In chastisinge hath mad a rodd +To dryve awei hir wantounesse; +So that withinne a while, I gesse, +Sche hadde on such a chance sporned, +That al hire mod was overtorned, 1280 +Which ferst sche hadde of slow manere: +For thus it fell, as thou schalt hiere. +Whan come was the Monthe of Maii, +Sche wolde walke upon a dai, +And that was er the Sonne Ariste; +Of wommen bot a fewe it wiste, +And forth sche wente prively +Unto the Park was faste by, +Al softe walkende on the gras, +Til sche cam ther the Launde was, 1290 +Thurgh which ther ran a gret rivere. +It thoghte hir fair, and seide, “Here +I wole abide under the schawe”: +And bad hire wommen to withdrawe, +And ther sche stod al one stille, +To thenke what was in hir wille. +Sche sih the swote floures springe, +Sche herde glade foules singe, +Sche sih the bestes in her kinde, +The buck, the do, the hert, the hinde, 1300 +The madle go with the femele; +And so began ther a querele +Betwen love and hir oghne herte, +Fro which sche couthe noght asterte. +And as sche caste hire yhe aboute, +Sche syh clad in o suite a route +Of ladis, wher thei comen ryde +Along under the wodes syde: +On faire amblende hors thei sete, +That were al whyte, fatte and grete, 1310 +And everichon thei ride on side. +The Sadles were of such a Pride, +With Perle and gold so wel begon, +So riche syh sche nevere non; +In kertles and in Copes riche +Thei weren clothed, alle liche, +Departed evene of whyt and blew; +With alle lustes that sche knew +Thei were enbrouded overal. +Here bodies weren long and smal, 1320 +The beaute faye upon her face +Non erthly thing it may desface; +Corones on here hed thei beere, +As ech of hem a qweene weere, +That al the gold of Cresus halle +The leste coronal of alle +Ne mihte have boght after the worth: +Thus come thei ridende forth. + +The kinges dowhter, which this syh, +For pure abaissht drowh hire adryh 1330 +And hield hire clos under the bowh, +And let hem passen stille ynowh; +For as hire thoghte in hire avis, +To hem that were of such a pris +Sche was noght worthi axen there, +Fro when they come or what thei were: +Bot levere than this worldes good +Sche wolde have wist hou that it stod, +And putte hire hed alitel oute; +And as sche lokede hire aboute, 1340 +Sche syh comende under the linde +A womman up an hors behinde. +The hors on which sche rod was blak, +Al lene and galled on the back, +And haltede, as he were encluyed, +Wherof the womman was annuied; +Thus was the hors in sori plit, +Bot for al that a sterre whit +Amiddes in the front he hadde. +Hir Sadel ek was wonder badde, 1350 +In which the wofull womman sat, +And natheles ther was with that +A riche bridel for the nones +Of gold and preciouse Stones. +Hire cote was somdiel totore; +Aboute hir middel twenty score +Of horse haltres and wel mo +Ther hyngen ate time tho. + +Thus whan sche cam the ladi nyh, +Than tok sche betre hiede and syh 1360 +This womman fair was of visage, +Freyssh, lusti, yong and of tendre age; +And so this ladi, ther sche stod, +Bethoghte hire wel and understod +That this, which com ridende tho, +Tidinges couthe telle of tho, +Which as sche sih tofore ryde, +And putte hir forth and preide abide, +And seide, “Ha, Suster, let me hiere, +What ben thei, that now riden hiere, 1370 +And ben so richeliche arraied?” + +This womman, which com so esmaied, +Ansuerde with ful softe speche, +And seith, “Ma Dame, I schal you teche. +These ar of tho that whilom were +Servantz to love, and trowthe beere, +Ther as thei hadde here herte set. +Fare wel, for I mai noght be let: +Ma Dame, I go to mi servise, +So moste I haste in alle wise; 1380 +Forthi, ma Dame, yif me leve, +I mai noght longe with you leve.” + +“Ha, goode Soster, yit I preie, +Tell me whi ye ben so beseie +And with these haltres thus begon.” + +“Ma Dame, whilom I was on +That to mi fader hadde a king; +Bot I was slow, and for no thing +Me liste noght to love obeie, +And that I now ful sore abeie. 1390 +For I whilom no love hadde, +Min hors is now so fieble and badde, +And al totore is myn arai, +And every yeer this freisshe Maii +These lusti ladis ryde aboute, +And I mot nedes suie here route +In this manere as ye now se, +And trusse here haltres forth with me, +And am bot as here horse knave. +Non other office I ne have, 1400 +Hem thenkth I am worthi nomore, +For I was slow in loves lore, +Whan I was able forto lere, +And wolde noght the tales hiere +Of hem that couthen love teche.” + +“Now tell me thanne, I you beseche, +Wherof that riche bridel serveth.” + +With that hire chere awei sche swerveth, +And gan to wepe, and thus sche tolde: +“This bridel, which ye nou beholde 1410 +So riche upon myn horse hed,— +Ma Dame, afore, er I was ded, +Whan I was in mi lusti lif, +Ther fel into myn herte a strif +Of love, which me overcom, +So that therafter hiede I nom +And thoghte I wolde love a kniht: +That laste wel a fourtenyht, +For it no lengere mihte laste, +So nyh my lif was ate laste. 1420 +Bot now, allas, to late war +That I ne hadde him loved ar: +For deth cam so in haste bime, +Er I therto hadde eny time, +That it ne mihte ben achieved. +Bot for al that I am relieved, +Of that mi will was good therto, +That love soffreth it be so +That I schal swiche a bridel were. +Now have ye herd al myn ansuere: 1430 +To godd, ma Dame, I you betake, +And warneth alle for mi sake, +Of love that thei ben noght ydel, +And bidd hem thenke upon mi brydel.” +And with that word al sodeinly +Sche passeth, as it were a Sky, +Al clene out of this ladi sihte: +And tho for fere hire herte afflihte, +And seide to hirself, “Helas! +I am riht in the same cas. 1440 +Bot if I live after this day, +I schal amende it, if I may.” +And thus homward this lady wente, +And changede al hire ferste entente, +Withinne hire herte and gan to swere +That sche none haltres wolde bere. + +Lo, Sone, hier miht thou taken hiede, +How ydelnesse is forto drede, +Namliche of love, as I have write. +For thou miht understonde and wite, 1450 +Among the gentil nacion +Love is an occupacion, +Which forto kepe hise lustes save +Scholde every gentil herte have: +For as the ladi was chastised, +Riht so the knyht mai ben avised, +Which ydel is and wol noght serve +To love, he mai per cas deserve +A grettere peine than sche hadde, +Whan sche aboute with hire ladde 1460 +The horse haltres; and forthi +Good is to be wel war therbi. +Bot forto loke aboven alle, +These Maidens, hou so that it falle, +Thei scholden take ensample of this +Which I have told, for soth it is. + +Mi ladi Venus, whom I serve, +What womman wole hire thonk deserve, +Sche mai noght thilke love eschuie +Of paramours, bot sche mot suie 1470 +Cupides lawe; and natheles +Men sen such love sielde in pes, +That it nys evere upon aspie +Of janglinge and of fals Envie, +Fulofte medlid with disese: +Bot thilke love is wel at ese, +Which set is upon mariage; +For that dar schewen the visage +In alle places openly. +A gret mervaile it is forthi, 1480 +How that a Maiden wolde lette, +That sche hir time ne besette +To haste unto that ilke feste, +Wherof the love is al honeste. +Men mai recovere lost of good, +Bot so wys man yit nevere stod, +Which mai recovere time lore: +So mai a Maiden wel therfore +Ensample take, of that sche strangeth +Hir love, and longe er that sche changeth 1490 +Hir herte upon hir lustes greene +To mariage, as it is seene. +For thus a yer or tuo or thre +Sche lest, er that sche wedded be, +Whyl sche the charge myhte bere +Of children, whiche the world forbere +Ne mai, bot if it scholde faile. +Bot what Maiden hire esposaile +Wol tarie, whan sche take mai, +Sche schal per chance an other dai 1500 +Be let, whan that hire lievest were. +Wherof a tale unto hire Ere, +Which is coupable upon this dede, +I thenke telle of that I rede. + +Among the Jewes, as men tolde, +Ther was whilom be daies olde +A noble Duck, which Jepte hihte. +And fell, he scholde go to fyhte +Ayein Amon the cruel king: +And forto speke upon this thing, 1510 +Withinne his herte he made avou +To god and seide, “Ha lord, if thou +Wolt grante unto thi man victoire, +I schal in tokne of thi memoire +The ferste lif that I mai se, +Of man or womman wher it be, +Anon as I come hom ayein, +To thee, which art god sovereign, +Slen in thi name and sacrifie.” +And thus with his chivalerie 1520 +He goth him forth, wher that he scholde, +And wan al that he winne wolde +And overcam his fomen alle. + +Mai noman lette that schal falle. +This Duc a lusti dowhter hadde, +And fame, which the wordes spradde, +Hath broght unto this ladi Ere +How that hire fader hath do there. +Sche waiteth upon his cominge +With dansinge and with carolinge, 1530 +As sche that wolde be tofore +Al othre, and so sche was therfore +In Masphat at hir fader gate +The ferste; and whan he com therate, +And sih his douhter, he tobreide +Hise clothes and wepende he seide: + +“O mihti god among ous hiere, +Nou wot I that in no manere +This worldes joie mai be plein. +I hadde al that I coude sein 1540 +Ayein mi fomen be thi grace, +So whan I cam toward this place +Ther was non gladdere man than I: +But now, mi lord, al sodeinli +Mi joie is torned into sorwe, +For I mi dowhter schal tomorwe +Tohewe and brenne in thi servise +To loenge of thi sacrifise +Thurgh min avou, so as it is.” + +The Maiden, whan sche wiste of this, 1550 +And sih the sorwe hir fader made, +So as sche mai with wordes glade +Conforteth him, and bad him holde +The covenant which he is holde +Towardes god, as he behihte. +Bot natheles hire herte aflihte +Of that sche sih hire deth comende; +And thanne unto the ground knelende +Tofore hir fader sche is falle, +And seith, so as it is befalle 1560 +Upon this point that sche schal deie, +Of o thing ferst sche wolde him preie, +That fourty daies of respit +He wolde hir grante upon this plit, +That sche the whyle mai bewepe +Hir maidenhod, which sche to kepe +So longe hath had and noght beset; +Wherof her lusti youthe is let, +That sche no children hath forthdrawe +In Mariage after the lawe, 1570 +So that the poeple is noght encressed. +Bot that it mihte be relessed, +That sche hir time hath lore so, +Sche wolde be his leve go +With othre Maidens to compleigne, +And afterward unto the peine +Of deth sche wolde come ayein. + +The fader herde his douhter sein, +And therupon of on assent +The Maidens were anon asent, 1580 +That scholden with this Maiden wende. +So forto speke unto this ende, +Thei gon the dounes and the dales +With wepinge and with wofull tales, +And every wyht hire maidenhiede +Compleigneth upon thilke nede, +That sche no children hadde bore, +Wherof sche hath hir youthe lore, +Which nevere sche recovere mai: +For so fell that hir laste dai 1590 +Was come, in which sche scholde take +Hir deth, which sche may noght forsake. +Lo, thus sche deiede a wofull Maide +For thilke cause which I saide, +As thou hast understonde above. + +Mi fader, as toward the Love +Of Maidens forto telle trowthe, +Ye have thilke vice of Slowthe, +Me thenkth, riht wonder wel declared, +That ye the wommen have noght spared 1600 +Of hem that tarien so behinde. +Bot yit it falleth in my minde, +Toward the men hou that ye spieke +Of hem that wole no travail sieke +In cause of love upon decerte: +To speke in wordes so coverte, +I not what travaill that ye mente. + +Mi Sone, and after min entente +I woll thee telle what I thoghte, +Hou whilom men here loves boghte 1610 +Thurgh gret travaill in strange londes, +Wher that thei wroghten with here hondes +Of armes many a worthi dede, +In sondri place as men mai rede. + +That every love of pure kinde +Is ferst forthdrawe, wel I finde: +Bot natheles yit overthis +Decerte doth so that it is +The rather had in mani place. +Forthi who secheth loves grace, 1620 +Wher that these worthi wommen are, +He mai noght thanne himselve spare +Upon his travail forto serve, +Wherof that he mai thonk deserve, +There as these men of Armes be, +Somtime over the grete Se: +So that be londe and ek be Schipe +He mot travaile for worschipe +And make manye hastyf rodes, +Somtime in Prus, somtime in Rodes, 1630 +And somtime into Tartarie; +So that these heraldz on him crie, +“Vailant, vailant, lo, wher he goth!” +And thanne he yifth hem gold and cloth, +So that his fame mihte springe, +And to his ladi Ere bringe +Som tidinge of his worthinesse; +So that sche mihte of his prouesce +Of that sche herde men recorde, +The betre unto his love acorde 1640 +And danger pute out of hire mod, +Whanne alle men recorden good, +And that sche wot wel, for hir sake +That he no travail wol forsake. + +Mi Sone, of this travail I meene: +Nou schrif thee, for it schal be sene +If thou art ydel in this cas. + +My fader ye, and evere was: +For as me thenketh trewely +That every man doth mor than I 1650 +As of this point, and if so is +That I have oght so don er this, +It is so litel of acompte, +As who seith, it mai noght amonte +To winne of love his lusti yifte. +For this I telle you in schrifte, +That me were levere hir love winne +Than Kaire and al that is ther inne: +And forto slen the hethen alle, +I not what good ther mihte falle, 1660 +So mochel blod thogh ther be schad. +This finde I writen, hou Crist bad +That noman other scholde sle. +What scholde I winne over the Se, +If I mi ladi loste at hom? +Bot passe thei the salte fom, +To whom Crist bad thei scholden preche +To al the world and his feith teche: +Bot now thei rucken in here nest +And resten as hem liketh best 1670 +In all the swetnesse of delices. +Thus thei defenden ous the vices, +And sitte hemselven al amidde; +To slen and feihten thei ous bidde +Hem whom thei scholde, as the bok seith, +Converten unto Cristes feith. +Bot hierof have I gret mervaile, +Hou thei wol bidde me travaile: +A Sarazin if I sle schal, +I sle the Soule forth withal, 1680 +And that was nevere Cristes lore. +Bot nou ho ther, I seie nomore. + +Bot I wol speke upon mi schrifte; +And to Cupide I make a yifte, +That who as evere pris deserve +Of armes, I wol love serve; +And thogh I scholde hem bothe kepe, +Als wel yit wolde I take kepe +Whan it were time to abide, +As forto travaile and to ryde: 1690 +For how as evere a man laboure, +Cupide appointed hath his houre. + +For I have herd it telle also, +Achilles lefte hise armes so +Bothe of himself and of his men +At Troie for Polixenen, +Upon hire love whanne he fell, +That for no chance that befell +Among the Grecs or up or doun, +He wolde noght ayein the toun 1700 +Ben armed, for the love of hire. +And so me thenketh, lieve Sire, +A man of armes mai him reste +Somtime in hope for the beste, +If he mai finde a weie nerr. +What scholde I thanne go so ferr +In strange londes many a mile +To ryde, and lese at hom therwhile +Mi love? It were a schort beyete +To winne chaf and lese whete. 1710 +Bot if mi ladi bidde wolde, +That I for hire love scholde +Travaile, me thenkth trewely +I mihte fle thurghout the Sky, +And go thurghout the depe Se, +For al ne sette I at a stre +What thonk that I mihte elles gete. +What helpeth it a man have mete, +Wher drinke lacketh on the bord? +What helpeth eny mannes word 1720 +To seie hou I travaile faste, +Wher as me faileth ate laste +That thing which I travaile fore? +O in good time were he bore, +That mihte atteigne such a mede. +Bot certes if I mihte spede +With eny maner besinesse +Of worldes travail, thanne I gesse, +Ther scholde me non ydelschipe +Departen fro hir ladischipe. 1730 +Bot this I se, on daies nou +The blinde god, I wot noght hou, +Cupido, which of love is lord, +He set the thinges in discord, +That thei that lest to love entende +Fulofte he wole hem yive and sende +Most of his grace; and thus I finde +That he that scholde go behinde, +Goth many a time ferr tofore: +So wot I noght riht wel therfore, 1740 +On whether bord that I schal seile. +Thus can I noght miself conseile, +Bot al I sette on aventure, +And am, as who seith, out of cure +For ought that I can seie or do: +For everemore I finde it so, +The more besinesse I leie, +The more that I knele and preie +With goode wordes and with softe, +The more I am refused ofte, 1750 +With besinesse and mai noght winne. +And in good feith that is gret Sinne; +For I mai seie, of dede and thoght +That ydel man have I be noght; +For hou as evere I be deslaied, +Yit evermore I have assaied. +Bot thogh my besinesse laste, +Al is bot ydel ate laste, +For whan theffect is ydelnesse, +I not what thing is besinesse. 1760 +Sei, what availeth al the dede, +Which nothing helpeth ate nede? +For the fortune of every fame +Schal of his ende bere a name. +And thus for oght is yit befalle, +An ydel man I wol me calle +As after myn entendement: +Bot upon youre amendement, +Min holi fader, as you semeth, +Mi reson and my cause demeth. 1770 + +Mi Sone, I have herd thi matiere, +Of that thou hast thee schriven hiere: +And forto speke of ydel fare, +Me semeth that thou tharst noght care, +Bot only that thou miht noght spede. +And therof, Sone, I wol thee rede, +Abyd, and haste noght to faste; +Thi dees ben every dai to caste, +Thou nost what chance schal betyde. +Betre is to wayte upon the tyde 1780 +Than rowe ayein the stremes stronge: +For thogh so be thee thenketh longe, +Per cas the revolucion +Of hevene and thi condicion +Ne be noght yit of on acord. +Bot I dar make this record +To Venus, whos Prest that I am, +That sithen that I hidir cam +To hiere, as sche me bad, thi lif, +Wherof thou elles be gultif, 1790 +Thou miht hierof thi conscience +Excuse, and of gret diligence, +Which thou to love hast so despended, +Thou oghtest wel to be comended. +Bot if so be that ther oght faile, +Of that thou slowthest to travaile +In armes forto ben absent, +And for thou makst an argument +Of that thou seidest hiere above, +Hou Achilles thurgh strengthe of love 1800 +Hise armes lefte for a throwe, +Thou schalt an other tale knowe, +Which is contraire, as thou schalt wite. +For this a man mai finde write, +Whan that knyhthode schal be werred, +Lust mai noght thanne be preferred; +The bedd mot thanne be forsake +And Schield and spere on honde take, +Which thing schal make hem after glade, +Whan thei ben worthi knihtes made. 1810 +Wherof, so as it comth to honde, +A tale thou schalt understonde, +Hou that a kniht schal armes suie, +And for the while his ese eschuie. + +Upon knyhthode I rede thus, +How whilom whan the king Nauplus, +The fader of Palamades, +Cam forto preien Ulixes +With othre Gregois ek also, +That he with hem to Troie go, 1820 +Wher that the Siege scholde be, +Anon upon Penolope +His wif, whom that he loveth hote, +Thenkende, wolde hem noght behote. +Bot he schop thanne a wonder wyle, +How that he scholde hem best beguile, +So that he mihte duelle stille +At home and welde his love at wille: +Wherof erli the morwe day +Out of his bedd, wher that he lay, 1830 +Whan he was uppe, he gan to fare +Into the field and loke and stare, +As he which feigneth to be wod: +He tok a plowh, wher that it stod, +Wherinne anon in stede of Oxes +He let do yoken grete foxes, +And with gret salt the lond he siew. +But Nauplus, which the cause kniew, +Ayein the sleihte which he feigneth +An other sleihte anon ordeigneth. 1840 +And fell that time Ulixes hadde +A chyld to Sone, and Nauplus radde +How men that Sone taken scholde, +And setten him upon the Molde, +Wher that his fader hield the plowh, +In thilke furgh which he tho drowh. +For in such wise he thoghte assaie, +Hou it Ulixes scholde paie, +If that he were wod or non. + +The knihtes for this child forthgon; 1850 +Thelamacus anon was fett, +Tofore the plowh and evene sett, +Wher that his fader scholde dryve. +Bot whan he sih his child, als blyve +He drof the plowh out of the weie, +And Nauplus tho began to seie, +And hath half in a jape cryd: +“O Ulixes, thou art aspyd: +What is al this thou woldest meene? +For openliche it is now seene 1860 +That thou hast feigned al this thing, +Which is gret schame to a king, +Whan that for lust of eny slowthe +Thou wolt in a querele of trowthe +Of armes thilke honour forsake, +And duelle at hom for loves sake: +For betre it were honour to winne +Than love, which likinge is inne. +Forthi tak worschipe upon honde, +And elles thou schalt understonde 1870 +These othre worthi kinges alle +Of Grece, which unto thee calle, +Towardes thee wol be riht wrothe, +And grieve thee per chance bothe: +Which schal be tothe double schame +Most for the hindrynge of thi name, +That thou for Slouthe of eny love +Schalt so thi lustes sette above +And leve of armes the knyhthode, +Which is the pris of thi manhode 1880 +And oghte ferst to be desired.” +Bot he, which hadde his herte fyred +Upon his wif, whan he this herde, +Noght o word therayein ansuerde, +Bot torneth hom halvinge aschamed, +And hath withinne himself so tamed +His herte, that al the sotie +Of love for chivalerie +He lefte, and be him lief or loth, +To Troie forth with hem he goth, 1890 +That he him mihte noght excuse. +Thus stant it, if a knyht refuse +The lust of armes to travaile, +Ther mai no worldes ese availe, +Bot if worschipe be with al. +And that hath schewed overal; +For it sit wel in alle wise +A kniht to ben of hih emprise +And puten alle drede aweie; +For in this wise, I have herd seie, 1900 + +The worthi king Protheselai +On his passage wher he lai +Towardes Troie thilke Siege, +Sche which was al his oghne liege, +Laodomie his lusti wif, +Which for his love was pensif, +As he which al hire herte hadde, +Upon a thing wherof sche dradde +A lettre, forto make him duelle +Fro Troie, sende him, thus to telle, 1910 +Hou sche hath axed of the wyse +Touchende of him in such a wise, +That thei have don hire understonde, +Towardes othre hou so it stonde, +The destine it hath so schape +That he schal noght the deth ascape +In cas that he arryve at Troie. +Forthi as to hir worldes joie +With al hire herte sche him preide, +And many an other cause alleide, 1920 +That he with hire at home abide. +Bot he hath cast hir lettre aside, +As he which tho no maner hiede +Tok of hire wommannysshe drede; +And forth he goth, as noght ne were, +To Troie, and was the ferste there +Which londeth, and tok arryvaile: +For him was levere in the bataille, +He seith, to deien as a knyht, +Than forto lyve in al his myht 1930 +And be reproeved of his name. +Lo, thus upon the worldes fame +Knyhthode hath evere yit be set, +Which with no couardie is let. + +Of king Saül also I finde, +Whan Samuel out of his kinde, +Thurgh that the Phitonesse hath lered, +In Samarie was arered +Long time after that he was ded, +The king Saül him axeth red, 1940 +If that he schal go fyhte or non. +And Samuel him seide anon, +“The ferste day of the bataille +Thou schalt be slain withoute faile +And Jonathas thi Sone also.” +Bot hou as evere it felle so, +This worthi kniht of his corage +Hath undertake the viage, +And wol noght his knyhthode lette +For no peril he couthe sette; 1950 +Wherof that bothe his Sone and he +Upon the Montz of Gelboe +Assemblen with here enemys: +For thei knyhthode of such a pris +Be olde daies thanne hielden, +That thei non other thing behielden. +And thus the fader for worschipe +Forth with his Sone of felaschipe +Thurgh lust of armes weren dede, +As men mai in the bible rede; 1960 +The whos knyhthode is yit in mende, +And schal be to the worldes ende. + +And forto loken overmore, +It hath and schal ben evermore +That of knihthode the prouesse +Is grounded upon hardinesse +Of him that dar wel undertake. +And who that wolde ensample take +Upon the forme of knyhtes lawe, +How that Achilles was forthdrawe 1970 +With Chiro, which Centaurus hihte, +Of many a wondre hiere he mihte. +For it stod thilke time thus, +That this Chiro, this Centaurus, +Withinne a large wildernesse, +Wher was Leon and Leonesse, +The Lepard and the Tigre also, +With Hert and Hynde, and buck and doo, +Hadde his duellinge, as tho befell, +Of Pileon upon the hel, 1980 +Wherof was thanne mochel speche. +Ther hath Chiro this Chyld to teche, +What time he was of tuelve yer age; +Wher forto maken his corage +The more hardi be other weie, +In the forest to hunte and pleie +Whan that Achilles walke wolde, +Centaurus bad that he ne scholde +After no beste make his chace, +Which wolde flen out of his place, 1990 +As buck and doo and hert and hynde, +With whiche he mai no werre finde; +Bot tho that wolden him withstonde, +Ther scholde he with his Dart on honde +Upon the Tigre and the Leon +Pourchace and take his veneison, +As to a kniht is acordant. +And therupon a covenant +This Chiro with Achilles sette, +That every day withoute lette 2000 +He scholde such a cruel beste +Or slen or wounden ate leste, +So that he mihte a tokne bringe +Of blod upon his hom cominge. +And thus of that Chiro him tawhte +Achilles such an herte cawhte, +That he nomore a Leon dradde, +Whan he his Dart on honde hadde, +Thanne if a Leon were an asse: +And that hath mad him forto passe 2010 +Alle othre knihtes of his dede, +Whan it cam to the grete nede, +As it was afterward wel knowe. + +Lo, thus, my Sone, thou miht knowe +That the corage of hardiesce +Is of knyhthode the prouesce, +Which is to love sufficant +Aboven al the remenant +That unto loves court poursuie. +Bot who that wol no Slowthe eschuie, 2020 +Upon knihthode and noght travaile, +I not what love him scholde availe; +Bot every labour axeth why +Of som reward, wherof that I +Ensamples couthe telle ynowe +Of hem that toward love drowe +Be olde daies, as thei scholde. + +Mi fader, therof hiere I wolde. + +Mi Sone, it is wel resonable, +In place which is honorable 2030 +If that a man his herte sette, +That thanne he for no Slowthe lette +To do what longeth to manhede. +For if thou wolt the bokes rede +Of Lancelot and othre mo, +Ther miht thou sen hou it was tho +Of armes, for thei wolde atteigne +To love, which withoute peine +Mai noght be gete of ydelnesse. +And that I take to witnesse 2040 +An old Cronique in special, +The which into memorial +Is write, for his loves sake +Hou that a kniht schal undertake. + +Ther was a king, which Oënes +Was hote, and he under his pes +Hield Calidoyne in his Empire, +And hadde a dowhter Deianire. +Men wiste in thilke time non +So fair a wiht as sche was on; 2050 +And as sche was a lusti wiht, +Riht so was thanne a noble kniht, +To whom Mercurie fader was. +This kniht the tuo pilers of bras, +The whiche yit a man mai finde, +Sette up in the desert of Ynde; +That was the worthi Hercules, +Whos name schal ben endeles +For the merveilles whiche he wroghte. +This Hercules the love soghte 2060 +Of Deianire, and of this thing +Unto hir fader, which was king, +He spak touchende of Mariage. +The king knowende his hih lignage, +And dradde also hise mihtes sterne, +To him ne dorste his dowhter werne; +And natheles this he him seide, +How Achelons er he ferst preide +To wedden hire, and in accord +Thei stode, as it was of record: 2070 +Bot for al that this he him granteth, +That which of hem that other daunteth +In armes, him sche scholde take, +And that the king hath undertake. +This Achelons was a Geant, +A soubtil man, a deceivant, +Which thurgh magique and sorcerie +Couthe al the world of tricherie: +And whan that he this tale herde, +Hou upon that the king ansuerde 2080 +With Hercules he moste feighte, +He tristeth noght upon his sleighte +Al only, whan it comth to nede, +Bot that which voydeth alle drede +And every noble herte stereth, +The love, that no lif forbereth, +For his ladi, whom he desireth, +With hardiesse his herte fyreth, +And sende him word withoute faile +That he wol take the bataille. 2090 +Thei setten day, they chosen field, +The knihtes coevered under Schield +Togedre come at time set, +And echon is with other met. +It fell thei foghten bothe afote, +Ther was no ston, ther was no rote, +Which mihte letten hem the weie, +But al was voide and take aweie. +Thei smyten strokes bot a fewe, +For Hercules, which wolde schewe 2100 +His grete strengthe as for the nones, +He sterte upon him al at ones +And cawhte him in hise armes stronge. +This Geant wot he mai noght longe +Endure under so harde bondes, +And thoghte he wolde out of hise hondes +Be sleyhte in som manere ascape. +And as he couthe himself forschape, +In liknesse of an Eddre he slipte +Out of his hond, and forth he skipte; 2110 +And efte, as he that feighte wole, +He torneth him into a Bole, +And gan to belwe of such a soun, +As thogh the world scholde al go doun: +The ground he sporneth and he tranceth, +Hise large hornes he avanceth +And caste hem here and there aboute. +Bot he, which stant of him no doute, +Awaiteth wel whan that he cam, +And him be bothe hornes nam 2120 +And al at ones he him caste +Unto the ground, and hield him faste, +That he ne mihte with no sleighte +Out of his hond gete upon heighte, +Til he was overcome and yolde, +And Hercules hath what he wolde. +The king him granteth to fulfille +His axinge at his oghne wille, +And sche for whom he hadde served, +Hire thoghte he hath hire wel deserved. 2130 +And thus with gret decerte of Armes +He wan him forto ligge in armes, +As he which hath it dere aboght, +For otherwise scholde he noght. + +And overthis if thou wolt hiere +Upon knihthode of this matiere, +Hou love and armes ben aqueinted, +A man mai se bothe write and peinted +So ferforth that Pantasilee, +Which was the queene of Feminee, 2140 +The love of Hector forto sieke +And for thonour of armes eke, +To Troie cam with Spere and Schield, +And rod hirself into the field +With Maidens armed al a route +In rescouss of the toun aboute, +Which with the Gregois was belein. + +Fro Pafagoine and as men sein, +Which stant upon the worldes ende, +That time it likede ek to wende 2150 +To Philemenis, which was king, +To Troie, and come upon this thing +In helpe of thilke noble toun; +And al was that for the renoun +Of worschipe and of worldes fame, +Of which he wolde bere a name: +And so he dede, and forth withal +He wan of love in special +A fair tribut for everemo. +For it fell thilke time so; 2160 +Pirrus the Sone of Achilles +This worthi queene among the press +With dedli swerd soghte out and fond, +And slowh hire with his oghne hond; +Wherof this king of Pafagoine +Pantasilee of Amazoine, +Wher sche was queene, with him ladde, +With suche Maidens as sche hadde +Of hem that were left alyve, +Forth in his Schip, til thei aryve; 2170 +Wher that the body was begrave +With worschipe, and the wommen save. +And for the goodschipe of this dede +Thei granten him a lusti mede, +That every yeer as for truage +To him and to his heritage +Of Maidens faire he schal have thre. +And in this wise spedde he, +Which the fortune of armes soghte, +With his travail his ese he boghte; 2180 +For otherwise he scholde have failed, +If that he hadde noght travailed. + +Eneas ek withinne Ytaile, +Ne hadde he wonne the bataille +And don his miht so besily +Ayein king Turne his enemy, +He hadde noght Lavine wonne; +Bot for he hath him overronne +And gete his pris, he gat hire love. + +Be these ensamples here above, 2190 +Lo, now, mi Sone, as I have told, +Thou miht wel se, who that is bold +And dar travaile and undertake +The cause of love, he schal be take +The rathere unto loves grace; +For comunliche in worthi place +The wommen loven worthinesse +Of manhode and of gentilesse, +For the gentils ben most desired. + +Mi fader, bot I were enspired 2200 +Thurgh lore of you, I wot no weie +What gentilesce is forto seie, +Wherof to telle I you beseche. + +The ground, Mi Sone, forto seche +Upon this diffinicion, +The worldes constitucion +Hath set the name of gentilesse +Upon the fortune of richesse +Which of long time is falle in age. +Thanne is a man of hih lignage 2210 +After the forme, as thou miht hiere, +Bot nothing after the matiere. +For who that resoun understonde, +Upon richesse it mai noght stonde, +For that is thing which faileth ofte: +For he that stant to day alofte +And al the world hath in hise wones, +Tomorwe he falleth al at ones +Out of richesse into poverte, +So that therof is no decerte, 2220 +Which gentilesce makth abide. +And forto loke on other side +Hou that a gentil man is bore, +Adam, which alle was tofore +With Eve his wif, as of hem tuo, +Al was aliche gentil tho; +So that of generacion +To make declaracion, +Ther mai no gentilesce be. +For to the reson if we se, 2230 +Of mannes berthe the mesure, +It is so comun to nature, +That it yifth every man aliche, +Als wel to povere as to the riche; +For naked thei ben bore bothe, +The lord nomore hath forto clothe +As of himself that ilke throwe, +Than hath the povereste of the rowe. +And whan thei schulle both passe, +I not of hem which hath the lasse 2240 +Of worldes good, bot as of charge +The lord is more forto charge, +Whan god schal his accompte hiere, +For he hath had hise lustes hiere. +Bot of the bodi, which schal deie, +Althogh ther be diverse weie +To deth, yit is ther bot on ende, +To which that every man schal wende, +Als wel the beggere as the lord, +Of o nature, of on acord: 2250 +Sche which oure Eldemoder is, +The Erthe, bothe that and this +Receiveth and alich devoureth, +That sche to nouther part favoureth. +So wot I nothing after kinde +Where I mai gentilesse finde. + +For lacke of vertu lacketh grace, +Wherof richesse in many place, +Whan men best wene forto stonde, +Al sodeinly goth out of honde: 2260 +Bot vertu set in the corage, +Ther mai no world be so salvage, +Which mihte it take and don aweie, +Til whanne that the bodi deie; +And thanne he schal be riched so, +That it mai faile neveremo; +So mai that wel be gentilesse, +Which yifth so gret a sikernesse. +For after the condicion +Of resonable entencion, 2270 +The which out of the Soule groweth +And the vertu fro vice knoweth, +Wherof a man the vice eschuieth, +Withoute Slowthe and vertu suieth, +That is a verrai gentil man, +And nothing elles which he can, +Ne which he hath, ne which he mai. +Bot for al that yit nou aday, +In loves court to taken hiede, +The povere vertu schal noght spiede, 2280 +Wher that the riche vice woweth; +For sielde it is that love alloweth +The gentil man withoute good, +Thogh his condicion be good. +Bot if a man of bothe tuo +Be riche and vertuous also, +Thanne is he wel the more worth: +Bot yit to putte himselve forth +He moste don his besinesse, +For nowther good ne gentilesse 2290 +Mai helpen him whiche ydel be. + +Bot who that wole in his degre +Travaile so as it belongeth, +It happeth ofte that he fongeth +Worschipe and ese bothe tuo. +For evere yit it hath be so, +That love honeste in sondri weie +Profiteth, for it doth aweie +The vice, and as the bokes sein, +It makth curteis of the vilein, 2300 +And to the couard hardiesce +It yifth, so that verrai prouesse +Is caused upon loves reule +To him that can manhode reule; +And ek toward the wommanhiede, +Who that therof wol taken hiede, +For thei the betre affaited be +In every thing, as men may se. +For love hath evere hise lustes grene +In gentil folk, as it is sene, 2310 +Which thing ther mai no kinde areste: +I trowe that ther is no beste, +If he with love scholde aqueinte, +That he ne wolde make it queinte +As for the while that it laste. +And thus I conclude ate laste, +That thei ben ydel, as me semeth, +Whiche unto thing that love demeth +Forslowthen that thei scholden do. + +And overthis, mi Sone, also 2320 +After the vertu moral eke +To speke of love if I schal seke, +Among the holi bokes wise +I finde write in such a wise, +“Who loveth noght is hier as ded”; +For love above alle othre is hed, +Which hath the vertus forto lede, +Of al that unto mannes dede +Belongeth: for of ydelschipe +He hateth all the felaschipe. 2330 +For Slowthe is evere to despise, +Which in desdeign hath al apprise, +And that acordeth noght to man: +For he that wit and reson kan, +It sit him wel that he travaile +Upon som thing which mihte availe, +For ydelschipe is noght comended, +Bot every lawe it hath defended. +And in ensample therupon + +The noble wise Salomon, 2340 +Which hadde of every thing insihte, +Seith, “As the briddes to the flihte +Ben made, so the man is bore +To labour,” which is noght forbore +To hem that thenken forto thryve. +For we, whiche are now alyve, +Of hem that besi whylom were, +Als wel in Scole as elleswhere, +Mowe every day ensample take, +That if it were now to make 2350 +Thing which that thei ferst founden oute, +It scholde noght be broght aboute. +Here lyves thanne were longe, +Here wittes grete, here mihtes stronge, +Here hertes ful of besinesse, +Wherof the worldes redinesse +In bodi bothe and in corage +Stant evere upon his avantage. +And forto drawe into memoire +Here names bothe and here histoire, 2360 +Upon the vertu of her dede +In sondri bokes thou miht rede. + +Of every wisdom the parfit +The hyhe god of his spirit +Yaf to the men in Erthe hiere +Upon the forme and the matiere +Of that he wolde make hem wise: +And thus cam in the ferste apprise +Of bokes and of alle goode +Thurgh hem that whilom understode 2370 +The lore which to hem was yive, +Wherof these othre, that now live, +Ben every day to lerne newe. +Bot er the time that men siewe, +And that the labour forth it broghte, +Ther was no corn, thogh men it soghte, +In non of al the fieldes oute; +And er the wisdom cam aboute +Of hem that ferst the bokes write, +This mai wel every wys man wite, 2380 +Ther was gret labour ek also. +Thus was non ydel of the tuo, +That on the plogh hath undertake +With labour which the hond hath take, +That other tok to studie and muse, +As he which wolde noght refuse +The labour of hise wittes alle. +And in this wise it is befalle, +Of labour which that thei begunne +We be now tawht of that we kunne: 2390 +Here besinesse is yit so seene, +That it stant evere alyche greene; +Al be it so the bodi deie, +The name of hem schal nevere aweie. +In the Croniqes as I finde, + +Cham, whos labour is yit in minde, +Was he which ferst the lettres fond +And wrot in Hebreu with his hond: +Of naturel Philosophie +He fond ferst also the clergie. 2400 + +Cadmus the lettres of Gregois +Ferst made upon his oghne chois. + +Theges of thing which schal befalle, +He was the ferste Augurre of alle: + +And Philemon be the visage +Fond to descrive the corage. + +Cladyns, Esdras and Sulpices, +Termegis, Pandulf, Frigidilles, +Menander, Ephiloquorus, +Solins, Pandas and Josephus 2410 +The ferste were of Enditours, +Of old Cronique and ek auctours: + +And Heredot in his science +Of metre, of rime and of cadence +The ferste was of which men note. + +And of Musique also the note +In mannes vois or softe or scharpe, +That fond Jubal; and of the harpe +The merie soun, which is to like, +That fond Poulins forth with phisique. 2420 + +Zenzis fond ferst the pourtreture, +And Promotheus the Sculpture; +After what forme that hem thoghte, +The resemblance anon thei wroghte. + +Tubal in Iren and in Stel +Fond ferst the forge and wroghte it wel: + +And Jadahel, as seith the bok, +Ferst made Net and fisshes tok: +Of huntynge ek he fond the chace, +Which now is knowe in many place: 2430 +A tente of cloth with corde and stake +He sette up ferst and dede it make. + +Verconius of cokerie +Ferst made the delicacie. + +The craft Minerve of wolle fond +And made cloth hire oghne hond; + +And Delbora made it of lyn: +Tho wommen were of great engyn. + +Bot thing which yifth ous mete and drinke +And doth the labourer to swinke 2440 +To tile lond and sette vines, +Wherof the cornes and the wynes +Ben sustenance to mankinde, +In olde bokes as I finde, +Saturnus of his oghne wit +Hath founde ferst, and more yit +Of Chapmanhode he fond the weie, +And ek to coigne the moneie +Of sondri metall, as it is, +He was the ferste man of this. 2450 + +Bot hou that metall cam a place +Thurgh mannes wit and goddes grace +The route of Philosophres wise +Controeveden be sondri wise, +Ferst forto gete it out of Myne, +And after forto trie and fyne. + +And also with gret diligence +Thei founden thilke experience, +Which cleped is Alconomie, +Wherof the Selver multeplie 2460 +Thei made and ek the gold also. +And forto telle hou it is so, +Of bodies sevene in special +With foure spiritz joynt withal +Stant the substance of this matiere. +The bodies whiche I speke of hiere +Of the Planetes ben begonne: +The gold is titled to the Sonne, +The mone of Selver hath his part, +And Iren that stant upon Mart, 2470 +The Led after Satorne groweth, +And Jupiter the Bras bestoweth, +The Coper set is to Venus, +And to his part Mercurius +Hath the quikselver, as it falleth, +The which, after the bok it calleth, +Is ferst of thilke fowre named +Of Spiritz, whiche ben proclamed; +And the spirit which is secounde +In Sal Armoniak is founde: 2480 +The thridde spirit Sulphur is; +The ferthe suiende after this +Arcennicum be name is hote. +With blowinge and with fyres hote +In these thinges, whiche I seie, +Thei worchen be diverse weie. +For as the philosophre tolde +Of gold and selver, thei ben holde +Tuo principal extremites, +To whiche alle othre be degres 2490 +Of the metalls ben acordant, +And so thurgh kinde resemblant, +That what man couthe aweie take +The rust, of which thei waxen blake, +And the savour and the hardnesse, +Thei scholden take the liknesse +Of gold or Selver parfitly. + +Bot forto worche it sikirly, +Betwen the corps and the spirit, +Er that the metall be parfit, 2500 +In sevene formes it is set; +Of alle and if that on be let, +The remenant mai noght availe, +Bot otherwise it mai noght faile. +For thei be whom this art was founde +To every point a certain bounde +Ordeignen, that a man mai finde +This craft is wroght be weie of kinde, +So that ther is no fallas inne. +Bot what man that this werk beginne, 2510 +He mot awaite at every tyde, +So that nothing be left aside, +Ferst of the distillacion, +Forth with the congelacion, +Solucion, descencion, +And kepe in his entencion +The point of sublimacion, +And forth with calcinacion +Of veray approbacion +Do that ther be fixacion 2520 +With tempred hetes of the fyr, +Til he the parfit Elixir +Of thilke philosophres Ston +Mai gete, of which that many on +Of Philosophres whilom write. +And if thou wolt the names wite +Of thilke Ston with othre tuo, +Whiche as the clerkes maden tho, +So as the bokes it recorden, +The kinde of hem I schal recorden. 2530 + +These olde Philosophres wyse +Be weie of kinde in sondri wise +Thre Stones maden thurgh clergie. +The ferste, if I schal specefie, +Was _lapis vegetabilis_, +Of which the propre vertu is +To mannes hele forto serve, +As forto kepe and to preserve +The bodi fro siknesses alle, +Til deth of kinde upon him falle. 2540 + +The Ston seconde I thee behote +Is _lapis animalis_ hote, +The whos vertu is propre and cowth +For Ere and yhe and nase and mouth, +Wherof a man mai hiere and se +And smelle and taste in his degre, +And forto fiele and forto go +It helpeth man of bothe tuo: +The wittes fyve he underfongeth +To kepe, as it to him belongeth. 2550 + +The thridde Ston in special +Be name is cleped Minerall, +Which the metalls of every Mine +Attempreth, til that thei ben fyne, +And pureth hem be such a weie, +That al the vice goth aweie +Of rust, of stink and of hardnesse: +And whan thei ben of such clennesse, +This Mineral, so as I finde, +Transformeth al the ferste kynde 2560 +And makth hem able to conceive +Thurgh his vertu, and to receive +Bothe in substance and in figure +Of gold and selver the nature. +For thei tuo ben thextremetes, +To whiche after the propretes +Hath every metal his desir, +With help and confort of the fyr +Forth with this Ston, as it is seid, +Which to the Sonne and Mone is leid; 2570 +For to the rede and to the whyte +This Ston hath pouer to profite. +It makth mulptiplicacioun +Of gold, and the fixacioun +It causeth, and of his habit +He doth the werk to be parfit +Of thilke Elixer which men calle +Alconomie, as is befalle +To hem that whilom weren wise. +Bot now it stant al otherwise; 2580 +Thei speken faste of thilke Ston, +Bot hou to make it, nou wot non +After the sothe experience. +And natheles gret diligence +Thei setten upon thilke dede, +And spille more than thei spede; +For allewey thei finde a lette, +Which bringeth in poverte and dette +To hem that riche were afore: +The lost is had, the lucre is lore, 2590 +To gete a pound thei spenden fyve; +I not hou such a craft schal thryve +In the manere as it is used: +It were betre be refused +Than forto worchen upon weene +In thing which stant noght as thei weene. +Bot noght forthi, who that it knewe, +The science of himself is trewe +Upon the forme as it was founded, +Wherof the names yit ben grounded 2600 +Of hem that ferste it founden oute; +And thus the fame goth aboute +To suche as soghten besinesse +Of vertu and of worthinesse. +Of whom if I the names calle, + +Hermes was on the ferste of alle, +To whom this art is most applied; +Geber therof was magnefied, +And Ortolan and Morien, +Among the whiche is Avicen, 2610 +Which fond and wrot a gret partie +The practique of Alconomie; +Whos bokes, pleinli as thei stonde +Upon this craft, fewe understonde; +Bot yit to put hem in assai +Ther ben full manye now aday, +That knowen litel what thei meene. +It is noght on to wite and weene; +In forme of wordes thei it trete, +Bot yit they failen of beyete, 2620 +For of tomoche or of tolyte +Ther is algate founde a wyte, +So that thei folwe noght the lyne +Of the parfite medicine, +Which grounded is upon nature. +Bot thei that writen the scripture +Of Grek, Arabe and of Caldee, +Thei were of such Auctorite +That thei ferst founden out the weie +Of al that thou hast herd me seie; 2630 +Wherof the Cronique of her lore +Schal stonde in pris for everemore. + +Bot toward oure Marches hiere, +Of the Latins if thou wolt hiere, +Of hem that whilom vertuous +Were and therto laborious, +Carmente made of hire engin +The ferste lettres of Latin, +Of which the tunge Romein cam, +Wherof that Aristarchus nam 2640 +Forth with Donat and Dindimus +The ferste reule of Scole, as thus, +How that Latin schal be componed +And in what wise it schal be soned, +That every word in his degre +Schal stonde upon congruite. +And thilke time at Rome also +Was Tullius with Cithero, +That writen upon Rethorike, +Hou that men schal the wordes pike 2650 +After the forme of eloquence, +Which is, men sein, a gret prudence: +And after that out of Hebreu +Jerom, which the langage kneu, +The Bible, in which the lawe is closed, +Into Latin he hath transposed; +And many an other writere ek +Out of Caldee, Arabe and Grek +With gret labour the bokes wise +Translateden. And otherwise 2660 +The Latins of hemself also +Here studie at thilke time so +With gret travaile of Scole toke +In sondri forme forto boke, +That we mai take here evidences +Upon the lore of the Sciences, +Of craftes bothe and of clergie; +Among the whiche in Poesie +To the lovers Ovide wrot +And tawhte, if love be to hot, 2670 +In what manere it scholde akiele. + +Forthi, mi Sone, if that thou fiele +That love wringe thee to sore, +Behold Ovide and take his lore. + +My fader, if thei mihte spede +Mi love, I wolde his bokes rede; +And if thei techen to restreigne +Mi love, it were an ydel peine +To lerne a thing which mai noght be. +For lich unto the greene tree, 2680 +If that men toke his rote aweie, +Riht so myn herte scholde deie, +If that mi love be withdrawe. +Wherof touchende unto this sawe +There is bot only to poursuie +Mi love, and ydelschipe eschuie. + +Mi goode Sone, soth to seie, +If ther be siker eny weie +To love, thou hast seid the beste: +For who that wolde have al his reste 2690 +And do no travail at the nede, +It is no resoun that he spede +In loves cause forto winne; +For he which dar nothing beginne, +I not what thing he scholde achieve. +Bot overthis thou schalt believe, +So as it sit thee wel to knowe, +That ther ben othre vices slowe, +Whiche unto love don gret lette, +If thou thin herte upon hem sette. 2700 + +Toward the Slowe progenie +Ther is yit on of compaignie, +And he is cleped Sompnolence, +Which doth to Slouthe his reverence, +As he which is his Chamberlein, +That many an hundrid time hath lein +To slepe, whan he scholde wake. +He hath with love trewes take, +That wake who so wake wile, +If he mai couche a doun his bile, 2710 +He hath al wowed what him list; +That ofte he goth to bedde unkist, +And seith that for no Druerie +He wol noght leve his sluggardie. +For thogh noman it wole allowe, +To slepe levere than to wowe +Is his manere, and thus on nyhtes, +Whan that he seth the lusti knyhtes +Revelen, wher these wommen are, +Awey he skulketh as an hare, 2720 +And goth to bedde and leith him softe, +And of his Slouthe he dremeth ofte +Hou that he stiketh in the Myr, +And hou he sitteth be the fyr +And claweth on his bare schanckes, +And hou he clymbeth up the banckes +And falleth into Slades depe. +Bot thanne who so toke kepe, +Whanne he is falle in such a drem, +Riht as a Schip ayein the Strem, 2730 +He routeth with a slepi noise, +And brustleth as a monkes froise, +Whanne it is throwe into the Panne. +And otherwhile sielde whanne +That he mai dreme a lusti swevene, +Him thenkth as thogh he were in hevene +And as the world were holi his: +And thanne he spekth of that and this, +And makth his exposicion +After the disposicion 2740 +Of that he wolde, and in such wise +He doth to love all his service; +I not what thonk he schal deserve. +Bot, Sone, if thou wolt love serve, +I rede that thou do noght so. + +Ha, goode fader, certes no. +I hadde levere be mi trowthe, +Er I were set on such a slouthe +And beere such a slepi snoute, +Bothe yhen of myn hed were oute. 2750 +For me were betre fulli die, +Thanne I of such a slugardie +Hadde eny name, god me schilde; +For whan mi moder was with childe, +And I lay in hire wombe clos, +I wolde rathere Atropos, +Which is goddesse of alle deth, +Anon as I hadde eny breth, +Me hadde fro mi Moder cast. +Bot now I am nothing agast, 2760 +I thonke godd; for Lachesis, +Ne Cloto, which hire felawe is, +Me schopen no such destine, +Whan thei at mi nativite +My weerdes setten as thei wolde; +Bot thei me schopen that I scholde +Eschuie of slep the truandise, +So that I hope in such a wise +To love forto ben excused, +That I no Sompnolence have used. 2770 +For certes, fader Genius, +Yit into nou it hath be thus, +At alle time if it befelle +So that I mihte come and duelle +In place ther my ladi were, +I was noght slow ne slepi there: +For thanne I dar wel undertake, +That whanne hir list on nyhtes wake +In chambre as to carole and daunce, +Me thenkth I mai me more avaunce, 2780 +If I mai gon upon hir hond, +Thanne if I wonne a kinges lond. +For whanne I mai hire hand beclippe, +With such gladnesse I daunce and skippe, +Me thenkth I touche noght the flor; +The Ro, which renneth on the Mor, +Is thanne noght so lyht as I: +So mow ye witen wel forthi, +That for the time slep I hate. +And whanne it falleth othergate, 2790 +So that hire like noght to daunce, +Bot on the Dees to caste chaunce +Or axe of love som demande, +Or elles that hir list comaunde +To rede and here of Troilus, +Riht as sche wole or so or thus, +I am al redi to consente. +And if so is that I mai hente +Somtime among a good leisir, +So as I dar of mi desir 2800 +I telle a part; bot whanne I preie, +Anon sche bidt me go mi weie +And seith it is ferr in the nyht; +And I swere it is even liht. +Bot as it falleth ate laste, +Ther mai no worldes joie laste, +So mot I nedes fro hire wende +And of my wachche make an ende: +And if sche thanne hiede toke, +Hou pitousliche on hire I loke, 2810 +Whan that I schal my leve take, +Hire oghte of mercy forto slake +Hire daunger, which seith evere nay. + +Bot he seith often, “Have good day,” +That loth is forto take his leve: +Therfore, while I mai beleve, +I tarie forth the nyht along, +For it is noght on me along +To slep that I so sone go, +Til that I mot algate so; 2820 +And thanne I bidde godd hire se, +And so doun knelende on mi kne +I take leve, and if I schal, +I kisse hire, and go forth withal. +And otherwhile, if that I dore, +Er I come fulli to the Dore, +I torne ayein and feigne a thing, +As thogh I hadde lost a Ring +Or somwhat elles, for I wolde +Kisse hire eftsones, if I scholde, 2830 +Bot selden is that I so spede. +And whanne I se that I mot nede +Departen, I departe, and thanne +With al myn herte I curse and banne +That evere slep was mad for yhe; +For, as me thenkth, I mihte dryhe +Withoute slep to waken evere, +So that I scholde noght dissevere +Fro hire, in whom is al my liht: +And thanne I curse also the nyht 2840 +With al the will of mi corage, +And seie, “Awey, thou blake ymage, +Which of thi derke cloudy face +Makst al the worldes lyht deface, +And causest unto slep a weie, +Be which I mot nou gon aweie +Out of mi ladi compaignie. +O slepi nyht, I thee defie, +And wolde that thou leye in presse +With Proserpine the goddesse 2850 +And with Pluto the helle king: +For til I se the daies spring, +I sette slep noght at a risshe.” +And with that word I sike and wisshe, +And seie, “Ha, whi ne were it day? +For yit mi ladi thanne I may +Beholde, thogh I do nomore.” +And efte I thenke forthermore, +To som man hou the niht doth ese, +Whan he hath thing that mai him plese 2860 +The longe nyhtes be his side, +Where as I faile and go beside. +Bot slep, I not wherof it serveth, +Of which noman his thonk deserveth +To gete him love in eny place, +Bot is an hindrere of his grace +And makth him ded as for a throwe, +Riht as a Stok were overthrowe. +And so, mi fader, in this wise +The slepi nyhtes I despise, 2870 +And evere amiddes of mi tale +I thenke upon the nyhtingale, +Which slepeth noght be weie of kinde +For love, in bokes as I finde. +Thus ate laste I go to bedde, +And yit min herte lith to wedde +With hire, wher as I cam fro; +Thogh I departe, he wol noght so, +Ther is no lock mai schette him oute, +Him nedeth noght to gon aboute, 2880 +That perce mai the harde wall; +Thus is he with hire overall, +That be hire lief, or be hire loth, +Into hire bedd myn herte goth, +And softly takth hire in his arm +And fieleth hou that sche is warm, +And wissheth that his body were +To fiele that he fieleth there. +And thus miselven I tormente, +Til that the dede slep me hente: 2890 +Bot thanne be a thousand score +Welmore than I was tofore +I am tormented in mi slep, +Bot that I dreme is noght of schep; +For I ne thenke noght on wulle, +Bot I am drecched to the fulle +Of love, that I have to kepe, +That nou I lawhe and nou I wepe, +And nou I lese and nou I winne, +And nou I ende and nou beginne. 2900 +And otherwhile I dreme and mete +That I al one with hire mete +And that Danger is left behinde; +And thanne in slep such joie I finde, +That I ne bede nevere awake. +Bot after, whanne I hiede take, +And schal arise upon the morwe, +Thanne is al torned into sorwe, +Noght for the cause I schal arise, +Bot for I mette in such a wise, 2910 +And ate laste I am bethoght +That al is vein and helpeth noght: +Bot yit me thenketh be my wille +I wolde have leie and slepe stille, +To meten evere of such a swevene, +For thanne I hadde a slepi hevene. + +Mi Sone, and for thou tellest so, +A man mai finde of time ago +That many a swevene hath be certein, +Al be it so, that som men sein 2920 +That swevenes ben of no credence. +Bot forto schewe in evidence +That thei fulofte sothe thinges +Betokne, I thenke in my wrytinges +To telle a tale therupon, +Which fell be olde daies gon. + +This finde I write in Poesie: +Ceïx the king of Trocinie +Hadde Alceone to his wif, +Which as hire oghne hertes lif 2930 +Him loveth; and he hadde also +A brother, which was cleped tho +Dedalion, and he per cas +Fro kinde of man forschape was +Into a Goshauk of liknesse; +Wherof the king gret hevynesse +Hath take, and thoghte in his corage +To gon upon a pelrinage +Into a strange regioun, +Wher he hath his devocioun 2940 +To don his sacrifice and preie, +If that he mihte in eny weie +Toward the goddes finde grace +His brother hele to pourchace, +So that he mihte be reformed +Of that he hadde be transformed. +To this pourpos and to this ende +This king is redy forto wende, +As he which wolde go be Schipe; +And forto don him felaschipe 2950 +His wif unto the See him broghte, +With al hire herte and him besoghte, +That he the time hire wolde sein, +Whan that he thoghte come ayein: +“Withinne,” he seith, “tuo Monthe day.” +And thus in al the haste he may +He tok his leve, and forth he seileth +Wepende, and sche hirself beweileth, +And torneth hom, ther sche cam fro. +Bot whan the Monthes were ago, 2960 +The whiche he sette of his comynge, +And that sche herde no tydinge, +Ther was no care forto seche: +Wherof the goddes to beseche +Tho sche began in many wise, +And to Juno hire sacrifise +Above alle othre most sche dede, +And for hir lord sche hath so bede +To wite and knowe hou that he ferde, +That Juno the goddesse hire herde, 2970 +Anon and upon this matiere +Sche bad Yris hir Messagere +To Slepes hous that sche schal wende, +And bidde him that he make an ende +Be swevene and schewen al the cas +Unto this ladi, hou it was. + +This Yris, fro the hihe stage +Which undertake hath the Message, +Hire reyny Cope dede upon, +The which was wonderli begon 2980 +With colours of diverse hewe, +An hundred mo than men it knewe; +The hevene lich into a bowe +Sche bende, and so she cam doun lowe, +The god of Slep wher that sche fond. +And that was in a strange lond, +Which marcheth upon Chymerie: +For ther, as seith the Poesie, +The god of Slep hath mad his hous, +Which of entaille is merveilous. 2990 +Under an hell ther is a Cave, +Which of the Sonne mai noght have, +So that noman mai knowe ariht +The point betwen the dai and nyht: +Ther is no fyr, ther is no sparke, +Ther is no dore, which mai charke, +Wherof an yhe scholde unschette, +So that inward ther is no lette. +And forto speke of that withoute, +Ther stant no gret Tree nyh aboute 3000 +Wher on ther myhte crowe or pie +Alihte, forto clepe or crie: +Ther is no cok to crowe day, +Ne beste non which noise may +The hell, bot al aboute round +Ther is growende upon the ground +Popi, which berth the sed of slep, +With othre herbes suche an hep. +A stille water for the nones +Rennende upon the smale stones, 3010 +Which hihte of Lethes the rivere, +Under that hell in such manere +Ther is, which yifth gret appetit +To slepe. And thus full of delit +Slep hath his hous; and of his couche +Withinne his chambre if I schal touche, +Of hebenus that slepi Tree +The bordes al aboute be, +And for he scholde slepe softe, +Upon a fethrebed alofte 3020 +He lith with many a pilwe of doun: +The chambre is strowed up and doun +With swevenes many thousendfold. +Thus cam Yris into this hold, +And to the bedd, which is al blak, +Sche goth, and ther with Slep sche spak, +And in the wise as sche was bede +The Message of Juno sche dede. +Fulofte hir wordes sche reherceth, +Er sche his slepi Eres perceth; 3030 +With mochel wo bot ate laste +His slombrende yhen he upcaste +And seide hir that it schal be do. +Wherof among a thousend tho, +Withinne his hous that slepi were, +In special he ches out there +Thre, whiche scholden do this dede: +The ferste of hem, so as I rede, +Was Morpheus, the whos nature +Is forto take the figure 3040 +Of what persone that him liketh, +Wherof that he fulofte entriketh +The lif which slepe schal be nyhte; +And Ithecus that other hihte, +Which hath the vois of every soun, +The chiere and the condicioun +Of every lif, what so it is: +The thridde suiende after this +Is Panthasas, which may transforme +Of every thing the rihte forme, 3050 +And change it in an other kinde. +Upon hem thre, so as I finde, +Of swevenes stant al thapparence, +Which otherwhile is evidence +And otherwhile bot a jape. +Bot natheles it is so schape, +That Morpheus be nyht al one +Appiereth until Alceone +In liknesse of hir housebonde +Al naked ded upon the stronde, 3060 +And hou he dreynte in special +These othre tuo it schewen al. +The tempeste of the blake cloude, +The wode See, the wyndes loude, +Al this sche mette, and sih him dyen; +Wherof that sche began to crien, +Slepende abedde ther sche lay, +And with that noise of hire affray +Hir wommen sterten up aboute, +Whiche of here ladi were in doute, 3070 +And axen hire hou that sche ferde; +And sche, riht as sche syh and herde, +Hir swevene hath told hem everydel. +And thei it halsen alle wel +And sein it is a tokne of goode; +Bot til sche wiste hou that it stode, +Sche hath no confort in hire herte, +Upon the morwe and up sche sterte, +And to the See, wher that sche mette +The bodi lay, withoute lette 3080 +Sche drowh, and whan that sche cam nyh, +Stark ded, hise harmes sprad, sche syh +Hire lord flietende upon the wawe. +Wherof hire wittes ben withdrawe, +And sche, which tok of deth no kepe, +Anon forth lepte into the depe +And wolde have cawht him in hire arm. + +This infortune of double harm +The goddes fro the hevene above +Behielde, and for the trowthe of love, 3090 +Which in this worthi ladi stod, +Thei have upon the salte flod +Hire dreinte lord and hire also +Fro deth to lyve torned so, +That thei ben schapen into briddes +Swimmende upon the wawe amiddes. +And whan sche sih hire lord livende +In liknesse of a bridd swimmende, +And sche was of the same sort, +So as sche mihte do desport, 3100 +Upon the joie which sche hadde +Hire wynges bothe abrod sche spradde, +And him, so as sche mai suffise, +Beclipte and keste in such a wise, +As sche was whilom wont to do: +Hire wynges for hire armes tuo +Sche tok, and for hire lippes softe +Hire harde bile, and so fulofte +Sche fondeth in hire briddes forme, +If that sche mihte hirself conforme 3110 +To do the plesance of a wif, +As sche dede in that other lif: +For thogh sche hadde hir pouer lore, +Hir will stod as it was tofore, +And serveth him so as sche mai. +Wherof into this ilke day +Togedre upon the See thei wone, +Wher many a dowhter and a Sone +Thei bringen forth of briddes kinde; +And for men scholden take in mynde 3120 +This Alceoun the trewe queene, +Hire briddes yit, as it is seene, +Of Alceoun the name bere. + +Lo thus, mi Sone, it mai thee stere +Of swevenes forto take kepe, +For ofte time a man aslepe +Mai se what after schal betide. +Forthi it helpeth at som tyde +A man to slepe, as it belongeth, +Bot slowthe no lif underfongeth 3130 +Which is to love appourtenant. + +Mi fader, upon covenant +I dar wel make this avou, +Of all mi lif that into nou, +Als fer as I can understonde, +Yit tok I nevere Slep on honde, +Whan it was time forto wake; +For thogh myn yhe it wolde take, +Min herte is evere therayein. +Bot natheles to speke it plein, 3140 +Al this that I have seid you hiere +Of my wakinge, as ye mai hiere, +It toucheth to mi lady swete; +For otherwise, I you behiete, +In strange place whanne I go, +Me list nothing to wake so. +For whan the wommen listen pleie, +And I hir se noght in the weie, +Of whom I scholde merthe take, +Me list noght longe forto wake, 3150 +Bot if it be for pure schame, +Of that I wolde eschuie a name, +That thei ne scholde have cause non +To seie, “Ha, lo, wher goth such on, +That hath forlore his contenaunce!” +And thus among I singe and daunce, +And feigne lust ther as non is. +For ofte sithe I fiele this; +Of thoght, which in mi herte falleth +Whanne it is nyht, myn hed appalleth, 3160 +And that is for I se hire noght, +Which is the wakere of mi thoght: +And thus as tymliche as I may, +Fulofte whanne it is brod day, +I take of all these othre leve +And go my weie, and thei beleve, +That sen per cas here loves there; +And I go forth as noght ne were +Unto mi bedd, so that al one +I mai ther ligge and sighe and grone 3170 +And wisshen al the longe nyht, +Til that I se the daies lyht. +I not if that be Sompnolence, +Bot upon youre conscience, +Min holi fader, demeth ye. + +My Sone, I am wel paid with thee, +Of Slep that thou the Sluggardie +Be nyhte in loves compaignie +Eschuied hast, and do thi peine +So that thi love thar noght pleine: 3180 +For love upon his lust wakende +Is evere, and wolde that non ende +Were of the longe nyhtes set. +Wherof that thou be war the bet, +To telle a tale I am bethoght, +Hou love and Slep acorden noght. + +For love who that list to wake +Be nyhte, he mai ensample take +Of Cephalus, whan that he lay +With Aurora that swete may 3190 +In armes all the longe nyht. +Bot whanne it drogh toward the liht, +That he withinne his herte sih +The dai which was amorwe nyh, +Anon unto the Sonne he preide +For lust of love, and thus he seide: + +“O Phebus, which the daies liht +Governest, til that it be nyht, +And gladest every creature +After the lawe of thi nature,— 3200 +Bot natheles ther is a thing, +Which onli to the knouleching +Belongeth as in privete +To love and to his duete, +Which asketh noght to ben apert, +Bot in cilence and in covert +Desireth forto be beschaded: +And thus whan that thi liht is faded +And Vesper scheweth him alofte, +And that the nyht is long and softe, 3210 +Under the cloudes derke and stille +Thanne hath this thing most of his wille. +Forthi unto thi myhtes hyhe, +As thou which art the daies yhe, +Of love and myht no conseil hyde, +Upon this derke nyhtes tyde +With al myn herte I thee beseche +That I plesance myhte seche +With hire which lith in min armes. +Withdrawgh the Banere of thin Armes, 3220 +And let thi lyhtes ben unborn, +And in the Signe of Capricorn, +The hous appropred to Satorne, +I preie that thou wolt sojorne, +Wher ben the nihtes derke and longe: +For I mi love have underfonge, +Which lith hier be mi syde naked, +As sche which wolde ben awaked, +And me lest nothing forto slepe. +So were it good to take kepe 3230 +Nou at this nede of mi preiere, +And that the like forto stiere +Thi fyri Carte, and so ordeigne, +That thou thi swifte hors restreigne +Lowe under Erthe in Occident, +That thei towardes Orient +Be Cercle go the longe weie. + +And ek to thee, Diane, I preie, +Which cleped art of thi noblesse +The nyhtes Mone and the goddesse, 3240 +That thou to me be gracious: +And in Cancro thin oghne hous +Ayein Phebus in opposit +Stond al this time, and of delit +Behold Venus with a glad yhe. +For thanne upon Astronomie +Of due constellacion +Thou makst prolificacion, +And dost that children ben begete: +Which grace if that I mihte gete, 3250 +With al myn herte I wolde serve +Be nyhte, and thi vigile observe.” + +Lo, thus this lusti Cephalus +Preide unto Phebe and to Phebus +The nyht in lengthe forto drawe, +So that he mihte do the lawe +In thilke point of loves heste, +Which cleped is the nyhtes feste, +Withoute Slep of sluggardie; +Which Venus out of compaignie 3260 +Hath put awey, as thilke same, +Which lustles ferr from alle game +In chambre doth fulofte wo +Abedde, whanne it falleth so +That love scholde ben awaited. +But Slowthe, which is evele affaited, +With Slep hath mad his retenue, +That what thing is to love due, +Of all his dette he paieth non: +He wot noght how the nyht is gon 3270 +Ne hou the day is come aboute, +Bot onli forto slepe and route +Til hyh midday, that he arise. +Bot Cephalus dede otherwise, +As thou, my Sone, hast herd above. + +Mi fader, who that hath his love +Abedde naked be his syde, +And wolde thanne hise yhen hyde +With Slep, I not what man is he: +Bot certes as touchende of me, 3280 +That fell me nevere yit er this. +Bot otherwhile, whan so is +That I mai cacche Slep on honde +Liggende al one, thanne I fonde +To dreme a merie swevene er day; +And if so falle that I may +Mi thought with such a swevene plese, +Me thenkth I am somdiel in ese, +For I non other confort have. +So nedeth noght that I schal crave 3290 +The Sonnes Carte forto tarie, +Ne yit the Mone, that sche carie +Hire cours along upon the hevene, +For I am noght the more in evene +Towardes love in no degree: +Bot in mi slep yit thanne I se +Somwhat in swevene of that me liketh, +Which afterward min herte entriketh, +Whan that I finde it otherwise. +So wot I noght of what servise 3300 +That Slep to mannes ese doth. + +Mi Sone, certes thou seist soth, +Bot only that it helpeth kinde +Somtyme, in Phisique as I finde, +Whan it is take be mesure: +Bot he which can no Slep mesure +Upon the reule as it belongeth, +Fulofte of sodein chance he fongeth +Such infortune that him grieveth. +Bot who these olde bokes lieveth, 3310 +Of Sompnolence hou it is write, +Ther may a man the sothe wite, +If that he wolde ensample take, +That otherwhile is good to wake: +Wherof a tale in Poesie +I thenke forto specefie. + +Ovide telleth in his sawes, +How Jupiter be olde dawes +Lay be a Mayde, which Yo +Was cleped, wherof that Juno 3320 +His wif was wroth, and the goddesse +Of Yo torneth the liknesse +Into a cow, to gon theroute +The large fieldes al aboute +And gete hire mete upon the griene. +And therupon this hyhe queene +Betok hire Argus forto kepe, +For he was selden wont to slepe, +And yit he hadde an hundred yhen, +And alle alyche wel thei syhen. 3330 +Now herkne hou that he was beguiled. +Mercurie, which was al affiled +This Cow to stele, he cam desguised, +And hadde a Pipe wel devised +Upon the notes of Musiqe, +Wherof he mihte hise Eres like. +And over that he hadde affaited +Hise lusti tales, and awaited +His time; and thus into the field +He cam, where Argus he behield 3340 +With Yo, which beside him wente. +With that his Pype on honde he hente, +And gan to pipe in his manere +Thing which was slepi forto hiere; +And in his pipinge evere among +He tolde him such a lusti song, +That he the fol hath broght aslepe. +Ther was non yhe mihte kepe +His hed, the which Mercurie of smot, +And forth withal anon fot hot 3350 +He stal the Cow which Argus kepte, +And al this fell for that he slepte. +Ensample it was to manye mo, +That mochel Slep doth ofte wo, +Whan it is time forto wake: +For if a man this vice take, +In Sompnolence and him delite, +Men scholde upon his Dore wryte +His epitaphe, as on his grave; +For he to spille and noght to save 3360 +Is schape, as thogh he were ded. + +Forthi, mi Sone, hold up thin hed, +And let no Slep thin yhe englue, +Bot whanne it is to resoun due. + +Mi fader, as touchende of this, +Riht so as I you tolde it is, +That ofte abedde, whanne I scholde, +I mai noght slepe, thogh I wolde; +For love is evere faste byme, +Which takth no hiede of due time. 3370 +For whanne I schal myn yhen close, +Anon min herte he wole oppose +And holde his Scole in such a wise, +Til it be day that I arise, +That selde it is whan that I slepe. +And thus fro Sompnolence I kepe +Min yhe: and forthi if ther be +Oght elles more in this degre, +Now axeth forth. + +Mi Sone, yis: +For Slowthe, which as Moder is 3380 +The forthdrawere and the Norrice +To man of many a dredful vice, +Hath yit an other laste of alle, +Which many a man hath mad to falle, +Wher that he mihte nevere arise; +Wherof for thou thee schalt avise, +Er thou so with thiself misfare, +What vice it is I wol declare. + +Whan Slowthe hath don al that he may +To dryve forth the longe day, 3390 +Til it be come to the nede, +Thanne ate laste upon the dede +He loketh hou his time is lore, +And is so wo begon therfore, +That he withinne his thoght conceiveth +Tristesce, and so himself deceiveth, +That he wanhope bringeth inne, +Wher is no confort to beginne, +Bot every joie him is deslaied: +So that withinne his herte affraied 3400 +A thousend time with o breth +Wepende he wissheth after deth, +Whan he fortune fint adverse. +For thanne he wole his hap reherce, +As thogh his world were al forlore, +And seith, “Helas, that I was bore! +Hou schal I live? hou schal I do? +For nou fortune is thus mi fo, +I wot wel god me wol noght helpe. +What scholde I thanne of joies yelpe, 3410 +Whan ther no bote is of mi care? +So overcast is my welfare, +That I am schapen al to strif. +Helas, that I nere of this lif, +Er I be fulliche overtake!” +And thus he wol his sorwe make, +As god him mihte noght availe: +Bot yit ne wol he noght travaile +To helpe himself at such a nede, +Bot slowtheth under such a drede, 3420 +Which is affermed in his herte, +Riht as he mihte noght asterte +The worldes wo which he is inne. + +Also whan he is falle in Sinne, +Him thenkth he is so ferr coupable, +That god wol noght be merciable +So gret a Sinne to foryive; +And thus he leeveth to be schrive. +And if a man in thilke throwe +Wolde him consaile, he wol noght knowe 3430 +The sothe, thogh a man it finde: +For Tristesce is of such a kinde, +That forto meintiene his folie, +He hath with him Obstinacie, +Which is withinne of such a Slouthe, +That he forsaketh alle trouthe, +And wole unto no reson bowe; +And yit ne can he noght avowe +His oghne skile bot of hed: +Thus dwyneth he, til he be ded, 3440 +In hindringe of his oghne astat. +For where a man is obstinat, +Wanhope folweth ate laste, +Which mai noght after longe laste, +Till Slouthe make of him an ende. +Bot god wot whider he schal wende. + +Mi Sone, and riht in such manere +Ther be lovers of hevy chiere, +That sorwen mor than it is ned, +Whan thei be taried of here sped 3450 +And conne noght hemselven rede, +Bot lesen hope forto spede +And stinten love to poursewe; +And thus thei faden hyde and hewe, +And lustles in here hertes waxe. +Hierof it is that I wolde axe, +If thou, mi Sone, art on of tho. + +Ha, goode fader, it is so, +Outake a point, I am beknowe; +For elles I am overthrowe 3460 +In al that evere ye have seid. +Mi sorwe is everemore unteid, +And secheth overal my veines; +Bot forto conseile of mi peines, +I can no bote do therto; +And thus withouten hope I go, +So that mi wittes ben empeired, +And I, as who seith, am despeired +To winne love of thilke swete, +Withoute whom, I you behiete, 3470 +Min herte, that is so bestad, +Riht inly nevere mai be glad. +For be my trouthe I schal noght lie, +Of pure sorwe, which I drye +For that sche seith sche wol me noght, +With drecchinge of myn oghne thoght +In such a wanhope I am falle, +That I ne can unethes calle, +As forto speke of eny grace, +Mi ladi merci to pourchace. 3480 +Bot yit I seie noght for this +That al in mi defalte it is; +For I cam nevere yit in stede, +Whan time was, that I my bede +Ne seide, and as I dorste tolde: +Bot nevere fond I that sche wolde, +For oght sche knew of min entente, +To speke a goodly word assente. +And natheles this dar I seie, +That if a sinful wolde preie 3490 +To god of his foryivenesse +With half so gret a besinesse +As I have do to my ladi, +In lacke of askinge of merci +He scholde nevere come in Helle. +And thus I mai you sothli telle, +Save only that I crie and bidde, +I am in Tristesce al amidde +And fulfild of Desesperance: +And therof yif me mi penance, 3500 +Min holi fader, as you liketh. + +Mi Sone, of that thin herte siketh +With sorwe, miht thou noght amende, +Til love his grace wol thee sende, +For thou thin oghne cause empeirest +What time as thou thiself despeirest. +I not what other thing availeth, +Of hope whan the herte faileth, +For such a Sor is incurable, +And ek the goddes ben vengable: 3510 +And that a man mai riht wel frede, +These olde bokes who so rede, +Of thing which hath befalle er this: +Now hier of what ensample it is. + +Whilom be olde daies fer +Of Mese was the king Theucer, +Which hadde a kniht to Sone, Iphis: +Of love and he so maistred is, +That he hath set al his corage, +As to reguard of his lignage, 3520 +Upon a Maide of lou astat. +Bot thogh he were a potestat +Of worldes good, he was soubgit +To love, and put in such a plit, +That he excedeth the mesure +Of reson, that himself assure +He can noght; for the more he preide, +The lass love on him sche leide. +He was with love unwys constreigned, +And sche with resoun was restreigned: 3530 +The lustes of his herte he suieth, +And sche for dred schame eschuieth, +And as sche scholde, tok good hiede +To save and kepe hir wommanhiede. +And thus the thing stod in debat +Betwen his lust and hire astat: +He yaf, he sende, he spak be mouthe, +Bot yit for oght that evere he couthe +Unto his sped he fond no weie, +So that he caste his hope aweie, 3540 +Withinne his herte and gan despeire +Fro dai to dai, and so empeire, +That he hath lost al his delit +Of lust, of Slep, of Appetit, +That he thurgh strengthe of love lasseth +His wit, and resoun overpasseth. +As he which of his lif ne rowhte, +His deth upon himself he sowhte, +So that be nyhte his weie he nam, +Ther wiste non wher he becam; 3550 +The nyht was derk, ther schon no Mone, +Tofore the gates he cam sone, +Wher that this yonge Maiden was +And with this wofull word, “Helas!” +Hise dedli pleintes he began +So stille that ther was noman +It herde, and thanne he seide thus: +“O thou Cupide, o thou Venus, +Fortuned be whos ordinaunce +Of love is every mannes chaunce, 3560 +Ye knowen al min hole herte, +That I ne mai your hond asterte; +On you is evere that I crie, +And yit you deigneth noght to plie, +Ne toward me youre Ere encline. +Thus for I se no medicine +To make an ende of mi querele, +My deth schal be in stede of hele. + +Ha, thou mi wofull ladi diere, +Which duellest with thi fader hiere 3570 +And slepest in thi bedd at ese, +Thou wost nothing of my desese. +Hou thou and I be now unmete. +Ha lord, what swevene schalt thou mete, +What dremes hast thou nou on honde? +Thou slepest there, and I hier stonde. +Thogh I no deth to the deserve, +Hier schal I for thi love sterve, +Hier schal a kinges Sone dye +For love and for no felonie; 3580 +Wher thou therof have joie or sorwe, +Hier schalt thou se me ded tomorwe. +O herte hard aboven alle, +This deth, which schal to me befalle +For that thou wolt noght do me grace, +Yit schal be told in many a place, +Hou I am ded for love and trouthe +In thi defalte and in thi slouthe: +Thi Daunger schal to manye mo +Ensample be for everemo, 3590 +Whan thei my wofull deth recorde.” +And with that word he tok a Corde, +With which upon the gate tre +He hyng himself, that was pite. + +The morwe cam, the nyht is gon, +Men comen out and syhe anon +Wher that this yonge lord was ded: +Ther was an hous withoute red, +For noman knew the cause why; +Ther was wepinge and ther was cry. 3600 +This Maiden, whan that sche it herde, +And sih this thing hou it misferde, +Anon sche wiste what it mente, +And al the cause hou it wente +To al the world sche tolde it oute, +And preith to hem that were aboute +To take of hire the vengance, +For sche was cause of thilke chaunce, +Why that this kinges Sone is split. +Sche takth upon hirself the gilt, 3610 +And is al redi to the peine +Which eny man hir wole ordeigne: +And bot if eny other wolde, +Sche seith that sche hirselve scholde +Do wreche with hire oghne hond, +Thurghout the world in every lond +That every lif therof schal speke, +Hou sche hirself i scholde wreke. +Sche wepth, sche crith, sche swouneth ofte, +Sche caste hire yhen up alofte 3620 +And seide among ful pitously: +“A godd, thou wost wel it am I, +For whom Iphis is thus besein: +Ordeine so, that men mai sein +A thousend wynter after this, +Hou such a Maiden dede amis, +And as I dede, do to me: +For I ne dede no pite +To him, which for mi love is lore, +Do no pite to me therfore.” 3630 +And with this word sche fell to grounde +Aswoune, and ther sche lay a stounde. +The goddes, whiche hir pleigntes herde +And syhe hou wofully sche ferde, +Hire lif thei toke awey anon, +And schopen hire into a Ston +After the forme of hire ymage +Of bodi bothe and of visage. +And for the merveile of this thing +Unto the place cam the king 3640 +And ek the queene and manye mo; +And whan thei wisten it was so, +As I have told it heir above, +Hou that Iphis was ded for love, +Of that he hadde be refused, +Thei hielden alle men excused +And wondren upon the vengance. +And forto kepe in remembrance, +This faire ymage mayden liche +With compaignie noble and riche 3650 +With torche and gret sollempnite. +To Salamyne the Cite +Thei lede, and carie forth withal +The dede corps, and sein it schal +Beside thilke ymage have +His sepulture and be begrave: +This corps and this ymage thus +Into the Cite to Venus, +Wher that goddesse hire temple hadde, +Togedre bothe tuo thei ladde. 3660 +This ilke ymage as for miracle +Was set upon an hyh pinacle, +That alle men it mihte knowe, +And under tht thei maden lowe +A tumbe riche for the nones +Of marbre and ek of jaspre stones, +Wherin this Iphis was beloken, +That evermor it schal be spoken. +And for men schal the sothe wite, +Thei have here epitaphe write, 3670 +As thing which scholde abide stable: +The lettres graven in a table +Of marbre were and seiden this: +“Hier lith, which slowh himself, Iphis, +For love of Araxarathen: +And in ensample of tho wommen, +That soffren men to deie so, +Hire forme a man mai sen also, +Hou it is torned fleissh and bon +Into the figure of a Ston: 3680 +He was to neysshe and sche to hard. +Be war forthi hierafterward; +Ye men and wommen bothe tuo, +Ensampleth you of that was tho: + +Lo thus, mi Sone, as I thee seie, +It grieveth be diverse weie +In desepeir a man to falle, +Which is the laste branche of alle +Of Slouthe, as thou hast herd devise. +Wherof that thou thiself avise 3690 +Good is, er that thou be deceived, +Wher that the grace of hope is weyved. + +Mi fader, hou so that it stonde, +Now have I pleinly understonde +Of Slouthes court the proprete, +Wherof touchende in my degre +For evere I thenke to be war. +Bot overthis, so as I dar, +With al min herte I you beseche, +That ye me wolde enforme and teche 3700 +What ther is more of youre aprise +In love als wel as otherwise, +So that I mai me clene schryve. + +Mi Sone, whyl thou art alyve +And hast also thi fulle mynde, +Among the vices whiche I finde +Ther is yit on such of the sevene, +Which al this world hath set unevene +And causeth manye thinges wronge, +Where he the cause hath underfonge: 3710 +Wherof hierafter thou schalt hiere +The forme bothe and the matiere. + +Explicit Liber Quartus. + + + + +Incipit Liber Quintus + + +_Obstat auaricia nature legibus, et que + Largus amor poscit, striccius illa vetat. +Omne quod est nimium viciosum dicitur aurum, + Vellera sicut oues, seruat auarus opes. +Non decet vt soli seruabitur es, set amori + Debet homo solam solus habere suam._ + +Ferst whan the hyhe god began +This world, and that the kinde of man +Was falle into no gret encress, +For worldes good tho was no press, +Bot al was set to the comune. +Thei spieken thanne of no fortune +Or forto lese or forto winne, +Til Avarice broghte it inne; +And that was whan the world was woxe +Of man, of hors, of Schep, of Oxe, 10 +And that men knewen the moneie. +Tho wente pes out of the weie +And werre cam on every side, +Which alle love leide aside +And of comun his propre made, +So that in stede of schovele and spade +The scharpe swerd was take on honde; +And in this wise it cam to londe, +Wherof men maden dyches depe +And hyhe walles forto kepe 20 +The gold which Avarice encloseth. +Bot al to lytel him supposeth, +Thogh he mihte al the world pourchace; +For what thing that he may embrace +Of gold, of catel or of lond, +He let it nevere out of his hond, +Bot get him more and halt it faste, +As thogh the world scholde evere laste. +So is he lych unto the helle; +For as these olde bokes telle, 30 +What comth therinne, lasse or more, +It schal departe neveremore: +Thus whanne he hath his cofre loken, +It schal noght after ben unstoken, +Bot whanne him list to have a syhte +Of gold, hou that it schyneth brihte, +That he ther on mai loke and muse; +For otherwise he dar noght use +To take his part, or lasse or more. +So is he povere, and everemore 40 +Him lacketh that he hath ynowh: +An Oxe draweth in the plowh, +Of that himself hath no profit; +A Schep riht in the same plit +His wolle berth, bot on a day +An other takth the flees away: +Thus hath he, that he noght ne hath, +For he therof his part ne tath. +To seie hou such a man hath good, +Who so that reson understod, 50 +It is impropreliche seid, +For good hath him and halt him teid, +That he ne gladeth noght withal, +Bot is unto his good a thral, +And as soubgit thus serveth he, +Wher that he scholde maister be: +Such is the kinde of thaverous. + +Mi Sone, as thou art amerous, +Tell if thou farst of love so. + +Mi fader, as it semeth, no; 60 +That averous yit nevere I was, +So as ye setten me the cas: +For as ye tolden here above, +In full possession of love +Yit was I nevere hier tofore, +So that me thenketh wel therfore, +I mai excuse wel my dede. +Bot of mi will withoute drede, +If I that tresor mihte gete, +It scholde nevere be foryete, 70 +That I ne wolde it faste holde, +Til god of love himselve wolde +That deth ous scholde part atuo. +For lieveth wel, I love hire so, +That evene with min oghne lif, +If I that swete lusti wif +Mihte ones welden at my wille, +For evere I wolde hire holde stille: +And in this wise, taketh kepe, +If I hire hadde, I wolde hire kepe, 80 +And yit no friday wolde I faste, +Thogh I hire kepte and hielde faste. +Fy on the bagges in the kiste! +I hadde ynogh, if I hire kiste. +For certes, if sche were myn, +I hadde hir levere than a Myn +Of Gold; for al this worldesriche +Ne mihte make me so riche +As sche, that is so inly good. +I sette noght of other good; 90 +For mihte I gete such a thing, +I hadde a tresor for a king; +And thogh I wolde it faste holde, +I were thanne wel beholde. +Bot I mot pipe nou with lasse, +And suffre that it overpasse, +Noght with mi will, for thus I wolde +Ben averous, if that I scholde. +Bot, fader, I you herde seie +Hou thaverous hath yit som weie, 100 +Wherof he mai be glad; for he +Mai whanne him list his tresor se, +And grope and fiele it al aboute, +Bot I fulofte am schet theroute, +Ther as my worthi tresor is. +So is mi lif lich unto this, +That ye me tolden hier tofore, +Hou that an Oxe his yock hath bore +For thing that scholde him noght availe: +And in this wise I me travaile; 110 +For who that evere hath the welfare, +I wot wel that I have the care, +For I am hadd and noght ne have, +And am, as who seith, loves knave. +Nou demeth in youre oghne thoght, +If this be Avarice or noght. + +Mi Sone, I have of thee no wonder, +Thogh thou to serve be put under +With love, which to kinde acordeth: +Bot, so as every bok recordeth, 120 +It is to kinde no plesance +That man above his sustienance +Unto the gold schal serve and bowe, +For that mai no reson avowe. +Bot Avarice natheles, +If he mai geten his encress +Of gold, that wole he serve and kepe, +For he takth of noght elles kepe, +Bot forto fille hise bagges large; +And al is to him bot a charge, 130 +For he ne parteth noght withal, +Bot kepth it, as a servant schal: +And thus, thogh that he multeplie +His gold, withoute tresorie +He is, for man is noght amended +With gold, bot if it be despended +To mannes us; wherof I rede +A tale, and tak therof good hiede, +Of that befell be olde tyde, +As telleth ous the clerk Ovide. 140 + +Bachus, which is the god of wyn, +Acordant unto his divin +A Prest, the which Cillenus hihte, +He hadde, and fell so that be nyhte +This Prest was drunke and goth astraied, +Wherof the men were evele apaied +In Frigelond, where as he wente. +Bot ate laste a cherl him hente +With strengthe of other felaschipe, +So that upon his drunkeschipe 150 +Thei bounden him with chenes faste, +And forth thei ladde him als so faste +Unto the king, which hihte Myde. +Bot he, that wolde his vice hyde, +This courteis king, tok of him hiede, +And bad that men him scholde lede +Into a chambre forto kepe, +Til he of leisir hadde slepe. +And tho this Prest was sone unbounde, +And up a couche fro the grounde 160 +To slepe he was leid softe ynowh; +And whanne he wok, the king him drowh +To his presence and dede him chiere, +So that this Prest in such manere, +Whil that him liketh, there he duelleth: +And al this he to Bachus telleth, +Whan that he cam to him ayein. +And whan that Bachus herde sein +How Mide hath don his courtesie, +Him thenkth it were a vilenie, 170 +Bot he rewarde him for his dede, +So as he mihte of his godhiede. +Unto this king this god appiereth +And clepeth, and that other hiereth: +This god to Mide thonketh faire +Of that he was so debonaire +Toward his Prest, and bad him seie: +What thing it were he wolde preie, +He scholde it have, of worldes good. +This king was glad, and stille stod, 180 +And was of his axinge in doute, +And al the world he caste aboute, +What thing was best for his astat, +And with himself stod in debat +Upon thre pointz, the whiche I finde +Ben lievest unto mannes kinde. +The ferste of hem it is delit, +The tuo ben worschipe and profit. +And thanne he thoghte, “If that I crave +Delit, thogh I delit mai have, 190 +Delit schal passen in myn age: +That is no siker avantage, +For every joie bodily +Schal ende in wo: delit forthi +Wol I noght chese. And if worschipe +I axe and of the world lordschipe, +That is an occupacion +Of proud ymaginacion, +Which makth an herte vein withinne; +Ther is no certain forto winne, 200 +For lord and knave al is o weie, +Whan thei be bore and whan thei deie. +And if I profit axe wolde, +I not in what manere I scholde +Of worldes good have sikernesse; +For every thief upon richesse +Awaiteth forto robbe and stele: +Such good is cause of harmes fele. +And also, thogh a man at ones +Of al the world withinne his wones 210 +The tresor myhte have everydel, +Yit hadde he bot o mannes del +Toward himself, so as I thinke, +Of clothinge and of mete and drinke, +For more, outake vanite, +Ther hath no lord in his degre.” +And thus upon the pointz diverse +Diverseliche he gan reherce +What point him thoghte for the beste; +Bot pleinly forto gete him reste 220 +He can so siker weie caste. +And natheles yit ate laste +He fell upon the coveitise +Of gold; and thanne in sondri wise +He thoghte, as I have seid tofore, +Hou tresor mai be sone lore, +And hadde an inly gret desir +Touchende of such recoverir, +Hou that he mihte his cause availe +To gete him gold withoute faile. 