P, 1 Of hem that writen ous tofore P, 2 The bokes duelle, and we therfore P, 3 Ben tawht of that was write tho: P, 4 Forthi good is that we also P, 5 In oure tyme among ous hiere P, 6 Do wryte of newe som matiere, P, 7 Essampled of these olde wyse P, 8 So that it myhte in such a wyse, P, 9 Whan we ben dede and elleswhere, P, 10 Beleve to the worldes eere P, 11 In tyme comende after this. P, 12 Bot for men sein, and soth it is, P, 13 That who that al of wisdom writ P, 14 It dulleth ofte a mannes wit P, 15 To him that schal it aldai rede, P, 16 For thilke cause, if that ye rede, P, 17 I wolde go the middel weie P, 18 And wryte a bok betwen the tweie, P, 19 Somwhat of lust, somewhat of lore, P, 20 That of the lasse or of the more P, 21 Som man mai lyke of that I wryte: P, 22 And for that fewe men endite P, 23 In oure englissh, I thenke make P, 24 A bok for Engelondes sake, P, 25 The yer sextenthe of kyng Richard. P, 26 What schal befalle hierafterward P, 27 God wot, for now upon this tyde P, 28 Men se the world on every syde P, 29 In sondry wyse so diversed, P, 30 That it welnyh stant al reversed, P, 31 As forto speke of tyme ago. P, 32 The cause whi it changeth so P, 33 It needeth nought to specifie, P, 34 The thing so open is at yµe P, 35 That every man it mai beholde: P, 36 And natheles be daies olde, P, 37 Whan that the bokes weren levere, P, 38 Wrytinge was beloved evere P, 39 Of hem that weren vertuous; P, 40 For hier in erthe amonges ous, P, 41 If noman write hou that it stode, P, 42 The pris of hem that weren goode P, 43 Scholde, as who seith, a gret partie P, 44 Be lost: so for to magnifie P, 45 The worthi princes that tho were, P, 46 The bokes schewen hiere and there, P, 47 Wherof the world ensampled is; P, 48 And tho that deden thanne amis P, 49 Thurgh tirannie and crualte, P, 50 Right as thei stoden in degre, P, 51 So was the wrytinge of here werk. P, 52 Thus I, which am a burel clerk, P, 53 Purpose forto wryte a bok P, 54 After the world that whilom tok P, 55 Long tyme in olde daies passed: P, 56 Bot for men sein it is now lassed, P, 57 In worse plit than it was tho, P, 58 I thenke forto touche also P, 59 The world which neweth every dai, P, 60 So as I can, so as I mai. P, 61 Thogh I seknesse have upon honde P, 62 And longe have had, yit woll I fonde P, 63 To wryte and do my bisinesse, P, 64 That in som part, so as I gesse, P, 65 The wyse man mai ben avised. P, 66 For this prologe is so assised P, 67 That it to wisdom al belongeth: P, 68 What wysman that it underfongeth, P, 69 He schal drawe into remembrance P, 70 The fortune of this worldes chance, P, 71 The which noman in his persone P, 72 Mai knowe, bot the god al one. P, 73 Whan the prologe is so despended, P, 74 This bok schal afterward ben ended P, 75 Of love, which doth many a wonder P, 76 And many a wys man hath put under. P, 77 And in this wyse I thenke trete P, 78 Towardes hem that now be grete, P, 79 Betwen the vertu and the vice P, 80 Which longeth unto this office. P, 81 Bot for my wittes ben to smale P, 82 To tellen every man his tale, P, 83 This bok, upon amendment P, 84 To stonde at his commandement, P, 85 With whom myn herte is of accord, P, 86 I sende unto myn oghne lord, P, 87 Which of Lancastre is Henri named: P, 88 The hyhe god him hath proclamed P, 89 Ful of knyhthode and alle grace. P, 90 So woll I now this werk embrace P, 91 With hol trust and with hol believe; P, 92 God grante I mot it wel achieve. P, 93 If I schal drawe in to my mynde P, 94 The tyme passed, thanne I fynde P, 95 The world stod thanne in al his welthe: P, 96 Tho was the lif of man in helthe, P, 97 Tho was plente, tho was richesse, P, 98 Tho was the fortune of prouesse, P, 99 Tho was knyhthode in pris be name, P, 100 Wherof the wyde worldes fame P, 101 Write in Cronique is yit withholde; P, 102 Justice of lawe tho was holde, P, 103 The privilege of regalie P, 104 Was sauf, and al the baronie P, 105 Worschiped was in his astat; P, 106 The citees knewen no debat, P, 107 The poeple stod in obeissance P, 108 Under the reule of governance, P, 109 And pes, which ryhtwisnesse keste, P, 110 With charite tho stod in reste: P, 111 Of mannes herte the corage P, 112 Was schewed thanne in the visage; P, 113 The word was lich to the conceite P, 114 Withoute semblant of deceite: P, 115 Tho was ther unenvied love, P, 116 Tho was the vertu sett above P, 117 And vice was put under fote. P, 118 Now stant the crop under the rote, P, 119 The world is changed overal, P, 120 And therof most in special P, 121 That love is falle into discord. P, 122 And that I take to record P, 123 Of every lond for his partie P, 124 The comun vois, which mai noght lie; P, 125 Noght upon on, bot upon alle P, 126 It is that men now clepe and calle, P, 127 And sein the regnes ben divided, P, 128 In stede of love is hate guided, P, 129 The werre wol no pes purchace, P, 130 And lawe hath take hire double face, P, 131 So that justice out of the weie P, 132 With ryhtwisnesse is gon aweie: P, 133 And thus to loke on every halve, P, 134 Men sen the sor withoute salve, P, 135 Which al the world hath overtake. P, 136 Ther is no regne of alle outtake, P, 137 For every climat hath his diel P, 138 After the tornynge of the whiel, P, 139 Which blinde fortune overthroweth; P, 140 Wherof the certain noman knoweth: P, 141 The hevene wot what is to done, P, 142 Bot we that duelle under the mone P, 143 Stonde in this world upon a weer, P, 144 And namely bot the pouer P, 145 Of hem that ben the worldes guides P, 146 With good consail on alle sides P, 147 Be kept upriht in such a wyse, P, 148 That hate breke noght thassise P, 149 Of love, which is al the chief P, 150 To kepe a regne out of meschief. P, 151 For alle resoun wolde this, P, 152 That unto him which the heved is P, 153 The membres buxom scholden bowe, P, 154 And he scholde ek her trowthe allowe, P, 155 With al his herte and make hem chiere, P, 156 For good consail is good to hiere. P, 157 Althogh a man be wys himselve, P, 158 Yit is the wisdom more of tuelve; P, 159 And if thei stoden bothe in on, P, 160 To hope it were thanne anon P, 161 That god his grace wolde sende P, 162 To make of thilke werre an ende, P, 163 Which every day now groweth newe: P, 164 And that is gretly forto rewe P, 165 In special for Cristes sake, P, 166 Which wolde his oghne lif forsake P, 167 Among the men to yeve pes. P, 168 But now men tellen natheles P, 169 That love is fro the world departed, P, 170 So stant the pes unevene parted P, 171 With hem that liven now adaies. P, 172 Bot forto loke at alle assaies, P, 173 To him that wolde resoun seche P, 174 After the comun worldes speche P, 175 It is to wondre of thilke werre, P, 176 In which non wot who hath the werre; P, 177 For every lond himself deceyveth P, 178 And of desese his part receyveth, P, 179 And yet ne take men no kepe. P, 180 Bot thilke lord which al may kepe, P, 181 To whom no consail may ben hid, P, 182 Upon the world which is betid, P, 183 Amende that wherof men pleigne P, 184 With trewe hertes and with pleine, P, 185 And reconcile love ayeyn, P, 186 As he which is king sovereign P, 187 Of al the worldes governaunce, P, 188 And of his hyhe porveaunce P, 189 Afferme pes betwen the londes P, 190 And take her cause into hise hondes, P, 191 So that the world may stonde appesed P, 192 And his godhede also be plesed. P, 193 To thenke upon the daies olde, P, 194 The lif of clerkes to beholde, P, 195 Men sein how that thei weren tho P, 196 Ensample and reule of alle tho P, 197 Whiche of wisdom the vertu soughten. P, 198 Unto the god ferst thei besoughten P, 199 As to the substaunce of her Scole, P, 200 That thei ne scholden noght befole P, 201 Her wit upon none erthly werkes, P, 202 Which were ayein thestat of clerkes, P, 203 And that thei myhten fle the vice P, 204 Which Simon hath in his office, P, 205 Wherof he takth the gold in honde. P, 206 For thilke tyme I understonde P, 207 The Lumbard made non eschange P, 208 The bisschopriches forto change, P, 209 Ne yet a lettre for to sende P, 210 For dignite ne for Provende, P, 211 Or cured or withoute cure. P, 212 The cherche keye in aventure P, 213 Of armes and of brygantaille P, 214 Stod nothing thanne upon bataille; P, 215 To fyhte or for to make cheste P, 216 It thoghte hem thanne noght honeste; P, 217 Bot of simplesce and pacience P, 218 Thei maden thanne no defence: P, 219 The Court of worldly regalie P, 220 To hem was thanne no baillie; P, 221 The vein honour was noght desired, P, 222 Which hath the proude herte fyred; P, 223 Humilite was tho withholde, P, 224 And Pride was a vice holde. P, 225 Of holy cherche the largesse P, 226 Yaf thanne and dede gret almesse P, 227 To povere men that hadden nede: P, 228 Thei were ek chaste in word and dede, P, 229 Wherof the poeple ensample tok; P, 230 Her lust was al upon the bok, P, 231 Or forto preche or forto preie, P, 232 To wisse men the ryhte weie P, 233 Of suche as stode of trowthe unliered. P, 234 Lo, thus was Petres barge stiered P, 235 Of hem that thilke tyme were, P, 236 And thus cam ferst to mannes Ere P, 237 The feith of Crist and alle goode P, 238 Thurgh hem that thanne weren goode P, 239 And sobre and chaste and large and wyse. P, 240 Bot now men sein is otherwise, P, 241 Simon the cause hath undertake, P, 242 The worldes swerd on honde is take; P, 243 And that is wonder natheles, P, 244 Whan Crist him self hath bode pes P, 245 And set it in his testament, P, 246 How now that holy cherche is went, P, 247 Of that here lawe positif P, 248 Hath set to make werre and strif P, 249 For worldes good, which may noght laste. P, 250 God wot the cause to the laste P, 251 Of every right and wrong also; P, 252 But whil the lawe is reuled so P, 253 That clerkes to the werre entende, P, 254 I not how that thei scholde amende P, 255 The woful world in othre thinges, P, 256 To make pes betwen the kynges P, 257 After the lawe of charite, P, 258 Which is the propre duete P, 259 Belongende unto the presthode. P, 260 Bot as it thenkth to the manhode, P, 261 The hevene is ferr, the world is nyh, P, 262 And veine gloire is ek so slyh, P, 263 Which coveitise hath now withholde, P, 264 That thei non other thing beholde, P, 265 Bot only that thei myhten winne. P, 266 And thus the werres thei beginne, P, 267 Wherof the holi cherche is taxed, P, 268 That in the point as it is axed P, 269 The disme goth to the bataille, P, 270 As thogh Crist myhte noght availe P, 271 To don hem riht be other weie. P, 272 In to the swerd the cherche keie P, 273 Is torned, and the holy bede P, 274 Into cursinge, and every stede P, 275 Which scholde stonde upon the feith P, 276 And to this cause an Ere leyth, P, 277 Astoned is of the querele. P, 278 That scholde be the worldes hele P, 279 Is now, men sein, the pestilence P, 280 Which hath exiled pacience P, 281 Fro the clergie in special: P, 282 And that is schewed overal, P, 283 In eny thing whan thei ben grieved. P, 284 Bot if Gregoire be believed, P, 285 As it is in the bokes write, P, 286 He doth ous somdel forto wite P, 287 The cause of thilke prelacie, P, 288 Wher god is noght of compaignie: P, 289 For every werk as it is founded P, 290 Schal stonde or elles be confounded; P, 291 Who that only for Cristes sake P, 292 Desireth cure forto take, P, 293 And noght for pride of thilke astat, P, 294 To bere a name of a prelat, P, 295 He schal be resoun do profit P, 296 In holy cherche upon the plit P, 297 That he hath set his conscience; P, 298 Bot in the worldes reverence P, 299 Ther ben of suche manie glade, P, 300 Whan thei to thilke astat ben made, P, 301 Noght for the merite of the charge, P, 302 Bot for thei wolde hemself descharge P, 303 Of poverte and become grete; P, 304 And thus for Pompe and for beyete P, 305 The Scribe and ek the Pharisee P, 306 Of Moiµses upon the See P, 307 In the chaiere on hyh ben set; P, 308 Wherof the feith is ofte let, P, 309 Which is betaken hem to kepe. P, 310 In Cristes cause alday thei slepe, P, 311 Bot of the world is noght foryete; P, 312 For wel is him that now may gete P, 313 Office in Court to ben honoured. P, 314 The stronge coffre hath al devoured P, 315 Under the keye of avarice P, 316 The tresor of the benefice, P, 317 Wherof the povere schulden clothe P, 318 And ete and drinke and house bothe; P, 319 The charite goth al unknowe, P, 320 For thei no grein of Pite sowe: P, 321 And slouthe kepeth the libraire P, 322 Which longeth to the Saintuaire; P, 323 To studie upon the worldes lore P, 324 Sufficeth now withoute more; P, 325 Delicacie his swete toth P, 326 Hath fostred so that it fordoth P, 327 Of abstinence al that ther is. P, 328 And forto loken over this, P, 329 If Ethna brenne in the clergie, P, 330 Al openly to mannes yµe P, 331 At Avynoun thexperience P, 332 Therof hath yove an evidence, P, 333 Of that men sen hem so divided. P, 334 And yit the cause is noght decided; P, 335 Bot it is seid and evere schal, P, 336 Betwen tuo Stoles lyth the fal, P, 337 Whan that men wenen best to sitte: P, 338 In holy cherche of such a slitte P, 339 Is for to rewe un to ous alle; P, 340 God grante it mote wel befalle P, 341 Towardes him which hath the trowthe. P, 342 Bot ofte is sen that mochel slowthe, P, 343 Whan men ben drunken of the cuppe, P, 344 Doth mochel harm, whan fyr is uppe, P, 345 Bot if somwho the flamme stanche; P, 346 And so to speke upon this branche, P, 347 Which proud Envie hath mad to springe, P, 348 Of Scisme, causeth forto bringe P, 349 This newe Secte of Lollardie, P, 350 And also many an heresie P, 351 Among the clerkes in hemselve. P, 352 It were betre dike and delve P, 353 And stonde upon the ryhte feith, P, 354 Than knowe al that the bible seith P, 355 And erre as somme clerkes do. P, 356 Upon the hond to were a Schoo P, 357 And sette upon the fot a Glove P, 358 Acordeth noght to the behove P, 359 Of resonable mannes us: P, 360 If men behielden the vertus P, 361 That Crist in Erthe taghte here, P, 362 Thei scholden noght in such manere, P, 363 Among hem that ben holden wise, P, 364 The Papacie so desguise P, 365 Upon diverse eleccioun, P, 366 Which stant after thaffeccioun P, 367 Of sondry londes al aboute: P, 368 Bot whan god wole, it schal were oute, P, 369 For trowthe mot stonde ate laste. P, 370 Bot yet thei argumenten faste P, 371 Upon the Pope and his astat, P, 372 Wherof thei falle in gret debat; P, 373 This clerk seith yee, that other nay, P, 374 And thus thei dryve forth the day, P, 375 And ech of hem himself amendeth P, 376 Of worldes good, bot non entendeth P, 377 To that which comun profit were. P, 378 Thei sein that god is myhti there, P, 379 And schal ordeine what he wile, P, 380 Ther make thei non other skile P, 381 Where is the peril of the feith, P, 382 Bot every clerk his herte leith P, 383 To kepe his world in special, P, 384 And of the cause general, P, 385 Which unto holy cherche longeth, P, 386 Is non of hem that underfongeth P, 387 To schapen eny resistence: P, 388 And thus the riht hath no defence, P, 389 Bot ther I love, ther I holde. P, 390 Lo, thus tobroke is Cristes folde, P, 391 Wherof the flock withoute guide P, 392 Devoured is on every side, P, 393 In lacke of hem that ben unware P, 394 Schepherdes, whiche her wit beware P, 395 Upon the world in other halve. P, 396 The scharpe pricke in stede of salve P, 397 Thei usen now, wherof the hele P, 398 Thei hurte of that thei scholden hele; P, 399 And what Schep that is full of wulle P, 400 Upon his back, thei toose and pulle, P, 401 Whil ther is eny thing to pile: P, 402 And thogh ther be non other skile P, 403 Bot only for thei wolden wynne, P, 404 Thei leve noght, whan thei begynne, P, 405 Upon her acte to procede, P, 406 Which is no good schepherdes dede. P, 407 And upon this also men sein, P, 408 That fro the leese which is plein P, 409 Into the breres thei forcacche P, 410 Her Orf, for that thei wolden lacche P, 411 With such duresce, and so bereve P, 412 That schal upon the thornes leve P, 413 Of wulle, which the brere hath tore; P, 414 Wherof the Schep ben al totore P, 415 Of that the hierdes make hem lese. P, 416 Lo, how thei feignen chalk for chese, P, 417 For though thei speke and teche wel, P, 418 Thei don hemself therof no del: P, 419 For if the wolf come in the weie, P, 420 Her gostly Staf is thanne aweie, P, 421 Wherof thei scholde her flock defende; P, 422 Bot if the povere Schep offende P, 423 In eny thing, thogh it be lyte, P, 424 They ben al redy forto smyte; P, 425 And thus, how evere that thei tale, P, 426 The strokes falle upon the smale, P, 427 And upon othre that ben grete P, 428 Hem lacketh herte forto bete. P, 429 So that under the clerkes lawe P, 430 Men sen the Merel al mysdrawe, P, 431 I wol noght seie in general, P, 432 For ther ben somme in special P, 433 In whom that alle vertu duelleth, P, 434 And tho ben, as thapostel telleth, P, 435 That god of his eleccioun P, 436 Hath cleped to perfeccioun P, 437 In the manere as Aaron was: P, 438 Thei ben nothing in thilke cas P, 439 Of Simon, which the foldes gate P, 440 Hath lete, and goth in othergate, P, 441 Bot thei gon in the rihte weie. P, 442 Ther ben also somme, as men seie, P, 443 That folwen Simon ate hieles, P, 444 Whos carte goth upon the whieles P, 445 Of coveitise and worldes Pride, P, 446 And holy cherche goth beside, P, 447 Which scheweth outward a visage P, 448 Of that is noght in the corage. P, 449 For if men loke in holy cherche, P, 450 Betwen the word and that thei werche P, 451 Ther is a full gret difference: P, 452 Thei prechen ous in audience P, 453 That noman schal his soule empeire, P, 454 For al is bot a chirie feire P, 455 This worldes good, so as thei telle; P, 456 Also thei sein ther is an helle, P, 457 Which unto mannes sinne is due, P, 458 And bidden ous therfore eschue P, 459 That wikkid is, and do the goode. P, 460 Who that here wordes understode, P, 461 It thenkth thei wolden do the same; P, 462 Bot yet betwen ernest and game P, 463 Ful ofte it torneth other wise. P, 464 With holy tales thei devise P, 465 How meritoire is thilke dede P, 466 Of charite, to clothe and fede P, 467 The povere folk and forto parte P, 468 The worldes good, bot thei departe P, 469 Ne thenken noght fro that thei have. P, 470 Also thei sein, good is to save P, 471 With penance and with abstinence P, 472 Of chastite the continence; P, 473 Bot pleinly forto speke of that, P, 474 I not how thilke body fat, P, 475 Which thei with deynte metes kepe P, 476 And leyn it softe forto slepe, P, 477 Whan it hath elles al his wille, P, 478 With chastite schal stonde stille: P, 479 And natheles I can noght seie, P, 480 In aunter if that I misseye. P, 481 Touchende of this, how evere it stonde, P, 482 I here and wol noght understonde, P, 483 For therof have I noght to done: P, 484 Bot he that made ferst the Mone, P, 485 The hyhe god, of his goodnesse, P, 486 If ther be cause, he it redresce. P, 487 Bot what as eny man accuse, P, 488 This mai reson of trowthe excuse; P, 489 The vice of hem that ben ungoode P, 490 Is no reproef unto the goode: P, 491 For every man hise oghne werkes P, 492 Schal bere, and thus as of the clerkes P, 493 The goode men ben to comende, P, 494 And alle these othre god amende: P, 495 For thei ben to the worldes yµe P, 496 The Mirour of ensamplerie, P, 497 To reulen and to taken hiede P, 498 Betwen the men and the godhiede. P, 499 Now forto speke of the comune, P, 500 It is to drede of that fortune P, 501 Which hath befalle in sondri londes: P, 502 Bot often for defalte of bondes P, 503 Al sodeinliche, er it be wist, P, 504 A Tonne, whanne his lye arist, P, 505 Tobrekth and renneth al aboute, P, 506 Which elles scholde noght gon oute; P, 507 And ek fulofte a litel Skar P, 508 Upon a Banke, er men be war, P, 509 Let in the Strem, which with gret peine, P, 510 If evere man it schal restreigne. P, 511 Wher lawe lacketh, errour groweth, P, 512 He is noght wys who that ne troweth, P, 513 For it hath proeved ofte er this; P, 514 And thus the comun clamour is P, 515 In every lond wher poeple dwelleth, P, 516 And eche in his compleignte telleth P, 517 How that the world is al miswent, P, 518 And ther upon his jugement P, 519 Yifth every man in sondry wise. P, 520 Bot what man wolde himself avise, P, 521 His conscience and noght misuse, P, 522 He may wel ate ferste excuse P, 523 His god, which evere stant in on: P, 524 In him ther is defalte non, P, 525 So moste it stonde upon ousselve P, 526 Nought only upon ten ne twelve, P, 527 Bot plenerliche upon ous alle, P, 528 For man is cause of that schal falle. P, 529 And natheles yet som men wryte P, 530 And sein that fortune is to wyte, P, 531 And som men holde oppinion P, 532 That it is constellacion, P, 533 Which causeth al that a man doth: P, 534 God wot of bothe which is soth. P, 535 The world as of his propre kynde P, 536 Was evere untrewe, and as the blynde P, 537 Improprelich he demeth fame, P, 538 He blameth that is noght to blame P, 539 And preiseth that is noght to preise: P, 540 Thus whan he schal the thinges peise, P, 541 Ther is deceipte in his balance, P, 542 And al is that the variance P, 543 Of ous, that scholde ous betre avise; P, 544 For after that we falle and rise, P, 545 The world arist and falth withal, P, 546 So that the man is overal P, 547 His oghne cause of wel and wo. P, 548 That we fortune clepe so P, 549 Out of the man himself it groweth; P, 550 And who that other wise troweth, P, 551 Behold the poeple of Irael: P, 552 For evere whil thei deden wel, P, 553 Fortune was hem debonaire, P, 554 And whan thei deden the contraire, P, 555 Fortune was contrariende. P, 556 So that it proeveth wel at ende P, 557 Why that the world is wonderfull P, 558 And may no while stonde full, P, 559 Though that it seme wel besein; P, 560 For every worldes thing is vein, P, 561 And evere goth the whiel aboute, P, 562 And evere stant a man in doute, P, 563 Fortune stant no while stille, P, 564 So hath ther noman al his wille. P, 565 Als fer as evere a man may knowe, P, 566 Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe; P, 567 The world stant evere upon debat, P, 568 So may be seker non astat, P, 569 Now hier now ther, now to now fro, P, 570 Now up now down, this world goth so, P, 571 And evere hath don and evere schal: P, 572 Wherof I finde in special P, 573 A tale writen in the Bible, P, 574 Which moste nedes be credible; P, 575 And that as in conclusioun P, 576 Seith that upon divisioun P, 577 Stant, why no worldes thing mai laste, P, 578 Til it be drive to the laste. P, 579 And fro the ferste regne of alle P, 580 Into this day, hou so befalle, P, 581 Of that the regnes be muable P, 582 The man himself hath be coupable, P, 583 Which of his propre governance P, 584 Fortuneth al the worldes chance. P, 585 The hyhe almyhti pourveance, P, 586 In whos eterne remembrance P, 587 Fro ferst was every thing present, P, 588 He hath his prophecie sent, P, 589 In such a wise as thou schalt hiere, P, 590 To Daniel of this matiere, P, 591 Hou that this world schal torne and wende, P, 592 Till it be falle to his ende; P, 593 Wherof the tale telle I schal, P, 594 In which it is betokned al. P, 595 As Nabugodonosor slepte, P, 596 A swevene him tok, the which he kepte P, 597 Til on the morwe he was arise, P, 598 For he therof was sore agrise. P, 599 To Daniel his drem he tolde, P, 600 And preide him faire that he wolde P, 601 Arede what it tokne may; P, 602 And seide: "Abedde wher I lay, P, 603 Me thoghte I syh upon a Stage P, 604 Wher stod a wonder strange ymage. P, 605 His hed with al the necke also P, 606 Thei were of fin gold bothe tuo; P, 607 His brest, his schuldres and his armes P, 608 Were al of selver, bot the tharmes, P, 609 The wombe and al doun to the kne, P, 610 Of bras thei were upon to se; P, 611 The legges were al mad of Stiel, P, 612 So were his feet also somdiel, P, 613 And somdiel part to hem was take P, 614 Of Erthe which men Pottes make; P, 615 The fieble meynd was with the stronge, P, 616 So myhte it wel noght stonde longe. P, 617 And tho me thoghte that I sih P, 618 A gret ston from an hull on hyh P, 619 Fel doun of sodein aventure P, 620 Upon the feet of this figure, P, 621 With which Ston al tobroke was P, 622 Gold, Selver, Erthe, Stiel and Bras, P, 623 That al was in to pouldre broght, P, 624 And so forth torned into noght." P, 625 This was the swevene which he hadde, P, 626 That Daniel anon aradde, P, 627 And seide him that figure strange P, 628 Betokneth how the world schal change P, 629 And waxe lasse worth and lasse, P, 630 Til it to noght al overpasse. P, 631 The necke and hed, that weren golde, P, 632 He seide how that betokne scholde P, 633 A worthi world, a noble, a riche, P, 634 To which non after schal be liche. P, 635 Of Selver that was overforth P, 636 Schal ben a world of lasse worth; P, 637 And after that the wombe of Bras P, 638 Tokne of a werse world it was. P, 639 The Stiel which he syh afterward P, 640 A world betokneth more hard: P, 641 Bot yet the werste of everydel P, 642 Is last, whan that of Erthe and Stiel P, 643 He syh the feet departed so, P, 644 For that betokneth mochel wo. P, 645 Whan that the world divided is, P, 646 It moste algate fare amis, P, 647 For Erthe which is meynd with Stiel P, 648 Togedre may noght laste wiel, P, 649 Bot if that on that other waste; P, 650 So mot it nedes faile in haste. P, 651 The Ston, which fro the hully Stage P, 652 He syh doun falle on that ymage, P, 653 And hath it into pouldre broke, P, 654 That swevene hath Daniel unloke, P, 655 And seide how that is goddes myht, P, 656 Which whan men wene most upryht P, 657 To stonde, schal hem overcaste. P, 658 And that is of this world the laste, P, 659 And thanne a newe schal beginne, P, 660 Fro which a man schal nevere twinne; P, 661 Or al to peine or al to pes P, 662 That world schal lasten endeles. P, 663 Lo thus expondeth Daniel P, 664 The kynges swevene faire and wel P, 665 In Babiloyne the Cite, P, 666 Wher that the wiseste of Caldee P, 667 Ne cowthen wite what it mente; P, 668 Bot he tolde al the hol entente, P, 669 As in partie it is befalle. P, 670 Of gold the ferste regne of alle P, 671 Was in that kinges time tho, P, 672 And laste manye daies so, P, 673 Therwhiles that the Monarchie P, 674 Of al the world in that partie P, 675 To Babiloyne was soubgit; P, 676 And hield him stille in such a plit, P, 677 Til that the world began diverse: P, 678 And that was whan the king of Perse, P, 679 Which Cirus hyhte, ayein the pes P, 680 Forth with his Sone Cambises P, 681 Of Babiloine al that Empire, P, 682 Ryht as thei wolde hemself desire, P, 683 Put under in subjeccioun P, 684 And tok it in possessioun, P, 685 And slayn was Baltazar the king, P, 686 Which loste his regne and al his thing. P, 687 And thus whan thei it hadde wonne, P, 688 The world of Selver was begonne P, 689 And that of gold was passed oute: P, 690 And in this wise it goth aboute P, 691 In to the Regne of Darius; P, 692 And thanne it fell to Perse thus, P, 693 That Alisaundre put hem under, P, 694 Which wroghte of armes many a wonder, P, 695 So that the Monarchie lefte P, 696 With Grecs, and here astat uplefte, P, 697 And Persiens gon under fote, P, 698 So soffre thei that nedes mote. P, 699 And tho the world began of Bras, P, 700 And that of selver ended was; P, 701 Bot for the time thus it laste, P, 702 Til it befell that ate laste P, 703 This king, whan that his day was come, P, 704 With strengthe of deth was overcome. P, 705 And natheles yet er he dyde, P, 706 He schop his Regnes to divide P, 707 To knyhtes whiche him hadde served, P, 708 And after that thei have deserved P, 709 Yaf the conquestes that he wan; P, 710 Wherof gret werre tho began P, 711 Among hem that the Regnes hadde, P, 712 Thurgh proud Envie which hem ladde, P, 713 Til it befell ayein hem thus: P, 714 The noble Cesar Julius, P, 715 Which tho was king of Rome lond, P, 716 With gret bataille and with strong hond P, 717 Al Grece, Perse and ek Caldee P, 718 Wan and put under, so that he P, 719 Noght al only of thorient P, 720 Bot al the Marche of thoccident P, 721 Governeth under his empire, P, 722 As he that was hol lord and Sire, P, 723 And hield thurgh his chivalerie P, 724 Of al this world the Monarchie, P, 725 And was the ferste of that honour P, 726 Which tok the name of Emperour. P, 727 Wher Rome thanne wolde assaille, P, 728 Ther myhte nothing contrevaille, P, 729 Bot every contre moste obeie: P, 730 Tho goth the Regne of Bras aweie, P, 731 And comen is the world of Stiel, P, 732 And stod above upon the whiel. P, 733 As Stiel is hardest in his kynde P, 734 Above alle othre that men finde P, 735 Of Metals, such was Rome tho P, 736 The myhtieste, and laste so P, 737 Long time amonges the Romeins P, 738 Til thei become so vileins, P, 739 That the fals Emperour Leo P, 740 With Constantin his Sone also P, 741 The patrimoine and the richesse, P, 742 Which to Silvestre in pure almesse P, 743 The ferste Constantinus lefte, P, 744 Fro holy cherche thei berefte. P, 745 Bot Adrian, which Pope was, P, 746 And syh the meschief of this cas, P, 747 Goth in to France forto pleigne, P, 748 And preith the grete Charlemeine, P, 749 For Cristes sake and Soule hele P, 750 That he wol take the querele P, 751 Of holy cherche in his defence. P, 752 And Charles for the reverence P, 753 Of god the cause hath undertake, P, 754 And with his host the weie take P, 755 Over the Montz of Lombardie; P, 756 Of Rome and al the tirandie P, 757 With blodi swerd he overcom, P, 758 And the Cite with strengthe nom; P, 759 In such a wise and there he wroghte, P, 760 That holy cherche ayein he broghte P, 761 Into franchise, and doth restore P, 762 The Popes lost, and yaf him more: P, 763 And thus whan he his god hath served, P, 764 He tok, as he wel hath deserved, P, 765 The Diademe and was coroned. P, 766 Of Rome and thus was abandoned P, 767 Thempire, which cam nevere ayein P, 768 Into the hond of no Romein; P, 769 Bot a long time it stod so stille P, 770 Under the Frensche kynges wille, P, 771 Til that fortune hir whiel so ladde, P, 772 That afterward Lombardz it hadde, P, 773 Noght be the swerd, bot be soffrance P, 774 Of him that tho was kyng of France, P, 775 Which Karle Calvus cleped was; P, 776 And he resigneth in this cas P, 777 Thempire of Rome unto Lowis P, 778 His Cousin, which a Lombard is. P, 779 And so hit laste into the yeer P, 780 Of Albert and of Berenger; P, 781 Bot thanne upon dissencioun P, 782 Thei felle, and in divisioun P, 783 Among hemself that were grete, P, 784 So that thei loste the beyete P, 785 Of worschipe and of worldes pes. P, 786 Bot in proverbe natheles P, 787 Men sein, ful selden is that welthe P, 788 Can soffre his oghne astat in helthe; P, 789 And that was on the Lombardz sene, P, 790 Such comun strif was hem betwene P, 791 Thurgh coveitise and thurgh Envie, P, 792 That every man drowh his partie, P, 793 Which myhte leden eny route, P, 794 Withinne Burgh and ek withoute: P, 795 The comun ryht hath no felawe, P, 796 So that the governance of lawe P, 797 Was lost, and for necessite, P, 798 Of that thei stode in such degre P, 799 Al only thurgh divisioun, P, 800 Hem nedeth in conclusioun P, 801 Of strange londes help beside. P, 802 And thus for thei hemself divide P, 803 And stonden out of reule unevene, P, 804 Of Alemaine Princes sevene P, 805 Thei chose in this condicioun, P, 806 That upon here eleccioun P, 807 Thempire of Rome scholde stonde. P, 808 And thus thei lefte it out of honde P, 809 For lacke of grace, and it forsoke, P, 810 That Alemans upon hem toke: P, 811 And to confermen here astat, P, 812 Of that thei founden in debat P, 813 Thei token the possessioun P, 814 After the composicioun P, 815 Among hemself, and therupon P, 816 Thei made an Emperour anon, P, 817 Whos name as the Cronique telleth P, 818 Was Othes; and so forth it duelleth, P, 819 Fro thilke day yit unto this P, 820 Thempire of Rome hath ben and is P, 821 To thalemans. And in this wise, P, 822 As ye tofore have herd divise P, 823 How Daniel the swevene expondeth P, 824 Of that ymage, on whom he foundeth P, 825 The world which after scholde falle, P, 826 Come is the laste tokne of alle; P, 827 Upon the feet of Erthe and Stiel P, 828 So stant this world now everydiel P, 829 Departed; which began riht tho, P, 830 Whan Rome was divided so: P, 831 And that is forto rewe sore, P, 832 For alway siththe more and more P, 833 The world empeireth every day. P, 834 Wherof the sothe schewe may, P, 835 At Rome ferst if we beginne: P, 836 The wall and al the Cit withinne P, 837 Stant in ruine and in decas, P, 838 The feld is wher the Paleis was, P, 839 The toun is wast; and overthat, P, 840 If we beholde thilke astat P, 841 Which whilom was of the Romeins, P, 842 Of knyhthode and of Citezeins, P, 843 To peise now with that beforn, P, 844 The chaf is take for the corn, P, 845 As forto speke of Romes myht: P, 846 Unethes stant ther oght upryht P, 847 Of worschipe or of worldes good, P, 848 As it before tyme stod. P, 849 And why the worschipe is aweie, P, 850 If that a man the sothe seie, P, 851 The cause hath ben divisioun, P, 852 Which moder of confusioun P, 853 Is wher sche cometh overal, P, 854 Noght only of the temporal P, 855 Bot of the spirital also. P, 856 The dede proeveth it is so, P, 857 And hath do many day er this, P, 858 Thurgh venym which that medled is P, 859 In holy cherche of erthly thing: P, 860 For Crist himself makth knowleching P, 861 That noman may togedre serve P, 862 God and the world, bot if he swerve P, 863 Froward that on and stonde unstable; P, 864 And Cristes word may noght be fable. P, 865 The thing so open is at yµe, P, 866 It nedeth noght to specefie P, 867 Or speke oght more in this matiere; P, 868 Bot in this wise a man mai lere P, 869 Hou that the world is gon aboute, P, 870 The which welnyh is wered oute, P, 871 After the forme of that figure P, 872 Which Daniel in his scripture P, 873 Expondeth, as tofore is told. P, 874 Of Bras, of Selver and of Gold P, 875 The world is passed and agon, P, 876 And now upon his olde ton P, 877 It stant of brutel Erthe and Stiel, P, 878 The whiche acorden nevere a diel; P, 879 So mot it nedes swerve aside P, 880 As thing the which men sen divide. P, 881 Thapostel writ unto ous alle P, 882 And seith that upon ous is falle P, 883 Thende of the world; so may we knowe, P, 884 This ymage is nyh overthrowe, P, 885 Be which this world was signified, P, 886 That whilom was so magnefied, P, 887 And now is old and fieble and vil, P, 888 Full of meschief and of peril, P, 889 And stant divided ek also P, 890 Lich to the feet that were so, P, 891 As I tolde of the Statue above. P, 892 And this men sen, thurgh lacke of love P, 893 Where as the lond divided is, P, 894 It mot algate fare amis: P, 895 And now to loke on every side, P, 896 A man may se the world divide, P, 897 The werres ben so general P, 898 Among the cristene overal, P, 899 That every man now secheth wreche, P, 900 And yet these clerkes alday preche P, 901 And sein, good dede may non be P, 902 Which stant noght upon charite: P, 903 I not hou charite may stonde, P, 904 Wher dedly werre is take on honde. P, 905 Bot al this wo is cause of man, P, 906 The which that wit and reson can, P, 907 And that in tokne and in witnesse P, 908 That ilke ymage bar liknesse P, 909 Of man and of non other beste. P, 910 For ferst unto the mannes heste P, 911 Was every creature ordeined, P, 912 Bot afterward it was restreigned: P, 913 Whan that he fell, thei fellen eke, P, 914 Whan he wax sek, thei woxen seke; P, 915 For as the man hath passioun P, 916 Of seknesse, in comparisoun P, 917 So soffren othre creatures. P, 918 Lo, ferst the hevenly figures, P, 919 The Sonne and Mone eclipsen bothe, P, 920 And ben with mannes senne wrothe; P, 921 The purest Eir for Senne alofte P, 922 Hath ben and is corrupt fulofte, P, 923 Right now the hyhe wyndes blowe, P, 924 And anon after thei ben lowe, P, 925 Now clowdy and now clier it is: P, 926 So may it proeven wel be this, P, 927 A mannes Senne is forto hate, P, 928 Which makth the welkne to debate. P, 929 And forto se the proprete P, 930 Of every thyng in his degree, P, 931 Benethe forth among ous hiere P, 932 Al stant aliche in this matiere: P, 933 The See now ebbeth, now it floweth, P, 934 The lond now welketh, now it groweth, P, 935 Now be the Trees with leves grene, P, 936 Now thei be bare and nothing sene, P, 937 Now be the lusti somer floures, P, 938 Now be the stormy wynter shoures, P, 939 Now be the daies, now the nyhtes, P, 940 So stant ther nothing al upryhtes, P, 941 Now it is lyht, now it is derk; P, 942 And thus stant al the worldes werk P, 943 After the disposicioun P, 944 Of man and his condicioun. P, 945 Forthi Gregoire in his Moral P, 946 Seith that a man in special P, 947 The lasse world is properly: P, 948 And that he proeveth redely; P, 949 For man of Soule resonable P, 950 Is to an Angel resemblable, P, 951 And lich to beste he hath fielinge, P, 952 And lich to Trees he hath growinge; P, 953 The Stones ben and so is he: P, 954 Thus of his propre qualite P, 955 The man, as telleth the clergie, P, 956 Is as a world in his partie, P, 957 And whan this litel world mistorneth, P, 958 The grete world al overtorneth. P, 959 The Lond, the See, the firmament, P, 960 Thei axen alle jugement P, 961 Ayein the man and make him werre: P, 962 Therwhile himself stant out of herre, P, 963 The remenant wol noght acorde: P, 964 And in this wise, as I recorde, P, 965 The man is cause of alle wo, P, 966 Why this world is divided so. P, 967 Division, the gospell seith, P, 968 On hous upon another leith, P, 969 Til that the Regne al overthrowe: P, 970 And thus may every man wel knowe, P, 971 Division aboven alle P, 972 Is thing which makth the world to falle, P, 973 And evere hath do sith it began. P, 974 It may ferst proeve upon a man; P, 975 The which, for his complexioun P, 976 Is mad upon divisioun P, 977 Of cold, of hot, of moist, of drye, P, 978 He mot be verray kynde dye: P, 979 For the contraire of his astat P, 980 Stant evermore in such debat, P, 981 Til that o part be overcome, P, 982 Ther may no final pes be nome. P, 983 Bot other wise, if a man were P, 984 Mad al togedre of o matiere P, 985 Withouten interrupcioun, P, 986 Ther scholde no corrupcioun P, 987 Engendre upon that unite: P, 988 Bot for ther is diversite P, 989 Withinne himself, he may noght laste, P, 990 That he ne deieth ate laste. P, 991 Bot in a man yit over this P, 992 Full gret divisioun ther is, P, 993 Thurgh which that he is evere in strif, P, 994 Whil that him lasteth eny lif: P, 995 The bodi and the Soule also P, 996 Among hem ben divided so, P, 997 That what thing that the body hateth P, 998 The soule loveth and debateth; P, 999 Bot natheles fulofte is sene P,1000 Of werre which is hem betwene P,1001 The fieble hath wonne the victoire. P,1002 And who so drawth into memoire P,1003 What hath befalle of old and newe, P,1004 He may that werre sore rewe, P,1005 Which ferst began in Paradis: P,1006 For ther was proeved what it is, P,1007 And what desese there it wroghte; P,1008 For thilke werre tho forth broghte P,1009 The vice of alle dedly Sinne, P,1010 Thurgh which division cam inne P,1011 Among the men in erthe hiere, P,1012 And was the cause and the matiere P,1013 Why god the grete flodes sende, P,1014 Of al the world and made an ende P,1015 Bot Noeµ with his felaschipe, P,1016 Which only weren saulf be Schipe. P,1017 And over that thurgh Senne it com P,1018 That Nembrot such emprise nom, P,1019 Whan he the Tour Babel on heihte P,1020 Let make, as he that wolde feihte P,1021 Ayein the hihe goddes myht, P,1022 Wherof divided anon ryht P,1023 Was the langage in such entente, P,1024 Ther wiste non what other mente, P,1025 So that thei myhten noght procede. P,1026 And thus it stant of every dede, P,1027 Wher Senne takth the cause on honde, P,1028 It may upriht noght longe stonde; P,1029 For Senne of his condicioun P,1030 Is moder of divisioun P,1031 And tokne whan the world schal faile. P,1032 For so seith Crist withoute faile, P,1033 That nyh upon the worldes ende P,1034 Pes and acord awey schol wende P,1035 And alle charite schal cesse, P,1036 Among the men and hate encresce; P,1037 And whan these toknes ben befalle, P,1038 Al sodeinly the Ston schal falle, P,1039 As Daniel it hath beknowe, P,1040 Which al this world schal overthrowe, P,1041 And every man schal thanne arise P,1042 To Joie or elles to Juise, P,1043 Wher that he schal for evere dwelle, P,1044 Or straght to hevene or straght to helle. P,1045 In hevene is pes and al acord, P,1046 Bot helle is full of such descord P,1047 That ther may be no loveday: P,1048 Forthi good is, whil a man may, P,1049 Echon to sette pes with other P,1050 And loven as his oghne brother; P,1051 So may he winne worldes welthe P,1052 And afterward his soule helthe. P,1053 Bot wolde god that now were on P,1054 An other such as Arion, P,1055 Which hadde an harpe of such temprure, P,1056 And therto of so good mesure P,1057 He song, that he the bestes wilde P,1058 Made of his note tame and milde, P,1059 The Hinde in pes with the Leoun, P,1060 The Wolf in pes with the Moltoun, P,1061 The Hare in pees stod with the Hound; P,1062 And every man upon this ground P,1063 Which Arion that time herde, P,1064 Als wel the lord as the schepherde, P,1065 He broghte hem alle in good acord; P,1066 So that the comun with the lord, P,1067 And lord with the comun also, P,1068 He sette in love bothe tuo P,1069 And putte awey malencolie. P,1070 That was a lusti melodie, P,1071 Whan every man with other low; P,1072 And if ther were such on now, P,1073 Which cowthe harpe as he tho dede, P,1074 He myhte availe in many a stede P,1075 To make pes wher now is hate; P,1076 For whan men thenken to debate, P,1077 I not what other thing is good. P,1078 Bot wher that wisdom waxeth wod, P,1079 And reson torneth into rage, P,1080 So that mesure upon oultrage P,1081 Hath set his world, it is to drede; P,1082 For that bringth in the comun drede, P,1083 Which stant at every mannes Dore: P,1084 Bot whan the scharpnesse of the spore P,1085 The horse side smit to sore, P,1086 It grieveth ofte. And now nomore, P,1087 As forto speke of this matiere, P,1088 Which non bot only god may stiere. 1, 1 I may noght strecche up to the hevene 1, 2 Min hand, ne setten al in evene 1, 3 This world, which evere is in balance: 1, 4 It stant noght in my sufficance 1, 5 So grete thinges to compasse, 1, 6 Bot I mot lete it overpasse 1, 7 And treten upon othre thinges. 1, 8 Forthi the Stile of my writinges 1, 9 Fro this day forth I thenke change 1, 10 And speke of thing is noght so strange, 1, 11 Which every kinde hath upon honde, 1, 12 And wherupon the world mot stonde, 1, 13 And hath don sithen it began, 1, 14 And schal whil ther is any man; 1, 15 And that is love, of which I mene 1, 16 To trete, as after schal be sene. 1, 17 In which ther can noman him reule, 1, 18 For loves lawe is out of reule, 1, 19 That of tomoche or of tolite 1, 20 Welnyh is every man to wyte, 1, 21 And natheles ther is noman 1, 22 In al this world so wys, that can 1, 23 Of love tempre the mesure, 1, 24 Bot as it falth in aventure: 1, 25 For wit ne strengthe may noght helpe, 1, 26 And he which elles wolde him yelpe 1, 27 Is rathest throwen under fote, 1, 28 Ther can no wiht therof do bote. 1, 29 For yet was nevere such covine, 1, 30 That couthe ordeine a medicine 1, 31 To thing which god in lawe of kinde 1, 32 Hath set, for ther may noman finde 1, 33 The rihte salve of such a Sor. 1, 34 It hath and schal ben everemor 1, 35 That love is maister wher he wile, 1, 36 Ther can no lif make other skile; 1, 37 For wher as evere him lest to sette, 1, 38 Ther is no myht which him may lette. 1, 39 Bot what schal fallen ate laste, 1, 40 The sothe can no wisdom caste, 1, 41 Bot as it falleth upon chance; 1, 42 For if ther evere was balance 1, 43 Which of fortune stant governed, 1, 44 I may wel lieve as I am lerned 1, 45 That love hath that balance on honde, 1, 46 Which wol no reson understonde. 1, 47 For love is blind and may noght se, 1, 48 Forthi may no certeinete 1, 49 Be set upon his jugement, 1, 50 Bot as the whiel aboute went 1, 51 He yifth his graces undeserved, 1, 52 And fro that man which hath him served 1, 53 Fulofte he takth aweye his fees, 1, 54 As he that pleieth ate Dees, 1, 55 And therupon what schal befalle 1, 56 He not, til that the chance falle, 1, 57 Wher he schal lese or he schal winne. 1, 58 And thus fulofte men beginne, 1, 59 That if thei wisten what it mente, 1, 60 Thei wolde change al here entente. 1, 61 And forto proven it is so, 1, 62 I am miselven on of tho, 1, 63 Which to this Scole am underfonge. 1, 64 For it is siththe go noght longe, 1, 65 As forto speke of this matiere, 1, 66 I may you telle, if ye woll hiere, 1, 67 A wonder hap which me befell, 1, 68 That was to me bothe hard and fell, 1, 69 Touchende of love and his fortune, 1, 70 The which me liketh to comune 1, 71 And pleinly forto telle it oute. 1, 72 To hem that ben lovers aboute 1, 73 Fro point to point I wol declare 1, 74 And wryten of my woful care, 1, 75 Mi wofull day, my wofull chance, 1, 76 That men mowe take remembrance 1, 77 Of that thei schall hierafter rede: 1, 78 For in good feith this wolde I rede, 1, 79 That every man ensample take 1, 80 Of wisdom which him is betake, 1, 81 And that he wot of good aprise 1, 82 To teche it forth, for such emprise 1, 83 Is forto preise; and therfore I 1, 84 Woll wryte and schewe al openly 1, 85 How love and I togedre mette, 1, 86 Wherof the world ensample fette 1, 87 Mai after this, whan I am go, 1, 88 Of thilke unsely jolif wo, 1, 89 Whos reule stant out of the weie, 1, 90 Nou glad and nou gladnesse aweie, 1, 91 And yet it may noght be withstonde 1, 92 For oght that men may understonde. 1, 93 Upon the point that is befalle 1, 94 Of love, in which that I am falle, 1, 95 I thenke telle my matiere: 1, 96 Now herkne, who that wol it hiere, 1, 97 Of my fortune how that it ferde. 1, 98 This enderday, as I forthferde 1, 99 To walke, as I yow telle may,- 1, 100 And that was in the Monthe of Maii, 1, 101 Whan every brid hath chose his make 1, 102 And thenkth his merthes forto make 1, 103 Of love that he hath achieved; 1, 104 Bot so was I nothing relieved, 1, 105 For I was further fro my love 1, 106 Than Erthe is fro the hevene above, 1, 107 As forto speke of eny sped: 1, 108 So wiste I me non other red, 1, 109 Bot as it were a man forfare 1, 110 Unto the wode I gan to fare, 1, 111 Noght forto singe with the briddes, 1, 112 For whanne I was the wode amiddes, 1, 113 I fond a swote grene pleine, 1, 114 And ther I gan my wo compleigne 1, 115 Wisshinge and wepinge al myn one, 1, 116 For other merthes made I none. 1, 117 So hard me was that ilke throwe, 1, 118 That ofte sithes overthrowe 1, 119 To grounde I was withoute breth; 1, 120 And evere I wisshide after deth, 1, 121 Whanne I out of my peine awok, 1, 122 And caste up many a pitous lok 1, 123 Unto the hevene, and seide thus: 1, 124 "O thou Cupide, O thou Venus, 1, 125 Thou god of love and thou goddesse, 1, 126 Wher is pite? wher is meknesse? 1, 127 Now doth me pleinly live or dye, 1, 128 For certes such a maladie 1, 129 As I now have and longe have hadd, 1, 130 It myhte make a wisman madd, 1, 131 If that it scholde longe endure. 1, 132 O Venus, queene of loves cure, 1, 133 Thou lif, thou lust, thou mannes hele, 1, 134 Behold my cause and my querele, 1, 135 And yif me som part of thi grace, 1, 136 So that I may finde in this place 1, 137 If thou be gracious or non." 1, 138 And with that word I sawh anon 1, 139 The kyng of love and qweene bothe; 1, 140 Bot he that kyng with yhen wrothe 1, 141 His chiere aweiward fro me caste, 1, 142 And forth he passede ate laste. 1, 143 Bot natheles er he forth wente 1, 144 A firy Dart me thoghte he hente 1, 145 And threw it thurgh myn herte rote: 1, 146 In him fond I non other bote, 1, 147 For lenger list him noght to duelle. 1, 148 Bot sche that is the Source and Welle 1, 149 Of wel or wo, that schal betide 1, 150 To hem that loven, at that tide 1, 151 Abod, bot forto tellen hiere 1, 152 Sche cast on me no goodly chiere: 1, 153 Thus natheles to me sche seide, 1, 154 "What art thou, Sone?" and I abreide 1, 155 Riht as a man doth out of slep, 1, 156 And therof tok sche riht good kep 1, 157 And bad me nothing ben adrad: 1, 158 Bot for al that I was noght glad, 1, 159 For I ne sawh no cause why. 1, 160 And eft scheo asketh, what was I: 1, 161 I seide, "A Caitif that lith hiere: 1, 162 What wolde ye, my Ladi diere? 1, 163 Schal I ben hol or elles dye?" 1, 164 Sche seide, "Tell thi maladie: 1, 165 What is thi Sor of which thou pleignest? 1, 166 Ne hyd it noght, for if thou feignest, 1, 167 I can do the no medicine." 1, 168 "Ma dame, I am a man of thyne, 1, 169 That in thi Court have longe served, 1, 170 And aske that I have deserved, 1, 171 Some wele after my longe wo." 1, 172 And sche began to loure tho, 1, 173 And seide, "Ther is manye of yow 1, 174 Faitours, and so may be that thow 1, 175 Art riht such on, and be feintise 1, 176 Seist that thou hast me do servise." 1, 177 And natheles sche wiste wel, 1, 178 Mi world stod on an other whiel 1, 179 Withouten eny faiterie: 1, 180 Bot algate of my maladie 1, 181 Sche bad me telle and seie hir trowthe. 1, 182 "Ma dame, if ye wolde have rowthe," 1, 183 Quod I, "than wolde I telle yow." 1, 184 "Sey forth," quod sche, "and tell me how; 1, 185 Schew me thi seknesse everydiel." 1, 186 "Ma dame, that can I do wel, 1, 187 Be so my lif therto wol laste." 1, 188 With that hir lok on me sche caste, 1, 189 And seide: "In aunter if thou live, 1, 190 Mi will is ferst that thou be schrive; 1, 191 And natheles how that it is 1, 192 I wot miself, bot for al this 1, 193 Unto my prest, which comth anon, 1, 194 I woll thou telle it on and on, 1, 195 Bothe all thi thoght and al thi werk. 1, 196 O Genius myn oghne Clerk, 1, 197 Com forth and hier this mannes schrifte," 1, 198 Quod Venus tho; and I uplifte 1, 199 Min hefd with that, and gan beholde 1, 200 The selve Prest, which as sche wolde 1, 201 Was redy there and sette him doun 1, 202 To hiere my confessioun. 1, 203 This worthi Prest, this holy man 1, 204 To me spekende thus began, 1, 205 And seide: "Benedicite, 1, 206 Mi Sone, of the felicite 1, 207 Of love and ek of all the wo 1, 208 Thou schalt thee schrive of bothe tuo. 1, 209 What thou er this for loves sake 1, 210 Hast felt, let nothing be forsake, 1, 211 Tell pleinliche as it is befalle." 1, 212 And with that word I gan doun falle 1, 213 On knees, and with devocioun 1, 214 And with full gret contricioun 1, 215 I seide thanne: "Dominus, 1, 216 Min holi fader Genius, 1, 217 So as thou hast experience 1, 218 Of love, for whos reverence 1, 219 Thou schalt me schriven at this time, 1, 220 I prai the let me noght mistime 1, 221 Mi schrifte, for I am destourbed 1, 222 In al myn herte, and so contourbed, 1, 223 That I ne may my wittes gete, 1, 224 So schal I moche thing foryete: 1, 225 Bot if thou wolt my schrifte oppose 1, 226 Fro point to point, thanne I suppose, 1, 227 Ther schal nothing be left behinde. 1, 228 Bot now my wittes ben so blinde, 1, 229 That I ne can miselven teche." 1, 230 Tho he began anon to preche, 1, 231 And with his wordes debonaire 1, 232 He seide tome softe and faire: 1, 233 "Thi schrifte to oppose and hiere, 1, 234 My Sone, I am assigned hiere 1, 235 Be Venus the godesse above, 1, 236 Whos Prest I am touchende of love. 1, 237 Bot natheles for certein skile 1, 238 I mot algate and nedes wile 1, 239 Noght only make my spekynges 1, 240 Of love, bot of othre thinges, 1, 241 That touchen to the cause of vice. 1, 242 For that belongeth to thoffice 1, 243 Of Prest, whos ordre that I bere, 1, 244 So that I wol nothing forbere, 1, 245 That I the vices on and on 1, 246 Ne schal thee schewen everychon; 1, 247 Wherof thou myht take evidence 1, 248 To reule with thi conscience. 1, 249 Bot of conclusion final 1, 250 Conclude I wol in special 1, 251 For love, whos servant I am, 1, 252 And why the cause is that I cam. 1, 253 So thenke I to don bothe tuo, 1, 254 Ferst that myn ordre longeth to, 1, 255 The vices forto telle arewe, 1, 256 Bot next above alle othre schewe 1, 257 Of love I wol the propretes, 1, 258 How that thei stonde be degrees 1, 259 After the disposicioun 1, 260 Of Venus, whos condicioun 1, 261 I moste folwe, as I am holde. 1, 262 For I with love am al withholde, 1, 263 So that the lasse I am to wyte, 1, 264 Thogh I ne conne bot a lyte 1, 265 Of othre thinges that ben wise: 1, 266 I am noght tawht in such a wise; 1, 267 For it is noght my comun us 1, 268 To speke of vices and vertus, 1, 269 Bot al of love and of his lore, 1, 270 For Venus bokes of nomore 1, 271 Me techen nowther text ne glose. 1, 272 Bot for als moche as I suppose 1, 273 It sit a prest to be wel thewed, 1, 274 And schame it is if he be lewed, 1, 275 Of my Presthode after the forme 1, 276 I wol thi schrifte so enforme, 1, 277 That ate leste thou schalt hiere 1, 278 The vices, and to thi matiere 1, 279 Of love I schal hem so remene, 1, 280 That thou schalt knowe what thei mene. 1, 281 For what a man schal axe or sein 1, 282 Touchende of schrifte, it mot be plein, 1, 283 It nedeth noght to make it queinte, 1, 284 For trowthe hise wordes wol noght peinte: 1, 285 That I wole axe of the forthi, 1, 286 My Sone, it schal be so pleinly, 1, 287 That thou schalt knowe and understonde 1, 288 The pointz of schrifte how that thei stonde." 1, 289 Betwen the lif and deth I herde 1, 290 This Prestes tale er I answerde, 1, 291 And thanne I preide him forto seie 1, 292 His will, and I it wolde obeie 1, 293 After the forme of his apprise. 1, 294 Tho spak he tome in such a wise, 1, 295 And bad me that I scholde schrive 1, 296 As touchende of my wittes fyve, 1, 297 And schape that thei were amended 1, 298 Of that I hadde hem misdispended. 1, 299 For tho be proprely the gates, 1, 300 Thurgh whiche as to the herte algates 1, 301 Comth alle thing unto the feire, 1, 302 Which may the mannes Soule empeire. 1, 303 And now this matiere is broght inne, 1, 304 Mi Sone, I thenke ferst beginne 1, 305 To wite how that thin yhe hath stonde, 1, 306 The which is, as I understonde, 1, 307 The moste principal of alle, 1, 308 Thurgh whom that peril mai befalle. 1, 309 And forto speke in loves kinde, 1, 310 Ful manye suche a man mai finde, 1, 311 Whiche evere caste aboute here yhe, 1, 312 To loke if that thei myhte aspie 1, 313 Fulofte thing which hem ne toucheth, 1, 314 Bot only that here herte soucheth 1, 315 In hindringe of an other wiht; 1, 316 And thus ful many a worthi knyht 1, 317 And many a lusti lady bothe 1, 318 Have be fulofte sythe wrothe. 1, 319 So that an yhe is as a thief 1, 320 To love, and doth ful gret meschief; 1, 321 And also for his oghne part 1, 322 Fulofte thilke firy Dart 1, 323 Of love, which that evere brenneth, 1, 324 Thurgh him into the herte renneth: 1, 325 And thus a mannes yhe ferst 1, 326 Himselve grieveth alther werst, 1, 327 And many a time that he knoweth 1, 328 Unto his oghne harm it groweth. 1, 329 Mi Sone, herkne now forthi 1, 330 A tale, to be war therby 1, 331 Thin yhe forto kepe and warde, 1, 332 So that it passe noght his warde. 1, 333 Ovide telleth in his bok 1, 334 Ensample touchende of mislok, 1, 335 And seith hou whilom ther was on, 1, 336 A worthi lord, which Acteon 1, 337 Was hote, and he was cousin nyh 1, 338 To him that Thebes ferst on hyh 1, 339 Up sette, which king Cadme hyhte. 1, 340 This Acteon, as he wel myhte, 1, 341 Above alle othre caste his chiere, 1, 342 And used it fro yer to yere, 1, 343 With Houndes and with grete Hornes 1, 344 Among the wodes and the thornes 1, 345 To make his hunting and his chace: 1, 346 Where him best thoghte in every place 1, 347 To finde gamen in his weie, 1, 348 Ther rod he forto hunte and pleie. 1, 349 So him befell upon a tide 1, 350 On his hunting as he cam ride, 1, 351 In a Forest al one he was: 1, 352 He syh upon the grene gras 1, 353 The faire freisshe floures springe, 1, 354 He herde among the leves singe 1, 355 The Throstle with the nyhtingale: 1, 356 Thus er he wiste into a Dale 1, 357 He cam, wher was a litel plein, 1, 358 All round aboute wel besein 1, 359 With buisshes grene and Cedres hyhe; 1, 360 And ther withinne he caste his yhe. 1, 361 Amidd the plein he syh a welle, 1, 362 So fair ther myhte noman telle, 1, 363 In which Diana naked stod 1, 364 To bathe and pleie hire in the flod 1, 365 With many a Nimphe, which hire serveth. 1, 366 Bot he his yhe awey ne swerveth 1, 367 Fro hire, which was naked al, 1, 368 And sche was wonder wroth withal, 1, 369 And him, as sche which was godesse, 1, 370 Forschop anon, and the liknesse 1, 371 Sche made him taken of an Hert, 1, 372 Which was tofore hise houndes stert, 1, 373 That ronne besiliche aboute 1, 374 With many an horn and many a route, 1, 375 That maden mochel noise and cry: 1, 376 And ate laste unhappely 1, 377 This Hert his oghne houndes slowhe 1, 378 And him for vengance al todrowhe. 1, 379 Lo now, my Sone, what it is 1, 380 A man to caste his yhe amis, 1, 381 Which Acteon hath dere aboght; 1, 382 Be war forthi and do it noght. 1, 383 For ofte, who that hiede toke, 1, 384 Betre is to winke than to loke. 1, 385 And forto proven it is so, 1, 386 Ovide the Poete also 1, 387 A tale which to this matiere 1, 388 Acordeth seith, as thou schalt hiere. 1, 389 In Metamor it telleth thus, 1, 390 How that a lord which Phorceuµs 1, 391 Was hote, hadde dowhtres thre. 1, 392 Bot upon here nativite 1, 393 Such was the constellacion, 1, 394 That out of mannes nacion 1, 395 Fro kynde thei be so miswent, 1, 396 That to the liknesse of Serpent 1, 397 Thei were bore, and so that on 1, 398 Of hem was cleped Stellibon, 1, 399 That other soster Suriale, 1, 400 The thridde, as telleth in the tale, 1, 401 Medusa hihte, and natheles 1, 402 Of comun name Gorgones 1, 403 In every contre ther aboute, 1, 404 As Monstres whiche that men doute, 1, 405 Men clepen hem; and bot on yhe 1, 406 Among hem thre in pourpartie 1, 407 Thei hadde, of which thei myhte se, 1, 408 Now hath it this, now hath it sche; 1, 409 After that cause and nede it ladde, 1, 410 Be throwes ech of hem it hadde. 1, 411 A wonder thing yet more amis 1, 412 Ther was, wherof I telle al this: 1, 413 What man on hem his chiere caste 1, 414 And hem behield, he was als faste 1, 415 Out of a man into a Ston 1, 416 Forschape, and thus ful manyon 1, 417 Deceived were, of that thei wolde 1, 418 Misloke, wher that thei ne scholde. 1, 419 Bot Perseuµs that worthi knyht, 1, 420 Whom Pallas of hir grete myht 1, 421 Halp, and tok him a Schield therto, 1, 422 And ek the god Mercurie also 1, 423 Lente him a swerd, he, as it fell, 1, 424 Beyende Athlans the hihe hell 1, 425 These Monstres soghte, and there he fond 1, 426 Diverse men of thilke lond 1, 427 Thurgh sihte of hem mistorned were, 1, 428 Stondende as Stones hiere and there. 1, 429 Bot he, which wisdom and prouesse 1, 430 Hadde of the god and the godesse, 1, 431 The Schield of Pallas gan enbrace, 1, 432 With which he covereth sauf his face, 1, 433 Mercuries Swerd and out he drowh, 1, 434 And so he bar him that he slowh 1, 435 These dredful Monstres alle thre. 1, 436 Lo now, my Sone, avise the, 1, 437 That thou thi sihte noght misuse: 1, 438 Cast noght thin yhe upon Meduse, 1, 439 That thou be torned into Ston: 1, 440 For so wys man was nevere non, 1, 441 Bot if he wel his yhe kepe 1, 442 And take of fol delit no kepe, 1, 443 That he with lust nys ofte nome, 1, 444 Thurgh strengthe of love and overcome. 1, 445 Of mislokynge how it hath ferd, 1, 446 As I have told, now hast thou herd, 1, 447 My goode Sone, and tak good hiede. 1, 448 And overthis yet I thee rede 1, 449 That thou be war of thin heringe, 1, 450 Which to the Herte the tidinge 1, 451 Of many a vanite hath broght, 1, 452 To tarie with a mannes thoght. 1, 453 And natheles good is to hiere 1, 454 Such thing wherof a man may lere 1, 455 That to vertu is acordant, 1, 456 And toward al the remenant 1, 457 Good is to torne his Ere fro; 1, 458 For elles, bot a man do so, 1, 459 Him may fulofte mysbefalle. 1, 460 I rede ensample amonges alle, 1, 461 Wherof to kepe wel an Ere 1, 462 It oghte pute a man in fere. 1, 463 A Serpent, which that Aspidis 1, 464 Is cleped, of his kynde hath this, 1, 465 That he the Ston noblest of alle, 1, 466 The which that men Carbuncle calle, 1, 467 Berth in his hed above on heihte. 1, 468 For which whan that a man be sleyhte, 1, 469 The Ston to winne and him to daunte, 1, 470 With his carecte him wolde enchaunte, 1, 471 Anon as he perceiveth that, 1, 472 He leith doun his on Ere al plat 1, 473 Unto the ground, and halt it faste, 1, 474 And ek that other Ere als faste 1, 475 He stoppeth with his tail so sore, 1, 476 That he the wordes lasse or more 1, 477 Of his enchantement ne hiereth; 1, 478 And in this wise himself he skiereth, 1, 479 So that he hath the wordes weyved 1, 480 And thurgh his Ere is noght deceived. 1, 481 An othre thing, who that recordeth, 1, 482 Lich unto this ensample acordeth, 1, 483 Which in the tale of Troie I finde. 1, 484 Sirenes of a wonder kynde 1, 485 Ben Monstres, as the bokes tellen, 1, 486 And in the grete Se thei duellen: 1, 487 Of body bothe and of visage 1, 488 Lik unto wommen of yong age 1, 489 Up fro the Navele on hih thei be, 1, 490 And doun benethe, as men mai se, 1, 491 Thei bere of fisshes the figure. 1, 492 And overthis of such nature 1, 493 Thei ben, that with so swete a stevene 1, 494 Lik to the melodie of hevene 1, 495 In wommanysshe vois thei singe, 1, 496 With notes of so gret likinge, 1, 497 Of such mesure, of such musike, 1, 498 Wherof the Schipes thei beswike 1, 499 That passen be the costes there. 1, 500 For whan the Schipmen leie an Ere 1, 501 Unto the vois, in here avys 1, 502 Thei wene it be a Paradys, 1, 503 Which after is to hem an helle. 1, 504 For reson may noght with hem duelle, 1, 505 Whan thei tho grete lustes hiere; 1, 506 Thei conne noght here Schipes stiere, 1, 507 So besiliche upon the note 1, 508 Thei herkne, and in such wise assote, 1, 509 That thei here rihte cours and weie 1, 510 Foryete, and to here Ere obeie, 1, 511 And seilen til it so befalle 1, 512 That thei into the peril falle, 1, 513 Where as the Schipes be todrawe, 1, 514 And thei ben with the Monstres slawe. 1, 515 Bot fro this peril natheles 1, 516 With his wisdom king Uluxes 1, 517 Ascapeth and it overpasseth; 1, 518 For he tofor the hond compasseth 1, 519 That noman of his compaignie 1, 520 Hath pouer unto that folie 1, 521 His Ere for no lust to caste; 1, 522 For he hem stoppede alle faste, 1, 523 That non of hem mai hiere hem singe. 1, 524 So whan they comen forth seilinge, 1, 525 Ther was such governance on honde, 1, 526 That thei the Monstres have withstonde 1, 527 And slain of hem a gret partie. 1, 528 Thus was he sauf with his navie, 1, 529 This wise king, thurgh governance. 1, 530 Wherof, my Sone, in remembrance 1, 531 Thou myht ensample taken hiere, 1, 532 As I have told, and what thou hiere 1, 533 Be wel war, and yif no credence, 1, 534 Bot if thou se more evidence. 1, 535 For if thou woldest take kepe 1, 536 And wisly cowthest warde and kepe 1, 537 Thin yhe and Ere, as I have spoke, 1, 538 Than haddest thou the gates stoke 1, 539 Fro such Sotie as comth to winne 1, 540 Thin hertes wit, which is withinne, 1, 541 Wherof that now thi love excedeth 1, 542 Mesure, and many a peine bredeth. 1, 543 Bot if thou cowthest sette in reule 1, 544 Tho tuo, the thre were eth to reule: 1, 545 Forthi as of thi wittes five 1, 546 I wole as now nomore schryve, 1, 547 Bot only of these ilke tuo. 1, 548 Tell me therfore if it be so, 1, 549 Hast thou thin yhen oght misthrowe? 1, 550 Mi fader, ye, I am beknowe, 1, 551 I have hem cast upon Meduse, 1, 552 Therof I may me noght excuse: 1, 553 Min herte is growen into Ston, 1, 554 So that my lady therupon 1, 555 Hath such a priente of love grave, 1, 556 That I can noght miselve save. 1, 557 What seist thou, Sone, as of thin Ere? 1, 558 Mi fader, I am gultyf there; 1, 559 For whanne I may my lady hiere, 1, 560 Mi wit with that hath lost his Stiere: 1, 561 I do noght as Uluxes dede, 1, 562 Bot falle anon upon the stede, 1, 563 Wher as I se my lady stonde; 1, 564 And there, I do yow understonde, 1, 565 I am topulled in my thoght, 1, 566 So that of reson leveth noght, 1, 567 Wherof that I me mai defende. 1, 568 My goode Sone, god thamende: 1, 569 For as me thenketh be thi speche 1, 570 Thi wittes ben riht feer to seche. 1, 571 As of thin Ere and of thin yhe 1, 572 I woll nomore specefie, 1, 573 Bot I woll axen overthis 1, 574 Of othre thing how that it is. 1, 575 Mi Sone, as I thee schal enforme, 1, 576 Ther ben yet of an other forme 1, 577 Of dedly vices sevene applied, 1, 578 Wherof the herte is ofte plied 1, 579 To thing which after schal him grieve. 1, 580 The ferste of hem thou schalt believe 1, 581 Is Pride, which is principal, 1, 582 And hath with him in special 1, 583 Ministres five ful diverse, 1, 584 Of whiche, as I the schal reherse, 1, 585 The ferste is seid Ypocrisie. 1, 586 If thou art of his compaignie, 1, 587 Tell forth, my Sone, and schrif the clene. 1, 588 I wot noght, fader, what ye mene: 1, 589 Bot this I wolde you beseche, 1, 590 That ye me be som weie teche 1, 591 What is to ben an ypocrite; 1, 592 And thanne if I be forto wyte, 1, 593 I wol beknowen, as it is. 1, 594 Mi Sone, an ypocrite is this,- 1, 595 A man which feigneth conscience, 1, 596 As thogh it were al innocence, 1, 597 Withoute, and is noght so withinne; 1, 598 And doth so for he wolde winne 1, 599 Of his desir the vein astat. 1, 600 And whanne he comth anon therat, 1, 601 He scheweth thanne what he was, 1, 602 The corn is torned into gras, 1, 603 That was a Rose is thanne a thorn, 1, 604 And he that was a Lomb beforn 1, 605 Is thanne a Wolf, and thus malice 1, 606 Under the colour of justice 1, 607 Is hid; and as the poeple telleth, 1, 608 These ordres witen where he duelleth, 1, 609 As he that of here conseil is, 1, 610 And thilke world which thei er this 1, 611 Forsoken, he drawth in ayein: 1, 612 He clotheth richesse, as men sein, 1, 613 Under the simplesce of poverte, 1, 614 And doth to seme of gret decerte 1, 615 Thing which is litel worth withinne: 1, 616 He seith in open, fy] to Sinne, 1, 617 And in secre ther is no vice 1, 618 Of which that he nis a Norrice: 1, 619 And evere his chiere is sobre and softe, 1, 620 And where he goth he blesseth ofte, 1, 621 Wherof the blinde world he dreccheth. 1, 622 Bot yet al only he ne streccheth 1, 623 His reule upon religioun, 1, 624 Bot next to that condicioun 1, 625 In suche as clepe hem holy cherche 1, 626 It scheweth ek how he can werche 1, 627 Among tho wyde furred hodes, 1, 628 To geten hem the worldes goodes. 1, 629 And thei hemself ben thilke same 1, 630 That setten most the world in blame, 1, 631 Bot yet in contraire of her lore 1, 632 Ther is nothing thei loven more; 1, 633 So that semende of liht thei werke 1, 634 The dedes whiche are inward derke. 1, 635 And thus this double Ypocrisie 1, 636 With his devolte apparantie 1, 637 A viser set upon his face, 1, 638 Wherof toward this worldes grace 1, 639 He semeth to be riht wel thewed, 1, 640 And yit his herte is al beschrewed. 1, 641 Bot natheles he stant believed, 1, 642 And hath his pourpos ofte achieved 1, 643 Of worschipe and of worldes welthe, 1, 644 And takth it, as who seith, be stelthe 1, 645 Thurgh coverture of his fallas. 1, 646 And riht so in semblable cas 1, 647 This vice hath ek his officers 1, 648 Among these othre seculers 1, 649 Of grete men, for of the smale 1, 650 As for tacompte he set no tale, 1, 651 Bot thei that passen the comune 1, 652 With suche him liketh to comune, 1, 653 And where he seith he wol socoure 1, 654 The poeple, there he woll devoure; 1, 655 For now aday is manyon 1, 656 Which spekth of Peter and of John 1, 657 And thenketh Judas in his herte. 1, 658 Ther schal no worldes good asterte 1, 659 His hond, and yit he yifth almesse 1, 660 And fasteth ofte and hiereth Messe: 1, 661 With mea culpa, which he seith, 1, 662 Upon his brest fullofte he leith 1, 663 His hond, and cast upward his yhe, 1, 664 As thogh he Cristes face syhe; 1, 665 So that it seemeth ate syhte, 1, 666 As he al one alle othre myhte 1, 667 Rescoue with his holy bede. 1, 668 Bot yet his herte in other stede 1, 669 Among hise bedes most devoute 1, 670 Goth in the worldes cause aboute, 1, 671 How that he myhte his warisoun 1, 672 Encresce. And in comparisoun 1, 673 Ther ben lovers of such a sort, 1, 674 That feignen hem an humble port, 1, 675 And al is bot Ypocrisie, 1, 676 Which with deceipte and flaterie 1, 677 Hath many a worthi wif beguiled. 1, 678 For whanne he hath his tunge affiled, 1, 679 With softe speche and with lesinge, 1, 680 Forth with his fals pitous lokynge, 1, 681 He wolde make a womman wene 1, 682 To gon upon the faire grene, 1, 683 Whan that sche falleth in the Mir. 1, 684 For if he may have his desir, 1, 685 How so falle of the remenant, 1, 686 He halt no word of covenant; 1, 687 Bot er the time that he spede, 1, 688 Ther is no sleihte at thilke nede, 1, 689 Which eny loves faitour mai, 1, 690 That he ne put it in assai, 1, 691 As him belongeth forto done. 1, 692 The colour of the reyni Mone 1, 693 With medicine upon his face 1, 694 He set, and thanne he axeth grace, 1, 695 As he which hath sieknesse feigned. 1, 696 Whan his visage is so desteigned, 1, 697 With yhe upcast on hire he siketh, 1, 698 And many a contenance he piketh, 1, 699 To bringen hire in to believe 1, 700 Of thing which that he wolde achieve, 1, 701 Wherof he berth the pale hewe; 1, 702 And for he wolde seme trewe, 1, 703 He makth him siek, whan he is heil. 1, 704 Bot whanne he berth lowest the Seil, 1, 705 Thanne is he swiftest to beguile 1, 706 The womman, which that ilke while 1, 707 Set upon him feith or credence. 1, 708 Mi Sone, if thou thi conscience 1, 709 Entamed hast in such a wise, 1, 710 In schrifte thou thee myht avise 1, 711 And telle it me, if it be so. 1, 712 Min holy fader, certes no. 1, 713 As forto feigne such sieknesse 1, 714 It nedeth noght, for this witnesse 1, 715 I take of god, that my corage 1, 716 Hath ben mor siek than my visage. 1, 717 And ek this mai I wel avowe, 1, 718 So lowe cowthe I nevere bowe 1, 719 To feigne humilite withoute, 1, 720 That me ne leste betre loute 1, 721 With alle the thoghtes of myn herte; 1, 722 For that thing schal me nevere asterte, 1, 723 I speke as to my lady diere, 1, 724 To make hire eny feigned chiere. 1, 725 God wot wel there I lye noght, 1, 726 Mi chiere hath be such as my thoght; 1, 727 For in good feith, this lieveth wel, 1, 728 Mi will was betre a thousendel 1, 729 Than eny chiere that I cowthe. 1, 730 Bot, Sire, if I have in my yowthe 1, 731 Don other wise in other place, 1, 732 I put me therof in your grace: 1, 733 For this excusen I ne schal, 1, 734 That I have elles overal 1, 735 To love and to his compaignie 1, 736 Be plein withoute Ypocrisie; 1, 737 Bot ther is on the which I serve, 1, 738 Althogh I may no thonk deserve, 1, 739 To whom yet nevere into this day 1, 740 I seide onlyche or ye or nay, 1, 741 Bot if it so were in my thoght. 1, 742 As touchende othre seie I noght 1, 743 That I nam somdel forto wyte 1, 744 Of that ye clepe an ypocrite. 1, 745 Mi Sone, it sit wel every wiht 1, 746 To kepe his word in trowthe upryht 1, 747 Towardes love in alle wise. 1, 748 For who that wolde him wel avise 1, 749 What hath befalle in this matiere, 1, 750 He scholde noght with feigned chiere 1, 751 Deceive Love in no degre. 1, 752 To love is every herte fre, 1, 753 Bot in deceipte if that thou feignest 1, 754 And therupon thi lust atteignest, 1, 755 That thow hast wonne with thi wyle, 1, 756 Thogh it thee like for a whyle, 1, 757 Thou schalt it afterward repente. 1, 758 And forto prove myn entente, 1, 759 I finde ensample in a Croniqe 1, 760 Of hem that love so beswike. 1, 761 It fell be olde daies thus, 1, 762 Whil themperour Tiberius 1, 763 The Monarchie of Rome ladde, 1, 764 Ther was a worthi Romein hadde 1, 765 A wif, and sche Pauline hihte, 1, 766 Which was to every mannes sihte 1, 767 Of al the Cite the faireste, 1, 768 And as men seiden, ek the beste. 1, 769 It is and hath ben evere yit, 1, 770 That so strong is no mannes wit, 1, 771 Which thurgh beaute ne mai be drawe 1, 772 To love, and stonde under the lawe 1, 773 Of thilke bore frele kinde, 1, 774 Which makth the hertes yhen blinde, 1, 775 Wher no reson mai be comuned: 1, 776 And in this wise stod fortuned 1, 777 This tale, of which I wolde mene; 1, 778 This wif, which in hire lustes grene 1, 779 Was fair and freissh and tendre of age, 1, 780 Sche may noght lette the corage 1, 781 Of him that wole on hire assote. 1, 782 Ther was a Duck, and he was hote 1, 783 Mundus, which hadde in his baillie 1, 784 To lede the chivalerie 1, 785 Of Rome, and was a worthi knyht; 1, 786 Bot yet he was noght of such myht 1, 787 The strengthe of love to withstonde, 1, 788 That he ne was so broght to honde, 1, 789 That malgre wher he wole or no, 1, 790 This yonge wif he loveth so, 1, 791 That he hath put al his assay 1, 792 To wynne thing which he ne may 1, 793 Gete of hire graunt in no manere, 1, 794 Be yifte of gold ne be preiere. 1, 795 And whanne he syh that be no mede 1, 796 Toward hir love he myhte spede, 1, 797 Be sleyhte feigned thanne he wroghte; 1, 798 And therupon he him bethoghte 1, 799 How that ther was in the Cite 1, 800 A temple of such auctorite, 1, 801 To which with gret Devocioun 1, 802 The noble wommen of the toun 1, 803 Most comunliche a pelrinage 1, 804 Gon forto preie thilke ymage 1, 805 Which the godesse of childinge is, 1, 806 And cleped was be name Ysis: 1, 807 And in hire temple thanne were, 1, 808 To reule and to ministre there 1, 809 After the lawe which was tho, 1, 810 Above alle othre Prestes tuo. 1, 811 This Duck, which thoghte his love gete, 1, 812 Upon a day hem tuo to mete 1, 813 Hath bede, and thei come at his heste; 1, 814 Wher that thei hadde a riche feste, 1, 815 And after mete in prive place 1, 816 This lord, which wolde his thonk pourchace, 1, 817 To ech of hem yaf thanne a yifte, 1, 818 And spak so that be weie of schrifte 1, 819 He drowh hem unto his covine, 1, 820 To helpe and schape how he Pauline 1, 821 After his lust deceive myhte. 1, 822 And thei here trowthes bothe plyhte, 1, 823 That thei be nyhte hire scholden wynne 1, 824 Into the temple, and he therinne 1, 825 Schal have of hire al his entente: 1, 826 And thus acorded forth thei wente. 1, 827 Now lest thurgh which ypocrisie 1, 828 Ordeigned was the tricherie, 1, 829 Wherof this ladi was deceived. 1, 830 These Prestes hadden wel conceived 1, 831 That sche was of gret holinesse; 1, 832 And with a contrefet simplesse, 1, 833 Which hid was in a fals corage, 1, 834 Feignende an hevenely message 1, 835 Thei come and seide unto hir thus: 1, 836 "Pauline, the god Anubus 1, 837 Hath sent ous bothe Prestes hiere, 1, 838 And seith he woll to thee appiere 1, 839 Be nyhtes time himself alone, 1, 840 For love he hath to thi persone: 1, 841 And therupon he hath ous bede, 1, 842 That we in Ysis temple a stede 1, 843 Honestely for thee pourveie, 1, 844 Wher thou be nyhte, as we thee seie, 1, 845 Of him schalt take avisioun. 1, 846 For upon thi condicioun, 1, 847 The which is chaste and ful of feith, 1, 848 Such pris, as he ous tolde, he leith, 1, 849 That he wol stonde of thin acord; 1, 850 And forto bere hierof record 1, 851 He sende ous hider bothe tuo." 1, 852 Glad was hire innocence tho 1, 853 Of suche wordes as sche herde, 1, 854 With humble chiere and thus answerde, 1, 855 And seide that the goddes wille 1, 856 Sche was al redy to fulfille, 1, 857 That be hire housebondes leve 1, 858 Sche wolde in Ysis temple at eve 1, 859 Upon hire goddes grace abide, 1, 860 To serven him the nyhtes tide. 1, 861 The Prestes tho gon hom ayein, 1, 862 And sche goth to hire sovereign, 1, 863 Of goddes wille and as it was 1, 864 Sche tolde him al the pleine cas, 1, 865 Wherof he was deceived eke, 1, 866 And bad that sche hire scholde meke 1, 867 Al hol unto the goddes heste. 1, 868 And thus sche, which was al honeste 1, 869 To godward after hire entente, 1, 870 At nyht unto the temple wente, 1, 871 Wher that the false Prestes were; 1, 872 And thei receiven hire there 1, 873 With such a tokne of holinesse, 1, 874 As thogh thei syhen a godesse, 1, 875 And al withinne in prive place 1, 876 A softe bedd of large space 1, 877 Thei hadde mad and encourtined, 1, 878 Wher sche was afterward engined. 1, 879 Bot sche, which al honour supposeth, 1, 880 The false Prestes thanne opposeth, 1, 881 And axeth be what observance 1, 882 Sche myhte most to the plesance 1, 883 Of godd that nyhtes reule kepe: 1, 884 And thei hire bidden forto slepe 1, 885 Liggende upon the bedd alofte, 1, 886 For so, thei seide, al stille and softe 1, 887 God Anubus hire wolde awake. 1, 888 The conseil in this wise take, 1, 889 The Prestes fro this lady gon; 1, 890 And sche, that wiste of guile non, 1, 891 In the manere as it was seid 1, 892 To slepe upon the bedd is leid, 1, 893 In hope that sche scholde achieve 1, 894 Thing which stod thanne upon bilieve, 1, 895 Fulfild of alle holinesse. 1, 896 Bot sche hath failed, as I gesse, 1, 897 For in a closet faste by 1, 898 The Duck was hid so prively 1, 899 That sche him myhte noght perceive; 1, 900 And he, that thoghte to deceive, 1, 901 Hath such arrai upon him nome, 1, 902 That whanne he wolde unto hir come, 1, 903 It scholde semen at hire yhe 1, 904 As thogh sche verrailiche syhe 1, 905 God Anubus, and in such wise 1, 906 This ypocrite of his queintise 1, 907 Awaiteth evere til sche slepte. 1, 908 And thanne out of his place he crepte 1, 909 So stille that sche nothing herde, 1, 910 And to the bedd stalkende he ferde, 1, 911 And sodeinly, er sche it wiste, 1, 912 Beclipt in armes he hire kiste: 1, 913 Wherof in wommanysshe drede 1, 914 Sche wok and nyste what to rede; 1, 915 Bot he with softe wordes milde 1, 916 Conforteth hire and seith, with childe 1, 917 He wolde hire make in such a kynde 1, 918 That al the world schal have in mynde 1, 919 The worschipe of that ilke Sone; 1, 920 For he schal with the goddes wone, 1, 921 And ben himself a godd also. 1, 922 With suche wordes and with mo, 1, 923 The whiche he feigneth in his speche, 1, 924 This lady wit was al to seche, 1, 925 As sche which alle trowthe weneth: 1, 926 Bot he, that alle untrowthe meneth, 1, 927 With blinde tales so hire ladde, 1, 928 That all his wille of hire he hadde. 1, 929 And whan him thoghte it was ynowh, 1, 930 Ayein the day he him withdrowh 1, 931 So prively that sche ne wiste 1, 932 Wher he becom, bot as him liste 1, 933 Out of the temple he goth his weie. 1, 934 And sche began to bidde and preie 1, 935 Upon the bare ground knelende, 1, 936 And after that made hire offrende, 1, 937 And to the Prestes yiftes grete 1, 938 Sche yaf, and homward be the Strete. 1, 939 The Duck hire mette and seide thus: 1, 940 "The myhti godd which Anubus 1, 941 Is hote, he save the, Pauline, 1, 942 For thou art of his discipline 1, 943 So holy, that no mannes myht 1, 944 Mai do that he hath do to nyht 1, 945 Of thing which thou hast evere eschuied. 1, 946 Bot I his grace have so poursuied, 1, 947 That I was mad his lieutenant: 1, 948 Forthi be weie of covenant 1, 949 Fro this day forth I am al thin, 1, 950 And if thee like to be myn, 1, 951 That stant upon thin oghne wille." 1, 952 Sche herde his tale and bar it stille, 1, 953 And hom sche wente, as it befell, 1, 954 Into hir chambre, and ther sche fell 1, 955 Upon hire bedd to wepe and crie, 1, 956 And seide: "O derke ypocrisie, 1, 957 Thurgh whos dissimilacion 1, 958 Of fals ymaginacion 1, 959 I am thus wickedly deceived] 1, 960 Bot that I have it aperceived 1, 961 I thonke unto the goddes alle; 1, 962 For thogh it ones be befalle, 1, 963 It schal nevere eft whil that I live, 1, 964 And thilke avou to godd I yive." 1, 965 And thus wepende sche compleigneth, 1, 966 Hire faire face and al desteigneth 1, 967 With wofull teres of hire yµe, 1, 968 So that upon this agonie 1, 969 Hire housebonde is inne come, 1, 970 And syh how sche was overcome 1, 971 With sorwe, and axeth what hire eileth. 1, 972 And sche with that hirself beweileth 1, 973 Welmore than sche dede afore, 1, 974 And seide, "Helas, wifhode is lore 1, 975 In me, which whilom was honeste, 1, 976 I am non other than a beste, 1, 977 Now I defouled am of tuo." 1, 978 And as sche myhte speke tho, 1, 979 Aschamed with a pitous onde 1, 980 Sche tolde unto hir housebonde 1, 981 The sothe of al the hole tale, 1, 982 And in hire speche ded and pale 1, 983 Sche swouneth welnyh to the laste. 1, 984 And he hire in hise armes faste 1, 985 Uphield, and ofte swor his oth 1, 986 That he with hire is nothing wroth, 1, 987 For wel he wot sche may ther noght: 1, 988 Bot natheles withinne his thoght 1, 989 His herte stod in sori plit, 1, 990 And seide he wolde of that despit 1, 991 Be venged, how so evere it falle, 1, 992 And sende unto hise frendes alle. 1, 993 And whan thei weren come in fere, 1, 994 He tolde hem upon this matiere, 1, 995 And axeth hem what was to done: 1, 996 And thei avised were sone, 1, 997 And seide it thoghte hem for the beste 1, 998 To sette ferst his wif in reste, 1, 999 And after pleigne to the king 1,1000 Upon the matiere of this thing. 1,1001 Tho was this wofull wif conforted 1,1002 Be alle weies and desported, 1,1003 Til that sche was somdiel amended; 1,1004 And thus a day or tuo despended, 1,1005 The thridde day sche goth to pleigne 1,1006 With many a worthi Citezeine, 1,1007 And he with many a Citezein. 1,1008 Whan themperour it herde sein, 1,1009 And knew the falshed of the vice, 1,1010 He seide he wolde do justice: 1,1011 And ferst he let the Prestes take, 1,1012 And for thei scholde it noght forsake, 1,1013 He put hem into questioun; 1,1014 Bot thei of the suggestioun 1,1015 Ne couthen noght a word refuse, 1,1016 Bot for thei wolde hemself excuse, 1,1017 The blame upon the Duck thei leide. 1,1018 Bot therayein the conseil seide 1,1019 That thei be noght excused so, 1,1020 For he is on and thei ben tuo, 1,1021 And tuo han more wit then on, 1,1022 So thilke excusement was non. 1,1023 And over that was seid hem eke, 1,1024 That whan men wolden vertu seke, 1,1025 Men scholde it in the Prestes finde; 1,1026 Here ordre is of so hyh a kinde, 1,1027 That thei be Duistres of the weie: 1,1028 Forthi, if eny man forsueie 1,1029 Thurgh hem, thei be noght excusable. 1,1030 And thus be lawe resonable 1,1031 Among the wise jugges there 1,1032 The Prestes bothe dampned were, 1,1033 So that the prive tricherie 1,1034 Hid under fals Ipocrisie 1,1035 Was thanne al openliche schewed, 1,1036 That many a man hem hath beschrewed. 1,1037 And whan the Prestes weren dede, 1,1038 The temple of thilke horrible dede 1,1039 Thei thoghten purge, and thilke ymage, 1,1040 Whos cause was the pelrinage, 1,1041 Thei drowen out and als so faste 1,1042 Fer into Tibre thei it caste, 1,1043 Wher the Rivere it hath defied: 1,1044 And thus the temple purified 1,1045 Thei have of thilke horrible Sinne, 1,1046 Which was that time do therinne. 1,1047 Of this point such was the juise, 1,1048 Bot of the Duck was other wise: 1,1049 For he with love was bestad, 1,1050 His dom was noght so harde lad; 1,1051 For Love put reson aweie 1,1052 And can noght se the rihte weie. 1,1053 And be this cause he was respited, 1,1054 So that the deth him was acquited, 1,1055 Bot for al that he was exiled, 1,1056 For he his love hath so beguiled, 1,1057 That he schal nevere come ayein: 1,1058 For who that is to trowthe unplein, 1,1059 He may noght failen of vengance. 1,1060 And ek to take remembrance 1,1061 Of that Ypocrisie hath wroght 1,1062 On other half, men scholde noght 1,1063 To lihtly lieve al that thei hiere, 1,1064 Bot thanne scholde a wisman stiere 1,1065 The Schip, whan suche wyndes blowe: 1,1066 For ferst thogh thei beginne lowe, 1,1067 At ende thei be noght menable, 1,1068 Bot al tobreken Mast and Cable, 1,1069 So that the Schip with sodein blast, 1,1070 Whan men lest wene, is overcast; 1,1071 As now fulofte a man mai se: 1,1072 And of old time how it hath be 1,1073 I finde a gret experience, 1,1074 Wherof to take an evidence 1,1075 Good is, and to be war also 1,1076 Of the peril, er him be wo. 1,1077 Of hem that ben so derk withinne, 1,1078 At Troie also if we beginne, 1,1079 Ipocrisie it hath betraied: 1,1080 For whan the Greks hadde al assaied, 1,1081 And founde that be no bataille 1,1082 Ne be no Siege it myhte availe 1,1083 The toun to winne thurgh prouesse, 1,1084 This vice feigned of simplesce 1,1085 Thurgh sleyhte of Calcas and of Crise 1,1086 It wan be such a maner wise. 1,1087 An Hors of Bras thei let do forge 1,1088 Of such entaile, of such a forge, 1,1089 That in this world was nevere man 1,1090 That such an other werk began. 1,1091 The crafti werkman Epius 1,1092 It made, and forto telle thus, 1,1093 The Greks, that thoghten to beguile 1,1094 The kyng of Troie, in thilke while 1,1095 With Anthenor and with Enee, 1,1096 That were bothe of the Cite 1,1097 And of the conseil the wiseste, 1,1098 The richeste and the myhtieste, 1,1099 In prive place so thei trete 1,1100 With fair beheste and yiftes grete 1,1101 Of gold, that thei hem have engined; 1,1102 Togedre and whan thei be covined, 1,1103 Thei feignen forto make a pes, 1,1104 And under that yit natheles 1,1105 Thei schopen the destruccioun 1,1106 Bothe of the kyng and of the toun. 1,1107 And thus the false pees was take 1,1108 Of hem of Grece and undertake, 1,1109 And therupon thei founde a weie, 1,1110 Wher strengthe myhte noght aweie, 1,1111 That sleihte scholde helpe thanne; 1,1112 And of an ynche a large spanne 1,1113 Be colour of the pees thei made, 1,1114 And tolden how thei weren glade 1,1115 Of that thei stoden in acord; 1,1116 And for it schal ben of record, 1,1117 Unto the kyng the Gregois seiden, 1,1118 Be weie of love and this thei preiden, 1,1119 As thei that wolde his thonk deserve, 1,1120 A Sacrifice unto Minerve, 1,1121 The pes to kepe in good entente, 1,1122 Thei mosten offre er that thei wente. 1,1123 The kyng conseiled in this cas 1,1124 Be Anthenor and Eneas 1,1125 Therto hath yoven his assent: 1,1126 So was the pleine trowthe blent 1,1127 Thurgh contrefet Ipocrisie 1,1128 Of that thei scholden sacrifie. 1,1129 The Greks under the holinesse 1,1130 Anon with alle besinesse 1,1131 Here Hors of Bras let faire dihte, 1,1132 Which was to sen a wonder sihte; 1,1133 For it was trapped of himselve, 1,1134 And hadde of smale whieles twelve, 1,1135 Upon the whiche men ynowe 1,1136 With craft toward the toun it drowe, 1,1137 And goth glistrende ayein the Sunne. 1,1138 Tho was ther joie ynowh begunne, 1,1139 For Troie in gret devocioun 1,1140 Cam also with processioun 1,1141 Ayein this noble Sacrifise 1,1142 With gret honour, and in this wise 1,1143 Unto the gates thei it broghte. 1,1144 Bot of here entre whan thei soghte, 1,1145 The gates weren al to smale; 1,1146 And therupon was many a tale, 1,1147 Bot for the worschipe of Minerve, 1,1148 To whom thei comen forto serve, 1,1149 Thei of the toun, whiche understode 1,1150 That al this thing was do for goode, 1,1151 For pes, wherof that thei ben glade, 1,1152 The gates that Neptunus made 1,1153 A thousend wynter ther tofore, 1,1154 Thei have anon tobroke and tore; 1,1155 The stronge walles doun thei bete, 1,1156 So that in to the large strete 1,1157 This Hors with gret solempnite 1,1158 Was broght withinne the Cite, 1,1159 And offred with gret reverence, 1,1160 Which was to Troie an evidence 1,1161 Of love and pes for everemo. 1,1162 The Gregois token leve tho 1,1163 With al the hole felaschipe, 1,1164 And forth thei wenten into Schipe 1,1165 And crossen seil and made hem yare, 1,1166 Anon as thogh thei wolden fare: 1,1167 Bot whan the blake wynter nyht 1,1168 Withoute Mone or Sterre lyht 1,1169 Bederked hath the water Stronde, 1,1170 Al prively thei gon to londe 1,1171 Ful armed out of the navie. 1,1172 Synon, which mad was here aspie 1,1173 Withinne Troie, as was conspired, 1,1174 Whan time was a tokne hath fired; 1,1175 And thei with that here weie holden, 1,1176 And comen in riht as thei wolden, 1,1177 Ther as the gate was tobroke. 1,1178 The pourpos was full take and spoke: 1,1179 Er eny man may take kepe, 1,1180 Whil that the Cite was aslepe, 1,1181 Thei slowen al that was withinne, 1,1182 And token what thei myhten wynne 1,1183 Of such good as was sufficant, 1,1184 And brenden up the remenant. 1,1185 And thus cam out the tricherie, 1,1186 Which under fals Ypocrisie 1,1187 Was hid, and thei that wende pees 1,1188 Tho myhten finde no reles 1,1189 Of thilke swerd which al devoureth. 1,1190 Fulofte and thus the swete soureth, 1,1191 Whan it is knowe to the tast: 1,1192 He spilleth many a word in wast 1,1193 That schal with such a poeple trete; 1,1194 For whan he weneth most beyete, 1,1195 Thanne is he schape most to lese. 1,1196 And riht so if a womman chese 1,1197 Upon the wordes that sche hiereth 1,1198 Som man, whan he most trewe appiereth, 1,1199 Thanne is he forthest fro the trowthe: 1,1200 Bot yit fulofte, and that is rowthe, 1,1201 Thei speden that ben most untrewe 1,1202 And loven every day a newe, 1,1203 Wherof the lief is after loth 1,1204 And love hath cause to be wroth. 1,1205 Bot what man that his lust desireth 1,1206 Of love, and therupon conspireth 1,1207 With wordes feigned to deceive, 1,1208 He schal noght faile to receive 1,1209 His peine, as it is ofte sene. 1,1210 Forthi, my Sone, as I thee mene, 1,1211 It sit the wel to taken hiede 1,1212 That thou eschuie of thi manhiede 1,1213 Ipocrisie and his semblant, 1,1214 That thou ne be noght deceivant, 1,1215 To make a womman to believe 1,1216 Thing which is noght in thi bilieve: 1,1217 For in such feint Ipocrisie 1,1218 Of love is al the tricherie, 1,1219 Thurgh which love is deceived ofte; 1,1220 For feigned semblant is so softe, 1,1221 Unethes love may be war. 1,1222 Forthi, my Sone, as I wel dar, 1,1223 I charge thee to fle that vice, 1,1224 That many a womman hath mad nice; 1,1225 Bot lok thou dele noght withal. 1,1226 Iwiss, fader, nomor I schal. 1,1227 Now, Sone, kep that thou hast swore: 1,1228 For this that thou hast herd before 1,1229 Is seid the ferste point of Pride: 1,1230 And next upon that other side, 1,1231 To schryve and speken overthis 1,1232 Touchende of Pride, yit ther is 1,1233 The point seconde, I thee behote, 1,1234 Which Inobedience is hote. 1,1235 This vice of Inobedience 1,1236 Ayein the reule of conscience 1,1237 Al that is humble he desalloweth, 1,1238 That he toward his god ne boweth 1,1239 After the lawes of his heste. 1,1240 Noght as a man bot as a beste, 1,1241 Which goth upon his lustes wilde, 1,1242 So goth this proude vice unmylde, 1,1243 That he desdeigneth alle lawe: 1,1244 He not what is to be felawe, 1,1245 And serve may he noght for pride; 1,1246 So is he badde on every side, 1,1247 And is that selve of whom men speke, 1,1248 Which wol noght bowe er that he breke. 1,1249 I not if love him myhte plie, 1,1250 For elles forto justefie 1,1251 His herte, I not what mihte availe. 1,1252 Forthi, my Sone, of such entaile 1,1253 If that thin herte be disposed, 1,1254 Tell out and let it noght be glosed: 1,1255 For if that thou unbuxom be 1,1256 To love, I not in what degree 1,1257 Thou schalt thi goode world achieve. 1,1258 Mi fader, ye schul wel believe, 1,1259 The yonge whelp which is affaited 1,1260 Hath noght his Maister betre awaited, 1,1261 To couche, whan he seith "Go lowe," 1,1262 That I, anon as I may knowe 1,1263 Mi ladi will, ne bowe more. 1,1264 Bot other while I grucche sore 1,1265 Of some thinges that sche doth, 1,1266 Wherof that I woll telle soth: 1,1267 For of tuo pointz I am bethoght, 1,1268 That, thogh I wolde, I myhte noght 1,1269 Obeie unto my ladi heste; 1,1270 Bot I dar make this beheste, 1,1271 Save only of that ilke tuo 1,1272 I am unbuxom of no mo. 1,1273 Whan ben tho tuo? tell on, quod he. 1,1274 Mi fader, this is on, that sche 1,1275 Comandeth me my mowth to close, 1,1276 And that I scholde hir noght oppose 1,1277 In love, of which I ofte preche, 1,1278 Bot plenerliche of such a speche 1,1279 Forbere, and soffren hire in pes. 1,1280 Bot that ne myhte I natheles 1,1281 For al this world obeie ywiss; 1,1282 For whanne I am ther as sche is, 1,1283 Though sche my tales noght alowe, 1,1284 Ayein hir will yit mot I bowe, 1,1285 To seche if that I myhte have grace: 1,1286 Bot that thing may I noght enbrace 1,1287 For ought that I can speke or do; 1,1288 And yit fulofte I speke so, 1,1289 That sche is wroth and seith, "Be stille." 1,1290 If I that heste schal fulfille 1,1291 And therto ben obedient, 1,1292 Thanne is my cause fully schent, 1,1293 For specheles may noman spede. 1,1294 So wot I noght what is to rede; 1,1295 Bot certes I may noght obeie, 1,1296 That I ne mot algate seie 1,1297 Somwhat of that I wolde mene; 1,1298 For evere it is aliche grene, 1,1299 The grete love which I have, 1,1300 Wherof I can noght bothe save 1,1301 My speche and this obedience: 1,1302 And thus fulofte my silence 1,1303 I breke, and is the ferste point 1,1304 Wherof that I am out of point 1,1305 In this, and yit it is no pride. 1,1306 Now thanne upon that other side 1,1307 To telle my desobeissance, 1,1308 Ful sore it stant to my grevance 1,1309 And may noght sinke into my wit; 1,1310 For ofte time sche me bit 1,1311 To leven hire and chese a newe, 1,1312 And seith, if I the sothe knewe 1,1313 How ferr I stonde from hir grace, 1,1314 I scholde love in other place. 1,1315 Bot therof woll I desobeie; 1,1316 For also wel sche myhte seie, 1,1317 "Go tak the Mone ther it sit," 1,1318 As bringe that into my wit: 1,1319 For ther was nevere rooted tre, 1,1320 That stod so faste in his degre, 1,1321 That I ne stonde more faste 1,1322 Upon hire love, and mai noght caste 1,1323 Min herte awey, althogh I wolde. 1,1324 For god wot, thogh I nevere scholde 1,1325 Sen hir with yhe after this day, 1,1326 Yit stant it so that I ne may 1,1327 Hir love out of my brest remue. 1,1328 This is a wonder retenue, 1,1329 That malgre wher sche wole or non 1,1330 Min herte is everemore in on, 1,1331 So that I can non other chese, 1,1332 Bot whether that I winne or lese, 1,1333 I moste hire loven til I deie; 1,1334 And thus I breke as be that weie 1,1335 Hire hestes and hir comandinges, 1,1336 Bot trewliche in non othre thinges. 1,1337 Forthi, my fader, what is more 1,1338 Touchende to this ilke lore 1,1339 I you beseche, after the forme 1,1340 That ye pleinly me wolde enforme, 1,1341 So that I may myn herte reule 1,1342 In loves cause after the reule. 1,1343 Toward this vice of which we trete 1,1344 Ther ben yit tweie of thilke estrete, 1,1345 Here name is Murmur and Compleignte: 1,1346 Ther can noman here chiere peinte, 1,1347 To sette a glad semblant therinne, 1,1348 For thogh fortune make hem wynne, 1,1349 Yit grucchen thei, and if thei lese, 1,1350 Ther is no weie forto chese, 1,1351 Wherof thei myhten stonde appesed. 1,1352 So ben thei comunly desesed; 1,1353 Ther may no welthe ne poverte 1,1354 Attempren hem to the decerte 1,1355 Of buxomnesse be no wise: 1,1356 For ofte time thei despise 1,1357 The goode fortune as the badde, 1,1358 As thei no mannes reson hadde, 1,1359 Thurgh pride, wherof thei be blinde. 1,1360 And ryht of such a maner kinde 1,1361 Ther be lovers, that thogh thei have 1,1362 Of love al that thei wolde crave, 1,1363 Yit wol thei grucche be som weie, 1,1364 That thei wol noght to love obeie 1,1365 Upon the trowthe, as thei do scholde; 1,1366 And if hem lacketh that thei wolde, 1,1367 Anon thei falle in such a peine, 1,1368 That evere unbuxomly thei pleigne 1,1369 Upon fortune, and curse and crie, 1,1370 That thei wol noght here hertes plie 1,1371 To soffre til it betre falle. 1,1372 Forthi if thou amonges alle 1,1373 Hast used this condicioun, 1,1374 Mi Sone, in thi Confessioun 1,1375 Now tell me pleinly what thou art. 1,1376 Mi fader, I beknowe a part, 1,1377 So as ye tolden hier above 1,1378 Of Murmur and Compleignte of love, 1,1379 That for I se no sped comende, 1,1380 Ayein fortune compleignende 1,1381 I am, as who seith, everemo: 1,1382 And ek fulofte tyme also, 1,1383 Whan so is that I se and hiere 1,1384 Or hevy word or hevy chiere 1,1385 Of my lady, I grucche anon; 1,1386 Bot wordes dar I speke non, 1,1387 Wherof sche myhte be desplesed, 1,1388 Bot in myn herte I am desesed: 1,1389 With many a Murmur, god it wot, 1,1390 Thus drinke I in myn oghne swot, 1,1391 And thogh I make no semblant, 1,1392 Min herte is al desobeissant; 1,1393 And in this wise I me confesse 1,1394 Of that ye clepe unbuxomnesse. 1,1395 Now telleth what youre conseil is. 1,1396 Mi Sone, and I thee rede this, 1,1397 What so befalle of other weie, 1,1398 That thou to loves heste obeie 1,1399 Als ferr as thou it myht suffise: 1,1400 For ofte sithe in such a wise 1,1401 Obedience in love availeth, 1,1402 Wher al a mannes strengthe faileth; 1,1403 Wherof, if that the list to wite 1,1404 In a Cronique as it is write, 1,1405 A gret ensample thou myht fynde, 1,1406 Which now is come to my mynde. 1,1407 Ther was whilom be daies olde 1,1408 A worthi knyht, and as men tolde 1,1409 He was Nevoeu to themperour 1,1410 And of his Court a Courteour: 1,1411 Wifles he was, Florent he hihte, 1,1412 He was a man that mochel myhte, 1,1413 Of armes he was desirous, 1,1414 Chivalerous and amorous, 1,1415 And for the fame of worldes speche, 1,1416 Strange aventures forto seche, 1,1417 He rod the Marches al aboute. 1,1418 And fell a time, as he was oute, 1,1419 Fortune, which may every thred 1,1420 Tobreke and knette of mannes sped, 1,1421 Schop, as this knyht rod in a pas, 1,1422 That he be strengthe take was, 1,1423 And to a Castell thei him ladde, 1,1424 Wher that he fewe frendes hadde: 1,1425 For so it fell that ilke stounde 1,1426 That he hath with a dedly wounde 1,1427 Feihtende his oghne hondes slain 1,1428 Branchus, which to the Capitain 1,1429 Was Sone and Heir, wherof ben wrothe 1,1430 The fader and the moder bothe. 1,1431 That knyht Branchus was of his hond 1,1432 The worthieste of al his lond, 1,1433 And fain thei wolden do vengance 1,1434 Upon Florent, bot remembrance 1,1435 That thei toke of his worthinesse 1,1436 Of knyhthod and of gentilesse, 1,1437 And how he stod of cousinage 1,1438 To themperour, made hem assuage, 1,1439 And dorsten noght slen him for fere: 1,1440 In gret desputeisoun thei were 1,1441 Among hemself, what was the beste. 1,1442 Ther was a lady, the slyheste 1,1443 Of alle that men knewe tho, 1,1444 So old sche myhte unethes go, 1,1445 And was grantdame unto the dede: 1,1446 And sche with that began to rede, 1,1447 And seide how sche wol bringe him inne, 1,1448 That sche schal him to dethe winne 1,1449 Al only of his oghne grant, 1,1450 Thurgh strengthe of verray covenant 1,1451 Withoute blame of eny wiht. 1,1452 Anon sche sende for this kniht, 1,1453 And of hire Sone sche alleide 1,1454 The deth, and thus to him sche seide: 1,1455 "Florent, how so thou be to wyte 1,1456 Of Branchus deth, men schal respite 1,1457 As now to take vengement, 1,1458 Be so thou stonde in juggement 1,1459 Upon certein condicioun, 1,1460 That thou unto a questioun 1,1461 Which I schal axe schalt ansuere; 1,1462 And over this thou schalt ek swere, 1,1463 That if thou of the sothe faile, 1,1464 Ther schal non other thing availe, 1,1465 That thou ne schalt thi deth receive. 1,1466 And for men schal thee noght deceive, 1,1467 That thou therof myht ben avised, 1,1468 Thou schalt have day and tyme assised 1,1469 And leve saufly forto wende, 1,1470 Be so that at thi daies ende 1,1471 Thou come ayein with thin avys. 1,1472 This knyht, which worthi was and wys, 1,1473 This lady preith that he may wite, 1,1474 And have it under Seales write, 1,1475 What questioun it scholde be 1,1476 For which he schal in that degree 1,1477 Stonde of his lif in jeupartie. 1,1478 With that sche feigneth compaignie, 1,1479 And seith: "Florent, on love it hongeth 1,1480 Al that to myn axinge longeth: 1,1481 What alle wommen most desire 1,1482 This wole I axe, and in thempire 1,1483 Wher as thou hast most knowlechinge 1,1484 Tak conseil upon this axinge." 1,1485 Florent this thing hath undertake, 1,1486 The day was set, the time take, 1,1487 Under his seal he wrot his oth, 1,1488 In such a wise and forth he goth 1,1489 Hom to his Emes court ayein; 1,1490 To whom his aventure plein 1,1491 He tolde, of that him is befalle. 1,1492 And upon that thei weren alle 1,1493 The wiseste of the lond asent, 1,1494 Bot natheles of on assent 1,1495 Thei myhte noght acorde plat, 1,1496 On seide this, an othre that. 1,1497 After the disposicioun 1,1498 Of naturel complexioun 1,1499 To som womman it is plesance, 1,1500 That to an other is grevance; 1,1501 Bot such a thing in special, 1,1502 Which to hem alle in general 1,1503 Is most plesant, and most desired 1,1504 Above alle othre and most conspired, 1,1505 Such o thing conne thei noght finde 1,1506 Be Constellacion ne kinde: 1,1507 And thus Florent withoute cure 1,1508 Mot stonde upon his aventure, 1,1509 And is al schape unto the lere, 1,1510 As in defalte of his answere. 1,1511 This knyht hath levere forto dye 1,1512 Than breke his trowthe and forto lye 1,1513 In place ther as he was swore, 1,1514 And schapth him gon ayein therfore. 1,1515 Whan time cam he tok his leve, 1,1516 That lengere wolde he noght beleve, 1,1517 And preith his Em he be noght wroth, 1,1518 For that is a point of his oth, 1,1519 He seith, that noman schal him wreke, 1,1520 Thogh afterward men hiere speke 1,1521 That he par aventure deie. 1,1522 And thus he wente forth his weie 1,1523 Alone as knyht aventurous, 1,1524 And in his thoght was curious 1,1525 To wite what was best to do: 1,1526 And as he rod al one so, 1,1527 And cam nyh ther he wolde be, 1,1528 In a forest under a tre 1,1529 He syh wher sat a creature, 1,1530 A lothly wommannysch figure, 1,1531 That forto speke of fleisch and bon 1,1532 So foul yit syh he nevere non. 1,1533 This knyht behield hir redely, 1,1534 And as he wolde have passed by, 1,1535 Sche cleped him and bad abide; 1,1536 And he his horse heved aside 1,1537 Tho torneth, and to hire he rod, 1,1538 And there he hoveth and abod, 1,1539 To wite what sche wolde mene. 1,1540 And sche began him to bemene, 1,1541 And seide: "Florent be thi name, 1,1542 Thou hast on honde such a game, 1,1543 That bot thou be the betre avised, 1,1544 Thi deth is schapen and devised, 1,1545 That al the world ne mai the save, 1,1546 Bot if that thou my conseil have." 1,1547 Florent, whan he this tale herde, 1,1548 Unto this olde wyht answerde 1,1549 And of hir conseil he hir preide. 1,1550 And sche ayein to him thus seide: 1,1551 "Florent, if I for the so schape, 1,1552 That thou thurgh me thi deth ascape 1,1553 And take worschipe of thi dede, 1,1554 What schal I have to my mede?" 1,1555 "What thing," quod he, "that thou wolt axe." 1,1556 "I bidde nevere a betre taxe," 1,1557 Quod sche, "bot ferst, er thou be sped, 1,1558 Thou schalt me leve such a wedd, 1,1559 That I wol have thi trowthe in honde 1,1560 That thou schalt be myn housebonde." 1,1561 "Nay," seith Florent, "that may noght be." 1,1562 "Ryd thanne forth thi wey," quod sche, 1,1563 "And if thou go withoute red, 1,1564 Thou schalt be sekerliche ded." 1,1565 Florent behihte hire good ynowh 1,1566 Of lond, of rente, of park, of plowh, 1,1567 Bot al that compteth sche at noght. 1,1568 Tho fell this knyht in mochel thoght, 1,1569 Now goth he forth, now comth ayein, 1,1570 He wot noght what is best to sein, 1,1571 And thoghte, as he rod to and fro, 1,1572 That chese he mot on of the tuo, 1,1573 Or forto take hire to his wif 1,1574 Or elles forto lese his lif. 1,1575 And thanne he caste his avantage, 1,1576 That sche was of so gret an age, 1,1577 That sche mai live bot a while, 1,1578 And thoghte put hire in an Ile, 1,1579 Wher that noman hire scholde knowe, 1,1580 Til sche with deth were overthrowe. 1,1581 And thus this yonge lusti knyht 1,1582 Unto this olde lothly wiht 1,1583 Tho seide: "If that non other chance 1,1584 Mai make my deliverance, 1,1585 Bot only thilke same speche 1,1586 Which, as thou seist, thou schalt me teche, 1,1587 Have hier myn hond, I schal thee wedde." 1,1588 And thus his trowthe he leith to wedde. 1,1589 With that sche frounceth up the browe: 1,1590 "This covenant I wol allowe," 1,1591 Sche seith: "if eny other thing 1,1592 Bot that thou hast of my techyng 1,1593 Fro deth thi body mai respite, 1,1594 I woll thee of thi trowthe acquite, 1,1595 And elles be non other weie. 1,1596 Now herkne me what I schal seie. 1,1597 Whan thou art come into the place, 1,1598 Wher now thei maken gret manace 1,1599 And upon thi comynge abyde, 1,1600 Thei wole anon the same tide 1,1601 Oppose thee of thin answere. 1,1602 I wot thou wolt nothing forbere 1,1603 Of that thou wenest be thi beste, 1,1604 And if thou myht so finde reste, 1,1605 Wel is, for thanne is ther nomore. 1,1606 And elles this schal be my lore, 1,1607 That thou schalt seie, upon this Molde 1,1608 That alle wommen lievest wolde 1,1609 Be soverein of mannes love: 1,1610 For what womman is so above, 1,1611 Sche hath, as who seith, al hire wille; 1,1612 And elles may sche noght fulfille 1,1613 What thing hir were lievest have. 1,1614 With this answere thou schalt save 1,1615 Thiself, and other wise noght. 1,1616 And whan thou hast thin ende wroght, 1,1617 Com hier ayein, thou schalt me finde, 1,1618 And let nothing out of thi minde." 1,1619 He goth him forth with hevy chiere, 1,1620 As he that not in what manere 1,1621 He mai this worldes joie atteigne: 1,1622 For if he deie, he hath a peine, 1,1623 And if he live, he mot him binde 1,1624 To such on which of alle kinde 1,1625 Of wommen is thunsemlieste: 1,1626 Thus wot he noght what is the beste: 1,1627 Bot be him lief or be him loth, 1,1628 Unto the Castell forth he goth 1,1629 His full answere forto yive, 1,1630 Or forto deie or forto live. 1,1631 Forth with his conseil cam the lord, 1,1632 The thinges stoden of record, 1,1633 He sende up for the lady sone, 1,1634 And forth sche cam, that olde Mone. 1,1635 In presence of the remenant 1,1636 The strengthe of al the covenant 1,1637 Tho was reherced openly, 1,1638 And to Florent sche bad forthi 1,1639 That he schal tellen his avis, 1,1640 As he that woot what is the pris. 1,1641 Florent seith al that evere he couthe, 1,1642 Bot such word cam ther non to mowthe, 1,1643 That he for yifte or for beheste 1,1644 Mihte eny wise his deth areste. 1,1645 And thus he tarieth longe and late, 1,1646 Til that this lady bad algate 1,1647 That he schal for the dom final 1,1648 Yive his answere in special 1,1649 Of that sche hadde him ferst opposed: 1,1650 And thanne he hath trewly supposed 1,1651 That he him may of nothing yelpe, 1,1652 Bot if so be tho wordes helpe, 1,1653 Whiche as the womman hath him tawht; 1,1654 Wherof he hath an hope cawht 1,1655 That he schal ben excused so, 1,1656 And tolde out plein his wille tho. 1,1657 And whan that this Matrone herde 1,1658 The manere how this knyht ansuerde, 1,1659 Sche seide: "Ha treson, wo thee be, 1,1660 That hast thus told the privite, 1,1661 Which alle wommen most desire] 1,1662 I wolde that thou were afire." 1,1663 Bot natheles in such a plit 1,1664 Florent of his answere is quit: 1,1665 And tho began his sorwe newe, 1,1666 For he mot gon, or ben untrewe, 1,1667 To hire which his trowthe hadde. 1,1668 Bot he, which alle schame dradde, 1,1669 Goth forth in stede of his penance, 1,1670 And takth the fortune of his chance, 1,1671 As he that was with trowthe affaited. 1,1672 This olde wyht him hath awaited 1,1673 In place wher as he hire lefte: 1,1674 Florent his wofull heved uplefte 1,1675 And syh this vecke wher sche sat, 1,1676 Which was the lothlieste what 1,1677 That evere man caste on his yhe: 1,1678 Hire Nase bass, hire browes hyhe, 1,1679 Hire yhen smale and depe set, 1,1680 Hire chekes ben with teres wet, 1,1681 And rivelen as an emty skyn 1,1682 Hangende doun unto the chin, 1,1683 Hire Lippes schrunken ben for age, 1,1684 Ther was no grace in the visage, 1,1685 Hir front was nargh, hir lockes hore, 1,1686 Sche loketh forth as doth a More, 1,1687 Hire Necke is schort, hir schuldres courbe, 1,1688 That myhte a mannes lust destourbe, 1,1689 Hire body gret and nothing smal, 1,1690 And schortly to descrive hire al, 1,1691 Sche hath no lith withoute a lak; 1,1692 Bot lich unto the wollesak 1,1693 Sche proferth hire unto this knyht, 1,1694 And bad him, as he hath behyht, 1,1695 So as sche hath ben his warant, 1,1696 That he hire holde covenant, 1,1697 And be the bridel sche him seseth. 1,1698 Bot godd wot how that sche him pleseth 1,1699 Of suche wordes as sche spekth: 1,1700 Him thenkth welnyh his herte brekth 1,1701 For sorwe that he may noght fle, 1,1702 Bot if he wolde untrewe be. 1,1703 Loke, how a sek man for his hele 1,1704 Takth baldemoine with Canele, 1,1705 And with the Mirre takth the Sucre, 1,1706 Ryht upon such a maner lucre 1,1707 Stant Florent, as in this diete: 1,1708 He drinkth the bitre with the swete, 1,1709 He medleth sorwe with likynge, 1,1710 And liveth, as who seith, deyinge; 1,1711 His youthe schal be cast aweie 1,1712 Upon such on which as the weie 1,1713 Is old and lothly overal. 1,1714 Bot nede he mot that nede schal: 1,1715 He wolde algate his trowthe holde, 1,1716 As every knyht therto is holde, 1,1717 What happ so evere him is befalle: 1,1718 Thogh sche be the fouleste of alle, 1,1719 Yet to thonour of wommanhiede 1,1720 Him thoghte he scholde taken hiede; 1,1721 So that for pure gentilesse, 1,1722 As he hire couthe best adresce, 1,1723 In ragges, as sche was totore, 1,1724 He set hire on his hors tofore 1,1725 And forth he takth his weie softe; 1,1726 No wonder thogh he siketh ofte. 1,1727 Bot as an oule fleth be nyhte 1,1728 Out of alle othre briddes syhte, 1,1729 Riht so this knyht on daies brode 1,1730 In clos him hield, and schop his rode 1,1731 On nyhtes time, til the tyde 1,1732 That he cam there he wolde abide; 1,1733 And prively withoute noise 1,1734 He bringth this foule grete Coise 1,1735 To his Castell in such a wise 1,1736 That noman myhte hire schappe avise, 1,1737 Til sche into the chambre cam: 1,1738 Wher he his prive conseil nam 1,1739 Of suche men as he most troste, 1,1740 And tolde hem that he nedes moste 1,1741 This beste wedde to his wif, 1,1742 For elles hadde he lost his lif. 1,1743 The prive wommen were asent, 1,1744 That scholden ben of his assent: 1,1745 Hire ragges thei anon of drawe, 1,1746 And, as it was that time lawe, 1,1747 She hadde bath, sche hadde reste, 1,1748 And was arraied to the beste. 1,1749 Bot with no craft of combes brode 1,1750 Thei myhte hire hore lockes schode, 1,1751 And sche ne wolde noght be schore 1,1752 For no conseil, and thei therfore, 1,1753 With such atyr as tho was used, 1,1754 Ordeinen that it was excused, 1,1755 And hid so crafteliche aboute, 1,1756 That noman myhte sen hem oute. 1,1757 Bot when sche was fulliche arraied 1,1758 And hire atyr was al assaied, 1,1759 Tho was sche foulere on to se: 1,1760 Bot yit it may non other be, 1,1761 Thei were wedded in the nyht; 1,1762 So wo begon was nevere knyht 1,1763 As he was thanne of mariage. 1,1764 And sche began to pleie and rage, 1,1765 As who seith, I am wel ynowh; 1,1766 Bot he therof nothing ne lowh, 1,1767 For sche tok thanne chiere on honde 1,1768 And clepeth him hire housebonde, 1,1769 And seith, "My lord, go we to bedde, 1,1770 For I to that entente wedde, 1,1771 That thou schalt be my worldes blisse:" 1,1772 And profreth him with that to kisse, 1,1773 As sche a lusti Lady were. 1,1774 His body myhte wel be there, 1,1775 Bot as of thoght and of memoire 1,1776 His herte was in purgatoire. 1,1777 Bot yit for strengthe of matrimoine 1,1778 He myhte make non essoine, 1,1779 That he ne mot algates plie 1,1780 To gon to bedde of compaignie: 1,1781 And whan thei were abedde naked, 1,1782 Withoute slep he was awaked; 1,1783 He torneth on that other side, 1,1784 For that he wolde hise yhen hyde 1,1785 Fro lokynge on that foule wyht. 1,1786 The chambre was al full of lyht, 1,1787 The courtins were of cendal thinne, 1,1788 This newe bryd which lay withinne, 1,1789 Thogh it be noght with his acord, 1,1790 In armes sche beclipte hire lord, 1,1791 And preide, as he was torned fro, 1,1792 He wolde him torne ayeinward tho; 1,1793 "For now," sche seith, "we ben bothe on." 1,1794 And he lay stille as eny ston, 1,1795 Bot evere in on sche spak and preide, 1,1796 And bad him thenke on that he seide, 1,1797 Whan that he tok hire be the hond. 1,1798 He herde and understod the bond, 1,1799 How he was set to his penance, 1,1800 And as it were a man in trance 1,1801 He torneth him al sodeinly, 1,1802 And syh a lady lay him by 1,1803 Of eyhtetiene wynter age, 1,1804 Which was the faireste of visage 1,1805 That evere in al this world he syh: 1,1806 And as he wolde have take hire nyh, 1,1807 Sche put hire hand and be his leve 1,1808 Besoghte him that he wolde leve, 1,1809 And seith that forto wynne or lese 1,1810 He mot on of tuo thinges chese, 1,1811 Wher he wol have hire such on nyht, 1,1812 Or elles upon daies lyht, 1,1813 For he schal noght have bothe tuo. 1,1814 And he began to sorwe tho, 1,1815 In many a wise and caste his thoght, 1,1816 Bot for al that yit cowthe he noght 1,1817 Devise himself which was the beste. 1,1818 And sche, that wolde his hertes reste, 1,1819 Preith that he scholde chese algate, 1,1820 Til ate laste longe and late 1,1821 He seide: "O ye, my lyves hele, 1,1822 Sey what you list in my querele, 1,1823 I not what ansuere I schal yive: 1,1824 Bot evere whil that I may live, 1,1825 I wol that ye be my maistresse, 1,1826 For I can noght miselve gesse 1,1827 Which is the beste unto my chois. 1,1828 Thus grante I yow myn hole vois, 1,1829 Ches for ous bothen, I you preie; 1,1830 And what as evere that ye seie, 1,1831 Riht as ye wole so wol I." 1,1832 "Mi lord," sche seide, " grant merci, 1,1833 For of this word that ye now sein, 1,1834 That ye have mad me soverein, 1,1835 Mi destine is overpassed, 1,1836 That nevere hierafter schal be lassed 1,1837 Mi beaute, which that I now have, 1,1838 Til I be take into my grave; 1,1839 Bot nyht and day as I am now 1,1840 I schal alwey be such to yow. 1,1841 The kinges dowhter of Cizile 1,1842 I am, and fell bot siththe awhile, 1,1843 As I was with my fader late, 1,1844 That my Stepmoder for an hate, 1,1845 Which toward me sche hath begonne, 1,1846 Forschop me, til I hadde wonne 1,1847 The love and sovereinete 1,1848 Of what knyht that in his degre 1,1849 Alle othre passeth of good name: 1,1850 And, as men sein, ye ben the same, 1,1851 The dede proeveth it is so; 1,1852 Thus am I youres evermo." 1,1853 Tho was plesance and joye ynowh, 1,1854 Echon with other pleide and lowh; 1,1855 Thei live longe and wel thei ferde, 1,1856 And clerkes that this chance herde 1,1857 Thei writen it in evidence, 1,1858 To teche how that obedience 1,1859 Mai wel fortune a man to love 1,1860 And sette him in his lust above, 1,1861 As it befell unto this knyht. 1,1862 Forthi, my Sone, if thou do ryht, 1,1863 Thou schalt unto thi love obeie, 1,1864 And folwe hir will be alle weie. 1,1865 Min holy fader, so I wile: 1,1866 For ye have told me such a skile 1,1867 Of this ensample now tofore, 1,1868 That I schal evermo therfore 1,1869 Hierafterward myn observance 1,1870 To love and to his obeissance 1,1871 The betre kepe: and over this 1,1872 Of pride if ther oght elles is, 1,1873 Wherof that I me schryve schal, 1,1874 What thing it is in special, 1,1875 Mi fader, axeth, I you preie. 1,1876 Now lest, my Sone, and I schal seie: 1,1877 For yit ther is Surquiderie, 1,1878 Which stant with Pride of compaignie; 1,1879 Wherof that thou schalt hiere anon, 1,1880 To knowe if thou have gult or non 1,1881 Upon the forme as thou schalt hiere: 1,1882 Now understond wel the matiere. 1,1883 Surquiderie is thilke vice 1,1884 Of Pride, which the thridde office 1,1885 Hath in his Court, and wol noght knowe 1,1886 The trowthe til it overthrowe. 1,1887 Upon his fortune and his grace 1,1888 Comth "Hadde I wist" fulofte aplace; 1,1889 For he doth al his thing be gesse, 1,1890 And voideth alle sikernesse. 1,1891 Non other conseil good him siemeth 1,1892 Bot such as he himselve diemeth; 1,1893 For in such wise as he compasseth, 1,1894 His wit al one alle othre passeth; 1,1895 And is with pride so thurghsoght, 1,1896 That he alle othre set at noght, 1,1897 And weneth of himselven so, 1,1898 That such as he ther be nomo, 1,1899 So fair, so semly, ne so wis; 1,1900 And thus he wolde bere a pris 1,1901 Above alle othre, and noght forthi 1,1902 He seith noght ones "grant mercy" 1,1903 To godd, which alle grace sendeth, 1,1904 So that his wittes he despendeth 1,1905 Upon himself, as thogh ther were 1,1906 No godd which myhte availe there: 1,1907 Bot al upon his oghne witt 1,1908 He stant, til he falle in the pitt 1,1909 So ferr that he mai noght arise. 1,1910 And riht thus in the same wise 1,1911 This vice upon the cause of love 1,1912 So proudly set the herte above, 1,1913 And doth him pleinly forto wene 1,1914 That he to loven eny qwene 1,1915 Hath worthinesse and sufficance; 1,1916 And so withoute pourveance 1,1917 Fulofte he heweth up so hihe, 1,1918 That chippes fallen in his yhe; 1,1919 And ek ful ofte he weneth this, 1,1920 Ther as he noght beloved is, 1,1921 To be beloved alther best. 1,1922 Now, Sone, tell what so thee lest 1,1923 Of this that I have told thee hier. 1,1924 Ha, fader, be noght in a wer: 1,1925 I trowe ther be noman lesse, 1,1926 Of eny maner worthinesse, 1,1927 That halt him lasse worth thanne I 1,1928 To be beloved; and noght forthi 1,1929 I seie in excusinge of me, 1,1930 To alle men that love is fre. 1,1931 And certes that mai noman werne; 1,1932 For love is of himself so derne, 1,1933 It luteth in a mannes herte: 1,1934 Bot that ne schal me noght asterte, 1,1935 To wene forto be worthi 1,1936 To loven, bot in hir mercy. 1,1937 Bot, Sire, of that ye wolden mene, 1,1938 That I scholde otherwise wene 1,1939 To be beloved thanne I was, 1,1940 I am beknowe as in that cas. 1,1941 Mi goode Sone, tell me how. 1,1942 Now lest, and I wol telle yow, 1,1943 Mi goode fader, how it is. 1,1944 Fulofte it hath befalle or this 1,1945 Thurgh hope that was noght certein, 1,1946 Mi wenynge hath be set in vein 1,1947 To triste in thing that halp me noght, 1,1948 Bot onliche of myn oughne thoght. 1,1949 For as it semeth that a belle 1,1950 Lik to the wordes that men telle 1,1951 Answerth, riht so ne mor ne lesse, 1,1952 To yow, my fader, I confesse, 1,1953 Such will my wit hath overset, 1,1954 That what so hope me behet, 1,1955 Ful many a time I wene it soth, 1,1956 Bot finali no spied it doth. 1,1957 Thus may I tellen, as I can, 1,1958 Wenyng beguileth many a man; 1,1959 So hath it me, riht wel I wot: 1,1960 For if a man wole in a Bot 1,1961 Which is withoute botme rowe, 1,1962 He moste nedes overthrowe. 1,1963 Riht so wenyng hath ferd be me: 1,1964 For whanne I wende next have be, 1,1965 As I be my wenynge caste, 1,1966 Thanne was I furthest ate laste, 1,1967 And as a foll my bowe unbende, 1,1968 Whan al was failed that I wende. 1,1969 Forthi, my fader, as of this, 1,1970 That my wenynge hath gon amis 1,1971 Touchende to Surquiderie, 1,1972 Yif me my penance er I die. 1,1973 Bot if ye wolde in eny forme 1,1974 Of this matiere a tale enforme, 1,1975 Which were ayein this vice set, 1,1976 I scholde fare wel the bet. 1,1977 Mi Sone, in alle maner wise 1,1978 Surquiderie is to despise, 1,1979 Wherof I finde write thus. 1,1980 The proude knyht Capaneuµs 1,1981 He was of such Surquiderie, 1,1982 That he thurgh his chivalerie 1,1983 Upon himself so mochel triste, 1,1984 That to the goddes him ne liste 1,1985 In no querele to beseche, 1,1986 Bot seide it was an ydel speche, 1,1987 Which caused was of pure drede, 1,1988 For lack of herte and for no nede. 1,1989 And upon such presumpcioun 1,1990 He hield this proude opinioun, 1,1991 Til ate laste upon a dai, 1,1992 Aboute Thebes wher he lay, 1,1993 Whan it of Siege was belein, 1,1994 This knyht, as the Croniqes sein, 1,1995 In alle mennes sihte there, 1,1996 Whan he was proudest in his gere, 1,1997 And thoghte how nothing myhte him dere, 1,1998 Ful armed with his schield and spere 1,1999 As he the Cite wolde assaile, 1,2000 Godd tok himselve the bataille 1,2001 Ayein his Pride, and fro the sky 1,2002 A firy thonder sodeinly 1,2003 He sende, and him to pouldre smot. 1,2004 And thus the Pride which was hot, 1,2005 Whan he most in his strengthe wende, 1,2006 Was brent and lost withouten ende: 1,2007 So that it proeveth wel therfore, 1,2008 The strengthe of man is sone lore, 1,2009 Bot if that he it wel governe. 1,2010 And over this a man mai lerne 1,2011 That ek fulofte time it grieveth, 1,2012 Whan that a man himself believeth, 1,2013 As thogh it scholde him wel beseme 1,2014 That he alle othre men can deme, 1,2015 And hath foryete his oghne vice. 1,2016 A tale of hem that ben so nyce, 1,2017 And feigne hemself to be so wise, 1,2018 I schal thee telle in such a wise, 1,2019 Wherof thou schalt ensample take 1,2020 That thou no such thing undertake. 1,2021 I finde upon Surquiderie, 1,2022 How that whilom of Hungarie 1,2023 Be olde daies was a King 1,2024 Wys and honeste in alle thing: 1,2025 And so befell upon a dai, 1,2026 And that was in the Monthe of Maii, 1,2027 As thilke time it was usance, 1,2028 This kyng with noble pourveance 1,2029 Hath for himself his Charr araied, 1,2030 Wher inne he wolde ride amaied 1,2031 Out of the Cite forto pleie, 1,2032 With lordes and with gret nobleie 1,2033 Of lusti folk that were yonge: 1,2034 Wher some pleide and some songe, 1,2035 And some gon and some ryde, 1,2036 And some prike here hors aside 1,2037 And bridlen hem now in now oute. 1,2038 The kyng his yhe caste aboute, 1,2039 Til he was ate laste war 1,2040 And syh comende ayein his char 1,2041 Two pilegrins of so gret age, 1,2042 That lich unto a dreie ymage 1,2043 Thei weren pale and fade hewed, 1,2044 And as a bussh which is besnewed, 1,2045 Here berdes weren hore and whyte; 1,2046 Ther was of kinde bot a lite, 1,2047 That thei ne semen fulli dede. 1,2048 Thei comen to the kyng and bede 1,2049 Som of his good par charite; 1,2050 And he with gret humilite 1,2051 Out of his Char to grounde lepte, 1,2052 And hem in bothe hise armes kepte 1,2053 And keste hem bothe fot and hond 1,2054 Before the lordes of his lond, 1,2055 And yaf hem of his good therto: 1,2056 And whanne he hath this dede do, 1,2057 He goth into his char ayein. 1,2058 Tho was Murmur, tho was desdeign, 1,2059 Tho was compleignte on every side, 1,2060 Thei seiden of here oghne Pride 1,2061 Eche until othre: "What is this? 1,2062 Oure king hath do this thing amis, 1,2063 So to abesse his realte 1,2064 That every man it myhte se, 1,2065 And humbled him in such a wise 1,2066 To hem that were of non emprise." 1,2067 Thus was it spoken to and fro 1,2068 Of hem that were with him tho 1,2069 Al prively behinde his bak; 1,2070 Bot to himselven noman spak. 1,2071 The kinges brother in presence 1,2072 Was thilke time, and gret offence 1,2073 He tok therof, and was the same 1,2074 Above alle othre which most blame 1,2075 Upon his liege lord hath leid, 1,2076 And hath unto the lordes seid, 1,2077 Anon as he mai time finde, 1,2078 Ther schal nothing be left behinde, 1,2079 That he wol speke unto the king. 1,2080 Now lest what fell upon this thing. 1,2081 The day was merie and fair ynowh, 1,2082 Echon with othre pleide and lowh, 1,2083 And fellen into tales newe, 1,2084 How that the freisshe floures grewe, 1,2085 And how the grene leves spronge, 1,2086 And how that love among the yonge 1,2087 Began the hertes thanne awake, 1,2088 And every bridd hath chose hire make: 1,2089 And thus the Maies day to thende 1,2090 Thei lede, and hom ayein thei wende. 1,2091 The king was noght so sone come, 1,2092 That whanne he hadde his chambre nome, 1,2093 His brother ne was redi there, 1,2094 And broghte a tale unto his Ere 1,2095 Of that he dede such a schame 1,2096 In hindringe of his oghne name, 1,2097 Whan he himself so wolde drecche, 1,2098 That to so vil a povere wrecche 1,2099 Him deigneth schewe such simplesce 1,2100 Ayein thastat of his noblesce: 1,2101 And seith he schal it nomor use, 1,2102 And that he mot himself excuse 1,2103 Toward hise lordes everychon. 1,2104 The king stod stille as eny ston, 1,2105 And to his tale an Ere he leide, 1,2106 And thoghte more than he seide: 1,2107 Bot natheles to that he herde 1,2108 Wel cortaisly the king answerde, 1,2109 And tolde it scholde be amended. 1,2110 And thus whan that her tale is ended, 1,2111 Al redy was the bord and cloth, 1,2112 The king unto his Souper goth 1,2113 Among the lordes to the halle; 1,2114 And whan thei hadden souped alle, 1,2115 Thei token leve and forth thei go. 1,2116 The king bethoghte himselve tho 1,2117 How he his brother mai chastie, 1,2118 That he thurgh his Surquiderie 1,2119 Tok upon honde to despreise 1,2120 Humilite, which is to preise, 1,2121 And therupon yaf such conseil 1,2122 Toward his king that was noght heil; 1,2123 Wherof to be the betre lered, 1,2124 He thenkth to maken him afered. 1,2125 It fell so that in thilke dawe 1,2126 Ther was ordeined be the lawe 1,2127 A trompe with a sterne breth, 1,2128 Which cleped was the Trompe of deth: 1,2129 And in the Court wher the king was 1,2130 A certein man this Trompe of bras 1,2131 Hath in kepinge, and therof serveth, 1,2132 That whan a lord his deth deserveth, 1,2133 He schal this dredful trompe blowe 1,2134 Tofore his gate, and make it knowe 1,2135 How that the jugement is yove 1,2136 Of deth, which schal noght be foryove. 1,2137 The king, whan it was nyht, anon 1,2138 This man asente and bad him gon 1,2139 To trompen at his brother gate; 1,2140 And he, which mot so don algate, 1,2141 Goth forth and doth the kynges heste. 1,2142 This lord, which herde of this tempeste 1,2143 That he tofore his gate blew, 1,2144 Tho wiste he be the lawe and knew 1,2145 That he was sikerliche ded: 1,2146 And as of help he wot no red, 1,2147 Bot sende for hise frendes alle 1,2148 And tolde hem how it is befalle. 1,2149 And thei him axe cause why; 1,2150 Bot he the sothe noght forthi 1,2151 Ne wiste, and ther was sorwe tho: 1,2152 For it stod thilke tyme so, 1,2153 This trompe was of such sentence, 1,2154 That therayein no resistence 1,2155 Thei couthe ordeine be no weie, 1,2156 That he ne mot algate deie, 1,2157 Bot if so that he may pourchace 1,2158 To gete his liege lordes grace. 1,2159 Here wittes therupon thei caste, 1,2160 And ben apointed ate laste. 1,2161 This lord a worthi ladi hadde 1,2162 Unto his wif, which also dradde 1,2163 Hire lordes deth, and children five 1,2164 Betwen hem two thei hadde alyve, 1,2165 That weren yonge and tendre of age, 1,2166 And of stature and of visage 1,2167 Riht faire and lusty on to se. 1,2168 Tho casten thei that he and sche 1,2169 Forth with here children on the morwe, 1,2170 As thei that were full of sorwe, 1,2171 Al naked bot of smok and scherte, 1,2172 To tendre with the kynges herte, 1,2173 His grace scholden go to seche 1,2174 And pardoun of the deth beseche. 1,2175 Thus passen thei that wofull nyht, 1,2176 And erly, whan thei sihe it lyht, 1,2177 Thei gon hem forth in such a wise 1,2178 As thou tofore hast herd devise, 1,2179 Al naked bot here schortes one. 1,2180 Thei wepte and made mochel mone, 1,2181 Here Her hangende aboute here Eres; 1,2182 With sobbinge and with sory teres 1,2183 This lord goth thanne an humble pas, 1,2184 That whilom proud and noble was; 1,2185 Wherof the Cite sore afflyhte, 1,2186 Of hem that sihen thilke syhte: 1,2187 And natheless al openly 1,2188 With such wepinge and with such cri 1,2189 Forth with hise children and his wif 1,2190 He goth to preie for his lif. 1,2191 Unto the court whan thei be come, 1,2192 And men therinne have hiede nome, 1,2193 Ther was no wiht, if he hem syhe, 1,2194 Fro water mihte kepe his yhe 1,2195 For sorwe which thei maden tho. 1,2196 The king supposeth of this wo, 1,2197 And feigneth as he noght ne wiste; 1,2198 Bot natheles at his upriste 1,2199 Men tolden him how that it ferde: 1,2200 And whan that he this wonder herde, 1,2201 In haste he goth into the halle, 1,2202 And alle at ones doun thei falle, 1,2203 If eny pite may be founde. 1,2204 The king, which seth hem go to grounde, 1,2205 Hath axed hem what is the fere, 1,2206 Why thei be so despuiled there. 1,2207 His brother seide: "Ha lord, mercy] 1,2208 I wot non other cause why, 1,2209 Bot only that this nyht ful late 1,2210 The trompe of deth was at my gate 1,2211 In tokne that I scholde deie; 1,2212 Thus be we come forto preie 1,2213 That ye mi worldes deth respite." 1,2214 "Ha fol, how thou art forto wyte," 1,2215 The king unto his brother seith, 1,2216 "That thou art of so litel feith, 1,2217 That only for a trompes soun 1,2218 Hast gon despuiled thurgh the toun, 1,2219 Thou and thi wif in such manere 1,2220 Forth with thi children that ben here, 1,2221 In sihte of alle men aboute, 1,2222 For that thou seist thou art in doute 1,2223 Of deth, which stant under the lawe 1,2224 Of man, and man it mai withdrawe, 1,2225 So that it mai par chance faile. 1,2226 Now schalt thou noght forthi mervaile 1,2227 That I doun fro my Charr alihte, 1,2228 Whanne I behield tofore my sihte 1,2229 In hem that were of so grete age 1,2230 Min oghne deth thurgh here ymage, 1,2231 Which god hath set be lawe of kynde, 1,2232 Wherof I mai no bote finde: 1,2233 For wel I wot, such as thei be, 1,2234 Riht such am I in my degree, 1,2235 Of fleissh and blod, and so schal deie. 1,2236 And thus, thogh I that lawe obeie 1,2237 Of which the kinges ben put under, 1,2238 It oghte ben wel lasse wonder 1,2239 Than thou, which art withoute nede 1,2240 For lawe of londe in such a drede, 1,2241 Which for tacompte is bot a jape, 1,2242 As thing which thou miht overscape. 1,2243 Forthi, mi brother, after this 1,2244 I rede, sithen that so is 1,2245 That thou canst drede a man so sore, 1,2246 Dred god with al thin herte more: 1,2247 For al schal deie and al schal passe, 1,2248 Als wel a Leoun as an asse, 1,2249 Als wel a beggere as a lord, 1,2250 Towardes deth in on acord 1,2251 Thei schullen stonde." And in this wise 1,2252 The king hath with hise wordes wise 1,2253 His brother tawht and al foryive. 1,2254 Forthi, mi Sone, if thou wolt live 1,2255 In vertu, thou most vice eschuie, 1,2256 And with low herte humblesce suie, 1,2257 So that thou be noght surquidous. 1,2258 Mi fader, I am amorous, 1,2259 Wherof I wolde you beseche 1,2260 That ye me som ensample teche, 1,2261 Which mihte in loves cause stonde. 1,2262 Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde, 1,2263 In love and othre thinges alle 1,2264 If that Surquiderie falle, 1,2265 It may to him noght wel betide 1,2266 Which useth thilke vice of Pride, 1,2267 Which torneth wisdom to wenynge 1,2268 And Sothfastnesse into lesynge 1,2269 Thurgh fol ymaginacion. 1,2270 And for thin enformacion, 1,2271 That thou this vice as I the rede 1,2272 Eschuie schalt, a tale I rede, 1,2273 Which fell whilom be daies olde, 1,2274 So as the clerk Ovide tolde. 1,2275 Ther was whilom a lordes Sone, 1,2276 Which of his Pride a nyce wone 1,2277 Hath cawht, that worthi to his liche, 1,2278 To sechen al the worldes riche, 1,2279 Ther was no womman forto love. 1,2280 So hihe he sette himselve above 1,2281 Of stature and of beaute bothe, 1,2282 That him thoghte alle wommen lothe: 1,2283 So was ther no comparisoun 1,2284 As toward his condicioun. 1,2285 This yonge lord Narcizus hihte: 1,2286 No strengthe of love bowe mihte 1,2287 His herte, which is unaffiled; 1,2288 Bot ate laste he was beguiled: 1,2289 For of the goddes pourveance 1,2290 It fell him on a dai par chance, 1,2291 That he in all his proude fare 1,2292 Unto the forest gan to fare, 1,2293 Amonges othre that ther were 1,2294 To hunte and to desporte him there. 1,2295 And whanne he cam into the place 1,2296 Wher that he wolde make his chace, 1,2297 The houndes weren in a throwe 1,2298 Uncoupled and the hornes blowe: 1,2299 The grete hert anon was founde, 1,2300 Which swifte feet sette upon grounde, 1,2301 And he with spore in horse side 1,2302 Him hasteth faste forto ride, 1,2303 Til alle men be left behinde. 1,2304 And as he rod, under a linde 1,2305 Beside a roche, as I thee telle, 1,2306 He syh wher sprong a lusty welle: 1,2307 The day was wonder hot withalle, 1,2308 And such a thurst was on him falle, 1,2309 That he moste owther deie or drinke; 1,2310 And doun he lihte and be the brinke 1,2311 He teide his Hors unto a braunche, 1,2312 And leide him lowe forto staunche 1,2313 His thurst: and as he caste his lok 1,2314 Into the welle and hiede tok, 1,2315 He sih the like of his visage, 1,2316 And wende ther were an ymage 1,2317 Of such a Nimphe as tho was faie, 1,2318 Wherof that love his herte assaie 1,2319 Began, as it was after sene, 1,2320 Of his sotie and made him wene 1,2321 It were a womman that he syh. 1,2322 The more he cam the welle nyh, 1,2323 The nerr cam sche to him ayein; 1,2324 So wiste he nevere what to sein; 1,2325 For whanne he wepte, he sih hire wepe, 1,2326 And whanne he cride, he tok good kepe, 1,2327 The same word sche cride also: 1,2328 And thus began the newe wo, 1,2329 That whilom was to him so strange; 1,2330 Tho made him love an hard eschange, 1,2331 To sette his herte and to beginne 1,2332 Thing which he mihte nevere winne. 1,2333 And evere among he gan to loute, 1,2334 And preith that sche to him come oute; 1,2335 And otherwhile he goth a ferr, 1,2336 And otherwhile he draweth nerr, 1,2337 And evere he fond hire in o place. 1,2338 He wepth, he crith, he axeth grace, 1,2339 There as he mihte gete non; 1,2340 So that ayein a Roche of Ston, 1,2341 As he that knew non other red, 1,2342 He smot himself til he was ded. 1,2343 Wherof the Nimphes of the welles, 1,2344 And othre that ther weren elles 1,2345 Unto the wodes belongende, 1,2346 The body, which was ded ligende, 1,2347 For pure pite that thei have 1,2348 Under the grene thei begrave. 1,2349 And thanne out of his sepulture 1,2350 Ther sprong anon par aventure 1,2351 Of floures such a wonder syhte, 1,2352 That men ensample take myhte 1,2353 Upon the dedes whiche he dede, 1,2354 As tho was sene in thilke stede; 1,2355 For in the wynter freysshe and faire 1,2356 The floures ben, which is contraire 1,2357 To kynde, and so was the folie 1,2358 Which fell of his Surquiderie. 1,2359 Thus he, which love hadde in desdeign, 1,2360 Worste of all othre was besein, 1,2361 And as he sette his pris most hyhe, 1,2362 He was lest worth in loves yhe 1,2363 And most bejaped in his wit: 1,2364 Wherof the remembrance is yit, 1,2365 So that thou myht ensample take, 1,2366 And ek alle othre for his sake. 1,2367 Mi fader, as touchende of me, 1,2368 This vice I thenke forto fle, 1,2369 Which of his wenynge overtroweth; 1,2370 And nameliche of thing which groweth 1,2371 In loves cause or wel or wo 1,2372 Yit pryded I me nevere so. 1,2373 Bot wolde god that grace sende, 1,2374 That toward me my lady wende 1,2375 As I towardes hire wene] 1,2376 Mi love scholde so be sene, 1,2377 Ther scholde go no pride a place. 1,2378 Bot I am ferr fro thilke grace, 1,2379 As forto speke of tyme now; 1,2380 So mot I soffre, and preie yow 1,2381 That ye wole axe on other side 1,2382 If ther be eny point of Pride, 1,2383 Wherof it nedeth to be schrive. 1,2384 Mi Sone, godd it thee foryive, 1,2385 If thou have eny thing misdo 1,2386 Touchende of this, bot overmo 1,2387 Ther is an other yit of Pride, 1,2388 Which nevere cowthe hise wordes hide, 1,2389 That he ne wole himself avaunte; 1,2390 Ther mai nothing his tunge daunte, 1,2391 That he ne clappeth as a Belle: 1,2392 Wherof if thou wolt that I telle, 1,2393 It is behovely forto hiere, 1,2394 So that thou myht thi tunge stiere, 1,2395 Toward the world and stonde in grace, 1,2396 Which lacketh ofte in many place 1,2397 To him that can noght sitte stille, 1,2398 Which elles scholde have al his wille. 1,2399 The vice cleped Avantance 1,2400 With Pride hath take his aqueintance, 1,2401 So that his oghne pris he lasseth, 1,2402 When he such mesure overpasseth 1,2403 That he his oghne Herald is. 1,2404 That ferst was wel is thanne mis, 1,2405 That was thankworth is thanne blame, 1,2406 And thus the worschipe of his name 1,2407 Thurgh pride of his avantarie 1,2408 He torneth into vilenie. 1,2409 I rede how that this proude vice 1,2410 Hath thilke wynd in his office, 1,2411 Which thurgh the blastes that he bloweth 1,2412 The mannes fame he overthroweth 1,2413 Of vertu, which scholde elles springe 1,2414 Into the worldes knowlechinge; 1,2415 Bot he fordoth it alto sore. 1,2416 And riht of such a maner lore 1,2417 Ther ben lovers: forthi if thow 1,2418 Art on of hem, tell and sei how. 1,2419 Whan thou hast taken eny thing 1,2420 Of loves yifte, or Nouche or ring, 1,2421 Or tok upon thee for the cold 1,2422 Som goodly word that thee was told, 1,2423 Or frendly chiere or tokne or lettre, 1,2424 Wherof thin herte was the bettre, 1,2425 Or that sche sende the grietinge, 1,2426 Hast thou for Pride of thi likinge 1,2427 Mad thin avant wher as the liste? 1,2428 I wolde, fader, that ye wiste, 1,2429 Mi conscience lith noght hiere: 1,2430 Yit hadde I nevere such matiere, 1,2431 Wherof min herte myhte amende, 1,2432 Noght of so mochel that sche sende 1,2433 Be mowthe and seide, "Griet him wel:" 1,2434 And thus for that ther is no diel 1,2435 Wherof to make myn avant, 1,2436 It is to reson acordant 1,2437 That I mai nevere, bot I lye, 1,2438 Of love make avanterie. 1,2439 I wot noght what I scholde have do, 1,2440 If that I hadde encheson so, 1,2441 As ye have seid hier manyon; 1,2442 Bot I fond cause nevere non: 1,2443 Bot daunger, which welnyh me slowh, 1,2444 Therof I cowthe telle ynowh, 1,2445 And of non other Avantance: 1,2446 Thus nedeth me no repentance. 1,2447 Now axeth furthere of my lif, 1,2448 For hierof am I noght gultif. 1,2449 Mi Sone, I am wel paid withal; 1,2450 For wite it wel in special 1,2451 That love of his verrai justice 1,2452 Above alle othre ayein this vice 1,2453 At alle times most debateth, 1,2454 With al his herte and most it hateth. 1,2455 And ek in alle maner wise 1,2456 Avantarie is to despise, 1,2457 As be ensample thou myht wite, 1,2458 Which I finde in the bokes write. 1,2459 Of hem that we Lombars now calle 1,2460 Albinus was the ferste of alle 1,2461 Which bar corone of Lombardie, 1,2462 And was of gret chivalerie 1,2463 In werre ayein diverse kinges. 1,2464 So fell amonges othre thinges, 1,2465 That he that time a werre hadde 1,2466 With Gurmond, which the Geptes ladde, 1,2467 And was a myhti kyng also: 1,2468 Bot natheles it fell him so, 1,2469 Albinus slowh him in the feld, 1,2470 Ther halp him nowther swerd ne scheld, 1,2471 That he ne smot his hed of thanne, 1,2472 Wherof he tok awey the Panne, 1,2473 Of which he seide he wolde make 1,2474 A Cuppe for Gurmoundes sake, 1,2475 To kepe and drawe into memoire 1,2476 Of his bataille the victoire. 1,2477 And thus whan he the feld hath wonne, 1,2478 The lond anon was overronne 1,2479 And sesed in his oghne hond, 1,2480 Wher he Gurmondes dowhter fond, 1,2481 Which Maide Rosemounde hihte, 1,2482 And was in every mannes sihte 1,2483 A fair, a freissh, a lusti on. 1,2484 His herte fell to hire anon, 1,2485 And such a love on hire he caste, 1,2486 That he hire weddeth ate laste; 1,2487 And after that long time in reste 1,2488 With hire he duelte, and to the beste 1,2489 Thei love ech other wonder wel. 1,2490 Bot sche which kepth the blinde whel, 1,2491 Venus, whan thei be most above, 1,2492 In al the hoteste of here love, 1,2493 Hire whiel sche torneth, and thei felle 1,2494 In the manere as I schal telle. 1,2495 This king, which stod in al his welthe 1,2496 Of pes, of worschipe and of helthe, 1,2497 And felte him on no side grieved, 1,2498 As he that hath his world achieved, 1,2499 Tho thoghte he wolde a feste make; 1,2500 And that was for his wyves sake, 1,2501 That sche the lordes ate feste, 1,2502 That were obeissant to his heste, 1,2503 Mai knowe: and so forth therupon 1,2504 He let ordeine, and sende anon 1,2505 Be lettres and be messagiers, 1,2506 And warnede alle hise officiers 1,2507 That every thing be wel arraied: 1,2508 The grete Stiedes were assaied 1,2509 For joustinge and for tornement, 1,2510 And many a perled garnement 1,2511 Embroudred was ayein the dai. 1,2512 The lordes in here beste arrai 1,2513 Be comen ate time set, 1,2514 On jousteth wel, an other bet, 1,2515 And otherwhile thei torneie, 1,2516 And thus thei casten care aweie 1,2517 And token lustes upon honde. 1,2518 And after, thou schalt understonde, 1,2519 To mete into the kinges halle 1,2520 Thei come, as thei be beden alle: 1,2521 And whan thei were set and served, 1,2522 Thanne after, as it was deserved, 1,2523 To hem that worthi knyhtes were, 1,2524 So as thei seten hiere and there, 1,2525 The pris was yove and spoken oute 1,2526 Among the heraldz al aboute. 1,2527 And thus benethe and ek above 1,2528 Al was of armes and of love, 1,2529 Wherof abouten ate bordes 1,2530 Men hadde manye sondri wordes, 1,2531 That of the merthe which thei made 1,2532 The king himself began to glade 1,2533 Withinne his herte and tok a pride, 1,2534 And sih the Cuppe stonde aside, 1,2535 Which mad was of Gurmoundes hed, 1,2536 As ye have herd, whan he was ded, 1,2537 And was with gold and riche Stones 1,2538 Beset and bounde for the nones, 1,2539 And stod upon a fot on heihte 1,2540 Of burned gold, and with gret sleihte 1,2541 Of werkmanschipe it was begrave 1,2542 Of such werk as it scholde have, 1,2543 And was policed ek so clene 1,2544 That no signe of the Skulle is sene, 1,2545 Bot as it were a Gripes Ey. 1,2546 The king bad bere his Cuppe awey, 1,2547 Which stod tofore him on the bord, 1,2548 And fette thilke. Upon his word 1,2549 This Skulle is fet and wyn therinne, 1,2550 Wherof he bad his wif beginne: 1,2551 "Drink with thi fader, Dame," he seide. 1,2552 And sche to his biddinge obeide, 1,2553 And tok the Skulle, and what hire liste 1,2554 Sche drank, as sche which nothing wiste 1,2555 What Cuppe it was: and thanne al oute 1,2556 The kyng in audience aboute 1,2557 Hath told it was hire fader Skulle, 1,2558 So that the lordes knowe schulle 1,2559 Of his bataille a soth witnesse, 1,2560 And made avant thurgh what prouesse 1,2561 He hath his wyves love wonne, 1,2562 Which of the Skulle hath so begonne. 1,2563 Tho was ther mochel Pride alofte, 1,2564 Thei speken alle, and sche was softe, 1,2565 Thenkende on thilke unkynde Pride, 1,2566 Of that hire lord so nyh hire side 1,2567 Avanteth him that he hath slain 1,2568 And piked out hire fader brain, 1,2569 And of the Skulle had mad a Cuppe. 1,2570 Sche soffreth al til thei were uppe, 1,2571 And tho sche hath seknesse feigned, 1,2572 And goth to chambre and hath compleigned 1,2573 Unto a Maide which sche triste, 1,2574 So that non other wyht it wiste. 1,2575 This Mayde Glodeside is hote, 1,2576 To whom this lady hath behote 1,2577 Of ladischipe al that sche can, 1,2578 To vengen hire upon this man, 1,2579 Which dede hire drinke in such a plit 1,2580 Among hem alle for despit 1,2581 Of hire and of hire fader bothe; 1,2582 Wherof hire thoghtes ben so wrothe, 1,2583 Sche seith, that sche schal noght be glad, 1,2584 Til that sche se him so bestad 1,2585 That he nomore make avant. 1,2586 And thus thei felle in covenant, 1,2587 That thei acorden ate laste, 1,2588 With suche wiles as thei caste 1,2589 That thei wol gete of here acord 1,2590 Som orped knyht to sle this lord: 1,2591 And with this sleihte thei beginne, 1,2592 How thei Helmege myhten winne, 1,2593 Which was the kinges Boteler, 1,2594 A proud a lusti Bacheler, 1,2595 And Glodeside he loveth hote. 1,2596 And sche, to make him more assote, 1,2597 Hire love granteth, and be nyhte 1,2598 Thei schape how thei togedre myhte 1,2599 Abedde meete: and don it was 1,2600 This same nyht; and in this cas 1,2601 The qwene hirself the nyht secounde 1,2602 Wente in hire stede, and there hath founde 1,2603 A chambre derk withoute liht, 1,2604 And goth to bedde to this knyht. 1,2605 And he, to kepe his observance, 1,2606 To love doth his obeissance, 1,2607 And weneth it be Glodeside; 1,2608 And sche thanne after lay aside, 1,2609 And axeth him what he hath do, 1,2610 And who sche was sche tolde him tho, 1,2611 And seide: "Helmege, I am thi qwene, 1,2612 Now schal thi love wel be sene 1,2613 Of that thou hast thi wille wroght: 1,2614 Or it schal sore ben aboght, 1,2615 Or thou schalt worche as I thee seie. 1,2616 And if thou wolt be such a weie 1,2617 Do my plesance and holde it stille, 1,2618 For evere I schal ben at thi wille, 1,2619 Bothe I and al myn heritage." 1,2620 Anon the wylde loves rage, 1,2621 In which noman him can governe, 1,2622 Hath mad him that he can noght werne, 1,2623 Bot fell al hol to hire assent: 1,2624 And thus the whiel is al miswent, 1,2625 The which fortune hath upon honde; 1,2626 For how that evere it after stonde, 1,2627 Thei schope among hem such a wyle, 1,2628 The king was ded withinne a whyle. 1,2629 So slihly cam it noght aboute 1,2630 That thei ne ben descoevered oute, 1,2631 So that it thoghte hem for the beste 1,2632 To fle, for there was no reste: 1,2633 And thus the tresor of the king 1,2634 Thei trusse and mochel other thing, 1,2635 And with a certein felaschipe 1,2636 Thei fledde and wente awey be schipe, 1,2637 And hielde here rihte cours fro thenne, 1,2638 Til that thei come to Ravenne, 1,2639 Wher thei the Dukes helpe soghte. 1,2640 And he, so as thei him besoghte, 1,2641 A place granteth forto duelle; 1,2642 Bot after, whan he herde telle 1,2643 Of the manere how thei have do, 1,2644 This Duk let schape for hem so, 1,2645 That of a puison which thei drunke 1,2646 Thei hadden that thei have beswunke. 1,2647 And al this made avant of Pride: 1,2648 Good is therfore a man to hide 1,2649 His oghne pris, for if he speke, 1,2650 He mai lihtliche his thonk tobreke. 1,2651 In armes lith non avantance 1,2652 To him which thenkth his name avance 1,2653 And be renomed of his dede: 1,2654 And also who that thenkth to spede 1,2655 Of love, he mai him noght avaunte; 1,2656 For what man thilke vice haunte, 1,2657 His pourpos schal fulofte faile. 1,2658 In armes he that wol travaile 1,2659 Or elles loves grace atteigne, 1,2660 His lose tunge he mot restreigne, 1,2661 Which berth of his honour the keie. 1,2662 Forthi, my Sone, in alle weie 1,2663 Tak riht good hiede of this matiere. 1,2664 I thonke you, my fader diere, 1,2665 This scole is of a gentil lore; 1,2666 And if ther be oght elles more 1,2667 Of Pride, which I schal eschuie, 1,2668 Now axeth forth, and I wol suie 1,2669 What thing that ye me wole enforme. 1,2670 Mi Sone, yit in other forme 1,2671 Ther is a vice of Prides lore, 1,2672 Which lich an hauk whan he wol sore, 1,2673 Fleith upon heihte in his delices 1,2674 After the likynge of his vices, 1,2675 And wol no mannes resoun knowe, 1,2676 Till he doun falle and overthrowe. 1,2677 This vice veine gloire is hote, 1,2678 Wherof, my Sone, I thee behote 1,2679 To trete and speke in such a wise, 1,2680 That thou thee myht the betre avise. 1,2681 The proude vice of veine gloire 1,2682 Remembreth noght of purgatoire, 1,2683 Hise worldes joyes ben so grete, 1,2684 Him thenkth of hevene no beyete; 1,2685 This lives Pompe is al his pes: 1,2686 Yit schal he deie natheles, 1,2687 And therof thenkth he bot a lite, 1,2688 For al his lust is to delite 1,2689 In newe thinges, proude and veine, 1,2690 Als ferforth as he mai atteigne. 1,2691 I trowe, if that he myhte make 1,2692 His body newe, he wolde take 1,2693 A newe forme and leve his olde: 1,2694 For what thing that he mai beholde, 1,2695 The which to comun us is strange, 1,2696 Anon his olde guise change 1,2697 He wole and falle therupon, 1,2698 Lich unto the Camelion, 1,2699 Which upon every sondri hewe 1,2700 That he beholt he moste newe 1,2701 His colour, and thus unavised 1,2702 Fulofte time he stant desguised. 1,2703 Mor jolif than the brid in Maii 1,2704 He makth him evere freissh and gay, 1,2705 And doth al his array desguise, 1,2706 So that of him the newe guise 1,2707 Of lusti folk alle othre take; 1,2708 And ek he can carolles make, 1,2709 Rondeal, balade and virelai. 1,2710 And with al this, if that he may 1,2711 Of love gete him avantage, 1,2712 Anon he wext of his corage 1,2713 So overglad, that of his ende 1,2714 Him thenkth ther is no deth comende: 1,2715 For he hath thanne at alle tide 1,2716 Of love such a maner pride, 1,2717 Him thenkth his joie is endeles. 1,2718 Now schrif thee, Sone, in godes pes, 1,2719 And of thi love tell me plein 1,2720 If that thi gloire hath be so vein. 1,2721 Mi fader, as touchinge of al 1,2722 I may noght wel ne noght ne schal 1,2723 Of veine gloire excuse me, 1,2724 That I ne have for love be 1,2725 The betre adresced and arraied; 1,2726 And also I have ofte assaied 1,2727 Rondeal, balade and virelai 1,2728 For hire on whom myn herte lai 1,2729 To make, and also forto peinte 1,2730 Caroles with my wordes qweinte, 1,2731 To sette my pourpos alofte; 1,2732 And thus I sang hem forth fulofte 1,2733 In halle and ek in chambre aboute, 1,2734 And made merie among the route, 1,2735 Bot yit ne ferde I noght the bet. 1,2736 Thus was my gloire in vein beset 1,2737 Of al the joie that I made; 1,2738 For whanne I wolde with hire glade, 1,2739 And of hire love songes make, 1,2740 Sche saide it was noght for hir sake, 1,2741 And liste noght my songes hiere 1,2742 Ne witen what the wordes were. 1,2743 So forto speke of myn arrai, 1,2744 Yit couthe I nevere be so gay 1,2745 Ne so wel make a songe of love, 1,2746 Wherof I myhte ben above 1,2747 And have encheson to be glad; 1,2748 Bot rathere I am ofte adrad 1,2749 For sorwe that sche seith me nay. 1,2750 And natheles I wol noght say, 1,2751 That I nam glad on other side; 1,2752 For fame, that can nothing hide, 1,2753 Alday wol bringe unto myn Ere 1,2754 Of that men speken hier and there, 1,2755 How that my ladi berth the pris, 1,2756 How sche is fair, how sche is wis, 1,2757 How sche is wommanlich of chiere; 1,2758 Of al this thing whanne I mai hiere, 1,2759 What wonder is thogh I be fain? 1,2760 And ek whanne I may hiere sain 1,2761 Tidinges of my ladi hele, 1,2762 Althogh I may noght with hir dele, 1,2763 Yit am I wonder glad of that; 1,2764 For whanne I wot hire good astat, 1,2765 As for that time I dar wel swere, 1,2766 Non other sorwe mai me dere, 1,2767 Thus am I gladed in this wise. 1,2768 Bot, fader, of youre lores wise, 1,2769 Of whiche ye be fully tawht, 1,2770 Now tell me if yow thenketh awht 1,2771 That I therof am forto wyte. 1,2772 Of that ther is I thee acquite, 1,2773 Mi sone, he seide, and for thi goode 1,2774 I wolde that thou understode: 1,2775 For I thenke upon this matiere 1,2776 To telle a tale, as thou schalt hiere, 1,2777 How that ayein this proude vice 1,2778 The hihe god of his justice 1,2779 Is wroth and gret vengance doth. 1,2780 Now herkne a tale that is soth: 1,2781 Thogh it be noght of loves kinde, 1,2782 A gret ensample thou schalt finde 1,2783 This veine gloire forto fle, 1,2784 Which is so full of vanite. 1,2785 Ther was a king that mochel myhte, 1,2786 Which Nabugodonosor hihte, 1,2787 Of whom that I spak hier tofore. 1,2788 Yit in the bible his name is bore, 1,2789 For al the world in Orient 1,2790 Was hol at his comandement: 1,2791 As thanne of kinges to his liche 1,2792 Was non so myhty ne so riche; 1,2793 To his Empire and to his lawes, 1,2794 As who seith, alle in thilke dawes 1,2795 Were obeissant and tribut bere, 1,2796 As thogh he godd of Erthe were. 1,2797 With strengthe he putte kinges under, 1,2798 And wroghte of Pride many a wonder; 1,2799 He was so full of veine gloire, 1,2800 That he ne hadde no memoire 1,2801 That ther was eny good bot he, 1,2802 For pride of his prosperite; 1,2803 Til that the hihe king of kinges, 1,2804 Which seth and knoweth alle thinges, 1,2805 Whos yhe mai nothing asterte,- 1,2806 The privetes of mannes herte 1,2807 Thei speke and sounen in his Ere 1,2808 As thogh thei lowde wyndes were,- 1,2809 He tok vengance upon this pride. 1,2810 Bot for he wolde awhile abide 1,2811 To loke if he him wolde amende, 1,2812 To him a foretokne he sende, 1,2813 And that was in his slep be nyhte. 1,2814 This proude kyng a wonder syhte 1,2815 Hadde in his swevene, ther he lay: 1,2816 Him thoghte, upon a merie day 1,2817 As he behield the world aboute, 1,2818 A tree fulgrowe he syh theroute, 1,2819 Which stod the world amiddes evene, 1,2820 Whos heihte straghte up to the hevene; 1,2821 The leves weren faire and large, 1,2822 Of fruit it bar so ripe a charge, 1,2823 That alle men it myhte fede: 1,2824 He sih also the bowes spriede 1,2825 Above al Erthe, in whiche were 1,2826 The kinde of alle briddes there; 1,2827 And eke him thoghte he syh also 1,2828 The kinde of alle bestes go 1,2829 Under this tre aboute round 1,2830 And fedden hem upon the ground. 1,2831 As he this wonder stod and syh, 1,2832 Him thoghte he herde a vois on hih 1,2833 Criende, and seide aboven alle: 1,2834 "Hew doun this tree and lett it falle, 1,2835 The leves let defoule in haste 1,2836 And do the fruit destruie and waste, 1,2837 And let of schreden every braunche, 1,2838 Bot ate Rote let it staunche. 1,2839 Whan al his Pride is cast to grounde, 1,2840 The rote schal be faste bounde, 1,2841 And schal no mannes herte bere, 1,2842 Bot every lust he schal forbere 1,2843 Of man, and lich an Oxe his mete 1,2844 Of gras he schal pourchace and ete, 1,2845 Til that the water of the hevene 1,2846 Have waisshen him be times sevene, 1,2847 So that he be thurghknowe ariht 1,2848 What is the heveneliche myht, 1,2849 And be mad humble to the wille 1,2850 Of him which al mai save and spille." 1,2851 This king out of his swefne abreide, 1,2852 And he upon the morwe it seide 1,2853 Unto the clerkes whiche he hadde: 1,2854 Bot non of hem the sothe aradde, 1,2855 Was non his swevene cowthe undo. 1,2856 And it stod thilke time so, 1,2857 This king hadde in subjeccioun 1,2858 Judee, and of affeccioun 1,2859 Above alle othre on Daniel 1,2860 He loveth, for he cowthe wel 1,2861 Divine that non other cowthe: 1,2862 To him were alle thinges cowthe, 1,2863 As he it hadde of goddes grace. 1,2864 He was before the kinges face 1,2865 Asent, and bode that he scholde 1,2866 Upon the point the king of tolde 1,2867 The fortune of his swevene expounde, 1,2868 As it scholde afterward be founde. 1,2869 Whan Daniel this swevene herde, 1,2870 He stod long time er he ansuerde, 1,2871 And made a wonder hevy chiere. 1,2872 The king tok hiede of his manere, 1,2873 And bad him telle that he wiste, 1,2874 As he to whom he mochel triste, 1,2875 And seide he wolde noght be wroth. 1,2876 Bot Daniel was wonder loth, 1,2877 And seide: "Upon thi fomen alle, 1,2878 Sire king, thi swevene mote falle; 1,2879 And natheles touchende of this 1,2880 I wol the tellen how it is, 1,2881 And what desese is to thee schape: 1,2882 God wot if thou it schalt ascape. 1,2883 The hihe tree, which thou hast sein 1,2884 With lef and fruit so wel besein, 1,2885 The which stod in the world amiddes, 1,2886 So that the bestes and the briddes 1,2887 Governed were of him al one, 1,2888 Sire king, betokneth thi persone, 1,2889 Which stant above all erthli thinges. 1,2890 Thus regnen under the the kinges, 1,2891 And al the poeple unto thee louteth, 1,2892 And al the world thi pouer doubteth, 1,2893 So that with vein honour deceived 1,2894 Thou hast the reverence weyved 1,2895 Fro him which is thi king above, 1,2896 That thou for drede ne for love 1,2897 Wolt nothing knowen of thi godd; 1,2898 Which now for thee hath mad a rodd, 1,2899 Thi veine gloire and thi folie 1,2900 With grete peines to chastie. 1,2901 And of the vois thou herdest speke, 1,2902 Which bad the bowes forto breke 1,2903 And hewe and felle doun the tree, 1,2904 That word belongeth unto thee; 1,2905 Thi regne schal ben overthrowe, 1,2906 And thou despuiled for a throwe: 1,2907 Bot that the Rote scholde stonde, 1,2908 Be that thou schalt wel understonde, 1,2909 Ther schal abyden of thi regne 1,2910 A time ayein whan thou schalt regne. 1,2911 And ek of that thou herdest seie, 1,2912 To take a mannes herte aweie 1,2913 And sette there a bestial, 1,2914 So that he lich an Oxe schal 1,2915 Pasture, and that he be bereined 1,2916 Be times sefne and sore peined, 1,2917 Til that he knowe his goddes mihtes, 1,2918 Than scholde he stonde ayein uprihtes,- 1,2919 Al this betokneth thin astat, 1,2920 Which now with god is in debat: 1,2921 Thi mannes forme schal be lassed, 1,2922 Til sevene yer ben overpassed, 1,2923 And in the liknesse of a beste 1,2924 Of gras schal be thi real feste, 1,2925 The weder schal upon thee reine. 1,2926 And understond that al this peine, 1,2927 Which thou schalt soffre thilke tide, 1,2928 Is schape al only for thi pride 1,2929 Of veine gloire, and of the sinne 1,2930 Which thou hast longe stonden inne. 1,2931 So upon this condicioun 1,2932 Thi swevene hath exposicioun. 1,2933 Bot er this thing befalle in dede, 1,2934 Amende thee, this wolde I rede: 1,2935 Yif and departe thin almesse, 1,2936 Do mercy forth with rihtwisnesse, 1,2937 Besech and prei the hihe grace, 1,2938 For so thou myht thi pes pourchace 1,2939 With godd, and stonde in good acord." 1,2940 Bot Pride is loth to leve his lord, 1,2941 And wol noght soffre humilite 1,2942 With him to stonde in no degree; 1,2943 And whan a schip hath lost his stiere, 1,2944 Is non so wys that mai him stiere 1,2945 Ayein the wawes in a rage. 1,2946 This proude king in his corage 1,2947 Humilite hath so forlore, 1,2948 That for no swevene he sih tofore, 1,2949 Ne yit for al that Daniel 1,2950 Him hath conseiled everydel, 1,2951 He let it passe out of his mynde, 1,2952 Thurgh veine gloire, and as the blinde, 1,2953 He seth no weie, er him be wo. 1,2954 And fell withinne a time so, 1,2955 As he in Babiloine wente, 1,2956 The vanite of Pride him hente; 1,2957 His herte aros of veine gloire, 1,2958 So that he drowh into memoire 1,2959 His lordschipe and his regalie 1,2960 With wordes of Surquiderie. 1,2961 And whan that he him most avaunteth, 1,2962 That lord which veine gloire daunteth, 1,2963 Al sodeinliche, as who seith treis, 1,2964 Wher that he stod in his Paleis, 1,2965 He tok him fro the mennes sihte: 1,2966 Was non of hem so war that mihte 1,2967 Sette yhe wher that he becom. 1,2968 And thus was he from his kingdom 1,2969 Into the wilde Forest drawe, 1,2970 Wher that the myhti goddes lawe 1,2971 Thurgh his pouer dede him transforme 1,2972 Fro man into a bestes forme; 1,2973 And lich an Oxe under the fot 1,2974 He graseth, as he nedes mot, 1,2975 To geten him his lives fode. 1,2976 Tho thoghte him colde grases goode, 1,2977 That whilom eet the hote spices, 1,2978 Thus was he torned fro delices: 1,2979 The wyn which he was wont to drinke 1,2980 He tok thanne of the welles brinke 1,2981 Or of the pet or of the slowh, 1,2982 It thoghte him thanne good ynowh: 1,2983 In stede of chambres wel arraied 1,2984 He was thanne of a buissh wel paied, 1,2985 The harde ground he lay upon, 1,2986 For othre pilwes hath he non; 1,2987 The stormes and the Reines falle, 1,2988 The wyndes blowe upon him alle, 1,2989 He was tormented day and nyht, 1,2990 Such was the hihe goddes myht, 1,2991 Til sevene yer an ende toke. 1,2992 Upon himself tho gan he loke; 1,2993 In stede of mete gras and stres, 1,2994 In stede of handes longe cles, 1,2995 In stede of man a bestes lyke 1,2996 He syh; and thanne he gan to syke 1,2997 For cloth of gold and for perrie, 1,2998 Which him was wont to magnefie. 1,2999 Whan he behield his Cote of heres, 1,3000 He wepte and with fulwoful teres 1,3001 Up to the hevene he caste his chiere 1,3002 Wepende, and thoghte in this manere; 1,3003 Thogh he no wordes myhte winne, 1,3004 Thus seide his herte and spak withinne: 1,3005 "O mihti godd, that al hast wroght 1,3006 And al myht bringe ayein to noght, 1,3007 Now knowe I wel, bot al of thee, 1,3008 This world hath no prosperite: 1,3009 In thin aspect ben alle liche, 1,3010 The povere man and ek the riche, 1,3011 Withoute thee ther mai no wight, 1,3012 And thou above alle othre miht. 1,3013 O mihti lord, toward my vice 1,3014 Thi merci medle with justice; 1,3015 And I woll make a covenant, 1,3016 That of my lif the remenant 1,3017 I schal it be thi grace amende, 1,3018 And in thi lawe so despende 1,3019 That veine gloire I schal eschuie, 1,3020 And bowe unto thin heste and suie 1,3021 Humilite, and that I vowe." 1,3022 And so thenkende he gan doun bowe, 1,3023 And thogh him lacke vois and speche, 1,3024 He gan up with his feet areche, 1,3025 And wailende in his bestly stevene 1,3026 He made his pleignte unto the hevene. 1,3027 He kneleth in his wise and braieth, 1,3028 To seche merci and assaieth 1,3029 His god, which made him nothing strange, 1,3030 Whan that he sih his pride change. 1,3031 Anon as he was humble and tame, 1,3032 He fond toward his god the same, 1,3033 And in a twinklinge of a lok 1,3034 His mannes forme ayein he tok, 1,3035 And was reformed to the regne 1,3036 In which that he was wont to regne; 1,3037 So that the Pride of veine gloire 1,3038 Evere afterward out of memoire 1,3039 He let it passe. And thus is schewed 1,3040 What is to ben of Pride unthewed 1,3041 Ayein the hihe goddes lawe, 1,3042 To whom noman mai be felawe. 1,3043 Forthi, my Sone, tak good hiede 1,3044 So forto lede thi manhiede, 1,3045 That thou ne be noght lich a beste. 1,3046 Bot if thi lif schal ben honeste, 1,3047 Thou most humblesce take on honde, 1,3048 For thanne myht thou siker stonde: 1,3049 And forto speke it otherwise, 1,3050 A proud man can no love assise; 1,3051 For thogh a womman wolde him plese, 1,3052 His Pride can noght ben at ese. 1,3053 Ther mai noman to mochel blame 1,3054 A vice which is forto blame; 1,3055 Forthi men scholde nothing hide 1,3056 That mihte falle in blame of Pride, 1,3057 Which is the werste vice of alle: 1,3058 Wherof, so as it was befalle, 1,3059 The tale I thenke of a Cronique 1,3060 To telle, if that it mai thee like, 1,3061 So that thou myht humblesce suie 1,3062 And ek the vice of Pride eschuie, 1,3063 Wherof the gloire is fals and vein; 1,3064 Which god himself hath in desdeign, 1,3065 That thogh it mounte for a throwe, 1,3066 It schal doun falle and overthrowe. 1,3067 A king whilom was yong and wys, 1,3068 The which sette of his wit gret pris. 1,3069 Of depe ymaginaciouns 1,3070 And strange interpretaciouns, 1,3071 Problemes and demandes eke, 1,3072 His wisdom was to finde and seke; 1,3073 Wherof he wolde in sondri wise 1,3074 Opposen hem that weren wise. 1,3075 Bot non of hem it myhte bere 1,3076 Upon his word to yeve answere, 1,3077 Outaken on, which was a knyht; 1,3078 To him was every thing so liht, 1,3079 That also sone as he hem herde, 1,3080 The kinges wordes he answerde; 1,3081 What thing the king him axe wolde, 1,3082 Therof anon the trowthe he tolde. 1,3083 The king somdiel hadde an Envie, 1,3084 And thoghte he wolde his wittes plie 1,3085 To sette som conclusioun, 1,3086 Which scholde be confusioun 1,3087 Unto this knyht, so that the name 1,3088 And of wisdom the hihe fame 1,3089 Toward himself he wolde winne. 