The Canterbury Tales
                       The Prologue
                      Section 1 (Fragment I, Group A)
    Here bygynneth the book of the tales of Caunterbury.
    Whan that Aueryll with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote
And bathed euery veyne in swich lycour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour,
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth                                 5
Inspired hath in euery holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the ram his half-cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye
(That slepen al the nyght with open iye)                                10
So priketh hem nature in hir corages,
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrymages
And palmeres for to seeken straunge strondes
To ferne halwes kouthe in sondry londes,
And specially from euery shyres ende                                    15
Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende
The holy blisful martir for to seke
That hem hath holpen whan that they weere seeke.
  Bifel that in that sesoun on a day
                                                          The Prologue 31

In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay                                     20
Redy to weenden on my pilgrymage
To Caunterbury with ful deuout corage,
At nyght was come into that hostelrye
Wel xxix in a compaignye
Of sondry folk, by auenture yfalle                                      25
In felaweshipe. And pilgrymes weere they alle
That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
The chambres and the stables weeren wyde
And wel we weeren esed at the beste.
And shortly whan the sonne was to reste,                                30
So hadde I spoken with hem euerichoon
That I was of hir felaweshipe anon.
And maade forward erly for to ryse                                      f.2v
To take oure wey ther as I yow deuyse.
  But nathelees while I haue tyme and space                             35
Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
Me thynketh it acordant to resoun
To telle yow al the condicioun
Of eech of hem so as it seemed me,
And whiche they weere and of what degree                                40
And eek in what array that they weere inne.
And at a knyght thanne wol I first bigynne.
  A knyght ther was, and that a worthy man,
That fro the tyme that he first bigan
To ryden out he loued chiualrye,                                        45
Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye.
Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre
And therto hadde he ryden, no man ferre,
As wel in cristendom as hethenesse --
And euere honured for his worthynesse.                                  50
At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonne.
Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne
Abouen alle nacions in Pruce.
In Lectow hadde he reysed and in Ruce,
No cristen man so ofte of his degree.                                   55
In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be
At Algizir and ryden in Belmarye.
At Lyeys was he and at Satalye
Whan they weere wonne. And in the Grete See
At many a noble ariuee hadde he bee.                                    60
At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene
And foghten for oure feyth at Tramyssene
In lystes thryes and ay slayn his foo.
This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also
Somtyme with the lord of Palatye                                        65
Agayn another hethen in Turkye --
And eueremoore he hadde a souereyn prys.
And thogh that he weere worthy, he was wys
And of his poort as meke as is a mayde.
Ne neuere yet no vileynye he sayde                                      70
In al his lyf vnto no manere wight.
He was a verray, parfit, gentil knyght.
But for to tellen yow of his array                                      f.3
Hise hors weere goode, but he ne was nat gay.
Of fustian he wered a gypoun                                            75
Al bismotered with his haubergeon,
For he was laate comen from his viage
And wente for to doon his pilgrymage.
  With hym ther was his sone, a yong squyer,
A louere and a lusty bachiler                                           80
With lokkes crulle as they weere leyd in presse.
Of xx yeer he was of age I gesse.
Of his stature he was of euene lengthe
And wonderly delyuere and of greet strengthe.
And he hadde been somtyme in chiuachye                                  85
In Flaundres, in Artoys and Picardye
And born hym wel, as in so litel space,
In hope to stonden in his lady grace.
Embrouded was he as it weere a meede
Al ful of fresshe floures white and reede.                              90
Syngynge he was or floytynge al the day.
He was as fressh as is the monthe of May.
Short was his gowne with sleues longe and wyde.
Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde.
He koude songes wel make and endite,                                    95
luste and eek daunce and wel portreye and write.
So hoote he loued that by nyghtertale
He slepte namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale.
Curteys he was, lowely and seruysable
And carf biforn his fader at the table.                                 100
  A yeman he hadde and seruantz namo
At that tyme, for hym liste ryde so.
And he was clad in coote and hood of greene.
A sheef of pecok-arwes bright and keene
Vnder his belt he bar ful thriftily.                                    105
Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly,
His arwes drowped noght with fetheres lowe.
And in his hand he bar a myghty bowe.
A not-heed hadde he with a broun visage.
Of wodecraft koude he wel al the vsage.                                 110
Vpon his arm he bar a gay bracer
And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler
And on that oother syde a gay daggere
Harneysed wel and sharp as poynt of spere;                             f.3v
A cristofre on his brest of siluer sheene;                             115
An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of greene.
A forster was he soothly as I gesse.
  Ther was also a nonne, a prioresse,
That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy;
Hir gretteste ooth was but by seint Loy.                               120
And she was clepyd madame Eglentyne.
Ful wel she soong the seruyce dyuyne
Entuned in hir nose ful semely.
And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly
After the scole of Stratford-at-the-Bowe                               125
For Frenssh of Parys was to hire vnknowe.
At mete wel ytaught was she withalle.
She leet no morsel from hir lyppes falle
Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce deepe;
Wel koude she carye a morsel and wel keepe                             130
That no drope fille vpon hir brist.
In curteisye was set muchel hir list.
Hir ouer-lyppe wyped she so cleene
That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng seene
Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draghte.                          135
Ful semely after hir mete she raghte.
And sikerly she was of greet desport
And ful plesaunt and amyable of port,
And peyned hire to countrefete chiere
Of court and been estatlich of manere                                  140
And to been holden digne of reuerence.
But for to speken of hir conscience,
She was so charitable and so pitous
She wolde wepe if that she sawe a mous
Caught in a trappe, if it weere deed or bledde.                        145
Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde
With rosted flessh or mylk and wastel-breed.
But soore wepte she if oon of hem weere deed
Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte;
And al was conscience and tendre herte.                                150
Ful semely hir wympel pynched was.
Hir nose tretez, hir eyen greye as glas,
Hir mouth ful smal and therto softe and reed,                          f.4
But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed,
It was almoost a spanne brood I trowe,                                 155
For hardily she was nat vndergrowe.
Ful fetys was hir cloke as I was war.
Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar
A peyre of bedes gauded al with greene,
And theron heeng a brooch of gold ful sheene                           160
On which was first writen a crowned A
And after Amor vincit omnia.
  Another nonne with hire hadde she,
That was hire chapeleyne, and preestes thre.
  A monk ther was, a fair for the maystrye,                            165
An outrydere that louede venerye,
A manly man to been an abbot able.
Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable.
And whanne he rood, men myghte his brydel heere
Gyngle in a whistlynge wynd as cleere                                  170
And eek as loude as dooth the chapel-belle.
There as this lord is kepere of the selle,
The rule of seint Maure or of seint Beneyt
By cause that it was oold and somdeel streyt,
This ilke monk leet oolde thynges pace                                 175
And heeld after the newe world the space.
He yaf noght of that text a pulled hen
That seith that hunterys been none holy men
Ne that a monk whan he is recchelees
Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees,                               180
This is to seyn a monk out of his cloystre;
But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre.
And I seyde his opynyon was good.
What sholde he studie and make hymseluen wood
Vpon a book in cloystre alwey to poure                                 185
Or swynke with his handes and laboure
As Austyn bit? How shal the world be serued?
Lat Austyn haue his swynk to hym reserued.
Therfore he was a prykasour aryght.
Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flyght.                       190
Of prikyng and of huntyng for the haare
Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spaare.
I saugh his sleues purfiled at the hond                                f.4v
With grys and that the fyneste of a lond.
And for to festne his hood vnder his chyn                              195
He hadde of gold wroght a ful curious pyn;
A loue-knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
His heed was balled that shoon as any glas
And eek his face as he hadde been enoynt.
He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt;                               200
Hise eyen steepe and rollynge in his heed
That stemed as a fourneys of a leed;
Hise bootes souple, his hors in greet estaat.
Now certeynly he was a fair prelat.
He was nat paale as is a forpyned goost,                               205
A fat swan loued he best of any roost.
His palfrey was as broun as any berye.
  A frere ther was, a wantowne and a merye,
A lymytour, a ful solempne man.
In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan                              210
So muche of daliaunce and fair langage.
He hadde maked ful many a mariage
Of yonge wommen at his owene cost.
Vnto his ordre he was a noble post.
Ful wel biloued and famylier was hee                                   215
With frankeleyns oueral in his contree
And eek with worthy wommen of the town
For he hadde power of confessioun,
As seyde hymself, moore than a curaat
For of his ordre he was licenciaat.                                    220
Ful swetely herde he confessioun
And plesant was his absolucioun.
He was an esy man to yeue penaunce
Ther as he wiste to haue a good pitaunce,
For vnto a poure ordre for to yeue                                     225
Is signe that a man is wel yshryue.
For if he yaf, he dorste make auaunt
He wiste that a man was repentaunt,
For many a man so hard is of his herte
He may nat weepe thogh that he soore smerte.                           230
Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres
Men moote yeue siluer to the poure freres.
His typet was ay farsed ful of knyues                                  f.5
And pynnes for to yeuen faire wyues.
And certeynly he hadde a murye noote,                                  235
Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a roote.
Of yeddynges he bar outrely the prys.
His nekke whit was as the flour-de-lys.
Therto he stroong was as a champioun.
He knew the tauernes wel in euery town                                 240
And euery hostiler and tappestere
Bet than a lazer or a beggestere,
For vnto swich a worthy man as he
Acorded nat as by his facultee
To haue with syke lazers aqueyntaunce.                                 245
It is nat honeste, it may noght auaunce
For to deelen with no swich poraille,
But al with riche and sellerys of vitaille
And oueral ther as profit sholde aryse.
Curteys he was and lowely of seruyse,                                  250
Ther was no man nowheer so vertuous.
He was the beste beggere of his hous,
And yaf a certeyn ferme for the graunt:                               252a
Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt.                          252b
For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho,                                  255
So plesant was his In principio
Yet wolde he haue a ferthyng er he wente.
His purchaas was wel bettre than his rente.
And rage he koude as it weere right a whelp.
In louedayes koude he muchel help                                     260
For there he was nat lyk a cloystrer
With a threedbare cope as is a poure scoler,                          260
But he was lyk a maister or a pope.
Of double worstede was his semycope
And rounded as a belle out of the presse.                             265
Somwhat he lypsed for his wantownesse
To make his Englyssh sweete vpon his tonge,
And in his harpyng whan that he hadde songe
Hise eyen twynkled in his heed aryght
As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght.                              270
This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd.
  A marchant was ther with a forked berd                               270
In motlee, and hye on hors he sat.                                     f.5v
Vpon his heed a Flaundryssh beuere-hat,
His bootes clasped faire and fetisly.                                  275
Hise resons he spak ful solempnely
Sownyng alwey th'encrees of his wynnyng.
He woolde the see weere kept for any thyng
Bitwixen Myddelburgh and Orewelle.
Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle;                              280
This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette.
Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette                               280
(So estaatly was he of his gouernaunce)
With his bargaynes and with his cheuysaunce.
For soothe he was a worthy man withalle;                               285
But sooth to seyn I noot how men hym calle.
  A clerc ther was of Oxenford also
That vnto logyk hadde longe ygo.
As leene was his hors as is a rake
And he was noght right fat I vndertake                                290
But looked holwe and therto sobrely.
Ful threedbaare was his ouereste courtepy                             290
For he hadde geten hym yet no benefice
Ne was so worldly for to haue office,
For hym was leuere haue at his beddes heed                            295
Twenty bookes clad in blak or reed
Of Aristotle and his philosophye
Than robes riche or fithele or gay sautrye.
But al be that he was a philosophre
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre.                                 300
But al that he myghte of his frendes hente
On bookes and on lernynge he it spente,                               300
And bisily gan for the soules preye
Of hem that yaf hym wherwith to scoleye.
Of studye took he moost cure and moost heede.                         305
Noght oo word spak he moore than was neede
And that was spoke in forme and reuerence;
And short and quyk and ful of heigh sentence,
Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche.
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.                           310
  A sergeaunt of lawe waar and wys
That often hadde been at the Parvys                                   310
Ther was also, ful ryche of excellence.                               f.6
Discreet he was and of greet reuerence.
He seemed swich, hise wordes weeren so wyse.                          315
Iustice he was ful often in assise
By patente and by pleyn commissioun.
For his science and for his heigh renoun
Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.
So greet a purchasour was nowher noon.                                320
Al was fee symple to hym in effect,
His purchasyng myghte nat been infect.                                320
Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas
And yet he seemed bisyer than he was.
In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle                               325
That from tyme of kyng William weere falle.
Therto he koude endite and make a thyng,
Ther koude no wight pynchen at his writyng,
And euery statut koude he pleyn by roote.
He rood but hoomly in a medlee coote                                  330
Girt with a ceynt of sylk with barres smale.
Of his array telle I no lenger tale.                                  330
  A frankeleyn was in his compaignye.
Whit was his berd as is the dayesye,
Of his complexcion he was sangwyn.                                    335
Wel loued he by the morwe a sop in wyn.
To lyuen in delyt was euere his wone,
For he was Epicurus owene sone
That heeld opynyon that pleyn delit
Was verray felicitee parfit.                                          340
An housholdere and that a greet was hee,
Seint Iulyan he was in his contree.                                   340
His breed, his ale was alweys after oon,
A bettre envyned man was neuere noon.
Withouten bake mete was neuere his hous                               345
Of fressh fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous
It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke.
Of alle deyntees that men koude bithynke
After the sondry sesons of the yeer
So chaunged he his mete and his soper.                                350
Ful many a fat partrych hadde he in muwe
And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe.                            350
Wo was his cook but if his sauce weere                                f.6v
Poynaunt and sharp and redy al his geere.
Hys table dormaunt in his halle alway                                 355
Stood redy couered al the longe day.
At sessions ther was he lord and sire,
Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire.
An anlaas and a gipser al of sylk
Heeng at his girdel whit as morne-mylk.                               360
A shirreue hadde he been and countour.
Was nowheer swich a worthy vauasour.
  An haberdasshere and a carpenter,
A webbe, a dyere and a tapycer,
And they weere clothed alle in oo lyueree                             365
Of a solempne and a greet fraternytee.
Ful fressh and newe hir geere apyked was.
Hir knyues weere chaped noght with bras,
But al with siluer wroght ful cleene and wel
Hir girdles and hir pouches euery del.                                370
Wel seemed eech of hem a fair burgeys
To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys.                                  370
Euerych for the wisdom that he kan
Was shaply for to been an alderman,
For catel hadde they ynogh and rente                                  375
And eek hir wyues wolde it wel assente --
And ellis certeyn they weere to blame.
It is ful fair to been yclepyd madame
And goon to vigilies al bifore
And haue a mantel realliche ybore.                                    380
  A cook they hadde with hem for the nones
To boille the chiknes with the marybones                              380
And poudre-marchaunt tart and galyngale.
Wel koude he knowe a draghte of London ale.
He koude rooste and seethe and broille and frye,                      385
Maken mortreux and wel bake a pye.
But greet harm was it as it thoughte me
That on his shyne a mormal hadde he.
For blankmanger that maade he with the beste.
  A shipman was ther wonyng fer by weste,                             390
For aught I woot he was of Dertemouthe.
He rood vpon a rouncy as he kouthe                                    390
In a gowne of faldyng to the knee.                                    f.7
A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he
Aboute his nekke vnder his arm adown.                                 395
The hoote somer hadde maad his hewe al brown.
And certeynly he was a good felawe.
Ful many a draghte of wyn hadde he drawe
Fro Burdeuxward whil that the chapman sleep.
Of nyce conscience took he no keep.                                   400
If that he faught and hadde the hyer hond,
By watre he sente hem hoom to euery lond.                             400
But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes,
His stremys and his daungers hym bisydes,
His herberwe and his moone, his lodmenage,                            405
Ther was noon swich from Hull to Cartage.
Hardy he was and wys to vndertake.
With many a tempest hadde his beerd been shake.
He knew alle the hauenes as they weere
Fro Gootlond to the Cape of Fynysteere                                410
And euery cryke in Britaigne and in Spaigne.
His barge yclepyd was the Mawdelayne.                                 410
  With vs ther was a doctour of phisyk.
In al this world ne was ther noon hym lyk
To speken of phisyk and of surgerye.                                  415
For he was grounded in astronomye
He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel
In houres by his magyk natureel;
Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent
Of hise ymages for his pacient.                                        420
He knew the cause of euery maladye,
Weere it of hoot or coold or moyste or drye                            420
And where it engendred and of what humour.
He was a verray, parfit practisour.
The cause yknowe and of his harm the roote,                            425
Anoon he yaf the sike man his boote.
Ful redy hadde he hise apothecaryes
To senden hym his drogges and his letuaryes,
For eech of hem maade oother for to wynne,
Hir frendshipe was noght newe to bigynne.                              430
Wel knew he the oolde Esculapyus
And Discorides and eek Rufus,                                          430
Olde Ypocras, Haly and Galyen                                          f.7v
Serapion, Razis and Avycen,
Auerroys, Damascien and Constantyn,                                    435
Bernard and Gatesden and Gilbertyn.
Of his diete mesurable was hee
For it was of no superfluytee,
But of greet norissynge and digestible.
His studye was but litel on the Bible.                                 440
In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al,
Lyned with taffata and with sendal.                                    440
And yet he was but esy of dispence,
He kepte that he wan in pestilence.
For gold in phisyk is a cordial,                                       445
Therfore he loued gold in special.
  A good-wyf was ther of bisyde Bathe,
But she was somdel deef and that was scathe.
Of clooth-makynge she hadde swich an haunt
She passed hem of Ipres and of Gaunt.                                 450
In al the parysshe wyf ne was ther noon
That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon.                          450
And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was shee
That she was out of alle charitee.
Hir couerchiefes ful fyne weere of grownd.                             455
I dorste swere they weyeden ten pownd
That on a Sonday weeren vpon hir heed.
Hir hosen weeren of fyn scarlet reed
Ful streyte yteyd and shoes ful moyste and newe.
Boold was hir face and fair and reed of hewe.                          460
She was a worthy womman al hir lyue.
Housbondes at chirche-dore she hadde fyue                              460
Withouten oother compaignye in yowthe--
But therof nedeth noght to speke as nowthe.
And thries hadde she been at Ierusalem.                                465
She hadde passed many a straunge strem.
At Rome she hadde been and at Boloyne,
In Galyce at seint lame and at Coloyne.
She koude muchel of wandrynge by the weye:
Gat-tothed was she soothly for to seye.                                470
Vpon an amblere esily she sat
Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hat                                   470
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe,                                   f.8
A foot-mantel aboute hir hypes large,
And on hir feet a peyre of spores sharpe.                              475
In felaweshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe.
Of remedies of loue she knew parchaunce
For she koude of that art the olde daunce.
  A good-man was ther of religioun
And was a poure person of a toun,                                      480
But riche he was of holy thoght and werk.
He was also a lerned man, a clerk                                      480
That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche.
His parisshens deuoutly wolde he teche.
Benygne he was and wonder diligent                                     485
And in aduersitee ful pacient,
And swich he was proeued ofte sythes.
Ful looth weere hym to cursen for his tythes,
But rather wolde he yeuen out of doute
Vnto his poure parisshens aboute                                       490
Of his offrynge and eek of his substaunce.
He koude in litel thyng haue suffisaunce.                              490
Wyd was his parisshe and houses fer asonder,
But he ne lafte noght for reyn ne thonder
In siknesse nor in meschief to visite                                  495
The ferreste in his parisshe muche and lyte
Vpon his feet and in his hond a staf.
This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf
That first he wroghte and afterward he taughte.
Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte                                500
And this figure he added eek therto:
That if gold ruste what sholde iren do?                                500
For if a preest be foul in whom we truste
No wonder is a lewed man to ruste;
And shame it is (if a preest take keep)                                505
A shiten sheperde and a clene sheep.
Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yiue
By his clennesse how that his sheep sholde lyue.
He sette noght his benefice to hyre
And leet his sheep encombred in the myre                               510
And ran to Londoun vnto seint Poules
To seeken hym a chauntrye for soules                                   510
Or with a breetherede to been withhoolde                               f.8v
But dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his foolde
So that the wolf ne maade it noght myscarye.                           515
He was a sheepherde and noght a mercenarye.
And thogh he hooly weere and vertuous
He was noght to synful men despitous
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
But in his techyng discreet and benygne.                               520
To drawen folk to heuene with fairnesse
By good ensample, this was his bisynesse                               520
But it weere any persone obstynaat,
Whatso he weere of heigh or lowe estaat,
Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys.                            525
A bettre preest I trowe ther nowher noon ys.
He wayted after no pomp and reuerence
Ne maked hym a spyced conscience,
But Cristes loore and hise apostles twelue
He taughte, but first he folwed it hymselue.                           530
  With hym ther was a plowman, was his broother,
That hadde ylad of donge ful many a foother,                           530
A trewe swynkere and a good was he
Lyuynge in pees and parfit charitee.
God loued he best with al his hoole herte                              535
At alle tymes thogh hym gamed or smerte
And thanne his neighebore right as hymselue.
He wolde thresshe and therto dyke and delue
For Cristes sake for euery poure wight
Withouten hyre, if it laye in his myght.                               540
His tythes payde he ful faire and wel
Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel.                               540
In a tabard he rood vpon a mere.
  Ther was also a reue and a millere,
A somonour and a pardoner also,                                        545
A maunciple and myself. Ther weere namo.
The millere was a stout carl for the nones,
Ful byg he was of brawen and eek of bones.
That proeued wel, for oueral ther he cam
At wrastlynge he wolde haue alwey the ram.                             550
He was shortshuldred, brood, a thikke knarre.
Ther was no dore that he noolde heue of harre                          550
Or breke it at a rennynge with his heed.                               f.9
His beerd as any sowe or fox was reed
And therto brood as thogh it weere a spaade.                           555
Vpon the cop right of his nose he haade
A werte and theron stood a tuft of heerys
Reede as the bristles of a sowes eerys.
Hise nose-thirles blake weere and wyde.
A swerd and a bokeler baar he by his syde.                             560
His mouth as greet was as a greet fourneys.
He was a ianglere, a golyardeys,                                       560
And that was moost of synne and harlotryes.
Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thryes,
And yet he hadde a thombe of gold pardee.                              565
A whit coote and a blew hood wered hee.
A baggepipe wel koude he blowe and sowne
And therwithal he broghte vs out of towne.
  A gentil maunciple was ther of a temple,
Of which achatours myghte take exemple                                 570
For to been wyse in byynge of vitaille,
For wheither that he payde or took by taille                           570
Algate he wayted so in his achaat
That he was ay biforn and in good staat.
Now is nat that of god a ful greet grace                               575
That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace
The wysdom of an heep of lerned men.
Of maistres hadde he mo than thryes ten
That weeren of lawe expert and curious,
Of whiche ther weere a dozeyne in that hous                            580
Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond
Of any lord that is in Engelond                                        580
To make hym lyue by his propre good
In honour dettelees, but if he weere wood,
Or lyue as scarsly as hym lyst desire,                                 585
And able for to helpen al a shire
In any caas that myghte falle or happe.
And yet this maunciple sette hir aller cappe.
  The reue was a sclendre, coleryk man.
His beerd was shaue as neigh as euer he kan,                           590
His heer was by his eerys ful rownd yshorn,
His top was dokked lyk a preest byforn.                                590
Ful longe weere hise legges and ful leene,                             f.9v
Ylik a staf ther was no calf yseene.
Wel koude he keepe a gerner and a bynne:                               595
Ther was noon auditour koude on hym wynne.
Wel wiste he by the droghte and by the reyn
The yeldynge of his seed and of his greyn.
His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye,
His swyn, his hors, his stoor and his pultrye                          600
Was hoolly in this reues gouernynge,
And by his couenant yaf the rekenynge,                                 600
Syn that his loord was twenty yeer of age.
Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage.
Ther nas baillyf, hierde nor oother hyne                               605
That he ne knew his sleyghte and his couyne.
They weere adrad of hym as of the deeth.
His wonyng was ful faire vpon an heeth,
With greene trees shadwed was his place.
He koude bettre than his lord purchace.                                610
Ful riche he was astoored pryuely.
His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly                                  610
To yeue and leene hym of his owene good
And haue a thank and yet a coote and hood.
In youthe he lerned hadde a good mister,                               615
He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter.
This reue sat vpon a wel good stot
That was a pomely gray and highte Scot.
A long surcote of pers vpon he haade
And by his syde he baar a rusty blaade.                                620
Of Northfolk was this reue of which I telle
Bisyde a town men clepyn Baldeswelle.                                  620
Tukked he was as is a frere aboute
And euere he rood the hyndreste of oure route.
   A somonour was ther with vs in that place                           625
That hadde a fyr-reed cherubynnes face,
For sawceflewm he was with eyen narwe.
And hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe,
With scaled browes blake and pyled berd.
Of his visage children weere aferd.                                    630
Ther nas quyksiluer, lytarge ne brymstoon,
Borace, ceruce ne oille of tartre noon                                 630
Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte                                 f.10
That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes whyte
Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes.                             635
Wel loued he garlek, oynons and eek lekes
And for to drynke strong wyn reed as blood.
Thanne wolde he speke and crye as he were wood.
And whan that he wel dronken hadde the wyn
Thanne wolde he speke no word but Latyn.                               640
A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre,
That he hadde lerned out of som decree,                                640
No wonder is, he herde it al the day.
And eek ye knowe wel how that a iay
Kan clepen Watte as wel as kan the pope.                               645
But whoso koude in oother thyng hym grope
Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie,
Ay questio quid iuris wolde he crye.
He was a gentil harlot and a kynde,
A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.                                650
He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
A good felawe to haue his concubyn                                     650
A twelf monthe and excusen hym at the fulle.
Ful pryuely a fynch eek koude he pulle.
And if he foond owher a good felawe                                    655
He wolde techen hym to haue noon awe
In swich caas of the ercedeknes curs
But if a mannes soule were in his purs,
For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be.
"Purs is the ercedeknes helle,' seyde he,                              660
But wel I woot he lyed right in dede.
Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man drede                                   660
For curs wol sle right as assoillyng sauyth.
And also war hym of a significauit.
In daunger hadde he at his owene gyse                                  665
The yonge gerles of the diocise
And knew hir conseil and was al hir reed.
A gerland hadde he set vpon his heed
As greet as it were for an alestake.
A bokeler hadde he maad hym of a cake.                                 670
  With hym ther rood a gentil pardoner
Of Rouncyual, his freend and his comper,                               670
That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
Ful loude he soong: "Com hyder, loue, to me.'
This somonour baar to hym a styf burdoun,                       f.10"  675
Was neuere trompe of half so greet a soun.
This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex
But smothe it heeng as dooth a stryke of flex.
By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde
And therwith he his shuldres ouerspradde,                              680
But thynne it lay by colpons oon and oon.
But hood for iolitee wered he noon                                     680
For it was trussed vp in his walet.
Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe iet,
Discheuelee saue his cappe he rood al bare.                            685
Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
A vernycle hadde he sowed vpon his cappe,
His walet biforn hym in his lappe
Bretful of pardoun comen from Rome al hoot.
A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.                                690
No berd hadde he ne neuere sholde haue,
As smothe it was as it were late yshaue.                               690
I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
But of his craft fro Berwyk into Ware
Ne was ther swich another pardoner.                                    695
For in his male he hadde a pilwebeer
Which that he seyde was oure lady veyl.
He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl
That seint Peter hadde whan that he wente
Vpon the see til Iesu Crist hym hente.                                 700
He hadde a cros of laton ful of stones
And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.                                   700
But with thise relykes whan that he foond
A poure person dwellyng vpon lond,
Vpon a day he gat hym moore moneye                                     705
Than that the person gat in monthes tweye.
And thus with feyned flaterye and iapes
He made the person and the peple his apes.
But trewely to tellen at the laste
He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.                                 710
Wel koude he rede a lesson and a storie,
But alderbest he soong an offertorie                                   710
For wel he wiste whan that soong was songe
He moste preche and wel affyle his tonge
To wynne siluer as he ful wel koude.                              f.11 715
Therfore he soong the muryerly and loude.
  Now haue I toold yow soothly in a clause
Th'estaat, th'array, the nombre and eek the cause
Why that assembled was this compaignye
In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye                                  720
That highte the Tabard, faste by the Belle.
But now is tyme to yow for to telle                                    720
How that we baren vs that ilke nyght
Whan we weere in that hostelrye alyght,
And after wol I telle of oure viage                                    725
And al the remenant of oure pilgrymage.
But first I pray yow of youre curteisye
That ye n'arette it noght my vileynye,
Though that I pleynly speke in this matere
To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere                                 730
Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely.
For this ye knowen also wel as I,                                      730
Whoso shal telle a tale after a man
He moot reherce as neigh as euere he kan
Euerich a word if it be in his charge,                                 735
Al speke he neuer so rudeliche and large,
Or ellis he moot telle his tale vntrewe
Or feyne thyng or fynde wordes newe.
He may noght spare althogh he weere his brother.
He moot as wel seye o word as another.                                 740
Crist spak hymself ful brode in holy writ
And wel ye woot no vileynye is it.                                     740
Ek Plato seith, whoso kan hym rede,
The wordes mote be cosyn to the dede.
Also I pray yow to foryeue it me                                       745
Al haue I nat set folk in hir degree
Here in this tale as that they sholde stonde.
My wit is short ye may wel vnderstonde.
  Greet cheere made oure hoost vs euerichon
And to the souper sette he vs anon.                                    750
He serued vs with vitaille at the beste,
Strong was the wyn and wel to drynke vs leste.                         750
A semely man oure hoost was withalle
For to been a marchal in an halle.
A large man he was with eyen stepe,                             f.11   755
(A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe),
Boold of his speche and wys and wel ytaught
And of manhode hym lakked right naught.
Eke therto he was right a murye man.
And after souper pleyen he bigan                                       760
And spak of murthe amonges othere thynges,
Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges,                               760
And seyde thus: "Now, lordes, trewely
Ye been to me right welcome hertely,
For by my trouthe if that I shal nat lye                               765
I seigh noght this yeer so murye a compaignye
At ones in this herberwe as is now.
Fayn wolde I doon yow myrthe wiste I how.
  "And of a myrthe I am right now bithoght
To doon yow ese and it shal coste noght.                               770
Ye goon to Caunterbury, god yow spede.
The blisful martir quyte yow youre mede.                               770
And wel I woot as ye goon by the weye
Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye,
For trewely confort ne murthe is noon                                  775
To ryde by the weye domb as stoon.
And therfore wol I maken yow desport,
As I seyde erst, and doon yow som confort.
And if yow liketh alle by oon assent
For to stonden at my iuggement                                         780
And for to werken as I shal yow seye
Tomorwe whan ye ryden by the weye,                                     780
Now by my fader soule that is deed
But ye be murye I wol yeue yow myn heed.
Hoold vp youre hondes withouten moore speche.'                         785
  Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche.
Vs thoughte it was nat worth to make it wys
And graunted hym withouten moore avys
And bade hym seye his voirdit as hym leste.
  "Lordynges,' quod he, "now herkneth for the beste.                   790
But taketh it noght I pray yow in desdeyn.
This is the poynt, to speken short and pleyn,                          790
That ech of yow to shorte with oure weye
In this viage shal tellen tales tweye
To Caunterburyward, I mene it so,                                f. 12 795
And homward he shal tellen othere two
Of auentures that whilom haue bifalle.
And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle,
That is to seyn that telleth in this cas
Tales of best sentence and moost solas,                                800
Shal haue a souper at oure aller cost
Here in this place sittynge by this post                               800
Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
And for to make yow the moore mury
I wol myself goodly with yow ryde                                      805
Right at myn owene cost and be your gyde.
And whoso wole my iuggement withseye
Shal paye al that we spende by the weye.
And if ye vouchesauf that it be so
Tel me anoon withouten wordes mo                                       810
And I wol erly shape me therfore.'
  This thyng was graunted and oure othes swore                         810
With ful glad herte. And preyden hym also
That he wolde vouchesauf for to do so
And that he wolde been oure gouernour                                  815
And of oure tales iuge and reportour,
And sette a souper at a certeyn prys,
And we wol ruled been at his deuys
In heigh and logh. And thus by oon assent
We been acorded to his iuggement.                                      820
And thervpon the wyn was fet, anoon
We dronken and to reste wente echon                                    820
Withouten any lenger taryynge.
  Amorwe whan that day bigan to sprynge
Vp roos oure hoost and was oure aller cok,                             825
And gadred vs togydres in a flok
And forth we ryden a litel moore than pas
Vnto the Wateryng-of-Seint-Thomas.
And there oure hoost bigan his hors areste
And seyde: "Lordes, herkneth if yow leste.                              830
Ye woot youre forward, and it yow recorde.
If euensong and morwesong acorde                                       830
Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale.
As euere mote I drynke wyn or ale,
Whoso be rebel to my iuggement                                  f.12v 835
Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent.
Now draweth cut er that we ferrer twynne.
He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne.
Sire knyght,' quod he, "my mayster and my lord,
Now draweth cut for that is myn acord.                                840
Cometh neer,' quod he, "my lady prioresse,
And ye, sire clerc, lat be youre shamefastnesse,                       840
Ne studieth noght. Ley hond to, euery man.'
  Anoon to drawen euery wight bigan.
And shortly for to tellen as it was,                                   845
Were it by auenture or sort or cas,
The sothe is this the cut fil to the knyght
Of which ful blithe and glad was euery wight.
And telle he moste his tale as was resoun
By forward and by composicion                                        850
As ye han herd. What nedeth wordes mo?
And whan this goode man saugh that it was so,                          850
As he that wys was and obedient
To kepe his forward by his free assent,
He seyde: "Syn I shal bigynne the game,                                855
What, welcome be the cut in goddes name.
Now lat vs ryde and herkneth what I seye.'
And with that word we ryden forth oure weye.
And he bigan with right a murye cheere
His tale anoon and seyde as ye may heere.                              860
The Knight's Tale
Here bigyneth the knyghtes tale.
Whilom as olde stories tellen vs,
Ther was a duc that highte Theseus;                                    860
Of Atthenes he was lord and gouernour
And in his tyme swich a conquerour
That gretter was ther noon vnder the sonne.                            865
Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne.
What, with his wysdom and his chiualrye
He conquered al the regne of Femenye
That whilom was ycleped Scithia;                                      f.13
And wedded the queene Ypolita                                          870
And broghte hire hom with hym in his contree
With muchel glorie and greet solempnitee,                              870
And eek hir yonge suster Emelye.
  And thus with victorie and with melodye
Lete I this noble duc to Atthenes ryde,                                875
And al his hoost in armes hym bisyde.
And certes if it nere to long to heere,
I wolde haue toold fully the manere
How wonnen was the regne of Femenye
By Theseus and by his chiualrye;                                       880
And of the grete bataille for the nones
Bitwixen Atthenes and Amazones                                        880
And how asseged was Ypolita,
The faire, hardy queene of Scithia;
And of the feste that was at hir weddynge,                             885
And of the tempest at hir hom-comynge.
But al that thyng I moot as now forbere,
I haue, god woot, a large feeld to ere
And wayke been the oxen in my plogh.
The remenant of the tale is long ynogh.                                890
I wol nat letten eek noon of this route;
Lat euery felawe telle his tale aboute                                 890
And lat se now who shal the souper wynne.
And ther I lefte I wol ayein bigynne.

    Incipit narracio

  This duc of whom I make mencion,                                     895
Whanne he was come almoost to the town
In al his wele and in his mooste pryde,
He was war as he caste his eye asyde
Wher that ther kneled in the heighe weye
A compaignye of ladyes, tweye and tweye,                               900
Ech after oother, clad in clothes blake.
But swich a cry and swich a wo they make                               900
That in this world nys creature lyuynge
That herde swich another waymentynge.
And of this cry they nolde neuere stenten                         f.13v 905
Til they the reynes of his brydel henten.
  "What folk been ye that at myn hom-comynge
Perturben so my feste with cryynge?'
Quod Theseus. "Haue ye so greet envie
Of myn honour that thus compleyne and crye?                            910
Or who hath yow mysboden or offended?
And telleth me if it may been amended                                  910
And why that ye been clothed thus in blak.'
  The eldeste lady of hem alle spak,
Whan she hadde swowned with a deedly cheere                            915
That it was routhe for to seen and heere.
She seyde: "Lord, to whom fortune hath yiuen
Victorie and as a conquerour to lyuen,
Noght greueth vs youre glorie and youre honour,
But we biseken mercy and socour.                                       920
Haue mercy on oure wo and oure distresse.
Som drope of pitee thurgh thy gentillesse                              920
Vpon vs wrecched wommen lat thow falle.
For certes, lord, ther is noon of vs alle
That she ne hath been a duchesse or a queene.                          925
Now be we caytyues as it is wel seene,
Thanked be fortune and hir false wheel
That noon estaat assureth to been weel.
Now certes, lord, to abiden your presence
Heere in this temple of the goddesse Clemence                          930
We haue been waytynge al this fourtenyght.
Now help vs, lord, syth it is in thy myght.                            930
  "I, wrecche which that wepe and waille thus,
Was whilom wyf to kyng Cappaneus
That starf at Thebes, cursed be the day.                               935
And alle we that been in this array
And maken al this lamentacioun,
We losten alle oure housbondes at that town
Whil that the sege theraboute lay.
And yet now the olde Creon, weylaway                                   940
That lord is now of Thebes the citee,
Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee,                                       940
He for despit and for his tyrannye,
To doon the dede bodyes vileynye
Of alle oure lordes whiche that been slawe                         f.14 945
Hath alle the bodyes on an heep ydrawe
And wol nat suffren hem by noon assent
Neyther to been yburyed nor ybrent,
But maketh houndes ete hem in despit.'
  And with that word withouten moore respit                            950
They fillen gruf and cryden pitously:
"Haue on vs wrecched wommen som mercy                                  950
And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte.'
  This gentil duc doun from his courser sterte
With herte pitous, whan he herde hem speke.                            955
Hym thoughte that his herte wolde breke
Whan he saugh hem so pitous and so maat
That whilom weren of so greet estaat.
And in hise armes he hem alle vp hente
And hem conforteth in ful good entente,                                960
And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knyght,
He wolde doon so ferforthly his myght                                  960
Vpon the tiraunt Creon hem to wreke
That al the peple of Grece sholde speke
How Creon was of Theseus yserued                                       965
As he that hadde his deeth ful wel disserued.
  And right-anoon withouten moore abood
His baner he desplayeth and forth rood
To Thebesward, and al his oost bisyde.
No neer Atthenes wolde he go ne ryde                                   970
Ne take his ese fully half a day,
But onward in his wey that nyght he lay.                               970
And sente anoon Ypolita the queene
And Emelye, hir yonge suster sheene,
Vnto the town of Atthenes to dwelle;                                   975
And forth he ryt. Ther nys namoore to telle.
The rede statue of Mars with spere and targe
So shyneth in his white baner large
That alle the feeldes glitren vp and doun;
And by his baner born was his penoun                                   980
Of gold ful ryche, in which ther was ybete
The mynotaur which that he wan in Crete.                               980
Thus ryt this duc, thus ryt this conquerour,
And in his oost of chiualrye the flour,
Til that he cam to Thebes and alighte                            f.14v 985
Faire in a feeld ther as he thoghte fighte.
  But shortly for to speken of this thyng,
With Creon which that was of Thebes kyng
He faught and slow hym manly as a knyght
In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flyght.                       990
And by assaut he wan the citee after
And rente adoun bothe wal and sparre and rafter.                       990
And to the ladyes he restored agayn
The bones of hir freendes that were slayn
To doon obsequies as was tho the gyse.                                 995
But it weere al to long for to deuyse
The grete clamour and the waymentynge
That the ladyes made at the brennynge
Of the bodies, and the grete honour
That Theseus the noble conquerour                                      100o
Dooth to the ladys whan they from hym wente;
But shortly for to telle is myn entente.                               100o
  Whan that this worthy duc, this Theseus,
Hath Creon slayn and wonne Thebes thus,
Stille in that feeld he took al nyght his reste,                       1005
And dide with al the contree as hym leste.
To ransake in the taas of bodies dede
Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede
The pilours diden bisynesse and cure
After the bataille and disconfiture.                                   1010
And so bifel in the taas they founde,
Thurghgirt with many a greuous, blody wownde,                          1010
Two yonge knyghtes liggynge by and by,
Bothe in oon armes wroght ful richely.
Of whiche two Arcita highte that oon                                   1015
And that oother knyght highte Palamon.
Nat fully quyk ne fully deed they weere.
But by hir cote-armures and by hir geere
The heraudes knewe hem best in special
As they that weren of the blood roial                                  1020
Of Thebes and of sustren two yborn.
Out of the taas the pilours han hem torn                               1020
And han hem caryed softe vnto the tente
Of Theseus, and he ful soone hem sente
To Atthenes to dwellen in prisoun                               f.15v 1025
Perpetuelly. He nolde no raunsoun.
And whan this worthy duc hath thus ydoon,
He took his oost and hom he ryt anoon
With laurer corouned as a conquerour.
And there he lyueth in ioye and in honour                              1030
Terme of his lyf. What nedeth wordes mo?
And in a tour in angwissh and in wo                                    1030
Dwellen this Palamon and eek Arcite
For eueremoore. Ther may no gold hem quyte.
  This passeth yeer by yeer and day by day                             1035
Til it fil ones in a morwe of May
That Emelye, that fairer was to seene
Than is the lilie vpon his stalke greene
And fressher than the May with floures newe,
For with the rose colour stroof hir hewe                               1040
(I noot which was the fairer of hem two),
Er it were day, as was hir wone to do,                                1040
She was arysen and al redy dight
For May wol haue no slogardye a nyght.
The seson pryketh euery gentil herte                                  1045
And maketh it out of his sleep to sterte,
And seith: "Arys and do thyn obseruance.'
This maketh Emelye haue remembrance
To doon honour to May and for to ryse.
Yclothed was she fressh for to deuyse;                                1050
Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse
Bihynde hir bak, a yerde long I gesse.                                1050
And in the gardyn at the sonne vpriste
She walketh vp and doun, and as hir liste
She gadreth floures party white and rede                              1055
To make a subtil gerland for hir hede.
And as an aungel heuenysshly she soong.
  The grete tour that was so thikke and strong,
Which of the castel was the chief dongeon
(Ther as the knyghtes weren in prison                                 1060
Of whiche I tolde yow and tellen shal),
Was euene ioynant to the gardyn wal                                   1060
Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyyng.
Bright was the sonne and cleer in that mornyng.
And Palamon, this woful prisoner,                               f. 15v 1065
As was his wone by leue of his gailler
Was risen and romed in a chambre an heigh,
In which he al the noble citee seigh
And eek the gardyn ful of braunches greene,
Ther as the fresshe Emelye the sheene                                 1070
Was in hir walk and romed vp and down.
  This sorweful prisoner, this Palamon,                               1070
Gooth in the chambre romyng to and fro
And to hymself compleynyng of his wo
That he was born. Ful ofte he seyde allas.                            1075
And so bifel by auenture or cas
That thurgh a wyndow, thikke of many a barre
Of iren greet and square as any sparre,
He caste his eye vpon Emelya
And therwithal he bleynte and cryde "A',                              1080
As thogh he stongen weere vnto the herte.
  And with that cry Arcite anoon vp sterte                            1080
And seyde: "Cosyn myn, what eyleth thee
That art so pale and deedly on to see?
Why cridestow? Who hath thee doon offence?                            1085
For goddes loue tak al in pacience
Oure prison, for it may noon oother be:
Fortune hath yeuen vs this aduersitee.
Som wikked aspect or disposicion
Of Saturne by som constellacion                                       1090
Hath yeuen vs this. Althogh we hadde it sworn,
So stood the heuene whan that we were born.                           1090
We mote endure it. This is the short and playn.'
  This Palamon answerde and seyde agayn:
"Cosyn, for sothe of this opinioun                                    1095
Thow hast a vayn ymaginacion.
This prison caused me noght to crye.
But I was hurt right now thurghout myn iye
Into myn herte, that wol my bane be.
The fairnesse of that lady that I se                                  1100
Yond in the gardyn romen to and fro
Is cause of al my cryyng and my wo.                                   1100
I noot wher she be womman or goddesse,
But Venus is it soothly as I gesse.'
And therwithal on knees down he fil                             f.16  1105
And seyde: "Venus, if it be thy wil
Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure
Bifore me, sorweful, wrecched creature,
Out of this prison help that we may scape.
And if so be my destynee be shape                                     1110
By eterne word to dyen in prison,
Of oure lynage haue som compassion                                    1110
That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye.'
  And with that word Arcite gan espye
Wher as this lady romed to and fro.                                   1115
And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so
That if that Palamon was wounded soore,
Arcite is hurt as muche as he or moore.
And with a syk he seyde pitously:
"The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly                               1120
Of hir that rometh in the yonder place.
And but I haue hir mercy and hir grace                                1120
That I may seen hir at the leeste weye,
I nam but deed. Ther nys namoore to seye.'
  This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde,                             1125
Despitously he loked and answerde:
"Wheither seistow this in ernest or in pley?'
  "Nay,' quod Arcite, "in ernest by my fey.
God help me so, me list ful yuele pleye.'
  This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye.                           1130
"It were to thee,' quod he, "no greet honour
For to be fals ne for to be traytour                                  1130
To me that am thy cosyn and thy brother
Ysworn ful depe, and ech of vs til oother,
That neuere for to dyen in the peyne                                  1135
Til that the deeth departe shal vs tweyne
Neither of vs in loue to hyndre oother
Ne in noon oother caas, my leeue brother.
But that thow sholdest trewely forthre me
In euery caas, as I shal forthren thee,                               1140
This was thyn ooth and myn also certeyn.
I woot right wel thow darst it nat withseyn.                          1140
Thus artow of my conseil out of doute.
And now thow woldest falsly been aboute
To loue my lady, whom I loue and serue                        f.16'   1145
And euere shal til that myn herte sterue.
Now certes, false Arcite, thow shalt nat so.
I loued hir first and tolde thee my wo
As to my conseil and my brother sworn
To forthre me, as I haue told biforn.                                 1150
For which thow art ybounden as a knyght
To helpe me, if it laye in thy myght,                                 1150
Or ellis artow fals I dar wel sayn.'
  This Arcite ful proudly spak agayn:
"Thow shalt,' quod he, "be rather fals than I.                        1155
And thow art fals I telle thee outrely.
For paramour I loued hire first er thow.
What wiltow seyn? Thow woost nat yet now
Wheither she be a womman or goddesse.
Thyn is affeccion of holynesse                                        1160
And myn is loue as to a creature.
For which I tolde thee myn auenture                                   1160
As to my cosyn and my brother sworn.
I pose that thow louedest hir biforn,
Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe                                  1165
That who shal yeue a louere any lawe?
Loue is a gretter lawe by my pan
Than may be yeue to any erthely man.
And therfore posityf lawe and swich decree
Is broke al day for loue in ech degree.                               1170
A man moot nedes loue maugree his heed.
He may nat fleen it thogh he sholde be deed,                          1170
Al be she mayde, wydwe or ellis wyf.
And eek it is nat likly al thy lyf
To stonden in hir grace. Namoore shal I.                              1175
For wel thow woost thyself verraily
That thow and I been dampned to prisoun
Perpetuelly. Vs gayneth no raunsoun.
We stryue as dide the houndes for the boon:
They foghte al day and yet hir part was noon.                         1180
Ther cam a kyte whil that they were so wrothe
That bar awey the boon bitwix hem bothe.                              1180
And therfore at the kynges court, my brother,
Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother.
Loue if thee lest, for I loue and ay shal.                          f.17 1185
And soothly, leue brother, this is al.
Heere in this prison moote we endure
And euerich of vs take his auenture.'
  Greet was the stryf and long bitwix hem tweye,
If that I hadde leyser for to seye.                                   1190
But to th'effect. It happed on a day,
To telle it yow as shortly as I may,                                  1190
A worthy duc that highte Parotheus,
That felawe was vnto duc Theseus
Syn thilke day that they were children lyte,                          1195
Was come to Atthenes his felawe to visite
And for to pleye as he was wont to do.
For in this world he loued no man so,
And he loued hym as tendrely agayn.
So wel they loued, as olde bookes sayn,                               1200
That whan that oon was deed, soothly to telle
His felawe wente and soghte hym down in helle.                        1200
But of that storie list me noght to write.
Duc Parotheus loued wel Arcite
And hadde hym knowe at Thebes yeer by yere.                           1205
And finally at requeste and prayere
Of Parotheus, withouten any raunson
Duc Theseus hym leet out of prison
Frely to goon wher that hym liste oueral
In swich a gyse as I yow tellen shal.                                 1210
This was the forward, pleynly for t'endite,
Bitwixe Theseus and hym Arcite                                        1210
That if so weere that Arcite weere yfounde
Euere in his lyf by day or nyght or stounde
In any contree of this Theseus                                        1215
And he weere caught, it was acorded thus
That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed.
Ther nas noon oother remedye ne reed,
But taketh his leue and homward he hym spedde.
Lat hym be war, his nekke lyth to wedde.                              1220
  How greet a sorwe suffreth now Arcite.
The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte.                          1220
He wepeth, wayleth, cryeth pitously.
To sleen hymself he wayteth pryuely.
He seyde: "Allas the day that I was born.                        f.17v 1225
Now is my prison worse than biforn.
Now is me shape eternally to dwelle
Noght in purgatorie, but in helle.
Allas that euere knew I Parotheus,
For ellis hadde I dwelled with Theseus                                1230
Yfettred in his prison eueremo.
Thanne hadde I been in blisse and nat in wo.                          1230
Oonly the sighte of hir whom that I serue,
Thogh that I neuere hir grace may disserue,
Wolde haue suffised right ynogh for me.                               1235
  O deere cosyn Palamon,' quod he,
"Thyn is the victorie of this auenture.
Ful blisfully in prisoun maystow dure.
In prison? Nay certes but in paradys.
Wel hath fortune yturned thee the dys                                 1240
That hast the sighte of hir, and I th'absence.
For possible is syn thow hast hire presence                           1240
And art a knyght, a worthy and an able,
That by som caas syn fortune is chaungeable
Thow mayst to thy desir somtyme atteyne.                              1245
But I, that am exiled and bareyne
Of alle grace and in so greet despeyr
That ther nys erthe, water, fyr ne eyr
Ne creature that of hem maked is
That may me helpe or do confort in this,                              1250
Wel oghte I sterue in wanhope and distresse.
Farwel my lyf, my lust and my gladnesse.                              1250
  "Allas why pleynen folk so in commune
On purueiance of god or of fortune,
That yeueth hem ful ofte in many a gyse                               1255
Wel bettre than they kan hemself deuyse?
Som man desireth for to haue richesse
That cause is ofte of his moerdre or gret siknesse.
And som man wolde out of his prison fayn
That in his hous is of his meynee slayn.                              1260
Infinite harmes been in this matere.
We woot nat what thyng that we prayen heere.                          1260
We fare as he that dronke is as a mous:
A dronke man woot wel he hath an hous,
But he noot which the righte wey is thider;                       f.18 1265
And to a dronke man the wey is slider.
And certes in this world so faren we:
We seken faste after felicitee,
But we goon wrong ful ofte trewely.
Thus may we seyn alle, and nameliche I                                1270
That wende and hadde a greet opinion
That if I myghte scapen fro prison                                    1270
Thanne hadde I been in ioye and parfit heele.
Ther now I am exiled fro my wele
Syn that I may nat seen yow, Emelie,                                  1275
I nam but deed. Ther nys no remedie.'
  Vpon that oother syde Palamon,
Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon,
Swich sorwe he maketh that the grete tour
Resowneth of his yowlyng and clamour.                                 1280
The pure fettres of his shynes grete
Were of his bittre, salte teeris wete.                                1280
"Allas,' quod he, "Arcita, cosyn myn,
Of al oure stryf, god woot, the fruyt is thyn.
Thow walkest now in Thebes at thy large                               1285
And of my wo thow yeuest litel charge.
Thow mayst, syn thou hast wisdom and manhede,
Assemblen al the folk of oure kynrede
And make a werre so sharp on this citee
That by som auenture or som tretee                                    1290
Thow mayst haue hire to lady and to wyf,
For whom that I moste nedes lese my lyf.                              1290
For as by wey of possibilitee
Sith thow art at thy large of prison free
And art a lord, greet is thyn auantage                                1295
Moore than is myn that sterue her in a cage.
For I moot wepe and waille whil I lyue
With al the wo that prison may me yeue,
And eek with peyne that loue me yeueth also
That doubleth al my torment and my wo.'                               1300
  Therwith the fyr of ialousie vp sterte
Withinne his brest and hente hym by the herte                         1300
So woodly that he lyk was to byholde
The boxtree or the asshen dede and colde.
Thanne seyde he: "O crewel goddes that gouerne                f.18v 1305
This world with byndyng of youre word eterne,
And writen in the table of atthamaunt
Youre parlement and youre eterne graunt,
What is mankynde moore vnto yow holde
Than is the sheep that rowketh in the folde?                          1310
For slayn is man right as another beest
And dwelleth eek in prison and arrest                                  1310
And hath siknesse and greet aduersitee --
And ofte tymes giltlees pardee.
  "What gouernance is in this prescience                               1315
That giltlees tormenteth innocence?
And yet encreeceth this al my penance
That man is bounden to his obseruance
For goddes sake to letten of his wille
Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille.                                 1320
And whan a beest is deed it hath no peyne.
But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyne                           1320
Thogh in this world he haue care and wo.
Withouten doute it moot stonden so.
The answere of this lete I to diuynys,                                 1325
But wel I woot that in this world greet pyne is.
Allas, I se a serpent or a theef
That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef
Goon at his large and wher hym lust may turne.
But I moot been in prison thurgh Saturne                             1330
And eek thurgh luno, ialous and eek wood,
That hath destroyed wel neigh al the blood                             1330
Of Thebes with his waste walles wyde.
And Venus sleeth me on that oother syde
For ialousie and feere of hym Arcite.'                                 1335
  Now wol I stynte of Palamon a lite
And lete hym in his prison stille dwelle,
And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle.
  The somer and the nyghtes longe
Encreecen doublewise the peynes stronge                              1340
Bothe of the louere and the prisoner.
I noot which hath the sorwefuller myster.                              1340
For soothly for to seyn this Palamon
Perpetuelly is dampned to prison,
In cheynes and in fettres to been deed.                           f.19 1345
And Arcite is exiled vpon his heed
For eueremo as out of that contree,
Ne neuere mo ne shal his lady see.
Yow loueris, axe I now this question:
Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamon?                                 1350
That oon may seen his lady day by day,
But in prison moot he dwelle alway.                                    1350
That oother where hym list may ride or go,
But seen his lady shal he neuere mo.
Now demeth as yow list, ye that kan,                                   1355
For I wol telle forth as I bigan.
  Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was,
Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde allas,
For seen his lady shal he neuere mo.
And shortly to concluden al his wo,                                    1360
So muchel sorwe hadde neuere creature
That is or shal whil that the world may dure.                          1360
His sleep, his mete, his drynke is hym biraft
That leene he weex and drye as is a shaft,
Hise eyen holwe and grisly to biholde,                                 1365
His hewe falow and pale as asshen colde.
And solitarie he was and euere alloone,
And waillynge al the nyght, makynge his moone.
And if he herde soong or instrument,
Thanne wolde he wepe, he myghte nat be stent.                          1370
So feble eek were his spiritz and so lowe
And chaunged so that no man koude knowe                                1370
His speche nor his voys thogh men it herde.
And in his gere for al the world he ferde
Nat oonly lyk the loueris maladye                                      1375
Of Hereos, but rather lyk manye
Engendred of humour malencolyk
Biforn his celle fantastyk.
And shortly turned was al vp-so-down
Bothe habit and eek disposicioun                                       1380
Of hym, this woful louere, daun Arcite.
  What sholde I al day of his wo endite?                               1380
Whanne he endured hadde a yeer or two
This cruel torment and this peyne and wo
At Thebes in his contree, as I seyde,                            f.19v 1385
Vpon a nyght in sleep as he hym leyde
Hym thoughte how that the wynged god Mercurye
Biforn hym stood and bad hym to be murye.
His slepy yerde in honde he bar vprighte,
An hat he wered vpon his herys brighte.                                1390
Arrayed was this god as he took keep
As he was whan that Argus took his sleep.                              1390
And seyde hym thus: "To Atthenes shaltow wende.
Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende.'
  And with that word Arcite wook and sterte.                           1395
"Now trewely how sore that me smerte,'
Quod he, "to Atthenes right now wol I fare,
Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare
To se my lady that I loue and serue.
In hir presence I recche nat to sterue.'                               1400
  And with that word he caughte a greet mirour
And saugh that chaunged was al his colour                              1400
And saugh his visage al in another kynde.
And right-anoon it ran hym in his mynde
That sith his face was so disfigured                                   1405
Of maladie the which he hadde endured,
He myghte wel if that he bar hym lowe
Lyue in Atthenes eueremoore vnknowe
And seen his lady wel ny day by day.
And right-anoon he chaunged his array                                  1410
And cladde hym as a poure laborer.
And al allone, saue oonly a squyer                                     1410
That knew his pryuetee and al his cas
Which was disgised pourely as he was,
To Atthenes is he goon the nexte way.                                  1415
And to the court he wente vpon a day
And at the gate he profreth his seruyse
To drugge and drawe whatso men wol deuyse.
And shortly of this matere for to seyn
He fil in office with a chambreleyn                                    1420
The which that dwellyng was with Emelye,
For he was wys and koude soone espye                                   1420
Of euery seruant which that serueth here.
Wel koude he hewen wode and water bere,
For he was yong and myghty for the nones                      f.20 1425
And therto he was strong and byg of bones
To doon what any wight kan hym deuyse.
A yeer or two he was in this seruyse,
Page of the chambre of Emelie the brighte,
And Philostrate he seyde that he highte.                               1430
  But half so wel biloued a man as he
Ne was ther neuere in court of his degree.                             1430
He was so gentil of condicion
That thurghout al the court was his renon.
They seiden that it were a charitee                                    1435
That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree
And putten hym in worshipful seruyse
Ther as he myghte his vertu excercise.
And thus withinne a while his name is spronge,
Bothe of his dedes and his goode tonge,                                1440
That Theseus hath taken hym so ner
That of his chambre he made hym a squier                               1440
And gaf hym gold to mayntene his degree.
And eek men broghte hym out of his contree
Fro yeer to yeer ful pryuely his rente,                                1445
But honestly and sleighly he it spente
That no man wondred how that he it hadde.
And thre yeer in this wise his lyf he ladde
And bar hym so in pees and ek in werre
Ther was no man that Theseus hath derre.                               1450
And in this blisse lete I now Arcite
And speke I wole of Palamon a lite.                                    1450
  In derknesse and horrible and strong prison
This seuen yeer hath seten Palamon
Forpyned, what for wo and for distresse.                               1455
Who feeleth double soor and heuynesse
But Palamon, that loue destreyneth so,
That wood out of his wit he gooth for wo
And eek therto he is a prisoner
Perpetuelly, nat oonly for a yer?                                      1460
Who koude ryme in Englissh proprely
His martirdom? For sothe it am noght I.                                1460
Therfore I passe as lightly as I may.
  It fil that in that seuenthe yeer of May
The thridde nyght, as olde bokes seyn                           f.20v 1465
That al this storie tellen moore pleyn,
(Were it by auenture or destynee
As whan a thyng is shapen it shal be),
That soone after the mydnyght Palamon
By helpyng of a freend brak his prison                                 1470
And fleeth the citee faste as he may go.
For he hadde yeue his gailler drynke so                                1470
Of a clarree maad of certeyn wyn
With nercotikes and opye of Thebes fyn
That al that nyght, thogh that men wolde hym shake,                    1475
The gailler sleep; he myghte noght awake.
And thus he fleeth as faste as euere he may.
The nyght was short and faste by the day
That nedes cost he moste hymseluen hyde,
And til a groue faste therbisyde                                       1480
With dreedful foot thanne stalketh Palamon.
For shortly this was his opynyon                                       1480
That in that groue he wolde hym hyde al day
And in the nyght thanne wolde he take his way
To Thebesward, his freendes for to preye                               1485
On Theseus to helpe hym to werreye.
And shortly outher he wolde lese his lyf
Or wynnen Emelie vnto his wyf.
This is th'effect and his entente pleyn.
  Now wol I turne to Arcite ageyn                                      1490
That litel wiste how neigh that was his care
Til that fortune hadde broght hym in the snare.                        1490
  The bisy larke, messager of day,
Salueth in hir song the morwe gray,
And firy Phebus riseth vp so brighte                                   1495
That al the orient laugheth of the lighte,
And with his stremes dryeth in the greues
The siluer dropes hangynge on the leues.
And Arcita, that in the court roial
With Theseus is squyer principal,                                      1500
Is risen and looketh on the murye day.
And for to doon his obseruance to May                                  1500
Remembrynge on the point of his desir,
He on a courser startlynge as the fir
Is riden into the feldes hym to pleye                              f.211505
Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye.
And to the groue of which that I yow tolde
By auenture his wey he gan to holde
To maken hym a gerland of the greues,
Were it of wodebynde or hawethorn leues.                              1510
And loude he soong ayein the sonne shene:
"May, with alle thy floures and thy grene                             1510
Welcome be thow, faire, fresshe May,
In hope that I som grene gete may.'
And from his courser with a lusty herte                               1515
Into the groue ful hastily he sterte
And in a path he rometh vp and doun
Ther as by auenture this Palamon
Was in a bussh that no man myghte hym se,
For soore afered of his deeth was he.                                 1520
Nothyng knew he that it was Arcite;
God woot, he wolde haue trowed it ful lite.                           1520
But sooth is seyd go sithen many yeris:
That feeld hath eyen and the wode hath erys.
It is ful fair a man to bere hym euene                                1525
For al day meeten men at vnset steuene.
Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe
That was so neigh to herknen al his sawe.
For in the bussh he sitteth now ful stille.
  Whan that Arcite hadde romed al his fille                           1530
And songen al the roundel lustily,
Into a studie he fil sodeynly                                         1530
As doon thise louerys in hir queynte gerys:
Now in the crop, now down in the brerys,
Now vp, now down, as boket in a welle.                                1535
Right as the Friday soothly for to telle
Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste,
Right so kan gery Venus ouercaste
The hertes of hir folk. Right as hir day
Is gerful, right so chaungeth she array.                              1540
Selde is the Friday al the wike ylike.
  Whan that Arcite hadde songe, he gan to syke                        1540
And sette hym down withouten any moore:
"Allas,' quod he, "that day that I was bore.
How longe, Iuno, thurgh thy crueltee                           f.21v 15
Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee?
Allas ybroght is to confusion
The blood roial of Cadme and Amphion.
Cadmus, which that was the firste man
That Thebes bulte and first bigan                                     1550
And of the citee first was crowned kyng,
Of his lynage am I and his ofspryng                                   1550
By verray ligne as of the stok roial.
And now I am so caytyf and so thral
That, he that is my mortal enemy,                                     1555
I serue hym as his squyer pourely.
And yet dooth Iuno me wel moore shame
For I dar noght biknowe myn owen name.
But ther as I was wont to highte Arcite
Now highte I Philostrate, noght worth a myte.                         1560
Allas thow felle Mars, allas luno,
Thus hath youre ire oure lynage al fordo                              1560
Saue oonly me and wrecched Palamon
That Theseus martireth in prison.
And ouer al this to sleen me outrely                                  1565
Loue hath his firy dart so brennyngly
Ystiked thurgh my trewe, careful herte
That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte.
Ye sleen me with youre eyen, Emelye,
Ye been the cause wherfore that I dye.                                1570
Of al the remenant of myn oother care
Ne sette I noght the mountaunce of a tare                             1570
So that I koude doon aught to your plesaunce.'
And with that word he fil down in a traunce
A longe tyme, and afterward he vp sterte.                             1575
  This Palamon, that thoughte that thurgh his herte
He felte a coold swerd sodeynly glyde,
For ire he quook; no lenger wolde he byde.
And whan that he had herd Arcites tale,
As he were wood with face deed and pale                               1580
He stirte hym vp out of the buskes thikke
And seyde: "Arcite, false traytour wikke,                             1580
Now artow hent that louest my lady so
For whom that I haue al this peyne and wo,
And art my blood and to my conseil sworn                       f.22  1585
As I ful ofte haue toold thee her-biforn,
And hast byiaped here duc Theseus
And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus.
I wol be deed or ellis thow shalt dye.
Thow shalt noght loue my lady Emelye,                                 1590
But I wol loue hir oonly and namo.
For I am Palamon thy mortal foo.                                      1590
And thogh that I no wepne haue in this place
But out of prison am astert by grace,
I drede noght that outher thow shalt dye                              1595
Or thow ne shalt noght louen Emelye.
Chees which thow wolt, or thow shalt noght asterte.'
  This Arcite with ful despitous herte,
Whan he hym knew and hadde his tale herd,
As fiers as leon pulled out his swerd                                 1600
And seyde thus: "By god that sitteth aboue,
Nere it that thow art syk and wood for loue                           1600
And eek that thow no wepne hast in this place,
Thow sholdest neuere out of this groue pace
That thow ne sholdest dyen of myn hond,                               1605
For I diffye the seuretee and the bond
Which that thow seist that I haue maad to thee.
What, verray fool, thynk wel that loue is free!
And I wol loue hire maugree al thy myght.
  "But for as muche as thow art a worthy knyght                        1610
And wilnest to darreyne hire by bataille,
Haue here my trouthe: tomorwe I nyl nat faille                         1610
Withouten wityng of any oother wight
That here I wol be founden, as a knyght,
And bryngen harneys right ynogh for thee,                              1615
And chees the beste and leef the worste to me.
And mete and drynke this nyght wol I brynge
Ynogh for thee and clothes for thy beddynge.
And if so be that thow my lady wynne
And sle me in this wode ther I am inne,                                1620
Thow mayst wel haue thy lady as for me.'
  This Palamon answerde: "I graunte it thee.'                          1620
And thus they been departed til amorwe,
Whan ech of hem hadde leyd his feith to borwe.
    O Cupide out of alle charitee                                 f.22v 1625
  O regne that wolde no felawe haue to thee,
Ful sooth is seyd that loue ne lordshipe
Wol noght his thankes haue no felaweshipe.
Wel fynden that Arcite and Palamoun.
  Arcite is riden anoon vnto the town.                                 1630
And on the morwe er it were dayes lyght
Ful priuely two harneys hath he dyght,                                 1630
Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne
The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne.
And on his hors allone as he was born                                  1635
He carieth al this harneys hym biforn.
And in the groue at tyme and place yset
This Arcite and this Palamon been met.
  To chaungen gan the colour in hir face,
Right as the hunterys in the regne of Trace                            1640
That stonden at the gappe with a spere,
Whanne hunted is the leon or the bere;                                 1640
And hereth hym come russhynge in the greues
(And breketh bothe bowes and the leues)
And thynketh: "Here cometh my mortal enemy.                            1645
Withoute faille he moot be deed or I.
For outher I moot sleen hym at the gappe
Or he moot sle me if that me myshappe.'
So ferden they in chaungyng of hir hewe
As fer as euerich oother of hem knewe.                                 1650
Ther nas no good day ne no saluynge,
But streight withouten word or rehersynge                              1650
Euerich of hem heelp for to armen oother
As frendly as he weere his owene brother.
And after that with sharpe speres stronge                              1655
They foynen ech at oother wonder longe.
Thou myghtest wene that this Palamon
In his fightyng were a wood leon.
And as a crewel tygre was Arcite.
As wilde boores gonnen they to smyte                                   1660
That frothen whit as foom, for ire wood.
Vp to the anclees foghte they in hir blood.                            1660
And in this wise I lete hem fightyng dwelle,
And forth I wole of Theseus yow telle.
  The destynee, ministre general                                 f.23  1665
That executeth in the world oueral
The purueiance that god hath seyn biforn,
So stroong it is that thogh the world hadde sworn
The contrarie of a thyng by ye or nay,
Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day                                    1670
That falleth nat eft withinne a thousand yeer.
For certeinly oure appetites heer,                                     1670
Be it of werre or pees or hate or loue,
Al is this ruled by the sighte aboue.
This mene I now by myghty Theseus                                      1675
That for to hunten is so desirus,
And namely at the grete hert in May,
That in his bed ther daweth hym no day
That he nys clad and redy for to ryde
With hunte and horn and houndes hym bisyde.                            1680
For in his huntyng hath he swich delit
That it is al his ioye and appetit                                     1680
To been hymself the grete hertes bane,
For after Mars he serueth now Diane.
  Cleer was the day, as I haue told er this,                           1685
And Theseus with alle ioye and blys
With his Ypolita, the faire queene,
And Emelie clothed al in greene,
On huntyng be they riden roially.
And to the groue that stood ful faste by                               1690
In which ther was an hert as men hym tolde
Duc Theseus the streighte wey hath holde.                              1690
And to the launde he rideth hym ful right
For thider was the hert wont haue his flight
And ouer a brook and so forth on his weye.                             1695
This duc wol han a cours at hym or tweye
With houndes swiche as that hym list comaunde.
And whan this duc was come vnto the launde,
Vnder the sonne he looketh and anon
He was war of Arcite and Palamon                                       1700
That foghten breme as it were boles two.
The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro                                  1700
So hidously that with the leeste strook
It semed as it wolde felle an ook.
But what they weere nothyng he ne woot.                       f.23v 1705
This duc his courser with the spores smoot
And at a stert he was bitwix hem two
And pulled out a swerd and cryed: "Hoo,
Namoore vpon peyne of lesyng of your heed.
By myghty Mars, he shal anon be deed                                   1710
That smyteth any strook that I may seen.
But telleth me what myster men ye been                                 1710
That been so hardy for to fighten heer
Withouten iuge or oother officer,
As it weere in a lystes roially-                                       1715
  This Palamon answerde hastily
And seyde: "Sire, what nedeth wordes mo:
We haue the deeth disserued bothe two?
Two woful wrecches been we, two caytyues,
That been encombred of oure owene lyues.                               1720
And as thow art a rightful lord and iuge
Ne yif vs neither mercy ne refuge.                                     1720
But slee me first for seinte charitee,
But slee my felawe eek as wel as me.
Or slee hym first, for thogh thow knowe it lite                        1725
This is thy mortal foo, this is Arcite
That fro thy lond is banysshed on his heed,
For which he hath deserued to be deed.
For this is he that cam vnto thy yate
And seyde that he highte Philostrate.                                  1730
Thus hath he iaped thee ful many a yeer,
And thow hast maked hym thy chief squyer.                              1730
And this is he that loueth Emelye.
For sith the day is come that I shal dye,
I make pleynly my confession                                           1735
That I am thilke woful Palamon
That hath thy prison broken wikkedly.
I am thy mortal foo, and it am I
That loueth so hoote Emelye the brighte
That I wol dyen present in hir sighte.                                 1740
Wherfore I axe deeth and my iuwise.
But slee my felawe in the same wise                                    1740
For bothe haue we deserued to be slayn.'
  This worthy duc answerde anoon agayn
And seyde: "This is a short conclusion.                            f.24 1745
Youre owene mouth by your confession
Hath dampned yow, and I wol it recorde.
It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the corde.
Ye shul be deed by myghty Mars the rede.'
  The queene anoon for verray wommanhede                               1750
Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye
And alle the ladies in the compaignye.                                 1750
Greet pitee was it as it thoughte hem alle
That euere swich a chaunce sholde falle,
For gentil men they weere of greet estaat                              1755
And nothyng but for loue was this debaat.
And sawe hir blody wowndes wide and soore.
And alle cryden, bothe lasse and moore:
"Haue mercy, lord, vpon vs wommen alle.'
And on hir bare knees adown they falle                                 1760
And wolde haue kist his feet ther as he stood.
Til at the laste asked was his mood,                                   1760
For pitee renneth soone in gentil herte.
And thogh he first for ire quook and sterte,
He hath considred, shorthly in a clause,                               1765
The trespas of hem bothe and eek the cause.
And althogh that his ire hir gilt accused,
Yet in his reson he hem bothe excused
As thus. He thoghte wel that euery man
Wol helpe hymself in loue, if that he kan,                             1770
And eek deliuere hymself out of prison.
And eek his herte hadde compassion                                     1770
Of wommen, for they wepten euere in oon.
  And in his gentil herte he thoghte anoon
And softe vnto hymself he seyde: "Fy                                   1775
Vpon a lord that wol haue no mercy,
But be a leon bothe in word and dede
To hem that been in repentaunce and drede
As wel as to a proud, despitous man
That wol mayntene that he first bigan.                                 1780
That lord hath litel of discrecion
That in swich caas kan no dyuysion,                                    1780
But weyeth pryde and humblesse after oon.'
   And shortly whan his ire is thus agoon,
He gan to loken vp with eyen lighte                             f.24   1785
And spak thise same wordes al on highte:
"The god of loue, a benedicitee
How myghty and how greet a lord is he.
Agayns his myght ther gayneth none obstacles.
He may be clepid a god for his miracles,                               1790
For he kan maken at his owene gyse
Of euerich herte as that hym list deuyse.                              1790
Lo here this Arcite and this Palamon,
That quitly were out of my prison
And myghte haue lyued in Thebes roially                                1795
And witen I am hir mortal enemy
And that hir deeth lyth in my myght also,
And yet hath loue maugree hir eyen two
Broght hem hyder bothe for to dye.
Now looketh: is nat that an heigh folye?                               1800
Who may been a fool but if he loue?
Bihoold for goddes sake that sit aboue                                 1800
Se how they blede. Be they noght wel arrayed.
Thus hath hir lord, the god of loue, ypayed
Hir wages and hir fees for hir seruyse.                                1805
And yet they wenen for to be ful wyse
That seruen loue for aught that may bifalle.
  "But this is yet the beste game of alle
That she for whom they haue this iolitee
Kan hem therfore as muche thank as me.                                 1810
She woot namoore of al this hoote fare,
By god, than woot a cokkow of an hare.                                 1810
But al moot been assayed, hoot and coold;
A man moot been a fool, or yong or oold.
I woot it by myself ful yoore agoon                                    1815
For in my tyme a seruant was I oon.
And therfore syn I knowe of loues peyne
And woot how soore it kan a man distreyne,
As he that hath been caught ofte in his laas,
I yow foryeue al hoolly this trespas                                   1820
At requeste of the queene that kneeleth heere
And eek of Emelye, my suster deere.                                    1820
And ye shal bothe anoon vnto me swere
That neuere mo ye shal my contree dere
Ne make werre vpon me nyght nor day,                         f.25      1865
But been my freendes in al that ye may.
I yow foryeue this trespas euery del.'
  And they hym sworen his axing faire and wel
And hym of lordshipe and of mercy preyde.
And he hem graunteth grace, and thanne he seyde:                       1830
"To speke of roial lynage and richesse,
Thogh that she weere a queene or a princesse,                          1830
Ech of yow bothe is worthy doutelees
To wedden whan tyme is. But nathelees
I speke as for my suster Emelye,                                       1835
For whom ye haue this stryf and ialousye,
Ye woot yourself she may nat wedden two
Atones, thogh ye fighten eueremo.
That oon of yow, al be hym looth or lief,
He moot go pipen in an yuy-leef,                                       1840
This is to seyn she may nat now haue bothe,
Al be ye neuere so ialous ne so wrothe.                                1840
And forthy I yow putte in this degree
That ech of yow shal haue his destynee
As hym is shape, and herkneth in what wyse.                            1845
Lo here your ende of that I shal deuyse.
  "My wil is this for plat conclusion
Withouten any replicacion
(If that yow liketh take it for the beste)
That euerich of yow shal goon wher hym leste                           1850
Frely withouten raunson or daunger.
And this day fifty wykes fer ne neer                                   1850
Euerich of yow shal brynge an hundred knyghtes
Armed for listes vp at alle rightes,
Al redy to darreyne hire by bataille.                                  1855
And this bihoote I yow withouten faille
Vpon my trouthe and as I am a knyght
That wheither of yow bothe that hath myght,
This is to seyn that wheither he or thou
May with his hundred as I spak of now                                  1860
Sleen his contrarie or out of lystes dryue,
Thanne shal I yeue Emelye to wyue                                      1860
To whom that fortune yeueth so fair a grace.
The lystes shal I maken in this place.
And god so wisly on my soule rewe                              f.25v 1865
As I shal euene iuge been and trewe.
Ye shul noon oother ende with me maken
That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken.
And if yow thynketh this is wel ysayd,
Sey youre auys and holdeth yow apayd.                                  1870
This is youre ende and your conclusion.'
  Who looketh lightly now but Palamon?                                 1870
Who spryngeth vp for ioye but Arcite?
Who koude telle or who koude it endite,
The ioye that is maked in the place                                    1875
Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace?
But doun on knees wente euery maner wight
And thonken hym with al hir herte and myght,
And namely the Thebans ofte sythe.
And thus with good hope and herte blythe                               1880
They take hir leeue and homward gonne they ryde
To Thebes with olde walles wyde.                                       1880
    Explicit prima pars

     Incipit pars secunda
I trowe men wolde deme it necligence
If I foryete to tellen the despence
Of Theseus, that gooth so bisily                                       1885
To maken vp the lystes roially
That swich a noble theatre as it was
I dar wel seyn in this world ther nas.
The circuit a myle was aboute,
Walled of stoon and dyched al withoute.                                1890
Round was the shap in manere of compas,
Ful of degrees the heighte of sixty paas                               1890
That whan a man was set on o degree
He letted noght his felawe for to see.
  Estward ther stood a gate of marbul whit,                            1895
Westward right swich another in the oposit.
And shortly to concluden, swich a place
Was noon in erthe as in so lite a space.
For in the lond ther was no crafty man                                 f.26
That geometrye or arsmetrik kan                                        1900
Ne purtreyour ne keruere of ymages
That Theseus ne yaf mete and wages                                     1900
The theatre for to maken and deuyse.
And for to doon his ryte and sacrifise
He estward hath vpon the gate aboue,                                   1905
In worship of Venus, goddesse of loue,
Doon maad an auter and an oratorie.
And on the westward in memorie
Of Mars he maked hath right swich another
That coste largely of gold a fother.                                   1910
And northward in a touret on the wal
Of alabastre whit and reed coral                                       1910
An oratorie riche for to see,
In worship of Diane of chastitee,
Hath Theseus doon wroght in noble wise.                                1915
  But yet hadde I forgeten to deuyse
The noble keruyng and the purtreitures,
The shap, the contenance and the figures
That weren in thise oratories thre.
  First in the temple of Venus maystow se                              1920
Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde,
The broken slepes and the sykes colde,                                 1920
The sacred teerys and the waymentynge,
The firy strokes of the desirynge
That loues seruantz in this lyf enduren;                               1925
The othes that hir couenantz assuren;
Plesance and hope, desir, foolhardynesse,
Beautee and youthe, baudrye, richesse,
Charmes and force, lesynges, flaterye,
Despense, bisynesse and ialousye                                       1930
That wered of yelowe gooldes a gerland
And a cokkow sittyng on hir hand;                                      1930
Festes, instrumentz, caroles, daunces,
Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces
Of loue, whiche that I rekned and rekne shal,                          1935
By ordre weren peynted on the wal,
And mo than I kan make of mencion.
For soothly al the mount of Citheron
Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellynge                                f.26v
Was shewed on the wal in purtreyynge                                   1940
With al the gardyn and the lustynesse.
Nat was foryeten the porter ydelnesse,                                 1940
Ne Narcisus the faire of yoore agon,
Ne yet the folie of kyng Salomon,
Ne yet the grete strengthe of Ercules,                                 1945
Th'enchantementz of Medea and Circes,
Ne of Turnus with the hardy, fiers corage,
The ryche Cresus caytif in seruage.
  Thus may ye seen that wisdom ne richesse,
Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe, hardynesse                             1950
Ne may with Venus maken champartie,
For as hir lust the world than may she gye.                            1950
Lo al this folk so caught were in hir laas
Til they for wo ful ofte seyde allas.
Suffiseth heere ensamples oon or two --                                1955
And, though, I koude rekne a thousand mo.
  The statue of Venus, glorious for to see,
Was naked fletyng in the large see,
And fro the nauele doun al couered was
With wawes grene and brighte as any glas.                              1960
A citole in hir right hand hadde she,
And on hir heed ful semely for to se                                   1960
A rose gerland, fressh and wel smellynge.
Aboue hir heed hir dowues flikerynge.
Biforn hir stood hir sone Cupido.                                      1965
Vpon his shuldres wynges hadde he two;
And blynd he was, as it is ofte seene.
A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and keene.
  Why sholde I nat as wel eek telle yow al
The purtreyture that was vpon the wal                                  1970
Withinne the temple of myghty Mars the rede?
Al peynted was the wal in lengthe and brede                            1970
Lyk to the eestres of the grisly place
That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace,
In thilke colde, frosty region                                         1975
Ther as Mars hath his souereyn mansion.
  First on the wal was peynted a forest,
In which ther dwelleth neither man ne best,
With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde,                               f.27
Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde,                              1980
In which ther ran a rombul in a swough
As thogh a storm sholde bresten euery bough.                           1980
And downward on an hil vnder a bente
Ther stood the temple of Mars armypotente
Wroght al of burned steel, of which the entree                         1985
Was long and streyt and gastly for to see.
And therout cam a rage and swich a veze
That it made al the gate for to rese.
The northren light in at the dores shoon,
For wyndow on the wal ne was ther noon                                 1990
Thurgh which men myghten any light discerne.
The dore was al of athamant eterne,                                    1990
Yclenched ouerthwart and endelong
With iren togh. And for to make it strong
Euery piler, the temple to sustene,                                    1995
Was tonne-greet of iren bright and shene.
  Ther say I first the dirke ymagynynge
Of felonye and al the compassynge;
The cruel ire reed as any gleede;
The pikepurs and eek the pale drede;                                   200o
The smyler with the knyf vnder the cloke;
The shipne brennyng with the blake smoke;                              200o
The treson of the mordryng in the bed;
The open werre with woundes al bibled;
Contek with blody knyf and sharp manace.                               2005
Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place.
The sleer of hymself yet saugh I ther,
His herte-blood hath bathed al his heer;
The nayl ydryuen in the shode a nyght;
The colde deeth with mouth gapyng vpright.                             2010
Amyddes of the temple sat meschaunce
With disconfort and sory contenaunce.                                  2010
Yet saugh I woodnesse laughyng in his rage,
Armed compleynt, outhees and fiers outrage;
The caroyne in the bussh with throte ycorue;                           2015
A thousand slayn and noght of qualm ystorue;
The tiraunt with the praye by force yraft;
The town destroyed, ther was nothyng laft.
Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres.                             f.27v
The hunte strangled with the wilde beres;                              2020
The sowe freten the child right in the cradel;
The cook yscalded for al his longe ladel.                              2020
Naught was forgeten by the infortune of Marte
The carter ouerryden with his carte:
Vnder the wheel ful lowe he lay adown.                                 2025
Ther were also of Martes deuysioun
The barbour and the bochier and the smyth
That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his styth.
And al aboue depeynted in a tour
Saugh I conquest sittyng in greet honour                               2030
With the sharpe swerd ouer his heed
Hangynge by a subtil twynes threed.                                    2030
Depeynted was the slaghtre of Iulius,
Of grete Nero and of Anthonius.
Al be that thilke tyme they were vnborn,                               2035
Yet was hir deeth depeynted therbiforn
By manacynge of Mars right by figure.
So was it shewed in that purtreyture
As is depeynted in the sterres aboue
Who shal be slayn or ellis deed for loue.                              2040
Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde,
I may nat rekne hem alle thogh I wolde.                                2040
  The statue of Mars vpon a carte stood
Armed, and loked grym as he were wood.
And ouer his heed ther shynen two figures                              2045
Of sterres, that been clepyd in scriptures
That oon Puella, that oother Rubeus.
This god of armes was arrayed thus;
A wolf ther stood bifore hym at his feet
With eyen rede and of a man he eet.                                    2050
With subtil pencel was depeynted this storie
In redoutynge of Mars and of his glorie.                               2050
  Now to the temple of Diane the chaste
As shortly as I kan I wol me haste
To telle yow al the discripsioun.                                      2055
Depeynted been the walles vp and doun
Of huntyng and of shamefast chastitee.
Ther saw I how woful Calistopee
Whan that Diane agreued was with here                                  f.28
Was turned fro a womman til a bere,                                    2060
And after was she maad the lode-sterre.
Thus was it peynted, I kan seye yow no ferre.                          2060
Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may see.
Ther saw I Dane yturned to a tree;
I mene nat the goddesse Diane,                                         2065
But Penneus doghter which that highte Dane.
Ther saw I Attheon an hert ymaked
For vengeaunce that he saw Diane al naked.
I seigh how that hise houndes haue hym caught
And freten hym, for that they knewe hym naught.                        2070
Yet peynted was a litel ferther moor
How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor,                                  2070
And Meleagree and many another mo,
For which Diane wroghte hym care and wo.
Ther saw I many another wonder storie                                  2075
The whiche me list nat drawen to memorie.
  This goddesse on hert ful hye seet
With smale houndes al aboute hir feet.
And vndernethe hir feet she hadde a moone,
Wexinge it was and sholde wanye soone.                                 2080
In gaude grene hir statue yclothed was,
With bowe in honde and arwes in a cas.                                 2080
Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adown
Ther Pluto hath his dirke regioun.
A womman trauailyng was hir biforn.                                    2085
But for hir child so longe was vnborn,
Ful pitously Lucina gan she calle
And seyde: "Help, for thow mayst best of alle.'
Wel koude he peynte lyfly that it wroghte,
With many a floryn he the hewes boghte.                                2090
  Now been thise listes maad. And Theseus
That at his grete cost arrayed thus                                    2090
The temples and the theatre euery del,
Whan it was doon hym liked wonder wel.
But stynte I wole of Theseus a lite,                                   2095
And speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
  The day approcheth of hir retournynge
That euerich sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge
The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde.                              f.28v
And til Atthenes, hir couenant for to holde,                           2100
Hath euerich of hem broght a hundred knyghtes
Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes.                               2100
And sikerly ther trowed many a man
That neuere sithen that the world bigan,
As for to speke of knyghthod of hir hond                               2105
As fer as god hath maked see and lond,
Nas of so fewe so noble a compaignye.
For euery wight that loued chiualrye
And wolde his thankes han a passant name
Hath prayd that he myghte been of that game.                           2110
And wel was hym that therto chosen was.
For if ther fille tomorwe swich a cas,                                 2110
Ye knowen wel that euery lusty knyght,
That loueth paramours and hath his myght
(Were it in Engelond or elliswhere),                                   2115
They wolde hir thankes wilnen to be there
To fighten for a lady. Benedicitee
It were a lusty sighte for to see.
  And right so ferden they with Palamon.
With hym ther wenten knyghtes many oon.                                2120
Som wol ben armed in an haubergeon
And in a brestplate and in a light gypon.                              2120
And som wol haue a peire plates large.
And som wol haue a Pruce sheeld or a targe.
Som wol been armed on his legges weel                                  2125
And haue an ax, and som a maas of steel.
Ther nys no newe gyse that it nas oold.
Armed were they, as I haue yow toold,
Euerich after his opinyon.
  Ther maystow seen comynge with Palamon                               2130
Lygurge hymself, the grete kyng of Trace.
Blak was his beerd and manly was his face.                             2130
The cercles of his eyen in his heed
They gloweden bitwixen yelow and reed.
And lyk a griffon loked he aboute                                      2135
With keempe herys on his browes stoute.
His lymes grete, his brawnes harde and stronge,
Hys shuldres brode, hise armes rounde and longe.
And as the gyse was in his contree                                     f.29
Ful hye vpon a chaar of gold stood he                                  2140
With foure white boles in the trays.
In stide of cote-armure ouer his harnays                              2140
With nayles yelwe and brighte as any gold
He hadde a berys skyn, colblak for old.
His longe heer was kembed bihynde his bak,                            2145
As any rauenes fethere it shoon for blak.
A wrethe of gold greet, of huge wighte,
Vpon his heed, and ful of stones brighte,
Of fyne rubyes and of dyamauntz.
Aboute his chaar ther wente white alauntz                            2150
Twenty and mo as grete as any steer
To hunten at the leon and the deer,                                   2150
And folwed hym with mosel faste ybounde,
Colered of gold and turrettes filed rounde.
An hundred lordes hadde he in his route                               2155
Armed ful wel, with hertes stierne and stoute.
  With Arcita, in stories as men fynde,
The grete Emetrius, the kyng of Inde,
Vpon a steede bay, trapped in steel,
Couered in a clooth of gold dyapred weel,                             2160
Cam ridynge lyk the god of armes, Mars.
His cote-armure was of clooth of Tars,                                2160
Couched with perlys white and rounde and grete.
His sadel was of brend gold newe ybete
A mantelet vpon his shulder hangynge,                                 2165
Bretful of rubies reede as fyr sparklynge.
His crispe heer lyk rynges was yronne
And that was yelow and glitred as the sonne.
His nose was heigh, hise eyen bright citryn,
His lyppes rounde his colour was sangwyn.                              2170
A fewe fraknes in his face yspreynd
Bitwixen yelow and somdel blak ymeynd.                                 2170
And as a leon he his lookyng caste.
Of xxv yeer his age I caste.
His beerd was wel bigonne for to sprynge,                              2175
His voys was as a trompe thonderynge.
Vpon his heed he wered of laurer grene
A gerland fressh and lusty for to seene.
Vpon his hand he bar for his deduyt                                    f.29v
An egle tame, as any lilie whyt.                                       2180
An hundred lordes hadde he with hym there
Al armed, saue hir heddes, in al hir gere                              2180
Ful richely in alle manere thynges.
For trusteth wel that dukes, erles, kynges
Were gadred in this noble compaignye                                   2185
For loue and for encrees of chiualrye.
Aboute this kyng ther ran on euery part
Ful many a tame leon and leopart.
  And in this wise thise lordes alle and some
Been on the Sonday to the citee come                                   2190
Aboute pryme and in the town alight.
  This Theseus, this duc, this worthy knyght,                          2190
Whan he hadde broght hem into his citee
And inned hem euerich at his degree,
He festeth hem and dooth so gret labour                                2195
To esen hem and doon hem al honour
That yet men wenen that no mannes wit
Of noon estaat ne koude amenden it.
The mynstralcye, the seruyce at the feeste,
The grete yiftes to the meeste and leeste,                             2200
The ryche array of Theseus paleys,
Ne who sat first or last vpon the deys,                                2200
What ladyes fairest been and best daunsynge
Or which of hem kan daunse best and synge,
Ne who moost feelyngly speketh of loue                                 2205
What haukes sitten on the perche aboue,
What houndes lyggen on the floor adown,
Of al this make I now no mencioun,
But al th'effect, that thynketh me the beste.
Now comth the point and herkneth if yow leste.                         2210
  The Sonday nyght er day bigan to sprynge,
Whan Palamon the larke herde synge                                     2210
Althogh it nere nat day by houres two
Yet soong the larke, and Palamon right tho
With holy herte and with an heigh corage                               2215
He roos, to wenden on his pilgrymage
Vnto the blisful Scitherea benygne,
I mene Venus honurable and digne.
And in hir hour he walketh forth a paas                                f.30
Vnto the lystes ther hir temple was                                    2220
And down he kneleth, and with humble cheere
And herte soor he seyde as ye shal heere:                              2220
  "Faireste of faire, O lady myn Venus,
Doghter of loue and spouse to Vulcanus,
Thow gladere of the mount of Cytheron,                                 2225
For thilke loue thow haddest to Adoon
Haue pitee of my bittre teerys smerte
And taak myn humble prayere at thyn herte.
  "Allas I ne haue no langage to telle
Th'effect ne the tormentz of myn helle.                                2230
Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye.
I am so confus that I kan noght seye                                   2230
But mercy, lady bright, that knowest wele
My thoght and seest what harmes that I feele.
Considre al this and rewe vpon my soore,                               2235
As wisly as I shal for eueremoore
Emforth my myght thy trewe seruant be
And holden werre alwey with chastitee.
That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe.
I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe                                     2240
Ne I ne axe noght tomorwe to haue victorie
Ne renoun in this cas ne veyne glorie                                  2240
Of prys of armes blowen vp and down.
But I wolde haue fully possessioun
Of Emelye and dye in thy seruyse.                                      2245
Fynd thow the manere how and in what wyse.
I recche nat but it may bettre be
To haue victorie of hem or they of me
So that I haue my lady in myn armes.
For thogh so be that Mars is god of armes,                             2250
Youre vertu is so greet in heuene aboue
That if yow list I shal wel haue my loue.                              2250
  "Thy temple wol I worshipe eueremo
And on thyn auter, wher I ryde or go,
I wol doon sacrifice and fyres beete.                                  2255
And if ye wol noght so, my lady sweete,
Thanne praye I thee tomorwe with a spere
That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere.
Thanne rekke I noght whan I haue lost my lyf                           f.30v
Thogh that Arcita wynne hire to his wyf.                               2260
This is th'effect and ende of my prayere:
Yif me my loue, thow blisful lady deere.'                              2260
  Whan the orison was doon of Palamon,
His sacrifice he dide and that anon
Ful pitously with alle circumstances,                                  2265
Al telle I nat as now his obseruances.
But at the laste the statue of Venus shook
And made a signe wherby that he took
That his prayere accepted was that day.
For thogh the signe shewed a delay,                                    2270
Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his boone;
And with glad herte he wente hym hoom ful soone.                       2270
  The thridde hour inequal that Palamon
Bigan to Venus temple for to gon,
Vp roos the sonne and vp roos Emelye                                  2275
And to the temple of Diane gan hye.
Hir maydens that she thider with hire ladde
Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde,
Th'encens, the clothes, and the remenant al
That to the sacrifice longen shal,                                    2280
The hornes ful of mede as was the gyse;
Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifise.                              2280
  Smokynge the temple, ful of clothes faire,
This Emelye with herte debonaire
Hir body wessh with water of a welle.                                 2285
But hou she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle
But it be any thyng in general;
And yet it were a game to heren al.
To hym that meneth wel it nere no charge,
But it is good a man be at his large.                                 2290
Hir brighte heer was kembed, vntressed al,
A corone of a grene ook cerial                                        2290
Vpon hir heed was set ful fair and meete.
Two fyres on the auter gan she beete
And dide hir thynges, as men may biholde                              2295
In Stace of Thebes and othere bokes olde.
Whan kyndled was the fyr, with pitous cheere
Vnto Diane she spak as ye may heere:
  "O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene                                 f.31
To whom bothe heuene and erthe and see is seene,                      2300
Queene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe,
Goddesse of maydens that myn herte hast knowe                         2300
Ful many a yeer and woost what I desire,
As keep me fro thy vengeance and thyn ire
That Attheon aboghte crewelly;                                        2305
Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I
Desire to been a mayden al my lyf.
Ne neuere wol I be no loue ne wyf.
I am, thow woost, yet of thy compaignye
A mayde, and loue huntyng and venerye                                 2310
And for to walken in the wodes wilde
And noght to been a wyf and be with childe.                           2310
Noght wol I knowe compaignye of man.
Now help me, lady, sith ye may and kan
For tho thre formes that thow hast in thee.                           2315
And Palamon that hath swich loue to me
And eek Arcite that loueth me so soore,
This grace I praye thee withoute moore
As seend loue and pees bitwix hem two
And fro me turn awey hir hertes so                                    2320
That al hir hote loue and hir desir
And al hir bisy torment and hir fyr                                   2320
Be queynt and turned in another place.
And if so be thow wolt noght do me grace
Or if my destynee be shape so                                         2325
That I shal nedes haue oon of hem two,
As seend me hym that moost desireth me.
Bihoold, goddesse of clene chastitee,
The bittre teerys that on my chekes falle.
Syn thow art mayde and keper of vs alle.                              2330
My maydenhode thow kepe and wel conserue;
And whil I lyue, a mayde I wol thee serue.'                           2330
  The fyres brenne vpon the auter cleere
Whil Emelie is thus in hir prayere.
But sodeynly she seigh a sighte queynte,                              2335
For right-anon oon of the fyres queynte
And quyked agayn, and after that anon
That oother fyr was queynt and al agon.
And as it queynte it made a whistlynge                                f.31 v
As doon thise weete brondes in hir brennynge.                         2340
And at the brondes ende out ran anoon
As it were blody dropes many oon,                                     2340
For which so soore agast was Emelye
That she was wel neigh mad and gan to crye,
For she ne wiste what it signyfied.                                   2345
But oonly for the feere thus hath she cryed
And weep that it was pitee for to heere.
  And therwithal Diane gan appeere
With bowe in honde right as an hunteresse
And seyde: "Doghter, stynt thyn heuynesse.                            2350
Among the goddes hye it is affermed
And by eterne word writen and confermed                               2350
Thou shalt be wedded vnto oon of tho
That han for thee so muche care and wo.
But vnto which of hem I may noght telle.                              2355
Farewel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle.
The fires whiche that on myn auter brenne
Shul thee declaren, er that thow go henne,
Thyn auenture of loue as in this cas.'
  And with that word the arwes in the caas                            2360
Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge,
And forth she wente and made a vanysshynge                            2360
For which this Emelye astoned was
And seyde: "What amounteth this allas?
I putte me in thy proteccion,                                         2365
Diane, and in thy disposicion.'
And hoom she gooth anoon the nexte weye.
This is th'effect. Ther nys namoore to seye.
  The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this,
Arcite vnto the temple walked is                                      2370
Of fierse Mars to doon his sacrifise
With alle the rytes of his payen wise.                                2370
With pitous herte and heigh deuocion
Right thus to Mars he seyde his orison:
  "O stronge god that in the regnes colde                             2375
Of Trace honoured art and lord yholde
And hast in euery regne and euery lond
Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond
And hem fortunest as thee list deuyse,                                f.32
Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise.                                    2380
If so be that my youthe may disserue
And that my myght be worthy for to serue                              2380
Thy godhede that I may be oon of thyne,
Thanne praye I thee to rewe vpon my pyne
For thilke peyne and thilke hote fyr                                  2385
In which thow whilom brendest for desir
Whan that thow vsedest the beautee
Of faire, yonge, fresshe Venus free
And haddest hire in armes at thy wille,
Although thee ones on a tyme mysfille                                 2390
Whan Vulcanus hadde caught thee in his laas
And foond thee lyggyng by his wyf allas.                              2390
For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte
Haue routhe as wel vpon my peynes smerte.
I am yong and vnkonnyng as thow woost                                 2395
And, as I trowe, with loue offended moost
That euere was any lyues creature.
For she that dooth me al this wo endure
Ne reccheth neuere wher I synke or fleete.
And wel I woot er she me mercy heete,                                 2400
I moot with strengthe wynne hire in the place.
And wel I woot, withouten help and grace                              2400
Of thee, ne may my strengthe noght auaille.
Thanne help me, lord, tomorwe in my bataille
For thilke fyr that whilom brende thee                                2405
As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me
And do that I tomorwe may haue victorie.
Myn be the trauaille and thyn be the glorie.
Thy souereyn temple wol I moost honouren
Of any place and alwey moost labouren                                 2410
In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge.
And in thy temple I wol my baner honge                                2410
And alle the armes of my compaignye
And eueremo vntil that day I dye.
Eterne fyr I wol bifore thee fynde.                                   2415
And eek to this auow I wol me bynde:
My berd, myn heer, that hangeth long adown,
That neuere yet ne felte offensioun
Of rasour nor of shere I wol thee yiue                                f.32v
And been thy trewe seruant whil I lyue.                               2420
Now, lord, haue routhe vpon my sorwes soore.
Yif me the victorie: I axe thee namoore.'                             2420
  The prayere stynt of Arcita the stronge.
The rynges on the temple-dore that honge
And eek the dores clatereden ful faste,                               2425
Of which Arcita somwhat hym agaste.
The fires brende vpon the auter brighte
That it gan al the temple for to lighte.
A swete smel anoon the ground vp yaf.
And Arcita anoon his hand vp haf                                      2430
And moore encens into the fyr he caste
With othere rytes mo. And at the laste                                2430
The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk rynge.
And with that sown he herde a murmurynge
Ful lowe and dym and seyde thus "Victorie',                           2435
For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie.
And thus with ioye and hope wel to fare
Arcite anoon vnto his in is fare
As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne.
  And right-anoon swich stryf ther is bigonne                         2440
For thilke grauntyng in the heuene aboue
Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of loue,                                  2440
And Mars, the sterne god armipotente,
That Iuppiter was bisy it to stente.
Til that the pale Saturnus the colde,                                 2445
That knew so manye of auentures olde,
Foond in his olde experience an art
That he ful soone hath plesed euery part.
As sooth is seyd: elde hath greet auantage.
In elde is bothe wisdom and vsage.                                    2450
Men may the olde atrenne and nat atrede.
Saturne anoon to stynten stryf and drede                              2450
Al be it that it is agayn his kynde,
Of al this stryf he kan remedie fynde.
  "My deere doghter Venus,' quod Saturne,                             2455
"My cours that hath so wyde for to turne
Hath moore power than woot any man.
Myn is the drenchyng in the see so wan,
Myn is the prison in the derke cote,                                  f.33
Myn is the stranglyng and hangyng by the throte                       2460
The murmur and the cherles rebellynge,
The groynyng and the pryuee empoysonynge.                             2460
I do vengeance and pleyn correccion
Whil I dwelle in the signe of the leon.
Myn is the ruyne of the heighe halles,                                2465
The fallyng of the toures and of the walles
Vpon the mynour or the carpenter;
I slow Sampson shakyng the piler.
And myne be the maladies colde,
The derke tresons and the castes olde;                                2470
My lookyng is the fader of pestilence.
Now weep namoore: I shal doon diligence                               2470
That Palamon that is thyn owene knyght
Shal haue his lady as thow hast hym hight.
Thogh Mars shal helpe his knyght, yet nathelees                       2475
Bitwixe yow ther moot be somtyme pees,
Al be ye noght of o complexion
That causeth al day swich diuision.
I am thyn aiel, redy at thy wille.
Weep now namoore: I wol thy lust fulfille.'                           2480
  Now wol I stynten of the goddes aboue,
Of Mars and of Venus goddesse of loue                                 2480
And telle yow as pleynly as I kan
The grete effect for which that I bigan.
  Greet was the feeste in Atthenes that day.                          2485
And eek the lusty seson of that May
Made euery wight to been in swich plesaunce
That al that Monday iusten they and daunce
And spenden it in Venus heigh seruyse.
And by the cause that they sholde ryse                                2490
Erly for to seen the grete sight,
Vnto hir reste wente they at nyght.                                   2490
And on the morwe whan the day gan sprynge,
Of hors and harneys noyse and claterynge
Ther was in hostelryes al aboute.                                     2495
And to the paleys rood ther many a route
Of lordes vpon steedes and palfreys.
Ther maistow seen deuysynge of harneys
So vnkouth and so ryche and wroght so weel                            f.33v
Of goldsmythrye, of broudyng and of steel;                            2500
The sheldes brighte, testers and trappures,
Gold-hewen helmes, hauberkes, cote-armures;                           2500
Lordes in parementz on hir coursers,
Knyghtes of retenue and eek squyers;
Nailynge the speres and the helmes bokelynge,                         2505
Gyggynge of sheeldes, with layners lasynge
Ther as nede is -- they were nothyng ydel;
The fomy steedes on the golden brydel
Gnawynge, and faste the armurers also
With fyle and hamer prykyng to and fro;                               2510
Yemen on foote and communes many oon
With shorte staues, thikke as they may goon;                          2510
Pipes, trompes, nakers, claryounes
That in the bataille blowen blody sownes;
The paleys ful of peples vp and down,                                 2515
Heer thre, ther ten, holdynge hir questioun,
Deuynynge of thise Thebans knyghtes two;
Somme seyde thus, somme seyden it shal be so,
Somme helden with hym with the blake berd,
Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke herd,                    2520
Somme seyde he looked grym and he wolde fighte:
He hath a sparth of xx pound of wighte.                               2520
Thus was the halle ful of deuynynge
Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge.
  The grete Theseus, that of his sleep awaked                         2525
With mynstralcye and noyse that was maked,
Held yet the chambres of his paleys ryche
Til that the Theban knyghtes, bothe yliche
Honoured, weren into the paleys fet.
Duc Theseus is at a wyndow set                                        2530
Arrayed right as he weere a god in trone.
The peple preeseth thiderward ful soone                               2530
Hym for to seen and doon heigh reuerence
And eek to herkne his heste and his sentence.
  An heraud on a scaffold made an oo                                  2535
Til al the noyse of the peple was ydo.
And whan he say the peple of noyse al stille,
Thus shewed he the myghty dukes wille:
"The lord hath of his heighe discrecion                               f.34
Considred that it were destruccion                                    2540
To gentil blood to fighten in the gyse
Of mortal bataille now in this emprise.                               2540
Wherfore to shapen that they shal noght dye
He wole his firste purpos modifie.
No man therfore vpon peyne of los of lyf                              2545
No manere shot ne polax ne short knyf
Into the lystes sende or thider brynge.
Ne short swerd for to stoke with point bitynge
No man ne drawe ne bere it by his syde.
Ne no man shal vnto his felawe ryde                                   2550
But o cours with a sharp ygrounde spere;
Foyne, if hym list, on foote hymself to were.                         2550
And he that is at meschief shal be take
And noght slayn, but be broght vnto the stake
That shal been ordeyned on eyther syde.                               2555
But thider he shal bi force and ther abyde.
And if so falle the chiefteyn be take
On outher syde or ellis sleen his make,
No lenger shal the tourneying laste.
God spede yow, go forth and ley on faste.                             2560
With long swerd and with mace fighteth your fille.
Go now youre wey. This is the lordes wille.'                          2560
  The voys of peple touched the heuene,
So loude cryde they with loude steuene:
"God saue swich a lord that is so good!                               2565
He wilneth no destruccion of blood.'
  Vp goon the trompes and the melodye.
And to the lystes ryt the compaignye
By ordinance thurghout the citee large,
Hanged with clooth of gold and noght with sarge.                      2570
Ful lyk a lord this noble duc gan ryde,
Thise two Thebans vpon eyther syde,                                   2570
And after rood the queene and Emelye,
And after that another compaignye
Of oon and oother after hir degree.                                   2575
And thus they passen thurghout the citee
And to the lystes coome they bityme.
It nas nat of the day yet fully pryme.
  Whan set was Theseus ful ryche and hye,                             f.34v
Ypolita the queene and Emelye,                                        2580
And othere ladyes in degrees aboute,
Vnto the setes preeseth al the route.                                 2580
And westward thurgh the gates vnder Marte
Arcite and eek the hundred of his parte
With baner reed is entred right-anon.                                 2585
And in that selue moment Palamon
Is vnder Venus estward in the place
With baner whit and hardy cheere and face.
In al the world to seken vp and down
So euene withouten variacioun                                         2590
Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye.
For ther was noon so wys that koude seye                              2590
That any hadde of oother auantage
Of worthynesse ne of estaat ne age,
So euene were they chosen for to gesse.                               2595
And in two renges faire they hem dresse.
Whan that hir names rad were euerichon
That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon,
Tho were the gates shet and cryd was loude:
"Do now youre deuoir, yonge knyghtes proude.'                         2600
  The heraudes lefte hir prikyng vp and down.
Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun.
Ther is namoore to seyn but west and est
In goon the speres ful sadly in the arest.
In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde.                              2605
Ther seen men who kan iuste and who kan ryde.
Ther shyueren shaftes vpon sheeldes thikke.
He feeleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prykke.
Vp spryngeth speres twenty foot on highte,
Out goon the swerdes as the siluer brighte.                           2610
The helmes they tohewen and toshrede.
Out brest the blood with sterne stremys rede.                         2610
With myghty maces the bones they tobreste.
He thurgh the thikkest of the throng gan threste.
Ther stomblen steedes stronge, and doun gooth al.                     2615
He rolleth vnder foot as dooth a bal.
He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun.
And he hym hurteth with his hors adoun.
He thurgh the body is hurt and sithen ytake                           f.35
Maugree his heed and broght vnto the stake.                           2620
As forward was, right there he moste abyde.
Another lad is on that oother syde.                                   2620
  And somtyme dooth hem Theseus to reste
Hem to refresshe and drynken if hem leste.
Ful ofte a day haue thise Thebans two                                 2625
Togydre ymet and wroght his felawe wo.
Vnhorsed hath ech oother of hem tweye.
Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye
Whan that hir whelp is stole whan it is lyte
So cruel on the hunte as is Arcite                                    2630
For ialous herte vpon this Palamon.
Ne in Belmarye ther nys so fel leon                                   2630
That hunted is or for his hunger wood
Ne of his praye desireth so the blood
As Palamon to sleen his foo Arcite.                                   2635
The ialous strokes on hir helmes byte.
Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede.
  Somtyme an ende ther is of euery dede.
For er the sonne vnto the reste wente
The stronge kyng Emetrius gan hente                                   2640
This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite,
And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte.                        2640
And by the force of twenty is he take
Vnyolden and ydrawen to the stake.
And in the rescous of this Palamon                                    2645
The stronge kyng Lygurge is born adoun.
And kyng Emetrius for al his strengthe
Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe,
So hitte hym Palamon er he were take,
But al for noght. He was broght to the stake,                         2650
His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught.
He moste abyde whan that he was caught                                2650
By force and eek by composicion.
  Who sorweth now but woful Palamon
That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte?                               2655
And whan that Theseus hadde seen this sighte,
Vnto the folk that foghten thus echon
He cryde: "Hoo, namoore, for it is doon.
I wol be trewe iuge and nat partye                                    f.3 v
Arcite of Thebes shal haue Emelye                                     2660
That by his fortune hath hire faire ywonne.'
Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne                                 2660
For ioye of this, so loude and heigh withalle
It semed that the lystes sholde falle.
  What kan now faire Venus doon aboue?                                2665
What seith she now? What dooth this queene of loue;
But wepeth so for wantyng of hir wille
Til that hir teerys in the lystes fille?
She seyde: "I am ashamed doutelees.'
  Saturnus seyde: "Doghter, hoold thy pees.                           2670
Mars hath his wyl, his knyght hath al his boone.
And by myn heed thow shalt been esed soone.'                          2670
  The trompours with the loude mynstralcye,
The heraudes that ful loude yelle and crye
Been in hir wele for ioye of daun Arcite.                             2675
But herkneth me, and stynteth noyse a lite,
Which a myracle ther bifel anon.
  This fierse Arcite hath of his helm ydon
And on a courser for to shewe his face
He priketh endelong the large place                                   2680
Lookyng vpward vpon this Emelye,
And she agayn hym caste a freendly eye.                               2680
And she was al his cheere as in his herte.                            2683
Out of the ground a furye infernal sterte
From Pluto sent at requeste of Saturne,                               2685
For which his hors for feere gan to turne
And leep asyde and foundred as he leep.
And er that Arcite may taken keep,
He pighte hym on the pomel of his heed
That in the place he lay as he were deed,                             2690
His brest tobrosten with his sadel-bowe.
As blak he lay as any col or crowe
So was the blood yronnen in his face.
Anon he was yborn out of the place
With herte soor to Theseus paleys.                                    2695
Tho was he coruen out of his harneys
And in a bed ybroght ful faire and blyue,
For he was yet in memorie and alyue
And alwey cryinge after Emelye.                                       f.36
  Duc Theseus with al his compaignye                                  2700
Is comen hoom to Atthenes his citee
With alle blisse and greet solempnytee.
Al be it that this auenture was falle
He nolde noght disconforten hem alle.
Men seyde eek Arcite shal nat dye,                                    2705
He shal been heelyd of his maladye.
And of another thyng they were as fayn
That of hem alle was ther noon yslayn,
Al were they soore yhurt and namely oon
That with a spere was thirled the brest-boon.                         2710
To oothere woundes and to broken armes
Somme hadden salues and somme hadden charmes.
Fermacyes of herbes and eek saue
They dronken, for they wolde hir lymes haue.
For which this noble duc, as he wel kan,                              2715
Conforteth and honoureth euery man
And made reuel al the longe nyght
Vnto the straunge lordes, as was right.
  Ne ther was holden no disconfitynge,
But as a iustes or a tourneyinge.                                     2720
For soothly ther was no disconfiture
For fallyng nys nat but an auenture.
Ne to been had by force vnto the stake
Vnyolden and with twenty knyghtes take
O persone allone withouten mo                                         2725
And haryed forth by arm, foot and to,
And eek his steede dryuen forth with staues,
With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaues,
It nas arretted hym no vileynye;
Ther may no man clepe it cowardye.                                    2730
For which anoon duc Theseus leet crye,
To stynten al rancour and enuye,
The gre as wel of oo syde as of oother
And eyther syde ylyk as otheres brother.
And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree                                   2735
And fully heeld a feeste dayes three.
And conueyed the kynges worthily
Out of his toun a iournee largely.
And hoom wente euery man the righte way                               f.36v
Ther was namoore but farewel, haue good day.                          2740
Of this bataille I wol namoore endite,
But speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
    <1explicit secunda pars>1


    <1Incipit pars tercia et vltima>1
Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the soore
Encreeseth at his herte moore and moore.
The clothered blood for any lechecraft                                2745
Corrupteth and is in his bouk ylaft
That neyther veyne-blood ne ventusynge
Ne drynke of herbes may been his helpynge.
The vertu expulsyf or animal
Fro thilke vertu clepyd natural                                       2750
Ne may the venym voyden ne expelle.
The pipes of his longes gan to swelle,
And euery lacerte in his brest adown
Is shent with venym and corrupcioun.
Hym gayneth neither for to gete his lyf                               2755
Vomyt vpward ne downward laxatyf;
Al is tobrosten thilke regioun.
Nature hath no dominacioun.
And certeinly ther nature wol nat werche,
Farewel phisyk: go ber the man to cherche.                            2760
This al and som that Arcita moot dye,
For which he sendeth after Emelye
And Palamon, that was his cosyn deere.
Thanne seyde he thus as ye shal after heere:
  "Nat may the woful spirit in myn herte                              2765
Declare a point of alle my sorwes smerte
To yow, my lady that I loue moost.
But I byquethe the seruice of my goost
To yow abouen euery creature,
Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure.                                   2770
Allas the wo, allas the peynes stronge
That I for yow haue suffred and so longe.
Allas the deeth, allas myn Emelye,                                    f.37
Allas departyng of oure compaignye.
Allas myn hertes queene, allas my wif,                                2775
Myn hertes lady, ender of my lyf.
What is this world? What axeth men to haue?
Now with his loue, now in his colde graue.                            2778
  "I haue heer with my cosyn Palamon                                  2783
Had stryf and rancour many a day gon                                  2780
For loue of yow and for my ialousye.
And Iuppiter so wys my soule gye,
To speken of a seruaunt proprely
With circumstaunces alle trewely
(That is to seyn trouthe, honour, knyghthede,                         2785
Wisdom, humblesse, estaat and heigh kynrede,                          2790
Fredom and al that longeth to that art),
So Iuppiter haue of my soule part
As in this world right now ne knowe I non
So worthy to been loued as Palamon,                                   2790
That serueth yow and wol doon al his lyf.
And if that euere ye shal been a wyf
Foryet nat Palamon the gentil man.'
  And with that word his speche faille gan,
For from his feet vp to his brest was come                            2795
The coold of deeth that hadde hym ouercome.                           2&o
And yet mooreouer for in his armes two
The vital strengthe is lost and al ago,
Oonly the intellect withoute moore
That dwelled in his herte syk and soore                                2800
Gan faillen whan the herte felte deeth.
Dusked hise eyen two and fayled breeth.
But on his lady yet caste he his eye,
His laste word was: "Mercy, Emelye.'
His spirit chaunged hous and wente ther                                2805
As I cam neuere, I kan nat tellen wher.                                2810
Therfore I stynte, I nam no dyuynystre.
Of soules fynde I nat in this registre,
Ne me ne lyst thilke opynyons to telle
Of hem, thogh that they writen wher they dwelle.                       2810
Arcite is coold, ther Mars his soule gye.
Now wol I speken forth of Emelye.
  Shrighte Emelye and howleth Palamon.                                 f.37v
And Theseus his suster took anon
Swownynge and baar hir fro the corps away.                             2815
What helpeth it to tarien forth the day                                2820
To tellen how she weep bothe eue and morwe,
For in swich caas wommen haue swich sorwe
Whan that hir housbondes been from hem ago
That for the moore part they sorwen so                                 2820
Or ellis fallen in swich a maladye
That at the laste certeinly they dye?
  Infinite been the sorwes and the teerys
Of olde folk and folk of tendre yeerys
In al the town for the deeth of this Theban.                           2825
For hym ther wepeth bothe child and man.                               2830
So greet wepyng was ther noon certayn
Whan Ector was broght al fressh yslayn
To Troye. Allas the pitee that was ther,
Cracchynge of chekes, rentyng eek of heer.                             2830
"Why woldestow be deed,' thise wommen crye,
"And haddest gold ynow and Emelye?'
   No man myghte gladen Theseus
Sauyng his olde fader Egeus
That knew this worldes transmutacioun                                  2835
As he hadde seyn it chaungen bothe vp and down,                        2840
Ioye after wo and wo after gladnesse,
And shewed hem ensample and lyknesse.
  "Right as ther deyed neuere man,' quod he,
"That he ne lyued in erthe in som degree,                              2840
Right so ther lyued neuere man,' he seyde,
"In al this world that somtyme he ne deyde.
This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo
And we been pilgrymes passynge to and fro.
Deeth is an ende of euery worldly soore.'                              2845
And ouer al this yet seyde he muchel moore                             2850
To this effect, ful wysly to enhorte
The peple that they sholde hem reconforte.
   Duc Theseus with al his bisy cure
Caste now wher that the sepulture                                      2850
Of goode Arcite may best ymaked be
And eek moost honurable in his degree.
And at the laste he took conclusion                                    f.38
That ther as first Arcite and Palamon
Hadden for loue the bataille hem bitwene                               2855
That in the selue groue swoote and grene                               2860
Ther as he hadde hise amorouse desires,
His compleinte, and for loue his hote fyres,
He wolde make a fyr in which the office
Funeral he myghte al acomplice.                                        2860
And leet anoon comaunde to hakke and hewe
The okes olde and leyen hem on a rewe
In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne.
Hise officers with swifte feet they renne
And ryde anoon at his comandement.                                     2865
And after this Theseus hath ysent                                      2870
After a beere and it al ouerspradde
With clooth of gold, the richeste that he hadde.
And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite.
Vpon his handes his gloues white                                       2870
Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer greene,
And in his hand a swerd ful bright and keene,
He leyde hym bare the visage on the beere.
Therwith he weep that pitee was to heere.
And for the peple sholde seen hym alle                                 2875
Whan it was day, he broghte hym to the halle                           2880
That roreth of the cryyng and the sown.
  Tho cam this woful Theban Palamon
With flotry berd and ruggy, asshy heerys,
In clothes blake, ydropped al with teerys;                             2880
And passyng othere of wepyng, Emelye
The rufulleste of al the compaignye.
In as muche as the seruyce sholde be
The moore noble and ryche in his degree,
Duc Theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge                             2885
That trapped weren in steel al gliterynge                              2890
And couered with the armes of daun Arcite.
Vpon thise steedes grete and whyte
Ther seten folk, of which oon baar his sheeld,
Another his spere vpon his hondes heeld,                               2890
The thridde bar with hym his bowe Turkeys.
Of brend gold was the caas and eek the harneys.
And ryden forth a paas with sorweful cheere                            f.38v
Toward the groue, as ye shul after heere.
The nobleste of the Grekys that ther were                              2895
Vpon hir shuldres carieden the beere                                   2900
With slak paas and eyen rede and weete
Thurghout the citee by the maister streete
That sprad was al with blak; and wonder hye
Right of the same is the strete ywrye.                                 2900
Vpon the right hand wente olde Egeus
And on that oother syde duc Theseus,
With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn
Al ful of hony, melk and blood and wyn;
Eek Palamon with ful greet compaignye.                                 2905
And after that cam woful Emelye                                        2910
With fyr in hande, as was that tyme the gyse,
To do the office of funeral seruyse.
  Heigh labour and greet apparaillynge
Was at the seruyce and the fyr-makynge,                                2910
That with his grene top the heuene raughte
And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte;
This is to seyn the bowes were so brode.
Of stree first ther was leyd many a lode.
But how the fyr was maked vpon highte                                  2915
Ne eek the names how the trees highte,                                 2920
As ook, fyrre, birch, asp, alder, holm, popler,
Wylow, elm, plane, assh, box, chestayn, lynde, laurer,
Mapul, thorn, beech, hasyl, ew, whippultree,
How they were feld shal nat been told for me;                          2920
Ne how the goddes ronnen vp and doun
Desherited of hir habitacioun
In which they woneden in reste and pees,
Nymphes, fawnes and amadrides;
Ne how the beestes and the bryddes alle                                2925
Fledden forfered, whan the wode was falle;                             2930
Ne how the ground agast was of the lyght
That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright;
Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree,
And thanne with drye stikkes clouen a three,                           2930
And thanne with grene wode and spicerye,
And thanne with clooth of gold and with perrye
And gerlandes hangynge ful of many a flour,                           f.39
The mirre, th'encens with al so greet sauour;
Ne how Arcite lay among al this;                                      2935
Ne what richesse aboute the body is;                                   2940
Ne how that Emelye, as was the gyse,
Putte in the fyr of funeral seruyse;
Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr;
Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desir;                              2940
Ne what iuels men in the fyr caste
Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste;
Ne how somme caste hir sheeld and somme hir spere
And of hir vestimentz, whiche that they were,
And coppes fulle of milk and wyn and blood                            2945
Into the fyr that brente as it were wood;                             2950
Ne how the Grekys with an huge route
Thries ryden al the fyr aboute
Vpon the left hand with a loud shoutynge,
And thries with hir speres claterynge;                                 2950
And thries how the ladyes gonne crye;
And how that lad was homward Emelye;
Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde;
Ne how that lychwake was yholde
Al thilke nyght; ne how the Grekys pleye                              2955
The wake-pleyes. Ne kepe I noght to seye
Who wrastleth best naked with oille enoynt;
Ne who that baar hym best in no disioynt.
I wol nat tellen al how they goon
Hoom til Atthenes whan the pleye is doon.                            2960
But shortly to the poynt than wol I wende
And maken of my longe tale an ende.
  By proces and by lengthe of certeyn yerys
Al stynt is the moornynge and the terys
Of Grekys by oon general assent.                                      2965
Thanne semed me ther was a parlement                                  2970
At Atthenes vpon a certeyn point and caas.
Among the whiche pointes yspoken was
To haue with certeyn contrees alliance
And haue fully of Thebans obeisance.                                  2970
For which this noble Theseus anon
Leet senden after gentil Palamon,
Vnwist of hym what was the cause and why.                             f.39v
But in his blake clothes sorwefully
He cam at his comandement in hye.                                     2975
Tho sente Theseus for Emelye.
  Whan they were set and hust was al the place
And Theseus abiden hath a space
Er any word cam fro his wise brest,
His eyen sette he ther as was his lest                                2980
And with a sad visage he siked stille,
And after that right thus he seyde his wille:
  "The firste moeuere of the cause aboue,
Whan he first made the faire cheyne of loue,
Greet was th'effect and heigh was his entente.                        2985
Wel wiste he why and what therof he mente.                            2990
For with that faire cheyne of loue he boond
The fyr, the eyr, the water and the loond
In certeyn boundes that they may nat flee.
That same prince and that moeuere,' quod he,                          2990
"Hath stabliced in this wrecched world adoun
Certeine dayes and duracioun
To al that is engendred in this place,
Ouer the which day they may nat pace
Al mowe they yet tho dayes abregge.                                   2995
Ther nedeth noon auctoritee to allegge                                3000
For it is proued by experience,
But that me list declaren my sentence.
Thanne may men wel by this ordre discerne
That thilke moeuere stable is and eterne.                             300o
Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool,
That euery part is diryued from his hool.
For nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng
Of no partie or of cantel of a thyng,
But of a thyng that parfit is and stable                              3005
Descendynge so til it be corrumpable.                                 3010
And therfore for his wise purueiaunce
He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce
That specis of thynges and progressions
Shullen enduren by successions                                        3010
And noght eterne, withouten any lye.
This maistow vnderstonde and seen at iye.
  "Loo the ook that hath so long a norisshynge                        f.40
Fro the tyme that it first gynneth sprynge
And hath so long a lyf, as ye may see                                 3015
Yet at the laste wasted is the tree.                                  3020
  "Considreth eek how that the harde stoon
Vnder oure foot on which we ryde and goon
It wasteth as it lyth by the weye.
The brode ryuer somtyme wexeth dreye.                                 3020
The grete townes se we wane and wende.
Thanne se ye that al this thyng hath ende.
Of man and womman se we wel also
That nedeth in oon of thise termes two,
This is to seyn in youthe or ellis age,                               3025
He moot be deed, the kyng as shal a page:                             3030
Som in his bed, som in the depe see,
Som in the large feeld. As ye may se
Ther helpeth noght: al gooth that ilke weye.
Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye.                       3030
What maketh this but Iuppiter the kyng,
That is prince and cause of alle thyng,
Conuertyng al vnto his propre welle
From which it is diryued sooth to telle?
And heer-agayns no creature on lyue                                   3035
Of no degree auailleth for to stryue.                                 3040
  "Thanne is it wisdom, as it thynketh me,
To maken vertu of necessitee
And take it wel that we may nat eschue,
And nameliche that to vs alle is due.                                 3040
And whoso gruccheth oght, he dooth folye
And rebel is to hym that al may gye.
And certeinly a man hath moost honour
To dyen in his excellence and flour,
Whan he is siker of his goode name.                                   3045
Thanne hath he doon his freend ne hym no shame.                       3050
And gladder oghte his freend been of his deeth
Whan with honour yolden is vp his breeth
Than whan his name apalled is for age,
For al forgeten is his vasselage.                                     3050
Thanne is it best, as for a worthy fame,
To dyen whan he is best of name.
  "The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse.
Why grucchen we, why haue we heuynesse
That goode Arcite, of chiualrie flour,                            f.40v 3055
Departed is with duetee and with honour                               3060
Out of this foule prison of this lyf?
Why gruccheth heere his cosyn and his wyf
Of his welfare, that loueth hem so weel?
Kan he hem thank (Nay, god woot, neuer-a-deel),                       3060
That bothe his soule and eek hemself offende?
And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende.
  "What may I conclude of this longe serye
But after wo I rede vs to be merye
And thanken Iuppiter of al his grace?                                 3065
And er we departen from this place                                    3070
I rede we make of sorwes two
O parfit ioye lastynge eueremo.
And loketh now wher moost sorwe is herinne,
Ther wol I first amenden and bigynne.                                 3070
  "Suster,' quod he, "this is my ful assent
With al th'auys heer of my parlement
That gentil Palamon, youre owene knyght,
That serueth yow with wyl and herte myght
And euere hath doon syn ye first hym knewe,                           3075
That ye shal of youre grace vpon hym rewe                             3080
And taken hym for housbond and for lord.
Leen me youre hond, for this is oure acord.
Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee.
He is a kynges brother sone pardee.                                   3080
And thogh he were a poure bachiler,
Syn he hath serued yow so many a yeer
And had for yow so greet aduersitee,
It moste been considred, leueth me,
For gentil mercy oghte to passen right.'                              3085
  Thanne seyde he thus to Palamon the knyght:                         3090
"I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng
To make yow assente to this thyng.
Com neer and taketh youre lady by the hond.'
  Bitwixe hem was maad anon the bond                                  3090
That highte matrymoigne or mariage
By al the conseil and the baronage.
And thus with alle blisse and melodye
Hath Palamon ywedded Emelye.
And god, that al this world hath wroght,                         f.41 3095
Sende hym his loue that hath it deere aboght,                         3100
For now is Palamon in alle wele,
Lyuynge in blisse, in richesse and in heele.
And Emelye hym loueth so tendrely
And he hir serueth so gentilly                                        3100
That was ther no word hem bitwene
Of ialousie or any oother teene.
Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye,
And god saue al this faire compaignye. Amen.