230 +Withinne his herte and thus he preiseth +The gold, and seith hou that it peiseth +Above al other metall most: +“The gold,” he seith, “may lede an host +To make werre ayein a King; +The gold put under alle thing, +And set it whan him list above; +The gold can make of hate love +And werre of pes and ryht of wrong, +And long to schort and schort to long; 240 +Withoute gold mai be no feste, +Gold is the lord of man and beste, +And mai hem bothe beie and selle; +So that a man mai sothly telle +That al the world to gold obeieth.” +Forthi this king to Bachus preieth +To grante him gold, bot he excedeth +Mesure more than him nedeth. +Men tellen that the maladie +Which cleped is ydropesie 250 +Resembled is unto this vice +Be weie of kinde of Avarice: +The more ydropesie drinketh, +The more him thursteth, for him thinketh +That he mai nevere drinke his fille; +So that ther mai nothing fulfille +The lustes of his appetit: +And riht in such a maner plit +Stant Avarice and evere stod; +The more he hath of worldes good, 260 +The more he wolde it kepe streyte, +And evere mor and mor coveite. +And riht in such condicioun +Withoute good discrecioun +This king with avarice is smite, +That al the world it myhte wite: +For he to Bachus thanne preide, +That wherupon his hond he leide, +It scholde thurgh his touche anon +Become gold, and therupon 270 +This god him granteth as he bad. +Tho was this king of Frige glad, +And forto put it in assai +With al the haste that he mai, +He toucheth that, he toucheth this, +And in his hond al gold it is, +The Ston, the Tree, the Lef, the gras, +The flour, the fruit, al gold it was. +Thus toucheth he, whil he mai laste +To go, bot hunger ate laste 280 +Him tok, so that he moste nede +Be weie of kinde his hunger fede. +The cloth was leid, the bord was set, +And al was forth tofore him fet, +His disch, his coppe, his drinke, his mete; +Bot whanne he wolde or drinke or ete, +Anon as it his mouth cam nyh, +It was al gold, and thanne he syh +Of Avarice the folie. +And he with that began to crie, 290 +And preide Bachus to foryive +His gilt, and soffre him forto live +And be such as he was tofore, +So that he were not forlore. +This god, which herde of his grevance, +Tok rowthe upon his repentance, +And bad him go forth redily +Unto a flod was faste by, +Which Paceole thanne hyhte, +In which as clene as evere he myhte 300 +He scholde him waisshen overal, +And seide him thanne that he schal +Recovere his ferste astat ayein. +This king, riht as he herde sein, +Into the flod goth fro the lond, +And wissh him bothe fot and hond, +And so forth al the remenant, +As him was set in covenant: +And thanne he syh merveilles strange, +The flod his colour gan to change, 310 +The gravel with the smale Stones +To gold thei torne bothe at ones, +And he was quit of that he hadde, +And thus fortune his chance ladde. +And whan he sih his touche aweie, +He goth him hom the rihte weie +And liveth forth as he dede er, +And putte al Avarice afer, +And the richesse of gold despiseth, +And seith that mete and cloth sufficeth. 320 +Thus hath this king experience +Hou foles don the reverence +To gold, which of his oghne kinde +Is lasse worth than is the rinde +To sustienance of mannes fode; +And thanne he made lawes goode +And al his thing sette upon skile: +He bad his poeple forto tile +Here lond, and live under the lawe, +And that thei scholde also forthdrawe 330 +Bestaile, and seche non encress +Of gold, which is the breche of pes. +For this a man mai finde write, +Tofor the time, er gold was smite +In Coign, that men the florin knewe, +Ther was welnyh noman untrewe; +Tho was ther nouther schield ne spere +Ne dedly wepne forto bere; +Tho was the toun withoute wal, +Which nou is closed overal; 340 +Tho was ther no brocage in londe, +Which nou takth every cause on honde: +So mai men knowe, hou the florin +Was moder ferst of malengin +And bringere inne of alle werre, +Wherof this world stant out of herre +Thurgh the conseil of Avarice, +Which of his oghne propre vice +Is as the helle wonderfull; +For it mai neveremor be full, 350 +That what as evere comth therinne, +Awey ne may it nevere winne. +Bot Sone myn, do thou noght so, +Let al such Avarice go, +And tak thi part of that thou hast: +I bidde noght that thou do wast, +Bot hold largesce in his mesure; +And if thou se a creature, +Which thurgh poverte is falle in nede, +Yif him som good, for this I rede 360 +To him that wol noght yiven here, +What peine he schal have elleswhere. + +Ther is a peine amonges alle +Benethe in helle, which men calle +The wofull peine of Tantaly, +Of which I schal thee redely +Devise hou men therinne stonde. +In helle, thou schalt understonde, +Ther is a flod of thilke office, +Which serveth al for Avarice: 370 +What man that stonde schal therinne, +He stant up evene unto the chinne; +Above his hed also ther hongeth +A fruyt, which to that peine longeth, +And that fruit toucheth evere in on +His overlippe: and therupon +Swich thurst and hunger him assaileth, +That nevere his appetit ne faileth. +Bot whanne he wolde his hunger fede, +The fruit withdrawth him ate nede, 380 +And thogh he heve his hed on hyh, +The fruit is evere aliche nyh, +So is the hunger wel the more: +And also, thogh him thurste sore +And to the water bowe a doun, +The flod in such condicioun +Avaleth, that his drinke areche +He mai noght. Lo nou, which a wreche, +That mete and drinke is him so couth, +And yit ther comth non in his mouth! 390 +Lich to the peines of this flod +Stant Avarice in worldes good: +He hath ynowh and yit him nedeth, +For his skarsnesse it him forbiedeth, +And evere his hunger after more +Travaileth him aliche sore, +So is he peined overal. +Forthi thi goodes forth withal, +Mi Sone, loke thou despende, +Wherof thou myht thiself amende 400 +Bothe hier and ek in other place. +And also if thou wolt pourchace +To be beloved, thou most use +Largesce, for if thou refuse +To yive for thi loves sake, +It is no reson that thou take +Of love that thou woldest crave. +Forthi, if thou wolt grace have, +Be gracious and do largesse, +Of Avarice and the seknesse 410 +Eschuie above alle other thing, +And tak ensample of Mide king +And of the flod of helle also, +Where is ynowh of alle wo. +And thogh ther were no matiere +Bot only that we finden hiere, +Men oghten Avarice eschuie; +For what man thilke vice suie, +He get himself bot litel reste. +For hou so that the body reste, 420 +The herte upon the gold travaileth, +Whom many a nyhtes drede assaileth; +For thogh he ligge abedde naked, +His herte is everemore awaked, +And dremeth, as he lith to slepe, +How besi that he is to kepe +His tresor, that no thief it stele. +Thus hath he bot a woful wele. + +And riht so in the same wise, +If thou thiself wolt wel avise, 430 +Ther be lovers of suche ynowe, +That wole unto no reson bowe. +If so be that thei come above, +Whan thei ben maistres of here love, +And that thei scholden be most glad, +With love thei ben most bestad, +So fain thei wolde it holden al. +Here herte, here yhe is overal, +And wenen every man be thief, +To stele awey that hem is lief; 440 +Thus thurgh here oghne fantasie +Thei fallen into Jelousie. +Thanne hath the Schip tobroke his cable, +With every wynd and is muable. + +Mi fader, for that ye nou telle, +I have herd ofte time telle +Of Jelousie, bot what it is +Yit understod I nevere er this: +Wherfore I wolde you beseche, +That ye me wolde enforme and teche 450 +What maner thing it mihte be. + +Mi Sone, that is hard to me: +Bot natheles, as I have herd, +Now herkne and thou schalt ben ansuerd. + +Among the men lacke of manhode +In Mariage upon wifhode +Makth that a man himself deceiveth, +Wherof it is that he conceiveth +That ilke unsely maladie, +The which is cleped Jelousie: 460 +Of which if I the proprete +Schal telle after the nycete, +So as it worcheth on a man, +A Fievere it is cotidian, +Which every day wol come aboute, +Wher so a man be inne or oute. +At hom if that a man wol wone, +This Fievere is thanne of comun wone +Most grevous in a mannes yhe: +For thanne he makth him tote and pryhe, 470 +Wher so as evere his love go; +Sche schal noght with hir litel too +Misteppe, bot he se it al. +His yhe is walkende overal; +Wher that sche singe or that sche dance, +He seth the leste contienance, +If sche loke on a man aside +Or with him roune at eny tyde, +Or that sche lawghe, or that sche loure, +His yhe is ther at every houre. 480 +And whanne it draweth to the nyht, +If sche thanne is withoute lyht, +Anon is al the game schent; +For thanne he set his parlement +To speke it whan he comth to bedde, +And seith, “If I were now to wedde, +I wolde neveremore have wif.” +And so he torneth into strif +The lust of loves duete, +And al upon diversete. 490 +If sche be freissh and wel araied, +He seith hir baner is displaied +To clepe in gestes fro the weie: +And if sche be noght wel beseie, +And that hir list noght to be gladd, +He berth an hond that sche is madd +And loveth noght hire housebonde; +He seith he mai wel understonde, +That if sche wolde his compaignie, +Sche scholde thanne afore his ije 500 +Schewe al the plesir that sche mihte. +So that be daie ne be nyhte +Sche not what thing is for the beste, +Bot liveth out of alle reste; +For what as evere him liste sein, +Sche dar noght speke a word ayein, +Bot wepth and holt hire lippes clos. +Sche mai wel wryte, “Sanz repos,” +The wif which is to such on maried. + +Of alle wommen be he waried, 510 +For with this Fievere of Jalousie +His echedaies fantasie +Of sorghe is evere aliche grene, +So that ther is no love sene, +Whil that him list at hom abyde. +And whan so is he wol out ryde, +Thanne hath he redi his aspie +Abidinge in hir compaignie, +A janglere, an evel mouthed oon, +That sche ne mai nowhider gon, 520 +Ne speke a word, ne ones loke, +That he ne wol it wende and croke +And torne after his oghne entente, +Thogh sche nothing bot honour mente. +Whan that the lord comth hom ayein, +The janglere moste somwhat sein; +So what withoute and what withinne, +This Fievere is evere to beginne, +For where he comth he can noght ende, +Til deth of him have mad an ende. 530 +For thogh so be that he ne hiere +Ne se ne wite in no manere +Bot al honour and wommanhiede, +Therof the Jelous takth non hiede, +Bot as a man to love unkinde, +He cast his staf, as doth the blinde, +And fint defaulte where is non; +As who so dremeth on a Ston +Hou he is leid, and groneth ofte, +Whan he lith on his pilwes softe. 540 +So is ther noght bot strif and cheste; +Whan love scholde make his feste, +It is gret thing if he hir kisse: +Thus hath sche lost the nyhtes blisse, +For at such time he gruccheth evere +And berth on hond ther is a levere, +And that sche wolde an other were +In stede of him abedde there; +And with tho wordes and with mo +Of Jelousie, he torneth fro 550 +And lith upon his other side, +And sche with that drawth hire aside, +And ther sche wepeth al the nyht. +Ha, to what peine sche is dyht, +That in hire youthe hath so beset +The bond which mai noght ben unknet! +I wot the time is ofte cursed, +That evere was the gold unpursed, +The which was leid upon the bok, +Whan that alle othre sche forsok 560 +For love of him; bot al to late +Sche pleigneth, for as thanne algate +Sche mot forbere and to him bowe, +Thogh he ne wole it noght allowe. +For man is lord of thilke feire, +So mai the womman bot empeire, +If sche speke oght ayein his wille; +And thus sche berth hir peine stille. + +Bot if this Fievere a womman take, +Sche schal be wel mor harde schake; 570 +For thogh sche bothe se and hiere, +And finde that ther is matiere, +Sche dar bot to hirselve pleine, +And thus sche suffreth double peine. + +Lo thus, mi Sone, as I have write, +Thou miht of Jelousie wite +His fievere and his condicion, +Which is full of suspecion. +Bot wherof that this fievere groweth, +Who so these olde bokes troweth, 580 +Ther mai he finden hou it is: +For thei ous teche and telle this, +Hou that this fievere of Jelousie +Somdel it groweth of sotie +Of love, and somdiel of untrust. +For as a sek man lest his lust, +And whan he may no savour gete, +He hateth thanne his oughne mete, +Riht so this fieverous maladie, +Which caused is of fantasie, 590 +Makth the Jelous in fieble plit +To lese of love his appetit +Thurgh feigned enformacion +Of his ymaginacion. + +Bot finali to taken hiede, +Men mai wel make a liklihiede +Betwen him which is averous +Of gold and him that is jelous +Of love, for in on degre +Thei stonde bothe, as semeth me. 600 +That oon wolde have his bagges stille, +And noght departen with his wille, +And dar noght for the thieves slepe, +So fain he wolde his tresor kepe; +That other mai noght wel be glad, +For he is evere more adrad +Of these lovers that gon aboute, +In aunter if thei putte him oute. +So have thei bothe litel joye +As wel of love as of monoie. 610 + +Now hast thou, Sone, at my techinge +Of Jelousie a knowlechinge, +That thou myht understonde this, +Fro whenne he comth and what he is, +And ek to whom that he is lik. +Be war forthi thou be noght sik +Of thilke fievere as I have spoke, +For it wol in himself be wroke. +For love hateth nothing more, +As men mai finde be the lore 620 +Of hem that whilom were wise, +Hou that thei spieke in many wise. + +Mi fader, soth is that ye sein. +Bot forto loke therayein, +Befor this time hou it is falle, +Wherof ther mihte ensample falle +To suche men as be jelous +In what manere it is grevous, +Riht fain I wolde ensample hiere. + +My goode Sone, at thi preiere 630 +Of suche ensamples as I finde, +So as thei comen nou to mynde +Upon this point, of time gon +I thenke forto tellen on. + +Ovide wrot of manye thinges, +Among the whiche in his wrytinges +He tolde a tale in Poesie, +Which toucheth unto Jelousie, +Upon a certein cas of love. +Among the goddes alle above 640 +It fell at thilke time thus: +The god of fyr, which Vulcanus +Is hote, and hath a craft forthwith +Assigned, forto be the Smith +Of Jupiter, and his figure +Bothe of visage and of stature +Is lothly and malgracious, +Bot yit he hath withinne his hous +As for the likynge of his lif +The faire Venus to his wif. 650 +Bot Mars, which of batailles is +The god, an yhe hadde unto this: +As he which was chivalerous, +It fell him to ben amerous, +And thoghte it was a gret pite +To se so lusti on as sche +Be coupled with so lourde a wiht: +So that his peine day and nyht +He dede, if he hire winne myhte; +And sche, which hadde a good insihte 660 +Toward so noble a knyhtli lord, +In love fell of his acord. +Ther lacketh noght bot time and place, +That he nys siker of hire grace: +Bot whan tuo hertes falle in on, +So wys await was nevere non, +That at som time thei ne mete; +And thus this faire lusti swete +With Mars hath ofte compaignie. +Bot thilke unkynde Jelousie, 670 +Which everemor the herte opposeth, +Makth Vulcanus that he supposeth +That it is noght wel overal, +And to himself he seide, he schal +Aspie betre, if that he may; +And so it fell upon a day, +That he this thing so slyhli ledde, +He fond hem bothe tuo abedde +Al warm, echon with other naked. +And he with craft al redy maked 680 +Of stronge chenes hath hem bounde, +As he togedre hem hadde founde, +And lefte hem bothe ligge so, +And gan to clepe and crie tho +Unto the goddes al aboute; +And thei assembled in a route +Come alle at ones forto se. +Bot none amendes hadde he, +Bot was rebuked hiere and there +Of hem that loves frendes were; 690 +And seiden that he was to blame, +For if ther fell him eny schame, +It was thurgh his misgovernance: +And thus he loste contienance, +This god, and let his cause falle; +And thei to skorne him lowhen alle, +And losen Mars out of hise bondes. +Wherof these erthli housebondes +For evere myhte ensample take, +If such a chaunce hem overtake: 700 +For Vulcanus his wif bewreide, +The blame upon himself he leide, +Wherof his schame was the more; +Which oghte forto ben a lore +For every man that liveth hiere, +To reulen him in this matiere. +Thogh such an happ of love asterte, +Yit scholde he noght apointe his herte +With Jelousie of that is wroght, +Bot feigne, as thogh he wiste it noght: 710 +For if he lete it overpasse, +The sclaundre schal be wel the lasse, +And he the more in ese stonde. +For this thou myht wel understonde, +That where a man schal nedes lese, +The leste harm is forto chese. +Bot Jelousie of his untrist +Makth that full many an harm arist, +Which elles scholde noght arise; +And if a man him wolde avise 720 +Of that befell to Vulcanus, +Him oghte of reson thenke thus, +That sithe a god therof was schamed, +Wel scholde an erthli man be blamed +To take upon him such a vice. + +Forthi, my Sone, in thin office +Be war that thou be noght jelous, +Which ofte time hath schent the hous. + +Mi fader, this ensample is hard, +Hou such thing to the heveneward 730 +Among the goddes myhte falle: +For ther is bot o god of alle, +Which is the lord of hevene and helle. +Bot if it like you to telle +Hou suche goddes come aplace, +Ye mihten mochel thonk pourchace, +For I schal be wel tawht withal. + +Mi Sone, it is thus overal +With hem that stonden misbelieved, +That suche goddes ben believed: 740 +In sondri place sondri wise +Amonges hem whiche are unwise +Ther is betaken of credence; +Wherof that I the difference +In the manere as it is write +Schal do the pleinly forto wite. + +Er Crist was bore among ous hiere, +Of the believes that tho were +In foure formes thus it was. +Thei of Caldee as in this cas 750 +Hadde a believe be hemselve, +Which stod upon the signes tuelve, +Forth ek with the Planetes sevene, +Whiche as thei sihe upon the hevene. +Of sondri constellacion +In here ymaginacion +With sondri kerf and pourtreture +Thei made of goddes the figure. + +In thelementz and ek also +Thei hadden a believe tho; 760 +And al was that unresonable: +For thelementz ben servicable +To man, and ofte of Accidence, +As men mai se thexperience, +Thei ben corrupt be sondri weie; +So mai no mannes reson seie +That thei ben god in eny wise. +And ek, if men hem wel avise, +The Sonne and Mone eclipse bothe, +That be hem lieve or be hem lothe, 770 +Thei soffre; and what thing is passible +To ben a god is impossible. +These elementz ben creatures, +So ben these hevenly figures, +Wherof mai wel be justefied +That thei mai noght be deified: +And who that takth awey thonour +Which due is to the creatour, +And yifth it to the creature, +He doth to gret a forsfaiture. 780 +Bot of Caldee natheles +Upon this feith, thogh it be les, +Thei holde affermed the creance; +So that of helle the penance, +As folk which stant out of believe, +They schull receive, as we believe. + +Of the Caldeus lo in this wise +Stant the believe out of assisse: +Bot in Egipte worst of alle +The feith is fals, hou so it falle; 790 +For thei diverse bestes there +Honoure, as thogh thei goddes were: +And natheles yit forth withal +Thre goddes most in special +Thei have, forth with a goddesse, +In whom is al here sikernesse. +Tho goddes be yit cleped thus, +Orus, Typhon and Isirus: +Thei were brethren alle thre, +And the goddesse in hir degre 800 +Here Soster was and Ysis hyhte, +Whom Isirus forlai be nyhte +And hield hire after as his wif. +So it befell that upon strif +Typhon hath Isre his brother slain, +Which hadde a child to Sone Orayn, +And he his fader deth to herte +So tok, that it mai noght asterte +That he Typhon after ne slowh, +Whan he was ripe of age ynowh. 810 +Bot yit thegipcienes trowe +For al this errour, which thei knowe, +That these brethren ben of myht +To sette and kepe Egipte upriht, +And overthrowe, if that hem like. +Bot Ysis, as seith the Cronique, +Fro Grece into Egipte cam, +And sche thanne upon honde nam +To teche hem forto sowe and eere, +Which noman knew tofore there. 820 +And whan thegipcienes syhe +The fieldes fulle afore here yhe, +And that the lond began to greine, +Which whilom hadde be bareigne,— +For therthe bar after the kinde +His due charge,—this I finde, +That sche of berthe the goddesse +Is cleped, so that in destresse +The wommen there upon childinge +To hire clepe, and here offringe 830 +Thei beren, whan that thei ben lyhte. +Lo, hou Egipte al out of syhte +Fro resoun stant in misbelieve +For lacke of lore, as I believe. + +Among the Greks, out of the weie +As thei that reson putte aweie, +Ther was, as the Cronique seith, +Of misbelieve an other feith, +That thei here goddes and goddesses, +As who seith, token al to gesses 840 +Of suche as weren full of vice, +To whom thei made here sacrifice. +The hihe god, so as thei seide, +To whom thei most worschipe leide, +Saturnus hihte, and king of Crete +He hadde be; bot of his sete +He was put doun, as he which stod +In frenesie, and was so wod, +That fro his wif, which Rea hihte, +Hise oghne children he to plihte, 850 +And eet hem of his comun wone. +Bot Jupiter, which was his Sone +And of full age, his fader bond +And kutte of with his oghne hond +Hise genitals, whiche als so faste +Into the depe See he caste; +Wherof the Greks afferme and seie, +Thus whan thei were caste aweie, +Cam Venus forth be weie of kinde. +And of Saturne also I finde 860 +How afterward into an yle +This Jupiter him dede exile, +Wher that he stod in gret meschief. +Lo, which a god thei maden chief! +And sithen that such on was he, +Which stod most hihe in his degre +Among the goddes, thou miht knowe, +These othre, that ben more lowe, +Ben litel worth, as it is founde. + +For Jupiter was the secounde, 870 +Which Juno hadde unto his wif; +And yit a lechour al his lif +He was, and in avouterie +He wroghte many a tricherie; +And for he was so full of vices, +Thei cleped him god of delices: +Of whom, if thou wolt more wite, +Ovide the Poete hath write. +Bot yit here Sterres bothe tuo, +Saturne and Jupiter also, 880 +Thei have, althogh thei be to blame, +Attitled to here oghne name. + +Mars was an other in that lawe, +The which in Dace was forthdrawe, +Of whom the clerk Vegecius +Wrot in his bok, and tolde thus, +Hou he into Ytaile cam, +And such fortune ther he nam +That he a Maiden hath oppressed, +Which in hire ordre was professed, 890 +As sche which was the Prioresse +In Vestes temple the goddesse, +So was sche wel the mor to blame. +Dame Ylia this ladi name +Men clepe, and ek sche was also +The kinges dowhter that was tho, +Which Mynitor be name hihte. +So that ayein the lawes ryhte +Mars thilke time upon hire that +Remus and Romulus begat, 900 +Whiche after, whan thei come in Age, +Of knihthode and of vassellage +Ytaile al hol thei overcome +And foundeden the grete Rome; +In Armes and of such emprise +Thei weren, that in thilke wise +Here fader Mars for the mervaile +The god was cleped of bataille. +Thei were his children bothe tuo, +Thurgh hem he tok his name so, 910 +Ther was non other cause why: +And yit a Sterre upon the Sky +He hath unto his name applied, +In which that he is signified. + +An other god thei hadden eke, +To whom for conseil thei beseke, +The which was brother to Venus, +Appollo men him clepe thus. +He was an Hunte upon the helles, +Ther was with him no vertu elles, 920 +Wherof that enye bokes karpe, +Bot only that he couthe harpe; +Which whanne he walked over londe, +Fulofte time he tok on honde, +To gete him with his sustienance, +For lacke of other pourveance. +And otherwhile of his falshede +He feignede him to conne arede +Of thing which after scholde falle; +Wherof among hise sleyhtes alle 930 +He hath the lewed folk deceived, +So that the betre he was received. +Lo now, thurgh what creacion +He hath deificacion, +And cleped is the god of wit +To suche as be the foles yit. + +An other god, to whom thei soghte, +Mercurie hihte, and him ne roghte +What thing he stal, ne whom he slowh. +Of Sorcerie he couthe ynowh, 940 +That whanne he wolde himself transforme, +Fulofte time he tok the forme +Of womman and his oghne lefte; +So dede he wel the more thefte. +A gret spekere in alle thinges +He was also, and of lesinges +An Auctour, that men wiste non +An other such as he was on. +And yit thei maden of this thief +A god, which was unto hem lief, 950 +And clepede him in tho believes +The god of Marchantz and of thieves. +Bot yit a sterre upon the hevene +He hath of the planetes sevene. + +But Vulcanus, of whom I spak, +He hadde a courbe upon the bak, +And therto he was hepehalt: +Of whom thou understonde schalt, +He was a schrewe in al his youthe, +And he non other vertu couthe 960 +Of craft to helpe himselve with, +Bot only that he was a Smith +With Jupiter, which in his forge +Diverse thinges made him forge; +So wot I noght for what desir +Thei clepen him the god of fyr. + +King of Cizile Ypolitus +A Sone hadde, and Eolus +He hihte, and of his fader grant +He hield be weie of covenant 970 +The governance of every yle +Which was longende unto Cizile, +Of hem that fro the lond forein +Leie open to the wynd al plein. +And fro thilke iles to the londe +Fulofte cam the wynd to honde: +After the name of him forthi +The wyndes cleped Eoli +Tho were, and he the god of wynd. +Lo nou, hou this believe is blynd! 980 + +The king of Crete Jupiter, +The same which I spak of er, +Unto his brother, which Neptune +Was hote, it list him to comune +Part of his good, so that be Schipe +He mad him strong of the lordschipe +Of al the See in tho parties; +Wher that he wroghte his tyrannyes, +And the strange yles al aboute +He wan, that every man hath doute 990 +Upon his marche forto saile; +For he anon hem wolde assaile +And robbe what thing that thei ladden, +His sauf conduit bot if thei hadden. +Wherof the comun vois aros +In every lond, that such a los +He cawhte, al nere it worth a stre, +That he was cleped of the See +The god be name, and yit he is +With hem that so believe amis. 1000 +This Neptune ek was thilke also, +Which was the ferste foundour tho +Of noble Troie, and he forthi +Was wel the more lete by. + +The loresman of the Schepherdes, +And ek of hem that ben netherdes, +Was of Archade and hihte Pan: +Of whom hath spoke many a man; +For in the wode of Nonarcigne, +Enclosed with the tres of Pigne, 1010 +And on the Mont of Parasie +He hadde of bestes the baillie, +And ek benethe in the valleie, +Wher thilke rivere, as men seie, +Which Ladon hihte, made his cours, +He was the chief of governours +Of hem that kepten tame bestes, +Wherof thei maken yit the festes +In the Cite Stinfalides. +And forth withal yit natheles 1020 +He tawhte men the forthdrawinge +Of bestaile, and ek the makinge +Of Oxen, and of hors the same, +Hou men hem scholde ryde and tame: +Of foules ek, so as we finde, +Ful many a soubtiel craft of kinde +He fond, which noman knew tofore. +Men dede him worschipe ek therfore, +That he the ferste in thilke lond +Was which the melodie fond 1030 +Of Riedes, whan thei weren ripe, +With double pipes forto pipe; +Therof he yaf the ferste lore, +Til afterward men couthe more. +To every craft for mannes helpe +He hadde a redi wit to helpe +Thurgh naturel experience: +And thus the nyce reverence +Of foles, whan that he was ded, +The fot hath torned to the hed, 1040 +And clepen him god of nature, +For so thei maden his figure. + +An other god, so as thei fiele, +Which Jupiter upon Samele +Begat in his avouterie, +Whom, forto hide his lecherie, +That non therof schal take kepe, +In a Montaigne forto kepe, +Which Dyon hihte and was in Ynde, +He sende, in bokes as I finde: 1050 +And he be name Bachus hihte, +Which afterward, whan that he mihte, +A wastour was, and al his rente +In wyn and bordel he despente. +Bot yit, al were he wonder badde, +Among the Greks a name he hadde; +Thei cleped him the god of wyn, +And thus a glotoun was dyvyn. + +Ther was yit Esculapius +A godd in thilke time as thus. 1060 +His craft stod upon Surgerie, +Bot for the lust of lecherie, +That he to Daires dowhter drowh, +It felle that Jupiter him slowh: +And yit thei made him noght forthi +A god, and was no cause why. +In Rome he was long time also +A god among the Romeins tho; +For, as he seide, of his presence +Ther was destruid a pestilence, 1070 +Whan thei to thyle of Delphos wente, +And that Appollo with hem sente +This Esculapius his Sone, +Among the Romeins forto wone. +And there he duelte for a while, +Til afterward into that yle, +Fro whenne he cam, ayein he torneth, +Where al his lyf that he sojorneth +Among the Greks, til that he deide. +And thei upon him thanne leide 1080 +His name, and god of medicine +He hatte after that ilke line. + +An other god of Hercules +Thei made, which was natheles +A man, bot that he was so strong, +In al this world that brod and long +So myhti was noman as he. +Merveiles tuelve in his degre, +As it was couth in sondri londes, +He dede with hise oghne hondes 1090 +Ayein geantz and Monstres bothe, +The whiche horrible were and lothe, +Bot he with strengthe hem overcam: +Wherof so gret a pris he nam, +That thei him clepe amonges alle +The god of strengthe, and to him calle. +And yit ther is no reson inne, +For he a man was full of sinne, +Which proved was upon his ende, +For in a rage himself he brende; 1100 +And such a cruel mannes dede +Acordeth nothing with godhede. + +Thei hadde of goddes yit an other, +Which Pluto hihte, and was the brother +Of Jupiter, and he fro youthe +With every word which cam to mouthe, +Of eny thing whan he was wroth, +He wolde swere his commun oth, +Be Lethen and be Flegeton, +Be Cochitum and Acheron, 1110 +The whiche, after the bokes telle, +Ben the chief flodes of the helle: +Be Segne and Stige he swor also, +That ben the depe Pettes tuo +Of helle the most principal. +Pluto these othes overal +Swor of his commun custummance, +Til it befell upon a chance, +That he for Jupiteres sake +Unto the goddes let do make 1120 +A sacrifice, and for that dede +On of the pettes for his mede +In helle, of which I spak of er, +Was granted him; and thus he ther +Upon the fortune of this thing +The name tok of helle king. + +Lo, these goddes and wel mo +Among the Greks thei hadden tho, +And of goddesses manyon, +Whos names thou schalt hiere anon, 1130 +And in what wise thei deceiven +The foles whiche here feith receiven. + +So as Saturne is soverein +Of false goddes, as thei sein, +So is Sibeles of goddesses +The Moder, whom withoute gesses +The folk Payene honoure and serve, +As thei the whiche hire lawe observe. +Bot forto knowen upon this +Fro when sche cam and what sche is, 1140 +Bethincia the contre hihte, +Wher sche cam ferst to mannes sihte; +And after was Saturnes wif, +Be whom thre children in hire lif +Sche bar, and thei were cleped tho +Juno, Neptunus and Pluto, +The whiche of nyce fantasie +The poeple wolde deifie. +And for hire children were so, +Sibeles thanne was also 1150 +Mad a goddesse, and thei hire calle +The moder of the goddes alle. +So was that name bore forth, +And yit the cause is litel worth. + +A vois unto Saturne tolde +Hou that his oghne Sone him scholde +Out of his regne putte aweie; +And he be cause of thilke weie, +That him was schape such a fate, +Sibele his wif began to hate 1160 +And ek hire progenie bothe. +And thus, whil that thei were wrothe, +Be Philerem upon a dai +In his avouterie he lai, +On whom he Jupiter begat; +And thilke child was after that +Which wroghte al that was prophecied, +As it tofore is specefied: +So that whan Jupiter of Crete +Was king, a wif unto him mete 1170 +The Dowhter of Sibele he tok, +And that was Juno, seith the bok. +Of his deificacion +After the false oppinion, +That have I told, so as thei meene; +And for this Juno was the queene +Of Jupiter and Soster eke, +The foles unto hire sieke, +And sein that sche is the goddesse +Of Regnes bothe and of richesse: 1180 +And ek sche, as thei understonde, +The water Nimphes hath in honde +To leden at hire oghne heste; +And whan hir list the Sky tempeste, +The reinbowe is hir Messager. +Lo, which a misbelieve is hier! +That sche goddesse is of the Sky +I wot non other cause why. + +An other goddesse is Minerve, +To whom the Greks obeie and serve: 1190 +And sche was nyh the grete lay +Of Triton founde, wher sche lay +A child forcast, bot what sche was +Ther knew noman the sothe cas. +Bot in Aufrique sche was leid +In the manere as I have seid, +And caried fro that ilke place +Into an Yle fer in Trace, +The which Palene thanne hihte, +Wher a Norrice hir kepte and dihte. 1200 +And after, for sche was so wys +That sche fond ferst in hire avis +The cloth makinge of wolle and lyn, +Men seiden that sche was divin, +And the goddesse of Sapience +Thei clepen hire in that credence. + +Of the goddesse which Pallas +Is cleped sondri speche was. +On seith hire fader was Pallant, +Which in his time was geant, 1210 +A cruel man, a bataillous: +An other seith hou in his hous +Sche was the cause why he deide. +And of this Pallas some ek seide +That sche was Martes wif; and so +Among the men that weren tho +Of misbelieve in the riote +The goddesse of batailles hote +She was, and yit sche berth the name. +Now loke, hou they be forto blame. 1220 + +Saturnus after his exil +Fro Crete cam in gret peril +Into the londes of Ytaile, +And ther he dede gret mervaile, +Wherof his name duelleth yit. +For he fond of his oghne wit +The ferste craft of plowh tilinge, +Of Eringe and of corn sowinge, +And how men scholden sette vines +And of the grapes make wynes; 1230 +Al this he tawhte, and it fell so, +His wif, the which cam with him tho, +Was cleped Cereres be name, +And for sche tawhte also the same, +And was his wif that ilke throwe, +As it was to the poeple knowe, +Thei made of Ceres a goddesse, +In whom here tilthe yit thei blesse, +And sein that Tricolonius +Hire Sone goth amonges ous 1240 +And makth the corn good chep or dere, +Riht as hire list fro yer to yeere; +So that this wif be cause of this +Goddesse of Cornes cleped is. + +King Jupiter, which his likinge +Whilom fulfelde in alle thinge, +So priveliche aboute he ladde +His lust, that he his wille hadde +Of Latona, and on hire that +Diane his dowhter he begat 1250 +Unknowen of his wif Juno. +And afterward sche knew it so, +That Latona for drede fledde +Into an Ile, wher sche hedde +Hire wombe, which of childe aros. +Thilke yle cleped was Delos; +In which Diana was forthbroght, +And kept so that hire lacketh noght. +And after, whan sche was of Age, +Sche tok non hiede of mariage, 1260 +Bot out of mannes compaignie +Sche tok hire al to venerie +In forest and in wildernesse +For ther was al hire besinesse +Be daie and ek be nyhtes tyde +With arwes brode under the side +And bowe in honde, of which sche slowh +And tok al that hir liste ynowh +Of bestes whiche ben chacable: +Wherof the Cronique of this fable 1270 +Seith that the gentils most of alle +Worschipen hire and to hire calle, +And the goddesse of hihe helles, +Of grene trees, of freisshe welles, +They clepen hire in that believe, +Which that no reson mai achieve. + +Proserpina, which dowhter was +Of Cereres, befell this cas: +Whil sche was duellinge in Cizile, +Hire moder in that ilke while 1280 +Upon hire blessinge and hire heste +Bad that sche scholde ben honeste, +And lerne forto weve and spinne, +And duelle at hom and kepe hire inne. +Bot sche caste al that lore aweie, +And as sche wente hir out to pleie, +To gadre floures in a pleine, +And that was under the monteine +Of Ethna, fell the same tyde +That Pluto cam that weie ryde, 1290 +And sodeinly, er sche was war, +He tok hire up into his char. +And as thei riden in the field, +Hire grete beaute he behield, +Which was so plesant in his ije, +That forto holde in compainie +He weddeth hire and hield hire so +To ben his wif for everemo. +And as thou hast tofore herd telle +Hou he was cleped god of helle, 1300 +So is sche cleped the goddesse +Be cause of him, ne mor ne lesse. + +Lo, thus, mi Sone, as I thee tolde, +The Greks whilom be daies olde +Here goddes hadde in sondri wise, +And thurgh the lore of here aprise +The Romeins hielden ek the same. +And in the worschipe of here name +To every godd in special +Thei made a temple forth withal, 1310 +And ech of hem his yeeres dai +Attitled hadde; and of arai +The temples weren thanne ordeigned, +And ek the poeple was constreigned +To come and don here sacrifice; +The Prestes ek in here office +Solempne maden thilke festes. +And thus the Greks lich to the bestes +The men in stede of god honoure, +Whiche mihten noght hemself socoure, 1320 +Whil that thei were alyve hiere. +And over this, as thou schalt hiere, + +The Greks fulfild of fantasie +Sein ek that of the helles hihe +The goddes ben in special, +Bot of here name in general +Thei hoten alle Satiri. +Ther ben of Nimphes proprely +In the believe of hem also: +Oreades thei seiden tho 1330 +Attitled ben to the monteines; +And for the wodes in demeynes +To kepe, tho ben Driades; +Of freisshe welles Naiades; +And of the Nimphes of the See +I finde a tale in proprete, +Hou Dorus whilom king of Grece, +Which hadde of infortune a piece,— +His wif forth with hire dowhtres alle, +So as the happes scholden falle, 1340 +With many a gentil womman there +Dreint in the salte See thei were: +Wherof the Greks that time seiden, +And such a name upon hem leiden, +Nereïdes that thei ben hote, +The Nimphes whiche that thei note +To regne upon the stremes salte. +Lo now, if this believe halte! +Bot of the Nimphes as thei telle, +In every place wher thei duelle 1350 +Thei ben al redi obeissant +As damoiselles entendant +To the goddesses, whos servise +Thei mote obeie in alle wise; +Wherof the Greks to hem beseke +With tho that ben goddesses eke, +And have in hem a gret credence. + +And yit withoute experience +Salve only of illusion, +Which was to hem dampnacion, 1360 +For men also that were dede +Thei hadden goddes, as I rede, +And tho be name Manes hihten, +To whom ful gret honour thei dihten, +So as the Grekes lawe seith, +Which was ayein the rihte feith. + +Thus have I told a gret partie; +Bot al the hole progenie +Of goddes in that ilke time +To long it were forto rime. 1370 +Bot yit of that which thou hast herd, +Of misbelieve hou it hath ferd, +Ther is a gret diversite. + +Mi fader, riht so thenketh me. +Bot yit o thing I you beseche, +Which stant in alle mennes speche, +The godd and the goddesse of love, +Of whom ye nothing hier above +Have told, ne spoken of her fare, +That ye me wolden now declare 1380 +Hou thei ferst comen to that name. + +Mi Sone, I have it left for schame, +Be cause I am here oghne Prest; +Bot for thei stonden nyh thi brest +Upon the schrifte of thi matiere, +Thou schalt of hem the sothe hiere: +And understond nou wel the cas. +Venus Saturnes dowhter was, +Which alle danger putte aweie +Of love, and fond to lust a weie; 1390 +So that of hire in sondri place +Diverse men felle into grace, +And such a lusti lif sche ladde, +That sche diverse children hadde, +Nou on be this, nou on be that. +Of hire it was that Mars beyat +A child, which cleped was Armene; +Of hire also cam Andragene, +To whom Mercurie fader was: +Anchises begat Eneas 1400 +Of hire also, and Ericon +Biten begat, and therupon, +Whan that sche sih ther was non other, +Be Jupiter hire oghne brother +Sche lay, and he begat Cupide. +And thilke Sone upon a tyde, +Whan he was come unto his Age, +He hadde a wonder fair visage, +And fond his Moder amourous, +And he was also lecherous: 1410 +So whan thei weren bothe al one, +As he which yhen hadde none +To se reson, his Moder kiste; +And sche also, that nothing wiste +Bot that which unto lust belongeth, +To ben hire love him underfongeth. +Thus was he blind, and sche unwys: +Bot natheles this cause it is, +Why Cupide is the god of love, +For he his moder dorste love. 1420 +And sche, which thoghte hire lustes fonde, +Diverse loves tok in honde, +Wel mo thanne I the tolde hiere: +And for sche wolde hirselve skiere, +Sche made comun that desport, +And sette a lawe of such a port, +That every womman mihte take +What man hire liste, and noght forsake +To ben als comun as sche wolde. +Sche was the ferste also which tolde 1430 +That wommen scholde here bodi selle; +Semiramis, so as men telle, +Of Venus kepte thilke aprise, +And so dede in the same wise +Of Rome faire Neabole, +Which liste hire bodi to rigole; +Sche was to every man felawe, +And hild the lust of thilke lawe, +Which Venus of hirself began; +Wherof that sche the name wan, 1440 +Why men hire clepen the goddesse +Of love and ek of gentilesse, +Of worldes lust and of plesance. + +Se nou the foule mescreance +Of Greks in thilke time tho, +Whan Venus tok hire name so. +Ther was no cause under the Mone +Of which thei hadden tho to done, +Of wel or wo wher so it was, +That thei ne token in that cas 1450 +A god to helpe or a goddesse. +Wherof, to take mi witnesse, + +The king of Bragmans Dindimus +Wrot unto Alisandre thus: +In blaminge of the Grekes feith +And of the misbelieve, he seith +How thei for every membre hadden +A sondri god, to whom thei spradden +Here armes, and of help besoghten. + +Minerve for the hed thei soghten, 1460 +For sche was wys, and of a man +The wit and reson which he can +Is in the celles of the brayn, +Wherof thei made hire soverain. + +Mercurie, which was in his dawes +A gret spekere of false lawes, +On him the kepinge of the tunge +Thei leide, whan thei spieke or sunge. + +For Bachus was a glotoun eke, +Him for the throte thei beseke, 1470 +That he it wolde waisshen ofte +With swote drinkes and with softe. + +The god of schuldres and of armes +Was Hercules; for he in armes +The myhtieste was to fihte, +To him tho Limes they behihte. + +The god whom that thei clepen Mart +The brest to kepe hath for his part, +Forth with the herte, in his ymage +That he adresce the corage. 1480 + +And of the galle the goddesse, +For sche was full of hastifesse +Of wraththe and liht to grieve also, +Thei made and seide it was Juno. + +Cupide, which the brond afyre +Bar in his hond, he was the Sire +Of the Stomak, which builleth evere, +Wherof the lustes ben the levere. + +To the goddesse Cereres, +Which of the corn yaf hire encress 1490 +Upon the feith that tho was take, +The wombes cure was betake; + +And Venus thurgh the Lecherie, +For which that thei hire deifie, +Sche kept al doun the remenant +To thilke office appourtenant. + +Thus was dispers in sondri wise +The misbelieve, as I devise, +With many an ymage of entaile, +Of suche as myhte hem noght availe; 1500 +For thei withoute lyves chiere +Unmyhti ben to se or hiere +Or speke or do or elles fiele; +And yit the foles to hem knele, +Which is here oghne handes werk. +Ha lord, hou this believe is derk, +And fer fro resonable wit! +And natheles thei don it yit: +That was to day a ragged tre, +To morwe upon his majeste 1510 +Stant in the temple wel besein. +How myhte a mannes resoun sein +That such a Stock mai helpe or grieve? +Bot thei that ben of such believe +And unto suche goddes calle, +It schal to hem riht so befalle, +And failen ate moste nede. +Bot if thee list to taken hiede +And of the ferste ymage wite, +Petornius therof hath write 1520 +And ek Nigargorus also; +And thei afferme and write so, +That Promotheus was tofore +And fond the ferste craft therfore, +And Cirophanes, as thei telle, +Thurgh conseil which was take in helle, +In remembrance of his lignage +Let setten up the ferste ymage. + +Of Cirophanes seith the bok, +That he for sorwe, which he tok 1530 +Of that he sih his Sone ded, +Of confort knew non other red, +Bot let do make in remembrance +A faire ymage of his semblance +And sette it in the market place, +Which openly tofore his face +Stod every dai to don him ese. +And thei that thanne wolden plese +The fader, scholden it obeie, +Whan that they comen thilke weie. 1540 + +And of Ninus king of Assire +I rede hou that in his empire +He was next after the secounde +Of hem that ferst ymages founde. +For he riht in semblable cas +Of Belus, which his fader was +Fro Nembroth in the rihte line, +Let make of gold and Stones fine +A precious ymage riche +After his fader evene liche; 1550 +And therupon a lawe he sette, +That every man of pure dette +With sacrifice and with truage +Honoure scholde thilke ymage: +So that withinne time it fell, +Of Belus cam the name of Bel, +Of Bel cam Belzebub, and so +The misbelieve wente tho. + +The thridde ymage next to this +Was, whan the king of Grece Apis 1560 +Was ded, thei maden a figure +In resemblance of his stature. +Of this king Apis seith the bok +That Serapis his name tok, +In whom thurgh long continuance +Of misbelieve a gret creance +Thei hadden, and the reverence +Of Sacrifice and of encence +To him thei made: and as thei telle, +Among the wondres that befelle, 1570 +Whan Alisandre fro Candace +Cam ridende, in a wilde place +Undur an hull a Cave he fond; +And Candalus, which in that lond +Was bore, and was Candaces Sone, +Him tolde hou that of commun wone +The goddes were in thilke cave. +And he, that wolde assaie and have +A knowlechinge if it be soth, +Liht of his hors and in he goth, 1580 +And fond therinne that he soghte: +For thurgh the fendes sleihte him thoghte, +Amonges othre goddes mo +That Serapis spak to him tho, +Whom he sih there in gret arrai. +And thus the fend fro dai to dai +The worschipe of ydolatrie +Drowh forth upon the fantasie +Of hem that weren thanne blinde +And couthen noght the trouthe finde. 1590 + +Thus hast thou herd in what degre +Of Grece, Egipte and of Caldee +The misbelieves whilom stode; +And hou so that thei be noght goode +Ne trewe, yit thei sprungen oute, +Wherof the wyde world aboute +His part of misbelieve tok. +Til so befell, as seith the bok, +That god a poeple for himselve +Hath chose of the lignages tuelve, 1600 +Wherof the sothe redely, +As it is write in Genesi, +I thenke telle in such a wise +That it schal be to thin apprise. + +After the flod, fro which Noë +Was sauf, the world in his degre +Was mad, as who seith, newe ayein, +Of flour, of fruit, of gras, of grein, +Of beste, of bridd and of mankinde, +Which evere hath be to god unkinde: 1610 +For noght withstondende al the fare, +Of that this world was mad so bare +And afterward it was restored, +Among the men was nothing mored +Towardes god of good lyvynge, +Bot al was torned to likinge +After the fleissh, so that foryete +Was he which yaf hem lif and mete, +Of hevene and Erthe creatour. +And thus cam forth the grete errour, 1620 +That thei the hihe god ne knewe, +Bot maden othre goddes newe, +As thou hast herd me seid tofore: +Ther was noman that time bore, +That he ne hadde after his chois +A god, to whom he yaf his vois. +Wherof the misbelieve cam +Into the time of Habraham: +Bot he fond out the rihte weie, +Hou only that men scholde obeie 1630 +The hihe god, which weldeth al, +And evere hath don and evere schal, +In hevene, in Erthe and ek in helle; +Ther is no tunge his miht mai telle. +This Patriarch to his lignage +Forbad, that thei to non ymage +Encline scholde in none wise, +Bot here offrende and sacrifise +With al the hole hertes love +Unto the mihti god above 1640 +Thei scholden yive and to no mo: +And thus in thilke time tho +Began the Secte upon this Erthe, +Which of believes was the ferthe. +Of rihtwisnesse it was conceived, +So moste it nedes be received +Of him that alle riht is inne, +The hihe god, which wolde winne +A poeple unto his oghne feith. +On Habraham the ground he leith, 1650 +And made him forto multeplie +Into so gret a progenie, +That thei Egipte al overspradde. +Bot Pharao with wrong hem ladde +In servitute ayein the pes, +Til god let sende Moises +To make the deliverance; +And for his poeple gret vengance +He tok, which is to hiere a wonder. +The king was slain, the lond put under, 1660 +God bad the rede See divide, +Which stod upriht on either side +And yaf unto his poeple a weie, +That thei on fote it passe dreie +And gon so forth into desert: +Wher forto kepe hem in covert, +The daies, whan the Sonne brente, +A large cloude hem overwente, +And forto wissen hem be nyhte, +A firy Piler hem alyhte. 1670 +And whan that thei for hunger pleigne, +The myhti god began to reyne +Manna fro hevene doun to grounde, +Wherof that ech of hem hath founde +His fode, such riht as him liste; +And for thei scholde upon him triste, +Riht as who sette a tonne abroche, +He percede the harde roche, +And sprong out water al at wille, +That man and beste hath drunke his fille: 1680 +And afterward he yaf the lawe +To Moises, that hem withdrawe +Thei scholden noght fro that he bad. +And in this wise thei be lad, +Til thei toke in possession +The londes of promission, +Wher that Caleph and Josuë +The Marches upon such degre +Departen, after the lignage +That ech of hem as Heritage 1690 +His porpartie hath underfonge. +And thus stod this believe longe, +Which of prophetes was governed; +And thei hadde ek the poeple lerned +Of gret honour that scholde hem falle; +Bot ate moste nede of alle +Thei faileden, whan Crist was bore. +Bot hou that thei here feith have bore, +It nedeth noght to tellen al, +The matiere is so general: 1700 +Whan Lucifer was best in hevene +And oghte moste have stonde in evene, +Towardes god he tok debat; +And for that he was obstinat, +And wolde noght to trouthe encline, +He fell for evere into ruine: +And Adam ek in Paradis, +Whan he stod most in al his pris +After thastat of Innocence, +Ayein the god brak his defence 1710 +And fell out of his place aweie: +And riht be such a maner weie +The Jwes in here beste plit, +Whan that thei scholden most parfit +Have stonde upon the prophecie, +Tho fellen thei to most folie, +And him which was fro hevene come, +And of a Maide his fleissh hath nome, +And was among hem bore and fedd, +As men that wolden noght be spedd 1720 +Of goddes Sone, with o vois +Thei hinge and slowhe upon the crois. +Wherof the parfit of here lawe +Fro thanne forth hem was withdrawe, +So that thei stonde of no merit, +Bot in truage as folk soubgit +Withoute proprete of place +Thei liven out of goddes grace, +Dispers in alle londes oute. + +And thus the feith is come aboute, 1730 +That whilom in the Jewes stod, +Which is noght parfihtliche good. +To speke as it is nou befalle, +Ther is a feith aboven alle, +In which the trouthe is comprehended, +Wherof that we ben alle amended. + +The hihe almyhti majeste, +Of rihtwisnesse and of pite, +The Sinne which that Adam wroghte, +Whan he sih time, ayein he boghte, 1740 +And sende his Sone fro the hevene +To sette mannes Soule in evene, +Which thanne was so sore falle +Upon the point which was befalle, +That he ne mihte himself arise. + +Gregoire seith in his aprise, +It helpeth noght a man be bore, +If goddes Sone were unbore; +For thanne thurgh the ferste Sinne, +Which Adam whilom broghte ous inne, 1750 +Ther scholden alle men be lost; +Bot Crist restoreth thilke lost, +And boghte it with his fleissh and blod. +And if we thenken hou it stod +Of thilke rancoun which he payde, +As seint Gregoire it wrot and sayde, +Al was behovely to the man: +For that wherof his wo began +Was after cause of al his welthe, +Whan he which is the welle of helthe, 1760 +The hihe creatour of lif, +Upon the nede of such a strif +So wolde for his creature +Take on himself the forsfaiture +And soffre for the mannes sake. +Thus mai no reson wel forsake +That thilke Senne original +Ne was the cause in special +Of mannes worschipe ate laste, +Which schal withouten ende laste. 1770 +For be that cause the godhede +Assembled was to the manhede +In the virgine, where he nom +Oure fleissh and verai man becom +Of bodely fraternite; +Wherof the man in his degre +Stant more worth, as I have told, +Than he stod erst be manyfold, +Thurgh baptesme of the newe lawe, +Of which Crist lord is and felawe. 1780 + +And thus the hihe goddes myht, +Which was in the virgine alyht, +The mannes Soule hath reconsiled, +Which hadde longe ben exiled. +So stant the feith upon believe, +Withoute which mai non achieve +To gete him Paradis ayein: +Bot this believe is so certein, +So full of grace and of vertu, +That what man clepeth to Jhesu 1790 +In clene lif forthwith good dede, +He mai noght faile of hevene mede, +Which taken hath the rihte feith; +For elles, as the gospel seith, +Salvacion ther mai be non. +And forto preche therupon +Crist bad to hise Apostles alle, +The whos pouer as nou is falle +On ous that ben of holi cherche, +If we the goode dedes werche; 1800 +For feith only sufficeth noght, +Bot if good dede also be wroght. +Now were it good that thou forthi, +Which thurgh baptesme proprely +Art unto Cristes feith professed, +Be war that thou be noght oppressed +With Anticristes lollardie. +For as the Jwes prophecie +Was set of god for avantage, +Riht so this newe tapinage 1810 +Of lollardie goth aboute +To sette Cristes feith in doute. +The seintz that weren ous tofore, +Be whom the feith was ferst upbore, +That holi cherche stod relieved, +Thei oghten betre be believed +Than these, whiche that men knowe +Noght holy, thogh thei feigne and blowe +Here lollardie in mennes Ere. +Bot if thou wolt live out of fere, 1820 +Such newe lore, I rede, eschuie, +And hold forth riht the weie and suie, +As thine Ancestres dede er this: +So schalt thou noght believe amis. + +Crist wroghte ferst and after tawhte, +So that the dede his word arawhte; +He yaf ensample in his persone, +And we the wordes have al one, +Lich to the Tree with leves grene, +Upon the which no fruit is sene. 1830 + +The Priest Thoas, which of Minerve +The temple hadde forto serve, +And the Palladion of Troie +Kepte under keie, for monoie, +Of Anthenor which he hath nome, +Hath soffred Anthenor to come +And the Palladion to stele, +Wherof the worschipe and the wele +Of the Troiens was overthrowe. +Bot Thoas at the same throwe, 1840 +Whan Anthenor this Juel tok, +Wynkende caste awei his lok +For a deceipte and for a wyle: +As he that scholde himself beguile, +He hidde his yhen fro the sihte, +And wende wel that he so mihte +Excuse his false conscience. +I wot noght if thilke evidence +Nou at this time in here estatz +Excuse mihte the Prelatz, 1850 +Knowende hou that the feith discresceth +And alle moral vertu cesseth, +Wherof that thei the keies bere, +Bot yit hem liketh noght to stere +Here gostliche yhe forto se +The world in his adversite; +Thei wol no labour undertake +To kepe that hem is betake. +Crist deide himselve for the feith, +Bot nou our feerfull prelat seith, 1860 +“The lif is suete,” and that he kepeth, +So that the feith unholpe slepeth, +And thei unto here ese entenden +And in here lust her lif despenden, +And every man do what him list. +Thus stant this world fulfild of Mist, +That noman seth the rihte weie: +The wardes of the cherche keie +Thurgh mishandlinge ben myswreynt, +The worldes wawe hath welnyh dreynt 1870 +The Schip which Peter hath to stiere, +The forme is kept, bot the matiere +Transformed is in other wise. +Bot if thei weren gostli wise, +And that the Prelatz weren goode, +As thei be olde daies stode, +It were thanne litel nede +Among the men to taken hiede +Of that thei hieren Pseudo telle, +Which nou is come forto duelle, 1880 +To sowe cokkel with the corn, +So that the tilthe is nyh forlorn, +Which Crist sew ferst his oghne hond. +Nou stant the cockel in the lond, +Wher stod whilom the goode grein, +For the Prelatz nou, as men sein, +Forslowthen that thei scholden tile. +And that I trowe be the skile, +Whan ther is lacke in hem above, +The poeple is stranged to the love 1890 +Of trouthe, in cause of ignorance; +For wher ther is no pourveance +Of liht, men erren in the derke. +Bot if the Prelatz wolden werke +Upon the feith which thei ous teche, +Men scholden noght here weie seche +Withoute liht, as now is used: +Men se the charge aldai refused, +Which holi cherche hath undertake. + +Bot who that wolde ensample take, 1900 +Gregoire upon his Omelie +Ayein the Slouthe of Prelacie +Compleigneth him, and thus he seith: +“Whan Peter, fader of the feith, +At domesdai schal with him bringe +Judeam, which thurgh his prechinge +He wan, and Andrew with Achaie +Schal come his dette forto paie, +And Thomas ek with his beyete +Of Ynde, and Poul the routes grete 1910 +Of sondri londes schal presente, +And we fulfild of lond and rente, +Which of this world we holden hiere, +With voide handes schul appiere, +Touchende oure cure spirital, +Which is our charge in special, +I not what thing it mai amonte +Upon thilke ende of oure accompte, +Wher Crist himself is Auditour, +Which takth non hiede of vein honour.” 1920 +Thoffice of the Chancellerie +Or of the kinges Tresorie +Ne for the writ ne for the taille +To warant mai noght thanne availe; +The world, which nou so wel we trowe, +Schal make ous thanne bot a mowe: +So passe we withoute mede, +That we non otherwise spede, +Bot as we rede that he spedde, +The which his lordes besant hedde 1930 +And therupon gat non encress. +Bot at this time natheles, +What other man his thonk deserve, +The world so lusti is to serve, +That we with him ben all acorded, +And that is wist and wel recorded +Thurghout this Erthe in alle londes +Let knyhtes winne with here hondes, +For oure tunge schal be stille +And stonde upon the fleisshes wille. 1940 +It were a travail forto preche +The feith of Crist, as forto teche +The folk Paiene, it wol noght be; +Bot every Prelat holde his See +With al such ese as he mai gete +Of lusti drinke and lusti mete, +Wherof the bodi fat and full +Is unto gostli labour dull +And slowh to handle thilke plowh. +Bot elles we ben swifte ynowh 1950 +Toward the worldes Avarice; +And that is as a sacrifice, +Which, after that thapostel seith, +Is openly ayein the feith +Unto thidoles yove and granted: +Bot natheles it is nou haunted, +And vertu changed into vice, +So that largesce is Avarice, +In whos chapitre now we trete. + +Mi fader, this matiere is bete 1960 +So fer, that evere whil I live +I schal the betre hede yive +Unto miself be many weie: +Bot over this nou wolde I preie +To wite what the branches are +Of Avarice, and hou thei fare +Als wel in love as otherwise. + +Mi Sone, and I thee schal devise +In such a manere as thei stonde, +So that thou schalt hem understonde. 1970 + +Dame Avarice is noght soleine, +Which is of gold the Capiteine; +Bot of hir Court in sondri wise +After the Scole of hire aprise +Sche hath of Servantz manyon, +Wherof that Covoitise is on; +Which goth the large world aboute, +To seche thavantages oute, +Wher that he mai the profit winne +To Avarice, and bringth it inne. 1980 +That on hald and that other draweth, +Ther is no day which hem bedaweth, +No mor the Sonne than the Mone, +Whan ther is eny thing to done, +And namely with Covoitise; +For he stant out of al assisse +Of resonable mannes fare. +Wher he pourposeth him to fare +Upon his lucre and his beyete, +The smale path, the large Strete, 1990 +The furlong and the longe Mile, +Al is bot on for thilke while: +And for that he is such on holde, +Dame Avarice him hath withholde, +As he which is the principal +Outward, for he is overal +A pourveour and an aspie. +For riht as of an hungri Pie +The storve bestes ben awaited, +Riht so is Covoitise afaited 2000 +To loke where he mai pourchace, +For be his wille he wolde embrace +Al that this wyde world beclippeth; +Bot evere he somwhat overhippeth, +That he ne mai noght al fulfille +The lustes of his gredi wille. +Bot where it falleth in a lond, +That Covoitise in myhti hond +Is set, it is ful hard to fiede; +For thanne he takth non other hiede, 2010 +Bot that he mai pourchace and gete, +His conscience hath al foryete, +And not what thing it mai amonte +That he schal afterward acompte. +Bote as the Luce in his degre +Of tho that lasse ben than he +The fisshes griedeli devoureth, +So that no water hem socoureth, +Riht so no lawe mai rescowe +Fro him that wol no riht allowe; 2020 +For wher that such on is of myht, +His will schal stonde in stede of riht. +Thus be the men destruid fulofte, +Til that the grete god alofte +Ayein so gret a covoitise +Redresce it in his oghne wise: +And in ensample of alle tho +I finde a tale write so, +The which, for it is good to liere, +Hierafterward thou schalt it hiere. 2030 + +Whan Rome stod in noble plit, +Virgile, which was tho parfit, +A Mirour made of his clergie +And sette it in the tounes ije +Of marbre on a piler withoute; +That thei be thritty Mile aboute +Be daie and ek also be nyhte +In that Mirour beholde myhte +Here enemys, if eny were, +With al here ordinance there, 2040 +Which thei ayein the Cite caste: +So that, whil thilke Mirour laste, +Ther was no lond which mihte achieve +With werre Rome forto grieve; +Wherof was gret envie tho. +And fell that ilke time so, +That Rome hadde werres stronge +Ayein Cartage, and stoden longe +The tuo Cites upon debat. +Cartage sih the stronge astat 2050 +Of Rome in thilke Mirour stonde, +And thoghte al prively to fonde +To overthrowe it be som wyle. +And Hanybal was thilke while +The Prince and ledere of Cartage, +Which hadde set al his corage +Upon knihthod in such a wise, +That he be worthi and be wise +And be non othre was conseiled, +Wherof the world is yit merveiled 2060 +Of the maistries that he wroghte +Upon the marches whiche he soghte. +And fell in thilke time also, +The king of Puile, which was tho, +Thoghte ayein Rome to rebelle, +And thus was take the querele, +Hou to destruie this Mirour. + +Of Rome tho was Emperour +Crassus, which was so coveitous, +That he was evere desirous 2070 +Of gold to gete the pilage; +Wherof that Puile and ek Cartage +With Philosophres wise and grete +Begunne of this matiere trete, +And ate laste in this degre +Ther weren Philosophres thre, +To do this thing whiche undertoke, +And therupon thei with hem toke +A gret tresor of gold in cophres, +To Rome and thus these philisophres 2080 +Togedre in compainie wente, +Bot noman wiste what thei mente. +Whan thei to Rome come were, +So prively thei duelte there, +As thei that thoghten to deceive: +Was non that mihte of hem perceive, +Til thei in sondri stedes have +Here gold under the ground begrave +In tuo tresors, that to beholde +Thei scholden seme as thei were olde. 2090 +And so forth thanne upon a day +Al openly in good arai +To themperour thei hem presente, +And tolden it was here entente +To duellen under his servise. +And he hem axeth in what wise; +And thei him tolde in such a plit, +That ech of hem hadde a spirit, +The which slepende a nyht appiereth +And hem be sondri dremes lereth 2100 +After the world that hath betid. +Under the ground if oght be hid +Of old tresor at eny throwe, +They schull it in here swevenes knowe; +And upon this condicioun, +Thei sein, what gold under the toun +Of Rome is hid, thei wole it finde, +Ther scholde noght be left behinde, +Be so that he the halvendel +Hem grante, and he assenteth wel; 2110 +And thus cam sleighte forto duelle +With Covoitise, as I thee telle. +This Emperour bad redily +That thei be logged faste by +Where he his oghne body lay; +And whan it was amorwe day, +That on of hem seith that he mette +Wher he a goldhord scholde fette: +Wherof this Emperour was glad, +And therupon anon he bad 2120 +His Mynours forto go and myne, +And he himself of that covine +Goth forth withal, and at his hond +The tresor redi there he fond, +Where as thei seide it scholde be; +And who was thanne glad bot he? + +Upon that other dai secounde +Thei have an other goldhord founde, +Which the seconde maister tok +Upon his swevene and undertok. 2130 +And thus the sothe experience +To themperour yaf such credence, +That al his trist and al his feith +So sikerliche on hem he leith, +Of that he fond him so relieved, +That thei ben parfitli believed, +As thogh thei were goddes thre. +Nou herkne the soutilete. + +The thridde maister scholde mete, +Which, as thei seiden, was unmete 2140 +Above hem alle, and couthe most; +And he withoute noise or bost +Al priveli, so as he wolde, +Upon the morwe his swevene tolde +To themperour riht in his Ere, +And seide him that he wiste where +A tresor was so plentivous +Of gold and ek so precious +Of jeueals and of riche stones, +That unto alle hise hors at ones 2150 +It were a charge sufficant. +This lord upon this covenant +Was glad, and axeth where it was. +The maister seide, under the glas, +And tolde him eke, as for the Myn +He wolde ordeigne such engin, +That thei the werk schull undersette +With Tymber, that withoute lette +Men mai the tresor saufli delve, +So that the Mirour be himselve 2160 +Withoute empeirement schal stonde: +And this the maister upon honde +Hath undertake in alle weie. +This lord, which hadde his wit aweie +And was with Covoitise blent, +Anon therto yaf his assent; +And thus they myne forth withal, +The timber set up overal, +Wherof the Piler stod upriht; +Til it befell upon a nyht 2170 +These clerkes, whan thei were war +Hou that the timber only bar +The Piler, wher the Mirour stod,— +Here sleihte noman understod,— +Thei go be nyhte unto the Myne +With pich, with soulphre and with rosine, +And whan the Cite was a slepe, +A wylde fyr into the depe +They caste among the timberwerk, +And so forth, whil the nyht was derk, 2180 +Desguised in a povere arai +Thei passeden the toun er dai. +And whan thei come upon an hell, +Thei sihen how the Mirour fell, +Wherof thei maden joie ynowh, +And ech of hem with other lowh, +And seiden, “Lo, what coveitise +Mai do with hem that be noght wise!” +And that was proved afterward, +For every lond, to Romeward 2190 +Which hadde be soubgit tofore, +Whan this Mirour was so forlore +And thei the wonder herde seie, +Anon begunne desobeie +With werres upon every side; +And thus hath Rome lost his pride +And was defouled overal. +For this I finde of Hanybal, +That he of Romeins in a dai, +Whan he hem fond out of arai, 2200 +So gret a multitude slowh, +That of goldringes, whiche he drowh +Of gentil handes that ben dede, +Buisshelles fulle thre, I rede, +He felde, and made a bregge also, +That he mihte over Tibre go +Upon the corps that dede were +Of the Romeins, whiche he slowh there. + +Bot now to speke of the juise, +The which after the covoitise 2210 +Was take upon this Emperour, +For he destruide the Mirour; +It is a wonder forto hiere. +The Romeins maden a chaiere +And sette here Emperour therinne, +And seiden, for he wolde winne +Of gold the superfluite, +Of gold he scholde such plente +Receive, til he seide Ho: +And with gold, which thei hadden tho 2220 +Buillende hot withinne a panne, +Into his Mouth thei poure thanne. +And thus the thurst of gold was queynt, +With gold which hadde ben atteignt. + +Wherof, mi Sone, thou miht hiere, +Whan Covoitise hath lost the stiere +Of resonable governance, +Ther falleth ofte gret vengance. +For ther mai be no worse thing +Than Covoitise aboute a king: 2230 +If it in his persone be, +It doth the more adversite; +And if it in his conseil stonde, +It bringth alday meschief to honde +Of commun harm; and if it growe +Withinne his court, it wol be knowe, +For thanne schal the king be piled. +The man which hath hise londes tiled, +Awaiteth noght more redily +The Hervest, than thei gredily 2240 +Ne maken thanne warde and wacche, +Wher thei the profit mihten cacche: +And yit fulofte it falleth so, +As men mai sen among hem tho, +That he which most coveiteth faste +Hath lest avantage ate laste. +For whan fortune is therayein, +Thogh he coveite, it is in vein; +The happes be noght alle liche, +On is mad povere, an other riche, 2250 +The court to some doth profit, +And some ben evere in o plit; +And yit thei bothe aliche sore +Coveite, bot fortune is more +Unto that o part favorable. +And thogh it be noght resonable, +This thing a man mai sen alday, +Wherof that I thee telle may +A fair ensample in remembrance, +Hou every man mot take his chance 2260 +Or of richesse or of poverte. +Hou so it stonde of the decerte, +Hier is noght every thing aquit, +For ofte a man mai se this yit, +That who best doth, lest thonk schal have; +It helpeth noght the world to crave, +Which out of reule and of mesure +Hath evere stonde in aventure +Als wel in Court as elles where: +And hou in olde daies there 2270 +It stod, so as the thinges felle, +I thenke a tale forto telle. + +In a Cronique this I rede. +Aboute a king, as moste nede, +Ther was of knyhtes and squiers +Gret route, and ek of Officers: +Some of long time him hadden served, +And thoghten that thei have deserved +Avancement, and gon withoute; +And some also ben of the route 2280 +That comen bot a while agon, +And thei avanced were anon. +These olde men upon this thing, +So as thei dorste, ayein the king +Among hemself compleignen ofte: +Bot ther is nothing seid so softe, +That it ne comth out ate laste; +The king it wiste, and als so faste, +As he which was of hih Prudence, +He schop therfore an evidence 2290 +Of hem that pleignen in that cas, +To knowe in whos defalte it was. +And al withinne his oghne entente, +That noman wiste what it mente, +Anon he let tuo cofres make +Of o semblance and of o make, +So lich that no lif thilke throwe +That on mai fro that other knowe: +Thei were into his chambre broght, +Bot noman wot why thei be wroght, 2300 +And natheles the king hath bede +That thei be set in prive stede. +As he that was of wisdom slih, +Whan he therto his time sih, +Al prively, that non it wiste, +Hise oghne hondes that o kiste +Of fin gold and of fin perrie, +The which out of his tresorie +Was take, anon he felde full; +That other cofre of straw and mull 2310 +With Stones meind he felde also. +Thus be thei fulle bothe tuo, +So that erliche upon a day +He bad withinne, ther he lay, +Ther scholde be tofore his bed +A bord upset and faire spred; +And thanne he let the cofres fette, +Upon the bord and dede hem sette. +He knew the names wel of tho, +The whiche ayein him grucche so, 2320 +Bothe of his chambre and of his halle, +Anon and sende for hem alle, +And seide to hem in this wise: +“Ther schal noman his happ despise; +I wot wel ye have longe served, +And god wot what ye have deserved: +Bot if it is along on me +Of that ye unavanced be, +Or elles it be long on you, +The sothe schal be proved nou, 2330 +To stoppe with youre evele word. +Lo hier tuo cofres on the bord: +Ches which you list of bothe tuo; +And witeth wel that on of tho +Is with tresor so full begon, +That if ye happe therupon, +Ye schull be riche men for evere. +Now ches and tak which you is levere: +Bot be wel war, er that ye take; +For of that on I undertake 2340 +Ther is no maner good therinne, +Wherof ye mihten profit winne. +Now goth togedre of on assent +And taketh youre avisement, +For bot I you this dai avance, +It stant upon youre oghne chance +Al only in defalte of grace: +So schal be schewed in this place +Upon you alle wel afyn, +That no defalte schal be myn.” 2350 +Thei knelen alle and with o vois +The king thei thonken of this chois: +And after that thei up arise, +And gon aside and hem avise, +And ate laste thei acorde; +Wherof her tale to recorde, +To what issue thei be falle, +A kniht schal speke for hem alle. +He kneleth doun unto the king, +And seith that thei upon this thing, 2360 +Or forto winne or forto lese, +Ben alle avised forto chese. +Tho tok this kniht a yerde on honde, +And goth there as the cofres stonde, +And with assent of everichon +He leith his yerde upon that on, +And seith the king hou thilke same +Thei chese in reguerdoun be name, +And preith him that thei mote it have. +The king, which wolde his honour save, 2370 +Whan he hath herd the commun vois, +Hath granted hem here oghne chois +And tok hem therupon the keie. +Bot for he wolde it were seie +What good thei have, as thei suppose, +He bad anon the cofre unclose, +Which was fulfild with straw and stones: +Thus be thei served al at ones. +This king thanne in the same stede +Anon that other cofre undede, 2380 +Where as thei sihen gret richesse, +Wel more than thei couthen gesse. +“Lo,” seith the king, “nou mai ye se +That ther is no defalte in me; +Forthi miself I wole aquyte, +And bereth ye youre oghne wyte +Of that fortune hath you refused.” +Thus was this wise king excused, +And thei lefte of here evele speche +And mercy of here king beseche. 2390 + +Somdiel to this matiere lik +I finde a tale, hou Frederik, +Of Rome that time Emperour, +Herde, as he wente, a gret clamour +Of tuo beggers upon the weie. +That on of hem began to seie, +“Ha lord, wel mai the man be riche +Whom that a king list forto riche.” +That other saide nothing so, +Bot, “He is riche and wel bego, 2400 +To whom that god wole sende wele.” +And thus thei maden wordes fele, +Wherof this lord hath hiede nome, +And dede hem bothe forto come +To the Paleis, wher he schal ete, +And bad ordeine for here mete +Tuo Pastes, whiche he let do make. +A capoun in that on was bake, +And in that other forto winne +Of florins al that mai withinne 2410 +He let do pute a gret richesse; +And evene aliche, as man mai gesse, +Outward thei were bothe tuo. +This begger was comanded tho, +He that which hield him to the king, +That he ferst chese upon this thing: +He sih hem, bot he felte hem noght, +So that upon his oghne thoght +He ches the Capoun and forsok +That other, which his fela tok. 2420 +Bot whanne he wiste hou that it ferde, +He seide alowd, that men it herde, +“Nou have I certeinly conceived +That he mai lihtly be deceived, +That tristeth unto mannes helpe; +Bot wel is him whom god wol helpe, +For he stant on the siker side, +Which elles scholde go beside: +I se my fela wel recovere, +And I mot duelle stille povere.” 2430 + +Thus spak this begger his entente, +And povere he cam and povere he wente; +Of that he hath richesse soght, +His infortune it wolde noght. +So mai it schewe in sondri wise, +Betwen fortune and covoitise +The chance is cast upon a Dee; +Bot yit fulofte a man mai se +Ynowe of suche natheles, +Whiche evere pute hemself in press 2440 +To gete hem good, and yit thei faile. + +And forto speke of this entaile +Touchende of love in thi matiere, +Mi goode Sone, as thou miht hiere, +That riht as it with tho men stod +Of infortune of worldes good, +As thou hast herd me telle above, +Riht so fulofte it stant be love: +Thogh thou coveite it everemore, +Thou schalt noght have o diel the more, 2450 +Bot only that which thee is schape, +The remenant is bot a jape. +And natheles ynowe of tho +Ther ben, that nou coveiten so, +That where as thei a womman se, +Ye ten or tuelve thogh ther be, +The love is nou so unavised, +That wher the beaute stant assised, +The mannes herte anon is there, +And rouneth tales in hire Ere, 2460 +And seith hou that he loveth streite, +And thus he set him to coveite, +An hundred thogh he sihe aday. +So wolde he more thanne he may; +Bot for the grete covoitise +Of sotie and of fol emprise +In ech of hem he fint somwhat +That pleseth him, or this or that; +Som on, for sche is whit of skin, +Som on, for sche is noble of kin, 2470 +Som on, for sche hath rodi chieke, +Som on, for that sche semeth mieke, +Som on, for sche hath yhen greie, +Som on, for sche can lawhe and pleie, +Som on, for sche is long and smal, +Som on, for sche is lyte and tall, +Som on, for sche is pale and bleche, +Som on, for sche is softe of speche, +Som on, for that sche is camused, +Som on, for sche hath noght ben used, 2480 +Som on, for sche can daunce and singe; +So that som thing to his likinge +He fint, and thogh nomore he fiele, +Bot that sche hath a litel hiele, +It is ynow that he therfore +Hire love, and thus an hundred score, +Whil thei be newe, he wolde he hadde; +Whom he forsakth, sche schal be badde. +The blinde man no colour demeth, +But al is on, riht as him semeth; 2490 +So hath his lust no juggement, +Whom covoitise of love blent. +Him thenkth that to his covoitise +Hou al the world ne mai suffise, +For be his wille he wolde have alle, +If that it mihte so befalle: +Thus is he commun as the Strete, +I sette noght of his beyete. + +Mi Sone, hast thou such covoitise? + +Nai, fader, such love I despise, 2500 +And whil I live schal don evere, +For in good feith yit hadde I levere, +Than to coveite in such a weie, +To ben for evere til I deie +As povere as Job, and loveles, +Outaken on, for haveles +His thonkes is noman alyve. +For that a man scholde al unthryve +Ther oghte no wisman coveite, +The lawe was noght set so streite: 2510 +Forthi miself withal to save, +Such on ther is I wolde have, +And non of al these othre mo. + +Mi Sone, of that thou woldest so, +I am noght wroth, bot over this +I wol thee tellen hou it is. +For ther be men, whiche otherwise, +Riht only for the covoitise +Of that thei sen a womman riche, +Ther wol thei al here love affiche; 2520 +Noght for the beaute of hire face, +Ne yit for vertu ne for grace, +Which sche hath elles riht ynowh, +Bot for the Park and for the plowh, +And other thing which therto longeth: +For in non other wise hem longeth +To love, bot thei profit finde; +And if the profit be behinde, +Here love is evere lesse and lesse, +For after that sche hath richesse, 2530 +Her love is of proporcion. +If thou hast such condicion, +Mi Sone, tell riht as it is. + +Min holi fader, nay ywiss, +Condicion such have I non. +For trewli, fader, I love oon +So wel with al myn hertes thoght, +That certes, thogh sche hadde noght, +And were as povere as Medea, +Which was exiled for Creusa, 2540 +I wolde hir noght the lasse love; +Ne thogh sche were at hire above, +As was the riche qwen Candace, +Which to deserve love and grace +To Alisandre, that was king, +Yaf many a worthi riche thing, +Or elles as Pantasilee, +Which was the quen of Feminee, +And gret richesse with hir nam, +Whan sche for love of Hector cam 2550 +To Troie in rescousse of the toun,— +I am of such condicion, +That thogh mi ladi of hirselve +Were also riche as suche tuelve, +I couthe noght, thogh it wer so, +No betre love hir than I do. +For I love in so plein a wise, +That forto speke of coveitise, +As for poverte or for richesse +Mi love is nouther mor ne lesse. 2560 +For in good feith I trowe this, +So coveitous noman ther is, +Forwhy and he mi ladi sihe, +That he thurgh lokinge of his yhe +Ne scholde have such a strok withinne, +That for no gold he mihte winne +He scholde noght hire love asterte, +Bot if he lefte there his herte; +Be so it were such a man, +That couthe Skile of a womman. 2570 +For ther be men so ruide some, +Whan thei among the wommen come, +Thei gon under proteccioun, +That love and his affeccioun +Ne schal noght take hem be the slieve; +For thei ben out of that believe, +Hem lusteth of no ladi chiere, +Bot evere thenken there and hiere +Wher that here gold is in the cofre, +And wol non other love profre: 2580 +Bot who so wot what love amounteth +And be resoun trewliche acompteth, +Than mai he knowe and taken hiede +That al the lust of wommanhiede, +Which mai ben in a ladi face, +Mi ladi hath, and ek of grace +If men schull yiven hire a pris, +Thei mai wel seie hou sche is wys +And sobre and simple of contenance, +And al that to good governance 2590 +Belongeth of a worthi wiht +Sche hath pleinli: for thilke nyht +That sche was bore, as for the nones +Nature sette in hire at ones +Beaute with bounte so besein, +That I mai wel afferme and sein, +I sawh yit nevere creature +Of comlihied and of feture +In eny kinges regioun +Be lich hire in comparisoun: 2600 +And therto, as I have you told, +Yit hath sche more a thousendfold +Of bounte, and schortli to telle, +Sche is the pure hed and welle +And Mirour and ensample of goode. +Who so hir vertus understode, +Me thenkth it oughte ynow suffise +Withouten other covoitise +To love such on and to serve, +Which with hire chiere can deserve 2610 +To be beloved betre ywiss +Than sche per cas that richest is +And hath of gold a Milion. +Such hath be myn opinion +And evere schal: bot natheles +I seie noght sche is haveles, +That sche nys riche and wel at ese, +And hath ynow wherwith to plese +Of worldes good whom that hire liste; +Bot o thing wolde I wel ye wiste, 2620 +That nevere for no worldes good +Min herte untoward hire stod, +Bot only riht for pure love; +That wot the hihe god above. +Nou, fader, what seie ye therto? + +Mi Sone, I seie it is wel do. +For tak of this riht good believe, +What man that wole himself relieve +To love in eny other wise, +He schal wel finde his coveitise 2630 +Schal sore grieve him ate laste, +For such a love mai noght laste. +Bot nou, men sein, in oure daies +Men maken bot a fewe assaies, +Bot if the cause be richesse; +Forthi the love is wel the lesse. +And who that wolde ensamples telle, +Be olde daies as thei felle, +Than mihte a man wel understonde +Such love mai noght longe stonde. 2640 +Now herkne, Sone, and thou schalt hiere +A gret ensample of this matiere. + +To trete upon the cas of love, +So as we tolden hiere above, +I finde write a wonder thing. +Of Puile whilom was a king, +A man of hih complexioun +And yong, bot his affeccioun +After the nature of his age +Was yit noght falle in his corage 2650 +The lust of wommen forto knowe. +So it betidde upon a throwe +This lord fell into gret seknesse: +Phisique hath don the besinesse +Of sondri cures manyon +To make him hol; and therupon +A worthi maister which ther was +Yaf him conseil upon this cas, +That if he wolde have parfit hele, +He scholde with a womman dele, 2660 +A freissh, a yong, a lusti wiht, +To don him compaignie a nyht: +For thanne he seide him redily, +That he schal be al hol therby, +And otherwise he kneu no cure. + +This king, which stod in aventure +Of lif and deth, for medicine +Assented was, and of covine +His Steward, whom he tristeth wel, +He tok, and tolde him everydel, 2670 +Hou that this maister hadde seid: +And therupon he hath him preid +And charged upon his ligance, +That he do make porveance +Of such on as be covenable +For his plesance and delitable; +And bad him, hou that evere it stod, +That he schal spare for no good, +For his will is riht wel to paie. + +The Steward seide he wolde assaie: 2680 +Bot nou hierafter thou schalt wite, +As I finde in the bokes write, +What coveitise in love doth. +This Steward, forto telle soth, +Amonges al the men alyve +A lusti ladi hath to wyve, +Which natheles for gold he tok +And noght for love, as seith the bok. +A riche Marchant of the lond +Hir fader was, and hire fond 2690 +So worthily, and such richesse +Of worldes good and such largesse +With hire he yaf in mariage, +That only for thilke avantage +Of good this Steward hath hire take, +For lucre and noght for loves sake, +And that was afterward wel seene; +Nou herkne what it wolde meene. + +This Steward in his oghne herte +Sih that his lord mai noght asterte 2700 +His maladie, bot he have +A lusti womman him to save, +And thoghte he wolde yive ynowh +Of his tresor; wherof he drowh +Gret coveitise into his mynde, +And sette his honour fer behynde. +Thus he, whom gold hath overset, +Was trapped in his oghne net; +The gold hath mad hise wittes lame, +So that sechende his oghne schame 2710 +He rouneth in the kinges Ere, +And seide him that he wiste where +A gentile and a lusti on +Tho was, and thider wolde he gon: +Bot he mot yive yiftes grete; +For bot it be thurgh grete beyete +Of gold, he seith, he schal noght spede. +The king him bad upon the nede +That take an hundred pound he scholde, +And yive it where that he wolde, 2720 +Be so it were in worthi place: +And thus to stonde in loves grace +This king his gold hath abandouned. +And whan this tale was full rouned, +The Steward tok the gold and wente, +Withinne his herte and many a wente +Of coveitise thanne he caste, +Wherof a pourpos ate laste +Ayein love and ayein his riht +He tok, and seide hou thilke nyht 2730 +His wif schal ligge be the king; +And goth thenkende upon this thing +Toward his In, til he cam hom +Into the chambre, and thanne he nom +His wif, and tolde hire al the cas. +And sche, which red for schame was, +With bothe hire handes hath him preid +Knelende and in this wise seid, +That sche to reson and to skile +In what thing that he bidde wile 2740 +Is redy forto don his heste, +Bot this thing were noght honeste, +That he for gold hire scholde selle. +And he tho with hise wordes felle +Forth with his gastly contienance +Seith that sche schal don obeissance +And folwe his will in every place; +And thus thurgh strengthe of his manace +Hir innocence is overlad, +Wherof sche was so sore adrad 2750 +That sche his will mot nede obeie. +And therupon was schape a weie, +That he his oghne wif be nyhte +Hath out of alle mennes sihte +So prively that non it wiste +Broght to the king, which as him liste +Mai do with hire what he wolde. +For whan sche was ther as sche scholde, +With him abedde under the cloth, +The Steward tok his leve and goth 2760 +Into a chambre faste by; +Bot hou he slep, that wot noght I, +For he sih cause of jelousie. + +Bot he, which hath the compainie +Of such a lusti on as sche, +Him thoghte that of his degre +Ther was noman so wel at ese: +Sche doth al that sche mai to plese, +So that his herte al hol sche hadde; +And thus this king his joie ladde, 2770 +Til it was nyh upon the day. +The Steward thanne wher sche lay +Cam to the bedd, and in his wise +Hath bede that sche scholde arise. +The king seith, “Nay, sche schal noght go.” +His Steward seide ayein, “Noght so; +For sche mot gon er it be knowe, +And so I swor at thilke throwe, +Whan I hire fette to you hiere.” +The king his tale wol noght hiere, 2780 +And seith hou that he hath hire boght, +Forthi sche schal departe noght, +Til he the brighte dai beholde. +And cawhte hire in hise armes folde, +As he which liste forto pleie, +And bad his Steward gon his weie, +And so he dede ayein his wille. +And thus his wif abedde stille +Lay with the king the longe nyht, +Til that it was hih Sonne lyht; 2790 +Bot who sche was he knew nothing. + +Tho cam the Steward to the king +And preide him that withoute schame +In savinge of hire goode name +He myhte leden hom ayein +This lady, and hath told him plein +Hou that it was his oghne wif. +The king his Ere unto this strif +Hath leid, and whan that he it herde, +Welnyh out of his wit he ferde, 2800 +And seide, “Ha, caitif most of alle, +Wher was it evere er this befalle, +That eny cokard in this wise +Betok his wif for coveitise? +Thou hast bothe hire and me beguiled +And ek thin oghne astat reviled, +Wherof that buxom unto thee +Hierafter schal sche nevere be. +For this avou to god I make, +After this day if I thee take, 2810 +Thou schalt ben honged and todrawe. +Nou loke anon thou be withdrawe, +So that I se thee neveremore.” +This Steward thanne dradde him sore, +With al the haste that he mai +And fledde awei that same dai, +And was exiled out of londe. + +Lo, there a nyce housebonde, +Which thus hath lost his wif for evere! +Bot natheles sche hadde a levere; 2820 +The king hire weddeth and honoureth, +Wherof hire name sche socoureth, +Which erst was lost thurgh coveitise +Of him, that ladde hire other wise, +And hath himself also forlore. + +Mi Sone, be thou war therfore, +Wher thou schalt love in eny place, +That thou no covoitise embrace, +The which is noght of loves kinde. +Bot for al that a man mai finde 2830 +Nou in this time of thilke rage +Ful gret desese in mariage, +Whan venym melleth with the Sucre +And mariage is mad for lucre, +Or for the lust or for the hele: +What man that schal with outher dele, +He mai noght faile to repente. + +Mi fader, such is myn entente: +Bot natheles good is to have, +For good mai ofte time save 2840 +The love which scholde elles spille. +Bot god, which wot myn hertes wille, +I dar wel take to witnesse, +Yit was I nevere for richesse +Beset with mariage non; +For al myn herte is upon on +So frely, that in the persone +Stant al my worldes joie al one: +I axe nouther Park ne Plowh, +If I hire hadde, it were ynowh, 2850 +Hir love scholde me suffise +Withouten other coveitise. +Lo now, mi fader, as of this, +Touchende of me riht as it is, +Mi schrifte I am beknowe plein; +And if ye wole oght elles sein, +Of covoitise if ther be more +In love, agropeth out the sore. + +Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde +Hou Coveitise hath yit on honde 2860 +In special tuo conseilours, +That ben also hise procurours. +The ferst of hem is Falswitnesse, +Which evere is redi to witnesse +What thing his maister wol him hote: +Perjurie is the secounde hote, +Which spareth noght to swere an oth, +Thogh it be fals and god be wroth. +That on schal falswitnesse bere, +That other schal the thing forswere, 2870 +Whan he is charged on the bok. +So what with hepe and what with crok +Thei make here maister ofte winne +And wol noght knowe what is sinne +For coveitise, and thus, men sain, +Thei maken many a fals bargain. +Ther mai no trewe querele arise +In thilke queste and thilke assise, +Where as thei tuo the poeple enforme; +For thei kepe evere o maner forme, 2880 +That upon gold here conscience +Thei founde, and take here evidence; +And thus with falswitnesse and othes +Thei winne hem mete and drinke and clothes. + +Riht so ther be, who that hem knewe, +Of thes lovers ful many untrewe: +Nou mai a womman finde ynowe, +That ech of hem, whan he schal wowe, +Anon he wole his hand doun lein +Upon a bok, and swere and sein 2890 +That he wole feith and trouthe bere; +And thus he profreth him to swere +To serven evere til he die, +And al is verai tricherie. +For whan the sothe himselven trieth, +The more he swerth, the more he lieth; +Whan he his feith makth althermest, +Than mai a womman truste him lest; +For til he mai his will achieve, +He is no lengere forto lieve. 2900 +Thus is the trouthe of love exiled, +And many a good womman beguiled. + +And ek to speke of Falswitnesse, +There be nou many suche, I gesse, +That lich unto the provisours +Thei make here prive procurours, +To telle hou ther is such a man, +Which is worthi to love and can +Al that a good man scholde kunne; +So that with lesinge is begunne 2910 +The cause in which thei wole procede, +And also siker as the crede +Thei make of that thei knowen fals. +And thus fulofte aboute the hals +Love is of false men embraced; +Bot love which is so pourchaced +Comth afterward to litel pris. +Forthi, mi Sone, if thou be wis, +Nou thou hast herd this evidence, +Thou miht thin oghne conscience 2920 +Oppose, if thou hast ben such on. + +Nai, god wot, fader I am non, +Ne nevere was; for as men seith, +Whan that a man schal make his feith, +His herte and tunge moste acorde; +For if so be that thei discorde, +Thanne is he fals and elles noght: +And I dar seie, as of my thoght, +In love it is noght descordable +Unto mi word, bot acordable. 