From: VAX::LOU "Lou Burnard" 2-FEB-1989 16:18:31.77 To: ARCHIVE CC: LOU Subj: <%here bygynneth the book of the tales of caunterbury%> Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote And bathed euery veyne in swich licour Of which vertu engendred is the flour 5 Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth 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\ 10 That slepen al the nyght with open eye So priketh hem nature in hir corages Than longen folk to goon on pilgrymages And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes To ferne halwes kouthe in sondry londes 15 And specially from euery shires ende Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende The holy blisful martir for to seke That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke Bifel that in that sesoun on a day 20 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage To Caunterbury with ful deuout corage At nyght was come into that hostelrye Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye 25 Of sondry folk by auenture yfalle In felaweshipe and pilgrymes were they alle That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde The chambres and the stables weren wyde And wel we weren esed atte beste 30 And shortly whan the sonne was to reste So hadde I spoken with hem euerichon That I was of hir felaweshipe anon And made forward erly for to ryse To take oure wey ther as I yow deuyse 35 But nathelees whil I haue tyme and space Er that I ferther in this tale pace Me thynketh it acordant to resoun To telle yow al the condicioun Of ech of hem so as it semed me 40 And whiche they weren and of what degree And eek in what array that they were inne And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne %a knyght% ther was and that a worthy man That fro the tyme that he first bigan 45 To riden out he loued chiualrye Trouthe and honour fredom and curteisye Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre And ther to hadde he riden no man ferre As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse 50 And euere honoured for his worthynesse At Alisaundre he was whan it was wonne Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne Abouen alle nacions in Pruce In Lettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce 55 No cristen man so ofte of his degree In Gernade at the seege eek hadde he be Of Algezir and riden in Belmarye At Lyeys was he and at Satalye Whan they were wonne and in the Grete See 60 At many a noble armee hadde he be At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene And foghten for oure feith at Tramyssene In lystes thries and ay slayn his foo This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also 65 Som tyme with the lord of Palatye Agayn another hethen in Turkye And euere moore he hadde a souereyn prys And though that he were worthy he was wys And of his port as meke as is a mayde 70 He neuere yet no vileynye ne sayde In al his lyf vn#to no maner wight He was a verray parfit gentil knyght But for to tellen yow of his array Hise hors were goode but he was nat gay 75 Of fustian he wered a gypoun Al bismotered with his habergeoun For he was late ycome from his viage And wente for to doon his pilgrymage With hym ther was his sone a yong %squyer% 80 A louere and a lusty bacheler With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse Of twenty yeer of age he was I gesse Of his stature he was of euene lengthe And wonderly delyuere and of greet strengthe 85 And he hadde been som tyme in chiuachye In Flaundres in Artoys and Picardye And born hym wel as of so litel space In hope to stonden in his lady grace Embrouded was he as it were a meede 90 Al ful of fresshe floures white and reede 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 95 He koude songes make and wel endite Iuste and eek daunce and wel purtreye and write So hoote he louede that by nyghtertale He slepte namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale Curteys he was lowely and seruysable 100 And carf biforn his fader at the table A %yeman% hadde he and seruantz namo At that tyme for hym liste ryde so And he was clad in coote and hood of grene A sheef of pecok arwes bright and kene 105 Vnder his belt he bar ful thriftily Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe And in his hand he bar a myghty bowe A not$heed hadde he with a broun visage 110 Of wodecraft wel koude he al the vsage Vpon his arm he bar a gay bracer And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler And on that oother syde a gay daggere Harneysed wel and sharp as poynt of spere 115 A Cristofre on his brest of siluer shene An horn he bar the bawdryk was of grene A forster was he soothly as I gesse Ther was also a nonne a %prioresse% That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy 120 Hir gretteste ooth was but by Seint Loy And she was cleped Madame Eglentyne Ful wel she soong the seruyce dyuyne Entuned in hir nose ful semely And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly 125 After