1,3090 And thus of al his wit withinne 1,3091 This king began to studie and muse, 1,3092 What strange matiere he myhte use 1,3093 The knyhtes wittes to confounde; 1,3094 And ate laste he hath it founde, 1,3095 And for the knyht anon he sente, 1,3096 That he schal telle what he mente. 1,3097 Upon thre pointz stod the matiere 1,3098 Of questions, as thou schalt hiere. 1,3099 The ferste point of alle thre 1,3100 Was this: "What thing in his degre 1,3101 Of al this world hath nede lest, 1,3102 And yet men helpe it althermest?" 1,3103 The secounde is: "What most is worth, 1,3104 And of costage is lest put forth?" 1,3105 The thridde is: "Which is of most cost, 1,3106 And lest is worth and goth to lost?" 1,3107 The king thes thre demandes axeth, 1,3108 And to the knyht this lawe he taxeth, 1,3109 That he schal gon and come ayein 1,3110 The thridde weke, and telle him plein 1,3111 To every point, what it amonteth. 1,3112 And if so be that he misconteth, 1,3113 To make in his answere a faile, 1,3114 Ther schal non other thing availe, 1,3115 The king seith, bot he schal be ded 1,3116 And lese hise goodes and his hed. 1,3117 The knyht was sori of this thing 1,3118 And wolde excuse him to the king, 1,3119 Bot he ne wolde him noght forbere, 1,3120 And thus the knyht of his ansuere 1,3121 Goth hom to take avisement: 1,3122 Bot after his entendement 1,3123 The more he caste his wit aboute, 1,3124 The more he stant therof in doute. 1,3125 Tho wiste he wel the kinges herte, 1,3126 That he the deth ne scholde asterte, 1,3127 And such a sorwe hath to him take, 1,3128 That gladschipe he hath al forsake. 1,3129 He thoghte ferst upon his lif, 1,3130 And after that upon his wif, 1,3131 Upon his children ek also, 1,3132 Of whiche he hadde dowhtres tuo; 1,3133 The yongest of hem hadde of age 1,3134 Fourtiene yer, and of visage 1,3135 Sche was riht fair, and of stature 1,3136 Lich to an hevenely figure, 1,3137 And of manere and goodli speche, 1,3138 Thogh men wolde alle Londes seche, 1,3139 Thei scholden noght have founde hir like. 1,3140 Sche sih hire fader sorwe and sike, 1,3141 And wiste noght the cause why; 1,3142 So cam sche to him prively, 1,3143 And that was where he made his mone 1,3144 Withinne a Gardin al him one; 1,3145 Upon hire knes sche gan doun falle 1,3146 With humble herte and to him calle, 1,3147 And seide: "O goode fader diere, 1,3148 Why make ye thus hevy chiere, 1,3149 And I wot nothing how it is? 1,3150 And wel ye knowen, fader, this, 1,3151 What aventure that you felle 1,3152 Ye myhte it saufly to me telle, 1,3153 For I have ofte herd you seid, 1,3154 That ye such trust have on me leid, 1,3155 That to my soster ne my brother, 1,3156 In al this world ne to non other, 1,3157 Ye dorste telle a privite 1,3158 So wel, my fader, as to me. 1,3159 Forthi, my fader, I you preie, 1,3160 Ne casteth noght that herte aweie, 1,3161 For I am sche that wolde kepe 1,3162 Youre honour." And with that to wepe 1,3163 Hire yhe mai noght be forbore, 1,3164 Sche wissheth forto ben unbore, 1,3165 Er that hire fader so mistriste 1,3166 To tellen hire of that he wiste: 1,3167 And evere among merci sche cride, 1,3168 That he ne scholde his conseil hide 1,3169 From hire that so wolde him good 1,3170 And was so nyh his fleissh and blod. 1,3171 So that with wepinge ate laste 1,3172 His chiere upon his child he caste, 1,3173 And sorwfulli to that sche preide 1,3174 He tolde his tale and thus he seide: 1,3175 "The sorwe, dowhter, which I make 1,3176 Is noght al only for my sake, 1,3177 Bot for thee bothe and for you alle: 1,3178 For such a chance is me befalle, 1,3179 That I schal er this thridde day 1,3180 Lese al that evere I lese may, 1,3181 Mi lif and al my good therto: 1,3182 Therfore it is I sorwe so." 1,3183 "What is the cause, helas]" quod sche, 1,3184 "Mi fader, that ye scholden be 1,3185 Ded and destruid in such a wise?" 1,3186 And he began the pointz devise, 1,3187 Whiche as the king told him be mowthe, 1,3188 And seid hir pleinly that he cowthe 1,3189 Ansuere unto no point of this. 1,3190 And sche, that hiereth how it is, 1,3191 Hire conseil yaf and seide tho: 1,3192 "Mi fader, sithen it is so, 1,3193 That ye can se non other weie, 1,3194 Bot that ye moste nedes deie, 1,3195 I wolde preie of you a thing: 1,3196 Let me go with you to the king, 1,3197 And ye schull make him understonde 1,3198 How ye, my wittes forto fonde, 1,3199 Have leid your ansuere upon me; 1,3200 And telleth him, in such degre 1,3201 Upon my word ye wole abide 1,3202 To lif or deth, what so betide. 1,3203 For yit par chaunce I may pourchace 1,3204 With som good word the kinges grace, 1,3205 Your lif and ek your good to save; 1,3206 For ofte schal a womman have 1,3207 Thing which a man mai noght areche." 1,3208 The fader herde his dowhter speche, 1,3209 And thoghte ther was resoun inne, 1,3210 And sih his oghne lif to winne 1,3211 He cowthe don himself no cure; 1,3212 So betre him thoghte in aventure 1,3213 To put his lif and al his good, 1,3214 Than in the maner as it stod 1,3215 His lif in certein forto lese. 1,3216 And thus thenkende he gan to chese 1,3217 To do the conseil of this Maide, 1,3218 And tok the pourpos which sche saide. 1,3219 The dai was come and forth thei gon, 1,3220 Unto the Court thei come anon, 1,3221 Wher as the king in juggement 1,3222 Was set and hath this knyht assent. 1,3223 Arraied in hire beste wise 1,3224 This Maiden with hire wordes wise 1,3225 Hire fader ladde be the hond 1,3226 Into the place, wher he fond 1,3227 The king with othre whiche he wolde, 1,3228 And to the king knelende he tolde 1,3229 As he enformed was tofore, 1,3230 And preith the king that he therfore 1,3231 His dowhtres wordes wolde take, 1,3232 And seith that he wol undertake 1,3233 Upon hire wordes forto stonde. 1,3234 Tho was ther gret merveile on honde, 1,3235 That he, which was so wys a knyht, 1,3236 His lif upon so yong a wyht 1,3237 Besette wolde in jeupartie, 1,3238 And manye it hielden for folie: 1,3239 Bot ate laste natheles 1,3240 The king comandeth ben in pes, 1,3241 And to this Maide he caste his chiere, 1,3242 And seide he wolde hire tale hiere, 1,3243 He bad hire speke, and sche began: 1,3244 "Mi liege lord, so as I can," 1,3245 Quod sche, "the pointz of whiche I herde, 1,3246 Thei schul of reson ben ansuerde. 1,3247 The ferste I understonde is this, 1,3248 What thing of al the world it is, 1,3249 Which men most helpe and hath lest nede. 1,3250 Mi liege lord, this wolde I rede: 1,3251 The Erthe it is, which everemo 1,3252 With mannes labour is bego; 1,3253 Als wel in wynter as in Maii 1,3254 The mannes hond doth what he mai 1,3255 To helpe it forth and make it riche, 1,3256 And forthi men it delve and dyche 1,3257 And eren it with strengthe of plowh, 1,3258 Wher it hath of himself ynowh, 1,3259 So that his nede is ate leste. 1,3260 For every man and bridd and beste, 1,3261 And flour and gras and rote and rinde, 1,3262 And every thing be weie of kynde 1,3263 Schal sterve, and Erthe it schal become; 1,3264 As it was out of Erthe nome, 1,3265 It schal to therthe torne ayein: 1,3266 And thus I mai be resoun sein 1,3267 That Erthe is the most nedeles, 1,3268 And most men helpe it natheles. 1,3269 So that, my lord, touchende of this 1,3270 I have ansuerd hou that it is. 1,3271 That other point I understod, 1,3272 Which most is worth and most is good, 1,3273 And costeth lest a man to kepe: 1,3274 Mi lord, if ye woll take kepe, 1,3275 I seie it is Humilite, 1,3276 Thurgh which the hihe trinite 1,3277 As for decerte of pure love 1,3278 Unto Marie from above, 1,3279 Of that he knew hire humble entente, 1,3280 His oghne Sone adoun he sente, 1,3281 Above alle othre and hire he ches 1,3282 For that vertu which bodeth pes: 1,3283 So that I may be resoun calle 1,3284 Humilite most worth of alle. 1,3285 And lest it costeth to maintiene, 1,3286 In al the world as it is sene; 1,3287 For who that hath humblesce on honde, 1,3288 He bringth no werres into londe, 1,3289 For he desireth for the beste 1,3290 To setten every man in reste. 1,3291 Thus with your hihe reverence 1,3292 Me thenketh that this evidence 1,3293 As to this point is sufficant. 1,3294 And touchende of the remenant, 1,3295 Which is the thridde of youre axinges, 1,3296 What leste is worth of alle thinges, 1,3297 And costeth most, I telle it, Pride; 1,3298 Which mai noght in the hevene abide, 1,3299 For Lucifer with hem that felle 1,3300 Bar Pride with him into helle. 1,3301 Ther was Pride of to gret a cost, 1,3302 Whan he for Pride hath hevene lost; 1,3303 And after that in Paradis 1,3304 Adam for Pride loste his pris: 1,3305 In Midelerthe and ek also 1,3306 Pride is the cause of alle wo, 1,3307 That al the world ne may suffise 1,3308 To stanche of Pride the reprise: 1,3309 Pride is the heved of alle Sinne, 1,3310 Which wasteth al and mai noght winne; 1,3311 Pride is of every mis the pricke, 1,3312 Pride is the werste of alle wicke, 1,3313 And costneth most and lest is worth 1,3314 In place where he hath his forth. 1,3315 Thus have I seid that I wol seie 1,3316 Of myn answere, and to you preie, 1,3317 Mi liege lord, of youre office 1,3318 That ye such grace and such justice 1,3319 Ordeigne for mi fader hiere, 1,3320 That after this, whan men it hiere, 1,3321 The world therof mai speke good." 1,3322 The king, which reson understod 1,3323 And hath al herd how sche hath said, 1,3324 Was inly glad and so wel paid 1,3325 That al his wraththe is overgo: 1,3326 And he began to loke tho 1,3327 Upon this Maiden in the face, 1,3328 In which he fond so mochel grace, 1,3329 That al his pris on hire he leide, 1,3330 In audience and thus he seide: 1,3331 "Mi faire Maide, wel thee be] 1,3332 Of thin ansuere and ek of thee 1,3333 Me liketh wel, and as thou wilt, 1,3334 Foryive be thi fader gilt. 1,3335 And if thou were of such lignage, 1,3336 That thou to me were of parage, 1,3337 And that thi fader were a Pier, 1,3338 As he is now a Bachilier, 1,3339 So seker as I have a lif, 1,3340 Thou scholdest thanne be my wif. 1,3341 Bot this I seie natheles, 1,3342 That I wol schape thin encress; 1,3343 What worldes good that thou wolt crave, 1,3344 Axe of my yifte and thou schalt have." 1,3345 And sche the king with wordes wise 1,3346 Knelende thonketh in this wise: 1,3347 "Mi liege lord, god mot you quite] 1,3348 Mi fader hier hath bot a lite 1,3349 Of warison, and that he wende 1,3350 Hadde al be lost; bot now amende 1,3351 He mai wel thurgh your noble grace." 1,3352 With that the king riht in his place 1,3353 Anon forth in that freisshe hete 1,3354 An Erldom, which thanne of eschete 1,3355 Was late falle into his hond, 1,3356 Unto this knyht with rente and lond 1,3357 Hath yove and with his chartre sesed; 1,3358 And thus was all the noise appesed. 1,3359 This Maiden, which sat on hire knes 1,3360 Tofore the king, hise charitees 1,3361 Comendeth, and seide overmore: 1,3362 "Mi liege lord, riht now tofore 1,3363 Ye seide, as it is of record, 1,3364 That if my fader were a lord 1,3365 And Pier unto these othre grete, 1,3366 Ye wolden for noght elles lete, 1,3367 That I ne scholde be your wif; 1,3368 And this wot every worthi lif, 1,3369 A kinges word it mot ben holde. 1,3370 Forthi, my lord, if that ye wolde 1,3371 So gret a charite fulfille, 1,3372 God wot it were wel my wille: 1,3373 For he which was a Bacheler, 1,3374 Mi fader, is now mad a Pier; 1,3375 So whenne as evere that I cam, 1,3376 An Erles dowhter now I am." 1,3377 This yonge king, which peised al, 1,3378 Hire beaute and hir wit withal, 1,3379 As he that was with love hent, 1,3380 Anon therto yaf his assent. 1,3381 He myhte noght the maide asterte, 1,3382 That sche nis ladi of his herte; 1,3383 So that he tok hire to his wif, 1,3384 To holde whyl that he hath lif: 1,3385 And thus the king toward his knyht 1,3386 Acordeth him, as it is riht. 1,3387 And over this good is to wite, 1,3388 In the Cronique as it is write, 1,3389 This noble king of whom I tolde 1,3390 Of Spaine be tho daies olde 1,3391 The kingdom hadde in governance, 1,3392 And as the bok makth remembrance, 1,3393 Alphonse was his propre name: 1,3394 The knyht also, if I schal name, 1,3395 Danz Petro hihte, and as men telle, 1,3396 His dowhter wyse Peronelle 1,3397 Was cleped, which was full of grace: 1,3398 And that was sene in thilke place, 1,3399 Wher sche hir fader out of teene 1,3400 Hath broght and mad hirself a qweene, 1,3401 Of that sche hath so wel desclosed 1,3402 The pointz wherof sche was opposed. 1,3403 Lo now, my Sone, as thou myht hiere, 1,3404 Of al this thing to my matiere 1,3405 Bot on I take, and that is Pride, 1,3406 To whom no grace mai betide: 1,3407 In hevene he fell out of his stede, 1,3408 And Paradis him was forbede, 1,3409 The goode men in Erthe him hate, 1,3410 So that to helle he mot algate, 1,3411 Where every vertu schal be weyved 1,3412 And every vice be received. 1,3413 Bot Humblesce is al otherwise, 1,3414 Which most is worth, and no reprise 1,3415 It takth ayein, bot softe and faire, 1,3416 If eny thing stond in contraire, 1,3417 With humble speche it is redresced: 1,3418 Thus was this yonge Maiden blessed, 1,3419 The which I spak of now tofore, 1,3420 Hire fader lif sche gat therfore, 1,3421 And wan with al the kinges love. 1,3422 Forthi, my Sone, if thou wolt love, 1,3423 It sit thee wel to leve Pride 1,3424 And take Humblesce upon thi side; 1,3425 The more of grace thou schalt gete. 1,3426 Mi fader, I woll noght foryete 1,3427 Of this that ye have told me hiere, 1,3428 And if that eny such manere 1,3429 Of humble port mai love appaie, 1,3430 Hierafterward I thenke assaie: 1,3431 Bot now forth over I beseche 1,3432 That ye more of my schrifte seche. 1,3433 Mi goode Sone, it schal be do: 1,3434 Now herkne and ley an Ere to; 1,3435 For as touchende of Prides fare, 1,3436 Als ferforth as I can declare 1,3437 In cause of vice, in cause of love, 1,3438 That hast thou pleinly herd above, 1,3439 So that ther is nomor to seie 1,3440 Touchende of that; bot other weie 1,3441 Touchende Envie I thenke telle, 1,3442 Which hath the propre kinde of helle, 1,3443 Withoute cause to misdo 1,3444 Toward himself and othre also, 1,3445 Hierafterward as understonde 1,3446 Thou schalt the spieces, as thei stonde. 2, 1 Now after Pride the secounde 2, 2 Ther is, which many a woful stounde 2, 3 Towardes othre berth aboute 2, 4 Withinne himself and noght withoute; 2, 5 For in his thoght he brenneth evere, 2, 6 Whan that he wot an other levere 2, 7 Or more vertuous than he, 2, 8 Which passeth him in his degre; 2, 9 Therof he takth his maladie: 2, 10 That vice is cleped hot Envie. 2, 11 Forthi, my Sone, if it be so 2, 12 Thou art or hast ben on of tho, 2, 13 As forto speke in loves cas, 2, 14 If evere yit thin herte was 2, 15 Sek of an other mannes hele? 2, 16 So god avance my querele, 2, 17 Mi fader, ye, a thousend sithe: 2, 18 Whanne I have sen an other blithe 2, 19 Of love, and hadde a goodly chiere, 2, 20 Ethna, which brenneth yer be yere, 2, 21 Was thanne noght so hot as I 2, 22 Of thilke Sor which prively 2, 23 Min hertes thoght withinne brenneth. 2, 24 The Schip which on the wawes renneth, 2, 25 And is forstormed and forblowe, 2, 26 Is noght more peined for a throwe 2, 27 Than I am thanne, whanne I se 2, 28 An other which that passeth me 2, 29 In that fortune of loves yifte. 2, 30 Bot, fader, this I telle in schrifte, 2, 31 That is nowher bot in o place; 2, 32 For who that lese or finde grace 2, 33 In other stede, it mai noght grieve: 2, 34 Bot this ye mai riht wel believe, 2, 35 Toward mi ladi that I serve, 2, 36 Thogh that I wiste forto sterve, 2, 37 Min herte is full of such sotie, 2, 38 That I myself mai noght chastie. 2, 39 Whan I the Court se of Cupide 2, 40 Aproche unto my ladi side 2, 41 Of hem that lusti ben and freisshe,- 2, 42 Thogh it availe hem noght a reisshe, 2, 43 Bot only that thei ben in speche,- 2, 44 My sorwe is thanne noght to seche: 2, 45 Bot whan thei rounen in hire Ere, 2, 46 Than groweth al my moste fere, 2, 47 And namly whan thei talen longe; 2, 48 My sorwes thanne be so stronge 2, 49 Of that I se hem wel at ese, 2, 50 I can noght telle my desese. 2, 51 Bot, Sire, as of my ladi selve, 2, 52 Thogh sche have wowers ten or twelve, 2, 53 For no mistrust I have of hire 2, 54 Me grieveth noght, for certes, Sire, 2, 55 I trowe, in al this world to seche, 2, 56 Nis womman that in dede and speche 2, 57 Woll betre avise hire what sche doth, 2, 58 Ne betre, forto seie a soth, 2, 59 Kepe hire honour ate alle tide, 2, 60 And yit get hire a thank beside. 2, 61 Bot natheles I am beknowe, 2, 62 That whanne I se at eny throwe, 2, 63 Or elles if I mai it hiere, 2, 64 That sche make eny man good chiere, 2, 65 Thogh I therof have noght to done, 2, 66 Mi thought wol entermette him sone. 2, 67 For thogh I be miselve strange, 2, 68 Envie makth myn herte change, 2, 69 That I am sorghfully bestad 2, 70 Of that I se an other glad 2, 71 With hire; bot of other alle, 2, 72 Of love what so mai befalle, 2, 73 Or that he faile or that he spede, 2, 74 Therof take I bot litel heede. 2, 75 Now have I seid, my fader, al 2, 76 As of this point in special, 2, 77 Als ferforthli as I have wist. 2, 78 Now axeth further what you list. 2, 79 Mi Sone, er I axe eny more, 2, 80 I thenke somdiel for thi lore 2, 81 Telle an ensample of this matiere 2, 82 Touchende Envie, as thou schalt hiere. 2, 83 Write in Civile this I finde: 2, 84 Thogh it be noght the houndes kinde 2, 85 To ete chaf, yit wol he werne 2, 86 An Oxe which comth to the berne, 2, 87 Therof to taken eny fode. 2, 88 And thus, who that it understode, 2, 89 It stant of love in many place: 2, 90 Who that is out of loves grace 2, 91 And mai himselven noght availe, 2, 92 He wolde an other scholde faile; 2, 93 And if he may put eny lette, 2, 94 He doth al that he mai to lette. 2, 95 Wherof I finde, as thou schalt wite, 2, 96 To this pourpos a tale write. 2, 97 Ther ben of suche mo than twelve, 2, 98 That ben noght able as of hemselve 2, 99 To gete love, and for Envie 2, 100 Upon alle othre thei aspie; 2, 101 And for hem lacketh that thei wolde, 2, 102 Thei kepte that non other scholde 2, 103 Touchende of love his cause spede: 2, 104 Wherof a gret ensample I rede, 2, 105 Which unto this matiere acordeth, 2, 106 As Ovide in his bok recordeth, 2, 107 How Poliphemus whilom wroghte, 2, 108 Whan that he Galathee besoghte 2, 109 Of love, which he mai noght lacche. 2, 110 That made him forto waite and wacche 2, 111 Be alle weies how it ferde, 2, 112 Til ate laste he knew and herde 2, 113 How that an other hadde leve 2, 114 To love there as he mot leve, 2, 115 As forto speke of eny sped: 2, 116 So that he knew non other red, 2, 117 Bot forto wayten upon alle, 2, 118 Til he may se the chance falle 2, 119 That he hire love myhte grieve, 2, 120 Which he himself mai noght achieve. 2, 121 This Galathee, seith the Poete, 2, 122 Above alle othre was unmete 2, 123 Of beaute, that men thanne knewe, 2, 124 And hadde a lusti love and trewe, 2, 125 A Bacheler in his degree, 2, 126 Riht such an other as was sche, 2, 127 On whom sche hath hire herte set, 2, 128 So that it myhte noght be let 2, 129 For yifte ne for no beheste, 2, 130 That sche ne was al at his heste. 2, 131 This yonge knyht Acis was hote, 2, 132 Which hire ayeinward als so hote 2, 133 Al only loveth and nomo. 2, 134 Hierof was Poliphemus wo 2, 135 Thurgh pure Envie, and evere aspide, 2, 136 And waiteth upon every side, 2, 137 Whan he togedre myhte se 2, 138 This yonge Acis with Galathe. 2, 139 So longe he waiteth to and fro, 2, 140 Til ate laste he fond hem tuo, 2, 141 In prive place wher thei stode 2, 142 To speke and have here wordes goode. 2, 143 The place wher as he hem syh, 2, 144 It was under a banke nyh 2, 145 The grete See, and he above 2, 146 Stod and behield the lusti love 2, 147 Which ech of hem to other made 2, 148 With goodly chiere and wordes glade, 2, 149 That al his herte hath set afyre 2, 150 Of pure Envie: and as a fyre 2, 151 Which fleth out of a myhti bowe, 2, 152 Aweie he fledde for a throwe, 2, 153 As he that was for love wod, 2, 154 Whan that he sih how that it stod. 2, 155 This Polipheme a Geant was; 2, 156 And whan he sih the sothe cas, 2, 157 How Galathee him hath forsake 2, 158 And Acis to hire love take, 2, 159 His herte mai it noght forbere 2, 160 That he ne roreth lich a Bere; 2, 161 And as it were a wilde beste, 2, 162 The whom no reson mihte areste, 2, 163 He ran Ethna the hell aboute, 2, 164 Wher nevere yit the fyr was oute, 2, 165 Fulfild of sorghe and gret desese, 2, 166 That he syh Acis wel at ese. 2, 167 Til ate laste he him bethoghte, 2, 168 As he which al Envie soghte, 2, 169 And torneth to the banke ayein, 2, 170 Wher he with Galathee hath seyn 2, 171 Acis, whom that he thoghte grieve, 2, 172 Thogh he himself mai noght relieve. 2, 173 This Geant with his ruide myht 2, 174 Part of the banke he schof doun riht, 2, 175 The which evene upon Acis fell, 2, 176 So that with fallinge of this hell 2, 177 This Poliphemus Acis slowh, 2, 178 Wherof sche made sorwe ynowh. 2, 179 And as sche fledde fro the londe, 2, 180 Neptunus tok hire into honde 2, 181 And kept hire in so sauf a place 2, 182 Fro Polipheme and his manace, 2, 183 That he with al his false Envie 2, 184 Ne mihte atteigne hir compaignie. 2, 185 This Galathee of whom I speke, 2, 186 That of hirself mai noght be wreke, 2, 187 Withouten eny semblant feigned 2, 188 Sche hath hire loves deth compleigned, 2, 189 And with hire sorwe and with hire wo 2, 190 Sche hath the goddes moeved so, 2, 191 That thei of pite and of grace 2, 192 Have Acis in the same place, 2, 193 Ther he lai ded, into a welle 2, 194 Transformed, as the bokes telle, 2, 195 With freisshe stremes and with cliere, 2, 196 As he whilom with lusti chiere 2, 197 Was freissh his love forto qweme. 2, 198 And with this ruide Polipheme 2, 199 For his Envie and for his hate 2, 200 Thei were wrothe. And thus algate, 2, 201 Mi Sone, thou myht understonde, 2, 202 That if thou wolt in grace stonde 2, 203 With love, thou most leve Envie: 2, 204 And as thou wolt for thi partie 2, 205 Toward thi love stonde fre, 2, 206 So most thou soffre an other be, 2, 207 What so befalle upon the chaunce: 2, 208 For it is an unwys vengance, 2, 209 Which to non other man is lief, 2, 210 And is unto himselve grief. 2, 211 Mi fader, this ensample is good; 2, 212 Bot how so evere that it stod 2, 213 With Poliphemes love as tho, 2, 214 It schal noght stonde with me so, 2, 215 To worchen eny felonie 2, 216 In love for no such Envie. 2, 217 Forthi if ther oght elles be, 2, 218 Now axeth forth, in what degre 2, 219 It is, and I me schal confesse 2, 220 With schrifte unto youre holinesse. 2, 221 Mi goode Sone, yit ther is 2, 222 A vice revers unto this, 2, 223 Which envious takth his gladnesse 2, 224 Of that he seth the hevinesse 2, 225 Of othre men: for his welfare 2, 226 Is whanne he wot an other care: 2, 227 Of that an other hath a fall, 2, 228 He thenkth himself arist withal. 2, 229 Such is the gladschipe of Envie 2, 230 In worldes thing, and in partie 2, 231 Fulofte times ek also 2, 232 In loves cause it stant riht so. 2, 233 If thou, my Sone, hast joie had, 2, 234 Whan thou an other sihe unglad, 2, 235 Schrif the therof. Mi fader, yis: 2, 236 I am beknowe unto you this. 2, 237 Of these lovers that loven streyte, 2, 238 And for that point which thei coveite 2, 239 Ben poursuiantz fro yeer to yere 2, 240 In loves Court, whan I may hiere 2, 241 How that thei clymbe upon the whel, 2, 242 And whan thei wene al schal be wel, 2, 243 Thei ben doun throwen ate laste, 2, 244 Thanne am I fedd of that thei faste, 2, 245 And lawhe of that I se hem loure; 2, 246 And thus of that thei brewe soure 2, 247 I drinke swete, and am wel esed 2, 248 Of that I wot thei ben desesed. 2, 249 Bot this which I you telle hiere 2, 250 Is only for my lady diere; 2, 251 That for non other that I knowe 2, 252 Me reccheth noght who overthrowe, 2, 253 Ne who that stonde in love upriht: 2, 254 Bot be he squier, be he knyht, 2, 255 Which to my ladiward poursuieth, 2, 256 The more he lest of that he suieth, 2, 257 The mor me thenketh that I winne, 2, 258 And am the more glad withinne 2, 259 Of that I wot him sorwe endure. 2, 260 For evere upon such aventure 2, 261 It is a confort, as men sein, 2, 262 To him the which is wo besein 2, 263 To sen an other in his peine, 2, 264 So that thei bothe mai compleigne. 2, 265 Wher I miself mai noght availe 2, 266 To sen an other man travaile, 2, 267 I am riht glad if he be let; 2, 268 And thogh I fare noght the bet, 2, 269 His sorwe is to myn herte a game: 2, 270 Whan that I knowe it is the same 2, 271 Which to mi ladi stant enclined, 2, 272 And hath his love noght termined, 2, 273 I am riht joifull in my thoght. 2, 274 If such Envie grieveth oght, 2, 275 As I beknowe me coupable, 2, 276 Ye that be wys and resonable, 2, 277 Mi fader, telleth youre avis. 2, 278 Mi Sone, Envie into no pris 2, 279 Of such a forme, I understonde, 2, 280 Ne mihte be no resoun stonde 2, 281 For this Envie hath such a kinde, 2, 282 That he wole sette himself behinde 2, 283 To hindre with an othre wyht, 2, 284 And gladly lese his oghne riht 2, 285 To make an other lesen his. 2, 286 And forto knowe how it so is, 2, 287 A tale lich to this matiere 2, 288 I thenke telle, if thou wolt hiere, 2, 289 To schewe proprely the vice 2, 290 Of this Envie and the malice. 2, 291 Of Jupiter this finde I write, 2, 292 How whilom that he wolde wite 2, 293 Upon the pleigntes whiche he herde, 2, 294 Among the men how that it ferde, 2, 295 As of here wrong condicion 2, 296 To do justificacion: 2, 297 And for that cause doun he sente 2, 298 An Angel, which about wente, 2, 299 That he the sothe knowe mai. 2, 300 So it befell upon a dai 2, 301 This Angel, which him scholde enforme, 2, 302 Was clothed in a mannes forme, 2, 303 And overtok, I understonde, 2, 304 Tuo men that wenten over londe, 2, 305 Thurgh whiche he thoghte to aspie 2, 306 His cause, and goth in compaignie. 2, 307 This Angel with hise wordes wise 2, 308 Opposeth hem in sondri wise, 2, 309 Now lowde wordes and now softe, 2, 310 That mad hem to desputen ofte, 2, 311 And ech of hem his reson hadde. 2, 312 And thus with tales he hem ladde 2, 313 With good examinacioun, 2, 314 Til he knew the condicioun, 2, 315 What men thei were bothe tuo; 2, 316 And sih wel ate laste tho, 2, 317 That on of hem was coveitous, 2, 318 And his fela was envious. 2, 319 And thus, whan he hath knowlechinge, 2, 320 Anon he feigneth departinge, 2, 321 And seide he mot algate wende. 2, 322 Bot herkne now what fell at ende: 2, 323 For thanne he made hem understonde 2, 324 That he was there of goddes sonde, 2, 325 And seide hem, for the kindeschipe 2, 326 That thei have don him felaschipe, 2, 327 He wole hem do som grace ayein, 2, 328 And bad that on of hem schal sein 2, 329 What thing him is lievest to crave, 2, 330 And he it schal of yifte have; 2, 331 And over that ek forth withal 2, 332 He seith that other have schal 2, 333 The double of that his felaw axeth; 2, 334 And thus to hem his grace he taxeth. 2, 335 The coveitous was wonder glad, 2, 336 And to that other man he bad 2, 337 And seith that he ferst axe scholde: 2, 338 For he supposeth that he wolde 2, 339 Make his axinge of worldes good; 2, 340 For thanne he knew wel how it stod, 2, 341 That he himself be double weyhte 2, 342 Schal after take, and thus be sleyhte, 2, 343 Be cause that he wolde winne, 2, 344 He bad his fela ferst beginne. 2, 345 This Envious, thogh it be late, 2, 346 Whan that he syh he mot algate 2, 347 Make his axinge ferst, he thoghte, 2, 348 If he worschipe or profit soghte, 2, 349 It schal be doubled to his fiere: 2, 350 That wolde he chese in no manere. 2, 351 Bot thanne he scheweth what he was 2, 352 Toward Envie, and in this cas 2, 353 Unto this Angel thus he seide 2, 354 And for his yifte this he preide, 2, 355 To make him blind of his on yhe, 2, 356 So that his fela nothing syhe. 2, 357 This word was noght so sone spoke, 2, 358 That his on yhe anon was loke, 2, 359 And his felawh forthwith also 2, 360 Was blind of bothe his yhen tuo. 2, 361 Tho was that other glad ynowh, 2, 362 That on wepte, and that other lowh, 2, 363 He sette his on yhe at no cost, 2, 364 Wherof that other two hath lost. 2, 365 Of thilke ensample which fell tho, 2, 366 Men tellen now fulofte so, 2, 367 The world empeireth comunly: 2, 368 And yit wot non the cause why; 2, 369 For it acordeth noght to kinde 2, 370 Min oghne harm to seche and finde 2, 371 Of that I schal my brother grieve; 2, 372 It myhte nevere wel achieve. 2, 373 What seist thou, Sone, of this folie? 2, 374 Mi fader, bot I scholde lie, 2, 375 Upon the point which ye have seid 2, 376 Yit was myn herte nevere leid, 2, 377 Bot in the wise as I you tolde. 2, 378 Bot overmore, if that ye wolde 2, 379 Oght elles to my schrifte seie 2, 380 Touchende Envie, I wolde preie. 2, 381 Mi Sone, that schal wel be do: 2, 382 Now herkne and ley thin Ere to. 2, 383 Touchende as of Envious brod 2, 384 I wot noght on of alle good; 2, 385 Bot natheles, suche as thei be, 2, 386 Yit is ther on, and that is he 2, 387 Which cleped in Detraccioun. 2, 388 And to conferme his accioun, 2, 389 He hath withholde Malebouche, 2, 390 Whos tunge neither pyl ne crouche 2, 391 Mai hyre, so that he pronounce 2, 392 A plein good word withoute frounce 2, 393 Awher behinde a mannes bak. 2, 394 For thogh he preise, he fint som lak, 2, 395 Which of his tale is ay the laste, 2, 396 That al the pris schal overcaste: 2, 397 And thogh ther be no cause why, 2, 398 Yit wole he jangle noght forthi, 2, 399 As he which hath the heraldie 2, 400 Of hem that usen forto lye. 2, 401 For as the Netle which up renneth 2, 402 The freisshe rede Roses brenneth 2, 403 And makth hem fade and pale of hewe, 2, 404 Riht so this fals Envious hewe, 2, 405 In every place wher he duelleth, 2, 406 With false wordes whiche he telleth 2, 407 He torneth preisinge into blame 2, 408 And worschipe into worldes schame. 2, 409 Of such lesinge as he compasseth, 2, 410 Is non so good that he ne passeth 2, 411 Betwen his teeth and is bacbited, 2, 412 And thurgh his false tunge endited: 2, 413 Lich to the Scharnebudes kinde, 2, 414 Of whos nature this I finde, 2, 415 That in the hoteste of the dai, 2, 416 Whan comen is the merie Maii, 2, 417 He sprat his wynge and up he fleth: 2, 418 And under al aboute he seth 2, 419 The faire lusti floures springe, 2, 420 Bot therof hath he no likinge; 2, 421 Bot where he seth of eny beste 2, 422 The felthe, ther he makth his feste, 2, 423 And therupon he wole alyhte, 2, 424 Ther liketh him non other sihte. 2, 425 Riht so this janglere Envious, 2, 426 Thogh he a man se vertuous 2, 427 And full of good condicioun, 2, 428 Therof makth he no mencioun: 2, 429 Bot elles, be it noght so lyte, 2, 430 Wherof that he mai sette a wyte, 2, 431 Ther renneth he with open mouth, 2, 432 Behinde a man and makth it couth. 2, 433 Bot al the vertu which he can, 2, 434 That wole he hide of every man, 2, 435 And openly the vice telle, 2, 436 As he which of the Scole of helle 2, 437 Is tawht, and fostred with Envie 2, 438 Of houshold and of compaignie, 2, 439 Wher that he hath his propre office 2, 440 To sette on every man a vice. 2, 441 How so his mouth be comely, 2, 442 His word sit evermore awry 2, 443 And seith the worste that he may. 2, 444 And in this wise now a day 2, 445 In loves Court a man mai hiere 2, 446 Fulofte pleigne of this matiere, 2, 447 That many envious tale is stered, 2, 448 Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered; 2, 449 Bot yit fulofte it is believed, 2, 450 And many a worthi love is grieved 2, 451 Thurgh bacbitinge of fals Envie. 2, 452 If thou have mad such janglerie 2, 453 In loves Court, mi Sone, er this, 2, 454 Schrif thee therof. Mi fader, yis: 2, 455 Bot wite ye how? noght openly, 2, 456 Bot otherwhile prively, 2, 457 Whan I my diere ladi mete, 2, 458 And thenke how that I am noght mete 2, 459 Unto hire hihe worthinesse, 2, 460 And ek I se the besinesse 2, 461 Of al this yonge lusty route, 2, 462 Whiche alday pressen hire aboute, 2, 463 And ech of hem his time awaiteth, 2, 464 And ech of hem his tale affaiteth, 2, 465 Al to deceive an innocent, 2, 466 Which woll noght ben of here assent; 2, 467 And for men sein unknowe unkest, 2, 468 Hire thombe sche holt in hire fest 2, 469 So clos withinne hire oghne hond, 2, 470 That there winneth noman lond; 2, 471 Sche lieveth noght al that sche hiereth, 2, 472 And thus fulofte hirself sche skiereth 2, 473 And is al war of "hadde I wist":- 2, 474 Bot for al that myn herte arist, 2, 475 Whanne I thes comun lovers se, 2, 476 That woll noght holden hem to thre, 2, 477 Bot welnyh loven overal, 2, 478 Min herte is Envious withal, 2, 479 And evere I am adrad of guile, 2, 480 In aunter if with eny wyle 2, 481 Thei mihte hire innocence enchaunte. 2, 482 Forthi my wordes ofte I haunte 2, 483 Behynden hem, so as I dar, 2, 484 Wherof my ladi may be war: 2, 485 I sai what evere comth to mowthe, 2, 486 And worse I wolde, if that I cowthe; 2, 487 For whanne I come unto hir speche, 2, 488 Al that I may enquere and seche 2, 489 Of such deceipte, I telle it al, 2, 490 And ay the werste in special. 2, 491 So fayn I wolde that sche wiste 2, 492 How litel thei ben forto triste, 2, 493 And what thei wolde and what thei mente, 2, 494 So as thei be of double entente: 2, 495 Thus toward hem that wicke mene 2, 496 My wicked word was evere grene. 2, 497 And natheles, the soth to telle, 2, 498 In certain if it so befelle 2, 499 That althertrewest man ybore, 2, 500 To chese among a thousend score, 2, 501 Which were alfulli forto triste, 2, 502 Mi ladi lovede, and I it wiste, 2, 503 Yit rathere thanne he scholde spede, 2, 504 I wolde swiche tales sprede 2, 505 To my ladi, if that I myhte, 2, 506 That I scholde al his love unrihte, 2, 507 And therto wolde I do mi peine. 2, 508 For certes thogh I scholde feigne, 2, 509 And telle that was nevere thoght, 2, 510 For al this world I myhte noght 2, 511 To soffre an othre fully winne, 2, 512 Ther as I am yit to beginne. 2, 513 For be thei goode, or be thei badde, 2, 514 I wolde non my ladi hadde; 2, 515 And that me makth fulofte aspie 2, 516 And usen wordes of Envie, 2, 517 Al forto make hem bere a blame. 2, 518 And that is bot of thilke same, 2, 519 The whiche unto my ladi drawe, 2, 520 For evere on hem I rounge and gknawe 2, 521 And hindre hem al that evere I mai; 2, 522 And that is, sothly forto say, 2, 523 Bot only to my lady selve: 2, 524 I telle it noght to ten ne tuelve, 2, 525 Therof I wol me wel avise, 2, 526 To speke or jangle in eny wise 2, 527 That toucheth to my ladi name, 2, 528 The which in ernest and in game 2, 529 I wolde save into my deth; 2, 530 For me were levere lacke breth 2, 531 Than speken of hire name amis. 2, 532 Now have ye herd touchende of this, 2, 533 Mi fader, in confessioun: 2, 534 And therfor of Detraccioun 2, 535 In love, of that I have mispoke, 2, 536 Tel how ye wole it schal be wroke. 2, 537 I am al redy forto bere 2, 538 Mi peine, and also to forbere 2, 539 What thing that ye wol noght allowe; 2, 540 For who is bounden, he mot bowe. 2, 541 So wol I bowe unto youre heste, 2, 542 For I dar make this beheste, 2, 543 That I to yow have nothing hid, 2, 544 Bot told riht as it is betid; 2, 545 And otherwise of no mispeche, 2, 546 Mi conscience forto seche, 2, 547 I can noght of Envie finde, 2, 548 That I mispoke have oght behinde 2, 549 Wherof love owhte be mispaid. 2, 550 Now have ye herd and I have said; 2, 551 What wol ye, fader, that I do? 2, 552 Mi Sone, do nomore so, 2, 553 Bot evere kep thi tunge stille, 2, 554 Thou miht the more have of thi wille. 2, 555 For as thou saist thiselven here, 2, 556 Thi ladi is of such manere, 2, 557 So wys, so war in alle thinge, 2, 558 It nedeth of no bakbitinge 2, 559 That thou thi ladi mis enforme: 2, 560 For whan sche knoweth al the forme, 2, 561 How that thiself art envious, 2, 562 Thou schalt noght be so gracious 2, 563 As thou peraunter scholdest elles. 2, 564 Ther wol noman drinke of tho welles 2, 565 Whiche as he wot is puyson inne; 2, 566 And ofte swich as men beginne 2, 567 Towardes othre, swich thei finde, 2, 568 That set hem ofte fer behinde, 2, 569 Whan that thei wene be before. 2, 570 Mi goode Sone, and thou therfore 2, 571 Bewar and lef thi wicke speche, 2, 572 Wherof hath fallen ofte wreche 2, 573 To many a man befor this time. 2, 574 For who so wole his handes lime, 2, 575 Thei mosten be the more unclene; 2, 576 For many a mote schal be sene, 2, 577 That wolde noght cleve elles there; 2, 578 And that schold every wys man fere: 2, 579 For who so wol an other blame, 2, 580 He secheth ofte his oghne schame, 2, 581 Which elles myhte be riht stille. 2, 582 Forthi if that it be thi wille 2, 583 To stonde upon amendement, 2, 584 A tale of gret entendement 2, 585 I thenke telle for thi sake, 2, 586 Wherof thou miht ensample take. 2, 587 A worthi kniht in Cristes lawe 2, 588 Of grete Rome, as is the sawe, 2, 589 The Sceptre hadde forto rihte; 2, 590 Tiberie Constantin he hihte, 2, 591 Whos wif was cleped Ytalie: 2, 592 Bot thei togedre of progenie 2, 593 No children hadde bot a Maide; 2, 594 And sche the god so wel apaide, 2, 595 That al the wide worldes fame 2, 596 Spak worschipe of hire goode name. 2, 597 Constance, as the Cronique seith, 2, 598 Sche hihte, and was so ful of feith, 2, 599 That the greteste of Barbarie, 2, 600 Of hem whiche usen marchandie, 2, 601 Sche hath converted, as thei come 2, 602 To hire upon a time in Rome, 2, 603 To schewen such thing as thei broghte; 2, 604 Whiche worthili of hem sche boghte, 2, 605 And over that in such a wise 2, 606 Sche hath hem with hire wordes wise 2, 607 Of Cristes feith so full enformed, 2, 608 That thei therto ben all conformed, 2, 609 So that baptesme thei receiven 2, 610 And alle here false goddes weyven. 2, 611 Whan thei ben of the feith certein, 2, 612 Thei gon to Barbarie ayein, 2, 613 And ther the Souldan for hem sente 2, 614 And axeth hem to what entente 2, 615 Thei have here ferste feith forsake. 2, 616 And thei, whiche hadden undertake 2, 617 The rihte feith to kepe and holde, 2, 618 The matiere of here tale tolde 2, 619 With al the hole circumstance. 2, 620 And whan the Souldan of Constance 2, 621 Upon the point that thei ansuerde 2, 622 The beaute and the grace herde, 2, 623 As he which thanne was to wedde, 2, 624 In alle haste his cause spedde 2, 625 To sende for the mariage. 2, 626 And furthermor with good corage 2, 627 He seith, be so he mai hire have, 2, 628 That Crist, which cam this world to save, 2, 629 He woll believe: and this recorded, 2, 630 Thei ben on either side acorded, 2, 631 And therupon to make an ende 2, 632 The Souldan hise hostages sende 2, 633 To Rome, of Princes Sones tuelve: 2, 634 Wherof the fader in himselve 2, 635 Was glad, and with the Pope avised 2, 636 Tuo Cardinals he hath assissed 2, 637 With othre lordes many mo, 2, 638 That with his doghter scholden go, 2, 639 To se the Souldan be converted. 2, 640 Bot that which nevere was wel herted, 2, 641 Envie, tho began travaile 2, 642 In destourbance of this spousaile 2, 643 So prively that non was war. 2, 644 The Moder which this Souldan bar 2, 645 Was thanne alyve, and thoghte this 2, 646 Unto hirself: "If it so is 2, 647 Mi Sone him wedde in this manere, 2, 648 Than have I lost my joies hiere, 2, 649 For myn astat schal so be lassed." 2, 650 Thenkende thus sche hath compassed 2, 651 Be sleihte how that sche may beguile 2, 652 Hire Sone; and fell withinne a while, 2, 653 Betwen hem two whan that thei were, 2, 654 Sche feigneth wordes in his Ere, 2, 655 And in this wise gan to seie: 2, 656 "Mi Sone, I am be double weie 2, 657 With al myn herte glad and blithe, 2, 658 For that miself have ofte sithe 2, 659 Desired thou wolt, as men seith, 2, 660 Receive and take a newe feith, 2, 661 Which schal be forthringe of thi lif: 2, 662 And ek so worschipful a wif, 2, 663 The doughter of an Emperour, 2, 664 To wedde it schal be gret honour. 2, 665 Forthi, mi Sone, I you beseche 2, 666 That I such grace mihte areche, 2, 667 Whan that my doughter come schal, 2, 668 That I mai thanne in special, 2, 669 So as me thenkth it is honeste, 2, 670 Be thilke which the ferste feste 2, 671 Schal make unto hire welcominge." 2, 672 The Souldan granteth hire axinge, 2, 673 And sche therof was glad ynowh: 2, 674 For under that anon sche drowh 2, 675 With false wordes that sche spak 2, 676 Covine of deth behinde his bak. 2, 677 And therupon hire ordinance 2, 678 She made so, that whan Constance 2, 679 Was come forth with the Romeins, 2, 680 Of clerkes and of Citezeins, 2, 681 A riche feste sche hem made: 2, 682 And most whan that thei weren glade, 2, 683 With fals covine which sche hadde 2, 684 Hire clos Envie tho sche spradde, 2, 685 And alle tho that hadden be 2, 686 Or in apert or in prive 2, 687 Of conseil to the mariage, 2, 688 Sche slowh hem in a sodein rage 2, 689 Endlong the bord as thei be set, 2, 690 So that it myhte noght be let; 2, 691 Hire oghne Sone was noght quit, 2, 692 Bot deide upon the same plit. 2, 693 Bot what the hihe god wol spare 2, 694 It mai for no peril misfare: 2, 695 This worthi Maiden which was there 2, 696 Stod thanne, as who seith, ded for feere, 2, 697 To se the feste how that it stod, 2, 698 Which al was torned into blod: 2, 699 The Dissh forthwith the Coppe and al 2, 700 Bebled thei weren overal; 2, 701 Sche sih hem deie on every side; 2, 702 No wonder thogh sche wepte and cride 2, 703 Makende many a wofull mone. 2, 704 Whan al was slain bot sche al one, 2, 705 This olde fend, this Sarazine, 2, 706 Let take anon this Constantine 2, 707 With al the good sche thider broghte, 2, 708 And hath ordeined, as sche thoghte, 2, 709 A nakid Schip withoute stiere, 2, 710 In which the good and hire in fiere, 2, 711 Vitailed full for yeres fyve, 2, 712 Wher that the wynd it wolde dryve, 2, 713 Sche putte upon the wawes wilde. 2, 714 Bot he which alle thing mai schilde, 2, 715 Thre yer, til that sche cam to londe, 2, 716 Hire Schip to stiere hath take in honde, 2, 717 And in Northumberlond aryveth; 2, 718 And happeth thanne that sche dryveth 2, 719 Under a Castel with the flod, 2, 720 Which upon Humber banke stod 2, 721 And was the kynges oghne also, 2, 722 The which Allee was cleped tho, 2, 723 A Saxon and a worthi knyht, 2, 724 Bot he believed noght ariht. 2, 725 Of this Castell was Chastellein 2, 726 Elda the kinges Chamberlein, 2, 727 A knyhtly man after his lawe; 2, 728 And whan he sih upon the wawe 2, 729 The Schip drivende al one so, 2, 730 He bad anon men scholden go 2, 731 To se what it betokne mai. 2, 732 This was upon a Somer dai, 2, 733 The Schip was loked and sche founde; 2, 734 Elda withinne a litel stounde 2, 735 It wiste, and with his wif anon 2, 736 Toward this yonge ladi gon, 2, 737 Wher that thei founden gret richesse; 2, 738 Bot sche hire wolde noght confesse, 2, 739 Whan thei hire axen what sche was. 2, 740 And natheles upon the cas 2, 741 Out of the Schip with gret worschipe 2, 742 Thei toke hire into felaschipe, 2, 743 As thei that weren of hir glade: 2, 744 Bot sche no maner joie made, 2, 745 Bot sorweth sore of that sche fond 2, 746 No cristendom in thilke lond; 2, 747 Bot elles sche hath al hire wille, 2, 748 And thus with hem sche duelleth stille. 2, 749 Dame Hermyngheld, which was the wif 2, 750 Of Elda, lich hire oghne lif 2, 751 Constance loveth; and fell so, 2, 752 Spekende alday betwen hem two, 2, 753 Thurgh grace of goddes pourveance 2, 754 This maiden tawhte the creance 2, 755 Unto this wif so parfitly, 2, 756 Upon a dai that faste by 2, 757 In presence of hire housebonde, 2, 758 Wher thei go walkende on the Stronde, 2, 759 A blind man, which cam there lad, 2, 760 Unto this wif criende he bad, 2, 761 With bothe hise hondes up and preide 2, 762 To hire, and in this wise he seide: 2, 763 "O Hermyngeld, which Cristes feith, 2, 764 Enformed as Constance seith, 2, 765 Received hast, yif me my sihte." 2, 766 Upon his word hire herte afflihte 2, 767 Thenkende what was best to done, 2, 768 Bot natheles sche herde his bone 2, 769 And seide, "In trust of Cristes lawe, 2, 770 Which don was on the crois and slawe, 2, 771 Thou bysne man, behold and se." 2, 772 With that to god upon his kne 2, 773 Thonkende he tok his sihte anon, 2, 774 Wherof thei merveile everychon, 2, 775 Bot Elda wondreth most of alle: 2, 776 This open thing which is befalle 2, 777 Concludeth him be such a weie, 2, 778 That he the feith mot nede obeie. 2, 779 Now lest what fell upon this thing. 2, 780 This Elda forth unto the king 2, 781 A morwe tok his weie and rod, 2, 782 And Hermyngeld at home abod 2, 783 Forth with Constance wel at ese. 2, 784 Elda, which thoghte his king to plese, 2, 785 As he that thanne unwedded was, 2, 786 Of Constance al the pleine cas 2, 787 Als goodliche as he cowthe tolde. 2, 788 The king was glad and seide he wolde 2, 789 Come thider upon such a wise 2, 790 That he him mihte of hire avise, 2, 791 The time apointed forth withal. 2, 792 This Elda triste in special 2, 793 Upon a knyht, whom fro childhode 2, 794 He hadde updrawe into manhode: 2, 795 To him he tolde al that he thoghte, 2, 796 Wherof that after him forthoghte; 2, 797 And natheles at thilke tide 2, 798 Unto his wif he bad him ride 2, 799 To make redi alle thing 2, 800 Ayein the cominge of the king, 2, 801 And seith that he himself tofore 2, 802 Thenkth forto come, and bad therfore 2, 803 That he him kepe, and told him whanne. 2, 804 This knyht rod forth his weie thanne; 2, 805 And soth was that of time passed 2, 806 He hadde in al his wit compassed 2, 807 How he Constance myhte winne; 2, 808 Bot he sih tho no sped therinne, 2, 809 Wherof his lust began tabate, 2, 810 And that was love is thanne hate; 2, 811 Of hire honour he hadde Envie, 2, 812 So that upon his tricherie 2, 813 A lesinge in his herte he caste. 2, 814 Til he cam home he hieth faste, 2, 815 And doth his ladi tunderstonde 2, 816 The Message of hire housebonde: 2, 817 And therupon the longe dai 2, 818 Thei setten thinges in arrai, 2, 819 That al was as it scholde be 2, 820 Of every thing in his degree; 2, 821 And whan it cam into the nyht, 2, 822 This wif hire hath to bedde dyht, 2, 823 Wher that this Maiden with hire lay. 2, 824 This false knyht upon delay 2, 825 Hath taried til thei were aslepe, 2, 826 As he that wolde his time kepe 2, 827 His dedly werkes to fulfille; 2, 828 And to the bed he stalketh stille, 2, 829 Wher that he wiste was the wif, 2, 830 And in his hond a rasour knif 2, 831 He bar, with which hire throte he cutte, 2, 832 And prively the knif he putte 2, 833 Under that other beddes side, 2, 834 Wher that Constance lai beside. 2, 835 Elda cam hom the same nyht, 2, 836 And stille with a prive lyht, 2, 837 As he that wolde noght awake 2, 838 His wif, he hath his weie take 2, 839 Into the chambre, and ther liggende 2, 840 He fond his dede wif bledende, 2, 841 Wher that Constance faste by 2, 842 Was falle aslepe; and sodeinly 2, 843 He cride alowd, and sche awok, 2, 844 And forth withal sche caste a lok 2, 845 And sih this ladi blede there, 2, 846 Wherof swoundende ded for fere 2, 847 Sche was, and stille as eny Ston 2, 848 She lay, and Elda therupon 2, 849 Into the Castell clepeth oute, 2, 850 And up sterte every man aboute, 2, 851 Into the chambre and forth thei wente. 2, 852 Bot he, which alle untrouthe mente, 2, 853 This false knyht, among hem alle 2, 854 Upon this thing which is befalle 2, 855 Seith that Constance hath don this dede; 2, 856 And to the bed with that he yede 2, 857 After the falshed of his speche, 2, 858 And made him there forto seche, 2, 859 And fond the knif, wher he it leide, 2, 860 And thanne he cride and thanne he seide, 2, 861 "Lo, seth the knif al blody hiere] 2, 862 What nedeth more in this matiere 2, 863 To axe?" And thus hire innocence 2, 864 He sclaundreth there in audience 2, 865 With false wordes whiche he feigneth. 2, 866 Bot yit for al that evere he pleigneth, 2, 867 Elda no full credence tok: 2, 868 And happeth that ther lay a bok, 2, 869 Upon the which, whan he it sih, 2, 870 This knyht hath swore and seid on hih, 2, 871 That alle men it mihte wite, 2, 872 "Now be this bok, which hier is write, 2, 873 Constance is gultif, wel I wot." 2, 874 With that the hond of hevene him smot 2, 875 In tokne of that he was forswore, 2, 876 That he hath bothe hise yhen lore, 2, 877 Out of his hed the same stounde 2, 878 Thei sterte, and so thei weren founde. 2, 879 A vois was herd, whan that they felle, 2, 880 Which seide, "O dampned man to helle, 2, 881 Lo, thus hath god the sclaundre wroke 2, 882 That thou ayein Constance hast spoke: 2, 883 Beknow the sothe er that thou dye." 2, 884 And he told out his felonie, 2, 885 And starf forth with his tale anon. 2, 886 Into the ground, wher alle gon, 2, 887 This dede lady was begrave: 2, 888 Elda, which thoghte his honour save, 2, 889 Al that he mai restreigneth sorwe. 2, 890 For the seconde day a morwe 2, 891 The king cam, as thei were acorded; 2, 892 And whan it was to him recorded 2, 893 What god hath wroght upon this chaunce, 2, 894 He tok it into remembrance 2, 895 And thoghte more than he seide. 2, 896 For al his hole herte he leide 2, 897 Upon Constance, and seide he scholde 2, 898 For love of hire, if that sche wolde, 2, 899 Baptesme take and Cristes feith 2, 900 Believe, and over that he seith 2, 901 He wol hire wedde, and upon this 2, 902 Asseured ech til other is. 2, 903 And forto make schorte tales, 2, 904 Ther cam a Bisschop out of Wales 2, 905 Fro Bangor, and Lucie he hihte, 2, 906 Which thurgh the grace of god almihte 2, 907 The king with many an other mo 2, 908 Hath cristned, and betwen hem tuo 2, 909 He hath fulfild the mariage. 2, 910 Bot for no lust ne for no rage 2, 911 Sche tolde hem nevere what sche was; 2, 912 And natheles upon the cas 2, 913 The king was glad, how so it stod, 2, 914 For wel he wiste and understod 2, 915 Sche was a noble creature. 2, 916 The hihe makere of nature 2, 917 Hire hath visited in a throwe, 2, 918 That it was openliche knowe 2, 919 Sche was with childe be the king, 2, 920 Wherof above al other thing 2, 921 He thonketh god and was riht glad. 2, 922 And fell that time he was bestad 2, 923 Upon a werre and moste ride; 2, 924 And whil he scholde there abide, 2, 925 He lefte at hom to kepe his wif 2, 926 Suche as he knew of holi lif, 2, 927 Elda forth with the Bisschop eke; 2, 928 And he with pouer goth to seke 2, 929 Ayein the Scottes forto fonde 2, 930 The werre which he tok on honde. 2, 931 The time set of kinde is come, 2, 932 This lady hath hire chambre nome, 2, 933 And of a Sone bore full, 2, 934 Wherof that sche was joiefull, 2, 935 Sche was delivered sauf and sone. 2, 936 The bisshop, as it was to done, 2, 937 Yaf him baptesme and Moris calleth; 2, 938 And therupon, as it befalleth, 2, 939 With lettres writen of record 2, 940 Thei sende unto here liege lord, 2, 941 That kepers weren of the qweene: 2, 942 And he that scholde go betwene, 2, 943 The Messager, to Knaresburgh, 2, 944 Which toun he scholde passe thurgh, 2, 945 Ridende cam the ferste day. 2, 946 The kinges Moder there lay, 2, 947 Whos rihte name was Domilde, 2, 948 Which after al the cause spilde: 2, 949 For he, which thonk deserve wolde, 2, 950 Unto this ladi goth and tolde 2, 951 Of his Message al how it ferde. 2, 952 And sche with feigned joie it herde 2, 953 And yaf him yiftes largely, 2, 954 Bot in the nyht al prively 2, 955 Sche tok the lettres whiche he hadde, 2, 956 Fro point to point and overradde, 2, 957 As sche that was thurghout untrewe, 2, 958 And let do wryten othre newe 2, 959 In stede of hem, and thus thei spieke: 2, 960 "Oure liege lord, we thee beseke 2, 961 That thou with ous ne be noght wroth, 2, 962 Though we such thing as is thee loth 2, 963 Upon oure trowthe certefie. 2, 964 Thi wif, which is of faierie, 2, 965 Of such a child delivered is 2, 966 Fro kinde which stant al amis: 2, 967 Bot for it scholde noght be seie, 2, 968 We have it kept out of the weie 2, 969 For drede of pure worldes schame, 2, 970 A povere child and in the name 2, 971 Of thilke which is so misbore 2, 972 We toke, and therto we be swore, 2, 973 That non bot only thou and we 2, 974 Schal knowen of this privete: 2, 975 Moris it hatte, and thus men wene 2, 976 That it was boren of the qweene 2, 977 And of thin oghne bodi gete. 2, 978 Bot this thing mai noght be foryete, 2, 979 That thou ne sende ous word anon 2, 980 What is thi wille therupon." 2, 981 This lettre, as thou hast herd devise, 2, 982 Was contrefet in such a wise 2, 983 That noman scholde it aperceive: 2, 984 And sche, which thoghte to deceive, 2, 985 It leith wher sche that other tok. 2, 986 This Messager, whan he awok, 2, 987 And wiste nothing how it was, 2, 988 Aros and rod the grete pas 2, 989 And tok this lettre to the king. 2, 990 And whan he sih this wonder thing, 2, 991 He makth the Messager no chiere, 2, 992 Bot natheles in wys manere 2, 993 He wrote ayein, and yaf hem charge 2, 994 That thei ne soffre noght at large 2, 995 His wif to go, bot kepe hire stille, 2, 996 Til thei have herd mor of his wille. 2, 997 This Messager was yifteles, 2, 998 Bot with this lettre natheles, 2, 999 Or be him lief or be him loth, 2,1000 In alle haste ayein he goth 2,1001 Be Knaresburgh, and as he wente, 2,1002 Unto the Moder his entente 2,1003 Of that he fond toward the king 2,1004 He tolde; and sche upon this thing 2,1005 Seith that he scholde abide al nyht 2,1006 And made him feste and chiere ariht, 2,1007 Feignende as thogh sche cowthe him thonk. 2,1008 Bot he with strong wyn which he dronk 2,1009 Forth with the travail of the day 2,1010 Was drunke, aslepe and while he lay, 2,1011 Sche hath hise lettres overseie 2,1012 And formed in an other weie. 2,1013 Ther was a newe lettre write, 2,1014 Which seith: "I do you forto wite, 2,1015 That thurgh the conseil of you tuo 2,1016 I stonde in point to ben undo, 2,1017 As he which is a king deposed. 2,1018 For every man it hath supposed, 2,1019 How that my wif Constance is faie; 2,1020 And if that I, thei sein, delaie 2,1021 To put hire out of compaignie, 2,1022 The worschipe of my Regalie 2,1023 Is lore; and over this thei telle, 2,1024 Hire child schal noght among hem duelle, 2,1025 To cleymen eny heritage. 2,1026 So can I se non avantage, 2,1027 Bot al is lost, if sche abide: 2,1028 Forthi to loke on every side 2,1029 Toward the meschief as it is, 2,1030 I charge you and bidde this, 2,1031 That ye the same Schip vitaile, 2,1032 In which that sche tok arivaile, 2,1033 Therinne and putteth bothe tuo, 2,1034 Hireself forthwith hire child also, 2,1035 And so forth broght unto the depe 2,1036 Betaketh hire the See to kepe. 2,1037 Of foure daies time I sette, 2,1038 That ye this thing no longer lette, 2,1039 So that your lif be noght forsfet." 2,1040 And thus this lettre contrefet 2,1041 The Messager, which was unwar, 2,1042 Upon the kingeshalve bar, 2,1043 And where he scholde it hath betake. 2,1044 Bot whan that thei have hiede take, 2,1045 And rad that writen is withinne, 2,1046 So gret a sorwe thei beginne, 2,1047 As thei here oghne Moder sihen 2,1048 Brent in a fyr before here yhen: 2,1049 Ther was wepinge and ther was wo, 2,1050 Bot finaly the thing is do. 2,1051 Upon the See thei have hire broght, 2,1052 Bot sche the cause wiste noght, 2,1053 And thus upon the flod thei wone, 2,1054 This ladi with hire yonge Sone: 2,1055 And thanne hire handes to the hevene 2,1056 Sche strawhte, and with a milde stevene 2,1057 Knelende upon hire bare kne 2,1058 Sche seide, "O hihe mageste, 2,1059 Which sest the point of every trowthe, 2,1060 Tak of thi wofull womman rowthe 2,1061 And of this child that I schal kepe." 2,1062 And with that word sche gan to wepe, 2,1063 Swounende as ded, and ther sche lay; 2,1064 Bot he which alle thinges may 2,1065 Conforteth hire, and ate laste 2,1066 Sche loketh and hire yhen caste 2,1067 Upon hire child and seide this: 2,1068 "Of me no maner charge it is 2,1069 What sorwe I soffre, bot of thee 2,1070 Me thenkth it is a gret pite, 2,1071 For if I sterve thou schalt deie: 2,1072 So mot I nedes be that weie 2,1073 For Moderhed and for tendresse 2,1074 With al myn hole besinesse 2,1075 Ordeigne me for thilke office, 2,1076 As sche which schal be thi Norrice." 2,1077 Thus was sche strengthed forto stonde; 2,1078 And tho sche tok hire child in honde 2,1079 And yaf it sowke, and evere among 2,1080 Sche wepte, and otherwhile song 2,1081 To rocke with hire child aslepe: 2,1082 And thus hire oghne child to kepe 2,1083 Sche hath under the goddes cure. 2,1084 And so fell upon aventure, 2,1085 Whan thilke yer hath mad his ende, 2,1086 Hire Schip, so as it moste wende 2,1087 Thurgh strengthe of wynd which god hath yive, 2,1088 Estward was into Spaigne drive 2,1089 Riht faste under a Castell wall, 2,1090 Wher that an hethen Amirall 2,1091 Was lord, and he a Stieward hadde, 2,1092 Oon Thelouµs, which al was badde, 2,1093 A fals knyht and a renegat. 2,1094 He goth to loke in what astat 2,1095 The Schip was come, and there he fond 2,1096 Forth with a child upon hire hond 2,1097 This lady, wher sche was al one. 2,1098 He tok good hiede of the persone, 2,1099 And sih sche was a worthi wiht, 2,1100 And thoghte he wolde upon the nyht 2,1101 Demene hire at his oghne wille, 2,1102 And let hire be therinne stille, 2,1103 That mo men sih sche noght that dai. 2,1104 At goddes wille and thus sche lai, 2,1105 Unknowe what hire schal betide; 2,1106 And fell so that be nyhtes tide 2,1107 This knyht withoute felaschipe 2,1108 Hath take a bot and cam to Schipe, 2,1109 And thoghte of hire his lust to take, 2,1110 And swor, if sche him daunger make, 2,1111 That certeinly sche scholde deie. 2,1112 Sche sih ther was non other weie, 2,1113 And seide he scholde hire wel conforte, 2,1114 That he ferst loke out ate porte, 2,1115 That noman were nyh the stede, 2,1116 Which myhte knowe what thei dede, 2,1117 And thanne he mai do what he wolde. 2,1118 He was riht glad that sche so tolde, 2,1119 And to the porte anon he ferde: 2,1120 Sche preide god, and he hire herde, 2,1121 And sodeinliche he was out throwe 2,1122 And dreynt, and tho began to blowe 2,1123 A wynd menable fro the lond, 2,1124 And thus the myhti goddes hond 2,1125 Hire hath conveied and defended. 2,1126 And whan thre yer be full despended, 2,1127 Hire Schip was drive upon a dai, 2,1128 Wher that a gret Navye lay 2,1129 Of Schipes, al the world at ones: 2,1130 And as god wolde for the nones, 2,1131 Hire Schip goth in among hem alle, 2,1132 And stinte noght, er it be falle 2,1133 And hath the vessell undergete, 2,1134 Which Maister was of al the Flete, 2,1135 Bot there it resteth and abod. 2,1136 This grete Schip on Anker rod; 2,1137 The Lord cam forth, and whan he sih 2,1138 That other ligge abord so nyh, 2,1139 He wondreth what it myhte be, 2,1140 And bad men to gon in and se. 2,1141 This ladi tho was crope aside, 2,1142 As sche that wolde hireselven hide, 2,1143 For sche ne wiste what thei were: 2,1144 Thei soghte aboute and founde hir there 2,1145 And broghten up hire child and hire; 2,1146 And therupon this lord to spire 2,1147 Began, fro whenne that sche cam, 2,1148 And what sche was. Quod sche, "I am 2,1149 A womman wofully bestad. 2,1150 I hadde a lord, and thus he bad, 2,1151 That I forth with my litel Sone 2,1152 Upon the wawes scholden wone, 2,1153 Bot why the cause was, I not: 2,1154 Bot he which alle thinges wot 2,1155 Yit hath, I thonke him, of his miht 2,1156 Mi child and me so kept upriht, 2,1157 That we be save bothe tuo." 2,1158 This lord hire axeth overmo 2,1159 How sche believeth, and sche seith, 2,1160 "I lieve and triste in Cristes feith, 2,1161 Which deide upon the Rode tree." 2,1162 "What is thi name?" tho quod he. 2,1163 "Mi name is Couste," sche him seide: 2,1164 Bot forthermor for noght he preide 2,1165 Of hire astat to knowe plein, 2,1166 Sche wolde him nothing elles sein 2,1167 Bot of hir name, which sche feigneth; 2,1168 Alle othre thinges sche restreigneth, 2,1169 That a word more sche ne tolde. 2,1170 This lord thanne axeth if sche wolde 2,1171 With him abide in compaignie, 2,1172 And seide he cam fro Barbarie 2,1173 To Romeward, and hom he wente. 2,1174 Tho sche supposeth what it mente, 2,1175 And seith sche wolde with him wende 2,1176 And duelle unto hire lyves ende, 2,1177 Be so it be to his plesance. 2,1178 And thus upon here aqueintance 2,1179 He tolde hire pleinly as it stod, 2,1180 Of Rome how that the gentil blod 2,1181 In Barbarie was betraied, 2,1182 And therupon he hath assaied 2,1183 Be werre, and taken such vengance, 2,1184 That non of al thilke alliance, 2,1185 Be whom the tresoun was compassed, 2,1186 Is from the swerd alyve passed; 2,1187 Bot of Constance hou it was, 2,1188 That cowthe he knowe be no cas, 2,1189 Wher sche becam, so as he seide. 2,1190 Hire Ere unto his word sche leide, 2,1191 Bot forther made sche no chiere. 2,1192 And natheles in this matiere 2,1193 It happeth thilke time so: 2,1194 This Lord, with whom sche scholde go, 2,1195 Of Rome was the Senatour, 2,1196 And of hir fader themperour 2,1197 His brother doughter hath to wyve, 2,1198 Which hath hir fader ek alyve, 2,1199 And was Salustes cleped tho; 2,1200 This wif Heleine hihte also, 2,1201 To whom Constance was Cousine. 2,1202 Thus to the sike a medicine 2,1203 Hath god ordeined of his grace, 2,1204 That forthwith in the same place 2,1205 This Senatour his trowthe plihte, 2,1206 For evere, whil he live mihte, 2,1207 To kepe in worschipe and in welthe, 2,1208 Be so that god wol yive hire helthe, 2,1209 This ladi, which fortune him sende. 2,1210 And thus be Schipe forth sailende 2,1211 Hire and hir child to Rome he broghte, 2,1212 And to his wif tho he besoghte 2,1213 To take hire into compaignie: 2,1214 And sche, which cowthe of courtesie 2,1215 Al that a good wif scholde konne, 2,1216 Was inly glad that sche hath wonne 2,1217 The felaschip of so good on. 2,1218 Til tuelve yeres were agon, 2,1219 This Emperoures dowhter Custe 2,1220 Forth with the dowhter of Saluste 2,1221 Was kept, bot noman redily 2,1222 Knew what sche was, and noght forthi 2,1223 Thei thoghten wel sche hadde be 2,1224 In hire astat of hih degre, 2,1225 And every lif hire loveth wel. 2,1226 Now herke how thilke unstable whel, 2,1227 Which evere torneth, wente aboute. 2,1228 The king Allee, whil he was oute, 2,1229 As thou tofore hast herd this cas, 2,1230 Deceived thurgh his Moder was: 2,1231 Bot whan that he cam hom ayein, 2,1232 He axeth of his Chamberlein 2,1233 And of the Bisschop ek also, 2,1234 Wher thei the qweene hadden do. 2,1235 And thei answerde, there he bad, 2,1236 And have him thilke lettre rad, 2,1237 Which he hem sende for warant, 2,1238 And tolde him pleinli as it stant, 2,1239 And sein, it thoghte hem gret pite 2,1240 To se so worthi on as sche, 2,1241 With such a child as ther was bore, 2,1242 So sodeinly to be forlore. 2,1243 He axeth hem what child that were; 2,1244 And thei him seiden, that naghere, 2,1245 In al the world thogh men it soghte, 2,1246 Was nevere womman that forth broghte 2,1247 A fairer child than it was on. 2,1248 And thanne he axede hem anon, 2,1249 Whi thei ne hadden write so: 2,1250 Thei tolden, so thei hadden do. 2,1251 He seide, "Nay." Thei seiden, "Yis." 2,1252 The lettre schewed rad it is, 2,1253 Which thei forsoken everidel. 2,1254 Tho was it understonde wel 2,1255 That ther is tresoun in the thing: 2,1256 The Messager tofore the king 2,1257 Was broght and sodeinliche opposed; 2,1258 And he, which nothing hath supposed 2,1259 Bot alle wel, began to seie 2,1260 That he nagher upon the weie 2,1261 Abod, bot only in a stede; 2,1262 And cause why that he so dede 2,1263 Was, as he wente to and fro, 2,1264 At Knaresburgh be nyhtes tuo 2,1265 The kinges Moder made him duelle. 2,1266 And whan the king it herde telle, 2,1267 Withinne his herte he wiste als faste 2,1268 The treson which his Moder caste; 2,1269 And thoghte he wolde noght abide, 2,1270 Bot forth riht in the same tide 2,1271 He tok his hors and rod anon. 2,1272 With him ther riden manion, 2,1273 To Knaresburgh and forth thei wente, 2,1274 And lich the fyr which tunder hente, 2,1275 In such a rage, as seith the bok, 2,1276 His Moder sodeinliche he tok 2,1277 And seide unto hir in this wise: 2,1278 "O beste of helle, in what juise 2,1279 Hast thou deserved forto deie, 2,1280 That hast so falsly put aweie 2,1281 With tresoun of thi bacbitinge 2,1282 The treweste at my knowlechinge 2,1283 Of wyves and the most honeste? 2,1284 Bot I wol make this beheste, 2,1285 I schal be venged er I go." 2,1286 And let a fyr do make tho, 2,1287 And bad men forto caste hire inne: 2,1288 Bot ferst sche tolde out al the sinne, 2,1289 And dede hem alle forto wite 2,1290 How sche the lettres hadde write, 2,1291 Fro point to point as it was wroght. 2,1292 And tho sche was to dethe broght 2,1293 And brent tofore hire Sones yhe: 2,1294 Wherof these othre, whiche it sihe 2,1295 And herden how the cause stod, 2,1296 Sein that the juggement is good, 2,1297 Of that hir Sone hire hath so served; 2,1298 For sche it hadde wel deserved 2,1299 Thurgh tresoun of hire false tunge, 2,1300 Which thurgh the lond was after sunge, 2,1301 Constance and every wiht compleigneth. 2,1302 Bot he, whom alle wo distreigneth, 2,1303 This sorghfull king, was so bestad, 2,1304 That he schal nevermor be glad, 2,1305 He seith, eftsone forto wedde, 2,1306 Til that he wiste how that sche spedde, 2,1307 Which hadde ben his ferste wif: 2,1308 And thus his yonge unlusti lif 2,1309 He dryveth forth so as he mai. 2,1310 Til it befell upon a dai, 2,1311 Whan he hise werres hadde achieved, 2,1312 And thoghte he wolde be relieved 2,1313 Of Soule hele upon the feith 2,1314 Which he hath take, thanne he seith 2,1315 That he to Rome in pelrinage 2,1316 Wol go, wher Pope was Pelage, 2,1317 To take his absolucioun. 2,1318 And upon this condicioun 2,1319 He made Edwyn his lieutenant, 2,1320 Which heir to him was apparant, 2,1321 That he the lond in his absence 2,1322 Schal reule: and thus be providence 2,1323 Of alle thinges wel begon 2,1324 He tok his leve and forth is gon. 2,1325 Elda, which tho was with him there, 2,1326 Er thei fulliche at Rome were, 2,1327 Was sent tofore to pourveie; 2,1328 And he his guide upon the weie, 2,1329 In help to ben his herbergour, 2,1330 Hath axed who was Senatour, 2,1331 That he his name myhte kenne. 2,1332 Of Capadoce, he seide, Arcenne 2,1333 He hihte, and was a worthi kniht. 2,1334 To him goth Elda tho forth riht 2,1335 And tolde him of his lord tidinge, 2,1336 And preide that for his comynge 2,1337 He wolde assigne him herbergage; 2,1338 And he so dede of good corage. 2,1339 Whan al is do that was to done, 2,1340 The king himself cam after sone. 2,1341 This Senatour, whan that he com, 2,1342 To Couste and to his wif at hom 2,1343 Hath told how such a king Allee 2,1344 Of gret array to the Citee 2,1345 Was come, and Couste upon his tale 2,1346 With herte clos and colour pale 2,1347 Aswoune fell, and he merveileth 2,1348 So sodeinly what thing hire eyleth, 2,1349 And cawhte hire up, and whan sche wok, 2,1350 Sche syketh with a pitous lok 2,1351 And feigneth seknesse of the See; 2,1352 Bot it was for the king Allee, 2,1353 For joie which fell in hire thoght 2,1354 That god him hath to toune broght. 2,1355 This king hath spoke with the Pope 2,1356 And told al that he cowthe agrope, 2,1357 What grieveth in his conscience; 2,1358 And thanne he thoghte in reverence 2,1359 Of his astat, er that he wente, 2,1360 To make a feste, and thus he sente 2,1361 Unto the Senatour to come 2,1362 Upon the morwe and othre some, 2,1363 To sitte with him at the mete. 2,1364 This tale hath Couste noght foryete, 2,1365 Bot to Moris hire Sone tolde 2,1366 That he upon the morwe scholde 2,1367 In al that evere he cowthe and mihte 2,1368 Be present in the kinges sihte, 2,1369 So that the king him ofte sihe. 2,1370 Moris tofore the kinges yhe 2,1371 Upon the morwe, wher he sat, 2,1372 Fulofte stod, and upon that 2,1373 The king his chiere upon him caste, 2,1374 And in his face him thoghte als faste 2,1375 He sih his oghne wif Constance; 2,1376 For nature as in resemblance 2,1377 Of face hem liketh so to clothe, 2,1378 That thei were of a suite bothe. 2,1379 The king was moeved in his thoght 2,1380 Of that he seth, and knoweth it noght; 2,1381 This child he loveth kindely, 2,1382 And yit he wot no cause why. 2,1383 Bot wel he sih and understod 2,1384 That he toward Arcenne stod, 2,1385 And axeth him anon riht there, 2,1386 If that this child his Sone were. 2,1387 He seide, "Yee, so I him calle, 2,1388 And wolde it were so befalle, 2,1389 Bot it is al in other wise." 2,1390 And tho began he to devise 2,1391 How he the childes Moder fond 2,1392 Upon the See from every lond 2,1393 Withinne a Schip was stiereles, 2,1394 And how this ladi helpeles 2,1395 Forth with hir child he hath forthdrawe. 2,1396 The king hath understonde his sawe, 2,1397 The childes name and axeth tho, 2,1398 And what the Moder hihte also 2,1399 That he him wolde telle he preide. 2,1400 "Moris this child is hote," he seide, 2,1401 "His Moder hatte Couste, and this 2,1402 I not what maner name it is." 2,1403 But Allee wiste wel ynowh, 2,1404 Wherof somdiel smylende he lowh; 2,1405 For Couste in Saxoun is to sein 2,1406 Constance upon the word Romein. 2,1407 Bot who that cowthe specefie 2,1408 What tho fell in his fantasie, 2,1409 And how his wit aboute renneth 2,1410 Upon the love in which he brenneth, 2,1411 It were a wonder forto hiere: 2,1412 For he was nouther ther ne hiere, 2,1413 Bot clene out of himself aweie, 2,1414 That he not what to thenke or seie, 2,1415 So fain he wolde it were sche. 2,1416 Wherof his hertes privete 2,1417 Began the werre of yee and nay, 2,1418 The which in such balance lay, 2,1419 That contenance for a throwe 2,1420 He loste, til he mihte knowe 2,1421 The sothe: bot in his memoire 2,1422 The man which lith in purgatoire 2,1423 Desireth noght the hevene more, 2,1424 That he ne longeth al so sore 2,1425 To wite what him schal betide. 2,1426 And whan the bordes were aside 2,1427 And every man was rise aboute, 2,1428 The king hath weyved al the route, 2,1429 And with the Senatour al one 2,1430 He spak and preide him of a bone, 2,1431 To se this Couste, wher sche duelleth 2,1432 At hom with him, so as he telleth. 2,1433 The Senatour was wel appaied, 2,1434 This thing no lengere is delaied, 2,1435 To se this Couste goth the king; 2,1436 And sche was warned of the thing, 2,1437 And with Heleine forth sche cam 2,1438 Ayein the king, and he tho nam 2,1439 Good hiede, and whan he sih his wif, 2,1440 Anon with al his hertes lif 2,1441 He cawhte hire in his arm and kiste. 2,1442 Was nevere wiht that sih ne wiste 2,1443 A man that more joie made, 2,1444 Wherof thei weren alle glade 2,1445 Whiche herde tellen of this chance. 2,1446 This king tho with his wif Constance, 2,1447 Which hadde a gret part of his wille, 2,1448 In Rome for a time stille 2,1449 Abod and made him wel at ese: 2,1450 Bot so yit cowthe he nevere plese 2,1451 His wif, that sche him wolde sein 2,1452 Of hire astat the trowthe plein, 2,1453 Of what contre that sche was bore, 2,1454 Ne what sche was, and yit therfore 2,1455 With al his wit he hath don sieke. 2,1456 Thus as they lihe abedde and spieke, 2,1457 Sche preide him and conseileth bothe, 2,1458 That for the worschipe of hem bothe, 2,1459 So as hire thoghte it were honeste, 2,1460 He wolde an honourable feste 2,1461 Make, er he wente, in the Cite, 2,1462 Wher themperour himself schal be: 2,1463 He graunteth al that sche him preide. 2,1464 Bot as men in that time seide, 2,1465 This Emperour fro thilke day 2,1466 That ferst his dowhter wente away 2,1467 He was thanne after nevere glad; 2,1468 Bot what that eny man him bad 2,1469 Of grace for his dowhter sake, 2,1470 That grace wolde he noght forsake; 2,1471 And thus ful gret almesse he dede, 2,1472 Wherof sche hadde many a bede. 2,1473 This Emperour out of the toun 2,1474 Withinne a ten mile enviroun, 2,1475 Where as it thoghte him for the beste, 2,1476 Hath sondry places forto reste; 2,1477 And as fortune wolde tho, 2,1478 He was duellende at on of tho. 2,1479 The king Allee forth with thassent 2,1480 Of Couste his wif hath thider sent 2,1481 Moris his Sone, as he was taght, 2,1482 To themperour and he goth straght, 2,1483 And in his fader half besoghte, 2,1484 As he which his lordschipe soghte, 2,1485 That of his hihe worthinesse 2,1486 He wolde do so gret meknesse, 2,1487 His oghne toun to come and se, 2,1488 And yive a time in the cite, 2,1489 So that his fader mihte him gete 2,1490 That he wolde ones with him ete. 2,1491 This lord hath granted his requeste; 2,1492 And whan the dai was of the feste, 2,1493 In worschipe of here Emperour 2,1494 The king and ek the Senatour 2,1495 Forth with here wyves bothe tuo, 2,1496 With many a lord and lady mo, 2,1497 On horse riden him ayein; 2,1498 Til it befell, upon a plein 2,1499 Thei sihen wher he was comende. 2,1500 With that Constance anon preiende 2,1501 Spak to hir lord that he abyde, 2,1502 So that sche mai tofore ryde, 2,1503 To ben upon his bienvenue 2,1504 The ferste which schal him salue; 2,1505 And thus after hire lordes graunt 2,1506 Upon a Mule whyt amblaunt 2,1507 Forth with a fewe rod this qweene. 2,1508 Thei wondren what sche wolde mene, 2,1509 And riden after softe pas; 2,1510 Bot whan this ladi come was 2,1511 To themperour, in his presence 2,1512 Sche seide alowd in audience, 2,1513 "Mi lord, mi fader, wel you be] 2,1514 And of this time that I se 2,1515 Youre honour and your goode hele, 2,1516 Which is the helpe of my querele, 2,1517 I thonke unto the goddes myht." 2,1518 For joie his herte was affliht 2,1519 Of that sche tolde in remembrance; 2,1520 And whanne he wiste it was Constance, 2,1521 Was nevere fader half so blithe. 2,1522 Wepende he keste hire ofte sithe, 2,1523 So was his herte al overcome; 2,1524 For thogh his Moder were come 2,1525 Fro deth to lyve out of the grave, 2,1526 He mihte nomor wonder have 2,1527 Than he hath whan that he hire sih. 2,1528 With that hire oghne lord cam nyh 2,1529 And is to themperour obeied; 2,1530 Bot whan the fortune is bewreied, 2,1531 How that Constance is come aboute, 2,1532 So hard an herte was non oute, 2,1533 That he for pite tho ne wepte. 2,1534 Arcennus, which hire fond and kepte, 2,1535 Was thanne glad of that is falle, 2,1536 So that with joie among hem alle 2,1537 Thei riden in at Rome gate. 2,1538 This Emperour thoghte al to late, 2,1539 Til that the Pope were come, 2,1540 And of the lordes sende some 2,1541 To preie him that he wolde haste: 2,1542 And he cam forth in alle haste, 2,1543 And whan that he the tale herde, 2,1544 How wonderly this chance ferde, 2,1545 He thonketh god of his miracle, 2,1546 To whos miht mai be non obstacle: 2,1547 The king a noble feste hem made, 2,1548 And thus thei weren alle glade. 2,1549 A parlement, er that thei wente, 2,1550 Thei setten unto this entente, 2,1551 To puten Rome in full espeir 2,1552 That Moris was apparant heir 2,1553 And scholde abide with hem stille, 2,1554 For such was al the londes wille. 2,1555 Whan every thing was fulli spoke, 2,1556 Of sorwe and queint was al the smoke, 2,1557 Tho tok his leve Allee the king, 2,1558 And with full many a riche thing, 2,1559 Which themperour him hadde yive, 2,1560 He goth a glad lif forto live; 2,1561 For he Constance hath in his hond, 2,1562 Which was the confort of his lond. 2,1563 For whan that he cam hom ayein, 2,1564 Ther is no tunge it mihte sein 2,1565 What joie was that ilke stounde 2,1566 Of that he hath his qweene founde, 2,1567 Which ferst was sent of goddes sonde, 2,1568 Whan sche was drive upon the Stronde, 2,1569 Be whom the misbelieve of Sinne 2,1570 Was left, and Cristes feith cam inne 2,1571 To hem that whilom were blinde. 2,1572 Bot he which hindreth every kinde 2,1573 And for no gold mai be forboght, 2,1574 The deth comende er he be soght, 2,1575 Tok with this king such aqueintance, 2,1576 That he with al his retenance 2,1577 Ne mihte noght defende his lif; 2,1578 And thus he parteth from his wif, 2,1579 Which thanne made sorwe ynowh. 2,1580 And therupon hire herte drowh 2,1581 To leven Engelond for evere 2,1582 And go wher that sche hadde levere, 2,1583 To Rome, whenne that sche cam: 2,1584 And thus of al the lond sche nam 2,1585 Hir leve, and goth to Rome ayein. 2,1586 And after that the bokes sein, 2,1587 She was noght there bot a throwe, 2,1588 Whan deth of kinde hath overthrowe 2,1589 Hir worthi fader, which men seide 2,1590 That he betwen hire armes deide. 2,1591 And afterward the yer suiende 2,1592 The god hath mad of hire an ende, 2,1593 And fro this worldes faierie 2,1594 Hath take hire into compaignie. 2,1595 Moris hir Sone was corouned, 2,1596 Which so ferforth was abandouned 2,1597 To Cristes feith, that men him calle 2,1598 Moris the cristeneste of alle. 2,1599 And thus the wel meninge of love 2,1600 Was ate laste set above; 2,1601 And so as thou hast herd tofore, 2,1602 The false tunges weren lore, 2,1603 Whiche upon love wolden lie. 2,1604 Forthi touchende of this Envie 2,1605 Which longeth unto bacbitinge, 2,1606 Be war thou make no lesinge 2,1607 In hindringe of an other wiht: 2,1608 And if thou wolt be tawht ariht 2,1609 What meschief bakbitinge doth 2,1610 Be other weie, a tale soth 2,1611 Now miht thou hiere next suiende, 2,1612 Which to this vice is acordende. 2,1613 In a Cronique, as thou schalt wite, 2,1614 A gret ensample I finde write, 2,1615 Which I schal telle upon this thing. 2,1616 Philippe of Macedoyne kyng 2,1617 Two Sones hadde be his wif, 2,1618 Whos fame is yit in Grece rif: 2,1619 Demetrius the ferste brother 2,1620 Was hote, and Perseuµs that other. 2,1621 Demetrius men seiden tho 2,1622 The betre knyht was of the tuo, 2,1623 To whom the lond was entendant, 2,1624 As he which heir was apparant 2,1625 To regne after his fader dai: 2,1626 Bot that thing which no water mai 2,1627 Quenche in this world, bot evere brenneth, 2,1628 Into his brother herte it renneth, 2,1629 The proude Envie of that he sih 2,1630 His brother scholde clymbe on hih, 2,1631 And he to him mot thanne obeie: 2,1632 That may he soffre be no weie. 2,1633 With strengthe dorst he nothing fonde, 2,1634 So tok he lesinge upon honde, 2,1635 Whan he sih time and spak therto. 2,1636 For it befell that time so, 2,1637 His fader grete werres hadde 2,1638 With Rome, whiche he streite ladde 2,1639 Thurgh mihty hond of his manhode, 2,1640 As he which hath ynowh knihthode, 2,1641 And ofte hem hadde sore grieved. 2,1642 Bot er the werre were achieved, 2,1643 As he was upon ordinance 2,1644 At hom in Grece, it fell per chance, 2,1645 Demetrius, which ofte aboute 2,1646 Ridende was, stod that time oute, 2,1647 So that this Perse in his absence, 2,1648 Which bar the tunge of pestilence, 2,1649 With false wordes whiche he feigneth 2,1650 Upon his oghne brother pleigneth 2,1651 In privete behinde his bak, 2,1652 And to his fader thus he spak: 2,1653 "Mi diere fader, I am holde 2,1654 Be weie of kinde, as resoun wolde, 2,1655 That I fro yow schal nothing hide, 2,1656 Which mihte torne in eny side 2,1657 Of youre astat into grevance: 2,1658 Forthi myn hertes obeissance 2,1659 Towardes you I thenke kepe; 2,1660 For it is good ye take kepe 2,1661 Upon a thing which is me told. 2,1662 Mi brother hath ous alle sold 2,1663 To hem of Rome, and you also; 2,1664 For thanne they behote him so, 2,1665 That he with hem schal regne in pes. 2,1666 Thus hath he cast for his encress 2,1667 That youre astat schal go to noght; 2,1668 And this to proeve schal be broght 2,1669 So ferforth, that I undertake 2,1670 It schal noght wel mow be forsake." 2,1671 The king upon this tale ansuerde 2,1672 And seide, if this thing which he herde 2,1673 Be soth and mai be broght to prove, 2,1674 "It schal noght be to his behove, 2,1675 Which so hath schapen ous the werste, 2,1676 For he himself schal be the ferste 2,1677 That schal be ded, if that I mai." 2,1678 Thus afterward upon a dai, 2,1679 Whan that Demetrius was come, 2,1680 Anon his fader hath him nome, 2,1681 And bad unto his brother Perse 2,1682 That he his tale schal reherse 2,1683 Of thilke tresoun which he tolde. 2,1684 And he, which al untrowthe wolde, 2,1685 Conseileth that so hih a nede 2,1686 Be treted wher as it mai spede, 2,1687 In comun place of juggement. 2,1688 The king therto yaf his assent, 2,1689 Demetrius was put in hold, 2,1690 Wherof that Perseuµs was bold. 2,1691 Thus stod the trowthe under the charge, 2,1692 And the falshede goth at large, 2,1693 Which thurgh beheste hath overcome 2,1694 The greteste of the lordes some, 2,1695 That privelich of his acord 2,1696 Thei stonde as witnesse of record: 2,1697 The jugge was mad favorable: 2,1698 Thus was the lawe deceivable 2,1699 So ferforth that the trowthe fond 2,1700 Rescousse non, and thus the lond 2,1701 Forth with the king deceived were. 2,1702 The gulteles was dampned there 2,1703 And deide upon accusement: 2,1704 Bot such a fals conspirement, 2,1705 Thogh it be prive for a throwe, 2,1706 Godd wolde noght it were unknowe; 2,1707 And that was afterward wel proved 2,1708 In him which hath the deth controved. 2,1709 Of that his brother was so slain 2,1710 This Perseuµs was wonder fain, 2,1711 As he that tho was apparant, 2,1712 Upon the Regne and expectant; 2,1713 Wherof he wax so proud and vein, 2,1714 That he his fader in desdeign 2,1715 Hath take and set of non acompte, 2,1716 As he which thoghte him to surmonte; 2,1717 That wher he was ferst debonaire, 2,1718 He was tho rebell and contraire, 2,1719 And noght as heir bot as a king 2,1720 He tok upon him alle thing 2,1721 Of malice and of tirannie 2,1722 In contempt of the Regalie, 2,1723 Livende his fader, and so wroghte, 2,1724 That whan the fader him bethoghte 2,1725 And sih to whether side it drowh, 2,1726 Anon he wiste well ynowh 2,1727 How Perse after his false tunge 2,1728 Hath so thenvious belle runge, 2,1729 That he hath slain his oghne brother. 2,1730 Wherof as thanne he knew non other, 2,1731 Bot sodeinly the jugge he nom, 2,1732 Which corrupt sat upon the dom, 2,1733 In such a wise and hath him pressed, 2,1734 That he the sothe him hath confessed 2,1735 Of al that hath be spoke and do. 2,1736 Mor sori than the king was tho 2,1737 Was nevere man upon this Molde, 2,1738 And thoghte in certain that he wolde 2,1739 Vengance take upon this wrong. 2,1740 Bot thother parti was so strong, 2,1741 That for the lawe of no statut 2,1742 Ther mai no riht ben execut; 2,1743 And upon this division 2,1744 The lond was torned up so doun: 2,1745 Wherof his herte is so distraght, 2,1746 That he for pure sorwe hath caght 2,1747 The maladie of which nature 2,1748 Is queint in every creature. 2,1749 And whan this king was passed thus, 2,1750 This false tunged Perseuµs 2,1751 The regiment hath underfonge. 2,1752 Bot ther mai nothing stonde longe 2,1753 Which is noght upon trowthe grounded; 2,1754 For god, which alle thing hath bounded 2,1755 And sih the falshod of his guile, 2,1756 Hath set him bot a litel while, 2,1757 That he schal regne upon depos; 2,1758 For sodeinliche as he aros 2,1759 So sodeinliche doun he fell. 2,1760 In thilke time it so befell, 2,1761 This newe king of newe Pride 2,1762 With strengthe schop him forto ride, 2,1763 And seide he wolde Rome waste, 2,1764 Wherof he made a besi haste, 2,1765 And hath assembled him an host 2,1766 In al that evere he mihte most: 2,1767 What man that mihte wepne bere 2,1768 Of alle he wolde non forbere; 2,1769 So that it mihte noght be nombred, 2,1770 The folk which after was encombred 2,1771 Thurgh him, that god wolde overthrowe. 2,1772 Anon it was at Rome knowe, 2,1773 The pompe which that Perse ladde; 2,1774 And the Romeins that time hadde 2,1775 A Consul, which was cleped thus 2,1776 Be name, Paul Emilius, 2,1777 A noble, a worthi kniht withalle; 2,1778 And he, which chief was of hem alle, 2,1779 This werre on honde hath undertake. 2,1780 And whanne he scholde his leve take 2,1781 Of a yong dowhter which was his, 2,1782 Sche wepte, and he what cause it is 2,1783 Hire axeth, and sche him ansuerde 2,1784 That Perse is ded; and he it herde, 2,1785 And wondreth what sche meene wolde: 2,1786 And sche upon childhode him tolde 2,1787 That Perse hir litel hound is ded. 2,1788 With that he pulleth up his hed 2,1789 And made riht a glad visage, 2,1790 And seide how that was a presage 2,1791 Touchende unto that other Perse, 2,1792 Of that fortune him scholde adverse, 2,1793 He seith, for such a prenostik 2,1794 Most of an hound was to him lik: 2,1795 For as it is an houndes kinde 2,1796 To berke upon a man behinde, 2,1797 Riht so behinde his brother bak 2,1798 With false wordes whiche he spak 2,1799 He hath do slain, and that is rowthe. 2,1800 "Bot he which hateth alle untrowthe, 2,1801 The hihe god, it schal redresse; 2,1802 For so my dowhter prophetesse 2,1803 Forth with hir litel houndes deth 2,1804 Betokneth." And thus forth he geth 2,1805 Conforted of this evidence, 2,1806 With the Romeins in his defence 2,1807 Ayein the Greks that ben comende. 2,1808 This Perseuµs, as noght seende 2,1809 This meschief which that him abod, 2,1810 With al his multitude rod, 2,1811 And prided him upon the thing, 2,1812 Of that he was become a king, 2,1813 And how he hadde his regne gete; 2,1814 Bot he hath al the riht foryete 2,1815 Which longeth unto governance. 2,1816 Wherof thurgh goddes ordinance 2,1817 It fell, upon the wynter tide 2,1818 That with his host he scholde ride 2,1819 Over Danubie thilke flod, 2,1820 Which al befrose thanne stod 2,1821 So harde, that he wende wel 2,1822 To passe: bot the blinde whiel, 2,1823 Which torneth ofte er men be war, 2,1824 Thilke ys which that the horsmen bar 2,1825 Tobrak, so that a gret partie 2,1826 Was dreint; of the chivalerie 2,1827 The rerewarde it tok aweie, 2,1828 Cam non of hem to londe dreie. 2,1829 Paulus the worthi kniht Romein 2,1830 Be his aspie it herde sein, 2,1831 And hasteth him al that he may, 2,1832 So that upon that other day 2,1833 He cam wher he this host beheld, 2,1834 And that was in a large feld, 2,1835 Wher the Baneres ben desplaied. 2,1836 He hath anon hise men arraied, 2,1837 And whan that he was embatailled, 2,1838 He goth and hath the feld assailed, 2,1839 And slowh and tok al that he fond; 2,1840 Wherof the Macedoyne lond, 2,1841 Which thurgh king Alisandre honoured 2,1842 Long time stod, was tho devoured. 2,1843 To Perse and al that infortune 2,1844 Thei wyte, so that the comune 2,1845 Of al the lond his heir exile; 2,1846 And he despeired for the while 2,1847 Desguised in a povere wede 2,1848 To Rome goth, and ther for nede 2,1849 The craft which thilke time was, 2,1850 To worche in latoun and in bras, 2,1851 He lerneth for his sustienance. 2,1852 Such was the Sones pourveance, 2,1853 And of his fader it is seid, 2,1854 In strong prisoun that he was leid 2,1855 In Albe, wher that he was ded 2,1856 For hunger and defalte of bred. 2,1857 The hound was tokne and prophecie 2,1858 That lich an hound he scholde die, 2,1859 Which lich was of condicioun, 2,1860 Whan he with his detraccioun 2,1861 Bark on his brother so behinde. 2,1862 Lo, what profit a man mai finde, 2,1863 Which hindre wole an other wiht. 2,1864 Forthi with al thin hole miht, 2,1865 Mi Sone, eschuie thilke vice. 2,1866 Mi fader, elles were I nyce: 2,1867 For ye therof so wel have spoke, 2,1868 That it is in myn herte loke 2,1869 And evere schal: bot of Envie, 2,1870 If ther be more in his baillie 2,1871 Towardes love, sai me what. 2,1872 Mi Sone, as guile under the hat 2,1873 With sleyhtes of a tregetour 2,1874 Is hidd, Envie of such colour 2,1875 Hath yit the ferthe deceivant, 2,1876 The which is cleped Falssemblant, 2,1877 Wherof the matiere and the forme 2,1878 Now herkne and I thee schal enforme. 2,1879 Of Falssemblant if I schal telle, 2,1880 Above alle othre it is the welle 2,1881 Out of the which deceipte floweth. 2,1882 Ther is noman so wys that knoweth 2,1883 Of thilke flod which is the tyde, 2,1884 Ne how he scholde himselven guide 2,1885 To take sauf passage there. 2,1886 And yit the wynd to mannes Ere 2,1887 Is softe, and as it semeth oute 2,1888 It makth clier weder al aboute; 2,1889 Bot thogh it seme, it is noght so. 2,1890 For Falssemblant hath everemo 2,1891 Of his conseil in compaignie 2,1892 The derke untrewe Ypocrisie, 2,1893 Whos word descordeth to his thoght: 2,1894 Forthi thei ben togedre broght 2,1895 Of o covine, of on houshold, 2,1896 As it schal after this be told. 2,1897 Of Falssemblant it nedeth noght 2,1898 To telle of olde ensamples oght; 2,1899 For al dai in experience 2,1900 A man mai se thilke evidence 2,1901 Of faire wordes whiche he hiereth; 2,1902 Bot yit the barge Envie stiereth 2,1903 And halt it evere fro the londe, 2,1904 Wher Falssemblant with Ore on honde 2,1905 It roweth, and wol noght arive, 2,1906 Bot let it on the wawes dryve 2,1907 In gret tempeste and gret debat, 2,1908 Wherof that love and his astat 2,1909 Empeireth. And therfore I rede, 2,1910 Mi Sone, that thou fle and drede 2,1911 This vice, and what that othre sein, 2,1912 Let thi Semblant be trewe and plein. 2,1913 For Falssemblant is thilke vice, 2,1914 Which nevere was withoute office: 2,1915 Wher that Envie thenkth to guile, 2,1916 He schal be for that ilke while 2,1917 Of prive conseil Messagier. 2,1918 For whan his semblant is most clier, 2,1919 Thanne is he most derk in his thoght, 2,1920 Thogh men him se, thei knowe him noght; 2,1921 Bot as it scheweth in the glas 2,1922 Thing which therinne nevere was, 2,1923 So scheweth it in his visage 2,1924 That nevere was in his corage: 2,1925 Thus doth he al his thing with sleyhte. 2,1926 Now ley thi conscience in weyhte, 2,1927 Mi goode Sone, and schrif the hier, 2,1928 If thou were evere Custummer 2,1929 To Falssemblant in eny wise. 2,1930 For ought I can me yit avise, 2,1931 Mi goode fader, certes no. 2,1932 If I for love have oght do so, 2,1933 Now asketh, I wol praie yow: 2,1934 For elles I wot nevere how 2,1935 Of Falssemblant that I have gilt. 2,1936 Mi Sone, and sithen that thou wilt 2,1937 That I schal axe, gabbe noght, 2,1938 Bot tell if evere was thi thoght 2,1939 With Falssemblant and coverture 2,1940 To wite of eny creature 2,1941 How that he was with love lad; 2,1942 So were he sori, were he glad, 2,1943 Whan that thou wistest how it were, 2,1944 Al that he rounede in thin Ere 2,1945 Thou toldest forth in other place, 2,1946 To setten him fro loves grace 2,1947 Of what womman that thee beste liste, 2,1948 Ther as noman his conseil wiste 2,1949 Bot thou, be whom he was deceived 2,1950 Of love, and from his pourpos weyved; 2,1951 And thoghtest that his destourbance 2,1952 Thin oghne cause scholde avance, 2,1953 As who saith, "I am so celee, 2,1954 Ther mai no mannes privete 2,1955 Be heled half so wel as myn." 2,1956 Art thou, mi Sone, of such engin? 2,1957 Tell on. Mi goode fader, nay 2,1958 As for the more part I say; 2,1959 Bot of somdiel I am beknowe, 2,1960 That I mai stonde in thilke rowe 2,1961 Amonges hem that Saundres use. 2,1962 I wol me noght therof excuse, 2,1963 That I with such colour ne steyne, 2,1964 Whan I my beste Semblant feigne 2,1965 To my felawh, til that I wot 2,1966 Al his conseil bothe cold and hot: 2,1967 For be that cause I make him chiere, 2,1968 Til I his love knowe and hiere; 2,1969 And if so be myn herte soucheth 2,1970 That oght unto my ladi toucheth 2,1971 Of love that he wol me telle, 2,1972 Anon I renne unto the welle 2,1973 And caste water in the fyr, 2,1974 So that his carte amidd the Myr, 2,1975 Be that I have his conseil knowe, 2,1976 Fulofte sithe I overthrowe, 2,1977 Whan that he weneth best to stonde. 2,1978 Bot this I do you understonde, 2,1979 If that a man love elles where, 2,1980 So that my ladi be noght there, 2,1981 And he me telle, I wole it hide, 2,1982 Ther schal no word ascape aside, 2,1983 For with deceipte of no semblant 2,1984 To him breke I no covenant; 2,1985 Me liketh noght in other place 2,1986 To lette noman of his grace, 2,1987 Ne forto ben inquisitif 2,1988 To knowe an other mannes lif: 2,1989 Wher that he love or love noght, 2,1990 That toucheth nothing to my thoght, 2,1991 Bot al it passeth thurgh myn Ere 2,1992 Riht as a thing that nevere were, 2,1993 And is foryete and leid beside. 2,1994 Bot if it touche on eny side 2,1995 Mi ladi, as I have er spoken, 2,1996 Myn Eres ben noght thanne loken; 2,1997 For certes, whanne that betitt, 2,1998 My will, myn herte and al my witt 2,1999 Ben fully set to herkne and spire 2,2000 What eny man wol speke of hire. 2,2001 Thus have I feigned compaignie 2,2002 Fulofte, for I wolde aspie 2,2003 What thing it is that eny man 2,2004 Telle of mi worthi lady can: 2,2005 And for tuo causes I do this, 2,2006 The ferste cause wherof is,- 2,2007 If that I myhte ofherkne and seke 2,2008 That eny man of hire mispeke, 2,2009 I wolde excuse hire so fully, 2,2010 That whan sche wist in inderly, 2,2011 Min hope scholde be the more 2,2012 To have hir thank for everemore. 2,2013 That other cause, I you assure, 2,2014 Is, why that I be coverture 2,2015 Have feigned semblant ofte time 2,2016 To hem that passen alday byme 2,2017 And ben lovers als wel as I, 2,2018 For this I weene trewely, 2,2019 That ther is of hem alle non, 2,2020 That thei ne loven everich on 2,2021 Mi ladi: for sothliche I lieve 2,2022 And durste setten it in prieve, 2,2023 Is non so wys that scholde asterte, 2,2024 Bot he were lustles in his herte, 2,2025 Forwhy and he my ladi sihe, 2,2026 Hir visage and hir goodlych yhe, 2,2027 Bot he hire lovede, er he wente. 2,2028 And for that such is myn entente, 2,2029 That is the cause of myn aspie, 2,2030 Why that I feigne compaignie 2,2031 And make felawe overal; 2,2032 For gladly wolde I knowen al 2,2033 And holde me covert alway, 2,2034 That I fulofte ye or nay 2,2035 Ne liste ansuere in eny wise, 2,2036 Bot feigne semblant as the wise 2,2037 And herkne tales, til I knowe 2,2038 Mi ladi lovers al arowe. 2,2039 And whanne I hiere how thei have wroght, 2,2040 I fare as thogh I herde it noght 2,2041 And as I no word understode; 2,2042 Bot that is nothing for here goode: 2,2043 For lieveth wel, the sothe is this, 2,2044 That whanne I knowe al how it is, 2,2045 I wol bot forthren hem a lite, 2,2046 Bot al the worste I can endite 2,2047 I telle it to my ladi plat 2,2048 In forthringe of myn oghne astat, 2,2049 And hindre hem al that evere I may. 2,2050 Bot for al that yit dar I say, 2,2051 I finde unto miself no bote, 2,2052 Althogh myn herte nedes mote 2,2053 Thurgh strengthe of love al that I hiere 2,2054 Discovere unto my ladi diere: 2,2055 For in good feith I have no miht 2,2056 To hele fro that swete wiht, 2,2057 If that it touche hire eny thing. 2,2058 Bot this wot wel the hevene king, 2,2059 That sithen ferst this world began, 2,2060 Unto non other strange man 2,2061 Ne feigned I semblant ne chiere, 2,2062 To wite or axe of his matiere, 2,2063 Thogh that he lovede ten or tuelve, 2,2064 Whanne it was noght my ladi selve: 2,2065 Bot if he wolde axe eny red 2,2066 Al onlich of his oghne hed, 2,2067 How he with other love ferde, 2,2068 His tales with myn Ere I herde, 2,2069 Bot to myn herte cam it noght 2,2070 Ne sank no deppere in my thoght, 2,2071 Bot hield conseil, as I was bede, 2,2072 And tolde it nevere in other stede, 2,2073 Bot let it passen as it com. 2,2074 Now, fader, say what is thi dom, 2,2075 And hou thou wolt that I be peined 2,2076 For such Semblant as I have feigned. 2,2077 Mi Sone, if reson be wel peised, 2,2078 Ther mai no vertu ben unpreised 2,2079 Ne vice non be set in pris. 2,2080 Forthi, my Sone, if thou be wys, 2,2081 Do no viser upon thi face, 2,2082 Which as wol noght thin herte embrace: 2,2083 For if thou do, withinne a throwe 2,2084 To othre men it schal be knowe, 2,2085 So miht thou lihtli falle in blame 2,2086 And lese a gret part of thi name. 2,2087 And natheles in this degree 2,2088 Fulofte time thou myht se 2,2089 Of suche men that now aday 2,2090 This vice setten in a say: 2,2091 I speke it for no mannes blame, 2,2092 Bot forto warne thee the same. 2,2093 Mi Sone, as I mai hiere talke 2,2094 In every place where I walke, 2,2095 I not if it be so or non, 2,2096 Bot it is manye daies gon 2,2097 That I ferst herde telle this, 2,2098 How Falssemblant hath ben and is 2,2099 Most comunly fro yer to yere 2,2100 With hem that duelle among ous here, 2,2101 Of suche as we Lombardes calle. 2,2102 For thei ben the slyeste of alle, 2,2103 So as men sein in toune aboute, 2,2104 To feigne and schewe thing withoute 2,2105 Which is revers to that withinne: 2,2106 Wherof that thei fulofte winne, 2,2107 Whan thei be reson scholden lese; 2,2108 Thei ben the laste and yit thei chese, 2,2109 And we the ferste, and yit behinde 2,2110 We gon, there as we scholden finde 2,2111 The profit of oure oghne lond: 2,2112 Thus gon thei fre withoute bond 2,2113 To don her profit al at large, 2,2114 And othre men bere al the charge. 2,2115 Of Lombardz unto this covine, 2,2116 Whiche alle londes conne engine, 2,2117 Mai Falssemblant in special 2,2118 Be likned, for thei overal, 2,2119 Wher as they thenken forto duelle, 2,2120 Among hemself, so as thei telle, 2,2121 Ferst ben enformed forto lere 2,2122 A craft which cleped is Fa crere: 2,2123 For if Fa crere come aboute, 2,2124 Thanne afterward hem stant no doute 2,2125 To voide with a soubtil hond 2,2126 The beste goodes of the lond 2,2127 And bringe chaf and take corn. 2,2128 Where as Fa crere goth toforn, 2,2129 In all his weie he fynt no lette; 2,2130 That Dore can non huissher schette 2,2131 In which him list to take entre: 2,2132 And thus the conseil most secre 2,2133 Of every thing Fa crere knoweth, 2,2134 Which into strange place he bloweth, 2,2135 Where as he wot it mai most grieve. 2,2136 And thus Fa crere makth believe, 2,2137 So that fulofte he hath deceived, 2,2138 Er that he mai ben aperceived. 2,2139 Thus is this vice forto drede; 2,2140 For who these olde bokes rede 2,2141 Of suche ensamples as were ar, 2,2142 Him oghte be the more war 2,2143 Of alle tho that feigne chiere, 2,2144 Wherof thou schalt a tale hiere. 2,2145 Of Falssemblant which is believed 2,2146 Ful many a worthi wiht is grieved, 2,2147 And was long time er we wer bore. 2,2148 To thee, my Sone, I wol therfore 2,2149 A tale telle of Falssemblant, 2,2150 Which falseth many a covenant, 2,2151 And many a fraude of fals conseil 2,2152 Ther ben hangende upon his Seil: 2,2153 And that aboghten gulteles 2,2154 Bothe Deianire and Hercules, 2,2155 The whiche in gret desese felle 2,2156 Thurgh Falssemblant, as I schal telle. 2,2157 Whan Hercules withinne a throwe 2,2158 Al only hath his herte throwe 2,2159 Upon this faire Deianire, 2,2160 It fell him on a dai desire, 2,2161 Upon a Rivere as he stod, 2,2162 That passe he wolde over the flod 2,2163 Withoute bot, and with him lede 2,2164 His love, bot he was in drede 2,2165 For tendresce of that swete wiht, 2,2166 For he knew noght the forde ariht. 2,2167 Ther was a Geant thanne nyh, 2,2168 Which Nessus hihte, and whanne he sih 2,2169 This Hercules and Deianyre, 2,2170 Withinne his herte he gan conspire, 2,2171 As he which thurgh his tricherie 2,2172 Hath Hercules in gret envie, 2,2173 Which he bar in his herte loke, 2,2174 And thanne he thoghte it schal be wroke. 2,2175 Bot he ne dorste natheles 2,2176 Ayein this worthi Hercules 2,2177 Falle in debat as forto feihte; 2,2178 Bot feigneth Semblant al be sleihte 2,2179 Of frendschipe and of alle goode, 2,2180 And comth where as thei bothe stode, 2,2181 And makth hem al the chiere he can, 2,2182 And seith that as here oghne man 2,2183 He is al redy forto do 2,2184 What thing he mai; and it fell so 2,2185 That thei upon his Semblant triste, 2,2186 And axen him if that he wiste 2,2187 What thing hem were best to done, 2,2188 So that thei mihten sauf and sone 2,2189 The water passe, he and sche. 2,2190 And whan Nessus the privete 2,2191 Knew of here herte what it mente, 2,2192 As he that was of double entente, 2,2193 He made hem riht a glad visage; 2,2194 And whanne he herde of the passage 2,2195 Of him and hire, he thoghte guile, 2,2196 And feigneth Semblant for a while 2,2197 To don hem plesance and servise, 2,2198 Bot he thoghte al an other wise. 2,2199 This Nessus with hise wordes slyhe 2,2200 Yaf such conseil tofore here yhe 2,2201 Which semeth outward profitable 2,2202 And was withinne deceivable. 2,2203 He bad hem of the Stremes depe 2,2204 That thei be war and take kepe, 2,2205 So as thei knowe noght the pas; 2,2206 Bot forto helpe in such a cas, 2,2207 He seith himself that for here ese 2,2208 He wolde, if that it mihte hem plese, 2,2209 The passage of the water take, 2,2210 And for this ladi undertake 2,2211 To bere unto that other stronde 2,2212 And sauf to sette hire up alonde, 2,2213 And Hercules may thanne also 2,2214 The weie knowe how he schal go: 2,2215 And herto thei acorden alle. 2,2216 Bot what as after schal befalle, 2,2217 Wel payd was Hercules of this, 2,2218 And this Geant also glad is, 2,2219 And tok this ladi up alofte 2,2220 And set hire on his schuldre softe, 2,2221 And in the flod began to wade, 2,2222 As he which no grucchinge made, 2,2223 And bar hire over sauf and sound. 2,2224 Bot whanne he stod on dreie ground 2,2225 And Hercules was fer behinde, 2,2226 He sette his trowthe al out of mynde, 2,2227 Who so therof be lief or loth, 2,2228 With Deianyre and forth he goth, 2,2229 As he that thoghte to dissevere 2,2230 The compaignie of hem for evere. 2,2231 Whan Hercules therof tok hiede, 2,2232 Als faste as evere he mihte him spiede 2,2233 He hyeth after in a throwe; 2,2234 And hapneth that he hadde a bowe, 2,2235 The which in alle haste he bende, 2,2236 As he that wolde an Arwe sende, 2,2237 Which he tofore hadde envenimed. 2,2238 He hath so wel his schote timed, 2,2239 That he him thurgh the bodi smette, 2,2240 And thus the false wiht he lette. 2,2241 Bot lest now such a felonie: 2,2242 Whan Nessus wiste he scholde die, 2,2243 He tok to Deianyre his scherte, 2,2244 Which with the blod was of his herte 2,2245 Thurghout desteigned overal, 2,2246 And tolde how sche it kepe schal 2,2247 Al prively to this entente, 2,2248 That if hire lord his herte wente 2,2249 To love in eny other place, 2,2250 The scherte, he seith, hath such a grace, 2,2251 That if sche mai so mochel make 2,2252 That he the scherte upon him take, 2,2253 He schal alle othre lete in vein 2,2254 And torne unto hire love ayein. 2,2255 Who was tho glad bot Deianyre? 2,2256 Hire thoghte hire herte was afyre 2,2257 Til it was in hire cofre loke, 2,2258 So that no word therof was spoke. 2,2259 The daies gon, the yeres passe, 2,2260 The hertes waxen lasse and lasse 2,2261 Of hem that ben to love untrewe: 2,2262 This Hercules with herte newe 2,2263 His love hath set on Eolen, 2,2264 And therof spieken alle men. 2,2265 This Eolen, this faire maide, 2,2266 Was, as men thilke time saide, 2,2267 The kinges dowhter of Eurice; 2,2268 And sche made Hercules so nyce 2,2269 Upon hir Love and so assote, 2,2270 That he him clotheth in hire cote, 2,2271 And sche in his was clothed ofte; 2,2272 And thus fieblesce is set alofte, 2,2273 And strengthe was put under fote, 2,2274 Ther can noman therof do bote. 2,2275 Whan Deianyre hath herd this speche, 2,2276 Ther was no sorwe forto seche: 2,2277 Of other helpe wot sche non, 2,2278 Bot goth unto hire cofre anon; 2,2279 With wepende yhe and woful herte 2,2280 Sche tok out thilke unhappi scherte, 2,2281 As sche that wende wel to do, 2,2282 And broghte hire werk aboute so 2,2283 That Hercules this scherte on dede, 2,2284 To such entente as she was bede 2,2285 Of Nessus, so as I seide er. 2,2286 Bot therof was sche noght the ner, 2,2287 As no fortune may be weyved; 2,2288 With Falssemblant sche was deceived, 2,2289 That whan sche wende best have wonne, 2,2290 Sche lost al that sche hath begonne. 2,2291 For thilke scherte unto the bon 2,2292 His body sette afyre anon, 2,2293 And cleveth so, it mai noght twinne, 2,2294 For the venym that was therinne. 2,2295 And he thanne as a wilde man 2,2296 Unto the hihe wode he ran, 2,2297 And as the Clerk Ovide telleth, 2,2298 The grete tres to grounde he felleth 2,2299 With strengthe al of his oghne myght, 2,2300 And made an huge fyr upriht, 2,2301 And lepte himself therinne at ones 2,2302 And brende him bothe fleissh and bones. 2,2303 Which thing cam al thurgh Falssemblant, 2,2304 That false Nessus the Geant 2,2305 Made unto him and to his wif; 2,2306 Wherof that he hath lost his lif, 2,2307 And sche sori for everemo. 2,2308 Forthi, my Sone, er thee be wo, 2,2309 I rede, be wel war therfore; 2,2310 For whan so gret a man was lore, 2,2311 It oghte yive a gret conceipte 2,2312 To warne alle othre of such deceipte. 2,2313 Grant mercy, fader, I am war 2,2314 So fer that I nomore dar 2,2315 Of Falssemblant take aqueintance; 2,2316 Bot rathere I wol do penance 2,2317 That I have feigned chiere er this. 2,2318 Now axeth forth, what so ther is 2,2319 Of that belongeth to my schrifte. 2,2320 Mi Sone, yit ther is the fifte 2,2321 Which is conceived of Envie, 2,2322 And cleped is Supplantarie, 2,2323 Thurgh whos compassement and guile 2,2324 Ful many a man hath lost his while 2,2325 In love als wel as otherwise, 2,2326 Hierafter as I schal devise. 2,2327 The vice of Supplantacioun 2,2328 With many a fals collacioun, 2,2329 Which he conspireth al unknowe, 2,2330 Full ofte time hath overthrowe 2,2331 The worschipe of an other man. 2,2332 So wel no lif awayte can 2,2333 Ayein his sleyhte forto caste, 2,2334 That he his pourpos ate laste 2,2335 Ne hath, er that it be withset. 2,2336 Bot most of alle his herte is set 2,2337 In court upon these grete Offices 2,2338 Of dignitees and benefices: 2,2339 Thus goth he with his sleyhte aboute 2,2340 To hindre and schowve an other oute 2,2341 And stonden with his slyh compas 2,2342 In stede there an other was; 2,2343 And so to sette himselven inne, 2,2344 He reccheth noght, be so he winne, 2,2345 Of that an other man schal lese, 2,2346 And thus fulofte chalk for chese 2,2347 He changeth with ful litel cost, 2,2348 Wherof an other hath the lost 2,2349 And he the profit schal receive. 2,2350 For his fortune is to deceive 2,2351 And forto change upon the whel 2,2352 His wo with othre mennes wel: 2,2353 Of that an other man avaleth, 2,2354 His oghne astat thus up he haleth, 2,2355 And takth the bridd to his beyete, 2,2356 Wher othre men the buisshes bete. 2,2357 Mi Sone, and in the same wise 2,2358 Ther ben lovers of such emprise, 2,2359 That schapen hem to be relieved 2,2360 Where it is wrong to ben achieved: 2,2361 For it is other mannes riht, 2,2362 Which he hath taken dai and niht 2,2363 To kepe for his oghne Stor 2,2364 Toward himself for everemor, 2,2365 And is his propre be the lawe, 2,2366 Which thing that axeth no felawe, 2,2367 If love holde his covenant. 2,2368 Bot thei that worchen be supplaunt, 2,2369 Yit wolden thei a man supplaunte, 2,2370 And take a part of thilke plaunte 2,2371 Which he hath for himselve set: 2,2372 And so fulofte is al unknet, 2,2373 That som man weneth be riht fast. 2,2374 For Supplant with his slyhe cast 2,2375 Fulofte happneth forto mowe 2,2376 Thing which an other man hath sowe, 2,2377 And makth comun of proprete 2,2378 With sleihte and with soubtilite, 2,2379 As men mai se fro yer to yere. 2,2380 Thus cleymeth he the bot to stiere, 2,2381 Of which an other maister is. 2,2382 Forthi, my Sone, if thou er this 2,2383 Hast ben of such professioun, 2,2384 Discovere thi confessioun: 2,2385 Hast thou supplanted eny man? 2,2386 For oght that I you telle can, 2,2387 Min holi fader, as of the dede 2,2388 I am withouten eny drede 2,2389 Al gulteles; bot of my thoght 2,2390 Mi conscience excuse I noght. 2,2391 For were it wrong or were it riht, 2,2392 Me lakketh nothing bote myht, 2,2393 That I ne wolde longe er this 2,2394 Of other mannes love ywiss 2,2395 Be weie of Supplantacioun 2,2396 Have mad apropriacioun 2,2397 And holde that I nevere boghte, 2,2398 Thogh it an other man forthoghte. 2,2399 And al this speke I bot of on, 2,2400 For whom I lete alle othre gon; 2,2401 Bot hire I mai noght overpasse, 2,2402 That I ne mot alwey compasse, 2,2403 Me roghte noght be what queintise, 2,2404 So that I mihte in eny wise 2,2405 Fro suche that mi ladi serve 2,2406 Hire herte make forto swerve 2,2407 Withouten eny part of love. 2,2408 For be the goddes alle above 2,2409 I wolde it mihte so befalle, 2,2410 That I al one scholde hem alle 2,2411 Supplante, and welde hire at mi wille. 2,2412 And that thing mai I noght fulfille, 2,2413 Bot if I scholde strengthe make; 2,2414 And that I dar noght undertake, 2,2415 Thogh I were as was Alisaundre, 2,2416 For therof mihte arise sklaundre; 2,2417 And certes that schal I do nevere, 2,2418 For in good feith yit hadde I levere 2,2419 In my simplesce forto die, 2,2420 Than worche such Supplantarie. 2,2421 Of otherwise I wol noght seie 2,2422 That if I founde a seker weie, 2,2423 I wolde as for conclusioun 2,2424 Worche after Supplantacioun, 2,2425 So hihe a love forto winne. 2,2426 Now, fader, if that this be Sinne, 2,2427 I am al redy to redresce 2,2428 The gilt of which I me confesse. 2,2429 Mi goode Sone, as of Supplant 2,2430 Thee thar noght drede tant ne quant, 2,2431 As for nothing that I have herd, 2,2432 Bot only that thou hast misferd 2,2433 Thenkende, and that me liketh noght, 2,2434 For godd beholt a mannes thoght. 2,2435 And if thou understode in soth 2,2436 In loves cause what it doth, 2,2437 A man to ben a Supplantour, 2,2438 Thou woldest for thin oghne honour 2,2439 Be double weie take kepe: 2,2440 Ferst for thin oghne astat to kepe, 2,2441 To be thiself so wel bethoght 2,2442 That thou supplanted were noght, 2,2443 And ek for worschipe of thi name 2,2444 Towardes othre do the same, 2,2445 And soffren every man have his. 2,2446 Bot natheles it was and is, 2,2447 That in a wayt at alle assaies 2,2448 Supplant of love in oure daies 2,2449 The lief fulofte for the levere 2,2450 Forsakth, and so it hath don evere. 2,2451 Ensample I finde therupon, 2,2452 At Troie how that Agamenon 2,2453 Supplantede the worthi knyht 2,2454 Achilles of that swete wiht, 2,2455 Which named was Brexeiµda; 2,2456 And also of Criseiµda, 2,2457 Whom Troilus to love ches, 2,2458 Supplanted hath Diomedes. 2,2459 Of Geta and Amphitrion, 2,2460 That whilom weren bothe as on 2,2461 Of frendschipe and of compaignie, 2,2462 I rede how that Supplantarie 2,2463 In love, as it betidde tho, 2,2464 Beguiled hath on of hem tuo. 2,2465 For this Geta that I of meene, 2,2466 To whom the lusti faire Almeene 2,2467 Assured was be weie of love, 2,2468 Whan he best wende have ben above 2,2469 And sikerest of that he hadde, 2,2470 Cupido so the cause ladde, 2,2471 That whil he was out of the weie, 2,2472 Amphitrion hire love aweie 2,2473 Hath take, and in this forme he wroghte. 2,2474 Be nyhte unto the chambre he soghte, 2,2475 Wher that sche lay, and with a wyle 2,2476 He contrefeteth for the whyle 2,2477 The vois of Gete in such a wise, 2,2478 That made hire of hire bedd arise, 2,2479 Wenende that it were he, 2,2480 And let him in, and whan thei be 2,2481 Togedre abedde in armes faste, 2,2482 This Geta cam thanne ate laste 2,2483 Unto the Dore and seide, "Undo." 2,2484 And sche ansuerde and bad him go, 2,2485 And seide how that abedde al warm 2,2486 Hir lief lay naked in hir arm; 2,2487 Sche wende that it were soth. 2,2488 Lo, what Supplant of love doth: 2,2489 This Geta forth bejaped wente, 2,2490 And yit ne wiste he what it mente; 2,2491 Amphitrion him hath supplanted 2,2492 With sleyhte of love and hire enchaunted: 2,2493 And thus put every man out other, 2,2494 The Schip of love hath lost his Rother, 2,2495 So that he can no reson stiere. 2,2496 And forto speke of this matiere 2,2497 Touchende love and his Supplant, 2,2498 A tale which is acordant 2,2499 Unto thin Ere I thenke enforme. 2,2500 Now herkne, for this is the forme. 2,2501 Of thilke Cite chief of alle 2,2502 Which men the noble Rome calle, 2,2503 Er it was set to Cristes feith, 2,2504 Ther was, as the Cronique seith, 2,2505 An Emperour, the which it ladde 2,2506 In pes, that he no werres hadde: 2,2507 Ther was nothing desobeissant 2,2508 Which was to Rome appourtenant, 2,2509 Bot al was torned into reste. 2,2510 To some it thoghte for the beste, 2,2511 To some it thoghte nothing so, 2,2512 And that was only unto tho 2,2513 Whos herte stod upon knyhthode: 2,2514 Bot most of alle of his manhode 2,2515 The worthi Sone of themperour, 2,2516 Which wolde ben a werreiour, 2,2517 As he that was chivalerous 2,2518 Of worldes fame and desirous, 2,2519 Began his fadre to beseche 2,2520 That he the werres mihte seche, 2,2521 In strange Marches forto ride. 2,2522 His fader seide he scholde abide, 2,2523 And wolde granten him no leve: 2,2524 Bot he, which wolde noght beleve, 2,2525 A kniht of his to whom he triste, 2,2526 So that his fader nothing wiste, 2,2527 He tok and tolde him his corage, 2,2528 That he pourposeth a viage. 2,2529 If that fortune with him stonde, 2,2530 He seide how that he wolde fonde 2,2531 The grete See to passe unknowe, 2,2532 And there abyde for a throwe 2,2533 Upon the werres to travaile. 2,2534 And to this point withoute faile 2,2535 This kniht, whan he hath herd his lord, 2,2536 Is swore, and stant of his acord, 2,2537 As thei that bothe yonge were; 2,2538 So that in prive conseil there 2,2539 Thei ben assented forto wende. 2,2540 And therupon to make an ende, 2,2541 Tresor ynowh with hem thei token, 2,2542 And whan the time is best thei loken, 2,2543 That sodeinliche in a Galeie 2,2544 Fro Romelond thei wente here weie 2,2545 And londe upon that other side. 2,2546 The world fell so that ilke tide, 2,2547 Which evere hise happes hath diverse, 2,2548 The grete Soldan thanne of Perse 2,2549 Ayein the Caliphe of Egipte 2,2550 A werre, which that him beclipte, 2,2551 Hath in a Marche costeiant. 2,2552 And he, which was a poursuiant 2,2553 Worschipe of armes to atteigne, 2,2554 This Romein, let anon ordeigne, 2,2555 That he was redi everydel: 2,2556 And whan he was arraied wel 2,2557 Of every thing which him belongeth, 2,2558 Straght unto Kaire his weie he fongeth, 2,2559 Wher he the Soldan thanne fond, 2,2560 And axeth that withinne his lond 2,2561 He mihte him for the werre serve, 2,2562 As he which wolde his thonk deserve. 2,2563 The Soldan was riht glad with al, 2,2564 And wel the more in special 2,2565 Whan that he wiste he was Romein; 2,2566 Bot what was elles in certein, 2,2567 That mihte he wite be no weie. 2,2568 And thus the kniht of whom I seie 2,2569 Toward the Soldan is beleft, 2,2570 And in the Marches now and eft, 2,2571 Wher that the dedli werres were, 2,2572 He wroghte such knihthode there, 2,2573 That every man spak of him good. 2,2574 And thilke time so it stod, 2,2575 This mihti Soldan be his wif 2,2576 A Dowhter hath, that in this lif 2,2577 Men seiden ther was non so fair. 2,2578 Sche scholde ben hir fader hair, 2,2579 And was of yeres ripe ynowh: 2,2580 Hire beaute many an herte drowh 2,2581 To bowe unto that ilke lawe 2,2582 Fro which no lif mai be withdrawe, 2,2583 And that is love, whos nature 2,2584 Set lif and deth in aventure 2,2585 Of hem that knyhthode undertake. 2,2586 This lusti peine hath overtake 2,2587 The herte of this Romein so sore, 2,2588 That to knihthode more and more 2,2589 Prouesce avanceth his corage. 2,2590 Lich to the Leoun in his rage, 2,2591 Fro whom that alle bestes fle, 2,2592 Such was the knyht in his degre: 2,2593 Wher he was armed in the feld, 2,2594 Ther dorste non abide his scheld; 2,2595 Gret pris upon the werre he hadde. 2,2596 Bot sche which al the chance ladde, 2,2597 Fortune, schop the Marches so, 2,2598 That be thassent of bothe tuo, 2,2599 The Soldan and the Caliphe eke, 2,2600 Bataille upon a dai thei seke, 2,2601 Which was in such a wise set 2,2602 That lengere scholde it noght be let. 2,2603 Thei made hem stronge on every side, 2,2604 And whan it drowh toward the tide 2,2605 That the bataille scholde be, 2,2606 The Soldan in gret privete 2,2607 A goldring of his dowhter tok, 2,2608 And made hire swere upon a bok 2,2609 And ek upon the goddes alle, 2,2610 That if fortune so befalle 2,2611 In the bataille that he deie, 2,2612 That sche schal thilke man obeie 2,2613 And take him to hire housebonde, 2,2614 Which thilke same Ring to honde 2,2615 Hire scholde bringe after his deth. 2,2616 This hath sche swore, and forth he geth 2,2617 With al the pouer of his lond 2,2618 Unto the Marche, where he fond 2,2619 His enemy full embatailled. 2,2620 The Soldan hath the feld assailed: 2,2621 Thei that ben hardy sone assemblen, 2,2622 Wherof the dredfull hertes tremblen: 2,2623 That on sleth, and that other sterveth, 2,2624 Bot above all his pris deserveth 2,2625 This knihtly Romein; where he rod, 2,2626 His dedly swerd noman abod, 2,2627 Ayein the which was no defence; 2,2628 Egipte fledde in his presence, 2,2629 And thei of Perse upon the chace 2,2630 Poursuien: bot I not what grace 2,2631 Befell, an Arwe out of a bowe 2,2632 Al sodeinly that ilke throwe 2,2633 The Soldan smot, and ther he lay: 2,2634 The chace is left for thilke day, 2,2635 And he was bore into a tente. 2,2636 The Soldan sih how that it wente, 2,2637 And that he scholde algate die; 2,2638 And to this knyht of Romanie, 2,2639 As unto him whom he most triste, 2,2640 His Dowhter Ring, that non it wiste, 2,2641 He tok, and tolde him al the cas, 2,2642 Upon hire oth what tokne it was 2,2643 Of that sche scholde ben his wif. 2,2644 Whan this was seid, the hertes lif 2,2645 Of this Soldan departeth sone; 2,2646 And therupon, as was to done, 2,2647 The dede body wel and faire 2,2648 Thei carie til thei come at Kaire, 2,2649 Wher he was worthily begrave. 2,2650 The lordes, whiche as wolden save 2,2651 The Regne which was desolat, 2,2652 To bringe it into good astat 2,2653 A parlement thei sette anon. 2,2654 Now herkne what fell therupon: 2,2655 This yonge lord, this worthi kniht 2,2656 Of Rome, upon the same niht 2,2657 That thei amorwe trete scholde, 2,2658 Unto his Bacheler he tolde 2,2659 His conseil, and the Ring with al 2,2660 He scheweth, thurgh which that he schal, 2,2661 He seith, the kinges Dowhter wedde, 2,2662 For so the Ring was leid to wedde, 2,2663 He tolde, into hir fader hond, 2,2664 That with what man that sche it fond 2,2665 Sche scholde him take to hire lord. 2,2666 And this, he seith, stant of record, 2,2667 Bot noman wot who hath this Ring. 2,2668 This Bacheler upon this thing 2,2669 His Ere and his entente leide, 2,2670 And thoghte more thanne he seide, 2,2671 And feigneth with a fals visage 2,2672 That he was glad, bot his corage 2,2673 Was al set in an other wise. 2,2674 These olde Philosophres wise 2,2675 Thei writen upon thilke while, 2,2676 That he mai best a man beguile 2,2677 In whom the man hath most credence; 2,2678 And this befell in evidence 2,2679 Toward this yonge lord of Rome. 2,2680 His Bacheler, which hadde tome, 2,2681 Whan that his lord be nihte slepte, 2,2682 This Ring, the which his maister kepte, 2,2683 Out of his Pours awey he dede, 2,2684 And putte an other in the stede. 2,2685 Amorwe, whan the Court is set, 2,2686 The yonge ladi was forth fet, 2,2687 To whom the lordes don homage, 2,2688 And after that of Mariage 2,2689 Thei trete and axen of hir wille. 2,2690 Bot sche, which thoghte to fulfille 2,2691 Hire fader heste in this matiere, 2,2692 Seide openly, that men mai hiere, 2,2693 The charge which hire fader bad. 2,2694 Tho was this Lord of Rome glad 2,2695 And drowh toward his Pours anon, 2,2696 Bot al for noght, it was agon: 2,2697 His Bacheler it hath forthdrawe, 2,2698 And axeth ther upon the lawe 2,2699 That sche him holde covenant. 2,2700 The tokne was so sufficant 2,2701 That it ne mihte be forsake, 2,2702 And natheles his lord hath take 2,2703 Querelle ayein his oghne man; 2,2704 Bot for nothing that evere he can 2,2705 He mihte as thanne noght ben herd, 2,2706 So that his cleym is unansuerd, 2,2707 And he hath of his pourpos failed. 2,2708 This Bacheler was tho consailed 2,2709 And wedded, and of thilke Empire 2,2710 He was coroned Lord and Sire, 2,2711 And al the lond him hath received; 2,2712 Wherof his lord, which was deceived, 2,2713 A seknesse er the thridde morwe 2,2714 Conceived hath of dedly sorwe: 2,2715 And as he lay upon his deth, 2,2716 Therwhile him lasteth speche and breth, 2,2717 He sende for the worthieste 2,2718 Of al the lond and ek the beste, 2,2719 And tolde hem al the sothe tho, 2,2720 That he was Sone and Heir also 2,2721 Of themperour of grete Rome, 2,2722 And how that thei togedre come, 2,2723 This kniht and he; riht as it was, 2,2724 He tolde hem al the pleine cas, 2,2725 And for that he his conseil tolde, 2,2726 That other hath al that he wolde, 2,2727 And he hath failed of his mede: 2,2728 As for the good he takth non hiede, 2,2729 He seith, bot only of the love, 2,2730 Of which he wende have ben above. 2,2731 And therupon be lettre write 2,2732 He doth his fader forto wite 2,2733 Of al this matiere as it stod; 2,2734 And thanne with an hertly mod 2,2735 Unto the lordes he besoghte 2,2736 To telle his ladi how he boghte 2,2737 Hire love, of which an other gladeth; 2,2738 And with that word his hewe fadeth, 2,2739 And seide, "A dieu, my ladi swete." 2,2740 The lif hath lost his kindly hete, 2,2741 And he lay ded as eny ston; 2,2742 Wherof was sory manyon, 2,2743 Bot non of alle so as sche. 2,2744 This false knyht in his degree 2,2745 Arested was and put in hold: 2,2746 For openly whan it was told 2,2747 Of the tresoun which is befalle, 2,2748 Thurghout the lond thei seiden alle, 2,2749 If it be soth that men suppose, 2,2750 His oghne untrowthe him schal depose. 2,2751 And forto seche an evidence, 2,2752 With honour and gret reverence, 2,2753 Wherof they mihten knowe an ende, 2,2754 To themperour anon thei sende 2,2755 The lettre which his Sone wrot. 2,2756 And whan that he the sothe wot, 2,2757 To telle his sorwe is endeles, 2,2758 Bot yit in haste natheles 2,2759 Upon the tale which he herde 2,2760 His Stieward into Perse ferde 2,2761 With many a worthi Romein eke, 2,2762 His liege tretour forto seke; 2,2763 And whan thei thider come were, 2,2764 This kniht him hath confessed there 2,2765 How falsly that he hath him bore, 2,2766 Wherof his worthi lord was lore. 2,2767 Tho seiden some he scholde deie, 2,2768 Bot yit thei founden such a weie 2,2769 That he schal noght be ded in Perse; 2,2770 And thus the skiles ben diverse. 2,2771 Be cause that he was coroned, 2,2772 And that the lond was abandoned 2,2773 To him, althogh it were unriht, 2,2774 Ther is no peine for him diht; 2,2775 Bot to this point and to this ende 2,2776 Thei granten wel that he schal wende 2,2777 With the Romeins to Rome ayein. 2,2778 And thus acorded ful and plein, 2,2779 The qwike body with the dede 2,2780 With leve take forth thei lede, 2,2781 Wher that Supplant hath his juise. 2,2782 Wherof that thou thee miht avise 2,2783 Upon this enformacioun 2,2784 Touchende of Supplantacioun, 2,2785 That thou, my Sone, do noght so: 2,2786 And forto take hiede also 2,2787 What Supplant doth in other halve, 2,2788 Ther is noman can finde a salve 2,2789 Pleinly to helen such a Sor; 2,2790 It hath and schal ben everemor, 2,2791 Whan Pride is with Envie joint, 2,2792 He soffreth noman in good point, 2,2793 Wher that he mai his honour lette. 2,2794 And therupon if I schal sette 2,2795 Ensample, in holy cherche I finde 2,2796 How that Supplant is noght behinde; 2,2797 God wot if that it now be so: 2,2798 For in Cronique of time ago 2,2799 I finde a tale concordable 2,2800 Of Supplant, which that is no fable, 2,2801 In the manere as I schal telle, 2,2802 So as whilom the thinges felle. 2,2803 At Rome, as it hath ofte falle, 2,2804 The vicair general of alle 2,2805 Of hem that lieven Cristes feith 2,2806 His laste day, which non withseith, 2,2807 Hath schet as to the worldes yµe, 2,2808 Whos name if I schal specefie, 2,2809 He hihte Pope Nicolas. 2,2810 And thus whan that he passed was, 2,2811 The Cardinals, that wolden save 2,2812 The forme of lawe, in the conclave 2,2813 Gon forto chese a newe Pope, 2,2814 And after that thei cowthe agrope 2,2815 Hath ech of hem seid his entente: 2,2816 Til ate laste thei assente 2,2817 Upon an holy clerk reclus, 2,2818 Which full was of gostli vertus; 2,2819 His pacience and his simplesse 2,2820 Hath set him into hih noblesse. 2,2821 Thus was he Pope canonized, 2,2822 With gret honour and intronized, 2,2823 And upon chance as it is falle, 2,2824 His name Celestin men calle; 2,2825 Which notefied was be bulle 2,2826 To holi cherche and to the fulle 2,2827 In alle londes magnified. 2,2828 Bot every worschipe is envied, 2,2829 And that was thilke time sene: 2,2830 For whan this Pope of whom I meene 2,2831 Was chose, and othre set beside, 2,2832 A Cardinal was thilke tide 2,2833 Which the papat longe hath desired 2,2834 And therupon gretli conspired; 2,2835 Bot whan he sih fortune is failed, 2,2836 For which long time he hath travailed, 2,2837 That ilke fyr which Ethna brenneth 2,2838 Thurghout his wofull herte renneth, 2,2839 Which is resembled to Envie, 2,2840 Wherof Supplant and tricherie 2,2841 Engendred is; and natheles 2,2842 He feigneth love, he feigneth pes, 2,2843 Outward he doth the reverence, 2,2844 Bot al withinne his conscience 2,2845 Thurgh fals ymaginacioun 2,2846 He thoghte Supplantacioun. 2,2847 And therupon a wonder wyle 2,2848 He wroghte: for at thilke whyle 2,2849 It fell so that of his lignage 2,2850 He hadde a clergoun of yong age, 2,2851 Whom he hath in his chambre affaited. 2,2852 This Cardinal his time hath waited, 2,2853 And with his wordes slyhe and queinte, 2,2854 The whiche he cowthe wysly peinte, 2,2855 He schop this clerk of which I telle 2,2856 Toward the Pope forto duelle, 2,2857 So that withinne his chambre anyht 2,2858 He lai, and was a prive wyht 2,2859 Toward the Pope on nyhtes tide. 2,2860 Mai noman fle that schal betide. 2,2861 This Cardinal, which thoghte guile, 2,2862 Upon a day whan he hath while 2,2863 This yonge clerc unto him tok, 2,2864 And made him swere upon a bok, 2,2865 And told him what his wille was. 2,2866 And forth withal a Trompe of bras 2,2867 He hath him take, and bad him this: 2,2868 "Thou schalt," he seide, "whan time is 2,2869 Awaite, and take riht good kepe, 2,2870 Whan that the Pope is fast aslepe 2,2871 And that non other man by nyh; 2,2872 And thanne that thou be so slyh 2,2873 Thurghout the Trompe into his Ere, 2,2874 Fro hevene as thogh a vois it were, 2,2875 To soune of such prolacioun 2,2876 That he his meditacioun 2,2877 Therof mai take and understonde, 2,2878 As thogh it were of goddes sonde. 2,2879 And in this wise thou schalt seie, 2,2880 That he do thilke astat aweie 2,2881 Of Pope, in which he stant honoured, 2,2882 So schal his Soule be socoured 2,2883 Of thilke worschipe ate laste 2,2884 In hevene which schal evere laste." 2,2885 This clerc, whan he hath herd the forme 2,2886 How he the Pope scholde enforme, 2,2887 Tok of the Cardinal his leve, 2,2888 And goth him hom, til it was Eve, 2,2889 And prively the trompe he hedde, 2,2890 Til that the Pope was abedde. 2,2891 And at the Midnyht, whan he knewh 2,2892 The Pope slepte, thanne he blewh 2,2893 Withinne his trompe thurgh the wal, 2,2894 And tolde in what manere he schal 2,2895 His Papacie leve, and take 2,2896 His ferste astat: and thus awake 2,2897 This holi Pope he made thries, 2,2898 Wherof diverse fantasies 2,2899 Upon his grete holinesse 2,2900 Withinne his herte he gan impresse. 2,2901 The Pope ful of innocence 2,2902 Conceiveth in his conscience 2,2903 That it is goddes wille he cesse; 2,2904 Bot in what wise he may relesse 2,2905 His hihe astat, that wot he noght. 2,2906 And thus withinne himself bethoght, 2,2907 He bar it stille in his memoire, 2,2908 Til he cam to the Consistoire; 2,2909 And there in presence of hem alle 2,2910 He axeth, if it so befalle 2,2911 That eny Pope cesse wolde, 2,2912 How that the lawe it soffre scholde. 2,2913 Thei seten alle stille and herde, 2,2914 Was non which to the point ansuerde, 2,2915 For to what pourpos that it mente 2,2916 Ther was noman knew his entente, 2,2917 Bot only he which schop the guile. 2,2918 This Cardinal the same while 2,2919 Al openly with wordes pleine 2,2920 Seith, if the Pope wolde ordeigne 2,2921 That ther be such a lawe wroght, 2,2922 Than mihte he cesse, and elles noght. 2,2923 And as he seide, don it was; 2,2924 The Pope anon upon the cas 2,2925 Of his Papal Autorite 2,2926 Hath mad and yove the decre: 2,2927 And whan that lawe was confermed 2,2928 In due forme and al affermed, 2,2929 This innocent, which was deceived, 2,2930 His Papacie anon hath weyved, 2,2931 Renounced and resigned eke. 2,2932 That other was nothing to seke, 2,2933 Bot undernethe such a jape 2,2934 He hath so for himselve schape, 2,2935 That how as evere it him beseme, 2,2936 The Mitre with the Diademe 2,2937 He hath thurgh Supplantacion: 2,2938 And in his confirmacion 2,2939 Upon the fortune of his grace 2,2940 His name is cleped Boneface. 2,2941 Under the viser of Envie, 2,2942 Lo, thus was hid the tricherie, 2,2943 Which hath beguiled manyon. 2,2944 Bot such conseil ther mai be non, 2,2945 With treson whan it is conspired, 2,2946 That it nys lich the Sparke fyred 2,2947 Up in the Rof, which for a throwe 2,2948 Lith hidd, til whan the wyndes blowe 2,2949 It blaseth out on every side. 2,2950 This Bonefas, which can noght hyde 2,2951 The tricherie of his Supplant, 2,2952 Hath openly mad his avant 2,2953 How he the Papacie hath wonne. 2,2954 Bot thing which is with wrong begonne 2,2955 Mai nevere stonde wel at ende; 2,2956 Wher Pride schal the bowe bende, 2,2957 He schet fulofte out of the weie: 2,2958 And thus the Pope of whom I seie, 2,2959 Whan that he stod on hih the whiel, 2,2960 He can noght soffre himself be wel. 2,2961 Envie, which is loveles, 2,2962 And Pride, which is laweles, 2,2963 With such tempeste made him erre, 2,2964 That charite goth out of herre: 2,2965 So that upon misgovernance 2,2966 Ayein Lowyz the king of France 2,2967 He tok querelle of his oultrage, 2,2968 And seide he scholde don hommage 2,2969 Unto the cherche bodily. 2,2970 Bot he, that wiste nothing why 2,2971 He scholde do so gret servise 2,2972 After the world in such a wise, 2,2973 Withstod the wrong of that demande; 2,2974 For noght the Pope mai comande 2,2975 The king wol noght the Pope obeie. 2,2976 This Pope tho be alle weie 2,2977 That he mai worche of violence 2,2978 Hath sent the bulle of his sentence 2,2979 With cursinge and with enterdit. 2,2980 The king upon this wrongful plyt, 2,2981 To kepe his regne fro servage, 2,2982 Conseiled was of his Barnage 2,2983 That miht with miht schal be withstonde. 2,2984 Thus was the cause take on honde, 2,2985 And seiden that the Papacie 2,2986 Thei wolde honoure and magnefie 2,2987 In al that evere is spirital; 2,2988 Bot thilke Pride temporal 2,2989 Of Boneface in his persone, 2,2990 Ayein that ilke wrong al one 2,2991 Thei wolde stonden in debat: 2,2992 And thus the man and noght the stat 2,2993 The Frensche schopen be her miht 2,2994 To grieve. And fell ther was a kniht, 2,2995 Sire Guilliam de Langharet, 2,2996 Which was upon this cause set; 2,2997 And therupon he tok a route 2,2998 Of men of Armes and rod oute, 2,2999 So longe and in a wayt he lay, 2,3000 That he aspide upon a day 2,3001 The Pope was at Avinoun, 2,3002 And scholde ryde out of the toun 2,3003 Unto Pontsorge, the which is 2,3004 A Castell in Provence of his. 2,3005 Upon the weie and as he rod, 2,3006 This kniht, which hoved and abod 2,3007 Embuisshed upon horse bak, 2,3008 Al sodeinliche upon him brak 2,3009 And hath him be the bridel sesed, 2,3010 And seide: "O thou, which hast desesed 2,3011 The Court of France be thi wrong, 2,3012 Now schalt thou singe an other song: 2,3013 Thin enterdit and thi sentence 2,3014 Ayein thin oghne conscience 2,3015 Hierafter thou schalt fiele and grope. 2,3016 We pleigne noght ayein the Pope, 2,3017 For thilke name is honourable, 2,3018 Bot thou, which hast be deceivable 2,3019 And tricherous in al thi werk, 2,3020 Thou Bonefas, thou proude clerk, 2,3021 Misledere of the Papacie, 2,3022 Thi false bodi schal abye 2,3023 And soffre that it hath deserved." 2,3024 Lo, thus the Supplantour was served; 2,3025 For thei him ladden into France 2,3026 And setten him to his penance 2,3027 Withinne a tour in harde bondes, 2,3028 Wher he for hunger bothe hise hondes 2,3029 Eet of and deide, god wot how: 2,3030 Of whom the wrytinge is yit now 2,3031 Registred, as a man mai hiere, 2,3032 Which spekth and seith in this manere: 2,3033 Thin entre lich the fox was slyh, 2,3034 Thi regne also with pride on hih 2,3035 Was lich the Leon in his rage; 2,3036 Bot ate laste of thi passage 2,3037 Thi deth was to the houndes like. 2,3038 Such is the lettre of his Cronique 2,3039 Proclamed in the Court of Rome, 2,3040 Wherof the wise ensample nome. 2,3041 And yit, als ferforth as I dar, 2,3042 I rede alle othre men be war, 2,3043 And that thei loke wel algate 2,3044 That non his oghne astat translate 2,3045 Of holi cherche in no degree 2,3046 Be fraude ne soubtilite: 2,3047 For thilke honour which Aaron tok 2,3048 Schal non receive, as seith the bok, 2,3049 Bot he be cleped as he was. 2,3050 What I schal thenken in this cas 2,3051 Of that I hiere now aday, 2,3052 I not: bot he which can and may, 2,3053 Be reson bothe and be nature 2,3054 The help of every mannes cure, 2,3055 He kepe Simon fro the folde. 2,3056 For Joachim thilke Abbot tolde 2,3057 How suche daies scholden falle, 2,3058 That comunliche in places alle 2,3059 The Chapmen of such mercerie 2,3060 With fraude and with Supplantarie 2,3061 So manye scholden beie and selle, 2,3062 That he ne may for schame telle 2,3063 So foul a Senne in mannes Ere. 2,3064 Bot god forbiede that it were 2,3065 In oure daies that he seith: 2,3066 For if the Clerc beware his feith 2,3067 In chapmanhod at such a feire, 2,3068 The remenant mot nede empeire 2,3069 Of al that to the world belongeth; 2,3070 For whan that holi cherche wrongeth, 2,3071 I not what other thing schal rihte. 2,3072 And natheles at mannes sihte 2,3073 Envie forto be preferred 2,3074 Hath conscience so differred, 2,3075 That noman loketh to the vice 2,3076 Which is the Moder of malice, 2,3077 And that is thilke false Envie, 2,3078 Which causeth many a tricherie; 2,3079 For wher he may an other se 2,3080 That is mor gracious than he, 2,3081 It schal noght stonden in his miht 2,3082 Bot if he hindre such a wiht: 2,3083 And that is welnyh overal, 2,3084 This vice is now so general. 2,3085 Envie thilke unhapp indrowh, 2,3086 Whan Joab be deceipte slowh 2,3087 Abner, for drede he scholde be 2,3088 With king David such as was he. 2,3089 And thurgh Envie also it fell 2,3090 Of thilke false Achitofell, 2,3091 For his conseil was noght achieved, 2,3092 Bot that he sih Cusy believed 2,3093 With Absolon and him forsake, 2,3094 He heng himself upon a stake. 2,3095 Senec witnesseth openly 2,3096 How that Envie proprely 2,3097 Is of the Court the comun wenche, 2,3098 And halt taverne forto schenche 2,3099 That drink which makth the herte brenne, 2,3100 And doth the wit aboute renne, 2,3101 Be every weie to compasse 2,3102 How that he mihte alle othre passe, 2,3103 As he which thurgh unkindeschipe 2,3104 Envieth every felaschipe; 2,3105 So that thou miht wel knowe and se, 2,3106 Ther is no vice such as he, 2,3107 Ferst toward godd abhominable, 2,3108 And to mankinde unprofitable: 2,3109 And that be wordes bot a fewe 2,3110 I schal be reson prove and schewe. 2,3111 Envie if that I schal descrive, 2,3112 He is noght schaply forto wyve 2,3113 In Erthe among the wommen hiere; 2,3114 For ther is in him no matiere 2,3115 Wherof he mihte do plesance. 2,3116 Ferst for his hevy continance 2,3117 Of that he semeth evere unglad, 2,3118 He is noght able to ben had; 2,3119 And ek he brenneth so withinne, 2,3120 That kinde mai no profit winne, 2,3121 Wherof he scholde his love plese: 2,3122 For thilke blod which scholde have ese 2,3123 To regne among the moiste veines, 2,3124 Is drye of thilke unkendeli peines 2,3125 Thurgh whiche Envie is fyred ay. 2,3126 And thus be reson prove I may 2,3127 That toward love Envie is noght; 2,3128 And otherwise if it be soght, 2,3129 Upon what side as evere it falle, 2,3130 It is the werste vice of alle, 2,3131 Which of himself hath most malice. 2,3132 For understond that every vice 2,3133 Som cause hath, wherof it groweth, 2,3134 Bot of Envie noman knoweth 2,3135 Fro whenne he cam bot out of helle. 2,3136 For thus the wise clerkes telle, 2,3137 That no spirit bot of malice 2,3138 Be weie of kinde upon a vice 2,3139 Is tempted, and be such a weie 2,3140 Envie hath kinde put aweie 2,3141 And of malice hath his steringe, 2,3142 Wherof he makth his bakbitinge, 2,3143 And is himself therof desesed. 2,3144 So mai ther be no kinde plesed; 2,3145 For ay the mor that he envieth, 2,3146 The more ayein himself he plieth. 2,3147 Thus stant Envie in good espeir 2,3148 To ben himself the develes heir, 2,3149 As he which is his nexte liche 2,3150 And forthest fro the heveneriche, 2,3151 For there mai he nevere wone. 2,3152 Forthi, my goode diere Sone, 2,3153 If thou wolt finde a siker weie 2,3154 To love, put Envie aweie. 2,3155 Min holy fader, reson wolde 2,3156 That I this vice eschuie scholde: 2,3157 Bot yit to strengthe mi corage, 2,3158 If that ye wolde in avantage 2,3159 Therof sette a recoverir, 2,3160 It were tome a gret desir, 2,3161 That I this vice mihte flee. 2,3162 Nou understond, my Sone, and se, 2,3163 Ther is phisique for the seke, 2,3164 And vertus for the vices eke. 2,3165 Who that the vices wolde eschuie, 2,3166 He mot be resoun thanne suie 2,3167 The vertus; for be thilke weie 2,3168 He mai the vices don aweie, 2,3169 For thei togedre mai noght duelle: 2,3170 For as the water of a welle 2,3171 Of fyr abateth the malice, 2,3172 Riht so vertu fordoth the vice. 2,3173 Ayein Envie is Charite, 2,3174 Which is the Moder of Pite, 2,3175 That makth a mannes herte tendre, 2,3176 That it mai no malice engendre 2,3177 In him that is enclin therto. 2,3178 For his corage is tempred so, 2,3179 That thogh he mihte himself relieve, 2,3180 Yit wolde he noght an other grieve, 2,3181 Bot rather forto do plesance 2,3182 He berth himselven the grevance, 2,3183 So fain he wolde an other ese. 2,3184 Wherof, mi Sone, for thin ese 2,3185 Now herkne a tale which I rede, 2,3186 And understond it wel, I rede. 2,3187 Among the bokes of latin 2,3188 I finde write of Constantin 2,3189 The worthi Emperour of Rome, 2,3190 Suche infortunes to him come, 2,3191 Whan he was in his lusti age, 2,3192 The lepre cawhte in his visage 2,3193 And so forth overal aboute, 2,3194 That he ne mihte ryden oute: 2,3195 So lefte he bothe Schield and spere, 2,3196 As he that mihte him noght bestere, 2,3197 And hield him in his chambre clos. 2,3198 Thurgh al the world the fame aros, 2,3199 The grete clerkes ben asent 2,3200 And come at his comandement 2,3201 To trete upon this lordes hele. 2,3202 So longe thei togedre dele, 2,3203 That thei upon this medicine 2,3204 Apointen hem, and determine 2,3205 That in the maner as it stod 2,3206 Thei wolde him bathe in childes blod 2,3207 Withinne sevene wynter age: 2,3208 For, as thei sein, that scholde assuage 2,3209 The lepre and al the violence, 2,3210 Which that thei knewe of Accidence 2,3211 And noght be weie of kinde is falle. 2,3212 And therto thei acorden alle 2,3213 As for final conclusioun, 2,3214 And tolden here opinioun 2,3215 To themperour: and he anon 2,3216 His conseil tok, and therupon 2,3217 With lettres and with seales oute 2,3218 Thei sende in every lond aboute 2,3219 The yonge children forto seche, 2,3220 Whos blod, thei seiden, schal be leche 2,3221 For themperoures maladie. 2,3222 Ther was ynowh to wepe and crie 2,3223 Among the Modres, whan thei herde 2,3224 Hou wofully this cause ferde, 2,3225 Bot natheles thei moten bowe; 2,3226 And thus wommen ther come ynowhe 2,3227 With children soukende on the Tete. 2,3228 Tho was ther manye teres lete, 2,3229 Bot were hem lieve or were hem lothe, 2,3230 The wommen and the children bothe 2,3231 Into the Paleis forth be broght 2,3232 With many a sory hertes thoght 2,3233 Of hem whiche of here bodi bore 2,3234 The children hadde, and so forlore 2,3235 Withinne a while scholden se. 2,3236 The Modres wepe in here degre, 2,3237 And manye of hem aswoune falle, 2,3238 The yonge babes criden alle: 2,3239 This noyse aros, the lord it herde, 2,3240 And loked out, and how it ferde 2,3241 He sih, and as who seith abreide 2,3242 Out of his slep, and thus he seide: 2,3243 "O thou divine pourveance, 2,3244 Which every man in the balance 2,3245 Of kinde hast formed to be liche, 2,3246 The povere is bore as is the riche 2,3247 And deieth in the same wise, 2,3248 Upon the fol, upon the wise 2,3249 Siknesse and hele entrecomune; 2,3250 Mai non eschuie that fortune 2,3251 Which kinde hath in hire lawe set; 2,3252 Hire strengthe and beaute ben beset 2,3253 To every man aliche fre, 2,3254 That sche preferreth no degre 2,3255 As in the disposicioun 2,3256 Of bodili complexioun: 2,3257 And ek of Soule resonable 2,3258 The povere child is bore als able 2,3259 To vertu as the kinges Sone; 2,3260 For every man his oghne wone 2,3261 After the lust of his assay 2,3262 The vice or vertu chese may. 2,3263 Thus stonden alle men franchised, 2,3264 Bot in astat thei ben divised; 2,3265 To some worschipe and richesse, 2,3266 To some poverte and distresse, 2,3267 On lordeth and an other serveth; 2,3268 Bot yit as every man deserveth 2,3269 The world yifth noght his yiftes hiere. 2,3270 Bot certes he hath gret matiere 2,3271 To ben of good condicioun, 2,3272 Which hath in his subjeccioun 2,3273 The men that ben of his semblance." 2,3274 And ek he tok a remembrance 2,3275 How he that made lawe of kinde 2,3276 Wolde every man to lawe binde, 2,3277 And bad a man, such as he wolde 2,3278 Toward himself, riht such he scholde 2,3279 Toward an other don also. 2,3280 And thus this worthi lord as tho 2,3281 Sette in balance his oghne astat 2,3282 And with himself stod in debat, 2,3283 And thoghte hou that it was noght good 2,3284 To se so mochel mannes blod 2,3285 Be spilt for cause of him alone. 2,3286 He sih also the grete mone, 2,3287 Of that the Modres were unglade, 2,3288 And of the wo the children made, 2,3289 Wherof that al his herte tendreth, 2,3290 And such pite withinne engendreth, 2,3291 That him was levere forto chese 2,3292 His oghne bodi forto lese, 2,3293 Than se so gret a moerdre wroght 2,3294 Upon the blod which gulteth noght. 2,3295 Thus for the pite which he tok 2,3296 Alle othre leches he forsok, 2,3297 And put him out of aventure 2,3298 Al only into goddes cure; 2,3299 And seith, "Who that woll maister be, 2,3300 He mot be servant to pite." 2,3301 So ferforth he was overcome 2,3302 With charite, that he hath nome 2,3303 His conseil and hise officers, 2,3304 And bad unto hise tresorers 2,3305 That thei his tresour al aboute 2,3306 Departe among the povere route 2,3307 Of wommen and of children bothe, 2,3308 Wherof thei mihte hem fede and clothe 2,3309 And saufli tornen hom ayein 2,3310 Withoute lost of eny grein. 2,3311 Thurgh charite thus he despendeth 2,3312 His good, wherof that he amendeth 2,3313 The povere poeple, and contrevaileth 2,3314 The harm, that he hem so travaileth: 2,3315 And thus the woful nyhtes sorwe 2,3316 To joie is torned on the morwe; 2,3317 Al was thonkinge, al was blessinge, 2,3318 Which erst was wepinge and cursinge; 2,3319 Thes wommen gon hom glade ynowh, 2,3320 Echon for joie on other lowh, 2,3321 And preiden for this lordes hele, 2,3322 Which hath relessed the querele, 2,3323 And hath his oghne will forsake 2,3324 In charite for goddes sake. 2,3325 Bot now hierafter thou schalt hiere 2,3326 What god hath wroght in this matiere, 2,3327 As he which doth al equite. 2,3328 To him that wroghte charite 2,3329 He was ayeinward charitous, 2,3330 And to pite he was pitous: 2,3331 For it was nevere knowe yit 2,3332 That charite goth unaquit. 2,3333 The nyht, whan he was leid to slepe, 2,3334 The hihe god, which wolde him kepe, 2,3335 Seint Peter and seint Poul him sende, 2,3336 Be whom he wolde his lepre amende. 2,3337 Thei tuo to him slepende appiere 2,3338 Fro god, and seide in this manere: 2,3339 "O Constantin, for thou hast served 2,3340 Pite, thou hast pite deserved: 2,3341 Forthi thou schalt such pite have 2,3342 That god thurgh pite woll thee save. 2,3343 So schalt thou double hele finde, 2,3344 Ferst for thi bodiliche kinde, 2,3345 And for thi wofull Soule also, 2,3346 Thou schalt ben hol of bothe tuo. 2,3347 And for thou schalt thee noght despeire, 2,3348 Thi lepre schal nomore empeire 2,3349 Til thou wolt sende therupon 2,3350 Unto the Mont of Celion, 2,3351 Wher that Silvestre and his clergie 2,3352 Togedre duelle in compaignie 2,3353 For drede of thee, which many day 2,3354 Hast ben a fo to Cristes lay, 2,3355 And hast destruid to mochel schame 2,3356 The prechours of his holy name. 2,3357 Bot now thou hast somdiel appesed 2,3358 Thi god, and with good dede plesed, 2,3359 That thou thi pite hast bewared 2,3360 Upon the blod which thou hast spared. 2,3361 Forthi to thi salvacion 2,3362 Thou schalt have enformacioun, 2,3363 Such as Silvestre schal the teche: 2,3364 The nedeth of non other leche." 2,3365 This Emperour, which al this herde, 2,3366 "Grant merci lordes," he ansuerde, 2,3367 "I wol do so as ye me seie. 2,3368 Bot of o thing I wolde preie: 2,3369 What schal I telle unto Silvestre 2,3370 Or of youre name or of youre estre?" 2,3371 And thei him tolden what thei hihte, 2,3372 And forth withal out of his sihte 2,3373 Thei passen up into the hevene. 2,3374 And he awok out of his swevene, 2,3375 And clepeth, and men come anon: 2,3376 He tolde his drem, and therupon 2,3377 In such a wise as he hem telleth 2,3378 The Mont wher that Silvestre duelleth 2,3379 Thei have in alle haste soght, 2,3380 And founde he was and with hem broght 2,3381 To themperour, which to him tolde 2,3382 His swevene and elles what he wolde. 2,3383 And whan Silvestre hath herd the king, 2,3384 He was riht joiful of this thing, 2,3385 And him began with al his wit 2,3386 To techen upon holi writ 2,3387 Ferst how mankinde was forlore, 2,3388 And how the hihe god therfore 2,3389 His Sone sende from above, 2,3390 Which bore was for mannes love, 2,3391 And after of his oghne chois 2,3392 He tok his deth upon the crois; 2,3393 And how in grave he was beloke, 2,3394 And how that he hath helle broke, 2,3395 And tok hem out that were him lieve; 2,3396 And forto make ous full believe 2,3397 That he was verrai goddes Sone, 2,3398 Ayein the kinde of mannes wone 2,3399 Fro dethe he ros the thridde day, 2,3400 And whanne he wolde, as he wel may, 2,3401 He styh up to his fader evene 2,3402 With fleissh and blod into the hevene; 2,3403 And riht so in the same forme 2,3404 In fleissh and blod he schal reforme, 2,3405 Whan time comth, the qwike and dede 2,3406 At thilke woful dai of drede, 2,3407 Where every man schal take his dom, 2,3408 Als wel the Maister as the grom. 2,3409 The mihti kinges retenue 2,3410 That dai may stonde of no value 2,3411 With worldes strengthe to defende; 2,3412 For every man mot thanne entende 2,3413 To stonde upon his oghne dedes 2,3414 And leve alle othre mennes nedes. 2,3415 That dai mai no consail availe, 2,3416 The pledour and the plee schal faile, 2,3417 The sentence of that ilke day 2,3418 Mai non appell sette in delay; 2,3419 Ther mai no gold the Jugge plie, 2,3420 That he ne schal the sothe trie 2,3421 And setten every man upriht, 2,3422 Als wel the plowman as the kniht: 2,3423 The lewed man, the grete clerk 2,3424 Schal stonde upon his oghne werk, 2,3425 And such as he is founde tho, 2,3426 Such schal he be for everemo. 2,3427 Ther mai no peine be relessed, 2,3428 Ther mai no joie ben encressed, 2,3429 Bot endeles, as thei have do, 2,3430 He schal receive on of the tuo. 2,3431 And thus Silvestre with his sawe 2,3432 The ground of al the newe lawe 2,3433 With gret devocion he precheth, 2,3434 Fro point to point and pleinly techeth 2,3435 Unto this hethen Emperour; 2,3436 And seith, the hihe creatour 2,3437 Hath underfonge his charite, 2,3438 Of that he wroghte such pite, 2,3439 Whan he the children hadde on honde. 2,3440 Thus whan this lord hath understonde 2,3441 Of al this thing how that it ferde, 2,3442 Unto Silvestre he thanne ansuerde, 2,3443 With al his hole herte and seith 2,3444 That he is redi to the feith. 2,3445 And so the vessel which for blod 2,3446 Was mad, Silvestre, ther it stod, 2,3447 With clene water of the welle 2,3448 In alle haste he let do felle, 2,3449 And sette Constantin therinne 2,3450 Al naked up unto the chinne. 2,3451 And in the while it was begunne, 2,3452 A liht, as thogh it were a Sunne, 2,3453 Fro hevene into the place com 2,3454 Wher that he tok his cristendom; 2,3455 And evere among the holi tales 2,3456 Lich as thei weren fisshes skales 2,3457 Ther fellen from him now and eft, 2,3458 Til that ther was nothing beleft 2,3459 Of al his grete maladie. 2,3460 For he that wolde him purefie, 2,3461 The hihe god hath mad him clene, 2,3462 So that ther lefte nothing sene; 2,3463 He hath him clensed bothe tuo, 2,3464 The bodi and the Soule also. 2,3465 Tho knew this Emperour in dede 2,3466 That Cristes feith was forto drede, 2,3467 And sende anon hise lettres oute 2,3468 And let do crien al aboute, 2,3469 Up peine of deth that noman weyve 2,3470 That he baptesme ne receive: 2,3471 After his Moder qweene Heleine 2,3472 He sende, and so betwen hem tweine 2,3473 Thei treten, that the Cite all 2,3474 Was cristned, and sche forth withall. 2,3475 This Emperour, which hele hath founde, 2,3476 Withinne Rome anon let founde 2,3477 Tuo cherches, which he dede make 2,3478 For Peter and for Poules sake, 2,3479 Of whom he hadde avisioun; 2,3480 And yaf therto possessioun 2,3481 Of lordschipe and of worldes good. 2,3482 Bot how so that his will was good 2,3483 Toward the Pope and his Franchise, 2,3484 Yit hath it proved other wise, 2,3485 To se the worchinge of the dede: 2,3486 For in Cronique this I rede; 2,3487 Anon as he hath mad the yifte, 2,3488 A vois was herd on hih the lifte, 2,3489 Of which al Rome was adrad, 2,3490 And seith: "To day is venym schad 2,3491 In holi cherche of temporal, 2,3492 Which medleth with the spirital." 2,3493 And hou it stant of that degree 2,3494 Yit mai a man the sothe se: 2,3495 God mai amende it, whan he wile, 2,3496 I can ther to non other skile. 2,3497 Bot forto go ther I began, 2,3498 How charite mai helpe a man 2,3499 To bothe worldes, I have seid: 2,3500 And if thou have an Ere leid, 2,3501 Mi Sone, thou miht understonde, 2,3502 If charite be take on honde, 2,3503 Ther folweth after mochel grace. 2,3504 Forthi, if that thou wolt pourchace 2,3505 How that thou miht Envie flee, 2,3506 Aqueinte thee with charite, 2,3507 Which is the vertu sovereine. 2,3508 Mi fader, I schal do my peine: 2,3509 For this ensample which ye tolde 2,3510 With al myn herte I have withholde, 2,3511 So that I schal for everemore 2,3512 Eschuie Envie wel the more: 2,3513 And that I have er this misdo, 2,3514 Yif me my penance er I go. 2,3515 And over that to mi matiere 2,3516 Of schrifte, why we sitten hiere 2,3517 In privete betwen ous tweie, 2,3518 Now axeth what ther is, I preie. 2,3519 Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore 2,3520 I woll thee telle what is more, 2,3521 So that thou schalt the vices knowe: 2,3522 For whan thei be to thee full knowe, 2,3523 Thou miht hem wel the betre eschuie. 2,3524 And for this cause I thenke suie 2,3525 The forme bothe and the matiere, 2,3526 As now suiende thou schalt hiere 2,3527 Which vice stant next after this: 2,3528 And whan thou wost how that it is, 2,3529 As thou schalt hiere me devise, 2,3530 Thow miht thiself the betre avise. 3, 1 If thou the vices lest to knowe, 3, 2 Mi Sone, it hath noght ben unknowe, 3, 3 Fro ferst that men the swerdes grounde, 3, 4 That ther nis on upon this grounde, 3, 5 A vice forein fro the lawe, 3, 6 Wherof that many a good felawe 3, 7 Hath be distraght be sodein chance; 3, 8 And yit to kinde no plesance 3, 9 It doth, bot wher he most achieveth 3, 10 His pourpos, most to kinde he grieveth, 3, 11 As he which out of conscience 3, 12 Is enemy to pacience: 3, 13 And is be name on of the Sevene, 3, 14 Which ofte hath set this world unevene, 3, 15 And cleped is the cruel Ire, 3, 16 Whos herte is everemore on fyre 3, 17 To speke amis and to do bothe, 3, 18 For his servantz ben evere wrothe. 3, 19 Mi goode fader, tell me this: 3, 20 What thing is Ire? Sone, it is 3, 21 That in oure englissh Wrathe is hote, 3, 22 Which hath hise wordes ay so hote, 3, 23 That all a mannes pacience 3, 24 Is fyred of the violence. 3, 25 For he with him hath evere fyve 3, 26 Servantz that helpen him to stryve: 3, 27 The ferst of hem Malencolie 3, 28 Is cleped, which in compaignie 3, 29 An hundred times in an houre 3, 30 Wol as an angri beste loure, 3, 31 And noman wot the cause why. 3, 32 Mi Sone, schrif thee now forthi: 3, 33 Hast thou be Malencolien? 3, 34 Ye, fader, be seint Julien, 3, 35 Bot I untrewe wordes use, 3, 36 I mai me noght therof excuse: 3, 37 And al makth love, wel I wot, 3, 38 Of which myn herte is evere hot, 3, 39 So that I brenne as doth a glede 3, 40 For Wrathe that I mai noght spede. 3, 41 And thus fulofte a day for noght 3, 42 Save onlich of myn oghne thoght 3, 43 I am so with miselven wroth, 3, 44 That how so that the game goth 3, 45 With othre men, I am noght glad; 3, 46 Bot I am wel the more unglad, 3, 47 For that is othre mennes game 3, 48 It torneth me to pure grame. 3, 49 Thus am I with miself oppressed 3, 50 Of thoght, the which I have impressed, 3, 51 That al wakende I dreme and meete 3, 52 That I with hire al one meete 3, 53 And preie hire of som good ansuere: 3, 54 Bot for sche wol noght gladly swere, 3, 55 Sche seith me nay withouten oth; 3, 56 And thus wexe I withinne wroth, 3, 57 That outward I am al affraied, 3, 58 And so distempred and esmaied. 3, 59 A thousand times on a day 3, 60 Ther souneth in myn Eres nay, 3, 61 The which sche seide me tofore: 3, 62 Thus be my wittes as forlore; 3, 63 And namely whan I beginne 3, 64 To rekne with miself withinne 3, 65 How many yeres ben agon, 3, 66 Siththe I have trewly loved on 3, 67 And nevere tok of other hede, 3, 68 And evere aliche fer to spede 3, 69 I am, the more I with hir dele, 3, 70 So that myn happ and al myn hele 3, 71 Me thenkth is ay the leng the ferre, 3, 72 That bringth my gladschip out of herre, 3, 73 Wherof my wittes ben empeired, 3, 74 And I, as who seith, al despeired. 3, 75 For finaly, whan that I muse 3, 76 And thenke how sche me wol refuse, 3, 77 I am with anger so bestad, 3, 78 For al this world mihte I be glad: 3, 79 And for the while that it lasteth 3, 80 Al up so doun my joie it casteth, 3, 81 And ay the furthere that I be, 3, 82 Whan I ne may my ladi se, 3, 83 The more I am redy to wraththe, 3, 84 That for the touchinge of a laththe 3, 85 Or for the torninge of a stree 3, 86 I wode as doth the wylde Se, 3, 87 And am so malencolious, 3, 88 That ther nys servant in myn hous 3, 89 Ne non of tho that ben aboute, 3, 90 That ech of hem ne stant in doute, 3, 91 And wenen that I scholde rave 3, 92 For Anger that thei se me have; 3, 93 And so thei wondre more and lasse, 3, 94 Til that thei sen it overpasse. 3, 95 Bot, fader, if it so betide, 3, 96 That I aproche at eny tide 3, 97 The place wher my ladi is, 3, 98 And thanne that hire like ywiss 3, 99 To speke a goodli word untome, 3, 100 For al the gold that is in Rome 3, 101 Ne cowthe I after that be wroth, 3, 102 Bot al myn Anger overgoth; 3, 103 So glad I am of the presence 3, 104 Of hire, that I all offence 3, 105 Foryete, as thogh it were noght, 3, 106 So overgladed is my thoght. 3, 107 And natheles, the soth to telle, 3, 108 Ayeinward if it so befelle 3, 109 That I at thilke time sihe 3, 110 On me that sche miscaste hire yhe, 3, 111 Or that sche liste noght to loke, 3, 112 And I therof good hiede toke, 3, 113 Anon into my ferste astat 3, 114 I torne, and am with al so mat, 3, 115 That evere it is aliche wicke. 3, 116 And thus myn hand ayein the pricke 3, 117 I hurte and have do many day, 3, 118 And go so forth as I go may, 3, 119 Fulofte bitinge on my lippe, 3, 120 And make unto miself a whippe. 3, 121 With which in many a chele and hete 3, 122 Mi wofull herte is so tobete, 3, 123 That all my wittes ben unsofte 3, 124 And I am wroth, I not how ofte; 3, 125 And al it is Malencolie, 3, 126 Which groweth of the fantasie 3, 127 Of love, that me wol noght loute: 3, 128 So bere I forth an angri snoute 3, 129 Ful manye times in a yer. 3, 130 Bot, fader, now ye sitten hier 3, 131 In loves stede, I yow beseche, 3, 132 That som ensample ye me teche, 3, 133 Wherof I mai miself appese. 3, 134 Mi Sone, for thin hertes ese 3, 135 I schal fulfille thi preiere, 3, 136 So that thou miht the betre lere 3, 137 What mischief that this vice stereth, 3, 138 Which in his Anger noght forbereth, 3, 139 Wherof that after him forthenketh, 3, 140 Whan he is sobre and that he thenketh 3, 141 Upon the folie of his dede; 3, 142 And of this point a tale I rede. 3, 143 Ther was a king which Eolus 3, 144 Was hote, and it befell him thus, 3, 145 That he tuo children hadde faire, 3, 146 The Sone cleped was Machaire, 3, 147 The dowhter ek Canace hihte. 3, 148 Be daie bothe and ek be nyhte, 3, 149 Whil thei be yonge, of comun wone 3, 150 In chambre thei togedre wone, 3, 151 And as thei scholden pleide hem ofte, 3, 152 Til thei be growen up alofte 3, 153 Into the youthe of lusti age, 3, 154 Whan kinde assaileth the corage 3, 155 With love and doth him forto bowe, 3, 156 That he no reson can allowe, 3, 157 Bot halt the lawes of nature: 3, 158 For whom that love hath under cure, 3, 159 As he is blind himself, riht so 3, 160 He makth his client blind also. 3, 161 In such manere as I you telle 3, 162 As thei al day togedre duelle, 3, 163 This brother mihte it noght asterte 3, 164 That he with al his hole herte 3, 165 His love upon his Soster caste: 3, 166 And so it fell hem ate laste, 3, 167 That this Machaire with Canace 3, 168 Whan thei were in a prive place, 3, 169 Cupide bad hem ferst to kesse, 3, 170 And after sche which is Maistresse 3, 171 In kinde and techeth every lif 3, 172 Withoute lawe positif, 3, 173 Of which sche takth nomaner charge, 3, 174 Bot kepth hire lawes al at large, 3, 175 Nature, tok hem into lore 3, 176 And tawht hem so, that overmore 3, 177 Sche hath hem in such wise daunted, 3, 178 That thei were, as who seith, enchaunted. 3, 179 And as the blinde an other ledeth 3, 180 And til thei falle nothing dredeth, 3, 181 Riht so thei hadde non insihte; 3, 182 Bot as the bridd which wole alihte 3, 183 And seth the mete and noght the net, 3, 184 Which in deceipte of him is set, 3, 185 This yonge folk no peril sihe, 3, 186 Bot that was likinge in here yhe, 3, 187 So that thei felle upon the chance 3, 188 Where witt hath lore his remembrance. 3, 189 So longe thei togedre assemble, 3, 190 The wombe aros, and sche gan tremble, 3, 191 And hield hire in hire chambre clos 3, 192 For drede it scholde be disclos 3, 193 And come to hire fader Ere: 3, 194 Wherof the Sone hadde also fere, 3, 195 And feigneth cause forto ryde; 3, 196 For longe dorste he noght abyde, 3, 197 In aunter if men wolde sein 3, 198 That he his Soster hath forlein: 3, 199 For yit sche hadde it noght beknowe 3, 200 Whos was the child at thilke throwe. 3, 201 Machaire goth, Canace abit, 3, 202 The which was noght delivered yit, 3, 203 Bot riht sone after that sche was. 3, 204 Now lest and herkne a woful cas. 3, 205 The sothe, which mai noght ben hid, 3, 206 Was ate laste knowe and kid 3, 207 Unto the king, how that it stod. 3, 208 And whan that he it understod, 3, 209 Anon into Malencolie, 3, 210 As thogh it were a frenesie, 3, 211 He fell, as he which nothing cowthe 3, 212 How maistrefull love is in yowthe: 3, 213 And for he was to love strange, 3, 214 He wolde noght his herte change 3, 215 To be benigne and favorable 3, 216 To love, bot unmerciable 3, 217 Betwen the wawe of wod and wroth 3, 218 Into his dowhtres chambre he goth, 3, 219 And sih the child was late bore, 3, 220 Wherof he hath hise othes swore 3, 221 That sche it schal ful sore abye. 3, 222 And sche began merci to crie, 3, 223 Upon hire bare knes and preide, 3, 224 And to hire fader thus sche seide: 3, 225 "Ha mercy] fader, thenk I am 3, 226 Thi child, and of thi blod I cam. 3, 227 That I misdede yowthe it made, 3, 228 And in the flodes bad me wade, 3, 229 Wher that I sih no peril tho: 3, 230 Bot now it is befalle so, 3, 231 Merci, my fader, do no wreche]" 3, 232 And with that word sche loste speche 3, 233 And fell doun swounende at his fot, 3, 234 As sche for sorwe nedes mot. 3, 235 Bot his horrible crualte 3, 236 Ther mihte attempre no pite: 3, 237 Out of hire chambre forth he wente 3, 238 Al full of wraththe in his entente, 3, 239 And tok the conseil in his herte 3, 240 That sche schal noght the deth asterte, 3, 241 As he which Malencolien 3, 242 Of pacience hath no lien, 3, 243 Wherof the wraththe he mai restreigne. 3, 244 And in this wilde wode peine, 3, 245 Whanne al his resoun was untame, 3, 246 A kniht he clepeth be his name, 3, 247 And tok him as be weie of sonde 3, 248 A naked swerd to bere on honde, 3, 249 And seide him that he scholde go 3, 250 And telle unto his dowhter so 3, 251 In the manere as he him bad, 3, 252 How sche that scharpe swerdes blad 3, 253 Receive scholde and do withal 3, 254 So as sche wot wherto it schal. 3, 255 Forth in message goth this kniht 3, 256 Unto this wofull yonge wiht, 3, 257 This scharpe swerd to hire he tok: 3, 258 Wherof that al hire bodi qwok, 3, 259 For wel sche wiste what it mente, 3, 260 And that it was to thilke entente 3, 261 That sche hireselven scholde slee. 3, 262 And to the kniht sche seide: "Yee, 3, 263 Now that I wot my fadres wille, 3, 264 That I schal in this wise spille, 3, 265 I wole obeie me therto, 3, 266 And as he wole it schal be do. 3, 267 Bot now this thing mai be non other, 3, 268 I wole a lettre unto mi brother, 3, 269 So as my fieble hand may wryte, 3, 270 With al my wofull herte endite." 3, 271 Sche tok a Penne on honde tho, 3, 272 Fro point to point and al the wo, 3, 273 Als ferforth as hireself it wot, 3, 274 Unto hire dedly frend sche wrot, 3, 275 And tolde how that hire fader grace 3, 276 Sche mihte for nothing pourchace; 3, 277 And overthat, as thou schalt hiere, 3, 278 Sche wrot and seide in this manere: 3, 279 "O thou my sorwe and my gladnesse, 3, 280 O thou myn hele and my siknesse, 3, 281 O my wanhope and al my trust, 3, 282 O my desese and al my lust, 3, 283 O thou my wele, o thou my wo, 3, 284 O thou my frend, o thou my fo, 3, 285 O thou my love, o thou myn hate, 3, 286 For thee mot I be ded algate. 3, 287 Thilke ende may I noght asterte, 3, 288 And yit with al myn hole herte, 3, 289 Whil that me lasteth eny breth, 3, 290 I wol the love into my deth. 3, 291 Bot of o thing I schal thee preie, 3, 292 If that my litel Sone deie, 3, 293 Let him be beried in my grave 3, 294 Beside me, so schalt thou have 3, 295 Upon ous bothe remembrance. 