2930 +And in this wise, fader, I +Mai riht wel swere and salvely, +That I mi ladi love wel, +For that acordeth everydel. +It nedeth noght to mi sothsawe +That I witnesse scholde drawe, +Into this dai for nevere yit +Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit, +That I my conseil scholde seie +To eny wiht, or me bewreie 2940 +To sechen help in such manere, +Bot only of mi ladi diere. +And thogh a thousend men it wiste, +That I hire love, and thanne hem liste +With me to swere and to witnesse, +Yit were that no falswitnesse; +For I dar on this trouthe duelle, +I love hire mor than I can telle. +Thus am I, fader, gulteles, +As ye have herd, and natheles 2950 +In youre dom I put it al. + +Mi Sone, wite in special, +It schal noght comunliche faile, +Al thogh it for a time availe +That Falswitnesse his cause spede, +Upon the point of his falshiede +It schal wel afterward be kid; +Wherof, so as it is betid, +Ensample of suche thinges blinde +In a Cronique write I finde. 2960 + +The Goddesse of the See Thetis, +Sche hadde a Sone, and his name is +Achilles, whom to kepe and warde, +Whil he was yong, as into warde +Sche thoghte him salfly to betake, +As sche which dradde for his sake +Of that was seid in prophecie, +That he at Troie scholde die, +Whan that the Cite was belein. +Forthi, so as the bokes sein, 2970 +Sche caste hire wit in sondri wise, +Hou sche him mihte so desguise +That noman scholde his bodi knowe: +And so befell that ilke throwe, +Whil that sche thoghte upon this dede, +Ther was a king, which Lichomede +Was hote, and he was wel begon +With faire dowhtres manyon, +And duelte fer out in an yle. + +Nou schalt thou hiere a wonder wyle: 2980 +This queene, which the moder was +Of Achilles, upon this cas +Hire Sone, as he a Maiden were, +Let clothen in the same gere +Which longeth unto wommanhiede: +And he was yong and tok non hiede, +Bot soffreth al that sche him dede. +Wherof sche hath hire wommen bede +And charged be here othes alle, +Hou so it afterward befalle, 2990 +That thei discovere noght this thing, +Bot feigne and make a knowleching, +Upon the conseil which was nome, +In every place wher thei come +To telle and to witnesse this, +Hou he here ladi dowhter is. +And riht in such a maner wise +Sche bad thei scholde hire don servise, +So that Achilles underfongeth +As to a yong ladi belongeth 3000 +Honour, servise and reverence. +For Thetis with gret diligence +Him hath so tawht and so afaited, +That, hou so that it were awaited, +With sobre and goodli contenance +He scholde his wommanhiede avance, +That non the sothe knowe myhte, +Bot that in every mannes syhte +He scholde seme a pure Maide. +And in such wise as sche him saide, 3010 +Achilles, which that ilke while +Was yong, upon himself to smyle +Began, whan he was so besein. + +And thus, after the bokes sein, +With frette of Perle upon his hed, +Al freissh betwen the whyt and red, +As he which tho was tendre of Age, +Stod the colour in his visage, +That forto loke upon his cheke +And sen his childly manere eke, 3020 +He was a womman to beholde. +And thanne his moder to him tolde, +That sche him hadde so begon +Be cause that sche thoghte gon +To Lichomede at thilke tyde, +Wher that sche seide he scholde abyde +Among hise dowhtres forto duelle. + +Achilles herde his moder telle, +And wiste noght the cause why; +And natheles ful buxomly 3030 +He was redy to that sche bad, +Wherof his moder was riht glad, +To Lichomede and forth thei wente. +And whan the king knew hire entente, +And sih this yonge dowhter there, +And that it cam unto his Ere +Of such record, of such witnesse, +He hadde riht a gret gladnesse +Of that he bothe syh and herde, +As he that wot noght hou it ferde 3040 +Upon the conseil of the nede. +Bot for al that king Lichomede +Hath toward him this dowhter take, +And for Thetis his moder sake +He put hire into compainie +To duelle with Deïdamie, +His oghne dowhter, the eldeste, +The faireste and the comelieste +Of alle hise doghtres whiche he hadde. + +Lo, thus Thetis the cause ladde, 3050 +And lefte there Achilles feigned, +As he which hath himself restreigned +In al that evere he mai and can +Out of the manere of a man, +And tok his wommannysshe chiere, +Wherof unto his beddefere +Deïdamie he hath be nyhte. +Wher kinde wole himselve rihte, +After the Philosophres sein, +Ther mai no wiht be therayein: 3060 +And that was thilke time seene. +The longe nyhtes hem betuene +Nature, which mai noght forbere, +Hath mad hem bothe forto stere: +Thei kessen ferst, and overmore +The hihe weie of loves lore +Thei gon, and al was don in dede, +Wherof lost is the maydenhede; +And that was afterward wel knowe. + +For it befell that ilke throwe 3070 +At Troie, wher the Siege lay +Upon the cause of Menelay +And of his queene dame Heleine, +The Gregois hadden mochel peine +Alday to fihte and to assaile. +Bot for thei mihten noght availe +So noble a Cite forto winne, +A prive conseil thei beginne, +In sondri wise wher thei trete; +And ate laste among the grete 3080 +Thei fellen unto this acord, +That Protheus, of his record +Which was an Astronomien +And ek a gret Magicien, +Scholde of his calculacion +Seche after constellacion, +Hou thei the Cite mihten gete: +And he, which hadde noght foryete +Of that belongeth to a clerk, +His studie sette upon this werk. 3090 +So longe his wit aboute he caste, +Til that he fond out ate laste, +Bot if they hadden Achilles +Here werre schal ben endeles. +And over that he tolde hem plein +In what manere he was besein, +And in what place he schal be founde; +So that withinne a litel stounde +Ulixes forth with Diomede +Upon this point to Lichomede 3100 +Agamenon togedre sente. +Bot Ulixes, er he forth wente, +Which was on of the moste wise, +Ordeigned hath in such a wise, +That he the moste riche aray, +Wherof a womman mai be gay, +With him hath take manyfold, +And overmore, as it is told, +An harneis for a lusti kniht, +Which burned was as Selver bryht, 3110 +Of swerd, of plate and ek of maile, +As thogh he scholde to bataille, +He tok also with him be Schipe. +And thus togedre in felaschipe +Forth gon this Diomede and he +In hope til thei mihten se +The place where Achilles is. + +The wynd stod thanne noght amis, +Bot evene topseilcole it blew, +Til Ulixes the Marche knew, 3120 +Wher Lichomede his Regne hadde. +The Stieresman so wel hem ladde, +That thei ben comen sauf to londe, +Wher thei gon out upon the stronde +Into the Burgh, wher that thei founde +The king, and he which hath facounde, +Ulixes, dede the message. +Bot the conseil of his corage, +Why that he cam, he tolde noght, +Bot undernethe he was bethoght 3130 +In what manere he mihte aspie +Achilles fro Deïdamie +And fro these othre that ther were, +Full many a lusti ladi there. + +Thei pleide hem there a day or tuo, +And as it was fortuned so, +It fell that time in such a wise, +To Bachus that a sacrifise +Thes yonge ladys scholden make; +And for the strange mennes sake, 3140 +That comen fro the Siege of Troie, +Thei maden wel the more joie. +Ther was Revel, ther was daunsinge, +And every lif which coude singe +Of lusti wommen in the route +A freissh carole hath sunge aboute; +Bot for al this yit natheles +The Greks unknowe of Achilles +So weren, that in no degre +Thei couden wite which was he, 3150 +Ne be his vois, ne be his pas. +Ulixes thanne upon this cas +A thing of hih Prudence hath wroght: +For thilke aray, which he hath broght +To yive among the wommen there, +He let do fetten al the gere +Forth with a knihtes harneis eke,— +In al a contre forto seke +Men scholden noght a fairer se,— +And every thing in his degre 3160 +Endlong upon a bord he leide. +To Lichomede and thanne he preide +That every ladi chese scholde +What thing of alle that sche wolde, +And take it as be weie of yifte; +For thei hemself it scholde schifte, +He seide, after here oghne wille. + +Achilles thanne stod noght stille: +Whan he the bryhte helm behield, +The swerd, the hauberk and the Schield, 3170 +His herte fell therto anon; +Of all that othre wolde he non, +The knihtes gere he underfongeth, +And thilke aray which that belongeth +Unto the wommen he forsok. +And in this wise, as seith the bok, +Thei knowen thanne which he was: +For he goth forth the grete pas +Into the chambre where he lay; +Anon, and made no delay, 3180 +He armeth him in knyhtli wise, +That bettre can noman devise, +And as fortune scholde falle, +He cam so forth tofore hem alle, +As he which tho was glad ynowh. +But Lichomede nothing lowh, +Whan that he syh hou that it ferde, +For thanne he wiste wel and herde, +His dowhter hadde be forlein; +Bot that he was so oversein, 3190 +The wonder overgoth his wit. +For in Cronique is write yit +Thing which schal nevere be foryete, +Hou that Achilles hath begete +Pirrus upon Deïdamie, +Wherof cam out the tricherie +Of Falswitnesse, whan thei saide +Hou that Achilles was a Maide. +Bot that was nothing sene tho, +For he is to the Siege go 3200 +Forth with Ulixe and Diomede. + +Lo, thus was proved in the dede +And fulli spoke at thilke while: +If o womman an other guile, +Wher is ther eny sikernesse? +Whan Thetis, which was the goddesse, +Deïdamie hath so bejaped, +I not hou it schal ben ascaped +With tho wommen whos innocence +Is nou alday thurgh such credence 3210 +Deceived ofte, as it is seene, +With men that such untrouthe meene. +For thei ben slyhe in such a wise, +That thei be sleihte and be queintise +Of Falswitnesse bringen inne +That doth hem ofte forto winne, +Wher thei ben noght worthi therto. +Forthi, my Sone, do noght so. + +Mi fader, as of Falswitnesse +The trouthe and the matiere expresse, 3220 +Touchende of love hou it hath ferd, +As ye have told, I have wel herd. +Bot for ye seiden otherwise, +Hou thilke vice of Covoitise +Hath yit Perjurie of his acord, +If that you list of som record +To telle an other tale also +In loves cause of time ago, +What thing it is to be forswore, +I wolde preie you therfore, 3230 +Wherof I mihte ensample take. + +Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake +Touchende of this I schall fulfille +Thin axinge at thin oghne wille, +And the matiere I schal declare, +Hou the wommen deceived are, +Whan thei so tendre herte bere, +Of that thei hieren men so swere; +Bot whan it comth unto thassay, +Thei finde it fals an other day: 3240 +As Jason dede to Medee, +Which stant yet of Auctorite +In tokne and in memorial; +Wherof the tale in special +Is in the bok of Troie write, +Which I schal do thee forto wite. + +In Grece whilom was a king, +Of whom the fame and knowleching +Beleveth yit, and Peleüs +He hihte; bot it fell him thus, 3250 +That his fortune hir whiel so ladde +That he no child his oghne hadde +To regnen after his decess. +He hadde a brother natheles, +Whos rihte name was Eson, +And he the worthi kniht Jason +Begat, the which in every lond +Alle othre passede of his hond +In Armes, so that he the beste +Was named and the worthieste, 3260 +He soghte worschipe overal. +Nou herkne, and I thee telle schal +An aventure that he soghte, +Which afterward ful dere he boghte. + +Ther was an yle, which Colchos +Was cleped, and therof aros +Gret speche in every lond aboute, +That such merveile was non oute +In al the wyde world nawhere, +As tho was in that yle there. 3270 +Ther was a Schiep, as it was told, +The which his flees bar al of gold, +And so the goddes hadde it set, +That it ne mihte awei be fet +Be pouer of no worldes wiht: +And yit ful many a worthi kniht +It hadde assaied, as thei dorste, +And evere it fell hem to the worste. +Bot he, that wolde it noght forsake, +Bot of his knyhthod undertake 3280 +To do what thing therto belongeth, +This worthi Jason, sore alongeth +To se the strange regiouns +And knowe the condiciouns +Of othre Marches, where he wente; +And for that cause his hole entente +He sette Colchos forto seche, +And therupon he made a speche +To Peleüs his Em the king. +And he wel paid was of that thing; 3290 +And schop anon for his passage, +And suche as were of his lignage, +With othre knihtes whiche he ches, +With him he tok, and Hercules, +Which full was of chivalerie, +With Jason wente in compaignie; +And that was in the Monthe of Maii, +Whan colde stormes were away. +The wynd was good, the Schip was yare, +Thei tok here leve, and forth thei fare 3300 +Toward Colchos: bot on the weie +What hem befell is long to seie; +Hou Lamedon the king of Troie, +Which oghte wel have mad hem joie. +Whan thei to reste a while him preide, +Out of his lond he hem congeide; +And so fell the dissencion, +Which after was destruccion +Of that Cite, as men mai hiere: +Bot that is noght to mi matiere. 3310 +Bot thus this worthi folk Gregeis +Fro that king, which was noght curteis, +And fro his lond with Sail updrawe +Thei wente hem forth, and many a sawe +Thei made and many a gret manace, +Til ate laste into that place +Which as thei soghte thei aryve, +And striken Sail, and forth as blyve +Thei sente unto the king and tolden +Who weren ther and what thei wolden. 3320 +Oëtes, which was thanne king, +Whan that he herde this tyding +Of Jason, which was comen there, +And of these othre, what thei were, +He thoghte don hem gret worschipe: +For thei anon come out of Schipe, +And strawht unto the king thei wente, +And be the hond Jason he hente, +And that was ate paleis gate, +So fer the king cam on his gate 3330 +Toward Jason to don him chiere; +And he, whom lacketh no manere, +Whan he the king sih in presence, +Yaf him ayein such reverence +As to a kinges stat belongeth. +And thus the king him underfongeth, +And Jason in his arm he cawhte, +And forth into the halle he strawhte, +And ther they siete and spieke of thinges, +And Jason tolde him tho tidinges, 3340 +Why he was come, and faire him preide +To haste his time, and the kyng seide, +“Jason, thou art a worthi kniht, +Bot it lith in no mannes myht +To don that thou art come fore: +Ther hath be many a kniht forlore +Of that thei wolden it assaie.” +Bot Jason wolde him noght esmaie, +And seide, “Of every worldes cure +Fortune stant in aventure, 3350 +Per aunter wel, per aunter wo: +Bot hou as evere that it go, +It schal be with myn hond assaied.” +The king tho hield him noght wel paied, +For he the Grekes sore dredde, +In aunter, if Jason ne spedde, +He mihte therof bere a blame; +For tho was al the worldes fame +In Grece, as forto speke of Armes. +Forthi he dredde him of his harmes, 3360 +And gan to preche him and to preie; +Bot Jason wolde noght obeie, +Bot seide he wolde his porpos holde +For ought that eny man him tolde. +The king, whan he thes wordes herde, +And sih hou that this kniht ansuerde, +Yit for he wolde make him glad, +After Medea gon he bad, +Which was his dowhter, and sche cam. +And Jason, which good hiede nam, 3370 +Whan he hire sih, ayein hire goth; +And sche, which was him nothing loth, +Welcomede him into that lond, +And softe tok him be the hond, +And doun thei seten bothe same. +Sche hadde herd spoke of his name +And of his grete worthinesse; +Forthi sche gan hir yhe impresse +Upon his face and his stature, +And thoghte hou nevere creature 3380 +Was so wel farende as was he. +And Jason riht in such degre +Ne mihte noght withholde his lok, +Bot so good hiede on hire he tok, +That him ne thoghte under the hevene +Of beaute sawh he nevere hir evene, +With al that fell to wommanhiede. +Thus ech of other token hiede, +Thogh ther no word was of record; +Here hertes bothe of on acord 3390 +Ben set to love, bot as tho +Ther mihten be no wordes mo. +The king made him gret joie and feste, +To alle his men he yaf an heste, +So as thei wolde his thonk deserve, +That thei scholde alle Jason serve, +Whil that he wolde there duelle. +And thus the dai, schortly to telle, +With manye merthes thei despente, +Til nyht was come, and tho thei wente, 3400 +Echon of other tok his leve, +Whan thei no lengere myhten leve. +I not hou Jason that nyht slep, +Bot wel I wot that of the Schep, +For which he cam into that yle, +He thoghte bot a litel whyle; +Al was Medea that he thoghte, +So that in many a wise he soghte +His witt wakende er it was day, +Som time yee, som time nay, 3410 +Som time thus, som time so, +As he was stered to and fro +Of love, and ek of his conqueste +As he was holde of his beheste. +And thus he ros up be the morwe +And tok himself seint John to borwe, +And seide he wolde ferst beginne +At love, and after forto winne +The flees of gold, for which he com, +And thus to him good herte he nom. 3420 + +Medea riht the same wise, +Til dai cam that sche moste arise, +Lay and bethoughte hire al the nyht, +Hou sche that noble worthi kniht +Be eny weie mihte wedde: +And wel sche wiste, if he ne spedde +Of thing which he hadde undertake, +Sche mihte hirself no porpos take; +For if he deide of his bataile, +Sche moste thanne algate faile 3430 +To geten him, whan he were ded. +Thus sche began to sette red +And torne aboute hir wittes alle, +To loke hou that it mihte falle +That sche with him hadde a leisir +To speke and telle of hir desir. +And so it fell that same day +That Jason with that suete may +Togedre sete and hadden space +To speke, and he besoughte hir grace. 3440 +And sche his tale goodli herde, +And afterward sche him ansuerde +And seide, “Jason, as thou wilt, +Thou miht be sauf, thou miht be spilt; +For wite wel that nevere man, +Bot if he couthe that I can, +Ne mihte that fortune achieve +For which thou comst: bot as I lieve, +If thou wolt holde covenant +To love, of al the remenant 3450 +I schal thi lif and honour save, +That thou the flees of gold schalt have.” +He seide, “Al at youre oghne wille, +Ma dame, I schal treuly fulfille +Youre heste, whil mi lif mai laste.” +Thus longe he preide, and ate laste +Sche granteth, and behihte him this, +That whan nyht comth and it time is, +Sche wolde him sende certeinly +Such on that scholde him prively 3460 +Al one into hire chambre bringe. +He thonketh hire of that tidinge, +For of that grace him is begonne +Him thenkth alle othre thinges wonne. + +The dai made ende and lost his lyht, +And comen was the derke nyht, +Which al the daies yhe blente. +Jason tok leve and forth he wente, +And whan he cam out of the pres, +He tok to conseil Hercules, 3470 +And tolde him hou it was betid, +And preide it scholde wel ben hid, +And that he wolde loke aboute, +Therwhiles that he schal ben oute. +Thus as he stod and hiede nam, +A Mayden fro Medea cam +And to hir chambre Jason ledde, +Wher that he fond redi to bedde +The faireste and the wiseste eke; +And sche with simple chiere and meke, 3480 +Whan sche him sih, wax al aschamed. +Tho was here tale newe entamed; +For sikernesse of Mariage +Sche fette forth a riche ymage, +Which was figure of Jupiter, +And Jason swor and seide ther, +That also wiss god scholde him helpe, +That if Medea dede him helpe, +That he his pourpos myhte winne, +Thei scholde nevere parte atwinne, 3490 +Bot evere whil him lasteth lif, +He wolde hire holde for his wif. +And with that word thei kisten bothe; +And for thei scholden hem unclothe, +Ther cam a Maide, and in hir wise +Sche dede hem bothe full servise, +Til that thei were in bedde naked: +I wot that nyht was wel bewaked, +Thei hadden bothe what thei wolde. +And thanne of leisir sche him tolde, 3500 +And gan fro point to point enforme +Of his bataile and al the forme, +Which as he scholde finde there, +Whan he to thyle come were. + +Sche seide, at entre of the pas +Hou Mars, which god of Armes was, +Hath set tuo Oxen sterne and stoute, +That caste fyr and flamme aboute +Bothe at the mouth and ate nase, +So that thei setten al on blase 3510 +What thing that passeth hem betwene: +And forthermore upon the grene +Ther goth the flees of gold to kepe +A Serpent, which mai nevere slepe. +Thus who that evere scholde it winne, +The fyr to stoppe he mot beginne, +Which that the fierce bestes caste, +And daunte he mot hem ate laste, +So that he mai hem yoke and dryve; +And therupon he mot as blyve 3520 +The Serpent with such strengthe assaile, +That he mai slen him be bataile; +Of which he mot the teth outdrawe, +As it belongeth to that lawe, +And thanne he mot tho Oxen yoke, +Til thei have with a plowh tobroke +A furgh of lond, in which arowe +The teth of thaddre he moste sowe, +And therof schule arise knihtes +Wel armed up at alle rihtes. 3530 +Of hem is noght to taken hiede, +For ech of hem in hastihiede +Schal other slen with dethes wounde: +And thus whan thei ben leid to grounde, +Than mot he to the goddes preie, +And go so forth and take his preie. +Bot if he faile in eny wise +Of that ye hiere me devise, +Ther mai be set non other weie, +That he ne moste algates deie. 3540 +“Nou have I told the peril al: +I woll you tellen forth withal,” +Quod Medea to Jason tho, +“That ye schul knowen er ye go, +Ayein the venym and the fyr +What schal ben the recoverir. +Bot, Sire, for it is nyh day, +Ariseth up, so that I may +Delivere you what thing I have, +That mai youre lif and honour save.” 3550 +Thei weren bothe loth to rise, +Bot for thei weren bothe wise, +Up thei arisen ate laste: +Jason his clothes on him caste +And made him redi riht anon, +And sche hir scherte dede upon +And caste on hire a mantel clos, +Withoute more and thanne aros. +Tho tok sche forth a riche Tye +Mad al of gold and of Perrie, 3560 +Out of the which sche nam a Ring, +The Ston was worth al other thing. +Sche seide, whil he wolde it were, +Ther myhte no peril him dere, +In water mai it noght be dreynt, +Wher as it comth the fyr is queynt, +It daunteth ek the cruel beste, +Ther may no qued that man areste, +Wher so he be on See or lond, +Which hath that ring upon his hond: 3570 +And over that sche gan to sein, +That if a man wol ben unsein, +Withinne his hond hold clos the Ston, +And he mai invisible gon. +The Ring to Jason sche betauhte, +And so forth after sche him tauhte +What sacrifise he scholde make; +And gan out of hire cofre take +Him thoughte an hevenely figure, +Which al be charme and be conjure 3580 +Was wroght, and ek it was thurgh write +With names, which he scholde wite, +As sche him tauhte tho to rede; +And bad him, as he wolde spede, +Withoute reste of eny while, +Whan he were londed in that yle, +He scholde make his sacrifise +And rede his carecte in the wise +As sche him tauhte, on knes doun bent, +Thre sithes toward orient; 3590 +For so scholde he the goddes plese +And winne himselven mochel ese. +And whanne he hadde it thries rad, +To opne a buiste sche him bad, +Which sche ther tok him in present, +And was full of such oignement, +That ther was fyr ne venym non +That scholde fastnen him upon, +Whan that he were enoynt withal. +Forthi sche tauhte him hou he schal 3600 +Enoignte his armes al aboute, +And for he scholde nothing doute, +Sche tok him thanne a maner glu, +The which was of so gret vertu, +That where a man it wolde caste, +It scholde binde anon so faste +That noman mihte it don aweie. +And that sche bad be alle weie +He scholde into the mouthes throwen +Of tho tweie Oxen that fyr blowen, 3610 +Therof to stoppen the malice; +The glu schal serve of that office. +And over that hir oignement, +Hir Ring and hir enchantement +Ayein the Serpent scholde him were, +Til he him sle with swerd or spere: +And thanne he may saufliche ynowh +His Oxen yoke into the plowh +And the teth sowe in such a wise, +Til he the knyhtes se arise, 3620 +And ech of other doun be leid +In such manere as I have seid. + +Lo, thus Medea for Jason +Ordeigneth, and preith therupon +That he nothing foryete scholde, +And ek sche preith him that he wolde, +Whan he hath alle his Armes don, +To grounde knele and thonke anon +The goddes, and so forth be ese +The flees of gold he scholde sese. 3630 +And whanne he hadde it sesed so, +That thanne he were sone ago +Withouten eny tariynge. + +Whan this was seid, into wepinge +Sche fell, as sche that was thurgh nome +With love, and so fer overcome, +That al hir world on him sche sette. +Bot whan sche sih ther was no lette, +That he mot nedes parte hire fro, +Sche tok him in hire armes tuo, 3640 +An hundred time and gan him kisse, +And seide, “O, al mi worldes blisse, +Mi trust, mi lust, mi lif, min hele, +To be thin helpe in this querele +I preie unto the goddes alle.” +And with that word sche gan doun falle +On swoune, and he hire uppe nam, +And forth with that the Maiden cam, +And thei to bedde anon hir broghte, +And thanne Jason hire besoghte, 3650 +And to hire seide in this manere: +“Mi worthi lusti ladi dere, +Conforteth you, for be my trouthe +It schal noght fallen in mi slouthe +That I ne wol thurghout fulfille +Youre hestes at youre oghne wille. +And yit I hope to you bringe +Withinne a while such tidinge, +The which schal make ous bothe game.” + +Bot for he wolde kepe hir name, 3660 +Whan that he wiste it was nyh dai, +He seide, “A dieu, mi swete mai.” +And forth with him he nam his gere, +Which as sche hadde take him there, +And strauht unto his chambre he wente, +And goth to bedde and slep him hente, +And lay, that noman him awok, +For Hercules hiede of him tok, +Til it was undren hih and more. +And thanne he gan to sighe sore 3670 +And sodeinliche abreide of slep; +And thei that token of him kep, +His chamberleins, be sone there, +And maden redi al his gere, +And he aros and to the king +He wente, and seide hou to that thing +For which he cam he wolde go. +The king therof was wonder wo, +And for he wolde him fain withdrawe, +He tolde him many a dredful sawe, 3680 +Bot Jason wolde it noght recorde, +And ate laste thei acorde. +Whan that he wolde noght abide, +A Bot was redy ate tyde, +In which this worthi kniht of Grece +Ful armed up at every piece, +To his bataile which belongeth, +Tok ore on honde and sore him longeth, +Til he the water passed were. + +Whan he cam to that yle there, 3690 +He set him on his knes doun strauht, +And his carecte, as he was tawht, +He radde, and made his sacrifise, +And siththe enoignte him in that wise, +As Medea him hadde bede; +And thanne aros up fro that stede, +And with the glu the fyr he queynte, +And anon after he atteinte +The grete Serpent and him slowh. +Bot erst he hadde sorwe ynowh, 3700 +For that Serpent made him travaile +So harde and sore of his bataile, +That nou he stod and nou he fell: +For longe time it so befell, +That with his swerd ne with his spere +He mihte noght that Serpent dere. +He was so scherded al aboute, +It hield all eggetol withoute, +He was so ruide and hard of skin, +Ther mihte nothing go therin; 3710 +Venym and fyr togedre he caste, +That he Jason so sore ablaste, +That if ne were his oignement, +His Ring and his enchantement, +Which Medea tok him tofore, +He hadde with that worm be lore; +Bot of vertu which therof cam +Jason the Dragon overcam. +And he anon the teth outdrouh, +And sette his Oxen in a plouh, 3720 +With which he brak a piece of lond +And sieu hem with his oghne hond. +Tho mihte he gret merveile se: +Of every toth in his degre +Sprong up a kniht with spere and schield, +Of whiche anon riht in the field +Echon slow other; and with that +Jason Medea noght foryat, +On bothe his knes he gan doun falle, +And yaf thonk to the goddes alle. 3730 +The Flees he tok and goth to Bote, +The Sonne schyneth bryhte and hote, +The Flees of gold schon forth withal, +The water glistreth overal. + +Medea wepte and sigheth ofte, +And stod upon a Tour alofte: +Al prively withinne hirselve, +Ther herde it nouther ten ne tuelve, +Sche preide, and seide, “O, god him spede, +The kniht which hath mi maidenhiede!” 3740 +And ay sche loketh toward thyle. +Bot whan sche sih withinne a while +The Flees glistrende ayein the Sonne, +Sche saide, “Ha, lord, now al is wonne, +Mi kniht the field hath overcome: +Nou wolde god he were come; +Ha lord, that he ne were alonde!” +Bot I dar take this on honde, +If that sche hadde wynges tuo, +Sche wolde have flowe unto him tho 3750 +Strawht ther he was into the Bot. + +The dai was clier, the Sonne hot, +The Gregeis weren in gret doute, +The whyle that here lord was oute: +Thei wisten noght what scholde tyde, +Bot waiten evere upon the tyde, +To se what ende scholde falle. +Ther stoden ek the nobles alle +Forth with the comun of the toun; +And as thei loken up and doun, 3760 +Thei weren war withinne a throwe, +Wher cam the bot, which thei wel knowe, +And sihe hou Jason broghte his preie. +And tho thei gonnen alle seie, +And criden alle with o stevene, +“Ha, wher was evere under the hevene +So noble a knyht as Jason is?” +And welnyh alle seiden this, +That Jason was a faie kniht, +For it was nevere of mannes miht 3770 +The Flees of gold so forto winne; +And thus to talen thei beginne. +With that the king com forth anon, +And sih the Flees, hou that it schon; +And whan Jason cam to the lond, +The king himselve tok his hond +And kist him, and gret joie him made. +The Gregeis weren wonder glade, +And of that thing riht merie hem thoghte, +And forth with hem the Flees thei broghte, 3780 +And ech on other gan to leyhe; +Bot wel was him that mihte neyhe, +To se therof the proprete. +And thus thei passen the cite +And gon unto the Paleis straght. + +Medea, which foryat him naght, +Was redy there, and seide anon, +“Welcome, O worthi kniht Jason.” +Sche wolde have kist him wonder fayn, +Bot schame tornede hire agayn; 3790 +It was noght the manere as tho, +Forthi sche dorste noght do so. +Sche tok hire leve, and Jason wente +Into his chambre, and sche him sente +Hire Maide to sen hou he ferde; +The which whan that sche sih and herde, +Hou that he hadde faren oute +And that it stod wel al aboute, +Sche tolde hire ladi what sche wiste, +And sche for joie hire Maide kiste. 3800 +The bathes weren thanne araied, +With herbes tempred and assaied, +And Jason was unarmed sone +And dede as it befell to done: +Into his bath he wente anon +And wyssh him clene as eny bon; +He tok a sopp, and oute he cam, +And on his beste aray he nam, +And kempde his hed, whan he was clad, +And goth him forth al merie and glad 3810 +Riht strawht into the kinges halle. +The king cam with his knihtes alle +And maden him glad welcominge; +And he hem tolde the tidinge +Of this and that, hou it befell, +Whan that he wan the schepes fell. + +Medea, whan sche was asent, +Com sone to that parlement, +And whan sche mihte Jason se, +Was non so glad of alle as sche. 3820 +Ther was no joie forto seche, +Of him mad every man a speche, +Som man seide on, som man seide other; +Bot thogh he were goddes brother +And mihte make fyr and thonder, +Ther mihte be nomore wonder +Than was of him in that cite. +Echon tauhte other, “This is he, +Which hath in his pouer withinne +That al the world ne mihte winne: 3830 +Lo, hier the beste of alle goode.” +Thus saiden thei that there stode, +And ek that walkede up and doun, +Bothe of the Court and of the toun. + +The time of Souper cam anon, +Thei wisshen and therto thei gon, +Medea was with Jason set: +Tho was ther many a deynte fet +And set tofore hem on the bord, +Bot non so likinge as the word 3840 +Which was ther spoke among hem tuo, +So as thei dorste speke tho. +Bot thogh thei hadden litel space, +Yit thei acorden in that place +Hou Jason scholde come at nyht, +Whan every torche and every liht +Were oute, and thanne of other thinges +Thei spieke aloud for supposinges +Of hem that stoden there aboute: +For love is everemore in doute, 3850 +If that it be wisly governed +Of hem that ben of love lerned. + +Whan al was don, that dissh and cuppe +And cloth and bord and al was uppe, +Thei waken whil hem lest to wake, +And after that thei leve take +And gon to bedde forto reste. +And whan him thoghte for the beste, +That every man was faste aslepe, +Jason, that wolde his time kepe, 3860 +Goth forth stalkende al prively +Unto the chambre, and redely +Ther was a Maide, which him kepte. +Medea wok and nothing slepte, +Bot natheles sche was abedde, +And he with alle haste him spedde +And made him naked and al warm. +Anon he tok hire in his arm: +What nede is forto speke of ese? +Hem list ech other forto plese, 3870 +So that thei hadden joie ynow: +And tho thei setten whanne and how +That sche with him awey schal stele. +With wordes suche and othre fele +Whan al was treted to an ende, +Jason tok leve and gan forth wende +Unto his oughne chambre in pes; +Ther wiste it non bot Hercules. + +He slepte and ros whan it was time, +And whanne it fell towardes prime, 3880 +He tok to him suche as he triste +In secre, that non other wiste, +And told hem of his conseil there, +And seide that his wille were +That thei to Schipe hadde alle thinge +So priveliche in thevenynge, +That noman mihte here dede aspie +Bot tho that were of compaignie: +For he woll go withoute leve, +And lengere woll he noght beleve; 3890 +Bot he ne wolde at thilke throwe +The king or queene scholde it knowe. +Thei saide, “Al this schal wel be do:” +And Jason truste wel therto. + +Medea in the mene while, +Which thoghte hir fader to beguile, +The Tresor which hir fader hadde +With hire al priveli sche ladde, +And with Jason at time set +Awey sche stal and fond no let, 3900 +And straght sche goth hire unto schipe +Of Grece with that felaschipe, +And thei anon drowe up the Seil. +And al that nyht this was conseil, +Bot erly, whan the Sonne schon, +Men syhe hou that thei were agon, +And come unto the king and tolde: +And he the sothe knowe wolde, +And axeth where his dowhter was. +Ther was no word bot Out, Allas! 3910 +Sche was ago. The moder wepte, +The fader as a wod man lepte, +And gan the time forto warie, +And swor his oth he wol noght tarie, +That with Caliphe and with galeie +The same cours, the same weie, +Which Jason tok, he wolde take, +If that he mihte him overtake. +To this thei seiden alle yee: +Anon thei weren ate See, 3920 +And alle, as who seith, at a word +Thei gon withinne schipes bord, +The Sail goth up, and forth thei strauhte. +Bot non espleit therof thei cauhte, +And so thei tornen hom ayein, +For al that labour was in vein. + +Jason to Grece with his preie +Goth thurgh the See the rihte weie: +Whan he ther com and men it tolde, +Thei maden joie yonge and olde. 3930 +Eson, whan that he wiste of this, +Hou that his Sone comen is, +And hath achieved that he soughte +And hom with him Medea broughte, +In al the wyde world was non +So glad a man as he was on. +Togedre ben these lovers tho, +Til that thei hadden sones tuo, +Wherof thei weren bothe glade, +And olde Eson gret joie made 3940 +To sen thencress of his lignage; +For he was of so gret an Age, +That men awaiten every day, +Whan that he scholde gon away. +Jason, which sih his fader old, +Upon Medea made him bold, +Of art magique, which sche couthe, +And preith hire that his fader youthe +Sche wolde make ayeinward newe: +And sche, that was toward him trewe, 3950 +Behihte him that sche wolde it do, +Whan that sche time sawh therto. +Bot what sche dede in that matiere +It is a wonder thing to hiere, +Bot yit for the novellerie +I thenke tellen a partie. + +Thus it befell upon a nyht, +Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht, +Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste, +That no wyht bot hirself it wiste, 3960 +And that was ate mydnyht tyde. +The world was stille on every side; +With open hed and fot al bare, +Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare, +Upon hir clothes gert sche was, +Al specheles and on the gras +Sche glod forth as an Addre doth: +Non otherwise sche ne goth, +Til sche cam to the freisshe flod, +And there a while sche withstod. 3970 +Thries sche torned hire aboute, +And thries ek sche gan doun loute +And in the flod sche wette hir her, +And thries on the water ther +Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge onde, +And tho sche tok hir speche on honde. +Ferst sche began to clepe and calle +Upward unto the sterres alle, +To Wynd, to Air, to See, to lond +Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond 3980 +To Echates, and gan to crie, +Which is goddesse of Sorcerie. +Sche seide, “Helpeth at this nede, +And as ye maden me to spede, +Whan Jason cam the Flees to seche, +So help me nou, I you beseche.” +With that sche loketh and was war, +Doun fro the Sky ther cam a char, +The which Dragouns aboute drowe: +And tho sche gan hir hed doun bowe, 3990 +And up sche styh, and faire and wel +Sche drof forth bothe char and whel +Above in thair among the Skyes. +The lond of Crete and tho parties +Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye, +And there upon the hulles hyhe +Of Othrin and Olimpe also, +And ek of othre hulles mo, +Sche fond and gadreth herbes suote, +Sche pulleth up som be the rote, 4000 +And manye with a knyf sche scherth, +And alle into hir char sche berth. +Thus whan sche hath the hulles sought, +The flodes ther foryat sche nought, +Eridian and Amphrisos, +Peneie and ek Spercheïdos, +To hem sche wente and ther sche nom +Bothe of the water and the fom, +The sond and ek the smale stones, +Whiche as sche ches out for the nones, 4010 +And of the rede See a part, +That was behovelich to hire art, +Sche tok, and after that aboute +Sche soughte sondri sedes oute +In feldes and in many greves, +And ek a part sche tok of leves: +Bot thing which mihte hire most availe +Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile. + +In daies and in nyhtes Nyne, +With gret travaile and with gret pyne, 4020 +Sche was pourveid of every piece, +And torneth homward into Grece. +Before the gates of Eson +Hir char sche let awai to gon, +And tok out ferst that was therinne; +For tho sche thoghte to beginne +Such thing as semeth impossible, +And made hirselven invisible, +As sche that was with Air enclosed +And mihte of noman be desclosed. 4030 +Sche tok up turves of the lond +Withoute helpe of mannes hond, +Al heled with the grene gras, +Of which an Alter mad ther was +Unto Echates the goddesse +Of art magique and the maistresse, +And eft an other to Juvente, +As sche which dede hir hole entente. +Tho tok sche fieldwode and verveyne, +Of herbes ben noght betre tueine, 4040 +Of which anon withoute let +These alters ben aboute set: +Tuo sondri puttes faste by +Sche made, and with that hastely +A wether which was blak sche slouh, +And out therof the blod sche drouh +And dede into the pettes tuo; +Warm melk sche putte also therto +With hony meynd: and in such wise +Sche gan to make hir sacrifice, 4050 +And cride and preide forth withal +To Pluto the god infernal, +And to the queene Proserpine. +And so sche soghte out al the line +Of hem that longen to that craft, +Behinde was no name laft, +And preide hem alle, as sche wel couthe, +To grante Eson his ferste youthe. + +This olde Eson broght forth was tho, +Awei sche bad alle othre go 4060 +Upon peril that mihte falle; +And with that word thei wenten alle, +And leften there hem tuo al one. +And tho sche gan to gaspe and gone, +And made signes manyon, +And seide hir wordes therupon; +So that with spellinge of hir charmes +Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes, +And made him forto slepe faste, +And him upon hire herbes caste. 4070 +The blake wether tho sche tok, +And hiewh the fleissh, as doth a cok; +On either alter part sche leide, +And with the charmes that sche seide +A fyr doun fro the Sky alyhte +And made it forto brenne lyhte. +Bot whan Medea sawh it brenne, +Anon sche gan to sterte and renne +The fyri aulters al aboute: +Ther was no beste which goth oute 4080 +More wylde than sche semeth ther: +Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her, +As thogh sche were oute of hir mynde +And torned in an other kynde. +Tho lay ther certein wode cleft, +Of which the pieces nou and eft +Sche made hem in the pettes wete, +And put hem in the fyri hete, +And tok the brond with al the blase, +And thries sche began to rase 4090 +Aboute Eson, ther as he slepte; +And eft with water, which sche kepte, +Sche made a cercle aboute him thries, +And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes: +Ful many an other thing sche dede, +Which is noght writen in this stede. +Bot tho sche ran so up and doun, +Sche made many a wonder soun, +Somtime lich unto the cock, +Somtime unto the Laverock, 4100 +Somtime kacleth as a Hen, +Somtime spekth as don the men: +And riht so as hir jargoun strangeth, +In sondri wise hir forme changeth, +Sche semeth faie and no womman; +For with the craftes that sche can +Sche was, as who seith, a goddesse, +And what hir liste, more or lesse, +Sche dede, in bokes as we finde, +That passeth over manneskinde. 4110 +Bot who that wole of wondres hiere, +What thing sche wroghte in this matiere, +To make an ende of that sche gan, +Such merveile herde nevere man. + +Apointed in the newe Mone, +Whan it was time forto done, +Sche sette a caldron on the fyr, +In which was al the hole atir, +Wheron the medicine stod, +Of jus, of water and of blod, 4120 +And let it buile in such a plit, +Til that sche sawh the spume whyt; +And tho sche caste in rynde and rote, +And sed and flour that was for bote, +With many an herbe and many a ston, +Wherof sche hath ther many on: +And ek Cimpheius the Serpent +To hire hath alle his scales lent, +Chelidre hire yaf his addres skin, +And sche to builen caste hem in; 4130 +A part ek of the horned Oule, +The which men hiere on nyhtes houle; +And of a Raven, which was told +Of nyne hundred wynter old, +Sche tok the hed with al the bile; +And as the medicine it wile, +Sche tok therafter the bouele +Of the Seewolf, and for the hele +Of Eson, with a thousand mo +Of thinges that sche hadde tho, 4140 +In that Caldroun togedre as blyve +Sche putte, and tok thanne of Olyve +A drie branche hem with to stere, +The which anon gan floure and bere +And waxe al freissh and grene ayein. +Whan sche this vertu hadde sein, +Sche let the leste drope of alle +Upon the bare flor doun falle; +Anon ther sprong up flour and gras, +Where as the drope falle was, 4150 +And wox anon al medwe grene, +So that it mihte wel be sene. +Medea thanne knew and wiste +Hir medicine is forto triste, +And goth to Eson ther he lay, +And tok a swerd was of assay, +With which a wounde upon his side +Sche made, that therout mai slyde +The blod withinne, which was old +And sek and trouble and fieble and cold. 4160 +And tho sche tok unto his us +Of herbes al the beste jus, +And poured it into his wounde; +That made his veynes fulle and sounde: +And tho sche made his wounde clos, +And tok his hond, and up he ros; +And tho sche yaf him drinke a drauhte, +Of which his youthe ayein he cauhte, +His hed, his herte and his visage +Lich unto twenty wynter Age; 4170 +Hise hore heres were away, +And lich unto the freisshe Maii, +Whan passed ben the colde shoures, +Riht so recovereth he his floures. + +Lo, what mihte eny man devise, +A womman schewe in eny wise +Mor hertly love in every stede, +Than Medea to Jason dede? +Ferst sche made him the flees to winne, +And after that fro kiththe and kinne 4180 +With gret tresor with him sche stal, +And to his fader forth withal +His Elde hath torned into youthe, +Which thing non other womman couthe: +Bot hou it was to hire aquit, +The remembrance duelleth yit. + +King Peleüs his Em was ded, +Jason bar corone on his hed, +Medea hath fulfild his wille: +Bot whanne he scholde of riht fulfille 4190 +The trouthe, which to hire afore +He hadde in thyle of Colchos swore, +Tho was Medea most deceived. +For he an other hath received, +Which dowhter was to king Creon, +Creusa sche hihte, and thus Jason, +As he that was to love untrewe, +Medea lefte and tok a newe. +Bot that was after sone aboght: +Medea with hire art hath wroght 4200 +Of cloth of gold a mantel riche, +Which semeth worth a kingesriche, +And that was unto Creusa sent +In name of yifte and of present, +For Sosterhode hem was betuene; +And whan that yonge freisshe queene +That mantel lappeth hire aboute, +Anon therof the fyr sprong oute +And brente hir bothe fleissh and bon. +Tho cam Medea to Jason 4210 +With bothe his Sones on hire hond, +And seide, “O thou of every lond +The moste untrewe creature, +Lo, this schal be thi forfeture.” +With that sche bothe his Sones slouh +Before his yhe, and he outdrouh +His swerd and wold have slayn hir tho, +Bot farewel, sche was ago +Unto Pallas the Court above, +Wher as sche pleigneth upon love, 4220 +As sche that was with that goddesse, +And he was left in gret destresse. + +Thus miht thou se what sorwe it doth +To swere an oth which is noght soth, +In loves cause namely. +Mi Sone, be wel war forthi, +And kep that thou be noght forswore: +For this, which I have told tofore, +Ovide telleth everydel. + +Mi fader, I may lieve it wel, 4230 +For I have herde it ofte seie +Hou Jason tok the flees aweie +Fro Colchos, bot yit herde I noght +Be whom it was ferst thider broght. +And for it were good to hiere, +If that you liste at mi preiere +To telle, I wolde you beseche. + +Mi Sone, who that wole it seche, +In bokes he mai finde it write; +And natheles, if thou wolt wite, 4240 +In the manere as thou hast preid +I schal the telle hou it is seid. + +The fame of thilke schepes fell, +Which in Colchos, as it befell, +Was al of gold, schal nevere deie; +Wherof I thenke for to seie +Hou it cam ferst into that yle. +Ther was a king in thilke whyle +Towardes Grece, and Athemas +The Cronique of his name was; 4250 +And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte, +Be whom, so as fortune it dihte, +He hadde of children yonge tuo. +Frixus the ferste was of tho, +A knave child, riht fair withalle; +A dowhter ek, the which men calle +Hellen, he hadde be this wif. +Bot for ther mai no mannes lif +Endure upon this Erthe hiere, +This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere, 4260 +Er that the children were of age, +Tok of hire ende the passage, +With gret worschipe and was begrave. + +What thing it liketh god to have +It is gret reson to ben his; +Forthi this king, so as it is, +With gret suffrance it underfongeth: +And afterward, as him belongeth, +Whan it was time forto wedde, +A newe wif he tok to bedde, 4270 +Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde, +And ek the dowhter, as men saide, +Of Cadme, which a king also +Was holde in thilke daies tho. +Whan Yno was the kinges make, +Sche caste hou that sche mihte make +These children to here fader lothe, +And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe, +Which to the king was al unknowe. +A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe 4280 +The lond with sode whete aboute, +Wherof no corn mai springen oute; +And thus be sleyhte and be covine +Aros the derthe and the famine +Thurghout the lond in such a wise, +So that the king a sacrifise +Upon the point of this destresse +To Ceres, which is the goddesse +Of corn, hath schape him forto yive, +To loke if it mai be foryive, 4290 +The meschief which was in his lond. +Bot sche, which knew tofor the hond +The circumstance of al this thing, +Ayein the cominge of the king +Into the temple, hath schape so, +Of hire acord that alle tho +Whiche of the temple prestes were +Have seid and full declared there +Unto the king, bot if so be +That he delivere the contre 4300 +Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe, +With whom the goddes ben so wrothe, +That whil tho children ben therinne, +Such tilthe schal noman beginne, +Wherof to gete him eny corn. +Thus was it seid, thus was it sworn +Of all the Prestes that ther are; +And sche which causeth al this fare +Seid ek therto what that sche wolde, +And every man thanne after tolde 4310 +So as the queene hem hadde preid. + +The king, which hath his Ere leid, +And lieveth al that evere he herde, +Unto here tale thus ansuerde, +And seith that levere him is to chese +Hise children bothe forto lese, +Than him and al the remenant +Of hem whiche are aportenant +Unto the lond which he schal kepe: +And bad his wif to take kepe 4320 +In what manere is best to done, +That thei delivered weren sone +Out of this world. And sche anon +Tuo men ordeigneth forto gon; +Bot ferst sche made hem forto swere +That thei the children scholden bere +Unto the See, that non it knowe, +And hem therinne bothe throwe. + +The children to the See ben lad, +Wher in the wise as Yno bad 4330 +These men be redy forto do. +Bot the goddesse which Juno +Is hote, appiereth in the stede, +And hath unto the men forbede +That thei the children noght ne sle; +Bot bad hem loke into the See +And taken hiede of that thei sihen. +Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen, +Whos flees of burned gold was al; +And this goddesse forth withal 4340 +Comandeth that withoute lette +Thei scholde anon these children sette +Above upon this Schepes bak; +And al was do, riht as sche spak, +Wherof the men gon hom ayein. +And fell so, as the bokes sein, +Hellen the yonge Mayden tho, +Which of the See was wo bego, +For pure drede hire herte hath lore, +That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore, 4350 +As sche that was swounende feint, +Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint; +With Frixus and this Schep forth swam, +Til he to thyle of Colchos cam, +Where Juno the goddesse he fond, +Which tok the Schep unto the lond, +And sette it there in such a wise +As thou tofore hast herd devise, +Wherof cam after al the wo, +Why Jason was forswore so 4360 +Unto Medee, as it is spoke. + +Mi fader, who that hath tobroke +His trouthe, as ye have told above, +He is noght worthi forto love +Ne be beloved, as me semeth: +Bot every newe love quemeth +To him which newefongel is. +And natheles nou after this, +If that you list to taken hiede +Upon mi Schrifte to procede, 4370 +In loves cause ayein the vice +Of covoitise and Avarice +What ther is more I wolde wite. + +Mi Sone, this I finde write, +Ther is yit on of thilke brood, +Which only for the worldes good, +To make a Tresor of Moneie, +Put alle conscience aweie: +Wherof in thi confession +The name and the condicion 4380 +I schal hierafterward declare, +Which makth on riche, an other bare. + +Upon the bench sittende on hih +With Avarice Usure I sih, +Full clothed of his oghne suite, +Which after gold makth chace and suite +With his brocours, that renne aboute +Lich unto racches in a route. +Such lucre is non above grounde, +Which is noght of tho racches founde; 4390 +For wher thei se beyete sterte, +That schal hem in no wise asterte, +Bot thei it dryve into the net +Of lucre, which Usure hath set. +Usure with the riche duelleth, +To al that evere he beith and selleth +He hath ordeined of his sleyhte +Mesure double and double weyhte: +Outward he selleth be the lasse, +And with the more he makth his tasse, 4400 +Wherof his hous is full withinne. +He reccheth noght, be so he winne, +Though that ther lese ten or tuelve: +His love is al toward himselve +And to non other, bot he se +That he mai winne suche thre; +For wher he schal oght yive or lene, +He wol ayeinward take a bene, +Ther he hath lent the smale pese. +And riht so ther ben manye of these 4410 +Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte, +That scarsly wolde it weie a myte, +Yit wolde thei have a pound again, +As doth Usure in his bargain. +Bot certes such usure unliche, +It falleth more unto the riche, +Als wel of love as of beyete, +Than unto hem that be noght grete, +And, as who seith, ben simple and povere; +For sielden is whan thei recovere, 4420 +Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte. +And natheles men se poverte +With porsuite and continuance +Fulofte make a gret chevance +And take of love his avantage, +Forth with the help of his brocage, +That maken seme wher is noght. +And thus fulofte is love boght +For litel what, and mochel take, +With false weyhtes that thei make. 4430 + +Nou, Sone, of that I seide above +Thou wost what Usure is of love: +Tell me forthi what so thou wilt, +If thou therof hast eny gilt. + +Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere. +For of tho pointz ye tolden hiere +I wol you be mi trouthe assure, +Mi weyhte of love and mi mesure +Hath be mor large and mor certein +Than evere I tok of love ayein: 4440 +For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte, +To take ayein be double weyhte +Of love mor than I have yive. +For als so wiss mot I be schrive +And have remission of Sinne, +As so yit couthe I nevere winne, +Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein, +That evere I mihte have half ayein +Of so full love as I have lent: +And if myn happ were so wel went, 4450 +That for the hole I mihte have half, +Me thenkth I were a goddeshalf. +For where Usure wole have double, +Mi conscience is noght so trouble, +I biede nevere as to my del +Bot of the hole an halvendel; +That is non excess, as me thenketh. +Bot natheles it me forthenketh; +For wel I wot that wol noght be, +For every day the betre I se 4460 +That hou so evere I yive or lene +Mi love in place ther I mene, +For oght that evere I axe or crave, +I can nothing ayeinward have. +Bot yit for that I wol noght lete, +What so befalle of mi beyete, +That I ne schal hire yive and lene +Mi love and al mi thoght so clene, +That toward me schal noght beleve. +And if sche of hire goode leve 4470 +Rewarde wol me noght again, +I wot the laste of my bargain +Schal stonde upon so gret a lost, +That I mai neveremor the cost +Recovere in this world til I die. +So that touchende of this partie +I mai me wel excuse and schal; +And forto speke forth withal, +If eny brocour for me wente, +That point cam nevere in myn entente: 4480 +So that the more me merveilleth, +What thing it is mi ladi eilleth, +That al myn herte and al my time +Sche hath, and doth no betre bime. + +I have herd seid that thoght is fre, +And natheles in privete +To you, mi fader, that ben hiere +Min hole schrifte forto hiere, +I dar min herte wel desclose. +Touchende usure, as I suppose, 4490 +Which as ye telle in love is used, +Mi ladi mai noght ben excused; +That for o lokinge of hire yë +Min hole herte til I dye +With al that evere I may and can +Sche hath me wonne to hire man: +Wherof, me thenkth, good reson wolde +That sche somdel rewarde scholde, +And yive a part, ther sche hath al. +I not what falle hierafter schal, 4500 +Bot into nou yit dar I sein, +Hire liste nevere yive ayein +A goodli word in such a wise, +Wherof min hope mihte arise, +Mi grete love to compense. +I not hou sche hire conscience +Excuse wole of this usure; +Be large weyhte and gret mesure +Sche hath mi love, and I have noght +Of that which I have diere boght, 4510 +And with myn herte I have it paid; +Bot al that is asyde laid, +And I go loveles aboute. +Hire oghte stonde if ful gret doute, +Til sche redresce such a sinne, +That sche wole al mi love winne +And yifth me noght to live by: +Noght als so moche as “grant mercy” +Hir list to seie, of which I mihte +Som of mi grete peine allyhte. 4520 +Bot of this point, lo, thus I fare +As he that paith for his chaffare, +And beith it diere, and yit hath non, +So mot he nedes povere gon: +Thus beie I diere and have no love, +That I ne mai noght come above +To winne of love non encress. +Bot I me wole natheles +Touchende usure of love aquite; +And if mi ladi be to wyte, 4530 +I preie to god such grace hir sende +That sche be time it mot amende. + +Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerd +Touchende Usure I have al herd, +Hou thou of love hast wonne smale: +Bot that thou tellest in thi tale +And thi ladi therof accusest, +Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest. +For be thin oghne knowlechinge +Thou seist hou sche for o lokinge 4540 +Thin hole herte fro the tok: +Sche mai be such, that hire o lok +Is worth thin herte manyfold; +So hast thou wel thin herte sold, +Whan thou hast that is more worth. +And ek of that thou tellest forth, +Hou that hire weyhte of love unevene +Is unto thin, under the hevene +Stod nevere in evene that balance +Which stant in loves governance. 4550 +Such is the statut of his lawe, +That thogh thi love more drawe +And peise in the balance more, +Thou miht noght axe ayein therfore +Of duete, bot al of grace. +For love is lord in every place, +Ther mai no lawe him justefie +Be reddour ne be compaignie, +That he ne wole after his wille +Whom that him liketh spede or spille. 4560 + +To love a man mai wel beginne, +Bot whether he schal lese or winne, +That wot noman til ate laste: +Forthi coveite noght to faste, +Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende, +Per cas al mai to goode wende. +Bot that thou hast me told and said, +Of o thing I am riht wel paid, +That thou be sleyhte ne be guile +Of no brocour hast otherwhile 4570 +Engined love, for such dede +Is sore venged, as I rede. + +Brocours of love that deceiven, +No wonder is thogh thei receiven +After the wrong that thei decerven; +For whom as evere that thei serven +And do plesance for a whyle, +Yit ate laste here oghne guile +Upon here oghne hed descendeth, +Which god of his vengance sendeth, 4580 +As be ensample of time go +A man mai finde it hath be so. +It fell somtime, as it was sene, +The hihe goddesse and the queene +Juno tho hadde in compainie +A Maiden full of tricherie; +For sche was evere in on acord +With Jupiter, that was hire lord, +To gete him othre loves newe, +Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe 4590 +Al otherwise than him nedeth. +Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth, +With queinte wordes and with slyhe +Blente in such wise hir lady yhe, +As sche to whom that Juno triste, +So that therof sche nothing wiste. +Bot so prive mai be nothing, +That it ne comth to knowleching; +Thing don upon the derke nyht +Is after knowe on daies liht: 4600 +So it befell, that ate laste +Al that this slyhe maiden caste +Was overcast and overthrowe. +For as the sothe mot be knowe, +To Juno was don understonde +In what manere hir housebonde +With fals brocage hath take usure +Of love mor than his mesure, +Whan he tok othre than his wif, +Wherof this mayden was gultif, 4610 +Which hadde ben of his assent. +And thus was al the game schent; +She soffreth him, as sche mot nede, +Bot the brocour of his misdede, +Sche which hir conseil yaf therto, +On hire is the vengance do: +For Juno with hire wordes hote, +This Maiden, which Eccho was hote, +Reproveth and seith in this wise: +“O traiteresse, of which servise 4620 +Hast thou thin oghne ladi served! +Thou hast gret peine wel deserved, +That thou canst maken it so queinte, +Thi slyhe wordes forto peinte +Towardes me, that am thi queene, +Wherof thou madest me to wene +That myn housbonde trewe were, +Whan that he loveth elleswhere, +Al be it so him nedeth noght. +Bot upon thee it schal be boght, 4630 +Which art prive to tho doinges, +And me fulofte of thi lesinges +Deceived hast: nou is the day +That I thi while aquite may; +And for thou hast to me conceled +That my lord hath with othre deled, +I schal thee sette in such a kende, +That evere unto the worldes ende +Al that thou hierest thou schalt telle, +And clappe it out as doth a belle.” 4640 +And with that word sche was forschape, +Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape, +What man that in the wodes crieth, +Withoute faile Eccho replieth, +And what word that him list to sein, +The same word sche seith ayein. +Thus sche, which whilom hadde leve +To duelle in chambre, mot beleve +In wodes and on helles bothe, +For such brocage as wyves lothe, 4650 +Which doth here lordes hertes change +And love in other place strange. + +Forthi, if evere it so befalle, +That thou, mi Sone, amonges alle +Be wedded man, hold that thou hast, +For thanne al other love is wast. +O wif schal wel to thee suffise, +And thanne, if thou for covoitise +Of love woldest axe more, +Thou scholdest don ayein the lore 4660 +Of alle hem that trewe be. + +Mi fader, as in this degre +My conscience is noght accused; +For I no such brocage have used, +Wherof that lust of love is wonne. +Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne, +Of Avarice upon mi schrifte. + +Mi Sone, I schal the branches schifte +Be ordre so as thei ben set, +On whom no good is wel beset. 4670 + +Blinde Avarice of his lignage +For conseil and for cousinage, +To be withholde ayein largesse, +Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse, +The which is kepere of his hous, +And is so thurghout averous, +That he no good let out of honde; +Thogh god himself it wolde fonde, +Of yifte scholde he nothing have; +And if a man it wolde crave, 4680 +He moste thanne faile nede, +Wher god himselve mai noght spede. +And thus Skarsnesse in every place +Be reson mai no thonk porchace, +And natheles in his degree +Above all othre most prive +With Avarice stant he this. +For he governeth that ther is +In ech astat of his office +After the reule of thilke vice; 4690 +He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint, +That lihtere is to fle the flint +Than gete of him in hard or neisshe +Only the value of a reysshe +Of good in helpinge of an other, +Noght thogh it were his oghne brother. +For in the cas of yifte and lone +Stant every man for him al one, +Him thenkth of his unkindeschipe +That him nedeth no felaschipe: 4700 +Be so the bagge and he acorden, +Him reccheth noght what men recorden +Of him, or it be evel or good. +For al his trust is on his good, +So that al one he falleth ofte, +Whan he best weneth stonde alofte, +Als wel in love as other wise; +For love is evere of som reprise +To him that wole his love holde. +Forthi, mi Sone, as thou art holde, 4710 +Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte: +Hast thou be scars or large of yifte +Unto thi love, whom thou servest? +For after that thou wel deservest +Of yifte, thou miht be the bet; +For that good holde I wel beset, +For why thou miht the betre fare; +Thanne is no wisdom forto spare. +For thus men sein, in every nede +He was wys that ferst made mede; 4720 +For where as mede mai noght spede, +I not what helpeth other dede: +Fulofte he faileth of his game +That wol with ydel hand reclame +His hauk, as many a nyce doth. +Forthi, mi Sone, tell me soth +And sei the trouthe, if thou hast be +Unto thy love or skars or fre. + +Mi fader, it hath stonde thus, +That if the tresor of Cresus 4730 +And al the gold Octovien, +Forth with the richesse Yndien +Of Perles and of riche stones, +Were al togedre myn at ones, +I sette it at nomore acompte +Than wolde a bare straw amonte, +To yive it hire al in a day, +Be so that to that suete may +I myhte like or more or lesse. +And thus be cause of my scarsnesse 4740 +Ye mai wel understonde and lieve +That I schal noght the worse achieve +The pourpos which is in my thoght. +Bot yit I yaf hir nevere noght, +Ne therto dorste a profre make; +For wel I wot sche wol noght take, +And yive wol sche noght also, +Sche is eschu of bothe tuo. +And this I trowe be the skile +Towardes me, for sche ne wile 4750 +That I have eny cause of hope, +Noght also mochel as a drope. +Bot toward othre, as I mai se, +Sche takth and yifth in such degre, +That as be weie of frendlihiede +Sche can so kepe hir wommanhiede, +That every man spekth of hir wel. +Bot sche wole take of me no del, +And yit sche wot wel that I wolde +Yive and do bothe what I scholde 4760 +To plesen hire in al my myht: +Be reson this wot every wyht, +For that mai be no weie asterte, +Ther sche is maister of the herte, +Sche mot be maister of the good. +For god wot wel that al my mod +And al min herte and al mi thoght +And al mi good, whil I have oght, +Als freliche as god hath it yive, +It schal ben hires, while I live, 4770 +Riht as hir list hirself commande. +So that it nedeth no demande, +To axe of me if I be scars +To love, for as to tho pars +I wole ansuere and seie no. + +Mi Sone, that is riht wel do. +For often times of scarsnesse +It hath be sen, that for the lesse +Is lost the more, as thou schalt hiere +A tale lich to this matiere. 4780 + +Skarsnesse and love acorden nevere, +For every thing is wel the levere, +Whan that a man hath boght it diere: +And forto speke in this matiere, +For sparinge of a litel cost +Fulofte time a man hath lost +The large cote for the hod. +What man that scars is of his good +And wol noght yive, he schal noght take: +With yifte a man mai undertake 4790 +The hihe god to plese and queme, +With yifte a man the world mai deme; +For every creature bore, +If thou him yive, is glad therfore, +And every gladschipe, as I finde, +Is confort unto loves kinde +And causeth ofte a man to spede. +So was he wys that ferst yaf mede, +For mede kepeth love in house; +Bot wher the men ben coveitouse 4800 +And sparen forto yive a part, +Thei knowe noght Cupides art: +For his fortune and his aprise +Desdeigneth alle coveitise +And hateth alle nygardie. +And forto loke of this partie, +A soth ensample, hou it is so, + +I finde write of Babio; +Which hadde a love at his menage, +Ther was non fairere of hire age, 4810 +And hihte Viola be name; +Which full of youthe and ful of game +Was of hirself, and large and fre, +Bot such an other chinche as he +Men wisten noght in al the lond, +And hadde affaited to his hond +His servant, the which Spodius +Was hote. And in this wise thus +The worldes good of sufficance +Was had, bot likinge and plesance, 4820 +Of that belongeth to richesse +Of love, stod in gret destresse; +So that this yonge lusty wyht +Of thing which fell to loves riht +Was evele served overal, +That sche was wo bego withal, +Til that Cupide and Venus eke +A medicine for the seke +Ordeigne wolden in this cas. +So as fortune thanne was, 4830 +Of love upon the destine +It fell, riht as it scholde be, +A freissh, a fre, a frendly man +That noght of Avarice can, +Which Croceus be name hihte, +Toward this swete caste his sihte, +And ther sche was cam in presence. +Sche sih him large of his despence, +And amorous and glad of chiere, +So that hir liketh wel to hiere 4840 +The goodly wordes whiche he seide; +And therupon of love he preide, +Of love was al that he mente, +To love and for sche scholde assente, +He yaf hire yiftes evere among. +Bot for men sein that mede is strong, +It was wel seene at thilke tyde; +For as it scholde of ryht betyde, +This Viola largesce hath take +And the nygard sche hath forsake: 4850 +Of Babio sche wol no more, +For he was grucchende everemore, +Ther was with him non other fare +Bot forto prinche and forto spare, +Of worldes muk to gete encress. +So goth the wrecche loveles, +Bejaped for his Skarcete, +And he that large was and fre +And sette his herte to despende, +This Croceus, the bowe bende, 4860 +Which Venus tok him forto holde, +And schotte als ofte as evere he wolde. + +Lo, thus departeth love his lawe, +That what man wol noght be felawe +To yive and spende, as I thee telle, +He is noght worthi forto duelle +In loves court to be relieved. +Forthi, my Sone, if I be lieved, +Thou schalt be large of thi despence. + +Mi fader, in mi conscience 4870 +If ther be eny thing amis, +I wol amende it after this, +Toward mi love namely. + +Mi Sone, wel and redely +Thou seist, so that wel paid withal +I am, and forthere if I schal +Unto thi schrifte specefie +Of Avarices progenie +What vice suieth after this, +Thou schalt have wonder hou it is, 4880 +Among the folk in eny regne +That such a vice myhte regne, +Which is comun at alle assaies, +As men mai finde nou adaies. + +The vice lik unto the fend, +Which nevere yit was mannes frend, +And cleped is Unkindeschipe, +Of covine and of felaschipe +With Avarice he is withholde. +Him thenkth he scholde noght ben holde 4890 +Unto the moder which him bar; +Of him mai nevere man be war, +He wol noght knowe the merite, +For that he wolde it noght aquite; +Which in this world is mochel used, +And fewe ben therof excused. +To telle of him is endeles, +Bot this I seie natheles, +Wher as this vice comth to londe, +Ther takth noman his thonk on honde; 4900 +Thogh he with alle his myhtes serve, +He schal of him no thonk deserve. +He takth what eny man wol yive, +Bot whil he hath o day to live, +He wol nothing rewarde ayein; +He gruccheth forto yive o grein, +Wher he hath take a berne full. +That makth a kinde herte dull, +To sette his trust in such frendschipe, +Ther as he fint no kindeschipe; 4910 +And forto speke wordes pleine, +Thus hiere I many a man compleigne, +That nou on daies thou schalt finde +At nede fewe frendes kinde; +What thou hast don for hem tofore, +It is foryete, as it were lore. +The bokes speken of this vice, +And telle hou god of his justice, +Be weie of kinde and ek nature +And every lifissh creature, 4920 +The lawe also, who that it kan, +Thei dampnen an unkinde man. + +It is al on to seie unkinde +As thing which don is ayein kinde, +For it with kinde nevere stod +A man to yelden evel for good. +For who that wolde taken hede, +A beste is glad of a good dede, +And loveth thilke creature +After the lawe of his nature 4930 +Which doth him ese. And forto se +Of this matiere Auctorite, +Fulofte time it hath befalle; +Wherof a tale amonges alle, +Which is of olde ensamplerie, +I thenke forto specefie. + +To speke of an unkinde man, +I finde hou whilom Adrian, +Of Rome which a gret lord was, +Upon a day as he per cas 4940 +To wode in his huntinge wente, +It hapneth at a soudein wente, +After his chace as he poursuieth, +Thurgh happ, the which noman eschuieth, +He fell unwar into a pet, +Wher that it mihte noght be let. +The pet was dep and he fell lowe, +That of his men non myhte knowe +Wher he becam, for non was nyh, +Which of his fall the meschief syh. 4950 +And thus al one ther he lay +Clepende and criende al the day +For socour and deliverance, +Til ayein Eve it fell per chance, +A while er it began to nyhte, +A povere man, which Bardus hihte, +Cam forth walkende with his asse, +And hadde gadred him a tasse +Of grene stickes and of dreie +To selle, who that wolde hem beie, 4960 +As he which hadde no liflode, +Bot whanne he myhte such a lode +To toune with his Asse carie. +And as it fell him forto tarie +That ilke time nyh the pet, +And hath the trusse faste knet, +He herde a vois, which cride dimme, +And he his Ere to the brimme +Hath leid, and herde it was a man, +Which seide, “Ha, help hier Adrian, 4970 +And I wol yiven half mi good.” + +The povere man this understod, +As he that wolde gladly winne, +And to this lord which was withinne +He spak and seide, “If I thee save, +What sikernesse schal I have +Of covenant, that afterward +Thou wolt me yive such reward +As thou behihtest nou tofore?” + +That other hath his othes swore 4980 +Be hevene and be the goddes alle, +If that it myhte so befalle +That he out of the pet him broghte, +Of all the goodes whiche he oghte +He schal have evene halvendel. + +This Bardus seide he wolde wel; +And with this word his Asse anon +He let untrusse, and therupon +Doun goth the corde into the pet, +To which he hath at ende knet 4990 +A staf, wherby, he seide, he wolde +That Adrian him scholde holde. +Bot it was tho per chance falle, +Into that pet was also falle +An Ape, which at thilke throwe, +Whan that the corde cam doun lowe, +Al sodeinli therto he skipte +And it in bothe hise armes clipte. +And Bardus with his Asse anon +Him hath updrawe, and he is gon. 5000 +But whan he sih it was an Ape, +He wende al hadde ben a jape +Of faierie, and sore him dradde: +And Adrian eftsone gradde +For help, and cride and preide faste, +And he eftsone his corde caste; +Bot whan it cam unto the grounde, +A gret Serpent it hath bewounde, +The which Bardus anon up drouh. +And thanne him thoghte wel ynouh, 5010 +It was fantosme, bot yit he herde +The vois, and he therto ansuerde, +“What wiht art thou in goddes name?” + +“I am,” quod Adrian, “the same, +Whos good thou schalt have evene half.” +Quod Bardus, “Thanne a goddes half +The thridde time assaie I schal”: +And caste his corde forth withal +Into the pet, and whan it cam +To him, this lord of Rome it nam, 5020 +And therupon him hath adresced, +And with his hand fulofte blessed, +And thanne he bad to Bardus hale. +And he, which understod his tale, +Betwen him and his Asse al softe +Hath drawe and set him up alofte +Withouten harm al esely. +He seith noght ones “grant merci,” +Bot strauhte him forth to the cite, +And let this povere Bardus be. 5030 +And natheles this simple man +His covenant, so as he can, +Hath axed; and that other seide, +If so be that he him umbreide +Of oght that hath be speke or do, +It schal ben venged on him so, +That him were betre to be ded. +And he can tho non other red, +But on his asse ayein he caste +His trusse, and hieth homward faste: 5040 +And whan that he cam hom to bedde, +He tolde his wif hou that he spedde. +Bot finaly to speke oght more +Unto this lord he dradde him sore, +So that a word ne dorste he sein: +And thus upon the morwe ayein, +In the manere as I recorde, +Forth with his Asse and with his corde +To gadre wode, as he dede er, +He goth; and whan that he cam ner 5050 +Unto the place where he wolde, +He hath his Ape anon beholde, +Which hadde gadred al aboute +Of stickes hiere and there a route, +And leide hem redy to his hond, +Wherof he made his trosse and bond; +Fro dai to dai and in this wise +This Ape profreth his servise, +So that he hadde of wode ynouh. +Upon a time and as he drouh 5060 +Toward the wode, he sih besyde +The grete gastli Serpent glyde, +Til that sche cam in his presence, +And in hir kinde a reverence +Sche hath him do, and forth withal +A Ston mor briht than a cristall +Out of hir mouth tofore his weie +Sche let doun falle, and wente aweie, +For that he schal noght ben adrad. +Tho was this povere Bardus glad, 5070 +Thonkende god, and to the Ston +He goth an takth it up anon, +And hath gret wonder in his wit +Hou that the beste him hath aquit, +Wher that the mannes Sone hath failed, +For whom he hadde most travailed. +Bot al he putte in goddes hond, +And torneth hom, and what he fond +Unto his wif he hath it schewed; +And thei, that weren bothe lewed, 5080 +Acorden that he scholde it selle. +And he no lengere wolde duelle, +Bot forth anon upon the tale +The Ston he profreth to the sale; +And riht as he himself it sette, +The jueler anon forth fette +The gold and made his paiement, +Therof was no delaiement. + +Thus whan this Ston was boght and sold, +Homward with joie manyfold 5090 +This Bardus goth; and whan he cam +Hom to his hous and that he nam +His gold out of his Purs, withinne +He fond his Ston also therinne, +Wherof for joie his herte pleide, +Unto his wif and thus he seide, +“Lo, hier my gold, lo, hier mi Ston!” +His wif hath wonder therupon, +And axeth him hou that mai be. +“Nou be mi trouthe I not,” quod he, 5100 +“Bot I dar swere upon a bok, +That to my Marchant I it tok, +And he it hadde whan I wente: +So knowe I noght to what entente +It is nou hier, bot it be grace. +Forthi tomorwe in other place +I wole it fonde forto selle, +And if it wol noght with him duelle, +Bot crepe into mi purs ayein, +Than dar I saufly swere and sein, 5110 +It is the vertu of the Ston.” + +The morwe cam, and he is gon +To seche aboute in other stede +His Ston to selle, and he so dede, +And lefte it with his chapman there. +Bot whan that he cam elleswhere, +In presence of his wif at hom, +Out of his Purs and that he nom +His gold, he fond his Ston withal: +And thus it fell him overal, 5120 +Where he it solde in sondri place, +Such was the fortune and the grace. +Bot so wel may nothing ben hidd, +That it nys ate laste kidd: +This fame goth aboute Rome +So ferforth, that the wordes come +To themperour Justinian; +And he let sende for the man, +And axede him hou that it was. +And Bardus tolde him al the cas, 5130 +Hou that the worm and ek the beste, +Althogh thei maden no beheste, +His travail hadden wel aquit; +Bot he which hadde a mannes wit, +And made his covenant be mouthe +And swor therto al that he couthe +To parte and yiven half his good, +Hath nou foryete hou that it stod, +As he which wol no trouthe holde. + +This Emperour al that he tolde 5140 +Hath herd, and thilke unkindenesse +He seide he wolde himself redresse. +And thus in court of juggement +This Adrian was thanne assent, +And the querele in audience +Declared was in the presence +Of themperour and many mo; +Wherof was mochel speche tho +And gret wondringe among the press. +Bot ate laste natheles 5150 +For the partie which hath pleigned +The lawe hath diemed and ordeigned +Be hem that were avised wel, +That he schal have the halvendel +Thurghout of Adrianes good. +And thus of thilke unkinde blod +Stant the memoire into this day, +Wherof that every wysman may +Ensamplen him, and take in mynde +What schame it is to ben unkinde; 5160 +Ayein the which reson debateth, +And every creature it hateth. + +Forthi, mi Sone, in thin office +I rede fle that ilke vice. +For riht as the Cronique seith +Of Adrian, hou he his feith +Foryat for worldes covoitise, +Fulofte in such a maner wise +Of lovers nou a man mai se +Full manye that unkinde be: 5170 +For wel behote and evele laste +That is here lif; for ate laste, +Whan that thei have here wille do, +Here love is after sone ago. +What seist thou, Sone, to this cas? + +Mi fader, I wol seie Helas, +That evere such a man was bore, +Which whan he hath his trouthe suore +And hath of love what he wolde, +That he at eny time scholde 5180 +Evere after in his herte finde +To falsen and to ben unkinde. +Bot, fader, as touchende of me, +I mai noght stonde in that degre; +For I tok nevere of love why, +That I ne mai wel go therby +And do my profit elles where, +For eny sped I finde there. +I dar wel thenken al aboute, +Bot I ne dar noght speke it oute; 5190 +And if I dorste, I wolde pleigne, +That sche for whom I soffre peine +And love hir evere aliche hote, +That nouther yive ne behote +In rewardinge of mi servise +It list hire in no maner wise. +I wol noght say that sche is kinde, +And forto sai sche is unkinde, +That dar I noght; bot god above, +Which demeth every herte of love, 5200 +He wot that on myn oghne side +Schal non unkindeschipe abide: +If it schal with mi ladi duelle, +Therof dar I nomore telle. +Nou, goode fader, as it is, +Tell me what thenketh you of this. + +Mi Sone, of that unkindeschipe, +The which toward thi ladischipe +Thou pleignest, for sche wol thee noght, +Thou art to blamen of that thoght. 5210 +For it mai be that thi desir, +Thogh it brenne evere as doth the fyr, +Per cas to hire honour missit, +Or elles time com noght yit, +Which standt upon thi destine: +Forthi, mi Sone, I rede thee, +Thenk wel, what evere the befalle; +For noman hath his lustes alle. +Bot as thou toldest me before +That thou to love art noght forswore, 5220 +And hast don non unkindenesse, +Thou miht therof thi grace blesse: +And lef noght that continuance; +For ther mai be no such grevance +To love, as is unkindeschipe. +Wherof to kepe thi worschipe, +So as these olde bokes tale, +I schal thee telle a redi tale: +Nou herkne and be wel war therby, +For I wol telle it openly. 5230 + +Mynos, as telleth the Poete, +The which whilom was king of Crete, +A Sone hadde and Androchee +He hihte: and so befell that he +Unto Athenes forto lere +Was send, and so he bar him there, +For that he was of hih lignage, +Such pride he tok in his corage, +That he foryeten hath the Scoles, +And in riote among the foles 5240 +He dede manye thinges wronge; +And useth thilke lif so longe, +Til ate laste of that he wroghte +He fond the meschief which he soghte, +Wherof it fell that he was slain. +His fader, which it herde sain, +Was wroth, and al that evere he mihte, +Of men of Armes he him dighte +A strong pouer, and forth he wente +Unto Athenys, where he brente 5250 +The pleine contre al aboute: +The Cites stode of him in doute, +As thei that no defence hadde +Ayein the pouer which he ladde. + +Egeüs, which was there king, +His conseil tok upon this thing, +For he was thanne in the Cite: +So that of pes into tretee +Betwen Mynos and Egeüs +Thei felle, and ben acorded thus; 5260 +That king Mynos fro yer to yeere +Receive schal, as thou schalt here, +Out of Athenys for truage +Of men that were of myhti Age +Persones nyne, of whiche he schal +His wille don in special +For vengance of his Sones deth. +Non other grace ther ne geth, +Bot forto take the juise; +And that was don in such a wise, 5270 +Which stod upon a wonder cas. +For thilke time so it was, +Wherof that men yit rede and singe, +King Mynos hadde in his kepinge +A cruel Monstre, as seith the geste: +For he was half man and half beste, +And Minotaurus he was hote, +Which was begete in a riote +Upon Pasiphe, his oghne wif, +Whil he was oute upon the strif 5280 +Of thilke grete Siege at Troie. +Bot sche, which lost hath alle joie, +Whan that sche syh this Monstre bore, +Bad men ordeigne anon therfore: +And fell that ilke time thus, +Ther was a Clerk, on Dedalus, +Which hadde ben of hire assent +Of that hir world was so miswent; +And he made of his oghne wit, +Wherof the remembrance is yit, 5290 +For Minotaure such an hous, +Which was so strange and merveilous, +That what man that withinne wente, +Ther was so many a sondri wente, +That he ne scholde noght come oute, +But gon amased al aboute. +And in this hous to loke and warde +Was Minotaurus put in warde, +That what lif that therinne cam, +Or man or beste, he overcam 5300 +And slow, and fedde him therupon; +And in this wise many on +Out of Athenys for truage +Devoured weren in that rage. +For every yeer thei schope hem so, +Thei of Athenys, er thei go +Toward that ilke wofull chance, +As it was set in ordinance, +Upon fortune here lot thei caste; +Til that Theseüs ate laste, 5310 +Which was the kinges Sone there, +Amonges othre that ther were +In thilke yeer, as it befell, +The lot upon his chance fell. +He was a worthi kniht withalle; +And whan he sih this chance falle, +He ferde as thogh he tok non hiede, +Bot al that evere he mihte spiede, +With him and with his felaschipe +Forth into Crete he goth be Schipe; 5320 +Wher that the king Mynos he soghte, +And profreth all that he him oghte +Upon the point of here acord. + +This sterne king, this cruel lord +Tok every day on of the Nyne, +And put him to the discipline +Of Minotaure, to be devoured; +Bot Theseüs was so favoured, +That he was kept til ate laste. +And in the meene while he caste 5330 +What thing him were best to do: +And fell that Adriagne tho, +Which was the dowhter of Mynos, +And hadde herd the worthi los +Of Theseüs and of his myht, +And syh he was a lusti kniht, +Hire hole herte on him sche leide, +And he also of love hir preide, +So ferforth that thei were al on. +And sche ordeigneth thanne anon 5340 +In what manere he scholde him save, +And schop so that sche dede him have +A clue of thred, of which withinne +Ferst ate dore he schal beginne +With him to take that on ende, +That whan he wolde ayeinward wende, +He mihte go the same weie. +And over this, so as I seie, +Of pich sche tok him a pelote, +The which he scholde into the throte 5350 +Of Minotaure caste rihte: +Such wepne also for him sche dighte, +That he be reson mai noght faile +To make an ende of his bataile; +For sche him tawhte in sondri wise, +Til he was knowe of thilke emprise, +Hou he this beste schulde quelle. +And thus, schort tale forto telle, +So as this Maide him hadde tawht, +Theseüs with this Monstre fawht, 5360 +Smot of his hed, the which he nam, +And be the thred, so as he cam, +He goth ayein, til he were oute. +Tho was gret wonder al aboute: +Mynos the tribut hath relessed, +And so was al the werre cessed +Betwen Athene and hem of Crete. + +Bot now to speke of thilke suete, +Whos beaute was withoute wane, +This faire Maiden Adriane, 5370 +Whan that sche sih Theseüs sound, +Was nevere yit upon the ground +A gladder wyht that sche was tho. +Theseüs duelte a dai or tuo +Wher that Mynos gret chiere him dede: +Theseüs in a prive stede +Hath with this Maiden spoke and rouned, +That sche to him was abandouned +In al that evere that sche couthe, +So that of thilke lusty youthe 5380 +Al prively betwen hem tweie +The ferste flour he tok aweie. +For he so faire tho behihte +That evere, whil he live mihte, +He scholde hire take for his wif, +And as his oghne hertes lif +He scholde hire love and trouthe bere; +And sche, which mihte noght forbere, +So sore loveth him ayein, +That what as evere he wolde sein 5390 +With al hire herte sche believeth. +And thus his pourpos he achieveth, +So that assured of his trouthe +With him sche wente, and that was routhe. + +Fedra hire yonger Soster eke, +A lusti Maide, a sobre, a meke, +Fulfild of alle curtesie, +For Sosterhode and compainie +Of love, which was hem betuene, +To sen hire Soster mad a queene, 5400 +Hire fader lefte and forth sche wente +With him, which al his ferste entente +Foryat withinne a litel throwe, +So that it was al overthrowe, +Whan sche best wende it scholde stonde. +The Schip was blowe fro the londe, +Wherin that thei seilende were; +This Adriagne hath mochel fere +Of that the wynd so loude bleu, +As sche which of the See ne kneu, 5410 +And preide forto reste a whyle. +And so fell that upon an yle, +Which Chyo hihte, thei ben drive, +Where he to hire his leve hath yive +That sche schal londe and take hire reste. +Bot that was nothing for the beste: +For whan sche was to londe broght, +Sche, which that time thoghte noght +Bot alle trouthe, and tok no kepe, +Hath leid hire softe forto slepe, 5420 +As sche which longe hath ben forwacched; +Bot certes sche was evele macched +And fer from alle loves kinde; +For more than the beste unkinde +Theseüs, which no trouthe kepte, +Whil that this yonge ladi slepte, +Fulfild of his unkindeschipe +Hath al foryete the goodschipe +Which Adriane him hadde do, +And bad unto the Schipmen tho 5430 +Hale up the seil and noght abyde, +And forth he goth the same tyde +Toward Athene, and hire alonde +He lefte, which lay nyh the stronde +Slepende, til that sche awok. +Bot whan that sche cast up hire lok +Toward the stronde and sih no wyht, +Hire herte was so sore aflyht, +That sche ne wiste what to thinke, +Bot drouh hire to the water brinke, 5440 +Wher sche behield the See at large. +Sche sih no Schip, sche sih no barge +Als ferforth as sche mihte kenne: +“Ha lord,” sche seide, “which a Senne, +As al the world schal after hiere, +Upon this woful womman hiere +This worthi kniht hath don and wroght! +I wende I hadde his love boght, +And so deserved ate nede, +Whan that he stod upon his drede, 5450 +And ek the love he me behihte. +It is gret wonder hou he mihte +Towardes me nou ben unkinde, +And so to lete out of his mynde +Thing which he seide his oghne mouth. +Bot after this whan it is couth +And drawe into the worldes fame, +It schal ben hindringe of his name: +For wel he wot and so wot I, +He yaf his trouthe bodily, 5460 +That he myn honour scholde kepe.” +And with that word sche gan to wepe, +And sorweth more than ynouh: +Hire faire tresces sche todrouh, +And with hirself tok such a strif, +That sche betwen the deth and lif +Swounende lay fulofte among. +And al was this on him along, +Which was to love unkinde so, +Wherof the wrong schal everemo 5470 +Stonde in Cronique of remembrance. +And ek it asketh a vengance +To ben unkinde in loves cas, +So as Theseüs thanne was, +Al thogh he were a noble kniht; +For he the lawe of loves riht +Forfeted hath in alle weie, +That Adriagne he putte aweie, +Which was a gret unkinde dede: +And after this, so as I rede, 5480 +Fedra, the which hir Soster is, +He tok in stede of hire, and this +Fel afterward to mochel teene. +For thilke vice of which I meene, +Unkindeschipe, where it falleth, +The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth, +That he can no good dede aquite: +So mai he stonde of no merite +Towardes god, and ek also +Men clepen him the worldes fo; 5490 +For he nomore than the fend +Unto non other man is frend, +Bot al toward himself al one. +Forthi, mi Sone, in thi persone +This vice above all othre fle. + +Mi fader, as ye techen me, +I thenke don in this matiere. +Bot over this nou wolde I hiere, +Wherof I schal me schryve more. + +Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore, 5500 +After the reule of coveitise +I schal the proprete devise +Of every vice by and by. +Nou herkne and be wel war therby. + +In the lignage of Avarice, +Mi Sone, yit ther is a vice, +His rihte name it is Ravine, +Which hath a route of his covine. +Ravine among the maistres duelleth, +And with his servantz, as men telleth, 5510 +Extorcion is nou withholde: +Ravine of othre mennes folde +Makth his larder and paieth noght; +For wher as evere it mai be soght, +In his hous ther schal nothing lacke, +And that fulofte abyth the packe +Of povere men that duelle aboute. +Thus stant the comun poeple in doute, +Which can do non amendement; +For whanne him faileth paiement, 5520 +Ravine makth non other skile, +Bot takth be strengthe what he wile. + +So ben ther in the same wise +Lovers, as I thee schal devise, +That whan noght elles mai availe, +Anon with strengthe thei assaile +And gete of love the sesine, +Whan thei se time, be Ravine. + +Forthi, mi Sone, schrif thee hier, +If thou hast ben a Raviner 5530 +Of love. + +Certes, fader, no: +For I mi ladi love so, +That thogh I were as was Pompeie, +That al the world me wolde obeie, +Or elles such as Alisandre, +I wolde noght do such a sklaundre; +It is no good man, which so doth. + +In good feith, Sone, thou seist soth: +For he that wole of pourveance +Be such a weie his lust avance, 5540 +He schal it after sore abie, +Bot if these olde ensamples lie. + +Nou, goode fader, tell me on, +So as ye cunne manyon, +Touchende of love in this matiere. + +Nou list, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere, +So as it hath befalle er this, +In loves cause hou that it is +A man to take be Ravine +The preie which is femeline. 