the scole of Stratford$atte$Bowe For Frenssh of Parys was to hire vnknowe At mete wel ytaught was she with alle She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe 130 Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe That no drope ne fille vp#on hir brest In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest Hir ouer$lippe wyped she so clene That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene 135 Of grece whan she dronken hadde hir draughte Ful semely after hir mete she raughte And sikerly she was of greet desport And ful plesaunt and amyable of port And peyned hire to countrefete cheere 140 Of court and to been estatlich of manere 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 145 Caught in a trappe if it were deed or bledde Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde With rosted flessh or mylk and wastel$breed But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte 150 And al was conscience and tendre herte Ful semely hir wympel pynched was Hir nose tretys hir eyen greye as glas Hir mouth ful smal and ther to softe and reed But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed 155 It was almoost a spanne brood I trowe For hardily she was nat vndergrowe Ful fetys was hir cloke as I was war Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar A peyre of bedes gauded al with grene 160 And ther on heng a brooch of gold ful shene On which ther was first writen a crowned A And after =Amor vincit omnia\ Another %nonne% with hire hadde she That was hir chapeleyne and preestes thre 165 A %monk% ther was a fair for the maistrye An outridere that louede venerye A manly man to been an abbot able Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable And whanne he rood men myghte his brydel heere 170 Gynglen in a whistlynge wynd as cleere\ And eek as loude as dooth the chapel$belle Ther as this lord was kepere of the celle The reule of Seint Maure or of Seint Beneit By cause that it was old and somdel streit 175 This ilke monk leet olde thynges pace And heeld after the newe world the space He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen That seith that hunters been nat holy men Ne that a monk whan he is recchelees 180 Is likned til a fissh that is waterlees This is to seyn a monk out of his cloystre But thilke text heeld he nat worth an oystre And I seyde his opinioun was good What sholde he studie and make hym#seluen wood 185 Vpon a book in cloystre alwey to poure Or swynken with his handes and laboure As Austyn bit How shal the world be serued Lat Austyn haue his swynk to hym reserued 189 Therfore he was a prikasour aright Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare Was al his lust for no cost wolde he spare I seigh his sleues ypurfiled at the hond With grys and that the fyneste of a lond 195 And for to festne his hood vnder his chyn 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 200 He was a lord ful fat and in good poynt Hise eyen stepe and rollynge in his heed That stemed as a forneys of a leed His bootes souple his hors in greet estat Now certeynly he was a fair prelat 205 He was nat pale as a forpyned goost A fat swan loued he best of any roost His palfrey was as broun as is a berye A %frere% ther was a wantowne and a merye A lymytour a ful solempne man 210 In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan So muche of daliaunce and fair langage He hadde maad ful many a mariage Of yonge wommen at his owene cost Vn#to his ordre he was a noble post 215 Ful wel biloued and famulier was he With frankeleyns ouer#al in his contree And with worthy wommen of the toun For he hadde power of confessioun As seyde hym self moore than a curat 220 For of his ordre he was licenciat Ful swetely herde he confessioun And plesaunt was his absolucioun He was an esy man to yeue penaunce Ther as he wiste to haue a good pitaunce 225 For vn to a poure ordre for to yiue 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 230 He may not wepe al#thogh hym soore smerte Ther#fore in stede of wepynge and preyeres Men moote yeue siluer to the poure freres His typet was ay farsed ful of knyues And pynnes for to yeuen faire wyues 235 And certeynly he hadde a murye note Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote Of yeddynges he bar outrely the prys His nekke whit was as the flour$delys Ther#to he strong was as a champioun\ 240 He knew the tauernes wel in euery toun And euery hostiler and tappestere Bet than a lazar or a beggestere For vn#to swich a worthy man as he Acorded nat as by his facultee 245 To haue with sike lazars aqueyntaunce It is nat honeste it may nat auaunce For to deelen with no swich poraille But al with riche and selleres of vitaille And ouer#al ther as profit sholde arise 250 Curteys he was and lowely of seruyse Ther was no man no wher so vertuous He was the beste beggere in his hous For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho So plesant was his =In principio\ 255 Yet wolde he haue a ferthyng er he wente His purchas