3, 296 For thus it stant of my grevance; 3, 297 Now at this time, as thou schalt wite, 3, 298 With teres and with enke write 3, 299 This lettre I have in cares colde: 3, 300 In my riht hond my Penne I holde, 3, 301 And in my left the swerd I kepe, 3, 302 And in my barm ther lith to wepe 3, 303 Thi child and myn, which sobbeth faste. 3, 304 Now am I come unto my laste: 3, 305 Fare wel, for I schal sone deie, 3, 306 And thenk how I thi love abeie." 3, 307 The pomel of the swerd to grounde 3, 308 Sche sette, and with the point a wounde 3, 309 Thurghout hire herte anon sche made, 3, 310 And forth with that al pale and fade 3, 311 Sche fell doun ded fro ther sche stod. 3, 312 The child lay bathende in hire blod 3, 313 Out rolled fro the moder barm, 3, 314 And for the blod was hot and warm, 3, 315 He basketh him aboute thrinne. 3, 316 Ther was no bote forto winne, 3, 317 For he, which can no pite knowe, 3, 318 The king cam in the same throwe, 3, 319 And sih how that his dowhter dieth 3, 320 And how this Babe al blody crieth; 3, 321 Bot al that mihte him noght suffise, 3, 322 That he ne bad to do juise 3, 323 Upon the child, and bere him oute, 3, 324 And seche in the Forest aboute 3, 325 Som wilde place, what it were, 3, 326 To caste him out of honde there, 3, 327 So that som best him mai devoure, 3, 328 Where as noman him schal socoure. 3, 329 Al that he bad was don in dede: 3, 330 Ha, who herde evere singe or rede 3, 331 Of such a thing as that was do? 3, 332 Bot he which ladde his wraththe so 3, 333 Hath knowe of love bot a lite; 3, 334 Bot for al that he was to wyte, 3, 335 Thurgh his sodein Malencolie 3, 336 To do so gret a felonie. 3, 337 Forthi, my Sone, how so it stonde, 3, 338 Be this cas thou miht understonde 3, 339 That if thou evere in cause of love 3, 340 Schalt deme, and thou be so above 3, 341 That thou miht lede it at thi wille, 3, 342 Let nevere thurgh thi Wraththe spille 3, 343 Which every kinde scholde save. 3, 344 For it sit every man to have 3, 345 Reward to love and to his miht, 3, 346 Ayein whos strengthe mai no wiht: 3, 347 And siththe an herte is so constreigned, 3, 348 The reddour oghte be restreigned 3, 349 To him that mai no bet aweie, 3, 350 Whan he mot to nature obeie. 3, 351 For it is seid thus overal, 3, 352 That nedes mot that nede schal 3, 353 Of that a lif doth after kinde, 3, 354 Wherof he mai no bote finde. 3, 355 What nature hath set in hir lawe 3, 356 Ther mai no mannes miht withdrawe, 3, 357 And who that worcheth therayein, 3, 358 Fulofte time it hath be sein, 3, 359 Ther hath befalle gret vengance, 3, 360 Wherof I finde a remembrance. 3, 361 Ovide after the time tho 3, 362 Tolde an ensample and seide so, 3, 363 How that whilom Tiresias, 3, 364 As he walkende goth per cas, 3, 365 Upon an hih Montaine he sih 3, 366 Tuo Serpentz in his weie nyh, 3, 367 And thei, so as nature hem tawhte, 3, 368 Assembled were, and he tho cawhte 3, 369 A yerde which he bar on honde, 3, 370 And thoghte that he wolde fonde 3, 371 To letten hem, and smot hem bothe: 3, 372 Wherof the goddes weren wrothe; 3, 373 And for he hath destourbed kinde 3, 374 And was so to nature unkinde, 3, 375 Unkindeliche he was transformed, 3, 376 That he which erst a man was formed 3, 377 Into a womman was forschape. 3, 378 That was to him an angri jape; 3, 379 Bot for that he with Angre wroghte, 3, 380 Hise Angres angreliche he boghte. 3, 381 Lo thus, my Sone, Ovide hath write, 3, 382 Wherof thou miht be reson wite, 3, 383 More is a man than such a beste: 3, 384 So mihte it nevere ben honeste 3, 385 A man to wraththen him to sore 3, 386 Of that an other doth the lore 3, 387 Of kinde, in which is no malice, 3, 388 Bot only that it is a vice: 3, 389 And thogh a man be resonable, 3, 390 Yit after kinde he is menable 3, 391 To love, wher he wole or non. 3, 392 Thenk thou, my Sone, therupon 3, 393 And do Malencolie aweie; 3, 394 For love hath evere his lust to pleie, 3, 395 As he which wolde no lif grieve. 3, 396 Mi fader, that I mai wel lieve; 3, 397 Al that ye tellen it is skile: 3, 398 Let every man love as he wile, 3, 399 Be so it be noght my ladi, 3, 400 For I schal noght be wroth therby. 3, 401 Bot that I wraththe and fare amis, 3, 402 Al one upon miself it is, 3, 403 That I with bothe love and kinde 3, 404 Am so bestad, that I can finde 3, 405 No weie how I it mai asterte: 3, 406 Which stant upon myn oghne herte 3, 407 And toucheth to non other lif, 3, 408 Save only to that swete wif 3, 409 For whom, bot if it be amended, 3, 410 Mi glade daies ben despended, 3, 411 That I miself schal noght forbere 3, 412 The Wraththe which that I now bere, 3, 413 For therof is non other leche. 3, 414 Now axeth forth, I yow beseche, 3, 415 Of Wraththe if ther oght elles is, 3, 416 Wherof to schryve. Sone, yis. 3, 417 Of Wraththe the secounde is Cheste, 3, 418 Which hath the wyndes of tempeste 3, 419 To kepe, and many a sodein blast 3, 420 He bloweth, wherof ben agast 3, 421 Thei that desiren pes and reste. 3, 422 He is that ilke ungoodlieste 3, 423 Which many a lusti love hath twinned; 3, 424 For he berth evere his mowth unpinned, 3, 425 So that his lippes ben unloke 3, 426 And his corage is al tobroke, 3, 427 That every thing which he can telle, 3, 428 It springeth up as doth a welle, 3, 429 Which mai non of his stremes hyde, 3, 430 Bot renneth out on every syde. 3, 431 So buillen up the foule sawes 3, 432 That Cheste wot of his felawes: 3, 433 For as a Sive kepeth Ale, 3, 434 Riht so can Cheste kepe a tale; 3, 435 Al that he wot he wol desclose, 3, 436 And speke er eny man oppose. 3, 437 As a Cite withoute wal, 3, 438 Wher men mai gon out overal 3, 439 Withouten eny resistence, 3, 440 So with his croked eloquence 3, 441 He spekth al that he wot withinne: 3, 442 Wherof men lese mor than winne, 3, 443 For ofte time of his chidinge 3, 444 He bringth to house such tidinge, 3, 445 That makth werre ate beddeshed. 3, 446 He is the levein of the bred, 3, 447 Which soureth al the past aboute: 3, 448 Men oghte wel such on to doute, 3, 449 For evere his bowe is redi bent, 3, 450 And whom he hit I telle him schent, 3, 451 If he mai perce him with his tunge. 3, 452 And ek so lowde his belle is runge, 3, 453 That of the noise and of the soun 3, 454 Men feeren hem in al the toun 3, 455 Welmore than thei don of thonder. 3, 456 For that is cause of more wonder; 3, 457 For with the wyndes whiche he bloweth 3, 458 Fulofte sythe he overthroweth 3, 459 The Cites and the policie, 3, 460 That I have herd the poeple crie, 3, 461 And echon seide in his degre, 3, 462 "Ha wicke tunge, wo thee be]" 3, 463 For men sein that the harde bon, 3, 464 Althogh himselven have non, 3, 465 A tunge brekth it al to pieces. 3, 466 He hath so manye sondri spieces 3, 467 Of vice, that I mai noght wel 3, 468 Descrive hem be a thousendel: 3, 469 Bot whan that he to Cheste falleth, 3, 470 Ful many a wonder thing befalleth, 3, 471 For he ne can nothing forbere. 3, 472 Now tell me, Sone, thin ansuere, 3, 473 If it hath evere so betidd, 3, 474 That thou at eny time hast chidd 3, 475 Toward thi love. Fader, nay: 3, 476 Such Cheste yit unto this day 3, 477 Ne made I nevere, god forbede: 3, 478 For er I sunge such a crede, 3, 479 I hadde levere to be lewed; 3, 480 For thanne were I al beschrewed 3, 481 And worthi to be put abak 3, 482 With al the sorwe upon my bak 3, 483 That eny man ordeigne cowthe. 3, 484 Bot I spak nevere yit be mowthe 3, 485 That unto Cheste mihte touche, 3, 486 And that I durste riht wel vouche 3, 487 Upon hirself as for witnesse; 3, 488 For I wot, of hir gentilesse 3, 489 That sche me wolde wel excuse, 3, 490 That I no suche thinges use. 3, 491 And if it scholde so betide 3, 492 That I algates moste chide, 3, 493 It myhte noght be to my love: 3, 494 For so yit was I nevere above, 3, 495 For al this wyde world to winne 3, 496 That I dorste eny word beginne, 3, 497 Be which sche mihte have ben amoeved 3, 498 And I of Cheste also reproeved. 3, 499 Bot rathere, if it mihte hir like, 3, 500 The beste wordes wolde I pike 3, 501 Whiche I cowthe in myn herte chese, 3, 502 And serve hem forth in stede of chese, 3, 503 For that is helplich to defie; 3, 504 And so wolde I my wordes plie, 3, 505 That mihten Wraththe and Cheste avale 3, 506 With tellinge of my softe tale. 3, 507 Thus dar I make a foreward, 3, 508 That nevere unto my ladiward 3, 509 Yit spak I word in such a wise, 3, 510 Wherof that Cheste scholde arise. 3, 511 This seie I noght, that I fulofte 3, 512 Ne have, whanne I spak most softe, 3, 513 Per cas seid more thanne ynowh; 3, 514 Bot so wel halt noman the plowh 3, 515 That he ne balketh otherwhile, 3, 516 Ne so wel can noman affile 3, 517 His tunge, that som time in rape 3, 518 Him mai som liht word overscape, 3, 519 And yit ne meneth he no Cheste. 3, 520 Bot that I have ayein hir heste 3, 521 Fulofte spoke, I am beknowe; 3, 522 And how my will is, that ye knowe: 3, 523 For whan my time comth aboute, 3, 524 That I dar speke and seie al oute 3, 525 Mi longe love, of which sche wot 3, 526 That evere in on aliche hot 3, 527 Me grieveth, thanne al my desese 3, 528 I telle, and though it hir desplese, 3, 529 I speke it forth and noght ne leve: 3, 530 And thogh it be beside hire leve, 3, 531 I hope and trowe natheles 3, 532 That I do noght ayein the pes; 3, 533 For thogh I telle hire al my thoght, 3, 534 Sche wot wel that I chyde noght. 3, 535 Men mai the hihe god beseche, 3, 536 And he wol hiere a mannes speche 3, 537 And be noght wroth of that he seith; 3, 538 So yifth it me the more feith 3, 539 And makth me hardi, soth to seie, 3, 540 That I dar wel the betre preie 3, 541 Mi ladi, which a womman is. 3, 542 For thogh I telle hire that or this 3, 543 Of love, which me grieveth sore, 3, 544 Hire oghte noght be wroth the more, 3, 545 For I withoute noise or cri 3, 546 Mi pleignte make al buxomly 3, 547 To puten alle wraththe away. 3, 548 Thus dar I seie unto this day 3, 549 Of Cheste in ernest or in game 3, 550 Mi ladi schal me nothing blame. 3, 551 Bot ofte time it hath betidd 3, 552 That with miselven I have chidd, 3, 553 That noman couthe betre chide: 3, 554 And that hath ben at every tide, 3, 555 Whanne I cam to miself al one; 3, 556 For thanne I made a prive mone, 3, 557 And every tale by and by, 3, 558 Which as I spak to my ladi, 3, 559 I thenke and peise in my balance 3, 560 And drawe into my remembrance; 3, 561 And thanne, if that I finde a lak 3, 562 Of eny word that I mispak, 3, 563 Which was to moche in eny wise, 3, 564 Anon my wittes I despise 3, 565 And make a chidinge in myn herte, 3, 566 That eny word me scholde asterte 3, 567 Which as I scholde have holden inne. 3, 568 And so forth after I beginne 3, 569 And loke if ther was elles oght 3, 570 To speke, and I ne spak it noght: 3, 571 And thanne, if I mai seche and finde 3, 572 That eny word be left behinde, 3, 573 Which as I scholde more have spoke, 3, 574 I wolde upon miself be wroke, 3, 575 And chyde with miselven so 3, 576 That al my wit is overgo. 3, 577 For noman mai his time lore 3, 578 Recovere, and thus I am therfore 3, 579 So overwroth in al my thoght, 3, 580 That I myself chide al to noght: 3, 581 Thus for to moche or for to lite 3, 582 Fulofte I am miself to wyte. 3, 583 Bot al that mai me noght availe, 3, 584 With cheste thogh I me travaile: 3, 585 Bot Oule on Stock and Stock on Oule; 3, 586 The more that a man defoule, 3, 587 Men witen wel which hath the werse; 3, 588 And so to me nys worth a kerse, 3, 589 Bot torneth on myn oghne hed, 3, 590 Thogh I, til that I were ded, 3, 591 Wolde evere chyde in such a wise 3, 592 Of love as I to you devise. 3, 593 Bot, fader, now ye have al herd 3, 594 In this manere how I have ferd 3, 595 Of Cheste and of dissencioun, 3, 596 Yif me youre absolucioun. 3, 597 Mi Sone, if that thou wistest al, 3, 598 What Cheste doth in special 3, 599 To love and to his welwillinge, 3, 600 Thou woldest flen his knowlechinge 3, 601 And lerne to be debonaire. 3, 602 For who that most can speke faire 3, 603 Is most acordende unto love: 3, 604 Fair speche hath ofte brought above 3, 605 Ful many a man, as it is knowe, 3, 606 Which elles scholde have be riht lowe 3, 607 And failed mochel of his wille. 3, 608 Forthi hold thou thi tunge stille 3, 609 And let thi witt thi wille areste, 3, 610 So that thou falle noght in Cheste, 3, 611 Which is the source of gret destance: 3, 612 And tak into thi remembrance 3, 613 If thou miht gete pacience, 3, 614 Which is the leche of alle offence, 3, 615 As tellen ous these olde wise: 3, 616 For whan noght elles mai suffise 3, 617 Be strengthe ne be mannes wit, 3, 618 Than pacience it oversit 3, 619 And overcomth it ate laste; 3, 620 Bot he mai nevere longe laste, 3, 621 Which wol noght bowe er that he breke. 3, 622 Tak hiede, Sone, of that I speke. 3, 623 Mi fader, of your goodli speche 3, 624 And of the witt which ye me teche 3, 625 I thonke you with al myn herte: 3, 626 For that world schal me nevere asterte, 3, 627 That I ne schal your wordes holde, 3, 628 Of Pacience as ye me tolde, 3, 629 Als ferforth as myn herte thenketh; 3, 630 And of my wraththe it me forthenketh. 3, 631 Bot, fader, if ye forth withal 3, 632 Som good ensample in special 3, 633 Me wolden telle of som Cronique, 3, 634 It scholde wel myn herte like 3, 635 Of pacience forto hiere, 3, 636 So that I mihte in mi matiere 3, 637 The more unto my love obeie 3, 638 And puten mi desese aweie. 3, 639 Mi Sone, a man to beie him pes 3, 640 Behoveth soffre as Socrates 3, 641 Ensample lefte, which is write: 3, 642 And for thou schalt the sothe wite, 3, 643 Of this ensample what I mene, 3, 644 Althogh it be now litel sene 3, 645 Among the men thilke evidence, 3, 646 Yit he was upon pacience 3, 647 So sett, that he himself assaie 3, 648 In thing which mihte him most mispaie 3, 649 Desireth, and a wickid wif 3, 650 He weddeth, which in sorwe and strif 3, 651 Ayein his ese was contraire. 3, 652 Bot he spak evere softe and faire, 3, 653 Til it befell, as it is told, 3, 654 In wynter, whan the dai is cold, 3, 655 This wif was fro the welle come, 3, 656 Wher that a pot with water nome 3, 657 Sche hath, and broghte it into house, 3, 658 And sih how that hire seli spouse 3, 659 Was sett and loked on a bok 3, 660 Nyh to the fyr, as he which tok 3, 661 His ese for a man of age. 3, 662 And sche began the wode rage, 3, 663 And axeth him what devel he thoghte, 3, 664 And bar on hond that him ne roghte 3, 665 What labour that sche toke on honde, 3, 666 And seith that such an Housebonde 3, 667 Was to a wif noght worth a Stre. 3, 668 He seide nowther nay ne ye, 3, 669 Bot hield him stille and let hire chyde; 3, 670 And sche, which mai hirself noght hyde, 3, 671 Began withinne forto swelle, 3, 672 And that sche broghte in fro the welle, 3, 673 The waterpot sche hente alofte 3, 674 And bad him speke, and he al softe 3, 675 Sat stille and noght a word ansuerde; 3, 676 And sche was wroth that he so ferde, 3, 677 And axeth him if he be ded; 3, 678 And al the water on his hed 3, 679 Sche pourede oute and bad awake. 3, 680 Bot he, which wolde noght forsake 3, 681 His Pacience, thanne spak, 3, 682 And seide how that he fond no lak 3, 683 In nothing which sche hadde do: 3, 684 For it was wynter time tho, 3, 685 And wynter, as be weie of kinde 3, 686 Which stormy is, as men it finde, 3, 687 Ferst makth the wyndes forto blowe, 3, 688 And after that withinne a throwe 3, 689 He reyneth and the watergates 3, 690 Undoth; "and thus my wif algates, 3, 691 Which is with reson wel besein, 3, 692 Hath mad me bothe wynd and rein 3, 693 After the Sesoun of the yer." 3, 694 And thanne he sette him nerr the fer, 3, 695 And as he mihte hise clothes dreide, 3, 696 That he nomore o word ne seide; 3, 697 Wherof he gat him somdel reste, 3, 698 For that him thoghte was the beste. 3, 699 I not if thilke ensample yit 3, 700 Acordeth with a mannes wit, 3, 701 To soffre as Socrates tho dede: 3, 702 And if it falle in eny stede 3, 703 A man to lese so his galle, 3, 704 Him oghte among the wommen alle 3, 705 In loves Court be juggement 3, 706 The name bere of Pacient, 3, 707 To yive ensample to the goode 3, 708 Of pacience how that it stode, 3, 709 That othre men it mihte knowe. 3, 710 And, Sone, if thou at eny throwe 3, 711 Be tempted ayein Pacience, 3, 712 Tak hiede upon this evidence; 3, 713 It schal per cas the lasse grieve. 3, 714 Mi fader, so as I believe, 3, 715 Of that schal be no maner nede, 3, 716 For I wol take so good hiede, 3, 717 That er I falle in such assai, 3, 718 I thenke eschuie it, if I mai. 3, 719 Bot if ther be oght elles more 3, 720 Wherof I mihte take lore, 3, 721 I preie you, so as I dar, 3, 722 Now telleth, that I mai be war, 3, 723 Som other tale in this matiere. 3, 724 Sone, it is evere good to lere, 3, 725 Wherof thou miht thi word restreigne, 3, 726 Er that thou falle in eny peine. 3, 727 For who that can no conseil hyde, 3, 728 He mai noght faile of wo beside, 3, 729 Which schal befalle er he it wite, 3, 730 As I finde in the bokes write. 3, 731 Yit cam ther nevere good of strif, 3, 732 To seche in all a mannes lif: 3, 733 Thogh it beginne on pure game, 3, 734 Fulofte it torneth into grame 3, 735 And doth grevance upon som side. 3, 736 Wherof the grete Clerk Ovide 3, 737 After the lawe which was tho 3, 738 Of Jupiter and of Juno 3, 739 Makth in his bokes mencioun 3, 740 How thei felle at dissencioun 3, 741 In manere as it were a borde, 3, 742 As thei begunne forto worde 3, 743 Among hemself in privete: 3, 744 And that was upon this degree, 3, 745 Which of the tuo more amorous is, 3, 746 Or man or wif. And upon this 3, 747 Thei mihten noght acorde in on, 3, 748 And toke a jugge therupon, 3, 749 Which cleped is Tiresias, 3, 750 And bede him demen in the cas; 3, 751 And he withoute avisement 3, 752 Ayein Juno yaf juggement. 3, 753 This goddesse upon his ansuere 3, 754 Was wroth and wolde noght forbere, 3, 755 Bot tok awey for everemo 3, 756 The liht fro bothe hise yhen tuo. 3, 757 Whan Jupiter this harm hath sein, 3, 758 An other bienfait therayein 3, 759 He yaf, and such a grace him doth, 3, 760 That for he wiste he seide soth, 3, 761 A Sothseiere he was for evere: 3, 762 Bot yit that other were levere, 3, 763 Have had the lokinge of his yhe, 3, 764 Than of his word the prophecie; 3, 765 Bot how so that the sothe wente, 3, 766 Strif was the cause of that he hente 3, 767 So gret a peine bodily. 3, 768 Mi Sone, be thou war ther by, 3, 769 And hold thi tunge stille clos: 3, 770 For who that hath his word desclos 3, 771 Er that he wite what he mene, 3, 772 He is fulofte nyh his tene 3, 773 And lest ful many time grace, 3, 774 Wher that he wolde his thonk pourchace. 3, 775 And over this, my Sone diere, 3, 776 Of othre men, if thou miht hiere 3, 777 In privete what thei have wroght, 3, 778 Hold conseil and descoevere it noght, 3, 779 For Cheste can no conseil hele, 3, 780 Or be it wo or be it wele: 3, 781 And tak a tale into thi mynde, 3, 782 The which of olde ensample I finde. 3, 783 Phebus, which makth the daies lihte, 3, 784 A love he hadde, which tho hihte 3, 785 Cornide, whom aboven alle 3, 786 He pleseth: bot what schal befalle 3, 787 Of love ther is noman knoweth, 3, 788 Bot as fortune hire happes throweth. 3, 789 So it befell upon a chaunce, 3, 790 A yong kniht tok hire aqueintance 3, 791 And hadde of hire al that he wolde: 3, 792 Bot a fals bridd, which sche hath holde 3, 793 And kept in chambre of pure yowthe, 3, 794 Discoevereth all that evere he cowthe. 3, 795 This briddes name was as tho 3, 796 Corvus, the which was thanne also 3, 797 Welmore whyt than eny Swan, 3, 798 And he that schrewe al that he can 3, 799 Of his ladi to Phebus seide; 3, 800 And he for wraththe his swerd outbreide, 3, 801 With which Cornide anon he slowh. 3, 802 Bot after him was wo ynowh, 3, 803 And tok a full gret repentance, 3, 804 Wherof in tokne and remembrance 3, 805 Of hem whiche usen wicke speche, 3, 806 Upon this bridd he tok this wreche, 3, 807 That ther he was snow whyt tofore, 3, 808 Evere afterward colblak therfore 3, 809 He was transformed, as it scheweth, 3, 810 And many a man yit him beschreweth, 3, 811 And clepen him into this day 3, 812 A Raven, be whom yit men mai 3, 813 Take evidence, whan he crieth, 3, 814 That som mishapp it signefieth. 3, 815 Be war therfore and sei the beste, 3, 816 If thou wolt be thiself in reste, 3, 817 Mi goode Sone, as I the rede. 3, 818 For in an other place I rede 3, 819 Of thilke Nimphe which Laar hihte: 3, 820 For sche the privete be nyhte, 3, 821 How Jupiter lay be Jutorne, 3, 822 Hath told, god made hire overtorne: 3, 823 Hire tunge he kutte, and into helle 3, 824 For evere he sende hir forto duelle, 3, 825 As sche that was noght worthi hiere 3, 826 To ben of love a Chamberere, 3, 827 For sche no conseil cowthe hele. 3, 828 And suche adaies be now fele 3, 829 In loves Court, as it is seid, 3, 830 That lete here tunges gon unteid. 3, 831 Mi Sone, be thou non of tho, 3, 832 To jangle and telle tales so, 3, 833 And namely that thou ne chyde, 3, 834 For Cheste can no conseil hide, 3, 835 For Wraththe seide nevere wel. 3, 836 Mi fader, soth is everydel 3, 837 That ye me teche, and I wol holde 3, 838 The reule to which I am holde, 3, 839 To fle the Cheste, as ye me bidde, 3, 840 For wel is him that nevere chidde. 3, 841 Now tell me forth if ther be more 3, 842 As touchende unto Wraththes lore. 3, 843 Of Wraththe yit ther is an other, 3, 844 Which is to Cheste his oghne brother, 3, 845 And is be name cleped Hate, 3, 846 That soffreth noght withinne his gate 3, 847 That ther come owther love or pes, 3, 848 For he wol make no reles 3, 849 Of no debat which is befalle. 3, 850 Now spek, if thou art on of alle, 3, 851 That with this vice hast ben withholde. 3, 852 As yit for oght that ye me tolde, 3, 853 Mi fader, I not what it is. 3, 854 In good feith, Sone, I trowe yis. 3, 855 Mi fader, nay, bot ye me lere. 3, 856 Now lest, my Sone, and thou schalt here. 3, 857 Hate is a wraththe noght schewende, 3, 858 Bot of long time gaderende, 3, 859 And duelleth in the herte loken, 3, 860 Til he se time to be wroken; 3, 861 And thanne he scheweth his tempeste 3, 862 Mor sodein than the wilde beste, 3, 863 Which wot nothing what merci is. 3, 864 Mi Sone, art thou knowende of this? 3, 865 My goode fader, as I wene, 3, 866 Now wot I somdel what ye mene; 3, 867 Bot I dar saufly make an oth, 3, 868 Mi ladi was me nevere loth. 3, 869 I wol noght swere natheles 3, 870 That I of hate am gulteles; 3, 871 For whanne I to my ladi plie 3, 872 Fro dai to dai and merci crie, 3, 873 And sche no merci on me leith 3, 874 Bot schorte wordes to me seith, 3, 875 Thogh I my ladi love algate, 3, 876 Tho wordes moste I nedes hate; 3, 877 And wolde thei were al despent, 3, 878 Or so ferr oute of londe went 3, 879 That I nevere after scholde hem hiere; 3, 880 And yit love I my ladi diere. 3, 881 Thus is ther Hate, as ye mai se, 3, 882 Betwen mi ladi word and me; 3, 883 The word I hate and hire I love, 3, 884 What so me schal betide of love. 3, 885 Bot forthere mor I wol me schryve, 3, 886 That I have hated al my lyve 3, 887 These janglers, whiche of here Envie 3, 888 Ben evere redi forto lie; 3, 889 For with here fals compassement 3, 890 Fuloften thei have mad me schent 3, 891 And hindred me fulofte time, 3, 892 Whan thei no cause wisten bime, 3, 893 Bot onliche of here oghne thoght: 3, 894 And thus fuloften have I boght 3, 895 The lie, and drank noght of the wyn. 3, 896 I wolde here happ were such as myn: 3, 897 For how so that I be now schrive, 3, 898 To hem ne mai I noght foryive, 3, 899 Til that I se hem at debat 3, 900 With love, and thanne myn astat 3, 901 Thei mihten be here oghne deme, 3, 902 And loke how wel it scholde hem qweme 3, 903 To hindre a man that loveth sore. 3, 904 And thus I hate hem everemore, 3, 905 Til love on hem wol don his wreche: 3, 906 For that schal I alway beseche 3, 907 Unto the mihti Cupido, 3, 908 That he so mochel wolde do, 3, 909 So as he is of love a godd, 3, 910 To smyte hem with the same rodd 3, 911 With which I am of love smite; 3, 912 So that thei mihten knowe and wite 3, 913 How hindringe is a wofull peine 3, 914 To him that love wolde atteigne. 3, 915 Thus evere on hem I wayte and hope, 3, 916 Til I mai sen hem lepe a lope, 3, 917 And halten on the same Sor 3, 918 Which I do now: for overmor 3, 919 I wolde thanne do my myht 3, 920 So forto stonden in here lyht, 3, 921 That thei ne scholden finde a weie 3, 922 To that thei wolde, bot aweie 3, 923 I wolde hem putte out of the stede 3, 924 Fro love, riht as thei me dede 3, 925 With that thei speke of me be mowthe. 3, 926 So wolde I do, if that I cowthe, 3, 927 Of hem, and this, so god me save, 3, 928 Is al the hate that I have, 3, 929 Toward these janglers everydiel; 3, 930 I wolde alle othre ferde wel. 3, 931 Thus have I, fader, said mi wille; 3, 932 Say ye now forth, for I am stille. 3, 933 Mi Sone, of that thou hast me said 3, 934 I holde me noght fulli paid: 3, 935 That thou wolt haten eny man, 3, 936 To that acorden I ne can, 3, 937 Thogh he have hindred thee tofore. 3, 938 Bot this I telle thee therfore, 3, 939 Thou miht upon my beneicoun 3, 940 Wel haten the condicioun 3, 941 Of tho janglers, as thou me toldest, 3, 942 Bot furthermor, of that thou woldest 3, 943 Hem hindre in eny other wise, 3, 944 Such Hate is evere to despise. 3, 945 Forthi, mi Sone, I wol thee rede, 3, 946 That thou drawe in be frendlihede 3, 947 That thou ne miht noght do be hate; 3, 948 So miht thou gete love algate 3, 949 And sette thee, my Sone, in reste, 3, 950 For thou schalt finde it for the beste. 3, 951 And over this, so as I dar, 3, 952 I rede that thou be riht war 3, 953 Of othre mennes hate aboute, 3, 954 Which every wysman scholde doute: 3, 955 For Hate is evere upon await, 3, 956 And as the fisshere on his bait 3, 957 Sleth, whan he seth the fisshes faste, 3, 958 So, whan he seth time ate laste, 3, 959 That he mai worche an other wo, 3, 960 Schal noman tornen him therfro, 3, 961 That Hate nyle his felonie 3, 962 Fulfille and feigne compaignie 3, 963 Yit natheles, for fals Semblant 3, 964 Is toward him of covenant 3, 965 Withholde, so that under bothe 3, 966 The prive wraththe can him clothe, 3, 967 That he schal seme of gret believe. 3, 968 Bot war thee wel that thou ne lieve 3, 969 Al that thou sest tofore thin yhe, 3, 970 So as the Gregois whilom syhe: 3, 971 The bok of Troie who so rede, 3, 972 Ther mai he finde ensample in dede. 3, 973 Sone after the destruccioun, 3, 974 Whan Troie was al bete doun 3, 975 And slain was Priamus the king, 3, 976 The Gregois, whiche of al this thing 3, 977 Ben cause, tornen hom ayein. 3, 978 Ther mai noman his happ withsein; 3, 979 It hath be sen and felt fulofte, 3, 980 The harde time after the softe: 3, 981 Be See as thei forth homward wente, 3, 982 A rage of gret tempeste hem hente; 3, 983 Juno let bende hire parti bowe, 3, 984 The Sky wax derk, the wynd gan blowe, 3, 985 The firy welkne gan to thondre, 3, 986 As thogh the world scholde al to sondre; 3, 987 Fro hevene out of the watergates 3, 988 The reyni Storm fell doun algates 3, 989 And al here takel made unwelde, 3, 990 That noman mihte himself bewelde. 3, 991 Ther mai men hiere Schipmen crie, 3, 992 That stode in aunter forto die: 3, 993 He that behinde sat to stiere 3, 994 Mai noght the forestempne hiere; 3, 995 The Schip aros ayein the wawes, 3, 996 The lodesman hath lost his lawes, 3, 997 The See bet in on every side: 3, 998 Thei nysten what fortune abide, 3, 999 Bot sette hem al in goddes wille, 3,1000 Wher he hem wolde save or spille. 3,1001 And it fell thilke time thus: 3,1002 Ther was a king, the which Namplus 3,1003 Was hote, and he a Sone hadde, 3,1004 At Troie which the Gregois ladde, 3,1005 As he that was mad Prince of alle, 3,1006 Til that fortune let him falle: 3,1007 His name was Palamades. 3,1008 Bot thurgh an hate natheles 3,1009 Of some of hem his deth was cast 3,1010 And he be tresoun overcast. 3,1011 His fader, whan he herde it telle, 3,1012 He swor, if evere his time felle, 3,1013 He wolde him venge, if that he mihte, 3,1014 And therto his avou behihte: 3,1015 And thus this king thurgh prive hate 3,1016 Abod upon await algate, 3,1017 For he was noght of such emprise 3,1018 To vengen him in open wise. 3,1019 The fame, which goth wyde where, 3,1020 Makth knowe how that the Gregois were 3,1021 Homward with al the felaschipe 3,1022 Fro Troie upon the See be Schipe. 3,1023 Namplus, whan he this understod, 3,1024 And knew the tydes of the flod, 3,1025 And sih the wynd blew to the lond, 3,1026 A gret deceipte anon he fond 3,1027 Of prive hate, as thou schalt hiere, 3,1028 Wherof I telle al this matiere. 3,1029 This king the weder gan beholde, 3,1030 And wiste wel thei moten holde 3,1031 Here cours endlong his marche riht, 3,1032 And made upon the derke nyht 3,1033 Of grete Schydes and of blockes 3,1034 Gret fyr ayein the grete rockes, 3,1035 To schewe upon the helles hihe, 3,1036 So that the Flete of Grece it sihe. 3,1037 And so it fell riht as he thoghte: 3,1038 This Flete, which an havene soghte, 3,1039 The bryghte fyres sih a ferr, 3,1040 And thei hem drowen nerr and nerr, 3,1041 And wende wel and understode 3,1042 How al that fyr was made for goode, 3,1043 To schewe wher men scholde aryve, 3,1044 And thiderward thei hasten blyve. 3,1045 In Semblant, as men sein, is guile, 3,1046 And that was proved thilke while; 3,1047 The Schip, which wende his helpe acroche, 3,1048 Drof al to pieces on the roche, 3,1049 And so ther deden ten or twelve; 3,1050 Ther mihte noman helpe himselve, 3,1051 For ther thei wenden deth ascape, 3,1052 Withouten help here deth was schape. 3,1053 Thus thei that comen ferst tofore 3,1054 Upon the Rockes be forlore, 3,1055 Bot thurgh the noise and thurgh the cri 3,1056 These othre were al war therby; 3,1057 And whan the dai began to rowe, 3,1058 Tho mihten thei the sothe knowe, 3,1059 That wher they wenden frendes finde, 3,1060 Thei founden frenschipe al behinde. 3,1061 The lond was thanne sone weyved, 3,1062 Wher that thei hadden be deceived, 3,1063 And toke hem to the hihe See; 3,1064 Therto thei seiden alle yee, 3,1065 Fro that dai forth and war thei were 3,1066 Of that thei hadde assaied there. 3,1067 Mi Sone, hierof thou miht avise 3,1068 How fraude stant in many wise 3,1069 Amonges hem that guile thenke; 3,1070 Ther is no Scrivein with his enke 3,1071 Which half the fraude wryte can 3,1072 That stant in such a maner man: 3,1073 Forthi the wise men ne demen 3,1074 The thinges after that thei semen, 3,1075 Bot after that thei knowe and finde. 3,1076 The Mirour scheweth in his kinde 3,1077 As he hadde al the world withinne, 3,1078 And is in soth nothing therinne; 3,1079 And so farth Hate for a throwe: 3,1080 Til he a man hath overthrowe, 3,1081 Schal noman knowe be his chere 3,1082 Which is avant, ne which arere. 3,1083 Forthi, mi Sone, thenke on this. 3,1084 Mi fader, so I wole ywiss; 3,1085 And if ther more of Wraththe be, 3,1086 Now axeth forth per charite, 3,1087 As ye be youre bokes knowe, 3,1088 And I the sothe schal beknowe. 3,1089 Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde 3,1090 That yit towardes Wraththe stonde 3,1091 Of dedly vices othre tuo: 3,1092 And forto telle here names so, 3,1093 It is Contek and Homicide, 3,1094 That ben to drede on every side. 3,1095 Contek, so as the bokes sein, 3,1096 Folhast hath to his Chamberlein, 3,1097 Be whos conseil al unavised 3,1098 Is Pacience most despised, 3,1099 Til Homicide with hem meete. 3,1100 Fro merci thei ben al unmeete, 3,1101 And thus ben thei the worste of alle 3,1102 Of hem whiche unto wraththe falle, 3,1103 In dede bothe and ek in thoght: 3,1104 For thei acompte here wraththe at noght, 3,1105 Bot if ther be schedinge of blod; 3,1106 And thus lich to a beste wod 3,1107 Thei knowe noght the god of lif. 3,1108 Be so thei have or swerd or knif 3,1109 Here dedly wraththe forto wreke, 3,1110 Of Pite list hem noght to speke; 3,1111 Non other reson thei ne fonge, 3,1112 Bot that thei ben of mihtes stronge. 3,1113 Bot war hem wel in other place, 3,1114 Where every man behoveth grace, 3,1115 Bot ther I trowe it schal hem faile, 3,1116 To whom no merci mihte availe, 3,1117 Bot wroghten upon tiraundie, 3,1118 That no pite ne mihte hem plie. 3,1119 Now tell, my Sone. Fader, what? 3,1120 If thou hast be coupable of that. 3,1121 Mi fader, nay, Crist me forbiede: 3,1122 I speke onliche as of the dede, 3,1123 Of which I nevere was coupable 3,1124 Withoute cause resonable. 3,1125 Bot this is noght to mi matiere 3,1126 Of schrifte, why we sitten hiere; 3,1127 For we ben sett to schryve of love, 3,1128 As we begunne ferst above: 3,1129 And natheles I am beknowe 3,1130 That as touchende of loves throwe, 3,1131 Whan I my wittes overwende, 3,1132 Min hertes contek hath non ende, 3,1133 Bot evere it stant upon debat 3,1134 To gret desese of myn astat 3,1135 As for the time that it lasteth. 3,1136 For whan mi fortune overcasteth 3,1137 Hire whiel and is to me so strange, 3,1138 And that I se sche wol noght change, 3,1139 Than caste I al the world aboute, 3,1140 And thenke hou I at home and oute 3,1141 Have al my time in vein despended, 3,1142 And se noght how to ben amended, 3,1143 Bot rathere forto be empeired, 3,1144 As he that is welnyh despeired: 3,1145 For I ne mai no thonk deserve, 3,1146 And evere I love and evere I serve, 3,1147 And evere I am aliche nerr. 3,1148 Thus, for I stonde in such a wer, 3,1149 I am, as who seith, out of herre; 3,1150 And thus upon miself the werre 3,1151 I bringe, and putte out alle pes, 3,1152 That I fulofte in such a res 3,1153 Am wery of myn oghne lif. 3,1154 So that of Contek and of strif 3,1155 I am beknowe and have ansuerd, 3,1156 As ye, my fader, now have herd. 3,1157 Min herte is wonderly begon 3,1158 With conseil, wherof witt is on, 3,1159 Which hath resoun in compaignie; 3,1160 Ayein the whiche stant partie 3,1161 Will, which hath hope of his acord, 3,1162 And thus thei bringen up descord. 3,1163 Witt and resoun conseilen ofte 3,1164 That I myn herte scholde softe, 3,1165 And that I scholde will remue 3,1166 And put him out of retenue, 3,1167 Or elles holde him under fote: 3,1168 For as thei sein, if that he mote 3,1169 His oghne rewle have upon honde, 3,1170 Ther schal no witt ben understonde. 3,1171 Of hope also thei tellen this, 3,1172 That overal, wher that he is, 3,1173 He set the herte in jeupartie 3,1174 With wihssinge and with fantasie, 3,1175 And is noght trewe of that he seith, 3,1176 So that in him ther is no feith: 3,1177 Thus with reson and wit avised 3,1178 Is will and hope aldai despised. 3,1179 Reson seith that I scholde leve 3,1180 To love, wher ther is no leve 3,1181 To spede, and will seith therayein 3,1182 That such an herte is to vilein, 3,1183 Which dar noght love and til he spede, 3,1184 Let hope serve at such a nede: 3,1185 He seith ek, where an herte sit 3,1186 Al hol governed upon wit, 3,1187 He hath this lyves lust forlore. 3,1188 And thus myn herte is al totore 3,1189 Of such a Contek as thei make: 3,1190 Bot yit I mai noght will forsake, 3,1191 That he nys Maister of my thoght, 3,1192 Or that I spede, or spede noght. 3,1193 Thou dost, my Sone, ayein the riht; 3,1194 Bot love is of so gret a miht, 3,1195 His lawe mai noman refuse, 3,1196 So miht thou thee the betre excuse. 3,1197 And natheles thou schalt be lerned 3,1198 That will scholde evere be governed 3,1199 Of reson more than of kinde, 3,1200 Wherof a tale write I finde. 3,1201 A Philosophre of which men tolde 3,1202 Ther was whilom be daies olde, 3,1203 And Diogenes thanne he hihte. 3,1204 So old he was that he ne mihte 3,1205 The world travaile, and for the beste 3,1206 He schop him forto take his reste, 3,1207 And duelte at hom in such a wise, 3,1208 That nyh his hous he let devise 3,1209 Endlong upon an Axeltre 3,1210 To sette a tonne in such degre, 3,1211 That he it mihte torne aboute; 3,1212 Wherof on hed was taken oute, 3,1213 For he therinne sitte scholde 3,1214 And torne himself so as he wolde, 3,1215 To take their and se the hevene 3,1216 And deme of the planetes sevene, 3,1217 As he which cowthe mochel what. 3,1218 And thus fulofte there he sat 3,1219 To muse in his philosophie 3,1220 Solein withoute compaignie: 3,1221 So that upon a morwetyde, 3,1222 As thing which scholde so betyde, 3,1223 Whan he was set ther as him liste 3,1224 To loke upon the Sonne ariste, 3,1225 Wherof the propretes he sih, 3,1226 It fell ther cam ridende nyh 3,1227 King Alisandre with a route; 3,1228 And as he caste his yhe aboute, 3,1229 He sih this Tonne, and what it mente 3,1230 He wolde wite, and thider sente 3,1231 A knyht, be whom he mihte it knowe, 3,1232 And he himself that ilke throwe 3,1233 Abod, and hoveth there stille. 3,1234 This kniht after the kinges wille 3,1235 With spore made his hors to gon 3,1236 And to the tonne he cam anon, 3,1237 Wher that he fond a man of Age, 3,1238 And he him tolde the message, 3,1239 Such as the king him hadde bede, 3,1240 And axeth why in thilke stede 3,1241 The Tonne stod, and what it was. 3,1242 And he, which understod the cas, 3,1243 Sat stille and spak no word ayein. 3,1244 The kniht bad speke and seith, "Vilein, 3,1245 Thou schalt me telle, er that I go; 3,1246 It is thi king which axeth so." 3,1247 "Mi king," quod he, "that were unriht." 3,1248 "What is he thanne?" seith the kniht, 3,1249 "Is he thi man?" "That seie I noght," 3,1250 Quod he, "bot this I am bethoght, 3,1251 Mi mannes man hou that he is." 3,1252 "Thou lyest, false cherl, ywiss," 3,1253 The kniht him seith, and was riht wroth, 3,1254 And to the king ayein he goth 3,1255 And tolde him how this man ansuerde. 3,1256 The king, whan he this tale herde, 3,1257 Bad that thei scholden alle abyde, 3,1258 For he himself wol thider ryde. 3,1259 And whan he cam tofore the tonne, 3,1260 He hath his tale thus begonne: 3,1261 "Alheil," he seith, "what man art thou?" 3,1262 Quod he, "Such on as thou sest now." 3,1263 The king, which hadde wordes wise, 3,1264 His age wolde noght despise, 3,1265 Bot seith, "Mi fader, I thee preie 3,1266 That thou me wolt the cause seie, 3,1267 How that I am thi mannes man." 3,1268 "Sire king," quod he, "and that I can, 3,1269 If that thou wolt." "Yis," seith the king. 3,1270 Quod he, "This is the sothe thing: 3,1271 Sith I ferst resoun understod, 3,1272 And knew what thing was evel and good, 3,1273 The will which of my bodi moeveth, 3,1274 Whos werkes that the god reproeveth, 3,1275 I have restreigned everemore, 3,1276 As him which stant under the lore 3,1277 Of reson, whos soubgit he is, 3,1278 So that he mai noght don amis: 3,1279 And thus be weie of covenant 3,1280 Will is my man and my servant, 3,1281 And evere hath ben and evere schal. 3,1282 And thi will is thi principal, 3,1283 And hath the lordschipe of thi witt, 3,1284 So that thou cowthest nevere yit 3,1285 Take o dai reste of thi labour; 3,1286 Bot forto ben a conquerour 3,1287 Of worldes good, which mai noght laste, 3,1288 Thou hiest evere aliche faste, 3,1289 Wher thou no reson hast to winne: 3,1290 And thus thi will is cause of Sinne, 3,1291 And is thi lord, to whom thou servest, 3,1292 Wherof thou litel thonk deservest." 3,1293 The king of that he thus answerde 3,1294 Was nothing wroth, bot whanne he herde 3,1295 The hihe wisdom which he seide, 3,1296 With goodly wordes this he preide, 3,1297 That he him wolde telle his name. 3,1298 "I am," quod he, "that ilke same, 3,1299 The which men Diogenes calle." 3,1300 Tho was the king riht glad withalle, 3,1301 For he hadde often herd tofore 3,1302 What man he was, so that therfore 3,1303 He seide, "O wise Diogene, 3,1304 Now schal thi grete witt be sene; 3,1305 For thou schalt of my yifte have 3,1306 What worldes thing that thou wolt crave." 3,1307 Quod he, "Thanne hove out of mi Sonne, 3,1308 And let it schyne into mi Tonne; 3,1309 For thou benymst me thilke yifte, 3,1310 Which lith noght in thi miht to schifte: 3,1311 Non other good of thee me nedeth." 3,1312 This king, whom every contre dredeth, 3,1313 Lo, thus he was enformed there: 3,1314 Wherof, my Sone, thou miht lere 3,1315 How that thi will schal noght be lieved, 3,1316 Where it is noght of wit relieved. 3,1317 And thou hast seid thiself er this 3,1318 How that thi will thi maister is; 3,1319 Thurgh which thin hertes thoght withinne 3,1320 Is evere of Contek to beginne, 3,1321 So that it is gretli to drede 3,1322 That it non homicide brede. 3,1323 For love is of a wonder kinde, 3,1324 And hath hise wittes ofte blinde, 3,1325 That thei fro mannes reson falle; 3,1326 Bot whan that it is so befalle 3,1327 That will schal the corage lede, 3,1328 In loves cause it is to drede: 3,1329 Wherof I finde ensample write, 3,1330 Which is behovely forto wite. 3,1331 I rede a tale, and telleth this: 3,1332 The Cite which Semiramis 3,1333 Enclosed hath with wall aboute, 3,1334 Of worthi folk with many a route 3,1335 Was enhabited here and there; 3,1336 Among the whiche tuo ther were 3,1337 Above alle othre noble and grete, 3,1338 Dwellende tho withinne a Strete 3,1339 So nyh togedre, as it was sene, 3,1340 That ther was nothing hem betwene, 3,1341 Bot wow to wow and wall to wall. 3,1342 This o lord hadde in special 3,1343 A Sone, a lusti Bacheler, 3,1344 In al the toun was non his pier: 3,1345 That other hadde a dowhter eke, 3,1346 In al the lond that forto seke 3,1347 Men wisten non so faire as sche. 3,1348 And fell so, as it scholde be, 3,1349 This faire dowhter nyh this Sone 3,1350 As thei togedre thanne wone, 3,1351 Cupide hath so the thinges schape, 3,1352 That thei ne mihte his hand ascape, 3,1353 That he his fyr on hem ne caste: 3,1354 Wherof her herte he overcaste 3,1355 To folwe thilke lore and suie 3,1356 Which nevere man yit miht eschuie; 3,1357 And that was love, as it is happed, 3,1358 Which hath here hertes so betrapped, 3,1359 That thei be alle weies seche 3,1360 How that thei mihten winne a speche, 3,1361 Here wofull peine forto lisse. 3,1362 Who loveth wel, it mai noght misse, 3,1363 And namely whan ther be tuo 3,1364 Of on acord, how so it go, 3,1365 Bot if that thei som weie finde; 3,1366 For love is evere of such a kinde 3,1367 And hath his folk so wel affaited, 3,1368 That howso that it be awaited, 3,1369 Ther mai noman the pourpos lette: 3,1370 And thus betwen hem tuo thei sette 3,1371 And hole upon a wall to make, 3,1372 Thurgh which thei have her conseil take 3,1373 At alle times, whan thei myhte. 3,1374 This faire Maiden Tisbee hihte, 3,1375 And he whom that sche loveth hote 3,1376 Was Piramus be name hote. 3,1377 So longe here lecoun thei recorden, 3,1378 Til ate laste thei acorden 3,1379 Be nihtes time forto wende 3,1380 Al one out fro the tounes ende, 3,1381 Wher was a welle under a Tree; 3,1382 And who cam ferst, or sche or he, 3,1383 He scholde stille there abide. 3,1384 So it befell the nyhtes tide 3,1385 This maiden, which desguised was, 3,1386 Al prively the softe pas 3,1387 Goth thurgh the large toun unknowe, 3,1388 Til that sche cam withinne a throwe 3,1389 Wher that sche liketh forto duelle, 3,1390 At thilke unhappi freisshe welle, 3,1391 Which was also the Forest nyh. 3,1392 Wher sche comende a Leoun syh 3,1393 Into the feld to take his preie, 3,1394 In haste and sche tho fledde aweie, 3,1395 So as fortune scholde falle, 3,1396 For feere and let hire wympel falle 3,1397 Nyh to the welle upon therbage. 3,1398 This Leoun in his wilde rage 3,1399 A beste, which that he fond oute, 3,1400 Hath slain, and with his blodi snoute, 3,1401 Whan he hath eten what he wolde, 3,1402 To drynke of thilke stremes colde 3,1403 Cam to the welle, where he fond 3,1404 The wympel, which out of hire hond 3,1405 Was falle, and he it hath todrawe, 3,1406 Bebled aboute and al forgnawe; 3,1407 And thanne he strawhte him forto drinke 3,1408 Upon the freisshe welles brinke, 3,1409 And after that out of the plein 3,1410 He torneth to the wode ayein. 3,1411 And Tisbee dorste noght remue, 3,1412 Bot as a bridd which were in Mue 3,1413 Withinne a buissh sche kepte hire clos 3,1414 So stille that sche noght aros; 3,1415 Unto hirself and pleigneth ay. 3,1416 And fell, whil that sche there lay, 3,1417 This Piramus cam after sone 3,1418 Unto the welle, and be the Mone 3,1419 He fond hire wimpel blodi there. 3,1420 Cam nevere yit to mannes Ere 3,1421 Tidinge, ne to mannes sihte 3,1422 Merveile, which so sore aflihte 3,1423 A mannes herte, as it tho dede 3,1424 To him, which in the same stede 3,1425 With many a wofull compleignynge 3,1426 Began his handes forto wringe, 3,1427 As he which demeth sikerly 3,1428 That sche be ded: and sodeinly 3,1429 His swerd al nakid out he breide 3,1430 In his folhaste, and thus he seide: 3,1431 "I am cause of this felonie, 3,1432 So it is resoun that I die, 3,1433 As sche is ded be cause of me." 3,1434 And with that word upon his kne 3,1435 He fell, and to the goddes alle 3,1436 Up to the hevene he gan to calle, 3,1437 And preide, sithen it was so 3,1438 That he may noght his love as tho 3,1439 Have in this world, that of her grace 3,1440 He miht hire have in other place, 3,1441 For hiere wolde he noght abide, 3,1442 He seith: bot as it schal betide, 3,1443 The Pomel of his swerd to grounde 3,1444 He sette, and thurgh his herte a wounde 3,1445 He made up to the bare hilte: 3,1446 And in this wise himself he spilte 3,1447 With his folhaste and deth he nam; 3,1448 For sche withinne a while cam, 3,1449 Wher he lai ded upon his knif. 3,1450 So wofull yit was nevere lif 3,1451 As Tisbee was, whan sche him sih: 3,1452 Sche mihte noght o word on hih 3,1453 Speke oute, for hire herte schette, 3,1454 That of hir lif no pris sche sette, 3,1455 Bot ded swounende doun sche fell. 3,1456 Til after, whanne it so befell 3,1457 That sche out of hire traunce awok, 3,1458 With many a wofull pitous lok 3,1459 Hire yhe alwei among sche caste 3,1460 Upon hir love, and ate laste 3,1461 Sche cawhte breth and seide thus: 3,1462 "O thou which cleped art Venus, 3,1463 Goddesse of love, and thou, Cupide, 3,1464 Which loves cause hast forto guide, 3,1465 I wot now wel that ye be blinde, 3,1466 Of thilke unhapp which I now finde 3,1467 Only betwen my love and me. 3,1468 This Piramus, which hiere I se 3,1469 Bledende, what hath he deserved? 3,1470 For he youre heste hath kept and served, 3,1471 And was yong and I bothe also: 3,1472 Helas, why do ye with ous so? 3,1473 Ye sette oure herte bothe afyre, 3,1474 And maden ous such thing desire 3,1475 Wherof that we no skile cowthe; 3,1476 Bot thus oure freisshe lusti yowthe 3,1477 Withoute joie is al despended, 3,1478 Which thing mai nevere ben amended: 3,1479 For as of me this wol I seie, 3,1480 That me is levere forto deie 3,1481 Than live after this sorghful day." 3,1482 And with this word, where as he lay, 3,1483 Hire love in armes sche embraseth, 3,1484 Hire oghne deth and so pourchaseth 3,1485 That now sche wepte and nou sche kiste, 3,1486 Til ate laste, er sche it wiste, 3,1487 So gret a sorwe is to hire falle, 3,1488 Which overgoth hire wittes alle. 3,1489 As sche which mihte it noght asterte, 3,1490 The swerdes point ayein hire herte 3,1491 Sche sette, and fell doun therupon, 3,1492 Wherof that sche was ded anon: 3,1493 And thus bothe on o swerd bledende 3,1494 Thei weren founde ded liggende. 3,1495 Now thou, mi Sone, hast herd this tale, 3,1496 Bewar that of thin oghne bale 3,1497 Thou be noght cause in thi folhaste, 3,1498 And kep that thou thi witt ne waste 3,1499 Upon thi thoght in aventure, 3,1500 Wherof thi lyves forfeture 3,1501 Mai falle: and if thou have so thoght 3,1502 Er this, tell on and hyde it noght. 3,1503 Mi fader, upon loves side 3,1504 Mi conscience I woll noght hyde, 3,1505 How that for love of pure wo 3,1506 I have ben ofte moeved so, 3,1507 That with my wisshes if I myhte, 3,1508 A thousand times, I yow plyhte, 3,1509 I hadde storven in a day; 3,1510 And therof I me schryve may, 3,1511 Though love fully me ne slowh, 3,1512 Mi will to deie was ynowh, 3,1513 So am I of my will coupable: 3,1514 And yit is sche noght merciable, 3,1515 Which mai me yive lif and hele. 3,1516 Bot that hir list noght with me dele, 3,1517 I wot be whos conseil it is, 3,1518 And him wolde I long time er this, 3,1519 And yit I wolde and evere schal, 3,1520 Slen and destruie in special. 3,1521 The gold of nyne kinges londes 3,1522 Ne scholde him save fro myn hondes, 3,1523 In my pouer if that he were; 3,1524 Bot yit him stant of me no fere 3,1525 For noght that evere I can manace. 3,1526 He is the hindrere of mi grace, 3,1527 Til he be ded I mai noght spede; 3,1528 So mot I nedes taken hiede 3,1529 And schape how that he were aweie, 3,1530 If I therto mai finde a weie. 3,1531 Mi Sone, tell me now forthi, 3,1532 Which is that mortiel enemy 3,1533 That thou manacest to be ded. 3,1534 Mi fader, it is such a qwed, 3,1535 That wher I come, he is tofore, 3,1536 And doth so, that mi cause is lore. 3,1537 What is his name? It is Daunger, 3,1538 Which is mi ladi consailer: 3,1539 For I was nevere yit so slyh, 3,1540 To come in eny place nyh 3,1541 Wher as sche was be nyht or day, 3,1542 That Danger ne was redy ay, 3,1543 With whom for speche ne for mede 3,1544 Yit mihte I nevere of love spede; 3,1545 For evere this I finde soth, 3,1546 Al that my ladi seith or doth 3,1547 To me, Daunger schal make an ende, 3,1548 And that makth al mi world miswende: 3,1549 And evere I axe his help, bot he 3,1550 Mai wel be cleped sanz pite; 3,1551 For ay the more I to him bowe, 3,1552 The lasse he wol my tale alowe. 3,1553 He hath mi ladi so englued, 3,1554 Sche wol noght that he be remued; 3,1555 For evere he hangeth on hire Seil, 3,1556 And is so prive of conseil, 3,1557 That evere whanne I have oght bede, 3,1558 I finde Danger in hire stede 3,1559 And myn ansuere of him I have; 3,1560 Bot for no merci that I crave, 3,1561 Of merci nevere a point I hadde. 3,1562 I finde his ansuere ay so badde, 3,1563 That werse mihte it nevere be: 3,1564 And thus betwen Danger and me 3,1565 Is evere werre til he dye. 3,1566 Bot mihte I ben of such maistrie, 3,1567 That I Danger hadde overcome, 3,1568 With that were al my joie come. 3,1569 Thus wolde I wonde for no Sinne, 3,1570 Ne yit for al this world to winne; 3,1571 If that I mihte finde a sleyhte, 3,1572 To leie al myn astat in weyhte, 3,1573 I wolde him fro the Court dissevere, 3,1574 So that he come ayeinward nevere. 3,1575 Therfore I wisshe and wolde fain 3,1576 That he were in som wise slain; 3,1577 For while he stant in thilke place, 3,1578 Ne gete I noght my ladi grace. 3,1579 Thus hate I dedly thilke vice, 3,1580 And wolde he stode in non office 3,1581 In place wher mi ladi is; 3,1582 For if he do, I wot wel this, 3,1583 That owther schal he deie or I 3,1584 Withinne a while; and noght forthi 3,1585 On my ladi fulofte I muse, 3,1586 How that sche mai hirself excuse, 3,1587 If that I deie in such a plit. 3,1588 Me thenkth sche mihte noght be qwyt 3,1589 That sche ne were an homicide: 3,1590 And if it scholde so betide, 3,1591 As god forbiede it scholde be, 3,1592 Be double weie it is pite. 3,1593 For I, which al my will and witt 3,1594 Have yove and served evere yit, 3,1595 And thanne I scholde in such a wise 3,1596 In rewardinge of my servise 3,1597 Be ded, me thenkth it were a rowthe: 3,1598 And furthermor, to telle trowthe, 3,1599 Sche, that hath evere be wel named, 3,1600 Were worthi thanne to be blamed 3,1601 And of reson to ben appeled, 3,1602 Whan with o word sche mihte have heled 3,1603 A man, and soffreth him so deie. 3,1604 Ha, who sawh evere such a weie? 3,1605 Ha, who sawh evere such destresse? 3,1606 Withoute pite gentilesse, 3,1607 Withoute mercy wommanhede, 3,1608 That wol so quyte a man his mede, 3,1609 Which evere hath be to love trewe. 3,1610 Mi goode fader, if ye rewe 3,1611 Upon mi tale, tell me now, 3,1612 And I wol stinte and herkne yow. 3,1613 Mi Sone, attempre thi corage 3,1614 Fro Wraththe, and let thin herte assuage: 3,1615 For who so wole him underfonge, 3,1616 He mai his grace abide longe, 3,1617 Er he of love be received; 3,1618 And ek also, bot it be weyved, 3,1619 Ther mihte mochel thing befalle, 3,1620 That scholde make a man to falle 3,1621 Fro love, that nevere afterward 3,1622 Ne durste he loke thiderward. 3,1623 In harde weies men gon softe, 3,1624 And er thei clymbe avise hem ofte: 3,1625 Men sen alday that rape reweth; 3,1626 And who so wicked Ale breweth, 3,1627 Fulofte he mot the werse drinke: 3,1628 Betre is to flete than to sincke; 3,1629 Betre is upon the bridel chiewe 3,1630 Thanne if he felle and overthrewe, 3,1631 The hors and stikede in the Myr: 3,1632 To caste water in the fyr 3,1633 Betre is than brenne up al the hous: 3,1634 The man which is malicious 3,1635 And folhastif, fulofte he falleth, 3,1636 And selden is whan love him calleth. 3,1637 Forthi betre is to soffre a throwe 3,1638 Than be to wilde and overthrowe; 3,1639 Suffrance hath evere be the beste 3,1640 To wissen him that secheth reste: 3,1641 And thus, if thou wolt love and spede, 3,1642 Mi Sone, soffre, as I the rede. 3,1643 What mai the Mous ayein the Cat? 3,1644 And for this cause I axe that, 3,1645 Who mai to love make a werre, 3,1646 That he ne hath himself the werre? 3,1647 Love axeth pes and evere schal, 3,1648 And who that fihteth most withal 3,1649 Schal lest conquere of his emprise: 3,1650 For this thei tellen that ben wise, 3,1651 Wicke is to stryve and have the werse; 3,1652 To hasten is noght worth a kerse; 3,1653 Thing that a man mai noght achieve, 3,1654 That mai noght wel be don at Eve, 3,1655 It mot abide til the morwe. 3,1656 Ne haste noght thin oghne sorwe, 3,1657 Mi Sone, and tak this in thi witt, 3,1658 He hath noght lost that wel abitt. 3,1659 Ensample that it falleth thus, 3,1660 Thou miht wel take of Piramus, 3,1661 Whan he in haste his swerd outdrowh 3,1662 And on the point himselve slowh 3,1663 For love of Tisbee pitously, 3,1664 For he hire wympel fond blody 3,1665 And wende a beste hire hadde slain; 3,1666 Wher as him oghte have be riht fain, 3,1667 For sche was there al sauf beside: 3,1668 Bot for he wolde noght abide, 3,1669 This meschief fell. Forthi be war, 3,1670 Mi Sone, as I the warne dar, 3,1671 Do thou nothing in such a res, 3,1672 For suffrance is the welle of Pes. 3,1673 Thogh thou to loves Court poursuie, 3,1674 Yit sit it wel that thou eschuie 3,1675 That thou the Court noght overhaste, 3,1676 For so miht thou thi time waste; 3,1677 Bot if thin happ therto be schape, 3,1678 It mai noght helpe forto rape. 3,1679 Therfore attempre thi corage; 3,1680 Folhaste doth non avantage, 3,1681 Bot ofte it set a man behinde 3,1682 In cause of love, and that I finde 3,1683 Be olde ensample, as thou schalt hiere, 3,1684 Touchende of love in this matiere. 3,1685 A Maiden whilom ther was on, 3,1686 Which Daphne hihte, and such was non 3,1687 Of beaute thanne, as it was seid. 3,1688 Phebus his love hath on hire leid, 3,1689 And therupon to hire he soghte 3,1690 In his folhaste, and so besoghte, 3,1691 That sche with him no reste hadde; 3,1692 For evere upon hire love he gradde, 3,1693 And sche seide evere unto him nay. 3,1694 So it befell upon a dai, 3,1695 Cupide, which hath every chance 3,1696 Of love under his governance, 3,1697 Syh Phebus hasten him so sore: 3,1698 And for he scholde him haste more, 3,1699 And yit noght speden ate laste, 3,1700 A dart thurghout his herte he caste, 3,1701 Which was of gold and al afyre, 3,1702 That made him manyfold desire 3,1703 Of love more thanne he dede. 3,1704 To Daphne ek in the same stede 3,1705 A dart of Led he caste and smot, 3,1706 Which was al cold and nothing hot. 3,1707 And thus Phebus in love brenneth, 3,1708 And in his haste aboute renneth, 3,1709 To loke if that he mihte winne; 3,1710 Bot he was evere to beginne, 3,1711 For evere awei fro him sche fledde, 3,1712 So that he nevere his love spedde. 3,1713 And forto make him full believe 3,1714 That no Folhaste mihte achieve 3,1715 To gete love in such degree, 3,1716 This Daphne into a lorer tre 3,1717 Was torned, which is evere grene, 3,1718 In tokne, as yit it mai be sene, 3,1719 That sche schal duelle a maiden stille, 3,1720 And Phebus failen of his wille. 3,1721 Be suche ensamples, as thei stonde, 3,1722 Mi Sone, thou miht understonde, 3,1723 To hasten love is thing in vein, 3,1724 Whan that fortune is therayein. 3,1725 To take where a man hath leve 3,1726 Good is, and elles he mot leve; 3,1727 For whan a mannes happes failen, 3,1728 Ther is non haste mai availen. 3,1729 Mi fader, grant merci of this: 3,1730 Bot while I se mi ladi is 3,1731 No tre, but halt hire oghne forme, 3,1732 Ther mai me noman so enforme, 3,1733 To whether part fortune wende, 3,1734 That I unto mi lyves ende 3,1735 Ne wol hire serven everemo. 3,1736 Mi Sone, sithen it is so, 3,1737 I seie nomor; bot in this cas 3,1738 Bewar how it with Phebus was. 3,1739 Noght only upon loves chance, 3,1740 Bot upon every governance 3,1741 Which falleth unto mannes dede, 3,1742 Folhaste is evere forto drede, 3,1743 And that a man good consail take, 3,1744 Er he his pourpos undertake, 3,1745 For consail put Folhaste aweie. 3,1746 Now goode fader, I you preie, 3,1747 That forto wisse me the more, 3,1748 Som good ensample upon this lore 3,1749 Ye wolden telle of that is write, 3,1750 That I the betre mihte wite 3,1751 How I Folhaste scholde eschuie, 3,1752 And the wisdom of conseil suie. 3,1753 Mi Sone, that thou miht enforme 3,1754 Thi pacience upon the forme 3,1755 Of old essamples, as thei felle, 3,1756 Now understond what I schal telle. 3,1757 Whan noble Troie was belein 3,1758 And overcome, and hom ayein 3,1759 The Gregois torned fro the siege, 3,1760 The kinges founde here oghne liege 3,1761 In manye places, as men seide, 3,1762 That hem forsoke and desobeide. 3,1763 Among the whiche fell this cas 3,1764 To Demephon and Athemas, 3,1765 That weren kinges bothe tuo, 3,1766 And bothe weren served so: 3,1767 Here lieges wolde hem noght receive, 3,1768 So that thei mote algates weyve 3,1769 To seche lond in other place, 3,1770 For there founde thei no grace. 3,1771 Wherof they token hem to rede, 3,1772 And soghten frendes ate nede, 3,1773 And ech of hem asseureth other 3,1774 To helpe as to his oghne brother, 3,1775 To vengen hem of thilke oultrage 3,1776 And winne ayein here heritage. 3,1777 And thus thei ryde aboute faste 3,1778 To gete hem help, and ate laste 3,1779 Thei hadden pouer sufficant, 3,1780 And maden thanne a covenant, 3,1781 That thei ne scholden no lif save, 3,1782 Ne prest, ne clerc, ne lord, ne knave, 3,1783 Ne wif, ne child, of that thei finde, 3,1784 Which berth visage of mannes kinde, 3,1785 So that no lif schal be socoured, 3,1786 Bot with the dedly swerd devoured: 3,1787 In such Folhaste here ordinance 3,1788 Thei schapen forto do vengance. 3,1789 Whan this pourpos was wist and knowe 3,1790 Among here host, tho was ther blowe 3,1791 Of wordes many a speche aboute: 3,1792 Of yonge men the lusti route 3,1793 Were of this tale glad ynowh, 3,1794 Ther was no care for the plowh; 3,1795 As thei that weren Folhastif, 3,1796 Thei ben acorded to the strif, 3,1797 And sein it mai noght be to gret 3,1798 To vengen hem of such forfet: 3,1799 Thus seith the wilde unwise tonge 3,1800 Of hem that there weren yonge. 3,1801 Bot Nestor, which was old and hor, 3,1802 The salve sih tofore the sor, 3,1803 As he that was of conseil wys: 3,1804 So that anon be his avis 3,1805 Ther was a prive conseil nome. 3,1806 The lordes ben togedre come; 3,1807 This Demephon and Athemas 3,1808 Here pourpos tolden, as it was; 3,1809 Thei sieten alle stille and herde, 3,1810 Was non bot Nestor hem ansuerde. 3,1811 He bad hem, if thei wolde winne, 3,1812 They scholden se, er thei beginne, 3,1813 Here ende, and sette here ferste entente, 3,1814 That thei hem after ne repente: 3,1815 And axeth hem this questioun, 3,1816 To what final conclusioun 3,1817 Thei wolde regne Kinges there, 3,1818 If that no poeple in londe were; 3,1819 And seith, it were a wonder wierde 3,1820 To sen a king become an hierde, 3,1821 Wher no lif is bot only beste 3,1822 Under the liegance of his heste; 3,1823 For who that is of man no king, 3,1824 The remenant is as no thing. 3,1825 He seith ek, if the pourpos holde 3,1826 To sle the poeple, as thei tuo wolde, 3,1827 Whan thei it mihte noght restore, 3,1828 Al Grece it scholde abegge sore, 3,1829 To se the wilde beste wone 3,1830 Wher whilom duelte a mannes Sone: 3,1831 And for that cause he bad hem trete, 3,1832 And stinte of the manaces grete. 3,1833 Betre is to winne be fair speche, 3,1834 He seith, than such vengance seche; 3,1835 For whanne a man is most above, 3,1836 Him nedeth most to gete him love. 3,1837 Whan Nestor hath his tale seid, 3,1838 Ayein him was no word withseid; 3,1839 It thoghte hem alle he seide wel: 3,1840 And thus fortune hire dedly whiel 3,1841 Fro werre torneth into pes. 3,1842 Bot forth thei wenten natheles; 3,1843 And whan the Contres herde sein 3,1844 How that here kinges be besein 3,1845 Of such a pouer as thei ladde, 3,1846 Was non so bold that hem ne dradde, 3,1847 And forto seche pes and grith 3,1848 Thei sende and preide anon forthwith, 3,1849 So that the kinges ben appesed, 3,1850 And every mannes herte is esed; 3,1851 Al was foryete and noght recorded. 3,1852 And thus thei ben togedre acorded; 3,1853 The kinges were ayein received, 3,1854 And pes was take and wraththe weived, 3,1855 And al thurgh conseil which was good 3,1856 Of him that reson understod. 3,1857 Be this ensample, Sone, attempre 3,1858 Thin herte and let no will distempre 3,1859 Thi wit, and do nothing be myht 3,1860 Which mai be do be love and riht. 3,1861 Folhaste is cause of mochel wo; 3,1862 Forthi, mi Sone, do noght so. 3,1863 And as touchende of Homicide 3,1864 Which toucheth unto loves side, 3,1865 Fulofte it falleth unavised 3,1866 Thurgh will, which is noght wel assised, 3,1867 Whan wit and reson ben aweie 3,1868 And that Folhaste is in the weie, 3,1869 Wherof hath falle gret vengance. 3,1870 Forthi tak into remembrance 3,1871 To love in such a maner wise 3,1872 That thou deserve no juise: 3,1873 For wel I wot, thou miht noght lette, 3,1874 That thou ne schalt thin herte sette 3,1875 To love, wher thou wolt or non; 3,1876 Bot if thi wit be overgon, 3,1877 So that it torne into malice, 3,1878 Ther wot noman of thilke vice, 3,1879 What peril that ther mai befalle: 3,1880 Wherof a tale amonges alle, 3,1881 Which is gret pite forto hiere, 3,1882 I thenke forto tellen hiere, 3,1883 That thou such moerdre miht withstonde, 3,1884 Whan thou the tale hast understonde. 3,1885 Of Troie at thilke noble toun, 3,1886 Whos fame stant yit of renoun 3,1887 And evere schal to mannes Ere, 3,1888 The Siege laste longe there, 3,1889 Er that the Greks it mihten winne, 3,1890 Whil Priamus was king therinne; 3,1891 Bot of the Greks that lyhe aboute 3,1892 Agamenon ladde al the route. 3,1893 This thing is knowen overal, 3,1894 Bot yit I thenke in special 3,1895 To my matiere therupon 3,1896 Telle in what wise Agamenon, 3,1897 Thurgh chance which mai noght be weived, 3,1898 Of love untrewe was deceived. 3,1899 An old sawe is, "Who that is slyh 3,1900 In place where he mai be nyh, 3,1901 He makth the ferre Lieve loth": 3,1902 Of love and thus fulofte it goth. 3,1903 Ther while Agamenon batailleth 3,1904 To winne Troie, and it assailleth, 3,1905 Fro home and was long time ferr, 3,1906 Egistus drowh his qweene nerr, 3,1907 And with the leiser which he hadde 3,1908 This ladi at his wille he ladde: 3,1909 Climestre was hire rihte name, 3,1910 Sche was therof gretli to blame, 3,1911 To love there it mai noght laste. 3,1912 Bot fell to meschief ate laste; 3,1913 For whan this noble worthi kniht 3,1914 Fro Troie cam, the ferste nyht 3,1915 That he at home abedde lay, 3,1916 Egistus, longe er it was day, 3,1917 As this Climestre him hadde asent, 3,1918 And weren bothe of on assent, 3,1919 Be treson slowh him in his bedd. 3,1920 Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd, 3,1921 Sprong out to every mannes Ere, 3,1922 Wherof the lond was full of fere. 3,1923 Agamenon hath be this qweene 3,1924 A Sone, and that was after sene; 3,1925 Bot yit as thanne he was of yowthe, 3,1926 A babe, which no reson cowthe, 3,1927 And as godd wolde, it fell him thus. 3,1928 A worthi kniht Taltabius 3,1929 This yonge child hath in kepinge, 3,1930 And whan he herde of this tidinge, 3,1931 Of this treson, of this misdede, 3,1932 He gan withinne himself to drede, 3,1933 In aunter if this false Egiste 3,1934 Upon him come, er he it wiste, 3,1935 To take and moerdre of his malice 3,1936 This child, which he hath to norrice: 3,1937 And for that cause in alle haste 3,1938 Out of the lond he gan him haste 3,1939 And to the king of Crete he strawhte 3,1940 And him this yonge lord betawhte, 3,1941 And preide him for his fader sake 3,1942 That he this child wolde undertake 3,1943 And kepe him til he be of Age, 3,1944 So as he was of his lignage; 3,1945 And tolde him over al the cas, 3,1946 How that his fadre moerdred was, 3,1947 And hou Egistus, as men seide, 3,1948 Was king, to whom the lond obeide. 3,1949 And whanne Ydomeneux the king 3,1950 Hath understondinge of this thing, 3,1951 Which that this kniht him hadde told, 3,1952 He made sorwe manyfold, 3,1953 And tok this child into his warde, 3,1954 And seide he wolde him kepe and warde, 3,1955 Til that he were of such a myht 3,1956 To handle a swerd and ben a knyht, 3,1957 To venge him at his oghne wille. 3,1958 And thus Horestes duelleth stille, 3,1959 Such was the childes rihte name, 3,1960 Which after wroghte mochel schame 3,1961 In vengance of his fader deth. 3,1962 The time of yeres overgeth, 3,1963 That he was man of brede and lengthe, 3,1964 Of wit, of manhod and of strengthe, 3,1965 A fair persone amonges alle. 3,1966 And he began to clepe and calle, 3,1967 As he which come was to manne, 3,1968 Unto the King of Crete thanne, 3,1969 Preiende that he wolde him make 3,1970 A kniht and pouer with him take, 3,1971 For lengere wolde he noght beleve, 3,1972 He seith, bot preith the king of leve 3,1973 To gon and cleyme his heritage 3,1974 And vengen him of thilke oultrage 3,1975 Which was unto his fader do. 3,1976 The king assenteth wel therto, 3,1977 With gret honour and knyht him makth, 3,1978 And gret pouer to him betakth, 3,1979 And gan his journe forto caste: 3,1980 So that Horestes ate laste 3,1981 His leve tok and forth he goth. 3,1982 As he that was in herte wroth, 3,1983 His ferste pleinte to bemene, 3,1984 Unto the Cite of Athene 3,1985 He goth him forth and was received, 3,1986 So there was he noght deceived. 3,1987 The Duc and tho that weren wise 3,1988 Thei profren hem to his servise; 3,1989 And he hem thonketh of here profre 3,1990 And seith himself he wol gon offre 3,1991 Unto the goddes for his sped, 3,1992 As alle men him yeven red. 3,1993 So goth he to the temple forth: 3,1994 Of yiftes that be mochel worth 3,1995 His sacrifice and his offringe 3,1996 He made; and after his axinge 3,1997 He was ansuerd, if that he wolde 3,1998 His stat recovere, thanne he scholde 3,1999 Upon his Moder do vengance 3,2000 So cruel, that the remembrance 3,2001 Therof mihte everemore abide, 3,2002 As sche that was an homicide 3,2003 And of hire oghne lord Moerdrice. 3,2004 Horestes, which of thilke office 3,2005 Was nothing glad, as thanne he preide 3,2006 Unto the goddes there and seide 3,2007 That thei the juggement devise, 3,2008 How sche schal take the juise. 3,2009 And therupon he hadde ansuere, 3,2010 That he hire Pappes scholde of tere 3,2011 Out of hire brest his oghne hondes, 3,2012 And for ensample of alle londes 3,2013 With hors sche scholde be todrawe, 3,2014 Til houndes hadde hire bones gnawe 3,2015 Withouten eny sepulture: 3,2016 This was a wofull aventure. 3,2017 And whan Horestes hath al herd, 3,2018 How that the goddes have ansuerd, 3,2019 Forth with the strengthe which he ladde 3,2020 The Duc and his pouer he hadde, 3,2021 And to a Cite forth thei gon, 3,2022 The which was cleped Cropheon, 3,2023 Where as Phoieus was lord and Sire, 3,2024 Which profreth him withouten hyre 3,2025 His help and al that he mai do, 3,2026 As he that was riht glad therto, 3,2027 To grieve his mortiel enemy: 3,2028 And tolde hem certein cause why, 3,2029 How that Egiste in Mariage 3,2030 His dowhter whilom of full Age 3,2031 Forlai, and afterward forsok, 3,2032 Whan he Horestes Moder tok. 3,2033 Men sein, "Old Senne newe schame": 3,2034 Thus more and more aros the blame 3,2035 Ayein Egiste on every side. 3,2036 Horestes with his host to ride 3,2037 Began, and Phoieus with hem wente; 3,2038 I trowe Egiste him schal repente. 3,2039 Thei riden forth unto Micene, 3,2040 Wher lay Climestre thilke qweene, 3,2041 The which Horestes moder is: 3,2042 And whan sche herde telle of this, 3,2043 The gates weren faste schet, 3,2044 And thei were of here entre let. 3,2045 Anon this Cite was withoute 3,2046 Belein and sieged al aboute, 3,2047 And evere among thei it assaile, 3,2048 Fro day to nyht and so travaile, 3,2049 Til ate laste thei it wonne; 3,2050 Tho was ther sorwe ynowh begonne. 3,2051 Horestes dede his moder calle 3,2052 Anon tofore the lordes alle 3,2053 And ek tofor the poeple also, 3,2054 To hire and tolde his tale tho, 3,2055 And seide, "O cruel beste unkinde, 3,2056 How mihtest thou thin herte finde, 3,2057 For eny lust of loves drawhte, 3,2058 That thou acordest to the slawhte 3,2059 Of him which was thin oghne lord? 3,2060 Thi treson stant of such record, 3,2061 Thou miht thi werkes noght forsake; 3,2062 So mot I for mi fader sake 3,2063 Vengance upon thi bodi do, 3,2064 As I comanded am therto. 3,2065 Unkindely for thou hast wroght, 3,2066 Unkindeliche it schal be boght, 3,2067 The Sone schal the Moder sle, 3,2068 For that whilom thou seidest yee 3,2069 To that thou scholdest nay have seid." 3,2070 And he with that his hond hath leid 3,2071 Upon his Moder brest anon, 3,2072 And rente out fro the bare bon 3,2073 Hire Pappes bothe and caste aweie 3,2074 Amiddes in the carte weie, 3,2075 And after tok the dede cors 3,2076 And let it drawe awey with hors 3,2077 Unto the hound and to the raven; 3,2078 Sche was non other wise graven. 3,2079 Egistus, which was elles where, 3,2080 Tidinges comen to his Ere 3,2081 How that Micenes was belein, 3,2082 Bot what was more herd he noght sein; 3,2083 With gret manace and mochel bost 3,2084 He drowh pouer and made an host 3,2085 And cam in rescousse of the toun. 3,2086 Bot al the sleyhte of his tresoun 3,2087 Horestes wiste it be aspie, 3,2088 And of his men a gret partie 3,2089 He made in buisshement abide, 3,2090 To waite on him in such a tide 3,2091 That he ne mihte here hond ascape: 3,2092 And in this wise as he hath schape 3,2093 The thing befell, so that Egiste 3,2094 Was take, er he himself it wiste, 3,2095 And was forth broght hise hondes bounde, 3,2096 As whan men han a tretour founde. 3,2097 And tho that weren with him take, 3,2098 Whiche of tresoun were overtake, 3,2099 Togedre in o sentence falle; 3,2100 Bot false Egiste above hem alle 3,2101 Was demed to diverse peine, 3,2102 The worste that men cowthe ordeigne, 3,2103 And so forth after be the lawe 3,2104 He was unto the gibet drawe, 3,2105 Where he above alle othre hongeth, 3,2106 As to a tretour it belongeth. 3,2107 Tho fame with hire swifte wynges 3,2108 Aboute flyh and bar tidinges, 3,2109 And made it cowth in alle londes 3,2110 How that Horestes with hise hondes 3,2111 Climestre his oghne Moder slowh. 3,2112 Some sein he dede wel ynowh, 3,2113 And som men sein he dede amis, 3,2114 Diverse opinion ther is: 3,2115 That sche is ded thei speken alle, 3,2116 Bot pleinli hou it is befalle, 3,2117 The matiere in so litel throwe 3,2118 In soth ther mihte noman knowe 3,2119 Bot thei that weren ate dede: 3,2120 And comunliche in every nede 3,2121 The worste speche is rathest herd 3,2122 And lieved, til it be ansuerd. 3,2123 The kinges and the lordes grete 3,2124 Begonne Horestes forto threte 3,2125 To puten him out of his regne: 3,2126 "He is noght worthi forto regne, 3,2127 The child which slowh his moder so," 3,2128 Thei saide; and therupon also 3,2129 The lordes of comun assent 3,2130 A time sette of parlement, 3,2131 And to Athenes king and lord 3,2132 Togedre come of on accord, 3,2133 To knowe hou that the sothe was: 3,2134 So that Horestes in this cas 3,2135 Thei senden after, and he com. 3,2136 King Menelay the wordes nom 3,2137 And axeth him of this matiere: 3,2138 And he, that alle it mihten hiere, 3,2139 Ansuerde and tolde his tale alarge, 3,2140 And hou the goddes in his charge 3,2141 Comanded him in such a wise 3,2142 His oghne hond to do juise. 3,2143 And with this tale a Duc aros, 3,2144 Which was a worthi kniht of los, 3,2145 His name was Menesteuµs, 3,2146 And seide unto the lordes thus: 3,2147 "The wreeche which Horeste dede, 3,2148 It was thing of the goddes bede, 3,2149 And nothing of his crualte; 3,2150 And if ther were of mi degree 3,2151 In al this place such a kniht 3,2152 That wolde sein it was no riht, 3,2153 I wole it with my bodi prove." 3,2154 And therupon he caste his glove, 3,2155 And ek this noble Duc alleide 3,2156 Ful many an other skile, and seide 3,2157 Sche hadde wel deserved wreche, 3,2158 Ferst for the cause of Spousebreche, 3,2159 And after wroghte in such a wise 3,2160 That al the world it oghte agrise, 3,2161 Whan that sche for so foul a vice 3,2162 Was of hire oghne lord moerdrice. 3,2163 Thei seten alle stille and herde, 3,2164 Bot therto was noman ansuerde, 3,2165 It thoghte hem alle he seide skile, 3,2166 Ther is noman withseie it wile; 3,2167 Whan thei upon the reson musen, 3,2168 Horestes alle thei excusen: 3,2169 So that with gret solempnete 3,2170 He was unto his dignete 3,2171 Received, and coroned king. 3,2172 And tho befell a wonder thing: 3,2173 Egiona, whan sche this wiste, 3,2174 Which was the dowhter of Egiste 3,2175 And Soster on the moder side 3,2176 To this Horeste, at thilke tide, 3,2177 Whan sche herde how hir brother spedde, 3,2178 For pure sorwe, which hire ledde, 3,2179 That he ne hadde ben exiled, 3,2180 Sche hath hire oghne lif beguiled 3,2181 Anon and hyng hireselve tho. 3,2182 It hath and schal ben everemo, 3,2183 To moerdre who that wole assente, 3,2184 He mai noght faille to repente: 3,2185 This false Egiona was on, 3,2186 Which forto moerdre Agamenon 3,2187 Yaf hire acord and hire assent, 3,2188 So that be goddes juggement, 3,2189 Thogh that non other man it wolde, 3,2190 Sche tok hire juise as sche scholde; 3,2191 And as sche to an other wroghte, 3,2192 Vengance upon hireself sche soghte, 3,2193 And hath of hire unhappi wit 3,2194 A moerdre with a moerdre quit. 3,2195 Such is of moerdre the vengance. 3,2196 Forthi, mi Sone, in remembrance 3,2197 Of this ensample tak good hiede: 3,2198 For who that thenkth his love spiede 3,2199 With moerdre, he schal with worldes schame 3,2200 Himself and ek his love schame. 3,2201 Mi fader, of this aventure 3,2202 Which ye have told, I you assure 3,2203 Min herte is sory forto hiere, 3,2204 Bot only for I wolde lere 3,2205 What is to done, and what to leve. 3,2206 And over this now be your leve, 3,2207 That ye me wolden telle I preie, 3,2208 If ther be lieffull eny weie 3,2209 Withoute Senne a man to sle. 3,2210 Mi Sone, in sondri wise ye. 3,2211 What man that is of traiterie, 3,2212 Of moerdre or elles robberie 3,2213 Atteint, the jugge schal noght lette, 3,2214 Bot he schal slen of pure dette, 3,2215 And doth gret Senne, if that he wonde. 3,2216 For who that lawe hath upon honde, 3,2217 And spareth forto do justice 3,2218 For merci, doth noght his office, 3,2219 That he his mercy so bewareth, 3,2220 Whan for o schrewe which he spareth 3,2221 A thousand goode men he grieveth: 3,2222 With such merci who that believeth 3,2223 To plese god, he is deceived, 3,2224 Or elles resoun mot be weyved. 3,2225 The lawe stod er we were bore, 3,2226 How that a kinges swerd is bore 3,2227 In signe that he schal defende 3,2228 His trewe poeple and make an ende 3,2229 Of suche as wolden hem devoure. 3,2230 Lo thus, my Sone, to socoure 3,2231 The lawe and comun riht to winne, 3,2232 A man mai sle withoute Sinne, 3,2233 And do therof a gret almesse, 3,2234 So forto kepe rihtwisnesse. 3,2235 And over this for his contre 3,2236 In time of werre a man is fre 3,2237 Himself, his hous and ek his lond 3,2238 Defende with his oghne hond, 3,2239 And slen, if that he mai no bet, 3,2240 After the lawe which is set. 3,2241 Now, fader, thanne I you beseche 3,2242 Of hem that dedly werres seche 3,2243 In worldes cause and scheden blod, 3,2244 If such an homicide is good. 3,2245 Mi Sone, upon thi question 3,2246 The trowthe of myn opinion, 3,2247 Als ferforth as my wit arecheth 3,2248 And as the pleine lawe techeth, 3,2249 I woll thee telle in evidence, 3,2250 To rewle with thi conscience. 3,2251 The hihe god of his justice 3,2252 That ilke foule horrible vice 3,2253 Of homicide he hath forbede, 3,2254 Be Moiµses as it was bede. 3,2255 Whan goddes Sone also was bore, 3,2256 He sende hise anglis doun therfore, 3,2257 Whom the Schepherdes herden singe, 3,2258 Pes to the men of welwillinge 3,2259 In erthe be among ous here. 3,2260 So forto speke in this matiere 3,2261 After the lawe of charite, 3,2262 Ther schal no dedly werre be: 3,2263 And ek nature it hath defended 3,2264 And in hir lawe pes comended, 3,2265 Which is the chief of mannes welthe, 3,2266 Of mannes lif, of mannes helthe. 3,2267 Bot dedly werre hath his covine 3,2268 Of pestilence and of famine, 3,2269 Of poverte and of alle wo, 3,2270 Wherof this world we blamen so, 3,2271 Which now the werre hath under fote, 3,2272 Til god himself therof do bote. 3,2273 For alle thing which god hath wroght 3,2274 In Erthe, werre it bringth to noght: 3,2275 The cherche is brent, the priest is slain, 3,2276 The wif, the maide is ek forlain, 3,2277 The lawe is lore and god unserved: 3,2278 I not what mede he hath deserved 3,2279 That suche werres ledeth inne. 3,2280 If that he do it forto winne, 3,2281 Ferst to acompte his grete cost 3,2282 Forth with the folk that he hath lost, 3,2283 As to the wordes rekeninge 3,2284 Ther schal he finde no winnynge; 3,2285 And if he do it to pourchace 3,2286 The hevene mede, of such a grace 3,2287 I can noght speke, and natheles 3,2288 Crist hath comanded love and pes, 3,2289 And who that worcheth the revers, 3,2290 I trowe his mede is ful divers. 3,2291 And sithen thanne that we finde 3,2292 That werres in here oghne kinde 3,2293 Ben toward god of no decerte, 3,2294 And ek thei bringen in poverte 3,2295 Of worldes good, it is merveile 3,2296 Among the men what it mai eyle, 3,2297 That thei a pes ne conne sette. 3,2298 I trowe Senne be the lette, 3,2299 And every mede of Senne is deth; 3,2300 So wot I nevere hou that it geth: 3,2301 Bot we that ben of o believe 3,2302 Among ousself, this wolde I lieve, 3,2303 That betre it were pes to chese, 3,2304 Than so be double weie lese. 3,2305 I not if that it now so stonde, 3,2306 Bot this a man mai understonde, 3,2307 Who that these olde bokes redeth, 3,2308 That coveitise is on which ledeth, 3,2309 And broghte ferst the werres inne. 3,2310 At Grece if that I schal beginne, 3,2311 Ther was it proved hou it stod: 3,2312 To Perce, which was ful of good, 3,2313 Thei maden werre in special, 3,2314 And so thei deden overal, 3,2315 Wher gret richesse was in londe, 3,2316 So that thei leften nothing stonde 3,2317 Unwerred, bot onliche Archade. 3,2318 For there thei no werres made, 3,2319 Be cause it was bareigne and povere, 3,2320 Wherof thei mihten noght recovere; 3,2321 And thus poverte was forbore, 3,2322 He that noght hadde noght hath lore. 3,2323 Bot yit it is a wonder thing, 3,2324 Whan that a riche worthi king, 3,2325 Or other lord, what so he be, 3,2326 Wol axe and cleyme proprete 3,2327 In thing to which he hath no riht, 3,2328 Bot onliche of his grete miht: 3,2329 For this mai every man wel wite, 3,2330 That bothe kinde and lawe write 3,2331 Expressly stonden therayein. 3,2332 Bot he mot nedes somwhat sein, 3,2333 Althogh ther be no reson inne, 3,2334 Which secheth cause forto winne: 3,2335 For wit that is with will oppressed, 3,2336 Whan coveitise him hath adressed, 3,2337 And alle resoun put aweie, 3,2338 He can wel finde such a weie 3,2339 To werre, where as evere him liketh, 3,2340 Wherof that he the world entriketh, 3,2341 That many a man of him compleigneth: 3,2342 Bot yit alwei som cause he feigneth, 3,2343 And of his wrongful herte he demeth 3,2344 That al is wel, what evere him semeth, 3,2345 Be so that he mai winne ynowh. 3,2346 For as the trew man to the plowh 3,2347 Only to the gaignage entendeth, 3,2348 Riht so the werreiour despendeth 3,2349 His time and hath no conscience. 3,2350 And in this point for evidence 3,2351 Of hem that suche werres make, 3,2352 Thou miht a gret ensample take, 3,2353 How thei her tirannie excusen 3,2354 Of that thei wrongfull werres usen, 3,2355 And how thei stonde of on acord, 3,2356 The Souldeour forth with the lord, 3,2357 The povere man forth with the riche, 3,2358 As of corage thei ben liche, 3,2359 To make werres and to pile 3,2360 For lucre and for non other skyle: 3,2361 Wherof a propre tale I rede, 3,2362 As it whilom befell in dede. 3,2363 Of him whom al this Erthe dradde, 3,2364 Whan he the world so overladde 3,2365 Thurgh werre, as it fortuned is, 3,2366 King Alisandre, I rede this; 3,2367 How in a Marche, where he lay, 3,2368 It fell per chance upon a day 3,2369 A Rovere of the See was nome, 3,2370 Which many a man hadde overcome 3,2371 And slain and take here good aweie: 3,2372 This Pilour, as the bokes seie, 3,2373 A famous man in sondri stede 3,2374 Was of the werkes whiche he dede. 3,2375 This Prisoner tofor the king 3,2376 Was broght, and there upon this thing 3,2377 In audience he was accused: 3,2378 And he his dede hath noght excused, 3,2379 Bot preith the king to don him riht, 3,2380 And seith, "Sire, if I were of miht, 3,2381 I have an herte lich to thin; 3,2382 For if the pouer were myn, 3,2383 Mi will is most in special 3,2384 To rifle and geten overal 3,2385 The large worldes good aboute. 3,2386 Bot for I lede a povere route 3,2387 And am, as who seith, at meschief, 3,2388 The name of Pilour and of thief 3,2389 I bere; and thou, which routes grete 3,2390 Miht lede and take thi beyete, 3,2391 And dost riht as I wolde do, 3,2392 Thi name is nothing cleped so, 3,2393 Bot thou art named Emperour. 3,2394 Oure dedes ben of o colour 3,2395 And in effect of o decerte, 3,2396 Bot thi richesse and my poverte 3,2397 Tho ben noght taken evene liche. 3,2398 And natheles he that is riche 3,2399 This dai, tomorwe he mai be povere; 3,2400 And in contraire also recovere 3,2401 A povere man to gret richesse 3,2402 Men sen: forthi let rihtwisnesse 3,2403 Be peised evene in the balance. 3,2404 The king his hardi contienance 3,2405 Behield, and herde hise wordes wise, 3,2406 And seide unto him in this wise: 3,2407 "Thin ansuere I have understonde, 3,2408 Wherof my will is, that thou stonde 3,2409 In mi service and stille abide." 3,2410 And forth withal the same tide 3,2411 He hath him terme of lif withholde, 3,2412 The mor and for he schal ben holde, 3,2413 He made him kniht and yaf him lond, 3,2414 Which afterward was of his hond 3,2415 And orped kniht in many a stede, 3,2416 And gret prouesce of armes dede, 3,2417 As the Croniqes it recorden. 3,2418 And in this wise thei acorden, 3,2419 The whiche of o condicioun 3,2420 Be set upon destruccioun: 3,2421 Such Capitein such retenue. 3,2422 Bot forto se to what issue 3,2423 The thing befalleth ate laste, 3,2424 It is gret wonder that men caste 3,2425 Here herte upon such wrong to winne, 3,2426 Wher no beyete mai ben inne, 3,2427 And doth desese on every side: 3,2428 Bot whan reson is put aside 3,2429 And will governeth the corage, 3,2430 The faucon which that fleth ramage 3,2431 And soeffreth nothing in the weie, 3,2432 Wherof that he mai take his preie, 3,2433 Is noght mor set upon ravine, 3,2434 Than thilke man which his covine 3,2435 Hath set in such a maner wise: 3,2436 For al the world ne mai suffise 3,2437 To will which is noght resonable. 3,2438 Wherof ensample concordable 3,2439 Lich to this point of which I meene, 3,2440 Was upon Alisandre sene, 3,2441 Which hadde set al his entente, 3,2442 So as fortune with him wente, 3,2443 That reson mihte him non governe, 3,2444 Bot of his will he was so sterne, 3,2445 That al the world he overran 3,2446 And what him list he tok and wan. 3,2447 In Ynde the superiour 3,2448 Whan that he was ful conquerour, 3,2449 And hadde his wilful pourpos wonne 3,2450 Of al this Erthe under the Sonne, 3,2451 This king homward to Macedoine, 3,2452 Whan that he cam to Babiloine, 3,2453 And wende most in his Empire, 3,2454 As he which was hol lord and Sire, 3,2455 In honour forto be received, 3,2456 Most sodeinliche he was deceived, 3,2457 And with strong puison envenimed. 3,2458 And as he hath the world mistimed 3,2459 Noght as he scholde with his wit, 3,2460 Noght as he wolde it was aquit. 3,2461 Thus was he slain that whilom slowh, 3,2462 And he which riche was ynowh 3,2463 This dai, tomorwe he hadde noght: 3,2464 And in such wise as he hath wroght 3,2465 In destorbance of worldes pes, 3,2466 His werre he fond thanne endeles, 3,2467 In which for evere desconfit 3,2468 He was. Lo now, for what profit 3,2469 Of werre it helpeth forto ryde, 3,2470 For coveitise and worldes pride 3,2471 To sle the worldes men aboute, 3,2472 As bestes whiche gon theroute. 3,2473 For every lif which reson can 3,2474 Oghth wel to knowe that a man 3,2475 Ne scholde thurgh no tirannie 3,2476 Lich to these othre bestes die, 3,2477 Til kinde wolde for him sende. 3,2478 I not hou he it mihte amende, 3,2479 Which takth awei for everemore 3,2480 The lif that he mai noght restore. 3,2481 Forthi, mi Sone, in alle weie 3,2482 Be wel avised, I thee preie, 3,2483 Of slawhte er that thou be coupable 3,2484 Withoute cause resonable. 3,2485 Mi fader, understonde it is, 3,2486 That ye have seid; bot over this 3,2487 I prei you tell me nay or yee, 3,2488 To passe over the grete See 3,2489 To werre and sle the Sarazin, 3,2490 Is that the lawe? Sone myn, 3,2491 To preche and soffre for the feith, 3,2492 That have I herd the gospell seith; 3,2493 Bot forto slee, that hiere I noght. 3,2494 Crist with his oghne deth hath boght 3,2495 Alle othre men, and made hem fre, 3,2496 In tokne of parfit charite; 3,2497 And after that he tawhte himselve, 3,2498 Whan he was ded, these othre tuelve 3,2499 Of hise Apostles wente aboute 3,2500 The holi feith to prechen oute, 3,2501 Wherof the deth in sondri place 3,2502 Thei soffre, and so god of his grace 3,2503 The feith of Crist hath mad aryse: 3,2504 Bot if thei wolde in other wise 3,2505 Be werre have broght in the creance, 3,2506 It hadde yit stonde in balance. 3,2507 And that mai proven in the dede; 3,2508 For what man the Croniqes rede, 3,2509 Fro ferst that holi cherche hath weyved 3,2510 To preche, and hath the swerd received, 3,2511 Wherof the werres ben begonne, 3,2512 A gret partie of that was wonne 3,2513 To Cristes feith stant now miswent: 3,2514 Godd do therof amendement, 3,2515 So as he wot what is the beste. 3,2516 Bot, Sone, if thou wolt live in reste 3,2517 Of conscience wel assised, 3,2518 Er that thou sle, be wel avised: 3,2519 For man, as tellen ous the clerkes, 3,2520 Hath god above alle ertheli werkes 3,2521 Ordeined to be principal, 3,2522 And ek of Soule in special 3,2523 He is mad lich to the godhiede. 3,2524 So sit it wel to taken hiede 3,2525 And forto loke on every side, 3,2526 Er that thou falle in homicide, 3,2527 Which Senne is now so general, 3,2528 That it welnyh stant overal, 3,2529 In holi cherche and elles where. 3,2530 Bot al the while it stant so there, 3,2531 The world mot nede fare amis: 3,2532 For whan the welle of pite is 3,2533 Thurgh coveitise of worldes good 3,2534 Defouled with schedinge of blod, 3,2535 The remenant of folk aboute 3,2536 Unethe stonden eny doute 3,2537 To werre ech other and to slee. 3,2538 So is it all noght worth a Stree, 3,2539 The charite wherof we prechen, 3,2540 For we do nothing as we techen: 3,2541 And thus the blinde conscience 3,2542 Of pes hath lost thilke evidence 3,2543 Which Crist upon this Erthe tawhte. 3,2544 Now mai men se moerdre and manslawhte 3,2545 Lich as it was be daies olde, 3,2546 Whan men the Sennes boghte and solde. 3,2547 In Grece afore Cristes feith, 3,2548 I rede, as the Cronique seith, 3,2549 Touchende of this matiere thus, 3,2550 In thilke time hou Peleuµs 3,2551 His oghne brother Phocus slowh; 3,2552 Bot for he hadde gold ynowh 3,2553 To yive, his Senne was despensed 3,2554 With gold, wherof it was compensed: 3,2555 Achastus, which with Venus was 3,2556 Hire Priest, assoilede in that cas, 3,2557 Al were ther no repentance. 3,2558 And as the bok makth remembrance, 3,2559 It telleth of Medee also; 3,2560 Of that sche slowh her Sones tuo, 3,2561 Egeuµs in the same plit 3,2562 Hath mad hire of hire Senne quit. 3,2563 The Sone ek of Amphioras, 3,2564 Whos rihte name Almeuµs was, 3,2565 His Moder slowh, Eriphile; 3,2566 Bot Achilo the Priest and he, 3,2567 So as the bokes it recorden, 3,2568 For certein Somme of gold acorden 3,2569 That thilke horrible sinfull dede 3,2570 Assoiled was. And thus for mede 3,2571 Of worldes good it falleth ofte 3,2572 That homicide is set alofte 3,2573 Hiere in this lif; bot after this 3,2574 Ther schal be knowe how that it is 3,2575 Of hem that suche thinges werche, 3,2576 And hou also that holi cherche 3,2577 Let suche Sennes passe quyte, 3,2578 And how thei wole hemself aquite 3,2579 Of dedly werres that thei make. 3,2580 For who that wolde ensample take, 3,2581 The lawe which is naturel 3,2582 Be weie of kinde scheweth wel 3,2583 That homicide in no degree, 3,2584 Which werreth ayein charite, 3,2585 Among the men ne scholde duelle. 3,2586 For after that the bokes telle, 3,2587 To seche in al this worldesriche, 3,2588 Men schal noght finde upon his liche 3,2589 A beste forto take his preie: 3,2590 And sithen kinde hath such a weie, 3,2591 Thanne is it wonder of a man, 3,2592 Which kynde hath and resoun can, 3,2593 That he wol owther more or lasse 3,2594 His kinde and resoun overpasse, 3,2595 And sle that is to him semblable. 3,2596 So is the man noght resonable 3,2597 Ne kinde, and that is noght honeste, 3,2598 Whan he is worse than a beste. 3,2599 Among the bokes whiche I finde 3,2600 Solyns spekth of a wonder kinde, 3,2601 And seith of fowhles ther is on, 3,2602 Which hath a face of blod and bon 3,2603 Lich to a man in resemblance. 3,2604 And if it falle him so per chance, 3,2605 As he which is a fowhl of preie, 3,2606 That he a man finde in his weie, 3,2607 He wol him slen, if that he mai: 3,2608 Bot afterward the same dai, 3,2609 Whan he hath eten al his felle, 3,2610 And that schal be beside a welle, 3,2611 In which whan he wol drinke take, 3,2612 Of his visage and seth the make 3,2613 That he hath slain, anon he thenketh 3,2614 Of his misdede, and it forthenketh 3,2615 So gretly, that for pure sorwe 3,2616 He liveth noght til on the morwe. 3,2617 Be this ensample it mai well suie 3,2618 That man schal homicide eschuie, 3,2619 For evere is merci good to take, 3,2620 Bot if the lawe it hath forsake 3,2621 And that justice is therayein. 3,2622 For ofte time I have herd sein 3,2623 Amonges hem that werres hadden, 3,2624 That thei som while here cause ladden 3,2625 Be merci, whan thei mihte have slain, 3,2626 Wherof that thei were after fain: 3,2627 And, Sone, if that thou wolt recorde 3,2628 The vertu of Misericorde, 3,2629 Thou sihe nevere thilke place, 3,2630 Where it was used, lacke grace. 3,2631 For every lawe and every kinde 3,2632 The mannes wit to merci binde; 3,2633 And namely the worthi knihtes, 3,2634 Whan that thei stonden most uprihtes 3,2635 And ben most mihti forto grieve, 3,2636 Thei scholden thanne most relieve 3,2637 Him whom thei mihten overthrowe, 3,2638 As be ensample a man mai knowe. 3,2639 He mai noght failen of his mede 3,2640 That hath merci: for this I rede, 3,2641 In a Cronique and finde thus. 3,2642 Whan Achilles with Telaphus 3,2643 His Sone toward Troie were, 3,2644 It fell hem, er thei comen there, 3,2645 Ayein Theucer the king of Mese 3,2646 To make werre and forto sese 3,2647 His lond, as thei that wolden regne 3,2648 And Theucer pute out of his regne. 3,2649 And thus the Marches thei assaile, 3,2650 Bot Theucer yaf to hem bataille; 3,2651 Thei foghte on bothe sides faste, 3,2652 Bot so it hapneth ate laste, 3,2653 This worthi Grek, this Achilles, 3,2654 The king among alle othre ches: 3,2655 As he that was cruel and fell, 3,2656 With swerd in honde on him he fell, 3,2657 And smot him with a dethes wounde, 3,2658 That he unhorsed fell to grounde. 3,2659 Achilles upon him alyhte, 3,2660 And wolde anon, as he wel mihte, 3,2661 Have slain him fullich in the place; 3,2662 Bot Thelaphus his fader grace 3,2663 For him besoghte, and for pite 3,2664 Preith that he wolde lete him be, 3,2665 And caste his Schield betwen hem tuo. 3,2666 Achilles axeth him why so, 3,2667 And Thelaphus his cause tolde, 3,2668 And seith that he is mochel holde, 3,2669 For whilom Theucer in a stede 3,2670 Gret grace and socour to him dede, 3,2671 And seith that he him wolde aquite, 3,2672 And preith his fader to respite. 3,2673 Achilles tho withdrowh his hond; 3,2674 Bot al the pouer of the lond, 3,2675 Whan that thei sihe here king thus take, 3,2676 Thei fledde and han the feld forsake: 3,2677 The Grecs unto the chace falle, 3,2678 And for the moste part of alle 3,2679 Of that contre the lordes grete 3,2680 Thei toke, and wonne a gret beyete. 3,2681 And anon after this victoire 3,2682 The king, which hadde good memoire, 3,2683 Upon the grete merci thoghte, 3,2684 Which Telaphus toward him wroghte, 3,2685 And in presence of al the lond 3,2686 He tok him faire be the hond, 3,2687 And in this wise he gan to seie: 3,2688 "Mi Sone, I mot be double weie 3,2689 Love and desire thin encress; 3,2690 Ferst for thi fader Achilles 3,2691 Whilom ful many dai er this, 3,2692 Whan that I scholde have fare amis, 3,2693 Rescousse dede in mi querele 3,2694 And kepte al myn astat in hele: 3,2695 How so ther falle now distance 3,2696 Amonges ous, yit remembrance 3,2697 I have of merci which he dede 3,2698 As thanne: and thou now in this stede 3,2699 Of gentilesce and of franchise 3,2700 Hast do mercy the same wise. 3,2701 So wol I noght that eny time 3,2702 Be lost of that thou hast do byme; 3,2703 For hou so this fortune falle, 3,2704 Yit stant mi trust aboven alle, 3,2705 For the mercy which I now finde, 3,2706 That thou wolt after this be kinde: 3,2707 And for that such is myn espeir, 3,2708 As for my Sone and for myn Eir 3,2709 I thee receive, and al my lond 3,2710 I yive and sese into thin hond." 3,2711 And in this wise thei acorde, 3,2712 The cause was Misericorde: 3,2713 The lordes dede here obeissance 3,2714 To Thelaphus, and pourveance 3,2715 Was mad so that he was coroned: 3,2716 And thus was merci reguerdoned, 3,2717 Which he to Theucer dede afore. 3,2718 Lo, this ensample is mad therfore, 3,2719 That thou miht take remembrance, 3,2720 Mi Sone; and whan thou sest a chaunce, 3,2721 Of other mennes passioun 3,2722 Tak pite and compassioun, 3,2723 And let nothing to thee be lief, 3,2724 Which to an other man is grief. 3,2725 And after this if thou desire 3,2726 To stonde ayein the vice of Ire, 3,2727 Consaile thee with Pacience, 3,2728 And tak into thi conscience 3,2729 Merci to be thi governour. 3,2730 So schalt thou fiele no rancour, 3,2731 Wherof thin herte schal debate 3,2732 With homicide ne with hate 3,2733 For Cheste or for Malencolie: 3,2734 Thou schalt be soft in compaignie 3,2735 Withoute Contek or Folhaste: 3,2736 For elles miht thou longe waste 3,2737 Thi time, er that thou have thi wille 3,2738 Of love; for the weder stille 3,2739 Men preise, and blame the tempestes. 3,2740 Mi fader, I wol do youre hestes, 3,2741 And of this point ye have me tawht, 3,2742 Toward miself the betre sawht 3,2743 I thenke be, whil that I live. 3,2744 Bot for als moche as I am schrive 3,2745 Of Wraththe and al his circumstance, 3,2746 Yif what you list to my penance, 3,2747 And asketh forthere of my lif, 3,2748 If otherwise I be gultif 3,2749 Of eny thing that toucheth Sinne. 3,2750 Mi Sone, er we departe atwinne, 3,2751 I schal behinde nothing leve. 3,2752 Mi goode fader, be your leve 3,2753 Thanne axeth forth what so you list, 3,2754 For I have in you such a trist, 3,2755 As ye that be my Soule hele, 3,2756 That ye fro me wol nothing hele, 3,2757 For I schal telle you the trowthe. 3,2758 Mi Sone, art thou coupable of Slowthe 3,2759 In eny point which to him longeth? 3,2760 My fader, of tho pointz me longeth 3,2761 To wite pleinly what thei meene, 3,2762 So that I mai me schrive cleene. 3,2763 Now herkne, I schal the pointz devise; 3,2764 And understond wel myn aprise: 3,2765 For schrifte stant of no value 3,2766 To him that wol him noght vertue 3,2767 To leve of vice the folie: 3,2768 For word is wynd, bot the maistrie 3,2769 Is that a man himself defende 3,2770 Of thing which is noght to comende, 3,2771 Wherof ben fewe now aday. 3,2772 And natheles, so as I may 3,2773 Make unto thi memoire knowe, 3,2774 The pointz of Slowthe thou schalt knowe. 4, 1 Upon the vices to procede 4, 2 After the cause of mannes dede, 4, 3 The ferste point of Slowthe I calle 4, 4 Lachesce, and is the chief of alle, 4, 5 And hath this propreliche of kinde, 4, 6 To leven alle thing behinde. 4, 7 Of that he mihte do now hier 4, 8 He tarieth al the longe yer, 4, 9 And everemore he seith, "Tomorwe"; 4, 10 And so he wol his time borwe, 4, 11 And wissheth after "God me sende," 4, 12 That whan he weneth have an ende, 4, 13 Thanne is he ferthest to beginne. 4, 14 Thus bringth he many a meschief inne 4, 15 Unwar, til that he be meschieved, 4, 16 And may noght thanne be relieved. 4, 17 And riht so nowther mor ne lesse 4, 18 It stant of love and of lachesce: 4, 19 Som time he slowtheth in a day 4, 20 That he nevere after gete mai. 4, 21 Now, Sone, as of this ilke thing, 4, 22 If thou have eny knowleching, 4, 23 That thou to love hast don er this, 4, 24 Tell on. Mi goode fader, yis. 4, 25 As of lachesce I am beknowe 4, 26 That I mai stonde upon his rowe, 4, 27 As I that am clad of his suite: 4, 28 For whanne I thoghte mi poursuite 4, 29 To make, and therto sette a day 4, 30 To speke unto the swete May, 4, 31 Lachesce bad abide yit, 4, 32 And bar on hond it was no wit 4, 33 Ne time forto speke as tho. 4, 34 Thus with his tales to and fro 4, 35 Mi time in tariinge he drowh: 4, 36 Whan ther was time good ynowh, 4, 37 He seide, "An other time is bettre; 4, 38 Thou schalt mowe senden hire a lettre, 4, 39 And per cas wryte more plein 4, 40 Than thou be Mowthe durstest sein." 4, 41 Thus have I lete time slyde 4, 42 For Slowthe, and kepte noght my tide, 4, 43 So that lachesce with his vice 4, 44 Fulofte hath mad my wit so nyce, 4, 45 That what I thoghte speke or do 4, 46 With tariinge he hield me so, 4, 47 Til whanne I wolde and mihte noght. 4, 48 I not what thing was in my thoght, 4, 49 Or it was drede, or it was schame; 4, 50 Bot evere in ernest and in game 4, 51 I wot ther is long time passed. 4, 52 Bot yit is noght the love lassed, 4, 53 Which I unto mi ladi have; 4, 54 For thogh my tunge is slowh to crave 4, 55 At alle time, as I have bede, 4, 56 Min herte stant evere in o stede 4, 57 And axeth besiliche grace, 4, 58 The which I mai noght yit embrace. 4, 59 And god wot that is malgre myn; 4, 60 For this I wot riht wel a fin, 4, 61 Mi grace comth so selde aboute, 4, 62 That is the Slowthe of which I doute 4, 63 Mor than of al the remenant 4, 64 Which is to love appourtenant. 4, 65 And thus as touchende of lachesce, 4, 66 As I have told, I me confesse 4, 67 To you, mi fader, and beseche 4, 68 That furthermor ye wol me teche; 4, 69 And if ther be to this matiere 4, 70 Som goodly tale forto liere 4, 71 How I mai do lachesce aweie, 4, 72 That ye it wolden telle I preie. 4, 73 To wisse thee, my Sone, and rede, 4, 74 Among the tales whiche I rede, 4, 75 An old ensample therupon 4, 76 Now herkne, and I wol tellen on. 4, 77 Ayein Lachesce in loves cas 4, 78 I finde how whilom Eneas, 4, 79 Whom Anchises to Sone hadde, 4, 80 With gret navie, which he ladde 4, 81 Fro Troie, aryveth at Cartage, 4, 82 Wher for a while his herbergage 4, 83 He tok; and it betidde so, 4, 84 With hire which was qweene tho 4, 85 Of the Cite his aqueintance 4, 86 He wan, whos name in remembrance 4, 87 Is yit, and Dido sche was hote; 4, 88 Which loveth Eneas so hote 4, 89 Upon the wordes whiche he seide, 4, 90 That al hire herte on him sche leide 4, 91 And dede al holi what he wolde. 4, 92 Bot after that, as it be scholde, 4, 93 Fro thenne he goth toward Ytaile 4, 94 Be Schipe, and there his arivaile 4, 95 Hath take, and schop him forto ryde. 4, 96 Bot sche, which mai noght longe abide 4, 97 The hote peine of loves throwe, 4, 98 Anon withinne a litel throwe 4, 99 A lettre unto hir kniht hath write, 4, 100 And dede him pleinly forto wite, 4, 101 If he made eny tariinge, 4, 102 To drecche of his ayeincomynge, 4, 103 That sche ne mihte him fiele and se, 4, 104 Sche scholde stonde in such degre 4, 105 As whilom stod a Swan tofore, 4, 106 Of that sche hadde hire make lore; 4, 107 For sorwe a fethere into hire brain 4, 108 Sche schof and hath hireselve slain; 4, 109 As king Menander in a lay 4, 110 The sothe hath founde, wher sche lay 4, 111 Sprantlende with hire wynges tweie, 4, 112 As sche which scholde thanne deie 4, 113 For love of him which was hire make. 4, 114 "And so schal I do for thi sake," 4, 115 This qweene seide, "wel I wot." 4, 116 Lo, to Enee thus sche wrot 4, 117 With many an other word of pleinte: 4, 118 Bot he, which hadde hise thoghtes feinte 4, 119 Towardes love and full of Slowthe, 4, 120 His time lette, and that was rowthe: 4, 121 For sche, which loveth him tofore, 4, 122 Desireth evere more and more, 4, 123 And whan sche sih him tarie so, 4, 124 Hire herte was so full of wo, 4, 125 That compleignende manyfold 4, 126 Sche hath hire oghne tale told, 4, 127 Unto hirself and thus sche spak: 4, 128 "Ha, who fond evere such a lak 4, 129 Of Slowthe in eny worthi kniht? 4, 130 Now wot I wel my deth is diht 4, 131 Thurgh him which scholde have be mi lif." 4, 132 Bot forto stinten al this strif, 4, 133 Thus whan sche sih non other bote, 4, 134 Riht evene unto hire herte rote 4, 135 A naked swerd anon sche threste, 4, 136 And thus sche gat hireselve reste 4, 137 In remembrance of alle slowe. 4, 138 Wherof, my Sone, thou miht knowe 4, 139 How tariinge upon the nede 4, 140 In loves cause is forto drede; 4, 141 And that hath Dido sore aboght, 4, 142 Whos deth schal evere be bethoght. 4, 143 And overmore if I schal seche 4, 144 In this matiere an other spieche, 4, 145 In a Cronique I finde write 4, 146 A tale which is good to wite. 4, 147 At Troie whan king Ulixes 4, 148 Upon the Siege among the pres 4, 149 Of hem that worthi knihtes were 4, 150 Abod long time stille there, 4, 151 In thilke time a man mai se 4, 152 How goodli that Penolope, 4, 153 Which was to him his trewe wif, 4, 154 Of his lachesce was pleintif; 4, 155 Wherof to Troie sche him sende 4, 156 Hire will be lettre, thus spekende: 4, 157 "Mi worthi love and lord also, 4, 158 It is and hath ben evere so, 4, 159 That wher a womman is al one, 4, 160 It makth a man in his persone 4, 161 The more hardi forto wowe, 4, 162 In hope that sche wolde bowe 4, 163 To such thing as his wille were, 4, 164 Whil that hire lord were elleswhere. 4, 165 And of miself I telle this; 4, 166 For it so longe passed is, 4, 167 Sithe ferst than ye fro home wente, 4, 168 That welnyh every man his wente 4, 169 To there I am, whil ye ben oute, 4, 170 Hath mad, and ech of hem aboute, 4, 171 Which love can, my love secheth, 4, 172 With gret preiere and me besecheth: 4, 173 And some maken gret manace, 4, 174 That if thei mihten come in place, 4, 175 Wher that thei mihte here wille have, 4, 176 Ther is nothing me scholde save, 4, 177 That thei ne wolde werche thinges; 4, 178 And some tellen me tidynges 4, 179 That ye ben ded, and some sein 4, 180 That certeinly ye ben besein 4, 181 To love a newe and leve me. 4, 182 Bot hou as evere that it be, 4, 183 I thonke unto the goddes alle, 4, 184 As yit for oght that is befalle 4, 185 Mai noman do my chekes rede: 4, 186 Bot natheles it is to drede, 4, 187 That Lachesse in continuance 4, 188 Fortune mihte such a chance, 4, 189 Which noman after scholde amende." 4, 190 Lo, thus this ladi compleignende 4, 191 A lettre unto hire lord hath write, 4, 192 And preyde him that he wolde wite 4, 193 And thenke hou that sche was al his, 4, 194 And that he tarie noght in this, 4, 195 Bot that he wolde his love aquite, 4, 196 To hire ayeinward and noght wryte, 4, 197 Bot come himself in alle haste, 4, 198 That he non other paper waste; 4, 199 So that he kepe and holde his trowthe 4, 200 Withoute lette of eny Slowthe. 4, 201 Unto hire lord and love liege 4, 202 To Troie, wher the grete Siege 4, 203 Was leid, this lettre was conveied. 4, 204 And he, which wisdom hath pourveied 4, 205 Of al that to reson belongeth, 4, 206 With gentil herte it underfongeth: 4, 207 And whan he hath it overrad, 4, 208 In part he was riht inly glad, 4, 209 And ek in part he was desesed: 4, 210 Bot love his herte hath so thorghsesed 4, 211 With pure ymaginacioun, 4, 212 That for non occupacioun 4, 213 Which he can take on other side, 4, 214 He mai noght flitt his herte aside 4, 215 Fro that his wif him hadde enformed; 4, 216 Wherof he hath himself conformed 4, 217 With al the wille of his corage 4, 218 To schape and take the viage 4, 219 Homward, what time that he mai: 4, 220 So that him thenketh of a day 4, 221 A thousand yer, til he mai se 4, 222 The visage of Penolope, 4, 223 Which he desireth most of alle. 4, 224 And whan the time is so befalle 4, 225 That Troie was destruid and brent, 4, 226 He made non delaiement, 4, 227 Bot goth him home in alle hihe, 4, 228 Wher that he fond tofore his yhe 4, 229 His worthi wif in good astat: 4, 230 And thus was cessed the debat 4, 231 Of love, and Slowthe was excused, 4, 232 Which doth gret harm, where it is used, 4, 233 And hindreth many a cause honeste. 4, 234 For of the grete Clerc Grossteste 4, 235 I rede how besy that he was 4, 236 Upon clergie an Hed of bras 4, 237 To forge, and make it forto telle 4, 238 Of suche thinges as befelle. 4, 239 And sevene yeres besinesse 4, 240 He leyde, bot for the lachesse 4, 241 Of half a Minut of an houre, 4, 242 Fro ferst that he began laboure 4, 243 He loste all that he hadde do. 4, 244 And otherwhile it fareth so, 4, 245 In loves cause who is slow, 4, 246 That he withoute under the wow 4, 247 Be nyhte stant fulofte acold, 4, 248 Which mihte, if that he hadde wold 4, 249 His time kept, have be withinne. 4, 250 Bot Slowthe mai no profit winne, 4, 251 Bot he mai singe in his karole 4, 252 How Latewar cam to the Dole, 4, 253 Wher he no good receive mihte. 4, 254 And that was proved wel be nyhte 4, 255 Whilom of the Maidenes fyve, 4, 256 Whan thilke lord cam forto wyve: 4, 257 For that here oyle was aweie 4, 258 To lihte here lampes in his weie, 4, 259 Here Slowthe broghte it so aboute, 4, 260 Fro him that thei ben schet withoute. 4, 261 Wherof, my Sone, be thou war, 4, 262 Als ferforth as I telle dar. 4, 263 For love moste ben awaited: 4, 264 And if thou be noght wel affaited 4, 265 In love to eschuie Slowthe, 4, 266 Mi Sone, forto telle trowthe, 4, 267 Thou miht noght of thiself ben able 4, 268 To winne love or make it stable, 4, 269 All thogh thou mihtest love achieve. 4, 270 Mi fader, that I mai wel lieve. 4, 271 Bot me was nevere assigned place, 4, 272 Wher yit to geten eny grace, 4, 273 Ne me was non such time apointed; 4, 274 For thanne I wolde I were unjoynted 4, 275 Of every lime that I have, 4, 276 If I ne scholde kepe and save 4, 277 Min houre bothe and ek my stede, 4, 278 If my ladi it hadde bede. 4, 279 Bot sche is otherwise avised 4, 280 Than grante such a time assised; 4, 281 And natheles of mi lachesse 4, 282 Ther hath be no defalte I gesse 4, 283 Of time lost, if that I mihte: 4, 284 Bot yit hire liketh noght alyhte 4, 285 Upon no lure which I caste; 4, 286 For ay the more I crie faste, 4, 287 The lasse hire liketh forto hiere. 4, 288 So forto speke of this matiere, 4, 289 I seche that I mai noght finde, 4, 290 I haste and evere I am behinde, 4, 291 And wot noght what it mai amounte. 4, 292 Bot, fader, upon myn acompte, 4, 293 Which ye be sett to examine 4, 294 Of Schrifte after the discipline, 4, 295 Sey what your beste conseil is. 4, 296 Mi Sone, my conseil is this: 4, 297 Hou so it stonde of time go, 4, 298 Do forth thi besinesse so, 4, 299 That no Lachesce in the be founde: 4, 300 For Slowthe is mihti to confounde 4, 301 The spied of every mannes werk. 4, 302 For many a vice, as seith the clerk, 4, 303 Ther hongen upon Slowthes lappe 4, 304 Of suche as make a man mishappe, 4, 305 To pleigne and telle of hadde I wist. 4, 306 And therupon if that thee list 4, 307 To knowe of Slowthes cause more, 4, 308 In special yit overmore 4, 309 Ther is a vice full grevable 4, 310 To him which is therof coupable, 4, 311 And stant of alle vertu bare, 4, 312 Hierafter as I schal declare. 4, 313 Touchende of Slowthe in his degre, 4, 314 Ther is yit Pusillamite, 4, 315 Which is to seie in this langage, 4, 316 He that hath litel of corage 4, 317 And dar no mannes werk beginne: 4, 318 So mai he noght be resoun winne; 4, 319 For who that noght dar undertake, 4, 320 Be riht he schal no profit take. 4, 321 Bot of this vice the nature 4, 322 Dar nothing sette in aventure, 4, 323 Him lacketh bothe word and dede, 4, 324 Wherof he scholde his cause spede: 4, 325 He woll no manhed understonde, 4, 326 For evere he hath drede upon honde: 4, 327 Al is peril that he schal seie, 4, 328 Him thenkth the wolf is in the weie, 4, 329 And of ymaginacioun 4, 330 He makth his excusacioun 4, 331 And feigneth cause of pure drede, 4, 332 And evere he faileth ate nede, 4, 333 Til al be spilt that he with deleth. 4, 334 He hath the sor which noman heleth, 4, 335 The which is cleped lack of herte; 4, 336 Thogh every grace aboute him sterte, 4, 337 He wol noght ones stere his fot; 4, 338 So that be resoun lese he mot, 4, 339 That wol noght auntre forto winne. 4, 340 And so forth, Sone, if we beginne 4, 341 To speke of love and his servise, 4, 342 Ther ben truantz in such a wise, 4, 343 That lacken herte, whan best were 4, 344 To speke of love, and riht for fere 4, 345 Thei wexen doumb and dar noght telle, 4, 346 Withoute soun as doth the belle, 4, 347 Which hath no claper forto chyme; 4, 348 And riht so thei as for the tyme 4, 349 Ben herteles withoute speche 4, 350 Of love, and dar nothing beseche; 4, 351 And thus thei lese and winne noght. 4, 352 Forthi, my Sone, if thou art oght 4, 353 Coupable as touchende of this Slowthe, 4, 354 Schrif thee therof and tell me trowthe. 4, 355 Mi fader, I am al beknowe 4, 356 That I have ben on of tho slowe, 4, 357 As forto telle in loves cas. 4, 358 Min herte is yit and evere was, 4, 359 As thogh the world scholde al tobreke, 4, 360 So ferful, that I dar noght speke 4, 361 Of what pourpos that I have nome, 4, 362 Whan I toward mi ladi come, 4, 363 Bot let it passe and overgo. 4, 364 Mi Sone, do nomore so: 4, 365 For after that a man poursuieth 4, 366 To love, so fortune suieth, 4, 367 Fulofte and yifth hire happi chance 4, 368 To him which makth continuance 4, 369 To preie love and to beseche; 4, 370 As be ensample I schal thee teche. 4, 371 I finde hou whilom ther was on, 4, 372 Whos name was Pymaleon, 4, 373 Which was a lusti man of yowthe: 4, 374 The werkes of entaile he cowthe 4, 375 Above alle othre men as tho; 4, 376 And thurgh fortune it fell him so, 4, 377 As he whom love schal travaile, 4, 378 He made an ymage of entaile 4, 379 Lich to a womman in semblance 4, 380 Of feture and of contienance, 4, 381 So fair yit nevere was figure. 4, 382 Riht as a lyves creature 4, 383 Sche semeth, for of yvor whyt 4, 384 He hath hire wroght of such delit, 4, 385 That sche was rody on the cheke 4, 386 And red on bothe hire lippes eke; 4, 387 Wherof that he himself beguileth. 4, 388 For with a goodly lok sche smyleth, 4, 389 So that thurgh pure impression 4, 390 Of his ymaginacion 4, 391 With al the herte of his corage 4, 392 His love upon this faire ymage 4, 393 He sette, and hire of love preide; 4, 394 Bot sche no word ayeinward seide. 4, 395 The longe day, what thing he dede, 4, 396 This ymage in the same stede 4, 397 Was evere bi, that ate mete 4, 398 He wolde hire serve and preide hire ete, 4, 399 And putte unto hire mowth the cuppe; 4, 400 And whan the bord was taken uppe, 4, 401 He hath hire into chambre nome, 4, 402 And after, whan the nyht was come, 4, 403 He leide hire in his bed al nakid. 4, 404 He was forwept, he was forwakid, 4, 405 He keste hire colde lippes ofte, 4, 406 And wissheth that thei weren softe, 4, 407 And ofte he rouneth in hire Ere, 4, 408 And ofte his arm now hier now there 4, 409 He leide, as he hir wolde embrace, 4, 410 And evere among he axeth grace, 4, 411 As thogh sche wiste what he mente: 4, 412 And thus himself he gan tormente 4, 413 With such desese of loves peine, 4, 414 That noman mihte him more peine. 4, 415 Bot how it were, of his penance 4, 416 He made such continuance 4, 417 Fro dai to nyht, and preith so longe, 4, 418 That his preiere is underfonge, 4, 419 Which Venus of hire grace herde; 4, 420 Be nyhte and whan that he worst ferde, 4, 421 And it lay in his nakede arm, 4, 422 The colde ymage he fieleth warm 4, 423 Of fleissh and bon and full of lif. 4, 424 Lo, thus he wan a lusti wif, 4, 425 Which obeissant was at his wille; 4, 426 And if he wolde have holde him stille 4, 427 And nothing spoke, he scholde have failed: 4, 428 Bot for he hath his word travailed 4, 429 And dorste speke, his love he spedde, 4, 430 And hadde al that he wolde abedde. 4, 431 For er thei wente thanne atwo, 4, 432 A knave child betwen hem two 4, 433 Thei gete, which was after hote 4, 434 Paphus, of whom yit hath the note 4, 435 A certein yle, which Paphos 4, 436 Men clepe, and of his name it ros. 4, 437 Be this ensample thou miht finde 4, 438 That word mai worche above kinde. 4, 439 Forthi, my Sone, if that thou spare 4, 440 To speke, lost is al thi fare, 4, 441 For Slowthe bringth in alle wo. 4, 442 And over this to loke also, 4, 443 The god of love is favorable 4, 444 To hem that ben of love stable, 4, 445 And many a wonder hath befalle: 4, 446 Wherof to speke amonges alle, 4, 447 If that thee list to taken hede, 4, 448 Therof a solein tale I rede, 4, 449 Which I schal telle in remembraunce 4, 450 Upon the sort of loves chaunce. 4, 451 The king Ligdus upon a strif 4, 452 Spak unto Thelacuse his wif, 4, 453 Which thanne was with childe grete; 4, 454 He swor it scholde noght be lete, 4, 455 That if sche have a dowhter bore, 4, 456 That it ne scholde be forlore 4, 457 And slain, wherof sche sory was. 4, 458 So it befell upon this cas, 4, 459 Whan sche delivered scholde be, 4, 460 Isis be nyhte in privete, 4, 461 Which of childinge is the goddesse, 4, 462 Cam forto helpe in that destresse, 4, 463 Til that this lady was al smal, 4, 464 And hadde a dowhter forth withal; 4, 465 Which the goddesse in alle weie 4, 466 Bad kepe, and that thei scholden seie 4, 467 It were a Sone: and thus Iphis 4, 468 Thei namede him, and upon this 4, 469 The fader was mad so to wene. 4, 470 And thus in chambre with the qweene 4, 471 This Iphis was forthdrawe tho, 4, 472 And clothed and arraied so 4, 473 Riht as a kinges Sone scholde. 4, 474 Til after, as fortune it wolde, 4, 475 Whan it was of a ten yer age, 4, 476 Him was betake in mariage 4, 477 A Duckes dowhter forto wedde, 4, 478 Which Iante hihte, and ofte abedde 4, 479 These children leien, sche and sche, 4, 480 Whiche of on age bothe be. 4, 481 So that withinne time of yeeres, 4, 482 Togedre as thei ben pleiefieres, 4, 483 Liggende abedde upon a nyht, 4, 484 Nature, which doth every wiht 4, 485 Upon hire lawe forto muse, 4, 486 Constreigneth hem, so that thei use 4, 487 Thing which to hem was al unknowe; 4, 488 Wherof Cupide thilke throwe 4, 489 Tok pite for the grete love, 4, 490 And let do sette kinde above, 4, 491 So that hir lawe mai ben used, 4, 492 And thei upon here lust excused. 4, 493 For love hateth nothing more 4, 494 Than thing which stant ayein the lore 4, 495 Of that nature in kinde hath sett: 4, 496 Forthi Cupide hath so besett 4, 497 His grace upon this aventure, 4, 498 That he acordant to nature, 4, 499 Whan that he syh the time best, 4, 500 That ech of hem hath other kest, 4, 501 Transformeth Iphe into a man, 4, 502 Wherof the kinde love he wan 4, 503 Of lusti yonge Iante his wif; 4, 504 And tho thei ladde a merie lif, 4, 505 Which was to kinde non offence. 4, 506 And thus to take an evidence, 4, 507 It semeth love is welwillende 4, 508 To hem that ben continuende 4, 509 With besy herte to poursuie 4, 510 Thing which that is to love due. 4, 511 Wherof, my Sone, in this matiere 4, 512 Thou miht ensample taken hiere, 4, 513 That with thi grete besinesse 4, 514 Thou miht atteigne the richesse 4, 515 Of love, if that ther be no Slowthe. 4, 516 I dar wel seie be mi trowthe, 4, 517 Als fer as I my witt can seche, 4, 518 Mi fader, as for lacke of speche, 4, 519 Bot so as I me schrof tofore, 4, 520 Ther is non other time lore, 4, 521 Wherof ther mihte ben obstacle 4, 522 To lette love of his miracle, 4, 523 Which I beseche day and nyht. 4, 524 Bot, fader, so as it is riht 4, 525 In forme of schrifte to beknowe 4, 526 What thing belongeth to the slowe, 4, 527 Your faderhode I wolde preie, 4, 528 If ther be forthere eny weie 4, 529 Touchende unto this ilke vice. 4, 530 Mi Sone, ye, of this office 4, 531 Ther serveth on in special, 4, 532 Which lost hath his memorial, 4, 533 So that he can no wit withholde 4, 534 In thing which he to kepe is holde, 4, 535 Wherof fulofte himself he grieveth: 4, 536 And who that most upon him lieveth, 4, 537 Whan that hise wittes ben so weyved, 4, 538 He mai full lihtly be deceived. 4, 539 To serve Accidie in his office, 4, 540 Ther is of Slowthe an other vice, 4, 541 Which cleped is Foryetelnesse; 4, 542 That noght mai in his herte impresse 4, 543 Of vertu which reson hath sett, 4, 544 So clene his wittes he foryet. 4, 545 For in the tellinge of his tale 4, 546 Nomore his herte thanne his male 4, 547 Hath remembrance of thilke forme, 4, 548 Wherof he scholde his wit enforme 4, 549 As thanne, and yit ne wot he why. 4, 550 Thus is his pourpos noght forthi 4, 551 Forlore of that he wolde bidde, 4, 552 And skarsly if he seith the thridde 4, 553 To love of that he hadde ment: 4, 554 Thus many a lovere hath be schent. 4, 555 Tell on therfore, hast thou be oon 4, 556 Of hem that Slowthe hath so begon? 4, 557 Ye, fader, ofte it hath be so, 4, 558 That whanne I am mi ladi fro 4, 559 And thenke untoward hire drawe, 4, 560 Than cast I many a newe lawe 4, 561 And al the world torne up so doun, 4, 562 And so recorde I mi lecoun 4, 563 And wryte in my memorial 4, 564 What I to hire telle schal, 4, 565 Riht al the matiere of mi tale: 4, 566 Bot al nys worth a note schale; 4, 567 For whanne I come ther sche is, 4, 568 I have it al foryete ywiss; 4, 569 Of that I thoghte forto telle 4, 570 I can noght thanne unethes spelle 4, 571 That I wende altherbest have rad, 4, 572 So sore I am of hire adrad. 4, 573 For as a man that sodeinli 4, 574 A gost behelde, so fare I; 4, 575 So that for feere I can noght gete 4, 576 Mi witt, bot I miself foryete, 4, 577 That I wot nevere what I am, 4, 578 Ne whider I schal, ne whenne I cam, 4, 579 Bot muse as he that were amased. 4, 580 Lich to the bok in which is rased 4, 581 The lettre, and mai nothing be rad, 4, 582 So ben my wittes overlad, 4, 583 That what as evere I thoghte have spoken, 4, 584 It is out fro myn herte stoken, 4, 585 And stonde, as who seith, doumb and def, 4, 586 That all nys worth an yvy lef, 4, 587 Of that I wende wel have seid. 4, 588 And ate laste I make abreid, 4, 589 Caste up myn hed and loke aboute, 4, 590 Riht as a man that were in doute 4, 591 And wot noght wher he schal become. 4, 592 Thus am I ofte al overcome, 4, 593 Ther as I wende best to stonde: 4, 594 Bot after, whanne I understonde, 4, 595 And am in other place al one, 4, 596 I make many a wofull mone 4, 597 Unto miself, and speke so: 4, 598 "Ha fol, wher was thin herte tho, 4, 599 Whan thou thi worthi ladi syhe? 4, 600 Were thou afered of hire yhe? 4, 601 For of hire hand ther is no drede: 4, 602 So wel I knowe hir wommanhede, 4, 603 That in hire is nomore oultrage 4, 604 Than in a child of thre yeer age. 4, 605 Whi hast thou drede of so good on, 4, 606 Whom alle vertu hath begon, 4, 607 That in hire is no violence 4, 608 Bot goodlihiede and innocence 4, 609 Withouten spot of eny blame? 4, 610 Ha, nyce herte, fy for schame] 4, 611 Ha, couard herte of love unlered, 4, 612 Wherof art thou so sore afered, 4, 613 That thou thi tunge soffrest frese, 4, 614 And wolt thi goode wordes lese, 4, 615 Whan thou hast founde time and space? 4, 616 How scholdest thou deserve grace, 4, 617 Whan thou thiself darst axe non, 4, 618 Bot al thou hast foryete anon?" 4, 619 And thus despute I loves lore, 4, 620 Bot help ne finde I noght the more, 4, 621 Bot stomble upon myn oghne treine 4, 622 And make an ekinge of my peine. 4, 623 For evere whan I thenke among 4, 624 How al is on miself along, 4, 625 I seie, "O fol of alle foles, 4, 626 Thou farst as he betwen tuo stoles 4, 627 That wolde sitte and goth to grounde. 4, 628 It was ne nevere schal be founde, 4, 629 Betwen foryetelnesse and drede 4, 630 That man scholde any cause spede." 4, 631 And thus, myn holi fader diere, 4, 632 Toward miself, as ye mai hiere, 4, 633 I pleigne of my foryetelnesse; 4, 634 Bot elles al the besinesse, 4, 635 That mai be take of mannes thoght, 4, 636 Min herte takth, and is thorghsoght 4, 637 To thenken evere upon that swete 4, 638 Withoute Slowthe, I you behete. 4, 639 For what so falle, or wel or wo, 4, 640 That thoght foryete I neveremo, 4, 641 Wher so I lawhe or so I loure: 4, 642 Noght half the Minut of an houre 4, 643 Ne mihte I lete out of my mende, 4, 644 Bot if I thoghte upon that hende. 4, 645 Therof me schal no Slowthe lette, 4, 646 Til deth out of this world me fette, 4, 647 Althogh I hadde on such a Ring, 4, 648 As Moises thurgh his enchanting 4, 649 Som time in Ethiope made, 4, 650 Whan that he Tharbis weddid hade. 4, 651 Which Ring bar of Oblivion 4, 652 The name, and that was be resoun 4, 653 That where it on a finger sat, 4, 654 Anon his love he so foryat, 4, 655 As thogh he hadde it nevere knowe: 4, 656 And so it fell that ilke throwe, 4, 657 Whan Tharbis hadde it on hire hond, 4, 658 No knowlechinge of him sche fond, 4, 659 Bot al was clene out of memoire, 4, 660 As men mai rede in his histoire; 4, 661 And thus he wente quit away, 4, 662 That nevere after that ilke day 4, 663 Sche thoghte that ther was such on; 4, 664 Al was foryete and overgon. 4, 665 Bot in good feith so mai noght I: 4, 666 For sche is evere faste by, 4, 667 So nyh that sche myn herte toucheth, 4, 668 That for nothing that Slowthe voucheth 4, 669 I mai foryete hire, lief ne loth; 4, 670 For overal, where as sche goth, 4, 671 Min herte folwith hire aboute. 4, 672 Thus mai I seie withoute doute, 4, 673 For bet, for wers, for oght, for noght, 4, 674 Sche passeth nevere fro my thoght; 4, 675 Bot whanne I am ther as sche is, 4, 676 Min herte, as I you saide er this, 4, 677 Som time of hire is sore adrad, 4, 678 And som time it is overglad, 4, 679 Al out of reule and out of space. 4, 680 For whan I se hir goodli face 4, 681 And thenke upon hire hihe pris, 4, 682 As thogh I were in Paradis, 4, 683 I am so ravisht of the syhte, 4, 684 That speke unto hire I ne myhte 4, 685 As for the time, thogh I wolde: 4, 686 For I ne mai my wit unfolde 4, 687 To finde o word of that I mene, 4, 688 Bot al it is foryete clene; 4, 689 And thogh I stonde there a myle, 4, 690 Al is foryete for the while, 4, 691 A tunge I have and wordes none. 4, 692 And thus I stonde and thenke al one 4, 693 Of thing that helpeth ofte noght; 4, 694 Bot what I hadde afore thoght 4, 695 To speke, whanne I come there, 4, 696 It is foryete, as noght ne were, 4, 697 And stonde amased and assoted, 4, 698 That of nothing which I have noted 4, 699 I can noght thanne a note singe, 4, 700 Bot al is out of knowlechinge: 4, 701 Thus, what for joie and what for drede, 4, 702 Al is foryeten ate nede. 4, 703 So that, mi fader, of this Slowthe 4, 704 I have you said the pleine trowthe; 4, 705 Ye mai it as you list redresce: 4, 706 For thus stant my foryetelnesse 4, 707 And ek my pusillamite. 4, 708 Sey now forth what you list to me, 4, 709 For I wol only do be you. 4, 710 Mi Sone, I have wel herd how thou 4, 711 Hast seid, and that thou most amende: 4, 712 For love his grace wol noght sende 4, 713 To that man which dar axe non. 4, 714 For this we knowen everichon, 4, 715 A mannes thoght withoute speche 4, 716 God wot, and yit that men beseche 4, 717 His will is; for withoute bedes 4, 718 He doth his grace in fewe stedes: 4, 719 And what man that foryet himselve, 4, 720 Among a thousand be noght tuelve, 4, 721 That wol him take in remembraunce, 4, 722 Bot lete him falle and take his chaunce. 4, 723 Forthi pull up a besi herte, 4, 724 Mi Sone, and let nothing asterte 4, 725 Of love fro thi besinesse: 4, 726 For touchinge of foryetelnesse, 4, 727 Which many a love hath set behinde, 4, 728 A tale of gret ensample I finde, 4, 729 Wherof it is pite to wite 4, 730 In the manere as it is write. 4, 731 King Demephon, whan he be Schipe 4, 732 To Troieward with felaschipe 4, 733 Sailende goth, upon his weie 4, 734 It hapneth him at Rodopeie, 4, 735 As Eolus him hadde blowe, 4, 736 To londe, and rested for a throwe. 4, 737 And fell that ilke time thus, 4, 738 The dowhter of Ligurgius, 4, 739 Which qweene was of the contre, 4, 740 Was sojournende in that Cite 4, 741 Withinne a Castell nyh the stronde, 4, 742 Wher Demephon cam up to londe. 4, 743 Phillis sche hihte, and of yong age 4, 744 And of stature and of visage 4, 745 Sche hadde al that hire best besemeth. 4, 746 Of Demephon riht wel hire qwemeth, 4, 747 Whan he was come, and made him chiere; 4, 748 And he, that was of his manere 4, 749 A lusti knyht, ne myhte asterte 4, 750 That he ne sette on hire his herte; 4, 751 So that withinne a day or tuo 4, 752 He thoghte, how evere that it go, 4, 753 He wolde assaie the fortune, 4, 754 And gan his herte to commune 4, 755 With goodly wordes in hire Ere; 4, 756 And forto put hire out of fere, 4, 757 He swor and hath his trowthe pliht 4, 758 To be for evere hire oghne knyht. 4, 759 And thus with hire he stille abod, 4, 760 Ther while his Schip on Anker rod, 4, 761 And hadde ynowh of time and space 4, 762 To speke of love and seche grace. 4, 763 This ladi herde al that he seide, 4, 764 And hou he swor and hou he preide, 4, 765 Which was as an enchantement 4, 766 To hire, that was innocent: 4, 767 As thogh it were trowthe and feith, 4, 768 Sche lieveth al that evere he seith, 4, 769 And as hire infortune scholde, 4, 770 Sche granteth him al that he wolde. 4, 771 Thus was he for the time in joie, 4, 772 Til that he scholde go to Troie; 4, 773 Bot tho sche made mochel sorwe, 4, 774 And he his trowthe leith to borwe 4, 775 To come, if that he live may, 4, 776 Ayein withinne a Monthe day, 4, 777 And therupon thei kisten bothe: 4, 778 Bot were hem lieve or were hem lothe, 4, 779 To Schipe he goth and forth he wente 4, 780 To Troie, as was his ferste entente. 4, 781 The daies gon, the Monthe passeth, 4, 782 Hire love encresceth and his lasseth, 4, 783 For him sche lefte slep and mete, 4, 784 And he his time hath al foryete; 4, 785 So that this wofull yonge qweene, 4, 786 Which wot noght what it mihte meene, 4, 787 A lettre sende and preide him come, 4, 788 And seith how sche is overcome 4, 789 With strengthe of love in such a wise, 4, 790 That sche noght longe mai suffise 4, 791 To liven out of his presence; 4, 792 And putte upon his conscience 4, 793 The trowthe which he hath behote, 4, 794 Wherof sche loveth him so hote, 4, 795 Sche seith, that if he lengere lette 4, 796 Of such a day as sche him sette, 4, 797 Sche scholde sterven in his Slowthe, 4, 798 Which were a schame unto his trowthe. 4, 799 This lettre is forth upon hire sonde, 4, 800 Wherof somdiel confort on honde 4, 801 Sche tok, as she that wolde abide 4, 802 And waite upon that ilke tyde 4, 803 Which sche hath in hire lettre write. 4, 804 Bot now is pite forto wite, 4, 805 As he dede erst, so he foryat 4, 806 His time eftsone and oversat. 4, 807 Bot sche, which mihte noght do so, 4, 808 The tyde awayteth everemo, 4, 809 And caste hire yhe upon the See: 4, 810 Somtime nay, somtime yee, 4, 811 Somtime he cam, somtime noght, 4, 812 Thus sche desputeth in hire thoght 4, 813 And wot noght what sche thenke mai; 4, 814 Bot fastende al the longe day 4, 815 Sche was into the derke nyht, 4, 816 And tho sche hath do set up lyht 4, 817 In a lanterne on hih alofte 4, 818 Upon a Tour, wher sche goth ofte, 4, 819 In hope that in his cominge 4, 820 He scholde se the liht brenninge, 4, 821 Wherof he mihte his weies rihte 4, 822 To come wher sche was be nyhte. 4, 823 Bot al for noght, sche was deceived, 4, 824 For Venus hath hire hope weyved, 4, 825 And schewede hire upon the Sky 4, 826 How that the day was faste by, 4, 827 So that withinne a litel throwe 4, 828 The daies lyht sche mihte knowe. 4, 829 Tho sche behield the See at large; 4, 830 And whan sche sih ther was no barge 4, 831 Ne Schip, als ferr as sche may kenne, 4, 832 Doun fro the Tour sche gan to renne 4, 833 Into an Herber all hire one, 4, 834 Wher many a wonder woful mone 4, 835 Sche made, that no lif it wiste, 4, 836 As sche which all hire joie miste, 4, 837 That now sche swouneth, now sche pleigneth, 4, 838 And al hire face sche desteigneth 4, 839 With teres, whiche, as of a welle 4, 840 The stremes, from hire yhen felle; 4, 841 So as sche mihte and evere in on 4, 842 Sche clepede upon Demephon, 4, 843 And seide, "Helas, thou slowe wiht, 4, 844 Wher was ther evere such a knyht, 4, 845 That so thurgh his ungentilesce 4, 846 Of Slowthe and of foryetelnesse 4, 847 Ayein his trowthe brak his stevene?" 4, 848 And tho hire yhe up to the hevene 4, 849 Sche caste, and seide, "O thou unkinde, 4, 850 Hier schalt thou thurgh thi Slowthe finde, 4, 851 If that thee list to come and se, 4, 852 A ladi ded for love of thee, 4, 853 So as I schal myselve spille; 4, 854 Whom, if it hadde be thi wille, 4, 855 Thou mihtest save wel ynowh." 4, 856 With that upon a grene bowh 4, 857 A Ceinte of Selk, which sche ther hadde, 4, 858 Sche knette, and so hireself sche ladde, 4, 859 That sche aboute hire whyte swere 4, 860 It dede, and hyng hirselven there. 4, 861 Wherof the goddes were amoeved, 4, 862 And Demephon was so reproeved, 4, 863 That of the goddes providence 4, 864 Was schape such an evidence 4, 865 Evere afterward ayein the slowe, 4, 866 That Phillis in the same throwe 4, 867 Was schape into a Notetre, 4, 868 That alle men it mihte se, 4, 869 And after Phillis Philliberd 4, 870 This tre was cleped in the yerd, 4, 871 And yit for Demephon to schame 4, 872 Into this dai it berth the name. 4, 873 This wofull chance how that it ferde 4, 874 Anon as Demephon it herde, 4, 875 And every man it hadde in speche, 4, 876 His sorwe was noght tho to seche; 4, 877 He gan his Slowthe forto banne, 4, 878 Bot it was al to late thanne. 4, 879 Lo thus, my Sone, miht thou wite 4, 880 Ayein this vice how it is write; 4, 881 For noman mai the harmes gesse, 4, 882 That fallen thurgh foryetelnesse, 4, 883 Wherof that I thi schrifte have herd. 4, 884 Bot yit of Slowthe hou it hath ferd 4, 885 In other wise I thenke oppose, 4, 886 If thou have gult, as I suppose. 4, 887 Fulfild of Slowthes essamplaire 4, 888 Ther is yit on, his Secretaire, 4, 889 And he is cleped Negligence: 4, 890 Which wol noght loke his evidence, 4, 891 Wherof he mai be war tofore; 4, 892 Bot whanne he hath his cause lore, 4, 893 Thanne is he wys after the hond: 4, 894 Whanne helpe may no maner bond, 4, 895 Thanne ate ferste wolde he binde: 4, 896 Thus everemore he stant behinde. 4, 897 Whanne he the thing mai noght amende, 4, 898 Thanne is he war, and seith at ende, 4, 899 "Ha, wolde god I hadde knowe]" 4, 900 Wherof bejaped with a mowe 4, 901 He goth, for whan the grete Stiede 4, 902 Is stole, thanne he taketh hiede, 4, 903 And makth the stable dore fast: 4, 904 Thus evere he pleith an aftercast 4, 905 Of al that he schal seie or do. 4, 906 He hath a manere eke also, 4, 907 Him list noght lerne to be wys, 4, 908 For he set of no vertu pris 4, 909 Bot as him liketh for the while; 4, 910 So fieleth he fulofte guile, 4, 911 Whan that he weneth siker stonde. 4, 912 And thus thou miht wel understonde, 4, 913 Mi Sone, if thou art such in love, 4, 914 Thou miht noght come at thin above 4, 915 Of that thou woldest wel achieve. 4, 916 Mi holi fader, as I lieve, 4, 917 I mai wel with sauf conscience 4, 918 Excuse me of necgligence 4, 919 Towardes love in alle wise: 4, 920 For thogh I be non of the wise, 4, 921 I am so trewly amerous, 4, 922 That I am evere curious 4, 923 Of hem that conne best enforme 4, 924 To knowe and witen al the forme, 4, 925 What falleth unto loves craft. 4, 926 Bot yit ne fond I noght the haft, 4, 927 Which mihte unto that bladd acorde; 4, 928 For nevere herde I man recorde 4, 929 What thing it is that myhte availe 4, 930 To winne love withoute faile. 4, 931 Yit so fer cowthe I nevere finde 4, 932 Man that be resoun ne be kinde 4, 933 Me cowthe teche such an art, 4, 934 That he ne failede of a part; 4, 935 And as toward myn oghne wit, 4, 936 Controeve cowthe I nevere yit 4, 937 To finden eny sikernesse, 4, 938 That me myhte outher more or lesse 4, 939 Of love make forto spede: 4, 940 For lieveth wel withoute drede, 4, 941 If that ther were such a weie, 4, 942 As certeinliche as I schal deie 4, 943 I hadde it lerned longe ago. 4, 944 Bot I wot wel ther is non so: 4, 945 And natheles it may wel be, 4, 946 I am so rude in my degree 4, 947 And ek mi wittes ben so dulle, 4, 948 That I ne mai noght to the fulle 4, 949 Atteigne to so hih a lore. 4, 950 Bot this I dar seie overmore, 4, 951 Althogh mi wit ne be noght strong, 4, 952 It is noght on mi will along, 4, 953 For that is besi nyht and day 4, 954 To lerne al that he lerne may, 4, 955 How that I mihte love winne: 4, 956 Bot yit I am as to beginne 4, 957 Of that I wolde make an ende, 4, 958 And for I not how it schal wende, 4, 959 That is to me mi moste sorwe. 4, 960 Bot I dar take god to borwe, 4, 961 As after min entendement, 4, 962 Non other wise necgligent 4, 963 Thanne I yow seie have I noght be: 4, 964 Forthi per seinte charite 4, 965 Tell me, mi fader, what you semeth. 4, 966 In good feith, Sone, wel me qwemeth, 4, 967 That thou thiself hast thus aquit 4, 968 Toward this vice, in which no wit 4, 969 Abide mai, for in an houre 4, 970 He lest al that he mai laboure 4, 971 The longe yer, so that men sein, 4, 972 What evere he doth it is in vein. 4, 973 For thurgh the Slowthe of Negligence 4, 974 Ther was yit nevere such science 4, 975 Ne vertu, which was bodely, 4, 976 That nys destruid and lost therby. 4, 977 Ensample that it hath be so 4, 978 In boke I finde write also. 4, 979 Phebus, which is the Sonne hote, 4, 980 That schyneth upon Erthe hote 4, 981 And causeth every lyves helthe, 4, 982 He hadde a Sone in al his welthe, 4, 983 Which Pheton hihte, and he desireth 4, 984 And with his Moder he conspireth, 4, 985 The which was cleped Clemenee, 4, 986 For help and conseil, so that he 4, 987 His fader carte lede myhte 4, 988 Upon the faire daies brihte. 4, 989 And for this thing thei bothe preide 4, 990 Unto the fader, and he seide 4, 991 He wolde wel, bot forth withal 4, 992 Thre pointz he bad in special 4, 993 Unto his Sone in alle wise, 4, 994 That he him scholde wel avise 4, 995 And take it as be weie of lore. 4, 996 Ferst was, that he his hors to sore 4, 997 Ne prike, and over that he tolde 4, 998 That he the renes faste holde; 4, 999 And also that he be riht war 4,1000 In what manere he lede his charr, 4,1001 That he mistake noght his gate, 4,1002 Bot up avisement algate 4,1003 He scholde bere a siker yhe, 4,1004 That he to lowe ne to hyhe 4,1005 His carte dryve at eny throwe, 4,1006 Wherof that he mihte overthrowe. 4,1007 And thus be Phebus ordinance 4,1008 Tok Pheton into governance 4,1009 The Sonnes carte, which he ladde: 4,1010 Bot he such veine gloire hadde 4,1011 Of that he was set upon hyh, 4,1012 That he his oghne astat ne syh 4,1013 Thurgh negligence and tok non hiede; 4,1014 So mihte he wel noght longe spede. 4,1015 For he the hors withoute lawe 4,1016 The carte let aboute drawe 4,1017 Wher as hem liketh wantounly, 4,1018 That ate laste sodeinly, 4,1019 For he no reson wolde knowe, 4,1020 This fyri carte he drof to lowe, 4,1021 And fyreth al the world aboute; 4,1022 Wherof thei weren alle in doubte, 4,1023 And to the god for helpe criden 4,1024 Of suche unhappes as betyden. 4,1025 Phebus, which syh the necgligence, 4,1026 How Pheton ayein his defence 4,1027 His charr hath drive out of the weie, 4,1028 Ordeigneth that he fell aweie 4,1029 Out of the carte into a flod 4,1030 And dreynte. Lo now, hou it stod 4,1031 With him that was so necgligent, 4,1032 That fro the hyhe firmament, 4,1033 For that he wolde go to lowe, 4,1034 He was anon doun overthrowe. 4,1035 In hih astat it is a vice 4,1036 To go to lowe, and in service 4,1037 It grieveth forto go to hye, 4,1038 Wherof a tale in poesie 4,1039 I finde, how whilom Dedalus, 4,1040 Which hadde a Sone, and Icharus 4,1041 He hihte, and thogh hem thoghte lothe, 4,1042 In such prison thei weren bothe 4,1043 With Minotaurus, that aboute 4,1044 Thei mihten nawher wenden oute; 4,1045 So thei begonne forto schape 4,1046 How thei the prison mihte ascape. 4,1047 This Dedalus, which fro his yowthe 4,1048 Was tawht and manye craftes cowthe, 4,1049 Of fetheres and of othre thinges 4,1050 Hath mad to fle diverse wynges 4,1051 For him and for his Sone also; 4,1052 To whom he yaf in charge tho 4,1053 And bad him thenke therupon, 4,1054 How that his wynges ben set on 4,1055 With wex, and if he toke his flyhte 4,1056 To hyhe, al sodeinliche he mihte 4,1057 Make it to melte with the Sonne. 4,1058 And thus thei have her flyht begonne 4,1059 Out of the prison faire and softe; 4,1060 And whan thei weren bothe alofte, 4,1061 This Icharus began to monte, 4,1062 And of the conseil non accompte 4,1063 He sette, which his fader tawhte, 4,1064 Til that the Sonne his wynges cawhte, 4,1065 Wherof it malt, and fro the heihte 4,1066 Withouten help of eny sleihte 4,1067 He fell to his destruccion. 4,1068 And lich to that condicion 4,1069 Ther fallen ofte times fele 4,1070 For lacke of governance in wele, 4,1071 Als wel in love as other weie. 4,1072 Now goode fader, I you preie, 4,1073 If ther be more in the matiere 4,1074 Of Slowthe, that I mihte it hiere. 4,1075 Mi Sone, and for thi diligence, 4,1076 Which every mannes conscience 4,1077 Be resoun scholde reule and kepe, 4,1078 If that thee list to taken kepe, 4,1079 I wol thee telle, aboven alle 4,1080 In whom no vertu mai befalle, 4,1081 Which yifth unto the vices reste 4,1082 And is of slowe the sloweste. 4,1083 Among these othre of Slowthes kinde, 4,1084 Which alle labour set behinde, 4,1085 And hateth alle besinesse, 4,1086 Ther is yit on, which Ydelnesse 4,1087 Is cleped, and is the Norrice 4,1088 In mannes kinde of every vice, 4,1089 Which secheth eases manyfold. 4,1090 In Wynter doth he noght for cold, 4,1091 In Somer mai he noght for hete; 4,1092 So whether that he frese or swete, 4,1093 Or he be inne, or he be oute, 4,1094 He wol ben ydel al aboute, 4,1095 Bot if he pleie oght ate Dees. 4,1096 For who as evere take fees 4,1097 And thenkth worschipe to deserve, 4,1098 Ther is no lord whom he wol serve, 4,1099 As forto duelle in his servise, 4,1100 Bot if it were in such a wise, 4,1101 Of that he seth per aventure 4,1102 That be lordschipe and coverture 4,1103 He mai the more stonde stille, 4,1104 And use his ydelnesse at wille. 4,1105 For he ne wol no travail take 4,1106 To ryde for his ladi sake, 4,1107 Bot liveth al upon his wisshes; 4,1108 And as a cat wolde ete fisshes 4,1109 Withoute wetinge of his cles, 4,1110 So wolde he do, bot natheles 4,1111 He faileth ofte of that he wolde. 4,1112 Mi Sone, if thou of such a molde 4,1113 Art mad, now tell me plein thi schrifte. 4,1114 Nay, fader, god I yive a yifte. 4,1115 That toward love, as be mi wit, 4,1116 Al ydel was I nevere yit, 4,1117 Ne nevere schal, whil I mai go. 4,1118 Now, Sone, tell me thanne so, 4,1119 What hast thou don of besischipe 4,1120 To love and to the ladischipe 4,1121 Of hire which thi ladi is? 4,1122 Mi fader, evere yit er this 4,1123 In every place, in every stede, 4,1124 What so mi lady hath me bede, 4,1125 With al myn herte obedient 4,1126 I have therto be diligent. 4,1127 And if so is sche bidde noght, 4,1128 What thing that thanne into my thoght 4,1129 Comth ferst of that I mai suffise, 4,1130 I bowe and profre my servise, 4,1131 Somtime in chambre, somtime in halle, 4,1132 Riht as I se the times falle. 4,1133 And whan sche goth to hiere masse, 4,1134 That time schal noght overpasse, 4,1135 That I naproche hir ladihede, 4,1136 In aunter if I mai hire lede 4,1137 Unto the chapelle and ayein. 4,1138 Thanne is noght al mi weie in vein, 4,1139 Somdiel I mai the betre fare, 4,1140 Whan I, that mai noght fiele hir bare, 4,1141 Mai lede hire clothed in myn arm: 4,1142 Bot afterward it doth me harm 4,1143 Of pure ymaginacioun; 4,1144 For thanne this collacioun 4,1145 I make unto miselven ofte, 4,1146 And seie, "Ha lord, hou sche is softe, 4,1147 How sche is round, hou sche is smal] 4,1148 Now wolde god I hadde hire al 4,1149 Withoute danger at mi wille]" 4,1150 And thanne I sike and sitte stille, 4,1151 Of that I se mi besi thoght 4,1152 Is torned ydel into noght. 4,1153 Bot for al that lete I ne mai, 4,1154 Whanne I se time an other dai, 4,1155 That I ne do my besinesse 4,1156 Unto mi ladi worthinesse. 4,1157 For I therto mi wit afaite 4,1158 To se the times and awaite 4,1159 What is to done and what to leve: 4,1160 And so, whan time is, be hir leve, 4,1161 What thing sche bit me don, I do, 4,1162 And wher sche bidt me gon, I go, 4,1163 And whanne hir list to clepe, I come. 4,1164 Thus hath sche fulliche overcome 4,1165 Min ydelnesse til I sterve, 4,1166 So that I mot hire nedes serve, 4,1167 For as men sein, nede hath no lawe. 4,1168 Thus mot I nedly to hire drawe, 4,1169 I serve, I bowe, I loke, I loute, 4,1170 Min yhe folweth hire aboute, 4,1171 What so sche wole so wol I, 4,1172 Whan sche wol sitte, I knele by, 4,1173 And whan sche stant, than wol I stonde: 4,1174 Bot whan sche takth hir werk on honde 4,1175 Of wevinge or enbrouderie, 4,1176 Than can I noght bot muse and prie 4,1177 Upon hir fingres longe and smale, 4,1178 And now I thenke, and now I tale, 4,1179 And now I singe, and now I sike, 4,1180 And thus mi contienance I pike. 4,1181 And if it falle, as for a time 4,1182 Hir liketh noght abide bime, 4,1183 Bot besien hire on other thinges, 4,1184 Than make I othre tariinges 4,1185 To dreche forth the longe dai, 4,1186 For me is loth departe away. 4,1187 And thanne I am so simple of port, 4,1188 That forto feigne som desport 4,1189 I pleie with hire litel hound 4,1190 Now on the bedd, now on the ground, 4,1191 Now with hir briddes in the cage; 4,1192 For ther is non so litel page, 4,1193 Ne yit so simple a chamberere, 4,1194 That I ne make hem alle chere, 4,1195 Al for thei scholde speke wel: 4,1196 Thus mow ye sen mi besi whiel, 4,1197 That goth noght ydeliche aboute. 4,1198 And if hir list to riden oute 4,1199 On pelrinage or other stede, 4,1200 I come, thogh I be noght bede, 4,1201 And take hire in min arm alofte 4,1202 And sette hire in hire sadel softe, 4,1203 And so forth lede hire be the bridel, 4,1204 For that I wolde noght ben ydel. 4,1205 And if hire list to ride in Char, 4,1206 And thanne I mai therof be war, 4,1207 Anon I schape me to ryde 4,1208 Riht evene be the Chares side; 4,1209 And as I mai, I speke among, 4,1210 And otherwhile I singe a song, 4,1211 Which Ovide in his bokes made, 4,1212 And seide, "O whiche sorwes glade, 4,1213 O which wofull prosperite 4,1214 Belongeth to the proprete 4,1215 Of love, who so wole him serve] 4,1216 And yit therfro mai noman swerve, 4,1217 That he ne mot his lawe obeie." 4,1218 And thus I ryde forth mi weie, 4,1219 And am riht besi overal 4,1220 With herte and with mi body al, 4,1221 As I have said you hier tofore. 4,1222 My goode fader, tell therfore, 4,1223 Of Ydelnesse if I have gilt. 4,1224 Mi Sone, bot thou telle wilt 4,1225 Oght elles than I mai now hiere, 4,1226 Thou schalt have no penance hiere. 4,1227 And natheles a man mai se, 4,1228 How now adayes that ther be 4,1229 Ful manye of suche hertes slowe, 4,1230 That wol noght besien hem to knowe 4,1231 What thing love is, til ate laste, 4,1232 That he with strengthe hem overcaste, 4,1233 That malgre hem thei mote obeie 4,1234 And don al ydelschipe aweie, 4,1235 To serve wel and besiliche. 4,1236 Bot, Sone, thou art non of swiche, 4,1237 For love schal the wel excuse: 4,1238 Bot otherwise, if thou refuse 4,1239 To love, thou miht so per cas 4,1240 Ben ydel, as somtime was 4,1241 A kinges dowhter unavised, 4,1242 Til that Cupide hire hath chastised: 4,1243 Wherof thou schalt a tale hiere 4,1244 Acordant unto this matiere. 4,1245 Of Armenye, I rede thus, 4,1246 Ther was a king, which Herupus 4,1247 Was hote, and he a lusti Maide 4,1248 To dowhter hadde, and as men saide 4,1249 Hire name was Rosiphelee; 4,1250 Which tho was of gret renomee, 4,1251 For sche was bothe wys and fair 4,1252 And scholde ben hire fader hair. 4,1253 Bot sche hadde o defalte of Slowthe 4,1254 Towardes love, and that was rowthe; 4,1255 For so wel cowde noman seie, 4,1256 Which mihte sette hire in the weie 4,1257 Of loves occupacion 4,1258 Thurgh non ymaginacion; 4,1259 That scole wolde sche noght knowe. 4,1260 And thus sche was on of the slowe 4,1261 As of such hertes besinesse, 4,1262 Til whanne Venus the goddesse, 4,1263 Which loves court hath forto reule, 4,1264 Hath broght hire into betre reule, 4,1265 Forth with Cupide and with his miht: 4,1266 For thei merveille how such a wiht, 4,1267 Which tho was in hir lusti age, 4,1268 Desireth nother Mariage 4,1269 Ne yit the love of paramours, 4,1270 Which evere hath be the comun cours 4,1271 Amonges hem that lusti were. 4,1272 So was it schewed after there: 4,1273 For he that hihe hertes loweth 4,1274 With fyri Dartes whiche he throweth, 4,1275 Cupide, which of love is godd, 4,1276 In chastisinge hath mad a rodd 4,1277 To dryve awei hir wantounesse; 4,1278 So that withinne a while, I gesse, 4,1279 Sche hadde on such a chance sporned, 4,1280 That al hire mod was overtorned, 4,1281 Which ferst sche hadde of slow manere: 4,1282 For thus it fell, as thou schalt hiere. 4,1283 Whan come was the Monthe of Maii, 4,1284 Sche wolde walke upon a dai, 4,1285 And that was er the Sonne Ariste; 4,1286 Of wommen bot a fewe it wiste, 4,1287 And forth sche wente prively 4,1288 Unto the Park was faste by, 4,1289 Al softe walkende on the gras, 4,1290 Til sche cam ther the Launde was, 4,1291 Thurgh which ther ran a gret rivere. 4,1292 It thoghte hir fair, and seide, "Here 4,1293 I wole abide under the schawe": 4,1294 And bad hire wommen to withdrawe, 4,1295 And ther sche stod al one stille, 4,1296 To thenke what was in hir wille. 4,1297 Sche sih the swote floures springe, 4,1298 Sche herde glade foules singe, 4,1299 Sche sih the bestes in her kinde, 4,1300 The buck, the do, the hert, the hinde, 4,1301 The madle go with the femele; 4,1302 And so began ther a querele 4,1303 Betwen love and hir oghne herte, 4,1304 Fro which sche couthe noght asterte. 4,1305 And as sche caste hire yhe aboute, 4,1306 Sche syh clad in o suite a route 4,1307 Of ladis, wher thei comen ryde 4,1308 Along under the wodes syde: 4,1309 On faire amblende hors thei sete, 4,1310 That were al whyte, fatte and grete, 4,1311 And everichon thei ride on side. 4,1312 The Sadles were of such a Pride, 4,1313 With Perle and gold so wel begon, 4,1314 So riche syh sche nevere non; 4,1315 In kertles and in Copes riche 4,1316 Thei weren clothed, alle liche, 4,1317 Departed evene of whyt and blew; 4,1318 With alle lustes that sche knew 4,1319 Thei were enbrouded overal. 4,1320 Here bodies weren long and smal, 4,1321 The beaute faye upon her face 4,1322 Non erthly thing it may desface; 4,1323 Corones on here hed thei beere, 4,1324 As ech of hem a qweene weere, 4,1325 That al the gold of Cresus halle 4,1326 The leste coronal of alle 4,1327 Ne mihte have boght after the worth: 4,1328 Thus come thei ridende forth. 4,1329 The kinges dowhter, which this syh, 4,1330 For pure abaissht drowh hire adryh 4,1331 And hield hire clos under the bowh, 4,1332 And let hem passen stille ynowh; 4,1333 For as hire thoghte in hire avis, 4,1334 To hem that were of such a pris 4,1335 Sche was noght worthi axen there, 4,1336 Fro when they come or what thei were: 4,1337 Bot levere than this worldes good 4,1338 Sche wolde have wist hou that it stod, 4,1339 And putte hire hed alitel oute; 4,1340 And as sche lokede hire aboute, 4,1341 Sche syh comende under the linde 4,1342 A womman up an hors behinde. 4,1343 The hors on which sche rod was blak, 4,1344 Al lene and galled on the back, 4,1345 And haltede, as he were encluyed, 4,1346 Wherof the womman was annuied; 4,1347 Thus was the hors in sori plit, 4,1348 Bot for al that a sterre whit 4,1349 Amiddes in the front he hadde. 4,1350 Hir Sadel ek was wonder badde, 4,1351 In which the wofull womman sat, 4,1352 And natheles ther was with that 4,1353 A riche bridel for the nones 4,1354 Of gold and preciouse Stones. 4,1355 Hire cote was somdiel totore; 4,1356 Aboute hir middel twenty score 4,1357 Of horse haltres and wel mo 4,1358 Ther hyngen ate time tho. 4,1359 Thus whan sche cam the ladi nyh, 4,1360 Than tok sche betre hiede and syh 4,1361 This womman fair was of visage, 4,1362 Freyssh, lusti, yong and of tendre age; 4,1363 And so this ladi, ther sche stod, 4,1364 Bethoghte hire wel and understod 4,1365 That this, which com ridende tho, 4,1366 Tidinges couthe telle of tho, 4,1367 Which as sche sih tofore ryde, 4,1368 And putte hir forth and preide abide, 4,1369 And seide, "Ha, Suster, let me hiere, 4,1370 What ben thei, that now riden hiere, 4,1371 And ben so richeliche arraied?" 4,1372 This womman, which com so esmaied, 4,1373 Ansuerde with ful softe speche, 4,1374 And seith, "Ma Dame, I schal you teche. 4,1375 These ar of tho that whilom were 4,1376 Servantz to love, and trowthe beere, 4,1377 Ther as thei hadde here herte set. 4,1378 Fare wel, for I mai noght be let: 4,1379 Ma Dame, I go to mi servise, 4,1380 So moste I haste in alle wise; 4,1381 Forthi, ma Dame, yif me leve, 4,1382 I mai noght longe with you leve." 4,1383 "Ha, goode Soster, yit I preie, 4,1384 Tell me whi ye ben so beseie 4,1385 And with these haltres thus begon." 4,1386 "Ma Dame, whilom I was on 4,1387 That to mi fader hadde a king; 4,1388 Bot I was slow, and for no thing 4,1389 Me liste noght to love obeie, 4,1390 And that I now ful sore abeie. 4,1391 For I whilom no love hadde, 4,1392 Min hors is now so fieble and badde, 4,1393 And al totore is myn arai, 4,1394 And every yeer this freisshe Maii 4,1395 These lusti ladis ryde aboute, 4,1396 And I mot nedes suie here route 4,1397 In this manere as ye now se, 4,1398 And trusse here haltres forth with me, 4,1399 And am bot as here horse knave. 4,1400 Non other office I ne have, 4,1401 Hem thenkth I am worthi nomore, 4,1402 For I was slow in loves lore, 4,1403 Whan I was able forto lere, 4,1404 And wolde noght the tales hiere 4,1405 Of hem that couthen love teche." 4,1406 "Now tell me thanne, I you beseche, 4,1407 Wherof that riche bridel serveth." 4,1408 With that hire chere awei sche swerveth, 4,1409 And gan to wepe, and thus sche tolde: 4,1410 "This bridel, which ye nou beholde 4,1411 So riche upon myn horse hed,- 4,1412 Ma Dame, afore, er I was ded, 4,1413 Whan I was in mi lusti lif, 4,1414 Ther fel into myn herte a strif 4,1415 Of love, which me overcom, 4,1416 So that therafter hiede I nom 4,1417 And thoghte I wolde love a kniht: 4,1418 That laste wel a fourtenyht, 4,1419 For it no lengere mihte laste, 4,1420 So nyh my lif was ate laste. 4,1421 Bot now, allas, to late war 4,1422 That I ne hadde him loved ar: 4,1423 For deth cam so in haste bime, 4,1424 Er I therto hadde eny time, 4,1425 That it ne mihte ben achieved. 4,1426 Bot for al that I am relieved, 4,1427 Of that mi will was good therto, 4,1428 That love soffreth it be so 4,1429 That I schal swiche a bridel were. 4,1430 Now have ye herd al myn ansuere: 4,1431 To godd, ma Dame, I you betake, 4,1432 And warneth alle for mi sake, 4,1433 Of love that thei ben noght ydel, 4,1434 And bidd hem thenke upon mi brydel." 4,1435 And with that word al sodeinly 4,1436 Sche passeth, as it were a Sky, 4,1437 Al clene out of this ladi sihte: 4,1438 And tho for fere hire herte afflihte, 4,1439 And seide to hirself, "Helas] 4,1440 I am riht in the same cas. 4,1441 Bot if I live after this day, 4,1442 I schal amende it, if I may." 4,1443 And thus homward this lady wente, 4,1444 And changede al hire ferste entente, 4,1445 Withinne hire herte and gan to swere 4,1446 That sche none haltres wolde bere. 4,1447 Lo, Sone, hier miht thou taken hiede, 4,1448 How ydelnesse is forto drede, 4,1449 Namliche of love, as I have write. 4,1450 For thou miht understonde and wite, 4,1451 Among the gentil nacion 4,1452 Love is an occupacion, 4,1453 Which forto kepe hise lustes save 4,1454 Scholde every gentil herte have: 4,1455 For as the ladi was chastised, 4,1456 Riht so the knyht mai ben avised, 4,1457 Which ydel is and wol noght serve 4,1458 To love, he mai per cas deserve 4,1459 A grettere peine than sche hadde, 4,1460 Whan sche aboute with hire ladde 4,1461 The horse haltres; and forthi 4,1462 Good is to be wel war therbi. 4,1463 Bot forto loke aboven alle, 4,1464 These Maidens, hou so that it falle, 4,1465 Thei scholden take ensample of this 4,1466 Which I have told, for soth it is. 4,1467 Mi ladi Venus, whom I serve, 4,1468 What womman wole hire thonk deserve, 4,1469 Sche mai noght thilke love eschuie 4,1470 Of paramours, bot sche mot suie 4,1471 Cupides lawe; and natheles 4,1472 Men sen such love sielde in pes, 4,1473 That it nys evere upon aspie 4,1474 Of janglinge and of fals Envie, 4,1475 Fulofte medlid with disese: 4,1476 Bot thilke love is wel at ese, 4,1477 Which set is upon mariage; 4,1478 For that dar schewen the visage 4,1479 In alle places openly. 4,1480 A gret mervaile it is forthi, 4,1481 How that a Maiden wolde lette, 4,1482 That sche hir time ne besette 4,1483 To haste unto that ilke feste, 4,1484 Wherof the love is al honeste. 4,1485 Men mai recovere lost of good, 4,1486 Bot so wys man yit nevere stod, 4,1487 Which mai recovere time lore: 4,1488 So mai a Maiden wel therfore 4,1489 Ensample take, of that sche strangeth 4,1490 Hir love, and longe er that sche changeth 4,1491 Hir herte upon hir lustes greene 4,1492 To mariage, as it is seene. 4,1493 For thus a yer or tuo or thre 4,1494 Sche lest, er that sche wedded be, 4,1495 Whyl sche the charge myhte bere 4,1496 Of children, whiche the world forbere 4,1497 Ne mai, bot if it scholde faile. 4,1498 Bot what Maiden hire esposaile 4,1499 Wol tarie, whan sche take mai, 4,1500 Sche schal per chance an other dai 4,1501 Be let, whan that hire lievest were. 4,1502 Wherof a tale unto hire Ere, 4,1503 Which is coupable upon this dede, 4,1504 I thenke telle of that I rede. 4,1505 Among the Jewes, as men tolde, 4,1506 Ther was whilom be daies olde 4,1507 A noble Duck, which Jepte hihte. 4,1508 And fell, he scholde go to fyhte 4,1509 Ayein Amon the cruel king: 4,1510 And forto speke upon this thing, 4,1511 Withinne his herte he made avou 4,1512 To god and seide, "Ha lord, if thou 4,1513 Wolt grante unto thi man victoire, 4,1514 I schal in tokne of thi memoire 4,1515 The ferste lif that I mai se, 4,1516 Of man or womman wher it be, 4,1517 Anon as I come hom ayein, 4,1518 To thee, which art god sovereign, 4,1519 Slen in thi name and sacrifie." 4,1520 And thus with his chivalerie 4,1521 He goth him forth, wher that he scholde, 4,1522 And wan al that he winne wolde 4,1523 And overcam his fomen alle. 4,1524 Mai noman lette that schal falle. 4,1525 This Duc a lusti dowhter hadde, 4,1526 And fame, which the wordes spradde, 4,1527 Hath broght unto this ladi Ere 4,1528 How that hire fader hath do there. 4,1529 Sche waiteth upon his cominge 4,1530 With dansinge and with carolinge, 4,1531 As sche that wolde be tofore 4,1532 Al othre, and so sche was therfore 4,1533 In Masphat at hir fader gate 4,1534 The ferste; and whan he com therate, 4,1535 And sih his douhter, he tobreide 4,1536 Hise clothes and wepende he seide: 4,1537 "O mihti god among ous hiere, 4,1538 Nou wot I that in no manere 4,1539 This worldes joie mai be plein. 4,1540 I hadde al that I coude sein 4,1541 Ayein mi fomen be thi grace, 4,1542 So whan I cam toward this place 4,1543 Ther was non gladdere man than I: 4,1544 But now, mi lord, al sodeinli 4,1545 Mi joie is torned into sorwe, 4,1546 For I mi dowhter schal tomorwe 4,1547 Tohewe and brenne in thi servise 4,1548 To loenge of thi sacrifise 4,1549 Thurgh min avou, so as it is." 4,1550 The Maiden, whan sche wiste of this, 4,1551 And sih the sorwe hir fader made, 4,1552 So as sche mai with wordes glade 4,1553 Conforteth him, and bad him holde 4,1554 The covenant which he is holde 4,1555 Towardes god, as he behihte. 4,1556 Bot natheles hire herte aflihte 4,1557 Of that sche sih hire deth comende; 4,1558 And thanne unto the ground knelende 4,1559 Tofore hir fader sche is falle, 4,1560 And seith, so as it is befalle 4,1561 Upon this point that sche schal deie, 4,1562 Of o thing ferst sche wolde him preie, 4,1563 That fourty daies of respit 4,1564 He wolde hir grante upon this plit, 4,1565 That sche the whyle mai bewepe 4,1566 Hir maidenhod, which sche to kepe 4,1567 So longe hath had and noght beset; 4,1568 Wherof her lusti youthe is let, 4,1569 That sche no children hath forthdrawe 4,1570 In Mariage after the lawe, 4,1571 So that the poeple is noght encressed. 4,1572 Bot that it mihte be relessed, 4,1573 That sche hir time hath lore so, 4,1574 Sche wolde be his leve go 4,1575 With othre Maidens to compleigne, 4,1576 And afterward unto the peine 4,1577 Of deth sche wolde come ayein. 4,1578 The fader herde his douhter sein, 4,1579 And therupon of on assent 4,1580 The Maidens were anon asent, 4,1581 That scholden with this Maiden wende. 4,1582 So forto speke unto this ende, 4,1583 Thei gon the dounes and the dales 4,1584 With wepinge and with wofull tales, 4,1585 And every wyht hire maidenhiede 4,1586 Compleigneth upon thilke nede, 4,1587 That sche no children hadde bore, 4,1588 Wherof sche hath hir youthe lore, 4,1589 Which nevere sche recovere mai: 4,1590 For so fell that hir laste dai 4,1591 Was come, in which sche scholde take 4,1592 Hir deth, which sche may noght forsake. 4,1593 Lo, thus sche deiede a wofull Maide 4,1594 For thilke cause which I saide, 4,1595 As thou hast understonde above. 4,1596 Mi fader, as toward the Love 4,1597 Of Maidens forto telle trowthe, 4,1598 Ye have thilke vice of Slowthe, 4,1599 Me thenkth, riht wonder wel declared, 4,1600 That ye the wommen have noght spared 4,1601 Of hem that tarien so behinde. 4,1602 Bot yit it falleth in my minde, 4,1603 Toward the men hou that ye spieke 4,1604 Of hem that wole no travail sieke 4,1605 In cause of love upon decerte: 4,1606 To speke in wordes so coverte, 4,1607 I not what travaill that ye mente. 4,1608 Mi Sone, and after min entente 4,1609 I woll thee telle what I thoghte, 4,1610 Hou whilom men here loves boghte 4,1611 Thurgh gret travaill in strange londes, 4,1612 Wher that thei wroghten with here hondes 4,1613 Of armes many a worthi dede, 4,1614 In sondri place as men mai rede. 4,1615 That every love of pure kinde 4,1616 Is ferst forthdrawe, wel I finde: 4,1617 Bot natheles yit overthis 4,1618 Decerte doth so that it is 4,1619 The rather had in mani place. 4,1620 Forthi who secheth loves grace, 4,1621 Wher that these worthi wommen are, 4,1622 He mai noght thanne himselve spare 4,1623 Upon his travail forto serve, 4,1624 Wherof that he mai thonk deserve, 4,1625 There as these men of Armes be, 4,1626 Somtime over the grete Se: 4,1627 So that be londe and ek be Schipe 4,1628 He mot travaile for worschipe 4,1629 And make manye hastyf rodes, 4,1630 Somtime in Prus, somtime in Rodes, 4,1631 And somtime into Tartarie; 4,1632 So that these heraldz on him crie, 4,1633 "Vailant, vailant, lo, wher he goth]" 4,1634 And thanne he yifth hem gold and cloth, 4,1635 So that his fame mihte springe, 4,1636 And to his ladi Ere bringe 4,1637 Som tidinge of his worthinesse; 4,1638 So that sche mihte of his prouesce 4,1639 Of that sche herde men recorde, 4,1640 The betre unto his love acorde 4,1641 And danger pute out of hire mod, 4,1642 Whanne alle men recorden good, 4,1643 And that sche wot wel, for hir sake 4,1644 That he no travail wol forsake. 4,1645 Mi Sone, of this travail I meene: 4,1646 Nou schrif thee, for it schal be sene 4,1647 If thou art ydel in this cas. 4,1648 My fader ye, and evere was: 4,1649 For as me thenketh trewely 4,1650 That every man doth mor than I 4,1651 As of this point, and if so is 4,1652 That I have oght so don er this, 4,1653 It is so litel of acompte, 4,1654 As who seith, it mai noght amonte 4,1655 To winne of love his lusti yifte. 4,1656 For this I telle you in schrifte, 4,1657 That me were levere hir love winne 4,1658 Than Kaire and al that is ther inne: 4,1659 And forto slen the hethen alle, 4,1660 I not what good ther mihte falle, 4,1661 So mochel blod thogh ther be schad. 4,1662 This finde I writen, hou Crist bad 4,1663 That noman other scholde sle. 4,1664 What scholde I winne over the Se, 4,1665 If I mi ladi loste at hom? 4,1666 Bot passe thei the salte fom, 4,1667 To whom Crist bad thei scholden preche 4,1668 To al the world and his feith teche: 4,1669 Bot now thei rucken in here nest 4,1670 And resten as hem liketh best 4,1671 In all the swetnesse of delices. 4,1672 Thus thei defenden ous the vices, 4,1673 And sitte hemselven al amidde; 4,1674 To slen and feihten thei ous bidde 4,1675 Hem whom thei scholde, as the bok seith, 4,1676 Converten unto Cristes feith. 4,1677 Bot hierof have I gret mervaile, 4,1678 Hou thei wol bidde me travaile: 4,1679 A Sarazin if I sle schal, 4,1680 I sle the Soule forth withal, 4,1681 And that was nevere Cristes lore. 4,1682 Bot nou ho ther, I seie nomore. 4,1683 Bot I wol speke upon mi schrifte; 4,1684 And to Cupide I make a yifte, 4,1685 That who as evere pris deserve 4,1686 Of armes, I wol love serve; 4,1687 And thogh I scholde hem bothe kepe, 4,1688 Als wel yit wolde I take kepe 4,1689 Whan it were time to abide, 4,1690 As forto travaile and to ryde: 4,1691 For how as evere a man laboure, 4,1692 Cupide appointed hath his houre. 