5550 + +Ther was a real noble king, +And riche of alle worldes thing, +Which of his propre enheritance +Athenes hadde in governance, +And who so thenke therupon, +His name was king Pandion. +Tuo douhtres hadde he be his wif, +The whiche he lovede as his lif; +The ferste douhter Progne hihte, +And the secounde, as sche wel mihte, 5560 +Was cleped faire Philomene, +To whom fell after mochel tene. +The fader of his pourveance +His doughter Progne wolde avance, +And yaf hire unto mariage +A worthi king of hih lignage, +A noble kniht eke of his hond, +So was he kid in every lond, +Of Trace he hihte Tereüs; +The clerk Ovide telleth thus. 5570 +This Tereüs his wif hom ladde, +A lusti lif with hire he hadde; +Til it befell upon a tyde, +This Progne, as sche lay him besyde, +Bethoughte hir hou it mihte be +That sche hir Soster myhte se, +And to hir lord hir will sche seide, +With goodly wordes and him preide +That sche to hire mihte go: +And if it liked him noght so, 5580 +That thanne he wolde himselve wende, +Or elles be som other sende, +Which mihte hire diere Soster griete, +And schape hou that thei mihten miete. +Hir lord anon to that he herde +Yaf his acord, and thus ansuerde: +“I wole,” he seide, “for thi sake +The weie after thi Soster take +Miself, and bringe hire, if I may.” +And sche with that, there as he lay, 5590 +Began him in hire armes clippe, +And kist him with hir softe lippe, +And seide, “Sire, grant mercy.” +And he sone after was redy, +And tok his leve forto go; +In sori time dede he so. + +This Tereüs goth forth to Schipe +With him and with his felaschipe; +Be See the rihte cours he nam, +Into the contre til he cam, 5600 +Wher Philomene was duellinge, +And of hir Soster the tidinge +He tolde, and tho thei weren glade, +And mochel joie of him thei made. +The fader and the moder bothe +To leve here douhter weren lothe, +Bot if thei weren in presence; +And natheles at reverence +Of him, that wolde himself travaile, +Thei wolden noght he scholde faile 5610 +Of that he preide, and yive hire leve: +And sche, that wolde noght beleve, +In alle haste made hire yare +Toward hir Soster forto fare, +With Tereüs and forth sche wente. +And he with al his hole entente, +Whan sche was fro hir frendes go, +Assoteth of hire love so, +His yhe myhte he noght withholde, +That he ne moste on hir beholde; 5620 +And with the sihte he gan desire, +And sette his oghne herte on fyre; +And fyr, whan it to tow aprocheth, +To him anon the strengthe acrocheth, +Til with his hete it be devoured, +The tow ne mai noght be socoured. +And so that tirant raviner, +Whan that sche was in his pouer, +And he therto sawh time and place, +As he that lost hath alle grace, 5630 +Foryat he was a wedded man, +And in a rage on hire he ran, +Riht as a wolf which takth his preie. +And sche began to crie and preie, +“O fader, o mi moder diere, +Nou help!” Bot thei ne mihte it hiere, +And sche was of to litel myht +Defense ayein so ruide a knyht +To make, whanne he was so wod +That he no reson understod, 5640 +Bot hield hire under in such wise, +That sche ne myhte noght arise, +Bot lay oppressed and desesed, +As if a goshauk hadde sesed +A brid, which dorste noght for fere +Remue: and thus this tirant there +Beraft hire such thing as men sein +Mai neveremor be yolde ayein, +And that was the virginite: +Of such Ravine it was pite. 5650 + +Bot whan sche to hirselven com, +And of hir meschief hiede nom, +And knew hou that sche was no maide, +With wofull herte thus sche saide, +“O thou of alle men the worste, +Wher was ther evere man that dorste +Do such a dede as thou hast do? +That dai schal falle, I hope so, +That I schal telle out al mi fille, +And with mi speche I schal fulfille 5660 +The wyde world in brede and lengthe. +That thou hast do to me be strengthe, +If I among the poeple duelle, +Unto the poeple I schal it telle; +And if I be withinne wall +Of Stones closed, thanne I schal +Unto the Stones clepe and crie, +And tellen hem thi felonie; +And if I to the wodes wende, +Ther schal I tellen tale and ende, 5670 +And crie it to the briddes oute, +That thei schul hiere it al aboute. +For I so loude it schal reherce, +That my vois schal the hevene perce, +That it schal soune in goddes Ere. +Ha, false man, where is thi fere? +O mor cruel than eny beste, +Hou hast thou holden thi beheste +Which thou unto my Soster madest? +O thou, which alle love ungladest, 5680 +And art ensample of alle untrewe, +Nou wolde god mi Soster knewe, +Of thin untrouthe, hou that it stod!” +And he than as a Lyon wod +With hise unhappi handes stronge +Hire cauhte be the tresses longe, +With whiche he bond ther bothe hire armes, +That was a fieble dede of armes, +And to the grounde anon hire caste, +And out he clippeth also faste 5690 +Hire tunge with a peire scheres. +So what with blod and what with teres +Out of hire yhe and of hir mouth, +He made hire faire face uncouth: +Sche lay swounende unto the deth, +Ther was unethes eny breth; +Bot yit whan he hire tunge refte, +A litel part therof belefte, +Bot sche with al no word mai soune, +Bot chitre and as a brid jargoune. 5700 +And natheles that wode hound +Hir bodi hent up fro the ground, +And sente hir there as be his wille +Sche scholde abyde in prison stille +For everemo: bot nou tak hiede +What after fell of this misdede. + +Whanne al this meschief was befalle, +This Tereüs, that foule him falle, +Unto his contre hom he tyh; +And whan he com his paleis nyh, 5710 +His wif al redi there him kepte. +Whan he hir sih, anon he wepte, +And that he dede for deceite, +For sche began to axe him streite, +“Wher is mi Soster?” And he seide +That sche was ded; and Progne abreide, +As sche that was a wofull wif, +And stod betuen hire deth and lif, +Of that sche herde such tidinge: +Bot for sche sih hire lord wepinge, 5720 +She wende noght bot alle trouthe, +And hadde wel the more routhe. +The Perles weren tho forsake +To hire, and blake clothes take; +As sche that was gentil and kinde, +In worschipe of hir Sostres mynde +Sche made a riche enterement, +For sche fond non amendement +To syghen or to sobbe more: +So was ther guile under the gore. 5730 + +Nou leve we this king and queene, +And torne ayein to Philomene, +As I began to tellen erst. +Whan sche cam into prison ferst, +It thoghte a kinges douhter strange +To maken so soudein a change +Fro welthe unto so grete a wo; +And sche began to thenke tho, +Thogh sche be mouthe nothing preide, +Withinne hir herte thus sche seide: 5740 +“O thou, almyhty Jupiter, +That hihe sist and lokest fer, +Thou soffrest many a wrong doinge, +And yit it is noght thi willinge. +To thee ther mai nothing ben hid, +Thou wost hou it is me betid: +I wolde I hadde noght be bore, +For thanne I hadde noght forlore +Mi speche and mi virginite. +Bot, goode lord, al is in thee, 5750 +Whan thou therof wolt do vengance +And schape mi deliverance.” +And evere among this ladi wepte, +And thoghte that sche nevere kepte +To ben a worldes womman more, +And that sche wissheth everemore. +Bot ofte unto hir Soster diere +Hire herte spekth in this manere, +And seide, “Ha, Soster, if ye knewe +Of myn astat, ye wolde rewe, 5760 +I trowe, and my deliverance +Ye wolde schape, and do vengance +On him that is so fals a man: +And natheles, so as I can, +I wol you sende som tokninge, +Wherof ye schul have knowlechinge +Of thing I wot, that schal you lothe, +The which you toucheth and me bothe.” +And tho withinne a whyle als tyt +Sche waf a cloth of Selk al whyt 5770 +With lettres and ymagerie, +In which was al the felonie, +Which Tereüs to hire hath do; +And lappede it togedre tho +And sette hir signet therupon +And sende it unto Progne anon. +The messager which forth it bar, +What it amonteth is noght war; +And natheles to Progne he goth +And prively takth hire the cloth, 5780 +And wente ayein riht as he cam, +The court of him non hiede nam. + +Whan Progne of Philomene herde, +Sche wolde knowe hou that it ferde, +And opneth that the man hath broght, +And wot therby what hath be wroght +And what meschief ther is befalle. +In swoune tho sche gan doun falle, +And efte aros and gan to stonde, +And eft sche takth the cloth on honde, 5790 +Behield the lettres and thymages; +Bot ate laste, “Of suche oultrages,” +Sche seith, “wepinge is noght the bote:” +And swerth, if that sche live mote, +It schal be venged otherwise. +And with that sche gan hire avise +Hou ferst sche mihte unto hire winne +Hir Soster, that noman withinne, +Bot only thei that were suore, +It scholde knowe, and schop therfore 5800 +That Tereüs nothing it wiste; +And yit riht as hirselven liste, +Hir Soster was delivered sone +Out of prison, and be the mone +To Progne sche was broght be nyhte. + +Whan ech of other hadde a sihte, +In chambre, ther thei were al one, +Thei maden many a pitous mone; +Bot Progne most of sorwe made, +Which sihe hir Soster pale and fade 5810 +And specheles and deshonoured, +Of that sche hadde be defloured; +And ek upon hir lord sche thoghte, +Of that he so untreuly wroghte +And hadde his espousaile broke. +Sche makth a vou it schal be wroke, +And with that word sche kneleth doun +Wepinge in gret devocioun: +Unto Cupide and to Venus +Sche preide, and seide thanne thus: 5820 +“O ye, to whom nothing asterte +Of love mai, for every herte +Ye knowe, as ye that ben above +The god and the goddesse of love; +Ye witen wel that evere yit +With al mi will and al my wit, +Sith ferst ye schopen me to wedde, +That I lay with mi lord abedde, +I have be trewe in mi degre, +And evere thoghte forto be, 5830 +And nevere love in other place, +Bot al only the king of Trace, +Which is mi lord and I his wif. +Bot nou allas this wofull strif! +That I him thus ayeinward finde +The most untrewe and most unkinde +That evere in ladi armes lay. +And wel I wot that he ne may +Amende his wrong, it is so gret; +For he to lytel of me let, 5840 +Whan he myn oughne Soster tok, +And me that am his wif forsok.” + +Lo, thus to Venus and Cupide +Sche preide, and furthermor sche cride +Unto Appollo the hiheste, +And seide, “O myghti god of reste, +Thou do vengance of this debat. +Mi Soster and al hire astat +Thou wost, and hou sche hath forlore +Hir maidenhod, and I therfore 5850 +In al the world schal bere a blame +Of that mi Soster hath a schame, +That Tereüs to hire I sente: +And wel thou wost that myn entente +Was al for worschipe and for goode. +O lord, that yifst the lives fode +To every wyht, I prei thee hiere +Thes wofull Sostres that ben hiere, +And let ous noght to the ben lothe; +We ben thin oghne wommen bothe.” 5860 + +Thus pleigneth Progne and axeth wreche, +And thogh hire Soster lacke speche, +To him that alle thinges wot +Hire sorwe is noght the lasse hot: +Bot he that thanne had herd hem tuo, +Him oughte have sorwed everemo +For sorwe which was hem betuene. +With signes pleigneth Philomene, +And Progne seith, “It schal be wreke, +That al the world therof schal speke.” 5870 +And Progne tho seknesse feigneth, +Wherof unto hir lord sche pleigneth, +And preith sche moste hire chambres kepe, +And as hir liketh wake and slepe. +And he hire granteth to be so; +And thus togedre ben thei tuo, +That wolde him bot a litel good. +Nou herk hierafter hou it stod +Of wofull auntres that befelle: +Thes Sostres, that ben bothe felle,— 5880 +And that was noght on hem along, +Bot onliche on the grete wrong +Which Tereüs hem hadde do,— +Thei schopen forto venge hem tho. + +This Tereüs be Progne his wif +A Sone hath, which as his lif +He loveth, and Ithis he hihte: +His moder wiste wel sche mihte +Do Tereüs no more grief +Than sle this child, which was so lief. 5890 +Thus sche, that was, as who seith, mad +Of wo, which hath hir overlad, +Withoute insihte of moderhede +Foryat pite and loste drede, +And in hir chambre prively +This child withouten noise or cry +Sche slou, and hieu him al to pieces: +And after with diverse spieces +The fleissh, whan it was so toheewe, +Sche takth, and makth therof a sewe, 5900 +With which the fader at his mete +Was served, til he hadde him ete; +That he ne wiste hou that it stod, +Bot thus his oughne fleissh and blod +Himself devoureth ayein kinde, +As he that was tofore unkinde. +And thanne, er that he were arise, +For that he scholde ben agrise, +To schewen him the child was ded, +This Philomene tok the hed 5910 +Betwen tuo disshes, and al wrothe +Tho comen forth the Sostres bothe, +And setten it upon the bord. +And Progne tho began the word, +And seide, “O werste of alle wicke, +Of conscience whom no pricke +Mai stere, lo, what thou hast do! +Lo, hier ben nou we Sostres tuo; +O Raviner, lo hier thi preie, +With whom so falsliche on the weie 5920 +Thou hast thi tirannye wroght. +Lo, nou it is somdel aboght, +And bet it schal, for of thi dede +The world schal evere singe and rede +In remembrance of thi defame: +For thou to love hast do such schame, +That it schal nevere be foryete.” +With that he sterte up fro the mete, +And schof the bord unto the flor, +And cauhte a swerd anon and suor 5930 +That thei scholde of his handes dye. +And thei unto the goddes crie +Begunne with so loude a stevene, +That thei were herd unto the hevene; +And in a twinclinge of an yhe +The goddes, that the meschief syhe, +Here formes changen alle thre. +Echon of hem in his degre +Was torned into briddes kinde; +Diverseliche, as men mai finde, 5940 +After thastat that thei were inne, +Here formes were set atwinne. +And as it telleth in the tale, +The ferst into a nyhtingale +Was schape, and that was Philomene, +Which in the wynter is noght sene, +For thanne ben the leves falle +And naked ben the buisshes alle. +For after that sche was a brid, +Hir will was evere to ben hid, 5950 +And forto duelle in prive place, +That noman scholde sen hir face +For schame, which mai noght be lassed, +Of thing that was tofore passed, +Whan that sche loste hir maidenhiede: +For evere upon hir wommanhiede, +Thogh that the goddes wolde hire change, +Sche thenkth, and is the more strange, +And halt hir clos the wyntres day. +Bot whan the wynter goth away, 5960 +And that Nature the goddesse +Wole of hir oughne fre largesse +With herbes and with floures bothe +The feldes and the medwes clothe, +And ek the wodes and the greves +Ben heled al with grene leves, +So that a brid hire hyde mai, +Betwen Averil and March and Maii, +Sche that the wynter hield hir clos, +For pure schame and noght aros, 5970 +Whan that sche seth the bowes thikke, +And that ther is no bare sticke, +Bot al is hid with leves grene, +To wode comth this Philomene +And makth hir ferste yeres flyht; +Wher as sche singeth day and nyht, +And in hir song al openly +Sche makth hir pleignte and seith, “O why, +O why ne were I yit a maide?” +For so these olde wise saide, 5980 +Which understoden what sche mente, +Hire notes ben of such entente. +And ek thei seide hou in hir song +Sche makth gret joie and merthe among, +And seith, “Ha, nou I am a brid, +Ha, nou mi face mai ben hid: +Thogh I have lost mi Maidenhede, +Schal noman se my chekes rede.” +Thus medleth sche with joie wo +And with hir sorwe merthe also, 5990 +So that of loves maladie +Sche makth diverse melodie, +And seith love is a wofull blisse, +A wisdom which can noman wisse, +A lusti fievere, a wounde softe: +This note sche reherceth ofte +To hem whiche understonde hir tale. +Nou have I of this nyhtingale, +Which erst was cleped Philomene, +Told al that evere I wolde mene, 6000 +Bothe of hir forme and of hir note, +Wherof men mai the storie note. + +And of hir Soster Progne I finde, +Hou sche was torned out of kinde +Into a Swalwe swift of winge, +Which ek in wynter lith swounynge, +Ther as sche mai nothing be sene: +Bot whan the world is woxe grene +And comen is the Somertide, +Than fleth sche forth and ginth to chide, 6010 +And chitreth out in hir langage +What falshod is in mariage, +And telleth in a maner speche +Of Tereüs the Spousebreche. +Sche wol noght in the wodes duelle, +For sche wolde openliche telle; +And ek for that sche was a spouse, +Among the folk sche comth to house, +To do thes wyves understonde +The falshod of hire housebonde, 6020 +That thei of hem be war also, +For ther ben manye untrewe of tho. +Thus ben the Sostres briddes bothe, +And ben toward the men so lothe, +That thei ne wole of pure schame +Unto no mannes hand be tame; +For evere it duelleth in here mynde +Of that thei founde a man unkinde, +And that was false Tereüs. +If such on be amonges ous 6030 +I not, bot his condicion +Men sein in every region +Withinne toune and ek withoute +Nou regneth comunliche aboute. +And natheles in remembrance +I wol declare what vengance +The goddes hadden him ordeined, +Of that the Sostres hadden pleigned: +For anon after he was changed +And from his oghne kinde stranged, 6040 +A lappewincke mad he was, +And thus he hoppeth on the gras, +And on his hed ther stant upriht +A creste in tokne he was a kniht; +And yit unto this dai men seith, +A lappewincke hath lore his feith +And is the brid falseste of alle. + +Bewar, mi Sone, er thee so falle; +For if thou be of such covine, +To gete of love be Ravine 6050 +Thi lust, it mai thee falle thus, +As it befell of Tereüs. + +Mi fader, goddes forebode! +Me were levere be fortrode +With wilde hors and be todrawe, +Er I ayein love and his lawe +Dede eny thing or loude or stille, +Which were noght mi ladi wille. +Men sein that every love hath drede; +So folweth it that I hire drede, 6060 +For I hire love, and who so dredeth, +To plese his love and serve him nedeth. +Thus mai ye knowen be this skile +That no Ravine don I wile +Ayein hir will be such a weie; +Bot while I live, I wol obeie +Abidinge on hire courtesie, +If eny merci wolde hir plie. +Forthi, mi fader, as of this +I wot noght I have don amis: 6070 +Bot furthermore I you beseche, +Som other point that ye me teche, +And axeth forth, if ther be auht, +That I mai be the betre tauht. + +Whan Covoitise in povere astat +Stant with himself upon debat +Thurgh lacke of his misgovernance, +That he unto his sustienance +Ne can non other weie finde +To gete him good, thanne as the blinde, 6080 +Which seth noght what schal after falle, +That ilke vice which men calle +Of Robberie, he takth on honde; +Wherof be water and be londe +Of thing which othre men beswinke +He get him cloth and mete and drinke. +Him reccheth noght what he beginne, +Thurgh thefte so that he mai winne: +Forthi to maken his pourchas +He lith awaitende on the pas, 6090 +And what thing that he seth ther passe, +He takth his part, or more or lasse, +If it be worthi to be take. +He can the packes wel ransake, +So prively berth non aboute +His gold, that he ne fint it oute, +Or other juel, what it be; +He takth it as his proprete. +In wodes and in feldes eke +Thus Robberie goth to seke, 6100 +Wher as he mai his pourpos finde. + +And riht so in the same kinde, +My goode Sone, as thou miht hiere, +To speke of love in the matiere +And make a verrai resemblance, +Riht as a thief makth his chevance +And robbeth mennes good aboute +In wode and field, wher he goth oute, +So be ther of these lovers some, +In wylde stedes wher thei come 6110 +And finden there a womman able, +And therto place covenable, +Withoute leve, er that thei fare, +Thei take a part of that chaffare: +Yee, though sche were a Scheperdesse, +Yit wol the lord of wantounesse +Assaie, althogh sche be unmete, +For other mennes good is swete. +Bot therof wot nothing the wif +At hom, which loveth as hir lif 6120 +Hir lord, and sitt alday wisshinge +After hir lordes hom comynge: +Bot whan that he comth hom at eve, +Anon he makth his wif beleve, +For sche noght elles scholde knowe: +He telth hire hou his hunte hath blowe, +And hou his houndes have wel runne, +And hou ther schon a merye Sunne, +And hou his haukes flowen wel; +Bot he wol telle her nevere a diel 6130 +Hou he to love untrewe was, +Of that he robbede in the pas, +And tok his lust under the schawe +Ayein love and ayein his lawe. + +Which thing, mi Sone, I thee forbede, +For it is an ungoodly dede. +For who that takth be Robberie +His love, he mai noght justefie +His cause, and so fulofte sithe +For ones that he hath be blithe 6140 +He schal ben after sory thries. +Ensample of suche Robberies +I finde write, as thou schalt hiere, +Acordende unto this matiere. + +I rede hou whilom was a Maide, +The faireste, as Ovide saide, +Which was in hire time tho; +And sche was of the chambre also +Of Pallas, which is the goddesse +And wif to Marte, of whom prouesse 6150 +Is yove to these worthi knihtes. +For he is of so grete mihtes, +That he governeth the bataille; +Withouten him may noght availe +The stronge hond, bot he it helpe; +Ther mai no knyht of armes yelpe, +Bot he feihte under his banere. +Bot nou to speke of mi matiere, +This faire, freisshe, lusti mai, +Al one as sche wente on a dai 6160 +Upon the stronde forto pleie, +Ther cam Neptunus in the weie, +Which hath the See in governance; +And in his herte such plesance +He tok, whan he this Maide sih, +That al his herte aros on hih, +For he so sodeinliche unwar +Behield the beaute that sche bar. +And caste anon withinne his herte +That sche him schal no weie asterte, 6170 +Bot if he take in avantage +Fro thilke maide som pilage, +Noght of the broches ne the Ringes, +Bot of some othre smale thinges +He thoghte parte, er that sche wente; +And hire in bothe hise armes hente, +And putte his hond toward the cofre, +Wher forto robbe he made a profre, +That lusti tresor forto stele, +Which passeth othre goodes fele 6180 +And cleped is the maidenhede, +Which is the flour of wommanhede. +This Maiden, which Cornix be name +Was hote, dredende alle schame, +Sih that sche mihte noght debate, +And wel sche wiste he wolde algate +Fulfille his lust of Robberie, +Anon began to wepe and crie, +And seide, “O Pallas, noble queene, +Scheu nou thi myht and let be sene, 6190 +To kepe and save myn honour: +Help, that I lese noght mi flour, +Which nou under thi keie is loke.” +That word was noght so sone spoke, +Whan Pallas schop recoverir +After the will and the desir +Of hire, which a Maiden was, +And sodeinliche upon this cas +Out of hire wommanisshe kinde +Into a briddes like I finde 6200 +Sche was transformed forth withal, +So that Neptunus nothing stal +Of such thing as he wolde have stole. +With fetheres blake as eny cole +Out of hise armes in a throwe +Sche flih before his yhe a Crowe; +Which was to hire a more delit, +To kepe hire maidenhede whit +Under the wede of fethers blake, +In Perles whyte than forsake 6210 +That no lif mai restore ayein. +Bot thus Neptune his herte in vein +Hath upon Robberie sett; +The bridd is flowe and he was let, +The faire Maide him hath ascaped, +Wherof for evere he was bejaped +And scorned of that he hath lore. + +Mi Sone, be thou war therfore +That thou no maidenhode stele, +Wherof men sen deseses fele 6220 +Aldai befalle in sondri wise; +So as I schal thee yit devise +An other tale therupon, +Which fell be olde daies gon. + +King Lichaon upon his wif +A dowhter hadde, a goodly lif, +A clene Maide of worthi fame, +Calistona whos rihte name +Was cleped, and of many a lord +Sche was besoght, bot hire acord 6230 +To love myhte noman winne, +As sche which hath no lust therinne; +Bot swor withinne hir herte and saide +That sche wolde evere ben a Maide. +Wherof to kepe hireself in pes, +With suche as Amadriades +Were cleped, wodemaydes, tho, +And with the Nimphes ek also +Upon the spring of freisshe welles +Sche schop to duelle and nagher elles. 6240 +And thus cam this Calistona +Into the wode of Tegea, +Wher sche virginite behihte +Unto Diane, and therto plihte +Her trouthe upon the bowes grene, +To kepe hir maidenhode clene. +Which afterward upon a day +Was priveliche stole away; +For Jupiter thurgh his queintise +From hire it tok in such a wise, 6250 +That sodeinliche forth withal +Hire wombe aros and sche toswal, +So that it mihte noght ben hidd. +And therupon it is betidd, +Diane, which it herde telle, +In prive place unto a welle +With Nimphes al a compainie +Was come, and in a ragerie +Sche seide that sche bathe wolde, +And bad that every maide scholde 6260 +With hire al naked bathe also. +And tho began the prive wo, +Calistona wax red for schame; +Bot thei that knewe noght the game, +To whom no such thing was befalle, +Anon thei made hem naked alle, +As thei that nothing wolden hyde: +Bot sche withdrouh hire evere asyde, +And natheles into the flod, +Wher that Diane hirselve stod, 6270 +Sche thoghte come unaperceived. +Bot therof sche was al deceived; +For whan sche cam a litel nyh, +And that Diane hire wombe syh, +Sche seide, “Awey, thou foule beste, +For thin astat is noght honeste +This chaste water forto touche; +For thou hast take such a touche, +Which nevere mai ben hol ayein.” +And thus goth sche which was forlein 6280 +With schame, and fro the Nimphes fledde, +Til whanne that nature hire spedde, +That of a Sone, which Archas +Was named, sche delivered was. +And tho Juno, which was the wif +Of Jupiter, wroth and hastif, +In pourpos forto do vengance +Cam forth upon this ilke chance, +And to Calistona sche spak, +And sette upon hir many a lak, 6290 +And seide, “Ha, nou thou art atake, +That thou thi werk myht noght forsake. +Ha, thou ungoodlich ypocrite, +Hou thou art gretly forto wyte! +Bot nou thou schalt ful sore abie +That ilke stelthe and micherie, +Which thou hast bothe take and do; +Wherof thi fader Lichao +Schal noght be glad, whan he it wot, +Of that his dowhter was so hot, 6300 +That sche hath broke hire chaste avou. +Bot I thee schal chastise nou; +Thi grete beaute schal be torned, +Thurgh which that thou hast be mistorned, +Thi large frount, thin yhen greie, +I schal hem change in other weie, +And al the feture of thi face +In such a wise I schal deface, +That every man thee schal forbere.” +With that the liknesse of a bere 6310 +Sche tok and was forschape anon. + +Withinne a time and therupon +Befell that with a bowe on honde, +To hunte and gamen forto fonde, +Into that wode goth to pleie +Hir Sone Archas, and in his weie +It hapneth that this bere cam. +And whan that sche good hiede nam, +Wher that he stod under the bowh, +Sche kneu him wel and to him drouh; 6320 +For thogh sche hadde hire forme lore, +The love was noght lost therfore +Which kinde hath set under his lawe. +Whan sche under the wodesschawe +Hire child behield, sche was so glad, +That sche with bothe hire armes sprad, +As thogh sche were in wommanhiede, +Toward him cam, and tok non hiede +Of that he bar a bowe bent. +And he with that an Arwe hath hent 6330 +And gan to teise it in his bowe, +As he that can non other knowe, +Bot that it was a beste wylde. +Bot Jupiter, which wolde schylde +The Moder and the Sone also, +Ordeineth for hem bothe so, +That thei for evere were save. + +Bot thus, mi Sone, thou myht have +Ensample, hou that it is to fle +To robbe the virginite 6340 +Of a yong innocent aweie: +And overthis be other weie, +In olde bokes as I rede, +Such Robberie is forto drede, +And nameliche of thilke good +Which every womman that is good +Desireth forto kepe and holde, +As whilom was be daies olde. +For if thou se mi tale wel +Of that was tho, thou miht somdiel 6350 +Of old ensample taken hiede, +Hou that the flour of maidenhiede +Was thilke time holde in pris. +And so it was, and so it is, +And so it schal for evere stonde: +And for thou schalt it understonde, +Nou herkne a tale next suiende, +Hou maidenhod is to commende. + +Of Rome among the gestes olde +I finde hou that Valerie tolde 6360 +That what man tho was Emperour +Of Rome, he scholde don honour +To the virgine, and in the weie, +Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeie +In worschipe of virginite, +Which tho was of gret dignite. +Noght onliche of the wommen tho, +Bot of the chaste men also +It was commended overal: +And forto speke in special 6370 +Touchende of men, ensample I finde, + +Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde +Above alle othre the faireste +Of Rome and ek the comelieste, +That wel was hire which him mihte +Beholde and have of him a sihte. +Thus was he tempted ofte sore; +Bot for he wolde be nomore +Among the wommen so coveited, +The beaute of his face streited 6380 +He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen, +That alle wommen whiche him syhen +Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte: +And thus his maidehiede he boghte. +So mai I prove wel forthi, +Above alle othre under the Sky, +Who that the vertus wolde peise, +Virginite is forto preise, +Which, as thapocalips recordeth, +To Crist in hevene best acordeth. 6390 +So mai it schewe wel therfore, +As I have told it hier tofore, +In hevene and ek in Erthe also +It is accept to bothe tuo. + +And if I schal more over this +Declare what this vertu is, +I finde write upon this thing +Of Valentinian the king +And Emperour be thilke daies, +A worthi knyht at alle assaies, 6400 +Hou he withoute Mariage +Was of an hundred wynter Age, +And hadde ben a worthi kniht +Bothe of his lawe and of his myht. +Bot whan men wolde his dedes peise +And his knyhthode of Armes preise, +Of that he dede with his hondes, +Whan he the kinges and the londes +To his subjeccion put under, +Of al that pris hath he no wonder, 6410 +For he it sette of non acompte, +And seide al that may noght amonte +Ayeins o point which he hath nome, +That he his fleissh hath overcome: +He was a virgine, as he seide; +On that bataille his pris he leide. +Lo nou, my Sone, avise thee. + +Yee, fader, al this wel mai be, +Bot if alle othre dede so, +The world of men were sone go: 6420 +And in the lawe a man mai finde, +Hou god to man be weie of kinde +Hath set the world to multeplie; +And who that wol him justefie, +It is ynouh to do the lawe. +And natheles youre goode sawe +Is good to kepe, who so may, +I wol noght therayein seie nay. + +Mi Sone, take it as I seie; +If maidenhod be take aweie 6430 +Withoute lawes ordinance, +It mai noght failen of vengance. +And if thou wolt the sothe wite, +Behold a tale which is write, +Hou that the King Agamenon, +Whan he the Cite of Lesbon +Hath wonne, a Maiden ther he fond, +Which was the faireste of the Lond +In thilke time that men wiste. +He tok of hire what him liste 6440 +Of thing which was most precious, +Wherof that sche was dangerous. +This faire Maiden cleped is +Criseide, douhter of Crisis, +Which was that time in special +Of thilke temple principal, +Wher Phebus hadde his sacrifice, +So was it wel the more vice. +Agamenon was thanne in weie +To Troieward, and tok aweie 6450 +This Maiden, which he with him ladde, +So grete a lust in hire he hadde. +Bot Phebus, which hath gret desdeign +Of that his Maiden was forlein, +Anon as he to Troie cam, +Vengance upon this dede he nam +And sende a comun pestilence. +Thei soghten thanne here evidence +And maden calculacion, +To knowe in what condicion 6460 +This deth cam in so sodeinly; +And ate laste redyly +The cause and ek the man thei founde: +And forth withal the same stounde +Agamenon opposed was, +Which hath beknowen al the cas +Of the folie which he wroghte. +And therupon mercy thei soghte +Toward the god in sondri wise +With preiere and with sacrifise, 6470 +The Maide and hom ayein thei sende, +And yive hire good ynouh to spende +For evere whil sche scholde live: +And thus the Senne was foryive +And al the pestilence cessed. + +Lo, what it is to ben encressed +Of love which is evele wonne. +It were betre noght begonne +Than take a thing withoute leve, +Which thou most after nedes leve, 6480 +And yit have malgre forth withal. +Forthi to robben overal +In loves cause if thou beginne, +I not what ese thou schalt winne. +Mi Sone, be wel war of this, +For thus of Robberie it is. + +Mi fader, youre ensamplerie +In loves cause of Robberie +I have it riht wel understonde. +Bot overthis, hou so it stonde, 6490 +Yit wolde I wite of youre aprise +What thing is more of Covoitise. + +With Covoitise yit I finde +A Servant of the same kinde, +Which Stelthe is hote, and Mecherie +With him is evere in compainie. +Of whom if I schal telle soth, +He stalketh as a Pocok doth, +And takth his preie so covert, +That noman wot it in apert. 6500 +For whan he wot the lord from home, +Than wol he stalke aboute and rome; +And what thing he fint in his weie, +Whan that he seth the men aweie, +He stelth it and goth forth withal, +That therof noman knowe schal. +And ek fulofte he goth a nyht +Withoute Mone or sterreliht, +And with his craft the dore unpiketh, +And takth therinne what him liketh: 6510 +And if the dore be so schet, +That he be of his entre let, +He wole in ate wyndou crepe, +And whil the lord is faste aslepe, +He stelth what thing as him best list, +And goth his weie er it be wist. +Fulofte also be lyhte of day +Yit wole he stele and make assay; +Under the cote his hond he put, +Til he the mannes Purs have cut, 6520 +And rifleth that he fint therinne. +And thus he auntreth him to winne, +And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth, +For noman of his conseil knoweth; +What he mai gete of his Michinge, +It is al bile under the winge. +And as an hound that goth to folde +And hath ther taken what he wolde, +His mouth upon the gras he wypeth, +And so with feigned chiere him slypeth, 6530 +That what as evere of schep he strangle, +Ther is noman therof schal jangle, +As forto knowen who it dede; +Riht so doth Stelthe in every stede, +Where as him list his preie take. +He can so wel his cause make +And so wel feigne and so wel glose, +That ther ne schal noman suppose, +Bot that he were an innocent, +And thus a mannes yhe he blent: 6540 +So that this craft I mai remene +Withouten help of eny mene. + +Ther be lovers of that degre, +Which al here lust in privete, +As who seith, geten al be Stelthe, +And ofte atteignen to gret welthe +As for the time that it lasteth. +For love awaiteth evere and casteth +Hou he mai stele and cacche his preie, +Whan he therto mai finde a weie: 6550 +For be it nyht or be it day, +He takth his part, whan that he may, +And if he mai nomore do, +Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo. + +Mi Sone, what seist thou therto? +Tell if thou dedest evere so. + +Mi fader, hou? + +Mi Sone, thus,— +If thou hast stolen eny cuss +Or other thing which therto longeth, +For noman suche thieves hongeth: 6560 +Tell on forthi and sei the trouthe. + +Mi fader, nay, and that is routhe, +For be mi will I am a thief; +Bot sche that is to me most lief, +Yit dorste I nevere in privete +Noght ones take hire be the kne, +To stele of hire or this or that, +And if I dorste, I wot wel what: +And natheles, bot if I lie, +Be Stelthe ne be Robberie 6570 +Of love, which fell in mi thoght, +To hire dede I nevere noght. +Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed, +Ther schal no castell ben assailed; +Bot thogh I hadde hertes ten, +And were als strong as alle men, +If I be noght myn oghne man +And dar noght usen that I can, +I mai miselve noght recovere. +Thogh I be nevere man so povere, 6580 +I bere an herte and hire it is, +So that me faileth wit in this, +Hou that I scholde of myn acord +The servant lede ayein the lord: +For if mi fot wolde awher go, +Or that min hand wolde elles do, +Whan that myn herte is therayein, +The remenant is al in vein. +And thus me lacketh alle wele, +And yit ne dar I nothing stele 6590 +Of thing which longeth unto love: +And ek it is so hyh above, +I mai noght wel therto areche, +Bot if so be at time of speche, +Ful selde if thanne I stele may +A word or tuo and go my way. +Betwen hire hih astat and me +Comparison ther mai non be, +So that I fiele and wel I wot, +Al is to hevy and to hot 6600 +To sette on hond withoute leve: +And thus I mot algate leve +To stele that I mai noght take, +And in this wise I mot forsake +To ben a thief ayein mi wille +Of thing which I mai noght fulfille. +For that Serpent which nevere slepte +The flees of gold so wel ne kepte +In Colchos, as the tale is told, +That mi ladi a thousendfold 6610 +Nys betre yemed and bewaked, +Wher sche be clothed or be naked. +To kepe hir bodi nyht and day, +Sche hath a wardein redi ay, +Which is so wonderful a wyht, +That him ne mai no mannes myht +With swerd ne with no wepne daunte, +Ne with no sleihte of charme enchaunte, +Wherof he mihte be mad tame, +And Danger is his rihte name; 6620 +Which under lock and under keie, +That noman mai it stele aweie, +Hath al the Tresor underfonge +That unto love mai belonge. +The leste lokinge of hire yhe +Mai noght be stole, if he it syhe; +And who so gruccheth for so lyte, +He wolde sone sette a wyte +On him that wolde stele more. +And that me grieveth wonder sore, 6630 +For this proverbe is evere newe, +That stronge lokes maken trewe +Of hem that wolden stele and pyke: +For so wel can ther noman slyke +Be him ne be non other mene, +To whom Danger wol yive or lene +Of that tresor he hath to kepe. +So thogh I wolde stalke and crepe, +And wayte on eve and ek on morwe, +Of Danger schal I nothing borwe, 6640 +And stele I wot wel may I noght: +And thus I am riht wel bethoght, +Whil Danger stant in his office, +Of Stelthe, which ye clepe a vice, +I schal be gultif neveremo. +Therfore I wolde he were ago +So fer that I nevere of him herde, +Hou so that afterward it ferde: +For thanne I mihte yit per cas +Of love make som pourchas 6650 +Be Stelthe or be som other weie, +That nou fro me stant fer aweie. + +Bot, fader, as ye tolde above, +Hou Stelthe goth a nyht for love, +I mai noght wel that point forsake, +That ofte times I ne wake +On nyhtes, whan that othre slepe; +Bot hou, I prei you taketh kepe. +Whan I am loged in such wise +That I be nyhte mai arise, 6660 +At som wyndowe and loken oute +And se the housinge al aboute, +So that I mai the chambre knowe +In which mi ladi, as I trowe, +Lyth in hir bed and slepeth softe, +Thanne is myn herte a thief fulofte: +For there I stonde to beholde +The longe nyhtes that ben colde, +And thenke on hire that lyth there. +And thanne I wisshe that I were 6670 +Als wys as was Nectanabus +Or elles as was Protheus, +That couthen bothe of nigromaunce +In what liknesse, in what semblaunce, +Riht as hem liste, hemself transforme: +For if I were of such a forme, +I seie thanne I wolde fle +Into the chambre forto se +If eny grace wolde falle, +So that I mihte under the palle 6680 +Som thing of love pyke and stele. +And thus I thenke thoghtes fele, +And thogh therof nothing be soth, +Yit ese as for a time it doth: +Bot ate laste whanne I finde +That I am falle into my mynde, +And se that I have stonde longe +And have no profit underfonge, +Than stalke I to mi bedd withinne. +And this is al that evere I winne 6690 +Of love, whanne I walke on nyht: +Mi will is good, bot of mi myht +Me lacketh bothe and of mi grace; +For what so that mi thoght embrace, +Yit have I noght the betre ferd. +Mi fader, lo, nou have ye herd +What I be Stelthe of love have do, +And hou mi will hath be therto: +If I be worthi to penance +I put it on your ordinance. 6700 + +Mi Sone, of Stelthe I the behiete, +Thogh it be for a time swete, +At ende it doth bot litel good, +As be ensample hou that it stod +Whilom, I mai thee telle nou. + +I preie you, fader, sei me hou. + +Mi Sone, of him which goth be daie +Be weie of Stelthe to assaie, +In loves cause and takth his preie, +Ovide seide as I schal seie, 6710 +And in his Methamor he tolde +A tale, which is good to holde. + +The Poete upon this matiere +Of Stelthe wrot in this manere. +Venus, which hath this lawe in honde +Of thing which mai noght be withstonde, +As sche which the tresor to warde +Of love hath withinne hir warde, +Phebum to love hath so constreigned, +That he withoute reste is peined 6720 +With al his herte to coveite +A Maiden, which was warded streyte +Withinne chambre and kept so clos, +That selden was whan sche desclos +Goth with hir moder forto pleie. +Leuchotoe, so as men seie, +This Maiden hihte, and Orchamus +Hir fader was; and befell thus. +This doughter, that was kept so deere, +And hadde be fro yer to yeere 6730 +Under hir moder discipline +A clene Maide and a Virgine, +Upon the whos nativite +Of comelihiede and of beaute +Nature hath set al that sche may, +That lich unto the fresshe Maii, +Which othre monthes of the yeer +Surmonteth, so withoute pier +Was of this Maiden the feture. +Wherof Phebus out of mesure 6740 +Hire loveth, and on every syde +Awaiteth, if so mai betyde, +That he thurgh eny sleihte myhte +Hire lusti maidenhod unrihte, +The which were al his worldes welthe. +And thus lurkende upon his stelthe +In his await so longe he lai, +Til it befell upon a dai, +That he thurghout hir chambre wall +Cam in al sodeinliche, and stall 6750 +That thing which was to him so lief. +Bot wo the while, he was a thief! +For Venus, which was enemie +Of thilke loves micherie, +Discovereth al the pleine cas +To Clymene, which thanne was +Toward Phebus his concubine. +And sche to lette the covine +Of thilke love, dedli wroth +To pleigne upon this Maide goth, 6760 +And tolde hire fader hou it stod; +Wherof for sorwe welnyh wod +Unto hire moder thus he saide: +“Lo, what it is to kepe a Maide! +To Phebus dar I nothing speke, +Bot upon hire I schal be wreke, +So that these Maidens after this +Mow take ensample, what it is +To soffre her maidenhed be stole, +Wherof that sche the deth schal thole.” 6770 +And bad with that do make a pet, +Wherinne he hath his douhter set, +As he that wol no pite have, +So that sche was al quik begrave +And deide anon in his presence. +Bot Phebus, for the reverence +Of that sche hadde be his love, +Hath wroght thurgh his pouer above, +That sche sprong up out of the molde +Into a flour was named golde, 6780 +Which stant governed of the Sonne. +And thus whan love is evele wonne, +Fulofte it comth to repentaile. + +Mi fader, that is no mervaile, +Whan that the conseil is bewreid. +Bot ofte time love hath pleid +And stole many a prive game, +Which nevere yit cam into blame, +Whan that the thinges weren hidde. +Bot in youre tale, as it betidde, 6790 +Venus discoverede al the cas, +And ek also brod dai it was, +Whan Phebus such a Stelthe wroghte, +Wherof the Maide in blame he broghte, +That afterward sche was so lore. +Bot for ye seiden nou tofore +Hou stelthe of love goth be nyhte, +And doth hise thinges out of syhte, +Therof me liste also to hiere +A tale lich to the matiere, 6800 +Wherof I myhte ensample take. + +Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake, +So as it fell be daies olde, +And so as the Poete it tolde, +Upon the nyhtes micherie +Nou herkne a tale of Poesie. + +The myhtieste of alle men +Whan Hercules with Eolen, +Which was the love of his corage, +Togedre upon a Pelrinage 6810 +Towardes Rome scholden go, +It fell hem be the weie so, +That thei upon a dai a Cave +Withinne a roche founden have, +Which was real and glorious +And of Entaile curious, +Be name and Thophis it was hote. +The Sonne schon tho wonder hote, +As it was in the Somer tyde; +This Hercules, which be his syde 6820 +Hath Eolen his love there, +Whan thei at thilke cave were, +He seide it thoghte him for the beste +That sche hire for the hete reste +Al thilke day and thilke nyht; +And sche, that was a lusti wyht, +It liketh hire al that he seide: +And thus thei duelle there and pleide +The longe dai. And so befell, +This Cave was under the hell 6830 +Of Tymolus, which was begrowe +With vines, and at thilke throwe +Faunus with Saba the goddesse, +Be whom the large wildernesse +In thilke time stod governed, +Weere in a place, as I am lerned, +Nyh by, which Bachus wode hihte. +This Faunus tok a gret insihte +Of Eolen, that was so nyh; +For whan that he hire beaute syh, 6840 +Out of his wit he was assoted, +And in his herte it hath so noted, +That he forsok the Nimphes alle, +And seide he wolde, hou so it falle, +Assaie an other forto winne; +So that his hertes thoght withinne +He sette and caste hou that he myhte +Of love pyke awey be nyhte +That he be daie in other wise +To stele mihte noght suffise: 6850 +And therupon his time he waiteth. + +Nou tak good hiede hou love afaiteth +Him which withal is overcome. +Faire Eolen, whan sche was come +With Hercules into the Cave, +Sche seide him that sche wolde have +Hise clothes of and hires bothe, +That ech of hem scholde other clothe. +And al was do riht as sche bad, +He hath hire in hise clothes clad 6860 +And caste on hire his gulion, +Which of the Skyn of a Leoun +Was mad, as he upon the weie +It slouh, and overthis to pleie +Sche tok his grete Mace also +And knet it at hir gerdil tho. +So was sche lich the man arraied, +And Hercules thanne hath assaied +To clothen him in hire array: +And thus thei jape forth the dai, 6870 +Til that her Souper redy were. +And whan thei hadden souped there, +Thei schopen hem to gon to reste; +And as it thoghte hem for the beste, +Thei bede, as for that ilke nyht, +Tuo sondri beddes to be dyht, +For thei togedre ligge nolde, +Be cause that thei offre wolde +Upon the morwe here sacrifice. +The servantz deden here office 6880 +And sondri beddes made anon, +Wherin that thei to reste gon +Ech be himself in sondri place. +Faire Eole hath set the Mace +Beside hire beddes hed above, +And with the clothes of hire love +Sche helede al hire bed aboute; +And he, which hadde of nothing doute, +Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke, +Hire kertell and hire mantel eke 6890 +Abrod upon his bed he spredde. +And thus thei slepen bothe abedde; +And what of travail, what of wyn, +The servantz lich to drunke Swyn +Begunne forto route faste. + +This Faunus, which his Stelthe caste, +Was thanne come to the Cave, +And fond thei weren alle save +Withoute noise, and in he wente. +The derke nyht his sihte blente, 6900 +And yit it happeth him to go +Where Eolen abedde tho +Was leid al one for to slepe; +Bot for he wolde take kepe +Whos bed it was, he made assai, +And of the Leoun, where it lay, +The Cote he fond, and ek he fieleth +The Mace, and thanne his herte kieleth, +That there dorste he noght abyde, +Bot stalketh upon every side 6910 +And soghte aboute with his hond, +That other bedd til that he fond, +Wher lai bewympled a visage. +Tho was he glad in his corage, +For he hir kertell fond also +And ek hir mantell bothe tuo +Bespred upon the bed alofte. +He made him naked thanne, and softe +Into the bedd unwar he crepte, +Wher Hercules that time slepte, 6920 +And wende wel it were sche; +And thus in stede of Eole +Anon he profreth him to love. +But he, which felte a man above, +This Hercules, him threw to grounde +So sore, that thei have him founde +Liggende there upon the morwe; +And tho was noght a litel sorwe, +That Faunus of himselve made, +Bot elles thei were alle glade 6930 +And lowhen him to scorne aboute: +Saba with Nimphis al a route +Cam doun to loke hou that he ferde, +And whan that thei the sothe herde, +He was bejaped overal. + +Mi Sone, be thou war withal +To seche suche mecheries, +Bot if thou have the betre aspies, +In aunter if the so betyde +As Faunus dede thilke tyde, 6940 +Wherof thou miht be schamed so. + +Min holi fader, certes no. +Bot if I hadde riht good leve, +Such mecherie I thenke leve: +Mi feinte herte wol noght serve; +For malgre wolde I noght deserve +In thilke place wher I love. +Bot for ye tolden hier above +Of Covoitise and his pilage, +If ther be more of that lignage, 6950 +Which toucheth to mi schrifte, I preie +That ye therof me wolde seie, +So that I mai the vice eschuie. + +Mi Sone, if I be order suie +The vices, as thei stonde arowe, +Of Covoitise thou schalt knowe +Ther is yit on, which is the laste; +In whom ther mai no vertu laste, +For he with god himself debateth, +Wherof that al the hevene him hateth. 6960 + +The hihe god, which alle goode +Pourveied hath for mannes fode +Of clothes and of mete and drinke, +Bad Adam that he scholde swinke +To geten him his sustienance: +And ek he sette an ordinance +Upon the lawe of Moises, +That though a man be haveles, +Yit schal he noght be thefte stele. +Bot nou adaies ther ben fele, 6970 +That wol no labour undertake, +Bot what thei mai be Stelthe take +Thei holde it sikerliche wonne. +And thus the lawe is overronne, +Which god hath set, and namely +With hem that so untrewely +The goodes robbe of holi cherche. +The thefte which thei thanne werche +Be name is cleped Sacrilegge, +Ayein the whom I thenke alegge. 6980 +Of his condicion to telle, +Which rifleth bothe bok and belle, +So forth with al the remenant +To goddes hous appourtenant, +Wher that he scholde bidde his bede, +He doth his thefte in holi stede, +And takth what thing he fint therinne: +For whan he seth that he mai winne, +He wondeth for no cursednesse, +That he ne brekth the holinesse 6990 +And doth to god no reverence; +For he hath lost his conscience, +That though the Prest therfore curse, +He seith he fareth noght the wurse. + +And forto speke it otherwise, +What man that lasseth the franchise +And takth of holi cherche his preie, +I not what bedes he schal preie. +Whan he fro god, which hath yive al, +The Pourpartie in special, 7000 +Which unto Crist himself is due, +Benymth, he mai noght wel eschue +The peine comende afterward; +For he hath mad his foreward +With Sacrilegge forto duelle, +Which hath his heritage in helle. +And if we rede of tholde lawe, +I finde write, in thilke dawe +Of Princes hou ther weren thre +Coupable sore in this degre. 7010 +That on of hem was cleped thus, +The proude king Antiochus; +That other Nabuzardan hihte, +Which of his crualte behyhte +The temple to destruie and waste, +And so he dede in alle haste; +The thridde, which was after schamed, +Was Nabugodonosor named, +And he Jerusalem putte under, +Of Sacrilegge and many a wonder 7020 +There in the holi temple he wroghte, +Which Baltazar his heir aboghte, +Whan Mane, Techel, Phares write +Was on the wal, as thou miht wite, +So as the bible it hath declared. +Bot for al that it is noght spared +Yit nou aday, that men ne pile, +And maken argument and skile +To Sacrilegge as it belongeth, +For what man that ther after longeth, 7030 +He takth non hiede what he doth. + +And riht so, forto telle soth, +In loves cause if I schal trete, +Ther ben of suche smale and grete: +If thei no leisir fynden elles, +Thei wol noght wonden for the belles, +Ne thogh thei sen the Prest at masse; +That wol thei leten overpasse. +If that thei finde here love there, +Thei stonde and tellen in hire Ere, 7040 +And axe of god non other grace, +Whyl thei ben in that holi place; +Bot er thei gon som avantage +Ther wol thei have, and som pilage +Of goodli word or of beheste, +Or elles thei take ate leste +Out of hir hand or ring or glove, +So nyh the weder thei wol love, +As who seith sche schal noght foryete, +Nou I this tokne of hire have gete: 7050 +Thus halwe thei the hihe feste. +Such thefte mai no cherche areste, +For al is leveful that hem liketh, +To whom that elles it misliketh. +And ek riht in the selve kinde +In grete Cites men mai finde +This lusti folk, that make it gay, +And waite upon the haliday: +In cherches and in Menstres eke +Thei gon the wommen forto seke, 7060 +And wher that such on goth aboute, +Tofore the faireste of the route, +Wher as thei sitten alle arewe, +Ther wol he most his bodi schewe, +His croket kembd and theron set +A Nouche with a chapelet, +Or elles on of grene leves, +Which late com out of the greves, +Al for he scholde seme freissh. +And thus he loketh on the fleissh, 7070 +Riht as an hauk which hath a sihte +Upon the foul, ther he schal lihte; +And as he were of faierie, +He scheweth him tofore here yhe +In holi place wher thei sitte, +Al forto make here hertes flitte. +His yhe nawher wole abyde, +Bot loke and prie on every syde +On hire and hire, as him best lyketh: +And otherwhile among he syketh; 7080 +Thenkth on of hem, “That was for me,” +And so ther thenken tuo or thre, +And yit he loveth non of alle, +Bot wher as evere his chance falle. +And natheles to seie a soth, +The cause why that he so doth +Is forto stele an herte or tuo, +Out of the cherche er that he go: +And as I seide it hier above, +Al is that Sacrilege of love; 7090 +For wel mai be he stelth away +That he nevere after yelde may. +Tell me forthi, my Sone, anon, +Hast thou do Sacrilege, or non, +As I have said in this manere? + +Mi fader, as of this matiere +I wole you tellen redely +What I have do; bot trewely +I mai excuse min entente, +That nevere I yit to cherche wente 7100 +In such manere as ye me schryve, +For no womman that is on lyve. +The cause why I have it laft +Mai be for I unto that craft +Am nothing able so to stele, +Thogh ther be wommen noght so fele. +Bot yit wol I noght seie this, +Whan I am ther mi ladi is, +In whom lith holly mi querele, +And sche to cherche or to chapele 7110 +Wol go to matins or to messe,— +That time I waite wel and gesse, +To cherche I come and there I stonde, +And thogh I take a bok on honde, +Mi contienance is on the bok, +Bot toward hire is al my lok; +And if so falle that I preie +Unto mi god, and somwhat seie +Of Paternoster or of Crede, +Al is for that I wolde spede, 7120 +So that mi bede in holi cherche +Ther mihte som miracle werche +Mi ladi herte forto chaunge, +Which evere hath be to me so strange. +So that al mi devocion +And al mi contemplacion +With al min herte and mi corage +Is only set on hire ymage; +And evere I waite upon the tyde. +If sche loke eny thing asyde, 7130 +That I me mai of hire avise, +Anon I am with covoitise +So smite, that me were lief +To ben in holi cherche a thief; +Bot noght to stele a vestement, +For that is nothing mi talent, +Bot I wold stele, if that I mihte, +A glad word or a goodly syhte; +And evere mi service I profre, +And namly whan sche wol gon offre, 7140 +For thanne I lede hire, if I may, +For somwhat wolde I stele away. +Whan I beclippe hire on the wast, +Yit ate leste I stele a tast, +And otherwhile “grant mercy” +Sche seith, and so winne I therby +A lusti touch, a good word eke, +Bot al the remenant to seke +Is fro mi pourpos wonder ferr. +So mai I seie, as I seide er, 7150 +In holy cherche if that I wowe, +My conscience it wolde allowe, +Be so that up amendement +I mihte gete assignement +Wher forto spede in other place: +Such Sacrilege I holde a grace. +And thus, mi fader, soth to seie, +In cherche riht as in the weie, +If I mihte oght of love take, +Such hansell have I noght forsake. 7160 +Bot finali I me confesse, +Ther is in me non holinesse, +Whil I hire se in eny stede; +And yit, for oght that evere I dede, +No Sacrilege of hire I tok, +Bot if it were of word or lok, +Or elles if that I hir fredde, +Whan I toward offringe hir ledde, +Take therof what I take may, +For elles bere I noght away: 7170 +For thogh I wolde oght elles have, +Alle othre thinges ben so save +And kept with such a privilege, +That I mai do no Sacrilege. +God wot mi wille natheles, +Thogh I mot nedes kepe pes +And malgre myn so let it passe, +Mi will therto is noght the lasse, +If I mihte other wise aweie. +Forthi, mi fader, I you preie, 7180 +Tell what you thenketh therupon, +If I therof have gult or non. + +Thi will, mi Sone, is forto blame, +The remenant is bot a game, +That I have herd the telle as yit. +Bot tak this lore into thi wit, +That alle thing hath time and stede, +The cherche serveth for the bede, +The chambre is of an other speche. +Bot if thou wistest of the wreche, 7190 +Hou Sacrilege it hath aboght, +Thou woldest betre ben bethoght; +And for thou schalt the more amende, +A tale I wole on the despende. + +To alle men, as who seith, knowe +It is, and in the world thurgh blowe, +Hou that of Troie Lamedon +To Hercules and to Jasoun, +Whan toward Colchos out of Grece +Be See sailende upon a piece 7200 +Of lond of Troie reste preide,— +Bot he hem wrathfulli congeide: +And for thei founde him so vilein, +Whan thei come into Grece ayein, +With pouer that thei gete myhte +Towardes Troie thei hem dyhte, +And ther thei token such vengance, +Wherof stant yit the remembrance; +For thei destruide king and al, +And leften bot the brente wal. 7210 +The Grecs of Troiens many slowe +And prisoners thei toke ynowe, +Among the whiche ther was on, +The kinges doughter Lamedon, +Esiona, that faire thing, +Which unto Thelamon the king +Be Hercules and be thassent +Of al the hole parlement +Was at his wille yove and granted. +And thus hath Grece Troie danted, 7220 +And hom thei torne in such manere: +Bot after this nou schalt thou hiere +The cause why this tale I telle, +Upon the chances that befelle. + +King Lamedon, which deide thus, +He hadde a Sone, on Priamus, +Which was noght thilke time at hom: +Bot whan he herde of this, he com, +And fond hou the Cite was falle, +Which he began anon to walle 7230 +And made ther a cite newe, +That thei whiche othre londes knewe +Tho seiden, that of lym and Ston +In al the world so fair was non. +And on that o side of the toun +The king let maken Ylioun, +That hihe Tour, that stronge place, +Which was adrad of no manace +Of quarel nor of non engin; +And thogh men wolde make a Myn, 7240 +No mannes craft it mihte aproche, +For it was sett upon a roche. +The walles of the toun aboute, +Hem stod of al the world no doute, +And after the proporcion +Sex gates weren of the toun +Of such a forme, of such entaile, +That hem to se was gret mervaile: +The diches weren brode and depe, +A fewe men it mihte kepe 7250 +From al the world, as semeth tho, +Bot if the goddes weren fo. +Gret presse unto that cite drouh, +So that ther was of poeple ynouh, +Of Burgeis that therinne duellen; +Ther mai no mannes tunge tellen +Hou that cite was riche of good. + +Whan al was mad and al wel stod, +King Priamus tho him bethoghte +What thei of Grece whilom wroghte, 7260 +And what was of her swerd devoured, +And hou his Soster deshonoured +With Thelamon awey was lad: +And so thenkende he wax unglad, +And sette anon a parlement, +To which the lordes were assent. +In many a wise ther was spoke, +Hou that thei mihten ben awroke, +Bot ate laste natheles +Thei seiden alle, “Acord and pes.” 7270 +To setten either part in reste +It thoghte hem thanne for the beste +With resonable amendement; +And thus was Anthenor forth sent +To axe Esionam ayein +And witen what thei wolden sein. +So passeth he the See be barge +To Grece forto seie his charge, +The which he seide redely +Unto the lordes by and by: 7280 +Bot where he spak in Grece aboute, +He herde noght bot wordes stoute, +And nameliche of Thelamon; +The maiden wolde he noght forgon, +He seide, for no maner thing, +And bad him gon hom to his king, +For there gat he non amende +For oght he couthe do or sende. + +This Anthenor ayein goth hom +Unto his king, and whan he com, 7290 +He tolde in Grece of that he herde, +And hou that Thelamon ansuerde, +And hou thei were at here above, +That thei wol nouther pes ne love, +Bot every man schal don his beste. +Bot for men sein that nyht hath reste, +The king bethoghte him al that nyht, +And erli, whan the dai was lyht, +He tok conseil of this matiere; +And thei acorde in this manere, 7300 +That he withouten eny lette +A certein time scholde sette +Of Parlement to ben avised: +And in the wise it was devised, +Of parlement he sette a day, +And that was in the Monthe of Maii. +This Priamus hadde in his yhte +A wif, and Hecuba sche hyhte, +Be whom that time ek hadde he +Of Sones fyve, and douhtres thre 7310 +Besiden hem, and thritty mo, +And weren knyhtes alle tho, +Bot noght upon his wif begete, +Bot elles where he myhte hem gete +Of wommen whiche he hadde knowe; +Such was the world at thilke throwe: +So that he was of children riche, +As therof was noman his liche. + +Of Parlement the dai was come, +Ther ben the lordes alle and some; 7320 +Tho was pronounced and pourposed, +And al the cause hem was desclosed, +Hou Anthenor in Grece ferde. +Thei seten alle stille and herde, +And tho spak every man aboute: +Ther was alegged many a doute, +And many a proud word spoke also; +Bot for the moste part as tho +Thei wisten noght what was the beste, +Or forto werre or forto reste. 7330 +Bot he that was withoute fere, +Hector, among the lordes there +His tale tolde in such a wise, +And seide, “Lordes, ye ben wise, +Ye knowen this als wel as I, +Above all othre most worthi +Stant nou in Grece the manhode +Of worthinesse and of knihthode; +For who so wole it wel agrope, +To hem belongeth al Europe, 7340 +Which is the thridde parti evene +Of al the world under the hevene; +And we be bot of folk a fewe. +So were it reson forto schewe +The peril, er we falle thrinne: +Betre is to leve, than beginne +Thing which as mai noght ben achieved; +He is noght wys that fint him grieved, +And doth so that his grief be more; +For who that loketh al tofore 7350 +And wol noght se what is behinde, +He mai fulofte hise harmes finde: +Wicke is to stryve and have the worse. +We have encheson forto corse, +This wot I wel, and forto hate +The Greks; bot er that we debate +With hem that ben of such a myht, +It is ful good that every wiht +Be of himself riht wel bethoght. +Bot as for me this seie I noght; 7360 +For while that mi lif wol stonde, +If that ye taken werre on honde, +Falle it to beste or to the werste, +I schal miselven be the ferste +To grieven hem, what evere I may. +I wol noght ones seie nay +To thing which that youre conseil demeth, +For unto me wel more it quemeth +The werre certes than the pes; +Bot this I seie natheles, 7370 +As me belongeth forto seie. +Nou schape ye the beste weie.” + +Whan Hector hath seid his avis, +Next after him tho spak Paris, +Which was his brother, and alleide +What him best thoghte, and thus he seide: +“Strong thing it is to soffre wrong, +And suffre schame is more strong, +Bot we have suffred bothe tuo; +And for al that yit have we do 7380 +What so we mihte to reforme +The pes, whan we in such a forme +Sente Anthenor, as ye wel knowe. +And thei here grete wordes blowe +Upon her wrongful dedes eke; +And who that wole himself noght meke +To pes, and list no reson take, +Men sein reson him wol forsake: +For in the multitude of men +Is noght the strengthe, for with ten 7390 +It hath be sen in trew querele +Ayein an hundred false dele, +And had the betre of goddes grace. +This hath befalle in many place; +And if it like unto you alle, +I wolde assaie, hou so it falle, +Oure enemis if I mai grieve; +For I have cawht a gret believe +Upon a point I wol declare. + +This ender day, as I gan fare 7400 +To hunte unto the grete hert, +Which was tofore myn houndes stert, +And every man went on his syde +Him to poursuie, and I to ryde +Began the chace, and soth to seie, +Withinne a while out of mi weie +I rod, and nyste where I was. +And slep me cauhte, and on the gras +Beside a welle I lay me doun +To slepe, and in a visioun 7410 +To me the god Mercurie cam; +Goddesses thre with him he nam, +Minerve, Venus and Juno, +And in his hond an Appel tho +He hield of gold with lettres write: +And this he dede me to wite, +Hou that thei putt hem upon me, +That to the faireste of hem thre +Of gold that Appel scholde I yive. +With ech of hem tho was I schrive, 7420 +And echon faire me behihte; +Bot Venus seide, if that sche mihte +That Appel of mi yifte gete, +Sche wolde it neveremor foryete, +And seide hou that in Grece lond +Sche wolde bringe unto myn hond +Of al this Erthe the faireste; +So that me thoghte it for the beste, +To hire and yaf that Appel tho. +Thus hope I wel, if that I go, 7430 +That sche for me wol so ordeine, +That thei matiere forto pleigne +Schul have, er that I come ayein. +Nou have ye herd that I wol sein: +Sey ye what stant in youre avis.” +And every man tho seide his, +And sundri causes thei recorde, +Bot ate laste thei acorde +That Paris schal to Grece wende, +And thus the parlement tok ende. 7440 + +Cassandra, whan sche herde of this, +The which to Paris Soster is, +Anon sche gan to wepe and weile, +And seide, “Allas, what mai ous eile? +Fortune with hire blinde whiel +Ne wol noght lete ous stonde wel: +For this I dar wel undertake, +That if Paris his weie take, +As it is seid that he schal do, +We ben for evere thanne undo.” 7450 +This, which Cassandre thanne hihte, +In al the world as it berth sihte, +In bokes as men finde write, +Is that Sibille of whom ye wite, +That alle men yit clepen sage. +Whan that sche wiste of this viage, +Hou Paris schal to Grece fare, +No womman mihte worse fare +Ne sorwe more than sche dede; +And riht so in the same stede 7460 +Ferde Helenus, which was hir brother, +Of prophecie and such an other: +And al was holde bot a jape, +So that the pourpos which was schape, +Or were hem lief or were hem loth, +Was holde, and into Grece goth +This Paris with his retenance. +And as it fell upon his chance, +Of Grece he londeth in an yle, +And him was told the same whyle 7470 +Of folk which he began to freyne, +Tho was in thyle queene Heleyne, +And ek of contres there aboute +Of ladis many a lusti route, +With mochel worthi poeple also. +And why thei comen theder tho, +The cause stod in such a wise,— +For worschipe and for sacrifise +That thei to Venus wolden make, +As thei tofore hadde undertake, 7480 +Some of good will, some of beheste, +For thanne was hire hihe feste +Withinne a temple which was there. + +Whan Paris wiste what thei were, +Anon he schop his ordinance +To gon and don his obeissance +To Venus on hire holi day, +And dede upon his beste aray. +With gret richesse he him behongeth, +As it to such a lord belongeth, 7490 +He was noght armed natheles, +Bot as it were in lond of pes, +And thus he goth forth out of Schipe +And takth with him his felaschipe: +In such manere as I you seie +Unto the temple he hield his weie. + +Tydinge, which goth overal +To grete and smale, forth withal +Com to the queenes Ere and tolde +Hou Paris com, and that he wolde 7500 +Do sacrifise to Venus: +And whan sche herde telle thus, +Sche thoghte, hou that it evere be, +That sche wole him abyde and se. + +Forth comth Paris with glad visage +Into the temple on pelrinage, +Wher unto Venus the goddesse +He yifth and offreth gret richesse, +And preith hir that he preie wolde. +And thanne aside he gan beholde, 7510 +And sih wher that this ladi stod; +And he forth in his freisshe mod +Goth ther sche was and made her chiere, +As he wel couthe in his manere, +That of his wordes such plesance +Sche tok, that al hire aqueintance, +Als ferforth as the herte lay, +He stal er that he wente away. +So goth he forth and tok his leve, +And thoghte, anon as it was eve, 7520 +He wolde don his Sacrilegge, +That many a man it scholde abegge. + +Whan he to Schipe ayein was come, +To him he hath his conseil nome, +And al devised the matiere +In such a wise as thou schalt hiere. +Withinne nyht al prively +His men he warneth by and by, +That thei be redy armed sone +For certein thing which was to done: 7530 +And thei anon ben redi alle, +And ech on other gan to calle, +And went hem out upon the stronde +And tok a pourpos ther alonde +Of what thing that thei wolden do, +Toward the temple and forth thei go. +So fell it, of devocion +Heleine in contemplacion +With many an other worthi wiht +Was in the temple and wok al nyht, 7540 +To bidde and preie unto thymage +Of Venus, as was thanne usage; +So that Paris riht as him liste +Into the temple, er thei it wiste, +Com with his men al sodeinly, +And alle at ones sette ascry +In hem whiche in the temple were, +For tho was mochel poeple there; +Bot of defense was no bote, +So soffren thei that soffre mote. 7550 + +Paris unto the queene wente, +And hire in bothe hise armes hente +With him and with his felaschipe, +And forth thei bere hire unto Schipe. +Up goth the Seil and forth thei wente, +And such a wynd fortune hem sente, +Til thei the havene of Troie cauhte; +Where out of Schipe anon thei strauhte +And gon hem forth toward the toun, +The which cam with processioun 7560 +Ayein Paris to sen his preie. +And every man began to seie +To Paris and his felaschipe +Al that thei couthen of worschipe; +Was non so litel man in Troie, +That he ne made merthe and joie +Of that Paris hath wonne Heleine. +Bot al that merthe is sorwe and peine +To Helenus and to Cassaundre; +For thei it token schame and sklaundre 7570 +And lost of al the comun grace, +That Paris out of holi place +Be Stelthe hath take a mannes wif, +Wherof that he schal lese his lif +And many a worthi man therto, +And al the Cite be fordo, +Which nevere schal be mad ayein. +And so it fell, riht as thei sein, +The Sacrilege which he wroghte +Was cause why the Gregois soughte 7580 +Unto the toun and it beleie, +And wolden nevere parte aweie, +Til what be sleihte and what be strengthe +Thei hadde it wonne in brede and lengthe, +And brent and slayn that was withinne. +Now se, mi Sone, which a sinne +Is Sacrilege in holy stede: +Be war therfore and bidd thi bede, +And do nothing in holy cherche, +Bot that thou miht be reson werche. 7590 + +And ek tak hiede of Achilles, +Whan he unto his love ches +Polixena, that was also +In holi temple of Appollo, +Which was the cause why he dyde +And al his lust was leyd asyde. + +And Troilus upon Criseide +Also his ferste love leide +In holi place, and hou it ferde, +As who seith, al the world it herde; 7600 +Forsake he was for Diomede, +Such was of love his laste mede. + +Forthi, mi Sone, I wolde rede, +Be this ensample as thou myht rede, +Sech elles, wher thou wolt, thi grace, +And war the wel in holi place +What thou to love do or speke, +In aunter if it so be wreke +As thou hast herd me told before. +And tak good hiede also therfore 7610 +Upon what forme, of Avarice +Mor than of eny other vice, +I have divided in parties +The branches, whiche of compainies +Thurghout the world in general +Ben nou the leders overal, +Of Covoitise and of Perjure, +Of fals brocage and of Usure, +Of Skarsnesse and Unkindeschipe, +Which nevere drouh to felaschipe, 7620 +Of Robberie and privi Stelthe, +Which don is for the worldes welthe, +Of Ravine and of Sacrilegge, +Which makth the conscience agregge; +Althogh it mai richesse atteigne, +It floureth, bot it schal noght greine +Unto the fruit of rihtwisnesse. +Bot who that wolde do largesse +Upon the reule as it is yive, +So myhte a man in trouthe live 7630 +Toward his god, and ek also +Toward the world, for bothe tuo +Largesse awaiteth as belongeth, +To neither part that he ne wrongeth; +He kepth himself, he kepth his frendes, +So stant he sauf to bothe hise endes, +That he excedeth no mesure, +So wel he can himself mesure: +Wherof, mi Sone, thou schalt wite, +So as the Philosophre hath write. 7640 + +Betwen the tuo extremites +Of vice stant the propretes +Of vertu, and to prove it so +Tak Avarice and tak also +The vice of Prodegalite; +Betwen hem Liberalite, +Which is the vertu of Largesse, +Stant and governeth his noblesse. +For tho tuo vices in discord +Stonde evere, as I finde of record; 7650 +So that betwen here tuo debat +Largesse reuleth his astat. +For in such wise as Avarice, +As I tofore have told the vice, +Thurgh streit holdinge and thurgh skarsnesse +Stant in contraire to Largesse, +Riht so stant Prodegalite +Revers, bot noght in such degre. +For so as Avarice spareth, +And forto kepe his tresor careth, 7660 +That other al his oghne and more +Ayein the wise mannes lore +Yifth and despendeth hiere and there, +So that him reccheth nevere where. +While he mai borwe, he wol despende, +Til ate laste he seith, “I wende”; +Bot that is spoken al to late, +For thanne is poverte ate gate +And takth him evene be the slieve, +For erst wol he no wisdom lieve. 7670 +And riht as Avarice is Sinne, +That wolde his tresor kepe and winne, +Riht so is Prodegalite: +Bot of Largesse in his degre, +Which evene stant betwen the tuo, +The hihe god and man also +The vertu ech of hem commendeth. +For he himselven ferst amendeth, +That overal his name spredeth, +And to alle othre, where it nedeth, 7680 +He yifth his good in such a wise, +That he makth many a man arise, +Which elles scholde falle lowe. +Largesce mai noght ben unknowe; +For what lond that he regneth inne, +It mai noght faile forto winne +Thurgh his decerte love and grace, +Wher it schal faile in other place. + +And thus betwen tomoche and lyte +Largesce, which is noght to wyte, 7690 +Halt evere forth the middel weie: +Bot who that torne wole aweie +Fro that to Prodegalite, +Anon he lest the proprete +Of vertu and goth to the vice; +For in such wise as Avarice +Lest for scarsnesse his goode name, +Riht so that other is to blame, +Which thurgh his wast mesure excedeth, +For noman wot what harm that bredeth. 7700 + +Bot mochel joie ther betydeth, +Wher that largesse an herte guydeth: +For his mesure is so governed, +That he to bothe partz is lerned, +To god and to the world also, +He doth reson to bothe tuo. +The povere folk of his almesse +Relieved ben in the destresse +Of thurst, of hunger and of cold; +The yifte of him was nevere sold, 7710 +Bot frely yive, and natheles +The myhti god of his encress +Rewardeth him of double grace; +The hevene he doth him to pourchace +And yifth him ek the worldes good: +And thus the Cote for the hod +Largesse takth, and yit no Sinne +He doth, hou so that evere he winne. + +What man hath hors men yive him hors, +And who non hath of him no fors, 7720 +For he mai thanne on fote go; +The world hath evere stonde so. +Bot forto loken of the tweie, +A man to go the siker weie, +Betre is to yive than to take: +With yifte a man mai frendes make, +Bot who that takth or gret or smal, +He takth a charge forth withal, +And stant noght fre til it be quit. +So forto deme in mannes wit, 7730 +It helpeth more a man to have +His oghne good, than forto crave +Of othre men and make him bounde, +Wher elles he mai stonde unbounde. + +Senec conseileth in this wise, +And seith, “Bot, if thi good suffise +Unto the liking of thi wille, +Withdrawh thi lust and hold the stille, +And be to thi good sufficant.” +For that thing is appourtenant 7740 +To trouthe and causeth to be fre +After the reule of charite, +Which ferst beginneth of himselve. +For if thou richest othre tuelve, +Wherof thou schalt thiself be povere, +I not what thonk thou miht recovere. + +Whil that a man hath good to yive, +With grete routes he mai live +And hath his frendes overal, +And everich of him telle schal. 7750 +Therwhile he hath his fulle packe, +Thei seie, “A good felawe is Jacke”; +Bot whanne it faileth ate laste, +Anon his pris thei overcaste, +For thanne is ther non other lawe +Bot, “Jacke was a good felawe.” +Whan thei him povere and nedy se, +Thei lete him passe and farwel he; +Al that he wende of compainie +Is thanne torned to folie. 7760 + +Bot nou to speke in other kinde +Of love, a man mai suche finde, +That wher thei come in every route +Thei caste and waste her love aboute, +Til al here time is overgon, +And thanne have thei love non: +For who that loveth overal, +It is no reson that he schal +Of love have eny proprete. +Forthi, mi Sone, avise thee 7770 +If thou of love hast be to large, +For such a man is noght to charge: +And if it so be that thou hast +Despended al thi time in wast +And set thi love in sondri place, +Though thou the substance of thi grace +Lese ate laste, it is no wonder; +For he that put himselven under, +As who seith, comun overal, +He lest the love special 7780 +Of eny on, if sche be wys; +For love schal noght bere his pris +Be reson, whanne it passeth on. +So have I sen ful many on, +That were of love wel at ese, +Whiche after felle in gret desese +Thurgh wast of love, that thei spente +In sondri places wher thei wente. + +Riht so, mi Sone, I axe of thee +If thou with Prodegalite 7790 +Hast hier and ther thi love wasted. + +Mi fader, nay; bot I have tasted +In many a place as I have go, +And yit love I nevere on of tho, +Bot forto drive forth the dai. +For lieveth wel, myn herte is ay +Withoute mo for everemore +Al upon on, for I nomore +Desire bot hire love al one: +So make I many a prive mone, 7800 +For wel I fiele I have despended +Mi longe love and noght amended +Mi sped, for oght I finde yit. +If this be wast to youre wit +Of love, and Prodegalite, +Nou, goode fader, demeth ye: +Bot of o thing I wol me schryve, +That I schal for no love thryve, +Bot if hirself me wol relieve. + +Mi Sone, that I mai wel lieve: 7810 +And natheles me semeth so, +For oght that thou hast yit misdo +Of time which thou hast despended, +It mai with grace ben amended. +For thing which mai be worth the cost +Per chaunce is nouther wast ne lost; +For what thing stant on aventure, +That can no worldes creature +Telle in certein hou it schal wende, +Til he therof mai sen an ende. 7820 +So that I not as yit therfore +If thou, mi Sone, hast wonne or lore: +For ofte time, as it is sene, +Whan Somer hath lost al his grene +And is with Wynter wast and bare, +That him is left nothing to spare, +Al is recovered in a throwe; +The colde wyndes overblowe, +And still be the scharpe schoures, +And soudeinliche ayein his floures 7830 +The Somer hapneth and is riche: +And so per cas thi graces liche, +Mi Sone, thogh thou be nou povere +Of love, yit thou miht recovere. + +Mi fader, certes grant merci: +Ye have me tawht so redeli, +That evere whil I live schal +The betre I mai be war withal +Of thing which ye have seid er this. +Bot overmore hou that it is, 7840 +Toward mi schrifte as it belongeth, +To wite of othre pointz me longeth; +Wherof that ye me wolden teche +With al myn herte I you beseche. + +Explicit Liber Quintus. + + + + +Incipit Liber Sextus + + +_Est gula, que nostrum maculavit prima parentem + Ex vetito pomo, quo dolet omnis homo +Hec agit, ut corpus anime contraria spirat, + Quo caro fit crassa, spiritus atque macer. +Intus et exterius si que virtutis habentur, + Potibus ebrietas conviciata ruit. +Mersa sopore labis, que Bachus inebriat hospes, + Indignata Venus oscula raro premit._ + +The grete Senne original, +Which every man in general +Upon his berthe hath envenymed, +In Paradis it was mystymed: +Whan Adam of thilke Appel bot, +His swete morscel was to hot, +Which dedly made the mankinde. +And in the bokes as I finde, +This vice, which so out of rule +Hath sette ous alle, is cleped Gule; 10 +Of which the branches ben so grete, +That of hem alle I wol noght trete, +Bot only as touchende of tuo +I thenke speke and of no mo; +Wherof the ferste is Dronkeschipe, +Which berth the cuppe felaschipe. +Ful many a wonder doth this vice, +He can make of a wisman nyce, +And of a fool, that him schal seme +That he can al the lawe deme, 20 +And yiven every juggement +Which longeth to the firmament +Bothe of the sterre and of the mone; +And thus he makth a gret clerk sone +Of him that is a lewed man. +Ther is nothing which he ne can, +Whil he hath Dronkeschipe on honde, +He knowth the See, he knowth the stronde, +He is a noble man of armes, +And yit no strengthe is in his armes: 30 +Ther he was strong ynouh tofore, +With Dronkeschipe it is forlore, +And al is changed his astat, +And wext anon so fieble and mat, +That he mai nouther go ne come, +Bot al togedre him is benome +The pouer bothe of hond and fot, +So that algate abide he mot. +And alle hise wittes he foryet, +The which is to him such a let, 40 +That he wot nevere what he doth, +Ne which is fals, ne which is soth, +Ne which is dai, ne which is nyht, +And for the time he knowth no wyht, +That he ne wot so moche as this, +What maner thing himselven is, +Or he be man, or he be beste. +That holde I riht a sori feste, +Whan he that reson understod +So soudeinliche is woxe wod, 50 +Or elles lich the dede man, +Which nouther go ne speke can. +Thus ofte he is to bedde broght, +Bot where he lith yit wot he noght, +Til he arise upon the morwe; +And thanne he seith, “O, which a sorwe +It is a man be drinkeles!” +So that halfdrunke in such a res +With dreie mouth he sterte him uppe, +And seith, “Nou _baillez ça_ the cuppe.” 60 +That made him lese his wit at eve +Is thanne a morwe al his beleve; +The cuppe is al that evere him pleseth, +And also that him most deseseth; +It is the cuppe whom he serveth, +Which alle cares fro him kerveth +And alle bales to him bringeth: +In joie he wepth, in sorwe he singeth, +For Dronkeschipe is so divers, +It may no whyle stonde in vers. 70 +He drinkth the wyn, bot ate laste +The wyn drynkth him and bint him faste, +And leith him drunke be the wal, +As him which is his bonde thral +And al in his subjeccion. + +And lich to such condicion, +As forto speke it other wise, +It falleth that the moste wise +Ben otherwhile of love adoted, +And so bewhaped and assoted, 80 +Of drunke men that nevere yit +Was non, which half so loste his wit +Of drinke, as thei of such thing do +Which cleped is the jolif wo; +And waxen of here oghne thoght +So drunke, that thei knowe noght +What reson is, or more or lesse. +Such is the kinde of that sieknesse, +And that is noght for lacke of brain, +Bot love is of so gret a main, 90 +That where he takth an herte on honde, +Ther mai nothing his miht withstonde: +The wise Salomon was nome, +And stronge Sampson overcome, +The knihtli David him ne mihte +Rescoue, that he with the sihte +Of Bersabee ne was bestad, +Virgile also was overlad, +And Aristotle was put under. +Forthi, mi Sone, it is no wonder 100 +If thou be drunke of love among, +Which is above alle othre strong: +And if so is that thou so be, +Tell me thi Schrifte in privite; +It is no schame of such a thew +A yong man to be dronkelew. +Of such Phisique I can a part, +And as me semeth be that art, +Thou scholdest be Phisonomie +Be schapen to that maladie 110 +Of lovedrunke, and that is routhe. + +Ha, holi fader, al is trouthe +That ye me telle: I am beknowe +That I with love am so bethrowe, +And al myn herte is so thurgh sunke, +That I am verrailiche drunke, +And yit I mai bothe speke and go. +Bot I am overcome so, +And torned fro miself so clene, +That ofte I wot noght what I mene; 120 +So that excusen I ne mai +Min herte, fro the ferste day +That I cam to mi ladi kiththe, +I was yit sobre nevere siththe. +Wher I hire se or se hire noght, +With musinge of min oghne thoght, +Of love, which min herte assaileth, +So drunke I am, that mi wit faileth +And al mi brain is overtorned, +And mi manere so mistorned, 130 +That I foryete al that I can +And stonde lich a mased man; +That ofte, whanne I scholde pleie, +It makth me drawe out of the weie +In soulein place be miselve, +As doth a labourer to delve, +Which can no gentil mannes chere; +Or elles as a lewed Frere, +Whan he is put to his penance, +Riht so lese I mi contienance. 140 +And if it nedes to betyde, +That I in compainie abyde, +Wher as I moste daunce and singe +The hovedance and carolinge, +Or forto go the newefot, +I mai noght wel heve up mi fot, +If that sche be noght in the weie; +For thanne is al mi merthe aweie, +And waxe anon of thoght so full, +Wherof mi limes ben so dull, 150 +I mai unethes gon the pas. +For thus it is and evere was, +Whanne I on suche thoghtes muse, +The lust and merthe that men use, +Whan I se noght mi ladi byme, +Al is foryete for the time +So ferforth that mi wittes changen +And alle lustes fro me strangen, +That thei seie alle trewely, +And swere, that it am noght I. 160 +For as the man which ofte drinketh, +With win that in his stomac sinketh +Wext drunke and witles for a throwe, +Riht so mi lust is overthrowe, +And of myn oghne thoght so mat +I wexe, that to myn astat +Ther is no lime wol me serve, +Bot as a drunke man I swerve, +And suffre such a Passion, +That men have gret compassion, 170 +And everich be himself merveilleth +What thing it is that me so eilleth. +Such is the manere of mi wo +Which time that I am hire fro, +Til eft ayein that I hire se. +Bot thanne it were a nycete +To telle you hou that I fare: +For whanne I mai upon hire stare, +Hire wommanhede, hire gentilesse, +Myn herte is full of such gladnesse, 180 +That overpasseth so mi wit, +That I wot nevere where it sit, +Bot am so drunken of that sihte, +Me thenkth that for the time I mihte +Riht sterte thurgh the hole wall; +And thanne I mai wel, if I schal, +Bothe singe and daunce and lepe aboute, +And holde forth the lusti route. +Bot natheles it falleth so +Fulofte, that I fro hire go 190 +Ne mai, bot as it were a stake, +I stonde avisement to take +And loke upon hire faire face; +That for the while out of the place +For al the world ne myhte I wende. +Such lust comth thanne unto mi mende, +So that withoute mete or drinke, +Of lusti thoughtes whiche I thinke +Me thenkth I mihte stonden evere; +And so it were to me levere 200 +Than such a sihte forto leve, +If that sche wolde yif me leve +To have so mochel of mi wille. +And thus thenkende I stonde stille +Withoute blenchinge of myn yhe, +Riht as me thoghte that I syhe +Of Paradis the moste joie: +And so therwhile I me rejoie, +Into myn herte a gret desir, +The which is hotere than the fyr, 210 +Al soudeinliche upon me renneth, +That al mi thoght withinne brenneth, +And am so ferforth overcome, +That I not where I am become; +So that among the hetes stronge +In stede of drinke I underfonge +A thoght so swete in mi corage, +That nevere Pyment ne vernage +Was half so swete forto drinke. +For as I wolde, thanne I thinke 220 +As thogh I were at myn above, +For so thurgh drunke I am of love, +That al that mi sotye demeth +Is soth, as thanne it to me semeth. +And whyle I mai tho thoghtes kepe, +Me thenkth as thogh I were aslepe +And that I were in goddes barm; +Bot whanne I se myn oghne harm, +And that I soudeinliche awake +Out of my thought, and hiede take 230 +Hou that the sothe stant in dede, +Thanne is mi sekernesse in drede +And joie torned into wo, +So that the hete is al ago +Of such sotie as I was inne. +And thanne ayeinward I beginne +To take of love a newe thorst, +The which me grieveth altherworst, +For thanne comth the blanche fievere, +With chele and makth me so to chievere, 240 +And so it coldeth at myn herte, +That wonder is hou I asterte, +In such a point that I ne deie: +For certes ther was nevere keie +Ne frosen ys upon the wal +More inly cold that I am al. +And thus soffre I the hote chele, +Which passeth othre peines fele; +In cold I brenne and frese in hete: +And thanne I drinke a biter swete 250 +With dreie lippe and yhen wete. +Lo, thus I tempre mi diete, +And take a drauhte of such reles, +That al mi wit is herteles, +And al myn herte, ther it sit, +Is, as who seith, withoute wit; +So that to prove it be reson +In makinge of comparison +Ther mai no difference be +Betwen a drunke man and me. 260 +Bot al the worste of everychon +Is evere that I thurste in on; +The more that myn herte drinketh, +The more I may; so that me thinketh, +My thurst schal nevere ben aqueint. +God schilde that I be noght dreint +Of such a superfluite: +For wel I fiele in mi degre +That al mi wit is overcast, +Wherof I am the more agast, 270 +That in defaulte of ladischipe +Per chance in such a drunkeschipe +I mai be ded er I be war. +For certes, fader, this I dar +Beknowe and in mi schrifte telle: +Bot I a drauhte have of that welle, +In which mi deth is and mi lif, +Mi joie is torned into strif, +That sobre schal I nevere worthe, +Bot as a drunke man forworthe; 280 +So that in londe where I fare +The lust is lore of mi welfare, +As he that mai no bote finde. +Bot this me thenkth a wonder kinde, +As I am drunke of that I drinke, +So am I ek for falte of drinke; +Of which I finde no reles: +Bot if I myhte natheles +Of such a drinke as I coveite, +So as me liste, have o receite, 290 +I scholde assobre and fare wel. +Bot so fortune upon hire whiel +On hih me deigneth noght to sette, +For everemore I finde a lette: +The boteler is noght mi frend, +Which hath the keie be the bend; +I mai wel wisshe and that is wast, +For wel I wot, so freissh a tast, +Bot if mi grace be the more, +I schal assaie neveremore. 300 +Thus am I drunke of that I se, +For tastinge is defended me, +And I can noght miselven stanche: +So that, mi fader, of this branche +I am gultif, to telle trouthe. + +Mi Sone, that me thenketh routhe; +For lovedrunke is the meschief +Above alle othre the most chief, +If he no lusti thoght assaie, +Which mai his sori thurst allaie: 310 +As for the time yit it lisseth +To him which other joie misseth. +Forthi, mi Sone, aboven alle +Thenk wel, hou so it the befalle, +And kep thi wittes that thou hast, +And let hem noght be drunke in wast: +Bot natheles ther is no wyht +That mai withstonde loves miht. +Bot why the cause is, as I finde, +Of that ther is diverse kinde 320 +Of lovedrunke, why men pleigneth +After the court which al ordeigneth, +I wol the tellen the manere; +Nou lest, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere. + +For the fortune of every chance +After the goddes pourveance +To man it groweth from above, +So that the sped of every love +Is schape there, er it befalle. +For Jupiter aboven alle, 330 +Which is of goddes soverein, +Hath in his celier, as men sein, +Tuo tonnes fulle of love drinke, +That maken many an herte sinke +And many an herte also to flete, +Or of the soure or of the swete. +That on is full of such piment, +Which passeth all entendement +Of mannes witt, if he it taste, +And makth a jolif herte in haste: 340 +That other biter as the galle, +Which makth a mannes herte palle, +Whos drunkeschipe is a sieknesse +Thurgh fielinge of the biternesse. +Cupide is boteler of bothe, +Which to the lieve and to the lothe +Yifth of the swete and of the soure, +That some lawhe, and some loure. +Bot for so moche as he blind is, +Fulofte time he goth amis 350 +And takth the badde for the goode, +Which hindreth many a mannes fode +Withoute cause, and forthreth eke. +So be ther some of love seke, +Whiche oghte of reson to ben hole, +And some comen to the dole +In happ and as hemselve leste +Drinke undeserved of the beste. +And thus this blinde Boteler +Yifth of the trouble in stede of cler 360 +And ek the cler in stede of trouble: +Lo, hou he can the hertes trouble, +And makth men drunke al upon chaunce +Withoute lawe of governance. +If he drawe of the swete tonne, +Thanne is the sorwe al overronne +Of lovedrunke, and schalt noght greven +So to be drunken every even, +For al is thanne bot a game. +Bot whanne it is noght of the same, 370 +And he the biter tonne draweth, +Such drunkeschipe an herte gnaweth +And fiebleth al a mannes thoght, +That betre him were have drunke noght +And al his bred have eten dreie; +For thanne he lest his lusti weie +With drunkeschipe, and wot noght whider +To go, the weies ben so slider, +In which he mai per cas so falle, +That he schal breke his wittes alle. 380 +And in this wise men be drunke +After the drink that thei have drunke: +Bot alle drinken noght alike, +For som schal singe and som schal syke, +So that it me nothing merveilleth, +Mi Sone, of love that thee eilleth; +For wel I knowe be thi tale, +That thou hast drunken of the duale, +Which biter is, til god the sende +Such grace that thou miht amende. 