was wel bettre than his rente And rage he koude as it were right a whelpe In louedayes ther koude he muchel helpe For ther he was nat lyk a cloystrer 260 With a thredbare cope as is a poure scoler But he was lyk a maister or a pope Of double worstede was his semycope That rounded as a belle out of the presse Somwhat he lipsed for his wantownesse 265 To make his Englissh sweete vp#on his tonge And in his harpyng whan that he hadde songe Hise eyen twynkled in his heed aright As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght This worthy lymytour was cleped Huberd 270 A %marchant% was ther with a forked berd In motlee and hye on hors he sat Vp#on his heed a Flaundryssh beuere$hat His bootes clasped faire and fetisly Hise resons he spak ful solempnely 275 Sownynge alwey thencrees of his wynnyng He wolde the see were kept for any thyng Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle Wel koude he in eschaunge sheeldes selle This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette 280 Ther wiste no wight that he was in dette So estatly was he of his gouernaunce With his bargaynes and with his cheuysaunce For sothe he was a worthy man with alle But sooth to seyn I noot how men hym calle 285 A %clerk% ther was of Oxenford also That vn#to logyk hadde longe ygo As leene was his hors as is a rake And he was nat right fat I vndertake But looked holwe and ther to sobrely 290 Ful thredbare was his ouereste courtepy 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 Twenty bookes clad in blak or reed 295 Of Aristotle and his philosophie Than robes riche or fithele or gay sautrie But al be that he was a philosophre Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre But al that he myghte of his frendes hente 300 On bookes and on lernynge he it spente And bisily gan for the soules preye Of hem that yaf hym wher with to scoleye Of studie took he moost cure and moost heede Noght oo word spak he moore than was neede 305 And that was seid 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 A %sergeant of the lawe% war and wys 310 That often hadde been at the Parvys Ther was also ful riche of excellence Discreet he was and of greet reuerence He semed swich hise wordes weren so wyse Iustice he was ful often in assise 315 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 Al was fee symple to hym in effect 320 His purchasyng myghte nat been infect Nowher so bisy a man as he ther nas And yet he semed bisier than he was In termes hadde he caas and doomes alle That from the tyme of Kyng William were falle 325 Ther#to 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 Girt with a ceynt of silk with barres smale 330 Of his array telle I no lenger tale A %frankeleyn% was in his compaignye Whit was his berd as is the dayesye Of his complexioun he was sangwyn Wel loued he by the morwe a sop in wyn 335 To lyuen in delyt was euere his wone For he was Epicurus owene sone That heeld opynyoun that pleyn delit Was verray felicitee parfit An housholdere and that a greet was he 340 Seint Iulyan he was in his contree His breed his ale was alweys after oon A bettre envyned man was neuere noon Withoute bake mete was neuere his hous Of fissh and flessh and that so plenteuous 345 It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke Of alle deyntees that men koude thynke After the sondry sesons of the yeer So chaunged he his mete and his soper Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in muwe 350 And many a breem and many a luce in stuwe Wo was his cook but if his sauce were Poynaunt and sharp and redy al his geere His table dormaunt in his halle alway Stood redy couered al the longe day 355 At sessions ther he was lord and sire Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shire An anlaas and a gipser al of silk Heeng at his girdel whit as morne mylk A shirreue hadde he been and a countour 360 Was nowher swich a worthy vauasour An %haberdasshere% and a %carpenter% A %webbe% a %dyere% and a %tapycer% And they were clothed alle in oo lyueree Of a solempne and a greet fraternytee 365 Ful fressh and newe hir geere apiked was Hir knyues were chaped noght with bras But al with siluer wroght ful clene and wel Hir girdles and hir pouches euerydel Wel semed ech of hem a fair burgeys 370 To sitten in a yeldehalle on a deys Euerych for the wisdom that he kan Was shaply for to been an alderman For catel hadde they ynogh and rente And eek hir wyues wolde it wel assente 375 And elles certeyn they were to blame It is ful fair to been ycleped madame And goon to vigilies al bifore And haue a mantel roialliche ybore A %cook% they hadde with hem for the nones 380 To boille the chiknes with the marybones And poudre$marchaunt tart and galyngale Wel koude he knowe a draughte of Londoun ale He koude rooste and sethe and broille and frye Maken mortreux and wel bake a pye 385 But greet harm was it as it thoughte me That on his shyne a mormal hadde he For blankmanger that made he with the beste A %shipman% was ther wonyng fer by weste