4,1693 For I have herd it telle also, 4,1694 Achilles lefte hise armes so 4,1695 Bothe of himself and of his men 4,1696 At Troie for Polixenen, 4,1697 Upon hire love whanne he fell, 4,1698 That for no chance that befell 4,1699 Among the Grecs or up or doun, 4,1700 He wolde noght ayein the toun 4,1701 Ben armed, for the love of hire. 4,1702 And so me thenketh, lieve Sire, 4,1703 A man of armes mai him reste 4,1704 Somtime in hope for the beste, 4,1705 If he mai finde a weie nerr. 4,1706 What scholde I thanne go so ferr 4,1707 In strange londes many a mile 4,1708 To ryde, and lese at hom therwhile 4,1709 Mi love? It were a schort beyete 4,1710 To winne chaf and lese whete. 4,1711 Bot if mi ladi bidde wolde, 4,1712 That I for hire love scholde 4,1713 Travaile, me thenkth trewely 4,1714 I mihte fle thurghout the Sky, 4,1715 And go thurghout the depe Se, 4,1716 For al ne sette I at a stre 4,1717 What thonk that I mihte elles gete. 4,1718 What helpeth it a man have mete, 4,1719 Wher drinke lacketh on the bord? 4,1720 What helpeth eny mannes word 4,1721 To seie hou I travaile faste, 4,1722 Wher as me faileth ate laste 4,1723 That thing which I travaile fore? 4,1724 O in good time were he bore, 4,1725 That mihte atteigne such a mede. 4,1726 Bot certes if I mihte spede 4,1727 With eny maner besinesse 4,1728 Of worldes travail, thanne I gesse, 4,1729 Ther scholde me non ydelschipe 4,1730 Departen fro hir ladischipe. 4,1731 Bot this I se, on daies nou 4,1732 The blinde god, I wot noght hou, 4,1733 Cupido, which of love is lord, 4,1734 He set the thinges in discord, 4,1735 That thei that lest to love entende 4,1736 Fulofte he wole hem yive and sende 4,1737 Most of his grace; and thus I finde 4,1738 That he that scholde go behinde, 4,1739 Goth many a time ferr tofore: 4,1740 So wot I noght riht wel therfore, 4,1741 On whether bord that I schal seile. 4,1742 Thus can I noght miself conseile, 4,1743 Bot al I sette on aventure, 4,1744 And am, as who seith, out of cure 4,1745 For ought that I can seie or do: 4,1746 For everemore I finde it so, 4,1747 The more besinesse I leie, 4,1748 The more that I knele and preie 4,1749 With goode wordes and with softe, 4,1750 The more I am refused ofte, 4,1751 With besinesse and mai noght winne. 4,1752 And in good feith that is gret Sinne; 4,1753 For I mai seie, of dede and thoght 4,1754 That ydel man have I be noght; 4,1755 For hou as evere I be deslaied, 4,1756 Yit evermore I have assaied. 4,1757 Bot thogh my besinesse laste, 4,1758 Al is bot ydel ate laste, 4,1759 For whan theffect is ydelnesse, 4,1760 I not what thing is besinesse. 4,1761 Sei, what availeth al the dede, 4,1762 Which nothing helpeth ate nede? 4,1763 For the fortune of every fame 4,1764 Schal of his ende bere a name. 4,1765 And thus for oght is yit befalle, 4,1766 An ydel man I wol me calle 4,1767 As after myn entendement: 4,1768 Bot upon youre amendement, 4,1769 Min holi fader, as you semeth, 4,1770 Mi reson and my cause demeth. 4,1771 Mi Sone, I have herd thi matiere, 4,1772 Of that thou hast thee schriven hiere: 4,1773 And forto speke of ydel fare, 4,1774 Me semeth that thou tharst noght care, 4,1775 Bot only that thou miht noght spede. 4,1776 And therof, Sone, I wol thee rede, 4,1777 Abyd, and haste noght to faste; 4,1778 Thi dees ben every dai to caste, 4,1779 Thou nost what chance schal betyde. 4,1780 Betre is to wayte upon the tyde 4,1781 Than rowe ayein the stremes stronge: 4,1782 For thogh so be thee thenketh longe, 4,1783 Per cas the revolucion 4,1784 Of hevene and thi condicion 4,1785 Ne be noght yit of on acord. 4,1786 Bot I dar make this record 4,1787 To Venus, whos Prest that I am, 4,1788 That sithen that I hidir cam 4,1789 To hiere, as sche me bad, thi lif, 4,1790 Wherof thou elles be gultif, 4,1791 Thou miht hierof thi conscience 4,1792 Excuse, and of gret diligence, 4,1793 Which thou to love hast so despended, 4,1794 Thou oghtest wel to be comended. 4,1795 Bot if so be that ther oght faile, 4,1796 Of that thou slowthest to travaile 4,1797 In armes forto ben absent, 4,1798 And for thou makst an argument 4,1799 Of that thou seidest hiere above, 4,1800 Hou Achilles thurgh strengthe of love 4,1801 Hise armes lefte for a throwe, 4,1802 Thou schalt an other tale knowe, 4,1803 Which is contraire, as thou schalt wite. 4,1804 For this a man mai finde write, 4,1805 Whan that knyhthode schal be werred, 4,1806 Lust mai noght thanne be preferred; 4,1807 The bedd mot thanne be forsake 4,1808 And Schield and spere on honde take, 4,1809 Which thing schal make hem after glade, 4,1810 Whan thei ben worthi knihtes made. 4,1811 Wherof, so as it comth to honde, 4,1812 A tale thou schalt understonde, 4,1813 Hou that a kniht schal armes suie, 4,1814 And for the while his ese eschuie. 4,1815 Upon knyhthode I rede thus, 4,1816 How whilom whan the king Nauplus, 4,1817 The fader of Palamades, 4,1818 Cam forto preien Ulixes 4,1819 With othre Gregois ek also, 4,1820 That he with hem to Troie go, 4,1821 Wher that the Siege scholde be, 4,1822 Anon upon Penolope 4,1823 His wif, whom that he loveth hote, 4,1824 Thenkende, wolde hem noght behote. 4,1825 Bot he schop thanne a wonder wyle, 4,1826 How that he scholde hem best beguile, 4,1827 So that he mihte duelle stille 4,1828 At home and welde his love at wille: 4,1829 Wherof erli the morwe day 4,1830 Out of his bedd, wher that he lay, 4,1831 Whan he was uppe, he gan to fare 4,1832 Into the field and loke and stare, 4,1833 As he which feigneth to be wod: 4,1834 He tok a plowh, wher that it stod, 4,1835 Wherinne anon in stede of Oxes 4,1836 He let do yoken grete foxes, 4,1837 And with gret salt the lond he siew. 4,1838 But Nauplus, which the cause kniew, 4,1839 Ayein the sleihte which he feigneth 4,1840 An other sleihte anon ordeigneth. 4,1841 And fell that time Ulixes hadde 4,1842 A chyld to Sone, and Nauplus radde 4,1843 How men that Sone taken scholde, 4,1844 And setten him upon the Molde, 4,1845 Wher that his fader hield the plowh, 4,1846 In thilke furgh which he tho drowh. 4,1847 For in such wise he thoghte assaie, 4,1848 Hou it Ulixes scholde paie, 4,1849 If that he were wod or non. 4,1850 The knihtes for this child forthgon; 4,1851 Thelamacus anon was fett, 4,1852 Tofore the plowh and evene sett, 4,1853 Wher that his fader scholde dryve. 4,1854 Bot whan he sih his child, als blyve 4,1855 He drof the plowh out of the weie, 4,1856 And Nauplus tho began to seie, 4,1857 And hath half in a jape cryd: 4,1858 "O Ulixes, thou art aspyd: 4,1859 What is al this thou woldest meene? 4,1860 For openliche it is now seene 4,1861 That thou hast feigned al this thing, 4,1862 Which is gret schame to a king, 4,1863 Whan that for lust of eny slowthe 4,1864 Thou wolt in a querele of trowthe 4,1865 Of armes thilke honour forsake, 4,1866 And duelle at hom for loves sake: 4,1867 For betre it were honour to winne 4,1868 Than love, which likinge is inne. 4,1869 Forthi tak worschipe upon honde, 4,1870 And elles thou schalt understonde 4,1871 These othre worthi kinges alle 4,1872 Of Grece, which unto thee calle, 4,1873 Towardes thee wol be riht wrothe, 4,1874 And grieve thee per chance bothe: 4,1875 Which schal be tothe double schame 4,1876 Most for the hindrynge of thi name, 4,1877 That thou for Slouthe of eny love 4,1878 Schalt so thi lustes sette above 4,1879 And leve of armes the knyhthode, 4,1880 Which is the pris of thi manhode 4,1881 And oghte ferst to be desired." 4,1882 Bot he, which hadde his herte fyred 4,1883 Upon his wif, whan he this herde, 4,1884 Noght o word therayein ansuerde, 4,1885 Bot torneth hom halvinge aschamed, 4,1886 And hath withinne himself so tamed 4,1887 His herte, that al the sotie 4,1888 Of love for chivalerie 4,1889 He lefte, and be him lief or loth, 4,1890 To Troie forth with hem he goth, 4,1891 That he him mihte noght excuse. 4,1892 Thus stant it, if a knyht refuse 4,1893 The lust of armes to travaile, 4,1894 Ther mai no worldes ese availe, 4,1895 Bot if worschipe be with al. 4,1896 And that hath schewed overal; 4,1897 For it sit wel in alle wise 4,1898 A kniht to ben of hih emprise 4,1899 And puten alle drede aweie; 4,1900 For in this wise, I have herd seie, 4,1901 The worthi king Protheselai 4,1902 On his passage wher he lai 4,1903 Towardes Troie thilke Siege, 4,1904 Sche which was al his oghne liege, 4,1905 Laodomie his lusti wif, 4,1906 Which for his love was pensif, 4,1907 As he which al hire herte hadde, 4,1908 Upon a thing wherof sche dradde 4,1909 A lettre, forto make him duelle 4,1910 Fro Troie, sende him, thus to telle, 4,1911 Hou sche hath axed of the wyse 4,1912 Touchende of him in such a wise, 4,1913 That thei have don hire understonde, 4,1914 Towardes othre hou so it stonde, 4,1915 The destine it hath so schape 4,1916 That he schal noght the deth ascape 4,1917 In cas that he arryve at Troie. 4,1918 Forthi as to hir worldes joie 4,1919 With al hire herte sche him preide, 4,1920 And many an other cause alleide, 4,1921 That he with hire at home abide. 4,1922 Bot he hath cast hir lettre aside, 4,1923 As he which tho no maner hiede 4,1924 Tok of hire wommannysshe drede; 4,1925 And forth he goth, as noght ne were, 4,1926 To Troie, and was the ferste there 4,1927 Which londeth, and tok arryvaile: 4,1928 For him was levere in the bataille, 4,1929 He seith, to deien as a knyht, 4,1930 Than forto lyve in al his myht 4,1931 And be reproeved of his name. 4,1932 Lo, thus upon the worldes fame 4,1933 Knyhthode hath evere yit be set, 4,1934 Which with no couardie is let. 4,1935 Of king Sauµl also I finde, 4,1936 Whan Samuel out of his kinde, 4,1937 Thurgh that the Phitonesse hath lered, 4,1938 In Samarie was arered 4,1939 Long time after that he was ded, 4,1940 The king Sauµl him axeth red, 4,1941 If that he schal go fyhte or non. 4,1942 And Samuel him seide anon, 4,1943 "The ferste day of the bataille 4,1944 Thou schalt be slain withoute faile 4,1945 And Jonathas thi Sone also." 4,1946 Bot hou as evere it felle so, 4,1947 This worthi kniht of his corage 4,1948 Hath undertake the viage, 4,1949 And wol noght his knyhthode lette 4,1950 For no peril he couthe sette; 4,1951 Wherof that bothe his Sone and he 4,1952 Upon the Montz of Gelboeµ 4,1953 Assemblen with here enemys: 4,1954 For thei knyhthode of such a pris 4,1955 Be olde daies thanne hielden, 4,1956 That thei non other thing behielden. 4,1957 And thus the fader for worschipe 4,1958 Forth with his Sone of felaschipe 4,1959 Thurgh lust of armes weren dede, 4,1960 As men mai in the bible rede; 4,1961 The whos knyhthode is yit in mende, 4,1962 And schal be to the worldes ende. 4,1963 And forto loken overmore, 4,1964 It hath and schal ben evermore 4,1965 That of knihthode the prouesse 4,1966 Is grounded upon hardinesse 4,1967 Of him that dar wel undertake. 4,1968 And who that wolde ensample take 4,1969 Upon the forme of knyhtes lawe, 4,1970 How that Achilles was forthdrawe 4,1971 With Chiro, which Centaurus hihte, 4,1972 Of many a wondre hiere he mihte. 4,1973 For it stod thilke time thus, 4,1974 That this Chiro, this Centaurus, 4,1975 Withinne a large wildernesse, 4,1976 Wher was Leon and Leonesse, 4,1977 The Lepard and the Tigre also, 4,1978 With Hert and Hynde, and buck and doo, 4,1979 Hadde his duellinge, as tho befell, 4,1980 Of Pileon upon the hel, 4,1981 Wherof was thanne mochel speche. 4,1982 Ther hath Chiro this Chyld to teche, 4,1983 What time he was of tuelve yer age; 4,1984 Wher forto maken his corage 4,1985 The more hardi be other weie, 4,1986 In the forest to hunte and pleie 4,1987 Whan that Achilles walke wolde, 4,1988 Centaurus bad that he ne scholde 4,1989 After no beste make his chace, 4,1990 Which wolde flen out of his place, 4,1991 As buck and doo and hert and hynde, 4,1992 With whiche he mai no werre finde; 4,1993 Bot tho that wolden him withstonde, 4,1994 Ther scholde he with his Dart on honde 4,1995 Upon the Tigre and the Leon 4,1996 Pourchace and take his veneison, 4,1997 As to a kniht is acordant. 4,1998 And therupon a covenant 4,1999 This Chiro with Achilles sette, 4,2000 That every day withoute lette 4,2001 He scholde such a cruel beste 4,2002 Or slen or wounden ate leste, 4,2003 So that he mihte a tokne bringe 4,2004 Of blod upon his hom cominge. 4,2005 And thus of that Chiro him tawhte 4,2006 Achilles such an herte cawhte, 4,2007 That he nomore a Leon dradde, 4,2008 Whan he his Dart on honde hadde, 4,2009 Thanne if a Leon were an asse: 4,2010 And that hath mad him forto passe 4,2011 Alle othre knihtes of his dede, 4,2012 Whan it cam to the grete nede, 4,2013 As it was afterward wel knowe. 4,2014 Lo, thus, my Sone, thou miht knowe 4,2015 That the corage of hardiesce 4,2016 Is of knyhthode the prouesce, 4,2017 Which is to love sufficant 4,2018 Aboven al the remenant 4,2019 That unto loves court poursuie. 4,2020 Bot who that wol no Slowthe eschuie, 4,2021 Upon knihthode and noght travaile, 4,2022 I not what love him scholde availe; 4,2023 Bot every labour axeth why 4,2024 Of som reward, wherof that I 4,2025 Ensamples couthe telle ynowe 4,2026 Of hem that toward love drowe 4,2027 Be olde daies, as thei scholde. 4,2028 Mi fader, therof hiere I wolde. 4,2029 Mi Sone, it is wel resonable, 4,2030 In place which is honorable 4,2031 If that a man his herte sette, 4,2032 That thanne he for no Slowthe lette 4,2033 To do what longeth to manhede. 4,2034 For if thou wolt the bokes rede 4,2035 Of Lancelot and othre mo, 4,2036 Ther miht thou sen hou it was tho 4,2037 Of armes, for thei wolde atteigne 4,2038 To love, which withoute peine 4,2039 Mai noght be gete of ydelnesse. 4,2040 And that I take to witnesse 4,2041 An old Cronique in special, 4,2042 The which into memorial 4,2043 Is write, for his loves sake 4,2044 Hou that a kniht schal undertake. 4,2045 Ther was a king, which Oeµnes 4,2046 Was hote, and he under his pes 4,2047 Hield Calidoyne in his Empire, 4,2048 And hadde a dowhter Deianire. 4,2049 Men wiste in thilke time non 4,2050 So fair a wiht as sche was on; 4,2051 And as sche was a lusti wiht, 4,2052 Riht so was thanne a noble kniht, 4,2053 To whom Mercurie fader was. 4,2054 This kniht the tuo pilers of bras, 4,2055 The whiche yit a man mai finde, 4,2056 Sette up in the desert of Ynde; 4,2057 That was the worthi Hercules, 4,2058 Whos name schal ben endeles 4,2059 For the merveilles whiche he wroghte. 4,2060 This Hercules the love soghte 4,2061 Of Deianire, and of this thing 4,2062 Unto hir fader, which was king, 4,2063 He spak touchende of Mariage. 4,2064 The king knowende his hih lignage, 4,2065 And dradde also hise mihtes sterne, 4,2066 To him ne dorste his dowhter werne; 4,2067 And natheles this he him seide, 4,2068 How Achelons er he ferst preide 4,2069 To wedden hire, and in accord 4,2070 Thei stode, as it was of record: 4,2071 Bot for al that this he him granteth, 4,2072 That which of hem that other daunteth 4,2073 In armes, him sche scholde take, 4,2074 And that the king hath undertake. 4,2075 This Achelons was a Geant, 4,2076 A soubtil man, a deceivant, 4,2077 Which thurgh magique and sorcerie 4,2078 Couthe al the world of tricherie: 4,2079 And whan that he this tale herde, 4,2080 Hou upon that the king ansuerde 4,2081 With Hercules he moste feighte, 4,2082 He tristeth noght upon his sleighte 4,2083 Al only, whan it comth to nede, 4,2084 Bot that which voydeth alle drede 4,2085 And every noble herte stereth, 4,2086 The love, that no lif forbereth, 4,2087 For his ladi, whom he desireth, 4,2088 With hardiesse his herte fyreth, 4,2089 And sende him word withoute faile 4,2090 That he wol take the bataille. 4,2091 Thei setten day, they chosen field, 4,2092 The knihtes coevered under Schield 4,2093 Togedre come at time set, 4,2094 And echon is with other met. 4,2095 It fell thei foghten bothe afote, 4,2096 Ther was no ston, ther was no rote, 4,2097 Which mihte letten hem the weie, 4,2098 But al was voide and take aweie. 4,2099 Thei smyten strokes bot a fewe, 4,2100 For Hercules, which wolde schewe 4,2101 His grete strengthe as for the nones, 4,2102 He sterte upon him al at ones 4,2103 And cawhte him in hise armes stronge. 4,2104 This Geant wot he mai noght longe 4,2105 Endure under so harde bondes, 4,2106 And thoghte he wolde out of hise hondes 4,2107 Be sleyhte in som manere ascape. 4,2108 And as he couthe himself forschape, 4,2109 In liknesse of an Eddre he slipte 4,2110 Out of his hond, and forth he skipte; 4,2111 And efte, as he that feighte wole, 4,2112 He torneth him into a Bole, 4,2113 And gan to belwe of such a soun, 4,2114 As thogh the world scholde al go doun: 4,2115 The ground he sporneth and he tranceth, 4,2116 Hise large hornes he avanceth 4,2117 And caste hem here and there aboute. 4,2118 Bot he, which stant of him no doute, 4,2119 Awaiteth wel whan that he cam, 4,2120 And him be bothe hornes nam 4,2121 And al at ones he him caste 4,2122 Unto the ground, and hield him faste, 4,2123 That he ne mihte with no sleighte 4,2124 Out of his hond gete upon heighte, 4,2125 Til he was overcome and yolde, 4,2126 And Hercules hath what he wolde. 4,2127 The king him granteth to fulfille 4,2128 His axinge at his oghne wille, 4,2129 And sche for whom he hadde served, 4,2130 Hire thoghte he hath hire wel deserved. 4,2131 And thus with gret decerte of Armes 4,2132 He wan him forto ligge in armes, 4,2133 As he which hath it dere aboght, 4,2134 For otherwise scholde he noght. 4,2135 And overthis if thou wolt hiere 4,2136 Upon knihthode of this matiere, 4,2137 Hou love and armes ben aqueinted, 4,2138 A man mai se bothe write and peinted 4,2139 So ferforth that Pantasilee, 4,2140 Which was the queene of Feminee, 4,2141 The love of Hector forto sieke 4,2142 And for thonour of armes eke, 4,2143 To Troie cam with Spere and Schield, 4,2144 And rod hirself into the field 4,2145 With Maidens armed al a route 4,2146 In rescouss of the toun aboute, 4,2147 Which with the Gregois was belein. 4,2148 Fro Pafagoine and as men sein, 4,2149 Which stant upon the worldes ende, 4,2150 That time it likede ek to wende 4,2151 To Philemenis, which was king, 4,2152 To Troie, and come upon this thing 4,2153 In helpe of thilke noble toun; 4,2154 And al was that for the renoun 4,2155 Of worschipe and of worldes fame, 4,2156 Of which he wolde bere a name: 4,2157 And so he dede, and forth withal 4,2158 He wan of love in special 4,2159 A fair tribut for everemo. 4,2160 For it fell thilke time so; 4,2161 Pirrus the Sone of Achilles 4,2162 This worthi queene among the press 4,2163 With dedli swerd soghte out and fond, 4,2164 And slowh hire with his oghne hond; 4,2165 Wherof this king of Pafagoine 4,2166 Pantasilee of Amazoine, 4,2167 Wher sche was queene, with him ladde, 4,2168 With suche Maidens as sche hadde 4,2169 Of hem that were left alyve, 4,2170 Forth in his Schip, til thei aryve; 4,2171 Wher that the body was begrave 4,2172 With worschipe, and the wommen save. 4,2173 And for the goodschipe of this dede 4,2174 Thei granten him a lusti mede, 4,2175 That every yeer as for truage 4,2176 To him and to his heritage 4,2177 Of Maidens faire he schal have thre. 4,2178 And in this wise spedde he, 4,2179 Which the fortune of armes soghte, 4,2180 With his travail his ese he boghte; 4,2181 For otherwise he scholde have failed, 4,2182 If that he hadde noght travailed. 4,2183 Eneas ek withinne Ytaile, 4,2184 Ne hadde he wonne the bataille 4,2185 And don his miht so besily 4,2186 Ayein king Turne his enemy, 4,2187 He hadde noght Lavine wonne; 4,2188 Bot for he hath him overronne 4,2189 And gete his pris, he gat hire love. 4,2190 Be these ensamples here above, 4,2191 Lo, now, mi Sone, as I have told, 4,2192 Thou miht wel se, who that is bold 4,2193 And dar travaile and undertake 4,2194 The cause of love, he schal be take 4,2195 The rathere unto loves grace; 4,2196 For comunliche in worthi place 4,2197 The wommen loven worthinesse 4,2198 Of manhode and of gentilesse, 4,2199 For the gentils ben most desired. 4,2200 Mi fader, bot I were enspired 4,2201 Thurgh lore of you, I wot no weie 4,2202 What gentilesce is forto seie, 4,2203 Wherof to telle I you beseche. 4,2204 The ground, Mi Sone, forto seche 4,2205 Upon this diffinicion, 4,2206 The worldes constitucion 4,2207 Hath set the name of gentilesse 4,2208 Upon the fortune of richesse 4,2209 Which of long time is falle in age. 4,2210 Thanne is a man of hih lignage 4,2211 After the forme, as thou miht hiere, 4,2212 Bot nothing after the matiere. 4,2213 For who that resoun understonde, 4,2214 Upon richesse it mai noght stonde, 4,2215 For that is thing which faileth ofte: 4,2216 For he that stant to day alofte 4,2217 And al the world hath in hise wones, 4,2218 Tomorwe he falleth al at ones 4,2219 Out of richesse into poverte, 4,2220 So that therof is no decerte, 4,2221 Which gentilesce makth abide. 4,2222 And forto loke on other side 4,2223 Hou that a gentil man is bore, 4,2224 Adam, which alle was tofore 4,2225 With Eve his wif, as of hem tuo, 4,2226 Al was aliche gentil tho; 4,2227 So that of generacion 4,2228 To make declaracion, 4,2229 Ther mai no gentilesce be. 4,2230 For to the reson if we se, 4,2231 Of mannes berthe the mesure, 4,2232 It is so comun to nature, 4,2233 That it yifth every man aliche, 4,2234 Als wel to povere as to the riche; 4,2235 For naked thei ben bore bothe, 4,2236 The lord nomore hath forto clothe 4,2237 As of himself that ilke throwe, 4,2238 Than hath the povereste of the rowe. 4,2239 And whan thei schulle both passe, 4,2240 I not of hem which hath the lasse 4,2241 Of worldes good, bot as of charge 4,2242 The lord is more forto charge, 4,2243 Whan god schal his accompte hiere, 4,2244 For he hath had hise lustes hiere. 4,2245 Bot of the bodi, which schal deie, 4,2246 Althogh ther be diverse weie 4,2247 To deth, yit is ther bot on ende, 4,2248 To which that every man schal wende, 4,2249 Als wel the beggere as the lord, 4,2250 Of o nature, of on acord: 4,2251 Sche which oure Eldemoder is, 4,2252 The Erthe, bothe that and this 4,2253 Receiveth and alich devoureth, 4,2254 That sche to nouther part favoureth. 4,2255 So wot I nothing after kinde 4,2256 Where I mai gentilesse finde. 4,2257 For lacke of vertu lacketh grace, 4,2258 Wherof richesse in many place, 4,2259 Whan men best wene forto stonde, 4,2260 Al sodeinly goth out of honde: 4,2261 Bot vertu set in the corage, 4,2262 Ther mai no world be so salvage, 4,2263 Which mihte it take and don aweie, 4,2264 Til whanne that the bodi deie; 4,2265 And thanne he schal be riched so, 4,2266 That it mai faile neveremo; 4,2267 So mai that wel be gentilesse, 4,2268 Which yifth so gret a sikernesse. 4,2269 For after the condicion 4,2270 Of resonable entencion, 4,2271 The which out of the Soule groweth 4,2272 And the vertu fro vice knoweth, 4,2273 Wherof a man the vice eschuieth, 4,2274 Withoute Slowthe and vertu suieth, 4,2275 That is a verrai gentil man, 4,2276 And nothing elles which he can, 4,2277 Ne which he hath, ne which he mai. 4,2278 Bot for al that yit nou aday, 4,2279 In loves court to taken hiede, 4,2280 The povere vertu schal noght spiede, 4,2281 Wher that the riche vice woweth; 4,2282 For sielde it is that love alloweth 4,2283 The gentil man withoute good, 4,2284 Thogh his condicion be good. 4,2285 Bot if a man of bothe tuo 4,2286 Be riche and vertuous also, 4,2287 Thanne is he wel the more worth: 4,2288 Bot yit to putte himselve forth 4,2289 He moste don his besinesse, 4,2290 For nowther good ne gentilesse 4,2291 Mai helpen him whiche ydel be. 4,2292 Bot who that wole in his degre 4,2293 Travaile so as it belongeth, 4,2294 It happeth ofte that he fongeth 4,2295 Worschipe and ese bothe tuo. 4,2296 For evere yit it hath be so, 4,2297 That love honeste in sondri weie 4,2298 Profiteth, for it doth aweie 4,2299 The vice, and as the bokes sein, 4,2300 It makth curteis of the vilein, 4,2301 And to the couard hardiesce 4,2302 It yifth, so that verrai prouesse 4,2303 Is caused upon loves reule 4,2304 To him that can manhode reule; 4,2305 And ek toward the wommanhiede, 4,2306 Who that therof wol taken hiede, 4,2307 For thei the betre affaited be 4,2308 In every thing, as men may se. 4,2309 For love hath evere hise lustes grene 4,2310 In gentil folk, as it is sene, 4,2311 Which thing ther mai no kinde areste: 4,2312 I trowe that ther is no beste, 4,2313 If he with love scholde aqueinte, 4,2314 That he ne wolde make it queinte 4,2315 As for the while that it laste. 4,2316 And thus I conclude ate laste, 4,2317 That thei ben ydel, as me semeth, 4,2318 Whiche unto thing that love demeth 4,2319 Forslowthen that thei scholden do. 4,2320 And overthis, mi Sone, also 4,2321 After the vertu moral eke 4,2322 To speke of love if I schal seke, 4,2323 Among the holi bokes wise 4,2324 I finde write in such a wise, 4,2325 "Who loveth noght is hier as ded"; 4,2326 For love above alle othre is hed, 4,2327 Which hath the vertus forto lede, 4,2328 Of al that unto mannes dede 4,2329 Belongeth: for of ydelschipe 4,2330 He hateth all the felaschipe. 4,2331 For Slowthe is evere to despise, 4,2332 Which in desdeign hath al apprise, 4,2333 And that acordeth noght to man: 4,2334 For he that wit and reson kan, 4,2335 It sit him wel that he travaile 4,2336 Upon som thing which mihte availe, 4,2337 For ydelschipe is noght comended, 4,2338 Bot every lawe it hath defended. 4,2339 And in ensample therupon 4,2340 The noble wise Salomon, 4,2341 Which hadde of every thing insihte, 4,2342 Seith, "As the briddes to the flihte 4,2343 Ben made, so the man is bore 4,2344 To labour," which is noght forbore 4,2345 To hem that thenken forto thryve. 4,2346 For we, whiche are now alyve, 4,2347 Of hem that besi whylom were, 4,2348 Als wel in Scole as elleswhere, 4,2349 Mowe every day ensample take, 4,2350 That if it were now to make 4,2351 Thing which that thei ferst founden oute, 4,2352 It scholde noght be broght aboute. 4,2353 Here lyves thanne were longe, 4,2354 Here wittes grete, here mihtes stronge, 4,2355 Here hertes ful of besinesse, 4,2356 Wherof the worldes redinesse 4,2357 In bodi bothe and in corage 4,2358 Stant evere upon his avantage. 4,2359 And forto drawe into memoire 4,2360 Here names bothe and here histoire, 4,2361 Upon the vertu of her dede 4,2362 In sondri bokes thou miht rede. 4,2363 Of every wisdom the parfit 4,2364 The hyhe god of his spirit 4,2365 Yaf to the men in Erthe hiere 4,2366 Upon the forme and the matiere 4,2367 Of that he wolde make hem wise: 4,2368 And thus cam in the ferste apprise 4,2369 Of bokes and of alle goode 4,2370 Thurgh hem that whilom understode 4,2371 The lore which to hem was yive, 4,2372 Wherof these othre, that now live, 4,2373 Ben every day to lerne newe. 4,2374 Bot er the time that men siewe, 4,2375 And that the labour forth it broghte, 4,2376 Ther was no corn, thogh men it soghte, 4,2377 In non of al the fieldes oute; 4,2378 And er the wisdom cam aboute 4,2379 Of hem that ferst the bokes write, 4,2380 This mai wel every wys man wite, 4,2381 Ther was gret labour ek also. 4,2382 Thus was non ydel of the tuo, 4,2383 That on the plogh hath undertake 4,2384 With labour which the hond hath take, 4,2385 That other tok to studie and muse, 4,2386 As he which wolde noght refuse 4,2387 The labour of hise wittes alle. 4,2388 And in this wise it is befalle, 4,2389 Of labour which that thei begunne 4,2390 We be now tawht of that we kunne: 4,2391 Here besinesse is yit so seene, 4,2392 That it stant evere alyche greene; 4,2393 Al be it so the bodi deie, 4,2394 The name of hem schal nevere aweie. 4,2395 In the Croniqes as I finde, 4,2396 Cham, whos labour is yit in minde, 4,2397 Was he which ferst the lettres fond 4,2398 And wrot in Hebreu with his hond: 4,2399 Of naturel Philosophie 4,2400 He fond ferst also the clergie. 4,2401 Cadmus the lettres of Gregois 4,2402 Ferst made upon his oghne chois. 4,2403 Theges of thing which schal befalle, 4,2404 He was the ferste Augurre of alle: 4,2405 And Philemon be the visage 4,2406 Fond to descrive the corage. 4,2407 Cladyns, Esdras and Sulpices, 4,2408 Termegis, Pandulf, Frigidilles, 4,2409 Menander, Ephiloquorus, 4,2410 Solins, Pandas and Josephus 4,2411 The ferste were of Enditours, 4,2412 Of old Cronique and ek auctours: 4,2413 And Heredot in his science 4,2414 Of metre, of rime and of cadence 4,2415 The ferste was of which men note. 4,2416 And of Musique also the note 4,2417 In mannes vois or softe or scharpe, 4,2418 That fond Jubal; and of the harpe 4,2419 The merie soun, which is to like, 4,2420 That fond Poulins forth with phisique. 4,2421 Zenzis fond ferst the pourtreture, 4,2422 And Promotheuµs the Sculpture; 4,2423 After what forme that hem thoghte, 4,2424 The resemblance anon thei wroghte. 4,2425 Tubal in Iren and in Stel 4,2426 Fond ferst the forge and wroghte it wel: 4,2427 And Jadahel, as seith the bok, 4,2428 Ferst made Net and fisshes tok: 4,2429 Of huntynge ek he fond the chace, 4,2430 Which now is knowe in many place: 4,2431 A tente of cloth with corde and stake 4,2432 He sette up ferst and dede it make. 4,2433 Verconius of cokerie 4,2434 Ferst made the delicacie. 4,2435 The craft Minerve of wolle fond 4,2436 And made cloth hire oghne hond; 4,2437 And Delbora made it of lyn: 4,2438 Tho wommen were of great engyn. 4,2439 Bot thing which yifth ous mete and drinke 4,2440 And doth the labourer to swinke 4,2441 To tile lond and sette vines, 4,2442 Wherof the cornes and the wynes 4,2443 Ben sustenance to mankinde, 4,2444 In olde bokes as I finde, 4,2445 Saturnus of his oghne wit 4,2446 Hath founde ferst, and more yit 4,2447 Of Chapmanhode he fond the weie, 4,2448 And ek to coigne the moneie 4,2449 Of sondri metall, as it is, 4,2450 He was the ferste man of this. 4,2451 Bot hou that metall cam a place 4,2452 Thurgh mannes wit and goddes grace 4,2453 The route of Philosophres wise 4,2454 Controeveden be sondri wise, 4,2455 Ferst forto gete it out of Myne, 4,2456 And after forto trie and fyne. 4,2457 And also with gret diligence 4,2458 Thei founden thilke experience, 4,2459 Which cleped is Alconomie, 4,2460 Wherof the Selver multeplie 4,2461 Thei made and ek the gold also. 4,2462 And forto telle hou it is so, 4,2463 Of bodies sevene in special 4,2464 With foure spiritz joynt withal 4,2465 Stant the substance of this matiere. 4,2466 The bodies whiche I speke of hiere 4,2467 Of the Planetes ben begonne: 4,2468 The gold is titled to the Sonne, 4,2469 The mone of Selver hath his part, 4,2470 And Iren that stant upon Mart, 4,2471 The Led after Satorne groweth, 4,2472 And Jupiter the Bras bestoweth, 4,2473 The Coper set is to Venus, 4,2474 And to his part Mercurius 4,2475 Hath the quikselver, as it falleth, 4,2476 The which, after the bok it calleth, 4,2477 Is ferst of thilke fowre named 4,2478 Of Spiritz, whiche ben proclamed; 4,2479 And the spirit which is secounde 4,2480 In Sal Armoniak is founde: 4,2481 The thridde spirit Sulphur is; 4,2482 The ferthe suiende after this 4,2483 Arcennicum be name is hote. 4,2484 With blowinge and with fyres hote 4,2485 In these thinges, whiche I seie, 4,2486 Thei worchen be diverse weie. 4,2487 For as the philosophre tolde 4,2488 Of gold and selver, thei ben holde 4,2489 Tuo principal extremites, 4,2490 To whiche alle othre be degres 4,2491 Of the metalls ben acordant, 4,2492 And so thurgh kinde resemblant, 4,2493 That what man couthe aweie take 4,2494 The rust, of which thei waxen blake, 4,2495 And the savour and the hardnesse, 4,2496 Thei scholden take the liknesse 4,2497 Of gold or Selver parfitly. 4,2498 Bot forto worche it sikirly, 4,2499 Betwen the corps and the spirit, 4,2500 Er that the metall be parfit, 4,2501 In sevene formes it is set; 4,2502 Of alle and if that on be let, 4,2503 The remenant mai noght availe, 4,2504 Bot otherwise it mai noght faile. 4,2505 For thei be whom this art was founde 4,2506 To every point a certain bounde 4,2507 Ordeignen, that a man mai finde 4,2508 This craft is wroght be weie of kinde, 4,2509 So that ther is no fallas inne. 4,2510 Bot what man that this werk beginne, 4,2511 He mot awaite at every tyde, 4,2512 So that nothing be left aside, 4,2513 Ferst of the distillacion, 4,2514 Forth with the congelacion, 4,2515 Solucion, descencion, 4,2516 And kepe in his entencion 4,2517 The point of sublimacion, 4,2518 And forth with calcinacion 4,2519 Of veray approbacion 4,2520 Do that ther be fixacion 4,2521 With tempred hetes of the fyr, 4,2522 Til he the parfit Elixir 4,2523 Of thilke philosophres Ston 4,2524 Mai gete, of which that many on 4,2525 Of Philosophres whilom write. 4,2526 And if thou wolt the names wite 4,2527 Of thilke Ston with othre tuo, 4,2528 Whiche as the clerkes maden tho, 4,2529 So as the bokes it recorden, 4,2530 The kinde of hem I schal recorden. 4,2531 These olde Philosophres wyse 4,2532 Be weie of kinde in sondri wise 4,2533 Thre Stones maden thurgh clergie. 4,2534 The ferste, if I schal specefie, 4,2535 Was lapis vegetabilis, 4,2536 Of which the propre vertu is 4,2537 To mannes hele forto serve, 4,2538 As forto kepe and to preserve 4,2539 The bodi fro siknesses alle, 4,2540 Til deth of kinde upon him falle. 4,2541 The Ston seconde I thee behote 4,2542 Is lapis animalis hote, 4,2543 The whos vertu is propre and cowth 4,2544 For Ere and yhe and nase and mouth, 4,2545 Wherof a man mai hiere and se 4,2546 And smelle and taste in his degre, 4,2547 And forto fiele and forto go 4,2548 It helpeth man of bothe tuo: 4,2549 The wittes fyve he underfongeth 4,2550 To kepe, as it to him belongeth. 4,2551 The thridde Ston in special 4,2552 Be name is cleped Minerall, 4,2553 Which the metalls of every Mine 4,2554 Attempreth, til that thei ben fyne, 4,2555 And pureth hem be such a weie, 4,2556 That al the vice goth aweie 4,2557 Of rust, of stink and of hardnesse: 4,2558 And whan thei ben of such clennesse, 4,2559 This Mineral, so as I finde, 4,2560 Transformeth al the ferste kynde 4,2561 And makth hem able to conceive 4,2562 Thurgh his vertu, and to receive 4,2563 Bothe in substance and in figure 4,2564 Of gold and selver the nature. 4,2565 For thei tuo ben thextremetes, 4,2566 To whiche after the propretes 4,2567 Hath every metal his desir, 4,2568 With help and confort of the fyr 4,2569 Forth with this Ston, as it is seid, 4,2570 Which to the Sonne and Mone is leid; 4,2571 For to the rede and to the whyte 4,2572 This Ston hath pouer to profite. 4,2573 It makth mulptiplicacioun 4,2574 Of gold, and the fixacioun 4,2575 It causeth, and of his habit 4,2576 He doth the werk to be parfit 4,2577 Of thilke Elixer which men calle 4,2578 Alconomie, as is befalle 4,2579 To hem that whilom weren wise. 4,2580 Bot now it stant al otherwise; 4,2581 Thei speken faste of thilke Ston, 4,2582 Bot hou to make it, nou wot non 4,2583 After the sothe experience. 4,2584 And natheles gret diligence 4,2585 Thei setten upon thilke dede, 4,2586 And spille more than thei spede; 4,2587 For allewey thei finde a lette, 4,2588 Which bringeth in poverte and dette 4,2589 To hem that riche were afore: 4,2590 The lost is had, the lucre is lore, 4,2591 To gete a pound thei spenden fyve; 4,2592 I not hou such a craft schal thryve 4,2593 In the manere as it is used: 4,2594 It were betre be refused 4,2595 Than forto worchen upon weene 4,2596 In thing which stant noght as thei weene. 4,2597 Bot noght forthi, who that it knewe, 4,2598 The science of himself is trewe 4,2599 Upon the forme as it was founded, 4,2600 Wherof the names yit ben grounded 4,2601 Of hem that ferste it founden oute; 4,2602 And thus the fame goth aboute 4,2603 To suche as soghten besinesse 4,2604 Of vertu and of worthinesse. 4,2605 Of whom if I the names calle, 4,2606 Hermes was on the ferste of alle, 4,2607 To whom this art is most applied; 4,2608 Geber therof was magnefied, 4,2609 And Ortolan and Morien, 4,2610 Among the whiche is Avicen, 4,2611 Which fond and wrot a gret partie 4,2612 The practique of Alconomie; 4,2613 Whos bokes, pleinli as thei stonde 4,2614 Upon this craft, fewe understonde; 4,2615 Bot yit to put hem in assai 4,2616 Ther ben full manye now aday, 4,2617 That knowen litel what thei meene. 4,2618 It is noght on to wite and weene; 4,2619 In forme of wordes thei it trete, 4,2620 Bot yit they failen of beyete, 4,2621 For of tomoche or of tolyte 4,2622 Ther is algate founde a wyte, 4,2623 So that thei folwe noght the lyne 4,2624 Of the parfite medicine, 4,2625 Which grounded is upon nature. 4,2626 Bot thei that writen the scripture 4,2627 Of Grek, Arabe and of Caldee, 4,2628 Thei were of such Auctorite 4,2629 That thei ferst founden out the weie 4,2630 Of al that thou hast herd me seie; 4,2631 Wherof the Cronique of her lore 4,2632 Schal stonde in pris for everemore. 4,2633 Bot toward oure Marches hiere, 4,2634 Of the Latins if thou wolt hiere, 4,2635 Of hem that whilom vertuous 4,2636 Were and therto laborious, 4,2637 Carmente made of hire engin 4,2638 The ferste lettres of Latin, 4,2639 Of which the tunge Romein cam, 4,2640 Wherof that Aristarchus nam 4,2641 Forth with Donat and Dindimus 4,2642 The ferste reule of Scole, as thus, 4,2643 How that Latin schal be componed 4,2644 And in what wise it schal be soned, 4,2645 That every word in his degre 4,2646 Schal stonde upon congruite. 4,2647 And thilke time at Rome also 4,2648 Was Tullius with Cithero, 4,2649 That writen upon Rethorike, 4,2650 Hou that men schal the wordes pike 4,2651 After the forme of eloquence, 4,2652 Which is, men sein, a gret prudence: 4,2653 And after that out of Hebreu 4,2654 Jerom, which the langage kneu, 4,2655 The Bible, in which the lawe is closed, 4,2656 Into Latin he hath transposed; 4,2657 And many an other writere ek 4,2658 Out of Caldee, Arabe and Grek 4,2659 With gret labour the bokes wise 4,2660 Translateden. And otherwise 4,2661 The Latins of hemself also 4,2662 Here studie at thilke time so 4,2663 With gret travaile of Scole toke 4,2664 In sondri forme forto boke, 4,2665 That we mai take here evidences 4,2666 Upon the lore of the Sciences, 4,2667 Of craftes bothe and of clergie; 4,2668 Among the whiche in Poesie 4,2669 To the lovers Ovide wrot 4,2670 And tawhte, if love be to hot, 4,2671 In what manere it scholde akiele. 4,2672 Forthi, mi Sone, if that thou fiele 4,2673 That love wringe thee to sore, 4,2674 Behold Ovide and take his lore. 4,2675 My fader, if thei mihte spede 4,2676 Mi love, I wolde his bokes rede; 4,2677 And if thei techen to restreigne 4,2678 Mi love, it were an ydel peine 4,2679 To lerne a thing which mai noght be. 4,2680 For lich unto the greene tree, 4,2681 If that men toke his rote aweie, 4,2682 Riht so myn herte scholde deie, 4,2683 If that mi love be withdrawe. 4,2684 Wherof touchende unto this sawe 4,2685 There is bot only to poursuie 4,2686 Mi love, and ydelschipe eschuie. 4,2687 Mi goode Sone, soth to seie, 4,2688 If ther be siker eny weie 4,2689 To love, thou hast seid the beste: 4,2690 For who that wolde have al his reste 4,2691 And do no travail at the nede, 4,2692 It is no resoun that he spede 4,2693 In loves cause forto winne; 4,2694 For he which dar nothing beginne, 4,2695 I not what thing he scholde achieve. 4,2696 Bot overthis thou schalt believe, 4,2697 So as it sit thee wel to knowe, 4,2698 That ther ben othre vices slowe, 4,2699 Whiche unto love don gret lette, 4,2700 If thou thin herte upon hem sette. 4,2701 Toward the Slowe progenie 4,2702 Ther is yit on of compaignie, 4,2703 And he is cleped Sompnolence, 4,2704 Which doth to Slouthe his reverence, 4,2705 As he which is his Chamberlein, 4,2706 That many an hundrid time hath lein 4,2707 To slepe, whan he scholde wake. 4,2708 He hath with love trewes take, 4,2709 That wake who so wake wile, 4,2710 If he mai couche a doun his bile, 4,2711 He hath al wowed what him list; 4,2712 That ofte he goth to bedde unkist, 4,2713 And seith that for no Druerie 4,2714 He wol noght leve his sluggardie. 4,2715 For thogh noman it wole allowe, 4,2716 To slepe levere than to wowe 4,2717 Is his manere, and thus on nyhtes, 4,2718 Whan that he seth the lusti knyhtes 4,2719 Revelen, wher these wommen are, 4,2720 Awey he skulketh as an hare, 4,2721 And goth to bedde and leith him softe, 4,2722 And of his Slouthe he dremeth ofte 4,2723 Hou that he stiketh in the Myr, 4,2724 And hou he sitteth be the fyr 4,2725 And claweth on his bare schanckes, 4,2726 And hou he clymbeth up the banckes 4,2727 And falleth into Slades depe. 4,2728 Bot thanne who so toke kepe, 4,2729 Whanne he is falle in such a drem, 4,2730 Riht as a Schip ayein the Strem, 4,2731 He routeth with a slepi noise, 4,2732 And brustleth as a monkes froise, 4,2733 Whanne it is throwe into the Panne. 4,2734 And otherwhile sielde whanne 4,2735 That he mai dreme a lusti swevene, 4,2736 Him thenkth as thogh he were in hevene 4,2737 And as the world were holi his: 4,2738 And thanne he spekth of that and this, 4,2739 And makth his exposicion 4,2740 After the disposicion 4,2741 Of that he wolde, and in such wise 4,2742 He doth to love all his service; 4,2743 I not what thonk he schal deserve. 4,2744 Bot, Sone, if thou wolt love serve, 4,2745 I rede that thou do noght so. 4,2746 Ha, goode fader, certes no. 4,2747 I hadde levere be mi trowthe, 4,2748 Er I were set on such a slouthe 4,2749 And beere such a slepi snoute, 4,2750 Bothe yhen of myn hed were oute. 4,2751 For me were betre fulli die, 4,2752 Thanne I of such a slugardie 4,2753 Hadde eny name, god me schilde; 4,2754 For whan mi moder was with childe, 4,2755 And I lay in hire wombe clos, 4,2756 I wolde rathere Atropos, 4,2757 Which is goddesse of alle deth, 4,2758 Anon as I hadde eny breth, 4,2759 Me hadde fro mi Moder cast. 4,2760 Bot now I am nothing agast, 4,2761 I thonke godd; for Lachesis, 4,2762 Ne Cloto, which hire felawe is, 4,2763 Me schopen no such destine, 4,2764 Whan thei at mi nativite 4,2765 My weerdes setten as thei wolde; 4,2766 Bot thei me schopen that I scholde 4,2767 Eschuie of slep the truandise, 4,2768 So that I hope in such a wise 4,2769 To love forto ben excused, 4,2770 That I no Sompnolence have used. 4,2771 For certes, fader Genius, 4,2772 Yit into nou it hath be thus, 4,2773 At alle time if it befelle 4,2774 So that I mihte come and duelle 4,2775 In place ther my ladi were, 4,2776 I was noght slow ne slepi there: 4,2777 For thanne I dar wel undertake, 4,2778 That whanne hir list on nyhtes wake 4,2779 In chambre as to carole and daunce, 4,2780 Me thenkth I mai me more avaunce, 4,2781 If I mai gon upon hir hond, 4,2782 Thanne if I wonne a kinges lond. 4,2783 For whanne I mai hire hand beclippe, 4,2784 With such gladnesse I daunce and skippe, 4,2785 Me thenkth I touche noght the flor; 4,2786 The Ro, which renneth on the Mor, 4,2787 Is thanne noght so lyht as I: 4,2788 So mow ye witen wel forthi, 4,2789 That for the time slep I hate. 4,2790 And whanne it falleth othergate, 4,2791 So that hire like noght to daunce, 4,2792 Bot on the Dees to caste chaunce 4,2793 Or axe of love som demande, 4,2794 Or elles that hir list comaunde 4,2795 To rede and here of Troilus, 4,2796 Riht as sche wole or so or thus, 4,2797 I am al redi to consente. 4,2798 And if so is that I mai hente 4,2799 Somtime among a good leisir, 4,2800 So as I dar of mi desir 4,2801 I telle a part; bot whanne I preie, 4,2802 Anon sche bidt me go mi weie 4,2803 And seith it is ferr in the nyht; 4,2804 And I swere it is even liht. 4,2805 Bot as it falleth ate laste, 4,2806 Ther mai no worldes joie laste, 4,2807 So mot I nedes fro hire wende 4,2808 And of my wachche make an ende: 4,2809 And if sche thanne hiede toke, 4,2810 Hou pitousliche on hire I loke, 4,2811 Whan that I schal my leve take, 4,2812 Hire oghte of mercy forto slake 4,2813 Hire daunger, which seith evere nay. 4,2814 Bot he seith often, "Have good day," 4,2815 That loth is forto take his leve: 4,2816 Therfore, while I mai beleve, 4,2817 I tarie forth the nyht along, 4,2818 For it is noght on me along 4,2819 To slep that I so sone go, 4,2820 Til that I mot algate so; 4,2821 And thanne I bidde godd hire se, 4,2822 And so doun knelende on mi kne 4,2823 I take leve, and if I schal, 4,2824 I kisse hire, and go forth withal. 4,2825 And otherwhile, if that I dore, 4,2826 Er I come fulli to the Dore, 4,2827 I torne ayein and feigne a thing, 4,2828 As thogh I hadde lost a Ring 4,2829 Or somwhat elles, for I wolde 4,2830 Kisse hire eftsones, if I scholde, 4,2831 Bot selden is that I so spede. 4,2832 And whanne I se that I mot nede 4,2833 Departen, I departe, and thanne 4,2834 With al myn herte I curse and banne 4,2835 That evere slep was mad for yhe; 4,2836 For, as me thenkth, I mihte dryhe 4,2837 Withoute slep to waken evere, 4,2838 So that I scholde noght dissevere 4,2839 Fro hire, in whom is al my liht: 4,2840 And thanne I curse also the nyht 4,2841 With al the will of mi corage, 4,2842 And seie, "Awey, thou blake ymage, 4,2843 Which of thi derke cloudy face 4,2844 Makst al the worldes lyht deface, 4,2845 And causest unto slep a weie, 4,2846 Be which I mot nou gon aweie 4,2847 Out of mi ladi compaignie. 4,2848 O slepi nyht, I thee defie, 4,2849 And wolde that thou leye in presse 4,2850 With Proserpine the goddesse 4,2851 And with Pluto the helle king: 4,2852 For til I se the daies spring, 4,2853 I sette slep noght at a risshe." 4,2854 And with that word I sike and wisshe, 4,2855 And seie, "Ha, whi ne were it day? 4,2856 For yit mi ladi thanne I may 4,2857 Beholde, thogh I do nomore." 4,2858 And efte I thenke forthermore, 4,2859 To som man hou the niht doth ese, 4,2860 Whan he hath thing that mai him plese 4,2861 The longe nyhtes be his side, 4,2862 Where as I faile and go beside. 4,2863 Bot slep, I not wherof it serveth, 4,2864 Of which noman his thonk deserveth 4,2865 To gete him love in eny place, 4,2866 Bot is an hindrere of his grace 4,2867 And makth him ded as for a throwe, 4,2868 Riht as a Stok were overthrowe. 4,2869 And so, mi fader, in this wise 4,2870 The slepi nyhtes I despise, 4,2871 And evere amiddes of mi tale 4,2872 I thenke upon the nyhtingale, 4,2873 Which slepeth noght be weie of kinde 4,2874 For love, in bokes as I finde. 4,2875 Thus ate laste I go to bedde, 4,2876 And yit min herte lith to wedde 4,2877 With hire, wher as I cam fro; 4,2878 Thogh I departe, he wol noght so, 4,2879 Ther is no lock mai schette him oute, 4,2880 Him nedeth noght to gon aboute, 4,2881 That perce mai the harde wall; 4,2882 Thus is he with hire overall, 4,2883 That be hire lief, or be hire loth, 4,2884 Into hire bedd myn herte goth, 4,2885 And softly takth hire in his arm 4,2886 And fieleth hou that sche is warm, 4,2887 And wissheth that his body were 4,2888 To fiele that he fieleth there. 4,2889 And thus miselven I tormente, 4,2890 Til that the dede slep me hente: 4,2891 Bot thanne be a thousand score 4,2892 Welmore than I was tofore 4,2893 I am tormented in mi slep, 4,2894 Bot that I dreme is noght of schep; 4,2895 For I ne thenke noght on wulle, 4,2896 Bot I am drecched to the fulle 4,2897 Of love, that I have to kepe, 4,2898 That nou I lawhe and nou I wepe, 4,2899 And nou I lese and nou I winne, 4,2900 And nou I ende and nou beginne. 4,2901 And otherwhile I dreme and mete 4,2902 That I al one with hire mete 4,2903 And that Danger is left behinde; 4,2904 And thanne in slep such joie I finde, 4,2905 That I ne bede nevere awake. 4,2906 Bot after, whanne I hiede take, 4,2907 And schal arise upon the morwe, 4,2908 Thanne is al torned into sorwe, 4,2909 Noght for the cause I schal arise, 4,2910 Bot for I mette in such a wise, 4,2911 And ate laste I am bethoght 4,2912 That al is vein and helpeth noght: 4,2913 Bot yit me thenketh be my wille 4,2914 I wolde have leie and slepe stille, 4,2915 To meten evere of such a swevene, 4,2916 For thanne I hadde a slepi hevene. 4,2917 Mi Sone, and for thou tellest so, 4,2918 A man mai finde of time ago 4,2919 That many a swevene hath be certein, 4,2920 Al be it so, that som men sein 4,2921 That swevenes ben of no credence. 4,2922 Bot forto schewe in evidence 4,2923 That thei fulofte sothe thinges 4,2924 Betokne, I thenke in my wrytinges 4,2925 To telle a tale therupon, 4,2926 Which fell be olde daies gon. 4,2927 This finde I write in Poesie: 4,2928 Ceiµx the king of Trocinie 4,2929 Hadde Alceone to his wif, 4,2930 Which as hire oghne hertes lif 4,2931 Him loveth; and he hadde also 4,2932 A brother, which was cleped tho 4,2933 Dedalion, and he per cas 4,2934 Fro kinde of man forschape was 4,2935 Into a Goshauk of liknesse; 4,2936 Wherof the king gret hevynesse 4,2937 Hath take, and thoghte in his corage 4,2938 To gon upon a pelrinage 4,2939 Into a strange regioun, 4,2940 Wher he hath his devocioun 4,2941 To don his sacrifice and preie, 4,2942 If that he mihte in eny weie 4,2943 Toward the goddes finde grace 4,2944 His brother hele to pourchace, 4,2945 So that he mihte be reformed 4,2946 Of that he hadde be transformed. 4,2947 To this pourpos and to this ende 4,2948 This king is redy forto wende, 4,2949 As he which wolde go be Schipe; 4,2950 And forto don him felaschipe 4,2951 His wif unto the See him broghte, 4,2952 With al hire herte and him besoghte, 4,2953 That he the time hire wolde sein, 4,2954 Whan that he thoghte come ayein: 4,2955 "Withinne," he seith, "tuo Monthe day." 4,2956 And thus in al the haste he may 4,2957 He tok his leve, and forth he seileth 4,2958 Wepende, and sche hirself beweileth, 4,2959 And torneth hom, ther sche cam fro. 4,2960 Bot whan the Monthes were ago, 4,2961 The whiche he sette of his comynge, 4,2962 And that sche herde no tydinge, 4,2963 Ther was no care forto seche: 4,2964 Wherof the goddes to beseche 4,2965 Tho sche began in many wise, 4,2966 And to Juno hire sacrifise 4,2967 Above alle othre most sche dede, 4,2968 And for hir lord sche hath so bede 4,2969 To wite and knowe hou that he ferde, 4,2970 That Juno the goddesse hire herde, 4,2971 Anon and upon this matiere 4,2972 Sche bad Yris hir Messagere 4,2973 To Slepes hous that sche schal wende, 4,2974 And bidde him that he make an ende 4,2975 Be swevene and schewen al the cas 4,2976 Unto this ladi, hou it was. 4,2977 This Yris, fro the hihe stage 4,2978 Which undertake hath the Message, 4,2979 Hire reyny Cope dede upon, 4,2980 The which was wonderli begon 4,2981 With colours of diverse hewe, 4,2982 An hundred mo than men it knewe; 4,2983 The hevene lich into a bowe 4,2984 Sche bende, and so she cam doun lowe, 4,2985 The god of Slep wher that sche fond. 4,2986 And that was in a strange lond, 4,2987 Which marcheth upon Chymerie: 4,2988 For ther, as seith the Poesie, 4,2989 The god of Slep hath mad his hous, 4,2990 Which of entaille is merveilous. 4,2991 Under an hell ther is a Cave, 4,2992 Which of the Sonne mai noght have, 4,2993 So that noman mai knowe ariht 4,2994 The point betwen the dai and nyht: 4,2995 Ther is no fyr, ther is no sparke, 4,2996 Ther is no dore, which mai charke, 4,2997 Wherof an yhe scholde unschette, 4,2998 So that inward ther is no lette. 4,2999 And forto speke of that withoute, 4,3000 Ther stant no gret Tree nyh aboute 4,3001 Wher on ther myhte crowe or pie 4,3002 Alihte, forto clepe or crie: 4,3003 Ther is no cok to crowe day, 4,3004 Ne beste non which noise may 4,3005 The hell, bot al aboute round 4,3006 Ther is growende upon the ground 4,3007 Popi, which berth the sed of slep, 4,3008 With othre herbes suche an hep. 4,3009 A stille water for the nones 4,3010 Rennende upon the smale stones, 4,3011 Which hihte of Lethes the rivere, 4,3012 Under that hell in such manere 4,3013 Ther is, which yifth gret appetit 4,3014 To slepe. And thus full of delit 4,3015 Slep hath his hous; and of his couche 4,3016 Withinne his chambre if I schal touche, 4,3017 Of hebenus that slepi Tree 4,3018 The bordes al aboute be, 4,3019 And for he scholde slepe softe, 4,3020 Upon a fethrebed alofte 4,3021 He lith with many a pilwe of doun: 4,3022 The chambre is strowed up and doun 4,3023 With swevenes many thousendfold. 4,3024 Thus cam Yris into this hold, 4,3025 And to the bedd, which is al blak, 4,3026 Sche goth, and ther with Slep sche spak, 4,3027 And in the wise as sche was bede 4,3028 The Message of Juno sche dede. 4,3029 Fulofte hir wordes sche reherceth, 4,3030 Er sche his slepi Eres perceth; 4,3031 With mochel wo bot ate laste 4,3032 His slombrende yhen he upcaste 4,3033 And seide hir that it schal be do. 4,3034 Wherof among a thousend tho, 4,3035 Withinne his hous that slepi were, 4,3036 In special he ches out there 4,3037 Thre, whiche scholden do this dede: 4,3038 The ferste of hem, so as I rede, 4,3039 Was Morpheuµs, the whos nature 4,3040 Is forto take the figure 4,3041 Of what persone that him liketh, 4,3042 Wherof that he fulofte entriketh 4,3043 The lif which slepe schal be nyhte; 4,3044 And Ithecus that other hihte, 4,3045 Which hath the vois of every soun, 4,3046 The chiere and the condicioun 4,3047 Of every lif, what so it is: 4,3048 The thridde suiende after this 4,3049 Is Panthasas, which may transforme 4,3050 Of every thing the rihte forme, 4,3051 And change it in an other kinde. 4,3052 Upon hem thre, so as I finde, 4,3053 Of swevenes stant al thapparence, 4,3054 Which otherwhile is evidence 4,3055 And otherwhile bot a jape. 4,3056 Bot natheles it is so schape, 4,3057 That Morpheuµs be nyht al one 4,3058 Appiereth until Alceone 4,3059 In liknesse of hir housebonde 4,3060 Al naked ded upon the stronde, 4,3061 And hou he dreynte in special 4,3062 These othre tuo it schewen al. 4,3063 The tempeste of the blake cloude, 4,3064 The wode See, the wyndes loude, 4,3065 Al this sche mette, and sih him dyen; 4,3066 Wherof that sche began to crien, 4,3067 Slepende abedde ther sche lay, 4,3068 And with that noise of hire affray 4,3069 Hir wommen sterten up aboute, 4,3070 Whiche of here ladi were in doute, 4,3071 And axen hire hou that sche ferde; 4,3072 And sche, riht as sche syh and herde, 4,3073 Hir swevene hath told hem everydel. 4,3074 And thei it halsen alle wel 4,3075 And sein it is a tokne of goode; 4,3076 Bot til sche wiste hou that it stode, 4,3077 Sche hath no confort in hire herte, 4,3078 Upon the morwe and up sche sterte, 4,3079 And to the See, wher that sche mette 4,3080 The bodi lay, withoute lette 4,3081 Sche drowh, and whan that sche cam nyh, 4,3082 Stark ded, hise harmes sprad, sche syh 4,3083 Hire lord flietende upon the wawe. 4,3084 Wherof hire wittes ben withdrawe, 4,3085 And sche, which tok of deth no kepe, 4,3086 Anon forth lepte into the depe 4,3087 And wolde have cawht him in hire arm. 4,3088 This infortune of double harm 4,3089 The goddes fro the hevene above 4,3090 Behielde, and for the trowthe of love, 4,3091 Which in this worthi ladi stod, 4,3092 Thei have upon the salte flod 4,3093 Hire dreinte lord and hire also 4,3094 Fro deth to lyve torned so, 4,3095 That thei ben schapen into briddes 4,3096 Swimmende upon the wawe amiddes. 4,3097 And whan sche sih hire lord livende 4,3098 In liknesse of a bridd swimmende, 4,3099 And sche was of the same sort, 4,3100 So as sche mihte do desport, 4,3101 Upon the joie which sche hadde 4,3102 Hire wynges bothe abrod sche spradde, 4,3103 And him, so as sche mai suffise, 4,3104 Beclipte and keste in such a wise, 4,3105 As sche was whilom wont to do: 4,3106 Hire wynges for hire armes tuo 4,3107 Sche tok, and for hire lippes softe 4,3108 Hire harde bile, and so fulofte 4,3109 Sche fondeth in hire briddes forme, 4,3110 If that sche mihte hirself conforme 4,3111 To do the plesance of a wif, 4,3112 As sche dede in that other lif: 4,3113 For thogh sche hadde hir pouer lore, 4,3114 Hir will stod as it was tofore, 4,3115 And serveth him so as sche mai. 4,3116 Wherof into this ilke day 4,3117 Togedre upon the See thei wone, 4,3118 Wher many a dowhter and a Sone 4,3119 Thei bringen forth of briddes kinde; 4,3120 And for men scholden take in mynde 4,3121 This Alceoun the trewe queene, 4,3122 Hire briddes yit, as it is seene, 4,3123 Of Alceoun the name bere. 4,3124 Lo thus, mi Sone, it mai thee stere 4,3125 Of swevenes forto take kepe, 4,3126 For ofte time a man aslepe 4,3127 Mai se what after schal betide. 4,3128 Forthi it helpeth at som tyde 4,3129 A man to slepe, as it belongeth, 4,3130 Bot slowthe no lif underfongeth 4,3131 Which is to love appourtenant. 4,3132 Mi fader, upon covenant 4,3133 I dar wel make this avou, 4,3134 Of all mi lif that into nou, 4,3135 Als fer as I can understonde, 4,3136 Yit tok I nevere Slep on honde, 4,3137 Whan it was time forto wake; 4,3138 For thogh myn yhe it wolde take, 4,3139 Min herte is evere therayein. 4,3140 Bot natheles to speke it plein, 4,3141 Al this that I have seid you hiere 4,3142 Of my wakinge, as ye mai hiere, 4,3143 It toucheth to mi lady swete; 4,3144 For otherwise, I you behiete, 4,3145 In strange place whanne I go, 4,3146 Me list nothing to wake so. 4,3147 For whan the wommen listen pleie, 4,3148 And I hir se noght in the weie, 4,3149 Of whom I scholde merthe take, 4,3150 Me list noght longe forto wake, 4,3151 Bot if it be for pure schame, 4,3152 Of that I wolde eschuie a name, 4,3153 That thei ne scholde have cause non 4,3154 To seie, "Ha, lo, wher goth such on, 4,3155 That hath forlore his contenaunce]" 4,3156 And thus among I singe and daunce, 4,3157 And feigne lust ther as non is. 4,3158 For ofte sithe I fiele this; 4,3159 Of thoght, which in mi herte falleth 4,3160 Whanne it is nyht, myn hed appalleth, 4,3161 And that is for I se hire noght, 4,3162 Which is the wakere of mi thoght: 4,3163 And thus as tymliche as I may, 4,3164 Fulofte whanne it is brod day, 4,3165 I take of all these othre leve 4,3166 And go my weie, and thei beleve, 4,3167 That sen per cas here loves there; 4,3168 And I go forth as noght ne were 4,3169 Unto mi bedd, so that al one 4,3170 I mai ther ligge and sighe and grone 4,3171 And wisshen al the longe nyht, 4,3172 Til that I se the daies lyht. 4,3173 I not if that be Sompnolence, 4,3174 Bot upon youre conscience, 4,3175 Min holi fader, demeth ye. 4,3176 My Sone, I am wel paid with thee, 4,3177 Of Slep that thou the Sluggardie 4,3178 Be nyhte in loves compaignie 4,3179 Eschuied hast, and do thi peine 4,3180 So that thi love thar noght pleine: 4,3181 For love upon his lust wakende 4,3182 Is evere, and wolde that non ende 4,3183 Were of the longe nyhtes set. 4,3184 Wherof that thou be war the bet, 4,3185 To telle a tale I am bethoght, 4,3186 Hou love and Slep acorden noght. 4,3187 For love who that list to wake 4,3188 Be nyhte, he mai ensample take 4,3189 Of Cephalus, whan that he lay 4,3190 With Aurora that swete may 4,3191 In armes all the longe nyht. 4,3192 Bot whanne it drogh toward the liht, 4,3193 That he withinne his herte sih 4,3194 The dai which was amorwe nyh, 4,3195 Anon unto the Sonne he preide 4,3196 For lust of love, and thus he seide: 4,3197 "O Phebus, which the daies liht 4,3198 Governest, til that it be nyht, 4,3199 And gladest every creature 4,3200 After the lawe of thi nature,- 4,3201 Bot natheles ther is a thing, 4,3202 Which onli to the knouleching 4,3203 Belongeth as in privete 4,3204 To love and to his duete, 4,3205 Which asketh noght to ben apert, 4,3206 Bot in cilence and in covert 4,3207 Desireth forto be beschaded: 4,3208 And thus whan that thi liht is faded 4,3209 And Vesper scheweth him alofte, 4,3210 And that the nyht is long and softe, 4,3211 Under the cloudes derke and stille 4,3212 Thanne hath this thing most of his wille. 4,3213 Forthi unto thi myhtes hyhe, 4,3214 As thou which art the daies yhe, 4,3215 Of love and myht no conseil hyde, 4,3216 Upon this derke nyhtes tyde 4,3217 With al myn herte I thee beseche 4,3218 That I plesance myhte seche 4,3219 With hire which lith in min armes. 4,3220 Withdrawgh the Banere of thin Armes, 4,3221 And let thi lyhtes ben unborn, 4,3222 And in the Signe of Capricorn, 4,3223 The hous appropred to Satorne, 4,3224 I preie that thou wolt sojorne, 4,3225 Wher ben the nihtes derke and longe: 4,3226 For I mi love have underfonge, 4,3227 Which lith hier be mi syde naked, 4,3228 As sche which wolde ben awaked, 4,3229 And me lest nothing forto slepe. 4,3230 So were it good to take kepe 4,3231 Nou at this nede of mi preiere, 4,3232 And that the like forto stiere 4,3233 Thi fyri Carte, and so ordeigne, 4,3234 That thou thi swifte hors restreigne 4,3235 Lowe under Erthe in Occident, 4,3236 That thei towardes Orient 4,3237 Be Cercle go the longe weie. 4,3238 And ek to thee, Diane, I preie, 4,3239 Which cleped art of thi noblesse 4,3240 The nyhtes Mone and the goddesse, 4,3241 That thou to me be gracious: 4,3242 And in Cancro thin oghne hous 4,3243 Ayein Phebus in opposit 4,3244 Stond al this time, and of delit 4,3245 Behold Venus with a glad yhe. 4,3246 For thanne upon Astronomie 4,3247 Of due constellacion 4,3248 Thou makst prolificacion, 4,3249 And dost that children ben begete: 4,3250 Which grace if that I mihte gete, 4,3251 With al myn herte I wolde serve 4,3252 Be nyhte, and thi vigile observe." 4,3253 Lo, thus this lusti Cephalus 4,3254 Preide unto Phebe and to Phebus 4,3255 The nyht in lengthe forto drawe, 4,3256 So that he mihte do the lawe 4,3257 In thilke point of loves heste, 4,3258 Which cleped is the nyhtes feste, 4,3259 Withoute Slep of sluggardie; 4,3260 Which Venus out of compaignie 4,3261 Hath put awey, as thilke same, 4,3262 Which lustles ferr from alle game 4,3263 In chambre doth fulofte wo 4,3264 Abedde, whanne it falleth so 4,3265 That love scholde ben awaited. 4,3266 But Slowthe, which is evele affaited, 4,3267 With Slep hath mad his retenue, 4,3268 That what thing is to love due, 4,3269 Of all his dette he paieth non: 4,3270 He wot noght how the nyht is gon 4,3271 Ne hou the day is come aboute, 4,3272 Bot onli forto slepe and route 4,3273 Til hyh midday, that he arise. 4,3274 Bot Cephalus dede otherwise, 4,3275 As thou, my Sone, hast herd above. 4,3276 Mi fader, who that hath his love 4,3277 Abedde naked be his syde, 4,3278 And wolde thanne hise yhen hyde 4,3279 With Slep, I not what man is he: 4,3280 Bot certes as touchende of me, 4,3281 That fell me nevere yit er this. 4,3282 Bot otherwhile, whan so is 4,3283 That I mai cacche Slep on honde 4,3284 Liggende al one, thanne I fonde 4,3285 To dreme a merie swevene er day; 4,3286 And if so falle that I may 4,3287 Mi thought with such a swevene plese, 4,3288 Me thenkth I am somdiel in ese, 4,3289 For I non other confort have. 4,3290 So nedeth noght that I schal crave 4,3291 The Sonnes Carte forto tarie, 4,3292 Ne yit the Mone, that sche carie 4,3293 Hire cours along upon the hevene, 4,3294 For I am noght the more in evene 4,3295 Towardes love in no degree: 4,3296 Bot in mi slep yit thanne I se 4,3297 Somwhat in swevene of that me liketh, 4,3298 Which afterward min herte entriketh, 4,3299 Whan that I finde it otherwise. 4,3300 So wot I noght of what servise 4,3301 That Slep to mannes ese doth. 4,3302 Mi Sone, certes thou seist soth, 4,3303 Bot only that it helpeth kinde 4,3304 Somtyme, in Phisique as I finde, 4,3305 Whan it is take be mesure: 4,3306 Bot he which can no Slep mesure 4,3307 Upon the reule as it belongeth, 4,3308 Fulofte of sodein chance he fongeth 4,3309 Such infortune that him grieveth. 4,3310 Bot who these olde bokes lieveth, 4,3311 Of Sompnolence hou it is write, 4,3312 Ther may a man the sothe wite, 4,3313 If that he wolde ensample take, 4,3314 That otherwhile is good to wake: 4,3315 Wherof a tale in Poesie 4,3316 I thenke forto specefie. 4,3317 Ovide telleth in his sawes, 4,3318 How Jupiter be olde dawes 4,3319 Lay be a Mayde, which Yo 4,3320 Was cleped, wherof that Juno 4,3321 His wif was wroth, and the goddesse 4,3322 Of Yo torneth the liknesse 4,3323 Into a cow, to gon theroute 4,3324 The large fieldes al aboute 4,3325 And gete hire mete upon the griene. 4,3326 And therupon this hyhe queene 4,3327 Betok hire Argus forto kepe, 4,3328 For he was selden wont to slepe, 4,3329 And yit he hadde an hundred yhen, 4,3330 And alle alyche wel thei syhen. 4,3331 Now herkne hou that he was beguiled. 4,3332 Mercurie, which was al affiled 4,3333 This Cow to stele, he cam desguised, 4,3334 And hadde a Pipe wel devised 4,3335 Upon the notes of Musiqe, 4,3336 Wherof he mihte hise Eres like. 4,3337 And over that he hadde affaited 4,3338 Hise lusti tales, and awaited 4,3339 His time; and thus into the field 4,3340 He cam, where Argus he behield 4,3341 With Yo, which beside him wente. 4,3342 With that his Pype on honde he hente, 4,3343 And gan to pipe in his manere 4,3344 Thing which was slepi forto hiere; 4,3345 And in his pipinge evere among 4,3346 He tolde him such a lusti song, 4,3347 That he the fol hath broght aslepe. 4,3348 Ther was non yhe mihte kepe 4,3349 His hed, the which Mercurie of smot, 4,3350 And forth withal anon fot hot 4,3351 He stal the Cow which Argus kepte, 4,3352 And al this fell for that he slepte. 4,3353 Ensample it was to manye mo, 4,3354 That mochel Slep doth ofte wo, 4,3355 Whan it is time forto wake: 4,3356 For if a man this vice take, 4,3357 In Sompnolence and him delite, 4,3358 Men scholde upon his Dore wryte 4,3359 His epitaphe, as on his grave; 4,3360 For he to spille and noght to save 4,3361 Is schape, as thogh he were ded. 4,3362 Forthi, mi Sone, hold up thin hed, 4,3363 And let no Slep thin yhe englue, 4,3364 Bot whanne it is to resoun due. 4,3365 Mi fader, as touchende of this, 4,3366 Riht so as I you tolde it is, 4,3367 That ofte abedde, whanne I scholde, 4,3368 I mai noght slepe, thogh I wolde; 4,3369 For love is evere faste byme, 4,3370 Which takth no hiede of due time. 4,3371 For whanne I schal myn yhen close, 4,3372 Anon min herte he wole oppose 4,3373 And holde his Scole in such a wise, 4,3374 Til it be day that I arise, 4,3375 That selde it is whan that I slepe. 4,3376 And thus fro Sompnolence I kepe 4,3377 Min yhe: and forthi if ther be 4,3378 Oght elles more in this degre, 4,3379 Now axeth forth. Mi Sone, yis: 4,3380 For Slowthe, which as Moder is 4,3381 The forthdrawere and the Norrice 4,3382 To man of many a dredful vice, 4,3383 Hath yit an other laste of alle, 4,3384 Which many a man hath mad to falle, 4,3385 Wher that he mihte nevere arise; 4,3386 Wherof for thou thee schalt avise, 4,3387 Er thou so with thiself misfare, 4,3388 What vice it is I wol declare. 4,3389 Whan Slowthe hath don al that he may 4,3390 To dryve forth the longe day, 4,3391 Til it be come to the nede, 4,3392 Thanne ate laste upon the dede 4,3393 He loketh hou his time is lore, 4,3394 And is so wo begon therfore, 4,3395 That he withinne his thoght conceiveth 4,3396 Tristesce, and so himself deceiveth, 4,3397 That he wanhope bringeth inne, 4,3398 Wher is no confort to beginne, 4,3399 Bot every joie him is deslaied: 4,3400 So that withinne his herte affraied 4,3401 A thousend time with o breth 4,3402 Wepende he wissheth after deth, 4,3403 Whan he fortune fint adverse. 4,3404 For thanne he wole his hap reherce, 4,3405 As thogh his world were al forlore, 4,3406 And seith, "Helas, that I was bore] 4,3407 Hou schal I live? hou schal I do? 4,3408 For nou fortune is thus mi fo, 4,3409 I wot wel god me wol noght helpe. 4,3410 What scholde I thanne of joies yelpe, 4,3411 Whan ther no bote is of mi care? 4,3412 So overcast is my welfare, 4,3413 That I am schapen al to strif. 4,3414 Helas, that I nere of this lif, 4,3415 Er I be fulliche overtake]" 4,3416 And thus he wol his sorwe make, 4,3417 As god him mihte noght availe: 4,3418 Bot yit ne wol he noght travaile 4,3419 To helpe himself at such a nede, 4,3420 Bot slowtheth under such a drede, 4,3421 Which is affermed in his herte, 4,3422 Riht as he mihte noght asterte 4,3423 The worldes wo which he is inne. 4,3424 Also whan he is falle in Sinne, 4,3425 Him thenkth he is so ferr coupable, 4,3426 That god wol noght be merciable 4,3427 So gret a Sinne to foryive; 4,3428 And thus he leeveth to be schrive. 4,3429 And if a man in thilke throwe 4,3430 Wolde him consaile, he wol noght knowe 4,3431 The sothe, thogh a man it finde: 4,3432 For Tristesce is of such a kinde, 4,3433 That forto meintiene his folie, 4,3434 He hath with him Obstinacie, 4,3435 Which is withinne of such a Slouthe, 4,3436 That he forsaketh alle trouthe, 4,3437 And wole unto no reson bowe; 4,3438 And yit ne can he noght avowe 4,3439 His oghne skile bot of hed: 4,3440 Thus dwyneth he, til he be ded, 4,3441 In hindringe of his oghne astat. 4,3442 For where a man is obstinat, 4,3443 Wanhope folweth ate laste, 4,3444 Which mai noght after longe laste, 4,3445 Till Slouthe make of him an ende. 4,3446 Bot god wot whider he schal wende. 4,3447 Mi Sone, and riht in such manere 4,3448 Ther be lovers of hevy chiere, 4,3449 That sorwen mor than it is ned, 4,3450 Whan thei be taried of here sped 4,3451 And conne noght hemselven rede, 4,3452 Bot lesen hope forto spede 4,3453 And stinten love to poursewe; 4,3454 And thus thei faden hyde and hewe, 4,3455 And lustles in here hertes waxe. 4,3456 Hierof it is that I wolde axe, 4,3457 If thou, mi Sone, art on of tho. 4,3458 Ha, goode fader, it is so, 4,3459 Outake a point, I am beknowe; 4,3460 For elles I am overthrowe 4,3461 In al that evere ye have seid. 4,3462 Mi sorwe is everemore unteid, 4,3463 And secheth overal my veines; 4,3464 Bot forto conseile of mi peines, 4,3465 I can no bote do therto; 4,3466 And thus withouten hope I go, 4,3467 So that mi wittes ben empeired, 4,3468 And I, as who seith, am despeired 4,3469 To winne love of thilke swete, 4,3470 Withoute whom, I you behiete, 4,3471 Min herte, that is so bestad, 4,3472 Riht inly nevere mai be glad. 4,3473 For be my trouthe I schal noght lie, 4,3474 Of pure sorwe, which I drye 4,3475 For that sche seith sche wol me noght, 4,3476 With drecchinge of myn oghne thoght 4,3477 In such a wanhope I am falle, 4,3478 That I ne can unethes calle, 4,3479 As forto speke of eny grace, 4,3480 Mi ladi merci to pourchace. 4,3481 Bot yit I seie noght for this 4,3482 That al in mi defalte it is; 4,3483 For I cam nevere yit in stede, 4,3484 Whan time was, that I my bede 4,3485 Ne seide, and as I dorste tolde: 4,3486 Bot nevere fond I that sche wolde, 4,3487 For oght sche knew of min entente, 4,3488 To speke a goodly word assente. 4,3489 And natheles this dar I seie, 4,3490 That if a sinful wolde preie 4,3491 To god of his foryivenesse 4,3492 With half so gret a besinesse 4,3493 As I have do to my ladi, 4,3494 In lacke of askinge of merci 4,3495 He scholde nevere come in Helle. 4,3496 And thus I mai you sothli telle, 4,3497 Save only that I crie and bidde, 4,3498 I am in Tristesce al amidde 4,3499 And fulfild of Desesperance: 4,3500 And therof yif me mi penance, 4,3501 Min holi fader, as you liketh. 4,3502 Mi Sone, of that thin herte siketh 4,3503 With sorwe, miht thou noght amende, 4,3504 Til love his grace wol thee sende, 4,3505 For thou thin oghne cause empeirest 4,3506 What time as thou thiself despeirest. 4,3507 I not what other thing availeth, 4,3508 Of hope whan the herte faileth, 4,3509 For such a Sor is incurable, 4,3510 And ek the goddes ben vengable: 4,3511 And that a man mai riht wel frede, 4,3512 These olde bokes who so rede, 4,3513 Of thing which hath befalle er this: 4,3514 Now hier of what ensample it is. 4,3515 Whilom be olde daies fer 4,3516 Of Mese was the king Theucer, 4,3517 Which hadde a kniht to Sone, Iphis: 4,3518 Of love and he so maistred is, 4,3519 That he hath set al his corage, 4,3520 As to reguard of his lignage, 4,3521 Upon a Maide of lou astat. 4,3522 Bot thogh he were a potestat 4,3523 Of worldes good, he was soubgit 4,3524 To love, and put in such a plit, 4,3525 That he excedeth the mesure 4,3526 Of reson, that himself assure 4,3527 He can noght; for the more he preide, 4,3528 The lasse love on him sche leide. 4,3529 He was with love unwys constreigned, 4,3530 And sche with resoun was restreigned: 4,3531 The lustes of his herte he suieth, 4,3532 And sche for drede schame eschuieth, 4,3533 And as sche scholde, tok good hiede 4,3534 To save and kepe hir wommanhiede. 4,3535 And thus the thing stod in debat 4,3536 Betwen his lust and hire astat: 4,3537 He yaf, he sende, he spak be mouthe, 4,3538 Bot yit for oght that evere he couthe 4,3539 Unto his sped he fond no weie, 4,3540 So that he caste his hope aweie, 4,3541 Withinne his herte and gan despeire 4,3542 Fro dai to dai, and so empeire, 4,3543 That he hath lost al his delit 4,3544 Of lust, of Slep, of Appetit, 4,3545 That he thurgh strengthe of love lasseth 4,3546 His wit, and resoun overpasseth. 4,3547 As he which of his lif ne rowhte, 4,3548 His deth upon himself he sowhte, 4,3549 So that be nyhte his weie he nam, 4,3550 Ther wiste non wher he becam; 4,3551 The nyht was derk, ther schon no Mone, 4,3552 Tofore the gates he cam sone, 4,3553 Wher that this yonge Maiden was, 4,3554 And with this wofull word, "Helas]" 4,3555 Hise dedli pleintes he began 4,3556 So stille that ther was noman 4,3557 It herde, and thanne he seide thus: 4,3558 "O thou Cupide, o thou Venus, 4,3559 Fortuned be whos ordinaunce 4,3560 Of love is every mannes chaunce, 4,3561 Ye knowen al min hole herte, 4,3562 That I ne mai your hond asterte; 4,3563 On you is evere that I crie, 4,3564 And yit you deigneth noght to plie, 4,3565 Ne toward me youre Ere encline. 4,3566 Thus for I se no medicine 4,3567 To make an ende of mi querele, 4,3568 My deth schal be in stede of hele. 4,3569 Ha, thou mi wofull ladi diere, 4,3570 Which duellest with thi fader hiere 4,3571 And slepest in thi bedd at ese, 4,3572 Thou wost nothing of my desese, 4,3573 Hou thou and I be now unmete. 4,3574 Ha lord, what swevene schalt thou mete, 4,3575 What dremes hast thou nou on honde? 4,3576 Thou slepest there, and I hier stonde. 4,3577 Thogh I no deth to the deserve, 4,3578 Hier schal I for thi love sterve, 4,3579 Hier schal a kinges Sone dye 4,3580 For love and for no felonie; 4,3581 Wher thou therof have joie or sorwe, 4,3582 Hier schalt thou se me ded tomorwe. 4,3583 O herte hard aboven alle, 4,3584 This deth, which schal to me befalle 4,3585 For that thou wolt noght do me grace, 4,3586 Yit schal be told in many a place, 4,3587 Hou I am ded for love and trouthe 4,3588 In thi defalte and in thi slouthe: 4,3589 Thi Daunger schal to manye mo 4,3590 Ensample be for everemo, 4,3591 Whan thei my wofull deth recorde." 4,3592 And with that word he tok a Corde, 4,3593 With which upon the gate tre 4,3594 He hyng himself, that was pite. 4,3595 The morwe cam, the nyht is gon, 4,3596 Men comen out and syhe anon 4,3597 Wher that this yonge lord was ded: 4,3598 Ther was an hous withoute red, 4,3599 For noman knew the cause why; 4,3600 Ther was wepinge and ther was cry. 4,3601 This Maiden, whan that sche it herde, 4,3602 And sih this thing hou it misferde, 4,3603 Anon sche wiste what it mente, 4,3604 And al the cause hou it wente 4,3605 To al the world sche tolde it oute, 4,3606 And preith to hem that were aboute 4,3607 To take of hire the vengance, 4,3608 For sche was cause of thilke chaunce, 4,3609 Why that this kinges Sone is spilt. 4,3610 Sche takth upon hirself the gilt, 4,3611 And is al redi to the peine 4,3612 Which eny man hir wole ordeigne: 4,3613 And bot if eny other wolde, 4,3614 Sche seith that sche hirselve scholde 4,3615 Do wreche with hire oghne hond, 4,3616 Thurghout the world in every lond 4,3617 That every lif therof schal speke, 4,3618 Hou sche hirself it scholde wreke. 4,3619 Sche wepth, sche crith, sche swouneth ofte, 4,3620 Sche caste hire yhen up alofte 4,3621 And seide among ful pitously: 4,3622 "A godd, thou wost wel it am I, 4,3623 For whom Iphis is thus besein: 4,3624 Ordeine so, that men mai sein 4,3625 A thousend wynter after this, 4,3626 Hou such a Maiden dede amis, 4,3627 And as I dede, do to me: 4,3628 For I ne dede no pite 4,3629 To him, which for mi love is lore, 4,3630 Do no pite to me therfore." 4,3631 And with this word sche fell to grounde 4,3632 Aswoune, and ther sche lay a stounde. 4,3633 The goddes, whiche hir pleigntes herde 4,3634 And syhe hou wofully sche ferde, 4,3635 Hire lif thei toke awey anon, 4,3636 And schopen hire into a Ston 4,3637 After the forme of hire ymage 4,3638 Of bodi bothe and of visage. 4,3639 And for the merveile of this thing 4,3640 Unto the place cam the king 4,3641 And ek the queene and manye mo; 4,3642 And whan thei wisten it was so, 4,3643 As I have told it hier above, 4,3644 Hou that Iphis was ded for love, 4,3645 Of that he hadde be refused, 4,3646 Thei hielden alle men excused 4,3647 And wondren upon the vengance. 4,3648 And forto kepe in remembrance, 4,3649 This faire ymage mayden liche 4,3650 With compaignie noble and riche 4,3651 With torche and gret sollempnite 4,3652 To Salamyne the Cite 4,3653 Thei lede, and carie forth withal 4,3654 The dede corps, and sein it schal 4,3655 Beside thilke ymage have 4,3656 His sepulture and be begrave: 4,3657 This corps and this ymage thus 4,3658 Into the Cite to Venus, 4,3659 Wher that goddesse hire temple hadde, 4,3660 Togedre bothe tuo thei ladde. 4,3661 This ilke ymage as for miracle 4,3662 Was set upon an hyh pinacle, 4,3663 That alle men it mihte knowe, 4,3664 And under that thei maden lowe 4,3665 A tumbe riche for the nones 4,3666 Of marbre and ek of jaspre stones, 4,3667 Wherin this Iphis was beloken, 4,3668 That evermor it schal be spoken. 4,3669 And for men schal the sothe wite, 4,3670 Thei have here epitaphe write, 4,3671 As thing which scholde abide stable: 4,3672 The lettres graven in a table 4,3673 Of marbre were and seiden this: 4,3674 "Hier lith, which slowh himself, Iphis, 4,3675 For love of Araxarathen: 4,3676 And in ensample of tho wommen, 4,3677 That soffren men to deie so, 4,3678 Hire forme a man mai sen also, 4,3679 Hou it is torned fleissh and bon 4,3680 Into the figure of a Ston: 4,3681 He was to neysshe and sche to hard. 4,3682 Be war forthi hierafterward; 4,3683 Ye men and wommen bothe tuo, 4,3684 Ensampleth you of that was tho." 4,3685 Lo thus, mi Sone, as I thee seie, 4,3686 It grieveth be diverse weie 4,3687 In desespeir a man to falle, 4,3688 Which is the laste branche of alle 4,3689 Of Slouthe, as thou hast herd devise. 4,3690 Wherof that thou thiself avise 4,3691 Good is, er that thou be deceived, 4,3692 Wher that the grace of hope is weyved. 4,3693 Mi fader, hou so that it stonde, 4,3694 Now have I pleinly understonde 4,3695 Of Slouthes court the proprete, 4,3696 Wherof touchende in my degre 4,3697 For evere I thenke to be war. 4,3698 Bot overthis, so as I dar, 4,3699 With al min herte I you beseche, 4,3700 That ye me wolde enforme and teche 4,3701 What ther is more of youre aprise 4,3702 In love als wel as otherwise, 4,3703 So that I mai me clene schryve. 4,3704 Mi Sone, whyl thou art alyve 4,3705 And hast also thi fulle mynde, 4,3706 Among the vices whiche I finde 4,3707 Ther is yit on such of the sevene, 4,3708 Which al this world hath set unevene 4,3709 And causeth manye thinges wronge, 4,3710 Where he the cause hath underfonge: 4,3711 Wherof hierafter thou schalt hiere 4,3712 The forme bothe and the matiere. 5, 1 Ferst whan the hyhe god began 5, 2 This world, and that the kinde of man 5, 3 Was falle into no gret encress, 5, 4 For worldes good tho was no press, 5, 5 Bot al was set to the comune. 5, 6 Thei spieken thanne of no fortune 5, 7 Or forto lese or forto winne, 5, 8 Til Avarice broghte it inne; 5, 9 And that was whan the world was woxe 5, 10 Of man, of hors, of Schep, of Oxe, 5, 11 And that men knewen the moneie. 5, 12 Tho wente pes out of the weie 5, 13 And werre cam on every side, 5, 14 Which alle love leide aside 5, 15 And of comun his propre made, 5, 16 So that in stede of schovele and spade 5, 17 The scharpe swerd was take on honde; 5, 18 And in this wise it cam to londe, 5, 19 Wherof men maden dyches depe 5, 20 And hyhe walles forto kepe 5, 21 The gold which Avarice encloseth. 5, 22 Bot al to lytel him supposeth, 5, 23 Thogh he mihte al the world pourchace; 5, 24 For what thing that he may embrace 5, 25 Of gold, of catel or of lond, 5, 26 He let it nevere out of his hond, 5, 27 Bot get him more and halt it faste, 5, 28 As thogh the world scholde evere laste. 5, 29 So is he lych unto the helle; 5, 30 For as these olde bokes telle, 5, 31 What comth therinne, lasse or more, 5, 32 It schal departe neveremore: 5, 33 Thus whanne he hath his cofre loken, 5, 34 It schal noght after ben unstoken, 5, 35 Bot whanne him list to have a syhte 5, 36 Of gold, hou that it schyneth brihte, 5, 37 That he ther on mai loke and muse; 5, 38 For otherwise he dar noght use 5, 39 To take his part, or lasse or more. 5, 40 So is he povere, and everemore 5, 41 Him lacketh that he hath ynowh: 5, 42 An Oxe draweth in the plowh, 5, 43 Of that himself hath no profit; 5, 44 A Schep riht in the same plit 5, 45 His wolle berth, bot on a day 5, 46 An other takth the flees away: 5, 47 Thus hath he, that he noght ne hath, 5, 48 For he therof his part ne tath. 5, 49 To seie hou such a man hath good, 5, 50 Who so that reson understod, 5, 51 It is impropreliche seid, 5, 52 For good hath him and halt him teid, 5, 53 That he ne gladeth noght withal, 5, 54 Bot is unto his good a thral, 5, 55 And as soubgit thus serveth he, 5, 56 Wher that he scholde maister be: 5, 57 Such is the kinde of thaverous. 5, 58 Mi Sone, as thou art amerous, 5, 59 Tell if thou farst of love so. 5, 60 Mi fader, as it semeth, no; 5, 61 That averous yit nevere I was, 5, 62 So as ye setten me the cas: 5, 63 For as ye tolden here above, 5, 64 In full possession of love 5, 65 Yit was I nevere hier tofore, 5, 66 So that me thenketh wel therfore, 5, 67 I mai excuse wel my dede. 5, 68 Bot of mi will withoute drede, 5, 69 If I that tresor mihte gete, 5, 70 It scholde nevere be foryete, 5, 71 That I ne wolde it faste holde, 5, 72 Til god of love himselve wolde 5, 73 That deth ous scholde part atuo. 5, 74 For lieveth wel, I love hire so, 5, 75 That evene with min oghne lif, 5, 76 If I that swete lusti wif 5, 77 Mihte ones welden at my wille, 5, 78 For evere I wolde hire holde stille: 5, 79 And in this wise, taketh kepe, 5, 80 If I hire hadde, I wolde hire kepe, 5, 81 And yit no friday wolde I faste, 5, 82 Thogh I hire kepte and hielde faste. 5, 83 Fy on the bagges in the kiste] 5, 84 I hadde ynogh, if I hire kiste. 5, 85 For certes, if sche were myn, 5, 86 I hadde hir levere than a Myn 5, 87 Of Gold; for al this worldesriche 5, 88 Ne mihte make me so riche 5, 89 As sche, that is so inly good. 5, 90 I sette noght of other good; 5, 91 For mihte I gete such a thing, 5, 92 I hadde a tresor for a king; 5, 93 And thogh I wolde it faste holde, 5, 94 I were thanne wel beholde. 5, 95 Bot I mot pipe nou with lasse, 5, 96 And suffre that it overpasse, 5, 97 Noght with mi will, for thus I wolde 5, 98 Ben averous, if that I scholde. 5, 99 Bot, fader, I you herde seie 5, 100 Hou thaverous hath yit som weie, 5, 101 Wherof he mai be glad; for he 5, 102 Mai whanne him list his tresor se, 5, 103 And grope and fiele it al aboute, 5, 104 Bot I fulofte am schet theroute, 5, 105 Ther as my worthi tresor is. 5, 106 So is mi lif lich unto this, 5, 107 That ye me tolden hier tofore, 5, 108 Hou that an Oxe his yock hath bore 5, 109 For thing that scholde him noght availe: 5, 110 And in this wise I me travaile; 5, 111 For who that evere hath the welfare, 5, 112 I wot wel that I have the care, 5, 113 For I am hadd and noght ne have, 5, 114 And am, as who seith, loves knave. 5, 115 Nou demeth in youre oghne thoght, 5, 116 If this be Avarice or noght. 5, 117 Mi Sone, I have of thee no wonder, 5, 118 Thogh thou to serve be put under 5, 119 With love, which to kinde acordeth: 5, 120 Bot, so as every bok recordeth, 5, 121 It is to kinde no plesance 5, 122 That man above his sustienance 5, 123 Unto the gold schal serve and bowe, 5, 124 For that mai no reson avowe. 5, 125 Bot Avarice natheles, 5, 126 If he mai geten his encress 5, 127 Of gold, that wole he serve and kepe, 5, 128 For he takth of noght elles kepe, 5, 129 Bot forto fille hise bagges large; 5, 130 And al is to him bot a charge, 5, 131 For he ne parteth noght withal, 5, 132 Bot kepth it, as a servant schal: 5, 133 And thus, thogh that he multeplie 5, 134 His gold, withoute tresorie 5, 135 He is, for man is noght amended 5, 136 With gold, bot if it be despended 5, 137 To mannes us; wherof I rede 5, 138 A tale, and tak therof good hiede, 5, 139 Of that befell be olde tyde, 5, 140 As telleth ous the clerk Ovide. 5, 141 Bachus, which is the god of wyn, 5, 142 Acordant unto his divin 5, 143 A Prest, the which Cillenus hihte, 5, 144 He hadde, and fell so that be nyhte 5, 145 This Prest was drunke and goth astraied, 5, 146 Wherof the men were evele apaied 5, 147 In Frigelond, where as he wente. 5, 148 Bot ate laste a cherl him hente 5, 149 With strengthe of other felaschipe, 5, 150 So that upon his drunkeschipe 5, 151 Thei bounden him with chenes faste, 5, 152 And forth thei ladde him als so faste 5, 153 Unto the king, which hihte Myde. 5, 154 Bot he, that wolde his vice hyde, 5, 155 This courteis king, tok of him hiede, 5, 156 And bad that men him scholde lede 5, 157 Into a chambre forto kepe, 5, 158 Til he of leisir hadde slepe. 5, 159 And tho this Prest was sone unbounde, 5, 160 And up a couche fro the grounde 5, 161 To slepe he was leid softe ynowh; 5, 162 And whanne he wok, the king him drowh 5, 163 To his presence and dede him chiere, 5, 164 So that this Prest in such manere, 5, 165 Whil that him liketh, there he duelleth: 5, 166 And al this he to Bachus telleth, 5, 167 Whan that he cam to him ayein. 5, 168 And whan that Bachus herde sein 5, 169 How Mide hath don his courtesie, 5, 170 Him thenkth it were a vilenie, 5, 171 Bot he rewarde him for his dede, 5, 172 So as he mihte of his godhiede. 5, 173 Unto this king this god appiereth 5, 174 And clepeth, and that other hiereth: 5, 175 This god to Mide thonketh faire 5, 176 Of that he was so debonaire 5, 177 Toward his Prest, and bad him seie: 5, 178 What thing it were he wolde preie, 5, 179 He scholde it have, of worldes good. 5, 180 This king was glad, and stille stod, 5, 181 And was of his axinge in doute, 5, 182 And al the world he caste aboute, 5, 183 What thing was best for his astat, 5, 184 And with himself stod in debat 5, 185 Upon thre pointz, the whiche I finde 5, 186 Ben lievest unto mannes kinde. 5, 187 The ferste of hem it is delit, 5, 188 The tuo ben worschipe and profit. 5, 189 And thanne he thoghte, "If that I crave 5, 190 Delit, thogh I delit mai have, 5, 191 Delit schal passen in myn age: 5, 192 That is no siker avantage, 5, 193 For every joie bodily 5, 194 Schal ende in wo: delit forthi 5, 195 Wol I noght chese. And if worschipe 5, 196 I axe and of the world lordschipe, 5, 197 That is an occupacion 5, 198 Of proud ymaginacion, 5, 199 Which makth an herte vein withinne; 5, 200 Ther is no certain forto winne, 5, 201 For lord and knave al is o weie, 5, 202 Whan thei be bore and whan thei deie. 5, 203 And if I profit axe wolde, 5, 204 I not in what manere I scholde 5, 205 Of worldes good have sikernesse; 5, 206 For every thief upon richesse 5, 207 Awaiteth forto robbe and stele: 5, 208 Such good is cause of harmes fele. 5, 209 And also, thogh a man at ones 5, 210 Of al the world withinne his wones 5, 211 The tresor myhte have everydel, 5, 212 Yit hadde he bot o mannes del 5, 213 Toward himself, so as I thinke, 5, 214 Of clothinge and of mete and drinke, 5, 215 For more, outake vanite, 5, 216 Ther hath no lord in his degre." 5, 217 And thus upon the pointz diverse 5, 218 Diverseliche he gan reherce 5, 219 What point him thoghte for the beste; 5, 220 Bot pleinly forto gete him reste 5, 221 He can so siker weie caste. 5, 222 And natheles yit ate laste 5, 223 He fell upon the coveitise 5, 224 Of gold; and thanne in sondri wise 5, 225 He thoghte, as I have seid tofore, 5, 226 Hou tresor mai be sone lore, 5, 227 And hadde an inly gret desir 5, 228 Touchende of such recoverir, 5, 229 Hou that he mihte his cause availe 5, 230 To gete him gold withoute faile. 5, 231 Withinne his herte and thus he preiseth 5, 232 The gold, and seith hou that it peiseth 5, 233 Above al other metall most: 5, 234 "The gold," he seith, "may lede an host 5, 235 To make werre ayein a King; 5, 236 The gold put under alle thing, 5, 237 And set it whan him list above; 5, 238 The gold can make of hate love 5, 239 And werre of pes and ryht of wrong, 5, 240 And long to schort and schort to long; 5, 241 Withoute gold mai be no feste, 5, 242 Gold is the lord of man and beste, 5, 243 And mai hem bothe beie and selle; 5, 244 So that a man mai sothly telle 5, 245 That al the world to gold obeieth." 5, 246 Forthi this king to Bachus preieth 5, 247 To grante him gold, bot he excedeth 5, 248 Mesure more than him nedeth. 5, 249 Men tellen that the maladie 5, 250 Which cleped is ydropesie 5, 251 Resembled is unto this vice 5, 252 Be weie of kinde of Avarice: 5, 253 The more ydropesie drinketh, 5, 254 The more him thursteth, for him thinketh 5, 255 That he mai nevere drinke his fille; 5, 256 So that ther mai nothing fulfille 5, 257 The lustes of his appetit: 5, 258 And riht in such a maner plit 5, 259 Stant Avarice and evere stod; 5, 260 The more he hath of worldes good, 5, 261 The more he wolde it kepe streyte, 5, 262 And evere mor and mor coveite. 5, 263 And riht in such condicioun 5, 264 Withoute good discrecioun 5, 265 This king with avarice is smite, 5, 266 That al the world it myhte wite: 5, 267 For he to Bachus thanne preide, 5, 268 That wherupon his hond he leide, 5, 269 It scholde thurgh his touche anon 5, 270 Become gold, and therupon 5, 271 This god him granteth as he bad. 5, 272 Tho was this king of Frige glad, 5, 273 And forto put it in assai 5, 274 With al the haste that he mai, 5, 275 He toucheth that, he toucheth this, 5, 276 And in his hond al gold it is, 5, 277 The Ston, the Tree, the Lef, the gras, 5, 278 The flour, the fruit, al gold it was. 5, 279 Thus toucheth he, whil he mai laste 5, 280 To go, bot hunger ate laste 5, 281 Him tok, so that he moste nede 5, 282 Be weie of kinde his hunger fede. 5, 283 The cloth was leid, the bord was set, 5, 284 And al was forth tofore him fet, 5, 285 His disch, his coppe, his drinke, his mete; 5, 286 Bot whanne he wolde or drinke or ete, 5, 287 Anon as it his mouth cam nyh, 5, 288 It was al gold, and thanne he syh 5, 289 Of Avarice the folie. 5, 290 And he with that began to crie, 5, 291 And preide Bachus to foryive 5, 292 His gilt, and soffre him forto live 5, 293 And be such as he was tofore, 5, 294 So that he were not forlore. 5, 295 This god, which herde of his grevance, 5, 296 Tok rowthe upon his repentance, 5, 297 And bad him go forth redily 5, 298 Unto a flod was faste by, 5, 299 Which Paceole thanne hyhte, 5, 300 In which as clene as evere he myhte 5, 301 He scholde him waisshen overal, 5, 302 And seide him thanne that he schal 5, 303 Recovere his ferste astat ayein. 5, 304 This king, riht as he herde sein, 5, 305 Into the flod goth fro the lond, 5, 306 And wissh him bothe fot and hond, 5, 307 And so forth al the remenant, 5, 308 As him was set in covenant: 5, 309 And thanne he syh merveilles strange, 5, 310 The flod his colour gan to change, 5, 311 The gravel with the smale Stones 5, 312 To gold thei torne bothe at ones, 5, 313 And he was quit of that he hadde, 5, 314 And thus fortune his chance ladde. 5, 315 And whan he sih his touche aweie, 5, 316 He goth him hom the rihte weie 5, 317 And liveth forth as he dede er, 5, 318 And putte al Avarice afer, 5, 319 And the richesse of gold despiseth, 5, 320 And seith that mete and cloth sufficeth. 5, 321 Thus hath this king experience 5, 322 Hou foles don the reverence 5, 323 To gold, which of his oghne kinde 5, 324 Is lasse worth than is the rinde 5, 325 To sustienance of mannes fode; 5, 326 And thanne he made lawes goode 5, 327 And al his thing sette upon skile: 5, 328 He bad his poeple forto tile 5, 329 Here lond, and live under the lawe, 5, 330 And that thei scholde also forthdrawe 5, 331 Bestaile, and seche non encress 5, 332 Of gold, which is the breche of pes. 5, 333 For this a man mai finde write, 5, 334 Tofor the time, er gold was smite 5, 335 In Coign, that men the florin knewe, 5, 336 Ther was welnyh noman untrewe; 5, 337 Tho was ther nouther schield ne spere 5, 338 Ne dedly wepne forto bere; 5, 339 Tho was the toun withoute wal, 5, 340 Which nou is closed overal; 5, 341 Tho was ther no brocage in londe, 5, 342 Which nou takth every cause on honde: 5, 343 So mai men knowe, hou the florin 5, 344 Was moder ferst of malengin 5, 345 And bringere inne of alle werre, 5, 346 Wherof this world stant out of herre 5, 347 Thurgh the conseil of Avarice, 5, 348 Which of his oghne propre vice 5, 349 Is as the helle wonderfull; 5, 350 For it mai neveremor be full, 5, 351 That what as evere comth therinne, 5, 352 Awey ne may it nevere winne. 5, 353 Bot Sone myn, do thou noght so, 5, 354 Let al such Avarice go, 5, 355 And tak thi part of that thou hast: 5, 356 I bidde noght that thou do wast, 5, 357 Bot hold largesce in his mesure; 5, 358 And if thou se a creature, 5, 359 Which thurgh poverte is falle in nede, 5, 360 Yif him som good, for this I rede 5, 361 To him that wol noght yiven here, 5, 362 What peine he schal have elleswhere. 5, 363 Ther is a peine amonges alle 5, 364 Benethe in helle, which men calle 5, 365 The wofull peine of Tantaly, 5, 366 Of which I schal thee redely 5, 367 Devise hou men therinne stonde. 5, 368 In helle, thou schalt understonde, 5, 369 Ther is a flod of thilke office, 5, 370 Which serveth al for Avarice: 5, 371 What man that stonde schal therinne, 5, 372 He stant up evene unto the chinne; 5, 373 Above his hed also ther hongeth 5, 374 A fruyt, which to that peine longeth, 5, 375 And that fruit toucheth evere in on 5, 376 His overlippe: and therupon 5, 377 Swich thurst and hunger him assaileth, 5, 378 That nevere his appetit ne faileth. 5, 379 Bot whanne he wolde his hunger fede, 5, 380 The fruit withdrawth him ate nede, 5, 381 And thogh he heve his hed on hyh, 5, 382 The fruit is evere aliche nyh, 5, 383 So is the hunger wel the more: 5, 384 And also, thogh him thurste sore 5, 385 And to the water bowe a doun, 5, 386 The flod in such condicioun 5, 387 Avaleth, that his drinke areche 5, 388 He mai noght. Lo nou, which a wreche, 5, 389 That mete and drinke is him so couth, 5, 390 And yit ther comth non in his mouth] 5, 391 Lich to the peines of this flod 5, 392 Stant Avarice in worldes good: 5, 393 He hath ynowh and yit him nedeth, 5, 394 For his skarsnesse it him forbiedeth, 5, 395 And evere his hunger after more 5, 396 Travaileth him aliche sore, 5, 397 So is he peined overal. 5, 398 Forthi thi goodes forth withal, 5, 399 Mi Sone, loke thou despende, 5, 400 Wherof thou myht thiself amende 5, 401 Bothe hier and ek in other place. 5, 402 And also if thou wolt pourchace 5, 403 To be beloved, thou most use 5, 404 Largesce, for if thou refuse 5, 405 To yive for thi loves sake, 5, 406 It is no reson that thou take 5, 407 Of love that thou woldest crave. 5, 408 Forthi, if thou wolt grace have, 5, 409 Be gracious and do largesse, 5, 410 Of Avarice and the seknesse 5, 411 Eschuie above alle other thing, 5, 412 And tak ensample of Mide king 5, 413 And of the flod of helle also, 5, 414 Where is ynowh of alle wo. 5, 415 And thogh ther were no matiere 5, 416 Bot only that we finden hiere, 5, 417 Men oghten Avarice eschuie; 5, 418 For what man thilke vice suie, 5, 419 He get himself bot litel reste. 5, 420 For hou so that the body reste, 5, 421 The herte upon the gold travaileth, 5, 422 Whom many a nyhtes drede assaileth; 5, 423 For thogh he ligge abedde naked, 5, 424 His herte is everemore awaked, 5, 425 And dremeth, as he lith to slepe, 5, 426 How besi that he is to kepe 5, 427 His tresor, that no thief it stele. 5, 428 Thus hath he bot a woful wele. 5, 429 And riht so in the same wise, 5, 430 If thou thiself wolt wel avise, 5, 431 Ther be lovers of suche ynowe, 5, 432 That wole unto no reson bowe. 5, 433 If so be that thei come above, 5, 434 Whan thei ben maistres of here love, 5, 435 And that thei scholden be most glad, 5, 436 With love thei ben most bestad, 5, 437 So fain thei wolde it holden al. 5, 438 Here herte, here yhe is overal, 5, 439 And wenen every man be thief, 5, 440 To stele awey that hem is lief; 5, 441 Thus thurgh here oghne fantasie 5, 442 Thei fallen into Jelousie. 5, 443 Thanne hath the Schip tobroke his cable, 5, 444 With every wynd and is muable. 5, 445 Mi fader, for that ye nou telle, 5, 446 I have herd ofte time telle 5, 447 Of Jelousie, bot what it is 5, 448 Yit understod I nevere er this: 5, 449 Wherfore I wolde you beseche, 5, 450 That ye me wolde enforme and teche 5, 451 What maner thing it mihte be. 5, 452 Mi Sone, that is hard to me: 5, 453 Bot natheles, as I have herd, 5, 454 Now herkne and thou schalt ben ansuerd. 5, 455 Among the men lacke of manhode 5, 456 In Mariage upon wifhode 5, 457 Makth that a man himself deceiveth, 5, 458 Wherof it is that he conceiveth 5, 459 That ilke unsely maladie, 5, 460 The which is cleped Jelousie: 5, 461 Of which if I the proprete 5, 462 Schal telle after the nycete, 5, 463 So as it worcheth on a man, 5, 464 A Fievere it is cotidian, 5, 465 Which every day wol come aboute, 5, 466 Wher so a man be inne or oute. 5, 467 At hom if that a man wol wone, 5, 468 This Fievere is thanne of comun wone 5, 469 Most grevous in a mannes yhe: 5, 470 For thanne he makth him tote and pryhe, 5, 471 Wher so as evere his love go; 5, 472 Sche schal noght with hir litel too 5, 473 Misteppe, bot he se it al. 5, 474 His yhe is walkende overal; 5, 475 Wher that sche singe or that sche dance, 5, 476 He seth the leste contienance, 5, 477 If sche loke on a man aside 5, 478 Or with him roune at eny tyde, 5, 479 Or that sche lawghe, or that sche loure, 5, 480 His yhe is ther at every houre. 5, 481 And whanne it draweth to the nyht, 5, 482 If sche thanne is withoute lyht, 5, 483 Anon is al the game schent; 5, 484 For thanne he set his parlement 5, 485 To speke it whan he comth to bedde, 5, 486 And seith, "If I were now to wedde, 5, 487 I wolde neveremore have wif." 5, 488 And so he torneth into strif 5, 489 The lust of loves duete, 5, 490 And al upon diversete. 5, 491 If sche be freissh and wel araied, 5, 492 He seith hir baner is displaied 5, 493 To clepe in gestes fro the weie: 5, 494 And if sche be noght wel beseie, 5, 495 And that hir list noght to be gladd, 5, 496 He berth an hond that sche is madd 5, 497 And loveth noght hire housebonde; 5, 498 He seith he mai wel understonde, 5, 499 That if sche wolde his compaignie, 5, 500 Sche scholde thanne afore his yµe 5, 501 Schewe al the plesir that sche mihte. 5, 502 So that be daie ne be nyhte 5, 503 Sche not what thing is for the beste, 5, 504 Bot liveth out of alle reste; 5, 505 For what as evere him liste sein, 5, 506 Sche dar noght speke a word ayein, 5, 507 Bot wepth and holt hire lippes clos. 5, 508 Sche mai wel wryte, "Sanz repos," 5, 509 The wif which is to such on maried. 5, 510 Of alle wommen be he waried, 5, 511 For with this Fievere of Jalousie 5, 512 His echedaies fantasie 5, 513 Of sorghe is evere aliche grene, 5, 514 So that ther is no love sene, 5, 515 Whil that him list at hom abyde. 5, 516 And whan so is he wol out ryde, 5, 517 Thanne hath he redi his aspie 5, 518 Abidinge in hir compaignie, 5, 519 A janglere, an evel mouthed oon, 5, 520 That sche ne mai nowhider gon, 5, 521 Ne speke a word, ne ones loke, 5, 522 That he ne wol it wende and croke 5, 523 And torne after his oghne entente, 5, 524 Thogh sche nothing bot honour mente. 5, 525 Whan that the lord comth hom ayein, 5, 526 The janglere moste somwhat sein; 5, 527 So what withoute and what withinne, 5, 528 This Fievere is evere to beginne, 5, 529 For where he comth he can noght ende, 5, 530 Til deth of him have mad an ende. 5, 531 For thogh so be that he ne hiere 5, 532 Ne se ne wite in no manere 5, 533 Bot al honour and wommanhiede, 5, 534 Therof the Jelous takth non hiede, 5, 535 Bot as a man to love unkinde, 5, 536 He cast his staf, as doth the blinde, 5, 537 And fint defaulte where is non; 5, 538 As who so dremeth on a Ston 5, 539 Hou he is leid, and groneth ofte, 5, 540 Whan he lith on his pilwes softe. 5, 541 So is ther noght bot strif and cheste; 5, 542 Whan love scholde make his feste, 5, 543 It is gret thing if he hir kisse: 5, 544 Thus hath sche lost the nyhtes blisse, 5, 545 For at such time he gruccheth evere 5, 546 And berth on hond ther is a levere, 5, 547 And that sche wolde an other were 5, 548 In stede of him abedde there; 5, 549 And with tho wordes and with mo 5, 550 Of Jelousie, he torneth fro 5, 551 And lith upon his other side, 5, 552 And sche with that drawth hire aside, 5, 553 And ther sche wepeth al the nyht. 5, 554 Ha, to what peine sche is dyht, 5, 555 That in hire youthe hath so beset 5, 556 The bond which mai noght ben unknet] 5, 557 I wot the time is ofte cursed, 5, 558 That evere was the gold unpursed, 5, 559 The which was leid upon the bok, 5, 560 Whan that alle othre sche forsok 5, 561 For love of him; bot al to late 5, 562 Sche pleigneth, for as thanne algate 5, 563 Sche mot forbere and to him bowe, 5, 564 Thogh he ne wole it noght allowe. 5, 565 For man is lord of thilke feire, 5, 566 So mai the womman bot empeire, 5, 567 If sche speke oght ayein his wille; 5, 568 And thus sche berth hir peine stille. 5, 569 Bot if this Fievere a womman take, 5, 570 Sche schal be wel mor harde schake; 5, 571 For thogh sche bothe se and hiere, 5, 572 And finde that ther is matiere, 5, 573 Sche dar bot to hirselve pleine, 5, 574 And thus sche suffreth double peine. 5, 575 Lo thus, mi Sone, as I have write, 5, 576 Thou miht of Jelousie wite 5, 577 His fievere and his condicion, 5, 578 Which is full of suspecion. 5, 579 Bot wherof that this fievere groweth, 5, 580 Who so these olde bokes troweth, 5, 581 Ther mai he finden hou it is: 5, 582 For thei ous teche and telle this, 5, 583 Hou that this fievere of Jelousie 5, 584 Somdel it groweth of sotie 5, 585 Of love, and somdiel of untrust. 5, 586 For as a sek man lest his lust, 5, 587 And whan he may no savour gete, 5, 588 He hateth thanne his oughne mete, 5, 589 Riht so this fieverous maladie, 5, 590 Which caused is of fantasie, 5, 591 Makth the Jelous in fieble plit 5, 592 To lese of love his appetit 5, 593 Thurgh feigned enformacion 5, 594 Of his ymaginacion. 5, 595 Bot finali to taken hiede, 5, 596 Men mai wel make a liklihiede 5, 597 Betwen him which is averous 5, 598 Of gold and him that is jelous 5, 599 Of love, for in on degre 5, 600 Thei stonde bothe, as semeth me. 5, 601 That oon wolde have his bagges stille, 5, 602 And noght departen with his wille, 5, 603 And dar noght for the thieves slepe, 5, 604 So fain he wolde his tresor kepe; 5, 605 That other mai noght wel be glad, 5, 606 For he is evere more adrad 5, 607 Of these lovers that gon aboute, 5, 608 In aunter if thei putte him oute. 5, 609 So have thei bothe litel joye 5, 610 As wel of love as of monoie. 5, 611 Now hast thou, Sone, at my techinge 5, 612 Of Jelousie a knowlechinge, 5, 613 That thou myht understonde this, 5, 614 Fro whenne he comth and what he is, 5, 615 And ek to whom that he is lik. 5, 616 Be war forthi thou be noght sik 5, 617 Of thilke fievere as I have spoke, 5, 618 For it wol in himself be wroke. 5, 619 For love hateth nothing more, 5, 620 As men mai finde be the lore 5, 621 Of hem that whilom were wise, 5, 622 Hou that thei spieke in many wise. 5, 623 Mi fader, soth is that ye sein. 5, 624 Bot forto loke therayein, 5, 625 Befor this time hou it is falle, 5, 626 Wherof ther mihte ensample falle 5, 627 To suche men as be jelous 5, 628 In what manere it is grevous, 5, 629 Riht fain I wolde ensample hiere. 5, 630 My goode Sone, at thi preiere 5, 631 Of suche ensamples as I finde, 5, 632 So as thei comen nou to mynde 5, 633 Upon this point, of time gon 5, 634 I thenke forto tellen on. 5, 635 Ovide wrot of manye thinges, 5, 636 Among the whiche in his wrytinges 5, 637 He tolde a tale in Poesie, 5, 638 Which toucheth unto Jelousie, 5, 639 Upon a certein cas of love. 5, 640 Among the goddes alle above 5, 641 It fell at thilke time thus: 5, 642 The god of fyr, which Vulcanus 5, 643 Is hote, and hath a craft forthwith 5, 644 Assigned, forto be the Smith 5, 645 Of Jupiter, and his figure 5, 646 Bothe of visage and of stature 5, 647 Is lothly and malgracious, 5, 648 Bot yit he hath withinne his hous 5, 649 As for the likynge of his lif 5, 650 The faire Venus to his wif. 5, 651 Bot Mars, which of batailles is 5, 652 The god, an yhe hadde unto this: 5, 653 As he which was chivalerous, 5, 654 It fell him to ben amerous, 5, 655 And thoghte it was a gret pite 5, 656 To se so lusti on as sche 5, 657 Be coupled with so lourde a wiht: 5, 658 So that his peine day and nyht 5, 659 He dede, if he hire winne myhte; 5, 660 And sche, which hadde a good insihte 5, 661 Toward so noble a knyhtli lord, 5, 662 In love fell of his acord. 5, 663 Ther lacketh noght bot time and place, 5, 664 That he nys siker of hire grace: 5, 665 Bot whan tuo hertes falle in on, 5, 666 So wys await was nevere non, 5, 667 That at som time thei ne mete; 5, 668 And thus this faire lusti swete 5, 669 With Mars hath ofte compaignie. 5, 670 Bot thilke unkynde Jelousie, 5, 671 Which everemor the herte opposeth, 5, 672 Makth Vulcanus that he supposeth 5, 673 That it is noght wel overal, 5, 674 And to himself he seide, he schal 5, 675 Aspie betre, if that he may; 5, 676 And so it fell upon a day, 5, 677 That he this thing so slyhli ledde, 5, 678 He fond hem bothe tuo abedde 5, 679 Al warm, echon with other naked. 5, 680 And he with craft al redy maked 5, 681 Of stronge chenes hath hem bounde, 5, 682 As he togedre hem hadde founde, 5, 683 And lefte hem bothe ligge so, 5, 684 And gan to clepe and crie tho 5, 685 Unto the goddes al aboute; 5, 686 And thei assembled in a route 5, 687 Come alle at ones forto se. 5, 688 Bot none amendes hadde he, 5, 689 Bot was rebuked hiere and there 5, 690 Of hem that loves frendes were; 5, 691 And seiden that he was to blame, 5, 692 For if ther fell him eny schame, 5, 693 It was thurgh his misgovernance: 5, 694 And thus he loste contienance, 5, 695 This god, and let his cause falle; 5, 696 And thei to skorne him lowhen alle, 5, 697 And losen Mars out of hise bondes. 5, 698 Wherof these erthli housebondes 5, 699 For evere myhte ensample take, 5, 700 If such a chaunce hem overtake: 5, 701 For Vulcanus his wif bewreide, 5, 702 The blame upon himself he leide, 5, 703 Wherof his schame was the more; 5, 704 Which oghte forto ben a lore 5, 705 For every man that liveth hiere, 5, 706 To reulen him in this matiere. 5, 707 Thogh such an happ of love asterte, 5, 708 Yit scholde he noght apointe his herte 5, 709 With Jelousie of that is wroght, 5, 710 Bot feigne, as thogh he wiste it noght: 5, 711 For if he lete it overpasse, 5, 712 The sclaundre schal be wel the lasse, 5, 713 And he the more in ese stonde. 5, 714 For this thou myht wel understonde, 5, 715 That where a man schal nedes lese, 5, 716 The leste harm is forto chese. 5, 717 Bot Jelousie of his untrist 5, 718 Makth that full many an harm arist, 5, 719 Which elles scholde noght arise; 5, 720 And if a man him wolde avise 5, 721 Of that befell to Vulcanus, 5, 722 Him oghte of reson thenke thus, 5, 723 That sithe a god therof was schamed, 5, 724 Wel scholde an erthli man be blamed 5, 725 To take upon him such a vice. 5, 726 Forthi, my Sone, in thin office 5, 727 Be war that thou be noght jelous, 5, 728 Which ofte time hath schent the hous. 5, 729 Mi fader, this ensample is hard, 5, 730 Hou such thing to the heveneward 5, 731 Among the goddes myhte falle: 5, 732 For ther is bot o god of alle, 5, 733 Which is the lord of hevene and helle. 5, 734 Bot if it like you to telle 5, 735 Hou suche goddes come aplace, 5, 736 Ye mihten mochel thonk pourchace, 5, 737 For I schal be wel tawht withal. 5, 738 Mi Sone, it is thus overal 5, 739 With hem that stonden misbelieved, 5, 740 That suche goddes ben believed: 5, 741 In sondri place sondri wise 5, 742 Amonges hem whiche are unwise 5, 743 Ther is betaken of credence; 5, 744 Wherof that I the difference 5, 745 In the manere as it is write 5, 746 Schal do the pleinly forto wite. 5, 747 Er Crist was bore among ous hiere, 5, 748 Of the believes that tho were 5, 749 In foure formes thus it was. 5, 750 Thei of Caldee as in this cas 5, 751 Hadde a believe be hemselve, 5, 752 Which stod upon the signes tuelve, 5, 753 Forth ek with the Planetes sevene, 5, 754 Whiche as thei sihe upon the hevene. 5, 755 Of sondri constellacion 5, 756 In here ymaginacion 5, 757 With sondri kerf and pourtreture 5, 758 Thei made of goddes the figure. 5, 759 In thelementz and ek also 5, 760 Thei hadden a believe tho; 5, 761 And al was that unresonable: 5, 762 For thelementz ben servicable 5, 763 To man, and ofte of Accidence, 5, 764 As men mai se thexperience, 5, 765 Thei ben corrupt be sondri weie; 5, 766 So mai no mannes reson seie 5, 767 That thei ben god in eny wise. 5, 768 And ek, if men hem wel avise, 5, 769 The Sonne and Mone eclipse bothe, 5, 770 That be hem lieve or be hem lothe, 5, 771 Thei soffre; and what thing is passible 5, 772 To ben a god is impossible. 5, 773 These elementz ben creatures, 5, 774 So ben these hevenly figures, 5, 775 Wherof mai wel be justefied 5, 776 That thei mai noght be deified: 5, 777 And who that takth awey thonour 5, 778 Which due is to the creatour, 5, 779 And yifth it to the creature, 5, 780 He doth to gret a forsfaiture. 5, 781 Bot of Caldee natheles 5, 782 Upon this feith, thogh it be les, 5, 783 Thei holde affermed the creance; 5, 784 So that of helle the penance, 5, 785 As folk which stant out of believe, 5, 786 They schull receive, as we believe. 5, 787 Of the Caldeus lo in this wise 5, 788 Stant the believe out of assisse: 5, 789 Bot in Egipte worst of alle 5, 790 The feith is fals, hou so it falle; 5, 791 For thei diverse bestes there 5, 792 Honoure, as thogh thei goddes were: 5, 793 And natheles yit forth withal 5, 794 Thre goddes most in special 5, 795 Thei have, forth with a goddesse, 5, 796 In whom is al here sikernesse. 5, 797 Tho goddes be yit cleped thus, 5, 798 Orus, Typhon and Isirus: 5, 799 Thei were brethren alle thre, 5, 800 And the goddesse in hir degre 5, 801 Here Soster was and Ysis hyhte, 5, 802 Whom Isirus forlai be nyhte 5, 803 And hield hire after as his wif. 5, 804 So it befell that upon strif 5, 805 Typhon hath Isre his brother slain, 5, 806 Which hadde a child to Sone Orayn, 5, 807 And he his fader deth to herte 5, 808 So tok, that it mai noght asterte 5, 809 That he Typhon after ne slowh, 5, 810 Whan he was ripe of age ynowh. 5, 811 Bot yit thegipcienes trowe 5, 812 For al this errour, which thei knowe, 5, 813 That these brethren ben of myht 5, 814 To sette and kepe Egipte upriht, 5, 815 And overthrowe, if that hem like. 5, 816 Bot Ysis, as seith the Cronique, 5, 817 Fro Grece into Egipte cam, 5, 818 And sche thanne upon honde nam 5, 819 To teche hem forto sowe and eere, 5, 820 Which noman knew tofore there. 5, 821 And whan thegipcienes syhe 5, 822 The fieldes fulle afore here yhe, 5, 823 And that the lond began to greine, 5, 824 Which whilom hadde be bareigne,- 5, 825 For therthe bar after the kinde 5, 826 His due charge,- this I finde, 5, 827 That sche of berthe the goddesse 5, 828 Is cleped, so that in destresse 5, 829 The wommen there upon childinge 5, 830 To hire clepe, and here offringe 5, 831 Thei beren, whan that thei ben lyhte. 5, 832 Lo, hou Egipte al out of syhte 5, 833 Fro resoun stant in misbelieve 5, 834 For lacke of lore, as I believe. 5, 835 Among the Greks, out of the weie 5, 836 As thei that reson putte aweie, 5, 837 Ther was, as the Cronique seith, 5, 838 Of misbelieve an other feith, 5, 839 That thei here goddes and goddesses, 5, 840 As who seith, token al to gesses 5, 841 Of suche as weren full of vice, 5, 842 To whom thei made here sacrifice. 5, 843 The hihe god, so as thei seide, 5, 844 To whom thei most worschipe leide, 5, 845 Saturnus hihte, and king of Crete 5, 846 He hadde be; bot of his sete 5, 847 He was put doun, as he which stod 5, 848 In frenesie, and was so wod, 5, 849 That fro his wif, which Rea hihte, 5, 850 Hise oghne children he to plihte, 5, 851 And eet hem of his comun wone. 5, 852 Bot Jupiter, which was his Sone 5, 853 And of full age, his fader bond 5, 854 And kutte of with his oghne hond 5, 855 Hise genitals, whiche als so faste 5, 856 Into the depe See he caste; 5, 857 Wherof the Greks afferme and seie, 5, 858 Thus whan thei were caste aweie, 5, 859 Cam Venus forth be weie of kinde. 5, 860 And of Saturne also I finde 5, 861 How afterward into an yle 5, 862 This Jupiter him dede exile, 5, 863 Wher that he stod in gret meschief. 5, 864 Lo, which a god thei maden chief] 5, 865 And sithen that such on was he, 5, 866 Which stod most hihe in his degre 5, 867 Among the goddes, thou miht knowe, 5, 868 These othre, that ben more lowe, 5, 869 Ben litel worth, as it is founde. 5, 870 For Jupiter was the secounde, 5, 871 Which Juno hadde unto his wif; 5, 872 And yit a lechour al his lif 5, 873 He was, and in avouterie 5, 874 He wroghte many a tricherie; 5, 875 And for he was so full of vices, 5, 876 Thei cleped him god of delices: 5, 877 Of whom, if thou wolt more wite, 5, 878 Ovide the Poete hath write. 5, 879 Bot yit here Sterres bothe tuo, 5, 880 Saturne and Jupiter also, 5, 881 Thei have, althogh thei be to blame, 5, 882 Attitled to here oghne name. 5, 883 Mars was an other in that lawe, 5, 884 The which in Dace was forthdrawe, 5, 885 Of whom the clerk Vegecius 5, 886 Wrot in his bok, and tolde thus, 5, 887 Hou he into Ytaile cam, 5, 888 And such fortune ther he nam 5, 889 That he a Maiden hath oppressed, 5, 890 Which in hire ordre was professed, 5, 891 As sche which was the Prioresse 5, 892 In Vestes temple the goddesse, 5, 893 So was sche wel the mor to blame. 5, 894 Dame Ylia this ladi name 5, 895 Men clepe, and ek sche was also 5, 896 The kinges dowhter that was tho, 5, 897 Which Mynitor be name hihte. 5, 898 So that ayein the lawes ryhte 5, 899 Mars thilke time upon hire that 5, 900 Remus and Romulus begat, 5, 901 Whiche after, whan thei come in Age, 5, 902 Of knihthode and of vassellage 5, 903 Ytaile al hol thei overcome 5, 904 And foundeden the grete Rome; 5, 905 In Armes and of such emprise 5, 906 Thei weren, that in thilke wise 5, 907 Here fader Mars for the mervaile 5, 908 The god was cleped of bataille. 5, 909 Thei were his children bothe tuo, 5, 910 Thurgh hem he tok his name so, 5, 911 Ther was non other cause why: 5, 912 And yit a Sterre upon the Sky 5, 913 He hath unto his name applied, 5, 914 In which that he is signified. 5, 915 An other god thei hadden eke, 5, 916 To whom for conseil thei beseke, 5, 917 The which was brother to Venus, 5, 918 Appollo men him clepe thus. 5, 919 He was an Hunte upon the helles, 5, 920 Ther was with him no vertu elles, 5, 921 Wherof that enye bokes karpe, 5, 922 Bot only that he couthe harpe; 5, 923 Which whanne he walked over londe, 5, 924 Fulofte time he tok on honde, 5, 925 To gete him with his sustienance, 5, 926 For lacke of other pourveance. 5, 927 And otherwhile of his falshede 5, 928 He feignede him to conne arede 5, 929 Of thing which after scholde falle; 5, 930 Wherof among hise sleyhtes alle 5, 931 He hath the lewed folk deceived, 5, 932 So that the betre he was received. 5, 933 Lo now, thurgh what creacion 5, 934 He hath deificacion, 5, 935 And cleped is the god of wit 5, 936 To suche as be the foles yit. 5, 937 An other god, to whom thei soghte, 5, 938 Mercurie hihte, and him ne roghte 5, 939 What thing he stal, ne whom he slowh. 5, 940 Of Sorcerie he couthe ynowh, 5, 941 That whanne he wolde himself transforme, 5, 942 Fulofte time he tok the forme 5, 943 Of womman and his oghne lefte; 5, 944 So dede he wel the more thefte. 5, 945 A gret spekere in alle thinges 5, 946 He was also, and of lesinges 5, 947 An Auctour, that men wiste non 5, 948 An other such as he was on. 5, 949 And yit thei maden of this thief 5, 950 A god, which was unto hem lief, 5, 951 And clepede him in tho believes 5, 952 The god of Marchantz and of thieves. 5, 953 Bot yit a sterre upon the hevene 5, 954 He hath of the planetes sevene. 5, 955 But Vulcanus, of whom I spak, 5, 956 He hadde a courbe upon the bak, 5, 957 And therto he was hepehalt: 5, 958 Of whom thou understonde schalt, 5, 959 He was a schrewe in al his youthe, 5, 960 And he non other vertu couthe 5, 961 Of craft to helpe himselve with, 5, 962 Bot only that he was a Smith 5, 963 With Jupiter, which in his forge 5, 964 Diverse thinges made him forge; 5, 965 So wot I noght for what desir 5, 966 Thei clepen him the god of fyr. 5, 967 King of Cizile Ypolitus 5, 968 A Sone hadde, and Eolus 5, 969 He hihte, and of his fader grant 5, 970 He hield be weie of covenant 5, 971 The governance of every yle 5, 972 Which was longende unto Cizile, 5, 973 Of hem that fro the lond forein 5, 974 Leie open to the wynd al plein. 5, 975 And fro thilke iles to the londe 5, 976 Fulofte cam the wynd to honde: 5, 977 After the name of him forthi 5, 978 The wyndes cleped Eoli 5, 979 Tho were, and he the god of wynd. 5, 980 Lo nou, hou this believe is blynd] 5, 981 The king of Crete Jupiter, 5, 982 The same which I spak of er, 5, 983 Unto his brother, which Neptune 5, 984 Was hote, it list him to comune 5, 985 Part of his good, so that be Schipe 5, 986 He mad him strong of the lordschipe 5, 987 Of al the See in tho parties; 5, 988 Wher that he wroghte his tyrannyes, 5, 989 And the strange yles al aboute 5, 990 He wan, that every man hath doute 5, 991 Upon his marche forto saile; 5, 992 For he anon hem wolde assaile 5, 993 And robbe what thing that thei ladden, 5, 994 His sauf conduit bot if thei hadden. 5, 995 Wherof the comun vois aros 5, 996 In every lond, that such a los 5, 997 He cawhte, al nere it worth a stre, 5, 998 That he was cleped of the See 5, 999 The god be name, and yit he is 5,1000 With hem that so believe amis. 5,1001 This Neptune ek was thilke also, 5,1002 Which was the ferste foundour tho 5,1003 Of noble Troie, and he forthi 5,1004 Was wel the more lete by. 5,1005 The loresman of the Schepherdes, 5,1006 And ek of hem that ben netherdes, 5,1007 Was of Archade and hihte Pan: 5,1008 Of whom hath spoke many a man; 5,1009 For in the wode of Nonarcigne, 5,1010 Enclosed with the tres of Pigne, 5,1011 And on the Mont of Parasie 5,1012 He hadde of bestes the baillie, 5,1013 And ek benethe in the valleie, 5,1014 Wher thilke rivere, as men seie, 5,1015 Which Ladon hihte, made his cours, 5,1016 He was the chief of governours 5,1017 Of hem that kepten tame bestes, 5,1018 Wherof thei maken yit the festes 5,1019 In the Cite Stinfalides. 5,1020 And forth withal yit natheles 5,1021 He tawhte men the forthdrawinge 5,1022 Of bestaile, and ek the makinge 5,1023 Of Oxen, and of hors the same, 5,1024 Hou men hem scholde ryde and tame: 5,1025 Of foules ek, so as we finde, 5,1026 Ful many a soubtiel craft of kinde 5,1027 He fond, which noman knew tofore. 5,1028 Men dede him worschipe ek therfore, 5,1029 That he the ferste in thilke lond 5,1030 Was which the melodie fond 5,1031 Of Riedes, whan thei weren ripe, 5,1032 With double pipes forto pipe; 5,1033 Therof he yaf the ferste lore, 5,1034 Til afterward men couthe more. 5,1035 To every craft for mannes helpe 5,1036 He hadde a redi wit to helpe 5,1037 Thurgh naturel experience: 5,1038 And thus the nyce reverence 5,1039 Of foles, whan that he was ded, 5,1040 The fot hath torned to the hed, 5,1041 And clepen him god of nature, 5,1042 For so thei maden his figure. 5,1043 An other god, so as thei fiele, 5,1044 Which Jupiter upon Samele 5,1045 Begat in his avouterie, 5,1046 Whom, forto hide his lecherie, 5,1047 That non therof schal take kepe, 5,1048 In a Montaigne forto kepe, 5,1049 Which Dyon hihte and was in Ynde, 5,1050 He sende, in bokes as I finde: 5,1051 And he be name Bachus hihte, 5,1052 Which afterward, whan that he mihte, 5,1053 A wastour was, and al his rente 5,1054 In wyn and bordel he despente. 5,1055 Bot yit, al were he wonder badde, 5,1056 Among the Greks a name he hadde; 5,1057 Thei cleped him the god of wyn, 5,1058 And thus a glotoun was dyvyn. 5,1059 Ther was yit Esculapius 5,1060 A godd in thilke time as thus. 5,1061 His craft stod upon Surgerie, 5,1062 Bot for the lust of lecherie, 5,1063 That he to Daires dowhter drowh, 5,1064 It felle that Jupiter him slowh: 5,1065 And yit thei made him noght forthi 5,1066 A god, and was no cause why. 5,1067 In Rome he was long time also 5,1068 A god among the Romeins tho; 5,1069 For, as he seide, of his presence 5,1070 Ther was destruid a pestilence, 5,1071 Whan thei to thyle of Delphos wente, 5,1072 And that Appollo with hem sente 5,1073 This Esculapius his Sone, 5,1074 Among the Romeins forto wone. 5,1075 And there he duelte for a while, 5,1076 Til afterward into that yle, 5,1077 Fro whenne he cam, ayein he torneth, 5,1078 Where al his lyf that he sojorneth 5,1079 Among the Greks, til that he deide. 5,1080 And thei upon him thanne leide 5,1081 His name, and god of medicine 5,1082 He hatte after that ilke line. 5,1083 An other god of Hercules 5,1084 Thei made, which was natheles 5,1085 A man, bot that he was so strong, 5,1086 In al this world that brod and long 5,1087 So myhti was noman as he. 5,1088 Merveiles tuelve in his degre, 5,1089 As it was couth in sondri londes, 5,1090 He dede with hise oghne hondes 5,1091 Ayein geantz and Monstres bothe, 5,1092 The whiche horrible were and lothe, 5,1093 Bot he with strengthe hem overcam: 5,1094 Wherof so gret a pris he nam, 5,1095 That thei him clepe amonges alle 5,1096 The god of strengthe, and to him calle. 5,1097 And yit ther is no reson inne, 5,1098 For he a man was full of sinne, 5,1099 Which proved was upon his ende, 5,1100 For in a rage himself he brende; 5,1101 And such a cruel mannes dede 5,1102 Acordeth nothing with godhede. 5,1103 Thei hadde of goddes yit an other, 5,1104 Which Pluto hihte, and was the brother 5,1105 Of Jupiter, and he fro youthe 5,1106 With every word which cam to mouthe, 5,1107 Of eny thing whan he was wroth, 5,1108 He wolde swere his commun oth, 5,1109 Be Lethen and be Flegeton, 5,1110 Be Cochitum and Acheron, 5,1111 The whiche, after the bokes telle, 5,1112 Ben the chief flodes of the helle: 5,1113 Be Segne and Stige he swor also, 5,1114 That ben the depe Pettes tuo 5,1115 Of helle the most principal. 5,1116 Pluto these othes overal 5,1117 Swor of his commun custummance, 5,1118 Til it befell upon a chance, 5,1119 That he for Jupiteres sake 5,1120 Unto the goddes let do make 5,1121 A sacrifice, and for that dede 5,1122 On of the pettes for his mede 5,1123 In helle, of which I spak of er, 5,1124 Was granted him; and thus he ther 5,1125 Upon the fortune of this thing 5,1126 The name tok of helle king. 5,1127 Lo, these goddes and wel mo 5,1128 Among the Greks thei hadden tho, 5,1129 And of goddesses manyon, 5,1130 Whos names thou schalt hiere anon, 5,1131 And in what wise thei deceiven 5,1132 The foles whiche here feith receiven. 5,1133 So as Saturne is soverein 5,1134 Of false goddes, as thei sein, 5,1135 So is Sibeles of goddesses 5,1136 The Moder, whom withoute gesses 5,1137 The folk Payene honoure and serve, 5,1138 As thei the whiche hire lawe observe. 5,1139 Bot forto knowen upon this 5,1140 Fro when sche cam and what sche is, 5,1141 Bethincia the contre hihte, 5,1142 Wher sche cam ferst to mannes sihte; 5,1143 And after was Saturnes wif, 5,1144 Be whom thre children in hire lif 5,1145 Sche bar, and thei were cleped tho 5,1146 Juno, Neptunus and Pluto, 5,1147 The whiche of nyce fantasie 5,1148 The poeple wolde deifie. 5,1149 And for hire children were so, 5,1150 Sibeles thanne was also 5,1151 Mad a goddesse, and thei hire calle 5,1152 The moder of the goddes alle. 5,1153 So was that name bore forth, 5,1154 And yit the cause is litel worth. 5,1155 A vois unto Saturne tolde 5,1156 Hou that his oghne Sone him scholde 5,1157 Out of his regne putte aweie; 5,1158 And he be cause of thilke weie, 5,1159 That him was schape such a fate, 5,1160 Sibele his wif began to hate 5,1161 And ek hire progenie bothe. 5,1162 And thus, whil that thei were wrothe, 5,1163 Be Philerem upon a dai 5,1164 In his avouterie he lai, 5,1165 On whom he Jupiter begat; 5,1166 And thilke child was after that 5,1167 Which wroghte al that was prophecied, 5,1168 As it tofore is specefied: 5,1169 So that whan Jupiter of Crete 5,1170 Was king, a wif unto him mete 5,1171 The Dowhter of Sibele he tok, 5,1172 And that was Juno, seith the bok. 5,1173 Of his deificacion 5,1174 After the false oppinion, 5,1175 That have I told, so as thei meene; 5,1176 And for this Juno was the queene 5,1177 Of Jupiter and Soster eke, 5,1178 The foles unto hire sieke, 5,1179 And sein that sche is the goddesse 5,1180 Of Regnes bothe and of richesse: 5,1181 And ek sche, as thei understonde, 5,1182 The water Nimphes hath in honde 5,1183 To leden at hire oghne heste; 5,1184 And whan hir list the Sky tempeste, 5,1185 The reinbowe is hir Messager. 5,1186 Lo, which a misbelieve is hier] 5,1187 That sche goddesse is of the Sky 5,1188 I wot non other cause why. 5,1189 An other goddesse is Minerve, 5,1190 To whom the Greks obeie and serve: 5,1191 And sche was nyh the grete lay 5,1192 Of Triton founde, wher sche lay 5,1193 A child forcast, bot what sche was 5,1194 Ther knew noman the sothe cas. 5,1195 Bot in Aufrique sche was leid 5,1196 In the manere as I have seid, 5,1197 And caried fro that ilke place 5,1198 Into an Yle fer in Trace, 5,1199 The which Palene thanne hihte, 5,1200 Wher a Norrice hir kepte and dihte. 5,1201 And after, for sche was so wys 5,1202 That sche fond ferst in hire avis 5,1203 The cloth makinge of wolle and lyn, 5,1204 Men seiden that sche was divin, 5,1205 And the goddesse of Sapience 5,1206 Thei clepen hire in that credence. 5,1207 Of the goddesse which Pallas 5,1208 Is cleped sondri speche was. 5,1209 On seith hire fader was Pallant, 5,1210 Which in his time was geant, 5,1211 A cruel man, a bataillous: 5,1212 An other seith hou in his hous 5,1213 Sche was the cause why he deide. 5,1214 And of this Pallas some ek seide 5,1215 That sche was Martes wif; and so 5,1216 Among the men that weren tho 5,1217 Of misbelieve in the riote 5,1218 The goddesse of batailles hote 5,1219 She was, and yit sche berth the name. 5,1220 Now loke, hou they be forto blame. 5,1221 Saturnus after his exil 5,1222 Fro Crete cam in gret peril 5,1223 Into the londes of Ytaile, 5,1224 And ther he dede gret mervaile, 5,1225 Wherof his name duelleth yit. 5,1226 For he fond of his oghne wit 5,1227 The ferste craft of plowh tilinge, 5,1228 Of Eringe and of corn sowinge, 5,1229 And how men scholden sette vines 5,1230 And of the grapes make wynes; 5,1231 Al this he tawhte, and it fell so, 5,1232 His wif, the which cam with him tho, 5,1233 Was cleped Cereres be name, 5,1234 And for sche tawhte also the same, 5,1235 And was his wif that ilke throwe, 5,1236 As it was to the poeple knowe, 5,1237 Thei made of Ceres a goddesse, 5,1238 In whom here tilthe yit thei blesse, 5,1239 And sein that Tricolonius 5,1240 Hire Sone goth amonges ous 5,1241 And makth the corn good chep or dere, 5,1242 Riht as hire list fro yer to yeere; 5,1243 So that this wif be cause of this 5,1244 Goddesse of Cornes cleped is. 5,1245 King Jupiter, which his likinge 5,1246 Whilom fulfelde in alle thinge, 5,1247 So priveliche aboute he ladde 5,1248 His lust, that he his wille hadde 5,1249 Of Latona, and on hire that 5,1250 Diane his dowhter he begat 5,1251 Unknowen of his wif Juno. 5,1252 And afterward sche knew it so, 5,1253 That Latona for drede fledde 5,1254 Into an Ile, wher sche hedde 5,1255 Hire wombe, which of childe aros. 5,1256 Thilke yle cleped was Delos; 5,1257 In which Diana was forthbroght, 5,1258 And kept so that hire lacketh noght. 5,1259 And after, whan sche was of Age, 5,1260 Sche tok non hiede of mariage, 5,1261 Bot out of mannes compaignie 5,1262 Sche tok hire al to venerie 5,1263 In forest and in wildernesse 5,1264 For ther was al hire besinesse 5,1265 Be daie and ek be nyhtes tyde 5,1266 With arwes brode under the side 5,1267 And bowe in honde, of which sche slowh 5,1268 And tok al that hir liste ynowh 5,1269 Of bestes whiche ben chacable: 5,1270 Wherof the Cronique of this fable 5,1271 Seith that the gentils most of alle 5,1272 Worschipen hire and to hire calle, 5,1273 And the goddesse of hihe helles, 5,1274 Of grene trees, of freisshe welles, 5,1275 They clepen hire in that believe, 5,1276 Which that no reson mai achieve. 5,1277 Proserpina, which dowhter was 5,1278 Of Cereres, befell this cas: 5,1279 Whil sche was duellinge in Cizile, 5,1280 Hire moder in that ilke while 5,1281 Upon hire blessinge and hire heste 5,1282 Bad that sche scholde ben honeste, 5,1283 And lerne forto weve and spinne, 5,1284 And duelle at hom and kepe hire inne. 5,1285 Bot sche caste al that lore aweie, 5,1286 And as sche wente hir out to pleie, 5,1287 To gadre floures in a pleine, 5,1288 And that was under the monteine 5,1289 Of Ethna, fell the same tyde 5,1290 That Pluto cam that weie ryde, 5,1291 And sodeinly, er sche was war, 5,1292 He tok hire up into his char. 5,1293 And as thei riden in the field, 5,1294 Hire grete beaute he behield, 5,1295 Which was so plesant in his yµe, 5,1296 That forto holde in compainie 5,1297 He weddeth hire and hield hire so 5,1298 To ben his wif for everemo. 5,1299 And as thou hast tofore herd telle 5,1300 Hou he was cleped god of helle, 5,1301 So is sche cleped the goddesse 5,1302 Be cause of him, ne mor ne lesse. 5,1303 Lo, thus, mi Sone, as I thee tolde, 5,1304 The Greks whilom be daies olde 5,1305 Here goddes hadde in sondri wise, 5,1306 And thurgh the lore of here aprise 5,1307 The Romeins hielden ek the same. 5,1308 And in the worschipe of here name 5,1309 To every godd in special 5,1310 Thei made a temple forth withal, 5,1311 And ech of hem his yeeres dai 5,1312 Attitled hadde; and of arai 5,1313 The temples weren thanne ordeigned, 5,1314 And ek the poeple was constreigned 5,1315 To come and don here sacrifice; 5,1316 The Prestes ek in here office 5,1317 Solempne maden thilke festes. 5,1318 And thus the Greks lich to the bestes 5,1319 The men in stede of god honoure, 5,1320 Whiche mihten noght hemself socoure, 5,1321 Whil that thei were alyve hiere. 5,1322 And over this, as thou schalt hiere, 5,1323 The Greks fulfild of fantasie 5,1324 Sein ek that of the helles hihe 5,1325 The goddes ben in special, 5,1326 Bot of here name in general 5,1327 Thei hoten alle Satiri. 5,1328 Ther ben of Nimphes proprely 5,1329 In the believe of hem also: 5,1330 Oreades thei seiden tho 5,1331 Attitled ben to the monteines; 5,1332 And for the wodes in demeynes 5,1333 To kepe, tho ben Driades; 5,1334 Of freisshe welles Naiades; 5,1335 And of the Nimphes of the See 5,1336 I finde a tale in proprete, 5,1337 Hou Dorus whilom king of Grece, 5,1338 Which hadde of infortune a piece,- 5,1339 His wif forth with hire dowhtres alle, 5,1340 So as the happes scholden falle, 5,1341 With many a gentil womman there 5,1342 Dreint in the salte See thei were: 5,1343 Wherof the Greks that time seiden, 5,1344 And such a name upon hem leiden, 5,1345 Nereiµdes that thei ben hote, 5,1346 The Nimphes whiche that thei note 5,1347 To regne upon the stremes salte. 5,1348 Lo now, if this believe halte] 5,1349 Bot of the Nimphes as thei telle, 5,1350 In every place wher thei duelle 5,1351 Thei ben al redi obeissant 5,1352 As damoiselles entendant 5,1353 To the goddesses, whos servise 5,1354 Thei mote obeie in alle wise; 5,1355 Wherof the Greks to hem beseke 5,1356 With tho that ben goddesses eke, 5,1357 And have in hem a gret credence. 5,1358 And yit withoute experience 5,1359 Salve only of illusion, 5,1360 Which was to hem dampnacion, 5,1361 For men also that were dede 5,1362 Thei hadden goddes, as I rede, 5,1363 And tho be name Manes hihten, 5,1364 To whom ful gret honour thei dihten, 5,1365 So as the Grekes lawe seith, 5,1366 Which was ayein the rihte feith. 5,1367 Thus have I told a gret partie; 5,1368 Bot al the hole progenie 5,1369 Of goddes in that ilke time 5,1370 To long it were forto rime. 5,1371 Bot yit of that which thou hast herd, 5,1372 Of misbelieve hou it hath ferd, 5,1373 Ther is a gret diversite. 5,1374 Mi fader, riht so thenketh me. 5,1375 Bot yit o thing I you beseche, 5,1376 Which stant in alle mennes speche, 5,1377 The godd and the goddesse of love, 5,1378 Of whom ye nothing hier above 5,1379 Have told, ne spoken of her fare, 5,1380 That ye me wolden now declare 5,1381 Hou thei ferst comen to that name. 5,1382 Mi Sone, I have it left for schame, 5,1383 Be cause I am here oghne Prest; 5,1384 Bot for thei stonden nyh thi brest 5,1385 Upon the schrifte of thi matiere, 5,1386 Thou schalt of hem the sothe hiere: 5,1387 And understond nou wel the cas. 5,1388 Venus Saturnes dowhter was, 5,1389 Which alle danger putte aweie 5,1390 Of love, and fond to lust a weie; 5,1391 So that of hire in sondri place 5,1392 Diverse men felle into grace, 5,1393 And such a lusti lif sche ladde, 5,1394 That sche diverse children hadde, 5,1395 Nou on be this, nou on be that. 5,1396 Of hire it was that Mars beyat 5,1397 A child, which cleped was Armene; 5,1398 Of hire also cam Andragene, 5,1399 To whom Mercurie fader was: 5,1400 Anchises begat Eneas 5,1401 Of hire also, and Ericon 5,1402 Biten begat, and therupon, 5,1403 Whan that sche sih ther was non other, 5,1404 Be Jupiter hire oghne brother 5,1405 Sche lay, and he begat Cupide. 5,1406 And thilke Sone upon a tyde, 5,1407 Whan he was come unto his Age, 5,1408 He hadde a wonder fair visage, 5,1409 And fond his Moder amourous, 5,1410 And he was also lecherous: 5,1411 So whan thei weren bothe al one, 5,1412 As he which yhen hadde none 5,1413 To se reson, his Moder kiste; 5,1414 And sche also, that nothing wiste 5,1415 Bot that which unto lust belongeth, 5,1416 To ben hire love him underfongeth. 5,1417 Thus was he blind, and sche unwys: 5,1418 Bot natheles this cause it is, 5,1419 Why Cupide is the god of love, 5,1420 For he his moder dorste love. 5,1421 And sche, which thoghte hire lustes fonde, 5,1422 Diverse loves tok in honde, 5,1423 Wel mo thanne I the tolde hiere: 5,1424 And for sche wolde hirselve skiere, 5,1425 Sche made comun that desport, 5,1426 And sette a lawe of such a port, 5,1427 That every womman mihte take 5,1428 What man hire liste, and noght forsake 5,1429 To ben als comun as sche wolde. 5,1430 Sche was the ferste also which tolde 5,1431 That wommen scholde here bodi selle; 5,1432 Semiramis, so as men telle, 5,1433 Of Venus kepte thilke aprise, 5,1434 And so dede in the same wise 5,1435 Of Rome faire Neabole, 5,1436 Which liste hire bodi to rigole; 5,1437 Sche was to every man felawe, 5,1438 And hild the lust of thilke lawe, 5,1439 Which Venus of hirself began; 5,1440 Wherof that sche the name wan, 5,1441 Why men hire clepen the goddesse 5,1442 Of love and ek of gentilesse, 5,1443 Of worldes lust and of plesance. 5,1444 Se nou the foule mescreance 5,1445 Of Greks in thilke time tho, 5,1446 Whan Venus tok hire name so. 5,1447 Ther was no cause under the Mone 5,1448 Of which thei hadden tho to done, 5,1449 Of wel or wo wher so it was, 5,1450 That thei ne token in that cas 5,1451 A god to helpe or a goddesse. 5,1452 Wherof, to take mi witnesse, 5,1453 The king of Bragmans Dindimus 5,1454 Wrot unto Alisandre thus: 5,1455 In blaminge of the Grekes feith 5,1456 And of the misbelieve, he seith 5,1457 How thei for every membre hadden 5,1458 A sondri god, to whom thei spradden 5,1459 Here armes, and of help besoghten. 5,1460 Minerve for the hed thei soghten, 5,1461 For sche was wys, and of a man 5,1462 The wit and reson which he can 5,1463 Is in the celles of the brayn, 5,1464 Wherof thei made hire soverain. 5,1465 Mercurie, which was in his dawes 5,1466 A gret spekere of false lawes, 5,1467 On him the kepinge of the tunge 5,1468 Thei leide, whan thei spieke or sunge. 5,1469 For Bachus was a glotoun eke, 5,1470 Him for the throte thei beseke, 5,1471 That he it wolde waisshen ofte 5,1472 With swote drinkes and with softe. 5,1473 The god of schuldres and of armes 5,1474 Was Hercules; for he in armes 5,1475 The myhtieste was to fihte, 5,1476 To him tho Limes they behihte. 5,1477 The god whom that thei clepen Mart 5,1478 The brest to kepe hath for his part, 5,1479 Forth with the herte, in his ymage 5,1480 That he adresce the corage. 5,1481 And of the galle the goddesse, 5,1482 For sche was full of hastifesse 5,1483 Of wraththe and liht to grieve also, 5,1484 Thei made and seide it was Juno. 5,1485 Cupide, which the brond afyre 5,1486 Bar in his hond, he was the Sire 5,1487 Of the Stomak, which builleth evere, 5,1488 Wherof the lustes ben the levere. 5,1489 To the goddesse Cereres, 5,1490 Which of the corn yaf hire encress 5,1491 Upon the feith that tho was take, 5,1492 The wombes cure was betake; 5,1493 And Venus thurgh the Lecherie, 5,1494 For which that thei hire deifie, 5,1495 Sche kept al doun the remenant 5,1496 To thilke office appourtenant. 5,1497 Thus was dispers in sondri wise 5,1498 The misbelieve, as I devise, 5,1499 With many an ymage of entaile, 5,1500 Of suche as myhte hem noght availe; 5,1501 For thei withoute lyves chiere 5,1502 Unmyhti ben to se or hiere 5,1503 Or speke or do or elles fiele; 5,1504 And yit the foles to hem knele, 5,1505 Which is here oghne handes werk. 5,1506 Ha lord, hou this believe is derk, 5,1507 And fer fro resonable wit] 5,1508 And natheles thei don it yit: 5,1509 That was to day a ragged tre, 5,1510 To morwe upon his majeste 5,1511 Stant in the temple wel besein. 5,1512 How myhte a mannes resoun sein 5,1513 That such a Stock mai helpe or grieve? 5,1514 Bot thei that ben of such believe 5,1515 And unto suche goddes calle, 5,1516 It schal to hem riht so befalle, 5,1517 And failen ate moste nede. 5,1518 Bot if thee list to taken hiede 5,1519 And of the ferste ymage wite, 5,1520 Petornius therof hath write 5,1521 And ek Nigargorus also; 5,1522 And thei afferme and write so, 5,1523 That Promotheuµs was tofore 5,1524 And fond the ferste craft therfore, 5,1525 And Cirophanes, as thei telle, 5,1526 Thurgh conseil which was take in helle, 5,1527 In remembrance of his lignage 5,1528 Let setten up the ferste ymage. 5,1529 Of Cirophanes seith the bok, 5,1530 That he for sorwe, which he tok 5,1531 Of that he sih his Sone ded, 5,1532 Of confort knew non other red, 5,1533 Bot let do make in remembrance 5,1534 A faire ymage of his semblance 5,1535 And sette it in the market place, 5,1536 Which openly tofore his face 5,1537 Stod every dai to don him ese. 5,1538 And thei that thanne wolden plese 5,1539 The fader, scholden it obeie, 5,1540 Whan that they comen thilke weie. 5,1541 And of Ninus king of Assire 5,1542 I rede hou that in his empire 5,1543 He was next after the secounde 5,1544 Of hem that ferst ymages founde. 5,1545 For he riht in semblable cas 5,1546 Of Belus, which his fader was 5,1547 Fro Nembroth in the rihte line, 5,1548 Let make of gold and Stones fine 5,1549 A precious ymage riche 5,1550 After his fader evene liche; 5,1551 And therupon a lawe he sette, 5,1552 That every man of pure dette 5,1553 With sacrifice and with truage 5,1554 Honoure scholde thilke ymage: 5,1555 So that withinne time it fell, 5,1556 Of Belus cam the name of Bel, 5,1557 Of Bel cam Belzebub, and so 5,1558 The misbelieve wente tho. 5,1559 The thridde ymage next to this 5,1560 Was, whan the king of Grece Apis 5,1561 Was ded, thei maden a figure 5,1562 In resemblance of his stature. 5,1563 Of this king Apis seith the bok 5,1564 That Serapis his name tok, 5,1565 In whom thurgh long continuance 5,1566 Of misbelieve a gret creance 5,1567 Thei hadden, and the reverence 5,1568 Of Sacrifice and of encence 5,1569 To him thei made: and as thei telle, 5,1570 Among the wondres that befelle, 5,1571 Whan Alisandre fro Candace 5,1572 Cam ridende, in a wilde place 5,1573 Undur an hull a Cave he fond; 5,1574 And Candalus, which in that lond 5,1575 Was bore, and was Candaces Sone, 5,1576 Him tolde hou that of commun wone 5,1577 The goddes were in thilke cave. 5,1578 And he, that wolde assaie and have 5,1579 A knowlechinge if it be soth, 5,1580 Liht of his hors and in he goth, 5,1581 And fond therinne that he soghte: 5,1582 For thurgh the fendes sleihte him thoghte, 5,1583 Amonges othre goddes mo 5,1584 That Serapis spak to him tho, 5,1585 Whom he sih there in gret arrai. 5,1586 And thus the fend fro dai to dai 5,1587 The worschipe of ydolatrie 5,1588 Drowh forth upon the fantasie 5,1589 Of hem that weren thanne blinde 5,1590 And couthen noght the trouthe finde. 5,1591 Thus hast thou herd in what degre 5,1592 Of Grece, Egipte and of Caldee 5,1593 The misbelieves whilom stode; 5,1594 And hou so that thei be noght goode 5,1595 Ne trewe, yit thei sprungen oute, 5,1596 Wherof the wyde world aboute 5,1597 His part of misbelieve tok. 5,1598 Til so befell, as seith the bok, 5,1599 That god a poeple for himselve 5,1600 Hath chose of the lignages tuelve, 5,1601 Wherof the sothe redely, 5,1602 As it is write in Genesi, 5,1603 I thenke telle in such a wise 5,1604 That it schal be to thin apprise. 5,1605 After the flod, fro which Noeµ 5,1606 Was sauf, the world in his degre 5,1607 Was mad, as who seith, newe ayein, 5,1608 Of flour, of fruit, of gras, of grein, 5,1609 Of beste, of bridd and of mankinde, 5,1610 Which evere hath be to god unkinde: 5,1611 For noght withstondende al the fare, 5,1612 Of that this world was mad so bare 5,1613 And afterward it was restored, 5,1614 Among the men was nothing mored 5,1615 Towardes god of good lyvynge, 5,1616 Bot al was torned to likinge 5,1617 After the fleissh, so that foryete 5,1618 Was he which yaf hem lif and mete, 5,1619 Of hevene and Erthe creatour. 5,1620 And thus cam forth the grete errour, 5,1621 That thei the hihe god ne knewe, 5,1622 Bot maden othre goddes newe, 5,1623 As thou hast herd me seid tofore: 5,1624 Ther was noman that time bore, 5,1625 That he ne hadde after his chois 5,1626 A god, to whom he yaf his vois. 5,1627 Wherof the misbelieve cam 5,1628 Into the time of Habraham: 5,1629 Bot he fond out the rihte weie, 5,1630 Hou only that men scholde obeie 5,1631 The hihe god, which weldeth al, 5,1632 And evere hath don and evere schal, 5,1633 In hevene, in Erthe and ek in helle; 5,1634 Ther is no tunge his miht mai telle. 5,1635 This Patriarch to his lignage 5,1636 Forbad, that thei to non ymage 5,1637 Encline scholde in none wise, 5,1638 Bot here offrende and sacrifise 5,1639 With al the hole hertes love 5,1640 Unto the mihti god above 5,1641 Thei scholden yive and to no mo: 5,1642 And thus in thilke time tho 5,1643 Began the Secte upon this Erthe, 5,1644 Which of believes was the ferthe. 5,1645 Of rihtwisnesse it was conceived, 5,1646 So moste it nedes be received 5,1647 Of him that alle riht is inne, 5,1648 The hihe god, which wolde winne 5,1649 A poeple unto his oghne feith. 5,1650 On Habraham the ground he leith, 5,1651 And made him forto multeplie 5,1652 Into so gret a progenie, 5,1653 That thei Egipte al overspradde. 5,1654 Bot Pharao with wrong hem ladde 5,1655 In servitute ayein the pes, 5,1656 Til god let sende Moiµses 5,1657 To make the deliverance; 5,1658 And for his poeple gret vengance 5,1659 He tok, which is to hiere a wonder. 5,1660 The king was slain, the lond put under, 5,1661 God bad the rede See divide, 5,1662 Which stod upriht on either side 5,1663 And yaf unto his poeple a weie, 5,1664 That thei on fote it passe dreie 5,1665 And gon so forth into desert: 5,1666 Wher forto kepe hem in covert, 5,1667 The daies, whan the Sonne brente, 5,1668 A large cloude hem overwente, 5,1669 And forto wissen hem be nyhte, 5,1670 A firy Piler hem alyhte. 5,1671 And whan that thei for hunger pleigne, 5,1672 The myhti god began to reyne 5,1673 Manna fro hevene doun to grounde, 5,1674 Wherof that ech of hem hath founde 5,1675 His fode, such riht as him liste; 5,1676 And for thei scholde upon him triste, 5,1677 Riht as who sette a tonne abroche, 5,1678 He percede the harde roche, 5,1679 And sprong out water al at wille, 5,1680 That man and beste hath drunke his fille: 5,1681 And afterward he yaf the lawe 5,1682 To Moiµses, that hem withdrawe 5,1683 Thei scholden noght fro that he bad. 5,1684 And in this wise thei be lad, 5,1685 Til thei toke in possession 5,1686 The londes of promission, 5,1687 Wher that Caleph and Josueµ 5,1688 The Marches upon such degre 5,1689 Departen, after the lignage 5,1690 That ech of hem as Heritage 5,1691 His porpartie hath underfonge. 5,1692 And thus stod this believe longe, 5,1693 Which of prophetes was governed; 5,1694 And thei hadde ek the poeple lerned 5,1695 Of gret honour that scholde hem falle; 5,1696 Bot ate moste nede of alle 5,1697 Thei faileden, whan Crist was bore. 5,1698 Bot hou that thei here feith have bore, 5,1699 It nedeth noght to tellen al, 5,1700 The matiere is so general: 5,1701 Whan Lucifer was best in hevene 5,1702 And oghte moste have stonde in evene, 5,1703 Towardes god he tok debat; 5,1704 And for that he was obstinat, 5,1705 And wolde noght to trouthe encline, 5,1706 He fell for evere into ruine: 5,1707 And Adam ek in Paradis, 5,1708 Whan he stod most in al his pris 5,1709 After thastat of Innocence, 5,1710 Ayein the god brak his defence 5,1711 And fell out of his place aweie: 5,1712 And riht be such a maner weie 5,1713 The Jwes in here beste plit, 5,1714 Whan that thei scholden most parfit 5,1715 Have stonde upon the prophecie, 5,1716 Tho fellen thei to most folie, 5,1717 And him which was fro hevene come, 5,1718 And of a Maide his fleissh hath nome, 5,1719 And was among hem bore and fedd, 5,1720 As men that wolden noght be spedd 5,1721 Of goddes Sone, with o vois 5,1722 Thei hinge and slowhe upon the crois. 5,1723 Wherof the parfit of here lawe 5,1724 Fro thanne forth hem was withdrawe, 5,1725 So that thei stonde of no merit, 5,1726 Bot in truage as folk soubgit 5,1727 Withoute proprete of place 5,1728 Thei liven out of goddes grace, 5,1729 Dispers in alle londes oute. 5,1730 And thus the feith is come aboute, 5,1731 That whilom in the Jewes stod, 5,1732 Which is noght parfihtliche good. 5,1733 To speke as it is nou befalle, 5,1734 Ther is a feith aboven alle, 5,1735 In which the trouthe is comprehended, 5,1736 Wherof that we ben alle amended. 5,1737 The hihe almyhti majeste, 5,1738 Of rihtwisnesse and of pite, 5,1739 The Sinne which that Adam wroghte, 5,1740 Whan he sih time, ayein he boghte, 5,1741 And sende his Sone fro the hevene 5,1742 To sette mannes Soule in evene, 5,1743 Which thanne was so sore falle 5,1744 Upon the point which was befalle, 5,1745 That he ne mihte himself arise. 5,1746 Gregoire seith in his aprise, 5,1747 It helpeth noght a man be bore, 5,1748 If goddes Sone were unbore; 5,1749 For thanne thurgh the ferste Sinne, 5,1750 Which Adam whilom broghte ous inne, 5,1751 Ther scholden alle men be lost; 5,1752 Bot Crist restoreth thilke lost, 5,1753 And boghte it with his fleissh and blod. 5,1754 And if we thenken hou it stod 5,1755 Of thilke rancoun which he payde, 5,1756 As seint Gregoire it wrot and sayde, 5,1757 Al was behovely to the man: 5,1758 For that wherof his wo began 5,1759 Was after cause of al his welthe, 5,1760 Whan he which is the welle of helthe, 5,1761 The hihe creatour of lif, 5,1762 Upon the nede of such a strif 5,1763 So wolde for his creature 5,1764 Take on himself the forsfaiture 5,1765 And soffre for the mannes sake. 5,1766 Thus mai no reson wel forsake 5,1767 That thilke Senne original 5,1768 Ne was the cause in special 5,1769 Of mannes worschipe ate laste, 5,1770 Which schal withouten ende laste. 5,1771 For be that cause the godhede 5,1772 Assembled was to the manhede 5,1773 In the virgine, where he nom 5,1774 Oure fleissh and verai man becom 5,1775 Of bodely fraternite; 5,1776 Wherof the man in his degre 5,1777 Stant more worth, as I have told, 5,1778 Than he stod erst be manyfold, 5,1779 Thurgh baptesme of the newe lawe, 5,1780 Of which Crist lord is and felawe. 5,1781 And thus the hihe goddes myht, 5,1782 Which was in the virgine alyht, 5,1783 The mannes Soule hath reconsiled, 5,1784 Which hadde longe ben exiled. 5,1785 So stant the feith upon believe, 5,1786 Withoute which mai non achieve 5,1787 To gete him Paradis ayein: 5,1788 Bot this believe is so certein, 5,1789 So full of grace and of vertu, 5,1790 That what man clepeth to Jhesu 5,1791 In clene lif forthwith good dede, 5,1792 He mai noght faile of hevene mede, 5,1793 Which taken hath the rihte feith; 5,1794 For elles, as the gospel seith, 5,1795 Salvacion ther mai be non. 5,1796 And forto preche therupon 5,1797 Crist bad to hise Apostles alle, 5,1798 The whos pouer as nou is falle 5,1799 On ous that ben of holi cherche, 5,1800 If we the goode dedes werche; 5,1801 For feith only sufficeth noght, 5,1802 Bot if good dede also be wroght. 5,1803 Now were it good that thou forthi, 5,1804 Which thurgh baptesme proprely 5,1805 Art unto Cristes feith professed, 5,1806 Be war that thou be noght oppressed 5,1807 With Anticristes lollardie. 5,1808 For as the Jwes prophecie 5,1809 Was set of god for avantage, 5,1810 Riht so this newe tapinage 5,1811 Of lollardie goth aboute 5,1812 To sette Cristes feith in doute. 5,1813 The seintz that weren ous tofore, 5,1814 Be whom the feith was ferst upbore, 5,1815 That holi cherche stod relieved, 5,1816 Thei oghten betre be believed 5,1817 Than these, whiche that men knowe 5,1818 Noght holy, thogh thei feigne and blowe 5,1819 Here lollardie in mennes Ere. 5,1820 Bot if thou wolt live out of fere, 5,1821 Such newe lore, I rede, eschuie, 5,1822 And hold forth riht the weie and suie, 5,1823 As thine Ancestres dede er this: 5,1824 So schalt thou noght believe amis. 5,1825 Crist wroghte ferst and after tawhte, 5,1826 So that the dede his word arawhte; 5,1827 He yaf ensample in his persone, 5,1828 And we the wordes have al one, 5,1829 Lich to the Tree with leves grene, 5,1830 Upon the which no fruit is sene. 5,1831 The Priest Thoas, which of Minerve 5,1832 The temple hadde forto serve, 5,1833 And the Palladion of Troie 5,1834 Kepte under keie, for monoie, 5,1835 Of Anthenor which he hath nome, 5,1836 Hath soffred Anthenor to come 5,1837 And the Palladion to stele, 5,1838 Wherof the worschipe and the wele 5,1839 Of the Troiens was overthrowe. 5,1840 Bot Thoas at the same throwe, 5,1841 Whan Anthenor this Juel tok, 5,1842 Wynkende caste awei his lok 5,1843 For a deceipte and for a wyle: 5,1844 As he that scholde himself beguile, 5,1845 He hidde his yhen fro the sihte, 5,1846 And wende wel that he so mihte 5,1847 Excuse his false conscience. 5,1848 I wot noght if thilke evidence 5,1849 Nou at this time in here estatz 5,1850 Excuse mihte the Prelatz, 5,1851 Knowende hou that the feith discresceth 5,1852 And alle moral vertu cesseth, 5,1853 Wherof that thei the keies bere, 5,1854 Bot yit hem liketh noght to stere 5,1855 Here gostliche yhe forto se 5,1856 The world in his adversite; 5,1857 Thei wol no labour undertake 5,1858 To kepe that hem is betake. 5,1859 Crist deide himselve for the feith, 5,1860 Bot nou our feerfull prelat seith, 5,1861 "The lif is suete," and that he kepeth, 5,1862 So that the feith unholpe slepeth, 5,1863 And thei unto here ese entenden 5,1864 And in here lust her lif despenden, 5,1865 And every man do what him list. 5,1866 Thus stant this world fulfild of Mist, 5,1867 That noman seth the rihte weie: 5,1868 The wardes of the cherche keie 5,1869 Thurgh mishandlinge ben myswreynt, 5,1870 The worldes wawe hath welnyh dreynt 5,1871 The Schip which Peter hath to stiere, 5,1872 The forme is kept, bot the matiere 5,1873 Transformed is in other wise. 5,1874 Bot if thei weren gostli wise, 5,1875 And that the Prelatz weren goode, 5,1876 As thei be olde daies stode, 5,1877 It were thanne litel nede 5,1878 Among the men to taken hiede 5,1879 Of that thei hieren Pseudo telle, 5,1880 Which nou is come forto duelle, 5,1881 To sowe cokkel with the corn, 5,1882 So that the tilthe is nyh forlorn, 5,1883 Which Crist sew ferst his oghne hond. 5,1884 Nou stant the cockel in the lond, 5,1885 Wher stod whilom the goode grein, 5,1886 For the Prelatz nou, as men sein, 5,1887 Forslowthen that thei scholden tile. 5,1888 And that I trowe be the skile, 5,1889 Whan ther is lacke in hem above, 5,1890 The poeple is stranged to the love 5,1891 Of trouthe, in cause of ignorance; 5,1892 For wher ther is no pourveance 5,1893 Of liht, men erren in the derke. 5,1894 Bot if the Prelatz wolden werke 5,1895 Upon the feith which thei ous teche, 5,1896 Men scholden noght here weie seche 5,1897 Withoute liht, as now is used: 5,1898 Men se the charge aldai refused, 5,1899 Which holi cherche hath undertake. 5,1900 Bot who that wolde ensample take, 5,1901 Gregoire upon his Omelie 5,1902 Ayein the Slouthe of Prelacie 5,1903 Compleigneth him, and thus he seith: 5,1904 "Whan Peter, fader of the feith, 5,1905 At domesdai schal with him bringe 5,1906 Judeam, which thurgh his prechinge 5,1907 He wan, and Andrew with Achaie 5,1908 Schal come his dette forto paie, 5,1909 And Thomas ek with his beyete 5,1910 Of Ynde, and Poul the routes grete 5,1911 Of sondri londes schal presente, 5,1912 And we fulfild of lond and rente, 5,1913 Which of this world we holden hiere, 5,1914 With voide handes schul appiere, 5,1915 Touchende oure cure spirital, 5,1916 Which is our charge in special, 5,1917 I not what thing it mai amonte 5,1918 Upon thilke ende of oure accompte, 5,1919 Wher Crist himself is Auditour, 5,1920 Which takth non hiede of vein honour." 5,1921 Thoffice of the Chancellerie 5,1922 Or of the kinges Tresorie 5,1923 Ne for the writ ne for the taille 5,1924 To warant mai noght thanne availe; 5,1925 The world, which nou so wel we trowe, 5,1926 Schal make ous thanne bot a mowe: 5,1927 So passe we withoute mede, 5,1928 That we non otherwise spede, 5,1929 Bot as we rede that he spedde, 5,1930 The which his lordes besant hedde 5,1931 And therupon gat non encress. 5,1932 Bot at this time natheles, 5,1933 What other man his thonk deserve, 5,1934 The world so lusti is to serve, 5,1935 That we with him ben all acorded, 5,1936 And that is wist and wel recorded 5,1937 Thurghout this Erthe in alle londes 5,1938 Let knyhtes winne with here hondes, 5,1939 For oure tunge schal be stille 5,1940 And stonde upon the fleisshes wille. 5,1941 It were a travail forto preche 5,1942 The feith of Crist, as forto teche 5,1943 The folk Paiene, it wol noght be; 5,1944 Bot every Prelat holde his See 5,1945 With al such ese as he mai gete 5,1946 Of lusti drinke and lusti mete, 5,1947 Wherof the bodi fat and full 5,1948 Is unto gostli labour dull 5,1949 And slowh to handle thilke plowh. 5,1950 Bot elles we ben swifte ynowh 5,1951 Toward the worldes Avarice; 5,1952 And that is as a sacrifice, 5,1953 Which, after that thapostel seith, 5,1954 Is openly ayein the feith 5,1955 Unto thidoles yove and granted: 5,1956 Bot natheles it is nou haunted, 5,1957 And vertu changed into vice, 5,1958 So that largesce is Avarice, 5,1959 In whos chapitre now we trete. 5,1960 Mi fader, this matiere is bete 5,1961 So fer, that evere whil I live 5,1962 I schal the betre hede yive 5,1963 Unto miself be many weie: 5,1964 Bot over this nou wolde I preie 5,1965 To wite what the branches are 5,1966 Of Avarice, and hou thei fare 5,1967 Als wel in love as otherwise. 5,1968 Mi Sone, and I thee schal devise 5,1969 In such a manere as thei stonde, 5,1970 So that thou schalt hem understonde. 5,1971 Dame Avarice is noght soleine, 5,1972 Which is of gold the Capiteine; 5,1973 Bot of hir Court in sondri wise 5,1974 After the Scole of hire aprise 5,1975 Sche hath of Servantz manyon, 5,1976 Wherof that Covoitise is on; 5,1977 Which goth the large world aboute, 5,1978 To seche thavantages oute, 5,1979 Wher that he mai the profit winne 5,1980 To Avarice, and bringth it inne. 5,1981 That on hald and that other draweth, 5,1982 Ther is no day which hem bedaweth, 5,1983 No mor the Sonne than the Mone, 5,1984 Whan ther is eny thing to done, 5,1985 And namely with Covoitise; 5,1986 For he stant out of al assisse 5,1987 Of resonable mannes fare. 5,1988 Wher he pourposeth him to fare 5,1989 Upon his lucre and his beyete, 5,1990 The smale path, the large Strete, 5,1991 The furlong and the longe Mile, 5,1992 Al is bot on for thilke while: 5,1993 And for that he is such on holde, 5,1994 Dame Avarice him hath withholde, 5,1995 As he which is the principal 5,1996 Outward, for he is overal 5,1997 A pourveour and an aspie. 5,1998 For riht as of an hungri Pie 5,1999 The storve bestes ben awaited, 5,2000 Riht so is Covoitise afaited 5,2001 To loke where he mai pourchace, 5,2002 For be his wille he wolde embrace 5,2003 Al that this wyde world beclippeth; 5,2004 Bot evere he somwhat overhippeth, 5,2005 That he ne mai noght al fulfille 5,2006 The lustes of his gredi wille. 5,2007 Bot where it falleth in a lond, 5,2008 That Covoitise in myhti hond 5,2009 Is set, it is ful hard to fiede; 5,2010 For thanne he takth non other hiede, 5,2011 Bot that he mai pourchace and gete, 5,2012 His conscience hath al foryete, 5,2013 And not what thing it mai amonte 5,2014 That he schal afterward acompte. 5,2015 Bote as the Luce in his degre 5,2016 Of tho that lasse ben than he 5,2017 The fisshes griedeli devoureth, 5,2018 So that no water hem socoureth, 5,2019 Riht so no lawe mai rescowe 5,2020 Fro him that wol no riht allowe; 5,2021 For wher that such on is of myht, 5,2022 His will schal stonde in stede of riht. 5,2023 Thus be the men destruid fulofte, 5,2024 Til that the grete god alofte 5,2025 Ayein so gret a covoitise 5,2026 Redresce it in his oghne wise: 5,2027 And in ensample of alle tho 5,2028 I finde a tale write so, 5,2029 The which, for it is good to liere, 5,2030 Hierafterward thou schalt it hiere. 5,2031 Whan Rome stod in noble plit, 5,2032 Virgile, which was tho parfit, 5,2033 A Mirour made of his clergie 5,2034 And sette it in the tounes yµe 5,2035 Of marbre on a piler withoute; 5,2036 That thei be thritty Mile aboute 5,2037 Be daie and ek also be nyhte 5,2038 In that Mirour beholde myhte 5,2039 Here enemys, if eny were, 5,2040 With al here ordinance there, 5,2041 Which thei ayein the Cite caste: 5,2042 So that, whil thilke Mirour laste, 5,2043 Ther was no lond which mihte achieve 5,2044 With werre Rome forto grieve; 5,2045 Wherof was gret envie tho. 5,2046 And fell that ilke time so, 5,2047 That Rome hadde werres stronge 5,2048 Ayein Cartage, and stoden longe 5,2049 The tuo Cites upon debat. 5,2050 Cartage sih the stronge astat 5,2051 Of Rome in thilke Mirour stonde, 5,2052 And thoghte al prively to fonde 5,2053 To overthrowe it be som wyle. 5,2054 And Hanybal was thilke while 5,2055 The Prince and ledere of Cartage, 5,2056 Which hadde set al his corage 5,2057 Upon knihthod in such a wise, 5,2058 That he be worthi and be wise 5,2059 And be non othre was conseiled, 5,2060 Wherof the world is yit merveiled 5,2061 Of the maistries that he wroghte 5,2062 Upon the marches whiche he soghte. 5,2063 And fell in thilke time also, 5,2064 The king of Puile, which was tho, 5,2065 Thoghte ayein Rome to rebelle, 5,2066 And thus was take the querele, 5,2067 Hou to destruie this Mirour. 5,2068 Of Rome tho was Emperour 5,2069 Crassus, which was so coveitous, 5,2070 That he was evere desirous 5,2071 Of gold to gete the pilage; 5,2072 Wherof that Puile and ek Cartage 5,2073 With Philosophres wise and grete 5,2074 Begunne of this matiere trete, 5,2075 And ate laste in this degre 5,2076 Ther weren Philosophres thre, 5,2077 To do this thing whiche undertoke, 5,2078 And therupon thei with hem toke 5,2079 A gret tresor of gold in cophres, 5,2080 To Rome and thus these philisophres 5,2081 Togedre in compainie wente, 5,2082 Bot noman wiste what thei mente. 5,2083 Whan thei to Rome come were, 5,2084 So prively thei duelte there, 5,2085 As thei that thoghten to deceive: 5,2086 Was non that mihte of hem perceive, 5,2087 Til thei in sondri stedes have 5,2088 Here gold under the ground begrave 5,2089 In tuo tresors, that to beholde 5,2090 Thei scholden seme as thei were olde. 5,2091 And so forth thanne upon a day 5,2092 Al openly in good arai 5,2093 To themperour thei hem presente, 5,2094 And tolden it was here entente 5,2095 To duellen under his servise. 5,2096 And he hem axeth in what wise; 5,2097 And thei him tolde in such a plit, 5,2098 That ech of hem hadde a spirit, 5,2099 The which slepende a nyht appiereth 5,2100 And hem be sondri dremes lereth 5,2101 After the world that hath betid. 5,2102 Under the ground if oght be hid 5,2103 Of old tresor at eny throwe, 5,2104 They schull it in here swevenes knowe; 5,2105 And upon this condicioun, 5,2106 Thei sein, what gold under the toun 5,2107 Of Rome is hid, thei wole it finde, 5,2108 Ther scholde noght be left behinde, 5,2109 Be so that he the halvendel 5,2110 Hem grante, and he assenteth wel; 5,2111 And thus cam sleighte forto duelle 5,2112 With Covoitise, as I thee telle. 5,2113 This Emperour bad redily 5,2114 That thei be logged faste by 5,2115 Where he his oghne body lay; 5,2116 And whan it was amorwe day, 5,2117 That on of hem seith that he mette 5,2118 Wher he a goldhord scholde fette: 5,2119 Wherof this Emperour was glad, 5,2120 And therupon anon he bad 5,2121 His Mynours forto go and myne, 5,2122 And he himself of that covine 5,2123 Goth forth withal, and at his hond 5,2124 The tresor redi there he fond, 5,2125 Where as thei seide it scholde be; 5,2126 And who was thanne glad bot he? 5,2127 Upon that other dai secounde 5,2128 Thei have an other goldhord founde, 5,2129 Which the seconde maister tok 5,2130 Upon his swevene and undertok. 5,2131 And thus the sothe experience 5,2132 To themperour yaf such credence, 5,2133 That al his trist and al his feith 5,2134 So sikerliche on hem he leith, 5,2135 Of that he fond him so relieved, 5,2136 That thei ben parfitli believed, 5,2137 As thogh thei were goddes thre. 5,2138 Nou herkne the soutilete. 5,2139 The thridde maister scholde mete, 5,2140 Which, as thei seiden, was unmete 5,2141 Above hem alle, and couthe most; 5,2142 And he withoute noise or bost 5,2143 Al priveli, so as he wolde, 5,2144 Upon the morwe his swevene tolde 5,2145 To themperour riht in his Ere, 5,2146 And seide him that he wiste where 5,2147 A tresor was so plentivous 5,2148 Of gold and ek so precious 5,2149 Of jeueals and of riche stones, 5,2150 That unto alle hise hors at ones 5,2151 It were a charge sufficant. 5,2152 This lord upon this covenant 5,2153 Was glad, and axeth where it was. 5,2154 The maister seide, under the glas, 5,2155 And tolde him eke, as for the Myn 5,2156 He wolde ordeigne such engin, 5,2157 That thei the werk schull undersette 5,2158 With Tymber, that withoute lette 5,2159 Men mai the tresor saufli delve, 5,2160 So that the Mirour be himselve 5,2161 Withoute empeirement schal stonde: 5,2162 And this the maister upon honde 5,2163 Hath undertake in alle weie. 5,2164 This lord, which hadde his wit aweie 5,2165 And was with Covoitise blent, 5,2166 Anon therto yaf his assent; 5,2167 And thus they myne forth withal, 5,2168 The timber set up overal, 5,2169 Wherof the Piler stod upriht; 5,2170 Til it befell upon a nyht 5,2171 These clerkes, whan thei were war 5,2172 Hou that the timber only bar 5,2173 The Piler, wher the Mirour stod,- 5,2174 Here sleihte noman understod,- 5,2175 Thei go be nyhte unto the Myne 5,2176 With pich, with soulphre and with rosine, 5,2177 And whan the Cite was a slepe, 5,2178 A wylde fyr into the depe 5,2179 They caste among the timberwerk, 5,2180 And so forth, whil the nyht was derk, 5,2181 Desguised in a povere arai 5,2182 Thei passeden the toun er dai. 5,2183 And whan thei come upon an hell, 5,2184 Thei sihen how the Mirour fell, 5,2185 Wherof thei maden joie ynowh, 5,2186 And ech of hem with other lowh, 5,2187 And seiden, "Lo, what coveitise 5,2188 Mai do with hem that be noght wise]" 5,2189 And that was proved afterward, 5,2190 For every lond, to Romeward 5,2191 Which hadde be soubgit tofore, 5,2192 Whan this Mirour was so forlore 5,2193 And thei the wonder herde seie, 5,2194 Anon begunne desobeie 5,2195 With werres upon every side; 5,2196 And thus hath Rome lost his pride 5,2197 And was defouled overal. 