390 + +Bot, Sone, thou schalt bidde and preie +In such a wise as I schal seie, +That thou the lusti welle atteigne +Thi wofull thurstes to restreigne +Of love, and taste the swetnesse; +As Bachus dede in his distresse, +Whan bodiliche thurst him hente +In strange londes where he wente. +This Bachus Sone of Jupiter +Was hote, and as he wente fer 400 +Be his fadres assignement +To make a werre in Orient, +And gret pouer with him he ladde, +So that the heiere hond he hadde +And victoire of his enemys, +And torneth homward with his pris, +In such a contre which was dreie +A meschief fell upon the weie. +As he rod with his compainie +Nyh to the strondes of Lubie, 410 +Ther myhte thei no drinke finde +Of water nor of other kinde, +So that himself and al his host +Were of defalte of drinke almost +Destruid, and thanne Bachus preide +To Jupiter, and thus he seide: +“O hihe fader, that sest al, +To whom is reson that I schal +Beseche and preie in every nede, +Behold, mi fader, and tak hiede 420 +This wofull thurst that we ben inne +To staunche, and grante ous forto winne, +And sauf unto the contre fare, +Wher that oure lusti loves are +Waitende upon oure hom cominge.” +And with the vois of his preiynge, +Which herd was to the goddes hihe, +He syh anon tofore his yhe +A wether, which the ground hath sporned; +And wher he hath it overtorned, 430 +Ther sprang a welle freissh and cler, +Wherof his oghne boteler +After the lustes of his wille +Was every man to drinke his fille. +And for this ilke grete grace +Bachus upon the same place +A riche temple let arere, +Which evere scholde stonde there +To thursti men in remembrance. + +Forthi, mi Sone, after this chance 440 +It sit thee wel to taken hiede +So forto preie upon thi nede, +As Bachus preide for the welle; +And thenk, as thou hast herd me telle, +Hou grace he gradde and grace he hadde. +He was no fol that ferst so radde, +For selden get a domb man lond: +Tak that proverbe, and understond +That wordes ben of vertu grete. +Forthi to speke thou ne lete, 450 +And axe and prei erli and late +Thi thurst to quenche, and thenk algate, +The boteler which berth the keie +Is blind, as thou hast herd me seie; +And if it mihte so betyde, +That he upon the blinde side +Per cas the swete tonne arauhte, +Than schalt thou have a lusti drauhte +And waxe of lovedrunke sobre. +And thus I rede thou assobre 460 +Thin herte in hope of such a grace; +For drunkeschipe in every place, +To whether side that it torne, +Doth harm and makth a man to sporne +And ofte falle in such a wise, +Wher he per cas mai noght arise. + +And forto loke in evidence +Upon the sothe experience, +So as it hath befalle er this, +In every mannes mouth it is 470 +Hou Tristram was of love drunke +With Bele Ysolde, whan thei drunke +The drink which Brangwein hem betok, +Er that king Marc his Eem hire tok +To wyve, as it was after knowe. +And ek, mi Sone, if thou wolt knowe, +As it hath fallen overmore +In loves cause, and what is more +Of drunkeschipe forto drede, +As it whilom befell in dede, 480 +Wherof thou miht the betre eschuie +Of drunke men that thou ne suie +The compaignie in no manere, +A gret ensample thou schalt hiere. + +This finde I write in Poesie +Of thilke faire Ipotacie, +Of whos beaute ther as sche was +Spak every man,—and fell per cas, +That Pirotous so him spedde, +That he to wyve hire scholde wedde, 490 +Wherof that he gret joie made. +And for he wolde his love glade, +Ayein the day of mariage +Be mouthe bothe and be message +Hise frendes to the feste he preide, +With gret worschipe and, as men seide, +He hath this yonge ladi spoused. +And whan that thei were alle housed, +And set and served ate mete, +Ther was no wyn which mai be gete, 500 +That ther ne was plente ynouh: +Bot Bachus thilke tonne drouh, +Wherof be weie of drunkeschipe +The greteste of the felaschipe +Were oute of reson overtake; +And Venus, which hath also take +The cause most in special, +Hath yove hem drinke forth withal +Of thilke cuppe which exciteth +The lust wherinne a man deliteth: 510 +And thus be double weie drunke, +Of lust that ilke fyri funke +Hath mad hem, as who seith, halfwode, +That thei no reson understode, +Ne to non other thing thei syhen, +Bot hire, which tofore here yhen +Was wedded thilke same day, +That freisshe wif, that lusti May, +On hire it was al that thei thoghten. +And so ferforth here lustes soghten, 520 +That thei the whiche named were +Centauri, ate feste there +Of on assent, of an acord +This yonge wif malgre hire lord +In such a rage awei forth ladden, +As thei whiche non insihte hadden +Bot only to her drunke fare, +Which many a man hath mad misfare +In love als wel as other weie. +Wherof, if I schal more seie 530 +Upon the nature of the vice, +Of custume and of exercice +The mannes grace hou it fordoth, +A tale, which was whilom soth, +Of fooles that so drunken were, +I schal reherce unto thine Ere. + +I rede in a Cronique thus +Of Galba and of Vitellus, +The whiche of Spaigne bothe were +The greteste of alle othre there, 540 +And bothe of o condicion +After the disposicion +Of glotonie and drunkeschipe. +That was a sori felaschipe: +For this thou miht wel understonde, +That man mai wel noght longe stonde +Which is wyndrunke of comun us; +For he hath lore the vertus, +Wherof reson him scholde clothe; +And that was seene upon hem bothe. 550 +Men sein ther is non evidence, +Wherof to knowe a difference +Betwen the drunken and the wode, +For thei be nevere nouther goode; +For wher that wyn doth wit aweie, +Wisdom hath lost the rihte weie, +That he no maner vice dredeth; +Nomore than a blind man thredeth +His nedle be the Sonnes lyht, +Nomore is reson thanne of myht, 560 +Whan he with drunkeschipe is blent. +And in this point thei weren schent, +This Galba bothe and ek Vitelle, +Upon the cause as I schal telle, +Wherof good is to taken hiede. +For thei tuo thurgh her drunkenhiede +Of witles excitacioun +Oppressede al the nacion +Of Spaigne; for of fool usance, +Which don was of continuance 570 +Of hem, whiche alday drunken were, +Ther was no wif ne maiden there, +What so thei were, or faire or foule, +Whom thei ne token to defoule, +Wherof the lond was often wo: +And ek in othre thinges mo +Thei wroghten many a sondri wrong. +Bot hou so that the dai be long, +The derke nyht comth ate laste: +God wolde noght thei scholden laste, 580 +And schop the lawe in such a wise, +That thei thurgh dom to the juise +Be dampned forto be forlore. +Bot thei, that hadden ben tofore +Enclin to alle drunkenesse,— +Here ende thanne bar witnesse; +For thei in hope to assuage +The peine of deth, upon the rage +That thei the lasse scholden fiele, +Of wyn let fille full a Miele, 590 +And dronken til so was befalle +That thei her strengthes losten alle +Withouten wit of eny brain; +And thus thei ben halfdede slain, +That hem ne grieveth bot a lyte. + +Mi Sone, if thou be forto wyte +In eny point which I have seid, +Wherof thi wittes ben unteid, +I rede clepe hem hom ayein. + +I schal do, fader, as ye sein, 600 +Als ferforth as I mai suffise: +Bot wel I wot that in no wise +The drunkeschipe of love aweie +I mai remue be no weie, +It stant noght upon my fortune. +Bot if you liste to comune +Of the seconde Glotonie, +Which cleped is Delicacie, +Wherof ye spieken hier tofore, +Beseche I wolde you therfore. 610 + +Mi Sone, as of that ilke vice, +Which of alle othre is the Norrice, +And stant upon the retenue +Of Venus, so as it is due, +The proprete hou that it fareth +The bok hierafter nou declareth. + +Of this chapitre in which we trete +There is yit on of such diete, +To which no povere mai atteigne; +For al is Past of paindemeine 620 +And sondri wyn and sondri drinke, +Wherof that he wole ete and drinke: +Hise cokes ben for him affaited, +So that his body is awaited, +That him schal lacke no delit, +Als ferforth as his appetit +Sufficeth to the metes hote. +Wherof this lusti vice is hote +Of Gule the Delicacie, +Which al the hole progenie 630 +Of lusti folk hath undertake +To feede, whil that he mai take +Richesses wherof to be founde: +Of Abstinence he wot no bounde, +To what profit it scholde serve. +And yit phisique of his conserve +Makth many a restauracioun +Unto his recreacioun, +Which wolde be to Venus lief. +Thus for the point of his relief 640 +The coc which schal his mete arraie, +Bot he the betre his mouth assaie, +His lordes thonk schal ofte lese, +Er he be served to the chese: +For ther mai lacke noght so lyte, +That he ne fint anon a wyte; +For bot his lust be fully served, +Ther hath no wiht his thonk deserved. +And yit for mannes sustenance, +To kepe and holde in governance, 650 +To him that wole his hele gete +Is non so good as comun mete: +For who that loketh on the bokes, +It seith, confeccion of cokes, +A man him scholde wel avise +Hou he it toke and in what wise. +For who that useth that he knoweth, +Ful selden seknesse on him groweth, +And who that useth metes strange, +Though his nature empeire and change 660 +It is no wonder, lieve Sone, +Whan that he doth ayein his wone; +For in Phisique this I finde, +Usage is the seconde kinde. + +And riht so changeth his astat +He that of love is delicat: +For though he hadde to his hond +The beste wif of al the lond, +Or the faireste love of alle, +Yit wolde his herte on othre falle 670 +And thenke hem mor delicious +Than he hath in his oghne hous: +Men sein it is nou ofte so; +Avise hem wel, thei that so do. +And forto speke in other weie, +Fulofte time I have herd seie, +That he which hath no love achieved, +Him thenkth that he is noght relieved, +Thogh that his ladi make him chiere, +So as sche mai in good manere 680 +Hir honour and hir name save, +Bot he the surplus mihte have. +Nothing withstondende hire astat, +Of love more delicat +He set hire chiere at no delit, +Bot he have al his appetit. + +Mi Sone, if it be with thee so, +Tell me. + +Myn holi fader, no: +For delicat in such a wise +Of love, as ye to me devise, 690 +Ne was I nevere yit gultif; +For if I hadde such a wif +As ye speke of, what scholde I more? +For thanne I wolde neveremore +For lust of eny wommanhiede +Myn herte upon non other fiede: +And if I dede, it were a wast. +Bot al withoute such repast +Of lust, as ye me tolde above, +Of wif, or yit of other love, 700 +I faste, and mai no fode gete; +So that for lacke of deinte mete, +Of which an herte mai be fedd, +I go fastende to my bedd. +Bot myhte I geten, as ye tolde, +So mochel that mi ladi wolde +Me fede with hir glad semblant, +Though me lacke al the remenant, +Yit scholde I somdel ben abeched +And for the time wel refreched. 710 +Bot certes, fader, sche ne doth; +For in good feith, to telle soth, +I trowe, thogh I scholde sterve, +Sche wolde noght hire yhe swerve, +Min herte with o goodly lok +To fede, and thus for such a cok +I mai go fastinge everemo: +Bot if so is that eny wo +Mai fede a mannes herte wel, +Therof I have at every meel 720 +Of plente more than ynowh; +Bot that is of himself so towh, +Mi stomac mai it noght defie. +Lo, such is the delicacie +Of love, which myn herte fedeth; +Thus have I lacke of that me nedeth. + +Bot for al this yit natheles +I seie noght I am gylteles, +That I somdel am delicat: +For elles were I fulli mat, 730 +Bot if that I som lusti stounde +Of confort and of ese founde, +To take of love som repast; +For thogh I with the fulle tast +The lust of love mai noght fiele, +Min hunger otherwise I kiele +Of smale lustes whiche I pike, +And for a time yit thei like; +If that ye wisten what I mene. + +Nou, goode Sone, schrif thee clene 740 +Of suche deyntes as ben goode, +Wherof thou takst thin hertes fode. + +Mi fader, I you schal reherce, +Hou that mi fodes ben diverse, +So as thei fallen in degre. +O fiedinge is of that I se, +An other is of that I here, +The thridde, as I schal tellen here, +It groweth of min oghne thoght: +And elles scholde I live noght; 750 +For whom that failleth fode of herte, +He mai noght wel the deth asterte. + +Of sihte is al mi ferste fode, +Thurgh which myn yhe of alle goode +Hath that to him is acordant, +A lusti fode sufficant. +Whan that I go toward the place +Wher I schal se my ladi face, +Min yhe, which is loth to faste, +Beginth to hungre anon so faste, 760 +That him thenkth of on houre thre, +Til I ther come and he hire se: +And thanne after his appetit +He takth a fode of such delit, +That him non other deynte nedeth. +Of sondri sihtes he him fedeth: +He seth hire face of such colour, +That freisshere is than eny flour, +He seth hire front is large and plein +Withoute fronce of eny grein, 770 +He seth hire yhen lich an hevene, +He seth hire nase strauht and evene, +He seth hire rode upon the cheke, +He seth hire rede lippes eke, +Hire chyn acordeth to the face, +Al that he seth is full of grace, +He seth hire necke round and clene, +Therinne mai no bon be sene, +He seth hire handes faire and whyte; +For al this thing withoute wyte 780 +He mai se naked ate leste, +So is it wel the more feste +And wel the mor Delicacie +Unto the fiedinge of myn yhe. +He seth hire schapthe forth withal, +Hire bodi round, hire middel smal, +So wel begon with good array, +Which passeth al the lust of Maii, +Whan he is most with softe schoures +Ful clothed in his lusti floures. 790 +With suche sihtes by and by +Min yhe is fed; bot finaly, +Whan he the port and the manere +Seth of hire wommanysshe chere, +Than hath he such delice on honde, +Him thenkth he mihte stille stonde, +And that he hath ful sufficance +Of liflode and of sustienance +As to his part for everemo. +And if it thoghte alle othre so, 800 +Fro thenne wolde he nevere wende, +Bot there unto the worldes ende +He wolde abyde, if that he mihte, +And fieden him upon the syhte. +For thogh I mihte stonden ay +Into the time of domesday +And loke upon hire evere in on, +Yit whanne I scholde fro hire gon, +Min yhe wolde, as thogh he faste, +Ben hungerstorven al so faste, 810 +Til efte ayein that he hire syhe. +Such is the nature of myn yhe: +Ther is no lust so deintefull, +Of which a man schal noght be full, +Of that the stomac underfongeth, +Bot evere in on myn yhe longeth: +For loke hou that a goshauk tireth, +Riht so doth he, whan that he pireth +And toteth on hire wommanhiede; +For he mai nevere fulli fiede 820 +His lust, bot evere aliche sore +Him hungreth, so that he the more +Desireth to be fed algate: +And thus myn yhe is mad the gate, +Thurgh which the deyntes of my thoght +Of lust ben to myn herte broght. + +Riht as myn yhe with his lok +Is to myn herte a lusti coc +Of loves fode delicat, +Riht so myn Ere in his astat, 830 +Wher as myn yhe mai noght serve, +Can wel myn hertes thonk deserve +And fieden him fro day to day +With suche deyntes as he may. +For thus it is, that overal, +Wher as I come in special, +I mai hiere of mi ladi pris; +I hiere on seith that sche is wys, +An other seith that sche is good, +And som men sein, of worthi blod 840 +That sche is come, and is also +So fair, that nawher is non so; +And som men preise hire goodli chiere: +Thus every thing that I mai hiere, +Which souneth to mi ladi goode, +Is to myn Ere a lusti foode. +And ek min Ere hath over this +A deynte feste, whan so is +That I mai hiere hirselve speke; +For thanne anon mi faste I breke 850 +On suche wordes as sche seith, +That full of trouthe and full of feith +Thei ben, and of so good desport, +That to myn Ere gret confort +Thei don, as thei that ben delices. +For al the metes and the spices, +That eny Lombard couthe make, +Ne be so lusti forto take +Ne so ferforth restauratif, +I seie as for myn oghne lif, 860 +As ben the wordes of hire mouth: +For as the wyndes of the South +Ben most of alle debonaire, +So whan hir list to speke faire, +The vertu of hire goodly speche +Is verraily myn hertes leche. +And if it so befalle among, +That sche carole upon a song, +Whan I it hiere I am so fedd, +That I am fro miself so ledd, 870 +As thogh I were in paradis; +For certes, as to myn avis, +Whan I here of hir vois the stevene, +Me thenkth it is a blisse of hevene. + +And ek in other wise also +Fulofte time it falleth so, +Min Ere with a good pitance +Is fedd of redinge of romance +Of Ydoine and of Amadas, +That whilom weren in mi cas, 880 +And eke of othre many a score, +That loveden longe er I was bore. +For whan I of here loves rede, +Min Ere with the tale I fede; +And with the lust of here histoire +Somtime I drawe into memoire +Hou sorwe mai noght evere laste; +And so comth hope in ate laste, +Whan I non other fode knowe. +And that endureth bot a throwe, 890 +Riht as it were a cherie feste; +Bot forto compten ate leste, +As for the while yit it eseth +And somdel of myn herte appeseth: +For what thing to myn Ere spreedeth, +Which is plesant, somdel it feedeth +With wordes suche as he mai gete +Mi lust, in stede of other mete. + +Lo thus, mi fader, as I seie, +Of lust the which myn yhe hath seie, 900 +And ek of that myn Ere hath herd, +Fulofte I have the betre ferd. +And tho tuo bringen in the thridde, +The which hath in myn herte amidde +His place take, to arraie +The lusti fode, which assaie +I mot; and nameliche on nyhtes, +Whan that me lacketh alle sihtes, +And that myn heringe is aweie, +Thanne is he redy in the weie 910 +Mi reresouper forto make, +Of which myn hertes fode I take. + +This lusti cokes name is hote +Thoght, which hath evere hise pottes hote +Of love buillende on the fyr +With fantasie and with desir, +Of whiche er this fulofte he fedde +Min herte, whanne I was abedde; +And thanne he set upon my bord +Bothe every syhte and every word 920 +Of lust, which I have herd or sein. +Bot yit is noght mi feste al plein, +Bot al of woldes and of wisshes, +Therof have I my fulle disshes, +Bot as of fielinge and of tast, +Yit mihte I nevere have o repast. +And thus, as I have seid aforn, +I licke hony on the thorn, +And as who seith, upon the bridel +I chiewe, so that al is ydel 930 +As in effect the fode I have. +Bot as a man that wolde him save, +Whan he is seck, be medicine, +Riht so of love the famine +I fonde in al that evere I mai +To fiede and dryve forth the day, +Til I mai have the grete feste, +Which al myn hunger myhte areste. + +Lo suche ben mi lustes thre; +Of that I thenke and hiere and se 940 +I take of love my fiedinge +Withoute tastinge or fielinge: +And as the Plover doth of Eir +I live, and am in good espeir +That for no such delicacie +I trowe I do no glotonie. +And natheles to youre avis, +Min holi fader, that be wis, +I recomande myn astat +Of that I have be delicat. 950 + +Mi Sone, I understonde wel +That thou hast told hier everydel, +And as me thenketh be thi tale, +It ben delices wonder smale, +Wherof thou takst thi loves fode. +Bot, Sone, if that thou understode +What is to ben delicious, +Thou woldest noght be curious +Upon the lust of thin astat +To ben to sore delicat, 960 +Wherof that thou reson excede: +For in the bokes thou myht rede, +If mannes wisdom schal be suied, +It oghte wel to ben eschuied +In love als wel as other weie; +For, as these holi bokes seie, +The bodely delices alle +In every point, hou so thei falle, +Unto the Soule don grievance. +And forto take in remembrance, 970 +A tale acordant unto this, +Which of gret understondinge is +To mannes soule resonable, +I thenke telle, and is no fable. + +Of Cristes word, who wole it rede, +Hou that this vice is forto drede +In thevangile it telleth plein, +Which mot algate be certein, +For Crist himself it berth witnesse. +And thogh the clerk and the clergesse 980 +In latin tunge it rede and singe, +Yit for the more knoulechinge +Of trouthe, which is good to wite, +I schal declare as it is write +In Engleissh, for thus it began. + +Crist seith: “Ther was a riche man, +A mihti lord of gret astat, +And he was ek so delicat +Of his clothing, that everyday +Of pourpre and bisse he made him gay, 990 +And eet and drank therto his fille +After the lustes of his wille, +As he which al stod in delice +And tok non hiede of thilke vice. +And as it scholde so betyde, +A povere lazre upon a tyde +Cam to the gate and axed mete: +Bot there mihte he nothing gete +His dedly hunger forto stanche; +For he, which hadde his fulle panche 1000 +Of alle lustes ate bord, +Ne deigneth noght to speke a word, +Onliche a Crumme forto yive, +Wherof the povere myhte live +Upon the yifte of his almesse. +Thus lai this povere in gret destresse +Acold and hungred ate gate, +Fro which he mihte go no gate, +So was he wofulli besein. +And as these holi bokes sein, 1010 +The houndes comen fro the halle, +Wher that this sike man was falle, +And as he lay ther forto die, +The woundes of his maladie +Thei licken forto don him ese. +Bot he was full of such desese, +That he mai noght the deth eschape; +Bot as it was that time schape, +The Soule fro the bodi passeth, +And he whom nothing overpasseth, 1020 +The hihe god, up to the hevene +Him tok, wher he hath set him evene +In Habrahammes barm on hyh, +Wher he the hevene joie syh +And hadde al that he have wolde. + +And fell, as it befalle scholde, +This riche man the same throwe +With soudein deth was overthrowe, +And forth withouten eny wente +Into the helle straght he wente; 1030 +The fend into the fyr him drouh, +Wher that he hadde peine ynouh +Of flamme which that evere brenneth. +And as his yhe aboute renneth, +Toward the hevene he cast his lok, +Wher that he syh and hiede tok +Hou Lazar set was in his Se +Als ferr as evere he mihte se +With Habraham; and thanne he preide +Unto the Patriarch and seide: 1040 +“Send Lazar doun fro thilke Sete, +And do that he his finger wete +In water, so that he mai droppe +Upon my tunge, forto stoppe +The grete hete in which I brenne.” +Bot Habraham answerde thenne +And seide to him in this wise: +“Mi Sone, thou thee miht avise +And take into thi remembrance, +Hou Lazar hadde gret penance, 1050 +Whyl he was in that other lif, +Bot thou in al thi lust jolif +The bodily delices soghtest: +Forthi, so as thou thanne wroghtest, +Nou schalt thou take thi reward +Of dedly peine hierafterward +In helle, which schal evere laste; +And this Lazar nou ate laste +The worldes peine is overronne, +In hevene and hath his lif begonne 1060 +Of joie, which is endeles. +Bot that thou preidest natheles, +That I schal Lazar to the sende +With water on his finger ende, +Thin hote tunge forto kiele, +Thou schalt no such graces fiele; +For to that foule place of Sinne, +For evere in which thou schalt ben inne, +Comth non out of this place thider, +Ne non of you mai comen hider; 1070 +Thus be yee parted nou atuo.” + +The riche ayeinward cride tho: +“O Habraham, sithe it so is, +That Lazar mai noght do me this +Which I have axed in this place, +I wolde preie an other grace. +For I have yit of brethren fyve, +That with mi fader ben alyve +Togedre duellende in on hous; +To whom, as thou art gracious, 1080 +I preie that thou woldest sende +Lazar, so that he mihte wende +To warne hem hou the world is went, +That afterward thei be noght schent +Of suche peines as I drye. +Lo, this I preie and this I crie, +Now I may noght miself amende.” + +The Patriarch anon suiende +To his preiere ansuerde nay; +And seide him hou that everyday 1090 +His brethren mihten knowe and hiere +Of Moises on Erthe hiere +And of prophetes othre mo, +What hem was best. And he seith no; +Bot if ther mihte a man aryse +Fro deth to lyve in such a wise, +To tellen hem hou that it were, +He seide hou thanne of pure fere +Thei scholden wel be war therby. + +Quod Habraham: “Nay sikerly; 1100 +For if thei nou wol noght obeie +To suche as techen hem the weie, +And alday preche and alday telle +Hou that it stant of hevene and helle, +Thei wol noght thanne taken hiede, +Thogh it befelle so in dede +That eny ded man were arered, +To ben of him no betre lered +Than of an other man alyve.” + +If thou, mi Sone, canst descryve 1110 +This tale, as Crist himself it tolde, +Thou schalt have cause to beholde, +To se so gret an evidence, +Wherof the sothe experience +Hath schewed openliche at ije, +That bodili delicacie +Of him which yeveth non almesse +Schal after falle in gret destresse. +And that was sene upon the riche: +For he ne wolde unto his liche 1120 +A Crumme yiven of his bred, +Thanne afterward, whan he was ded, +A drope of water him was werned. +Thus mai a mannes wit be lerned +Of hem that so delices taken; +Whan thei with deth ben overtaken, +That erst was swete is thanne sour. +Bot he that is a governour +Of worldes good, if he be wys, +Withinne his herte he set no pris 1130 +Of al the world, and yit he useth +The good, that he nothing refuseth, +As he which lord is of the thinges. +The Nouches and the riche ringes, +The cloth of gold and the Perrie +He takth, and yit delicacie +He leveth, thogh he were al this. +The beste mete that ther is +He ett, and drinkth the beste drinke; +Bot hou that evere he ete or drinke, 1140 +Delicacie he put aweie, +As he which goth the rihte weie +Noght only forto fiede and clothe +His bodi, bot his soule bothe. +Bot thei that taken otherwise +Here lustes, ben none of the wise; +And that whilom was schewed eke, +If thou these olde bokes seke, +Als wel be reson as be kinde, +Of olde ensample as men mai finde. 1150 + +What man that wolde him wel avise, +Delicacie is to despise, +Whan kinde acordeth noght withal; +Wherof ensample in special +Of Nero whilom mai be told, +Which ayein kinde manyfold +Hise lustes tok, til ate laste +That god him wolde al overcaste; +Of whom the Cronique is so plein, +Me list nomore of him to sein. 1160 +And natheles for glotonie +Of bodili Delicacie, +To knowe his stomak hou it ferde, +Of that noman tofore herde, +Which he withinne himself bethoghte, +A wonder soubtil thing he wroghte. + +Thre men upon eleccioun +Of age and of complexioun +Lich to himself be alle weie +He tok towardes him to pleie, 1170 +And ete and drinke als wel as he. +Therof was no diversite; +For every day whan that thei eete, +Tofore his oghne bord thei seete, +And of such mete as he was served, +Althogh thei hadde it noght deserved, +Thei token service of the same. +Bot afterward al thilke game +Was into wofull ernest torned; +For whan thei weren thus sojorned, 1180 +Withinne a time at after mete +Nero, which hadde noght foryete +The lustes of his frele astat, +As he which al was delicat, +To knowe thilke experience, +The men let come in his presence: +And to that on the same tyde, +A courser that he scholde ryde +Into the feld, anon he bad; +Wherof this man was wonder glad, 1190 +And goth to prike and prance aboute. +That other, whil that he was oute, +He leide upon his bedd to slepe: +The thridde, which he wolde kepe +Withinne his chambre, faire and softe +He goth now doun nou up fulofte, +Walkende a pass, that he ne slepte, +Til he which on the courser lepte +Was come fro the field ayein. +Nero thanne, as the bokes sein, 1200 +These men doth taken alle thre +And slouh hem, for he wolde se +The whos stomak was best defied: +And whanne he hath the sothe tryed, +He fond that he which goth the pass +Defyed best of alle was, +Which afterward he usede ay. + +And thus what thing unto his pay +Was most plesant, he lefte non: +With every lust he was begon, 1210 +Wherof the bodi myhte glade, +For he non abstinence made; +Bot most above alle erthli thinges +Of wommen unto the likinges +Nero sette al his hole herte, +For that lust scholde him noght asterte. +Whan that the thurst of love him cawhte, +Wher that him list he tok a drauhte, +He spareth nouther wif ne maide, +That such an other, as men saide, 1220 +In al this world was nevere yit. +He was so drunke in al his wit +Thurgh sondri lustes whiche he tok, +That evere, whil ther is a bok, +Of Nero men schul rede and singe +Unto the worldes knowlechinge, +Mi goode Sone, as thou hast herd. +For evere yit it hath so ferd, +Delicacie in loves cas +Withoute reson is and was; 1230 +For wher that love his herte set, +Him thenkth it myhte be no bet; +And thogh it be noght fulli mete, +The lust of love is evere swete. + +Lo, thus togedre of felaschipe +Delicacie and drunkeschipe, +Wherof reson stant out of herre, +Have mad full many a wisman erre +In loves cause most of alle: +For thanne hou so that evere it falle, 1240 +Wit can no reson understonde, +Bot let the governance stonde +To Will, which thanne wext so wylde, +That he can noght himselve schylde +Fro no peril, bot out of feere +The weie he secheth hiere and there, +Him recheth noght upon what syde: +For oftetime he goth beside, +And doth such thing withoute drede, +Wherof him oghte wel to drede. 1250 +Bot whan that love assoteth sore, +It passeth alle mennes lore; +What lust it is that he ordeigneth, +Ther is no mannes miht restreigneth, +And of the godd takth he non hiede: +Bot laweles withoute drede, +His pourpos for he wolde achieve +Ayeins the pointz of the believe, +He tempteth hevene and erthe and helle, +Hierafterward as I schall telle. 1260 + +Who dar do thing which love ne dar? +To love is every lawe unwar, +Bot to the lawes of his heste +The fissch, the foul, the man, the beste +Of al the worldes kinde louteth. +For love is he which nothing douteth: +In mannes herte where he sit, +He compteth noght toward his wit +The wo nomore than the wele, +No mor the hete than the chele, 1270 +No mor the wete than the dreie, +No mor to live than to deie, +So that tofore ne behinde +He seth nothing, bot as the blinde +Withoute insyhte of his corage +He doth merveilles in his rage. +To what thing that he wole him drawe, +Ther is no god, ther is no lawe, +Of whom that he takth eny hiede; +Bot as Baiard the blinde stede, 1280 +Til he falle in the dich amidde, +He goth ther noman wole him bidde; +He stant so ferforth out of reule, +Ther is no wit that mai him reule. +And thus to telle of him in soth, +Ful many a wonder thing he doth, +That were betre to be laft, +Among the whiche is wicchecraft, +That som men clepen Sorcerie, +Which forto winne his druerie 1290 +With many a circumstance he useth, +Ther is no point which he refuseth. + +The craft which that Saturnus fond, +To make prickes in the Sond, +That Geomance cleped is, +Fulofte he useth it amis; +And of the flod his Ydromance, +And of the fyr the Piromance, +With questions echon of tho +He tempteth ofte, and ek also 1300 +Aëremance in juggement +To love he bringth of his assent: +For these craftes, as I finde, +A man mai do be weie of kinde, +Be so it be to good entente. +Bot he goth al an other wente; +For rathere er he scholde faile, +With Nigromance he wole assaile +To make his incantacioun +With hot subfumigacioun. 1310 +Thilke art which Spatula is hote, +And used is of comun rote +Among Paiens, with that craft ek +Of which is Auctor Thosz the Grek, +He worcheth on and on be rowe: +Razel is noght to him unknowe, +Ne Salomones Candarie, +His Ydeac, his Eutonye; +The figure and the bok withal +Of Balamuz, and of Ghenbal 1320 +The Seal, and therupon thymage +Of Thebith, for his avantage +He takth, and somwhat of Gibiere, +Which helplich is to this matiere. +Babilla with hire Sones sevene, +Which hath renonced to the hevene, +With Cernes bothe square and rounde, +He traceth ofte upon the grounde, +Makende his invocacioun; +And for full enformacioun 1330 +The Scole which Honorius +Wrot, he poursuieth: and lo, thus +Magique he useth forto winne +His love, and spareth for no Sinne. +And over that of his Sotie, +Riht as he secheth Sorcerie +Of hem that ben Magiciens, +Riht so of the Naturiens +Upon the Sterres from above +His weie he secheth unto love, 1340 +Als fer as he hem understondeth. +In many a sondry wise he fondeth: +He makth ymage, he makth sculpture, +He makth writinge, he makth figure, +He makth his calculacions, +He makth his demonstracions; +His houres of Astronomie +He kepeth as for that partie +Which longeth to thinspeccion +Of love and his affeccion; 1350 +He wolde into the helle seche +The devel himselve to beseche, +If that he wiste forto spede, +To gete of love his lusti mede: +Wher that he hath his herte set, +He bede nevere fare bet +Ne wite of other hevene more. + +Mi Sone, if thou of such a lore +Hast ben er this, I red thee leve. + +Min holi fader, be youre leve 1360 +Of al that ye have spoken hiere +Which toucheth unto this matiere, +To telle soth riht as I wene, +I wot noght o word what ye mene. +I wol noght seie, if that I couthe, +That I nolde in mi lusti youthe +Benethe in helle and ek above +To winne with mi ladi love +Don al that evere that I mihte; +For therof have I non insihte 1370 +Wher afterward that I become, +To that I wonne and overcome +Hire love, which I most coveite. + +Mi Sone, that goth wonder streite: +For this I mai wel telle soth, +Ther is noman the which so doth, +For al the craft that he can caste, +That he nabeith it ate laste. +For often he that wol beguile +Is guiled with the same guile, 1380 +And thus the guilour is beguiled; +As I finde in a bok compiled +To this matiere an old histoire, +The which comth nou to mi memoire, +And is of gret essamplerie +Ayein the vice of Sorcerie, +Wherof non ende mai be good. +Bot hou whilom therof it stod, +A tale which is good to knowe +To thee, mi Sone, I schal beknowe. 1390 + +Among hem whiche at Troie were, +Uluxes ate Siege there +Was on be name in special; +Of whom yit the memorial +Abit, for whyl ther is a mouth, +For evere his name schal be couth. +He was a worthi knyht and king +And clerk knowende of every thing; +He was a gret rethorien, +He was a gret magicien; 1400 +Of Tullius the rethorique, +Of king Zorastes the magique, +Of Tholome thastronomie, +Of Plato the Philosophie, +Of Daniel the slepi dremes, +Of Neptune ek the water stremes, +Of Salomon and the proverbes, +Of Macer al the strengthe of herbes, +And the Phisique of Ypocras, +And lich unto Pictagoras 1410 +Of Surgerie he knew the cures. +Bot somwhat of his aventures, +Which schal to mi matiere acorde, +To thee, mi Sone, I wol recorde. + +This king, of which thou hast herd sein, +Fro Troie as he goth hom ayein +Be Schipe, he fond the See divers, +With many a wyndi storm revers. +Bot he thurgh wisdom that he schapeth +Ful many a gret peril ascapeth, 1420 +Of whiche I thenke tellen on, +Hou that malgre the nedle and ston +Wynddrive he was al soudeinly +Upon the strondes of Cilly, +Wher that he moste abyde a whyle. +Tuo queenes weren in that yle +Calipsa named and Circes; +And whan they herde hou Uluxes +Is londed ther upon the ryve, +For him thei senden als so blive. 1430 +With him suche as he wolde he nam +And to the court to hem he cam. +Thes queenes were as tuo goddesses +Of Art magique Sorceresses, +That what lord comth to that rivage, +Thei make him love in such a rage +And upon hem assote so, +That thei wol have, er that he go, +Al that he hath of worldes good. +Uluxes wel this understod, 1440 +Thei couthe moche, he couthe more; +Thei schape and caste ayein him sore +And wroghte many a soutil wyle, +Bot yit thei mihte him noght beguile. +Bot of the men of his navie +Thei tuo forschope a gret partie, +Mai non of hem withstonde here hestes; +Som part thei schopen into bestes, +Som part thei schopen into foules, +To beres, tigres, Apes, oules, 1450 +Or elles be som other weie; +Ther myhte hem nothing desobeie, +Such craft thei hadde above kinde. +Bot that Art couthe thei noght finde, +Of which Uluxes was deceived, +That he ne hath hem alle weyved, +And broght hem into such a rote, +That upon him thei bothe assote; +And thurgh the science of his art +He tok of hem so wel his part, 1460 +That he begat Circes with childe. +He kepte him sobre and made hem wilde, +He sette himselve so above, +That with here good and with here love, +Who that therof be lief or loth, +Al quit into his Schip he goth. +Circes toswolle bothe sides +He lefte, and waiteth on the tydes, +And straght thurghout the salte fom +He takth his cours and comth him hom, 1470 +Where as he fond Penolope; +A betre wif ther mai non be, +And yit ther ben ynowhe of goode. +Bot who hir goodschipe understode +Fro ferst that sche wifhode tok, +Hou many loves sche forsok +And hou sche bar hire al aboute, +Ther whiles that hire lord was oute, +He mihte make a gret avant +Amonges al the remenant 1480 +That sche was on of al the beste. +Wel myhte he sette his herte in reste, +This king, whan he hir fond in hele; +For as he couthe in wisdom dele, +So couthe sche in wommanhiede: +And whan sche syh withoute drede +Hire lord upon his oghne ground, +That he was come sauf and sound, +In al this world ne mihte be +A gladdere womman than was sche. 1490 + +The fame, which mai noght ben hidd, +Thurghout the lond is sone kidd, +Here king is come hom ayein: +Ther mai noman the fulle sein, +Hou that thei weren alle glade, +So mochel joie of him thei made. +The presens every day be newed, +He was with yiftes al besnewed; +The poeple was of him so glad, +That thogh non other man hem bad, 1500 +Taillage upon hemself thei sette, +And as it were of pure dette +Thei yeve here goodes to the king: +This was a glad hom welcomyng. +Thus hath Uluxes what he wolde, +His wif was such as sche be scholde, +His poeple was to him sougit, +Him lacketh nothing of delit. + +Bot fortune is of such a sleyhte, +That whan a man is most on heyhte, 1510 +Sche makth him rathest forto falle: +Ther wot noman what schal befalle, +The happes over mannes hed +Ben honged with a tendre thred. +That proved was on Uluxes; +For whan he was most in his pes, +Fortune gan to make him werre +And sette his welthe al out of herre. +Upon a dai as he was merie, +As thogh ther mihte him nothing derie, 1520 +Whan nyht was come, he goth to bedde, +With slep and bothe his yhen fedde. +And while he slepte, he mette a swevene: +Him thoghte he syh a stature evene, +Which brihtere than the sonne schon; +A man it semeth was it non, +Bot yit it was as in figure +Most lich to mannyssh creature, +Bot as of beaute hevenelich +It was most to an Angel lich: 1530 +And thus betwen angel and man +Beholden it this king began, +And such a lust tok of the sihte, +That fain he wolde, if that he mihte, +The forme of that figure embrace; +And goth him forth toward the place, +Wher he sih that ymage tho, +And takth it in his Armes tuo, +And it embraceth him ayein +And to the king thus gan it sein: 1540 +“Uluxes, understond wel this, +The tokne of oure aqueintance is +Hierafterward to mochel tene: +The love that is ous betuene, +Of that we nou such joie make, +That on of ous the deth schal take, +Whan time comth of destine; +It may non other wise be.” +Uluxes tho began to preie +That this figure wolde him seie 1550 +What wyht he is that seith him so. +This wyht upon a spere tho +A pensel which was wel begon, +Embrouded, scheweth him anon: +Thre fisshes alle of o colour +In manere as it were a tour +Upon the pensel were wroght. +Uluxes kneu this tokne noght, +And preith to wite in som partie +What thing it myhte signefie, 1560 +“A signe it is,” the wyht ansuerde, +“Of an Empire:” and forth he ferde +Al sodeinly, whan he that seide. + +Uluxes out of slep abreide, +And that was riht ayein the day, +That lengere slepen he ne may. +Men sein, a man hath knowleching +Save of himself of alle thing; +His oghne chance noman knoweth, +Bot as fortune it on him throweth: 1570 +Was nevere yit so wys a clerk, +Which mihte knowe al goddes werk, +Ne the secret which god hath set +Ayein a man mai noght be let. +Uluxes, thogh that he be wys, +With al his wit in his avis, +The mor that he his swevene acompteth, +The lasse he wot what it amonteth: +For al his calculacion, +He seth no demonstracion 1580 +Al pleinly forto knowe an ende; +Bot natheles hou so it wende, +He dradde him of his oghne Sone. +That makth him wel the more astone, +And schop therfore anon withal, +So that withinne castel wall +Thelamachum his Sone he schette, +And upon him strong warde he sette. +The sothe furthere he ne knew, +Til that fortune him overthreu; 1590 +Bot natheles for sikernesse, +Wher that he mihte wite and gesse +A place strengest in his lond, +Ther let he make of lym and sond +A strengthe where he wolde duelle; +Was nevere man yit herde telle +Of such an other as it was. +And forto strengthe him in that cas, +Of al his lond the sekereste +Of servantz and the worthieste, 1600 +To kepen him withinne warde, +He sette his bodi forto warde; +And made such an ordinance, +For love ne for aqueintance, +That were it erly, were it late, +Thei scholde lete in ate gate +No maner man, what so betydde, +Bot if so were himself it bidde. + +Bot al that myhte him noght availe, +For whom fortune wole assaile, 1610 +Ther mai be non such resistence, +Which mihte make a man defence; +Al that schal be mot falle algate. +This Circes, which I spak of late, +On whom Uluxes hath begete +A child, thogh he it have foryete, +Whan time com, as it was wone, +Sche was delivered of a Sone, +Which cleped is Thelogonus. +This child, whan he was bore thus, 1620 +Aboute his moder to ful age, +That he can reson and langage, +In good astat was drawe forth: +And whan he was so mochel worth +To stonden in a mannes stede, +Circes his moder hath him bede +That he schal to his fader go, +And tolde him al togedre tho +What man he was that him begat. +And whan Thelogonus of that 1630 +Was war and hath ful knowleching +Hou that his fader was a king, +He preith his moder faire this, +To go wher that his fader is; +And sche him granteth that he schal, +And made him redi forth withal. +It was that time such usance, +That every man the conoiscance +Of his contre bar in his hond, +Whan he wente into strange lond; 1640 +And thus was every man therfore +Wel knowe, wher that he was bore: +For espiaile and mistrowinges +They dede thanne suche thinges, +That every man mai other knowe. +So it befell that ilke throwe +Thelogonus as in this cas; +Of his contre the signe was +Thre fisshes, whiche he scholde bere +Upon the penon of a spere: 1650 +And whan that he was thus arraied +And hath his harneis al assaied, +That he was redy everydel, +His moder bad him farewel, +And seide him that he scholde swithe +His fader griete a thousand sithe. + +Thelogonus his moder kiste +And tok his leve, and wher he wiste +His fader was, the weie nam, +Til he unto Nachaie cam, 1660 +Which of that lond the chief Cite +Was cleped, and ther axeth he +Wher was the king and hou he ferde. +And whan that he the sothe herde, +Wher that the king Uluxes was, +Al one upon his hors gret pas +He rod him forth, and in his hond +He bar the signal of his lond +With fisshes thre, as I have told; +And thus he wente unto that hold, 1670 +Wher that his oghne fader duelleth. +The cause why he comth he telleth +Unto the kepers of the gate, +And wolde have comen in therate, +Bot schortli thei him seide nay: +And he als faire as evere he may +Besoghte and tolde hem ofte this, +Hou that the king his fader is; +Bot they with proude wordes grete +Begunne to manace and threte, 1680 +Bot he go fro the gate faste, +Thei wolde him take and sette faste. +Fro wordes unto strokes thus +Thei felle, and so Thelogonus +Was sore hurt and welnyh ded; +Bot with his scharpe speres hed +He makth defence, hou so it falle, +And wan the gate upon hem alle, +And hath slain of the beste fyve; +And thei ascriden als so blyve 1690 +Thurghout the castell al aboute. + +On every syde men come oute, +Wherof the kinges herte afflihte, +And he with al the haste he mihte +A spere cauhte and out he goth, +As he that was nyh wod for wroth. +He sih the gates ful of blod, +Thelogonus and wher he stod +He sih also, bot he ne knew +What man it was, and to him threw 1700 +His Spere, and he sterte out asyde. +Bot destine, which schal betide, +Befell that ilke time so, +Thelogonus knew nothing tho +What man it was that to him caste, +And while his oghne spere laste, +With al the signe therupon +He caste unto the king anon, +And smot him with a dedly wounde. +Uluxes fell anon to grounde; 1710 +Tho every man, “The king! the king!” +Began to crie, and of this thing +Thelogonus, which sih the cas, +On knes he fell and seide, “Helas! +I have min oghne fader slain: +Nou wolde I deie wonder fain, +Nou sle me who that evere wile, +For certes it is right good skile.” +He crith, he wepth, he seith therfore, +“Helas, that evere was I bore, 1720 +That this unhappi destine +So wofulli comth in be me!” +This king, which yit hath lif ynouh, +His herte ayein to him he drouh, +And to that vois an Ere he leide +And understod al that he seide, +And gan to speke, and seide on hih, +“Bring me this man.” And whan he sih +Thelogonus, his thoght he sette +Upon the swevene which he mette, 1730 +And axeth that he myhte se +His spere, on which the fisshes thre +He sih upon a pensel wroght. +Tho wiste he wel it faileth noght, +And badd him that he telle scholde +Fro whenne he cam and what he wolde. + +Thelogonus in sorghe and wo +So as he mihte tolde tho +Unto Uluxes al the cas, +Hou that Circes his moder was, 1740 +And so forth seide him everydel, +Hou that his moder gret him wel, +And in what wise sche him sente. +Tho wiste Uluxes what it mente, +And tok him in hise Armes softe, +And al bledende he kest him ofte, +And seide, “Sone, whil I live, +This infortune I thee foryive.” +After his other Sone in haste +He sende, and he began him haste 1750 +And cam unto his fader tyt. +Bot whan he sih him in such plit, +He wolde have ronne upon that other +Anon, and slain his oghne brother, +Ne hadde be that Uluxes +Betwen hem made acord and pes, +And to his heir Thelamachus +He bad that he Thelogonus +With al his pouer scholde kepe, +Til he were of his woundes depe 1760 +Al hol, and thanne he scholde him yive +Lond wher upon he mihte live. +Thelamachus, whan he this herde, +Unto his fader he ansuerde +And seide he wolde don his wille. +So duelle thei togedre stille, +These brethren, and the fader sterveth. + +Lo, wherof Sorcerie serveth. +Thurgh Sorcerie his lust he wan, +Thurgh Sorcerie his wo began, 1770 +Thurgh Sorcerie his love he ches, +Thurgh Sorcerie his lif he les; +The child was gete in Sorcerie, +The which dede al this felonie: +Thing which was ayein kynde wroght +Unkindeliche it was aboght; +The child his oghne fader slowh, +That was unkindeschipe ynowh. +Forthi tak hiede hou that it is, +So forto winne love amis, 1780 +Which endeth al his joie in wo: +For of this Art I finde also, +That hath be do for loves sake, +Wherof thou miht ensample take, +A gret Cronique imperial, +Which evere into memorial +Among the men, hou so it wende, +Schal duelle to the worldes ende. + +The hihe creatour of thinges, +Which is the king of alle kinges, 1790 +Ful many a wonder worldes chance +Let slyden under his suffrance; +Ther wot noman the cause why, +Bot he the which is almyhty. +And that was proved whilom thus, +Whan that the king Nectanabus, +Which hadde Egipte forto lede,— +Bot for he sih tofor the dede +Thurgh magique of his Sorcerie, +Wherof he couthe a gret partie, 1800 +Hise enemys to him comende, +Fro whom he mihte him noght defende, +Out of his oghne lond he fledde; +And in the wise as he him dredde +It fell, for al his wicchecraft, +So that Egipte him was beraft, +And he desguised fledde aweie +Be schipe, and hield the rihte weie +To Macedoine, wher that he +Aryveth ate chief Cite. 1810 +Thre yomen of his chambre there +Al only forto serve him were, +The whiche he trusteth wonder wel, +For thei were trewe as eny stiel; +And hapneth that thei with him ladde +Part of the beste good he hadde. +Thei take logginge in the toun +After the disposicion +Wher as him thoghte best to duelle: +He axeth thanne and herde telle 1820 +Hou that the king was oute go. +Upon a werre he hadde tho; +But in that Cite thanne was +The queene, which Olimpias +Was hote, and with sollempnete +The feste of hir nativite, +As it befell, was thanne holde; +And for hire list to be beholde +And preised of the poeple aboute, +Sche schop hir forto riden oute 1830 +At after mete al openly. +Anon were alle men redy, +And that was in the monthe of Maii, +This lusti queene in good arrai +Was set upon a Mule whyt: +To sen it was a gret delit +The joie that the cite made; +With freisshe thinges and with glade +The noble toun was al behonged, +And every wiht was sore alonged 1840 +To se this lusti ladi ryde. +Ther was gret merthe on alle syde; +Wher as sche passeth be the strete, +Ther was ful many a tymber bete +And many a maide carolende: +And thus thurghout the toun pleiende +This queene unto a pleine rod, +Wher that sche hoved and abod +To se diverse game pleie, +The lusti folk jouste and tourneie; 1850 +And so forth every other man, +Which pleie couthe, his pley began, +To plese with this noble queene. + +Nectanabus cam to the grene +Amonges othre and drouh him nyh. +Bot whan that he this ladi sih +And of hir beaute hiede tok, +He couthe noght withdrawe his lok +To se noght elles in the field, +Bot stod and only hire behield. 1860 +Of his clothinge and of his gere +He was unlich alle othre there, +So that it hapneth ate laste, +The queene on him hire yhe caste, +And knew that he was strange anon: +Bot he behield hire evere in on +Withoute blenchinge of his chere. +Sche tok good hiede of his manere, +And wondreth why he dede so, +And bad men scholde for him go. 1870 +He cam and dede hire reverence, +And sche him axeth in cilence +For whenne he cam and what he wolde. +And he with sobre wordes tolde, +And seith, “Ma dame, a clerk I am, +To you and in message I cam, +The which I mai noght tellen hiere; +Bot if it liketh you to hiere, +It mot be seid al prively, +Wher non schal be bot ye and I.” 1880 +Thus for the time he tok his leve. +The dai goth forth til it was eve, +That every man mot lete his werk; +And sche thoghte evere upon this clerk, +What thing it is he wolde mene: +And in this wise abod the queene, +And passeth over thilke nyht, +Til it was on the morwe liht. +Sche sende for him, and he com, +With him his Astellabre he nom, 1890 +Which was of fin gold precious +With pointz and cercles merveilous; +And ek the hevenely figures +Wroght in a bok ful of peintures +He tok this ladi forto schewe, +And tolde of ech of hem be rewe +The cours and the condicion. +And sche with gret affeccion +Sat stille and herde what he wolde: +And thus whan he sih time, he tolde, 1900 +And feigneth with hise wordes wise +A tale, and seith in such a wise: + +“Ma dame, bot a while ago, +Wher I was in Egipte tho, +And radde in scole of this science, +It fell into mi conscience +That I unto the temple wente, +And ther with al myn hole entente +As I mi sacrifice dede, +On of the goddes hath me bede 1910 +That I you warne prively, +So that ye make you redy, +And that ye be nothing agast; +For he such love hath to you cast, +That ye schul ben his oghne diere, +And he schal be your beddefiere, +Til ye conceive and be with childe.” +And with that word sche wax al mylde, +And somdel red becam for schame, +And axeth him that goddes name, 1920 +Which so wol don hire compainie. +And he seide, “Amos of Lubie.” +And sche seith, “That mai I noght lieve, +Bot if I sihe a betre prieve.” +“Ma dame,” quod Nectanabus, +“In tokne that it schal be thus, +This nyht for enformacion +Ye schul have an avision: +That Amos schal to you appiere, +To schewe and teche in what manere 1930 +The thing schal afterward befalle. +Ye oghten wel above alle +To make joie of such a lord; +For whan ye ben of on acord, +He schal a Sone of you begete, +Which with his swerd schal winne and gete +The wyde world in lengthe and brede; +Alle erthli kinges schull him drede, +And in such wise, I you behote, +The god of erthe he schal be hote.” 1940 +“If this be soth,” tho quod the queene, +“This nyht, thou seist, it schal be sene. +And if it falle into mi grace, +Of god Amos, that I pourchace +To take of him so gret worschipe, +I wol do thee such ladischipe, +Wherof thou schalt for everemo +Be riche.” And he hir thonketh tho, +And tok his leve and forth he wente. +Sche wiste litel what he mente, 1950 +For it was guile and Sorcerie, +Al that sche tok for Prophecie. + +Nectanabus thurghout the day, +Whan he cam hom wher as he lay, +His chambre be himselve tok, +And overtorneth many a bok, +And thurgh the craft of Artemage +Of wex he forgeth an ymage. +He loketh his equacions +And ek the constellacions, 1960 +He loketh the conjunccions, +He loketh the recepcions, +His signe, his houre, his ascendent, +And drawth fortune of his assent: +The name of queene Olimpias +In thilke ymage write was +Amiddes in the front above. +And thus to winne his lust of love +Nectanabus this werk hath diht; +And whan it cam withinne nyht, 1970 +That every wyht is falle aslepe, +He thoghte he wolde his time kepe, +As he which hath his houre apointed. +And thanne ferst he hath enoignted +With sondri herbes that figure, +And therupon he gan conjure, +So that thurgh his enchantement +This ladi, which was innocent +And wiste nothing of this guile, +Mette, as sche slepte thilke while, 1980 +Hou fro the hevene cam a lyht, +Which al hir chambre made lyht; +And as sche loketh to and fro, +Sche sih, hir thoghte, a dragoun tho, +Whos scherdes schynen as the Sonne, +And hath his softe pas begonne +With al the chiere that he may +Toward the bedd ther as sche lay, +Til he cam to the beddes side. +And sche lai stille and nothing cride, 1990 +For he dede alle his thinges faire +And was courteis and debonaire: +And as he stod hire fasteby, +His forme he changeth sodeinly, +And the figure of man he nom, +To hire and into bedde he com, +And such thing there of love he wroghte, +Wherof, so as hire thanne thoghte, +Thurgh likinge of this god Amos +With childe anon hire wombe aros, 2000 +And sche was wonder glad withal. +Nectanabus, which causeth al +Of this metrede the substance, +Whan he sih time, his nigromance +He stinte and nothing more seide +Of his carecte, and sche abreide +Out of hir slep, and lieveth wel +That it is soth thanne everydel +Of that this clerk hire hadde told, +And was the gladdere manyfold 2010 +In hope of such a glad metrede, +Which after schal befalle in dede. + +Sche longeth sore after the dai, +That sche hir swevene telle mai +To this guilour in privete, +Which kneu it als so wel as sche: +And natheles on morwe sone +Sche lefte alle other thing to done, +And for him sende, and al the cas +Sche tolde him pleinly as it was, 2020 +And seide hou thanne wel sche wiste +That sche his wordes mihte triste, +For sche fond hire Avisioun +Riht after the condicion +Which he hire hadde told tofore; +And preide him hertely therfore +That he hire holde covenant +So forth of al the remenant, +That sche may thurgh his ordinance +Toward the god do such plesance, 2030 +That sche wakende myhte him kepe +In such wise as sche mette aslepe. +And he, that couthe of guile ynouh, +Whan he this herde, of joie he louh, +And seith, “Ma dame, it schal be do. +Bot this I warne you therto: +This nyht, whan that he comth to pleie, +That ther be no lif in the weie +Bot I, that schal at his likinge +Ordeine so for his cominge, 2040 +That ye ne schull noght of him faile. +For this, ma dame, I you consaile, +That ye it kepe so prive, +That no wiht elles bot we thre +Have knowlechinge hou that it is; +For elles mihte it fare amis, +If ye dede oght that scholde him grieve.” +And thus he makth hire to believe, +And feigneth under guile feith: +Bot natheles al that he seith 2050 +Sche troweth; and ayein the nyht +Sche hath withinne hire chambre dyht, +Wher as this guilour faste by +Upon this god schal prively +Awaite, as he makth hire to wene: +And thus this noble gentil queene, +Whan sche most trusteth, was deceived. + +The nyht com, and the chambre is weyved, +Nectanabus hath take his place, +And whan he sih the time and space, 2060 +Thurgh the deceipte of his magique +He putte him out of mannes like, +And of a dragoun tok the forme, +As he which wolde him al conforme +To that sche sih in swevene er this; +And thus to chambre come he is. +The queene lay abedde and sih, +And hopeth evere, as he com nyh, +That he god of Lubye were, +So hath sche wel the lasse fere. 2070 +Bot for he wolde hire more assure, +Yit eft he changeth his figure, +And of a wether the liknesse +He tok, in signe of his noblesse +With large hornes for the nones: +Of fin gold and of riche stones +A corone on his hed he bar, +And soudeinly, er sche was war, +As he which alle guile can, +His forme he torneth into man, 2080 +And cam to bedde, and sche lai stille, +Wher as sche soffreth al his wille, +As sche which wende noght misdo. +Bot natheles it hapneth so, +Althogh sche were in part deceived, +Yit for al that sche hath conceived +The worthieste of alle kiththe, +Which evere was tofore or siththe +Of conqueste and chivalerie; +So that thurgh guile and Sorcerie 2090 +Ther was that noble knyht begunne, +Which al the world hath after wunne. +Thus fell the thing which falle scholde, +Nectanabus hath that he wolde; +With guile he hath his love sped, +With guile he cam into the bed, +With guile he goth him out ayein: +He was a schrewed chamberlein, +So to beguile a worthi queene, +And that on him was after seene. 2100 +Bot natheles the thing is do; +This false god was sone go, +With his deceipte and hield him clos, +Til morwe cam, that he aros. + +And tho, whan time and leisir was, +The queene tolde him al the cas, +As sche that guile non supposeth; +And of tuo pointz sche him opposeth. +On was, if that this god nomore +Wol come ayein, and overmore, 2110 +Hou sche schal stonden in acord +With king Philippe hire oghne lord, +Whan he comth hom and seth hire grone. +“Ma dame,” he seith, “let me alone: +As for the god I undertake +That whan it liketh you to take +His compaignie at eny throwe, +If I a day tofore it knowe, +He schal be with you on the nyht; +And he is wel of such a myht 2120 +To kepe you from alle blame. +Forthi conforte you, ma dame, +Ther schal non other cause be.” +Thus tok he leve and forth goth he, +And tho began he forto muse +Hou he the queene mihte excuse +Toward the king of that is falle; +And fond a craft amonges alle, +Thurgh which he hath a See foul daunted, +With his magique and so enchaunted, 2130 +That he flyh forth, whan it was nyht, +Unto the kinges tente riht, +Wher that he lay amidde his host: +And whanne he was aslepe most, +With that the See foul to him broghte +And othre charmes, whiche he wroghte +At hom withinne his chambre stille, +The king he torneth at his wille, +And makth him forto dreme and se +The dragoun and the privete 2140 +Which was betuen him and the queene. +And over that he made him wene +In swevene, hou that the god Amos, +Whan he up fro the queene aros, +Tok forth a ring, wherinne a ston +Was set, and grave therupon +A Sonne, in which, whan he cam nyh, +A leoun with a swerd he sih; +And with that priente, as he tho mette, +Upon the queenes wombe he sette 2150 +A Seal, and goth him forth his weie. +With that the swevene wente aweie, +And tho began the king awake +And sigheth for his wyves sake, +Wher as he lay withinne his tente, +And hath gret wonder what it mente. + +With that he hasteth him to ryse +Anon, and sende after the wise, +Among the whiche ther was on, +A clerc, his name is Amphion: 2160 +Whan he the kinges swevene herde, +What it betokneth he ansuerde, +And seith, “So siker as the lif, +A god hath leie be thi wif, +And gete a Sone, which schal winne +The world and al that is withinne. +As leon is the king of bestes, +So schal the world obeie his hestes, +Which with his swerd schal al be wonne, +Als ferr as schyneth eny Sonne.” 2170 + +The king was doubtif of this dom; +Bot natheles, whan that he com +Ayein into his oghne lond, +His wif with childe gret he fond. +He mihte noght himselve stiere, +That he ne made hire hevy chiere; +Bot he which couthe of alle sorwe, +Nectanabus, upon the morwe +Thurgh the deceipte and nigromance +Tok of a dragoun the semblance, 2180 +And wher the king sat in his halle, +Com in rampende among hem alle +With such a noise and such a rore, +That thei agast were also sore +As thogh thei scholde deie anon. +And natheles he grieveth non, +Bot goth toward the deyss on hih; +And whan he cam the queene nyh, +He stinte his noise, and in his wise +To hire he profreth his servise, 2190 +And leith his hed upon hire barm; +And sche with goodly chiere hire arm +Aboute his necke ayeinward leide, +And thus the queene with him pleide +In sihte of alle men aboute. +And ate laste he gan to loute +And obeissance unto hire make, +As he that wolde his leve take; +And sodeinly his lothly forme +Into an Egle he gan transforme, 2200 +And flyh and sette him on a raile; +Wherof the king hath gret mervaile, +For there he pruneth him and piketh, +As doth an hauk whan him wel liketh, +And after that himself he schok, +Wherof that al the halle quok, +As it a terremote were; +Thei seiden alle, god was there: +In such a res and forth he flyh. + +The king, which al this wonder syh, 2210 +Whan he cam to his chambre alone, +Unto the queene he made his mone +And of foryivenesse hir preide; +For thanne he knew wel, as he seide, +Sche was with childe with a godd. +Thus was the king withoute rodd +Chastised, and the queene excused +Of that sche hadde ben accused. +And for the gretere evidence, +Yit after that in the presence 2220 +Of king Philipp and othre mo, +Whan thei ride in the fieldes tho, +A Phesant cam before here yhe, +The which anon as thei hire syhe, +Fleende let an ey doun falle, +And it tobrak tofore hem alle: +And as thei token therof kepe, +Thei syhe out of the schelle crepe +A litel Serpent on the ground, +Which rampeth al aboute round, 2230 +And in ayein it wolde have wonne, +Bot for the brennynge of the Sonne +It mihte noght, and so it deide. +And therupon the clerkes seide, +“As the Serpent, whan it was oute, +Went enviroun the schelle aboute +And mihte noght torne in ayein, +So schal it fallen in certein: +This child the world schal environe, +And above alle the corone 2240 +Him schal befalle, and in yong Age +He schal desire in his corage, +Whan al the world is in his hond, +To torn ayein into the lond +Wher he was bore, and in his weie +Homward he schal with puison deie.” + +The king, which al this sih and herde, +Fro that dai forth, hou so it ferde, +His jalousie hath al foryete. +Bot he which hath the child begete, 2250 +Nectanabus, in privete +The time of his nativite +Upon the constellacioun +Awaiteth, and relacion +Makth to the queene hou sche schal do, +And every houre apointeth so, +That no mynut therof was lore. +So that in due time is bore +This child, and forth with therupon +Ther felle wondres many on 2260 +Of terremote universiel: +The Sonne tok colour of stiel +And loste his lyht, the wyndes blewe, +And manye strengthes overthrewe; +The See his propre kinde changeth, +And al the world his forme strangeth; +The thonder with his fyri levene +So cruel was upon the hevene, +That every erthli creature +Tho thoghte his lif in aventure. 2270 +The tempeste ate laste cesseth, +The child is kept, his age encresseth, +And Alisandre his name is hote, +To whom Calistre and Aristote +To techen him Philosophie +Entenden, and Astronomie, +With othre thinges whiche he couthe +Also, to teche him in his youthe +Nectanabus tok upon honde. + +Bot every man mai understonde, 2280 +Of Sorcerie hou that it wende, +It wole himselve prove at ende, +And namely forto beguile +A lady, which withoute guile +Supposeth trouthe al that sche hiereth: +Bot often he that evele stiereth +His Schip is dreynt therinne amidde; +And in this cas riht so betidde. +Nectanabus upon a nyht, +Whan it was fair and sterre lyht, 2290 +This yonge lord ladde up on hih +Above a tour, wher as he sih +Thee sterres such as he acompteth, +And seith what ech of hem amonteth, +As thogh he knewe of alle thing; +Bot yit hath he no knowleching +What schal unto himself befalle. +Whan he hath told his wordes alle, +This yonge lord thanne him opposeth, +And axeth if that he supposeth 2300 +What deth he schal himselve deie. +He seith, “Or fortune is aweie +And every sterre hath lost his wone, +Or elles of myn oghne Sone +I schal be slain, I mai noght fle.” +Thoghte Alisandre in privete, +“Hierof this olde dotard lieth”: +And er that other oght aspieth, +Al sodeinliche his olde bones +He schof over the wal at ones, 2310 +And seith him, “Ly doun there apart: +Wherof nou serveth al thin art? +Thou knewe alle othre mennes chance +And of thiself hast ignorance: +That thou hast seid amonges alle +Of thi persone, is noght befalle.” + +Nectanabus, which hath his deth, +Yit while him lasteth lif and breth, +To Alisandre he spak and seide +That he with wrong blame on him leide 2320 +Fro point to point and al the cas +He tolde, hou he his Sone was. +Tho he, which sory was ynowh, +Out of the dich his fader drouh, +And tolde his moder hou it ferde +In conseil; and whan sche it herde +And kneu the toknes whiche he tolde, +Sche nyste what sche seie scholde, +Bot stod abayssht as for the while +Of his magique and al the guile. 2330 +Sche thoghte hou that sche was deceived, +That sche hath of a man conceived, +And wende a god it hadde be. +Bot natheles in such degre, +So as sche mihte hire honour save, +Sche schop the body was begrave. + +And thus Nectanabus aboghte +The Sorcerie which he wroghte: +Thogh he upon the creatures +Thurgh his carectes and figures 2340 +The maistrie and the pouer hadde, +His creatour to noght him ladde, +Ayein whos lawe his craft he useth, +Whan he for lust his god refuseth, +And tok him to the dieules craft. +Lo, what profit him is belaft: +That thing thurgh which he wende have stonde, +Ferst him exilede out of londe +Which was his oghne, and from a king +Made him to ben an underling; 2350 +And siththen to deceive a queene, +That torneth him to mochel teene; +Thurgh lust of love he gat him hate, +That ende couthe he noght abate. +His olde sleyhtes whiche he caste, +Yonge Alisaundre hem overcaste, +His fader, which him misbegat, +He slouh, a gret mishap was that; +Bot for o mis an other mys +Was yolde, and so fulofte it is; 2360 +Nectanabus his craft miswente, +So it misfell him er he wente. +I not what helpeth that clergie +Which makth a man to do folie, +And nameliche of nigromance, +Which stant upon the mescreance. + +And forto se more evidence, +Zorastes, which thexperience +Of Art magique ferst forth drouh, +Anon as he was bore, he louh, 2370 +Which tokne was of wo suinge: +For of his oghne controvinge +He fond magique and tauhte it forth; +Bot al that was him litel worth, +For of Surrie a worthi king +Him slou, and that was his endyng. +Bot yit thurgh him this craft is used, +And he thurgh al the world accused, +For it schal nevere wel achieve +That stant noght riht with the believe: 2380 +Bot lich to wolle is evele sponne, +Who lest himself hath litel wonne, +An ende proveth every thing. +Saul, which was of Juys king, +Up peine of deth forbad this art, +And yit he tok therof his part. +The Phitonesse in Samarie +Yaf him conseil be Sorcerie, +Which after fell to mochel sorwe, +For he was slain upon the morwe. 2390 + +To conne moche thing it helpeth, +Bot of to mochel noman yelpeth: +So forto loke on every side, +Magique mai noght wel betyde. +Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede +That thou of these ensamples drede, +That for no lust of erthli love +Thou seche so to come above, +Wherof as in the worldes wonder +Thou schalt for evere be put under. 2400 + +Mi goode fader, grant mercy, +For evere I schal be war therby: +Of love what me so befalle, +Such Sorcerie aboven alle +Fro this dai forth I schal eschuie, +That so ne wol I noght poursuie +Mi lust of love forto seche. +Bot this I wolde you beseche, +Beside that me stant of love, +As I you herde speke above 2410 +Hou Alisandre was betawht +To Aristotle, and so wel tawht +Of al that to a king belongeth, +Wherof min herte sore longeth +To wite what it wolde mene. +For be reson I wolde wene +That if I herde of thinges strange, +Yit for a time it scholde change +Mi peine, and lisse me somdiel. + +Mi goode Sone, thou seist wel. 2420 +For wisdom, hou that evere it stonde, +To him that can it understonde +Doth gret profit in sondri wise; +Bot touchende of so hih aprise, +Which is noght unto Venus knowe, +I mai it noght miselve knowe, +Which of hir court am al forthdrawe +And can nothing bot of hir lawe. +Bot natheles to knowe more +Als wel as thou me longeth sore; 2430 +And for it helpeth to comune, +Al ben thei noght to me comune, +The scoles of Philosophie, +Yit thenke I forto specefie, +In boke as it is comprehended, +Wherof thou mihtest ben amended. +For thogh I be noght al cunnynge +Upon the forme of this wrytynge, +Som part therof yit have I herd, +In this matiere hou it hath ferd. 2440 + +Explicit Liber Sextus + + + + +Incipit Liber Septimus. + + +_Omnibus in causis sapiens doctrina salutem + Consequitur, nec habet quis nisi doctus opem. +Naturam superat doctrina, viro quod et ortus + Ingenii docilis non dedit, ipsa dabit. +Non ita discretus hominum per climata regnat, + Quin magis ut sapiat, indiget ipse schole._ + +I Genius the prest of love, +Mi Sone, as thou hast preid above +That I the Scole schal declare +Of Aristotle and ek the fare +Of Alisandre, hou he was tauht, +I am somdel therof destrauht; +For it is noght to the matiere +Of love, why we sitten hiere +To schryve, so as Venus bad. +Bot natheles, for it is glad, 10 +So as thou seist, for thin aprise +To hiere of suche thinges wise, +Wherof thou myht the time lisse, +So as I can, I schal the wisse: +For wisdom is at every throwe +Above alle other thing to knowe +In loves cause and elleswhere. +Forthi, my Sone, unto thin Ere, +Though it be noght in the registre +Of Venus, yit of that Calistre 20 +And Aristotle whylom write +To Alisandre, thou schalt wite. + +Bot for the lores ben diverse, +I thenke ferst to the reherce +The nature of Philosophie, +Which Aristotle of his clergie, +Wys and expert in the sciences, +Declareth thilke intelligences, +As of thre pointz in principal. + +Wherof the ferste in special 30 +Is Theorique, which is grounded +On him which al the world hath founded, +Which comprehendeth al the lore. + +And forto loken overmore, +Next of sciences the seconde +Is Rethorique, whos faconde +Above alle othre is eloquent: +To telle a tale in juggement +So wel can noman speke as he. + +The laste science of the thre 40 +It is Practique, whos office +The vertu tryeth fro the vice, +And techeth upon goode thewes +To fle the compaignie of schrewes, +Which stant in disposicion +Of mannes free eleccion. +Practique enformeth ek the reule, +Hou that a worthi king schal reule +His Realme bothe in werre and pes. + +Lo, thus danz Aristotiles 50 +These thre sciences hath divided +And the nature also decided, +Wherof that ech of hem schal serve. + +The ferste, which is the conserve +And kepere of the remnant, +As that which is most sufficant +And chief of the Philosophie, +If I therof schal specefie +So as the Philosophre tolde, +Nou herkne, and kep that thou it holde. 60 + +Of Theorique principal +The Philosophre in special +The propretees hath determined, +As thilke which is enlumined +Of wisdom and of hih prudence +Above alle othre in his science: +And stant departed upon thre, +The ferste of which in his degre +Is cleped in Philosophie +The science of Theologie, 70 +That other named is Phisique, +The thridde is seid Mathematique. + +Theologie is that science +Which unto man yifth evidence +Of thing which is noght bodely, +Wherof men knowe redely +The hihe almyhti Trinite, +Which is o god in unite +Withouten ende and beginnynge +And creatour of alle thinge, 80 +Of hevene, of erthe and ek of helle. +Wherof, as olde bokes telle, +The Philosophre in his resoun +Wrot upon this conclusioun, +And of his wrytinge in a clause +He clepeth god the ferste cause, +Which of himself is thilke good, +Withoute whom nothing is good, +Of which that every creature +Hath his beinge and his nature. 90 +After the beinge of the thinges +Ther ben thre formes of beinges: +Thing which began and ende schal, +That thing is cleped temporal; +Ther is also be other weie +Thing which began and schal noght deie. +As Soules, that ben spiritiel, +Here beinge is perpetuel: +Bot ther is on above the Sonne, +Whos time nevere was begonne, 100 +And endeles schal evere be; +That is the god, whos mageste +Alle othre thinges schal governe, +And his beinge is sempiterne. +The god, to whom that al honour +Belongeth, he is creatour, +And othre ben hise creatures: +The god commandeth the natures +That thei to him obeien alle; +Withouten him, what so befalle, 110 +Her myht is non, and he mai al: +The god was evere and evere schal, +And thei begonne of his assent; +The times alle be present +To god, to hem and alle unknowe, +Bot what him liketh that thei knowe: +Thus bothe an angel and a man, +The whiche of al that god began +Be chief, obeien goddes myht, +And he stant endeles upriht. 120 +To this science ben prive +The clerkes of divinite, +The whiche unto the poeple prechen +The feith of holi cherche and techen, +Which in som cas upon believe +Stant more than thei conne prieve +Be weie of Argument sensible: +Bot natheles it is credible, +And doth a man gret meede have, +To him that thenkth himself to save. 130 +Theologie in such a wise +Of hih science and hih aprise +Above alle othre stant unlike, +And is the ferste of Theorique. + +Phisique is after the secounde, +Thurgh which the Philosophre hath founde +To techen sondri knowlechinges +Upon the bodiliche thinges. +Of man, of beste, of herbe, of ston, +Of fissch, of foughl, of everychon 140 +That ben of bodely substance, +The nature and the circumstance +Thurgh this science it is ful soght, +Which vaileth and which vaileth noght. + +The thridde point of Theorique, +Which cleped is Mathematique, +Devided is in sondri wise +And stant upon diverse aprise. +The ferste of whiche is Arsmetique, +And the secounde is seid Musique, 150 +The thridde is ek Geometrie, +Also the ferthe Astronomie. + +Of Arsmetique the matiere +Is that of which a man mai liere +What Algorisme in nombre amonteth, +Whan that the wise man acompteth +After the formel proprete +Of Algorismes Abece: +Be which multiplicacioun +Is mad and diminucioun 160 +Of sommes be thexperience +Of this Art and of this science. + +The seconde of Mathematique, +Which is the science of Musique, +That techeth upon Armonie +A man to make melodie +Be vois and soun of instrument +Thurgh notes of acordement, +The whiche men pronounce alofte, +Nou scharpe notes and nou softe, 170 +Nou hihe notes and nou lowe, +As be the gamme a man mai knowe, +Which techeth the prolacion +Of note and the condicion. + +Mathematique of his science +Hath yit the thridde intelligence +Full of wisdom and of clergie +And cleped is Geometrie, +Thurgh which a man hath thilke sleyhte, +Of lengthe, of brede, of depthe, of heyhte 180 +To knowe the proporcion +Be verrai calculacion +Of this science: and in this wise +These olde Philosophres wise, +Of al this worldes erthe round, +Hou large, hou thikke was the ground, +Controeveden thexperience; +The cercle and the circumference +Of every thing unto the hevene +Thei setten point and mesure evene. 190 + +Mathematique above therthe +Of hyh science hath yit the ferthe, +Which spekth upon Astronomie +And techeth of the sterres hihe, +Beginnynge upward fro the mone. +Bot ferst, as it was forto done, +This Aristotle in other thing +Unto this worthi yonge king +The kinde of every element +Which stant under the firmament, 200 +Hou it is mad and in what wise, +Fro point to point he gan devise. + +Tofore the creacion +Of eny worldes stacion, +Of hevene, of erthe, or eke of helle, +So as these olde bokes telle, +As soun tofore the song is set +And yit thei ben togedre knet, +Riht so the hihe pourveance +Tho hadde under his ordinance 210 +A gret substance, a gret matiere, +Of which he wolde in his manere +These othre thinges make and forme. +For yit withouten eny forme +Was that matiere universal, +Which hihte Ylem in special. +Of Ylem, as I am enformed, +These elementz ben mad and formed, +Of Ylem elementz they hote +After the Scole of Aristote, 220 +Of whiche if more I schal reherce, +Foure elementz ther ben diverse. + +The ferste of hem men erthe calle, +Which is the lowest of hem alle, +And in his forme is schape round, +Substancial, strong, sadd and sound, +As that which mad is sufficant +To bere up al the remenant. +For as the point in a compas +Stant evene amiddes, riht so was 230 +This erthe set and schal abyde, +That it may swerve to no side, +And hath his centre after the lawe +Of kinde, and to that centre drawe +Desireth every worldes thing, +If ther ne were no lettyng. + +Above therthe kepth his bounde +The water, which is the secounde +Of elementz, and al withoute +It environeth therthe aboute. 240 +Bot as it scheweth, noght forthi +This soubtil water myhtely, +Thogh it be of himselve softe, +The strengthe of therthe perceth ofte; +For riht as veines ben of blod +In man, riht so the water flod +Therthe of his cours makth ful of veines, +Als wel the helles as the pleines. +And that a man may sen at ije, +For wher the hulles ben most hyhe, 250 +Ther mai men welle stremes finde: +So proveth it be weie of kinde +The water heyher than the lond. + +And over this nou understond, +Air is the thridde of elementz, +Of whos kinde his aspirementz +Takth every lifissh creature, +The which schal upon erthe endure: +For as the fissh, if it be dreie, +Mot in defaute of water deie, 260 +Riht so withouten Air on lyve +No man ne beste myhte thryve, +The which is mad of fleissh and bon; +There is outake of alle non. + +This Air in Periferies thre +Divided is of such degre, +Benethe is on and on amidde, +To whiche above is set the thridde: +And upon the divisions +There ben diverse impressions 270 +Of moist and ek of drye also, +Whiche of the Sonne bothe tuo +Ben drawe and haled upon hy, +And maken cloudes in the Sky, +As schewed is at mannes sihte; +Wherof be day and ek be nyhte +After the times of the yer +Among ous upon Erthe her +In sondri wise thinges falle. + +The ferste Periferie of alle 280 +Engendreth Myst and overmore +The dewes and the Frostes hore, +After thilke intersticion +In which thei take impression. + +Fro the seconde, as bokes sein, +The moiste dropes of the reyn +Descenden into Middilerthe, +And tempreth it to sed and Erthe, +And doth to springe grass and flour. +And ofte also the grete schour 290 +Out of such place it mai be take, +That it the forme schal forsake +Of reyn, and into snow be torned; +And ek it mai be so sojorned +In sondri places up alofte, +That into hail it torneth ofte. + +The thridde of thair after the lawe +Thurgh such matiere as up is drawe +Of dreie thing, as it is ofte, +Among the cloudes upon lofte, 300 +And is so clos, it may noght oute,— +Thanne is it chased sore aboute, +Til it to fyr and leyt be falle, +And thanne it brekth the cloudes alle, +The whiche of so gret noyse craken, +That thei the feerful thonder maken. +The thonderstrok smit er it leyte, +And yit men sen the fyr and leyte, +The thonderstrok er that men hiere: +So mai it wel be proeved hiere 310 +In thing which schewed is fro feer, +A mannes yhe is there nerr +Thanne is the soun to mannes Ere. +And natheles it is gret feere +Bothe of the strok and of the fyr, +Of which is no recoverir +In place wher that thei descende, +Bot if god wolde his grace sende. + +And forto speken over this, +In this partie of thair it is 320 +That men fulofte sen be nyhte +The fyr in sondri forme alyhte. +Somtime the fyrdrake it semeth, +And so the lewed poeple it demeth; +Somtime it semeth as it were +A Sterre, which that glydeth there: +Bot it is nouther of the tuo, +The Philosophre telleth so, +And seith that of impressions +Thurgh diverse exalacions 330 +Upon the cause and the matiere +Men sen diverse forme appiere +Of fyr, the which hath sondri name. + +Assub, he seith, is thilke same, +The which in sondry place is founde, +Whanne it is falle doun to grounde, +So as the fyr it hath aneled, +Lich unto slym which is congeled. + +Of exalacion I finde +Fyr kinled of the fame kinde, 340 +Bot it is of an other forme; +Wherof, if that I schal conforme +The figure unto that it is, +These olde clerkes tellen this, +That it is lik a Got skippende, +And for that it is such semende, +It hatte Capra saliens. + +And ek these Astronomiens +An other fyr also, be nyhte +Which scheweth him to mannes syhte, 350 +Thei clepen Eges, the which brenneth +Lik to the corrant fyr that renneth +Upon a corde, as thou hast sein, +Whan it with poudre is so besein +Of Sulphre and othre thinges mo. + +Ther is an other fyr also, +Which semeth to a mannes yhe +Be nyhtes time as thogh ther flyhe +A dragon brennende in the Sky, +And that is cleped proprely 360 +Daaly, wherof men sein fulofte, +“Lo, wher the fyri drake alofte +Fleth up in thair!” and so thei demen. +Bot why the fyres suche semen +Of sondri formes to beholde, +The wise Philosophre tolde, +So as tofore it hath ben herd. + +Lo thus, my Sone, hou it hath ferd: +Of Air the due proprete +In sondri wise thou myht se, 370 +And hou under the firmament +It is ek the thridde element, +Which environeth bothe tuo, +The water and the lond also. + +And forto tellen overthis +Of elementz which the ferthe is, +That is the fyr in his degre, +Which environeth thother thre +And is withoute moist al drye. +Bot lest nou what seith the clergie; 380 +For upon hem that I have seid +The creatour hath set and leid +The kinde and the complexion +Of alle mennes nacion. +Foure elementz sondri ther be, +Lich unto whiche of that degre +Among the men ther ben also +Complexions foure and nomo, +Wherof the Philosophre treteth, +That he nothing behinde leteth, 390 +And seith hou that thei ben diverse, +So as I schal to thee reherse. + +He which natureth every kinde, +The myhti god, so as I finde, +Of man, which is his creature, +Hath so devided the nature, +That non til other wel acordeth: +And be the cause it so discordeth, +The lif which fieleth the seknesse +Mai stonde upon no sekernesse. 400 + +Of therthe, which is cold and drye, +The kinde of man Malencolie +Is cleped, and that is the ferste, +The most ungoodlich and the werste; +For unto loves werk on nyht +Him lacketh bothe will and myht: +No wonder is, in lusty place +Of love though he lese grace. +What man hath that complexion, +Full of ymaginacion 410 +Of dredes and of wrathful thoghtes, +He fret himselven al to noghtes. + +The water, which is moyste and cold, +Makth fleume, which is manyfold +Foryetel, slou and wery sone +Of every thing which is to done: +He is of kinde sufficant +To holde love his covenant, +Bot that him lacketh appetit, +Which longeth unto such delit. 420 + +What man that takth his kinde of thair, +He schal be lyht, he schal be fair, +For his complexion is blood. +Of alle ther is non so good, +For he hath bothe will and myht +To plese and paie love his riht: +Wher as he hath love undertake, +Wrong is if that he be forsake. + +The fyr of his condicion +Appropreth the complexion 430 +Which in a man is Colre hote, +Whos propretes ben dreie and hote: +It makth a man ben enginous +And swift of fote and ek irous; +Of contek and folhastifnesse +He hath a riht gret besinesse, +To thenke of love and litel may: +Though he behote wel a day, +On nyht whan that he wole assaie, +He may ful evele his dette paie. 440 + +After the kinde of thelement, +Thus stant a mannes kinde went, +As touchende his complexion, +Upon sondri division +Of dreie, of moiste, of chele, of hete, +And ech of hem his oghne sete +Appropred hath withinne a man. +And ferst to telle as I began, + +The Splen is to Malencolie +Assigned for herbergerie: 450 + +The moiste fleume with his cold +Hath in the lunges for his hold +Ordeined him a propre stede, +To duelle ther as he is bede: + +To the Sanguin complexion +Nature of hire inspeccion +A propre hous hath in the livere +For his duellinge mad delivere: + +The dreie Colre with his hete +Be weie of kinde his propre sete 460 +Hath in the galle, wher he duelleth, +So as the Philosophre telleth. + +Nou over this is forto wite, +As it is in Phisique write +Of livere, of lunge, of galle, of splen, +Thei alle unto the herte ben +Servantz, and ech in his office +Entendeth to don him service, +As he which is chief lord above. +The livere makth him forto love, 470 +The lunge yifth him weie of speche, +The galle serveth to do wreche, +The Splen doth him to lawhe and pleie, +Whan al unclennesse is aweie: +Lo, thus hath ech of hem his dede. +And to sustienen hem and fede +In time of recreacion, +Nature hath in creacion +The Stomach for a comun Coc +Ordeined, so as seith the boc. 480 +The Stomach coc is for the halle, +And builleth mete for hem alle, +To make hem myghty forto serve +The herte, that he schal noght sterve: +For as a king in his Empire +Above alle othre is lord and Sire, +So is the herte principal, +To whom reson in special +Is yove as for the governance. + +And thus nature his pourveance 490 +Hath mad for man to liven hiere; +Bot god, which hath the Soule diere, +Hath formed it in other wise. +That can noman pleinli devise; +Bot as the clerkes ous enforme, +That lich to god it hath a forme, +Thurgh which figure and which liknesse +The Soule hath many an hyh noblesse +Appropred to his oghne kinde. +Bot ofte hir wittes be mad blinde 500 +Al onliche of this ilke point, +That hir abydinge is conjoint +Forth with the bodi forto duelle: +That on desireth toward helle, +That other upward to the hevene; +So schul thei nevere stonde in evene, +Bot if the fleissh be overcome +And that the Soule have holi nome +The governance, and that is selde, +Whil that the fleissh him mai bewelde. 510 +Al erthli thing which god began +Was only mad to serve man; +Bot he the Soule al only made +Himselven forto serve and glade. +Alle othre bestes that men finde +Thei serve unto here oghne kinde, +Bot to reson the Soule serveth; +Wherof the man his thonk deserveth +And get him with hise werkes goode +The perdurable lyves foode. 520 + +Of what matiere it schal be told, +A tale lyketh manyfold +The betre, if it be spoke plein: +Thus thinke I forto torne ayein +And telle plenerly therfore +Of therthe, wherof nou tofore +I spak, and of the water eke, +So as these olde clerkes spieke, +And sette proprely the bounde +After the forme of Mappemounde, 530 +Thurgh which the ground be pourparties +Departed is in thre parties, +That is Asie, Aufrique, Europe, +The whiche under the hevene cope, +Als ferr as streccheth eny ground, +Begripeth al this Erthe round. +Bot after that the hihe wrieche +The water weies let out seche +And overgo the helles hye, +Which every kinde made dye 540 +That upon Middelerthe stod, +Outake Noë and his blod, +His Sones and his doughtres thre, +Thei were sauf and so was he;— +Here names who that rede rihte, +Sem, Cam, Japhet the brethren hihte;— +And whanne thilke almyhty hond +Withdrouh the water fro the lond, +And al the rage was aweie, +And Erthe was the mannes weie, 550 +The Sones thre, of whiche I tolde, +Riht after that hemselve wolde, +This world departe thei begonne. + +Asie, which lay to the Sonne +Upon the Marche of orient, +Was graunted be comun assent +To Sem, which was the Sone eldeste; +For that partie was the beste +And double as moche as othre tuo. +And was that time bounded so; 560 +Wher as the flod which men Nil calleth +Departeth fro his cours and falleth +Into the See Alexandrine, +Ther takth Asie ferst seisine +Toward the West, and over this +Of Canahim wher the flod is +Into the grete See rennende, +Fro that into the worldes ende +Estward, Asie it is algates, +Til that men come unto the gates 570 +Of Paradis, and there ho. +And schortly for to speke it so, +Of Orient in general +Withinne his bounde Asie hath al. + +And thanne upon that other syde +Westward, as it fell thilke tyde, +The brother which was hote Cham +Upon his part Aufrique nam. +Japhet Europe tho tok he, +Thus parten thei the world on thre. 580 +Bot yit ther ben of londes fele +In occident as for the chele, +In orient as for the hete, +Which of the poeple be forlete +As lond desert that is unable, +For it mai noght ben habitable. + +The water eke hath sondri bounde, +After the lond wher it is founde, +And takth his name of thilke londes +Wher that it renneth on the strondes: 590 +Bot thilke See which hath no wane +Is cleped the gret Occeane, +Out of the which arise and come +The hyhe flodes alle and some; +Is non so litel welle spring, +Which ther ne takth his beginnyng, +And lich a man that haleth breth +Be weie of kinde, so it geth +Out of the See and in ayein, +The water, as the bokes sein. 600 + +Of Elementz the propretes +Hou that they stonden be degres, +As I have told, nou myht thou hiere, +Mi goode Sone, al the matiere +Of Erthe, of water, Air and fyr. +And for thou saist that thi desir +Is forto witen overmore +The forme of Aristotles lore, +He seith in his entendement, +That yit ther is an Element 610 +Above the foure, and is the fifte, +Set of the hihe goddes yifte, +The which that Orbis cleped is. +And therupon he telleth this, +That as the schelle hol and sound +Encloseth al aboute round +What thing withinne an Ey belongeth, +Riht so this Orbis underfongeth +These elementz alle everychon, +Which I have spoke of on and on. 620 + +Bot overthis nou tak good hiede, +Mi Sone, for I wol procede +To speke upon Mathematique, +Which grounded is on Theorique. +The science of Astronomie +I thinke forto specefie, +Withoute which, to telle plein, +Alle othre science is in vein +Toward the scole of erthli thinges: +For as an Egle with his winges 630 +Fleth above alle that men finde, +So doth this science in his kinde. + +Benethe upon this Erthe hiere +Of alle thinges the matiere, +As tellen ous thei that ben lerned, +Of thing above it stant governed, +That is to sein of the Planetes. +The cheles bothe and ek the hetes, +The chances of the world also, +That we fortune clepen so, 640 +Among the mennes nacion +Al is thurgh constellacion, +Wherof that som man hath the wele, +And som man hath deseses fele +In love als wel as othre thinges; +The stat of realmes and of kinges +In time of pes, in time of werre +It is conceived of the Sterre: +And thus seith the naturien +Which is an Astronomien. 