<1Here is ended the knyghtes tale.>1











                      The Miller's Prologue and Tale

<1The prologe of the milleres tale.>1
Whan that the knyght hadde thus his tale ytoold,                      3105
In al the compaignie nas ther yong ne oold                            3110
That he ne seyde it was a noble storie
And worthy for to drawen to memorie,
And namely the gentils euerichon.
  Oure hoost lough and swoor: "So moot I gon,                         3110
This gooth aright. Vnbokeled is the male.
Lat se now who shal telle another tale,
For trewely the game is wel bigonne.
Now telleth ye, sire monk, if that ye konne,
Somwhat to quite with the knyghtes tale.'                             3115
  The millere that fordronken was a pale                              3120
So that vnnethe vpon his hors he sat,
He nolde aualen neither hood ne hat
Ne abiden no man for his curteisye.
But in Pilates voys he gan to crye                                    3120
And swoor: "By armes and by blood and bones,
I kan a noble tale for the nones
With which I wol now quite the knyghtes tale.'
  Oure hoost saugh that he was dronke of ale
And seyde: "Abyde, Robyn, leeue brother,                       f.41 v 3125
Som bettre man shal telle vs first another.                           3130
Abyde, and lat vs werken thriftily.'
  "By goddes soule,' quod he, "that wol nat I.
For I wol speke or ellis go my wey.'
  Oure hoost answerde: "Tel on, a deuele wey.                         3130
Thow art a fool. Thy wit is ouercome.'
  "Now herkneth,' quod the millere, "alle and some.
But first I make a protestacioun
That I am dronke. I knowe it by my sown.
And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye,                              3135
Wite it the ale of Southwerk I preye.                                 3140
For I wol telle a legende and a lyf,
Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf,
How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe.'
  The reue answerde and seyde: "Stynt thy clappe.                     3140
Lat be thy lewed, dronken harlotrye.
It is a synne and eek a greet folye
To apeyren any man or hym diffame
And eek to bryngen wyues in swich fame.
Thow mayst ynow of othere thynges seyn.'                              3145
  This dronken miller spak ful soone ageyn                            3150
And seyde: "Leeue brother Osewold,
Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold.
But I seye nat therfore that thow art oon.                            3149
Ther been ful goode wyues many oon.                                   3154
Why artow angry with my tale now?                                     3157
I haue a wyf pardee as wel as thow.
Yet nolde I for the oxen in my plough
Take vpon me moore than ynough                                        3160
As demen of myself that I were oon.                                   3155
I wol bileeue wel that I am noon.
An housbonde shal noght been inquisityf
Of goddes pryuetee nor of his wyf.
So he may fynde goddes foyson there,
Of the remenant nedeth noght enquere.'                                3160
  What sholde I moore seyn but this millere
He nolde his wordes for no man forbere,
But tolde his cherles tale in his manere?
Me athynketh that I shal reherce it heere                             3170
And therfore euery gentil wight, I preye,                         f.42 3165
Demeth noght for goddes loue that I seye
Of yuel entente, but for I moot reherse
Hir tales alle be they bet or werse
Or ellis falsen som of my matere.
And therfore whoso list it noght yhere                                3170
Turne ouer the leef and chese another tale,
For he shal fynde ynowe, grete and smale,
Of storial thyng that toucheth gentilesse
And eek moralitee and holynesse.                                      3180
Blameth noght me if that ye chese amys.                               3175
The millere is a cherl, ye knowe wel this,
So was the reue eek and othere mo:
And harlotrye they tolden bothe two.
Auyseth yow and put me out of blame,
And eek men shal noght maken ernest of game.                          3180


<1Here bigynneth the millerys tale.>1


Whilom ther was dwellyng in Oxenford
A riche gnof that gestes heeld to bord,
And of his craft he was a carpenter.
With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler                            3190
Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasie                                 3185
Was turned for to leere astrologie,
And koude a certeyn of conclusions
To demen by interrogacions,
If that men axed hym in certein houres
Whan that men sholde haue droghte or ellis shoures,                   3190
Or if men axed hym what shal bifalle
Of euery thyng. I may nat rekene hem alle.
  This clerk was clepyd hende Nicholas.
Of derne loue he koude and of solas.                                  3200
And therto he was sleigh and ful pryuee                               3195
And lyk a mayde meke for to see.
A chambre hadde he in that hostelrie
Allone withouten any compaignye
Ful fetisly dight with herbes swoote.
And he hymself as sweete as is the roote                              3200
Of lycorys or any cetuale.                                            f.42v
His Almageste and bookes grete and smale,
His astrelabye longynge for his art,
His augrym stones layen faire apart                                   3210
On shelues couched at his beddes heed;                                3205
His presse ycouered with a faldyng reed.
And al aboue ther lay a gay sautrye
On which he made a nyghtes melodye
So swetely that al the chambre roong.
And <1Angelus ad Virginem>1 he soong.                                     3210
And after that he soong the kynges note.
Ful often blissed was his murye throte.
And thus this swete clerk his tyme spente
After his freendes fyndyng and his rente.                             3220
  This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf                              3215
Which that he louede moore than his lyf.
Of xviij yeer she was of age.
Ialous he was and heeld hir narwe in cage,
For she was wilde and yong and he was old
And demed hymself been lyk a cokewold.                                3220
He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude,
That bad men sholde wedde his similitude.
Men sholde wedden after hir estaat,
For youthe and elde is often at debaat.                               3230
But sith that he was fallen in the snare,                             3225
He moste endure as oother folk his care.
   Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal
As any wesele hir body gent and smal.
A ceynt she werde, barred al of sylk,
A barmclooth as whit as morne-mylk                                    3230
Vpon hir lendes, ful of many a goore.
Whit was hir smok and broyden al bifoore
And eek bihynde on hir coler aboute
Of colblak silk withinne and eek withoute.                            3240
The tapes of hir white voluper                                        3235
Were of the same sute of hir coler.
Hir filet brood of sylk and set ful hye.
And sikerly she hadde a likerous iye.
Ful smale ypulled were hir browes two
And tho were bent and blake as is a slo.                              3240
She was ful moore blisful on to see                                   f.43
Than is the newe pereionette tree,
And softer than the wolle is of a wether.
And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether                              3250
Tasseled with silk and perled with latoun.                            3245
In al this world to seken vp and doun
Ther nys no man so wys that koude thenche
So gay a popelote or swich a wenche.
Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe
Than in the Tour the noble yforged newe.                              3250
But of hir soong it was as loude and yerne
As any swalwe sittyng on a berne.
Therto she koude skippe and make game
As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame.                                3260
Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth                           3255
Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth.
Wynsynge she was as is a ioly colt,
Loong as a mast and vprighte as a bolt.
A brooch she baar vpon hir loue coler
As brood as is the boos of a bokeler.                                 3260
Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye.
She was a prymerole, a piggesnye,
For any lord to leggen in his bedde
Or yet for any good yeman to wedde.                                   3270
  Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas                          3265
That on a day this hende Nicholas
Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye
Whil that hir housbonde was at Osneye
(As clerkes been ful subtil and ful queynte)
And pryuely he caughte hir by the queynte                             3270
And seyde: "Ywys but if ich haue my wille
For derne loue of thee, lemman, I spille.'
And heeld hir harde by the haunche-bones
And seyde: "Lemman, loue me al atones                                 3280
Or I wol dyen, also god me saue.'                                     3275
  And she sproong as a colt dooth in the traue
And with hir heed she wryed faste awey.
She seyde: "I wol nat kisse thee by my fey.
Wy, lat be quod ich, lat be Nicholas.
Or I wol crye out, harrow and allas.                                  3280
Do wey youre handes for youre curteisye '                             f 43v
  This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye
And spak so faire and profred hym so faste
That she hir loue hym graunted atte laste.                            3290
And swoor hir ooth by seint Thomas of Kent                            3285
That she wolde been at his comaundement
Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.
"Myn housbonde is so ful of ialousie
That but ye waite wel and been pryuee,
I woot right wel I nam but deed,' quod she.                           3290
"Ye moste been ful derne as in this cas.'
  "Nay, therof care thee noght,' quod Nicholas.
"A clerc hadde lutherly biset his while
But if he koude a carpenter bigyle.'                                  3300
And thus they been acorded and ysworn                                 3295
To waite a tyme, as I haue told biforn.
Whan Nicholas hadde doon thus euery del
And thakked hire vpon the lendes wel,
He kiste hir sweete and taketh his sautrye
And pleyeth faste and maketh melodye.                                 3300
  Thanne fil it thus that to the parissh chirche,
Cristes owene werkes for to wirche,
This goode-wyf wente on an haliday.
Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day,                               3310
So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk.                             3305
  Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk
The which that was yclepid Absolon.
Crul was his heer and as the gold it shoon
And strouted as a fanne large and brode.
Ful streight and euene lay his ioly shode.                            3310
His rode was reed, hise eyen greye as goos.
With Poules wyndow coruen on his shoos,
In hoses rede he wente fetisly.
Yclad he was ful smal and proprely                                    3320
Al in a kirtel of a light waget,                                      3315
Ful faire and thikke been the pointes set.
And thervpon he hadde a gay surplys
As whit as is the blosme vpon the rys.
A murye child he was, so god me saue.
Wel koude he laten blood and clippe and shaue                         3320
And maken a chartre of lond or aquitaunce.                            f.44
On twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce
After the scole of Oxenford tho
And with his legges casten to and fro,                                3330
And pleyen songes on a smal rubible.                                  3325
Therto he soong somtyme a loud quynyble.
And as wel koude he pleye on a gyterne.
In al the town nas brewhous ne tauerne
That he ne visited with his solas
Ther any gaylard tappestere was.                                      3330
But sooth to seyn he was somdel squaymous
Of fartyng and of speche daungerous.
  This Absolon, that ioly was and gay,
Gooth with a sencer on the haliday                                    3340
Sensynge the wyues of the parisshe faste.                             3335
And many a louely look on hem he caste
And namely on this carpenters wyf.
To looke on hire hym thoughte a murye lyf:
She was so propre and sweete and likerous.
I dar wel seyn if she hadde been a mous                               3340
And he a cat, he wolde hir hente anon.
This parisshe clerk, this ioly Absolon,
Hath in his herte swich a loue-longynge
That of no wyf ne took he noon offrynge.                              3350
For curteisye, he seyde, he wolde noon.                               3345
The moone, whan it was nyght, ful brighte shoon,
And Absolon his gyterne hath ytake
For paramours he thoghte for to wake.
And forth he gooth, iolyf and amorous,
Til he cam to the carpenters hous                                     3350
A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe
And dressed hym vp by a shot-wyndowe
That was vpon the carpenters wal.
He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal:                               3360
"Now, deere lady, if thy wille be                                     3355
I prey yow that ye wol rewe on me,'
Ful wel acordant to his giternynge.
  This carpenter awook and herde hym synge
And spak vnto his wyf and seyde anon:
"What, Alison, herestow noght Absolon                                 3360
That chaunteth thus vnder oure boures wal?'                           f 44v
  And she answerde hir housbonde therwithal:
"Yis, god woot, Iohn, I here it euery del.'
  This passeth forth; what wol ye bet than wel?                       3370
Fro day to day this ioly Absolon                                      3365
So woweth hir that hym is wo bigon.
He waketh al the nyght and al the day.
He kembed his lokkes brode and made hym gay.
He woweth hir by meenes and brocage
And swoor he wolde been hir owene page.                               3370
He syngeth brokkyng as a nyghtyngale.
He sente hir pyment, meeth and spiced ale
And wafres pipyng hoot out of the gleede.
And for she was of towne he profred meede,                            3380
For som folk wol be wonnen for richesse                               3375
And som for strokes and som for gentilesse.
Somtyme to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye
He pleyeth Herodes vpon a scaffold hye.
But what auailleth hym as in this cas.
She loueth so this hende Nicholas                                     3380
That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn.
He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn
And thus she maketh Absolon hir ape
And al his ernest turneth til a iape.                                 3390
Ful sooth is this prouerbe, it is no lye,                             3385
Men seith right thus: alwey the neighe slye
Maketh the ferre leeue to be looth.
For thogh that Absolon be wood or wrooth,
By cause that he fer was from hir sighte
This neighe Nicholas stood in his lighte.                             3390
  Now bere thee wel, thow hende Nicholas,
For Absolon may waille and synge allas.
  And so bifel it on a Saterday
This carpenter was goon til Osenay,                                   3400
And hende Nicholas and Alison                                         3395
Acorded been to this conclusion
That Nicholas shal shapen hem a wile
This sely ialous housbonde to bigile.
And if so be the game wente aright
She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght,                                3400
For this was hir desir and his also.                                  f.45
And right-anoon withouten wordes mo
This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie
But dooth ful softe vnto his chambre carie                            3410
Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye.                             3405
And to hir housbonde bad hire for to seye
If that he axed after Nicholas,
She sholde seye she nyste wher he was.
Of al that day she seigh hym noght with iye.
She trowed that he was in maladye                                     3410
For for no cry hir mayde koude hym calle.
He nolde answere for nothyng that myghte falle.
  This passeth forth al thilke Saterday
That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay,                              3420
And eet and sleep or dide what hym leste                              3415
Til Sonday that sonne gooth to reste.
This sely carpenter hath greet meruaille
Of Nicholas or what thyng myghte hym aille
And seyde: "I am adrad by seint Thomas
It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas.                                 3420
God shilde that he deyde sodeynly.
This world is now ful tikel sikerly:
I seigh today a corps born to chirche
That now a Monday last I seigh hym wirche.                            3430
Go vp,' quod he vnto his knaue anoon.                                 3425
"Clepe at his dore or knokke with a stoon.
Looke how it is and tel me boldely.'
  This knaue gooth hym vp ful sturdily.
And at the chambre-dore, whil that he stood,
He cryde and knokked as that he were wood:                            3430
"What how? What do ye, maister Nicholay?
How may ye slepen al the longe day?'
But al for noght; he herde nat a word.
An hole he foond ful lowe vpon a bord                                 3440
Ther as the cat was wont in for to crepe                              3435
And at that hole he looked in ful depe.
And atte laste he hadde of hym a sighte.
This Nicholas sat euere capyng vprighte
As he hadde kiked on the newe moone.
Adown he gooth and tolde his maister soone                            3440
In what array he saw this ilke man.                                   f.45v
   This carpenter to blessen hym bigan
And seyde: "Help vs, seinte Frideswyde.
A man woot litel what hym shal bityde.                                3450
This man is falle with his astromye                                   3445
In som woodnesse or in som agonye.
I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be.
Men sholde noght knowe of goddes priuetee.
Ye, blissed be alwey a lewed man
That noght but oonly his bileue kan.                                  3450
So ferde another clerk with astromye:
He walked in the feeldes for to prye
Vpon the sterres what ther sholde bifalle
Til he was in a marle-pit yfalle.                                     3460
He saw nat that. But yet by seint Thomas                              3455
Me reweth sore of hende Nicholas.
He shal be rated of his studiyng,
If that I may, by Iesus heuene-kyng.
Get me a staf that I may vnderspore
Whil that thow, Robyn, heuest vp the dore.                            3460
He shal out of his studyyng as I gesse.'
And to the chambre-dore he gan hym dresse.
His knaue was a strong carl for the nones
And by the haspe he haaf it vp atones.                                3470
Into the floor the dore fil anoon.                                    3465
  This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon
And euere caped vp into the eyr.
This carpenter wende he were in despeyr
And hente hym by the sholdres myghtily
And shook hym harde and cryde spitously:                              3470
"What, Nicholay, what how? Looke adoun.
Awake and thenk on Cristes passioun.
I crouche thee from elues and fro wightes.'
Therwith the nyghtspel seyde he anon-rightes                          3480
On foure halues of the hous aboute                                    3475
And on the thresshfold on the dore withoute:
"lesu Crist and seint Benedight,
Blesse this hous from euery wikked wight;
For the nyghtes nerye the white Pater Noster.
Where wentestow seinte Petres suster?'                                3480
  And at the laste this hende Nicholas                                f.46
Gan for to sike soore and seyde: "Allas
Shal al the world be lost eftsoones now?'
  This carpenter answerde: "What seistow?                             3490
What thenk on god as we doon men that swynke.'                        3485
  This Nicholas answerde: "Fecche me drynke,
And after wol I speke in pryuetee
Of certein thyng that toucheth me and thee.
I wol telle it noon oother man certayn.'
  This carpenter gooth doun and comth agayn                           3490
And broghte of myghty ale a large quart.
And whan that eech of hem hadde dronke his part,
This Nicholas his dore faste shette,
And doun the carpenter by hym he sette,                               3500
And seyde: "Iohn, myn hoost lief and deere,                           3495
Thou shalt vpon thy trouthe swere me heere
That to no wight thou shalt this conseil wreye,
For it is Cristes conseil that I seye.
And if thou telle it man, thou art forlore.
For this vengeaunce thow shalt haue therfore                          3500
That if thow wreye me thow shalt be wood.'
  "Nay, Crist forbede it for his holy blood,'
Quod tho this sely man, "I nam no labbe.
And thogh I seye, I nam nat lief to gabbe.                            3510
Sey what thow wolt, I shal it neuere telle                            3505
To child ne wyf by hym that harwed helle.'
  "Now, Iohn,' quod Nicholas, "I wol noght lye.
I haue yfounde in myn astrologye,
As I haue looked in the moone bright,
That now a Monday next at quarter-nyght                               3510
Shal falle a reyn and that so wilde and wood
That half so greet was neuere Nowels flood.
This world,' he seyde, "in lasse than in an hour
Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the shour.                            3520
Thus shal mankynde drenche and lese hir lyf.                          3515
  This carpenter answerde: "Allas my wyf.
And shal she drenche? Allas myn Alisoun.'
For sorwe of this he fil almoost adoun
And seyde: "Is ther no remedie in this cas?'
  "Why, yis, for gode,' quod hende Nicholas                           3520
"If thow wolt werken after loore and reed                             f.46v
Thow mayst noght werken after thyn owene heed,
For thus seith Salomon that was ful trewe:
Werk al by conseil and thow shalt noght rewe.                         3530
And if thow werken wolt by good consayl,                              3525
I vndertake withouten mast or sayl
Yit shal I saue hir and thee and me.
Hastow nat herd how saued was Noe,
Whan that oure lord hadde warned hym biforn
That al the world with water sholde be lorn?'                         3530
  "Yis,' quod this carpenter, "ful yore ago.'
  "Hastow nat herd,' quod Nicholas also,
"The sorwe of Noe with his felaweshipe
Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe?                              3540
Hym hadde leuere, I dar wel vndertake,                                3535
At thilke tyme than alle hise wetheres blake
That she hadde had a ship hirself allone.
And therfore wostow what is best to done?
This axeth haste, and of an hastyf thyng
Men may noght preche or maken tariyng.                                3540
Anoon go gete vs faste into this in
A knedyng-trogh or ellis a kymelyn
For eech of vs. But looke that they be large,
In whiche we mowen swymme as in a barge                               3550
And han therinne vitaille suffisaunt                                  3545
But for a day; fy on the remenaunt.
The water shal aslake and goon away
Aboute pryme vpon the nexte day.
But Robyn may nat wite of this, thy knaue,
Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat saue.                                3550
Axe noght why, for thogh thou axe me
I wol noght tellen goddes pryuetee.
Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde,
To han as greet a grace as Noe hadde.                                 3560
Thy wif shal I wel sauen out of doute.                                3555
Go now thy wey and speed thee heeraboute.
But whan thou hast for hir and thee and me
Ygeten vs thise knedyng-tubbes thre
Thanne shaltow hangen hem in the roof ful hye
That no man of oure purueiance espye.                                 3560
And whan thow thus hast doon as I haue seyd                           f.47
And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd
And eek an ax to smyte the corde atwo
Whan that the water cometh that we may go,                            3570
And breke an hole an heigh vpon the gable                             3565
Vnto the gardynward ouer the stable
That we may frely passen forth oure wey.
Whan that the grete shour is goon awey,
Thanne shaltow swymme as murye, I vndertake,
As dooth the white doke after his drake.                              3570
Thanne wol I clepe: "How, Alison? How, Iohn?
Be murye for the flood wol passe anon.'
And thou wolt seyn: "Hail, maister Nicholay.
Good morwe. I see thee wel, for it is day.'                          3580
And thanne shal we be lordes al oure lyf                              3575
Of al the world, as Noe and his wyf.
But of o thyng I warne thee ful right.
Be wel auysed on that ilke nyght
That we been entred into shippes bord
That noon of vs ne speke noght a word                                 3580
Ne clepe ne crye, but been in his prayere,
For it is goddes owene heste deere.
Thy wyf and thow mote hange fer atwynne
For that bitwix yow shal be no synne                                  3590
Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in dede.                            3585
This ordinaunce is seyd. Go. God thee spede.
Tomorwe at nyght whan men been alle aslepe
Into oure knedyng-tubbes wol we crepe
And sitten there abidyng goddes grace.
Go now thy wey. I haue no lenger space                                3590
To make of this no lenger sermonyng.
Men seyn thus: Seend the wise and sey nothyng.
Thow art so wys, it nedeth thee nat teche.
Go. Saue oure lyf. And that I thee biseche.'                          3600
  This sely carpenter gooth forth his wey.                            3595
Ful ofte he seyde allas and weylawey.
And to his wyf he tolde his priuetee,
And she was war and knew it bet than he
What al this queynte cast was for to seye.
But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye                             3600
And seyde: "Allas, go forth thy wey anon.                             f.47v
Help vs to scape or we been dede echon.
I am thy trewe, verray wedded wyf.
Go, deere spouse, and help to saue oure lyf.'                         3610
  Lo which a greet thyng is affeccion!                                3605
Men may dyen of ymaginacion,
So depe may impression be take.
This sely carpenter bigynneth quake.
Hym thynketh verrailiche that he may se
Noes flood come walwyng as the see                                    3610
To drenchen Alison, his hony deere.
He wepeth, waileth, maketh sory cheere.
He siketh with ful many a sory swogh.
And gooth and geteth hym a knedyng-trogh                              3620
And after a tubbe and a kymelyn.                                      3615
And pryuely he sente hem to his in
And heeng hem in the roof in priuetee.
His owene hand he made laddres thre
To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes
Vnto the tubbes hangyng in the balkes.                                3620
And hem vitailed, bothe trogh and tubbe,
With breed and chese and good ale in a iubbe,
Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day.
But er that he hadde maad al this array                               3630
He sente his knaue and eek his wenche also                            3625
Vpon his nede to Londoun for to go.
And on the Monday whan it drogh to nyght,
He shette his dore withouten candel-lyght
And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be.
And shortly vp they clomben alle thre.                                3630
They seten stille wel a furlong way.
"Now Pater Noster, clom,' seyde Nicholay,
And "Clum' quod Iohn, and "Clum' seyde Alison.
This carpenter seyde his deuocion                                     3640
And stille he sit and biddeth his prayere                             3635
Awaitynge on the reyn if he it heere.
  The dede sleep for wery bisynesse
Fil on this carpenter, right as I gesse,
Aboute corfew-tyme or litel moore.
For trauaillyng of his goost he groneth soore,                        3640
And eft he routeth for his heed myslay.                               f.48
Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay
And Alison ful softe adoun she spedde.
Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde                                3650
Ther as the carpenter is wont to lye.                                 3645
Ther was the reuel and the melodye.
And thus lyth Alison and Nicholas
In busynesse of myrthe and in solas
Til that the belle of laudees gan to rynge
And freres in the chauncel gonne synge.                               3650
  This parissh clerk, this amorous Absolon,
That is for loue alwey so wo-bigon,
Vpon the Monday was at Osneye
With compaignye hym to disporte and pleye.
And axed vpon caas a cloistrer                                        3655
Ful pryuely after Iohn the carpenter.
And he drogh hym apart out of the cherche
And seyde: "I noot. I saugh hym here noght werche
Sith Saterday. I trowe that he be went
For tymber ther oure abbot hath hym sent,                             3660
For he is wont for tymber for to go
And dwellen atte graunge a day or two.
Or ellis he is at his hous certeyn.
Where that he be, I kan noght soothly seyn.'                          3670
  This Absolon ful iolyf was and lyght                                3665
And thoghte: "Now is tyme to wake al nyght.
For sikerly I saugh hym noght stirynge
Aboute his dore syn day bigan to sprynge.
So mote I thryue, I shal at cokkes crowe
Ful priuely knokken at his wyndowe                                    3670
That stant ful lowe vpon his boures wal.
To Alison now wol I tellen al
My loue-longyng. For yit I shal nat mysse
That at the leeste wey I shal hir kisse.                              3680
Som manere confort shal I haue parfay.                                3675
My mouth hath icched al this longe day,
That is a signe of kissyng at the leeste.
Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste.
Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye.
And al the nyght than wol I wake and pleye.'                          3680
  Whan that the firste cok hath crowe anon                            f.48v
Vp rist this ioly louere Absolon
And hym arrayeth gay at point-deuys.
But first he cheweth grayn and likorys                                3690
To smellen swete, er he hadde kembd his heer.                         3685
Vnder his tonge a trewe-loue he beer,
For therby wende he to be gracious.
He rometh to the carpenters hous
And stille he stant vnder the shot-wyndowe.
Vnto his brest it raughte, it was so lowe.                            3690
And ofte he cogheth with a semysown:
"What do ye, honycomb, swete Alisoun,
My faire bryd, my swete cynamome?
Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to me.                               3700
Wel litel thynken ye vpon my wo,                                      3695
That for youre loue I swete ther I go.
No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete,
I  moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete.
Ywis, lemman, I haue swich loue-longyng
That lyk a turtle trewe is my moornyng.                               3700
I  may nat ete namoore than a mayde.'
   "Go fro the wyndow, lakke fool,' she sayde.
"As help me God, it wol nat be com-pa-me.
I  loue another, and ellis I were to blame,                           3710
Wel bet than thee, by Iesu, Absolon.                                  3705
Go forth thy wey or I wol caste a stoon,
And lat me slepe a twenty deuele wey.'
   "Allas,' quod Absolon, "and weilawey
That trewe loue was euere so yuel biset.
Thanne kys me, syn that it may be no bet,                             3710
For Iesus loue and for the loue of me.'
   "Woltow thanne go thy wey therwith?' quod she.
   "Ye certes, lemman,' quod this Absolon.
   "Thanne make thee redy,' quod she, "I come anon.'                  3720
   This Absolon doun sette hym on his knees                           3723
And seyde: "I am a lord at alle degrees,                              3716
For after this I hope ther cometh moore.
Lemman, thy grace, and, swete bryd, thyn oore.'
   The wyndow she vndooth and that in haste.
"Haue do,' quod she, "com of and speed thee faste                     3720
Lest that oure neghebores thee espye.'                                f.49
   This Absolon gan wipe his mouth ful drye.                          3730
Derk was the nyght as pych or as the cole,
And at the wyndow out she putte hir hole.
And Absolon hym fil no bet ne wers                                    3725
But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers
Ful sauourly, er he were war of this.
Abak he sterte and thoghte it was amys,
For wel he wiste a womman hath no berd.
He felte a thyng al rogh and longe yherd                              3730
And seyde: "Fy allas, what haue I do?'
   "Te-hee,' quod she, and clapte the wyndow to.                      3740
And Absolon gooth forth a sory paas.
   "A berd, a berd,' quod hende Nicholas,
"By goddes corpus this gooth faire and wel.'                          3735
   This sely Absolon herde euery del
And on his lippe he gan for anger byte.
And to hymself he seyde: "I shal thee quyte.'
Who rubbeth now, who froteth now his lippes
With dust, with sond, with straw, with clooth, with chippes,          3740
But Absolon that seith ful ofte allas?
"My soule bitake vnto Sathanas                                        3750
But me were leuere than al this town,' quod he,
"Of this despit awreken for to be.
Allas,' quod he, "allas I ne hadde ybleynt.'                          3745
His hote loue was coold and al yqueynt.
For fro that tyme that he hadde kist hir ers,
Of paramours he sette noght a kers,
For he was heelyd of his maladye.
Ful ofte paramours he gan defye,                                      3750
And weep as dooth a child that is ybete.
A  softe paas he wente ouer the strete                                3760
Vntil a smyth, men clepen daun Gerueys,
That in his forge smythed plogh-harneys.
He sharpeth shaar and cultour bisily.                                 3755
This Absolon knokketh al esily
And seyde: "Vndo, Gerueys, and that anon.'
   "What? Who artow?' "It am I, Absolon.'
"What, Absolon, what, Cristes swete tree,
Why rise ye so rathe? Ey benedicitee                                  3760
What eyleth yow? Som gay gerl, god it woot                            f 49v
Hath broght yow thus vpon the viritoot;                               3770
By seinte Note ye woot wel what I mene.'
   This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene
Of al his pley; no word agayn he yaf.                                 3765
He hadde moore tow on his dystaf
Than Gerueys knew and seyde: "Freend so deere,
That hoote cultour in the chymenee heere
As lene it me, I haue therwith to doone.
I  wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone.'                               3770
   Gerueys answerde: "Certes were it gold
Or in a poke nobles al vntold                                         3780
Thow sholdest haue as I am trewe smyth.
Ey Cristes foo, what wol ye do therwith?'
   "Therof,' quod Absolon, "be as be may.                             3775
I  shal wel telle it thee another day.'
And caughte the cultour by the colde stele.
Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele
And wente vnto the carpenters wal.
He cogheth first and knokketh therwithal                              3780
Vpon the wyndow right as he dide er.
   This Alison answerde: "Who is ther                                 3790
That knokketh so? I warante it a theef.'
   "Wy nay,' quod he. "God woot, my swete lief,
I  am thyn Absolon, my derelyng.                                      3785
Of gold,' quod he, "I haue thee broght a ryng.
My moder yaf it me, so god me saue.
Ful fyn it is and therto wel ygraue.
This wol I yeuen thee if thow me kisse.'
   This Nicholas was risen for to pisse                               3790
And thoghte he wolde amenden al the iape:
He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape.                             3800
And vp the wyndow dide he hastely
And out his ers he putteth pryuely
Ouer the buttok to the haunche-bon.                                   3795
   And therwith spak this clerk, this Absolon:
"Spek, swete herte, I noot noght wher thow art.'

This Nicholas anoon leet fle a fart
As greet as it hadde been a thonder-dent
That with the strook he was almoost yblent.                           3800
And he was redy with his iren hoot                                    f.50
And Nicholas in the ers he smoot:                                     3810
Of gooth the skyn an handbrede aboute.
The hoote cultour brende so his toute
That for the smert he wende for to dye.                               3805
As he were wood for wo he gan to crye:
"Help, water, water, help for goddes herte.'
   This carpenter out of his slomber sterte
And herde oon cryen "Water' as he were wood
And thoghte: "Allas, now cometh Nowelys flood.'                       3810
He sette hym vp withoute wordes mo
And with his ax he smoot the corde atwo                               3820
And down gooth al. He foond neither to selle
Ne breed ne ale til he cam to the celle
Vpon the floor and ther aswowne he lay.                               3815
   Vp stirte hir Alison and Nicholay
And cryden "Out' and "Harrow' in the strete.
The neghebores bothe smale and grete
In ronnen for to gauren on this man
That aswowne lay, bothe pale and wan,                                 3820
For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm.
But stonde he moste vnto his owene harm,                              3830
For whan he spak he was anon bore doun
With hende Nicholas and Alisoun.
They tolden euery man that he was wood.                               3825
He was agast so of Nowelys flood
Thurgh fantasie that of his vanytee
He hadde yboght hym knedyng-tubbes thre
And hadde hem hanged in the roof aboue
And that he preyde hem for goddes loue                                3830
To sitten in the roof par compaignye.
   The folk gan laughen at his fantasye.                              3840
Into the roof they kiken and they cape,
And turned al his harm vnto a iape.
For whatso that this carpenter answerde,                              3835
It was for noght: no man his reson herde.
With othes grete he was so sworn adoun
That he was holden wood in al the toun.
For euery clerk anon-right heeld with oother;
They seyde: "The man was wood, my leeue brother.'                     3840
And euery wight gan laughen at this stryf.                            f.50v
   Thus swyued was the carpenters wyf                                 3850
For al his kepyng and his ialousye.
And Absolon hath kist hir nether iye
And Nicholas is scalded in the toute.                                 3845
This tale is doon, and god saue al the route.

Here is ended the millerys tale.
The Reeve's Prologue and Tale






The prologe of the reues tale.


Whan folk hadde laughen at this nyce cas
Of Absolon and hende Nicholas,
Diuerse folk diuersely they seyde,
But for the moore part they lowe and pleyde.                          3850
Ne at his tale I seigh no man hym greue
But it were oonly Osewold the reue.                                   3860
By cause he was of carpenters craft,
A  litel ire is in his herte ylaft.
He gan to grucche and blamed it a lite.                               3855
   "So the ik,' quod he, "ful wel koude I thee quyte
With bleryng of a proud millerys iye,
If that me liste speke of rybaudye.
But ik am oold, me list no pleye for age.
Gras tyme is doon, my fodder is now forage.                           3860
This white top writeth myne olde yerys,
Myn herte is also mowled as myne herys                                3870
But if ik fare as dooth an open-ers,
That ilke fruyt is euer lenger the wers
Til it be roten in mollok or in stree;                                3865
We olde men, I drede, so fare we:
Til we be roten kan we noght be rype.
We hoppe alwey whil that the world wol pipe,
For in oure wil ther stiketh euere a nayl
To haue an hoor heer and a grene tayl                                 3870
As hath a leek. For thogh oure myght be goon,
Oure wil desireth folie euere in oon,                                 3880
For whan we may noght doon than wol we speke.
Yet in oure asshen olde is fyr yreke.
Foure gleedes haue we, whiche I shal deuyse:                     f.51 3875
Auauntyng, lyyng, anger, coueitise.
Thise foure sparkles longen vnto eelde.
Oure lymes mowe wel been vnweelde,
But wil ne shal noght faillen that is sooth.
And yet I haue alwey a coltes tooth,                                  3880
As many a yeer as it is passed henne
Syn that my tappe of lyf bigan to renne.                              3890
For sikerlik whan ik was bore, anon
Deeth drogh the tappe of lyf and leet it goon.
And euere sith hath so the tappe yronne                               3885
Til that almoost al empty is the tonne:
The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chymbe.
The sely tonge may wel rynge and chymbe
Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yoore.
With olde folk, saue dotage is namoore.'                              3890
   Whan that oure hoost hadde herd this sermonyng,
He gan to speke as lordly as a kyng.                                  3900
He seyde: "What amounteth al this wit?
What, shal we speke al day of holy writ?
The deuel made a reue for to preche                                   3895
Or of a souter a shipman or a leche.
Sey forth thy tale and tarie noght the tyme.
Lo Depeford and it is half-wey pryme,
Lo Grenewych, ther many a sherewe is inne,
It were al tyme thy tale to bigynne.'                                 3900
   "Now, sires,' quod this Osewold the reue,
"I pray yow alle that ye noght yow greue                              3910
Thogh I answere and somdel sette his howue
For leueful is with force force of showue.
This dronken miller hath ytoold vs heer                               3905
How that bigiled was a carpenter,
Parauenture in scorn for I am oon.
And by youre leue I shal hym quyte anon.
Right in his cherles termes wol I speke.
I pray to god his nekke mote tobreke.                                 3910
He kan wel in myn eye seen a stalke,
But in his owene he kan noght seen a balke.'                          3920

   At Trompyngtoun nat fer fro Cantebrygge
Ther gooth a brook and ouer that a brygge.
Vpon the which brook ther stant a melle,                        f.51v 3915
And this is verray sooth that I yow telle.
A  miller was ther dwellyng many a day,
As any pecok he was proud and gay.
Pipen he koude and fisshe and nettes beete
And torne coppes and wel wrastle and sheete.                          3920
And by his belt he baar a long panade
And of a swerd ful trenchaunt was the blade.                          3930
A  ioly popper baar he in his pouche.
Ther was no man for peril dorste hym touche.
A  Sheffeld thwitel baar he in his hose.                              3925
Round was his face and camuse was his nose.
As piled as an ape was his skulle.
He was a market-beter atte fulle.
Ther dorste no wight hand vpon hym legge
That he ne swoor he sholde anon abegge.                               3930
A  theef he was for sothe of corn and mele,
And that a sleigh and vsant for to stele.                             3940
His name was hoten deynous Symkyn.
A  wif he hadde, comen of noble kyn.
The person of the toun hir fader was.                                 3935
With hir he yaf ful many a panne of bras
For that Symkyn sholde in his blood allye.
She was yfostred in a nonnerye,
For Symkyn wolde no wyf, as he sayde,
But she were wel ynorissed and a mayde                                3940
To sauen his estaat of yemanrye.
And she was proud and peert as is a pye.                              3950
   A ful fair sighte was it vpon hem two:
On halidayes biforn hir wolde he go
With his tipet wounden aboute his heed,                               3945
And she cam after in a gyte of reed;
And Symkyn hadde hosen of the same.
Ther dorste no wight clepen hire but dame.
Was noon so hardy that wente by the weye
That with hire dorste rage or ones pleye                              3950
But if he wolde be slayn of Symkyn
With panade or with knyf or boydekyn;                                 3960
For ialous folk been perilouse eueremo,
Algate they wolde hir wyues wenden so.
And eek for she was somdel smoterlich,                           f.52 3955
She was as digne as water in a dich
And ful of hoker and of bismare.
Hir thoghte that a lady sholde hir spare,
What for hir kynrede and hir nortelrye
That she hadde lerned in the nonnerye.                                3960
   A doghter hadde they bitwix hem two
Of twenty yeer, withouten any mo                                      3970
Sauyng a child that was of half-yeer age.
In cradel it lay and was a propre page.
This wenche thikke and wel ygrowen was,                               3965
With camuse nose and eyen greye as glas,
With buttokes brode and brestes rounde and hye.
But right fair was hir heer I wol nat lye.
The person of the toun, for she was so feir,
In purpos was to maken hir his heir                                   3970
Bothe of his catel and his mesuage.
And straunge he made it of hir mariage.
His purpos was for to bistowe hir hye
Into som worthy blood of auncetrye,
For holi cherches good moot been despended                            3975
On holi cherches blood that is descended.
Therfore he wolde his holy blood honoure,
Thogh that he holy chirche sholde deuoure.
   Greet sokne hath this miller out of doute
With whete and malt of al the land aboute,                            3980
And nameliche ther was a greet collegge
Men clepeth the Soler Halle at Cantebregge:                           3990
Ther was hir whete and eek hir malt ygrounde.
And on a day it happed in a stounde
Syk was this maunciple on a maladie.                                  3985
Men wenden wisly that he sholde dye,
For which this millere stal bothe mele and corn
An hondred tyme moore than biforn,
For therbiforn he stal but curteisly.
But now he was a theef outrageously,                                  3990
For which the wardeyn chidde and made fare;
But therof sette the millere noght a tare.                            4000
He craked boost and swoor it was noght so.
Thanne were ther yonge, poure scolers two
That dwelten in the halle of which I seye.                       f.52v 3995
Testyf they were and lusty for to pleye:
And oonly for hir myrthe and reuerye
Vpon the wardeyn bisily they crye
To yeue hem leue but a litel stounde
To go to mille and seen hir corn ygrounde.                            400o
And hardily they dorste leye hir nekke
The millere sholde noght stelen hem half a pekke                      4010
Of corn by sleighte ne by force hem reue.
And atte laste the wardeyn yaf hem leue.
Iohn highte that oon and Aleyn highte that oother.                    4005
Of oon town were they born that highte Strother
Fer in the north, I kan noght telle where.
This Aleyn maketh redy al his gere
And on an hors the sak he caste anon.
Forth gooth Aleyn the clerk and also Iohn                             4010
With good swerd and with bokeler by his syde.
Iohn knew the wey hym neded no gyde.                                  4020
And at the mille the sak adoun he layth.
Aleyn spak first: "Al hayl, Symkyn, in fayth.
How fares thy faire doghter and thy wyf?'                             4015
   "Aleyn welcome,' quod Symkyn, "by my lyf,
And Iohn also. How now, what do ye here?'
   "By god,' quod Iohn, "Symond, nede has na peere.
Hym bihoues serue hymself that has na swayn
Or ellis he is a fool, as clerkes sayn.                               4020
Oure maunciple, I hope he wol be deed,
Swa werkes ay the wanges in his heed.                                 4030
And therfore is I come and eek Alayn
To grynde oure corn and carie it heem agayn.
I  pray yow speed vs heythen what ye may.'                            4025
   "It shal be doon,' quod Symkyn, "by my fay.
What wol ye doon whil that it is in hande?'
   "By god, right by the hoper wol I stande,'
Quod Iohn, "and se how the corn gas in.
Yet saw I neuere by my fader kyn                                      4030
How that the hoper wagges til and fra.'
   Aleyn answerde: "Iohn, wiltow swa?                                 4040
Thanne wol I be byneth by my crown,
And se how that the mele falles down
Into the trogh. That sal be my desport.                          f.53 4035
For, Iohn, in faith I may been of youre sort,
I  is as ille a millere as ar ye.'
   This millere smyled of hir nycetee
And thoghte: "Al this nys doon but for a wyle.
They wene that no man may hem bigile.                                 4040
But by my thrift yet shal I blere hir iye
For al the sleighte in hir phislophye.                                4050
The moore queynte crekys that they make,
The moore wol I stele whan I take.
In stede of flour yet wol I yeue hem bren.                            4045
The grettest clerkes been noght the wisest men,
As whilom to the wolf thus spak the mare.
Of al hir art counte I noght a tare.
   Out of the dore he gooth ful pryuely
Whan that he saugh his tyme softely.                                  4050
He looketh vp and doun til he hath founde
The clerkes hors ther as it stood ybounde                             4060
Bihynde the mille vnder a leefsel.
And to the hors he gooth hym faire and wel,
He strepeth of the bridel right-anon.                                 4055
And whan the hors was laus, he gynneth gon
Toward the fen ther wilde mares renne
And forth with "wehe' thurgh thikke and thenne.
This millere gooth ayein. No word he seyde,
But dooth his note and with the clerkes pleyde                        4060
Til that hir corn was faire and wel ygrounde.
   And whan the mele was sakked and ybounde,                          4070
This Iohn gooth out and fynt his hors away
And gan to crye "Harrow and weilaway,
Oure hors is lost. Alayn, for goddes banes                            4065
Step on thy feet. Com of, man, al atanes.
Allas oure wardeyn has his palfrey lorn.'
   This Alayn al forgat bothe mele and corn,
Al was out of his mynde his housbondrye.
"What, whilk wey is he gane?' he gan to crye.                         4070
   The wyf cam lepyng inward with a ren.
She seyde: "Allas youre hors gooth to the fen                         4080
With wilde mares as faste as he may go.
Vnthank come on his hand that boond hym so
And he that bettre sholde haue knyt the reyne.'                  f.53v 4075
   "Allas,' quod Iohn, "Aleyn, for Cristes peyne
Lay doun thy swerd and I wol myn alswa.
I  is ful wight, god waat, as is a ra.
By god hert he sal nat scape vs bathe.
Why ne had thow pit the capil in the lathe?                           4080
Il-hail, by god. Alayn, thow is a fonne.'
   This sely clerkes haan ful faste yronne                            4090
Toward the fen, bothe Alayn and eek Iohn.
And whan the millere seigh that they were gon,
He half a busshel of hir flour hath take                              4085
And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake.
He seyde: "I trowe the clerkes were aferd.
Yet kan a millere maken a clerkes berd
For al his art. Ye, lat hem goon hir weye.
Lo wher he gooth. Ye, lat the children pleye.                         4090
They gete hym noght so lightly by my croun.'
   Thise sely clerkes rennen vp and doun                              4100
With "Keep, keep; stand, stand; iossa, warderere.
Ga whistle thow and I sal kepe hym heere.'
But shortly, til that it was verray nyght                             4095
They koude noght, thogh they dide al hir myght,
Hir capyl cacche, he ran alwey so faste,
Til in a dych they caughte hym at the laste.
   Wery and weet as beest is in the reyn
Comth sely Iohn and with hym comth Aleyn.                             4100
"Allas ' quod Iohn "the day that I was born,
Now ar we dryuen til hethyng and til scorn.                           4110
Oure corn is stole. Men wil vs foolis calle,
Bothe the wardeyn and oure felawes alle,
And namely the millere weilawey.'                                     4105
   Thus pleyneth Iohn as he gooth by the wey
Toward the mille and Bayard in his hond.
The millere sittyng by the fyr he fond,
For it was nyght and ferther myghte they noght.
But for the loue of god they hym bisoght                              4110
Of herberwe and of ese as for hir peny.
   The millere seide agayn: "If ther be eny,                          4120
Swich as it is yet shal ye haue youre part.
Myn hous is streyt, but ye han lerned art:
Ye kan by argumentz make a place                              f.54    4115
A  myle brood of twenty foot of space.
Lat se now if this place may suffise -
Or make it rowm with speche, as is your gyse.'
   "Now, Symond,' seyde this Iohn, "by seint Cutberd,
Ay is thou myrie and that is faire answerd.                           4120
I  haue herd seye men sal tak of twa thynges,
Swilk as he fyndes or tak swilk as he brynges.                        4130
But specialy I pray thee, hoost deere,
Get vs som mete and drynke and make vs cheere
And we wol payen trewely atte fulle.                                  4125
With empty hand men may none haukes tulle.
Lo heere oure siluer, redy for to spende.'
   This millere into town his doghter sende
For ale and breed and rosted hem a goos
And boond hir hors, it sholde namoore go loos.                        4130
And in his owene chambre hem made a bed
With shetes and with chalons faire yspred                             4140
Noght from his owene bed but ten foot or twelue.
His doghter hadde a bed al by hirselue
Right in the same chambre by and by.                                  4135
It myghte be no bet. And cause why?
Ther was no rowmer herberwe in the place.
They soupen and they speken hem to solace
And drynken euere stroong ale at the beste.
   Aboute mydnyght wente they to reste.                               4140
Wel hath this millere vernysshed his heed.
Ful pale he was fordronke and noght reed.                             4150
He yexeth and he speketh thurgh the nose
As he were on the quakke or on the pose.
To bedde he goth and with hym goth his wyf.                           4145
As any iay she light was and iolyf,
So was hir ioly whistle wel ywet.
The cradel at hir beddes feet is set
To rokken and to yeue the child to sowke.
And whan that dronken al was in the crowke,                           4150
To bedde wente the doghter right-anon,
To bedde gooth Aleyn and also Iohn.                                   4160
Ther nas namoore. Hem neded no dwale:
This millere hath so wisly bibbed ale
That as an hors he fnorteth in his sleep,                         f.54v 4155
Ne of his tayl bihynde he took no keep;
His wyf bar hym a burdon, a ful strong,
Men myghten hir routyng heren a furlong;
The wenche routeth eek par compaignye.
   Aleyn the clerc that herde this melodye,                           4160
He poked Iohn and seyde: "Slepestow?
Herd thow euere slyk a sang er now -                                  4170
Lo swilk a couplyng is ymel hem alle?
A  wilde fyr on thair bodyes falle.
Wha herkned euere swilk a ferly thyng?                                4165
Ye, they sal haue the flour of il-endyng.
This lang nyght ther tydes me na reste,
But yet na force, al sal be for the beste.
For, Iohn,' seyde he, "als euere moot I thryue,
If that I may, yon wenche wol I swyue.                                4170
Som esement has lawe shapen vs,
For, Iohn, ther is a lawe that says thus:                             4180
That gif a man in a point be agreued
That in another he sal be releued.
Oure corn is stoln, soothly it is na nay,                             4175
And we han had an ille fit today.
And syn I sal haue naan amendement
Agayn my los, I wil haue esement.
By goddes saule it sal naan other be.'
   This Iohn answerde: "Aleyn, auyse thee.                            4180
The millere is a perilous man,' he sayde,
"And if that he out of his sleep abrayde                              4190
He myghte doon vs bathe a vileynye.'
   Aleyn answerde: "I counte hym noght a flye.'
And vp he rist and by the wenche he crepte.                           4185
This wenche lay vprighte and faste slepte
Til he so neigh was er she myghte espie
That it hadde been to late for to crie.
And shortly for to seyn, they were at oon.
Now pley, Aleyn, for I wol speke of Iohn.                             4190
   This Iohn lith stille a furlang wey or two
And to hymself he maketh routhe and wo.                               4200
"Allas', quod he, "this is a wikked iape.
Now may I seyn that I is but an ape.
Yet has my felawe somwhat for his harm:                        f.55   4195
He has the milleris doghter in his arm.
He auntred hym and has his nedes sped,
And I lye as a draf-sak in my bed.
And whan this iape is told another day
I sal ben halden a daf, a cokenay.                                    4200
I wil arise and auntre it by my fayth.
Vnhardy is vnsely, thus men sayth.'                                   4210
And vp he roos and softely he wente
Vnto the cradel and in his hand it hente
And baar it softe vnto his beddes feet.                               4205
   Soone after this the wyf hir routyng leet
And gan awake and wente hir out to pisse.
And cam agayn and gan hir cradel mysse
And groped heer and ther, but she foond noon.
"Allas,' quod she, "I hadde almoost mysgoon.                          4210
I  hadde almoost goon to the clerkes bed.
Ey benedicite thanne had I foule ysped.'                              4220
And forth she gooth til she the cradel fond.
She gropeth alwey forther with hir hond
And foond the bed and thoghte noght but good                          4215
By cause that the cradel by it stood,
And nyste wher she was for it was derk.
But faire and wel she creep in to the clerk
And lyth ful stille and wolde haue caught a sleep.
Withinne a while this Iohn the clerk vp leep                          4220
And on this goode-wyf he leyth on soore.
So murie a fyt ne hadde she nat ful yoore,                            4230
He priketh harde and depe as he were mad.
This ioly lyf han thise two clerkes lad
Til that the thridde cok bigan to synge.                              4225
   Aleyn wax wery in the dawenynge
For he hadde swonken al the longe nyght
And seyde: "Farewel, Malyn, swete wight.
The day is come, I may no lenger byde.
But eueremo wherso I go or ryde                                       4230
I  is thyn awen clerk, so haue I sel.'
   "Now, deere lemman,' quod she, "go; farewel.                       4240
But er thow go, o thyng I wol thee telle.
Whan that thow wendest homward by the melle
Right at the entree of the dore bihynde                         f.55v 4235
Thow shalt a cake of half a busshel fynde.
That was ymaked of thyn owene mele
Which that I heelp my sire for to stele.
And, good lemman, god thee saue and kepe.'
And with that word almoost she gan to wepe.                           4240
   Aleyn vp rist and thoghte: "Er that it dawe
I  wol go crepen in by my felawe.'                                    4250
And fond the cradel with his hond anon.
"By god,' thoghte he, "al wrang I haue mysgon,
Myn heed is toty of my swynk tonyght.                                 4245
That maketh me that I go noght aright.
I  woot wel by the cradel I haue mysgo.
Here lyth the millere and his wyf also.'
And forth he gooth on twenty deuele way
Vnto the bed ther as the millere lay.                                 4250
He wende haue cropen by his felawe Iohn,
And by the millere in he creep anoon                                  4260
And caughte hym by the nekke and softe he spak.
He seyde: "Thou, Iohn, thow swyneshed, awak
For Cristes saule and here a noble game.                              4255
For by that lord that called is seint Iame
As I haue thries in this shorte nyght
Swyued the milleris doghter bolt vpright,
Whil thow hast as a coward been agast.'
   "Ye, false harlot,' quod the millere, "hast?                       4260
A, false traytour, false clerk,' quod he,
"Thou shalt be deed by goddes dignytee.                               4270
Who dorste be so bold to disparage
My doghter, that is come of swich lynage?'
   And by the throte-bolle he caughte Alayn.                          4265
And he hente hym despitously agayn
And on the nose he smoot hym with his fest;
Doun ran the blody streem vpon his brest.
And on the floor with nose and mouth tobroke
They walwen as doon two pigges in a poke.                             4270
And vp they goon and doun agayn anoon
Til that the millere sporned on a stoon                               4280
And doun he fil bakward vpon his wyf
That wiste nothyng of this nyce stryf,
For she was falle aslepe a litel wight                              f.56 4275
With Iohn the clerk that waked hadde al nyght.
And with the fal out of hir sleep she brayde.
"Help, holy cros of Bromholm,' she sayde.
"In manus tuas, lord, to thee I calle.
Awake, Symond, the feend is on me falle.                              4280
Myn herte is broken. Help, I nam but ded:
Ther lyth oon vpon my wombe and vp myn hed.                           4290
Help, Symkyn, for the false clerkes fighte.'
   This Iohn sterte vp as faste as euere he myghte
And graspeth by the walles to and fro                                 4285
To fynde a staf. And she sterte vp also
And knew the estres bet than dide this Iohn.
And by the wal a staf she foond anon
And saugh a litel shymeryng of a light,
For at an hole in shoon the moone bright.                             4290
And by that light she saugh hem bothe two,
But sikerly she nyste who was who                                     4300
But as she saugh a whit thyng in hir iye.
And whan she gan this white thyng espye
She wende the clerk hadde wered a voluper.                            4295
And with the staf she drow ay ner and ner
And wende han hit this Aleyn atte fulle,
And smoot the millere on the piled skulle
That doun he gooth and cryde: "Harrow, I dye.'
Thise clerkes bette hym wel and lete hym lye.                         4300
And greithen hem and tooke hir hors anon
And eek hir mele and on hir wey they gon.                             4310
And at the mille yet they toke hir cake
Of half a busshel flour ful wel ybake.
   Thus is the proude millere wel ybete                               4305
And hath ylost the gryndyng of the whete
And payed for the souper euery del
Of Aleyn and of Iohn that bette hym wel.
His wyf is swyued and his doghter als.
Lo which it is a millere to be fals.                                  4310
And therfore this prouerbe is seyd ful sooth:
Hym thar nat wene wel that yuele dooth;                               4320
A  gilour shal hymself bigiled be.
And god, that sitteth heighe in magestee,
Saue al this compaignie grete and smale.                        f.56v 4315
Thus haue I quyt the millere in my tale.

Here endeth the reues tale.
                       The Cook's Prologue and Tale







The prologe of the cookes tale.

The cook of Londoun, whil the reue spak,
For ioye hym thoughte he clawed hym on the bak.
Ha, ha, quod he, "for Cristes passion
This millere hadde a sharp conclusion                                 4320
Vpon his argument of herbergage.
Wel seyde Salomon in his langage:                                     4330
Ne bryng nat euery man into thyn hous
For herberwyng by nyghte is perilous.
Wel oghte a man auysed for to be                                      4325
Whom that he broghte into his priuetee.
I  pray to god so yeue me sorwe and care
If euer sith I highte Hogge of Ware
Herde I a millere bettre yset awerk.
He hadde a iape of malice in the derk.                                4330
But god forbede that we stynten heere.
For if ye vouchesauf to heere                                         4340
A  tale of me, that am a poure man,
I  wol yow telle as wel as euere I kan
A  litel iape that fil in oure citee.'                                4335
   Oure hoost answerde and seyde: "I graunte it thee.
Now tel on, Roger, looke that it be good,
For many a pastee hastow laten blood
And many a Iakke-of-Douere hastow soold
That hath been twies hoot and twies coold.                            4340
Of many a pilgrym hastow Cristes curs,
For of thy persle yet they fare the wors                              4350
That they han eten with thy stubbul-goos
For in thy shoppe is many a flye loos.
Now tel on, gentil Roger, by thy name.                                4345
But yet I praye thee be nat wrooth for game,
A  man may seye ful sooth in game and pley.'
   "Thow seist ful sooth,' quod Roger, "by my fey.
But sooth pley quade pley, as the Flemyng seith.                      f.57
And therfore, Herry Bailly, by thy feith                              4350
Be thou nat wrooth er we departen heer
Thogh that my tale be of an hostiler.                                 4360
But nathelees I wol nat telle it yit,
But er we parte, ywis thow shalt be quyt.'
   And therwithal he lough and made cheere                            4355
And seyde his tale, as ye shal after heere.


Here bigynneth the cook his tale.


A  prentis whilom dwelled in oure citee
And of a craft of vitaillers was he.
Gaillard he was as goldfynch in the shawe,
Broun as a berye, a propre short felawe                               4360
With lokkes blake ykembd ful fetisly.
Dauncen he koude so wel and iolily                                    4370
That he was clepyd Perkyn Reuelour.
He was as ful of loue and paramour
As is the hyue ful of hony swete.                                     4365
Wel was the wenche that with hym myghte meete.
At euery bridale wolde he synge and hoppe.
He loued bet the tauerne than the shoppe,
For whan ther any ridyng was in Chepe
Out of the shoppe thider wolde he lepe.                               4370
Til that he hadde al the sighte yseyn
And daunced wel, he wolde noght come ageyn.                           4380
And gadred hym a meynee of his sort
To hoppe and synge and maken swich disport.
And ther they setten steuene for to meete                             4375
To pleyen at the dees in swich a streete.
For in the town nas ther no prentys
That fairer koude caste a paire of dys
Than Perkyn koude; and therto he was free
Of his dispense in place of pryuetee.                                 4380
That foond his maister wel in his chaffare,
For ofte tyme he foond his box ful bare.                              4390
For sikerly a prentys reuelour
That haunteth dees, ryot or paramour,
His maister shal it in his shoppe abye                            f.57v 4385
Al haue he no part of the minstralcye;
For thefte and riot, they been conuertible,
Al konne he pleye on giterne or rubible.
Reuel and trouthe, as in a lowe degree,
They been ful wrothe al day as men may see.                           4390
   This ioly prentys with his maister bood
Til he were neigh out of his prentishood,                             4400
Al were he snybbed bothe erly and late
And somtyme lad with reuel to Newgate.
But atte laste his maister hym bithoghte                              4395
Vpon a day whan he his papir soghte
Of a prouerbe that seith this same word:
Wel bet is roten appul out of hoord
Than that it rotte al the remenaunt.
So fareth it by a riotous seruaunt:                                   4400
It is ful lasse harm to lete hym pace
Than he shende alle the seruantz in the place.                        4410
Therfore his maister gaf hym acquitaunce
And bad hym go with sorw and with meschaunce.
And thus this ioly prentys hadde his leeue.                           4405
Now lat hym riote al the nyght or leeue.
   And for ther nys no theef withoute a lowke
That helpeth hym to wasten and to sowke
Of that he brybe kan or borwe may,
Anon he sente his bed and his array                                   4410
Vnto a compeer of his owene sort
That loued dees and reuel and disport                                 4420
And hadde a wyf that heeld for contenaunce
A  shoppe and swyued for hir sustenaunce.


Of this cokes tale maked Chaucer namoore.
   The  Wife  of    Bath's Prologue  and


                                   Tale



                     Section 2 (Fragment Ill, Group D)

Here bigynneth the prologe of the tale of the wyf of Bathe.           f.58

"Experience, thogh noon auctoritee
Were in this world, is right ynogh for me
To speke of wo that is in mariage,
For, lordynges, sith that I twelf yeer was of age,
Thonked be god that is eterne on lyue,                                   5
Housbondes atte chirche-dore I haue had fyue
(If I so ofte myghte han wedded be)
And alle were worthy men in hir degree.
But me was told certeyn noght longe agon is
That sith that Crist ne wente neuere but onys                           10
To weddyng in the Cane of Galilee,
That by the same ensample taughte he me
That I ne sholde wedded be but ones.
  "Herke eek lo which a sharp word for the nones
Bisyde a welle Iesus, god and man                                       15
Spak in repreeue of the Samaritan:
"Thow hast yhad fyue housbondes,' quod he,
"And that ilke man which that now hath thee
Is nat thyn housbonde.' Thus he seyde certeyn.
What that he mente therby I kan nat seyn,                               20
But that I axe why that the fifthe man
Was noon housbonde to the Samaritan.
How manye myghte she han in mariage?
Yet herde I neuere tellen in myn age
Vpon this nombre diffynycioun.                                          25
Men may dyuyne and glosen vp and doun,
But wel I woot expres withouten lye
God bad vs for to wexe and multiplye.
That gentil text kan I wel vnderstonde.
Eek wel I woot he seyde that myn housbonde                              30
Sholde lete fader and moder and take to me.
But of no nombre mencion made he,
Of bigamye or of octogamye.
Why sholde men thanne speke of it vileynye?
  "Lo here the wise kyng, daun Salomon:                                 35
I trowe he hadde wyues many oon,
As wolde god it leueful were to me                                    f.58v
To be refresshed half so ofte as he.
Which yifte of god hadde he for alle hise wyuys!
No man hath swich that in this world alyue is.                          40
God woot this noble kyng, as to my wit,
The firste nyght hadde many a murye fit
With ech of hem so wel was hym on lyue.
Blessed be god that I haue wedded fyue.
Welcome the sixte whan that euere he shal!                              45
For sith I wol nat kepe me chaast in al
Whan myn housbonde is fro the world agon,
Som cristen man shal wedde me anon,
For thanne th'apostle seith that I am free
To wedde a goddes half where it liketh me.                              50
He seith that to be wedded is no synne:
Bet is to be wedded than to brynne.
What rekketh me theigh folk seye vileynye
Of shrewed Lameth and his bigamye?
I woot wel Abraham was an holy man                                      55
And Iacob eek, as fer as euere I kan,
And ech of hem hadde wyues mo than two;
And many another holy man also.
  "Where kan ye seye in any maner age
That heighe god defended mariage                                        60
By expres word? I pray yow telleth me.
Or where comanded he virgynytee?
I woot as wel as ye, it is no drede,
Th'apostle whan he speketh of maydenhede
He seyde that precept therof hadde he noon.                             65
Men may conseille a womman'to be oon,
But conseillyng nys no comandement.
He put it in oure owene iuggement.
For hadde god comanded maydenhede
Thanne hadde he dampned weddyng with the dede.                          70
And certes if ther were no seed ysowe,
Virgynytee thanne wherof sholde it growe.
Poul dorste nat comanden at the leeste
A thyng of which his mayster yaf noon heeste.
The dart is set vp for virgynytee:                                      75
Cacche whoso may; who renneth best lat se.
But this word is noght take of euery wight,                             f.59
But ther as god list yeue it of his myght.
I woot wel that th'apostle was a mayde;
But nathelees thogh that he wroot or sayde                              80
He wolde that euery wight were swich as he,
Al nys but conseil to virgynytee.
And for to been a wyf he yaf me leue
Of indulgence; so nys it no repreue
To wedde me if that my make dye                                         85
Withouten excepcioun of bigamye.
Al were it good no womman for to touche,
He mente as in his bed or in his couche,
For peril is bothe fyr and tow t'assemble;
Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble.                               90
This al and som he heeld virgynytee
Moore parfit than weddyng in freletee.
Freletee clepe I but if that he and she
Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee.
  "I graunte it wel. I haue noon enuye                                  95
Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye.
It liketh hem to be clene in body and goost.
Of myn estat ne wol I make no boost.
For wel ye knowe a lord in his houshold
Ne hath nat euery vessel al of gold:                                   100
Somme been of tree and doon hir lord seruyse.
God clepeth folk to hym in sondry wyse,
And euerich hath of god a propre yifte.
Som this, som that, as hym liketh shifte.
  "Virgynytee is greet parfeccioun                                     105
And continence eek with deuocioun.
But Crist that of parfeccion is welle
Bad nat euery wight he sholde go selle
Al that he hadde and yeue it to the poore
And in swich wise folwe hym and his foore.                             110
He spak to hem that wol lyue parfitly:
And, lordynges, by youre leue that am nat I.
I wol bistowe the flour of al myn age
In th'actes and in fruyt of mariage.
  "Telle me also: to what conclusioun                                  115
Were membres maad of generacioun
And of so parfit wys a wight ywroght?                                  f.59v
Trusteth right wel they were nat maad for noght.
Glose whoso wole and seye bothe vp and doun
That they were maad for purgacioun                                     120
Of vryne, and oure bothe thynges smale
Was eek to knowe a femelle from a male
And for noon oother cause - sey ye no?
Th'experience woot wel it is noght so.
So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe                              125
I sey this that they maked been for bothe,
That is to seyn for office and for ese
Of engendrure, ther we nat god displese.
Why sholde men ellis in hir bokes sette
That man shal yelde to his wyf hir dette?                              130
Now wherwith sholde he make his paiement
If he ne vsed his sely instrument?
Thanne were they maad vpon a creature
To purge vryne and eek for engendrure.
  "But I seye noght that euery wight is holde                          135
That hath swich harneys, as I to yow tolde,
To goon and vsen hem in engendrure.
Thanne sholde men take of chastitee no cure.
Crist was a mayde and shapen as a man;
And many a seynt sith that the world bigan,                            140
Yet lyued they euere in parfit chastitee.
I nyl envie no virgynytee.
Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed,
And lat vs wyues hote barlybreed.
And yet with barlybreed Mark telle kan                                 145
Oure lord Iesu refresshed many a man
In swich estat as god hath clepyd vs.
I wol perseuere, I nam nat precius:
In wifhode wol I vse myn instrument
As frely as my makere hath it sent.                                    150
If I be daungerous, god yeue me sorwe.
Myn housbonde shal it han bothe eue and morwe
Whan that hym list com forth and paye his dette.
And housbonde wol I haue, I wol nat lette,
Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral                            155
And haue his tribulacion withal
Vpon his flessh whil that I am his wyf.                                f.60
I haue the power duryng al my lyf
Vpon his propre body and nat he.
Right thus th'apostle tolde it vnto me                                 160
And bad oure housbondes for to loue vs wel.
Al this sentence me liketh euery del.'
  Vp stirte-the pardoner and that anon.
"Now dame,' quod he, "by god and by seint Iohn
Ye been a noble prechour in this cas.                                  165
I was aboute to wedde a wyf: allas
What sholde I bye it on my flessh so deere?
Yet hadde I leuere wedde no wyf to-yeere.'
  "Abyd,' quod she, "my tale is nat bigonne.
Nay thow shalt drynken of another tonne,                               170
Er that I go, shal sauoure wors than ale.
And whan that I haue toold thee forth my tale
Of tribulacion in maryage,
Of which I am expert in al myn age
(This is to seye myself hath been the whippe),                         175
Thanne maystow chese wheither that thow wolt sippe
Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche.
Be war of it er thow to neigh approche,
For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten.
Whoso that nyle be war by othere men,                                  180
By hym shal othere men corrected be.
Thise same wordes writeth Protholome;
Rede in his Almageste and take it there.'
  "Dame, I wolde pray yow, if youre wyl it were,'
Seyde this pardoner, "as ye bigan                                      185
Telle forth youre tale. Spareth for no man
And techeth vs yonge men of youre praktyke.'
  "Gladly,' quod she, "syn it may yow lyke.
But that I praye to al this compaignye,
If that I speke after my fantasye                                      190
As taketh nat agrief of that I seye,
For myn entente nys but for to pleye.
  "Now, sire, thanne wol I telle yow forth my tale.
As euere moot I drynke wyn or ale
I shal seye sooth. Tho housbondes that I hadde                         195
As three of hem were goode and two were badde.
The thre men were goode and ryche and olde:                        f.60v
Vnnethe myghte they the statut holde
In which that they were bounden vnto me;
Ye woot wel what I mene of this pardee.                                200
As help me god I laughe whan I thynke
How pitously a nyght I made hem swynke,
And by my fey I tolde of it no stoor.
They hadde me yeuen hir land and hir tresoor.
Me neded nat do lenger diligence                                       205
To wynne hir loue or doon hem reuerence.
They loued me so wel by god aboue
That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir loue.
A wys womman wol bisye hir euere in oon
To gete hir loue, ye ther as she hath noon.                            210
But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond
And sith that they hadde yeuen me al hir lond,
What sholde I take kepe hem for to plese
But it were for my profit and myn ese?
I sette hem awerk by my fey                                            215
That many a nyght they songen weylawey.
The bacon was nat fet for hem, I trowe,
That som men han in Essex at Donmowe.
I gouerned hem so wel after my lawe
That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe                               220
To brynge me gaye thynges fro the feyre.
They were ful glad whan I spak to hem feyre.
For god it woot I chidde hem spitously.
  "Now herkneth how I bar me proprely.
Ye wise wyues that konne vnderstonde,                                  225
Thus sholde ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde,
For half so boldely kan ther no man
Swere and lye as a womman kan.
I sey nat this by wyues that ben wyse
But if it be whan they hem mysauyse.                                   230
A wys wyf, if that she kan hir good,
Shal bere hym an hond the cow is wood
And take witnesse of hir owene mayde
Of hire assent. But herkneth how I sayde:
  "Sire olde kaynard, is this thyn array?                            235
Why is my neghebores wyf so gay?
She is honoured oueral ther she goth.                                  f.61
I sitte at hoom, I haue no thrifty cloth.
What dostow at my neghebores hous?
Is she so fair? Artow so amorous?                                      240
What rowne ye with oure mayde benedicite?
Sire olde lechour, lat thy iapes be.
And if I haue a gossib or a freend,
Withouten gilt ye chiden as a feend
If that I walke or pleye vnto his hous.                                245
Thow comest hoom as dronken as a mous
And prechest on thy bench with yuel preef.
Thow seyst to me it is a greet mescheef
To wedde a poure womman for costage.
And if that she be ryche of heigh parage                               250
Thanne seistow that it is a tormentrye
To suffre hir pryde and hir malencolye.
And if that she be fair, thow verray knaue,
Thow seist that euery holour wol hir haue:
She may no while in chastitee abyde                                    255
That is assayled vpon ech a syde.
  "Thow seyst som folk desiren vs for richesse,
Somme for oure shap and somme for oure fairnesse,
And somme for she kan outher synge or daunce,
And somme for gentillesse and dalyaunce,                               260
Somme for hir handes and hir armes smale.
Thus goth al to the deuel by thy tale.
Thow seyst men may nat kepe a castel wal,
It may so longe assaylled been oueral.
And if that she be foul thow seyst that she                            265
Coueiteth euery man that she may se,
For as a spaynel she wol on hym lepe
Til that she fynde som man hir to chepe.
Ne noon so grey goos goth ther in the lake
As, seistow, wol be withoute make.                                     270
And seyst it is an hard thyng for to wolde
A thyng that no man wol his thankes holde.
Thus seistow, lorel, whan thow goost to bedde
And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde
Ne no man that entendeth vnto heuene.                                  275
With wilde thonder-dynt and firy leuene
Moote thy welked nekke be tobroke.                                     f.61v
  "Thow seyst that droppyng houses and eek smoke
And chidyng wyues maken men to flee
Out of hir owene houses. A benedicitee                                 280
What eyleth swich an old man for to chide?
Thow seyst we wyues wil oure vices hyde
Til we be fast and thanne we wol hem shewe.
Wel may that be a prouerbe of a shrewe.
Thow seist that oxen, asses, hors and houndes,                         285
They been assayed at dyuerse stoundes,
Bacynes, lauours er that men hem bye,
Spoones, stooles and al swich housbondrye,
And so be pottes, clothes and array;
But folk of wyues maken noon assay                                     290
Til they be wedded, olde dotard shrewe!,
And thanne seistow we wil oure vices shewe.
Thow seist also that it displeseth me
But if that thow wolt preise my beautee,
And but thow powre alwey vpon my face                                  295
And clepe me faire dame in euery place,
And but thow make a feeste on thilke day
That I was born and make me fressh and gay,
And but thow do to my norice honour
And to my chambrere withinne my bour                                   300
And to my fadres folk and his allyes.
Thus seistow, olde barel ful of lyes.
And yet of oure apprentice Iankyn
For his crisp heer shynyng as gold so fyn
And for he squyereth me bothe vp and doun,                             305
Yet hastow caught fals suspecioun.
I wil hym nat thogh thow were deed tomorwe.
  "But tel me this: why hidestow with sorwe
The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me?
It is my good as wel as thyn pardee.                                   310
What wenestow make an ydiote of oure dame?
Now by that lord that called is seint lame,
Thow shalt noght bothe, thogh that thow were wood,
Be maister of my body and my good.
That oon thow shalt forgo maugree thyne eyen.                          315
What helpeth it of me enquere and spyen?
I trowe thow woldest lok me in thy chiste.                             f.62
Thow sholdest seye: "Wyf, go wher thee liste.
Taak youre disport. I nyl leue no talis.
I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame Alis.'                              320
We loue no man that taketh kepe or charge
Wher that we goon. We wol been at oure large.
Of alle men yblessed moote he be
The wise astrologen, daun Protholome,
That seith this prouerbe in his Almageste:                             325
Of alle men his wisdom is hyeste
That rekketh nat who hath the world in honde.
By this prouerbe thow shalt vnderstonde:
Haue thow ynogh, what thar thee rekke or care
How myrily that othere folkes fare?                                    330
For certes, olde dotard, by youre leue
Ye shal han queynte right ynogh at eue.
He is to greet a nygard that wil werne
A man to lighte a candle at his lanterne.
He shal han neuer the lasse light pardee.                              335
Haue thow ynogh, thee thar nat pleyne thee.
   "Thow seist also that if we make vs gay
With clothyng and with precious array
That it is peril of oure chastitee.
And yet with sorwe thow most enforce thee                              340
And seye thise wordes in th'apostles name:
In habit maad with chastitee and shame
Ye wommen shal apparaille yow (quod he)
And nat in tressed heer and gay perree
As perlys ne with gold ne clothes ryche.                               345
After thy text ne after thy rubryche
I wol nat werke as muche as is a gnat.
Thow seydest this, that I was lyk a cat,
For whoso wolde senge a cattes skyn
Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in.                            350
And if the cattes skyn be slyk and gay,
She wol nat dwelle in house half a day
But forth she wole er any day be dawed
To shewe hir skyn and goon a caterwawed.
This is to seye if I be gay, sir shrewe,                               355
I wol renne out my borel for to shewe.
Sire olde fool, what helpeth thee t'espyen?                            f.62v
Thogh thow preye Argus with his hundred eyen
To be my wardecorps as he kan best,
In feith he shal nat kepe me but me lest.                              360
Yet koude I make his berd as mote I thee.
  "Thow seydest eek that ther ben thynges three
The whiche thynges troublen al this erthe
And that no wight may endure the ferthe.
O leeue sire shrewe, Iesu shorte thy lyf.                              365
Yet prechestow and seist an hateful wyf
Yrekened is for oon of thise myschaunces.
Been ther noone othere resemblaunces
That ye may likne youre parables to
But if a sely wyf be oon of tho.                                       370
  "Thow liknest eek wommanes loue to helle,
To bareyne lond ther water may nat dwelle.
Thow liknest it also to wilde fyr,
The moore it brenneth the moore it hath desyr
To consumen euery thyng that brent wol be.                             375
Thow seist right as wormes shende a tree,
Right so a wyf destroyeth hir housbonde;
This knowen they that been to wyues bonde.'
  "Lordynges, right thus as ye han vnderstonde
Bar I stifly myne olde housbondes on honde                             380
That thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse.
And al was fals, but that I took witnesse
On Iankyn and on my nece also.
  O lord, the pyne I dide hem and the wo
Ful giltlees, by goddes swete pyne.                                    385
For as an hors I koude byte and whyne,
I koude pleyne and I was in the gilt
Or ellis often tyme I hadde been spilt.
Whoso that first to mille comth first grynt.
I pleyned first: so was oure werr stynt.                               390
They were ful glad to excusen hem ful blyue
Of thyng of which they neuere agilte hir lyue.
Of wenches wolde I bern hem on honde
Whan that for syk they myghte vnnethe stonde.
Yet tikled I his herte for that he                                     395
Wende that I hadde had of hym so greet chiertee.
I swoor that my walkyng out by nyghte                                  f.63
Was for to espye wenches that he dighte.
Vnder that colour hadde I many a myrthe
For al swich wit is yeuen vs in oure birthe.                           400
Deceite, wepyng, spynnyng god hath yeue
To wommen kyndely whil they may lyue.
And thus of o thyng I auante me:
At ende I hadde the bet in ech degree
By sleighte or force or by som maner thyng,                            405
As by continuel murmur or grucchyng.
Namely a bedde hadden they meschaunce.
Ther wolde I chide and do hem no plesaunce.
I wolde no lenger in the bed abyde.
If that I felte his arm ouer my syde                                   410
Til he hadde maad his raunceon vnto me.
Thanne wolde I suffre hym do his nycetee.
  "And therfore euery man this tale I telle:
Wynne whoso may for al is for to selle.
With empty hond men may none haukes lure.                              415
For wynnyng wolde I al his lust endure
And make me a feyned appetit.
And yet in bacoun hadde I neuere delit.
That made me that euere I wolde hem chyde,
For thogh the pope hadde seten hem bisyde                              420
I wolde noght spare hem at hir owene bord,
For by my trouthe I quytte hem word for word.
As help me verray god omnipotent,
Thogh I right now sholde make my testament
I ne owe hem nat a word that it nys quyt.                              425
I broghte it so aboute by my wit
That they moste yeue it vp as for the beste
Or ellis hadde we neuere been in reste.
For thogh he looked as a wood leoun
Yet sholde he faille of his conclusioun.                               430
  "Thanne wolde I seye: "Good lief, taak keep
How mekely looketh Wilkyn oure sheep.
Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke.
Ye sholden be al pacient and meke.
And han a swete-spyced conscience                                      435
Sith ye so preche of Iobes pacience.
Suffreth alwey, syn ye so wel kan preche,                              f.63v
And but ye do, certeyn we shal yow teche
That it is fair to han a wyf in pees.
Oon of vs two moste bowen doutelees                                    440
And sith a man is moore resonable
Than womman is, ye mosten been suffrable.
What eyleth yow to grucche thus and grone?
Is it for ye wolde haue my queynte allone?
Wy, taak it al. Lo haue it euery del.                                  445
Peter, I shrewe yow but ye loue it wel.
For if I wolde selle my bele chose,
I koude walke as fressh as is a rose.
But I wol kepe it for youre owene tooth.
Ye be to blame, by god I sey yow sooth.'                              450
  "Swiche manere wordes hadde we on honde.
Now wol I speke of my ferthe housbonde.
  "My ferthe housbonde was a reuelour,
This is to seyn he hadde a paramour.
And I was yong and ful of ragerye,                                     455
Stibourne and strong and ioly as a pye.
How koude I daunce to an harpe smale
And synge ywys as any nyghtyngale
Whan I hadde dronke a draghte of swete wyn!
Metellyus, the foule cherl, the swyn                                   460
That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf
For she drank wyn, though I hadde been his wyf,
Ne sholde nat han daunted me fro drynke.
And after wyn on Venus moste I thynke,
For also siker as coold engendreth hayl                                465
A likerous mouth moste han a likerous tayl.
In womman vynolent is no defence:
This knowen lechours by experience.
But lord Crist whan that it remembreth me
Vpon my youthe and on my iolytee,                                      470
It tikeleth me aboute myn herte-roote.
Vnto this day it dooth myn herte boote
That I haue had my world as in my tyme.
But age allas that al wole enuenyme
Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith.                                 475
Lat go. Farwel. The deuel go therwith.
The flour is goon. Ther is namoore to telle.                           f.64
The bren as I best kan now moste I selle.
But yet to be right murye wol I fonde.
Now wol I tellen of my ferthe housbonde.                               480
  "I seye I hadde in herte gret despit
That he of any oother had delit.
But he was quyt, by god and by seint Ioce.
I made hym of the same wode a croce,
Nat of my body in no foul manere:                                      485
But certeynly I made folk swich chiere
That in his owene grece I made hym frye
For angre and for verray ialousye.
By god, in erthe I was his purgatorie,
For which I hope his soule be in glorie.                               490
For god it woot he sat ful ofte and soong
Whan that his shoo ful bitterly hym wroong.
Ther was no wight saue god and he that wiste
In many wise how soore I hym twiste.
He deyde whan I cam fro Ierusalem                                      495
And lyth ygraue vnder the roode-beem,
Al is his toumbe noght so curyus
As was the sepulcre of hym Daryus
Which that Appellus wroghte subtilly,
It nys but wast to burye hym preciously.                               500
Lat hym fare wel. God gyue his soule reste.
He is now in his graue and in his cheste.
  "Now of my fifthe housbonde wol I telle.
God lat his soule neuere come in helle,
And yet was he to me the mooste shrewe:                                505
That feele I on my rybbes al by rewe
And euere shal vnto myn endyng-day.
But in oure bed he was so fressh and gay
And therwithal so wel koude he me glose
Whan that he wolde han my bele chose                                   510
That thogh he hadde me bet on euery bon
He koude wynne agayn my loue anon.
I trowe I loued hym best for that he
Was of his loue daungerous to me.
We wommen han, if that I shal nat lye,                                 515
In this matere a queynte fantasye.
Wayte what thyng we may nat lightly haue                               f.64v
Therafter wol we crye al day and craue.
Forbede vs thyng and that desiren we.
Preesse on vs faste and thanne wol we fle.                             520
With daunger oute we al oure chaffare.
Greet prees at market maketh deere ware
And to greet cheep is holden at litel prys.
This knoweth euery womman that is wys.
  "My fifthe housbonde (god his soule blesse!)                         525
Which that I took for loue and no rychesse,
He somtyme was a clerk of Oxenford
And hadde laft scole and wente at hom to bord
With my gossyb dwellyng in oure town --
God haue hir soule, hir name was Alisoun.                              530
She knew myn herte and eek my pryuetee
Bet than oure parysshe preest as mote I thee;
To hire biwreyed I my conseil al.
For hadde myn housbonde pissed on a wal
Or doon a thyng that sholde haue cost his lyf,                         535
To hire and to another worthy wyf
And to my nece which that I loued wel
I wolde han toold his conseil euery del.
And so I dide ful often, god it woot,
That made his face often reed and hoot                                 540
For verray shame, and blamed hymself for he
Hadde toold to me so greet a pryuetee.
  "And so bifel that ones in a Lente
(So often tymes I to my gossyb wente,
For euere yet I louede to be gay                                       545
And for to walke in March, Aueryll and May
From hous to hous to here sondry tales)
That Iankyn clerk and my gossyb, dame Alys,
And I myself into the feeldes wente.
Myn housbonde was at Londoun al that Lente.                            550
I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye
And for to se and eek for to be seye
Of lusty folk. What wiste I wher my grace
Was shapen for to be or in what place?
Therfore I made my visitacions                                         555
To vigilies and to processions,
To prechyng eek and to thise pilgrymages,                              f.65
To pleyes of myracles and to mariages
And wered vpon my gaye, scarlet gytes.
Thise wormes ne thise moththes ne thise mytes                          560
Vpon my peril frete hem neuer-a-del.
And wostow why? For they were vsed wel.
  "Now wol I tellen forth what happed me.
I seye that in the feeldes walked we
Til trewely we hadde swich daliaunce,                                  565
This clerk and I, that of my purueiaunce
I spak to hym and seyde hym how that he,
If I were wydewe, sholde wedde me.
For certeynly I seye for no bobaunce
Yet was I neuere withouten purueiaunce                                 570
Of mariage n'of othere thynges eek.
I holde a mouses herte noght worth a leek
That hath but oon hole for to sterte to,
And if that faille thanne is al ydo.                                   574
But now, sire, lat me se what shal I seyn.                             585
A ha, by god I haue my tale ageyn.                                     576
  "Whan that my fourthe housbonde was a beere,
I weep algate and made sory cheere
As wyues mooten for it is vsage
And with my couerchief couered my visage.                              580
But for that I was purueyed of a make                                  591
I wepte but smal - and that I vndertake.
  "To chirche was myn housbonde born a morwe
With neghebores that for hym maden sorwe,
And Iankyn oure clerk was oon of tho.                                  585
As help me god, whan that I saw hym go
After the beere me thoughte he hadde a payre
Of legges and of feet so clene and fayre
That al myn herte I yaf vnto his hoold.
He was, I trowe, twenty wynter oold                                    590
And I was fourty if I shal seye sooth.                                 601
But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth,
Gat-tothed I was and that bicam me weel.
I hadde the preente of seynt Venus seel.
As help me god, I was a lusty oon                                      595
And fayr and ryche and yong and wel-bigoon.
And trewely as myne housbondes tolde me                                f.65v
I hadde the beste quonyam myghte be:                                   608
Myn ascendent was Taur and Mars therinne;                              613
Allas, allas that euere loue was synne.                                600
I folwed ay myn inclinacioun
By vertu of my constellacioun
That made me I koude noght withdrawe
My chambre of Venus from a good felawe.                                618
  "What sholde I seye but at the monthes ende                          627
This ioly clerk Iankyn that was so hende                               606
Hath wedded me with greet solempnytee.
And to hym yaf I al the lond and fee                                   630
That euere was me yeuen therbifore,
But afterward repented me ful sore.                                    610
He nolde suffre nothyng of my list.
By god he smoot me ones on the lyst
For that I rente out of his book a leef
That of the strook myn ere weex al deef.
Stibourne I was as is a leonesse                                       615
And of my tonge a verray iangleresse
And walke I wolde as I hadde doon biforn
From hous to hous, althogh he hadde it sworn.                          640
For which he often tymes wolde preche
And me of olde Romayn gestes teche                                     620
How he Symplicius Gallus lafte his wif
And hire forsook for terme of al his lif
Noght but for open-heueded he hir say
Lokynge out at his dore vpon a day.
  "Another Romayn tolde he me by name,                                 625
That for his wyf was at a someres game
Withouten his wityng he forsook hir eke.
And thanne wolde he vpon his Bible seke                                650
That ilke prouerbe of Ecclesiaste
Where he comandeth and forbedeth faste                                 630
Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute.
Thanne wolde he seye right thus withouten doute:
Whoso that buyldeth his hous al of salwes
And priketh his blynde hors ouer the falwes
And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes                                635
Is worthy to ben hanged on the galwes.
But al for noght. I sette noght an hawe                                f.66
Of his prouerbe n'of his olde sawe,                                    660
N'Y wolde nat of hym corrected be.
I hate hym that my vices telleth me                                    640
And so doon mo, god woot, of vs than I.
This made hym with me wood al outrely.
I nolde noght forbere hym in no cas.
  "Now wol I sey yow sooth by seint Thomas
Why that I rente out of his book a leef                                645
For which he smoot me so that I was deef.
He hadde a book that gladly nyght and day
For his disport he wolde rede alway.                                   670
He clepyd it Valerie and Theofraste,
At which book he logh alwey ful faste.                                 650
And eek ther was somtyme a clerk at Rome,
A cardynal that highte seint Ierome,
That made a book agayn Iovinian
In which book eek ther was Tertulan,
Crisippus, Trotula and Helowys                                         655
That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys,
And eek the parables of Salomon,
Ouydes Art and bokes many on,                                          680
And alle thise were bounden in o volume.
And euery nyght and day was his custume                                660
Whan he hadde leyser and vacacioun
From oother worldly ocupacioun
To reden in this book of wikked wyues.
He knew of hem mo legendes and lyues
Than been of goode wyues in the Bible.                                 665
For trusteth wel it is an inpossible
That any clerk wol speke good of wyues
But if it be of holy seintes lyues,                                    690
N'of noon oother womman neuer the mo.
Who peynted the leon, tel me, who?                                     670
By god, if wommen hadden writen stories
As clerkes han withinne hir oratories,
They wolde han writen of men moore wikkednesse
Than al the mark of Adam may redresse.
The children of Mercurie and Venus                                     675
Been in hir wirkyng ful contrarius.
Mercurie loueth wysdam and science                                     f.66v
And Venus loueth riot and dispence.                                    700
And for hir diuerse disposicioun
Ech faileth in ootheres exaltacioun,                                   680
And thus, god woot, Mercurie is desolat
In Pisces wher Venus is exaltat
And Venus faileth ther Mercurie is reysed.
Therfore no womman of no clerk is preysed.
The clerk, whan he is old and may noght do                             685
Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho,
Thanne sit he doun and writ in his dotage
That wommen kan nat kepe hir mariage.                                  710
  "But now to purpos why I tolde thee
That I was beten for a book pardee.                                    690
Vpon a nyght Iankyn, that was oure sire,
Redde on his book as he sat by the fire
Of Eua first, that for hir wikkednesse
Was al mankynde broght to wrecchednesse.                               716
  "Tho redde he me how Sampson loste his herys                         721
Slepynge; his lemman kitte it with hir sherys.                         696
Thurgh which tresoun loste he bothe hise eyen.
Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat lyen,
Of Hercules and of his Dianyre
That caused hym to sette hymself a fyre.                               700
Nothyng forgat he the sorwe and wo
That Socrates hadde with his wyues two:
How Xantippa caste pisse vpon his heed.
This sely man sat stille as he were deed.                              730
He wipte his heed. Namoore dorste he seyn                              705
But er that thonder stynte comth a reyn.
Of Phasifpha that was the queene of Crete
For shrewednesse hym thoughte the tale swete.
Fy, spek namoore, it is a grisly thyng
Of hir horrible lust and hir likyng.                                   710
Of Clitermystra for hir lecherye
That falsly made hir housbonde for to dye,
He redde it with ful good deuocioun.
He tolde me eek for what occasioun                                     740
Amphiorax at Thebes loste his lyf.                                     715
Myn housbonde hadde a legende of his wyf.
Exiphilem that for an ouch of gold                                     f.67
Hath priuely vnto the Grekys told
Wher that hir housbonde hidde hym in a place
For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace.                               720
  "Of Lyuia tolde he me and of Lucie.
They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye,
That oon for loue, that oother was for hate.
Lyuia hir housbonde on an euen late                                    750
Empoysoned hath for that she was his fo.                               725
Lucya likerous loued hir housbonde so,
That for he sholde alwey vpon hir thynke
She yaf hym swich a manere loue-drynke
That he was deed er it were by the morwe.
And thus algates housbondes han sorwe.                                 730
  "Thanne tolde he me how that oon Latumyus
Compleyned vnto his felawe Arrius
That in his gardyn growed swich a tree
On which he seyde how that hise wyues thre                             760
Honged hemself for hertes despitus.                                    735
"O leeue brother,' quod this Arrius,
"Yif me a plante of thilke blessed tree
And in my gardyn planted shal it be.'
  "Of latter date of wyues hath he red
That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed                         740
And lete hir lechour dighte hir al the nyght
Whan that the corps lay in the floor vpryght.
And somme han dryuen nayles in hir brayn
Whil that they sleepe and thus they han hem slayn.                     770
Somme han hem yeuen poysoun in hir drynke.                             745
He spak moore harm than herte may bithynke.
And therwithal he knew of mo prouerbes
Than in this world ther growen gras or herbes.
Bet is (quod he) thyn habitacioun
Be with a leon or a foul dragoun                                       750
Than with a womman vsyng for to chide.
Bet is (quod he) hye in the roof abyde
Than with an angry wyf down in the hous.
They been so wikked and contrarious,                                   780
They haten that hir housbondes loueth ay.                              755
He seyde a womman cast hir shame away
Whan she cast of hir smok, and forthermo                               f.67v
A fair womman but she be chaast also
Is lyk a gold ryng in a sowes nose.
Who wolde wene or who wolde suppose                                    760
The wo, that in myn herte was, and pyne?
  "And whan I say he wolde neuere fyne
To reden on this cursed book al nyght,
Al sodeynly thre leues haue I plyght                                   790
Out of his book right as he radde, and eke                             765
I with my fist so took on the cheke
That in oure fyr he fil bakward adown.
And he vp stirte as dooth a wood leoun
And with his fest he smoot me on the heed
That in the floor I lay as I were deed.                                770
And whan he say how stille that I lay
He was agast and wolde haue fled his way
Til atte laste out of my swowgh I brayde.
  "O hastow slayn me, false theef?' I sayde.                        800
"And for my land thus hastow mordred me?                              775
Er I be deed yet wol I kisse thee.'
  "And neer he cam and kneled faire adown
And seyde: "Deere suster Alisoun,
As help me god I shal thee neuere smyte.
That I haue doon it is thyself to wyte.                                780
Foryeue it me and that I thee biseke.'
  "And yet eftsoones I hitte hym on the cheke
And seyde: "Theef, thus muchel am I wreke.
Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke.'                                810
  "But at the laste with muchel care and wo                            785
We fille acorded by vsseluen two.
He yaf me al the brydel in myn hond
To han the gouernance of hous and lond,
And of his tonge and his hond also.
And made hym brenne his book anon-right tho.                           790
  "And whan that I hadde geten vnto me
By maistrye al the soueraynetee
And that he seyde "Myn owene trewe wyf,
Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf,                               820
Keep thyn honour and keep eek myn estaat',                            795
After that day we hadden neuere debaat.
God help me so, I was to hym as kynde                                  f.68
As any wyf from Denmark vnto Inde
And also trewe, and so was he to me.
I pray to god, that sit in magestee,                                   800
So blesse his soule for his mercy deere.
Now wol I seye my tale if ye wol heere.'
  The frere logh whan he hadde herd al this.
"Now, dame,' quod he, "so haue I ioye or blys                          830
This is a long preamble of a tale.'                                    805
   And whan the somnour herde the frere gale,
"Lo,' quod the somnour, "goddes armes two,
A frere wol entremette hym eueremo.
Loo goode men, a flye and eek a frere
Wol falle in euery dyssh and matere.                                   810
What spekestow of preambulacioun?
What amble or trotte or pees or go sit doun;
Thow lettest oure disport in this manere.'
  "Ye, woltow so, sir somnour?' quod the frere.                        840
"Now by my feith I shal, er that I go,                                 815
Telle of a somnour swich a tale or two
That al the folk shal laughen in this place.'
  "Now ellis, frere, I wol bishrewe thy face,'
Quod this somnour. "And I bishrewe me
But if I telle tales two or thre                                       820
Of freres er I come to Sydyngborne
That I shal make thyn herte for to morne
For wel I woot thy pacience is gon.'
  Oure hoost cryde: "Pees and that anon!'                              850
And seyde: "Lat the womman telle hir tale.                             825
Ye fare as folk that dronken ben of ale.
Do, dame: tel forth youre tale and that is best.'
  "Al reddy, sire,' quod she, "right as yow lest
If I haue licence of this worthy frere.'
  "Yis, dame,' quod he, "tel forth and I wol heere.'                   830


Here endeth the prologe of the wyf of Bathe.


Here bigynneth the tale of the wyf of Bathe.                           f.68v


In th'olde dayes of the kyng Arthour,
Of which that Britons speken greet honour,
Al was this land fulfild of fairye;
The elf-queene with hir ioly compaignye                                860
Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede.                                 835
This was the olde opynyon as I rede --
I speke of many hundred yerys ago.
But now kan no man se none elues mo,
For now the grete charitee and prayeres
Of lymytours and othere holy freres                                    840
That serchen euery lond and euery streem
As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem,
Blessynge halles, chambres, kichenes, boures,
Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures,                                  870
Thropes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes,                                    845
This maketh that ther been no fairyes.
For ther as wont to walken was an elf
Ther walketh now the lymytour hymself
In vndermelys and in morwenynges
And seith his matyns and his holy thynges                              850
As he gooth in his lymytacioun.
Wommen may go saufly vp and down,
In euery bussh or vnder euery tree
Ther is noon oother incubus but he,                                    880
And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.                                  855
  And so bifel that this kyng Arthour
Hadde in his hous a lusty bachiler
That on a day cam ridyng fro ryuer
And happed that allone as he was born
He say a mayde walkynge hym biforn.                                    860
Of which mayde anoon maugree hir hed
By verray force he rafte hir maydenhed.
For which oppressioun was swich clamour
And swich pursuyte vnto the kyng Arthour                               890
That dampned was this knyght for to be deed                            865
By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed
(Parauenture swich was the statut tho)                                 f.69
But that the queene and othere ladyes mo
So longe preyden the kyng of grace
Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place                               870
And yaf hym to the queene al at hir wille
To chese wheither she wolde hym saue or spille.
  The queene thanketh the kyng with al hir myght.
And after this thus spak she to the knyght                             900
Whan that she saw hir tyme vpon a day.                                 875
"Thow standest yet,' quod she, "in swich array
That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee.
I graunte thee lyf if thow kanst tellen me
What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren.
Be war and keep thy nekke-boon from iren.                              880
And if thow kanst nat tellen me anon,
Yet wol I yeue thee leue for to gon
A twelf monthe and a day to seche and lere
An answere suffisant in this matere.                                   910
And seuretee wol I han, er that thow pace,                             885
Thy body for to yelden in this place.'
  Wo was this knyght and sorwefully he siketh.
But what, he may nat doon al as hym liketh.
And atte laste he chees hym for to wende
And come agayn right at the yeres ende                                 890
With swich answere as god wolde hym purueye.
And taketh his leue and wendeth forth his weye.
He seketh euery hous and euery place
Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace                                  920
To lerne what thyng wommen loue moost.                                 895
But he ne koude arryuen in no coost
Where as he myghte fynde in this matere
Two creatures acordyng in feere.
  Somme seyden wommen louen best richesse,
Somme seyde honour, somme seyde iolifnesse,                            900
Somme riche array, somme lust a bedde
And ofte tyme to be widwe and wedde.
Somme seyde that oure herte is moost esed
Whan that we been yflatered and yplesed.                               930
He gooth ful ny the sothe, I wol nat lye.                              905
A man shal wynne vs best with flaterye,
And with attendaunce and with bisynesse                                f.69v
Been we ylymed bothe moore and lesse.
  And somme seyn that we louen best
For to be free and do right as vs lest                                 910
And that no man repreue vs of oure vice
But seye that we be wise and nothyng nyce.
For trewely ther is noon of vs alle
If any wight wolde clawe vs on the galle                               940
That we nyl kike for he seith vs sooth.                                915
Assay, and he shal fynde it that so dooth,
For be we neuer so vicious withinne
We wol be holden wise and clene of synne.
  And somme seyn that greet delit han we
For to be holden stable and eek secree                                 920
And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle
And nat biwreye thyng that men vs telle.
But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele.
Pardee we wommen konne nothyng hele;                                   950
Witnesse on Mida, wol ye heere the tale.                               925
  Ouyde amonges othere thynges smale
Seyde Mida hadde vnder his longe herys
Growynge vpon his heed two asses erys.
The which vice he hidde as he best myghte
Ful sotilly from euery mannes sighte                                   930
That saue his wyf ther wiste of it namo.
He loued hir moost and trusted hir also.
He preyed hir that to no creature
She sholde tellen of his disfigure.                                    960
  She swoor hym nay for al this world to wynne                         935
She nolde do that vileynye or syn,
To make hir housbonde han so foul a name
She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame.
But nathelees hir thoughte that she dyde
That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde.                               940
Hir thoughte it swal so soore aboute hir herte
That nedely som word hir moste asterte.
And sith she dorste nat telle it to no man
Doun to a marys faste by she ran.                                      970
Til she cam there hir herte was a fyre.                                945
And as a bitore bombleth in the myre,
She leyde hir mouth vnto the water down.                               f.70
"Biwrey me nat, thow water, with thy sown,'
Quod she, "to thee I telle it and namo:
Myn housbonde hath longe asses erys two.                               950
Now is myn herte al hool, now it is oute;
I myghte no lenger kepe it out of doute.'
Heere may ye see thogh we a tyme abyde
Yet out it moot, we kan no conseil hyde.                               980
The remenant of the tale, if ye wol heere,                             955
Redeth Ouyde and ther ye may it leere.
  This knyght of which my tale is specially
Whan that he say he myghte nat come therby,
This is to seye what wommen louen moost,
Withinne his brest ful sorweful was the goost.                         960
But hom he gooth, he myghte nat soiorne,
The day was come that homward moste he torne.
And in his wey it happed hym to ryde
In al this care vnder a forest-syde                                    990
Wher as he say vpon a daunce go                                        965
Of ladyes xxiiij and yet mo.
Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne
In hope that som wisdom sholde he lerne.
But certeynly er he cam fully there
Vanysshed was this daunce he nyste where.                              970
No creature say he that bar lyf
Saue on the grene he say sittynge a wyf;
A fouler wight ther may no man deuyse.
Agayn the knyght this olde wyf gan ryse                                1000
And seyde: "Sire knyght, heer forth ne lyth no wey.                    975
Tel me what that ye seken by youre fey.
Parauenture it may the bettre be:
This olde folk konne muchel thyng,' quod she.
  "My leeue moder,' quod this knyght, "certeyn
I nam but deed but if that I kan seyn                                  980
What thyng it is that wommen moost desire.
Koude ye me wisse I wolde wel quyte youre hyre.'
  "Plight me thy trouthe here in myn hand,' quod she,
"The nexte thyng that I requere thee                                  1010
Thow shalt it do if it lye in thy myght,                              985
And I wol telle it yow er it be nyght.'
  "Haue here my trouthe,' quod the knyght "I graunte '                f.70v
  "Thanne,' quod she, "I dar me wel auaunte
Thy lyf is sauf, for I wole stonde therby
Vpon my lyf the queene wol seye as I.                                 990
Lat see which is the prouddeste of hem alle
That wereth on a couerchief or a calle
That dar seye nay of that I shal thee teche.
Lat vs go forth withouten lenger speche.'                             1020
Tho rowned she a pistel in his ere                                    995
And bad hym to be glad and haue no fere.
  Whan they be comen to the court, this knyght
Seyde he hadde holde his day as he had hight
And redy was his answere as he sayde.
Ful many a noble wyf and many a mayde                                 100o
And many a widwe for that they ben wise,
The queene hirself sittyng as iustise
Assembled been this answere for to here.
And afterward this knyght was bode appere.                            1030
To euery wight comanded was silence                                   1005
And that the knyght sholde telle in audience
What thyng that worldly wommen louen best.
This knyght ne stood nat stille as dooth a best,
But to his question anon answerde
With manly voys that al the court it herd.                            1010
  "My lige lady, generally,' quod he,
"Wommen desire to haue souereyntee
As wel ouer hir housbonde as hir loue
And for to been in maistrie hym aboue.                                1040
This is youre mooste desir thogh ye me kille.                         1015
Dooth as yow list: I am here at youre wille.'
  In al the court ne was ther wyf ne mayde
Ne wydwe that contraryed that he sayde,
But seyden he was worthy han his lyf.
  And with that word vp stirte that olde wyf                          1020
Which that the knyght say sittyng on the grene.
"Mercy,' quod she, "my souereyn lady queene,
Er that youre court departe, do me right.
I taughte this answere vnto the knyght                                1050
For which he plighte me his trouthe there:                            1025
The firste thyng I wolde hym requere,
He wolde it do if it laye in his myght.                               f.71
Bifore the court thanne preye I thee, sire knyght,'
Quod she, "that thow me take vnto thy wyf
For wel thow woost that I haue kept thy lyf.                          1030
If I seye fals, sey nay vpon thy fey.'
  This knyght answerde: "Allas and weilawey,
I woot right wel that swich was my biheste.
For goddes loue as chees a newe requeste.                             1060
Taak al my good and lat my body go.'                                  1035
  "Nay thanne,' quod she, "I shrewe vs bothe two.
For thogh that I be foul, old and poore,
I nolde for al the metal ne for oore
That vnder erthe is graue or lith aboue
But if thy wyf I were and eek thy loue.'                              1040
  "My loue,' quod he, "nay my dampnacioun.
Allas that any of my nacioun
Sholde euere so foule disparaged be.'
But al for noght. Th'ende is this that he                             1070
Constreyned was. He nedes moste hir wedde,                            1045
And taketh his olde wyf and goth to bedde.
  Now wolden som men seye parauenture
That for my necligence I do no cure
To tellen yow the ioye and al th'array
That at the feste was that ilke day.                                  1050
To which thyng shortly answere I shal.
I seye ther nas no ioye ne feste at al.
Ther nas but heuynesse and muche sorwe.
For priuely he wedded hir on morwe                                    1080
And al day after hidde hym as an owle,                                1055
So wo was hym his wyf looked so foule.
  Greet was the wo the knyght hadde in his thoght.
Whan he was with his wyf a bedde ybroght,
He walweth and he turneth to and fro.
His olde wyf lay smylyng eueremo                                      1060
And seyde: "O deere housbonde, benedicite
Fareth euery knyght thus with his wyf as ye?
Is this the lawe of kyng Arthures hous?
Is euery knyght of his thus daungerous?                               1090
I am youre owene loue and youre wyf.                                  1065
I am she which that saued hath youre lyf.
And certes yet ne dide I yow neuere vnright                           f.71v
Why fare ye thus with me this firste nyght?
Ye faren lyk a man hadde lost his wit.
What is my gilt? For goddes loue tel it                               1070
And it shal ben amended if I may.'
  "Amended?' quod this knyght. "Allas nay, nay.
It wol nat ben amended neuere mo.
Thow art so loothly and so old also                                   1100
And therto comen of so lowe a kynde                                   1075
That litel wonder is thogh I walwe and wynde.
So wolde god myn herte wolde breste!'
  "Is this,' quod she, "the cause of youre vnreste?'
  "Ye certeynly,' quod he, "no wonder is.'
  "Now sire,' quod she, "I koude amende al this                       1080
If that me liste er it were dayes thre
So wel ye myghte bere yow vnto me.
But for ye speken of swich gentillesse
As is descended out of old richesse                                   1110
That therfore sholden ye be gentil men --                             1085
Swich errogaunce is nat worth an hen.
Looke who that is moost vertuous alway,
Pryuee and apert, and moost entendeth ay
To do the gentil dedes that he kan,
Taak hym for the gentileste man                                       1090
Crist wol we clayme of hym oure gentilesse,
Nat of oure eldres for hir old richesse.
For thogh they yeue vs al hir heritage
For which we clame to been of hir parage,                             1120
Yet may they nat biquethe for nothyng                                 1095
To noon of vs hir vertuous lyuyn
That made hem gentil men ycalled be
And bad vs folwen hem in swich degree.
  "Wel kan the wise poete of Florence
That highte Dant speken in this sentence.                             1100
Lo in swich maner rym is Dantes tale:
Ful selde vp riseth by his braunches smale
Prowesse of man, for god of his prowesse
Wole that of hym we clayme oure gentilesse.                           1130
For of oure eldres may we nothyng clayme                              1105
But temporel thyng that man may hurte and mayme.
Eek euery wight woot this as wel as I:                                f.72
If gentilesse were planted naturelly
Vnto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne,
Pryuee and apert thanne wolde they neuere fyne                        1110
To doon of gentilesse the faire office;
They myghte do no vileynye or vice.
  "Taak fyr and bere it in the derkeste hous
Bitwix this and the mount of Kaukasous                                1140
And lat men shette the dores and go thenne,                           1115
Yet wol the fyr as faire lye and brenne
As twenty thousand men myghte it biholde.
His office naturel ay wol it holde
Vp peril of my lyf til that it dye.
Here may ye se wel how that genterye                                  1120
Is nat annexed to possession,
Sith folk ne doon hir operacion
Alwey as dooth the fyr lo in his kynde.
For god it woot men may wel often fynde                               1150
A lordes sone do shame and vileynye.                                  1125
And he that wol han prys of his gentrye
For he was born of a gentil hous
And hadde hise eldres noble and vertuous
And nyl hymseluen do no gentil dedis
Ne folwen his gentil auncestre that deed is,                          1130
He nys nat gentil, be he duc or erl,
For vileynes, synful dedes maken a cherl.
For gentilesse nys but renomee
Of thyne auncestres for hir hye bountee,                              1160
Which is straunge thyng for thy persone.                              1135
Thy gentilesse cometh fro god allone.
Thanne comth oure verray gentilesse of grace,
It was nothyng biquethe vs with oure place.
  "Thenketh how noble, as seith Valerius,
Was thilke Tullius Hostillius                                         1140
That out of pouerte roos to heigh noblesse.
Redeth Senek and redeth eek Boece:
Ther shul ye seen expres that no drede is
That he is gentil that dooth gentil dedis.                            1170
And therfore, leue housbonde, I thus conclude:                        1145
Al were it that myne auncestres weren rude,
Yet may the hye god (and so hope I)                                   f.72v
Graunte me grace to lyuen vertuously.
Thanne am I gentil whan that I bigynne
To lyuen vertuously and weyue synne.                                  1150
  "And ther as ye of pouerte me repreue,
The hye god on whom that we bileue
In wilful pouerte chees to lyue his lyf.
And certes euery man, mayden or wyf                                   1180
May vnderstonde that Iesus heuene-kyng                                1155
Ne wolde nat chese a vicious lyuyng.
Glad pouerte is an honeste thyng certeyn,
This wol Senek and othere clerkes seyn.
Whoso that halt hym payd of his pouerte
I holde hym riche al hadde he nat a sherte.                           1160
He that coueiteth is a poure wight
For he wolde han that is nat in his myght.
But he that noght hath ne coueiteth haue
Is riche, althogh we holde hym but a knaue.                           1190
Verray pouerte it syngeth proprely.                                   1165
Iuuenal seith of pouerte myrily:
The poure man whan he gooth by the weye,
Biforn the theues he may synge and pleye.
Pouerte is hateful good and as I gesse
A ful greet brynger out of bisynesse,                                 1170
A greet amendere eek of sapience
To hym that taketh it in pacience.
Pouerte is thyng, althogh it seme elenge,
Possessioun that no wight wol chalenge.                               1200
Pouerte ful often whan a man is lowe                                  1175
Maketh hymself and eek his god to knowe.
Pouerte a spectacle is as thynketh me
Thurgh which he may his verray freendes se.
And therfore, sire, syn that I noght yow greue
Of my pouerte namoore ye me repreue.                                  1180
  "Now, sire, of elde ye repreue me.
And certes, sire, thogh noon auctoritee
Were in no book, ye gentils of honour
Seyn that men an old wight sholde doon fauour                         1210
And clepe hym fader for youre gentilesse;                             1185
And auctours shal I fynden as I gesse.
Now ther ye seye that I am foul and old,                              f.73
Thanne drede yow noght to been a cokewold,
For filthe and elde also mote I thee
Been grete wardeyns vpon chastitee.                                   1190
But nathelees syn I knowe youre delit
I shal fulfille youre worldly appetit.
  "Chees now,' quod she, "oon of thise thynges tweye:
To han me foul and old til that I deye                                1220
And be to yow a trewe, humble wyf                                     1195
And neuere yow displese in al my lyf,
Or ellis ye wol han me yong and fair
And take youre auenture of the repair
That shal be to youre hous by cause of me
Or in som oother place may wel be.                                    1200
Now chees yourseluen wheither that yow liketh.'
  This knyght auyseth hym and soore siketh.
But atte laste he seyde in this manere:
"My lady and my loue and wyf so deere,                                1230
I putte me in youre wise gouernaunce.                                 1205
Cheseth yourself which that may be moost plesaunce
And moost honour to yow and me also.
I do no fors the wheither of the two,
For as yow liketh it suffiseth me.'
  "Thanne haue I gete of yow maistrye,' quod she,                     1210
"Syn I may chese and gouerne as me lest.'
  "Ye certes, wyf,' quod he; "I holde it best.'
  "Kys me,' quod she, "we be no lenger wrothe,
For by my trouthe I wol be to yow bothe:                              1240
This is to seyn ye bothe fair and good.                               1215
I pray to god that I mote steruen wood
But I to yow be also good and trewe
As euere was wyf syn that the world was newe
And but I be tomorn as fair to sene
As any lady, emperice or queene                                       1220
That is bitwix the est and eek the west.
Do with my lyf and deth right as yow lest.
Cast vp the curtyn. Looke how that it is.'
  And whan the knyght say verraily al this,                           1250
That she so fair was and so yong therto,                              1225
For ioye he hente hir in his armes two.
His herte bathed in a bath of blisse.                                 f.73v
A thousand tyme a rewe he gan hir kisse.
And she obeyed hym in euery thyng
That myghte do hym plesance or likyng.                                1230
And thus they lyue vnto hir lyues ende
In parfit ioye. And Iesu Crist vs sende
Housbondes meke, yonge and fressh a bedde
And grace t'ouerbyde hem that we wedde.                               1260
And eek I praye Iesu shorte hir lyues                                 1235
That noght wol be gouerned by hir wyues.
And olde and angry nygardes of dispence
God sende hem soone verray pestilence.