5,2198 For this I finde of Hanybal, 5,2199 That he of Romeins in a dai, 5,2200 Whan he hem fond out of arai, 5,2201 So gret a multitude slowh, 5,2202 That of goldringes, whiche he drowh 5,2203 Of gentil handes that ben dede, 5,2204 Buisshelles fulle thre, I rede, 5,2205 He felde, and made a bregge also, 5,2206 That he mihte over Tibre go 5,2207 Upon the corps that dede were 5,2208 Of the Romeins, whiche he slowh there. 5,2209 Bot now to speke of the juise, 5,2210 The which after the covoitise 5,2211 Was take upon this Emperour, 5,2212 For he destruide the Mirour; 5,2213 It is a wonder forto hiere. 5,2214 The Romeins maden a chaiere 5,2215 And sette here Emperour therinne, 5,2216 And seiden, for he wolde winne 5,2217 Of gold the superfluite, 5,2218 Of gold he scholde such plente 5,2219 Receive, til he seide Ho: 5,2220 And with gold, which thei hadden tho 5,2221 Buillende hot withinne a panne, 5,2222 Into his Mouth thei poure thanne. 5,2223 And thus the thurst of gold was queynt, 5,2224 With gold which hadde ben atteignt. 5,2225 Wherof, mi Sone, thou miht hiere, 5,2226 Whan Covoitise hath lost the stiere 5,2227 Of resonable governance, 5,2228 Ther falleth ofte gret vengance. 5,2229 For ther mai be no worse thing 5,2230 Than Covoitise aboute a king: 5,2231 If it in his persone be, 5,2232 It doth the more adversite; 5,2233 And if it in his conseil stonde, 5,2234 It bringth alday meschief to honde 5,2235 Of commun harm; and if it growe 5,2236 Withinne his court, it wol be knowe, 5,2237 For thanne schal the king be piled. 5,2238 The man which hath hise londes tiled, 5,2239 Awaiteth noght more redily 5,2240 The Hervest, than thei gredily 5,2241 Ne maken thanne warde and wacche, 5,2242 Wher thei the profit mihten cacche: 5,2243 And yit fulofte it falleth so, 5,2244 As men mai sen among hem tho, 5,2245 That he which most coveiteth faste 5,2246 Hath lest avantage ate laste. 5,2247 For whan fortune is therayein, 5,2248 Thogh he coveite, it is in vein; 5,2249 The happes be noght alle liche, 5,2250 On is mad povere, an other riche, 5,2251 The court to some doth profit, 5,2252 And some ben evere in o plit; 5,2253 And yit thei bothe aliche sore 5,2254 Coveite, bot fortune is more 5,2255 Unto that o part favorable. 5,2256 And thogh it be noght resonable, 5,2257 This thing a man mai sen alday, 5,2258 Wherof that I thee telle may 5,2259 A fair ensample in remembrance, 5,2260 Hou every man mot take his chance 5,2261 Or of richesse or of poverte. 5,2262 Hou so it stonde of the decerte, 5,2263 Hier is noght every thing aquit, 5,2264 For ofte a man mai se this yit, 5,2265 That who best doth, lest thonk schal have; 5,2266 It helpeth noght the world to crave, 5,2267 Which out of reule and of mesure 5,2268 Hath evere stonde in aventure 5,2269 Als wel in Court as elles where: 5,2270 And hou in olde daies there 5,2271 It stod, so as the thinges felle, 5,2272 I thenke a tale forto telle. 5,2273 In a Cronique this I rede. 5,2274 Aboute a king, as moste nede, 5,2275 Ther was of knyhtes and squiers 5,2276 Gret route, and ek of Officers: 5,2277 Some of long time him hadden served, 5,2278 And thoghten that thei have deserved 5,2279 Avancement, and gon withoute; 5,2280 And some also ben of the route 5,2281 That comen bot a while agon, 5,2282 And thei avanced were anon. 5,2283 These olde men upon this thing, 5,2284 So as thei dorste, ayein the king 5,2285 Among hemself compleignen ofte: 5,2286 Bot ther is nothing seid so softe, 5,2287 That it ne comth out ate laste; 5,2288 The king it wiste, and als so faste, 5,2289 As he which was of hih Prudence, 5,2290 He schop therfore an evidence 5,2291 Of hem that pleignen in that cas, 5,2292 To knowe in whos defalte it was. 5,2293 And al withinne his oghne entente, 5,2294 That noman wiste what it mente, 5,2295 Anon he let tuo cofres make 5,2296 Of o semblance and of o make, 5,2297 So lich that no lif thilke throwe 5,2298 That on mai fro that other knowe: 5,2299 Thei were into his chambre broght, 5,2300 Bot noman wot why thei be wroght, 5,2301 And natheles the king hath bede 5,2302 That thei be set in prive stede. 5,2303 As he that was of wisdom slih, 5,2304 Whan he therto his time sih, 5,2305 Al prively, that non it wiste, 5,2306 Hise oghne hondes that o kiste 5,2307 Of fin gold and of fin perrie, 5,2308 The which out of his tresorie 5,2309 Was take, anon he felde full; 5,2310 That other cofre of straw and mull 5,2311 With Stones meind he felde also. 5,2312 Thus be thei fulle bothe tuo, 5,2313 So that erliche upon a day 5,2314 He bad withinne, ther he lay, 5,2315 Ther scholde be tofore his bed 5,2316 A bord upset and faire spred; 5,2317 And thanne he let the cofres fette, 5,2318 Upon the bord and dede hem sette. 5,2319 He knew the names wel of tho, 5,2320 The whiche ayein him grucche so, 5,2321 Bothe of his chambre and of his halle, 5,2322 Anon and sende for hem alle, 5,2323 And seide to hem in this wise: 5,2324 "Ther schal noman his happ despise; 5,2325 I wot wel ye have longe served, 5,2326 And god wot what ye have deserved: 5,2327 Bot if it is along on me 5,2328 Of that ye unavanced be, 5,2329 Or elles it be long on you, 5,2330 The sothe schal be proved nou, 5,2331 To stoppe with youre evele word. 5,2332 Lo hier tuo cofres on the bord: 5,2333 Ches which you list of bothe tuo; 5,2334 And witeth wel that on of tho 5,2335 Is with tresor so full begon, 5,2336 That if ye happe therupon, 5,2337 Ye schull be riche men for evere. 5,2338 Now ches and tak which you is levere: 5,2339 Bot be wel war, er that ye take; 5,2340 For of that on I undertake 5,2341 Ther is no maner good therinne, 5,2342 Wherof ye mihten profit winne. 5,2343 Now goth togedre of on assent 5,2344 And taketh youre avisement, 5,2345 For bot I you this dai avance, 5,2346 It stant upon youre oghne chance 5,2347 Al only in defalte of grace: 5,2348 So schal be schewed in this place 5,2349 Upon you alle wel afyn, 5,2350 That no defalte schal be myn." 5,2351 Thei knelen alle and with o vois 5,2352 The king thei thonken of this chois: 5,2353 And after that thei up arise, 5,2354 And gon aside and hem avise, 5,2355 And ate laste thei acorde; 5,2356 Wherof her tale to recorde, 5,2357 To what issue thei be falle, 5,2358 A kniht schal speke for hem alle. 5,2359 He kneleth doun unto the king, 5,2360 And seith that thei upon this thing, 5,2361 Or forto winne or forto lese, 5,2362 Ben alle avised forto chese. 5,2363 Tho tok this kniht a yerde on honde, 5,2364 And goth there as the cofres stonde, 5,2365 And with assent of everichon 5,2366 He leith his yerde upon that on, 5,2367 And seith the king hou thilke same 5,2368 Thei chese in reguerdoun be name, 5,2369 And preith him that thei mote it have. 5,2370 The king, which wolde his honour save, 5,2371 Whan he hath herd the commun vois, 5,2372 Hath granted hem here oghne chois 5,2373 And tok hem therupon the keie. 5,2374 Bot for he wolde it were seie 5,2375 What good thei have, as thei suppose, 5,2376 He bad anon the cofre unclose, 5,2377 Which was fulfild with straw and stones: 5,2378 Thus be thei served al at ones. 5,2379 This king thanne in the same stede 5,2380 Anon that other cofre undede, 5,2381 Where as thei sihen gret richesse, 5,2382 Wel more than thei couthen gesse. 5,2383 "Lo," seith the king, "nou mai ye se 5,2384 That ther is no defalte in me; 5,2385 Forthi miself I wole aquyte, 5,2386 And bereth ye youre oghne wyte 5,2387 Of that fortune hath you refused." 5,2388 Thus was this wise king excused, 5,2389 And thei lefte of here evele speche 5,2390 And mercy of here king beseche. 5,2391 Somdiel to this matiere lik 5,2392 I finde a tale, hou Frederik, 5,2393 Of Rome that time Emperour, 5,2394 Herde, as he wente, a gret clamour 5,2395 Of tuo beggers upon the weie. 5,2396 That on of hem began to seie, 5,2397 "Ha lord, wel mai the man be riche 5,2398 Whom that a king list forto riche." 5,2399 That other saide nothing so, 5,2400 Bot, "He is riche and wel bego, 5,2401 To whom that god wole sende wele." 5,2402 And thus thei maden wordes fele, 5,2403 Wherof this lord hath hiede nome, 5,2404 And dede hem bothe forto come 5,2405 To the Paleis, wher he schal ete, 5,2406 And bad ordeine for here mete 5,2407 Tuo Pastes, whiche he let do make. 5,2408 A capoun in that on was bake, 5,2409 And in that other forto winne 5,2410 Of florins al that mai withinne 5,2411 He let do pute a gret richesse; 5,2412 And evene aliche, as man mai gesse, 5,2413 Outward thei were bothe tuo. 5,2414 This begger was comanded tho, 5,2415 He that which hield him to the king, 5,2416 That he ferst chese upon this thing: 5,2417 He sih hem, bot he felte hem noght, 5,2418 So that upon his oghne thoght 5,2419 He ches the Capoun and forsok 5,2420 That other, which his fela tok. 5,2421 Bot whanne he wiste hou that it ferde, 5,2422 He seide alowd, that men it herde, 5,2423 "Nou have I certeinly conceived 5,2424 That he mai lihtly be deceived, 5,2425 That tristeth unto mannes helpe; 5,2426 Bot wel is him whom god wol helpe, 5,2427 For he stant on the siker side, 5,2428 Which elles scholde go beside: 5,2429 I se my fela wel recovere, 5,2430 And I mot duelle stille povere." 5,2431 Thus spak this begger his entente, 5,2432 And povere he cam and povere he wente; 5,2433 Of that he hath richesse soght, 5,2434 His infortune it wolde noght. 5,2435 So mai it schewe in sondri wise, 5,2436 Betwen fortune and covoitise 5,2437 The chance is cast upon a Dee; 5,2438 Bot yit fulofte a man mai se 5,2439 Ynowe of suche natheles, 5,2440 Whiche evere pute hemself in press 5,2441 To gete hem good, and yit thei faile. 5,2442 And forto speke of this entaile 5,2443 Touchende of love in thi matiere, 5,2444 Mi goode Sone, as thou miht hiere, 5,2445 That riht as it with tho men stod 5,2446 Of infortune of worldes good, 5,2447 As thou hast herd me telle above, 5,2448 Riht so fulofte it stant be love: 5,2449 Thogh thou coveite it everemore, 5,2450 Thou schalt noght have o diel the more, 5,2451 Bot only that which thee is schape, 5,2452 The remenant is bot a jape. 5,2453 And natheles ynowe of tho 5,2454 Ther ben, that nou coveiten so, 5,2455 That where as thei a womman se, 5,2456 Ye ten or tuelve thogh ther be, 5,2457 The love is nou so unavised, 5,2458 That wher the beaute stant assised, 5,2459 The mannes herte anon is there, 5,2460 And rouneth tales in hire Ere, 5,2461 And seith hou that he loveth streite, 5,2462 And thus he set him to coveite, 5,2463 An hundred thogh he sihe aday. 5,2464 So wolde he more thanne he may; 5,2465 Bot for the grete covoitise 5,2466 Of sotie and of fol emprise 5,2467 In ech of hem he fint somwhat 5,2468 That pleseth him, or this or that; 5,2469 Som on, for sche is whit of skin, 5,2470 Som on, for sche is noble of kin, 5,2471 Som on, for sche hath rodi chieke, 5,2472 Som on, for that sche semeth mieke, 5,2473 Som on, for sche hath yhen greie, 5,2474 Som on, for sche can lawhe and pleie, 5,2475 Som on, for sche is long and smal, 5,2476 Som on, for sche is lyte and tall, 5,2477 Som on, for sche is pale and bleche, 5,2478 Som on, for sche is softe of speche, 5,2479 Som on, for that sche is camused, 5,2480 Som on, for sche hath noght ben used, 5,2481 Som on, for sche can daunce and singe; 5,2482 So that som thing to his likinge 5,2483 He fint, and thogh nomore he fiele, 5,2484 Bot that sche hath a litel hiele, 5,2485 It is ynow that he therfore 5,2486 Hire love, and thus an hundred score, 5,2487 Whil thei be newe, he wolde he hadde; 5,2488 Whom he forsakth, sche schal be badde. 5,2489 The blinde man no colour demeth, 5,2490 But al is on, riht as him semeth; 5,2491 So hath his lust no juggement, 5,2492 Whom covoitise of love blent. 5,2493 Him thenkth that to his covoitise 5,2494 Hou al the world ne mai suffise, 5,2495 For be his wille he wolde have alle, 5,2496 If that it mihte so befalle: 5,2497 Thus is he commun as the Strete, 5,2498 I sette noght of his beyete. 5,2499 Mi Sone, hast thou such covoitise? 5,2500 Nai, fader, such love I despise, 5,2501 And whil I live schal don evere, 5,2502 For in good feith yit hadde I levere, 5,2503 Than to coveite in such a weie, 5,2504 To ben for evere til I deie 5,2505 As povere as Job, and loveles, 5,2506 Outaken on, for haveles 5,2507 His thonkes is noman alyve. 5,2508 For that a man scholde al unthryve 5,2509 Ther oghte no wisman coveite, 5,2510 The lawe was noght set so streite: 5,2511 Forthi miself withal to save, 5,2512 Such on ther is I wolde have, 5,2513 And non of al these othre mo. 5,2514 Mi Sone, of that thou woldest so, 5,2515 I am noght wroth, bot over this 5,2516 I wol thee tellen hou it is. 5,2517 For ther be men, whiche otherwise, 5,2518 Riht only for the covoitise 5,2519 Of that thei sen a womman riche, 5,2520 Ther wol thei al here love affiche; 5,2521 Noght for the beaute of hire face, 5,2522 Ne yit for vertu ne for grace, 5,2523 Which sche hath elles riht ynowh, 5,2524 Bot for the Park and for the plowh, 5,2525 And other thing which therto longeth: 5,2526 For in non other wise hem longeth 5,2527 To love, bot thei profit finde; 5,2528 And if the profit be behinde, 5,2529 Here love is evere lesse and lesse, 5,2530 For after that sche hath richesse, 5,2531 Her love is of proporcion. 5,2532 If thou hast such condicion, 5,2533 Mi Sone, tell riht as it is. 5,2534 Min holi fader, nay ywiss, 5,2535 Condicion such have I non. 5,2536 For trewli, fader, I love oon 5,2537 So wel with al myn hertes thoght, 5,2538 That certes, thogh sche hadde noght, 5,2539 And were as povere as Medea, 5,2540 Which was exiled for Creusa, 5,2541 I wolde hir noght the lasse love; 5,2542 Ne thogh sche were at hire above, 5,2543 As was the riche qwen Candace, 5,2544 Which to deserve love and grace 5,2545 To Alisandre, that was king, 5,2546 Yaf many a worthi riche thing, 5,2547 Or elles as Pantasilee, 5,2548 Which was the quen of Feminee, 5,2549 And gret richesse with hir nam, 5,2550 Whan sche for love of Hector cam 5,2551 To Troie in rescousse of the toun,- 5,2552 I am of such condicion, 5,2553 That thogh mi ladi of hirselve 5,2554 Were also riche as suche tuelve, 5,2555 I couthe noght, thogh it wer so, 5,2556 No betre love hir than I do. 5,2557 For I love in so plein a wise, 5,2558 That forto speke of coveitise, 5,2559 As for poverte or for richesse 5,2560 Mi love is nouther mor ne lesse. 5,2561 For in good feith I trowe this, 5,2562 So coveitous noman ther is, 5,2563 Forwhy and he mi ladi sihe, 5,2564 That he thurgh lokinge of his yhe 5,2565 Ne scholde have such a strok withinne, 5,2566 That for no gold he mihte winne 5,2567 He scholde noght hire love asterte, 5,2568 Bot if he lefte there his herte; 5,2569 Be so it were such a man, 5,2570 That couthe Skile of a womman. 5,2571 For ther be men so ruide some, 5,2572 Whan thei among the wommen come, 5,2573 Thei gon under proteccioun, 5,2574 That love and his affeccioun 5,2575 Ne schal noght take hem be the slieve; 5,2576 For thei ben out of that believe, 5,2577 Hem lusteth of no ladi chiere, 5,2578 Bot evere thenken there and hiere 5,2579 Wher that here gold is in the cofre, 5,2580 And wol non other love profre: 5,2581 Bot who so wot what love amounteth 5,2582 And be resoun trewliche acompteth, 5,2583 Than mai he knowe and taken hiede 5,2584 That al the lust of wommanhiede, 5,2585 Which mai ben in a ladi face, 5,2586 Mi ladi hath, and ek of grace 5,2587 If men schull yiven hire a pris, 5,2588 Thei mai wel seie hou sche is wys 5,2589 And sobre and simple of contenance, 5,2590 And al that to good governance 5,2591 Belongeth of a worthi wiht 5,2592 Sche hath pleinli: for thilke nyht 5,2593 That sche was bore, as for the nones 5,2594 Nature sette in hire at ones 5,2595 Beaute with bounte so besein, 5,2596 That I mai wel afferme and sein, 5,2597 I sawh yit nevere creature 5,2598 Of comlihied and of feture 5,2599 In eny kinges regioun 5,2600 Be lich hire in comparisoun: 5,2601 And therto, as I have you told, 5,2602 Yit hath sche more a thousendfold 5,2603 Of bounte, and schortli to telle, 5,2604 Sche is the pure hed and welle 5,2605 And Mirour and ensample of goode. 5,2606 Who so hir vertus understode, 5,2607 Me thenkth it oughte ynow suffise 5,2608 Withouten other covoitise 5,2609 To love such on and to serve, 5,2610 Which with hire chiere can deserve 5,2611 To be beloved betre ywiss 5,2612 Than sche per cas that richest is 5,2613 And hath of gold a Milion. 5,2614 Such hath be myn opinion 5,2615 And evere schal: bot natheles 5,2616 I seie noght sche is haveles, 5,2617 That sche nys riche and wel at ese, 5,2618 And hath ynow wherwith to plese 5,2619 Of worldes good whom that hire liste; 5,2620 Bot o thing wolde I wel ye wiste, 5,2621 That nevere for no worldes good 5,2622 Min herte untoward hire stod, 5,2623 Bot only riht for pure love; 5,2624 That wot the hihe god above. 5,2625 Nou, fader, what seie ye therto? 5,2626 Mi Sone, I seie it is wel do. 5,2627 For tak of this riht good believe, 5,2628 What man that wole himself relieve 5,2629 To love in eny other wise, 5,2630 He schal wel finde his coveitise 5,2631 Schal sore grieve him ate laste, 5,2632 For such a love mai noght laste. 5,2633 Bot nou, men sein, in oure daies 5,2634 Men maken bot a fewe assaies, 5,2635 Bot if the cause be richesse; 5,2636 Forthi the love is wel the lesse. 5,2637 And who that wolde ensamples telle, 5,2638 Be olde daies as thei felle, 5,2639 Than mihte a man wel understonde 5,2640 Such love mai noght longe stonde. 5,2641 Now herkne, Sone, and thou schalt hiere 5,2642 A gret ensample of this matiere. 5,2643 To trete upon the cas of love, 5,2644 So as we tolden hiere above, 5,2645 I finde write a wonder thing. 5,2646 Of Puile whilom was a king, 5,2647 A man of hih complexioun 5,2648 And yong, bot his affeccioun 5,2649 After the nature of his age 5,2650 Was yit noght falle in his corage 5,2651 The lust of wommen forto knowe. 5,2652 So it betidde upon a throwe 5,2653 This lord fell into gret seknesse: 5,2654 Phisique hath don the besinesse 5,2655 Of sondri cures manyon 5,2656 To make him hol; and therupon 5,2657 A worthi maister which ther was 5,2658 Yaf him conseil upon this cas, 5,2659 That if he wolde have parfit hele, 5,2660 He scholde with a womman dele, 5,2661 A freissh, a yong, a lusti wiht, 5,2662 To don him compaignie a nyht: 5,2663 For thanne he seide him redily, 5,2664 That he schal be al hol therby, 5,2665 And otherwise he kneu no cure. 5,2666 This king, which stod in aventure 5,2667 Of lif and deth, for medicine 5,2668 Assented was, and of covine 5,2669 His Steward, whom he tristeth wel, 5,2670 He tok, and tolde him everydel, 5,2671 Hou that this maister hadde seid: 5,2672 And therupon he hath him preid 5,2673 And charged upon his ligance, 5,2674 That he do make porveance 5,2675 Of such on as be covenable 5,2676 For his plesance and delitable; 5,2677 And bad him, hou that evere it stod, 5,2678 That he schal spare for no good, 5,2679 For his will is riht wel to paie. 5,2680 The Steward seide he wolde assaie: 5,2681 Bot nou hierafter thou schalt wite, 5,2682 As I finde in the bokes write, 5,2683 What coveitise in love doth. 5,2684 This Steward, forto telle soth, 5,2685 Amonges al the men alyve 5,2686 A lusti ladi hath to wyve, 5,2687 Which natheles for gold he tok 5,2688 And noght for love, as seith the bok. 5,2689 A riche Marchant of the lond 5,2690 Hir fader was, and hire fond 5,2691 So worthily, and such richesse 5,2692 Of worldes good and such largesse 5,2693 With hire he yaf in mariage, 5,2694 That only for thilke avantage 5,2695 Of good this Steward hath hire take, 5,2696 For lucre and noght for loves sake, 5,2697 And that was afterward wel seene; 5,2698 Nou herkne what it wolde meene. 5,2699 This Steward in his oghne herte 5,2700 Sih that his lord mai noght asterte 5,2701 His maladie, bot he have 5,2702 A lusti womman him to save, 5,2703 And thoghte he wolde yive ynowh 5,2704 Of his tresor; wherof he drowh 5,2705 Gret coveitise into his mynde, 5,2706 And sette his honour fer behynde. 5,2707 Thus he, whom gold hath overset, 5,2708 Was trapped in his oghne net; 5,2709 The gold hath mad hise wittes lame, 5,2710 So that sechende his oghne schame 5,2711 He rouneth in the kinges Ere, 5,2712 And seide him that he wiste where 5,2713 A gentile and a lusti on 5,2714 Tho was, and thider wolde he gon: 5,2715 Bot he mot yive yiftes grete; 5,2716 For bot it be thurgh grete beyete 5,2717 Of gold, he seith, he schal noght spede. 5,2718 The king him bad upon the nede 5,2719 That take an hundred pound he scholde, 5,2720 And yive it where that he wolde, 5,2721 Be so it were in worthi place: 5,2722 And thus to stonde in loves grace 5,2723 This king his gold hath abandouned. 5,2724 And whan this tale was full rouned, 5,2725 The Steward tok the gold and wente, 5,2726 Withinne his herte and many a wente 5,2727 Of coveitise thanne he caste, 5,2728 Wherof a pourpos ate laste 5,2729 Ayein love and ayein his riht 5,2730 He tok, and seide hou thilke nyht 5,2731 His wif schal ligge be the king; 5,2732 And goth thenkende upon this thing 5,2733 Toward his In, til he cam hom 5,2734 Into the chambre, and thanne he nom 5,2735 His wif, and tolde hire al the cas. 5,2736 And sche, which red for schame was, 5,2737 With bothe hire handes hath him preid 5,2738 Knelende and in this wise seid, 5,2739 That sche to reson and to skile 5,2740 In what thing that he bidde wile 5,2741 Is redy forto don his heste, 5,2742 Bot this thing were noght honeste, 5,2743 That he for gold hire scholde selle. 5,2744 And he tho with hise wordes felle 5,2745 Forth with his gastly contienance 5,2746 Seith that sche schal don obeissance 5,2747 And folwe his will in every place; 5,2748 And thus thurgh strengthe of his manace 5,2749 Hir innocence is overlad, 5,2750 Wherof sche was so sore adrad 5,2751 That sche his will mot nede obeie. 5,2752 And therupon was schape a weie, 5,2753 That he his oghne wif be nyhte 5,2754 Hath out of alle mennes sihte 5,2755 So prively that non it wiste 5,2756 Broght to the king, which as him liste 5,2757 Mai do with hire what he wolde. 5,2758 For whan sche was ther as sche scholde, 5,2759 With him abedde under the cloth, 5,2760 The Steward tok his leve and goth 5,2761 Into a chambre faste by; 5,2762 Bot hou he slep, that wot noght I, 5,2763 For he sih cause of jelousie. 5,2764 Bot he, which hath the compainie 5,2765 Of such a lusti on as sche, 5,2766 Him thoghte that of his degre 5,2767 Ther was noman so wel at ese: 5,2768 Sche doth al that sche mai to plese, 5,2769 So that his herte al hol sche hadde; 5,2770 And thus this king his joie ladde, 5,2771 Til it was nyh upon the day. 5,2772 The Steward thanne wher sche lay 5,2773 Cam to the bedd, and in his wise 5,2774 Hath bede that sche scholde arise. 5,2775 The king seith, "Nay, sche schal noght go." 5,2776 His Steward seide ayein, "Noght so; 5,2777 For sche mot gon er it be knowe, 5,2778 And so I swor at thilke throwe, 5,2779 Whan I hire fette to you hiere." 5,2780 The king his tale wol noght hiere, 5,2781 And seith hou that he hath hire boght, 5,2782 Forthi sche schal departe noght, 5,2783 Til he the brighte dai beholde. 5,2784 And cawhte hire in hise armes folde, 5,2785 As he which liste forto pleie, 5,2786 And bad his Steward gon his weie, 5,2787 And so he dede ayein his wille. 5,2788 And thus his wif abedde stille 5,2789 Lay with the king the longe nyht, 5,2790 Til that it was hih Sonne lyht; 5,2791 Bot who sche was he knew nothing. 5,2792 Tho cam the Steward to the king 5,2793 And preide him that withoute schame 5,2794 In savinge of hire goode name 5,2795 He myhte leden hom ayein 5,2796 This lady, and hath told him plein 5,2797 Hou that it was his oghne wif. 5,2798 The king his Ere unto this strif 5,2799 Hath leid, and whan that he it herde, 5,2800 Welnyh out of his wit he ferde, 5,2801 And seide, "Ha, caitif most of alle, 5,2802 Wher was it evere er this befalle, 5,2803 That eny cokard in this wise 5,2804 Betok his wif for coveitise? 5,2805 Thou hast bothe hire and me beguiled 5,2806 And ek thin oghne astat reviled, 5,2807 Wherof that buxom unto thee 5,2808 Hierafter schal sche nevere be. 5,2809 For this avou to god I make, 5,2810 After this day if I thee take, 5,2811 Thou schalt ben honged and todrawe. 5,2812 Nou loke anon thou be withdrawe, 5,2813 So that I se thee neveremore." 5,2814 This Steward thanne dradde him sore, 5,2815 With al the haste that he mai 5,2816 And fledde awei that same dai, 5,2817 And was exiled out of londe. 5,2818 Lo, there a nyce housebonde, 5,2819 Which thus hath lost his wif for evere] 5,2820 Bot natheles sche hadde a levere; 5,2821 The king hire weddeth and honoureth, 5,2822 Wherof hire name sche socoureth, 5,2823 Which erst was lost thurgh coveitise 5,2824 Of him, that ladde hire other wise, 5,2825 And hath himself also forlore. 5,2826 Mi Sone, be thou war therfore, 5,2827 Wher thou schalt love in eny place, 5,2828 That thou no covoitise embrace, 5,2829 The which is noght of loves kinde. 5,2830 Bot for al that a man mai finde 5,2831 Nou in this time of thilke rage 5,2832 Ful gret desese in mariage, 5,2833 Whan venym melleth with the Sucre 5,2834 And mariage is mad for lucre, 5,2835 Or for the lust or for the hele: 5,2836 What man that schal with outher dele, 5,2837 He mai noght faile to repente. 5,2838 Mi fader, such is myn entente: 5,2839 Bot natheles good is to have, 5,2840 For good mai ofte time save 5,2841 The love which scholde elles spille. 5,2842 Bot god, which wot myn hertes wille, 5,2843 I dar wel take to witnesse, 5,2844 Yit was I nevere for richesse 5,2845 Beset with mariage non; 5,2846 For al myn herte is upon on 5,2847 So frely, that in the persone 5,2848 Stant al my worldes joie al one: 5,2849 I axe nouther Park ne Plowh, 5,2850 If I hire hadde, it were ynowh, 5,2851 Hir love scholde me suffise 5,2852 Withouten other coveitise. 5,2853 Lo now, mi fader, as of this, 5,2854 Touchende of me riht as it is, 5,2855 Mi schrifte I am beknowe plein; 5,2856 And if ye wole oght elles sein, 5,2857 Of covoitise if ther be more 5,2858 In love, agropeth out the sore. 5,2859 Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde 5,2860 Hou Coveitise hath yit on honde 5,2861 In special tuo conseilours, 5,2862 That ben also hise procurours. 5,2863 The ferst of hem is Falswitnesse, 5,2864 Which evere is redi to witnesse 5,2865 What thing his maister wol him hote: 5,2866 Perjurie is the secounde hote, 5,2867 Which spareth noght to swere an oth, 5,2868 Thogh it be fals and god be wroth. 5,2869 That on schal falswitnesse bere, 5,2870 That other schal the thing forswere, 5,2871 Whan he is charged on the bok. 5,2872 So what with hepe and what with crok 5,2873 Thei make here maister ofte winne 5,2874 And wol noght knowe what is sinne 5,2875 For coveitise, and thus, men sain, 5,2876 Thei maken many a fals bargain. 5,2877 Ther mai no trewe querele arise 5,2878 In thilke queste and thilke assise, 5,2879 Where as thei tuo the poeple enforme; 5,2880 For thei kepe evere o maner forme, 5,2881 That upon gold here conscience 5,2882 Thei founde, and take here evidence; 5,2883 And thus with falswitnesse and othes 5,2884 Thei winne hem mete and drinke and clothes. 5,2885 Riht so ther be, who that hem knewe, 5,2886 Of thes lovers ful many untrewe: 5,2887 Nou mai a womman finde ynowe, 5,2888 That ech of hem, whan he schal wowe, 5,2889 Anon he wole his hand doun lein 5,2890 Upon a bok, and swere and sein 5,2891 That he wole feith and trouthe bere; 5,2892 And thus he profreth him to swere 5,2893 To serven evere til he die, 5,2894 And al is verai tricherie. 5,2895 For whan the sothe himselven trieth, 5,2896 The more he swerth, the more he lieth; 5,2897 Whan he his feith makth althermest, 5,2898 Than mai a womman truste him lest; 5,2899 For til he mai his will achieve, 5,2900 He is no lengere forto lieve. 5,2901 Thus is the trouthe of love exiled, 5,2902 And many a good womman beguiled. 5,2903 And ek to speke of Falswitnesse, 5,2904 There be nou many suche, I gesse, 5,2905 That lich unto the provisours 5,2906 Thei make here prive procurours, 5,2907 To telle hou ther is such a man, 5,2908 Which is worthi to love and can 5,2909 Al that a good man scholde kunne; 5,2910 So that with lesinge is begunne 5,2911 The cause in which thei wole procede, 5,2912 And also siker as the crede 5,2913 Thei make of that thei knowen fals. 5,2914 And thus fulofte aboute the hals 5,2915 Love is of false men embraced; 5,2916 Bot love which is so pourchaced 5,2917 Comth afterward to litel pris. 5,2918 Forthi, mi Sone, if thou be wis, 5,2919 Nou thou hast herd this evidence, 5,2920 Thou miht thin oghne conscience 5,2921 Oppose, if thou hast ben such on. 5,2922 Nai, god wot, fader I am non, 5,2923 Ne nevere was; for as men seith, 5,2924 Whan that a man schal make his feith, 5,2925 His herte and tunge moste acorde; 5,2926 For if so be that thei discorde, 5,2927 Thanne is he fals and elles noght: 5,2928 And I dar seie, as of my thoght, 5,2929 In love it is noght descordable 5,2930 Unto mi word, bot acordable. 5,2931 And in this wise, fader, I 5,2932 Mai riht wel swere and salvely, 5,2933 That I mi ladi love wel, 5,2934 For that acordeth everydel. 5,2935 It nedeth noght to mi sothsawe 5,2936 That I witnesse scholde drawe, 5,2937 Into this dai for nevere yit 5,2938 Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit, 5,2939 That I my conseil scholde seie 5,2940 To eny wiht, or me bewreie 5,2941 To sechen help in such manere, 5,2942 Bot only of mi ladi diere. 5,2943 And thogh a thousend men it wiste, 5,2944 That I hire love, and thanne hem liste 5,2945 With me to swere and to witnesse, 5,2946 Yit were that no falswitnesse; 5,2947 For I dar on this trouthe duelle, 5,2948 I love hire mor than I can telle. 5,2949 Thus am I, fader, gulteles, 5,2950 As ye have herd, and natheles 5,2951 In youre dom I put it al. 5,2952 Mi Sone, wite in special, 5,2953 It schal noght comunliche faile, 5,2954 Al thogh it for a time availe 5,2955 That Falswitnesse his cause spede, 5,2956 Upon the point of his falshiede 5,2957 It schal wel afterward be kid; 5,2958 Wherof, so as it is betid, 5,2959 Ensample of suche thinges blinde 5,2960 In a Cronique write I finde. 5,2961 The Goddesse of the See Thetis, 5,2962 Sche hadde a Sone, and his name is 5,2963 Achilles, whom to kepe and warde, 5,2964 Whil he was yong, as into warde 5,2965 Sche thoghte him salfly to betake, 5,2966 As sche which dradde for his sake 5,2967 Of that was seid in prophecie, 5,2968 That he at Troie scholde die, 5,2969 Whan that the Cite was belein. 5,2970 Forthi, so as the bokes sein, 5,2971 Sche caste hire wit in sondri wise, 5,2972 Hou sche him mihte so desguise 5,2973 That noman scholde his bodi knowe: 5,2974 And so befell that ilke throwe, 5,2975 Whil that sche thoghte upon this dede, 5,2976 Ther was a king, which Lichomede 5,2977 Was hote, and he was wel begon 5,2978 With faire dowhtres manyon, 5,2979 And duelte fer out in an yle. 5,2980 Nou schalt thou hiere a wonder wyle: 5,2981 This queene, which the moder was 5,2982 Of Achilles, upon this cas 5,2983 Hire Sone, as he a Maiden were, 5,2984 Let clothen in the same gere 5,2985 Which longeth unto wommanhiede: 5,2986 And he was yong and tok non hiede, 5,2987 Bot soffreth al that sche him dede. 5,2988 Wherof sche hath hire wommen bede 5,2989 And charged be here othes alle, 5,2990 Hou so it afterward befalle, 5,2991 That thei discovere noght this thing, 5,2992 Bot feigne and make a knowleching, 5,2993 Upon the conseil which was nome, 5,2994 In every place wher thei come 5,2995 To telle and to witnesse this, 5,2996 Hou he here ladi dowhter is. 5,2997 And riht in such a maner wise 5,2998 Sche bad thei scholde hire don servise, 5,2999 So that Achilles underfongeth 5,3000 As to a yong ladi belongeth 5,3001 Honour, servise and reverence. 5,3002 For Thetis with gret diligence 5,3003 Him hath so tawht and so afaited, 5,3004 That, hou so that it were awaited, 5,3005 With sobre and goodli contenance 5,3006 He scholde his wommanhiede avance, 5,3007 That non the sothe knowe myhte, 5,3008 Bot that in every mannes syhte 5,3009 He scholde seme a pure Maide. 5,3010 And in such wise as sche him saide, 5,3011 Achilles, which that ilke while 5,3012 Was yong, upon himself to smyle 5,3013 Began, whan he was so besein. 5,3014 And thus, after the bokes sein, 5,3015 With frette of Perle upon his hed, 5,3016 Al freissh betwen the whyt and red, 5,3017 As he which tho was tendre of Age, 5,3018 Stod the colour in his visage, 5,3019 That forto loke upon his cheke 5,3020 And sen his childly manere eke, 5,3021 He was a womman to beholde. 5,3022 And thanne his moder to him tolde, 5,3023 That sche him hadde so begon 5,3024 Be cause that sche thoghte gon 5,3025 To Lichomede at thilke tyde, 5,3026 Wher that sche seide he scholde abyde 5,3027 Among hise dowhtres forto duelle. 5,3028 Achilles herde his moder telle, 5,3029 And wiste noght the cause why; 5,3030 And natheles ful buxomly 5,3031 He was redy to that sche bad, 5,3032 Wherof his moder was riht glad, 5,3033 To Lichomede and forth thei wente. 5,3034 And whan the king knew hire entente, 5,3035 And sih this yonge dowhter there, 5,3036 And that it cam unto his Ere 5,3037 Of such record, of such witnesse, 5,3038 He hadde riht a gret gladnesse 5,3039 Of that he bothe syh and herde, 5,3040 As he that wot noght hou it ferde 5,3041 Upon the conseil of the nede. 5,3042 Bot for al that king Lichomede 5,3043 Hath toward him this dowhter take, 5,3044 And for Thetis his moder sake 5,3045 He put hire into compainie 5,3046 To duelle with Deiµdamie, 5,3047 His oghne dowhter, the eldeste, 5,3048 The faireste and the comelieste 5,3049 Of alle hise doghtres whiche he hadde. 5,3050 Lo, thus Thetis the cause ladde, 5,3051 And lefte there Achilles feigned, 5,3052 As he which hath himself restreigned 5,3053 In al that evere he mai and can 5,3054 Out of the manere of a man, 5,3055 And tok his wommannysshe chiere, 5,3056 Wherof unto his beddefere 5,3057 Deiµdamie he hath be nyhte. 5,3058 Wher kinde wole himselve rihte, 5,3059 After the Philosophres sein, 5,3060 Ther mai no wiht be therayein: 5,3061 And that was thilke time seene. 5,3062 The longe nyhtes hem betuene 5,3063 Nature, which mai noght forbere, 5,3064 Hath mad hem bothe forto stere: 5,3065 Thei kessen ferst, and overmore 5,3066 The hihe weie of loves lore 5,3067 Thei gon, and al was don in dede, 5,3068 Wherof lost is the maydenhede; 5,3069 And that was afterward wel knowe. 5,3070 For it befell that ilke throwe 5,3071 At Troie, wher the Siege lay 5,3072 Upon the cause of Menelay 5,3073 And of his queene dame Heleine, 5,3074 The Gregois hadden mochel peine 5,3075 Alday to fihte and to assaile. 5,3076 Bot for thei mihten noght availe 5,3077 So noble a Cite forto winne, 5,3078 A prive conseil thei beginne, 5,3079 In sondri wise wher thei trete; 5,3080 And ate laste among the grete 5,3081 Thei fellen unto this acord, 5,3082 That Protheuµs, of his record 5,3083 Which was an Astronomien 5,3084 And ek a gret Magicien, 5,3085 Scholde of his calculacion 5,3086 Seche after constellacion, 5,3087 Hou thei the Cite mihten gete: 5,3088 And he, which hadde noght foryete 5,3089 Of that belongeth to a clerk, 5,3090 His studie sette upon this werk. 5,3091 So longe his wit aboute he caste, 5,3092 Til that he fond out ate laste, 5,3093 Bot if they hadden Achilles 5,3094 Here werre schal ben endeles. 5,3095 And over that he tolde hem plein 5,3096 In what manere he was besein, 5,3097 And in what place he schal be founde; 5,3098 So that withinne a litel stounde 5,3099 Ulixes forth with Diomede 5,3100 Upon this point to Lichomede 5,3101 Agamenon togedre sente. 5,3102 Bot Ulixes, er he forth wente, 5,3103 Which was on of the moste wise, 5,3104 Ordeigned hath in such a wise, 5,3105 That he the moste riche aray, 5,3106 Wherof a womman mai be gay, 5,3107 With him hath take manyfold, 5,3108 And overmore, as it is told, 5,3109 An harneis for a lusti kniht, 5,3110 Which burned was as Selver bryht, 5,3111 Of swerd, of plate and ek of maile, 5,3112 As thogh he scholde to bataille, 5,3113 He tok also with him be Schipe. 5,3114 And thus togedre in felaschipe 5,3115 Forth gon this Diomede and he 5,3116 In hope til thei mihten se 5,3117 The place where Achilles is. 5,3118 The wynd stod thanne noght amis, 5,3119 Bot evene topseilcole it blew, 5,3120 Til Ulixes the Marche knew, 5,3121 Wher Lichomede his Regne hadde. 5,3122 The Stieresman so wel hem ladde, 5,3123 That thei ben comen sauf to londe, 5,3124 Wher thei gon out upon the stronde 5,3125 Into the Burgh, wher that thei founde 5,3126 The king, and he which hath facounde, 5,3127 Ulixes, dede the message. 5,3128 Bot the conseil of his corage, 5,3129 Why that he cam, he tolde noght, 5,3130 Bot undernethe he was bethoght 5,3131 In what manere he mihte aspie 5,3132 Achilles fro Deiµdamie 5,3133 And fro these othre that ther were, 5,3134 Full many a lusti ladi there. 5,3135 Thei pleide hem there a day or tuo, 5,3136 And as it was fortuned so, 5,3137 It fell that time in such a wise, 5,3138 To Bachus that a sacrifise 5,3139 Thes yonge ladys scholden make; 5,3140 And for the strange mennes sake, 5,3141 That comen fro the Siege of Troie, 5,3142 Thei maden wel the more joie. 5,3143 Ther was Revel, ther was daunsinge, 5,3144 And every lif which coude singe 5,3145 Of lusti wommen in the route 5,3146 A freissh carole hath sunge aboute; 5,3147 Bot for al this yit natheles 5,3148 The Greks unknowe of Achilles 5,3149 So weren, that in no degre 5,3150 Thei couden wite which was he, 5,3151 Ne be his vois, ne be his pas. 5,3152 Ulixes thanne upon this cas 5,3153 A thing of hih Prudence hath wroght: 5,3154 For thilke aray, which he hath broght 5,3155 To yive among the wommen there, 5,3156 He let do fetten al the gere 5,3157 Forth with a knihtes harneis eke,- 5,3158 In al a contre forto seke 5,3159 Men scholden noght a fairer se,- 5,3160 And every thing in his degre 5,3161 Endlong upon a bord he leide. 5,3162 To Lichomede and thanne he preide 5,3163 That every ladi chese scholde 5,3164 What thing of alle that sche wolde, 5,3165 And take it as be weie of yifte; 5,3166 For thei hemself it scholde schifte, 5,3167 He seide, after here oghne wille. 5,3168 Achilles thanne stod noght stille: 5,3169 Whan he the bryhte helm behield, 5,3170 The swerd, the hauberk and the Schield, 5,3171 His herte fell therto anon; 5,3172 Of all that othre wolde he non, 5,3173 The knihtes gere he underfongeth, 5,3174 And thilke aray which that belongeth 5,3175 Unto the wommen he forsok. 5,3176 And in this wise, as seith the bok, 5,3177 Thei knowen thanne which he was: 5,3178 For he goth forth the grete pas 5,3179 Into the chambre where he lay; 5,3180 Anon, and made no delay, 5,3181 He armeth him in knyhtli wise, 5,3182 That bettre can noman devise, 5,3183 And as fortune scholde falle, 5,3184 He cam so forth tofore hem alle, 5,3185 As he which tho was glad ynowh. 5,3186 But Lichomede nothing lowh, 5,3187 Whan that he syh hou that it ferde, 5,3188 For thanne he wiste wel and herde, 5,3189 His dowhter hadde be forlein; 5,3190 Bot that he was so oversein, 5,3191 The wonder overgoth his wit. 5,3192 For in Cronique is write yit 5,3193 Thing which schal nevere be foryete, 5,3194 Hou that Achilles hath begete 5,3195 Pirrus upon Deiµdamie, 5,3196 Wherof cam out the tricherie 5,3197 Of Falswitnesse, whan thei saide 5,3198 Hou that Achilles was a Maide. 5,3199 Bot that was nothing sene tho, 5,3200 For he is to the Siege go 5,3201 Forth with Ulixe and Diomede. 5,3202 Lo, thus was proved in the dede 5,3203 And fulli spoke at thilke while: 5,3204 If o womman an other guile, 5,3205 Wher is ther eny sikernesse? 5,3206 Whan Thetis, which was the goddesse, 5,3207 Deiµdamie hath so bejaped, 5,3208 I not hou it schal ben ascaped 5,3209 With tho wommen whos innocence 5,3210 Is nou alday thurgh such credence 5,3211 Deceived ofte, as it is seene, 5,3212 With men that such untrouthe meene. 5,3213 For thei ben slyhe in such a wise, 5,3214 That thei be sleihte and be queintise 5,3215 Of Falswitnesse bringen inne 5,3216 That doth hem ofte forto winne, 5,3217 Wher thei ben noght worthi therto. 5,3218 Forthi, my Sone, do noght so. 5,3219 Mi fader, as of Falswitnesse 5,3220 The trouthe and the matiere expresse, 5,3221 Touchende of love hou it hath ferd, 5,3222 As ye have told, I have wel herd. 5,3223 Bot for ye seiden otherwise, 5,3224 Hou thilke vice of Covoitise 5,3225 Hath yit Perjurie of his acord, 5,3226 If that you list of som record 5,3227 To telle an other tale also 5,3228 In loves cause of time ago, 5,3229 What thing it is to be forswore, 5,3230 I wolde preie you therfore, 5,3231 Wherof I mihte ensample take. 5,3232 Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake 5,3233 Touchende of this I schall fulfille 5,3234 Thin axinge at thin oghne wille, 5,3235 And the matiere I schal declare, 5,3236 Hou the wommen deceived are, 5,3237 Whan thei so tendre herte bere, 5,3238 Of that thei hieren men so swere; 5,3239 Bot whan it comth unto thassay, 5,3240 Thei finde it fals an other day: 5,3241 As Jason dede to Medee, 5,3242 Which stant yet of Auctorite 5,3243 In tokne and in memorial; 5,3244 Wherof the tale in special 5,3245 Is in the bok of Troie write, 5,3246 Which I schal do thee forto wite. 5,3247 In Grece whilom was a king, 5,3248 Of whom the fame and knowleching 5,3249 Beleveth yit, and Peleuµs 5,3250 He hihte; bot it fell him thus, 5,3251 That his fortune hir whiel so ladde 5,3252 That he no child his oghne hadde 5,3253 To regnen after his decess. 5,3254 He hadde a brother natheles, 5,3255 Whos rihte name was Eson, 5,3256 And he the worthi kniht Jason 5,3257 Begat, the which in every lond 5,3258 Alle othre passede of his hond 5,3259 In Armes, so that he the beste 5,3260 Was named and the worthieste, 5,3261 He soghte worschipe overal. 5,3262 Nou herkne, and I thee telle schal 5,3263 An aventure that he soghte, 5,3264 Which afterward ful dere he boghte. 5,3265 Ther was an yle, which Colchos 5,3266 Was cleped, and therof aros 5,3267 Gret speche in every lond aboute, 5,3268 That such merveile was non oute 5,3269 In al the wyde world nawhere, 5,3270 As tho was in that yle there. 5,3271 Ther was a Schiep, as it was told, 5,3272 The which his flees bar al of gold, 5,3273 And so the goddes hadde it set, 5,3274 That it ne mihte awei be fet 5,3275 Be pouer of no worldes wiht: 5,3276 And yit ful many a worthi kniht 5,3277 It hadde assaied, as thei dorste, 5,3278 And evere it fell hem to the worste. 5,3279 Bot he, that wolde it noght forsake, 5,3280 Bot of his knyhthod undertake 5,3281 To do what thing therto belongeth, 5,3282 This worthi Jason, sore alongeth 5,3283 To se the strange regiouns 5,3284 And knowe the condiciouns 5,3285 Of othre Marches, where he wente; 5,3286 And for that cause his hole entente 5,3287 He sette Colchos forto seche, 5,3288 And therupon he made a speche 5,3289 To Peleuµs his Em the king. 5,3290 And he wel paid was of that thing; 5,3291 And schop anon for his passage, 5,3292 And suche as were of his lignage, 5,3293 With othre knihtes whiche he ches, 5,3294 With him he tok, and Hercules, 5,3295 Which full was of chivalerie, 5,3296 With Jason wente in compaignie; 5,3297 And that was in the Monthe of Maii, 5,3298 Whan colde stormes were away. 5,3299 The wynd was good, the Schip was yare, 5,3300 Thei tok here leve, and forth thei fare 5,3301 Toward Colchos: bot on the weie 5,3302 What hem befell is long to seie; 5,3303 Hou Lamedon the king of Troie, 5,3304 Which oghte wel have mad hem joie. 5,3305 Whan thei to reste a while him preide, 5,3306 Out of his lond he hem congeide; 5,3307 And so fell the dissencion, 5,3308 Which after was destruccion 5,3309 Of that Cite, as men mai hiere: 5,3310 Bot that is noght to mi matiere. 5,3311 Bot thus this worthi folk Gregeis 5,3312 Fro that king, which was noght curteis, 5,3313 And fro his lond with Sail updrawe 5,3314 Thei wente hem forth, and many a sawe 5,3315 Thei made and many a gret manace, 5,3316 Til ate laste into that place 5,3317 Which as thei soghte thei aryve, 5,3318 And striken Sail, and forth as blyve 5,3319 Thei sente unto the king and tolden 5,3320 Who weren ther and what thei wolden. 5,3321 Oeµtes, which was thanne king, 5,3322 Whan that he herde this tyding 5,3323 Of Jason, which was comen there, 5,3324 And of these othre, what thei were, 5,3325 He thoghte don hem gret worschipe: 5,3326 For thei anon come out of Schipe, 5,3327 And strawht unto the king thei wente, 5,3328 And be the hond Jason he hente, 5,3329 And that was ate paleis gate, 5,3330 So fer the king cam on his gate 5,3331 Toward Jason to don him chiere; 5,3332 And he, whom lacketh no manere, 5,3333 Whan he the king sih in presence, 5,3334 Yaf him ayein such reverence 5,3335 As to a kinges stat belongeth. 5,3336 And thus the king him underfongeth, 5,3337 And Jason in his arm he cawhte, 5,3338 And forth into the halle he strawhte, 5,3339 And ther they siete and spieke of thinges, 5,3340 And Jason tolde him tho tidinges, 5,3341 Why he was come, and faire him preide 5,3342 To haste his time, and the kyng seide, 5,3343 "Jason, thou art a worthi kniht, 5,3344 Bot it lith in no mannes myht 5,3345 To don that thou art come fore: 5,3346 Ther hath be many a kniht forlore 5,3347 Of that thei wolden it assaie." 5,3348 Bot Jason wolde him noght esmaie, 5,3349 And seide, "Of every worldes cure 5,3350 Fortune stant in aventure, 5,3351 Per aunter wel, per aunter wo: 5,3352 Bot hou as evere that it go, 5,3353 It schal be with myn hond assaied." 5,3354 The king tho hield him noght wel paied, 5,3355 For he the Grekes sore dredde, 5,3356 In aunter, if Jason ne spedde, 5,3357 He mihte therof bere a blame; 5,3358 For tho was al the worldes fame 5,3359 In Grece, as forto speke of Armes. 5,3360 Forthi he dredde him of his harmes, 5,3361 And gan to preche him and to preie; 5,3362 Bot Jason wolde noght obeie, 5,3363 Bot seide he wolde his porpos holde 5,3364 For ought that eny man him tolde. 5,3365 The king, whan he thes wordes herde, 5,3366 And sih hou that this kniht ansuerde, 5,3367 Yit for he wolde make him glad, 5,3368 After Medea gon he bad, 5,3369 Which was his dowhter, and sche cam. 5,3370 And Jason, which good hiede nam, 5,3371 Whan he hire sih, ayein hire goth; 5,3372 And sche, which was him nothing loth, 5,3373 Welcomede him into that lond, 5,3374 And softe tok him be the hond, 5,3375 And doun thei seten bothe same. 5,3376 Sche hadde herd spoke of his name 5,3377 And of his grete worthinesse; 5,3378 Forthi sche gan hir yhe impresse 5,3379 Upon his face and his stature, 5,3380 And thoghte hou nevere creature 5,3381 Was so wel farende as was he. 5,3382 And Jason riht in such degre 5,3383 Ne mihte noght withholde his lok, 5,3384 Bot so good hiede on hire he tok, 5,3385 That him ne thoghte under the hevene 5,3386 Of beaute sawh he nevere hir evene, 5,3387 With al that fell to wommanhiede. 5,3388 Thus ech of other token hiede, 5,3389 Thogh ther no word was of record; 5,3390 Here hertes bothe of on acord 5,3391 Ben set to love, bot as tho 5,3392 Ther mihten be no wordes mo. 5,3393 The king made him gret joie and feste, 5,3394 To alle his men he yaf an heste, 5,3395 So as thei wolde his thonk deserve, 5,3396 That thei scholde alle Jason serve, 5,3397 Whil that he wolde there duelle. 5,3398 And thus the dai, schortly to telle, 5,3399 With manye merthes thei despente, 5,3400 Til nyht was come, and tho thei wente, 5,3401 Echon of other tok his leve, 5,3402 Whan thei no lengere myhten leve. 5,3403 I not hou Jason that nyht slep, 5,3404 Bot wel I wot that of the Schep, 5,3405 For which he cam into that yle, 5,3406 He thoghte bot a litel whyle; 5,3407 Al was Medea that he thoghte, 5,3408 So that in many a wise he soghte 5,3409 His witt wakende er it was day, 5,3410 Som time yee, som time nay, 5,3411 Som time thus, som time so, 5,3412 As he was stered to and fro 5,3413 Of love, and ek of his conqueste 5,3414 As he was holde of his beheste. 5,3415 And thus he ros up be the morwe 5,3416 And tok himself seint John to borwe, 5,3417 And seide he wolde ferst beginne 5,3418 At love, and after forto winne 5,3419 The flees of gold, for which he com, 5,3420 And thus to him good herte he nom. 5,3421 Medea riht the same wise, 5,3422 Til dai cam that sche moste arise, 5,3423 Lay and bethoughte hire al the nyht, 5,3424 Hou sche that noble worthi kniht 5,3425 Be eny weie mihte wedde: 5,3426 And wel sche wiste, if he ne spedde 5,3427 Of thing which he hadde undertake, 5,3428 Sche mihte hirself no porpos take; 5,3429 For if he deide of his bataile, 5,3430 Sche moste thanne algate faile 5,3431 To geten him, whan he were ded. 5,3432 Thus sche began to sette red 5,3433 And torne aboute hir wittes alle, 5,3434 To loke hou that it mihte falle 5,3435 That sche with him hadde a leisir 5,3436 To speke and telle of hir desir. 5,3437 And so it fell that same day 5,3438 That Jason with that suete may 5,3439 Togedre sete and hadden space 5,3440 To speke, and he besoughte hir grace. 5,3441 And sche his tale goodli herde, 5,3442 And afterward sche him ansuerde 5,3443 And seide, "Jason, as thou wilt, 5,3444 Thou miht be sauf, thou miht be spilt; 5,3445 For wite wel that nevere man, 5,3446 Bot if he couthe that I can, 5,3447 Ne mihte that fortune achieve 5,3448 For which thou comst: bot as I lieve, 5,3449 If thou wolt holde covenant 5,3450 To love, of al the remenant 5,3451 I schal thi lif and honour save, 5,3452 That thou the flees of gold schalt have." 5,3453 He seide, "Al at youre oghne wille, 5,3454 Ma dame, I schal treuly fulfille 5,3455 Youre heste, whil mi lif mai laste." 5,3456 Thus longe he preide, and ate laste 5,3457 Sche granteth, and behihte him this, 5,3458 That whan nyht comth and it time is, 5,3459 Sche wolde him sende certeinly 5,3460 Such on that scholde him prively 5,3461 Al one into hire chambre bringe. 5,3462 He thonketh hire of that tidinge, 5,3463 For of that grace him is begonne 5,3464 Him thenkth alle othre thinges wonne. 5,3465 The dai made ende and lost his lyht, 5,3466 And comen was the derke nyht, 5,3467 Which al the daies yhe blente. 5,3468 Jason tok leve and forth he wente, 5,3469 And whan he cam out of the pres, 5,3470 He tok to conseil Hercules, 5,3471 And tolde him hou it was betid, 5,3472 And preide it scholde wel ben hid, 5,3473 And that he wolde loke aboute, 5,3474 Therwhiles that he schal ben oute. 5,3475 Thus as he stod and hiede nam, 5,3476 A Mayden fro Medea cam 5,3477 And to hir chambre Jason ledde, 5,3478 Wher that he fond redi to bedde 5,3479 The faireste and the wiseste eke; 5,3480 And sche with simple chiere and meke, 5,3481 Whan sche him sih, wax al aschamed. 5,3482 Tho was here tale newe entamed; 5,3483 For sikernesse of Mariage 5,3484 Sche fette forth a riche ymage, 5,3485 Which was figure of Jupiter, 5,3486 And Jason swor and seide ther, 5,3487 That also wiss god scholde him helpe, 5,3488 That if Medea dede him helpe, 5,3489 That he his pourpos myhte winne, 5,3490 Thei scholde nevere parte atwinne, 5,3491 Bot evere whil him lasteth lif, 5,3492 He wolde hire holde for his wif. 5,3493 And with that word thei kisten bothe; 5,3494 And for thei scholden hem unclothe, 5,3495 Ther cam a Maide, and in hir wise 5,3496 Sche dede hem bothe full servise, 5,3497 Til that thei were in bedde naked: 5,3498 I wot that nyht was wel bewaked, 5,3499 Thei hadden bothe what thei wolde. 5,3500 And thanne of leisir sche him tolde, 5,3501 And gan fro point to point enforme 5,3502 Of his bataile and al the forme, 5,3503 Which as he scholde finde there, 5,3504 Whan he to thyle come were. 5,3505 Sche seide, at entre of the pas 5,3506 Hou Mars, which god of Armes was, 5,3507 Hath set tuo Oxen sterne and stoute, 5,3508 That caste fyr and flamme aboute 5,3509 Bothe at the mouth and ate nase, 5,3510 So that thei setten al on blase 5,3511 What thing that passeth hem betwene: 5,3512 And forthermore upon the grene 5,3513 Ther goth the flees of gold to kepe 5,3514 A Serpent, which mai nevere slepe. 5,3515 Thus who that evere scholde it winne, 5,3516 The fyr to stoppe he mot beginne, 5,3517 Which that the fierce bestes caste, 5,3518 And daunte he mot hem ate laste, 5,3519 So that he mai hem yoke and dryve; 5,3520 And therupon he mot as blyve 5,3521 The Serpent with such strengthe assaile, 5,3522 That he mai slen him be bataile; 5,3523 Of which he mot the teth outdrawe, 5,3524 As it belongeth to that lawe, 5,3525 And thanne he mot tho Oxen yoke, 5,3526 Til thei have with a plowh tobroke 5,3527 A furgh of lond, in which arowe 5,3528 The teth of thaddre he moste sowe, 5,3529 And therof schule arise knihtes 5,3530 Wel armed up at alle rihtes. 5,3531 Of hem is noght to taken hiede, 5,3532 For ech of hem in hastihiede 5,3533 Schal other slen with dethes wounde: 5,3534 And thus whan thei ben leid to grounde, 5,3535 Than mot he to the goddes preie, 5,3536 And go so forth and take his preie. 5,3537 Bot if he faile in eny wise 5,3538 Of that ye hiere me devise, 5,3539 Ther mai be set non other weie, 5,3540 That he ne moste algates deie. 5,3541 "Nou have I told the peril al: 5,3542 I woll you tellen forth withal," 5,3543 Quod Medea to Jason tho, 5,3544 "That ye schul knowen er ye go, 5,3545 Ayein the venym and the fyr 5,3546 What schal ben the recoverir. 5,3547 Bot, Sire, for it is nyh day, 5,3548 Ariseth up, so that I may 5,3549 Delivere you what thing I have, 5,3550 That mai youre lif and honour save." 5,3551 Thei weren bothe loth to rise, 5,3552 Bot for thei weren bothe wise, 5,3553 Up thei arisen ate laste: 5,3554 Jason his clothes on him caste 5,3555 And made him redi riht anon, 5,3556 And sche hir scherte dede upon 5,3557 And caste on hire a mantel clos, 5,3558 Withoute more and thanne aros. 5,3559 Tho tok sche forth a riche Tye 5,3560 Mad al of gold and of Perrie, 5,3561 Out of the which sche nam a Ring, 5,3562 The Ston was worth al other thing. 5,3563 Sche seide, whil he wolde it were, 5,3564 Ther myhte no peril him dere, 5,3565 In water mai it noght be dreynt, 5,3566 Wher as it comth the fyr is queynt, 5,3567 It daunteth ek the cruel beste, 5,3568 Ther may no qued that man areste, 5,3569 Wher so he be on See or lond, 5,3570 Which hath that ring upon his hond: 5,3571 And over that sche gan to sein, 5,3572 That if a man wol ben unsein, 5,3573 Withinne his hond hold clos the Ston, 5,3574 And he mai invisible gon. 5,3575 The Ring to Jason sche betauhte, 5,3576 And so forth after sche him tauhte 5,3577 What sacrifise he scholde make; 5,3578 And gan out of hire cofre take 5,3579 Him thoughte an hevenely figure, 5,3580 Which al be charme and be conjure 5,3581 Was wroght, and ek it was thurgh write 5,3582 With names, which he scholde wite, 5,3583 As sche him tauhte tho to rede; 5,3584 And bad him, as he wolde spede, 5,3585 Withoute reste of eny while, 5,3586 Whan he were londed in that yle, 5,3587 He scholde make his sacrifise 5,3588 And rede his carecte in the wise 5,3589 As sche him tauhte, on knes doun bent, 5,3590 Thre sithes toward orient; 5,3591 For so scholde he the goddes plese 5,3592 And winne himselven mochel ese. 5,3593 And whanne he hadde it thries rad, 5,3594 To opne a buiste sche him bad, 5,3595 Which sche ther tok him in present, 5,3596 And was full of such oignement, 5,3597 That ther was fyr ne venym non 5,3598 That scholde fastnen him upon, 5,3599 Whan that he were enoynt withal. 5,3600 Forthi sche tauhte him hou he schal 5,3601 Enoignte his armes al aboute, 5,3602 And for he scholde nothing doute, 5,3603 Sche tok him thanne a maner glu, 5,3604 The which was of so gret vertu, 5,3605 That where a man it wolde caste, 5,3606 It scholde binde anon so faste 5,3607 That noman mihte it don aweie. 5,3608 And that sche bad be alle weie 5,3609 He scholde into the mouthes throwen 5,3610 Of tho tweie Oxen that fyr blowen, 5,3611 Therof to stoppen the malice; 5,3612 The glu schal serve of that office. 5,3613 And over that hir oignement, 5,3614 Hir Ring and hir enchantement 5,3615 Ayein the Serpent scholde him were, 5,3616 Til he him sle with swerd or spere: 5,3617 And thanne he may saufliche ynowh 5,3618 His Oxen yoke into the plowh 5,3619 And the teth sowe in such a wise, 5,3620 Til he the knyhtes se arise, 5,3621 And ech of other doun be leid 5,3622 In such manere as I have seid. 5,3623 Lo, thus Medea for Jason 5,3624 Ordeigneth, and preith therupon 5,3625 That he nothing foryete scholde, 5,3626 And ek sche preith him that he wolde, 5,3627 Whan he hath alle his Armes don, 5,3628 To grounde knele and thonke anon 5,3629 The goddes, and so forth be ese 5,3630 The flees of gold he scholde sese. 5,3631 And whanne he hadde it sesed so, 5,3632 That thanne he were sone ago 5,3633 Withouten eny tariynge. 5,3634 Whan this was seid, into wepinge 5,3635 Sche fell, as sche that was thurgh nome 5,3636 With love, and so fer overcome, 5,3637 That al hir world on him sche sette. 5,3638 Bot whan sche sih ther was no lette, 5,3639 That he mot nedes parte hire fro, 5,3640 Sche tok him in hire armes tuo, 5,3641 An hundred time and gan him kisse, 5,3642 And seide, "O, al mi worldes blisse, 5,3643 Mi trust, mi lust, mi lif, min hele, 5,3644 To be thin helpe in this querele 5,3645 I preie unto the goddes alle." 5,3646 And with that word sche gan doun falle 5,3647 On swoune, and he hire uppe nam, 5,3648 And forth with that the Maiden cam, 5,3649 And thei to bedde anon hir broghte, 5,3650 And thanne Jason hire besoghte, 5,3651 And to hire seide in this manere: 5,3652 "Mi worthi lusti ladi dere, 5,3653 Conforteth you, for be my trouthe 5,3654 It schal noght fallen in mi slouthe 5,3655 That I ne wol thurghout fulfille 5,3656 Youre hestes at youre oghne wille. 5,3657 And yit I hope to you bringe 5,3658 Withinne a while such tidinge, 5,3659 The which schal make ous bothe game." 5,3660 Bot for he wolde kepe hir name, 5,3661 Whan that he wiste it was nyh dai, 5,3662 He seide, "A dieu, mi swete mai." 5,3663 And forth with him he nam his gere, 5,3664 Which as sche hadde take him there, 5,3665 And strauht unto his chambre he wente, 5,3666 And goth to bedde and slep him hente, 5,3667 And lay, that noman him awok, 5,3668 For Hercules hiede of him tok, 5,3669 Til it was undren hih and more. 5,3670 And thanne he gan to sighe sore 5,3671 And sodeinliche abreide of slep; 5,3672 And thei that token of him kep, 5,3673 His chamberleins, be sone there, 5,3674 And maden redi al his gere, 5,3675 And he aros and to the king 5,3676 He wente, and seide hou to that thing 5,3677 For which he cam he wolde go. 5,3678 The king therof was wonder wo, 5,3679 And for he wolde him fain withdrawe, 5,3680 He tolde him many a dredful sawe, 5,3681 Bot Jason wolde it noght recorde, 5,3682 And ate laste thei acorde. 5,3683 Whan that he wolde noght abide, 5,3684 A Bot was redy ate tyde, 5,3685 In which this worthi kniht of Grece 5,3686 Ful armed up at every piece, 5,3687 To his bataile which belongeth, 5,3688 Tok ore on honde and sore him longeth, 5,3689 Til he the water passed were. 5,3690 Whan he cam to that yle there, 5,3691 He set him on his knes doun strauht, 5,3692 And his carecte, as he was tawht, 5,3693 He radde, and made his sacrifise, 5,3694 And siththe enoignte him in that wise, 5,3695 As Medea him hadde bede; 5,3696 And thanne aros up fro that stede, 5,3697 And with the glu the fyr he queynte, 5,3698 And anon after he atteinte 5,3699 The grete Serpent and him slowh. 5,3700 Bot erst he hadde sorwe ynowh, 5,3701 For that Serpent made him travaile 5,3702 So harde and sore of his bataile, 5,3703 That nou he stod and nou he fell: 5,3704 For longe time it so befell, 5,3705 That with his swerd ne with his spere 5,3706 He mihte noght that Serpent dere. 5,3707 He was so scherded al aboute, 5,3708 It hield all eggetol withoute, 5,3709 He was so ruide and hard of skin, 5,3710 Ther mihte nothing go therin; 5,3711 Venym and fyr togedre he caste, 5,3712 That he Jason so sore ablaste, 5,3713 That if ne were his oignement, 5,3714 His Ring and his enchantement, 5,3715 Which Medea tok him tofore, 5,3716 He hadde with that worm be lore; 5,3717 Bot of vertu which therof cam 5,3718 Jason the Dragon overcam. 5,3719 And he anon the teth outdrouh, 5,3720 And sette his Oxen in a plouh, 5,3721 With which he brak a piece of lond 5,3722 And sieu hem with his oghne hond. 5,3723 Tho mihte he gret merveile se: 5,3724 Of every toth in his degre 5,3725 Sprong up a kniht with spere and schield, 5,3726 Of whiche anon riht in the field 5,3727 Echon slow other; and with that 5,3728 Jason Medea noght foryat, 5,3729 On bothe his knes he gan doun falle, 5,3730 And yaf thonk to the goddes alle. 5,3731 The Flees he tok and goth to Bote, 5,3732 The Sonne schyneth bryhte and hote, 5,3733 The Flees of gold schon forth withal, 5,3734 The water glistreth overal. 5,3735 Medea wepte and sigheth ofte, 5,3736 And stod upon a Tour alofte: 5,3737 Al prively withinne hirselve, 5,3738 Ther herde it nouther ten ne tuelve, 5,3739 Sche preide, and seide, "O, god him spede, 5,3740 The kniht which hath mi maidenhiede]" 5,3741 And ay sche loketh toward thyle. 5,3742 Bot whan sche sih withinne a while 5,3743 The Flees glistrende ayein the Sonne, 5,3744 Sche saide, "Ha, lord, now al is wonne, 5,3745 Mi kniht the field hath overcome: 5,3746 Nou wolde god he were come; 5,3747 Ha lord, that he ne were alonde]" 5,3748 Bot I dar take this on honde, 5,3749 If that sche hadde wynges tuo, 5,3750 Sche wolde have flowe unto him tho 5,3751 Strawht ther he was into the Bot. 5,3752 The dai was clier, the Sonne hot, 5,3753 The Gregeis weren in gret doute, 5,3754 The whyle that here lord was oute: 5,3755 Thei wisten noght what scholde tyde, 5,3756 Bot waiten evere upon the tyde, 5,3757 To se what ende scholde falle. 5,3758 Ther stoden ek the nobles alle 5,3759 Forth with the comun of the toun; 5,3760 And as thei loken up and doun, 5,3761 Thei weren war withinne a throwe, 5,3762 Wher cam the bot, which thei wel knowe, 5,3763 And sihe hou Jason broghte his preie. 5,3764 And tho thei gonnen alle seie, 5,3765 And criden alle with o stevene, 5,3766 "Ha, wher was evere under the hevene 5,3767 So noble a knyht as Jason is?" 5,3768 And welnyh alle seiden this, 5,3769 That Jason was a faie kniht, 5,3770 For it was nevere of mannes miht 5,3771 The Flees of gold so forto winne; 5,3772 And thus to talen thei beginne. 5,3773 With that the king com forth anon, 5,3774 And sih the Flees, hou that it schon; 5,3775 And whan Jason cam to the lond, 5,3776 The king himselve tok his hond 5,3777 And kist him, and gret joie him made. 5,3778 The Gregeis weren wonder glade, 5,3779 And of that thing riht merie hem thoghte, 5,3780 And forth with hem the Flees thei broghte, 5,3781 And ech on other gan to leyhe; 5,3782 Bot wel was him that mihte neyhe, 5,3783 To se therof the proprete. 5,3784 And thus thei passen the cite 5,3785 And gon unto the Paleis straght. 5,3786 Medea, which foryat him naght, 5,3787 Was redy there, and seide anon, 5,3788 "Welcome, O worthi kniht Jason." 5,3789 Sche wolde have kist him wonder fayn, 5,3790 Bot schame tornede hire agayn; 5,3791 It was noght the manere as tho, 5,3792 Forthi sche dorste noght do so. 5,3793 Sche tok hire leve, and Jason wente 5,3794 Into his chambre, and sche him sente 5,3795 Hire Maide to sen hou he ferde; 5,3796 The which whan that sche sih and herde, 5,3797 Hou that he hadde faren oute 5,3798 And that it stod wel al aboute, 5,3799 Sche tolde hire ladi what sche wiste, 5,3800 And sche for joie hire Maide kiste. 5,3801 The bathes weren thanne araied, 5,3802 With herbes tempred and assaied, 5,3803 And Jason was unarmed sone 5,3804 And dede as it befell to done: 5,3805 Into his bath he wente anon 5,3806 And wyssh him clene as eny bon; 5,3807 He tok a sopp, and oute he cam, 5,3808 And on his beste aray he nam, 5,3809 And kempde his hed, whan he was clad, 5,3810 And goth him forth al merie and glad 5,3811 Riht strawht into the kinges halle. 5,3812 The king cam with his knihtes alle 5,3813 And maden him glad welcominge; 5,3814 And he hem tolde the tidinge 5,3815 Of this and that, hou it befell, 5,3816 Whan that he wan the schepes fell. 5,3817 Medea, whan sche was asent, 5,3818 Com sone to that parlement, 5,3819 And whan sche mihte Jason se, 5,3820 Was non so glad of alle as sche. 5,3821 Ther was no joie forto seche, 5,3822 Of him mad every man a speche, 5,3823 Som man seide on, som man seide other; 5,3824 Bot thogh he were goddes brother 5,3825 And mihte make fyr and thonder, 5,3826 Ther mihte be nomore wonder 5,3827 Than was of him in that cite. 5,3828 Echon tauhte other, "This is he, 5,3829 Which hath in his pouer withinne 5,3830 That al the world ne mihte winne: 5,3831 Lo, hier the beste of alle goode." 5,3832 Thus saiden thei that there stode, 5,3833 And ek that walkede up and doun, 5,3834 Bothe of the Court and of the toun. 5,3835 The time of Souper cam anon, 5,3836 Thei wisshen and therto thei gon, 5,3837 Medea was with Jason set: 5,3838 Tho was ther many a deynte fet 5,3839 And set tofore hem on the bord, 5,3840 Bot non so likinge as the word 5,3841 Which was ther spoke among hem tuo, 5,3842 So as thei dorste speke tho. 5,3843 Bot thogh thei hadden litel space, 5,3844 Yit thei acorden in that place 5,3845 Hou Jason scholde come at nyht, 5,3846 Whan every torche and every liht 5,3847 Were oute, and thanne of other thinges 5,3848 Thei spieke aloud for supposinges 5,3849 Of hem that stoden there aboute: 5,3850 For love is everemore in doute, 5,3851 If that it be wisly governed 5,3852 Of hem that ben of love lerned. 5,3853 Whan al was don, that dissh and cuppe 5,3854 And cloth and bord and al was uppe, 5,3855 Thei waken whil hem lest to wake, 5,3856 And after that thei leve take 5,3857 And gon to bedde forto reste. 5,3858 And whan him thoghte for the beste, 5,3859 That every man was faste aslepe, 5,3860 Jason, that wolde his time kepe, 5,3861 Goth forth stalkende al prively 5,3862 Unto the chambre, and redely 5,3863 Ther was a Maide, which him kepte. 5,3864 Medea wok and nothing slepte, 5,3865 Bot natheles sche was abedde, 5,3866 And he with alle haste him spedde 5,3867 And made him naked and al warm. 5,3868 Anon he tok hire in his arm: 5,3869 What nede is forto speke of ese? 5,3870 Hem list ech other forto plese, 5,3871 So that thei hadden joie ynow: 5,3872 And tho thei setten whanne and how 5,3873 That sche with him awey schal stele. 5,3874 With wordes suche and othre fele 5,3875 Whan al was treted to an ende, 5,3876 Jason tok leve and gan forth wende 5,3877 Unto his oughne chambre in pes; 5,3878 Ther wiste it non bot Hercules. 5,3879 He slepte and ros whan it was time, 5,3880 And whanne it fell towardes prime, 5,3881 He tok to him suche as he triste 5,3882 In secre, that non other wiste, 5,3883 And told hem of his conseil there, 5,3884 And seide that his wille were 5,3885 That thei to Schipe hadde alle thinge 5,3886 So priveliche in thevenynge, 5,3887 That noman mihte here dede aspie 5,3888 Bot tho that were of compaignie: 5,3889 For he woll go withoute leve, 5,3890 And lengere woll he noght beleve; 5,3891 Bot he ne wolde at thilke throwe 5,3892 The king or queene scholde it knowe. 5,3893 Thei saide, "Al this schal wel be do:" 5,3894 And Jason truste wel therto. 5,3895 Medea in the mene while, 5,3896 Which thoghte hir fader to beguile, 5,3897 The Tresor which hir fader hadde 5,3898 With hire al priveli sche ladde, 5,3899 And with Jason at time set 5,3900 Awey sche stal and fond no let, 5,3901 And straght sche goth hire unto schipe 5,3902 Of Grece with that felaschipe, 5,3903 And thei anon drowe up the Seil. 5,3904 And al that nyht this was conseil, 5,3905 Bot erly, whan the Sonne schon, 5,3906 Men syhe hou that thei were agon, 5,3907 And come unto the king and tolde: 5,3908 And he the sothe knowe wolde, 5,3909 And axeth where his dowhter was. 5,3910 Ther was no word bot Out, Allas] 5,3911 Sche was ago. The moder wepte, 5,3912 The fader as a wod man lepte, 5,3913 And gan the time forto warie, 5,3914 And swor his oth he wol noght tarie, 5,3915 That with Caliphe and with galeie 5,3916 The same cours, the same weie, 5,3917 Which Jason tok, he wolde take, 5,3918 If that he mihte him overtake. 5,3919 To this thei seiden alle yee: 5,3920 Anon thei weren ate See, 5,3921 And alle, as who seith, at a word 5,3922 Thei gon withinne schipes bord, 5,3923 The Sail goth up, and forth thei strauhte. 5,3924 Bot non espleit therof thei cauhte, 5,3925 And so thei tornen hom ayein, 5,3926 For al that labour was in vein. 5,3927 Jason to Grece with his preie 5,3928 Goth thurgh the See the rihte weie: 5,3929 Whan he ther com and men it tolde, 5,3930 Thei maden joie yonge and olde. 5,3931 Eson, whan that he wiste of this, 5,3932 Hou that his Sone comen is, 5,3933 And hath achieved that he soughte 5,3934 And hom with him Medea broughte, 5,3935 In al the wyde world was non 5,3936 So glad a man as he was on. 5,3937 Togedre ben these lovers tho, 5,3938 Til that thei hadden sones tuo, 5,3939 Wherof thei weren bothe glade, 5,3940 And olde Eson gret joie made 5,3941 To sen thencress of his lignage; 5,3942 For he was of so gret an Age, 5,3943 That men awaiten every day, 5,3944 Whan that he scholde gon away. 5,3945 Jason, which sih his fader old, 5,3946 Upon Medea made him bold, 5,3947 Of art magique, which sche couthe, 5,3948 And preith hire that his fader youthe 5,3949 Sche wolde make ayeinward newe: 5,3950 And sche, that was toward him trewe, 5,3951 Behihte him that sche wolde it do, 5,3952 Whan that sche time sawh therto. 5,3953 Bot what sche dede in that matiere 5,3954 It is a wonder thing to hiere, 5,3955 Bot yit for the novellerie 5,3956 I thenke tellen a partie. 5,3957 Thus it befell upon a nyht, 5,3958 Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht, 5,3959 Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste, 5,3960 That no wyht bot hirself it wiste, 5,3961 And that was ate mydnyht tyde. 5,3962 The world was stille on every side; 5,3963 With open hed and fot al bare, 5,3964 Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare, 5,3965 Upon hir clothes gert sche was, 5,3966 Al specheles and on the gras 5,3967 Sche glod forth as an Addre doth: 5,3968 Non otherwise sche ne goth, 5,3969 Til sche cam to the freisshe flod, 5,3970 And there a while sche withstod. 5,3971 Thries sche torned hire aboute, 5,3972 And thries ek sche gan doun loute 5,3973 And in the flod sche wette hir her, 5,3974 And thries on the water ther 5,3975 Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge onde, 5,3976 And tho sche tok hir speche on honde. 5,3977 Ferst sche began to clepe and calle 5,3978 Upward unto the sterres alle, 5,3979 To Wynd, to Air, to See, to lond 5,3980 Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond 5,3981 To Echates, and gan to crie, 5,3982 Which is goddesse of Sorcerie. 5,3983 Sche seide, "Helpeth at this nede, 5,3984 And as ye maden me to spede, 5,3985 Whan Jason cam the Flees to seche, 5,3986 So help me nou, I you beseche." 5,3987 With that sche loketh and was war, 5,3988 Doun fro the Sky ther cam a char, 5,3989 The which Dragouns aboute drowe: 5,3990 And tho sche gan hir hed doun bowe, 5,3991 And up sche styh, and faire and wel 5,3992 Sche drof forth bothe char and whel 5,3993 Above in thair among the Skyes. 5,3994 The lond of Crete and tho parties 5,3995 Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye, 5,3996 And there upon the hulles hyhe 5,3997 Of Othrin and Olimpe also, 5,3998 And ek of othre hulles mo, 5,3999 Sche fond and gadreth herbes suote, 5,4000 Sche pulleth up som be the rote, 5,4001 And manye with a knyf sche scherth, 5,4002 And alle into hir char sche berth. 5,4003 Thus whan sche hath the hulles sought, 5,4004 The flodes ther foryat sche nought, 5,4005 Eridian and Amphrisos, 5,4006 Peneie and ek Spercheiµdos, 5,4007 To hem sche wente and ther sche nom 5,4008 Bothe of the water and the fom, 5,4009 The sond and ek the smale stones, 5,4010 Whiche as sche ches out for the nones, 5,4011 And of the rede See a part, 5,4012 That was behovelich to hire art, 5,4013 Sche tok, and after that aboute 5,4014 Sche soughte sondri sedes oute 5,4015 In feldes and in many greves, 5,4016 And ek a part sche tok of leves: 5,4017 Bot thing which mihte hire most availe 5,4018 Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile. 5,4019 In daies and in nyhtes Nyne, 5,4020 With gret travaile and with gret pyne, 5,4021 Sche was pourveid of every piece, 5,4022 And torneth homward into Grece. 5,4023 Before the gates of Eson 5,4024 Hir char sche let awai to gon, 5,4025 And tok out ferst that was therinne; 5,4026 For tho sche thoghte to beginne 5,4027 Such thing as semeth impossible, 5,4028 And made hirselven invisible, 5,4029 As sche that was with Air enclosed 5,4030 And mihte of noman be desclosed. 5,4031 Sche tok up turves of the lond 5,4032 Withoute helpe of mannes hond, 5,4033 Al heled with the grene gras, 5,4034 Of which an Alter mad ther was 5,4035 Unto Echates the goddesse 5,4036 Of art magique and the maistresse, 5,4037 And eft an other to Juvente, 5,4038 As sche which dede hir hole entente. 5,4039 Tho tok sche fieldwode and verveyne, 5,4040 Of herbes ben noght betre tueine, 5,4041 Of which anon withoute let 5,4042 These alters ben aboute set: 5,4043 Tuo sondri puttes faste by 5,4044 Sche made, and with that hastely 5,4045 A wether which was blak sche slouh, 5,4046 And out therof the blod sche drouh 5,4047 And dede into the pettes tuo; 5,4048 Warm melk sche putte also therto 5,4049 With hony meynd: and in such wise 5,4050 Sche gan to make hir sacrifice, 5,4051 And cride and preide forth withal 5,4052 To Pluto the god infernal, 5,4053 And to the queene Proserpine. 5,4054 And so sche soghte out al the line 5,4055 Of hem that longen to that craft, 5,4056 Behinde was no name laft, 5,4057 And preide hem alle, as sche wel couthe, 5,4058 To grante Eson his ferste youthe. 5,4059 This olde Eson broght forth was tho, 5,4060 Awei sche bad alle othre go 5,4061 Upon peril that mihte falle; 5,4062 And with that word thei wenten alle, 5,4063 And leften there hem tuo al one. 5,4064 And tho sche gan to gaspe and gone, 5,4065 And made signes manyon, 5,4066 And seide hir wordes therupon; 5,4067 So that with spellinge of hir charmes 5,4068 Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes, 5,4069 And made him forto slepe faste, 5,4070 And him upon hire herbes caste. 5,4071 The blake wether tho sche tok, 5,4072 And hiewh the fleissh, as doth a cok; 5,4073 On either alter part sche leide, 5,4074 And with the charmes that sche seide 5,4075 A fyr doun fro the Sky alyhte 5,4076 And made it forto brenne lyhte. 5,4077 Bot whan Medea sawh it brenne, 5,4078 Anon sche gan to sterte and renne 5,4079 The fyri aulters al aboute: 5,4080 Ther was no beste which goth oute 5,4081 More wylde than sche semeth ther: 5,4082 Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her, 5,4083 As thogh sche were oute of hir mynde 5,4084 And torned in an other kynde. 5,4085 Tho lay ther certein wode cleft, 5,4086 Of which the pieces nou and eft 5,4087 Sche made hem in the pettes wete, 5,4088 And put hem in the fyri hete, 5,4089 And tok the brond with al the blase, 5,4090 And thries sche began to rase 5,4091 Aboute Eson, ther as he slepte; 5,4092 And eft with water, which sche kepte, 5,4093 Sche made a cercle aboute him thries, 5,4094 And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes: 5,4095 Ful many an other thing sche dede, 5,4096 Which is noght writen in this stede. 5,4097 Bot tho sche ran so up and doun, 5,4098 Sche made many a wonder soun, 5,4099 Somtime lich unto the cock, 5,4100 Somtime unto the Laverock, 5,4101 Somtime kacleth as a Hen, 5,4102 Somtime spekth as don the men: 5,4103 And riht so as hir jargoun strangeth, 5,4104 In sondri wise hir forme changeth, 5,4105 Sche semeth faie and no womman; 5,4106 For with the craftes that sche can 5,4107 Sche was, as who seith, a goddesse, 5,4108 And what hir liste, more or lesse, 5,4109 Sche dede, in bokes as we finde, 5,4110 That passeth over manneskinde. 5,4111 Bot who that wole of wondres hiere, 5,4112 What thing sche wroghte in this matiere, 5,4113 To make an ende of that sche gan, 5,4114 Such merveile herde nevere man. 5,4115 Apointed in the newe Mone, 5,4116 Whan it was time forto done, 5,4117 Sche sette a caldron on the fyr, 5,4118 In which was al the hole atir, 5,4119 Wheron the medicine stod, 5,4120 Of jus, of water and of blod, 5,4121 And let it buile in such a plit, 5,4122 Til that sche sawh the spume whyt; 5,4123 And tho sche caste in rynde and rote, 5,4124 And sed and flour that was for bote, 5,4125 With many an herbe and many a ston, 5,4126 Wherof sche hath ther many on: 5,4127 And ek Cimpheius the Serpent 5,4128 To hire hath alle his scales lent, 5,4129 Chelidre hire yaf his addres skin, 5,4130 And sche to builen caste hem in; 5,4131 A part ek of the horned Oule, 5,4132 The which men hiere on nyhtes houle; 5,4133 And of a Raven, which was told 5,4134 Of nyne hundred wynter old, 5,4135 Sche tok the hed with al the bile; 5,4136 And as the medicine it wile, 5,4137 Sche tok therafter the bouele 5,4138 Of the Seewolf, and for the hele 5,4139 Of Eson, with a thousand mo 5,4140 Of thinges that sche hadde tho, 5,4141 In that Caldroun togedre as blyve 5,4142 Sche putte, and tok thanne of Olyve 5,4143 A drie branche hem with to stere, 5,4144 The which anon gan floure and bere 5,4145 And waxe al freissh and grene ayein. 5,4146 Whan sche this vertu hadde sein, 5,4147 Sche let the leste drope of alle 5,4148 Upon the bare flor doun falle; 5,4149 Anon ther sprong up flour and gras, 5,4150 Where as the drope falle was, 5,4151 And wox anon al medwe grene, 5,4152 So that it mihte wel be sene. 5,4153 Medea thanne knew and wiste 5,4154 Hir medicine is forto triste, 5,4155 And goth to Eson ther he lay, 5,4156 And tok a swerd was of assay, 5,4157 With which a wounde upon his side 5,4158 Sche made, that therout mai slyde 5,4159 The blod withinne, which was old 5,4160 And sek and trouble and fieble and cold. 5,4161 And tho sche tok unto his us 5,4162 Of herbes al the beste jus, 5,4163 And poured it into his wounde; 5,4164 That made his veynes fulle and sounde: 5,4165 And tho sche made his wounde clos, 5,4166 And tok his hond, and up he ros; 5,4167 And tho sche yaf him drinke a drauhte, 5,4168 Of which his youthe ayein he cauhte, 5,4169 His hed, his herte and his visage 5,4170 Lich unto twenty wynter Age; 5,4171 Hise hore heres were away, 5,4172 And lich unto the freisshe Maii, 5,4173 Whan passed ben the colde shoures, 5,4174 Riht so recovereth he his floures. 5,4175 Lo, what mihte eny man devise, 5,4176 A womman schewe in eny wise 5,4177 Mor hertly love in every stede, 5,4178 Than Medea to Jason dede? 5,4179 Ferst sche made him the flees to winne, 5,4180 And after that fro kiththe and kinne 5,4181 With gret tresor with him sche stal, 5,4182 And to his fader forth withal 5,4183 His Elde hath torned into youthe, 5,4184 Which thing non other womman couthe: 5,4185 Bot hou it was to hire aquit, 5,4186 The remembrance duelleth yit. 5,4187 King Peleuµs his Em was ded, 5,4188 Jason bar corone on his hed, 5,4189 Medea hath fulfild his wille: 5,4190 Bot whanne he scholde of riht fulfille 5,4191 The trouthe, which to hire afore 5,4192 He hadde in thyle of Colchos swore, 5,4193 Tho was Medea most deceived. 5,4194 For he an other hath received, 5,4195 Which dowhter was to king Creon, 5,4196 Creusa sche hihte, and thus Jason, 5,4197 As he that was to love untrewe, 5,4198 Medea lefte and tok a newe. 5,4199 Bot that was after sone aboght: 5,4200 Medea with hire art hath wroght 5,4201 Of cloth of gold a mantel riche, 5,4202 Which semeth worth a kingesriche, 5,4203 And that was unto Creusa sent 5,4204 In name of yifte and of present, 5,4205 For Sosterhode hem was betuene; 5,4206 And whan that yonge freisshe queene 5,4207 That mantel lappeth hire aboute, 5,4208 Anon therof the fyr sprong oute 5,4209 And brente hir bothe fleissh and bon. 5,4210 Tho cam Medea to Jason 5,4211 With bothe his Sones on hire hond, 5,4212 And seide, "O thou of every lond 5,4213 The moste untrewe creature, 5,4214 Lo, this schal be thi forfeture." 5,4215 With that sche bothe his Sones slouh 5,4216 Before his yhe, and he outdrouh 5,4217 His swerd and wold have slayn hir tho, 5,4218 Bot farewel, sche was ago 5,4219 Unto Pallas the Court above, 5,4220 Wher as sche pleigneth upon love, 5,4221 As sche that was with that goddesse, 5,4222 And he was left in gret destresse. 5,4223 Thus miht thou se what sorwe it doth 5,4224 To swere an oth which is noght soth, 5,4225 In loves cause namely. 5,4226 Mi Sone, be wel war forthi, 5,4227 And kep that thou be noght forswore: 5,4228 For this, which I have told tofore, 5,4229 Ovide telleth everydel. 5,4230 Mi fader, I may lieve it wel, 5,4231 For I have herde it ofte seie 5,4232 Hou Jason tok the flees aweie 5,4233 Fro Colchos, bot yit herde I noght 5,4234 Be whom it was ferst thider broght. 5,4235 And for it were good to hiere, 5,4236 If that you liste at mi preiere 5,4237 To telle, I wolde you beseche. 5,4238 Mi Sone, who that wole it seche, 5,4239 In bokes he mai finde it write; 5,4240 And natheles, if thou wolt wite, 5,4241 In the manere as thou hast preid 5,4242 I schal the telle hou it is seid. 5,4243 The fame of thilke schepes fell, 5,4244 Which in Colchos, as it befell, 5,4245 Was al of gold, schal nevere deie; 5,4246 Wherof I thenke for to seie 5,4247 Hou it cam ferst into that yle. 5,4248 Ther was a king in thilke whyle 5,4249 Towardes Grece, and Athemas 5,4250 The Cronique of his name was; 5,4251 And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte, 5,4252 Be whom, so as fortune it dihte, 5,4253 He hadde of children yonge tuo. 5,4254 Frixus the ferste was of tho, 5,4255 A knave child, riht fair withalle; 5,4256 A dowhter ek, the which men calle 5,4257 Hellen, he hadde be this wif. 5,4258 Bot for ther mai no mannes lif 5,4259 Endure upon this Erthe hiere, 5,4260 This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere, 5,4261 Er that the children were of age, 5,4262 Tok of hire ende the passage, 5,4263 With gret worschipe and was begrave. 5,4264 What thing it liketh god to have 5,4265 It is gret reson to ben his; 5,4266 Forthi this king, so as it is, 5,4267 With gret suffrance it underfongeth: 5,4268 And afterward, as him belongeth, 5,4269 Whan it was time forto wedde, 5,4270 A newe wif he tok to bedde, 5,4271 Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde, 5,4272 And ek the dowhter, as men saide, 5,4273 Of Cadme, which a king also 5,4274 Was holde in thilke daies tho. 5,4275 Whan Yno was the kinges make, 5,4276 Sche caste hou that sche mihte make 5,4277 These children to here fader lothe, 5,4278 And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe, 5,4279 Which to the king was al unknowe. 5,4280 A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe 5,4281 The lond with sode whete aboute, 5,4282 Wherof no corn mai springen oute; 5,4283 And thus be sleyhte and be covine 5,4284 Aros the derthe and the famine 5,4285 Thurghout the lond in such a wise, 5,4286 So that the king a sacrifise 5,4287 Upon the point of this destresse 5,4288 To Ceres, which is the goddesse 5,4289 Of corn, hath schape him forto yive, 5,4290 To loke if it mai be foryive, 5,4291 The meschief which was in his lond. 5,4292 Bot sche, which knew tofor the hond 5,4293 The circumstance of al this thing, 5,4294 Ayein the cominge of the king 5,4295 Into the temple, hath schape so, 5,4296 Of hire acord that alle tho 5,4297 Whiche of the temple prestes were 5,4298 Have seid and full declared there 5,4299 Unto the king, bot if so be 5,4300 That he delivere the contre 5,4301 Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe, 5,4302 With whom the goddes ben so wrothe, 5,4303 That whil tho children ben therinne, 5,4304 Such tilthe schal noman beginne, 5,4305 Wherof to gete him eny corn. 5,4306 Thus was it seid, thus was it sworn 5,4307 Of all the Prestes that ther are; 5,4308 And sche which causeth al this fare 5,4309 Seid ek therto what that sche wolde, 5,4310 And every man thanne after tolde 5,4311 So as the queene hem hadde preid. 5,4312 The king, which hath his Ere leid, 5,4313 And lieveth al that evere he herde, 5,4314 Unto here tale thus ansuerde, 5,4315 And seith that levere him is to chese 5,4316 Hise children bothe forto lese, 5,4317 Than him and al the remenant 5,4318 Of hem whiche are aportenant 5,4319 Unto the lond which he schal kepe: 5,4320 And bad his wif to take kepe 5,4321 In what manere is best to done, 5,4322 That thei delivered weren sone 5,4323 Out of this world. And sche anon 5,4324 Tuo men ordeigneth forto gon; 5,4325 Bot ferst sche made hem forto swere 5,4326 That thei the children scholden bere 5,4327 Unto the See, that non it knowe, 5,4328 And hem therinne bothe throwe. 5,4329 The children to the See ben lad, 5,4330 Wher in the wise as Yno bad 5,4331 These men be redy forto do. 5,4332 Bot the goddesse which Juno 5,4333 Is hote, appiereth in the stede, 5,4334 And hath unto the men forbede 5,4335 That thei the children noght ne sle; 5,4336 Bot bad hem loke into the See 5,4337 And taken hiede of that thei sihen. 5,4338 Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen, 5,4339 Whos flees of burned gold was al; 5,4340 And this goddesse forth withal 5,4341 Comandeth that withoute lette 5,4342 Thei scholde anon these children sette 5,4343 Above upon this Schepes bak; 5,4344 And al was do, riht as sche spak, 5,4345 Wherof the men gon hom ayein. 5,4346 And fell so, as the bokes sein, 5,4347 Hellen the yonge Mayden tho, 5,4348 Which of the See was wo bego, 5,4349 For pure drede hire herte hath lore, 5,4350 That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore, 5,4351 As sche that was swounende feint, 5,4352 Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint; 5,4353 With Frixus and this Schep forth swam, 5,4354 Til he to thyle of Colchos cam, 5,4355 Where Juno the goddesse he fond, 5,4356 Which tok the Schep unto the lond, 5,4357 And sette it there in such a wise 5,4358 As thou tofore hast herd devise, 5,4359 Wherof cam after al the wo, 5,4360 Why Jason was forswore so 5,4361 Unto Medee, as it is spoke. 5,4362 Mi fader, who that hath tobroke 5,4363 His trouthe, as ye have told above, 5,4364 He is noght worthi forto love 5,4365 Ne be beloved, as me semeth: 5,4366 Bot every newe love quemeth 5,4367 To him which newefongel is. 5,4368 And natheles nou after this, 5,4369 If that you list to taken hiede 5,4370 Upon mi Schrifte to procede, 5,4371 In loves cause ayein the vice 5,4372 Of covoitise and Avarice 5,4373 What ther is more I wolde wite. 5,4374 Mi Sone, this I finde write, 5,4375 Ther is yit on of thilke brood, 5,4376 Which only for the worldes good, 5,4377 To make a Tresor of Moneie, 5,4378 Put alle conscience aweie: 5,4379 Wherof in thi confession 5,4380 The name and the condicion 5,4381 I schal hierafterward declare, 5,4382 Which makth on riche, an other bare. 5,4383 Upon the bench sittende on hih 5,4384 With Avarice Usure I sih, 5,4385 Full clothed of his oghne suite, 5,4386 Which after gold makth chace and suite 5,4387 With his brocours, that renne aboute 5,4388 Lich unto racches in a route. 5,4389 Such lucre is non above grounde, 5,4390 Which is noght of tho racches founde; 5,4391 For wher thei se beyete sterte, 5,4392 That schal hem in no wise asterte, 5,4393 Bot thei it dryve into the net 5,4394 Of lucre, which Usure hath set. 5,4395 Usure with the riche duelleth, 5,4396 To al that evere he beith and selleth 5,4397 He hath ordeined of his sleyhte 5,4398 Mesure double and double weyhte: 5,4399 Outward he selleth be the lasse, 5,4400 And with the more he makth his tasse, 5,4401 Wherof his hous is full withinne. 5,4402 He reccheth noght, be so he winne, 5,4403 Though that ther lese ten or tuelve: 5,4404 His love is al toward himselve 5,4405 And to non other, bot he se 5,4406 That he mai winne suche thre; 5,4407 For wher he schal oght yive or lene, 5,4408 He wol ayeinward take a bene, 5,4409 Ther he hath lent the smale pese. 5,4410 And riht so ther ben manye of these 5,4411 Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte, 5,4412 That scarsly wolde it weie a myte, 5,4413 Yit wolde thei have a pound again, 5,4414 As doth Usure in his bargain. 5,4415 Bot certes such usure unliche, 5,4416 It falleth more unto the riche, 5,4417 Als wel of love as of beyete, 5,4418 Than unto hem that be noght grete, 5,4419 And, as who seith, ben simple and povere; 5,4420 For sielden is whan thei recovere, 5,4421 Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte. 5,4422 And natheles men se poverte 5,4423 With porsuite and continuance 5,4424 Fulofte make a gret chevance 5,4425 And take of love his avantage, 5,4426 Forth with the help of his brocage, 5,4427 That maken seme wher is noght. 5,4428 And thus fulofte is love boght 5,4429 For litel what, and mochel take, 5,4430 With false weyhtes that thei make. 5,4431 Nou, Sone, of that I seide above 5,4432 Thou wost what Usure is of love: 5,4433 Tell me forthi what so thou wilt, 5,4434 If thou therof hast eny gilt. 5,4435 Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere. 5,4436 For of tho pointz ye tolden hiere 5,4437 I wol you be mi trouthe assure, 5,4438 Mi weyhte of love and mi mesure 5,4439 Hath be mor large and mor certein 5,4440 Than evere I tok of love ayein: 5,4441 For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte, 5,4442 To take ayein be double weyhte 5,4443 Of love mor than I have yive. 5,4444 For als so wiss mot I be schrive 5,4445 And have remission of Sinne, 5,4446 As so yit couthe I nevere winne, 5,4447 Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein, 5,4448 That evere I mihte have half ayein 5,4449 Of so full love as I have lent: 5,4450 And if myn happ were so wel went, 5,4451 That for the hole I mihte have half, 5,4452 Me thenkth I were a goddeshalf. 5,4453 For where Usure wole have double, 5,4454 Mi conscience is noght so trouble, 5,4455 I biede nevere as to my del 5,4456 Bot of the hole an halvendel; 5,4457 That is non excess, as me thenketh. 5,4458 Bot natheles it me forthenketh; 5,4459 For wel I wot that wol noght be, 5,4460 For every day the betre I se 5,4461 That hou so evere I yive or lene 5,4462 Mi love in place ther I mene, 5,4463 For oght that evere I axe or crave, 5,4464 I can nothing ayeinward have. 5,4465 Bot yit for that I wol noght lete, 5,4466 What so befalle of mi beyete, 5,4467 That I ne schal hire yive and lene 5,4468 Mi love and al mi thoght so clene, 5,4469 That toward me schal noght beleve. 5,4470 And if sche of hire goode leve 5,4471 Rewarde wol me noght again, 5,4472 I wot the laste of my bargain 5,4473 Schal stonde upon so gret a lost, 5,4474 That I mai neveremor the cost 5,4475 Recovere in this world til I die. 5,4476 So that touchende of this partie 5,4477 I mai me wel excuse and schal; 5,4478 And forto speke forth withal, 5,4479 If eny brocour for me wente, 5,4480 That point cam nevere in myn entente: 5,4481 So that the more me merveilleth, 5,4482 What thing it is mi ladi eilleth, 5,4483 That al myn herte and al my time 5,4484 Sche hath, and doth no betre bime. 5,4485 I have herd seid that thoght is fre, 5,4486 And natheles in privete 5,4487 To you, mi fader, that ben hiere 5,4488 Min hole schrifte forto hiere, 5,4489 I dar min herte wel desclose. 5,4490 Touchende usure, as I suppose, 5,4491 Which as ye telle in love is used, 5,4492 Mi ladi mai noght ben excused; 5,4493 That for o lokinge of hire yeµ 5,4494 Min hole herte til I dye 5,4495 With al that evere I may and can 5,4496 Sche hath me wonne to hire man: 5,4497 Wherof, me thenkth, good reson wolde 5,4498 That sche somdel rewarde scholde, 5,4499 And yive a part, ther sche hath al. 5,4500 I not what falle hierafter schal, 5,4501 Bot into nou yit dar I sein, 5,4502 Hire liste nevere yive ayein 5,4503 A goodli word in such a wise, 5,4504 Wherof min hope mihte arise, 5,4505 Mi grete love to compense. 5,4506 I not hou sche hire conscience 5,4507 Excuse wole of this usure; 5,4508 Be large weyhte and gret mesure 5,4509 Sche hath mi love, and I have noght 5,4510 Of that which I have diere boght, 5,4511 And with myn herte I have it paid; 5,4512 Bot al that is asyde laid, 5,4513 And I go loveles aboute. 5,4514 Hire oghte stonde if ful gret doute, 5,4515 Til sche redresce such a sinne, 5,4516 That sche wole al mi love winne 5,4517 And yifth me noght to live by: 5,4518 Noght als so moche as "grant mercy" 5,4519 Hir list to seie, of which I mihte 5,4520 Som of mi grete peine allyhte. 5,4521 Bot of this point, lo, thus I fare 5,4522 As he that paith for his chaffare, 5,4523 And beith it diere, and yit hath non, 5,4524 So mot he nedes povere gon: 5,4525 Thus beie I diere and have no love, 5,4526 That I ne mai noght come above 5,4527 To winne of love non encress. 5,4528 Bot I me wole natheles 5,4529 Touchende usure of love aquite; 5,4530 And if mi ladi be to wyte, 5,4531 I preie to god such grace hir sende 5,4532 That sche be time it mot amende. 5,4533 Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerd 5,4534 Touchende Usure I have al herd, 5,4535 Hou thou of love hast wonne smale: 5,4536 Bot that thou tellest in thi tale 5,4537 And thi ladi therof accusest, 5,4538 Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest. 5,4539 For be thin oghne knowlechinge 5,4540 Thou seist hou sche for o lokinge 5,4541 Thin hole herte fro the tok: 5,4542 Sche mai be such, that hire o lok 5,4543 Is worth thin herte manyfold; 5,4544 So hast thou wel thin herte sold, 5,4545 Whan thou hast that is more worth. 5,4546 And ek of that thou tellest forth, 5,4547 Hou that hire weyhte of love unevene 5,4548 Is unto thin, under the hevene 5,4549 Stod nevere in evene that balance 5,4550 Which stant in loves governance. 5,4551 Such is the statut of his lawe, 5,4552 That thogh thi love more drawe 5,4553 And peise in the balance more, 5,4554 Thou miht noght axe ayein therfore 5,4555 Of duete, bot al of grace. 5,4556 For love is lord in every place, 5,4557 Ther mai no lawe him justefie 5,4558 Be reddour ne be compaignie, 5,4559 That he ne wole after his wille 5,4560 Whom that him liketh spede or spille. 5,4561 To love a man mai wel beginne, 5,4562 Bot whether he schal lese or winne, 5,4563 That wot noman til ate laste: 5,4564 Forthi coveite noght to faste, 5,4565 Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende, 5,4566 Per cas al mai to goode wende. 5,4567 Bot that thou hast me told and said, 5,4568 Of o thing I am riht wel paid, 5,4569 That thou be sleyhte ne be guile 5,4570 Of no brocour hast otherwhile 5,4571 Engined love, for such dede 5,4572 Is sore venged, as I rede. 5,4573 Brocours of love that deceiven, 5,4574 No wonder is thogh thei receiven 5,4575 After the wrong that thei decerven; 5,4576 For whom as evere that thei serven 5,4577 And do plesance for a whyle, 5,4578 Yit ate laste here oghne guile 5,4579 Upon here oghne hed descendeth, 5,4580 Which god of his vengance sendeth, 5,4581 As be ensample of time go 5,4582 A man mai finde it hath be so. 5,4583 It fell somtime, as it was sene, 5,4584 The hihe goddesse and the queene 5,4585 Juno tho hadde in compainie 5,4586 A Maiden full of tricherie; 5,4587 For sche was evere in on acord 5,4588 With Jupiter, that was hire lord, 5,4589 To gete him othre loves newe, 5,4590 Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe 5,4591 Al otherwise than him nedeth. 5,4592 Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth, 5,4593 With queinte wordes and with slyhe 5,4594 Blente in such wise hir lady yhe, 5,4595 As sche to whom that Juno triste, 5,4596 So that therof sche nothing wiste. 5,4597 Bot so prive mai be nothing, 5,4598 That it ne comth to knowleching; 5,4599 Thing don upon the derke nyht 5,4600 Is after knowe on daies liht: 5,4601 So it befell, that ate laste 5,4602 Al that this slyhe maiden caste 5,4603 Was overcast and overthrowe. 5,4604 For as the sothe mot be knowe, 5,4605 To Juno was don understonde 5,4606 In what manere hir housebonde 5,4607 With fals brocage hath take usure 5,4608 Of love mor than his mesure, 5,4609 Whan he tok othre than his wif, 5,4610 Wherof this mayden was gultif, 5,4611 Which hadde ben of his assent. 5,4612 And thus was al the game schent; 5,4613 She soffreth him, as sche mot nede, 5,4614 Bot the brocour of his misdede, 5,4615 Sche which hir conseil yaf therto, 5,4616 On hire is the vengance do: 5,4617 For Juno with hire wordes hote, 5,4618 This Maiden, which Eccho was hote, 5,4619 Reproveth and seith in this wise: 5,4620 "O traiteresse, of which servise 5,4621 Hast thou thin oghne ladi served] 5,4622 Thou hast gret peine wel deserved, 5,4623 That thou canst maken it so queinte, 5,4624 Thi slyhe wordes forto peinte 5,4625 Towardes me, that am thi queene, 5,4626 Wherof thou madest me to wene 5,4627 That myn housbonde trewe were, 5,4628 Whan that he loveth elleswhere, 5,4629 Al be it so him nedeth noght. 5,4630 Bot upon thee it schal be boght, 5,4631 Which art prive to tho doinges, 5,4632 And me fulofte of thi lesinges 5,4633 Deceived hast: nou is the day 5,4634 That I thi while aquite may; 5,4635 And for thou hast to me conceled 5,4636 That my lord hath with othre deled, 5,4637 I schal thee sette in such a kende, 5,4638 That evere unto the worldes ende 5,4639 Al that thou hierest thou schalt telle, 5,4640 And clappe it out as doth a belle." 5,4641 And with that word sche was forschape, 5,4642 Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape, 5,4643 What man that in the wodes crieth, 5,4644 Withoute faile Eccho replieth, 5,4645 And what word that him list to sein, 5,4646 The same word sche seith ayein. 5,4647 Thus sche, which whilom hadde leve 5,4648 To duelle in chambre, mot beleve 5,4649 In wodes and on helles bothe, 5,4650 For such brocage as wyves lothe, 5,4651 Which doth here lordes hertes change 5,4652 And love in other place strange. 5,4653 Forthi, if evere it so befalle, 5,4654 That thou, mi Sone, amonges alle 5,4655 Be wedded man, hold that thou hast, 5,4656 For thanne al other love is wast. 5,4657 O wif schal wel to thee suffise, 5,4658 And thanne, if thou for covoitise 5,4659 Of love woldest axe more, 5,4660 Thou scholdest don ayein the lore 5,4661 Of alle hem that trewe be. 5,4662 Mi fader, as in this degre 5,4663 My conscience is noght accused; 5,4664 For I no such brocage have used, 5,4665 Wherof that lust of love is wonne. 5,4666 Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne, 5,4667 Of Avarice upon mi schrifte. 5,4668 Mi Sone, I schal the branches schifte 5,4669 Be ordre so as thei ben set, 5,4670 On whom no good is wel beset. 5,4671 Blinde Avarice of his lignage 5,4672 For conseil and for cousinage, 5,4673 To be withholde ayein largesse, 5,4674 Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse, 5,4675 The which is kepere of his hous, 5,4676 And is so thurghout averous, 5,4677 That he no good let out of honde; 5,4678 Thogh god himself it wolde fonde, 5,4679 Of yifte scholde he nothing have; 5,4680 And if a man it wolde crave, 5,4681 He moste thanne faile nede, 5,4682 Wher god himselve mai noght spede. 5,4683 And thus Skarsnesse in every place 5,4684 Be reson mai no thonk porchace, 5,4685 And natheles in his degree 5,4686 Above all othre most prive 5,4687 With Avarice stant he this. 5,4688 For he governeth that ther is 5,4689 In ech astat of his office 5,4690 After the reule of thilke vice; 5,4691 He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint, 5,4692 That lihtere is to fle the flint 5,4693 Than gete of him in hard or neisshe 5,4694 Only the value of a reysshe 5,4695 Of good in helpinge of an other, 5,4696 Noght thogh it were his oghne brother. 5,4697 For in the cas of yifte and lone 5,4698 Stant every man for him al one, 5,4699 Him thenkth of his unkindeschipe 5,4700 That him nedeth no felaschipe: 5,4701 Be so the bagge and he acorden, 5,4702 Him reccheth noght what men recorden 5,4703 Of him, or it be evel or good. 5,4704 For al his trust is on his good, 5,4705 So that al one he falleth ofte, 5,4706 Whan he best weneth stonde alofte, 5,4707 Als wel in love as other wise; 5,4708 For love is evere of som reprise 5,4709 To him that wole his love holde. 5,4710 Forthi, mi Sone, as thou art holde, 5,4711 Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte: 5,4712 Hast thou be scars or large of yifte 5,4713 Unto thi love, whom thou servest? 5,4714 For after that thou wel deservest 5,4715 Of yifte, thou miht be the bet; 5,4716 For that good holde I wel beset, 5,4717 For why thou miht the betre fare; 5,4718 Thanne is no wisdom forto spare. 5,4719 For thus men sein, in every nede 5,4720 He was wys that ferst made mede; 5,4721 For where as mede mai noght spede, 5,4722 I not what helpeth other dede: 5,4723 Fulofte he faileth of his game 5,4724 That wol with ydel hand reclame 5,4725 His hauk, as many a nyce doth. 5,4726 Forthi, mi Sone, tell me soth 5,4727 And sei the trouthe, if thou hast be 5,4728 Unto thy love or skars or fre. 5,4729 Mi fader, it hath stonde thus, 5,4730 That if the tresor of Cresus 5,4731 And al the gold Octovien, 5,4732 Forth with the richesse Yndien 5,4733 Of Perles and of riche stones, 5,4734 Were al togedre myn at ones, 5,4735 I sette it at nomore acompte 5,4736 Than wolde a bare straw amonte, 5,4737 To yive it hire al in a day, 5,4738 Be so that to that suete may 5,4739 I myhte like or more or lesse. 5,4740 And thus be cause of my scarsnesse 5,4741 Ye mai wel understonde and lieve 5,4742 That I schal noght the worse achieve 5,4743 The pourpos which is in my thoght. 5,4744 Bot yit I yaf hir nevere noght, 5,4745 Ne therto dorste a profre make; 5,4746 For wel I wot sche wol noght take, 5,4747 And yive wol sche noght also, 5,4748 Sche is eschu of bothe tuo. 5,4749 And this I trowe be the skile 5,4750 Towardes me, for sche ne wile 5,4751 That I have eny cause of hope, 5,4752 Noght also mochel as a drope. 5,4753 Bot toward othre, as I mai se, 5,4754 Sche takth and yifth in such degre, 5,4755 That as be weie of frendlihiede 5,4756 Sche can so kepe hir wommanhiede, 5,4757 That every man spekth of hir wel. 5,4758 Bot sche wole take of me no del, 5,4759 And yit sche wot wel that I wolde 5,4760 Yive and do bothe what I scholde 5,4761 To plesen hire in al my myht: 5,4762 Be reson this wot every wyht, 5,4763 For that mai be no weie asterte, 5,4764 Ther sche is maister of the herte, 5,4765 Sche mot be maister of the good. 5,4766 For god wot wel that al my mod 5,4767 And al min herte and al mi thoght 5,4768 And al mi good, whil I have oght, 5,4769 Als freliche as god hath it yive, 5,4770 It schal ben hires, while I live, 5,4771 Riht as hir list hirself commande. 5,4772 So that it nedeth no demande, 5,4773 To axe of me if I be scars 5,4774 To love, for as to tho pars 5,4775 I wole ansuere and seie no. 5,4776 Mi Sone, that is riht wel do. 5,4777 For often times of scarsnesse 5,4778 It hath be sen, that for the lesse 5,4779 Is lost the more, as thou schalt hiere 5,4780 A tale lich to this matiere. 5,4781 Skarsnesse and love acorden nevere, 5,4782 For every thing is wel the levere, 5,4783 Whan that a man hath boght it diere: 5,4784 And forto speke in this matiere, 5,4785 For sparinge of a litel cost 5,4786 Fulofte time a man hath lost 5,4787 The large cote for the hod. 5,4788 What man that scars is of his good 5,4789 And wol noght yive, he schal noght take: 5,4790 With yifte a man mai undertake 5,4791 The hihe god to plese and queme, 5,4792 With yifte a man the world mai deme; 5,4793 For every creature bore, 5,4794 If thou him yive, is glad therfore, 5,4795 And every gladschipe, as I finde, 5,4796 Is confort unto loves kinde 5,4797 And causeth ofte a man to spede. 5,4798 So was he wys that ferst yaf mede, 5,4799 For mede kepeth love in house; 5,4800 Bot wher the men ben coveitouse 5,4801 And sparen forto yive a part, 5,4802 Thei knowe noght Cupides art: 5,4803 For his fortune and his aprise 5,4804 Desdeigneth alle coveitise 5,4805 And hateth alle nygardie. 5,4806 And forto loke of this partie, 5,4807 A soth ensample, hou it is so, 5,4808 I finde write of Babio; 5,4809 Which hadde a love at his menage, 5,4810 Ther was non fairere of hire age, 5,4811 And hihte Viola be name; 5,4812 Which full of youthe and ful of game 5,4813 Was of hirself, and large and fre, 5,4814 Bot such an other chinche as he 5,4815 Men wisten noght in al the lond, 5,4816 And hadde affaited to his hond 5,4817 His servant, the which Spodius 5,4818 Was hote. And in this wise thus 5,4819 The worldes good of sufficance 5,4820 Was had, bot likinge and plesance, 5,4821 Of that belongeth to richesse 5,4822 Of love, stod in gret destresse; 5,4823 So that this yonge lusty wyht 5,4824 Of thing which fell to loves riht 5,4825 Was evele served overal, 5,4826 That sche was wo bego withal, 5,4827 Til that Cupide and Venus eke 5,4828 A medicine for the seke 5,4829 Ordeigne wolden in this cas. 5,4830 So as fortune thanne was, 5,4831 Of love upon the destine 5,4832 It fell, riht as it scholde be, 5,4833 A freissh, a fre, a frendly man 5,4834 That noght of Avarice can, 5,4835 Which Croceus be name hihte, 5,4836 Toward this swete caste his sihte, 5,4837 And ther sche was cam in presence. 5,4838 Sche sih him large of his despence, 5,4839 And amorous and glad of chiere, 5,4840 So that hir liketh wel to hiere 5,4841 The goodly wordes whiche he seide; 5,4842 And therupon of love he preide, 5,4843 Of love was al that he mente, 5,4844 To love and for sche scholde assente, 5,4845 He yaf hire yiftes evere among. 5,4846 Bot for men sein that mede is strong, 5,4847 It was wel seene at thilke tyde; 5,4848 For as it scholde of ryht betyde, 5,4849 This Viola largesce hath take 5,4850 And the nygard sche hath forsake: 5,4851 Of Babio sche wol no more, 5,4852 For he was grucchende everemore, 5,4853 Ther was with him non other fare 5,4854 Bot forto prinche and forto spare, 5,4855 Of worldes muk to gete encress. 5,4856 So goth the wrecche loveles, 5,4857 Bejaped for his Skarcete, 5,4858 And he that large was and fre 5,4859 And sette his herte to despende, 5,4860 This Croceus, the bowe bende, 5,4861 Which Venus tok him forto holde, 5,4862 And schotte als ofte as evere he wolde. 5,4863 Lo, thus departeth love his lawe, 5,4864 That what man wol noght be felawe 5,4865 To yive and spende, as I thee telle, 5,4866 He is noght worthi forto duelle 5,4867 In loves court to be relieved. 5,4868 Forthi, my Sone, if I be lieved, 5,4869 Thou schalt be large of thi despence. 5,4870 Mi fader, in mi conscience 5,4871 If ther be eny thing amis, 5,4872 I wol amende it after this, 5,4873 Toward mi love namely. 5,4874 Mi Sone, wel and redely 5,4875 Thou seist, so that wel paid withal 5,4876 I am, and forthere if I schal 5,4877 Unto thi schrifte specefie 5,4878 Of Avarices progenie 5,4879 What vice suieth after this, 5,4880 Thou schalt have wonder hou it is, 5,4881 Among the folk in eny regne 5,4882 That such a vice myhte regne, 5,4883 Which is comun at alle assaies, 5,4884 As men mai finde nou adaies. 5,4885 The vice lik unto the fend, 5,4886 Which nevere yit was mannes frend, 5,4887 And cleped is Unkindeschipe, 5,4888 Of covine and of felaschipe 5,4889 With Avarice he is withholde. 5,4890 Him thenkth he scholde noght ben holde 5,4891 Unto the moder which him bar; 5,4892 Of him mai nevere man be war, 5,4893 He wol noght knowe the merite, 5,4894 For that he wolde it noght aquite; 5,4895 Which in this world is mochel used, 5,4896 And fewe ben therof excused. 5,4897 To telle of him is endeles, 5,4898 Bot this I seie natheles, 5,4899 Wher as this vice comth to londe, 5,4900 Ther takth noman his thonk on honde; 5,4901 Thogh he with alle his myhtes serve, 5,4902 He schal of him no thonk deserve. 5,4903 He takth what eny man wol yive, 5,4904 Bot whil he hath o day to live, 5,4905 He wol nothing rewarde ayein; 5,4906 He gruccheth forto yive o grein, 5,4907 Wher he hath take a berne full. 5,4908 That makth a kinde herte dull, 5,4909 To sette his trust in such frendschipe, 5,4910 Ther as he fint no kindeschipe; 5,4911 And forto speke wordes pleine, 5,4912 Thus hiere I many a man compleigne, 5,4913 That nou on daies thou schalt finde 5,4914 At nede fewe frendes kinde; 5,4915 What thou hast don for hem tofore, 5,4916 It is foryete, as it were lore. 5,4917 The bokes speken of this vice, 5,4918 And telle hou god of his justice, 5,4919 Be weie of kinde and ek nature 5,4920 And every lifissh creature, 5,4921 The lawe also, who that it kan, 5,4922 Thei dampnen an unkinde man. 5,4923 It is al on to seie unkinde 5,4924 As thing which don is ayein kinde, 5,4925 For it with kinde nevere stod 5,4926 A man to yelden evel for good. 5,4927 For who that wolde taken hede, 5,4928 A beste is glad of a good dede, 5,4929 And loveth thilke creature 5,4930 After the lawe of his nature 5,4931 Which doth him ese. And forto se 5,4932 Of this matiere Auctorite, 5,4933 Fulofte time it hath befalle; 5,4934 Wherof a tale amonges alle, 5,4935 Which is of olde ensamplerie, 5,4936 I thenke forto specefie. 5,4937 To speke of an unkinde man, 5,4938 I finde hou whilom Adrian, 5,4939 Of Rome which a gret lord was, 5,4940 Upon a day as he per cas 5,4941 To wode in his huntinge wente, 5,4942 It hapneth at a soudein wente, 5,4943 After his chace as he poursuieth, 5,4944 Thurgh happ, the which noman eschuieth, 5,4945 He fell unwar into a pet, 5,4946 Wher that it mihte noght be let. 5,4947 The pet was dep and he fell lowe, 5,4948 That of his men non myhte knowe 5,4949 Wher he becam, for non was nyh, 5,4950 Which of his fall the meschief syh. 5,4951 And thus al one ther he lay 5,4952 Clepende and criende al the day 5,4953 For socour and deliverance, 5,4954 Til ayein Eve it fell per chance, 5,4955 A while er it began to nyhte, 5,4956 A povere man, which Bardus hihte, 5,4957 Cam forth walkende with his asse, 5,4958 And hadde gadred him a tasse 5,4959 Of grene stickes and of dreie 5,4960 To selle, who that wolde hem beie, 5,4961 As he which hadde no liflode, 5,4962 Bot whanne he myhte such a lode 5,4963 To toune with his Asse carie. 5,4964 And as it fell him forto tarie 5,4965 That ilke time nyh the pet, 5,4966 And hath the trusse faste knet, 5,4967 He herde a vois, which cride dimme, 5,4968 And he his Ere to the brimme 5,4969 Hath leid, and herde it was a man, 5,4970 Which seide, "Ha, help hier Adrian, 5,4971 And I wol yiven half mi good." 5,4972 The povere man this understod, 5,4973 As he that wolde gladly winne, 5,4974 And to this lord which was withinne 5,4975 He spak and seide, "If I thee save, 5,4976 What sikernesse schal I have 5,4977 Of covenant, that afterward 5,4978 Thou wolt me yive such reward 5,4979 As thou behihtest nou tofore?" 5,4980 That other hath his othes swore 5,4981 Be hevene and be the goddes alle, 5,4982 If that it myhte so befalle 5,4983 That he out of the pet him broghte, 5,4984 Of all the goodes whiche he oghte 5,4985 He schal have evene halvendel. 5,4986 This Bardus seide he wolde wel; 5,4987 And with this word his Asse anon 5,4988 He let untrusse, and therupon 5,4989 Doun goth the corde into the pet, 5,4990 To which he hath at ende knet 5,4991 A staf, wherby, he seide, he wolde 5,4992 That Adrian him scholde holde. 5,4993 Bot it was tho per chance falle, 5,4994 Into that pet was also falle 5,4995 An Ape, which at thilke throwe, 5,4996 Whan that the corde cam doun lowe, 5,4997 Al sodeinli therto he skipte 5,4998 And it in bothe hise armes clipte. 5,4999 And Bardus with his Asse anon 5,5000 Him hath updrawe, and he is gon. 5,5001 But whan he sih it was an Ape, 5,5002 He wende al hadde ben a jape 5,5003 Of faierie, and sore him dradde: 5,5004 And Adrian eftsone gradde 5,5005 For help, and cride and preide faste, 5,5006 And he eftsone his corde caste; 5,5007 Bot whan it cam unto the grounde, 5,5008 A gret Serpent it hath bewounde, 5,5009 The which Bardus anon up drouh. 5,5010 And thanne him thoghte wel ynouh, 5,5011 It was fantosme, bot yit he herde 5,5012 The vois, and he therto ansuerde, 5,5013 "What wiht art thou in goddes name?" 5,5014 "I am," quod Adrian, "the same, 5,5015 Whos good thou schalt have evene half." 5,5016 Quod Bardus, "Thanne a goddes half 5,5017 The thridde time assaie I schal": 5,5018 And caste his corde forth withal 5,5019 Into the pet, and whan it cam 5,5020 To him, this lord of Rome it nam, 5,5021 And therupon him hath adresced, 5,5022 And with his hand fulofte blessed, 5,5023 And thanne he bad to Bardus hale. 5,5024 And he, which understod his tale, 5,5025 Betwen him and his Asse al softe 5,5026 Hath drawe and set him up alofte 5,5027 Withouten harm al esely. 5,5028 He seith noght ones "grant merci," 5,5029 Bot strauhte him forth to the cite, 5,5030 And let this povere Bardus be. 5,5031 And natheles this simple man 5,5032 His covenant, so as he can, 5,5033 Hath axed; and that other seide, 5,5034 If so be that he him umbreide 5,5035 Of oght that hath be speke or do, 5,5036 It schal ben venged on him so, 5,5037 That him were betre to be ded. 5,5038 And he can tho non other red, 5,5039 But on his asse ayein he caste 5,5040 His trusse, and hieth homward faste: 5,5041 And whan that he cam hom to bedde, 5,5042 He tolde his wif hou that he spedde. 5,5043 Bot finaly to speke oght more 5,5044 Unto this lord he dradde him sore, 5,5045 So that a word ne dorste he sein: 5,5046 And thus upon the morwe ayein, 5,5047 In the manere as I recorde, 5,5048 Forth with his Asse and with his corde 5,5049 To gadre wode, as he dede er, 5,5050 He goth; and whan that he cam ner 5,5051 Unto the place where he wolde, 5,5052 He hath his Ape anon beholde, 5,5053 Which hadde gadred al aboute 5,5054 Of stickes hiere and there a route, 5,5055 And leide hem redy to his hond, 5,5056 Wherof he made his trosse and bond; 5,5057 Fro dai to dai and in this wise 5,5058 This Ape profreth his servise, 5,5059 So that he hadde of wode ynouh. 5,5060 Upon a time and as he drouh 5,5061 Toward the wode, he sih besyde 5,5062 The grete gastli Serpent glyde, 5,5063 Til that sche cam in his presence, 5,5064 And in hir kinde a reverence 5,5065 Sche hath him do, and forth withal 5,5066 A Ston mor briht than a cristall 5,5067 Out of hir mouth tofore his weie 5,5068 Sche let doun falle, and wente aweie, 5,5069 For that he schal noght ben adrad. 5,5070 Tho was this povere Bardus glad, 5,5071 Thonkende god, and to the Ston 5,5072 He goth an takth it up anon, 5,5073 And hath gret wonder in his wit 5,5074 Hou that the beste him hath aquit, 5,5075 Wher that the mannes Sone hath failed, 5,5076 For whom he hadde most travailed. 5,5077 Bot al he putte in goddes hond, 5,5078 And torneth hom, and what he fond 5,5079 Unto his wif he hath it schewed; 5,5080 And thei, that weren bothe lewed, 5,5081 Acorden that he scholde it selle. 5,5082 And he no lengere wolde duelle, 5,5083 Bot forth anon upon the tale 5,5084 The Ston he profreth to the sale; 5,5085 And riht as he himself it sette, 5,5086 The jueler anon forth fette 5,5087 The gold and made his paiement, 5,5088 Therof was no delaiement. 5,5089 Thus whan this Ston was boght and sold, 5,5090 Homward with joie manyfold 5,5091 This Bardus goth; and whan he cam 5,5092 Hom to his hous and that he nam 5,5093 His gold out of his Purs, withinne 5,5094 He fond his Ston also therinne, 5,5095 Wherof for joie his herte pleide, 5,5096 Unto his wif and thus he seide, 5,5097 "Lo, hier my gold, lo, hier mi Ston]" 5,5098 His wif hath wonder therupon, 5,5099 And axeth him hou that mai be. 5,5100 "Nou be mi trouthe I not," quod he, 5,5101 "Bot I dar swere upon a bok, 5,5102 That to my Marchant I it tok, 5,5103 And he it hadde whan I wente: 5,5104 So knowe I noght to what entente 5,5105 It is nou hier, bot it be grace. 5,5106 Forthi tomorwe in other place 5,5107 I wole it fonde forto selle, 5,5108 And if it wol noght with him duelle, 5,5109 Bot crepe into mi purs ayein, 5,5110 Than dar I saufly swere and sein, 5,5111 It is the vertu of the Ston." 5,5112 The morwe cam, and he is gon 5,5113 To seche aboute in other stede 5,5114 His Ston to selle, and he so dede, 5,5115 And lefte it with his chapman there. 5,5116 Bot whan that he cam elleswhere, 5,5117 In presence of his wif at hom, 5,5118 Out of his Purs and that he nom 5,5119 His gold, he fond his Ston withal: 5,5120 And thus it fell him overal, 5,5121 Where he it solde in sondri place, 5,5122 Such was the fortune and the grace. 5,5123 Bot so wel may nothing ben hidd, 5,5124 That it nys ate laste kidd: 5,5125 This fame goth aboute Rome 5,5126 So ferforth, that the wordes come 5,5127 To themperour Justinian; 5,5128 And he let sende for the man, 5,5129 And axede him hou that it was. 5,5130 And Bardus tolde him al the cas, 5,5131 Hou that the worm and ek the beste, 5,5132 Althogh thei maden no beheste, 5,5133 His travail hadden wel aquit; 5,5134 Bot he which hadde a mannes wit, 5,5135 And made his covenant be mouthe 5,5136 And swor therto al that he couthe 5,5137 To parte and yiven half his good, 5,5138 Hath nou foryete hou that it stod, 5,5139 As he which wol no trouthe holde. 5,5140 This Emperour al that he tolde 5,5141 Hath herd, and thilke unkindenesse 5,5142 He seide he wolde himself redresse. 5,5143 And thus in court of juggement 5,5144 This Adrian was thanne assent, 5,5145 And the querele in audience 5,5146 Declared was in the presence 5,5147 Of themperour and many mo; 5,5148 Wherof was mochel speche tho 5,5149 And gret wondringe among the press. 5,5150 Bot ate laste natheles 5,5151 For the partie which hath pleigned 5,5152 The lawe hath diemed and ordeigned 5,5153 Be hem that were avised wel, 5,5154 That he schal have the halvendel 5,5155 Thurghout of Adrianes good. 5,5156 And thus of thilke unkinde blod 5,5157 Stant the memoire into this day, 5,5158 Wherof that every wysman may 5,5159 Ensamplen him, and take in mynde 5,5160 What schame it is to ben unkinde; 5,5161 Ayein the which reson debateth, 5,5162 And every creature it hateth. 5,5163 Forthi, mi Sone, in thin office 5,5164 I rede fle that ilke vice. 5,5165 For riht as the Cronique seith 5,5166 Of Adrian, hou he his feith 5,5167 Foryat for worldes covoitise, 5,5168 Fulofte in such a maner wise 5,5169 Of lovers nou a man mai se 5,5170 Full manye that unkinde be: 5,5171 For wel behote and evele laste 5,5172 That is here lif; for ate laste, 5,5173 Whan that thei have here wille do, 5,5174 Here love is after sone ago. 5,5175 What seist thou, Sone, to this cas? 5,5176 Mi fader, I wol seie Helas, 5,5177 That evere such a man was bore, 5,5178 Which whan he hath his trouthe suore 5,5179 And hath of love what he wolde, 5,5180 That he at eny time scholde 5,5181 Evere after in his herte finde 5,5182 To falsen and to ben unkinde. 5,5183 Bot, fader, as touchende of me, 5,5184 I mai noght stonde in that degre; 5,5185 For I tok nevere of love why, 5,5186 That I ne mai wel go therby 5,5187 And do my profit elles where, 5,5188 For eny sped I finde there. 5,5189 I dar wel thenken al aboute, 5,5190 Bot I ne dar noght speke it oute; 5,5191 And if I dorste, I wolde pleigne, 5,5192 That sche for whom I soffre peine 5,5193 And love hir evere aliche hote, 5,5194 That nouther yive ne behote 5,5195 In rewardinge of mi servise 5,5196 It list hire in no maner wise. 5,5197 I wol noght say that sche is kinde, 5,5198 And forto sai sche is unkinde, 5,5199 That dar I noght; bot god above, 5,5200 Which demeth every herte of love, 5,5201 He wot that on myn oghne side 5,5202 Schal non unkindeschipe abide: 5,5203 If it schal with mi ladi duelle, 5,5204 Therof dar I nomore telle. 5,5205 Nou, goode fader, as it is, 5,5206 Tell me what thenketh you of this. 5,5207 Mi Sone, of that unkindeschipe, 5,5208 The which toward thi ladischipe 5,5209 Thou pleignest, for sche wol thee noght, 5,5210 Thou art to blamen of that thoght. 5,5211 For it mai be that thi desir, 5,5212 Thogh it brenne evere as doth the fyr, 5,5213 Per cas to hire honour missit, 5,5214 Or elles time com noght yit, 5,5215 Which standt upon thi destine: 5,5216 Forthi, mi Sone, I rede thee, 5,5217 Thenk wel, what evere the befalle; 5,5218 For noman hath his lustes alle. 5,5219 Bot as thou toldest me before 5,5220 That thou to love art noght forswore, 5,5221 And hast don non unkindenesse, 5,5222 Thou miht therof thi grace blesse: 5,5223 And lef noght that continuance; 5,5224 For ther mai be no such grevance 5,5225 To love, as is unkindeschipe. 5,5226 Wherof to kepe thi worschipe, 5,5227 So as these olde bokes tale, 5,5228 I schal thee telle a redi tale: 5,5229 Nou herkne and be wel war therby, 5,5230 For I wol telle it openly. 5,5231 Mynos, as telleth the Poete, 5,5232 The which whilom was king of Crete, 5,5233 A Sone hadde and Androchee 5,5234 He hihte: and so befell that he 5,5235 Unto Athenes forto lere 5,5236 Was send, and so he bar him there, 5,5237 For that he was of hih lignage, 5,5238 Such pride he tok in his corage, 5,5239 That he foryeten hath the Scoles, 5,5240 And in riote among the foles 5,5241 He dede manye thinges wronge; 5,5242 And useth thilke lif so longe, 5,5243 Til ate laste of that he wroghte 5,5244 He fond the meschief which he soghte, 5,5245 Wherof it fell that he was slain. 5,5246 His fader, which it herde sain, 5,5247 Was wroth, and al that evere he mihte, 5,5248 Of men of Armes he him dighte 5,5249 A strong pouer, and forth he wente 5,5250 Unto Athenys, where he brente 5,5251 The pleine contre al aboute: 5,5252 The Cites stode of him in doute, 5,5253 As thei that no defence hadde 5,5254 Ayein the pouer which he ladde. 5,5255 Egeuµs, which was there king, 5,5256 His conseil tok upon this thing, 5,5257 For he was thanne in the Cite: 5,5258 So that of pes into tretee 5,5259 Betwen Mynos and Egeuµs 5,5260 Thei felle, and ben acorded thus; 5,5261 That king Mynos fro yer to yeere 5,5262 Receive schal, as thou schalt here, 5,5263 Out of Athenys for truage 5,5264 Of men that were of myhti Age 5,5265 Persones nyne, of whiche he schal 5,5266 His wille don in special 5,5267 For vengance of his Sones deth. 5,5268 Non other grace ther ne geth, 5,5269 Bot forto take the juise; 5,5270 And that was don in such a wise, 5,5271 Which stod upon a wonder cas. 5,5272 For thilke time so it was, 5,5273 Wherof that men yit rede and singe, 5,5274 King Mynos hadde in his kepinge 5,5275 A cruel Monstre, as seith the geste: 5,5276 For he was half man and half beste, 5,5277 And Minotaurus he was hote, 5,5278 Which was begete in a riote 5,5279 Upon Pasiphe, his oghne wif, 5,5280 Whil he was oute upon the strif 5,5281 Of thilke grete Siege at Troie. 5,5282 Bot sche, which lost hath alle joie, 5,5283 Whan that sche syh this Monstre bore, 5,5284 Bad men ordeigne anon therfore: 5,5285 And fell that ilke time thus, 5,5286 Ther was a Clerk, on Dedalus, 5,5287 Which hadde ben of hire assent 5,5288 Of that hir world was so miswent; 5,5289 And he made of his oghne wit, 5,5290 Wherof the remembrance is yit, 5,5291 For Minotaure such an hous, 5,5292 Which was so strange and merveilous, 5,5293 That what man that withinne wente, 5,5294 Ther was so many a sondri wente, 5,5295 That he ne scholde noght come oute, 5,5296 But gon amased al aboute. 5,5297 And in this hous to loke and warde 5,5298 Was Minotaurus put in warde, 5,5299 That what lif that therinne cam, 5,5300 Or man or beste, he overcam 5,5301 And slow, and fedde him therupon; 5,5302 And in this wise many on 5,5303 Out of Athenys for truage 5,5304 Devoured weren in that rage. 5,5305 For every yeer thei schope hem so, 5,5306 Thei of Athenys, er thei go 5,5307 Toward that ilke wofull chance, 5,5308 As it was set in ordinance, 5,5309 Upon fortune here lot thei caste; 5,5310 Til that Theseuµs ate laste, 5,5311 Which was the kinges Sone there, 5,5312 Amonges othre that ther were 5,5313 In thilke yeer, as it befell, 5,5314 The lot upon his chance fell. 5,5315 He was a worthi kniht withalle; 5,5316 And whan he sih this chance falle, 5,5317 He ferde as thogh he tok non hiede, 5,5318 Bot al that evere he mihte spiede, 5,5319 With him and with his felaschipe 5,5320 Forth into Crete he goth be Schipe; 5,5321 Wher that the king Mynos he soghte, 5,5322 And profreth all that he him oghte 5,5323 Upon the point of here acord. 5,5324 This sterne king, this cruel lord 5,5325 Tok every day on of the Nyne, 5,5326 And put him to the discipline 5,5327 Of Minotaure, to be devoured; 5,5328 Bot Theseuµs was so favoured, 5,5329 That he was kept til ate laste. 5,5330 And in the meene while he caste 5,5331 What thing him were best to do: 5,5332 And fell that Adriagne tho, 5,5333 Which was the dowhter of Mynos, 5,5334 And hadde herd the worthi los 5,5335 Of Theseuµs and of his myht, 5,5336 And syh he was a lusti kniht, 5,5337 Hire hole herte on him sche leide, 5,5338 And he also of love hir preide, 5,5339 So ferforth that thei were al on. 5,5340 And sche ordeigneth thanne anon 5,5341 In what manere he scholde him save, 5,5342 And schop so that sche dede him have 5,5343 A clue of thred, of which withinne 5,5344 Ferst ate dore he schal beginne 5,5345 With him to take that on ende, 5,5346 That whan he wolde ayeinward wende, 5,5347 He mihte go the same weie. 5,5348 And over this, so as I seie, 5,5349 Of pich sche tok him a pelote, 5,5350 The which he scholde into the throte 5,5351 Of Minotaure caste rihte: 5,5352 Such wepne also for him sche dighte, 5,5353 That he be reson mai noght faile 5,5354 To make an ende of his bataile; 5,5355 For sche him tawhte in sondri wise, 5,5356 Til he was knowe of thilke emprise, 5,5357 Hou he this beste schulde quelle. 5,5358 And thus, schort tale forto telle, 5,5359 So as this Maide him hadde tawht, 5,5360 Theseuµs with this Monstre fawht, 5,5361 Smot of his hed, the which he nam, 5,5362 And be the thred, so as he cam, 5,5363 He goth ayein, til he were oute. 5,5364 Tho was gret wonder al aboute: 5,5365 Mynos the tribut hath relessed, 5,5366 And so was al the werre cessed 5,5367 Betwen Athene and hem of Crete. 5,5368 Bot now to speke of thilke suete, 5,5369 Whos beaute was withoute wane, 5,5370 This faire Maiden Adriane, 5,5371 Whan that sche sih Theseuµs sound, 5,5372 Was nevere yit upon the ground 5,5373 A gladder wyht that sche was tho. 5,5374 Theseuµs duelte a dai or tuo 5,5375 Wher that Mynos gret chiere him dede: 5,5376 Theseuµs in a prive stede 5,5377 Hath with this Maiden spoke and rouned, 5,5378 That sche to him was abandouned 5,5379 In al that evere that sche couthe, 5,5380 So that of thilke lusty youthe 5,5381 Al prively betwen hem tweie 5,5382 The ferste flour he tok aweie. 5,5383 For he so faire tho behihte 5,5384 That evere, whil he live mihte, 5,5385 He scholde hire take for his wif, 5,5386 And as his oghne hertes lif 5,5387 He scholde hire love and trouthe bere; 5,5388 And sche, which mihte noght forbere, 5,5389 So sore loveth him ayein, 5,5390 That what as evere he wolde sein 5,5391 With al hire herte sche believeth. 5,5392 And thus his pourpos he achieveth, 5,5393 So that assured of his trouthe 5,5394 With him sche wente, and that was routhe. 5,5395 Fedra hire yonger Soster eke, 5,5396 A lusti Maide, a sobre, a meke, 5,5397 Fulfild of alle curtesie, 5,5398 For Sosterhode and compainie 5,5399 Of love, which was hem betuene, 5,5400 To sen hire Soster mad a queene, 5,5401 Hire fader lefte and forth sche wente 5,5402 With him, which al his ferste entente 5,5403 Foryat withinne a litel throwe, 5,5404 So that it was al overthrowe, 5,5405 Whan sche best wende it scholde stonde. 5,5406 The Schip was blowe fro the londe, 5,5407 Wherin that thei seilende were; 5,5408 This Adriagne hath mochel fere 5,5409 Of that the wynd so loude bleu, 5,5410 As sche which of the See ne kneu, 5,5411 And preide forto reste a whyle. 5,5412 And so fell that upon an yle, 5,5413 Which Chyo hihte, thei ben drive, 5,5414 Where he to hire his leve hath yive 5,5415 That sche schal londe and take hire reste. 5,5416 Bot that was nothing for the beste: 5,5417 For whan sche was to londe broght, 5,5418 Sche, which that time thoghte noght 5,5419 Bot alle trouthe, and tok no kepe, 5,5420 Hath leid hire softe forto slepe, 5,5421 As sche which longe hath ben forwacched; 5,5422 Bot certes sche was evele macched 5,5423 And fer from alle loves kinde; 5,5424 For more than the beste unkinde 5,5425 Theseuµs, which no trouthe kepte, 5,5426 Whil that this yonge ladi slepte, 5,5427 Fulfild of his unkindeschipe 5,5428 Hath al foryete the goodschipe 5,5429 Which Adriane him hadde do, 5,5430 And bad unto the Schipmen tho 5,5431 Hale up the seil and noght abyde, 5,5432 And forth he goth the same tyde 5,5433 Toward Athene, and hire alonde 5,5434 He lefte, which lay nyh the stronde 5,5435 Slepende, til that sche awok. 5,5436 Bot whan that sche cast up hire lok 5,5437 Toward the stronde and sih no wyht, 5,5438 Hire herte was so sore aflyht, 5,5439 That sche ne wiste what to thinke, 5,5440 Bot drouh hire to the water brinke, 5,5441 Wher sche behield the See at large. 5,5442 Sche sih no Schip, sche sih no barge 5,5443 Als ferforth as sche mihte kenne: 5,5444 "Ha lord," sche seide, "which a Senne, 5,5445 As al the world schal after hiere, 5,5446 Upon this woful womman hiere 5,5447 This worthi kniht hath don and wroght] 5,5448 I wende I hadde his love boght, 5,5449 And so deserved ate nede, 5,5450 Whan that he stod upon his drede, 5,5451 And ek the love he me behihte. 5,5452 It is gret wonder hou he mihte 5,5453 Towardes me nou ben unkinde, 5,5454 And so to lete out of his mynde 5,5455 Thing which he seide his oghne mouth. 5,5456 Bot after this whan it is couth 5,5457 And drawe into the worldes fame, 5,5458 It schal ben hindringe of his name: 5,5459 For wel he wot and so wot I, 5,5460 He yaf his trouthe bodily, 5,5461 That he myn honour scholde kepe." 5,5462 And with that word sche gan to wepe, 5,5463 And sorweth more than ynouh: 5,5464 Hire faire tresces sche todrouh, 5,5465 And with hirself tok such a strif, 5,5466 That sche betwen the deth and lif 5,5467 Swounende lay fulofte among. 5,5468 And al was this on him along, 5,5469 Which was to love unkinde so, 5,5470 Wherof the wrong schal everemo 5,5471 Stonde in Cronique of remembrance. 5,5472 And ek it asketh a vengance 5,5473 To ben unkinde in loves cas, 5,5474 So as Theseuµs thanne was, 5,5475 Al thogh he were a noble kniht; 5,5476 For he the lawe of loves riht 5,5477 Forfeted hath in alle weie, 5,5478 That Adriagne he putte aweie, 5,5479 Which was a gret unkinde dede: 5,5480 And after this, so as I rede, 5,5481 Fedra, the which hir Soster is, 5,5482 He tok in stede of hire, and this 5,5483 Fel afterward to mochel teene. 5,5484 For thilke vice of which I meene, 5,5485 Unkindeschipe, where it falleth, 5,5486 The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth, 5,5487 That he can no good dede aquite: 5,5488 So mai he stonde of no merite 5,5489 Towardes god, and ek also 5,5490 Men clepen him the worldes fo; 5,5491 For he nomore than the fend 5,5492 Unto non other man is frend, 5,5493 Bot al toward himself al one. 5,5494 Forthi, mi Sone, in thi persone 5,5495 This vice above all othre fle. 5,5496 Mi fader, as ye techen me, 5,5497 I thenke don in this matiere. 5,5498 Bot over this nou wolde I hiere, 5,5499 Wherof I schal me schryve more. 5,5500 Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore, 5,5501 After the reule of coveitise 5,5502 I schal the proprete devise 5,5503 Of every vice by and by. 5,5504 Nou herkne and be wel war therby. 5,5505 In the lignage of Avarice, 5,5506 Mi Sone, yit ther is a vice, 5,5507 His rihte name it is Ravine, 5,5508 Which hath a route of his covine. 5,5509 Ravine among the maistres duelleth, 5,5510 And with his servantz, as men telleth, 5,5511 Extorcion is nou withholde: 5,5512 Ravine of othre mennes folde 5,5513 Makth his larder and paieth noght; 5,5514 For wher as evere it mai be soght, 5,5515 In his hous ther schal nothing lacke, 5,5516 And that fulofte abyth the packe 5,5517 Of povere men that duelle aboute. 5,5518 Thus stant the comun poeple in doute, 5,5519 Which can do non amendement; 5,5520 For whanne him faileth paiement, 5,5521 Ravine makth non other skile, 5,5522 Bot takth be strengthe what he wile. 5,5523 So ben ther in the same wise 5,5524 Lovers, as I thee schal devise, 5,5525 That whan noght elles mai availe, 5,5526 Anon with strengthe thei assaile 5,5527 And gete of love the sesine, 5,5528 Whan thei se time, be Ravine. 5,5529 Forthi, mi Sone, schrif thee hier, 5,5530 If thou hast ben a Raviner 5,5531 Of love. Certes, fader, no: 5,5532 For I mi ladi love so, 5,5533 That thogh I were as was Pompeie, 5,5534 That al the world me wolde obeie, 5,5535 Or elles such as Alisandre, 5,5536 I wolde noght do such a sklaundre; 5,5537 It is no good man, which so doth. 5,5538 In good feith, Sone, thou seist soth: 5,5539 For he that wole of pourveance 5,5540 Be such a weie his lust avance, 5,5541 He schal it after sore abie, 5,5542 Bot if these olde ensamples lie. 5,5543 Nou, goode fader, tell me on, 5,5544 So as ye cunne manyon, 5,5545 Touchende of love in this matiere. 5,5546 Nou list, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere, 5,5547 So as it hath befalle er this, 5,5548 In loves cause hou that it is 5,5549 A man to take be Ravine 5,5550 The preie which is femeline. 5,5551 Ther was a real noble king, 5,5552 And riche of alle worldes thing, 5,5553 Which of his propre enheritance 5,5554 Athenes hadde in governance, 5,5555 And who so thenke therupon, 5,5556 His name was king Pandion. 5,5557 Tuo douhtres hadde he be his wif, 5,5558 The whiche he lovede as his lif; 5,5559 The ferste douhter Progne hihte, 5,5560 And the secounde, as sche wel mihte, 5,5561 Was cleped faire Philomene, 5,5562 To whom fell after mochel tene. 5,5563 The fader of his pourveance 5,5564 His doughter Progne wolde avance, 5,5565 And yaf hire unto mariage 5,5566 A worthi king of hih lignage, 5,5567 A noble kniht eke of his hond, 5,5568 So was he kid in every lond, 5,5569 Of Trace he hihte Tereuµs; 5,5570 The clerk Ovide telleth thus. 5,5571 This Tereuµs his wif hom ladde, 5,5572 A lusti lif with hire he hadde; 5,5573 Til it befell upon a tyde, 5,5574 This Progne, as sche lay him besyde, 5,5575 Bethoughte hir hou it mihte be 5,5576 That sche hir Soster myhte se, 5,5577 And to hir lord hir will sche seide, 5,5578 With goodly wordes and him preide 5,5579 That sche to hire mihte go: 5,5580 And if it liked him noght so, 5,5581 That thanne he wolde himselve wende, 5,5582 Or elles be som other sende, 5,5583 Which mihte hire diere Soster griete, 5,5584 And schape hou that thei mihten miete. 5,5585 Hir lord anon to that he herde 5,5586 Yaf his acord, and thus ansuerde: 5,5587 "I wole," he seide, "for thi sake 5,5588 The weie after thi Soster take 5,5589 Miself, and bringe hire, if I may." 5,5590 And sche with that, there as he lay, 5,5591 Began him in hire armes clippe, 5,5592 And kist him with hir softe lippe, 5,5593 And seide, "Sire, grant mercy." 5,5594 And he sone after was redy, 5,5595 And tok his leve forto go; 5,5596 In sori time dede he so. 5,5597 This Tereuµs goth forth to Schipe 5,5598 With him and with his felaschipe; 5,5599 Be See the rihte cours he nam, 5,5600 Into the contre til he cam, 5,5601 Wher Philomene was duellinge, 5,5602 And of hir Soster the tidinge 5,5603 He tolde, and tho thei weren glade, 5,5604 And mochel joie of him thei made. 5,5605 The fader and the moder bothe 5,5606 To leve here douhter weren lothe, 5,5607 Bot if thei weren in presence; 5,5608 And natheles at reverence 5,5609 Of him, that wolde himself travaile, 5,5610 Thei wolden noght he scholde faile 5,5611 Of that he preide, and yive hire leve: 5,5612 And sche, that wolde noght beleve, 5,5613 In alle haste made hire yare 5,5614 Toward hir Soster forto fare, 5,5615 With Tereuµs and forth sche wente. 5,5616 And he with al his hole entente, 5,5617 Whan sche was fro hir frendes go, 5,5618 Assoteth of hire love so, 5,5619 His yhe myhte he noght withholde, 5,5620 That he ne moste on hir beholde; 5,5621 And with the sihte he gan desire, 5,5622 And sette his oghne herte on fyre; 5,5623 And fyr, whan it to tow aprocheth, 5,5624 To him anon the strengthe acrocheth, 5,5625 Til with his hete it be devoured, 5,5626 The tow ne mai noght be socoured. 5,5627 And so that tirant raviner, 5,5628 Whan that sche was in his pouer, 5,5629 And he therto sawh time and place, 5,5630 As he that lost hath alle grace, 5,5631 Foryat he was a wedded man, 5,5632 And in a rage on hire he ran, 5,5633 Riht as a wolf which takth his preie. 5,5634 And sche began to crie and preie, 5,5635 "O fader, o mi moder diere, 5,5636 Nou help]" Bot thei ne mihte it hiere, 5,5637 And sche was of to litel myht 5,5638 Defense ayein so ruide a knyht 5,5639 To make, whanne he was so wod 5,5640 That he no reson understod, 5,5641 Bot hield hire under in such wise, 5,5642 That sche ne myhte noght arise, 5,5643 Bot lay oppressed and desesed, 5,5644 As if a goshauk hadde sesed 5,5645 A brid, which dorste noght for fere 5,5646 Remue: and thus this tirant there 5,5647 Beraft hire such thing as men sein 5,5648 Mai neveremor be yolde ayein, 5,5649 And that was the virginite: 5,5650 Of such Ravine it was pite. 5,5651 Bot whan sche to hirselven com, 5,5652 And of hir meschief hiede nom, 5,5653 And knew hou that sche was no maide, 5,5654 With wofull herte thus sche saide, 5,5655 "O thou of alle men the worste, 5,5656 Wher was ther evere man that dorste 5,5657 Do such a dede as thou hast do? 5,5658 That dai schal falle, I hope so, 5,5659 That I schal telle out al mi fille, 5,5660 And with mi speche I schal fulfille 5,5661 The wyde world in brede and lengthe. 5,5662 That thou hast do to me be strengthe, 5,5663 If I among the poeple duelle, 5,5664 Unto the poeple I schal it telle; 5,5665 And if I be withinne wall 5,5666 Of Stones closed, thanne I schal 5,5667 Unto the Stones clepe and crie, 5,5668 And tellen hem thi felonie; 5,5669 And if I to the wodes wende, 5,5670 Ther schal I tellen tale and ende, 5,5671 And crie it to the briddes oute, 5,5672 That thei schul hiere it al aboute. 5,5673 For I so loude it schal reherce, 5,5674 That my vois schal the hevene perce, 5,5675 That it schal soune in goddes Ere. 5,5676 Ha, false man, where is thi fere? 5,5677 O mor cruel than eny beste, 5,5678 Hou hast thou holden thi beheste 5,5679 Which thou unto my Soster madest? 5,5680 O thou, which alle love ungladest, 5,5681 And art ensample of alle untrewe, 5,5682 Nou wolde god mi Soster knewe, 5,5683 Of thin untrouthe, hou that it stod]" 5,5684 And he than as a Lyon wod 5,5685 With hise unhappi handes stronge 5,5686 Hire cauhte be the tresses longe, 5,5687 With whiche he bond ther bothe hire armes, 5,5688 That was a fieble dede of armes, 5,5689 And to the grounde anon hire caste, 5,5690 And out he clippeth also faste 5,5691 Hire tunge with a peire scheres. 5,5692 So what with blod and what with teres 5,5693 Out of hire yhe and of hir mouth, 5,5694 He made hire faire face uncouth: 5,5695 Sche lay swounende unto the deth, 5,5696 Ther was unethes eny breth; 5,5697 Bot yit whan he hire tunge refte, 5,5698 A litel part therof belefte, 5,5699 Bot sche with al no word mai soune, 5,5700 Bot chitre and as a brid jargoune. 5,5701 And natheles that wode hound 5,5702 Hir bodi hent up fro the ground, 5,5703 And sente hir there as be his wille 5,5704 Sche scholde abyde in prison stille 5,5705 For everemo: bot nou tak hiede 5,5706 What after fell of this misdede. 5,5707 Whanne al this meschief was befalle, 5,5708 This Tereuµs, that foule him falle, 5,5709 Unto his contre hom he tyh; 5,5710 And whan he com his paleis nyh, 5,5711 His wif al redi there him kepte. 5,5712 Whan he hir sih, anon he wepte, 5,5713 And that he dede for deceite, 5,5714 For sche began to axe him streite, 5,5715 "Wher is mi Soster?" And he seide 5,5716 That sche was ded; and Progne abreide, 5,5717 As sche that was a wofull wif, 5,5718 And stod betuen hire deth and lif, 5,5719 Of that sche herde such tidinge: 5,5720 Bot for sche sih hire lord wepinge, 5,5721 She wende noght bot alle trouthe, 5,5722 And hadde wel the more routhe. 5,5723 The Perles weren tho forsake 5,5724 To hire, and blake clothes take; 5,5725 As sche that was gentil and kinde, 5,5726 In worschipe of hir Sostres mynde 5,5727 Sche made a riche enterement, 5,5728 For sche fond non amendement 5,5729 To syghen or to sobbe more: 5,5730 So was ther guile under the gore. 5,5731 Nou leve we this king and queene, 5,5732 And torne ayein to Philomene, 5,5733 As I began to tellen erst. 5,5734 Whan sche cam into prison ferst, 5,5735 It thoghte a kinges douhter strange 5,5736 To maken so soudein a change 5,5737 Fro welthe unto so grete a wo; 5,5738 And sche began to thenke tho, 5,5739 Thogh sche be mouthe nothing preide, 5,5740 Withinne hir herte thus sche seide: 5,5741 "O thou, almyhty Jupiter, 5,5742 That hihe sist and lokest fer, 5,5743 Thou soffrest many a wrong doinge, 5,5744 And yit it is noght thi willinge. 5,5745 To thee ther mai nothing ben hid, 5,5746 Thou wost hou it is me betid: 5,5747 I wolde I hadde noght be bore, 5,5748 For thanne I hadde noght forlore 5,5749 Mi speche and mi virginite. 5,5750 Bot, goode lord, al is in thee, 5,5751 Whan thou therof wolt do vengance 5,5752 And schape mi deliverance." 5,5753 And evere among this ladi wepte, 5,5754 And thoghte that sche nevere kepte 5,5755 To ben a worldes womman more, 5,5756 And that sche wissheth everemore. 5,5757 Bot ofte unto hir Soster diere 5,5758 Hire herte spekth in this manere, 5,5759 And seide, "Ha, Soster, if ye knewe 5,5760 Of myn astat, ye wolde rewe, 5,5761 I trowe, and my deliverance 5,5762 Ye wolde schape, and do vengance 5,5763 On him that is so fals a man: 5,5764 And natheles, so as I can, 5,5765 I wol you sende som tokninge, 5,5766 Wherof ye schul have knowlechinge 5,5767 Of thing I wot, that schal you lothe, 5,5768 The which you toucheth and me bothe." 5,5769 And tho withinne a whyle als tyt 5,5770 Sche waf a cloth of Selk al whyt 5,5771 With lettres and ymagerie, 5,5772 In which was al the felonie, 5,5773 Which Tereuµs to hire hath do; 5,5774 And lappede it togedre tho 5,5775 And sette hir signet therupon 5,5776 And sende it unto Progne anon. 5,5777 The messager which forth it bar, 5,5778 What it amonteth is noght war; 5,5779 And natheles to Progne he goth 5,5780 And prively takth hire the cloth, 5,5781 And wente ayein riht as he cam, 5,5782 The court of him non hiede nam. 5,5783 Whan Progne of Philomene herde, 5,5784 Sche wolde knowe hou that it ferde, 5,5785 And opneth that the man hath broght, 5,5786 And wot therby what hath be wroght 5,5787 And what meschief ther is befalle. 5,5788 In swoune tho sche gan doun falle, 5,5789 And efte aros and gan to stonde, 5,5790 And eft sche takth the cloth on honde, 5,5791 Behield the lettres and thymages; 5,5792 Bot ate laste, "Of suche oultrages," 5,5793 Sche seith, "wepinge is noght the bote:" 5,5794 And swerth, if that sche live mote, 5,5795 It schal be venged otherwise. 5,5796 And with that sche gan hire avise 5,5797 Hou ferst sche mihte unto hire winne 5,5798 Hir Soster, that noman withinne, 5,5799 Bot only thei that were suore, 5,5800 It scholde knowe, and schop therfore 5,5801 That Tereuµs nothing it wiste; 5,5802 And yit riht as hirselven liste, 5,5803 Hir Soster was delivered sone 5,5804 Out of prison, and be the mone 5,5805 To Progne sche was broght be nyhte. 5,5806 Whan ech of other hadde a sihte, 5,5807 In chambre, ther thei were al one, 5,5808 Thei maden many a pitous mone; 5,5809 Bot Progne most of sorwe made, 5,5810 Which sihe hir Soster pale and fade 5,5811 And specheles and deshonoured, 5,5812 Of that sche hadde be defloured; 5,5813 And ek upon hir lord sche thoghte, 5,5814 Of that he so untreuly wroghte 5,5815 And hadde his espousaile broke. 5,5816 Sche makth a vou it schal be wroke, 5,5817 And with that word sche kneleth doun 5,5818 Wepinge in gret devocioun: 5,5819 Unto Cupide and to Venus 5,5820 Sche preide, and seide thanne thus: 5,5821 "O ye, to whom nothing asterte 5,5822 Of love mai, for every herte 5,5823 Ye knowe, as ye that ben above 5,5824 The god and the goddesse of love; 5,5825 Ye witen wel that evere yit 5,5826 With al mi will and al my wit, 5,5827 Sith ferst ye schopen me to wedde, 5,5828 That I lay with mi lord abedde, 5,5829 I have be trewe in mi degre, 5,5830 And evere thoghte forto be, 5,5831 And nevere love in other place, 5,5832 Bot al only the king of Trace, 5,5833 Which is mi lord and I his wif. 5,5834 Bot nou allas this wofull strif] 5,5835 That I him thus ayeinward finde 5,5836 The most untrewe and most unkinde 5,5837 That evere in ladi armes lay. 5,5838 And wel I wot that he ne may 5,5839 Amende his wrong, it is so gret; 5,5840 For he to lytel of me let, 5,5841 Whan he myn oughne Soster tok, 5,5842 And me that am his wif forsok." 5,5843 Lo, thus to Venus and Cupide 5,5844 Sche preide, and furthermor sche cride 5,5845 Unto Appollo the hiheste, 5,5846 And seide, "O myghti god of reste, 5,5847 Thou do vengance of this debat. 5,5848 Mi Soster and al hire astat 5,5849 Thou wost, and hou sche hath forlore 5,5850 Hir maidenhod, and I therfore 5,5851 In al the world schal bere a blame 5,5852 Of that mi Soster hath a schame, 5,5853 That Tereuµs to hire I sente: 5,5854 And wel thou wost that myn entente 5,5855 Was al for worschipe and for goode. 5,5856 O lord, that yifst the lives fode 5,5857 To every wyht, I prei thee hiere 5,5858 Thes wofull Sostres that ben hiere, 5,5859 And let ous noght to the ben lothe; 5,5860 We ben thin oghne wommen bothe." 5,5861 Thus pleigneth Progne and axeth wreche, 5,5862 And thogh hire Soster lacke speche, 5,5863 To him that alle thinges wot 5,5864 Hire sorwe is noght the lasse hot: 5,5865 Bot he that thanne had herd hem tuo, 5,5866 Him oughte have sorwed everemo 5,5867 For sorwe which was hem betuene. 5,5868 With signes pleigneth Philomene, 5,5869 And Progne seith, "It schal be wreke, 5,5870 That al the world therof schal speke." 5,5871 And Progne tho seknesse feigneth, 5,5872 Wherof unto hir lord sche pleigneth, 5,5873 And preith sche moste hire chambres kepe, 5,5874 And as hir liketh wake and slepe. 5,5875 And he hire granteth to be so; 5,5876 And thus togedre ben thei tuo, 5,5877 That wolde him bot a litel good. 5,5878 Nou herk hierafter hou it stod 5,5879 Of wofull auntres that befelle: 5,5880 Thes Sostres, that ben bothe felle,- 5,5881 And that was noght on hem along, 5,5882 Bot onliche on the grete wrong 5,5883 Which Tereuµs hem hadde do,- 5,5884 Thei schopen forto venge hem tho. 5,5885 This Tereuµs be Progne his wif 5,5886 A Sone hath, which as his lif 5,5887 He loveth, and Ithis he hihte: 5,5888 His moder wiste wel sche mihte 5,5889 Do Tereuµs no more grief 5,5890 Than sle this child, which was so lief. 5,5891 Thus sche, that was, as who seith, mad 5,5892 Of wo, which hath hir overlad, 5,5893 Withoute insihte of moderhede 5,5894 Foryat pite and loste drede, 5,5895 And in hir chambre prively 5,5896 This child withouten noise or cry 5,5897 Sche slou, and hieu him al to pieces: 5,5898 And after with diverse spieces 5,5899 The fleissh, whan it was so toheewe, 5,5900 Sche takth, and makth therof a sewe, 5,5901 With which the fader at his mete 5,5902 Was served, til he hadde him ete; 5,5903 That he ne wiste hou that it stod, 5,5904 Bot thus his oughne fleissh and blod 5,5905 Himself devoureth ayein kinde, 5,5906 As he that was tofore unkinde. 5,5907 And thanne, er that he were arise, 5,5908 For that he scholde ben agrise, 5,5909 To schewen him the child was ded, 5,5910 This Philomene tok the hed 5,5911 Betwen tuo disshes, and al wrothe 5,5912 Tho comen forth the Sostres bothe, 5,5913 And setten it upon the bord. 5,5914 And Progne tho began the word, 5,5915 And seide, "O werste of alle wicke, 5,5916 Of conscience whom no pricke 5,5917 Mai stere, lo, what thou hast do] 5,5918 Lo, hier ben nou we Sostres tuo; 5,5919 O Raviner, lo hier thi preie, 5,5920 With whom so falsliche on the weie 5,5921 Thou hast thi tirannye wroght. 5,5922 Lo, nou it is somdel aboght, 5,5923 And bet it schal, for of thi dede 5,5924 The world schal evere singe and rede 5,5925 In remembrance of thi defame: 5,5926 For thou to love hast do such schame, 5,5927 That it schal nevere be foryete." 5,5928 With that he sterte up fro the mete, 5,5929 And schof the bord unto the flor, 5,5930 And cauhte a swerd anon and suor 5,5931 That thei scholde of his handes dye. 5,5932 And thei unto the goddes crie 5,5933 Begunne with so loude a stevene, 5,5934 That thei were herd unto the hevene; 5,5935 And in a twinclinge of an yhe 5,5936 The goddes, that the meschief syhe, 5,5937 Here formes changen alle thre. 5,5938 Echon of hem in his degre 5,5939 Was torned into briddes kinde; 5,5940 Diverseliche, as men mai finde, 5,5941 After thastat that thei were inne, 5,5942 Here formes were set atwinne. 5,5943 And as it telleth in the tale, 5,5944 The ferst into a nyhtingale 5,5945 Was schape, and that was Philomene, 5,5946 Which in the wynter is noght sene, 5,5947 For thanne ben the leves falle 5,5948 And naked ben the buisshes alle. 5,5949 For after that sche was a brid, 5,5950 Hir will was evere to ben hid, 5,5951 And forto duelle in prive place, 5,5952 That noman scholde sen hir face 5,5953 For schame, which mai noght be lassed, 5,5954 Of thing that was tofore passed, 5,5955 Whan that sche loste hir maidenhiede: 5,5956 For evere upon hir wommanhiede, 5,5957 Thogh that the goddes wolde hire change, 5,5958 Sche thenkth, and is the more strange, 5,5959 And halt hir clos the wyntres day. 5,5960 Bot whan the wynter goth away, 5,5961 And that Nature the goddesse 5,5962 Wole of hir oughne fre largesse 5,5963 With herbes and with floures bothe 5,5964 The feldes and the medwes clothe, 5,5965 And ek the wodes and the greves 5,5966 Ben heled al with grene leves, 5,5967 So that a brid hire hyde mai, 5,5968 Betwen Averil and March and Maii, 5,5969 Sche that the wynter hield hir clos, 5,5970 For pure schame and noght aros, 5,5971 Whan that sche seth the bowes thikke, 5,5972 And that ther is no bare sticke, 5,5973 Bot al is hid with leves grene, 5,5974 To wode comth this Philomene 5,5975 And makth hir ferste yeres flyht; 5,5976 Wher as sche singeth day and nyht, 5,5977 And in hir song al openly 5,5978 Sche makth hir pleignte and seith, "O why, 5,5979 O why ne were I yit a maide?" 5,5980 For so these olde wise saide, 5,5981 Which understoden what sche mente, 5,5982 Hire notes ben of such entente. 5,5983 And ek thei seide hou in hir song 5,5984 Sche makth gret joie and merthe among, 5,5985 And seith, "Ha, nou I am a brid, 5,5986 Ha, nou mi face mai ben hid: 5,5987 Thogh I have lost mi Maidenhede, 5,5988 Schal noman se my chekes rede." 5,5989 Thus medleth sche with joie wo 5,5990 And with hir sorwe merthe also, 5,5991 So that of loves maladie 5,5992 Sche makth diverse melodie, 5,5993 And seith love is a wofull blisse, 5,5994 A wisdom which can noman wisse, 5,5995 A lusti fievere, a wounde softe: 5,5996 This note sche reherceth ofte 5,5997 To hem whiche understonde hir tale. 5,5998 Nou have I of this nyhtingale, 5,5999 Which erst was cleped Philomene, 5,6000 Told al that evere I wolde mene, 5,6001 Bothe of hir forme and of hir note, 5,6002 Wherof men mai the storie note. 5,6003 And of hir Soster Progne I finde, 5,6004 Hou sche was torned out of kinde 5,6005 Into a Swalwe swift of winge, 5,6006 Which ek in wynter lith swounynge, 5,6007 Ther as sche mai nothing be sene: 5,6008 Bot whan the world is woxe grene 5,6009 And comen is the Somertide, 5,6010 Than fleth sche forth and ginth to chide, 5,6011 And chitreth out in hir langage 5,6012 What falshod is in mariage, 5,6013 And telleth in a maner speche 5,6014 Of Tereuµs the Spousebreche. 5,6015 Sche wol noght in the wodes duelle, 5,6016 For sche wolde openliche telle; 5,6017 And ek for that sche was a spouse, 5,6018 Among the folk sche comth to house, 5,6019 To do thes wyves understonde 5,6020 The falshod of hire housebonde, 5,6021 That thei of hem be war also, 5,6022 For ther ben manye untrewe of tho. 5,6023 Thus ben the Sostres briddes bothe, 5,6024 And ben toward the men so lothe, 5,6025 That thei ne wole of pure schame 5,6026 Unto no mannes hand be tame; 5,6027 For evere it duelleth in here mynde 5,6028 Of that thei founde a man unkinde, 5,6029 And that was false Tereuµs. 5,6030 If such on be amonges ous 5,6031 I not, bot his condicion 5,6032 Men sein in every region 5,6033 Withinne toune and ek withoute 5,6034 Nou regneth comunliche aboute. 5,6035 And natheles in remembrance 5,6036 I wol declare what vengance 5,6037 The goddes hadden him ordeined, 5,6038 Of that the Sostres hadden pleigned: 5,6039 For anon after he was changed 5,6040 And from his oghne kinde stranged, 5,6041 A lappewincke mad he was, 5,6042 And thus he hoppeth on the gras, 5,6043 And on his hed ther stant upriht 5,6044 A creste in tokne he was a kniht; 5,6045 And yit unto this dai men seith, 5,6046 A lappewincke hath lore his feith 5,6047 And is the brid falseste of alle. 5,6048 Bewar, mi Sone, er thee so falle; 5,6049 For if thou be of such covine, 5,6050 To gete of love be Ravine 5,6051 Thi lust, it mai thee falle thus, 5,6052 As it befell of Tereuµs. 5,6053 Mi fader, goddes forebode] 5,6054 Me were levere be fortrode 5,6055 With wilde hors and be todrawe, 5,6056 Er I ayein love and his lawe 5,6057 Dede eny thing or loude or stille, 5,6058 Which were noght mi ladi wille. 5,6059 Men sein that every love hath drede; 5,6060 So folweth it that I hire drede, 5,6061 For I hire love, and who so dredeth, 5,6062 To plese his love and serve him nedeth. 5,6063 Thus mai ye knowen be this skile 5,6064 That no Ravine don I wile 5,6065 Ayein hir will be such a weie; 5,6066 Bot while I live, I wol obeie 5,6067 Abidinge on hire courtesie, 5,6068 If eny merci wolde hir plie. 5,6069 Forthi, mi fader, as of this 5,6070 I wot noght I have don amis: 5,6071 Bot furthermore I you beseche, 5,6072 Som other point that ye me teche, 5,6073 And axeth forth, if ther be auht, 5,6074 That I mai be the betre tauht. 5,6075 Whan Covoitise in povere astat 5,6076 Stant with himself upon debat 5,6077 Thurgh lacke of his misgovernance, 5,6078 That he unto his sustienance 5,6079 Ne can non other weie finde 5,6080 To gete him good, thanne as the blinde, 5,6081 Which seth noght what schal after falle, 5,6082 That ilke vice which men calle 5,6083 Of Robberie, he takth on honde; 5,6084 Wherof be water and be londe 5,6085 Of thing which othre men beswinke 5,6086 He get him cloth and mete and drinke. 5,6087 Him reccheth noght what he beginne, 5,6088 Thurgh thefte so that he mai winne: 5,6089 Forthi to maken his pourchas 5,6090 He lith awaitende on the pas, 5,6091 And what thing that he seth ther passe, 5,6092 He takth his part, or more or lasse, 5,6093 If it be worthi to be take. 5,6094 He can the packes wel ransake, 5,6095 So prively berth non aboute 5,6096 His gold, that he ne fint it oute, 5,6097 Or other juel, what it be; 5,6098 He takth it as his proprete. 5,6099 In wodes and in feldes eke 5,6100 Thus Robberie goth to seke, 5,6101 Wher as he mai his pourpos finde. 5,6102 And riht so in the same kinde, 5,6103 My goode Sone, as thou miht hiere, 5,6104 To speke of love in the matiere 5,6105 And make a verrai resemblance, 5,6106 Riht as a thief makth his chevance 5,6107 And robbeth mennes good aboute 5,6108 In wode and field, wher he goth oute, 5,6109 So be ther of these lovers some, 5,6110 In wylde stedes wher thei come 5,6111 And finden there a womman able, 5,6112 And therto place covenable, 5,6113 Withoute leve, er that thei fare, 5,6114 Thei take a part of that chaffare: 5,6115 Yee, though sche were a Scheperdesse, 5,6116 Yit wol the lord of wantounesse 5,6117 Assaie, althogh sche be unmete, 5,6118 For other mennes good is swete. 5,6119 Bot therof wot nothing the wif 5,6120 At hom, which loveth as hir lif 5,6121 Hir lord, and sitt alday wisshinge 5,6122 After hir lordes hom comynge: 5,6123 Bot whan that he comth hom at eve, 5,6124 Anon he makth his wif beleve, 5,6125 For sche noght elles scholde knowe: 5,6126 He telth hire hou his hunte hath blowe, 5,6127 And hou his houndes have wel runne, 5,6128 And hou ther schon a merye Sunne, 5,6129 And hou his haukes flowen wel; 5,6130 Bot he wol telle her nevere a diel 5,6131 Hou he to love untrewe was, 5,6132 Of that he robbede in the pas, 5,6133 And tok his lust under the schawe 5,6134 Ayein love and ayein his lawe. 5,6135 Which thing, mi Sone, I thee forbede, 5,6136 For it is an ungoodly dede. 5,6137 For who that takth be Robberie 5,6138 His love, he mai noght justefie 5,6139 His cause, and so fulofte sithe 5,6140 For ones that he hath be blithe 5,6141 He schal ben after sory thries. 5,6142 Ensample of suche Robberies 5,6143 I finde write, as thou schalt hiere, 5,6144 Acordende unto this matiere. 5,6145 I rede hou whilom was a Maide, 5,6146 The faireste, as Ovide saide, 5,6147 Which was in hire time tho; 5,6148 And sche was of the chambre also 5,6149 Of Pallas, which is the goddesse 5,6150 And wif to Marte, of whom prouesse 5,6151 Is yove to these worthi knihtes. 5,6152 For he is of so grete mihtes, 5,6153 That he governeth the bataille; 5,6154 Withouten him may noght availe 5,6155 The stronge hond, bot he it helpe; 5,6156 Ther mai no knyht of armes yelpe, 5,6157 Bot he feihte under his banere. 5,6158 Bot nou to speke of mi matiere, 5,6159 This faire, freisshe, lusti mai, 5,6160 Al one as sche wente on a dai 5,6161 Upon the stronde forto pleie, 5,6162 Ther cam Neptunus in the weie, 5,6163 Which hath the See in governance; 5,6164 And in his herte such plesance 5,6165 He tok, whan he this Maide sih, 5,6166 That al his herte aros on hih, 5,6167 For he so sodeinliche unwar 5,6168 Behield the beaute that sche bar. 5,6169 And caste anon withinne his herte 5,6170 That sche him schal no weie asterte, 5,6171 Bot if he take in avantage 5,6172 Fro thilke maide som pilage, 5,6173 Noght of the broches ne the Ringes, 5,6174 Bot of some othre smale thinges 5,6175 He thoghte parte, er that sche wente; 5,6176 And hire in bothe hise armes hente, 5,6177 And putte his hond toward the cofre, 5,6178 Wher forto robbe he made a profre, 5,6179 That lusti tresor forto stele, 5,6180 Which passeth othre goodes fele 5,6181 And cleped is the maidenhede, 5,6182 Which is the flour of wommanhede. 5,6183 This Maiden, which Cornix be name 5,6184 Was hote, dredende alle schame, 5,6185 Sih that sche mihte noght debate, 5,6186 And wel sche wiste he wolde algate 5,6187 Fulfille his lust of Robberie, 5,6188 Anon began to wepe and crie, 5,6189 And seide, "O Pallas, noble queene, 5,6190 Scheu nou thi myht and let be sene, 5,6191 To kepe and save myn honour: 5,6192 Help, that I lese noght mi flour, 5,6193 Which nou under thi keie is loke." 5,6194 That word was noght so sone spoke, 5,6195 Whan Pallas schop recoverir 5,6196 After the will and the desir 5,6197 Of hire, which a Maiden was, 5,6198 And sodeinliche upon this cas 5,6199 Out of hire wommanisshe kinde 5,6200 Into a briddes like I finde 5,6201 Sche was transformed forth withal, 5,6202 So that Neptunus nothing stal 5,6203 Of such thing as he wolde have stole. 5,6204 With fetheres blake as eny cole 5,6205 Out of hise armes in a throwe 5,6206 Sche flih before his yhe a Crowe; 5,6207 Which was to hire a more delit, 5,6208 To kepe hire maidenhede whit 5,6209 Under the wede of fethers blake, 5,6210 In Perles whyte than forsake 5,6211 That no lif mai restore ayein. 5,6212 Bot thus Neptune his herte in vein 5,6213 Hath upon Robberie sett; 5,6214 The bridd is flowe and he was let, 5,6215 The faire Maide him hath ascaped, 5,6216 Wherof for evere he was bejaped 5,6217 And scorned of that he hath lore. 5,6218 Mi Sone, be thou war therfore 5,6219 That thou no maidenhode stele, 5,6220 Wherof men sen deseses fele 5,6221 Aldai befalle in sondri wise; 5,6222 So as I schal thee yit devise 5,6223 An other tale therupon, 5,6224 Which fell be olde daies gon. 5,6225 King Lichaon upon his wif 5,6226 A dowhter hadde, a goodly lif, 5,6227 A clene Maide of worthi fame, 5,6228 Calistona whos rihte name 5,6229 Was cleped, and of many a lord 5,6230 Sche was besoght, bot hire acord 5,6231 To love myhte noman winne, 5,6232 As sche which hath no lust therinne; 5,6233 Bot swor withinne hir herte and saide 5,6234 That sche wolde evere ben a Maide. 5,6235 Wherof to kepe hireself in pes, 5,6236 With suche as Amadriades 5,6237 Were cleped, wodemaydes, tho, 5,6238 And with the Nimphes ek also 5,6239 Upon the spring of freisshe welles 5,6240 Sche schop to duelle and nagher elles. 5,6241 And thus cam this Calistona 5,6242 Into the wode of Tegea, 5,6243 Wher sche virginite behihte 5,6244 Unto Diane, and therto plihte 5,6245 Her trouthe upon the bowes grene, 5,6246 To kepe hir maidenhode clene. 5,6247 Which afterward upon a day 5,6248 Was priveliche stole away; 5,6249 For Jupiter thurgh his queintise 5,6250 From hire it tok in such a wise, 5,6251 That sodeinliche forth withal 5,6252 Hire wombe aros and sche toswal, 5,6253 So that it mihte noght ben hidd. 5,6254 And therupon it is betidd, 5,6255 Diane, which it herde telle, 5,6256 In prive place unto a welle 5,6257 With Nimphes al a compainie 5,6258 Was come, and in a ragerie 5,6259 Sche seide that sche bathe wolde, 5,6260 And bad that every maide scholde 5,6261 With hire al naked bathe also. 5,6262 And tho began the prive wo, 5,6263 Calistona wax red for schame; 5,6264 Bot thei that knewe noght the game, 5,6265 To whom no such thing was befalle, 5,6266 Anon thei made hem naked alle, 5,6267 As thei that nothing wolden hyde: 5,6268 Bot sche withdrouh hire evere asyde, 5,6269 And natheles into the flod, 5,6270 Wher that Diane hirselve stod, 5,6271 Sche thoghte come unaperceived. 5,6272 Bot therof sche was al deceived; 5,6273 For whan sche cam a litel nyh, 5,6274 And that Diane hire wombe syh, 5,6275 Sche seide, "Awey, thou foule beste, 5,6276 For thin astat is noght honeste 5,6277 This chaste water forto touche; 5,6278 For thou hast take such a touche, 5,6279 Which nevere mai ben hol ayein." 5,6280 And thus goth sche which was forlein 5,6281 With schame, and fro the Nimphes fledde, 5,6282 Til whanne that nature hire spedde, 5,6283 That of a Sone, which Archas 5,6284 Was named, sche delivered was. 5,6285 And tho Juno, which was the wif 5,6286 Of Jupiter, wroth and hastif, 5,6287 In pourpos forto do vengance 5,6288 Cam forth upon this ilke chance, 5,6289 And to Calistona sche spak, 5,6290 And sette upon hir many a lak, 5,6291 And seide, "Ha, nou thou art atake, 5,6292 That thou thi werk myht noght forsake. 5,6293 Ha, thou ungoodlich ypocrite, 5,6294 Hou thou art gretly forto wyte] 5,6295 Bot nou thou schalt ful sore abie 5,6296 That ilke stelthe and micherie, 5,6297 Which thou hast bothe take and do; 5,6298 Wherof thi fader Lichao 5,6299 Schal noght be glad, whan he it wot, 5,6300 Of that his dowhter was so hot, 5,6301 That sche hath broke hire chaste avou. 5,6302 Bot I thee schal chastise nou; 5,6303 Thi grete beaute schal be torned, 5,6304 Thurgh which that thou hast be mistorned, 5,6305 Thi large frount, thin yhen greie, 5,6306 I schal hem change in other weie, 5,6307 And al the feture of thi face 5,6308 In such a wise I schal deface, 5,6309 That every man thee schal forbere." 5,6310 With that the liknesse of a bere 5,6311 Sche tok and was forschape anon. 5,6312 Withinne a time and therupon 5,6313 Befell that with a bowe on honde, 5,6314 To hunte and gamen forto fonde, 5,6315 Into that wode goth to pleie 5,6316 Hir Sone Archas, and in his weie 5,6317 It hapneth that this bere cam. 5,6318 And whan that sche good hiede nam, 5,6319 Wher that he stod under the bowh, 5,6320 Sche kneu him wel and to him drouh; 5,6321 For thogh sche hadde hire forme lore, 5,6322 The love was noght lost therfore 5,6323 Which kinde hath set under his lawe. 5,6324 Whan sche under the wodesschawe 5,6325 Hire child behield, sche was so glad, 5,6326 That sche with bothe hire armes sprad, 5,6327 As thogh sche were in wommanhiede, 5,6328 Toward him cam, and tok non hiede 5,6329 Of that he bar a bowe bent. 5,6330 And he with that an Arwe hath hent 5,6331 And gan to teise it in his bowe, 5,6332 As he that can non other knowe, 5,6333 Bot that it was a beste wylde. 