650 +Bot the divin seith otherwise, +That if men weren goode and wise +And plesant unto the godhede, +Thei scholden noght the sterres drede; +For o man, if him wel befalle, +Is more worth than ben thei alle +Towardes him that weldeth al. +Bot yit the lawe original, +Which he hath set in the natures, +Mot worchen in the creatures, 660 +That therof mai be non obstacle, +Bot if it stonde upon miracle +Thurgh preiere of som holy man. +And forthi, so as I began +To speke upon Astronomie, +As it is write in the clergie, +To telle hou the planetes fare, +Som part I thenke to declare, +Mi Sone, unto thin Audience. + +Astronomie is the science 670 +Of wisdom and of hih connynge, +Which makth a man have knowlechinge +Of Sterres in the firmament, +Figure, cercle and moevement +Of ech of hem in sondri place, +And what betwen hem is of space, +Hou so thei moeve or stonde faste, +Al this it telleth to the laste. + +Assembled with Astronomie +Is ek that ilke Astrologie 680 +The which in juggementz acompteth +Theffect, what every sterre amonteth, +And hou thei causen many a wonder +To tho climatz that stonde hem under. + +And forto telle it more plein, +These olde philosphres sein +That Orbis, which I spak of err, +Is that which we fro therthe a ferr +Beholde, and firmament it calle, +In which the sterres stonden alle, 690 +Among the whiche in special +Planetes sefne principal +Ther ben, that mannes sihte demeth, +Bot thorizonte, as to ous semeth. +And also ther ben signes tuelve, +Whiche have her cercles be hemselve +Compassed in the zodiaque, +In which thei have here places take. +And as thei stonden in degre, +Here cercles more or lasse be, 700 +Mad after the proporcion +Of therthe, whos condicion +Is set to be the foundement +To sustiene up the firmament. +And be this skile a man mai knowe, +The more that thei stonden lowe, +The more ben the cercles lasse; +That causeth why that some passe +Here due cours tofore an other. +Bot nou, mi lieve dere brother, 710 +As thou desirest forto wite +What I finde in the bokes write, +To telle of the planetes sevene, +Hou that thei stonde upon the hevene +And in what point that thei ben inne, +Tak hiede, for I wol beginne, +So as the Philosophre tauhte +To Alisandre and it betauhte, +Wherof that he was fulli tawht +Of wisdom, which was him betawht. 720 + +Benethe alle othre stant the Mone, +The which hath with the See to done: +Of flodes hihe and ebbes lowe +Upon his change it schal be knowe; +And every fissh which hath a schelle +Mot in his governance duelle, +To wexe and wane in his degre, +As be the Mone a man mai se; +And al that stant upon the grounde +Of his moisture it mot be founde. 730 +Alle othre sterres, as men finde, +Be schynende of here oghne kinde +Outake only the monelyht, +Which is noght of himselve bright, +Bot as he takth it of the Sonne. +And yit he hath noght al fulwonne +His lyht, that he nys somdiel derk; +Bot what the lette is of that werk +In Almageste it telleth this: +The Mones cercle so lowe is, 740 +Wherof the Sonne out of his stage +Ne seth him noght with full visage, +For he is with the ground beschaded, +So that the Mone is somdiel faded +And may noght fully schyne cler. +Bot what man under his pouer +Is bore, he schal his places change +And seche manye londes strange: +And as of this condicion +The Mones disposicion 750 +Upon the lond of Alemaigne +Is set, and ek upon Bretaigne, +Which nou is cleped Engelond; +For thei travaile in every lond. + +Of the Planetes the secounde +Above the Mone hath take his bounde, +Mercurie, and his nature is this, +That under him who that bore is, +In boke he schal be studious +And in wrytinge curious, 760 +And slouh and lustles to travaile +In thing which elles myhte availe: +He loveth ese, he loveth reste, +So is he noght the worthieste; +Bot yit with somdiel besinesse +His herte is set upon richesse. +And as in this condicion, +Theffect and disposicion +Of this Planete and of his chance +Is most in Burgoigne and in France. 770 + +Next to Mercurie, as wol befalle, +Stant that Planete which men calle +Venus, whos constellacion +Governeth al the nacion +Of lovers, wher thei spiede or non, +Of whiche I trowe thou be on: +Bot whiderward thin happes wende, +Schal this planete schewe at ende, +As it hath do to many mo, +To some wel, to some wo. 780 +And natheles of this Planete +The moste part is softe and swete; +For who that therof takth his berthe, +He schal desire joie and merthe, +Gentil, courteis and debonaire, +To speke his wordes softe and faire, +Such schal he be be weie of kinde, +And overal wher he may finde +Plesance of love, his herte boweth +With al his myht and there he woweth. 790 +He is so ferforth Amourous, +He not what thing is vicious +Touchende love, for that lawe +Ther mai no maner man withdrawe, +The which venerien is bore +Be weie of kinde, and therefore +Venus of love the goddesse +Is cleped: bot of wantounesse +The climat of hir lecherie +Is most commun in Lombardie. 800 + +Next unto this Planete of love +The brighte Sonne stant above, +Which is the hindrere of the nyht +And forthrere of the daies lyht, +As he which is the worldes ije, +Thurgh whom the lusti compaignie +Of foules be the morwe singe, +The freisshe floures sprede and springe, +The hihe tre the ground beschadeth, +And every mannes herte gladeth. 810 +And for it is the hed Planete, +Hou that he sitteth in his sete, +Of what richesse, of what nobleie, +These bokes telle, and thus thei seie. + +Of gold glistrende Spoke and whiel +The Sonne his carte hath faire and wiel, +In which he sitt, and is coroned +With brighte stones environed; +Of whiche if that I speke schal, +Ther be tofore in special 820 +Set in the front of his corone +Thre Stones, whiche no persone +Hath upon Erthe, and the ferste is +Be name cleped Licuchis; +That othre tuo be cleped thus, +Astrices and Ceramius. +In his corone also behinde, +Be olde bokes as I finde, +Ther ben of worthi Stones thre +Set ech of hem in his degre: 830 +Wherof a Cristall is that on, +Which that corone is set upon; +The seconde is an Adamant; +The thridde is noble and avenant, +Which cleped is Ydriades. +And over this yit natheles +Upon the sydes of the werk, +After the wrytinge of the clerk, +Ther sitten fyve Stones mo: +The smaragdine is on of tho, 840 +Jaspis and Elitropius +And Dendides and Jacinctus. +Lo, thus the corone is beset, +Wherof it schyneth wel the bet; +And in such wise his liht to sprede +Sit with his Diademe on hede +The Sonne schynende in his carte. +And forto lede him swithe and smarte +After the bryhte daies lawe, +Ther ben ordeined forto drawe 850 +Foure hors his Char and him withal, +Wherof the names telle I schal: +Eritheüs the ferste is hote, +The which is red and schyneth hote, +The seconde Acteos the bryhte, +Lampes the thridde coursier hihte, +And Philogeus is the ferthe, +That bringen lyht unto this erthe, +And gon so swift upon the hevene, +In foure and twenty houres evene 860 +The carte with the bryhte Sonne +Thei drawe, so that overronne +Thei have under the cercles hihe +Al Middelerthe in such an hye. +And thus the Sonne is overal +The chief Planete imperial, +Above him and benethe him thre: +And thus betwen hem regneth he, +As he that hath the middel place +Among the Sevene, and of his face 870 +Be glade alle erthly creatures, +And taken after the natures +Here ese and recreacion. +And in his constellacion +Who that is bore in special, +Of good will and of liberal +He schal be founde in alle place, +And also stonde in mochel grace +Toward the lordes forto serve +And gret profit and thonk deserve. 880 +And over that it causeth yit +A man to be soubtil of wit +To worche in gold, and to be wys +In every thing which is of pris. +Bot forto speken in what cost +Of al this erthe he regneth most +As for wisdom, it is in Grece, +Wher is apropred thilke spiece. + +Mars the Planete bataillous +Next to the Sonne glorious 890 +Above stant, and doth mervailes +Upon the fortune of batailes. +The conquerours be daies olde +Were unto this planete holde: +Bot who that his nativite +Hath take upon the proprete +Of Martes disposicioun +Be weie of constellacioun, +He schal be fiers and folhastif +And desirous of werre and strif. 900 +Bot forto telle redely +In what climat most comunly +That this planete hath his effect, +Seid is that he hath his aspect +Upon the holi lond so cast, +That there is no pes stedefast. + +Above Mars upon the hevene, +The sexte Planete of the sevene, +Stant Jupiter the delicat, +Which causeth pes and no debat. 910 +For he is cleped that Planete +Which of his kinde softe and swete +Attempreth al that to him longeth; +And whom this planete underfongeth +To stonde upon his regiment, +He schal be meke and pacient +And fortunat to Marchandie +And lusti to delicacie +In every thing which he schal do. +This Jupiter is cause also 920 +Of the science of lyhte werkes, +And in this wise tellen clerkes +He is the Planete of delices. +Bot in Egipte of his offices +He regneth most in special: +For ther be lustes overal +Of al that to this lif befalleth; +For ther no stormy weder falleth, +Which myhte grieve man or beste, +And ek the lond is so honeste 930 +That it is plentevous and plein, +Ther is non ydel ground in vein; +And upon such felicite +Stant Jupiter in his degre. + +The heyeste and aboven alle +Stant that planete which men calle +Saturnus, whos complexion +Is cold, and his condicion +Causeth malice and crualte +To him the whos nativite 940 +Is set under his governance. +For alle hise werkes ben grevance +And enemy to mannes hele, +In what degre that he schal dele. +His climat is in Orient, +Wher that he is most violent. + +Of the Planetes by and by, +Hou that thei stonde upon the Sky, +Fro point to point as thou myht hiere, +Was Alisandre mad to liere. 950 +Bot overthis touchende his lore, +Of thing that thei him tawhte more +Upon the scoles of clergie +Now herkne the Philosophie. + +He which departeth dai fro nyht, +That on derk and that other lyht, +Of sevene daies made a weke, +A Monthe of foure wekes eke +He hath ordeigned in his lawe, +Of Monthes tuelve and ek forthdrawe 960 +He hath also the longe yeer. +And as he sette of his pouer +Acordant to the daies sevene +Planetes Sevene upon the hevene, +As thou tofore hast herd devise, +To speke riht in such a wise, +To every Monthe be himselve +Upon the hevene of Signes tuelve +He hath after his Ordinal +Assigned on in special, 970 +Wherof, so as I schal rehersen, +The tydes of the yer diversen. +Bot pleinly forto make it knowe +Hou that the Signes sitte arowe, +Ech after other be degre +In substance and in proprete +The zodiaque comprehendeth +Withinne his cercle, as it appendeth. + +The ferste of whiche natheles +Be name is cleped Aries, 980 +Which lich a wether of stature +Resembled is in his figure. +And as it seith in Almageste, +Of Sterres tuelve upon this beste +Ben set, wherof in his degre +The wombe hath tuo, the heved hath thre, +The Tail hath sevene, and in this wise, +As thou myht hiere me divise, +Stant Aries, which hot and drye +Is of himself, and in partie 990 +He is the receipte and the hous +Of myhty Mars the bataillous. +And overmore ek, as I finde, +The creatour of alle kinde +Upon this Signe ferst began +The world, whan that he made man. +And of this constellacioun +The verray operacioun +Availeth, if a man therinne +The pourpos of his werk beginne; 1000 +For thanne he hath of proprete +Good sped and gret felicite. + +The tuelve Monthes of the yeer +Attitled under the pouer +Of these tuelve Signes stonde; +Wherof that thou schalt understonde +This Aries on of the tuelve +Hath March attitled for himselve, +Whan every bridd schal chese his make, +And every neddre and every Snake 1010 +And every Reptil which mai moeve, +His myht assaieth forto proeve, +To crepen out ayein the Sonne, +Whan Ver his Seson hath begonne. + +Taurus the seconde after this +Of Signes, which figured is +Unto a Bole, is dreie and cold; +And as it is in bokes told, +He is the hous appourtienant +To Venus, somdiel descordant. 1020 +This Bole is ek with sterres set, +Thurgh whiche he hath hise hornes knet +Unto the tail of Aries, +So is he noght ther sterreles. +Upon his brest ek eyhtetiene +He hath, and ek, as it is sene, +Upon his tail stonde othre tuo. +His Monthe assigned ek also +Is Averil, which of his schoures +Ministreth weie unto the floures. 1030 + +The thridde signe is Gemini, +Which is figured redely +Lich to tuo twinnes of mankinde, +That naked stonde; and as I finde, +Thei be with Sterres wel bego: +The heved hath part of thilke tuo +That schyne upon the boles tail, +So be thei bothe of o parail; +But on the wombe of Gemini +Ben fyve sterres noght forthi, 1040 +And ek upon the feet be tweie, +So as these olde bokes seie, +That wise Tholomeus wrot. +His propre Monthe wel I wot +Assigned is the lusti Maii, +Whanne every brid upon his lay +Among the griene leves singeth, +And love of his pointure stingeth +After the lawes of nature +The youthe of every creature. 1050 + +Cancer after the reule and space +Of Signes halt the ferthe place. +Like to the crabbe he hath semblance, +And hath unto his retienance +Sextiene sterres, wherof ten, +So as these olde wise men +Descrive, he berth on him tofore, +And in the middel tuo be bore, +And foure he hath upon his ende. +Thus goth he sterred in his kende, 1060 +And of himself is moiste and cold, +And is the propre hous and hold +Which appartieneth to the Mone, +And doth what longeth him to done. +The Monthe of Juin unto this Signe +Thou schalt after the reule assigne. + +The fifte Signe is Leo hote, +Whos kinde is schape dreie and hote, +In whom the Sonne hath herbergage. +And the semblance of his ymage 1070 +Is a leoun, which in baillie +Of sterres hath his pourpartie: +The foure, which as Cancer hath +Upon his ende, Leo tath +Upon his heved, and thanne nest +He hath ek foure upon his brest, +And on upon his tail behinde, +In olde bokes as we finde. +His propre Monthe is Juyl be name, +In which men pleien many a game. 1080 + +After Leo Virgo the nexte +Of Signes cleped is the sexte, +Wherof the figure is a Maide; +And as the Philosophre saide, +Sche is the welthe and the risinge, +The lust, the joie and the likinge +Unto Mercurie: and soth to seie +Sche is with sterres wel beseie, +Wherof Leo hath lent hire on, +Which sit on hih hir heved upon, 1090 +Hire wombe hath fyve, hir feet also +Have other fyve: and overmo +Touchende as of complexion, +Be kindly disposicion +Of dreie and cold this Maiden is. +And forto tellen over this +Hir Monthe, thou schalt understonde, +Whan every feld hath corn in honde +And many a man his bak hath plied, +Unto this Signe is Augst applied. 1100 + +After Virgo to reknen evene +Libra sit in the nombre of sevene, +Which hath figure and resemblance +Unto a man which a balance +Berth in his hond as forto weie: +In boke and as it mai be seie, +Diverse sterres to him longeth, +Wherof on hevede he underfongeth +Ferst thre, and ek his wombe hath tuo, +And doun benethe eighte othre mo. 1110 +This Signe is hot and moiste bothe, +The whiche thinges be noght lothe +Unto Venus, so that alofte +Sche resteth in his hous fulofte, +And ek Saturnus often hyed +Is in this Signe and magnefied. +His propre Monthe is seid Septembre, +Which yifth men cause to remembre, +If eny Sor be left behinde +Of thing which grieve mai to kinde. 1120 + +Among the Signes upon heighte +The Signe which is nombred eighte +Is Scorpio, which as feloun +Figured is a Scorpioun. +Bot for al that yit natheles +Is Scorpio noght sterreles; +For Libra granteth him his ende +Of eighte sterres, wher he wende, +The whiche upon his heved assised +He berth, and ek ther ben divised 1130 +Upon his wombe sterres thre, +And eighte upon his tail hath he. +Which of his kinde is moiste and cold +And unbehovely manyfold; +He harmeth Venus and empeireth, +Bot Mars unto his hous repeireth, +Bot war whan thei togedre duellen. +His propre Monthe is, as men tellen, +Octobre, which bringth the kalende +Of wynter, that comth next suiende. 1140 + +The nynthe Signe in nombre also, +Which folweth after Scorpio, +Is cleped Sagittarius, +The whos figure is marked thus, +A Monstre with a bowe on honde: +On whom that sondri sterres stonde, +Thilke eighte of whiche I spak tofore, +The whiche upon the tail ben bore +Of Scorpio, the heved al faire +Bespreden of the Sagittaire; 1150 +And eighte of othre stonden evene +Upon his wombe, and othre sevene +Ther stonde upon his tail behinde. +And he is hot and dreie of kinde: +To Jupiter his hous is fre, +Bot to Mercurie in his degre, +For thei ben noght of on assent, +He worcheth gret empeirement. +This Signe hath of his proprete +A Monthe, which of duete 1160 +After the sesoun that befalleth +The Plowed Oxe in wynter stalleth; +And fyr into the halle he bringeth, +And thilke drinke of which men singeth, +He torneth must into the wyn; +Thanne is the larder of the swyn; +That is Novembre which I meene, +Whan that the lef hath lost his greene. + +The tenthe Signe dreie and cold, +The which is Capricornus told, 1170 +Unto a Got hath resemblance: +For whos love and whos aqueintance +Withinne hise houses to sojorne +It liketh wel unto Satorne, +Bot to the Mone it liketh noght, +For no profit is there wroght. +This Signe as of his proprete +Upon his heved hath sterres thre, +And ek upon his wombe tuo, +And tweie upon his tail also. 1180 +Decembre after the yeeres forme, +So as the bokes ous enforme, +With daies schorte and nyhtes longe +This ilke Signe hath underfonge. + +Of tho that sitte upon the hevene +Of Signes in the nombre ellevene +Aquarius hath take his place, +And stant wel in Satornes grace, +Which duelleth in his herbergage, +Bot to the Sonne he doth oultrage. 1190 +This Signe is verraily resembled +Lich to a man which halt assembled +In eyther hand a water spoute, +Wherof the stremes rennen oute. +He is of kinde moiste and hot, +And he that of the sterres wot +Seith that he hath of sterres tuo +Upon his heved, and ben of tho +That Capricorn hath on his ende; +And as the bokes maken mende, 1200 +That Tholomeus made himselve, +He hath ek on his wombe tuelve, +And tweie upon his ende stonde. +Thou schalt also this understonde, +The frosti colde Janever, +Whan comen is the newe yeer, +That Janus with his double face +In his chaiere hath take his place +And loketh upon bothe sides, +Somdiel toward the wynter tydes, 1210 +Somdiel toward the yeer suiende, +That is the Monthe belongende +Unto this Signe, and of his dole +He yifth the ferste Primerole. + +The tuelfthe, which is last of alle +Of Signes, Piscis men it calle, +The which, as telleth the scripture, +Berth of tuo fisshes the figure. +So is he cold and moiste of kinde, +And ek with sterres, as I finde, 1220 +Beset in sondri wise, as thus: +Tuo of his ende Aquarius +Hath lent unto his heved, and tuo +This Signe hath of his oghne also +Upon his wombe, and over this +Upon his ende also ther is +A nombre of twenty sterres bryghte, +Which is to sen a wonder sighte. +Toward this Signe into his hous +Comth Jupiter the glorious, 1230 +And Venus ek with him acordeth +To duellen, as the bok recordeth. +The Monthe unto this Signe ordeined +Is Februer, which is bereined, +And with londflodes in his rage +At Fordes letteth the passage. + +Nou hast thou herd the proprete +Of Signes, bot in his degre +Albumazar yit over this +Seith, so as therthe parted is 1240 +In foure, riht so ben divised +The Signes tuelve and stonde assised, +That ech of hem for his partie +Hath his climat to justefie. +Wherof the ferste regiment +Toward the part of Orient +From Antioche and that contre +Governed is of Signes thre, +That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo: +And toward Occident also 1250 +From Armenie, as I am lerned, +Of Capricorn it stant governed, +Of Pisces and Aquarius: +And after hem I finde thus, +Southward from Alisandre forth +Tho Signes whiche most ben worth +In governance of that doaire, +Libra thei ben and Sagittaire +With Scorpio, which is conjoint +With hem to stonde upon that point: 1260 +Constantinople the Cite, +So as the bokes tellen me, +The laste of this division +Stant untoward Septemtrion, +Wher as be weie of pourveance +Hath Aries the governance +Forth with Taurus and Gemini. +Thus ben the Signes propreli +Divided, as it is reherced, +Wherof the londes ben diversed. 1270 + +Lo thus, mi Sone, as thou myht hiere, +Was Alisandre mad to liere +Of hem that weren for his lore. +But nou to loken overmore, +Of othre sterres hou thei fare +I thenke hierafter to declare, +So as king Alisandre in youthe +Of him that suche thinges couthe +Enformed was tofore his yhe +Be nyhte upon the sterres hihe. 1280 + +Upon sondri creacion +Stant sondri operacion, +Som worcheth this, som worcheth that; +The fyr is hot in his astat +And brenneth what he mai atteigne, +The water mai the fyr restreigne, +The which is cold and moist also. +Of other thing it farth riht so +Upon this erthe among ous here; +And forto speke in this manere, 1290 +Upon the hevene, as men mai finde, +The sterres ben of sondri kinde +And worchen manye sondri thinges +To ous, that ben here underlinges. +Among the whiche forth withal +Nectanabus in special, +Which was an Astronomien +And ek a gret Magicien, +And undertake hath thilke emprise +To Alisandre in his aprise 1300 +As of Magique naturel +To knowe, enformeth him somdel +Of certein sterres what thei mene; +Of whiche, he seith, ther ben fiftene, +And sondrily to everich on +A gras belongeth and a Ston, +Wherof men worchen many a wonder +To sette thing bothe up and under. + +To telle riht as he began, +The ferste sterre Aldeboran, 1310 +The cliereste and the moste of alle, +Be rihte name men it calle; +Which lich is of condicion +To Mars, and of complexion +To Venus, and hath therupon +Carbunculum his propre Ston: +His herbe is Anabulla named, +Which is of gret vertu proclamed. + +The seconde is noght vertules; +Clota or elles Pliades 1320 +It hatte, and of the mones kinde +He is, and also this I finde, +He takth of Mars complexion: +And lich to such condicion +His Ston appropred is Cristall, +And ek his herbe in special +The vertuous Fenele it is. + +The thridde, which comth after this, +Is hote Algol the clere rede, +Which of Satorne, as I may rede, 1330 +His kinde takth, and ek of Jove +Complexion to his behove. +His propre Ston is Dyamant, +Which is to him most acordant; +His herbe, which is him betake, +Is hote Eleborum the blake. + +So as it falleth upon lot, +The ferthe sterre is Alhaiot, +Which in the wise as I seide er +Of Satorne and of Jupiter 1340 +Hath take his kinde; and therupon +The Saphir is his propre Ston, +Marrubium his herbe also, +The whiche acorden bothe tuo. + +And Canis maior in his like +The fifte sterre is of Magique, +The whos kinde is venerien, +As seith this Astronomien. +His propre Ston is seid Berille, +Bot forto worche and to fulfille 1350 +Thing which to this science falleth, +Ther is an herbe which men calleth +Saveine, and that behoveth nede +To him that wole his pourpos spede. + +The sexte suiende after this +Be name Canis minor is; +The which sterre is Mercurial +Be weie of kinde, and forth withal, +As it is writen in the carte, +Complexion he takth of Marte. 1360 +His Ston and herbe, as seith the Scole, +Ben Achates and Primerole. + +The sefnthe sterre in special +Of this science is Arial, +Which sondri nature underfongeth. +The Ston which propre unto him longeth, +Gorgonza proprely it hihte: +His herbe also, which he schal rihte +Upon the worchinge as I mene, +Is Celidoine freissh and grene. 1370 + +Sterre Ala Corvi upon heihte +Hath take his place in nombre of eighte, +Which of his kinde mot parforne +The will of Marte and of Satorne: +To whom Lapacia the grete +Is herbe, bot of no beyete; +His Ston is Honochinus hote, +Thurgh which men worchen gret riote. + +The nynthe sterre faire and wel +Be name is hote Alaezel, 1380 +Which takth his propre kinde thus +Bothe of Mercurie and of Venus. +His Ston is the grene Amyraude, +To whom is yoven many a laude: +Salge is his herbe appourtenant +Aboven al the rememant. + +The tenthe sterre is Almareth, +Which upon lif and upon deth +Thurgh kinde of Jupiter and Mart +He doth what longeth to his part. 1390 +His Ston is Jaspe, and of Planteine +He hath his herbe sovereine. + +The sterre ellefthe is Venenas, +The whos nature is as it was +Take of Venus and of the Mone, +In thing which he hath forto done. +Of Adamant is that perrie +In which he worcheth his maistrie; +Thilke herbe also which him befalleth, +Cicorea the bok it calleth. 1400 + +Alpheta in the nombre sit, +And is the twelfthe sterre yit; +Of Scorpio which is governed, +And takth his kinde, as I am lerned; +And hath his vertu in the Ston +Which cleped is Topazion: +His herbe propre is Rosmarine, +Which schapen is for his covine. + +Of these sterres, whiche I mene, +Cor Scorpionis is thritiene; 1410 +The whos nature Mart and Jove +Have yoven unto his behove. +His herbe is Aristologie, +Which folweth his Astronomie: +The Ston which that this sterre alloweth, +Is Sardis, which unto him boweth. + +The sterre which stant next the laste, +Nature on him this name caste +And clepeth him Botercadent; +Which of his kinde obedient 1420 +Is to Mercurie and to Venus. +His Ston is seid Crisolitus, +His herbe is cleped Satureie, +So as these olde bokes seie. + +Bot nou the laste sterre of alle +The tail of Scorpio men calle, +Which to Mercurie and to Satorne +Be weie of kinde mot retorne +After the preparacion +Of due constellacion. 1430 +The Calcedoine unto him longeth, +Which for his Ston he underfongeth; +Of Majorane his herbe is grounded. +Thus have I seid hou thei be founded, +Of every sterre in special, +Which hath his herbe and Ston withal, +As Hermes in his bokes olde +Witnesse berth of that I tolde. + +The science of Astronomie, +Which principal is of clergie 1440 +To dieme betwen wo and wel +In thinges that be naturel, +Thei hadde a gret travail on honde +That made it ferst ben understonde; +And thei also which overmore +Here studie sette upon this lore, +Thei weren gracious and wys +And worthi forto bere a pris. +And whom it liketh forto wite +Of hem that this science write, 1450 +On of the ferste which it wrot +After Noë, it was Nembrot, +To his disciple Ychonithon +And made a bok forth therupon +The which Megaster cleped was. +An other Auctor in this cas +Is Arachel, the which men note; +His bok is Abbategnyh hote. +Danz Tholome is noght the leste, +Which makth the bok of Almageste; 1460 +And Alfraganus doth the same, +Whos bok is Chatemuz be name. +Gebuz and Alpetragus eke +Of Planisperie, which men seke, +The bokes made: and over this +Ful many a worthi clerc ther is, +That writen upon this clergie +The bokes of Altemetrie, +Planemetrie and ek also, +Whiche as belongen bothe tuo, 1470 +So as thei ben naturiens, +Unto these Astronomiens. +Men sein that Habraham was on; +Bot whether that he wrot or non, +That finde I noght; and Moises +Ek was an other: bot Hermes +Above alle othre in this science +He hadde a gret experience; +Thurgh him was many a sterre assised, +Whos bokes yit ben auctorized. 1480 +I mai noght knowen alle tho +That writen in the time tho +Of this science; bot I finde, +Of jugement be weie of kinde +That in o point thei alle acorden: +Of sterres whiche thei recorden +That men mai sen upon the hevene, +Ther ben a thousend sterres evene +And tuo and twenty, to the syhte +Whiche aren of hemself so bryhte, 1490 +That men mai dieme what thei be, +The nature and the proprete. + +Nou hast thou herd, in which a wise +These noble Philosophres wise +Enformeden this yonge king, +And made him have a knowleching +Of thing which ferst to the partie +Belongeth of Philosophie, +Which Theorique cleped is, +As thou tofore hast herd er this. 1500 +Bot nou to speke of the secounde, +Which Aristotle hath also founde, +And techeth hou to speke faire, +Which is a thing full necessaire +To contrepeise the balance, +Wher lacketh other sufficance. + +Above alle erthli creatures +The hihe makere of natures +The word to man hath yove alone, +So that the speche of his persone, 1510 +Or forto lese or forto winne, +The hertes thoght which is withinne +Mai schewe, what it wolde mene; +And that is noghwhere elles sene +Of kinde with non other beste. +So scholde he be the more honeste, +To whom god yaf so gret a yifte, +And loke wel that he ne schifte +Hise wordes to no wicked us; +For word the techer of vertus 1520 +Is cleped in Philosophie. +Wherof touchende this partie, +Is Rethorique the science +Appropred to the reverence +Of wordes that ben resonable: +And for this art schal be vailable +With goodli wordes forto like, +It hath Gramaire, it hath Logiqe, +That serven bothe unto the speche. +Gramaire ferste hath forto teche 1530 +To speke upon congruite: +Logique hath eke in his degre +Betwen the trouthe and the falshode +The pleine wordes forto schode, +So that nothing schal go beside, +That he the riht ne schal decide. +Wherof full many a gret debat +Reformed is to good astat, +And pes sustiened up alofte +With esy wordes and with softe, 1540 +Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle. +The Philosophre amonges alle +Forthi commendeth this science, +Which hath the reule of eloquence. + +In Ston and gras vertu ther is, +Bot yit the bokes tellen this, +That word above alle erthli thinges +Is vertuous in his doinges, +Wher so it be to evele or goode. +For if the wordes semen goode 1550 +And ben wel spoke at mannes Ere, +Whan that ther is no trouthe there, +Thei don fulofte gret deceipte; +For whan the word to the conceipte +Descordeth in so double a wise, +Such Rethorique is to despise +In every place, and forto drede. +For of Uluxes thus I rede, +As in the bok of Troie is founde, +His eloquence and his facounde 1560 +Of goodly wordes whiche he tolde, +Hath mad that Anthenor him solde +The toun, which he with tresoun wan. +Word hath beguiled many a man; +With word the wilde beste is daunted, +With word the Serpent is enchaunted, +Of word among the men of Armes +Ben woundes heeled with the charmes, +Wher lacketh other medicine; +Word hath under his discipline 1570 +Of Sorcerie the karectes. +The wordes ben of sondri sectes, +Of evele and eke of goode also; +The wordes maken frend of fo, +And fo of frend, and pes of werre, +And werre of pes, and out of herre +The word this worldes cause entriketh, +And reconsileth whan him liketh. +The word under the coupe of hevene +Set every thing or odde or evene; 1580 +With word the hihe god is plesed, +With word the wordes ben appesed, +The softe word the loude stilleth; +Wher lacketh good, the word fulfilleth, +To make amendes for the wrong; +Whan wordes medlen with the song, +It doth plesance wel the more. + +Bot forto loke upon the lore +Hou Tullius his Rethorique +Componeth, ther a man mai pike 1590 +Hou that he schal hise wordes sette, +Hou he schal lose, hou he schal knette, +And in what wise he schal pronounce +His tale plein withoute frounce. +Wherof ensample if thou wolt seche, +Tak hiede and red whilom the speche +Of Julius and Cithero, +Which consul was of Rome tho, +Of Catoun eke and of Cillene, +Behold the wordes hem betwene, 1600 +Whan the tresoun of Cateline +Descoevered was, and the covine +Of hem that were of his assent +Was knowe and spoke in parlement, +And axed hou and in what wise +Men scholde don hem to juise. +Cillenus ferst his tale tolde, +To trouthe and as he was beholde, +The comun profit forto save, +He seide hou tresoun scholde have 1610 +A cruel deth; and thus thei spieke, +The Consul bothe and Catoun eke, +And seiden that for such a wrong +Ther mai no peine be to strong. +Bot Julius with wordes wise +His tale tolde al otherwise, +As he which wolde her deth respite, +And fondeth hou he mihte excite +The jugges thurgh his eloquence +Fro deth to torne the sentence 1620 +And sette here hertes to pite. +Nou tolden thei, nou tolde he; +Thei spieken plein after the lawe, +Bot he the wordes of his sawe +Coloureth in an other weie +Spekende, and thus betwen the tweie, +To trete upon this juggement, +Made ech of hem his Argument. +Wherof the tales forto hiere, +Ther mai a man the Scole liere 1630 +Of Rethoriqes eloquences, +Which is the secounde of sciences +Touchende to Philosophie; +Wherof a man schal justifie +Hise wordes in disputeisoun, +And knette upon conclusioun +His Argument in such a forme, +Which mai the pleine trouthe enforme +And the soubtil cautele abate, +Which every trewman schal debate. 1640 + +The ferste, which is Theorique, +And the secounde Rethorique, +Sciences of Philosophie, +I have hem told as in partie, +So as the Philosophre it tolde +To Alisandre: and nou I wolde +Telle of the thridde what it is, +The which Practique cleped is. + +Practique stant upon thre thinges +Toward the governance of kinges; 1650 +Wherof the ferst Etique is named, +The whos science stant proclamed +To teche of vertu thilke reule, +Hou that a king himself schal reule +Of his moral condicion +With worthi disposicion +Of good livinge in his persone, +Which is the chief of his corone. +It makth a king also to lerne +Hou he his bodi schal governe, 1660 +Hou he schal wake, hou he schal slepe, +Hou that he schal his hele kepe +In mete, in drinke, in clothinge eke: +Ther is no wisdom forto seke +As for the reule of his persone, +The which that this science al one +Ne techeth as be weie of kinde, +That ther is nothing left behinde. + +That other point which to Practique +Belongeth is Iconomique, 1670 +Which techeth thilke honestete +Thurgh which a king in his degre +His wif and child schal reule and guie, +So forth with al the companie +Which in his houshold schal abyde, +And his astat on every syde +In such manere forto lede, +That he his houshold ne mislede. + +Practique hath yit the thridde aprise, +Which techeth hou and in what wise 1680 +Thurgh hih pourveied ordinance +A king schal sette in governance +His Realme, and that is Policie, +Which longeth unto Regalie +In time of werre, in time of pes, +To worschipe and to good encress +Of clerk, of kniht and of Marchant, +And so forth of the remenant +Of al the comun poeple aboute, +Withinne Burgh and ek withoute, 1690 +Of hem that ben Artificiers, +Whiche usen craftes and mestiers, +Whos Art is cleped Mechanique. +And though thei ben noght alle like, +Yit natheles, hou so it falle, +O lawe mot governe hem alle, +Or that thei lese or that thei winne, +After thastat that thei ben inne. + +Lo, thus this worthi yonge king +Was fulli tauht of every thing, 1700 +Which mihte yive entendement +Of good reule and good regiment +To such a worthi Prince as he. +Bot of verray necessite +The Philosophre him hath betake +Fyf pointz, whiche he hath undertake +To kepe and holde in observance, +As for the worthi governance +Which longeth to his Regalie, +After the reule of Policie. 1710 + +To every man behoveth lore, +Bot to noman belongeth more +Than to a king, which hath to lede +The poeple; for of his kinghede +He mai hem bothe save and spille. +And for it stant upon his wille, +It sit him wel to ben avised, +And the vertus whiche are assissed +Unto a kinges Regiment, +To take in his entendement: 1720 +Wherof to tellen, as thei stonde, +Hierafterward nou woll I fonde. + +Among the vertus on is chief, +And that is trouthe, which is lief +To god and ek to man also. +And for it hath ben evere so, +Tawhte Aristotle, as he wel couthe, +To Alisandre, hou in his youthe +He scholde of trouthe thilke grace +With al his hole herte embrace, 1730 +So that his word be trewe and plein, +Toward the world and so certein +That in him be no double speche: +For if men scholde trouthe seche +And founde it noght withinne a king, +It were an unsittende thing. +The word is tokne of that withinne, +Ther schal a worthi king beginne +To kepe his tunge and to be trewe, +So schal his pris ben evere newe. 1740 +Avise him every man tofore, +And be wel war, er he be swore, +For afterward it is to late, +If that he wole his word debate. +For as a king in special +Above alle othre is principal +Of his pouer, so scholde he be +Most vertuous in his degre; +And that mai wel be signefied +Be his corone and specified. 1750 + +The gold betokneth excellence, +That men schull don him reverence +As to here liege soverein. +The Stones, as the bokes sein, +Commended ben in treble wise: +Ferst thei ben harde, and thilke assisse +Betokneth in a king Constance, +So that ther schal no variance +Be founde in his condicion; +And also be descripcion 1760 +The vertu which is in the stones +A verrai Signe is for the nones +Of that a king schal ben honeste +And holde trewly his beheste +Of thing which longeth to kinghede: +The bryhte colour, as I rede, +Which in the stones is schynende, +Is in figure betoknende +The Cronique of this worldes fame, +Which stant upon his goode name. 1770 +The cercle which is round aboute +Is tokne of al the lond withoute, +Which stant under his Gerarchie, +That he it schal wel kepe and guye. + +And for that trouthe, hou so it falle, +Is the vertu soverein of alle, +That longeth unto regiment, +A tale, which is evident +Of trouthe in comendacioun, +Toward thin enformacion, 1780 +Mi Sone, hierafter thou schalt hiere +Of a Cronique in this matiere. + +As the Cronique it doth reherce, +A Soldan whilom was of Perce, +Which Daires hihte, and Ytaspis +His fader was; and soth it is +That thurgh wisdom and hih prudence +Mor than for eny reverence +Of his lignage as be descente +The regne of thilke empire he hente: 1790 +And as he was himselve wys, +The wisemen he hield in pris +And soghte hem oute on every side, +That toward him thei scholde abide. +Among the whiche thre ther were +That most service unto him bere, +As thei which in his chambre lyhen +And al his conseil herde and syhen. +Here names ben of strange note, +Arpaghes was the ferste hote, 1800 +And Manachaz was the secounde, +Zorobabel, as it is founde +In the Cronique, was the thridde. +This Soldan, what so him betidde, +To hem he triste most of alle, +Wherof the cas is so befalle: +This lord, which hath conceiptes depe, +Upon a nyht whan he hath slepe, +As he which hath his wit desposed, +Touchende a point hem hath opposed. 1810 + +The kinges question was this; +Of thinges thre which strengest is, +The wyn, the womman or the king: +And that thei scholde upon this thing +Of here ansuere avised be, +He yaf hem fulli daies thre, +And hath behote hem be his feith +That who the beste reson seith, +He schal receive a worthi mede. + +Upon this thing thei token hiede 1820 +And stoden in desputeison, +That be diverse opinion +Of Argumentz that thei have holde +Arpaghes ferst his tale tolde, +And seide hou that the strengthe of kinges +Is myhtiest of alle thinges. +For king hath pouer over man, +And man is he which reson can, +As he which is of his nature +The moste noble creature 1830 +Of alle tho that god hath wroght: +And be that skile it semeth noght, +He seith, that eny erthly thing +Mai be so myhty as a king. +A king mai spille, a king mai save, +A king mai make of lord a knave +And of a knave a lord also: +The pouer of a king stant so, +That he the lawes overpasseth; +What he wol make lasse, he lasseth, 1840 +What he wol make more, he moreth; +And as the gentil faucon soreth, +He fleth, that noman him reclameth; +Bot he al one alle othre tameth, +And stant himself of lawe fre. +Lo, thus a kinges myht, seith he, +So as his reson can argue, +Is strengest and of most value. + +Bot Manachaz seide otherwise, +That wyn is of the more emprise; 1850 +And that he scheweth be this weie. +The wyn fulofte takth aweie +The reson fro the mannes herte; +The wyn can make a krepel sterte, +And a delivere man unwelde; +It makth a blind man to behelde, +And a bryht yhed seme derk; +It makth a lewed man a clerk, +And fro the clerkes the clergie +It takth aweie, and couardie 1860 +It torneth into hardiesse; +Of Avarice it makth largesse. +The wyn makth ek the goode blod, +In which the Soule which is good +Hath chosen hire a resting place, +Whil that the lif hir wole embrace. +And be this skile Manachas +Ansuered hath upon this cas, +And seith that wyn be weie of kinde +Is thing which mai the hertes binde 1870 +Wel more than the regalie. + +Zorobabel for his partie +Seide, as him thoghte for the beste, +That wommen ben the myhtieste. +The king and the vinour also +Of wommen comen bothe tuo; +And ek he seide hou that manhede +Thurgh strengthe unto the wommanhede +Of love, wher he wole or non, +Obeie schal; and therupon, 1880 +To schewe of wommen the maistrie, +A tale which he syh with yhe +As for ensample he tolde this,— + +Hou Apemen, of Besazis +Which dowhter was, in the paleis +Sittende upon his hihe deis, +Whan he was hotest in his ire +Toward the grete of his empire, +Cirus the king tirant sche tok, +And only with hire goodly lok 1890 +Sche made him debonaire and meke, +And be the chyn and be the cheke +Sche luggeth him riht as hir liste, +That nou sche japeth, nou sche kiste, +And doth with him what evere hir liketh; +Whan that sche loureth, thanne he siketh, +And whan sche gladeth, he is glad: +And thus this king was overlad +With hire which his lemman was. +Among the men is no solas, 1900 +If that ther be no womman there; +For bot if that the wommen were, +This worldes joie were aweie: +Thurgh hem men finden out the weie +To knihthode and to worldes fame; +Thei make a man to drede schame, +And honour forto be desired: +Thurgh the beaute of hem is fyred +The Dart of which Cupide throweth, +Wherof the jolif peine groweth, 1910 +Which al the world hath under fote. +A womman is the mannes bote, +His lif, his deth, his wo, his wel; +And this thing mai be schewed wel, +Hou that wommen ben goode and kinde, +For in ensample this I finde. + +Whan that the duk Ametus lay +Sek in his bedd, that every day +Men waiten whan he scholde deie, +Alceste his wif goth forto preie, 1920 +As sche which wolde thonk deserve, +With Sacrifice unto Minerve, +To wite ansuere of the goddesse +Hou that hir lord of his seknesse, +Wherof he was so wo besein, +Recovere myhte his hele ayein. +Lo, thus sche cride and thus sche preide, +Til ate laste a vois hir seide, +That if sche wolde for his sake +The maladie soffre and take, 1930 +And deie hirself, he scholde live. +Of this ansuere Alceste hath yive +Unto Minerve gret thonkinge, +So that hir deth and his livinge +Sche ches with al hire hole entente, +And thus acorded hom sche wente. +Into the chambre and whan sche cam, +Hire housebonde anon sche nam +In bothe hire Armes and him kiste, +And spak unto him what hire liste; 1940 +And therupon withinne a throwe +This goode wif was overthrowe +And deide, and he was hool in haste. +So mai a man be reson taste, +Hou next after the god above +The trouthe of wommen and the love, +In whom that alle grace is founde, +Is myhtiest upon this grounde +And most behovely manyfold. + +Lo, thus Zorobabel hath told 1950 +The tale of his opinion: +Bot for final conclusion +What strengest is of erthli thinges, +The wyn, the wommen or the kinges, +He seith that trouthe above hem alle +Is myhtiest, hou evere it falle. +The trouthe, hou so it evere come, +Mai for nothing ben overcome; +It mai wel soffre for a throwe, +Bot ate laste it schal be knowe. 1960 +The proverbe is, who that is trewe, +Him schal his while nevere rewe: +For hou so that the cause wende, +The trouthe is schameles ate ende, +Bot what thing that is troutheles, +It mai noght wel be schameles, +And schame hindreth every wyht: +So proveth it, ther is no myht +Withoute trouthe in no degre. +And thus for trouthe of his decre 1970 +Zorobabel was most commended, +Wherof the question was ended, +And he resceived hath his mede +For trouthe, which to mannes nede +Is most behoveliche overal. +Forthi was trouthe in special +The ferste point in observance +Betake unto the governance +Of Alisandre, as it is seid: +For therupon the ground is leid 1980 +Of every kinges regiment, +As thing which most convenient +Is forto sette a king in evene +Bothe in this world and ek in hevene. + +Next after trouthe the secounde, +In Policie as it is founde, +Which serveth to the worldes fame +In worschipe of a kinges name, +Largesse it is, whos privilegge +Ther mai non Avarice abregge. 1990 +The worldes good was ferst comune, +Bot afterward upon fortune +Was thilke comun profit cessed: +For whan the poeple stod encresced +And the lignages woxen grete, +Anon for singulier beyete +Drouh every man to his partie; +Wherof cam in the ferste envie +With gret debat and werres stronge, +And laste among the men so longe, 2000 +Til noman wiste who was who, +Ne which was frend ne which was fo. +Til ate laste in every lond +Withinne hemself the poeple fond +That it was good to make a king, +Which mihte appesen al this thing +And yive riht to the lignages +In partinge of here heritages +And ek of al here other good; +And thus above hem alle stod 2010 +The king upon his Regalie, +As he which hath to justifie +The worldes good fro covoitise. +So sit it wel in alle wise +A king betwen the more and lesse +To sette his herte upon largesse +Toward himself and ek also +Toward his poeple; and if noght so, +That is to sein, if that he be +Toward himselven large and fre 2020 +And of his poeple take and pile, +Largesse be no weie of skile +It mai be seid, bot Avarice, +Which in a king is a gret vice. + +A king behoveth ek to fle +The vice of Prodegalite, +That he mesure in his expence +So kepe, that of indigence +He mai be sauf: for who that nedeth, +In al his werk the worse he spedeth. 2030 +As Aristotle upon Chaldee +Ensample of gret Auctorite +Unto king Alisandre tauhte +Of thilke folk that were unsauhte +Toward here king for his pilage: +Wherof he bad, in his corage +That he unto thre pointz entende, +Wher that he wolde his good despende. +Ferst scholde he loke, hou that it stod, +That al were of his oghne good 2040 +The yiftes whiche he wolde yive; +So myhte he wel the betre live: +And ek he moste taken hiede +If ther be cause of eny nede, +Which oghte forto be defended, +Er that his goodes be despended: +He mot ek, as it is befalle, +Amonges othre thinges alle +Se the decertes of his men; +And after that thei ben of ken 2050 +And of astat and of merite, +He schal hem largeliche aquite, +Or for the werre, or for the pes, +That non honour falle in descres, +Which mihte torne into defame, +Bot that he kepe his goode name, +So that he be noght holde unkinde. +For in Cronique a tale I finde, +Which spekth somdiel of this matiere, +Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere. 2060 + +In Rome, to poursuie his riht, +Ther was a worthi povere kniht, +Which cam al one forto sein +His cause, when the court was plein, +Wher Julius was in presence. +And for him lacketh of despence, +Ther was with him non advocat +To make ple for his astat. +Bot thogh him lacke forto plede, +Him lacketh nothing of manhede; 2070 +He wiste wel his pours was povere, +Bot yit he thoghte his riht recovere, +And openly poverte alleide, +To themperour and thus he seide: +“O Julius, lord of the lawe, +Behold, mi conseil is withdrawe +For lacke of gold: do thin office +After the lawes of justice: +Help that I hadde conseil hiere +Upon the trouthe of mi matiere.” 2080 +And Julius with that anon +Assigned him a worthi on, +Bot he himself no word ne spak. +This kniht was wroth and fond a lak +In themperour, and seide thus: +“O thou unkinde Julius, +Whan thou in thi bataille were +Up in Aufrique, and I was there, +Mi myht for thi rescousse I dede +And putte noman in my stede, 2090 +Thou wost what woundes ther I hadde: +Bot hier I finde thee so badde, +That thee ne liste speke o word +Thin oghne mouth, nor of thin hord +To yive a florin me to helpe. +Hou scholde I thanne me beyelpe +Fro this dai forth of thi largesse, +Whan such a gret unkindenesse +Is founde in such a lord as thou?” + +This Julius knew wel ynou 2100 +That al was soth which he him tolde; +And for he wolde noght ben holde +Unkinde, he tok his cause on honde, +And as it were of goddes sonde, +He yaf him good ynouh to spende +For evere into his lives ende. +And thus scholde every worthi king +Take of his knihtes knowleching, +Whan that he syh thei hadden nede, +For every service axeth mede: 2110 +Bot othre, which have noght deserved +Thurgh vertu, bot of japes served, +A king schal noght deserve grace, +Thogh he be large in such a place. + +It sit wel every king to have +Discrecion, whan men him crave, +So that he mai his yifte wite: +Wherof I finde a tale write, +Hou Cinichus a povere kniht +A Somme which was over myht 2120 +Preide of his king Antigonus. +The king ansuerde to him thus, +And seide hou such a yifte passeth +His povere astat: and thanne he lasseth, +And axeth bot a litel peny, +If that the king wol yive him eny. +The king ansuerde, it was to smal +For him, which was a lord real; +To yive a man so litel thing +It were unworschipe in a king. 2130 + +Be this ensample a king mai lere +That forto yive is in manere: +For if a king his tresor lasseth +Withoute honour and thonkles passeth, +Whan he himself wol so beguile, +I not who schal compleigne his while, +Ne who be rihte him schal relieve. +Bot natheles this I believe, +To helpe with his oghne lond +Behoveth every man his hond 2140 +To sette upon necessite; +And ek his kinges realte +Mot every liege man conforte, +With good and bodi to supporte, +Whan thei se cause resonable: +For who that is noght entendable +To holde upriht his kinges name, +Him oghte forto be to blame. + +Of Policie and overmore +To speke in this matiere more, 2150 +So as the Philosophre tolde, +A king after the reule is holde +To modifie and to adresce +Hise yiftes upon such largesce +That he mesure noght excede: +For if a king falle into nede, +It causeth ofte sondri thinges +Whiche are ungoodly to the kinges. +What man wol noght himself mesure, +Men sen fulofte that mesure 2160 +Him hath forsake: and so doth he +That useth Prodegalite, +Which is the moder of poverte, +Wherof the londes ben deserte; +And namely whan thilke vice +Aboute a king stant in office +And hath withholde of his partie +The covoitouse flaterie, +Which many a worthi king deceiveth, +Er he the fallas aperceiveth 2170 +Of hem that serven to the glose. +For thei that cunnen plese and glose, +Ben, as men tellen, the norrices +Unto the fostringe of the vices, +Wherof fulofte natheles +A king is blamed gulteles. + +A Philosophre, as thou schalt hiere, +Spak to a king of this matiere, +And seide him wel hou that flatours +Coupable were of thre errours. 2180 +On was toward the goddes hihe, +That weren wrothe of that thei sihe +The meschief which befalle scholde +Of that the false flatour tolde. +Toward the king an other was, +Whan thei be sleihte and be fallas +Of feigned wordes make him wene +That blak is whyt and blew is grene +Touchende of his condicion: +For whanne he doth extorcion 2190 +With manye an other vice mo, +Men schal noght finden on of tho +To groucche or speke therayein, +Bot holden up his oil and sein +That al is wel, what evere he doth; +And thus of fals thei maken soth, +So that here kinges yhe is blent +And wot not hou the world is went. +The thridde errour is harm comune, +With which the poeple mot commune 2200 +Of wronges that thei bringen inne: +And thus thei worchen treble sinne, +That ben flatours aboute a king. +Ther myhte be no worse thing +Aboute a kinges regalie, +Thanne is the vice of flaterie. + +And natheles it hath ben used, +That it was nevere yit refused +As forto speke in court real; +For there it is most special, 2210 +And mai noght longe be forbore. +Bot whan this vice of hem is bore, +That scholden the vertus forthbringe, +And trouthe is torned to lesinge, +It is, as who seith, ayein kinde, +Wherof an old ensample I finde. + +Among these othre tales wise +Of Philosophres, in this wise +I rede, how whilom tuo ther were, +And to the Scole forto lere 2220 +Unto Athenes fro Cartage +Here frendes, whan thei were of Age, +Hem sende; and ther thei stoden longe, +Til thei such lore have underfonge, +That in here time thei surmonte +Alle othre men, that to acompte +Of hem was tho the grete fame. +The ferste of hem his rihte name +Was Diogenes thanne hote, +In whom was founde no riote: 2230 +His felaw Arisippus hyhte, +Which mochel couthe and mochel myhte. +Bot ate laste, soth to sein, +Thei bothe tornen hom ayein +Unto Cartage and scole lete. +This Diogenes no beyete +Of worldes good or lasse or more +Ne soghte for his longe lore, +Bot tok him only forto duelle +At hom; and as the bokes telle, 2240 +His hous was nyh to the rivere +Besyde a bregge, as thou schalt hiere. +Ther duelleth he to take his reste, +So as it thoghte him for the beste, +To studie in his Philosophie, +As he which wolde so defie +The worldes pompe on every syde. + +Bot Arisippe his bok aside +Hath leid, and to the court he wente, +Wher many a wyle and many a wente 2250 +With flaterie and wordes softe +He caste, and hath compassed ofte +Hou he his Prince myhte plese; +And in this wise he gat him ese +Of vein honour and worldes good. +The londes reule upon him stod, +The king of him was wonder glad, +And all was do, what thing he bad, +Bothe in the court and ek withoute. +With flaterie he broghte aboute 2260 +His pourpos of the worldes werk, +Which was ayein the stat of clerk, +So that Philosophie he lefte +And to richesse himself uplefte: +Lo, thus hadde Arisippe his wille. + +Bot Diogenes duelte stille +A home and loked on his bok: +He soghte noght the worldes crok +For vein honour ne for richesse, +Bot all his hertes besinesse 2270 +He sette to be vertuous; +And thus withinne his oghne hous +He liveth to the sufficance +Of his havinge. And fell per chance, +This Diogene upon a day, +And that was in the Monthe of May, +Whan that these herbes ben holsome, +He walketh forto gadre some +In his gardin, of whiche his joutes +He thoghte have, and thus aboutes 2280 +Whanne he hath gadred what him liketh, +He satte him thanne doun and pyketh, +And wyssh his herbes in the flod +Upon the which his gardin stod, +Nyh to the bregge, as I tolde er. +And hapneth, whil he sitteth ther, +Cam Arisippes be the strete +With manye hors and routes grete, +And straght unto the bregge he rod. +Wher that he hoved and abod; 2290 +For as he caste his yhe nyh, +His felaw Diogene he syh, +And what he dede he syh also, +Wherof he seide to him so: + +“O Diogene, god thee spede. +It were certes litel nede +To sitte there and wortes pyke, +If thou thi Prince couthest lyke, +So as I can in my degre.” + +“O Arisippe,” ayein quod he, 2300 +“If that thou couthist, so as I, +Thi wortes pyke, trewely +It were als litel nede or lasse, +That thou so worldly wolt compasse +With flaterie forto serve, +Wherof thou thenkest to deserve +Thi princes thonk, and to pourchace +Hou thou myht stonden in his grace, +For getinge of a litel good. +If thou wolt take into thi mod 2310 +Reson, thou myht be reson deeme +That so thi prince forto queeme +Is noght to reson acordant, +Bot it is gretly descordant +Unto the Scoles of Athene.” +Lo, thus ansuerde Diogene +Ayein the clerkes flaterie. + +Bot yit men sen thessamplerie +Of Arisippe is wel received, +And thilke of Diogene is weyved. 2320 +Office in court and gold in cofre +Is nou, men sein, the philosophre +Which hath the worschipe in the halle; +Bot flaterie passeth alle +In chambre, whom the court avanceth; +For upon thilke lot it chanceth +To be beloved nou aday. +I not if it be ye or nay, +Bot as the comun vois it telleth; +Bot wher that flaterie duelleth 2330 +In eny lond under the Sonne, +Ther is ful many a thing begonne +Which were betre to be left; +That hath be schewed nou and eft. + +Bot if a Prince wolde him reule +Of the Romeins after the reule, +In thilke time as it was used, +This vice scholde be refused, +Wherof the Princes ben assoted. +Bot wher the pleine trouthe is noted, 2340 +Ther may a Prince wel conceive, +That he schal noght himself deceive, +Of that he hiereth wordes pleine; +For him thar noght be reson pleigne, +That warned is er him be wo. +And that was fully proeved tho, +Whan Rome was the worldes chief, +The Sothseiere tho was lief, +Which wolde noght the trouthe spare, +Bot with hise wordes pleine and bare 2350 +To Themperour hise sothes tolde, +As in Cronique is yit withholde, +Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere +Acordende unto this matiere. + +To se this olde ensamplerie, +That whilom was no flaterie +Toward the Princes wel I finde; +Wherof so as it comth to mynde, +Mi Sone, a tale unto thin Ere, +Whil that the worthi princes were 2360 +At Rome, I thenke forto tellen. +For whan the chances so befellen +That eny Emperour as tho +Victoire hadde upon his fo, +And so forth cam to Rome ayein, +Of treble honour he was certein, +Wherof that he was magnefied. +The ferste, as it is specefied, +Was, whan he cam at thilke tyde, +The Charr in which he scholde ryde 2370 +Foure whyte Stiedes scholden drawe; +Of Jupiter be thilke lawe +The Cote he scholde were also; +Hise prisoners ek scholden go +Endlong the Charr on eyther hond, +And alle the nobles of the lond +Tofore and after with him come +Ridende and broghten him to Rome, +In thonk of his chivalerie +And for non other flaterie. 2380 +And that was schewed forth withal; +Wher he sat in his Charr real, +Beside him was a Ribald set, +Which hadde hise wordes so beset, +To themperour in al his gloire +He seide, “Tak into memoire, +For al this pompe and al this pride +Let no justice gon aside, +Bot know thiself, what so befalle. +For men sen ofte time falle 2390 +Thing which men wende siker stonde: +Thogh thou victoire have nou on honde, +Fortune mai noght stonde alway; +The whiel per chance an other day +Mai torne, and thou myht overthrowe; +Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe.” + +With these wordes and with mo +This Ribald, which sat with him tho, +To Themperour his tale tolde: +And overmor what evere he wolde, 2400 +Or were it evel or were it good, +So pleinly as the trouthe stod, +He spareth noght, bot spekth it oute; +And so myhte every man aboute +The day of that solempnete +His tale telle als wel as he +To Themperour al openly. +And al was this the cause why; +That whil he stod in that noblesse, +He scholde his vanite represse 2410 +With suche wordes as he herde. + +Lo nou, hou thilke time it ferde +Toward so hih a worthi lord: +For this I finde ek of record, +Which the Cronique hath auctorized. +What Emperour was entronized, +The ferste day of his corone, +Wher he was in his real Throne +And hield his feste in the paleis +Sittende upon his hihe deis 2420 +With al the lust that mai be gete, +Whan he was gladdest at his mete, +And every menstral hadde pleid, +And every Disour hadde seid +What most was plesant to his Ere, +Than ate laste comen there +Hise Macons, for thei scholden crave +Wher that he wolde be begrave, +And of what Ston his sepulture +Thei scholden make, and what sculpture 2430 +He wolde ordeine therupon. + +Tho was ther flaterie non +The worthi princes to bejape; +The thing was other wise schape +With good conseil; and otherwise +Thei were hemselven thanne wise, +And understoden wel and knewen. +Whan suche softe wyndes blewen +Of flaterie into here Ere, +Thei setten noght here hertes there; 2440 +Bot whan thei herden wordes feigned, +The pleine trouthe it hath desdeigned +Of hem that weren so discrete. +So tok the flatour no beyete +Of him that was his prince tho: +And forto proven it is so, +A tale which befell in dede +In a Cronique of Rome I rede. + +Cesar upon his real throne +Wher that he sat in his persone 2450 +And was hyest in al his pris, +A man, which wolde make him wys, +Fell doun knelende in his presence, +And dede him such a reverence, +As thogh the hihe god it were: +Men hadden gret mervaille there +Of the worschipe which he dede. +This man aros fro thilke stede, +And forth with al the same tyde +He goth him up and be his side 2460 +He set him doun as pier and pier, +And seide, “If thou that sittest hier +Art god, which alle thinges myht, +Thanne have I do worshipe ariht +As to the god; and other wise, +If thou be noght of thilke assisse, +Bot art a man such as am I, +Than mai I sitte faste by, +For we be bothen of o kinde.” + +Cesar ansuerde and seide, “O blinde, 2470 +Thou art a fol, it is wel sene +Upon thiself: for if thou wene +I be a god, thou dost amys +To sitte wher thou sest god is; +And if I be a man, also +Thou hast a gret folie do, +Whan thou to such on as schal deie +The worschipe of thi god aweie +Hast yoven so unworthely. +Thus mai I prove redely, 2480 +Thou art noght wys.” And thei that herde +Hou wysly that the king ansuerde, +It was to hem a newe lore; +Wherof thei dradden him the more, +And broghten nothing to his Ere, +Bot if it trouthe and reson were. +So be ther manye, in such a wise +That feignen wordes to be wise, +And al is verray flaterie +To him which can it wel aspie. 2490 + +The kinde flatour can noght love +Bot forto bringe himself above; +For hou that evere his maister fare, +So that himself stonde out of care, +Him reccheth noght: and thus fulofte +Deceived ben with wordes softe +The kinges that ben innocent. +Wherof as for chastiement +The wise Philosophre seide, +What king that so his tresor leide 2500 +Upon such folk, he hath the lesse, +And yit ne doth he no largesse, +Bot harmeth with his oghne hond +Himself and ek his oghne lond, +And that be many a sondri weie. +Wherof if that a man schal seie, +As forto speke in general, +Wher such thing falleth overal +That eny king himself misreule, +The Philosophre upon his reule 2510 +In special a cause sette, +Which is and evere hath be the lette +In governance aboute a king +Upon the meschief of the thing, +And that, he seith, is Flaterie. +Wherof tofore as in partie +What vice it is I have declared; +For who that hath his wit bewared +Upon a flatour to believe, +Whan that he weneth best achieve 2520 +His goode world, it is most fro. +And forto proeven it is so +Ensamples ther ben manyon, +Of whiche if thou wolt knowen on, +It is behovely forto hiere +What whilom fell in this matiere. + +Among the kinges in the bible +I finde a tale, and is credible, +Of him that whilom Achab hihte, +Which hadde al Irahel to rihte; 2530 +Bot who that couthe glose softe +And flatre, suche he sette alofte +In gret astat and made hem riche; +Bot thei that spieken wordes liche +To trouthe and wolde it noght forbere, +For hem was non astat to bere, +The court of suche tok non hiede. +Til ate laste upon a nede, +That Benedab king of Surie +Of Irahel a gret partie, 2540 +Which Ramoth Galaath was hote, +Hath sesed; and of that riote +He tok conseil in sondri wise, +Bot noght of hem that weren wise. +And natheles upon this cas +To strengthen him, for Josaphas, +Which thanne was king of Judee, +He sende forto come, as he +Which thurgh frendschipe and alliance +Was next to him of aqueintance; 2550 +For Joram Sone of Josaphath +Achabbes dowhter wedded hath, +Which hihte faire Godelie. +And thus cam into Samarie +King Josaphat, and he fond there +The king Achab: and whan thei were +Togedre spekende of this thing, +This Josaphat seith to the king, +Hou that he wolde gladly hiere +Som trew prophete in this matiere, 2560 +That he his conseil myhte yive +To what point that it schal be drive. + +And in that time so befell, +Ther was such on in Irahel, +Which sette him al to flaterie, +And he was cleped Sedechie; +And after him Achab hath sent: +And he at his comandement +Tofore him cam, and be a sleyhte +He hath upon his heved on heyhte 2570 +Tuo large hornes set of bras, +As he which al a flatour was, +And goth rampende as a leoun +And caste hise hornes up and doun, +And bad men ben of good espeir, +For as the hornes percen their, +He seith, withoute resistence, +So wiste he wel of his science +That Benedab is desconfit. +Whan Sedechie upon this plit 2580 +Hath told this tale to his lord, +Anon ther were of his acord +Prophetes false manye mo +To bere up oil, and alle tho +Affermen that which he hath told, +Wherof the king Achab was bold +And yaf hem yiftes al aboute. +But Josaphat was in gret doute, +And hield fantosme al that he herde, +Preiende Achab, hou so it ferde, 2590 +If ther were eny other man, +The which of prophecie can, +To hiere him speke er that thei gon. +Quod Achab thanne, “Ther is on, +A brothell, which Micheas hihte; +Bot he ne comth noght in my sihte, +For he hath longe in prison lein. +Him liketh nevere yit to sein +A goodly word to mi plesance; +And natheles at thin instance 2600 +He schal come oute, and thanne he may +Seie as he seide many day; +For yit he seide nevere wel.” +Tho Josaphat began somdel +To gladen him in hope of trouthe, +And bad withouten eny slouthe +That men him scholden fette anon. +And thei that weren for him gon, +Whan that thei comen wher he was, +Thei tolden unto Micheas 2610 +The manere hou that Sedechie +Declared hath his prophecie; +And therupon thei preie him faire +That he wol seie no contraire, +Wherof the king mai be desplesed, +For so schal every man ben esed, +And he mai helpe himselve also. + +Micheas upon trouthe tho +His herte sette, and to hem seith, +Al that belongeth to his feith 2620 +And of non other feigned thing, +That wol he telle unto his king, +Als fer as god hath yove him grace. +Thus cam this prophete into place +Wher he the kinges wille herde; +And he therto anon ansuerde, +And seide unto him in this wise: +“Mi liege lord, for mi servise, +Which trewe hath stonden evere yit, +Thou hast me with prisone aquit; 2630 +Bot for al that I schal noght glose +Of trouthe als fer as I suppose; +And as touchende of this bataille, +Thou schalt noght of the sothe faile. +For if it like thee to hiere, +As I am tauht in that matiere, +Thou miht it understonde sone; +Bot what is afterward to done +Avise thee, for this I sih. +I was tofor the throne on hih, 2640 +Wher al the world me thoghte stod, +And there I herde and understod +The vois of god with wordes cliere +Axende, and seide in this manere: +“In what thing mai I best beguile +The king Achab?” And for a while +Upon this point thei spieken faste. +Tho seide a spirit ate laste, +“I undertake this emprise.” +And god him axeth in what wise. 2650 +“I schal,” quod he, “deceive and lye +With flaterende prophecie +In suche mouthes as he lieveth.” +And he which alle thing achieveth +Bad him go forth and don riht so. +And over this I sih also +The noble peple of Irahel +Dispers as Schep upon an hell, +Withoute a kepere unarraied: +And as thei wente aboute astraied, 2660 +I herde a vois unto hem sein, +“Goth hom into your hous ayein, +Til I for you have betre ordeigned.” + +Quod Sedechie, “Thou hast feigned +This tale in angringe of the king.” +And in a wraththe upon this thing +He smot Michee upon the cheke; +The king him hath rebuked eke, +And every man upon him cride: +Thus was he schent on every side, 2670 +Ayein and into prison lad, +For so the king himselve bad. +The trouthe myhte noght ben herd; +Bot afterward as it hath ferd, +The dede proveth his entente: +Achab to the bataille wente, +Wher Benedab for al his Scheld +Him slouh, so that upon the feld +His poeple goth aboute astray. +Bot god, which alle thinges may, 2680 +So doth that thei no meschief have; +Here king was ded and thei ben save, +And hom ayein in goddes pes +Thei wente, and al was founde les +That Sedechie hath seid tofore. + +So sit it wel a king therfore +To loven hem that trouthe mene; +For ate laste it wol be sene +That flaterie is nothing worth. +Bot nou to mi matiere forth, 2690 +As forto speken overmore +After the Philosophres lore, +The thridde point of Policie +I thenke forto specifie. + +What is a lond wher men ben none? +What ben the men whiche are al one +Withoute a kinges governance? +What is a king in his ligance, +Wher that ther is no lawe in londe? +What is to take lawe on honde, 2700 +Bot if the jugges weren trewe? +These olde worldes with the newe +Who that wol take in evidence, +Ther mai he se thexperience, +What thing it is to kepe lawe, +Thurgh which the wronges ben withdrawe +And rihtwisnesse stant commended, +Wherof the regnes ben amended. +For wher the lawe mai comune +The lordes forth with the commune, 2710 +Ech hath his propre duete; +And ek the kinges realte +Of bothe his worschipe underfongeth, +To his astat as it belongeth, +Which of his hihe worthinesse +Hath to governe rihtwisnesse, +As he which schal the lawe guide. +And natheles upon som side +His pouer stant above the lawe, +To yive bothe and to withdrawe 2720 +The forfet of a mannes lif; +But thinges whiche are excessif +Ayein the lawe, he schal noght do +For love ne for hate also. + +The myhtes of a king ben grete, +Bot yit a worthi king schal lete +Of wrong to don, al that he myhte; +For he which schal the poeple ryhte, +It sit wel to his regalie +That he himself ferst justefie 2730 +Towardes god in his degre: +For his astat is elles fre +Toward alle othre in his persone, +Save only to the god al one, +Which wol himself a king chastise, +Wher that non other mai suffise. +So were it good to taken hiede +That ferst a king his oghne dede +Betwen the vertu and the vice +Redresce, and thanne of his justice 2740 +So sette in evene the balance +Towardes othre in governance, +That to the povere and to the riche +Hise lawes myhten stonde liche, +He schal excepte no persone. +Bot for he mai noght al him one +In sondri places do justice, +He schal of his real office +With wys consideracion +Ordeigne his deputacion 2750 +Of suche jugges as ben lerned, +So that his poeple be governed +Be hem that trewe ben and wise. +For if the lawe of covoitise +Be set upon a jugges hond, +Wo is the poeple of thilke lond, +For wrong mai noght himselven hyde: +Bot elles on that other side, +If lawe stonde with the riht, +The poeple is glad and stant upriht. 2760 +Wher as the lawe is resonable, +The comun poeple stant menable, +And if the lawe torne amis, +The poeple also mistorned is. + +And in ensample of this matiere +Of Maximin a man mai hiere, +Of Rome which was Emperour, +That whanne he made a governour +Be weie of substitucion +Of Province or of region, 2770 +He wolde ferst enquere his name, +And let it openly proclame +What man he were, or evel or good. +And upon that his name stod +Enclin to vertu or to vice, +So wolde he sette him in office, +Or elles putte him al aweie. +Thus hield the lawe his rihte weie, +Which fond no let of covoitise: +The world stod than upon the wise, 2780 +As be ensample thou myht rede; +And hold it in thi mynde, I rede. + +In a Cronique I finde thus, +Hou that Gayus Fabricius, +Which whilom was Consul of Rome, +Be whom the lawes yede and come, +Whan the Sampnites to him broghte +A somme of gold, and him besoghte +To don hem favour in the lawe, +Toward the gold he gan him drawe, 2790 +Wherof in alle mennes lok +A part up in his hond he tok, +Which to his mouth in alle haste +He putte, it forto smelle and taste, +And to his yhe and to his Ere, +Bot he ne fond no confort there: +And thanne he gan it to despise, +And tolde unto hem in this wise: +“I not what is with gold to thryve, +Whan non of all my wittes fyve 2800 +Fynt savour ne delit therinne. +So is it bot a nyce Sinne +Of gold to ben to covoitous; +Bot he is riche and glorious, +Which hath in his subjeccion +Tho men whiche in possession +Ben riche of gold, and be this skile; +For he mai aldai whan he wile, +Or be hem lieve or be hem lothe, +Justice don upon hem bothe.” 2810 +Lo, thus he seide, and with that word +He threw tofore hem on the bord +The gold out of his hond anon, +And seide hem that he wolde non: +So that he kepte his liberte +To do justice and equite, +Withoute lucre of such richesse. + +Ther be nou fewe of suche, I gesse; +For it was thilke times used, +That every jugge was refused 2820 +Which was noght frend to comun riht; +Bot thei that wolden stonde upriht +For trouthe only to do justice +Preferred were in thilke office +To deme and jugge commun lawe: +Which nou, men sein, is al withdrawe. +To sette a lawe and kepe it noght +Ther is no comun profit soght; +Bot above alle natheles +The lawe, which is mad for pes, 2830 +Is good to kepe for the beste, +For that set alle men in reste. + +The rihtful Emperour Conrade +To kepe pes such lawe made, +That non withinne the cite +In destorbance of unite +Dorste ones moeven a matiere. +For in his time, as thou myht hiere, +What point that was for lawe set +It scholde for no gold be let, 2840 +To what persone that it were. +And this broghte in the comun fere, +Why every man the lawe dradde, +For ther was non which favour hadde. + +So as these olde bokes sein, +I finde write hou a Romein, +Which Consul was of the Pretoire, +Whos name was Carmidotoire, +He sette a lawe for the pes, +That non, bot he be wepneles, 2850 +Schal come into the conseil hous, +And elles as malicious +He schal ben of the lawe ded. +To that statut and to that red +Acorden alle it schal be so, +For certein cause which was tho: +Nou lest what fell therafter sone. +This Consul hadde forto done, +And was into the feldes ride; +And thei him hadden longe abide, 2860 +That lordes of the conseil were, +And for him sende, and he cam there +With swerd begert, and hath foryete, +Til he was in the conseil sete. +Was non of hem that made speche, +Til he himself it wolde seche, +And fond out the defalte himselve; +And thanne he seide unto the tuelve, +Whiche of the Senat weren wise, +“I have deserved the juise, 2870 +In haste that it were do.” +And thei him seiden alle no; +For wel thei wiste it was no vice, +Whan he ne thoghte no malice, +Bot onliche of a litel slouthe: +And thus thei leften as for routhe +To do justice upon his gilt, +For that he scholde noght be spilt. +And whanne he sih the maner hou +Thei wolde him save, he made avou 2880 +With manfull herte, and thus he seide, +That Rome scholde nevere abreide +His heires, whan he were of dawe, +That here Ancestre brak the lawe. +Forthi, er that thei weren war, +Forth with the same swerd he bar +The statut of his lawe he kepte, +So that al Rome his deth bewepte. + +In other place also I rede, +Wher that a jugge his oghne dede 2890 +Ne wol noght venge of lawe broke, +The king it hath himselven wroke. +The grete king which Cambises +Was hote, a jugge laweles +He fond, and into remembrance +He dede upon him such vengance: +Out of his skyn he was beflain +Al quyk, and in that wise slain, +So that his skyn was schape al meete, +And nayled on the same seete 2900 +Wher that his Sone scholde sitte. +Avise him, if he wolde flitte +The lawe for the coveitise, +Ther sih he redi his juise. + +Thus in defalte of other jugge +The king mot otherwhile jugge, +To holden up the rihte lawe. +And forto speke of tholde dawe, +To take ensample of that was tho, +I finde a tale write also, 2910 +Hou that a worthi prince is holde +The lawes of his lond to holde, +Ferst for the hihe goddes sake, +And ek for that him is betake +The poeple forto guide and lede, +Which is the charge of his kinghede. + +In a Cronique I rede thus +Of the rihtful Ligurgius, +Which of Athenis Prince was, +Hou he the lawe in every cas, 2920 +Wherof he scholde his poeple reule, +Hath set upon so good a reule, +In al this world that cite non +Of lawe was so wel begon +Forth with the trouthe of governance. +Ther was among hem no distance, +Bot every man hath his encress; +Ther was withoute werre pes, +Withoute envie love stod; +Richesse upon the comun good 2930 +And noght upon the singuler +Ordeigned was, and the pouer +Of hem that weren in astat +Was sauf: wherof upon debat +Ther stod nothing, so that in reste +Mihte every man his herte reste. + +And whan this noble rihtful king +Sih hou it ferde of al this thing, +Wherof the poeple stod in ese, +He, which for evere wolde plese 2940 +The hihe god, whos thonk he soghte, +A wonder thing thanne him bethoghte, +And schop if that it myhte be, +Hou that his lawe in the cite +Mihte afterward for evere laste. +And therupon his wit he caste +What thing him were best to feigne, +That he his pourpos myhte atteigne. + +A Parlement and thus he sette, +His wisdom wher that he besette 2950 +In audience of grete and smale, +And in this wise he tolde his tale: +“God wot, and so ye witen alle, +Hierafterward hou so it falle, +Yit into now my will hath be +To do justice and equite +In forthringe of comun profit; +Such hath ben evere my delit. +Bot of o thing I am beknowe, +The which mi will is that ye knowe: 2960 +The lawe which I tok on honde, +Was altogedre of goddes sonde +And nothing of myn oghne wit; +So mot it nede endure yit, +And schal do lengere, if ye wile. +For I wol telle you the skile; +The god Mercurius and no man +He hath me tawht al that I can +Of suche lawes as I made, +Wherof that ye ben alle glade; 2970 +It was the god and nothing I, +Which dede al this, and nou forthi +He hath comanded of his grace +That I schal come into a place +Which is forein out in an yle, +Wher I mot tarie for a while, +With him to speke, as he hath bede. +For as he seith, in thilke stede +He schal me suche thinges telle, +That evere, whyl the world schal duelle, 2980 +Athenis schal the betre fare. +Bot ferst, er that I thider fare, +For that I wolde that mi lawe +Amonges you ne be withdrawe +Ther whyles that I schal ben oute, +Forthi to setten out of doute +Bothe you and me, this wol I preie, +That ye me wolde assure and seie +With such an oth as I wol take, +That ech of you schal undertake 2990 +Mi lawes forto kepe and holde.” +Thei seiden alle that thei wolde, +And therupon thei swore here oth, +That fro the time that he goth, +Til he to hem be come ayein, +Thei scholde hise lawes wel and plein +In every point kepe and fulfille. + +Thus hath Ligurgius his wille, +And tok his leve and forth he wente. +Bot lest nou wel to what entente 3000 +Of rihtwisnesse he dede so: +For after that he was ago, +He schop him nevere to be founde; +So that Athenis, which was bounde, +Nevere after scholde be relessed, +Ne thilke goode lawe cessed, +Which was for comun profit set. +And in this wise he hath it knet; +He, which the comun profit soghte, +The king, his oghne astat ne roghte; 3010 +To do profit to the comune, +He tok of exil the fortune, +And lefte of Prince thilke office +Only for love and for justice, +Thurgh which he thoghte, if that he myhte, +For evere after his deth to rihte +The cite which was him betake. +Wherof men oghte ensample take +The goode lawes to avance +With hem which under governance 3020 +The lawes have forto kepe; +For who that wolde take kepe +Of hem that ferst the lawes founde, +Als fer as lasteth eny bounde +Of lond, here names yit ben knowe: +And if it like thee to knowe +Some of here names hou thei stonde, +Nou herkne and thou schalt understonde. + +Of every bienfet the merite +The god himself it wol aquite; 3030 +And ek fulofte it falleth so, +The world it wole aquite also, +Bot that mai noght ben evene liche: +The god he yifth the heveneriche, +The world yifth only bot a name, +Which stant upon the goode fame +Of hem that don the goode dede. +And in this wise double mede +Resceiven thei that don wel hiere; +Wherof if that thee list to hiere 3040 +After the fame as it is blowe, +Ther myht thou wel the sothe knowe, +Hou thilke honeste besinesse +Of hem that ferst for rihtwisnesse +Among the men the lawes made, +Mai nevere upon this erthe fade. +For evere, whil ther is a tunge, +Here name schal be rad and sunge +And holde in the Cronique write; +So that the men it scholden wite, 3050 +To speke good, as thei wel oghten, +Of hem that ferst the lawes soghten +In forthringe of the worldes pes. +Unto thebreus was Moises +The ferste, and to thegipciens +Mercurius, and to Troiens +Ferst was Neuma Pompilius, +To Athenes Ligurgius +Yaf ferst the lawe, and to Gregois +Foroneus hath thilke vois, 3060 +And Romulus to the Romeins. +For suche men that ben vileins +The lawe in such a wise ordeigneth, +That what man to the lawe pleigneth, +Be so the jugge stonde upriht, +He schal be served of his riht. +And so ferforth it is befalle +That lawe is come among ous alle: +God lieve it mote wel ben holde, +As every king therto is holde; 3070 +For thing which is of kinges set, +With kinges oghte it noght be let. +What king of lawe takth no kepe, +Be lawe he mai no regne kepe. +Do lawe awey, what is a king? +Wher is the riht of eny thing, +If that ther be no lawe in londe? +This oghte a king wel understonde, +As he which is to lawe swore, +That if the lawe be forbore 3080 +Withouten execucioun, +If makth a lond torne up so doun, +Which is unto the king a sclandre. +Forthi unto king Alisandre +The wise Philosophre bad, +That he himselve ferst be lad +Of lawe, and forth thanne overal +So do justice in general, +That al the wyde lond aboute +The justice of his lawe doute, 3090 +And thanne schal he stonde in reste. +For therto lawe is on the beste +Above alle other erthly thing, +To make a liege drede his king. +Bot hou a king schal gete him love +Toward the hihe god above, +And ek among the men in erthe, +This nexte point, which is the ferthe +Of Aristotles lore, it techeth: +Wherof who that the Scole secheth, 3100 +What Policie that it is +The bok reherceth after this. + +It nedeth noght that I delate +The pris which preised is algate, +And hath ben evere and evere schal, +Wherof to speke in special, +It is the vertu of Pite, +Thurgh which the hihe mageste +Was stered, whan his Sone alyhte, +And in pite the world to rihte 3110 +Tok of the Maide fleissh and blod. +Pite was cause of thilke good, +Wherof that we ben alle save: +Wel oghte a man Pite to have +And the vertu to sette in pris, +Whan he himself which is al wys +Hath schewed why it schal be preised. +Pite may noght be conterpeised +Of tirannie with no peis; +For Pite makth a king courteis 3120 +Bothe in his word and in his dede. + +It sit wel every liege drede +His king and to his heste obeie, +And riht so be the same weie +It sit a king to be pitous +Toward his poeple and gracious +Upon the reule of governance, +So that he worche no vengance, +Which mai be cleped crualte. +Justice which doth equite 3130 +Is dredfull, for he noman spareth; +Bot in the lond wher Pite fareth +The king mai nevere faile of love, +For Pite thurgh the grace above, +So as the Philosphre affermeth, +His regne in good astat confermeth. + +Thus seide whilom Constantin: +“What Emperour that is enclin +To Pite forto be servant, +Of al the worldes remenant 3140 +He is worthi to ben a lord.” + +In olde bokes of record +This finde I write of essamplaire: +Troian the worthi debonaire, +Be whom that Rome stod governed, +Upon a time as he was lerned +Of that he was to familier, +He seide unto that conseiller, +That forto ben an Emperour +His will was noght for vein honour, 3150 +Ne yit for reddour of justice; +Bot if he myhte in his office +Hise lordes and his poeple plese, +Him thoghte it were a grettere ese +With love here hertes to him drawe, +Than with the drede of eny lawe. +For whan a thing is do for doute, +Fulofte it comth the worse aboute; +Bot wher a king is Pietous, +He is the more gracious, 3160 +That mochel thrift him schal betyde, +Which elles scholde torne aside. + +Of Pite forto speke plein, +Which is with mercy wel besein, +Fulofte he wole himselve peine +To kepe an other fro the peine: +For Charite the moder is +Of Pite, which nothing amis +Can soffre, if he it mai amende. +It sit to every man livende 3170 +To be Pitous, bot non so wel +As to a king, which on the whiel +Fortune hath set aboven alle: +For in a king, if so befalle +That his Pite be ferme and stable, +To al the lond it is vailable +Only thurgh grace of his persone; +For the Pite of him al one +Mai al the large realme save. +So sit it wel a king to have 3180 +Pite; for this Valeire tolde, +And seide hou that be daies olde +Codrus, which was in his degre +King of Athenis the cite, +A werre he hadde ayein Dorrence: +And forto take his evidence +What schal befalle of the bataille, +He thoghte he wolde him ferst consaille +With Appollo, in whom he triste; +Thurgh whos ansuere this he wiste, 3190 +Of tuo pointz that he myhte chese, +Or that he wolde his body lese +And in bataille himselve deie, +Or elles the seconde weie, +To sen his poeple desconfit. +Bot he, which Pite hath parfit +Upon the point of his believe, +The poeple thoghte to relieve, +And ches himselve to be ded. +Wher is nou such an other hed, 3200 +Which wolde for the lemes dye? +And natheles in som partie +It oghte a kinges herte stere, +That he hise liege men forbere. +And ek toward hise enemis +Fulofte he may deserve pris, +To take of Pite remembrance, +Wher that he myhte do vengance: +For whanne a king hath the victoire, +And thanne he drawe into memoire 3210 +To do Pite in stede of wreche, +He mai noght faile of thilke speche +Wherof arist the worldes fame, +To yive a Prince a worthi name. + +I rede hou whilom that Pompeie, +To whom that Rome moste obeie, +A werre hadde in jeupartie +Ayein the king of Ermenie, +Which of long time him hadde grieved. +Bot ate laste it was achieved 3220 +That he this king desconfit hadde, +And forth with him to Rome ladde +As Prisoner, wher many a day +In sori plit and povere he lay, +The corone of his heved deposed, +Withinne walles faste enclosed; +And with ful gret humilite +He soffreth his adversite. +Pompeie sih his pacience +And tok pite with conscience, 3230 +So that upon his hihe deis +Tofore al Rome in his Paleis, +As he that wolde upon him rewe, +Let yive him his corone newe +And his astat al full and plein +Restoreth of his regne ayein, +And seide it was more goodly thing +To make than undon a king, +To him which pouer hadde of bothe. +Thus thei, that weren longe wrothe, 3240 +Acorden hem to final pes; +And yit justice natheles +Was kept and in nothing offended; +Wherof Pompeie was comended. +Ther mai no king himself excuse, +Bot if justice he kepe and use, +Which for teschuie crualte +He mot attempre with Pite. + +Of crualte the felonie +Engendred is of tirannie, 3250 +Ayein the whos condicion +God is himself the champion, +Whos strengthe mai noman withstonde. +For evere yit it hath so stonde, +That god a tirant overladde; +Bot wher Pite the regne ladde, +Ther mihte no fortune laste +Which was grevous, bot ate laste +The god himself it hath redresced. +Pite is thilke vertu blessed 3260 +Which nevere let his Maister falle; +Bot crualte, thogh it so falle +That it mai regne for a throwe, +God wole it schal ben overthrowe: +Wherof ensamples ben ynowhe +Of hem that thilke merel drowhe. + +Of crualte I rede thus: +Whan the tirant Leoncius +Was to thempire of Rome arrived, +Fro which he hath with strengthe prived 3270 +The pietous Justinian, +As he which was a cruel man, +His nase of and his lippes bothe +He kutte, for he wolde him lothe +Unto the poeple and make unable. +Bot he which is al merciable, +The hihe god, ordeigneth so, +That he withinne a time also, +Whan he was strengest in his ire, +Was schoven out of his empire. 