Here endeth the wyues tale of Bathe.

                      The Friar's Prologue and Tale

The prologe of the freres tale.

This worthy lymytour, this noble frere,
He made alwey a manere louryng cheere                                 1240
Vpon the somnour, but for honestee
No vileyns word as yet to hym spak he.
But atte laste he seyde vnto the wyf.:
"Dame,' quod he, "god yeue yow right good lyf.                        1270
Ye han heer touched also mote I thee                                  1245
In scole-matere greet difficultee.
Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel, I seye.
But, dame, here as we ryden by the weye
Vs nedeth nat to speken but of game,
And lete auctoritees on goddes name                                   1250
To prechyng and to scole of clergye.
But if it like to this compaignye,
I wol yow of a somnour telle a game.
Pardee ye may wel knowe by the name                                   1280
That of a somnour may no good be sayd.                                1255
I praye that noon of yow be yuel ypayd.
A somnour is a rennere vp and doun
With mandementz for fornicacioun
And is ybet at euery townes ende.'
  Oure hoost tho spak: "A, sire, ye sholde be hende                   1260
And curteys, as a man of youre estaat.                                f.74
In compaignye we wol no debaat.
Telleth youre tale and lat the somnour be.'
  "Nay,' quod the somnour, "lat hym seye to me                        1290
Whatso hym list. Whan it comth to my lot,                             1265
By god I shal hym quyten euery grot.
I shal hym telle which a gret honour
It is to be a flaterynge lymytour
And of many another maner cryme,
Which nedeth nat rehercen for this tyme.                              1270
And his office I shal hym telle ywys.'
  Oure hoost answerde: "Pees. Namoore of this.'
And after this he seyde vnto the frere:
"Tel forth youre tale, leeue maister deere.'                          1300


Here endeth the prologe of the frere and bigynneth his tale.


Whilom ther was dwellynge in my contree                               1275
An erchedekne, a man of hy degree
That boldely dide execucioun
In punysshynge of fornicacioun,
Of wicchecraft and eek of bawderye,
Of diffamacioun and auoutrye,                                         1280
Of chirche-reues and of testamentz,
Of contractes and eek of lakke of sacramentz,
Of vsure and of symonye also.
But certes lecchours dide he grettest wo:                             1310
They sholde syngen if that they were hent.                            1285
And smale tytheres were foule yschent:
If any persoun wold vpon hem pleyne
Ther myghte asterte hym no pecunial peyne.
For smale tithes and for smal offryng
He made the peple ful pitusly to syng.                                1290
For er the bysschop caght hem with hys hooc
They were in the erchdeknys book,
And thanne had he thurgh hys iurisdiccion
Power to do on hem correccion.                                        1320
He hadde a somnour redy to his hond,                          f.74v 1295
A slyer boy nas noon in Engelond,
For subtilly he hadde his espiaille
That taughte hym wher hym myghte auaille.
He koude spare of lecchours oon or two
To techen hym to foure and twenty mo.                                 1300
For theigh this somnour wood were as an hare,
To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare
For we been out of his correccioun;
They han of vs no iurisdiccioun                                       1330
Ne neuere shullen terme of hir lyues.                                 1305
  "Peter, so been wommen of the styves,'
Quod the somnour, "yput out of my cure.'
  "Pees with myschaunce and with mysauenture,'
Thus seyde oure hoost, "and lat hym telle his tale.
Now telleth forth thogh that the somnour gale                         1310
Ne spareth nat, myn owene mayster deere.'
  This false theef, this somnour, (quod the frere)
Hadde alwey baudes redy to his hond
As any hauk to lure in Engelond                                       1340
That tolde hym al the secree that they knewe                          1315
For hire aqueyntance was nat come of newe.
They weren hise approwours pryuely.
He took hymself a greet profit therby.
His maister knew nat alwey what he wan.
Withouten mandement a lewed man                                       1320
He koude somne on peyne of Cristes curs
And they were glade for to fille his purs
And make hym grete festes atte nale.
And right as Iudas hadde purses smale                                 1350
And was a theef, right swich a theef was he.                          1325
His maister hadde but half his duetee.
  He was, if I shal yeuen hym his laude,
A theef and eek a somnour and a baude.
He hadde eek wenches at his retenue
That wheither that sir Robert or sir Hewe                             1330
Or Iakke or Rauf or whoso that it were
That lay by hem, they tolde it in his ere.
Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent.
And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement                                1360
And somne hem to chapitre bothe two                            f.75   1335
And pile the man and lete the wenche go.
  Thanne wolde he seye: "Freend, I shal for thy sake
Do stryke hir out of oure lettres blake;
Thee thar namoore as in this cas trauaille.
I am thy freend ther I thee may auaille.'                             1340
  Certeyn he knew of bryberyes mo
Than possible is to telle in yeres two,
For in this world nys dogge for the bowe
That kan an hurt deer from an hool knowe                              1370
Bet than this somnour knew a sly lecchour                             1345
Or an auouter or a paramour.
And for that was the fruyt of al his rente,
Therfore on it he sette al his entente.
  And so bifel that ones on a day
This somnour euere waityng on his pray,                               1350
For to somne an old wydewe, a ribibe,
Feynynge a cause for he wolde brybe,
Happed that he say bifore hym ryde
A gay yeman vnder a forest-syde.                                      1380
A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene.                             1355
He hadde vpon a courtepy of grene,
An hat vpon his heed with frenges blake.
  "Sir,' quod this somnour, "hayl and wel atake.'
  "Welcome,' quod he, "and euery good felawe.
Wher ridestow vnder this grene shawe?'                                1360
Seyde this yeman. "Wiltow fer today?'
  This somnour hym answerde and seyde: "Nay.
Here faste by,' quod he, "is myn entente
To ryden, for to reysen vp a rente                                    1390
That longeth to my lordes duetee.'                                    1365
  "Artow thanne a bailly?' "Yes,' quod he.
He dorste nat for verray filthe and shame
Seye that he was a somnour for the name.
  "Depardieux,' quod this yeman, "deere brother,
Thow art a bailly and I am another.                                   1370
I am vnknowen as in this contree.
Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee
And eek of bretherhede if that yow leste.
I haue gold and siluer in my cheste;                                  1400
If that thee happed to come in oure shire                        f.75" 1375
Al shal be thyn right as thow wolt desire.'
  "Graunt mercy,' quod this somnour, "by my feith.'
Euerich in ootheres hond his trouthe leyth
For to be sworn bretheren til they deye.
In daliaunce they ryden forth and pleye.                              1380
  This somnour which that was as ful of iangles
As ful of venym been thise waryangles
And euere enqueryng vpon euery thyng
"Brother,' quod he, "wher is now youre dwellyng                       1410
Another day if that I sholde yow seche?'                              1385
  This yeman hym answerde in softe speche.
"Brother,' quod he, "fer in the north contree
Wher as I hope somtyme I shal thee see.
Er we departe I shal thee so wel wisse
That of myn hous ne shaltow neuere mysse.'                            1390
  "Now, brother,' quod this somnour, "I yow preye
Teche me whil that we ryden by the weye,
Syn that ye been a baillyf as am I,
Som subtiltee; and tel me feithfully                                  1420
In myn office how I may moost wynne.                                  1395
And spareth nat for conscience ne synne,
But as my brother tel me how do ye.'
   "Now by my trouthe, brother deere,' seyde he,
"As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale.
My wages been ful streyte and ful smale.                              1400
My lord is hard to me and daungerous
And myn office is ful laborous,
And therfore by extorcions I lyue.
For sothe I take al that men wol me yeue.                             1430
Algate by sleighte or by violence                                     1405
Fro yeer to yeer I wynne al my dispence.
I kan no bettre tellen feithfully.'
  "Now certes,' quod this somnour, "so fare I.
I spare nat to taken god it woot,
But it be to heuy or to hoot.                                         1410
What I may gete in conseil priuely
No manere conscience of that haue I.
Nere myn extorcioun I myghte nat lyuen.
Ne of swiche iapes wol I nat be shryuen.                              1440
Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon,                          f.76   1415
I sherewe thise shryftes fadres euerychon.
Wel be we met by god and by seint lame.
But, leeue brother, tel me thanne thy name,'
Quod this somnour. In this mene whyle
This yeman gan a litel for to smyle.                                  1420
  "Brother,' quod he, "woltow that I thee telle?
I am a feend. My dwellyng is in helle.
And here I ryde aboute my purchasyng
To wite wher men wolde yeue me any thyng.                             1450
My purchas is th'effect of al my rente.                               1425
Looke how thow rydest for the same entente
To wynne good, thow rekkest neuere how.
Right so fare I, for ryde wold I now
Vnto the worldes ende for a preye.'
  "A,' quod this somnour, "benedicite what sey ye?                    1430
I wende ye were a yeman trewely.
Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I.
Han ye a figure thanne determynat
In helle ther ye been in youre estat?'                                1460
  "Nay certeynly,' quod he, "ther haue we noon.                       1435
But whan vs liketh we kan take vs oon
Or ellis make yow seme we ben shape
Somtyme lyk a man or lyk an ape;
Or lyk an aungel kan I ryde or go.
It is no wonder thyng theigh it be so:                                1440
A lousy iogelour kan deceyue thee
And pardee yet kan I moore craft than he.'
  "Whi,' quod this somnour, "ryde ye thanne or goon
In sondry shap and nat alwey in oon?'                                 1470
  "For we,' quod he, "wol vs swiche formes make
As moost able is oure preyes for to take.'                            1445
   "What maketh yow to han al this labour?'
   "Ful many a cause, leue sir somnour,
Seyde this feend. "But alle thyng hath tyme,
The day is short and it is passed pryme                               1450
And yet ne wan I nothyng in this day.
I wol entende to wynnyng if I may
And nat entende oure wittes to declare.
For, brother myn, thy wit is al to bare                               1480
To vnderstonde, althogh I tolde hem thee;                       f.76" 1455
But for thow axest why labouren we:
For somtyme we been goddes instrumentz
And meenes to doon his comandementz
Whan that hym list vpon his creatures,
In diuers art and in diuerse figures.                                 1460
Withouten hym we han no myght certayn
If that hym lyst to stonde theragayn.
And somtyme at oure preyere han we leue
Oonly the body and nat the soule greue,                               1490
Witnesse on Iob whom that we diden wo.                                1465
And somtyme han we myght of bothe two,
This is to seyn of soule and body eke.
And somtyme be we suffred for to seke
Vpon a man and do his soule vnreste
And nat his body. And al is for the beste                             1470
Whan he withstandeth oure temptacioun;
It is a cause of his sauacioun,
Al be it that it was nat oure entente
He sholde be sauf but that we wolde hym hente.                        1500
And somtyme be we seruant vnto man                                    1475
As to the erchebisshop, seint Dunstan.
And to the apostles seruant eek was I.'
  "Yet tel me,' quod the somnour, "feithfully:
Make ye yow newe bodyes thus alway
Of elementz?' The feend answerde: "Nay.                               1480
Somtyme we feyne and somtyme we aryse
With dede bodyes in ful sondry wyse
And speke as renably and faire and wel
As to the phitonissa dide Samuel.                                     1510
(And yet wol som men seye it was nat he --                            1485
I do no fors of youre dyuynytee.)
But o thyng warne I thee, I wol nat iape,
Thow wolt algates wite how we be shape:
Thow shalt herafterwardes, my brother deere,
Come there; thee nedeth nat of me to lere.                            1490
For thow shalt by thyn owene experience
Konne in a chayer rede of this sentence
Bet than Virgile whil he was on lyue
Or Dant also. Now lat vs ryde blyue.                                  1520
For I wol holde compaignye with thee                           f.77   1495
Til it be so that thow forsake me.'
  "Nay,' quod this somnour, "that shal nat bityde.
I am a yeman knowen is ful wyde,
My trouthe wol I holde as in this cas.
For theigh thow were the deuel Sathanas                               1500
My trouthe wol I holde to thee, my brother,
As I am sworn, and ech of vs til oother,
For to be trewe brother in this cas.
And bothe we goon abouten oure purchas:                               1530
Taak thow thy part what that men wol thee yeue                        1505
And I shal myn. Thus may we bothe lyue.
And if that any of vs haue moore than oother,
Lat hym be trewe and parte it with his brother.'
  "I graunte,' quod the deuel, "by my fey.'
And with that word they ryden forth hir wey.                          1510
  And right at the entryng of the townes ende
To which this somnour shoop hym for to wende
They saye a cart that charged was with hey
Which that a cartere droof forth in his wey.                          1540
Deep was the wey for which the carte stood.                           1515
This carter smoot and cryde as he were wood:
"Hayt, Brok; hayt, Scot. What spare ye for the stones?
The feend,' quod he, "yow fecche body and bones,
As ferforthly as euere were ye foled,
So muchel wo as I haue with yow tholed.                               1520
The deuel haue al, bothe hors and cart and hey.'
  This somnour seyde: "Heer shul we han a pley.'
And neer the feend he drogh as noght ne were
Ful pryuely and rowned in his ere.                                    1550
"Herkne, my brother, herkne by thy feith.                             1525
Herestow nat how that the cartere seith?
Hent it anon for he hath yeue it thee,
Bothe hey and cart and eek his caples thre.'
  "Nay,' quod the deuel, "god woot neuer-a-del.
It is nat his entente, trust thow me wel.                             1530
Axe hym thyself if thow nat trowest me;
Or ellys stynt a while and thow shalt se.'
  This cartere thakketh his hors vpon the croupe
And they bigonne drawen and to stoupe.                                1560
"Heyt now ' quod he "ther Iesu Crist yow blesse                 f.77" 1535
And al his handeswerk, bothe moore and lesse.
That was wel twight, myn owene lyard boy!
I pray god saue thee and seint Loy.
Now is my cart out of the slow pardee.'
  "Lo, brother,' quod the feend, "what tolde I thee?                  1540
Heere may ye se, myn owene deere brother,
The carl spak o thyng but he thoghte another.
Lat vs go forth abouten oure viage,
Heere wynne I nothyng vpon cariage.'                                  1570
  Whan that they coomen somwhat out of towne                          1545
This somnour to his brother gan to rowne:
"Brother,' quod he, "here woneth an old rebekke
That hadde almoost as leef to lese hir nekke
As for to yeue a peny of hir good.
I wol han xij pens thogh that she be wood                             1550
Or I wol somne hir vnto oure office.
And yet god woot of hir knowe I no vice.
But for thow canst nat as in this contree
Wynne thy cost, taak heer ensample of me.'                            1580
This somnour clappeth at the wydwes gate:                             1555
"Com out,' quod he, "thow olde viritrate,
I trowe thow hast som frere or preest with thee.'
  "Who clappeth?' seyde this wyf. "Benedicitee
God saue yow, sire. What is youre swete wille?'
  "I haue,' quod he, "of somonce a bille.                             1560
Vp peyne of cursyng looke that thow be
Tomorn bifore the erchedeknes knee
T'answere to the court of certeyn thynges.'
  "Now, lord,' quod she, "Crist Iesu, kyng of kynges,                 1590
So wisly helpe me, as I ne may:                                       1565
I haue been syk and that ful many a day.
I may nat go so fer,' quod she, "ne ryde
But I be deed, so priketh it in my syde.
May I nat axe a libel, sir somnour,
And answere there by my procutour                                     1570
To swich thyng as men wole opposen me?'
  "Yis,' quod this somnour. "Pay anon -- lat see --
Twelf pens to me and I wol thee acquyte.
I shal no profit han therby but lyte;                                 1600
My maister hath the profit and nat I.                            f.78 1575
Com of and lat me ryden hastily.
Yif me xij pens, I may no lenger tarye.'
  "Twelf pens?' quod she. "Now lady seinte Marie!
So wisly help me god out of care and synne,
This wyde world thogh that I sholde wynne                             1580
Ne haue I nat xij pens withinne myn hoold.
Ye knowen wel that I am poure and oold;
Kythe youre almesse on me, poure wrecche.'
  "Nay thanne,' quod he, "the foule feend me fecche                   1610
If I th'excuse, theigh thow shul be spilt.'                           1585
  "Allas,' quod she, "god woot I haue no gilt.'
  "Pay me,' quod he, "or by the swete seinte Anne
As I wol bere awey thy newe panne
For dette which thow owest me of oold.
Whan that thow madest thyn housbonde cokewold                         1590
I payde at hom for thy correccioun.
  "Thow lyxt,' quod she. "By my sauacioun
Ne was I neuere er now, wydwe ne wyf,
Somoned vnto youre court in al my lyf,                                1620
Ne neuere I nas but of my body trewe.                                 1595
Vnto the deuel, blak and row of hewe,
Yeue I thy body and my panne also.'
  And whan the deuel herde hir cursen so
Vpon hir knees, he seyde in this manere:
"Now, Mabely, myn owene moder deere,                                  1600
Is this youre wyl in ernest that ye seye?'
  "The deuel,' quod she, "so fecche hym er he deye
And panne and al, but he wol hym repente.'
  "Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn entente,'                          1630
Quod this somnour, "for to repente me                                 1605
For any thyng that I haue had of thee.
I wolde I hadde thy smok and euery clooth.'
  "Now, brother,' quod the deuel, "be noght wrooth,
Thy body and this panne been myne by right.
Thow shalt with me to helle yet tonyght                               1610
Wher thow shalt knowen of oure pryuetee
Moore than a maister of dyuynytee.'
And with that word this foule feend hym hente.
Body and soule he with the deuel wente                                1640
Wher as that somnours han hir heritage.                         f.78v 1615
And god, that made after his ymage
Mankynde, saue and gyde vs alle and some
And leue thise somnours goode men to bicome.
  Lordynges, I koude han told yow (quod this frere),
Hadde I had leyser for this somnour heere,                            1620
After the text of Crist, Poul and Iohn
And of oure othere doctours many oon
Swiche peynes that youre hertes myghte agryse,
Al be it so no tonge may it deuyse                                    1650
Thogh that I myghte a thousand wynter telle                           1625
The peynes of thilke cursed hous of helle.
But for to kepe vs fro that cursed place
Waketh and preyeth Iesu for his grace
So kepe vs fro the temptour Sathanas.
Herketh this word. Beth war as in this cas.                           1630
The leon sit in his awayt alway
To sle the innocent if that he may.
Disposeth ay youre hertes to withstonde
The feend that yow wolde maken thral and bonde.                       1660
He may nat tempte yow ouer your myght                                 1635
For Crist wol be youre champion and knyght.
And prayeth that this somnours hem repente
Of hir mysdedes er that the feend hem hente.



Here endeth the freres tale.












The Summoner's Prologue and Tale

The prologe of the somnours tale.

This somnour in his stiropes hye he stood:
Vpon this frere his herte was so wood                                 1640
That lyk an aspen-lief he quook for ire.
  "Lordynges,' quod he, "but o thyng I desire:
I yow biseke that of youre curteisye
Syn ye han herd this false frere lye                                  1670
As suffreth me I may my tale telle.                                   1645
This frere bosteth that he knoweth helle,
And god it woot that it is litel wonder:
Freres and feendes been but lyte asonder.
For pardee ye han ofte tyme herd telle                                f.79
How that a frere rauysshed was to helle                               1650
In spirit ones by avisioun,
And as an aungel ladde hym vp and down
To shewen hym the peynes that ther were
In al the place say he nat a frere.                                   1680
Of oother folk he say ynowe in wo.                                    1655
  "Vnto this aungel spak the frere tho:
"Now, sire,' quod he, "han freres swich a grace
That noon of hem shal come to this place?'
   "Yis,' quod this aungel, "many a milioun!'
And vnto Sathanas he ladde hym doun.                                  1660
"And now hath Sathanas,' seith he, "a tayl
Brodder than of a carryk is the sayl.
Hold vp thy tayl, thow Sathanas,' quod he;
"Shewe forth thyn ers and lat the frere se                           1690
Where is the nest of freres in this place.'                          1665
   "And er that half a furlong wey of space
Right so as bees out swarmen from an hyue
Out of the deueles ers ther gonne dryue
Twenty thousand freres on a route
And thurghout helle swarmeden aboute                                  1670
And comen again as faste as they may gon,
And in his ers they crepten euerychon.
He clapte his tayl agayn and lay ful stille.
This frere whan he looked hadde his fille                             1700
Vpon the tormentz of this sory place,                                 1675
His spirit god restored of his grace
Vnto his body agayn, and he awook.
But nathelees for fere yet he quook,
So was the deueles ers ay in his mynde
That is his heritage of verray kynde.                                 1680
   "God saue yow alle saue this cursed frere.
My prologe wol I ende in this manere.'


Here endeth the prologe of the somnours tale.

Here bygynneth the somnours tale.                                     f.79v

Lordynges, ther is in Yorkshire as I gesse
A merssh-contree called Holdernesse                                   1710
In which ther wente a lymytour aboute                                 1685
To preche and eek to begge, it is no doute.
And so bifel that on a day this frere
Hadde preched at a chirche in his manere
And specially abouen euerythyng
Excyted he the peple in his prechyng                                  1690
To trentals and to yeue for goddes sake
Wherwith men myghte holy houses make
Ther as dyuyne seruice is honoured --
Nat ther as it is wasted and deuoured,                                1720
Ne ther it nedeth nat to be yeue                                      1695
As to possessioners that mowen lyue,
Thanked be god, in wele and habundaunce.
  "Trentals,' seyde he, "deliuereth from penaunce
Hir freendes soules as wel olde as yonge,
Ye whan that they been hastily ysonge --                              1700
Nat for to holde a preest ioly and gay,
He syngeth nat but o masse in a day.
Deliuereth out,' quod he, "anon the soules:
Ful hard it is with flessh-hook or with oules                         1730
To been yclawed or to brenne or bake.                                 1705
Now spede yow hastily for Cristes sake.'
  And whan this frere hadde seyd al his entente
With qui cum patre forth his wey he wente.
Whan folk in chirche hadde yeue hym what hem leste
He wente his wey, no lenger wolde he reste.                           1710
With scryppe and typped staf, ytukked hye,
In euery hous he gan to poure and prye
And beggeth mele and chese or ellis corn.
His felawe hadde a staf typped with horn,                             1740
A peyre of tables al of yuory                                         1715
And a poyntel polysshed fetisly
And wroot the names alwey as he stood
Of alle folk that yaf hem any good
Ascaunces that he wolde for hem preye.                                f.80
  "Yif vs a busshel whete, malt or reye,                              1720
A goddes kechyl or a tryp of cheese
Or ellis what yow lyst, we may nat chese,
A goddes halfpeny or a masse-peny;
Or yif vs of youre brawn if ye haue eny,                              1750
A dagon of youre blanket, leeue dame,                                 1725
(Oure suster deere, lo heere I write your name!)
Bacoun or boef or swich thyng as ye fynde.'
  A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihynde
That was hir hostes-man and baar a sak
And what men yaf hem leyde it on his bak.                             1730
And whan that he was out at dore, anon
He planed awey the names euerichon
That he biforn hadde writen in his tables.
He serued hem with nyfles and with fables.                            1760
  "Nay ther thow lixt, thow somnour ' quod the frere.                 1735
  "Pees,' quod oure hoost, "for Cristes moder deere.
Tel forth thy tale and spare it nat at al.'
  So thryue I (quod this somnour) so I shal.
So longe he wente hous by hous til he
Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be                                1740
Refresshed moore than in an hundred placis.
Syk lay the goode man whos the place is,
Bedrede vpon a couche lowe he lay.
"Deus hic,' quod he. "O Thomas freend, good day,'                     1770
Seyde this frere curteisly and softe.                                 1745
"Thomas,' quod he, "god yelde yow, ful ofte
Haue I vpon this bench faren ful wel.
Heere haue I eten many a murye mel.'
And fro the bench he droof awey the cat
And leyde adoun his potente and his hat                               1750
And eek his scrippe and sette hym softe adown.
His felawe was go walked into town
Forth with his knaue into that hostelrye
Wher as he shoop hym thilke nyght to lye.                             1780
  "O deere maister,' quod this syke man,                              1755
"How han ye fare sith that March bigan?
I say yow noght this fourtnyght or moore.'
  "God woot,' quod he, "laboured I haue ful soore.
And specially for thy sauacioun                                       f.80v
Haue I seyd many a precious orisoun                                   1760
And for oure othere freendes, god hem blesse!
I haue today been at youre chirche at messe
And seyd a sermon after my symple wit
Nat al after the text of holy writ                                    1790
For it is hard to yow as I suppose,                                   1765
And therfore wol I teche yow al the glose.
Glosyng is a glorious thyng certeyn,
For lettre sleeth so as we clerkes seyn.
Ther haue I taught hem to be charitable
And spende hir good ther it is resonable.                             1770
And ther I say oure dame. A wher is she?'
  "Yond in the yerd I trowe that she be,'
Seyde this man, "and she wol come anon.'
  "Ey maister, welcome be ye by seint Iohn,'                          1800
Seyde this wyf. "How fare ye hertely?'                                1775
  The frere ariseth vp ful curteisly
And hir embraceth in hise armes narwe
And kiste hir swete and chirteth as a sparwe
With his lippes. "Dame,' quod he, "right wel,
As he that is youre seruant euery del,                                1780
Thanked be god that yow yaf soule and lyf.
Yet say I nat this day so fair a wyf
In al the chirche, god so saue me.'
   "Ye, god amende defautes, sir,' quod she.                          1810
"Algates welcome be ye by my fey.'                                    1785
  "Graunt mercy, dame, this haue I founde alwey.
But of youre grete goodnesse by youre leue
I wolde pray yow that ye nat yow greue:
I wol with Thomas speke a litel throwe.
Thise curatz been ful necligent and slowe                             1790
To grope tendrely a conscience
In shrift; in prechyng is my diligence
And studie. In Petres wordes and in Poules
I walke and fisshe cristen mennes soules                              1820
To yelden Iesu Crist his propre rente.                                1795
To sprede his word is set al myn entente.'
  "Now by youre leeue, o deere sire,' quod she,
"Chideth hym wel for seinte Trinitee:
He is as angry as a pissemyre                                         f.81
Thogh that he haue al that he kan desire.                             1800
Thogh I hym wrye a nyght and make hym warm
And on hym leye my leg outher myn arm,
He groneth lyk oure boor lyth in oure sty.
Oother disport right noon of hym haue I.                              1830
I may nat plese hym in no maner cas.'                                 1805
  "O Thomas, ie vous dy, Thomas, Thomas,
This maketh the feend. This moste been amended.
Ire is a thyng that hye god defended;
And therof wol I speke a word or two.'
   "Now maister,' quod the wyf, "er that I go,                        1810
What wol ye dyne? I wol go theraboute.'
  "Now, dame,' quod he, "now ie vous dy sanz doute
Haue I nat of a capoun but the lyuere
And of youre softe breed nat but a shyuere                            1840
And after that a rosted pigges heed                                   1815
(But that I nolde no beest for me were deed),
Thanne hadde I with yow homly suffisaunce.
I am a man of litel sustenaunce:
My spirit hath his fostryng in the Bible.
The body is ay so redy and penyble                                    1820
To wake that my stomak is destroyed.
I pray yow, dame, ye be nat anoyed
Thogh I so freendly yow my conseil shewe.
By god I wolde nat telle it but a fewe.'                              1850
  "Now, sire,' quod she, "but o word er I go:                         1825
My child is deed withinne thise wykes two
Soone after that ye wente out of this town.'
  "His deeth say I by reuelacioun,'
Seith this frere, "at hom in oure dortour.
I dar wel seyn that er that half an hour                              1830
After his deeth I say hym born to blisse
In myn avisioun. So god me wisse
So dide oure sexteyn and oure fermerer
That han been trewe freres fifty yeer.                                1860
They may now (god be thanked of his lone!)                            1835
Maken hir iubilee and walke allone.
And vp I roos and al oure couent eke
With many a teere triklyng on my cheke,
Withouten noyse or clateryng of belles.                               f.81v
Te Deum was oure song and nothyng elles,                              1840
Saue that to Crist I seyde an orisoun
Thankynge hym of his reuelacioun.
For, sire and dame, trusteth me right wel
Oure orisons been wel moore effectuel                                 1870
And moore we seen of Cristes secree thynges                           1845
Than burell folk althogh that they were kynges.
We lyue in pouerte and in abstinence
And burell folk in richesse and dispence
Of mete and drynke and in hir foul delit.
We han this worldes lust al in despit.                                1850
Lazar and Diues lyueden diuersly
And diuerse gerdon hadde they therby.
Whoso wol praye he moot faste and be clene
And fatte his soule and make his body lene.                           1880
We fare as seith th'apostle: clooth and foode                         1855
Suffiseth vs thogh they be nat ful goode.
The clennesse and the fastyng of vs freres
Maketh that Crist accepteth oure prayeres.
   "Lo Moyses fourty dayes and fourty nyght
Fasted er that the heighe god of myght                                1860
Spak with hym in the mountayne of Synay.
With empty wombe fastynge many a day
Receyued he the lawe that was writen
With goddes fynger. And Elye, wel ye witen,                           1890
In mount Oreb er he hadde any speche                                  1865
With hye god that is oure lyues leche,
He fasted longe and was in contemplaunce.
Aaron that hadde the temple in gouernaunce
And eek that othere preestes euerichon,
Into the temple whan they sholde gon                                  1870
To preye for the peple and do seruyse
They nolden drynken in no maner wyse
No drynke which that myghte hem dronke make;
But there in abstinence preye and wake                                1900
Lest that they deyden. Tak hede what I seye:                          1875
But they be sobre that for the peple preye
War that I seye; namoore, for it suffiseth.
   "Oure lord Iesu, as holy writ deuyseth,
Yaf vs ensample of fastyng and prayeres.                              f.82
Therfore we mendynantz, we sely freres,                               1880
Been wedded to pouerte and continence,
To charitee, humblesse and abstinence,
To persecucioun for rightwisnesse,
To wepyng, misericorde and clennesse.                                 1910
And therfore may ye se that oure prayeres                             1885
(I speke of vs, we mendinantz, we freres)
Be to the hye god moore acceptable
Than youres with youre festes at the table.
Fro paradys first if I shal nat lye
Was man out chaced for his glotonye,                                  1890
And chaast was man in paradys certeyn.
  "But herkne, Thomas, what I shal seyn.
I ne haue no text of it as I suppose
But I shal fynde it in a maner glose                                  1920
That specially oure swete lord Iesus                                  1895
Spak this by freres whan he seyde thus:
Blessed be they that poure in spirit been.
And so forth al the gospel may ye seen
Wher it be likker oure professioun
Or hire that swymmen in possessioun.                                  1900
Fy on hir pompe and hir glotonye
And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye.
Me thynketh they been lyk Iouynyan,
Fat as a whale and walkyng as a swan,                                 1930
Al vynolent as botel in the spence.                                   1905
Hir preyere is of ful greet reuerence,
Whan they for soules seye the psalm of Dauit:
"Lo buf,' they seye, "cor meum eructauit.'
Who folweth Cristes gospel and his foore
But we that humble been and chaast and poore,                         1910
Werkers of goddes word, nat auditours?
Therfore right as an hauk vp at a sours
Vp spryngeth into th'eyr, right so prayeres
Of charitable and chaste, bisy freres                                 1940
Maken hir sours to goddes erys two.                                   1915
Thomas, Thomas, so mote I ryde or go
And by that lord that clepid is seint Yue,
Nere thow oure brother, sholdestow nat thryue.
In oure chapitre praye we day and nyght                               f.82v
To Crist that he thee sende heele and myght                           1920
Thy body for to welden hastily.'
  "God woot,' quod he, "nothyng therof feele I.
As help me Crist as I in fewe yeres
Haue spended vpon diuerse manere freres                               1950
Ful many a pound, yet fare I neuere the bet.                          1925
Certeyn my good haue I almoost biset.
Farwel my gold, for it is al ago.'
  The frere answerde: "O Thomas, doostow so?
What nedeth yow diuerse freres seche?
What nedeth hym that hath a parfit leche                              1930
To sechen othere leches in the town?
Youre inconstance is youre confusioun.
Holde ye thanne me or ellis oure couent
To preye for yow been insufficient?                                   1960
Thomas, that iape nys nat worth a myte:                               1935
Youre maladye is for we han to lyte.
A, yif that couent half a quarter otes;
A, yif that couent xxiiij grotes;
A, yif that frere a peny and lat hym go.
Nay, nay, Thomas, it may nothyng be so.                               1940
What is a ferthyng worth parted in twelue?
Lo ech thyng that is oned in hymselue
Is moore strong than whan it is toscatered.
Thomas, of me thow shalt nat been yflatered:                          1970
Thow woldest han oure labour al for noght.                            1945
The hye god that al this world hath wroght
Seith that the werkman worthy is his hire.
Thomas, noght of youre tresor I desire
As for myself, but that al oure couent
To praye for yow is ay so diligent                                    1950
And for to buylden Cristes owene chirche.
Thomas, if ye wol lernen for to wirche,
Of buyldyng vp of chirches may ye fynde
If it be good in Thomas lyf of Inde.                                  1980
Ye lye heere ful of anger and of ire                                  1955
With which the deuel set youre herte afire
And chiden heere the sely innocent,
Youre wyf, that is so meke and pacient.
And therfore, Thomas, trowe me if thee leste                          f.83
Ne stryue nat with thy wyf as for thy beste.                          1960
And bere this word awey now by thy feith,
Touchynge swich thyng lo what the wise man seith:
Withinne thyn hous ne be thow no leoun;
To thy subgitz do noon oppressioun                                    1990
Ne make thyne aqueyntances nat for to flee.                           1965
  "And, Thomas, yet eftsoones I charge thee
Be war from hire that in thy bosom slepeth,
War fro the serpent that so sleighly crepeth
Vnder the gras and styngeth subtilly.
Be war, my sone, and herkne paciently                                 1970
That twenty thousand men han lost hir lyues
For stryuyng with hir lemmans and hir wyues.
Now sith ye han so holy meke a wyf,
What nedeth yow, Thomas, to maken stryf?                              2000
Ther nys ywis no serpent so cruel                                     1975
Whan man tret on his tayl ne half so fel
As womman is whan she hath caught an ire.
Vengeance is thanne al that they desire.
Ire is a synne, oon of the grete of seuene,
Abhomynable vnto the god of heuene;                                   1980
And to hymself it is destruccioun.
This euery lewed viker or persoun
Kan seye, how ire engendreth homicide.
Ire is in sooth executour of pryde.                                   2010
I koude of ire seye so muche sorwe                                    1985
My tale sholde laste til tomorwe.
And therfore praye I god bothe day and nyght:
An irous man god sende hym litel myght.
It is greet harm and certes greet pitee
To sette an irous man in heigh degree.                                1990
  "Whilom ther was an irous potestat,
As seith Senek, that durynge his estat
Vpon a day out ryden knyghtes two;
And as fortune wolde that it were so                                  2020
That oon of hem cam hom, that oother noght.                           1995
Anon the knyght bifore the iuge is broght
That seyde thus: "Thow hast thy felawe slayn,
For which I deme thee to the deeth certayn.'
And to another knyght comanded he:                                    f.83v
"Go leed hym to the deeth I charge thee.'                           200o
And happed as they wente by the weye
Toward the place ther he sholde deye,
The knyght cam which men wenden had be deed.
Thanne thoghten they it were the beste reed                           2030
To lede hem bothe to the iuge agayn.                                  2005
They seyden: "Lord, the knyght ne hath nat slayn
His felawe. Heere he stant hool alyue.'
"Ye shul be deed,' quod he, "so moot I thryue,
This is to seyn bothe oon and two and thre.'
And to the firste knyght right thus spak he:                          2010
"I dampned thee, thou most algate be deed.
And thow also most nedes lese thyn heed
For thow art cause why thy felawe deyth.'
And to the thridde knyght right thus he seith:                        2040
"Thow hast nat doon that I comanded thee.'                          2015
And thus he dide do sleen hem alle thre.
  "Irous Cambyses was eek dronkelewe
And ay delited hym to been a shrewe.
And so bifel a lord of his meynee
That louede vertuous moralitee                                        2020
Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right thus:
"A lord is lost if he be vicius,
And dronkenesse is eek a foul record
Of any man and namely in a lord.                                      2050
Ther is ful many an eighe and many an ere                             2025
Awaityng on a lord he noot nat where.
For goddes loue drynk moore attemprely.
Wyn maketh man to lesen wrecchedly
His mynde and eek his lymes euerychon.'
"The reuers shaltow se,' quod he anon,                              2030
"And preue it by thyn owene experience
That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich offence.
Ther is no wyn bireueth me my myght
Of hond ne foot ne of myne eyen-sight.'                              2060
And for despit he drank ful muchel moore                              2035
An hundred part than he hadde doon bifore.
And right-anon this irous, cursed wrecche
Bifore hym leet this knyghtes sone fecche,
Comandynge hym he sholde bifore hym stonde.                           f.84
And sodeynly he took his bowe in honde                                2040
And vp the streng he pulled to his ere
And with an arwe he slow the child right there.
"Now wheither haue I a siker hand or noon?'
Quod he. "Is al my myght and mynde agoon?                            2070
Hath wyn byreued me myn eye-sight.                                    2045
What sholde I telle th'answere of the knyght?
His sone was slayn. Ther is namoore to seye.
Beth war therfore with lordes how ye pleye.
Syngeth placebo and I shal if I kan,
But if it be vnto a poure man.                                   2050
To a poure man men sholde his vices telle,
But nat to a lord thogh he sholde go to helle.
  "Lo irous Syrus, thilke Percien,
How he destroyed the ryuer of Gysen                              2080
For that an hors of his was dreynt therinne                      2055
Whan that he wente Babiloyne to wynne.
He made that the ryuer was so smal
That wommen myghte wade it oueral.
Lo what seyde he that so wel teche kan:
Ne be no felawe to an irous man                                  2060
Ne with no wood man walke by the weye
Lest thee repente. I wol no ferther seye.
  "Now, Thomas, leeue brother, lef thyn ire.
Thow shalt me fynde as iust as is a squyre.                      2090
Hoold nat the deueles knyf ay at thyn herte,                     2065
Thyn angre dooth thee al to soore smerte,
But shewe to me al thy confessioun.'
   Nay, quod the sike man, "by seint Symoun.
I haue be shryuen this day at my curat:
I haue hym toold hoolly al myn estat.                            2070
Nedeth namoore to speke of it, seith he,
But if me list of myn humylitee.'
  "Yif me thanne of thy gold to make oure cloystre,'
Quod he, "for many a muscle and many an oystre                       2100
Whan othere men han been ful wel at eyse,                        2075
Hath been oure foode oure cloystre for to reyse;
And yet god woot vnnethe the fundement
Parfourned is, ne of oure pauement
Nys nat a tyle yet withinne oure wones.                          f.84v
By god we owen fourty pound for stones.                          2080
Now help, Thomas, for hym that harwed helle
Or ellis mote we oure bookes selle.
And if yow lakke oure predicacioun
Thanne gooth the world al to destruccioun.                       2110
For whoso fro this world wolde vs bireue,                        2085
So god me saue, Thomas, by youre leue,
He wolde bireue out of the world the sonne.
For who kan teche and werchen as we konne?
And that is nat of litel tyme,' quod he,
"But sith Elie was or Elize                                      2090
Han freres been, that fynde I of record,
In charitee, thonked be oure lord!
Now Thomas, help for seinte Charitee.'
And down anon he set hym on his knee.                            2120
  This sike man weex wel-neigh wood for ire.                     2095
He wolde that the frere hadde been afire
With his false dissimulacioun.
"Swich thyng as is in my possessioun,'
Quod he, "that may I yeue, and noon oother.
Ye sey me thus how that I am youre brother?'                     2100
  "Ye certes,' quod the frere, "trusteth wel;
I took oure dame oure lettre with oure sel.'
  "Now wel,' quod he, "and somwhat shal I yeue
Vnto youre holy couent whil I lyue.                              2130
And in thyn hand thow shalt it han anon                          2105
On this condicioun and oother noon
That thow departe it so, my deere brother,
That euery frere haue as muche as oother.
This shaltow swere on thy professioun
Withouten fraude or cauelacioun.'                                2110
  "I swere it,' quod this frere, "vpon my feith.'
And therwithal his hand in his he leith.
"Lo here my feith, in me shal be no lak.'
  "Now thanne put thyn hand down by my bak,'                     2140
Seyde this man, "and grope wel bihynde.                          2115
Bynethe my buttok there shaltow fynde
A thyng that I haue hyd in pryuetee.'
  "A,' thoghte this frere, "that shal go with me.'
And down his hand he launcheth to the clifte                     f.85
In hope for to fynde there a yifte.                              2120
And whan this sike man felte this frere
Aboute his tuwel grope there and heere,
Amydde his hand he leet the frere a fart.
Ther is no capul drawyng in a cart                               2150
That myghte han late a fart of swich a sown.                     2125
  The frere vp stirte as dooth a wood leoun.
"A, false cherl,' quod he, "for goddes bones
This hastow for despit doon for the nones.
Thow shalt abye this fart if that I may.'
  His meynee which that herden this affray                       2130
Cam lepyng in and chaced out the frere.
And forth he gooth with a ful angry cheere
And fette his felawe ther as lay his stoor.
He looked as he were a wilde boor.                               2160
He grynt with his teeth so was he wrooth.                        2135
A sturdy paas doun to the court he gooth
Wher as ther woned a man of greet honour
To whom that he was alwey confessour.
This worthy man was lord of that village.
This frere cam as he were in a rage                              2140
Where as this lord sat etyng at his boord.
Vnnethe myghte the frere speke a woord
Til atte laste he seyde: "God yow see.'
  This lord gan looke and seyde: "Benedicitee.                   2170
What, frere Iohn, what manere world is this?                     2145
I se wel that somthyng ther is amys.
Ye looken as the wode were ful of theuys.
Sit doun anon and tel me what youre grief is
And it shal been amended if I may.'
  "I haue,' quod he, "had a despit today,                        2150
God yelde yow, adown in youre village
That in this world ther nys so poure a page
That he nolde haue abhomynacioun
Of that I haue receyued in youre toun.                           2180
And yet ne greueth me nothyng so soore                           2155
As that this olde cherl with lokkes hoore
Blasphemed hath oure hooly couent eke.'
  "Now, maister,' quod this lord, "I yow biseke.'
  "No maister, sire,' quod he, "but seruytour.                   f.85v
In arsmetrik shal ther no man fynde
Bifore this day of swich a questioun.
Who sholde make a demonstracioun
That euery man sholde han ylike his part                         f.86
As of a soun or sauour of a fart.                                2200
O nyce, prowde cherl, I shrewe his face.
Lo sires,' quod the lord, "with harde grace!
Whoeuere herde of swich a thyng er now?
To euery man ylike, tel me how?                                  2230
It is an inpossible. It may nat be.                              2205
Ey nyce cherl, god lat hym neuere thee.
The rumblyng of a fart and euery soun
Nys but of eyr reuerberacioun,
And ther it wasteth lite and lite awey.
Ther nys no man kan deme by my fey                               2210
If that it were departed equally.
What lo my cherl, lo yet how shrewedly
Vnto my confessour today he spak!
I holde hym certeynly demonyak.                                  2240
Now ete youre mete and lat the cherl go pleye.                   2215
Lat hym go hange hymself a deuel weye.'
  Now stood the lordes squyer at the boord,
That carf his mete, and herde word by woord
Of alle thyng of which I haue yow sayd.
  "My lord,' quod he, "be ye nat yuele apayd,                    2220
I koude telle for a gowne-clooth
To yow, sire frere, so ye be nat wrooth,
How that this fart sholde euene ydeled be
Among youre couent if it liked me.'                              2250
  "Tel,' quod the lord, "and thow shalt haue anon                2225
A gowne-clooth by god and by seint Iohn.'
  "My lord,' quod he, "whan that the weder is fair
Withouten wynd or parturbynge of air,
Lat brynge a cartwheel heere into this halle.
But looke that it haue his spokes alle --                        2230
Twelf spokes hath a cartwheel comunly.
And brynge me thanne twelf freres. Woot ye why?
For thrittene is a couent as I gesse.
Youre confessour heere for his worthynesse                       2260
Shal parfourne vp the nombre of this couent.                     2235
Thanne shal they knele adown by oon assent
And to euery spokes ende in this manere:
Ful sadly leye his nose shal a frere.
Youre noble confessour, ther god hym saue,                       f.86v
Shal holde his nose vpright vnder the naue.                      2240
Thanne shal this cherl, with baly stif and toght
As any tabour, hider been ybroght.
And sette hym on the wheel right of this cart
Vpon the naue and make hym lete a fart.                          2270
And ye shal seen on peril of my lyf                              2245
By proue which that is demonstratyf
That equally the soun of it wol wende
And eek the stynk vnto the spokes ende,
Saue that this worthy man, youre confessour,
By cause he is a man of greet honour                             2250
Shal han the firste fruyt as reson is.
The noble vsage of freres yet is this
The worthy men of hem shul first be serued.
And certeynly he hath it wel disserued:                          2280
He hath today taught vs so muchel good                           2255
With prechyng in the pulput ther he stood
That I may vouchesauf (I seye for me)
He hadde the firste smel of fartes thre;
And so wolde al his couent hardily,
He bereth hym so faire and holily.'                              2260
  The lord, the lady, ech man saue the frere
Seyden that Iankyn spak in this matere
As wel as Euclyde or Protholomee.
Touchynge the cherl, they seyde subtiltee                        2290
And hy wit made hym speke as he spak;                            2265
He nys no fool ne no demonyak.
And Iankyn hath ywonne a newe gowne.
My tale is doon. We been almoost at towne.


Here endeth the somnours tale.

   The Man of    Law's Prologue  and
                               Tale



                    Section 3 (Fragment II, Group B1)

The prohemie of the mannes tale of lawe.                               f. 112
Ovre hoost saw wel that the brighte sonne
The ark of his artificial day hath ronne
The ferthe part and half an hour and moore.
And thogh he were nat depe ystert in loore
He wiste it was the xviijthe day                                      5
Of April that is messager to May,
And saw wel that the shadwe of euery tree
Was as in lengthe the same quantitee
That was the body erect that caused it.
And therfore by the shadwe he took his wit                           10
That Phebus which that shoon so cleer and brighte
Degrees was xlv clombe on highte,
And for that day as in that latitude
It was ten at the clokke he gan conclude.
And sodeynly he plighte his hors aboute.                              15
  "Lordynges,' quod he, "I warne yow, al this route,
The ferthe party of this day is goon.
Now for the loue of god and of seint Iohn
Leseth no tyme as ferforth as ye may.
Lordynges, the tyme it wasteth nyght and day                       20
And steleth from vs, what pryuely slepynge
And what thurgh necligence in oure wakynge,
As dooth the streem that turneth neuere agayn
Descendynge fro the montaigne into playn.
Wel kan Senec and many a philosophre                               25
Biwaillen tyme moore than gold in cofre:
For los of catel may recouered be,
But los of tyme shendeth vs, quod he.
It wol nat come agayn withouten drede
Namoore than wol Malkyns maydenhede                                30
Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse.
Lat vs nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse.
  "Sire man of lawe,' quod he, "so haue ye blys
Tel vs a tale anon as forward is.
Ye been submitted thurgh youre free assent                         35
To stonden in this cas at my iuggement.
Aquiteth yow now of youre biheste                                f.112v
Thanne haue ye doon youre deuoir atte leeste.'
  "Hoost,' quod he, "depardieux ich assente.
To breken forward is nat myn entente.                              40
Biheste is dette and I wol holde fayn
Al my biheste; I kan no bettre sayn.
For swich lawe as a man yeueth another wight
He sholde hymself vsen it by right.
Thus wol oure text. But nathelees certein                          45
I kan right now no thrifty tale seyn
That Chaucer, thogh he kan but lewedly
On metres and on rymyng craftily,
Hath seyd hem in swich Englissh as he kan
Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man.                               50
And if he ne haue nat seyd hem, leeue brother,
In o book, he hath seyd hem in another.
For he hath toold of louers vp and doun
Mo than Ouide made of mencioun
In his Epistles that been ful olde.                                55
What sholde I tellen hem syn they been tolde?
In yowthe he made of Ceys and Alcione.
And sithen hath he spoke of euerychone
Thise noble wyues and thise loueres eke.
Whoso that wole his large volum seke                               60
Clepyd the Seintes Legende of Cupide,
Ther maystow seen the large woundes wyde
Of Lucresse and of Babilan Tisbee,
The swerd of Dido for the false Enee,
The tree-of Phillis for hir Demophon;                              65
The pleinte of Dianire and of Hermyoun,
Of Adriane and of Ysiphilee --
The barayne ile stondynge in the see;
The dreynte Leandre for his Erro;
The terys of Eleyne, and eke the wo                                70
Of Brixseyde, and of the, Ladomea;
The crueltee of the queene Medea,
The litel children hangyng by the hals
For thy Iason that was of loue so fals.
O Ypermystra, Penolopee, Alceste,                                  75
Youre wifhod he comendeth with the beste.
But certeinly no word ne writeth he                                f.113
Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee
That loued hir owene brother synfully
(Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy),                              80
Or ellis of Tyro Appollonius,
How that the cursed kyng Antiochus
Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede,
That is so horrible a tale for to rede
Whan he hir threw vpon the pauement.                              85
And therfore he of ful auisement
Nolde neuere write in noon of his sermons
Of swiche vnkynde abhominacions.
  "Ne I wol noon reherce if that I may.
But of my tale how shal I doon this day?                          90
Me were looth be likned doutelees
To Muses that been clepyd Pierides,
Methamorphosios woot what I mene.
But nathelees I recche noght a bene
Thogh I come after hym with hawe bake.                            95
I speke in prose and lat hym rymes make.'
  And with that word he with a sobre cheere
Bigan his tale as ye shal after heere.


Here bigynneth the tale.



O hateful harm, condicion of pouerte,
With thurst, with cold, with hunger so confoundid                 100
To axen help thee shameth in thyn herte.
If thou noon axe, with nede artow so woundid
That verray nede vnwrappeth al thy wounde hid.
Maugree thyn heed thou most for indigence
Or stele or begge or borwe thy despence.                          105

Thou blamest Crist and seist ful bitterly
He mysdeparteth richesse temporal.
Thy neghebore thow witest synfully
And seist thow hast to lite and he hath al.
Parfay, seistow, somtyme he rekne shal                            110
Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede
For he noght helpeth nedefulle in hir nede.

Herke what is the sentence of the wise:                            f 113v
Bet is to dyen than haue indigence.
Thy selue neghebor wol thee despise                               115
If thow be pouere; farewel thy reuerence.
Yet of the wise man tak this sentence:
Alle the dayes of pouere men been wikke;
Be war therfore er thow come to that prikke.


If thou be pouere thy brother hateth thee                         120
And alle thy freendes fleen from thee allas!
  O riche marchauntz, ful of wele been ye!
O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas!
Youre bagges been noght filled with ambes as
But with sys cynk that renneth for youre chaunce;                 125
At Cristemasse murye may ye daunce.

Ye seken lond and see for youre wynnynges;
As wise folk ye knowen al th'estat
Of regnes; ye been fadres of tidynges
And tales bothe of pees and of debat.                             130
I were right now of tales desolat
Nere that a marchaunt, goon is many a yere,
Me taughte a tale which that ye shal heere.

  In Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye
Of chapmen riche and therto sadde and trewe                       135
That wydewhere senten hir spicerye,
Clothes of gold and satyns riche of hewe.
Hir cheffare was so thrifty and so newe
That euery wight hath deyntee to cheffare
With hem and eek to sellen hem hir ware.                          140


Now fil it that the maistres of that sort
Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende.
Were it for chapmanhod or for desport
Noon oother message wolde they thider sende
But coomen hemself to Rome, this is the ende.                     145
And in swich place as thoughte hem auauntage
For hir entente they take hir herbergage.


Soiourned han thise marchauntz in that town                       f.114
A certein tyme as fil to hir plesaunce.
But so bifel that the excellent renoun                            150
Of the emperours doghter, dame Custaunce,
Reported was with euery circumstaunce
Vnto thise Surryen marchauntz in swich wise
Fro day to day as I shal yow deuyse.

This was the commune voys of euery man:                           155
Oure emperour of Rome (god hym se!)
A doghter hath that syn the world bigan
To rekne as wel hir goodnesse as beautee
Nas neuere swich another as is she.
I pray to god in honour hir sustene -                             160
And wolde she were of al Europe the queene.

In hire is heigh beautee withoute pryde,
Youthe withouten grenehede or folye.
To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde.
Humblesse hath slayn in hir al tirannye.                          165
She is mirour of al curteisye.
Hir herte is verray chambre of holynesse,
Hir hand ministre of fredam for almesse.

And al this voys was sooth as god is trewe.
But now to purpos lat vs come agayn.                              170
Thise marchauntz han doon fraught hir shippes newe;
And whan they han this blisful mayden sayn,
Hom to Surrye been they went ful fayn
And doon hir nedes as they han doon yoore
And lyuen in wele. I kan sey yow namoore.                         175

Now fil it that thise marchauntz stode in grace
Of hym that was the sowdan of Surrye,
For whan they coome from any straunge place
He wolde of his benygne curteisye
Maken hem good cheere and bisily espye                            180
Tidynges of sondry regnes for to leere
The wondres that they myghte seen or heere.

Amonges othere thynges specially                                 f.114v
Thise marchauntz han hym told of dame Custaunce
So greet noblesse in ernest ceriously                             185
That this sowdan hath caught so greet plesaunce
To han hir figure in his remembraunce;
And al his lust and al his bisy cure
Was for to loue hir whil his lyf may dure.

Parauenture in thilke large book,                                 190
Which that men clepe the heuene, ywriten was
With sterres whan that he his birthe took
That he for loue sholde han his deth allas!
For in the sterres clerer than is glas
Is writen, god woot, whoso koude it rede,                         195
The deeth of euery man withouten drede.


In sterres many a wynter therbiforn
Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles,
Of Pompei, Iulius, er they were born;
The stryf of Thebes; and of Hercules,                             200
Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates
The deeth. But mennes wittes been so dulle
That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle.

This sowdan for his priuee conseil sente.
And shortly of this matere for to pace                            205
He hath to hem declared his entente,
And seyde hem certein but he myghte haue grace
To han Custaunce withinne a litel space
He nas but deed, and charged hem in hye
To shapen for his lyf som remedye.                                210

Diuerse men diuerse thynges seyden.
They argumenten, casten vp and doun,
Many a subtil reson forth they leyden.
They speken of magyk and abusioun.
But finally as in conclusioun                                     215
They kan nat seen in that noon auauntage
Ne in noon oother wey saue mariage.

Thanne sawe they therinne swich difficultee                         f.115
By wey of reson, for to speke al playn,
By cause that ther was swich diuersitee                           220
Bitwene hir bothe lawes that they sayn
They trowe that no cristen prince wolde fayn
Wedden his child vnder oure lawes swete
That vs was taught by Mahoun oure prophete.

And he answerde: "Rather than I lese                              225
Custaunce, I wol be cristned doutelees.
I moot ben hires: I may noon oother chese.
I pray yow hold youre argumentz in pees.
Saueth my lyf, and beth noght recchelees
To geten hire that hath my lyf in cure                            230
For in this wo I may nat longe endure.'

What nedeth gretter dilatacioun?
I seye by tretys and embassadrye
And by the popes mediacioun
And al the chirche and al the chiualrie                           235
That in destruccion of mawmetrie
And in encrees of Cristes lawe deere
They been acorded, so as ye shal heere.

How that the sowdan and his baronage
And alle his liges sholde ycristned be,                           240
And he shal han Custaunce in mariage
And certeyn gold (I noot what quantitee);
And heerto founden sufficient seuretee.
This same acord was sworn on either syde.
Now faire Custaunce almyghty god thee gyde.                       245


Now wolde som men waiten as I gesse
That I sholde tellen al the purueiaunce
That th'emperour of his grete noblesse
Hath shapen for his doghter dame Custaunce.
Wel may men knowen that so greet ordinaunce                       250
May no man tellen in a litel clause
As was arrayed for so heigh a cause.

Bisshopes been shapen with hir for to wende,                       f.115v
Lordes, ladies, knyghtes of renoun,
And oother folk ynowe; this is th'ende.                           255
And notified is thurghout the town
That euery wight with greet deuocioun
Sholde preyen Crist that he this mariage
Receyue in gree and spede this viage.

The day is comen of hir departynge,                               260
I seye the woful day fatal is come
That ther may be no lenger taryynge,
But forthward they hem dresse alle and some.
Custaunce that was with sorwe al ouercome
Ful pale arist and dresseth hire to wende,                        265
For wel she seeth ther nys noon oother ende.


Allas what wonder is it thogh she wepte
That shal be sent to straunge nacion
Fro freendes that so tendrely hir kepte
And to be bounden vnder subieccion                                270
Of oon, she knoweth noght his condicion?
Housbondes been alle goode and han been yoore,
That knowen wyues. I dar sey yow namoore.


"Fader,' she seyde, "thy wrecched child Custaunce,
Thy yonge doghter fostred vp so softe,                            275
And ye my moder, my souereyn plesaunce
Ouer alle thyng outtaken Crist on lofte,

Custaunce youre child hir recomaundeth ofte
Vnto youre grace, for I shal to Surrye
Ne shal I neuere seen yow moore with eye.                         280

"Allas vnto the barbre nacioun
I moste anon, syn that it is youre wille.
But Crist that starf for oure redempcioun
So yeue me grace hise hestes to fulfille.
I, wrecche womman, no fors thogh I spille:                        285
Wommen are born to thraldom and penaunce
And to been vnder mannes gouernaunce.'

I trowe at Troye whan Pirrus brak the wal                         f.116
Or Ylion brent hadde, Thebes the citee,
N'at Rome for the harm thurgh Hanybal                             290
That Romayns hath venquysshed tymes thre
Nas herd swich tendre wepyng for pitee
As in the chambre was for hir departynge.
But forth she moot wherso she wepe or synge.

O firste moeuer, cruel firmament                                  295
With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay
And hurlest al fro est til occident
That naturelly wolde holde another way,
Thy crowdyng set the heuene in swich array
At bigynnyng of this fiers viage                                  300
That cruel Mars hath slayn this mariage.
Infortunat ascendent tortuous,
Of which the lord is helplees falle allas
Out of his angle into the derkest hous.
O Mars, O atazir as in this cas,                                  305
O fieble moone, vnhappy been thy pas:
Thow knyttest thee ther thow nart nat receyued;
Ther thow were wel, fro thennes artow weyued.

Inprudent emperour of Rome, allas
Was ther no philosophre in al thy town?                           310
Is no tyme bet than oother in swich cas?
Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,
Namely to folk of heigh condicioun,
Nat whan a roote is of a burthe yknowe?
Allas we been to lewed or to slowe!                               315

To ship is broght this woful, faire mayde
Solempnely with euery circumstaunce.
"Now Iesu Crist be with yow alle,' she seyde.
Ther nys namoore but farewel, faire Custaunce.
She peyneth hire to make good contenaunce.                        320
And forth I lete hir sayle in this manere
And turne I wole agayn to my matere.

The moder of the sowdan, welle of vices                           f.116v
Espied hath hir sones pleyn entente
How he wol lete his olde sacrifices.                              325
And right-anon she for hir conseil sente
And they ben come to knowen what she mente.
She sette hir down and seyde as ye shal heere.

"Lordes,' quod she, "ye knowen euerychon                         330
How that my sone in point is for to lete
The holy lawes of oure Alkaron
Yeuen by goddes message Makomete.
But oon avow to grete god I hete:
The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte                        335
Than Makometes lawe out of myn herte.

"What sholde vs tiden of this newe lawe
But thraldom to oure bodies and penaunce
And afterward in helle to be drawe
For we reneyed Mahoun oure creaunce?                             340
But, lordes, wol ye maken assuraunce
As I shal seyn, assentyng to my loore,
And I shal make vs sauf for eueremoore?'

They sworen and assenten euery man
To lyue with hir and dye and by hir stonde;                      345
And euerich in the beste wise he kan
To strengthen hir shal alle hise freendes fonde.
And she hath this emprise ytake on honde
Which ye shal heren that I shal deuyse.
And to hem alle she spak right in this wise.                     350

"We shul first feyne vs cristendom to take:
Coold water shal nat greue vs but a lite.
And I shal swich a feste and reuel make
That as I trowe I shal the sowdan quyte.
For thogh his wyf be cristned neuer so whyte,                    355
She shal haue nede to wasshe awey the rede
Thogh she a font-ful water with hir lede.'

O sowdanesse, roote of iniquitee,                                  f. 117
Virago, thow Semyrame the secounde,
  O serpent vnder femynynytee                                    360
Lyk to the serpent depe in helle ybounde!
O feyned womman, al that may confounde
Vertu and innocence thurgh thy malice
Is bred in thee as nest of euery vice.

O Sathan enuyous, syn thilke day                                 365
That thow were chaced from oure heritage
Wel knowestow to wommen the olde way.
Thow madest Eua brynge vs in seruage;
Thow wolt fordoon this cristen mariage.
Thyn instrument (so weylawey the while!)                         370
Makestow of wommen whan thou wolt bigile.

This sowdanesse whom I thus blame and warye
Leet pryuely hir conseil goon his way.
What sholde I in this tale lenger tarye?
She rideth to the sowdan on a day                                375
And seyde hym that she wolde reneye hir lay
And cristendom of preestes handes fonge,
Repentynge hire she hethen was so longe.


Bisekyng hym to doon hir that honour
That she moste han the cristen folk to feste:                    380
"To plesen hem I shal do my labour.'
The sowdan seith: "I wol doon at youre heste.'
And knelynge thanketh hir of that requeste.
So glad he was he nyste what to seye.
She kiste hir sone and hom she gooth hir weye.                   385

  Arryued been this cristen folk to londe
In Surrye with a gret solempne route.
And hastily this sowdan sente his sonde
First to his moder and al the regne aboute
And seyde his wyf was comen out of doute,                        390
And preyde hir for to ryde agayn the queene
The honour of his regne to sustene.

Greet was the prees and riche was th'array                         f 117v
Of Surryens and Romayns met yfeere.
The moder of the sowdan, riche and gay,                          395
Receyueth hire with also glad a cheere
As any moder myghte hir doghter deere.
And to the nexte citee therbisyde
A softe paas solempnely they ryde.

Naught trowe I the triumphe of Iulius                            400
Of which that Lucan maketh swich a boost
Was roiallour ne moore curyus
Than was the assemblee of this blisful oost.
But this scorpion, this wikked goost,
The sowdanesse, for al hir flaterynge                            405
Caste vnder this ful mortally to stynge.

The sowdan cometh hymself soone after this
So roially that wonder is to telle;
He welcometh hire with alle ioye and blys.
And thus in myrthe and ioye I lete hem dwelle:                   410
The fruyt of this matere is that I telle.
Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the beste
That reuel stynte and men go to hir reste.

The tyme cam this olde sowdanesse
Ordeyned hath this feste of which I tolde.                       415
And to the feste cristen folk hem dresse
In general, ye bothe yonge and olde.
Heer may men feste and roialtee biholde
And deyntees mo than I kan yow deuyse.
But al to deere they boghte it er they ryse.                     420

O sodeyn wo that euere art successour
To worldly blisse spreynd with bitternesse!
The ende of the ioye of oure worldly labour,
Wo ocupieth the fyn of oure gladnesse.
Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse:                           425
Vpon thy glade day haue in thy mynde
The vnwar wo or harm that comth bihynde.

For shortly for to tellen at a word,                                 f.118
The sowdan and the cristen euerychone
Been al tohewe and stiked at the bord                            430
But it were oonly dame Custaunce allone.
This olde sowdanesse, cursed krone,
Hath with hir freendes doon this cursed dede
For she hirself wolde al the contree lede.

Ne ther nas Surryen noon that was conuerted                      435
That of the conseil of the sowdan woot
That he nas al tohewe er he asterted.
And Custaunce han they take anon foot-hoot
And in a ship al sterelees, god woot,
They han hir set and bidde hir lerne sayle                       440
Out of Surrye agaynward to Itaille.

A certein tresor that she thider ladde
And sooth to seyn vitaille gret plentee
They han hir yeuen, and clothes eek she hadde.
And forth she sayleth in the salte see.                          445
O my Custaunce, ful of benygnytee,
O emperours yonge doghter deere,
He that is lord of fortune be thy steere.

She blisseth hire and with ful pitous voys
Vnto the cros of Crist thus seyde she:                           450
"O clere, o weleful auter, holy croys
Reed of the lambes blood ful of pitee
That wesshe the world fro the olde iniquitee,
Me fro the feend and fro his clawes kepe
That day that I shal drenchen in the depe.                       455

"Victorious tree, proteccion of trewe,
That oonly worthy were for to bere
The kyng of heuene with his woundes newe --
The white lamb that hurt was with a spere,
Flemere of feendes out of hym and here                           460
On which thy lymes feithfully extenden,
Me kepe and yeue me myght my lyf t'amenden.'

Yeres and dayes fleet this creature                                 f.118v
Thurghout the see of Grece vnto the Strayte
Of Marrok, as it was hir auenture.                               465
O many a sory meel now may she bayte,
After hir deth ful often may she wayte,
Er that the wilde wawes wol hir dryue
Vnto the place ther she shal arryue.

Men myghten axen why she was noght slayn                         470
Eek at the feste. Who myghte hir body saue?
And I answere to that demaunde agayn:
Who saued Danyel in the horrible caue
Ther euery wight saue he, maister and knaue,
Was with the leon frete er he asterte?                           475
No wight but god that he bar in his herte.

God liste to shewe his wonderful miracle
In hir for we sholde seen his myghty werkes.
Crist, which that is to euery harm triacle,
By certein menes ofte, as knowen clerkes,                        480
Dooth thyng for certein ende that ful derk is
To mannes wit, that for oure ignoraunce
Ne konne noght knowe his prudent purueiaunce.

Now sith she was nat at the feste yslawe,
Who kepte hire fro the drenchyng in the see?                     485
Who kepte Ionas in the fisshes mawe
Til he was spowted vp at Nynyuee?
Wel may men knowe it was no wight but hee
That kepte peple Ebrayk from hir drenchyng
With drye feet thurghout the see passyng.                        490


Who bad the foure spiritz of tempest,
That power han t'anoyen lond and see
Bothe north and south and also west and est:
Anoyeth neither see ne land ne tree?
Soothly the comaundour of that was hee                           495
That fro the tempest ay this womman kepte
As wel whan she wook as whan she slepte.

Wher myghte this womman mete and drynke haue                  f.119
Thre yeer and moore? How lasteth hir vitaille?
Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the caue                         500
Or in desert? No wight but Crist sanz faille.
Fyue thousand folk it was as greet meruaille
With loues fyue and fisshes two to fede:
God sente his foyson at hir grete nede.


She dryueth forth into oure occian                               505
Thurghout the wilde see til at the laste
Vnder an hoold, that nempnen I ne kan,
Fer in Northumberland the wawe hir caste.
And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste
That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde.                        510
The wyl of Crist was that she sholde abyde.

The constable of the castel down is fare
To seen this wrak, and al the ship he soghte
And foond this wery womman ful of care.
He foond also the tresor that she broghte.                       515
In hir langage mercy she bisoghte:
The lyf out of hir body for to twynne
Hir to deliuere of wo that she was inne.

A manere Latyn corrupt was hir speche,
But algates therby was she vnderstonde.                          520
The constable whan hym liste no lenger seche,
This woful womman broghte he to the londe.
She kneleth doun and thanketh goddes sonde.
But what she was she wolde no man seye
For foul ne fair thogh that she sholde deye.                     525

She seyde she was so mazed in the see
That she forgat hir mynde by hir trouthe.
The constable hath of hir so greet pitee
And eek his wyf that they wepten for routhe.
She was so diligent withouten slouthe                            530
To serue and plese euerich in that place
That alle hir louen that looken on hir face.

This constable and dame Hermengyld his wyf                      f.119v
Were payens, and that contree euerywhere;
But Hermengyld loued hir right as hir lyf.                       535
And Custaunce hath so longe soiourned there
In orisons with many a bitter teere
Til Iesu hath conuerted thurgh his grace
Dame Hermengyld, constablesse of thilke place.

In al that land no cristen dorste route;                         540
Alle cristen folk been fled fro that contree
Thurgh payens that conquereden al aboute
The plages of the north by land and see.
To Walys fledde the cristianytee
Of olde Britons dwellyng in this ile,                            545
Ther was hir refut for the mene while.

But yet nere cristen Britons so exiled
That ther nere somme that in hir pryuetee
Honoured Crist and hethen folk bigiled.
And neigh the castel swiche ther dwelten thre:                   550
That oon of hem was blynd and myghte nat se
But it were with thilke eyen of his mynde
With whiche men seen after that they been blynde.

Bright was the sonne as in that someres day
For which the constable and his wyf also                         555
And Custaunce han ytake the righte way
Toward the see a furlong wey or two
To pleyen and to romen to and fro.
And in hir walk this blynde man they mette
Croked and old, with eyen faste yshette.                         560

"In name of Crist,' cryde this blynde Britoun,
"Dame Hermengyld yif me my sighte agayn.'
This lady weex affrayed of the sown
Lest that hir housbonde, shortly for to sayn,
Wolde hire for Iesu Cristes loue han slayn,                      565
Til Custaunce made hir boold and bad hir wirche
The wyl of Crist, as doghter of his chirche.

The constable weex abasshed of that sight                        f.120
And seide: "What amounteth al this fare?'
Custaunce answerde: "Sire, it is Cristes myght,                  570
That helpeth folk out of the feendes snare.'
And so ferforth she gan oure lay declare
That she the constable er that it was eue
Conuerteth and on Crist made hym bileue.

This constable was nothyng lord of this place                    575
Of which I speek, ther he Custaunce fond,
But kepte it strongly many wynter-space
Vnder Alla, kyng of al Northumberlond,
That was ful wys and worthy of his hond
Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel heere.                         580
But turne I wole agayn to my matere.

Sathan, that euere vs waiteth to bigile,
Saugh of Custaunce al hir parfeccioun
And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while,
And made a yong knyght that dwelte in that town                  585
Loue hir hote of foul affeccioun
That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille
But he of hir myghte ones haue his wille.

He woweth hire, but it auailleth noght.
She wolde do no synne by no weye.                                590
And for despit he compassed in his thoght
To maken hir on shameful deeth to deye.
He wayteth whan the constable was aweye
And priuely vpon a nyght he crepte
In Hermengildes chambre whil she slepte.                         595

Wery forwaked in hir orisons
Slepeth Custaunce and Hermengild also.
This knyght thurgh Sathans temptacions
Al softely is to the bed ygo
And kitte the throte of Hermengild atwo                          600
And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custaunce
And wente his wey; ther god yeue hym meschaunce!

Soone after cometh this constable hom agayn,                      f.120v
And eek Alla that kyng was of that lond,
And saw his wyf despitously yslayn                               605
For which ful ofte he weep and wrong his hond;
And in the bed the blody knyf he fond
By dame Custaunce. Allas what myghte she seye?
For verray wo hir wit was al aweye.


To kyng Alla was told al this meschaunce                         610
And eek the tyme and where and in what wise
That in a ship was founde this Custaunce
As herbiforn that ye han herd deuyse.
The kynges herte of pitee gan agryse
Whan he saw so benygne a creature                                615
Falle in disese and in mysauenture.


For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght
So stant this innocent bifore the kyng.
This false knyght that hath this treson wroght
Bereth hir on hond that she hath doon this thyng.                620
But nathelees ther was greet moornyng
Among the peple, and seyn they kan nat gesse
That she had doon so greet a wikkednesse.

For they han seyn hir euere so vertuous
And louyng Hermengild right as hir lyf.                          625
Of this baar witnesse euerich in that hous
Saue he that Hermengild slow with his knyf.
This gentil kyng hath caught a gret motyf
Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde enquere
Depper in this a trouthe for to lere.                            630

Allas Custaunce, thow nast no champioun
Ne fighte kanstow noght so weilawey!
But he that starf for oure redempcioun
And bond Sathan (and yet lyth ther he lay)
So be thy stronge champion this day.                             635
For but if Crist open miracle kythe,
Withouten gilt thow shalt been slayn as swythe.

She sette hir down on knees and thus she sayde:                  f.121
"Inmortal god, that sauedest Susanne
Fro fals blame, and thow merciful mayde,                         640
Marie I mene, doghter to seint Anne,
Biforn whos child aungels synge osanne,
If I be giltlees of this felonye
My socour be, for ellis shal I dye.'

Haue ye nat seyn somtyme a pale face,                            645
Among a prees of hym that hath be lad
Toward his deeth wher as hym gat no grace,
And swich a colour in his face hath had,
Men myghte knowe his face, that was bistad,
Amonges alle the faces in that route?                            650
So stant Custance and looketh hir aboute.

  O queenes lyuynge in prosperitee,
Duchesses and ye ladies euerichon,
Haueth som reuthe on hir aduersitee.
An emperours doghter stant allone:                               655
She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone.
O blood roial that stondest in this drede,
Fer be thy freendes at thy grete nede.

This Alla kyng hath swich compassioun,
As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee,                             660
That from his eyen ran the water doun.
"Now hastily do fecche a book,' quod he,
"And if this knyght wol sweren how that she
This womman slow, yet wol we vs auyse
Whom that we wole that shal been oure iustise.'                  665

A Briton book writen with euaungiles
Was fet. And on this book he swoor anon
She gilty was. And in the mene whiles
An hand hym smoot vpon the nekke-bon
That doun he fel atones as a stoon                               670
And bothe hise eyen broste out of his face
In sighte of euerybody in that place.

A voys was herd in general audience                              f.121v
And seyde: "Thow hast disclaundred giltlees
The doghter of holy chirche in heigh presence.                   675
Thus hastow doon and yet I holde my pees.'
Of this meruaille agast was al the prees;
As mazed folk they stoden euerychone
For drede of wreche saue Custance allone.

Greet was the drede and eek the repentaunce                      680
Of hem that hadden wrong suspecioun
Vpon this sely, innocent Custaunce.
And for this miracle in conclusioun
And by Custaunces mediacioun
The kyng and many another in that place                          685
Conuerted was -- thanked be Cristes grace!

This false knyght was slayn for his vntrouthe
By iuggement of Alla hastily.
And yet Custaunce hadde of his deeth greet routhe.
And after this Iesus of his mercy                                690
Made Alla wedden ful solempnely
This holy mayden that is so bright and shene.
And thus hath Crist maad Custance a queene.

But who was woful, if I shal nat lye,
Of this weddyng but Donegild and namo,                           695
The kynges moder ful of tirannye?
Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast atwo:
She wolde noght hir sone had doon so.
Hir thoughte a despit that he sholde take
So straunge a creature vnto his make.                            700


Me list nat of the chaf or of the stree
Maken so long a tale as of the corn.
What sholde I tellen of the realtee
At mariages, or which cours gooth biforn,
Who bloweth in trompe or in an horn?                             705
The fruyt of euery tale is for to seye:
They ete and drynke and daunce and synge and pleye.

They goon to bedde as it was skile and right.                       f.122
For though that wyues been ful holy thynges
They moste take in pacience at nyght                             710
Swiche manere necessaries as been plesynges
To folk that han ywedded hem with rynges
And leye a lite hir holynesse asyde
As for the tyme; it may noon oother bityde.

On hire he gat a knaue-child anon                                715
And to a bisshop and his constable eke
He took his wyf to kepe whan he is gon
To Scotlondward his foomen for to seke.
Now faire Custaunce that is so humble and meke
So longe is goon with childe til that stille                     720
She halt hir chambre abidyng Cristes wille.

The tyme is come a knaue-child she beer.
Mauricius at the font-stoon they hym calle.
This constable dooth forth come a messager
And wroot vnto his kyng that clepyd was Alle                     725
How that this blisful tidynge is bifalle
And othere tidynges speedful for to seye.
He tath the lettre and forth he goth his weye.

This messager to doon his auauntage
Vnto the kynges moder rideth swithe                              730
And salueth ful faire in his langage.
"Madame,' quod he, "ye may be glad and blithe,
And thanketh god an hundred thousand sithe:
My lady queene hath child withouten doute
To ioye and blisse of al this regne aboute.                      735


"Lo here the lettres seled of this thyng
That I moot bere with al the haste I may.
If ye wol aught vnto youre sone the kyng
I am youre seruaunt bothe nyght and day.'
Donegild answerde: "As now at this tyme nay.                     740
But here al nyght I wol thow take thy reste.
Tomorwe wol I seye thee what me leste.'

This messager drank sadly ale and wyn,                           f.122"
And stolen were his lettres pryuely
Out of his box whil he sleep as a swyn.                          745
And countrefeted was ful subtilly
Another lettre wroght ful synfully
Vnto the kyng direct of this matere
Fro his constable, as ye shal after heere.

The lettre spak the queene deliuered was                         750
Of so horrible a fendlich creature
That in the castel noon so hardy was
That any while dorste ther endure.
The moder was an elf, by auenture
Ycomen, by charmes or by sorcerye;                               755
And euerich hateth hir compaignye.


Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre hadde seyn.
But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore.
But of his owene hond he wroot ageyn:
Welcome the sonde of Crist for eueremoore                        760
To me that am now lerned in his loore.
Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce;
My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce.


Kepeth this child al be it foul or feir
And eek my wyf vnto myn hom-comynge.                             765
Crist, whan hym list, may sende me an heir
Moore agreable than this to my likynge.
This lettre he seleth pryuely wepynge,
Which to the messager was take soone.
And forth he goth; ther is namoore to doone.                     770

O messager fulfild of dronkenesse,
Strong is thy breeth, thy lymes faltren ay.
And thow biwreyest al secrenesse.
Thy mynde is lorn, thow ianglest as a iay.
Thy face is turned in a newe array.                              775
Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route
Ther is no conseil hid withouten doute.

O Donegild, I ne haue noon Englissh digne                        f.123
Vnto thy malice and thy tirannye,
And therfore to the feend I thee resigne:                        780
Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie.
Fy mannyssh fy -- o nay by god I lye! --
Fy fendlich spirit, for I dar wel telle
Thogh thow heere walke thy spirit is in helle.

This messager comth fro the kyng agayn                           785
And at the kynges modres court he lighte.
And she was of this messager ful fayn
And plesed hym in al that euere she myghte.
He drank and wel his girdel vnderpighte;
He slepeth and he fnorteth in his gyse                           790
Al nyght, til the sonne gan aryse.

Eft were his lettres stolen euerichon,
And countrefeted lettres in this wyse:
The kyng comaundeth his constable anon
Vp peyne of hangyng and on heigh iuyse                           795
That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse
Custance inwith his regne for t'abyde
Thre dayes and a quarter of o tyde.
But in the same ship as he hir fond
Hire and hir yonge sone and al hir geere                         800
He sholde putte and crowde hir fro the lond
And charge hire that she neuere eft coome there.
O my Custaunce, wel may thy goost haue fere
And slepyng in thy dreem been in penaunce,
Whan Donegild caste al this ordinaunce.                          805

This messager on morwe whan he wook
Vnto the castel halt the nexte wey
And to the constable he the lettre took.
And whan that he this pitous lettre sey
Ful ofte he seyde allas and weilawey.                            810
"Lord Crist,' quod he, "how may this world endure,
So ful of synne is many a creature?

"O myghty god, if that it be thy wille                             f.123v
Sith thow art rightful iuge how may it be
That thow wolt suffren innocentz to spille                       815
And wikked folk regnen in prosperitee?
O goode Custaunce, allas so wo is me
That I moot be thy tormentour or deye
On shames deeth; ther nys noon oother weye.'

Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place                      820
Whan that the kyng this cursed lettre sente.
And Custaunce with a dedly pale face
The ferthe day toward hir ship she wente.
But nathelees she taketh in good entente
The wyl of Crist, and knelyng on the stronde                     825
She seyde: "Lord, ay welcome be thy sonde.

"He that me kepte fro the false blame
Whil I was on the lond amonges yow,
He kan me kepe fro harm and eek fro shame
In salte see, althogh I se noght how.                            830
As strong as euere he was he is yet now.
In hym triste I and in his moder deere,
That is to me my sayl and eek my steere.'

Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm.
And knelyng pitously to hym she seyde:                           835
"Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee noon harm.'
With that hir couerchief ouer hir hed she breyde
And ouer his litel eyen she it leyde.
And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste
And into heuene hir eyen vp she caste.                           840

"Moder,' quod she, "and mayden bright, Marie,
Sooth is that thurgh wommans eggement
Mankynde was lorn and dampned ay to dye,
For which thy child was on a croys yrent;
Thy blisful eyen sawe al his torment.                            845
Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene
Thy wo and any wo man may sustene.

"Thow saw thy child yslayn bifor thyne eyen,                       f.124
And yet now lyueth my litel child parfay.
Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful cryen,
Thow glorie of wommanhod, thow faire may,                        850
Thow hauen of refut, brighte sterre of day,
Rewe on my child that of thy gentillesse
Rewest on euery rewful in distresse.


"O litel child, allas what is thy gilt                           855
That neuere wroghtest synne as yet pardee?
Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt?
O mercy, deere constable,' quod she,
"As lat my litel child dwelle here with thee.
And if thow darst noght sauen hym for blame,                     860
So kys hym ones in his fader name.'


Therwith she looketh bakward to the londe
And seyde: "Farewel, housbonde routhelees.'
And vp she rist and walketh doun the stronde
Toward the ship. Hir folweth al the prees.                       865
And euere she prayeth hir child to holde his pees.
And taketh hir leue and with an holy entente
She blesseth hire and into ship she wente.

Vitailled was the ship it is no drede
Habundantly for hire ful longe space,                            870
And othere necessaries that sholde nede
She hadde ynow, heryed be goddes grace!
For wynd and weder almyghty god purchace
And brynge hir hom. I kan no bettre seye,
But in the see she dryueth forth hir weye.                       875

  Alla the kyng comth hom soone after this
Vnto his castel of the which I tolde
And axeth wher his wyf and his child is.
The constable gan aboute his herte colde
And pleynly al the manere he hym tolde                           880
As ye han herd (I kan telle it no bettre)
And sheweth the kyng his seel and his lettre.

And seyde: "Lord, as ye comaunded me                            f.124v
Vp peyne of deeth so haue I do certein.'
This messager tormented was til he                               885
Moste biknowe and tellen plat and pleyn
Fro nyght to nyght in what place he had leyn.
And thus by wit and subtil enquerynge
Ymagined was by whom this harm gan sprynge.

The hond was knowe that the lettre wroot                         890
And al the venym of this cursed dede;
But in what wise certeynly I noot.
Th'effect is this that Alla out of drede
His moder slow (that may men pleynly rede)
For that she traytour was to hir ligeaunce.                      895
Thus endeth olde Donegild with meschaunce.

The sorwe that this Alla nyght and day
Maketh for his wyf and for his child also
Ther is no tonge that it telle may.
But now wol I vnto Custaunce go                                  900
That fleteth in the see in peyne and wo
Fyue yeer and moore, as liked Cristes sonde,
Er that hir ship approched vnto londe.

Vnder an hethen castel atte laste,
Of which the name in my text noght I fynde,                      905
Custaunce and eek hir child the see vp caste.
Almyghty god that saueth al mankynde
Haue on Custaunce and on hir child som mynde
That fallen is in hethen hand eftsoone
In point to spille, as I shal telle yow soone.                   910

Down fro the castel comth ther many a wight
To gauren on this ship and on Custaunce.
But shortly from the castel on a nyght
The lordes styward -- god yeue hym meschaunce! --
A theef that hadde reneyed oure creaunce,                        915
Cam into ship allone and seyde he sholde
Hir lemman be wherso she wolde or nolde.

Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon.                         f.125
Hir child cryde and she cryde pitously.
But blisful Marie heelp hir right-anon,                          920
For with hir strogelyng wel and myghtily
The theef fil ouerbord al sodeynly
And in the see he dreynte for vengeaunce.
And thus hath Crist vnwemmed kept Custaunce.

  O foule lust of luxurie, lo thyn ende,                         925
Nat oonly that thou fayntest mannes mynde
But verraily thow wolt his body shende.
Th'ende of thy werk or of thy lustes blynde
Is compleynyng. How many oon may men fynde
That noght for werk somtyme but for th'entente                   930
To doon this synne been outher slayn or shente.

How may this wayke womman han this strengthe
Hir to defende agayn this renegat?
O Golias, vnmesurable of lengthe,
How myghte Dauid make thee so maat                               935
So yong and of armure so desolat?
How dorste he looke vpon thy dredful face?
Wel may men seen it was but goddes grace.

Who yaf Iudith corage or hardynesse
To sleen hym Olofernus in his tente                              940
And to deliueren out of wrecchednesse
The peple of god? I sey for this entente
That right as god spirit of vigour sente
To hem and saued hem out of meschaunce,
So sente he myght and vigour to Custaunce.                       945

Forth gooth hir ship thurghout the narwe mouth
Of lubaltar and Septe dryuyng ay,
Somtyme west and somtyme north and south
And somtyme est ful many a wery day,
Til Cristes moder (blissed be she ay!)                           950
Hath shapen thurgh hir endelees goodnesse
To make an ende of al hir heuynesse.

Now lat vs stynte of Custaunce but a throwe                       f.125v
And speke we of the Romayn emperour
That out of Surrye hath by lettres knowe                         955
The slaughtre of cristen folk and dishonour
Doon to his doghter by a fals traytour,
I mene the cursed, wikked sowdanesse
That at the feeste leet sleen bothe moore and lesse.

For which this emperour hath sent anon                           960
His senatour with roial ordinaunce
And othere lordes, god woot many oon,
On Surryens to taken heigh vengeaunce.
They brennen, sleen, and brynge hem to meschaunce
Ful many a day. But shortly this is th'ende:                     965
Homward to Rome they shapen hem to wende.

This senatour repaireth with victorie
To Romeward saylynge ful roially
And mette the ship dryuynge, as seith the storie,
In which Custaunce sit ful pitously.                             970
Nothyng ne knew he what she was, ne why
She was in swich array, ne she nyl seye
Of hir estaat thogh she sholde deye.

He bryngeth hir to Rome, and to his wyf
He yaf hire and hir yonge sone also.                             975
And with the senatour she ladde hir lyf.
Thus kan oure lady bryngen out of wo
Woful Custaunce and many another mo.
And longe tyme dwelled she in that place
In holy werkes euere, as was hir grace.                          980

The senatours wyf hir aunte was,
But for al that she knew hir neuer the moore.
I wol no lenger taryen in this cas.
But to kyng Alla which I spak of yoore
That for his wyf wepeth and siketh soore                         985
I wol retourne, and lete I wole Custaunce
Vnder the senatours gouernaunce.

Kyng Alla which that hadde his moder slayn                       f.126
Vpon a day fil in swich repentaunce
That, if I shortly tellen shal and playn,                        990
To Rome he cometh to receyuen his penaunce
And putte hym in the popes ordinaunce
In heigh and logh, and Iesu Crist bisoghte
Foryeue his wikked werkes that he wroghte.

The fame anon thurgh Rome town is born                           995
How Alla kyng shal comen in pilgrymage
By herbergeours that wenten hym biforn.
For which the senatour, as was vsage,
Rood hym agayns and many of his lynage
As wel to shewen his heighe magnyficence                         100o
As to doon any kyng a reuerence.

Greet cheere dooth this noble senatour
To kyng Alla and he to hym also;
Euerich of hem dooth oother greet honour.
And so bifel that in a day or two                                1005
This senatour is to kyng Alla go
To feste, and shortly if I shal nat lye
Custaunces sone wente in his compaignye.

Som men wolde seyn at requeste of Custaunce
This senatour hath lad this child to feste;                      1010
I may nat tellen euerich circumstaunce.
Be as be may ther was he atte leste.
But sooth is this that at his modres heste
Biforn Alla duryng the metes space
The child stood lookynge in the kynges face.                     1015

This Alla kyng hath of this child greet wonder
And to the senatour he seyde anon:
"Whos is that faire child that stondeth yonder?'
"I noot,' quod he. "By god and by seint Iohn
A moder he hath, but fader hath he non                           1020
That I of woot.' And shortly in a stounde
He tolde Alla how that this child was founde.

"But god woot,' quod this senatour also,                         f.126v
"So vertuous a lyuere in my lyf
Ne saw I neuere as she, ne herde of mo                          1025
Of worldly wommen, mayde ne of wyf.
I dar wel seyn hir hadde leuere a knyf
Thurghout hir brest than been a womman wikke;
Ther is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke.'

Now was this child as lyk vnto Custaunce                        1030
As possible is a creature to be.
This Alla hath the face in remembraunce
Of dame Custaunce, and theron mused he
If that the childes moder were aught she
That is his wyf. And pryuely he sighte,                         1035
And spedde hym fro the table that he myghte.


Parfay, thoughte he, fantome is in myn heed.
I oghte deme of skilful iugement
That in the salte see my wif is deed.
And afterward he made his argument:                             1040
What woot I if that Crist hath hider sent
My wif by see as wel as he hir sente
To my contree from thennes that she wente?

And after noon hom with the senatour
Goth Alla for to seen this wonder chaunce.                      1045
This senatour dooth Alla greet honour
And hastily he sente after Custaunce.
But tristeth wel hir liste noght to daunce.
Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde,
Vnnethe vpon hir feet she myghte stonde.                        1050

Whan Alla saugh his wyf, faire he hir grette
And weep that it was routhe for to se.
For at the firste look he on hir sette
He knew wel verraily that it was she.
And she for sorwe as domb stant as a tree,                      1055
So was hir herte shet in hir distresse
Whan she remembred his vnkyndenesse.

Twies she swowneth in his owene sighte.                         f.127
He weep and hym excuseth pitously.
"Now god,' quod he, "and his halwes brighte                     1060
So wisly on my soule as haue mercy
That of youre harm as giltlees am I
As is Maurice, my sone, so lyk youre face;
Ellis the feend me fecche out of this place.'

Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne                       1065
Er that hir woful hertes myghte cesse.
Greet was the pitee for to heere hem pleyne
Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo encresse.
I pray yow al my labour to relesse:
I may nat telle hir wo vntil tomorwe,                           1070
I am so wery for to speke of sorwe.

But finally whan that the sooth is wist
That Alla giltlees was of hir wo,
I trowe an hundred tymes been they kist
And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two                       1075
That saue the ioye that lasteth eueremo
Ther is noon lyk that any creature
Hath seyn or shal whil that the world may dure.

Tho preyde she hir housbond mekely
In relief of hir longe pitous pyne                              1080
That he wolde praye hir fader specially
That of his magestee he wolde enclyne
To vouchesauf somday with hym to dyne.
She preyde hym eek he sholde by no weye
Vnto hir fader no word of hir seye.                             1085

Som men wolde seyn how that the child Mauryce
Dooth this message vnto this emperour;
But as I gesse Alla was noght so nyce
To hym, that was of so souereyn honour
As he that is of cristen folk the flour,                        1090
Sente any child. But it is bet to deme
He wente hymself, and so it may wel seme.

This emperour hath graunted gentill                             f.127v
To come to dyner as he hym bisoghte.
And wel rede I he looked bisily                                 1095
Vpon this child, and on his doghter thoghte.
Alla gooth to his in, and as hym oghte
Arrayed for this feste in euery wise
As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise.

The morwe cam and Alla gan hym dresse                           1100
And eek his wyf this emperour to meete.
And forth they ryde in ioye and in gladnesse.
And whan she say hir fader in the streete
She lighte doun and falleth hym to feete.
"Fader,' quod she, "youre yonge child Custaunce                 1105
Is now ful clene out of youre remembraunce.

"I am youre doghter Custance,' quod she,
"That whilom ye han sent vnto Surrye.
It am I, fader, that in the salte see
Was put allone and dampned for to dye.                          1110
Now, goode fader, mercy I yow crye.
Seend me namoore vnto noon hethenesse,
But thonke my lord heere of his kyndenesse.'

Who kan the pitous ioye tellen al
Bitwix hem thre syn they be thus ymette?                        1115
But of my tale make an ende I shal:
The day goth faste, I wol no lenger lette.
This glade folk to dyner they hem sette.
In ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle
A thousand fold wel moore than I kan telle.                     1120

This child Maurice was sithen emperour
Maad by the pope and lyued cristenly.
To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour.
But I lete al this storie passen by,
Of Custaunce is my tale specially.                              1125
In the olde Romayn gestes may men fynde
Maurices lyf, I bere it noght in mynde.

This kyng Alla whan he his tyme say                             f.128
With his Custaunce, his holy wif so swete,
To Engelond been they come the righte way                       1130
Wher as they lyue in ioye and in quiete.
But litel while it lasteth I yow heete,
Ioye of this world, for tyme wol nat abyde:
Fro day to nyght it chaungeth as the tyde.

Who lyued euere in swich delit a day                            1135
That hym ne moeued outher conscience
Or ire or talent or som kyn affray,
Enuye or pryde or passion or offence?
I ne seye but for this ende this sentence:
That litel while in ioye or in plesaunce                        1140
Lasteth the blisse of Alla with Custaunce.

For deeth that taketh of heigh and logh his rente,
Whan passed was a yeer euene as I gesse
Out of this world this kyng Alla he hente
For whom Custance hath ful greet heuynesse.                     1145
Now lat vs prayen god his soule blesse.
And dame Custance, fynally to seye,
Toward the town of Rome gooth hir weye.

To Rome is come this holy creature
And fyndeth hir freendes hoole and sownde.                      1150
Now is she scaped al hir auenture.
And whan that she hir fader hath yfownde,
Doun on hir knees falleth she to grownde
Wepynge for tendrenesse; in herte blythe
She herieth god an hondred thousand sythe.                      1155

In vertue and holy almus dede
They lyuen alle and neuere asonder wende.
Til deeth departeth hem this lyf they lede.
And fareth now wel, my tale is at an ende.
Now Iesu Crist, that of his myght may sende                     1160
Ioye after wo, gouerne vs in his grace
And kepe vs alle that been in this place.  Amen.


Here is ended the tale of the man of lawe.

                         The Squire's Tale
                  Section 4 (Fragment V, Group F)
Here bigynneth the squiers tale.                              f. 129
At Sarray in the land of Tartarye
Ther dwelte a kyng that werreyed Russye                           10
Thurgh which ther deyde many a doghty man;
This noble kyng was clepid Kambyuskan
Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun                           5
That ther nas nowher in no regioun
So excellent a lord in alle thyng.
Hym lakked noght that longed to a kyng.
As of the secte of which that he was born
He kepte his lay to which that he was sworn.                      10
And therto he was hardy, wys and riche,
Pietous and iust and eueremoore yliche                            20
Sooth of his word, benigne and honurable,
Of his corage as any centre stable,
Yong, fressh and strong; in armes desirous                        15
As any bachiler of al his hous.
A fair persone he was and fortunat
And kepte alwey so wel roial estat
That ther nas nowher swich another man.
  This noble kyng, this Tartre Cambyuskan                         20
Hadde two sones on Elfeta his wyf,
Of whiche the eldeste highte Algarsyf,                            30
That oother sone was clepid Cambalo.
A doghter hadde this worthy kyng also
That yongest was and highte Canacee.                              25
But for to telle yow al hir beautee
It lyth nat in my tonge n'yn my konnyng.
I dar nat vndertake so heigh a thyng.
Myn Englyssh eek is insufficient.
It moste been a rethor excellent                                  30
That koude his colours longyng for that art
If he sholde hir discryuen euery part.                            40
I am noon swich; I moot speke as I kan.
And so bifel that whan this Kambyuskan
Hath xx wynter born his dyademe,                                  35
As he was wont fro yeer to yeer I deme
He leet the feste of his natiuitee                                   f.129v
Don crien thurghout Sarray his citee
The laste Idus of March. After the yeer
Phebus the sonne ful iolyf was and cleer                          40
For he was ny his exaltacion
In Martes face and his mansion                                    50
In Aries, the coleryk, hote signe.
Ful lusty was the weder and benygne
For which the foweles agayn the sonne shene,                      45
What for the sesoun and the yonge grene,
Ful loude songen hir affeccions;
Hem semed han geten hem proteccions
Agayn the swerd of wynter kene and cold.
  This Cambyuskan of which I haue yow told                        50
In roial vestyment sit on his deys
With dyademe ful hye in his paleys                                60
And halt his feste solempne and so riche
That in this world ne was ther noon it liche;
Of which if I shal tellen al th'array                             55
Thanne wolde it ocupie a someres day.
And eek it nedeth nat to deuyse
At euery cours the ordre of hir seruyse.
I wol nat tellen of hir straunge sewes
Ne of hir swannes ne of hir heron-sewes.                          60
Eek in that land as tellen knyghtes olde
Ther is som mete that is ful deyntee holde                        70
That in this land men recche of it but smal;
Ther nys no man that may reporten al.
I wol nat tarien yow, for it is pryme                             65
And for it is no fruyt but los of tyme;
Vnto my firste I wol haue my recours.
  And so bifel that after the thridde cours,
Whil that this kyng sit thus in his nobleye
Herknynge his mynstrals hir thynges pleye                         70
Biforn hym at the bord deliciously,
In at the halle-dore al sodeynly                                  80
Ther cam a knyght vpon a steede of bras
And in his hand a brood mirour of glas.
Vpon his thombe he hadde of gold a ryng                           75
And by his syde a naked swerd hangyng.
And vp he rydeth to the heighe bord.                              f.130
In al the halle ne was ther spoke a word
For merueille of this knyght. Hym to biholde
Ful bisily they wayten yonge and olde.                            80
  This straunge knyght that cam thus sodeynly
Al armed saue his heed ful richely                                90
Salueth kyng and queene and lordes alle
By ordre as they seten in the halle
With so heigh reuerence and obeisaunces                           85
As wel in his speche as in his contenaunces
That Gawayn with his olde curteisye,
Thogh he were come agayn out of fairye,
Ne koude hym nat amende with a word.
And after this biforn the hye bord                                90
He with a manly voys seyde his message
After the forme vsed in his langage                               100
Withouten vice of silable or of lettre.
And for his tale sholde seme the bettre,
Acordant to his wordes was his cheere                             95
As techeth art of speche hem that it leere.
Al be that I kan nat sowne his style
Ne kan nat clymben ouer so heigh a style,
Yet seye I this that as to commune entente
Thus muche amounteth al that euere he mente,                      100
If it so be that I haue it in my mynde.
  He seyde: "The kyng of Arabe and of Inde,                       110
My lige lord, on this solempne day
Salueth yow as he best kan and may
And sendeth yow in honour of youre feste                          105
By me that am al redy at youre heste
This steede of bras, that esily and weel
Kan in the space of o day naturel
(This is to seyn in xxiiij houres)
Wherso yow list in droghte or ellis shoures                      110
Beren youre body into euery place
To which youre herte wilneth for to pace                         120
Withouten wem of yow thurgh foul or fair.
Or if yow list to flee as hye in the ayr
As dooth an egle whan hym list to soore                          115
This same steede shal bere yow eueremoore
Withouten harm til ye be ther yow leste,                           f.130v
Though that ye slepen on his bak or reste,
And turne agayn with writhyng of a pyn.
He that it wroghte koude many a gyn.                             120
He wayted many a constellacioun
Er he hadde doon this operacioun                                 130
And knew ful many a seel and many a bond.
  "This mirour eek that I haue in myn hond
Hath swich a myght that men may in it see                        125
Whan ther shal fallen any aduersitee
Vnto youre regne or to yourself also
And openly who is youre freend or fo.
  "And ouer al this if any lady bright
Hath set hir herte on any maner wight,                           130
If he be fals she shal his trayson see,
His newe loue, and al his subtiltee                              140
So openly that ther shal nothyng hyde.
Wherfore agayn this lusty someres tyde
This mirour and this ryng that ye may see                        135
He hath sent to my lady Canacee,
Youre excellente doghter that is heere.
  "The vertu of the ryng, if ye wol heere,
Is this: that if hir list it for to were
Vpon hir thombe or in hir purs it bere,                          140
Ther nys no fowel that fleeth vnder the heuene
That she ne shal wel vnderstonde his steuene                     150
And knowe his menyng openly and pleyn
And answere hym in his langage ageyn.
And euery gras that groweth vpon roote                           145
She shal eek knowe and whom it wol doon boote
Al be his woundes neuer so depe and wyde.
  "This naked swerd that hangeth by my syde
Swich vertu hath that what man so ye smyte
Thurghout his armure it wol kerue and byte                       150
Were it as thikke as is a braunched ook.
And what man that is wounded with the strook                     160
Shal neuere be hool til that yow lust of grace
To stroke hym with the platte in thilke place
Ther he is hurt. This is as muche to seyn                        155
Ye moote with the platte swerd ageyn
Stroke hym in the wounde and it wol close;                       f.131
This is a verray sooth withouten glose.
It failleth nat whiles it is in youre hold.'
  And whan this knyght hath thus his tale ytold                  160
He rideth out of halle and doun he lighte.
His steede which that shoon as sonne brighte                     170
Stant in the court stille as any stoon.
This knyght is to his chambre lad anon
And is vnarmed and to mete yset.                                 165
The presentz been ful realliche yfet,
This is to seyn the swerd and the mirour,
And born anon into the heighe tour
With certein officers ordeyned therfore.
And vnto Canacee the ryng is bore                                170
Solempnely ther she sit at the table.
But sikerly withouten any fable                                  180
The hors of bras that may nat been remewed
It stant as it were to the ground yglewed,
Ther may no man out of the place it dryue                        175
For noon engyn of wyndas or polyue --
And cause why? For they kan nat the craft.
And therfore in the place they han it laft
Til that the knyght hath taught hem the manere
To voyden hym, as ye shal after heere.                           180
  Greet was the prees that swarmeth to and fro
To gauren on this hors that stondeth so.                         190
For it so heigh was and so brood and long
So wel proporcioned for to ben strong
Right as it were a steede of Lumbardye;                          185
Therwith so horsly and so quyk of eye
As it a gentil Poyleys courser weere.
For certes fro his tayl vnto his eere
Nature ne art ne koude hym nat amende
In no degree, as al the peple wende.                             190
  But eueremoore hir mooste wonder was
How that it koude goon and was of bras;                          200
It was a fairye as the peple semed.
Dyuerse folk dyuersely han demed:
As many heuedes as many wittes ther been.                        195
They murmured as dooth a swarm of been
And maden skiles after hir fantasies                               f.131v
Rehersynge of thise olde poetries
And seyden it was lyk the Pegasee,
The hors that hadde wynges for to flee,                          200
Or ellis it was the Grekys hors Synoun
That broghte Troye to destruccioun,                              210
As men in thise olde gestes rede.
  "Myn herte,' quod oon, "is eueremoore in drede:
I trowe som men-of-armes been therinne                           205
That shapen hem this citee for to wynne.
It were right good that al swich thyng were knowe.'
  Another rowned to his felawe lowe
And seyde: "He lyeth, for it is rather lyk
An apparence ymaad by som magyk                                  210
As iogelours pleyen at thise festes grete.'
Of sondry doutes thus they iangle and trete,                     220
As lewed peple demeth comunly
Of thynges that been moore maad subtilly
Than they kan in hir lewednesse comprehende:                     215
They demen gladly to the badder ende.
  And somme of hem wondren on the mirour
That born was vp vnto the maister-tour
How men myghte in it swiche thynges se.
  Another answerde and seyde it myghte wel be                    220
Naturelly by composicions
Of anglis and of sly reflexions.                                 230
And seiden that in Rome was swich oon.
They speke of Alocen and Vitulon,
Of Aristotle, that writen in hir lyues                           225
Of queynte mirours and of perspectyues,
As knowen they that han hir bookes herd.
  And oother folk han wondred on the swerd
That wolde percen thurghout euery thyng;
And fille in speche of Thelophus the kyng                        230
And of Achilles for his queynte spere,
For he koude with it bothe heele and dere                        240
Right in swich wise as men may with the swerd
Of which right now ye han yourseluen herd.
They speeke of sondry hardyng of metal                           235
(And speke of medicynes therwithal)
And how and whanne it sholde yharded be,                         f.132
Which is vnknowe algates vnto me.
  Tho speeke they of Canacees ryng,
And seyden alle that swich a wonder thyng                        240
Of craft of rynges herde they neuere non
Saue that he Moyses and kyng Salomon                             250
Hadde a name of konnyng in swich art.
Thus seyn the peple and drawen hem apart.
  But nathelees somme seyden that it was                         245
Wonder to maken of fern-asshen glas
And yet is glas nat lyk asshen of fern.
But for they han knowen it so fern,
Therfore cesseth hir ianglyng and hir wonder.
  As soore wondren somme on cause of thonder,                    250
On ebbe and flood, on gossomer and on myst,
And alle thyng til that the cause is wist.                       260
Thus ianglen they and demen and deuyse
Til that the kyng gan fro the bord aryse.
  Phebus hath laft the angle meridional                          255
And yet ascendyng is the beest roial,
The gentil leon, with his Aldiran
Whan that this Tartre kyng Cambyuskan
Roos fro his bord ther as he sat ful hye.
Biforn hym gooth the loude mynstralcye                           260
Til he cam to his chambre of parementz
There as ther sownen diuerse instrumentz                         270
That it is lyk an heuene for to heere.
Now dauncen lusty Venus children deere,
For in the fissh hir lady sat ful hye                            265
And looketh on hem with a freendly eye.
  This noble kyng is set vpon his trone.
This straunge knyght is fet to hym ful soone
And on the daunce he gooth with Canacee.
Here is the reuel and the iolitee                                270
That is nat able a dul man to deuyse.
He moste han knowe loue and his seruyse                          280
And been a festlich man as fressh as May
That sholde yow deuysen swich array.
  Who koude telle yow the forme daunces                          275
So vnkouthe, and swiche fresshe contenaunces,
Swich subtil lookyng and dissimulynges                           f.132v
For drede of ialous mennes aperceyuynges?
No man but Launcelot and he is deed.
Therfore I passe of al this lustiheed;                           280
I sey namoore; but in this iolynesse
I lete hem, til men to the souper dresse.                        290
  The styward byt spices for to hye
And eek the wyn in al this melodye.
The vsshers and the squyers been ygon;                           285
The spices and the wyn is come anon.
They ete and drynke and whan this hadde an ende
Vnto the temple, as reson was, they wende.
  The seruyce doon they soupen al by day.
What nedeth yow rehercen hir array?                              290
Ech man woot wel that at a kynges feste
Hath plentee to the meeste and to the leeste                     300
And deyntees mo than been in my knowyng.
At after-souper gooth this noble kyng
To seen this hors of bras with al a route                        295
Of lordes and of ladyes hym aboute.
  Swich wondryng was ther on this hors of bras
That syn the grete sege of Troye was,
Ther as men wondreden on an hors also,
Ne was ther swich a wondryng as was tho.                         300
But finally the kyng axeth this knyght
The vertu of this courser and the myght,                         310
And preyed hym to telle his gouernaunce.
  This hors anon gan for to trippe and daunce
Whan that this knyght leyde hand vpon his reyne;                 305
And seyde: "Sire, ther nys namoore to seyne
But whan yow list to ryden anywhere
Ye moten trille a pyn stant in his ere,
Which I shal yow telle bitwixe vs two.
Ye mote nempne hym to what place also                            310
Or to what contree that yow list to ryde.
And whan ye come ther as yow list abyde                          320
Byd hym descende and tryl another pyn
For therinne lyth th'effect of al the gyn.
And he wol doun descende and doon youre wille                    315
And in that place he wol abiden stille:
Theigh al the world the contrarie hadde yswore                     f.133
He shal nat thennes be ydrawe nor ybore.
Or if yow list bidde hym thennes gon,
Trille this pyn and he wol vanysshe anon                         320
Out of the sighte of euery maner wight
And come agayn be it day or nyght                                330
Whan that yow list to clepen hym ageyn
In swich a gyse as I shal to yow seyn
Bitwixen yow and me, and that ful soone.                         325
Ryd whan yow lust. Ther is namoore to doone.'
  Enformed whan the kyng was of that knyght
And hath conceyued in his wit aright
The manere and the forme of al this thyng,
Ful glad and blythe this noble, doghty kyng                      330
Repeireth to his reuel as biforn.
The brydel is vnto the tour yborn                                340
And kept among his iewels lief and deere.
The hors vanysshed, I noot in which manere,
Out of hir sighte; ye gete namoore for me.                       335
But thus I lete in lust and iolitee
This Cambyuskan his lordes festeyynge
Til wel neigh the day bigan to sprynge

Explicit prima pars

Incipit pars secunda


The norice of digestion, the sleep,
Gan on hem wynke and bad hem take keep                           340
That muche drynke and labour wol haue reste.
And with a galpyng mouth hem alle he keste                       350
And seyde that it was tyme to lye adoun
For blood was in his domynacioun.
"Cherisseth blood, natures freend,' quod he.                     345
They thanken hym galpynge by two, by thre.
And euery wight gan drawe hym to his reste
As sleep hem bad; they take it for the beste.
  Hir dremes shul nat now be toold for me;
Ful were hir heuedes of fumositee                                350
That causeth dreem of which ther nys no charge.                   f.133v
They slepen til that it was pryme large,                         360
The mooste part but it were Canacee.
She was ful mesurable as wommen be
For of hir fader hadde she take leue                             355
To goon to reste soone after it was eue.
Hir liste nat apalled for to be
Nor on the morwe vnfestlich for to se.
And slepte hir firste sleep and awook,
For swich a ioye she in hir herte took                           360
Bothe of hir queynte ryng and hir mirour
That xx tyme she chaunged hir colour.                            370
And in hir sleep right for impressioun
Of hir mirour she hadde a visioun.
Wherfore er that the sonne gan vp glyde                          365
She clepyd vpon hir maistresse hir bisyde
And seyde that hir liste for to ryse.
  Thise olde wommen that been gladly wyse,
As is hir maystresse, answerde hir anon
And seyde: "Madame, whider wolde ye gon                          370
Thus erly, for the folk been alle on reste?'
  "I wol,' quod she, "aryse, for me leste                        380
No lenger for to slepe, and walke aboute.'
  Hir maistresse clepith wommen a gret route,
And vp they rysen wel an x or xije.                              375
Vp riseth fresshe Canacee hirselue
As rody and bright as dooth the yonge sonne
That in the ram is 4 degrees vp ronne;
Noon hyere was he whan she redy was.
And forth she walketh esily a pas                                380
Arrayed after the lusty seson soote,
Lightly for to pleye and walke on foote                          390
Nat but with v or vj of hir meynee.
And in a trench forth in the park goth she.
  The vapour which that fro the erthe glood                      385
Made the sonne to seme rody and brood.
But nathelees it was so fair a sighte
That it made al hir hertes for to lighte,
What for the seson and the morwenynge
And for the fowles that she herde synge.                         390
For right-anon she wiste what they mente                          f.134
Right by hir song and knew al hir entente.                       400
  The knotte why that euery tale is told
If it be taryed til that lust be cold
Of hem that han it after herkned yoore,                          395
The sauour passeth euer lenger the moore
For fulsomnesse of his prolixitee.
And by this same reson thynketh me
I sholde to the knotte condescende
And maken of hir walkyng soone an ende.                          400
  Amydde a tree for drye as whit as chalk
As Canacee was pleyynge in hir walk                              410
Ther sat a fawkon ouer hir heed ful hye
And with a pitous voys so gan to crye
That al the wode resowned of hir cry.                            405
Ybeten hadde she hirself so pitously
With bothe hir wynges til the rede blood
Ran endelong the tree ther as she stood.
And euere in oon she cryde alwey and shrighte
And with hir beek hirseluen so she prighte                       410
That ther nys tygre ne so cruel beest
That dwelleth outher in wode or in forest                        60
That nolde han wept if that he wepe koude
For sorwe of hire, she shrighte alwey so loude.
  For ther nas neuere man yet on lyue,                           415
If that I koude a faukon wel discryue,
That herde of swich another of fairnesse
As wel of plumage as of gentillesse
Of shap, of al that myghte yrekened be.
A faukon peregryn thanne semed she                               420
Of fremde land; and eueremoore as she stood
She swowned now and now for lakke of blood                       430
Til wel neigh is she fallen fro that tree.
  This faire kynges doghter Canacee,
That on hir fynger baar the queynte ryng                         425
Thurgh which she vnderstood wel euery thyng
That any fowl may in his ledne sayn
And koude answere hym in his ledne agayn,
Hath vnderstonden what this faukon seyde:
And wel neigh for the routhe almoost she deyde.                  430
And to the tree she goth ful hastily                                f.134"
And on this faukon looketh pitously                              440
And heeld hir lappe abrood, for wel she wiste
The faukon moste fallen fro the twiste
Whan that it swowneth next for lakke of blood.                   435
A long while to wayten hir she stood
Til at the laste she spak in this manere
Vnto the hauk, as ye shal after heere.
  "What is the cause, if it be for to telle,
That ye been in this furial pyne of helle?'                      440
Quod Canacee vnto this hauk aboue.
"Is this for sorwe of deeth or los of loue?                      450
For as I trowe thise been causes two
That causen moost a gentil herte wo;
Of oother harm it nedeth nat to speke.                           445
For ye yourself vpon yow self yow wreke,
Which proeueth wel that outher ire or drede
Moot been encheson of youre cruel dede,
Syn that I se noon oother wight yow chace.
For loue of god as dooth yourseluen grace                        450
Or what may been youre help, for west nor est
Ne saw I neuere er now no bryd ne beest                          460
That ferde with hymself so pitously?
Ye sleen me with youre sorwe verraily,
I haue of yow so greet compassioun.                              455
For goddes loue com fro the tree adoun,
And as I am a kynges doghter trewe
If that I verraily the cause knewe
Of youre disese, if it laye in my myght
I wolde amende it er that it were nyght                          460
As wisly help me grete god of kynde.
And herbes shal I right ynowe fynde                              470
To heele with youre hurtes hastily.'
  Tho shrighte this faukon yet moore pitously
Than euer she dide and fil to ground anon                        465
And lyth aswowne deed and lik a ston
Til Canacee hath in hir lappe hir take
Vnto that tyme she gan of swowne awake.
And after that she of swow gan abreyde
Right in hir haukes ledne thus she seyde:                        470
"That pitee renneth soone in gentil herte                           f.135
Feelynge his similitude in peynes smerte                         480
Is proued al day, as men may it see
As wel by werk as by auctoritee.
For gentil herte kitheth gentilesse.                             475
I se wel that ye han of my distresse
Compassion, my faire Canacee,
Of verray wommanly benygnitee
That nature in youre principles hath set.
But for noon hope for to fare the bet,                           480
But for to obeye vnto youre herte free
And for to maken othere ywar by me                               490
(As by the whelp chasted is the leon),
Right for that cause and for that conclusioun
Whil that I haue a leyser and a space                            485
Myn harm I wol confessen er I pace.'
And euere whil that oon hir sorwe tolde,
That oother weep as she to water wolde
Til that the faukon bad hir to be stille.
And with a syk right thus she seyde hir wille.                   490
  "Ther I was bred, allas that ilke day,
And fostred in a roch of marbul gray                             500
So tendrely that nothyng eyled me;
I nyste nat what was aduersitee
Til I koude fle ful hye vnder the sky.                           495
Tho dwelte a tercelet me faste by
That semed welle of alle gentillesse,
Al were he ful of trayson and falsnesse.
It was so wrapped vnder humble cheere
And vnder hewe of trouthe in swich manere,                       500
Vnder plesaunce and vnder bisy peyne
That no wight wolde han wend he koude feyne,                     510
So depe in greyn he dyed his colours.
Right as a serpent hit hym vnder floures
Til he may se his tyme for to byte,                              505
Right so this god of loues ypocrite
Dooth so his cerymonijs and obeysaunces
And kepeth in semblant alle hise obseruaunces
That sownen into gentilesse of loue.
As on a tombe is al the faire aboue                              510
And vnder is the cors, swich as ye woot,                           f.135v
Swich was this ypocrite bothe cold and hoot.                     520
And in this wise he serued his entente
That saue the feend noon wiste what he mente,
Til he so longe hadde wopen and compleyned                       515
And many a yeer his seruice to me feyned
Til that myn herte (to pitous and to nyce,
Al innocent of his crowned malice,
Forfered of his deeth, as thoughte me)
Vpon his othes and his seuretee                                  520
Graunted hym loue vpon this condicioun
This eueremo myn honour and renoun                               530
Were saued bothe pryuee and apert.
This is to seyn that after his desert
I yaf hym al myn herte and my thoght                             525
(God woot and he, that ootherwise noght)
And took his herte in chaunge of myn for ay.
But sooth is seyd, goon sithen many a day:
A trewe wight and a theef thynketh nat oon.
  "And whanne he saw the thyng so fer ygon                       530
That I hadde graunted hym fully my loue
In swich a gise as I haue seyd aboue                             540
And yeuen hym my trewe herte as fre
As he swoor he yaf his herte to me,
Anoon this tygre ful of doublenesse                              535
Fil on his knees with so deuout humblesse,
With so heigh reuerence and as by his cheere
So lyk a gentil louere of manere,
So rauysshed as it semed for the ioye
That neuere Iason ne Parys of Troye                              540
(Iason certes ne noon oother man
Syn Lameth was that alderfirst bigan                             550
To louen two, as writen folk biforn)
Ne neuere syn the firste man was born
Ne koude man by twenty thousand part                             545
Countrefete the sophymes of his art
Ne were worthy vnbokele his galoche,
Ther doublenesse or feynyng sholde approche,
Ne so koude thanke a wight as he did me.
His manere was an heuene for to see                              550
Til any womman, were she neuer so wys,                           f.136
So peynted he and kembde at poynt-deuys                          560
As wel his wordes as his contenaunce.
And I so loued hym for his obeisaunce
And for the trouthe I demed in his herte                         555
That if so weere that any thyng hym smerte,
Al were it neuer so litel and I it wiste,
Me thoughte I felte deeth myn herte twiste.
And shortly so ferforth this thyng is went
That my wyl was his willes instrument,                           560
This is to seyn my wyl obeyed his wil
In alle thyng as fer as reson fil                                570
Kepynge the boundes of my worship euere.
Ne neuere hadde I thyng so lief ne leuere
As hym, god woot, ne neuere shal namo.                           565
  "This laste lenger than a yeer or two
That I supposed of hym nat but good.
But finally thus at the laste it stood
That fortune wolde that he moste twynne
Out of that place which that I was inne.                         570
Wher me was wo, that is no questioun:
I kan nat make of it descripsioun.                               580
For o thyng dar I tellen boldely,
I knowe what is the peyne of deeth therby.
Swich harm I felte for he ne myghte bileue.                      575
So on a day of me he took his leue
So sorwefully eek, that I wende verraily
That he hadde feelyd as muche harm as I
Whan that I herde hym speke and saw his hewe.
But nathelees I thoughte he was so trewe                         580
And eek that he repeyre sholde agayn
Withinne a litel while, sooth to sayn,                           590
And reson wolde eek that he moste go
For his honour, as ofte happeth so,
That I made vertu of necessitee                                  585
And took it wel syn that it moste be.
As I best myghte I hidde from hym my sorwe
And took hym by the hand, seint Iohn to borwe,
And seyde thus: "Lo I am youres al.
Beeth swich as I to yow haue been and shal.'                    590
What he answerde it nedeth nat reherse:                           f. 136v
Who kan seyn bet than he? Who kan doon werse?                    600
Whan he hath al wel seyd, thanne hath he doon.
Therfore bihoued hir a ful long spoon
That shal ete with a feend, thus herde I seye.                   595
So at the laste he moste forth his weye;
And forth he fleeth til he cam ther hym leste.
Whan it cam hym to purpos for to reste,
I trowe he hadde thilke text in mynde
That alle thyng repeiryng to his kynde                           600
Gladeth hymself, thus seyn men as I gesse.
Men louen of propre kynde newfangelnesse                         610
As bryddes doon that men in cages feede.
For theigh thow nyght and day take of hem hede
And strawe hir cages faire and softe as sylk                     605
And yeue hem sugre, hony, breed and milk,
Yet right-anon as that his dore is vppe
He with his feet wol sporne doun his cuppe
And to the wode he wole and wormes ete.
So newfangel been they of hir mete                               610
And louen nouelries of propre kynde,
No gentilesse of blood may hem bynde.                            620
  "So ferde this gentil tercelet, allas the day,
Thogh he were gentil born and fressh and gay
And goodlich for to seen and humble and free.                    615
He saw vpon a tyme a kyte flee,
And sodeynly he loued this kyte so
That al his loue is clene fro me ago
And hath his trouthe falsed in this wise.
Thus hath the kyte my loue in hir seruyse                        620
And I am lorn withouten remedye.'
And with that word this faukon gan to crye                       630
And swowned eft in Canacees barm.
  Greet was the sorwe for the haukes harm
That Canacee and alle hir wommen made.                           625
They nyste how that they myghte the faukon glade.
But Canacee hom bereth hire in hir lappe
And softely in plastres gan hir wrappe
Ther as she with hir beek hadde hurt hirselue.
  Now kan nat Canacee but herbes delue                           630
Out of the grownd and maken saues newe                           f.137
Of herbes preciouse and fyn of hewe                              640
To heelen with this hauk. Fro day to nyght
She dooth hir bisynesse and al hir myght.
And by hir beddes heed she made a muwe                           635
And couered it with veluettes blue
In signe of trouthe that is in wommen sene.
And al withoute the muwe is peynted grene
In which were peynted alle thise false fowles
As been thise tydyues; terceletz and owles                       640
Right for despit were peynted hem bisyde,
And pyes on hem for to crye and chyde.                           650
  Thus lete I Canacee hir hauk kepyng.
I wol namoore as now speke of hir ryng
Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn                            645
How that this faukon gat hir loue ageyn
Repentant, as the storie telleth vs
By mediacion of Cambalus,
The kynges sone of which I to yow tolde.
But hennesfort I wol my proces holde                             650
To speke of auentures and of batailles
That neuere yet was herd so greet meruailles.                    660
  First wol I telle yow of Cambyuskan
That in his tyme many a citee wan
And after wol I speke of Algarsyf                                655
How that he wan Theodora to his wyf
For whom ful ofte in gret peril he was
Ne hadde he been holpen by the steede of bras.
And after wol I speke of Cambalo
That faught in lystes with the bretheren two                     660
For Canacee, er that he myghte hir wynne.
And ther I lefte I wol ayein bigynne.                            670

explicit secunda pa rs

Incipit tercia pars                                                 f. 137"


Appollo whirleth vp his char so hye
Til that the god Mercuries hous the slye.