For aught I woot he was of Dertemouthe 390 He rood vpon a rouncy as he kouthe In a gowne of faldyng to the knee A daggere hangynge on a laas hadde he Aboute his nekke vnder his arm adoun The hoote somer had maad his hewe al broun 395 And certeynly he was a good felawe Ful many a draughte of wyn hadde he drawe Fro Burdeuxward whil that the chapman sleep Of nyce conscience took he no keep If that he faught and had the hyer hond 400 By water he sente hem hoom to euery lond But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes His stremes and his daungers hym bisydes His herberwe and his moone his lodemenage Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to Cartage 405 Hardy he was and wys to vndertake With many a tempest hadde his berd been shake He knew alle the hauenes as they were Fro Gootland to the cape of Fynystere And euery cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne 410 His barge ycleped was the Mawdelayne With vs ther was a %doctour of phisik% In al this world ne was ther noon hym lyk To speke of phisik and of surgerye For he was grounded in astronomye 415 He kepte his pacient a ful greet deel In houres by his magik natureel Wel koude he fortunen the ascendent Of hise ymages for his pacient He knew the cause of euery maladye 420 Were it of hoot or coold or moyste or drye And where engendred and of what humour He was a verray parfit practisour The cause yknowe and of his harm the roote Anon he yaf the sike man his boote 425 Ful redy hadde he hise apothecaries To sende hym drogges and his letuaries For ech of hem made oother for to wynne Hir frendshipe nas nat newe to begynne Wel knew he the olde Esculapius 430 And Deiscorides and eek Rusus Old Ypocras Haly and Galyen Serapion Razis and Auycen Auerrois Damascien and Constantyn Bernard and Gatesden and Gilbertyn 435 Of his diete mesurable was he For it was of no superfluitee But of greet norissynge and digestible His studie was but litel on the Bible In sangwyn and in pers he clad was al 440 Lyned with taffata and with sendal And yet he was but esy of dispence He kepte that he wan in pestilence For gold in phisik is a cordial Therfore he loued gold in special 445 A good %wyf% was ther of biside %bathe% But she was som#del deef and that was scathe Of clooth$makyng she hadde swich an haunt She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt In al the parisshe wyf ne was ther noon 450 That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon And if ther dide certeyn so wrooth was she That she was out of alle charitee Hir couerchiefs ful fyne were of ground I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound 455 That on a Sonday weren vp#on hir heed Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed Ful streite yteyd and shoes ful moyste and newe Boold was hir face and fair and reed of hewe She was a worthy womman al hir lyue 460 Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyue With outen oother compaignye in youthe But ther of nedeth nat to speke as nouthe And thries hadde she been at Ierusalem She hadde passed many a straunge strem 465 At Rome she hadde been and at Boloyne In Galice at Seint$Iame and at Coloyne She koude muche of wandrynge by the weye Gat$tothed was she soothly for to seye Vpon an amblere esily she sat 470 Ywympled wel and on hir heed an hat As brood as is a bokeler or a targe A foot$mantel aboute hir hipes large And on hir feet a peyre of spores sharpe In felawshipe wel koude she laughe and carpe 475 Of remedies of loue she knew par chaunce For she koude of that art the olde daunce A good man was ther of religioun And was a poure %persoun% of a toun But riche he was of holy thoght and werk 480 He was also a lerned man a clerk That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche His parisshens deuoutly wolde he teche Benygne he was and wonder diligent And in aduersitee ful pacient 485 And swich he was preued ofte sithes Ful looth were hym to cursen for his tithes But rather wolde he yeuen out of doute Vn#to his poure parisshens aboute Of his offrynge and eek of his substaunce 490 He koude in litel thyng haue suffisaunce Wyd was his parisshe and houses fer asonder But he ne lafte nat for reyn ne thonder In siknesse nor in meschief to visite The ferreste in his parisshe muche and lite 495 Vp#on 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 And this figure he added eek ther#to 500 That if gold ruste what sholde iren do For if a preest be foule on whom we truste No wonder is a lewed man to ruste And shame it is if a preest take keep A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep 505 Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yiue By his clennesse how that his sheep sholde lyue He sette nat his benefice to hyre And leet his sheep encombred in the myre And ran to Londoun vn#to Seint Poules 510 To seken hym a chauntrye for soules Or with a bretherhede to been withholde But dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarye He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarye 515 And thogh he hooly were and vertuous He was noght to synful men despitous Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne But in his techyng discreet and benigne To drawen folk to heuene by fairnesse 520 By good ensample this was his bisynesse But it were any persone obstinat What so he were of heigh or lowe estat Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys 525 He wayted after no pompe and reuerence Ne maked hym a spiced conscience But Cristes loore and his apostles twelue He taughte but first he folwed it hym#selue With hym ther was a %plowman% was his brother 530 That hadde ylad of donge ful many a fother A trewe swynkere and a good was he Lyuynge in pees and parfit charitee God loued he best with al his hoole herte At alle tymes thogh hym gamed or smerte 535 And thanne his neighebore right as hym#selue He wolde thresshe and ther to dyke and delue For Cristes sake for euery poure wight With outen hire if it lay in his myght His tithes payde he ful faire and wel 540 Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel In a tabard he rood vpon a mere Ther was also a %reue% and a %millere% A %somnour% and a %pardoner% also A %maunciple% and my#self ther were namo 545 The %miller% was a stout carl for the nones Ful big he was of brawn and eek of bones That proued wel for ouer al ther he cam At wrastlynge he wolde haue alwey the ram He was short$sholdred brood a thikke knarre 550 Ther was no dore that he nolde heue of harre Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed His berd as any sowe or fox was reed And ther to brood as though it were a spade Vpon the cop right of his nose he hade 555 A werte and ther#on stood a tuft of herys Reed as the bristles of a sowes erys His nosethirles blake were and wyde A swerd and a bokeler bar he by his syde His mouth as greet was as a greet fourneys 560 He was a iangler and a goliardeys And that was moost of synne and harlotries Wel koude he stelen corn and tollen thries And yet he hadde a thombe of gold pardee A whit cote and a blew hood wered hee 565 A bagge pipe wel koude he blowe and sowne And ther#with#al he broghte vs out of towne A gentil %maunciple% was ther of a temple Of which achatours myghte take exemple For to be wys in byynge of vitaille 570 For wheither that he payde or took by taille Algate he wayted so in his achaat That he was ay biforn and in good staat Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace 575 The wisdom of an heep of lerned men Of maistres hadde he mo than thries ten That weren of lawe expert and curious Of whiche ther were a dozeyne in that hous Worthy to been stywardes of rente and lond 580 Of any lord that is in Engelond To make hym lyue by his propre good In honour detteles but if he were wood Or lyue as scarsly as hym list desire And able for to helpen al a shire 585 In any caas that myghte falle or happe And yet this maunciple sette hir aller cappe The %reue% was a sclendre colerik man His berd was shaue as neigh as euer he kan His heer was by his erys ful round yshorn 590 His top was dokked lyk a preest byforn Ful longe were his legges and ful lene Ylik a staf ther was no calf ysene Wel koude he kepe a gerner and a bynne Ther was noon auditour koude on hym wynne 595 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 Was hoolly in this reues gouernynge 600 And by his couenant yaf the rekenynge Syn that his lord was twenty yeer of age Ther koude no man brynge hym in arrerage Ther nas baillif ne hierde ne oother hyne That he ne knew his sleighte and his couyne 605 They were adrad of hym as of the deeth His wonyng was ful faire vpon an heeth With grene trees shadwed was his place He koude bettre than his lord purchace Ful riche he was astored pryuely 610 His lord wel koude he plesen subtilly To yeue and lene hym of his owene good And haue a thank and yet a coote and hood In youthe he hadde lerned a good myster He was a wel good wrighte a carpenter 615 This reue sat vp#on a ful good stot That was al pomely grey and highte Scot A long surcote of pers vp#on he hade And by his syde he baar a rusty blade Of Northfolk was this reue of which I telle 620 Biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle Tukked he was as is a frere aboute And euere he rood the hyndreste of oure route A %somnour% was ther with vs in that place That hadde a fyr$reed cherubynnes face 625 For saucefleem he was with eyen narwe As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe With scaled browes blake and piled berd Of his visage children were aferd Ther nas quyk$siluer lytarge ne brymstoon 630 Boras ceruce ne oille of tartre noon Ne oynement that wolde clense and byte That hym myghte helpen of his whelkes white Nor of the knobbes sittynge on his chekes Wel loued he garlek oynons and eek lekes 635 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 A fewe termes hadde he two or thre 640 That he had lerned out of som decre No wonder is he herde it al the day And eek ye knowen wel how that a iay Kan