3280 +Tiberius the pouer hadde, +And Rome after his will he ladde, +And for Leonce in such a wise +Ordeigneth, that he tok juise +Of nase and lippes bothe tuo, +For that he dede an other so, +Which more worthi was than he. + +Lo, which a fall hath crualte, +And Pite was set up ayein: +For after that the bokes sein, 3290 +Therbellis king of Bulgarie +With helpe of his chivalerie +Justinian hath unprisoned +And to thempire ayein coroned. + +In a Cronique I finde also +Of Siculus, which was ek so +A cruel king lich the tempeste, +The whom no Pite myhte areste,— +He was the ferste, as bokes seie, +Upon the See which fond Galeie 3300 +And let hem make for the werre,— +As he which al was out of herre +Fro Pite and misericorde; +For therto couthe he noght acorde, +Bot whom he myhte slen, he slouh, +And therof was he glad ynouh. +He hadde of conseil manyon, +Among the whiche ther was on, +Be name which Berillus hihte; +And he bethoghte him hou he myhte 3310 +Unto the tirant do likinge, +And of his oghne ymaginynge +Let forge and make a Bole of bras, +And on the side cast ther was +A Dore, wher a man mai inne, +Whan he his peine schal beginne +Thurgh fyr, which that men putten under. +And al this dede he for a wonder, +That whanne a man for peine cride, +The Bole of bras, which gapeth wyde, 3320 +It scholde seme as thogh it were +A belwinge in a mannes Ere, +And noght the criinge of a man. +Bot he which alle sleihtes can, +The devel, that lith in helle fast, +Him that this caste hath overcast, +That for a trespas which he dede +He was putt in the same stede, +And was himself the ferste of alle +Which was into that peine falle 3330 +That he for othre men ordeigneth; +Ther was noman which him compleigneth. + +Of tirannie and crualte +Be this ensample a king mai se, +Himself and ek his conseil bothe, +Hou thei ben to mankinde lothe +And to the god abhominable. +Ensamples that ben concordable +I finde of othre Princes mo, +As thou schalt hiere, of time go. 3340 +The grete tirant Dionys, +Which mannes lif sette of no pris, +Unto his hors fulofte he yaf +The men in stede of corn and chaf, +So that the hors of thilke stod +Devoureden the mennes blod; +Til fortune ate laste cam, +That Hercules him overcam, +And he riht in the same wise +Of this tirant tok the juise: 3350 +As he til othre men hath do, +The same deth he deide also, +That no Pite him hath socoured, +Til he was of hise hors devoured. + +Of Lichaon also I finde +Hou he ayein the lawe of kinde +Hise hostes slouh, and into mete +He made her bodies to ben ete +With othre men withinne his hous. +Bot Jupiter the glorious, 3360 +Which was commoeved of this thing, +Vengance upon this cruel king +So tok, that he fro mannes forme +Into a wolf him let transforme: +And thus the crualte was kidd, +Which of long time he hadde hidd; +A wolf he was thanne openly, +The whos nature prively +He hadde in his condicion. + +And unto this conclusioun, 3370 +That tirannie is to despise, +I finde ensample in sondri wise, +And nameliche of hem fulofte, +The whom fortune hath set alofte +Upon the werres forto winne. +Bot hou so that the wrong beginne +Of tirannie, it mai noght laste, +Bot such as thei don ate laste +To othre men, such on hem falleth; +For ayein suche Pite calleth 3380 +Vengance to the god above. +For who that hath no tender love +In savinge of a mannes lif, +He schal be founde so gultif, +That whanne he wolde mercy crave +In time of nede, he schal non have. + +Of the natures this I finde, +The fierce Leon in his kinde, +Which goth rampende after his preie, +If he a man finde in his weie, 3390 +He wole him slen, if he withstonde. +Bot if the man coude understonde +To falle anon before his face +In signe of mercy and of grace, +The Leon schal of his nature +Restreigne his ire in such mesure, +As thogh it were a beste tamed, +And torne awey halfvinge aschamed, +That he the man schal nothing grieve. +Hou scholde than a Prince achieve 3400 +The worldes grace, if that he wolde +Destruie a man whanne he is yolde +And stant upon his mercy al? +Bot forto speke in special, +Ther have be suche and yit ther be +Tirantz, whos hertes no pite +Mai to no point of mercy plie, +That thei upon her tirannie +Ne gladen hem the men to sle; +And as the rages of the See 3410 +Ben unpitous in the tempeste, +Riht so mai no Pite areste +Of crualte the gret oultrage, +Which the tirant in his corage +Engendred hath: wherof I finde +A tale, which comth nou to mynde. + +I rede in olde bokes thus: +Ther was a Duk, which Spertachus +Men clepe, and was a werreiour, +A cruel man, a conquerour 3420 +With strong pouer the which he ladde. +For this condicion he hadde, +That where him hapneth the victoire, +His lust and al his moste gloire +Was forto sle and noght to save: +Of rancoun wolde he no good have +For savinge of a mannes lif, +Bot al goth to the swerd and knyf, +So lief him was the mannes blod. +And natheles yit thus it stod, 3430 +So as fortune aboute wente, +He fell riht heir as be descente +To Perse, and was coroned king. +And whan the worschipe of this thing +Was falle, and he was king of Perse, +If that thei weren ferst diverse, +The tirannies whiche he wroghte, +A thousendfold welmore he soghte +Thanne afterward to do malice. +The god vengance ayein the vice 3440 +Hath schape: for upon a tyde, +Whan he was heihest in his Pride, +In his rancour and in his hete +Ayein the queene of Marsagete, +Which Thameris that time hihte, +He made werre al that he myhte: +And sche, which wolde hir lond defende, +Hir oghne Sone ayein him sende, +Which the defence hath undertake. +Bot he desconfit was and take; 3450 +And whan this king him hadde in honde, +He wol no mercy understonde, +Bot dede him slen in his presence. + +The tidinge of this violence +Whan it cam to the moder Ere, +Sche sende anon ay wydewhere +To suche frendes as sche hadde, +A gret pouer til that sche ladde. +In sondri wise and tho sche caste +Hou sche this king mai overcaste; 3460 +And ate laste acorded was, +That in the danger of a pass, +Thurgh which this tirant scholde passe, +Sche schop his pouer to compasse +With strengthe of men be such a weie +That he schal noght eschape aweie. +And whan sche hadde thus ordeigned, +Sche hath hir oghne bodi feigned, +For feere as thogh sche wolde flee +Out of hir lond: and whan that he 3470 +Hath herd hou that this ladi fledde, +So faste after the chace he spedde, +That he was founde out of array. +For it betidde upon a day, +Into the pas whanne he was falle, +Thembuisschementz tobrieken alle +And him beclipte on every side, +That fle ne myhte he noght aside: +So that ther weren dede and take +Tuo hundred thousend for his sake, 3480 +That weren with him of his host. +And thus was leid the grete bost +Of him and of his tirannie: +It halp no mercy forto crie +To him which whilom dede non; +For he unto the queene anon +Was broght, and whan that sche him sih, +This word sche spak and seide on hih: +“O man, which out of mannes kinde +Reson of man hast left behinde 3490 +And lived worse than a beste, +Whom Pite myhte noght areste, +The mannes blod to schede and spille +Thou haddest nevere yit thi fille. +Bot nou the laste time is come, +That thi malice is overcome: +As thou til othre men hast do, +Nou schal be do to thee riht so.” +Tho bad this ladi that men scholde +A vessel bringe, in which sche wolde 3500 +Se the vengance of his juise, +Which sche began anon devise; +And tok the Princes whiche he ladde, +Be whom his chief conseil he hadde, +And whil hem lasteth eny breth, +Sche made hem blede to the deth +Into the vessel wher it stod: +And whan it was fulfild of blod, +Sche caste this tirant therinne, +And seide him, “Lo, thus myht thou wynne 3510 +The lustes of thin appetit. +In blod was whilom thi delit, +Nou schalt thou drinken al thi fille.” + +And thus onliche of goddes wille, +He which that wolde himselve strange +To Pite, fond mercy so strange, +That he withoute grace is lore. +So may it schewe wel therfore +That crualte hath no good ende; +Bot Pite, hou so that it wende, 3520 +Makth that the god is merciable, +If ther be cause resonable +Why that a king schal be pitous. +Bot elles, if he be doubtous +To slen in cause of rihtwisnesse, +It mai be said no Pitousnesse, +Bot it is Pusillamite, +Which every Prince scholde flee. +For if Pite mesure excede, +Kinghode may noght wel procede 3530 +To do justice upon the riht: +For it belongeth to a knyht +Als gladly forto fihte as reste, +To sette his liege poeple in reste, +Whan that the werre upon hem falleth; +For thanne he mote, as it befalleth, +Of his knyhthode as a Leon +Be to the poeple a champioun +Withouten eny Pite feigned. +For if manhode be restreigned, 3540 +Or be it pes or be it werre, +Justice goth al out of herre, +So that knyhthode is set behinde. +Of Aristotles lore I finde, +A king schal make good visage, +That noman knowe of his corage +Bot al honour and worthinesse: +For if a king schal upon gesse +Withoute verrai cause drede, +He mai be lich to that I rede; 3550 +And thogh that it be lich a fable, +Thensample is good and resonable. + +As it be olde daies fell, +I rede whilom that an hell +Up in the londes of Archade +A wonder dredful noise made; +For so it fell that ilke day, +This hell on his childinge lay, +And whan the throwes on him come, +His noise lich the day of dome 3560 +Was ferfull in a mannes thoght +Of thing which that thei sihe noght, +Bot wel thei herden al aboute +The noise, of which thei were in doute, +As thei that wenden to be lore +Of thing which thanne was unbore. +The nerr this hell was upon chance +To taken his deliverance, +The more unbuxomliche he cride; +And every man was fledd aside, 3570 +For drede and lefte his oghne hous: +And ate laste it was a Mous, +The which was bore and to norrice +Betake; and tho thei hield hem nyce, +For thei withoute cause dradde. + +Thus if a king his herte ladde +With every thing that he schal hiere, +Fulofte he scholde change his chiere +And upon fantasie drede, +Whan that ther is no cause of drede. 3580 + +Orace to his Prince tolde, +That him were levere that he wolde +Upon knihthode Achillem suie +In time of werre, thanne eschuie, +So as Tersites dede at Troie. +Achilles al his hole joie +Sette upon Armes forto fihte; +Tersites soghte al that he myhte +Unarmed forto stonde in reste: +Bot of the tuo it was the beste 3590 +That Achilles upon the nede +Hath do, wherof his knyhtlihiede +Is yit comended overal. + +King Salomon in special +Seith, as ther is a time of pes, +So is a time natheles +Of werre, in which a Prince algate +Schal for the comun riht debate +And for his oghne worschipe eke. +Bot it behoveth noght to seke 3600 +Only the werre for worschipe, +Bot to the riht of his lordschipe, +Which he is holde to defende, +Mote every worthi Prince entende. +Betwen the simplesce of Pite +And the folhaste of crualte, +Wher stant the verray hardiesce, +Ther mote a king his herte adresce, +Whanne it is time to forsake, +And whan time is also to take 3610 +The dedly werres upon honde, +That he schal for no drede wonde, +If rihtwisnesse be withal. +For god is myhty overal +To forthren every mannes trowthe, +Bot it be thurgh his oghne slowthe; +And namely the kinges nede +It mai noght faile forto spede, +For he stant one for hem alle; +So mote it wel the betre falle 3620 +And wel the more god favoureth, +Whan he the comun riht socoureth. +And forto se the sothe in dede, +Behold the bible and thou myht rede +Of grete ensamples manyon, +Wherof that I wol tellen on. + +Upon a time as it befell, +Ayein Judee and Irahel +Whan sondri kinges come were +In pourpos to destruie there 3630 +The poeple which god kepte tho,— +And stod in thilke daies so, +That Gedeon, which scholde lede +The goddes folk, tok him to rede, +And sende in al the lond aboute, +Til he assembled hath a route +With thritti thousend of defence, +To fihte and make resistence +Ayein the whiche hem wolde assaille: +And natheles that o bataille 3640 +Of thre that weren enemys +Was double mor than was al his; +Wherof that Gedeon him dradde, +That he so litel poeple hadde. +Bot he which alle thing mai helpe, +Wher that ther lacketh mannes helpe, +To Gedeon his Angel sente, +And bad, er that he forther wente, +Al openly that he do crie +That every man in his partie 3650 +Which wolde after his oghne wille +In his delice abide stille +At hom in eny maner wise, +For pourchas or for covoitise, +For lust of love or lacke of herte, +He scholde noght aboute sterte, +Bot holde him stille at hom in pes: +Wherof upon the morwe he les +Wel twenty thousend men and mo, +The whiche after the cri ben go. 3660 +Thus was with him bot only left +The thridde part, and yit god eft +His Angel sende and seide this +To Gedeon: “If it so is +That I thin help schal undertake, +Thou schalt yit lasse poeple take, +Be whom mi will is that thou spede. +Forthi tomorwe tak good hiede, +Unto the flod whan ye be come, +What man that hath the water nome 3670 +Up in his hond and lapeth so, +To thi part ches out alle tho; +And him which wery is to swinke, +Upon his wombe and lith to drinke, +Forsak and put hem alle aweie. +For I am myhti alle weie, +Wher as me list myn help to schewe +In goode men, thogh thei ben fewe.” + +This Gedeon awaiteth wel, +Upon the morwe and everydel, 3680 +As god him bad, riht so he dede. +And thus ther leften in that stede +With him thre hundred and nomo, +The remenant was al ago: +Wherof that Gedeon merveileth, +And therupon with god conseileth, +Pleignende as ferforth as he dar. +And god, which wolde he were war +That he schal spede upon his riht, +Hath bede him go the same nyht 3690 +And take a man with him, to hiere +What schal be spoke in his matere +Among the hethen enemis; +So mai he be the more wys, +What afterward him schal befalle. + +This Gedeon amonges alle +Phara, to whom he triste most, +Be nyhte tok toward thilke host, +Which logged was in a valleie, +To hiere what thei wolden seie; 3700 +Upon his fot and as he ferde, +Tuo Sarazins spekende he herde. +Quod on, “Ared mi swevene ariht, +Which I mette in mi slep to nyht. + +Me thoghte I sih a barli cake, +Which fro the Hull his weie hath take, +And cam rollende doun at ones; +And as it were for the nones, +Forth in his cours so as it ran, +The kinges tente of Madian, 3710 +Of Amalech, of Amoreie, +Of Amon and of Jebuseie, +And many an other tente mo +With gret noise, as me thoghte tho, +It threw to grounde and overcaste, +And al this host so sore agaste +That I awok for pure drede.” + +“This swevene can I wel arede,” +Quod thother Sarazin anon: +“The barli cake is Gedeon, 3720 +Which fro the hell doun sodeinly +Schal come and sette such ascry +Upon the kinges and ous bothe, +That it schal to ous alle lothe: +For in such drede he schal ous bringe, +That if we hadden flyht of wynge, +The weie on fote in desespeir +We scholden leve and flen in their, +For ther schal nothing him withstonde.” + +Whan Gedeon hath understonde 3730 +This tale, he thonketh god of al, +And priveliche ayein he stal, +So that no lif him hath perceived. +And thanne he hath fulli conceived +That he schal spede; and therupon +The nyht suiende he schop to gon +This multitude to assaile. +Nou schalt thou hiere a gret mervaile, +With what voisdie that he wroghte. +The litel poeple which he broghte, 3740 +Was non of hem that he ne hath +A pot of erthe, in which he tath +A lyht brennende in a kressette, +And ech of hem ek a trompette +Bar in his other hond beside; +And thus upon the nyhtes tyde +Duk Gedeon, whan it was derk, +Ordeineth him unto his werk, +And parteth thanne his folk in thre, +And chargeth hem that thei ne fle, 3750 +And tawhte hem hou they scholde ascrie +Alle in o vois per compaignie, +And what word ek thei scholden speke, +And hou thei scholde here pottes breke +Echon with other, whan thei herde +That he himselve ferst so ferde; +For whan thei come into the stede, +He bad hem do riht as he dede. + +And thus stalkende forth a pas +This noble Duk, whan time was, 3760 +His pot tobrak and loude ascride, +And tho thei breke on every side. +The trompe was noght forto seke; +He blew, and so thei blewen eke +With such a noise among hem alle, +As thogh the hevene scholde falle. +The hull unto here vois ansuerde, +This host in the valleie it herde, +And sih hou that the hell alyhte; +So what of hieringe and of sihte, 3770 +Thei cawhten such a sodein feere, +That non of hem belefte there: +The tentes hole thei forsoke, +That thei non other good ne toke, +Bot only with here bodi bare +Thei fledde, as doth the wylde Hare. +And evere upon the hull thei blewe, +Til that thei sihe time, and knewe +That thei be fled upon the rage; +And whan thei wiste here avantage, 3780 +Thei felle anon unto the chace. + +Thus myht thou sen hou goddes grace +Unto the goode men availeth; +But elles ofte time it faileth +To suche as be noght wel disposed. +This tale nedeth noght be glosed, +For it is openliche schewed +That god to hem that ben wel thewed +Hath yove and granted the victoire: +So that thensample of this histoire 3790 +Is good for every king to holde; +Ferst in himself that he beholde +If he be good of his livinge, +And that the folk which he schal bringe +Be good also, for thanne he may +Be glad of many a merie day, +In what as evere he hath to done. +For he which sit above the Mone +And alle thing mai spille and spede, +In every cause, in every nede 3800 +His goode king so wel adresceth, +That alle his fomen he represseth, +So that ther mai noman him dere; +And als so wel he can forbere, +And soffre a wickid king to falle +In hondes of his fomen alle. + + +Nou forthermore if I schal sein +Of my matiere, and torne ayein +To speke of justice and Pite +After the reule of realte, 3810 +This mai a king wel understonde, +Knihthode mot ben take on honde, +Whan that it stant upon the nede: +He schal no rihtful cause drede, +Nomore of werre thanne of pes, +If he wol stonde blameles; +For such a cause a king mai have +That betre him is to sle than save, +Wherof thou myht ensample finde. +The hihe makere of mankinde 3820 +Be Samuel to Saul bad, +That he schal nothing ben adrad +Ayein king Agag forto fihte; +For this the godhede him behihte, +That Agag schal ben overcome: +And whan it is so ferforth come, +That Saul hath him desconfit, +The god bad make no respit, +That he ne scholde him slen anon. +Bot Saul let it overgon 3830 +And dede noght the goddes heste: +For Agag made gret beheste +Of rancoun which he wolde yive, +King Saul soffreth him to live +And feigneth pite forth withal. +Bot he which seth and knoweth al, +The hihe god, of that he feigneth +To Samuel upon him pleigneth, +And sende him word, for that he lefte +Of Agag that he ne berefte 3840 +The lif, he schal noght only dye +Himself, bot fro his regalie +He schal be put for everemo, +Noght he, bot ek his heir also, +That it schal nevere come ayein. + +Thus myht thou se the sothe plein, +That of tomoche and of tolyte +Upon the Princes stant the wyte. +Bot evere it was a kinges riht +To do the dedes of a knyht; 3850 +For in the handes of a king +The deth and lif is al o thing +After the lawes of justice. +To slen it is a dedly vice, +Bot if a man the deth deserve; +And if a king the lif preserve +Of him which oghte forto dye, +He suieth noght thensamplerie +Which in the bible is evident: +Hou David in his testament, 3860 +Whan he no lengere myhte live, +Unto his Sone in charge hath yive +That he Joab schal slen algate; +And whan David was gon his gate, +The yonge wise Salomon +His fader heste dede anon, +And slouh Joab in such a wise, +That thei that herden the juise +Evere after dradden him the more, +And god was ek wel paid therfore, 3870 +That he so wolde his herte plye +The lawes forto justefie. +And yit he kepte forth withal +Pite, so as a Prince schal, +That he no tirannie wroghte; +He fond the wisdom which he soghte, +And was so rihtful natheles, +That al his lif he stod in pes, +That he no dedly werres hadde, +For every man his wisdom dradde. 3880 +And as he was himselve wys, +Riht so the worthi men of pris +He hath of his conseil withholde; +For that is every Prince holde, +To make of suche his retenue +Whiche wise ben, and to remue +The foles: for ther is nothing +Which mai be betre aboute a king, +Than conseil, which is the substance +Of all a kinges governance. 3890 + +In Salomon a man mai see +What thing of most necessite +Unto a worthi king belongeth. +Whan he his kingdom underfongeth, +God bad him chese what he wolde, +And seide him that he have scholde +What he wolde axe, as of o thing. +And he, which was a newe king, +Forth therupon his bone preide +To god, and in this wise he seide: 3900 +“O king, be whom that I schal regne, +Yif me wisdom, that I my regne, +Forth with thi poeple which I have, +To thin honour mai kepe and save.” +Whan Salomon his bone hath taxed, +The god of that which he hath axed +Was riht wel paid, and granteth sone +Noght al only that he his bone +Schal have of that, bot of richesse, +Of hele, of pes, of hih noblesse, 3910 +Forth with wisdom at his axinges, +Which stant above alle othre thinges. + +Bot what king wole his regne save, +Ferst him behoveth forto have +After the god and his believe +Such conseil which is to believe, +Fulfild of trouthe and rihtwisnesse: +Bot above alle in his noblesse +Betwen the reddour and pite +A king schal do such equite 3920 +And sette the balance in evene, +So that the hihe god in hevene +And al the poeple of his nobleie +Loange unto his name seie. +For most above all erthli good, +Wher that a king himself is good +It helpeth, for in other weie +If so be that a king forsueie, +Fulofte er this it hath be sein, +The comun poeple is overlein 3930 +And hath the kinges Senne aboght, +Al thogh the poeple agulte noght. +Of that the king his god misserveth, +The poeple takth that he descerveth +Hier in this world, bot elleswhere +I not hou it schal stonde there. +Forthi good is a king to triste +Ferst to himself, as he ne wiste +Non other help bot god alone; +So schal the reule of his persone 3940 +Withinne himself thurgh providence +Ben of the betre conscience. +And forto finde ensample of this, +A tale I rede, and soth it is. + +In a Cronique it telleth thus: +The king of Rome Lucius +Withinne his chambre upon a nyht +The Steward of his hous, a knyht, +Forth with his Chamberlein also, +To conseil hadde bothe tuo, 3950 +And stoden be the Chiminee +Togedre spekende alle thre. +And happeth that the kinges fol +Sat be the fyr upon a stol, +As he that with his babil pleide, +Bot yit he herde al that thei seide, +And therof token thei non hiede. +The king hem axeth what to rede +Of such matiere as cam to mouthe, +And thei him tolden as thei couthe. 3960 +Whan al was spoke of that thei mente, +The king with al his hole entente +Thanne ate laste hem axeth this, +What king men tellen that he is: +Among the folk touchende his name, +Or be it pris, or be it blame, +Riht after that thei herden sein, +He bad hem forto telle it plein, +That thei no point of soth forbere, +Be thilke feith that thei him bere. 3970 + +The Steward ferst upon this thing +Yaf his ansuere unto the king +And thoghte glose in this matiere, +And seide, als fer as he can hiere, +His name is good and honourable: +Thus was the Stieward favorable, +That he the trouthe plein ne tolde. +The king thanne axeth, as he scholde, +The Chamberlein of his avis. + +And he, that was soubtil and wys, 3980 +And somdiel thoghte upon his feith, +Him tolde hou al the poeple seith +That if his conseil were trewe, +Thei wiste thanne wel and knewe +That of himself he scholde be +A worthi king in his degre: +And thus the conseil he accuseth +In partie, and the king excuseth. + +The fol, which herde of al the cas +That time, as goddes wille was, 3990 +Sih that thei seiden noght ynowh, +And hem to skorne bothe lowh, +And to the king he seide tho: +“Sire king, if that it were so, +Of wisdom in thin oghne mod +That thou thiselven were good, +Thi conseil scholde noght be badde.” +The king therof merveille hadde, +Whan that a fol so wisly spak, +And of himself fond out the lack 4000 +Withinne his oghne conscience: +And thus the foles evidence, +Which was of goddes grace enspired, +Makth that good conseil was desired. +He putte awey the vicious +And tok to him the vertuous; +The wrongful lawes ben amended, +The londes good is wel despended, +The poeple was nomore oppressed, +And thus stod every thing redressed. 4010 +For where a king is propre wys, +And hath suche as himselven is +Of his conseil, it mai noght faile +That every thing ne schal availe: +The vices thanne gon aweie, +And every vertu holt his weie; +Wherof the hihe god is plesed, +And al the londes folk is esed. +For if the comun poeple crie, +And thanne a king list noght to plie 4020 +To hiere what the clamour wolde, +And otherwise thanne he scholde +Desdeigneth forto don hem grace, +It hath be sen in many place, +Ther hath befalle gret contraire; +And that I finde of ensamplaire. + +After the deth of Salomon, +Whan thilke wise king was gon, +And Roboas in his persone +Receive scholde the corone, 4030 +The poeple upon a Parlement +Avised were of on assent, +And alle unto the king thei preiden, +With comun vois and thus thei seiden: + +“Oure liege lord, we thee beseche +That thou receive oure humble speche +And grante ous that which reson wile, +Or of thi grace or of thi skile. +Thi fader, whil he was alyve +And myhte bothe grante and pryve, 4040 +Upon the werkes whiche he hadde +The comun poeple streite ladde: +Whan he the temple made newe, +Thing which men nevere afore knewe +He broghte up thanne of his taillage, +And al was under the visage +Of werkes whiche he made tho. +Bot nou it is befalle so, +That al is mad, riht as he seide, +And he was riche whan he deide; 4050 +So that it is no maner nede, +If thou therof wolt taken hiede, +To pilen of the poeple more, +Which long time hath be grieved sore. +And in this wise as we thee seie, +With tendre herte we thee preie +That thou relesse thilke dette, +Which upon ous thi fader sette. +And if thee like to don so, +We ben thi men for everemo, 4060 +To gon and comen at thin heste.” + +The king, which herde this requeste, +Seith that he wole ben avised, +And hath therof a time assised; +And in the while as he him thoghte +Upon this thing, conseil he soghte. +And ferst the wise knyhtes olde, +To whom that he his tale tolde, +Conseilen him in this manere; +That he with love and with glad chiere 4070 +Foryive and grante al that is axed +Of that his fader hadde taxed; +For so he mai his regne achieve +With thing which schal him litel grieve. + +The king hem herde and overpasseth, +And with these othre his wit compasseth, +That yonge were and nothing wise. +And thei these olde men despise, +And seiden: “Sire, it schal be schame +For evere unto thi worthi name, 4080 +If thou ne kepe noght the riht, +Whil thou art in thi yonge myht, +Which that thin olde fader gat. +Bot seie unto the poeple plat, +That whil thou livest in thi lond, +The leste finger of thin hond +It schal be strengere overal +Than was thi fadres bodi al. +And this also schal be thi tale, +If he hem smot with roddes smale, 4090 +With Scorpions thou schalt hem smyte; +And wher thi fader tok a lyte, +Thou thenkst to take mochel more. +Thus schalt thou make hem drede sore +The grete herte of thi corage, +So forto holde hem in servage. + +This yonge king him hath conformed +To don as he was last enformed, +Which was to him his undoinge: +For whan it cam to the spekinge, 4100 +He hath the yonge conseil holde, +That he the same wordes tolde +Of al the poeple in audience; +And whan thei herden the sentence +Of his malice and the manace, +Anon tofore his oghne face +Thei have him oultreli refused +And with ful gret reproef accused. +So thei begunne forto rave, +That he was fain himself to save; 4110 +For as the wilde wode rage +Of wyndes makth the See salvage, +And that was calm bringth into wawe, +So for defalte of grace and lawe +This poeple is stered al at ones +And forth thei gon out of hise wones; +So that of the lignages tuelve +Tuo tribes only be hemselve +With him abiden and nomo: +So were thei for everemo 4120 +Of no retorn withoute espeir +Departed fro the rihtfull heir. +Al Irahel with comun vois +A king upon here oghne chois +Among hemself anon thei make, +And have here yonge lord forsake; +A povere knyht Jeroboas +Thei toke, and lefte Roboas, +Which rihtfull heir was be descente. + +Lo, thus the yonge cause wente: 4130 +For that the conseil was noght good, +The regne fro the rihtfull blod +Evere afterward divided was. +So mai it proven be this cas +That yong conseil, which is to warm, +Er men be war doth ofte harm. +Old age for the conseil serveth, +And lusti youthe his thonk deserveth +Upon the travail which he doth; +And bothe, forto seie a soth, 4140 +Be sondri cause forto have, +If that he wole his regne save, +A king behoveth every day. +That on can and that other mai, +Be so the king hem bothe reule, +For elles al goth out of reule. + +And upon this matiere also +A question betwen the tuo +Thus writen in a bok I fond; +Wher it be betre for the lond 4150 +A king himselve to be wys, +And so to bere his oghne pris, +And that his consail be noght good, +Or other wise if it so stod, +A king if he be vicious +And his conseil be vertuous. +It is ansuerd in such a wise, +That betre it is that thei be wise +Be whom that the conseil schal gon, +For thei be manye, and he is on; 4160 +And rathere schal an one man +With fals conseil, for oght he can, +From his wisdom be mad to falle, +Thanne he al one scholde hem alle +Fro vices into vertu change, +For that is wel the more strange. + +Forthi the lond mai wel be glad, +Whos king with good conseil is lad, +Which set him unto rihtwisnesse, +So that his hihe worthinesse 4170 +Betwen the reddour and Pite +Doth mercy forth with equite. +A king is holden overal +To Pite, bot in special +To hem wher he is most beholde; +Thei scholde his Pite most beholde +That ben the Lieges of his lond, +For thei ben evere under his hond +After the goddes ordinaunce +To stonde upon his governance. 4180 + +Of themperour Anthonius +I finde hou that he seide thus, +That levere him were forto save +Oon of his lieges than to have +Of enemis a thousend dede. +And this he lernede, as I rede, +Of Cipio, which hadde be +Consul of Rome. And thus to se +Diverse ensamples hou thei stonde, +A king which hath the charge on honde 4190 +The comun poeple to governe, +If that he wole, he mai wel lerne. +Is non so good to the plesance +Of god, as is good governance; +And every governance is due +To Pite: thus I mai argue +That Pite is the foundement +Of every kinges regiment, +If it be medled with justice. +Thei tuo remuen alle vice, 4200 +And ben of vertu most vailable +To make a kinges regne stable. + +Lo, thus the foure pointz tofore, +In governance as thei ben bore, +Of trouthe ferst and of largesse, +Of Pite forth with rihtwisnesse, +I have hem told; and over this +The fifte point, so as it is +Set of the reule of Policie, +Wherof a king schal modefie 4210 +The fleisschly lustes of nature, +Nou thenk I telle of such mesure, +That bothe kinde schal be served +And ek the lawe of god observed. + +The Madle is mad for the the femele, +Bot where as on desireth fele, +That nedeth noght be weie of kinde: +For whan a man mai redy finde +His oghne wif, what scholde he seche +In strange places to beseche 4220 +To borwe an other mannes plouh, +Whan he hath geere good ynouh +Affaited at his oghne heste, +And is to him wel more honeste +Than other thing which is unknowe? +Forthi scholde every good man knowe +And thenke, hou that in mariage +His trouthe pliht lith in morgage, +Which if he breke, it is falshode, +And that descordeth to manhode, 4230 +And namely toward the grete, +Wherof the bokes alle trete; +So as the Philosophre techeth +To Alisandre, and him betecheth +The lore hou that he schal mesure +His bodi, so that no mesure +Of fleisshly lust he scholde excede. +And thus forth if I schal procede, +The fifte point, as I seide er, +Is chastete, which sielde wher 4240 +Comth nou adaies into place; +And natheles, bot it be grace +Above alle othre in special, +Is non that chaste mai ben all. +Bot yit a kinges hihe astat, +Which of his ordre as a prelat +Schal ben enoignt and seintefied, +He mot be more magnefied +For dignete of his corone, +Than scholde an other low persone, 4250 +Which is noght of so hih emprise. +Therfore a Prince him scholde avise, +Er that he felle in such riote, +And namely that he nassote +To change for the wommanhede +The worthinesse of his manhede. + +Of Aristotle I have wel rad, +Hou he to Alisandre bad, +That forto gladen his corage +He schal beholde the visage 4260 +Of wommen, whan that thei ben faire. +Bot yit he set an essamplaire, +His bodi so to guide and reule, +That he ne passe noght the reule, +Wherof that he himself beguile. +For in the womman is no guile +Of that a man himself bewhapeth; +Whan he his oghne wit bejapeth, +I can the wommen wel excuse: +Bot what man wole upon hem muse 4270 +After the fool impression +Of his ymaginacioun, +Withinne himself the fyr he bloweth, +Wherof the womman nothing knoweth, +So mai sche nothing be to wyte. +For if a man himself excite +To drenche, and wol it noght forbere, +The water schal no blame bere. +What mai the gold, thogh men coveite? +If that a man wol love streite, 4280 +The womman hath him nothing bounde; +If he his oghne herte wounde, +Sche mai noght lette the folie; +And thogh so felle of compainie +That he myht eny thing pourchace, +Yit makth a man the ferste chace, +The womman fleth and he poursuieth: +So that be weie of skile it suieth, +The man is cause, hou so befalle, +That he fulofte sithe is falle 4290 +Wher that he mai noght wel aryse. +And natheles ful manye wise +Befoled have hemself er this, +As nou adaies yit it is +Among the men and evere was, +The stronge is fieblest in this cas. +It sit a man be weie of kinde +To love, bot it is noght kinde +A man for love his wit to lese: +For if the Monthe of Juil schal frese 4300 +And that Decembre schal ben hot, +The yeer mistorneth, wel I wot. +To sen a man fro his astat +Thurgh his sotie effeminat, +And leve that a man schal do, +It is as Hose above the Scho, +To man which oghte noght ben used. +Bot yit the world hath ofte accused +Ful grete Princes of this dede, +Hou thei for love hemself mislede, 4310 +Wherof manhode stod behinde, +Of olde ensamples as I finde. + +These olde gestes tellen thus, +That whilom Sardana Pallus, +Which hield al hol in his empire +The grete kingdom of Assire, +Was thurgh the slouthe of his corage +Falle into thilke fyri rage +Of love, which the men assoteth, +Wherof himself he so rioteth, 4320 +And wax so ferforth wommannyssh, +That ayein kinde, as if a fissh +Abide wolde upon the lond, +In wommen such a lust he fond, +That he duelte evere in chambre stille, +And only wroghte after the wille +Of wommen, so as he was bede, +That selden whanne in other stede +If that he wolde wenden oute, +To sen hou that it stod aboute. 4330 +Bot ther he keste and there he pleide, +Thei tawhten him a Las to breide, +And weve a Pours, and to enfile +A Perle: and fell that ilke while, +On Barbarus the Prince of Mede +Sih hou this king in wommanhede +Was falle fro chivalerie, +And gat him help and compaignie, +And wroghte so, that ate laste +This king out of his regne he caste, 4340 +Which was undon for everemo: +And yit men speken of him so, +That it is schame forto hiere. + +Forthi to love is in manere. +King David hadde many a love, +Bot natheles alwey above +Knyhthode he kepte in such a wise, +That for no fleisshli covoitise +Of lust to ligge in ladi armes +He lefte noght the lust of armes. 4350 +For where a Prince hise lustes suieth, +That he the werre noght poursuieth, +Whan it is time to ben armed, +His contre stant fulofte harmed, +Whan thenemis ben woxe bolde, +That thei defence non beholde. +Ful many a lond hath so be lore, +As men mai rede of time afore +Of hem that so here eses soghten, +Which after thei full diere aboghten. 4360 + +To mochel ese is nothing worth, +For that set every vice forth +And every vertu put abak, +Wherof priss torneth into lak, +As in Cronique I mai reherse: +Which telleth hou the king of Perse, +That Cirus hihte, a werre hadde +Ayein a poeple which he dradde, +Of a contre which Liddos hihte; +Bot yit for oght that he do mihte 4370 +As in bataille upon the werre, +He hadde of hem alwey the werre. +And whan he sih and wiste it wel, +That he be strengthe wan no del, +Thanne ate laste he caste a wyle +This worthi poeple to beguile, +And tok with hem a feigned pes, +Which scholde lasten endeles, +So as he seide in wordes wise, +Bot he thoghte al in other wise. 4380 +For it betidd upon the cas, +Whan that this poeple in reste was, +Thei token eses manyfold; +And worldes ese, as it is told, +Be weie of kinde is the norrice +Of every lust which toucheth vice. +Thus whan thei were in lustes falle, +The werres ben foryeten alle; +Was non which wolde the worschipe +Of Armes, bot in idelschipe 4390 +Thei putten besinesse aweie +And token hem to daunce and pleie; +Bot most above alle othre thinges +Thei token hem to the likinges +Of fleysshly lust, that chastete +Received was in no degre, +Bot every man doth what him liste. +And whan the king of Perse it wiste, +That thei unto folie entenden, +With his pouer, whan thei lest wenden, 4400 +Mor sodeinly than doth the thunder +He cam, for evere and put hem under. +And thus hath lecherie lore +The lond, which hadde be tofore +The beste of hem that were tho. + +And in the bible I finde also +A tale lich unto this thing, +Hou Amalech the paien king, +Whan that he myhte be no weie +Defende his lond and putte aweie 4410 +The worthi poeple of Irael, +This Sarazin, as it befell, +Thurgh the conseil of Balaam +A route of faire wommen nam, +That lusti were and yonge of Age, +And bad hem gon to the lignage +Of these Hebreus: and forth thei wente +With yhen greye and browes bente +And wel arraied everych on; +And whan thei come were anon 4420 +Among thebreus, was non insihte, +Bot cacche who that cacche myhte, +And ech of hem hise lustes soghte, +Whiche after thei full diere boghte. +For grace anon began to faile, +That whan thei comen to bataille +Thanne afterward, in sori plit +Thei were take and disconfit, +So that withinne a litel throwe +The myht of hem was overthrowe, 4430 +That whilom were wont to stonde. +Til Phinees the cause on honde +Hath take, this vengance laste, +Bot thanne it cessede ate laste, +For god was paid of that he dede: +For wher he fond upon a stede +A couple which misferde so, +Thurghout he smot hem bothe tuo, +And let hem ligge in mennes yhe; +Wherof alle othre whiche hem sihe 4440 +Ensamplede hem upon the dede, +And preiden unto the godhiede +Here olde Sennes to amende: +And he, which wolde his mercy sende, +Restorede hem to newe grace. + +Thus mai it schewe in sondri place, +Of chastete hou the clennesse +Acordeth to the worthinesse +Of men of Armes overal; +Bot most of alle in special 4450 +This vertu to a king belongeth, +For upon his fortune it hongeth +Of that his lond schal spede or spille. +Forthi bot if a king his wille +Fro lustes of his fleissh restreigne, +Ayein himself he makth a treigne, +Into the which if that he slyde, +Him were betre go besyde. +For every man mai understonde, +Hou for a time that it stonde, 4460 +It is a sori lust to lyke, +Whos ende makth a man to syke +And torneth joies into sorwe. +The brihte Sonne be the morwe +Beschyneth noght the derke nyht, +The lusti youthe of mannes myht, +In Age bot it stonde wel, +Mistorneth al the laste whiel. + +That every worthi Prince is holde +Withinne himself himself beholde, 4470 +To se the stat of his persone, +And thenke hou ther be joies none +Upon this Erthe mad to laste, +And hou the fleissh schal ate laste +The lustes of this lif forsake, +Him oghte a gret ensample take +Of Salomon, whos appetit +Was holy set upon delit, +To take of wommen the plesance: +So that upon his ignorance 4480 +The wyde world merveileth yit, +That he, which alle mennes wit +In thilke time hath overpassed, +With fleisshly lustes was so tassed, +That he which ladde under the lawe +The poeple of god, himself withdrawe +He hath fro god in such a wise, +That he worschipe and sacrifise +For sondri love in sondri stede +Unto the false goddes dede. 4490 +This was the wise ecclesiaste, +The fame of whom schal evere laste, +That he the myhti god forsok, +Ayein the lawe whanne he tok +His wyves and his concubines +Of hem that weren Sarazines, +For whiche he dede ydolatrie. +For this I rede of his sotie: + +Sche of Sidoyne so him ladde, +That he knelende his armes spradde 4500 +To Astrathen with gret humblesse, +Which of hire lond was the goddesse: + +And sche that was a Moabite +So ferforth made him to delite +Thurgh lust, which al his wit devoureth, +That he Chamos hire god honoureth. + +An other Amonyte also +With love him hath assoted so, +Hire god Moloch that with encense +He sacreth, and doth reverence 4510 +In such a wise as sche him bad. +Thus was the wiseste overlad +With blinde lustes whiche he soghte; +Bot he it afterward aboghte. + +For Achias Selonites, +Which was prophete, er his decess, +Whil he was in hise lustes alle, +Betokneth what schal after falle. +For on a day, whan that he mette +Jeroboam the knyht, he grette 4520 +And bad him that he scholde abyde, +To hiere what him schal betyde. +And forth withal Achias caste +His mantell of, and also faste +He kut it into pieces twelve, +Wherof tuo partz toward himselve +He kepte, and al the remenant, +As god hath set his covenant, +He tok unto Jeroboas, +Of Nabal which the Sone was, 4530 +And of the kinges court a knyht: +And seide him, “Such is goddes myht, +As thou hast sen departed hiere +Mi mantell, riht in such manere +After the deth of Salomon +God hath ordeigned therupon, +This regne thanne he schal divide: +Which time thou schalt ek abide, +And upon that division +The regne as in proporcion 4540 +As thou hast of mi mantell take, +Thou schalt receive, I undertake. +And thus the Sone schal abie +The lustes and the lecherie +Of him which nou his fader is.” + +So forto taken hiede of this, +It sit a king wel to be chaste, +For elles he mai lihtly waste +Himself and ek his regne bothe, +And that oghte every king to lothe. 4550 +O, which a Senne violent, +Wherof so wys a king was schent, +That the vengance in his persone +Was noght ynouh to take al one, +Bot afterward, whan he was passed, +It hath his heritage lassed, +As I more openli tofore +The tale tolde. And thus therfore +The Philosophre upon this thing +Writ and conseileth to a king, 4560 +That he the surfet of luxure +Schal tempre and reule of such mesure, +Which be to kinde sufficant +And ek to reson acordant, +So that the lustes ignorance +Be cause of no misgovernance, +Thurgh which that he be overthrowe, +As he that wol no reson knowe. +For bot a mannes wit be swerved, +Whan kinde is dueliche served, 4570 +It oghte of reson to suffise; +For if it falle him otherwise, +He mai tho lustes sore drede. + +For of Anthonie thus I rede, +Which of Severus was the Sone, +That he his lif of comun wone +Yaf holy unto thilke vice, +And ofte time he was so nyce, +Wherof nature hire hath compleigned +Unto the god, which hath desdeigned 4580 +The werkes whiche Antonie wroghte +Of lust, whiche he ful sore aboghte: +For god his forfet hath so wroke +That in Cronique it is yit spoke. +Bot forto take remembrance +Of special misgovernance +Thurgh covoitise and injustice +Forth with the remenant of vice, +And nameliche of lecherie, +I finde write a gret partie 4590 +Withinne a tale, as thou schalt hiere, +Which is thensample of this matiere. + +So as these olde gestes sein, +The proude tirannyssh Romein +Tarquinus, which was thanne king +And wroghte many a wrongful thing, +Of Sones hadde manyon, +Among the whiche Arrons was on, +Lich to his fader of maneres; +So that withinne a fewe yeres 4600 +With tresoun and with tirannie +Thei wonne of lond a gret partie, +And token hiede of no justice, +Which due was to here office +Upon the reule of governance; +Bot al that evere was plesance +Unto the fleisshes lust thei toke. +And fell so, that thei undertoke +A werre, which was noght achieved, +Bot ofte time it hadde hem grieved, 4610 +Ayein a folk which thanne hihte +The Gabiens: and al be nyhte +This Arrons, whan he was at hom +In Rome, a prive place he nom +Withinne a chambre, and bet himselve +And made him woundes ten or tuelve +Upon the bak, as it was sene; +And so forth with hise hurtes grene +In al the haste that he may +He rod, and cam that other day 4620 +Unto Gabie the Cite, +And in he wente: and whan that he +Was knowe, anon the gates schette, +The lordes alle upon him sette +With drawe swerdes upon honde. +This Arrons wolde hem noght withstonde, +Bot seide, “I am hier at your wille, +Als lief it is that ye me spille, +As if myn oghne fader dede.” +And forthwith in the same stede 4630 +He preide hem that thei wolde se, +And schewede hem in what degre +His fader and hise brethren bothe, +Whiche, as he seide, weren wrothe, +Him hadde beten and reviled, +For evere and out of Rome exiled. +And thus he made hem to believe, +And seide, if that he myhte achieve +His pourpos, it schal wel be yolde, +Be so that thei him helpe wolde. 4640 + +Whan that the lordes hadde sein +Hou wofully he was besein, +Thei token Pite of his grief; +Bot yit it was hem wonder lief +That Rome him hadde exiled so. +These Gabiens be conseil tho +Upon the goddes made him swere, +That he to hem schal trouthe bere +And strengthen hem with al his myht; +And thei also him have behiht 4650 +To helpen him in his querele. +Thei schopen thanne for his hele +That he was bathed and enoignt, +Til that he was in lusti point; +And what he wolde thanne he hadde, +That he al hol the cite ladde +Riht as he wolde himself divise. +And thanne he thoghte him in what wise +He myhte his tirannie schewe; +And to his conseil tok a schrewe, 4660 +Whom to his fader forth he sente +In his message, and he tho wente, +And preide his fader forto seie +Be his avis, and finde a weie, +Hou they the cite myhten winne, +Whil that he stod so wel therinne. +And whan the messager was come +To Rome, and hath in conseil nome +The king, it fell per chance so +That thei were in a gardin tho, 4670 +This messager forth with the king. +And whanne he hadde told the thing +In what manere that it stod, +And that Tarquinus understod +Be the message hou that it ferde, +Anon he tok in honde a yerde, +And in the gardin as thei gon, +The lilie croppes on and on, +Wher that thei weren sprongen oute, +He smot of, as thei stode aboute, 4680 +And seide unto the messager: +“Lo, this thing, which I do nou hier, +Schal ben in stede of thin ansuere; +And in this wise as I me bere, +Thou schalt unto mi Sone telle.” +And he no lengere wolde duelle, +Bot tok his leve and goth withal +Unto his lord, and told him al, +Hou that his fader hadde do. +Whan Arrons herde him telle so, 4690 +Anon he wiste what it mente, +And therto sette al his entente, +Til he thurgh fraude and tricherie +The Princes hefdes of Gabie +Hath smiten of, and al was wonne: +His fader cam tofore the Sonne +Into the toun with the Romeins, +And tok and slowh the citezeins +Withoute reson or pite, +That he ne spareth no degre. 4700 +And for the sped of this conqueste +He let do make a riche feste +With a sollempne Sacrifise +In Phebus temple; and in this wise +Whan the Romeins assembled were, +In presence of hem alle there, +Upon thalter whan al was diht +And that the fyres were alyht, +From under thalter sodeinly +An hidous Serpent openly 4710 +Cam out and hath devoured al +The Sacrifice, and ek withal +The fyres queynt, and forth anon, +So as he cam, so is he gon +Into the depe ground ayein. +And every man began to sein, +“Ha lord, what mai this signefie?” +And therupon thei preie and crie +To Phebus, that thei mihten knowe +The cause: and he the same throwe 4720 +With gastly vois, that alle it herde, +The Romeins in this wise ansuerde, +And seide hou for the wikkidnesse +Of Pride and of unrihtwisnesse, +That Tarquin and his Sone hath do, +The Sacrifice is wasted so, +Which myhte noght ben acceptable +Upon such Senne abhominable. +And over that yit he hem wisseth, +And seith that which of hem ferst kisseth 4730 +His moder, he schal take wrieche +Upon the wrong: and of that speche +Thei ben withinne here hertes glade, +Thogh thei outward no semblant made. +Ther was a knyht which Brutus hihte, +And he with al the haste he myhte +To grounde fell and therthe kiste, +Bot non of hem the cause wiste, +Bot wenden that he hadde sporned +Per chance, and so was overtorned. 4740 +Bot Brutus al an other mente; +For he knew wel in his entente +Hou therthe of every mannes kinde +Is Moder: bot thei weren blinde, +And sihen noght so fer as he. +Bot whan thei leften the Cite +And comen hom to Rome ayein, +Thanne every man which was Romein +And moder hath, to hire he bende +And keste, and ech of hem thus wende 4750 +To be the ferste upon the chance, +Of Tarquin forto do vengance, +So as thei herden Phebus sein. + +Bot every time hath his certein, +So moste it nedes thanne abide, +Til afterward upon a tyde +Tarquinus made unskilfully +A werre, which was fasteby +Ayein a toun with walles stronge +Which Ardea was cleped longe, 4760 +And caste a Siege theraboute, +That ther mai noman passen oute. +So it befell upon a nyht, +Arrons, which hadde his souper diht, +A part of the chivalerie +With him to soupe in compaignie +Hath bede: and whan thei comen were +And seten at the souper there, +Among here othre wordes glade +Arrons a gret spekinge made, 4770 +Who hadde tho the beste wif +Of Rome: and ther began a strif, +For Arrons seith he hath the beste. +So jangle thei withoute reste, +Til ate laste on Collatin, +A worthi knyht, and was cousin +To Arrons, seide him in this wise: +“It is,” quod he, “of non emprise +To speke a word, bot of the dede, +Therof it is to taken hiede. 4780 +Anon forthi this same tyde +Lep on thin hors and let ous ryde: +So mai we knowe bothe tuo +Unwarli what oure wyves do, +And that schal be a trewe assay.” +This Arrons seith noght ones nay: +On horse bak anon thei lepte +In such manere, and nothing slepte, +Ridende forth til that thei come +Al prively withinne Rome; 4790 +In strange place and doun thei lihte, +And take a chambre, and out of sihte +Thei be desguised for a throwe, +So that no lif hem scholde knowe. +And to the paleis ferst thei soghte, +To se what thing this ladi wroghte +Of which Arrons made his avant: +And thei hire sihe of glad semblant, +Al full of merthes and of bordes; +Bot among alle hire othre wordes 4800 +Sche spak noght of hire housebonde. +And whan thei hadde al understonde +Of thilke place what hem liste, +Thei gon hem forth, that non it wiste, +Beside thilke gate of bras, +Collacea which cleped was, +Wher Collatin hath his duellinge. +Ther founden thei at hom sittinge +Lucrece his wif, al environed +With wommen, whiche are abandoned 4810 +To werche, and sche wroghte ek withal, +And bad hem haste, and seith, “It schal +Be for mi housebondes were, +Which with his swerd and with his spere +Lith at the Siege in gret desese. +And if it scholde him noght displese, +Nou wolde god I hadde him hiere; +For certes til that I mai hiere +Som good tidinge of his astat, +Min herte is evere upon debat. 4820 +For so as alle men witnesse, +He is of such an hardiesse, +That he can noght himselve spare, +And that is al my moste care, +Whan thei the walles schulle assaile. +Bot if mi wisshes myhte availe, +I wolde it were a groundles pet, +Be so the Siege were unknet, +And I myn housebonde sihe.” +With that the water in hire yhe 4830 +Aros, that sche ne myhte it stoppe, +And as men sen the dew bedroppe +The leves and the floures eke, +Riht so upon hire whyte cheke +The wofull salte teres felle. +Whan Collatin hath herd hire telle +The menynge of hire trewe herte, +Anon with that to hire he sterte, +And seide, “Lo, mi goode diere, +Nou is he come to you hiere, 4840 +That ye most loven, as ye sein.” +And sche with goodly chiere ayein +Beclipte him in hire armes smale, +And the colour, which erst was pale, +To Beaute thanne was restored, +So that it myhte noght be mored. + +The kinges Sone, which was nyh, +And of this lady herde and syh +The thinges as thei ben befalle, +The resoun of hise wittes alle 4850 +Hath lost; for love upon his part +Cam thanne, and of his fyri dart +With such a wounde him hath thurghsmite, +That he mot nedes fiele and wite +Of thilke blinde maladie, +To which no cure of Surgerie +Can helpe. Bot yit natheles +At thilke time he hield his pes, +That he no contienance made, +Bot openly with wordes glade, 4860 +So as he couthe in his manere, +He spak and made frendly chiere, +Til it was time forto go. +And Collatin with him also +His leve tok, so that be nyhte +With al the haste that thei myhte +Thei riden to the Siege ayein. +Bot Arrons was so wo besein +With thoghtes whiche upon him runne, +That he al be the brode Sunne 4870 +To bedde goth, noght forto reste, +Bot forto thenke upon the beste +And the faireste forth withal, +That evere he syh or evere schal, +So as him thoghte in his corage, +Where he pourtreieth hire ymage: +Ferst the fetures of hir face, +In which nature hadde alle grace +Of wommanly beaute beset, +So that it myhte noght be bet; 4880 +And hou hir yelwe her was tresced +And hire atir so wel adresced, +And hou sche spak, and hou sche wroghte, +And hou sche wepte, al this he thoghte, +That he foryeten hath no del, +Bot al it liketh him so wel, +That in the word nor in the dede +Hire lacketh noght of wommanhiede. +And thus this tirannysshe knyht +Was soupled, bot noght half ariht, 4890 +For he non other hiede tok, +Bot that he myhte be som crok, +Althogh it were ayein hire wille, +The lustes of his fleissh fulfille; +Which love was noght resonable, +For where honour is remuable, +It oghte wel to ben avised. +Bot he, which hath his lust assised +With melled love and tirannie, +Hath founde upon his tricherie 4900 +A weie which he thenkth to holde, +And seith, “Fortune unto the bolde +Is favorable forto helpe.” +And thus withinne himself to yelpe, +As he which was a wylde man, +Upon his treson he began: +And up he sterte, and forth he wente +On horsebak, bot his entente +Ther knew no wiht, and thus he nam +The nexte weie, til he cam 4910 +Unto Collacea the gate +Of Rome, and it was somdiel late, +Riht evene upon the Sonne set, +As he which hadde schape his net +Hire innocence to betrappe. +And as it scholde tho mishappe, +Als priveliche as evere he myhte +He rod, and of his hors alyhte +Tofore Collatines In, +And al frendliche he goth him in, 4920 +As he that was cousin of house. +And sche, which is the goode spouse, +Lucrece, whan that sche him sih, +With goodli chiere drowh him nyh, +As sche which al honour supposeth, +And him, so as sche dar, opposeth +Hou it stod of hire housebonde. +And he tho dede hire understonde +With tales feigned in his wise, +Riht as he wolde himself devise, 4930 +Wherof he myhte hire herte glade, +That sche the betre chiere made, +Whan sche the glade wordes herde, +Hou that hire housebonde ferde. +And thus the trouthe was deceived +With slih tresoun, which was received +To hire which mente alle goode; +For as the festes thanne stode, +His Souper was ryht wel arraied. +Bot yit he hath no word assaied 4940 +To speke of love in no degre; +Bot with covert subtilite +His frendly speches he affaiteth, +And as the Tigre his time awaiteth +In hope forto cacche his preie. +Whan that the bordes were aweie +And thei have souped in the halle, +He seith that slep is on him falle, +And preith he moste go to bedde; +And sche with alle haste spedde, 4950 +So as hire thoghte it was to done, +That every thing was redi sone. +Sche broghte him to his chambre tho +And tok hire leve, and forth is go +Into hire oghne chambre by, +As sche that wende certeinly +Have had a frend, and hadde a fo, +Wherof fell after mochel wo. + +This tirant, thogh he lyhe softe, +Out of his bed aros fulofte, 4960 +And goth aboute, and leide his Ere +To herkne, til that alle were +To bedde gon and slepten faste. +And thanne upon himself he caste +A mantell, and his swerd al naked +He tok in honde; and sche unwaked +Abedde lay, but what sche mette, +God wot; for he the Dore unschette +So prively that non it herde, +The softe pas and forth he ferde 4970 +Unto the bed wher that sche slepte, +Al sodeinliche and in he crepte, +And hire in bothe his Armes tok. +With that this worthi wif awok, +Which thurgh tendresce of wommanhiede +Hire vois hath lost for pure drede, +That o word speke sche ne dar: +And ek he bad hir to be war, +For if sche made noise or cry, +He seide, his swerd lay faste by 4980 +To slen hire and hire folk aboute. +And thus he broghte hire herte in doute, +That lich a Lomb whanne it is sesed +In wolves mouth, so was desesed +Lucrece, which he naked fond: +Wherof sche swounede in his hond, +And, as who seith, lay ded oppressed. +And he, which al him hadde adresced +To lust, tok thanne what him liste, +And goth his wey, that non it wiste, 4990 +Into his oghne chambre ayein, +And clepede up his chamberlein, +And made him redi forto ryde. +And thus this lecherouse pride +To horse lepte and forth he rod; +And sche, which in hire bed abod, +Whan that sche wiste he was agon, +Sche clepede after liht anon +And up aros long er the day, +And caste awey hire freissh aray, 5000 +As sche which hath the world forsake, +And tok upon the clothes blake: +And evere upon continuinge, +Riht as men sen a welle springe, +With yhen fulle of wofull teres, +Hire her hangende aboute hire Eres, +Sche wepte, and noman wiste why. +Bot yit among full pitously +Sche preide that thei nolden drecche +Hire housebonde forto fecche 5010 +Forth with hire fader ek also. + +Thus be thei comen bothe tuo, +And Brutus cam with Collatin, +Which to Lucrece was cousin, +And in thei wenten alle thre +To chambre, wher thei myhten se +The wofulleste upon this Molde, +Which wepte as sche to water scholde. +The chambre Dore anon was stoke, +Er thei have oght unto hire spoke; 5020 +Thei sihe hire clothes al desguised, +And hou sche hath hirself despised, +Hire her hangende unkemd aboute, +Bot natheles sche gan to loute +And knele unto hire housebonde; +And he, which fain wolde understonde +The cause why sche ferde so, +With softe wordes axeth tho, +“What mai you be, mi goode swete?” +And sche, which thoghte hirself unmete 5030 +And the lest worth of wommen alle, +Hire wofull chiere let doun falle +For schame and couthe unnethes loke. +And thei therof good hiede toke, +And preiden hire in alle weie +That sche ne spare forto seie +Unto hir frendes what hire eileth, +Why sche so sore hirself beweileth, +And what the sothe wolde mene. +And sche, which hath hire sorwes grene, 5040 +Hire wo to telle thanne assaieth, +Bot tendre schame hire word delaieth, +That sondri times as sche minte +To speke, upon the point sche stinte. +And thei hire bidden evere in on +To telle forth, and therupon, +Whan that sche sih sche moste nede, +Hire tale betwen schame and drede +Sche tolde, noght withoute peine. +And he, which wolde hire wo restreigne, 5050 +Hire housebonde, a sory man, +Conforteth hire al that he can, +And swor, and ek hire fader bothe, +That thei with hire be noght wrothe +Of that is don ayein hire wille; +And preiden hire to be stille, +For thei to hire have al foryive. +Bot sche, which thoghte noght to live, +Of hem wol no foryivenesse, +And seide, of thilke wickednesse 5060 +Which was unto hire bodi wroght, +Al were it so sche myhte it noght, +Nevere afterward the world ne schal +Reproeven hire; and forth withal, +Er eny man therof be war, +A naked swerd, the which sche bar +Withinne hire Mantel priveli, +Betwen hire hondes sodeinly +Sche tok, and thurgh hire herte it throng, +And fell to grounde, and evere among, 5070 +Whan that sche fell, so as sche myhte, +Hire clothes with hire hand sche rihte, +That noman dounward fro the kne +Scholde eny thing of hire se: +Thus lay this wif honestely, +Althogh sche deide wofully. + +Tho was no sorwe forto seke: +Hire housebonde, hire fader eke +Aswoune upon the bodi felle; +Ther mai no mannes tunge telle 5080 +In which anguisshe that thei were. +Bot Brutus, which was with hem there, +Toward himself his herte kepte, +And to Lucrece anon he lepte, +The blodi swerd and pulleth oute, +And swor the goddes al aboute +That he therof schal do vengance. +And sche tho made a contienance, +Hire dedlich yhe and ate laste +In thonkinge as it were up caste, 5090 +And so behield him in the wise, +Whil sche to loke mai suffise. +And Brutus with a manlich herte +Hire housebonde hath mad up sterte +Forth with hire fader ek also +In alle haste, and seide hem tho +That thei anon withoute lette +A Beere for the body fette; +Lucrece and therupon bledende +He leide, and so forth out criende 5100 +He goth into the Market place +Of Rome: and in a litel space +Thurgh cry the cite was assembled, +And every mannes herte is trembled, +Whan thei the sothe herde of the cas. +And therupon the conseil was +Take of the grete and of the smale, +And Brutus tolde hem al the tale; +And thus cam into remembrance +Of Senne the continuance, 5110 +Which Arrons hadde do tofore, +And ek, long time er he was bore, +Of that his fadre hadde do +The wrong cam into place tho; +So that the comun clamour tolde +The newe schame of Sennes olde. +And al the toun began to crie, +“Awey, awey the tirannie +Of lecherie and covoitise!” +And ate laste in such a wise 5120 +The fader in the same while +Forth with his Sone thei exile, +And taken betre governance. +Bot yit an other remembrance +That rihtwisnesse and lecherie +Acorden noght in compaignie +With him that hath the lawe on honde, +That mai a man wel understonde, +As be a tale thou shalt wite, +Of olde ensample as it is write. 5130 + +At Rome whan that Apius, +Whos other name is Claudius, +Was governour of the cite, +Ther fell a wonder thing to se +Touchende a gentil Maide, as thus, +Whom Livius Virginius +Begeten hadde upon his wif: +Men seiden that so fair a lif +As sche was noght in al the toun. +This fame, which goth up and doun, 5140 +To Claudius cam in his Ere, +Wherof his thoght anon was there, +Which al his herte hath set afyre, +That he began the flour desire +Which longeth unto maydenhede, +And sende, if that he myhte spede +The blinde lustes of his wille. +Bot that thing mai he noght fulfille, +For sche stod upon Mariage; +A worthi kniht of gret lignage, 5150 +Ilicius which thanne hihte, +Acorded in hire fader sihte +Was, that he scholde his douhter wedde. +Bot er the cause fully spedde, +Hire fader, which in Romanie +The ledinge of chivalerie +In governance hath undertake, +Upon a werre which was take +Goth out with al the strengthe he hadde +Of men of Armes whiche he ladde: 5160 +So was the mariage left, +And stod upon acord til eft. + +The king, which herde telle of this, +Hou that this Maide ordeigned is +To Mariage, thoghte an other. +And hadde thilke time a brother, +Which Marchus Claudius was hote, +And was a man of such riote +Riht as the king himselve was: +Thei tuo togedre upon this cas 5170 +In conseil founden out this weie, +That Marchus Claudius schal seie +Hou sche be weie of covenant +To his service appourtenant +Was hol, and to non other man; +And therupon he seith he can +In every point witnesse take, +So that sche schal it noght forsake. +Whan that thei hadden schape so, +After the lawe which was tho, 5180 +Whil that hir fader was absent, +Sche was somouned and assent +To come in presence of the king +And stonde in ansuere of this thing. +Hire frendes wisten alle wel +That it was falshed everydel, +And comen to the king and seiden, +Upon the comun lawe and preiden, +So as this noble worthi knyht +Hir fader for the comun riht 5190 +In thilke time, as was befalle, +Lai for the profit of hem alle +Upon the wylde feldes armed, +That he ne scholde noght ben harmed +Ne schamed, whil that he were oute; +And thus thei preiden al aboute. + +For al the clamour that he herde, +The king upon his lust ansuerde, +And yaf hem only daies tuo +Of respit; for he wende tho, 5200 +That in so schorte a time appiere +Hire fader mihte in no manere. +Bot as therof he was deceived; +For Livius hadde al conceived +The pourpos of the king tofore, +So that to Rome ayein therfore +In alle haste he cam ridende, +And lefte upon the field liggende +His host, til that he come ayein. +And thus this worthi capitein 5210 +Appiereth redi at his day, +Wher al that evere reson may +Be lawe in audience he doth, +So that his dowhter upon soth +Of that Marchus hire hadde accused +He hath tofore the court excused. + +The king, which sih his pourpos faile, +And that no sleihte mihte availe, +Encombred of his lustes blinde +The lawe torneth out of kinde, 5220 +And half in wraththe as thogh it were, +In presence of hem alle there +Deceived of concupiscence +Yaf for his brother the sentence, +And bad him that he scholde sese +This Maide and make him wel at ese; +Bot al withinne his oghne entente +He wiste hou that the cause wente, +Of that his brother hath the wyte +He was himselven forto wyte. 5230 +Bot thus this maiden hadde wrong, +Which was upon the king along, +Bot ayein him was non Appel, +And that the fader wiste wel: +Wherof upon the tirannie, +That for the lust of Lecherie +His douhter scholde be deceived, +And that Ilicius was weyved +Untrewly fro the Mariage, +Riht as a Leon in his rage, 5240 +Which of no drede set acompte +And not what pite scholde amounte, +A naked swerd he pulleth oute, +The which amonges al the route +He threste thurgh his dowhter side, +And al alowd this word he cride: +“Lo, take hire ther, thou wrongfull king, +For me is levere upon this thing +To be the fader of a Maide, +Thogh sche be ded, that if men saide 5250 +That in hir lif sche were schamed +And I therof were evele named.” + +Tho bad the king men scholde areste +His bodi, bot of thilke heste, +Lich to the chaced wylde bor, +The houndes whan he fieleth sor, +Tothroweth and goth forth his weie, +In such a wise forto seie +This worthi kniht with swerd on honde +His weie made, and thei him wonde, 5260 +That non of hem his strokes kepte; +And thus upon his hors he lepte, +And with his swerd droppende of blod, +The which withinne his douhter stod, +He cam ther as the pouer was +Of Rome, and tolde hem al the cas, +And seide hem that thei myhten liere +Upon the wrong of his matiere, +That betre it were to redresce +At hom the grete unrihtwisnesse, 5270 +Than forto werre in strange place +And lese at hom here oghne grace. +For thus stant every mannes lif +In jeupartie for his wif +Or for his dowhter, if thei be +Passende an other of beaute. + +Of this merveile which thei sihe +So apparant tofore here yhe, +Of that the king him hath misbore, +Here othes thei have alle swore 5280 +That thei wol stonde be the riht. +And thus of on acord upriht +To Rome at ones hom ayein +Thei torne, and schortly forto sein, +This tirannye cam to mouthe, +And every man seith what he couthe, +So that the prive tricherie, +Which set was upon lecherie, +Cam openly to mannes Ere; +And that broghte in the comun feere, 5290 +That every man the peril dradde +Of him that so hem overladde. +Forthi, er that it worse falle, +Thurgh comun conseil of hem alle +Thei have here wrongfull king deposed, +And hem in whom it was supposed +The conseil stod of his ledinge +Be lawe unto the dom thei bringe, +Wher thei receiven the penance +That longeth to such governance. 5300 +And thus thunchaste was chastised, +Wherof thei myhte ben avised +That scholden afterward governe, +And be this evidence lerne, +Hou it is good a king eschuie +The lust of vice and vertu suie. + +To make an ende in this partie, +Which toucheth to the Policie +Of Chastite in special, +As for conclusion final 5310 +That every lust is to eschue +Be gret ensample I mai argue: +Hou in Rages a toun of Mede +Ther was a Mayde, and as I rede, +Sarra sche hihte, and Raguel +Hir fader was; and so befell, +Of bodi bothe and of visage +Was non so fair of the lignage, +To seche among hem alle, as sche; +Wherof the riche of the cite, 5320 +Of lusti folk that couden love, +Assoted were upon hire love, +And asken hire forto wedde. +On was which ate laste spedde, +Bot that was more for likinge, +To have his lust, than for weddinge, +As he withinne his herte caste, +Which him repenteth ate laste. +For so it fell the ferste nyht, +That whanne he was to bedde dyht, 5330 +As he which nothing god besecheth +Bot al only hise lustes secheth, +Abedde er he was fully warm +And wolde have take hire in his Arm, +Asmod, which was a fend of helle, +And serveth, as the bokes telle, +To tempte a man of such a wise, +Was redy there, and thilke emprise, +Which he hath set upon delit, +He vengeth thanne in such a plit, 5340 +That he his necke hathe writhe atuo. +This yonge wif was sory tho, +Which wiste nothing what it mente; +And natheles yit thus it wente +Noght only of this ferste man, +Bot after, riht as he began, +Sexe othre of hire housebondes +Asmod hath take into hise bondes, +So that thei alle abedde deiden, +Whan thei her hand toward hir leiden, 5350 +Noght for the lawe of Mariage, +Bot for that ilke fyri rage +In which that thei the lawe excede: +For who that wolde taken hiede +What after fell in this matiere, +Ther mihte he wel the sothe hiere. +Whan sche was wedded to Thobie, +And Raphael in compainie +Hath tawht him hou to ben honeste, +Asmod wan noght at thilke feste, 5360 +And yit Thobie his wille hadde; +For he his lust so goodly ladde, +That bothe lawe and kinde is served, +Wherof he hath himself preserved, +That he fell noght in the sentence. +O which an open evidence +Of this ensample a man mai se, +That whan likinge in the degre +Of Mariage mai forsueie, +Wel oghte him thanne in other weie 5370 +Of lust to be the betre avised. +For god the lawes hath assissed +Als wel to reson as to kinde, +Bot he the bestes wolde binde +Only to lawes of nature, +Bot to the mannes creature +God yaf him reson forth withal, +Wherof that he nature schal +Upon the causes modefie, +That he schal do no lecherie, 5380 +And yit he schal hise lustes have. +So ben the lawes bothe save +And every thing put out of sclandre; +As whilom to king Alisandre +The wise Philosophre tawhte, +Whan he his ferste lore cawhte, +Noght only upon chastete, +Bot upon alle honestete; +Wherof a king himself mai taste, +Hou trewe, hou large, hou joust, hou chaste 5390 +Him oghte of reson forto be, +Forth with the vertu of Pite, +Thurgh which he mai gret thonk deserve +Toward his godd, that he preserve +Him and his poeple in alle welthe +Of pes, richesse, honour and helthe +Hier in this world and elles eke. + +Mi Sone, as we tofore spieke +In schrifte, so as thou me seidest, +And for thin ese, as thou me preidest, 5400 +Thi love throghes forto lisse, +That I thee wolde telle and wisse +The forme of Aristotles lore, +I have it seid, and somdiel more +Of othre ensamples, to assaie +If I thi peines myhte allaie +Thurgh eny thing that I can seie. + +Do wey, mi fader, I you preie: +Of that ye have unto me told +I thonke you a thousendfold. 5410 +The tales sounen in myn Ere, +Bot yit min herte is elleswhere, +I mai miselve noght restreigne, +That I nam evere in loves peine: +Such lore couthe I nevere gete, +Which myhte make me foryete +O point, bot if so were I slepte, +That I my tydes ay ne kepte +To thenke of love and of his lawe; +That herte can I noght withdrawe. 5420 +Forthi, my goode fader diere, +Lef al and speke of my matiere +Touchende of love, as we begonne: +If that ther be oght overronne +Or oght foryete or left behinde +Which falleth unto loves kinde, +Wherof it nedeth to be schrive, +Nou axeth, so that whil I live +I myhte amende that is mys. + +Mi goode diere Sone, yis. 5430 +Thi schrifte forto make plein, +Ther is yit more forto sein +Of love which is unavised. +Bot for thou schalt be wel avised +Unto thi schrifte as it belongeth, +A point which upon love hongeth +And is the laste of alle tho, +I wol thee telle, and thanne ho. + +Explicit Liber Septimus. + + + + +Incipit Liber Octavus + + +_Que favet ad vicium vetus hec modo regula confert, + Nec novus e contra qui docet ordo placet. +Cecus amor dudum nondum sua lumina cepit, + Quo Venus impositum devia fallit iter._ + +The myhti god, which unbegunne +Stant of himself and hath begunne +Alle othre thinges at his wille, +The hevene him liste to fulfille +Of alle joie, where as he +Sit inthronized in his See, +And hath hise Angles him to serve, +Suche as him liketh to preserve, +So that thei mowe noght forsueie: +Bot Lucifer he putte aweie, 10 +With al the route apostazied +Of hem that ben to him allied, +Whiche out of hevene into the helle +From Angles into fendes felle; +Wher that ther is no joie of lyht, +Bot more derk than eny nyht +The peine schal ben endeles; +And yit of fyres natheles +Ther is plente, bot thei ben blake, +Wherof no syhte mai be take. 20 + + +Thus whan the thinges ben befalle, +That Luciferes court was falle +Wher dedly Pride hem hath conveied, +Anon forthwith it was pourveied +Thurgh him which alle thinges may; +He made Adam the sexte day +In Paradis, and to his make +Him liketh Eve also to make, +And bad hem cresce and multiplie. +For of the mannes Progenie, 30 +Which of the womman schal be bore, +The nombre of Angles which was lore, +Whan thei out fro the blisse felle, +He thoghte to restore, and felle +In hevene thilke holy place +Which stod tho voide upon his grace. +Bot as it is wel wiste and knowe, +Adam and Eve bot a throwe, +So as it scholde of hem betyde, +In Paradis at thilke tyde 40 +Ne duelten, and the cause why, +Write in the bok of Genesi, +As who seith, alle men have herd, +Hou Raphael the fyri swerd +In honde tok and drof hem oute, +To gete here lyves fode aboute +Upon this wofull Erthe hiere. +Metodre seith to this matiere, +As he be revelacion +It hadde upon avision, 50 +Hou that Adam and Eve also +Virgines comen bothe tuo +Into the world and were aschamed, +Til that nature hem hath reclamed +To love, and tauht hem thilke lore, +That ferst thei keste, and overmore +Thei don that is to kinde due, +Wherof thei hadden fair issue. +A Sone was the ferste of alle, +And Chain be name thei him calle; 60 +Abel was after the secounde, +And in the geste as it is founde, +Nature so the cause ladde, +Tuo douhtres ek Dame Eve hadde, +The ferste cleped Calmana +Was, and that other Delbora. +Thus was mankinde to beginne; +Forthi that time it was no Sinne +The Soster forto take hire brother, +Whan that ther was of chois non other: 70 +To Chain was Calmana betake, +And Delboram hath Abel take, +In whom was gete natheles +Of worldes folk the ferste encres. +Men sein that nede hath no lawe, +And so it was be thilke dawe +And laste into the Secounde Age, +Til that the grete water rage, +Of Noeh which was seid the flod, +The world, which thanne in Senne stod, 80 +Hath dreint, outake lyves Eyhte. +Tho was mankinde of litel weyhte; +Sem, Cham, Japhet, of these thre, +That ben the Sones of Noë, +The world of mannes nacion +Into multiplicacion +Was tho restored newe ayein +So ferforth, as the bokes sein, +That of hem thre and here issue +Ther was so large a retenue, 90 +Of naciouns seventy and tuo; +In sondri place ech on of tho +The wyde world have enhabited. +Bot as nature hem hath excited, +Thei token thanne litel hiede, +The brother of the Sosterhiede +To wedde wyves, til it cam +Into the time of Habraham. +Whan the thridde Age was begunne, +The nede tho was overrunne, 100 +For ther was poeple ynouh in londe: +Thanne ate ferste it cam to honde, +That Sosterhode of mariage +Was torned into cousinage, +So that after the rihte lyne +The Cousin weddeth the cousine. +For Habraham, er that he deide, +This charge upon his servant leide, +To him and in this wise spak, +That he his Sone Isaäc 110 +Do wedde for no worldes good, +Bot only to his oghne blod: +Wherof this Servant, as he bad, +Whan he was ded, his Sone hath lad +To Bathuel, wher he Rebecke +Hath wedded with the whyte necke; +For sche, he wiste wel and syh, +Was to the child cousine nyh. + + +And thus as Habraham hath tawht, +Whan Isaäc was god betawht, 120 +His Sone Jacob dede also, +And of Laban the dowhtres tuo, +Which was his Em, he tok to wyve, +And gat upon hem in his lyve, +Of hire ferst which hihte Lie, +Sex Sones of his Progenie, +And of Rachel tuo Sones eke: +The remenant was forto seke, +That is to sein of foure mo, +Wherof he gat on Bala tuo, 130 +And of Zelpha he hadde ek tweie. +And these tuelve, as I thee seie, +Thurgh providence of god himselve +Ben seid the Patriarkes tuelve; +Of whom, as afterward befell, +The tribes tuelve of Irahel +Engendred were, and ben the same +That of Hebreus tho hadden name, +Which of Sibrede in alliance +For evere kepten thilke usance 140 +Most comunly, til Crist was bore. +Bot afterward it was forbore +Amonges ous that ben baptized; +For of the lawe canonized +The Pope hath bede to the men, +That non schal wedden of his ken +Ne the seconde ne the thridde. +Bot thogh that holy cherche it bidde, +So to restreigne Mariage, +Ther ben yit upon loves Rage 150 +Full manye of suche nou aday +That taken wher thei take may. +For love, which is unbesein +Of alle reson, as men sein, +Thurgh sotie and thurgh nycete, +Of his voluptuosite +He spareth no condicion +Of ken ne yit religion, +Bot as a cock among the Hennes, +Or as a Stalon in the Fennes, 160 +Which goth amonges al the Stod, +Riht so can he nomore good, +Bot takth what thing comth next to honde. + + +Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde, +That such delit is forto blame. +Forthi if thou hast be the same +To love in eny such manere, +Tell forth therof and schrif thee hiere. + + +Mi fader, nay, god wot the sothe, +Mi feire is noght of such a bothe, 170 +So wylde a man yit was I nevere, +That of mi ken or lief or levere +Me liste love in such a wise: +And ek I not for what emprise +I scholde assote upon a Nonne, +For thogh I hadde hir love wonne, +It myhte into no pris amonte, +So therof sette I non acompte. +Ye mai wel axe of this and that, +Bot sothli forto telle plat, 180 +In al this world ther is bot on +The which myn herte hath overgon; +I am toward alle othre fre. + + +Full wel, mi Sone, nou I see +Thi word stant evere upon o place, +Bot yit therof thou hast a grace, +That thou thee myht so wel excuse +Of love such as som men use, +So as I spak of now tofore. +For al such time of love is lore, 190 +And lich unto the bitterswete; +For thogh it thenke a man ferst swete, +He schal wel fielen ate laste +That it is sour and may noght laste. +For as a morsell envenimed, +So hath such love his lust mistimed, +And grete ensamples manyon +A man mai finde therupon. + + +At Rome ferst if we beginne, +Ther schal I finde hou of this sinne 200 +An Emperour was forto blame, +Gayus Caligula be name, +Which of his oghne Sostres thre +Berefte the virginite: +And whanne he hadde hem so forlein, +As he the which was al vilein, +He dede hem out of londe exile. +Bot afterward withinne a while +God hath beraft him in his ire +His lif and ek his large empire: 210 +And thus for likinge of a throwe +For evere his lust was overthrowe. + + +Of this sotie also I finde, +Amon his Soster ayein kinde, +Which hihte Thamar, he forlay; +Bot he that lust an other day +Aboghte, whan that Absolon +His oghne brother therupon, +Of that he hadde his Soster schent, +Tok of that Senne vengement 220 +And slowh him with his oghne hond: +And thus thunkinde unkinde fond. + + +And forto se more of this thing, +The bible makth a knowleching, +Wherof thou miht take evidence +Upon the sothe experience. +Whan Lothes wif was overgon +And schape into the salte Ston, +As it is spoke into this day, +Be bothe hise dowhtres thanne he lay, 230 +With childe and made hem bothe grete, +Til that nature hem wolde lete, +And so the cause aboute ladde +That ech of hem a Sone hadde, +Moab the ferste, and the seconde +Amon, of whiche, as it is founde, +Cam afterward to gret encres +Tuo nacions: and natheles, +For that the stockes were ungoode, +The branches mihten noght be goode; 240 +For of the false Moabites +Forth with the strengthe of Amonites, +Of that thei weren ferst misgete, +The poeple of god was ofte upsete +In Irahel and in Judee, +As in the bible a man mai se. + + +Lo thus, my Sone, as I thee seie, +Thou miht thiselve be beseie +Of that thou hast of othre herd: +For evere yit it hath so ferd, 250 +Of loves lust if so befalle +That it in other place falle +Than it is of the lawe set, +He which his love hath so beset +Mote afterward repente him sore. +And every man is othres lore; +Of that befell in time er this +The present time which now is +May ben enformed hou it stod, +And take that him thenketh good, 260 +And leve that which is noght so. +Bot forto loke of time go, +Hou lust of love excedeth lawe, +It oghte forto be withdrawe; +For every man it scholde drede, +And nameliche in his Sibrede, +Which torneth ofte to vengance: +Wherof a tale in remembrance, +Which is a long process to hiere, +I thenke forto tellen hiere. 270 + + +Of a Cronique in daies gon, +The which is cleped Pantheon, +In loves cause I rede thus, +Hou that the grete Antiochus, +Of whom that Antioche tok +His ferste name, as seith the bok, +Was coupled to a noble queene, +And hadde a dowhter hem betwene: +Bot such fortune cam to honde, +That deth, which no king mai withstonde, 280 +Bot every lif it mote obeie, +This worthi queene tok aweie. +The king, which made mochel mone, +Tho stod, as who seith, al him one +Withoute wif, bot natheles +His doghter, which was piereles +Of beaute, duelte aboute him stille. +Bot whanne a man hath welthe at wille, +The fleissh is frele and falleth ofte, +And that this maide tendre and softe, 290 +Which in hire fadres chambres duelte, +Withinne a time wiste and felte: +For likinge and concupiscence +Withoute insihte of conscience +The fader so with lustes blente, +That he caste al his hole entente +His oghne doghter forto spille. +This king hath leisir at his wille +With strengthe, and whanne he time sih, +This yonge maiden he forlih: 300 +And sche was tendre and full of drede, +Sche couthe noght hir Maidenhede +Defende, and thus sche hath forlore +The flour which she hath longe bore. +It helpeth noght althogh sche wepe, +For thei that scholde hir bodi kepe +Of wommen were absent as thanne; +And thus this maiden goth to manne, +The wylde fader thus devoureth +His oghne fleissh, which non socoureth, 310 +And that was cause of mochel care. +Bot after this unkinde fare +Out of the chambre goth the king, +And sche lay stille, and of this thing, +Withinne hirself such sorghe made, +Ther was no wiht that mihte hir glade, +For feere of thilke horrible vice. +With that cam inne the Norrice +Which fro childhode hire hadde kept, +And axeth if sche hadde slept, 320 +And why hire chiere was unglad. +Bot sche, which hath ben overlad +Of that sche myhte noght be wreke, +For schame couthe unethes speke; +And natheles mercy sche preide +With wepende yhe and thus sche seide: +“Helas, mi Soster, waileway, +That evere I sih this ilke day! +Thing which mi bodi ferst begat +Into this world, onliche that 330 +Mi worldes worschipe hath bereft.” +With that sche swouneth now and eft, +And evere wissheth after deth, +So that welnyh hire lacketh breth. +That other, which hire wordes herde, +In confortinge of hire ansuerde, +To lette hire fadres fol desir +Sche wiste no recoverir: +Whan thing is do, ther is no bote, +So suffren thei that suffre mote; 340 +Ther was non other which it wiste. +Thus hath this king al that him liste +Of his likinge and his plesance, +And laste in such continuance, +And such delit he tok therinne, +Him thoghte that it was no Sinne; +And sche dorste him nothing withseie. + + +Bot fame, which goth every weie, +To sondry regnes al aboute +The grete beaute telleth oute 350 +Of such a maide of hih parage: +So that for love of mariage +The worthi Princes come and sende, +As thei the whiche al honour wende, +And knewe nothing hou it stod. +The fader, whanne he understod, +That thei his dowhter thus besoghte, +With al his wit he caste and thoghte +Hou that he myhte finde a lette; +And such a Statut thanne he sette, 360 +And in this wise his lawe he taxeth, +That what man that his doghter axeth, +Bot if he couthe his question +Assoile upon suggestion +Of certein thinges that befelle, +The whiche he wolde unto him telle, +He scholde in certein lese his hed. +And thus ther weren manye ded, +Here hevedes stondende on the gate, +Till ate laste longe and late, 370 +For lacke of ansuere in the wise, +The remenant that weren wise +Eschuieden to make assay. + + +Til it befell upon a day +Appolinus the Prince of Tyr, +Which hath to love a gret desir, +As he which in his hihe mod +Was likende of his hote blod, +A yong, a freissh, a lusti knyht, +As he lai musende on a nyht 380 +Of the tidinges whiche he herde, +He thoghte assaie hou that it ferde. +He was with worthi compainie +Arraied, and with good navie +To schipe he goth, the wynd him dryveth, +And seileth, til that he arryveth: +Sauf in the port of Antioche +He londeth, and goth to aproche +The kinges Court and his presence. +Of every naturel science, 390 +Which eny clerk him couthe teche, +He couthe ynowh, and in his speche +Of wordes he was eloquent; +And whanne he sih the king present, +He preith he moste his dowhter have. +The king ayein began to crave, +And tolde him the condicion, +Hou ferst unto his question +He mote ansuere and faile noght, +Or with his heved it schal be boght: 400 +And he him axeth what it was. + + +The king declareth him the cas +With sturne lok and sturdi chiere, +To him and seide in this manere: +“With felonie I am upbore, +I ete and have it noght forbore +Mi modres fleissh, whos housebonde +Mi fader forto seche I fonde, +Which is the Sone ek of my wif. +Hierof I am inquisitif; 410 +And who that can mi tale save, +Al quyt he schal my doghter have; +Of his ansuere and if he faile, +He schal be ded withoute faile. +Forthi my Sone,” quod the king, +“Be wel avised of this thing, +Which hath thi lif in jeupartie.” + + +Appolinus for his partie, +Whan he this question hath herd, +Unto the king he hath ansuerd 420 +And hath rehersed on and on +The pointz, and seide therupon: +“The question which thou hast spoke, +If thou wolt that it be unloke, +It toucheth al the privete +Betwen thin oghne child and thee, +And stant al hol upon you tuo.” + + +The king was wonder sory tho, +And thoghte, if that he seide it oute, +Than were he schamed al aboute. 430 +With slihe wordes and with felle +He seith, “Mi Sone, I schal thee telle, +Though that thou be of litel wit, +It is no gret merveile as yit, +Thin age mai it noght suffise: +Bot loke wel thou noght despise +Thin oghne lif, for of my grace +Of thretty daies fulle a space +I grante thee, to ben avised.” + + +And thus with leve and time assised 440 +This yonge Prince forth he wente, +And understod wel what it mente, +Withinne his herte as he was lered, +That forto maken him afered +The king his time hath so deslaied. +Wherof he dradde and was esmaied, +Of treson that he deie scholde, +For he the king his sothe tolde; +And sodeinly the nyhtes tyde, +That more wolde he noght abide, 450 +Al prively his barge he hente +And hom ayein to Tyr he wente: +And in his oghne wit he seide +For drede, if he the king bewreide, +He knew so wel the kinges herte, +That deth ne scholde he noght asterte, +The king him wolde so poursuie. +Bot he, that wolde his deth eschuie, +And knew al this tofor the hond, +Forsake he thoghte his oghne lond, 460 +That there wolde he noght abyde; +For wel he knew that on som syde +This tirant of his felonie +Be som manere of tricherie +To grieve his bodi wol noght leve. + + +Forthi withoute take leve, +Als priveliche as evere he myhte, +He goth him to the See be nyhte +In Schipes that be whete laden: +Here takel redy tho thei maden 470 +And hale up Seil and forth thei fare. +Bot forto tellen of the care +That thei of Tyr begonne tho, +Whan that thei wiste he was ago, +It is a Pite forto hiere. +They losten lust, they losten chiere, +Thei toke upon hem such penaunce, +Ther was no song, ther was no daunce, +Bot every merthe and melodie +To hem was thanne a maladie; 480 +For unlust of that aventure +Ther was noman which tok tonsure, +In doelful clothes thei hem clothe, +The bathes and the Stwes bothe +Thei schetten in be every weie; +There was no lif which leste pleie +Ne take of eny joie kepe, +Bot for here liege lord to wepe; +And every wyht seide as he couthe, +“Helas, the lusti flour of youthe, 490 +Our Prince, oure heved, our governour, +Thurgh whom we stoden in honour, +Withoute the comun assent +Thus sodeinliche is fro ous went!” +Such was the clamour of hem alle. + + +Bot se we now what is befalle +Upon the ferste tale plein, +And torne we therto ayein. +Antiochus the grete Sire, +Which full of rancour and of ire 500 +His herte berth, so as ye herde, +Of that this Prince of Tyr ansuerde, +He hadde a feloun bacheler, +Which was his prive consailer, +And Taliart be name he hihte: +The king a strong puison him dihte +Withinne a buiste and gold therto, +In alle haste and bad him go +Strawht unto Tyr, and for no cost +Ne spare he, til he hadde lost 510 +The Prince which he wolde spille. +And whan the king hath seid his wille, +This Taliart in a Galeie +With alle haste he tok his weie: +The wynd was good, he saileth blyve, +Til he tok lond upon the ryve +Of Tyr, and forth with al anon +Into the Burgh he gan to gon, +And tok his In and bod a throwe. +Bot for he wolde noght be knowe, 520 +Desguised thanne he goth him oute; +He sih the wepinge al aboute, +And axeth what the cause was, +And thei him tolden al the cas, +How sodeinli the Prince is go. +And whan he sih that it was so, +And that his labour was in vein, +Anon he torneth hom ayein, +And to the king, whan he cam nyh, +He tolde of that he herde and syh, 530 +Hou that the Prince of Tyr is fled, +So was he come ayein unsped. +The king was sori for a while, +Bot whan he sih that with no wyle +He myhte achieve his crualte, +He stinte his wraththe and let him be. + + +Bot over this now forto telle +Of aventures that befelle +Unto this Prince of whom I tolde, +He hath his rihte cours forth holde 540 +Be Ston and nedle, til he cam +To Tharse, and there his lond he nam. +A Burgeis riche of gold and fee +Was thilke time in that cite, +Which cleped was Strangulio, +His wif was Dionise also: +This yonge Prince, as seith the bok, +With hem his herbergage tok; +And it befell that Cite so +Before time and thanne also, 550 +Thurgh strong famyne which hem ladde +Was non that eny whete hadde. +Appolinus, whan that he herde +The meschief, hou the cite ferde, +Al freliche of his oghne yifte +His whete, among hem forto schifte, +The which be Schipe he hadde broght, +He yaf, and tok of hem riht noght. +Bot sithen ferst this world began, +Was nevere yit to such a man 560 +Mor joie mad than thei him made: +For thei were alle of him so glade, +That thei for evere in remembrance +Made a figure in resemblance +Of him, and in the comun place +Thei sette him up, so that his face +Mihte every maner man beholde, +So as the cite was beholde; +It was of latoun overgilt: +Thus hath he noght his yifte spilt. 