5,6334 Bot Jupiter, which wolde schylde 5,6335 The Moder and the Sone also, 5,6336 Ordeineth for hem bothe so, 5,6337 That thei for evere were save. 5,6338 Bot thus, mi Sone, thou myht have 5,6339 Ensample, hou that it is to fle 5,6340 To robbe the virginite 5,6341 Of a yong innocent aweie: 5,6342 And overthis be other weie, 5,6343 In olde bokes as I rede, 5,6344 Such Robberie is forto drede, 5,6345 And nameliche of thilke good 5,6346 Which every womman that is good 5,6347 Desireth forto kepe and holde, 5,6348 As whilom was be daies olde. 5,6349 For if thou se mi tale wel 5,6350 Of that was tho, thou miht somdiel 5,6351 Of old ensample taken hiede, 5,6352 Hou that the flour of maidenhiede 5,6353 Was thilke time holde in pris. 5,6354 And so it was, and so it is, 5,6355 And so it schal for evere stonde: 5,6356 And for thou schalt it understonde, 5,6357 Nou herkne a tale next suiende, 5,6358 Hou maidenhod is to commende. 5,6359 Of Rome among the gestes olde 5,6360 I finde hou that Valerie tolde 5,6361 That what man tho was Emperour 5,6362 Of Rome, he scholde don honour 5,6363 To the virgine, and in the weie, 5,6364 Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeie 5,6365 In worschipe of virginite, 5,6366 Which tho was of gret dignite. 5,6367 Noght onliche of the wommen tho, 5,6368 Bot of the chaste men also 5,6369 It was commended overal: 5,6370 And forto speke in special 5,6371 Touchende of men, ensample I finde, 5,6372 Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde 5,6373 Above alle othre the faireste 5,6374 Of Rome and ek the comelieste, 5,6375 That wel was hire which him mihte 5,6376 Beholde and have of him a sihte. 5,6377 Thus was he tempted ofte sore; 5,6378 Bot for he wolde be nomore 5,6379 Among the wommen so coveited, 5,6380 The beaute of his face streited 5,6381 He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen, 5,6382 That alle wommen whiche him syhen 5,6383 Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte: 5,6384 And thus his maidehiede he boghte. 5,6385 So mai I prove wel forthi, 5,6386 Above alle othre under the Sky, 5,6387 Who that the vertus wolde peise, 5,6388 Virginite is forto preise, 5,6389 Which, as thapocalips recordeth, 5,6390 To Crist in hevene best acordeth. 5,6391 So mai it schewe wel therfore, 5,6392 As I have told it hier tofore, 5,6393 In hevene and ek in Erthe also 5,6394 It is accept to bothe tuo. 5,6395 And if I schal more over this 5,6396 Declare what this vertu is, 5,6397 I finde write upon this thing 5,6398 Of Valentinian the king 5,6399 And Emperour be thilke daies, 5,6400 A worthi knyht at alle assaies, 5,6401 Hou he withoute Mariage 5,6402 Was of an hundred wynter Age, 5,6403 And hadde ben a worthi kniht 5,6404 Bothe of his lawe and of his myht. 5,6405 Bot whan men wolde his dedes peise 5,6406 And his knyhthode of Armes preise, 5,6407 Of that he dede with his hondes, 5,6408 Whan he the kinges and the londes 5,6409 To his subjeccion put under, 5,6410 Of al that pris hath he no wonder, 5,6411 For he it sette of non acompte, 5,6412 And seide al that may noght amonte 5,6413 Ayeins o point which he hath nome, 5,6414 That he his fleissh hath overcome: 5,6415 He was a virgine, as he seide; 5,6416 On that bataille his pris he leide. 5,6417 Lo nou, my Sone, avise thee. 5,6418 Yee, fader, al this wel mai be, 5,6419 Bot if alle othre dede so, 5,6420 The world of men were sone go: 5,6421 And in the lawe a man mai finde, 5,6422 Hou god to man be weie of kinde 5,6423 Hath set the world to multeplie; 5,6424 And who that wol him justefie, 5,6425 It is ynouh to do the lawe. 5,6426 And natheles youre goode sawe 5,6427 Is good to kepe, who so may, 5,6428 I wol noght therayein seie nay. 5,6429 Mi Sone, take it as I seie; 5,6430 If maidenhod be take aweie 5,6431 Withoute lawes ordinance, 5,6432 It mai noght failen of vengance. 5,6433 And if thou wolt the sothe wite, 5,6434 Behold a tale which is write, 5,6435 Hou that the King Agamenon, 5,6436 Whan he the Cite of Lesbon 5,6437 Hath wonne, a Maiden ther he fond, 5,6438 Which was the faireste of the Lond 5,6439 In thilke time that men wiste. 5,6440 He tok of hire what him liste 5,6441 Of thing which was most precious, 5,6442 Wherof that sche was dangerous. 5,6443 This faire Maiden cleped is 5,6444 Criseide, douhter of Crisis, 5,6445 Which was that time in special 5,6446 Of thilke temple principal, 5,6447 Wher Phebus hadde his sacrifice, 5,6448 So was it wel the more vice. 5,6449 Agamenon was thanne in weie 5,6450 To Troieward, and tok aweie 5,6451 This Maiden, which he with him ladde, 5,6452 So grete a lust in hire he hadde. 5,6453 Bot Phebus, which hath gret desdeign 5,6454 Of that his Maiden was forlein, 5,6455 Anon as he to Troie cam, 5,6456 Vengance upon this dede he nam 5,6457 And sende a comun pestilence. 5,6458 Thei soghten thanne here evidence 5,6459 And maden calculacion, 5,6460 To knowe in what condicion 5,6461 This deth cam in so sodeinly; 5,6462 And ate laste redyly 5,6463 The cause and ek the man thei founde: 5,6464 And forth withal the same stounde 5,6465 Agamenon opposed was, 5,6466 Which hath beknowen al the cas 5,6467 Of the folie which he wroghte. 5,6468 And therupon mercy thei soghte 5,6469 Toward the god in sondri wise 5,6470 With preiere and with sacrifise, 5,6471 The Maide and hom ayein thei sende, 5,6472 And yive hire good ynouh to spende 5,6473 For evere whil sche scholde live: 5,6474 And thus the Senne was foryive 5,6475 And al the pestilence cessed. 5,6476 Lo, what it is to ben encressed 5,6477 Of love which is evele wonne. 5,6478 It were betre noght begonne 5,6479 Than take a thing withoute leve, 5,6480 Which thou most after nedes leve, 5,6481 And yit have malgre forth withal. 5,6482 Forthi to robben overal 5,6483 In loves cause if thou beginne, 5,6484 I not what ese thou schalt winne. 5,6485 Mi Sone, be wel war of this, 5,6486 For thus of Robberie it is. 5,6487 Mi fader, youre ensamplerie 5,6488 In loves cause of Robberie 5,6489 I have it riht wel understonde. 5,6490 Bot overthis, hou so it stonde, 5,6491 Yit wolde I wite of youre aprise 5,6492 What thing is more of Covoitise. 5,6493 With Covoitise yit I finde 5,6494 A Servant of the same kinde, 5,6495 Which Stelthe is hote, and Mecherie 5,6496 With him is evere in compainie. 5,6497 Of whom if I schal telle soth, 5,6498 He stalketh as a Pocok doth, 5,6499 And takth his preie so covert, 5,6500 That noman wot it in apert. 5,6501 For whan he wot the lord from home, 5,6502 Than wol he stalke aboute and rome; 5,6503 And what thing he fint in his weie, 5,6504 Whan that he seth the men aweie, 5,6505 He stelth it and goth forth withal, 5,6506 That therof noman knowe schal. 5,6507 And ek fulofte he goth a nyht 5,6508 Withoute Mone or sterreliht, 5,6509 And with his craft the dore unpiketh, 5,6510 And takth therinne what him liketh: 5,6511 And if the dore be so schet, 5,6512 That he be of his entre let, 5,6513 He wole in ate wyndou crepe, 5,6514 And whil the lord is faste aslepe, 5,6515 He stelth what thing as him best list, 5,6516 And goth his weie er it be wist. 5,6517 Fulofte also be lyhte of day 5,6518 Yit wole he stele and make assay; 5,6519 Under the cote his hond he put, 5,6520 Til he the mannes Purs have cut, 5,6521 And rifleth that he fint therinne. 5,6522 And thus he auntreth him to winne, 5,6523 And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth, 5,6524 For noman of his conseil knoweth; 5,6525 What he mai gete of his Michinge, 5,6526 It is al bile under the winge. 5,6527 And as an hound that goth to folde 5,6528 And hath ther taken what he wolde, 5,6529 His mouth upon the gras he wypeth, 5,6530 And so with feigned chiere him slypeth, 5,6531 That what as evere of schep he strangle, 5,6532 Ther is noman therof schal jangle, 5,6533 As forto knowen who it dede; 5,6534 Riht so doth Stelthe in every stede, 5,6535 Where as him list his preie take. 5,6536 He can so wel his cause make 5,6537 And so wel feigne and so wel glose, 5,6538 That ther ne schal noman suppose, 5,6539 Bot that he were an innocent, 5,6540 And thus a mannes yhe he blent: 5,6541 So that this craft I mai remene 5,6542 Withouten help of eny mene. 5,6543 Ther be lovers of that degre, 5,6544 Which al here lust in privete, 5,6545 As who seith, geten al be Stelthe, 5,6546 And ofte atteignen to gret welthe 5,6547 As for the time that it lasteth. 5,6548 For love awaiteth evere and casteth 5,6549 Hou he mai stele and cacche his preie, 5,6550 Whan he therto mai finde a weie: 5,6551 For be it nyht or be it day, 5,6552 He takth his part, whan that he may, 5,6553 And if he mai nomore do, 5,6554 Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo. 5,6555 Mi Sone, what seist thou therto? 5,6556 Tell if thou dedest evere so. 5,6557 Mi fader, hou? Mi Sone, thus,- 5,6558 If thou hast stolen eny cuss 5,6559 Or other thing which therto longeth, 5,6560 For noman suche thieves hongeth: 5,6561 Tell on forthi and sei the trouthe. 5,6562 Mi fader, nay, and that is routhe, 5,6563 For be mi will I am a thief; 5,6564 Bot sche that is to me most lief, 5,6565 Yit dorste I nevere in privete 5,6566 Noght ones take hire be the kne, 5,6567 To stele of hire or this or that, 5,6568 And if I dorste, I wot wel what: 5,6569 And natheles, bot if I lie, 5,6570 Be Stelthe ne be Robberie 5,6571 Of love, which fell in mi thoght, 5,6572 To hire dede I nevere noght. 5,6573 Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed, 5,6574 Ther schal no castell ben assailed; 5,6575 Bot thogh I hadde hertes ten, 5,6576 And were als strong as alle men, 5,6577 If I be noght myn oghne man 5,6578 And dar noght usen that I can, 5,6579 I mai miselve noght recovere. 5,6580 Thogh I be nevere man so povere, 5,6581 I bere an herte and hire it is, 5,6582 So that me faileth wit in this, 5,6583 Hou that I scholde of myn acord 5,6584 The servant lede ayein the lord: 5,6585 For if mi fot wolde awher go, 5,6586 Or that min hand wolde elles do, 5,6587 Whan that myn herte is therayein, 5,6588 The remenant is al in vein. 5,6589 And thus me lacketh alle wele, 5,6590 And yit ne dar I nothing stele 5,6591 Of thing which longeth unto love: 5,6592 And ek it is so hyh above, 5,6593 I mai noght wel therto areche, 5,6594 Bot if so be at time of speche, 5,6595 Ful selde if thanne I stele may 5,6596 A word or tuo and go my way. 5,6597 Betwen hire hih astat and me 5,6598 Comparison ther mai non be, 5,6599 So that I fiele and wel I wot, 5,6600 Al is to hevy and to hot 5,6601 To sette on hond withoute leve: 5,6602 And thus I mot algate leve 5,6603 To stele that I mai noght take, 5,6604 And in this wise I mot forsake 5,6605 To ben a thief ayein mi wille 5,6606 Of thing which I mai noght fulfille. 5,6607 For that Serpent which nevere slepte 5,6608 The flees of gold so wel ne kepte 5,6609 In Colchos, as the tale is told, 5,6610 That mi ladi a thousendfold 5,6611 Nys betre yemed and bewaked, 5,6612 Wher sche be clothed or be naked. 5,6613 To kepe hir bodi nyht and day, 5,6614 Sche hath a wardein redi ay, 5,6615 Which is so wonderful a wyht, 5,6616 That him ne mai no mannes myht 5,6617 With swerd ne with no wepne daunte, 5,6618 Ne with no sleihte of charme enchaunte, 5,6619 Wherof he mihte be mad tame, 5,6620 And Danger is his rihte name; 5,6621 Which under lock and under keie, 5,6622 That noman mai it stele aweie, 5,6623 Hath al the Tresor underfonge 5,6624 That unto love mai belonge. 5,6625 The leste lokinge of hire yhe 5,6626 Mai noght be stole, if he it syhe; 5,6627 And who so gruccheth for so lyte, 5,6628 He wolde sone sette a wyte 5,6629 On him that wolde stele more. 5,6630 And that me grieveth wonder sore, 5,6631 For this proverbe is evere newe, 5,6632 That stronge lokes maken trewe 5,6633 Of hem that wolden stele and pyke: 5,6634 For so wel can ther noman slyke 5,6635 Be him ne be non other mene, 5,6636 To whom Danger wol yive or lene 5,6637 Of that tresor he hath to kepe. 5,6638 So thogh I wolde stalke and crepe, 5,6639 And wayte on eve and ek on morwe, 5,6640 Of Danger schal I nothing borwe, 5,6641 And stele I wot wel may I noght: 5,6642 And thus I am riht wel bethoght, 5,6643 Whil Danger stant in his office, 5,6644 Of Stelthe, which ye clepe a vice, 5,6645 I schal be gultif neveremo. 5,6646 Therfore I wolde he were ago 5,6647 So fer that I nevere of him herde, 5,6648 Hou so that afterward it ferde: 5,6649 For thanne I mihte yit per cas 5,6650 Of love make som pourchas 5,6651 Be Stelthe or be som other weie, 5,6652 That nou fro me stant fer aweie. 5,6653 Bot, fader, as ye tolde above, 5,6654 Hou Stelthe goth a nyht for love, 5,6655 I mai noght wel that point forsake, 5,6656 That ofte times I ne wake 5,6657 On nyhtes, whan that othre slepe; 5,6658 Bot hou, I prei you taketh kepe. 5,6659 Whan I am loged in such wise 5,6660 That I be nyhte mai arise, 5,6661 At som wyndowe and loken oute 5,6662 And se the housinge al aboute, 5,6663 So that I mai the chambre knowe 5,6664 In which mi ladi, as I trowe, 5,6665 Lyth in hir bed and slepeth softe, 5,6666 Thanne is myn herte a thief fulofte: 5,6667 For there I stonde to beholde 5,6668 The longe nyhtes that ben colde, 5,6669 And thenke on hire that lyth there. 5,6670 And thanne I wisshe that I were 5,6671 Als wys as was Nectanabus 5,6672 Or elles as was Protheuµs, 5,6673 That couthen bothe of nigromaunce 5,6674 In what liknesse, in what semblaunce, 5,6675 Riht as hem liste, hemself transforme: 5,6676 For if I were of such a forme, 5,6677 I seie thanne I wolde fle 5,6678 Into the chambre forto se 5,6679 If eny grace wolde falle, 5,6680 So that I mihte under the palle 5,6681 Som thing of love pyke and stele. 5,6682 And thus I thenke thoghtes fele, 5,6683 And thogh therof nothing be soth, 5,6684 Yit ese as for a time it doth: 5,6685 Bot ate laste whanne I finde 5,6686 That I am falle into my mynde, 5,6687 And se that I have stonde longe 5,6688 And have no profit underfonge, 5,6689 Than stalke I to mi bedd withinne. 5,6690 And this is al that evere I winne 5,6691 Of love, whanne I walke on nyht: 5,6692 Mi will is good, bot of mi myht 5,6693 Me lacketh bothe and of mi grace; 5,6694 For what so that mi thoght embrace, 5,6695 Yit have I noght the betre ferd. 5,6696 Mi fader, lo, nou have ye herd 5,6697 What I be Stelthe of love have do, 5,6698 And hou mi will hath be therto: 5,6699 If I be worthi to penance 5,6700 I put it on your ordinance. 5,6701 Mi Sone, of Stelthe I the behiete, 5,6702 Thogh it be for a time swete, 5,6703 At ende it doth bot litel good, 5,6704 As be ensample hou that it stod 5,6705 Whilom, I mai thee telle nou. 5,6706 I preie you, fader, sei me hou. 5,6707 Mi Sone, of him which goth be daie 5,6708 Be weie of Stelthe to assaie, 5,6709 In loves cause and takth his preie, 5,6710 Ovide seide as I schal seie, 5,6711 And in his Methamor he tolde 5,6712 A tale, which is good to holde. 5,6713 The Poete upon this matiere 5,6714 Of Stelthe wrot in this manere. 5,6715 Venus, which hath this lawe in honde 5,6716 Of thing which mai noght be withstonde, 5,6717 As sche which the tresor to warde 5,6718 Of love hath withinne hir warde, 5,6719 Phebum to love hath so constreigned, 5,6720 That he withoute reste is peined 5,6721 With al his herte to coveite 5,6722 A Maiden, which was warded streyte 5,6723 Withinne chambre and kept so clos, 5,6724 That selden was whan sche desclos 5,6725 Goth with hir moder forto pleie. 5,6726 Leuchotoe, so as men seie, 5,6727 This Maiden hihte, and Orchamus 5,6728 Hir fader was; and befell thus. 5,6729 This doughter, that was kept so deere, 5,6730 And hadde be fro yer to yeere 5,6731 Under hir moder discipline 5,6732 A clene Maide and a Virgine, 5,6733 Upon the whos nativite 5,6734 Of comelihiede and of beaute 5,6735 Nature hath set al that sche may, 5,6736 That lich unto the fresshe Maii, 5,6737 Which othre monthes of the yeer 5,6738 Surmonteth, so withoute pier 5,6739 Was of this Maiden the feture. 5,6740 Wherof Phebus out of mesure 5,6741 Hire loveth, and on every syde 5,6742 Awaiteth, if so mai betyde, 5,6743 That he thurgh eny sleihte myhte 5,6744 Hire lusti maidenhod unrihte, 5,6745 The which were al his worldes welthe. 5,6746 And thus lurkende upon his stelthe 5,6747 In his await so longe he lai, 5,6748 Til it befell upon a dai, 5,6749 That he thurghout hir chambre wall 5,6750 Cam in al sodeinliche, and stall 5,6751 That thing which was to him so lief. 5,6752 Bot wo the while, he was a thief] 5,6753 For Venus, which was enemie 5,6754 Of thilke loves micherie, 5,6755 Discovereth al the pleine cas 5,6756 To Clymene, which thanne was 5,6757 Toward Phebus his concubine. 5,6758 And sche to lette the covine 5,6759 Of thilke love, dedli wroth 5,6760 To pleigne upon this Maide goth, 5,6761 And tolde hire fader hou it stod; 5,6762 Wherof for sorwe welnyh wod 5,6763 Unto hire moder thus he saide: 5,6764 "Lo, what it is to kepe a Maide] 5,6765 To Phebus dar I nothing speke, 5,6766 Bot upon hire I schal be wreke, 5,6767 So that these Maidens after this 5,6768 Mow take ensample, what it is 5,6769 To soffre her maidenhed be stole, 5,6770 Wherof that sche the deth schal thole." 5,6771 And bad with that do make a pet, 5,6772 Wherinne he hath his douhter set, 5,6773 As he that wol no pite have, 5,6774 So that sche was al quik begrave 5,6775 And deide anon in his presence. 5,6776 Bot Phebus, for the reverence 5,6777 Of that sche hadde be his love, 5,6778 Hath wroght thurgh his pouer above, 5,6779 That sche sprong up out of the molde 5,6780 Into a flour was named golde, 5,6781 Which stant governed of the Sonne. 5,6782 And thus whan love is evele wonne, 5,6783 Fulofte it comth to repentaile. 5,6784 Mi fader, that is no mervaile, 5,6785 Whan that the conseil is bewreid. 5,6786 Bot ofte time love hath pleid 5,6787 And stole many a prive game, 5,6788 Which nevere yit cam into blame, 5,6789 Whan that the thinges weren hidde. 5,6790 Bot in youre tale, as it betidde, 5,6791 Venus discoverede al the cas, 5,6792 And ek also brod dai it was, 5,6793 Whan Phebus such a Stelthe wroghte, 5,6794 Wherof the Maide in blame he broghte, 5,6795 That afterward sche was so lore. 5,6796 Bot for ye seiden nou tofore 5,6797 Hou stelthe of love goth be nyhte, 5,6798 And doth hise thinges out of syhte, 5,6799 Therof me liste also to hiere 5,6800 A tale lich to the matiere, 5,6801 Wherof I myhte ensample take. 5,6802 Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake, 5,6803 So as it fell be daies olde, 5,6804 And so as the Poete it tolde, 5,6805 Upon the nyhtes micherie 5,6806 Nou herkne a tale of Poesie. 5,6807 The myhtieste of alle men 5,6808 Whan Hercules with Eolen, 5,6809 Which was the love of his corage, 5,6810 Togedre upon a Pelrinage 5,6811 Towardes Rome scholden go, 5,6812 It fell hem be the weie so, 5,6813 That thei upon a dai a Cave 5,6814 Withinne a roche founden have, 5,6815 Which was real and glorious 5,6816 And of Entaile curious, 5,6817 Be name and Thophis it was hote. 5,6818 The Sonne schon tho wonder hote, 5,6819 As it was in the Somer tyde; 5,6820 This Hercules, which be his syde 5,6821 Hath Eolen his love there, 5,6822 Whan thei at thilke cave were, 5,6823 He seide it thoghte him for the beste 5,6824 That sche hire for the hete reste 5,6825 Al thilke day and thilke nyht; 5,6826 And sche, that was a lusti wyht, 5,6827 It liketh hire al that he seide: 5,6828 And thus thei duelle there and pleide 5,6829 The longe dai. And so befell, 5,6830 This Cave was under the hell 5,6831 Of Tymolus, which was begrowe 5,6832 With vines, and at thilke throwe 5,6833 Faunus with Saba the goddesse, 5,6834 Be whom the large wildernesse 5,6835 In thilke time stod governed, 5,6836 Weere in a place, as I am lerned, 5,6837 Nyh by, which Bachus wode hihte. 5,6838 This Faunus tok a gret insihte 5,6839 Of Eolen, that was so nyh; 5,6840 For whan that he hire beaute syh, 5,6841 Out of his wit he was assoted, 5,6842 And in his herte it hath so noted, 5,6843 That he forsok the Nimphes alle, 5,6844 And seide he wolde, hou so it falle, 5,6845 Assaie an other forto winne; 5,6846 So that his hertes thoght withinne 5,6847 He sette and caste hou that he myhte 5,6848 Of love pyke awey be nyhte 5,6849 That he be daie in other wise 5,6850 To stele mihte noght suffise: 5,6851 And therupon his time he waiteth. 5,6852 Nou tak good hiede hou love afaiteth 5,6853 Him which withal is overcome. 5,6854 Faire Eolen, whan sche was come 5,6855 With Hercules into the Cave, 5,6856 Sche seide him that sche wolde have 5,6857 Hise clothes of and hires bothe, 5,6858 That ech of hem scholde other clothe. 5,6859 And al was do riht as sche bad, 5,6860 He hath hire in hise clothes clad 5,6861 And caste on hire his gulion, 5,6862 Which of the Skyn of a Leoun 5,6863 Was mad, as he upon the weie 5,6864 It slouh, and overthis to pleie 5,6865 Sche tok his grete Mace also 5,6866 And knet it at hir gerdil tho. 5,6867 So was sche lich the man arraied, 5,6868 And Hercules thanne hath assaied 5,6869 To clothen him in hire array: 5,6870 And thus thei jape forth the dai, 5,6871 Til that her Souper redy were. 5,6872 And whan thei hadden souped there, 5,6873 Thei schopen hem to gon to reste; 5,6874 And as it thoghte hem for the beste, 5,6875 Thei bede, as for that ilke nyht, 5,6876 Tuo sondri beddes to be dyht, 5,6877 For thei togedre ligge nolde, 5,6878 Be cause that thei offre wolde 5,6879 Upon the morwe here sacrifice. 5,6880 The servantz deden here office 5,6881 And sondri beddes made anon, 5,6882 Wherin that thei to reste gon 5,6883 Ech be himself in sondri place. 5,6884 Faire Eole hath set the Mace 5,6885 Beside hire beddes hed above, 5,6886 And with the clothes of hire love 5,6887 Sche helede al hire bed aboute; 5,6888 And he, which hadde of nothing doute, 5,6889 Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke, 5,6890 Hire kertell and hire mantel eke 5,6891 Abrod upon his bed he spredde. 5,6892 And thus thei slepen bothe abedde; 5,6893 And what of travail, what of wyn, 5,6894 The servantz lich to drunke Swyn 5,6895 Begunne forto route faste. 5,6896 This Faunus, which his Stelthe caste, 5,6897 Was thanne come to the Cave, 5,6898 And fond thei weren alle save 5,6899 Withoute noise, and in he wente. 5,6900 The derke nyht his sihte blente, 5,6901 And yit it happeth him to go 5,6902 Where Eolen abedde tho 5,6903 Was leid al one for to slepe; 5,6904 Bot for he wolde take kepe 5,6905 Whos bed it was, he made assai, 5,6906 And of the Leoun, where it lay, 5,6907 The Cote he fond, and ek he fieleth 5,6908 The Mace, and thanne his herte kieleth, 5,6909 That there dorste he noght abyde, 5,6910 Bot stalketh upon every side 5,6911 And soghte aboute with his hond, 5,6912 That other bedd til that he fond, 5,6913 Wher lai bewympled a visage. 5,6914 Tho was he glad in his corage, 5,6915 For he hir kertell fond also 5,6916 And ek hir mantell bothe tuo 5,6917 Bespred upon the bed alofte. 5,6918 He made him naked thanne, and softe 5,6919 Into the bedd unwar he crepte, 5,6920 Wher Hercules that time slepte, 5,6921 And wende wel it were sche; 5,6922 And thus in stede of Eole 5,6923 Anon he profreth him to love. 5,6924 But he, which felte a man above, 5,6925 This Hercules, him threw to grounde 5,6926 So sore, that thei have him founde 5,6927 Liggende there upon the morwe; 5,6928 And tho was noght a litel sorwe, 5,6929 That Faunus of himselve made, 5,6930 Bot elles thei were alle glade 5,6931 And lowhen him to scorne aboute: 5,6932 Saba with Nimphis al a route 5,6933 Cam doun to loke hou that he ferde, 5,6934 And whan that thei the sothe herde, 5,6935 He was bejaped overal. 5,6936 Mi Sone, be thou war withal 5,6937 To seche suche mecheries, 5,6938 Bot if thou have the betre aspies, 5,6939 In aunter if the so betyde 5,6940 As Faunus dede thilke tyde, 5,6941 Wherof thou miht be schamed so. 5,6942 Min holi fader, certes no. 5,6943 Bot if I hadde riht good leve, 5,6944 Such mecherie I thenke leve: 5,6945 Mi feinte herte wol noght serve; 5,6946 For malgre wolde I noght deserve 5,6947 In thilke place wher I love. 5,6948 Bot for ye tolden hier above 5,6949 Of Covoitise and his pilage, 5,6950 If ther be more of that lignage, 5,6951 Which toucheth to mi schrifte, I preie 5,6952 That ye therof me wolde seie, 5,6953 So that I mai the vice eschuie. 5,6954 Mi Sone, if I be order suie 5,6955 The vices, as thei stonde arowe, 5,6956 Of Covoitise thou schalt knowe 5,6957 Ther is yit on, which is the laste; 5,6958 In whom ther mai no vertu laste, 5,6959 For he with god himself debateth, 5,6960 Wherof that al the hevene him hateth. 5,6961 The hihe god, which alle goode 5,6962 Pourveied hath for mannes fode 5,6963 Of clothes and of mete and drinke, 5,6964 Bad Adam that he scholde swinke 5,6965 To geten him his sustienance: 5,6966 And ek he sette an ordinance 5,6967 Upon the lawe of Moiµses, 5,6968 That though a man be haveles, 5,6969 Yit schal he noght be thefte stele. 5,6970 Bot nou adaies ther ben fele, 5,6971 That wol no labour undertake, 5,6972 Bot what thei mai be Stelthe take 5,6973 Thei holde it sikerliche wonne. 5,6974 And thus the lawe is overronne, 5,6975 Which god hath set, and namely 5,6976 With hem that so untrewely 5,6977 The goodes robbe of holi cherche. 5,6978 The thefte which thei thanne werche 5,6979 Be name is cleped Sacrilegge, 5,6980 Ayein the whom I thenke alegge. 5,6981 Of his condicion to telle, 5,6982 Which rifleth bothe bok and belle, 5,6983 So forth with al the remenant 5,6984 To goddes hous appourtenant, 5,6985 Wher that he scholde bidde his bede, 5,6986 He doth his thefte in holi stede, 5,6987 And takth what thing he fint therinne: 5,6988 For whan he seth that he mai winne, 5,6989 He wondeth for no cursednesse, 5,6990 That he ne brekth the holinesse 5,6991 And doth to god no reverence; 5,6992 For he hath lost his conscience, 5,6993 That though the Prest therfore curse, 5,6994 He seith he fareth noght the wurse. 5,6995 And forto speke it otherwise, 5,6996 What man that lasseth the franchise 5,6997 And takth of holi cherche his preie, 5,6998 I not what bedes he schal preie. 5,6999 Whan he fro god, which hath yive al, 5,7000 The Pourpartie in special, 5,7001 Which unto Crist himself is due, 5,7002 Benymth, he mai noght wel eschue 5,7003 The peine comende afterward; 5,7004 For he hath mad his foreward 5,7005 With Sacrilegge forto duelle, 5,7006 Which hath his heritage in helle. 5,7007 And if we rede of tholde lawe, 5,7008 I finde write, in thilke dawe 5,7009 Of Princes hou ther weren thre 5,7010 Coupable sore in this degre. 5,7011 That on of hem was cleped thus, 5,7012 The proude king Antiochus; 5,7013 That other Nabuzardan hihte, 5,7014 Which of his crualte behyhte 5,7015 The temple to destruie and waste, 5,7016 And so he dede in alle haste; 5,7017 The thridde, which was after schamed, 5,7018 Was Nabugodonosor named, 5,7019 And he Jerusalem putte under, 5,7020 Of Sacrilegge and many a wonder 5,7021 There in the holi temple he wroghte, 5,7022 Which Baltazar his heir aboghte, 5,7023 Whan Mane, Techel, Phares write 5,7024 Was on the wal, as thou miht wite, 5,7025 So as the bible it hath declared. 5,7026 Bot for al that it is noght spared 5,7027 Yit nou aday, that men ne pile, 5,7028 And maken argument and skile 5,7029 To Sacrilegge as it belongeth, 5,7030 For what man that ther after longeth, 5,7031 He takth non hiede what he doth. 5,7032 And riht so, forto telle soth, 5,7033 In loves cause if I schal trete, 5,7034 Ther ben of suche smale and grete: 5,7035 If thei no leisir fynden elles, 5,7036 Thei wol noght wonden for the belles, 5,7037 Ne thogh thei sen the Prest at masse; 5,7038 That wol thei leten overpasse. 5,7039 If that thei finde here love there, 5,7040 Thei stonde and tellen in hire Ere, 5,7041 And axe of god non other grace, 5,7042 Whyl thei ben in that holi place; 5,7043 Bot er thei gon som avantage 5,7044 Ther wol thei have, and som pilage 5,7045 Of goodli word or of beheste, 5,7046 Or elles thei take ate leste 5,7047 Out of hir hand or ring or glove, 5,7048 So nyh the weder thei wol love, 5,7049 As who seith sche schal noght foryete, 5,7050 Nou I this tokne of hire have gete: 5,7051 Thus halwe thei the hihe feste. 5,7052 Such thefte mai no cherche areste, 5,7053 For al is leveful that hem liketh, 5,7054 To whom that elles it misliketh. 5,7055 And ek riht in the selve kinde 5,7056 In grete Cites men mai finde 5,7057 This lusti folk, that make it gay, 5,7058 And waite upon the haliday: 5,7059 In cherches and in Menstres eke 5,7060 Thei gon the wommen forto seke, 5,7061 And wher that such on goth aboute, 5,7062 Tofore the faireste of the route, 5,7063 Wher as thei sitten alle arewe, 5,7064 Ther wol he most his bodi schewe, 5,7065 His croket kembd and theron set 5,7066 A Nouche with a chapelet, 5,7067 Or elles on of grene leves, 5,7068 Which late com out of the greves, 5,7069 Al for he scholde seme freissh. 5,7070 And thus he loketh on the fleissh, 5,7071 Riht as an hauk which hath a sihte 5,7072 Upon the foul, ther he schal lihte; 5,7073 And as he were of faierie, 5,7074 He scheweth him tofore here yhe 5,7075 In holi place wher thei sitte, 5,7076 Al forto make here hertes flitte. 5,7077 His yhe nawher wole abyde, 5,7078 Bot loke and prie on every syde 5,7079 On hire and hire, as him best lyketh: 5,7080 And otherwhile among he syketh; 5,7081 Thenkth on of hem, "That was for me," 5,7082 And so ther thenken tuo or thre, 5,7083 And yit he loveth non of alle, 5,7084 Bot wher as evere his chance falle. 5,7085 And natheles to seie a soth, 5,7086 The cause why that he so doth 5,7087 Is forto stele an herte or tuo, 5,7088 Out of the cherche er that he go: 5,7089 And as I seide it hier above, 5,7090 Al is that Sacrilege of love; 5,7091 For wel mai be he stelth away 5,7092 That he nevere after yelde may. 5,7093 Tell me forthi, my Sone, anon, 5,7094 Hast thou do Sacrilege, or non, 5,7095 As I have said in this manere? 5,7096 Mi fader, as of this matiere 5,7097 I wole you tellen redely 5,7098 What I have do; bot trewely 5,7099 I mai excuse min entente, 5,7100 That nevere I yit to cherche wente 5,7101 In such manere as ye me schryve, 5,7102 For no womman that is on lyve. 5,7103 The cause why I have it laft 5,7104 Mai be for I unto that craft 5,7105 Am nothing able so to stele, 5,7106 Thogh ther be wommen noght so fele. 5,7107 Bot yit wol I noght seie this, 5,7108 Whan I am ther mi ladi is, 5,7109 In whom lith holly mi querele, 5,7110 And sche to cherche or to chapele 5,7111 Wol go to matins or to messe,- 5,7112 That time I waite wel and gesse, 5,7113 To cherche I come and there I stonde, 5,7114 And thogh I take a bok on honde, 5,7115 Mi contienance is on the bok, 5,7116 Bot toward hire is al my lok; 5,7117 And if so falle that I preie 5,7118 Unto mi god, and somwhat seie 5,7119 Of Paternoster or of Crede, 5,7120 Al is for that I wolde spede, 5,7121 So that mi bede in holi cherche 5,7122 Ther mihte som miracle werche 5,7123 Mi ladi herte forto chaunge, 5,7124 Which evere hath be to me so strange. 5,7125 So that al mi devocion 5,7126 And al mi contemplacion 5,7127 With al min herte and mi corage 5,7128 Is only set on hire ymage; 5,7129 And evere I waite upon the tyde. 5,7130 If sche loke eny thing asyde, 5,7131 That I me mai of hire avise, 5,7132 Anon I am with covoitise 5,7133 So smite, that me were lief 5,7134 To ben in holi cherche a thief; 5,7135 Bot noght to stele a vestement, 5,7136 For that is nothing mi talent, 5,7137 Bot I wold stele, if that I mihte, 5,7138 A glad word or a goodly syhte; 5,7139 And evere mi service I profre, 5,7140 And namly whan sche wol gon offre, 5,7141 For thanne I lede hire, if I may, 5,7142 For somwhat wolde I stele away. 5,7143 Whan I beclippe hire on the wast, 5,7144 Yit ate leste I stele a tast, 5,7145 And otherwhile "grant mercy" 5,7146 Sche seith, and so winne I therby 5,7147 A lusti touch, a good word eke, 5,7148 Bot al the remenant to seke 5,7149 Is fro mi pourpos wonder ferr. 5,7150 So mai I seie, as I seide er, 5,7151 In holy cherche if that I wowe, 5,7152 My conscience it wolde allowe, 5,7153 Be so that up amendement 5,7154 I mihte gete assignement 5,7155 Wher forto spede in other place: 5,7156 Such Sacrilege I holde a grace. 5,7157 And thus, mi fader, soth to seie, 5,7158 In cherche riht as in the weie, 5,7159 If I mihte oght of love take, 5,7160 Such hansell have I noght forsake. 5,7161 Bot finali I me confesse, 5,7162 Ther is in me non holinesse, 5,7163 Whil I hire se in eny stede; 5,7164 And yit, for oght that evere I dede, 5,7165 No Sacrilege of hire I tok, 5,7166 Bot if it were of word or lok, 5,7167 Or elles if that I hir fredde, 5,7168 Whan I toward offringe hir ledde, 5,7169 Take therof what I take may, 5,7170 For elles bere I noght away: 5,7171 For thogh I wolde oght elles have, 5,7172 Alle othre thinges ben so save 5,7173 And kept with such a privilege, 5,7174 That I mai do no Sacrilege. 5,7175 God wot mi wille natheles, 5,7176 Thogh I mot nedes kepe pes 5,7177 And malgre myn so let it passe, 5,7178 Mi will therto is noght the lasse, 5,7179 If I mihte other wise aweie. 5,7180 Forthi, mi fader, I you preie, 5,7181 Tell what you thenketh therupon, 5,7182 If I therof have gult or non. 5,7183 Thi will, mi Sone, is forto blame, 5,7184 The remenant is bot a game, 5,7185 That I have herd the telle as yit. 5,7186 Bot tak this lore into thi wit, 5,7187 That alle thing hath time and stede, 5,7188 The cherche serveth for the bede, 5,7189 The chambre is of an other speche. 5,7190 Bot if thou wistest of the wreche, 5,7191 Hou Sacrilege it hath aboght, 5,7192 Thou woldest betre ben bethoght; 5,7193 And for thou schalt the more amende, 5,7194 A tale I wole on the despende. 5,7195 To alle men, as who seith, knowe 5,7196 It is, and in the world thurgh blowe, 5,7197 Hou that of Troie Lamedon 5,7198 To Hercules and to Jasoun, 5,7199 Whan toward Colchos out of Grece 5,7200 Be See sailende upon a piece 5,7201 Of lond of Troie reste preide,- 5,7202 Bot he hem wrathfulli congeide: 5,7203 And for thei founde him so vilein, 5,7204 Whan thei come into Grece ayein, 5,7205 With pouer that thei gete myhte 5,7206 Towardes Troie thei hem dyhte, 5,7207 And ther thei token such vengance, 5,7208 Wherof stant yit the remembrance; 5,7209 For thei destruide king and al, 5,7210 And leften bot the brente wal. 5,7211 The Grecs of Troiens many slowe 5,7212 And prisoners thei toke ynowe, 5,7213 Among the whiche ther was on, 5,7214 The kinges doughter Lamedon, 5,7215 Esiona, that faire thing, 5,7216 Which unto Thelamon the king 5,7217 Be Hercules and be thassent 5,7218 Of al the hole parlement 5,7219 Was at his wille yove and granted. 5,7220 And thus hath Grece Troie danted, 5,7221 And hom thei torne in such manere: 5,7222 Bot after this nou schalt thou hiere 5,7223 The cause why this tale I telle, 5,7224 Upon the chances that befelle. 5,7225 King Lamedon, which deide thus, 5,7226 He hadde a Sone, on Priamus, 5,7227 Which was noght thilke time at hom: 5,7228 Bot whan he herde of this, he com, 5,7229 And fond hou the Cite was falle, 5,7230 Which he began anon to walle 5,7231 And made ther a cite newe, 5,7232 That thei whiche othre londes knewe 5,7233 Tho seiden, that of lym and Ston 5,7234 In al the world so fair was non. 5,7235 And on that o side of the toun 5,7236 The king let maken Ylioun, 5,7237 That hihe Tour, that stronge place, 5,7238 Which was adrad of no manace 5,7239 Of quarel nor of non engin; 5,7240 And thogh men wolde make a Myn, 5,7241 No mannes craft it mihte aproche, 5,7242 For it was sett upon a roche. 5,7243 The walles of the toun aboute, 5,7244 Hem stod of al the world no doute, 5,7245 And after the proporcion 5,7246 Sex gates weren of the toun 5,7247 Of such a forme, of such entaile, 5,7248 That hem to se was gret mervaile: 5,7249 The diches weren brode and depe, 5,7250 A fewe men it mihte kepe 5,7251 From al the world, as semeth tho, 5,7252 Bot if the goddes weren fo. 5,7253 Gret presse unto that cite drouh, 5,7254 So that ther was of poeple ynouh, 5,7255 Of Burgeis that therinne duellen; 5,7256 Ther mai no mannes tunge tellen 5,7257 Hou that cite was riche of good. 5,7258 Whan al was mad and al wel stod, 5,7259 King Priamus tho him bethoghte 5,7260 What thei of Grece whilom wroghte, 5,7261 And what was of her swerd devoured, 5,7262 And hou his Soster deshonoured 5,7263 With Thelamon awey was lad: 5,7264 And so thenkende he wax unglad, 5,7265 And sette anon a parlement, 5,7266 To which the lordes were assent. 5,7267 In many a wise ther was spoke, 5,7268 Hou that thei mihten ben awroke, 5,7269 Bot ate laste natheles 5,7270 Thei seiden alle, "Acord and pes." 5,7271 To setten either part in reste 5,7272 It thoghte hem thanne for the beste 5,7273 With resonable amendement; 5,7274 And thus was Anthenor forth sent 5,7275 To axe Esionam ayein 5,7276 And witen what thei wolden sein. 5,7277 So passeth he the See be barge 5,7278 To Grece forto seie his charge, 5,7279 The which he seide redely 5,7280 Unto the lordes by and by: 5,7281 Bot where he spak in Grece aboute, 5,7282 He herde noght bot wordes stoute, 5,7283 And nameliche of Thelamon; 5,7284 The maiden wolde he noght forgon, 5,7285 He seide, for no maner thing, 5,7286 And bad him gon hom to his king, 5,7287 For there gat he non amende 5,7288 For oght he couthe do or sende. 5,7289 This Anthenor ayein goth hom 5,7290 Unto his king, and whan he com, 5,7291 He tolde in Grece of that he herde, 5,7292 And hou that Thelamon ansuerde, 5,7293 And hou thei were at here above, 5,7294 That thei wol nouther pes ne love, 5,7295 Bot every man schal don his beste. 5,7296 Bot for men sein that nyht hath reste, 5,7297 The king bethoghte him al that nyht, 5,7298 And erli, whan the dai was lyht, 5,7299 He tok conseil of this matiere; 5,7300 And thei acorde in this manere, 5,7301 That he withouten eny lette 5,7302 A certein time scholde sette 5,7303 Of Parlement to ben avised: 5,7304 And in the wise it was devised, 5,7305 Of parlement he sette a day, 5,7306 And that was in the Monthe of Maii. 5,7307 This Priamus hadde in his yhte 5,7308 A wif, and Hecuba sche hyhte, 5,7309 Be whom that time ek hadde he 5,7310 Of Sones fyve, and douhtres thre 5,7311 Besiden hem, and thritty mo, 5,7312 And weren knyhtes alle tho, 5,7313 Bot noght upon his wif begete, 5,7314 Bot elles where he myhte hem gete 5,7315 Of wommen whiche he hadde knowe; 5,7316 Such was the world at thilke throwe: 5,7317 So that he was of children riche, 5,7318 As therof was noman his liche. 5,7319 Of Parlement the dai was come, 5,7320 Ther ben the lordes alle and some; 5,7321 Tho was pronounced and pourposed, 5,7322 And al the cause hem was desclosed, 5,7323 Hou Anthenor in Grece ferde. 5,7324 Thei seten alle stille and herde, 5,7325 And tho spak every man aboute: 5,7326 Ther was alegged many a doute, 5,7327 And many a proud word spoke also; 5,7328 Bot for the moste part as tho 5,7329 Thei wisten noght what was the beste, 5,7330 Or forto werre or forto reste. 5,7331 Bot he that was withoute fere, 5,7332 Hector, among the lordes there 5,7333 His tale tolde in such a wise, 5,7334 And seide, "Lordes, ye ben wise, 5,7335 Ye knowen this als wel as I, 5,7336 Above all othre most worthi 5,7337 Stant nou in Grece the manhode 5,7338 Of worthinesse and of knihthode; 5,7339 For who so wole it wel agrope, 5,7340 To hem belongeth al Europe, 5,7341 Which is the thridde parti evene 5,7342 Of al the world under the hevene; 5,7343 And we be bot of folk a fewe. 5,7344 So were it reson forto schewe 5,7345 The peril, er we falle thrinne: 5,7346 Betre is to leve, than beginne 5,7347 Thing which as mai noght ben achieved; 5,7348 He is noght wys that fint him grieved, 5,7349 And doth so that his grief be more; 5,7350 For who that loketh al tofore 5,7351 And wol noght se what is behinde, 5,7352 He mai fulofte hise harmes finde: 5,7353 Wicke is to stryve and have the worse. 5,7354 We have encheson forto corse, 5,7355 This wot I wel, and forto hate 5,7356 The Greks; bot er that we debate 5,7357 With hem that ben of such a myht, 5,7358 It is ful good that every wiht 5,7359 Be of himself riht wel bethoght. 5,7360 Bot as for me this seie I noght; 5,7361 For while that mi lif wol stonde, 5,7362 If that ye taken werre on honde, 5,7363 Falle it to beste or to the werste, 5,7364 I schal miselven be the ferste 5,7365 To grieven hem, what evere I may. 5,7366 I wol noght ones seie nay 5,7367 To thing which that youre conseil demeth, 5,7368 For unto me wel more it quemeth 5,7369 The werre certes than the pes; 5,7370 Bot this I seie natheles, 5,7371 As me belongeth forto seie. 5,7372 Nou schape ye the beste weie." 5,7373 Whan Hector hath seid his avis, 5,7374 Next after him tho spak Paris, 5,7375 Which was his brother, and alleide 5,7376 What him best thoghte, and thus he seide: 5,7377 "Strong thing it is to soffre wrong, 5,7378 And suffre schame is more strong, 5,7379 Bot we have suffred bothe tuo; 5,7380 And for al that yit have we do 5,7381 What so we mihte to reforme 5,7382 The pes, whan we in such a forme 5,7383 Sente Anthenor, as ye wel knowe. 5,7384 And thei here grete wordes blowe 5,7385 Upon her wrongful dedes eke; 5,7386 And who that wole himself noght meke 5,7387 To pes, and list no reson take, 5,7388 Men sein reson him wol forsake: 5,7389 For in the multitude of men 5,7390 Is noght the strengthe, for with ten 5,7391 It hath be sen in trew querele 5,7392 Ayein an hundred false dele, 5,7393 And had the betre of goddes grace. 5,7394 This hath befalle in many place; 5,7395 And if it like unto you alle, 5,7396 I wolde assaie, hou so it falle, 5,7397 Oure enemis if I mai grieve; 5,7398 For I have cawht a gret believe 5,7399 Upon a point I wol declare. 5,7400 This ender day, as I gan fare 5,7401 To hunte unto the grete hert, 5,7402 Which was tofore myn houndes stert, 5,7403 And every man went on his syde 5,7404 Him to poursuie, and I to ryde 5,7405 Began the chace, and soth to seie, 5,7406 Withinne a while out of mi weie 5,7407 I rod, and nyste where I was. 5,7408 And slep me cauhte, and on the gras 5,7409 Beside a welle I lay me doun 5,7410 To slepe, and in a visioun 5,7411 To me the god Mercurie cam; 5,7412 Goddesses thre with him he nam, 5,7413 Minerve, Venus and Juno, 5,7414 And in his hond an Appel tho 5,7415 He hield of gold with lettres write: 5,7416 And this he dede me to wite, 5,7417 Hou that thei putt hem upon me, 5,7418 That to the faireste of hem thre 5,7419 Of gold that Appel scholde I yive. 5,7420 With ech of hem tho was I schrive, 5,7421 And echon faire me behihte; 5,7422 Bot Venus seide, if that sche mihte 5,7423 That Appel of mi yifte gete, 5,7424 Sche wolde it neveremor foryete, 5,7425 And seide hou that in Grece lond 5,7426 Sche wolde bringe unto myn hond 5,7427 Of al this Erthe the faireste; 5,7428 So that me thoghte it for the beste, 5,7429 To hire and yaf that Appel tho. 5,7430 Thus hope I wel, if that I go, 5,7431 That sche for me wol so ordeine, 5,7432 That thei matiere forto pleigne 5,7433 Schul have, er that I come ayein. 5,7434 Nou have ye herd that I wol sein: 5,7435 Sey ye what stant in youre avis." 5,7436 And every man tho seide his, 5,7437 And sundri causes thei recorde, 5,7438 Bot ate laste thei acorde 5,7439 That Paris schal to Grece wende, 5,7440 And thus the parlement tok ende. 5,7441 Cassandra, whan sche herde of this, 5,7442 The which to Paris Soster is, 5,7443 Anon sche gan to wepe and weile, 5,7444 And seide, "Allas, what mai ous eile? 5,7445 Fortune with hire blinde whiel 5,7446 Ne wol noght lete ous stonde wel: 5,7447 For this I dar wel undertake, 5,7448 That if Paris his weie take, 5,7449 As it is seid that he schal do, 5,7450 We ben for evere thanne undo." 5,7451 This, which Cassandre thanne hihte, 5,7452 In al the world as it berth sihte, 5,7453 In bokes as men finde write, 5,7454 Is that Sibille of whom ye wite, 5,7455 That alle men yit clepen sage. 5,7456 Whan that sche wiste of this viage, 5,7457 Hou Paris schal to Grece fare, 5,7458 No womman mihte worse fare 5,7459 Ne sorwe more than sche dede; 5,7460 And riht so in the same stede 5,7461 Ferde Helenus, which was hir brother, 5,7462 Of prophecie and such an other: 5,7463 And al was holde bot a jape, 5,7464 So that the pourpos which was schape, 5,7465 Or were hem lief or were hem loth, 5,7466 Was holde, and into Grece goth 5,7467 This Paris with his retenance. 5,7468 And as it fell upon his chance, 5,7469 Of Grece he londeth in an yle, 5,7470 And him was told the same whyle 5,7471 Of folk which he began to freyne, 5,7472 Tho was in thyle queene Heleyne, 5,7473 And ek of contres there aboute 5,7474 Of ladis many a lusti route, 5,7475 With mochel worthi poeple also. 5,7476 And why thei comen theder tho, 5,7477 The cause stod in such a wise,- 5,7478 For worschipe and for sacrifise 5,7479 That thei to Venus wolden make, 5,7480 As thei tofore hadde undertake, 5,7481 Some of good will, some of beheste, 5,7482 For thanne was hire hihe feste 5,7483 Withinne a temple which was there. 5,7484 Whan Paris wiste what thei were, 5,7485 Anon he schop his ordinance 5,7486 To gon and don his obeissance 5,7487 To Venus on hire holi day, 5,7488 And dede upon his beste aray. 5,7489 With gret richesse he him behongeth, 5,7490 As it to such a lord belongeth, 5,7491 He was noght armed natheles, 5,7492 Bot as it were in lond of pes, 5,7493 And thus he goth forth out of Schipe 5,7494 And takth with him his felaschipe: 5,7495 In such manere as I you seie 5,7496 Unto the temple he hield his weie. 5,7497 Tydinge, which goth overal 5,7498 To grete and smale, forth withal 5,7499 Com to the queenes Ere and tolde 5,7500 Hou Paris com, and that he wolde 5,7501 Do sacrifise to Venus: 5,7502 And whan sche herde telle thus, 5,7503 Sche thoghte, hou that it evere be, 5,7504 That sche wole him abyde and se. 5,7505 Forth comth Paris with glad visage 5,7506 Into the temple on pelrinage, 5,7507 Wher unto Venus the goddesse 5,7508 He yifth and offreth gret richesse, 5,7509 And preith hir that he preie wolde. 5,7510 And thanne aside he gan beholde, 5,7511 And sih wher that this ladi stod; 5,7512 And he forth in his freisshe mod 5,7513 Goth ther sche was and made her chiere, 5,7514 As he wel couthe in his manere, 5,7515 That of his wordes such plesance 5,7516 Sche tok, that al hire aqueintance, 5,7517 Als ferforth as the herte lay, 5,7518 He stal er that he wente away. 5,7519 So goth he forth and tok his leve, 5,7520 And thoghte, anon as it was eve, 5,7521 He wolde don his Sacrilegge, 5,7522 That many a man it scholde abegge. 5,7523 Whan he to Schipe ayein was come, 5,7524 To him he hath his conseil nome, 5,7525 And al devised the matiere 5,7526 In such a wise as thou schalt hiere. 5,7527 Withinne nyht al prively 5,7528 His men he warneth by and by, 5,7529 That thei be redy armed sone 5,7530 For certein thing which was to done: 5,7531 And thei anon ben redi alle, 5,7532 And ech on other gan to calle, 5,7533 And went hem out upon the stronde 5,7534 And tok a pourpos ther alonde 5,7535 Of what thing that thei wolden do, 5,7536 Toward the temple and forth thei go. 5,7537 So fell it, of devocion 5,7538 Heleine in contemplacion 5,7539 With many an other worthi wiht 5,7540 Was in the temple and wok al nyht, 5,7541 To bidde and preie unto thymage 5,7542 Of Venus, as was thanne usage; 5,7543 So that Paris riht as him liste 5,7544 Into the temple, er thei it wiste, 5,7545 Com with his men al sodeinly, 5,7546 And alle at ones sette ascry 5,7547 In hem whiche in the temple were, 5,7548 For tho was mochel poeple there; 5,7549 Bot of defense was no bote, 5,7550 So soffren thei that soffre mote. 5,7551 Paris unto the queene wente, 5,7552 And hire in bothe hise armes hente 5,7553 With him and with his felaschipe, 5,7554 And forth thei bere hire unto Schipe. 5,7555 Up goth the Seil and forth thei wente, 5,7556 And such a wynd fortune hem sente, 5,7557 Til thei the havene of Troie cauhte; 5,7558 Where out of Schipe anon thei strauhte 5,7559 And gon hem forth toward the toun, 5,7560 The which cam with processioun 5,7561 Ayein Paris to sen his preie. 5,7562 And every man began to seie 5,7563 To Paris and his felaschipe 5,7564 Al that thei couthen of worschipe; 5,7565 Was non so litel man in Troie, 5,7566 That he ne made merthe and joie 5,7567 Of that Paris hath wonne Heleine. 5,7568 Bot al that merthe is sorwe and peine 5,7569 To Helenus and to Cassaundre; 5,7570 For thei it token schame and sklaundre 5,7571 And lost of al the comun grace, 5,7572 That Paris out of holi place 5,7573 Be Stelthe hath take a mannes wif, 5,7574 Wherof that he schal lese his lif 5,7575 And many a worthi man therto, 5,7576 And al the Cite be fordo, 5,7577 Which nevere schal be mad ayein. 5,7578 And so it fell, riht as thei sein, 5,7579 The Sacrilege which he wroghte 5,7580 Was cause why the Gregois soughte 5,7581 Unto the toun and it beleie, 5,7582 And wolden nevere parte aweie, 5,7583 Til what be sleihte and what be strengthe 5,7584 Thei hadde it wonne in brede and lengthe, 5,7585 And brent and slayn that was withinne. 5,7586 Now se, mi Sone, which a sinne 5,7587 Is Sacrilege in holy stede: 5,7588 Be war therfore and bidd thi bede, 5,7589 And do nothing in holy cherche, 5,7590 Bot that thou miht be reson werche. 5,7591 And ek tak hiede of Achilles, 5,7592 Whan he unto his love ches 5,7593 Polixena, that was also 5,7594 In holi temple of Appollo, 5,7595 Which was the cause why he dyde 5,7596 And al his lust was leyd asyde. 5,7597 And Troilus upon Criseide 5,7598 Also his ferste love leide 5,7599 In holi place, and hou it ferde, 5,7600 As who seith, al the world it herde; 5,7601 Forsake he was for Diomede, 5,7602 Such was of love his laste mede. 5,7603 Forthi, mi Sone, I wolde rede, 5,7604 Be this ensample as thou myht rede, 5,7605 Sech elles, wher thou wolt, thi grace, 5,7606 And war the wel in holi place 5,7607 What thou to love do or speke, 5,7608 In aunter if it so be wreke 5,7609 As thou hast herd me told before. 5,7610 And tak good hiede also therfore 5,7611 Upon what forme, of Avarice 5,7612 Mor than of eny other vice, 5,7613 I have divided in parties 5,7614 The branches, whiche of compainies 5,7615 Thurghout the world in general 5,7616 Ben nou the leders overal, 5,7617 Of Covoitise and of Perjure, 5,7618 Of fals brocage and of Usure, 5,7619 Of Skarsnesse and Unkindeschipe, 5,7620 Which nevere drouh to felaschipe, 5,7621 Of Robberie and privi Stelthe, 5,7622 Which don is for the worldes welthe, 5,7623 Of Ravine and of Sacrilegge, 5,7624 Which makth the conscience agregge; 5,7625 Althogh it mai richesse atteigne, 5,7626 It floureth, bot it schal noght greine 5,7627 Unto the fruit of rihtwisnesse. 5,7628 Bot who that wolde do largesse 5,7629 Upon the reule as it is yive, 5,7630 So myhte a man in trouthe live 5,7631 Toward his god, and ek also 5,7632 Toward the world, for bothe tuo 5,7633 Largesse awaiteth as belongeth, 5,7634 To neither part that he ne wrongeth; 5,7635 He kepth himself, he kepth his frendes, 5,7636 So stant he sauf to bothe hise endes, 5,7637 That he excedeth no mesure, 5,7638 So wel he can himself mesure: 5,7639 Wherof, mi Sone, thou schalt wite, 5,7640 So as the Philosophre hath write. 5,7641 Betwen the tuo extremites 5,7642 Of vice stant the propretes 5,7643 Of vertu, and to prove it so 5,7644 Tak Avarice and tak also 5,7645 The vice of Prodegalite; 5,7646 Betwen hem Liberalite, 5,7647 Which is the vertu of Largesse, 5,7648 Stant and governeth his noblesse. 5,7649 For tho tuo vices in discord 5,7650 Stonde evere, as I finde of record; 5,7651 So that betwen here tuo debat 5,7652 Largesse reuleth his astat. 5,7653 For in such wise as Avarice, 5,7654 As I tofore have told the vice, 5,7655 Thurgh streit holdinge and thurgh skarsnesse 5,7656 Stant in contraire to Largesse, 5,7657 Riht so stant Prodegalite 5,7658 Revers, bot noght in such degre. 5,7659 For so as Avarice spareth, 5,7660 And forto kepe his tresor careth, 5,7661 That other al his oghne and more 5,7662 Ayein the wise mannes lore 5,7663 Yifth and despendeth hiere and there, 5,7664 So that him reccheth nevere where. 5,7665 While he mai borwe, he wol despende, 5,7666 Til ate laste he seith, "I wende"; 5,7667 Bot that is spoken al to late, 5,7668 For thanne is poverte ate gate 5,7669 And takth him evene be the slieve, 5,7670 For erst wol he no wisdom lieve. 5,7671 And riht as Avarice is Sinne, 5,7672 That wolde his tresor kepe and winne, 5,7673 Riht so is Prodegalite: 5,7674 Bot of Largesse in his degre, 5,7675 Which evene stant betwen the tuo, 5,7676 The hihe god and man also 5,7677 The vertu ech of hem commendeth. 5,7678 For he himselven ferst amendeth, 5,7679 That overal his name spredeth, 5,7680 And to alle othre, where it nedeth, 5,7681 He yifth his good in such a wise, 5,7682 That he makth many a man arise, 5,7683 Which elles scholde falle lowe. 5,7684 Largesce mai noght ben unknowe; 5,7685 For what lond that he regneth inne, 5,7686 It mai noght faile forto winne 5,7687 Thurgh his decerte love and grace, 5,7688 Wher it schal faile in other place. 5,7689 And thus betwen tomoche and lyte 5,7690 Largesce, which is noght to wyte, 5,7691 Halt evere forth the middel weie: 5,7692 Bot who that torne wole aweie 5,7693 Fro that to Prodegalite, 5,7694 Anon he lest the proprete 5,7695 Of vertu and goth to the vice; 5,7696 For in such wise as Avarice 5,7697 Lest for scarsnesse his goode name, 5,7698 Riht so that other is to blame, 5,7699 Which thurgh his wast mesure excedeth, 5,7700 For noman wot what harm that bredeth. 5,7701 Bot mochel joie ther betydeth, 5,7702 Wher that largesse an herte guydeth: 5,7703 For his mesure is so governed, 5,7704 That he to bothe partz is lerned, 5,7705 To god and to the world also, 5,7706 He doth reson to bothe tuo. 5,7707 The povere folk of his almesse 5,7708 Relieved ben in the destresse 5,7709 Of thurst, of hunger and of cold; 5,7710 The yifte of him was nevere sold, 5,7711 Bot frely yive, and natheles 5,7712 The myhti god of his encress 5,7713 Rewardeth him of double grace; 5,7714 The hevene he doth him to pourchace 5,7715 And yifth him ek the worldes good: 5,7716 And thus the Cote for the hod 5,7717 Largesse takth, and yit no Sinne 5,7718 He doth, hou so that evere he winne. 5,7719 What man hath hors men yive him hors, 5,7720 And who non hath of him no fors, 5,7721 For he mai thanne on fote go; 5,7722 The world hath evere stonde so. 5,7723 Bot forto loken of the tweie, 5,7724 A man to go the siker weie, 5,7725 Betre is to yive than to take: 5,7726 With yifte a man mai frendes make, 5,7727 Bot who that takth or gret or smal, 5,7728 He takth a charge forth withal, 5,7729 And stant noght fre til it be quit. 5,7730 So forto deme in mannes wit, 5,7731 It helpeth more a man to have 5,7732 His oghne good, than forto crave 5,7733 Of othre men and make him bounde, 5,7734 Wher elles he mai stonde unbounde. 5,7735 Senec conseileth in this wise, 5,7736 And seith, "Bot, if thi good suffise 5,7737 Unto the liking of thi wille, 5,7738 Withdrawh thi lust and hold the stille, 5,7739 And be to thi good sufficant." 5,7740 For that thing is appourtenant 5,7741 To trouthe and causeth to be fre 5,7742 After the reule of charite, 5,7743 Which ferst beginneth of himselve. 5,7744 For if thou richest othre tuelve, 5,7745 Wherof thou schalt thiself be povere, 5,7746 I not what thonk thou miht recovere. 5,7747 Whil that a man hath good to yive, 5,7748 With grete routes he mai live 5,7749 And hath his frendes overal, 5,7750 And everich of him telle schal. 5,7751 Therwhile he hath his fulle packe, 5,7752 Thei seie, "A good felawe is Jacke"; 5,7753 Bot whanne it faileth ate laste, 5,7754 Anon his pris thei overcaste, 5,7755 For thanne is ther non other lawe 5,7756 Bot, "Jacke was a good felawe." 5,7757 Whan thei him povere and nedy se, 5,7758 Thei lete him passe and farwel he; 5,7759 Al that he wende of compainie 5,7760 Is thanne torned to folie. 5,7761 Bot nou to speke in other kinde 5,7762 Of love, a man mai suche finde, 5,7763 That wher thei come in every route 5,7764 Thei caste and waste her love aboute, 5,7765 Til al here time is overgon, 5,7766 And thanne have thei love non: 5,7767 For who that loveth overal, 5,7768 It is no reson that he schal 5,7769 Of love have eny proprete. 5,7770 Forthi, mi Sone, avise thee 5,7771 If thou of love hast be to large, 5,7772 For such a man is noght to charge: 5,7773 And if it so be that thou hast 5,7774 Despended al thi time in wast 5,7775 And set thi love in sondri place, 5,7776 Though thou the substance of thi grace 5,7777 Lese ate laste, it is no wonder; 5,7778 For he that put himselven under, 5,7779 As who seith, comun overal, 5,7780 He lest the love special 5,7781 Of eny on, if sche be wys; 5,7782 For love schal noght bere his pris 5,7783 Be reson, whanne it passeth on. 5,7784 So have I sen ful many on, 5,7785 That were of love wel at ese, 5,7786 Whiche after felle in gret desese 5,7787 Thurgh wast of love, that thei spente 5,7788 In sondri places wher thei wente. 5,7789 Riht so, mi Sone, I axe of thee 5,7790 If thou with Prodegalite 5,7791 Hast hier and ther thi love wasted. 5,7792 Mi fader, nay; bot I have tasted 5,7793 In many a place as I have go, 5,7794 And yit love I nevere on of tho, 5,7795 Bot forto drive forth the dai. 5,7796 For lieveth wel, myn herte is ay 5,7797 Withoute mo for everemore 5,7798 Al upon on, for I nomore 5,7799 Desire bot hire love al one: 5,7800 So make I many a prive mone, 5,7801 For wel I fiele I have despended 5,7802 Mi longe love and noght amended 5,7803 Mi sped, for oght I finde yit. 5,7804 If this be wast to youre wit 5,7805 Of love, and Prodegalite, 5,7806 Nou, goode fader, demeth ye: 5,7807 Bot of o thing I wol me schryve, 5,7808 That I schal for no love thryve, 5,7809 Bot if hirself me wol relieve. 5,7810 Mi Sone, that I mai wel lieve: 5,7811 And natheles me semeth so, 5,7812 For oght that thou hast yit misdo 5,7813 Of time which thou hast despended, 5,7814 It mai with grace ben amended. 5,7815 For thing which mai be worth the cost 5,7816 Per chaunce is nouther wast ne lost; 5,7817 For what thing stant on aventure, 5,7818 That can no worldes creature 5,7819 Telle in certein hou it schal wende, 5,7820 Til he therof mai sen an ende. 5,7821 So that I not as yit therfore 5,7822 If thou, mi Sone, hast wonne or lore: 5,7823 For ofte time, as it is sene, 5,7824 Whan Somer hath lost al his grene 5,7825 And is with Wynter wast and bare, 5,7826 That him is left nothing to spare, 5,7827 Al is recovered in a throwe; 5,7828 The colde wyndes overblowe, 5,7829 And stille be the scharpe schoures, 5,7830 And soudeinliche ayein his floures 5,7831 The Somer hapneth and is riche: 5,7832 And so per cas thi graces liche, 5,7833 Mi Sone, thogh thou be nou povere 5,7834 Of love, yit thou miht recovere. 5,7835 Mi fader, certes grant merci: 5,7836 Ye have me tawht so redeli, 5,7837 That evere whil I live schal 5,7838 The betre I mai be war withal 5,7839 Of thing which ye have seid er this. 5,7840 Bot overmore hou that it is, 5,7841 Toward mi schrifte as it belongeth, 5,7842 To wite of othre pointz me longeth; 5,7843 Wherof that ye me wolden teche 5,7844 With al myn herte I you beseche 6, 1 The grete Senne original, 6, 2 Which every man in general 6, 3 Upon his berthe hath envenymed, 6, 4 In Paradis it was mystymed: 6, 5 Whan Adam of thilke Appel bot, 6, 6 His swete morscel was to hot, 6, 7 Which dedly made the mankinde. 6, 8 And in the bokes as I finde, 6, 9 This vice, which so out of rule 6, 10 Hath sette ous alle, is cleped Gule; 6, 11 Of which the branches ben so grete, 6, 12 That of hem alle I wol noght trete, 6, 13 Bot only as touchende of tuo 6, 14 I thenke speke and of no mo; 6, 15 Wherof the ferste is Dronkeschipe, 6, 16 Which berth the cuppe felaschipe. 6, 17 Ful many a wonder doth this vice, 6, 18 He can make of a wisman nyce, 6, 19 And of a fool, that him schal seme 6, 20 That he can al the lawe deme, 6, 21 And yiven every juggement 6, 22 Which longeth to the firmament 6, 23 Bothe of the sterre and of the mone; 6, 24 And thus he makth a gret clerk sone 6, 25 Of him that is a lewed man. 6, 26 Ther is nothing which he ne can, 6, 27 Whil he hath Dronkeschipe on honde, 6, 28 He knowth the See, he knowth the stronde, 6, 29 He is a noble man of armes, 6, 30 And yit no strengthe is in his armes: 6, 31 Ther he was strong ynouh tofore, 6, 32 With Dronkeschipe it is forlore, 6, 33 And al is changed his astat, 6, 34 And wext anon so fieble and mat, 6, 35 That he mai nouther go ne come, 6, 36 Bot al togedre him is benome 6, 37 The pouer bothe of hond and fot, 6, 38 So that algate abide he mot. 6, 39 And alle hise wittes he foryet, 6, 40 The which is to him such a let, 6, 41 That he wot nevere what he doth, 6, 42 Ne which is fals, ne which is soth, 6, 43 Ne which is dai, ne which is nyht, 6, 44 And for the time he knowth no wyht, 6, 45 That he ne wot so moche as this, 6, 46 What maner thing himselven is, 6, 47 Or he be man, or he be beste. 6, 48 That holde I riht a sori feste, 6, 49 Whan he that reson understod 6, 50 So soudeinliche is woxe wod, 6, 51 Or elles lich the dede man, 6, 52 Which nouther go ne speke can. 6, 53 Thus ofte he is to bedde broght, 6, 54 Bot where he lith yit wot he noght, 6, 55 Til he arise upon the morwe; 6, 56 And thanne he seith, "O, which a sorwe 6, 57 It is a man be drinkeles]" 6, 58 So that halfdrunke in such a res 6, 59 With dreie mouth he sterte him uppe, 6, 60 And seith, "Nou baillez c]a the cuppe." 6, 61 That made him lese his wit at eve 6, 62 Is thanne a morwe al his beleve; 6, 63 The cuppe is al that evere him pleseth, 6, 64 And also that him most deseseth; 6, 65 It is the cuppe whom he serveth, 6, 66 Which alle cares fro him kerveth 6, 67 And alle bales to him bringeth: 6, 68 In joie he wepth, in sorwe he singeth, 6, 69 For Dronkeschipe is so divers, 6, 70 It may no whyle stonde in vers. 6, 71 He drinkth the wyn, bot ate laste 6, 72 The wyn drynkth him and bint him faste, 6, 73 And leith him drunke be the wal, 6, 74 As him which is his bonde thral 6, 75 And al in his subjeccion. 6, 76 And lich to such condicion, 6, 77 As forto speke it other wise, 6, 78 It falleth that the moste wise 6, 79 Ben otherwhile of love adoted, 6, 80 And so bewhaped and assoted, 6, 81 Of drunke men that nevere yit 6, 82 Was non, which half so loste his wit 6, 83 Of drinke, as thei of such thing do 6, 84 Which cleped is the jolif wo; 6, 85 And waxen of here oghne thoght 6, 86 So drunke, that thei knowe noght 6, 87 What reson is, or more or lesse. 6, 88 Such is the kinde of that sieknesse, 6, 89 And that is noght for lacke of brain, 6, 90 Bot love is of so gret a main, 6, 91 That where he takth an herte on honde, 6, 92 Ther mai nothing his miht withstonde: 6, 93 The wise Salomon was nome, 6, 94 And stronge Sampson overcome, 6, 95 The knihtli David him ne mihte 6, 96 Rescoue, that he with the sihte 6, 97 Of Bersabee ne was bestad, 6, 98 Virgile also was overlad, 6, 99 And Aristotle was put under. 6, 100 Forthi, mi Sone, it is no wonder 6, 101 If thou be drunke of love among, 6, 102 Which is above alle othre strong: 6, 103 And if so is that thou so be, 6, 104 Tell me thi Schrifte in privite; 6, 105 It is no schame of such a thew 6, 106 A yong man to be dronkelew. 6, 107 Of such Phisique I can a part, 6, 108 And as me semeth be that art, 6, 109 Thou scholdest be Phisonomie 6, 110 Be schapen to that maladie 6, 111 Of lovedrunke, and that is routhe. 6, 112 Ha, holi fader, al is trouthe 6, 113 That ye me telle: I am beknowe 6, 114 That I with love am so bethrowe, 6, 115 And al myn herte is so thurgh sunke, 6, 116 That I am verrailiche drunke, 6, 117 And yit I mai bothe speke and go. 6, 118 Bot I am overcome so, 6, 119 And torned fro miself so clene, 6, 120 That ofte I wot noght what I mene; 6, 121 So that excusen I ne mai 6, 122 Min herte, fro the ferste day 6, 123 That I cam to mi ladi kiththe, 6, 124 I was yit sobre nevere siththe. 6, 125 Wher I hire se or se hire noght, 6, 126 With musinge of min oghne thoght, 6, 127 Of love, which min herte assaileth, 6, 128 So drunke I am, that mi wit faileth 6, 129 And al mi brain is overtorned, 6, 130 And mi manere so mistorned, 6, 131 That I foryete al that I can 6, 132 And stonde lich a mased man; 6, 133 That ofte, whanne I scholde pleie, 6, 134 It makth me drawe out of the weie 6, 135 In soulein place be miselve, 6, 136 As doth a labourer to delve, 6, 137 Which can no gentil mannes chere; 6, 138 Or elles as a lewed Frere, 6, 139 Whan he is put to his penance, 6, 140 Riht so lese I mi contienance. 6, 141 And if it nedes to betyde, 6, 142 That I in compainie abyde, 6, 143 Wher as I moste daunce and singe 6, 144 The hovedance and carolinge, 6, 145 Or forto go the newefot, 6, 146 I mai noght wel heve up mi fot, 6, 147 If that sche be noght in the weie; 6, 148 For thanne is al mi merthe aweie, 6, 149 And waxe anon of thoght so full, 6, 150 Wherof mi limes ben so dull, 6, 151 I mai unethes gon the pas. 6, 152 For thus it is and evere was, 6, 153 Whanne I on suche thoghtes muse, 6, 154 The lust and merthe that men use, 6, 155 Whan I se noght mi ladi byme, 6, 156 Al is foryete for the time 6, 157 So ferforth that mi wittes changen 6, 158 And alle lustes fro me strangen, 6, 159 That thei seie alle trewely, 6, 160 And swere, that it am noght I. 6, 161 For as the man which ofte drinketh, 6, 162 With win that in his stomac sinketh 6, 163 Wext drunke and witles for a throwe, 6, 164 Riht so mi lust is overthrowe, 6, 165 And of myn oghne thoght so mat 6, 166 I wexe, that to myn astat 6, 167 Ther is no lime wol me serve, 6, 168 Bot as a drunke man I swerve, 6, 169 And suffre such a Passion, 6, 170 That men have gret compassion, 6, 171 And everich be himself merveilleth 6, 172 What thing it is that me so eilleth. 6, 173 Such is the manere of mi wo 6, 174 Which time that I am hire fro, 6, 175 Til eft ayein that I hire se. 6, 176 Bot thanne it were a nycete 6, 177 To telle you hou that I fare: 6, 178 For whanne I mai upon hire stare, 6, 179 Hire wommanhede, hire gentilesse, 6, 180 Myn herte is full of such gladnesse, 6, 181 That overpasseth so mi wit, 6, 182 That I wot nevere where it sit, 6, 183 Bot am so drunken of that sihte, 6, 184 Me thenkth that for the time I mihte 6, 185 Riht sterte thurgh the hole wall; 6, 186 And thanne I mai wel, if I schal, 6, 187 Bothe singe and daunce and lepe aboute, 6, 188 And holde forth the lusti route. 6, 189 Bot natheles it falleth so 6, 190 Fulofte, that I fro hire go 6, 191 Ne mai, bot as it were a stake, 6, 192 I stonde avisement to take 6, 193 And loke upon hire faire face; 6, 194 That for the while out of the place 6, 195 For al the world ne myhte I wende. 6, 196 Such lust comth thanne unto mi mende, 6, 197 So that withoute mete or drinke, 6, 198 Of lusti thoughtes whiche I thinke 6, 199 Me thenkth I mihte stonden evere; 6, 200 And so it were to me levere 6, 201 Than such a sihte forto leve, 6, 202 If that sche wolde yif me leve 6, 203 To have so mochel of mi wille. 6, 204 And thus thenkende I stonde stille 6, 205 Withoute blenchinge of myn yhe, 6, 206 Riht as me thoghte that I syhe 6, 207 Of Paradis the moste joie: 6, 208 And so therwhile I me rejoie, 6, 209 Into myn herte a gret desir, 6, 210 The which is hotere than the fyr, 6, 211 Al soudeinliche upon me renneth, 6, 212 That al mi thoght withinne brenneth, 6, 213 And am so ferforth overcome, 6, 214 That I not where I am become; 6, 215 So that among the hetes stronge 6, 216 In stede of drinke I underfonge 6, 217 A thoght so swete in mi corage, 6, 218 That nevere Pyment ne vernage 6, 219 Was half so swete forto drinke. 6, 220 For as I wolde, thanne I thinke 6, 221 As thogh I were at myn above, 6, 222 For so thurgh drunke I am of love, 6, 223 That al that mi sotye demeth 6, 224 Is soth, as thanne it to me semeth. 6, 225 And whyle I mai tho thoghtes kepe, 6, 226 Me thenkth as thogh I were aslepe 6, 227 And that I were in goddes barm; 6, 228 Bot whanne I se myn oghne harm, 6, 229 And that I soudeinliche awake 6, 230 Out of my thought, and hiede take 6, 231 Hou that the sothe stant in dede, 6, 232 Thanne is mi sekernesse in drede 6, 233 And joie torned into wo, 6, 234 So that the hete is al ago 6, 235 Of such sotie as I was inne. 6, 236 And thanne ayeinward I beginne 6, 237 To take of love a newe thorst, 6, 238 The which me grieveth altherworst, 6, 239 For thanne comth the blanche fievere, 6, 240 With chele and makth me so to chievere, 6, 241 And so it coldeth at myn herte, 6, 242 That wonder is hou I asterte, 6, 243 In such a point that I ne deie: 6, 244 For certes ther was nevere keie 6, 245 Ne frosen ys upon the wal 6, 246 More inly cold that I am al. 6, 247 And thus soffre I the hote chele, 6, 248 Which passeth othre peines fele; 6, 249 In cold I brenne and frese in hete: 6, 250 And thanne I drinke a biter swete 6, 251 With dreie lippe and yhen wete. 6, 252 Lo, thus I tempre mi diete, 6, 253 And take a drauhte of such reles, 6, 254 That al mi wit is herteles, 6, 255 And al myn herte, ther it sit, 6, 256 Is, as who seith, withoute wit; 6, 257 So that to prove it be reson 6, 258 In makinge of comparison 6, 259 Ther mai no difference be 6, 260 Betwen a drunke man and me. 6, 261 Bot al the worste of everychon 6, 262 Is evere that I thurste in on; 6, 263 The more that myn herte drinketh, 6, 264 The more I may; so that me thinketh, 6, 265 My thurst schal nevere ben aqueint. 6, 266 God schilde that I be noght dreint 6, 267 Of such a superfluite: 6, 268 For wel I fiele in mi degre 6, 269 That al mi wit is overcast, 6, 270 Wherof I am the more agast, 6, 271 That in defaulte of ladischipe 6, 272 Per chance in such a drunkeschipe 6, 273 I mai be ded er I be war. 6, 274 For certes, fader, this I dar 6, 275 Beknowe and in mi schrifte telle: 6, 276 Bot I a drauhte have of that welle, 6, 277 In which mi deth is and mi lif, 6, 278 Mi joie is torned into strif, 6, 279 That sobre schal I nevere worthe, 6, 280 Bot as a drunke man forworthe; 6, 281 So that in londe where I fare 6, 282 The lust is lore of mi welfare, 6, 283 As he that mai no bote finde. 6, 284 Bot this me thenkth a wonder kinde, 6, 285 As I am drunke of that I drinke, 6, 286 So am I ek for falte of drinke; 6, 287 Of which I finde no reles: 6, 288 Bot if I myhte natheles 6, 289 Of such a drinke as I coveite, 6, 290 So as me liste, have o receite, 6, 291 I scholde assobre and fare wel. 6, 292 Bot so fortune upon hire whiel 6, 293 On hih me deigneth noght to sette, 6, 294 For everemore I finde a lette: 6, 295 The boteler is noght mi frend, 6, 296 Which hath the keie be the bend; 6, 297 I mai wel wisshe and that is wast, 6, 298 For wel I wot, so freissh a tast, 6, 299 Bot if mi grace be the more, 6, 300 I schal assaie neveremore. 6, 301 Thus am I drunke of that I se, 6, 302 For tastinge is defended me, 6, 303 And I can noght miselven stanche: 6, 304 So that, mi fader, of this branche 6, 305 I am gultif, to telle trouthe. 6, 306 Mi Sone, that me thenketh routhe; 6, 307 For lovedrunke is the meschief 6, 308 Above alle othre the most chief, 6, 309 If he no lusti thoght assaie, 6, 310 Which mai his sori thurst allaie: 6, 311 As for the time yit it lisseth 6, 312 To him which other joie misseth. 6, 313 Forthi, mi Sone, aboven alle 6, 314 Thenk wel, hou so it the befalle, 6, 315 And kep thi wittes that thou hast, 6, 316 And let hem noght be drunke in wast: 6, 317 Bot natheles ther is no wyht 6, 318 That mai withstonde loves miht. 6, 319 Bot why the cause is, as I finde, 6, 320 Of that ther is diverse kinde 6, 321 Of lovedrunke, why men pleigneth 6, 322 After the court which al ordeigneth, 6, 323 I wol the tellen the manere; 6, 324 Nou lest, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere. 6, 325 For the fortune of every chance 6, 326 After the goddes pourveance 6, 327 To man it groweth from above, 6, 328 So that the sped of every love 6, 329 Is schape there, er it befalle. 6, 330 For Jupiter aboven alle, 6, 331 Which is of goddes soverein, 6, 332 Hath in his celier, as men sein, 6, 333 Tuo tonnes fulle of love drinke, 6, 334 That maken many an herte sinke 6, 335 And many an herte also to flete, 6, 336 Or of the soure or of the swete. 6, 337 That on is full of such piment, 6, 338 Which passeth all entendement 6, 339 Of mannes witt, if he it taste, 6, 340 And makth a jolif herte in haste: 6, 341 That other biter as the galle, 6, 342 Which makth a mannes herte palle, 6, 343 Whos drunkeschipe is a sieknesse 6, 344 Thurgh fielinge of the biternesse. 6, 345 Cupide is boteler of bothe, 6, 346 Which to the lieve and to the lothe 6, 347 Yifth of the swete and of the soure, 6, 348 That some lawhe, and some loure. 6, 349 Bot for so moche as he blind is, 6, 350 Fulofte time he goth amis 6, 351 And takth the badde for the goode, 6, 352 Which hindreth many a mannes fode 6, 353 Withoute cause, and forthreth eke. 6, 354 So be ther some of love seke, 6, 355 Whiche oghte of reson to ben hole, 6, 356 And some comen to the dole 6, 357 In happ and as hemselve leste 6, 358 Drinke undeserved of the beste. 6, 359 And thus this blinde Boteler 6, 360 Yifth of the trouble in stede of cler 6, 361 And ek the cler in stede of trouble: 6, 362 Lo, hou he can the hertes trouble, 6, 363 And makth men drunke al upon chaunce 6, 364 Withoute lawe of governance. 6, 365 If he drawe of the swete tonne, 6, 366 Thanne is the sorwe al overronne 6, 367 Of lovedrunke, and schalt noght greven 6, 368 So to be drunken every even, 6, 369 For al is thanne bot a game. 6, 370 Bot whanne it is noght of the same, 6, 371 And he the biter tonne draweth, 6, 372 Such drunkeschipe an herte gnaweth 6, 373 And fiebleth al a mannes thoght, 6, 374 That betre him were have drunke noght 6, 375 And al his bred have eten dreie; 6, 376 For thanne he lest his lusti weie 6, 377 With drunkeschipe, and wot noght whider 6, 378 To go, the weies ben so slider, 6, 379 In which he mai per cas so falle, 6, 380 That he schal breke his wittes alle. 6, 381 And in this wise men be drunke 6, 382 After the drink that thei have drunke: 6, 383 Bot alle drinken noght alike, 6, 384 For som schal singe and som schal syke, 6, 385 So that it me nothing merveilleth, 6, 386 Mi Sone, of love that thee eilleth; 6, 387 For wel I knowe be thi tale, 6, 388 That thou hast drunken of the duale, 6, 389 Which biter is, til god the sende 6, 390 Such grace that thou miht amende. 6, 391 Bot, Sone, thou schalt bidde and preie 6, 392 In such a wise as I schal seie, 6, 393 That thou the lusti welle atteigne 6, 394 Thi wofull thurstes to restreigne 6, 395 Of love, and taste the swetnesse; 6, 396 As Bachus dede in his distresse, 6, 397 Whan bodiliche thurst him hente 6, 398 In strange londes where he wente. 6, 399 This Bachus Sone of Jupiter 6, 400 Was hote, and as he wente fer 6, 401 Be his fadres assignement 6, 402 To make a werre in Orient, 6, 403 And gret pouer with him he ladde, 6, 404 So that the heiere hond he hadde 6, 405 And victoire of his enemys, 6, 406 And torneth homward with his pris, 6, 407 In such a contre which was dreie 6, 408 A meschief fell upon the weie. 6, 409 As he rod with his compainie 6, 410 Nyh to the strondes of Lubie, 6, 411 Ther myhte thei no drinke finde 6, 412 Of water nor of other kinde, 6, 413 So that himself and al his host 6, 414 Were of defalte of drinke almost 6, 415 Destruid, and thanne Bachus preide 6, 416 To Jupiter, and thus he seide: 6, 417 "O hihe fader, that sest al, 6, 418 To whom is reson that I schal 6, 419 Beseche and preie in every nede, 6, 420 Behold, mi fader, and tak hiede 6, 421 This wofull thurst that we ben inne 6, 422 To staunche, and grante ous forto winne, 6, 423 And sauf unto the contre fare, 6, 424 Wher that oure lusti loves are 6, 425 Waitende upon oure hom cominge." 6, 426 And with the vois of his preiynge, 6, 427 Which herd was to the goddes hihe, 6, 428 He syh anon tofore his yhe 6, 429 A wether, which the ground hath sporned; 6, 430 And wher he hath it overtorned, 6, 431 Ther sprang a welle freissh and cler, 6, 432 Wherof his oghne boteler 6, 433 After the lustes of his wille 6, 434 Was every man to drinke his fille. 6, 435 And for this ilke grete grace 6, 436 Bachus upon the same place 6, 437 A riche temple let arere, 6, 438 Which evere scholde stonde there 6, 439 To thursti men in remembrance. 6, 440 Forthi, mi Sone, after this chance 6, 441 It sit thee wel to taken hiede 6, 442 So forto preie upon thi nede, 6, 443 As Bachus preide for the welle; 6, 444 And thenk, as thou hast herd me telle, 6, 445 Hou grace he gradde and grace he hadde. 6, 446 He was no fol that ferst so radde, 6, 447 For selden get a domb man lond: 6, 448 Tak that proverbe, and understond 6, 449 That wordes ben of vertu grete. 6, 450 Forthi to speke thou ne lete, 6, 451 And axe and prei erli and late 6, 452 Thi thurst to quenche, and thenk algate, 6, 453 The boteler which berth the keie 6, 454 Is blind, as thou hast herd me seie; 6, 455 And if it mihte so betyde, 6, 456 That he upon the blinde side 6, 457 Per cas the swete tonne arauhte, 6, 458 Than schalt thou have a lusti drauhte 6, 459 And waxe of lovedrunke sobre. 6, 460 And thus I rede thou assobre 6, 461 Thin herte in hope of such a grace; 6, 462 For drunkeschipe in every place, 6, 463 To whether side that it torne, 6, 464 Doth harm and makth a man to sporne 6, 465 And ofte falle in such a wise, 6, 466 Wher he per cas mai noght arise. 6, 467 And forto loke in evidence 6, 468 Upon the sothe experience, 6, 469 So as it hath befalle er this, 6, 470 In every mannes mouth it is 6, 471 Hou Tristram was of love drunke 6, 472 With Bele Ysolde, whan thei drunke 6, 473 The drink which Brangwein hem betok, 6, 474 Er that king Marc his Eem hire tok 6, 475 To wyve, as it was after knowe. 6, 476 And ek, mi Sone, if thou wolt knowe, 6, 477 As it hath fallen overmore 6, 478 In loves cause, and what is more 6, 479 Of drunkeschipe forto drede, 6, 480 As it whilom befell in dede, 6, 481 Wherof thou miht the betre eschuie 6, 482 Of drunke men that thou ne suie 6, 483 The compaignie in no manere, 6, 484 A gret ensample thou schalt hiere. 6, 485 This finde I write in Poesie 6, 486 Of thilke faire Ipotacie, 6, 487 Of whos beaute ther as sche was 6, 488 Spak every man, - and fell per cas, 6, 489 That Pirotouµs so him spedde, 6, 490 That he to wyve hire scholde wedde, 6, 491 Wherof that he gret joie made. 6, 492 And for he wolde his love glade, 6, 493 Ayein the day of mariage 6, 494 Be mouthe bothe and be message 6, 495 Hise frendes to the feste he preide, 6, 496 With gret worschipe and, as men seide, 6, 497 He hath this yonge ladi spoused. 6, 498 And whan that thei were alle housed, 6, 499 And set and served ate mete, 6, 500 Ther was no wyn which mai be gete, 6, 501 That ther ne was plente ynouh: 6, 502 Bot Bachus thilke tonne drouh, 6, 503 Wherof be weie of drunkeschipe 6, 504 The greteste of the felaschipe 6, 505 Were oute of reson overtake; 6, 506 And Venus, which hath also take 6, 507 The cause most in special, 6, 508 Hath yove hem drinke forth withal 6, 509 Of thilke cuppe which exciteth 6, 510 The lust wherinne a man deliteth: 6, 511 And thus be double weie drunke, 6, 512 Of lust that ilke fyri funke 6, 513 Hath mad hem, as who seith, halfwode, 6, 514 That thei no reson understode, 6, 515 Ne to non other thing thei syhen, 6, 516 Bot hire, which tofore here yhen 6, 517 Was wedded thilke same day, 6, 518 That freisshe wif, that lusti May, 6, 519 On hire it was al that thei thoghten. 6, 520 And so ferforth here lustes soghten, 6, 521 That thei the whiche named were 6, 522 Centauri, ate feste there 6, 523 Of on assent, of an acord 6, 524 This yonge wif malgre hire lord 6, 525 In such a rage awei forth ladden, 6, 526 As thei whiche non insihte hadden 6, 527 Bot only to her drunke fare, 6, 528 Which many a man hath mad misfare 6, 529 In love als wel as other weie. 6, 530 Wherof, if I schal more seie 6, 531 Upon the nature of the vice, 6, 532 Of custume and of exercice 6, 533 The mannes grace hou it fordoth, 6, 534 A tale, which was whilom soth, 6, 535 Of fooles that so drunken were, 6, 536 I schal reherce unto thine Ere. 6, 537 I rede in a Cronique thus 6, 538 Of Galba and of Vitellus, 6, 539 The whiche of Spaigne bothe were 6, 540 The greteste of alle othre there, 6, 541 And bothe of o condicion 6, 542 After the disposicion 6, 543 Of glotonie and drunkeschipe. 6, 544 That was a sori felaschipe: 6, 545 For this thou miht wel understonde, 6, 546 That man mai wel noght longe stonde 6, 547 Which is wyndrunke of comun us; 6, 548 For he hath lore the vertus, 6, 549 Wherof reson him scholde clothe; 6, 550 And that was seene upon hem bothe. 6, 551 Men sein ther is non evidence, 6, 552 Wherof to knowe a difference 6, 553 Betwen the drunken and the wode, 6, 554 For thei be nevere nouther goode; 6, 555 For wher that wyn doth wit aweie, 6, 556 Wisdom hath lost the rihte weie, 6, 557 That he no maner vice dredeth; 6, 558 Nomore than a blind man thredeth 6, 559 His nedle be the Sonnes lyht, 6, 560 Nomore is reson thanne of myht, 6, 561 Whan he with drunkeschipe is blent. 6, 562 And in this point thei weren schent, 6, 563 This Galba bothe and ek Vitelle, 6, 564 Upon the cause as I schal telle, 6, 565 Wherof good is to taken hiede. 6, 566 For thei tuo thurgh her drunkenhiede 6, 567 Of witles excitacioun 6, 568 Oppressede al the nacion 6, 569 Of Spaigne; for of fool usance, 6, 570 Which don was of continuance 6, 571 Of hem, whiche alday drunken were, 6, 572 Ther was no wif ne maiden there, 6, 573 What so thei were, or faire or foule, 6, 574 Whom thei ne token to defoule, 6, 575 Wherof the lond was often wo: 6, 576 And ek in othre thinges mo 6, 577 Thei wroghten many a sondri wrong. 6, 578 Bot hou so that the dai be long, 6, 579 The derke nyht comth ate laste: 6, 580 God wolde noght thei scholden laste, 6, 581 And schop the lawe in such a wise, 6, 582 That thei thurgh dom to the juise 6, 583 Be dampned forto be forlore. 6, 584 Bot thei, that hadden ben tofore 6, 585 Enclin to alle drunkenesse,- 6, 586 Here ende thanne bar witnesse; 6, 587 For thei in hope to assuage 6, 588 The peine of deth, upon the rage 6, 589 That thei the lasse scholden fiele, 6, 590 Of wyn let fille full a Miele, 6, 591 And dronken til so was befalle 6, 592 That thei her strengthes losten alle 6, 593 Withouten wit of eny brain; 6, 594 And thus thei ben halfdede slain, 6, 595 That hem ne grieveth bot a lyte. 6, 596 Mi Sone, if thou be forto wyte 6, 597 In eny point which I have seid, 6, 598 Wherof thi wittes ben unteid, 6, 599 I rede clepe hem hom ayein. 6, 600 I schal do, fader, as ye sein, 6, 601 Als ferforth as I mai suffise: 6, 602 Bot wel I wot that in no wise 6, 603 The drunkeschipe of love aweie 6, 604 I mai remue be no weie, 6, 605 It stant noght upon my fortune. 6, 606 Bot if you liste to comune 6, 607 Of the seconde Glotonie, 6, 608 Which cleped is Delicacie, 6, 609 Wherof ye spieken hier tofore, 6, 610 Beseche I wolde you therfore. 6, 611 Mi Sone, as of that ilke vice, 6, 612 Which of alle othre is the Norrice, 6, 613 And stant upon the retenue 6, 614 Of Venus, so as it is due, 6, 615 The proprete hou that it fareth 6, 616 The bok hierafter nou declareth. 6, 617 Of this chapitre in which we trete 6, 618 There is yit on of such diete, 6, 619 To which no povere mai atteigne; 6, 620 For al is Past of paindemeine 6, 621 And sondri wyn and sondri drinke, 6, 622 Wherof that he wole ete and drinke: 6, 623 Hise cokes ben for him affaited, 6, 624 So that his body is awaited, 6, 625 That him schal lacke no delit, 6, 626 Als ferforth as his appetit 6, 627 Sufficeth to the metes hote. 6, 628 Wherof this lusti vice is hote 6, 629 Of Gule the Delicacie, 6, 630 Which al the hole progenie 6, 631 Of lusti folk hath undertake 6, 632 To feede, whil that he mai take 6, 633 Richesses wherof to be founde: 6, 634 Of Abstinence he wot no bounde, 6, 635 To what profit it scholde serve. 6, 636 And yit phisique of his conserve 6, 637 Makth many a restauracioun 6, 638 Unto his recreacioun, 6, 639 Which wolde be to Venus lief. 6, 640 Thus for the point of his relief 6, 641 The coc which schal his mete arraie, 6, 642 Bot he the betre his mouth assaie, 6, 643 His lordes thonk schal ofte lese, 6, 644 Er he be served to the chese: 6, 645 For ther mai lacke noght so lyte, 6, 646 That he ne fint anon a wyte; 6, 647 For bot his lust be fully served, 6, 648 Ther hath no wiht his thonk deserved. 6, 649 And yit for mannes sustenance, 6, 650 To kepe and holde in governance, 6, 651 To him that wole his hele gete 6, 652 Is non so good as comun mete: 6, 653 For who that loketh on the bokes, 6, 654 It seith, confeccion of cokes, 6, 655 A man him scholde wel avise 6, 656 Hou he it toke and in what wise. 6, 657 For who that useth that he knoweth, 6, 658 Ful selden seknesse on him groweth, 6, 659 And who that useth metes strange, 6, 660 Though his nature empeire and change 6, 661 It is no wonder, lieve Sone, 6, 662 Whan that he doth ayein his wone; 6, 663 For in Phisique this I finde, 6, 664 Usage is the seconde kinde. 6, 665 And riht so changeth his astat 6, 666 He that of love is delicat: 6, 667 For though he hadde to his hond 6, 668 The beste wif of al the lond, 6, 669 Or the faireste love of alle, 6, 670 Yit wolde his herte on othre falle 6, 671 And thenke hem mor delicious 6, 672 Than he hath in his oghne hous: 6, 673 Men sein it is nou ofte so; 6, 674 Avise hem wel, thei that so do. 6, 675 And forto speke in other weie, 6, 676 Fulofte time I have herd seie, 6, 677 That he which hath no love achieved, 6, 678 Him thenkth that he is noght relieved, 6, 679 Thogh that his ladi make him chiere, 6, 680 So as sche mai in good manere 6, 681 Hir honour and hir name save, 6, 682 Bot he the surplus mihte have. 6, 683 Nothing withstondende hire astat, 6, 684 Of love more delicat 6, 685 He set hire chiere at no delit, 6, 686 Bot he have al his appetit. 6, 687 Mi Sone, if it be with thee so, 6, 688 Tell me. Myn holi fader, no: 6, 689 For delicat in such a wise 6, 690 Of love, as ye to me devise, 6, 691 Ne was I nevere yit gultif; 6, 692 For if I hadde such a wif 6, 693 As ye speke of, what scholde I more? 6, 694 For thanne I wolde neveremore 6, 695 For lust of eny wommanhiede 6, 696 Myn herte upon non other fiede: 6, 697 And if I dede, it were a wast. 6, 698 Bot al withoute such repast 6, 699 Of lust, as ye me tolde above, 6, 700 Of wif, or yit of other love, 6, 701 I faste, and mai no fode gete; 6, 702 So that for lacke of deinte mete, 6, 703 Of which an herte mai be fedd, 6, 704 I go fastende to my bedd. 6, 705 Bot myhte I geten, as ye tolde, 6, 706 So mochel that mi ladi wolde 6, 707 Me fede with hir glad semblant, 6, 708 Though me lacke al the remenant, 6, 709 Yit scholde I somdel ben abeched 6, 710 And for the time wel refreched. 6, 711 Bot certes, fader, sche ne doth; 6, 712 For in good feith, to telle soth, 6, 713 I trowe, thogh I scholde sterve, 6, 714 Sche wolde noght hire yhe swerve, 6, 715 Min herte with o goodly lok 6, 716 To fede, and thus for such a cok 6, 717 I mai go fastinge everemo: 6, 718 Bot if so is that eny wo 6, 719 Mai fede a mannes herte wel, 6, 720 Therof I have at every meel 6, 721 Of plente more than ynowh; 6, 722 Bot that is of himself so towh, 6, 723 Mi stomac mai it noght defie. 6, 724 Lo, such is the delicacie 6, 725 Of love, which myn herte fedeth; 6, 726 Thus have I lacke of that me nedeth. 6, 727 Bot for al this yit natheles 6, 728 I seie noght I am gylteles, 6, 729 That I somdel am delicat: 6, 730 For elles were I fulli mat, 6, 731 Bot if that I som lusti stounde 6, 732 Of confort and of ese founde, 6, 733 To take of love som repast; 6, 734 For thogh I with the fulle tast 6, 735 The lust of love mai noght fiele, 6, 736 Min hunger otherwise I kiele 6, 737 Of smale lustes whiche I pike, 6, 738 And for a time yit thei like; 6, 739 If that ye wisten what I mene. 6, 740 Nou, goode Sone, schrif thee clene 6, 741 Of suche deyntes as ben goode, 6, 742 Wherof thou takst thin hertes fode. 6, 743 Mi fader, I you schal reherce, 6, 744 Hou that mi fodes ben diverse, 6, 745 So as thei fallen in degre. 6, 746 O fiedinge is of that I se, 6, 747 An other is of that I here, 6, 748 The thridde, as I schal tellen here, 6, 749 It groweth of min oghne thoght: 6, 750 And elles scholde I live noght; 6, 751 For whom that failleth fode of herte, 6, 752 He mai noght wel the deth asterte. 6, 753 Of sihte is al mi ferste fode, 6, 754 Thurgh which myn yhe of alle goode 6, 755 Hath that to him is acordant, 6, 756 A lusti fode sufficant. 6, 757 Whan that I go toward the place 6, 758 Wher I schal se my ladi face, 6, 759 Min yhe, which is loth to faste, 6, 760 Beginth to hungre anon so faste, 6, 761 That him thenkth of on houre thre, 6, 762 Til I ther come and he hire se: 6, 763 And thanne after his appetit 6, 764 He takth a fode of such delit, 6, 765 That him non other deynte nedeth. 6, 766 Of sondri sihtes he him fedeth: 6, 767 He seth hire face of such colour, 6, 768 That freisshere is than eny flour, 6, 769 He seth hire front is large and plein 6, 770 Withoute fronce of eny grein, 6, 771 He seth hire yhen lich an hevene, 6, 772 He seth hire nase strauht and evene, 6, 773 He seth hire rode upon the cheke, 6, 774 He seth hire rede lippes eke, 6, 775 Hire chyn acordeth to the face, 6, 776 Al that he seth is full of grace, 6, 777 He seth hire necke round and clene, 6, 778 Therinne mai no bon be sene, 6, 779 He seth hire handes faire and whyte; 6, 780 For al this thing withoute wyte 6, 781 He mai se naked ate leste, 6, 782 So is it wel the more feste 6, 783 And wel the mor Delicacie 6, 784 Unto the fiedinge of myn yhe. 6, 785 He seth hire schapthe forth withal, 6, 786 Hire bodi round, hire middel smal, 6, 787 So wel begon with good array, 6, 788 Which passeth al the lust of Maii, 6, 789 Whan he is most with softe schoures 6, 790 Ful clothed in his lusti floures. 6, 791 With suche sihtes by and by 6, 792 Min yhe is fed; bot finaly, 6, 793 Whan he the port and the manere 6, 794 Seth of hire wommanysshe chere, 6, 795 Than hath he such delice on honde, 6, 796 Him thenkth he mihte stille stonde, 6, 797 And that he hath ful sufficance 6, 798 Of liflode and of sustienance 6, 799 As to his part for everemo. 6, 800 And if it thoghte alle othre so, 6, 801 Fro thenne wolde he nevere wende, 6, 802 Bot there unto the worldes ende 6, 803 He wolde abyde, if that he mihte, 6, 804 And fieden him upon the syhte. 6, 805 For thogh I mihte stonden ay 6, 806 Into the time of domesday 6, 807 And loke upon hire evere in on, 6, 808 Yit whanne I scholde fro hire gon, 6, 809 Min yhe wolde, as thogh he faste, 6, 810 Ben hungerstorven al so faste, 6, 811 Til efte ayein that he hire syhe. 6, 812 Such is the nature of myn yhe: 6, 813 Ther is no lust so deintefull, 6, 814 Of which a man schal noght be full, 6, 815 Of that the stomac underfongeth, 6, 816 Bot evere in on myn yhe longeth: 6, 817 For loke hou that a goshauk tireth, 6, 818 Riht so doth he, whan that he pireth 6, 819 And toteth on hire wommanhiede; 6, 820 For he mai nevere fulli fiede 6, 821 His lust, bot evere aliche sore 6, 822 Him hungreth, so that he the more 6, 823 Desireth to be fed algate: 6, 824 And thus myn yhe is mad the gate, 6, 825 Thurgh which the deyntes of my thoght 6, 826 Of lust ben to myn herte broght. 6, 827 Riht as myn yhe with his lok 6, 828 Is to myn herte a lusti coc 6, 829 Of loves fode delicat, 6, 830 Riht so myn Ere in his astat, 6, 831 Wher as myn yhe mai noght serve, 6, 832 Can wel myn hertes thonk deserve 6, 833 And fieden him fro day to day 6, 834 With suche deyntes as he may. 6, 835 For thus it is, that overal, 6, 836 Wher as I come in special, 6, 837 I mai hiere of mi ladi pris; 6, 838 I hiere on seith that sche is wys, 6, 839 An other seith that sche is good, 6, 840 And som men sein, of worthi blod 6, 841 That sche is come, and is also 6, 842 So fair, that nawher is non so; 6, 843 And som men preise hire goodli chiere: 6, 844 Thus every thing that I mai hiere, 6, 845 Which souneth to mi ladi goode, 6, 846 Is to myn Ere a lusti foode. 6, 847 And ek min Ere hath over this 6, 848 A deynte feste, whan so is 6, 849 That I mai hiere hirselve speke; 6, 850 For thanne anon mi faste I breke 6, 851 On suche wordes as sche seith, 6, 852 That full of trouthe and full of feith 6, 853 Thei ben, and of so good desport, 6, 854 That to myn Ere gret confort 6, 855 Thei don, as thei that ben delices. 6, 856 For al the metes and the spices, 6, 857 That eny Lombard couthe make, 6, 858 Ne be so lusti forto take 6, 859 Ne so ferforth restauratif, 6, 860 I seie as for myn oghne lif, 6, 861 As ben the wordes of hire mouth: 6, 862 For as the wyndes of the South 6, 863 Ben most of alle debonaire, 6, 864 So whan hir list to speke faire, 6, 865 The vertu of hire goodly speche 6, 866 Is verraily myn hertes leche. 6, 867 And if it so befalle among, 6, 868 That sche carole upon a song, 6, 869 Whan I it hiere I am so fedd, 6, 870 That I am fro miself so ledd, 6, 871 As thogh I were in paradis; 6, 872 For certes, as to myn avis, 6, 873 Whan I here of hir vois the stevene, 6, 874 Me thenkth it is a blisse of hevene. 6, 875 And ek in other wise also 6, 876 Fulofte time it falleth so, 6, 877 Min Ere with a good pitance 6, 878 Is fedd of redinge of romance 6, 879 Of Ydoine and of Amadas, 6, 880 That whilom weren in mi cas, 6, 881 And eke of othre many a score, 6, 882 That loveden longe er I was bore. 6, 883 For whan I of here loves rede, 6, 884 Min Ere with the tale I fede; 6, 885 And with the lust of here histoire 6, 886 Somtime I drawe into memoire 6, 887 Hou sorwe mai noght evere laste; 6, 888 And so comth hope in ate laste, 6, 889 Whan I non other fode knowe. 6, 890 And that endureth bot a throwe, 6, 891 Riht as it were a cherie feste; 6, 892 Bot forto compten ate leste, 6, 893 As for the while yit it eseth 6, 894 And somdel of myn herte appeseth: 6, 895 For what thing to myn Ere spreedeth, 6, 896 Which is plesant, somdel it feedeth 6, 897 With wordes suche as he mai gete 6, 898 Mi lust, in stede of other mete. 6, 899 Lo thus, mi fader, as I seie, 6, 900 Of lust the which myn yhe hath seie, 6, 901 And ek of that myn Ere hath herd, 6, 902 Fulofte I have the betre ferd. 6, 903 And tho tuo bringen in the thridde, 6, 904 The which hath in myn herte amidde 6, 905 His place take, to arraie 6, 906 The lusti fode, which assaie 6, 907 I mot; and nameliche on nyhtes, 6, 908 Whan that me lacketh alle sihtes, 6, 909 And that myn heringe is aweie, 6, 910 Thanne is he redy in the weie 6, 911 Mi reresouper forto make, 6, 912 Of which myn hertes fode I take. 6, 913 This lusti cokes name is hote 6, 914 Thoght, which hath evere hise pottes hote 6, 915 Of love buillende on the fyr 6, 916 With fantasie and with desir, 6, 917 Of whiche er this fulofte he fedde 6, 918 Min herte, whanne I was abedde; 6, 919 And thanne he set upon my bord 6, 920 Bothe every syhte and every word 6, 921 Of lust, which I have herd or sein. 6, 922 Bot yit is noght mi feste al plein, 6, 923 Bot al of woldes and of wisshes, 6, 924 Therof have I my fulle disshes, 6, 925 Bot as of fielinge and of tast, 6, 926 Yit mihte I nevere have o repast. 6, 927 And thus, as I have seid aforn, 6, 928 I licke hony on the thorn, 6, 929 And as who seith, upon the bridel 6, 930 I chiewe, so that al is ydel 6, 931 As in effect the fode I have. 6, 932 Bot as a man that wolde him save, 6, 933 Whan he is seck, be medicine, 6, 934 Riht so of love the famine 6, 935 I fonde in al that evere I mai 6, 936 To fiede and dryve forth the day, 6, 937 Til I mai have the grete feste, 6, 938 Which al myn hunger myhte areste. 6, 939 Lo suche ben mi lustes thre; 6, 940 Of that I thenke and hiere and se 6, 941 I take of love my fiedinge 6, 942 Withoute tastinge or fielinge: 6, 943 And as the Plover doth of Eir 6, 944 I live, and am in good espeir 6, 945 That for no such delicacie 6, 946 I trowe I do no glotonie. 6, 947 And natheles to youre avis, 6, 948 Min holi fader, that be wis, 6, 949 I recomande myn astat 6, 950 Of that I have be delicat. 6, 951 Mi Sone, I understonde wel 6, 952 That thou hast told hier everydel, 6, 953 And as me thenketh be thi tale, 6, 954 It ben delices wonder smale, 6, 955 Wherof thou takst thi loves fode. 6, 956 Bot, Sone, if that thou understode 6, 957 What is to ben delicious, 6, 958 Thou woldest noght be curious 6, 959 Upon the lust of thin astat 6, 960 To ben to sore delicat, 6, 961 Wherof that thou reson excede: 6, 962 For in the bokes thou myht rede, 6, 963 If mannes wisdom schal be suied, 6, 964 It oghte wel to ben eschuied 6, 965 In love als wel as other weie; 6, 966 For, as these holi bokes seie, 6, 967 The bodely delices alle 6, 968 In every point, hou so thei falle, 6, 969 Unto the Soule don grievance. 6, 970 And forto take in remembrance, 6, 971 A tale acordant unto this, 6, 972 Which of gret understondinge is 6, 973 To mannes soule resonable, 6, 974 I thenke telle, and is no fable. 6, 975 Of Cristes word, who wole it rede, 6, 976 Hou that this vice is forto drede 6, 977 In thevangile it telleth plein, 6, 978 Which mot algate be certein, 6, 979 For Crist himself it berth witnesse. 6, 980 And thogh the clerk and the clergesse 6, 981 In latin tunge it rede and singe, 6, 982 Yit for the more knoulechinge 6, 983 Of trouthe, which is good to wite, 6, 984 I schal declare as it is write 6, 985 In Engleissh, for thus it began. 6, 986 Crist seith: "Ther was a riche man, 6, 987 A mihti lord of gret astat, 6, 988 And he was ek so delicat 6, 989 Of his clothing, that everyday 6, 990 Of pourpre and bisse he made him gay, 6, 991 And eet and drank therto his fille 6, 992 After the lustes of his wille, 6, 993 As he which al stod in delice 6, 994 And tok non hiede of thilke vice. 6, 995 And as it scholde so betyde, 6, 996 A povere lazre upon a tyde 6, 997 Cam to the gate and axed mete: 6, 998 Bot there mihte he nothing gete 6, 999 His dedly hunger forto stanche; 6,1000 For he, which hadde his fulle panche 6,1001 Of alle lustes ate bord, 6,1002 Ne deigneth noght to speke a word, 6,1003 Onliche a Crumme forto yive, 6,1004 Wherof the povere myhte live 6,1005 Upon the yifte of his almesse. 6,1006 Thus lai this povere in gret destresse 6,1007 Acold and hungred ate gate, 6,1008 Fro which he mihte go no gate, 6,1009 So was he wofulli besein. 6,1010 And as these holi bokes sein, 6,1011 The houndes comen fro the halle, 6,1012 Wher that this sike man was falle, 6,1013 And as he lay ther forto die, 6,1014 The woundes of his maladie 6,1015 Thei licken forto don him ese. 6,1016 Bot he was full of such desese, 6,1017 That he mai noght the deth eschape; 6,1018 Bot as it was that time schape, 6,1019 The Soule fro the bodi passeth, 6,1020 And he whom nothing overpasseth, 6,1021 The hihe god, up to the hevene 6,1022 Him tok, wher he hath set him evene 6,1023 In Habrahammes barm on hyh, 6,1024 Wher he the hevene joie syh 6,1025 And hadde al that he have wolde. 6,1026 And fell, as it befalle scholde, 6,1027 This riche man the same throwe 6,1028 With soudein deth was overthrowe, 6,1029 And forth withouten eny wente 6,1030 Into the helle straght he wente; 6,1031 The fend into the fyr him drouh, 6,1032 Wher that he hadde peine ynouh 6,1033 Of flamme which that evere brenneth. 6,1034 And as his yhe aboute renneth, 6,1035 Toward the hevene he cast his lok, 6,1036 Wher that he syh and hiede tok 6,1037 Hou Lazar set was in his Se 6,1038 Als ferr as evere he mihte se 6,1039 With Habraham; and thanne he preide 6,1040 Unto the Patriarch and seide: 6,1041 "Send Lazar doun fro thilke Sete, 6,1042 And do that he his finger wete 6,1043 In water, so that he mai droppe 6,1044 Upon my tunge, forto stoppe 6,1045 The grete hete in which I brenne." 6,1046 Bot Habraham answerde thenne 6,1047 And seide to him in this wise: 6,1048 "Mi Sone, thou thee miht avise 6,1049 And take into thi remembrance, 6,1050 Hou Lazar hadde gret penance, 6,1051 Whyl he was in that other lif, 6,1052 Bot thou in al thi lust jolif 6,1053 The bodily delices soghtest: 6,1054 Forthi, so as thou thanne wroghtest, 6,1055 Nou schalt thou take thi reward 6,1056 Of dedly peine hierafterward 6,1057 In helle, which schal evere laste; 6,1058 And this Lazar nou ate laste 6,1059 The worldes peine is overronne, 6,1060 In hevene and hath his lif begonne 6,1061 Of joie, which is endeles. 6,1062 Bot that thou preidest natheles, 6,1063 That I schal Lazar to the sende 6,1064 With water on his finger ende, 6,1065 Thin hote tunge forto kiele, 6,1066 Thou schalt no such graces fiele; 6,1067 For to that foule place of Sinne, 6,1068 For evere in which thou schalt ben inne, 6,1069 Comth non out of this place thider, 6,1070 Ne non of you mai comen hider; 6,1071 Thus be yee parted nou atuo." 6,1072 The riche ayeinward cride tho: 6,1073 "O Habraham, sithe it so is, 6,1074 That Lazar mai noght do me this 6,1075 Which I have axed in this place, 6,1076 I wolde preie an other grace. 6,1077 For I have yit of brethren fyve, 6,1078 That with mi fader ben alyve 6,1079 Togedre duellende in on hous; 6,1080 To whom, as thou art gracious, 6,1081 I preie that thou woldest sende 6,1082 Lazar, so that he mihte wende 6,1083 To warne hem hou the world is went, 6,1084 That afterward thei be noght schent 6,1085 Of suche peines as I drye. 6,1086 Lo, this I preie and this I crie, 6,1087 Now I may noght miself amende." 6,1088 The Patriarch anon suiende 6,1089 To his preiere ansuerde nay; 6,1090 And seide him hou that everyday 6,1091 His brethren mihten knowe and hiere 6,1092 Of Moiµses on Erthe hiere 6,1093 And of prophetes othre mo, 6,1094 What hem was best. And he seith no; 6,1095 Bot if ther mihte a man aryse 6,1096 Fro deth to lyve in such a wise, 6,1097 To tellen hem hou that it were, 6,1098 He seide hou thanne of pure fere 6,1099 Thei scholden wel be war therby. 6,1100 Quod Habraham: "Nay sikerly; 6,1101 For if thei nou wol noght obeie 6,1102 To suche as techen hem the weie, 6,1103 And alday preche and alday telle 6,1104 Hou that it stant of hevene and helle, 6,1105 Thei wol noght thanne taken hiede, 6,1106 Thogh it befelle so in dede 6,1107 That eny ded man were arered, 6,1108 To ben of him no betre lered 6,1109 Than of an other man alyve." 6,1110 If thou, mi Sone, canst descryve 6,1111 This tale, as Crist himself it tolde, 6,1112 Thou schalt have cause to beholde, 6,1113 To se so gret an evidence, 6,1114 Wherof the sothe experience 6,1115 Hath schewed openliche at yµe, 6,1116 That bodili delicacie 6,1117 Of him which yeveth non almesse 6,1118 Schal after falle in gret destresse. 6,1119 And that was sene upon the riche: 6,1120 For he ne wolde unto his liche 6,1121 A Crumme yiven of his bred, 6,1122 Thanne afterward, whan he was ded, 6,1123 A drope of water him was werned. 6,1124 Thus mai a mannes wit be lerned 6,1125 Of hem that so delices taken; 6,1126 Whan thei with deth ben overtaken, 6,1127 That erst was swete is thanne sour. 6,1128 Bot he that is a governour 6,1129 Of worldes good, if he be wys, 6,1130 Withinne his herte he set no pris 6,1131 Of al the world, and yit he useth 6,1132 The good, that he nothing refuseth, 6,1133 As he which lord is of the thinges. 6,1134 The Nouches and the riche ringes, 6,1135 The cloth of gold and the Perrie 6,1136 He takth, and yit delicacie 6,1137 He leveth, thogh he were al this. 6,1138 The beste mete that ther is 6,1139 He ett, and drinkth the beste drinke; 6,1140 Bot hou that evere he ete or drinke, 6,1141 Delicacie he put aweie, 6,1142 As he which goth the rihte weie 6,1143 Noght only forto fiede and clothe 6,1144 His bodi, bot his soule bothe. 6,1145 Bot thei that taken otherwise 6,1146 Here lustes, ben none of the wise; 6,1147 And that whilom was schewed eke, 6,1148 If thou these olde bokes seke, 6,1149 Als wel be reson as be kinde, 6,1150 Of olde ensample as men mai finde. 6,1151 What man that wolde him wel avise, 6,1152 Delicacie is to despise, 6,1153 Whan kinde acordeth noght withal; 6,1154 Wherof ensample in special 6,1155 Of Nero whilom mai be told, 6,1156 Which ayein kinde manyfold 6,1157 Hise lustes tok, til ate laste 6,1158 That god him wolde al overcaste; 6,1159 Of whom the Cronique is so plein, 6,1160 Me list nomore of him to sein. 6,1161 And natheles for glotonie 6,1162 Of bodili Delicacie, 6,1163 To knowe his stomak hou it ferde, 6,1164 Of that noman tofore herde, 6,1165 Which he withinne himself bethoghte, 6,1166 A wonder soubtil thing he wroghte. 6,1167 Thre men upon eleccioun 6,1168 Of age and of complexioun 6,1169 Lich to himself be alle weie 6,1170 He tok towardes him to pleie, 6,1171 And ete and drinke als wel as he. 6,1172 Therof was no diversite; 6,1173 For every day whan that thei eete, 6,1174 Tofore his oghne bord thei seete, 6,1175 And of such mete as he was served, 6,1176 Althogh thei hadde it noght deserved, 6,1177 Thei token service of the same. 6,1178 Bot afterward al thilke game 6,1179 Was into wofull ernest torned; 6,1180 For whan thei weren thus sojorned, 6,1181 Withinne a time at after mete 6,1182 Nero, which hadde noght foryete 6,1183 The lustes of his frele astat, 6,1184 As he which al was delicat, 6,1185 To knowe thilke experience, 6,1186 The men let come in his presence: 6,1187 And to that on the same tyde, 6,1188 A courser that he scholde ryde 6,1189 Into the feld, anon he bad; 6,1190 Wherof this man was wonder glad, 6,1191 And goth to prike and prance aboute. 6,1192 That other, whil that he was oute, 6,1193 He leide upon his bedd to slepe: 6,1194 The thridde, which he wolde kepe 6,1195 Withinne his chambre, faire and softe 6,1196 He goth now doun nou up fulofte, 6,1197 Walkende a pass, that he ne slepte, 6,1198 Til he which on the courser lepte 6,1199 Was come fro the field ayein. 6,1200 Nero thanne, as the bokes sein, 6,1201 These men doth taken alle thre 6,1202 And slouh hem, for he wolde se 6,1203 The whos stomak was best defied: 6,1204 And whanne he hath the sothe tryed, 6,1205 He fond that he which goth the pass 6,1206 Defyed best of alle was, 6,1207 Which afterward he usede ay. 6,1208 And thus what thing unto his pay 6,1209 Was most plesant, he lefte non: 6,1210 With every lust he was begon, 6,1211 Wherof the bodi myhte glade, 6,1212 For he non abstinence made; 6,1213 Bot most above alle erthli thinges 6,1214 Of wommen unto the likinges 6,1215 Nero sette al his hole herte, 6,1216 For that lust scholde him noght asterte. 6,1217 Whan that the thurst of love him cawhte, 6,1218 Wher that him list he tok a drauhte, 6,1219 He spareth nouther wif ne maide, 6,1220 That such an other, as men saide, 6,1221 In al this world was nevere yit. 6,1222 He was so drunke in al his wit 6,1223 Thurgh sondri lustes whiche he tok, 6,1224 That evere, whil ther is a bok, 6,1225 Of Nero men schul rede and singe 6,1226 Unto the worldes knowlechinge, 6,1227 Mi goode Sone, as thou hast herd. 6,1228 For evere yit it hath so ferd, 6,1229 Delicacie in loves cas 6,1230 Withoute reson is and was; 6,1231 For wher that love his herte set, 6,1232 Him thenkth it myhte be no bet; 6,1233 And thogh it be noght fulli mete, 6,1234 The lust of love is evere swete. 6,1235 Lo, thus togedre of felaschipe 6,1236 Delicacie and drunkeschipe, 6,1237 Wherof reson stant out of herre, 6,1238 Have mad full many a wisman erre 6,1239 In loves cause most of alle: 6,1240 For thanne hou so that evere it falle, 6,1241 Wit can no reson understonde, 6,1242 Bot let the governance stonde 6,1243 To Will, which thanne wext so wylde, 6,1244 That he can noght himselve schylde 6,1245 Fro no peril, bot out of feere 6,1246 The weie he secheth hiere and there, 6,1247 Him recheth noght upon what syde: 6,1248 For oftetime he goth beside, 6,1249 And doth such thing withoute drede, 6,1250 Wherof him oghte wel to drede. 6,1251 Bot whan that love assoteth sore, 6,1252 It passeth alle mennes lore; 6,1253 What lust it is that he ordeigneth, 6,1254 Ther is no mannes miht restreigneth, 6,1255 And of the godd takth he non hiede: 6,1256 Bot laweles withoute drede, 6,1257 His pourpos for he wolde achieve 6,1258 Ayeins the pointz of the believe, 6,1259 He tempteth hevene and erthe and helle, 6,1260 Hierafterward as I schall telle. 6,1261 Who dar do thing which love ne dar? 6,1262 To love is every lawe unwar, 6,1263 Bot to the lawes of his heste 6,1264 The fissch, the foul, the man, the beste 6,1265 Of al the worldes kinde louteth. 6,1266 For love is he which nothing douteth: 6,1267 In mannes herte where he sit, 6,1268 He compteth noght toward his wit 6,1269 The wo nomore than the wele, 6,1270 No mor the hete than the chele, 6,1271 No mor the wete than the dreie, 6,1272 No mor to live than to deie, 6,1273 So that tofore ne behinde 6,1274 He seth nothing, bot as the blinde 6,1275 Withoute insyhte of his corage 6,1276 He doth merveilles in his rage. 6,1277 To what thing that he wole him drawe, 6,1278 Ther is no god, ther is no lawe, 6,1279 Of whom that he takth eny hiede; 6,1280 Bot as Baiard the blinde stede, 6,1281 Til he falle in the dich amidde, 6,1282 He goth ther noman wole him bidde; 6,1283 He stant so ferforth out of reule, 6,1284 Ther is no wit that mai him reule. 6,1285 And thus to telle of him in soth, 6,1286 Ful many a wonder thing he doth, 6,1287 That were betre to be laft, 6,1288 Among the whiche is wicchecraft, 6,1289 That som men clepen Sorcerie, 6,1290 Which forto winne his druerie 6,1291 With many a circumstance he useth, 6,1292 Ther is no point which he refuseth. 6,1293 The craft which that Saturnus fond, 6,1294 To make prickes in the Sond, 6,1295 That Geomance cleped is, 6,1296 Fulofte he useth it amis; 6,1297 And of the flod his Ydromance, 6,1298 And of the fyr the Piromance, 6,1299 With questions echon of tho 6,1300 He tempteth ofte, and ek also 6,1301 Aeµremance in juggement 6,1302 To love he bringth of his assent: 6,1303 For these craftes, as I finde, 6,1304 A man mai do be weie of kinde, 6,1305 Be so it be to good entente. 6,1306 Bot he goth al an other wente; 6,1307 For rathere er he scholde faile, 6,1308 With Nigromance he wole assaile 6,1309 To make his incantacioun 6,1310 With hot subfumigacioun. 6,1311 Thilke art which Spatula is hote, 6,1312 And used is of comun rote 6,1313 Among Paiens, with that craft ek 6,1314 Of which is Auctor Thosz the Grek, 6,1315 He worcheth on and on be rowe: 6,1316 Razel is noght to him unknowe, 6,1317 Ne Salomones Candarie, 6,1318 His Ydeac, his Eutonye; 6,1319 The figure and the bok withal 6,1320 Of Balamuz, and of Ghenbal 6,1321 The Seal, and therupon thymage 6,1322 Of Thebith, for his avantage 6,1323 He takth, and somwhat of Gibiere, 6,1324 Which helplich is to this matiere. 6,1325 Babilla with hire Sones sevene, 6,1326 Which hath renonced to the hevene, 6,1327 With Cernes bothe square and rounde, 6,1328 He traceth ofte upon the grounde, 6,1329 Makende his invocacioun; 6,1330 And for full enformacioun 6,1331 The Scole which Honorius 6,1332 Wrot, he poursuieth: and lo, thus 6,1333 Magique he useth forto winne 6,1334 His love, and spareth for no Sinne. 6,1335 And over that of his Sotie, 6,1336 Riht as he secheth Sorcerie 6,1337 Of hem that ben Magiciens, 6,1338 Riht so of the Naturiens 6,1339 Upon the Sterres from above 6,1340 His weie he secheth unto love, 6,1341 Als fer as he hem understondeth. 6,1342 In many a sondry wise he fondeth: 6,1343 He makth ymage, he makth sculpture, 6,1344 He makth writinge, he makth figure, 6,1345 He makth his calculacions, 6,1346 He makth his demonstracions; 6,1347 His houres of Astronomie 6,1348 He kepeth as for that partie 6,1349 Which longeth to thinspeccion 6,1350 Of love and his affeccion; 6,1351 He wolde into the helle seche 6,1352 The devel himselve to beseche, 6,1353 If that he wiste forto spede, 6,1354 To gete of love his lusti mede: 6,1355 Wher that he hath his herte set, 6,1356 He bede nevere fare bet 6,1357 Ne wite of other hevene more. 6,1358 Mi Sone, if thou of such a lore 6,1359 Hast ben er this, I red thee leve. 6,1360 Min holi fader, be youre leve 6,1361 Of al that ye have spoken hiere 6,1362 Which toucheth unto this matiere, 6,1363 To telle soth riht as I wene, 6,1364 I wot noght o word what ye mene. 6,1365 I wol noght seie, if that I couthe, 6,1366 That I nolde in mi lusti youthe 6,1367 Benethe in helle and ek above 6,1368 To winne with mi ladi love 6,1369 Don al that evere that I mihte; 6,1370 For therof have I non insihte 6,1371 Wher afterward that I become, 6,1372 To that I wonne and overcome 6,1373 Hire love, which I most coveite. 6,1374 Mi Sone, that goth wonder streite: 6,1375 For this I mai wel telle soth, 6,1376 Ther is noman the which so doth, 6,1377 For al the craft that he can caste, 6,1378 That he nabeith it ate laste. 6,1379 For often he that wol beguile 6,1380 Is guiled with the same guile, 6,1381 And thus the guilour is beguiled; 6,1382 As I finde in a bok compiled 6,1383 To this matiere an old histoire, 6,1384 The which comth nou to mi memoire, 6,1385 And is of gret essamplerie 6,1386 Ayein the vice of Sorcerie, 6,1387 Wherof non ende mai be good. 6,1388 Bot hou whilom therof it stod, 6,1389 A tale which is good to knowe 6,1390 To thee, mi Sone, I schal beknowe. 6,1391 Among hem whiche at Troie were, 6,1392 Uluxes ate Siege there 6,1393 Was on be name in special; 6,1394 Of whom yit the memorial 6,1395 Abit, for whyl ther is a mouth, 6,1396 For evere his name schal be couth. 6,1397 He was a worthi knyht and king 6,1398 And clerk knowende of every thing; 6,1399 He was a gret rethorien, 6,1400 He was a gret magicien; 6,1401 Of Tullius the rethorique, 6,1402 Of king Zorastes the magique, 6,1403 Of Tholome thastronomie, 6,1404 Of Plato the Philosophie, 6,1405 Of Daniel the slepi dremes, 6,1406 Of Neptune ek the water stremes, 6,1407 Of Salomon and the proverbes, 6,1408 Of Macer al the strengthe of herbes, 6,1409 And the Phisique of Ypocras, 6,1410 And lich unto Pictagoras 6,1411 Of Surgerie he knew the cures. 6,1412 Bot somwhat of his aventures, 6,1413 Which schal to mi matiere acorde, 6,1414 To thee, mi Sone, I wol recorde. 6,1415 This king, of which thou hast herd sein, 6,1416 Fro Troie as he goth hom ayein 6,1417 Be Schipe, he fond the See divers, 6,1418 With many a wyndi storm revers. 6,1419 Bot he thurgh wisdom that he schapeth 6,1420 Ful many a gret peril ascapeth, 6,1421 Of whiche I thenke tellen on, 6,1422 Hou that malgre the nedle and ston 6,1423 Wynddrive he was al soudeinly 6,1424 Upon the strondes of Cilly, 6,1425 Wher that he moste abyde a whyle. 6,1426 Tuo queenes weren in that yle 6,1427 Calipsa named and Circes; 6,1428 And whan they herde hou Uluxes 6,1429 Is londed ther upon the ryve, 6,1430 For him thei senden als so blive. 6,1431 With him suche as he wolde he nam 6,1432 And to the court to hem he cam. 6,1433 Thes queenes were as tuo goddesses 6,1434 Of Art magique Sorceresses, 6,1435 That what lord comth to that rivage, 6,1436 Thei make him love in such a rage 6,1437 And upon hem assote so, 6,1438 That thei wol have, er that he go, 6,1439 Al that he hath of worldes good. 6,1440 Uluxes wel this understod, 6,1441 Thei couthe moche, he couthe more; 6,1442 Thei schape and caste ayein him sore 6,1443 And wroghte many a soutil wyle, 6,1444 Bot yit thei mihte him noght beguile. 6,1445 Bot of the men of his navie 6,1446 Thei tuo forschope a gret partie, 6,1447 Mai non of hem withstonde here hestes; 6,1448 Som part thei schopen into bestes, 6,1449 Som part thei schopen into foules, 6,1450 To beres, tigres, Apes, oules, 6,1451 Or elles be som other weie; 6,1452 Ther myhte hem nothing desobeie, 6,1453 Such craft thei hadde above kinde. 6,1454 Bot that Art couthe thei noght finde, 6,1455 Of which Uluxes was deceived, 6,1456 That he ne hath hem alle weyved, 6,1457 And broght hem into such a rote, 6,1458 That upon him thei bothe assote; 6,1459 And thurgh the science of his art 6,1460 He tok of hem so wel his part, 6,1461 That he begat Circes with childe. 6,1462 He kepte him sobre and made hem wilde, 6,1463 He sette himselve so above, 6,1464 That with here good and with here love, 6,1465 Who that therof be lief or loth, 6,1466 Al quit into his Schip he goth. 6,1467 Circes toswolle bothe sides 6,1468 He lefte, and waiteth on the tydes, 6,1469 And straght thurghout the salte fom 6,1470 He takth his cours and comth him hom, 6,1471 Where as he fond Penolope; 6,1472 A betre wif ther mai non be, 6,1473 And yit ther ben ynowhe of goode. 6,1474 Bot who hir goodschipe understode 6,1475 Fro ferst that sche wifhode tok, 6,1476 Hou many loves sche forsok 6,1477 And hou sche bar hire al aboute, 6,1478 Ther whiles that hire lord was oute, 6,1479 He mihte make a gret avant 6,1480 Amonges al the remenant 6,1481 That sche was on of al the beste. 6,1482 Wel myhte he sette his herte in reste, 6,1483 This king, whan he hir fond in hele; 6,1484 For as he couthe in wisdom dele, 6,1485 So couthe sche in wommanhiede: 6,1486 And whan sche syh withoute drede 6,1487 Hire lord upon his oghne ground, 6,1488 That he was come sauf and sound, 6,1489 In al this world ne mihte be 6,1490 A gladdere womman than was sche. 6,1491 The fame, which mai noght ben hidd, 6,1492 Thurghout the lond is sone kidd, 6,1493 Here king is come hom ayein: 6,1494 Ther mai noman the fulle sein, 6,1495 Hou that thei weren alle glade, 6,1496 So mochel joie of him thei made. 6,1497 The presens every day be newed, 6,1498 He was with yiftes al besnewed; 6,1499 The poeple was of him so glad, 6,1500 That thogh non other man hem bad, 6,1501 Taillage upon hemself thei sette, 6,1502 And as it were of pure dette 6,1503 Thei yeve here goodes to the king: 6,1504 This was a glad hom welcomyng. 6,1505 Thus hath Uluxes what he wolde, 6,1506 His wif was such as sche be scholde, 6,1507 His poeple was to him sougit, 6,1508 Him lacketh nothing of delit. 6,1509 Bot fortune is of such a sleyhte, 6,1510 That whan a man is most on heyhte, 6,1511 Sche makth him rathest forto falle: 6,1512 Ther wot noman what schal befalle, 6,1513 The happes over mannes hed 6,1514 Ben honged with a tendre thred. 6,1515 That proved was on Uluxes; 6,1516 For whan he was most in his pes, 6,1517 Fortune gan to make him werre 6,1518 And sette his welthe al out of herre. 6,1519 Upon a dai as he was merie, 6,1520 As thogh ther mihte him nothing derie, 6,1521 Whan nyht was come, he goth to bedde, 6,1522 With slep and bothe his yhen fedde. 6,1523 And while he slepte, he mette a swevene: 6,1524 Him thoghte he syh a stature evene, 6,1525 Which brihtere than the sonne schon; 6,1526 A man it semeth was it non, 6,1527 Bot yit it was as in figure 6,1528 Most lich to mannyssh creature, 6,1529 Bot as of beaute hevenelich 6,1530 It was most to an Angel lich: 6,1531 And thus betwen angel and man 6,1532 Beholden it this king began, 6,1533 And such a lust tok of the sihte, 6,1534 That fain he wolde, if that he mihte, 6,1535 The forme of that figure embrace; 6,1536 And goth him forth toward the place, 6,1537 Wher he sih that ymage tho, 6,1538 And takth it in his Armes tuo, 6,1539 And it embraceth him ayein 6,1540 And to the king thus gan it sein: 6,1541 "Uluxes, understond wel this, 6,1542 The tokne of oure aqueintance is 6,1543 Hierafterward to mochel tene: 6,1544 The love that is ous betuene, 6,1545 Of that we nou such joie make, 6,1546 That on of ous the deth schal take, 6,1547 Whan time comth of destine; 6,1548 It may non other wise be." 6,1549 Uluxes tho began to preie 6,1550 That this figure wolde him seie 6,1551 What wyht he is that seith him so. 6,1552 This wyht upon a spere tho 6,1553 A pensel which was wel begon, 6,1554 Embrouded, scheweth him anon: 6,1555 Thre fisshes alle of o colour 6,1556 In manere as it were a tour 6,1557 Upon the pensel were wroght. 6,1558 Uluxes kneu this tokne noght, 6,1559 And preith to wite in som partie 6,1560 What thing it myhte signefie, 6,1561 "A signe it is," the wyht ansuerde, 6,1562 "Of an Empire:" and forth he ferde 6,1563 Al sodeinly, whan he that seide. 6,1564 Uluxes out of slep abreide, 6,1565 And that was riht ayein the day, 6,1566 That lengere slepen he ne may. 6,1567 Men sein, a man hath knowleching 6,1568 Save of himself of alle thing; 6,1569 His oghne chance noman knoweth, 6,1570 Bot as fortune it on him throweth: 6,1571 Was nevere yit so wys a clerk, 6,1572 Which mihte knowe al goddes werk, 6,1573 Ne the secret which god hath set 6,1574 Ayein a man mai noght be let. 6,1575 Uluxes, thogh that he be wys, 6,1576 With al his wit in his avis, 6,1577 The mor that he his swevene acompteth, 6,1578 The lasse he wot what it amonteth: 6,1579 For al his calculacion, 6,1580 He seth no demonstracion 6,1581 Al pleinly forto knowe an ende; 6,1582 Bot natheles hou so it wende, 6,1583 He dradde him of his oghne Sone. 6,1584 That makth him wel the more astone, 6,1585 And schop therfore anon withal, 6,1586 So that withinne castel wall 6,1587 Thelamachum his Sone he schette, 6,1588 And upon him strong warde he sette. 6,1589 The sothe furthere he ne knew, 6,1590 Til that fortune him overthreu; 6,1591 Bot natheles for sikernesse, 6,1592 Wher that he mihte wite and gesse 6,1593 A place strengest in his lond, 6,1594 Ther let he make of lym and sond 6,1595 A strengthe where he wolde duelle; 6,1596 Was nevere man yit herde telle 6,1597 Of such an other as it was. 6,1598 And forto strengthe him in that cas, 6,1599 Of al his lond the sekereste 6,1600 Of servantz and the worthieste, 6,1601 To kepen him withinne warde, 6,1602 He sette his bodi forto warde; 6,1603 And made such an ordinance, 6,1604 For love ne for aqueintance, 6,1605 That were it erly, were it late, 6,1606 Thei scholde lete in ate gate 6,1607 No maner man, what so betydde, 6,1608 Bot if so were himself it bidde. 6,1609 Bot al that myhte him noght availe, 6,1610 For whom fortune wole assaile, 6,1611 Ther mai be non such resistence, 6,1612 Which mihte make a man defence; 6,1613 Al that schal be mot falle algate. 6,1614 This Circes, which I spak of late, 6,1615 On whom Uluxes hath begete 6,1616 A child, thogh he it have foryete, 6,1617 Whan time com, as it was wone, 6,1618 Sche was delivered of a Sone, 6,1619 Which cleped is Thelogonus. 6,1620 This child, whan he was bore thus, 6,1621 Aboute his moder to ful age, 6,1622 That he can reson and langage, 6,1623 In good astat was drawe forth: 6,1624 And whan he was so mochel worth 6,1625 To stonden in a mannes stede, 6,1626 Circes his moder hath him bede 6,1627 That he schal to his fader go, 6,1628 And tolde him al togedre tho 6,1629 What man he was that him begat. 6,1630 And whan Thelogonus of that 6,1631 Was war and hath ful knowleching 6,1632 Hou that his fader was a king, 6,1633 He preith his moder faire this, 6,1634 To go wher that his fader is; 6,1635 And sche him granteth that he schal, 6,1636 And made him redi forth withal. 6,1637 It was that time such usance, 6,1638 That every man the conoiscance 6,1639 Of his contre bar in his hond, 6,1640 Whan he wente into strange lond; 6,1641 And thus was every man therfore 6,1642 Wel knowe, wher that he was bore: 6,1643 For espiaile and mistrowinges 6,1644 They dede thanne suche thinges, 6,1645 That every man mai other knowe. 6,1646 So it befell that ilke throwe 6,1647 Thelogonus as in this cas; 6,1648 Of his contre the signe was 6,1649 Thre fisshes, whiche he scholde bere 6,1650 Upon the penon of a spere: 6,1651 And whan that he was thus arraied 6,1652 And hath his harneis al assaied, 6,1653 That he was redy everydel, 6,1654 His moder bad him farewel, 6,1655 And seide him that he scholde swithe 6,1656 His fader griete a thousand sithe. 6,1657 Thelogonus his moder kiste 6,1658 And tok his leve, and wher he wiste 6,1659 His fader was, the weie nam, 6,1660 Til he unto Nachaie cam, 6,1661 Which of that lond the chief Cite 6,1662 Was cleped, and ther axeth he 6,1663 Wher was the king and hou he ferde. 6,1664 And whan that he the sothe herde, 6,1665 Wher that the king Uluxes was, 6,1666 Al one upon his hors gret pas 6,1667 He rod him forth, and in his hond 6,1668 He bar the signal of his lond 6,1669 With fisshes thre, as I have told; 6,1670 And thus he wente unto that hold, 6,1671 Wher that his oghne fader duelleth. 6,1672 The cause why he comth he telleth 6,1673 Unto the kepers of the gate, 6,1674 And wolde have comen in therate, 6,1675 Bot schortli thei him seide nay: 6,1676 And he als faire as evere he may 6,1677 Besoghte and tolde hem ofte this, 6,1678 Hou that the king his fader is; 6,1679 Bot they with proude wordes grete 6,1680 Begunne to manace and threte, 6,1681 Bot he go fro the gate faste, 6,1682 Thei wolde him take and sette faste. 6,1683 Fro wordes unto strokes thus 6,1684 Thei felle, and so Thelogonus 6,1685 Was sore hurt and welnyh ded; 6,1686 Bot with his scharpe speres hed 6,1687 He makth defence, hou so it falle, 6,1688 And wan the gate upon hem alle, 6,1689 And hath slain of the beste fyve; 6,1690 And thei ascriden als so blyve 6,1691 Thurghout the castell al aboute. 6,1692 On every syde men come oute, 6,1693 Wherof the kinges herte afflihte, 6,1694 And he with al the haste he mihte 6,1695 A spere cauhte and out he goth, 6,1696 As he that was nyh wod for wroth. 6,1697 He sih the gates ful of blod, 6,1698 Thelogonus and wher he stod 6,1699 He sih also, bot he ne knew 6,1700 What man it was, and to him threw 6,1701 His Spere, and he sterte out asyde. 6,1702 Bot destine, which schal betide, 6,1703 Befell that ilke time so, 6,1704 Thelogonus knew nothing tho 6,1705 What man it was that to him caste, 6,1706 And while his oghne spere laste, 6,1707 With al the signe therupon 6,1708 He caste unto the king anon, 6,1709 And smot him with a dedly wounde. 6,1710 Uluxes fell anon to grounde; 6,1711 Tho every man, "The king] the king]" 6,1712 Began to crie, and of this thing 6,1713 Thelogonus, which sih the cas, 6,1714 On knes he fell and seide, "Helas] 6,1715 I have min oghne fader slain: 6,1716 Nou wolde I deie wonder fain, 6,1717 Nou sle me who that evere wile, 6,1718 For certes it is right good skile." 6,1719 He crith, he wepth, he seith therfore, 6,1720 "Helas, that evere was I bore, 6,1721 That this unhappi destine 6,1722 So wofulli comth in be me]" 6,1723 This king, which yit hath lif ynouh, 6,1724 His herte ayein to him he drouh, 6,1725 And to that vois an Ere he leide 6,1726 And understod al that he seide, 6,1727 And gan to speke, and seide on hih, 6,1728 "Bring me this man." And whan he sih 6,1729 Thelogonus, his thoght he sette 6,1730 Upon the swevene which he mette, 6,1731 And axeth that he myhte se 6,1732 His spere, on which the fisshes thre 6,1733 He sih upon a pensel wroght. 6,1734 Tho wiste he wel it faileth noght, 6,1735 And badd him that he telle scholde 6,1736 Fro whenne he cam and what he wolde. 6,1737 Thelogonus in sorghe and wo 6,1738 So as he mihte tolde tho 6,1739 Unto Uluxes al the cas, 6,1740 Hou that Circes his moder was, 6,1741 And so forth seide him everydel, 6,1742 Hou that his moder gret him wel, 6,1743 And in what wise sche him sente. 6,1744 Tho wiste Uluxes what it mente, 6,1745 And tok him in hise Armes softe, 6,1746 And al bledende he kest him ofte, 6,1747 And seide, "Sone, whil I live, 6,1748 This infortune I thee foryive." 6,1749 After his other Sone in haste 6,1750 He sende, and he began him haste 6,1751 And cam unto his fader tyt. 6,1752 Bot whan he sih him in such plit, 6,1753 He wolde have ronne upon that other 6,1754 Anon, and slain his oghne brother, 6,1755 Ne hadde be that Uluxes 6,1756 Betwen hem made acord and pes, 6,1757 And to his heir Thelamachus 6,1758 He bad that he Thelogonus 6,1759 With al his pouer scholde kepe, 6,1760 Til he were of his woundes depe 6,1761 Al hol, and thanne he scholde him yive 6,1762 Lond wher upon he mihte live. 6,1763 Thelamachus, whan he this herde, 6,1764 Unto his fader he ansuerde 6,1765 And seide he wolde don his wille. 6,1766 So duelle thei togedre stille, 6,1767 These brethren, and the fader sterveth. 6,1768 Lo, wherof Sorcerie serveth. 6,1769 Thurgh Sorcerie his lust he wan, 6,1770 Thurgh Sorcerie his wo began, 6,1771 Thurgh Sorcerie his love he ches, 6,1772 Thurgh Sorcerie his lif he les; 6,1773 The child was gete in Sorcerie, 6,1774 The which dede al this felonie: 6,1775 Thing which was ayein kynde wroght 6,1776 Unkindeliche it was aboght; 6,1777 The child his oghne fader slowh, 6,1778 That was unkindeschipe ynowh. 6,1779 Forthi tak hiede hou that it is, 6,1780 So forto winne love amis, 6,1781 Which endeth al his joie in wo: 6,1782 For of this Art I finde also, 6,1783 That hath be do for loves sake, 6,1784 Wherof thou miht ensample take, 6,1785 A gret Cronique imperial, 6,1786 Which evere into memorial 6,1787 Among the men, hou so it wende, 6,1788 Schal duelle to the worldes ende. 6,1789 The hihe creatour of thinges, 6,1790 Which is the king of alle kinges, 6,1791 Ful many a wonder worldes chance 6,1792 Let slyden under his suffrance; 6,1793 Ther wot noman the cause why, 6,1794 Bot he the which is almyhty. 6,1795 And that was proved whilom thus, 6,1796 Whan that the king Nectanabus, 6,1797 Which hadde Egipte forto lede,- 6,1798 Bot for he sih tofor the dede 6,1799 Thurgh magique of his Sorcerie, 6,1800 Wherof he couthe a gret partie, 6,1801 Hise enemys to him comende, 6,1802 Fro whom he mihte him noght defende, 6,1803 Out of his oghne lond he fledde; 6,1804 And in the wise as he him dredde 6,1805 It fell, for al his wicchecraft, 6,1806 So that Egipte him was beraft, 6,1807 And he desguised fledde aweie 6,1808 Be schipe, and hield the rihte weie 6,1809 To Macedoine, wher that he 6,1810 Aryveth ate chief Cite. 6,1811 Thre yomen of his chambre there 6,1812 Al only forto serve him were, 6,1813 The whiche he trusteth wonder wel, 6,1814 For thei were trewe as eny stiel; 6,1815 And hapneth that thei with him ladde 6,1816 Part of the beste good he hadde. 6,1817 Thei take logginge in the toun 6,1818 After the disposicion 6,1819 Wher as him thoghte best to duelle: 6,1820 He axeth thanne and herde telle 6,1821 Hou that the king was oute go. 6,1822 Upon a werre he hadde tho; 6,1823 But in that Cite thanne was 6,1824 The queene, which Olimpias 6,1825 Was hote, and with sollempnete 6,1826 The feste of hir nativite, 6,1827 As it befell, was thanne holde; 6,1828 And for hire list to be beholde 6,1829 And preised of the poeple aboute, 6,1830 Sche schop hir forto riden oute 6,1831 At after mete al openly. 6,1832 Anon were alle men redy, 6,1833 And that was in the monthe of Maii, 6,1834 This lusti queene in good arrai 6,1835 Was set upon a Mule whyt: 6,1836 To sen it was a gret delit 6,1837 The joie that the cite made; 6,1838 With freisshe thinges and with glade 6,1839 The noble toun was al behonged, 6,1840 And every wiht was sore alonged 6,1841 To se this lusti ladi ryde. 6,1842 Ther was gret merthe on alle syde; 6,1843 Wher as sche passeth be the strete, 6,1844 Ther was ful many a tymber bete 6,1845 And many a maide carolende: 6,1846 And thus thurghout the toun pleiende 6,1847 This queene unto a pleine rod, 6,1848 Wher that sche hoved and abod 6,1849 To se diverse game pleie, 6,1850 The lusti folk jouste and tourneie; 6,1851 And so forth every other man, 6,1852 Which pleie couthe, his pley began, 6,1853 To plese with this noble queene. 6,1854 Nectanabus cam to the grene 6,1855 Amonges othre and drouh him nyh. 6,1856 Bot whan that he this ladi sih 6,1857 And of hir beaute hiede tok, 6,1858 He couthe noght withdrawe his lok 6,1859 To se noght elles in the field, 6,1860 Bot stod and only hire behield. 6,1861 Of his clothinge and of his gere 6,1862 He was unlich alle othre there, 6,1863 So that it hapneth ate laste, 6,1864 The queene on him hire yhe caste, 6,1865 And knew that he was strange anon: 6,1866 Bot he behield hire evere in on 6,1867 Withoute blenchinge of his chere. 6,1868 Sche tok good hiede of his manere, 6,1869 And wondreth why he dede so, 6,1870 And bad men scholde for him go. 6,1871 He cam and dede hire reverence, 6,1872 And sche him axeth in cilence 6,1873 For whenne he cam and what he wolde. 6,1874 And he with sobre wordes tolde, 6,1875 And seith, "Ma dame, a clerk I am, 6,1876 To you and in message I cam, 6,1877 The which I mai noght tellen hiere; 6,1878 Bot if it liketh you to hiere, 6,1879 It mot be seid al prively, 6,1880 Wher non schal be bot ye and I." 6,1881 Thus for the time he tok his leve. 6,1882 The dai goth forth til it was eve, 6,1883 That every man mot lete his werk; 6,1884 And sche thoghte evere upon this clerk, 6,1885 What thing it is he wolde mene: 6,1886 And in this wise abod the queene, 6,1887 And passeth over thilke nyht, 6,1888 Til it was on the morwe liht. 6,1889 Sche sende for him, and he com, 6,1890 With him his Astellabre he nom, 6,1891 Which was of fin gold precious 6,1892 With pointz and cercles merveilous; 6,1893 And ek the hevenely figures 6,1894 Wroght in a bok ful of peintures 6,1895 He tok this ladi forto schewe, 6,1896 And tolde of ech of hem be rewe 6,1897 The cours and the condicion. 6,1898 And sche with gret affeccion 6,1899 Sat stille and herde what he wolde: 6,1900 And thus whan he sih time, he tolde, 6,1901 And feigneth with hise wordes wise 6,1902 A tale, and seith in such a wise: 6,1903 "Ma dame, bot a while ago, 6,1904 Wher I was in Egipte tho, 6,1905 And radde in scole of this science, 6,1906 It fell into mi conscience 6,1907 That I unto the temple wente, 6,1908 And ther with al myn hole entente 6,1909 As I mi sacrifice dede, 6,1910 On of the goddes hath me bede 6,1911 That I you warne prively, 6,1912 So that ye make you redy, 6,1913 And that ye be nothing agast; 6,1914 For he such love hath to you cast, 6,1915 That ye schul ben his oghne diere, 6,1916 And he schal be your beddefiere, 6,1917 Til ye conceive and be with childe." 6,1918 And with that word sche wax al mylde, 6,1919 And somdel red becam for schame, 6,1920 And axeth him that goddes name, 6,1921 Which so wol don hire compainie. 6,1922 And he seide, "Amos of Lubie." 6,1923 And sche seith, "That mai I noght lieve, 6,1924 Bot if I sihe a betre prieve." 6,1925 "Ma dame," quod Nectanabus, 6,1926 "In tokne that it schal be thus, 6,1927 This nyht for enformacion 6,1928 Ye schul have an avision: 6,1929 That Amos schal to you appiere, 6,1930 To schewe and teche in what manere 6,1931 The thing schal afterward befalle. 6,1932 Ye oghten wel above alle 6,1933 To make joie of such a lord; 6,1934 For whan ye ben of on acord, 6,1935 He schal a Sone of you begete, 6,1936 Which with his swerd schal winne and gete 6,1937 The wyde world in lengthe and brede; 6,1938 Alle erthli kinges schull him drede, 6,1939 And in such wise, I you behote, 6,1940 The god of erthe he schal be hote." 6,1941 "If this be soth," tho quod the queene, 6,1942 "This nyht, thou seist, it schal be sene. 6,1943 And if it falle into mi grace, 6,1944 Of god Amos, that I pourchace 6,1945 To take of him so gret worschipe, 6,1946 I wol do thee such ladischipe, 6,1947 Wherof thou schalt for everemo 6,1948 Be riche." And he hir thonketh tho, 6,1949 And tok his leve and forth he wente. 6,1950 Sche wiste litel what he mente, 6,1951 For it was guile and Sorcerie, 6,1952 Al that sche tok for Prophecie. 6,1953 Nectanabus thurghout the day, 6,1954 Whan he cam hom wher as he lay, 6,1955 His chambre be himselve tok, 6,1956 And overtorneth many a bok, 6,1957 And thurgh the craft of Artemage 6,1958 Of wex he forgeth an ymage. 6,1959 He loketh his equacions 6,1960 And ek the constellacions, 6,1961 He loketh the conjunccions, 6,1962 He loketh the recepcions, 6,1963 His signe, his houre, his ascendent, 6,1964 And drawth fortune of his assent: 6,1965 The name of queene Olimpias 6,1966 In thilke ymage write was 6,1967 Amiddes in the front above. 6,1968 And thus to winne his lust of love 6,1969 Nectanabus this werk hath diht; 6,1970 And whan it cam withinne nyht, 6,1971 That every wyht is falle aslepe, 6,1972 He thoghte he wolde his time kepe, 6,1973 As he which hath his houre apointed. 6,1974 And thanne ferst he hath enoignted 6,1975 With sondri herbes that figure, 6,1976 And therupon he gan conjure, 6,1977 So that thurgh his enchantement 6,1978 This ladi, which was innocent 6,1979 And wiste nothing of this guile, 6,1980 Mette, as sche slepte thilke while, 6,1981 Hou fro the hevene cam a lyht, 6,1982 Which al hir chambre made lyht; 6,1983 And as sche loketh to and fro, 6,1984 Sche sih, hir thoghte, a dragoun tho, 6,1985 Whos scherdes schynen as the Sonne, 6,1986 And hath his softe pas begonne 6,1987 With al the chiere that he may 6,1988 Toward the bedd ther as sche lay, 6,1989 Til he cam to the beddes side. 6,1990 And sche lai stille and nothing cride, 6,1991 For he dede alle his thinges faire 6,1992 And was courteis and debonaire: 6,1993 And as he stod hire fasteby, 6,1994 His forme he changeth sodeinly, 6,1995 And the figure of man he nom, 6,1996 To hire and into bedde he com, 6,1997 And such thing there of love he wroghte, 6,1998 Wherof, so as hire thanne thoghte, 6,1999 Thurgh likinge of this god Amos 6,2000 With childe anon hire wombe aros, 6,2001 And sche was wonder glad withal. 6,2002 Nectanabus, which causeth al 6,2003 Of this metrede the substance, 6,2004 Whan he sih time, his nigromance 6,2005 He stinte and nothing more seide 6,2006 Of his carecte, and sche abreide 6,2007 Out of hir slep, and lieveth wel 6,2008 That it is soth thanne everydel 6,2009 Of that this clerk hire hadde told, 6,2010 And was the gladdere manyfold 6,2011 In hope of such a glad metrede, 6,2012 Which after schal befalle in dede. 6,2013 Sche longeth sore after the dai, 6,2014 That sche hir swevene telle mai 6,2015 To this guilour in privete, 6,2016 Which kneu it als so wel as sche: 6,2017 And natheles on morwe sone 6,2018 Sche lefte alle other thing to done, 6,2019 And for him sende, and al the cas 6,2020 Sche tolde him pleinly as it was, 6,2021 And seide hou thanne wel sche wiste 6,2022 That sche his wordes mihte triste, 6,2023 For sche fond hire Avisioun 6,2024 Riht after the condicion 6,2025 Which he hire hadde told tofore; 6,2026 And preide him hertely therfore 6,2027 That he hire holde covenant 6,2028 So forth of al the remenant, 6,2029 That sche may thurgh his ordinance 6,2030 Toward the god do such plesance, 6,2031 That sche wakende myhte him kepe 6,2032 In such wise as sche mette aslepe. 6,2033 And he, that couthe of guile ynouh, 6,2034 Whan he this herde, of joie he louh, 6,2035 And seith, "Ma dame, it schal be do. 6,2036 Bot this I warne you therto: 6,2037 This nyht, whan that he comth to pleie, 6,2038 That ther be no lif in the weie 6,2039 Bot I, that schal at his likinge 6,2040 Ordeine so for his cominge, 6,2041 That ye ne schull noght of him faile. 6,2042 For this, ma dame, I you consaile, 6,2043 That ye it kepe so prive, 6,2044 That no wiht elles bot we thre 6,2045 Have knowlechinge hou that it is; 6,2046 For elles mihte it fare amis, 6,2047 If ye dede oght that scholde him grieve." 6,2048 And thus he makth hire to believe, 6,2049 And feigneth under guile feith: 6,2050 Bot natheles al that he seith 6,2051 Sche troweth; and ayein the nyht 6,2052 Sche hath withinne hire chambre dyht, 6,2053 Wher as this guilour faste by 6,2054 Upon this god schal prively 6,2055 Awaite, as he makth hire to wene: 6,2056 And thus this noble gentil queene, 6,2057 Whan sche most trusteth, was deceived. 6,2058 The nyht com, and the chambre is weyved, 6,2059 Nectanabus hath take his place, 6,2060 And whan he sih the time and space, 6,2061 Thurgh the deceipte of his magique 6,2062 He putte him out of mannes like, 6,2063 And of a dragoun tok the forme, 6,2064 As he which wolde him al conforme 6,2065 To that sche sih in swevene er this; 6,2066 And thus to chambre come he is. 6,2067 The queene lay abedde and sih, 6,2068 And hopeth evere, as he com nyh, 6,2069 That he god of Lubye were, 6,2070 So hath sche wel the lasse fere. 6,2071 Bot for he wolde hire more assure, 6,2072 Yit eft he changeth his figure, 6,2073 And of a wether the liknesse 6,2074 He tok, in signe of his noblesse 6,2075 With large hornes for the nones: 6,2076 Of fin gold and of riche stones 6,2077 A corone on his hed he bar, 6,2078 And soudeinly, er sche was war, 6,2079 As he which alle guile can, 6,2080 His forme he torneth into man, 6,2081 And cam to bedde, and sche lai stille, 6,2082 Wher as sche soffreth al his wille, 6,2083 As sche which wende noght misdo. 6,2084 Bot natheles it hapneth so, 6,2085 Althogh sche were in part deceived, 6,2086 Yit for al that sche hath conceived 6,2087 The worthieste of alle kiththe, 6,2088 Which evere was tofore or siththe 6,2089 Of conqueste and chivalerie; 6,2090 So that thurgh guile and Sorcerie 6,2091 Ther was that noble knyht begunne, 6,2092 Which al the world hath after wunne. 6,2093 Thus fell the thing which falle scholde, 6,2094 Nectanabus hath that he wolde; 6,2095 With guile he hath his love sped, 6,2096 With guile he cam into the bed, 6,2097 With guile he goth him out ayein: 6,2098 He was a schrewed chamberlein, 6,2099 So to beguile a worthi queene, 6,2100 And that on him was after seene. 6,2101 Bot natheles the thing is do; 6,2102 This false god was sone go, 6,2103 With his deceipte and hield him clos, 6,2104 Til morwe cam, that he aros. 6,2105 And tho, whan time and leisir was, 6,2106 The queene tolde him al the cas, 6,2107 As sche that guile non supposeth; 6,2108 And of tuo pointz sche him opposeth. 6,2109 On was, if that this god nomore 6,2110 Wol come ayein, and overmore, 6,2111 Hou sche schal stonden in acord 6,2112 With king Philippe hire oghne lord, 6,2113 Whan he comth hom and seth hire grone. 6,2114 "Ma dame," he seith, "let me alone: 6,2115 As for the god I undertake 6,2116 That whan it liketh you to take 6,2117 His compaignie at eny throwe, 6,2118 If I a day tofore it knowe, 6,2119 He schal be with you on the nyht; 6,2120 And he is wel of such a myht 6,2121 To kepe you from alle blame. 6,2122 Forthi conforte you, ma dame, 6,2123 Ther schal non other cause be." 6,2124 Thus tok he leve and forth goth he, 6,2125 And tho began he forto muse 6,2126 Hou he the queene mihte excuse 6,2127 Toward the king of that is falle; 6,2128 And fond a craft amonges alle, 6,2129 Thurgh which he hath a See foul daunted, 6,2130 With his magique and so enchaunted, 6,2131 That he flyh forth, whan it was nyht, 6,2132 Unto the kinges tente riht, 6,2133 Wher that he lay amidde his host: 6,2134 And whanne he was aslepe most, 6,2135 With that the See foul to him broghte 6,2136 And othre charmes, whiche he wroghte 6,2137 At hom withinne his chambre stille, 6,2138 The king he torneth at his wille, 6,2139 And makth him forto dreme and se 6,2140 The dragoun and the privete 6,2141 Which was betuen him and the queene. 6,2142 And over that he made him wene 6,2143 In swevene, hou that the god Amos, 6,2144 Whan he up fro the queene aros, 6,2145 Tok forth a ring, wherinne a ston 6,2146 Was set, and grave therupon 6,2147 A Sonne, in which, whan he cam nyh, 6,2148 A leoun with a swerd he sih; 6,2149 And with that priente, as he tho mette, 6,2150 Upon the queenes wombe he sette 6,2151 A Seal, and goth him forth his weie. 6,2152 With that the swevene wente aweie, 6,2153 And tho began the king awake 6,2154 And sigheth for his wyves sake, 6,2155 Wher as he lay withinne his tente, 6,2156 And hath gret wonder what it mente. 6,2157 With that he hasteth him to ryse 6,2158 Anon, and sende after the wise, 6,2159 Among the whiche ther was on, 6,2160 A clerc, his name is Amphion: 6,2161 Whan he the kinges swevene herde, 6,2162 What it betokneth he ansuerde, 6,2163 And seith, "So siker as the lif, 6,2164 A god hath leie be thi wif, 6,2165 And gete a Sone, which schal winne 6,2166 The world and al that is withinne. 6,2167 As leon is the king of bestes, 6,2168 So schal the world obeie his hestes, 6,2169 Which with his swerd schal al be wonne, 6,2170 Als ferr as schyneth eny Sonne." 6,2171 The king was doubtif of this dom; 6,2172 Bot natheles, whan that he com 6,2173 Ayein into his oghne lond, 6,2174 His wif with childe gret he fond. 6,2175 He mihte noght himselve stiere, 6,2176 That he ne made hire hevy chiere; 6,2177 Bot he which couthe of alle sorwe, 6,2178 Nectanabus, upon the morwe 6,2179 Thurgh the deceipte and nigromance 6,2180 Tok of a dragoun the semblance, 6,2181 And wher the king sat in his halle, 6,2182 Com in rampende among hem alle 6,2183 With such a noise and such a rore, 6,2184 That thei agast were also sore 6,2185 As thogh thei scholde deie anon. 6,2186 And natheles he grieveth non, 6,2187 Bot goth toward the deyss on hih; 6,2188 And whan he cam the queene nyh, 6,2189 He stinte his noise, and in his wise 6,2190 To hire he profreth his servise, 6,2191 And leith his hed upon hire barm; 6,2192 And sche with goodly chiere hire arm 6,2193 Aboute his necke ayeinward leide, 6,2194 And thus the queene with him pleide 6,2195 In sihte of alle men aboute. 6,2196 And ate laste he gan to loute 6,2197 And obeissance unto hire make, 6,2198 As he that wolde his leve take; 6,2199 And sodeinly his lothly forme 6,2200 Into an Egle he gan transforme, 6,2201 And flyh and sette him on a raile; 6,2202 Wherof the king hath gret mervaile, 6,2203 For there he pruneth him and piketh, 6,2204 As doth an hauk whan him wel liketh, 6,2205 And after that himself he schok, 6,2206 Wherof that al the halle quok, 6,2207 As it a terremote were; 6,2208 Thei seiden alle, god was there: 6,2209 In such a res and forth he flyh. 6,2210 The king, which al this wonder syh, 6,2211 Whan he cam to his chambre alone, 6,2212 Unto the queene he made his mone 6,2213 And of foryivenesse hir preide; 6,2214 For thanne he knew wel, as he seide, 6,2215 Sche was with childe with a godd. 6,2216 Thus was the king withoute rodd 6,2217 Chastised, and the queene excused 6,2218 Of that sche hadde ben accused. 6,2219 And for the gretere evidence, 6,2220 Yit after that in the presence 6,2221 Of king Philipp and othre mo, 6,2222 Whan thei ride in the fieldes tho, 6,2223 A Phesant cam before here yhe, 6,2224 The which anon as thei hire syhe, 6,2225 Fleende let an ey doun falle, 6,2226 And it tobrak tofore hem alle: 6,2227 And as thei token therof kepe, 6,2228 Thei syhe out of the schelle crepe 6,2229 A litel Serpent on the ground, 6,2230 Which rampeth al aboute round, 6,2231 And in ayein it wolde have wonne, 6,2232 Bot for the brennynge of the Sonne 6,2233 It mihte noght, and so it deide. 6,2234 And therupon the clerkes seide, 6,2235 "As the Serpent, whan it was oute, 6,2236 Went enviroun the schelle aboute 6,2237 And mihte noght torne in ayein, 6,2238 So schal it fallen in certein: 6,2239 This child the world schal environe, 6,2240 And above alle the corone 6,2241 Him schal befalle, and in yong Age 6,2242 He schal desire in his corage, 6,2243 Whan al the world is in his hond, 6,2244 To torn ayein into the lond 6,2245 Wher he was bore, and in his weie 6,2246 Homward he schal with puison deie." 6,2247 The king, which al this sih and herde, 6,2248 Fro that dai forth, hou so it ferde, 6,2249 His jalousie hath al foryete. 6,2250 Bot he which hath the child begete, 6,2251 Nectanabus, in privete 6,2252 The time of his nativite 6,2253 Upon the constellacioun 6,2254 Awaiteth, and relacion 6,2255 Makth to the queene hou sche schal do, 6,2256 And every houre apointeth so, 6,2257 That no mynut therof was lore. 6,2258 So that in due time is bore 6,2259 This child, and forth with therupon 6,2260 Ther felle wondres many on 6,2261 Of terremote universiel: 6,2262 The Sonne tok colour of stiel 6,2263 And loste his lyht, the wyndes blewe, 6,2264 And manye strengthes overthrewe; 6,2265 The See his propre kinde changeth, 6,2266 And al the world his forme strangeth; 6,2267 The thonder with his fyri levene 6,2268 So cruel was upon the hevene, 6,2269 That every erthli creature 6,2270 Tho thoghte his lif in aventure. 6,2271 The tempeste ate laste cesseth, 6,2272 The child is kept, his age encresseth, 6,2273 And Alisandre his name is hote, 6,2274 To whom Calistre and Aristote 6,2275 To techen him Philosophie 6,2276 Entenden, and Astronomie, 6,2277 With othre thinges whiche he couthe 6,2278 Also, to teche him in his youthe 6,2279 Nectanabus tok upon honde. 6,2280 Bot every man mai understonde, 6,2281 Of Sorcerie hou that it wende, 6,2282 It wole himselve prove at ende, 6,2283 And namely forto beguile 6,2284 A lady, which withoute guile 6,2285 Supposeth trouthe al that sche hiereth: 6,2286 Bot often he that evele stiereth 6,2287 His Schip is dreynt therinne amidde; 6,2288 And in this cas riht so betidde. 6,2289 Nectanabus upon a nyht, 6,2290 Whan it was fair and sterre lyht, 6,2291 This yonge lord ladde up on hih 6,2292 Above a tour, wher as he sih 6,2293 Thee sterres such as he acompteth, 6,2294 And seith what ech of hem amonteth, 6,2295 As thogh he knewe of alle thing; 6,2296 Bot yit hath he no knowleching 6,2297 What schal unto himself befalle. 6,2298 Whan he hath told his wordes alle, 6,2299 This yonge lord thanne him opposeth, 6,2300 And axeth if that he supposeth 6,2301 What deth he schal himselve deie. 6,2302 He seith, "Or fortune is aweie 6,2303 And every sterre hath lost his wone, 6,2304 Or elles of myn oghne Sone 6,2305 I schal be slain, I mai noght fle." 6,2306 Thoghte Alisandre in privete, 6,2307 "Hierof this olde dotard lieth": 6,2308 And er that other oght aspieth, 6,2309 Al sodeinliche his olde bones 6,2310 He schof over the wal at ones, 6,2311 And seith him, "Ly doun there apart: 6,2312 Wherof nou serveth al thin art? 6,2313 Thou knewe alle othre mennes chance 6,2314 And of thiself hast ignorance: 6,2315 That thou hast seid amonges alle 6,2316 Of thi persone, is noght befalle." 6,2317 Nectanabus, which hath his deth, 6,2318 Yit while him lasteth lif and breth, 6,2319 To Alisandre he spak and seide 6,2320 That he with wrong blame on him leide 6,2321 Fro point to point and al the cas 6,2322 He tolde, hou he his Sone was. 6,2323 Tho he, which sory was ynowh, 6,2324 Out of the dich his fader drouh, 6,2325 And tolde his moder hou it ferde 6,2326 In conseil; and whan sche it herde 6,2327 And kneu the toknes whiche he tolde, 6,2328 Sche nyste what sche seie scholde, 6,2329 Bot stod abayssht as for the while 6,2330 Of his magique and al the guile. 6,2331 Sche thoghte hou that sche was deceived, 6,2332 That sche hath of a man conceived, 6,2333 And wende a god it hadde be. 6,2334 Bot natheles in such degre, 6,2335 So as sche mihte hire honour save, 6,2336 Sche schop the body was begrave. 6,2337 And thus Nectanabus aboghte 6,2338 The Sorcerie which he wroghte: 6,2339 Thogh he upon the creatures 6,2340 Thurgh his carectes and figures 6,2341 The maistrie and the pouer hadde, 6,2342 His creatour to noght him ladde, 6,2343 Ayein whos lawe his craft he useth, 6,2344 Whan he for lust his god refuseth, 6,2345 And tok him to the dieules craft. 6,2346 Lo, what profit him is belaft: 6,2347 That thing thurgh which he wende have stonde, 6,2348 Ferst him exilede out of londe 6,2349 Which was his oghne, and from a king 6,2350 Made him to ben an underling; 6,2351 And siththen to deceive a queene, 6,2352 That torneth him to mochel teene; 6,2353 Thurgh lust of love he gat him hate, 6,2354 That ende couthe he noght abate. 6,2355 His olde sleyhtes whiche he caste, 6,2356 Yonge Alisaundre hem overcaste, 6,2357 His fader, which him misbegat, 6,2358 He slouh, a gret mishap was that; 6,2359 Bot for o mis an other mys 6,2360 Was yolde, and so fulofte it is; 6,2361 Nectanabus his craft miswente, 6,2362 So it misfell him er he wente. 6,2363 I not what helpeth that clergie 6,2364 Which makth a man to do folie, 6,2365 And nameliche of nigromance, 6,2366 Which stant upon the mescreance. 6,2367 And forto se more evidence, 6,2368 Zorastes, which thexperience 6,2369 Of Art magique ferst forth drouh, 6,2370 Anon as he was bore, he louh, 6,2371 Which tokne was of wo suinge: 6,2372 For of his oghne controvinge 6,2373 He fond magique and tauhte it forth; 6,2374 Bot al that was him litel worth, 6,2375 For of Surrie a worthi king 6,2376 Him slou, and that was his endyng. 6,2377 Bot yit thurgh him this craft is used, 6,2378 And he thurgh al the world accused, 6,2379 For it schal nevere wel achieve 6,2380 That stant noght riht with the believe: 6,2381 Bot lich to wolle is evele sponne, 6,2382 Who lest himself hath litel wonne, 6,2383 An ende proveth every thing. 6,2384 Sauµl, which was of Juys king, 6,2385 Up peine of deth forbad this art, 6,2386 And yit he tok therof his part. 6,2387 The Phitonesse in Samarie 6,2388 Yaf him conseil be Sorcerie, 6,2389 Which after fell to mochel sorwe, 6,2390 For he was slain upon the morwe. 6,2391 To conne moche thing it helpeth, 6,2392 Bot of to mochel noman yelpeth: 6,2393 So forto loke on every side, 6,2394 Magique mai noght wel betyde. 6,2395 Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede 6,2396 That thou of these ensamples drede, 6,2397 That for no lust of erthli love 6,2398 Thou seche so to come above, 6,2399 Wherof as in the worldes wonder 6,2400 Thou schalt for evere be put under. 6,2401 Mi goode fader, grant mercy, 6,2402 For evere I schal be war therby: 6,2403 Of love what me so befalle, 6,2404 Such Sorcerie aboven alle 6,2405 Fro this dai forth I schal eschuie, 6,2406 That so ne wol I noght poursuie 6,2407 Mi lust of love forto seche. 6,2408 Bot this I wolde you beseche, 6,2409 Beside that me stant of love, 6,2410 As I you herde speke above 6,2411 Hou Alisandre was betawht 6,2412 To Aristotle, and so wel tawht 6,2413 Of al that to a king belongeth, 6,2414 Wherof min herte sore longeth 6,2415 To wite what it wolde mene. 6,2416 For be reson I wolde wene 6,2417 That if I herde of thinges strange, 6,2418 Yit for a time it scholde change 6,2419 Mi peine, and lisse me somdiel. 6,2420 Mi goode Sone, thou seist wel. 6,2421 For wisdom, hou that evere it stonde, 6,2422 To him that can it understonde 6,2423 Doth gret profit in sondri wise; 6,2424 Bot touchende of so hih aprise, 6,2425 Which is noght unto Venus knowe, 6,2426 I mai it noght miselve knowe, 6,2427 Which of hir court am al forthdrawe 6,2428 And can nothing bot of hir lawe. 6,2429 Bot natheles to knowe more 6,2430 Als wel as thou me longeth sore; 6,2431 And for it helpeth to comune, 6,2432 Al ben thei noght to me comune, 6,2433 The scoles of Philosophie, 6,2434 Yit thenke I forto specefie, 6,2435 In boke as it is comprehended, 6,2436 Wherof thou mihtest ben amended. 6,2437 For thogh I be noght al cunnynge 6,2438 Upon the forme of this wrytynge, 6,2439 Som part therof yit have I herd, 6,2440 In this matiere hou it hath ferd. 7, 1 I GENIUS the prest of love, 7, 2 Mi Sone, as thou hast preid above 7, 3 That I the Scole schal declare 7, 4 Of Aristotle and ek the fare 7, 5 Of Alisandre, hou he was tauht, 7, 6 I am somdel therof destrauht; 7, 7 For it is noght to the matiere 7, 8 Of love, why we sitten hiere 7, 9 To schryve, so as Venus bad. 7, 10 Bot natheles, for it is glad, 7, 11 So as thou seist, for thin aprise 7, 12 To hiere of suche thinges wise, 7, 13 Wherof thou myht the time lisse, 7, 14 So as I can, I schal the wisse: 7, 15 For wisdom is at every throwe 7, 16 Above alle other thing to knowe 7, 17 In loves cause and elleswhere. 7, 18 Forthi, my Sone, unto thin Ere, 7, 19 Though it be noght in the registre 7, 20 Of Venus, yit of that Calistre 7, 21 And Aristotle whylom write 7, 22 To Alisandre, thou schalt wite. 7, 23 Bot for the lores ben diverse, 7, 24 I thenke ferst to the reherce 7, 25 The nature of Philosophie, 7, 26 Which Aristotle of his clergie, 7, 27 Wys and expert in the sciences, 7, 28 Declareth thilke intelligences, 7, 29 As of thre pointz in principal. 7, 30 Wherof the ferste in special 7, 31 Is Theorique, which is grounded 7, 32 On him which al the world hath founded, 7, 33 Which comprehendeth al the lore. 7, 34 And forto loken overmore, 7, 35 Next of sciences the seconde 7, 36 Is Rethorique, whos faconde 7, 37 Above alle othre is eloquent: 7, 38 To telle a tale in juggement 7, 39 So wel can noman speke as he. 7, 40 The laste science of the thre 7, 41 It is Practique, whos office 7, 42 The vertu tryeth fro the vice, 7, 43 And techeth upon goode thewes 7, 44 To fle the compaignie of schrewes, 7, 45 Which stant in disposicion 7, 46 Of mannes free eleccion. 7, 47 Practique enformeth ek the reule, 7, 48 Hou that a worthi king schal reule 7, 49 His Realme bothe in werre and pes. 7, 50 Lo, thus danz Aristotiles 7, 51 These thre sciences hath divided 7, 52 And the nature also decided, 7, 53 Wherof that ech of hem schal serve. 7, 54 The ferste, which is the conserve 7, 55 And kepere of the remnant, 7, 56 As that which is most sufficant 7, 57 And chief of the Philosophie, 7, 58 If I therof schal specefie 7, 59 So as the Philosophre tolde, 7, 60 Nou herkne, and kep that thou it holde. 7, 61 Of Theorique principal 7, 62 The Philosophre in special 7, 63 The propretees hath determined, 7, 64 As thilke which is enlumined 7, 65 Of wisdom and of hih prudence 7, 66 Above alle othre in his science: 7, 67 And stant departed upon thre, 7, 68 The ferste of which in his degre 7, 69 Is cleped in Philosophie 7, 70 The science of Theologie, 7, 71 That other named is Phisique, 7, 72 The thridde is seid Mathematique. 7, 73 Theologie is that science 7, 74 Which unto man yifth evidence 7, 75 Of thing which is noght bodely, 7, 76 Wherof men knowe redely 7, 77 The hihe almyhti Trinite, 7, 78 Which is o god in unite 7, 79 Withouten ende and beginnynge 7, 80 And creatour of alle thinge, 7, 81 Of hevene, of erthe and ek of helle. 7, 82 Wherof, as olde bokes telle, 7, 83 The Philosophre in his resoun 7, 84 Wrot upon this conclusioun, 7, 85 And of his wrytinge in a clause 7, 86 He clepeth god the ferste cause, 7, 87 Which of himself is thilke good, 7, 88 Withoute whom nothing is good, 7, 89 Of which that every creature 7, 90 Hath his beinge and his nature. 7, 91 After the beinge of the thinges 7, 92 Ther ben thre formes of beinges: 7, 93 Thing which began and ende schal, 7, 94 That thing is cleped temporal; 7, 95 Ther is also be other weie 7, 96 Thing which began and schal noght deie. 7, 97 As Soules, that ben spiritiel, 7, 98 Here beinge is perpetuel: 7, 99 Bot ther is on above the Sonne, 7, 100 Whos time nevere was begonne, 7, 101 And endeles schal evere be; 7, 102 That is the god, whos mageste 7, 103 Alle othre thinges schal governe, 7, 104 And his beinge is sempiterne. 7, 105 The god, to whom that al honour 7, 106 Belongeth, he is creatour, 7, 107 And othre ben hise creatures: 7, 108 The god commandeth the natures 7, 109 That thei to him obeien alle; 7, 110 Withouten him, what so befalle, 7, 111 Her myht is non, and he mai al: 7, 112 The god was evere and evere schal, 7, 113 And thei begonne of his assent; 7, 114 The times alle be present 7, 115 To god, to hem and alle unknowe, 7, 116 Bot what him liketh that thei knowe: 7, 117 Thus bothe an angel and a man, 7, 118 The whiche of al that god began 7, 119 Be chief, obeien goddes myht, 7, 120 And he stant endeles upriht. 7, 121 To this science ben prive 7, 122 The clerkes of divinite, 7, 123 The whiche unto the poeple prechen 7, 124 The feith of holi cherche and techen, 7, 125 Which in som cas upon believe 7, 126 Stant more than thei conne prieve 7, 127 Be weie of Argument sensible: 7, 128 Bot natheles it is credible, 7, 129 And doth a man gret meede have, 7, 130 To him that thenkth himself to save. 7, 131 Theologie in such a wise 7, 132 Of hih science and hih aprise 7, 133 Above alle othre stant unlike, 7, 134 And is the ferste of Theorique. 7, 135 Phisique is after the secounde, 7, 136 Thurgh which the Philosophre hath founde 7, 137 To techen sondri knowlechinges 7, 138 Upon the bodiliche thinges. 7, 139 Of man, of beste, of herbe, of ston, 7, 140 Of fissch, of foughl, of everychon 7, 141 That ben of bodely substance, 7, 142 The nature and the circumstance 7, 143 Thurgh this science it is ful soght, 7, 144 Which vaileth and which vaileth noght. 7, 145 The thridde point of Theorique, 7, 146 Which cleped is Mathematique, 7, 147 Devided is in sondri wise 7, 148 And stant upon diverse aprise. 7, 149 The ferste of whiche is Arsmetique, 7, 150 And the secounde is seid Musique, 7, 151 The thridde is ek Geometrie, 7, 152 Also the ferthe Astronomie. 7, 153 Of Arsmetique the matiere 7, 154 Is that of which a man mai liere 7, 155 What Algorisme in nombre amonteth, 7, 156 Whan that the wise man acompteth 7, 157 After the formel proprete 7, 158 Of Algorismes Abece: 7, 159 Be which multiplicacioun 7, 160 Is mad and diminucioun 7, 161 Of sommes be thexperience 7, 162 Of this Art and of this science. 7, 163 The seconde of Mathematique, 7, 164 Which is the science of Musique, 7, 165 That techeth upon Armonie 7, 166 A man to make melodie 7, 167 Be vois and soun of instrument 7, 168 Thurgh notes of acordement, 7, 169 The whiche men pronounce alofte, 7, 170 Nou scharpe notes and nou softe, 7, 171 Nou hihe notes and nou lowe, 7, 172 As be the gamme a man mai knowe, 7, 173 Which techeth the prolacion 7, 174 Of note and the condicion. 7, 175 Mathematique of his science 7, 176 Hath yit the thridde intelligence 7, 177 Full of wisdom and of clergie 7, 178 And cleped is Geometrie, 7, 179 Thurgh which a man hath thilke sleyhte, 7, 180 Of lengthe, of brede, of depthe, of heyhte 7, 181 To knowe the proporcion 7, 182 Be verrai calculacion 7, 183 Of this science: and in this wise 7, 184 These olde Philosophres wise, 7, 185 Of al this worldes erthe round, 7, 186 Hou large, hou thikke was the ground, 7, 187 Controeveden thexperience; 7, 188 The cercle and the circumference 7, 189 Of every thing unto the hevene 7, 190 Thei setten point and mesure evene. 7, 191 Mathematique above therthe 7, 192 Of hyh science hath yit the ferthe, 7, 193 Which spekth upon Astronomie 7, 194 And techeth of the sterres hihe, 7, 195 Beginnynge upward fro the mone. 7, 196 Bot ferst, as it was forto done, 7, 197 This Aristotle in other thing 7, 198 Unto this worthi yonge king 7, 199 The kinde of every element 7, 200 Which stant under the firmament, 7, 201 Hou it is mad and in what wise, 7, 202 Fro point to point he gan devise. 7, 203 Tofore the creacion 7, 204 Of eny worldes stacion, 7, 205 Of hevene, of erthe, or eke of helle, 7, 206 So as these olde bokes telle, 7, 207 As soun tofore the song is set 7, 208 And yit thei ben togedre knet, 7, 209 Riht so the hihe pourveance 7, 210 Tho hadde under his ordinance 7, 211 A gret substance, a gret matiere, 7, 212 Of which he wolde in his manere 7, 213 These othre thinges make and forme. 7, 214 For yit withouten eny forme 7, 215 Was that matiere universal, 7, 216 Which hihte Ylem in special. 7, 217 Of Ylem, as I am enformed, 7, 218 These elementz ben mad and formed, 7, 219 Of Ylem elementz they hote 7, 220 After the Scole of Aristote, 7, 221 Of whiche if more I schal reherce, 7, 222 Foure elementz ther ben diverse. 7, 223 The ferste of hem men erthe calle, 7, 224 Which is the lowest of hem alle, 7, 225 And in his forme is schape round, 7, 226 Substancial, strong, sadd and sound, 7, 227 As that which mad is sufficant 7, 228 To bere up al the remenant. 7, 229 For as the point in a compas 7, 230 Stant evene amiddes, riht so was 7, 231 This erthe set and schal abyde, 7, 232 That it may swerve to no side, 7, 233 And hath his centre after the lawe 7, 234 Of kinde, and to that centre drawe 7, 235 Desireth every worldes thing, 7, 236 If ther ne were no lettyng. 7, 237 Above therthe kepth his bounde 7, 238 The water, which is the secounde 7, 239 Of elementz, and al withoute 7, 240 It environeth therthe aboute. 7, 241 Bot as it scheweth, noght forthi 7, 242 This soubtil water myhtely, 7, 243 Thogh it be of himselve softe, 7, 244 The strengthe of therthe perceth ofte; 7, 245 For riht as veines ben of blod 7, 246 In man, riht so the water flod 7, 247 Therthe of his cours makth ful of veines, 7, 248 Als wel the helles as the pleines. 