clepen Watte as wel as kan the pope But who so koude in oother thyng hym grope 645 Thanne hadde he spent al his philosophie Ay =Questio quid iuris\ wolde he crie He was a gentil harlot and a kynde A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn 650 A good felawe to haue his concubyn A twelf monthe and excuse hym atte fulle Ful pryuely a fynch eek koude he pulle And if he foond owher a good felawe He wolde techen hym to haue noon awe 655 In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs But if a mannes soule were in his purs For in his purs he sholde ypunysshed be Purs is the ercedekenes helle seyde he But wel I woot he lyed right in dede 660 Of cursyng oghte ech gilty man drede For curs wol slee right as assoillyng sauith And also war hym of a =significauit\ In daunger hadde he at his owene gyse The yonge gerles of the diocise 665 And knew hir counseil and was al hir reed A gerland hadde he set vp#on his heed As greet as it were for an ale$stake A bokeler hadde he maad hym of a cake With hym ther rood a gentil %pardoner% 670 Of Rounciual his freend and his comper That streight was comen fro the court of Rome Ful loude he soong com hider loue to me This somnour bar to hym a stif burdoun Was neuere trompe of half so greet a soun 675 This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde And ther with he his shuldres ouerspradde But thynne it lay by colpons oon and oon 680 But hood for iolitee wered he noon For it was trussed vp in his walet Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe iet Discheuelee saue his cappe he rood al bare Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare 685 A vernycle hadde he sowed vp#on his cappe His walet biforn hym in his lappe Bret ful of pardoun comen from Rome al hoot A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot No berd hadde he ne neuere sholde haue 690 As smothe it was as it were late yshaue I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare But of his craft fro Berwyk in#to Ware Ne was ther swich another pardoner For in his male he hadde a pilwe$beer 695 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 Vp#on the see til Iesu Crist hym hente He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones 700 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones But with thise relikes whan that he fond A poure persoun dwellyng vp#on lond Vp#on a day he gat hym moore moneye Than that the persoun gat in monthes tweye 705 And thus with feyned flaterye and iapes He made the persoun and the peple his apes But trewely to tellen atte laste He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie 710 But alderbest he song an offertorie For wel he wiste whan that song was songe He moste preche and wel affile his tonge To wynne siluer as he ful wel koude Ther#fore he song the murierly and loude 715 Now haue I told 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 That highte the Tabard faste by the Belle 720 But now is tyme to yow for to telle How that we baren vs that ilke nyght Whan we were in that hostelrie alyght And after wol I telle of oure viage And al the remenant of oure pilgrymage 725 But first I pray yow of youre curteisye That ye n+arette it nat my vileynye Thogh that I pleynly speke in this matere To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely 730 For this ye knowen also wel as I Who#so 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 Al speke he neuere so rudeliche and large 735 Or ellis he moot telle his tale vntrewe Or feyne thyng or fynde wordes newe He may nat spare al thogh he were his brother He moot as wel seye o word as another Crist spak hymself ful brode in holy writ 740 And wel ye woot no vileynye is it Eek Plato seith who so kan hym rede The wordes mote be cosyn to the dede Also I pray yow to foryeue it me Al haue I nat set folk in hir degree 745 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 soper sette he vs anon He serued vs with vitaille at the beste 750 Strong was the wyn and wel to drynke vs leste A semely man oure hoost was with alle For to been a marchal in an halle A large man he was with eyen stepe A fairer burgeys was ther noon in Chepe 755 Boold of his speche and wys and wel ytaught And of manhode hym lakked right naught Eke ther#to he was right a murye man And after soper pleyen he bigan And spak of myrthe amonges othere thynges 760 Whan that we hadde maad oure rekenynges And seyde thus now lordynges trewely Ye been to me right welcome hertely For by my trouthe if that I shal not lye I saugh nat this yeer so murye a compaignye 765 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 bythoght To doon yow ese and it shal coste noght Ye goon to Caunterbury God yow spede 770 The blisful martir quyte yow youre mede And wel I woot as ye goon by the weye Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye For trewely confort ne myrthe is noon To ryde by the weye domb as a stoon 775 And ther#fore wol I maken yow disport As I seyde erst and doon yow som confort And if yow liketh