                  Section 5 (Fragment IV, Group E)


Here bigynneth the marchantes ale.                           f. 1 38

Whilom ther was dwellynge in Lumbardye
A worthy knyght that born was of Pauye
In which he lyuede in greet prosperitee.
And lx yeer a wiflees man was he,
And folwed ay his bodily delit                                     5
On wommen, ther as was his appetit,                             1250
As doon thise fooles that been seculer.
And whan that he was passed Ix yeer,
Were it for holynesse or for dotage
I kan nat seye, but swich a greet corage                          10
Hadde this knyght to been a wedded man
That day and nyght he dooth al that he kan
T'espien where he myghte wedded be,
Preyynge oure lord to graunten hym that he
Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf                           15
That is bitwix an housbonde and his wyf                         1260
And for to lyue vnder that holy bond
With which that god man and womman boond.
Noon oother lyf (seyde he) is worth a bene,
For wedlok is so esy and so clene                                    20
That in this world it is a paradys.
Thus seyde this olde knyght that was so wys.
  And certeynly as sooth as god is kyng
To take a wyf it is a glorious thyng
And namely whan a man is old and hoor:                            25
Thanne is a wyf the fruyt of his tresor.                        1270
Thanne sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir
On which he myghte engendren hym an heir;
And lede his lyf in ioye and in solas,
Wher as thise bachilers synge allas                                   30
Whan that they fynde any aduersitee
In loue, which nys but childissh vanytee.
And trewely it sit wel to be so
That bachilers haue ofte peyne and wo:
On brotil ground they bilde, and brotilnesse                      35
They fynde whan they wene sikernesse.                           1280
They lyue but as bryd or as a beest                                f.138v
In libertee and vnder noon arest,
Ther as a wedded man in his estat
Lyueth a lyf blisful and ordynat                                      40
Vnder this yok of mariage ybounde.
Wel may his herte in ioye and blisse habounde,
For who kan be so buxom as a wyf?
Who is so trewe and eek so ententyf
To kepe hym syk and hool as is his make?                          45
For wele or wo she wol hym nat forsake;                            1290
She nys nat wery hym to loue and serue
Thogh that he ly bedrede til he sterue.
And yet som clerkes seyn it is nat so,
Of whiche he Theofraste is oon of tho.                            50
What force thogh Theofraste liste lye?
  Ne tak no wyf (quod he) for housbondrye
As for to spare in houshold thy dispence.
A trewe seruant dooth moore diligence
Thy good to kepe than thyn owene wyf,                             55
For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf.                               1300
And if thow be syk, so god me saue,
Thy verray freendes or a trewe knaue
Wol kepe thee bet than she that wayteth ay
After thy good, and hath do many a day.                           60
And if thow take a wyf. . . ..... . . . . . .. . .. . .. .

  This sentence and an hundred thynges worse
Writeth this man, ther god his bones curse.
But tak no kepe of al swich vanytee.                              65
Diffye Theofraste and herke me.                                   1310
  A wyf is goddes yifte verraily.
Alle othere manere yiftes hardily
As londes, rentes, pasture, or comune,
Or moebles, alle been yiftes of fortune                           70
That passen as a shadwe vpon the wal.
But dreed nat if pleynly speke I shal:
A wyf wol laste and in thyn hous endure
Wel lenger than thee lyst parauenture.
  Mariage is a ful greet sacrament.                               75
He which that hath no wyf I holde hym shent.                      1320
He lyueth helplees and al desolat.                                  f.139
I speke of folk in seculer estat.
  And herke why (I sey nat this for noght)
That womman is for mannes help ywroght.                          80
The hye god whan he hadde Adam maked
And seigh hym allone bely-naked,
God of his grete goodnesse seyde than:
"Lat vs now make an help vnto this man
Lyk to hymself.' And thanne he made hym Eue.                     85
Here may ye see and here may ye preeue                           1330
That wyf is mannes help and his confort,
His paradys terrestre, and his disport;
So buxom and so vertuous is she
They moste nedes lyue in vnytee.                                 90
  O flessh they been, and o flessh as I gesse
Hath but oon herte in wele and in distresse.
  A wyf! A seinte Marie benedicitee,
How myghte a man han any aduersitee
That hath a wyf? Certes I kan nat seye.                          95
The blisse which that is bitwix hem tweye                        1340
Ther may no tonge telle or herte thynke.
If he be poure she helpeth hym to swynke,
She kepeth his good and wasteth neuer-a-del.
Al that hir housbonde lust hir liketh wel,                       100
She seith nat ones nay whan he seith yee.
"Do this,' seith he. "Al redy, sire,' seith she.
    O blisful ordre! O wedlok precious!
Thou art so murye and eek so vertuous
And so commended and approued eek                                105
That any man that halt hym worth a leek                          1350
Vpon his bare knees oghte al his lyf
Thanken his god that hym hath sent a wyf,
Or ellis preye to god hym for to sende
A wyf to laste vnto his lyues ende                               110
For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse.
He may nat be deceyued as I gesse
So that he werke after his wyues reed:
Thanne may he boldely kepen vp his heed --
They been so trewe and therwithal so wyse.                       115
For which if thow wolt werken as the wyse:                       1360
Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede.                            f.139"
  Lo how that Iacob, as thise clerkes rede,
By good conseil of his moder Rebekke
Boond the kydes skyn aboute his nekke                            120
For which his fadres benyson he wan.
  Lo Iudith, as the storie eek telle kan,
By good conseil she goddes peple kepte
And slow hym Olofernus whil he slepte.
  Lo Abigayl by good conseil how she                             125
Saued hir housbonde Nabal whan that he                           1370
Sholde han ben slayn. And looke Ester also
By good conseil delyuered out of wo
The peple of god and made hym Mardochee
Of Assuere enhaunced for to be.                                  130
  Ther nys nothyng in gree superlatyf,
As seith Senec, aboue an humble wyf.
Suffre thy wyues tonge, as Caton byt.
She shal comaunde and thow shalt suffren it,
And yet she wol obeye of curteisye.                              135
  A wyf is keper of thyn housbondrye.                            1380
Wel may the sike man biwaille and wepe
Ther as ther is no wyf the hous to kepe.
I warne thee if wisly thow wolt wirche:
Loue wel thy wyf as Crist loued his chirche.                     140
If thow louest thyself, thow louest thy wif.
No man hateth his flessh, but in his lyf
He fostreth it; and therfore bidde I thee
Cherisse thy wyf or thow shalt neuere thee.
Housbonde and wyf whatso men iape or pleye                      145
Of worldly folk holden the siker weye.                          1390
They been so knyt ther may noon harm bityde
And namely vpon the wyues syde.
  For which this Ianuarie, of whom I tolde,
Considered hath inwith his dayes olde                           150
The lusty lyf, the vertuous quyete
That is in mariage hony-swete.
And for his freendes on a day he sente
To tellen hem th'effect of his entente.
  With face sad this tale he hath hem told.                     155
He seyde: "Freendes, I am hoor and old                          1400
And almoost god woot on my pittes brynke.                       f.140
Vpon my soule somwhat moste I thynke.
I haue my body folily despended;
Blissed be god that it shal been amended.                       160
For I wol be certeyn a wedded man
And that anon in al the haste I kan
Vnto som mayde fair and tendre of age.
I pray yow shapeth for my mariage
Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde.                               165
And I wol fonde t'espien on my syde                             1410
To whom I may be wedded hastily.
But for as muche as ye been mo than I,
Ye shullen rather swich a thyng espien
Than I, and where me best were to allien.                       170
  "But o thyng warne I yow, my freendes deere,
I wol noon old wyf han in no manere:
She shal nat passe xx yeer certeyn.
Old fissh and yong flessh wol I haue feyn.
Bet is,' quod he, "a pyk than a pykerel                         175
And bet than old boef is the tendre vel.                        1420
I wol no womman xxxti yeer of age:
It is but bene-straw and greet forage.
And eek thise olde widwes, god it woot,
They konne so muche craft on Wades boot,                        180
So muchel broken harm whan hem leste,
That with hem sholde I neuere lyue in reste.
For sondry scoles maketh subtile clerkis:
Womman of many scoles half a clerk is.
But certeinly a yong thyng may men gye                          185
Right as men may warm wex with handes plye.                     1430
Wherfore I sey yow pleynly in a clause
I wol noon old wyf han right for this cause:
For if so were I hadde swich meschaunce
That I in hire ne koude han no plesaunce,                       190
Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye
And go streight to the deuel whan I dye,
Ne children sholde I none vpon hir geten.
Yet were me leuere houndes hadde me eten
Than that myn heritage sholde falle                             195
In straunge hand, and this I telle yow alle.                    1440
I dote nat. I woot the cause why                                  f 140v
Men sholde wedde. And ferthermoore woot I
Ther speketh many a man of mariage
That woot namoore of it than woot my page,                      200
For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf.
If he ne may nat lyue chast his lyf
Take hym a wyf with greet deuocioun
By cause of leueful procreacioun
Of children to th'onour of god aboue                            205
And nat oonly for paramour or loue.                             1450
And for they sholde lecherye eschue
And yelde hir dette whan that it is due
Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen oother
In meschief, as a suster shal the brother,                      210
And lyue in chastitee ful holily.
But, sires, by youre leue that am nat I.
For god be thanked I dar make auant
I feele my lymes stark and suffisant
To do al that a man bilongeth to.                               215
I woot myself best what I may do.                               1460
  "Thogh I be hoor I fare as dooth a tree
That blosmeth er the fruyt ywoxen be;
And blosmy tree nys neither drye ne deed.
I feele me nowher hoor but on myn heed.                         220
Myn herte and alle my lymes been as grene
As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene.
And syn that ye han herd al myn entente
I pray yow to my conseil ye wol assente.'
  Dyuerse men diuersely hym tolde                               225
Of mariage manye ensamples olde.                                1470
Somme blamed it, somme preised it certeyn.
But at the laste shortly for to seyn
As alday falleth altercacion
Bitwixe freendes in disputison,                                 230
Ther fil a stryf bitwix his bretheren two
Of whiche that oon was clepid Placebo;
Iustinus soothly called was that oother.
  Placebo seyde: "O Ianuarie, brother,
Ful litel nede hadde ye, my lord so deere,                      235
Conseil to axe of any that is heere,                            1480
But that ye been so ful of sapience                             f.141
That yow ne liketh for youre heigh prudence
To weyuen fro the word of Salomon.
This word seyde he vnto vs euerichon:                           240
Werk alle thyng by conseil, thus seyde he,
And thanne shaltow nat repenten thee.
But thogh that Salomon spak swich a word,
Myn owene deere brother and my lord,
So wisly god my soule brynge at reste                           245
I holde your owene conseil is the beste.                        1490
For, brother myn, of me tak this motyf:
I haue now been a court-man al my lyf
And god it woot, thogh I vnworthy be,
I haue stonden in ful greet degree                              250
Abouten lordes in ful greet estat;
Yet hadde I neuere with noon of hem debat:
I neuere hem contraryed. Trewely
I woot wel that my lord kan moore than I.
What that he seith I holde it ferm and stable:                  255
I seye the same or ellis thyng semblable.                       1500
A ful greet fool is any conseillour
That serueth any lord of heigh honour
That dar presume or ellis thenken it,
That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit.                   260
Nay. Lordes be no fooles by my fay.
Ye han yourseluen shewed heer today
So heigh sentence so holily and weel
That I consente and conferme euery deel
Youre wordes alle and youre opynyoun.                           265
By god ther nys no man in al this toun                          1510
Ne in Ytaille koude bet han ysayd.
Crist halt hym of this conseil ful wel apayd.
And trewely it is an heigh corage
Of any man that stapen is in age                                270
To take a yong wyf. By my fader kyn
Youre herte hangeth on a iolyf pyn.
Dooth now in this matere right as yow leste,
For fynally I holde it for the beste.'
  Iustinus that ay stille sat and herde,                        275
Right in this wise he to Placebo answerde.                      1520
"Now, brother myn, be pacient I preye                            f.141"
Syn ye han seyd, and herkneth what I seye.
Senec amonges othere wordes wise
Seith that a man oghte hym right wel auyse                      280
To whom he yeueth his lond or his catel.
And syn I oghte auysen me right wel
To whom I yeeue my good awey fro me,
Wel muchel moore I oghte auysed be
To whom I yeeue my body for alwey.                              285
I warne yow wel it is no childes pley                           1530
To taken a wyf withouten auysement.
Men moste enquere, this is myn assent,
Wher she be wys and sobre, or dronkelewe
Or proud or ellis oother weys a shrewe,                         290
A chidester or wastour of thy good,
Or riche or poure or ellis mannyssh-wood.
Al be it so that no man fynden shal
Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al,
Ne man ne beest swich as men koude deuyse,                      295
But nathelees it oghte ynogh suffise                            1540
With any wyf if so were that she hadde
Mo goode thewes than hir vices badde.
And al this axeth leyser for t'enquere,
For god it woot I haue wept many a teere                        300
Ful pryuely syn that I hadde a wyf.
Preyse whoso wole a wedded mannes lyf,
Certeyn I fynde in it but cost and care
And obseruances of alle blisses bare.
And yet, god woot, my neghebores aboute                         305
And namely of wommen many a route                               1550
Seyn that I haue the mooste stedefast wyf
And eek the mekeste that bereth lyf;
But I woot best where wryngeth me my sho.
Ye mowe for me right as yow liketh do:                          310
Auyseth yow, ye been a man of age,
How that ye entren into mariage
And namely with a yong wyf and a feir.
By hym that made water, erthe, and eir
The yongest man that is in al this route                        315
Is bisy ynow to bryngen it aboute                               1560
To han his wyf allone, trusteth me.                             f.142
Ye shul nat plesen hir fully yeres thre,
This is to seyn to doon hir ful plesance:
A wyf axeth ful many an obseruance.                             320
I pray yow that ye be nat yuele apayd.'
  "Wel,' quod this Ianuarie, "and hastow ysayd?
Straw for thy Senec and for thy prouerbes!
I counte nat a panyer ful of herbes
Of scole termes! Wiser man than thow,                           325
As thow hast herd, assenteden right now                         1570
To my purpos. Placebo, what sey ye?'
  "I seye it is a cursed man,' quod he,
"That letteth matrymoigne sikerly.'
And with that word they risen sodeynly,                         330
And been assented fully that he sholde
Be wedded whan hym liste and wher he wolde.
  Heigh fantasie and curious bisynesse
Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse
Of Ianuarie aboute his mariage.                                 335
Many fair shap and many a fair visage                           1580
Ther passeth thurgh his herte nyght by nyght,
As whoso tooke a mirour polisshed bright
And sette it in a commune market-place
Thanne sholde he se ful many a figure pace                      340
By his mirour. And in the same wise
Gan Ianuarie inwith his thoght deuyse
Of maydens whiche that dwelten hym bisyde.
He wiste nat wher that he myghte abyde,
For if that oon haue beautee in hir face                        345
Another stant so in the peples grace                            1590
For hir sadnesse and hir benygnytee
That of the peple grettest voys hath she;
And somme were riche and hadden badde name.
But nathelees bitwene ernest and game                           350
He atte laste apoynted hym on oon
And leet alle othere from his herte goon,
And chees hir of his owene auctoritee
For loue is blynd alday and may nat see.
And whan that he was in his bed ybroght                         355
He purtreyde in his herte and in his thoght                     1600
Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre,                            f.142v
Hir myddel smal, hir armes longe and sklendre,
Hir wise gouernance, hir gentilesse,
Hir wommanly beryng, and hir sadnesse.                          360
And whan that he on hire was condescended,
Hym thoughte his choys myghte nat ben amended.
For whan that he hymself concluded hadde,
Hym thoughte ech oother mannes wit was badde
That impossible it weere to replye                              365
Agayn his choys; this was his fantasie.                         1610
  His freendes sente he to at his instance
And preyde hem to doon hym that plesance
That hastily they wolden to hym come.
He wolde abregge hir labour alle and some:                      370
Nedeth namoore for hym to go ne ryde,
He was apointed ther he wolde abyde.
  Placebo cam and eek his freendes soone;
And alderfirst he bad hem alle a boone
That noon of hem none argumentz make                            375
Agayn the purpos which that he hath take.                       1620
Which purpos was plesant to god seyde he
And verray ground of his prosperitee.
  He seyde ther was a mayden in the toun
Which that of beautee hadde greet renoun                        380
Al were it so she were of smal degree.
Suffiseth hym hir youthe and hir beautee.
Which mayde he seyde he wolde han to his wyf
To lede in ese and holynesse his lyf;
And thanked god that he myghte han hir al                       385
That no wight his blisse parten shal.                           1630
And preyde hem to labouren in this nede
And shapen that he faille nat to spede
For thanne he seyde his spirit was at ese.
"Thanne is,' quod he, "nothyng may me displese,                 390
Saue o thyng priketh in my conscience
The which I wol reherce in youre presence.
  "I haue,' quod he, "herd seyd ful yoore ago
Ther may no man han parfite blisses two,
This is to seye in erthe and eek in heuene.                     395
For thogh he kepe hym fro the synnes seuene                     1640
And eek from euery branche of thilke tree,                      f.143
Yet if ther so parfit felicitee
And so greet ese and lust in mariage
That euere I am agast now in myn age                            400
That I shal lede now so murye a lyf,
So delicat withouten wo and stryf,
That I shal han myn heuene in erthe heere.
For sith that verray heuene is boght so deere
With tribulacions and greet penance,                            405
How sholde I thanne that lyue in swich plesance,                1650
As alle wedded men doon with hir wyuys,
Come to the blisse that Crist eterne on lyue is?
This is my drede; and ye my bretheren tweye
Assoileth me this question I preye.'                            410
  Iustinus which that hated his folye
Answerde anon-right in his iaperye.
And for he wolde his longe tale abregge
He wolde noon auctoritee allegge.
But seide: "Sire, so ther be noon obstacle                      415
Oother than this, god of his hye myracle                        1660
And of his mercy may so for yow werche
That er ye haue your right of holy cherche
Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf,
In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf.                        420
And ellis god forbede but he sente
A wedded man hym grace to repente
Wel ofte rather than a sengle man.
And therfore, sire, the beste reed I kan:
Despeire yow noght, but haue in youre memorie                   425
Paraunter she may be youre purgatorie.                          1670
She may be goddes mene and goddes whippe;
Thanne shal your soule vp to heuene skippe
Swifter than dooth an arwe out of a bowe.
I hope to god heerafter ye shul knowe                           430
That ther nys noon so greet felicitee
In mariage ne neuere mo shal be
That yow shal lette of your saluacioun
So that ye vse, as skile is and resoun,
The lustes of your wyf attemprely                               435
And that ye plese hir nat to amorously                          1680
And that ye kepe yow eek from oother synne                       f 143v
My tale is doon for my wit is thynne.
Beth nat agast herof, my brother deere,
But lat vs waden out of this matere.                            440
The wyf of Bathe, if ye han vnderstonde,
Of mariage which we han on honde
Declared hath ful wel in litel space.
Fareth now wel; god haue yow in his grace.'
  And with that word this Iustyn and his brother                445
Han take hir leue and ech of hem of oother.                     1690
For whan they sawe that it moste nedes be,
They wroghten so by sly and wys tretee
That she, this mayden which that Mayus highte,
As hastily as euer that she myghte                              450
Shal wedded be vnto this Ianuarie.
I trowe it were to longe yow to tarye
If I yow tolde of euery scrit and bond
By which that she was feffed in his lond
Or for to herknen of hir riche array.                           455
But finally ycomen is that day                                  1700
That to the chirche bothe be they went
For to receyue the holy sacrament.
  Forth comth the preest with stoole aboute his nekke
And bad hire be lyk Sarra and Rebekke                           460
In wisdom and in trouthe of mariage;
And seyde his orisons as is vsage;
And croucheth hem and bad god sholde hem blesse
And made al siker ynow with holynesse.
  Thus been they wedded with solempnitee.                       465
And at the laste sitteth he and she                             1710
With oother worthy folk vpon the deys.
Al ful of ioye and blisse is the paleys
And ful of instrumentz and of vitaille,
The mooste deynteuous of al Ytaille.                            470
Biforn hem stoode swiche instrumentz of swich soun
That Orpheus n'of Thebes Amphioun
Ne maden neuere swich a melodye.
At euery cours thanne cam loud mynstralcye,
That neuere tromped loab for to heere                           475
Ne he Theodomas yet half so cleere                              1720
At Thebes whan the citee was in doute.                          f.144
Bacus the wyn hem shenketh al aboute
And Venus laugheth vpon euery wight
For Ianuarie was bicome hir knyght,                             480
And wolde bothe assayen his corage
In libertee and eek in mariage,
And with hir firbrond in hir hand aboute
Daunceth bifore the bryde and al the route.
And certeinly I dar right wel seye this:                        485
Ymeneus, that god of weddyng is'                                1730
Say neuere his lyf so murye a wedded man.
Hoold thow thy pees, thou poete Marcian,
That writest vs that ilke weddyng murye
Of hir Philologie and he Mercurie                               490
And of the songes that the muses songe,
To smal is bothe thy penne and eek thy tonge
For to discryuen of this mariage.
Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stoupyng age
Ther is swich murthe that it may nat be writen.                 495
Assayeth it yourself, than may ye witen                         1740
If that I lye or noon in this matere.
  Mayus that sit with so benygne a cheere,
Hir to biholde it semed fairye.
Queene Ester looked neuere with swich an eye                    500
On Assuer, so meke a look hath she.
I may yow nat deuyse al hir beautee.
But thus muche of hir beautee telle I may
That she was lyk the brighte morwe of May
Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce.                          505
  This Ianuarie is rauysshed in a traunce                       1750
At euery tyme he looked on hir face,
But in his herte he gan hir to manace
That he that nyght in armes wolde hir streyne
Harder than euere Parys dide Eleyne.                            510
But nathelees yet hadde he gret pitee
That thilke nyght offenden hir moste he,
And thoghte: "Allas o tendre creature,
Now wolde god ye myghte wel endure
Al my corage, it is so sharp and kene.                          515
I am agast ye shul it nat sustene:                              1760
But god forbede that I dide al my myght!                          f. 144"
Now wolde god that it were woxen nyght
And that the nyght wolde laste eueremo.
I wolde that al this peple were ago!'                           520
  And fynally he dooth al his labour
As he best myghte sauyng his honour
To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wise.
The tyme cam that reson was to rise;
And after that men daunce and drynken faste                     525
And spices al aboute the hous they caste.                       1770
And ful of ioye and blisse is euery man
Al but a squyer, highte Damyan,
Which carf biforn the knyght ful many a day:
He was so rauysshed on his lady May                             530
That for the verray peyne he was ny wood.
Almoost he swelte and swowned as he stood
So sore hath Venus hurt hym with hir brond
As that she baar it dauncyng in hir hond,
And to his bed he wente hym hastily.                            535
Namoore of hym at this tyme speke I,                            1780
But ther I lete hym wepe ynow and pleyne
Til fresshe May wol rewen on his peyne.
   O perilous fyr that in the bedstraw bredeth,
O famulier foo that his seruice bedeth,                         540
  O seruant traytour, false, homly hewe
Lyk to the neddre in bosom sly, vntrewe,
God shilde vs alle from youre aqueyntance.
O Ianuarie dronken in plesance
In mariage, se how thy Damyan,                                  545
Thyn owene squyer and thy born man,                             1790
Entendeth for to do thee vileynye.
God grante thee thyn homly fo espye,
For in this world nys worse pestilence
Than homly fo alday in thy presence.                            550
  Parfourned hath the sonne his ark diurne;
No lenger may the body of hym soiurne
On th'orisonte as in that latitude.
Night with his mantel that is derk and rude
Gan ouersprede th'emysperies aboute;                            555
For which departed is this lusty route                          1800
Fro Ianuarie with thank on euery syde.                          f.145
Hom to hir houses lustily they ryde
Wher as they doon hir thynges as hem leste,
And whan they say hir tyme go to reste.                         560
  Soone after that this hasty Ianuarie
Wol go to bedde, he wol no lenger tarie.
He drynketh ypocras, clarree and vernage
Of spices hoote t'encressen his corage.
And many a letuarie hadde he ful fyn                            565
Swich as the cursed monk daun Constantyn                        1810
Hath writen in his book De coitu.
To eten hem alle he nas nothyng eschu.
And to his pryuee freendes thus seyde he:
"For goddes loue as soone as it may be                          570
Lat voyden al this hous in curteis wise.'
And they han doon right as he wol deuyse.
Men drynken and the trauers drawe anon;
The bryde was broght a bedde as stille as stoon.
And whan the bed was with the preest yblessed,                  575
Out of the chambre hath euery wight hym dressed.                1820
And Ianuarie hath faste in armes take
His fresshe May, his paradys, his make.
He lulleth hir, he kisseth hire ful ofte
With thilke bristles of his berd vnsofte                        580
Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh, sharp as brere,
For he was shaue al newe in his manere.
He rubbeth hir aboute hir tendre face
And seyde thus: "Allas I moot trespace
To yow, my spouse, and yow gretly offende                       585
Er tyme come that I wol doun descende.                          1830
But natheles considereth this,' quod he,
"Ther nys no werkman whatsoeuere he be
That may bothe werke wel and hastily.
This wol be doon at leyser parfitly.                            590
It is no fors how longe that we pleye:
In trewe wedlok coupled be we tweye,
And blessed be the yok that we been inne
For in actes we mow do no synne.
A man may do no synne with his wyf,                             595
Ne hurte hymseluen with his owene knyf,                         1840
For we han leue to pleye vs by the lawe'                        f 14 v
  Thus laboureth he til that the day gan dawe.
And thanne he taketh a sop in fyn clarree
And vpright in his bed thanne sitteth he                        600
And after that he song ful loude and clere
And kiste his wyf and made wantown cheere.
He was al coltyssh, ful of ragerye,
And ful of iargon as a flekked pye.
The slakke skyn aboute his nekke shaketh                        605
Whil that he song, so chaunteth he and craketh.                 1850
But god woot what that May thoghte in hir herte
Whan she hym saw vp sittyng in his sherte,
In his nyght-cappe and with his nekke lene;
She preiseth nat his pleyyng worth a bene.                      610
Thanne seyde he thus: "My reste wol I take.
Now day is come I may no lenger wake.'
And doun he leyde his heed and sleep til pryme.
And afterward whan that he saw his tyme
Vp riseth Ianuarie. But fresshe May                             615
Heeld hir chambre vnto the fourthe day                          1860
As vsage is of wyues for the beste,
For euery labour somtyme moot han reste
Or ellis longe may he nat endure,
This is to seyn no lyues creature                               620
Be it fissh or bryd or beest or man.
  Now wol I speke of woful Damyan
That langwissheth for loue, as ye shul heere.
Therfore I speke to hym in this manere.
  I seye: "O sely Damyan allas,                                 625
Answere to my demaunde as in this cas:                          1870
How shaltow to thy lady, fresshe May,
Telle thy wo? She wol alwey sey nay.
Eek if thow speke, she wol thy wo biwreye.
God be thyn help, I kan no bettre seye.'                        630
This syke Damyan in Venus fyr
So brenneth that he dyeth for desyr,
For which he putte his lyf in auenture.
No lenger myghte he in this wise endure,
But priuely a penner gan he borwe                               635
And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe                           1880
In manere of a compleynt or a lay                               f.146
Vnto his faire, fresshe lady May.
And in a purs of sylk heng on his sherte
He hath it put and leyd it at his herte.                        640
  The moone that at noon was thilke day
That Ianuarie hath wedded fresshe May
In two of Taur was into Cancre gliden,
So longe hath Mayus in hir chambre abyden
As custume is vnto thise nobles alle.                           645
A bryde shal nat eten in the halle                              1890
Til dayes foure or thre dayes atte leeste
Ypassed ben; thanne lat hir go to feste.
  The fourthe day complet fro noon to noon,
Whan that the heighe masse was ydoon                            650
In halle sit this Ianuarie and May
As fressh as is the brighte someres day.
And so bifel how that this goode man
Remembred hym vpon this Damyan
And seyde: "Seynte Marie, how may it be                         655
That Damyan entendeth nat to me?                                1900
Is he ay syk? Or how may this bityde?'
  Hys squyers whiche that stooden therbisyde
Excused hym by cause of his siknesse
Which letted hym to doon his bisynesse;                         660
Noon oother cause myghte make hym tarye.
  "That me forthynketh,' quod this Ianuarye.
"He is a gentil squyer by my trouthe.
If that he deyde it were harm and routhe.
He is as wys, discret and eek secree                            665
As any man I woot of his degree,                                1910
And therto manly and eek seruysable,
And for to be a thrifty man right able.
But after mete as soone as euere I may
I wol myself visite hym and eek May                             670
To do hym al the confort that I kan.'
And for that word hym blessed euery man
That of his bountee and his gentilesse
He wolde so conforten in siknesse
His squyer, for it was a gentil dede.                           675
  "Dame,' quod this Ianuarie, "tak good hede:                   1920
At after-mete ye with your wommen alle                          f.146'
Whan ye han ben in chambre out of this halle
That alle ye go to this Damyan.
Dooth hym disport, he is a gentil man,                          680
And telleth hym that I wol hym visite,
Haue I nothyng but rested me a lite.
And spede yow faste for I wol abide
Til that ye slepe faste by my syde.'
And with that word he gan to hym to calle                       685
A squier that was marchal of his halle                          1930
And tolde hym certein thynges what he wolde.
  This fresshe May hath streight hir wey yholde
With alle hir wommen vnto Damyan.
Doun by his beddes syde sit she than,                           690
Confortyng hym as goodly as she may.
  This Damyan whan that his tyme he say
In secree wise his purs and eek his bille,
In which that he ywriten hadde his wille,
Hath put into hir hand withoute moore                           695
Saue that he siketh wonder depe and soore.                      1940
And softely to hir right thus seyde he:
"Mercy and that ye nat discouere me,
For I am deed if that this thyng be kyd.'
This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hyd                         700
And wente hir wey; ye gete namoore of me.
But vnto Ianuarie ycomen is she
That on his beddes syde sit ful softe,
And taketh hir and kisseth hir ful ofte
And leyde hym doun to slepe and that anon.                      705
She feyned hir as that she moste gon                            1950
Ther as ye woot that euery wight moot nede.
And whan she of this bille hath taken hede
She rente it al to cloutes at the laste
And in the pryuee softely it caste.                             710
  Who studieth now but faire, fresshe May?
Adoun by olde Ianuarie she lay
That sleep til that the coghe hath hym awaked.
Anon he preyde strepen hir al naked
He wolde of hir, he seyde, han som plesaunce;                   715
He seyde hir clothes dide hym encombrance.                      1960
And she obeyeth be hir lief or looth.                           f.147
But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth
How that he wroghte I dar nat to yow telle
Or wheither it thoughte paradys or helle.                       720
But heere I lete hem werken in hir wise
Til euensong rong and that they moste arise.
Were it by destynee or by auenture,
Were it by influence or by nature,
Or constellacioun that in swich estat                           725
The heuene stood that tyme fortunat                             1970
As for to putte a bille of Venus werkes
(For alle thyng hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes)
To any womman for to gete hir loue
I kan nat seye; but grete god aboue                             730
That knoweth that noon act is causelees,
He deme of al for I wol holde my pees.
  But sooth is this how that this fresshe May
Hath taken swich impressioun that day
Of pitee on this syke Damyan                                    735
That from hir herte she ne dryue kan                            1980
The remembrance for to doon hym ese.
"Certeyn,' thoghte she, "whom that this thyng displese
I rekke nat, for here I hym assure
To loue hym best of any creature                                740
Thogh he namoore hadde than his sherte.'
Loo pitee renneth soone in gentil herte.
  Heere may ye se how excellent franchise
In wommen is whan they hem narwe auyse.
Som tiraunt is (as ther be many oon!)                           745
That hath an herte as hard as is a stoon,                       1990
Which wolde han leten steruen in the place
Wel rather than han graunted hym hir grace;
And hem reioysen in hir cruel pryde
And rekke nat to been an homycide.                              750
  This gentil May fulfilled of pitee
Right of hir hand a lettre maked she
In which she graunteth hym hir verray grace --
Ther lakketh noght oonly but day and place
Wher that she myghte vnto his lust suffise,                     755
For it shal be right as he wol deuyse.                          2000
And whan she saw hir tyme vpon a day                           f 147v
To visite this Damyan goth May
And subtilly this lettre doun she threste
Vnder his pilwe, rede it if hym leste.                          760
She taketh hym by the hand and harde hym twiste
So secrely that no wight of it wiste
And bad hym be al hool, and forth she wente
To Ianuarie whan that he for hir sente.
  Vp riseth Damyan the nexte morwe:                             765
Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe.                       2010
He kembeth hym, he prayneth hym and pyketh,
He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh.
And eek to Ianuarie he goth as lowe
As euere dide a dogge for the bowe.                             770
He is so plesant vnto euery man,
For craft is al whoso that do it kan,
That euery wight is fayn to speke hym good;
And fully in his ladyes grace he stood.
Thus lete I Damyan aboute his nede                              775
And in my tale forth I wol procede.                             2020
  Somme clerkes holden that felicitee
Stant in delit; and therfore certeyn he,
This noble Ianuarie, with al his myght
In honeste wise as longeth to a knyght                          780
Shoop hym to lyue ful deliciously.
His housyng, his array as honestly
To his degree was maked as a kynges.
Amonges othere of his honeste thynges
He made a gardyn walled al with stoon.                          785
So fair a gardyn woot I nowher noon,                            2030
For out of doute I verraily suppose
That he that wroot the Romance of the Rose
Ne koude of it the beautee wel deuyse.
Ne Priapus ne myghte nat suffise,                               790
Thogh he be god of gardyns, for to telle
The beautee of the gardyn and the welle
That stood vnder a laurer alwey grene.
Ful ofte tyme he Pluto and his queene
Proserpina and al hir fairye                                    795
Disporten hem and maken melodye                                 2040
Aboute that welle and daunced, as men tolde.                    f.148
This noble knyght, this Ianuarie the olde,
Swich deyntee hath in it to walke and pleye
That he wol no wight suffre bere the keye                       800
Saue he hymself, for of the smal wyket
He bar alwey of siluer a clyket
With which whan that hym leste he it vnshette.
And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette
In somer seson, thider wolde he go                              805
And May his wyf and no wight but they two.                      2050
And thynges whiche that were nat doon abedde,
He in the gardyn parfourned hem and spedde.
And in this wise many a murye day
Lyued this Ianuarie and fresshe May.                            810
But worldly ioye may nat alwey dure
To Ianuarie ne to no creature.
   O sodeyn hap, o thow fortune vnstable,
Lyk to the scorpion so deceyuable
That flaterest with thyn heed whan thow wolt stynge,            815
Thy tayl is deeth thurgh thyn enuenymynge,                      2060
  O brotil ioye, o swete venym queynte,
  O monstre that so subtilly kanst peynte
Thy yiftes vnder hewe of stedefastnesse
That thow deceyuest bothe moore and lesse,                      820
Why hastow Ianuarie thus deceyued
That haddest hym for thy fulle freend receyued?
And now thow hast biraft hym bothe his eyen
For sorwe of which desireth he to dyen.
Allas this noble Ianuarie free                                  825
Amydde his lust and his prosperitee                             2070
Is woxen blynd and that al sodeynly.
He wepeth and he waileth pitously,
And therwithal the fyr of ialousye
Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye                     830
So brente his herte that he wolde fayn
That som man bothe hir and hym had slayn;
For neither after his deeth ne in his lyf
Ne wolde he that she were loue ne wyf,
But euere lyue as wydwe in clothes blake                        835
Soul as the turtle that lost hath hir make.                     2080
But atte laste after a monthe or tweye                          f.148v
His sorwe gan aswage sooth to seye,
For whan he wiste it may noon oother be
He paciently took his aduersitee                                840
Saue out of doute he may nat forgoon
That he nas ialous eueremoore in oon.
Which ialousye it was so outrageous
That neither in halle ne in noon oother hous
Ne in noon oother place neuer-the-mo                            845
He nolde suffre hir for to ryde or go                           2090
But if that he hadde hond on hir alway.
For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe May,
That loueth Damyan so benygnely
That she moot outher dyen sodeynly                              850
Or ellis she moot han hym as hir leste.
She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste.
  Vpon that oother syde Damyan
Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man
That euere was, for neither nyght ne day                        855
Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe May                        2100
As to his purpos of no swich matere
But if that Ianuarie moste it heere
That hadde an hand vpon hir eueremo.
But nathelees by writyng to and fro                             860
And pryuee signes wiste he what she mente,
And she knew eek the fyn of his entente.
    O lanuaire, what myghte it thee auaille
Thow myghtest se as fer as shippes saille?
For as good is blynd deceyued be                                865
As to be deceyued whan a man may se!                            2110
Lo Argus which that hadde an hundred eyen,
For al that euere he koude poure or pryen
Yet was he blent; and god woot so been mo
That weneth wisly that it be nat so.                            870
Passe ouer is an ese, and sey namoore.
  This fresshe May, that I spak of so yoore,
In warm wex hath prented the clyket
That Ianuarie bar of that smale wyket
By which into his gardyn ofte he wente.                         875
And Damyan that knew al his entente                             2120
The clyket countrefeted pryuely.                                f. 149
Ther nys namoore to seye but hastily
Som wonder by this cliket shal bityde,
Which ye shal heren if ye wol abyde.                            880
    O noble Ouyde, wel sooth seistow god woot:
What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and hoot,
That he nel fynde it out in som manere?
By Pyramus and Thesbe may men lere:
Thogh they were kept ful longe streyte oueral,                  885
They been acorded rownyng thurgh a wal,                         2130
Ther no wight koude han founde out swich a sleighte.
But now to purpos. Er that dayes eighte
Were passed er the monthe of Iuyl, bifille
That Ianuarie hath caught so greet a wille                      890
Thurgh eggyng of his wyf hym for to pleye
In his gardyn, and no wight but they tweye,
That in a morwe vnto his May seith he:
"Rys vp, my wyf, my loue, my lady free.
The turtles voys is herd, my dowue swete,                       895
The wynter is goon with reynes wete.                            2140
Com forth now with thyne eyen columbyn.
How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn.
The gardyn is enclosed al aboute.
Com forth, my white spouse; out of doute                        900
Thow hast me wounded in myn herte. O wyf,
No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf.
Com forth and lat vs taken oure desport:
I chees thee for my wyf and my confort.'
  Swiche olde, lewed wordes vsed he.                            905
On Damyan a signe made she                                      2150
That he sholde go biforn with his clyket.
This Damyan thanne hath opned the wyket
And in he stirte and that in swich manere
That no wight myghte it se neither yheere;                      910
And stille he sit vnder a bussh anon.
  This Ianuarie as blynd as is a stoon
With Mayus in his hand and no wight mo
Into his fresshe gardyn is ago,
And clapte to the wyket sodeynly.                               915
"Now, wyf,' quod he, "here nys but thow and I,                  2160
That art the creature that I best loue.                             f. 149v
For by that lord that sit in heuene aboue
Leuere ich hadde to dyen on a knyf
Than thee offende, trewe, deere wyf.                            920
For goddes sake thenk how I thee chees
Noght for no coueitise doutelees,
But oonly for the loue I hadde to thee.
And thogh that I be old and may nat see
Beth to me trewe and I wol telle yow why:                       925
Thre thynges certes shal ye wynne therby.                       2170
  "First loue of Crist, and to yourself honour,
And al myn heritage, toun and tour,
I yeue it yow; maketh chartres as ye leste.
This shal be doon tomorwe er sonne reste                        930
So wisly god my soule brynge in blisse.
I pray yow first in couenant ye me kisse.
And thogh that I be ialous, wyt me noght:
Ye been so depe emprented in my thoght
That whan that I considere your beautee                         935
And therwithal the vnlikly elde of me,                          2180
I may noght certes thogh I sholde dye
Forbere to been out of your compaignye
For verray loue; this is withouten doute.
Now kys me, wyf, and lat vs rome aboute.'                       940
  This fresshe May, whan she thise wordes herde,
Benygnely to Ianuarie answerde.
But first and forward she bigan to wepe.
"I haue,' quod she, "a soule for to kepe
As wel as ye and also myn honour,                               945
And of my wifhod thilke tendre flour                            2190
Which that I haue assured in your hond
Whan that the preest to yow my body bond;
Wherfore I wol answere in this manere
By the leue of yow, my lord so deere.                           950
I pray to god that neuere dawe the day
That I ne sterue as foule as womman may
If euere I do vnto my kyn that shame
Or ellis I empeyre so my name
That I be fals, and if I do that lakke                          955
Do strepe me and put me in a sakke                              2200
And in the nexte ryuer do me drenche.                           f.150
I am a gentil womman and no wenche.
Why speke ye thus? But men been euere vntrewe
And wommen haue reproue of yow ay newe.                         960
Ye han noon oother contenance I leue
But speke to vs of vntrust and repreue.'
  And with that word she saw wher Damyan
Sat in the bussh, and coghen she bigan,
And with hir fynger signes made she                             965
That Damyan sholde clymbe vpon a tree                           2210
That charged was with fruyt. And vp he wente
For verraily he knew al hir entente
And euery signe that she koude make
Wel bet than Ianuarie, hir owene make,                          970
For in a lettre she hadde told hym al
Of this matere how he werken shal.
And thus I lete hym sitte vpon the purye
And Ianuarie and May romynge murye.
  Bright was the day and blew the firmament.                    975
Phebus hath of gold his stremys doun ysent                     2220
To gladen euery flour with his warmnesse.
He was that tyme in Geminis, as I gesse,
But litel fro his declynacioun
Of Cancer, Iouis exaltacioun.                                       980
And so bifel that brighte morwe-tyde
That in that gardyn in the ferther syde
Pluto, that is kyng of fairye,
And many a lady in his compaignye
Folwynge his wyf, the queene Proserpyne,                        985
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2230
Whil that she gadrede floures in the mede:
In Claudyan ye may the stories rede
How in his grysly carte he hir sette.
  This kyng of fairye thanne adown hym sette                       990
Vpon a bench of turues fressh and grene
And right-anon thus seyde he to his queene.
  "My wyf,' quod he, "ther may no wight sey nay,
Th'experience so proueth euery day
The treson which that womman dooth to man.                      995
Ten hundred thousand tellen I kan                              2240
Notable of your vntrouthe and brotelnesse                         f 150v
O Salomon, wys and richest of richesse,
Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie,
Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie                            100o
To euery wight that wit and reson kan;
Thus preyseth he yet the bountee of man:
Amonges a thousand men yet foond I oon,
But of wommen alle foond I noon.
Thus seith the kyng that knoweth youre wikkednesse.             1005
And Iesus filius Syrak, as I gesse,                             2250
Ne speketh of yow but selde reuerence.
A wilde fyr and corrupt pestilence
So falle vpon youre bodyes yet tonyght!
Ne se ye noght this honurable knyght,                           1010
By cause allas that he is blynd and old,
His owene man shal make hym cokewold?
Lo where he sit, the lechour in the tree.
Now wol I graunten of my magestee
Vnto this olde, blynde, worthy knyght                           1015
That he shal haue ayein his eyensyght                           2260
Whan that his wyf wolde doon hym vileynye.
Thanne shal he knowen al hir harlotrye
Bothe in repreue of hir and othere mo.'
  "Ye shal?' quod Prosperpyne. "Wol ye so?                      1020
Now by my modres sires soule I swere
That I shal yeuen hire suffisant answere --
And alle wommen after for hir sake,
That thogh they be in any gilt ytake
With face bold they shul hemself excuse                         1025
And bere hem doun that wolde hem accuse;                        2270
For lakke of answer noon of hem shal dyen.
Al hadde man seyn a thyng with bothe his eyen,
Yet shal we wommen visagen it hardily
And wepe and swere and chide subtilly                           1030
So that ye men shul been as lewed as gees.
What rekketh me of youre auctoritees?
I woot wel that this lew, this Salomon,
Fand of vs wommen folyes many oon.
But thogh that he ne fand no good womman,                       1035
Yet hath ther founde many another man                           2280
Wommen ful trewe, ful goode and vertuous.                       f. 151
Witnesse on hem that dwelle in Cristes hous:
With martirdom they proued hir constaunce.
The Romayn geestes eek maken remembraunce                       1040
Of many a verray, trewe wyf also.
But, sire, ne be nat wrooth, albe it so
Thogh that he seyde he foond no good womman;
I pray yow taak the sentence of the man.
He mente thus that in souerayn bountee                          1045
Nys noon but god, but neither he ne she.                        2290
  "Ey for verray god that nys but oon
What make ye so muche of Salomon?
What thogh he made a temple, goddes hous?
What thogh he were riche and glorious?                          1050
So made he eek a temple of false goddys.
How myghte he do a thyng that moore forbode is?
Pardee as faire as ye his name emplastre,
He was a lechour and an ydolastre
And in his elde he verray god forsook.                          1055
And if god ne hadde, as seith the book,                         2300
Yspared hym for his fadres sake, he sholde
Haue lost his regne rather than he wolde.
I sette right noght of al the vileynye
That ye of wommen write a boterflye.                            1060
I am a womman, nedes moot I speke
Or ellis swelle til myn herte breke.
For sithen he seyde that we been iangleresses,
As euere hool I mote brouke my tresses
I shal nat spare for no curteisye                               1065
To speke hym harm that wolde vs vileynye.'                      2310
  "Dame,' quod this Pluto, "be no lenger wrooth:
I yeue it vp. But sith I swoor myn ooth
That I wolde graunten hym his sighte ayein
My word shal stonde, I warne yow certeyn.                       1070
I am a kyng, it sit me noght to lye.'
  "And I,' quod she, "a queene of fairye.
Hir answere shal she haue I vndertake.
Lat vs namoore wordes herof make.
For sothe I wol no lenger yow contrarie.'                       1075
  Now lat vs turne agayn to Ianuarie                            2320
That in the gardyn with his faire May                             f.151v
Syngeth ful murier than the papeiay:
"Yow loue I best and shal and oother noon.'
So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon                           1080
Til he was come agayns thilke pirye
Wher as this Damyan sitteth ful myrye
An heigh among the fresshe leues grene.
  This fresshe May that is so bright and shene
Gan for to syke and seyde: "Allas my syde.                      1085
Now, sire,' quod she, "for aught that may bityde                2330
I moste han of the perys that I se
Or I moot dye, so sore longeth me
To eten of the smale perys grene.
Help for hir loue that is of heuene queene.                     1090
I telle yow wel a womman in my plit
May han to fruyt so gret an appetit
That she may dyen but she of it haue.'
  "Allas,' quod he, "that I ne hadde here a knaue
That koude clymbe. Allas, allas,' quod he,                      1095
"For I am blynd.' "Ye sire, no fors,' quod she.                 2340
"But wolde ye vouchesauf for goddes sake
The pirye inwith youre armes for to take,
For wel I woot that ye mystruste me,
Thanne sholde I clymbe wel ynow,' quod she,                     1100
"So I my foot myghte sette vpon your bak.'
  "Certes,' quod he, "theron shal be no lak,
Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte-blood.'
He stoupeth doun and on his bak she stood
And caughte hir by a twiste and vp she goth.                    1105
Ladys, I pray yow that ye be nat wroth:                         2350
I kan nat glose I, a rude man.
And sodeynly anon this Damyan
Gan pullen vp the smok and in he throng.
  And whan that Pluto saugh this grete wrong,                   1110
To Ianuarie he yaf agayn his sighte
And made hym see as wel as euere he myghte.
And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn
Ne was ther neuere man of thyng so fayn.
But on his wyf his thoght was eueremo:                          1115
Vnto the tree he caste his eyen two                             2360
And say that Damyan his wyf had dressed                         f.152
In swich manere it may nat ben expressed
But if I wolde speken vncurteisly.
And vp he yaf a roryng and a cry                                1120
As dooth the moder whan the child shal dye.
"Out, help, allas, harrow,' he gan to crye,
"O stronge lady stoore, what dostow?'
  And she answerde: "Sire, what eyleth yow?
Haue pacience and reson in youre mynde:                         1125
I haue yow holpe on bothe your eyen blynde                      2370
Vp peril of my soule I shal nat lyen:
As me was taught, to heele with your eyen
Was nothyng bet to make yow to se
Than strugle with a man vpon a tree.                            1130
God woot I dide it in ful good entente.'
  "Strugled?' quod he. "Ye, algate in it wente.
God yeue yow bothe on shames deth to dyen.
He swyued thee; I saw it with myne eyen.
And ellis be I hanged by the hals.'                             1135
  "Thanne is,' quod she, "my medicyne al fals,                  2380
For certeinly if that ye myghte se
Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes vnto me.
Ye han som glymsynge and no parfit sighte.'
  "I se,' quod he, "as wel as euere I myghte,                   ' 140
Thonked be god, with bothe myne eyen two
And by my trouthe me thoughte he dide thee so.'
  "Ye maze, maze, goode sire,' quod she.
"This thank haue I for I haue maad yow se.
Allas,' quod she, "that euere I was so kynde.'                  1145
  "Now, dame, "quod he, "lat al passe out of mynde.             2390
Com doun, my lief, and if I haue myssayd
God help me so as I am yuele apayd.
But by my fadres soule I wende haue seyn
How that this Damyan hadde by thee leyn                         1150
And that thy smok hadde leyn vpon his bryst.'
  "Ye, sire,' quod she, "ye may wene as yow lyst.
But, sire, a man that waketh out of his sleep
He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep
Vpon a thyng ne seen it parfitly                                1155
Til that he be adawed verraily,                                 2400
Right so a man that longe hath blynd ybe                        f.152v
Ne may nat sodeynly so wel yse
First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn
As he that hath a day or two yseyn.                             1160
Til that your sighte ysatled be a while
Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigile.
Beth war I pray yow, for by heuene kyng
Ful many a man weneth to se a thyng
And it is al another than it semeth.                            1165
He that mysconceyueth, he mysdemeth.'                           2410
And with that word she lepte doun fro the tree.
  This Ianuarie, who is glad but he?
He kisseth hir and clippeth hir ful ofte
And on hir wombe he stroketh hire ful softe                     1170
And to his palays hom he hath hir lad.
Now, goode men, I pray yow to be glad,
Thus endeth here my tale of Ianuarie.
God blesse vs and his moder seinte Marie. Amen.

Here is ended the marchantes tale of Ianuarie.






                   Section 6 (Fragment V, Group F)


Here bigynneth the frankeleyns tale.                         f. 1 53v

Thise olde, gentil Britons in hir dayes
Of diuerse auentures maden layes                                  710
Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge
Whiche layes with hir instrumentz they songe
Or ellis redden hem for hir plesaunce.                              5
And oon of hem haue I in remembraunce
Which I shal seyn with good wyl as I kan.
  But, sires, by cause I am a burel man
At my bigynnyng first I yow biseche
Haue me excused of my rude speche.                                 10
I lerned neuere rethorik certeyn:
Thyng that I speke it moot be bare and pleyn.                     720
I sleep neuere in the mount of Parnaso                          f.154
Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Scithero.
Colours ne knowe I none withouten drede                           15
But swiche colours as growen in the mede
Or ellis swiche as men dye or peynte.
Colours of rethoryk they ben to queynte,
My spirit feeleth nat of swich matere.
But if yow list my tale shul ye heere.                                 20
  In Armorik that called is Britayne
Ther was a knyght that louede and dide his payne                 730
To serue a lady in his beste wise.
And many a labour, many a gret emprise
He for his lady wroghte er she were wonne.                        25
For she was oon the faireste vnder sonne
And eek therto come of so heigh kynrede
That wel vnnethes dorste this knyght for drede
Telle hir his wo, his peyne, and his distresse.
But atte laste she for his worthynesse                                 30
And namely for his meke obeysance
Hath swich a pitee caught of his penance                         740
That priuely she fel of his acord
To taken hym for hir housbonde and hir lord
Of swich lordshipe as men han ouer hir wyues.                     35
And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyues
Of his fre wyl he swoor hir as a knyght
That neuere in al his lyf he day ne nyght
Ne sholde vpon hym take no maistrye
Agayn hir wyl ne kithe hir ialousye,                                  40
But hir obeye and folwe hir wyl in al
As any louere to his lady shal --                                750
Saue that the name of soueraynetee
That wolde he haue for shame of his degree.
  She thonked hym and with ful gret humblesse                     45
She seyde: "Sire, sith of youre gentilesse
Ye profre me to haue so large a reyne,
Ne wolde neuere god bitwix vs tweyne
As in my gilt were outher werre or stryf.
Sire, I wol be your humble, trewe wyf,                            50
Haue heer my trouthe, til that myn herte breste.'
  Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste.                    760
For o thyng, sires, saufly dar I seye                               f 154v
That freendes euerich oother moote obeye
If they wol longe holden compaignye.                              55
Loue wol nat be constreyned by maistrye.
Whan maistrie comth, the god of loue anon
Beteth his wynges and farwel he is gon.
Loue is a thyng as any spirit free.
Wommen of kynde desiren libertee                                  60
And nat to been constreyned as a thral;
And so doon men if I sooth seyn shal.                             770
Looke who that moost is pacient in loue,
He is at his auantage al aboue.
Pacience is an heigh vertu certeyn                                65
For it venquysseth, as thise clerkes seyn,
Thynges that rigour sholde neuere atteyne.
For euery word men may nat chide or pleyne.
Lerneth to suffre or ellis so moot I gon
Ye shul it lerne wherso ye wole or non.                           70
For in this world certeyn ther no wight is
That he ne dooth or seith somtyme amys:                           780
Ire, siknesse or constellacioun,
Wyn, wo or chaungyng of complexioun
Causeth ful ofte to doon amys or speken.                          75
On euery wrong a man may nat be wreken.
After the tyme moste be temperaunce
To euery wight that kan on gouernaunce.
And therfore hath this wise, worthy knyght
To lyue in ese suffraunce hir bihight.                            80
And she to hym ful wisly gan to swere
That neuere sholde ther be defaute in here                        790
  Here may men seen an humble, wys acord.
Thus hath she take hir seruant and hir lord,
Seruant in loue and lord in mariage.                              85
Thanne was he bothe in lordshipe and seruage.
Seruage, nay! But in lordshipe aboue,
Sith he hath bothe his lady and his loue --
His lady certes and his wyf also
The which that lawe of loue acordeth to.                          90
And whan he was in this prosperitee,
Hom with his wyf he gooth to his contree                          800
Nat fer fro Pedmark ther his dwellyng was,                         f.155
Wher as he lyueth in blisse and in solas.
  Who koude telle but he hadde wedded be                          95
The ioye, the ese, and the prosperitee
That is bitwix an housbonde and his wyf?
A yeer and moore lasted this blisful lyf
Til that the knyght, of which I speke of thus
That of Kairrud was clepid Arueragus,                             100
Shoop hym to goon and dwelle a yeer or twayne
In Engelond, that clepid was ek Britayne,                         810
To seke in armes worship and honour,
For al his lust he sette in swich labour;
And dwelled ther two yeer. The book seith thus.                   105
  Now wol I stynte of this Arueragus
And speke I wole of Dorigene his wyf
That loueth hir housbonde as hir hertes lyf.
For his absence wepeth she and siketh
As doon thise noble wyues whan hem liketh.                        110
She moorneth, waketh, waileth, fasteth, pleyneth.
Desir of his presence hir so destreyneth                          820
That al this wide world she set at noght.
Hir freendes whiche that knowe hir heuy thoght
Conforten hire in al that euer they may.                          115
They prechen hire. They telle hir nyght and day
That causelees she sleeth hirself allas.
And euery confort possible in this cas
They doon to hire with al hir bisynesse
Al for to make hire leue hir heuynesse.                           120
  By proces as ye knowen euerichoon
Men may so longe grauen in a stoon                                830
Til som figure therinne emprented be.
So longe han they conforted hir til she
Receyued hath by hope and by resoun                               125
The emprentyng of hir consolacioun
Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage;
She may nat alwey duren in swich rage.
  And eek Arueragus in al this care
Hath sent hir lettres hom of his welfare                          130
And that he wole come hastily agayn,
Or ellis hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn.                        840
Hir freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake                           f.155v
And preyde hir on knees for goddes sake
To come and romen hire in compaignye                              135
Awey to dryue hir derke fantasye.
And finally she graunted that requeste
For wel she saw that it was for the beste.
  Now stood hir castel faste by the see.
And often with hir freendes walketh she                           140
Hir to disporte vpon the bank an heigh
Wher as she many a ship and barge seigh                           850
Seillynge hir cours wher as hem liste go.
But thanne was that a parcel of hir wo,
For of hirself ful ofte "Allas,' seith she,                       145
"Is ther no ship of so manye as I se
Wol bryngen hom my lord? Thanne were myn herte
Al warisshed of hise bittre peynes smerte.'
  Another tyme there wolde she sitte and thynke
And caste hir eyen downward fro the brynke.                       150
But whan she seigh the grisly rokkes blake,
For verray fere so wolde hir herte quake                          860
That on hir feet she myghte hir noght sustene.
Thanne wolde she sitte adoun vpon the grene
And pitously into the see biholde                                155
And seyn right thus with sorweful sikes colde.
  "Eterne god that thurgh thy purueiance
Ledest the world by certeyn gouernance,
In ydel as men seyn ye nothyng make.
But, lord, thise grisly, feendly rokkes blake                    160
That semen rather a foul confusioun
Of werk than any fair creacioun                                  870
Of swich a parfit, wys god and a stable,
Why han ye wroght this werk vnresonable?
For by this werk south, north, ne west, ne est                   165
Ther nys yfostred man ne bryd ne beest:
It doth no good to my wit, but anoyeth.
Se ye nat, lord, how mankynde it destroyeth?
An hundred thousand bodies of mankynde
Han rokkes slayn al be they nat in mynde --                      170
Which mankynde is so fair part of thy werk
That thow it madest lyk to thyn owen merk.                       880
Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee                         f.156
Toward mankynde. But how thanne may it be
That ye swiche menes make it to destroyen?                       175
Whiche menes do no good, but euere anoyen.
I woot wel clerkes wol seyn as hem leste
By argumentz that al is for the beste
Thogh I ne kan the causes nat yknowe.
But thilke god that made wynd to blowe                           180
As kepe my lord; this my conclusioun.
To clerkes lete I al disputisoun.                                890
But wolde god that alle thise rokkes blake
Were sonken into helle for his sake.
Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere.'                     185
Thus wolde she seyn with many a pitous teere.
  Hir freendes sawe that it was no disport
To romen by the see, but disconfort,
And shopen for to pleyen somwher ellys.
They leden hir by ryuers and by wellys                           190
And eek in othere places delitables.
They dauncen and they pleyen at ches and tables.                 900
  So on a day right in the morwe-tyde
Vnto a gardyn that was therbisyde,
In which that they hadde maad hir ordinance                      195
Of vitaille and of oother purueiance,
They goon and pleye hem al the longe day.
And this was on the sixte morwe of May;
Which May hadde peynted with his softe shoures
This gardyn ful of leues and of floures.                         200
And craft of mannes hond so curiously
Arrayed hadde this gardyn trewely                                910
That neuere was ther gardyn of swich prys
But if it were the verray paradys.
The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte                      205
Wolde han maked any herte lighte
That euere was born, but if to greet siknesse
Or to greet sorwe helde it in destresse,
So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce.
At after-dyner gonne they to daunce                              210
And synge also, saue Dorigen allone
Which made alwey hir compleynt and hir mone,                     920
For she ne saugh hym on the daunce go                           f.156v
That was hir housbonde and hir loue also.
But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde                             215
And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde.
  Vpon this daunce amonges othere men
Daunced a squier bifore Dorigen
That fressher was and iolier of array
As to my doom than is the monthe of May.                         220
He syngeth, daunceth passyng any man
That is or was sith that the world bigan.                        930
Therwith he was, if men sholde hym discryue,
Oon of the beste-farynge man on lyue.
Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche and wys,                 225
And wel biloued and holden in gret prys.
And shortly if the sothe I tellen shal,
Vnwityng of this Dorigen at al
This lusty squier, seruant to Venus,
Which that yclepid was Aurelius,                                 230
Hadde loued hir best of any creature
Two yeer and moore as was his auenture,                          940
But neuere dorste he tellen hir his greuance.
Withouten coppe he drank al his penance.
He was despeyred, nothyng dorste he seye --                      235
Saue in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye
His wo as in a general compleynyng.
He seyde he louede and was biloued nothyng.
Of which matere made he many layes,
Songes, compleyntes, roundels, vyrelayes,                        240
How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle
But langwissheth as a furye dooth in helle.                      950
And dye he moste (he seyde) as dide Ekko
For Narcisus that dorste nat telle hir wo.
In oother manere than ye heere me seye                           245
Ne dorste he nat to hire his wo biwreye
Saue that parauenture somtyme at daunces,
Ther yong folk kepen hir obseruaunces,
It may wel be he looked on hir face
In swich a wise as man that asketh grace.                        250
But nothyng wiste she of his entente.
  Nathelees it happed er they thennes wente,                     960
By cause that he was hir neghebour                               f.157
And was a man of worship and honour
And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore,                             255
They fille in speche, and forth moore and moore
Vnto this purpos drough Aurelius.
And whan he saugh his tyme he seyde thus.
  "Madame,' quod he, "by god that this world made,
So that I wiste it myghte your herte glade                       260
I wolde that day that youre Arueragus
Wente ouer the see that I Aurelius                               970
Hadde went ther neuere I sholde haue come agayn,
For wel I woot my seruyce is in vayn.
My gerdon is but brestyng of myn herte.                          265
Madame, reweth vpon my peynes smerte
For with a word ye may me sle or saue.
Here at youre feet god wolde that I were graue.
I ne haue as now no leyser moore to seye:
Haue mercy, swete, or ye wol do me deye.'                        270
  She gan to looke vpon Aurelius.
"Is this youre wil' quod she, "and sey ye thus?                  980
Neuere erst,' quod she, "ne wiste I what ye mente.
But now, Aurelie, I knowe youre entente
By thilke god that yaf me soule and lyf                          275
Ne shal I neuere been vntrewe a wyf
In word ne werk as fer as I haue wyt.
I wol been hys to whom that I am knyt.
Taak this for fynal as of me.'
But after that in pleye thus seyde she.                          280
  "Aurelie,' quod she, "by heighe god aboue
Yet wolde I graunte yow to been your loue                        290
Syn I yow se so pitously complayne.
Looke what day that endelong Britayne
Ye remoeue alle the rokkes stoon by stoon                        285
That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon,
I seye whan ye han maad the coost so clene
Of rokkes that ther nys no stoon ysene,
Thanne wol I loue yow best of any man.
Haue heer my trouthe in al that euere I kan.'                    290
  "Is ther noon oother grace in yow?' quod he.
  "No by that lord,' quod she, "that maked me.                   1coo
"For wel I woot that it shal neuere bityde,                          f. 157"
Lat swiche folies out of youre herte slyde.
What deyntee sholde a man han his lyf                            295
For to loue another mannes wyf,
That hath hir body whanso that hym liketh?'
  Aurelius ful ofte soore siketh.
Wo was Aurelie whan that he this herde
And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde.                      300
"Madame,' quod he, "this were an inpossible.
Thanne moot I dye of sodeyn deth horrible.'                      1010
  And with that word he turned hym anon.
Tho coome hir othere freendes many oon
And in the aleyes romeden vp and doun                            305
And nothyng wiste of this conclusioun.
But sodeynly bigonne reuel newe
Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe
For th'orisonte hath reft the sonne his light,
This is as muche to seye as it was nyght.                        310
And hom they goon in ioye and in solas
Saue oonly wrecched Aurelius allas.                              1020
He to his hous is goon with sorweful herte.
He seeth he may nat from his deeth asterte.
Hym semed that he felte his herte colde.                         315
Vp to the heuene hise hondes he gan holde
And on his knowes bare he sette hym doun
And in his rauynge seyde his orisoun.
For verray wo out of his wit he breyde;
He nyste what he spak, but thus he seyde.                        320
With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne
Vnto the goddes and first vnto the sonne.                        1030
  He seyde: "Appollo, god and gouernour
Of euery plaunte, herbe, tree, and flour,
That yeuest after thy declynacioun                               325
To ech of hem his tyme and his sesoun,
As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or heighe,
Lord Phebus, cast thy merciable eighe
On wrecche Aurelie which that am but lorn.
Lo, lord, my lady hath my deeth ysworn                           330
Withouten gilt, but thy benygnytee
Vpon my dedly herte haue som pitee.                              1040
For wel I woot, lord Phebus, if yow lest                         f.158
Ye may me helpen saue my lady best.
Now voucheth sauf that I may yow deuyse                          335
How that I may been holpe and in what wyse.
  "Youre blisful suster, Lucyna the shene,
That of the see is chief goddesse and queene
(Thogh Neptunus haue deitee in the see
Yet empiresse abouen hym is she),                                340
Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir desir
Is to be quyked and lighted of youre fyr                         1050
For which she folweth yow ful bisily
Right so the see desireth naturelly
To folwen hire as she that is goddesse                           345
Bothe in the see and ryuers moore and lesse.
Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my requeste:
Do this myracle, or do myn herte breste,
That now next at this opposicioun
Which in the signe shal be of the lion                           350
As preyeth hire so greet a flood to brynge
That fyue fadme at the leeste it ouersprynge                     1060
The hyeste rok in Armoryk Britayne;
And lat this flood endure yeris twayne.
Thanne certes to my lady may I seye                              355
Holdeth youre heste, the rokkes been aweye.
  "Lord Phebus, dooth this myracle for me.
Pray hire she go no faster cours than ye.
I seye this: prayeth youre suster that she go
No faster cours than ye thise yeris two.                         360
Thanne shal she been euene at the fulle alway
And spryng-flood lasten bothe nyght and day.                     1070
And but she vouchesauf in swich manere
To graunte me my souerayn lady deere,
Pray hire to synken euery rok adown                              365
Into hir owene dirke regioun
Vnder the ground ther Pluto dwelleth inne
Or neuere mo shal I my lady wynne.
Thy temple in Delphos wol I barfoot seke,
Lord Phebus. Se the teerys on my cheke                           370
And of my peyne haue som compassioun.'
  And with that word in swowne he fil adoun                      1080
And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce                          f.158v
His brother which that knew of his penaunce
Vp caughte hym and to bedde he hath hym broght                   375
Despeired in this torment and this thoght
Lete I this woful creature lye --
Chese he for me wher he wol lyue or dye.
  Arueragus with heele and greet honour
As he that was of chiualrie the flour                            380
Is comen hom and othere worthy men.
  O blisful artow now, thow Dorigen,                             1090
That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyn armes,
The fresshe knyght, the worthy man-of-armes,
That loueth thee as his owene hertes lyf.                        385
Nothyng list hym to been ymagynatyf
If any wight hadde spoke, whil he was oute,
To hire of loue; he ne hadde of it no doute.
He noght entendeth to no swich matere,
But daunceth, iusteth, maketh hir good cheere.                   390
And thus in ioye and blisse I lete hem dwelle
And of the syke Aurelius wol I telle.                            1100
  In langour and in torment furyus
Two yeer and moore lay wrecche Aurelius
Er any foot he myghte on erthe gon.                              395
Ne confort in this tyme hadde he non
Saue of his brother which that was a clerk.
He knew of al this wo and al this werk;
For to noon oother creature certeyn
Of this matere he dorste no word seyn.                           400
Vnder his brist he baar it moore secree
Than euere dide Panfilus for Galathee.                           1110
His brist was hool withoute for to sene,
But in his herte ay was the arwe kene.
And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure                             405
In surgerye is perilous the cure
But men myghte touche the arwe or come therby.
His brother weep and wayled pryuely,
Til at the laste hym fil in remembrance
That whils he was at Orliens in France,                          410
As yonge clerkes that been lykerous
To reden artz that been curious                                  1120
Seken in euery halke and euery herne                             f.159
Particuler sciences for to lerne,
He hym remembred that vpon a day                                 415
At Orliens in studie a book he say
Of magyk naturel which his felawe,
That was that tyme a bachiler of lawe
Al were he ther to lerne another craft,
Hadde priuely vpon his desk ylaft.                               420
Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns
Touchynge the xxviij mansiouns                                   1130
That longen to the moone and swich folye
As in oure dayes is nat worth a flye,
For holy chirches feith in oure bileue                           425
Ne suffreth noon illusioun vs to greue.
And whan this book was in his remembraunce,
Anon for ioye his herte gan to daunce
And to hymself he seyde pryuely:
"My brother shal be warisshed hastily,                           430
For I am siker that ther be sciences
By whiche men make diuerse apparences                            1140
Swiche as thise subtile tregettours pleye.
For ofte at festes haue I wel herd seye
That tregettours withinne an halle large                         435
Haue maad come in a water and a barge
And in the halle rowen vp and doun.
Somtyme hath semed come a grym leoun,
And somtyme floures sprynge as in a mede,
Somtyme a vyne and grapes white and rede,                        440
Somtyme a castel al of lym and stoon,
And whan hem lyked voyded it anoon.                              1150
Thus semed it to euery mannes sighte.
  "Now thanne conclude I thus that if I myghte
At Orliens som old felawe yfynde                                 445
That hadde this moones mansions in mynde
Or oother magyk naturel aboue,
He sholde wel make my brother han his loue.
For with an apparence a clerk may make
To mannes sighte that alle the rokkes blake                      450
Of Britaigne were yvoyded euerichon
And shippes by the brynke comen and gon                          1160
And in swich forme enduren a day or two;                         f.159v
Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo.
Thanne moste she nedes holden hir biheste                        455
Of ellis he shal shame hir at the leeste.'
  What sholde I make a lenger tale of this?
Vnto his brotheres bed he comen is
And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon
To Orliens that he vp stirte anon;                               460
And on his wey forthward thanne he is fare
In hope for to been lissed of his care.                          1170
  Whan they were come almoost to that citee,
But if it were a two furlong or thre,
A yong clerk romynge by hymself they mette                       465
Which that in Latyn thriftily hem grette.
And after that he seyde a wonder thyng.
"I knowe,' quod he, "the cause of youre comyng.'
And er they ferther any foote wente
He tolde hem al that was in hir entente.                         470
  This Britoun clerk hym asked of felawes
The whiche that he hadde knowe in olde dawes.                    1180
And he answerde hym that they dede were,
For which he weep ful ofte many a teere.
  Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon                          475
And with this magicien forth he is gon
Hom to his hous, and maden hem wel at ese:
Hem lakked no vitaille that myghte hem plese.
So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon
Aurelius in his lyf saw neuere noon.                             480
  He shewed hym er he wente to soper
Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer;                              1190
Ther saw he hertes with hir hornes hye,
The gretteste that euere were seyn with eye.
He say of hem an hundred slayn with houndes                      485
And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes.
He saw, whan voyded were thise wilde deer,
Thise fawconers vpon a fair ryuer
That with hir hawkes han the heron slayn.
Tho saugh he knyghtes iustyng in a playn.                        490
And after this he dide hym this plesaunce
That he hym shewed his lady on a daunce                          1200
On which hymself he daunced as hym thoughte.                     f.160
And whan this maister that this magyk wroughte
Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes two                      495
And farwel al oure reuel was ago.
And yet remoeued they neuere out of the hous
Whil they sawe al this sighte merueillous,
But in his studie ther as his bookes be
They sitten stille and no wight but they thre.                   500
  To hym this maister called his squyer
And seide hym thus: "Is redy oure soper?                         1210
Almoost an houre it is I vndertake
Sith I yow bad oure soper for to make
Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me                        505
Into my studie ther as my bookes be.'
  "Sire,' quod this squyer, "whan it liketh yow
It is al redy, thogh ye wol right now.'
  "Go we thanne soupe,' quod he, "as for the beste.
This amorous folk somtyme mote han hir reste.'                   510
  At after-soper fille they in tretee
What somme sholde this maistres gerdoun be                       1220
To remoeuen alle the rokkes of Britayne
And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne.
He made it straunge and swoor so god hym saue                    515
Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat haue
Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat gon.
  Aurelius with blisful herte anon
Answerde thus: "Fy on a thousand pound!
This wyde world which that men seye is round                     520
I wolde it yeue if I were lord of it.
This bargayn is ful dryue for we ben knyt.                       1230
Ye shal be payed trewely by my trouthe.
But looketh now for no necligence or slouthe
Ye tarie vs heer no lenger than tomorwe.'                        525
  "Nay,' quod this clerk, "haue heer my feith to borwe.'
  To bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym leste
And wel neigh al that nyght he hadde his reste:
What for his labour and his hope of blisse
His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse.                       530
Vpon the morwe whan that it was day
To Britayne tooke they the righte way,                           1240
Aurelius and this magicien bisyde,                                 f.150v
And been descended ther they wolde abyde.
And this was as thise bookes me remembre                         535
The colde, frosty seson of Decembre.
  Phebus wax old and hewed lyk latoun,
That in his hote declynacioun
Shoon as the burned gold with stremys brighte,
But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte                             540
Wher as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn.
The bittre frostes with the sleet and reyn                       1250
Destruyed hath the grene in euery yerd.
Ianus sit by the fyr with double berd
And drynketh of his bugle-horn the wyn,                          545
Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn;
And Nowel crieth euery lusty man.
  Aurelius al that euere he kan
Dooth to this maister cheere and reuerence;
And preyeth hym to doon his diligence                            550
To bryngen hym out of his peynes smerte
Or with a swerd that he wolde slytte his herte.                  1260
  This subtil clerk swich routhe hadde of this man
That nyght and day he spedde hym that he kan
To wayten a tyme of his conclusioun,                             555
This is to seyn to make illusioun
By swich an apparence or iogelrye
(I ne kan no termes of astrologye),
That she and euery wight sholde wene and seye
That of Britayne the rokkes were aweye                           560
Or ellis were sonken vnder grounde.
So at the laste he hath his tyme yfounde                         1270
To maken his iapes and his wrecchednesse
Of swich a supersticious cursednesse.
His tables tolletanes forth he broght                            565
Ful wel corrected; ne ther lakked noght
Neither his collect ne his expans yeris
Ne hise rootes ne hise othere geris,
As been his centris and hise argumentz
And hise proporcionels conuenientz                               570
For hise equacions in euery thyng.
And by his 8 speere in his wirkyng                               1280
He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shoue                         f.161
Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries aboue
That in the 9 speere considered is;                              575
Ful subtilly he kalkuled al this.
  Whan he hadde founde his firste mansioun
He knew the remenaunt by proporcioun,
And knew the arisyng of his moone wel
And in whos face and terme and euery del,                        580
And knew ful wel the moones mansioun
Acordaunt to his operacioun,                                     1290
And knew also hise othere obseruaunces
For swiche illusions and swiche meschaunces
As hethen folk vseden in thilke dayes.                           585
For which no lenger maked he delayes,
But thurgh his magyk for a wyke or tweye
It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye.
  Aurelius, which that yet despeired is
Wher he shal han his loue or fare amys,                          590
Awaiteth nyght and day on this myracle.
And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle,                    1300
That voyded were thise rokkes euerichon,
Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon
And seyde: "I, woful, wrecche Aurelius,                          595
Thonke yow, lord, and lady myn Venus
That me han holpen fro my cares colde.'
And to the temple his wey forth hath he holde
Wher as he knew he sholde his lady se.
And whan he saw his tyme, anon-right he                          600
With dredful herte and with ful humble cheere
Salued hath his souerayn lady deere.                             1310
  "My righte lady,' quod this woful man,
"Whom I moost drede and loue as I best kan
And lothest were of al this world displese,                      605
Nere it that I for yow haue swich disese
That I moste dyen heer at youre foot anon,
Noght wolde I telle yow how me is wo bigon;
But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne
Ye sleen me giltlees for verray peyne.                           610
But of my deeth thogh that ye haue no routhe
Auyseth yow er that ye breke your trouthe.                       1320
Repenteth yow for thilke god aboue                               f.161'
Er ye me sleen by cause that I yow loue.
For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han hight --                    615
Nat that I chalange anythyng of right
Of yow, my souereyn lady, but youre grace.
But in a gardyn yond at swich a place
Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me,
And in myn hand your trouthe plighten ye                         620
To loue me best, god woot ye seyden so,
Al be that I vnworthy am therto.                                 1330
Madame, I speke it for the honour of yow
Moore than to saue myn hertes lyf right now.
I haue do so as ye comaunded me,                                 625
And if ye vouchesauf ye may go se.
Dooth as yow list; haue youre biheste in mynde
For quyk or deed right ther ye shal me fynde.
In yow lyth al to do me lyue or deye --
But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye.'                           630
  He taketh his leue and she astoned stood:
In al hir face nas a drope of blood.                             1340
She wende neuere haue come in swich a trappe.
"Allas,' quod she, "that euere this sholde happe,
For wende I neuere by possibilitee                               635
That swich a monstre or merueille myghte be;
It is agayns the proces of nature.'
And hom she gooth a sorweful creature;
For verray feere vnnethe may she go.
She wepeth, wayleth al a day or two,                             640
And swowneth that it routhe was to se.
But why it was to no wight tolde she,                            1350
For out of towne was goon Arueragus.
  But to hirself she spak and seyde thus
With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere                      645
In hir compleinte, as ye shal after heere.
"Allas,' quod she, "on thee fortune I pleyne
That vnwar wrapped hast me in thy cheyne,
For which t'escape woot I no socour
Saue oonly deeth or deshonour.                                   650
Oon of thise two bihoueth me to chese.
But nathelees yet haue I leuere to lese                          1360
My lyf than of my body to haue a shame                           f.162
Or knowen myseluen fals or lese my name.
And with my deeth I may be quyt ywis.                            655
Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this
And many a mayde yslayn hirself allas
Rather than with hir body doon trespas?
  "Yis certes lo thise stories beren witnesse
Whan xxx tirauntz ful of cursednesse                             660
Hadde slayn Phidon in Atthenes atte feste,
They comaunded his doghtren t'areste                             1370
And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit
Al naked to fulfille hir foul delit;
And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce                     665
Vpon the pauement, god yeue hem meschaunce.
For which thise woful maydens ful of drede,
Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede
They pryuely been stirt into a welle
And dreynte hemseluen, as the bokes telle.                       670
  "They of Mecene leete enquere and seke
Of Lacedomye fifty maydens eke                                   1380
On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye;
But was ther noon of al that compaignye
That she nas slayn, and with a good entente                      675
Chees rather for to dye than assente
To been oppressed of hir maydenhede.
Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede?
  "Loo eek the tiraunt Aristoclides
That loued a mayden highte Stymphalides                          680
Whan that hir fader slayn was on a nyght
Vnto Dianes temple gooth she right                               1390
And hente the ymage in hir handes two,
Fro which ymage wolde she neuere go.
No wight ne myghte hir handes of it arace                        685
Til she was slayn right in the selue place.
Now sith that maydens hadden swich despit
To been defouled with mannes foul delit,
Wel oghte a wyf rather hirseluen sle
Than be defouled as it thynketh me.                              690
  "What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf
That at Cartage birafte hirself hir lyf?                         1400
For whan she saw that Romayns wan the town,                    f.162"
She took hir children alle and skipte adown
Into the fyr and chees rather to dye                             695
Than any Romayn dide hir vileynye.
  "Hath nat Lucresse yslayn hirself allas
At Rome, whan she oppressed was
Of Tarquyn? For hir thoughte it was a shame
To lyuen whan she hadde lost hir name.                           700
  "The vij maydens of Milesie also
Han slayn hemself for verray drede and wo                        1410
Rather than folk of Gawle hem sholde oppresse.
Mo than a thousand stories as I gesse
Koude I now telle as touchyng this matere.                       705
  "Whan Habradace was slayn, his wyf so deere
Hirseluen slow and leet hir blood to glyde
In Habradaces woundes depe and wyde,
And seyde: "My body at the leeste way
Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may.'                          710
  "What sholde I mo ensamples herof sayn,
Sith that so manye han hemseluen slayn                           1420
Wel rather than they wolde defouled be?
I wol conclude that it is bet for me
To sleen myself than ben defouled thus.                          715
I wol be trewe vnto Arueragus
Or rather sle myself in som manere
As dide Democienis doghter deere
By cause that she wolde nat defouled be.
  "O Cedasus, it is ful gret pitee                               720
To reden how thy doghtren deyde allas
That slowe hemself for swich maner cas.                          1430
As greet a pitee was it or wel moore
The Theban mayden that for Nychanore
Hirseluen slow right for swich manere wo.                        725
Another Theban mayden dide right so
For oon of Macedonye hadde hir oppressed.
She with hir owene deeth hir maydenhed redressed.
  "What shal I seyn of Nyceratis wyf
That for swich cas birafte hirself hir lyf?                      730
How trewe eek was to Alcebiades
His loue, that rather for to dyen chees                          1440
Than for to suffre his body vnburyed be.                         f.163
Lo which a wyf was Alceste,' quod she.
"What seith Omer of goode Penolopee?                             735
Al Grece knoweth of hir chastitee.
Pardee of Laodomya is writen thus
That whan at Troye was slayn Protheselaus
No lenger wolde she lyue after his day.
The same of noble Porcia telle I may:                            740
Withoute Brutus koude she nat lyue
To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yeue.                        1450
The parfit wifhod of Arthemesye
Honoured is thurgh al the Barbarye.
O Teuta queene, thy wifly chastitee                              745
To alle wyues may a mirour bee.'                                 1454
  Thus pleyned Dorigene a day or tweye                           1457
Purposynge euere that she wolde deye.
But nathelees vpon the thridde nyght
Hom cam Arueragus, this worthy knyght,                           750
And asked hire why that she weep so soore.                       1461
And she gan wepen euer lenger the moore.
  "Allas,' quod she, "that euere was I born.
Thus haue I seyd,' quod she, "thus haue I sworn.'
And tolde hym al as ye han herd bifore:                          755
It nedeth nat reherce it yow namoore.
  This housbond with glad cheere in frendly wise
Answerde and seyde as I shal yow deuyse.
"Is ther oght ellis, Dorigen, but this?'
  "Nay, nay,' quod she, "god help me so as wys,                  760
This is to muche and it were goddes wille.'                      1471
  "Ye, wyf,' quod he, "lat slepen that is stille.
It may be wel parauenture. Yet today
Ye shul youre trouthe holden by my fay,
For god so wisly haue mercy vpon me                              765
I hadde wel leuere ystiked for to be
For verray loue which that I to yow haue
But if ye sholde youre trouthe kepe and saue.
Trouthe is the hyeste thyng that man may kepe.'
But with that word he brast anon to wepe.                        770
And seyde: "I yow forbede vp peyne of deeth                      1481
That neuere whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth
To no wight tel thow of this auenture                             f.163v
(As I may best I wol my wo endure)
Ne make no contenance of heuynesse                               775
That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse.'
  And forth he clepyd a squyer and a mayde.
"Goth forth anon with Dorigen,' he sayde,
"And bryngeth hir to swich a place anon.'
They toke hir leue and on hir wey they gon,                      780
But they ne wiste why they thider wente                          1491
He nolde to no wight tellen his entente.                         1492
  This squyer, which that highte Aurelius                        1499
On Dorigen that was so amorus,                                   15co
Of auenture happed hir to meete                                  785
Amydde the town right in the quykkest strete
As she was boun to goon the wey forth right
Toward the gardyn ther as she had hight;
And he was to the gardynward also,
For wel he spyed whan she wolde go                               790
Out of hir hous to any maner place.
But thus they meete of auenture or grace
And he salueth hir with glad entente
And asked of hir whiderward she wente.                           1510
  And she answerde half as she were mad:                         795
"Vnto the gardyn, as myn housbond bad,
My trouthe for to holde allas, allas.'
  Aurelius gan wondren on this cas;
And in his herte hadde greet compassioun
Of hir and of hir lamentacioun                                   800
And of Arueragus, the worthy knyght,
That bad hir holden al that she had hight --
So looth hym was his wyf sholde breke hir trouthe.
And in his herte he caughte of this greet routhe,                1520
Considerynge the beste on euery syde,                            805
That fro his lust yet were hym leuere abyde
Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse
Agayns franchise and alle gentillesse.
  For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus:
"Madame, seyeth to youre lord Arueragus                          810
That sith I se his grete gentillesse
To yow, and eek I se wel youre distresse,
That hym were leuere han shame (and that were routhe)            f.164
Than ye to me sholde breke thus your trouthe,                    1530
I haue wel leuere euere to suffre wo                             815
Than I departe the loue bitwix yow two.
I yow relesse, madame, into youre hond
Quyt euery serement and euery bond
That ye han maad to me as herbiforn
Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born.                        820
My trouthe I plighte: I shal you neuer repreue
Of no biheeste, and here I take my leue
As of the treweste and the beste wyf
That euere yet I knew in al my lyf.                              1540
But euery wyf be war of hir biheste:                             825
On Dorigene remembreth at the leste!
Thus kan a squyer doon a gentil dede
As wel as kan a knyght withouten drede.'
  She thonketh hym vpon hir knees al bare
And hom vnto hir housbond is she fare                            830
And tolde hym al as ye han herd me sayd.
And be ye siker he was so wel apayd
That it were inpossible me to write.
What sholde I lenger of this cas endite?                         1550
  Arueragus and Dorigene his wyf                                 835
In souereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf;
Neuere eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene.
He cherisseth hir as thogh she were a queene
And she was to hym trewe for eueremoore.
Of thise two folk ye gete of me namoore.                         840
  Aurelius that his cost hath al forlorn
Curseth the tyme that euere he was born.
"Allas,' quod he, "allas that I bihighte
Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte                         1560
Vnto this philosophre. How shal I do?                            845
I se namoore but that I am fordo.
Myn heritage moot I nedes selle
And been a beggere. Here may I nat dwelle
And shamen al my kynrede in this place,
But I of hym may gete bettre grace.                              850
But nathelees I wol of hym assaye
At certeyn dayes yeer by yeer to paye,
And thonke hym of his grete curteisye                             f.164v
My trouthe wol I kepe: I nel nat lye.'                           1570
  With herte soor he gooth vnto his cofre                        855
And broghte gold vnto this philosophre
The value of fyue hundred pound I gesse,
And hym bisecheth of his gentillesse
To graunten hym dayes of the remenant.
And seyde: "Maister, I dar wel make auant                        860
I fayled neuere of my trouthe as yit,
For sikerly my dette shal be quyt
Towardes yow howeuere that I fare
To goon abegged in my kirtel bare.                               1580
But wolde ye vouchesauf vpon seuretee                            865
Two yeer or thre for to respiten me,
Thanne were I wel. For ellis moot I selle
Myn heritage; ther is namoore to telle.'
  This philosophre sobrely answerde
And seyde thus whan he thise wordes herde:                       870
"Haue I nat holden couenant vnto thee?'
  "Yis certes wel and trewely,' quod he.
  "Hastow nat had thy lady as thee liketh?'
  "No, no,' quod he, and sorwefully he siketh.                   1590
  "What was the cause? Tel me if thow kan.'                      875
  Aurelius his tale anon bigan
And tolde hym al as ye han herd bifore
It nedeth nat to yow reherce it moore.
  He seyde: "Arueragus of gentillesse
Hadde leuere dye in sorwe and in distresse                       880
Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe fals.'
The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde hym als:
How looth hir was to ben a wikked wyf,
And that she leuere had lost that day hir lyf,                   1600
And that hir trouthe she swoor thurgh innocence.                 885
She neuere erst hadde herd speke of apparence
"That made me han of hir so greet pitee.
And right as frely as he sente hir me
As frely sente I hire to hym agayn:
This al and som; ther is namoore to sayn.'                       890
  This philosophre answerde: "Leeue brother,
Euerich of yow dide gentilly til oother.
Thow art a squyer and he is a knyght.                            f.165
But god forbede for his blisful myght                            1610
But if a clerk koude doon a gentil dede                          895
As wel as any of yow it is no drede.
  "Sire, I relesse thee thy thowsand pound
As thow right now were cropen out of the ground
Ne neuere er now ne haddest knowen me.
For, sire, I wol nat take a peny of thee                         900
For al my craft ne noght for my trauaille.
Thow hast ypayed wel for my vitaille;
It is ynogh. And farewel. Haue good day.'
And took his hors and forth he goth his way.                     1620
  Lordynges, this questioun than wol I aske now                  905
Which was the mooste free as thynketh yow.
Now telleth me er that ye ferther wende.
I kan namoore; my tale is at an ende.


Here endeth the frankeleyns tale.





                   Section 7 (Fragment VIII, Group G)


The nonne                                                      f.165v

The ministre and the norice vnto vices,
Which that men clepeth in Englissh ydelnesse
That porter at the gate is of delices,
To eschuen and by hir contrarie hir oppresse,
That is to seyn by leueful bisynesse,                                   5
Wel oghte we to doon al oure entente
Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse vs hente.

For he that with his thousand cordes slye
Continuelly vs wayteth to biclappe,
Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye,                                10
He kan so lightly cacche hym in his trappe;
Til that a man be hent right by the lappe
He nys nat war the feend hath hym in honde.
Wel oghte vs werche and ydelnesse withstonde.

And thogh men dradden neuere for to dye,                          15
Yet seen men wel by reson doutelees
That ydelnesse is roten slogardye
Of which ther neuere comth no good n'encrees,
And seen that slouthe hir holdeth in a lees
Oonly for to slepe and ete and drynken                            20
And to deuouren al that othere swynken.

And for to putte vs from swich ydelnesse,
That cause is of so greet confusioun,
I haue here doon my feithful bisynesse
After the legende in translacioun                                 25
Right of thy glorious lyf and passioun,
Thow with thy gerland wroght of rose and lilie:
Thee mene I, mayde and martir seinte Cecilie.

  And thow that flour of virgines art alle,
Of whom that Bernard list so wel to write,                        30
(To thee at my bigynnyng I first calle)
Thow, confort of vs wrecches, do m'endite
Thy maydens deeth that wan thurgh hir merite
The eternal lyf and of the feend victorie,
As man may after reden in hir storie.                             35

Thow mayde and moder, doghter of thy sone,                      f.166
Thow welle of mercy, synful soules cure,
In whom that god for bountee chees to wone,
Thow humble and heigh ouer euery creature,
Thow nobledest so ferforth oure nature                            40
That no desdaign the makere hadde of kynde
His sone in blood and flessh to clothe and wynde.

Withinne the cloistre blisful of thy sydis
Took mannes shap the eternal loue and pees,
That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is,                        45
Whom erthe and see and heuene out of relees
Ay heryen. And thow, virgyne wemmelees,
Bar of thy body -- and dweltest mayde pure --
The creatour of euery creature.

Assembled is in thee magnificence,                                50
With mercy, goodnesse, and swich pitee
That thow that art the sonne of excellence
Nat oonly helpest hem that prayen thee,
But ofte tyme of thy benygnytee
Ful frely, er that men thyn help biseche,                         55
Thow goost biforn and art hir lyues leche.

Now help thow, meke and blisful faire mayde,
Me flemed wrecche in this desert of galle.
Thynk on the womman Cananee, that sayde
That whelpes eten somme of the crommes alle                       60
That from hir lordes table been yfalle.
And thogh that I, vnworthy sone of Eue,
Be synful, yet accepte my bileue.


And for that feith is deed withouten werkis,
So for to werken yif me wit and space                             65
That I be quyt from thennes that moost derk is.
O thow that art so fair and ful of grace
Be myn aduocate in that heighe place
Ther as withouten ende is songe osanne,
Thow Cristes moder, doghter deere of Anne.                        70

And of thy light my soule in prison lighte                          f.166v
That troubled is by the contagioun
Of my body and also by the wighte
Of erthely lust and fals affeccioun.
  O hauene, o refut, o sauacioun                                  75
Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresse,
Now help, for to my werk I wol me dresse.


Yet praye ich yow that reden that I write
Foryeue me that I do no diligence
This ilke storie subtilly t'endite.                               80
For bothe haue I the wordes and sentence
Of hym that at the seintes reuerence
The storie wroot, and folwen hir legende;
And pray yow that ye wol my werk amende.


First wolde I yow the name of seinte Cecilie                      85
Expowne as men may in hir storie se.
It is to seyn on Englissh heuenes lilie
For pure chastnesse of virginitee.
Or for she whitnesse hadde of honestee
And grene of conscience, and of good fame                        90
The swote sauour, lilie was hir name.

Or Cecile is to seyn the wey to blynde,
For she ensample was by good techynge.
Or ellis Cecile as I writen fynde
Is ioyned by a manere conioignynge                               95
Of heuene and Lia; and here in figurynge
The heuene is set for thoght of holynesse
And Lia for hir lastynge bisynesse.

Cecile may eek be seyd in this manere
Wantynge of blyndnesse for hir grete light                        1 00
Of sapience and for hir thewes clere.
Or ellis lo this maydenes name bright
Of heuene and leos comth, for which by right
Men myghte hir wel the heuene of peple calle,
Ensample of goode and wise werkes alle.                          105


For leos peple in Englissh is to seye.                           f.167
And right as men may in the heuene see
The sonne and moone and sterres euery weye.
Right so men goostly in this mayden free
Sayen of feith the magnanymytee                                  110
And eek the cleernesse hool of sapience
And sondry werkes brighte of excellence.

And right so as thise philosophres write
That heuene is swift and round and eek brennynge,
Right so was faire Cecile the white                              115
Ful swift and bisy euere in good werkynge,
And round and hool in good perseuerynge,
And brennyng euere in charite ful brighte.
Now haue I yow declared what she highte.

  This mayde, bright Cecilie, as hir lyf seith,                  120
Was come of Romayns and of noble kynde
And from hir cradel vp fostred in the feith
Of Crist and baar his gospel in hir mynde.
She neuere cessed, as I writen fynde,
Of hir prayere and god to loue and drede,                        125
Bisekyng hym to kepe hir maydenhede.

And whan this mayden sholde vntil a man
Ywedded be that was ful yong of age,
Which that ycleped was Valerian,
And day was comen of hir mariage,                                130
She ful deuout and humble in hir corage
Vnder hir robe of gold that sat ful faire
Hadde next hir flessh yclad hir in an haire.

And whil that the organs maden melodie,
To god allone in hir herte thus soong she:                       135
"O lord, my soule and eek my body gye
Vnwemmed, lest that I confounded be.'
And for his loue that deyde vpon the tree
Euery seconde and thridde day she faste
Ay biddyng in hir orisons ful faste.                             140

The nyght cam and to bedde moste she gon                        f.167"
With hir housbonde as ofte is the manere.
And priuely to hym she seyde anon:
"O swete and wel-biloued spouse deere,
Ther is a conseil, and ye wolde it heere,                        145
Which that right fayn I wolde vnto yow seye
So that ye swere ye shul it nat biwreye.'

Valerian gan faste vnto hir swere
That for no cas ne thyng that myghte be
He sholde neuere mo biwreyen here.                               150
And thanne at erst to hym seyde she:
"I haue an aungel which that loueth me
That with gret loue, wherso I wake or slepe,
Is redy ay my body for to kepe.

"And if that he may feelen out of drede                          155
That ye me touche or loue in vileynye,
He right-anon wol sleen yow with the dede
And in youre youthe thus ye shullen dye.
And if that ye in clene loue me gye,
He wol yow loue as me for youre clennesse                        160
And shewe to yow his ioye and his brightnesse.'

This Valerian, corrected as god wolde,
Answerde agayn: "If I shal trusten thee
Lat me that aungel seen and hym biholde.
And if that it a verray aungel be,                               165
Thanne wol I doon as thow hast prayed me.
And if thow loue another man, for sothe
Right with this swerd than wol I sle yow bothe.'

Cecile answerde right in this wise:
"If that yow list, the aungel shal ye se                         170
So that ye trowe on Crist and yow baptise.
Goth forth to Via Apia,' quod she,
"That fro this town ne stant but milys thre,
And to the poure folkes that ther dwellen
Sey hem right thus as that I shal yow tellen.                    175

"Telle hem that I, Cecile, yow to hem sente                      f.168
To shewen yow the goode Vrban the olde
For secree nedes and for good entente.
And whan that ye seint Vrban han biholde,
Telle hym the wordes whiche I to yow tolde.                      180
And whan that he hath purged yow fro synne,
Thanne shal ye seen that aungel er we twynne.'


This Valerian is to the place gon.
And right as hym was taught by his lernynge
He foond this holy, olde Vrban anon                              185
Among the seintes buryels lotynge.
And he anon withouten tariynge
Dide his message. And whan that he it tolde,
Vrban for ioye hise handes gan vp holde.

The teerys from hise eyen leet he falle.                         190
"Almyghty lord, o Iesu Crist,' quod he,
"Sower of chaast conseil, hierde of vs alle,
The fruyt of thilke seed of chastitee
That thow hast sowe in Cecilie taak to thee.
Lo lyk a bisy bee withouten gyle,                                195
Thee serueth ay thyn owene thral Cecile.


"For thilke spouse that she took but now
Ful lyk a fiers leon, she sendeth heere
As meke as euere was any lamb to yow.'
And with that word anon ther gan appeere                         200
An old man clad in white clothes cleere
That hadde a book with lettre of gold in honde,
And gan biforn Valerian to stonde.


Valerian as deed fil doun for drede
Whan he hym say; and he vp hente hym tho.                        205
And on his book right thus he gan to rede:
"O lord, o feith, o god withoute mo,
O cristendom, and fader of all also,
Abouen alle and oueral euerywhere.'
Thise wordes al with gold ywriten were.                          210

Whan this was rad, thanne seyde this olde man:                    f.168v
"Leuestow this thyng or no? Sey ye or nay.'
"I leue al this thyng,' quod Valerian,
"For sother thyng than this I dar wel say
Vnder the heuene no wight thynke may.'                           215
Tho vanysshed this olde man he nyste where
And pope Vrban hym cristned right there.

Valerian goth hom and fynt Cecilie
Inwith his chambre with an aungel stonde.
This aungel hadde of roses and of lilie                          220
Corones two, the whiche he bar in honde.
And first to Cecile as I vnderstonde
He yaf that oon, and after gan he take
That oother to Valerian hir make.

"With body clene and with vnwemmed thoght                        225
Kepeth ay wel thise corones,' quod he.
Fro paradys to yow haue I hem broght,
Ne neuere mo ne shal they roten be
Ne lese hir swote sauour, trusteth me,
Ne neuere wight shal seen hem with his eye                       230
But he be chaast and hate vileynye.

"And thow, Valerian, for thow so soone
Assentedest to good conseil also,
Sey what thee list and thow shalt han thy boone.'
"I haue a brother,' quod Valerian tho,                           235
"That in this world I loue no man so.
I pray yow that my brother may han grace
To knowe the trouthe as I do in this place.'

The aungel seyde: "God liketh thy requeste.
And bothe with the palm of martirdom                             240
Ye shullen come vnto his blisful feste.'
And with that word Tiburce, his brother, coom.
And whan that he the sauour vndernoom
Which that the roses and the lilies caste,
Withinne his herte he gan to wondre faste.                       245

And seyde: "I wondre this tyme of the yere                       f:169
Whennes that swote sauour cometh so
Of rose and lilies that I smelle heere.
For thogh I hadde hem in myne handes two
The sauour myghte in me no depper go.                            250
The swete smel that in myn herte I fynde
Hath chaunged me al in another kynde.'

Valerian seyde: "Two corones han we,
Snow-white and rose-reed, that shynen clere
Which that thyne eyen han no myght to se.                        255
And as thow smellest hem thurgh my prayere
So shaltow seen hem, leue brother deere,
If it so be thow wolt withouten slouthe
Bileue aright and knowen verray trouthe.'


Tiburce answerde: "Seystow this to me                            260
In soothnesse? Or in dreem I herkne this?'
"In dremes,' quod Valerian, "han we be
Vnto this tyme, brother myn, ywys.
And now at erst in trouthe oure dwellyng is.'
"How wostow this?' quod Tiburce. "In what wyse?'                 265
Quod Valerian: "That shal I thee deuyse.'

"The aungel of god hath me the trouthe ytaught
Which thow shalt seen, if that thow wolt reneye
The ydoles and be clene, and ellis naught.'
And of the myracle of thise corones tweye                        270
Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye;
Solempnely this noble doctour deere
Commendeth it and seith in this manere.

The palme of martirdom for to receyue
Seinte Cecile, fulfild of goddes yifte,                          275
The world and eek hir chambre gan she weyue,
Witnesse Tiburces and Valerians shrifte;
To whiche god of his bountee wolde shifte
Corones two of floures wel smellynge
And made his aungel hem the corones brynge.                      280

The mayde hath broght men to blisse aboue-                       f.169v
The world hath wist what it is worth certeyn
Deuocion of chastitee to loue.
Tho shewed hym Cecile al open and pleyn
That alle ydoles nys but a thyng in veyn,                        285
For they been dowmbe and therto they been deue,
And charged hym hise ydoles for to leue.

"Whoso that troweth nat this, a beest he is,'
Quod tho Tiburce, "if that I shal nat lye.'
And she gan kisse his brest, that herde this,                    290
And was ful glad he koude trouthe espye.
"This day I take thee for myn allye,'
Seyde this blisful, faire mayde deere,
And after that she seyde as ye may heere.


"Lo right so as the loue of Crist,' quod she,                    295
"Made me thy brotheres wyf, right in that wise
Anon for myn allie heere take I thee,
Syn that thow wolt thyne ydoles despise.
Go with thy brother now and thee baptise
And make thee clene so that thow mowe biholde                    300
The aungeles face of which thy brother tolde.'


Tiburce answerde and seyde: "Brother deere,
First tel me whider that I shal and to what man.'
"To whom?' quod he. "Com forth with right good cheere:
I wol thee lede vnto the pope Vrban.'                            305
"Til Vrban, brother myn Valerian?'
Quod tho Tiburce. "Woltow me thider lede?
Me thynketh that it were a wonder dede.

"Ne menestow nat Vrban,' quod he tho,
"That is so ofte dampned to be deed                              310
And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro
And dar nat ones putte forth his heed?
Men sholde hym brennen in a fyr so reed
If he were founde or that men myghte hym spye --
And we also to bere hym compaignye?                              315

"And whil we seken thilke diuinytee                                f.170
That is yhyd in heuene priuely,
Algate ybrend in this world shul we be?'
To whom Cecile answerde boldely:
"Men myghten dreden wel and skilfully                            320
This lyf to lese, myn owene deere brother,
If thys were lyuyng oonly and noon oother.

"But ther is bettre lyf in oother place
That neuere shal be lost ne drede thee noght,
Which goddes sone vs tolde thurgh his grace.                     325
That fadres sone hath alle thynges wroght.
And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght,
The goost that fro the fader gan procede
Hath souled hem withouten any drede.

"By word and by myracle he, goddes sone,                         330
Whan he was in this world declared heere
That ther was oother lyf ther men may wone.'
To whom answerde Tiburce: "O suster deere,
Ne seydestow right now in this manere
Ther nys but o god, lord in sothfastnesse?                       335
And now of thre how maystow bere witnesse?'

"That shal I telle,' quod she, "er I go.
Right as a man hath sapiences thre,
Memorie, engyn, and intellect also,
So in o beynge of diuinytee                                      340
Thre persones may ther right wel be.'
Tho gan she hym ful bisily to preche
Of Cristes come, and of his peynes teche

And manye pointes of his passioun:
How goddes sone in this world was withholde                      345
To doon mankynde pleyn remyssioun
That was ybounde in synne and cares colde.
Al this thyng she vnto Tiburce tolde.
And after this Tiburce in good entente
With Valerian to pope Vrban he wente,                            350

That thanked god; and with glad herte and light                   f.170v
He cristned hym and made hym in that place
Parfit in his lernyng, goddes knyght.
And after this Tiburce gat swich grace
That euery day he say in tyme and space                          355
The aungel of god: and euery maner boone
That he god axed, it was sped ful soone.

It were ful hard by ordre for to seyn
How many wondres Iesus for hem wroghte.
But at the laste to tellen short and pleyn                       360
The sergeantz of the town of Rome hem soghte
And hem biforn Almache, the prefect, broghte,
Which hem opposed and knew al hir entente
And to the ymage of Iubiter hem sente.

And seyde: "Whoso wol nat sacrifise,                             365
Swap of his heed. This is my sentence heer.'
Anon thise martirs that I yow deuyse
Oon Maximus, that was an officer
Of the prefectes and his corniculer,
Hem hente; and whan he forth the seintes ladde                   370
Hymself he weep for pitee that he hadde.

Whan Maximus hadde herd the seintes loore
He gat hym of the tormentours leue
And ladde hem to his hous withoute moore.
And with hir prechyng er that it were eue                        375
They gonnen fro the tormentours to reue
And fro Maxime and fro his folk echone
The false feith to trowe in god allone.

Cecile cam whan it was woxen nyght
With preestes that hem cristned alle yfeere.                     380
And afterward whan day was woxen light
Cecile hem seyde with a ful stedefast cheere:
"Now, Cristes owene knyghtes leue and deere,
Cast al awey the werkes of derknesse
And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse.                         385

"Ye han for sothe ydoon a greet bataille,                            f.171
Youre cours is doon, youre feith han ye conserued.
Goth to the corone of lyf that may nat faille.
The rightful iuge which that ye han serued
Shal yeue it yow as ye han it disserued.'                        390
And whan this thyng was seyd, as I deuyse
Men ledde hem forth to doon the sacrifise.

But whan they weren to the place broght,
To tellen shortly the conclusioun
They nolde encense ne sacrifise right noght;                     395
But on hir knees they setten hem adoun
With humble herte and sad deuocioun
And losten bothe hir heuedes in the place.
Hir soules wenten to the kyng of grace.

This Maximus, that say this thyng bityde,                        400
With pitous teerys tolde it anon-right
That he hir soules saugh to heuene glyde
With aungeles ful of cleernesse and of light,
And with his word conuerted many a wight;
For which Almachius dide hym so bete                             405
With whippe of leed til he his lyf gan lete.

Cecile hym took and buryed hym anon
By Tiburce and Valerian softely
Withinne hir buryyng-place vnder the stoon.
And after this Almachius hastily                                 410
Bad hise ministres fecchen openly
Cecilie so that she myghte in his presence
Doon sacrifice and Iubiter encense.

But they, conuerted at hir wise loore,
Wepten ful sore and yauen ful credence                           415
Vnto hir word and cryden moore and moore:
"Crist, goddes sone withouten difference,
Is verray god (this is al oure sentence)
That hath so good a seruant hym to serue.
This with o voys we trowen, thogh we sterue.'                    420

Almachius that herde of this doynge                               f. 171v
Bad fecchen Cecilie that he myghte hir se.
And alderfirst lo this was his axynge:
"What maner womman artow?' quod he.
"I am a gentil womman born,' quod she.                           425
"I axe thee,' quod he, "thogh it the greue,
Of thy religion and of thy bileue.'

"Ye han bigonne youre question folily,'
Quod she, "that wolden two answeres conclude
In o demande. Ye axed lewedly.                                   430
Almachie answerde vnto that similitude:
"Of whennes comth thyn answeryng so rude?'
"Of whennes?' quod she whan that she was freyned.
"Of conscience and of good feith vnfeyned!'

Almachius seyde: "Ne takestow noon hede                          435
Of my power?' And she answerde hym this:
"Youre myght,' quod she, "ful litel is to drede:
For euery mortal mannes power nys
But lyk a bladdre ful of wynd ywys,
For with a nedles point, whan it is blowe,                       440
May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe.'