570 + + +Upon a time with his route +This lord to pleie goth him oute, +And in his weie of Tyr he mette +A man, the which on knees him grette, +And Hellican be name he hihte, +Which preide his lord to have insihte +Upon himself, and seide him thus, +Hou that the grete Antiochus +Awaiteth if he mihte him spille. +That other thoghte and hield him stille, 580 +And thonked him of his warnynge, +And bad him telle no tidinge, +Whan he to Tyr cam hom ayein, +That he in Tharse him hadde sein. + + +Fortune hath evere be muable +And mai no while stonde stable: +For now it hiheth, now it loweth, +Now stant upriht, now overthroweth, +Now full of blisse and now of bale, +As in the tellinge of mi tale 590 +Hierafterward a man mai liere, +Which is gret routhe forto hiere. +This lord, which wolde don his beste, +Withinne himself hath litel reste, +And thoghte he wolde his place change +And seche a contre more strange. +Of Tharsiens his leve anon +He tok, and is to Schipe gon: +His cours he nam with Seil updrawe, +Where as fortune doth the lawe, 600 +And scheweth, as I schal reherse, +How sche was to this lord diverse, +The which upon the See sche ferketh. +The wynd aros, the weder derketh, +It blew and made such tempeste, +Non ancher mai the schip areste, +Which hath tobroken al his gere; +The Schipmen stode in such a feere, +Was non that myhte himself bestere, +Bot evere awaite upon the lere, 610 +Whan that thei scholde drenche at ones. +Ther was ynowh withinne wones +Of wepinge and of sorghe tho; +This yonge king makth mochel wo +So forto se the Schip travaile: +Bot al that myhte him noght availe; +The mast tobrak, the Seil torof, +The Schip upon the wawes drof, +Til that thei sihe a londes cooste. +Tho made avou the leste and moste, 620 +Be so thei myhten come alonde; +Bot he which hath the See on honde, +Neptunus, wolde noght acorde, +Bot altobroke cable and corde, +Er thei to londe myhte aproche, +The Schip toclef upon a roche, +And al goth doun into the depe. +Bot he that alle thing mai kepe +Unto this lord was merciable, +And broghte him sauf upon a table, 630 +Which to the lond him hath upbore; +The remenant was al forlore, +Wherof he made mochel mone. + + +Thus was this yonge lord him one, +Al naked in a povere plit: +His colour, which whilom was whyt, +Was thanne of water fade and pale, +And ek he was so sore acale +That he wiste of himself no bote, +It halp him nothing forto mote 640 +To gete ayein that he hath lore. +Bot sche which hath his deth forbore, +Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe, +Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe, +Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie; +Ther cam a Fisshere in the weie, +And sih a man ther naked stonde, +And whan that he hath understonde +The cause, he hath of him gret routhe, +And onliche of his povere trouthe 650 +Of suche clothes as he hadde +With gret Pite this lord he cladde. +And he him thonketh as he scholde, +And seith him that it schal be yolde, +If evere he gete his stat ayein, +And preide that he wolde him sein +If nyh were eny toun for him. +He seide, “Yee, Pentapolim, +Wher bothe king and queene duellen.” +Whanne he this tale herde tellen, 660 +He gladeth him and gan beseche +That he the weie him wolde teche: +And he him taghte; and forth he wente +And preide god with good entente +To sende him joie after his sorwe. + + +It was noght passed yit Midmorwe, +Whan thiderward his weie he nam, +Wher sone upon the Non he cam. +He eet such as he myhte gete, +And forth anon, whan he hadde ete, 670 +He goth to se the toun aboute, +And cam ther as he fond a route +Of yonge lusti men withalle; +And as it scholde tho befalle, +That day was set of such assisse, +That thei scholde in the londes guise, +As he herde of the poeple seie, +Here comun game thanne pleie; +And crid was that thei scholden come +Unto the gamen alle and some 680 +Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte, +To do such maistrie as thei myhte. +Thei made hem naked as thei scholde, +For so that ilke game wolde, +As it was tho custume and us, +Amonges hem was no refus: +The flour of al the toun was there +And of the court also ther were, +And that was in a large place +Riht evene afore the kinges face, 690 +Which Artestrathes thanne hihte. +The pley was pleid riht in his sihte, +And who most worthi was of dede +Receive he scholde a certein mede +And in the cite bere a pris. + + +Appolinus, which war and wys +Of every game couthe an ende, +He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende, +And fell among hem into game: +And there he wan him such a name, 700 +So as the king himself acompteth +That he alle othre men surmonteth, +And bar the pris above hem alle. +The king bad that into his halle +At Souper time he schal be broght; +And he cam thanne and lefte it noght, +Withoute compaignie al one: +Was non so semlich of persone, +Of visage and of limes bothe, +If that he hadde what to clothe. 710 +At Soupertime natheles +The king amiddes al the pres +Let clepe him up among hem alle, +And bad his Mareschall of halle +To setten him in such degre +That he upon him myhte se. +The king was sone set and served, +And he, which hath his pris deserved +After the kinges oghne word, +Was mad beginne a Middel bord, 720 +That bothe king and queene him sihe. +He sat and caste aboute his yhe +And sih the lordes in astat, +And with himself wax in debat +Thenkende what he hadde lore, +And such a sorwe he tok therfore, +That he sat evere stille and thoghte, +As he which of no mete roghte. + + +The king behield his hevynesse, +And of his grete gentillesse 730 +His doghter, which was fair and good +And ate bord before him stod, +As it was thilke time usage, +He bad to gon on his message +And fonde forto make him glad. +And sche dede as hire fader bad, +And goth to him the softe pas +And axeth whenne and what he was, +And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve. +He seith, “Ma Dame, be your leve 740 +Mi name is hote Appolinus, +And of mi richesse it is thus, +Upon the See I have it lore. +The contre wher as I was bore, +Wher that my lond is and mi rente, +I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente: +The worschipe of this worldes aghte, +Unto the god ther I betaghte.” +And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke, +The teres runne be his cheeke. 750 +The king, which therof tok good kepe, +Hath gret Pite to sen him wepe, +And for his doghter sende ayein, +And preide hir faire and gan to sein +That sche no lengere wolde drecche, +Bot that sche wolde anon forth fecche +Hire harpe and don al that sche can +To glade with that sory man. +And sche to don hir fader heste +Hir harpe fette, and in the feste 760 +Upon a Chaier which thei fette +Hirself next to this man sche sette: +With harpe bothe and ek with mouthe +To him sche dede al that sche couthe +To make him chiere, and evere he siketh, +And sche him axeth hou him liketh. +“Ma dame, certes wel,” he seide, +“Bot if ye the mesure pleide +Which, if you list, I schal you liere, +It were a glad thing forto hiere.” 770 +“Ha, lieve sire,” tho quod sche, +“Now tak the harpe and let me se +Of what mesure that ye mene.” +Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene, +Forth with the lordes alle arewe, +That he som merthe wolde schewe; +He takth the Harpe and in his wise +He tempreth, and of such assise +Singende he harpeth forth withal, +That as a vois celestial 780 +Hem thoghte it souneth in here Ere, +As thogh that he an Angel were. +Thei gladen of his melodie, +Bot most of alle the compainie +The kinges doghter, which it herde, +And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde, +Whan that he was of hire opposed, +Withinne hir herte hath wel supposed +That he is of gret gentilesse. +Hise dedes ben therof witnesse 790 +Forth with the wisdom of his lore; +It nedeth noght to seche more, +He myhte noght have such manere, +Of gentil blod bot if he were. +Whanne he hath harped al his fille, +The kinges heste to fulfille, +Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe, +Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe, +Thei risen and gon out of halle. + + +The king his chamberlein let calle, 800 +And bad that he be alle weie +A chambre for this man pourveie, +Which nyh his oghne chambre be. +“It schal be do, mi lord,” quod he. +Appolinus of whom I mene +Tho tok his leve of king and queene +And of the worthi Maide also, +Which preide unto hir fader tho, +That sche myhte of that yonge man +Of tho sciences whiche he can 810 +His lore have; and in this wise +The king hir granteth his aprise, +So that himself therto assente. +Thus was acorded er thei wente, +That he with al that evere he may +This yonge faire freisshe May +Of that he couthe scholde enforme; +And full assented in this forme +Thei token leve as for that nyht. + + +And whanne it was amorwe lyht, 820 +Unto this yonge man of Tyr +Of clothes and of good atir +With gold and Selver to despende +This worthi yonge lady sende: +And thus sche made him wel at ese, +And he with al that he can plese +Hire serveth wel and faire ayein. +He tawhte hir til sche was certein +Of Harpe, of Citole and of Rote, +With many a tun and many a note 830 +Upon Musique, upon mesure, +And of hire Harpe the temprure +He tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe. +Bot as men sein that frele is youthe, +With leisir and continuance +This Mayde fell upon a chance, +That love hath mad him a querele +Ayein hire youthe freissh and frele, +That malgre wher sche wole or noght, +Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght 840 +To love and to his lawe obeie; +And that sche schal ful sore abeie. +For sche wot nevere what it is, +Bot evere among sche fieleth this: +Thenkende upon this man of Tyr, +Hire herte is hot as eny fyr, +And otherwhile it is acale; +Now is sche red, nou is sche pale +Riht after the condicion +Of hire ymaginacion; 850 +Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle, +Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle, +Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe, +Sche wolde hire goode name kepe +For feere of wommanysshe schame. +Bot what in ernest and in game, +Sche stant for love in such a plit, +That sche hath lost al appetit +Of mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste, +As sche that not what is the beste; 860 +Bot forto thenken al hir fille +Sche hield hire ofte times stille +Withinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute: +The king was of hire lif in doute, +Which wiste nothing what it mente. + + +Bot fell a time, as he out wente +To walke, of Princes Sones thre +Ther come and felle to his kne; +And ech of hem in sondri wise +Besoghte and profreth his servise, 870 +So that he myhte his doghter have. +The king, which wolde his honour save, +Seith sche is siek, and of that speche +Tho was no time to beseche; +Bot ech of hem do make a bille +He bad, and wryte his oghne wille, +His name, his fader and his good; +And whan sche wiste hou that it stod, +And hadde here billes oversein, +Thei scholden have ansuere ayein. 880 +Of this conseil thei weren glad, +And writen as the king hem bad, +And every man his oghne bok +Into the kinges hond betok, +And he it to his dowhter sende, +And preide hir forto make an ende +And wryte ayein hire oghne hond, +Riht as sche in hire herte fond. + + +The billes weren wel received, +Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved, 890 +And thoghte tho was time and space +To put hire in hir fader grace, +And wrot ayein and thus sche saide: +“The schame which is in a Maide +With speche dar noght ben unloke, +Bot in writinge it mai be spoke; +So wryte I to you, fader, thus: +Bot if I have Appolinus, +Of al this world, what so betyde, +I wol non other man abide. 900 +And certes if I of him faile, +I wot riht wel withoute faile +Ye schull for me be dowhterles.” +This lettre cam, and ther was press +Tofore the king, ther as he stod; +And whan that he it understod, +He yaf hem ansuer by and by, +Bot that was do so prively, +That non of othres conseil wiste. +Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste 910 +Thei wente forth upon here weie. + + +The king ne wolde noght bewreie +The conseil for no maner hihe, +Bot soffreth til he time sihe: +And whan that he to chambre is come, +He hath unto his conseil nome +This man of Tyr, and let him se +The lettre and al the privete, +The which his dowhter to him sente: +And he his kne to grounde bente 920 +And thonketh him and hire also, +And er thei wenten thanne atuo, +With good herte and with good corage +Of full Love and full mariage +The king and he ben hol acorded. +And after, whanne it was recorded +Unto the dowhter hou it stod, +The yifte of al this worldes good +Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe: +And forth withal the king als swithe, 930 +For he wol have hire good assent, +Hath for the queene hir moder sent. +The queene is come, and whan sche herde +Of this matiere hou that it ferde, +Sche syh debat, sche syh desese, +Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese, +And is therto assented full. +Which is a dede wonderfull, +For noman knew the sothe cas +Bot he himself, what man he was; 940 +And natheles, so as hem thoghte, +Hise dedes to the sothe wroghte +That he was come of gentil blod: +Him lacketh noght bot worldes good, +And as therof is no despeir, +For sche schal ben hire fader heir, +And he was able to governe. +Thus wol thei noght the love werne +Of him and hire in none wise, +Bot ther acorded thei divise 950 +The day and time of Mariage. + + +Wher love is lord of the corage, +Him thenketh longe er that he spede; +Bot ate laste unto the dede +The time is come, and in her wise +With gret offrende and sacrifise +Thei wedde and make a riche feste, +And every thing which was honeste +Withinnen house and ek withoute +It was so don, that al aboute 960 +Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse +Ther cride many a man largesse +Unto the lordes hihe and loude; +The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude, +Thei jouste ferst and after daunce. +The day is go, the nyhtes chaunce +Hath derked al the bryhte Sonne; +This lord, which hath his love wonne, +Is go to bedde with his wif, +Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif, 970 +And that was after somdel sene, +For as thei pleiden hem betwene, +Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo, +To whom fell after mochel wo. + + +Now have I told of the spousailes. +Bot forto speke of the mervailes +Whiche afterward to hem befelle, +It is a wonder forto telle. +It fell adai thei riden oute, +The king and queene and al the route, 980 +To pleien hem upon the stronde, +Wher as thei sen toward the londe +A Schip sailende of gret array. +To knowe what it mene may, +Til it be come thei abide; +Than sen thei stonde on every side, +Endlong the schipes bord to schewe, +Of Penonceals a riche rewe. +Thei axen when the ship is come: +Fro Tyr, anon ansuerde some, 990 +And over this thei seiden more +The cause why thei comen fore +Was forto seche and forto finde +Appolinus, which was of kinde +Her liege lord: and he appiereth, +And of the tale which he hiereth +He was riht glad; for thei him tolde, +That for vengance, as god it wolde, +Antiochus, as men mai wite, +With thondre and lyhthnynge is forsmite; 1000 +His doghter hath the same chaunce, +So be thei bothe in o balance. +“Forthi, oure liege lord, we seie +In name of al the lond, and preie, +That left al other thing to done, +It like you to come sone +And se youre oghne liege men +With othre that ben of youre ken, +That live in longinge and desir +Til ye be come ayein to Tyr.” 1010 +This tale after the king it hadde +Pentapolim al overspradde, +Ther was no joie forto seche; +For every man it hadde in speche +And seiden alle of on acord, +“A worthi king schal ben oure lord: +That thoghte ous ferst an hevinesse +Is schape ous now to gret gladnesse.” +Thus goth the tidinge overal. + + +Bot nede he mot, that nede schal: 1020 +Appolinus his leve tok, +To god and al the lond betok +With al the poeple long and brod, +That he no lenger there abod. +The king and queene sorwe made, +Bot yit somdiel thei weren glade +Of such thing as thei herden tho: +And thus betwen the wel and wo +To schip he goth, his wif with childe, +The which was evere meke and mylde 1030 +And wolde noght departe him fro, +Such love was betwen hem tuo. +Lichorida for hire office +Was take, which was a Norrice, +To wende with this yonge wif, +To whom was schape a woful lif. +Withinne a time, as it betidde, +Whan thei were in the See amidde, +Out of the North they sihe a cloude; +The storm aros, the wyndes loude 1040 +Thei blewen many a dredful blast, +The welkne was al overcast, +The derke nyht the Sonne hath under, +Ther was a gret tempeste of thunder: +The Mone and ek the Sterres bothe +In blake cloudes thei hem clothe, +Wherof here brihte lok thei hyde. +This yonge ladi wepte and cride, +To whom no confort myhte availe; +Of childe sche began travaile, 1050 +Wher sche lay in a Caban clos: +Hire woful lord fro hire aros, +And that was longe er eny morwe, +So that in anguisse and in sorwe +Sche was delivered al be nyhte +And ded in every mannes syhte; +Bot natheles for al this wo +A maide child was bore tho. + + +Appolinus whan he this knew, +For sorwe a swoune he overthrew, 1060 +That noman wiste in him no lif. +And whanne he wok, he seide, “Ha, wif, +Mi lust, mi joie, my desir, +Mi welthe and my recoverir, +Why schal I live, and thou schalt dye? +Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie, +Nou hast thou do to me thi werste. +Ha, herte, why ne wolt thou berste, +That forth with hire I myhte passe? +Mi peines weren wel the lasse.” 1070 +In such wepinge and in such cry +His dede wif, which lay him by, +A thousend sithes he hire kiste; +Was nevere man that sih ne wiste +A sorwe unto his sorwe lich; +For evere among upon the lich +He fell swounende, as he that soghte +His oghne deth, which he besoghte +Unto the goddes alle above +With many a pitous word of love; 1080 +Bot suche wordes as tho were +Yit herde nevere mannes Ere, +Bot only thilke whiche he seide. +The Maister Schipman cam and preide +With othre suche as be therinne, +And sein that he mai nothing winne +Ayein the deth, bot thei him rede, +He be wel war and tak hiede, +The See be weie of his nature +Receive mai no creature 1090 +Withinne himself as forto holde, +The which is ded: forthi thei wolde, +As thei conseilen al aboute, +The dede body casten oute. +For betre it is, thei seiden alle, +That it of hire so befalle, +Than if thei scholden alle spille. + + +The king, which understod here wille +And knew here conseil that was trewe, +Began ayein his sorwe newe 1100 +With pitous herte, and thus to seie: +“It is al reson that ye preie. +I am,” quod he, “bot on al one, +So wolde I noght for mi persone +Ther felle such adversite. +Bot whan it mai no betre be, +Doth thanne thus upon my word, +Let make a cofre strong of bord, +That it be ferm with led and pich.” +Anon was mad a cofre sich, 1110 +Al redy broght unto his hond; +And whanne he sih and redy fond +This cofre mad and wel enclowed, +The dede bodi was besowed +In cloth of gold and leid therinne. +And for he wolde unto hire winne +Upon som cooste a Sepulture, +Under hire heved in aventure +Of gold he leide Sommes grete +And of jeueals a strong beyete 1120 +Forth with a lettre, and seide thus: + + +“I, king of Tyr Appollinus, +Do alle maner men to wite, +That hiere and se this lettre write, +That helpeles withoute red +Hier lith a kinges doghter ded: +And who that happeth hir to finde, +For charite tak in his mynde, +And do so that sche be begrave +With this tresor, which he schal have.” 1130 +Thus whan the lettre was full spoke, +Thei haue anon the cofre stoke, +And bounden it with yren faste, +That it may with the wawes laste, +And stoppen it be such a weie, +That it schal be withinne dreie, +So that no water myhte it grieve. +And thus in hope and good believe +Of that the corps schal wel aryve, +Thei caste it over bord als blyve. 1140 + + +The Schip forth on the wawes wente; +The prince hath changed his entente, +And seith he wol noght come at Tyr +As thanne, bot al his desir +Is ferst to seilen unto Tharse. +The wyndy Storm began to skarse, +The Sonne arist, the weder cliereth, +The Schipman which behinde stiereth, +Whan that he sih the wyndes saghte, +Towardes Tharse his cours he straghte. 1150 + + +Bot now to mi matiere ayein, +To telle as olde bokes sein, +This dede corps of which ye knowe +With wynd and water was forthrowe +Now hier, now ther, til ate laste +At Ephesim the See upcaste +The cofre and al that was therinne. +Of gret merveile now beginne +Mai hiere who that sitteth stille; +That god wol save mai noght spille. 1160 +Riht as the corps was throwe alonde, +Ther cam walkende upon the stronde +A worthi clerc, a Surgien, +And ek a gret Phisicien, +Of al that lond the wisest on, +Which hihte Maister Cerymon; +Ther were of his disciples some. +This Maister to the Cofre is come, +He peiseth ther was somwhat in, +And bad hem bere it to his In, 1170 +And goth himselve forth withal. +Al that schal falle, falle schal; +Thei comen hom and tarie noght; +This Cofre is into chambre broght, +Which that thei finde faste stoke, +Bot thei with craft it have unloke. +Thei loken in, where as thei founde +A bodi ded, which was bewounde +In cloth of gold, as I seide er, +The tresor ek thei founden ther 1180 +Forth with the lettre, which thei rede. +And tho thei token betre hiede; +Unsowed was the bodi sone, +And he, which knew what is to done, +This noble clerk, with alle haste +Began the veines forto taste, +And sih hire Age was of youthe, +And with the craftes whiche he couthe +He soghte and fond a signe of lif. +With that this worthi kinges wif 1190 +Honestely thei token oute, +And maden fyres al aboute; +Thei leide hire on a couche softe, +And with a scheete warmed ofte +Hire colde brest began to hete, +Hire herte also to flacke and bete. +This Maister hath hire every joignt +With certein oile and balsme enoignt, +And putte a liquour in hire mouth, +Which is to fewe clerkes couth, 1200 +So that sche coevereth ate laste; +And ferst hire yhen up sche caste, +And whan sche more of strengthe cawhte, +Hire Armes bothe forth sche strawhte, +Hield up hire hond and pitously +Sche spak and seide, “Ha, wher am I? +Where is my lord, what world is this?” +As sche that wot noght hou it is. +Bot Cerymon the worthi leche +Ansuerde anon upon hire speche 1210 +And seith, “Ma dame, yee ben hiere, +Where yee be sauf, as yee schal hiere +Hierafterward; forthi as nou +Mi conseil is, conforteth you: +For trusteth wel withoute faile, +Ther is nothing which schal you faile, +That oghte of reson to be do.” +Thus passen thei a day or tuo; +Thei speke of noght as for an ende, +Til sche began somdiel amende, 1220 +And wiste hireselven what sche mente. + + +Tho forto knowe hire hol entente, +This Maister axeth al the cas, +Hou sche cam there and what sche was. +“Hou I cam hiere wot I noght,” +Quod sche, “bot wel I am bethoght +Of othre thinges al aboute”: +Fro point to point and tolde him oute +Als ferforthli as sche it wiste. +And he hire tolde hou in a kiste 1230 +The See hire threw upon the lond, +And what tresor with hire he fond, +Which was al redy at hire wille, +As he that schop him to fulfille +With al his myht what thing he scholde. +Sche thonketh him that he so wolde, +And al hire herte sche discloseth, +And seith him wel that sche supposeth +Hire lord be dreint, hir child also; +So sih sche noght bot alle wo. 1240 +Wherof as to the world nomore +Ne wol sche torne, and preith therfore +That in som temple of the Cite, +To kepe and holde hir chastete, +Sche mihte among the wommen duelle. +Whan he this tale hir herde telle, +He was riht glad, and made hire knowen +That he a dowhter of his owen +Hath, which he wol unto hir yive +To serve, whil thei bothe live, 1250 +In stede of that which sche hath lost; +Al only at his oghne cost +Sche schal be rendred forth with hire. +She seith, “Grant mercy, lieve sire, +God quite it you, ther I ne may.” +And thus thei drive forth the day, +Til time com that sche was hol; +And tho thei take her conseil hol, +To schape upon good ordinance +And make a worthi pourveance 1260 +Ayein the day whan thei be veiled. +And thus, whan that thei be conseiled, +In blake clothes thei hem clothe, +This lady and the dowhter bothe, +And yolde hem to religion. +The feste and the profession +After the reule of that degre +Was mad with gret solempnete, +Where as Diane is seintefied; +Thus stant this lady justefied 1270 +In ordre wher sche thenkth to duelle. + + +Bot now ayeinward forto telle +In what plit that hire lord stod inne: +He seileth, til that he may winne +The havene of Tharse, as I seide er; +And whanne he was aryved ther, +And it was thurgh the Cite knowe, +Men myhte se withinne a throwe, +As who seith, al the toun at ones, +That come ayein him for the nones, 1280 +To yiven him the reverence, +So glad thei were of his presence: +And thogh he were in his corage +Desesed, yit with glad visage +He made hem chiere, and to his In, +Wher he whilom sojourned in, +He goth him straght and was resceived. +And whan the presse of poeple is weived, +He takth his hoste unto him tho, +And seith, “Mi frend Strangulio, 1290 +Lo, thus and thus it is befalle, +And thou thiself art on of alle, +Forth with thi wif, whiche I most triste. +Forthi, if it you bothe liste, +My doghter Thaise be youre leve +I thenke schal with you beleve +As for a time; and thus I preie, +That sche be kept be alle weie, +And whan sche hath of age more, +That sche be set to bokes lore. 1300 +And this avou to god I make, +That I schal nevere for hir sake +Mi berd for no likinge schave, +Til it befalle that I have +In covenable time of age +Beset hire unto mariage.” +Thus thei acorde, and al is wel, +And forto resten him somdel, +As for a while he ther sojorneth, +And thanne he takth his leve and torneth 1310 +To Schipe, and goth him hom to Tyr, +Wher every man with gret desir +Awaiteth upon his comynge. +Bot whan the Schip com in seilinge, +And thei perceiven it is he, +Was nevere yit in no cite +Such joie mad as thei tho made; +His herte also began to glade +Of that he sih the poeple glad. +Lo, thus fortune his hap hath lad; 1320 +In sondri wise he was travailed, +Bot hou so evere he be assailed, +His latere ende schal be good. + + +And forto speke hou that it stod +Of Thaise his doghter, wher sche duelleth, +In Tharse, as the Cronique telleth, +Sche was wel kept, sche was wel loked, +Sche was wel tawht, sche was wel boked, +So wel sche spedde hir in hire youthe +That sche of every wisdom couthe, 1330 +That forto seche in every lond +So wys an other noman fond, +Ne so wel tawht at mannes yhe. +Bot wo worthe evere fals envie! +For it befell that time so, +A dowhter hath Strangulio, +The which was cleped Philotenne: +Bot fame, which wole evere renne, +Cam al day to hir moder Ere, +And seith, wher evere hir doghter were 1340 +With Thayse set in eny place, +The comun vois, the comun grace +Was al upon that other Maide, +And of hir doghter noman saide. +Who wroth but Dionise thanne? +Hire thoghte a thousend yer til whanne +Sche myhte ben of Thaise wreke +Of that sche herde folk so speke. +And fell that ilke same tyde, +That ded was trewe Lychoride, 1350 +Which hadde be servant to Thaise, +So that sche was the worse at aise, +For sche hath thanne no servise +Bot only thurgh this Dionise, +Which was hire dedlich Anemie +Thurgh pure treson and envie. +Sche, that of alle sorwe can, +Tho spak unto hire bondeman, +Which cleped was Theophilus, +And made him swere in conseil thus, 1360 +That he such time as sche him sette +Schal come Thaise forto fette, +And lede hire oute of alle sihte, +Wher as noman hire helpe myhte, +Upon the Stronde nyh the See, +And there he schal this maiden sle. +This cherles herte is in a traunce, +As he which drad him of vengance +Whan time comth an other day; +Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay, 1370 +Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille +Hire hestes at hire oghne wille. + + +The treson and the time is schape, +So fell it that this cherles knape +Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde +Upon the Stronde, and what sche scholde +Sche was adrad; and he out breide +A rusti swerd and to hir seide, +“Thou schalt be ded.” “Helas!” quod sche, +“Why schal I so?” “Lo thus,” quod he, 1380 +“Mi ladi Dionise hath bede, +Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede.” +This Maiden tho for feere schryhte, +And for the love of god almyhte +Sche preith that for a litel stounde +Sche myhte knele upon the grounde, +Toward the hevene forto crave, +Hire wofull Soule if sche mai save: +And with this noise and with this cry, +Out of a barge faste by, 1390 +Which hidd was ther on Scomerfare, +Men sterten out and weren ware +Of this feloun, and he to go, +And sche began to crie tho, +“Ha, mercy, help for goddes sake! +Into the barge thei hire take, +As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente. +Upon the See the wynd hem hente, +And malgre wher thei wolde or non, +Tofor the weder forth thei gon, 1400 +Ther halp no Seil, ther halp non Ore, +Forstormed and forblowen sore +In gret peril so forth thei dryve, +Til ate laste thei aryve +At Mitelene the Cite. +In havene sauf and whan thei be, +The Maister Schipman made him boun, +And goth him out into the toun, +And profreth Thaise forto selle. +On Leonin it herde telle, 1410 +Which Maister of the bordel was, +And bad him gon a redy pas +To fetten hire, and forth he wente, +And Thaise out of his barge he hente, +And to this bordeller hir solde. +And he, that be hire body wolde +Take avantage, let do crye, +That what man wolde his lecherie +Attempte upon hire maidenhede, +Lei doun the gold and he schal spede. 1420 +And thus whan he hath crid it oute +In syhte of al the poeple aboute, +He ladde hire to the bordel tho. + + +No wonder is thogh sche be wo: +Clos in a chambre be hireselve, +Ech after other ten or tuelve +Of yonge men to hire in wente; +Bot such a grace god hire sente, +That for the sorwe which sche made +Was non of hem which pouer hade 1430 +To don hire eny vileinie. +This Leonin let evere aspie, +And waiteth after gret beyete; +Bot al for noght, sche was forlete, +That mo men wolde ther noght come. +Whan he therof hath hiede nome, +And knew that sche was yit a maide, +Unto his oghne man he saide, +That he with strengthe ayein hire leve +Tho scholde hir maidenhod bereve. 1440 +This man goth in, bot so it ferde, +Whan he hire wofull pleintes herde +And he therof hath take kepe, +Him liste betre forto wepe +Than don oght elles to the game. +And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame, +And kneleth doun to therthe and preide +Unto this man, and thus sche seide: +“If so be that thi maister wolde +That I his gold encresce scholde, 1450 +It mai noght falle be this weie: +Bot soffre me to go mi weie +Out of this hous wher I am inne, +And I schal make him forto winne +In som place elles of the toun, +Be so it be religioun, +Wher that honeste wommen duelle. +And thus thou myht thi maister telle, +That whanne I have a chambre there, +Let him do crie ay wyde where, 1460 +What lord that hath his doghter diere, +And is in will that sche schal liere +Of such a Scole that is trewe, +I schal hire teche of thinges newe, +Which as non other womman can +In al this lond.” And tho this man +Hire tale hath herd, he goth ayein, +And tolde unto his maister plein +That sche hath seid; and therupon, +Whan than he sih beyete non 1470 +At the bordel be cause of hire, +He bad his man to gon and spire +A place wher sche myhte abyde, +That he mai winne upon som side +Be that sche can: bot ate leste +Thus was sche sauf fro this tempeste. + + +He hath hire fro the bordel take, +Bot that was noght for goddes sake, +Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde. +Now comen tho that comen wolde 1480 +Of wommen in her lusty youthe, +To hiere and se what thing sche couthe: +Sche can the wisdom of a clerk, +Sche can of every lusti werk +Which to a gentil womman longeth, +And some of hem sche underfongeth +To the Citole and to the Harpe, +And whom it liketh forto carpe +Proverbes and demandes slyhe, +An other such thei nevere syhe, 1490 +Which that science so wel tawhte: +Wherof sche grete yiftes cawhte, +That sche to Leonin hath wonne; +And thus hire name is so begonne +Of sondri thinges that sche techeth, +That al the lond unto hir secheth +Of yonge wommen forto liere. + + +Nou lete we this maiden hiere, +And speke of Dionise ayein +And of Theophile the vilein, 1500 +Of whiche I spak of nou tofore. +Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore, +This false cherl to his lady +Whan he cam hom, al prively +He seith, “Ma Dame, slain I have +This maide Thaise, and is begrave +In prive place, as ye me biede. +Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiede +And kep conseil, hou so it stonde.” +This fend, which this hath understonde, 1510 +Was glad, and weneth it be soth: +Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth. +Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth, +And of sieknesse which sche feigneth +Sche seith that Taise sodeinly +Be nyhte is ded, “as sche and I +Togedre lyhen nyh my lord.” +Sche was a womman of record, +And al is lieved that sche seith; +And forto yive a more feith, 1520 +Hire housebonde and ek sche bothe +In blake clothes thei hem clothe, +And made a gret enterrement; +And for the poeple schal be blent, +Of Thaise as for the remembrance, +After the real olde usance +A tumbe of latoun noble and riche +With an ymage unto hir liche +Liggende above therupon +Thei made and sette it up anon. 1530 +Hire Epitaffe of good assisse +Was write aboute, and in this wise +It spak: “O yee that this beholde, +Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde +The faireste and the flour of alle, +Whos name Thaïsis men calle. +The king of Tyr Appolinus +Hire fader was: now lith sche thus. +Fourtiene yer sche was of Age, +Whan deth hir tok to his viage.” 1540 + + +Thus was this false treson hidd, +Which afterward was wyde kidd, +As be the tale a man schal hiere. +Bot forto clare mi matiere, +To Tyr I thenke torne ayein, +And telle as the Croniqes sein. +Whan that the king was comen hom, +And hath left in the salte fom +His wif, which he mai noght foryete, +For he som confort wolde gete, 1550 +He let somoune a parlement, +To which the lordes were asent; +And of the time he hath ben oute, +He seth the thinges al aboute, +And told hem ek hou he hath fare, +Whil he was out of londe fare; +And preide hem alle to abyde, +For he wolde at the same tyde +Do schape for his wyves mynde, +As he that wol noght ben unkinde. 1560 +Solempne was that ilke office, +And riche was the sacrifice, +The feste reali was holde: +And therto was he wel beholde; +For such a wif as he hadde on +In thilke daies was ther non. + + +Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghte +Upon his doghter, and besoghte +Suche of his lordes as he wolde, +That thei with him to Tharse scholde, 1570 +To fette his doghter Taise there: +And thei anon al redy were, +To schip they gon and forth thei wente, +Til thei the havene of Tharse hente. +They londe and faile of that thei seche +Be coverture and sleyhte of speche: +This false man Strangulio, +And Dionise his wif also, +That he the betre trowe myhte, +Thei ladden him to have a sihte 1580 +Wher that hir tombe was arraied. +The lasse yit he was mispaied, +And natheles, so as he dorste, +He curseth and seith al the worste +Unto fortune, as to the blinde, +Which can no seker weie finde; +For sche him neweth evere among, +And medleth sorwe with his song. +Bot sithe it mai no betre be, + + +He thonketh god and forth goth he 1590 +Seilende toward Tyr ayein. +Bot sodeinly the wynd and reyn +Begonne upon the See debate, +So that he soffre mot algate +The lawe which Neptune ordeigneth; +Wherof fulofte time he pleigneth, +And hield him wel the more esmaied +Of that he hath tofore assaied. +So that for pure sorwe and care, +Of that he seth his world so fare, 1600 +The reste he lefte of his Caban, +That for the conseil of noman +Ayein therinne he nolde come, +Bot hath benethe his place nome, +Wher he wepende al one lay, +Ther as he sih no lyht of day. +And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve, +Til longe and late thei aryve +With gret distresce, as it was sene, +Upon this toun of Mitelene, 1610 +Which was a noble cite tho. +And hapneth thilke time so, +The lordes bothe and the comune +The hihe festes of Neptune +Upon the stronde at the rivage, +As it was custumme and usage, +Sollempneliche thei besihe. + + +Whan thei this strange vessel syhe +Come in, and hath his Seil avaled, +The toun therof hath spoke and taled. 1620 +The lord which of the cite was, +Whos name is Athenagoras, +Was there, and seide he wolde se +What Schip it is, and who thei be +That ben therinne: and after sone, +Whan that he sih it was to done, +His barge was for him arraied, +And he goth forth and hath assaied. +He fond the Schip of gret Array, +Bot what thing it amonte may, 1630 +He seth thei maden hevy chiere, +Bot wel him thenkth be the manere +That thei be worthi men of blod, +And axeth of hem hou it stod; +And thei him tellen al the cas, +Hou that here lord fordrive was, +And what a sorwe that he made, +Of which ther mai noman him glade. +He preith that he here lord mai se, +Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be, 1640 +For he lith in so derk a place, +That ther may no wiht sen his face: +Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth, +He fond the ladre and doun he goth, +And to him spak, bot non ansuere +Ayein of him ne mihte he bere +For oght that he can don or sein; +And thus he goth him up ayein. + + +Tho was ther spoke in many wise +Amonges hem that weren wise, 1650 +Now this, now that, bot ate laste +The wisdom of the toun this caste, +That yonge Taise were asent. +For if ther be amendement +To glade with this woful king, +Sche can so moche of every thing, +That sche schal gladen him anon. +A Messager for hire is gon, +And sche cam with hire Harpe on honde, +And seide hem that sche wolde fonde 1660 +Be alle weies that sche can, +To glade with this sory man. +Bot what he was sche wiste noght, +Bot al the Schip hire hath besoght +That sche hire wit on him despende, +In aunter if he myhte amende, +And sein it schal be wel aquit. +Whan sche hath understonden it, +Sche goth hir doun, ther as he lay, +Wher that sche harpeth many a lay 1670 +And lich an Angel sang withal; +Bot he nomore than the wal +Tok hiede of eny thing he herde. +And whan sche sih that he so ferde, +Sche falleth with him into wordes, +And telleth him of sondri bordes, +And axeth him demandes strange, +Wherof sche made his herte change, +And to hire speche his Ere he leide +And hath merveile of that sche seide. 1680 +For in proverbe and in probleme +Sche spak, and bad he scholde deme +In many soubtil question: +Bot he for no suggestioun +Which toward him sche couthe stere, +He wolde noght o word ansuere, +Bot as a madd man ate laste +His heved wepende awey he caste, +And half in wraththe he bad hire go. +Bot yit sche wolde noght do so, 1690 +And in the derke forth sche goth, +Til sche him toucheth, and he wroth, +And after hire with his hond +He smot: and thus whan sche him fond +Desesed, courtaisly sche saide, +“Avoi, mi lord, I am a Maide; +And if ye wiste what I am, +And out of what lignage I cam, +Ye wolde noght be so salvage.” + + +With that he sobreth his corage 1700 +And put awey his hevy chiere. +Bot of hem tuo a man mai liere +What is to be so sibb of blod: +Non wiste of other hou it stod, +And yit the fader ate laste +His herte upon this maide caste, +That he hire loveth kindely, +And yit he wiste nevere why. +Bot al was knowe er that thei wente; +For god, which wot here hol entente, 1710 +Here hertes bothe anon descloseth. +This king unto this maide opposeth, +And axeth ferst what was hire name, +And wher sche lerned al this game, +And of what ken that sche was come. +And sche, that hath hise wordes nome, +Ansuerth and seith, “My name is Thaise, +That was som time wel at aise: +In Tharse I was forthdrawe and fed, +Ther lerned I, til I was sped, 1720 +Of that I can. Mi fader eke +I not wher that I scholde him seke; +He was a king, men tolde me: +Mi Moder dreint was in the See.” +Fro point to point al sche him tolde, +That sche hath longe in herte holde, +And nevere dorste make hir mone +Bot only to this lord al one, +To whom hire herte can noght hele, +Torne it to wo, torne it to wele, 1730 +Torne it to good, torne it to harm. +And he tho toke hire in his arm, +Bot such a joie as he tho made +Was nevere sen; thus be thei glade, +That sory hadden be toforn. +Fro this day forth fortune hath sworn +To sette him upward on the whiel; +So goth the world, now wo, now wel: +This king hath founde newe grace, +So that out of his derke place 1740 +He goth him up into the liht, +And with him cam that swete wiht, +His doghter Thaise, and forth anon +Thei bothe into the Caban gon +Which was ordeigned for the king, +And ther he dede of al his thing, +And was arraied realy. + + +And out he cam al openly, +Wher Athenagoras he fond, +The which was lord of al the lond: 1750 +He preith the king to come and se +His castell bothe and his cite, +And thus thei gon forth alle in fiere, +This king, this lord, this maiden diere. +This lord tho made hem riche feste +With every thing which was honeste, +To plese with this worthi king, +Ther lacketh him no maner thing: +Bot yit for al his noble array +Wifles he was into that day, 1760 +As he that yit was of yong Age; +So fell ther into his corage +The lusti wo, the glade peine +Of love, which noman restreigne +Yit nevere myhte as nou tofore. +This lord thenkth al his world forlore, +Bot if the king wol don him grace; +He waiteth time, he waiteth place, +Him thoghte his herte wol tobreke, +Til he mai to this maide speke 1770 +And to hir fader ek also +For mariage: and it fell so, +That al was do riht as he thoghte, +His pourpos to an ende he broghte, +Sche weddeth him as for hire lord; +Thus be thei alle of on acord. + + +Whan al was do riht as thei wolde, +The king unto his Sone tolde +Of Tharse thilke traiterie, +And seide hou in his compaignie 1780 +His doghter and himselven eke +Schull go vengance forto seke. +The Schipes were redy sone, +And whan thei sihe it was to done, +Withoute lette of eny wente +With Seil updrawe forth thei wente +Towardes Tharse upon the tyde. +Bot he that wot what schal betide, +The hihe god, which wolde him kepe, +Whan that this king was faste aslepe, 1790 +Be nyhtes time he hath him bede +To seile into an other stede: +To Ephesim he bad him drawe, +And as it was that time lawe, +He schal do there his sacrifise; +And ek he bad in alle wise +That in the temple amonges alle +His fortune, as it is befalle, +Touchende his doghter and his wif +He schal beknowe upon his lif. 1800 +The king of this Avisioun +Hath gret ymaginacioun, +What thing it signefie may; +And natheles, whan it was day, +He bad caste Ancher and abod; +And whil that he on Ancher rod, +The wynd, which was tofore strange, +Upon the point began to change, +And torneth thider as it scholde. +Tho knew he wel that god it wolde, 1810 +And bad the Maister make him yare, +Tofor the wynd for he wol fare +To Ephesim, and so he dede. +And whanne he cam unto the stede +Where as he scholde londe, he londeth +With al the haste he may, and fondeth +To schapen him be such a wise, +That he may be the morwe arise +And don after the mandement +Of him which hath him thider sent. 1820 +And in the wise that he thoghte, +Upon the morwe so he wroghte; +His doghter and his Sone he nom, +And forth unto the temple he com +With a gret route in compaignie, +Hise yiftes forto sacrifie. +The citezeins tho herden seie +Of such a king that cam to preie +Unto Diane the godesse, +And left al other besinesse, 1830 +Thei comen thider forto se +The king and the solempnete. + + +With worthi knyhtes environed +The king himself hath abandoned +Into the temple in good entente. +The dore is up, and he in wente, +Wher as with gret devocioun +Of holi contemplacioun +Withinne his herte he made his schrifte; +And after that a riche yifte 1840 +He offreth with gret reverence, +And there in open Audience +Of hem that stoden thanne aboute, +He tolde hem and declareth oute +His hap, such as him is befalle, +Ther was nothing foryete of alle. +His wif, as it was goddes grace, +Which was professed in the place, +As sche that was Abbesse there, +Unto his tale hath leid hire Ere: 1850 +Sche knew the vois and the visage, +For pure joie as in a rage +Sche strawhte unto him al at ones, +And fell aswoune upon the stones, +Wherof the temple flor was paved. +Sche was anon with water laved, +Til sche cam to hirself ayein, +And thanne sche began to sein: +“Ha, blessed be the hihe sonde, +That I mai se myn housebonde, 1860 +That whilom he and I were on!” +The king with that knew hire anon, +And tok hire in his Arm and kiste; +And al the toun thus sone it wiste. +Tho was ther joie manyfold, +For every man this tale hath told +As for miracle, and were glade, +Bot nevere man such joie made +As doth the king, which hath his wif. +And whan men herde hou that hir lif 1870 +Was saved, and be whom it was, +Thei wondren alle of such a cas: +Thurgh al the Lond aros the speche +Of Maister Cerymon the leche +And of the cure which he dede. +The king himself tho hath him bede, +And ek this queene forth with him, +That he the toun of Ephesim +Wol leve and go wher as thei be, +For nevere man of his degre 1880 +Hath do to hem so mochel good; +And he his profit understod, +And granteth with hem forto wende. +And thus thei maden there an ende, +And token leve and gon to Schipe +With al the hole felaschipe. + + +This king, which nou hath his desir, +Seith he wol holde his cours to Tyr. +Thei hadden wynd at wille tho, +With topseilcole and forth they go, 1890 +And striken nevere, til thei come +To Tyr, where as thei havene nome, +And londen hem with mochel blisse. +Tho was ther many a mowth to kisse, +Echon welcometh other hom, +Bot whan the queen to londe com, +And Thaise hir doghter be hir side, +The joie which was thilke tyde +Ther mai no mannes tunge telle: +Thei seiden alle, “Hier comth the welle 1900 +Of alle wommannysshe grace.” +The king hath take his real place, +The queene is into chambre go: +Ther was gret feste arraied tho; +Whan time was, thei gon to mete, +Alle olde sorwes ben foryete, +And gladen hem with joies newe: +The descoloured pale hewe +Is now become a rody cheke, +Ther was no merthe forto seke, 1910 +Bot every man hath that he wolde. + + +The king, as he wel couthe and scholde, +Makth to his poeple riht good chiere; +And after sone, as thou schalt hiere, +A parlement he hath sommoned, +Wher he his doghter hath coroned +Forth with the lord of Mitelene, +That on is king, that other queene: +And thus the fadres ordinance +This lond hath set in governance, 1920 +And seide thanne he wolde wende +To Tharse, forto make an ende +Of that his doghter was betraied. +Therof were alle men wel paied, +And seide hou it was forto done: +The Schipes weren redi sone, +And strong pouer with him he tok; +Up to the Sky he caste his lok, +And syh the wynd was covenable. + + +Thei hale up Ancher with the cable, 1930 +The Seil on hih, the Stiere in honde, +And seilen, til thei come alonde +At Tharse nyh to the cite; +And whan thei wisten it was he, +The toun hath don him reverence. +He telleth hem the violence, +Which the tretour Strangulio +And Dionise him hadde do +Touchende his dowhter, as yee herde; +And whan thei wiste hou that it ferde, 1940 +As he which pes and love soghte, +Unto the toun this he besoghte, +To don him riht in juggement. +Anon thei were bothe asent +With strengthe of men, and comen sone, +And as hem thoghte it was to done, +Atteint thei were be the lawe +And diemed forto honge and drawe, +And brent and with the wynd toblowe, +That al the world it myhte knowe: 1950 +And upon this condicion +The dom in execucion +Was put anon withoute faile. +And every man hath gret mervaile, +Which herde tellen of this chance, +And thonketh goddes pourveance, +Which doth mercy forth with justice. +Slain is the moerdrer and moerdrice +Thurgh verray trowthe of rihtwisnesse, +And thurgh mercy sauf is simplesse 1960 +Of hire whom mercy preserveth; +Thus hath he wel that wel deserveth. + + +Whan al this thing is don and ended, +This king, which loved was and frended, +A lettre hath, which cam to him +Be Schipe fro Pentapolim, +Be which the lond hath to him write, +That he wolde understonde and wite +Hou in good mynde and in good pes +Ded is the king Artestrates, 1970 +Wherof thei alle of on acord +Him preiden, as here liege lord, +That he the lettre wel conceive +And come his regne to receive, +Which god hath yove him and fortune; +And thus besoghte the commune +Forth with the grete lordes alle. +This king sih how it was befalle, +Fro Tharse and in prosperite +He tok his leve of that Cite 1980 +And goth him into Schipe ayein: +The wynd was good, the See was plein, +Hem nedeth noght a Riff to slake, +Til thei Pentapolim have take. +The lond, which herde of that tidinge, +Was wonder glad of his cominge; +He resteth him a day or tuo +And tok his conseil to him tho, +And sette a time of Parlement, +Wher al the lond of on assent 1990 +Forth with his wif hath him corouned, +Wher alle goode him was fuisouned. +Lo, what it is to be wel grounded: +For he hath ferst his love founded +Honesteliche as forto wedde, +Honesteliche his love he spedde +And hadde children with his wif, +And as him liste he ladde his lif; +And in ensample his lif was write, +That alle lovers myhten wite 2000 +How ate laste it schal be sene +Of love what thei wolden mene. +For se now on that other side, +Antiochus with al his Pride, +Which sette his love unkindely, +His ende he hadde al sodeinly, +Set ayein kinde upon vengance, +And for his lust hath his penance. + + +Lo thus, mi Sone, myht thou liere +What is to love in good manere, 2010 +And what to love in other wise: +The mede arist of the servise; +Fortune, thogh sche be noght stable, +Yit at som time is favorable +To hem that ben of love trewe. +Bot certes it is forto rewe +To se love ayein kinde falle, +For that makth sore a man to falle, +As thou myht of tofore rede. +Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede 2020 +To lete al other love aweie, +Bot if it be thurgh such a weie +As love and reson wolde acorde. +For elles, if that thou descorde, +And take lust as doth a beste, +Thi love mai noght ben honeste; +For be no skile that I finde +Such lust is noght of loves kinde. + + +Mi fader, hou so that it stonde, +Youre tale is herd and understonde, 2030 +As thing which worthi is to hiere, +Of gret ensample and gret matiere, +Wherof, my fader, god you quyte. +Bot in this point miself aquite +I mai riht wel, that nevere yit +I was assoted in my wit, +Bot only in that worthi place +Wher alle lust and alle grace +Is set, if that danger ne were. +Bot that is al my moste fere: 2040 +I not what ye fortune acompte, +Bot what thing danger mai amonte +I wot wel, for I have assaied; +For whan myn herte is best arraied +And I have al my wit thurghsoght +Of love to beseche hire oght, +For al that evere I skile may, +I am concluded with a nay: +That o sillable hath overthrowe +A thousend wordes on a rowe 2050 +Of suche as I best speke can; +Thus am I bot a lewed man. +Bot, fader, for ye ben a clerk +Of love, and this matiere is derk, +And I can evere leng the lasse, +Bot yit I mai noght let it passe, +Youre hole conseil I beseche, +That ye me be som weie teche +What is my beste, as for an ende. + + +Mi Sone, unto the trouthe wende 2060 +Now wol I for the love of thee, +And lete alle othre truffles be. +The more that the nede is hyh, +The more it nedeth to be slyh +To him which hath the nede on honde. +I have wel herd and understonde, +Mi Sone, al that thou hast me seid, +And ek of that thou hast me preid, +Nou at this time that I schal +As for conclusioun final 2070 +Conseile upon thi nede sette: +So thenke I finaly to knette +This cause, where it is tobroke, +And make an ende of that is spoke. +For I behihte thee that yifte +Ferst whan thou come under my schrifte, +That thogh I toward Venus were, +Yit spak I suche wordes there, +That for the Presthod which I have, +Min ordre and min astat to save, 2080 +I seide I wolde of myn office +To vertu more than to vice +Encline, and teche thee mi lore. +Forthi to speken overmore +Of love, which thee mai availe, +Tak love where it mai noght faile: +For as of this which thou art inne, +Be that thou seist it is a Sinne, +And Sinne mai no pris deserve, +Withoute pris and who schal serve, 2090 +I not what profit myhte availe. +Thus folweth it, if thou travaile, +Wher thou no profit hast ne pris, +Thou art toward thiself unwis: +And sett thou myhtest lust atteigne, +Of every lust thende is a peine, +And every peine is good to fle; +So it is wonder thing to se, +Why such a thing schal be desired. +The more that a Stock is fyred, 2100 +The rathere into Aisshe it torneth; +The fot which in the weie sporneth +Fulofte his heved hath overthrowe; +Thus love is blind and can noght knowe +Wher that he goth, til he be falle: +Forthi, bot if it so befalle +With good conseil that he be lad, +Him oghte forto ben adrad. +For conseil passeth alle thing +To him which thenkth to ben a king; 2110 +And every man for his partie +A kingdom hath to justefie, +That is to sein his oghne dom. +If he misreule that kingdom, +He lest himself, and that is more +Than if he loste Schip and Ore +And al the worldes good withal: +For what man that in special +Hath noght himself, he hath noght elles, +Nomor the perles than the schelles; 2120 +Al is to him of o value: +Thogh he hadde at his retenue +The wyde world ryht as he wolde, +Whan he his herte hath noght withholde +Toward himself, al is in vein. +And thus, my Sone, I wolde sein, +As I seide er, that thou aryse, +Er that thou falle in such a wise +That thou ne myht thiself rekevere; +For love, which that blind was evere, 2130 +Makth alle his servantz blinde also. +My Sone, and if thou have be so, +Yit is it time to withdrawe, +And set thin herte under that lawe, +The which of reson is governed +And noght of will. And to be lerned, +Ensamples thou hast many on +Of now and ek of time gon, +That every lust is bot a while; +And who that wole himself beguile, 2140 +He may the rathere be deceived. +Mi Sone, now thou hast conceived +Somwhat of that I wolde mene; +Hierafterward it schal be sene +If that thou lieve upon mi lore; +For I can do to thee nomore +Bot teche thee the rihte weie: +Now ches if thou wolt live or deie. + + +Mi fader, so as I have herd +Your tale, bot it were ansuerd, 2150 +I were mochel forto blame. +Mi wo to you is bot a game, +That fielen noght of that I fiele; +The fielinge of a mannes Hiele +Mai noght be likned to the Herte: +I mai noght, thogh I wolde, asterte, +And ye be fre from al the peine +Of love, wherof I me pleigne. +It is riht esi to comaunde; +The hert which fre goth on the launde 2160 +Not of an Oxe what him eileth; +It falleth ofte a man merveileth +Of that he seth an other fare, +Bot if he knewe himself the fare, +And felt it as it is in soth, +He scholde don riht as he doth, +Or elles werse in his degre: +For wel I wot, and so do ye, +That love hath evere yit ben used, +So mot I nedes ben excused. 2170 +Bot, fader, if ye wolde thus +Unto Cupide and to Venus +Be frendlich toward mi querele, +So that myn herte were in hele +Of love which is in mi briest, +I wot wel thanne a betre Prest +Was nevere mad to my behove. +Bot al the whiles that I hove +In noncertein betwen the tuo, +And not if I to wel or wo 2180 +Schal torne, that is al my drede, +So that I not what is to rede. +Bot for final conclusion +I thenke a Supplicacion +With pleine wordes and expresse +Wryte unto Venus the goddesse, +The which I preie you to bere +And bringe ayein a good ansuere. +Tho was betwen mi Prest and me +Debat and gret perplexete: 2190 +Mi resoun understod him wel, +And knew it was sothe everydel +That he hath seid, bot noght forthi +Mi will hath nothing set therby. +For techinge of so wis a port +Is unto love of no desport; +Yit myhte nevere man beholde +Reson, wher love was withholde, +Thei be noght of o governance. +And thus we fellen in distance, 2200 +Mi Prest and I, bot I spak faire, +And thurgh mi wordes debonaire +Thanne ate laste we acorden, +So that he seith he wol recorden +To speke and stonde upon mi syde +To Venus bothe and to Cupide; +And bad me wryte what I wolde, +And seith me trewly that he scholde +Mi lettre bere unto the queene. +And I sat doun upon the grene 2210 +Fulfilt of loves fantasie, +And with the teres of myn ije +In stede of enke I gan to wryte +The wordes whiche I wolde endite +Unto Cupide and to Venus, +And in mi lettre I seide thus. + + +The wofull peine of loves maladie, +Ayein the which mai no phisique availe, +Min herte hath so bewhaped with sotie, +That wher so that I reste or I travaile, 2220 +I finde it evere redy to assaile +Mi resoun, which that can him noght defende: +Thus seche I help, wherof I mihte amende. + + +Ferst to Nature if that I me compleigne, +Ther finde I hou that every creature +Som time ayer hath love in his demeine, +So that the litel wrenne in his mesure +Hath yit of kinde a love under his cure; +And I bot on desire, of which I misse: +And thus, bot I, hath every kinde his blisse. 2230 + + +The resoun of my wit it overpasseth, +Of that Nature techeth me the weie +To love, and yit no certein sche compasseth +Hou I schal spede, and thus betwen the tweie +I stonde, and not if I schal live or deie. +For thogh reson ayein my will debate, +I mai noght fle, that I ne love algate. + + +Upon miself is thilke tale come, +Hou whilom Pan, which is the god of kinde, +With love wrastlede and was overcome: 2240 +For evere I wrastle and evere I am behinde, +That I no strengthe in al min herte finde, +Wherof that I mai stonden eny throwe; +So fer mi wit with love is overthrowe. + + +Whom nedeth help, he mot his helpe crave, +Or helpeles he schal his nede spille: +Pleinly thurghsoght my wittes alle I have, +Bot non of hem can helpe after mi wille; +And als so wel I mihte sitte stille, +As preie unto mi lady eny helpe: 2250 +Thus wot I noght wherof miself to helpe. + + +Unto the grete Jove and if I bidde, +To do me grace of thilke swete tunne, +Which under keie in his celier amidde +Lith couched, that fortune is overrunne, +Bot of the bitter cuppe I have begunne, +I not hou ofte, and thus finde I no game; +For evere I axe and evere it is the same. + + +I se the world stonde evere upon eschange, +Nou wyndes loude, and nou the weder softe; 2260 +I mai sen ek the grete mone change, +And thing which nou is lowe is eft alofte; +The dredfull werres into pes fulofte +Thei torne; and evere is Danger in o place, +Which wol noght change his will to do me grace. + + +Bot upon this the grete clerc Ovide, +Of love whan he makth his remembrance, +He seith ther is the blinde god Cupide, +The which hath love under his governance, +And in his hond with many a fyri lance 2270 +He woundeth ofte, ther he wol noght hele; +And that somdiel is cause of mi querele. + + +Ovide ek seith that love to parforne +Stant in the hond of Venus the goddesse, +Bot whan sche takth hir conseil with Satorne, +Ther is no grace, and in that time, I gesse, +Began mi love, of which myn hevynesse +Is now and evere schal, bot if I spede: +So wot I noght miself what is to rede. + + +Forthi to you, Cupide and Venus bothe, 2280 +With al myn hertes obeissance I preie, +If ye were ate ferste time wrothe, +Whan I began to love, as I you seie, +Nou stynt, and do thilke infortune aweie, +So that Danger, which stant of retenue +With my ladi, his place mai remue. + + +O thou Cupide, god of loves lawe, +That with thi Dart brennende hast set afyre +Min herte, do that wounde be withdrawe, +Or yif me Salve such as I desire: 2290 +For Service in thi Court withouten hyre +To me, which evere yit have kept thin heste, +Mai nevere be to loves lawe honeste. + + +O thou, gentile Venus, loves queene, +Withoute gult thou dost on me thi wreche; +Thou wost my peine is evere aliche grene +For love, and yit I mai it noght areche: +This wold I for my laste word beseche, +That thou mi love aquite as I deserve, +Or elles do me pleinly forto sterve. 2300 + + +Whanne I this Supplicacioun +With good deliberacioun, +In such a wise as ye nou wite, +Hadde after min entente write +Unto Cupide and to Venus, +This Prest which hihte Genius +It tok on honde to presente, +On my message and forth he wente +To Venus, forto wite hire wille. +And I bod in the place stille, 2310 +And was there bot a litel while, +Noght full the montance of a Mile, +Whan I behield and sodeinly +I sih wher Venus stod me by. +So as I myhte, under a tre +To grounde I fell upon mi kne, +And preide hire forto do me grace: +Sche caste hire chiere upon mi face, +And as it were halvinge a game +Sche axeth me what is mi name. 2320 +“Ma dame,” I seide, “John Gower.” +“Now John,” quod sche, “in my pouer +Thou most as of thi love stonde; +For I thi bille have understonde, +In which to Cupide and to me +Somdiel thou hast compleigned thee, +And somdiel to Nature also. +Bot that schal stonde among you tuo, +For therof have I noght to done; +For Nature is under the Mone 2330 +Maistresse of every lives kinde, +Bot if so be that sche mai finde +Som holy man that wol withdrawe +His kindly lust ayein hir lawe; +Bot sielde whanne it falleth so, +For fewe men ther ben of tho, +Bot of these othre ynowe be, +Whiche of here oghne nycete +Ayein Nature and hire office +Deliten hem in sondri vice, 2340 +Wherof that sche fulofte hath pleigned, +And ek my Court it hath desdeigned +And evere schal; for it receiveth +Non such that kinde so deceiveth. +For al onliche of gentil love +Mi court stant alle courtz above +And takth noght into retenue +Bot thing which is to kinde due, +For elles it schal be refused. +Wherof I holde thee excused, 2350 +For it is manye daies gon, +That thou amonges hem were on +Which of my court hast ben withholde; +So that the more I am beholde +Of thi desese to commune, +And to remue that fortune, +Which manye daies hath the grieved. +Bot if my conseil mai be lieved, +Thou schalt ben esed er thou go +Of thilke unsely jolif wo, 2360 +Wherof thou seist thin herte is fyred: +Bot as of that thou hast desired +After the sentence of thi bille, +Thou most therof don at my wille, +And I therof me wole avise. +For be thou hol, it schal suffise: +Mi medicine is noght to sieke +For thee and for suche olde sieke, +Noght al per chance as ye it wolden, +Bot so as ye be reson scholden, 2370 +Acordant unto loves kinde. +For in the plit which I thee finde, +So as mi court it hath awarded, +Thou schalt be duely rewarded; +And if thou woldest more crave, +It is no riht that thou it have.” + + +Venus, which stant withoute lawe +In noncertein, bot as men drawe +Of Rageman upon the chance, +Sche leith no peis in the balance, 2380 +Bot as hir lyketh forto weie; +The trewe man fulofte aweie +Sche put, which hath hir grace bede, +And set an untrewe in his stede. +Lo, thus blindly the world sche diemeth +In loves cause, as tome siemeth: +I not what othre men wol sein, +Bot I algate am so besein, +And stonde as on amonges alle +Which am out of hir grace falle: 2390 +It nedeth take no witnesse, +For sche which seid is the goddesse, +To whether part of love it wende, +Hath sett me for a final ende +The point wherto that I schal holde. +For whan sche hath me wel beholde, +Halvynge of scorn, sche seide thus: +“Thou wost wel that I am Venus, +Which al only my lustes seche; +And wel I wot, thogh thou beseche 2400 +Mi love, lustes ben ther none, +Whiche I mai take in thi persone; +For loves lust and lockes hore +In chambre acorden neveremore, +And thogh thou feigne a yong corage, +It scheweth wel be the visage +That olde grisel is no fole: +There ben fulmanye yeres stole +With thee and with suche othre mo, +That outward feignen youthe so 2410 +And ben withinne of pore assay. +Min herte wolde and I ne may +Is noght beloved nou adayes; +Er thou make eny suche assaies +To love, and faile upon the fet, +Betre is to make a beau retret; +For thogh thou myhtest love atteigne, +Yit were it bot an ydel peine, +Whan that thou art noght sufficant +To holde love his covenant. 2420 +Forthi tak hom thin herte ayein, +That thou travaile noght in vein, +Wherof my Court may be deceived. +I wot and have it wel conceived, +Hou that thi will is good ynowh; +Bot mor behoveth to the plowh, +Wherof the lacketh, as I trowe: +So sitte it wel that thou beknowe +Thi fieble astat, er thou beginne +Thing wher thou miht non ende winne. 2430 +What bargain scholde a man assaie, +Whan that him lacketh forto paie? +Mi Sone, if thou be wel bethoght, +This toucheth thee; foryet it noght: +The thing is torned into was; +That which was whilom grene gras, +Is welked hey at time now. +Forthi mi conseil is that thou +Remembre wel hou thou art old.” + + +Whan Venus hath hir tale told, 2440 +And I bethoght was al aboute, +Tho wiste I wel withoute doute, +That ther was no recoverir; +And as a man the blase of fyr +With water quencheth, so ferd I; +A cold me cawhte sodeinly, +For sorwe that myn herte made +Mi dedly face pale and fade +Becam, and swoune I fell to grounde. +And as I lay the same stounde, 2450 +Ne fully quik ne fully ded, +Me thoghte I sih tofor myn hed +Cupide with his bowe bent, +And lich unto a Parlement, +Which were ordeigned for the nones, +With him cam al the world at ones +Of gentil folk that whilom were +Lovers, I sih hem alle there +Forth with Cupide in sondri routes. +Min yhe and as I caste aboutes, 2460 +To knowe among hem who was who, + + +I sih wher lusty Youthe tho, +As he which was a Capitein, +Tofore alle othre upon the plein +Stod with his route wel begon, +Here hevedes kempt, and therupon +Garlandes noght of o colour, +Some of the lef, some of the flour, +And some of grete Perles were; +The newe guise of Beawme there, 2470 +With sondri thinges wel devised, +I sih, wherof thei ben queintised. +It was al lust that thei with ferde, +Ther was no song that I ne herde, +Which unto love was touchende; +Of Pan and al that was likende +As in Pipinge of melodie +Was herd in thilke compaignie +So lowde, that on every side +It thoghte as al the hevene cride 2480 +In such acord and such a soun +Of bombard and of clarion +With Cornemuse and Schallemele, +That it was half a mannes hele +So glad a noise forto hiere. +And as me thoghte, in this manere +Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance, +And do to love her entendance +After the lust of youthes heste. +Ther was ynowh of joie and feste, 2490 +For evere among thei laghe and pleie, +And putten care out of the weie, +That he with hem ne sat ne stod. +And overthis I understod, +So as myn Ere it myhte areche, +The moste matiere of her speche +Was al of knyhthod and of Armes, +And what it is to ligge in armes +With love, whanne it is achieved. + + +Ther was Tristram, which was believed 2500 +With bele Ysolde, and Lancelot +Stod with Gunnore, and Galahot +With his ladi, and as me thoghte, +I syh wher Jason with him broghte +His love, which that Creusa hihte, +And Hercules, which mochel myhte, +Was ther berende his grete Mace, +And most of alle in thilke place +He peyneth him to make chiere +With Eolen, which was him diere. 2510 + + +Theseüs, thogh he were untrewe +To love, as alle wommen knewe, +Yit was he there natheles +With Phedra, whom to love he ches: +Of Grece ek ther was Thelamon, +Which fro the king Lamenedon +At Troie his doghter refte aweie, +Eseonen, as for his preie, +Which take was whan Jason cam +Fro Colchos, and the Cite nam 2520 +In vengance of the ferste hate; +That made hem after to debate, +Whan Priamus the newe toun +Hath mad. And in avisioun + + +Me thoghte that I sih also +Ector forth with his brethren tuo; +Himself stod with Pantaselee, +And next to him I myhte se, +Wher Paris stod with faire Eleine, +Which was his joie sovereine; 2530 +And Troilus stod with Criseide, +Bot evere among, althogh he pleide, +Be semblant he was hevy chiered, +For Diomede, as him was liered, +Cleymeth to ben his parconner. +And thus full many a bacheler, +A thousend mo than I can sein, +With Yowthe I sih ther wel besein +Forth with here loves glade and blithe. + + +And some I sih whiche ofte sithe 2540 +Compleignen hem in other wise; +Among the whiche I syh Narcise +And Piramus, that sory were. +The worthy Grek also was there, +Achilles, which for love deide: +Agamenon ek, as men seide, +And Menelay the king also +I syh, with many an other mo, +Which hadden be fortuned sore +In loves cause. + +And overmore 2550 +Of wommen in the same cas, +With hem I sih wher Dido was, +Forsake which was with Enee; +And Phillis ek I myhte see, +Whom Demephon deceived hadde; +And Adriagne hir sorwe ladde, +For Theseüs hir Soster tok +And hire unkindely forsok. +I sih ther ek among the press +Compleignende upon Hercules 2560 +His ferste love Deyanire, +Which sette him afterward afyre: +Medea was there ek and pleigneth +Upon Jason, for that he feigneth, +Withoute cause and tok a newe; +Sche seide, “Fy on alle untrewe!” +I sih there ek Deijdamie, +Which hadde lost the compaignie +Of Achilles, whan Diomede +To Troie him fette upon the nede. 2570 + + +Among these othre upon the grene +I syh also the wofull queene +Cleopatras, which in a Cave +With Serpentz hath hirself begrave +Alquik, and so sche was totore, +For sorwe of that sche hadde lore +Antonye, which hir love hath be: +And forth with hire I sih Tisbee, +Which on the scharpe swerdes point +For love deide in sory point; 2580 +And as myn Ere it myhte knowe, +Sche seide, “Wo worthe alle slowe!” +The pleignte of Progne and Philomene +Ther herde I what it wolde mene, +How Tereüs of his untrouthe +Undede hem bothe, and that was routhe; +And next to hem I sih Canace, +Which for Machaire hir fader grace +Hath lost, and deide in wofull plit. +And as I sih in my spirit, 2590 +Me thoghte amonges othre thus +The doghter of king Priamus, +Polixena, whom Pirrus slowh, +Was there and made sorwe ynowh, +As sche which deide gulteles +For love, and yit was loveles. + + +And forto take the desport, +I sih there some of other port, +And that was Circes and Calipse, +That cowthen do the Mone eclipse, 2600 +Of men and change the liknesses, +Of Artmagique Sorceresses; +Thei hielde in honde manyon, +To love wher thei wolde or non. + + +Bot above alle that ther were +Of wommen I sih foure there, +Whos name I herde most comended: +Be hem the Court stod al amended; +For wher thei comen in presence, +Men deden hem the reverence, 2610 +As thogh they hadden be goddesses, +Of al this world or Emperesses. +And as me thoghte, an Ere I leide, +And herde hou that these othre seide, +“Lo, these ben the foure wyves, +Whos feith was proeved in her lyves: +For in essample of alle goode +With Mariage so thei stode, +That fame, which no gret thing hydeth, +Yit in Cronique of hem abydeth.” 2620 + + +Penolope that on was hote, +Whom many a knyht hath loved hote, +Whil that hire lord Ulixes lay +Full many a yer and many a day +Upon the grete Siege of Troie: +Bot sche, which hath no worldes joie +Bot only of hire housebonde, +Whil that hir lord was out of londe, +So wel hath kept hir wommanhiede, +That al the world therof tok hiede, 2630 +And nameliche of hem in Grece. + + +That other womman was Lucrece, +Wif to the Romain Collatin; +And sche constreigned of Tarquin +To thing which was ayein hir wille, +Sche wolde noght hirselven stille, +Bot deide only for drede of schame +In keping of hire goode name, +As sche which was on of the beste. + + +The thridde wif was hote Alceste, 2640 +Which whanne Ametus scholde dye +Upon his grete maladye, +Sche preide unto the goddes so, +That sche receyveth al the wo +And deide hirself to yive him lif: +Lo, if this were a noble wif. + + +The ferthe wif which I ther sih, +I herde of hem that were nyh +Hou sche was cleped Alcione, +Which to Seyix hir lord al one 2650 +And to nomo hire body kepte; +And whan sche sih him dreynt, sche lepte +Into the wawes where he swam, +And there a Sefoul sche becam, +And with hire wenges him bespradde +For love which to him sche hadde. + + +Lo, these foure were tho +Whiche I sih, as me thoghte tho, +Among the grete compaignie +Which Love hadde forto guye: 2660 +Bot Youthe, which in special +Of Loves Court was Mareschal, +So besy was upon his lay, +That he non hiede where I lay +Hath take. And thanne, as I behield, + + +Me thoghte I sih upon the field, +Where Elde cam a softe pas +Toward Venus, ther as sche was. +With him gret compaignie he ladde, +Bot noght so manye as Youthe hadde: 2670 +The moste part were of gret Age, +And that was sene in the visage, +And noght forthi, so as thei myhte, +Thei made hem yongly to the sihte: +Bot yit herde I no pipe there +To make noise in mannes Ere, +Bot the Musette I myhte knowe, +For olde men which souneth lowe, +With Harpe and Lute and with Citole. +The hovedance and the Carole, 2680 +In such a wise as love hath bede, +A softe pas thei dance and trede; +And with the wommen otherwhile +With sobre chier among thei smyle, +For laghtre was ther non on hyh. +And natheles full wel I syh +That thei the more queinte it made +For love, in whom thei weren glade. + + +And there me thoghte I myhte se +The king David with Bersabee, 2690 +And Salomon was noght withoute; +Passende an hundred on a route +Of wyves and of Concubines, +Juesses bothe and Sarazines, +To him I sih alle entendant: +I not if he was sufficant, +Bot natheles for al his wit +He was attached with that writ +Which love with his hond enseleth, +Fro whom non erthly man appeleth. 2700 +And overthis, as for a wonder, +With his leon which he put under, +With Dalida Sampson I knew, +Whos love his strengthe al overthrew. + + +I syh there Aristotle also, +Whom that the queene of Grece so +Hath bridled, that in thilke time +Sche made him such a Silogime, +That he foryat al his logique; +Ther was non art of his Practique, 2710 +Thurgh which it mihte ben excluded +That he ne was fully concluded +To love, and dede his obeissance. +And ek Virgile of aqueintance +I sih, wher he the Maiden preide, +Which was the doghter, as men seide, +Of themperour whilom of Rome; +Sortes and Plato with him come, +So dede Ovide the Poete. +I thoghte thanne how love is swete, 2720 +Which hath so wise men reclamed, +And was miself the lasse aschamed, +Or forto lese or forto winne +In the meschief that I was inne: +And thus I lay in hope of grace. + + +And whan thei comen to the place +Wher Venus stod and I was falle, +These olde men with o vois alle +To Venus preiden for my sake. +And sche, that myhte noght forsake 2730 +So gret a clamour as was there, +Let Pite come into hire Ere; +And forth withal unto Cupide +Sche preith that he upon his side +Me wolde thurgh his grace sende +Som confort, that I myhte amende, +Upon the cas which is befalle. +And thus for me thei preiden alle +Of hem that weren olde aboute, +And ek some of the yonge route, 2740 +Of gentilesse and pure trouthe +I herde hem telle it was gret routhe, +That I withouten help so ferde. +And thus me thoghte I lay and herde. + + +Cupido, which may hurte and hele +In loves cause, as for myn hele +Upon the point which him was preid +Cam with Venus, wher I was leid +Swounende upon the grene gras. +And, as me thoghte, anon ther was 2750 +On every side so gret presse, +That every lif began to presse, +I wot noght wel hou many score, +Suche as I spak of now tofore, +Lovers, that comen to beholde, +Bot most of hem that weren olde: +Thei stoden there at thilke tyde, +To se what ende schal betyde +Upon the cure of my sotie. +Tho myhte I hiere gret partie 2760 +Spekende, and ech his oghne avis +Hath told, on that, an other this: +Bot among alle this I herde, +Thei weren wo that I so ferde, +And seiden that for no riote +An old man scholde noght assote; +For as thei tolden redely, +Ther is in him no cause why, +Bot if he wolde himself benyce; +So were he wel the more nyce. 2770 +And thus desputen some of tho, +And some seiden nothing so, +Bot that the wylde loves rage +In mannes lif forberth non Age; +Whil ther is oyle forto fyre, +The lampe is lyhtly set afyre, +And is fulhard er it be queynt, +Bot only if it be som seint, +Which god preserveth of his grace. +And thus me thoghte, in sondri place 2780 +Of hem that walken up and doun +Ther was diverse opinioun: +And for a while so it laste, +Til that Cupide to the laste, +Forth with his moder full avised, +Hath determined and devised +Unto what point he wol descende. +And al this time I was liggende +Upon the ground tofore his yhen, +And thei that my desese syhen 2790 +Supposen noght I scholde live; +Bot he, which wolde thanne yive +His grace, so as it mai be, +This blinde god which mai noght se, +Hath groped til that he me fond; +And as he pitte forth his hond +Upon my body, wher I lay, +Me thoghte a fyri Lancegay, +Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste, +He pulleth oute, and also faste 2800 +As this was do, Cupide nam +His weie, I not where he becam, +And so dede al the remenant +Which unto him was entendant, +Of hem that in Avision +I hadde a revelacion, +So as I tolde now tofore. + + +Bot Venus wente noght therfore, +Ne Genius, whiche thilke time +Abiden bothe faste byme. 2810 +And sche which mai the hertes bynde +In loves cause and ek unbinde, +Er I out of mi trance aros, +Venus, which hield a boiste clos, +And wolde noght I scholde deie, +Tok out mor cold than eny keie +An oignement, and in such point +Sche hath my wounded herte enoignt, +My temples and my Reins also. +And forth withal sche tok me tho 2820 +A wonder Mirour forto holde, +In which sche bad me to beholde +And taken hiede of that I syhe; +Wherinne anon myn hertes yhe +I caste, and sih my colour fade, +Myn yhen dymme and al unglade, +Mi chiekes thinne, and al my face +With Elde I myhte se deface, +So riveled and so wo besein, +That ther was nothing full ne plein, 2830 +I syh also myn heres hore. +Mi will was tho to se nomore +Outwith, for ther was no plesance; +And thanne into my remembrance +I drowh myn olde daies passed, +And as reson it hath compassed, +I made a liknesse of miselve +Unto the sondri Monthes twelve, +Wherof the yeer in his astat +Is mad, and stant upon debat, 2840 +That lich til other non acordeth. +For who the times wel recordeth, +And thanne at Marche if he beginne, +Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne, +Til Augst be passed and Septembre, +The myhty youthe he may remembre +In which the yeer hath his deduit +Of gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit, +Of corn and of the wyny grape. +And afterward the time is schape 2850 +To frost, to Snow, to Wind, to Rein, +Til eft that Mars be come ayein: +The Wynter wol no Somer knowe, +The grene lef is overthrowe, +The clothed erthe is thanne bare, +Despuiled is the Somerfare, +That erst was hete is thanne chele. + + +And thus thenkende thoghtes fele, +I was out of mi swoune affraied, +Wherof I sih my wittes straied, 2860 +And gan to clepe hem hom ayein. +And whan Resoun it herde sein +That loves rage was aweie, +He cam to me the rihte weie, +And hath remued the sotie +Of thilke unwise fantasie, +Wherof that I was wont to pleigne, +So that of thilke fyri peine +I was mad sobre and hol ynowh. + + +Venus behield me than and lowh, 2870 +And axeth, as it were in game, +What love was. And I for schame +Ne wiste what I scholde ansuere; +And natheles I gan to swere +That be my trouthe I knew him noght; +So ferr it was out of mi thoght, +Riht as it hadde nevere be. +“Mi goode Sone,” tho quod sche, +“Now at this time I lieve it wel, +So goth the fortune of my whiel; 2880 +Forthi mi conseil is thou leve.” + + +“Ma dame,” I seide, “be your leve, +Ye witen wel, and so wot I, +That I am unbehovely +Your Court fro this day forth to serve: +And for I may no thonk deserve, +And also for I am refused, +I preie you to ben excused. +And natheles as for the laste, +Whil that my wittes with me laste, 2890 +Touchende mi confession +I axe an absolucion +Of Genius, er that I go.” +The Prest anon was redy tho, +And seide, “Sone, as of thi schrifte +Thou hast ful pardoun and foryifte; +Foryet it thou, and so wol I.” + + +“Min holi fader, grant mercy,” +Quod I to him, and to the queene +I fell on knes upon the grene, 2900 +And tok my leve forto wende. +Bot sche, that wolde make an ende, +As therto which I was most able, +A Peire of Bedes blak as Sable +Sche tok and heng my necke aboute; +Upon the gaudes al withoute +Was write of gold, Por reposer. +“Lo,” thus sche seide, “John Gower, +Now thou art ate laste cast, +This have I for thin ese cast, 2910 +That thou nomore of love sieche. +Bot my will is that thou besieche +And preie hierafter for the pes, +And that thou make a plein reles +To love, which takth litel hiede +Of olde men upon the nede, +Whan that the lustes ben aweie: +Forthi to thee nys bot o weie, +In which let reson be thi guide; +For he may sone himself misguide, 2920 +That seth noght the peril tofore. +Mi Sone, be wel war therfore, +And kep the sentence of my lore +And tarie thou mi Court nomore, +Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth, +Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth, +Whiche of long time thou hast write. +For this I do thee wel to wite, +If thou thin hele wolt pourchace, +Thou miht noght make suite and chace, 2930 +Wher that the game is nought pernable; +It were a thing unresonable, +A man to be so overseie. +Forthi tak hiede of that I seie; +For in the lawe of my comune +We be noght schape to comune, +Thiself and I, nevere after this. +Now have y seid al that ther is +Of love as for thi final ende: +Adieu, for y mot fro the wende.” 2940 +And with that word al sodeinly, +Enclosid in a sterred sky, +Venus, which is the qweene of love, +Was take in to hire place above, +More wiste y nought wher sche becam. +And thus my leve of hire y nam, +And forth with al the same tide +Hire prest, which wolde nought abide, +Or be me lief or be me loth, +Out of my sighte forth he goth, 2950 +And y was left with outen helpe. +So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe, +Bot only that y hadde lore +My time, and was sori ther fore. +And thus bewhapid in my thought, +Whan al was turnyd in to nought, +I stod amasid for a while, +And in my self y gan to smyle +Thenkende uppon the bedis blake, +And how they weren me betake, 2960 +For that y schulde bidde and preie. +And whanne y sigh non othre weie +Bot only that y was refusid, +Unto the lif which y hadde usid +I thoughte nevere torne ayein: +And in this wise, soth to seyn, +Homward a softe pas y wente, +Wher that with al myn hol entente +Uppon the point that y am schryve +I thenke bidde whil y live. 2970 + + +He which withinne daies sevene +This large world forth with the hevene +Of his eternal providence +Hath mad, and thilke intelligence +In mannys soule resonable +Hath schape to be perdurable, +Wherof the man of his feture +Above alle erthli creature +Aftir the soule is immortal, +To thilke lord in special, 2980 +As he which is of alle thinges +The creatour, and of the kynges +Hath the fortunes uppon honde, +His grace and mercy forto fonde +Uppon my bare knes y preie, +That he this lond in siker weie +Wol sette uppon good governance. +For if men takyn remembrance +What is to live in unite, +Ther ys no staat in his degree 2990 +That noughte to desire pes, +With outen which, it is no les, +To seche and loke in to the laste, +Ther may no worldes joye laste. + + +Ferst forto loke the Clergie, +Hem oughte wel to justefie +Thing which belongith to here cure, +As forto praie and to procure +Oure pes toward the hevene above, +And ek to sette reste and love 3000 +Among ous on this erthe hiere. +For if they wroughte in this manere +Aftir the reule of charite, +I hope that men schuldyn se +This lond amende. + +And ovyr this, +To seche and loke how that it is +Touchende of the chevalerie, +Which forto loke, in som partie +Is worthi forto be comendid, +And in som part to ben amendid, 3010 +That of here large retenue +The lond is ful of maintenue, +Which causith that the comune right +In fewe contrees stant upright. +Extorcioun, contekt, ravine +Withholde ben of that covyne, +Aldai men hierin gret compleignte +Of the desease, of the constreignte, +Wher of the poeple is sore oppressid: +God graunte it mote be redressid. 3020 +For of knyghthode thordre wolde +That thei defende and kepe scholde +The comun right and the fraunchise +Of holy cherche in alle wise, +So that no wikke man it dere, +And ther fore servith scheld and spere: +Bot for it goth now other weie, +Oure grace goth the more aweie. + + +And forto lokyn ovyrmore, +Wher of the poeple pleigneth sore, 3030 +Toward the lawis of oure lond, +Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bond +And with brocage is goon aweie, +So that no man can se the weie +Wher forto fynde rightwisnesse. + + +And if men sechin sikernesse +Uppon the lucre of marchandie, +Compassement and tricherie +Of singuler profit to wynne, +Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne, 3040 +And namely of divisioun, +Which many a noble worthi toun +Fro welthe and fro prosperite +Hath brought to gret adversite. +So were it good to ben al on, +For mechil grace ther uppon +Unto the Citees schulde falle, +Which myghte availle to ous alle, +If these astatz amendid were, +So that the vertus stodyn there 3050 +And that the vices were aweie: +Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie, +This londis grace schulde arise. + + +Bot yit to loke in othre wise, +Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere, +Above alle othre on erthe hiere, +Which hath the lond in his balance: +To him belongith the leiance +Of Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe; +Undir his hond al is forth drawe 3060 +The marchant and the laborer; +So stant it al in his power +Or forto spille or forto save. +Bot though that he such power have, +And that his myghtes ben so large, +He hath hem nought withouten charge, +To which that every kyng ys swore: +So were it good that he ther fore +First un to rightwisnesse entende, +Wherof that he hym self amende 3070 +Toward his god and leve vice, +Which is the chief of his office; +And aftir al the remenant +He schal uppon his covenant +Governe and lede in such a wise, +So that ther be no tirandise, +Wherof that he his poeple grieve, +Or ellis may he nought achieve +That longith to his regalie. +For if a kyng wol justifie 3080 +His lond and hem that beth withynne, +First at hym self he mot begynne, +To kepe and reule his owne astat, +That in hym self be no debat +Toward his god: for othre wise +Ther may non erthly kyng suffise +Of his kyngdom the folk to lede, +Bot he the kyng of hevene drede. +For what kyng sett hym uppon pride +And takth his lust on every side 3090 +And wil nought go the righte weie, +Though god his grace caste aweie +No wondir is, for ate laste +He schal wel wite it mai nought laste, +The pompe which he secheth here. +Bot what kyng that with humble chere +Aftir the lawe of god eschuieth +The vices, and the vertus suieth, +His grace schal be suffisant +To governe al the remenant 3100 +Which longith to his duite; +So that in his prosperite +The poeple schal nought ben oppressid, +Wherof his name schal be blessid, +For evere and be memorial. + + +And now to speke as in final, +Touchende that y undirtok +In englesch forto make a book +Which stant betwene ernest and game, +I have it maad as thilke same 3110 +Which axe forto ben excusid, +And that my bok be nought refusid +Of lered men, whan thei it se, +For lak of curiosite: +For thilke scole of eloquence +Belongith nought to my science, +Uppon the forme of rethoriqe +My wordis forto peinte and pike, +As Tullius som tyme wrot. +Bot this y knowe and this y wot, 3120 +That y have do my trewe peyne +With rude wordis and with pleyne, +In al that evere y couthe and myghte, +This bok to write as y behighte, +So as siknesse it soffre wolde; +And also for my daies olde, +That y am feble and impotent, +I wot nought how the world ys went. +So preye y to my lordis alle +Now in myn age, how so befalle, 3130 +That y mot stonden in here grace: +For though me lacke to purchace +Here worthi thonk as by decerte, +Yit the symplesse of my poverte +Desireth forto do plesance +To hem undir whos governance +I hope siker to abide. + + +But now uppon my laste tide +That y this book have maad and write, +My muse doth me forto wite, 3140 +And seith it schal be for my beste +Fro this day forth to take reste, +That y nomore of love make, +Which many an herte hath overtake, +And ovyrturnyd as the blynde +Fro reson in to lawe of kynde; +Wher as the wisdom goth aweie +And can nought se the ryhte weie +How to governe his oghne estat, +Bot everydai stant in debat 3150 +Withinne him self, and can nought leve. +And thus forthy my final leve +I take now for evere more, +Withoute makynge any more, +Of love and of his dedly hele, +Which no phisicien can hele. +For his nature is so divers, +That it hath evere som travers +Or of to moche or of to lite, +That pleinly mai noman delite, 3160 +Bot if him faile or that or this. +Bot thilke love which that is +Withinne a mannes herte affermed, +And stant of charite confermed, +Such love is goodly forto have, +Such love mai the bodi save, +Such love mai the soule amende, +The hyhe god such love ous sende +Forthwith the remenant of grace; +So that above in thilke place 3170 +Wher resteth love and alle pes, +Oure joie mai ben endeles. + +_Explicit iste liber, qui transeat, obsecro liber, +Vt sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore. +Qui sedet in scannis celi det vt ista lohannis +Perpetuis annis stet pagina grata Britannis, +Derbeie Comiti, recolunt quem laude periti, +Vade liber purus, sub eo requiesce futurus._ + +[End of CONFESSIO AMANTIS] + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CONFESSIO AMANTIS *** + +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. 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