7, 249 And that a man may sen at yµe, 7, 250 For wher the hulles ben most hyhe, 7, 251 Ther mai men welle stremes finde: 7, 252 So proveth it be weie of kinde 7, 253 The water heyher than the lond. 7, 254 And over this nou understond, 7, 255 Air is the thridde of elementz, 7, 256 Of whos kinde his aspirementz 7, 257 Takth every lifissh creature, 7, 258 The which schal upon erthe endure: 7, 259 For as the fissh, if it be dreie, 7, 260 Mot in defaute of water deie, 7, 261 Riht so withouten Air on lyve 7, 262 No man ne beste myhte thryve, 7, 263 The which is mad of fleissh and bon; 7, 264 There is outake of alle non. 7, 265 This Air in Periferies thre 7, 266 Divided is of such degre, 7, 267 Benethe is on and on amidde, 7, 268 To whiche above is set the thridde: 7, 269 And upon the divisions 7, 270 There ben diverse impressions 7, 271 Of moist and ek of drye also, 7, 272 Whiche of the Sonne bothe tuo 7, 273 Ben drawe and haled upon hy, 7, 274 And maken cloudes in the Sky, 7, 275 As schewed is at mannes sihte; 7, 276 Wherof be day and ek be nyhte 7, 277 After the times of the yer 7, 278 Among ous upon Erthe her 7, 279 In sondri wise thinges falle. 7, 280 The ferste Periferie of alle 7, 281 Engendreth Myst and overmore 7, 282 The dewes and the Frostes hore, 7, 283 After thilke intersticion 7, 284 In which thei take impression. 7, 285 Fro the seconde, as bokes sein, 7, 286 The moiste dropes of the reyn 7, 287 Descenden into Middilerthe, 7, 288 And tempreth it to sed and Erthe, 7, 289 And doth to springe grass and flour. 7, 290 And ofte also the grete schour 7, 291 Out of such place it mai be take, 7, 292 That it the forme schal forsake 7, 293 Of reyn, and into snow be torned; 7, 294 And ek it mai be so sojorned 7, 295 In sondri places up alofte, 7, 296 That into hail it torneth ofte. 7, 297 The thridde of thair after the lawe 7, 298 Thurgh such matiere as up is drawe 7, 299 Of dreie thing, as it is ofte, 7, 300 Among the cloudes upon lofte, 7, 301 And is so clos, it may noght oute,- 7, 302 Thanne is it chased sore aboute, 7, 303 Til it to fyr and leyt be falle, 7, 304 And thanne it brekth the cloudes alle, 7, 305 The whiche of so gret noyse craken, 7, 306 That thei the feerful thonder maken. 7, 307 The thonderstrok smit er it leyte, 7, 308 And yit men sen the fyr and leyte, 7, 309 The thonderstrok er that men hiere: 7, 310 So mai it wel be proeved hiere 7, 311 In thing which schewed is fro feer, 7, 312 A mannes yhe is there nerr 7, 313 Thanne is the soun to mannes Ere. 7, 314 And natheles it is gret feere 7, 315 Bothe of the strok and of the fyr, 7, 316 Of which is no recoverir 7, 317 In place wher that thei descende, 7, 318 Bot if god wolde his grace sende. 7, 319 And forto speken over this, 7, 320 In this partie of thair it is 7, 321 That men fulofte sen be nyhte 7, 322 The fyr in sondri forme alyhte. 7, 323 Somtime the fyrdrake it semeth, 7, 324 And so the lewed poeple it demeth; 7, 325 Somtime it semeth as it were 7, 326 A Sterre, which that glydeth there: 7, 327 Bot it is nouther of the tuo, 7, 328 The Philosophre telleth so, 7, 329 And seith that of impressions 7, 330 Thurgh diverse exalacions 7, 331 Upon the cause and the matiere 7, 332 Men sen diverse forme appiere 7, 333 Of fyr, the which hath sondri name. 7, 334 Assub, he seith, is thilke same, 7, 335 The which in sondry place is founde, 7, 336 Whanne it is falle doun to grounde, 7, 337 So as the fyr it hath aneled, 7, 338 Lich unto slym which is congeled. 7, 339 Of exalacion I finde 7, 340 Fyr kinled of the fame kinde, 7, 341 Bot it is of an other forme; 7, 342 Wherof, if that I schal conforme 7, 343 The figure unto that it is, 7, 344 These olde clerkes tellen this, 7, 345 That it is lik a Got skippende, 7, 346 And for that it is such semende, 7, 347 It hatte Capra saliens. 7, 348 And ek these Astronomiens 7, 349 An other fyr also, be nyhte 7, 350 Which scheweth him to mannes syhte, 7, 351 Thei clepen Eges, the which brenneth 7, 352 Lik to the corrant fyr that renneth 7, 353 Upon a corde, as thou hast sein, 7, 354 Whan it with poudre is so besein 7, 355 Of Sulphre and othre thinges mo. 7, 356 Ther is an other fyr also, 7, 357 Which semeth to a mannes yhe 7, 358 Be nyhtes time as thogh ther flyhe 7, 359 A dragon brennende in the Sky, 7, 360 And that is cleped proprely 7, 361 Daaly, wherof men sein fulofte, 7, 362 "Lo, wher the fyri drake alofte 7, 363 Fleth up in thair]" and so thei demen. 7, 364 Bot why the fyres suche semen 7, 365 Of sondri formes to beholde, 7, 366 The wise Philosophre tolde, 7, 367 So as tofore it hath ben herd. 7, 368 Lo thus, my Sone, hou it hath ferd: 7, 369 Of Air the due proprete 7, 370 In sondri wise thou myht se, 7, 371 And hou under the firmament 7, 372 It is ek the thridde element, 7, 373 Which environeth bothe tuo, 7, 374 The water and the lond also. 7, 375 And forto tellen overthis 7, 376 Of elementz which the ferthe is, 7, 377 That is the fyr in his degre, 7, 378 Which environeth thother thre 7, 379 And is withoute moist al drye. 7, 380 Bot lest nou what seith the clergie; 7, 381 For upon hem that I have seid 7, 382 The creatour hath set and leid 7, 383 The kinde and the complexion 7, 384 Of alle mennes nacion. 7, 385 Foure elementz sondri ther be, 7, 386 Lich unto whiche of that degre 7, 387 Among the men ther ben also 7, 388 Complexions foure and nomo, 7, 389 Wherof the Philosophre treteth, 7, 390 That he nothing behinde leteth, 7, 391 And seith hou that thei ben diverse, 7, 392 So as I schal to thee reherse. 7, 393 He which natureth every kinde, 7, 394 The myhti god, so as I finde, 7, 395 Of man, which is his creature, 7, 396 Hath so devided the nature, 7, 397 That non til other wel acordeth: 7, 398 And be the cause it so discordeth, 7, 399 The lif which fieleth the seknesse 7, 400 Mai stonde upon no sekernesse. 7, 401 Of therthe, which is cold and drye, 7, 402 The kinde of man Malencolie 7, 403 Is cleped, and that is the ferste, 7, 404 The most ungoodlich and the werste; 7, 405 For unto loves werk on nyht 7, 406 Him lacketh bothe will and myht: 7, 407 No wonder is, in lusty place 7, 408 Of love though he lese grace. 7, 409 What man hath that complexion, 7, 410 Full of ymaginacion 7, 411 Of dredes and of wrathful thoghtes, 7, 412 He fret himselven al to noghtes. 7, 413 The water, which is moyste and cold, 7, 414 Makth fleume, which is manyfold 7, 415 Foryetel, slou and wery sone 7, 416 Of every thing which is to done: 7, 417 He is of kinde sufficant 7, 418 To holde love his covenant, 7, 419 Bot that him lacketh appetit, 7, 420 Which longeth unto such delit. 7, 421 What man that takth his kinde of thair, 7, 422 He schal be lyht, he schal be fair, 7, 423 For his complexion is blood. 7, 424 Of alle ther is non so good, 7, 425 For he hath bothe will and myht 7, 426 To plese and paie love his riht: 7, 427 Wher as he hath love undertake, 7, 428 Wrong is if that he be forsake. 7, 429 The fyr of his condicion 7, 430 Appropreth the complexion 7, 431 Which in a man is Colre hote, 7, 432 Whos propretes ben dreie and hote: 7, 433 It makth a man ben enginous 7, 434 And swift of fote and ek irous; 7, 435 Of contek and folhastifnesse 7, 436 He hath a riht gret besinesse, 7, 437 To thenke of love and litel may: 7, 438 Though he behote wel a day, 7, 439 On nyht whan that he wole assaie, 7, 440 He may ful evele his dette paie. 7, 441 After the kinde of thelement, 7, 442 Thus stant a mannes kinde went, 7, 443 As touchende his complexion, 7, 444 Upon sondri division 7, 445 Of dreie, of moiste, of chele, of hete, 7, 446 And ech of hem his oghne sete 7, 447 Appropred hath withinne a man. 7, 448 And ferst to telle as I began, 7, 449 The Splen is to Malencolie 7, 450 Assigned for herbergerie: 7, 451 The moiste fleume with his cold 7, 452 Hath in the lunges for his hold 7, 453 Ordeined him a propre stede, 7, 454 To duelle ther as he is bede: 7, 455 To the Sanguin complexion 7, 456 Nature of hire inspeccion 7, 457 A propre hous hath in the livere 7, 458 For his duellinge mad delivere: 7, 459 The dreie Colre with his hete 7, 460 Be weie of kinde his propre sete 7, 461 Hath in the galle, wher he duelleth, 7, 462 So as the Philosophre telleth. 7, 463 Nou over this is forto wite, 7, 464 As it is in Phisique write 7, 465 Of livere, of lunge, of galle, of splen, 7, 466 Thei alle unto the herte ben 7, 467 Servantz, and ech in his office 7, 468 Entendeth to don him service, 7, 469 As he which is chief lord above. 7, 470 The livere makth him forto love, 7, 471 The lunge yifth him weie of speche, 7, 472 The galle serveth to do wreche, 7, 473 The Splen doth him to lawhe and pleie, 7, 474 Whan al unclennesse is aweie: 7, 475 Lo, thus hath ech of hem his dede. 7, 476 And to sustienen hem and fede 7, 477 In time of recreacion, 7, 478 Nature hath in creacion 7, 479 The Stomach for a comun Coc 7, 480 Ordeined, so as seith the boc. 7, 481 The Stomach coc is for the halle, 7, 482 And builleth mete for hem alle, 7, 483 To make hem myghty forto serve 7, 484 The herte, that he schal noght sterve: 7, 485 For as a king in his Empire 7, 486 Above alle othre is lord and Sire, 7, 487 So is the herte principal, 7, 488 To whom reson in special 7, 489 Is yove as for the governance. 7, 490 And thus nature his pourveance 7, 491 Hath mad for man to liven hiere; 7, 492 Bot god, which hath the Soule diere, 7, 493 Hath formed it in other wise. 7, 494 That can noman pleinli devise; 7, 495 Bot as the clerkes ous enforme, 7, 496 That lich to god it hath a forme, 7, 497 Thurgh which figure and which liknesse 7, 498 The Soule hath many an hyh noblesse 7, 499 Appropred to his oghne kinde. 7, 500 Bot ofte hir wittes be mad blinde 7, 501 Al onliche of this ilke point, 7, 502 That hir abydinge is conjoint 7, 503 Forth with the bodi forto duelle: 7, 504 That on desireth toward helle, 7, 505 That other upward to the hevene; 7, 506 So schul thei nevere stonde in evene, 7, 507 Bot if the fleissh be overcome 7, 508 And that the Soule have holi nome 7, 509 The governance, and that is selde, 7, 510 Whil that the fleissh him mai bewelde. 7, 511 Al erthli thing which god began 7, 512 Was only mad to serve man; 7, 513 Bot he the Soule al only made 7, 514 Himselven forto serve and glade. 7, 515 Alle othre bestes that men finde 7, 516 Thei serve unto here oghne kinde, 7, 517 Bot to reson the Soule serveth; 7, 518 Wherof the man his thonk deserveth 7, 519 And get him with hise werkes goode 7, 520 The perdurable lyves foode. 7, 521 Of what matiere it schal be told, 7, 522 A tale lyketh manyfold 7, 523 The betre, if it be spoke plein: 7, 524 Thus thinke I forto torne ayein 7, 525 And telle plenerly therfore 7, 526 Of therthe, wherof nou tofore 7, 527 I spak, and of the water eke, 7, 528 So as these olde clerkes spieke, 7, 529 And sette proprely the bounde 7, 530 After the forme of Mappemounde, 7, 531 Thurgh which the ground be pourparties 7, 532 Departed is in thre parties, 7, 533 That is Asie, Aufrique, Europe, 7, 534 The whiche under the hevene cope, 7, 535 Als ferr as streccheth eny ground, 7, 536 Begripeth al this Erthe round. 7, 537 Bot after that the hihe wrieche 7, 538 The water weies let out seche 7, 539 And overgo the helles hye, 7, 540 Which every kinde made dye 7, 541 That upon Middelerthe stod, 7, 542 Outake Noeµ and his blod, 7, 543 His Sones and his doughtres thre, 7, 544 Thei were sauf and so was he;- 7, 545 Here names who that rede rihte, 7, 546 Sem, Cam, Japhet the brethren hihte;- 7, 547 And whanne thilke almyhty hond 7, 548 Withdrouh the water fro the lond, 7, 549 And al the rage was aweie, 7, 550 And Erthe was the mannes weie, 7, 551 The Sones thre, of whiche I tolde, 7, 552 Riht after that hemselve wolde, 7, 553 This world departe thei begonne. 7, 554 Asie, which lay to the Sonne 7, 555 Upon the Marche of orient, 7, 556 Was graunted be comun assent 7, 557 To Sem, which was the Sone eldeste; 7, 558 For that partie was the beste 7, 559 And double as moche as othre tuo. 7, 560 And was that time bounded so; 7, 561 Wher as the flod which men Nil calleth 7, 562 Departeth fro his cours and falleth 7, 563 Into the See Alexandrine, 7, 564 Ther takth Asie ferst seisine 7, 565 Toward the West, and over this 7, 566 Of Canahim wher the flod is 7, 567 Into the grete See rennende, 7, 568 Fro that into the worldes ende 7, 569 Estward, Asie it is algates, 7, 570 Til that men come unto the gates 7, 571 Of Paradis, and there ho. 7, 572 And schortly for to speke it so, 7, 573 Of Orient in general 7, 574 Withinne his bounde Asie hath al. 7, 575 And thanne upon that other syde 7, 576 Westward, as it fell thilke tyde, 7, 577 The brother which was hote Cham 7, 578 Upon his part Aufrique nam. 7, 579 Japhet Europe tho tok he, 7, 580 Thus parten thei the world on thre. 7, 581 Bot yit ther ben of londes fele 7, 582 In occident as for the chele, 7, 583 In orient as for the hete, 7, 584 Which of the poeple be forlete 7, 585 As lond desert that is unable, 7, 586 For it mai noght ben habitable. 7, 587 The water eke hath sondri bounde, 7, 588 After the lond wher it is founde, 7, 589 And takth his name of thilke londes 7, 590 Wher that it renneth on the strondes: 7, 591 Bot thilke See which hath no wane 7, 592 Is cleped the gret Occeane, 7, 593 Out of the which arise and come 7, 594 The hyhe flodes alle and some; 7, 595 Is non so litel welle spring, 7, 596 Which ther ne takth his beginnyng, 7, 597 And lich a man that haleth breth 7, 598 Be weie of kinde, so it geth 7, 599 Out of the See and in ayein, 7, 600 The water, as the bokes sein. 7, 601 Of Elementz the propretes 7, 602 Hou that they stonden be degres, 7, 603 As I have told, nou myht thou hiere, 7, 604 Mi goode Sone, al the matiere 7, 605 Of Erthe, of water, Air and fyr. 7, 606 And for thou saist that thi desir 7, 607 Is forto witen overmore 7, 608 The forme of Aristotles lore, 7, 609 He seith in his entendement, 7, 610 That yit ther is an Element 7, 611 Above the foure, and is the fifte, 7, 612 Set of the hihe goddes yifte, 7, 613 The which that Orbis cleped is. 7, 614 And therupon he telleth this, 7, 615 That as the schelle hol and sound 7, 616 Encloseth al aboute round 7, 617 What thing withinne an Ey belongeth, 7, 618 Riht so this Orbis underfongeth 7, 619 These elementz alle everychon, 7, 620 Which I have spoke of on and on. 7, 621 Bot overthis nou tak good hiede, 7, 622 Mi Sone, for I wol procede 7, 623 To speke upon Mathematique, 7, 624 Which grounded is on Theorique. 7, 625 The science of Astronomie 7, 626 I thinke forto specefie, 7, 627 Withoute which, to telle plein, 7, 628 Alle othre science is in vein 7, 629 Toward the scole of erthli thinges: 7, 630 For as an Egle with his winges 7, 631 Fleth above alle that men finde, 7, 632 So doth this science in his kinde. 7, 633 Benethe upon this Erthe hiere 7, 634 Of alle thinges the matiere, 7, 635 As tellen ous thei that ben lerned, 7, 636 Of thing above it stant governed, 7, 637 That is to sein of the Planetes. 7, 638 The cheles bothe and ek the hetes, 7, 639 The chances of the world also, 7, 640 That we fortune clepen so, 7, 641 Among the mennes nacion 7, 642 Al is thurgh constellacion, 7, 643 Wherof that som man hath the wele, 7, 644 And som man hath deseses fele 7, 645 In love als wel as othre thinges; 7, 646 The stat of realmes and of kinges 7, 647 In time of pes, in time of werre 7, 648 It is conceived of the Sterre: 7, 649 And thus seith the naturien 7, 650 Which is an Astronomien. 7, 651 Bot the divin seith otherwise, 7, 652 That if men weren goode and wise 7, 653 And plesant unto the godhede, 7, 654 Thei scholden noght the sterres drede; 7, 655 For o man, if him wel befalle, 7, 656 Is more worth than ben thei alle 7, 657 Towardes him that weldeth al. 7, 658 Bot yit the lawe original, 7, 659 Which he hath set in the natures, 7, 660 Mot worchen in the creatures, 7, 661 That therof mai be non obstacle, 7, 662 Bot if it stonde upon miracle 7, 663 Thurgh preiere of som holy man. 7, 664 And forthi, so as I began 7, 665 To speke upon Astronomie, 7, 666 As it is write in the clergie, 7, 667 To telle hou the planetes fare, 7, 668 Som part I thenke to declare, 7, 669 Mi Sone, unto thin Audience. 7, 670 Astronomie is the science 7, 671 Of wisdom and of hih connynge, 7, 672 Which makth a man have knowlechinge 7, 673 Of Sterres in the firmament, 7, 674 Figure, cercle and moevement 7, 675 Of ech of hem in sondri place, 7, 676 And what betwen hem is of space, 7, 677 Hou so thei moeve or stonde faste, 7, 678 Al this it telleth to the laste. 7, 679 Assembled with Astronomie 7, 680 Is ek that ilke Astrologie 7, 681 The which in juggementz acompteth 7, 682 Theffect, what every sterre amonteth, 7, 683 And hou thei causen many a wonder 7, 684 To tho climatz that stonde hem under. 7, 685 And forto telle it more plein, 7, 686 These olde philosphres sein 7, 687 That Orbis, which I spak of err, 7, 688 Is that which we fro therthe a ferr 7, 689 Beholde, and firmament it calle, 7, 690 In which the sterres stonden alle, 7, 691 Among the whiche in special 7, 692 Planetes sefne principal 7, 693 Ther ben, that mannes sihte demeth, 7, 694 Bot thorizonte, as to ous semeth. 7, 695 And also ther ben signes tuelve, 7, 696 Whiche have her cercles be hemselve 7, 697 Compassed in the zodiaque, 7, 698 In which thei have here places take. 7, 699 And as thei stonden in degre, 7, 700 Here cercles more or lasse be, 7, 701 Mad after the proporcion 7, 702 Of therthe, whos condicion 7, 703 Is set to be the foundement 7, 704 To sustiene up the firmament. 7, 705 And be this skile a man mai knowe, 7, 706 The more that thei stonden lowe, 7, 707 The more ben the cercles lasse; 7, 708 That causeth why that some passe 7, 709 Here due cours tofore an other. 7, 710 Bot nou, mi lieve dere brother, 7, 711 As thou desirest forto wite 7, 712 What I finde in the bokes write, 7, 713 To telle of the planetes sevene, 7, 714 Hou that thei stonde upon the hevene 7, 715 And in what point that thei ben inne, 7, 716 Tak hiede, for I wol beginne, 7, 717 So as the Philosophre tauhte 7, 718 To Alisandre and it betauhte, 7, 719 Wherof that he was fulli tawht 7, 720 Of wisdom, which was him betawht. 7, 721 Benethe alle othre stant the Mone, 7, 722 The which hath with the See to done: 7, 723 Of flodes hihe and ebbes lowe 7, 724 Upon his change it schal be knowe; 7, 725 And every fissh which hath a schelle 7, 726 Mot in his governance duelle, 7, 727 To wexe and wane in his degre, 7, 728 As be the Mone a man mai se; 7, 729 And al that stant upon the grounde 7, 730 Of his moisture it mot be founde. 7, 731 Alle othre sterres, as men finde, 7, 732 Be schynende of here oghne kinde 7, 733 Outake only the monelyht, 7, 734 Which is noght of himselve bright, 7, 735 Bot as he takth it of the Sonne. 7, 736 And yit he hath noght al fulwonne 7, 737 His lyht, that he nys somdiel derk; 7, 738 Bot what the lette is of that werk 7, 739 In Almageste it telleth this: 7, 740 The Mones cercle so lowe is, 7, 741 Wherof the Sonne out of his stage 7, 742 Ne seth him noght with full visage, 7, 743 For he is with the ground beschaded, 7, 744 So that the Mone is somdiel faded 7, 745 And may noght fully schyne cler. 7, 746 Bot what man under his pouer 7, 747 Is bore, he schal his places change 7, 748 And seche manye londes strange: 7, 749 And as of this condicion 7, 750 The Mones disposicion 7, 751 Upon the lond of Alemaigne 7, 752 Is set, and ek upon Bretaigne, 7, 753 Which nou is cleped Engelond; 7, 754 For thei travaile in every lond. 7, 755 Of the Planetes the secounde 7, 756 Above the Mone hath take his bounde, 7, 757 Mercurie, and his nature is this, 7, 758 That under him who that bore is, 7, 759 In boke he schal be studious 7, 760 And in wrytinge curious, 7, 761 And slouh and lustles to travaile 7, 762 In thing which elles myhte availe: 7, 763 He loveth ese, he loveth reste, 7, 764 So is he noght the worthieste; 7, 765 Bot yit with somdiel besinesse 7, 766 His herte is set upon richesse. 7, 767 And as in this condicion, 7, 768 Theffect and disposicion 7, 769 Of this Planete and of his chance 7, 770 Is most in Burgoigne and in France. 7, 771 Next to Mercurie, as wol befalle, 7, 772 Stant that Planete which men calle 7, 773 Venus, whos constellacion 7, 774 Governeth al the nacion 7, 775 Of lovers, wher thei spiede or non, 7, 776 Of whiche I trowe thou be on: 7, 777 Bot whiderward thin happes wende, 7, 778 Schal this planete schewe at ende, 7, 779 As it hath do to many mo, 7, 780 To some wel, to some wo. 7, 781 And natheles of this Planete 7, 782 The moste part is softe and swete; 7, 783 For who that therof takth his berthe, 7, 784 He schal desire joie and merthe, 7, 785 Gentil, courteis and debonaire, 7, 786 To speke his wordes softe and faire, 7, 787 Such schal he be be weie of kinde, 7, 788 And overal wher he may finde 7, 789 Plesance of love, his herte boweth 7, 790 With al his myht and there he woweth. 7, 791 He is so ferforth Amourous, 7, 792 He not what thing is vicious 7, 793 Touchende love, for that lawe 7, 794 Ther mai no maner man withdrawe, 7, 795 The which venerien is bore 7, 796 Be weie of kinde, and therefore 7, 797 Venus of love the goddesse 7, 798 Is cleped: bot of wantounesse 7, 799 The climat of hir lecherie 7, 800 Is most commun in Lombardie. 7, 801 Next unto this Planete of love 7, 802 The brighte Sonne stant above, 7, 803 Which is the hindrere of the nyht 7, 804 And forthrere of the daies lyht, 7, 805 As he which is the worldes yµe, 7, 806 Thurgh whom the lusti compaignie 7, 807 Of foules be the morwe singe, 7, 808 The freisshe floures sprede and springe, 7, 809 The hihe tre the ground beschadeth, 7, 810 And every mannes herte gladeth. 7, 811 And for it is the hed Planete, 7, 812 Hou that he sitteth in his sete, 7, 813 Of what richesse, of what nobleie, 7, 814 These bokes telle, and thus thei seie. 7, 815 Of gold glistrende Spoke and whiel 7, 816 The Sonne his carte hath faire and wiel, 7, 817 In which he sitt, and is coroned 7, 818 With brighte stones environed; 7, 819 Of whiche if that I speke schal, 7, 820 Ther be tofore in special 7, 821 Set in the front of his corone 7, 822 Thre Stones, whiche no persone 7, 823 Hath upon Erthe, and the ferste is 7, 824 Be name cleped Licuchis; 7, 825 That othre tuo be cleped thus, 7, 826 Astrices and Ceramius. 7, 827 In his corone also behinde, 7, 828 Be olde bokes as I finde, 7, 829 Ther ben of worthi Stones thre 7, 830 Set ech of hem in his degre: 7, 831 Wherof a Cristall is that on, 7, 832 Which that corone is set upon; 7, 833 The seconde is an Adamant; 7, 834 The thridde is noble and avenant, 7, 835 Which cleped is Ydriades. 7, 836 And over this yit natheles 7, 837 Upon the sydes of the werk, 7, 838 After the wrytinge of the clerk, 7, 839 Ther sitten fyve Stones mo: 7, 840 The smaragdine is on of tho, 7, 841 Jaspis and Elitropius 7, 842 And Dendides and Jacinctus. 7, 843 Lo, thus the corone is beset, 7, 844 Wherof it schyneth wel the bet; 7, 845 And in such wise his liht to sprede 7, 846 Sit with his Diademe on hede 7, 847 The Sonne schynende in his carte. 7, 848 And forto lede him swithe and smarte 7, 849 After the bryhte daies lawe, 7, 850 Ther ben ordeined forto drawe 7, 851 Foure hors his Char and him withal, 7, 852 Wherof the names telle I schal: 7, 853 Eritheuµs the ferste is hote, 7, 854 The which is red and schyneth hote, 7, 855 The seconde Acteos the bryhte, 7, 856 Lampes the thridde coursier hihte, 7, 857 And Philogeuµs is the ferthe, 7, 858 That bringen lyht unto this erthe, 7, 859 And gon so swift upon the hevene, 7, 860 In foure and twenty houres evene 7, 861 The carte with the bryhte Sonne 7, 862 Thei drawe, so that overronne 7, 863 Thei have under the cercles hihe 7, 864 Al Middelerthe in such an hye. 7, 865 And thus the Sonne is overal 7, 866 The chief Planete imperial, 7, 867 Above him and benethe him thre: 7, 868 And thus betwen hem regneth he, 7, 869 As he that hath the middel place 7, 870 Among the Sevene, and of his face 7, 871 Be glade alle erthly creatures, 7, 872 And taken after the natures 7, 873 Here ese and recreacion. 7, 874 And in his constellacion 7, 875 Who that is bore in special, 7, 876 Of good will and of liberal 7, 877 He schal be founde in alle place, 7, 878 And also stonde in mochel grace 7, 879 Toward the lordes forto serve 7, 880 And gret profit and thonk deserve. 7, 881 And over that it causeth yit 7, 882 A man to be soubtil of wit 7, 883 To worche in gold, and to be wys 7, 884 In every thing which is of pris. 7, 885 Bot forto speken in what cost 7, 886 Of al this erthe he regneth most 7, 887 As for wisdom, it is in Grece, 7, 888 Wher is apropred thilke spiece. 7, 889 Mars the Planete bataillous 7, 890 Next to the Sonne glorious 7, 891 Above stant, and doth mervailes 7, 892 Upon the fortune of batailes. 7, 893 The conquerours be daies olde 7, 894 Were unto this planete holde: 7, 895 Bot who that his nativite 7, 896 Hath take upon the proprete 7, 897 Of Martes disposicioun 7, 898 Be weie of constellacioun, 7, 899 He schal be fiers and folhastif 7, 900 And desirous of werre and strif. 7, 901 Bot forto telle redely 7, 902 In what climat most comunly 7, 903 That this planete hath his effect, 7, 904 Seid is that he hath his aspect 7, 905 Upon the holi lond so cast, 7, 906 That there is no pes stedefast. 7, 907 Above Mars upon the hevene, 7, 908 The sexte Planete of the sevene, 7, 909 Stant Jupiter the delicat, 7, 910 Which causeth pes and no debat. 7, 911 For he is cleped that Planete 7, 912 Which of his kinde softe and swete 7, 913 Attempreth al that to him longeth; 7, 914 And whom this planete underfongeth 7, 915 To stonde upon his regiment, 7, 916 He schal be meke and pacient 7, 917 And fortunat to Marchandie 7, 918 And lusti to delicacie 7, 919 In every thing which he schal do. 7, 920 This Jupiter is cause also 7, 921 Of the science of lyhte werkes, 7, 922 And in this wise tellen clerkes 7, 923 He is the Planete of delices. 7, 924 Bot in Egipte of his offices 7, 925 He regneth most in special: 7, 926 For ther be lustes overal 7, 927 Of al that to this lif befalleth; 7, 928 For ther no stormy weder falleth, 7, 929 Which myhte grieve man or beste, 7, 930 And ek the lond is so honeste 7, 931 That it is plentevous and plein, 7, 932 Ther is non ydel ground in vein; 7, 933 And upon such felicite 7, 934 Stant Jupiter in his degre. 7, 935 The heyeste and aboven alle 7, 936 Stant that planete which men calle 7, 937 Saturnus, whos complexion 7, 938 Is cold, and his condicion 7, 939 Causeth malice and crualte 7, 940 To him the whos nativite 7, 941 Is set under his governance. 7, 942 For alle hise werkes ben grevance 7, 943 And enemy to mannes hele, 7, 944 In what degre that he schal dele. 7, 945 His climat is in Orient, 7, 946 Wher that he is most violent. 7, 947 Of the Planetes by and by, 7, 948 Hou that thei stonde upon the Sky, 7, 949 Fro point to point as thou myht hiere, 7, 950 Was Alisandre mad to liere. 7, 951 Bot overthis touchende his lore, 7, 952 Of thing that thei him tawhte more 7, 953 Upon the scoles of clergie 7, 954 Now herkne the Philosophie. 7, 955 He which departeth dai fro nyht, 7, 956 That on derk and that other lyht, 7, 957 Of sevene daies made a weke, 7, 958 A Monthe of foure wekes eke 7, 959 He hath ordeigned in his lawe, 7, 960 Of Monthes tuelve and ek forthdrawe 7, 961 He hath also the longe yeer. 7, 962 And as he sette of his pouer 7, 963 Acordant to the daies sevene 7, 964 Planetes Sevene upon the hevene, 7, 965 As thou tofore hast herd devise, 7, 966 To speke riht in such a wise, 7, 967 To every Monthe be himselve 7, 968 Upon the hevene of Signes tuelve 7, 969 He hath after his Ordinal 7, 970 Assigned on in special, 7, 971 Wherof, so as I schal rehersen, 7, 972 The tydes of the yer diversen. 7, 973 Bot pleinly forto make it knowe 7, 974 Hou that the Signes sitte arowe, 7, 975 Ech after other be degre 7, 976 In substance and in proprete 7, 977 The zodiaque comprehendeth 7, 978 Withinne his cercle, as it appendeth. 7, 979 The ferste of whiche natheles 7, 980 Be name is cleped Aries, 7, 981 Which lich a wether of stature 7, 982 Resembled is in his figure. 7, 983 And as it seith in Almageste, 7, 984 Of Sterres tuelve upon this beste 7, 985 Ben set, wherof in his degre 7, 986 The wombe hath tuo, the heved hath thre, 7, 987 The Tail hath sevene, and in this wise, 7, 988 As thou myht hiere me divise, 7, 989 Stant Aries, which hot and drye 7, 990 Is of himself, and in partie 7, 991 He is the receipte and the hous 7, 992 Of myhty Mars the bataillous. 7, 993 And overmore ek, as I finde, 7, 994 The creatour of alle kinde 7, 995 Upon this Signe ferst began 7, 996 The world, whan that he made man. 7, 997 And of this constellacioun 7, 998 The verray operacioun 7, 999 Availeth, if a man therinne 7,1000 The pourpos of his werk beginne; 7,1001 For thanne he hath of proprete 7,1002 Good sped and gret felicite. 7,1003 The tuelve Monthes of the yeer 7,1004 Attitled under the pouer 7,1005 Of these tuelve Signes stonde; 7,1006 Wherof that thou schalt understonde 7,1007 This Aries on of the tuelve 7,1008 Hath March attitled for himselve, 7,1009 Whan every bridd schal chese his make, 7,1010 And every neddre and every Snake 7,1011 And every Reptil which mai moeve, 7,1012 His myht assaieth forto proeve, 7,1013 To crepen out ayein the Sonne, 7,1014 Whan Ver his Seson hath begonne. 7,1015 Taurus the seconde after this 7,1016 Of Signes, which figured is 7,1017 Unto a Bole, is dreie and cold; 7,1018 And as it is in bokes told, 7,1019 He is the hous appourtienant 7,1020 To Venus, somdiel descordant. 7,1021 This Bole is ek with sterres set, 7,1022 Thurgh whiche he hath hise hornes knet 7,1023 Unto the tail of Aries, 7,1024 So is he noght ther sterreles. 7,1025 Upon his brest ek eyhtetiene 7,1026 He hath, and ek, as it is sene, 7,1027 Upon his tail stonde othre tuo. 7,1028 His Monthe assigned ek also 7,1029 Is Averil, which of his schoures 7,1030 Ministreth weie unto the floures. 7,1031 The thridde signe is Gemini, 7,1032 Which is figured redely 7,1033 Lich to tuo twinnes of mankinde, 7,1034 That naked stonde; and as I finde, 7,1035 Thei be with Sterres wel bego: 7,1036 The heved hath part of thilke tuo 7,1037 That schyne upon the boles tail, 7,1038 So be thei bothe of o parail; 7,1039 But on the wombe of Gemini 7,1040 Ben fyve sterres noght forthi, 7,1041 And ek upon the feet be tweie, 7,1042 So as these olde bokes seie, 7,1043 That wise Tholomeuµs wrot. 7,1044 His propre Monthe wel I wot 7,1045 Assigned is the lusti Maii, 7,1046 Whanne every brid upon his lay 7,1047 Among the griene leves singeth, 7,1048 And love of his pointure stingeth 7,1049 After the lawes of nature 7,1050 The youthe of every creature. 7,1051 Cancer after the reule and space 7,1052 Of Signes halt the ferthe place. 7,1053 Like to the crabbe he hath semblance, 7,1054 And hath unto his retienance 7,1055 Sextiene sterres, wherof ten, 7,1056 So as these olde wise men 7,1057 Descrive, he berth on him tofore, 7,1058 And in the middel tuo be bore, 7,1059 And foure he hath upon his ende. 7,1060 Thus goth he sterred in his kende, 7,1061 And of himself is moiste and cold, 7,1062 And is the propre hous and hold 7,1063 Which appartieneth to the Mone, 7,1064 And doth what longeth him to done. 7,1065 The Monthe of Juin unto this Signe 7,1066 Thou schalt after the reule assigne. 7,1067 The fifte Signe is Leo hote, 7,1068 Whos kinde is schape dreie and hote, 7,1069 In whom the Sonne hath herbergage. 7,1070 And the semblance of his ymage 7,1071 Is a leoun, which in baillie 7,1072 Of sterres hath his pourpartie: 7,1073 The foure, which as Cancer hath 7,1074 Upon his ende, Leo tath 7,1075 Upon his heved, and thanne nest 7,1076 He hath ek foure upon his brest, 7,1077 And on upon his tail behinde, 7,1078 In olde bokes as we finde. 7,1079 His propre Monthe is Juyl be name, 7,1080 In which men pleien many a game. 7,1081 After Leo Virgo the nexte 7,1082 Of Signes cleped is the sexte, 7,1083 Wherof the figure is a Maide; 7,1084 And as the Philosophre saide, 7,1085 Sche is the welthe and the risinge, 7,1086 The lust, the joie and the likinge 7,1087 Unto Mercurie: and soth to seie 7,1088 Sche is with sterres wel beseie, 7,1089 Wherof Leo hath lent hire on, 7,1090 Which sit on hih hir heved upon, 7,1091 Hire wombe hath fyve, hir feet also 7,1092 Have other fyve: and overmo 7,1093 Touchende as of complexion, 7,1094 Be kindly disposicion 7,1095 Of dreie and cold this Maiden is. 7,1096 And forto tellen over this 7,1097 Hir Monthe, thou schalt understonde, 7,1098 Whan every feld hath corn in honde 7,1099 And many a man his bak hath plied, 7,1100 Unto this Signe is Augst applied. 7,1101 After Virgo to reknen evene 7,1102 Libra sit in the nombre of sevene, 7,1103 Which hath figure and resemblance 7,1104 Unto a man which a balance 7,1105 Berth in his hond as forto weie: 7,1106 In boke and as it mai be seie, 7,1107 Diverse sterres to him longeth, 7,1108 Wherof on hevede he underfongeth 7,1109 Ferst thre, and ek his wombe hath tuo, 7,1110 And doun benethe eighte othre mo. 7,1111 This Signe is hot and moiste bothe, 7,1112 The whiche thinges be noght lothe 7,1113 Unto Venus, so that alofte 7,1114 Sche resteth in his hous fulofte, 7,1115 And ek Saturnus often hyed 7,1116 Is in this Signe and magnefied. 7,1117 His propre Monthe is seid Septembre, 7,1118 Which yifth men cause to remembre, 7,1119 If eny Sor be left behinde 7,1120 Of thing which grieve mai to kinde. 7,1121 Among the Signes upon heighte 7,1122 The Signe which is nombred eighte 7,1123 Is Scorpio, which as feloun 7,1124 Figured is a Scorpioun. 7,1125 Bot for al that yit natheles 7,1126 Is Scorpio noght sterreles; 7,1127 For Libra granteth him his ende 7,1128 Of eighte sterres, wher he wende, 7,1129 The whiche upon his heved assised 7,1130 He berth, and ek ther ben divised 7,1131 Upon his wombe sterres thre, 7,1132 And eighte upon his tail hath he. 7,1133 Which of his kinde is moiste and cold 7,1134 And unbehovely manyfold; 7,1135 He harmeth Venus and empeireth, 7,1136 Bot Mars unto his hous repeireth, 7,1137 Bot war whan thei togedre duellen. 7,1138 His propre Monthe is, as men tellen, 7,1139 Octobre, which bringth the kalende 7,1140 Of wynter, that comth next suiende. 7,1141 The nynthe Signe in nombre also, 7,1142 Which folweth after Scorpio, 7,1143 Is cleped Sagittarius, 7,1144 The whos figure is marked thus, 7,1145 A Monstre with a bowe on honde: 7,1146 On whom that sondri sterres stonde, 7,1147 Thilke eighte of whiche I spak tofore, 7,1148 The whiche upon the tail ben bore 7,1149 Of Scorpio, the heved al faire 7,1150 Bespreden of the Sagittaire; 7,1151 And eighte of othre stonden evene 7,1152 Upon his wombe, and othre sevene 7,1153 Ther stonde upon his tail behinde. 7,1154 And he is hot and dreie of kinde: 7,1155 To Jupiter his hous is fre, 7,1156 Bot to Mercurie in his degre, 7,1157 For thei ben noght of on assent, 7,1158 He worcheth gret empeirement. 7,1159 This Signe hath of his proprete 7,1160 A Monthe, which of duete 7,1161 After the sesoun that befalleth 7,1162 The Plowed Oxe in wynter stalleth; 7,1163 And fyr into the halle he bringeth, 7,1164 And thilke drinke of which men singeth, 7,1165 He torneth must into the wyn; 7,1166 Thanne is the larder of the swyn; 7,1167 That is Novembre which I meene, 7,1168 Whan that the lef hath lost his greene. 7,1169 The tenthe Signe dreie and cold, 7,1170 The which is Capricornus told, 7,1171 Unto a Got hath resemblance: 7,1172 For whos love and whos aqueintance 7,1173 Withinne hise houses to sojorne 7,1174 It liketh wel unto Satorne, 7,1175 Bot to the Mone it liketh noght, 7,1176 For no profit is there wroght. 7,1177 This Signe as of his proprete 7,1178 Upon his heved hath sterres thre, 7,1179 And ek upon his wombe tuo, 7,1180 And tweie upon his tail also. 7,1181 Decembre after the yeeres forme, 7,1182 So as the bokes ous enforme, 7,1183 With daies schorte and nyhtes longe 7,1184 This ilke Signe hath underfonge. 7,1185 Of tho that sitte upon the hevene 7,1186 Of Signes in the nombre ellevene 7,1187 Aquarius hath take his place, 7,1188 And stant wel in Satornes grace, 7,1189 Which duelleth in his herbergage, 7,1190 Bot to the Sonne he doth oultrage. 7,1191 This Signe is verraily resembled 7,1192 Lich to a man which halt assembled 7,1193 In eyther hand a water spoute, 7,1194 Wherof the stremes rennen oute. 7,1195 He is of kinde moiste and hot, 7,1196 And he that of the sterres wot 7,1197 Seith that he hath of sterres tuo 7,1198 Upon his heved, and ben of tho 7,1199 That Capricorn hath on his ende; 7,1200 And as the bokes maken mende, 7,1201 That Tholomeuµs made himselve, 7,1202 He hath ek on his wombe tuelve, 7,1203 And tweie upon his ende stonde. 7,1204 Thou schalt also this understonde, 7,1205 The frosti colde Janever, 7,1206 Whan comen is the newe yeer, 7,1207 That Janus with his double face 7,1208 In his chaiere hath take his place 7,1209 And loketh upon bothe sides, 7,1210 Somdiel toward the wynter tydes, 7,1211 Somdiel toward the yeer suiende, 7,1212 That is the Monthe belongende 7,1213 Unto this Signe, and of his dole 7,1214 He yifth the ferste Primerole. 7,1215 The tuelfthe, which is last of alle 7,1216 Of Signes, Piscis men it calle, 7,1217 The which, as telleth the scripture, 7,1218 Berth of tuo fisshes the figure. 7,1219 So is he cold and moiste of kinde, 7,1220 And ek with sterres, as I finde, 7,1221 Beset in sondri wise, as thus: 7,1222 Tuo of his ende Aquarius 7,1223 Hath lent unto his heved, and tuo 7,1224 This Signe hath of his oghne also 7,1225 Upon his wombe, and over this 7,1226 Upon his ende also ther is 7,1227 A nombre of twenty sterres bryghte, 7,1228 Which is to sen a wonder sighte. 7,1229 Toward this Signe into his hous 7,1230 Comth Jupiter the glorious, 7,1231 And Venus ek with him acordeth 7,1232 To duellen, as the bok recordeth. 7,1233 The Monthe unto this Signe ordeined 7,1234 Is Februer, which is bereined, 7,1235 And with londflodes in his rage 7,1236 At Fordes letteth the passage. 7,1237 Nou hast thou herd the proprete 7,1238 Of Signes, bot in his degre 7,1239 Albumazar yit over this 7,1240 Seith, so as therthe parted is 7,1241 In foure, riht so ben divised 7,1242 The Signes tuelve and stonde assised, 7,1243 That ech of hem for his partie 7,1244 Hath his climat to justefie. 7,1245 Wherof the ferste regiment 7,1246 Toward the part of Orient 7,1247 From Antioche and that contre 7,1248 Governed is of Signes thre, 7,1249 That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo: 7,1250 And toward Occident also 7,1251 From Armenie, as I am lerned, 7,1252 Of Capricorn it stant governed, 7,1253 Of Pisces and Aquarius: 7,1254 And after hem I finde thus, 7,1255 Southward from Alisandre forth 7,1256 Tho Signes whiche most ben worth 7,1257 In governance of that doaire, 7,1258 Libra thei ben and Sagittaire 7,1259 With Scorpio, which is conjoint 7,1260 With hem to stonde upon that point: 7,1261 Constantinople the Cite, 7,1262 So as the bokes tellen me, 7,1263 The laste of this division 7,1264 Stant untoward Septemtrion, 7,1265 Wher as be weie of pourveance 7,1266 Hath Aries the governance 7,1267 Forth with Taurus and Gemini. 7,1268 Thus ben the Signes propreli 7,1269 Divided, as it is reherced, 7,1270 Wherof the londes ben diversed. 7,1271 Lo thus, mi Sone, as thou myht hiere, 7,1272 Was Alisandre mad to liere 7,1273 Of hem that weren for his lore. 7,1274 But nou to loken overmore, 7,1275 Of othre sterres hou thei fare 7,1276 I thenke hierafter to declare, 7,1277 So as king Alisandre in youthe 7,1278 Of him that suche thinges couthe 7,1279 Enformed was tofore his yhe 7,1280 Be nyhte upon the sterres hihe. 7,1281 Upon sondri creacion 7,1282 Stant sondri operacion, 7,1283 Som worcheth this, som worcheth that; 7,1284 The fyr is hot in his astat 7,1285 And brenneth what he mai atteigne, 7,1286 The water mai the fyr restreigne, 7,1287 The which is cold and moist also. 7,1288 Of other thing it farth riht so 7,1289 Upon this erthe among ous here; 7,1290 And forto speke in this manere, 7,1291 Upon the hevene, as men mai finde, 7,1292 The sterres ben of sondri kinde 7,1293 And worchen manye sondri thinges 7,1294 To ous, that ben here underlinges. 7,1295 Among the whiche forth withal 7,1296 Nectanabus in special, 7,1297 Which was an Astronomien 7,1298 And ek a gret Magicien, 7,1299 And undertake hath thilke emprise 7,1300 To Alisandre in his aprise 7,1301 As of Magique naturel 7,1302 To knowe, enformeth him somdel 7,1303 Of certein sterres what thei mene; 7,1304 Of whiche, he seith, ther ben fiftene, 7,1305 And sondrily to everich on 7,1306 A gras belongeth and a Ston, 7,1307 Wherof men worchen many a wonder 7,1308 To sette thing bothe up and under. 7,1309 To telle riht as he began, 7,1310 The ferste sterre Aldeboran, 7,1311 The cliereste and the moste of alle, 7,1312 Be rihte name men it calle; 7,1313 Which lich is of condicion 7,1314 To Mars, and of complexion 7,1315 To Venus, and hath therupon 7,1316 Carbunculum his propre Ston: 7,1317 His herbe is Anabulla named, 7,1318 Which is of gret vertu proclamed. 7,1319 The seconde is noght vertules; 7,1320 Clota or elles Pliades 7,1321 It hatte, and of the mones kinde 7,1322 He is, and also this I finde, 7,1323 He takth of Mars complexion: 7,1324 And lich to such condicion 7,1325 His Ston appropred is Cristall, 7,1326 And ek his herbe in special 7,1327 The vertuous Fenele it is. 7,1328 The thridde, which comth after this, 7,1329 Is hote Algol the clere rede, 7,1330 Which of Satorne, as I may rede, 7,1331 His kinde takth, and ek of Jove 7,1332 Complexion to his behove. 7,1333 His propre Ston is Dyamant, 7,1334 Which is to him most acordant; 7,1335 His herbe, which is him betake, 7,1336 Is hote Eleborum the blake. 7,1337 So as it falleth upon lot, 7,1338 The ferthe sterre is Alhaiot, 7,1339 Which in the wise as I seide er 7,1340 Of Satorne and of Jupiter 7,1341 Hath take his kinde; and therupon 7,1342 The Saphir is his propre Ston, 7,1343 Marrubium his herbe also, 7,1344 The whiche acorden bothe tuo. 7,1345 And Canis maior in his like 7,1346 The fifte sterre is of Magique, 7,1347 The whos kinde is venerien, 7,1348 As seith this Astronomien. 7,1349 His propre Ston is seid Berille, 7,1350 Bot forto worche and to fulfille 7,1351 Thing which to this science falleth, 7,1352 Ther is an herbe which men calleth 7,1353 Saveine, and that behoveth nede 7,1354 To him that wole his pourpos spede. 7,1355 The sexte suiende after this 7,1356 Be name Canis minor is; 7,1357 The which sterre is Mercurial 7,1358 Be weie of kinde, and forth withal, 7,1359 As it is writen in the carte, 7,1360 Complexion he takth of Marte. 7,1361 His Ston and herbe, as seith the Scole, 7,1362 Ben Achates and Primerole. 7,1363 The sefnthe sterre in special 7,1364 Of this science is Arial, 7,1365 Which sondri nature underfongeth. 7,1366 The Ston which propre unto him longeth, 7,1367 Gorgonza proprely it hihte: 7,1368 His herbe also, which he schal rihte 7,1369 Upon the worchinge as I mene, 7,1370 Is Celidoine freissh and grene. 7,1371 Sterre Ala Corvi upon heihte 7,1372 Hath take his place in nombre of eighte, 7,1373 Which of his kinde mot parforne 7,1374 The will of Marte and of Satorne: 7,1375 To whom Lapacia the grete 7,1376 Is herbe, bot of no beyete; 7,1377 His Ston is Honochinus hote, 7,1378 Thurgh which men worchen gret riote. 7,1379 The nynthe sterre faire and wel 7,1380 Be name is hote Alaezel, 7,1381 Which takth his propre kinde thus 7,1382 Bothe of Mercurie and of Venus. 7,1383 His Ston is the grene Amyraude, 7,1384 To whom is yoven many a laude: 7,1385 Salge is his herbe appourtenant 7,1386 Aboven al the rememant. 7,1387 The tenthe sterre is Almareth, 7,1388 Which upon lif and upon deth 7,1389 Thurgh kinde of Jupiter and Mart 7,1390 He doth what longeth to his part. 7,1391 His Ston is Jaspe, and of Planteine 7,1392 He hath his herbe sovereine. 7,1393 The sterre ellefthe is Venenas, 7,1394 The whos nature is as it was 7,1395 Take of Venus and of the Mone, 7,1396 In thing which he hath forto done. 7,1397 Of Adamant is that perrie 7,1398 In which he worcheth his maistrie; 7,1399 Thilke herbe also which him befalleth, 7,1400 Cicorea the bok it calleth. 7,1401 Alpheta in the nombre sit, 7,1402 And is the twelfthe sterre yit; 7,1403 Of Scorpio which is governed, 7,1404 And takth his kinde, as I am lerned; 7,1405 And hath his vertu in the Ston 7,1406 Which cleped is Topazion: 7,1407 His herbe propre is Rosmarine, 7,1408 Which schapen is for his covine. 7,1409 Of these sterres, whiche I mene, 7,1410 Cor Scorpionis is thritiene; 7,1411 The whos nature Mart and Jove 7,1412 Have yoven unto his behove. 7,1413 His herbe is Aristologie, 7,1414 Which folweth his Astronomie: 7,1415 The Ston which that this sterre alloweth, 7,1416 Is Sardis, which unto him boweth. 7,1417 The sterre which stant next the laste, 7,1418 Nature on him this name caste 7,1419 And clepeth him Botercadent; 7,1420 Which of his kinde obedient 7,1421 Is to Mercurie and to Venus. 7,1422 His Ston is seid Crisolitus, 7,1423 His herbe is cleped Satureie, 7,1424 So as these olde bokes seie. 7,1425 Bot nou the laste sterre of alle 7,1426 The tail of Scorpio men calle, 7,1427 Which to Mercurie and to Satorne 7,1428 Be weie of kinde mot retorne 7,1429 After the preparacion 7,1430 Of due constellacion. 7,1431 The Calcedoine unto him longeth, 7,1432 Which for his Ston he underfongeth; 7,1433 Of Majorane his herbe is grounded. 7,1434 Thus have I seid hou thei be founded, 7,1435 Of every sterre in special, 7,1436 Which hath his herbe and Ston withal, 7,1437 As Hermes in his bokes olde 7,1438 Witnesse berth of that I tolde. 7,1439 The science of Astronomie, 7,1440 Which principal is of clergie 7,1441 To dieme betwen wo and wel 7,1442 In thinges that be naturel, 7,1443 Thei hadde a gret travail on honde 7,1444 That made it ferst ben understonde; 7,1445 And thei also which overmore 7,1446 Here studie sette upon this lore, 7,1447 Thei weren gracious and wys 7,1448 And worthi forto bere a pris. 7,1449 And whom it liketh forto wite 7,1450 Of hem that this science write, 7,1451 On of the ferste which it wrot 7,1452 After Noeµ, it was Nembrot, 7,1453 To his disciple Ychonithon 7,1454 And made a bok forth therupon 7,1455 The which Megaster cleped was. 7,1456 An other Auctor in this cas 7,1457 Is Arachel, the which men note; 7,1458 His bok is Abbategnyh hote. 7,1459 Danz Tholome is noght the leste, 7,1460 Which makth the bok of Almageste; 7,1461 And Alfraganus doth the same, 7,1462 Whos bok is Chatemuz be name. 7,1463 Gebuz and Alpetragus eke 7,1464 Of Planisperie, which men seke, 7,1465 The bokes made: and over this 7,1466 Ful many a worthi clerc ther is, 7,1467 That writen upon this clergie 7,1468 The bokes of Altemetrie, 7,1469 Planemetrie and ek also, 7,1470 Whiche as belongen bothe tuo, 7,1471 So as thei ben naturiens, 7,1472 Unto these Astronomiens. 7,1473 Men sein that Habraham was on; 7,1474 Bot whether that he wrot or non, 7,1475 That finde I noght; and Moiµses 7,1476 Ek was an other: bot Hermes 7,1477 Above alle othre in this science 7,1478 He hadde a gret experience; 7,1479 Thurgh him was many a sterre assised, 7,1480 Whos bokes yit ben auctorized. 7,1481 I mai noght knowen alle tho 7,1482 That writen in the time tho 7,1483 Of this science; bot I finde, 7,1484 Of jugement be weie of kinde 7,1485 That in o point thei alle acorden: 7,1486 Of sterres whiche thei recorden 7,1487 That men mai sen upon the hevene, 7,1488 Ther ben a thousend sterres evene 7,1489 And tuo and twenty, to the syhte 7,1490 Whiche aren of hemself so bryhte, 7,1491 That men mai dieme what thei be, 7,1492 The nature and the proprete. 7,1493 Nou hast thou herd, in which a wise 7,1494 These noble Philosophres wise 7,1495 Enformeden this yonge king, 7,1496 And made him have a knowleching 7,1497 Of thing which ferst to the partie 7,1498 Belongeth of Philosophie, 7,1499 Which Theorique cleped is, 7,1500 As thou tofore hast herd er this. 7,1501 Bot nou to speke of the secounde, 7,1502 Which Aristotle hath also founde, 7,1503 And techeth hou to speke faire, 7,1504 Which is a thing full necessaire 7,1505 To contrepeise the balance, 7,1506 Wher lacketh other sufficance. 7,1507 Above alle erthli creatures 7,1508 The hihe makere of natures 7,1509 The word to man hath yove alone, 7,1510 So that the speche of his persone, 7,1511 Or forto lese or forto winne, 7,1512 The hertes thoght which is withinne 7,1513 Mai schewe, what it wolde mene; 7,1514 And that is noghwhere elles sene 7,1515 Of kinde with non other beste. 7,1516 So scholde he be the more honeste, 7,1517 To whom god yaf so gret a yifte, 7,1518 And loke wel that he ne schifte 7,1519 Hise wordes to no wicked us; 7,1520 For word the techer of vertus 7,1521 Is cleped in Philosophie. 7,1522 Wherof touchende this partie, 7,1523 Is Rethorique the science 7,1524 Appropred to the reverence 7,1525 Of wordes that ben resonable: 7,1526 And for this art schal be vailable 7,1527 With goodli wordes forto like, 7,1528 It hath Gramaire, it hath Logiqe, 7,1529 That serven bothe unto the speche. 7,1530 Gramaire ferste hath forto teche 7,1531 To speke upon congruite: 7,1532 Logique hath eke in his degre 7,1533 Betwen the trouthe and the falshode 7,1534 The pleine wordes forto schode, 7,1535 So that nothing schal go beside, 7,1536 That he the riht ne schal decide. 7,1537 Wherof full many a gret debat 7,1538 Reformed is to good astat, 7,1539 And pes sustiened up alofte 7,1540 With esy wordes and with softe, 7,1541 Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle. 7,1542 The Philosophre amonges alle 7,1543 Forthi commendeth this science, 7,1544 Which hath the reule of eloquence. 7,1545 In Ston and gras vertu ther is, 7,1546 Bot yit the bokes tellen this, 7,1547 That word above alle erthli thinges 7,1548 Is vertuous in his doinges, 7,1549 Wher so it be to evele or goode. 7,1550 For if the wordes semen goode 7,1551 And ben wel spoke at mannes Ere, 7,1552 Whan that ther is no trouthe there, 7,1553 Thei don fulofte gret deceipte; 7,1554 For whan the word to the conceipte 7,1555 Descordeth in so double a wise, 7,1556 Such Rethorique is to despise 7,1557 In every place, and forto drede. 7,1558 For of Uluxes thus I rede, 7,1559 As in the bok of Troie is founde, 7,1560 His eloquence and his facounde 7,1561 Of goodly wordes whiche he tolde, 7,1562 Hath mad that Anthenor him solde 7,1563 The toun, which he with tresoun wan. 7,1564 Word hath beguiled many a man; 7,1565 With word the wilde beste is daunted, 7,1566 With word the Serpent is enchaunted, 7,1567 Of word among the men of Armes 7,1568 Ben woundes heeled with the charmes, 7,1569 Wher lacketh other medicine; 7,1570 Word hath under his discipline 7,1571 Of Sorcerie the karectes. 7,1572 The wordes ben of sondri sectes, 7,1573 Of evele and eke of goode also; 7,1574 The wordes maken frend of fo, 7,1575 And fo of frend, and pes of werre, 7,1576 And werre of pes, and out of herre 7,1577 The word this worldes cause entriketh, 7,1578 And reconsileth whan him liketh. 7,1579 The word under the coupe of hevene 7,1580 Set every thing or odde or evene; 7,1581 With word the hihe god is plesed, 7,1582 With word the wordes ben appesed, 7,1583 The softe word the loude stilleth; 7,1584 Wher lacketh good, the word fulfilleth, 7,1585 To make amendes for the wrong; 7,1586 Whan wordes medlen with the song, 7,1587 It doth plesance wel the more. 7,1588 Bot forto loke upon the lore 7,1589 Hou Tullius his Rethorique 7,1590 Componeth, ther a man mai pike 7,1591 Hou that he schal hise wordes sette, 7,1592 Hou he schal lose, hou he schal knette, 7,1593 And in what wise he schal pronounce 7,1594 His tale plein withoute frounce. 7,1595 Wherof ensample if thou wolt seche, 7,1596 Tak hiede and red whilom the speche 7,1597 Of Julius and Cithero, 7,1598 Which consul was of Rome tho, 7,1599 Of Catoun eke and of Cillene, 7,1600 Behold the wordes hem betwene, 7,1601 Whan the tresoun of Cateline 7,1602 Descoevered was, and the covine 7,1603 Of hem that were of his assent 7,1604 Was knowe and spoke in parlement, 7,1605 And axed hou and in what wise 7,1606 Men scholde don hem to juise. 7,1607 Cillenus ferst his tale tolde, 7,1608 To trouthe and as he was beholde, 7,1609 The comun profit forto save, 7,1610 He seide hou tresoun scholde have 7,1611 A cruel deth; and thus thei spieke, 7,1612 The Consul bothe and Catoun eke, 7,1613 And seiden that for such a wrong 7,1614 Ther mai no peine be to strong. 7,1615 Bot Julius with wordes wise 7,1616 His tale tolde al otherwise, 7,1617 As he which wolde her deth respite, 7,1618 And fondeth hou he mihte excite 7,1619 The jugges thurgh his eloquence 7,1620 Fro deth to torne the sentence 7,1621 And sette here hertes to pite. 7,1622 Nou tolden thei, nou tolde he; 7,1623 Thei spieken plein after the lawe, 7,1624 Bot he the wordes of his sawe 7,1625 Coloureth in an other weie 7,1626 Spekende, and thus betwen the tweie, 7,1627 To trete upon this juggement, 7,1628 Made ech of hem his Argument. 7,1629 Wherof the tales forto hiere, 7,1630 Ther mai a man the Scole liere 7,1631 Of Rethoriqes eloquences, 7,1632 Which is the secounde of sciences 7,1633 Touchende to Philosophie; 7,1634 Wherof a man schal justifie 7,1635 Hise wordes in disputeisoun, 7,1636 And knette upon conclusioun 7,1637 His Argument in such a forme, 7,1638 Which mai the pleine trouthe enforme 7,1639 And the soubtil cautele abate, 7,1640 Which every trewman schal debate. 7,1641 The ferste, which is Theorique, 7,1642 And the secounde Rethorique, 7,1643 Sciences of Philosophie, 7,1644 I have hem told as in partie, 7,1645 So as the Philosophre it tolde 7,1646 To Alisandre: and nou I wolde 7,1647 Telle of the thridde what it is, 7,1648 The which Practique cleped is. 7,1649 Practique stant upon thre thinges 7,1650 Toward the governance of kinges; 7,1651 Wherof the ferst Etique is named, 7,1652 The whos science stant proclamed 7,1653 To teche of vertu thilke reule, 7,1654 Hou that a king himself schal reule 7,1655 Of his moral condicion 7,1656 With worthi disposicion 7,1657 Of good livinge in his persone, 7,1658 Which is the chief of his corone. 7,1659 It makth a king also to lerne 7,1660 Hou he his bodi schal governe, 7,1661 Hou he schal wake, hou he schal slepe, 7,1662 Hou that he schal his hele kepe 7,1663 In mete, in drinke, in clothinge eke: 7,1664 Ther is no wisdom forto seke 7,1665 As for the reule of his persone, 7,1666 The which that this science al one 7,1667 Ne techeth as be weie of kinde, 7,1668 That ther is nothing left behinde. 7,1669 That other point which to Practique 7,1670 Belongeth is Iconomique, 7,1671 Which techeth thilke honestete 7,1672 Thurgh which a king in his degre 7,1673 His wif and child schal reule and guie, 7,1674 So forth with al the companie 7,1675 Which in his houshold schal abyde, 7,1676 And his astat on every syde 7,1677 In such manere forto lede, 7,1678 That he his houshold ne mislede. 7,1679 Practique hath yit the thridde aprise, 7,1680 Which techeth hou and in what wise 7,1681 Thurgh hih pourveied ordinance 7,1682 A king schal sette in governance 7,1683 His Realme, and that is Policie, 7,1684 Which longeth unto Regalie 7,1685 In time of werre, in time of pes, 7,1686 To worschipe and to good encress 7,1687 Of clerk, of kniht and of Marchant, 7,1688 And so forth of the remenant 7,1689 Of al the comun poeple aboute, 7,1690 Withinne Burgh and ek withoute, 7,1691 Of hem that ben Artificiers, 7,1692 Whiche usen craftes and mestiers, 7,1693 Whos Art is cleped Mechanique. 7,1694 And though thei ben noght alle like, 7,1695 Yit natheles, hou so it falle, 7,1696 O lawe mot governe hem alle, 7,1697 Or that thei lese or that thei winne, 7,1698 After thastat that thei ben inne. 7,1699 Lo, thus this worthi yonge king 7,1700 Was fulli tauht of every thing, 7,1701 Which mihte yive entendement 7,1702 Of good reule and good regiment 7,1703 To such a worthi Prince as he. 7,1704 Bot of verray necessite 7,1705 The Philosophre him hath betake 7,1706 Fyf pointz, whiche he hath undertake 7,1707 To kepe and holde in observance, 7,1708 As for the worthi governance 7,1709 Which longeth to his Regalie, 7,1710 After the reule of Policie. 7,1711 To every man behoveth lore, 7,1712 Bot to noman belongeth more 7,1713 Than to a king, which hath to lede 7,1714 The poeple; for of his kinghede 7,1715 He mai hem bothe save and spille. 7,1716 And for it stant upon his wille, 7,1717 It sit him wel to ben avised, 7,1718 And the vertus whiche are assissed 7,1719 Unto a kinges Regiment, 7,1720 To take in his entendement: 7,1721 Wherof to tellen, as thei stonde, 7,1722 Hierafterward nou woll I fonde. 7,1723 Among the vertus on is chief, 7,1724 And that is trouthe, which is lief 7,1725 To god and ek to man also. 7,1726 And for it hath ben evere so, 7,1727 Tawhte Aristotle, as he wel couthe, 7,1728 To Alisandre, hou in his youthe 7,1729 He scholde of trouthe thilke grace 7,1730 With al his hole herte embrace, 7,1731 So that his word be trewe and plein, 7,1732 Toward the world and so certein 7,1733 That in him be no double speche: 7,1734 For if men scholde trouthe seche 7,1735 And founde it noght withinne a king, 7,1736 It were an unsittende thing. 7,1737 The word is tokne of that withinne, 7,1738 Ther schal a worthi king beginne 7,1739 To kepe his tunge and to be trewe, 7,1740 So schal his pris ben evere newe. 7,1741 Avise him every man tofore, 7,1742 And be wel war, er he be swore, 7,1743 For afterward it is to late, 7,1744 If that he wole his word debate. 7,1745 For as a king in special 7,1746 Above alle othre is principal 7,1747 Of his pouer, so scholde he be 7,1748 Most vertuous in his degre; 7,1749 And that mai wel be signefied 7,1750 Be his corone and specified. 7,1751 The gold betokneth excellence, 7,1752 That men schull don him reverence 7,1753 As to here liege soverein. 7,1754 The Stones, as the bokes sein, 7,1755 Commended ben in treble wise: 7,1756 Ferst thei ben harde, and thilke assisse 7,1757 Betokneth in a king Constance, 7,1758 So that ther schal no variance 7,1759 Be founde in his condicion; 7,1760 And also be descripcion 7,1761 The vertu which is in the stones 7,1762 A verrai Signe is for the nones 7,1763 Of that a king schal ben honeste 7,1764 And holde trewly his beheste 7,1765 Of thing which longeth to kinghede: 7,1766 The bryhte colour, as I rede, 7,1767 Which in the stones is schynende, 7,1768 Is in figure betoknende 7,1769 The Cronique of this worldes fame, 7,1770 Which stant upon his goode name. 7,1771 The cercle which is round aboute 7,1772 Is tokne of al the lond withoute, 7,1773 Which stant under his Gerarchie, 7,1774 That he it schal wel kepe and guye. 7,1775 And for that trouthe, hou so it falle, 7,1776 Is the vertu soverein of alle, 7,1777 That longeth unto regiment, 7,1778 A tale, which is evident 7,1779 Of trouthe in comendacioun, 7,1780 Toward thin enformacion, 7,1781 Mi Sone, hierafter thou schalt hiere 7,1782 Of a Cronique in this matiere. 7,1783 As the Cronique it doth reherce, 7,1784 A Soldan whilom was of Perce, 7,1785 Which Daires hihte, and Ytaspis 7,1786 His fader was; and soth it is 7,1787 That thurgh wisdom and hih prudence 7,1788 Mor than for eny reverence 7,1789 Of his lignage as be descente 7,1790 The regne of thilke empire he hente: 7,1791 And as he was himselve wys, 7,1792 The wisemen he hield in pris 7,1793 And soghte hem oute on every side, 7,1794 That toward him thei scholde abide. 7,1795 Among the whiche thre ther were 7,1796 That most service unto him bere, 7,1797 As thei which in his chambre lyhen 7,1798 And al his conseil herde and syhen. 7,1799 Here names ben of strange note, 7,1800 Arpaghes was the ferste hote, 7,1801 And Manachaz was the secounde, 7,1802 Zorobabel, as it is founde 7,1803 In the Cronique, was the thridde. 7,1804 This Soldan, what so him betidde, 7,1805 To hem he triste most of alle, 7,1806 Wherof the cas is so befalle: 7,1807 This lord, which hath conceiptes depe, 7,1808 Upon a nyht whan he hath slepe, 7,1809 As he which hath his wit desposed, 7,1810 Touchende a point hem hath opposed. 7,1811 The kinges question was this; 7,1812 Of thinges thre which strengest is, 7,1813 The wyn, the womman or the king: 7,1814 And that thei scholde upon this thing 7,1815 Of here ansuere avised be, 7,1816 He yaf hem fulli daies thre, 7,1817 And hath behote hem be his feith 7,1818 That who the beste reson seith, 7,1819 He schal receive a worthi mede. 7,1820 Upon this thing thei token hiede 7,1821 And stoden in desputeison, 7,1822 That be diverse opinion 7,1823 Of Argumentz that thei have holde 7,1824 Arpaghes ferst his tale tolde, 7,1825 And seide hou that the strengthe of kinges 7,1826 Is myhtiest of alle thinges. 7,1827 For king hath pouer over man, 7,1828 And man is he which reson can, 7,1829 As he which is of his nature 7,1830 The moste noble creature 7,1831 Of alle tho that god hath wroght: 7,1832 And be that skile it semeth noght, 7,1833 He seith, that eny erthly thing 7,1834 Mai be so myhty as a king. 7,1835 A king mai spille, a king mai save, 7,1836 A king mai make of lord a knave 7,1837 And of a knave a lord also: 7,1838 The pouer of a king stant so, 7,1839 That he the lawes overpasseth; 7,1840 What he wol make lasse, he lasseth, 7,1841 What he wol make more, he moreth; 7,1842 And as the gentil faucon soreth, 7,1843 He fleth, that noman him reclameth; 7,1844 Bot he al one alle othre tameth, 7,1845 And stant himself of lawe fre. 7,1846 Lo, thus a kinges myht, seith he, 7,1847 So as his reson can argue, 7,1848 Is strengest and of most value. 7,1849 Bot Manachaz seide otherwise, 7,1850 That wyn is of the more emprise; 7,1851 And that he scheweth be this weie. 7,1852 The wyn fulofte takth aweie 7,1853 The reson fro the mannes herte; 7,1854 The wyn can make a krepel sterte, 7,1855 And a delivere man unwelde; 7,1856 It makth a blind man to behelde, 7,1857 And a bryht yhed seme derk; 7,1858 It makth a lewed man a clerk, 7,1859 And fro the clerkes the clergie 7,1860 It takth aweie, and couardie 7,1861 It torneth into hardiesse; 7,1862 Of Avarice it makth largesse. 7,1863 The wyn makth ek the goode blod, 7,1864 In which the Soule which is good 7,1865 Hath chosen hire a resting place, 7,1866 Whil that the lif hir wole embrace. 7,1867 And be this skile Manachas 7,1868 Ansuered hath upon this cas, 7,1869 And seith that wyn be weie of kinde 7,1870 Is thing which mai the hertes binde 7,1871 Wel more than the regalie. 7,1872 Zorobabel for his partie 7,1873 Seide, as him thoghte for the beste, 7,1874 That wommen ben the myhtieste. 7,1875 The king and the vinour also 7,1876 Of wommen comen bothe tuo; 7,1877 And ek he seide hou that manhede 7,1878 Thurgh strengthe unto the wommanhede 7,1879 Of love, wher he wole or non, 7,1880 Obeie schal; and therupon, 7,1881 To schewe of wommen the maistrie, 7,1882 A tale which he syh with yhe 7,1883 As for ensample he tolde this,- 7,1884 Hou Apemen, of Besazis 7,1885 Which dowhter was, in the paleis 7,1886 Sittende upon his hihe deis, 7,1887 Whan he was hotest in his ire 7,1888 Toward the grete of his empire, 7,1889 Cirus the king tirant sche tok, 7,1890 And only with hire goodly lok 7,1891 Sche made him debonaire and meke, 7,1892 And be the chyn and be the cheke 7,1893 Sche luggeth him riht as hir liste, 7,1894 That nou sche japeth, nou sche kiste, 7,1895 And doth with him what evere hir liketh; 7,1896 Whan that sche loureth, thanne he siketh, 7,1897 And whan sche gladeth, he is glad: 7,1898 And thus this king was overlad 7,1899 With hire which his lemman was. 7,1900 Among the men is no solas, 7,1901 If that ther be no womman there; 7,1902 For bot if that the wommen were, 7,1903 This worldes joie were aweie: 7,1904 Thurgh hem men finden out the weie 7,1905 To knihthode and to worldes fame; 7,1906 Thei make a man to drede schame, 7,1907 And honour forto be desired: 7,1908 Thurgh the beaute of hem is fyred 7,1909 The Dart of which Cupide throweth, 7,1910 Wherof the jolif peine groweth, 7,1911 Which al the world hath under fote. 7,1912 A womman is the mannes bote, 7,1913 His lif, his deth, his wo, his wel; 7,1914 And this thing mai be schewed wel, 7,1915 Hou that wommen ben goode and kinde, 7,1916 For in ensample this I finde. 7,1917 Whan that the duk Ametus lay 7,1918 Sek in his bedd, that every day 7,1919 Men waiten whan he scholde deie, 7,1920 Alceste his wif goth forto preie, 7,1921 As sche which wolde thonk deserve, 7,1922 With Sacrifice unto Minerve, 7,1923 To wite ansuere of the goddesse 7,1924 Hou that hir lord of his seknesse, 7,1925 Wherof he was so wo besein, 7,1926 Recovere myhte his hele ayein. 7,1927 Lo, thus sche cride and thus sche preide, 7,1928 Til ate laste a vois hir seide, 7,1929 That if sche wolde for his sake 7,1930 The maladie soffre and take, 7,1931 And deie hirself, he scholde live. 7,1932 Of this ansuere Alceste hath yive 7,1933 Unto Minerve gret thonkinge, 7,1934 So that hir deth and his livinge 7,1935 Sche ches with al hire hole entente, 7,1936 And thus acorded hom sche wente. 7,1937 Into the chambre and whan sche cam, 7,1938 Hire housebonde anon sche nam 7,1939 In bothe hire Armes and him kiste, 7,1940 And spak unto him what hire liste; 7,1941 And therupon withinne a throwe 7,1942 This goode wif was overthrowe 7,1943 And deide, and he was hool in haste. 7,1944 So mai a man be reson taste, 7,1945 Hou next after the god above 7,1946 The trouthe of wommen and the love, 7,1947 In whom that alle grace is founde, 7,1948 Is myhtiest upon this grounde 7,1949 And most behovely manyfold. 7,1950 Lo, thus Zorobabel hath told 7,1951 The tale of his opinion: 7,1952 Bot for final conclusion 7,1953 What strengest is of erthli thinges, 7,1954 The wyn, the wommen or the kinges, 7,1955 He seith that trouthe above hem alle 7,1956 Is myhtiest, hou evere it falle. 7,1957 The trouthe, hou so it evere come, 7,1958 Mai for nothing ben overcome; 7,1959 It mai wel soffre for a throwe, 7,1960 Bot ate laste it schal be knowe. 7,1961 The proverbe is, who that is trewe, 7,1962 Him schal his while nevere rewe: 7,1963 For hou so that the cause wende, 7,1964 The trouthe is schameles ate ende, 7,1965 Bot what thing that is troutheles, 7,1966 It mai noght wel be schameles, 7,1967 And schame hindreth every wyht: 7,1968 So proveth it, ther is no myht 7,1969 Withoute trouthe in no degre. 7,1970 And thus for trouthe of his decre 7,1971 Zorobabel was most commended, 7,1972 Wherof the question was ended, 7,1973 And he resceived hath his mede 7,1974 For trouthe, which to mannes nede 7,1975 Is most behoveliche overal. 7,1976 Forthi was trouthe in special 7,1977 The ferste point in observance 7,1978 Betake unto the governance 7,1979 Of Alisandre, as it is seid: 7,1980 For therupon the ground is leid 7,1981 Of every kinges regiment, 7,1982 As thing which most convenient 7,1983 Is forto sette a king in evene 7,1984 Bothe in this world and ek in hevene. 7,1985 Next after trouthe the secounde, 7,1986 In Policie as it is founde, 7,1987 Which serveth to the worldes fame 7,1988 In worschipe of a kinges name, 7,1989 Largesse it is, whos privilegge 7,1990 Ther mai non Avarice abregge. 7,1991 The worldes good was ferst comune, 7,1992 Bot afterward upon fortune 7,1993 Was thilke comun profit cessed: 7,1994 For whan the poeple stod encresced 7,1995 And the lignages woxen grete, 7,1996 Anon for singulier beyete 7,1997 Drouh every man to his partie; 7,1998 Wherof cam in the ferste envie 7,1999 With gret debat and werres stronge, 7,2000 And laste among the men so longe, 7,2001 Til noman wiste who was who, 7,2002 Ne which was frend ne which was fo. 7,2003 Til ate laste in every lond 7,2004 Withinne hemself the poeple fond 7,2005 That it was good to make a king, 7,2006 Which mihte appesen al this thing 7,2007 And yive riht to the lignages 7,2008 In partinge of here heritages 7,2009 And ek of al here other good; 7,2010 And thus above hem alle stod 7,2011 The king upon his Regalie, 7,2012 As he which hath to justifie 7,2013 The worldes good fro covoitise. 7,2014 So sit it wel in alle wise 7,2015 A king betwen the more and lesse 7,2016 To sette his herte upon largesse 7,2017 Toward himself and ek also 7,2018 Toward his poeple; and if noght so, 7,2019 That is to sein, if that he be 7,2020 Toward himselven large and fre 7,2021 And of his poeple take and pile, 7,2022 Largesse be no weie of skile 7,2023 It mai be seid, bot Avarice, 7,2024 Which in a king is a gret vice. 7,2025 A king behoveth ek to fle 7,2026 The vice of Prodegalite, 7,2027 That he mesure in his expence 7,2028 So kepe, that of indigence 7,2029 He mai be sauf: for who that nedeth, 7,2030 In al his werk the worse he spedeth. 7,2031 As Aristotle upon Chaldee 7,2032 Ensample of gret Auctorite 7,2033 Unto king Alisandre tauhte 7,2034 Of thilke folk that were unsauhte 7,2035 Toward here king for his pilage: 7,2036 Wherof he bad, in his corage 7,2037 That he unto thre pointz entende, 7,2038 Wher that he wolde his good despende. 7,2039 Ferst scholde he loke, hou that it stod, 7,2040 That al were of his oghne good 7,2041 The yiftes whiche he wolde yive; 7,2042 So myhte he wel the betre live: 7,2043 And ek he moste taken hiede 7,2044 If ther be cause of eny nede, 7,2045 Which oghte forto be defended, 7,2046 Er that his goodes be despended: 7,2047 He mot ek, as it is befalle, 7,2048 Amonges othre thinges alle 7,2049 Se the decertes of his men; 7,2050 And after that thei ben of ken 7,2051 And of astat and of merite, 7,2052 He schal hem largeliche aquite, 7,2053 Or for the werre, or for the pes, 7,2054 That non honour falle in descres, 7,2055 Which mihte torne into defame, 7,2056 Bot that he kepe his goode name, 7,2057 So that he be noght holde unkinde. 7,2058 For in Cronique a tale I finde, 7,2059 Which spekth somdiel of this matiere, 7,2060 Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere. 7,2061 In Rome, to poursuie his riht, 7,2062 Ther was a worthi povere kniht, 7,2063 Which cam al one forto sein 7,2064 His cause, when the court was plein, 7,2065 Wher Julius was in presence. 7,2066 And for him lacketh of despence, 7,2067 Ther was with him non advocat 7,2068 To make ple for his astat. 7,2069 Bot thogh him lacke forto plede, 7,2070 Him lacketh nothing of manhede; 7,2071 He wiste wel his pours was povere, 7,2072 Bot yit he thoghte his riht recovere, 7,2073 And openly poverte alleide, 7,2074 To themperour and thus he seide: 7,2075 "O Julius, lord of the lawe, 7,2076 Behold, mi conseil is withdrawe 7,2077 For lacke of gold: do thin office 7,2078 After the lawes of justice: 7,2079 Help that I hadde conseil hiere 7,2080 Upon the trouthe of mi matiere." 7,2081 And Julius with that anon 7,2082 Assigned him a worthi on, 7,2083 Bot he himself no word ne spak. 7,2084 This kniht was wroth and fond a lak 7,2085 In themperour, and seide thus: 7,2086 "O thou unkinde Julius, 7,2087 Whan thou in thi bataille were 7,2088 Up in Aufrique, and I was there, 7,2089 Mi myht for thi rescousse I dede 7,2090 And putte noman in my stede, 7,2091 Thou wost what woundes ther I hadde: 7,2092 Bot hier I finde thee so badde, 7,2093 That thee ne liste speke o word 7,2094 Thin oghne mouth, nor of thin hord 7,2095 To yive a florin me to helpe. 7,2096 Hou scholde I thanne me beyelpe 7,2097 Fro this dai forth of thi largesse, 7,2098 Whan such a gret unkindenesse 7,2099 Is founde in such a lord as thou?" 7,2100 This Julius knew wel ynou 7,2101 That al was soth which he him tolde; 7,2102 And for he wolde noght ben holde 7,2103 Unkinde, he tok his cause on honde, 7,2104 And as it were of goddes sonde, 7,2105 He yaf him good ynouh to spende 7,2106 For evere into his lives ende. 7,2107 And thus scholde every worthi king 7,2108 Take of his knihtes knowleching, 7,2109 Whan that he syh thei hadden nede, 7,2110 For every service axeth mede: 7,2111 Bot othre, which have noght deserved 7,2112 Thurgh vertu, bot of japes served, 7,2113 A king schal noght deserve grace, 7,2114 Thogh he be large in such a place. 7,2115 It sit wel every king to have 7,2116 Discrecion, whan men him crave, 7,2117 So that he mai his yifte wite: 7,2118 Wherof I finde a tale write, 7,2119 Hou Cinichus a povere kniht 7,2120 A Somme which was over myht 7,2121 Preide of his king Antigonus. 7,2122 The king ansuerde to him thus, 7,2123 And seide hou such a yifte passeth 7,2124 His povere astat: and thanne he lasseth, 7,2125 And axeth bot a litel peny, 7,2126 If that the king wol yive him eny. 7,2127 The king ansuerde, it was to smal 7,2128 For him, which was a lord real; 7,2129 To yive a man so litel thing 7,2130 It were unworschipe in a king. 7,2131 Be this ensample a king mai lere 7,2132 That forto yive is in manere: 7,2133 For if a king his tresor lasseth 7,2134 Withoute honour and thonkles passeth, 7,2135 Whan he himself wol so beguile, 7,2136 I not who schal compleigne his while, 7,2137 Ne who be rihte him schal relieve. 7,2138 Bot natheles this I believe, 7,2139 To helpe with his oghne lond 7,2140 Behoveth every man his hond 7,2141 To sette upon necessite; 7,2142 And ek his kinges realte 7,2143 Mot every liege man conforte, 7,2144 With good and bodi to supporte, 7,2145 Whan thei se cause resonable: 7,2146 For who that is noght entendable 7,2147 To holde upriht his kinges name, 7,2148 Him oghte forto be to blame. 7,2149 Of Policie and overmore 7,2150 To speke in this matiere more, 7,2151 So as the Philosophre tolde, 7,2152 A king after the reule is holde 7,2153 To modifie and to adresce 7,2154 Hise yiftes upon such largesce 7,2155 That he mesure noght excede: 7,2156 For if a king falle into nede, 7,2157 It causeth ofte sondri thinges 7,2158 Whiche are ungoodly to the kinges. 7,2159 What man wol noght himself mesure, 7,2160 Men sen fulofte that mesure 7,2161 Him hath forsake: and so doth he 7,2162 That useth Prodegalite, 7,2163 Which is the moder of poverte, 7,2164 Wherof the londes ben deserte; 7,2165 And namely whan thilke vice 7,2166 Aboute a king stant in office 7,2167 And hath withholde of his partie 7,2168 The covoitouse flaterie, 7,2169 Which many a worthi king deceiveth, 7,2170 Er he the fallas aperceiveth 7,2171 Of hem that serven to the glose. 7,2172 For thei that cunnen plese and glose, 7,2173 Ben, as men tellen, the norrices 7,2174 Unto the fostringe of the vices, 7,2175 Wherof fulofte natheles 7,2176 A king is blamed gulteles. 7,2177 A Philosophre, as thou schalt hiere, 7,2178 Spak to a king of this matiere, 7,2179 And seide him wel hou that flatours 7,2180 Coupable were of thre errours. 7,2181 On was toward the goddes hihe, 7,2182 That weren wrothe of that thei sihe 7,2183 The meschief which befalle scholde 7,2184 Of that the false flatour tolde. 7,2185 Toward the king an other was, 7,2186 Whan thei be sleihte and be fallas 7,2187 Of feigned wordes make him wene 7,2188 That blak is whyt and blew is grene 7,2189 Touchende of his condicion: 7,2190 For whanne he doth extorcion 7,2191 With manye an other vice mo, 7,2192 Men schal noght finden on of tho 7,2193 To groucche or speke therayein, 7,2194 Bot holden up his oil and sein 7,2195 That al is wel, what evere he doth; 7,2196 And thus of fals thei maken soth, 7,2197 So that here kinges yhe is blent 7,2198 And wot not hou the world is went. 7,2199 The thridde errour is harm comune, 7,2200 With which the poeple mot commune 7,2201 Of wronges that thei bringen inne: 7,2202 And thus thei worchen treble sinne, 7,2203 That ben flatours aboute a king. 7,2204 Ther myhte be no worse thing 7,2205 Aboute a kinges regalie, 7,2206 Thanne is the vice of flaterie. 7,2207 And natheles it hath ben used, 7,2208 That it was nevere yit refused 7,2209 As forto speke in court real; 7,2210 For there it is most special, 7,2211 And mai noght longe be forbore. 7,2212 Bot whan this vice of hem is bore, 7,2213 That scholden the vertus forthbringe, 7,2214 And trouthe is torned to lesinge, 7,2215 It is, as who seith, ayein kinde, 7,2216 Wherof an old ensample I finde. 7,2217 Among these othre tales wise 7,2218 Of Philosophres, in this wise 7,2219 I rede, how whilom tuo ther were, 7,2220 And to the Scole forto lere 7,2221 Unto Athenes fro Cartage 7,2222 Here frendes, whan thei were of Age, 7,2223 Hem sende; and ther thei stoden longe, 7,2224 Til thei such lore have underfonge, 7,2225 That in here time thei surmonte 7,2226 Alle othre men, that to acompte 7,2227 Of hem was tho the grete fame. 7,2228 The ferste of hem his rihte name 7,2229 Was Diogenes thanne hote, 7,2230 In whom was founde no riote: 7,2231 His felaw Arisippus hyhte, 7,2232 Which mochel couthe and mochel myhte. 7,2233 Bot ate laste, soth to sein, 7,2234 Thei bothe tornen hom ayein 7,2235 Unto Cartage and scole lete. 7,2236 This Diogenes no beyete 7,2237 Of worldes good or lasse or more 7,2238 Ne soghte for his longe lore, 7,2239 Bot tok him only forto duelle 7,2240 At hom; and as the bokes telle, 7,2241 His hous was nyh to the rivere 7,2242 Besyde a bregge, as thou schalt hiere. 7,2243 Ther duelleth he to take his reste, 7,2244 So as it thoghte him for the beste, 7,2245 To studie in his Philosophie, 7,2246 As he which wolde so defie 7,2247 The worldes pompe on every syde. 7,2248 Bot Arisippe his bok aside 7,2249 Hath leid, and to the court he wente, 7,2250 Wher many a wyle and many a wente 7,2251 With flaterie and wordes softe 7,2252 He caste, and hath compassed ofte 7,2253 Hou he his Prince myhte plese; 7,2254 And in this wise he gat him ese 7,2255 Of vein honour and worldes good. 7,2256 The londes reule upon him stod, 7,2257 The king of him was wonder glad, 7,2258 And all was do, what thing he bad, 7,2259 Bothe in the court and ek withoute. 7,2260 With flaterie he broghte aboute 7,2261 His pourpos of the worldes werk, 7,2262 Which was ayein the stat of clerk, 7,2263 So that Philosophie he lefte 7,2264 And to richesse himself uplefte: 7,2265 Lo, thus hadde Arisippe his wille. 7,2266 Bot Diogenes duelte stille 7,2267 A home and loked on his bok: 7,2268 He soghte noght the worldes crok 7,2269 For vein honour ne for richesse, 7,2270 Bot all his hertes besinesse 7,2271 He sette to be vertuous; 7,2272 And thus withinne his oghne hous 7,2273 He liveth to the sufficance 7,2274 Of his havinge. And fell per chance, 7,2275 This Diogene upon a day, 7,2276 And that was in the Monthe of May, 7,2277 Whan that these herbes ben holsome, 7,2278 He walketh forto gadre some 7,2279 In his gardin, of whiche his joutes 7,2280 He thoghte have, and thus aboutes 7,2281 Whanne he hath gadred what him liketh, 7,2282 He satte him thanne doun and pyketh, 7,2283 And wyssh his herbes in the flod 7,2284 Upon the which his gardin stod, 7,2285 Nyh to the bregge, as I tolde er. 7,2286 And hapneth, whil he sitteth ther, 7,2287 Cam Arisippes be the strete 7,2288 With manye hors and routes grete, 7,2289 And straght unto the bregge he rod. 7,2290 Wher that he hoved and abod; 7,2291 For as he caste his yhe nyh, 7,2292 His felaw Diogene he syh, 7,2293 And what he dede he syh also, 7,2294 Wherof he seide to him so: 7,2295 "O Diogene, god thee spede. 7,2296 It were certes litel nede 7,2297 To sitte there and wortes pyke, 7,2298 If thou thi Prince couthest lyke, 7,2299 So as I can in my degre." 7,2300 "O Arisippe," ayein quod he, 7,2301 "If that thou couthist, so as I, 7,2302 Thi wortes pyke, trewely 7,2303 It were als litel nede or lasse, 7,2304 That thou so worldly wolt compasse 7,2305 With flaterie forto serve, 7,2306 Wherof thou thenkest to deserve 7,2307 Thi princes thonk, and to pourchace 7,2308 Hou thou myht stonden in his grace, 7,2309 For getinge of a litel good. 7,2310 If thou wolt take into thi mod 7,2311 Reson, thou myht be reson deeme 7,2312 That so thi prince forto queeme 7,2313 Is noght to reson acordant, 7,2314 Bot it is gretly descordant 7,2315 Unto the Scoles of Athene." 7,2316 Lo, thus ansuerde Diogene 7,2317 Ayein the clerkes flaterie. 7,2318 Bot yit men sen thessamplerie 7,2319 Of Arisippe is wel received, 7,2320 And thilke of Diogene is weyved. 7,2321 Office in court and gold in cofre 7,2322 Is nou, men sein, the philosophre 7,2323 Which hath the worschipe in the halle; 7,2324 Bot flaterie passeth alle 7,2325 In chambre, whom the court avanceth; 7,2326 For upon thilke lot it chanceth 7,2327 To be beloved nou aday. 7,2328 I not if it be ye or nay, 7,2329 Bot as the comun vois it telleth; 7,2330 Bot wher that flaterie duelleth 7,2331 In eny lond under the Sonne, 7,2332 Ther is ful many a thing begonne 7,2333 Which were betre to be left; 7,2334 That hath be schewed nou and eft. 7,2335 Bot if a Prince wolde him reule 7,2336 Of the Romeins after the reule, 7,2337 In thilke time as it was used, 7,2338 This vice scholde be refused, 7,2339 Wherof the Princes ben assoted. 7,2340 Bot wher the pleine trouthe is noted, 7,2341 Ther may a Prince wel conceive, 7,2342 That he schal noght himself deceive, 7,2343 Of that he hiereth wordes pleine; 7,2344 For him thar noght be reson pleigne, 7,2345 That warned is er him be wo. 7,2346 And that was fully proeved tho, 7,2347 Whan Rome was the worldes chief, 7,2348 The Sothseiere tho was lief, 7,2349 Which wolde noght the trouthe spare, 7,2350 Bot with hise wordes pleine and bare 7,2351 To Themperour hise sothes tolde, 7,2352 As in Cronique is yit withholde, 7,2353 Hierafterward as thou schalt hiere 7,2354 Acordende unto this matiere. 7,2355 To se this olde ensamplerie, 7,2356 That whilom was no flaterie 7,2357 Toward the Princes wel I finde; 7,2358 Wherof so as it comth to mynde, 7,2359 Mi Sone, a tale unto thin Ere, 7,2360 Whil that the worthi princes were 7,2361 At Rome, I thenke forto tellen. 7,2362 For whan the chances so befellen 7,2363 That eny Emperour as tho 7,2364 Victoire hadde upon his fo, 7,2365 And so forth cam to Rome ayein, 7,2366 Of treble honour he was certein, 7,2367 Wherof that he was magnefied. 7,2368 The ferste, as it is specefied, 7,2369 Was, whan he cam at thilke tyde, 7,2370 The Charr in which he scholde ryde 7,2371 Foure whyte Stiedes scholden drawe; 7,2372 Of Jupiter be thilke lawe 7,2373 The Cote he scholde were also; 7,2374 Hise prisoners ek scholden go 7,2375 Endlong the Charr on eyther hond, 7,2376 And alle the nobles of the lond 7,2377 Tofore and after with him come 7,2378 Ridende and broghten him to Rome, 7,2379 In thonk of his chivalerie 7,2380 And for non other flaterie. 7,2381 And that was schewed forth withal; 7,2382 Wher he sat in his Charr real, 7,2383 Beside him was a Ribald set, 7,2384 Which hadde hise wordes so beset, 7,2385 To themperour in al his gloire 7,2386 He seide, "Tak into memoire, 7,2387 For al this pompe and al this pride 7,2388 Let no justice gon aside, 7,2389 Bot know thiself, what so befalle. 7,2390 For men sen ofte time falle 7,2391 Thing which men wende siker stonde: 7,2392 Thogh thou victoire have nou on honde, 7,2393 Fortune mai noght stonde alway; 7,2394 The whiel per chance an other day 7,2395 Mai torne, and thou myht overthrowe; 7,2396 Ther lasteth nothing bot a throwe." 7,2397 With these wordes and with mo 7,2398 This Ribald, which sat with him tho, 7,2399 To Themperour his tale tolde: 7,2400 And overmor what evere he wolde, 7,2401 Or were it evel or were it good, 7,2402 So pleinly as the trouthe stod, 7,2403 He spareth noght, bot spekth it oute; 7,2404 And so myhte every man aboute 7,2405 The day of that solempnete 7,2406 His tale telle als wel as he 7,2407 To Themperour al openly. 7,2408 And al was this the cause why; 7,2409 That whil he stod in that noblesse, 7,2410 He scholde his vanite represse 7,2411 With suche wordes as he herde. 7,2412 Lo nou, hou thilke time it ferde 7,2413 Toward so hih a worthi lord: 7,2414 For this I finde ek of record, 7,2415 Which the Cronique hath auctorized. 7,2416 What Emperour was entronized, 7,2417 The ferste day of his corone, 7,2418 Wher he was in his real Throne 7,2419 And hield his feste in the paleis 7,2420 Sittende upon his hihe deis 7,2421 With al the lust that mai be gete, 7,2422 Whan he was gladdest at his mete, 7,2423 And every menstral hadde pleid, 7,2424 And every Disour hadde seid 7,2425 What most was plesant to his Ere, 7,2426 Than ate laste comen there 7,2427 Hise Macons, for thei scholden crave 7,2428 Wher that he wolde be begrave, 7,2429 And of what Ston his sepulture 7,2430 Thei scholden make, and what sculpture 7,2431 He wolde ordeine therupon. 7,2432 Tho was ther flaterie non 7,2433 The worthi princes to bejape; 7,2434 The thing was other wise schape 7,2435 With good conseil; and otherwise 7,2436 Thei were hemselven thanne wise, 7,2437 And understoden wel and knewen. 7,2438 Whan suche softe wyndes blewen 7,2439 Of flaterie into here Ere, 7,2440 Thei setten noght here hertes there; 7,2441 Bot whan thei herden wordes feigned, 7,2442 The pleine trouthe it hath desdeigned 7,2443 Of hem that weren so discrete. 7,2444 So tok the flatour no beyete 7,2445 Of him that was his prince tho: 7,2446 And forto proven it is so, 7,2447 A tale which befell in dede 7,2448 In a Cronique of Rome I rede. 7,2449 Cesar upon his real throne 7,2450 Wher that he sat in his persone 7,2451 And was hyest in al his pris, 7,2452 A man, which wolde make him wys, 7,2453 Fell doun knelende in his presence, 7,2454 And dede him such a reverence, 7,2455 As thogh the hihe god it were: 7,2456 Men hadden gret mervaille there 7,2457 Of the worschipe which he dede. 7,2458 This man aros fro thilke stede, 7,2459 And forth with al the same tyde 7,2460 He goth him up and be his side 7,2461 He set him doun as pier and pier, 7,2462 And seide, "If thou that sittest hier 7,2463 Art god, which alle thinges myht, 7,2464 Thanne have I do worshipe ariht 7,2465 As to the god; and other wise, 7,2466 If thou be noght of thilke assisse, 7,2467 Bot art a man such as am I, 7,2468 Than mai I sitte faste by, 7,2469 For we be bothen of o kinde." 7,2470 Cesar ansuerde and seide, "O blinde, 7,2471 Thou art a fol, it is wel sene 7,2472 Upon thiself: for if thou wene 7,2473 I be a god, thou dost amys 7,2474 To sitte wher thou sest god is; 7,2475 And if I be a man, also 7,2476 Thou hast a gret folie do, 7,2477 Whan thou to such on as schal deie 7,2478 The worschipe of thi god aweie 7,2479 Hast yoven so unworthely. 7,2480 Thus mai I prove redely, 7,2481 Thou art noght wys." And thei that herde 7,2482 Hou wysly that the king ansuerde, 7,2483 It was to hem a newe lore; 7,2484 Wherof thei dradden him the more, 7,2485 And broghten nothing to his Ere, 7,2486 Bot if it trouthe and reson were. 7,2487 So be ther manye, in such a wise 7,2488 That feignen wordes to be wise, 7,2489 And al is verray flaterie 7,2490 To him which can it wel aspie. 7,2491 The kinde flatour can noght love 7,2492 Bot forto bringe himself above; 7,2493 For hou that evere his maister fare, 7,2494 So that himself stonde out of care, 7,2495 Him reccheth noght: and thus fulofte 7,2496 Deceived ben with wordes softe 7,2497 The kinges that ben innocent. 7,2498 Wherof as for chastiement 7,2499 The wise Philosophre seide, 7,2500 What king that so his tresor leide 7,2501 Upon such folk, he hath the lesse, 7,2502 And yit ne doth he no largesse, 7,2503 Bot harmeth with his oghne hond 7,2504 Himself and ek his oghne lond, 7,2505 And that be many a sondri weie. 7,2506 Wherof if that a man schal seie, 7,2507 As forto speke in general, 7,2508 Wher such thing falleth overal 7,2509 That eny king himself misreule, 7,2510 The Philosophre upon his reule 7,2511 In special a cause sette, 7,2512 Which is and evere hath be the lette 7,2513 In governance aboute a king 7,2514 Upon the meschief of the thing, 7,2515 And that, he seith, is Flaterie. 7,2516 Wherof tofore as in partie 7,2517 What vice it is I have declared; 7,2518 For who that hath his wit bewared 7,2519 Upon a flatour to believe, 7,2520 Whan that he weneth best achieve 7,2521 His goode world, it is most fro. 7,2522 And forto proeven it is so 7,2523 Ensamples ther ben manyon, 7,2524 Of whiche if thou wolt knowen on, 7,2525 It is behovely forto hiere 7,2526 What whilom fell in this matiere. 7,2527 Among the kinges in the bible 7,2528 I finde a tale, and is credible, 7,2529 Of him that whilom Achab hihte, 7,2530 Which hadde al Irahel to rihte; 7,2531 Bot who that couthe glose softe 7,2532 And flatre, suche he sette alofte 7,2533 In gret astat and made hem riche; 7,2534 Bot thei that spieken wordes liche 7,2535 To trouthe and wolde it noght forbere, 7,2536 For hem was non astat to bere, 7,2537 The court of suche tok non hiede. 7,2538 Til ate laste upon a nede, 7,2539 That Benedab king of Surie 7,2540 Of Irahel a gret partie, 7,2541 Which Ramoth Galaath was hote, 7,2542 Hath sesed; and of that riote 7,2543 He tok conseil in sondri wise, 7,2544 Bot noght of hem that weren wise. 7,2545 And natheles upon this cas 7,2546 To strengthen him, for Josaphas, 7,2547 Which thanne was king of Judee, 7,2548 He sende forto come, as he 7,2549 Which thurgh frendschipe and alliance 7,2550 Was next to him of aqueintance; 7,2551 For Joram Sone of Josaphath 7,2552 Achabbes dowhter wedded hath, 7,2553 Which hihte faire Godelie. 7,2554 And thus cam into Samarie 7,2555 King Josaphat, and he fond there 7,2556 The king Achab: and whan thei were 7,2557 Togedre spekende of this thing, 7,2558 This Josaphat seith to the king, 7,2559 Hou that he wolde gladly hiere 7,2560 Som trew prophete in this matiere, 7,2561 That he his conseil myhte yive 7,2562 To what point that it schal be drive. 7,2563 And in that time so befell, 7,2564 Ther was such on in Irahel, 7,2565 Which sette him al to flaterie, 7,2566 And he was cleped Sedechie; 7,2567 And after him Achab hath sent: 7,2568 And he at his comandement 7,2569 Tofore him cam, and be a sleyhte 7,2570 He hath upon his heved on heyhte 7,2571 Tuo large hornes set of bras, 7,2572 As he which al a flatour was, 7,2573 And goth rampende as a leoun 7,2574 And caste hise hornes up and doun, 7,2575 And bad men ben of good espeir, 7,2576 For as the hornes percen their, 7,2577 He seith, withoute resistence, 7,2578 So wiste he wel of his science 7,2579 That Benedab is desconfit. 7,2580 Whan Sedechie upon this plit 7,2581 Hath told this tale to his lord, 7,2582 Anon ther were of his acord 7,2583 Prophetes false manye mo 7,2584 To bere up oil, and alle tho 7,2585 Affermen that which he hath told, 7,2586 Wherof the king Achab was bold 7,2587 And yaf hem yiftes al aboute. 7,2588 But Josaphat was in gret doute, 7,2589 And hield fantosme al that he herde, 7,2590 Preiende Achab, hou so it ferde, 7,2591 If ther were eny other man, 7,2592 The which of prophecie can, 7,2593 To hiere him speke er that thei gon. 7,2594 Quod Achab thanne, "Ther is on, 7,2595 A brothell, which Micheas hihte; 7,2596 Bot he ne comth noght in my sihte, 7,2597 For he hath longe in prison lein. 7,2598 Him liketh nevere yit to sein 7,2599 A goodly word to mi plesance; 7,2600 And natheles at thin instance 7,2601 He schal come oute, and thanne he may 7,2602 Seie as he seide many day; 7,2603 For yit he seide nevere wel." 7,2604 Tho Josaphat began somdel 7,2605 To gladen him in hope of trouthe, 7,2606 And bad withouten eny slouthe 7,2607 That men him scholden fette anon. 7,2608 And thei that weren for him gon, 7,2609 Whan that thei comen wher he was, 7,2610 Thei tolden unto Micheas 7,2611 The manere hou that Sedechie 7,2612 Declared hath his prophecie; 7,2613 And therupon thei preie him faire 7,2614 That he wol seie no contraire, 7,2615 Wherof the king mai be desplesed, 7,2616 For so schal every man ben esed, 7,2617 And he mai helpe himselve also. 7,2618 Micheas upon trouthe tho 7,2619 His herte sette, and to hem seith, 7,2620 Al that belongeth to his feith 7,2621 And of non other feigned thing, 7,2622 That wol he telle unto his king, 7,2623 Als fer as god hath yove him grace. 7,2624 Thus cam this prophete into place 7,2625 Wher he the kinges wille herde; 7,2626 And he therto anon ansuerde, 7,2627 And seide unto him in this wise: 7,2628 "Mi liege lord, for mi servise, 7,2629 Which trewe hath stonden evere yit, 7,2630 Thou hast me with prisone aquit; 7,2631 Bot for al that I schal noght glose 7,2632 Of trouthe als fer as I suppose; 7,2633 And as touchende of this bataille, 7,2634 Thou schalt noght of the sothe faile. 7,2635 For if it like thee to hiere, 7,2636 As I am tauht in that matiere, 7,2637 Thou miht it understonde sone; 7,2638 Bot what is afterward to done 7,2639 Avise thee, for this I sih. 7,2640 I was tofor the throne on hih, 7,2641 Wher al the world me thoghte stod, 7,2642 And there I herde and understod 7,2643 The vois of god with wordes cliere 7,2644 Axende, and seide in this manere: 7,2645 "In what thing mai I best beguile 7,2646 The king Achab?" And for a while 7,2647 Upon this point thei spieken faste. 7,2648 Tho seide a spirit ate laste, 7,2649 "I undertake this emprise." 7,2650 And god him axeth in what wise. 7,2651 "I schal," quod he, "deceive and lye 7,2652 With flaterende prophecie 7,2653 In suche mouthes as he lieveth." 7,2654 And he which alle thing achieveth 7,2655 Bad him go forth and don riht so. 7,2656 And over this I sih also 7,2657 The noble peple of Irahel 7,2658 Dispers as Schep upon an hell, 7,2659 Withoute a kepere unarraied: 7,2660 And as thei wente aboute astraied, 7,2661 I herde a vois unto hem sein, 7,2662 "Goth hom into your hous ayein, 7,2663 Til I for you have betre ordeigned." 7,2664 Quod Sedechie, "Thou hast feigned 7,2665 This tale in angringe of the king." 7,2666 And in a wraththe upon this thing 7,2667 He smot Michee upon the cheke; 7,2668 The king him hath rebuked eke, 7,2669 And every man upon him cride: 7,2670 Thus was he schent on every side, 7,2671 Ayein and into prison lad, 7,2672 For so the king himselve bad. 7,2673 The trouthe myhte noght ben herd; 7,2674 Bot afterward as it hath ferd, 7,2675 The dede proveth his entente: 7,2676 Achab to the bataille wente, 7,2677 Wher Benedab for al his Scheld 7,2678 Him slouh, so that upon the feld 7,2679 His poeple goth aboute astray. 7,2680 Bot god, which alle thinges may, 7,2681 So doth that thei no meschief have; 7,2682 Here king was ded and thei ben save, 7,2683 And hom ayein in goddes pes 7,2684 Thei wente, and al was founde les 7,2685 That Sedechie hath seid tofore. 7,2686 So sit it wel a king therfore 7,2687 To loven hem that trouthe mene; 7,2688 For ate laste it wol be sene 7,2689 That flaterie is nothing worth. 7,2690 Bot nou to mi matiere forth, 7,2691 As forto speken overmore 7,2692 After the Philosophres lore, 7,2693 The thridde point of Policie 7,2694 I thenke forto specifie. 7,2695 What is a lond wher men ben none? 7,2696 What ben the men whiche are al one 7,2697 Withoute a kinges governance? 7,2698 What is a king in his ligance, 7,2699 Wher that ther is no lawe in londe? 7,2700 What is to take lawe on honde, 7,2701 Bot if the jugges weren trewe? 7,2702 These olde worldes with the newe 7,2703 Who that wol take in evidence, 7,2704 Ther mai he se thexperience, 7,2705 What thing it is to kepe lawe, 7,2706 Thurgh which the wronges ben withdrawe 7,2707 And rihtwisnesse stant commended, 7,2708 Wherof the regnes ben amended. 7,2709 For wher the lawe mai comune 7,2710 The lordes forth with the commune, 7,2711 Ech hath his propre duete; 7,2712 And ek the kinges realte 7,2713 Of bothe his worschipe underfongeth, 7,2714 To his astat as it belongeth, 7,2715 Which of his hihe worthinesse 7,2716 Hath to governe rihtwisnesse, 7,2717 As he which schal the lawe guide. 7,2718 And natheles upon som side 7,2719 His pouer stant above the lawe, 7,2720 To yive bothe and to withdrawe 7,2721 The forfet of a mannes lif; 7,2722 But thinges whiche are excessif 7,2723 Ayein the lawe, he schal noght do 7,2724 For love ne for hate also. 7,2725 The myhtes of a king ben grete, 7,2726 Bot yit a worthi king schal lete 7,2727 Of wrong to don, al that he myhte; 7,2728 For he which schal the poeple ryhte, 7,2729 It sit wel to his regalie 7,2730 That he himself ferst justefie 7,2731 Towardes god in his degre: 7,2732 For his astat is elles fre 7,2733 Toward alle othre in his persone, 7,2734 Save only to the god al one, 7,2735 Which wol himself a king chastise, 7,2736 Wher that non other mai suffise. 7,2737 So were it good to taken hiede 7,2738 That ferst a king his oghne dede 7,2739 Betwen the vertu and the vice 7,2740 Redresce, and thanne of his justice 7,2741 So sette in evene the balance 7,2742 Towardes othre in governance, 7,2743 That to the povere and to the riche 7,2744 Hise lawes myhten stonde liche, 7,2745 He schal excepte no persone. 7,2746 Bot for he mai noght al him one 7,2747 In sondri places do justice, 7,2748 He schal of his real office 7,2749 With wys consideracion 7,2750 Ordeigne his deputacion 7,2751 Of suche jugges as ben lerned, 7,2752 So that his poeple be governed 7,2753 Be hem that trewe ben and wise. 7,2754 For if the lawe of covoitise 7,2755 Be set upon a jugges hond, 7,2756 Wo is the poeple of thilke lond, 7,2757 For wrong mai noght himselven hyde: 7,2758 Bot elles on that other side, 7,2759 If lawe stonde with the riht, 7,2760 The poeple is glad and stant upriht. 7,2761 Wher as the lawe is resonable, 7,2762 The comun poeple stant menable, 7,2763 And if the lawe torne amis, 7,2764 The poeple also mistorned is. 7,2765 And in ensample of this matiere 7,2766 Of Maximin a man mai hiere, 7,2767 Of Rome which was Emperour, 7,2768 That whanne he made a governour 7,2769 Be weie of substitucion 7,2770 Of Province or of region, 7,2771 He wolde ferst enquere his name, 7,2772 And let it openly proclame 7,2773 What man he were, or evel or good. 7,2774 And upon that his name stod 7,2775 Enclin to vertu or to vice, 7,2776 So wolde he sette him in office, 7,2777 Or elles putte him al aweie. 7,2778 Thus hield the lawe his rihte weie, 7,2779 Which fond no let of covoitise: 7,2780 The world stod than upon the wise, 7,2781 As be ensample thou myht rede; 7,2782 And hold it in thi mynde, I rede. 7,2783 In a Cronique I finde thus, 7,2784 Hou that Gayus Fabricius, 7,2785 Which whilom was Consul of Rome, 7,2786 Be whom the lawes yede and come, 7,2787 Whan the Sampnites to him broghte 7,2788 A somme of gold, and him besoghte 7,2789 To don hem favour in the lawe, 7,2790 Toward the gold he gan him drawe, 7,2791 Wherof in alle mennes lok 7,2792 A part up in his hond he tok, 7,2793 Which to his mouth in alle haste 7,2794 He putte, it forto smelle and taste, 7,2795 And to his yhe and to his Ere, 7,2796 Bot he ne fond no confort there: 7,2797 And thanne he gan it to despise, 7,2798 And tolde unto hem in this wise: 7,2799 "I not what is with gold to thryve, 7,2800 Whan non of all my wittes fyve 7,2801 Fynt savour ne delit therinne. 7,2802 So is it bot a nyce Sinne 7,2803 Of gold to ben to covoitous; 7,2804 Bot he is riche and glorious, 7,2805 Which hath in his subjeccion 7,2806 Tho men whiche in possession 7,2807 Ben riche of gold, and be this skile; 7,2808 For he mai aldai whan he wile, 7,2809 Or be hem lieve or be hem lothe, 7,2810 Justice don upon hem bothe." 7,2811 Lo, thus he seide, and with that word 7,2812 He threw tofore hem on the bord 7,2813 The gold out of his hond anon, 7,2814 And seide hem that he wolde non: 7,2815 So that he kepte his liberte 7,2816 To do justice and equite, 7,2817 Withoute lucre of such richesse. 7,2818 Ther be nou fewe of suche, I gesse; 7,2819 For it was thilke times used, 7,2820 That every jugge was refused 7,2821 Which was noght frend to comun riht; 7,2822 Bot thei that wolden stonde upriht 7,2823 For trouthe only to do justice 7,2824 Preferred were in thilke office 7,2825 To deme and jugge commun lawe: 7,2826 Which nou, men sein, is al withdrawe. 7,2827 To sette a lawe and kepe it noght 7,2828 Ther is no comun profit soght; 7,2829 Bot above alle natheles 7,2830 The lawe, which is mad for pes, 7,2831 Is good to kepe for the beste, 7,2832 For that set alle men in reste. 7,2833 The rihtful Emperour Conrade 7,2834 To kepe pes such lawe made, 7,2835 That non withinne the cite 7,2836 In destorbance of unite 7,2837 Dorste ones moeven a matiere. 7,2838 For in his time, as thou myht hiere, 7,2839 What point that was for lawe set 7,2840 It scholde for no gold be let, 7,2841 To what persone that it were. 7,2842 And this broghte in the comun fere, 7,2843 Why every man the lawe dradde, 7,2844 For ther was non which favour hadde. 7,2845 So as these olde bokes sein, 7,2846 I finde write hou a Romein, 7,2847 Which Consul was of the Pretoire, 7,2848 Whos name was Carmidotoire, 7,2849 He sette a lawe for the pes, 7,2850 That non, bot he be wepneles, 7,2851 Schal come into the conseil hous, 7,2852 And elles as malicious 7,2853 He schal ben of the lawe ded. 7,2854 To that statut and to that red 7,2855 Acorden alle it schal be so, 7,2856 For certein cause which was tho: 7,2857 Nou lest what fell therafter sone. 7,2858 This Consul hadde forto done, 7,2859 And was into the feldes ride; 7,2860 And thei him hadden longe abide, 7,2861 That lordes of the conseil were, 7,2862 And for him sende, and he cam there 7,2863 With swerd begert, and hath foryete, 7,2864 Til he was in the conseil sete. 7,2865 Was non of hem that made speche, 7,2866 Til he himself it wolde seche, 7,2867 And fond out the defalte himselve; 7,2868 And thanne he seide unto the tuelve, 7,2869 Whiche of the Senat weren wise, 7,2870 "I have deserved the juise, 7,2871 In haste that it were do." 7,2872 And thei him seiden alle no; 7,2873 For wel thei wiste it was no vice, 7,2874 Whan he ne thoghte no malice, 7,2875 Bot onliche of a litel slouthe: 7,2876 And thus thei leften as for routhe 7,2877 To do justice upon his gilt, 7,2878 For that he scholde noght be spilt. 7,2879 And whanne he sih the maner hou 7,2880 Thei wolde him save, he made avou 7,2881 With manfull herte, and thus he seide, 7,2882 That Rome scholde nevere abreide 7,2883 His heires, whan he were of dawe, 7,2884 That here Ancestre brak the lawe. 7,2885 Forthi, er that thei weren war, 7,2886 Forth with the same swerd he bar 7,2887 The statut of his lawe he kepte, 7,2888 So that al Rome his deth bewepte. 7,2889 In other place also I rede, 7,2890 Wher that a jugge his oghne dede 7,2891 Ne wol noght venge of lawe broke, 7,2892 The king it hath himselven wroke. 7,2893 The grete king which Cambises 7,2894 Was hote, a jugge laweles 7,2895 He fond, and into remembrance 7,2896 He dede upon him such vengance: 7,2897 Out of his skyn he was beflain 7,2898 Al quyk, and in that wise slain, 7,2899 So that his skyn was schape al meete, 7,2900 And nayled on the same seete 7,2901 Wher that his Sone scholde sitte. 7,2902 Avise him, if he wolde flitte 7,2903 The lawe for the coveitise, 7,2904 Ther sih he redi his juise. 7,2905 Thus in defalte of other jugge 7,2906 The king mot otherwhile jugge, 7,2907 To holden up the rihte lawe. 7,2908 And forto speke of tholde dawe, 7,2909 To take ensample of that was tho, 7,2910 I finde a tale write also, 7,2911 Hou that a worthi prince is holde 7,2912 The lawes of his lond to holde, 7,2913 Ferst for the hihe goddes sake, 7,2914 And ek for that him is betake 7,2915 The poeple forto guide and lede, 7,2916 Which is the charge of his kinghede. 7,2917 In a Cronique I rede thus 7,2918 Of the rihtful Ligurgius, 7,2919 Which of Athenis Prince was, 7,2920 Hou he the lawe in every cas, 7,2921 Wherof he scholde his poeple reule, 7,2922 Hath set upon so good a reule, 7,2923 In al this world that cite non 7,2924 Of lawe was so wel begon 7,2925 Forth with the trouthe of governance. 7,2926 Ther was among hem no distance, 7,2927 Bot every man hath his encress; 7,2928 Ther was withoute werre pes, 7,2929 Withoute envie love stod; 7,2930 Richesse upon the comun good 7,2931 And noght upon the singuler 7,2932 Ordeigned was, and the pouer 7,2933 Of hem that weren in astat 7,2934 Was sauf: wherof upon debat 7,2935 Ther stod nothing, so that in reste 7,2936 Mihte every man his herte reste. 7,2937 And whan this noble rihtful king 7,2938 Sih hou it ferde of al this thing, 7,2939 Wherof the poeple stod in ese, 7,2940 He, which for evere wolde plese 7,2941 The hihe god, whos thonk he soghte, 7,2942 A wonder thing thanne him bethoghte, 7,2943 And schop if that it myhte be, 7,2944 Hou that his lawe in the cite 7,2945 Mihte afterward for evere laste. 7,2946 And therupon his wit he caste 7,2947 What thing him were best to feigne, 7,2948 That he his pourpos myhte atteigne. 7,2949 A Parlement and thus he sette, 7,2950 His wisdom wher that he besette 7,2951 In audience of grete and smale, 7,2952 And in this wise he tolde his tale: 7,2953 "God wot, and so ye witen alle, 7,2954 Hierafterward hou so it falle, 7,2955 Yit into now my will hath be 7,2956 To do justice and equite 7,2957 In forthringe of comun profit; 7,2958 Such hath ben evere my delit. 7,2959 Bot of o thing I am beknowe, 7,2960 The which mi will is that ye knowe: 7,2961 The lawe which I tok on honde, 7,2962 Was altogedre of goddes sonde 7,2963 And nothing of myn oghne wit; 7,2964 So mot it nede endure yit, 7,2965 And schal do lengere, if ye wile. 7,2966 For I wol telle you the skile; 7,2967 The god Mercurius and no man 7,2968 He hath me tawht al that I can 7,2969 Of suche lawes as I made, 7,2970 Wherof that ye ben alle glade; 7,2971 It was the god and nothing I, 7,2972 Which dede al this, and nou forthi 7,2973 He hath comanded of his grace 7,2974 That I schal come into a place 7,2975 Which is forein out in an yle, 7,2976 Wher I mot tarie for a while, 7,2977 With him to speke, as he hath bede. 7,2978 For as he seith, in thilke stede 7,2979 He schal me suche thinges telle, 7,2980 That evere, whyl the world schal duelle, 7,2981 Athenis schal the betre fare. 7,2982 Bot ferst, er that I thider fare, 7,2983 For that I wolde that mi lawe 7,2984 Amonges you ne be withdrawe 7,2985 Ther whyles that I schal ben oute, 7,2986 Forthi to setten out of doute 7,2987 Bothe you and me, this wol I preie, 7,2988 That ye me wolde assure and seie 7,2989 With such an oth as I wol take, 7,2990 That ech of you schal undertake 7,2991 Mi lawes forto kepe and holde." 7,2992 Thei seiden alle that thei wolde, 7,2993 And therupon thei swore here oth, 7,2994 That fro the time that he goth, 7,2995 Til he to hem be come ayein, 7,2996 Thei scholde hise lawes wel and plein 7,2997 In every point kepe and fulfille. 7,2998 Thus hath Ligurgius his wille, 7,2999 And tok his leve and forth he wente. 7,3000 Bot lest nou wel to what entente 7,3001 Of rihtwisnesse he dede so: 7,3002 For after that he was ago, 7,3003 He schop him nevere to be founde; 7,3004 So that Athenis, which was bounde, 7,3005 Nevere after scholde be relessed, 7,3006 Ne thilke goode lawe cessed, 7,3007 Which was for comun profit set. 7,3008 And in this wise he hath it knet; 7,3009 He, which the comun profit soghte, 7,3010 The king, his oghne astat ne roghte; 7,3011 To do profit to the comune, 7,3012 He tok of exil the fortune, 7,3013 And lefte of Prince thilke office 7,3014 Only for love and for justice, 7,3015 Thurgh which he thoghte, if that he myhte, 7,3016 For evere after his deth to rihte 7,3017 The cite which was him betake. 7,3018 Wherof men oghte ensample take 7,3019 The goode lawes to avance 7,3020 With hem which under governance 7,3021 The lawes have forto kepe; 7,3022 For who that wolde take kepe 7,3023 Of hem that ferst the lawes founde, 7,3024 Als fer as lasteth eny bounde 7,3025 Of lond, here names yit ben knowe: 7,3026 And if it like thee to knowe 7,3027 Some of here names hou thei stonde, 7,3028 Nou herkne and thou schalt understonde. 7,3029 Of every bienfet the merite 7,3030 The god himself it wol aquite; 7,3031 And ek fulofte it falleth so, 7,3032 The world it wole aquite also, 7,3033 Bot that mai noght ben evene liche: 7,3034 The god he yifth the heveneriche, 7,3035 The world yifth only bot a name, 7,3036 Which stant upon the goode fame 7,3037 Of hem that don the goode dede. 7,3038 And in this wise double mede 7,3039 Resceiven thei that don wel hiere; 7,3040 Wherof if that thee list to hiere 7,3041 After the fame as it is blowe, 7,3042 Ther myht thou wel the sothe knowe, 7,3043 Hou thilke honeste besinesse 7,3044 Of hem that ferst for rihtwisnesse 7,3045 Among the men the lawes made, 7,3046 Mai nevere upon this erthe fade. 7,3047 For evere, whil ther is a tunge, 7,3048 Here name schal be rad and sunge 7,3049 And holde in the Cronique write; 7,3050 So that the men it scholden wite, 7,3051 To speke good, as thei wel oghten, 7,3052 Of hem that ferst the lawes soghten 7,3053 In forthringe of the worldes pes. 7,3054 Unto thebreus was Moiµses 7,3055 The ferste, and to thegipciens 7,3056 Mercurius, and to Troiens 7,3057 Ferst was Neuma Pompilius, 7,3058 To Athenes Ligurgius 7,3059 Yaf ferst the lawe, and to Gregois 7,3060 Foroneuµs hath thilke vois, 7,3061 And Romulus to the Romeins. 7,3062 For suche men that ben vileins 7,3063 The lawe in such a wise ordeigneth, 7,3064 That what man to the lawe pleigneth, 7,3065 Be so the jugge stonde upriht, 7,3066 He schal be served of his riht. 7,3067 And so ferforth it is befalle 7,3068 That lawe is come among ous alle: 7,3069 God lieve it mote wel ben holde, 7,3070 As every king therto is holde; 7,3071 For thing which is of kinges set, 7,3072 With kinges oghte it noght be let. 7,3073 What king of lawe takth no kepe, 7,3074 Be lawe he mai no regne kepe. 7,3075 Do lawe awey, what is a king? 7,3076 Wher is the riht of eny thing, 7,3077 If that ther be no lawe in londe? 7,3078 This oghte a king wel understonde, 7,3079 As he which is to lawe swore, 7,3080 That if the lawe be forbore 7,3081 Withouten execucioun, 7,3082 If makth a lond torne up so doun, 7,3083 Which is unto the king a sclandre. 7,3084 Forthi unto king Alisandre 7,3085 The wise Philosophre bad, 7,3086 That he himselve ferst be lad 7,3087 Of lawe, and forth thanne overal 7,3088 So do justice in general, 7,3089 That al the wyde lond aboute 7,3090 The justice of his lawe doute, 7,3091 And thanne schal he stonde in reste. 7,3092 For therto lawe is on the beste 7,3093 Above alle other erthly thing, 7,3094 To make a liege drede his king. 7,3095 Bot hou a king schal gete him love 7,3096 Toward the hihe god above, 7,3097 And ek among the men in erthe, 7,3098 This nexte point, which is the ferthe 7,3099 Of Aristotles lore, it techeth: 7,3100 Wherof who that the Scole secheth, 7,3101 What Policie that it is 7,3102 The bok reherceth after this. 7,3103 It nedeth noght that I delate 7,3104 The pris which preised is algate, 7,3105 And hath ben evere and evere schal, 7,3106 Wherof to speke in special, 7,3107 It is the vertu of Pite, 7,3108 Thurgh which the hihe mageste 7,3109 Was stered, whan his Sone alyhte, 7,3110 And in pite the world to rihte 7,3111 Tok of the Maide fleissh and blod. 7,3112 Pite was cause of thilke good, 7,3113 Wherof that we ben alle save: 7,3114 Wel oghte a man Pite to have 7,3115 And the vertu to sette in pris, 7,3116 Whan he himself which is al wys 7,3117 Hath schewed why it schal be preised. 7,3118 Pite may noght be conterpeised 7,3119 Of tirannie with no peis; 7,3120 For Pite makth a king courteis 7,3121 Bothe in his word and in his dede. 7,3122 It sit wel every liege drede 7,3123 His king and to his heste obeie, 7,3124 And riht so be the same weie 7,3125 It sit a king to be pitous 7,3126 Toward his poeple and gracious 7,3127 Upon the reule of governance, 7,3128 So that he worche no vengance, 7,3129 Which mai be cleped crualte. 7,3130 Justice which doth equite 7,3131 Is dredfull, for he noman spareth; 7,3132 Bot in the lond wher Pite fareth 7,3133 The king mai nevere faile of love, 7,3134 For Pite thurgh the grace above, 7,3135 So as the Philosphre affermeth, 7,3136 His regne in good astat confermeth. 7,3137 Thus seide whilom Constantin: 7,3138 "What Emperour that is enclin 7,3139 To Pite forto be servant, 7,3140 Of al the worldes remenant 7,3141 He is worthi to ben a lord." 7,3142 In olde bokes of record 7,3143 This finde I write of essamplaire: 7,3144 Troian the worthi debonaire, 7,3145 Be whom that Rome stod governed, 7,3146 Upon a time as he was lerned 7,3147 Of that he was to familier, 7,3148 He seide unto that conseiller, 7,3149 That forto ben an Emperour 7,3150 His will was noght for vein honour, 7,3151 Ne yit for reddour of justice; 7,3152 Bot if he myhte in his office 7,3153 Hise lordes and his poeple plese, 7,3154 Him thoghte it were a grettere ese 7,3155 With love here hertes to him drawe, 7,3156 Than with the drede of eny lawe. 7,3157 For whan a thing is do for doute, 7,3158 Fulofte it comth the worse aboute; 7,3159 Bot wher a king is Pietous, 7,3160 He is the more gracious, 7,3161 That mochel thrift him schal betyde, 7,3162 Which elles scholde torne aside. 7,3163 Of Pite forto speke plein, 7,3164 Which is with mercy wel besein, 7,3165 Fulofte he wole himselve peine 7,3166 To kepe an other fro the peine: 7,3167 For Charite the moder is 7,3168 Of Pite, which nothing amis 7,3169 Can soffre, if he it mai amende. 7,3170 It sit to every man livende 7,3171 To be Pitous, bot non so wel 7,3172 As to a king, which on the whiel 7,3173 Fortune hath set aboven alle: 7,3174 For in a king, if so befalle 7,3175 That his Pite be ferme and stable, 7,3176 To al the lond it is vailable 7,3177 Only thurgh grace of his persone; 7,3178 For the Pite of him al one 7,3179 Mai al the large realme save. 7,3180 So sit it wel a king to have 7,3181 Pite; for this Valeire tolde, 7,3182 And seide hou that be daies olde 7,3183 Codrus, which was in his degre 7,3184 King of Athenis the cite, 7,3185 A werre he hadde ayein Dorrence: 7,3186 And forto take his evidence 7,3187 What schal befalle of the bataille, 7,3188 He thoghte he wolde him ferst consaille 7,3189 With Appollo, in whom he triste; 7,3190 Thurgh whos ansuere this he wiste, 7,3191 Of tuo pointz that he myhte chese, 7,3192 Or that he wolde his body lese 7,3193 And in bataille himselve deie, 7,3194 Or elles the seconde weie, 7,3195 To sen his poeple desconfit. 7,3196 Bot he, which Pite hath parfit 7,3197 Upon the point of his believe, 7,3198 The poeple thoghte to relieve, 7,3199 And ches himselve to be ded. 7,3200 Wher is nou such an other hed, 7,3201 Which wolde for the lemes dye? 7,3202 And natheles in som partie 7,3203 It oghte a kinges herte stere, 7,3204 That he hise liege men forbere. 7,3205 And ek toward hise enemis 7,3206 Fulofte he may deserve pris, 7,3207 To take of Pite remembrance, 7,3208 Wher that he myhte do vengance: 7,3209 For whanne a king hath the victoire, 7,3210 And thanne he drawe into memoire 7,3211 To do Pite in stede of wreche, 7,3212 He mai noght faile of thilke speche 7,3213 Wherof arist the worldes fame, 7,3214 To yive a Prince a worthi name. 7,3215 I rede hou whilom that Pompeie, 7,3216 To whom that Rome moste obeie, 7,3217 A werre hadde in jeupartie 7,3218 Ayein the king of Ermenie, 7,3219 Which of long time him hadde grieved. 7,3220 Bot ate laste it was achieved 7,3221 That he this king desconfit hadde, 7,3222 And forth with him to Rome ladde 7,3223 As Prisoner, wher many a day 7,3224 In sori plit and povere he lay, 7,3225 The corone of his heved deposed, 7,3226 Withinne walles faste enclosed; 7,3227 And with ful gret humilite 7,3228 He soffreth his adversite. 7,3229 Pompeie sih his pacience 7,3230 And tok pite with conscience, 7,3231 So that upon his hihe deis 7,3232 Tofore al Rome in his Paleis, 7,3233 As he that wolde upon him rewe, 7,3234 Let yive him his corone newe 7,3235 And his astat al full and plein 7,3236 Restoreth of his regne ayein, 7,3237 And seide it was more goodly thing 7,3238 To make than undon a king, 7,3239 To him which pouer hadde of bothe. 7,3240 Thus thei, that weren longe wrothe, 7,3241 Acorden hem to final pes; 7,3242 And yit justice natheles 7,3243 Was kept and in nothing offended; 7,3244 Wherof Pompeie was comended. 7,3245 Ther mai no king himself excuse, 7,3246 Bot if justice he kepe and use, 7,3247 Which for teschuie crualte 7,3248 He mot attempre with Pite. 7,3249 Of crualte the felonie 7,3250 Engendred is of tirannie, 7,3251 Ayein the whos condicion 7,3252 God is himself the champion, 7,3253 Whos strengthe mai noman withstonde. 7,3254 For evere yit it hath so stonde, 7,3255 That god a tirant overladde; 7,3256 Bot wher Pite the regne ladde, 7,3257 Ther mihte no fortune laste 7,3258 Which was grevous, bot ate laste 7,3259 The god himself it hath redresced. 7,3260 Pite is thilke vertu blessed 7,3261 Which nevere let his Maister falle; 7,3262 Bot crualte, thogh it so falle 7,3263 That it mai regne for a throwe, 7,3264 God wole it schal ben overthrowe: 7,3265 Wherof ensamples ben ynowhe 7,3266 Of hem that thilke merel drowhe. 7,3267 Of crualte I rede thus: 7,3268 Whan the tirant Leoncius 7,3269 Was to thempire of Rome arrived, 7,3270 Fro which he hath with strengthe prived 7,3271 The pietous Justinian, 7,3272 As he which was a cruel man, 7,3273 His nase of and his lippes bothe 7,3274 He kutte, for he wolde him lothe 7,3275 Unto the poeple and make unable. 7,3276 Bot he which is al merciable, 7,3277 The hihe god, ordeigneth so, 7,3278 That he withinne a time also, 7,3279 Whan he was strengest in his ire, 7,3280 Was schoven out of his empire. 7,3281 Tiberius the pouer hadde, 7,3282 And Rome after his will he ladde, 7,3283 And for Leonce in such a wise 7,3284 Ordeigneth, that he tok juise 7,3285 Of nase and lippes bothe tuo, 7,3286 For that he dede an other so, 7,3287 Which more worthi was than he. 7,3288 Lo, which a fall hath crualte, 7,3289 And Pite was set up ayein: 7,3290 For after that the bokes sein, 7,3291 Therbellis king of Bulgarie 7,3292 With helpe of his chivalerie 7,3293 Justinian hath unprisoned 7,3294 And to thempire ayein coroned. 7,3295 In a Cronique I finde also 7,3296 Of Siculus, which was ek so 7,3297 A cruel king lich the tempeste, 7,3298 The whom no Pite myhte areste,- 7,3299 He was the ferste, as bokes seie, 7,3300 Upon the See which fond Galeie 7,3301 And let hem make for the werre,- 7,3302 As he which al was out of herre 7,3303 Fro Pite and misericorde; 7,3304 For therto couthe he noght acorde, 7,3305 Bot whom he myhte slen, he slouh, 7,3306 And therof was he glad ynouh. 7,3307 He hadde of conseil manyon, 7,3308 Among the whiche ther was on, 7,3309 Be name which Berillus hihte; 7,3310 And he bethoghte him hou he myhte 7,3311 Unto the tirant do likinge, 7,3312 And of his oghne ymaginynge 7,3313 Let forge and make a Bole of bras, 7,3314 And on the side cast ther was 7,3315 A Dore, wher a man mai inne, 7,3316 Whan he his peine schal beginne 7,3317 Thurgh fyr, which that men putten under. 7,3318 And al this dede he for a wonder, 7,3319 That whanne a man for peine cride, 7,3320 The Bole of bras, which gapeth wyde, 7,3321 It scholde seme as thogh it were 7,3322 A belwinge in a mannes Ere, 7,3323 And noght the criinge of a man. 7,3324 Bot he which alle sleihtes can, 7,3325 The devel, that lith in helle fast, 7,3326 Him that this caste hath overcast, 7,3327 That for a trespas which he dede 7,3328 He was putt in the same stede, 7,3329 And was himself the ferste of alle 7,3330 Which was into that peine falle 7,3331 That he for othre men ordeigneth; 7,3332 Ther was noman which him compleigneth. 7,3333 Of tirannie and crualte 7,3334 Be this ensample a king mai se, 7,3335 Himself and ek his conseil bothe, 7,3336 Hou thei ben to mankinde lothe 7,3337 And to the god abhominable. 7,3338 Ensamples that ben concordable 7,3339 I finde of othre Princes mo, 7,3340 As thou schalt hiere, of time go. 7,3341 The grete tirant Dionys, 7,3342 Which mannes lif sette of no pris, 7,3343 Unto his hors fulofte he yaf 7,3344 The men in stede of corn and chaf, 7,3345 So that the hors of thilke stod 7,3346 Devoureden the mennes blod; 7,3347 Til fortune ate laste cam, 7,3348 That Hercules him overcam, 7,3349 And he riht in the same wise 7,3350 Of this tirant tok the juise: 7,3351 As he til othre men hath do, 7,3352 The same deth he deide also, 7,3353 That no Pite him hath socoured, 7,3354 Til he was of hise hors devoured. 7,3355 Of Lichaon also I finde 7,3356 Hou he ayein the lawe of kinde 7,3357 Hise hostes slouh, and into mete 7,3358 He made her bodies to ben ete 7,3359 With othre men withinne his hous. 7,3360 Bot Jupiter the glorious, 7,3361 Which was commoeved of this thing, 7,3362 Vengance upon this cruel king 7,3363 So tok, that he fro mannes forme 7,3364 Into a wolf him let transforme: 7,3365 And thus the crualte was kidd, 7,3366 Which of long time he hadde hidd; 7,3367 A wolf he was thanne openly, 7,3368 The whos nature prively 7,3369 He hadde in his condicion. 7,3370 And unto this conclusioun, 7,3371 That tirannie is to despise, 7,3372 I finde ensample in sondri wise, 7,3373 And nameliche of hem fulofte, 7,3374 The whom fortune hath set alofte 7,3375 Upon the werres forto winne. 7,3376 Bot hou so that the wrong beginne 7,3377 Of tirannie, it mai noght laste, 7,3378 Bot such as thei don ate laste 7,3379 To othre men, such on hem falleth; 7,3380 For ayein suche Pite calleth 7,3381 Vengance to the god above. 7,3382 For who that hath no tender love 7,3383 In savinge of a mannes lif, 7,3384 He schal be founde so gultif, 7,3385 That whanne he wolde mercy crave 7,3386 In time of nede, he schal non have. 7,3387 Of the natures this I finde, 7,3388 The fierce Leon in his kinde, 7,3389 Which goth rampende after his preie, 7,3390 If he a man finde in his weie, 7,3391 He wole him slen, if he withstonde. 7,3392 Bot if the man coude understonde 7,3393 To falle anon before his face 7,3394 In signe of mercy and of grace, 7,3395 The Leon schal of his nature 7,3396 Restreigne his ire in such mesure, 7,3397 As thogh it were a beste tamed, 7,3398 And torne awey halfvinge aschamed, 7,3399 That he the man schal nothing grieve. 7,3400 Hou scholde than a Prince achieve 7,3401 The worldes grace, if that he wolde 7,3402 Destruie a man whanne he is yolde 7,3403 And stant upon his mercy al? 7,3404 Bot forto speke in special, 7,3405 Ther have be suche and yit ther be 7,3406 Tirantz, whos hertes no pite 7,3407 Mai to no point of mercy plie, 7,3408 That thei upon her tirannie 7,3409 Ne gladen hem the men to sle; 7,3410 And as the rages of the See 7,3411 Ben unpitous in the tempeste, 7,3412 Riht so mai no Pite areste 7,3413 Of crualte the gret oultrage, 7,3414 Which the tirant in his corage 7,3415 Engendred hath: wherof I finde 7,3416 A tale, which comth nou to mynde. 7,3417 I rede in olde bokes thus: 7,3418 Ther was a Duk, which Spertachus 7,3419 Men clepe, and was a werreiour, 7,3420 A cruel man, a conquerour 7,3421 With strong pouer the which he ladde. 7,3422 For this condicion he hadde, 7,3423 That where him hapneth the victoire, 7,3424 His lust and al his moste gloire 7,3425 Was forto sle and noght to save: 7,3426 Of rancoun wolde he no good have 7,3427 For savinge of a mannes lif, 7,3428 Bot al goth to the swerd and knyf, 7,3429 So lief him was the mannes blod. 7,3430 And natheles yit thus it stod, 7,3431 So as fortune aboute wente, 7,3432 He fell riht heir as be descente 7,3433 To Perse, and was coroned king. 7,3434 And whan the worschipe of this thing 7,3435 Was falle, and he was king of Perse, 7,3436 If that thei weren ferst diverse, 7,3437 The tirannies whiche he wroghte, 7,3438 A thousendfold welmore he soghte 7,3439 Thanne afterward to do malice. 7,3440 The god vengance ayein the vice 7,3441 Hath schape: for upon a tyde, 7,3442 Whan he was heihest in his Pride, 7,3443 In his rancour and in his hete 7,3444 Ayein the queene of Marsagete, 7,3445 Which Thameris that time hihte, 7,3446 He made werre al that he myhte: 7,3447 And sche, which wolde hir lond defende, 7,3448 Hir oghne Sone ayein him sende, 7,3449 Which the defence hath undertake. 7,3450 Bot he desconfit was and take; 7,3451 And whan this king him hadde in honde, 7,3452 He wol no mercy understonde, 7,3453 Bot dede him slen in his presence. 7,3454 The tidinge of this violence 7,3455 Whan it cam to the moder Ere, 7,3456 Sche sende anon ay wydewhere 7,3457 To suche frendes as sche hadde, 7,3458 A gret pouer til that sche ladde. 7,3459 In sondri wise and tho sche caste 7,3460 Hou sche this king mai overcaste; 7,3461 And ate laste acorded was, 7,3462 That in the danger of a pass, 7,3463 Thurgh which this tirant scholde passe, 7,3464 Sche schop his pouer to compasse 7,3465 With strengthe of men be such a weie 7,3466 That he schal noght eschape aweie. 7,3467 And whan sche hadde thus ordeigned, 7,3468 Sche hath hir oghne bodi feigned, 7,3469 For feere as thogh sche wolde flee 7,3470 Out of hir lond: and whan that he 7,3471 Hath herd hou that this ladi fledde, 7,3472 So faste after the chace he spedde, 7,3473 That he was founde out of array. 7,3474 For it betidde upon a day, 7,3475 Into the pas whanne he was falle, 7,3476 Thembuisschementz tobrieken alle 7,3477 And him beclipte on every side, 7,3478 That fle ne myhte he noght aside: 7,3479 So that ther weren dede and take 7,3480 Tuo hundred thousend for his sake, 7,3481 That weren with him of his host. 7,3482 And thus was leid the grete bost 7,3483 Of him and of his tirannie: 7,3484 It halp no mercy forto crie 7,3485 To him which whilom dede non; 7,3486 For he unto the queene anon 7,3487 Was broght, and whan that sche him sih, 7,3488 This word sche spak and seide on hih: 7,3489 "O man, which out of mannes kinde 7,3490 Reson of man hast left behinde 7,3491 And lived worse than a beste, 7,3492 Whom Pite myhte noght areste, 7,3493 The mannes blod to schede and spille 7,3494 Thou haddest nevere yit thi fille. 7,3495 Bot nou the laste time is come, 7,3496 That thi malice is overcome: 7,3497 As thou til othre men hast do, 7,3498 Nou schal be do to thee riht so." 7,3499 Tho bad this ladi that men scholde 7,3500 A vessel bringe, in which sche wolde 7,3501 Se the vengance of his juise, 7,3502 Which sche began anon devise; 7,3503 And tok the Princes whiche he ladde, 7,3504 Be whom his chief conseil he hadde, 7,3505 And whil hem lasteth eny breth, 7,3506 Sche made hem blede to the deth 7,3507 Into the vessel wher it stod: 7,3508 And whan it was fulfild of blod, 7,3509 Sche caste this tirant therinne, 7,3510 And seide him, "Lo, thus myht thou wynne 7,3511 The lustes of thin appetit. 7,3512 In blod was whilom thi delit, 7,3513 Nou schalt thou drinken al thi fille." 7,3514 And thus onliche of goddes wille, 7,3515 He which that wolde himselve strange 7,3516 To Pite, fond mercy so strange, 7,3517 That he withoute grace is lore. 7,3518 So may it schewe wel therfore 7,3519 That crualte hath no good ende; 7,3520 Bot Pite, hou so that it wende, 7,3521 Makth that the god is merciable, 7,3522 If ther be cause resonable 7,3523 Why that a king schal be pitous. 7,3524 Bot elles, if he be doubtous 7,3525 To slen in cause of rihtwisnesse, 7,3526 It mai be said no Pitousnesse, 7,3527 Bot it is Pusillamite, 7,3528 Which every Prince scholde flee. 7,3529 For if Pite mesure excede, 7,3530 Kinghode may noght wel procede 7,3531 To do justice upon the riht: 7,3532 For it belongeth to a knyht 7,3533 Als gladly forto fihte as reste, 7,3534 To sette his liege poeple in reste, 7,3535 Whan that the werre upon hem falleth; 7,3536 For thanne he mote, as it befalleth, 7,3537 Of his knyhthode as a Leon 7,3538 Be to the poeple a champioun 7,3539 Withouten eny Pite feigned. 7,3540 For if manhode be restreigned, 7,3541 Or be it pes or be it werre, 7,3542 Justice goth al out of herre, 7,3543 So that knyhthode is set behinde. 7,3544 Of Aristotles lore I finde, 7,3545 A king schal make good visage, 7,3546 That noman knowe of his corage 7,3547 Bot al honour and worthinesse: 7,3548 For if a king schal upon gesse 7,3549 Withoute verrai cause drede, 7,3550 He mai be lich to that I rede; 7,3551 And thogh that it be lich a fable, 7,3552 Thensample is good and resonable. 7,3553 As it be olde daies fell, 7,3554 I rede whilom that an hell 7,3555 Up in the londes of Archade 7,3556 A wonder dredful noise made; 7,3557 For so it fell that ilke day, 7,3558 This hell on his childinge lay, 7,3559 And whan the throwes on him come, 7,3560 His noise lich the day of dome 7,3561 Was ferfull in a mannes thoght 7,3562 Of thing which that thei sihe noght, 7,3563 Bot wel thei herden al aboute 7,3564 The noise, of which thei were in doute, 7,3565 As thei that wenden to be lore 7,3566 Of thing which thanne was unbore. 7,3567 The nerr this hell was upon chance 7,3568 To taken his deliverance, 7,3569 The more unbuxomliche he cride; 7,3570 And every man was fledd aside, 7,3571 For drede and lefte his oghne hous: 7,3572 And ate laste it was a Mous, 7,3573 The which was bore and to norrice 7,3574 Betake; and tho thei hield hem nyce, 7,3575 For thei withoute cause dradde. 7,3576 Thus if a king his herte ladde 7,3577 With every thing that he schal hiere, 7,3578 Fulofte he scholde change his chiere 7,3579 And upon fantasie drede, 7,3580 Whan that ther is no cause of drede. 7,3581 Orace to his Prince tolde, 7,3582 That him were levere that he wolde 7,3583 Upon knihthode Achillem suie 7,3584 In time of werre, thanne eschuie, 7,3585 So as Tersites dede at Troie. 7,3586 Achilles al his hole joie 7,3587 Sette upon Armes forto fihte; 7,3588 Tersites soghte al that he myhte 7,3589 Unarmed forto stonde in reste: 7,3590 Bot of the tuo it was the beste 7,3591 That Achilles upon the nede 7,3592 Hath do, wherof his knyhtlihiede 7,3593 Is yit comended overal. 7,3594 King Salomon in special 7,3595 Seith, as ther is a time of pes, 7,3596 So is a time natheles 7,3597 Of werre, in which a Prince algate 7,3598 Schal for the comun riht debate 7,3599 And for his oghne worschipe eke. 7,3600 Bot it behoveth noght to seke 7,3601 Only the werre for worschipe, 7,3602 Bot to the riht of his lordschipe, 7,3603 Which he is holde to defende, 7,3604 Mote every worthi Prince entende. 7,3605 Betwen the simplesce of Pite 7,3606 And the folhaste of crualte, 7,3607 Wher stant the verray hardiesce, 7,3608 Ther mote a king his herte adresce, 7,3609 Whanne it is time to forsake, 7,3610 And whan time is also to take 7,3611 The dedly werres upon honde, 7,3612 That he schal for no drede wonde, 7,3613 If rihtwisnesse be withal. 7,3614 For god is myhty overal 7,3615 To forthren every mannes trowthe, 7,3616 Bot it be thurgh his oghne slowthe; 7,3617 And namely the kinges nede 7,3618 It mai noght faile forto spede, 7,3619 For he stant one for hem alle; 7,3620 So mote it wel the betre falle 7,3621 And wel the more god favoureth, 7,3622 Whan he the comun riht socoureth. 7,3623 And forto se the sothe in dede, 7,3624 Behold the bible and thou myht rede 7,3625 Of grete ensamples manyon, 7,3626 Wherof that I wol tellen on. 7,3627 Upon a time as it befell, 7,3628 Ayein Judee and Irahel 7,3629 Whan sondri kinges come were 7,3630 In pourpos to destruie there 7,3631 The poeple which god kepte tho,- 7,3632 And stod in thilke daies so, 7,3633 That Gedeon, which scholde lede 7,3634 The goddes folk, tok him to rede, 7,3635 And sende in al the lond aboute, 7,3636 Til he assembled hath a route 7,3637 With thritti thousend of defence, 7,3638 To fihte and make resistence 7,3639 Ayein the whiche hem wolde assaille: 7,3640 And natheles that o bataille 7,3641 Of thre that weren enemys 7,3642 Was double mor than was al his; 7,3643 Wherof that Gedeon him dradde, 7,3644 That he so litel poeple hadde. 7,3645 Bot he which alle thing mai helpe, 7,3646 Wher that ther lacketh mannes helpe, 7,3647 To Gedeon his Angel sente, 7,3648 And bad, er that he forther wente, 7,3649 Al openly that he do crie 7,3650 That every man in his partie 7,3651 Which wolde after his oghne wille 7,3652 In his delice abide stille 7,3653 At hom in eny maner wise, 7,3654 For pourchas or for covoitise, 7,3655 For lust of love or lacke of herte, 7,3656 He scholde noght aboute sterte, 7,3657 Bot holde him stille at hom in pes: 7,3658 Wherof upon the morwe he les 7,3659 Wel twenty thousend men and mo, 7,3660 The whiche after the cri ben go. 7,3661 Thus was with him bot only left 7,3662 The thridde part, and yit god eft 7,3663 His Angel sende and seide this 7,3664 To Gedeon: "If it so is 7,3665 That I thin help schal undertake, 7,3666 Thou schalt yit lasse poeple take, 7,3667 Be whom mi will is that thou spede. 7,3668 Forthi tomorwe tak good hiede, 7,3669 Unto the flod whan ye be come, 7,3670 What man that hath the water nome 7,3671 Up in his hond and lapeth so, 7,3672 To thi part ches out alle tho; 7,3673 And him which wery is to swinke, 7,3674 Upon his wombe and lith to drinke, 7,3675 Forsak and put hem alle aweie. 7,3676 For I am myhti alle weie, 7,3677 Wher as me list myn help to schewe 7,3678 In goode men, thogh thei ben fewe." 7,3679 This Gedeon awaiteth wel, 7,3680 Upon the morwe and everydel, 7,3681 As god him bad, riht so he dede. 7,3682 And thus ther leften in that stede 7,3683 With him thre hundred and nomo, 7,3684 The remenant was al ago: 7,3685 Wherof that Gedeon merveileth, 7,3686 And therupon with god conseileth, 7,3687 Pleignende as ferforth as he dar. 7,3688 And god, which wolde he were war 7,3689 That he schal spede upon his riht, 7,3690 Hath bede him go the same nyht 7,3691 And take a man with him, to hiere 7,3692 What schal be spoke in his matere 7,3693 Among the hethen enemis; 7,3694 So mai he be the more wys, 7,3695 What afterward him schal befalle. 7,3696 This Gedeon amonges alle 7,3697 Phara, to whom he triste most, 7,3698 Be nyhte tok toward thilke host, 7,3699 Which logged was in a valleie, 7,3700 To hiere what thei wolden seie; 7,3701 Upon his fot and as he ferde, 7,3702 Tuo Sarazins spekende he herde. 7,3703 Quod on, "Ared mi swevene ariht, 7,3704 Which I mette in mi slep to nyht. 7,3705 Me thoghte I sih a barli cake, 7,3706 Which fro the Hull his weie hath take, 7,3707 And cam rollende doun at ones; 7,3708 And as it were for the nones, 7,3709 Forth in his cours so as it ran, 7,3710 The kinges tente of Madian, 7,3711 Of Amalech, of Amoreie, 7,3712 Of Amon and of Jebuseie, 7,3713 And many an other tente mo 7,3714 With gret noise, as me thoghte tho, 7,3715 It threw to grounde and overcaste, 7,3716 And al this host so sore agaste 7,3717 That I awok for pure drede." 7,3718 "This swevene can I wel arede," 7,3719 Quod thother Sarazin anon: 7,3720 "The barli cake is Gedeon, 7,3721 Which fro the hell doun sodeinly 7,3722 Schal come and sette such ascry 7,3723 Upon the kinges and ous bothe, 7,3724 That it schal to ous alle lothe: 7,3725 For in such drede he schal ous bringe, 7,3726 That if we hadden flyht of wynge, 7,3727 The weie on fote in desespeir 7,3728 We scholden leve and flen in their, 7,3729 For ther schal nothing him withstonde." 7,3730 Whan Gedeon hath understonde 7,3731 This tale, he thonketh god of al, 7,3732 And priveliche ayein he stal, 7,3733 So that no lif him hath perceived. 7,3734 And thanne he hath fulli conceived 7,3735 That he schal spede; and therupon 7,3736 The nyht suiende he schop to gon 7,3737 This multitude to assaile. 7,3738 Nou schalt thou hiere a gret mervaile, 7,3739 With what voisdie that he wroghte. 7,3740 The litel poeple which he broghte, 7,3741 Was non of hem that he ne hath 7,3742 A pot of erthe, in which he tath 7,3743 A lyht brennende in a kressette, 7,3744 And ech of hem ek a trompette 7,3745 Bar in his other hond beside; 7,3746 And thus upon the nyhtes tyde 7,3747 Duk Gedeon, whan it was derk, 7,3748 Ordeineth him unto his werk, 7,3749 And parteth thanne his folk in thre, 7,3750 And chargeth hem that thei ne fle, 7,3751 And tawhte hem hou they scholde ascrie 7,3752 Alle in o vois per compaignie, 7,3753 And what word ek thei scholden speke, 7,3754 And hou thei scholde here pottes breke 7,3755 Echon with other, whan thei herde 7,3756 That he himselve ferst so ferde; 7,3757 For whan thei come into the stede, 7,3758 He bad hem do riht as he dede. 7,3759 And thus stalkende forth a pas 7,3760 This noble Duk, whan time was, 7,3761 His pot tobrak and loude ascride, 7,3762 And tho thei breke on every side. 7,3763 The trompe was noght forto seke; 7,3764 He blew, and so thei blewen eke 7,3765 With such a noise among hem alle, 7,3766 As thogh the hevene scholde falle. 7,3767 The hull unto here vois ansuerde, 7,3768 This host in the valleie it herde, 7,3769 And sih hou that the hell alyhte; 7,3770 So what of hieringe and of sihte, 7,3771 Thei cawhten such a sodein feere, 7,3772 That non of hem belefte there: 7,3773 The tentes hole thei forsoke, 7,3774 That thei non other good ne toke, 7,3775 Bot only with here bodi bare 7,3776 Thei fledde, as doth the wylde Hare. 7,3777 And evere upon the hull thei blewe, 7,3778 Til that thei sihe time, and knewe 7,3779 That thei be fled upon the rage; 7,3780 And whan thei wiste here avantage, 7,3781 Thei felle anon unto the chace. 7,3782 Thus myht thou sen hou goddes grace 7,3783 Unto the goode men availeth; 7,3784 But elles ofte time it faileth 7,3785 To suche as be noght wel disposed. 7,3786 This tale nedeth noght be glosed, 7,3787 For it is openliche schewed 7,3788 That god to hem that ben wel thewed 7,3789 Hath yove and granted the victoire: 7,3790 So that thensample of this histoire 7,3791 Is good for every king to holde; 7,3792 Ferst in himself that he beholde 7,3793 If he be good of his livinge, 7,3794 And that the folk which he schal bringe 7,3795 Be good also, for thanne he may 7,3796 Be glad of many a merie day, 7,3797 In what as evere he hath to done. 7,3798 For he which sit above the Mone 7,3799 And alle thing mai spille and spede, 7,3800 In every cause, in every nede 7,3801 His goode king so wel adresceth, 7,3802 That alle his fomen he represseth, 7,3803 So that ther mai noman him dere; 7,3804 And als so wel he can forbere, 7,3805 And soffre a wickid king to falle 7,3806 In hondes of his fomen alle. 7,3807 Nou forthermore if I schal sein 7,3808 Of my matiere, and torne ayein 7,3809 To speke of justice and Pite 7,3810 After the reule of realte, 7,3811 This mai a king wel understonde, 7,3812 Knihthode mot ben take on honde, 7,3813 Whan that it stant upon the nede: 7,3814 He schal no rihtful cause drede, 7,3815 Nomore of werre thanne of pes, 7,3816 If he wol stonde blameles; 7,3817 For such a cause a king mai have 7,3818 That betre him is to sle than save, 7,3819 Wherof thou myht ensample finde. 7,3820 The hihe makere of mankinde 7,3821 Be Samuel to Sauµl bad, 7,3822 That he schal nothing ben adrad 7,3823 Ayein king Agag forto fihte; 7,3824 For this the godhede him behihte, 7,3825 That Agag schal ben overcome: 7,3826 And whan it is so ferforth come, 7,3827 That Sauµl hath him desconfit, 7,3828 The god bad make no respit, 7,3829 That he ne scholde him slen anon. 7,3830 Bot Sauµl let it overgon 7,3831 And dede noght the goddes heste: 7,3832 For Agag made gret beheste 7,3833 Of rancoun which he wolde yive, 7,3834 King Sauµl soffreth him to live 7,3835 And feigneth pite forth withal. 7,3836 Bot he which seth and knoweth al, 7,3837 The hihe god, of that he feigneth 7,3838 To Samuel upon him pleigneth, 7,3839 And sende him word, for that he lefte 7,3840 Of Agag that he ne berefte 7,3841 The lif, he schal noght only dye 7,3842 Himself, bot fro his regalie 7,3843 He schal be put for everemo, 7,3844 Noght he, bot ek his heir also, 7,3845 That it schal nevere come ayein. 7,3846 Thus myht thou se the sothe plein, 7,3847 That of tomoche and of tolyte 7,3848 Upon the Princes stant the wyte. 7,3849 Bot evere it was a kinges riht 7,3850 To do the dedes of a knyht; 7,3851 For in the handes of a king 7,3852 The deth and lif is al o thing 7,3853 After the lawes of justice. 7,3854 To slen it is a dedly vice, 7,3855 Bot if a man the deth deserve; 7,3856 And if a king the lif preserve 7,3857 Of him which oghte forto dye, 7,3858 He suieth noght thensamplerie 7,3859 Which in the bible is evident: 7,3860 Hou David in his testament, 7,3861 Whan he no lengere myhte live, 7,3862 Unto his Sone in charge hath yive 7,3863 That he Joab schal slen algate; 7,3864 And whan David was gon his gate, 7,3865 The yonge wise Salomon 7,3866 His fader heste dede anon, 7,3867 And slouh Joab in such a wise, 7,3868 That thei that herden the juise 7,3869 Evere after dradden him the more, 7,3870 And god was ek wel paid therfore, 7,3871 That he so wolde his herte plye 7,3872 The lawes forto justefie. 7,3873 And yit he kepte forth withal 7,3874 Pite, so as a Prince schal, 7,3875 That he no tirannie wroghte; 7,3876 He fond the wisdom which he soghte, 7,3877 And was so rihtful natheles, 7,3878 That al his lif he stod in pes, 7,3879 That he no dedly werres hadde, 7,3880 For every man his wisdom dradde. 7,3881 And as he was himselve wys, 7,3882 Riht so the worthi men of pris 7,3883 He hath of his conseil withholde; 7,3884 For that is every Prince holde, 7,3885 To make of suche his retenue 7,3886 Whiche wise ben, and to remue 7,3887 The foles: for ther is nothing 7,3888 Which mai be betre aboute a king, 7,3889 Than conseil, which is the substance 7,3890 Of all a kinges governance. 7,3891 In Salomon a man mai see 7,3892 What thing of most necessite 7,3893 Unto a worthi king belongeth. 7,3894 Whan he his kingdom underfongeth, 7,3895 God bad him chese what he wolde, 7,3896 And seide him that he have scholde 7,3897 What he wolde axe, as of o thing. 7,3898 And he, which was a newe king, 7,3899 Forth therupon his bone preide 7,3900 To god, and in this wise he seide: 7,3901 "O king, be whom that I schal regne, 7,3902 Yif me wisdom, that I my regne, 7,3903 Forth with thi poeple which I have, 7,3904 To thin honour mai kepe and save." 7,3905 Whan Salomon his bone hath taxed, 7,3906 The god of that which he hath axed 7,3907 Was riht wel paid, and granteth sone 7,3908 Noght al only that he his bone 7,3909 Schal have of that, bot of richesse, 7,3910 Of hele, of pes, of hih noblesse, 7,3911 Forth with wisdom at his axinges, 7,3912 Which stant above alle othre thinges. 7,3913 Bot what king wole his regne save, 7,3914 Ferst him behoveth forto have 7,3915 After the god and his believe 7,3916 Such conseil which is to believe, 7,3917 Fulfild of trouthe and rihtwisnesse: 7,3918 Bot above alle in his noblesse 7,3919 Betwen the reddour and pite 7,3920 A king schal do such equite 7,3921 And sette the balance in evene, 7,3922 So that the hihe god in hevene 7,3923 And al the poeple of his nobleie 7,3924 Loange unto his name seie. 7,3925 For most above all erthli good, 7,3926 Wher that a king himself is good 7,3927 It helpeth, for in other weie 7,3928 If so be that a king forsueie, 7,3929 Fulofte er this it hath be sein, 7,3930 The comun poeple is overlein 7,3931 And hath the kinges Senne aboght, 7,3932 Al thogh the poeple agulte noght. 7,3933 Of that the king his god misserveth, 7,3934 The poeple takth that he descerveth 7,3935 Hier in this world, bot elleswhere 7,3936 I not hou it schal stonde there. 7,3937 Forthi good is a king to triste 7,3938 Ferst to himself, as he ne wiste 7,3939 Non other help bot god alone; 7,3940 So schal the reule of his persone 7,3941 Withinne himself thurgh providence 7,3942 Ben of the betre conscience. 7,3943 And forto finde ensample of this, 7,3944 A tale I rede, and soth it is. 7,3945 In a Cronique it telleth thus: 7,3946 The king of Rome Lucius 7,3947 Withinne his chambre upon a nyht 7,3948 The Steward of his hous, a knyht, 7,3949 Forth with his Chamberlein also, 7,3950 To conseil hadde bothe tuo, 7,3951 And stoden be the Chiminee 7,3952 Togedre spekende alle thre. 7,3953 And happeth that the kinges fol 7,3954 Sat be the fyr upon a stol, 7,3955 As he that with his babil pleide, 7,3956 Bot yit he herde al that thei seide, 7,3957 And therof token thei non hiede. 7,3958 The king hem axeth what to rede 7,3959 Of such matiere as cam to mouthe, 7,3960 And thei him tolden as thei couthe. 7,3961 Whan al was spoke of that thei mente, 7,3962 The king with al his hole entente 7,3963 Thanne ate laste hem axeth this, 7,3964 What king men tellen that he is: 7,3965 Among the folk touchende his name, 7,3966 Or be it pris, or be it blame, 7,3967 Riht after that thei herden sein, 7,3968 He bad hem forto telle it plein, 7,3969 That thei no point of soth forbere, 7,3970 Be thilke feith that thei him bere. 7,3971 The Steward ferst upon this thing 7,3972 Yaf his ansuere unto the king 7,3973 And thoghte glose in this matiere, 7,3974 And seide, als fer as he can hiere, 7,3975 His name is good and honourable: 7,3976 Thus was the Stieward favorable, 7,3977 That he the trouthe plein ne tolde. 7,3978 The king thanne axeth, as he scholde, 7,3979 The Chamberlein of his avis. 7,3980 And he, that was soubtil and wys, 7,3981 And somdiel thoghte upon his feith, 7,3982 Him tolde hou al the poeple seith 7,3983 That if his conseil were trewe, 7,3984 Thei wiste thanne wel and knewe 7,3985 That of himself he scholde be 7,3986 A worthi king in his degre: 7,3987 And thus the conseil he accuseth 7,3988 In partie, and the king excuseth. 7,3989 The fol, which herde of al the cas 7,3990 That time, as goddes wille was, 7,3991 Sih that thei seiden noght ynowh, 7,3992 And hem to skorne bothe lowh, 7,3993 And to the king he seide tho: 7,3994 "Sire king, if that it were so, 7,3995 Of wisdom in thin oghne mod 7,3996 That thou thiselven were good, 7,3997 Thi conseil scholde noght be badde." 7,3998 The king therof merveille hadde, 7,3999 Whan that a fol so wisly spak, 7,4000 And of himself fond out the lack 7,4001 Withinne his oghne conscience: 7,4002 And thus the foles evidence, 7,4003 Which was of goddes grace enspired, 7,4004 Makth that good conseil was desired. 7,4005 He putte awey the vicious 7,4006 And tok to him the vertuous; 7,4007 The wrongful lawes ben amended, 7,4008 The londes good is wel despended, 7,4009 The poeple was nomore oppressed, 7,4010 And thus stod every thing redressed. 7,4011 For where a king is propre wys, 7,4012 And hath suche as himselven is 7,4013 Of his conseil, it mai noght faile 7,4014 That every thing ne schal availe: 7,4015 The vices thanne gon aweie, 7,4016 And every vertu holt his weie; 7,4017 Wherof the hihe god is plesed, 7,4018 And al the londes folk is esed. 7,4019 For if the comun poeple crie, 7,4020 And thanne a king list noght to plie 7,4021 To hiere what the clamour wolde, 7,4022 And otherwise thanne he scholde 7,4023 Desdeigneth forto don hem grace, 7,4024 It hath be sen in many place, 7,4025 Ther hath befalle gret contraire; 7,4026 And that I finde of ensamplaire. 7,4027 After the deth of Salomon, 7,4028 Whan thilke wise king was gon, 7,4029 And Roboas in his persone 7,4030 Receive scholde the corone, 7,4031 The poeple upon a Parlement 7,4032 Avised were of on assent, 7,4033 And alle unto the king thei preiden, 7,4034 With comun vois and thus thei seiden: 7,4035 "Oure liege lord, we thee beseche 7,4036 That thou receive oure humble speche 7,4037 And grante ous that which reson wile, 7,4038 Or of thi grace or of thi skile. 7,4039 Thi fader, whil he was alyve 7,4040 And myhte bothe grante and pryve, 7,4041 Upon the werkes whiche he hadde 7,4042 The comun poeple streite ladde: 7,4043 Whan he the temple made newe, 7,4044 Thing which men nevere afore knewe 7,4045 He broghte up thanne of his taillage, 7,4046 And al was under the visage 7,4047 Of werkes whiche he made tho. 7,4048 Bot nou it is befalle so, 7,4049 That al is mad, riht as he seide, 7,4050 And he was riche whan he deide; 7,4051 So that it is no maner nede, 7,4052 If thou therof wolt taken hiede, 7,4053 To pilen of the poeple more, 7,4054 Which long time hath be grieved sore. 7,4055 And in this wise as we thee seie, 7,4056 With tendre herte we thee preie 7,4057 That thou relesse thilke dette, 7,4058 Which upon ous thi fader sette. 7,4059 And if thee like to don so, 7,4060 We ben thi men for everemo, 7,4061 To gon and comen at thin heste." 7,4062 The king, which herde this requeste, 7,4063 Seith that he wole ben avised, 7,4064 And hath therof a time assised; 7,4065 And in the while as he him thoghte 7,4066 Upon this thing, conseil he soghte. 7,4067 And ferst the wise knyhtes olde, 7,4068 To whom that he his tale tolde, 7,4069 Conseilen him in this manere; 7,4070 That he with love and with glad chiere 7,4071 Foryive and grante al that is axed 7,4072 Of that his fader hadde taxed; 7,4073 For so he mai his regne achieve 7,4074 With thing which schal him litel grieve. 7,4075 The king hem herde and overpasseth, 7,4076 And with these othre his wit compasseth, 7,4077 That yonge were and nothing wise. 7,4078 And thei these olde men despise, 7,4079 And seiden: "Sire, it schal be schame 7,4080 For evere unto thi worthi name, 7,4081 If thou ne kepe noght the riht, 7,4082 Whil thou art in thi yonge myht, 7,4083 Which that thin olde fader gat. 7,4084 Bot seie unto the poeple plat, 7,4085 That whil thou livest in thi lond, 7,4086 The leste finger of thin hond 7,4087 It schal be strengere overal 7,4088 Than was thi fadres bodi al. 7,4089 And this also schal be thi tale, 7,4090 If he hem smot with roddes smale, 7,4091 With Scorpions thou schalt hem smyte; 7,4092 And wher thi fader tok a lyte, 7,4093 Thou thenkst to take mochel more. 7,4094 Thus schalt thou make hem drede sore 7,4095 The grete herte of thi corage, 7,4096 So forto holde hem in servage. 7,4097 This yonge king him hath conformed 7,4098 To don as he was last enformed, 7,4099 Which was to him his undoinge: 7,4100 For whan it cam to the spekinge, 7,4101 He hath the yonge conseil holde, 7,4102 That he the same wordes tolde 7,4103 Of al the poeple in audience; 7,4104 And whan thei herden the sentence 7,4105 Of his malice and the manace, 7,4106 Anon tofore his oghne face 7,4107 Thei have him oultreli refused 7,4108 And with ful gret reproef accused. 7,4109 So thei begunne forto rave, 7,4110 That he was fain himself to save; 7,4111 For as the wilde wode rage 7,4112 Of wyndes makth the See salvage, 7,4113 And that was calm bringth into wawe, 7,4114 So for defalte of grace and lawe 7,4115 This poeple is stered al at ones 7,4116 And forth thei gon out of hise wones; 7,4117 So that of the lignages tuelve 7,4118 Tuo tribes only be hemselve 7,4119 With him abiden and nomo: 7,4120 So were thei for everemo 7,4121 Of no retorn withoute espeir 7,4122 Departed fro the rihtfull heir. 7,4123 Al Irahel with comun vois 7,4124 A king upon here oghne chois 7,4125 Among hemself anon thei make, 7,4126 And have here yonge lord forsake; 7,4127 A povere knyht Jeroboas 7,4128 Thei toke, and lefte Roboas, 7,4129 Which rihtfull heir was be descente. 7,4130 Lo, thus the yonge cause wente: 7,4131 For that the conseil was noght good, 7,4132 The regne fro the rihtfull blod 7,4133 Evere afterward divided was. 7,4134 So mai it proven be this cas 7,4135 That yong conseil, which is to warm, 7,4136 Er men be war doth ofte harm. 7,4137 Old age for the conseil serveth, 7,4138 And lusti youthe his thonk deserveth 7,4139 Upon the travail which he doth; 7,4140 And bothe, forto seie a soth, 7,4141 Be sondri cause forto have, 7,4142 If that he wole his regne save, 7,4143 A king behoveth every day. 7,4144 That on can and that other mai, 7,4145 Be so the king hem bothe reule, 7,4146 For elles al goth out of reule. 7,4147 And upon this matiere also 7,4148 A question betwen the tuo 7,4149 Thus writen in a bok I fond; 7,4150 Wher it be betre for the lond 7,4151 A king himselve to be wys, 7,4152 And so to bere his oghne pris, 7,4153 And that his consail be noght good, 7,4154 Or other wise if it so stod, 7,4155 A king if he be vicious 7,4156 And his conseil be vertuous. 7,4157 It is ansuerd in such a wise, 7,4158 That betre it is that thei be wise 7,4159 Be whom that the conseil schal gon, 7,4160 For thei be manye, and he is on; 7,4161 And rathere schal an one man 7,4162 With fals conseil, for oght he can, 7,4163 From his wisdom be mad to falle, 7,4164 Thanne he al one scholde hem alle 7,4165 Fro vices into vertu change, 7,4166 For that is wel the more strange. 7,4167 Forthi the lond mai wel be glad, 7,4168 Whos king with good conseil is lad, 7,4169 Which set him unto rihtwisnesse, 7,4170 So that his hihe worthinesse 7,4171 Betwen the reddour and Pite 7,4172 Doth mercy forth with equite. 7,4173 A king is holden overal 7,4174 To Pite, bot in special 7,4175 To hem wher he is most beholde; 7,4176 Thei scholde his Pite most beholde 7,4177 That ben the Lieges of his lond, 7,4178 For thei ben evere under his hond 7,4179 After the goddes ordinaunce 7,4180 To stonde upon his governance. 7,4181 Of themperour Anthonius 7,4182 I finde hou that he seide thus, 7,4183 That levere him were forto save 7,4184 Oon of his lieges than to have 7,4185 Of enemis a thousend dede. 7,4186 And this he lernede, as I rede, 7,4187 Of Cipio, which hadde be 7,4188 Consul of Rome. And thus to se 7,4189 Diverse ensamples hou thei stonde, 7,4190 A king which hath the charge on honde 7,4191 The comun poeple to governe, 7,4192 If that he wole, he mai wel lerne. 7,4193 Is non so good to the plesance 7,4194 Of god, as is good governance; 7,4195 And every governance is due 7,4196 To Pite: thus I mai argue 7,4197 That Pite is the foundement 7,4198 Of every kinges regiment, 7,4199 If it be medled with justice. 7,4200 Thei tuo remuen alle vice, 7,4201 And ben of vertu most vailable 7,4202 To make a kinges regne stable. 7,4203 Lo, thus the foure pointz tofore, 7,4204 In governance as thei ben bore, 7,4205 Of trouthe ferst and of largesse, 7,4206 Of Pite forth with rihtwisnesse, 7,4207 I have hem told; and over this 7,4208 The fifte point, so as it is 7,4209 Set of the reule of Policie, 7,4210 Wherof a king schal modefie 7,4211 The fleisschly lustes of nature, 7,4212 Nou thenk I telle of such mesure, 7,4213 That bothe kinde schal be served 7,4214 And ek the lawe of god observed. 7,4215 The Madle is mad for the the femele, 7,4216 Bot where as on desireth fele, 7,4217 That nedeth noght be weie of kinde: 7,4218 For whan a man mai redy finde 7,4219 His oghne wif, what scholde he seche 7,4220 In strange places to beseche 7,4221 To borwe an other mannes plouh, 7,4222 Whan he hath geere good ynouh 7,4223 Affaited at his oghne heste, 7,4224 And is to him wel more honeste 7,4225 Than other thing which is unknowe? 7,4226 Forthi scholde every good man knowe 7,4227 And thenke, hou that in mariage 7,4228 His trouthe pliht lith in morgage, 7,4229 Which if he breke, it is falshode, 7,4230 And that descordeth to manhode, 7,4231 And namely toward the grete, 7,4232 Wherof the bokes alle trete; 7,4233 So as the Philosophre techeth 7,4234 To Alisandre, and him betecheth 7,4235 The lore hou that he schal mesure 7,4236 His bodi, so that no mesure 7,4237 Of fleisshly lust he scholde excede. 7,4238 And thus forth if I schal procede, 7,4239 The fifte point, as I seide er, 7,4240 Is chastete, which sielde wher 7,4241 Comth nou adaies into place; 7,4242 And natheles, bot it be grace 7,4243 Above alle othre in special, 7,4244 Is non that chaste mai ben all. 7,4245 Bot yit a kinges hihe astat, 7,4246 Which of his ordre as a prelat 7,4247 Schal ben enoignt and seintefied, 7,4248 He mot be more magnefied 7,4249 For dignete of his corone, 7,4250 Than scholde an other low persone, 7,4251 Which is noght of so hih emprise. 7,4252 Therfore a Prince him scholde avise, 7,4253 Er that he felle in such riote, 7,4254 And namely that he nassote 7,4255 To change for the wommanhede 7,4256 The worthinesse of his manhede. 7,4257 Of Aristotle I have wel rad, 7,4258 Hou he to Alisandre bad, 7,4259 That forto gladen his corage 7,4260 He schal beholde the visage 7,4261 Of wommen, whan that thei ben faire. 7,4262 Bot yit he set an essamplaire, 7,4263 His bodi so to guide and reule, 7,4264 That he ne passe noght the reule, 7,4265 Wherof that he himself beguile. 7,4266 For in the womman is no guile 7,4267 Of that a man himself bewhapeth; 7,4268 Whan he his oghne wit bejapeth, 7,4269 I can the wommen wel excuse: 7,4270 Bot what man wole upon hem muse 7,4271 After the fool impression 7,4272 Of his ymaginacioun, 7,4273 Withinne himself the fyr he bloweth, 7,4274 Wherof the womman nothing knoweth, 7,4275 So mai sche nothing be to wyte. 7,4276 For if a man himself excite 7,4277 To drenche, and wol it noght forbere, 7,4278 The water schal no blame bere. 7,4279 What mai the gold, thogh men coveite? 7,4280 If that a man wol love streite, 7,4281 The womman hath him nothing bounde; 7,4282 If he his oghne herte wounde, 7,4283 Sche mai noght lette the folie; 7,4284 And thogh so felle of compainie 7,4285 That he myht eny thing pourchace, 7,4286 Yit makth a man the ferste chace, 7,4287 The womman fleth and he poursuieth: 7,4288 So that be weie of skile it suieth, 7,4289 The man is cause, hou so befalle, 7,4290 That he fulofte sithe is falle 7,4291 Wher that he mai noght wel aryse. 7,4292 And natheles ful manye wise 7,4293 Befoled have hemself er this, 7,4294 As nou adaies yit it is 7,4295 Among the men and evere was, 7,4296 The stronge is fieblest in this cas. 7,4297 It sit a man be weie of kinde 7,4298 To love, bot it is noght kinde 7,4299 A man for love his wit to lese: 7,4300 For if the Monthe of Juil schal frese 7,4301 And that Decembre schal ben hot, 7,4302 The yeer mistorneth, wel I wot. 7,4303 To sen a man fro his astat 7,4304 Thurgh his sotie effeminat, 7,4305 And leve that a man schal do, 7,4306 It is as Hose above the Scho, 7,4307 To man which oghte noght ben used. 7,4308 Bot yit the world hath ofte accused 7,4309 Ful grete Princes of this dede, 7,4310 Hou thei for love hemself mislede, 7,4311 Wherof manhode stod behinde, 7,4312 Of olde ensamples as I finde. 7,4313 These olde gestes tellen thus, 7,4314 That whilom Sardana Pallus, 7,4315 Which hield al hol in his empire 7,4316 The grete kingdom of Assire, 7,4317 Was thurgh the slouthe of his corage 7,4318 Falle into thilke fyri rage 7,4319 Of love, which the men assoteth, 7,4320 Wherof himself he so rioteth, 7,4321 And wax so ferforth wommannyssh, 7,4322 That ayein kinde, as if a fissh 7,4323 Abide wolde upon the lond, 7,4324 In wommen such a lust he fond, 7,4325 That he duelte evere in chambre stille, 7,4326 And only wroghte after the wille 7,4327 Of wommen, so as he was bede, 7,4328 That selden whanne in other stede 7,4329 If that he wolde wenden oute, 7,4330 To sen hou that it stod aboute. 7,4331 Bot ther he keste and there he pleide, 7,4332 Thei tawhten him a Las to breide, 7,4333 And weve a Pours, and to enfile 7,4334 A Perle: and fell that ilke while, 7,4335 On Barbarus the Prince of Mede 7,4336 Sih hou this king in wommanhede 7,4337 Was falle fro chivalerie, 7,4338 And gat him help and compaignie, 7,4339 And wroghte so, that ate laste 7,4340 This king out of his regne he caste, 7,4341 Which was undon for everemo: 7,4342 And yit men speken of him so, 7,4343 That it is schame forto hiere. 7,4344 Forthi to love is in manere. 7,4345 King David hadde many a love, 7,4346 Bot natheles alwey above 7,4347 Knyhthode he kepte in such a wise, 7,4348 That for no fleisshli covoitise 7,4349 Of lust to ligge in ladi armes 7,4350 He lefte noght the lust of armes. 7,4351 For where a Prince hise lustes suieth, 7,4352 That he the werre noght poursuieth, 7,4353 Whan it is time to ben armed, 7,4354 His contre stant fulofte harmed, 7,4355 Whan thenemis ben woxe bolde, 7,4356 That thei defence non beholde. 7,4357 Ful many a lond hath so be lore, 7,4358 As men mai rede of time afore 7,4359 Of hem that so here eses soghten, 7,4360 Which after thei full diere aboghten. 7,4361 To mochel ese is nothing worth, 7,4362 For that set every vice forth 7,4363 And every vertu put abak, 7,4364 Wherof priss torneth into lak, 7,4365 As in Cronique I mai reherse: 7,4366 Which telleth hou the king of Perse, 7,4367 That Cirus hihte, a werre hadde 7,4368 Ayein a poeple which he dradde, 7,4369 Of a contre which Liddos hihte; 7,4370 Bot yit for oght that he do mihte 7,4371 As in bataille upon the werre, 7,4372 He hadde of hem alwey the werre. 7,4373 And whan he sih and wiste it wel, 7,4374 That he be strengthe wan no del, 7,4375 Thanne ate laste he caste a wyle 7,4376 This worthi poeple to beguile, 7,4377 And tok with hem a feigned pes, 7,4378 Which scholde lasten endeles, 7,4379 So as he seide in wordes wise, 7,4380 Bot he thoghte al in other wise. 7,4381 For it betidd upon the cas, 7,4382 Whan that this poeple in reste was, 7,4383 Thei token eses manyfold; 7,4384 And worldes ese, as it is told, 7,4385 Be weie of kinde is the norrice 7,4386 Of every lust which toucheth vice. 7,4387 Thus whan thei were in lustes falle, 7,4388 The werres ben foryeten alle; 7,4389 Was non which wolde the worschipe 7,4390 Of Armes, bot in idelschipe 7,4391 Thei putten besinesse aweie 7,4392 And token hem to daunce and pleie; 7,4393 Bot most above alle othre thinges 7,4394 Thei token hem to the likinges 7,4395 Of fleysshly lust, that chastete 7,4396 Received was in no degre, 7,4397 Bot every man doth what him liste. 7,4398 And whan the king of Perse it wiste, 7,4399 That thei unto folie entenden, 7,4400 With his pouer, whan thei lest wenden, 7,4401 Mor sodeinly than doth the thunder 7,4402 He cam, for evere and put hem under. 7,4403 And thus hath lecherie lore 7,4404 The lond, which hadde be tofore 7,4405 The beste of hem that were tho. 7,4406 And in the bible I finde also 7,4407 A tale lich unto this thing, 7,4408 Hou Amalech the paien king, 7,4409 Whan that he myhte be no weie 7,4410 Defende his lond and putte aweie 7,4411 The worthi poeple of Irael, 7,4412 This Sarazin, as it befell, 7,4413 Thurgh the conseil of Balaam 7,4414 A route of faire wommen nam, 7,4415 That lusti were and yonge of Age, 7,4416 And bad hem gon to the lignage 7,4417 Of these Hebreus: and forth thei wente 7,4418 With yhen greye and browes bente 7,4419 And wel arraied everych on; 7,4420 And whan thei come were anon 7,4421 Among thebreus, was non insihte, 7,4422 Bot cacche who that cacche myhte, 7,4423 And ech of hem hise lustes soghte, 7,4424 Whiche after thei full diere boghte. 7,4425 For grace anon began to faile, 7,4426 That whan thei comen to bataille 7,4427 Thanne afterward, in sori plit 7,4428 Thei were take and disconfit, 7,4429 So that withinne a litel throwe 7,4430 The myht of hem was overthrowe, 7,4431 That whilom were wont to stonde. 7,4432 Til Phinees the cause on honde 7,4433 Hath take, this vengance laste, 7,4434 Bot thanne it cessede ate laste, 7,4435 For god was paid of that he dede: 7,4436 For wher he fond upon a stede 7,4437 A couple which misferde so, 7,4438 Thurghout he smot hem bothe tuo, 7,4439 And let hem ligge in mennes yhe; 7,4440 Wherof alle othre whiche hem sihe 7,4441 Ensamplede hem upon the dede, 7,4442 And preiden unto the godhiede 7,4443 Here olde Sennes to amende: 7,4444 And he, which wolde his mercy sende, 7,4445 Restorede hem to newe grace. 7,4446 Thus mai it schewe in sondri place, 7,4447 Of chastete hou the clennesse 7,4448 Acordeth to the worthinesse 7,4449 Of men of Armes overal; 7,4450 Bot most of alle in special 7,4451 This vertu to a king belongeth, 7,4452 For upon his fortune it hongeth 7,4453 Of that his lond schal spede or spille. 7,4454 Forthi bot if a king his wille 7,4455 Fro lustes of his fleissh restreigne, 7,4456 Ayein himself he makth a treigne, 7,4457 Into the which if that he slyde, 7,4458 Him were betre go besyde. 7,4459 For every man mai understonde, 7,4460 Hou for a time that it stonde, 7,4461 It is a sori lust to lyke, 7,4462 Whos ende makth a man to syke 7,4463 And torneth joies into sorwe. 7,4464 The brihte Sonne be the morwe 7,4465 Beschyneth noght the derke nyht, 7,4466 The lusti youthe of mannes myht, 7,4467 In Age bot it stonde wel, 7,4468 Mistorneth al the laste whiel. 7,4469 That every worthi Prince is holde 7,4470 Withinne himself himself beholde, 7,4471 To se the stat of his persone, 7,4472 And thenke hou ther be joies none 7,4473 Upon this Erthe mad to laste, 7,4474 And hou the fleissh schal ate laste 7,4475 The lustes of this lif forsake, 7,4476 Him oghte a gret ensample take 7,4477 Of Salomon, whos appetit 7,4478 Was holy set upon delit, 7,4479 To take of wommen the plesance: 7,4480 So that upon his ignorance 7,4481 The wyde world merveileth yit, 7,4482 That he, which alle mennes wit 7,4483 In thilke time hath overpassed, 7,4484 With fleisshly lustes was so tassed, 7,4485 That he which ladde under the lawe 7,4486 The poeple of god, himself withdrawe 7,4487 He hath fro god in such a wise, 7,4488 That he worschipe and sacrifise 7,4489 For sondri love in sondri stede 7,4490 Unto the false goddes dede. 7,4491 This was the wise ecclesiaste, 7,4492 The fame of whom schal evere laste, 7,4493 That he the myhti god forsok, 7,4494 Ayein the lawe whanne he tok 7,4495 His wyves and his concubines 7,4496 Of hem that weren Sarazines, 7,4497 For whiche he dede ydolatrie. 