"Ful wrongfully bigonne thow,' quod he,
"And yet in wrong is al thy perseueraunce.
Wostow nat how oure myghty princes free
Han thus comanded and maad ordinaunce                            445
That euery cristen wight shal han penaunce
But if that he his cristendom withseye,
And goon al quyt if he wol it reneye?'

"Youre prynces erren as youre nobleye dooth,'
Quod tho Cecile, "and with a wood sentence                       450
Ye make vs gilty, and is nat sooth.
For ye that knowen wel oure innocence,
For as muche as we doon a reuerence
To Crist and for we bere a cristen name,
Ye putte on vs a cryme and eek a blame.                          455

"But we that knowen thilke name so                               f.172
For vertuous, we may it nat withseye.'
Almache answerde: "Chees oon of thise two:
Do sacrifice or cristendom reneye
That thow mowe now escapen by that weye.'                        460
At which this holy, blisful, faire mayde
Gan for to laughe and to the iuge she sayde.

"O iuge confus in thy nycetee,
Wiltow that I reneye innocence
To maken me a wikked wight?' quod she.                           465
"Lo he dissimuleth heere in audience,
He stareth and woodeth in his aduertence.'
To whom Almachius: "Vnsely wrecche,
Ne wostow nat how fer my myght may strecche?

"Han noght oure myghty princes to me yeuen                       470
Ye bothe power and auctoritee
To maken folk to dyen or to lyuen?
Why spekestow so prowdly thanne to me?'
"I speke noght but stedefastly,' quod she.
"Nat proudly, for I seye as for my syde                          475
We haten dedly thilke vice of pryde.

"And if thow drede nat a sooth to here.
Thanne wol I shewe al openly by right
That thow hast maad a ful greet lesyng here.
Thow seist thy princes han thee yeuen myght                      480
Bothe for to sleen and for to quyken a wight,
Thow that ne mayst but oonly lyf byreue --
Thow hast noon oother power ne no leue.

"But thow mayst seyn thy princes han thee maked
Ministre of deeth, for if thow speke of mo                       485
Thow lyest, for thy power is ful naked.'
"Do wey thy boldnesse,' seyde Almachius tho,
"And sacrifice to oure goddes er thow go.
I recche nat what wrong that thow me profre
For I kan suffre it as a philosophre.                            490

"But thilke wronges may I nat endure                             f.172v
That thow spekest of oure goddes here,' quod he.
Cecilie answerde: "O nyce creature,
Thow seydest no word syn thow spak to me
That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee                              495
And that thow were in euery maner wise
A lewed officer, a veyn iustise.

"Ther lakketh nothyng to thyne outter eyen
That thow n'art blynd for thyng that we seen alle:
That is a stoon that men may wel espien.                         500
That ilke stoon a god thow wolt it calle!
I rede thee lat thyn hand vpon it falle
And taste it wel and stoon thow shalt it fynde,
Syn that thow seest nat with thyne eyen blynde.

"It is a shame that the peple shal                               505
So scornen thee and laughe at thy folye,
For comenly men woot it wel oueral
That myghty god is in hise heuenes hye.
And thise ymages wel thow mayst espye
To thee ne to hemself mowe noght profite,                        510
For in effect they be nat worth a myte.'

Thise and swiche othere seyde she.
And he weex wrooth and bad men sholde hir lede
Hoom til hir hous. "And in hir hous,' quod he,
"Bren hir right in a bath of flambes rede.'                      515
And as he bad right so was doon the dede,
For in a bath they gonne hir faste shetten
And nyght and day greet fyr they vnder betten.

The longe nyght and eek a day also
For al the fyr and eek the bathes hete                           520
She sat al coold and feeled no wo;
It made hir nat o drope for to swete.
But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete,
For he Almachius with a ful wikke entente
To sleen hir in the bath his sonde sente.                        525

Thre strokes in the nekke he smoot hir tho,                      f.173
The tormentour, but for no maner chaunce
He myghte noght smyte al hir nekke atwo.
And for ther was that tyme an ordinaunce
That no man sholde doon man swich penaunce
The ferthe strook to smyten softe or soore
This tormentour ne dorste do namoore.

But half-deed with hir nekke ycoruen there
He lefte hir lye and on his wey he went.
The cristen folk whiche that aboute hir were                     535
With shetes han the blood ful faire yhent.
Thre dayes lyued she in this torment
And neuere cessed hem the feith to teche
That she hadde fostred; hem she gan to preche.

And hem she yaf hir moebles and hir thyng,                       540
And to the pope Vrban bitook hem tho;
And seyde: "I axed pis of heuene kyng
To han respit thre dayes and namo
To recommende to yow er that I go
Thise soules lo and that I myghte do werche                      545
Here of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche.'

Seint Vrban with hise deknes pryuely
The body fette and buryed it by nyghte
Among hise othere seintes honestly.
Hir hous the chirche of seinte Cecilie highte.                   550
Seint Vrban halwed it as he wel myghte.
In which into this day in noble wyse
Men doon to Crist and to his seinte seruyse.

Here is ended the nonnes tale.
                    The Clerk's Prologue and Tale





                  Section 8 (Fragment IV, Group E)


The prohelmie of the clerkys tale of Oxenford                            f 173v

"Sire clerk of Oxenford,' oure hoost sayde,
Ye ride as coy and stille as dooth a mayde
Were newe spoused sittyng at the bord.
This day ne herde I of your tonge a word.
I trowe ye studie aboute som sophyme,                              5
But Salomon seith euery thyng hath tyme.
  "For goddes sake as beth of bettre cheere.
It is no tyme for to studien heere.
Tel vs som murie tale by youre fey,
For what man that is entred in a pley                              10
He nedes moot vnto the pley assente.
But precheth nat as freres doon in Lente
To maken vs for oure olde synnes wepe,
Ne that thy tale make vs nat to slepe.
  "Tel vs som murye thyng of auentures.                            15
Youre termes, your colours and your figures
Kepe hem in stoor til so be ye endite
Heigh stile as whan that men to kynges write.
Speketh so pleyn at this tyme, we yow preye,
That we may vnderstonde what ye seye.'                            20
  This worthy clerk benygnely answerde.
"Hoost,' quod he, "I am vnder your yerde.
Ye han of vs as now the gouernaunce
And therfore wol I do yow obeisaunce
As fer as reson asketh hardily.                                   25
I wol yow telle a tale which that I
Lerned at Padwe of a worthy clerk,
As proued by his wordes and his werk.
He is now deed and nayled in his cheste;
I pray to god so yeue his soule reste.                            30
  "Fraunceys Petrak, the lauryat poete,
Highte this clerk whos rethoryk swete
Enlumyned al Ytaille of poetrie,
As Lynyan dide of philosophie
Or lawe or oother art particuler.                                 35
But deth that wol nat suffre vs dwellen her
But as it were a twynklyng of an eye                               f.174
Hem bothe hath slayn; and alle shul we dye.
  "But forth to tellen of this worthy man
That taughte me this tale, as I bigan,                            40
I seye that first with heigh stile he enditeth
Er he the body of his tale writeth
A prohemie in which discryueth he
Pemond and of Saluces the contree
And speketh of Appenyn, the hilles hye,                           45
That been the boundes of West Lumbardye,
And of Mount Vesulus in special
Wher as the Poo out of a welle smal
Taketh his firste spryngyng and his cours
That estward ay encresseth in his cours                           50
To Emeleward, to Ferare, and Venyse.
The which a long thyng were to deuyse
And trewely as to my iuggement
Me thynketh it a thyng inpertinent
Saue that he wole convoien his matere.                            55
But this his tale which that ye shal heere.'


Here bigynneth the tale.


Ther is at the west syde of Ytaille
Doun at the roote of Vesulus the colde
A lusty playne habundant of vitaille
Wher many a tour and town thow mayst biholde,                     60
That founded were in tyme of fadres olde,
And many another delitable sighte;
And Saluces this noble contree highte.


A markys whilom lord was of that lond
As were his worthy eldres hym bifore;                             65
And obeysant ay redy to his hond
Were alle his liges bothe lasse and moore.
Thus in delit he lyueth and hath doon yoore,
Biloued and drad thurgh fauour of fortune
Bothe of his lordes and of his commune.                           70

Therwith he was, to speke as of lynage                            f 174v
The gentileste yborn of Lumbardye,
A fair persone and strong and yong of age
And ful of honour and of curteisye,
Discret ynogh his contree for to gye                              75
Saue in some thynges that he was to blame.
And Walter was this yonge lordes name.
I blame hym thus that he considered noght
In tyme comynge what myghte hym bityde,
But on his lust present was al his thoght                         80
As for to hauke and hunte on euery syde.
Wel neigh alle oothere cures leet he slyde.
And eek he nolde (and that was worst of alle)
Wedde no wyf for noght that may bifalle.

Oonly that point his peple bar so soore                           85
That flokmele on a day they to hym wente.
And oon of hem that wisest was of loore
Or ellis that the lord best wolde assente
That he sholde telle hym what his peple mente
Or ellis koude he shewe wel swich matere,                         90
He to the markys seyde as ye shal heere.

"O noble markys, your humanitee
Assureth vs and yeueth vs hardynesse
As ofte as tyme is of necessitee
That we to yow mowe telle oure heuynesse.                         95
Accepteth, lord, now of your gentillesse
That we with pitous herte vnto yow pleyne
And lat youre erys noght my voys disdeyne.

"Al haue I noght to doone in this matere
Moore than another man hath in this place,                        100
Yet for as muche as ye, my lord so deere,
Han alwey shewed me fauour and grace
I dar the bettre aske of yow a space
Of audience to shewen oure requeste.
And ye, my lord, to doon right as yow leste.                      105

"For certes, lord, so wel vs liketh yow                               f.175
And al youre werk and euere han doon, that we
Ne kouden nat vsself deuysen how
We myghte lyuen in moore felicitee
Saue o thyng, lord. If it your wille be                          110
That for to been a wedded man yow leste,
Thanne were your peple in souereyn hertes reste.

"Boweth your nekke vnder that blisful yok
Of souereyntee, noght of seruyse,
Which that men clepe spousaille or wedlok.                       115
And thenketh, lord, among your thoghtes wyse
How that oure dayes passe in sondry wyse:
For thogh we slepe or wake or renne or ryde
Ay fleeth the tyme; it nel no man abyde.

"And thogh youre grene youthe floure as yit,                     120
In crepeth age alwey as stille as stoon
And deth manaceth euery age and smyt
In ech estat, for ther escapeth noon.
And also certeyn as we knowe echon
That we shal dye, as vncerteyn we alle                           125
Been of that day whan deth shal on vs falle.

"Accepteth thanne of vs the trewe entente
That neuere yet refuseden thyn heste;
And we wol, lord, if that ye wol assente
Chese yow a wyf in short tyme at the leeste                      130
Born of the gentileste and of the meeste
Of al this lond, so that it oghte seme
Honour to god and yow as we kan deme.

"Delyuere vs out of al this bisy drede
And tak a wyf for heighe goddes sake.                            135
For if so bifelle, as god forbede,
That thurgh youre deeth youre ligne sholde slake
And that a straunge successour sholde take
Youre heritage, o wo were vs alyue!
Wherfore we pray yow hastily to wyue.'                           140

Hir meke prayere and hir pitous cheere                            f.175v
Made the markys herte han pitee.
"Ye wol,' quod he, "myn owene peple deere,
To that I neuere erst thoghte streyne me.
I me reioysed of my libertee                                     145
That selde tyme is founde in mariage.
Ther I was free I moot ben in seruage.

"But nathelees I se your trewe entente
And truste vpon youre wit and haue doon ay.
Wherfore of my free wyl I wol assente                            150
To wedde me as soone as euere I may.
But ther as ye han profred me today
To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse
That choys and pray yow of that profre cesse.

"For god it woot that children ofte ben                          155
Vnlyk hir worthy eldres hem bifore.
Bountee comth al of god, nat of the stren
Of which they been engendred and ybore.
I triste in goddes bountee, and therfore
My mariage and myn estat and reste                               160
I hym bitake; he may doon as hym leste.

"Lat me allone in chesyng of my wyf.
That charge vpon my bak I wol endure.
But I pray yow and charge vpon your lyf
That what wyf that I take, ye me assure                          165
To worshipe hire whil that hir lyf may dure
In word and werk bothe here and euerywhere
As she an emperours doghter were.

"And ferthermoore this shal ye swere: that ye
Agayn my choys shal neither grucche ne stryue.                   170
For sith I shal forgoon my libertee
At your requeste, as euere mote I thryue
Ther as myn herte is set ther wol I wyue.
And but ye wol assente in swich manere,
I pray yow speketh namoore of this matere.'                      175

With hertly wyl they sworen and assenten                         f.176
To al this thyng. Ther seyde no wight nay,
Bisekynge hym of grace er that they wenten
That he wolde graunten hem a certein day
Of his spousaille as soone as euere he may.                      180
For yet alwey the peple somwhat dredde
Lest that the markys no wyf wolde wedde.

He graunted hem a day swich as hym leste
On which he wolde be wedded sikerly,
And seyde he dide al this at hir requeste.                       185
And they with humble entente buxomly,
Knelynge vpon hir knees ful reuerently,
Hym thanken alle. And thus they han an ende
Of hir entente, and hom agayn they wende.

And hervpon he to his officers                                   190
Comaundeth for the feste to purueye.
And to his pryuee knyghtes and squyers
Swich charge yaf as hym liste on hem leye.
And they to his comandement obeye.
And ech of hem dooth al his diligence                            195
To doon vnto the feste reuerence.

Explicit prima pars


Incipit pars secunda

Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable
Wher as this markys shoop his mariage
Ther stood a throop of site delitable,
In which that poure folk of that village                         200
Hadden hir bestes and hir herbergage
And of hir labour token hir sustenance
After that the erthe yaf hem habundance.

Among this poure folk ther dwelte a man                          f.176v
Which that was holden pourest of hem alle.                       205
But heighe god somtyme senden kan
His grace into a litel oxes stalle.
Ianicula men of that throop hym calle.
A doghter hadde he fair ynogh to sighte
And Grisildis this yonge mayden highte.                          210

But for to speke of vertuous beautee
Thanne was she oon the faireste vnder the sonne.
For poureliche yfostred vp was she,
No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte yronne.
Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne                         215
She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese
She knew wel labour but noon ydel ese.

But thogh this mayde tendre were of age,
Yet in the brest of hir virginitee
Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage.                           220
And in gret reuerence and charitee
Hir olde, poure fader fostred she.
A fewe sheep spynnynge on feld she kepte.
She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte.

And whan she homward cam she wolde brynge                        225
Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte,
The whiche she shredde and seeth for his lyuynge;
And made hir bed ful harde and nothyng softe.
And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on lofte
With euery obeysance and diligence                               230
That child may doon to fadres reuerence.

Vpon Grisilde, this poure creature,
Ful ofte sithe this markys sette his eye
As he on huntyng rood parauenture.
And whan it fil that he myghte hir espie,                        235
He noght with wantowne lookyng of folye
Hise eyen caste on hir, but in sad wyse.
Vpon hir cheere he wolde hym ofte auyse:

Commendynge in his herte hir wommanhede                          f.177
And eek hir vertu passyng any wight                              240
Of so yong age as wel in cheere as dede.
For thogh the peple hath no greet insight
In vertue, he considered ful right
Hir bountee; and disposed that he wolde
Wedde hir oonly if euere he wedden sholde.                       245

The day of weddyng cam, but no wight kan
Telle what womman that it sholde be.
For which merueille wondred many a man
And seyden, whan they were in priuetee:
"Wol nat oure lord yet leue his vanytee?                         250
Wol he nat wedde? Allas the while!
Why wol he thus hymself and vs bigyle?'

But nathelees this markys hath doon make
Of gemmes set in gold and in asure
Broches and rynges for Grisildis sake.                           255
And of hir clothyng took he the mesure
Of a mayde lyk to hir stature,
And eek of othere aournementes alle
That vnto swich a weddyng sholde falle.

The tyme of vndren of the same day                               260
Approcheth that this weddyng sholde be.
And al the palays put was in array
Bothe halle and chambres ech in his degree,
Houses of office stuffed with plentee.
Ther maystow seen of deynteuous vitaille                         265
That may be founde as fer as last Ytaille.

This roial markys richeliche arrayed,
Lordes and ladys in his compaignye
The whiche that to the feste were yprayed,
And of his retenue the bachilrye,                                270
With many a sown of sondry melodye
Vnto the village of the which I tolde
In this array the righte wey han holde.

Grisilde of this, god woot, ful innocent                             f. 177v
That for hir shapen was al this array                            275
To fecchen water at a welle is went,
And cometh hom as soone as euer she may
For wel she hadde herd seyd that thilke day
The markys sholde wedde; and if she myghte
She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte.                      280

She thoghte: I wole with othere maydens stonde,
That been my felawes, in oure dore and se
The markisesse. And therfore wol I fonde
To doon at hom as soone as it may be
The labour which that longeth vnto me.                           285
And thanne I may at leyser hir biholde
Yf she this wey vnto the castel holde.

And as she wolde ouer the thresshfold gon
The markys cam and gan hir for to calle.
And she sette doun hir waterpot anon                             290
Bisyde the thresshfold in an oxes stalle
And doun vpon hir knees she gan to falle;
And with sad contenance kneleth stille
Til she hadde herd what was the lordes wille.

This thoghtful markys spak vnto this mayde                       295
Ful sobrely and seyde in this manere.
"Where is youre fader, o Grisildis?' he sayde.
And she with reuerence in humble cheere
Answerde: "Lord, he is al redy heere.'
And she goth withouten lenger lette                              300
And to the markys she hir fader fette.

He by the hand than took this olde man
And seyde thus whan he hym hadde asyde:
"Ianicula, I neither may ne kan
Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde.                           305
If that thow vouchesauf whatso bityde,
Thy doghter wol I take er that I wende
As for my wyf vnto my lyues ende.

"Thow louest me, I woot it wel certeyn,                            f. 178
And art my feithful lige man ybore.                              310
And al that liketh me I dar wel seyn
It liketh thee; and specially therfore
Tel me that point that I haue seyd bifore:
If that thow wolt vnto that purpos drawe
To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe.'                             315

The sodeyn cas this man astoneyd so
That reed he weex; abayst and al quakyng
He stood. Vnnethe seyde he wordes mo
But oonly this: "Lord,' quod he, "my willyng
Is as ye wole; ne ayeins youre likyng                            320
I wol nothyng, ye be my lord so deere.
Right as yow list gouerneth this matere.'

"Yet wol I,' quod this markys softely,
"That in thy chambre I and thow and she
Haue a collacioun. And wostow why?                               325
For I wol aske if it hir wille be
To be my wyf and rule hir after me.
And al this shal be doon in thy presence;
I wol noght speke out of thyn audience.'

And in the chambre whil they were aboute                         330
Hir tretys which as ye shal after heere,
The peple cam vnto the hous withoute
And wondred hem in how honeste manere
And tentifly she kepte hir fader deere.
But outrely Grisildis wondre myghte                             335
For neuere erst ne saw she swich a sighte.

No wonder is thogh that she were astoned
To seen so greet a gest come into place;
She neuere was to swiche gestes woned
For which she looked with ful pale face.                         340
But shortly forth this matere for to chace
Thise arn the wordes that this markys sayde
To this benygne, verray, feithful mayde.

"Grisilde,' he seyde, "ye shal wel vnderstonde                       f.1 78"
It liketh to youre fader and to me                               345
That I yow wedde. And eek it may so stonde
As I suppose ye wol that it so be.
But thise demandes aske I first,' quod he,
"That sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse,
Wol ye assente or ellis yow auyse?                               350

"I sey this: Be ye redy with good herte
To al my lust and that I frely may
As me best thynketh do yow laughe or smerte
And neuere ye to grucche it nyght ne day,
And eek whan I sey ye ne sey nat nay                             355
Neither by word ne frownyng contenance?
Swere this and heere I swere oure alliance.'

Wondrynge vpon this word, quakyng for drede
She seyde: "Lord, vndigne or vnworthy
I am to thilke honour that ye me bede.                           360
But as ye wol yourself right so wol I.
And heere I swere that neuere willyngly
In werk ne thoght I nel yow disobeye
For to be deed, thogh me were looth to deye.'

"This is ynough, Grisilde myn,' quod he.                         365
And forth he goth with a ful sobre cheere
Out at the dore, and after that cam she.
And to the peple he seyde in this manere.
"This is my wyf,' quod he, "that standeth heere.
Honureth hire and loueth hire I preye                            370
Whoso me loueth. Ther is namoore to seye.'

And for that nothyng of hir olde gere
She sholde brynge into his hous, he bad
That wommen sholde dispoylen hir right there;
Of which thise ladys were noght right glad                       375
To handle hir clothes wherinne she was clad.
But nathelees this mayde bright of hewe
Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe.

Hir herys han they kembd that laye vntressed                       f.179
Ful rudely, and with hir fyngres smale                           380
A coroune on hir heed they han ydressed
And sette hir ful nowches grete and smale.
Of hir array what sholde I make a tale?
Vnnethe the peple hir knew for hir fairnesse
Whan she translated was in swich richesse.                       385

This markys hath hire spoused with a ryng
Broght for the same cause and thanne hir sette
Vpon an hors snow-whyt and wel amblyng
And to his palays, er he lenger lette,
With ioyful peple that hir ledde and mette                       390
Convoied hire. And thus the day they spende
In reuel til the sonne gan descende.

And shortly forth this tale for to chace
I seye that to this newe markysesse
God hath swich fauour sent hire of his grace                     395
That it ne semed nat by liklynesse
That she was born and fed in rudenesse,
As in a cote or in an oxes stalle,
But norissed in an emperours halle.

To euery wight she woxen is so deere                             400
And worshipful, that folk ther she was bore
That from hir burthe knewe hir yeer by yeere
Vnnethe trowed they, but dorste han swore,
That to Ianicle of which I spak bifore
She doghter were, for as by coniecture                           405
Hem thoughte she was another creature.

For thogh that euere vertuous was she,
She was encressed in swich excellence
Of thewes goode yset in heigh bountee,
And so discreet and fair of eloquence,                           410
So benygne and so digne of reuerence,
And koude so the peples herte embrace
That ech hir louede that looked on hir face.

Noght oonly of Saluce in the town                                 f.179"
Publissed was the bountee of hir name,                           415
But eek bisyde in many a regioun:
If oon seyde wel, another seyde the same.
So spradde of hir heighe bountee the fame
That men and wommen as wel yonge as olde
Goon to Saluce on hir to biholde.                                420

Thus Walter, lowely -- nay but roially --
Wedded with fortunat honestetee,
In goddes pees lyueth ful esily
At hom, and outward grace ynow hath he.
And for he saugh that vnder lowe degree                          425
Was ofte vertu hyd, the peple hym helde
A prudent man and that is seyn ful selde.

Noght oonly this Grisildis thurgh hir wit
Koude al the feet of wifly humblenesse,
But eek whan that the cas required it                            430
The commune profit koude she redresse.
Ther nas discord, rancour, ne heuynesse
In al that land that she ne koude apese
And wisly brynge hem alle in reste and ese.

Thogh that hir housbond absent were, anon                        435
If gentil men or othere of hir contree
Were wrothe, she wolde bryngen hem at on.
So wise and rype wordes hadde she
And iuggementz of so greet equytee
That she from heuene sent was, as men wende,                     440
Peple to saue and euery wrong t'amende.

Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild
Was ywedded, she a doghter hath ybore.
Al hadde hir leuere haue had a knaue-child,
Glad was the markys and the folk therfore:                       445
For thogh a mayde-child coome al bifore
She may vnto a knaue-child atteyne
By liklyhede, syn she nys nat bareyne.

Explicit secunda pars

Incipit pars tercia                                                  f.180


Ther fil as it bifalleth tymes mo
Whan that this child hath souked but a throwe,                   450
This markys in his herte longeth so
To tempte his wyf hir sadnesse for to knowe
That he ne myghte out of his herte throwe
This merueilous desir his wyf t'assaye.
Nedelees, god woot, he thoghte hir for t'afraye.                 455

He hadde assayed hir ynow bifore
And fond hir euere good. What neded it
Hir for to tempte and alwey moore and moore?
Thogh som men preyse it for a subtil wit,
But as for me I seye that yuele it sit                           460
T'assaye a wyf whan that it is no nede
And putten hir in angwyssh and in drede.

For which this markys wroghte in this manere:
He cam allone a nyght ther as she lay,
With steerne face and with ful trouble cheere,                   465
And seyde thus. "Grisilde,' quod he, "that day
That I yow took out of your poure array
And putte yow in estat of heigh noblesse,
Ye haue nat that forgeten as I gesse.

"I seye, Grisilde, this present dignitee                         470
In which that I haue put yow, as I trowe,
Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be
That I yow took in poure estat ful lowe
For any wele ye mote yourseluen knowe.
Tak hede of euery word that I yow seye,                          475
Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye.

"Ye woot yourself wel how that ye cam heere
Into this hous, it is nat longe ago.
And thogh to me that ye be lief and deere
Vnto my gentils ye be nothyng so.                                480
They seyn to hem it is greet shame and wo
For to be subgitz and been in seruage
To thee, that born art of a smal village.

"And namely sith thy doghter was ybore                           f.180"
Thise wordes han they spoken doutelees.                          485
But I desire, as I haue doon bifore,
To lyue my lyf with hem in reste and pees
I may nat in this cas be recchelees.
I moot doon with thy doghter for the beste,
Nat as I wolde but as my peple leste.                            490

"And yet god woot this is ful looth to me.
But nathelees withouten your wityng
I wol nat doon. But this wol I,' quod he,
"That ye to me assente as in this thyng.
Shewe now youre pacience in your wirkyng                         495
That ye me highte and swore in yone village
That day that maked was oure mariage.'

Whan she hadde herd al this she noght ameued
Neither in word or cheere or contenance,
For as it semed she was nat agreued.                             500
She seyde: "Lord, al lith in your plesance.
My child and I with hertly obeisance
Been youres al: and ye mowe saue or spille
Youre owene thyng. Werketh after your wille.

"Ther may nothyng, god so my soule saue,                         505
Liken to yow that may displesen me.
Ne I ne desire nothyng for to haue
Ne drede for to lese saue oonly thee.
This wyl is in myn herte and ay shal be.
No lengthe of tyme or deth may this deface                       510
Ne chaunge my corage to oother place.'

Glad was this markys of hir answeryng,
But yet he feyned as he were nat so.
Al drery was his cheere and his lookyng
Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go.                       515
Soone after this a furlang wey or two
He pryuely hath told al his entente
Vnto a man, and to his wyf hym sente.

A maner sergeant was this priuee man,                             f.181
The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde                    520
In thynges grete; and eek swich folk wel kan
Doon execucioun in thynges badde.
The lord knew wel that he hym loued and dradde.
And whan this sergeant wiste his lordes wille
Into the chambre he stalked hym ful stille.                      525

"Madame,' he seyde, "ye mote foryeue it me
Thogh I do thyng to which I am constreyned.
Ye ben so wys that ful wel knowe ye
That lordes hestes mowe nat ben yfeyned;
They mowe wel been biwailled or compleyned,                      530
But men mote nede vnto hir lust obeye.
And so wol I: ther is namoore to seye.

"This child I am comaunded for to take.'
And spak namoore, but out the child he hente
Despitously, and gan a cheere make                               535
As thogh he wolde han slayn it er he wente.
Grisildis moot al suffre and al consente;
And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille
And leet this crewel sergeant doon his wille.

Suspecious was the diffame of this man,                          540
Suspect his face, suspect his word also,
Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan.
Allas hir doghter that she loued so,
She wende he wolde han slayn it right tho.
But nathelees she neither weep ne syked                          545
Conformynge hire to that the markys liked.

But at the laste speken she bigan.
And mekely she to the sergeant preyde
So as he was a worthy, gentil man
That she moste kisse hir child er that it deyde.                 550
And on hir barm this litel child she leyde
With ful sad face, and gan the child to blesse,
And lulled it, and after gan it kesse.

And thus she seyde in hir benygne voys:                           f.181v
"Farewel, my child, I shal thee neuere see.                      555
But sith I thee haue marked with the croys
Of thilke fader (blessed mote he be!)
That for vs deyde vpon a croys of tree,
Thy soule, litel child, I hym bitake
For this nyght shaltow dyen for my sake.'                        560

I trowe that to a norice in this cas
It hadde been hard this routhe for to se,
Wel myghte a moder haue cryd allas.
But nathelees so sad stedefast was she
That she endured al aduersitee.                                  565
And to the sergeant mekely she sayde:
"Haue here agayn youre litel, yonge mayde.

"Goth now,' quod she, "and doth my lordes heste.
But o thyng wol I pray yow of youre grace:
That but my lord forbad yow at the leeste,                       570
Burieth this litel body in som place
That bestes ne no bryddes it torace.'
But he no word wol to that purpos seye,
But took the child and wente vpon his weye.


This sergeant cam vnto his lord agayn,                           575
And of Grisildis wordes and hir cheere
He tolde hym poynt for poynt in short and playn
And hym presenteth with his doghter deere.
Somwhat this lord hadde routhe in his manere,
But nathelees his purpos held he stille                          580
As lordes doon whan they wol han hir wille.


And bad this sergeant that he pryuely
Sholde this child softe wynde and wrappe
With alle circumstances tendrely
And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe,                           585
But vpon peyne his heed of for to swappe
That no man sholde knowe of this entente
Ne whennes he cam ne whider that he wente.

But at Boloigne he to his suster deere,                          f.182
That thilke tyme of Panyk was countesse,                         590
He sholde it take and shewe hir this matere,
Bisekynge hir to doon hir bisynesse
This child to fostre in alle gentilesse.
And whos child that it was he bad hir hyde
From euery wight for aught that may bityde.                      595

The sergeant goth and hath fulfild this thyng.
But to this markys now retourne we,
For now goth he ful faste ymagynyng
If by his wyues cheere he myghte se
Or by hir word aparceyue that she                                600
Were chaunged; but he neuere hir koude fynde
But euere in oon ylike sad and kynde.

As glad, as humble, as busy in seruyse
And eek in loue as she was wont to be
Was she to hym in euery maner wise.                              605
Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she.
Noon accident for noon aduersitee
Was seyn in hir, ne neuere hir doghter name
Ne nempned she in ernest ne in game.

Explicit tercia pars


Incipit pars quarta

In this estat ther passed ben 4 yeer                             610
Er she with childe was. But as god wolde
A knaue-child she bar by this Walter
Ful gracious and fair for to biholde.
And whan that folk it to his fader tolde
Nat oonly he but al his contree merye                            615
Was for this child, and god they thanke and herye.

Whan it was two yeer old and fro the brest                        f.182v
Departed of his norice, on a day
This markys caughte yet another lest
To tempte his wyf yet ofter if he may.                           620
  O nedelees was she tempted in assay.
But wedded men ne knowe no mesure
Whan that they fynde a pacient creature.

"Wyf,' quod this markys, "ye han herd er this
My peple sikly berth this mariage,                               625
And namely sith my sone yborn is
Now is it worse than euere in al oure age;
The murmur sleeth myn herte and my corage,
For to myne erys comth the voys so smerte
That it wel neigh destroyed hath myn herte.                      630

"Now sey they thus: Whan Walter is agon
Thanne shal the blood of Ianycle succede
And been oure lord, for oother haue we noon.
Swiche wordes seith my peple out of drede.
Wel oghte I of swich murmur taken hede,                          635
For certeinly I drede swich sentence
Though they nat pleyn speke in myn audience.

"I wolde lyue in pees if that I myghte.
Wherfore I am disposed outrely
As I his suster serued by nyghte                                 640
Right so thenke I to serue hym priuely.
This warne I yow that ye nat sodeynly
Out of yourself for no wo sholde outraye;
Beth pacient and therof I yow praye.'


"I haue,' quod she, "seyd thus and euere shal:                   645
I wol nothyng ne nyl nothyng certeyn
But as yow list. Noght greueth me at al
Thogh that my doghter and my sone be sleyn,
At youre comandement this is to seyn.
I haue nat had no part of children- tweyne,                      650
But first siknesse and after wo and peyne.

"Ye ben oure lord: dooth with your owene thyng                   f.183
Right as yow list. Axeth no reed of me.
For as I lefte at hom al my clothyng
Whan I first cam to yow, right so,' quod she,                    655
"Lefte I my wyl and al my libertee
And took youre clothyng. Wherfore I yow preye
Dooth your plesance, I wol youre lust obeye.


"And certes if I hadde prescience
Youre wyl to knowe er ye your lust me tolde,                     660
I wolde it doon withouten necligence.
But now I woot youre lust and what ye wolde,
Al your plesance ferm and stable I holde.
For wiste I that my deeth wolde doon yow ese
Right gladly wolde I dyen yow to plese.                          665

"Deeth may nat make no comparisoun
Vnto youre loue.' And whan this markys say
The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun
Hise eyen two and wondreth that she may
In pacience suffre al this array.                                670
And forth he goth with drery contenance,
But to his herte it was ful gret plesance.

This vggly sergeant in the same wyse
That he hir doghter caughte, right so he
Or worse if men worse kan deuyse                                 675
Hath hent hir sone that ful was of beautee.
And euere in oon so pacient was she
That she no cheere made of heuynesse
But kiste hir sone and after gan it blesse.

Saue this she prayde hym that if he myghte                       680
Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe graue,
His tendre lymes delicat to sighte,
Fro foweles and fro bestes hem to saue.
But she noon answere of hym myghte haue.
He wente his wey as hym nothyng roghte,                          685
But to Boloigne he tendrely it broghte.

This markys wondreth euer lenger the moore                      f.183v
Vpon hir pacience, and if that he
Ne hadde soothly knowen therbifoore
That parfitly hir children loued she                             690
He wolde haue wend that of som subtiltee
And of malice or of cruel corage
That she hadde suffred this with sad visage.

But wel he knew that next hymself certayn
She loued hir children best in euery wise.                       695
But now of wommen wolde I asken fayn
If thise assayes myghte nat suffise?
What koude a sturdy housbond moore deuyse
To proue hir wifhod and hir stedfastnesse,
And he contynuynge euere in sturdynesse?                         700

But ther ben folk of swich condicioun
That whan they haue a certeyn purpos take
Thay kan nat stynte of hir entencioun.
But right as they were bounden to that stake
They wol nat of that firste purpos slake.                        705
Right so this markys fulliche hath purposed
To tempte his wyf as he was first disposed.

He wayteth if by word or contenance
That she to hym was chaunged of corage.
But neuere koude he fynde variance:                              710
She was ay oon in herte and in visage.
And ay the ferther that she was of age,
The moore trewe if that it were possible
She was to hym in loue and moore penyble.

For which it semed thus that of hem two                          715
Ther nas but o wyl, for as Walter leste
The same lust was hir plesance also.
And god be thanked al fyl for the beste!
She shewed wel for no worldly vnreste
A wif as of hirself nothyng ne sholde                            720
Wille in effect but as hir housbond wolde.

The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde spradde,                   f.184
That of a cruel herte he wikkedly
For he a poure womman wedded hadde
Hath mordred bothe his children pryuely.                         725
Swich murmur was among hem comunly.
No wonder is, for to the peples ere
Ther cam no word but that they mordred were.

For which wher as his peple ther bifore
Hadde loued hym wel, the sclaundre of his diffame                730
Made hem that they hym hated therfore.
To ben a mordrer is an hateful name.
But natheles for ernest ne for game
He of his cruel purpos nolde stente:
To tempte his wyf was set al his entente.                        735

Whan that this doghter xij yer was of age
He to the court of Rome, in subtil wise
Enformed of his wil, sente his message
Comaundynge hem swiche bulles to deuyse
As to his cruel purpos may suffise:                              740
How that the pope as for his peples reste
Bad hym to wedde another if hym leste.

I seye he bad they sholde contrefete
The popes bulles, makyng mencioun
That he hath leue his firste wyf to lete                         745
As by the popes dispensacioun
To stynte rancour and dissencioun
Bitwix his peple and hym. Thus seyde the bulle
The which they han publissed at the fulle.

The rude peple, as it no wonder is,                              750
Wenden ful wel that it hadde ben right so.
But whan thise tidynges cam to Grisildis
I deme that hir herte was ful wo.
But she ylike sad for eueremo
Disposed was, this humble creature,                              755
Th'aduersitee of fortune al t'endure;

Abidynge euere his lust and his plesance                           f.184"
To whom that she was yeuen herte and al
As to hir verray worldly suffisance.
But shortly if this storie I tellen shal,                        760
This markys writen hath in special
A lettre in which he sheweth his entente
And secrely he to Boloigne it sente.

To the erl of Panyk, which that hadde tho
Wedded his suster, prayde he specially                           765
To bryngen hom agayn his children two
In honurable estat al openly.
But o thyng he hym prayde outrely
That he to no wight, thogh men wolde enquere,
Sholde nat tellen whos children that they were,                  770

But seye the mayden sholde ywedded be
Vnto the markys of Saluce anon.
And as this erl was prayd, so dide he.
For at day set he on his wey is gon
Toward Saluce and lordes many oon                                775
In riche array this mayden for to gyde,
Hir yonge brother ridyng hir bisyde.

Arrayed was toward hir mariage
This fresshe mayde ful of gemmes clere.
Hir brother which that seuen yeer was of age                     780
Arrayed eek ful fressh in his manere.
And thus in gret noblesse and with glad cheere
Toward Saluces shapyng hir iourney
Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey.

explicit quarta pars

Incipit pars quinta                                                 f. 185

Among al this after his wikke vsage                              785
This markys yet his wif to tempte moore
To the outreste preue of hir corage,
Fully to han experience and loore
If that she were as stedefast as bifore,
He on a day in open audience                                     790
Ful boystously hath seyd hir this sentence.

"Certes, Grisilde, I hadde ynogh plesance
To han yow to my wyf for your goodnesse
As for youre trouthe and for your obeysance,
Noght for your lynage ne for your richesse.                      795
But now knowe I in verray sothfastnesse
That in gret lordshipe, if I wel auyse,
Ther is gret seruitute in sondry wyse.

"I may nat do as euery plowman may.
My peple me constreyneth for to take                             800
Another wyf and cryen day by day;
And eek the pope rancour for to slake
Consenteth it, that dar I vndertake.
And trewely thus muche I wol yow seye
My newe wyf is comynge by the weye.                              805

"Be strong of herte and voyde anon hir place.
And thilke dower that ye broghten me
Tak it agayn, I graunte it of my grace.
Retourneth to youre fadres hous,' quod he.
"No man may alwey han prosperitee.                               810
With euene herte I rede yow t'endure
The strook of fortune or of auenture.'

And she agayn answerde in pacience:
"My lord,' quod she, "I woot and wiste alway
How that bitwixen youre magnificence                             815
And my pouerte no wight kan ne may
Maken comparisoun, it is no nay.
I ne heeld me neuere digne in no manere
To be your wyf no ne youre chambrere.

"And in this hous ther ye me lady made,                       f.185v 820
The heighe god take I for my witnesse
And also wisly he my soule glade,
I neuere heeld me lady ne maistresse
But humble seruant to youre worthynesse,
And euere shal whil that my lyf may dure                         825
Abouen euery worldly creature.

"That ye so longe of youre benygnytee
Han holden me in honour and nobleye
Where as I was noght worthy for to be,
That thonke I god and yow, to whom I preye                       830
Foryelde it yow; ther is namoore to seye.
Vnto my fader gladly wol I wende
And with hym dwelle vnto my lyues ende.

"Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal
Til I be deed my lyf ther wol I lede,                            835
A wydewe clene in body, herte, and al.
For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede
And am youre trewe wyf it is no drede,
God shilde swich a lordes wyf to take
Another man to housbond or to make.                              840

"And of youre newe wyf god of his grace
So graunte yow wele and prosperitee.
For I wol gladly yelden hir my place
In which that I was blisful wont to be.
For sith it liketh yow, my lord,' quod she,                      845
"That whilom weren al myn hertes reste
That I shal goon, I wol goon whan yow leste.

"But ther as ye me profre swich dowaire
As I first broghte, it is wel in my mynde
It were my wrecched clothes nothyng faire,                       850
The whiche to me were hard now for to fynde.
O goode god, how gentil and how kynde
Ye semed by your speche and your visage
The day that maked was oure mariage!

"But sooth is seyd, algate I fynde it trewe,                      f.186 855
For in effect it proued is on me:
Loue is noght old as whan that it is newe.
But certes, lord, for noon aduersitee,
To dyen in this cas, it shal nat be
That euere in word or werk I shal repente                        860
That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente.

"My lord, ye woot that in my fadres place
Ye dide me strepe out of my poure wede
And richely me cladden of youre grace.
To yow broghte I noght ellis out of drede                        865
But feith and nakednesse and maydenhede.
And here agayn my clothyng I restore
And eek my weddyng-ryng for eueremoore.

"The remenant of your iewels redy be
Inwith your chambre dar I saufly sayn.                           870
Naked out of my fadres hous,' quod she,
"I cam and naked moot I turne agayn.
Al youre plesance wol I folwen fayn:
But yet I hope it be nat youre entente
That I smoklees out of your palays wente.                        875

"Ye koude nat doon so dishoneste a thyng
That thilke wombe in which youre children leye
Sholde biforn the peple in my walkyng
Be seyn al bare. Wherfore I yow preye
Lat me nat lyk a worm go by the weye.                            880
Remembre yow, myn owene lord so deere,
I was youre wyf thogh I vnworthy weere.

"Wherfore in gerdon of my maydenhede
Which that I broghte and noght agayn I bere
As voucheth sauf to yeue me to my mede                           885
But swich a smok as I was wont to were,
That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here
That was youre wyf. And here I take my leeue
Of yow, myn owene lord, lest I yow greeue.'

"The smok,' quod he, "that thow hast on thy bak               f.186v 890
Lat it be stille and bere it forth with thee.'
But wel vnnethes thilke word he spak,
But wente his wey for routhe and for pitee.
Biforn the folk hirseluen strepeth shee,
And in hir smok with heued and feet al bare                      895
Toward hir fader hous forth is she fare.

The folk hir folwen wepynge in hir weye
And fortune ay they cursen as they goon.
But she fro wepyng kepte hir eyen dreye
Ne in this tyme word ne spak she noon.                           900
Hir fader that this tidynge herde anon
Curseth the day and tyme that nature
Shoop hym to been a lyues creature.

For out of doute this olde, poure man
Was euere in suspect of hir mariage,                             905
For euere he demed sith that it bigan
That whan the lord fulfild hadde his corage
Hym wolde thynke it were a disparage
To his estat so lowe for t'alighte
And voyden hir as soone as euere he myghte.                      910

Agayns his doghter hastiliche goth he
For he by noyse of folk knew hir comynge
And with hir olde cote as it myghte be
He couered hire ful sorwefully wepynge.
But on hir body myghte he it nat brynge                          915
For rude was the clooth and she moore of age
By dayes fele than at hir mariage.

Thus with hir fader for a certein space
Dwelleth this flour of wifly pacience
That neyther by hir wordes ne hir face                           920
Biforn the folk ne eek in hir absence
Ne shewed she that hir was doon offence;
Ne of hir heighe estat no remembrance
Ne hadde she as by hir contenance.

No wonder is, for in hir grete estat                             f.187 925
Hir goost was euere in pleyn humylitee:
No tendre mouth, noon herte delicat,
No pompe, no semblant of realtee,
But ful of pacient benygnytee,
Discreet and pridelees, ay honurable,                            930
And to hir housbonde euere meke and stable.

Men speke of Iob and moost for his humblenesse,
As clerkes whan hem lest konne wel endite
Namely of men: but as in soothfastnesse
Thogh clerkes preyse wommen but a lite                           935
Ther kan no man in humblesse hym acquite
As wommen kan, ne kan be half so trewe
As wommen been, but it be falle of newe.

  Fro Boloigne is this erl of Panyk come
Of which the fame vp sprong to moore and lesse.                  940
And to the peples erys alle and some
Was kouth eek that a newe markisesse
He with hym broghte, in swich pomp and richesse
That neuere was ther seyn with mannes eye
So noble array in al West Lumbardye.                             945

The markys, which that shoop and knew al this,
Er that this erl was come sente his message
For thilke sely, poure Grisildis.
And she with humble herte and glad visage,
Nat with no swollen thoght in hir corage,                        950
Cam at his heste and on hir knees hir sette
And reuerently and wysly she hym grette.

"Grisilde,' quod he, "my wyl is outrely
This mayden that shal wedded been to me
Receyued be tomorwe as really                                    955
As it possible is in myn hous to be
And eek that euery wight in his degree
Haue his estat in sittyng and seruyse
And heigh plesance as I kan best deuyse.

"I haue no wommen suffisant certayn                          f.187v 960
The chambres for t'araye in ordynance
After my lust. And therfore wolde I fayn
That thyn were al swich manere gouernance.
Thow knowest eek of old al my plesance.
Though thyn array be badde and yuel-biseye,                      965
Do thow thy deuoir at the leeste weye.'

"Nat oonly, lord, that I am glad,' quod she,
"To doon youre lust, but I desire also
Yow for to serue and plese in my degree
Withouten feyntyng and shal eueremo,                             970
Ne neuere for no wele ne no wo
Ne shal the goost withinne myn herte stente
To loue yow best with al my trewe entente.'

And with that word she gan the hous to dighte
And tables for to sette and beddes make                          975
And peyned hir to doon al that she myghte,
Preyynge the chambreres for goddes sake
To hasten hem and faste swepe and shake.
And she, the mooste seruysable of alle,
Hath euery chambre arrayed and his halle.                        980

Abouten vndren gan this erl alighte
That with hym broghte thise noble children tweye,
For which the peple ran to seen the sighte
Of hire array so richely biseye.
And thanne at erst amonges hem they seye                         985
That Walter was no fool thogh that hym leste
To chaunge his wyf, for it was for his beste.

For she is fairer, as they demen alle,
Than is Grisilde and moore tendre of age
And fairer fruyt bitwene hem sholde falle                        990
And moore plesant for hir heigh lynage,
Hir brother eek so fair was of visage
That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesance,
Commendynge now the markys gouernance.

O stormy peple, vnsad and euere vntrewe,                      f.188 995
Ay vndiscreet and chaungynge as a vane,
Delitynge euere in rumbel that is newe,
For lyk the moone ay wexe ye and wane,
Ay ful of clappyng deere ynow a iane.
Youre doom is fals, youre constance yuele preueth;               100o

A ful greet fool is he that on yow leueth.
Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee
Whan that the peple gazed vp and doun,
For they were glad right for the noueltee
To han a newe lady of hir town.                                 1005
Namoore of this make I now mencioun,
But to Grisilde agayn wol I me dresse
And telle hir constance and hir bisynesse.

Ful bisy was Grisilde in euery thyng
That to the feste was apertinent.                               1010
Right noght was she abayst of hir clothyng
Thogh it were rude and somdel eek torent.
But with glad cheere to the yate is she went
With oother folk to greete the markysesse,
And after that dooth forth hir bisynesse.                       1015

With so glad cheere his gestes she receyueth
And so konnyngly euerich in his degree
That no defaute no man aparceyueth.
But ay they wondren what she myghte be
That in so poure array was for to se                            1020
And koude swich honour and reuerence,
And worthily they preysen hir prudence.

In al this mene while she ne stente
This mayde and eek hir brother to commende
With al hir herte in ful benygne entente                        1025
So wel that no man koude hir prys amende.
But at the laste whan that thise lordes wende
To sitten doun to mete, he gan to calle
Grisilde as she was bisy in his halle.

"Grisilde,' quod he as it were in his pley,                      f.188v 1030
"How liketh thee my wyf and hir beautee?'
"Right wel,' quod she, "my lord, for in good fey
A fairer saw I neuere noon than she.
I prey to god yeue hire prosperitee.
And so hope I that he wol to yow sende                          1035
Plesance ynogh vnto youre lyues ende.

"O thyng biseke I yow and warne also
That ye ne prike with no tormentynge
This tendre mayden, as ye han do mo,
For she is fostred in hir norissynge                            1040
Moore tendrely and to my supposynge
She koude nat aduersitee endure
As koude a poure-fostred creature.'

And whan this Walter saw hir pacience,
Hir glad cheere and no malice at al,                            1045
And he so ofte had doon to hir offence,
And she ay sad and constant as a wal
Continuynge euere hir innocence oueral,
This sturdy markys gan his herte dresse
To rewen vpon hir wifly stedfastnesse.                          1050

"This is ynogh, Grisilde myn,' quod he.
"Be now namoore agast ne yuele apayed,
I haue thy feith and thy benygnytee,
As wel as euere womman was, assayed
In greet estat and poureliche arrayed.                          1055
Now knowe I, deere wyf, thy stedfastnesse.'
And hire in armes took and gan hir kesse.

And she for wonder took of it no keep:
She herde nat what thyng he to hir seyde;
She ferde as she hadde stirt out of a sleep                     1060
Til she out of hir mazednesse abreyde.
"Grisilde,' quod he, "by god that for vs deyde
Thow art my wyf. noon oother I haue
Ne neuere hadde as god my soule saue.

"This is thy doghter which thow hast supposed                 f.189 1065
To be my wyf, that oother feithfully
Shal be myn heir as I haue ay supposed.
Thow bare hym in thy body trewely.
At Boloigne haue I kept hem priuely.
Tak hem agayn, for now maistow nat seye                         1070
That thow hast lorn noon of thy children tweye.


"And folk that ootherweys han seyd of me,
I warne hem wel that I haue doon this dede
For no malice ne for no crueltee,
But for t'assaye in thee thy wommanhede;                        1075
And nat to sleen my children, god forbede,
But for to kepe hem pryuely and stille
Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille.'

Whan she this herde aswowne doun she falleth
For pitous ioye. And after hir swownynge                        1080
She bothe hir yonge children vnto hir calleth
And in hir armes pitously wepynge
Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissynge
Ful lyk a moder, with hir salte terys
She batheth bothe hir visage and hir herys.                     1085

  O which a pitous thyng it was to se
Hir swownyng and hir humble voys to heere.
"Grant mercy, lord, god thanke it yow,' quod she,
"That ye han saued me my children deere.
Now rekke I neuere to been ded right heere.                     1090
Sith I stonde in your loue and in youre grace,
No fors of deeth ne whan my spirit pace.


"O tendre, o deere, o yonge children myne,
Youre woful moder wende stedefastly
That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne                          1095
Hadde eten yow. But god of his mercy
And youre benygne fader tendrely                                   .
Hath doon yow kept.' And in that same stounde
Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde.

And in hir swogh so sadly holdeth she                        f.189v 1100
Hir children two, whan she gan hem t'embrace,
That with greet sleghte and greet difficultee
The children from hir arm they gonne arace.
  O many a teer (o many a pitous face!)
Doun ran of hem that stoden hir bisyde.                         1105
Vnnethe aboute hir myghte they abyde.

Walter hir gladeth and hir sorwe slaketh.
She riseth vp abaysed from hir traunce.
And euery wight hir ioye and feste maketh
Til she hath caught agayn hir contenaunce.                      1110
Walter hir dooth so feithfully plesaunce
That it was deyntee for to seen the cheere
Bitwix hem two, now they ben met yfeere.

Thise ladies, whan that they hir tyme say,
Han taken hir and into chambre goon                             1115
And strepen hir out of hir rude aray;
And in a clooth of gold that brighte shoon
With a coroune of many a riche stoon
Vpon hir hed they into halle hir broghte.
And ther she was honured as hir oghte.                          1120

Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende,
For euery man and womman dooth his myght
This day in murthe and reuel to dispende
Til on the welkne shoon the sterres lyght.
For moore solempne in euery mannes syght                        1125
This feste was and gretter of costage
Than was the reuel of hir mariage.

Ful many a yeer in heigh prosperitee
Lyuen thise two in concord and in reste.
And richely his doghter maried he                               1130
Vnto a lord, oon of the worthyeste
Of al Ytaille. And thanne in pees and reste
His wyues fader and his court he kepeth
Til that the soule out of his body crepeth.

His sone succedeth in his heritage                             f.190 1135
In reste and pees after his fader day;
And fortunat was eek his mariage
Al putte he nat his wyf in gret assay.
This world is nat so strong it is no nay
As it hath been in olde tymes yore;                             1140
And herkneth what this auctour seith therfore.

This storie is seyd nat for that wyues sholde
Folwen Grisilde as in humylitee
For it were inportable thogh they wolde,
But for that euery wight in his degree                          1145
Sholde be constant in aduersitee
As was Grisilde. Therfore Petrak writeth
This storie, which he with heigh stile enditeth.

For sith a womman was so pacient
Vnto a mortal man, wel moore vs oghte                           1150
Receyuen al in gree that god vs sent,
For gret skile is he preue that he wroghte.
But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte,
As seith seint lame if ye his pistel rede:
He preueth folk al day it is no drede                           1155

And suffreth vs as for oure excercise
With sharpe scourges of aduersitee
Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wise -
Nat for to knowe oure wyl, for certes he
Er we were born knew al oure freletee.                          1160
And for oure beste is al his gouernance:
Lat vs thanne lyue in vertuous suffrance.

But o word, lordynges, herkneth er I go.
It were ful hard to fynde now-a-dayes
In al a town Grisildis thre or two;                             1165
For if that they were put to swiche assayes
The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes
With bras, that thogh the coigne be fair at eye

It wolde rather breste atwo than plye.

For which heere for the wyues loue of Bathe                   f.190 1170
(Whos lyf and al hir secte god mayntene
In heigh maistrie, or ellis were it scathe)
I wol with lusty herte fressh and grene
Seye yow a song to glade yow I wene,
And lat vs stynte of ernestful matere.                          1175
Herkneth my song that seith in this manere.

Here is ended the tale of the clerk of Oxenford.


L'enuoy de Chaucer.

Grisilde is deed and eek hir pacience
And bothe atones buryed in Ytaille,
For which I crye in open audience:
No wedded man so hardy be t'assaille                            1180
His wyues pacience in trust to fynde
Grisildis, for in certein he shal faille.


  O noble wyues ful of heigh prudence,
Lat noon humilitee youre tonge nayle,
Ne lat no clerk haue cause or diligence                         1185
To write of yow a storie of swich meruaile
As of Grisildis pacient and kynde
Lest Chichyuache yow swelwe in hir entrayle.

Folweth Ekko that holdeth no silence,
But euere answereth at the countretaile.                        1190
Beth nat bidaffed for youre innocence,
But sharply tak on yow the gouernaile.
Emprenteth wel this lessoun in your mynde
For commune profit, sith it may auaile.

Ye archewyues, stondeth at defense                           f.191  1195
Syn ye be strong as is a gret camaile
Ne suffreth nat that men yow doon offense.
And sklendre wyues fieble as in bataile,
Beth egre as is a tigre yond in Ynde:
Ay clappeth as a mille I yow consaile.                          1200


Ne dreed hem nat, dooth hem no reuerence;
For thogh thyn housbond armed be in maile
The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence
Shal perce his brest and eek his auentaile.
In ialousie I rede eek thow hym bynde                           1205
And thow shalt make hym couche as dooth a quaile.

If thow be fair, ther folk ben in presence
Shewe thow thy visage and thyn aparaile.
If thow be foul, be fre of thy dispence,
To gete thee freendes ay do thy trauaile.                       1210
Be ay of cheere as light as leef on lynde
And lat hym care and wepe and wrynge and wayle.


Explicit.


This worthy clerk whan ended was his tale,                      1212a
Oure hoost seyde and swoor by goddes bones:
"Me were leuere than a barel ale                                1215
My wyf at hom had herd this legende ones.
This is a gentil tale for the nones
As to my purpos, wiste ye my wille.
But thyng that wol nat be, lat it be stille!'                   1212g








                    Section 9 (Fragment VI, Group C)

Here bigynneth the phisiciens Tale.                                     f.191v

Ther was, as telleth Titus Liuius,
A knyght that called was Virginius
Fulfild of honour and of worthynesse.
And strong of freendes and of greet richesse.
  This knyght a doghter hadde by his wif:                             5
No children hadde he mo in al his lif.
Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee
Abouen euery wight that man may see,
For nature hath with souereyn diligence
Yformed hir in so greet excellence                                    10
As thogh she wolde seyn: "Lo I, nature,
Thus kan I forme and peynte a creature
Whan that me list. Who kan me countrefete?
Pigmalion noght, thogh he ay forge and bete
Or graue or peynte. For I dar wel seyn                               15
Apelles, Zanzis sholde werche in veyn
Outher to graue or peynte or forge or bete
If they presumeden me to countrefete.
For he that is the former prinicipal
Hath maked me his vicaire general                                 20
To forme and peynten erthely creaturis
Right as me list. And ech thyng in my cure is
Vnder the moone that may wane and waxe.
And for my werk right nothyng wol I axe.
My lord and I been ful of oon acord.                              25
I made hire to the worship of my lord;
So do I alle myne othere creatures
What colour that they han or what figures.'
Thus semeth me that nature wolde seye.
  This mayde of age xij yeer was and tweye                        30
In which that nature hadde swich delit.
For right as she kan peynte a lilye whit
And reed a rose, right with swich peynture
She peynted hath this noble creature,
Er she were born, vpon hir lymes free                             35
Wher as by right swiche colours sholden be.
And Phebus dyed hath hir tresses grete                             f.192
Lyk to the stremys of his burned hete.
And if that excellent was hir beautee
A thousandfold moore vertuous was she.                            40
In hire ne lakked no condicioun
That is to preyse as by discrecioun.
As wel in goost as body chaast was she
For which she floured in virginitee
With all humilitee and abstinence,                                45
With all atemperance and pacience,
With mesure eek of beryng and array.
Discreet she was in answeryng alway
Thogh she were wise Pallas, dar I seyn;
Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn.                           50
No countrefeted termes hadde she
To seme wys; but after hir degree
She spak, and alle hir wordes moore and lesse
Sownynge in vertu and in gentilesse,
Shamefast she was in maydens shamefastnesse,                      55
Constant in herte, and euere in bisynesse
To dryue hir out of ydel slogardye.
Bacus hadde of hir mouth right no maistrye,
For wyn and youthe dooth Venus encreesse
As men in fyr wol casten oille or gresse.                         60
And of hir owene vertu, vnconstreyned
She hath ful ofte tyme syk hir feyned
For that she wolde fleen the compaignye
Where likly was to treten of folye
As is at festes, reuels, and at daunces                           65
That been occasions of daliaunces.
Swich thyng maken children for to be
To soone rype and boold, as men may se,
Which is ful perilous and hath be yoore.
For al to soone may they lerne loore                              70
Of boldnesse, whan she woxe is a wyf.
  And ye maistresses in youre olde lyf
That lordes doghtres han in gouernance
Ne taketh of my wordes no displesance.
Thenketh that ye been set in gouernynges                          75
Of lordes doghtres oonly for two thynges:
Owther for ye han kept youre honestee                            f 192v
Or ellis ye han falle in freletee
And knowen wel ynow the olde daunce
And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce                           80
For eueremo. Therfore for Cristes sake
To teche hem vertu looke that ye ne slake.
  A theef of venyson that hath forlaft
His likerousnesse and al his olde craft
Kan kepe a forest best of any man.                                85
Now kepeth wel, for if ye wole ye kan.
Looke wel that ye vnto no vice assente
Lest ye be dampned for youre wikke entente.
For whoso dooth, a traytour is certeyn.
And taketh kepe of that that I shal seyn:                         90
Of alle tresoun souerayn pestilence
Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.
  Ye fadres and ye modres eek also,
Thogh ye han children be it oon or mo,
Youre is the charge of al hir surueaunce                          95
Whil that they been vnder youre gouernaunce.
Beth war if by ensample of youre lyuynge
Or by youre necligence in chastisynge
That they perisse, for I dar wel seye
If that they doon ye shul it deere abeye.                         100
Vnder a shepherde softe and necligent
The wolf hath many a sheep and lomb torent.
Suffiseth oon ensample now as heere
For I moot turne agayn to my matere.
  This mayde, of which I wol this tale expresse,                  105
So kepte hirself hir neded no maistresse.
For in hir lyuyng maydens myghten rede
As in a book euery good word or dede
That longeth to a mayden vertuous.
She was so prudent and so bounteuous                              110
For which the fame out sproong on euery syde,
Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde,
That thurgh that land they preysed hir echone
That loued vertu, saue enuye allone
That sory is of oother mennes wele                                115
And glad is of his sorwe and his vnheele --
The doctor maketh this discripcioun.                               f.193
  This mayde vpon a day wente in the toun
Toward a temple with hir moder deere
As is of yonge maydens the manere.                                120
Now was ther thanne a iustice in that toun
That gouernour was of that regioun.
And so bifel this iuge hise eyen caste
Vpon this mayde, auysynge hym ful faste
As she cam forby ther as this iuge stood.                         125
Anoon his herte chaunged and his mood
So was he caught with beautee of this mayde.
And to hymself ful pryuely he sayde:
"This mayde shal by myn for any man.'
Anon the feend into his herte ran                                 130
And taughte hym sodeynly that he by slyghte
This mayden to his purpos wynne myghte.
For certes by no force ne by no meede
Hym thoughte he was nat able for to speede
For she was strong of freendes; and eek she                       135
Confermed was in swich souerayn bountee
That wel he wiste he myghte hir neuere wynne
As for to make hir with hir body synne.
  For which by greet deliberacioun
He sente after a cherl was in the town                            140
Which that he knew for subtil and for bold.
This iuge vnto this cherl his tale hath told
In secree wise and made hym to ensure
He sholde telle it to no creature;
And if he dide he sholde lese his heed.                           145
Whan that assented was this cursed reed,
Glad was this iuge, and maked hym gret cheere
And yaf hym yiftes preciouse and deere.
  Whan shapen was al hir conspiracie
Fro point to point how that his lecherie                          150
Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly,
As ye shul heere it after openly,
Hom goth the cherl that highte Claudius.
This false iuge that highte Apius
(So was his name for this is no fable                             155
But knowen for historial thyng notable:
The sentence of it sooth is out of doute),                           f. 193v
This false iuge gooth now faste aboute
To hasten his delit al that he may.
And so bifel soone after on a day                                160
This false iuge, as telleth vs the storie,
As he was wont sat in his consistorie
And yaf his domes vpon sondry cas.
  This false cherl cam forth a ful gret pas
And seyde: "Lord, if that it be youre wille                      165
As dooth me right vpon this pitous bille
In which I pleyne vpon Virginius.
And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus,
I wol it preue and fynde good witnesse
That sooth is that my bille wol expresse.'                       170
  This iuge answerde: "Of this in his absence
I may nat yeue diffynytif sentence.
Lat do hym calle and I wol gladly heere.
Thow shalt haue al right and no wrong heere.'
  Virginius cam to wite the iuges wille                          175
And right-anon was rad this cursed bille.
The sentence of it was as ye shul heere:
"To yow, my lord sire Apius so deere,
Sheweth youre poure seruant Claudius
How that a knyght called Virginius                               180
Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitee
Holdeth expres agayn the wyl of me
My seruant which that is my thral by right,
Which fro myn hous was stole vpon a nyght
Whil that she was ful yong. This wol I preue                     185
By witnesse, lord, so that it nat yow greue.
She nys his doghter nat, whatso he seye.
Wherfore to yow, my lord the iuge, I preye:
Yeld me my thral, if that it be youre wille.'
Lo, this was al the sentence of his bille.                       190
  Virginius gan vpon the cherl biholde.
But hastily, er he his tale tolde
And wolde haue proued it as sholde a knyght
And eek by witnessynge of many a wight
That it was fals that seyde his aduersarie,                      195
This cursed iuge wolde nothyng tarie
Ne here a word moore of Virginius,                               f.194
But yaf his iuggement and seyde thus:
"I deme anon this cherl his seruant haue.
Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir saue.                      200
Go bryng hir forth and put hir in oure warde.
The cherl shal han his thral; this I awarde.'
  And whan this worthy knyght Virginius
Thurgh sentence of this iustice Apius
Moste by force his deere doghter yeuen                           205
Vnto the iuge in lecherie to lyuen,
He goth hym hom and sette hym in his halle
And leet anoon his deere doghter calle.
And with a face deed as asshen colde
Vpon hir humble face he gan biholde                              210
With fadres pitee stikyng thurgh his herte,
Al wolde he from his purpos nat conuerte.
  "Doghter,' quod he, "Virginia by thy name,
Ther been two weyes, outher deeth or shame,
That thow most suffre. Allas that I was bore,                    215
For neuere thow deseruedest wherfore
To dyen with a swerd or with a knyf.
O deere doghter, endere of my lyf,
Which I haue fostred vp with swich plesance
That thow were neuere out of my remembrance.                     220
O doghter which that art my laste wo
And in my lyf my laste ioye also!
O gemme of chastitee, in pacience
Tak thow thy deeth for this is my sentence:
For loue and nat for hate thow most be deed.                     225
My pitous hand moot smyten of thyn heed.
Allas that euere Apius thee say;
Thus hath he falsly iugged thee today.'
And tolde hir al the cas, as ye bifore
Han herd. Nat nedeth for to telle it moore.                      230
  "O mercy, deere fader,' quod this mayde.
And with that word she bothe hir armes layde
Aboute his nekke as she was wont to do.
The teeris borste out of hir eyen two.
And seyde: "Goode fader, shal I dye?                             235
Is ther no grace? Is ther no remedye?'
  "No certes deere doghter myn,' quod he.                        f.194
  "Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn,' quod she,
"My deeth for to compleyne a litel space.
For pardee Iepte yaf his doghter grace                           240
For to compleyne er he hir slowe allas --
And god it woot, nothyng was hir trespas
But for she ran hir fader for to se
To welcome hym with greet solempnytee.'
And with that word she fil aswowne anon.                         245
And after whan hir swownyng is agon
She riseth vp and to hir fader sayde:
"Blessed be god that I shal dye a mayde.
Yif me my deeth er that I haue a shame.
Dooth with your child youre wyl a goddes name.'                  250
And with that word she preyed hym ful ofte
That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe.
And with that word aswowne doun she fil.
  Hir fader with ful sorweful herte and wil
Hir heed of smoot and by the top it hente                        255
And to the iuge he gan it to presente
As he sat yet in doom in consistorie.
And whan the iuge it saw, as seith the storie,
He bad to take hym and anhange hym faste.
But right-anon a thousand peple in thraste                       260
To saue the knyght for routhe and for pitee,
For knowen was the false iniquitee.
The peple anon hadde suspect in this thyng
By manere of the cherles chalangyng
That it was by the assent of Apius.                              265
They wisten wel that he was lecherus.
For which vnto this Apius they gon
And caste hym in a prison right-anon
Ther as he slow hymself. And Claudius
That seruant was vnto this Apius                                 270
Was demed for to hange vpon a tree,
But that Virginius of his pitee
So preyde for hym that he was exiled
And ellis certes he hadde been bigyled.
The remenant were anhanged moore and lesse                       275
That were consentant of this cursednesse.
  Heere may men seen how synne hath his merite.                  f.195
Beth war, for no man woot whom god wol smyte
In no degree ne in which manere wise.
The worm of conscience may agrise                                280
Of wikked lyf, thogh it so pryuee be
That no man woot therof but god and he.
For be he lewed man or ellis lered
He noot how soone that he shal been afered.
Therfore I rede yow this conseil take:                           285
Forsaketh synne er synne yow forsake.



Here endeth the phisiciens tale.


The myry talkyng of the hoost to the phisicien and the pardoner.

Oure hoost gan to swere as he were wood:
"Harrow,' quod he, "by nayles and by blood
This was a fals cherl and a fals iustise!
As shameful deeth as herte may deuyse                            290
Come to thise iuges and hir aduocatz.
Algate this sely mayde is slayn allas!
Allas to deere boghte she beautee!
Wherfore I seye alday that men may se
That yiftes of fortune and of nature                             295
Been cause of deeth to many a creature;                          296
Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now                              299
Men han ful ofte moore for harm than prow.                       300
  "But trewely, myn owene maister deere,
This is a pitous tale for to heere.                              300
But nathelees passe ouer; is no fors.
I pray to god so saue thy gentil cors
And eek thyne vrynals and thy iurdones,
Thyn ypocras and eek thy galyones,
And euery boyste ful of thy letuarie --                          305
God blesse hem and oure lady seinte Marie.
So mote I then thow art a propre man
And lyk a prelat by seint Ronyan.                                310
Seyde I nat wel? I kan nat speke in terme                         f 195v
But wel I woot thow doost myn herte to erme                      310
That I almoost haue caught a cardynacle.
By corpus bones but if I haue triacle
Or ellis a draghte of moyste and corny ale
Or but I heere anon a murye tale,
Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde.                       315
  "Thow beel amy, thow pardoner,' he sayde,
"Tel vs som myrthe or iapes right-anon.'
  "It shal be doon,' quod he, "by seint Ronyon.                  320
But first,' quod he, "heere at this ale-stake
I wol bothe drynke and eten of a cake.'                          320
  And right-anon thise gentils gonne to crye:
"Nay. Lat hym telle vs of no ribawdye.
Tel vs som moral thyng that we may leere
Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly heere.'
  "I graunte ywis,' quod he. "But I moot thynke                  325
Vpon som honeste thyng whil that I drynke.'


Here bigynneth the prologe of the pardoners tale.
"Lordynges,' quod he, "in chirches whan I preche
I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche                              330
And rynge it out as round as gooth a belle
For I kan al by rote that I telle.                               330
My theme is alwey oon and euere was:
Radix malorum est cupiditas.
  "First I pronounce whennes that I come.
And thanne my bulles shewe I alle and some.
Oure lige-lordes seel on my patente,                             335
That shewe I first my body to warente
That no man be so boold ne preest ne clerk
Me to destourbe of Cristes holy werk.                            340
And after that thanne telle I forth my tales.
Bulles of popes and of cardynales,                               340
Of patriarkes and bisshopes I shewe.                               f.196
And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe
To saffron with my predicacioun
And for to stire hem to deuocioun.
  "Thanne shewe I forth my longe, cristal stones                 345
Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones:
Relikes been they as wenen they echon.
Thanne haue I in a latoun a shulder-bon                          350
Which that was of an holy Iewes sheep.
"Goode men,' I seye, "tak of my wordes keep.                  350
If that this boon be wasshe in any welle,
If cow or calf or sheep or oxe swelle
That any worm hath ete or worm ystonge,
Taak water of that welle and wassh his tonge
And it is hool anoon. And forthermoor                            355
Of pokkes and of scabbe and euery soor
Shal euery sheep be hool that of this welle
Drynketh a draughte. Taak kepe eek what I telle:                 360
If that the goode man that the bestes oweth
Wol euery wike er that the cok hym croweth                       360
Fastynge drynken of this welle a draghte,
As thilke holy Iew oure eldres taghte,
Hise bestes and his stoor shal multiplie.
  "And, sire, also it heeleth ialousie.
For thogh a man be falle in ialous rage,                         365
Lat maken with this water his potage
And neuere shal he moore his wyf mystriste
Thogh he the soothe of hir defaute wiste,                        370
Al hadde she taken preestes two or thre.
    Heere is a miteyn eek that ye may se.                        370
He that his hand wol putte in this mitayn,
He shal haue multiplyyng of his grayn
Whan he hath sowen be it whete or otes -
So that he offre pens or ellis grotes.
  "Goode men and wommen, o thyng warne I yow:                  375
If any wight be in this chirche now
That hath doon synne horrible that he
Dar nat for shame of it yshryuen be                              380
Or any womman be she yong or old
That hath ymaked hir housbond cokewold                           380
Swich folk shal haue no power ne no grace                         f.196v
To offren to my relikes in this place.
And whoso fyndeth hym out of swich blame
He wol come vp and offre a goddes name,
And I assoille hym by the auctoritee                             385
Which that by bulle ygraunted was to me.'
  "By this gaude haue I wonne yeer by yeer
An hundred mark sith I was pardoner.                             390
I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet
And whan that lewed peple is doun yset,                          390
I preche so as ye han herd bifore
And telle an hundred false iapes more.
Thanne peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke
And est and west vpon the peple I bekke
As dooth a dowue sittyng on a berne.                             395
Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne
That it is ioye to se my bisynesse.
Of auarice and of swich cursednesse                              400
Is al my prechyng for to make hem free
To yeuen hir pens and namely vnto me.                            400
For myn entente is nat but for to wynne
And nothyng for correccioun of synne.
I rekke neuere whan that they been beryed
Thogh that hir soules goon a blakeberyed.
For certes many a predicacioun                                   405
Comth ofte tyme of yuel entencioun:
Som for plesance of folk and flaterye
To been auanced by ypocrisie,                                    410
And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate.
  "For whan I dar noon ootherweyes debate,                       410
Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte
In prechyng so that he shal nat asterte
To been diffamed falsly, if that he
Hath trespased to my bretheren or to me.
For though I telle noght his propre name                         415
Men shal wel knowe that it is the same
By signes and by othere circumstances.
Thus quyte I folk that doon vs displesances.                     420
Thus spete I out my venym vnder hewe
Of holynesse, to seme holy and trewe.                            420
But shortly myn entente I wol deuyse:                            f.197
I preche of nothyng but for coueitise.
Therfore my theme is yet and euere was
Radix malorum est cupiditas.
  "Thus kan I preche agayn that same vice                        425
Which that I vse, and that is auarice.
But though myself be gilty in that synne,
Yet kan I make oother folk to twynne                             430
From auarice and soore to repente;
But that is nat my principal entente.                            430
I preche nothyng but for coueitise.
Of this matere it oghte ynow suffise.
  "Thanne telle I hem ensamples many oon
Of olde stories longe tyme agoon,
For lewed peple louen tales olde:                                435
Swiche thynges kan they wel reporte and holde.
What trowe ye that whiles I may preche
And wynne gold and siluer for I teche                            440
That I wol lyue in pouerte wilfully?
Nay, nay. I thoghte it neuere trewely,                           440
For I wol preche and begge in sondry landes.
I wol nat do no labour with myne handes
Ne make baskettes and lyue therby
By cause I wol nat beggen ydelly.
I wol none of the apostles countrefete.                          445
I wol haue moneye, wolle, chese, and whete,
Al were it yeuen of the pouerest page
Or of the pouereste widwe in a village                           450
Al sholde hir children sterue for famyne.
Nay. I wol drynke licour of the vyne                             450
And haue a ioly wenche in euery toun.
  "But herkneth, lordynges, in conclusioun,
Youre likyng is that I shal telle a tale.
Now haue I dronke a draghte of corny ale.
By god I hope I shal yow telle a thyng                           455
That shal by resoun been at youre likyng,
For thogh myself be a ful vicious man
A moral tale yet I yow telle kan                                 460
Which I am wont to preche for to wynne.
Now holde youre pees, my tale I wol bigynne.'                    460


Here bigynneth the pardoners tale.                                     f. 197v

In Flandres whilom was a compaignye
Of yonge folk that haunteden folye,
As riot, hasard, stewes, and tauernes,
Where as with harpes, lutes, and gyternes
They daunce and pleyen at dees bothe day and nyght               465
And ete also and drynke ouer hir myght,
Thurgh which they doon the deuel sacrifise
Withinne that deueles temple in cursed wise                      470
By superfluytee abhomynable.
Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable                         470
That it is grisly for to heere hem swere.
Oure blissed lordes body they totere.
Hem thoughte that Iewes rente hym noght ynough.
And eech of hem at otheres synne lough.
And right-anon thanne coomen tombesteres,                        475
Fetys and smale, and yonge frutesteres,
Syngeris with harpes, baudes, waufereres,
Whiche been the verray deueles officers                          480
To kyndle and blowe the fyr of lecherye
That is annexed vnto glotonye.                                   480
The holy writ take I to my witnesse
That luxure is in wyn and dronkenesse.
Lo how that dronken Loth vnkyndely
Lay by his doghtres two vnwityngly.
So dronke he was he nyste what he wroghte.                       485
Herodes, whoso wel the stories soghte,
Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste
Right at his owene table he yaf his heste                        490
To sleen the Baptist Iohn ful giltelees.
  Senec seith a good word doutelees.                             490
He seith he kan no difference fynde
Bitwix a man that is out of his mynde
And a man which that is dronkelewe,
But that woodnesse yfallen in a sherewe
Perseuereth lenger than dooth dronkenesse.                       495
O glotonye ful of cursednesse,
O cause first of oure confusioun,
O original of oure dampnacioun                                   500
Til Crist hadde boght vs with his blood agayn.
Lo how deere shortly for to sayn                                 500
Aboght was thilke cursed vileynye.                               f.198
Corrupt was al this world for glotonye.
Adam oure fader and his wyf also
Fro paradys to labour and to wo
Were dryuen for that vice, it is no drede.                       505
For whil that Adam fasted as I rede
He was in paradys, and whan that he
Eet of the frut defended on a tree                               510
Anon he was out cast to wo and peyne.
O glotonye, on thee wel oghte vs pleyne.                         510
   O wiste a man how manye maladies
Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes
He wolde been the moore mesurable
Of his diete sittyng at his table.
Allas the shorte throte, the tendre mouth                        515
Maketh that est and west and north and south
In erthe, in eyr, in water men to swynke                         520
To gete a gloton deyntee mete and drynke.
Of this matere, o Paul, wel kanstow trete:                       520
Mete vnto wombe and wombe eek vnto mete
Shal god destroyen bothe, as Paulus seith.
Allas a foul thyng is it by my feith
To seye this word, and fouler is the dede
Whan man so drynketh of the white and rede
That of his throte he maketh his pryuee                          525
Thurgh thilke cursed superfluite.
  The apostle wepyng seith ful pitously:
Ther walken manye of whiche yow toold haue I,                    530
I seye it now wepyng with pitous voys.
Ther been enemys of Cristes croys                                530
Of whiche the ende is deth: wombe is hir god.
  O wombe, o bely, o stynkyng cod
Fulfilled of dong and of corrupcioun;
At either ende of thee foul is the soun.
How greet labour and cost is thee to fynde.                      535
Thise cokes how they stampe and streyne and grynde
And turnen substance into accident
To fulfillen al the likerous talent.                             540
Out of the harde bones knokke they
The mary, for they caste nat awey                                540
That may go thurgh the golet softe and soote                      f.198v
Of spicerie of lief and bark and roote
Shal been his sauce ymaked by delit
To make hym yet a newer appetit.
But certes he that haunteth swiche delices                       545
Is deed whil that he lyueth in tho vices.
  A lecherous thyng is wyn, and dronkenesse
Is ful of stryuyng and of wrecchednesse.                         550
  O dronke man, disfigured is thy face,
Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace,                       550
And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun
As thogh thou seydest ay "Sampsoun, Sampsoun.'
And yet god woot Sampson drank neuere no wyn!                       .
Thou fallest as it were a stiked swyn.
Thy tonge is lost and al thyn honest cure,                       555
For dronkenesse is verray sepulture
Of mannes wit and his discrecioun.
In whom that drynke hath domynacioun                             560
He kan no conseil kepe it is no drede.
Now kepe yow fro the white and fro the rede                      560
And namely fro the white wyn of Lepe
That is to selle in Fisshstrete or in Chepe.
This wyn of Spaigne crepeth subtilly
In othere wynes growynge faste by,
Of which ther riseth swich fumositee                             565
That whan a man hath dronken draghtes thre
And weneth that he be at hom in Chepe
He is in Spaigne right at the toune of Lepe,                     570
Nat at the Rochel ne at Burdeux toun --
And thanne wol he seyn "Sampson, Sampsoun.'                      570
  But herkneth, lordynges, o word I yow preye:
That alle the souereyn actes, dar I seye,
Of victories in the olde testament
Thurgh verray god that is omnipotent
Were doon in abstinence and in prayere.                          575
Looketh the Bible and ther ye may it leere.
  Looke Attilla, the grete conquerour,
Deyde in his sleep with shame and dishonour                      580
Bledyng at his nose in dronkenesse;
A capitayn sholde lyue in sobrenesse.                            580
  And oueral this auyseth yow right wel                           f.199
What was comaunded vnto Lamwel --
Nat Samuel but Lamwel seye I.
Redeth the Bible and fynd it expresly
Of wyn-yeuynge to hem that han iustise.                          585
Namoore of this for it may wel suffise.
  And now that I haue spoken of glotonye,
Now wol I yow defende hasardrye.                                 590
Hasard is verray moder of lesynges
And of deceite and cursed forswerynges,                          590
Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre, and wast also
Of catel and of tyme. And forthermo
It is reproue and contrarie of honour
For to ben holden a commune hasardour.
And euere the hyer he is of estaat                               595
The moore is he holden desolat.
If that a prynce vseth hasardrye,
In alle gouernance and policye                                   600
He is as by commune opynyoun
Yholde the lasse in reputacioun.                                 600
  Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour,
Was sent to Corynthe in ful gret honour
Fro Lacedomye to make hir alliaunce.
And whan he cam, hym happed parchaunce
That alle the gretteste that were of that lond                   605
Pleiynge at the hasard he hem fond.
For which as soone as it myghte be
He stal hym hom agayn to his contree                             610
And seyde: "Ther wol I nat lese my name
N'Y wol nat take on me so greet defame                           610
Yow for to allie vnto none hasardours.
Sendeth othere wise embassadours,
For by my trouthe me were leuere dye
Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye.
For ye that been so glorious in honours                          615
Shal nat allye yow with hasardours
As by my wyl ne as by my tretee.'
This wise philosophre thus seyde he.                             620
  Looke eek that to the kyng Demetrius
The kyng of Parthes, as the book seith vs,                       620
Sente hym a paire of dees of gold in scorn                          f.199v
For he hadde vsed hasard therbiforn.
For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun
At no value or reputacioun.
Lordes may fynden oother manere pley                             625
Honeste ynow to dryue the day awey.
  Now wol I speke of oothes false and grete
A word or two, as olde bokes trete.                              630
Greet sweryng is a thyng abhomynable
And fals sweryng is yet moore repreuable.                        630
The heighe god forbad sweryng at al,
Witnesse on Mathew. But in special
Of sweryng seith the holy Ieremye:
Thow shalt swere sooth thyne othes and nat lye,
And swere in doom and eek in rightwisnesse;                      635
But ydel sweryng is a cursednesse.
  Bihoold and se that in the firste table
Of heighe goddes hestes honurable                                640
How that the seconde heste of hym is this:
Take nat my name in ydel or amys.                                640
Lo rather he forbedeth swich sweryng
Than homycide or many a cursed thyng.
I seye that as by ordre thus it standeth.
This knoweth that hise hestes vnderstandeth
How that the seconde heste of god is that.                       645
And fortherouer I wol thee telle al plat
That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous
That of hise othes is to outrageous:                             650
"By goddes precious herte' and "By his nayles'
And "By the blood of Crist that is in Hayles,                    650
Seuene is my chance and thyn is cynk and treye',
"By goddes armes if thow falsly pleye
This dagger shal thurghout thyn herte go'.
This frut cometh of the bicche bones two:
Forsweryng, ire, falsnesse, homycide.                            655
Now for the loue of Crist that for vs dyde
Lete youre othes bothe grete and smale.
But, sires, now wol I telle forth my tale.                       660
  Thise riotours thre of whiche I telle
Longe erst er pryme ronge of any belle                           660
Were set hem in a tauerne to drynke.                             f.200
And as they sat, they herde a belle klynke
Biforn a cors was caryed to his graue.
That oon of hem gan callen to his knaue:
"Go bet,' quod he, "and axe redily                               665
What cors is this that passeth heer forby.
And looke that thow reporte his name wel.'
  "Sire,' quod this boy, "it nedeth neuer-a-del.                 670
It was me told er ye cam heer two houres.
He was pardee an old felawe of youres,                           670
And sodeynly he was yslayn tonyght
Fordronke as he sat on his bench vpright.
Ther cam a priuee theef men clepeth deeth
That in this contree al the peple sleeth
And with his spere he smoot his herte atwo                       675
And wente his wey withouten wordes mo.
He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence.
And, maister, er ye come in his presence                         680
Me thynketh that it were necessarie
For to be war of swich an aduersarie.                            680
Beeth redy for to meete hym eueremoore:
Thus taughte me my dame. I sey namoore.'
  "By seinte Marie,' seyde this tauerner,
"The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yer
Henne ouer a myle withinne a greet village                       685
Bothe man and womman, child and hyne and page.
I trowe his habitacioun be there.
To been auysed greet wisdom it were
Er that he dide a man a dishonour.'
  "Ye goddes armes,' quod this riotour,                          690
"Is it swich peril with hym for to meete?
I shal hym seke by wey and eek by strete,
I make avow to goddes digne bones.
Herkneth, felawes. We thre been al ones.
Lat ech of vs holde vp his hand to oother                        695
And ech of vs bicome ootheres brother
And we wol sleen this false traytour deeth.
He shal be slayn, he that so manye sleeth,                       700
By goddes dignytee er it be nyght.'
  Togidres han thise thre hir trouthes plyght                    700
To lyue and dyen ech of hem with oother                         f.200v
As thogh he were his owene ybore brother.
And vp they stirte al dronken in this rage
And forth they goon towardes that village
Of which the tauerner hadde spoke biforn.                        705
And many a grisly ooth thanne han they sworn
And Cristes blessed body they torente:
Deeth shal be deed if they may hym hente.                        710
  Whan they han goon nat fully half a myle,
Right as they wolde han treden ouer a style                      710
An old man and a poure with hem mette.
This olde man ful mekely hem grette
And seyde thus: "Now, lordes, god yow se.'
  The proudeste of thise riotours thre
Answerde agayn: "What, carl with sory grace,                     715
Why artow al forwrapped saue thy face?
Why lyuestow so longe in so greet age?'
  This olde man gan looke in his visage                          720
And seyde thus: "For I ne kan nat fynde
A man, thogh that I walked into Inde,                            720
Neither in citee ne in no village
That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age.
And therfore moot I han myn age stille
As longe tyme as it is goddes wille.
Ne deeth allas ne wol nat haue my lyf.                           725
Thus walke I lyk a restelees caytyf
And on the ground which is my modres gate
I knokke with my staf bothe erly and late                        730
And seye: "Leeue moder, leet me in.
Lo how I vanysshe flessh and blood and skyn.                     730
Allas whan shal my bones been at reste.
Moder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste
That in my chambre longe tyme hath be,
Ye for an heyre-clowt to wrappe me.'
But yet to me she wol nat do that grace,                         735
For which ful pale and welked is my face.
  "But, sires, to yow it is no curteisye
To speken to an old man vileynye                                 740
But he trespase in word or ellis in dede.
In holy writ ye may yourself wel rede:                           740
Agayns an old man hoor vpon his heed                             f.20I
Ye shal arise. Wherfore I yeue yow reed:
Ne dooth vnto an old man noon harm now
Namoore than that ye wolde men dide to yow
In age, if that ye so longe abyde.                               745
And god be with yow wher ye go or ryde,
I moot go thider as I haue to go.'
  "Nay, olde cherl, by god thow shalt nat so,'                   750
Seyde this oother hasardour anon.
"Thow partest nat so lightly by seint Iohn.                      750
Thow speeke right now of thilke traytour deeth
That in this contree alle oure freendes sleeth.
Haue here my trouthe as thow art his espye.
Tel wher he is or thow shalt it abye
By god and by the holy sacrament.                                755
For soothly thow art oon of his assent
To sleen vs yonge folk, thow false theef.'
  "Now, sires,' quod he, "if that yow be so leef                 760
To fynde deeth, turn vp this croked wey
For in that groue I lafte hym by my fey                          760
Vnder a tree and ther he wol abyde.
Nat for youre boost he wol hym nothyng hyde.
Se ye that ook, right ther ye shal hym fynde.
God saue yow, that boghte agayn mankynde,
And yow amende.' Thus seyde this olde man.                       765
  And euerich of thise riotours ran
Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde
Of floryns fyne of gold ycoyned rounde                           770
Wel ny an viij busshels, as hem thoughte.
No lenger thanne after deeth they soughte,                       770
But ech of hem so glad was of the sighte
For that the floryns been so faire and brighte
That doun they sette hem by this precious hoord.
  The worste of hem, he spak the firste word:
"Bretheren,' quod he, "taak kepe what that I seye,               775
My wit is greet thogh that I bourde and pleye.
This tresor hath fortune vnto vs yeuen
In myrthe and iolitee oure lyf to lyuen.                         780
And lightly as it cometh so wol we spende.
Ey goddes precious dignytee! Who wende                           780
Today that we sholde han so fair a grace?                         f.201"
But myghte this gold be caried fro this place
Hoom to myn hous or ellis vnto youres
(For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures),
Thanne were we in heigh felicitee.                               785
But trewely by daye it may nat be.
Men wolde seyn that we were theues stronge
And for oure owene tresor doon vs honge.                         790
This tresor moste ycaried be by nyghte
As wisly and as sleyly as it myghte.                             790
Therfore I rede that cut amonges vs alle
Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle.
And he that hath the cut with herte blithe
Shal renne to towne and that ful swithe
And brynge vs breed and wyn ful priuely.                         795
And two of vs shal kepen subtilly
This tresor wel. And if he wol nat tarye,
Whan it is nyght we wol this tresor carye                        800
By oon assent wher as vs thynketh best.'
  That oon of hem the cut broghte in his fest                    800
And bad hem drawe and looke wher it wol falle.
And it fel on the yongeste of hem alle.
And forth toward the town he wente anon.
And also soone as that he was agon,
That oon of hem spak thus vnto that oother:                      805
"Thow knowest wel thow art my sworn brother,
Thy profit wol I telle thee anon.
Thow woost wel that oure felawe is agon                          810
And heere is gold and that ful greet plentee
That shal departed been among vs thre.                           810
But nathelees if I kan shape it so
That it departed were among vs two,
Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?'
  That oother answerde: "I noot how that may be;
He woot that the gold is with vs tweye.                          815
What shal we doon? What shal we to hym seye?'
  "Shal it be conseil?' seyde the firste shrewe.
"And I shal telle in a wordes fewe                               820
What we shul doon and brynge it wel aboute.'
  "I graunte,' quod that oother, "out of doute                   820
That by my trouthe I wol thee nat biwreye.                       f.202
  'Now,' quod the firste, "thow woost wel we be tweye
And two of vs shul strenger be than oon.
Looke whan that he is set, that right-anon
Arys as though thow woldest with hym pleye                       825
And I shal ryue hym thurgh the sydes tweye
Whil that thow strogelest with hym as in game;
And with thy daggere looke thow do the same.                     830
And thanne shal al this gold departed be,
My deere freend, bitwixe thee and me.                            830
Thanne may we bothe oure lustes al fulfille
And pleye at dees right at oure owene wille.'
And thus acorded been thise sherewes tweye
To sleen the thridde as ye han herd me seye.
  This yongeste which that wente to the toun,                    835
Ful ofte in herte he rolleth vp and doun
The beautee of thise floryns newe and brighte.
'O lord,' quod he, "if so were that I myghte                     840
Haue al this tresor to myself allone,
Ther is no man that lyueth vnder the trone                       840
Of god that sholde lyue so myrie as I.'
And at the laste the feend oure enemy
Putte in his thoght that he sholde poyson beye
With which he myghte sleen his felawes tweye;
Forwhy the feend foond hym in swich lyuynge                      845
That he hadde leue hym to sorwe brynge,
For this was outrely his ful entente
To sleen hem bothe and neuere to repente.                        850
  And forth he goth, no lenger wolde he tarye.
Into the toun vnto a pothecarye                                  850
And preyed hym that he hym wolde selle
Som poyson that he myghte his rattes quelle.
And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe
That, as he seyde, his capons hadde yslawe.
And fayn he wolde wreke hym if he myghte                         855
On vermyn that destroyed hym by nyghte.
  The pothecarie answerde: "And thow shalt haue
A thyng that, also god my soule saue,                            860
In al this world ther is no creature
That ete or dronke hath of this confiture                        860
Nat but the montaunce of a corn of whete                         f.202v
That he ne shal his lyf anoon forlete.
Ye sterue he shal, and that in lasse while
Than thow wolt goon a paas nat but a myle,
The poyson is so strong and violent.'                            865
  This cursed man hath in his hand yhent
This poyson in a box and sith he ran
Into the nexte strete vnto a man                                 870
And borwed hym large botels thre.
And in the two his poison poured he,                             870
The thridde he kepte clene for his drynke,
For al the nyght he shoop hym for to swynke
In cariyng of the gold out of that place.
And whan this riotour with sory grace
Hadde filled with wyn hise grete botels thre,                    875
To hise felawes agayn repaireth he.
  What nedeth it to sarmone of it moore,
For right as they hadde cast his deeth bifore                    880
Right so they han hym slayn and that anon?
And whan this was doon thus spak that oon:                       880
"Now lat vs sitte and drynke and make vs merye.
And afterward we wol his body berye.'
And with that word it happed hym par cas
To take the botel ther the poyson was
And drank and yaf his felawe drynke also,                        885
For which anon they storuen bothe two.
  But certes I suppose that Auycen
Wroot neuere in no canon ne in no fen                            890
Mo wonder signes of empoysonyng
Than hadde thise wrecches two er hir endyng.                     890
Thus ended been thise homicides two
And eek the false empoysoner also.
   O cursed synne of alle cursednesse,
O traytours homicide, o wikkednesse,
O glotonye, luxure, and hasardrye,                               895
Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileynye
And othes grete of vsage and of pryde.
Allas mankynde, how may it bityde                                900
That to thy creatour which that thee wroghte
And with his precious herte-blood the boghte                     900
Thow art so fals and so vnkynde allas?                             f.203
  Now, goode men, god foryeue yow youre trespas
And ware yow fro the synne of auarice.
Myn holy pardoun may yow alle warisse
So that ye offre nobles or starlynges                            905
Or ellis siluer broches, spones, rynges.
Boweth your heed vnder this holy bulle.
Cometh vp, ye wyues, offreth of youre wolle.                     910
Youre name I entre here in my rolle anon:
Into the blisse of heuene shul ye gon.                           910
I yow assoille by myn heigh power,
Ye that wol offre, as clene and eek as cler
As ye were born. And lo, sires, thus I preche.
And Iesu Crist that is oure soules leche
So graunte yow his pardoun to receyue,                           915
For that is best I wol yow nat deceyue.
  "But, sires, o word forgat I in my tale:
I haue relikes and pardon in my male                             920
As faire as any man in Engelond
Whiche were me yeuen by the popes hond.                          920
If any of yow wol of deuocioun
Offren and han myn absolucioun,
Com forth anon and kneleth here adoun
And mekely receyueth my pardoun.
Or ellis taketh pardoun as ye wende                              925
Al newe and fressh at euery myles ende,
So that ye offren alwey newe and newe
Nobles or pens whiche that been goode and trewe.                 930
It is an honour to euerich that is heer
That ye mowe haue a suffisant pardoner                           930
T'assoille yow in contree as ye ryde
For auentures whiche that may bityde.
Parauenture ther may falle oon or two
Doun of his hors and breke his nekke atwo.
Looke which a seuretee is it to yow alle                         935
That I am in your felaweship yfalle
That may assoille yow bothe moore and lasse
Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe.                     940
I rede that oure hoost shal bigynne
For he is moost envoluped in synne.                              940
Com forth, sire hoost, and offre first anon                      f.203"
And thow shalt kisse the relikes euerychon;
Ye for a grote vnbokele anon thy purs.'
  "Nay, nay,' quod he, "thanne haue I Cristes curs.
Lat be,' quod he. 'It shal nat be, so thee ich.                  945
Thow woldest make me kisse thyn olde breech
And swere it were a relyk of a seint
Thogh it were with thy fondement depeynt.                        950
But by the croys which that seint Eleyne foond
I wold I hadde thy coylons in myn hond                           950
In stide of relikes or of seintuarie.
Lat cutte hem of: I wol thee hem carie.
They shul be shryned in an hogges toord.'
  This pardoner answerde nat a word.
So wrooth he was no word ne wolde he seye.                       955
  "Now,' quod oure hoost, "I wol no lenger pleye
With thee ne with noon oother angry man.'
  But right-anon the worthy knyght bigan                         960
Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough:
"Namoore of this for it is right ynough.                         960
Sire pardoner, be glad and murye of cheere.
And sire hoost that been to me so deere,
I pray yow that ye kisse the pardoner.
And, pardoner, I pray thee drawe thee neer.
And as we diden lat vs lawe and pleye,'                          965
  Anon they kiste and ryden for@ hir weye.

Here is ended the pardoners tale.








Here bigynneth the shipmannes tale.                            f.204

A marchant whilom dwelled at Seint Denys                        1191
That riche was, for which men helde hym wys.
A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee
And compaignable and reuelous was she,
Which is a thyng that causeth moore dispence                       5
Than worth is al the cheere and reuerence
That men hem doon at festes and at daunces:
Swiche salutacions and contenances
Passen as dooth a shadwe vpon the wal.
But wo is hym that payen moot for al!                             10
The sely housbonde algate he moot paye.                         1201
He moot vs clothe and he moot vs arraye
Al for his owene worship richely:
In which array we dauncen iolily.
And if that he noght may parauenture                              15
Or ellis list no swich dispense endure
But thynketh it is wasted and ylost,
Thanne moot another payen for oure cost
Or lene vs gold and that is perilous.
This noble marchant heeld a worthy hous,                          20
For which he hadde alday so greet repair                          1211
For his largesse and for his wyf was fair
That wonder is. But herkneth to my tale.
  Amonges alle hise gestes grete and smale
Ther was a monk, a fair man and a bold,                           25
I trowe a thritty wynter he was old,
That euere in oon was drawyng to that place.
This yonge monk that was so fair of face
Aqueynted was so with the goode-man
Sith that hir firste knewliche bigan                              30
That in his hous as famulier was he                                 1221
As it is possible any freend to be.
And for as muchel as this goode man
And eek this monk, of which that I bigan,
Were bothe two yborn in o village                                 35
The monk hym claymeth as for cosynage.
And he agayn he seith nat ones nay,                              f.204"
But was as glad therof as fowel of day
For to his herte it was a gret plesance.
Thus been they knyt with eterne alliance:                         40
And ech of hem gan oother for t'assure                             1231
Of bretherhede whil that hir lyf may dure.
  Free was daun Iohn and manly of dispence
As in that hous, and ful of diligence
To doon plesance and also greet costage.                          45
He nat forgat to yeue the leeste page
In al that hous; but after hir degree
He yaf the lord and sith al his meynee,
Whan that he cam, som manere honeste thyng.
For which they were as glad of his comyng                         50
As fowel is fayn whan that the sonne vp riseth.                      1241
Namoore of this as now for it suffiseth.
  But so bifel this marchant on a day
Shoop hym to make redy his array
Toward the town of Brugges for to fare                            55
To byen there a porcion of ware;
For which he hath to Parys sent anon
A messager, and preyed hath daun Iohn
That he sholde come to seint Denys and pleye
With hym and with his wyf a day or tweye                           60
Er he to Brugges wente in alle wise.                            1251
  This noble monk, of which I yow deuyse,
Hath of his abbot as hym list licence,
By cause he was a man of heigh prudence
And eek an officer, out for to ryde                               65
To seen hir granges and hir bernes wyde,
And vnto seint Denys he comth anon.
Who was so welcome as my lord daun Iohn,
Oure deere cosyn ful of curteisye?
With hym broghte he a iubbe of maluesye                            70
And eek another ful of fyn vernage                              1261
And volatil as ay was his vsage.
And thus I lete hem ete and drynke and pleye,
This marchant and this monk, a day or tweye.
  The thridde day this marchant vp ariseth                        75
And on his nedes sadly hym auyseth.
And vp into his countour-hous goth he                             f.205
To rekene with hymself, wel may be,
Of thilke yeer how that it with hym stood
And how that he despended hadde his good                           80
And if that he encressed were or noon.                          1271
Hise bokes and his bagges many oon
He leyth biforn hym on his countyng-bord.
Ful riche was his tresor and his hord,
For which ful faste his countour-dore he shette.                  85
And eek he nolde that no man sholde hym lette
Of his acountes for the mene tyme.
And thus he sit til it was passed prime.
  Daun Iohn was risen in the morwe also
And in the gardyns walketh to and fro                                90
And hath his thynges seyd ful curteisly.                        1281
This goode-wyf cam walkyng priuely
Into the gardyn ther he walketh softe
And hym salueth as she hath doon ofte.
A mayde-child cam in hir compaignye                               95
Which as hir list she may gouerne and gye,
For yet vnder the yerde was the mayde.
  "O deere cosyn myn, daun Iohn,' she sayde,
"What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse?'
  "Nece,' quod he, "it oghte ynow suffise                             100
Fyue houres for to slepe vpon a nyght,                          1291
But it were for an old, apalled wight
As been thise wedded men that lye and dare
As in a forme sit a wery hare
Were al forstraught with houndes grete and smale.                    105
But, deere nece, why be ye so pale?
I trowe certes that oure goode-man
Hath yow laboured sith the nyght bigan
That yow were nede to resten hastily.'
And with that word he lough ful myrily,                          110
And of his owene thoght he weex al reed.                        1301
  This faire wyf gan for to shake hir heed
And seyde thus: "Ye, god woot al,' quod she.
"Nay, cosyn myn, it stant nat so with me,
For by that god that yaf me soule and lyf                        115
In al the reawme of France is ther no wyf
That lasse lust hath to that sory ple                               f205v
For I may synge allas and weilawey
That I was born. But to no wight,' quod she,
"Dar I nat telle how that it stant with me.                      120
Wherfore I thynke out of this land to wende                      1311
Or ellis of myself to make an ende,
So ful am I of drede and eek of care.'
  This monk bigan vpon this wyf to stare
And seyde: "Allas, my nece, god forbede                          125
That ye for any sorwe or any drede
Fordo yourself. But telleth me your grief.
Parauenture I may in youre meschief
Conseille or helpe, and therfore telleth me
Al youre anoy for it shal been secree.                           130
For on my porthors I make an oth                                 1321
That neuere in my lif for lief or loth
Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye.'
  "The same agayn to yow,' quod she, "I seye.
By god and by this porthors I swere                              135
Thogh men me wolde al into peces tere
Ne shal I neuere for to gon to helle
Biwreye a word of thyng that ye me telle,
Nat for no cosynage ne alliance
But verraily for loue and affiance.'                             140
Thus been they sworn and hervpon they keste                      1331
And ech of hem tolde oother what hem leste.
  "Cosyn,' quod she, "if that I hadde a space
As I haue noon, and namely in this place,
Thanne wolde I telle a legende of my lyf                         145
What I haue suffred sith I was a wyf
With myn housbonde, al be he youre cosyn.'
  "Nay,' quod this monk, "by god and seint Martin
He is namore cosyn vnto me
Than is this leef that hangeth on the tree.                      150
I clepe hym so by seint Denys of France                          1341
To han the moore cause of aqueyntance
Of yow, which I haue loued specially
Abouen alle wommen. Sikerly
This swere I yow on my professioun.                              155
Telleth youre grief lest that he come adoun
And hasteth yow, and goth awey anon.'                            f.206
  "My deere loue,' quod she, "o my daun Iohn,
Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde.
But out it moot; I may namoore abyde.                            160
  "Myn housbonde is to me the worste man                         1351
That euere was sith that the world bigan.
But sith I am a wyf it sit nat me
To tellen no wight of oure priuetee
Neither abedde ne in noon oother place.                          165
God shilde I sholde it tellen for his grace!
A wyf ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde
But al honour, as I kan vnderstonde.
Saue vnto yow thus muche I tellen shal:
As help me god he is noght worth at al                           170
In no degree the value of a flye.                                1361
But yet me greueth moost his nygardye.
And wel ye woot that wommen naturelly
Desiren thynges vj as wel as I:
They wolde that hir housbondes sholde be                         175
Hardy and wise and riche and therto free
And buxom vnto his wyf and fressh abedde.
But by that ilke lord that for vs bledde,
For his honour myself for to arraye
A Sonday next I moot nedes paye                                  180
An hundred frankes or ellis am I lorn.                           1371
Yet were me leuere that I were vnborn
Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileynye.
And if myn housbonde eek myghte it espye
I nere but lost, and therfore I yow preye                        185
Lene me this somme or ellis moot I deye.
Daun Iohn, I seye lene me thise hundred frankes.
Pardee I wol noght faile yow my thankes
If that yow list to doon that I yow praye,
For at a certeyn day I wol yow paye                              190
And doon to yow what plesance and seruyse                        1381
That I may doon, right as yow list deuyse.
And but I do, god take on me vengeance
As foul as euere hadde Genelon of France.'
  This gentil monk answerde in this manere:                      195
"Now trewely, myn owene lady deere,
I haue,' quod he, "on yow so gret a routhe
That I yow swere and plighte yow my trouthe
That whan youre housbonde is to Flandres fare                    f.206v
I wol deliuere yow out of this care,                             200
For I wol brynge yow an hundred frankes.'                        1391
And with that word he caughte hir by the flankes
And hir embraceth harde and kiste hir ofte.
"Goth now youre wey,' quod he, "al stille and softe
And lat vs dyne as soone as that ye may,                         205
For by my chilyndre it is pryme of day.
Goth now and beth as trewe as I shal be.'
  "Now ellis god forbede, sire,' quod she.
And forth she goth as iolif as a pye
And bad the cokes that they sholde hem hye                       210
So that men myghte dyne and that anon.                           1401
Vp to hir housbonde is his wyf ygon
And knokketh at his countour boldely.
  "Who ther?' quod he. "Peter it am I,'
Quod she. "What, sire, how longe wol ye faste?                   215
How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste
Youre sommes and youre bokes and youre thynges?
The deuel haue part on alle swiche rekenynges!
Ye haue ynogh pardee of goddes sonde.
Com doun today and lat youre bagges stonde.                      220
Ne be ye nat ashamed that daun Iohn                              1411
Shal fastynge al this day elenge gon.
What, lat vs heere a masse and go we dyne.'
  "Wyf,' quod this man, "litel kanstow deuyne
The curious bisynesse that we haue,                              225
For of vs chapmen (also god me saue
And by that lord that clepid is seint Yue)
Scarsly amonges xij x shul thryue
Continuelly lastyng vnto oure age.
We may wel make cheere and good visage                           230
And dryue forth the world as it may be                           1421
And kepen oure estat in pryuetee
Til we be dede or ellis that we pleye
A pilgrymage or goon out of the weye.
And therfore haue I gret necessitee                              235
Vpon this queynte world t'auyse me,
For eueremo we mote stonde in drede
Of hap and fortune in oure chapmanhede.
  "To Flandres wol I go tomorwe at day                           f.207
And come agayn as soone as euere I may.                          240
For which, my deere wyf, I thee biseke                           1431
As be to euery wight buxom and meke;
And for to kepe oure good be curious
And honestly gouerne wel oure hous.
Thow hast ynow in euery maner wise                               245
That to a thrifty houshold may suffise.
Thee lakketh noon array ne no vitaille.
Of siluer in thy purs shaltow nat faille.'
  And with that word his countour-dore he shette
And doun he goth, no lenger wolde he lette.                      250
But hastily a masse was ther seyd                                1441
And spedily the tables were yleyd.
And to the dyner faste they hem spedde
And richely this monk the chapman fedde.
  At after-dyner daun Iohn sobrely                               255
This chapman took apart and priuely
He seyde hym thus: "Cosyn, it standeth so
That wel I se to Brugges wol ye go.
God and seint Austyn spede yow and gyde.
I pray yow, cosyn, wysly that ye ryde.                           260
Gouerneth yow also of youre diete                                1451
Atemprely and namely in this hete.
Bitwix vs two nedeth no strange fare.
Farewel, cosyn, god shilde yow fro care.
And if that any thyng by day or nyght                            265
If it lye in my power and my myght
That ye me wol comande in any wise,
It shal be doon right as ye wol deuyse.
  "O thyng, er that ye goon, if it may be:
I wold preye yow for to lene me                                  270
An hundred frankes for a wyke or tweye                           1461
For certeyn bestes that I moste beye
To store with a place that is oures.
God help me so, I wolde it were youres.
I shal nat faille seurely of my day,                             275
Nat for a thousand frankes a myle way.
But lat this thyng be secree I yow preye,
For yet tonyght thise bestes moot I beye.
And fare now wel, myn owene cosyn deere.                        f.207"
Grant mercy of youre cost and of youre cheere.'                  280
  This noble marchant gentilly anon                              1471
Answerde and seyde: "O cosyn myn, daun Iohn,
Now sikerly this is a smal requeste.
My gold is youres whan that it yow leste,
And nat oonly my gold but my chaffare.                           285
Tak what yow list, god shilde that ye spare.
But o thyng is, ye knowe it wel ynow,
Of chapmen that hir moneye is hir plow.
We may creance whil we han a name,
But goldlees for to been it is no game.                          290
Pay it agayn whan it lyth in youre ese.                          1481
After my myght ful fayn wol I yow plese.'
  Thise hundred frankes he fette forth anon
And priuely he took hem to daun Iohn.
No wight in al this world wiste of this lone                     295
Sauyng this marchant and daun Iohn allone.
They drynke and speke and rome a while and pleye
Til that daun Iohn rideth to his abbeye.
  The morwe cam and forth this marchant rydeth
To Flandresward; his prentys wel hym gydeth                      300
Til he cam into Brugges murily.                                  1491
Now goth this marchant faste and bisily
Aboute his nede and byeth and creaunceth.
He neither pleyeth at the dees ne daunceth,
But as a marchant shortly for to telle                           305
He let his lyf. And ther I lete hym dwelle.
  The Sonday next the marchant was agon
To Seint Denys ycomen is daun Iohn
With crowne and berd al fressh and newe shaue.
In al the hous ther nas so litel a knaue                         310
Ne no wight ellis that he nas ful fayn                           1501
That my lord daun Iohn was come agayn.
And shortly to the poynt right for to gon
This faire wyf acorded with daun Iohn
That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al nyght                315
Haue hire in his armes bolt vpright.
And this acord parfourned was in dede.
In myrthe al nyght a bisy lyf they lede
Til it was day, that daun Iohn wente his way                     f.208
And bad the meynee farewel, haue good day.                       320
For noon of hem ne no wight in the town                          1511
Hath of daun Iohn right no suspecioun.
And forth he rydeth hom til his abbeye
Or where hym list. Namoore of hym I seye.
  This marchant whan that ended was the faire,                   325
To Seint Denys he gan for to repaire.
And with his wyf he maketh feste and cheere
And telleth hir that chaffare is so deere
That nedes moste he make a cheuyssance,
For he was bounden in a reconyssance                             330
To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon.                             1521
For which this marchant is to Parys gon
To borwe of certeyne freendes that he hadde
A certeyn frankes, and somme with hym he ladde.
And whan that he was come into the town,                         335
For greet chiertee and greet affeccioun
Vnto daun Iohn he first goth hym to pleye
Nat for to axe or borwe of hym moneye,
But for to wite and seen of his welfare
And for to tellen hym of his chaffare                            340
As freendes doon whan they been met yfeere.                      1531
Daun Iohn hym maketh feste and murye cheere.
And he hym tolde agayn ful specially
How he hadde wel yboght and graciously,
Thanked be god, al hool his marchandise                          345
Saue that he moste in alle maner wyse
Maken a cheuyssance as for his beste
And thanne he sholde been in ioye and reste.
  Daun Iohn answerde: "Certes I am fayn
That ye in heele ar comen hom agayn.                             350
And if that I were riche, as haue I blisse                       1541
Of twenty thousand sheeld sholde ye nat mysse.
For ye so kyndely this oother day
Lente me gold; and as I kan and may
I thanke yow by god and by seint Iame.                           355
But nathelees I took vnto oure dame,
Yowre wyf at hom, the same gold agayn
Vpon youre bench, she woot it wel certayn
By certeyn toknes that I kan yow telle.                          f.208v
Now by youre leue I may no lenger dwelle:                        360
Oure abbot wol out of this town anon                             1551
And in his compaignye moot I gon.
Greet wel oure dame, myn owene nece swete,
And farewel, deere cosyn, til we meete.'
This marchant which that was ful war and wys                     365
Creanced hath and payed eek in Parys
To certeyn Lombardes redy in hir hond
The somme of gold and gat of hem his bond
And hoom he gooth murye as a papyniay,
For wel he knew he stood in swich array                          370
That nedes moste he wynne in that viage                          1561
A thousand frankes abouen al his costage.
His wyf ful redy mette hym at the gate
As she was wont of old vsage algate.
And al that nyght in myrthe they bisette,                        375
For he was riche and cleerly out of dette.
  Whan it was day this marchant gan embrace
His wyf al newe and kiste hir on hir face.
And vp he goth and maketh it ful tough.
"Namoore,' quod she, 'by god ye haue ynough.'                    380
And wantownely agayn with hym she pleyde                         1571
Til at the laste this marchant seyde:
  "By god,' quod he, "I am a litel wroth
With yow, my wyf, althogh it be me looth.
And woot ye why? By god as that I gesse                          385
That ye han maad a manere strangenesse
Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun Iohn.
Ye sholde han warned me er I had gon
That he yow hadde a hundred frankes payed
By redy tokne; and heeld hym yuele apayed                        390
For that I to hym spak of cheuyssance -                          1581
Me semed so as by his contenance.
But nathelees by god oure heuene-kyng
I thoghte nat to axe of hym nothyng.
I pray thee, wyf, ne do namoore so.                              395
Tel me alwey er that I fro thee go
If any dettour hath in myn absence
Ypayed thee, lest thurgh thy necligence
I myghte hym axe a thyng that he hath payed.'                    f.209
  This wyf was nat afered ne afrayed,                            400
But boldely she seyde and that anon:                             1591
"Marie, I diffye the false monk, daun Iohn.
I kepe nat of his toknes neuer-a-del:
He took me certeyn gold, this woot I wel.
What yuel thedam on his monkes snowte!                           405
For god it woot I wende withouten dowte
That he hadde yeue it me by cause of yow
To doon therwith myn honour and my prow
For cosynage and eek for bele cheere
That he hath had ful ofte tymes heere.                           410
  "But sith I se it stant in this disioynt                       1601
I wole answere yow shortly to the poynt:
Ye han mo slakker dettours than am I
For I wol paye yow wel and redily
Fro day to day. And if so be I fayle,                            415
I am youre wyf: score it vpon my tayle.
And I shal paye as soone as euere I may.
For by my trouthe I haue on myn array
And nat in wast bistowed euery del.
And for I haue bistowed it so wel                                420
For youre honour, for goddes sake I seye                         1611
As be nat wrooth; but lat vs laughe and pleye.
Ye shal my ioly body han to wedde.
By god I wol noght paye yow but abedde.
Forgyue it me, myn owene spouse deere.                           425
Turn hiderward and maketh bettre cheere.'
  This marchant saugh ther was no remedye,
And for to chide it nere but folye
Syn that the thyng may nat amended be.
"Now, wyf,' he seyde, "and I foryeue it thee.                    430
But by thy lyf ne be namoore so large.                           1621
Keep bet thy good: this yeue I thee in charge.'
  Thus endeth my tale and god vs sende
Taillynge ynough vnto oure lyues ende.

Here endeth the shipmannes tale.








Herke the myrie wordes of the worthy hoost.                   f.209v

"Wel seyd by corpus dominus,' quod oure hoost.                   435
"Now longe moote thow saille by the coost,
Thow gentil maister, gentil maryner.
God yeue the monk a thousand last quaad yeer.
A ha felawes, beth war of swich a iape.
The monk putte in the mannes hood an ape                         440
And in his wyues eek by seint Austyn.                           1631
Draweth no monkes moore into youre in.
  "But now passe ouer and lat vs seke aboute
Who shal now telle first of al this route
Another tale.' And with that word he sayde                       445
As curteisly as it hadde been a mayde:
"My lady prioresse, by youre leue
So that I wiste I sholde yow nat agreue
I wolde demen that ye telle sholde
A tale next, if so were that ye wolde.                           450
Now wol ye vouche it sauf, my lady deere?'                       1641
"Gladly,' quod she; and seyde as ye shal heere.







The proheme of the prioresse tale.

    Domine dominus noster

"O lord, oure lord, thy name how merueilous
Is in this large world ysprad,' quod she,
"For nat oonly thy laude precious                                455
Parfourned is by men of dignytee,
But by the mouth of children thy bountee
Parfourned is, for on the brest soukynge
Somtyme shewen they thyn heryynge.

"Wherfore in laude as I best kan or may                          460
Of thee and of the white lilye-flour,                            1651
Which that the bar and is a mayde alway,
To telle a storie I wol do my labour -
Nat that I may encressen hir honour,
For she hirself is honour and the roote                          465
Of bountee, next hir sone, and soules boote.

"O moder-mayde, o mayde-moder free,                              f.210
O bussh vnbrent brennyng in Moyses sighte,
That rauysedest doun fro the deitee
Thurgh thyn humblesse the goost that in th'alighte,              470
Of whos vertu whan he thyn herte lighte                          1661
Conceyued was the fadres sapience,
Help me to telle it in thy reuerence.

"Lady, thy bountee, thy magnificence,
Thy vertu, and thy grete humylitee,                              475
Ther may no tonge expresse in no science.
For somtyme, lady, er men praye to thee
Thow goost biforn of thy benygnytee
And getest vs the light of thy prayere
To gyden vs vnto thy sone so deere.                              480
                                                                 1671
"My konnyng is so wayk, o blisful queene,
For to declare thy grete worthynesse
That I ne may the weighte nat sustene,
But as a child of twelue-month old or lesse
That kan vnnethe any word expresse                               485
Right so fare I. And therfore I yow preye
Gideth my song that I shal of yow seye.'

explicit prohemium.


Here bigynneth the prioresse Tale of Alma redemptoris mater.

Ther was in Asye in a greet citee
Amonges cristen folk a iewerye,
Sustened by a lord of that contree                               490
For foul vsure and lucre of vileynye,                            1681
Hateful to Crist and to his compaignye.
And thurgh this strete men myghte ryde and wende
For it was free and open at either ende.

A litel scole of cristen folk ther stood                          f.210v
Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther weere
Children an heep, ycomen of cristen blood,
That lerned in that scole yeer by yere
Swich manere doctrine as men vsed there,
This is to seyn to syngen and to rede                            500
As smale children doon in hir childhede.                         1691

Among thise children was a wydwes sone,
A litel clergeon vij yeer of age,
That day by day to scole was his wone.
And eek also wher as he say th'ymage                             505
Of Cristes moder hadde he in vsage,
As hym was taught, to knele adoun and seye
His Aue Marie as he goth by the weye.

Thus hath this wydwe hir litel sone ytaught
Oure blisful lady, Cristes moder deere,                                510
To worshipe ay, and he forgat it naught                                1701
For sely child wol alwey soone lere.
But ay whan I remembre on this matere,
Seint Nicholas stant euere in my presence
For he so yong to Crist dide reuerence.                                515

This litel child his litel book lernynge
As he sat in the scole at his prymer,
He Alma redemptoris herde synge
As children lerned hir antiphoner.
And as he dorste, he drow hym ner and ner                              520
And herkned ay the wordes and the note                                 1711
Til he the firste vers koude al by rote.

Nat wiste he what this Latyn was to seye
For he so yong and tendre was of age.
But on a day his felawe gan he preye                                   525
T'expounden hym this song in his langage
Or telle hym why this song was in vsage.
This prayde he hym to construen and declare
Ful ofte tyme vpon his knees bare.


His felawe which that elder was than he                          f.211 530
Answerde hym thus: "This song I haue herd seye                         1721
Was maked of oure blisful lady free
Hir to salue and eek hir for to preye
To been oure help and socour whan we deye.
I kan namoore expounde in this matere;                                 535
I lerne song: I kan but smal gramere.'

"And is this song maked in reuerence
Of Cristes moder?' seyde this innocent.
"Now certes I wol do my diligence
To konne it al er Cristemasse is went.                                 540
Thogh that I for my prymer shal be shent                               1731
And shal be beten thries in an houre,
I wol it konne oure lady for to honoure.'

His felawe taughte hym homward priuely
Fro day to day til he koude it by rote.                                545
And thanne he soong it wel and boldely
Fro word to word acordyng with the note.
Twyes a day it passed thurgh his throte:
To scoleward and homward whan he wente.
On Cristes moder set was his entente!                                  550

As I haue seyd, thurghout the iuerye                                   1741
This litel child as he cam to and fro
Ful murily wolde he synge and crye
O Alma redemptoris eueremo.
The swetnesse his herte perced so                                      555
Of Cristes moder, that to hir to preye
He kan nat stynte of syngyng by the weye.

Oure firste foo, the serpent Sathanas,
That hath in Iewes herte his waspes nest,
Vp swal and seyde: "O Hebrayk peple, allas                             560
Is this to yow a thyng that is honest                                  1751
That swich a boy shal walken as hym lest
In youre despit and synge of swich sentence
Which is agayns oure lawes reuerence?'

Fro thennesforth the Iewes han conspired                        f.211v 565
This innocent out of this world to chace.
An homycide therto han they hired
That in an aleye at a priuee place;
And as the child gan forby for to pace
This cursed lew hym hente and heeld hym faste                          570
And kitte his throte and in a pit hym caste.                           1761


I seye that in a wordrobe they hym threwe
Wher as thise Iewes purgen hir entraille.
  O cursed folk of Herodes al newe,
What may youre yuel entente yow auaille?                               575
Mordre wol out. Certeyn it wol nat faille,
And namely ther as th'onour of god shal sprede.
The blood out cryeth on youre cursed dede.


  O martir souded to virginitee,
Now maystow syngen folwyng euere in oon                                580
The white lamb celestial (quod she),                                   1771
Of which the grete euaungelist, seint Iohn,
In Pathmos wroot, which seith that they that gon
Biforn this lamb and synge a song al newe
That neuere flesshly womman they ne knewe.                             585

This poure wydwe awaiteth al that nyght
After hir litel child, but he cam noght.
For which as soone as it was dayes lyght
With face pale of drede and bisy thoght-
She hath at scole and elliswhere hym soght,                            590
Til fynally she gan so fer espie                                       1781
That he last seyn was in the iewerie.

With modres pitee in hir brest enclosed
She goth as she were half out of hir mynde
To euery place wheras she hath supposed                                595
By liklyhede hir litel child to fynde.
And euere on Cristes moder meke and kynde
She cryde, and at the laste thus she wroghte:
Among the cursed Iewes she hym soghte.


She frayneth and she prayeth pitously                            f.212 600
To euery Iew that dwelte in thilke place                               1791
To telle hir if hir child wente oght forby.
They seyde nay. But Iesu of his grace
Yaf in hir thought inwith a litel space
That in that place after hir sone she cryde                            605
Wher he was casten in a pit bisyde.

O grete god that parfournest thy laude
By mouth of innocentz, lo here thy myght!
This gemme of chastitee, this emeraude,
And eek of martirdom the ruby bright,                                  610
Ther he with throte ycoruen lay vpright                                1801
He Alma redemptoris gan to synge
So loude that al the place gan to rynge.

The cristen folk that thurgh the strete wente
In coomen for to wondre vpon this thyng,                               615
And hastily they for the prouost sente.
He cam anon withouten tariyng
And herieth Crist that is of heuene kyng
And eek his moder, honour of mankynde,
And after that the Iewes leet he bynde.                                620
                                                                       1811
This child with pitous lamentacioun
Vp taken was syngynge his song alway.
And with honour of greet processioun
They carien hym vnto the nexte abbay.
His moder swownyng by his beere lay.                                   625
Vnnethe myghte the peple that was there
This newe Rachel bryngen fro his beere.

With torment and with shameful deth echon
This prouost dooth thise Iewes for to sterue
That of this mordre wiste and that anon.                               630
He nolde no swich cursednesse obserue:                                 1821
Yuel shal haue that yuel wol disserue.
Therfore with wilde hors he dide hem drawe
And after that he heeng hem by the lawe.

Vpon his beere ay lyth this innocent                             f.212 635
Biforn the chief auter whil the masse laste.
And after that the abbot with his couent
Han sped hem for to buryen hym ful faste.
And whan they holy water on hym caste,
Yet spak this child whan spreynd was holy water                        640
And song O alma redemptoris mater.                                     1831

This abbot which that was an holy man,
As monkes ben or ellis oghten be,
This yonge child to coniure he bigan
And seyde: "O deere child, I halsen thee                               645
In vertu of the holy trinitee
Tel me what is thy cause for to synge
Sith that thy throte is kit to my semynge.'


"My throte is kit vnto my nekke-boon,'
Seyde this child, "and as by wey of kynde                              650
I sholde haue dyed ye longe tyme agoon.                                1841
But Iesu Crist, as ye in bokes fynde,
Wol that his glorie laste and be in mynde,
And for the worship of his moder deere
Yet may I synge O alma loude and clere.                                655


"This welle of mercy, Cristes moder swete,
I loued alwey as after my konnynge.
And whan that I my lyf sholde forlete
To me she cam and bad me for to synge
This antheme verraily in my deiynge                                    660
As ye han herd. And whan that I had songe.                             1851
Me thoughte she leyde a greyn vpon my tonge.

"Wherfore I synge and synge moot certeyn
In honour of that blisful mayden free
Til fro my tonge of taken is the greyn.                                665
And after that thus seyde she to me:
"My litel child, now wol I fecche thee
Whan that the greyn is fro thy tonge ytake.
Be nat agast, I wol thee nat forsake.'

This holy monk, this abbot hym mene I,                         f.213   670
His tonge out caughte and took awey the greyn.                         1861
And he yaf vp the goost ful softely.
And whan this abbot hadde this wonder seyn
His salte teerys trikled doun as reyn
And gruf he fil al flat vpon the grounde                               675
And stille he lay as he hadde leyn ybounde.

The couent eek lay on the pauement
Wepynge, and heryen Cristes moder deere.
And after that they ryse and forth been went
And toke awey this martir from his beere.                              680
And in a toumbe of marbilstones cleere                                 1871
Enclosen they this litel body swete.
Ther he is now, God lene vs for to meete.

O yonge Hugh of Lyncoln, slayn also
With cursed Iewes, as it is notable                                    685
For it is but a litel while ygo,
Preye eek for vs, we synful folk vnstable,
That of his mercy god so merciable
On vs his grete mercy multiplie
For reuerence of his moder Marie. Amen.                                690


Here endeth the prioresse tale.






Bihoold the myrie talkyng of the hoost to Chaucer.

Whan seyd was al this myracle, euery man                               1881
As sobre was that wonder was to se
Til that oure hoost iapen to bigan.
And thanne at erst he looked vpon me
And seyde thus: "What man artow?' quod he.                             695
"Thow lookest as thow woldest fynde an hare
For euere vpon the ground I se thee stare.

"Approche neer and looke vp myrily.                                 f.213v
Now war yow, sires, and lat this man haue place.
He in the wast is shape as wel as I:                                   700
This were a popet in an arm t'enbrace                                  1891
For any womman smal and fair of face.
He semeth eluyssh by his contenance
For vnto no wight dooth he no daliance.

"Sey now somwhat syn oother folk han sayd.                             705
Telle vs a tale of myrthe and that anon.'
"Hoost,' quod I, "ne beth nat yuele ypayd,
For oother tale certes kan I noon
But of a rym I lerned longe agoon.'
"Ye that is good,' quod he. "Now shul we heere                         710
Som deyntee thyng me thynketh by his cheere.'                          1901

Here bigynneth Chaucers tale of Thopas.

Listeth, lordes, in good entent
And I wil telle verrayment
  Of myrthe and of solas,
Al of a knyght was fair and gent                                       715
In bataille and in tornament.
  His name was sir Thopas.

Yborn he was in fer contree,
In Flaundres al biyonde the see,
  At Poperyng in the place.                                            720
His fader was a man ful free                                           1911
And lord he was of that contree
  As it was goddes grace.

Sire Thopas wax a doghty swayn.
Whit was his face as payndemayn,                                       725
  His lippes reed as rose,
His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn.
As I yow telle in good certayn
  He hadde a semely nose.


His heer, his berd was lyk safrown                                     730
That to his girdel raughte adown;                                      1921
   His shoon of cordewane.
Of Brugges were his hosen brown,
His robe was of syklatown
   That coste many a iane.                                             735

He koude hunte at wilde deer
And ride an hawkyng for ryuer
   With grey goshauk on honde.
Therto he was a good archier;
Of wrastlyng was ther noon his pier                                    740
   Ther any ram shal stonde.                                           1931


Ful many mayde bright in bour,                                      f.214
They moorne for hym paramour
   Whan hem were bet to slepe.
But he was chaast and no lechour                                       745
And swete as is the brambel-flour
   That bereth the rede hepe.

And so it fel vpon a day,
For sothe as I yow telle may,
   Sire Thopas wolde out ryde.                                         750
He warth vpon his steede gray,                                         1941
And in his hand a launcegay,
   A long swerd by his syde.

He priketh thurgh a fair forest
Therinne is many a wilde best,                                         755
   Ye bothe bukke and hare.
And as he priketh north and est,
I telle it yow hym hadde almest
   Bitydde a sory care.

There spryngen herbes grene and smale                                  760
The licorys and cetewale,                                              1951
   And many a clowe-gylofre,
And notemuge to putte in ale,
Wheither it be moyste or stale,
   Or for to leye in cofre.                                            765

The bryddes synge it is no nay,
The sparhauk and the popyniay,
   That ioye it was to here;
The thurstelcok made eek his lay,
The wodedowue vpon the spray,                                          770
   She sang ful loude and clere.                                       1961

Sire Thopas fil in loue-longynge
Al whan he herde the thrustel synge,
   And pryked as he were wood.
His fayre steede in his prikynge                                       775
So swatte that men myghte hym wrynge,
   Hys sydes were al blood.

Sire Thopas eek so wery was
For prikyng on the softe gras,
   So fiers was his corage,                                            780
That doun he leyde hym in the plas                                  1971
To make his steede som solas
   And yaf hym good forage.

"O seinte Marie, benedicite
What eyleth this loue at me                                            785
   To bynde me so soore?
Me dremed al this nyght pardee
An elf-queene shal my lemman be
   And slepe vnder my gore.

"An elf-queene wol I haue ywys,                                        790
For in this world no womman is                                         1981
   Worthy to be my make
        In towne.
Alle othere wommen I forsake
And to an elf-queene I me take                                         795
   By dale and eek by downe.

Into his sadel he clamb anoon
And priketh ouer style and stoon
   An elf-queene for t'espye,
Til he so longe hath riden and goon                                    800
That he foond in a pryuee woon                                         1991
   The contree of fairye
       So wylde.
For in that contree was ther noon                                    f.214v
That to hym dorste ryde or goon,                                       805
   Neither wyf ne childe,


Til that ther cam a greet geaunt,
His name was sire Olifaunt,
   A perilous man of dede.
He seyde: "Child, by Termagaunt                                        810
But if thow pryke out of myn haunt                                     2001
   Anon I sle thy steede
       With mace.
Heere is this queene of fairye
With harpe and pipe and symphonye                                      815
   Dwellyng in this place.'
The child seyde: "Als mote I thee
Tomorwe wol I meete thee
   Whan I haue myn armowre.
And yet I hope par ma fay                                              820
That thow shalt with this launcegay                                    2011
   Abyen it ful sowre.
        Thy mawe
Shal I percen if I may
Er it be fully pryme of day,                                           825
   For here shaltow ben slawe.'


Sire Thopas drow abak ful faste:
This geant at hym stones caste
   Out of a fel staf-slynge.
But faire escapeth child Thopas,                                       830
And al it was thurgh goddes graas                                      2021
   And thurgh his fair berynge.


zet lesteth lordes to my tale
Murier than the nyghtyngale.
   I wol yow rowne                                                     835
How sire Thopas with sydes smale
Prikyng ouer hyll and dale
   Is come agayn to towne.

Hys murye men comanded he
To make hym bothe game and glee,                                       840
   For nedes moste he fighte                                           2031
With a geant with heuedes thre
For paramour and iolitee
   Of oon that shoon ful brighte.

"Do come,' he seyde, "my mynstrales                                    845
And gestours for to tellen tales
   Anon in myn armyng
Of romances that been reales,
Of popes and of cardynales
   And eek of loue-likyng.'                                            850
                                                                       2041
They fette hym first swete wyn
And mede eek in a maselyn
   And real spicerye
Of gyngebred that was ful fyn
And lycorys and eek comyn                                              855
   With sugre that is trye.


He dide next his white leer
Of clooth of lake fyn and cleer
   A breech and eek a sherte;
And next his sherte an aketoun-                                        860
And ouer that an haubergeoun                                           2051
   For percyng of his herte;

And ouer that a fyn hauberk,
Was al ywroght of Iewes werk,
   Ful strong it was of plate;                                         865
And ouer that his cote-armour                                          f.215
As whit as is a lilie-flour
   In which he wol debate.

His sheeld was al of gold so reed
And therinne was a bores heed,                                         870
A charbocle by his syde.                                            2061
And there he swoor on ale and breed
How that the geant shal be deed
Bityde what bityde.

Hise iambeux were of quyrboily,                                        875
His swerdes shethe of yuory,
His helm of laton bright,
His sadel was of rewel-bon,
His brydel as the sonne shon
Or as the moone-light.                                              880
                                                                 2071
His spere was of fyn cipres
That bodeth werre and nothyng pes,
The heed ful sharp ygrounde.
His steede was al dappel-gray,
It goth an ambel in the way                                            885
Ful softely and rounde
In londe.
Lo lordes myne, here is a fit,
If ye wole any moore of it
To telle it wol I fonde.                                            890
                                                                  2081
Now hoold youre mouth par charitee,
Bothe knyght and lady free,
And herkneth to my spell.
Of bataille and of chiualry
And of ladyes loue-drury                                               895
Anon I wol yow tell.
Men speken of romances of pris,
Of Horn child and of Ypotys,
  Of Beves and sir Gy,
Of sire Lybeux and Playndamour;                                       900
But sire Thopas he bereth the flour                                   2091
  Of real chiualry.

His goode steede al he bystrood,
And forth vpon his wey he glood
  As sparcle out of the bronde.                                       905
Vpon his creest he bar a tour
And therinne stiked a lilie-flour.
  God shilde his cors fro shonde.


And for he was a knyght auntrous
He nolde slepen in noon hous                                          910
  But liggen in his hode.                                             2101
His brighte helm was his wonger.
And by hym bayteth his destrer
  Of herbes fyne and goode.

Hymself drank water of the well                                       915
As dide the knyght, sir Percyuell,
  So worly vnder wede,
Til on a day ...






Here the hoost stynteth Chaucer of his tale of Thopas and biddeth hym telle another tale.

"Namoore of this for goddes dignytee '                                2109
Quod oure hoost, "for thow makest me                                  920
So wery of thy verray lewednesse                                    f. 125v
That, also wisly god my soule blesse,
Myne erys aken of thy drasty speche.
Now swich a rym the deuel I biteche;
This may wel be rym dogerel,' quod he.                                925
  "Why so?' quod I. "Why wiltow lette me
Moore of my tale than another man
Syn that it is the beste rym I kan?'
  "By god,' quod he, "for pleynly at o word
Thy drasty rymyng is nat worth a tord.                                930
Thow doost noght ellis but despendest tyme.                           2121
Sire, at o word thow shalt no lenger ryme.
Lat se wher thow kanst tellen aught in geste
Or tel in prose somwhat at the leeste
In which ther be som myrthe or som doctrine.'                         935
  "Gladly,' quod I. "By goddes swete pyne
I wol yow telle a litel thyng in prose
That oghte like yow, as I suppose,
Or ellis certes ye be to daungerous.
It is a moral tale vertuous,                                          940
Al be it toold somtyme in sondry wise                                 2131
Of sondry folk, as I shal yow deuyse.
  "As thus: ye woot that euery euaungelist
That telleth vs the peyne of Iesu Crist
Ne seith nat alle thyng as his felawe dooth,                          945
But nathelees hir sentence is al sooth.
And alle acorden as in hir sentence
Al be ther in hir tellyng difference.
For somme of hem seyn moore and somme seyn lesse
Whan they his pitous passion expresse                                 950
(I mene of Mark, Mathew, Luk and Iohn),                               2141
But doutelees hir sentence is al oon.
  "Therfore, lordynges alle, I yow biseche
If that ye thynke I varie as in my speche
As thus, thogh that I telle somwhat moore                             955
Of prouerbes than ye han herd bifore
Comprehended in this litel tretys heere
To enforcen with th'effect of my matere
And thogh I nat the same wordes seye                                  2149
As ye han herd, yet to yow alle I preye                               960
Blameth me nat for as in my sentence                                  f.126
Shul ye nowher fynden difference
Fro the sentence of this tretys lite
After the which this myry tale I write.
And therfore herkneth what that I shal seye,                          965
And lat me tellen al my tale I preye.'

Here bigynneth Chaucers tale of Melibeus.


(967/2157) A yong man whilom called Melibeus myghty and riche bigat vpon
his wif that called was Prudence a doghter which that called was Sophie./
  Vpon a day bifel that he for his desport is went into the feeldes hym to pleye./
His wif and eek his doghter hath he laft inwith his hous of which the dores
weren faste yshette. (970/2160) Thre of his olde foos han it espied and setten
laddres to the walles of his hous and by wyndowes ben entred/ and betten his
wif and wounded his doghter with fyue mortal woundes in fyue sondry places;/
this is to seyn in hir feet, in hir handes, in hir erys, in hir nose, and in hir
mouth. And leften hir for deed and wenten awey./
  Whan Melibeus retourned was into his hous and seigh al this meschief he
lyk a madman rentynge his clothes gan to wepe and crye./ Prudence his wyf
as ferforth as she dorste bisoughte hym of his wepyng for to stynte. (975) But
nat forthy he gan to crye and wepen euere lenger the moore./
  This noble wif Prudence remembred hire vpon the sentence of Ouyde in his
book that cleped is The Remedie of Loue wher as he seith:/ He is a fool that
destourbeth the moder to wepe in the deth of hir child til she haue wept hir
fille as for a certeyn tyme;/ and thanne shal man doon his diligence with
amyable wordes hir to reconforte and preye hir of hir wepyng for to stynte./
For which reson this noble wyf Prudence suffred hir housbonde for to wepe
and crye as for a certeyn space. (980/2170) And whan she say hir tyme she
seyde hym in this wise: "Allas my lord,' quod she, "why make ye yourself for to
be lyk a fool?/ For sothe it aperteneth nat to a wys man to maken swich a
sorwe./ Yowre doghter with the grace of god shal warisshe and escape./ [f.2 16v]
And al were it so that she right now were deed, ye ne oghte nat as for hir
deth yourself to destroye./ Senec seith: The wise man shal nat take to greet
disconfort for the deth of his children: (985) but certes he sholde suffren it in
pacience as wel as he abideth the deth of his owene propre persone.'/
  This Melibeus answerde anon and seyde: "What man,' quod he, "sholde of
his wepyng stynte that hath so gret a cause for to wepe?/ Iesu Crist oure lord
hymself wepte for the deth of Lazarus, his freend.'/
  Prudence answerde: "Certes wel I woot attempree wepynge is nothyng
defended to hym that sorweful is amonges folk in sorwe, but it is rather
graunted hym to wepe./ The apostle Poul vnto the Romayns writeth: Man
shal reioysse with hem that maken ioye and wepen with swich folk as wepen.
(990/2180) But thogh attempree wepyng be graunted, outrageous wepyng
certes is defended./ Mesure of wepyng sholde be considered after the loore that
techeth vs Senec:/ Whan that thy freend is deed (quod he) lat nat thyne eyen
to moyste ben of terys ne to muche drye. Althogh the teerys come to thyne
eyen lat hem nat falle./ And whan thou hast forgoon thy freend, do diligence
to geten another freend: and this is moore wysdom than for to wepe for thy
freend which that thou hast lorn, for therinne is no boote./ And therfore if ye
gouerne yow by sapience put awey sorwe out of youre herte. (995) Remembre
yow that Iesus Syrak seith: A man that is ioyous and glad in herte it hym
conserueth florisshynge in his age, but soothly sorweful herte maketh his bones
drye./ He seith eek thus that sorwe in herte sleeth ful many a man./ Salomon
seith that right as moththes in the shepes flees anoyep to the clothes and the
smale wormes to the tree, right so anoyeth sorwe to the herte./ Wherfore vs
oghte as wel in the deth of oure children as in the losse of oure goodes temporels
haue pacience./ Remembre yow vpon the pacient Iob whan he hadde lost his
children and his temporel substance and in his body endured and receyued
ful many a greuous tribulacion, yet seide he thus: ( 1000/2190) Oure lord hath
yeuen it me; oure lord hath biraft it me; right so as oure lord hath wold,
right so it is doon. Yblessed be the name of oure lord'./
  To thise forseyde thynges answerde Melibeus vnto his wif Prudence: "Alle
thy wordes,' quod he, "been sothe and therto profitable. But trewely myn herte
is troubled with this sorwe so greuously that I noot what to doon.'/
  "Lat calle,' quod Prudence, "thy trewe freendes alle and thy lynage whiche
that [f.217] ben wise. Telleth youre cas and herkneth what they seye in
conseylynge; and yow gouerne after hir sentence./ Salomon seith: Werk alle
thy thynges by conseil and thow shalt neuere repente.'/
  Thanne by the conseil of his wyf Prudence this Melibeus leet callen a greet
congregacioun of folk, (1005) as sirurgiens, phisiciens, olde folk and yonge,
and somme of hise olde enemys reconsiled as by hir semblant to his loue and
into his grace./ And therwithal per coomen somme of hise neghebores that diden
hym reuerence moore for drede than for loue, as it happeth ofte./ Ther coomen
also ful manye subtile flaterers and wise aduocatz lerned in the lawe./ And
whan this folk togydre assembled weren, this Melibeus in sorweful wise shewed
hem his cas./ And by the manere of his speche it semed that in herte he baar
a cruel ire redy to doon vengeance vpon his foos and sodeynly desired that the
werre sholde bigynne. (1010/2200) But nathelees yet axed he hir conseil vpon
this matere./
  A sirurgien, by licence and assent of swiche as were wise, vp roos and vnto
Melibeus seyde as ye may heere./ "Sire,' quod he, "as to vs sirurgiens aperteneth
that we do to euery wight the beste that we kan where as we be withholden
and to oure pacientz that we do no damage;/ wherfore it happeth many tyme
and ofte that whan twey men han euerich wounded oother, o same sirurgien
heeleth hem bothe./ Wherfore vnto oure art it is nat pertinent to norice werre
ne parties to supporte. (1015) But certes as to the warisshynge of youre doghter,
al be it so that she perilously be wounded we shullen do so ententif bisynesse
fro day to nyght that with the grace of god she shal be hool and sound as
soone as is possible.'/
  Almoost right in the same wise the phisiciens answerden saue that they
seyden a fewe wordes moore,/ that right as maladyes ben cured by hir contraries
right so shal man warisshe werre by vengeance./
  Hise neghebores ful of enuye, hise feyned freendes that semeden reconsiled,
hise flaterers/ maden semblant of wepyng and empeyred and agregged muchel
of this matere in preisynge gretly Melibe of myght, of power, of richesse and of
freendes, despisynge the power of hise aduersaries; (1020/2210) and seyden
outrely that he anon sholde wreke hym on hise foos and bigynne werre./
  Vp roos thanne an aduocat that was wys, by leue and by conseil of othere
that weren wise, and seyde:/ "Lordynges, the nede for the which we ben
assembled in this place is ful heuy thyng and an [f.217v] heigh matere/ by cause
of the wrong and of the wikkednesse that hath be doon and eek by reson of
the grete damages that in tyme comynge been possible to fallen for the same
cause,/ and ek by reson of the grete richesse and power of the parties bothe;
(1025) for the whiche resons it were a ful greet peril to erren in this matere./
Wherfore, Melibeus, this is oure sentence. We conseile yow abouen alle thyng
that right-anon thow do diligence in kepynge of thy propre persone in swich
a wise that thow ne wante noon espye ne wacche thy body for to saue./ And
after that we conseille that in thyn hous thow sette suffisant garnyson so that
they may as wel thy body as thyn hous defende./ But certes for to moeue werre
ne sodeynly for to doon vengeance we may nat deme in so litel tyme that it
were profitable./ Wherfore we axen leyser and espace to haue deliberacioun
in this cas to deme; (1030/2220) for the commune prouerbe seyth this: He that
soone demeth soone shal repente./ And eek men seyn that thilke iuge is wys
that soone vnderstondeth a matere and iuggeth by leyser./ For al be it so that
al taryyng be anoyful, algates it is nat to repreue in yeuyng of iuggement ne in
vengeance-takyng whan it is suffisant and resonable;/ and that shewed oure
lord Iesu Crist by ensample. For whan that the womman that was taken in
auoutrye was broght in his presence to knowen what sholde be doon with hir
persone, al be it that he wiste wel hymself what that he wolde answere yet ne
wolde he nat answere sodeynly. But he wolde haue deliberacioun and in the
ground he wroot twies./ And by thise causes we axen deliberacion and we shul
thanne by the grace of god conseille thee thyng that shal be profitable.'
  (1035) Vp stirten thanne the yonge folk atones, and the mooste partie of that
compaignye han scorned this olde wise man and bigonnen to make noyse and
seyden that/ right so as whil that iren is hoot men sholde smyte, right so sholde
men wreken hir wronges whil that they been fresshe and newe. And with loud
voys they criden: "Werre, werre.'/
  Vp roos tho oon of thise olde wise and with his hand made contenance that
men sholde holden hem stille and yeuen hym audience./ "Lordynges,' quod
he, "ther is ful many a man that crieth werre, werre that woot ful litel what
werre amounteth./ Werre at his bigynnyng hath so greet an entree and so large
[f.218] that euery wight may entre whan hym liketh and lightly fynde werre.
(1040/2230) But certes what ende that therof shal falle it is noght light to
knowe./ For soothly whan that werre is ones bigonne, ther is ful many a child
vnborn of his moder that shal sterue yong by cause of thilke werre or ellis
lyue in sorwe and dye in wrecchednesse./ And therfore er that any werre be
bigonne men moste haue gret conseil and gret deliberacioun.'/ And whan this
olde man wende to enforcen his tale by resons, wel neigh all atones bigonne
they to rise for to breken his tale and beden hym ful ofte hise wordes for to
abregge./ For sothly he that precheth to hem that listen nat heren hise wordes,
hys sarmon hem anoyeth. (1045) For Iesus Syrak seith that musyk in wepynge
is anoyous thyng. This is to seyn, as muche auaileth to speken biforn folk to
whiche his speche anoyeth as it is to synge biforn hym that wepeth./ And whan
this wise man say that hym wanted audience, al shamefast he sette hym doun
agayn./ For Salomon seith: Ther as thow ne mayst haue non audience, enforce
thee nat to speke./ "I se wel,' quod this wise man, 'that the comune prouerbe
is sooth that good conseil wanteth whan it is moost nede.'/
  Yet hadde this Melibeus in his conseil many folk that priuely in his ere
conseiled hym certeyn thyng and conseiled hym the contrarie in general
audience. (1050/2240) Whan Melibeus hadde herd that the gretteste party of
his conseil were acorded that he sholde make werre, anon he consented to hir
conseilyng and fully affermed hir sentence./
  Thanne dame Prudence whan that she say how that hyr housbonde shoop
hym for to wreke hym on his foos and to bigynne werre, she in ful humble
wise whan she say hir tyme seyde hym thise wordes./ "My lord,' quod she,
"I you biseche as hertely as I dar and kan, ne haste yow nat to faste, and for
alle gerdons as yif me audience./ For Piers Alfonce seith: Whoso that dooth to
thee outher good or harm haste thee nat to quiten it, for in this wise thy freend
wol abyde and thyn enemy shal the lenger lyue in drede./ The prouerbe seith:
He hasteth wel that wysly kan abide. And in wikked haste is no profit.'
  (1055) This Melibe answerde vnto his wyf Prudence: "I purpose nat,' quod
he, "to werken by thy conseil for many causes and resons, for certes euery
wight wolde holde me thanne a fool;/ this is to seyn if I for thy conseilyng
wolde chaunge [f.218v] thynges that ben ordeyned and affermed by so manye
wise./ Secoundly I seye that alle wommen ben wikke and noon good of hem
alle, for of a thousand men (seith Salomon) I foond o good man, but certes
of alle wommen good womman foond I neuere./ And also certes if I gouerned
me by thy conseil, it sholde seme that I hadde yeue to thee ouer me the maistrie
and goddes forbode that it so were./ For Iesus Syrak seith that if the wyf haue
maistrie she is contrarious to hir housbonde. (1060/2250) And Salomon seith:
Neuere in thy lyf to thy wyf ne to thy child ne to thy freend ne yif no power
ouer thyself, for bettre it were that thy children axen of thy persone thynges
that hem nedeth than thow see thyself in the handes of thy children./ And
also if I wolde werke by thy conseilyng certes my conseil moste somtyme be
secree til it were tyme that it moste be knowe, and this ne may nat be.'/
[1062--3/2252--3 missing]
  (1064/2254) Whan dame Prudence ful debonairly and with gret pacience
hadde herd al that hir housbonde liked for to seye, thanne axed she of hym
licence for to speke and seyde in this wise. (1065) "My lord,' quod she, "as to
youre firste reson certes it may lightly been answered, for I seye that it is no
folie to chaunge conseil whan the thyng is chaunged or ellis whan the thyng
semeth ootherweys than it was biforn./ And mooreouer I seye that thogh that ye
han sworn and bihight to parfourne youre emprise and nathelees ye weyue to
parfourne thilke same emprise by iuste cause, men sholde nat seyn therfore
that ye were a lyer ne forsworn./ For the book seith that the wise man maketh
no lesyng whan he turneth his corage to the bettre./ And al be it so that youre
emprise be establissed and ordeyned by gret multitude of folk, yet thar ye nat
accomplice thilke same ordinance but yow like,/ for the trouthe of thynges and
the profit ben rather founde in fewe folk that ben wise and ful of reson than
by gret multitude of folk ther euery man crieth and clatereth what that hym
liketh. Soothly swich multitude is nat honeste.
  (1070/2260) "And to the seconde resoun wher as ye seyn that alle wommen
ben wikke, saue youre grace certes ye despise alle wommen in this wyse; and
he that al despiseth al displeseth, as seith the book./ And Senec seith that whoso
wole haue sapience shal no man dispreise, but he shal gladly teche the science
that he kan withoute presumpcion or pride;/ and swiche thynges as he noght
ne kan he shal nat ben ashamed to lerne hem and enquere [f.219] of lasse folk
than hymself./ And, sire, that ther hath be ful many a good womman may
lightly be preued./ For certes, sire, oure lord Iesu Crist wolde neuere han
descended to be born of a womman if alle wommen hadde be wikke. (1075)
And after that for the grete bountee that is in wommen oure lord Iesu Crist
whan he was risen fro deth to lyf appered rather to a womman than to his
apostles./ And though that Salomon seith that he ne foond neuere womman
good, it folweth nat therfore that alle wommen ben wikke./ For thogh that he
ne foond no good womman, certes many another man hath founde many a
womman ful good and trewe./ Or ellis parauenture the entente of Salomon
was this that as in souereyn bountee he foond no womman;/ this is to seyn that
ther is no wight that hath souereyn bountee saue god allone as he hymself
recordeth in his euaungelie. (1080/2270) For ther nys no creature so good that
hym ne wanteth somwhat of the parfeccioun of god that is his makere./
  "Youre thridde reson is this. Ye seyn that if ye gouerne yow by my conseil,
it sholde seme that ye hadde yeue me the maistrie and the lordshipe ouer
youre persone./ Sire, sauf youre grace it is nat so, for if so were that no man
sholde be conseiled but oonly of hem that hadde lordshipe and maistrie of his
persone men wolde nat ben conseiled so ofte./ For soothly thilke man that
axep conseil of a purpos, yet hath he free choys wheither he wole werke by that
conseil or noon./
  "And as to youre ferpe reson ther ye seyn that the ianglerye of wommen
kan hide thynges that they woot nat, as who seith that a womman kan nat
hide that that she woot. (1085) Sire, thise wordes been vnderstonde of wommen
that ben iangleresses and wikked./ Of whiche wommen men seyn that thre
thynges dryuen a man out of his hous, that is to seyn smoke, droppyng of reyn,
and wikked wyues./ And of swiche wommen seith Salomon that it were bettre
dwellen in desert than with a womman that is riotous./ And, sire, by youre
leue that am nat I./ For ye han ful ofte assayed my grete silence and my grete
pacience and eek how wel that I kan hiden and hele thynges that men oghten
secrely to hyde.
  (1090/2280) "And soothly as to youre fifthe reson wher as ye seyn that in
wikked conseil wommen venquysse men, god woot thilke reson stant heere in
no stede./ For vnderstond now ye axen conseil to do wikkednesse./ And if ye wol
werke wikkednesse and youre wyf restreyne@ @ilke [f.219v] wikked purpos and
ouercometh yow by reson and by good conseil,/ certes youre wyf oghte rather
be preysed than yblamed./ Thus sholde ye vnderstonde the philosophre that
seith: In wikked conseil wommen venquyssen hir housbondes.
  (1095) "And ther as ye blamen alle wommen and hir resons I shal shewe by
manye ensamples that many a womman hath be ful good and yet ben, and
hir conseils holsom and profitable./ Eke som men han seyd that the
conseilyng of wommen is outher to deere or ellis to litel of prys./ But al be it so
that ful many a womman is badde and hir conseil vile and noght worth, yet
han men founde ful many a good womman and ful discrete and wys in
conseilynge./ Lo Iacob by conseil of his moder Rebekka wan the beneyson of
Ysaak his fader and the lordshipe ouer alle his bretheren./ Iudith by hir good
conseil deliuered the citee of Bethulye in which she dwelled out of @e handes of
Olofernus that hadde it biseged and wolde it al destroye. (1100/2290) Abigail
deliuered Nabal hir housbonde fro Dauid the kyng that wolde han slayn hym
and apaised the ire of the kyng by hir wit and by hir good conseilyng./ Hester
by hir good conseil enhaunced gretly the peple of god in the regne of Assuerus
the kyng./ And the same bountee in good conseilyng of many a good womman
may men telle./ And mooreouer whan that oure lord hadde creat Adam oure
forme-fader he seyde in this wise:/ "It is nat good to be a man allone; make
we to hym an help semblable to hymself.' (1105) Heere may ye se that if that
wommen were nat goode and hir conseil good and profitable,/ oure lord god of
heuene wolde neither han wroght hem ne called hem help of man but rather
confusion of man./ And ther seyde ones a clerk in two vers: What is bettre
than gold? Iaspre. What is bettre than iaspre? Wisdom./ And what is bettre
than wisdom? Womman. And what is bettre than good womman? Nothyng./
And, sire, by manye of othere resons may ye seen that manye wommen ben
goode and hir conseil good and profitable. (1110/2300) And therfore, sire, if
ye wol truste to my conseil I shal restore yow youre doghter hool and sound,/
and eek I wol doon to yow so muche that ye shul haue honour in this
cause.'/
  Whan Melibe hadde herd the wordes of his wyf Prudence, he seyde thus:/
"I se wel that the word of Salomon is sooth. He seith that wordes that ben
spoken discretly by ordinance beth honycombes, for they yeue swetnesse to the
soule and holsomnesse to the body./ And, wyf, by cause of the swete [f.220]
wordes and eek for I haue assayed and preued thy grete sapience and thy
grete trouthe, I wol gouerne me by thy conseil in alle thyng.

  (1115) "Now sire,' quod dame Prudence, "and syn ye vouchesauf to been
gouerned by my conseil, I wol enforme yow how ye shal gouerne yow self
in chesynge of youre conseilours./ Ye shal first in alle youre werkes mekely
biseken to the heighe god that he wol be youre conseillour,/ and shapeth yow
to swich entente that he yeue yow conseil and confort as taughte Thobie his
sone./ At alle tymes thow shalt blesse god and praye hym to dresse thy weyes
and looke that alle thy conseils ben in hym for eueremoore./ Seint Iame eek
seith: If any of yow haue nede of sapience, axe it of god. (1120/2310) And
afterward thanne shal ye take conseil in yourself and examyne wel youre
thoghtes of swiche thynges as yow thynketh that is best for youre profit./
And thanne shal ye dryue fro youre herte thre thynges that been contrariouse
to good conseil;/ that is to seyn, ire, coueitise, and hastynesse./
  "First he that axeth conseil of hymself, certes he moste be withouten ire
for many causes./ The firste is this. He that hath greet ire and wrathe in
hymself he weneth alwey that he may do thyng that he may nat do. (1125)
And secoundly he that is irous and wro@, he ne may nat wel deme./ And he
that may nat wel deme may nat wel conseille./ The thridde is this that he that
is irous and wro@, as seith Senek, ne may nat speke but blameful thynges./
And with hise viciouse wordes he stireth oother folk to angre and to ire./ And
eek, sire, ye moste dryue coueitise out of youre herte. (1130/2320) For the
apostle seith that coueitise is the roote of alle harmes./ And trust wel that a
coueitous man ne kan nat deme ne thenke but oonly to fulfille the ende of his
coueitise./ And certes that ne may neuere been acompliced, for euere the moore
habundance that he hath of richesse the moore he desireth./ And, sire, ye moste
also dryue out of youre herte hastifnesse, for certes/ye may nat deme for @e
beste a sodeyn thoght that falleth in youre herte, but ye moste auyse yow on
it ful ofte. (1135) For as ye herde herbiforn the comune prouerbe is this that
he that soone demeth soone repenteth./
  "Sire, ye ne ben nat alwey in lyke disposicioun:/ for certes som thyng that
somtyme semeth to yow that it is good for to do, another tyme it semeth to yow
the contrarie,/ whan ye han taken conseil in yourself and han demed by good
deliberacioun swich thyng as yow semeth best./
  "Thanne rede I yow that ye kepe it secree. (1140/2330) Biwrey nat youre
conseil to no persone, but if so be that ye wenen [f.220v] sikerly that thurgh
yowr bywreyyng youre condicioun shal ben to yow moore profitable./ For
lesus Syrak seith: Neither to thy foo ne to thy freend discouere nat thy secree
ne thy folie;/ for they wol yeue yow audience and lokyng and supportacioun
in thy presence and scorne thee in thyn absence./ Another clerk seith that
scarsly shaltow fynden any persone that may kepe conseil secrely./ The book
seith: Whil that thow kepest thy conseil in thyn herte, thow kepest it in thy
prison. (1145) And whan thow biwreyest thy conseil to any wight he holdeth
thee in his snare./ And therfore yow is bettre to hide youre conseil in youre
herte than preyen hym to whom ye haue biwreyed youre conseil that he wol
kepen it cloos and stille./ For Seneca seith: If so be that thou ne mayst nat
thyn owene conseil hyde, how dorstow preyen any oother wight thy conseil
secrely to kepe?/ But nathelees if thow wene sikerly that thy biwreyyng of thy
conseil to a persone wol maken thy condicion to stonden in the bettre plyt,
thanne shaltow telle hym thy conseil in this wise./ First thow shalt make no
semblant wheither thee were leuere pees or werre or this or that, ne shewe
hym nat thy wyl and thyn entente. (1150/2340) For trust wel that comunely
thise conseillours ben flaterers,/ namely the conseillours of grete lordes/ for they
enforcen hem alwey rather to speke plesante wordes enclynynge to the lordes
lust than wordes that ben trewe or profitable./ And therfore men seyn that
the riche man hath selde good conseil but if he haue it of hymself./ And after
that thow shalt considere thy freendes and thyne enemys. (1155) And as
touchynge thy freendes thow shalt considere whiche of hem that been moost
feithfull and moost wise and eldest and moost approued in conseillyng./ And
of hem shaltow axe thy conseil as the cas requyreth./
  "I seye that first ye shul clepe to youre conseyl youre freendes that ben
trewe./ For Salomon seith that right as the herte of a man deliteth in sauour
that is soote, right so the conseil of trewe freendes yeueth swetnesse to the
soule./ He seith also: Ther may nothyng be likned to the trewe freend. (1160/
2350) For certes gold ne siluer ben noght so muche worth as the goode wyl
of a trewe freend./ And eek he seith that a trewe freend is a strong defense:
whoso that it fyndeth certes he fyndeth a gret tresor./ Thanne shul ye eek
considere if that youre trewe freendes been discrete and wise; for the book
seith: Axe alwey thy conseil of hem that been wise./ And by this same [f.221]
reson shul ye clepen to youre conseil of yowre freendes that ben of age swiche
as han seighen and ben expert of manye thynges and ben approued in
conseilynges./ For the book sei@ that in olde men is the sapience and in longe
tyme the prudence. (1165) And Tullius seith that grete thynges ne ben nat ay
acompliced by strengthe ne by delyuernesse of body but by good conseil, by
auctoritee of persones, and by science. The whiche thre thynges ne been nat
fieble by age, but certes they enforcen and encressen day by day./ And thanne
shal ye kepe this for a general rule: first shal ye clepe to youre conseil a fewe
of youre freendes that ben especiale./ For Salomon seith: Manye freendes haue
thow, but among a thousand chees thee oon to be thy conseillour./ For al be
it so that thow first ne telle thy conseil but to a fewe, thow mayst afterward
telle it to mo folk if it be nede./ But looke alwey that thy conseillours haue
thilke thre condicions that I haue seyd bifore; that is to seye, that they be
trewe, wise, and of old experience. (1170/2360) And werk nat alwey in euery
nede by o conseillour allone, for somtyme bihoueth it to be conseiled by
manye./ For Salomon seith: Saluacion of thynges is wher as ther ben manye
conseilours./
  "Now sith that I haue told yow of which folk ye sholde be conseilled, now
wol I teche yow which conseil ye oghte eschue./ First ye shul eschue the
conseillyng of fooles. For Salomon seith: Take no conseil of a fool for he ne kan
nat conseille but after his owene lust and his affeccioun./ The book seith that
the propretee of a fool is this: He trowe@ lightly harm of euery wight and lightly
troweth alle bountee in hymself. (1175) Thow shalt eek eschue the conseillyng
of alle flaterers swiche as enforcen hem rather to preise youre persone by flaterye
than for to telle yow the soothfastnesse of thynges./ Wherfore Tullius seith:
Among alle the pestilences that been in frendshipe the gretteste is flaterye.
And therfore is it moore nede that thow eschue and drede flaterers than any
oother peple./ The book seith: Thow shalt rather drede and flee fro the swete
wordes of flaterynge preiseres than fro the egre wordes of thy freend that seith
thee thy sothes./ Salomon seith that the wordes of a flaterer is a snare to cacchen
innocentz./ He seith also that he that speketh to his freend wordes of swetnesse
and of [f.221v] plesance setteth a net biforn his feet to cacchen hym. (1180/
2370) And therfore seith Tullius: Enclyne nat thyne erys to flatereres ne tak no
conseil of wordes of flaterye./ And Caton seith: Auyse thee wel and eschue
wordes of swetnesse and of plesance./ And eek thow shalt eschue the conseillyng
of thynne olde enemys that ben reconsiled./ The book seith that no wight
retourneth saufly into the grace of his olde enemy./ And Ysope seith: Ne trust
nat to hem to whiche thow hast had somtyme werre or enemytee, ne telle
hem nat thy conseil. (1185) And Seneca telleth the cause why. It may nat
be (seith he) that wher as greet fyr hath longe tyme endured that ther ne
dwelleth som vapour of warmnesse./ And therfore seith Salomon: In thyn olde
foo trust neuere./ For sikerly thogh thyn enemy be reconsiled and maketh
thee cheere of humylitee and louteth to thee with his heed, ne trust hym
neuere./ For certes he maketh thilke feyned humylitee moore for his profit
than for any loue of thy persone by cause that he demeth to haue victorie
ouer thy persone by swich feyned continance; the which victorie he myghte
nat haue by strif or werre./ And Peter Alfonce seith: Make no felaweshipe
with thyne olde enemys for if thow do hem bountee they wol peruerten it
into wikkednesse. (1190/2380) And eek thou most eschue the conseillyng of hem
that ben thy seruantz and beren thee gret reuerence, for parauenture they
seyn it moore for drede than for loue./ And therfore seith a philosophre in this
wise: Ther is no wight parfitly trewe to hym that he to soore dredeth./ And
Tullius seith: Ther nys no myght so gret of any emperour that longe may
endure but if he haue moore loue of the peple than drede./ Thou shalt also
eschue the conseillyng of folk that ben dronkelewe for they ne kan no conseil
hyde./ For Salomon seith: Ther is no priuetee ther as regneth dronkenesse.
(1195) Ye shal also han in suspect the conseilyng of swich folk as conseile yow
a thyng priuely and conseille yow the contrarie openly./ For Cassiodorie seith
that it is a maner sleighte to hyndre whan he sheweth to doon a thyng openly
and werketh pryuely the contrarie./ Thow shalt also haue in suspect the
conseilyng of wikked folk. For the book seith: The conseilyng of wikked folk
is alwey ful of fraude./ And Dauid seith: Blisful is that man that hath nat
folwed the conseilyng of sherewes./ Thow shalt also eschue [f.222] the
conseilyng of yong folk for hir conseil is nat rype.
  (1200/2390) "Now, sire, sith I haue shewed yow of which folk ye shul take
youre conseil and of which folk ye shul folwe the conseil,/ now wol I teche
yow how ye shul examyne youre conseil after the doctrine of Tullius./ In the
examynynge thanne of youre conseillour ye shul considere many thynges./
Alderfirst thou shalt considere that in thilke thyng that thow purposest and
vpon what thyng thow wolt haue conseil that verray trouthe be seyd and
conserued; this is to seyn, telle trewely thy tale./ For he that seith fals may nat
wel be conseiled in that cas of which he lyeth. (1205) And after this thow
shalt considere the thynges that acorden to that thow purposest for to do
by thy conseillours if reson acorde therto,/ and eek if thy myght may atteyne
therto, and if the moore part and the bettre part of thy conseillours acorde
therto or no./ Thanne shaltow considere what thyng shal folwe of that
conseilyng as hate, pees, werre, grace, profit, or damage, and many othere
thynges./ And in alle thise thynges thow shalt chese the beste and weyue alle
othere thynges./ Thanne shaltow considere of what roote is engendred the
matere of thy conseil and what fruyt it may conceyue and engendre. (1210/
2400) Thow shalt eek considere alle thise causes from whennes they ben
sprongen./
  "And whan ye haue examyned youre conseil as I haue seyd and which partie
is the bettre and moore profitable and han approued it by manye wise folk
and olde,/ thanne shaltow considere if thou mayst parforme it and maken of
it a good ende./ For reson wol nat that any man sholde bigynne a thyng but
if he myghte parforme it as hym oghte./ Ne no wight sholde take vpon hym
so heuy charge that he myghte nat beren it. (1215) For the prouerbe seith:
He that to muche embraceth destreyneth litel./ And Caton seith: Assay to do
swich thyng as thow hast power to doon, lest that the charge oppresse thee
so soore that thee bihoueth to weyue thyng that thow hast bigonne./ And if
so be that thow be in doute wheither thow mayst parfourne a thyng or noon,
chees rather to suffre than bigynne./ And Peter Alfonce seith: If thow hast
myght to doon a thyng of which thow most repente, it is bettre nay than ye;/
this is to seyn that thee is bettre to holde thy tonge stille than for to speke.
(1220/2410) Thanne may ye vnderstonde by strenger resons that if thow hast
power to [f.222v] parforme a werk of which thow shalt repente, thanne is it
bettre that thow suffre than bigynne./ Wel seyn they that defenden euery
wight to assaye a thyng of which he is in doute wheither he may parforme
it or no./ And after whan ye haue examyned youre conseil as I haue seyd
biforn and knowen wel that ye may parforme youre emprise, conferme it
thanne sadly til it be at an ende./
  "Now is it resoun and tyme that I shewe yow whanne and wherfore that ye
may chaunge youre conseillours withoute youre reproue./ Soothly man may
chaungen his purpos and his conseil if the cause cesseth or whan a newe cas
bitideth. (1225) For the lawe seith that vpon thynges that newely bitideth
bihoueth newe conseil./ And Seneca seith: If thy conseil is come to the erys
of thyn enemy, chaunge thy conseil./ Thow mayst also chaunge thy conseil
if so be that thou fynde that by errour or by oother cause harm or damage
may bityde./ Also if thy conseil be deshoneste or ellis cometh of deshoneste
cause chaunge thy conseil./ For the lawes seyn that alle bihestes that ben
deshoneste ben of no value; (1230/2420) and eek if it so be that it be inpossible
or may nat goodly be parformed or kept./ And take this for a general rule that
euery conseil that is affermed so strongly that it may nat be chaunged for no
condicion that may bityde, I seye that thilke conseil is wikked.'/
  This Melibeus whan he hadde herd the doctrine of his wyf dame Prudence
answerde in this wise./ "Dame,' quod he, "as yet into this tyme ye han wel
and couenably taught me as in general how I shal gouerne me in chesynge and
in the withholdyng of my conseillours./ But now wolde I fayn that ye wolde
condescenden in especial (1235) and telle me how liketh yow or what semeth
yow by oure conseillours that we han chosen in oure present nede.'/
  "My lord,' quod she, "I biseke yow in al humblesse that ye wol nat wilfully
replye ayein my resons ne distempre youre herte thogh I speke thyng that
yow displese./ For god woot that as in myn entente I speke it for youre beste,
for youre honour, and for youre profit eke./ And soothly I hope that youre
benygnytee wol taken it in pacience./ Trusteth me wel,' quod she, "that youre
conseil as in this cas ne sholde nat, as to speke proprely, be called a conseilyng
but a mocioun or a moeuyng of folie. (1240/2430) In which conseil ye han erred
in many a sondry wise./
  "First and forward ye han erred in the assemblyng of youre conseillours./
For ye sholde first han clepid a [f.223] fewe folk to youre conseil and after ye
myghte han shewed it to mo folk if it hadde be nede./ But certes ye han
sodeynly clepid to youre conseil a gret multitude of peple ful chargeant and ful
anoyous for to heere./ Also ye han erred for ther as ye sholde oonly han clepid
to youre conseil youre trewe freendes olde and wise, (1245) ye han yclepid
straunge folk, yong folk, false flatereres, and enemys reconsiled, and folk that
doon yow reuerence withouten loue./ And eek also ye han erred for ye han
broght with yow to youre conseil ire, coueitise, and hastifnesse,/ the whiche
thre thynges ben contrariouse to euery conseil honeste and profitable./ The
whiche thre thynges ye han nat anientissed or destroyed hem neither in
yourself ne in youre conseillours as ye oghte./ Ye han erred also for ye han
shewed to youre conseillours youre talent and youre affeccioun to make werre
anon and for to do vengeance. (1250/2440) They han espied by youre wordes
to what thyng ye ben enclyned./ And therfore han they conseilled yow rather
to youre talent than to youre profit./ Ye han erred also for it semeth that yow
suffiseth to han ben conseilled by thise conseilours oonly and with litel auys,/
wher as in so gret and so heigh a nede it hadde ben necessarie mo conseilours
and moore deliberacion to parforme youre emprise./ Ye han erred also for ye
ne han nat examyned youre conseil in the forseyde manere ne in due manere
as the cas requyreth. (1255) Ye han erred also for ye han maked no diuision
bitwixe youre conseilours; this is to seyn bytwixe youre trewe freendes and
youre feyned conseilours./ Ne ye ne haue nat knowe the wyl of youre trewe
freendes olde and wise,/ but ye han cast alle hir wordes in an hochepot and
enclyned youre herte to the moore part and to the gretter nombre, and ther
be ye condescended./ And sith ye woot wel that men shal alwey fynde a gretter
nombre of foolis than of wise men,/ and therfore the conseils that ben at
congregacions and multitudes of folk ther as men take moore reward to the
nombre than to the sapience of persones (1260/2450) ye se wel that in swyche
conseillynges foolis han the maistrie.'/
  Melibeus answerde agayn and seyde: "I graunte wel that I haue erred./
But ther as thow hast toold me herbiforn that he ne is nat to blame that
chaungeth his conseillours in certeyn cas and for certeyne iuste causes,/ I am
al redy to chaunge my conseilours right as thow wolt deuyse./ The prouerbe
seith that for to do synne is mannyssh, but certes for to perseuere longe in
synne [f.223v] is werk of the deuel.'
  ( 1265) To this sentence answerde anon dame Prudence and seyde:/ "Ex-
amyneth,' quod she, "youre conseil and lat vs se the whiche of hem han spoken
moost resonably and taught yow best conseil./ And for as muche as that the
examinacion is necessarie lat vs bigynne at the sirurgiens and at the phisiciens
that first speeken in this matere./ I sey yow that the sirurgiens and phisiciens
han seyd yow in youre conseil descretly as hem oghte./ And in hir speche
seyden ful wysly that to the office of hem aperteneth to doon to euery wight
honour and profit and no wight to anoye, (1270/2460) and after hir craft to
doon gret diligence vnto the cure of hem whiche that they han in hir gouern-
ance./ And, sire, right as they han answered wysly and discretly,/ right so rede
I that they be heighly and souereynly gerdoned for hir noble speche,/ and
eek for they shullen do the moore ententif bisynesse in the curacioun of thy
doghter deere./ For al be it so that they ben youre freendes, therfore shal ye
nat suffren that they serue you for noght, (1275) but ye oghte the rather gerdone
hem and shewen hem youre largesse./ And as touchynge the proposicioun
which that the phisiciens encresceden in this cas, this is to seyn / that in maladies
that a contrarie is warisshed by another contrarie,/ I wolde fayn knowe how
ye vnderstande thilke text and what is youre sentence.'/
  "Certes,' quod Melibeus, "I vnderstonde it in this wise (1280/2470) that right
as they han doon me a contrarie, right so sholde I doon hem another./ For
right as they han venged hem on me and doon me wrong, right so shal I
venge me vpon hem and doon hem wrong;/ and thanne haue I cured a contrarie
by another.'/
  "Lo, lo,' quod dame Prudence, "how lightly is euery man enclyned to his
owene desir and to his owene plesance./ Certes,' quod she, "the wordes of the
phisiciens ne sholde nat han ben vnderstonden in that wise. ( 1285) For certes
wikkednesse is nat contrarie to wikkednesse, ne vengeance to vengeance, ne
wrong to wrong; but they ben semblable./ And therfore o vengeance is nat
warisshed by another vengeance ne o wrong by another wrong,/ but euerich
of hem encresceth and aggreggeth oother./ But certes the wordes of thise
phisiciens sholde an vnderstonde in this wise,/ for good and wikkednesse ben
two contraries, and pees and werre, vengeance and suffrance, discord and
acord, and many othere thynges. (1290/2480) But certes wikked shal be
warisshed by goodnesse, discord by acord, werre by pees, and so forth of othere
thynges./ And herto acordeth seynt [f.224] Poul the Apostle in many places./
He seith: Ne yeldeth noght harm for harm ne wikked speche for wikked
speche,/ but do wel to hym that dooth to thee harm and blesse hym that seith
to thee harm./ And in manye othere places he amonesteth pees and acord.
  (1295) "But now wol I speke to yow of the conseil which that was yeuen
to yow by the men of lawe and the wise folk/ that seyden alle by oon acord,
as ye han herd bifore/ that ouer alle thynges ye shal do youre diligence to kepe
youre persone and to warnestore youre hous./ And seyden also that in this cas
ye oghten for to werke ful auysely and with greet deliberacioun./ And, sire,
as to the firste point that toucheth to the kepyng of youre persone (1300/2490)
ye shul vnderstonde that he that hath werre shal euere moore deuoutly and
mekely preyen byforn alle thynges/ that Iesus Crist of his mercy wol han hym
in his proteccion and ben his souereyn helpyng at his nede./ For certes in
this world ther is no wight that may be conseilled ne kept suffisantly withoute
the kepyng of oure lord Iesu Crist./ To this sentence acordeth the prophete
Dauid that seith:/ If god ne kepe citee, in ydel waketh he that it kepeth. (1305)
Now, syre, thanne shul ye committe the kepyng of youre persone to youre
trewe freendes that been approued and yknowe./ And of hem shul ye axen
help youre persone for to kepe. For Catoun seith: If thou hast nede of help
axe it of thy freendes,/ for ther nys noon so good a phisicien as thy trewe
freend./ And after this thanne shul ye kepe yow fro alle straunge folk and fro
lyeres and haue alwey in suspect hir compaignye./ For Piers Alfonce seith:
Ne taak no compaignye by the wey of a straunge man but if so be that thow
haue knowe hym of a lenger tyme. (1310/2500) And if so be that he falle into
thy compaignye, parauenture withouten thyn assent,/ enquere thanne as
subtilly as thow mayst of his conuersacioun and of his lyf bifore. And feyne thy
wey: Sey that thow wolt go thider as thow wolt nat go./ And if he bereth a spere
hoold thee on the right syde. And if he bere a swerd hoold thee on the left
syde./ And after this thanne shal ye kepe yow wysly from al swich maner peple
as I haue seyd bifore and hem and hir conseil eschewe./ And after this thanne
shal ye kepe yow in swich manere (1315) that for any presumpcion of youre
strengthe that ye ne despise nat ne attempte nat the myght of youre aduersarie
so lite that ye lete the kepyng of youre persone for youre presumpcioun,/
for euery wys man dredeth his enemy./ And Salomon seyth: [f.224v] Weleful
is he that of all hath drede./ For certes he that thurgh the hardynesse of his
herte and thurgh the hardynesse of hymself hath to gret presumpcioun, hym
shal yuel bityde./ Thanne shal ye eueremo countrewayte emboyssementz and
al espiaille. (1320/2510) For Senek seith that the wise man that dredeth harmes
escheweth harmes;/ ne he ne falleth into perils that perils escheweth./ And
al be so that it seme that thow art in siker place, yet shaltow alwey do thy
diligence in kepyng of thy persone;/ this is to seyn, ne be nat necligent to kepe
thy persone nat oonly fro thy grettest enemys but fro thy leeste enemy./ Senek
seith: A man that is wel auysed he dredeth his leste enemy. ( 1325) Ouyde seith
that the litel wesele wol slee the grete bole and the wilde hert./ And the book
seith: A litel thorn may prikke a kyng ful soore, and an hound wol holde the
wilde boor./ But nathelees I sey nat thow shalt be so coward that thow doute
ther wher as is no drede./ The book seith that som folk haue gret lust to deceyue
but yet they dreden hem to be deceyued./ Yet shaltow drede to been
empoysoned; and kepe thee from the compaignye of scorneres. (1330/2520)
For the book seith: With scorneres make no compaignye, but flee hir wordes
as venym./
  "Now as to the seconde point where as youre wise conseilours conseiled yow
to warnestore youre hous with gret diligence,/ I wolde fayn knowe how that ye
vnderstonde thilke wordes and what is youre sentence.'/
  Melibeus answerde and seyde: "Certes I vnderstonde it in this wise that I
shal warnestore myn hous with toures swiche as han castelles and othere manere
edifices and armure and artelries,/ by whiche thynges I may my persone and
myn hous so kepen and defenden that myne enemys shul been in drede myn
hous for to approche.'
  (1335) To thys sentence answerde anon Prudence. "Warnestoryng,' quod
she, "of heighe toures and of grete edifices apperteyneth somtyme to pryde./
And eek men make heighe toures and grete edifices with grete costages and with
gret trauaille, and whan that they been accompliced yet be they nat worth a
stree but if they been defended by trewe freendes that been oolde and wise./
And vnderstonde wel that the gretteste and the strengeste garnysoun that ryche
man may haue as wel to kepen his persone as his goodes is / that he be biloued
with his subgetz and with his neighebores./ For thus seith Tullius that ther is
a manere garneson that no man may venquyse ne discomfite and that [f.225]
is (1340/2530) a lord to be biloued of his citezeins and of his peple./
  "Now, sire, as to the iije poynt wher as youre olde and wise
conseilours seiden that yow ne oghte nat sodeynly ne hastily proceden in this
nede,/ but that yow oghte purueien and apparailen yow in this cas with greet
diligence and greet deliberacioun,/ trewely I trowe that they seyden right
wisely and right sooth./ For Tullius seith: In euery nede er thow bigynne it,
apparayle thee with greet diligence. ( 1345) Thanne seye I that in vengeance-
takynge, in werre, in bataile, and in warnestorynge, /er thow bigynne I rede
that thow apparaile thee therto and do it with greet deliberacioun./ For Tullius
seith that long apparailynge biforn the bataile maketh short victorie./ And
Cassidorus seith: The garneson is strenger whan it is long tyme auysed./
  "But now lat vs speke of the conseil that was acorded by youre neighebores
swiche as doon yow reuerence withouten loue, (1350/2540) youre olde enemys
reconsiled, youre flaterers,/ that conseileden yow certeyne thynges pryuely and
openly conseileden yow the contrarie;/ the yonge folk also that conseileden
yow to venge yow and make werre anoon./ And certes, sire, as I haue seyd
biforn ye han greetly erred to han clepid swich maner folk to youre conseil./
Whiche conseilours been ynow repreued bi the resons foreseyd. (1355) But
nathelees lat vs now descende to the special. Ye shuln first proceden after the
doctryne of Tullius./ Certes the trouthe of this matere or of this conseil nedeth
nat diligently enquere,/ for it is wel wist whiche they been that han doon to
yow this trespas and vileynye,/ and how manye trespasours and in what manere
they han to yow doonal this wrong and al this vileynye./
  "And after this thanne shulle ye examyne the ije condicioun which
that the same Tullius addeth in this matere, (1360/2550) for Tullius put a thyng
which that he clepeth consentynge; this is to seyn,/ who been they and whiche
been they and how manye that consenten to thy conseil in thy wilfulnesse
to do hastif vengeance./ And lat vs considere also who been they and how
manye been they and whiche been they that consenteden to youre aduersaries./
And certes as to the firste poynt it is wel knowen whiche folk been they that
consenteden to youre hastif wilfulnesse./ For trewely alle tho that conseileden
yow to maken sodeyn werre ne been nat youre freendes. (1365) Lat vs now
considere whiche been they that ye holde so greetly youre freendes as to youre
persone./ For al be it so that ye be myghty and ryche, certes ye ne been but
[f.225v] allone./ For certes ye ne han no child but a doghter;/ ne ye ne han
bretheren ne cosyns germayns ne noon oother ney kynrede,/ wherfore that
youre enemys for drede sholden stynte to plede with yow or destroye youre
persone. (1370/2560) Ye knowe also that youre richesses moten be despended
in diuerse parties,/ and whan that euery wight hath his part they ne wollen
take but litel reward to venge thy deeth./ But thyne enemys been iije and
they han manye children, bretheren, cosyns, and oother ney kynrede./ And
thogh so were thow haddest slayn of hem ijo or iije, yet dwellen ther ynowe
to wreken hir deeth and to sle thy persone./ And thogh so be that youre
kynrede be moore syker and stedefast than the kyn of youre aduersarie,
(1375) yet nathelees youre kynrede nys but a fer kynrede, they been but litel
syb to yow./ And the kyn of youre enemys been ney syb to hem. And certes
as in that hir condicion is bet than youres./ Thanne lat vs considere also if the
conseilynge of hem that conseileden yow to taken sodeyn vengeance wheither
it acorde to reson./ And certes ye knowe wel nay./ For as by right and reson
ther may no man take vengeance on no wight but the iuge that hath the
iurisdiccioun of it, ( 1380/2570) whan it is ygraunted hym to take thilke
vengeance hastily or attemprely as the lawe requereth./ And yet moreouer
of thilke word that Tullius clepith consentynge,/ thow shalt considere if thy
myght and thy power may consente and suffise to thy wilfulnesse and to thy
conseilours./ And certes thow mayst wel seyn that nay./ For sikerly as for to
speke proprely we may do nothyng but oonly swich thyng as we may do
rightfully. (1385) And certes rightfully ne mowe ye take no vengeance as of
youre propre auctoritee./ Thanne mowe ye seen that youre power ne
consenteth nat ne acordeth nat with youre wilfulnesse./
  "Lat vs now examyne the iije poynt that Tullius clepith consequent./ Thow
shalt vnderstande that the vengeance that thow purposest for to taken is the
consequent./ And therof folweth another vengeance, peril and werre and othere
damages withoute nombre, of whiche we been nat waar as at this tyme.
(1390/2580) And as touchynge the iiije poynt that Tullius clepith en-
gendrynge,/ thow shalt considere that this wrong which that is doon to thee
is engendred of the hate of thyne enemys;/ and of the vengeance-takynge vpon
that wolde engendre another vengeance and muchil sorwe and wastynge of
richesses, [f.226] as I seyde./
  "Now, sire, as touchynge to the poynt that Tullius clepith causes, which
that is the laste poynt,/ thow shalt vnderstonde that the wrong that thow hast
receyued hath certeyne causes (1395) whiche that clerkes clepen oriens and
efficiens and causa longinqua and causa propinqua, this is to seyn the fer cause and
the ny cause./ The fer cause is almyghty god that is cause of alle thynges;/
the neer cause is thy thre enemys;/ the cause accidental was hate;/ the cause
material been the v woundes of thy doghter; (1400/2590) the cause formal is
the manere of hir werkynge that broghten laddres and clomben in at thy
wyndowes;/ the cause final was for to sle thy doghter. It lettyd nat in as muche
as in hem was./ But for to speke of the fer cause as to what ende they shul
come or what shal finally bityde of hem in this cas, ne kan I nat deme but
by coniectynge and by supposynge./ For we shuln suppose that they shul come
to a wikked ende/ by cause that the Book of Decrees seith: Selden or with greet
peyne been causes ybroght to good ende whan they been baddely bigonne.
  (1405) "Now, sire, if men wolden axe me why that god suffrede men to do
yow this vileynye, certes I kan nat wel answere as for no soothfastnesse./ For
the apostle seith that the sciences and the iugementz of oure lord god almyghty
been ful depe;/ ther may no man comprehende ne serchen hem suffisantly./
Nathelees by certeyne presumpcions and coniectynges I holde and bileue / that
god which that is ful of iustice and of rightwisnesse hath suffred this bityde
by iuste cause resonable.
  (1410/2600) "Thy name is Melibe; this is to seyn a man that drynketh hony./
Thow hast ydronke so muchil hony of swete temporel richesses and delices and
honours of this world,/ that thow art dronken and hast forgeten Iesu Crist thy
creatour./ Thow ne hast nat doon to hym swich honour and reuerence as thee
oghte,/ ne thow ne hast nat wel taken kepe to the wordes of Ouyde that seith:
(1415) Vnder the hony of the goodes of the body is hyd the venym that sleth
the soule./ And Salomon seith: If thow hast founden hony ete of it that suffiseth,/
for if thow ete of it out of mesure thow shalt spewe and be nedy and poore./
And parauenture Crist hath thee in despit and hath torned awey fro thee his
face and his erys of misericorde./ And also he hath suffred that thow [f.226v]
hast been punysshed in the manere that thow hast ytrespased. (1420/2610)
Thow hast doon synne agayn oure lord Crist./ For certes the iije enemys of
mankynde, that is to seyn the flessh, the feend and the world,/ thow hast suffred
hem entre into thyn herte wilfully by the wyndowes of thy body/ and hast
nat defendid thyself suffisantly agayns hir assautes and hir temptacions so that
they han woundid thy soule in v places;/ this is to seyn, the dedly synnes that
been entred into thyn herte by thy v wittes. (1425) And in the same manere
oure lord Crist hath wold and suffred that thy iije enemys been entred into
thyn hous by the wyndowes / and han ywoundid thy doghter in the forseyde
manere.'/
  "Certes,' quod Melibe, "I se wel that ye enforce yow muchil by wordes to
ouercome me in swich a manere that I shal nat venge me of myne enemys,/
shewynge me the perils and the yueles that myghten falle of this vengeance./
But whoso wolde considere in alle vengeances the perils and yueles that
myghten sewe of vengeance-takynge, (1430/2620) a man wolde neuere take
vengeance and that were harm./ For by the vengeance-takynge been the
wikked men disseuered fro the goode men,/ and they that han wil to do
wikkednesse restreyne hir wikked purpos whan they seen the punysshynge and
chastisynge of trespassours. [1433-4/2623-4 missing]
  (1435) "And yet seye I moore that right as a singuler persone synneth in
takynge vengeance of another man,/ right so synneth the iuge if he do no
vengeance of hem that it han disserued./ For Senek seith thus: That maister (he
seith) is good that preueth shrewes./ And as Cassidore seith: A man dredeth
to do outrages whan he woot and knoweth that it displeseth to the iuges and
the souereyns./ And another seith: The iuge that dredeth to do right maketh
men shrewes. (1440/2630) And seint Poul th'apostle seith in his epistle whan
he writeth vnto the Romayns that the iuges beren nat the spere withouten
cause,/ but they beren it to punysshe the shrewes and mysdoers and for to
defende the goode men./ If ye wol thanne take vengeance of youre enemys ye
shul retourne or haue youre recours to the iuge that hath the iurisdiccioun
vpon hem,/ and he shal punysshe hem as the lawe axeth and requereth.'/
  "A,' quod Melibe, "this vengeance liketh me nothyng. (1445) I bithenke me
now and take hede how fortune hath norisshed me fro [f.227] my childhode
and hath holpen me to passe many a strong paas./ Now wol I assayen hir,
trowynge with goddes help that she shal helpe me my shame for to venge.'/
  "Certes,' quod Prudence, "if ye wol werke by my conseil ye shul nat assayen
fortune by no wey / ne ye shul nat lene or bowe vnto hire, after the word of
Senek,/ for thynges that been folily doon and that been in hope of fortune
shullen neuere come to good ende. (1450/2640) And as the same Senek seith:
The moore cleer and the moore shynynge that fortune is, the moore brotil
and the sonner broke she is./ Trusteth nat in hir for she nys nat stedefast ne
stable./ For whan thow trowest to be moost seur or syker of hir help, she wol
faile thee and deceyue thee./ And wher as ye seyn that fortune hath norisshed
yow fro youre childhode,/ I seye that in so muchil shul ye the lasse truste in
hire and in hir wit. (1455) For Senek seith: What man that is norisshed by
fortune, she maketh hym to greet a fool./ Now thanne syn ye desire and axe
vengeance and the vengeance that is doon after the lawe and bifore the iuge
ne liketh yow nat,/ and the vengeance that is doon in hope of fortune is
perilous and vncerteyn,/ thanne haue ye noon oother remedie but for to haue
youre recours vnto the souereyn iuge that vengeth alle vileynyes and wronges./
And he shal venge yow after that hymself witnesseth wher as he seith: (1460/
2650) Leueth the vengeance to me and I shal do it.'/
  Melibe answerde: "If I ne venge me nat of the vileynye that men han doon
to me,/ I somne or warne hem that han doon to me that vileynye and alle
othere to do me another vileynye./ For it is writen: If thow take no vengeance
of an old vileynye thow somnest thyne aduersaries to do thee a newe vileynye./
And also for my suffrance men wolden do me so muchil vileynye that I myghte
neither bere it ne sustene, (1465) and so sholde I been put and holden
ouerlowe./ For men seyn: I muchil suffrynge shul manye thynges falle vnto
thee whiche yow shalt nat mowe suffre.'/
  "Certes,' quod Prudence, "I graunte yow that ouermuchil suffrance is nat
good./ But yet ne folweth it nat therof that euery persone to whom men don
vileynye take of it vengeance,/ for that aperteneth and longeth al oonly to the
iuges for they shul venge the vileynyes and iniuries. (1470/2660) And therfore
tho two auctoritees that ye han seyd aboue been oonly vnderstonden in the
iuges/ [f.227v] for whan they suffren ouermuchil the wronges and vileynyes to
be doon withouten punysshynge,/ they somne nat a man al oonly for to do
newe wronges; but they comanden it./ Also a wys man seith that the iuge that
correcteth nat the synnere comandeth and biddeth hym do synne./ And the
iuges and souereyns myghten in hir land so muchil suffre of the shrewes and
mysdoerys (1475) that they sholden by swich suffrance by proces of tyme wexen
of swich power and myght that they sholden putte out the iuges and the
souereyns from hir places/ and at the laste maken hem lese hir lordshipes./
  "But lat vs now putte that ye haue leue to venge yow./ I seye ye be nat of
myght and power as now to venge yow./ For if ye wol maken comparison
vnto the myght of youre aduersaries, ye shul fynde in manye thynges that I
haue shewid yow er this that hir condicioun is bettre than youres. (1480/2670)
And therfore seye I that it is good as now that ye suffre and be pacient./
  "Forthermoore ye knowen wel that after the comune sawe it is a woodnesse
a man to stryue with a strenger or a moore myghty man than he is hymself./
And for to stryue with a man of euene strengthe, that is to seyn with as strong
a man as he is, it is peril./ And for to stryue with a wayker man, it is folye./
And therfore sholde a man fle stryuynge as muchil as he myghte. (1485) For
Salomon seith: It is a greet worship to a man to kepen hym fro noyse and
stryf./ And if it so bifalle or happe that a man of gretter myght and strengthe
than thow art do thee greuance,/ studie and bisie thee rather to stille the same
greuance than for to venge thee./ For Senek seith that he putteth hym in greet
peril that stryueth with a gretter man than he is hymself./ And Catoun seith:
If a man of hyer estaat or degree or moore myghty than thow do thee anoy or
greuance, suffre hym; (1490/2680) for he that ones hath greued thee may
another tyme releue thee and helpe./
  "Yet sette I cas ye haue bothe myght and licence for to venge yow./ I seye
that ther be ful manye thynges that shul restreyne yow of vengeance-takynge/
and make yow for to enclyne to suffre and for to han pacience in the wronges
that han been doon to yow./ First and foreward if ye wol considere the defautes
that been in youre owene persone, (1495) for whiche defautes god hath suffred
yow haue this tribulacioun as I haue seyd yow herbiforn./ For the poete seith
that we oghten paciently taken the tribulacions that comen to vs whan that
we thynken and consideren that we han disserued to haue hem./ And [f.228]
seint Gregorie seith that whan a man considereth wel the nombre of his defautes
and of his synnes,/ the peynes and the tribulaciouns that he suffreth semen the
lesse vnto hym./ And in as muche as hym thynketh his synnes moore heuy
and greuous, (1500/2690) in so muche semeth his peyne the lighter and the
esier vnto hym./ Also ye owen to enclyne and bowe youre herte to take the
pacience of oure lord Iesu Crist, as seith seint Peter in hise epistles./ Iesu Crist
(he seith) hath suffred for vs and yeuen ensample to euery man to folwe and
sewe hym,/ for he dide neuere synne ne neuere cam ther a vileynous word out
of his mouth./ Whan men cursed hym, he cursed hem noght; and whan men
betten hym, he manaced hem noght. (1505) Also the grete pacience which
seintes that been in paradys han had in tribulacions that they han ysuffred
withouten hir desert or gilt/ oghte muchil stire yow to pacience./ Forthermoore
ye sholde enforce yow to haue pacience/ considerynge that the tribulacions of
this world but litel while endure and soone passed been and goon./ And the ioye
that a man seketh to haue by pacience in tribulaciouns is pardurable after that the
apostle seith in his epistle. (1510/2700) The ioye of god (he seith) is pardurable;
that is to seyn euerelastynge./ Also troweth and bileueth stedefastly that he
nys noght wel ynorisshed ne wel ytaught that kan nat haue pacience or wol
nat receyue pacience./ For Salomon seith that the doctrine and the wit of a man
is knowen by pacience./ And in another place he seith that he that is pacient
gouerneth hym by greet prudence./ And the same Salomon seith: The angry
and wrathful man maketh noyses and the pacient man attempreth hem and
stilleth. (1515) He seith also: It is moore worth to be pacient than for to be
right strong / and he that may haue the lordshipe of his owene herte is moore
to preyse than he that by his force or strengthe taketh grete citees./ And therfore
seith seint Iame in his epistle that pacience is a greet vertu of parfeccioun.'/
  "Certes,' quod Melibe, "I graunte yow, dame Prudence, that pacience is a
greet vertu of parfeccioun,/ but euery man may nat haue the parfeccioun that
ye seken, (1520/2710) ne I nam nat of the nombre of right parfite men./ For
myn herte may neuere be in pees vnto the tyme it be vengid./ And al be it
so that it was greet peril to myne enemys to do me a vileynye in takynge
vengeance vpon me,/ [f.228v] yet token they noon hede of the peril but fulfilden
hir wikked wyl and hir corage./ And therfore me thynketh men oghten nat
repreue me thogh I putte me in a litel peril for to venge me (1525) and thogh
I do a greet excesse; that is to seyn that I venge oon outrage by another.'/
  "A,' quod dame Prudence, "ye seyn youre wil and as yow liketh,/ but in no
caas of the world a man sholde nat do outrage ne excesse for to vengen hym./
For Cassidore seith that as yuele dooth he that vengeth hym by outrage as he
that dooth the outrage./ And therfore ye shul venge yow after the ordre of
right; that is to seyn, by the lawe and nat by excesse ne by outrage. (1530/
2720) And also if ye wol venge yow of the outrage of youre aduersaries in oother
manere than right comandeth, ye synnen./ And therfore seith Senek that a man
shal neuere venge shrewednesse by shrewednesse./ And if ye seye that right
axeth a man to defende violence by violence and fightynge by fightynge,/ certes
ye seye sooth whan the defense is doon anon withouten interualle or withouten
taryynge or delay/ for to defenden hym and nat for to vengen hym. (1535)
And it bihoueth that a man putte swich attemperance in his defense/ that men
haue no cause ne matere to repreuen hym, that defendeth hym, of excesse
and outrage./ Pardee ye knowe wel that ye maken no defense as now for to defende
yow but for to venge yow,/ and so seweth it that ye han no wyl to do youre
dede attemprely./ And therfore me thynketh that pacience is good, for Salomon
seith that he that is nat pacient shal haue greet harm.'
  (1540/2730) "Certes,' quod Melibe, "I graunte yow that whan a man is
inpacient and wrooth of that that toucheth hym nat and that aperteneth nat
vnto hym thogh it harme hym it is no wonder./ for the lawe seith that he is
coupable that entremetteth hym or medleth with swich thyng as aperteneth
nat vnto hym./ And Salomon seith that he that entremeteth of the noyse or
stryf of another man is lyk to hym that taketh an hound by the erys;/ for right
as he that taketh a straunge hound by the erys is outherwhile biten with the
hound,/ right in the same wise is it resoun that he haue harm that by hys
inpacience medleth hym of the noyse of another man wher as it aperteneth
nat vnto hym. (1545) But ye knowe wel that this dede, that is to seyn my
grief and my desese, [f.229] toucheth me right ny./ And therfore thogh I be
wrooth and inpacient, it is no meruaille./ And sauynge youre grace I kan nat
se that it myghte greetly harme me thogh I tooke vengeance,/ for I am richer
and moore myghty than myne enemys been./ And wel knowen ye that by
moneye and by hauynge grete possessions been alle the thynges of this world
gouerned.  (1550/2740) And Salomon seith that alle thynges obeyen to
moneye.'/
  Whanne Prudence hadde herd hir housbonde auanten hym of his richesse
and of his moneye dispreisynge the power of his aduersaries, she spak and seyde
in this wise:/ "Certes, deere sire, I graunte you that ye been riche and myghty/
and that the richesses been goode to hem that han wel ygeten hem and that
wel konne vsen hem./ For right as the body of a man may nat lyue withoute
the soule, namoore may it lyue withoute the temporel goodes. (1555) And by
richesses may a man gete hym grete frendes./ And therfore seith Pamphilles:
If a netherdes doghter (he seith) be riche, she may chese of a thousand men
which she wol take to hir housbonde,/ for of a thousand men oon wol nat
forsaken hir ne refusen hir./ And this Pamphilles seith also: If thow be right
happy, that is to seyn if thow be right riche, thow shalt fynde a greet nombre
of felawes and freendes,/ and if thy fortune chaunge that thow wexe poore,
farwel freendshipe and felaweshipe (1560/2750) for thow shalt been al allone
withouten any compaignye but if it be the compaignye of poore folk./ And
yet seith this Pamphilles mooreouer that they that been thralle and bonde
of lynage shuln be maad worthy and noble by the richesses;/ and right so as
yet shaltow nat be ydel ne slow to do thy profit for thow shalt in alle wise
fle ydelnesse./ For Salomon seith that ydelnesse techeth a man to do manye
yueles. (1590/2780) And the same Salomon seith that he that trauaileth and
bisie@ hym to tilien his lond shal ete breed,/ but he that is ydel and casteth
hym to no bisynesse ne ocupacioun shal falle into pouerte and dye for hunger./
And he that is ydel and slow kan neuere fynde couenable tyme for to do his
profit./ For ther is a versifiour seith that the ydel man excuseth hym in wynter
by cause of the grete coold and in somer by encheson of the hete./ For thise
causes seith Caton: Waketh and enclineth yow nat ouermychel for to slepe,
for ouermychel [f.230] reste norissheth and causeth manye vices. (1595) And
therfore seith seint Ierome: Dooth somme goode dedes that the deuel which
is oure enemy ne fynde yow nat vnocupied,/ for the deuel ne take@ nat lightly
vnto his werkynge swiche as he fyndeth ocupied in goode werkes./
  "Thanne thus in getynge richesses ye mosten fle ydelnesse,/ and afterward ye
shul vse the richesses whiche ye haue geten by your wit and by youre trauaille /
in swich a manere that men holde yow nat to scars ne to sparynge ne to fool-
large; that is to seyn, ouerlarge a spender. (1600/2790) For right as men blamen
an auarous man by cause of his scarsitee and chyncherie,/ in the same wise
is he to blame that spendeth ouerlargely./ And therfore seith Catoun: Vse
(he seith) thy richesses that thow hast ygeten /in swich a manere that men haue
no matere ne cause to calle thee neither wrecche ne chynche,/ for it is greet
shame to a man to haue a poore herte and a riche purs. (1605) He seith also:
The goodes that thow hast ygeten, vse hem by mesure; that is to seyn, spende
mensurably./ For they that folily wasten and despenden the goodes that they
han,/ what they han namoore propre of hir owene they shapen hem to take the
goodes of another man./ I seye thanne that ye shal fle auarice,/ vsynge youre
richesses in swich manere that men seye nat that youre richesses been ybiryed
(1610/2800) but that ye haue hem in youre myght and in youre weldynge./
For a wys man repreueth the auaricious man and seith thus in two vers:/
Wherto and why biryeth a man his goodes by his grete auarice and knoweth wel
that nedes moste he dye,/ for deeth is the ende of euery man as in this present lyf?/
And for what cause or encheson ioyneth he hym or knytteth he hym so faste
vnto his goodes (1615) that alle hise wittes mowen nat disseueren hym or
departen hym fro hise goodes,/ and knoweth wel or oghte knowe that whan he
is deed he shal nothyng bere with hym out of this world?/ And therfore seith
seint Austyn that the auaricious man is likned vnto helle,/ that the moore it
swolweth the moore desir it hath to swolwe and deuoure./ And as wel as ye
wolde eschewe to be called an auaricious man or chynche, (1620/2810) as wel
sholde ye kepe yow and gouerne yow in swich a wise that men calle yow nat
fool-large./ Therfore seith Tullius: The goodes (he seith) of thyn hous sholde nat
been hidde ne kept so cloos but that they myghte been opned by pitee and
debonairetee;/ that is to seyn, [f.230"] to yeue hem part that han greet nede;/
ne thy goodes sholden nat be so open to be euery mannes goodes./
  "Afterward in getyng of youre richesses and in vsynge hem ye shul alwey haue
thre thynges in youre herte; (1625) that is to seyn, oure lord god, conscience,
and good name./ First ye shul haue god in youre herte,/ and for no richesse
ye shullen do nothyng which may in any manere displese god that is youre
creatour and maker./ For after the word of Salomon: It is bettre to haue a litel
good with the loue of god/ than to haue mychel good and tresor and lese the
loue of his lord god. (1630/2820) And the prophete seith that bettre it is to
been a good man and haue a litel good and tresor,/ than to be holden a shrewe
and haue grete richesses./ And yet seye I ferthermoore that ye sholden alwey
doon youre bisynesse to gete yow richesses so that ye gete hem with good
conscience./ And th'apostle seith that ther nys thyng in this world of which we
sholden haue so greet ioye as whan oure conscience bereth vs good witnesse.
(1635) And the wise man seith: The substance of a man is ful good whan synne
is nat in mannes conscience./ Afterward in getynge of youre richesses and in
vsynge of hem/ yow moste haue greet bisynesse and greet diligence that youre
goode name be alwey kept and conserued./ For Salomon seith that bettre it is
and moore it auaileth a man to haue good name than for to haue grete
richesses./ And therfore he seith in another place: Do greet diligence (seith
Salomon) in kepynge of thy freend and of thy goode name, (1640/2830) for it
shal lenger abyde with thee than any tresor be it neuer so precious./ And
certes he sholde nat be called a gentil man that after god and good conscience
alle thynges left ne dooth his diligence and bisynesse to kepen his goode name./
And Cassidore seith that it is signe of a gentil herte whan a man loueth and
desireth to haue a good name./ And therfore seith seint Austyn that ther been
two thynges that arn necessarie and nedefulle,/ and that is good conscience
and good loos; (1645) that is to seyn, good conscience to thyn owene persone
inward and good loos for thy neighebore outward./ And he that trusteth
hym so muchil in his goode conscience/ that he displeseth and setteth at noght
his goode name or loos and rekketh noght thogh he kepe nat hys goode name
nys but a cruwel cherl./
  "Sire, now haue I shewed yow how ye shul do in getynge richesses and how
[f.231] ye shullen vsen hem./ And I se wel that for the trust that ye han in
youre richesses ye wol moeue werre and bataille. (1650/2840) I conseile yow
that ye bigynne no werre in trust of youre richesses for they ne suffisen noght
werres to mayntene./ And therfore seith a philosophre that man that desireth
and wole algates han werre shal neuere haue suffisance,/ for the richer that
he is the gretter despenses moste he make if he wol haue worship and victorie./
And Salomon seith that the gretter richesses that a man hath the mo
despendours he hath./ And, deere sire, al be it so that for youre richesses ye
mowe haue muchel folk, (1655) yet bihoueth it nat ne it is nat good to bigynne
werre wher as ye mowe in oother manere haue pees vnto youre worship and
profit,/ for the victorie of batailles that been in this world lyth nat in greet
nombre or multitude of peple ne in the vertu of man,/ but it lyth in the wyl
and in the hand of oure lord god almyghty./ And therfore Iudas Machabeus
which was goddes knyght/ whan he sholde fighte ageyn his aduersarie that
hadde a gretter nombre and a gretter multitude of folk and strenger than was
the peple of this Machabe, (1660/2850) yet he reconforted his litel compaignye
and seyde right in this wise:/ "Als lightly,' quod he, "may oure lord god
almyghty yeue victorie to fewe folk as to manye folk,/ for the victorie of a
bataile cometh nat by the grete nombre of peple,/ but it come fro oure lord
god of heuene.'/ And, deere sire, for as muchel as ther is no man certeyn if
it be worthy that god yeue hym victorie or naght after that Salomon seith,
(1665) therfore euery man sholde greetly drede werres to bigynne./ And by
cause that in batailles fallen manye perils/ and happeth outherwhile that as
soone is the grete man slayn as the litel man./ And as it is ywriten in the
Seconde Book 0f Kynges: The dedes of batailles been auenturouse and nothyng
certeyne,/ for as lightly is oon hurt with a spere as another. (1670/2860) And
for ther is greet peril in werre therfore sholde a man fle and eschewe werre
in as muchel as a man may goodly./ For Salomon seith: He that loueth peril
shal falle in peril.'/
  After that dame Prudence hadde spoken in this manere, Melibe answerde
and seyde:/ "I se wel, dame Prudence, that by youre faire wordes and by youre
resons that ye han shewed me that the werre liketh yow no [f.231v] thyng/ but I
haue nat yet herd youre conseil how I shal do in this nede.'
  (1675) "Certes,' quod she, "I conseile yow that ye acorde with youre
aduersaries and that ye haue pees with hem./ For seint Iame seith in hise
epistles that by concord and pees the smale richesses wexen grete,/ and by
debaat and discord the grete richesses fallen doun./ And ye knowen wel that
oon of the gretteste and moost souereyn thyng that is in this world is vnitee
and pees./ And therfore seyde oure lord Iesu Crist to hise apostles in this wise:
(1680/2870) Wel happy and blessed been they that louen and purchacen pees
for they been called children of god.'/
  "A,' quod Melibe, "now se I wel that ye louen nat myn honur ne my
worshipe./ Ye knowen wel that myne aduersaries han bigonnen this debaat and
brige by hir outrage,/ and ye se wel that they ne requeren ne preyen me nat
of pees ne they asken nat to be reconsiled./ Wol ye thanne that I go meke me
and obeye me to hem and crye hem mercy? (1685) For sothe that were nat my
worship./ For right as men seyn that ouergreet homlynesse engendreth
despisynge, so fareth it by to greet humylitee or mekenesse.'/
  Thanne bigan dame Prudence to maken semblant of wrathe and seyde:/
"Certes, sire, sauf youre grace I loue youre honur and your profit as I do myn
owene and euere haue doon,/ ne ye ne noon oother syen neuere the contrarie.
(1690/2880) And yet if I hadde seyd that ye sholde han purchaced the pees
and the reconsiliacioun, I ne hadde nat muchel mystake me ne seyd amys./
For the wise man seith: The dissensioun bigynneth by another man and the
reconsilyng bigynneth by thyself./ And the prophete sei@: Fle shrewednesse and
do goodnesse./ Seke pees and folwe it as muchel as in thee is./ Yet seye I nat
that ye shul rather pursue to youre aduersaries for pees than they shuln to yow.
(1695) For I knowe wel that ye been so hard-herted that ye wol do nothyng
for me./ And Salomon seith that he that hath ouerhard an herte, atte laste
he shal myshappe and mystyde.'/
  Whanne Melibe hadde herd dame Prudence make semblant of wrathe, he
seyde in this wise./ "Dame, I pray yow that ye be nat displesed of thynges that
I seye,/ for ye knowe wel that I am angry and wrooth and that is no wonder.
( 1700/2890) And they that been wrothe witen nat wel what they doon ne what
they seyn./ Therfore the prophete seith that troubled eyen han no cleer sighte./
But seieth and conseileth me as yow liketh, for I am redy to do right as ye
wol desire./ And if ye repreue me of my folie, I am the moore holden [f.232]
to loue yow and to preise yow./ For Salomon seith that he that repreueth hym
that dooth folie, (1705) he shal fynde gretter grace than he that deceyueth
hym by swete wordes.'/
  Thanne seyde dame Prudence: "I make no semblant of wrathe ne of angir
but for youre grete profit./ For Salomon seith: He is moore worth that repreueth
or chideth a fool for his folie, shewynge hym semblant of wrathe,/ than he that
supporteth hym and preiseth hym in his mysdoynge and laugheth at his folie./
And this same Salomon seith afterward that by the sorweful visage of a man,
that is to seyn by the sory and heuy contenance of a man, (1710/2900) the
fool correcte@ and amendeth hymself.'/
  Thanne seyde Melibe: "I shal nat konne answere vnto so manye resons as ye
putten to me and shewen./ Seieth shortly youre wil and youre conseil and I
am al redy to fulfille and parfourne it.'/
  Thanne dame Prudence discouered al hir wyl vnto hym and seyde./ "I
conseile yow,' quod she, "abouen alle thynges that ye make pees bitwene god
and yow (1715) and beth reconsiled vnto hym and to his grace./ For as I haue
seyd yow heerbiforn god hath suffred yow to haue this tribulacioun and disese
for youre synnes./ And if ye do as I seye yow, god wol sende youre aduersaries
vnto yow/ and maken hem falle at youre feet redy to do youre wyl and youre
comandementz./ For Salomon seith: Whan the condicion of man is plesant and
likynge to god, (1720/2910) he changeth the hertes of the mannes aduersaries
and constreyneth hem to biseken hym of pees and of grace./ And I pray yow
lat me speken with youre aduersaries in pryuee place,/ for they shal nat knowe
that it be of youre wyl or youre assent./ And thanne whan I knowe hir wyl and
hir entente I may conseille yow the moore seurly.'/
  "Dame,' quod Melibe, "dooth youre wyl and youre likynge, ( 1725) for I putte
me hoolly in youre disposicion and ordinance.'/
  Thanne dame Prudence whan she say the goode wyl of hir housbonde, she
delyueride and took auys in hirself / thynkynge how she myghte brynge this
nede vnto a good conclusioun and to a good ende./ And whan she saugh hir
tyme she sente for thise aduersaries to come vnto hir into a priuee place/ and
shewed wysly vnto hem the grete goodes that comen of pees (1730/2920) and
the grete harmes and perils that been in werre./ And seyde to hem in a goodly
manere how that hem oghten haue greet repentance / of the iniurie and wrong
that they hadden doon to Melibe hir lord and vnto hir and to hir doghter./
  And whan they herden the goodliche wordes of dame Prudence / they weren
so supprised and rauysshed and hadden so [f.232'] greet ioye of hir that wonder
was to telle. (1735) "A, lady,' quod they, "ye han shewid vnto vs the blessynge
of swetnesse after the sawe of Dauid the prophete;/ for the reconsilynge which
we ne been nat worthy to haue in no manere,/ but we oghten requeren it with
greet contricioun and humylitee,/ ye of youre grete goodnesse haue presented
vnto vs./ Now se we wel that the science and the konnynge of Salomon is ful
trewe, (1740/2930) for he seith that swete wordes multiplien and encressen
freendes and maken shrewes to be debonaire and meke./
  "Certes,' quod they, "we putten oure dede and al oure matere and cause
al hoolly in youre goode wyl / and been redy to obeye vnto the speche and
comandement of my lord Melibe./ And therfore, deere and benygne lady, we
preyen yow and biseken yow as mekely as we konne and mowen/that it like
vnto youre grete goodnesse to fulfille in dede youre goodliche wordes, (1745)
for we consideren and knowelichen that we han offendid and greued my lord
Melibe out of mesure / so ferforth that we been nat of power to maken his
amendes./ And therfore we oblige and bynde vs and oure freendes for to do
al his wyl and his comandementz./ But parauenture he hath swich heuynesse
and swich wrathe to vsward by cause of oure offense/that he wole enioyne
vs swich peyne as we mowe nat bere ne sustene. (1750/2940) And therfore,
noble lady, we biseken to youre wommanly pitee/ to taken swich auisement in
this nede that we ne oure freendes be nat desherited and destroyed thurgh oure
folie.'/
  "Certes,' quod Prudence, "it is an hard thyng and right perilous / that a man
putte hym al outrely in the arbitracioun and iuggement and in the myght
and power of hise enemys./ For Salomon seith: Leeueth me and yeueth credence
to that that I shal seyn; I seye (quod he), ye peple and gouernours and
gouernours of holy chirche, (1755) to thy sone, to thy wyf, to thy freend, ne
to thy brother,/ ne yeue thow neuere myght ne maistrie of thy body whil @ow
lyuest./ Now sithen he defendeth that man sholde nat yeue to his brother ne
to his freend the myght of his body,/ by a strenger reson he defendeth and
forbedeth a man to yeue hymself to his enemy./ And nathelees I conseille yow
that ye mystruste nat my lord ( 1760/2950) for I woot wel and knowe verraily
that he is debonaire and meke, large, curteys/ and nothyng desirous ne
coueitous of good ne richesse,/ for ther nys nothyng in this world that he desireth
saue oonly worship and honour./ Forthermoore I knowe wel and am right seur
that he shal nothyng do in this nede withouten my conseil / and I shal so werken
in this [f.233] cause that by the grace of oure lord god ye shul be reconsiled
vnto vs.'
  (1765) Thanne seyden they with o voys: "Worshipful lady, we putten vs and
oure goodes al fully in youre wyl and disposicioun / and been redy to come what
day that it like vnto youre noblesse to lymyte vs or assigne vs / for to maken
oure obligacion and boond as strong as it liketh vnto youre goodnesse / that we
mowe fulfille the wyl of yow and of my lord Melibe.'/
  Whanne dame Prudence hadde herd the answeres of thise men, she bad
hem go agayn priuely. (1770/2960) And she retourned to hir lord Melibe and
tolde hym how she fand hise aduersaries ful repentant,/ knowelichynge ful
lowely hir synnes and trespas and how they weren redy to suffren al peyne,/
requerynge and prayynge hym of mercy and pitee./
  Thanne seyde Melibe: "He is wel worthy to haue pardoun and foryifnesse
of his synne that excuseth nat his synne,/ but knowelicheth and repenteth hym
axinge indulgence. (1775) For Senek seith: Ther is the remissioun and
foryifnesse where as the confessioun is,/ for confessioun is neighebore to
innocence./ And he seith in another place: He is worthy to haue remyssyoun
and foryifnesse that hath shame of his synne and knowelicheth it. And therfore
I assente and conferme me to haue pees./ But it is good that we do it nat with-
outen th'assent and wil of oure freendes.'/
  Thanne was Prudence right glad and ioyeful and seyde: ( 1 780/2970) "Certes,
sire,' quod she, "ye han wel and goodly answerd,/ for right as by the conseil,
assent and help of youre frendes ye han ben stired to venge yow and make
werre,/ right so withouten hir conseil shul ye nat acorde yow ne haue pees with
youre aduersaries./ For the lawe seith: Ther nys nothyng so good by wey of
kynde as a thyng to been vnbounde by hym that it was ybounde.'/
  And thanne dame Prudence withouten delay or taryynge sente anon
messages for hir kyn and for hir olde freendes whiche that were trewe and wise
(1785) and tolde hem by ordre in the presence of Melibe al this matere as it
is aboue expressed and declared./ And preyde hem that they wolde yeuen hir
auys and conseil what best were to do in this nede./ And whan Melibees
freendes hadde taken hir auys and deliberacioun of the forseyde matere/and
hadden examyned it by greet bisynesse and greet diligence,/ they yaue ful
conseil for to haue pees and reste (1790/2980) and that Melibe sholde receyue
with good herte hise aduersaries to foryifnesse and mercy./
  And whanne dame Prudence hadde herd the assent of hir [f.233'] lord
Melibe and the conseil of his freendes / acorde with hir wyl and hir entencioun,/
she was wonderly glad in herte and seyde:/ "Ther is an old prouerbe,' quod she,
"seith that the goodnesse that thow maist do this day, do it (1795) and abide
nat ne delaye it nat til tomorwe./ And therfore I conseille that ye sende youre
messages swiche as been discrete and wise / vnto youre aduersaries tellynge hem
on your bihalue/that if they wol trete of pees and of acord/that they shape
hem withouten delay or taryynge to come vnto vs.' (1800/2990) Which thyng
parfourned was in dede./ And whanne thise trespassours and repentynge folk
of hir folies, that is to seyn the aduersaries of Melibe,/ hadden herd what thise
messagers seyden vnto hem,/ they weren right glad and ioyeful and answereden
ful mekely and benygnely,/ yeldynge graces and thankynges to hir lord Melibe
and to al his compaignye. (1805) And shopen hem withoute delay to go with
the messagers and obeye to the comandement of hir lord Melibe./
  And right-anon they tooken hir wey to the court of Melibe/and tooke with
hem somme of hir trewe freendes to make feith for hem and for to been hir
borwes./ And whan they were come to the presence of Melibe, he seyde hem
thise wordes./ "It standeth thus,' quod Melibe, "and sooth it is that ye, (1810/
3000) causelees and withouten skile and resoun,/ han doon grete iniuries and
wronges to me and to my wyf Prudence and to my doghter also./ For ye han
entred into myn hous by violence/ and haue doon swich outrage that alle men
knowen wel that ye han deserued the deeth./ And therfore wol I knowe and wite
of yow (1815) wheither ye wol putte the punysshynge and chastisynge and the
vengeance of this outrage in the wil of me and of my wyf or ye wol nat.'/
  Thanne the wiseste of hem thre answerde for hem alle and seyde:/ "Sire,'
quod he, "we knowen wel that we been vnworthy to comen vnto the court
of so greet a lord and so worthy as ye been,/ for we han so gretly mystaken
vs and han offendid and gilt in swich a wise ageyn youre hey lordshipe/that
trewely we han deserued the deeth. ( 1820/3010) But yet for the grete goodnesse
and debonairetee that al the world witnesseth of youre persone,/ we submitten
vs to the excellence and benygnytee of youre gracious lordshipe/ and ben redy
t'obeye to alle youre comandementz,/ bisekynge yow that of youre merciable
pitee ye wol considere oure grete repentance and lowe submissioun / and
graunten vs foryeuenesse of oure outrageous trespas and offense, ( 1 825) For wel
we knowen that youre liberal grace and mercy strecchen ferther into goodnesse
than [f.234] doon oure outrageouse giltes and trespas into wikkednesse,/ al be
it that cursedly and dampnablely we han agilt ageyn youre hey lordshipe.'/
  Thanne Melibe took hem vp fro the ground ful benygnely/ and receyued
hir obligaciouns and hir bondes by hir othes vpon hir plegges and borwes,/
and assigned hem a certeyn day to retourne vnto his court (1830/3020) for to
accepte and receyue the sentence and iugement that Melibe wolde comande
to be doon on hem by the causes aforeseyd./ Whiche thynges ordeyned, euery
man retourned to his hous./
  And whanne that dame Prudence saugh hir tyme she freyned and axed
hir lord Melibe/ what vengeance he thoghte to taken of hise aduersaries./ To
which Melibe answerde and seyde: "Certes,' quod he, "I thynke and purpose
me fully (1835) to disherite hem of al that euere they han and for to putte
hem in exil for euere.'/
  "Certes,' quod dame Prudence, "this were a cruel sentence and muchel ageyn
reson,/ for ye been riche ynow and han no nede of oother mennes good./
And ye myghten lightly in this wise geten yow a coueitous name,/ which is a
vicious thyng and oghte been eschewid of euery man. ( 1840/3030) For after the
sawe of the word of th'apostle: Coueitise is roote of alle harmes./ And therfore
it were bettre for yow to lese so mychel good of youre owene than for to take
of hir good in this manere./ For bettre it is to lese good with worshipe than
it is to wynne good with vileynye and shame./ And euery man oghte do his
diligence and his bisynesse to geten hym a good name./ And yet shal he nat
oonly bisien hym in kepynge his goode name (1845) but he shal also enforcen
hym alwey to do som thyng by which he may renouelle his goode name./ For
it is writen that the olde goode loos or good name of a man is soone goon and
passed whanne it is nat newed ne renoueled./ And as touchynge that ye seyn
ye wol exile youre aduersaries / that thynketh me muchel agayn resoun and out
of mesure,/ considered the power that they han yeuen yow vpon hemself.
( 1850/3040) And it is writen that he is worthy to lesen his priuilege that
mysvseth the myght and the power that is yeuen him./ And I sette cas ye
myghte enioyne hem that peyne by right and by lawe,/ which I trowe ye mowe
nat do,/ I seye ye myghte nat putte it to execucioun parauenture / and thanne
were it likly to retorne to the werre as it was biforn. ( 1 855) And therfore if ye wole
that men do yow obeisance yow [f.234v] moste deme moore curteisly;/ this is
to seyn, ye moste yeue moore esy sentences and iugementz/ For it is writen
that he that moost curteisly commandeth, to hym men moste obeyen./ And
therfore I pray yow that in this necessitee and in this nede ye caste yow to
ouercome your herte./ For Senek seith that he that ouercome@ his herte ouer-
come@ twies. ( 1860/3050) And Tullius seith: Ther is nothyng so commendable
in a greet lord/ as whan he is debonaire and meke and apeiseth hym lightly./
And I pray yow that ye wol forbere now to do vengeance/in swich a manere
that youre good name may be kept and conserued,/ and that men mowe haue
cause and matere to preise yow of pitee and of mercy, ( 1865) and that ye haue
no cause to repente yow of thyng that ye doon./ For Senek seith: He ouercometh
in an yuel manere that repenteth hym of his victorie./ Wherfore I prey yow
lat mercy be in youre herte / to th'effect and entente that god almyghty haue
merci on yow in his laste iugement./ For seint Iame seith in his epistle: Iugement
withoute mercy shal be doon to hym that hath no mercy of another wight.'
  (1870/3060) Whanne Melibe hadde herd the grete skiles and resons of dame
Prudence and hir wise informaciouns and techynges,/ his herte gan enclyne to
the wyl of his wyf considerynge hir trewe entente,/ conformed hym anon and
assented fully to werken after hir conseil,/ and thonked god, of whom procedeth
al vertu and al goodnesse, that hym sente a wyf of so greet discrecion./ And
whanne the day cam that hise aduersaries sholde appieren in his presence,
(1875) he spak to hem ful goodly and seyde in this wise:/ "Al be it so that of
youre pride and by presumpcioun and folie and of youre necligence and
vnkonnynge/ye haue mysborn yow and trespased vnto me,/ yet for as muchel
as I se and biholde youre grete humylitee/ and that ye been sory and repentant
of youre giltes, (1880/3070) it constreyneth me to do yow grace and mercy./
Wherfore I receyue yow to my grace / and foryeue yow outrely alle the offenses,
iniuries and wronges that ye haue doon ageyns me and myne/to this effect
and to this ende that god of his endelees mercy/ wole atte tyme of oure dyynge
foryeuen vs oure giltes that we han trespassed to hym in this wrecched world.
( 1885) For doutelees if we be sory and repentant of the synnes and giltes whiche
we han trespased in the sighte of oure lord god,/ he is so free and so merciable/
that he wole foryeuen vs oure giltes/and bryngen vs to the blisse that neuere
hath ende.'/

Here is endid Chaucers tale of Melibe.








Here bigynneth the prologe of the monkes tale.                                f.88

Whan ended was my tale of Melibee
And of Prudence and hir benygnitee,                                   1890
Oure hoost seyde: "As I am feithful man                               3081
And by that precious corpus Madrian
I hadde leuere than a barel ale
That goode lief my wyf hadde herd this tale.
She nys nothyng of swich pacience                                     1895
As was this Melibeus wif, Prudence.
By goddes bones whan I bete my knaues
She bryngeth me the grete clobbed staues
And crieth: "Slee the dogges euerichon,
And breke hem bothe bak and euery bon.'                              1900
And if that any neighebore of myne                                    3091
Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne
Or be so hardy to hir to trespace,
Whan she cometh she raumpeth in my face
And crieth: "False coward, wrek thy wyf.                             1905
By corpus bones I wol haue thy knyf
And thow shalt haue my distaf and go spynne.'
Fro day to nyght right thus she wol bigynne:
"Allas,' she seith, "that euere that I was shape
To wedden a milksop or a coward ape                                  1910
That wol been ouerlad of euery wight.                                3101
Thow darst nat stonden by thy wyues right.'
This is my lif but if that I wol fighte,
And out at dore anoon I moot me dighte,
Or ellis I am but lost but if that I                                 1915
Be lyk a wilde leoun foolhardy.
I woot wel she wol do me sle som day
Som neighebore and thanne go my way,
For I am perilous with knyf in honde
Al be it that I dar nat hir withstonde                               1920
For she is big in armes. By my feith                                 3111
That shal he fynde that hir mysdooth or seith.
But lat vs passe awey fro this matere.
  "My lord the monk,' quod he, "be myrie of cheere
For ye shul telle a tale trewely.
Lo Rouchestre stant heer faste by.                              f.88v 1925
Ride forth, myn owene lord, brek nat oure game.
But by my trouthe I knowe nat youre name.
Wher shal I calle yow, my lord: daun Iohn
Or daun Thomas or ellis daun Albon?                                  1930
Of what hous be ye by youre fader kyn?                               3121
I vow to god thow hast a ful fair skyn.
It is a gentil pasture ther thow goost,
Thow art nat lyk a penaunt or a goost.
Vpon my feith thow art som officer,                                  1935
Som worthy sexteyn or som celerer.
For by my fader soule as to my doom
Thow art a maister whan thou art at hom,
No poure cloistrer ne no novys,
But a gouernour wily and wys,                                        1940
And therwithal of brawnes and of bones                               3131
A welfarynge persone for the nones.
I prey to god yeue hym confusioun
That first thee broghte vnto religioun:
Thow woldest han been a tredefoul aright!                            1945
Haddestow as greet a leue as thow hast myght

To parfourne al thy lust in engendrure,
Thow haddest bigeten ful many a creature.
Allas why werestow so wyd a cope?
God yeue me sorwe but and I were a pope,                             1950
Nat oonly thow but euery myghty man                                  3141
Thogh he were shore ful hye vpon his pan
Sholde haue a wyf, for al the world is lorn.
Religion hath take vp al the corn
Of tredyng and we borel men been shrympes.                           1955
Of feble trees ther comen wrecched ympes.
This maketh that oure heires beth so sklendre
And feble that they may nat wel engendre.
This maketh that oure wyues wole assaye
Religious folk, for ye mowe bettre paye                              1960
Of Venus paiementz than may we.                                      3151
God woot no lussheburgh payen ye.
But be nat wrooth, my lord, thogh that I pleye,
Ful ofte in game a sooth I haue herd seye.'
  This worthy monk took al in pacience                         f.89 1965
And seyde: "I wol doon al my diligence
As fer as sowneth into honestee
To telle yow a tale or two or three.
And if yow list to herkne hiderward
I wol yow seyn the lyf of seint Edward.                               1970
Or ellis first tragedies wol I telle                                  3161
Of whiche I haue an hundred in my celle.
Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storie
As olde bokes maken vs memorie
Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee                                1975
And is yfallen out of heigh degree
Into myserie and endeth wrecchedly.
And they been versified comunly
Of vj feet whiche men clepyn exametron.
In prose eek been endited many oon                                    1980
And eek in metre in many a sondry wise.                               3171
Lo this declaryng oghte ynogh suffise.
  "Now herkneth if yow liketh for to heere.
But first I yow biseke in this matere
Though I by ordre telle nat thise thynges,                            1985
Be it of popes, emperours or kynges,
After hir ages as men writen fynde,
But telle hem som bifore and som bihynde
As it now cometh vnto my remembrance.
Haueth me excused of myn ignorance.'                                  1990

Here bigynneth the mokes tale

I wol biwaille in manere of tragedie                                  3181
The harm of hem that stoode in heigh degree
And fillen so that ther nas no remedie
To brynge hem out of hir aduersitee.
For certeyn whan that fortune list to flee                            1995
Ther may no man the cours of hir withholde.
Lat no man triste on blynd prosperitee.
Beth war by thise ensamples trewe and olde.


  At Lucifer, thogh he an aungel were                                 f.89v
And nat a man, at hym I wol bigynne.                                  200o
For thogh fortune may noon aungel dere,                               3191
From heigh degree yet fil he for his synne
Doun into helle where as he yet is inne.
  O Lucifer, brightest of aungels alle,
Now artow Sathanas that mayst nat twynne                              2005
Out of miserie in which that thou art falle.                          3196

  Lo Sampson, which that was anunciat                                 3205
By the aungel longe er his natiuitee
And was to god almyghty consecrat
  Was neuere swich another as was he
And stood in noblesse whil he myghte see                              2010
Was neuere swich another as was he
To speke of strengthe and therwith hardynesse.                        3210
But to hise wyues tolde he his secree
Thurgh which he slow hymself for wrecchednesse.


Sampson, this noble, almyghty champioun,                              2015
Withouten wepne saue hise hondes tweye
He slow and al torente the leoun
Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye.
His false wyf koude hym so plese and preye
Til she his conseil knew, and she vntrewe                             2020
Vnto his foos his conseil gan biwreye
And hym forsook and took another newe.                                3220

Thre hundred foxes took Sampson for ire
And alle hir tayles he togydre bond
And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire                               2025
For he on euery tayl hadde knyt a brond.
And they brende alle the cornes in that lond
And alle hir olyueris and vynes eke.
A thousand men he slow with his hond
And hadde no wepne but an asses cheke.                                2030

Whan they were slayn, so thursted hym that he
Was wel ny lorn for which he gan to preye                             3230
That god wolde on his peyne haue som pitee
And sende hym drynke or ellis moste he deye.
And of this asses cheke that was dreye,                               2035
Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle
Of which he drank ynogh shortly to seye.
Thus heelp hym god as Iudicum kan telle.

By verray force at Gazan on a nyght                                   f.90
Maugree Philistiens of that citee                                     2040
The gates of the toun he hath vp plight
And on his bak ycaried hem hath he                                    3240
Hye on an hill wher as men myghte hem se.
O noble, almyghty Sampsoun, leef and deere,
Had thow nat toold to wommen thy secree                               2045
In al this world ne hadde been thy peere.

This Sampsoun neuere ciser drank ne wyn
Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne shere
By precept of the messager deuyn,
For alle his strengthes in his herys were.                            2050
And fully xx wynter yeer by yere
He hadde of Israel the gouernance.                                    3250
But soone shal he wepe many a teere
For wommen shul hym bryngen to meschaunce.

Vnto his lemman, Dalida, he tolde                                     2055
That in his herys al his strengthe lay.
And falsly to his fomen she hym solde.
And slepynge in hir barm vpon a day
She made to clippe or shere his heer away
And made his fomen al this craft espien.                              2060
And whan that they hym fond in this array,
They bounde hym faste and putten out his eyen.                        3260

But er his heer was clipped or yshaue
Ther was no bond with which men myghte hym bynde.
But now is he in prisone in a caue                                    2065
Wher as they made hym at the querne grynde.
O noble Sampsoun, strengest of mankynde,
  O whilom iuge in glorie and in richesse,
Now maystow wepen with thyne eyen blynde
Sith thow fro wele art falle in wrecchednesse.                        2070


The ende of this caytif was as I shal seye.
His fomen made a feste vpon a day                                     3270
And made hym as hir fool bifore hem pleye,
And this was in a temple of greet array.
But atte laste he made a foul affray                                  2075
For he two pilers shook and made hem falle
And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay,
And slow hymself and eek his fomen alle.


This is to seyn the prynces euerychon                                 f.90v
And eek thre thousand bodies were ther slayn                          2080
With fallyng of the grete temple of stoon.
Of Sampson now wol I namoore sayn.                                    3280
Beth war by this ensample old and playn
That no men telle hir conseil til hir wyues
Of swich thyng as they wolde han secree fayn,                         2085
If that it touche hir lymes or hir lyues.

   Of Hercules, the souereyn conquerour,
Syngen hise werkes laude and heigh renoun,
For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour.
He slow and rafte the skyn fro the leoun;                             2090
He of centauros leyde the boost adown;
He arpies slow, the cruel briddes felle;                              3290
He golden apples rafte of the dragoun;
He drow out Cerberus, the hound of helle.