7,4498 For this I rede of his sotie: 7,4499 Sche of Sidoyne so him ladde, 7,4500 That he knelende his armes spradde 7,4501 To Astrathen with gret humblesse, 7,4502 Which of hire lond was the goddesse: 7,4503 And sche that was a Moabite 7,4504 So ferforth made him to delite 7,4505 Thurgh lust, which al his wit devoureth, 7,4506 That he Chamos hire god honoureth. 7,4507 An other Amonyte also 7,4508 With love him hath assoted so, 7,4509 Hire god Moloch that with encense 7,4510 He sacreth, and doth reverence 7,4511 In such a wise as sche him bad. 7,4512 Thus was the wiseste overlad 7,4513 With blinde lustes whiche he soghte; 7,4514 Bot he it afterward aboghte. 7,4515 For Achias Selonites, 7,4516 Which was prophete, er his decess, 7,4517 Whil he was in hise lustes alle, 7,4518 Betokneth what schal after falle. 7,4519 For on a day, whan that he mette 7,4520 Jeroboam the knyht, he grette 7,4521 And bad him that he scholde abyde, 7,4522 To hiere what him schal betyde. 7,4523 And forth withal Achias caste 7,4524 His mantell of, and also faste 7,4525 He kut it into pieces twelve, 7,4526 Wherof tuo partz toward himselve 7,4527 He kepte, and al the remenant, 7,4528 As god hath set his covenant, 7,4529 He tok unto Jeroboas, 7,4530 Of Nabal which the Sone was, 7,4531 And of the kinges court a knyht: 7,4532 And seide him, "Such is goddes myht, 7,4533 As thou hast sen departed hiere 7,4534 Mi mantell, riht in such manere 7,4535 After the deth of Salomon 7,4536 God hath ordeigned therupon, 7,4537 This regne thanne he schal divide: 7,4538 Which time thou schalt ek abide, 7,4539 And upon that division 7,4540 The regne as in proporcion 7,4541 As thou hast of mi mantell take, 7,4542 Thou schalt receive, I undertake. 7,4543 And thus the Sone schal abie 7,4544 The lustes and the lecherie 7,4545 Of him which nou his fader is." 7,4546 So forto taken hiede of this, 7,4547 It sit a king wel to be chaste, 7,4548 For elles he mai lihtly waste 7,4549 Himself and ek his regne bothe, 7,4550 And that oghte every king to lothe. 7,4551 O, which a Senne violent, 7,4552 Wherof so wys a king was schent, 7,4553 That the vengance in his persone 7,4554 Was noght ynouh to take al one, 7,4555 Bot afterward, whan he was passed, 7,4556 It hath his heritage lassed, 7,4557 As I more openli tofore 7,4558 The tale tolde. And thus therfore 7,4559 The Philosophre upon this thing 7,4560 Writ and conseileth to a king, 7,4561 That he the surfet of luxure 7,4562 Schal tempre and reule of such mesure, 7,4563 Which be to kinde sufficant 7,4564 And ek to reson acordant, 7,4565 So that the lustes ignorance 7,4566 Be cause of no misgovernance, 7,4567 Thurgh which that he be overthrowe, 7,4568 As he that wol no reson knowe. 7,4569 For bot a mannes wit be swerved, 7,4570 Whan kinde is dueliche served, 7,4571 It oghte of reson to suffise; 7,4572 For if it falle him otherwise, 7,4573 He mai tho lustes sore drede. 7,4574 For of Anthonie thus I rede, 7,4575 Which of Severus was the Sone, 7,4576 That he his lif of comun wone 7,4577 Yaf holy unto thilke vice, 7,4578 And ofte time he was so nyce, 7,4579 Wherof nature hire hath compleigned 7,4580 Unto the god, which hath desdeigned 7,4581 The werkes whiche Antonie wroghte 7,4582 Of lust, whiche he ful sore aboghte: 7,4583 For god his forfet hath so wroke 7,4584 That in Cronique it is yit spoke. 7,4585 Bot forto take remembrance 7,4586 Of special misgovernance 7,4587 Thurgh covoitise and injustice 7,4588 Forth with the remenant of vice, 7,4589 And nameliche of lecherie, 7,4590 I finde write a gret partie 7,4591 Withinne a tale, as thou schalt hiere, 7,4592 Which is thensample of this matiere. 7,4593 So as these olde gestes sein, 7,4594 The proude tirannyssh Romein 7,4595 Tarquinus, which was thanne king 7,4596 And wroghte many a wrongful thing, 7,4597 Of Sones hadde manyon, 7,4598 Among the whiche Arrons was on, 7,4599 Lich to his fader of maneres; 7,4600 So that withinne a fewe yeres 7,4601 With tresoun and with tirannie 7,4602 Thei wonne of lond a gret partie, 7,4603 And token hiede of no justice, 7,4604 Which due was to here office 7,4605 Upon the reule of governance; 7,4606 Bot al that evere was plesance 7,4607 Unto the fleisshes lust thei toke. 7,4608 And fell so, that thei undertoke 7,4609 A werre, which was noght achieved, 7,4610 Bot ofte time it hadde hem grieved, 7,4611 Ayein a folk which thanne hihte 7,4612 The Gabiens: and al be nyhte 7,4613 This Arrons, whan he was at hom 7,4614 In Rome, a prive place he nom 7,4615 Withinne a chambre, and bet himselve 7,4616 And made him woundes ten or tuelve 7,4617 Upon the bak, as it was sene; 7,4618 And so forth with hise hurtes grene 7,4619 In al the haste that he may 7,4620 He rod, and cam that other day 7,4621 Unto Gabie the Cite, 7,4622 And in he wente: and whan that he 7,4623 Was knowe, anon the gates schette, 7,4624 The lordes alle upon him sette 7,4625 With drawe swerdes upon honde. 7,4626 This Arrons wolde hem noght withstonde, 7,4627 Bot seide, "I am hier at your wille, 7,4628 Als lief it is that ye me spille, 7,4629 As if myn oghne fader dede." 7,4630 And forthwith in the same stede 7,4631 He preide hem that thei wolde se, 7,4632 And schewede hem in what degre 7,4633 His fader and hise brethren bothe, 7,4634 Whiche, as he seide, weren wrothe, 7,4635 Him hadde beten and reviled, 7,4636 For evere and out of Rome exiled. 7,4637 And thus he made hem to believe, 7,4638 And seide, if that he myhte achieve 7,4639 His pourpos, it schal wel be yolde, 7,4640 Be so that thei him helpe wolde. 7,4641 Whan that the lordes hadde sein 7,4642 Hou wofully he was besein, 7,4643 Thei token Pite of his grief; 7,4644 Bot yit it was hem wonder lief 7,4645 That Rome him hadde exiled so. 7,4646 These Gabiens be conseil tho 7,4647 Upon the goddes made him swere, 7,4648 That he to hem schal trouthe bere 7,4649 And strengthen hem with al his myht; 7,4650 And thei also him have behiht 7,4651 To helpen him in his querele. 7,4652 Thei schopen thanne for his hele 7,4653 That he was bathed and enoignt, 7,4654 Til that he was in lusti point; 7,4655 And what he wolde thanne he hadde, 7,4656 That he al hol the cite ladde 7,4657 Riht as he wolde himself divise. 7,4658 And thanne he thoghte him in what wise 7,4659 He myhte his tirannie schewe; 7,4660 And to his conseil tok a schrewe, 7,4661 Whom to his fader forth he sente 7,4662 In his message, and he tho wente, 7,4663 And preide his fader forto seie 7,4664 Be his avis, and finde a weie, 7,4665 Hou they the cite myhten winne, 7,4666 Whil that he stod so wel therinne. 7,4667 And whan the messager was come 7,4668 To Rome, and hath in conseil nome 7,4669 The king, it fell per chance so 7,4670 That thei were in a gardin tho, 7,4671 This messager forth with the king. 7,4672 And whanne he hadde told the thing 7,4673 In what manere that it stod, 7,4674 And that Tarquinus understod 7,4675 Be the message hou that it ferde, 7,4676 Anon he tok in honde a yerde, 7,4677 And in the gardin as thei gon, 7,4678 The lilie croppes on and on, 7,4679 Wher that thei weren sprongen oute, 7,4680 He smot of, as thei stode aboute, 7,4681 And seide unto the messager: 7,4682 "Lo, this thing, which I do nou hier, 7,4683 Schal ben in stede of thin ansuere; 7,4684 And in this wise as I me bere, 7,4685 Thou schalt unto mi Sone telle." 7,4686 And he no lengere wolde duelle, 7,4687 Bot tok his leve and goth withal 7,4688 Unto his lord, and told him al, 7,4689 Hou that his fader hadde do. 7,4690 Whan Arrons herde him telle so, 7,4691 Anon he wiste what it mente, 7,4692 And therto sette al his entente, 7,4693 Til he thurgh fraude and tricherie 7,4694 The Princes hefdes of Gabie 7,4695 Hath smiten of, and al was wonne: 7,4696 His fader cam tofore the Sonne 7,4697 Into the toun with the Romeins, 7,4698 And tok and slowh the citezeins 7,4699 Withoute reson or pite, 7,4700 That he ne spareth no degre. 7,4701 And for the sped of this conqueste 7,4702 He let do make a riche feste 7,4703 With a sollempne Sacrifise 7,4704 In Phebus temple; and in this wise 7,4705 Whan the Romeins assembled were, 7,4706 In presence of hem alle there, 7,4707 Upon thalter whan al was diht 7,4708 And that the fyres were alyht, 7,4709 From under thalter sodeinly 7,4710 An hidous Serpent openly 7,4711 Cam out and hath devoured al 7,4712 The Sacrifice, and ek withal 7,4713 The fyres queynt, and forth anon, 7,4714 So as he cam, so is he gon 7,4715 Into the depe ground ayein. 7,4716 And every man began to sein, 7,4717 "Ha lord, what mai this signefie?" 7,4718 And therupon thei preie and crie 7,4719 To Phebus, that thei mihten knowe 7,4720 The cause: and he the same throwe 7,4721 With gastly vois, that alle it herde, 7,4722 The Romeins in this wise ansuerde, 7,4723 And seide hou for the wikkidnesse 7,4724 Of Pride and of unrihtwisnesse, 7,4725 That Tarquin and his Sone hath do, 7,4726 The Sacrifice is wasted so, 7,4727 Which myhte noght ben acceptable 7,4728 Upon such Senne abhominable. 7,4729 And over that yit he hem wisseth, 7,4730 And seith that which of hem ferst kisseth 7,4731 His moder, he schal take wrieche 7,4732 Upon the wrong: and of that speche 7,4733 Thei ben withinne here hertes glade, 7,4734 Thogh thei outward no semblant made. 7,4735 Ther was a knyht which Brutus hihte, 7,4736 And he with al the haste he myhte 7,4737 To grounde fell and therthe kiste, 7,4738 Bot non of hem the cause wiste, 7,4739 Bot wenden that he hadde sporned 7,4740 Per chance, and so was overtorned. 7,4741 Bot Brutus al an other mente; 7,4742 For he knew wel in his entente 7,4743 Hou therthe of every mannes kinde 7,4744 Is Moder: bot thei weren blinde, 7,4745 And sihen noght so fer as he. 7,4746 Bot whan thei leften the Cite 7,4747 And comen hom to Rome ayein, 7,4748 Thanne every man which was Romein 7,4749 And moder hath, to hire he bende 7,4750 And keste, and ech of hem thus wende 7,4751 To be the ferste upon the chance, 7,4752 Of Tarquin forto do vengance, 7,4753 So as thei herden Phebus sein. 7,4754 Bot every time hath his certein, 7,4755 So moste it nedes thanne abide, 7,4756 Til afterward upon a tyde 7,4757 Tarquinus made unskilfully 7,4758 A werre, which was fasteby 7,4759 Ayein a toun with walles stronge 7,4760 Which Ardea was cleped longe, 7,4761 And caste a Siege theraboute, 7,4762 That ther mai noman passen oute. 7,4763 So it befell upon a nyht, 7,4764 Arrons, which hadde his souper diht, 7,4765 A part of the chivalerie 7,4766 With him to soupe in compaignie 7,4767 Hath bede: and whan thei comen were 7,4768 And seten at the souper there, 7,4769 Among here othre wordes glade 7,4770 Arrons a gret spekinge made, 7,4771 Who hadde tho the beste wif 7,4772 Of Rome: and ther began a strif, 7,4773 For Arrons seith he hath the beste. 7,4774 So jangle thei withoute reste, 7,4775 Til ate laste on Collatin, 7,4776 A worthi knyht, and was cousin 7,4777 To Arrons, seide him in this wise: 7,4778 "It is," quod he, "of non emprise 7,4779 To speke a word, bot of the dede, 7,4780 Therof it is to taken hiede. 7,4781 Anon forthi this same tyde 7,4782 Lep on thin hors and let ous ryde: 7,4783 So mai we knowe bothe tuo 7,4784 Unwarli what oure wyves do, 7,4785 And that schal be a trewe assay." 7,4786 This Arrons seith noght ones nay: 7,4787 On horse bak anon thei lepte 7,4788 In such manere, and nothing slepte, 7,4789 Ridende forth til that thei come 7,4790 Al prively withinne Rome; 7,4791 In strange place and doun thei lihte, 7,4792 And take a chambre, and out of sihte 7,4793 Thei be desguised for a throwe, 7,4794 So that no lif hem scholde knowe. 7,4795 And to the paleis ferst thei soghte, 7,4796 To se what thing this ladi wroghte 7,4797 Of which Arrons made his avant: 7,4798 And thei hire sihe of glad semblant, 7,4799 Al full of merthes and of bordes; 7,4800 Bot among alle hire othre wordes 7,4801 Sche spak noght of hire housebonde. 7,4802 And whan thei hadde al understonde 7,4803 Of thilke place what hem liste, 7,4804 Thei gon hem forth, that non it wiste, 7,4805 Beside thilke gate of bras, 7,4806 Collacea which cleped was, 7,4807 Wher Collatin hath his duellinge. 7,4808 Ther founden thei at hom sittinge 7,4809 Lucrece his wif, al environed 7,4810 With wommen, whiche are abandoned 7,4811 To werche, and sche wroghte ek withal, 7,4812 And bad hem haste, and seith, "It schal 7,4813 Be for mi housebondes were, 7,4814 Which with his swerd and with his spere 7,4815 Lith at the Siege in gret desese. 7,4816 And if it scholde him noght displese, 7,4817 Nou wolde god I hadde him hiere; 7,4818 For certes til that I mai hiere 7,4819 Som good tidinge of his astat, 7,4820 Min herte is evere upon debat. 7,4821 For so as alle men witnesse, 7,4822 He is of such an hardiesse, 7,4823 That he can noght himselve spare, 7,4824 And that is al my moste care, 7,4825 Whan thei the walles schulle assaile. 7,4826 Bot if mi wisshes myhte availe, 7,4827 I wolde it were a groundles pet, 7,4828 Be so the Siege were unknet, 7,4829 And I myn housebonde sihe." 7,4830 With that the water in hire yhe 7,4831 Aros, that sche ne myhte it stoppe, 7,4832 And as men sen the dew bedroppe 7,4833 The leves and the floures eke, 7,4834 Riht so upon hire whyte cheke 7,4835 The wofull salte teres felle. 7,4836 Whan Collatin hath herd hire telle 7,4837 The menynge of hire trewe herte, 7,4838 Anon with that to hire he sterte, 7,4839 And seide, "Lo, mi goode diere, 7,4840 Nou is he come to you hiere, 7,4841 That ye most loven, as ye sein." 7,4842 And sche with goodly chiere ayein 7,4843 Beclipte him in hire armes smale, 7,4844 And the colour, which erst was pale, 7,4845 To Beaute thanne was restored, 7,4846 So that it myhte noght be mored. 7,4847 The kinges Sone, which was nyh, 7,4848 And of this lady herde and syh 7,4849 The thinges as thei ben befalle, 7,4850 The resoun of hise wittes alle 7,4851 Hath lost; for love upon his part 7,4852 Cam thanne, and of his fyri dart 7,4853 With such a wounde him hath thurghsmite, 7,4854 That he mot nedes fiele and wite 7,4855 Of thilke blinde maladie, 7,4856 To which no cure of Surgerie 7,4857 Can helpe. Bot yit natheles 7,4858 At thilke time he hield his pes, 7,4859 That he no contienance made, 7,4860 Bot openly with wordes glade, 7,4861 So as he couthe in his manere, 7,4862 He spak and made frendly chiere, 7,4863 Til it was time forto go. 7,4864 And Collatin with him also 7,4865 His leve tok, so that be nyhte 7,4866 With al the haste that thei myhte 7,4867 Thei riden to the Siege ayein. 7,4868 Bot Arrons was so wo besein 7,4869 With thoghtes whiche upon him runne, 7,4870 That he al be the brode Sunne 7,4871 To bedde goth, noght forto reste, 7,4872 Bot forto thenke upon the beste 7,4873 And the faireste forth withal, 7,4874 That evere he syh or evere schal, 7,4875 So as him thoghte in his corage, 7,4876 Where he pourtreieth hire ymage: 7,4877 Ferst the fetures of hir face, 7,4878 In which nature hadde alle grace 7,4879 Of wommanly beaute beset, 7,4880 So that it myhte noght be bet; 7,4881 And hou hir yelwe her was tresced 7,4882 And hire atir so wel adresced, 7,4883 And hou sche spak, and hou sche wroghte, 7,4884 And hou sche wepte, al this he thoghte, 7,4885 That he foryeten hath no del, 7,4886 Bot al it liketh him so wel, 7,4887 That in the word nor in the dede 7,4888 Hire lacketh noght of wommanhiede. 7,4889 And thus this tirannysshe knyht 7,4890 Was soupled, bot noght half ariht, 7,4891 For he non other hiede tok, 7,4892 Bot that he myhte be som crok, 7,4893 Althogh it were ayein hire wille, 7,4894 The lustes of his fleissh fulfille; 7,4895 Which love was noght resonable, 7,4896 For where honour is remuable, 7,4897 It oghte wel to ben avised. 7,4898 Bot he, which hath his lust assised 7,4899 With melled love and tirannie, 7,4900 Hath founde upon his tricherie 7,4901 A weie which he thenkth to holde, 7,4902 And seith, "Fortune unto the bolde 7,4903 Is favorable forto helpe." 7,4904 And thus withinne himself to yelpe, 7,4905 As he which was a wylde man, 7,4906 Upon his treson he began: 7,4907 And up he sterte, and forth he wente 7,4908 On horsebak, bot his entente 7,4909 Ther knew no wiht, and thus he nam 7,4910 The nexte weie, til he cam 7,4911 Unto Collacea the gate 7,4912 Of Rome, and it was somdiel late, 7,4913 Riht evene upon the Sonne set, 7,4914 As he which hadde schape his net 7,4915 Hire innocence to betrappe. 7,4916 And as it scholde tho mishappe, 7,4917 Als priveliche as evere he myhte 7,4918 He rod, and of his hors alyhte 7,4919 Tofore Collatines In, 7,4920 And al frendliche he goth him in, 7,4921 As he that was cousin of house. 7,4922 And sche, which is the goode spouse, 7,4923 Lucrece, whan that sche him sih, 7,4924 With goodli chiere drowh him nyh, 7,4925 As sche which al honour supposeth, 7,4926 And him, so as sche dar, opposeth 7,4927 Hou it stod of hire housebonde. 7,4928 And he tho dede hire understonde 7,4929 With tales feigned in his wise, 7,4930 Riht as he wolde himself devise, 7,4931 Wherof he myhte hire herte glade, 7,4932 That sche the betre chiere made, 7,4933 Whan sche the glade wordes herde, 7,4934 Hou that hire housebonde ferde. 7,4935 And thus the trouthe was deceived 7,4936 With slih tresoun, which was received 7,4937 To hire which mente alle goode; 7,4938 For as the festes thanne stode, 7,4939 His Souper was ryht wel arraied. 7,4940 Bot yit he hath no word assaied 7,4941 To speke of love in no degre; 7,4942 Bot with covert subtilite 7,4943 His frendly speches he affaiteth, 7,4944 And as the Tigre his time awaiteth 7,4945 In hope forto cacche his preie. 7,4946 Whan that the bordes were aweie 7,4947 And thei have souped in the halle, 7,4948 He seith that slep is on him falle, 7,4949 And preith he moste go to bedde; 7,4950 And sche with alle haste spedde, 7,4951 So as hire thoghte it was to done, 7,4952 That every thing was redi sone. 7,4953 Sche broghte him to his chambre tho 7,4954 And tok hire leve, and forth is go 7,4955 Into hire oghne chambre by, 7,4956 As sche that wende certeinly 7,4957 Have had a frend, and hadde a fo, 7,4958 Wherof fell after mochel wo. 7,4959 This tirant, thogh he lyhe softe, 7,4960 Out of his bed aros fulofte, 7,4961 And goth aboute, and leide his Ere 7,4962 To herkne, til that alle were 7,4963 To bedde gon and slepten faste. 7,4964 And thanne upon himself he caste 7,4965 A mantell, and his swerd al naked 7,4966 He tok in honde; and sche unwaked 7,4967 Abedde lay, but what sche mette, 7,4968 God wot; for he the Dore unschette 7,4969 So prively that non it herde, 7,4970 The softe pas and forth he ferde 7,4971 Unto the bed wher that sche slepte, 7,4972 Al sodeinliche and in he crepte, 7,4973 And hire in bothe his Armes tok. 7,4974 With that this worthi wif awok, 7,4975 Which thurgh tendresce of wommanhiede 7,4976 Hire vois hath lost for pure drede, 7,4977 That o word speke sche ne dar: 7,4978 And ek he bad hir to be war, 7,4979 For if sche made noise or cry, 7,4980 He seide, his swerd lay faste by 7,4981 To slen hire and hire folk aboute. 7,4982 And thus he broghte hire herte in doute, 7,4983 That lich a Lomb whanne it is sesed 7,4984 In wolves mouth, so was desesed 7,4985 Lucrece, which he naked fond: 7,4986 Wherof sche swounede in his hond, 7,4987 And, as who seith, lay ded oppressed. 7,4988 And he, which al him hadde adresced 7,4989 To lust, tok thanne what him liste, 7,4990 And goth his wey, that non it wiste, 7,4991 Into his oghne chambre ayein, 7,4992 And clepede up his chamberlein, 7,4993 And made him redi forto ryde. 7,4994 And thus this lecherouse pride 7,4995 To horse lepte and forth he rod; 7,4996 And sche, which in hire bed abod, 7,4997 Whan that sche wiste he was agon, 7,4998 Sche clepede after liht anon 7,4999 And up aros long er the day, 7,5000 And caste awey hire freissh aray, 7,5001 As sche which hath the world forsake, 7,5002 And tok upon the clothes blake: 7,5003 And evere upon continuinge, 7,5004 Riht as men sen a welle springe, 7,5005 With yhen fulle of wofull teres, 7,5006 Hire her hangende aboute hire Eres, 7,5007 Sche wepte, and noman wiste why. 7,5008 Bot yit among full pitously 7,5009 Sche preide that thei nolden drecche 7,5010 Hire housebonde forto fecche 7,5011 Forth with hire fader ek also. 7,5012 Thus be thei comen bothe tuo, 7,5013 And Brutus cam with Collatin, 7,5014 Which to Lucrece was cousin, 7,5015 And in thei wenten alle thre 7,5016 To chambre, wher thei myhten se 7,5017 The wofulleste upon this Molde, 7,5018 Which wepte as sche to water scholde. 7,5019 The chambre Dore anon was stoke, 7,5020 Er thei have oght unto hire spoke; 7,5021 Thei sihe hire clothes al desguised, 7,5022 And hou sche hath hirself despised, 7,5023 Hire her hangende unkemd aboute, 7,5024 Bot natheles sche gan to loute 7,5025 And knele unto hire housebonde; 7,5026 And he, which fain wolde understonde 7,5027 The cause why sche ferde so, 7,5028 With softe wordes axeth tho, 7,5029 "What mai you be, mi goode swete?" 7,5030 And sche, which thoghte hirself unmete 7,5031 And the lest worth of wommen alle, 7,5032 Hire wofull chiere let doun falle 7,5033 For schame and couthe unnethes loke. 7,5034 And thei therof good hiede toke, 7,5035 And preiden hire in alle weie 7,5036 That sche ne spare forto seie 7,5037 Unto hir frendes what hire eileth, 7,5038 Why sche so sore hirself beweileth, 7,5039 And what the sothe wolde mene. 7,5040 And sche, which hath hire sorwes grene, 7,5041 Hire wo to telle thanne assaieth, 7,5042 Bot tendre schame hire word delaieth, 7,5043 That sondri times as sche minte 7,5044 To speke, upon the point sche stinte. 7,5045 And thei hire bidden evere in on 7,5046 To telle forth, and therupon, 7,5047 Whan that sche sih sche moste nede, 7,5048 Hire tale betwen schame and drede 7,5049 Sche tolde, noght withoute peine. 7,5050 And he, which wolde hire wo restreigne, 7,5051 Hire housebonde, a sory man, 7,5052 Conforteth hire al that he can, 7,5053 And swor, and ek hire fader bothe, 7,5054 That thei with hire be noght wrothe 7,5055 Of that is don ayein hire wille; 7,5056 And preiden hire to be stille, 7,5057 For thei to hire have al foryive. 7,5058 Bot sche, which thoghte noght to live, 7,5059 Of hem wol no foryivenesse, 7,5060 And seide, of thilke wickednesse 7,5061 Which was unto hire bodi wroght, 7,5062 Al were it so sche myhte it noght, 7,5063 Nevere afterward the world ne schal 7,5064 Reproeven hire; and forth withal, 7,5065 Er eny man therof be war, 7,5066 A naked swerd, the which sche bar 7,5067 Withinne hire Mantel priveli, 7,5068 Betwen hire hondes sodeinly 7,5069 Sche tok, and thurgh hire herte it throng, 7,5070 And fell to grounde, and evere among, 7,5071 Whan that sche fell, so as sche myhte, 7,5072 Hire clothes with hire hand sche rihte, 7,5073 That noman dounward fro the kne 7,5074 Scholde eny thing of hire se: 7,5075 Thus lay this wif honestely, 7,5076 Althogh sche deide wofully. 7,5077 Tho was no sorwe forto seke: 7,5078 Hire housebonde, hire fader eke 7,5079 Aswoune upon the bodi felle; 7,5080 Ther mai no mannes tunge telle 7,5081 In which anguisshe that thei were. 7,5082 Bot Brutus, which was with hem there, 7,5083 Toward himself his herte kepte, 7,5084 And to Lucrece anon he lepte, 7,5085 The blodi swerd and pulleth oute, 7,5086 And swor the goddes al aboute 7,5087 That he therof schal do vengance. 7,5088 And sche tho made a contienance, 7,5089 Hire dedlich yhe and ate laste 7,5090 In thonkinge as it were up caste, 7,5091 And so behield him in the wise, 7,5092 Whil sche to loke mai suffise. 7,5093 And Brutus with a manlich herte 7,5094 Hire housebonde hath mad up sterte 7,5095 Forth with hire fader ek also 7,5096 In alle haste, and seide hem tho 7,5097 That thei anon withoute lette 7,5098 A Beere for the body fette; 7,5099 Lucrece and therupon bledende 7,5100 He leide, and so forth out criende 7,5101 He goth into the Market place 7,5102 Of Rome: and in a litel space 7,5103 Thurgh cry the cite was assembled, 7,5104 And every mannes herte is trembled, 7,5105 Whan thei the sothe herde of the cas. 7,5106 And therupon the conseil was 7,5107 Take of the grete and of the smale, 7,5108 And Brutus tolde hem al the tale; 7,5109 And thus cam into remembrance 7,5110 Of Senne the continuance, 7,5111 Which Arrons hadde do tofore, 7,5112 And ek, long time er he was bore, 7,5113 Of that his fadre hadde do 7,5114 The wrong cam into place tho; 7,5115 So that the comun clamour tolde 7,5116 The newe schame of Sennes olde. 7,5117 And al the toun began to crie, 7,5118 "Awey, awey the tirannie 7,5119 Of lecherie and covoitise]" 7,5120 And ate laste in such a wise 7,5121 The fader in the same while 7,5122 Forth with his Sone thei exile, 7,5123 And taken betre governance. 7,5124 Bot yit an other remembrance 7,5125 That rihtwisnesse and lecherie 7,5126 Acorden noght in compaignie 7,5127 With him that hath the lawe on honde, 7,5128 That mai a man wel understonde, 7,5129 As be a tale thou shalt wite, 7,5130 Of olde ensample as it is write. 7,5131 At Rome whan that Apius, 7,5132 Whos other name is Claudius, 7,5133 Was governour of the cite, 7,5134 Ther fell a wonder thing to se 7,5135 Touchende a gentil Maide, as thus, 7,5136 Whom Livius Virginius 7,5137 Begeten hadde upon his wif: 7,5138 Men seiden that so fair a lif 7,5139 As sche was noght in al the toun. 7,5140 This fame, which goth up and doun, 7,5141 To Claudius cam in his Ere, 7,5142 Wherof his thoght anon was there, 7,5143 Which al his herte hath set afyre, 7,5144 That he began the flour desire 7,5145 Which longeth unto maydenhede, 7,5146 And sende, if that he myhte spede 7,5147 The blinde lustes of his wille. 7,5148 Bot that thing mai he noght fulfille, 7,5149 For sche stod upon Mariage; 7,5150 A worthi kniht of gret lignage, 7,5151 Ilicius which thanne hihte, 7,5152 Acorded in hire fader sihte 7,5153 Was, that he scholde his douhter wedde. 7,5154 Bot er the cause fully spedde, 7,5155 Hire fader, which in Romanie 7,5156 The ledinge of chivalerie 7,5157 In governance hath undertake, 7,5158 Upon a werre which was take 7,5159 Goth out with al the strengthe he hadde 7,5160 Of men of Armes whiche he ladde: 7,5161 So was the mariage left, 7,5162 And stod upon acord til eft. 7,5163 The king, which herde telle of this, 7,5164 Hou that this Maide ordeigned is 7,5165 To Mariage, thoghte an other. 7,5166 And hadde thilke time a brother, 7,5167 Which Marchus Claudius was hote, 7,5168 And was a man of such riote 7,5169 Riht as the king himselve was: 7,5170 Thei tuo togedre upon this cas 7,5171 In conseil founden out this weie, 7,5172 That Marchus Claudius schal seie 7,5173 Hou sche be weie of covenant 7,5174 To his service appourtenant 7,5175 Was hol, and to non other man; 7,5176 And therupon he seith he can 7,5177 In every point witnesse take, 7,5178 So that sche schal it noght forsake. 7,5179 Whan that thei hadden schape so, 7,5180 After the lawe which was tho, 7,5181 Whil that hir fader was absent, 7,5182 Sche was somouned and assent 7,5183 To come in presence of the king 7,5184 And stonde in ansuere of this thing. 7,5185 Hire frendes wisten alle wel 7,5186 That it was falshed everydel, 7,5187 And comen to the king and seiden, 7,5188 Upon the comun lawe and preiden, 7,5189 So as this noble worthi knyht 7,5190 Hir fader for the comun riht 7,5191 In thilke time, as was befalle, 7,5192 Lai for the profit of hem alle 7,5193 Upon the wylde feldes armed, 7,5194 That he ne scholde noght ben harmed 7,5195 Ne schamed, whil that he were oute; 7,5196 And thus thei preiden al aboute. 7,5197 For al the clamour that he herde, 7,5198 The king upon his lust ansuerde, 7,5199 And yaf hem only daies tuo 7,5200 Of respit; for he wende tho, 7,5201 That in so schorte a time appiere 7,5202 Hire fader mihte in no manere. 7,5203 Bot as therof he was deceived; 7,5204 For Livius hadde al conceived 7,5205 The pourpos of the king tofore, 7,5206 So that to Rome ayein therfore 7,5207 In alle haste he cam ridende, 7,5208 And lefte upon the field liggende 7,5209 His host, til that he come ayein. 7,5210 And thus this worthi capitein 7,5211 Appiereth redi at his day, 7,5212 Wher al that evere reson may 7,5213 Be lawe in audience he doth, 7,5214 So that his dowhter upon soth 7,5215 Of that Marchus hire hadde accused 7,5216 He hath tofore the court excused. 7,5217 The king, which sih his pourpos faile, 7,5218 And that no sleihte mihte availe, 7,5219 Encombred of his lustes blinde 7,5220 The lawe torneth out of kinde, 7,5221 And half in wraththe as thogh it were, 7,5222 In presence of hem alle there 7,5223 Deceived of concupiscence 7,5224 Yaf for his brother the sentence, 7,5225 And bad him that he scholde sese 7,5226 This Maide and make him wel at ese; 7,5227 Bot al withinne his oghne entente 7,5228 He wiste hou that the cause wente, 7,5229 Of that his brother hath the wyte 7,5230 He was himselven forto wyte. 7,5231 Bot thus this maiden hadde wrong, 7,5232 Which was upon the king along, 7,5233 Bot ayein him was non Appel, 7,5234 And that the fader wiste wel: 7,5235 Wherof upon the tirannie, 7,5236 That for the lust of Lecherie 7,5237 His douhter scholde be deceived, 7,5238 And that Ilicius was weyved 7,5239 Untrewly fro the Mariage, 7,5240 Riht as a Leon in his rage, 7,5241 Which of no drede set acompte 7,5242 And not what pite scholde amounte, 7,5243 A naked swerd he pulleth oute, 7,5244 The which amonges al the route 7,5245 He threste thurgh his dowhter side, 7,5246 And al alowd this word he cride: 7,5247 "Lo, take hire ther, thou wrongfull king, 7,5248 For me is levere upon this thing 7,5249 To be the fader of a Maide, 7,5250 Thogh sche be ded, that if men saide 7,5251 That in hir lif sche were schamed 7,5252 And I therof were evele named." 7,5253 Tho bad the king men scholde areste 7,5254 His bodi, bot of thilke heste, 7,5255 Lich to the chaced wylde bor, 7,5256 The houndes whan he fieleth sor, 7,5257 Tothroweth and goth forth his weie, 7,5258 In such a wise forto seie 7,5259 This worthi kniht with swerd on honde 7,5260 His weie made, and thei him wonde, 7,5261 That non of hem his strokes kepte; 7,5262 And thus upon his hors he lepte, 7,5263 And with his swerd droppende of blod, 7,5264 The which withinne his douhter stod, 7,5265 He cam ther as the pouer was 7,5266 Of Rome, and tolde hem al the cas, 7,5267 And seide hem that thei myhten liere 7,5268 Upon the wrong of his matiere, 7,5269 That betre it were to redresce 7,5270 At hom the grete unrihtwisnesse, 7,5271 Than forto werre in strange place 7,5272 And lese at hom here oghne grace. 7,5273 For thus stant every mannes lif 7,5274 In jeupartie for his wif 7,5275 Or for his dowhter, if thei be 7,5276 Passende an other of beaute. 7,5277 Of this merveile which thei sihe 7,5278 So apparant tofore here yhe, 7,5279 Of that the king him hath misbore, 7,5280 Here othes thei have alle swore 7,5281 That thei wol stonde be the riht. 7,5282 And thus of on acord upriht 7,5283 To Rome at ones hom ayein 7,5284 Thei torne, and schortly forto sein, 7,5285 This tirannye cam to mouthe, 7,5286 And every man seith what he couthe, 7,5287 So that the prive tricherie, 7,5288 Which set was upon lecherie, 7,5289 Cam openly to mannes Ere; 7,5290 And that broghte in the comun feere, 7,5291 That every man the peril dradde 7,5292 Of him that so hem overladde. 7,5293 Forthi, er that it worse falle, 7,5294 Thurgh comun conseil of hem alle 7,5295 Thei have here wrongfull king deposed, 7,5296 And hem in whom it was supposed 7,5297 The conseil stod of his ledinge 7,5298 Be lawe unto the dom thei bringe, 7,5299 Wher thei receiven the penance 7,5300 That longeth to such governance. 7,5301 And thus thunchaste was chastised, 7,5302 Wherof thei myhte ben avised 7,5303 That scholden afterward governe, 7,5304 And be this evidence lerne, 7,5305 Hou it is good a king eschuie 7,5306 The lust of vice and vertu suie. 7,5307 To make an ende in this partie, 7,5308 Which toucheth to the Policie 7,5309 Of Chastite in special, 7,5310 As for conclusion final 7,5311 That every lust is to eschue 7,5312 Be gret ensample I mai argue: 7,5313 Hou in Rages a toun of Mede 7,5314 Ther was a Mayde, and as I rede, 7,5315 Sarra sche hihte, and Raguel 7,5316 Hir fader was; and so befell, 7,5317 Of bodi bothe and of visage 7,5318 Was non so fair of the lignage, 7,5319 To seche among hem alle, as sche; 7,5320 Wherof the riche of the cite, 7,5321 Of lusti folk that couden love, 7,5322 Assoted were upon hire love, 7,5323 And asken hire forto wedde. 7,5324 On was which ate laste spedde, 7,5325 Bot that was more for likinge, 7,5326 To have his lust, than for weddinge, 7,5327 As he withinne his herte caste, 7,5328 Which him repenteth ate laste. 7,5329 For so it fell the ferste nyht, 7,5330 That whanne he was to bedde dyht, 7,5331 As he which nothing god besecheth 7,5332 Bot al only hise lustes secheth, 7,5333 Abedde er he was fully warm 7,5334 And wolde have take hire in his Arm, 7,5335 Asmod, which was a fend of helle, 7,5336 And serveth, as the bokes telle, 7,5337 To tempte a man of such a wise, 7,5338 Was redy there, and thilke emprise, 7,5339 Which he hath set upon delit, 7,5340 He vengeth thanne in such a plit, 7,5341 That he his necke hathe writhe atuo. 7,5342 This yonge wif was sory tho, 7,5343 Which wiste nothing what it mente; 7,5344 And natheles yit thus it wente 7,5345 Noght only of this ferste man, 7,5346 Bot after, riht as he began, 7,5347 Sexe othre of hire housebondes 7,5348 Asmod hath take into hise bondes, 7,5349 So that thei alle abedde deiden, 7,5350 Whan thei her hand toward hir leiden, 7,5351 Noght for the lawe of Mariage, 7,5352 Bot for that ilke fyri rage 7,5353 In which that thei the lawe excede: 7,5354 For who that wolde taken hiede 7,5355 What after fell in this matiere, 7,5356 Ther mihte he wel the sothe hiere. 7,5357 Whan sche was wedded to Thobie, 7,5358 And Raphael in compainie 7,5359 Hath tawht him hou to ben honeste, 7,5360 Asmod wan noght at thilke feste, 7,5361 And yit Thobie his wille hadde; 7,5362 For he his lust so goodly ladde, 7,5363 That bothe lawe and kinde is served, 7,5364 Wherof he hath himself preserved, 7,5365 That he fell noght in the sentence. 7,5366 O which an open evidence 7,5367 Of this ensample a man mai se, 7,5368 That whan likinge in the degre 7,5369 Of Mariage mai forsueie, 7,5370 Wel oghte him thanne in other weie 7,5371 Of lust to be the betre avised. 7,5372 For god the lawes hath assissed 7,5373 Als wel to reson as to kinde, 7,5374 Bot he the bestes wolde binde 7,5375 Only to lawes of nature, 7,5376 Bot to the mannes creature 7,5377 God yaf him reson forth withal, 7,5378 Wherof that he nature schal 7,5379 Upon the causes modefie, 7,5380 That he schal do no lecherie, 7,5381 And yit he schal hise lustes have. 7,5382 So ben the lawes bothe save 7,5383 And every thing put out of sclandre; 7,5384 As whilom to king Alisandre 7,5385 The wise Philosophre tawhte, 7,5386 Whan he his ferste lore cawhte, 7,5387 Noght only upon chastete, 7,5388 Bot upon alle honestete; 7,5389 Wherof a king himself mai taste, 7,5390 Hou trewe, hou large, hou joust, hou chaste 7,5391 Him oghte of reson forto be, 7,5392 Forth with the vertu of Pite, 7,5393 Thurgh which he mai gret thonk deserve 7,5394 Toward his godd, that he preserve 7,5395 Him and his poeple in alle welthe 7,5396 Of pes, richesse, honour and helthe 7,5397 Hier in this world and elles eke. 7,5398 Mi Sone, as we tofore spieke 7,5399 In schrifte, so as thou me seidest, 7,5400 And for thin ese, as thou me preidest, 7,5401 Thi love throghes forto lisse, 7,5402 That I thee wolde telle and wisse 7,5403 The forme of Aristotles lore, 7,5404 I have it seid, and somdiel more 7,5405 Of othre ensamples, to assaie 7,5406 If I thi peines myhte allaie 7,5407 Thurgh eny thing that I can seie. 7,5408 Do wey, mi fader, I you preie: 7,5409 Of that ye have unto me told 7,5410 I thonke you a thousendfold. 7,5411 The tales sounen in myn Ere, 7,5412 Bot yit min herte is elleswhere, 7,5413 I mai miselve noght restreigne, 7,5414 That I nam evere in loves peine: 7,5415 Such lore couthe I nevere gete, 7,5416 Which myhte make me foryete 7,5417 O point, bot if so were I slepte, 7,5418 That I my tydes ay ne kepte 7,5419 To thenke of love and of his lawe; 7,5420 That herte can I noght withdrawe. 7,5421 Forthi, my goode fader diere, 7,5422 Lef al and speke of my matiere 7,5423 Touchende of love, as we begonne: 7,5424 If that ther be oght overronne 7,5425 Or oght foryete or left behinde 7,5426 Which falleth unto loves kinde, 7,5427 Wherof it nedeth to be schrive, 7,5428 Nou axeth, so that whil I live 7,5429 I myhte amende that is mys. 7,5430 Mi goode diere Sone, yis. 7,5431 Thi schrifte forto make plein, 7,5432 Ther is yit more forto sein 7,5433 Of love which is unavised. 7,5434 Bot for thou schalt be wel avised 7,5435 Unto thi schrifte as it belongeth, 7,5436 A point which upon love hongeth 7,5437 And is the laste of alle tho, 7,5438 I wol thee telle, and thanne ho. 8, 1 The myhti god, which unbegunne 8, 2 Stant of himself and hath begunne 8, 3 Alle othre thinges at his wille, 8, 4 The hevene him liste to fulfille 8, 5 Of alle joie, where as he 8, 6 Sit inthronized in his See, 8, 7 And hath hise Angles him to serve, 8, 8 Suche as him liketh to preserve, 8, 9 So that thei mowe noght forsueie: 8, 10 Bot Lucifer he putte aweie, 8, 11 With al the route apostazied 8, 12 Of hem that ben to him allied, 8, 13 Whiche out of hevene into the helle 8, 14 From Angles into fendes felle; 8, 15 Wher that ther is no joie of lyht, 8, 16 Bot more derk than eny nyht 8, 17 The peine schal ben endeles; 8, 18 And yit of fyres natheles 8, 19 Ther is plente, bot thei ben blake, 8, 20 Wherof no syhte mai be take. 8, 21 Thus whan the thinges ben befalle, 8, 22 That Luciferes court was falle 8, 23 Wher dedly Pride hem hath conveied, 8, 24 Anon forthwith it was pourveied 8, 25 Thurgh him which alle thinges may; 8, 26 He made Adam the sexte day 8, 27 In Paradis, and to his make 8, 28 Him liketh Eve also to make, 8, 29 And bad hem cresce and multiplie. 8, 30 For of the mannes Progenie, 8, 31 Which of the womman schal be bore, 8, 32 The nombre of Angles which was lore, 8, 33 Whan thei out fro the blisse felle, 8, 34 He thoghte to restore, and felle 8, 35 In hevene thilke holy place 8, 36 Which stod tho voide upon his grace. 8, 37 Bot as it is wel wiste and knowe, 8, 38 Adam and Eve bot a throwe, 8, 39 So as it scholde of hem betyde, 8, 40 In Paradis at thilke tyde 8, 41 Ne duelten, and the cause why, 8, 42 Write in the bok of Genesi, 8, 43 As who seith, alle men have herd, 8, 44 Hou Raphael the fyri swerd 8, 45 In honde tok and drof hem oute, 8, 46 To gete here lyves fode aboute 8, 47 Upon this wofull Erthe hiere. 8, 48 Metodre seith to this matiere, 8, 49 As he be revelacion 8, 50 It hadde upon avision, 8, 51 Hou that Adam and Eve also 8, 52 Virgines comen bothe tuo 8, 53 Into the world and were aschamed, 8, 54 Til that nature hem hath reclamed 8, 55 To love, and tauht hem thilke lore, 8, 56 That ferst thei keste, and overmore 8, 57 Thei don that is to kinde due, 8, 58 Wherof thei hadden fair issue. 8, 59 A Sone was the ferste of alle, 8, 60 And Chain be name thei him calle; 8, 61 Abel was after the secounde, 8, 62 And in the geste as it is founde, 8, 63 Nature so the cause ladde, 8, 64 Tuo douhtres ek Dame Eve hadde, 8, 65 The ferste cleped Calmana 8, 66 Was, and that other Delbora. 8, 67 Thus was mankinde to beginne; 8, 68 Forthi that time it was no Sinne 8, 69 The Soster forto take hire brother, 8, 70 Whan that ther was of chois non other: 8, 71 To Chain was Calmana betake, 8, 72 And Delboram hath Abel take, 8, 73 In whom was gete natheles 8, 74 Of worldes folk the ferste encres. 8, 75 Men sein that nede hath no lawe, 8, 76 And so it was be thilke dawe 8, 77 And laste into the Secounde Age, 8, 78 Til that the grete water rage, 8, 79 Of Noeµ which was seid the flod, 8, 80 The world, which thanne in Senne stod, 8, 81 Hath dreint, outake lyves Eyhte. 8, 82 Tho was mankinde of litel weyhte; 8, 83 Sem, Cham, Japhet, of these thre, 8, 84 That ben the Sones of Noeµ, 8, 85 The world of mannes nacion 8, 86 Into multiplicacion 8, 87 Was tho restored newe ayein 8, 88 So ferforth, as the bokes sein, 8, 89 That of hem thre and here issue 8, 90 Ther was so large a retenue, 8, 91 Of naciouns seventy and tuo; 8, 92 In sondri place ech on of tho 8, 93 The wyde world have enhabited. 8, 94 Bot as nature hem hath excited, 8, 95 Thei token thanne litel hiede, 8, 96 The brother of the Sosterhiede 8, 97 To wedde wyves, til it cam 8, 98 Into the time of Habraham. 8, 99 Whan the thridde Age was begunne, 8, 100 The nede tho was overrunne, 8, 101 For ther was poeple ynouh in londe: 8, 102 Thanne ate ferste it cam to honde, 8, 103 That Sosterhode of mariage 8, 104 Was torned into cousinage, 8, 105 So that after the rihte lyne 8, 106 The Cousin weddeth the cousine. 8, 107 For Habraham, er that he deide, 8, 108 This charge upon his servant leide, 8, 109 To him and in this wise spak, 8, 110 That he his Sone Isaaµc 8, 111 Do wedde for no worldes good, 8, 112 Bot only to his oghne blod: 8, 113 Wherof this Servant, as he bad, 8, 114 Whan he was ded, his Sone hath lad 8, 115 To Bathuel, wher he Rebecke 8, 116 Hath wedded with the whyte necke; 8, 117 For sche, he wiste wel and syh, 8, 118 Was to the child cousine nyh. 8, 119 And thus as Habraham hath tawht, 8, 120 Whan Isaaµc was god betawht, 8, 121 His Sone Jacob dede also, 8, 122 And of Laban the dowhtres tuo, 8, 123 Which was his Em, he tok to wyve, 8, 124 And gat upon hem in his lyve, 8, 125 Of hire ferst which hihte Lie, 8, 126 Sex Sones of his Progenie, 8, 127 And of Rachel tuo Sones eke: 8, 128 The remenant was forto seke, 8, 129 That is to sein of foure mo, 8, 130 Wherof he gat on Bala tuo, 8, 131 And of Zelpha he hadde ek tweie. 8, 132 And these tuelve, as I thee seie, 8, 133 Thurgh providence of god himselve 8, 134 Ben seid the Patriarkes tuelve; 8, 135 Of whom, as afterward befell, 8, 136 The tribes tuelve of Irahel 8, 137 Engendred were, and ben the same 8, 138 That of Hebreus tho hadden name, 8, 139 Which of Sibrede in alliance 8, 140 For evere kepten thilke usance 8, 141 Most comunly, til Crist was bore. 8, 142 Bot afterward it was forbore 8, 143 Amonges ous that ben baptized; 8, 144 For of the lawe canonized 8, 145 The Pope hath bede to the men, 8, 146 That non schal wedden of his ken 8, 147 Ne the seconde ne the thridde. 8, 148 Bot thogh that holy cherche it bidde, 8, 149 So to restreigne Mariage, 8, 150 Ther ben yit upon loves Rage 8, 151 Full manye of suche nou aday 8, 152 That taken wher thei take may. 8, 153 For love, which is unbesein 8, 154 Of alle reson, as men sein, 8, 155 Thurgh sotie and thurgh nycete, 8, 156 Of his voluptuosite 8, 157 He spareth no condicion 8, 158 Of ken ne yit religion, 8, 159 Bot as a cock among the Hennes, 8, 160 Or as a Stalon in the Fennes, 8, 161 Which goth amonges al the Stod, 8, 162 Riht so can he nomore good, 8, 163 Bot takth what thing comth next to honde. 8, 164 Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde, 8, 165 That such delit is forto blame. 8, 166 Forthi if thou hast be the same 8, 167 To love in eny such manere, 8, 168 Tell forth therof and schrif thee hiere. 8, 169 Mi fader, nay, god wot the sothe, 8, 170 Mi feire is noght of such a bothe, 8, 171 So wylde a man yit was I nevere, 8, 172 That of mi ken or lief or levere 8, 173 Me liste love in such a wise: 8, 174 And ek I not for what emprise 8, 175 I scholde assote upon a Nonne, 8, 176 For thogh I hadde hir love wonne, 8, 177 It myhte into no pris amonte, 8, 178 So therof sette I non acompte. 8, 179 Ye mai wel axe of this and that, 8, 180 Bot sothli forto telle plat, 8, 181 In al this world ther is bot on 8, 182 The which myn herte hath overgon; 8, 183 I am toward alle othre fre. 8, 184 Full wel, mi Sone, nou I see 8, 185 Thi word stant evere upon o place, 8, 186 Bot yit therof thou hast a grace, 8, 187 That thou thee myht so wel excuse 8, 188 Of love such as som men use, 8, 189 So as I spak of now tofore. 8, 190 For al such time of love is lore, 8, 191 And lich unto the bitterswete; 8, 192 For thogh it thenke a man ferst swete, 8, 193 He schal wel fielen ate laste 8, 194 That it is sour and may noght laste. 8, 195 For as a morsell envenimed, 8, 196 So hath such love his lust mistimed, 8, 197 And grete ensamples manyon 8, 198 A man mai finde therupon. 8, 199 At Rome ferst if we beginne, 8, 200 Ther schal I finde hou of this sinne 8, 201 An Emperour was forto blame, 8, 202 Gayus Caligula be name, 8, 203 Which of his oghne Sostres thre 8, 204 Berefte the virginite: 8, 205 And whanne he hadde hem so forlein, 8, 206 As he the which was al vilein, 8, 207 He dede hem out of londe exile. 8, 208 Bot afterward withinne a while 8, 209 God hath beraft him in his ire 8, 210 His lif and ek his large empire: 8, 211 And thus for likinge of a throwe 8, 212 For evere his lust was overthrowe. 8, 213 Of this sotie also I finde, 8, 214 Amon his Soster ayein kinde, 8, 215 Which hihte Thamar, he forlay; 8, 216 Bot he that lust an other day 8, 217 Aboghte, whan that Absolon 8, 218 His oghne brother therupon, 8, 219 Of that he hadde his Soster schent, 8, 220 Tok of that Senne vengement 8, 221 And slowh him with his oghne hond: 8, 222 And thus thunkinde unkinde fond. 8, 223 And forto se more of this thing, 8, 224 The bible makth a knowleching, 8, 225 Wherof thou miht take evidence 8, 226 Upon the sothe experience. 8, 227 Whan Lothes wif was overgon 8, 228 And schape into the salte Ston, 8, 229 As it is spoke into this day, 8, 230 Be bothe hise dowhtres thanne he lay, 8, 231 With childe and made hem bothe grete, 8, 232 Til that nature hem wolde lete, 8, 233 And so the cause aboute ladde 8, 234 That ech of hem a Sone hadde, 8, 235 Moab the ferste, and the seconde 8, 236 Amon, of whiche, as it is founde, 8, 237 Cam afterward to gret encres 8, 238 Tuo nacions: and natheles, 8, 239 For that the stockes were ungoode, 8, 240 The branches mihten noght be goode; 8, 241 For of the false Moabites 8, 242 Forth with the strengthe of Amonites, 8, 243 Of that thei weren ferst misgete, 8, 244 The poeple of god was ofte upsete 8, 245 In Irahel and in Judee, 8, 246 As in the bible a man mai se. 8, 247 Lo thus, my Sone, as I thee seie, 8, 248 Thou miht thiselve be beseie 8, 249 Of that thou hast of othre herd: 8, 250 For evere yit it hath so ferd, 8, 251 Of loves lust if so befalle 8, 252 That it in other place falle 8, 253 Than it is of the lawe set, 8, 254 He which his love hath so beset 8, 255 Mote afterward repente him sore. 8, 256 And every man is othres lore; 8, 257 Of that befell in time er this 8, 258 The present time which now is 8, 259 May ben enformed hou it stod, 8, 260 And take that him thenketh good, 8, 261 And leve that which is noght so. 8, 262 Bot forto loke of time go, 8, 263 Hou lust of love excedeth lawe, 8, 264 It oghte forto be withdrawe; 8, 265 For every man it scholde drede, 8, 266 And nameliche in his Sibrede, 8, 267 Which torneth ofte to vengance: 8, 268 Wherof a tale in remembrance, 8, 269 Which is a long process to hiere, 8, 270 I thenke forto tellen hiere. 8, 271 Of a Cronique in daies gon, 8, 272 The which is cleped Pantheon, 8, 273 In loves cause I rede thus, 8, 274 Hou that the grete Antiochus, 8, 275 Of whom that Antioche tok 8, 276 His ferste name, as seith the bok, 8, 277 Was coupled to a noble queene, 8, 278 And hadde a dowhter hem betwene: 8, 279 Bot such fortune cam to honde, 8, 280 That deth, which no king mai withstonde, 8, 281 Bot every lif it mote obeie, 8, 282 This worthi queene tok aweie. 8, 283 The king, which made mochel mone, 8, 284 Tho stod, as who seith, al him one 8, 285 Withoute wif, bot natheles 8, 286 His doghter, which was piereles 8, 287 Of beaute, duelte aboute him stille. 8, 288 Bot whanne a man hath welthe at wille, 8, 289 The fleissh is frele and falleth ofte, 8, 290 And that this maide tendre and softe, 8, 291 Which in hire fadres chambres duelte, 8, 292 Withinne a time wiste and felte: 8, 293 For likinge and concupiscence 8, 294 Withoute insihte of conscience 8, 295 The fader so with lustes blente, 8, 296 That he caste al his hole entente 8, 297 His oghne doghter forto spille. 8, 298 This king hath leisir at his wille 8, 299 With strengthe, and whanne he time sih, 8, 300 This yonge maiden he forlih: 8, 301 And sche was tendre and full of drede, 8, 302 Sche couthe noght hir Maidenhede 8, 303 Defende, and thus sche hath forlore 8, 304 The flour which she hath longe bore. 8, 305 It helpeth noght althogh sche wepe, 8, 306 For thei that scholde hir bodi kepe 8, 307 Of wommen were absent as thanne; 8, 308 And thus this maiden goth to manne, 8, 309 The wylde fader thus devoureth 8, 310 His oghne fleissh, which non socoureth, 8, 311 And that was cause of mochel care. 8, 312 Bot after this unkinde fare 8, 313 Out of the chambre goth the king, 8, 314 And sche lay stille, and of this thing, 8, 315 Withinne hirself such sorghe made, 8, 316 Ther was no wiht that mihte hir glade, 8, 317 For feere of thilke horrible vice. 8, 318 With that cam inne the Norrice 8, 319 Which fro childhode hire hadde kept, 8, 320 And axeth if sche hadde slept, 8, 321 And why hire chiere was unglad. 8, 322 Bot sche, which hath ben overlad 8, 323 Of that sche myhte noght be wreke, 8, 324 For schame couthe unethes speke; 8, 325 And natheles mercy sche preide 8, 326 With wepende yhe and thus sche seide: 8, 327 "Helas, mi Soster, waileway, 8, 328 That evere I sih this ilke day] 8, 329 Thing which mi bodi ferst begat 8, 330 Into this world, onliche that 8, 331 Mi worldes worschipe hath bereft." 8, 332 With that sche swouneth now and eft, 8, 333 And evere wissheth after deth, 8, 334 So that welnyh hire lacketh breth. 8, 335 That other, which hire wordes herde, 8, 336 In confortinge of hire ansuerde, 8, 337 To lette hire fadres fol desir 8, 338 Sche wiste no recoverir: 8, 339 Whan thing is do, ther is no bote, 8, 340 So suffren thei that suffre mote; 8, 341 Ther was non other which it wiste. 8, 342 Thus hath this king al that him liste 8, 343 Of his likinge and his plesance, 8, 344 And laste in such continuance, 8, 345 And such delit he tok therinne, 8, 346 Him thoghte that it was no Sinne; 8, 347 And sche dorste him nothing withseie. 8, 348 Bot fame, which goth every weie, 8, 349 To sondry regnes al aboute 8, 350 The grete beaute telleth oute 8, 351 Of such a maide of hih parage: 8, 352 So that for love of mariage 8, 353 The worthi Princes come and sende, 8, 354 As thei the whiche al honour wende, 8, 355 And knewe nothing hou it stod. 8, 356 The fader, whanne he understod, 8, 357 That thei his dowhter thus besoghte, 8, 358 With al his wit he caste and thoghte 8, 359 Hou that he myhte finde a lette; 8, 360 And such a Statut thanne he sette, 8, 361 And in this wise his lawe he taxeth, 8, 362 That what man that his doghter axeth, 8, 363 Bot if he couthe his question 8, 364 Assoile upon suggestion 8, 365 Of certein thinges that befelle, 8, 366 The whiche he wolde unto him telle, 8, 367 He scholde in certein lese his hed. 8, 368 And thus ther weren manye ded, 8, 369 Here hevedes stondende on the gate, 8, 370 Till ate laste longe and late, 8, 371 For lacke of ansuere in the wise, 8, 372 The remenant that weren wise 8, 373 Eschuieden to make assay. 8, 374 Til it befell upon a day 8, 375 Appolinus the Prince of Tyr, 8, 376 Which hath to love a gret desir, 8, 377 As he which in his hihe mod 8, 378 Was likende of his hote blod, 8, 379 A yong, a freissh, a lusti knyht, 8, 380 As he lai musende on a nyht 8, 381 Of the tidinges whiche he herde, 8, 382 He thoghte assaie hou that it ferde. 8, 383 He was with worthi compainie 8, 384 Arraied, and with good navie 8, 385 To schipe he goth, the wynd him dryveth, 8, 386 And seileth, til that he arryveth: 8, 387 Sauf in the port of Antioche 8, 388 He londeth, and goth to aproche 8, 389 The kinges Court and his presence. 8, 390 Of every naturel science, 8, 391 Which eny clerk him couthe teche, 8, 392 He couthe ynowh, and in his speche 8, 393 Of wordes he was eloquent; 8, 394 And whanne he sih the king present, 8, 395 He preith he moste his dowhter have. 8, 396 The king ayein began to crave, 8, 397 And tolde him the condicion, 8, 398 Hou ferst unto his question 8, 399 He mote ansuere and faile noght, 8, 400 Or with his heved it schal be boght: 8, 401 And he him axeth what it was. 8, 402 The king declareth him the cas 8, 403 With sturne lok and sturdi chiere, 8, 404 To him and seide in this manere: 8, 405 "With felonie I am upbore, 8, 406 I ete and have it noght forbore 8, 407 Mi modres fleissh, whos housebonde 8, 408 Mi fader forto seche I fonde, 8, 409 Which is the Sone ek of my wif. 8, 410 Hierof I am inquisitif; 8, 411 And who that can mi tale save, 8, 412 Al quyt he schal my doghter have; 8, 413 Of his ansuere and if he faile, 8, 414 He schal be ded withoute faile. 8, 415 Forthi my Sone," quod the king, 8, 416 "Be wel avised of this thing, 8, 417 Which hath thi lif in jeupartie." 8, 418 Appolinus for his partie, 8, 419 Whan he this question hath herd, 8, 420 Unto the king he hath ansuerd 8, 421 And hath rehersed on and on 8, 422 The pointz, and seide therupon: 8, 423 "The question which thou hast spoke, 8, 424 If thou wolt that it be unloke, 8, 425 It toucheth al the privete 8, 426 Betwen thin oghne child and thee, 8, 427 And stant al hol upon you tuo." 8, 428 The king was wonder sory tho, 8, 429 And thoghte, if that he seide it oute, 8, 430 Than were he schamed al aboute. 8, 431 With slihe wordes and with felle 8, 432 He seith, "Mi Sone, I schal thee telle, 8, 433 Though that thou be of litel wit, 8, 434 It is no gret merveile as yit, 8, 435 Thin age mai it noght suffise: 8, 436 Bot loke wel thou noght despise 8, 437 Thin oghne lif, for of my grace 8, 438 Of thretty daies fulle a space 8, 439 I grante thee, to ben avised." 8, 440 And thus with leve and time assised 8, 441 This yonge Prince forth he wente, 8, 442 And understod wel what it mente, 8, 443 Withinne his herte as he was lered, 8, 444 That forto maken him afered 8, 445 The king his time hath so deslaied. 8, 446 Wherof he dradde and was esmaied, 8, 447 Of treson that he deie scholde, 8, 448 For he the king his sothe tolde; 8, 449 And sodeinly the nyhtes tyde, 8, 450 That more wolde he noght abide, 8, 451 Al prively his barge he hente 8, 452 And hom ayein to Tyr he wente: 8, 453 And in his oghne wit he seide 8, 454 For drede, if he the king bewreide, 8, 455 He knew so wel the kinges herte, 8, 456 That deth ne scholde he noght asterte, 8, 457 The king him wolde so poursuie. 8, 458 Bot he, that wolde his deth eschuie, 8, 459 And knew al this tofor the hond, 8, 460 Forsake he thoghte his oghne lond, 8, 461 That there wolde he noght abyde; 8, 462 For wel he knew that on som syde 8, 463 This tirant of his felonie 8, 464 Be som manere of tricherie 8, 465 To grieve his bodi wol noght leve. 8, 466 Forthi withoute take leve, 8, 467 Als priveliche as evere he myhte, 8, 468 He goth him to the See be nyhte 8, 469 In Schipes that be whete laden: 8, 470 Here takel redy tho thei maden 8, 471 And hale up Seil and forth thei fare. 8, 472 Bot forto tellen of the care 8, 473 That thei of Tyr begonne tho, 8, 474 Whan that thei wiste he was ago, 8, 475 It is a Pite forto hiere. 8, 476 They losten lust, they losten chiere, 8, 477 Thei toke upon hem such penaunce, 8, 478 Ther was no song, ther was no daunce, 8, 479 Bot every merthe and melodie 8, 480 To hem was thanne a maladie; 8, 481 For unlust of that aventure 8, 482 Ther was noman which tok tonsure, 8, 483 In doelful clothes thei hem clothe, 8, 484 The bathes and the Stwes bothe 8, 485 Thei schetten in be every weie; 8, 486 There was no lif which leste pleie 8, 487 Ne take of eny joie kepe, 8, 488 Bot for here liege lord to wepe; 8, 489 And every wyht seide as he couthe, 8, 490 "Helas, the lusti flour of youthe, 8, 491 Our Prince, oure heved, our governour, 8, 492 Thurgh whom we stoden in honour, 8, 493 Withoute the comun assent 8, 494 Thus sodeinliche is fro ous went]" 8, 495 Such was the clamour of hem alle. 8, 496 Bot se we now what is befalle 8, 497 Upon the ferste tale plein, 8, 498 And torne we therto ayein. 8, 499 Antiochus the grete Sire, 8, 500 Which full of rancour and of ire 8, 501 His herte berth, so as ye herde, 8, 502 Of that this Prince of Tyr ansuerde, 8, 503 He hadde a feloun bacheler, 8, 504 Which was his prive consailer, 8, 505 And Taliart be name he hihte: 8, 506 The king a strong puison him dihte 8, 507 Withinne a buiste and gold therto, 8, 508 In alle haste and bad him go 8, 509 Strawht unto Tyr, and for no cost 8, 510 Ne spare he, til he hadde lost 8, 511 The Prince which he wolde spille. 8, 512 And whan the king hath seid his wille, 8, 513 This Taliart in a Galeie 8, 514 With alle haste he tok his weie: 8, 515 The wynd was good, he saileth blyve, 8, 516 Til he tok lond upon the ryve 8, 517 Of Tyr, and forth with al anon 8, 518 Into the Burgh he gan to gon, 8, 519 And tok his In and bod a throwe. 8, 520 Bot for he wolde noght be knowe, 8, 521 Desguised thanne he goth him oute; 8, 522 He sih the wepinge al aboute, 8, 523 And axeth what the cause was, 8, 524 And thei him tolden al the cas, 8, 525 How sodeinli the Prince is go. 8, 526 And whan he sih that it was so, 8, 527 And that his labour was in vein, 8, 528 Anon he torneth hom ayein, 8, 529 And to the king, whan he cam nyh, 8, 530 He tolde of that he herde and syh, 8, 531 Hou that the Prince of Tyr is fled, 8, 532 So was he come ayein unsped. 8, 533 The king was sori for a while, 8, 534 Bot whan he sih that with no wyle 8, 535 He myhte achieve his crualte, 8, 536 He stinte his wraththe and let him be. 8, 537 Bot over this now forto telle 8, 538 Of aventures that befelle 8, 539 Unto this Prince of whom I tolde, 8, 540 He hath his rihte cours forth holde 8, 541 Be Ston and nedle, til he cam 8, 542 To Tharse, and there his lond he nam. 8, 543 A Burgeis riche of gold and fee 8, 544 Was thilke time in that cite, 8, 545 Which cleped was Strangulio, 8, 546 His wif was Dionise also: 8, 547 This yonge Prince, as seith the bok, 8, 548 With hem his herbergage tok; 8, 549 And it befell that Cite so 8, 550 Before time and thanne also, 8, 551 Thurgh strong famyne which hem ladde 8, 552 Was non that eny whete hadde. 8, 553 Appolinus, whan that he herde 8, 554 The meschief, hou the cite ferde, 8, 555 Al freliche of his oghne yifte 8, 556 His whete, among hem forto schifte, 8, 557 The which be Schipe he hadde broght, 8, 558 He yaf, and tok of hem riht noght. 8, 559 Bot sithen ferst this world began, 8, 560 Was nevere yit to such a man 8, 561 Mor joie mad than thei him made: 8, 562 For thei were alle of him so glade, 8, 563 That thei for evere in remembrance 8, 564 Made a figure in resemblance 8, 565 Of him, and in the comun place 8, 566 Thei sette him up, so that his face 8, 567 Mihte every maner man beholde, 8, 568 So as the cite was beholde; 8, 569 It was of latoun overgilt: 8, 570 Thus hath he noght his yifte spilt. 8, 571 Upon a time with his route 8, 572 This lord to pleie goth him oute, 8, 573 And in his weie of Tyr he mette 8, 574 A man, the which on knees him grette, 8, 575 And Hellican be name he hihte, 8, 576 Which preide his lord to have insihte 8, 577 Upon himself, and seide him thus, 8, 578 Hou that the grete Antiochus 8, 579 Awaiteth if he mihte him spille. 8, 580 That other thoghte and hield him stille, 8, 581 And thonked him of his warnynge, 8, 582 And bad him telle no tidinge, 8, 583 Whan he to Tyr cam hom ayein, 8, 584 That he in Tharse him hadde sein. 8, 585 Fortune hath evere be muable 8, 586 And mai no while stonde stable: 8, 587 For now it hiheth, now it loweth, 8, 588 Now stant upriht, now overthroweth, 8, 589 Now full of blisse and now of bale, 8, 590 As in the tellinge of mi tale 8, 591 Hierafterward a man mai liere, 8, 592 Which is gret routhe forto hiere. 8, 593 This lord, which wolde don his beste, 8, 594 Withinne himself hath litel reste, 8, 595 And thoghte he wolde his place change 8, 596 And seche a contre more strange. 8, 597 Of Tharsiens his leve anon 8, 598 He tok, and is to Schipe gon: 8, 599 His cours he nam with Seil updrawe, 8, 600 Where as fortune doth the lawe, 8, 601 And scheweth, as I schal reherse, 8, 602 How sche was to this lord diverse, 8, 603 The which upon the See sche ferketh. 8, 604 The wynd aros, the weder derketh, 8, 605 It blew and made such tempeste, 8, 606 Non ancher mai the schip areste, 8, 607 Which hath tobroken al his gere; 8, 608 The Schipmen stode in such a feere, 8, 609 Was non that myhte himself bestere, 8, 610 Bot evere awaite upon the lere, 8, 611 Whan that thei scholde drenche at ones. 8, 612 Ther was ynowh withinne wones 8, 613 Of wepinge and of sorghe tho; 8, 614 This yonge king makth mochel wo 8, 615 So forto se the Schip travaile: 8, 616 Bot al that myhte him noght availe; 8, 617 The mast tobrak, the Seil torof, 8, 618 The Schip upon the wawes drof, 8, 619 Til that thei sihe a londes cooste. 8, 620 Tho made avou the leste and moste, 8, 621 Be so thei myhten come alonde; 8, 622 Bot he which hath the See on honde, 8, 623 Neptunus, wolde noght acorde, 8, 624 Bot altobroke cable and corde, 8, 625 Er thei to londe myhte aproche, 8, 626 The Schip toclef upon a roche, 8, 627 And al goth doun into the depe. 8, 628 Bot he that alle thing mai kepe 8, 629 Unto this lord was merciable, 8, 630 And broghte him sauf upon a table, 8, 631 Which to the lond him hath upbore; 8, 632 The remenant was al forlore, 8, 633 Wherof he made mochel mone. 8, 634 Thus was this yonge lord him one, 8, 635 Al naked in a povere plit: 8, 636 His colour, which whilom was whyt, 8, 637 Was thanne of water fade and pale, 8, 638 And ek he was so sore acale 8, 639 That he wiste of himself no bote, 8, 640 It halp him nothing forto mote 8, 641 To gete ayein that he hath lore. 8, 642 Bot sche which hath his deth forbore, 8, 643 Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe, 8, 644 Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe, 8, 645 Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie; 8, 646 Ther cam a Fisshere in the weie, 8, 647 And sih a man ther naked stonde, 8, 648 And whan that he hath understonde 8, 649 The cause, he hath of him gret routhe, 8, 650 And onliche of his povere trouthe 8, 651 Of suche clothes as he hadde 8, 652 With gret Pite this lord he cladde. 8, 653 And he him thonketh as he scholde, 8, 654 And seith him that it schal be yolde, 8, 655 If evere he gete his stat ayein, 8, 656 And preide that he wolde him sein 8, 657 If nyh were eny toun for him. 8, 658 He seide, "Yee, Pentapolim, 8, 659 Wher bothe king and queene duellen." 8, 660 Whanne he this tale herde tellen, 8, 661 He gladeth him and gan beseche 8, 662 That he the weie him wolde teche: 8, 663 And he him taghte; and forth he wente 8, 664 And preide god with good entente 8, 665 To sende him joie after his sorwe. 8, 666 It was noght passed yit Midmorwe, 8, 667 Whan thiderward his weie he nam, 8, 668 Wher sone upon the Non he cam. 8, 669 He eet such as he myhte gete, 8, 670 And forth anon, whan he hadde ete, 8, 671 He goth to se the toun aboute, 8, 672 And cam ther as he fond a route 8, 673 Of yonge lusti men withalle; 8, 674 And as it scholde tho befalle, 8, 675 That day was set of such assisse, 8, 676 That thei scholde in the londes guise, 8, 677 As he herde of the poeple seie, 8, 678 Here comun game thanne pleie; 8, 679 And crid was that thei scholden come 8, 680 Unto the gamen alle and some 8, 681 Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte, 8, 682 To do such maistrie as thei myhte. 8, 683 Thei made hem naked as thei scholde, 8, 684 For so that ilke game wolde, 8, 685 As it was tho custume and us, 8, 686 Amonges hem was no refus: 8, 687 The flour of al the toun was there 8, 688 And of the court also ther were, 8, 689 And that was in a large place 8, 690 Riht evene afore the kinges face, 8, 691 Which Artestrathes thanne hihte. 8, 692 The pley was pleid riht in his sihte, 8, 693 And who most worthi was of dede 8, 694 Receive he scholde a certein mede 8, 695 And in the cite bere a pris. 8, 696 Appolinus, which war and wys 8, 697 Of every game couthe an ende, 8, 698 He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende, 8, 699 And fell among hem into game: 8, 700 And there he wan him such a name, 8, 701 So as the king himself acompteth 8, 702 That he alle othre men surmonteth, 8, 703 And bar the pris above hem alle. 8, 704 The king bad that into his halle 8, 705 At Souper time he schal be broght; 8, 706 And he cam thanne and lefte it noght, 8, 707 Withoute compaignie al one: 8, 708 Was non so semlich of persone, 8, 709 Of visage and of limes bothe, 8, 710 If that he hadde what to clothe. 8, 711 At Soupertime natheles 8, 712 The king amiddes al the pres 8, 713 Let clepe him up among hem alle, 8, 714 And bad his Mareschall of halle 8, 715 To setten him in such degre 8, 716 That he upon him myhte se. 8, 717 The king was sone set and served, 8, 718 And he, which hath his pris deserved 8, 719 After the kinges oghne word, 8, 720 Was mad beginne a Middel bord, 8, 721 That bothe king and queene him sihe. 8, 722 He sat and caste aboute his yhe 8, 723 And sih the lordes in astat, 8, 724 And with himself wax in debat 8, 725 Thenkende what he hadde lore, 8, 726 And such a sorwe he tok therfore, 8, 727 That he sat evere stille and thoghte, 8, 728 As he which of no mete roghte. 8, 729 The king behield his hevynesse, 8, 730 And of his grete gentillesse 8, 731 His doghter, which was fair and good 8, 732 And ate bord before him stod, 8, 733 As it was thilke time usage, 8, 734 He bad to gon on his message 8, 735 And fonde forto make him glad. 8, 736 And sche dede as hire fader bad, 8, 737 And goth to him the softe pas 8, 738 And axeth whenne and what he was, 8, 739 And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve. 8, 740 He seith, "Ma Dame, be your leve 8, 741 Mi name is hote Appolinus, 8, 742 And of mi richesse it is thus, 8, 743 Upon the See I have it lore. 8, 744 The contre wher as I was bore, 8, 745 Wher that my lond is and mi rente, 8, 746 I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente: 8, 747 The worschipe of this worldes aghte, 8, 748 Unto the god ther I betaghte." 8, 749 And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke, 8, 750 The teres runne be his cheeke. 8, 751 The king, which therof tok good kepe, 8, 752 Hath gret Pite to sen him wepe, 8, 753 And for his doghter sende ayein, 8, 754 And preide hir faire and gan to sein 8, 755 That sche no lengere wolde drecche, 8, 756 Bot that sche wolde anon forth fecche 8, 757 Hire harpe and don al that sche can 8, 758 To glade with that sory man. 8, 759 And sche to don hir fader heste 8, 760 Hir harpe fette, and in the feste 8, 761 Upon a Chaier which thei fette 8, 762 Hirself next to this man sche sette: 8, 763 With harpe bothe and ek with mouthe 8, 764 To him sche dede al that sche couthe 8, 765 To make him chiere, and evere he siketh, 8, 766 And sche him axeth hou him liketh. 8, 767 "Ma dame, certes wel," he seide, 8, 768 "Bot if ye the mesure pleide 8, 769 Which, if you list, I schal you liere, 8, 770 It were a glad thing forto hiere." 8, 771 "Ha, lieve sire," tho quod sche, 8, 772 "Now tak the harpe and let me se 8, 773 Of what mesure that ye mene." 8, 774 Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene, 8, 775 Forth with the lordes alle arewe, 8, 776 That he som merthe wolde schewe; 8, 777 He takth the Harpe and in his wise 8, 778 He tempreth, and of such assise 8, 779 Singende he harpeth forth withal, 8, 780 That as a vois celestial 8, 781 Hem thoghte it souneth in here Ere, 8, 782 As thogh that he an Angel were. 8, 783 Thei gladen of his melodie, 8, 784 Bot most of alle the compainie 8, 785 The kinges doghter, which it herde, 8, 786 And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde, 8, 787 Whan that he was of hire opposed, 8, 788 Withinne hir herte hath wel supposed 8, 789 That he is of gret gentilesse. 8, 790 Hise dedes ben therof witnesse 8, 791 Forth with the wisdom of his lore; 8, 792 It nedeth noght to seche more, 8, 793 He myhte noght have such manere, 8, 794 Of gentil blod bot if he were. 8, 795 Whanne he hath harped al his fille, 8, 796 The kinges heste to fulfille, 8, 797 Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe, 8, 798 Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe, 8, 799 Thei risen and gon out of halle. 8, 800 The king his chamberlein let calle, 8, 801 And bad that he be alle weie 8, 802 A chambre for this man pourveie, 8, 803 Which nyh his oghne chambre be. 8, 804 "It schal be do, mi lord," quod he. 8, 805 Appolinus of whom I mene 8, 806 Tho tok his leve of king and queene 8, 807 And of the worthi Maide also, 8, 808 Which preide unto hir fader tho, 8, 809 That sche myhte of that yonge man 8, 810 Of tho sciences whiche he can 8, 811 His lore have; and in this wise 8, 812 The king hir granteth his aprise, 8, 813 So that himself therto assente. 8, 814 Thus was acorded er thei wente, 8, 815 That he with al that evere he may 8, 816 This yonge faire freisshe May 8, 817 Of that he couthe scholde enforme; 8, 818 And full assented in this forme 8, 819 Thei token leve as for that nyht. 8, 820 And whanne it was amorwe lyht, 8, 821 Unto this yonge man of Tyr 8, 822 Of clothes and of good atir 8, 823 With gold and Selver to despende 8, 824 This worthi yonge lady sende: 8, 825 And thus sche made him wel at ese, 8, 826 And he with al that he can plese 8, 827 Hire serveth wel and faire ayein. 8, 828 He tawhte hir til sche was certein 8, 829 Of Harpe, of Citole and of Rote, 8, 830 With many a tun and many a note 8, 831 Upon Musique, upon mesure, 8, 832 And of hire Harpe the temprure 8, 833 He tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe. 8, 834 Bot as men sein that frele is youthe, 8, 835 With leisir and continuance 8, 836 This Mayde fell upon a chance, 8, 837 That love hath mad him a querele 8, 838 Ayein hire youthe freissh and frele, 8, 839 That malgre wher sche wole or noght, 8, 840 Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght 8, 841 To love and to his lawe obeie; 8, 842 And that sche schal ful sore abeie. 8, 843 For sche wot nevere what it is, 8, 844 Bot evere among sche fieleth this: 8, 845 Thenkende upon this man of Tyr, 8, 846 Hire herte is hot as eny fyr, 8, 847 And otherwhile it is acale; 8, 848 Now is sche red, nou is sche pale 8, 849 Riht after the condicion 8, 850 Of hire ymaginacion; 8, 851 Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle, 8, 852 Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle, 8, 853 Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe, 8, 854 Sche wolde hire goode name kepe 8, 855 For feere of wommanysshe schame. 8, 856 Bot what in ernest and in game, 8, 857 Sche stant for love in such a plit, 8, 858 That sche hath lost al appetit 8, 859 Of mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste, 8, 860 As sche that not what is the beste; 8, 861 Bot forto thenken al hir fille 8, 862 Sche hield hire ofte times stille 8, 863 Withinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute: 8, 864 The king was of hire lif in doute, 8, 865 Which wiste nothing what it mente. 8, 866 Bot fell a time, as he out wente 8, 867 To walke, of Princes Sones thre 8, 868 Ther come and felle to his kne; 8, 869 And ech of hem in sondri wise 8, 870 Besoghte and profreth his servise, 8, 871 So that he myhte his doghter have. 8, 872 The king, which wolde his honour save, 8, 873 Seith sche is siek, and of that speche 8, 874 Tho was no time to beseche; 8, 875 Bot ech of hem do make a bille 8, 876 He bad, and wryte his oghne wille, 8, 877 His name, his fader and his good; 8, 878 And whan sche wiste hou that it stod, 8, 879 And hadde here billes oversein, 8, 880 Thei scholden have ansuere ayein. 8, 881 Of this conseil thei weren glad, 8, 882 And writen as the king hem bad, 8, 883 And every man his oghne bok 8, 884 Into the kinges hond betok, 8, 885 And he it to his dowhter sende, 8, 886 And preide hir forto make an ende 8, 887 And wryte ayein hire oghne hond, 8, 888 Riht as sche in hire herte fond. 8, 889 The billes weren wel received, 8, 890 Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved, 8, 891 And thoghte tho was time and space 8, 892 To put hire in hir fader grace, 8, 893 And wrot ayein and thus sche saide: 8, 894 "The schame which is in a Maide 8, 895 With speche dar noght ben unloke, 8, 896 Bot in writinge it mai be spoke; 8, 897 So wryte I to you, fader, thus: 8, 898 Bot if I have Appolinus, 8, 899 Of al this world, what so betyde, 8, 900 I wol non other man abide. 8, 901 And certes if I of him faile, 8, 902 I wot riht wel withoute faile 8, 903 Ye schull for me be dowhterles." 8, 904 This lettre cam, and ther was press 8, 905 Tofore the king, ther as he stod; 8, 906 And whan that he it understod, 8, 907 He yaf hem ansuer by and by, 8, 908 Bot that was do so prively, 8, 909 That non of othres conseil wiste. 8, 910 Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste 8, 911 Thei wente forth upon here weie. 8, 912 The king ne wolde noght bewreie 8, 913 The conseil for no maner hihe, 8, 914 Bot soffreth til he time sihe: 8, 915 And whan that he to chambre is come, 8, 916 He hath unto his conseil nome 8, 917 This man of Tyr, and let him se 8, 918 The lettre and al the privete, 8, 919 The which his dowhter to him sente: 8, 920 And he his kne to grounde bente 8, 921 And thonketh him and hire also, 8, 922 And er thei wenten thanne atuo, 8, 923 With good herte and with good corage 8, 924 Of full Love and full mariage 8, 925 The king and he ben hol acorded. 8, 926 And after, whanne it was recorded 8, 927 Unto the dowhter hou it stod, 8, 928 The yifte of al this worldes good 8, 929 Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe: 8, 930 And forth withal the king als swithe, 8, 931 For he wol have hire good assent, 8, 932 Hath for the queene hir moder sent. 8, 933 The queene is come, and whan sche herde 8, 934 Of this matiere hou that it ferde, 8, 935 Sche syh debat, sche syh desese, 8, 936 Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese, 8, 937 And is therto assented full. 8, 938 Which is a dede wonderfull, 8, 939 For noman knew the sothe cas 8, 940 Bot he himself, what man he was; 8, 941 And natheles, so as hem thoghte, 8, 942 Hise dedes to the sothe wroghte 8, 943 That he was come of gentil blod: 8, 944 Him lacketh noght bot worldes good, 8, 945 And as therof is no despeir, 8, 946 For sche schal ben hire fader heir, 8, 947 And he was able to governe. 8, 948 Thus wol thei noght the love werne 8, 949 Of him and hire in none wise, 8, 950 Bot ther acorded thei divise 8, 951 The day and time of Mariage. 8, 952 Wher love is lord of the corage, 8, 953 Him thenketh longe er that he spede; 8, 954 Bot ate laste unto the dede 8, 955 The time is come, and in her wise 8, 956 With gret offrende and sacrifise 8, 957 Thei wedde and make a riche feste, 8, 958 And every thing which was honeste 8, 959 Withinnen house and ek withoute 8, 960 It was so don, that al aboute 8, 961 Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse 8, 962 Ther cride many a man largesse 8, 963 Unto the lordes hihe and loude; 8, 964 The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude, 8, 965 Thei jouste ferst and after daunce. 8, 966 The day is go, the nyhtes chaunce 8, 967 Hath derked al the bryhte Sonne; 8, 968 This lord, which hath his love wonne, 8, 969 Is go to bedde with his wif, 8, 970 Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif, 8, 971 And that was after somdel sene, 8, 972 For as thei pleiden hem betwene, 8, 973 Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo, 8, 974 To whom fell after mochel wo. 8, 975 Now have I told of the spousailes. 8, 976 Bot forto speke of the mervailes 8, 977 Whiche afterward to hem befelle, 8, 978 It is a wonder forto telle. 8, 979 It fell adai thei riden oute, 8, 980 The king and queene and al the route, 8, 981 To pleien hem upon the stronde, 8, 982 Wher as thei sen toward the londe 8, 983 A Schip sailende of gret array. 8, 984 To knowe what it mene may, 8, 985 Til it be come thei abide; 8, 986 Than sen thei stonde on every side, 8, 987 Endlong the schipes bord to schewe, 8, 988 Of Penonceals a riche rewe. 8, 989 Thei axen when the ship is come: 8, 990 Fro Tyr, anon ansuerde some, 8, 991 And over this thei seiden more 8, 992 The cause why thei comen fore 8, 993 Was forto seche and forto finde 8, 994 Appolinus, which was of kinde 8, 995 Her liege lord: and he appiereth, 8, 996 And of the tale which he hiereth 8, 997 He was riht glad; for thei him tolde, 8, 998 That for vengance, as god it wolde, 8, 999 Antiochus, as men mai wite, 8,1000 With thondre and lyhthnynge is forsmite; 8,1001 His doghter hath the same chaunce, 8,1002 So be thei bothe in o balance. 8,1003 "Forthi, oure liege lord, we seie 8,1004 In name of al the lond, and preie, 8,1005 That left al other thing to done, 8,1006 It like you to come sone 8,1007 And se youre oghne liege men 8,1008 With othre that ben of youre ken, 8,1009 That live in longinge and desir 8,1010 Til ye be come ayein to Tyr." 8,1011 This tale after the king it hadde 8,1012 Pentapolim al overspradde, 8,1013 Ther was no joie forto seche; 8,1014 For every man it hadde in speche 8,1015 And seiden alle of on acord, 8,1016 "A worthi king schal ben oure lord: 8,1017 That thoghte ous ferst an hevinesse 8,1018 Is schape ous now to gret gladnesse." 8,1019 Thus goth the tidinge overal. 8,1020 Bot nede he mot, that nede schal: 8,1021 Appolinus his leve tok, 8,1022 To god and al the lond betok 8,1023 With al the poeple long and brod, 8,1024 That he no lenger there abod. 8,1025 The king and queene sorwe made, 8,1026 Bot yit somdiel thei weren glade 8,1027 Of such thing as thei herden tho: 8,1028 And thus betwen the wel and wo 8,1029 To schip he goth, his wif with childe, 8,1030 The which was evere meke and mylde 8,1031 And wolde noght departe him fro, 8,1032 Such love was betwen hem tuo. 8,1033 Lichorida for hire office 8,1034 Was take, which was a Norrice, 8,1035 To wende with this yonge wif, 8,1036 To whom was schape a woful lif. 8,1037 Withinne a time, as it betidde, 8,1038 Whan thei were in the See amidde, 8,1039 Out of the North they sihe a cloude; 8,1040 The storm aros, the wyndes loude 8,1041 Thei blewen many a dredful blast, 8,1042 The welkne was al overcast, 8,1043 The derke nyht the Sonne hath under, 8,1044 Ther was a gret tempeste of thunder: 8,1045 The Mone and ek the Sterres bothe 8,1046 In blake cloudes thei hem clothe, 8,1047 Wherof here brihte lok thei hyde. 8,1048 This yonge ladi wepte and cride, 8,1049 To whom no confort myhte availe; 8,1050 Of childe sche began travaile, 8,1051 Wher sche lay in a Caban clos: 8,1052 Hire woful lord fro hire aros, 8,1053 And that was longe er eny morwe, 8,1054 So that in anguisse and in sorwe 8,1055 Sche was delivered al be nyhte 8,1056 And ded in every mannes syhte; 8,1057 Bot natheles for al this wo 8,1058 A maide child was bore tho. 8,1059 Appolinus whan he this knew, 8,1060 For sorwe a swoune he overthrew, 8,1061 That noman wiste in him no lif. 8,1062 And whanne he wok, he seide, "Ha, wif, 8,1063 Mi lust, mi joie, my desir, 8,1064 Mi welthe and my recoverir, 8,1065 Why schal I live, and thou schalt dye? 8,1066 Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie, 8,1067 Nou hast thou do to me thi werste. 8,1068 Ha, herte, why ne wolt thou berste, 8,1069 That forth with hire I myhte passe? 8,1070 Mi peines weren wel the lasse." 8,1071 In such wepinge and in such cry 8,1072 His dede wif, which lay him by, 8,1073 A thousend sithes he hire kiste; 8,1074 Was nevere man that sih ne wiste 8,1075 A sorwe unto his sorwe lich; 8,1076 For evere among upon the lich 8,1077 He fell swounende, as he that soghte 8,1078 His oghne deth, which he besoghte 8,1079 Unto the goddes alle above 8,1080 With many a pitous word of love; 8,1081 Bot suche wordes as tho were 8,1082 Yit herde nevere mannes Ere, 8,1083 Bot only thilke whiche he seide. 8,1084 The Maister Schipman cam and preide 8,1085 With othre suche as be therinne, 8,1086 And sein that he mai nothing winne 8,1087 Ayein the deth, bot thei him rede, 8,1088 He be wel war and tak hiede, 8,1089 The See be weie of his nature 8,1090 Receive mai no creature 8,1091 Withinne himself as forto holde, 8,1092 The which is ded: forthi thei wolde, 8,1093 As thei conseilen al aboute, 8,1094 The dede body casten oute. 8,1095 For betre it is, thei seiden alle, 8,1096 That it of hire so befalle, 8,1097 Than if thei scholden alle spille. 8,1098 The king, which understod here wille 8,1099 And knew here conseil that was trewe, 8,1100 Began ayein his sorwe newe 8,1101 With pitous herte, and thus to seie: 8,1102 "It is al reson that ye preie. 8,1103 I am," quod he, "bot on al one, 8,1104 So wolde I noght for mi persone 8,1105 Ther felle such adversite. 8,1106 Bot whan it mai no betre be, 8,1107 Doth thanne thus upon my word, 8,1108 Let make a cofre strong of bord, 8,1109 That it be ferm with led and pich." 8,1110 Anon was mad a cofre sich, 8,1111 Al redy broght unto his hond; 8,1112 And whanne he sih and redy fond 8,1113 This cofre mad and wel enclowed, 8,1114 The dede bodi was besowed 8,1115 In cloth of gold and leid therinne. 8,1116 And for he wolde unto hire winne 8,1117 Upon som cooste a Sepulture, 8,1118 Under hire heved in aventure 8,1119 Of gold he leide Sommes grete 8,1120 And of jeueals a strong beyete 8,1121 Forth with a lettre, and seide thus: 8,1122 "I, king of Tyr Appollinus, 8,1123 Do alle maner men to wite, 8,1124 That hiere and se this lettre write, 8,1125 That helpeles withoute red 8,1126 Hier lith a kinges doghter ded: 8,1127 And who that happeth hir to finde, 8,1128 For charite tak in his mynde, 8,1129 And do so that sche be begrave 8,1130 With this tresor, which he schal have." 8,1131 Thus whan the lettre was full spoke, 8,1132 Thei haue anon the cofre stoke, 8,1133 And bounden it with yren faste, 8,1134 That it may with the wawes laste, 8,1135 And stoppen it be such a weie, 8,1136 That it schal be withinne dreie, 8,1137 So that no water myhte it grieve. 8,1138 And thus in hope and good believe 8,1139 Of that the corps schal wel aryve, 8,1140 Thei caste it over bord als blyve. 8,1141 The Schip forth on the wawes wente; 8,1142 The prince hath changed his entente, 8,1143 And seith he wol noght come at Tyr 8,1144 As thanne, bot al his desir 8,1145 Is ferst to seilen unto Tharse. 8,1146 The wyndy Storm began to skarse, 8,1147 The Sonne arist, the weder cliereth, 8,1148 The Schipman which behinde stiereth, 8,1149 Whan that he sih the wyndes saghte, 8,1150 Towardes Tharse his cours he straghte. 8,1151 Bot now to mi matiere ayein, 8,1152 To telle as olde bokes sein, 8,1153 This dede corps of which ye knowe 8,1154 With wynd and water was forthrowe 8,1155 Now hier, now ther, til ate laste 8,1156 At Ephesim the See upcaste 8,1157 The cofre and al that was therinne. 8,1158 Of gret merveile now beginne 8,1159 Mai hiere who that sitteth stille; 8,1160 That god wol save mai noght spille. 8,1161 Riht as the corps was throwe alonde, 8,1162 Ther cam walkende upon the stronde 8,1163 A worthi clerc, a Surgien, 8,1164 And ek a gret Phisicien, 8,1165 Of al that lond the wisest on, 8,1166 Which hihte Maister Cerymon; 8,1167 Ther were of his disciples some. 8,1168 This Maister to the Cofre is come, 8,1169 He peiseth ther was somwhat in, 8,1170 And bad hem bere it to his In, 8,1171 And goth himselve forth withal. 8,1172 Al that schal falle, falle schal; 8,1173 Thei comen hom and tarie noght; 8,1174 This Cofre is into chambre broght, 8,1175 Which that thei finde faste stoke, 8,1176 Bot thei with craft it have unloke. 8,1177 Thei loken in, where as thei founde 8,1178 A bodi ded, which was bewounde 8,1179 In cloth of gold, as I seide er, 8,1180 The tresor ek thei founden ther 8,1181 Forth with the lettre, which thei rede. 8,1182 And tho thei token betre hiede; 8,1183 Unsowed was the bodi sone, 8,1184 And he, which knew what is to done, 8,1185 This noble clerk, with alle haste 8,1186 Began the veines forto taste, 8,1187 And sih hire Age was of youthe, 8,1188 And with the craftes whiche he couthe 8,1189 He soghte and fond a signe of lif. 8,1190 With that this worthi kinges wif 8,1191 Honestely thei token oute, 8,1192 And maden fyres al aboute; 8,1193 Thei leide hire on a couche softe, 8,1194 And with a scheete warmed ofte 8,1195 Hire colde brest began to hete, 8,1196 Hire herte also to flacke and bete. 8,1197 This Maister hath hire every joignt 8,1198 With certein oile and balsme enoignt, 8,1199 And putte a liquour in hire mouth, 8,1200 Which is to fewe clerkes couth, 8,1201 So that sche coevereth ate laste; 8,1202 And ferst hire yhen up sche caste, 8,1203 And whan sche more of strengthe cawhte, 8,1204 Hire Armes bothe forth sche strawhte, 8,1205 Hield up hire hond and pitously 8,1206 Sche spak and seide, "Ha, wher am I? 8,1207 Where is my lord, what world is this?" 8,1208 As sche that wot noght hou it is. 8,1209 Bot Cerymon the worthi leche 8,1210 Ansuerde anon upon hire speche 8,1211 And seith, "Ma dame, yee ben hiere, 8,1212 Where yee be sauf, as yee schal hiere 8,1213 Hierafterward; forthi as nou 8,1214 Mi conseil is, conforteth you: 8,1215 For trusteth wel withoute faile, 8,1216 Ther is nothing which schal you faile, 8,1217 That oghte of reson to be do." 8,1218 Thus passen thei a day or tuo; 8,1219 Thei speke of noght as for an ende, 8,1220 Til sche began somdiel amende, 8,1221 And wiste hireselven what sche mente. 8,1222 Tho forto knowe hire hol entente, 8,1223 This Maister axeth al the cas, 8,1224 Hou sche cam there and what sche was. 8,1225 "Hou I cam hiere wot I noght," 8,1226 Quod sche, "bot wel I am bethoght 8,1227 Of othre thinges al aboute": 8,1228 Fro point to point and tolde him oute 8,1229 Als ferforthli as sche it wiste. 8,1230 And he hire tolde hou in a kiste 8,1231 The See hire threw upon the lond, 8,1232 And what tresor with hire he fond, 8,1233 Which was al redy at hire wille, 8,1234 As he that schop him to fulfille 8,1235 With al his myht what thing he scholde. 8,1236 Sche thonketh him that he so wolde, 8,1237 And al hire herte sche discloseth, 8,1238 And seith him wel that sche supposeth 8,1239 Hire lord be dreint, hir child also; 8,1240 So sih sche noght bot alle wo. 8,1241 Wherof as to the world nomore 8,1242 Ne wol sche torne, and preith therfore 8,1243 That in som temple of the Cite, 8,1244 To kepe and holde hir chastete, 8,1245 Sche mihte among the wommen duelle. 8,1246 Whan he this tale hir herde telle, 8,1247 He was riht glad, and made hire knowen 8,1248 That he a dowhter of his owen 8,1249 Hath, which he wol unto hir yive 8,1250 To serve, whil thei bothe live, 8,1251 In stede of that which sche hath lost; 8,1252 Al only at his oghne cost 8,1253 Sche schal be rendred forth with hire. 8,1254 She seith, "Grant mercy, lieve sire, 8,1255 God quite it you, ther I ne may." 8,1256 And thus thei drive forth the day, 8,1257 Til time com that sche was hol; 8,1258 And tho thei take her conseil hol, 8,1259 To schape upon good ordinance 8,1260 And make a worthi pourveance 8,1261 Ayein the day whan thei be veiled. 8,1262 And thus, whan that thei be conseiled, 8,1263 In blake clothes thei hem clothe, 8,1264 This lady and the dowhter bothe, 8,1265 And yolde hem to religion. 8,1266 The feste and the profession 8,1267 After the reule of that degre 8,1268 Was mad with gret solempnete, 8,1269 Where as Diane is seintefied; 8,1270 Thus stant this lady justefied 8,1271 In ordre wher sche thenkth to duelle. 8,1272 Bot now ayeinward forto telle 8,1273 In what plit that hire lord stod inne: 8,1274 He seileth, til that he may winne 8,1275 The havene of Tharse, as I seide er; 8,1276 And whanne he was aryved ther, 8,1277 And it was thurgh the Cite knowe, 8,1278 Men myhte se withinne a throwe, 8,1279 As who seith, al the toun at ones, 8,1280 That come ayein him for the nones, 8,1281 To yiven him the reverence, 8,1282 So glad thei were of his presence: 8,1283 And thogh he were in his corage 8,1284 Desesed, yit with glad visage 8,1285 He made hem chiere, and to his In, 8,1286 Wher he whilom sojourned in, 8,1287 He goth him straght and was resceived. 8,1288 And whan the presse of poeple is weived, 8,1289 He takth his hoste unto him tho, 8,1290 And seith, "Mi frend Strangulio, 8,1291 Lo, thus and thus it is befalle, 8,1292 And thou thiself art on of alle, 8,1293 Forth with thi wif, whiche I most triste. 8,1294 Forthi, if it you bothe liste, 8,1295 My doghter Thaise be youre leve 8,1296 I thenke schal with you beleve 8,1297 As for a time; and thus I preie, 8,1298 That sche be kept be alle weie, 8,1299 And whan sche hath of age more, 8,1300 That sche be set to bokes lore. 8,1301 And this avou to god I make, 8,1302 That I schal nevere for hir sake 8,1303 Mi berd for no likinge schave, 8,1304 Til it befalle that I have 8,1305 In covenable time of age 8,1306 Beset hire unto mariage." 8,1307 Thus thei acorde, and al is wel, 8,1308 And forto resten him somdel, 8,1309 As for a while he ther sojorneth, 8,1310 And thanne he takth his leve and torneth 8,1311 To Schipe, and goth him hom to Tyr, 8,1312 Wher every man with gret desir 8,1313 Awaiteth upon his comynge. 8,1314 Bot whan the Schip com in seilinge, 8,1315 And thei perceiven it is he, 8,1316 Was nevere yit in no cite 8,1317 Such joie mad as thei tho made; 8,1318 His herte also began to glade 8,1319 Of that he sih the poeple glad. 8,1320 Lo, thus fortune his hap hath lad; 8,1321 In sondri wise he was travailed, 8,1322 Bot hou so evere he be assailed, 8,1323 His latere ende schal be good. 8,1324 And forto speke hou that it stod 8,1325 Of Thaise his doghter, wher sche duelleth, 8,1326 In Tharse, as the Cronique telleth, 8,1327 Sche was wel kept, sche was wel loked, 8,1328 Sche was wel tawht, sche was wel boked, 8,1329 So wel sche spedde hir in hire youthe 8,1330 That sche of every wisdom couthe, 8,1331 That forto seche in every lond 8,1332 So wys an other noman fond, 8,1333 Ne so wel tawht at mannes yhe. 8,1334 Bot wo worthe evere fals envie] 8,1335 For it befell that time so, 8,1336 A dowhter hath Strangulio, 8,1337 The which was cleped Philotenne: 8,1338 Bot fame, which wole evere renne, 8,1339 Cam al day to hir moder Ere, 8,1340 And seith, wher evere hir doghter were 8,1341 With Thayse set in eny place, 8,1342 The comun vois, the comun grace 8,1343 Was al upon that other Maide, 8,1344 And of hir doghter noman saide. 8,1345 Who wroth but Dionise thanne? 8,1346 Hire thoghte a thousend yer til whanne 8,1347 Sche myhte ben of Thaise wreke 8,1348 Of that sche herde folk so speke. 8,1349 And fell that ilke same tyde, 8,1350 That ded was trewe Lychoride, 8,1351 Which hadde be servant to Thaise, 8,1352 So that sche was the worse at aise, 8,1353 For sche hath thanne no servise 8,1354 Bot only thurgh this Dionise, 8,1355 Which was hire dedlich Anemie 8,1356 Thurgh pure treson and envie. 8,1357 Sche, that of alle sorwe can, 8,1358 Tho spak unto hire bondeman, 8,1359 Which cleped was Theophilus, 8,1360 And made him swere in conseil thus, 8,1361 That he such time as sche him sette 8,1362 Schal come Thaise forto fette, 8,1363 And lede hire oute of alle sihte, 8,1364 Wher as noman hire helpe myhte, 8,1365 Upon the Stronde nyh the See, 8,1366 And there he schal this maiden sle. 8,1367 This cherles herte is in a traunce, 8,1368 As he which drad him of vengance 8,1369 Whan time comth an other day; 8,1370 Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay, 8,1371 Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille 8,1372 Hire hestes at hire oghne wille. 8,1373 The treson and the time is schape, 8,1374 So fell it that this cherles knape 8,1375 Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde 8,1376 Upon the Stronde, and what sche scholde 8,1377 Sche was adrad; and he out breide 8,1378 A rusti swerd and to hir seide, 8,1379 "Thou schalt be ded." "Helas]" quod sche, 8,1380 "Why schal I so?" "Lo thus," quod he, 8,1381 "Mi ladi Dionise hath bede, 8,1382 Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede." 8,1383 This Maiden tho for feere schryhte, 8,1384 And for the love of god almyhte 8,1385 Sche preith that for a litel stounde 8,1386 Sche myhte knele upon the grounde, 8,1387 Toward the hevene forto crave, 8,1388 Hire wofull Soule if sche mai save: 8,1389 And with this noise and with this cry, 8,1390 Out of a barge faste by, 8,1391 Which hidd was ther on Scomerfare, 8,1392 Men sterten out and weren ware 8,1393 Of this feloun,and he to go, 8,1394 And sche began to crie tho, 8,1395 "Ha, mercy, help for goddes sake] 8,1396 Into the barge thei hire take, 8,1397 As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente. 8,1398 Upon the See the wynd hem hente, 8,1399 And malgre wher thei wolde or non, 8,1400 Tofor the weder forth thei gon, 8,1401 Ther halp no Seil, ther halp non Ore, 8,1402 Forstormed and forblowen sore 8,1403 In gret peril so forth thei dryve, 8,1404 Til ate laste thei aryve 8,1405 At Mitelene the Cite. 8,1406 In havene sauf and whan thei be, 8,1407 The Maister Schipman made him boun, 8,1408 And goth him out into the toun, 8,1409 And profreth Thaise forto selle. 8,1410 On Leonin it herde telle, 8,1411 Which Maister of the bordel was, 8,1412 And bad him gon a redy pas 8,1413 To fetten hire, and forth he wente, 8,1414 And Thaise out of his barge he hente, 8,1415 And to this bordeller hir solde. 8,1416 And he, that be hire body wolde 8,1417 Take avantage, let do crye, 8,1418 That what man wolde his lecherie 8,1419 Attempte upon hire maidenhede, 8,1420 Lei doun the gold and he schal spede. 8,1421 And thus whan he hath crid it oute 8,1422 In syhte of al the poeple aboute, 8,1423 He ladde hire to the bordel tho. 8,1424 No wonder is thogh sche be wo: 8,1425 Clos in a chambre be hireselve, 8,1426 Ech after other ten or tuelve 8,1427 Of yonge men to hire in wente; 8,1428 Bot such a grace god hire sente, 8,1429 That for the sorwe which sche made 8,1430 Was non of hem which pouer hade 8,1431 To don hire eny vileinie. 8,1432 This Leonin let evere aspie, 8,1433 And waiteth after gret beyete; 8,1434 Bot al for noght, sche was forlete, 8,1435 That mo men wolde ther noght come. 8,1436 Whan he therof hath hiede nome, 8,1437 And knew that sche was yit a maide, 8,1438 Unto his oghne man he saide, 8,1439 That he with strengthe ayein hire leve 8,1440 Tho scholde hir maidenhod bereve. 8,1441 This man goth in, bot so it ferde, 8,1442 Whan he hire wofull pleintes herde 8,1443 And he therof hath take kepe, 8,1444 Him liste betre forto wepe 8,1445 Than don oght elles to the game. 8,1446 And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame, 8,1447 And kneleth doun to therthe and preide 8,1448 Unto this man, and thus sche seide: 8,1449 "If so be that thi maister wolde 8,1450 That I his gold encresce scholde, 8,1451 It mai noght falle be this weie: 8,1452 Bot soffre me to go mi weie 8,1453 Out of this hous wher I am inne, 8,1454 And I schal make him forto winne 8,1455 In som place elles of the toun, 8,1456 Be so it be religioun, 8,1457 Wher that honeste wommen duelle. 8,1458 And thus thou myht thi maister telle, 8,1459 That whanne I have a chambre there, 8,1460 Let him do crie ay wyde where, 8,1461 What lord that hath his doghter diere, 8,1462 And is in will that sche schal liere 8,1463 Of such a Scole that is trewe, 8,1464 I schal hire teche of thinges newe, 8,1465 Which as non other womman can 8,1466 In al this lond." And tho this man 8,1467 Hire tale hath herd, he goth ayein, 8,1468 And tolde unto his maister plein 8,1469 That sche hath seid; and therupon, 8,1470 Whan than he sih beyete non 8,1471 At the bordel be cause of hire, 8,1472 He bad his man to gon and spire 8,1473 A place wher sche myhte abyde, 8,1474 That he mai winne upon som side 8,1475 Be that sche can: bot ate leste 8,1476 Thus was sche sauf fro this tempeste. 8,1477 He hath hire fro the bordel take, 8,1478 Bot that was noght for goddes sake, 8,1479 Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde. 8,1480 Now comen tho that comen wolde 8,1481 Of wommen in her lusty youthe, 8,1482 To hiere and se what thing sche couthe: 8,1483 Sche can the wisdom of a clerk, 8,1484 Sche can of every lusti werk 8,1485 Which to a gentil womman longeth, 8,1486 And some of hem sche underfongeth 8,1487 To the Citole and to the Harpe, 8,1488 And whom it liketh forto carpe 8,1489 Proverbes and demandes slyhe, 8,1490 An other such thei nevere syhe, 8,1491 Which that science so wel tawhte: 8,1492 Wherof sche grete yiftes cawhte, 8,1493 That sche to Leonin hath wonne; 8,1494 And thus hire name is so begonne 8,1495 Of sondri thinges that sche techeth, 8,1496 That al the lond unto hir secheth 8,1497 Of yonge wommen forto liere. 8,1498 Nou lete we this maiden hiere, 8,1499 And speke of Dionise ayein 8,1500 And of Theophile the vilein, 8,1501 Of whiche I spak of nou tofore. 8,1502 Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore, 8,1503 This false cherl to his lady 8,1504 Whan he cam hom, al prively 8,1505 He seith, "Ma Dame, slain I have 8,1506 This maide Thaise, and is begrave 8,1507 In prive place, as ye me biede. 8,1508 Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiede 8,1509 And kep conseil, hou so it stonde." 8,1510 This fend, which this hath understonde, 8,1511 Was glad, and weneth it be soth: 8,1512 Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth. 8,1513 Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth, 8,1514 And of sieknesse which sche feigneth 8,1515 Sche seith that Taise sodeinly 8,1516 Be nyhte is ded, "as sche and I 8,1517 Togedre lyhen nyh my lord." 8,1518 Sche was a womman of record, 8,1519 And al is lieved that sche seith; 8,1520 And forto yive a more feith, 8,1521 Hire housebonde and ek sche bothe 8,1522 In blake clothes thei hem clothe, 8,1523 And made a gret enterrement; 8,1524 And for the poeple schal be blent, 8,1525 Of Thaise as for the remembrance, 8,1526 After the real olde usance 8,1527 A tumbe of latoun noble and riche 8,1528 With an ymage unto hir liche 8,1529 Liggende above therupon 8,1530 Thei made and sette it up anon. 8,1531 Hire Epitaffe of good assisse 8,1532 Was write aboute, and in this wise 8,1533 It spak: "O yee that this beholde, 8,1534 Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde 8,1535 The faireste and the flour of alle, 8,1536 Whos name Thaiµsis men calle. 8,1537 The king of Tyr Appolinus 8,1538 Hire fader was: now lith sche thus. 8,1539 Fourtiene yer sche was of Age, 8,1540 Whan deth hir tok to his viage." 8,1541 Thus was this false treson hidd, 8,1542 Which afterward was wyde kidd, 8,1543 As be the tale a man schal hiere. 8,1544 Bot forto clare mi matiere, 8,1545 To Tyr I thenke torne ayein, 8,1546 And telle as the Croniqes sein. 8,1547 Whan that the king was comen hom, 8,1548 And hath left in the salte fom 8,1549 His wif, which he mai noght foryete, 8,1550 For he som confort wolde gete, 8,1551 He let somoune a parlement, 8,1552 To which the lordes were asent; 8,1553 And of the time he hath ben oute, 8,1554 He seth the thinges al aboute, 8,1555 And told hem ek hou he hath fare, 8,1556 Whil he was out of londe fare; 8,1557 And preide hem alle to abyde, 8,1558 For he wolde at the same tyde 8,1559 Do schape for his wyves mynde, 8,1560 As he that wol noght ben unkinde. 8,1561 Solempne was that ilke office, 8,1562 And riche was the sacrifice, 8,1563 The feste reali was holde: 8,1564 And therto was he wel beholde; 8,1565 For such a wif as he hadde on 8,1566 In thilke daies was ther non. 8,1567 Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghte 8,1568 Upon his doghter, and besoghte 8,1569 Suche of his lordes as he wolde, 8,1570 That thei with him to Tharse scholde, 8,1571 To fette his doghter Taise there: 8,1572 And thei anon al redy were, 8,1573 To schip they gon and forth thei wente, 8,1574 Til thei the havene of Tharse hente. 8,1575 They londe and faile of that thei seche 8,1576 Be coverture and sleyhte of speche: 8,1577 This false man Strangulio, 8,1578 And Dionise his wif also, 8,1579 That he the betre trowe myhte, 8,1580 Thei ladden him to have a sihte 8,1581 Wher that hir tombe was arraied. 8,1582 The lasse yit he was mispaied, 8,1583 And natheles, so as he dorste, 8,1584 He curseth and seith al the worste 8,1585 Unto fortune, as to the blinde, 8,1586 Which can no seker weie finde; 8,1587 For sche him neweth evere among, 8,1588 And medleth sorwe with his song. 8,1589 Bot sithe it mai no betre be, 8,1590 He thonketh god and forth goth he 8,1591 Seilende toward Tyr ayein. 8,1592 Bot sodeinly the wynd and reyn 8,1593 Begonne upon the See debate, 8,1594 So that he soffre mot algate 8,1595 The lawe which Neptune ordeigneth; 8,1596 Wherof fulofte time he pleigneth, 8,1597 And hield him wel the more esmaied 8,1598 Of that he hath tofore assaied. 8,1599 So that for pure sorwe and care, 8,1600 Of that he seth his world so fare, 8,1601 The reste he lefte of his Caban, 8,1602 That for the conseil of noman 8,1603 Ayein therinne he nolde come, 8,1604 Bot hath benethe his place nome, 8,1605 Wher he wepende al one lay, 8,1606 Ther as he sih no lyht of day. 8,1607 And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve, 8,1608 Til longe and late thei aryve 8,1609 With gret distresce, as it was sene, 8,1610 Upon this toun of Mitelene, 8,1611 Which was a noble cite tho. 8,1612 And hapneth thilke time so, 8,1613 The lordes bothe and the comune 8,1614 The hihe festes of Neptune 8,1615 Upon the stronde at the rivage, 8,1616 As it was custumme and usage, 8,1617 Sollempneliche thei besihe. 8,1618 Whan thei this strange vessel syhe 8,1619 Come in, and hath his Seil avaled, 8,1620 The toun therof hath spoke and taled. 8,1621 The lord which of the cite was, 8,1622 Whos name is Athenagoras, 8,1623 Was there, and seide he wolde se 8,1624 What Schip it is, and who thei be 8,1625 That ben therinne: and after sone, 8,1626 Whan that he sih it was to done, 8,1627 His barge was for him arraied, 8,1628 And he goth forth and hath assaied. 8,1629 He fond the Schip of gret Array, 8,1630 Bot what thing it amonte may, 8,1631 He seth thei maden hevy chiere, 8,1632 Bot wel him thenkth be the manere 8,1633 That thei be worthi men of blod, 8,1634 And axeth of hem hou it stod; 8,1635 And thei him tellen al the cas, 8,1636 Hou that here lord fordrive was, 8,1637 And what a sorwe that he made, 8,1638 Of which ther mai noman him glade. 8,1639 He preith that he here lord mai se, 8,1640 Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be, 8,1641 For he lith in so derk a place, 8,1642 That ther may no wiht sen his face: 8,1643 Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth, 8,1644 He fond the ladre and doun he goth, 8,1645 And to him spak, bot non ansuere 8,1646 Ayein of him ne mihte he bere 8,1647 For oght that he can don or sein; 8,1648 And thus he goth him up ayein. 8,1649 Tho was ther spoke in many wise 8,1650 Amonges hem that weren wise, 8,1651 Now this, now that, bot ate laste 8,1652 The wisdom of the toun this caste, 8,1653 That yonge Taise were asent. 8,1654 For if ther be amendement 8,1655 To glade with this woful king, 8,1656 Sche can so moche of every thing, 8,1657 That sche schal gladen him anon. 8,1658 A Messager for hire is gon, 8,1659 And sche cam with hire Harpe on honde, 8,1660 And seide hem that sche wolde fonde 8,1661 Be alle weies that sche can, 8,1662 To glade with this sory man. 8,1663 Bot what he was sche wiste noght, 8,1664 Bot al the Schip hire hath besoght 8,1665 That sche hire wit on him despende, 8,1666 In aunter if he myhte amende, 8,1667 And sein it schal be wel aquit. 8,1668 Whan sche hath understonden it, 8,1669 Sche goth hir doun, ther as he lay, 8,1670 Wher that sche harpeth many a lay 8,1671 And lich an Angel sang withal; 8,1672 Bot he nomore than the wal 8,1673 Tok hiede of eny thing he herde. 8,1674 And whan sche sih that he so ferde, 8,1675 Sche falleth with him into wordes, 8,1676 And telleth him of sondri bordes, 8,1677 And axeth him demandes strange, 8,1678 Wherof sche made his herte change, 8,1679 And to hire speche his Ere he leide 8,1680 And hath merveile of that sche seide. 8,1681 For in proverbe and in probleme 8,1682 Sche spak, and bad he scholde deme 8,1683 In many soubtil question: 8,1684 Bot he for no suggestioun 8,1685 Which toward him sche couthe stere, 8,1686 He wolde noght o word ansuere, 8,1687 Bot as a madd man ate laste 8,1688 His heved wepende awey he caste, 8,1689 And half in wraththe he bad hire go. 8,1690 Bot yit sche wolde noght do so, 8,1691 And in the derke forth sche goth, 8,1692 Til sche him toucheth, and he wroth, 8,1693 And after hire with his hond 8,1694 He smot: and thus whan sche him fond 8,1695 Desesed, courtaisly sche saide, 8,1696 "Avoi, mi lord, I am a Maide; 8,1697 And if ye wiste what I am, 8,1698 And out of what lignage I cam, 8,1699 Ye wolde noght be so salvage." 8,1700 With that he sobreth his corage 8,1701 And put awey his hevy chiere. 8,1702 Bot of hem tuo a man mai liere 8,1703 What is to be so sibb of blod: 8,1704 Non wiste of other hou it stod, 8,1705 And yit the fader ate laste 8,1706 His herte upon this maide caste, 8,1707 That he hire loveth kindely, 8,1708 And yit he wiste nevere why. 8,1709 Bot al was knowe er that thei wente; 8,1710 For god, which wot here hol entente, 8,1711 Here hertes bothe anon descloseth. 8,1712 This king unto this maide opposeth, 8,1713 And axeth ferst what was hire name, 8,1714 And wher sche lerned al this game, 8,1715 And of what ken that sche was come. 8,1716 And sche, that hath hise wordes nome, 8,1717 Ansuerth and seith, "My name is Thaise, 8,1718 That was som time wel at aise: 8,1719 In Tharse I was forthdrawe and fed, 8,1720 Ther lerned I, til I was sped, 8,1721 Of that I can. Mi fader eke 8,1722 I not wher that I scholde him seke; 8,1723 He was a king, men tolde me: 8,1724 Mi Moder dreint was in the See." 8,1725 Fro point to point al sche him tolde, 8,1726 That sche hath longe in herte holde, 8,1727 And nevere dorste make hir mone 8,1728 Bot only to this lord al one, 8,1729 To whom hire herte can noght hele, 8,1730 Torne it to wo, torne it to wele, 8,1731 Torne it to good, torne it to harm. 8,1732 And he tho toke hire in his arm, 8,1733 Bot such a joie as he tho made 8,1734 Was nevere sen; thus be thei glade, 8,1735 That sory hadden be toforn. 8,1736 Fro this day forth fortune hath sworn 8,1737 To sette him upward on the whiel; 8,1738 So goth the world, now wo, now wel: 8,1739 This king hath founde newe grace, 8,1740 So that out of his derke place 8,1741 He goth him up into the liht, 8,1742 And with him cam that swete wiht, 8,1743 His doghter Thaise, and forth anon 8,1744 Thei bothe into the Caban gon 8,1745 Which was ordeigned for the king, 8,1746 And ther he dede of al his thing, 8,1747 And was arraied realy. 8,1748 And out he cam al openly, 8,1749 Wher Athenagoras he fond, 8,1750 The which was lord of al the lond: 8,1751 He preith the king to come and se 8,1752 His castell bothe and his cite, 8,1753 And thus thei gon forth alle in fiere, 8,1754 This king, this lord, this maiden diere. 8,1755 This lord tho made hem riche feste 8,1756 With every thing which was honeste, 8,1757 To plese with this worthi king, 8,1758 Ther lacketh him no maner thing: 8,1759 Bot yit for al his noble array 8,1760 Wifles he was into that day, 8,1761 As he that yit was of yong Age; 8,1762 So fell ther into his corage 8,1763 The lusti wo, the glade peine 8,1764 Of love, which noman restreigne 8,1765 Yit nevere myhte as nou tofore. 8,1766 This lord thenkth al his world forlore, 8,1767 Bot if the king wol don him grace; 8,1768 He waiteth time, he waiteth place, 8,1769 Him thoghte his herte wol tobreke, 8,1770 Til he mai to this maide speke 8,1771 And to hir fader ek also 8,1772 For mariage: and it fell so, 8,1773 That al was do riht as he thoghte, 8,1774 His pourpos to an ende he broghte, 8,1775 Sche weddeth him as for hire lord; 8,1776 Thus be thei alle of on acord. 8,1777 Whan al was do riht as thei wolde, 8,1778 The king unto his Sone tolde 8,1779 Of Tharse thilke traiterie, 8,1780 And seide hou in his compaignie 8,1781 His doghter and himselven eke 8,1782 Schull go vengance forto seke. 8,1783 The Schipes were redy sone, 8,1784 And whan thei sihe it was to done, 8,1785 Withoute lette of eny wente 8,1786 With Seil updrawe forth thei wente 8,1787 Towardes Tharse upon the tyde. 8,1788 Bot he that wot what schal betide, 8,1789 The hihe god, which wolde him kepe, 8,1790 Whan that this king was faste aslepe, 8,1791 Be nyhtes time he hath him bede 8,1792 To seile into an other stede: 8,1793 To Ephesim he bad him drawe, 8,1794 And as it was that time lawe, 8,1795 He schal do there his sacrifise; 8,1796 And ek he bad in alle wise 8,1797 That in the temple amonges alle 8,1798 His fortune, as it is befalle, 8,1799 Touchende his doghter and his wif 8,1800 He schal beknowe upon his lif. 8,1801 The king of this Avisioun 8,1802 Hath gret ymaginacioun, 8,1803 What thing it signefie may; 8,1804 And natheles, whan it was day, 8,1805 He bad caste Ancher and abod; 8,1806 And whil that he on Ancher rod, 8,1807 The wynd, which was tofore strange, 8,1808 Upon the point began to change, 8,1809 And torneth thider as it scholde. 8,1810 Tho knew he wel that god it wolde, 8,1811 And bad the Maister make him yare, 8,1812 Tofor the wynd for he wol fare 8,1813 To Ephesim, and so he dede. 8,1814 And whanne he cam unto the stede 8,1815 Where as he scholde londe, he londeth 8,1816 With al the haste he may, and fondeth 8,1817 To schapen him be such a wise, 8,1818 That he may be the morwe arise 8,1819 And don after the mandement 8,1820 Of him which hath him thider sent. 8,1821 And in the wise that he thoghte, 8,1822 Upon the morwe so he wroghte; 8,1823 His doghter and his Sone he nom, 8,1824 And forth unto the temple he com 8,1825 With a gret route in compaignie, 8,1826 Hise yiftes forto sacrifie. 8,1827 The citezeins tho herden seie 8,1828 Of such a king that cam to preie 8,1829 Unto Diane the godesse, 8,1830 And left al other besinesse, 8,1831 Thei comen thider forto se 8,1832 The king and the solempnete. 8,1833 With worthi knyhtes environed 8,1834 The king himself hath abandoned 8,1835 Into the temple in good entente. 8,1836 The dore is up, and he in wente, 8,1837 Wher as with gret devocioun 8,1838 Of holi contemplacioun 8,1839 Withinne his herte he made his schrifte; 8,1840 And after that a riche yifte 8,1841 He offreth with gret reverence, 8,1842 And there in open Audience 8,1843 Of hem that stoden thanne aboute, 8,1844 He tolde hem and declareth oute 8,1845 His hap, such as him is befalle, 8,1846 Ther was nothing foryete of alle. 8,1847 His wif, as it was goddes grace, 8,1848 Which was professed in the place, 8,1849 As sche that was Abbesse there, 8,1850 Unto his tale hath leid hire Ere: 8,1851 Sche knew the vois and the visage, 8,1852 For pure joie as in a rage 8,1853 Sche strawhte unto him al at ones, 8,1854 And fell aswoune upon the stones, 8,1855 Wherof the temple flor was paved. 8,1856 Sche was anon with water laved, 8,1857 Til sche cam to hirself ayein, 8,1858 And thanne sche began to sein: 8,1859 "Ha, blessed be the hihe sonde, 8,1860 That I mai se myn housebonde, 8,1861 That whilom he and I were on]" 8,1862 The king with that knew hire anon, 8,1863 And tok hire in his Arm and kiste; 8,1864 And al the toun thus sone it wiste. 8,1865 Tho was ther joie manyfold, 8,1866 For every man this tale hath told 8,1867 As for miracle, and were glade, 8,1868 Bot nevere man such joie made 8,1869 As doth the king, which hath his wif. 8,1870 And whan men herde hou that hir lif 8,1871 Was saved, and be whom it was, 8,1872 Thei wondren alle of such a cas: 8,1873 Thurgh al the Lond aros the speche 8,1874 Of Maister Cerymon the leche 8,1875 And of the cure which he dede. 8,1876 The king himself tho hath him bede, 8,1877 And ek this queene forth with him, 8,1878 That he the toun of Ephesim 8,1879 Wol leve and go wher as thei be, 8,1880 For nevere man of his degre 8,1881 Hath do to hem so mochel good; 8,1882 And he his profit understod, 8,1883 And granteth with hem forto wende. 8,1884 And thus thei maden there an ende, 8,1885 And token leve and gon to Schipe 8,1886 With al the hole felaschipe. 8,1887 This king, which nou hath his desir, 8,1888 Seith he wol holde his cours to Tyr. 8,1889 Thei hadden wynd at wille tho, 8,1890 With topseilcole and forth they go, 8,1891 And striken nevere, til thei come 8,1892 To Tyr, where as thei havene nome, 8,1893 And londen hem with mochel blisse. 8,1894 Tho was ther many a mowth to kisse, 8,1895 Echon welcometh other hom, 8,1896 Bot whan the queen to londe com, 8,1897 And Thaise hir doghter be hir side, 8,1898 The joie which was thilke tyde 8,1899 Ther mai no mannes tunge telle: 8,1900 Thei seiden alle, "Hier comth the welle 8,1901 Of alle wommannysshe grace." 8,1902 The king hath take his real place, 8,1903 The queene is into chambre go: 8,1904 Ther was gret feste arraied tho; 8,1905 Whan time was, thei gon to mete, 8,1906 Alle olde sorwes ben foryete, 8,1907 And gladen hem with joies newe: 8,1908 The descoloured pale hewe 8,1909 Is now become a rody cheke, 8,1910 Ther was no merthe forto seke, 8,1911 Bot every man hath that he wolde. 8,1912 The king, as he wel couthe and scholde, 8,1913 Makth to his poeple riht good chiere; 8,1914 And after sone, as thou schalt hiere, 8,1915 A parlement he hath sommoned, 8,1916 Wher he his doghter hath coroned 8,1917 Forth with the lord of Mitelene, 8,1918 That on is king, that other queene: 8,1919 And thus the fadres ordinance 8,1920 This lond hath set in governance, 8,1921 And seide thanne he wolde wende 8,1922 To Tharse, forto make an ende 8,1923 Of that his doghter was betraied. 8,1924 Therof were alle men wel paied, 8,1925 And seide hou it was forto done: 8,1926 The Schipes weren redi sone, 8,1927 And strong pouer with him he tok; 8,1928 Up to the Sky he caste his lok, 8,1929 And syh the wynd was covenable. 8,1930 Thei hale up Ancher with the cable, 8,1931 The Seil on hih, the Stiere in honde, 8,1932 And seilen, til thei come alonde 8,1933 At Tharse nyh to the cite; 8,1934 And whan thei wisten it was he, 8,1935 The toun hath don him reverence. 8,1936 He telleth hem the violence, 8,1937 Which the tretour Strangulio 8,1938 And Dionise him hadde do 8,1939 Touchende his dowhter, as yee herde; 8,1940 And whan thei wiste hou that it ferde, 8,1941 As he which pes and love soghte, 8,1942 Unto the toun this he besoghte, 8,1943 To don him riht in juggement. 8,1944 Anon thei were bothe asent 8,1945 With strengthe of men, and comen sone, 8,1946 And as hem thoghte it was to done, 8,1947 Atteint thei were be the lawe 8,1948 And diemed forto honge and drawe, 8,1949 And brent and with the wynd toblowe, 8,1950 That al the world it myhte knowe: 8,1951 And upon this condicion 8,1952 The dom in execucion 8,1953 Was put anon withoute faile. 8,1954 And every man hath gret mervaile, 8,1955 Which herde tellen of this chance, 8,1956 And thonketh goddes pourveance, 8,1957 Which doth mercy forth with justice. 8,1958 Slain is the moerdrer and moerdrice 8,1959 Thurgh verray trowthe of rihtwisnesse, 8,1960 And thurgh mercy sauf is simplesse 8,1961 Of hire whom mercy preserveth; 8,1962 Thus hath he wel that wel deserveth. 8,1963 Whan al this thing is don and ended, 8,1964 This king, which loved was and frended, 8,1965 A lettre hath, which cam to him 8,1966 Be Schipe fro Pentapolim, 8,1967 Be which the lond hath to him write, 8,1968 That he wolde understonde and wite 8,1969 Hou in good mynde and in good pes 8,1970 Ded is the king Artestrates, 8,1971 Wherof thei alle of on acord 8,1972 Him preiden, as here liege lord, 8,1973 That he the lettre wel conceive 8,1974 And come his regne to receive, 8,1975 Which god hath yove him and fortune; 8,1976 And thus besoghte the commune 8,1977 Forth with the grete lordes alle. 8,1978 This king sih how it was befalle, 8,1979 Fro Tharse and in prosperite 8,1980 He tok his leve of that Cite 8,1981 And goth him into Schipe ayein: 8,1982 The wynd was good, the See was plein, 8,1983 Hem nedeth noght a Riff to slake, 8,1984 Til thei Pentapolim have take. 8,1985 The lond, which herde of that tidinge, 8,1986 Was wonder glad of his cominge; 8,1987 He resteth him a day or tuo 8,1988 And tok his conseil to him tho, 8,1989 And sette a time of Parlement, 8,1990 Wher al the lond of on assent 8,1991 Forth with his wif hath him corouned, 8,1992 Wher alle goode him was fuisouned. 8,1993 Lo, what it is to be wel grounded: 8,1994 For he hath ferst his love founded 8,1995 Honesteliche as forto wedde, 8,1996 Honesteliche his love he spedde 8,1997 And hadde children with his wif, 8,1998 And as him liste he ladde his lif; 8,1999 And in ensample his lif was write, 8,2000 That alle lovers myhten wite 8,2001 How ate laste it schal be sene 8,2002 Of love what thei wolden mene. 8,2003 For se now on that other side, 8,2004 Antiochus with al his Pride, 8,2005 Which sette his love unkindely, 8,2006 His ende he hadde al sodeinly, 8,2007 Set ayein kinde upon vengance, 8,2008 And for his lust hath his penance. 8,2009 Lo thus, mi Sone, myht thou liere 8,2010 What is to love in good manere, 8,2011 And what to love in other wise: 8,2012 The mede arist of the servise; 8,2013 Fortune, thogh sche be noght stable, 8,2014 Yit at som time is favorable 8,2015 To hem that ben of love trewe. 8,2016 Bot certes it is forto rewe 8,2017 To se love ayein kinde falle, 8,2018 For that makth sore a man to falle, 8,2019 As thou myht of tofore rede. 8,2020 Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede 8,2021 To lete al other love aweie, 8,2022 Bot if it be thurgh such a weie 8,2023 As love and reson wolde acorde. 8,2024 For elles, if that thou descorde, 8,2025 And take lust as doth a beste, 8,2026 Thi love mai noght ben honeste; 8,2027 For be no skile that I finde 8,2028 Such lust is noght of loves kinde. 8,2029 Mi fader, hou so that it stonde, 8,2030 Youre tale is herd and understonde, 8,2031 As thing which worthi is to hiere, 8,2032 Of gret ensample and gret matiere, 8,2033 Wherof, my fader, god you quyte. 8,2034 Bot in this point miself aquite 8,2035 I mai riht wel, that nevere yit 8,2036 I was assoted in my wit, 8,2037 Bot only in that worthi place 8,2038 Wher alle lust and alle grace 8,2039 Is set, if that danger ne were. 8,2040 Bot that is al my moste fere: 8,2041 I not what ye fortune acompte, 8,2042 Bot what thing danger mai amonte 8,2043 I wot wel, for I have assaied; 8,2044 For whan myn herte is best arraied 8,2045 And I have al my wit thurghsoght 8,2046 Of love to beseche hire oght, 8,2047 For al that evere I skile may, 8,2048 I am concluded with a nay: 8,2049 That o sillable hath overthrowe 8,2050 A thousend wordes on a rowe 8,2051 Of suche as I best speke can; 8,2052 Thus am I bot a lewed man. 8,2053 Bot, fader, for ye ben a clerk 8,2054 Of love, and this matiere is derk, 8,2055 And I can evere leng the lasse, 8,2056 Bot yit I mai noght let it passe, 8,2057 Youre hole conseil I beseche, 8,2058 That ye me be som weie teche 8,2059 What is my beste, as for an ende. 8,2060 Mi Sone, unto the trouthe wende 8,2061 Now wol I for the love of thee, 8,2062 And lete alle othre truffles be. 8,2063 The more that the nede is hyh, 8,2064 The more it nedeth to be slyh 8,2065 To him which hath the nede on honde. 8,2066 I have wel herd and understonde, 8,2067 Mi Sone, al that thou hast me seid, 8,2068 And ek of that thou hast me preid, 8,2069 Nou at this time that I schal 8,2070 As for conclusioun final 8,2071 Conseile upon thi nede sette: 8,2072 So thenke I finaly to knette 8,2073 This cause, where it is tobroke, 8,2074 And make an ende of that is spoke. 8,2075 For I behihte thee that yifte 8,2076 Ferst whan thou come under my schrifte, 8,2077 That thogh I toward Venus were, 8,2078 Yit spak I suche wordes there, 8,2079 That for the Presthod which I have, 8,2080 Min ordre and min astat to save, 8,2081 I seide I wolde of myn office 8,2082 To vertu more than to vice 8,2083 Encline, and teche thee mi lore. 8,2084 Forthi to speken overmore 8,2085 Of love, which thee mai availe, 8,2086 Tak love where it mai noght faile: 8,2087 For as of this which thou art inne, 8,2088 Be that thou seist it is a Sinne, 8,2089 And Sinne mai no pris deserve, 8,2090 Withoute pris and who schal serve, 8,2091 I not what profit myhte availe. 8,2092 Thus folweth it, if thou travaile, 8,2093 Wher thou no profit hast ne pris, 8,2094 Thou art toward thiself unwis: 8,2095 And sett thou myhtest lust atteigne, 8,2096 Of every lust thende is a peine, 8,2097 And every peine is good to fle; 8,2098 So it is wonder thing to se, 8,2099 Why such a thing schal be desired. 8,2100 The more that a Stock is fyred, 8,2101 The rathere into Aisshe it torneth; 8,2102 The fot which in the weie sporneth 8,2103 Fulofte his heved hath overthrowe; 8,2104 Thus love is blind and can noght knowe 8,2105 Wher that he goth, til he be falle: 8,2106 Forthi, bot if it so befalle 8,2107 With good conseil that he be lad, 8,2108 Him oghte forto ben adrad. 8,2109 For conseil passeth alle thing 8,2110 To him which thenkth to ben a king; 8,2111 And every man for his partie 8,2112 A kingdom hath to justefie, 8,2113 That is to sein his oghne dom. 8,2114 If he misreule that kingdom, 8,2115 He lest himself, and that is more 8,2116 Than if he loste Schip and Ore 8,2117 And al the worldes good withal: 8,2118 For what man that in special 8,2119 Hath noght himself, he hath noght elles, 8,2120 Nomor the perles than the schelles; 8,2121 Al is to him of o value: 8,2122 Thogh he hadde at his retenue 8,2123 The wyde world ryht as he wolde, 8,2124 Whan he his herte hath noght withholde 8,2125 Toward himself, al is in vein. 8,2126 And thus, my Sone, I wolde sein, 8,2127 As I seide er, that thou aryse, 8,2128 Er that thou falle in such a wise 8,2129 That thou ne myht thiself rekevere; 8,2130 For love, which that blind was evere, 8,2131 Makth alle his servantz blinde also. 8,2132 My Sone, and if thou have be so, 8,2133 Yit is it time to withdrawe, 8,2134 And set thin herte under that lawe, 8,2135 The which of reson is governed 8,2136 And noght of will. And to be lerned, 8,2137 Ensamples thou hast many on 8,2138 Of now and ek of time gon, 8,2139 That every lust is bot a while; 8,2140 And who that wole himself beguile, 8,2141 He may the rathere be deceived. 8,2142 Mi Sone, now thou hast conceived 8,2143 Somwhat of that I wolde mene; 8,2144 Hierafterward it schal be sene 8,2145 If that thou lieve upon mi lore; 8,2146 For I can do to thee nomore 8,2147 Bot teche thee the rihte weie: 8,2148 Now ches if thou wolt live or deie. 8,2149 Mi fader, so as I have herd 8,2150 Your tale, bot it were ansuerd, 8,2151 I were mochel forto blame. 8,2152 Mi wo to you is bot a game, 8,2153 That fielen noght of that I fiele; 8,2154 The fielinge of a mannes Hiele 8,2155 Mai noght be likned to the Herte: 8,2156 I mai noght, thogh I wolde, asterte, 8,2157 And ye be fre from al the peine 8,2158 Of love, wherof I me pleigne. 8,2159 It is riht esi to comaunde; 8,2160 The hert which fre goth on the launde 8,2161 Not of an Oxe what him eileth; 8,2162 It falleth ofte a man merveileth 8,2163 Of that he seth an other fare, 8,2164 Bot if he knewe himself the fare, 8,2165 And felt it as it is in soth, 8,2166 He scholde don riht as he doth, 8,2167 Or elles werse in his degre: 8,2168 For wel I wot, and so do ye, 8,2169 That love hath evere yit ben used, 8,2170 So mot I nedes ben excused. 8,2171 Bot, fader, if ye wolde thus 8,2172 Unto Cupide and to Venus 8,2173 Be frendlich toward mi querele, 8,2174 So that myn herte were in hele 8,2175 Of love which is in mi briest, 8,2176 I wot wel thanne a betre Prest 8,2177 Was nevere mad to my behove. 8,2178 Bot al the whiles that I hove 8,2179 In noncertein betwen the tuo, 8,2180 And not if I to wel or wo 8,2181 Schal torne, that is al my drede, 8,2182 So that I not what is to rede. 8,2183 Bot for final conclusion 8,2184 I thenke a Supplicacion 8,2185 With pleine wordes and expresse 8,2186 Wryte unto Venus the goddesse, 8,2187 The which I preie you to bere 8,2188 And bringe ayein a good ansuere. 8,2189 Tho was betwen mi Prest and me 8,2190 Debat and gret perplexete: 8,2191 Mi resoun understod him wel, 8,2192 And knew it was sothe everydel 8,2193 That he hath seid, bot noght forthi 8,2194 Mi will hath nothing set therby. 8,2195 For techinge of so wis a port 8,2196 Is unto love of no desport; 8,2197 Yit myhte nevere man beholde 8,2198 Reson, wher love was withholde, 8,2199 Thei be noght of o governance. 8,2200 And thus we fellen in distance, 8,2201 Mi Prest and I, bot I spak faire, 8,2202 And thurgh mi wordes debonaire 8,2203 Thanne ate laste we acorden, 8,2204 So that he seith he wol recorden 8,2205 To speke and stonde upon mi syde 8,2206 To Venus bothe and to Cupide; 8,2207 And bad me wryte what I wolde, 8,2208 And seith me trewly that he scholde 8,2209 Mi lettre bere unto the queene. 8,2210 And I sat doun upon the grene 8,2211 Fulfilt of loves fantasie, 8,2212 And with the teres of myn yµe 8,2213 In stede of enke I gan to wryte 8,2214 The wordes whiche I wolde endite 8,2215 Unto Cupide and to Venus, 8,2216 And in mi lettre I seide thus. 8,2217 The wofull peine of loves maladie, 8,2218 Ayein the which mai no phisique availe, 8,2219 Min herte hath so bewhaped with sotie, 8,2220 That wher so that I reste or I travaile, 8,2221 I finde it evere redy to assaile 8,2222 Mi resoun, which that can him noght defende: 8,2223 Thus seche I help, wherof I mihte amende. 8,2224 Ferst to Nature if that I me compleigne, 8,2225 Ther finde I hou that every creature 8,2226 Som time ayer hath love in his demeine, 8,2227 So that the litel wrenne in his mesure 8,2228 Hath yit of kinde a love under his cure; 8,2229 And I bot on desire, of which I misse: 8,2230 And thus, bot I, hath every kinde his blisse. 8,2231 The resoun of my wit it overpasseth, 8,2232 Of that Nature techeth me the weie 8,2233 To love, and yit no certein sche compasseth 8,2234 Hou I schal spede, and thus betwen the tweie 8,2235 I stonde, and not if I schal live or deie. 8,2236 For thogh reson ayein my will debate, 8,2237 I mai noght fle, that I ne love algate. 8,2238 Upon miself is thilke tale come, 8,2239 Hou whilom Pan, which is the god of kinde, 8,2240 With love wrastlede and was overcome: 8,2241 For evere I wrastle and evere I am behinde, 8,2242 That I no strengthe in al min herte finde, 8,2243 Wherof that I mai stonden eny throwe; 8,2244 So fer mi wit with love is overthrowe. 8,2245 Whom nedeth help, he mot his helpe crave, 8,2246 Or helpeles he schal his nede spille: 8,2247 Pleinly thurghsoght my wittes alle I have, 8,2248 Bot non of hem can helpe after mi wille; 8,2249 And als so wel I mihte sitte stille, 8,2250 As preie unto mi lady eny helpe: 8,2251 Thus wot I noght wherof miself to helpe. 8,2252 Unto the grete Jove and if I bidde, 8,2253 To do me grace of thilke swete tunne, 8,2254 Which under keie in his celier amidde 8,2255 Lith couched, that fortune is overrunne, 8,2256 Bot of the bitter cuppe I have begunne, 8,2257 I not hou ofte, and thus finde I no game; 8,2258 For evere I axe and evere it is the same. 8,2259 I se the world stonde evere upon eschange, 8,2260 Nou wyndes loude, and nou the weder softe; 8,2261 I mai sen ek the grete mone change, 8,2262 And thing which nou is lowe is eft alofte; 8,2263 The dredfull werres into pes fulofte 8,2264 Thei torne; and evere is Danger in o place, 8,2265 Which wol noght change his will to do me grace. 8,2266 Bot upon this the grete clerc Ovide, 8,2267 Of love whan he makth his remembrance, 8,2268 He seith ther is the blinde god Cupide, 8,2269 The which hath love under his governance, 8,2270 And in his hond with many a fyri lance 8,2271 He woundeth ofte, ther he wol noght hele; 8,2272 And that somdiel is cause of mi querele. 8,2273 Ovide ek seith that love to parforne 8,2274 Stant in the hond of Venus the goddesse, 8,2275 Bot whan sche takth hir conseil with Satorne, 8,2276 Ther is no grace, and in that time, I gesse, 8,2277 Began mi love, of which myn hevynesse 8,2278 Is now and evere schal, bot if I spede: 8,2279 So wot I noght miself what is to rede. 8,2280 Forthi to you, Cupide and Venus bothe, 8,2281 With al myn hertes obeissance I preie, 8,2282 If ye were ate ferste time wrothe, 8,2283 Whan I began to love, as I you seie, 8,2284 Nou stynt, and do thilke infortune aweie, 8,2285 So that Danger, which stant of retenue 8,2286 With my ladi, his place mai remue. 8,2287 O thou Cupide, god of loves lawe, 8,2288 That with thi Dart brennende hast set afyre 8,2289 Min herte, do that wounde be withdrawe, 8,2290 Or yif me Salve such as I desire: 8,2291 For Service in thi Court withouten hyre 8,2292 To me, which evere yit have kept thin heste, 8,2293 Mai nevere be to loves lawe honeste. 8,2294 O thou, gentile Venus, loves queene, 8,2295 Withoute gult thou dost on me thi wreche; 8,2296 Thou wost my peine is evere aliche grene 8,2297 For love, and yit I mai it noght areche: 8,2298 This wold I for my laste word beseche, 8,2299 That thou mi love aquite as I deserve, 8,2300 Or elles do me pleinly forto sterve. 8,2301 Whanne I this Supplicacioun 8,2302 With good deliberacioun, 8,2303 In such a wise as ye nou wite, 8,2304 Hadde after min entente write 8,2305 Unto Cupide and to Venus, 8,2306 This Prest which hihte Genius 8,2307 It tok on honde to presente, 8,2308 On my message and forth he wente 8,2309 To Venus, forto wite hire wille. 8,2310 And I bod in the place stille, 8,2311 And was there bot a litel while, 8,2312 Noght full the montance of a Mile, 8,2313 Whan I behield and sodeinly 8,2314 I sih wher Venus stod me by. 8,2315 So as I myhte, under a tre 8,2316 To grounde I fell upon mi kne, 8,2317 And preide hire forto do me grace: 8,2318 Sche caste hire chiere upon mi face, 8,2319 And as it were halvinge a game 8,2320 Sche axeth me what is mi name. 8,2321 "Ma dame," I seide, "John Gower." 8,2322 "Now John," quod sche, "in my pouer 8,2323 Thou most as of thi love stonde; 8,2324 For I thi bille have understonde, 8,2325 In which to Cupide and to me 8,2326 Somdiel thou hast compleigned thee, 8,2327 And somdiel to Nature also. 8,2328 Bot that schal stonde among you tuo, 8,2329 For therof have I noght to done; 8,2330 For Nature is under the Mone 8,2331 Maistresse of every lives kinde, 8,2332 Bot if so be that sche mai finde 8,2333 Som holy man that wol withdrawe 8,2334 His kindly lust ayein hir lawe; 8,2335 Bot sielde whanne it falleth so, 8,2336 For fewe men ther ben of tho, 8,2337 Bot of these othre ynowe be, 8,2338 Whiche of here oghne nycete 8,2339 Ayein Nature and hire office 8,2340 Deliten hem in sondri vice, 8,2341 Wherof that sche fulofte hath pleigned, 8,2342 And ek my Court it hath desdeigned 8,2343 And evere schal; for it receiveth 8,2344 Non such that kinde so deceiveth. 8,2345 For al onliche of gentil love 8,2346 Mi court stant alle courtz above 8,2347 And takth noght into retenue 8,2348 Bot thing which is to kinde due, 8,2349 For elles it schal be refused. 8,2350 Wherof I holde thee excused, 8,2351 For it is manye daies gon, 8,2352 That thou amonges hem were on 8,2353 Which of my court hast ben withholde; 8,2354 So that the more I am beholde 8,2355 Of thi desese to commune, 8,2356 And to remue that fortune, 8,2357 Which manye daies hath the grieved. 8,2358 Bot if my conseil mai be lieved, 8,2359 Thou schalt ben esed er thou go 8,2360 Of thilke unsely jolif wo, 8,2361 Wherof thou seist thin herte is fyred: 8,2362 Bot as of that thou hast desired 8,2363 After the sentence of thi bille, 8,2364 Thou most therof don at my wille, 8,2365 And I therof me wole avise. 8,2366 For be thou hol, it schal suffise: 8,2367 Mi medicine is noght to sieke 8,2368 For thee and for suche olde sieke, 8,2369 Noght al per chance as ye it wolden, 8,2370 Bot so as ye be reson scholden, 8,2371 Acordant unto loves kinde. 8,2372 For in the plit which I thee finde, 8,2373 So as mi court it hath awarded, 8,2374 Thou schalt be duely rewarded; 8,2375 And if thou woldest more crave, 8,2376 It is no riht that thou it have." 8,2377 Venus, which stant withoute lawe 8,2378 In noncertein, bot as men drawe 8,2379 Of Rageman upon the chance, 8,2380 Sche leith no peis in the balance, 8,2381 Bot as hir lyketh forto weie; 8,2382 The trewe man fulofte aweie 8,2383 Sche put, which hath hir grace bede, 8,2384 And set an untrewe in his stede. 8,2385 Lo, thus blindly the world sche diemeth 8,2386 In loves cause, as tome siemeth: 8,2387 I not what othre men wol sein, 8,2388 Bot I algate am so besein, 8,2389 And stonde as on amonges alle 8,2390 Which am out of hir grace falle: 8,2391 It nedeth take no witnesse, 8,2392 For sche which seid is the goddesse, 8,2393 To whether part of love it wende, 8,2394 Hath sett me for a final ende 8,2395 The point wherto that I schal holde. 8,2396 For whan sche hath me wel beholde, 8,2397 Halvynge of scorn, sche seide thus: 8,2398 "Thou wost wel that I am Venus, 8,2399 Which al only my lustes seche; 8,2400 And wel I wot, thogh thou beseche 8,2401 Mi love, lustes ben ther none, 8,2402 Whiche I mai take in thi persone; 8,2403 For loves lust and lockes hore 8,2404 In chambre acorden neveremore, 8,2405 And thogh thou feigne a yong corage, 8,2406 It scheweth wel be the visage 8,2407 That olde grisel is no fole: 8,2408 There ben fulmanye yeres stole 8,2409 With thee and with suche othre mo, 8,2410 That outward feignen youthe so 8,2411 And ben withinne of pore assay. 8,2412 Min herte wolde and I ne may 8,2413 Is noght beloved nou adayes; 8,2414 Er thou make eny suche assaies 8,2415 To love, and faile upon the fet, 8,2416 Betre is to make a beau retret; 8,2417 For thogh thou myhtest love atteigne, 8,2418 Yit were it bot an ydel peine, 8,2419 Whan that thou art noght sufficant 8,2420 To holde love his covenant. 8,2421 Forthi tak hom thin herte ayein, 8,2422 That thou travaile noght in vein, 8,2423 Wherof my Court may be deceived. 8,2424 I wot and have it wel conceived, 8,2425 Hou that thi will is good ynowh; 8,2426 Bot mor behoveth to the plowh, 8,2427 Wherof the lacketh, as I trowe: 8,2428 So sitte it wel that thou beknowe 8,2429 Thi fieble astat, er thou beginne 8,2430 Thing wher thou miht non ende winne. 8,2431 What bargain scholde a man assaie, 8,2432 Whan that him lacketh forto paie? 8,2433 Mi Sone, if thou be wel bethoght, 8,2434 This toucheth thee; foryet it noght: 8,2435 The thing is torned into was; 8,2436 That which was whilom grene gras, 8,2437 Is welked hey at time now. 8,2438 Forthi mi conseil is that thou 8,2439 Remembre wel hou thou art old." 8,2440 Whan Venus hath hir tale told, 8,2441 And I bethoght was al aboute, 8,2442 Tho wiste I wel withoute doute, 8,2443 That ther was no recoverir; 8,2444 And as a man the blase of fyr 8,2445 With water quencheth, so ferd I; 8,2446 A cold me cawhte sodeinly, 8,2447 For sorwe that myn herte made 8,2448 Mi dedly face pale and fade 8,2449 Becam, and swoune I fell to grounde. 8,2450 And as I lay the same stounde, 8,2451 Ne fully quik ne fully ded, 8,2452 Me thoghte I sih tofor myn hed 8,2453 Cupide with his bowe bent, 8,2454 And lich unto a Parlement, 8,2455 Which were ordeigned for the nones, 8,2456 With him cam al the world at ones 8,2457 Of gentil folk that whilom were 8,2458 Lovers, I sih hem alle there 8,2459 Forth with Cupide in sondri routes. 8,2460 Min yhe and as I caste aboutes, 8,2461 To knowe among hem who was who, 8,2462 I sih wher lusty Youthe tho, 8,2463 As he which was a Capitein, 8,2464 Tofore alle othre upon the plein 8,2465 Stod with his route wel begon, 8,2466 Here hevedes kempt, and therupon 8,2467 Garlandes noght of o colour, 8,2468 Some of the lef, some of the flour, 8,2469 And some of grete Perles were; 8,2470 The newe guise of Beawme there, 8,2471 With sondri thinges wel devised, 8,2472 I sih, wherof thei ben queintised. 8,2473 It was al lust that thei with ferde, 8,2474 Ther was no song that I ne herde, 8,2475 Which unto love was touchende; 8,2476 Of Pan and al that was likende 8,2477 As in Pipinge of melodie 8,2478 Was herd in thilke compaignie 8,2479 So lowde, that on every side 8,2480 It thoghte as al the hevene cride 8,2481 In such acord and such a soun 8,2482 Of bombard and of clarion 8,2483 With Cornemuse and Schallemele, 8,2484 That it was half a mannes hele 8,2485 So glad a noise forto hiere. 8,2486 And as me thoghte, in this manere 8,2487 Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance, 8,2488 And do to love her entendance 8,2489 After the lust of youthes heste. 8,2490 Ther was ynowh of joie and feste, 8,2491 For evere among thei laghe and pleie, 8,2492 And putten care out of the weie, 8,2493 That he with hem ne sat ne stod. 8,2494 And overthis I understod, 8,2495 So as myn Ere it myhte areche, 8,2496 The moste matiere of her speche 8,2497 Was al of knyhthod and of Armes, 8,2498 And what it is to ligge in armes 8,2499 With love, whanne it is achieved. 8,2500 Ther was Tristram, which was believed 8,2501 With bele Ysolde, and Lancelot 8,2502 Stod with Gunnore, and Galahot 8,2503 With his ladi, and as me thoghte, 8,2504 I syh wher Jason with him broghte 8,2505 His love, which that Creusa hihte, 8,2506 And Hercules, which mochel myhte, 8,2507 Was ther berende his grete Mace, 8,2508 And most of alle in thilke place 8,2509 He peyneth him to make chiere 8,2510 With Eolen, which was him diere. 8,2511 Theseuµs, thogh he were untrewe 8,2512 To love, as alle wommen knewe, 8,2513 Yit was he there natheles 8,2514 With Phedra, whom to love he ches: 8,2515 Of Grece ek ther was Thelamon, 8,2516 Which fro the king Lamenedon 8,2517 At Troie his doghter refte aweie, 8,2518 Eseonen, as for his preie, 8,2519 Which take was whan Jason cam 8,2520 Fro Colchos, and the Cite nam 8,2521 In vengance of the ferste hate; 8,2522 That made hem after to debate, 8,2523 Whan Priamus the newe toun 8,2524 Hath mad. And in avisioun 8,2525 Me thoghte that I sih also 8,2526 Ector forth with his brethren tuo; 8,2527 Himself stod with Pantaselee, 8,2528 And next to him I myhte se, 8,2529 Wher Paris stod with faire Eleine, 8,2530 Which was his joie sovereine; 8,2531 And Troilus stod with Criseide, 8,2532 Bot evere among, althogh he pleide, 8,2533 Be semblant he was hevy chiered, 8,2534 For Diomede, as him was liered, 8,2535 Cleymeth to ben his parconner. 8,2536 And thus full many a bacheler, 8,2537 A thousend mo than I can sein, 8,2538 With Yowthe I sih ther wel besein 8,2539 Forth with here loves glade and blithe. 8,2540 And some I sih whiche ofte sithe 8,2541 Compleignen hem in other wise; 8,2542 Among the whiche I syh Narcise 8,2543 And Piramus, that sory were. 8,2544 The worthy Grek also was there, 8,2545 Achilles, which for love deide: 8,2546 Agamenon ek, as men seide, 8,2547 And Menelay the king also 8,2548 I syh, with many an other mo, 8,2549 Which hadden be fortuned sore 8,2550 In loves cause. And overmore 8,2551 Of wommen in the same cas, 8,2552 With hem I sih wher Dido was, 8,2553 Forsake which was with Enee; 8,2554 And Phillis ek I myhte see, 8,2555 Whom Demephon deceived hadde; 8,2556 And Adriagne hir sorwe ladde, 8,2557 For Theseuµs hir Soster tok 8,2558 And hire unkindely forsok. 8,2559 I sih ther ek among the press 8,2560 Compleignende upon Hercules 8,2561 His ferste love Deyanire, 8,2562 Which sette him afterward afyre: 8,2563 Medea was there ek and pleigneth 8,2564 Upon Jason, for that he feigneth, 8,2565 Withoute cause and tok a newe; 8,2566 Sche seide, "Fy on alle untrewe]" 8,2567 I sih there ek Deyµdamie, 8,2568 Which hadde lost the compaignie 8,2569 Of Achilles, whan Diomede 8,2570 To Troie him fette upon the nede. 8,2571 Among these othre upon the grene 8,2572 I syh also the wofull queene 8,2573 Cleopatras, which in a Cave 8,2574 With Serpentz hath hirself begrave 8,2575 Alquik, and so sche was totore, 8,2576 For sorwe of that sche hadde lore 8,2577 Antonye, which hir love hath be: 8,2578 And forth with hire I sih Tisbee, 8,2579 Which on the scharpe swerdes point 8,2580 For love deide in sory point; 8,2581 And as myn Ere it myhte knowe, 8,2582 Sche seide, "Wo worthe alle slowe]" 8,2583 The pleignte of Progne and Philomene 8,2584 Ther herde I what it wolde mene, 8,2585 How Tereuµs of his untrouthe 8,2586 Undede hem bothe, and that was routhe; 8,2587 And next to hem I sih Canace, 8,2588 Which for Machaire hir fader grace 8,2589 Hath lost, and deide in wofull plit. 8,2590 And as I sih in my spirit, 8,2591 Me thoghte amonges othre thus 8,2592 The doghter of king Priamus, 8,2593 Polixena, whom Pirrus slowh, 8,2594 Was there and made sorwe ynowh, 8,2595 As sche which deide gulteles 8,2596 For love, and yit was loveles. 8,2597 And forto take the desport, 8,2598 I sih there some of other port, 8,2599 And that was Circes and Calipse, 8,2600 That cowthen do the Mone eclipse, 8,2601 Of men and change the liknesses, 8,2602 Of Artmagique Sorceresses; 8,2603 Thei hielde in honde manyon, 8,2604 To love wher thei wolde or non. 8,2605 Bot above alle that ther were 8,2606 Of wommen I sih foure there, 8,2607 Whos name I herde most comended: 8,2608 Be hem the Court stod al amended; 8,2609 For wher thei comen in presence, 8,2610 Men deden hem the reverence, 8,2611 As thogh they hadden be goddesses, 8,2612 Of al this world or Emperesses. 8,2613 And as me thoghte, an Ere I leide, 8,2614 And herde hou that these othre seide, 8,2615 "Lo, these ben the foure wyves, 8,2616 Whos feith was proeved in her lyves: 8,2617 For in essample of alle goode 8,2618 With Mariage so thei stode, 8,2619 That fame, which no gret thing hydeth, 8,2620 Yit in Cronique of hem abydeth." 8,2621 Penolope that on was hote, 8,2622 Whom many a knyht hath loved hote, 8,2623 Whil that hire lord Ulixes lay 8,2624 Full many a yer and many a day 8,2625 Upon the grete Siege of Troie: 8,2626 Bot sche, which hath no worldes joie 8,2627 Bot only of hire housebonde, 8,2628 Whil that hir lord was out of londe, 8,2629 So wel hath kept hir wommanhiede, 8,2630 That al the world therof tok hiede, 8,2631 And nameliche of hem in Grece. 8,2632 That other womman was Lucrece, 8,2633 Wif to the Romain Collatin; 8,2634 And sche constreigned of Tarquin 8,2635 To thing which was ayein hir wille, 8,2636 Sche wolde noght hirselven stille, 8,2637 Bot deide only for drede of schame 8,2638 In keping of hire goode name, 8,2639 As sche which was on of the beste. 8,2640 The thridde wif was hote Alceste, 8,2641 Which whanne Ametus scholde dye 8,2642 Upon his grete maladye, 8,2643 Sche preide unto the goddes so, 8,2644 That sche receyveth al the wo 8,2645 And deide hirself to yive him lif: 8,2646 Lo, if this were a noble wif. 8,2647 The ferthe wif which I ther sih, 8,2648 I herde of hem that were nyh 8,2649 Hou sche was cleped Alcione, 8,2650 Which to Seyix hir lord al one 8,2651 And to nomo hire body kepte; 8,2652 And whan sche sih him dreynt, sche lepte 8,2653 Into the wawes where he swam, 8,2654 And there a Sefoul sche becam, 8,2655 And with hire wenges him bespradde 8,2656 For love which to him sche hadde. 8,2657 Lo, these foure were tho 8,2658 Whiche I sih, as me thoghte tho, 8,2659 Among the grete compaignie 8,2660 Which Love hadde forto guye: 8,2661 Bot Youthe, which in special 8,2662 Of Loves Court was Mareschal, 8,2663 So besy was upon his lay, 8,2664 That he non hiede where I lay 8,2665 Hath take. And thanne, as I behield, 8,2666 Me thoghte I sih upon the field, 8,2667 Where Elde cam a softe pas 8,2668 Toward Venus, ther as sche was. 8,2669 With him gret compaignie he ladde, 8,2670 Bot noght so manye as Youthe hadde: 8,2671 The moste part were of gret Age, 8,2672 And that was sene in the visage, 8,2673 And noght forthi, so as thei myhte, 8,2674 Thei made hem yongly to the sihte: 8,2675 Bot yit herde I no pipe there 8,2676 To make noise in mannes Ere, 8,2677 Bot the Musette I myhte knowe, 8,2678 For olde men which souneth lowe, 8,2679 With Harpe and Lute and with Citole. 8,2680 The hovedance and the Carole, 8,2681 In such a wise as love hath bede, 8,2682 A softe pas thei dance and trede; 8,2683 And with the wommen otherwhile 8,2684 With sobre chier among thei smyle, 8,2685 For laghtre was ther non on hyh. 8,2686 And natheles full wel I syh 8,2687 That thei the more queinte it made 8,2688 For love, in whom thei weren glade. 8,2689 And there me thoghte I myhte se 8,2690 The king David with Bersabee, 8,2691 And Salomon was noght withoute; 8,2692 Passende an hundred on a route 8,2693 Of wyves and of Concubines, 8,2694 Juesses bothe and Sarazines, 8,2695 To him I sih alle entendant: 8,2696 I not if he was sufficant, 8,2697 Bot natheles for al his wit 8,2698 He was attached with that writ 8,2699 Which love with his hond enseleth, 8,2700 Fro whom non erthly man appeleth. 8,2701 And overthis, as for a wonder, 8,2702 With his leon which he put under, 8,2703 With Dalida Sampson I knew, 8,2704 Whos love his strengthe al overthrew. 8,2705 I syh there Aristotle also, 8,2706 Whom that the queene of Grece so 8,2707 Hath bridled, that in thilke time 8,2708 Sche made him such a Silogime, 8,2709 That he foryat al his logique; 8,2710 Ther was non art of his Practique, 8,2711 Thurgh which it mihte ben excluded 8,2712 That he ne was fully concluded 8,2713 To love, and dede his obeissance. 8,2714 And ek Virgile of aqueintance 8,2715 I sih, wher he the Maiden preide, 8,2716 Which was the doghter, as men seide, 8,2717 Of themperour whilom of Rome; 8,2718 Sortes and Plato with him come, 8,2719 So dede Ovide the Poete. 8,2720 I thoghte thanne how love is swete, 8,2721 Which hath so wise men reclamed, 8,2722 And was miself the lasse aschamed, 8,2723 Or forto lese or forto winne 8,2724 In the meschief that I was inne: 8,2725 And thus I lay in hope of grace. 8,2726 And whan thei comen to the place 8,2727 Wher Venus stod and I was falle, 8,2728 These olde men with o vois alle 8,2729 To Venus preiden for my sake. 8,2730 And sche, that myhte noght forsake 8,2731 So gret a clamour as was there, 8,2732 Let Pite come into hire Ere; 8,2733 And forth withal unto Cupide 8,2734 Sche preith that he upon his side 8,2735 Me wolde thurgh his grace sende 8,2736 Som confort, that I myhte amende, 8,2737 Upon the cas which is befalle. 8,2738 And thus for me thei preiden alle 8,2739 Of hem that weren olde aboute, 8,2740 And ek some of the yonge route, 8,2741 Of gentilesse and pure trouthe 8,2742 I herde hem telle it was gret routhe, 8,2743 That I withouten help so ferde. 8,2744 And thus me thoghte I lay and herde. 8,2745 Cupido, which may hurte and hele 8,2746 In loves cause, as for myn hele 8,2747 Upon the point which him was preid 8,2748 Cam with Venus, wher I was leid 8,2749 Swounende upon the grene gras. 8,2750 And, as me thoghte , anon ther was 8,2751 On every side so gret presse, 8,2752 That every lif began to presse, 8,2753 I wot noght wel hou many score, 8,2754 Suche as I spak of now tofore, 8,2755 Lovers, that comen to beholde, 8,2756 Bot most of hem that weren olde: 8,2757 Thei stoden there at thilke tyde, 8,2758 To se what ende schal betyde 8,2759 Upon the cure of my sotie. 8,2760 Tho myhte I hiere gret partie 8,2761 Spekende, and ech his oghne avis 8,2762 Hath told, on that, an other this: 8,2763 Bot among alle this I herde, 8,2764 Thei weren wo that I so ferde, 8,2765 And seiden that for no riote 8,2766 An old man scholde noght assote; 8,2767 For as thei tolden redely, 8,2768 Ther is in him no cause why, 8,2769 Bot if he wolde himself benyce; 8,2770 So were he wel the more nyce. 8,2771 And thus desputen some of tho, 8,2772 And some seiden nothing so, 8,2773 Bot that the wylde loves rage 8,2774 In mannes lif forberth non Age; 8,2775 Whil ther is oyle forto fyre, 8,2776 The lampe is lyhtly set afyre, 8,2777 And is fulhard er it be queynt, 8,2778 Bot only if it be som seint, 8,2779 Which god preserveth of his grace. 8,2780 And thus me thoghte, in sondri place 8,2781 Of hem that walken up and doun 8,2782 Ther was diverse opinioun: 8,2783 And for a while so it laste, 8,2784 Til that Cupide to the laste, 8,2785 Forth with his moder full avised, 8,2786 Hath determined and devised 8,2787 Unto what point he wol descende. 8,2788 And al this time I was liggende 8,2789 Upon the ground tofore his yhen, 8,2790 And thei that my desese syhen 8,2791 Supposen noght I scholde live; 8,2792 Bot he, which wolde thanne yive 8,2793 His grace, so as it mai be, 8,2794 This blinde god which mai noght se, 8,2795 Hath groped til that he me fond; 8,2796 And as he pitte forth his hond 8,2797 Upon my body, wher I lay, 8,2798 Me thoghte a fyri Lancegay, 8,2799 Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste, 8,2800 He pulleth oute, and also faste 8,2801 As this was do, Cupide nam 8,2802 His weie, I not where he becam, 8,2803 And so dede al the remenant 8,2804 Which unto him was entendant, 8,2805 Of hem that in Avision 8,2806 I hadde a revelacion, 8,2807 So as I tolde now tofore. 8,2808 Bot Venus wente noght therfore, 8,2809 Ne Genius, whiche thilke time 8,2810 Abiden bothe faste byme. 8,2811 And sche which mai the hertes bynde 8,2812 In loves cause and ek unbinde, 8,2813 Er I out of mi trance aros, 8,2814 Venus, which hield a boiste clos, 8,2815 And wolde noght I scholde deie, 8,2816 Tok out mor cold than eny keie 8,2817 An oignement, and in such point 8,2818 Sche hath my wounded herte enoignt, 8,2819 My temples and my Reins also. 8,2820 And forth withal sche tok me tho 8,2821 A wonder Mirour forto holde, 8,2822 In which sche bad me to beholde 8,2823 And taken hiede of that I syhe; 8,2824 Wherinne anon myn hertes yhe 8,2825 I caste, and sih my colour fade, 8,2826 Myn yhen dymme and al unglade, 8,2827 Mi chiekes thinne, and al my face 8,2828 With Elde I myhte se deface, 8,2829 So riveled and so wo besein, 8,2830 That ther was nothing full ne plein, 8,2831 I syh also myn heres hore. 8,2832 Mi will was tho to se nomore 8,2833 Outwith, for ther was no plesance; 8,2834 And thanne into my remembrance 8,2835 I drowh myn olde daies passed, 8,2836 And as reson it hath compassed, 8,2837 I made a liknesse of miselve 8,2838 Unto the sondri Monthes twelve, 8,2839 Wherof the yeer in his astat 8,2840 Is mad, and stant upon debat, 8,2841 That lich til other non acordeth. 8,2842 For who the times wel recordeth, 8,2843 And thanne at Marche if he beginne, 8,2844 Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne, 8,2845 Til Augst be passed and Septembre, 8,2846 The myhty youthe he may remembre 8,2847 In which the yeer hath his deduit 8,2848 Of gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit, 8,2849 Of corn and of the wyny grape. 8,2850 And afterward the time is schape 8,2851 To frost, to Snow, to Wind, to Rein, 8,2852 Til eft that Mars be come ayein: 8,2853 The Wynter wol no Somer knowe, 8,2854 The grene lef is overthrowe, 8,2855 The clothed erthe is thanne bare, 8,2856 Despuiled is the Somerfare, 8,2857 That erst was hete is thanne chele. 8,2858 And thus thenkende thoghtes fele, 8,2859 I was out of mi swoune affraied, 8,2860 Wherof I sih my wittes straied, 8,2861 And gan to clepe hem hom ayein. 8,2862 And whan Resoun it herde sein 8,2863 That loves rage was aweie, 8,2864 He cam to me the rihte weie, 8,2865 And hath remued the sotie 8,2866 Of thilke unwise fantasie, 8,2867 Wherof that I was wont to pleigne, 8,2868 So that of thilke fyri peine 8,2869 I was mad sobre and hol ynowh. 8,2870 Venus behield me than and lowh, 8,2871 And axeth, as it were in game, 8,2872 What love was. And I for schame 8,2873 Ne wiste what I scholde ansuere; 8,2874 And natheles I gan to swere 8,2875 That be my trouthe I knew him noght; 8,2876 So ferr it was out of mi thoght, 8,2877 Riht as it hadde nevere be. 8,2878 "Mi goode Sone," tho quod sche, 8,2879 "Now at this time I lieve it wel, 8,2880 So goth the fortune of my whiel; 8,2881 Forthi mi conseil is thou leve." 8,2882 "Ma dame," I seide, "be your leve, 8,2883 Ye witen wel, and so wot I, 8,2884 That I am unbehovely 8,2885 Your Court fro this day forth to serve: 8,2886 And for I may no thonk deserve, 8,2887 And also for I am refused, 8,2888 I preie you to ben excused. 8,2889 And natheles as for the laste, 8,2890 Whil that my wittes with me laste, 8,2891 Touchende mi confession 8,2892 I axe an absolucion 8,2893 Of Genius, er that I go." 8,2894 The Prest anon was redy tho, 8,2895 And seide, "Sone, as of thi schrifte 8,2896 Thou hast ful pardoun and foryifte; 8,2897 Foryet it thou, and so wol I." 8,2898 "Min holi fader, grant mercy," 8,2899 Quod I to him, and to the queene 8,2900 I fell on knes upon the grene, 8,2901 And tok my leve forto wende. 8,2902 Bot sche, that wolde make an ende, 8,2903 As therto which I was most able, 8,2904 A Peire of Bedes blak as Sable 8,2905 Sche tok and heng my necke aboute; 8,2906 Upon the gaudes al withoute 8,2907 Was write of gold, Por reposer. 8,2908 "Lo," thus sche seide, "John Gower, 8,2909 Now thou art ate laste cast, 8,2910 This have I for thin ese cast, 8,2911 That thou nomore of love sieche. 8,2912 Bot my will is that thou besieche 8,2913 And preie hierafter for the pes, 8,2914 And that thou make a plein reles 8,2915 To love, which takth litel hiede 8,2916 Of olde men upon the nede, 8,2917 Whan that the lustes ben aweie: 8,2918 Forthi to thee nys bot o weie, 8,2919 In which let reson be thi guide; 8,2920 For he may sone himself misguide, 8,2921 That seth noght the peril tofore. 8,2922 Mi Sone, be wel war therfore, 8,2923 And kep the sentence of my lore 8,2924 And tarie thou mi Court nomore, 8,2925 Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth, 8,2926 Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth, 8,2927 Whiche of long time thou hast write. 8,2928 For this I do thee wel to wite, 8,2929 If thou thin hele wolt pourchace, 8,2930 Thou miht noght make suite and chace, 8,2931 Wher that the game is nought pernable; 8,2932 It were a thing unresonable, 8,2933 A man to be so overseie. 8,2934 Forthi tak hiede of that I seie; 8,2935 For in the lawe of my comune 8,2936 We be noght schape to comune, 8,2937 Thiself and I, nevere after this. 8,2938 Now have y seid al that ther is 8,2939 Of love as for thi final ende: 8,2940 Adieu, for y mot fro the wende." 8,2941 And with that word al sodeinly, 8,2942 Enclosid in a sterred sky, 8,2943 Venus, which is the qweene of love, 8,2944 Was take in to hire place above, 8,2945 More wiste y nought wher sche becam. 8,2946 And thus my leve of hire y nam, 8,2947 And forth with al the same tide 8,2948 Hire prest, which wolde nought abide, 8,2949 Or be me lief or be me loth, 8,2950 Out of my sighte forth he goth, 8,2951 And y was left with outen helpe. 8,2952 So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe, 8,2953 Bot only that y hadde lore 8,2954 My time, and was sori ther fore. 8,2955 And thus bewhapid in my thought, 8,2956 Whan al was turnyd in to nought, 8,2957 I stod amasid for a while, 8,2958 And in my self y gan to smyle 8,2959 Thenkende uppon the bedis blake, 8,2960 And how they weren me betake, 8,2961 For that y schulde bidde and preie. 8,2962 And whanne y sigh non othre weie 8,2963 Bot only that y was refusid, 8,2964 Unto the lif which y hadde usid 8,2965 I thoughte nevere torne ayein: 8,2966 And in this wise, soth to seyn, 8,2967 Homward a softe pas y wente, 8,2968 Wher that with al myn hol entente 8,2969 Uppon the point that y am schryve 8,2970 I thenke bidde whil y live. 8,2971 He which withinne daies sevene 8,2972 This large world forth with the hevene 8,2973 Of his eternal providence 8,2974 Hath mad, and thilke intelligence 8,2975 In mannys soule resonable 8,2976 Hath schape to be perdurable, 8,2977 Wherof the man of his feture 8,2978 Above alle erthli creature 8,2979 Aftir the soule is immortal, 8,2980 To thilke lord in special, 8,2981 As he which is of alle thinges 8,2982 The creatour, and of the kynges 8,2983 Hath the fortunes uppon honde, 8,2984 His grace and mercy forto fonde 8,2985 Uppon my bare knes y preie, 8,2986 That he this lond in siker weie 8,2987 Wol sette uppon good governance. 8,2988 For if men takyn remembrance 8,2989 What is to live in unite, 8,2990 Ther ys no staat in his degree 8,2991 That noughte to desire pes, 8,2992 With outen which, it is no les, 8,2993 To seche and loke in to the laste, 8,2994 Ther may no worldes joye laste. 8,2995 Ferst forto loke the Clergie, 8,2996 Hem oughte wel to justefie 8,2997 Thing which belongith to here cure, 8,2998 As forto praie and to procure 8,2999 Oure pes toward the hevene above, 8,3000 And ek to sette reste and love 8,3001 Among ous on this erthe hiere. 8,3002 For if they wroughte in this manere 8,3003 Aftir the reule of charite, 8,3004 I hope that men schuldyn se 8,3005 This lond amende. And ovyr this, 8,3006 To seche and loke how that it is 8,3007 Touchende of the chevalerie, 8,3008 Which forto loke, in som partie 8,3009 Is worthi forto be comendid, 8,3010 And in som part to ben amendid, 8,3011 That of here large retenue 8,3012 The lond is ful of maintenue, 8,3013 Which causith that the comune right 8,3014 In fewe contrees stant upright. 8,3015 Extorcioun, contekt, ravine 8,3016 Withholde ben of that covyne, 8,3017 Aldai men hierin gret compleignte 8,3018 Of the desease, of the constreignte, 8,3019 Wher of the poeple is sore oppressid: 8,3020 God graunte it mote be redressid. 8,3021 For of knyghthode thordre wolde 8,3022 That thei defende and kepe scholde 8,3023 The comun right and the fraunchise 8,3024 Of holy cherche in alle wise, 8,3025 So that no wikke man it dere, 8,3026 And ther fore servith scheld and spere: 8,3027 Bot for it goth now other weie, 8,3028 Oure grace goth the more aweie. 8,3029 And forto lokyn ovyrmore, 8,3030 Wher of the poeple pleigneth sore, 8,3031 Toward the lawis of oure lond, 8,3032 Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bond 8,3033 And with brocage is goon aweie, 8,3034 So that no man can se the weie 8,3035 Wher forto fynde rightwisnesse. 8,3036 And if men sechin sikernesse 8,3037 Uppon the lucre of marchandie, 8,3038 Compassement and tricherie 8,3039 Of singuler profit to wynne, 8,3040 Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne, 8,3041 And namely of divisioun, 8,3042 Which many a noble worthi toun 8,3043 Fro welthe and fro prosperite 8,3044 Hath brought to gret adversite. 8,3045 So were it good to ben al on, 8,3046 For mechil grace ther uppon 8,3047 Unto the Citees schulde falle, 8,3048 Which myghte availle to ous alle, 8,3049 If these astatz amendid were, 8,3050 So that the vertus stodyn there 8,3051 And that the vices were aweie: 8,3052 Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie, 8,3053 This londis grace schulde arise. 8,3054 Bot yit to loke in othre wise, 8,3055 Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere, 8,3056 Above alle othre on erthe hiere, 8,3057 Which hath the lond in his balance: 8,3058 To him belongith the leiance 8,3059 Of Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe; 8,3060 Undir his hond al is forth drawe 8,3061 The marchant and the laborer; 8,3062 So stant it al in his power 8,3063 Or forto spille or forto save. 8,3064 Bot though that he such power have, 8,3065 And that his myghtes ben so large, 8,3066 He hath hem nought withouten charge, 8,3067 To which that every kyng ys swore: 8,3068 So were it good that he ther fore 8,3069 First un to rightwisnesse entende, 8,3070 Wherof that he hym self amende 8,3071 Toward his god and leve vice, 8,3072 Which is the chief of his office; 8,3073 And aftir al the remenant 8,3074 He schal uppon his covenant 8,3075 Governe and lede in such a wise, 8,3076 So that ther be no tirandise, 8,3077 Wherof that he his poeple grieve, 8,3078 Or ellis may he nought achieve 8,3079 That longith to his regalie. 8,3080 For if a kyng wol justifie 8,3081 His lond and hem that beth withynne, 8,3082 First at hym self he mot begynne, 8,3083 To kepe and reule his owne astat, 8,3084 That in hym self be no debat 8,3085 Toward his god: for othre wise 8,3086 Ther may non erthly kyng suffise 8,3087 Of his kyngdom the folk to lede, 8,3088 Bot he the kyng of hevene drede. 8,3089 For what kyng sett hym uppon pride 8,3090 And takth his lust on every side 8,3091 And wil nought go the righte weie, 8,3092 Though god his grace caste aweie 8,3093 No wondir is, for ate laste 8,3094 He schal wel wite it mai nought laste, 8,3095 The pompe which he secheth here. 8,3096 Bot what kyng that with humble chere 8,3097 Aftir the lawe of god eschuieth 8,3098 The vices, and the vertus suieth, 8,3099 His grace schal be suffisant 8,3100 To governe al the remenant 8,3101 Which longith to his duite; 8,3102 So that in his prosperite 8,3103 The poeple schal nought ben oppressid, 8,3104 Wherof his name schal be blessid, 8,3105 For evere and be memorial. 8,3106 And now to speke as in final, 8,3107 Touchende that y undirtok 8,3108 In englesch forto make a book 8,3109 Which stant betwene ernest and game, 8,3110 I have it maad as thilke same 8,3111 Which axe forto ben excusid, 8,3112 And that my bok be nought refusid 8,3113 Of lered men, whan thei it se, 8,3114 For lak of curiosite: 8,3115 For thilke scole of eloquence 8,3116 Belongith nought to my science, 8,3117 Uppon the forme of rethoriqe 8,3118 My wordis forto peinte and pike, 8,3119 As Tullius som tyme wrot. 8,3120 Bot this y knowe and this y wot, 8,3121 That y have do my trewe peyne 8,3122 With rude wordis and with pleyne, 8,3123 In al that evere y couthe and myghte, 8,3124 This bok to write as y behighte, 8,3125 So as siknesse it soffre wolde; 8,3126 And also for my daies olde, 8,3127 That y am feble and impotent, 8,3128 I wot nought how the world ys went. 8,3129 So preye y to my lordis alle 8,3130 Now in myn age, how so befalle, 8,3131 That y mot stonden in here grace: 8,3132 For though me lacke to purchace 8,3133 Here worthi thonk as by decerte, 8,3134 Yit the symplesse of my poverte 8,3135 Desireth forto do plesance 8,3136 To hem undir whos governance 8,3137 I hope siker to abide. 8,3138 But now uppon my laste tide 8,3139 That y this book have maad and write, 8,3140 My muse doth me forto wite, 8,3141 And seith it schal be for my beste 8,3142 Fro this day forth to take reste, 8,3143 That y nomore of love make, 8,3144 Which many an herte hath overtake, 8,3145 And ovyrturnyd as the blynde 8,3146 Fro reson in to lawe of kynde; 8,3147 Wher as the wisdom goth aweie 8,3148 And can nought se the ryhte weie 8,3149 How to governe his oghne estat, 8,3150 Bot everydai stant in debat 8,3151 Withinne him self, and can nought leve. 8,3152 And thus forthy my final leve 8,3153 I take now for evere more, 8,3154 Withoute makynge any more, 8,3155 Of love and of his dedly hele, 8,3156 Which no phisicien can hele. 8,3157 For his nature is so divers, 8,3158 That it hath evere som travers 8,3159 Or of to moche or of to lite, 8,3160 That pleinly mai noman delite, 8,3161 Bot if him faile or that or this. 8,3162 Bot thilke love which that is 8,3163 Withinne a mannes herte affermed, 8,3164 And stant of charite confermed, 8,3165 Such love is goodly forto have, 8,3166 Such love mai the bodi save, 8,3167 Such love mai the soule amende, 8,3168 The hyhe god such love ous sende 8,3169 Forthwith the remenant of grace; 8,3170 So that above in thilke place 8,3171 Wher resteth love and alle pes, 8,3172 Oure joie mai ben endeles.