He slow the cruel tyrant Busirus                                      2095
And made his hors to frete hym flessh and bon;
He slow the firy serpent venymus;
Of Achilois two hornes he brak oon;
And he slow Cakus in a caue of stoon;
He slow the geant Antheus the stronge-                                2100
He slow the grisly boor and that anon;
And bar the heuene on his nekke longe.                                3300

Was neuere wight sith that this world bigan
That slew so manye monstres as dide he.
Thurghout this wide world his name ran                                2105
What for his strengthe and for his heigh bountee;
And euery reawme wente he for to se:
He was so strong that no man myghte hym lette.
At bothe the worldes endes, seith Trophee,
In stede of boundes he a piler sette.                                 2110


A lemman hadde this noble champioun
That highte Dianira, fressh as May.                                   3310
And as thise clerkes maken mencion,
She hath hym sent a sherte fressh and gay.
Allas this sherte, allas and weylaway,                                2115
Enuenymed was so subtilly withalle
That er that he hadde wered it half a day
It made his flessh al from hise bones falle.


But natheles somme clerkes hir excusen                                f.91
By oon that highte Nessus that it maked.                              2120
Be as be may, I wol hir noght accusen.
But on his bak the sherte he wered al naked                           3320
Til that his flessh was for the venym blaked.
And whan he say noon oother remedie,
In hote coles he hath hymseluen raked                                 2125
For with no venym deigned hym to dye.

Thus starf this worthy, myghty Hercules.
Lo who may truste on fortune any throwe?
For hym that folweth al this world of prees
Er he be war is ofte yleyd ful lowe.                                  2130
Ful wys is he that kan hymseluen knowe.
Beth war, for whan that fortune list to glose                         3330
Thanne waiteth she hir man to ouerthrowe
By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose.

  The myghty trone, the precious tresor,                              2135
The glorious ceptre and roial maiestee
That hadde the kyng Nabugodonosor,
With tonge vnnethe may discryued be.
He twies wan Ierusalem the citee;
The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde.                           2140
At Babiloigne was his souereyn see
In which his glorie and his delit he hadde.                           3340


The faireste children of the blood roial
Of Israel he leet do gelde anon
And maked ech of hem to been his thral.                               2145
Amonges othere Danyel was oon
That was the wiseste child of euerychoon,
For he the dremes of the kyng expowned,
Ther as in Chaldeye clerk ne was ther noon
That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned.                             2150


This proude kyng leet make a statue of gold,
Sixty cubites long and seuene in brede,                               3350
To which ymage he bothe yong and old
Comanded to loute and haue in drede
Or in a fourneys ful of flambes rede                                  2155
He shal be brend that wolde noght obeye.
But neuere wolde assente to that dede
Danyel ne hise yonge felawes tweye.


This kyng of kynges proud was and elat-                               f91v
He wende that god that sit in magestee                                2160
Ne myghte hym nat bireue of his estat.
But sodeynly he loste his dignytee                                    3360
And lyk a beest hym semed for to be,
And eet hey as an oxe and lay theroute
In reyn; with wilde beestes walked he                                 2165
Til certeyn tyme was ycome aboute.


And lyk an egles fetheres wax hise herys,
Hise nayles lyk a briddes clawes weere,
Til god relessed hym a certeyn yerys
And yaf hym wit. And thanne with many a teere                         2170
He thanked god and euere his lyf in feere
Was he to doon amys or moore trespace.                                3370
And til that tyme he leyd was on his beere
He knew that god was ful of myght and grace.

  His sone which that highte Balthasar                                2175
That heeld the regne after his fader day,
He by his fader koude noght be war
For proud he was of herte and of array
And eek an ydolastre was he ay.
His hye estat assured hym in pryde;                                   2180
But fortune caste hym down, and ther he lay,
And sodeynly his regne gan dyuyde.                                    3380

A feste he made vnto hise lordes alle
Vpon a tyme and made hem blithe be,
And thanne hise officers gan he calle.                                2185
"Gooth bryngeth forth the vessels,' quod he,
"Whiche that my fader in his prosperitee
Out of the temple of Ierusalem birafte.
And to oure hye goddes thanke we
Of honour that oure eldres with vs lafte.'                            2190

His wyf, hise lordes and hise concubynes
Ay dronken, whil hir appetites laste,                                 3390
Out of thise noble vessels sondry wynes.
And on a wal this kyng hise eyen caste
And say an hand armlees that wroot ful faste,                         2195
For feere of which he quook and siked soore.
This hand that Balthasar so soore agaste
Wroot "Mane, techel, phares' and namoore.

In al that land magicien was noon                                     f.92
That koude expounde what that lettre mente.                           2200
But Danyel expowned it anoon
And seyde: "Kyng, god to thy fader lente                              3400
Glorie and honour, regne, tresor, rente.
And he was proud and nothyng god ne dradde.
And therfore god greet wreche vpon hym sente                          2205
And hym birefte the regne that he hadde.

"He was out cast of mannes compaignye.
With asses was his habitacioun
And eet hey as a beest in weet and drye
Til that he knew by grace and by resoun                               2210
That god of heuene hath domynacioun
Ouer euery regne and euery creature.                                  3410
And thanne hadde god of hym compassioun
And hym restored his regne and his figure.


"Eke thow that art his sone art proud also                            2215
And knowest alle thise thynges verraily,
And art rebel to god and art his fo.
Thow drank eek of his vessel boldely --
Thy wyf eke and thy wenches synfully
Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynys --                            2220
And heriest false goddes cursedly.
Therfore to thee yshapen ful greet pyne is.                            3420
"This hand was sent fro god that on the wal
Wroot "Mane, techel, phares'. Truste me
Thy regne is doon, thow weyest noght at al.                           2225
Dyuyded is thy regne and it shal be
To Medes and to Perses yeuen,' quod he.
And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe,
And Darius occupieth his degree
Though he therto hadde neither right ne lawe.                         2230

Lordynges, ensample heerby may ye take
How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse,                               3430
For whan fortune wol a man forsake
She bereth awey his regne and his richesse
And eke hise freendes bothe moore and lesse.                          2235
For what man that hath freendes thurgh fortune,
Mishap wol make hem enemys, I gesse.
This prouerbe is ful sooth and ful commune.

  Cenobia, of Palymerie queene,                                       f.92v
As writen Persiens of hir noblesse                                    2240
So worthy was in armes and so keene
That no wight passed hir in hardynesse                                3440
Ne in lynage ne oother gentilesse.
Of kynges blood of Perce is she descended.
I sey nat that she hadde moost fairnesse,                             2245
But of hir shap she myghte nat been amended.


From hir childhede I fynde that she fledde
Office of wommen and to wode she wente
And many a wilde hertes blood she shedde
With arwes brode that she to hem sente.                               2250
She was so swift that she anoon hem hente.
And whan that she was elder she wolde kille                           3450
Leons, leopardes and beres al torente,
And in hir armes welde hem at hir wille.

She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke                                  2255
And rennen in the montaynes al the nyght
And slepen vnder the bussh. And she koude eke
Wrastlen by verray force and verray myght
With any yong man, were he neuer so wight.
Ther myghte nothyng in hir armes stonde.                              2260
She kepte hir maydenhede from euery wight;
To no man deigned hir for to be bonde.                                3460


But atte laste hir freendes han hir maryed
To Onedake, a prynce of that contree,
Al were it so that she hem longe taryed.                              2265
And ye shal vnderstande how that he
Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she.
But nathelees whan they weere knyt in feere
They lyued in ioye and in felicitee
For ech of hem hadde oother lief and deere.                           2270

Saue o thyng that she wolde neuere assente
By no wey that he sholde by hir lye                                   3470
But ones, for it was hir pleyn entente
To haue a child the world to multiplye.
And also soone as that she myghte espye                               2275
That she was nat with childe with that dede,
Thanne wolde she suffren hym doon his fantasye
Eft soone and noght but ones out of drede.

And if she were with childe at thilke cast                            f.93
Namoore sholde he pleyen thilke game                                  2280
Til fully xl wykes weren past,
Thanne wolde she ones suffre hym do the same.                         3480
Al were this Onedake wilde or tame
He gat namoore of hire, for thus she seyde
It was to wyues lecherie and shame                                    2285
In oother cas if that men with hem pleyde.

Two sones by this Onedake hadde she
The whiche she kepte in vertu and lettrure;
But now vnto oure tale turne we.
I seye so worshipful a creature                                       2290
And wys therwith and large with mesure,
So penyble in the werre and curteis eke,                              3490
Ne moore labour myghte in werre endure
Was noon, thogh al this world men sholde seke.


Hir riche array ne myghte nat be toold                                2295
As wel in vessel as in hire clothyng,
She was al clad in perree and in gold.
And eek she lafte noght for noon huntyng
To haue of sondry tonges ful knowyng
Whan that she leyser hadde; and for to entende                        2300
To lerne bookes was al hir likyng:
How she in vertu myghte hir lyf despende.                             3500

And shortly of this storie for to trete
So doughty was hir housbonde and eek she
That they conquered manye regnes grete                                2305
In th'orient with many a fair citee
Appartenant vnto the magestee
Of Rome, and with strong hond heeld hem ful faste;
Ne neuere myghte hir fomen doon hem flee
Ay whil that Onedakes dayes laste.                                    2310

Hir batailles whoso list hem for to rede
Agayn Sapor the kyng and othere mo,                                   3510
And how that al this proces fil in dede,
Why she conquered and what title therto,
And after of hir meschief and hir wo                                  2315
How that she was biseged and ytake,
Lat hym vnto my maister Petrak go
That writ ynow of this I vndertake.


Whan Onedake was deed, she myghtily                                   f.93"
The regnes heeld and with hir propre hond                             2320
Agayns hir foos she faught so cruelly
That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond                          3520
That he nas glad if he that grace fond
That she ne wolde vpon his land werreye.
With hir they made alliance by bond                                   2325
To been in pees and lete hir ryde and pleye.

The emperour of Rome, Claudius,
Ne hym biforn the Romayn Galien
Ne dorsten neuere been so corageus
Ne noon Ermyn ne noon Egipcien                                        2330
Ne Surryen ne noon Arabien
Withinne the feeldes that dorste with hir fighte,                     3530
Lest that she wolde hem with hir handes slen
Or with hir meynee putten hem to flighte.

In kynges habit wenten hir sones two                                  2335
As heires of hir fadres regnes alle,
And Hermanno and Thymalao
Hir names weere as Persiens hem calle.
But ay fortune hath in hir hony galle:
This myghty queene may no while endure.                               2340
Fortune out of hir regne made hir falle
To wrecchednesse and to mysauenture.                                  3540

Aurelian whan that the gouernance
Of Rome cam into hise handes tweye,
He shoop vpon this queene to doon vengeance.                          2345
And with his legions he took his weye
Toward Cenobie, and shortly for to seye
He made hire flee and atte laste hir hente
And fettred hir and eek hir children tweye
And wan the land and hoom to Rome he wente.                           2350

Amonges othere thynges that he wan
Hir chaar that was with gold wroght and perree                        3550
This grete Romayn, this Aurelian,
Hath with hym lad for that men sholde it see.
Biforn his triumphe walketh she                                       2355
With gilte cheynes on hir nekke hangynge;
Corowned was she as after hir degree
And ful of perree charged hir clothynge.

Allas fortune, she that whilom was                                    f.94
Dredeful to kynges and to emperoures,                                 2360
Now gawreth al the peple on hir allas!
And she that helmed was in starke stoures                             3560
And wan by force townes stronge and toures
Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte;
And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures                            2365
Shal bere a distaf hir cost for to quyte.                             3564


  Although that Nero were vicius                                      3653
As any feend that lyth ful lowe adown,
Yet he, as telleth vs Swetonius,
This wide world hadde in subieccioun                                  2370
Bothe est and west, south and septemtrioun.
Of rubies, saphires, and of perles white
Were alle hise clothes browded vp and doun,
For he in gemmes greetly gan delite.                                  3660

Moore delicat, moore pompous of array,                                2375
Moore proud was neuere emperour than he:
That ilke clooth that he hadde weryd o day
After that tyme he nolde it neuere see;
Nettes of gold-threed hadde he greet plentee
To fisshen in Tybre whan hym liste pleye.                             2380
Hise lustes were al lawe in his decree
For fortune, as his freend, hym wolde obeye.


He Rome brende for his delicacie;
The senatours he slow vpon a day                                      3670
To heere how that men wolde wepe and crye;                            2385
And slow his brother and by his suster lay;
His moder he made in pitous array
For he hir wombe slytte to biholde
Where he conceyued was, so weilaway
That he so litel of his moder tolde!                                  2390

No teere out of hise eyen for that sighte
Ne cam, but seyde a fair womman was she.
Greet wonder is how that he koude or myghte
Be domesman of hir dede beautee.
The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he                                    2395
And drank anoon -- noon oother wo he made.
Whan myght is ioyned vnto crueltee
Allas to depe wol the venym wade!

In youthe a maister hadde this emperour                               f.94v
To teche hym lettrure and curteisye                                   2400
For of moralitee he was the flour
As in his tyme but if bookes lye.
And whil this maister hadde of hym maistrye
He maked hym so louyng and so souple                                  3690
That longe tyme it was er tirannye                                    2405
Or any vice dorste in hym vncouple.

This Seneca of which that I deuyse,
By cause Nero hadde of hym swich drede
For he fro vices wolde hym ay chastise
Discretly as by word and nat by dede --                               2410
"Sire,' wolde he seyn, "an emperour moot nede
Be vertuous and hate tirannye' --
For which he in a bath made hym to blede
On bothe hise armes til he moste dye.                                 3700

This Nero hadde eek of acustumance                                    2415
In youthe agayns his maister for to rise,
Which afterward hym thoughte a greet greuance:
Therfore he made hym dyen in this wise.
But nathelees this Seneca the wise
Chees in a bath to dye in this manere                                 2420
Rather than han another tormentrise;
And thus hath Nero slayn his maister deere.

Now fil it so that fortune liste no lenger
The hye pride of Nero to cherice,                                     3710
For thogh that he was strong, yet was she strenger.                   2425
She thoghte thus: "By god I am to nyce
To sette a man that is fulfild of vice
In heigh degree and emperour hym calle;
By god out of his sete I wol hym trice:
Whan he leest weneth sonnest shal he falle.'                          2430

The peple roos vpon hym on a nyght
For his defaute; and whan he it espied
Out of his dores anon he hath hym dight
Allone. And there he wende han been allyed                            3720
He knokked faste, and ay the moore he cryed                           2435
The faster shette they the dores alle.
For drede of this hym thoughte that he dyed
And wente his wey; no lenger dorste he calle.

The peple cryde and rombled vp and doun                               f.95
That with hise erys herde he how they seyde                           2440
"Where is this false tirant, this Neroun.'
For fere almoost out of his wit he breyde
And to hise goddes pitously he preyde
For socour, but it myghte noght bityde.                               3730
For drede of this hym thoughte that he deyde                          2445
And ran into a gardyn hym to hyde.


And in this gardyn foond he cherles tweye
That seten by a fyr greet and reed.
And to thise cherlis two he gan to preye
To sleen hym and to girden of his heed                                2450
That to his body whan that he were deed
Were no despit ydoon for his defame.
Hymself he slow, he koude no bettre reed;
Of which fortune lough and hadde a game.                              3740


  Was neuere capitayn vnder a kyng                                    2455
That regnes mo putte in subieccioun
Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thyng
As in his tyme ne gretter of renoun
Ne moore pompous in heigh presumpcioun
Than Oloferne, which fortune ay kiste                                 2460
So likerously and ladde hym vp and doun
Til that his heed was of er that he wiste.

Nat oonly that this world hadde hym in awe
For lesynge of richesse or libertee,                                  3750
But made euery man reneyen his lawe:                                  2465
Nabugodonosor was god (seyde he),
Noon oother god sholde adoured be.
Agayns this heste no wight dorste trespace
Saue in Bethulia a strong citee
Where Eliachym a preest was of that place.                            2470

But tak kepe of the deeth of Oloferne:
Amydde his oost he dronke lay a nyght
Withinne his tente large as is a berne;
And yet for al his pompe and al his myght                             3760
Iudith a womman, as he lay vpright,                                   2475
Slepynge his heed of smoot; and from his tente
Ful pryuely she stal from euery wight
And with his heed vnto hir toun she wente.

  What nedeth it of kyng Anthiochus                                   f.95v
To telle his hye roial magestee,                                      2480
His hye pryde, hise werkes venymus,
For swich another was ther noon as he?
Reed which that he was in Machabee
And reed the proude wordes that he seyde                              3770
And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee                                  2485
And in an hill how wrecchedly he deyde.


Fortune hym hadde enchaunted so in pride
That verraily he wende he myghte attayne
Vnto the sterres vpon euery syde
And in balance weyen ech montayne                                     2490
And alle the floodes of the see restrayne.
And goddes peple hadde he moost in hate:
Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne
Wenynge that god ne myghte his pryde abate.                           3780

And for that Nichanore and Thymothe                                   2495
Of Iewes weren venquysshed myghtily,
Vnto the Iewes swich an hate hadde he
That he bad greithe his chaar ful hastily
And swoor and seyde ful despitously
Vnto Ierusalem he wolde eftsoone                                      2500
To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly;
But of his purpos he was let ful soone.

God for his manace hym so soore smoot
With invisible wounde ay incurable                                    3790
That in hise guttes carf it so and boot                               2505
That hise peynes weren inportable.
And certeinly the wreche was resonable
For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne.
But from his purpos cursed and dampnable
For al his smert he wolde hym nat restreyne.                          2510

But bad anon apparaillen his hoost;
And sodeynly er he was of it war
God daunted al his pride and al his boost,
For he so soore fil out of his char                                   3800
That it hise lymes and his skyn totar                                 2515
So that he neither myghte go ne ryde;
But in a chayer men aboute hym bar
Al forbrused bothe bak and syde.


The wreche of god hym smoot so cruelly                                f.96
That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte,                            2520
And therwithal he stank so horribly
That noon of al his meynee that hym kepte,
Wheither so he wook or ellis slepte,
Ne myghte noght for stynk of hym endure.                              3810
In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte                              2525
And knew god lord of euery creature.

To al his hoost and to hymself also
Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his careyne:
No man ne myghte hym bere to ne fro.
And in this stynk and this horrible peyne                             2530
He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne.
Thus hath this robbour and this homycide
That many a man made to wepe and pleyne
Swich gerdon as bilongeth vnto pryde.                                 3820


  The storie of Alisandre is so commune                               2535
That euery wight that hath discrecioun
Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune.
This wide world as in conclusioun
He wan by strengthe or for hys hye renoun:
They were glad for pees vnto hym sende.                               2540
The pryde of man and beest he leyde adoun
Whereso he cam vnto the worldes ende.

Comparison myghte neuere yet ben maked
Bitwixe hym and another conquerour,                                   3830
For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked --                     2545
He of knyghthod and of fredom flour.
Fortune hym made the heir of hir honour.
Saue wyn and wommen nothyng myghte aswage
His hye entente in armes and labour
So was he ful of leonyn corage.                                       2550

What prys were it to hym thogh I yow tolde
Of Darius and an hundred thousand mo
Of kynges, prynces, dukes, erles bolde
Whiche he conquered and broghte hem into wo?                          3840
I seye as fer as man may ride or go                                   2555
The world was his. What sholde I moore deuyse?
For thogh I write or tolde yow eueremo
Of his knyghthode, it myghte nat suffise.


Twelf yeer he regned, as seith Machabee                               f.96v
Philippes sone of Macidoyne he was                                    2560
That first was kyng in Grece the contree.
O worthy, gentil Alisandre, allas
That euere sholde fallen swich a cas:
Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thow weere!                             3850
Thy sys fortune hath turned into aas --                               25b5
And for thee ne weep she neuer a teere.

Who shal me yeue teeris to compleyne
The deeth of gentilesse and of franchise
That al this world weldid in his demeyne?
And yet hym thoughte it myghte nat suffise                            2570
So ful was his corage of heigh emprise.
Allas who shal me helpe to endite
False fortune and poyson to despise,
The whiche two of al this wo I wyte?                                  3860

  By wisdom, manhede, and by greet labour                             2575
From humble bed to roial magestee
Vp roos he Iulius the conquerour,
That wan al the occident by land and see
By strengthe of hond or ellis by tretee
And vnto Rome made hem tributarie,                                    2580
And sith of Rome the emperour was he
Til that fortune weex his aduersarie.

  O myghty Cesar that in Thessalie
Agayn Pompeus fader thyn in lawe                                      3870
That of th'orient hadde al the chiualrie                              2585
As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe,
Thow thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe
Saue fewe folk that with Pompeus fledde
Thurgh which thow puttest al th'orient in awe,
Thanke fortune that so wel thee spedde.                               2590

But now a litel while I wol biwaille
This Pompeus, this noble gouernour
Of Rome, which that fleigh at this bataille.
I seye oon of hise men, a fals traitour,                              3880
His heed of smoot to wynnen hym fauour                                2595
Of Iulius, and hym the heed he broghte.
Allas, Pompeie of th'orient conquerour,
That fortune vnto swich a fyn thee broghte!


To Rome agayn repaireth Iulius                                        f.97
With his triumphe lauriat ful hye.                                    2600
But on a tyme Brutus Cassius,
That euere hadde of his heighe estat enuye,
Ful pryuely hath maad conspiracie
Agayns this Iulius in subtil wise                                     3890
And caste the place in which he sholde dye                            2605
With boydekyns, as I shal yow deuyse.

This Iulius to the Capitolie wente
Vpon a day as he was wont to goon;
And in the Capitolie anon hym hente
This false Brutus and hise othere foon                                2610
And stiked hym with boydekyns anon
With many a wounde, and thus they lete hym lye.
But neuere gronte he at no strook but oon
Or ellis at two, but if his storie lye.                               3900

So manly was this Iulius of herte                                     2615
And so wel louede estatly honestee,
That thogh hise deedly woundes so sore smerte,
His mantel ouer his hipes caste he
For no man sholde seen his pryuetee.
And as he lay of dyyng in a traunce                                   2620
And wiste verraily that deed was he,
Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce.


Lucan to thee this storie I recomende
And to Sweton and to Valerius also                                    3910
That of this storie writen word and ende                              2625
How that to thise grete conquerours two
Fortune was first freend and siththe a foo.
No man ne triste vpon hir fauour longe
But haue hire in awayt for eueremo:
Witnesse on alle thise conquerours stronge.                           2630

  This riche Cresus whilom kyng of Lyde,
Of which Cresus Cirus soore hym dradde,
Yet was he caught amyddes al his pryde
And to be brent men to the fyr hym ladde.                             3920
But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde                           2635
That slow the fyr and made hym to escape.
But to be war no grace yet he hadde
Til fortune on the galwes made hym gape.
Whanne he escaped was he kan nat stente                               f:97v
For to bigynne a newe werre agayn                                     2640
He wende wel for that fortune hym sente
Swich hap that he escaped thurgh the rayn
That of his foos he myghte nat be slayn.
And eek a sweuene vpon a nyght he mette                               3930
Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn                              2645
That in vengeance he al his herte sette.

Vpon a tree he was as that hym thoughte
Ther Iuppiter hym wessh bothe bak and syde
And Phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte
To drye hym with; and therfore wax his pryde,                         2650
And to his doghter that stood hym bisyde,
Which that he knew in heigh sentence habounde,
He bad hir telle hym what it signyfide.
And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde.                          3940

"The tree,' quod she, "the galwes is to mene,                         2655
And Iuppiter bitokneth snow and reyn,
And Phebus with his towaille so clene
Tho been the sonnes stremes for to seyn.
Thow shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn:
Reyn shal thee wasshe and sonne shal thee drye.'                      2660
Thus warned hym ful plat and ful pleyn
His doghter which that called was Phanye.


Anhanged was Cresus, the proude kyng:
His roial trone myghte hym nat auaille.                               3950
Tragedies noon oother maner thyng                                     2665
Ne kan in syngyng crye ne biwaille,
But that fortune alwey wole assaille
With vnwar strook the regnes that been proude.
For whan men trusteth hire, thanne wol she faille                     2669
And couere hir brighte face with a clowde.

    O noble, o worthy Petro, glorie of Spayne                         3565
Whom fortune heeld so heighe in magestee,
Wel oghten men thy pitous deeth complayne.
Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee
And after at a sege by subtiltee                                      2675
Thow were bitraysed and lad vnto his tente                            3570
Wher as he with his owene hand slow thee,
Succedynge in thy regne and in thy rente.

The feeld of snow with th'egle of blak therinne                       f.98
Caught with the lymrod coloured as the glede,                         2680
He brew this cursednesse and al this synne.
The wikked nest was werkere of this nede.
Noght Charles Olyuer that took ay hede
Of trouthe and honour, but of Armorike
Genylon Olyuer corrupt for mede                                       2685
Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike.                            3580

    O worthy Petro, kyng of Cipre, also
That Alisaundre wan by heigh maistrie,
Ful many an hethen wroghtestow ful wo
Of which thyne owene liges hadde envie.                               2690
And for nothyng but for thy chiualrie
They in thy bed han slayn thee by the morwe.
Thus kan fortune hire wheel gouerne and gye
And out of ioye brynge men to sorwe.

  Of Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte                                    2695
God of delit and scourge of Lumbardye,                                3590
Why sholde I noght thyn infortune acounte
Sith in estat thow clombe were so hye?
Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye
For he thy nevew was and sone-in-lawe,                                2700
Withinne his prisoun made thee to dye.
But why ne how noot I that thow were slawe.

  Of the erl Hugelyn of Pize the langour
Ther may no tonge tellen for pitee.
But litel out of Pize stant a tour,                                   2705
In which tour in prisoun put was he                                   3600
And with hym been hise litel children thre,
The eldeste scarsly fyue yeer was of age.
Allas fortune, it was greet crueltee
Swiche briddes for to putte in swich a cage!                          2710

Dampned was he to dyen in that prisoun,
For Roger which that bisshop was of Pize
Hadde on hym maad a fals suggestioun
Thurgh which the peple gan vpon hym rise
And putten hym to prison in swich wise                                2715
As ye han herd. And mete and drynke he hadde                          3610
So smal that wel vnnethe it may suffise,
And therwithal it was ful poure and badde.


And on a day bifel that in that hour                                  f.98v
Whan that his mete wont was to be broght                              2720
The gayler shette the dores of the tour.
He herde it wel, but he spak right noght,
And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght
That they for hunger wolde doon hym dyen.
"Allas,' quod he, "allas that I was wroght.'                          2725
Therwith the teeris fillen from hise eyen.                            3620

His yonge sone that thre yeer was of age
Vnto hym seyde: "Fader, fader, why do ye wepe?
Whanne wol the gayler bryngen oure potage?
Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe?                              2730
I am so hungry that I may nat slepe.
Now wolde god that I myghte slepen euere,
Thanne sholde noght hunger in my wombe crepe!
Ther is nothyng but breed that me were leuere.'

Thus day by day this child bigan to crye                              2735
Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay                                   3630
And seyde: "Farewel, fader, I moot dye.'
And kiste his fader and deyde the same day.
And whan the woful fader deed it say,
For wo hise armes two he gan to byte                                  2740
And seyde: "Allas fortune and weylaway,
Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte!'

Hise children wende that it for hunger was
That he hise armes gnow and nat for wo,
And seyden: "Fader, do nat so allas.                                  2745
But rather ete the flessh vpon vs two.                                3640
Oure flessh thow yaf, taak oure flessh vs fro,
And ete ynow.' Right thus they to hym seyde.
And after that withinne a day or two
They leyde hem in his lappe adoun and deyde.                          2750


Hymself despeired eek for hunger starf.
Thus ended is this myghty erl of Pize;
From heigh estat fortune awey hym carf.
Of this tragedic it oghte ynogh suffise.
Whoso wole heere it in a lenger wise                                  2755
Redeth the grete poete of Ytaille                                     3650
That highte Dant, for he kan al deuyse
Fro point to point; nat o word wol he faille.

Here is ended the monkes tale.



















This is the prologe of the nonnes preestes tale.                      f.99


"Ho,' quod the knyght, "good sire, namoore of this.                   3957
That ye han seyd is right ynow ywis                                   2760
And muchel moore, for litel heuynesse
Is right ynow to muche folk I gesse.                                  3960
Youre tales doon vs no desport ne game.                               3981
Wherfore, sir monk, o daun Piers by youre name,
I prey yow hertely telle vs somwhat ellis:                            2765
For sikerly nere clynkyng of youre bellis
That on youre bridel hange on euery syde
By heuene kyng that for vs alle dyde
I sholde er this haue fallen doun for sleep,
Althogh the slow hadde neuere ben so deep.                            2770
Thanne hadde youre tale al be toold in veyn!
For certeynly as that thise clerkes seyn                             3990
Where as a man may haue noon audience
Naught helpeth it to tellen his sentence.
And wel I woot the substaunce is in me                               2775
If anythyng shal wel reported be
Sire, sey somwhat of huntyng I yow preye.'
"Nay,' quod this monk, "I haue no lust to pleye.
Now lat another telle as I haue toold.'
Thanne spak oure hoost with rude speche and boold                2780
And seyde vnto the nonnes preest anon:
"Com neer, thow preest, com hider, thow sir Iohn.                    4000
Telle vs swich thyng as may oure hertes glade.
Be blythe though thow ryde vpon a iade.
What though thyn hors be bothe foul and lene!                        2785
If he wol serue thee rekke nat a bene.
Looke that thyn herte be murye eueremo.'
"Yis, sire,' quod he, "yis, hoost, so mote I go.
But I be murye ywis I wol be blamed.'
And right-anon his tale he hath attamed.                             2790
And thus he seyde vnto vs euerichon,
This sweete preest, this goodly man sir Iohn.                        4010

explicit.

Here bigynneth the nonnes preestes tale of the cok and hen,          f.99v
Chauntecler and Pertelote.

A poore widwe somdel stape in age
Was whilom dwellynge in a narwe cotage
Biside a groue, stondyng in a dale.                                  2795
This widwe of which I telle yow my tale
Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf
In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf,
For litel was hir catel and hir rente.
By housbondrye of swich as god hir sente                              2800
She foond hirself and eek hir doghtren two.
Thre large sowes hadde she and namo,                                  4020
Thre kyn and eek a sheep that highte Malle.
Ful sooty was hir bour and eek hir halle
In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel.                            2805
Of poynaunt sawce hir neded neuer-a-deel;
No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte:
Hir diete was acordant to hir cote.
Repleccioun ne made hir neuere syk.
Attempree diete was al hir phisyk                                     2810
And excercise and hertes suffisaunce.
The gowte lette hir nothyng for to daunce,                            4030
N'apoplexie shente nat hir heed.
No wyn ne drank she, neither whit ne reed.
Hir bord was serued moost with whit and blak,                         2815
Milk and broun breed in which she foond no lak,
Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or tweye
For she was as it were a maner deye.
  A yeerd she hadde enclosed al aboute
With stikkes and a drye dych withoute                                 2820
In which she hadde a cok heet Chauntecler.
In al the land of crowyng nas his peer!                               4040
His voys was murier than the myrie orgon
On massedayes that in the chirche gon.
Wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge                              2825
Than is a clokke or any abbey-orlogge.
By nature he krew ech ascencioun
Of equinoxial in thilke town:
For whan degrees xv were ascended                                     f.100
Thanne krew he that it myghte nat ben amended.                        2830
His komb was redder than the fyn coral
And batayled as it were a castel-wal.                                 4050
His byle was blak and as the ieet it shoon,
Lyk asure were hise legges and his toon.
Hise nayles whitter than the lylye-flour                              2835
And lyk the burned gold was his colour.
This gentil cok hadde in his gouernaunce
Seuene hennes for to doon al his plesaunce,
Whiche were hise sustres and his paramours
And wonder lyke to hym as of colours.                                 2840
Of whiche the faireste hewed on hire throte
Was clepid faire damoysele Pertelote.                                 4060
Curteys she was, discret and debonaire,
And compaignable, and bar hirself so faire
Syn thilke day that she was seuen nyght oold                          2845
That trewely she hath the herte in hoold
Of Chauntecler, loken in euery lyth.
He loued hir so that wel was hym therwith.
But swich a ioye was it to here hem synge,
Whan that the brighte sonne gan to sprynge,                           2850
In swete acord: "My leef is faren in londe';
For thilke tyme as I haue vnderstonde                                 4070
Beestes and briddes kouden speke and synge.
  And so bifel that in a dawenynge,
As Chauntecler among hise wyues alle                                  2855
Sat on his perche that was in the halle
And next hym sat this faire Pertelote,
This Chauntecler gan gronen in his throte
As man that in his dreem is drecched soore.
  And whan that Pertelote thus herde hym rore                         2860
She was agast, and seyde: "Herte deere,
What eyleth yow to grone in this manere?                              4080
Ye ben a verray sleper, fy for shame!'
  And he answerde and seyde thus: "Madame,
I prey yow that ye take it nat agrief.                                2865
By god me mette I was in swich meschief
Right now that yet myn herte is soore afright.
Now god,' quod he, "my sweuene recche aright
Me mette how that I romed vp and doun                                 2870
Withinne oure yeerd where as I say a beest
Was lyk an hound and wolde han maad arest                             4090
Vpon my body and han had me ded.
His colour was bitwixe yelow and red
And tipped was his tayl and bothe hise erys                           2875
With blak, vnlik the remenaunt of hise herys.
His snowte smal with glowyng eyen tweye.
Yet of his look for fere almoost I deye.
This caused me my gronyng doutelees.'
  "Avoy,' quod she, "fy on yow hertelees.                             2880
Allas,' quod she, "for by that god aboue
Now han ye lost myn herte and al my loue.                             4100
I kan nat loue a coward by my feith!
For certes whatso any womman seith,
We alle desiren if it myghte be                                       2885
To han housbondes hardy, wise and fre,
And secree and no nygard ne no fool,
Ne hym that is agast of euery tool,
Ne noon auauntour. By that god aboue
How dorste ye seyn for shame vnto youre loue                          2890
That anythyng myghte make yow aferd?
Haue ye no mannes herte and han a berd?                               4110
Allas and konne ye ben agast of sweuenys?
  "Nothyng, god woot, but vanytee in sweuene is.
Sweuenes engendren of replexions                                      2895
And ofte of fume, and of complexions
Whan humours ben to habundant in a wight.
Certes this dreem which ye han met tonyght
Comth of the grete superfluitee
Of youre rede colera pardee,                                          2900
Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes
Of arwes and of fyr with rede lemes,                                  4120
Of rede bestes that they wol hem byte,
Of contek and of whelpes grete and lyte;
Right as the humour of malencolie                                     2905
Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie
For fere of blake beres or boles blake,
Or ellis blake deueles wol hem take.
Of othere humours koude I telle also                                  f.101
That werken many a man in sleep ful wo,                               2910
But I wol passe as lightly as I kan.
Lo Catoun which that was so wys a man                                 4130
Seyde he nat thus: Ne do no fors of dremes?
  "Now, sire,' quod she, "whan we fle fro thise bemes
For goddes loue as taak som laxatif.                                  2915
Vp peril of my soule and of my lif
I conseile yow the beste, I wol nat lye,
That bothe of coler and of malencolye
Ye purge yow. And for ye shal nat tarye,
Thogh in this town is noon apothecarye,                               2920
I shal myself to herbes techen yow
That shul ben for youre heele and for youre prow.                     4140
And in oure yerd tho herbes shal I fynde
The whiche han of hir propretee by kynde
To purge yow bynethe and eek aboue.                                   2925
Foryet nat this for goddes owene loue!
Ye ben ful colerik of complexioun:
Ware the sonne in his ascencioun
Ne fynde yow nat replet of humours hote.
And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote                                  2930
That ye shul haue a feuere terciane
Or an agew that may be youre bane.                                    4150
A day or two ye shul han degestyues
Of wormes, er ye take youre laxatyues
Of lauriol, centaur, and fumetere,                                    2935
Or ellis of ellebor that groweth there,
Of katapuce or of gaytrys beryis,
Of herbe-yue growyng in oure yerd ther merye is.
Pekke hem vp right as they growe and ete hem in.
Be myrie, housbonde, for youre fader kyn!                             2940
Dredeth no dreem. I kan sey yow namoore.'
  "Madame,' quod he, "grant mercy of youre loore.                     4160
But nathelees as touchyng daun Catoun
That hath of wisdom swich a gret renoun
Thogh that he bad no dremes for to drede,                             2945
By god men may in olde bokes rede
Of many a man moore of auctoritee
Than euere Caton was, so mote I thee,
That al the reuers seyn of his sentence                               f.101v
And han wel founden by experience                                     2950
That dremes ben signyficaciouns
As wel of ioye as tribulaciouns                                       4170
That folk enduren in this lyf present.
Ther nedeth make of this noon argument
The verray preue sheweth it in dede.                                  2955
  "Oon of the gretteste auctour that men rede
Seith thus: that whilom two felawes wente
On pilgrymage in a ful good entente;
And happed so they coomen in a town
Where as ther was swich congregacioun                                 2960
Of peple and eek so streit of herbergage
That they ne founde as muche as o cotage                              4180
In which they bothe myghte ylogged be.
Wherfore they mosten of necessitee
As for that nyght departe compaignye;                                 2965
And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye
And took his loggyng as it wolde falle.
That oon of hem was logged in a stalle
Fer in a yeerd with oxen of the plow.
That oother man was logged wel ynow                                   2970
As was his auenture or his fortune
That vs gouerneth alle as in commune.                                 4190
And so bifel that longe er it were day
This man mette in his bed ther as he lay
How that his felawe gan vpon hym calle                                2975
And seyde: "Allas for in an oxes stalle
This nyght I shal be mordred ther I lye.
Now help me, deere brother, or I dye.
In alle haste com to me,' he sayde.
  "This man out of his sleep for feere abrayde.                       2980
But whan that he was wakned of his sleep
He turned hym and took of this no keep:                               4200
Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanytee.
Thus twies in his slepyng dremed he,
And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe                                  2985
Cam as hym thoughte and seyde: "I am now slawe.
Bihoold my blody woundes depe and wyde.
Arys vp erly in the morwe-tyde
And atte west gate of the town,' quod he,                            f.102
"A carte ful of donge ther shaltow se                                2990
In which my body is hyd ful priuely.
Do thilke cart aresten boldely.                                       4210
My gold caused my mordre sooth to seyn,'
And tolde hym euery poynt how he was sleyn
With a ful pitous face pale of hewe.                                  2995
And truste wel his dreem he fond ful trewe,
For on the morwe as soone as it was day
To his felawes in he took the way;
And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle
After his felawe he bigan to calle.                                   300o
  "The hostiler answerde hym anon
And seyde: "Sire, youre felawe is agon.                              4220
As soone as day he wente out of the town.'
  "This man gan fallen in suspecioun
Remembrynge on hise dremes that he mette.                             3005
And forth he goth, no lenger wolde he lette,
Vnto the west gate of the town and fond
A dong-carte wente as it were to donge lond
That was arrayed in that same wise
As ye han herd the dede man deuyse.                                   3010
And with an hardy herte he gan to crye
"Vengeaunce and iustice of this felonye.                             4230
My felawe mordred is this same nyght
And in this cart heere he lyth gapyng vpright.
I crye on the mynystres,' quod he,                                   3015
"That sholde kepe and rulen this citee:
Harrow, allas heere lyth my felawe slayn.'
What sholde I moore vnto this tale sayn?
The peple vp sterte and caste the cart to grounde.
And in the myddel of the dong they founde                             3020
The dede man that mordred was al newe.
  "O blisful god that art so iust and trewe,                          4240
Lo how that thow biwreyest mordre alway.
Mordre wol out, that se we day by day.
Mordre is so wlatsom and abhomynable                                  3025
To god, that is so iust and resonable,
That he ne wol nat suffre it helyd be
Though it abyde a yeer or two or thre.
Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun                                   f.102v
And right-anon ministres of that town                                 3030
Han hent the cartere and so soore hym pyned
And eek the hostiler so sore engyned                                  4250
That they biknewe hir wikkednesse anon
And were anhanged by the nekke-bon.
Heere may men sen that dremes ben to drede.                           3035
  "And certes in the same book I rede
Right in the nexte chapitre after this
(I gabbe nat so haue I ioye or blys!)
Two men that wolde han passed ouer see
For certeyn cause into a fer contree                                  3040
If that the wynd ne hadde ben contrarie
That made hem in a citee for to tarie                                 4260
That stood ful myrie vpon an hauen-syde.
But on a day agayn the euen-tyde
The wynd gan chaunge and blew right as hem leste.                     3045
Iolif and glad they wenten vnto reste
And casten hem ful erly for to sayle.
But herkneth, to that o man fil a gret meruaille.
  "That oon of hem in slepyng as he lay
Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day.                               3050
Hym thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde
And hym comanded that he sholde abyde.                                4270
And seyde hym thus: "If thow tomorwe wende,
Thow shalt be dreynt. My tale is at an ende.'
  "He wook and tolde his felawe what he mette                         3055
And preyde hym his viage to lette.
As for that day he preyde hym to byde.
  "His felawe that lay by his beddes syde
Gan for to laughe and scorned hym ful faste.
"No dreem,' quod he, "may so myn herte agaste                      3060
That I wol lette for to do my thynges.
I sette nat a straw by thy dremynges                                  4280
For sweuenes ben but vanytees and iapes.
Men dreme al day of owles or of apes,
And of many a maze therwithal.                                        3065
Men dreme of thyng that neuere was ne shal.
But sith I see that thow wolt here abyde
And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tyde,
God woot it reweth me and haue good day.'                            f.103
And thus he took his leue and wente his way.                          3070
But er that he hadde half his cours yseyled,
Noot I nat why ne what meschaunce it eyled                            4290
But casuelly the shippes botme rente
And ship and man vnder the water wente
In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde                                 3075
That with hem seyled at the same tyde.
  "And therfore, faire Pertelote so deere,
By swiche ensamples olde maystow leere
That no man sholde ben to recchelees
Of dremes, for I sey thee doutelees                                   3080
That many a dreem ful soore is for to drede.
  "Lo in the lyf of seint Kenelm I rede,                              4300
That was Kenulphus sone, the noble kyng
Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thyng
A lite er he was mordred on a day.                                    3085
His mordre in his auysion he say.
His norice hym expowned euery del
His sweuene and bad hym for to kepe hym wel
For traysoun. But he nas but vij yeer old
And therfore litel tale hath he told                                  3090
Of any dreem, so holy was his herte.
By god I hadde leuere than my sherte                                  4310
That ye hadde rad his legende as haue I.
Dame Pertelote, I sey yow trewely
Macrobeus, that writ the auysioun                                     3095
In Affrike of the worthy Cipioun,
Affermeth dremes and seith that they ben
Warnynge of thynges that men after sen.
  "And forthermoore I pray yow looketh wel
In the Olde Testament of Danyel                                       3100
If he heeld dremes any vanytee.
Rede eek of Ioseph and there shul ye see                              4320
Wher dremes be somtyme, I sey nat alle,
Warnynge of thynges that shul after falle.
Looke of Egipte the kyng, daun Pharao,                                3105
His bakere and his butiller also
Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes.
  "Whoso wol seke actes of sondry remes
May rede of dremes many a wonder thyng.                          f.103v
Lo Cresus which that was of Lyde kyng                                 3110
Mette he nat that he sat vpon a tree
Which signyfide he sholde anhanged be.                                4330
Lo here Andromacha, Ectores wyf,
That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf
She dremed on the same nyght biforn                                   3115
How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn
If thilke day he wente into bataille.
She warned hym but it myghte nat auaille:
He wente for to fighte nathelees;
But he was slayn anon of Achilles.
  "But thilke tale is al to long to telle,                            3120
And eek it is ney day; I may nat dwelle.                              4340
Shortly I seye as for conclusioun
That I shal han of this auysioun
Aduersitee. And I seye forthermoor                                    3125
That I ne telle of laxatyues no stoor,
For they ben venymes I woot it wel.
I hem deffie; I loue hem neuer-a-del.
  "Now lat vs speke of myrthe and stynte al this.
Madame Pertelote, so haue I blys                                      3130
Of o thyng god hath sent me large grace:
For whan I se the beautee of youre face                               4350
Ye ben so scarlet reed aboute youre eyen
It maketh al my drede for to dyen.
For also siker as In principio                                        3135
Mulier est hominis confusio --
Madame, the sentence of this Latyn is:
Womman is mannes ioye and al his blys.
For whan I feele a nyght youre softe syde,
Al be it that I may nat on yow ryde                                   3140
For that oure perche is maad so narwe allas,
I am so ful of ioye and of solas                                      4360
That I deffie bothe sweuene and dreem.'
  And with that word he fley doun fro the beem
For it was day, and eke hise hennes alle,                             3145
And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle
For he hadde founde a corn lay in the yerd.
Real he was: he was namoore aferd.
He fethered Pertelote twenty tyme                                     f.104
And trad as ofte er it was pryme.                                     3150
He looketh as it were a grym leoun.
And on hise toos he rometh vp and doun.                               4370
Hym deyned nat to sette his foot to grounde
And chukketh whan he hath a corn yfounde
And to hym rennen thanne hise wyues alle.                             3155
Thus real as a prince is in his halle
Leue I this Chauntecler in his pasture,
And after wol I telle his auenture.
  Whan that the monthe in which the world bigan,
That highte March whan god first maked man,                           3160
Was complet and passed were also
Syn March bigan 30 dayes and two,                                     4380
Bifel that Chauntecler in al his pryde
Hise seuene wyues walkyng hym bisyde
Caste vp hise eyen to the brighte sonne                               3165
That in the signe of Taurus hadde yronne
xx degrees and oon and somwhat moore,
And knew by kynde and by noon oother loore
That it was pryme and krew with blisful steuene.
"The sonne,' he seyde, "is clomben vpon heuene                        3170
40 degrees and oon and moore ywis.
Madame Pertelote my worldes blys,                                     4390
Herkneth thyse blisful bryddes how they synge.
And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge.
Ful is myn herte of reuel and solas.'                                 3175
  But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas,
For euere the latter ende of ioye is wo.
God woot that worldly ioye is soone ago!
And if a rethor koude faire endite,
He in a cronycle saufly myghte it write                               3180
As for a souereyn notabilitee.
Now euery wys man lat hym herkne me:                                  Woo
This storie is also trewe I vndertake
As is the book of Launcelot de Lake
That wommen holde in ful gret reuerence.                              3185
Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence.
  A colfox ful of sley iniquitee
That in the groue hadde woned yeres thre,
By heigh ymaginacioun forncast                                        f.104v
The same nyght thurghout the hegges brast                             3190
Into the yerd ther Chauntecler the faire
Was wont and eek hise wyues to repaire;                               4410
And in a bed of wortes stille he lay
Til it was passed vndren of the day
Waitynge his tyme on Chauntecler to falle                             3195
As gladly doon thise homycides alle
That in awayt liggen to mordre men.
  O false mordrour lurkynge in thy den,
  O newe Scariot, newe Genylon,
False dissimilour, o Greek Synoun                                     3200
That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe.
O Chauntecler acursed be that morwe                                   4420
That thow into the yerd flaugh fro the bemys!
Thow were ful wel ywarned by thy dremys
That thilke day was perilous to thee.                                 3205
But what that god forwoot moot nedes be
After the opynyoun of certeyn clerkis.
Witnesse on hym that any parfit clerk is
That in scole is gret altercacioun
In this matere and gret disputisoun                             3210
And hath ben of an hundred thousand men.
But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren                           4430
As kan the holy doctour Augustyn
Or Boece or the bisshop Bradwardyn
Wheither that goddes worthy forewityng                          3215
Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thyng
(Nedely clepe I symple necessitee);
Or ellis if fre choys be graunted me
To do that same thyng or do it noght
Though god forwoot it er that I was wroght;                     3220
Or if his wityng streyneth neuer-a-del
But by necessitee condicionel.                                  4440
I wol nat han to do of swich matere:
My tale is of a cok, as ye may heere,
That took his conseil of his wyf with sorwe                     3225
To walken in the yerd vpon that morwe
That he hadde met the dreem that I yow tolde.
Wommens conseils be ful ofte colde;
Wommannes conseil broghte vs first to wo                        f.105
And made Adam fro paradys to go                                 3230
Ther as he was ful myrie and wel at ese.
But for I noot to whom it myghte displese                       4450
If I conseil of wommen wolde blame
Passe ouer, for I seyde it in my game.
Rede auctours where they trete of swich matere                  3235
And what they seyn of wommen heere;
Thise ben the cokkes wordes and nat myne.
I kan noon harm on no womman deuyne.
  Faire in the sond to bathe hir myrily
Lyth Pertelote and alle hir sustres by                          3240
Agayn the sonne. And Chauntecler so free
Song myrier than the mermayde in the see,                       4460
For Phisiologus seith sikerly
How that they syngen wel and myrily.
  And so bifel that as he caste his eye                         3245
Among the wortes on a boterflye
He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe.
Nothyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe,
But cryde anon "Cok, cok', and vp he sterte
As man that was affrayd in his herte,                           3250
For naturelly a beest desireth flee
Fro his contrarie if he may it see                              4470
Though he neuere erst hadde seye it with his eye.
This Chauntecler whan he gan hym espye,
He wolde han fled but that the fox anon                         3255
Seyde: "Gentil sire, allas wher wol ye gon?
Be ye affrayd of me that am youre freend?
Now certes I were worse than a feend
If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye.
I am nat come youre conseil for t'espye,                        3260
But trewely the cause of my comynge
Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge:                      4480
For trewely ye han as myrie a steuene
As any angel hath that is in heuene.
Therwith ye han in musyk moore feelynge                         3265
Than hadde Boece or any that kan synge.
My lord youre fader (god his soule blesse!)
And eek youre moder of hir gentillesse
Han in myn hous yben to my gret ese.                            f.105"
And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.                   3270
  "But for men speke of syngynge I wol seye,
So mote I browke wel myne eyen tweye,                           4490
Saue ye I herde neuere man so synge
As dide youre fader in the morwenynge.
Certes it was of herte al that he song.                         3275
And for to make his voys the moore strong
He wolde so peyne hym that with bothe hise eyen
He moste wynke, so loude he wolde cryen,
And stonden on his typton therwithal
And strecche forth his nekke long and smal.                     3280
And eek he was of swich discrecioun
That ther nas no man in no regioun                              4500
That hym in song or wisdom myghte passe.
I haue wel rad in daun Burnell the asse
Among hise vers how that ther was a cok,                        3285
For a preestes sone yaf hym a knok
Vpon his leg whil he was yong and nyce
He made hym for to lese his benefice.
But certeyn ther nys no comparisoun
Bitwix the wisdom and discrecioun                               3290
Of youre fader and of his subtiltee.
Now syngeth, sire, for seynte charitee.                         4510
Lat se konne ye youre fader countrefete.'
  This Chauntecler hise wynges gan to bete
As man that koude his trayson nat espie,                        3295
So was he rauysshed with his flaterie.
  Allas ye lordes, many a fals flatour
Is in youre court and many a losengeour
That plesen yow wel moore by my feyth
Than he that soothfastnesse vnto yow seith.                     3300
Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye.
Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye.                          4520
  This Chauntecler stood hye vpon his toos
Strecchynge his nekke and heeld hise eyen cloos
And gan to crowe lowde for the nones.                           3305
And daun Russell the fox stirte vp atones
And by the gargat hente Chauntecler
And on his bak toward the wode hym beer
For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed.                      f.106
   O destynee that mayst nat ben eschewed                       3310
Allas that Chauntecler fly fro the bemes.
Allas his wif ne roghte nat of dremes.                          4530
And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce.
   O Venus that art goddesse of plesaunce,
Syn that thy seruant was this Chauntecler                       3315
And in thy seruyce dide al his power
Moore for delit than world to multiplie,
Why woldestow suffre hym on thy day to dye?
    O Gaufred, deere maister souerayn,
That whan thy worthy kyng Richard was slayn                     3320
With shot compleynedest his deth so soore,
Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy loore                   4540
The Friday for to chide as diden ye,
For on a Friday soothly slayn was he?
Thanne wolde I shewe yow how that I kowde pleyne                3325
For Chaunteclerys drede and for his peyne.
  Certes swich cry ne lamentacioun
Was neuere of ladyes maad whan Ylioun
Was wonne and Pirrus with his streite swerd
Whanne he hadde hent kyng Priam by the berd                     3330
And slayn hym, as seith vs Eneydos,
As maden alle the hennes in the cloos                           4550
Whan they hadde seyn of Chauntecler the sighte.
But souereynly dame Pertelote shrighte
Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf                            3335
Whan that hire housbonde hadde ylost his lyf
And that the Romayns hadden brend Cartage.
She was so ful of torment and of rage
That wilfully vnto the fyr she sterte
And brende hirseluen with a stedefast herte.                    3340
    O woful hennes, right so cryden ye
As, whan that Nero brende the citee                             4560
Of Rome, cryden the senatours wyues
For that hir housbondes losten all hir lyues;
Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn.                        3345
Now wol I turne to my tale agayn.
  The sely widwe and eek hire doghtres two
Herden thise hennes crye and maken wo.
And out at dores stirten they anon                              f.106"
And seyen the fox toward the groue gon                          3350
And bar vpon his bak the cok away
And criden "Out, harrow and weilaway,                           4570
Ha, ha, the fox.' And after hym they ran,
And eek with staues many another man.
Ran Colle oure dogge and Talbot and Gerland                     3355
And Malkyn with a distaf in hir hand.
Ran cow and calf and eek the verray hogges
So fered for berkynge of the dogges
And showtynge of the men and wommen eek:
They ronne so hem thoughte hir herte breek.                     3360
They yelleden as fendes doon in helle.
The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle.                       4580
The gees for feere flowen ouer the trees.
Out of the hyue cam the swarm of bees.
So hydous was the noyse, a benedicite                           3365
Certes he, Iakke Straw, and his meynee
Ne made neuere showtes half so shrille
Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille
As thilke day was maad vpon the fox.
Of bras they broghten bemys and of box,                         3370
Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and powped
And therwithal they skryked and they howped.                    4590
It semed as that heuene sholde falle.
  Now, goode men, I prey yow herkneth alle
Lo how fortune turneth sodeynly.                                3375
The hope and pryde eek of hire enemy,
This cok that lay vpon the foxes bak,
In al his drede vnto the fox he spak
And seyde: "Sire, if that I were as ye
Yit sholde I seyn, as wys god helpe me:                         3380
"Turneth ayein, ye proude cherles alle,
A verray pestilence vpon yow falle!                             4600
Now I am come vnto this wodes syde,
Maugree youre heed the cok shal here abyde.
I wol hym ete in feith and that anon.''                        3385
  The fox answerde: "In feith it shal be don.'
And as he spak that word, al sodeynly
This cok brak from his mouth delyuerly
And hye vpon a tree he fley anon.                               f.107
  And whan the fox say that he was gon,                         3390
"Allas,' quod he, "o Chauntecler, allas
I haue to yow,' quod he, "ydon trespas                          4610
In as muche as I maked yow aferd
Whan I yow hente and broghte into this yerd.
But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente.                       3395
Com doun and I shal telle yow what I mente.
I shal seye sooth to yow god help me so.'
  "Nay, thanne,' quod he, "I shrewe vs bothe two.
And first I shrewe myself bothe blood and bones,
If thow bigile me any ofter than ones.                          3400
Thow shalt namoore thurgh thy flaterye
Do me to synge and wynken with myn eye.                         4620
For he that wynketh whan he sholde see
Al wilfully, god lat hym neuere thee.'
  "Nay,' quod the fox, "but god yeue hym meschaunce             3405
That is so vndiscret of gouernaunce
That iangleth whan he sholde holde his pees.'
  Lo swich it is for to be recchelees
And necligent and truste on flaterye.
But ye that holden this tale a folye                            3410
As of a fox or of a cok and hen,
Taketh the moralitee, goode men.                                4630
For seint Poul seith that al that writen is
To oure doctryne it is ywrite ywis.
Taketh the fruyt and lat the chaf be stille.                                 3415
Now goode god, if that it be thy wille,
As seith my lord so make vs alle goode men
And brynge vs to his heye blisse. Amen.

Here is ended the nonnes preestes tale.







And here folweth the prologe of the manciples tale.


Woot ye nat where ther stant a litel town,
Which that clepid is Bobbe-vp-and-down,
Vnder the Blee in Caunterbury weye?
Ther gan oure hoost for to iape and pleye
And seyde: "Sires, what Don is in the myre!                       5
Is ther no man for preyere ne for hyre
That wole awake oure felawe al bihynde?                          f.107"
A theef myghte hym ful lightly robbe and bynde.
Se how he nappeth. Se how for cokkes bones
That he wol falle from his hors atones.                          10
Is that a cook of Londoun with meschaunce?
Do hym come forth. He knoweth his penaunce
For he shal telle a tale by my fey,
Al thogh it be nat worth a botel hey.
Awake, thow cook,' quod he. "God yeue thee sorwe,                15
What eyleth thee to slepe by the morwe?
Hastow had fleen al nyght? Or artow dronke?
Or hastow with som quene al nyght yswonke
So that thow mayst nat holden vp thyn heed?'
  This cook that was ful pale and nothyng reed                   20
Seyde to oure hoost: "So god my soule blesse
As ther is falle on me swich heuynesse,
Noot I nat why, that me were leuere slepe
Than the beste galoun wyn in Chepe.'
  "Wel ' quod the manciple "if it may don ese                     25
To thee, sir cook, and to no wight displese
Which that here rideth in this compaignye
And that oure hoost wole of his curteisye,
I wole as now excuse thee of thy tale.
For in good feith thy visage is ful pale,                         30
Thyne eyen daswen eek, as that me thynketh,
And wel I woot thy breth ful soure stynketh:
That sheweth wel thow art nat wel-disposed.
Of me certeyn thow shalt nat ben yglosed:
Se how he ganeth, lo this dronken wight,                          35
As though he wolde swolwe vs anon-right.
Hoold cloos thy mouth, man, by thy fader kyn -
The deuel of helle sette his foot theryn! --
Thy cursed breeth infecte wol vs alle.
Fy, stynkynge swyn, fy! Foule mote thee falle!                    40
A, taketh hede, sires, of this lusty man.
Now, swete sire, wol ye iusten atte fan?
Therto me thynketh ye ben wel yshape!
I trowe that ye dronken han wyn-ape
And that is whan men pleyen with a straw.'                        45
  And with his speche the cook wax wroth and wraw
And on the manciple bigan he nodde faste                          f.108
For lakke of speche. And doun the hors hym caste
Wher as he lay til that men vp hym took.
This was a fair chyuachee of a cook.                              50
Allas he nadde yholde hym by his ladel!
And er that he agayn were in his sadel,
Ther was gret showuyng bothe to and fro,
To lifte hym vp, and muchel care and wo
So vnweldy was this sory, palled goost.                           55
And to the manciple thanne spak oure hoost:
  "By cause drynke hath domynacioun
Vpon this man, by my sauacioun
I trowe he lewedly telle wolde his tale.
For were it wyn or old or moisty ale                              60
That he hath dronke, he speketh in his nose
And fneseth faste and eek he hath the pose.
He hath also to do moore than ynow
To kepen hym and his capil out of the slow.
And if he falle from his capil eftsoone,                          65
Than shal we alle haue ynow to doone
In liftynge vp his heuy, dronken cors.
Telle on thy tale. Of hym make I no fors.
But yet, manciple, in feith thow art to nyce
Thus openly repreue hym of his vice.                              70
Another day he wole parauenture
Reclayme thee and brynge thee to lure --
I mene he speke wole of smale thynges
As for to pynchen at thy rekenynges.
That were nat honeste if it cam to preef!'                        75
  "No,' quod the manciple, "that were a gret mescheef.
So myghte he lightly brynge me in the snare.
Yet hadde I leuere payen for the mare
Which he rit on than he sholde with me stryue.
I wol nat wrathe hym also mote I thryue.                          80
That that I spak I seyde it in my bourde.
And wite what? I haue here in a gourde
A draughte of wyn, ye of a rype grape;
And right-anon ye shul seen a good iape:
This cook shal drynke therof if I may;                            85
Vp peyne of deeth he wol nat seye me nay.'
  And certeynly to tellen as it was,                          f.108v
Of this vessel the cook drank faste. Allas
What neded it? He drank ynow biforn.
And whan he hadde powped in this horn,                            90
To the manciple he took the gourde agayn.
And of that drynke the cook was wonder fayn
And thanked hym in swich wise as he kowde.
  Thanne gan oure hoost to laughen wonder lowde
And seyde: "I se wel it is necessarie                             95
Where that we goon good drynke we with vs carye,
For that wol turne rancour and disese
T'acord and loue and many a wrong appese.
O Bacus, yblessed be thy name
That so kanst turnen ernest into game.                          1 oo
Worship and thank be to thy deitee.
Of that matere ye gete namoore for me.
Telle on thy tale, manciple, I the preye.'
  "Wel, sir,' quod he, "now herkneth what I seye.'


Here bigynneth the manciples tale of the crowe.

Whan Phebus dwelled here in this erthe adoun,                    105
As olde bokes maken mencioun,
He was the mooste lusty bachiler
In al this world and eek the beste archer.
He slow Phitoun the serpent as he lay
Slepynge agayn the sonne vpon a day;                             110
And many another noble, worthy dede
He with his bowe wroghte as men may rede.
Pleyen he koude on euery mynstralcye
And syngen that it was a melodye
To heren of his clere voys the soun.                             115
Certes the kyng of Thebes, Amphioun
That with his syngyng walled that citee,
Koude neuere syngen half so wel as he.
Therto he was the semelieste man
That is or was sith that the world bigan.                        120
What nedeth it hise fetures to discryue
For in this world was noon so fair on lyue?
He was therwith fulfild of gentillesse,
Of honour and of parfit worthynesse.
  This Phebus that was flour of bachelrye
As wel in fredom as in chiualrye                               f.109 125
For his desport, in signe eek of victorie
Of Phitoun so as telleth vs the storie,
Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe.
Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a crowe                        130
Which in a cage he fostred many a day
And taughte it speke as men teche a iay.
Whit was this crowe as is a snow-whit swan.
And contrefete the speche of euery man
He kowde, whan he sholde telle a tale.                           135
Therwith in al this world no nyghtyngale
Ne koude by an hondred thousand deel
Syngen so wonder myrily and weel.
  Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a wyf
Which that he louede moore than his lyf,                         140
And nyght and day dide euere his diligence
Hire for to plese and doon hir reuerence
Saue oonly that, the sothe if I shal sayn,
Ialous he was and wolde han kept hire fayn,
For hym were looth byiaped for to be.                            145
And so is euery wight in swich degree --
But al for naught for it auaileth noght.
A good-wyf that is clene in werk and thoght
Sholde nat be kept in noon awayt certayn.
And trewely the labour is in vayn                                150
To kepe a shrewe, for it wol nat be.
This holde I for a verray nycetee
To spille labour for to kepe wyues.
Thus writen olde clerkes in hir lyues.
  But now to purpos as I first bigan.                            155
This worthy Phebus dooth al that he kan
To plesen hire, wenynge for swich plesaunce
And for his manhode and his gouernaunce
That no man sholde han put hym from hir grace.
But god it woot ther may no man embrace                          160
As to destreyne a thyng which that nature
Hath naturelly set in a creature.
  Take any bryd and put it in a cage
And do al thyn entente and thy corage
To fostre it tendrely with mete and drynke                    f. 109" 165
Of alle deyntees that thow kanst bithynke
And kepe it also clenly as thow may,
Although his cage of gold be neuer so gay
Yet hath this bryd by xx thousand fold
Leuere in a forest that is rude and cold                         170
Gon ete wormes and swich wrecchednesse.
For euere this bryd wol doon his bisynesse
To eschape out of his cage if he may;
His libertee this bryd desireth ay.
  Lat take a cat and fostre hym wel with milk                    175
And tendre flessh and make his couche of silk,
And lat hym seen a mous go by the wal
Anon he weyueth milk and flessh and al
And euery deyntee that is in that hous,
Swich appetit hath he to ete a mous.                             180
Lo heere hath lust his domynacioun
And appetit flemeth discrecioun.
  A she-wolf hath also a vileyns kynde.
The lewedeste wolf that she may fynde
And leest of reputacioun, that wol she take                      185
In tyme whan hir lust to han a make.
  Alle thise ensamples speke I by thise men
That ben vntrewe, but nothyng by wommen.
For men han euere a likerous appetit
On lower thyng to parformen hir delit                            190
Than on hire wyues, be they neuer so faire
Ne neuer so trewe ne so debonaire.
Flessh is so newfangel with meschaunce
That we ne konne in nothyng han plesaunce
That sowneth into vertu any while.                               195
  This Phebus which that thoughte vpon no gile
Deceyued was for al his iolitee,
For vnder hym another hadde she,
A man of litel reputacioun
Nat worth to Phebus in comparisoun.                              200
The moore harm is it happeth ofte so,
Of which ther cometh muchel harm and wo.
And so bifel whan Phebus was absent
His wyf anon hath for hire lemman sent --
Hir lemman, certes this is a knauyssh speche!                   f.110 205
Foryeueth it me and that I yow biseche.
The wise Plato seith as ye may rede:
The word moot nede acorde with the dede;
If men shal telle proprely a thyng,
The word moot cosyn be to the werkyng.                           210
I am a boystous man. Right thus seye I:
Ther nys no difference trewely
Bitwix a wyf that is of heigh degree
If of hire body deshoneste she be
And a poore wenche, oother than this                             215
(If it so be they werke bothe amys)
But that the gentile in estat aboue,
She shal be clepid his lady as in loue,
And for that oother is a poore womman
She shal be clepid his wenche or his lemman.                     220
And god it woot, myn owene deere brother,
Men leyn that oon as lowe as lyth that oother.
  Right so bitwix a titlelees tiraunt
And an outlawe or a theef erraunt
The same I seye; ther is no difference.                          225
To Alisandre was told this sentence
That for the tiraunt is of gretter myght
By force of meyne for to sleen doun right
And brennen hous and hoom and make al playn,
Lo therfore is he clepid a capitayn.                             230
And for the outlawe hath but smal meynee
And may nat doon so gret an harm as he
Ne brynge a contree to so gret meschief,
Men clepen hym an outlawe or a theef.
But for I am a man noght textuel                                 235
I wol noght telle of textes neuer-a-del.
I wol go to my tale as I bigan.
  Whan Phebus wyf hadde sent for hire lemman,
Anon they wroghte al hire lust volage.
The white crowe that heng ay in the cage                         240
Biheld hir werk and seyde neuer a word.
And when that hoom was come Phebus the lord
This crowe sang: "Cokkow, cokkow, cokkow.'
  "What, bryd,' quod Phebus, "what song syngestow?
Ne were thow wont so myrily to synge                        f 110v 2
That to myn herte it was a reioysynge
To here thy voys? Allas what song is this?'
  "By God ' quod he "I synge nat amys.
Phebus,' quod he, "for al thy worthynesse,
For al thy beautee and thy gentillesse,                          250
For al thy song and al thy mynstralcye,
For al thy waityng, blered is thyn eye
With oon of litel reputacioun,
Nat worth to thee in comparisoun
The montaunce of a gnat, so mote I thryue.                       255
For in thy bed thy wif I sey hym swyue.'
  What wol ye moore? The crowe anon hym tolde
By sadde toknes and by wordes bolde
How that his wyf hadde doon hire lecherye
Hym to gret shame and to gret vileynye                           260
And tolde hym ofte he say it with hise eyen.
  This Phebus gan aweyward for to wryen
And thoughte his sorweful herte brast atwo.
His bowe he bente and sette therinne a flo,
And in his ire his wyf thanne hath he slayn.                     265
This is th'effect. Ther nys namoore to sayn.
For sorwe of which he brak his mynstralcye,
Bothe harpe and lute and gyterne and sawtrye.
And eek he brak hise arwes and his bowe.
And after that thus spak he to the crowe:                        270
  "Traytour,' quod he, "with tonge of scorpioun,
Thow hast me broght to my confusioun.
Allas that I was wroght! Why nere I ded?
O deere wyf, o gemme of lustihed,
That were to me so sad and eek so trewe!                         275
Now lystow ded with face pale of hewe
Ful giltlees, that dorste I swere ywys.
  O rakel hand to doon so foule amys!
  O trouble wit, o ire recchelees
That vnauysed smytest giltlees!                                  280
O wantrust ful of fals suspecioun,
Where was thy wit and thy discrecioun?
O euery man, be war of rakelnesse
Ne trowe ye nothyng withouten strong witnesse.
Smyt nat to soone er that ye witen why.                       f.111 285
And beth auysed wel and sobrely
Er ye do any execucioun
Vpon youre ire for suspecioun.
Allas a thousand folk hath rakel ire
Fully fordoon or broght hem in the myre.                         290
Allas for sorwe I wol myseluen sle!'
  And to the crowe, "O false theef,' seyde he,
"I wol thee quyte anon thy false tale.
Thow songe whilom lyk a nyghtyngale.
Now shaltow, false theef, thy song forgon                        295
And eek thy white fetheres euerichon,
Ne neuere in al thy lyf ne shaltow speke.
Thus shal men on a traytour ben awreke!
Thow and thyn ofspryng euere shul be blake.
Ne neuere swete noyse shul ye make,                              300
But euere crye agayn tempest and rayn
In tokenynge that thurgh thee my wyf is slayn.'
  And to the crowe he stirte and that anon
And pulled hise white fetheres euerichon
And made hym blak, and refte hym al his song                     305
And eek his speche, and out at dore hym slong
Vnto the deuel, which I hym bitake.
And for this cas ben alle crowes blake.
  Lordynges, by this ensample I yow preye
Beth war and taketh kepe what I seye:                            310
Ne telleth neuere no man in youre lyf
How that another man hath dight his wyf;
He wol yow haten mortally certeyn.
  Daun Salomon, as wise clerkes seyn,
Techeth a man to kepen his tonge wel.                            315
But, as I seyde, I nam nat textuel.
But nathelees thus taughte me my dame:
"My sone, thenk on the crowe a goddes name.
My sone, keep wel thy tonge and kepe thy freend:
A wikke tonge is worse than a feend.                             320
My sone, from a feend men may hem blesse.
My sone, god of his endelees goodnesse
Walled a tonge with teeth and lippes eke
For man sholde hym auyse what he speeke.
My sone, ful ofte for to muche speche                         f.111v 325
Hath many a man ben spilt, as clerkes teche.
But for litel speche auysely
Is no man shent, to speke generally.
My sone, thy tonge sholdestow restreyne
At alle tymes, but whan thow doost thy peyne                     330
To speke of god in honour and prayere.
The firste vertu, sone, if thow wolt leere,
Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge.
Thus lernen children whan that they ben yonge.
My sone, of muchel spekyng yuele auysed,                         335
Ther lasse spekyng hadde ynow suffised,
Comth muchel harm. Thus was me told and taught.
In muchel speche synne wanteth naught.
Wostow wherof a rakel tonge serueth?
Right as a swerd forkitteth and forkerueth                       340
An arm atwo, my deere sone, right so
A tonge kitteth frendship al atwo.
A ianglere is to god abhomynable:
Rede Salomon so wys and honurable;
Rede Dauid in his psalmes; rede Senekke.                         345
My sone, spek noght, but with thyn hed thow bekke.
Dissimule as thow were deef, if that thow heere
A ianglere speke of perilous matere.
  "The Flemyng seith, and lerne it if thee leste,
That litel ianglyng causeth muchel reste.                        350
My sone, if thow no wikked word hast seyd,
Thee thar nat drede for to be biwreyd.
But he that hath mysseyd, I dar wel sayn
He may by no wey clepe his word agayn.
Thyng that is sayd is seyd, and forth it gooth                   355
Though hym repente or be hym leef or looth.
He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd
A tale of which he is now yuele apayd.
My sone, be war and be noon auctour newe
Of tidynges, wher they ben false or trewe.                       360
Wherso thow come amonges heye or lowe,
Kepe wel thy tonge and thynk vpon the crowe.'


Here is ended the manciples tale of the crowe.
The prologe of the persons tale.                                        f.235

By that the maunciple hadde his tale al ended
The sonne fro the south lyne is descended
So lowe that he nas nat to my sighte
Degrees 29 as of highte.
Four of the clokke it was so as I gesse                           5
For xj foot and litel moore or lesse
My shadwe was at thilke tyme as there,
Of swiche feet as my lengthe parted weere
In 6 feet equal of proporcioun.
Therwith Saturnes exaltacioun                                     10
(I mene Libra) alwey gan ascende
As we were entryng at a thropes ende.
For which oure hoost, as he was wont to gye
As in this cas oure ioly compaignye,
Seyde in this wise: "Lordynges euerichon,                         15
Now lakketh vs no tales mo than oon.
Fulfild is my sentence and my decree:
I trowe that we han herd of ech degree.
Almoost fulfild is al myn ordinaunce.
I pray to god so yeue hym right good chaunce                      20
That telleth this tale to vs lustily.
  "Sire preest,' quod he, "artow a vicary
Or arte a person? Sey sooth by thy fey.
Be what thow be, ne breke thow nat oure pley
For euery man saue thow hath toold his tale.                      25
Vnbokele and shewe vs what is in thy male
For trewely me thynketh by thy cheere
Thow sholdest knette vp wel a greet matere.
Telle vs a fable anon for cokkes bones.'
  This person answerde al atones:                                 30
"Thow getest fable noon ytoold for me,
For Poul that writeth vnto Thymothe
Repreueth hem that weyuen soothfastnesse
And tellen fables and swich wrecchednesse.
Why sholde I sowen draf out of my fest                            35
Whan I may sowen whete if that me lest?
For which I seye, that if yow list to heere                          f.235"
Moralitee and vertuous matere
And thanne that ye wol yeue me audience,
I wole ful fayn at Cristes reuerence                              40
Do yow plesance leueful as I kan.
But trusteth wel I am a Southren man,
I kan nat geste rom ram ruf by lettre,
Ne god woot rym holde I but litel bettre.
And therfore, if yow lest, I wol nat glose:                       45
I wol yow telle a myrie tale in prose
To knytte vp al this feste and make an ende.
And Iesu for his grace wit me sende
To shewe yow the wey in this viage
Of thilke parfit, glorious pilgrymage                             50
That highte Ierusalem celestial.
And if ye vouchesauf, anon I shal
Bigynne vpon my tale; for which I preye
Telle youre auys. I kan no bettre seye.
But nathelees this meditacioun                                    55
I putte it ay vnder correccioun
Of clerkes, for I am nat textuel;
I take but the sentence, trusteth wel.
Therfore I make protestacioun
That I wol stonde to correccioun.'                                60
  Vpon this word we han assented soone,
For as it semed it was for to doone
To enden in som vertuous sentence
And for to yeue hym space and audience,
And bede oure hoost he sholde to hym seye                         65
That alle we to telle his tale hym preye.
  Oure hoost hadde the wordes for vs alle.
"Sire preest,' quod he, "now faire yow bifalle,
Sey what yow list and we wol gladly heere.'
And with that word he seyde in this manere.                       70
"Telleth,' quod he, "youre meditacioun;
But hasteth yow, the sonne wole adoun.
Beth fructuous and that in litel space,
And to do wel god sende yow his grace.'

Explicit prohemium.

Here bigynneth the persons tale.                                       f.236

Ieremie 60: State super vias et videte et interrogate de semitis antiquis que
sit via bona et ambulate in ea et inuenietis refrigerium animabus vestris, etc.

(75) Ovre swete lord god of heuene, that no man wole perisse but wole that
we comen alle to the knoweliche of hym and to the blisful lyf that is pardur-
able,/ amonesteth vs by the prophete Ieromie that seith in this wise:/ Stondeth
vpon the weyes and seeth and axeth of olde pathes (that is to seyn of olde
sentences) which is the goode wey/ and walketh in that wey and ye shal fynde
refresshynge for youre soules etc./ Manye been the weyes espirituels that leden
folk to oure lord Iesu Crist and to the regne of glorie. (80) Of whiche weyes
ther is a ful noble wey and a ful couenable which may nat faile to man ne to
womman that thurgh synne hath mysgoon fro the righte wey of Ierusalem
celestial./ And this wey is clepid penitence, of which men sholde gladly herknen
and enquere with al his herte/ to wite what is penitence and whennes it is clepid
penitence and in how manye maneres been the accions or werkynges of
penitence,/and how manye spices ther ben of penitences, and whiche thynges
apertenen and bihouen to penitence, whiche thynges destourben penitence./
  Seint Ambrose seith that penitence is the pleynynge of man for the gilt that
he hath doon and namoore to doon any thyng for which hym oghte to pleyne.
(85) And som doctour seith: Penitence is @e waymentynge of man that sorweth
for his synne and pyneth hymself for he hath mysdoon./ Penitence with certeyne
circumstances is verray repentance of a man that halt hymself in sorwe and
oother peyne for hise giltes./ And for he shal be verray penitent he shal first
biwailen the synnes that he hath doon and stedefastly purposen in his herte
to haue shrift of mouthe and to doon satisfaccioun,/ and neuere to doon thyng
for which hym oghte moore to biwaile or to compleyne and to continue in
goode werkes -- or ellis his repentance may nat auayle./ [f.236v] For as seith se1nt
Isydre: He is a iapere and a gabber and no verray repentant that eftsoone dooth
thyng for which hym oghte repente. (90) Wepynge and nat for to stynte to do
synne may nat auaile./ But nathelees men shal hope that at euery tyme that
man falleth be it neuer so ofte that he may arise @urgh penitence if he haue
grace, but certeynly it is greet dowte./ For as seith seint Gregorie: Vnnethe
ariseth he out of his synne that is charged with the charge of yuel vsage,/
and therfore repentant folk that stynte for to synne and forlete synne er that
synne forlete hem, holy chirche halt hem siker of hir sauacion;/ and he that
synneth and verraily repenteth hym in his laste, holy chirche yet hopeth his
sauacion by the grete mercy of oure lord Iesu Crist for his repentance. But taak
the siker wey.
  (95) And now sith that I haue declared yow what thyng is penitence, now
shul ye vnderstonde that ther been iij accions of penitence./The firste is that
if a man be baptised after that he hath synned./ Seint Augustyn seith: But
he be penitent for his olde, synful lyf, he may nat bigynne the newe, clene
lyf./ For certes if he be baptised withoute penitence of his olde gilt, he receyueth
the mark of baptesme but nat the grace ne the remissioun of hise synnes til
he haue repentance verray./ Another defaute is this that men doon deedly
synne after that they han receyued baptesme. (100) The thridde defaute is
that men fallen in venyal synnes after hir baptesme fro day to day./ Therof
seith seint Augustyn that penitence of goode and of humble folk is the penitence
of euery day./
  The speces of penaunce been iij: that oon of hem is solempne, another is
commune, and the thridde is priuee./ Thilke penaunce that is solempne is 1n
two maneres as to be put out of holy chirche in Lente for slaughtre of children
and swich manere thyng./ Another is whan man hath synned openly, of which
synne the fame is openly spoken in the contree, and thanne holy chirche by
1ugement destreyneth hym for to doon open penance. (i05) Commune
penaunce is that preestes enioynen men communly in certeyn cas as for to goon
parauenture naked in pilgrymage or barefoot./ Pryuee penaunce is thilke that
men doon alday for priuee synnes, of whiche we shryue vs pryuely and receyue
pryuee penance./
  Now shaltow vnderstande what bihoueth and is necessarie to verray, parfit
penitence. And this stant on iij thynges:/ contricioun of herte, confessioun of
mouth, and satisfaccioun./ For which seith seint Iohn Crisostomus: [f.237]
Penitence destreyneth man to accepte benygnely euery peyne that hym is
enioyned with contricioun of herte, and shrift of mowthe, with satisfaccioun,
and in wirkynge of alle manere humylitee. ( 11 o) And this is fruytful penitence
agayn iij thynges in whiche we wrathe oure lord Iesu Crist,/ this is to seyn
by delit in thynkynge, by recchelesnesse in spekynge, by wikked synful
wirkynge./ And agayns thise wikkede giltes is penitence that may be likned
vnto a tree./
  The roote of this tree is contricioun that hideth hym in the herte of hym
that is verray repentant right as the roote of a tree hideth hym in the erthe./
Of the roote of contricioun spryngeth a stalke that bereth branches and leues
of confessioun and fruyt of satisfaccioun. ( 115) For which Crist seith in his
gospel: Dooth digne fruyt of penitence. For by this fruyt may men knowe this
tree and nat by the roote that is hyd in the herte of man ne by the branches
ne the leues of confessioun./ And therfore oure lord Iesu Crist seith thus: By
the fruyt of hem shul ye knowe hem./ Of this roote eek spryngeth a seed of
grace, the which seed is moder of sikernesse, and this seed is egre and hoot./
The grace of thys seed spryngeth of god thurgh remembrance on the day of
dome and on the peynes of helle./ Of this matere seith Salomon that in the
drede of god man forleteth his synne. (120) The hete of thys seed is the loue
of god and the desirynge of the ioye pardurable./ This hete draweth the herte
of man to god and dooth hym hate his synne./ For soothly ther is nothyng that
sauoureth so wel to a child as the mylk of his norice ne nothyng is to hym moore
abhomynable than thilke mylk whan it is medled with oother mete./ Right so
the synful man that loueth his synne hym semeth it is to hym moost swete
of any thyng;/ but fro that tyme that he loueth sadly oure lord Iesu Crist
and desireth the lyf pardurable, ther nys to hym nothyng moore abhomynable.
(125) For soothly the lawe of god is the loue of god, for which Dauid the
prophete seith: I haue loued thy lawe and hated wikkednesse and hate. He
that loueth god kepeth his lawe and his word./ This tree saugh the prophete
Daniel in spirit vpon the auysion of Nabugodonosor whanne he conseiled hym
to do penitence./ Penance is the tree of lyf to hem that it receyuen, and he that
holdeth hym in verray penitence is blessed after the sentence of Salomon./

  In this penitence or contricioun man shal vnderstonde iiij thynges: that is
to seyn what is contricioun, and whiche ben the causes that moeuen a man
to contricioun, and how he [f.237v] sholde be contrit, and what contricioun
auaileth to the soule./ Thanne is it thus that contricioun is the verray sorwe
that a man receyueth in his herte for hise synnes with sad purpos to shryue
hym and to do penance and neuere moore to do synne. (130) And this sorwe
shal ben in this manere as seith seint Bernard: It shal ben heuy and greuous
and ful sharp and poynaunt in herte,/ first for man hath agilt his lord and his
creatour; and moore sharp and poynaunt for he hath agilt his fader celestial;/
and yet moore sharp and poynaunt for he hath wrathed and agilt hym that
boughte hym that with his precious blood hath delyuered vs fro the bondes
of synne and fro the creweltee of the deuel and fro the peynes of helle./
  The causes that oghten moeuen a man to contricioun been vj. First a man shal
remembren hym of hise synnes./ But looke that thilke remembrance ne be to
hym no delit by no wey but gret shame and sorwe for his gilt. For Iob seith:
Synful men doon werkes worthy of confessioun. (135) And therfore seith
Ezechie: I wol remembre me alle the yeris of my lyf in bitternesse of myn herte./
And god seith in the Apocalips: Remembre yow fro whennes that ye ben falle,
for biforn that tyme that ye synned ye were the children of god and lymes
of the regne of god./ But for youre synne ye ben woxe thral and foul and
membres of the feend, hate of aungeles, sclaundre of holy chirche, and foode
of the false serpent, perpetuel matere of the fyr of helle;/ and yet moore foul
and abhomynable for ye trespasen so ofte tyme as dooth the hound that
retorneth to ete his spewyng./ And yet be ye fouler for youre longe contynuynge
in synne and youre synful vsage for which ye been roten in youre synne as a
beest in his donge. ( 140) Swiche manere of thoughtes maken a man haue
shame of his synne and no delit as god seyth by the prophete Ezechiel:/
Ye shal remembre yow of youre weyes and they shullen displese yow soothly.
Synnes been the weyes that leden folk to helle./
  The seconde cause that oghte make a man to han desdeyn of synne is this
that as seith seint Peter: Whoso that dooth synne is thral of synne and synne
put a man in greet thraldam./ And therfore seith the prophete Ezechiel: I
wente sorweful in desdayn of myself. Certes wel oghte a man haue desdayn of
synne and withdrawe hym fro that thraldom and vileynye./ And lo what seith
Seneca in this matere; he seith thus: Though I wiste that neither god ne man
ne sholde neuere knowe it, yet [f.238] wolde I haue desdayn for to do synne.
(145) And the same Seneca also seith: I am born to gretter thynges than to
be thral to my body or than for to maken of my body a thral./ Ne a fouler
thral may no man ne womman make of his body than for to yeue his body
to synne./ Al were it the fouleste cherl or the fouleste womman that lyueth
and leest of value, yet is he thanne moore foul and moore in seruitute./ Euere
fro the hyer degree that man falleth, the moore is he thral and moore to god
and to the world vil and abhomynable./ O goode god, wel oghte man haue
greet desdayn of synne sith that thurgh synne ther he was fre now is he maked
bonde. (150) And therfore seith seint Augustyn: If thow hast desdayn of thy
seruant if he agilte or synne, haue thow thanne desdayn that thow thyself
sholdest do synne./ Take reward of thy value that thow ne be to foul to thyself./
Allas wel oghten they thanne haue desdayn to ben seruantz and thralles to
synne and soore ben ashamed of hemself,/ that god of his endelees goodnesse
hath set hem in heigh estat or yeuen hem wit, strengthe of body, heele, beautee,
prosperitee,/ and boghte hem fro the deeth with his herte-blood that they so
vnkyndely agayns his gentilesse quyten hym so vileynsly to slawghtre of hir
owene soules. (155) O goode god, ye wommen that been of so greet beautee,
remembreth yow of the prouerbe of Salomon. He seith:/ Likneth a fair
womman that is a fool of hir body lyk to a ryng of gold that were in the groyn
of a sowe,/ for right as a sowe wroteth in euerich ordure so wroteth she hir
beaute in stynkynge ordure of synne./
  The thridde cause that oughte moeue a man to contricion is drede of the
day of dome and of the horrible peynes of helle./For as seint Ierome seith:
At euery tyme that me remembreth of the day of dome I quake, (160) for
whan I ete and drynke or whatso that I do, euere semeth me that the trompe
sowneth in myn ere:/ Riseth ye vp that ben dede and cometh to the iugement./
O goode god, muchel oghte a man to drede swich a iugement ther as we shullen
ben alle, as seith seint Poul, biforn the sete of oure lord Iesu Crist,/ wher
as he shal maken a general congregacioun wher as no man may ben absent./
For certes there ne auaileth noon essoyne ne excusacioun. ( 165) And nat oonly
that oure defautes shullen be iuged, but eek that alle oure werkes shullen
openly be knowe./ And as that seith seint [f.238'] Bernard: Ther ne shal no
pletynge auaile ne no sleighte; we shullen yeue rekenynge of euerich ydel word./
There shul we han a iuge that may nat ben deceyued ne corrupt. And why?
For certes alle oure thoghtes ben descouered as to hym, ne for prayere ne for
mede he wol nat ben corrupt./ And therfore seith Salomon: The wrathe of god
ne wol nat spare no wight for prayere ne for yifte. And therfore at the day of
dome ther nys noon hope to escape./ Wherfore as seith seint Anselme: Ful
gret anguisse shullen the synful folk haue at that tyme. (170) Ther shal the
stierne and wrothe iuge sitte aboue, and vnder hym the horrible pit of helle
open to destroye hym that moot biknowen hise synnes, whiche synnes openly
ben shewed biforn god and biforn euery creature./ And on the left syde mo
deueles than herte may bithynke for to harye and drawe the synful soules
to the pyne of helle./ And withinne the hertes of folk shal be the bityng
conscience and withoute forth shal be the world al brennynge./ Whider shal
thanne the wreched synful man fle to hyde hym? Certes he may nat hyde
hym: he moste come forth and shewe hym./ For certes as seith seint
lerome: The erthe shal caste hym out of hym and the see also and the eyr
also, that shal ben ful of thonder-clappes and lightnynges. ( 1 75) Now soothly
whoso wel remembreth hym of thise thynges. I gesse that his synne shal nat
torne hym in delit, but to gret sorwe for drede of the peyne of helle./ And
therfore seith Iob to god: Suffre, lord, that I may a while biwayle and
wepe er I go withoute returnynge to the dirke lond couered with the
derknesse of deeth,/ to the lond of mysese and of derknesse where as is the
shadwe ofdeeth, where as ther is noon ordre or ordinaunce but grisly drede that
euere shal laste./ Lo here may ye seen that Iob preyde respit a while to biwepe
and wayle his trespas, for soothly o day of respit is bettre than al the tresor
of this world./ And for as muche as a man may acquyte hymself biforn god
by penitence in this world and nat by tresor, therfore sholde he preye to god
to yeue hym respit a while to biwepe and biwaylen his trespas. ( 180) For certes
al the sorwe that a man myghte make fro the bigynnyng of the world nys
but a litel thyng at regard of the sorwe of helle./
  The cause why that Iob clepeth helle the lond of derknesse?/ Vnderstondeth
[f.239] that he clepeth it lond or erthe, for it is stable and neuere shal faile
dirk, for he that is in helle hath defaute of light material./ For certes the derke
light that shal come out of the fyr that euere shal brenne shal turne hym al
to peyne that is in helle, for it sheweth hym to the horrible deueles that hym
tormenten./ Couered with the derknesse of deeth, that is to seyn that he that
is in helle shal haue defaute of the sighte of god, for certes the sighte of god is
the lyf pardurable. (185) The derknesse of deeth ben the synnes that the
wrecched man hath doon, whiche that destourben hym to se the face of god
right as a dirk clowde bitwixe vs and the sonne./ Lond of myseise by cause
that ther ben iij manere of defautes agayns iij thynges that folk of this world
han in this present lyf, that is to seyn honours, delices and rychesses./ Agayns
honour han they in helle shame and confusion,/ for wel ye woot that men clepen
honour the reuerence that man dooth to man. But in helle is noon honour
ne reuerence, for certes namoore reuerence shal be doon to a kyng than to a
knaue./ For which god seith by the prophete Ieremye: Thilke folk that me
despisen shulle ben in despit. ( 190) Honour is eek clepid greet lordshipe. Ther
shal no wight seruen oother but of harm and torment. Honour is eek clepid
greet dignytee and heighnesse, but in helle shul they ben al fortroden of
deueles./ As god seith: The horrible deueles shullen goon and comen vpon
the heuedes of dampned folk. And this is for as muche as the heyer that
they were in this present lyf, the moore shulle they ben abated and defouled
in helle./ Agayns the richesse of this world shul they han myseyse of pouerte.
And this pouerte shal be in iiij thynges./ In defaute of tresor, of which that
Dauid seith: The riche folk that embraceden and oneden al hir herte to tresor
of this world shulle slepen in the slepynge of deeth and nothyng ne shal they
fynden in hir handes of al hir tresor./ And mooreouer the misayse of helle shal
ben in defaute of mete and drynke. (195) For god seith thus by Moyses: They
shul ben wasted with honger and the bryddes of helle shul deuouren hem
with bitter deeth, and the galle of the dragon shal ben hire drynke, and the
venym of the dragon hir morsels./ And fortherouer hire miseyse shal ben in
defaute of clothyng for they shullen ben naked in body as of clothyng saue
the fyr in which they brenne and othere filthes./ And naked shul they ben of
soule, of alle manere vertues which that is the clothyng of soule. Where
[f.239v] ben thanne the gaye robes and the softe shetes and the smale shertes?/
Lo what seith god of hem by the prophete Ysaye that vnder hem shul ben
strawed moththes and hir couertures shullen ben of wormes of helle./ And
fortherouer hir miseyse shal ben in defaute of frendes for he is nat pouere that
hath goode frendes. But there is no freend, (200) for neither god ne no creature
shal ben freend to hem, and euerich of hem shal haten oother with deedly hate./
The sones and the doghtren shullen rebellen agayns fader and moder, and
kynrede agayns kynrede, and chiden and despisen euerich of hem oother bothe
day and nyght. As god seith by the prophete Michias:/ And the louynge
children that whilom loueden so flesshly euerich oother wolden euerich of hem
eten oother if they myghte./ For how sholde they louen hem togidre in the peyne
of helle whan they hateden euerich ofhem oother in the prosperitee of this lyf?/
For truste wel hire flesshly loue was dedly hate, as seith the prophete Dauid:
Whoso that loueth wikkednesse he hateth his soule. (205) And whoso hateth
his owene soule certes he may loue noon oother wight in no manere./ And
therfore in helle is no solas ne no frendshipe, but euere the moore flesshly
kynredes that ben in helle the moore cursynges, the moore chidynges, and the
moore dedly hate ther is among hem./ And fortherouer they shul haue defaute
of alle manere delices, for certes delices ben after the appetites of the
v wittes as sighte, herynge, smellynge, sauorynge and touchynge./ But in
helle hir sighte shal be ful of dirknesse and of smoke, and therfore ful of teerys;
and hir herynge ful of waymentynge and of gryntynge of teeth, as seith Iesu
Crist:/ Hire nosethirles shul ben ful of stynkynge stynk. And as seith Ysaye the
prophete: Hir sauorynge shal be ful of bitter galle. (2 10) And touchynge of al
hir body ycouered with fyr that neuere shal quenche and with wormes that
neuere shul dyen, as god seith by the mowth of Ysaye./
  And for as muche as they shul nat wene that they may dyen for peyne and
by hir deeth fle fro peyne, that may they vnderstonde in the word of Iob that
seith there as is the shadwe of de@./ Certes a shadwe hath the liknesse of the
thyng of which it is shadwe, but shadwe is nat the same thyng of which it is
shadwe./ Right so fareth the peyne of helle. It is lyk deeth for the horrible
angwissh. And why? For it peyneth [f.240] hem euere as thogh men sholde
dye anon. But certes they shal nat dye./ For as seith seint Gregorie: To wrecche
kaityues shal be deeth withoute deeth and ende withouten ende and defaute
withoute failynge; (215) for hir deeth shal alwey lyuen, and hire ende shal
eueremo bigynne, and hir defaute shal nat faile./ And therfore seith seint Iohn
the euaungelist: They shullen folwe deeth and they shal nat fynde hym, and
they shul desiren to dye and deeth shal fle fro hem./
  And eek Iob seith that in helle is noon ordre of rewle./ And al be it so that
god hath creat alle thynges in right ordre and nothyng withouten ordre, but
alle thynges ben ordeyned and nombred, yet nathelees they that ben dampned
ben nothyng in ordre ne holden noon ordre,/ for the erthe ne shal bere hem
no fruyt. (220) For as the prophete Dauid seith: God shal destroye the
fruyt of the erthe as fro hem, ne water ne shal yeue hem no moysture, ne the
eyr no refresshyng, ne fyr no light./ For as seith seint Basile: The brennynge
of the fyr of this world shal god yeuen in helle to hem that ben dampned,/
but the light and the cleernesse shal he yeuen in heuene to hise children right
as the goode man yeueth flessh to hise children and bones to hise houndes./
  And for they shullen haue noon hope to escape, seith seint Iob atte laste that
ther shal horrour and grisly drede dwelle withouten ende./ Horrour is alwey
drede of harm that is to come and this drede shal euere dwelle in the hertes
of hem that ben dampned and therfore han they lorn al hire hope for vij
causes. (225) First for god that is hir iuge shal be withoute mercy to hem, ne
they may nat plese hym ne noon of hise halwes, ne they ne may yeue nothyng
for hir raunsoun,/ ne they haue no voys to speke to hym, ne they may nat fle
fro peyne, ne they haue no goodnesse in hem that they may shewe to delyuere
hem fro peyne./ And therfore seith Salomon: The wikked man die@ and whan
he is deed he shal haue noon hope to escape fro peyne./ Whoso thanne wolde
wel vnderstonde thise peynes and bithynke hym wel that he hath disserued
thilke peynes for hise synnes, certes he sholde haue moore talent to siken and
to wepe than for to syngen and to pleye./ For as that seith Salomon: Whoso
that hadde the science to knowe the peynes that ben establised and ordeyned
for synne, he wolde make sorwe. (230) Thilke science, as seith seint Augustyn,
maketh a man to waymente in his herte./
  The iiije poynt that [f.240v] oghte make a man haue contricioun is the
sorweful remembrance of the good that he hath left to doon here in erthe and
eek the good that he hath lorn./ Soothly the goode werkes that he hath left
either they ben the goode werkes that he wroghte er he fil into deedly synne
or ellis the goode werkes that he wroghte whil he lay in synne./ Soothly the
goode werkes that he dide biforn that he fil in synne ben al mortefied and
astoned and dulled by the ofte synnynge./ That othere goode werkes that he
wroghte whil he lay in dedly synne, they ben outrely dede as to the lyf
pardurable in heuene. (235) Thanne thilke goode werkes that ben mortefied
by ofte synnyng, whiche goode werkes he dide while he was in charitee, ne
mowe neuere quyken agayn withoute verray penitence./ And therof seith god
by the mowth of Ezechiel that if the rightful man returne agayn from his right-
wisnesse and werke wikkednesse, shal he lyue?/ Nay, for alle the goode werkes
that he hath wroght ne shulle neuere ben in remembrance, for he shal dye in
his synne./ And vpon thilke chapitre seith seint Gregorie thus that we shul
vnderstonde this principally/ that whan we doon dedly synne it is for nawght
thanne to reherse or drawen into memorie the goode werkes that we han wroght
biforn. (240) For certes in the werkynge of the dedly synne ther is no trust to
no good werk that we han doon biforn, that is to seyn as for to haue therby
the lyf pardurable in heuene./ But nathelees the goode werkes quyken agayn
and comen agayn and helpen and auaylen to haue the lyf pardurable in heuene
whan we han contricion./ But soothly the goode werkes that men doon whil
that they been in dedly synne for as muche as they weren doon in dedly synne
they may neuere quyken agayn./ For certes thyng that neuere hadde lyf may
neuere quyken. And natheles al be it that they ne auayle noght to han the
lyf pardurable, yet auaylen they to abreggen of the peyne of helle or ellis to
gete temporal richesses,/ or ellis that god wole the rather enlumyne and lighte
the herte of the synful man to han repentance. (245) And eek they auailen for
to vsen a man to doon goode werkes that the feend haue the lasse power of
his soule./ And thus the curteys lord Iesu Crist ne wole that no good werk
be lost for in somwhat it shal auayle./ But for as muche as the goode werkes
that men doon whil they ben in good lyf ben al amortised by synne folwynge
and eek sith that alle the [f.241] goode werkes that men doon whil they ben
in dedly synne ben outrely dede as for to han the lyf pardurable,/ wel may
that man that no good werk ne dooth synge thilke newe Frenshe song l'ay tout
perdu mon temps et mon labour./ For certes synne bireueth a man bothe goodnesse
of nature and eek the goodnesse of grace. (250) For soothly the grace of the
holy goost fareth lyk fyr that may nat ben ydel, for fyr faileth anon as it
forleteth his werkynge, and right so grace faileth anon as it forleteth his
werkynge./ Thanne leseth the synful man the goodnesse of glorie that oonly
is bihight to goode men that labouren and werken./ Wel may he be sory thanne
that oweth al his lyf to god as longe as he hath lyued and eek as longe as he
shal lyue that no goodnesse ne hath to paye with his dette to god to whom he
oweth al his lyf./ For truste wel he shal yeue acountes, as seith seint Bernard,
of alle the goodes that han ben yeuen hym in this present lyf and how he
hath hem despended,/ nat so muche that ther shal nat perisse an heer of his
heed ne a moment of an houre ne shal nat perisse of his tyme that he ne shal
yeue of it a rekenynge.
  (255) The vthe thyng that oghte moeue a man to contricioun is remembrance
of the passion that oure lord Iesu Crist suffred for oure synnes./ For as seith
seint Bernard: Whil that I lyue I shal haue remembrance of the trauailes that
oure lord Iesu Crist suffred in prechynge,/ his werynesse in trauailynge, hise
temptacions whan he fasted, hise longe wakynges whan he preyed, hise teerys
whan that he weep for pitee of good peple,/ the wo and the shame and the
filthe that men seyden to hym, of the foule spittyng that men spitte on his
face, of the buffettes that men yaue hym, of the fowle mowwes and of the
repreues that men to hym seyden,/ of the nayles with whiche he was nayled
to the croys, and of al the remenant of his passioun that he suffred for my
synnes and nothyng for his gilt.
  (260) And ye shal vnderstonde that in mannes synne is euery manere ordre
of ordinance turned vp-so-down./ For it is soo@ that god and reson and
sensualitee and the body of man ben so ordeyned that euerich of thise iiij
thynges sholde haue lordshipe ouer that oother / as thus: god sholde haue
lordshipe ouer resoun, and resoun ouer sensualitee, and sensualitee ouer the
body of man./ But soothly whan man synneth al this ordre or ordinance is
turned vp-so-down./ And therfore [f.241v] thanne for as muche as the reson of
man ne wol nat be subget ne obeisaunt to god that is his lord by right,
therfore leseth it the lordshipe that it sholde haue in sensualitee and eek
ouer the body of man. (265) And why? For sensualitee rebelleth thanne agayns
resoun and by that wey leseth reson the lordshipe ouer sensualitee and ouer
the body./ For right as reson is rebel to god, right so is bothe sensualitee rebel
to reson and the body also./
  And certes this desordinaunce and this rebellioun oure lord Iesu Crist
aboghte vpon his precious body ful deere. And herkneth in which wise./ For
as muche thanne as reson is rebel to god, therfore is man worthy to haue sorwe
and to be deed./ This suffred oure lord Iesu Crist for man after that he hadde be
bitraysed of his disciple and destreyned and bounde so that the blood brast
out at euery nayl of hise handes, as seith seint Augustyn. (270) And fortherouer
for as muchel as reson of man ne wol nat daunte sensualitee whan it may,
therfore is man worthy to han shame. And this suffrede oure lord Iesu Crist
for man whan they spette in his visage./ And fortherouer for as muche thanne
as the kaytif body of man is rebel bothe to resoun and to sensualitee, therfore
is it worthy the deeth./ And this suffred oure lord Iesu Crist for man vpon
the croys wher as ther nas no part of his body free withoute gret peyne and
bitter passioun./ And al this suffred Iesu Crist that neuere forfeted: To muchel
am I peyned for the thynges that I neuere deserued and to muche defouled
for shendshipe that man is worthy to haue./ And therfore may the synful man
wel seye as seith seint Bernard: Acursed be the bitternesse of my synne for
which ther moste be suffred so muche bitternesse. (275) For certes after the
diuerse discordaunces of oure wikkednesses was the passioun of Iesu Crist
ordeyned in diuerse thynges,/ as thus: certes synful mannes soule is bitraysed
of the deuel by coueitise of temporel prosperitee and scorned by deceyte whan
he cheseth flesshly delices, and yet is it tormented by inpacience of aduersitee
and byspet by seruage and subieccioun of synne, and atte laste it is slayn
fynally./ For this desordenaunce of synful man was Iesu Crist first bitraysed and
after that was he bownde that cam for to vnbynde vs of synne and of peyne./
Thanne was he biscorned that oonly sholde ben honoured in alle thynges of alle
thynges./ Thanne was his visage, that oghte be desired to be seyn of all
mankynde in which visage angels desiren to looke, vileynsly bispet. (280)
Thanne was he skourged that nothyng hadde agilt. And fynally thanne was
he crucefied and slayn./ Thanne was acompli[f.242]ced the word of Ysaie:
He was wounded for oure mysdedes and defouled by oure felonyes./ Now sith
that Iesu Crist took vpon hymself the peyne of alle oure wikkednesses muchel
oghte synful man wepe and biwayle that for hise synnes goddes sone of heuene
sholde al this peyne endure./
  The vjthe thyng that oghte moeue a man to contricioun is the hope of iij
thynges, that is to seyn foryeuenesse of synne, and the yifte of grace wel for to
do, and the glorie of heuene with which god shal gerdone man for hise goode
dedes./
  And for as muche as Iesu Crist yeueth vs thise yiftes of his largesse and of
his souereyn bountee, thefore is he clepid Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum. (285)
lesu is for to seyn saueour or sauacioun, on whom men shal hope to haue
foryifnesse of synnes which that is proprely sauacion of synnes./ And therfore
seyde the aungel to Ioseph: Thow shalt clepe his name Iesus that shal saue
his peple of hir synnes./ And heerof seith seint Peter: Ther is noon oother name
vnder heuene that is yeue to any man by which a man may be saued but oonly
lesus./ Nazarenus is as muche for to seye as florissynge, in which a man shal
hope that he that yeueth hym remissioun of synnes shal yeue hym eek grace wel
to do, for in the flour is hope of fruyt in tyme comynge and in foryifnesse of
synnes hope of grace wel to do./ I was at the dore of thyn herte (seith Iesus)
and clepede for to entre. He that opneth to me shal haue foryifnesse of synne.
(290) I wol entre into hym by my grace and sowpe with hym by the goode
werkes that he shal doon, whiche werkes ben the foode of god, and he shal
sowpe with me by the grete ioye that I shal yeue hym./ Thus shal man hope
that for hise werkes of penance god shal yeue hym his regne as he byheteth hym
in the gospel./
  Now shal man vnderstonde in which manere shal ben his contricioun. I
seye that it shal ben vniuersal and total, this is to seyn a man shal be verray
repentaunt for alle hise synnes that he hath doon in delit of his thoght, for
delit is ful perilous./ For ther ben two manere of consentynges: that oon of hem
is clepid consentynge of affeccion whan a man is moeued to do synne and
thanne deliteth hym longe for to thynke on that synne./ And his reson
aperceyueth wel that it is synne agayns the lawe of god, and yet his resoun
refreyneth nat his fool delit or talent though he seeth wel apertly that it is
agayns the reuerence of god although his resoun ne consente nat to doon the
[f.242v] synne in dede. (295) Yet seyn somme doctours that swich delit that
dwelle@ longe, it is ful perilous al be it neuer so lite./ And also a man sholde
sorwe, namely for al that euere he hath desired agayn the lawe of god with
parfit consentynge of his resoun, for therof is no doute that it is dedly synne
in the consentynge./ For certes ther is no dedly synne that it nas first in mannes
thoght and after that in his delit and so forth into consentynge and into dede./
Wherfore I seye that many men ne repenten hem neuere of swyche thoghtes
and delites ne neuere shryuen hem of it, but oonly of the dede of grete synnes
outward./ Wherfore I seye that swiche wikked delites and wikked thoghtes ben
subtil bigyleris of hem that shullen ben dampned.
  (300) Mooreouer man oghte to sorwen for hise wikked wordes as wel as hise
wikked dedes. For certes the repentance of a singuler synne and nat repente
of alle hise othere synnes or ellis repente hym of alle hise othere synnes and nat
of a syngler synne may nat auayle./ For certes god almyghty is al good, and
therfore outher he foryeueth al or ellis right noght./ And herof seith seint
Augustyn:/ I woot certeynly that god is enemy to euerich synnere. And how
thanne he that obserueth o synne, shal he haue foryeuenesse of the remenant
of hise othere synnes? Nay./
  And fortherouer contricioun sholde be wonder sorweful and anguissous and
therfore yeueth hym god pleynly his mercy. And therfore whan my soule was
anguissous withinne me I hadde remembraunce of god that my prayere myghte
come to hym.
  (305) Fortherouer contricioun moste be continuel and that man haue
stedefast purpos to shryue hym and for to amende hym of his lyf./ For soothly
whil contricion lasteth man may euere haue hope of foryeuenesse. And of this
cometh hate of synne that destroyeth synne bothe in hymself and eek in othere
folk at his power./ For which seith Dauid: Ye that louen god hateth wikked-
nesse, for trusteth wel to loue god is for to loue that he loueth and hate that
he hateth./
  The laste thyng that men shal vnderstonde in contricioun is this: wherof
auaileth contricioun. I seye that somtyme contricioun delyuereth man fro
synne./ Of which that Dauid seith: I seye (quod Dauid), that is to seyn I
purposed fermely, to shryue me and thow lord relessedest my synne. (310)
And right so as contricioun auaileth nat withouten sad purpos of shrifte if man
haue oportunytee, right so litel worth is shrifte or satisfaccioun withoute
contricioun./ And mooreouer contricion destroyeth the prisoun of helle [f.243]
and maketh wayk and feble the strengthes of the deueles and restoreth the
yiftes of the holy goost and of alle goode vertues,/ and it clenseth the soule of
synne and delyuereth the soule fro the peyne of helle and fro the compaignye
of the deuel and fro the seruage of synne, and restoreth it to alle goodes
espirituels and to the compaignye and communyoun of holy chirche./ And
fortherouer it maketh hym that whilom was sone of ire to be sone of grace.
And alle thise thynges be preued by holy writ./ And therfore he that wolde
sette his entente to thise thynges, he were ful wys; for soothly he ne sholde nat
thanne in al his lyf haue corage to synne but yeue his body and al his herte
to the seruyce of Iesu Crist and therof doon hym hommage. (315) For certes
oure swete lord Iesu Crist hath sparid vs so debonairly in oure folies that if
he ne hadde pitee of mannes soule a sory song we myghten alle synge./

Explicit prima pars penitencie et incipit secunda pars eiusdem.
The seconde partie of penitence is confessioun that is signe of contricioun./
Now shul ye vnderstonde what is confessioun and wheither it oghte nedes be
doon or noon and whiche thynges ben couenable to verray confessioun./
  First shaltow vnderstonde that confession is verray shewynge of synnes to the
preest./ This is to seyn verray, for he moot confesse hym of alle the condiciouns
that bilongen to his synne as ferfor@ as he kan. (320) Al moot be seyd and
nothyng excused ne hid ne forwrapped, and nat auaunce hym of hise goode
werkes./ And fortherouer it is necessarie to vnderstonde whennes that synnes
spryngen and how they encressen and whiche they ben./
  Of the spryngynge of synnes as seith seint Paul in this wise that right as by
a man synne entred first into this world and thurgh that synne deth, right so
thilke deth entred into alle men that synneden./ And this man was Adam by
whom synne entred into this world whan he brak the comandementz of god./
And therfore he that first was so myghty that he sholde nat haue deyed bicam
swich oon that he moste nedes dye wheither he wolde or noon and al his
progenye that is in this world that in thilke man synneden. (325) Looke that
in th'estat of innocence whan Adam and Eue naked weren in paradys [f.243v]
and nothyng ne hadden shame of hir nakednesse,/ how that the serpent that was
moost wily of alle othere bestes that god hadde maked seyde to the womman:
"Why comanded god to yow ye sholde nat eten of euery tree in paradys?'/
  The womman answerde: "Of the fruyt,' quod she, "of the trees in paradys
we feden vs, but soothly of the fruyt of the tree that is in the myddel of paradys
god forbad vs for to ete ne nat touche it list parauenture we sholde dyen.'/
  The serpent seyde to the womman: "Nay, nay, ye shul nat dyen of deth. For
sothe god woot that what day that ye eten therof youre eyen shulle opne and
ye shul ben as goddes konnynge good and harm.'/
  The womman saugh that the tree was good to fedynge and fair to the eyen
and delitable to sighte. She took of the fruyt of the tree and eet it and yaf
it to hir housbonde and he eet and anon the eyen of hem bothe opnede.
(330) And whan that they knewe that they were naked they sowed of fyge-leues
in manere of breches to hiden hire membres./ Here may ye seen that dedly synne
hath first suggestioun of the feend as sheweth heere by the naddre, and after-
ward the delit of the flessh as sheweth heere by Eua, and after that the
consentynge of resoun as sheweth heere by Adam./ For truste wel thogh so
were that the feend tempted oon that is to seyn the flessh and the flessh hadde
delit in the beautee of the fruyt deffended, yet certes til that reson, that is to
seyn Adam, consented to the etyng of the fruyt yet stood he in the estat of
innocence./ Of thilke Adam toke we thilke synne original, for of hym flesshly
descended be we alle and engendred of vile and corrupt matere./ And whan
the soule is put in oure body, right-anoon is contract original synne; and that
that was erst but oonly peyne of concupiscence is afterward bothe peyne and
synne. (335) And therfore be we alle yborn sones of wraththe and of
dampnacioun pardurable, if it nere baptesme that we receyuen which
bynyme@ vs the culpe. But for sothe the peyne dwelleth with vs as to
temptacioun, which peyne highte concupiscence./ And this concupiscence
whan it is wrongfully disposed or ordeyned in man, it maketh hym coueite
by coueitise of flessh flesshly synne by sighte of hise eyen as to erthely thynges
and eek coueitise of heynesse by pryde of herte./
  Now as to speke of the firste coueitise, that is concupiscence after the lawe
of oure membres that weren lawefulliche ymaked and by rightful iugement of
god,/ I seye for as muche as man is nat obeisaunt to god that is his lord, therfore
is the flessh to hym desobeisaunt [f.244] thurgh concupiscence which that yet
is clepid norissynge of synne and occasioun of synne./ Therfore al the while
that a man hath in hym the peyne of concupiscence it is impossible but he
be tempted somtyme and moeued in his flessh to synne. (340) And this thyng
may nat faile as longe as he lyueth. It may wel wexe feble and faile by vertu
of baptesme and by the grace of god thrugh penitence./ But fully ne shal it
neuere quenche that he ne shal somtyme be moeued in hymself but if he were
al refreided by siknesse or by malefice of sorcerye or colde drynkes./ For lo
what seith seint Paul: The flessh coueiteth agayn the spirit and the spirit agayn
the flessh. They ben so contrarie and so stryuen that a man may nat alwey
do as he wolde./ The same seynt Paul after his grete penaunce in water and
in londe, in water by nyght and by day in gret peril and in gret peyne, in
londe in famyn and thurst, in cold and clothlees and ones stooned almoost to
the deth,/ yet seyde he: Allas I kaytif man, who shal delyuere me fro the prison
of my kaytif body? (345) And seint Ierom whanne he longe tyme hadde woned
in desert where as he hadde no compaignye but of wilde bestes, wher as he
hadde no mete but herbes and water to his drynke, ne no bed but the naked
erthe for which his flessh was blak as an Ethiopen for hete and ney destroyed
for cold,/ yet seyde he that the brennynge of lecherye boylede in al his body./
Wherfore I woot wel sikerly that they ben deceyued that seyn that they ne be nat
tempted in hire body./ Witnesse on seint Iame the apostel that seith that euery
wight is tempted in his owene concupiscence, that is to seyn that euerich of vs
hath matere and occasioun to be tempted of the norissynge of synne that is in
his body./ And therfore seith seint Iohn the euaungelist: If that we seyn that
we be withoute synne, we deceyuen vsselue and trouthe is nat in vs.
  (350) Now shul ye vnderstonde in what manere that synne wexeth and
encresceth in man. The firste thyng is thilke norissynge of synne of which I spak
biforn, thilke flesshly concupiscence./ And after that comth the subieccioun of
the deuel, this is to seyn the deueles bely with which he bloweth in man the
fyr of flesshly concupiscence./ And after that a man bythynketh hym wheither
he wol doon or no thilke thyng to which he is tempted./ And thanne if that
a man withstonde [f.244v] and wayue the firste entisynges of his flessh and of
the feend, thanne is it no synne. And if so be that he do nat so, thanne
feeleth he anon a flawmbe of delit./ And thanne is it good to be war and kepe
hym wel or ellis he wol falle anon into consentynge of synne, and thanne wol
he do it if he may haue tyme and place. (355) And of this matere seith
Moyses by the deuel in this manere: The feend seith: "I wol chace and pursue
the man by wikked suggestioun, and I wol hente hym by moeuyng or stiryng
of synne, and I wol departe my prise or my preye by deliberacioun and my lust
shal ben acompliced in delit, I wol drawe my swerd in consentynge;/ for certes
right as a swerd departeth a thyng in two peces, right so consentynge departeth
god fro man, and thanne wol I sle hym with myn hand in dede of synne;'
thus seyth the feend./ For certes thanne is a man al deed in soule and thus
is synne acompliced by temptacioun, by delit and by consentynge, and thanne
is the synne clepid actuel./
  For sothe synne is in two maneres: outher is it venyal or dedly synne. Soothly
whan man loueth any creature moore than Iesu Crist oure creatour, thanne
is it dedly synne; and venial synne is it if man loue Iesu Crist lasse than hym
oghte./ For sothe the dede of this venial synne is ful perilous, for it amenuseth
the loue that men sholde han to god moore and moore. (360) And therfore if
a man charge hymself with manye swiche venial synnes, certes but if so be that
he somtyme descharge hym of hem by shrifte they mowe ful lightly amenuse
in hym al the loue that he hath to Iesu Crist./ And in this wise skippeth venial
into dedly synne, for certes the moore that a man chargeth his soule with venial
synnes the moore is he enclyned to falle in dedly synne./ And therfore lat vs
nat be necligent to deschargen vs of venial synnes, for the prouerbe seith that
manye smale maketh a greet./ And herkne this ensample. A greet wawe of the
see comth somtyme with so greet a violence that it drencheth the ship; and the
same harm doon somtyme the smale dropes of water that entreth thurgh a
litel creuesse into the thurrok and in the botme of the ship, if men be so necligent
that men ne descharge hem nat by tyme./ And therfore althogh ther be a
difference bitwixe thise two causes of drenchynge, algates the ship is dreynt.
(365) Right so fareth it somtyme of dedly synne and of anoyouse venials synnes
whan they multiplie in a man so gretly that thilke worldly thynges that he
loueth thurgh which he synneth venially is as gret in his herte as the loue of
[f.245] god or moore./ And therfore the loue of euery thyng that is nat byset
in god ne doon principally for goddes sake, al that a man loue it lasse than
god yet is it venial synne;/ and dedly synne whan the loue of any thyng weyeth
in the herte of man as muche as the loue of god or moore./ Dedly synne, as
seith seynt Augustyn, is whan man turneth his herte fro god which that is verray
souereyn bowntee that may nat chaunge and yeueth his herte to a thyng that
may chaunge and flitte -- / and certes that is euerythyng saue god of heuene.
For sooth is that if a man yeue his loue, the which that he oweth al to god
with al his herte, vnto a creature, certes as muche of his loue as he yeueth
to thilke creature so muche he bireueth fro god. (370) And therfore dooth he
synne for he that is dettour to god ne yeldeth nat to god al his dette, that is to
seyn al the loue of his herte./
  Now sith man vnderstondeth generally which is venial synne, thanne is it
couenable to tellen specially of synnes whiche that many a man parauenture
ne demeth hem nat synnes and ne shryueth hym nat of the same thynges and
yet nathelees they been synnes./ And soothly as thise clerkes writen, this is to
seyn that euery tyme that man eteth or drynketh moore than suffiseth to the
sustenaunce of his body, in certeyn he dooth synne./ And eek whan he speketh
moore than it nedeth, it is synne. Eek whan he herkneth nat benygnely @e
compleynte of the pouere./ Eek whan he is in heele of body and wol nat faste,
whan oother folk fasten, withouten cause resonable. Eek whan he slepeth moore
than nedeth or whan he comth by thilke encheson to late to chirche or to othere
werkes of charitee. (375) Eek whan he vseth his wyf withoute souereyn desir
of engendrure to honour of god or for the entente to yelde to his wyf the dette
of his body./ Eek whan he wol nat visite the syke and the prisoner if he may.
Eek if he loue wyf or child or oother worldly thyng moore than reson requereth.
Eek if he flatre or blaundise moore than hym oghte for any necessitee./ Eek if
he amenuse or withdrawe the almesse of the pouere. Eek if he apparaileth his
mete moore deliciously than nede is or ete it to hastily by likerousnesse./ Eek
if he tale vanytes at chirche or at goddes seruyce or that he be a talker of ydel
wordes of folye or of vileynye, for he shal yelde acounte of it at the day of dome./
Eek whan he biheteth or assureth to do thynges that he ne may nat parfourne.
Eek whan that he by lightnesse or folye mysseyth or scorneth his neighebore.
[f.245v] (380) Eek whan he hath any wikked suspecioun of thyng ther he ne
woot of it no soothfastnesse./ Thise thynges and mo withoute nombre ben
synnes, as seith seint Augustyn./
  Now shal men vnderstonde that al be it so that noon erthely man may
eschewe alle veniale synnes, yet may he refreyne hem by the brennynge loue
that he hath to oure lord Iesu Crist and by preyeres and confession and othere
goode werkes so that it shal but litel greue./ For as sei@ seint Augustyn: If a
man loue god in swich manere that al that euere he dooth is in the loue of
god or for the loue of god verraily for he brenneth in the loue of god,/ looke
how muche that a drope of water that falleth in a furneys ful of fyr anoyeth
or greueth, so muche anoyeth a venial synne vnto a man that is parfit in the
loue of Iesu Crist. (385) Men may also refreyne venial synne by receyuynge
worthily of the precious body of Iesu Crist,/ by receyuynge eek of holy water,
by almesdede, by general confession of Confiteor at masse and at complyn, and
by blessynge of bisshopes and of preestes, and by othere goode werkes./

De septem peccatis mortalibus
Now is it bihouely thyng to telle whiche ben dedly synnes, that is to seyn
chief taynes of synnes. Alle they renne in o lees but in dyuerse manere. Now
ben they clepid chieftaynes for as muche as they ben chief and sprynge of alle
othere synnes./ Of the roote of thise vij synnes thanne is pryde the general roote
of alle harmes, for of this roote spryngen certeyn braunches as ire, enuye, accidie
or sleuthe, auarice or coueitise to commune vnderstondynge, glotonye, and
lecherye./ And euerich of thise chief synnes hath hise braunches and hise
twigges, as shal be declared in hire chapitres folwynge.
  (390) And though so be that no man kan outrely tellen the nombre of twigges
and of the harmes that comen of pryde, yet wol I shewe a partie of hem as ye
shul vnderstande./ Ther is inobedience, auantynge, ypocrisye, despit, arro-
gaunce, inpudence, swellynge of herte, insolence, elacioun, inpacience, stryf,
contumacie, presumpcioun, inreuerence, pertinacie, veyne glorie, and many
another twig that I kan nat declare./ Inobedient is he that desobeieth for
despit to the comandementz of god and to hise souereins and to his goostly
fader./ Auantour is he that bosteth of the [f.246] harm or of the bowntee that
he hath doon./ Ypocrite is he that hideth to shewe hym swich as he is and
sheweth hym swich as he nawght is. (395) Despitous is he that hath desdeyn
of his neighebore, that is to seyn of his euenecristen, or hath despit to doon
that hym oghte to do./ Arrogaunt is he that thynketh that he hath thilke
bountees in hym that he hath nat or weneth that he sholde haue hem by hise
desertes or ellis he demeth that he be that he nys nat./ Impudent is he that
for his pryde hath no shame of his synne./ Swellynge of herte is whan man
reioyseth hym of harm that he hath doon./ Insolent is he that despiseth in
his iugement all oother folk as to regard of his value and of his konnynge and
of his spekynge and of his berynge. (400) Elacioun is whan he ne may neither
suffre to haue maister ne felawe./ Inpacient is he that wol nat ben ytaught ne
vndernome of his vice, and by stryf werreieth trouthe wityngly and deffendeth
his folye./ Contumax is he that thurgh his indignacioun is agayns euerich
auctoritee or power of hem that ben hise souereyns./ Presumpcioun is whan
a man vndertaketh an emprise that hym oghte nat do or ellis that he may
nat do and that is called surquydie. Inreuerence is whan men do nat
honour ther as hem oghte to doon and waiteth to be reuerenced./ Pertinacie
is whan a man deffendeth his folye and trusteth to muche to his owene wit.
(405) Veyne glorie is for to haue pompe and delit in thise temporel heynesses
and glorifie hem in worldly estatz./ Ianglynge is whan a man speketh to muche
biforn folk and clappeth as a melle and taketh no kepe what he seith./
  And yet is ther a pryuee spice of pryde that waiteth first to be salewed er
he wole salewe al be he lasse worthy than that oother is parauenture; and eek he
wayteth or desireth to sitte or ellis to goon aboue hym in the weye or kisse
pax or ben ensensed or goon to offrynge biforn his neighebore,/ and swiche
semblable thynges agayns his duetee parauenture but that he hath his
herte and his entente in swich a proud desir to be magnyfied and honoured
biforn the peple./
  Now ben ther two maneres of pryde, that oon of hem is withinne the herte
of man and that oother is withoute. (410) Of whiche soothly thise forseyde
thynges and mo than I haue seyd aperte[f.246v]nen to pryde that is in the herte
of man, and that othere speces of pride ben withoute./ But natheles that oon
of thise speces of pride is signe of that oother right as the gaye leuesel atte
tauerne is signe of the wyn that is in the celer./ And this is in manye thynges
as in speche and contenaunce and in outrageous array of clothyng./ For certes
if ther ne hadde be no synne in clothyng Crist wolde nat so soone haue noted
and spoke of the clothyng of thilke riche man in the gospel./ And as seith
seint Gregorie that precious clothyng is cowpable for the derthe of it and for
his softnesse and for his straungenesse and degisynesse and for the superfluitee
or for the inordinat scantnesse of it. (415) Allas may man nat seen as in oure
dayes the synful costlewe array of clothynge and namely in to muche
superfluitee or ellis in to desordinat scantnesse./
  As to the firste synne that is in superfluitee of clothynge, which that maketh
it so deere to harm of the peple,/ nat oonly the cost of enbrawdynge, the degyse
endentynge, or barrynge, owndynge, palynge, or bendynge, and semblable
wast of clooth in vanytee,/ but ther is also the costlewe furrynge in
hir gownes, so muche pownsonynge of chisel to maken holes, so muche
daggynge of sheris,/ forth with the superfluitee in lengthe of the forseyde
gownes trailynge in the dong and in the myre on horse and eek on foote as
wel of man as of womman that al thilke trailynge is verraily as in effect wasted,
consumed thredbare and roten with dong rather than it is yeuen to the pouere
to gret damage of the forseide pouere folk (420) and that in sondry wise, this
is to seyn that the moore that clooth is wasted the moore moot it coste to the
peple for the scarsnesse./ And fortherouer if so be that they wolde yeue swich
pownsonyd and dagged clothynge to the pouere folk, it is nat conuenient to
were for hir estat ne suffisant to beete hire necessitee to kepe hem fro the
destemperance of the firmament./ Vpon that oother syde to speke of the
horrible desordynat scantnesse of clothyng as ben thise kutted sloppes or
hanselyns that thurgh hir shortnesse ne keuere nat the shameful membres of a
man to wikke entente./ Allas somme of hem shewen the shap and the boce of
hir horrible, swollen membres that semeth lik the maladie of hirnia in the
wrappynge of hir hoses,/ and eek the buttokes of hem, that faren as it were the
hyndre part of a she-ape in the fulle of the moone. (425) And mooreouer the
wrecched, swollen membres that they shewe thurgh degisynge in departynge
of hire hoses in whit and reed semeth that half hir shameful pryuee membres
weren flayn./ [f.247] And if so be that they departen hire hoses in othere colours
as is whit and blew or whit and blak or blak and reed and so forth,/ thanne
semeth it as by variaunce of colour that half the partie of hire pryuee membres
ben corrupt by the fyr of seint Antony or by cancre or othere swiche
meschaunces./ Yet of the hyndre part of hire buttokes it is ful horrible for to
se, for certes in that partie of hir body ther as they purgen hir stynkynge ordure,/
that foule partie shewe they to the peple proudly in despit of honestetee, which
honestetee that Iesu Crist and hise frendes obseruede to shewen in his lyue.
(430) Now as of the outrageous array of wommen, god woot that thogh the
visages of somme of hem seme ful chaste and debonaire, yet notifie they in hire
array of atyr likerousnesse and pride./ I seye nat that honestetee in clothynge of
man or womman is vncouenable, but certes the superfluitee or the desordinat
skantitee of clothynge is reprouable./
  Also the synne of aornement or of apparaille as in thynges that apertenen
to ridynge as in to manye delicat horses that ben holden for delit that they ben
so faire, fatte and costlewe,/ and also many a vicious knaue mayntened by cause
of hem, and in to curious harneys as in sadeles, in croupers, peytrels, and
brydles couered with precious clothyng and riche barres and plates of gold and
of siluer./ For which god seith by Zakarie the prophete: I wol confounde the
ryderes of swiche horses. (435) Thise folk taken litel reward of the ridynge of
goddes sone of heuene and of his harneys whan he rood vpon an asse and ne
hadde noon oother harneys but the pouere clothes of hise disciples. Ne we ne
rede nat that euere he rood on oother beest./ I speke this for the synne of
superfluitee and nat for resonable honestetee whan resoun it requereth./
  And fortherouer certes pride is gretly notified in holdynge of gret meynee
whan they ben of litel profit or of right no profit,/ and namely whan that
meynee is felonous and damageous to the peple by hardynesse of hey lordshipe
or by wey of offices./ For certes swiche lordes sellen thanne hir lordship to the
deuel of helle whan they sustenen the wikkednesse of hir meynee. (440) Or ellis
whan thise folk of lowe degree as thilke that holden hostelries sustenen the
thefte of hir hostelers, and that is in many manere of deceites./ Thilke manere
of folk ben the flyes that folwen the hony or ellis the houndes that folwen the
careyne. Swich forseide folk stranglen spiritually hir lordshipes./ For which thus
[f.247v] seith Dauid the prophete: Wikked deth mote come vpon thilke lord-
shipes and god yeue that they mote descende into helle adown, adown, for in
hire houses been iniquitees and shrewednesses and nat god of heuene./ And
certes but if they doon amendement right so as god yaf his benysoun to Laban
by the seruyce of Iacob and to Pharao by the seruyce of Ioseph right so god
wol yeue his malisoun to swiche lordshipes as sustenen the wikkednesse of hir
seruantz but they come to amendement./
  Pride of the table apeere@ eek ful ofte, for certes riche men ben clepid to
festes and pouere folk ben put awey and rebuked. (445) Also in exces of diuerse
metes and drynkes and namely swiche manere bakemetes and disshmetes
brennynge of wilde fyr and peynted and castelled with papir and semblable
wast so that it is abusioun for to thynke./ And eek in to gret preciousnesse of
vessel and curiositee of mynstralcie by whiche a man is stired the moore to
delices of luxure./ If so be that he sette his herte the lasse vpon oure lord
lesu Crist, certeyn it is a synne and certeynly the delices myghte ben so grete
in the cas that man myghte lightly fallen by hem into dedly synne./
  The especes that sourden of pride soothly whan they sourden of malice
ymagyned and auysed and forncast or ellis of vsage ben dedly synnes it is no
doute./ And whan they sourde by freletee vnauysed sodeynly and sodeynly
withdrawe agayn al be they greuouse synnes, I gesse that they ne be nat dedly.
(450) Now myghte men axe wherof that pryde sourdeth and spryngeth. And
I seye somtyme it spryngeth of the goodes of nature and somtyme of the
goodes of fortune and somtyme of the goodes of grace./ Certes the goodes of
nature stonden outher in goodes of body or goodes of soule./ Certes goodes of
body been heele of body, strengthe, delyuernesse, beautee, genterie, franchise./
Goodes of nature of the soule ben good wit, sharp vnderstondynge, subtil
engyn, vertu naturel, good memorie./ Goodes of fortune ben richesses, hey
degrees of lordshipes, preisynges of the peple. (455) Goodes of grace ben science,
power to suffre spiritual trauaille, benygnytee, vertuous contemplacioun, with-
stondynge of temptacion and semblable thynges./ Of whiche forseyde goodes
certes it is a ful gret folie a man to pryden hym in any of hem alle./ Now as
for to speke of goodes of nature, god woot that somtyme we han hem in nature
as muche to oure damage as to oure profit./ As for to speke of heele of [f.248]
body certes it passeth ful lightly and eek it is ful ofte enchesoun of the siknesse
of the soule, for god woot the flessh is a ful greet enemy to the soule; and therfore
the moore that the body is hool the moore be we in peril to falle./ Eke for to
pryde hym in hys strengthe of body it is an heigh folye, for certes the flessh
coueiteth agayn the spirit - and ay the moore strong that the flessh is the
sorier may the soule be. (460) And ouer al this strengthe of body and worldly
hardynesse causeth ful ofte many man to peril and meschaunce./ Eke for to
pryde hym of his genterye is ful gret folie, for ofte tyme the genterie of the
body bynymeth the genterie of the soule and eek we ben alle of o fader and of
 o moder and alle we ben ofo nature roten and corrupt bothe riche and pouere./
For sothe o manere gentilrye is for to preise that apparayleth mannes corage
with vertues and moralitees and maketh hym Cristes child./ For truste wel
that ouer what man that synne hath maistrye he is verray cherl to synne./
  Now ben ther general signes of gentilesse as eschewynge of vice or rybaudye
and seruage of synne in word, in werk and contenaunce, (465) and vsynge
vertu, curteisye and clennesse and to be liberal, that is to seyn large by mesure
for thilke that passeth mesure is folye and synne./ Another is to remembre hym
of bounte that he of oother folk hath receyued./ Another is to ben benygne
to hise goode subgetz. Wherfore as seith Senek: Ther is nothyng moore
couenable to a man of heigh estat than debonairetee and pitee./ And therfore
thise flyes that men clepe bees whan they maken hire kyng they chesen oon
that hath no prikke wherwith he may stynge./ Another is a man to haue a
noble herte and a diligent to attayne to hye vertuouse thynges. (470) Certes
also who that prydeth hym in the goodes of fortune he is a ful gret fool, for
somtyme is a man a gret lord by the morwe that is a kaytif and a wrecche er
it be nyght./ And somtyme the richesse of a man is cause of his deeth. Somtyme
the delices of a man ben cause of the greuous maladie thurgh which he dyeth./
Certes the commendacioun of the peple is somtyme ful fals and ful brotil for
to triste: this day they preise, tomorwe they blame./ God woot desir to haue the
commendacioun eek of peple hath caused deth to many a bisy man./ Now certes
a man to pr1de hym in the goodes of grace is eek an outrageous folye for thilke
yiftes of grace that sholde haue turned hym to goodnesse [f.248v] and to
medicine turneth hym to venym and to confusioun, as seyth seint Gregorie.
  (475) Now sith that so is that ye han vnderstonde what is pryde and
whiche ben the speces of it and whennes pryde sourdeth and spryngeth,/ now
shul ye vnderstonde which is the remedie agayns pride and that is humylitee
or mekenesse / that is a vertu thurgh which a man hath verray knoweleche of
hymself and holdeth of hymself no pris ne deyntee as in regard of hise desertes
considerynge euere his freletee./ Now ben ther iij maneres of humylitee,
as humylitee in herte, another humylitee is in mouth, the thridde in hise
werkes./ The humylitee in herte is in iiij maneres. That oon is whan a man
holdeth hymself as naught worth biforn god of heuene. Another is whan he ne
despiseth noon other man. (480) The thridde is whan he ne rekketh nat thogh
men holde hym noght worth. The ferthe is whan he nys nat sory of his
humyliacioun./ Also the humylitee of mouth is in iiij thynges: in atempree
speche and in humblesse of speche, and whan he biknoweth with his owene
mouth that he is swich as hym thynketh that he is in his herte. Another is
whan he preiseth the bountee of another man and nothyng therof amenuseth./
Humylitee eek in werk is in iiij maneres. The firste is whan he putteth othere
men biforn hym. The seconde is to chese the loweste place oueral. The thridde
is gladly to assente to good conseil./ The ferthe is gladly to stonde to the award
of his souereyn or of hym that is hyer in degree. Certeyn this is a gret werk of
humylitee./

Inuidia
After pryde wol I speke of the foule synne of enuye which that is, as by the
word of the philosophre, sorwe of oother mannes prosperitee, and after the word
of seint Augustyn it is sorwe of oother mennes wele and ioye of oother mennes
harm. (485) This foule synne is platly agayns the holy goost; al be it so that
euery synne is agayn the holy goost, yet nathelees for as muche as bountee
aperteneth proprely to the holy goost and enuye cometh proprely of malice
therfore is proprely agayns the bountee of the holy goost./ Now hath malice ij
speces, that is to seyn hardnesse of herte in wikkednesse or ellis the flessh of a
man is so blynd [f.249] that he considereth nat that he is in synne or rekketh
nat that he is in synne which is the hardnesse of the deuel./ That other spece
of enuye is whan that a man werreyeth trouthe whan he woot that it is trouthe
and eek whan he werreyeth the grace that god hath yeue to his neighebore,
and al this is by enuye./ Certes thanne is enuye the worste synne that is, for
soothly alle othere synnes ben somtyme agayns o special vertu./ But certes
enuye is agayns alle vertues and agayns alle goodnesses for it is sory of alle the
bountees of his neighebore, and in this manere it is dyuers from alle othere
synnes. (490) For wel vnnethe is ther any synne that it ne hath som delit in
hymself saue oonly enuye that euere hath in hymself angwissh and sorwe./
  The speces of enuye ben thise. Ther is first sorwe of oother mennes good-
nesse and of hir prosperitee; and prosperitee is kyndely matere of ioye, thanne
is enuye a synne agayns kynde./ The seconde spece of enuye is ioye of oother
mannes harm, and that is proprely lyk to the deuel that euere reioyseth hym of
mannes harm./ Of thise ij speces comth bakbitynge and this synne of
bakbitynge or detraccion hath certeyn speces as thus. Som man preiseth his
neighebore by a wikked entente,/ for he maketh alwey a wikked knotte atte
laste ende. Alwey he maketh a but at the laste ende that is digne of moore blame
than worth is al the preisynge. (495) The seconde spece is that if a man be good
and dooth or seith a thyng to good entente, the bakbiter wol turne al thilke
goodnesse vp-so-down to his shrewede entente./ The thridde is to amenuse the
bountee of his neighebore./ The ferthe spece of bakbitynge is this that if men
speke goodnesse of a man, thanne wol the bakbitere seyn: Parfey swich a man
is yet bet than he in despreisynge of hym that men preise./ The fifthe spece
is for to consente gladly and herkne gladly the harm that men speke of oother
folk. This synne is ful greet and ay encreseth after the wikked entente of the
bakbitere./
  After bakbitynge comth grucchynge or murmuracioun and somtyme it
spryngeth of inpacience agayns god and somtyme agayns man. (500) Agayns
god is it whan a man gruccheth agayn the pyne of helle or agayns pouerte
or los of catel or agayn reyn or tempest, or ellis gruccheth that shrewes han
prosperitee or ellis for that goode men han aduersitee./ And alle thise thynges
sholde men suffre paciently for they comen by the rightful iugement and
ordinaunce [f.249v] of god./ Somtyme cometh grucchynge of auarice, as Iudas
grucched agayns the Magdeleyne whan she enoynte the heued of oure lord
lesu Crist with hire precious oynement./ This manere of murmure is swich
as whan men grucchen of goodnesses that hemselue doon or that othere folk
doon of hir owene catel./ Somtyme comth murmur of pryde, as whan Symon
the pharisee grucched agayn the Magdeleyne whan she approched to Iesu
Crist and weep at his feet for hir synnes. (505) And somtyme it sourdeth of
enuye whan men discoueren a mannes harm that was pryuee or bereth hym
on hand thyng that is fals./ Murmur eek is ofte amonges seruantz that grucchen
whan hir souereyns bidden hem to doon leueful thynges,/ and for as muche as
they dar nat openly withseye the comandementz of hir souereyns yet wol they
seyn harm and grucche and murmure pryuely for verray despit./ Whyche
wordes men clepe the deueles Pater Noster, though so be that the deuel ne
hadde neuere Pater Noster but that lewed folk yeuen it swich a name./
Somtyme it comth of ire or pryuee hate that norisseth rancour in herte as after-
ward I shal declare. (510) Thanne comth eek bitternesse of herte thurgh which
bitternesse euery good dede of his neighebore semeth to hym bitter and
vnsauoury./ Thanne comth discord that vnbyndeth alle manere of frendshipe.
Thanne comth scornynge of his neighebore al do he neuer so wel./ Thanne
comth accusynge as whan man seketh occasioun to anoyen his neighebore,
which that is lyk the craft of the deuel that wayteth bothe nyght and day to
accusen vs alle./ Thanne comth malignitee thurgh which a man anoyeth his
neighebore pryuely if he may./ And if he nat ne may, algate his wikked wil
ne shal nat wante as for to brennen his hous pryuely or enpoysone or sleen hise
bestes and semblable thynges.
  (515) Now wol I speken of the remedye agayns this foule synne of enuye.
First is the loue of god principal and louynge of his neighebore as hymself
for soothly that oon ne may nat ben withouthen that oother./ And truste wel
that in the name of thy neighebore thow shalt vnderstonde the name of thy
brother, for certes alle we haue o fader flesshly and o moder, that is to seyn
Adam and Eue, and eek o fader spirituel, that is god of heuene./ Thy neighebore
artow holden for to loue and wilne hym alle goodnesse, and therfore seith god:
Loue thy neighebore as thyself, that is to seyn to sauacion bothe of lyf and
soule./ And moore[f.250]ouer thow shalt loue hym in word and benygne
amonestynge and chastisynge and conforte hym in hise anoyes and preye for
hym with al thyn herte./ And in dede thow shalt loue hym in swich wise that
thow shalt doon to hym in charitee as thow woldest that were doon to thyn
owene persone. (520) And therfore thow ne shalt doon hym no damage in
wikked word ne harm in his body ne in his catel ne in his soule by entisynge
of wikked ensample./ Thow shalt nat eek desiren his wyf ne none of hyse
thynges. Vnderstoond eek that in the name of neighebore is comprehended
his enemy./ Certes man shal loue his enemy for the comandement of god and
soothly thy freend shaltow loue in god./ I seye thyn enemy shaltow loue for
goddes sake by his comandement, for if it were resoun that man sholde hate
his enemy for sothe god nolde nat receyuen vs to his loue that ben hise enemys./
Agayns iij manere of wronges that his enemy dooth to hym he shal doon iij
thynges as thus. (525) Agayns hate and rancour of herte he shal loue hym in
herte. Agayns chidynge and wikked wordes he shal preye for his enemy. Agayns
the wikked dede of his enemy he shal doon hym bountee./ For Crist seith:
Loueth youre enemys and preieth for hem that speke yow harm and eek for
hem that yow chacen and pursuen and dooth bountee to hem that yow haten.
Lo thus comandeth vs oure lord Iesu Crist to do to oure enemys./ For soothly
nature dryueth vs to louen oure frendes, and parfey oure enemys han moore
nede to loue than oure frendes; and they that moore nede haue, certes to hem
shal men doon goodnesse./ And certes in thilke dede haue we remembraunce
of the loue of Iesu Crist that deyde for hise enemys./ And in as muche as thilke
loue is the moore greuous to parfourne so muche is the moore gret the merite,
and therfore the louynge of oure enemy hath confounded the venym of the
deuel. (530) For right as the deuel is desconfited by humylitee, right so is he
wownded to the deth by the loue of oure enemy./ Certes thanne is loue the
medicyne that chaceth out the venym of enuye fro mannes herte./ The speces
of this pas shullen ben moore largely declared in hir chapitres folwynge./


Ira
After enuye wol I discryuen the synne of ire, for soothly whoso that hath enuye
vpon his neighebore [f.250v] anon he wole communely fynde hym matere of
wraththe in word or in dede agayns hym to whom he hath enuye./ And as
wel comth ire of pride as of enuye, for soothly he that is proud or enuyous
is lightly wroth.
  (535) This synne of ire, after the discryuyng of seint Augustyn, is wikked wil
to ben auenged by word or by dede./ Ire after the philosophre is the feruent
blood of man yquyked in his herte thurgh which he wole harm to hym that he
hateth./ For certes the herte of man by eschawfynge and moeuynge of his blood
wexeth so trouble that he is out of alle iugement of resoun./ But ye shal
vnderstonde that ire is in two maneres: that oon of hem is good and that oother
is wikke./ The goode ire is by ialowsie of goodnesse thurgh which a man is
wrooth with wikkednesse and agayns wikkednesse and therfore seith a wys man
that ire is bet than pley. (540) This ire is with debonairetee and it is wroth
withoute bitternesse; nat wroth agayns the man, but wroth with the mysdede
of the man as seith the prophete Dauid: Irascimini et nolite peccare./
  Now vnderstondeth that wikked ire is in ij maneres, that is to seyn sodeyn
ire or hastif ire withoute auysement and consentynge of his reson./ The menyng
and the sens of this is that the reson of a man ne consente nat to thilke sodeyn
ire and thanne is it venyal./ Another ire is ful wikked that comth of felonye
of herte auysed and cast bifore with wikked wil to do vengeaunce and therto
his resoun consenteth; and soothly this is dedly synne./ This ire is so displesant
to god that it troubleth his hous and chaceth the holy goost out of mannes
soule and wasteth and destroyeth the liknesse of god, that is to seyn the vertu
that is in mannes soule, (545) and put in hym the liknesse of the deuel and
bynymeth the man fro god that is his rightful lord./ This ire is a ful gret
plesaunce to the deuel for it is the deueles forneys that is eschawfed with the
fyr of helle./ For certes right so as fyr is moore myghty to destroye erthely
thynges than another element, right so ire is myghty to destroye alle spirituel
thynges./ Looke how that fyr of smale gleedes that ben almoost dede vnder the
asshen wolen quyke agayn whan they ben touched with brymston. Right so
ire wole eueremo quyke agayn whan it is touched by the pryde that is couered
in mannes herte./ For certes fyr ne may nat come out of nothyng but if it
were first in the same thyng naturelly as fyr is drawen out of flyntes with steel.
(550) And right so as pryde is ofte tyme matere of ire, right so is rancour
norice and kepere of ire./ Ther is a manere tree as seith seint Ysidre [EI f.222]
that whan men maken fir of thilke tree and couere the coles of it with asshen,
soothly the fir of it wol lasten al a yeer or moore./ And right so fareth it of
rancour: whan it is ones conceyued in the hertes of som men, certein it wol
lasten parauenture from oon Estreday vnto another Estreday and moore./ But
certes thilke man is ful fer fro the mercy of god in thilke while./
  In this forseyde deueles fourneys ther forgen iij shrewes: pride that ay bloweth
and encreesseth the fir by chidynge and wikked wordes; (555) thanne stant
enuye and holdeth the hoote iren vpon the herte of man with a peire of longe
toonges of long rancour;/ and thanne stant the synne of contumelie or strif
and cheeste and batereth and forgeth by vileyns repreuynges./ Certes this
cursed synne anoyeth [f.222v] bothe to the man hymself and eek to his
neighebore, for soothly almoost al the harm that any man dooth to his
neighebore comth of wratthe./ For certes outrageous wratthe dooth al that
euere the deuel hym comaundeth, for he ne spareth neither Crist ne his sweete
mooder./ And in his outrageous anger and ire, allas, allas ful many oon at
that tyme feeleth in his herte ful wikkedly bothe of Crist and of alle hise halwes.
(560) Is nat this a cursed vice? Yis certes. Allas it bynymeth from man his
wit and his resoun and al his debonaire lif espiritueel that sholde kepen his
soule./ Certes it bynymeth eek goddes due lordshipe and that is mannes soule
and the loue of hise neighebores. It stryueth eek alday agayn trouthe; it reueth
hym the quiete of his herte and subuerteth his soule./
  Of ire comen thise stynkynge engendrures: first hate, that is oold wratthe;
discord thurgh which a man forsaketh his olde freend that he hath loued ful
longe;/ and thanne cometh werre and euery manere of wrong that man dooth
to his neighebore in body or in catel./ Of this cursed synne of ire cometh eek
manslaughtre. And vnderstonde wel that homycide, that is manslaughtre, is in
diuerse wise. Som manere of homycide is spiritueel and som is bodily. (565)
Spiritueel manslaughtre is in iij thynges. First by hate as seint Iohn seith: He
that hateth his brother is homycide./ Homycide is eek by bakbitynge, of whiche
bakbiteres seith Salomon that they han two swerdes with whiche they sleen hir
neighebores. For soothly as wikke is to bynyme his good name as his lyf./
Homycide is eek in yeuynge of wikked conseil by fraude, as for to yeuen conseil
to areysen wrongful custumes and taillages./ Of whiche seith Salomon: Leon
rorynge and bere hongry been like to the crueel lordshipes in withholdynge or
abreggynge of the shepe or the hyre or of the wages of seruauntz or elles in
vsures or in withdrawynge of the almesse of poure folk./ For which the wise man
seith: Fedeth hym that almoost dyeth for honger, for soothly but if thow feede
hym thou sleest hym. And alle thise been deedly synnes. (570) Bodily
manslaughtre is whan thow sleest him with thy tonge in oother manere, as
whan thou comandest to sleen a man or elles yeuest hym conseil to sleen a man./
Manslaughtre in dede is in iiij maneres. That oon is by lawe, right as a
iustice dampneth hym that is coupable to the deeth. But lat the iustice be war
that he do it rightfully and that he do it nat for delit to spille blood but for
kepynge of rightwisnesse./ Another homycide is that is doon for necessitee
as whan o man sleeth another in his defendaunt and that he ne may noon oother-
wise escape from his owene deeth./ But certeinly if he may escape withouten
manslaughtre of his aduersarie and sleeth hym, he dooth synne and he shal
bere penance as for deedly synne./ Eek if a man by caas or auenture shete an
arwe or caste a stoon with which he sleeth a man, he is homycide. (575) Eek
if a womman by necligence ouerlyeth hir child in hir slepyng, it is homycide
and deedly synne./ Eek whan man destourbeth concepcioun of a child and
maketh a womman outher bareyne by drynkynge venenouse herbes thurgh
which she may nat conceyue or sleeth a child by drynkes wilfully or elles
putteth certeine material thynges in hir secree places to slee the child,/ or elles
dooth vnkyndely synne by which man or womman shedeth hir nature in
manere or in place ther as a child may nat be concei[f.223]ued or elles if a
woman haue conceyued and hurt hir child and sleeth the child, yet it is
homycide./ What seye we eek of wommen that mordren hir children for drede
of worldly shame? Certes an horrible homicide!/ Homycide is eek if a man
approcheth to a womman by desir of lecherie thur3 which the child is perissed
or elles smyteth a womman wityngly thurgh which she leseth hir child. Alle
thise been homycides and horrible deedly synnes.
  (580) Yet comen ther of ire manye mo synnes as wel in word as in thoght
and in dede, as he that arretteth vpon god or blameth god of thyng of which
he is hymself gilty or despiseth god and alle hise halwes, as doon thise cursede
hasardours in diuerse contrees./ This cursed synne doon they whan they feelen
in hir hertes ful wikkedly of god and of hise halwes./ Also whan they treten
vnreuerently the sacrement of the auter, thilke synne is so greet that vnnethe
may it been releessed but that the mercy of god passeth alle hise werkes; it is
so greet and he so benigne./ Thanne comth of ire attry angre. Whan a man is
sharply amonested in his shrifte to forleten his synne,/ thanne wole he be angry
and answeren hokerly and angrily and deffenden or excusen his synne by
vnstedefastnesse of his flessh; or elles he dide it for to holde compaignye with
hise felawes; or elles he seith the feend enticed hym; (585) or elles he dide it
for his youthe; or elles his conpleccioun is so corageous that he may nat forbere;
or elles it is his destinee, as he seith, vnto a certein age; or elles he seith it
cometh hym of gentillesse of hise auncestres; and semblable thynges./ Alle this
manere of folk so wrappen hem in hir synnes that they ne wol nat deliuere
hemself. For soothly no wight that excuseth hym wilfully of his synne may nat
been deliuered of his synne til that he mekely biknoweth his synne./
  After this thanne cometh sweryng that is expres agayn the comandement of
god, and this bifalleth ofte of anger and of ire./ God seith: Thow shalt nat take
the name of thy lord god in veyn or in ydel. Also oure lord Iesu Crist seith
by the word of seint Mathew:/ Ne wol ye nat swere in alle manere, neither
by heuene for it is goddes trone, ne by erthe for it is the bench of his feet,
ne by Ierusalem for it is the citee of a greet kyng, ne by thyn heed for thou
mayst nat make an heer whit ne blak. (590) But seyeth by youre word "Ye, ye'
and "Nay, nay', and what that is moore it is of yuel, thus seith Crist./ For
Cristes sake ne swereth nat so synfully in dismembrynge of Crist by soule, herte,
bones and body. For certes it semeth that ye thynke that the cursede Iewes ne
dismembred nat ynough the preciouse persone of Crist but ye dismembre hym
moore./ And if so be that the lawe compelle yow to swere, thanne rule yow
after the lawe of god in youre sweryng, as seith Ieremye 4 c: Thou shalt
kepe iij condicions: thou shalt swere in trouthe, in doom and in rightwisnesse./
This is to seyn thou shalt swere sooth, for euery lesynge is agayns Crist, for
Crist is verray trouthe. And thynk wel this that euery greet swerere nat
compelled lawefully to swere, the wounde shal nat departe from his hous whil
he vseth swich vnleueful sweryng./ Thou shalt sweren eek in doom whan thou
art constreyned by thy domesman to witnessen the trouthe. (595) Eek [f.223v]
thow shalt nat swere for enuye ne for fauour ne for meede, but for rightwisnesse
and for declaracioun of it to the worship of god and helpyng of thyne
euenecristene./ And therfore euery man that taketh godes name in ydel or
falsly swereth with his mouth or elles taketh on hym the name of Crist to be
called a cristene man and lyueth agayns Cristes lyuynge and his techynge,
alle they taken goddes name in ydel./ Looke eek what seint Peter seith Act 4:
Non est aliud nomen sub celo etc.: Ther nys noon oother name (seith seint Peter)
vnder heuene yeuen to men in which they mowe be saued, that is to seyn
but the name of Iesu Crist./ Take kepe eek how that in the precious name of
Crist, as seith seint Paul ad Philipenses 2: In nomine Iesu etc: That in the name
of Iesu euery knee of heuenely creatures or erthely or of helle sholden bowe,
for it is so heigh and so worshipful that the cursede feend in helle sholde
tremblen to heeren it ynempned./ Thanne semeth it that men that sweren so
horriblely by his blessed name that they despise hym moore booldely than dide
the cursede Iewes or elles the deuel that trembleth whan he heereth his name.
   (600) Now certes sith that sweryng, but if it be lawefully doon, is so heighly
deffended, muche worse is forsweryng falsly and yet nedelees./ What seye we
eek of hem that deliten hem in sweryng and holden it a gentrie or a manly dede
to swere grete othes? And what of hem that of verray vsage ne cesse nat to
swere grete othes al be the cause nat worth a straw? Certes it is horrible synne./
Swerynge sodeynly withoute auysement is eek a synne./ But lat vs go now to
thilke horrible sweryng of adiuracioun and coniuracioun as doon thise false
enchauntours or nigromanciens in bacyns ful of water or in a bright swerd in a
cercle or in a fir or in a shulderboon of a sheep./ I kan nat seye but that they
doon cursedly and dampnablely agayns Crist and al the feith of hooly chirche.
  (605) What seye we ofhem that bileeuen in diuynailes as by flight or by noyse
of briddes or of beestes or by sort, by geomancie, by dremes, by chirkynge of
dores, or crakkynge of houses, by gnawynge of rattes and swich manere
wrecchednesse?/ Certes al this thyng is deffended by god and by al hooly
chirche. For which they been acursed til they come to amendement that on
swich filthe setten hir bileeue./ Charmes for woundes or maladie of men or of
beestes, if they taken any effect it be parauenture that god suffreth it
for folk sholden yeue the moore feith and reuerence to his name./
  Now wol I speken of lesynges which generally is fals signyficacion of word in
entente to deceyuen his euenecristene./ Som lesynge is of which ther comth
noon auantage to no wight, and som lesynge turneth to the ese and profit of
o man and to disese and damage of another man. (610) Another lesynge, for
to sauen his lyf or his catel, comth of delit for to lye in which delit they wol
forge a long tale and peynten it with alle circumstaunces where al the ground of
the tale is fals./ Som lesynge [f.224] comth for he wole sustene his word, and
som lesynge comth of reccheleesnesse withouten auisement and semblable
thynges./
  Lat vs now touche the vice of flaterynge, which ne comth nat gladly but for
drede or for coueitise./ Flaterye is generally wrongful preisynge. Flatereres been
the deueles norices that norissen hise children with milk of losengerie./ For sothe
Salomon seith that flaterie is wors than detraccioun. For somtyme detraccion
maketh an hauteyn man be the moore humble for he dredeth detraccion; but
certes flaterye that maketh a man to enhauncen his herte and his contenaunce.
(615) Flatereres been the deueles enchauntours, for they make a man to wene
of hymself be lyk that he nys nat lyk./ They been lyk to Iudas that bitraysed
a man to sellen hym to hise enemy, that is to the deuel./ Flatereres been the
deueles chapelleyns that syngen euere placebo./ I rekene flaterie in the vices
of ire, for ofte tyme if o man be wrooth with another, thanne wole he flatere
som wight to sustene hym in his querele./
  Speke we now of swich cursynge as comth of irous herte. Malisoun generally
may be seyd euery maner power or harm. Swich cursynge bireueth man fro
the regne of god, as seith seint Paul. (620) And ofte tyme swich cursynge
wrongfully retorneth agayn to hym that curseth as a bryd that retorneth agayn
to his owene nest./ And ouer alle thyng men oghten eschewe to cursen hir
children and yeuen to the deuel hir engendrure as ferforth as in hem is. Certes
it is greet peril and greet synne./
  Lat vs thanne speken of chidynge and reproche whiche been ful grete
woundes in mannes herte, for they vnsowen the semes of freendshipe in mannes
herte./ For certes vnnethes may a man pleynly been accorded with hym that
hath hym openly reuyled and repreued in disclaundre. This is a ful grisly synne
as Crist seith in the gospel./ And taak kepe now that he that repreueth his
neighebor outher he repreueth hym by som harm of peyne that he hath on
his body, as "mesel', "croked harlot', or by som synne that he dooth. (625)
Now if he repreue hym by harm of peyne thanne turneth the repreue to Iesu
Crist for peyne is sent by the rightwys sonde of god and by his suffrance, be
it meselrie or maheym or maladie./ And if he repreue hym vncharitably of
synne as "thou dronkelewe harlot' and so forth, thanne aperteneth that to the
reioysynge of the deuel that euere hath ioye that men doon synne./ And certes
chidynge may nat come but out of a vileyns herte. For after the habundance
of the herte speketh the mouth ful ofte./ And ye shul vnderstonde that looke by
any wey whan any man shal chastise another that he be war from chidynge
and repreuynge. For trewely but he be war he may ful lightly quyken the
fir of angre and of wratthe which that he sholde quenche, and parauenture
sleeth hym which that he myghte chastise with benignitee./ For as seith
Salomon: The amyable tonge is the tree of lyf, that is to seyn of lyf espiritueel.
And soothly a deslauee tonge sleeth the spirites of hym that repreueth and eek
of hym that is repreued. (630) Loo what seith seint Augustyn: Ther is nothyng
so lyk the deueles child as he that ofte chideth. Seint [f.224v] Paul seith eek:
I, seruant of god, bihoueth nat to chide./ And how that chidynge be a vileyns
thyng bitwixe alle manere folk, yet is it certes moost vncouenable bitwixe a man
and his wyf, for there is neuere reste. And therfore seith Salomon: An hous
that is vncouered and droppynge and a chidynge wyf been lyke./ A man that
is in a droppynge hous in manye places though he eschewe the droppynge in
o place, it droppeth on hym in another place. So fareth it by a chydynge wyf:
but she chide hym in o place, she wol chide hym in ano@er./ And therfore
bettre is a morsel of breed with ioye than an hous ful of delices with chidynge,
seith Salomon./ Seint Paul seith: O ye wommen, be ye subgetes to youre
housbondes, and ye men loueth youre wyues. Ad Colonisenses 3
  (635) Afterward speke we of scornynge which is a wikked synne and namely
whan he scorneth a man for hise goode werkes./ For certes swiche scorneres
faren lyk the foule tode that may nat endure to smelle the soote sauour of the
vyne whanne it florissheth./ Thise scorneres been partyng felawes with the
deuel, for they han ioye whan the deuel wynneth and sorwe whan he leseth./
They been aduersaries of Iesu Crist for they haten that he loueth, that is to
seyn saluacioun of soule./
  Speke we now of wikked conseil, for he that wikked conseil yeueth is a
traytour. He deceyueth hym that trusteth in hym vt Achitofel ad Absolonem. But
nathelees yet is his wikked conseil first agayn hymself. (640) For as seith the
wise man: Euery fals lyuynge hath his propertee in hymself that he that wole
anoye another man he anoyeth first hymself./ And men shul vnderstonde that
man shal nat taken his conseil of fals folk nor of angry folk or greuous folk
that louen specially to muchel hir owene profit ne to muche worldly folk,
namely in conseilynge of soules./
  Now comth the synne of hem that sowen and maken discord amonges folk,
which is a synne that Crist hateth outrely. And no wonder is for he deyde for to
make concord./ And moore shame do they to Crist than dide they that hym
crucifiede, for god loueth bettre that freendshipe be amonges folk than he dide
his owene body the which that he yaf for vnitee. Therfore been they likned to
the deuel that euere been aboute to maken discord./
  Now comth the synne of double-tonge swiche as speken faire byforn folk and
wikkedly bihynde. Or elles they maken semblant as though they speeke of good
entencioun or elles in game and pley, and yet they speke of wikked entente.
  (645) Now comth biwreying of conseil thurgh which a man is defamed;
certes vnnethe may he restoore the damage./
  Now comth manace that is an open folye, for he that ofte manaceth he
threteth moore than he may parfourne ful ofte tyme./
  Now cometh ydel wordes that is withouten profit of hym that speketh tho
wordes and eek of hym that herkneth tho wordes. Or elles ydel wordes been
tho that been nedelees or withouten entente of natureel profit./ And al be it
that ydel wordes been somtyme venial synne, yet sholde men douten hem for
we shul yeue rekenynge of hem bifore god./
  Now comth ianglynge that may nat been withoute synne. And as seith
Salomon: It is a synne of apert folye. (650) And therfore a philosophre seyde
whan men axed hym how [f.225] that men sholde plese the peple and he
answerde: Do manye goode werkes and spek fewe iangles./
  After this comth the synne of iaperes that been the deueles apes, for they
maken folk to laughe at hir iaperie as folk doon at the gawdes of an ape.
Swiche iaperes deffendeth seint Paul./ Looke how that vertuouse wordes and
hooly wordes conforten hem that trauaillen in the seruice of Crist, right so
conforten the vileyns wordes and knakkes of iaperis hem that trauaillen in the
seruice of the deuel./ Thise been the synnes that comen of the tonge that comen
of ire and of othere synnes mo./


Sequitur remedium contra peccatum ire
  The remedie agayns ire is a vertu that men clepen mansuetude, that is
debonairetee, and eek another vertu that men callen pacience or suffrance.
  (655) Debonairetee withdraweth and refreyneth the stirynges and the
moeuynges of mannes corage in his herte in swich manere that they ne skippe
nat out by angre ne by ire./ Suffrance suffreth swetely alle the anoyaunces
and @e wronges that men doon to man outward./ Seint Ierome seith thus of
debonairetee that it dooth noon harm to no wight ne seith, ne for noon harm
that men doon or seyn he ne eschawfeth nat agayns his resoun./ This vertu
somtyme comth of nature, for as seith the philosophre: A man is a quyk thyng
by nature debonaire and tretable to goodnesse, but whan debonairetee is
enformed of grace thanne is it the moore worth./
  Pacience that is another remedie agayns ire; it is a vertu that suffreth swetely
euery mannes goodnesse and is nat wrooth for noon harm that is doon to hym.
(660) The philosophre seith that pacience is thilke vertu that suffreth
debonairely alle the outrages of aduersitee and euery wikked word./ This vertu
maketh a man lyk to god and maketh hym goddes owene deere child as seith
Crist. This vertu disconfiteth thyn enemy. And therfore seith the wise man:
If thow wolt venquysse thyn enemy lerne to suffre./ And thou shalt vnderstonde
that man suffreth iiij manere of greuances in outward thynges, agayns the
whiche iiij he moot haue iiij manere of paciences./
  The firste greuance is of wikkede wordes. Thilke suffrede Iesu Crist
withouten grucchyng ful paciently whan the Iewes despised and repreued hym
ful ofte./ Suffre thou therfore paciently for the wise man seith: If thou stryue
with a fool, though the fool be wrooth or though he laughe, algate thou shalt
haue no reste. (665) That oother greuance outward is to haue damage of thy
catel. Theragayns suffred Crist ful paciently whan he was despoyled of al that
he hadde in this lyf and that nas but hise clothes./ The thridde greuance is a
man to haue harm in his body. That suffred Crist ful paciently in al his
passioun./ The fourthe greuance is in outrageous labour in werkes. Wherfore
I seye that folk that maken hir seruantz to trauaillen to greuously or out of
tyme, as on haly dayes, soothly they do greet synne./ Heeragayns suffred
Crist ful paciently and taughte vs pacience whan he baar [f.225v] vpon his
blissed shulder the croys vpon which he sholde suffren despitous deeth./ Heere
may men lerne to be pacient for certes noght oonly cristen men been pacient
for loue of Iesu Crist and for gerdoun of the blisful lyf that is pardurable, but
certes the olde payens that neuere were cristene commendeden and vseden the
vertu of pacience.
  (670) A philosophre vpon a tyme that wolde haue beten his disciple for his
grete trespas for which he was greetly amoeued and broghte a yerde to scoure
with the child./ And whan this child saugh the yerde he seyde to his maister:
"What thenke ye do?'
  "I wol bete thee,' quod the maister, "for thy correccioun.'/
  For sothe,' quod the child, "ye oghten first correcte youreself that han lost
al youre pacience for the gilt of a child.'/
  "For sothe,' quod the maister al wepynge, "thow seyst sooth. Haue thow the
yerde, my deere sone, and correcte me for myn inpacience.'/
  Of pacience comth obedience, thurgh which a man is obedient to Crist and
to alle hem to whiche he oghte to been obedient in Crist. (675) And vnderstond
wel that obedience is parfit whan that a man dooth gladly and hastily with
good herte entierly al that he sholde do./ Obedience generally is to parfourne
the doctrine of god and of his souereyns to whiche hym oghte to ben obeisaunt
in alle rightwisnesse./

Sequitur de accidia
  After the synne of enuye and of ire now wol I speken of the synne of accidie.
For enuye blyndeth the herte of man and ire troubleth a man and accidie
maketh hym heuy, thoghtful and wrawful./ Enuye and ire maken bitternesse in
herte, which bitternesse is mooder of accidie and bynymeth hym the loue of
alle goodnesse. Thanne is accidie the angwissh of troubled herte. And seint
Augustyn seith: It is anoy of goodnesse and ioye of harm./ Certes this is a
dampnable synne for it dooth wrong to Iesu Crist in as muche as it bynymeth
the seruice that men oghte doon to Crist with alle diligence, as seith Salomon.
(680) But accidie dooth no swich diligence. He dooth alle thyng with anoy
and with wrawnesse, slaknesse and excusacioun and with ydelnesse and vnlust.
For which the book seith: Acursed be he that dooth the seruice of god
necligently./ Thanne is accidie enemy to euerich estaat of man, for certes the
estaat of man is in iij maneres./ Outher it is th'estaat of innocence as was
th'estaat of Adam biforn that he fil into synne, in which estaat he was holden
to wirche as in heriynge and adowrynge of god./ Another estaat is estaat of
synful men, in which estaat men been holden to laboure in preiynge to god
for amendement of hir synnes and that he wole graunte hem to arysen out of
hir synnes./ Another estaat is th'estaat of grace in which estaat he is holden
to werkes of penitence. And certes to alle thise thynges is accidie enemy and
contrarie for he loueth no bisynesse at al. (685) Now certes this foule swyn
accidie is eek a ful greet enemy to the liflode of the body for it ne hath no
purueaunce agayn temporeel necessitee for it forsleweth and forsluggeth and
destroyeth alle goodes temporeles by [f.226] reccheleesnesse./
  The fourthe thyng is that accidie is lyk to hem that been in the peyne of
helle by cause of hir slouthe and of hir heuynesse, for they that been dampned
been so bounde that they ne may neither wel do ne wel thynke./ Of accidie
comth first that a man is anoyed and encombred for to doon any goodnesse,
and maketh that god hath abhomynacion of swich accidie./
  Now comth slouthe that wol nat suffre noon hardnesse ne no penaunce,
for soothly slouthe is so tendre and so delicaat, as seith Salomon, that he wol
nat suffre noon hardnesse ne penaunce and therfore he shendeth al that he
dooth./ Agayns this rotenherted synne of accidie and slouthe sholde men
excercise hemself to doon goode werkes, and manly and vertuously cacchen
corage wel to doon, thynkynge that oure lord Iesu Crist quiteth euery good
dede be it neuer so lite. (690) Vsage of labour is a greet thyng for it maketh,
as seith seint Bernard, the laborer to haue stronge armes and harde synwes,
and slouthe maketh hem feble and tendre./ Thanne comth drede to bigynne
to werke anye goode werkes, for certes he that is enclyned to synne hym
thynketh it is so greet an emprise for to vndertake to doon werkes of goodnesse /
and casteth in his herte that the circumstaunces of goodnesse been so greuouse
and so chargeaunt for to suffre that he dar nat vndertake to do werkes of
goodnesse, as seith seint Gregorie./
  Now comth wanhope that is despeir of the mercy of god that comth somtyme
of to muche outrageous sorwe and somtyme of to muche drede, ymaginynge
that he hath doon so muche synne that it wol nat auaillen hym though he
wolde repenten hym and forsake synne./ Thurgh which despeir or drede he
abaundoneth al his herte to euery maner synne, as seith seint Augustin. (695)
Which dampnable synne, if that it continue vnto his ende, it is cleped synnyng
in the hooly goost./ This horrible synne is so perilous that he that is despeired
ther nys no felonye ne no synne that he douteth for to do, as sheweth wel by
ludas./ Certes abouen alle synnes thanne is this synne moost displesant to Crist
and moost aduersarie./ Soothly he that despeireth hym is lyk the coward
champioun recreant that seith "creant' withoute nede. Allas, allas nedelees is he
recreant and nedelees despeired./ Certes the mercy of god is euere redy to
euery penitent and is abouen alle hise werkes. (700) Allas kan a man nat
bithynke hym on the gospel of seint Luc 15 where as Crist seith that as wel
shal ther be ioye in heuene vpon a synful man that dooth penitence than vpon
90 and 9 rightful men that neden no penitence?/ Looke forther in the same
gospel the ioye and the feeste of the goode man that hadde lost his sone whan
his sone with repentaunce was retourned to his fader./ Kan they nat remembren
hem eek, that as seith seint Luc 23, how that the theef that was hanged bisyde
lesu Crist seyde: "Lord, remembre of me whan thow comest into thy regne'?/
  'For sothe,' seyde Crist, "I seye to thee: Today shaltow been with me in
paradys.'/
  Certes ther is noon so horrible synne of man that it ne may in his lyf be
destroyed by penitence thurgh vertu of the passion and of the deeth of Crist.
(705) Allas what nedeth man thanne to been despeired sith that his mercy so
redy is and large? Axe and haue./
  Thanne cometh sompnolence that is sloggy slombrynge which maketh a man
be [f.266v] heuy and dul in body and in soule; and this synne comth of
slouthe./ And certes the tyme that by wey of resoun men sholde nat slepe,
that is by the morwe, but if ther were cause resonable./ For soothly the morwe-
tyde is moost couenable a man to seye hise preyeres and for to thynken on god
and for to honoure god and to yeuen almesse to the poure that first cometh in
the name of Crist./ Lo what seith Salomon: Whoso wolde by the morwe awaken
and seke me, he shal fynde. (710) Thanne cometh necligence or recchelees-
nesse that rekketh of nothyng. And how that ignoraunce be mooder of alle
harm, certes necligence is the norice./ Necligence ne dooth no fors whan he shal
doon a thyng wheither he do it weel or baddely./
  Of the remedie of thise two synnes as seith the wise man that he that dredeth
god he spareth nat to doon that him oghte doon./ And he that loueth god,
he wol doon diligence to plese god by hise werkes and abaundone hymself with
al his myght wel for to doon./
  Thanne comth ydelnesse that is the yate of alle harmes. An ydel man is lyk
to a place that hath no walles: the deueles may entre on euery syde and sheten
at hym at discouert by temptacion on euery syde. (715) This ydelnesse is the
thurrok of alle wikked and vileyns thoghtes and of alle iangles, trufles and of
alle ordure./ Certes the heuene is yeuen to hem that wol labouren and nat to
ydel folk. Eek Dauid seith that they ne been nat in the labour of men ne they
shul nat been whipped with men; that is to seyn in purgatorie./ Certes thanne
semeth it they shul be tormented with the deuel in helle but if they doon
penitence./
  Thanne comth the synne that men clepen tarditas, as whan a man is to
laterede or tariynge er he wole turne to god; and certes that is a greet folie.
He is lyk to hym that falleth in the dych and wol nat arise./ And this vice
comth of a fals hope that he thynketh that he shal lyue longe; but that hope
faile@ ful ofte.
  (720) Thanne comth lachesse, that is he that whan he biginneth any good
werk anon he shal forleten it and stynten, as doon they that han any wight
to gouerne and ne taken of hym namoore kepe anon as they fynden any
contrarie or any anoy./ Thise been the newe sheepherdes that leten hir sheep
wityngly go renne to the wolf that is in the breres, or do no fors of hir owene
gouernaunce./ Of this comth pouerte and destruccioun bothe of spiritueel and
temporeel thynges. Thanne comth a manere cooldnesse that freseth al the herte
of a man./ Thanne comth vndeuocioun thurgh which a man is blent, as seith
seint Bernard, and hath swich langour in soule that he may neither rede ne
singe in hooly chirche ne heere ne thynke of no deuocioun ne trauaille with
hise handes in no good werk that it nys hym vnsauory and al apalled./ Thanne
wexeth he slough and slombry, and soone wol be wrooth and soone is enclyned
to hate and to enuye. (725) Thanne comth the synne of worldly sorwe which
as is cleped tristicia that sleeth man, as seint Paul seith./ For certes swich sorwe
werketh to the deeth of the soule and of the body also, for therof comth that a
man is anoyed of his owene lif./ Wherfore swich sorwe shorteth ful ofte the lif
of man er that his tyme be come by wey of kynde./ [f.227]


Remedium contra peccatum accidie
Agayns this horrible synne of accidie and the branches of the same ther is a
vertu that is called fortitudo or strengthe, that is an affeccioun thurgh which a
man despiseth anoyouse thinges./ This vertu is so myghty and so vigerous that
it dar withstonde myghtily, and wisely kepen hymself fro perils that been
wikked, and wrastle agayn the assautes of the deuel. (730) For it enhaunceth
and enforceth the soule right as accidie abateth it and maketh it fieble. For
thisfortitudo may endure by long suffraunce the trauailles that been couenable./
  This vertu hath manye speces, and the firste is cleped magnanimitee, that
is to seyn greet corage. For certes ther bihoueth greet corage agains accidie
lest that it ne swolwe the soule by the synne of sorwe or destroye it by wanhope./
This vertu maketh folk to vndertake harde thynges and greuouse thynges by
hir owene wil wesely and resonably./ And for as muchel as the deuel fighteth
agayns a man moore by queyntise and by sleighte than by strengthe, therfore
men shal withstonden hym by wit and by resoun and by discrecioun./ Thanne
arn ther the vertues of feith and hope in god and in hise seintes to acheue and
acomplice the goode werkes in the whiche he purposeth fermely to continue.
(735) Thanne comth seuretee or sikernesse and that is whan a man ne douteth
no trauaille in tyme comynge of the goode werkes that a man hath bigonne./
Thanne comth magnificence, that is to seyn whan a man dooth and par-
fourneth grete werkes of goodnesse, and that is the ende why that men sholde
do goode werkes for in the acomplissynge of grete goode werkes lith the grete
gerdoun./ Thanne is ther constaunce that is stablenesse of corage, and this
sholde been in herte by stedefast feith and in mouth and in berynge and in
chiere and in dede./ Eke ther been mo speciale remedies agains accidie in
diuerse werkes and in consideracioun of the peynes of helle and of the ioyes
of heuene and in trust of the grace of the holy goost that wole yeue hym myght
to parfourne his goode entente./

Sequitur de auaricia
After accidie wol I speke of auarice and of coueitise of which synne seith seint
Paul that the roote of alle harmes is coueitise, Ad Thimotheum 6 (740)
For soothly whan the herte ofa man is confounded in itselfand troubled and that
the soule hath lost the confort of god, thanne seketh he an ydel solas of
worldly thynges./
  Auarice, after the descripcion of seint Augustyn, is likerousnesse in herte to
haue erthely thynges./ Som oother folk seyn that auarice is for to purchacen
manye erthely thynges and nothyng yeue to hem that han nede./ And vnder-
stoond that auarice ne stant nat oonly in lond ne catel, but somtyme in science
and in glorie; and in euery manere of outrageous thyng is auarice and coueitise./
And the difference bitwixe auarice and coueitise is this. Coueitise is for to
coueite swiche thynges as thou hast nat, and auarice is for to withholde and
kepe swiche thynges as thou hast withoute rightful nede. (745) Soothly [f.227"]
this auarice is a synne that is ful dampnable for al hooly writ curseth it and
speketh agayns that vice, for it dooth wrong to Iesu Crist./ For it bireueth
hym the loue that men to hym owen and turneth it bakward agayns alle
resoun / and maketh that the auaricious man hath moore hope in his catel
than in Iesu Crist, and dooth moore obseruance in kepynge of his tresor than he
dooth to seruice of Iesu Crist./ And therfore seith seint Paul ad Ephesios 5 that
an auaricious man is the thraldom of ydolatrie./
  What difference is bitwixe an ydolastre and an auaricious man but that an
ydolastre parauenture ne hath but o mawmet or two and the auaricious man
hath manye? For certes euery floryn in his cofre is his mawmet. (750) And
certes the synne of mawmettrie is the firste thyng that god deffended in the
ten comaundementz as bereth witnesse in Exodi c 20:/ Thou shalt
haue no false goddes bifore me ne thou shalt make to thee no graue thyng.
Thus is an auaricious man that loueth his tresor biforn god an ydolastre / thurgh
this cursed synne of auarice.
  Of coueitise comen thise harde lordshipes thurgh whiche men been
distreyned by taylages, custumes and cariages moore than hir duetee or resoun
is. And eek they taken of hir bonde-men amercimentz whiche myghten moore
resonably ben cleped extorcions than amercimentz./ Of whiche amercimentz
and raunsonynge of boonde-men somme lordes stywardes seyn that it is rightful
for as muche as a cherl hath no temporeel thyng that it ne is his lordes, as
they seyn./ But certes thise lordshipes doon wrong that bireuen hir bonde-folk
thynges that they neuere yaue hem, Augustinus de ciuitate lio190. (755) Sooth
is that the condicioun of thraldom and the firste cause of thraldom is for synne,
Genesis 9./
  Thus may ye seen that the gilt disserueth thraldom but nat nature./ Wherfore
thise lordes ne sholde nat muche glorifien hem in hir lordshipes sith that by
natureel condicion they been nat lordes of thralles, but that thraldom comth
first by the desert of synne./ And fortherouer ther as the lawe seith that
temporeel goodes of boonde-folk been the goodes of hir lordshipes, ye that
is for to vnderstonde the goodes of the emperour, to deffenden hem in hir right
but nat for to robben hem ne reuen hem./ And therfore seith Seneca: Thy
prudence sholde lyue benignely with thy thralles. (760) Thilke that thou clepest
thy thralles been goddes peple, for humble folk been Cristes freendes: they
been contubernyal with the lord./
  Thynk eek that of swich seed as cherles spryngeth, of swich seed spryngen
lordes. As wel may the cherl be saued as the lord./ The same deeth that take@
the cherl swich deeth taketh the lord. Wherfore I rede do right so with thy
cherl as thou woldest that thy lord dide with thee if thou were in his plit./
Euery synful man is a cherl to synne. I rede thee certes that thou lord werke
in swich wise with thy cherles that they rather loue thee than drede./ I woot
wel ther is degree aboue degree as reson is, and skile it is that men do hir
deuoir ther as it is due. But certes extorcions and [f.228"] despit of youre
vnderlynges is dampnable.
  (765) And fortherouer vnderstoond wel that thise conquerours or tirauntz
maken ful ofte thralles of hem that been born of as roial blood as been they
that hem conqueren./ This name of thraldom was neuere erst kowth til that
Noe seyde that his sone Canaan sholde be thral to hise bretheren for his synne./
What seye we thanne of hem that pilen and doon extorcions in hooly chirche?
Certes the swerd that men yeuen first to a knyght whan he is newe dubbed
signifieth that he sholde deffenden hooly chirche and nat robben it ne pilen it --
and whoso dooth is traitour to Crist./ And as seith seint Augustyn: They been
the deueles wolues that stranglen the sheep of Iesu Crist; and doon worse than
wolues,/ for soothly whan the wolf hath ful his wombe he stynteth to strangle
sheep. But soothly the pilours and destroyours of goddes hooly chirche ne do
nat so for they ne stynte neuere to pile. (770) Now as I haue seyd sith so is that
synne was first cause of thraldom thanne is it thus that thilke tyme that al this
world was in synne thanne was al this world in thraldom and subieccioun./
But certes sith the time of grace cam, god ordeyned that som folk sholde be
moore heigh in estaat and in degree and som folk moore lough and that euerich
sholde be serued in his estaat./ And therfore in somme contrees ther they byen
thralles, whan they han turned hem to the feith they maken hir thralles free
out of thraldom. And therfore certes the lord oweth to his man that the man
oweth to his lord:/ the pope calleth hymself seruant of the seruauntz of god.
But for as muche as the estaat of hooly chirche ne myghte nat han be ne the
commune profit myghte nat han be kept ne pees and reste in erthe but if god
hadde ordeyned that som men hadde hyer degree and som men lower,/ therfore
was souereyntee ordeyned to kepe and mayntene and deffenden hir vnder-
lynges or hir subgetz in resoun as ferforth as it lith in hir power and nat to
destroyen hem ne confounde. (775) Wherfore I seye that thilke lordes that been
lyk wolues that deuouren the possessiouns or the catel of poure folk wrongfully
withouten mercy or mesure,/ they shul receyuen, by the same mesure that they
han mesured to poure folk, the mercy of Iesu Crist but if it be amended./
  Now comth deceite bitwixe marchaunt and marchant. And thow shalt
vnderstonde that marchandise is in manye maneres. That oon is bodily and
that oother is goostly; that oon is honeste and leueful and that oother is
deshoneste and vnleueful./ Of thilke bodily marchandise that is leueful and
honeste is this: that there as god hath ordeyned that a regne or a contree is
suffisaunt to hymself, thanne is it honeste and leueful that of habundaunce
of this contree that men helpe another contree that is moore nedy./ And
therfore ther moote been marchantz to bryngen fro that o contree to that oother
hir marchandises. (780) That oother marchandise that men haunten with
fraude and trecherie and deceite, with lesynges and false othes is cursed and
dampnable./ Espiritueel marchandise is proprely symonye, that is ententif desir
to byen thyng espiritueel that is thyng that aperteneth to the seintuarie of god
and to cure of the soule./ This desir if so be that a man do his diligence to
parfournen it al be it that his desir ne take noon [f.229v] effect, yet is it to
hym a deedly synne, and if he be ordred he is irreguleer./ Certes symonye is
cleped of Simon Magus that wolde han boght for temporeel catel the yifte
that god hadde yeuen by the hooly goost to seint Peter and to the apostles./
And therfore vnderstoond that bothe he that selleth and he that beyeth thynges
espirituels been cleped symonyals, be it by catel, be it by procurynge or by
flesshly preyere of hise freendes, flesshly freendes or espiritueel freendes. (785)
Flesshly in two maneres as by kynrede or othere freendes. Soothly if they praye
for hym that is nat worthy and able, it is symonye if he take the benefice,
and if he be worthy and able, ther nys noon./ That oother manere is whan a
man or womman preyen for folk to auauncen hem oonly for wikked flesshly
affeccioun that they han vnto the persone; and that is foul symonye./ But
certes in seruice for which men yeuen thynges espirituels vnto hir seruantz, it
moot been vnderstonde that the seruice moot been honeste, and elles nat; and
eek that it be withouten bargaynynge and that the persone be able./ For as
seith seint Damasie: Alle the synnes of the world at regard of this synne arn
as thyng of noght. For it is the gretteste synne that may be after the synne of
Lucifer and Antecrist./ For by this synne god forleseth the chirche and the soule
that he boghte with his precious blood by hem that yeuen chirches to hem
that been nat digne. (790) For they putten in theues that stelen the soules of
lesu Crist and destroyen his patrimoyne./ By swiche vndigne preestes and
curates han lewed men the lasse reuerence of the sacrement of hooly chirche,
and swiche yeueres of chirches putten out the children of Crist and putten into
the chirche the deueles owene sone./ They sellen the soules that lambes sholde
kepen to the wolf that strangleth hem. And therfore shul they neuere han part
of the pasture of lambes, that is the blisse of heuene./
  Now comth hasardrie with hise apurtenaunces as tables and rafles, of which
comth deceite, false othes, chidynges and alle rauynes, blasphemynge and
reneiynge of god, and hate of hise neighebores, wast of goodes, mysspendynge
of tyme, and somtyme manslaughtre./ Certes hasardours ne mowe nat been
withouten greet synne whiles they haunte that craft.
(795) Of auarice comen eek lesynges, thefte, fals witnesse, and false othes.
And ye shul vnderstonde that thise been grete synnes and expres agayn the
comaundementz of god, as I haue seyd./ Fals witnesse is in word and eek in
dede. In word as for to bireue thy neighebores goode name by thy fals
witnessyng or bireuen hym his catel or his heritage by thy fals witnessyng,
whan thou for ire or for meede or for enuye berest fals witnesse or accusest
hym or excusest hym by thy fals witnesse or elles excusest thyself falsly./ Ware
yow questemongeres and notaries. Certes for fals witnessyng was Susanna in
ful gret sorwe and peyne and many another mo./ The synne of thefte is eek
expres agayns goddes heeste and in two maneres, corporeel or espiritueel./
Corporeel as for to take thy neighebores catel agayn his wyl, be it by force
or by sleighte, be it by met or by mesure; (800) by stelyng eek of false
enditementz vpon hym and in borwynge of thy neighebores catel in entente
neuere to payen it agayn, [f.229"] and semblable thynges./ Espiritueel thefte is
sacrilege, that is to seyn hurtynge of hooly thynges or of thynges sacred to
Crist in two maneres: by reson of the hooly place as chirches or chirche-hawes /
for which euery vileyns synne that men doon in swiche places may be cleped
sacrilege or euery violence in the semblable places; also they that withdrawen
falsly the rightes that longen to hooly chirche./ And pleynly and generally
sacrilege is to reuen hooly thyng fro hooly place or vnhooly thyng out of hooly
place or hooly thyng out of vnhooly place./


Releuacio contra peccatum auaricie
Now shul ye vnderstonde that the releeuynge of auarice is misericorde and
pitee largely taken. And men myghten axe why that misericorde and pitee is
releeuynge of auarice. (805) Certes the auaricious man sheweth no pitee ne
misericorde to the nedeful man for he deliteth hym in the kepynge of his
tresor and nat in the rescowynge ne releeuynge of his euenecristene. And
therfore speke I first of misericorde./ Thanne is misericorde, as seith the
philosophre, a vertu by which the corage of a man is stired by the mysese of
hym that is mysesed./ Vpon which misericorde folweth pitee in parfournynge
of charitable werkes of misericorde./ And certes thise thynges moeuen a man
to misericorde of Iesu Crist, that he yaf hymself for oure gilt and suffred deeth
for misericorde and forgaf vs oure originale synnes/ and therby relessed vs fro
the peynes of helle and amenused the peynes of purgatorie by penitence and
yeueth grace wel to do and atte laste the blisse of heuene. (810) The speces
of misericorde been as for to lene and for to yeue, and to foryeuen and relesse,
and for to han pitee in herte and compassioun of the meschief of his
euenecristene, and eek to chastise there as nede is./ Another manere of remedie
agayns auarice is resonable largesse. But soothly heere bihoueth the con-
sideracioun of the grace of Iesu Crist and of hise temporeel goodes and eek of
the goodes pardurables that Crist yaf to vs,/ and to han remembrance of the
deeth that he shal receyue he noot whanne, where ne how; and eek that he shal
forgon al that he hath saue oonly that he hath despended in goode werkes./
  But for as muche as som folk been vnmesurable, men oghten eschue fool-
largesse that men clepen wast./ Certes he that is fool-large ne yeueth nat his
catel, but he leseth his catel. Soothly what thyng that he yeueth for veyne
glorie as to mynstrals and to folk for to beren his renoun in the world he hath
synne therof and noon almesse. (815) Certes he leseth foule his good that ne
seketh with the yifte of his good nothyng but synne./ He is lyk to an hors that
seketh rather to drynken drouy or trouble water than for to drynken water of
the clere welle./ And for as muchel as they yeuen ther as they sholde nat yeuen,
to hem aperteneth thilke malisoun that Crist shal yeuen at the day of doome
to hem that shullen been dampned./ [f.229v]

Sequitur de gula
  After auarice comth glotonye which is expres eek agayn the comandement
of god. Glotonye is vnmesurable appetit to ete or to drynke, or elles to doon
ynogh to the vnmesurable appetit and desordeynee coueitise to eten or to
drynke./ This synne corrumped al this world as is wel shewed in the synne of
Adam and of Eue. Looke eek what seith seint Paul of glotonye: (820) Manye
(seith saint Paul) goon, of whiche I haue ofte seyd to yow and now I seye it
wepynge, that been the enemys of the croys of Crist, of whiche the ende is
deeth and of whiche hir wombe is hir god and hir glorie in confusioun of
hem that so deuouren erthely thynges./ He that is vsaunt to this synne of
glotonye, he ne may no synne withstonde. He moot been in seruage of alle
vices, for it is the deueles hoord ther he hideth hym and resteth./
  This synne hath manye speces. The firste is dronkenesse that is the horrible
sepulture of mannes resoun, and therfore whan a man is dronken he hath lost
his resoun -- and this is deedly synne./ But soothly whan that a man is nat wont
to strong drynke and parauenture ne knoweth nat the strengthe of the
drynke or hath feblesse in his heed or hath trauailed thurgh which he drynketh
the moore, al be he sodeynly caught with drynke, it is no deedly synne but
venyal./ The seconde spece of glotonye is that the spirit of a man wexeth al
trouble, for dronkenesse bireueth hym the discrecioun of his wit. (825) The
thridde spece of glotonye is whan a man deuoureth his mete and hath no
rightful manere of etynge./ The fourthe is whan, thurgh the grete habundaunce
of his mete, the humours in his body been destempred./ The fifthe is foryetel-
nesse by to muchel drynkynge, for which somtyme a man foryeteth er the
morwe what he dide at euen or on the nyght biforn./
  In oother manere been distinct the speces of glotonye after seint Gregorie.
The firste is for to ete biforn tyme to ete. The seconde is whan a man get hym
to delicaat mete or drynke./ The thridde is whan men taken to muche ouer
mesure. The fourthe is curiositee with greet entente to maken and apparaillen
his mete. The fifthe is for to eten to gredily. (830) Thise been the fyue fyngres
of the deueles hand by whiche he draweth folk to synne./

Remedium contra peccatum gule
Agayns glotonye is the remedie abstinence as seith Galien, but that holde I
nat meritorie if he do it oonly for the heele of his body. Seint Augustyn wole
that abstinence be doon for vertu and with pacience./ Abstinence (he seith)
is litel worth but if a man haue good wil therto and but it be enforced by
pacience and by charitee and that men doon it for godes sake and in hope
to haue the blisse of heuene./
  The felawes of abstinence been attemperaunce that holdeth the meene in
alle thynges; eek shame that eschueth alle deshonestee; suffisance that seketh no
riche metes ne drynkes ne dooth no fors of to outrageous apparai[f.230]lynge
of mete;/ mesure also that restreyneth by resoun the deslauee appetit of etynge;
sobrenesse also that restreyneth the outrage of drynke; (835) sparynge also that
restreyneth the delicaat ese to sitte longe at his mete and softely, wherfore
som folk stonden of hir owene wyl to eten at the lasse leyser./
Sequitur de luxuria
After glotonye thanne comth lecherie for thise two synnes been so ny cosyns
that ofte tyme they wol nat departe./ God wcot this synne is ful displesaunt
thyng to god, for he seyde hymself: Do no lecherie. And therfore he putte grete
peynes agayns this synne in the olde lawe:/ if womman-thral were taken in
this synne she sholde be beten with staues to the deeth; and if she were a gentil
womman she sholde be slayn with stones; and if she were a bisshopes doghter
she sholde been brent by goddes comandement./ Fortherouer by the synne of
lecherie god dreynte al the world at the diluge. And after that he brente v
citees with thonder-leyt and sank hem into helle.
  (840) Now lat vs speke thanne of thilke stynkynge synne of lecherie that
men clepe auowtrie of wedded folk, that is to seyn if that oon of hem be wedded
or elles bothe./ Seint Iohn seith that auowtiers shullen been in helle in a stank
brennynge of fyr and of brymston for the stynk of hir ordure./ Certes the
brekynge of this sacrement is an horrible thyng. It was maked of god hymself
in paradys and confermed by Iesu Crist as witnesseth seint Mathew in the
gospel: A man shal lete fader and mooder and taken hym to his wif and they
shullen be two in o flessh./ This sacrement bitokneth the knyttynge togidre of
Crist and of hooly chirche./ And nat oonly that god forbad auowtrie in dede,
but eek he comanded that thou sholdest nat coueite thy neighebores wyf. (845)
In this heeste (seith seint Augustyn) is forboden alle manere coueitise to doon
lecherie. Lo what seith seint Mathew in the gospel, that whoso seeth a womman
to coueitise of his lust he hath doon lecherie with hir in his herte./ Heere may
ye seen that nat oonly the dede of this synne is forboden but eek the desir
to doon that synne./ This cursed synne anoyeth greuousliche hem that it
haunten. And first to hir soule, for he obligeth it to synne and to peyne of deeth
that is pardurable./ Vnto the body anoyeth it greuously also for it dreyeth hym
and wasteth and shent hym, and of his blood he maketh sacrifice to the feend
of helle. It wasteth his catel and his substaunce./ And certes if it be a foul
thyng a man to waste his catel on wommen, yet is it a fouler thyng whan
that for swich ordure wommen dispenden vpon men hir catel and substaunce.
(850) This synne, as seith the prophete, bireueth man and womman hir goode
fame and al hir honour, and it is ful plesaunt to the deuel for therby wynneth
he the mooste partie of this world./ And right as marchant deliteth hym
moost in [f.230v] chaffare that he hath moost auantage of, right so deliteth
the feend in this ordure./
  This is that oother hand of the deuel with v fyngres to cacche the peple
to his vileynye./ The firste fynger is the fool lookynge of the fool womman and
of the fool man that sleeth right as the basilicok sleeth folk by the venym of
his sighte; for the coueitise of eyen folweth the coueitise of the herte./ The
seconde fynger is the vileyns touchynge in wikkede manere. And therfore seith
Salomon that whoso toucheth and handleth a womman, he fareth lyk hym that
handleth the scorpioun that styngeth and sodeynly sleeth thurgh his
enuenymynge; as whoso toucheth warm pych it shent hise fyngres. (855) The
thridde is foule wordes that fareth lyk fyr that right-anon brenneth the herte./
The fourthe fynger is the kissynge, and trewely he were a greet fool that wolde
kisse the mouth of a brennynge ouene or of a fourneys./ And moore fooles been
they that kissen in vileynye, for that mouth is the mouth of helle, and namely
thise oldes dotardes holours: yet wol they kisse though they may nat do, and
smatre hem./ Certes they been lyk to houndes, for an hound whan he comth by
the roser or by othere beautees, though he may nat pisse yet wole he heue vp
his leg and make a contenaunce to pisse./ And for that many man weneth that
he may nat synne for no likerousnesse that he dooth with his wyf; certes that
opinion is fals. God woot a man may sleen hymself with his owene knyf and
make hymseluen dronken of his owene tonne. (860) Certes be it wyf, be it child
or any worldly thyng that he loueth biforn god, it is his mawmet and he is an
ydolastre./ Man sholde louen hys wyf by discrecioun paciently and atemprely,
and thanne is she as though it were his suster./ The fifthe fynger of the deueles
hand is the stynkynge dede of leccherie./ Certes the v fyngres of glotonie the
feend put in the wombe of a man and with hise v fyngres of lecherie he gripeth
hym by the reynes for to threwen hym into the fourneys of helle,/ ther as they
shul han the fyr and the wormes that euere shul lasten, and wepynge and
wailynge, sharp hunger and thurst, and grymnesse of deueles that shullen al
totrede hem withouten respit and withouten ende.
  (865) Of leccherie, as I seyde, sourden diuerse speces as fornicacioun that is
bitwixe man and womman that been nat maried - and this is deedly synne
and agayns nature./ Al that is enemy and destruccioun to nature is agayns
nature./ Parfay the resoun of a man telleth eek hym wel that it is deedly
synne for as muche as god forbad leccherie. And seint Paul yeue@ hem the regne
that nys dewe to no wight but to hem that doon deedly synne./ Another synne
of leccherie is to bireue a mayden of hir maydenhede, for he that so dooth
certes he casteth a mayden out of the hyeste degree that is in this present lif/
and bireue@ hir thilke precious fruyt that the book clepeth the hundred fruyt.
I ne kan seye it noon ootherweyes in Englissh, but in Latyn it highte centesimus
fructus. (870) Certes he that so dooth is cause of manye damages and vileynyes
mo than any man kan rekene, right as he somtyme is cause of alle damages
that beestes don in the feeld that breketh the hegge or the closure, thurgh
which he [f.231] destroyeth that may nat been restoored./ For certes namoore
may maydenhede be restoored than an arm that is smyten fro the body may
retourne agayn to wexe./ She may haue mercy, this woot I wel, if she do
penitence, but neuere shal it be that she nas corrupt./
  Al be it so that I haue spoken somwhat of auowtrie, it is good to shewen
mo perils that longen to auowtrie for to eschue that foule synne./ Auowtrie
in Latyn is for to seyn approchynge of oother mannes bed, thurgh which tho
that whilom weren o flessh abawndone hir bodyes to othere persones. (875)
Of this synne, as seith the wise man, folwen manye harmes. First brekynge of
feith -- and certes in feith is the keye of cristendom./ And whan that feith is
broken and lorn, soothly cristendom stant veyn and withouten fruyt./ This
synne is eek a thefte, for thefte generally is for to reue a wight his thyng agayns
his wille./ Certes this is the fouleste thefte that may be whan a womman steleth
hir body from hir housbonde and yeueth it to hire holour to defoulen hir, and
steleth hir soule fro Crist and yeueth it to the deuel./ This is a fouler thefte
than for to breke a chirche and stele the chalice, for thise auowtiers breken
the temple of god spiritually and stelen the vessel of grace, that is the body
and the soule, for which Crist shal destroyen hem as seith seint Paul. (880)
Soothly of this thefte douted gretly Ioseph whan that his lordes wyf preyed
hym of vileynye whan he seyde: "Lo my lady, how my lord hath take to me
vnder my warde al that he hath in this world, ne nothyng of hise thynges is
out of my power but oonly ye that been his wyf./ And how sholde I thanne
do this wikkednesse and synne so horrible agayns god and agayns my lord?
God it forbeede.' Allas al to litel is swich trouthe now yfounde./ The thridde
harm is the filthe thurgh which they breken the comandement of god and
defoulen the auctour of matrimoyne that is Crist./ For certes in so muche as the
sacrement of mariage is so noble and so digne, so muche is it gretter synne for
to breken it, for god made mariage in paradys in the estaat of innocence to
multiplye mankynde to the seruice of god./ And therfore is the brekynge moore
greuous, of which brekynge comen false heires ofte tyme that wrongfully
ocupien folkes heritages. And therfore wol Crist putte hem out of the regne
of heuene that is heritage to goode folk. (885) Of this brekynge comth eek
ofte tyme that folk vnwar wedden or synnen with hir owene kynrede, and
namely thilke harlotes that haunten bordels of thise fool wommen that mowe
be likned to a commune gonge where as men purgen hir ordure./ What seye
we eek of putours that lyuen by the horrible synne of putrie and constreyne
wommen to yelden to hem a certeyn rente of hir bodily puterie, ye somtyme of
his owene wyf or his child as doon this bawdes? Certes thise been cursede
synnes./ Vnderstoond eek that auowtrie is set gladly in the ten comandementz
bitwixe thefte and manslaughtre, for it is the gretteste thefte that may be, for
it is thefte of body and of soule./ And it is lyk to homycide for it kerueth atwo
and breketh atwo hem that first were maked o flessh. And therfore by the
olde lawe of god they sholde be slayn./ But nathelees by the lawe of Iesu Crist
that is lawe of pitee whan he seyde to the [f.231v] womman that was founden
in auowtrie and sholde han been slayn with stones after the wyl of the Iewes
as was hir lawe: Go (quod Iesu Crist) and haue namoore wyl to synne, or wille
namoore to do synne. (890) Soothly the vengeaunce of auowtrie is awarded
to the peynes of helle but if so be that it be destourbed by penitence./ Yet
been ther mo speces of this cursed synne as whan that oon of hem is religious
or elles bothe, or of folk that been entred into ordre as subdekne or preest or
hospitaliers. And euere the hyer that he is in ordre the gretter is the synne./
The thynges that gretly agreggen hir synne is the brekynge of hir auow of
chastitee whan they receyued the ordre./ And fortherouer sooth is that hooly
ordre is chiefofal the tresorie of god and his especial signe and mark ofchastitee
to shewe that they been ioyned to chastitee which that is moost precious lyf
that is./ And thise ordred folk been specially titled to god and of the special
meignee of god, for which whan they doon deedly synne they been the
special traytours of god and of his peple; for they lyuen of the peple, to preye
for the peple, and while they ben suche traitours here preyer auaileth nat to
the peple. (895) Preestes been aungeles as by the dignitee of hir mysterye, but
for sothe seint Paul seith that Sathanas transformeth hym in an aungel oflight./
Soothly the preest that haunteth deedly synne he may be likned to the aungel
of derknesse transformed in the aungel of light. He semeth aungel of light,
but for sothe he is aungel of derknesse./ Swiche preestes been the sones of Helie
as sheweth in the Book of Kynges that they weren the sones of Belial that is
the deuel./ Belial is to seyn withouten iuge, and so faren they. Hem thynketh they
been free and han no iuge namoore than hath a free bole that taketh which
cow that hym liketh in the town./ So faren they by wommen. For right as a
free bole is ynough for al a toun, right so is a wikked preest corrupcioun ynough
for al a parisshe or for al a contree. (900) Thise preestes, as seith the book,
ne konne nat the mysterie of preesthode to the peple ne god ne knowe they
nat. They ne holde hem nat apayd, as seith the book, of soden flessh that was
to hem offred, but they tooke by force the flessh that is rawe./ Certes so thise
shrewes ne holden hem nat apayed of roosted flessh and sode flessh with which
the peple fedden hem in greet reuerence, but they wole haue raw flessh of
folkes wyues and hir doghtres./ And certes thise wommen that consenten to hir
harlotrie doon greet wrong to Crist and to hooly chirche and alle halwes and
to alle soules, for they bireuen alle thise hym that sholde worshipe Crist and
hooly chirche and preye for cristene soules./ And therfore han swiche preestes
and hir lemmanes eek that consenten to hir leccherie the malisoun of al the
court cristiene til they come to amendement./
  The thridde spece of auowtrie is somtyme bitwixe a man and his wyf and
that is whan they take no reward in hir assemblynge but oonly to hire flesshly
delit, as seith seint Ierome, (905) and ne rekken of nothyng but that they been
assembled; by cause that they been maried al is good ynough as thynketh to
hem./ But in swich folk hath the deuel power, as seyde the aungel Raphael
to Thobie, for in hir assemblynge they putten Iesu Crist out of hir herte and
yeuen hemself to alle ordure./
  The fourthe spece is the assemblee of hem that been [f.232] of hir kynrede
or of hem that been of oon affynytee or elles with hem with whiche hir fadres
or hir kynrede han deled in the synne of lecherie. This synne maketh hem lyk
to houndes that taken no kepe to kynrede./ And certes parentele is in two
maneres outher goostly or flesshly; goostly as for to deelen with hise godsibbes./
For right so as he that engendreth a child is his flesshly fader, right so is his
godfader his fader espiritueel for which a womman may in no lasse synne
assemblen with hir godsib than with hir owene flesshly brother.
(910) The fifthe spece is thilke abhomynable synne of which that no man
vnnethe oghte speke ne write, nathelees it is openly reherced in holy writ./
This cursednesse doon men and wommen in diuerse entente and in diuerse
manere. But though that hooly writ speke of horrible synne, certes hooly writ
may nat been defouled namoore than the sonne that shyneth on the mixne./
Another synne aperteneth to leccherie that com@ in slepynge and this synne
cometh ofte to hem that been maydenes and eek to hem that been corrupt.
And this synne men clepen polucioun that comth in iiij maneres: somtyme
of langwissynge of body for the humours been to ranke and habundaunt in
the body of man; somtyme of infermetee for the fieblesse of the vertu retentif,
as phisik maketh mencion; somtyme for surfeet of mete and drynke;/ and
somtyme of vileyns thoghtes that been enclosed in mannes mynde whan he
gooth to slepe which may nat been withoute synne, for which men moste kepen
hem wisely or elles may men synnen ful greuously./

Remedium contra peccatum luxurie
(915) Now comth the remedie agayns leccherie and that is generally chastitee
and continence that restreyneth alle the desordeynee moeuynges that comen of
flesshly talentes./ And euere the gretter merite shal he han that moost
restreyneth the wikkede eschawfynges of the ordure of this synne. And this is
in two maneres, that is to seyn chastitee in mariage and chastitee of widwehode./
Now shaltow vnderstonde that matrimoyne is leefful assemblynge of man and
of womman that receyuen by vertu of the sacrement the boond thurgh which
they may nat be departed in al hir lyf that is to seyn whil that they lyuen
bothe./ This, as seith the book, is a ful greet sacrement. God maked it, as I
haue seyd, in paradys and wolde hymself be born in mariage./ And for to
halwen mariage he was at a weddynge where as he turned water into wyn
which was the firste miracle that he wroghte in erthe biforn hise disciples. (920)
Trewe effect of mariage clenseth fornicacioun and replenysseth hooly chirche
of good lynage, for that is the ende of mariage. And it chaungeth deedly
synne into venial synne bitwixe hem that been ywedded and maketh the hertes
al oon of hem that been ywedded as wel as the bodies./
This is verray mariage that was establissed by god er that synne bigan whan
natureel lawe was in his right poynt in paradys and it was ordeyned that o
man sholde haue but o womman and o womman but o man, as seith seint
Augustyn by manye resouns./ First for mariage is figured bitwixe Crist and
holy chirche. And that oother is [f.232v] for a man is heued of a womman,
algate by ordinaunce it sholde be so./ For if a womman hadde mo men than
oon, thanne sholde she haue moo heuedes than oon and that were an horrible
thyng biforn god. And eek a womman ne myghte nat plese to many folk at
oones. And also ther ne sholde neuere be pees ne reste amonges hem, for
euerich wolde axen his owene thyng./ And fortherouer no man ne sholde
knowe his owene engendrure ne who sholde haue his heritage, and the
womman sholde been the lasse biloued fro the tyme that she were conioynt
to many men.
  (925) Now comth how that a man sholde bere hym with his wif and namely
in two thynges, that is to seyn in suffraunce and reuerence as shewed Crist
whan he made first womman./ For he ne made hir nat of the heued of Adam
for she sholde nat clayme to greet lordshipe./ For ther as the womman hath
the maistrie she maketh to muche desray. Ther neden none ensamples of this,
the experience of day by day oghte suffise./ Also certes god ne made nat
womman of the foot of Adam for she ne sholde nat been holden to lowe, for
she kan nat paciently suffre. But god made womman of the ryb of Adam for
womman sholde be felawe vnto man./ Man sholde bere hym to his wyf in
feith, in trouthe and in loue, as seith seint Paul, that a man sholde louen
his wyf as Crist loued hooly chirche, that loued it so wel that he deyde
for it. So sholde a man for his wyf if it were nede.
  (930) Now how that a womman sholde be subget to hir housbonde, that
telleth seint Peter. First in obedience./ And eek as seith the decree a womman
that is wyf as longe as she is a wyf she hath noon auctoritee to swere ne
bere witnesse withoute leue of hir housbonde that is hir lord, algate he sholde
be so by resoun./ She sholde eek seruen hym in alle honestee and been
attempree of hir array. I woot wel that they sholde setten hir entente to plesen
hir housbondes, but nat by hir queyntise of array./ Seint Ierome seith that
wyues that been apparailled in silk and in precious purpre ne mowe nat clothen
hem in Iesu Crist. What seith seint Iohn eek in thys matere?/ Seint Gregorie
eek seith that no wight seketh precious array but oonly for veyne glorie to
been honoured the moore biforn the peple. (935) It is a greet folye a womman
to haue a fair array outward and in hirself foul inward./ A wyf sholde eek
be mesurable in lookynge and in berynge and in lawghynge and discreet in
alle hir wordes and hir dedes./ And abouen alle worldly thyng she sholde
louen hir housbonde with al hir herte and to hym be trewe of hir body./ So
sholde an housbonde eek be to his wyf. For sith that al the body is the
housbondes, so sholde hir herte been or elles ther is bitwixe hem two as in that
no parfit mariage./ Thanne shal men vnderstonde that for thre thynges a
man and his wyf flesshly mowen assemble. The firste is in entente of engendrure
of children to the seruice of god, for certes that is the cause final of matrimoyne.
(940) Another cause is to yelden euerich of hem to oother the dette of hir
bodies, for neither of hem hath power ouer his owene body. The thridde is
for to eschewe leccherye and vileynye. The ferthe is for sothe deedly synne./
As to the [f.233] firste it is meritorie; the seconde also, for as seith the decree
that she hath merite of chastitee that yeldeth to hir housbonde the dette of
hir body, ye though it be agayn hir likynge and the lust of hir herte./ The
thridde manere is venyal synne and trewely scarsly may ther any thise be
withoute venial synne for the corrupcion and for the delit./ The fourthe manere
is for to vnderstonde if they assemble oonly for amorous loue and for noon of
the forseyde causes but for to accomplice thilke brennynge delit, they rekke
neuere how ofte, soothly it is deedly synne, and yet with sorwe somme folk
wol peynen hem moore to doon than to hir appetit suffiseth./
  The seconde manere of chastitee is for to been a clene wydewe and eschue
the embracynges of man and desiren the embracynge of Iesu Crist. (945)
Thise been tho that han been wyues and han forgoon hir housbondes and
eek wommen that han doon leccherie and been releeued by penitence./ And
certes if that a wyf koude kepen hir al chaast by licence of hir housbonde so
that she yeue neuere noon occasion that he agilte, it were to hir a greet merite./
Thise manere wommen that obseruen chastitee in clothynge and in conten-
aunce, and been abstinent in etynge and drynkynge, in spekynge and in dede,
they been the vessel or the boyste of the blissed Magdalene that fulfilleth hooly
chirche of good odour./ The thridde manere of chastitee is virginitee and it
bihoueth that she be hooly in herte and clene of body. Thanne is she spouse
to Iesu Crist and she is the lyf of angeles./ She is the preisynge of this world
and she is as thise martirs in egalitee. She hath in hir that tonge may nat telle
ne herte thynke. (950) Virginitee baar oure lord Iesu Crist and virgine was
hymselue./
  Another remedie agayns leccherie is specially to withdrawen swiche thynges
as yeue occasion to thilke vileynye, as ese, etynge and drynkynge. For certes
whan the pot boyleth strongly, the beste remedie is to withdrawe the fyr./
Slepynge longe in greet quiete is eek a greet norice to leccherie./
  Another remedie agayns leccherie is that a man or a womman eschue the
compaignye of hem by whiche he douteth to be tempted. For al be it so that
the dede is withstonden, yet is ther greet temptacioun./ Soothly a whit wal
although it ne brenne noght fully by stikynge of a candele, yet is the wal blak
of the leyt. (955) Ful ofte tyme I rede that no man truste in his owene par-
feccioun but he be stronger than Sampson and hoolier than Danyel and wiser
that Salomon./
  Now after that I haue declared yow as I kan the seuene deedly synnes and
somme of hir braunches and hir remedies, soothly if I koude I wolde telle
yow the ten comandementz./ But so heigh a doctrine I lete to diuines. Nathelees
I hope to god they been touched in this tretice euerich of hem alle./

Sequitur secunda pars penitencie.
Now for as muche as the seconde partie of penitence stant in confessioun of
mouth as I bigan in the firste chapitre, I seye seint Augustyn seith:/ Synne
is euery word and euery dede and al that men coueiten agayn the lawe of
lesu Crist and this is for to synne in herte, in mouth and in dede by thy fyue
wittes that been sighte, herynge, smellynge, tastynge or sauourynge, and
feelynge. (960) Now is it good to vnderstonde that that agreggeth muchel
[f.233v] euery synne./ Thow shalt considere what thow art that doost the synne,
wheither thou be male or female, yong or oold, gentil or thral, free or seruant,
hool or syk, wedded or sengle, ordred or vnordred, wys or fool, clerk or
seculeer;/ if she be of thy kynrede, bodily or goostly or noon; if any of thy
kynrede haue synned with hir or noon; and manye mo thinges./
  Another circumstaunce is this wheither it be doon in fornicacioun or in
auowtrie or noon; incest or noon; mayden or noon; in manere of homicide
or noon; horrible grete synnes or smale; and how longe thou hast continued
in synne./ The thridde circumstaunce is the place ther thou hast do synne,
wheither in oother mennes hous or in thyn owene; in feeld or in chirche or in
chirchehawe; in chirche dedicaat or noon. (965) For if the chirche be halwed
and man or womman spille his kynde inwith that place by wey of synne or by
wikked temptacioun the chirche is entredited / and the preest that dide swich a
vileynye. To terme of al his lif he sholde namoore synge masse, and if he dide
he sholde doon deedly synne at euery tyme that he so songe masse./ The fourthe
circumstaunce is by whiche mediatours or by whiche messagers as for
enticement or for consentement to bere compaignye with felaweshipe, for many
a wrecche for to bere compaignye shal go to the deuel of helle./ Wherfore
they that eggen or consenten to the synne been parteners of the synne and of
the temptacioun of the synner./
  The fifthe circumstaunce is how manye tymes that he hath synned if it be
in his mynde and how ofte that he hath falle. (970) For he that ofte falleth
in synne he despiseth the mercy of god and encreesseth hys synne and is
vnkynde to Crist, and he wexeth the moore fieble to withstonde synne and
synneth the moore lightly,/ and the latter ariseth and is the moore eschew for
to shryuen hym namely to hym that is his confessour./ For which that folk
whan they falle agayn in hir olde folies outher they forleten hir olde confessours
al outrely or elles they departen hir shrift in diuerse places. But soothly swich
departed shrift deserueth no mercy of god of hise synnes./ The sixte circum-
staunce is why that a man synneth, as by temptacioun and if hymself procure
thilke temptacioun, or by the excitynge of oother folk; or if he synne with a
womman by force or by hir owene assent;/ or if the womman maugree hir
hed hath been afforced or noon: this shal she telle; for coueitise or for pouerte
and if it was hir procurynge or noon; and swich manere harneys. (975) The
seuenthe circumstaunce is in what manere he hath doon his synne or how
that she hath suffred that folk han doon to hir./ And the same shal the man
telle pleynly with alle circumstaunces, and wheither he hath synned with
comune bordel wommen or noon;/ or doon his synne in hooly tymes or noon;
in fastyng tymes or noon; or biforn his shrifte or after his latter shrifte;/ and
hath parauenture broken therfore his penance enioyned; by whos help and
whos conseil; by sorcerie or craft; al moste be toold./ Alle thise thynges after
that they been grete or smale engreggen the conscience of man. And eek the
preest that is thy iuge may the bettre been auysed of his iuggement in yeuynge
of thy penaunce and that is after thy contricioun. (980) For vnderstond wel
that after tyme that a man hath defouled his baptesme by synne, if he wole
come to [f.234] saluacioun ther is noon oother wey but by penitence and shrifte
and satisfaccioun:/ and namely by the two if ther be a confessour to which
he may shriuen hym, and the thridde if he haue lyf to parfournen it./
  Thanne shal man looke and considere that if he wole maken a trewe and
a profitable confessioun ther moste be iiij condiciouns./ First it moot been in
sorweful bitternesse of herte, as seyde the kyng Ezechias to god: I wol remembre
me alle the yeres of my lif in bitternesse of myn herte./ This condicioun of
bitternesse hath fyue signes. The firste is that confessioun moste be shamefast
nat for to couere ne hyden his synne for he hath agilt his god and defouled
his soule. (985) And therof seith seint Augustyn: The herte trauailleth for shame
of his synne, and for he hath greet shamefastnesse he is digne to haue greet
mercy of god./ Swich was the confessioun of the puplican that wolde nat heuen
vp hise eyen to heuene for he hadde offended god of heuene. For which shame-
fastnesse he hadde anon the mercy of god./ And therof seith seint Augustyn
that swich shamefast folk been next foryeuenesse and remissioun./ Another
signe is humylitee in confession, of which seith seint Peter: Humbleth yow vnder
the myght of god. The hond of god is myghty in confessioun for therby god
foryeueth thee thy synnes for he allone hath the power./ And this humylitee
shal been in herte and in signe outward, for right as he hath humylitee to god
in his herte right so sholde he humble his body outward to the preest that sit
in goddes place. (990) For which in no manere sith that Crist is souereyn and
the preest meene and mediatour bitwixe Crist and the synner and the synnere
is the laste by wey of resoun,/ thanne sholde nat the synner sitte as heighe as
his confessour but knele biforn hym or at his feet but if maladie destourbe it.
For he shal nat taken kepe who sit there but in whos place that he sitteth./
A man that hath trespased to a lord and comth for to axe mercy and maken
his accord and set him doun anon by the lord, men wolde holden hym out-
rageous and nat worthy so soone for to haue remissioun ne mercy./ The thridde
signe is how that thy shrift sholde be ful of teeris if man may, and if man may
nat wepe with hise bodily eyen lat hym wepe in herte./ Swich was the confession
of seint Peter for after that he hadde forsake Iesu Crist he wente out and weep
ful bitterly. (995) The fourthe signe is that he ne lette nat for shame to shewen
his confessioun./ Swich was the confessioun of the Magdalene that ne spared
for no shame of hem that weren atte feeste for to go to oure lord Iesu Crist
and biknowe to hym hir synnes./ The fifthe signe is that a man or a womman
be obeisant to receyuen the penaunce that hym is enioyned for hise synnes,
for certes Iesu Crist for the giltes of a man was obedient to the deeth./
  The seconde condicioun of verray confession is that it be hastily doon. For
certes if a man hadde a deedly wounde, euere the lenger that he taried to
warisshe hymself the moore wolde it corrupte and haste hym to his deeth;
and eek the wounde wolde be the wors for to heele./ And right so fareth synne
that longe tyme is in a man vnshewed. (1000) Certes a man oghte hastily
shewen hise synnes for manye causes, as for drede of deeth that cometh ofte
sodeynly and no certeyn what tyme it shal be ne in what place; and eek the
drecchynge of o synne drawe@ in another;/ and eek the lenger that he tarieth,
the ferther he is fro Crist. [f.234v] And if he abide to his laste day scarsly may
he shryuen hym or remembre hym of hise synnes or repenten hym for the
greuous maladie of his deeth./ And for as muche as he ne hath nat in his lyf
herkned Iesu Crist whanne he hath spoken, he shal crie to Iesu Crist at his
laste day and scarsly wol he herkne hym./ And vnderstond that this condicioun
moste han foure thynges. Thi shrift moste be purueyed bifore and auysed, for
wikked haste dooth no profit; and that a man konne shryue hym of hise synnes
be it of pride or of enuye and so forth of the speces and circumstances;/ and
that he haue comprehended in hys mynde the nombre and the greetnesse of
hise synnes and how longe that he hath leyn in synne; (1005) and eek that he
be contrit of hise synnes and in stidefast purpos by the grace of god neuere
eft to falle in synne; and eek that he drede and countrewaite hymself that he
fle the occasiouns of synne to whiche he is enclyned./ Also thou shalt shryue
thee of alle thy synnes to o man and nat a parcel to o man and a parcel to
another; that is to vnderstonde in entente to departe thy confessioun as for
shame or drede, for it nys but stranglynge of thy soule./ For certes Iesu Crist
is entierly al good: in hym nys noon inparfeccioun, and therfore outher he
foryeueth al parfitly or neuer-a-deel./ I seye nat that if thow be assigned to
the penitauncer for certein synne that thow art bounde to shewen hym al the
remenaunt of thy synnes, of whiche thow hast be shryuen to thy curaat, but if
it like to thee of thyn humylitee; this is no departynge of shrifte./ Ne I seye
nat ther as I speke of diuisioun of confessioun that if thou haue licence for
to shryue thee to a discreet and an honeste preest where thee liketh and by
licence of thy curaat that thow ne mayst wel shryue thee to him of alle thy
synnes. (1010) But lat no blotte be bihynde; lat no synne been vntoold as fer
as thow hast remembraunce./ And whan thou shalt be shryuen to thy curaat
telle hym eek alle the synnes that thow hast doon syn thou were last yshryuen -
this is no wikked entente of diuisioun of shrifte./
  Also the verray shrifte axeth certeine condiciouns. First that thow shryue
thee by thy free wil, noght constreyened ne for shame of folk ne for maladie
ne swiche thynges. For it is resoun that he that traspaseth by his free wyl that
by his free wyl he confesse his trespas;/ and that noon oother man telle his synne
but he hymself; ne he shal nat nayte ne denye his synne, ne wratthe hym agayn
the preest for his amonestynge to leue synne./ The seconde condicioun is that
thy shrift be laweful, that is to seyn that thow that shryuest thee and eek the
preest that hereth thy confessioun been verraily in the feith of hooly chirche;
(1015) and that a man ne be nat despeired of the mercy of Iesu Crist as Caym
or Iudas./ And eek a man moot accusen hymself of his owene trespas and nat
another, but he shal blame and wyten hymself and his owene malice of his
synne and noon oother./ But nathelees if that another man be occasioun or
enticer of his synne or the estaat of a persone be swich thurgh which his synne
is agregged or elles that he may nat pleynly shryuen hym but he telle the
persone with which he hath synned, thanne may he telle / so that his entente
ne be nat to bakbite the persone but oonly to declaren his confessioun./
  Thou ne shalt nat eek make no lesynges in thy confessioun for humylitee,
parauenture to seyn that thou hast doon synnes of whiche that thow were
neuere gilty. (1020) For seint Augustyn seith: If thou [f.235] by cause of thyn
humylitee makest lesynges on thyself though thow ne were nat in synne biforn,
yet artow thanne in synne thurgh thy lesynges./ Thou most eek shewe thy synne
by thyn owene propre mouth but thow be woxe dowmb and nat by no lettre,
for thow that hast doon the synne thou shalt haue the shame therfore./ Thow
shalt nat eek peynte thy confessioun by faire, subtile wordes to couere the moore
thy synne, for thanne bigilestow thyself and nat the preest. Thow most tellen
it pleynly be it neuer so foul ne so horrible./ Thow shalt eek shryue thee to
a preest that is discreet to conseille thee, and eek thou shalt nat shryue thee
for veyne glorie ne for ypocriesye ne for no cause but oonly for the doute of
lesu Crist and the heele of thy soule./ Thow shalt nat eek renne to the preest
sodeynly to tellen hym lightly thy synne as whoso telleth a iape or a tale, but
auysely and with greet deuocioun. (1025) And generally shryue thee ofte. If
thou ofte falle, ofte thou arise by confessioun./ And though thou shryue thee
ofter than ones of synne of which thou hast be shryuen, it is the moore merite.
And as seith seint Augustyn thow shalt haue the moore lightly relessyng and
grace of god bothe of synne and of peyne./ And certes oones a yeere atte leeste
wey it is laweful for to been housled, for certes oones a yeere alle thynges
renouellen./
  Now haue I toold yow of verray confessioun that is the seconde'partie of
penitence./
explicit secunda pars penitencie. Et sequitur tercia pars eiusdem.
The thridde partie of penitence is satisfaccioun and that stant moost generally
in almesse and in bodily peyne. (1030) Now been ther thre manere of almesses:
contricion of herte where a man offreth hymself to god; another is to han pitee
of defaute of hise neighebores; and the thridde is in yeuynge of good conseil
goostly and bodily where men han nede and namely in sustenaunce of mannes
foode./ And tak kep that a man hath nede of thise thinges generally: he hath
nede of foode, he hath nede of clothyng and herberwe, he hath nede of
charitable conseil and visitynge in prisone and in maladie, and sepulture of his
dede body./ And if thow mayst nat visite the nedeful with thy persone, visite
hym by thy message and by thy yiftes./ Thise been generally almesses or werkes
of charitee of hem that han temporeel richesses or discrecioun in conseilynge.
Of thise werkes shaltow heren at the day of doome./
  Thise almesses shaltow doon of thyne owene propre thynges and hastily and
priuely if thow mayst. (1035) But nathelees if thow mayst nat doon it priuely,
thow shalt nat forbere to doon almesse though men seen it so that it be nat
doon for thank ofthe world but oonly for thank of Iesu Crist./ For as witnesseth
seint Mathew ca 5: A citee may nat been hyd that is set on a montayne, ne
men lighte nat a lanterne and put it vnder a busshel but men sette it on a
candel-stikke to yeue light to the men in the hous./ Right so shal youre light
lighten bifore men that they may seen youre goode werkes and glorifie youre
fader that is in heuene./
  Now as to speken of bodily peyne it stant in preyeres, in [f.235v] wakynges,
in fastynges, in vertuouse techynges of orisons./ And ye shul vnderstonde that
orisouns or preyeres is for to seyn a pitous wyl of herte that redresseth it in god
and expresseth it by word outward to remoeuen harmes and to han thynges
espiritueel and durable and somtyme temporele thynges; of whiche orisouns
certes in the orison of the Pater Noster hath Iesu Crist enclosed moost thynges.
(1040) Certes it is priuyleged of thre thynges in his dignytee for which it is
moore digne than any oother preyere, for that Iesu Crist hymself maked it,/
and it is short for it sholde be koud the moore lightly and for to withholden
it the moore esily in herte and helpen hymself the ofter with the orisoun;/
and for a man sholde be the lasse wery to seyen it and for a man may nat
excusen hym to lerne it, it is so short and so esy; and for it comprehendeth in
itself alle goode preyeres./ The exposicioun of this hooly preyere that is so
excellent and digne I bitake to thise maistres of theologie, saue thus muchel
wol I seyn: that whan thow prayest that god sholde foryeue thee thy giltes as
thow foryeuest hem that agilten to thee, be ful wel war that thow ne be nat
out of charitee./ This hooly orison amenuseth eek venyal synne and therfore it
aperteneth specially to penitence.
  (1045) This preyere moste be trewely seyd and in verray feith and that men
preye to god ordinatly and discreetly and deuoutly; and alwey a man shal
putten his wyl to be subget to the wille of god./ This orisoun moste eek been
seyd with greet humblesse and ful pure honestly, and nat to the anoyaunce of
any man or womman. It moste eek been continued with the werkes of charitee./
It auayleth eek agayn the vices of the soule, for as seith seint Ierome: By fastynge
been saued the vices of the flessh and by preyere the vertues of the soule./
  After this thou shalt vnderstonde that bodily peyne stant in wakynge, for
lesu Crist seith: Waketh and preyeth that ye ne entre in wikked temptacioun./
Ye shul vnderstanden also that fastynge stant in thre thynges: in forberynge of
bodily mete and drynke and in forberynge of worldly iolitee and in forberynge
of deedly synne, this is to seyn that a man shal kepen hym fro deedly synne with
al his myght.
  (1050) And thou shalt vnderstanden eek that god ordeyned fastynge, and to
fastynge apertenen iiij thinges:/ largenesse to poure folk; gladnesse of herte
espiritueel, nat to been angry ne anoyed ne grucche for he fasteth; and also
resonable houre for to ete by mesure; that is for to seyn a man shal nat ete
in vntyme ne sitte the lenger at his table to ete for he fasteth./
  Thanne shaltow vnderstonde that bodily peyne stant in disciplyne or
techynge by word and by writynge or in ensample; also in werynge of heyres
or of stamyn or of haubergeons on hir naked flessh for Cristes sake and swiche
manere penances./ But war thee wel that swiche manere penaunces on thy
flessh ne make thee nat or angry or anoyed of thyself, for bettre is to caste
awey thyn heyre than for to caste awey the sikernesse of Iesu Crist./ And therfore
seith seint Paul: Clothe yow, as they that been chosen of god, in herte of miseri-
corde, debonairetee, suffraunce and swich manere of clothynge; of which Iesu
Crist is moore apayed than of heyres or haubergeouns or hauberkes. [f.236]
  (1055) Thanne is discipline eek in knokkynge of thy brest, in scourgynge
with yerdes, in knelynges, in tribulacions,/ in suffrynge paciently wronges that
been doon to thee and eek in pacient suffraunce of maladies or lesynge of
worldly catel or of wyf or of child or othere freendes./
  Thanne shaltow vnderstonde whiche thynges destourben penaunce, and this
is in iiij maneres, that is drede, shame, hope and wanhope, that is desperacion./
And for to speke first of drede, for which he demeth that he may suffre no
penaunce./ Theragayns is remedie for to thynke that bodily penaunce is but
short and litel at regard of the peynes of helle, that is so crueel and so long
that it lasteth withouten ende.
  (1060) Now again the shame that a man hath to shryuen hym and namely
thise ypocrites that wolden been holden so parfite that they han no nede to
shryuen hem,/ agayns that shame sholde a man thynke that by wey of resoun
that he that hath nat been shamed to doon foule thinges certes hym oghte nat
been ashamed to do faire thynges, and that is confessiouns./ A man sholde eek
thynke that god seeth and woot alle hise thoghtes and alle hise werkes; to hym
may nothyng been hyd ne couered./ Men sholden eek remembren hem of the
shame that is to come at the day of doome to hem that been nat penitent
and shryuen in this present lyf./ For alle the creatures in erthe and in helle
shullen seen apertly al that they hyden in this world.
  (1065) Now for to speken of hope of hem that been necligent and slowe
to shryuen hem, that stant in two maneres./ That oon is that he hopeth for
to lyue longe and for to purchacen muche richesse for his delit and thanne he
wol shryuen hym; and as he seith hym semeth thanne tymely ynough to come
to shrifte./ Another is surquidrie that he hath in Cristes mercy./ Agayns the
firste vice he shal thynke that oure lif is in no sikernesse and eek that alle the
richesses in this world ben in auenture and passen as a shadwe on the wal./
And as seith seint Gregorie that it aperteneth to the grete rightwisnesse of god
that neuere shal the peyne stynte of hem that neuere wolde withdrawen hem
fro synne hir thankes but ay continue in synne. For thilke perpetueel wil to do
synne shul they han perpetueel peyne.
  (1070) Wanhope is in two maneres: the firste wanhope is in the mercy of
Crist; that oother is that they thynken that they ne myghte nat longe perseuere
in goodnesse./ The firste wanhope comth of that he demeth that he hath synned
so greetly and so ofte and so longe leyn in synne that he shal nat be saued./
Certes agayns that cursed wanhope sholde he thynke that the passion of Iesu
Crist is moore strong for to vnbynde than synne is strong for to bynde./ Agayns
the seconde wanhope he shal thynke that as ofte as he falleth he may arise
agayn by penitence. And though he neuer so longe haue leyn in synne the mercy
of Crist is alwey redy to receiuen hym to mercy./ Agayns the wanhope that he
demeth that he sholde nat longe perseuere in goodnesse, he shal thynke that
the feblesse of the deuel may nothyng doon but if men wol suffren hym. (1075)
And eek he shal han strengthe of the help of god and of al hooly chirche and
of the proteccioun of aungels if hym list./
  Thanne shal men vnder[f.236v]stonde what is the fruyt of penaunce, and
after the word of Iesu Crist it is the endelees blisse of heuene / ther ioye hath
no contrarioustee of wo ne greuaunce; ther alle harmes been passed of this
present lyf; ther as is the sikernesse fro the peyne of helle; ther as is the blisful
compaignye that reioysen hem eueremo, euerich of otheres ioye;/ ther as the
body of man that whilom was foul and derk is moore cleer than the sonne;
ther as the body that whilom was syk, freele and fieble and mortal is inmortal,
and so strong and so hool that ther may nothyng apeyren it;/ ther as ne is neither
hunger, thurst ne coold, but euery soule replenyssed with the sighte of the
parfit knowynge ofgod. (1080) This blisful regne may men purchace by pouerte
espiritueel and the glorie by lowenesse, the plentee of ioye by hunger and thurst,
and the reste by trauaille, and the lyf by mortificacion of synne./








Heere taketh the makere of this book his leue.

(1081) Now preye I to hem alle that herkne this litel tretys or rede that if
ther be any thyng in it that liketh hem that therof they thanken oure lorde
lesu Crist of whom procedeth al wit and al goodnesse./ And if ther be any
thyng that displese hem, I preye hem also that they arrette it to the defaute of
myn vnkonnynge and nat to my wyl that wolde ful fayn haue seyd bettre if I hadde
had konnynge./ For oure book seith: Al that is writen is writen for oure doctrine;
and that is myn entente./ Wherfore I biseke yow mekely for the mercy of god
that ye preye for me that Crist haue mercy on me and foryeue me my giltes,
(1085) and namely of my translacions and enditynges of worldly vanitees the
whiche I reuoke in my retracciouns:/ as is the book of Troilus; the book also of
fame; the book of the xxv ladies; the book of the duchesse; the book of seint
Valentynes day of the parlement of briddes; the tales of Caunterbury thilke
that sownen into synne;/ the book of the leoun; and many another book if they
were in my remembrance and many a song and many a leccherous lay - that
Crist for his grete mercy foryeue me the synne./ But of the translacioun of
Boece de consolacion and othere bookes of legendes of seintes and omelies and
moralitee and deuocioun,/ that thanke I oure lord Iesu Crist and his blisful
mooder and alle the seintes of heuene, (1090) bisekynge hem that they from
hennesforth vnto my lyues ende sende me grace to biwayle my giltes and to
studie to the saluacioun of my soule and graunte me grace of verray penitence,
confessioun and satisfaccioun to doon in this present lyf / thurgh the benigne
grace of hym that is kyng of kynges and preest ouer alle preestes, that boghte
vs with the precious blood of his herte,/ so that I may been oon of hem at the
day of doome that shulle be saued. Qui cum patre &c.

Heere is ended the book of the tales of Caunterbury compiled by Geffrey Chaucer, of whos
soule Iesu Crist haue mercy. Amen.