alle by oon assent For to stonden at my iuggement And for to werken as I shal yow seye 780 Tomorwe whan ye riden by the weye Now by my fader soule that is deed But ye be murye I wol yeue yow myn heed Hoold vp youre hondes with#outen moore speche Oure conseil was nat longe for to seche 785 Vs thoughte it was nat worth to make it wys And graunted hym with#outen moore auys And bad hym seye his voirdit as hym leste Lordynges quod he now herkneth for the beste But taketh it not I pray yow in desdeyn 790 This is the poynt to speken short and pleyn That ech of yow to shorte with oure weye In this viage shal telle tales tweye To Caunterburyward I mene it so And homward he shal tellen othere two 795 Of auentures that whilom haue bifalle And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle That is to seyn that telleth in this caas Tales of best sentence and moost solaas Shal haue a soper at oure aller cost 800 Here in this place sittyng by this post Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury And for to make yow the moore mury I wol my#self goodly with yow ryde Right at myn owene cost and be your gyde 805 And who#so wole my iuggement withseye Shal paye al that we spende by the weye And if ye vouche$sauf that it be so Tel me anoon with#outen wordes mo And I wol erly shape me ther#fore 810 This thyng was graunted and oure othes swore With ful glad herte and preyden hym also That he wolde vouche$sauf for to do so And that he wolde been oure gouernour And of oure tales iuge and reportour 815 And sette a soper at a certeyn prys And we wol reuled been at his deuys In heigh and lough and thus by oon assent We been acorded to his iuggement And ther#vpon the wyn was fet anoon 820 We dronken and to reste wente echon With#outen any lenger taryynge A morwe whan that day bigan to sprynge Vp roos oure hoost and was oure aller cok And gadred vs togidre in a flok 825 And forth we riden a litel moore than pas Vnto the wateryng of Seint Thomas And there oure hoost bigan his hors areste And seyde lordynges herkneth if yow leste Ye woot youre forward and it yow recorde 830 If euensong and morwesong acorde Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale As euere moot I drynke wyn or ale Who#so be rebel to my iuggement Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent 835 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 Cometh neer quod he my lady prioresse 840 And ye sire clerk lat be youre shamefastnesse Ne studieth noght ley hond to euery man Anoon to drawen euery wight bigan And shortly for to tellen as it was Were it by auenture or sort or cas 845 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 composicioun 849 As ye han herd what nedeth wordes mo And whan this goode man saugh that it was so As he that wys was and obedient To kepe his forward by his free assent He seyde syn I shal bigynne the game What welcome be the cut a Goddes name 855 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 <%heere bigynneth the knyghtes tale%> Whilom as olde stories tellen vs 860 Ther was a duc that highte Theseus Of Atthenes he was lord and gouernour And in his tyme swich a conqueror That gretter was ther noon vnder the sonne Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne 865 What with his wysdom and his chiualrye He conquered al the regne of Femenye That whilom was ycleped Scithia And wedded the queene Ypolita And broghte hir hoom with hym in his contree 870 With muchel glorie and greet solempnitee And eek hir yonge suster Emelye And thus with victorie and with melodye Lete I this noble duc to Atthenes ryde And al his hoost in armes hym bisyde 875 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 And of the grete bataille for the nones 880 Bitwixen Atthenes and Amazones And how asseged was Ypolita The faire hardy queene of Scithia And of the feste that was at hir weddynge And of the tempest at hir hom$comynge 885 But al that thyng I moot as now forbere I haue God woot a large feeld to ere And wayke been the oxen in my plough The remenant of the tale is long ynough I wol nat letten eek noon of this route 890 Lat euery felawe telle his tale aboute And lat se now who shal the soper wynne And ther I lefte I wol ayein bigynne This duc of whom I make mencioun Whan he was comen almost to the toun 895 In al his wele and in his mooste pride He was war as he caste his eye aside Wher that ther kneled in the hye weye A compaignye of ladyes tweye and tweye Ech after oother clad in clothes blake 900 But swich a cry and swich a wo they make That in this world nys creature lyuynge That herde swich another waymentynge And of this cry they nolde neuere stenten Til they the reynes of his brydel henten 905 What folk been ye that at myn hom$comynge Perturben so my feste with cryynge Quod Theseus haue ye so greet enuye Of myn honour that thus compleyne and crye Or who hath yow mysboden or offended 910 And telleth me if it may been amended And why that ye been clothed thus in blak The eldeste lady of hem alle spak Whan she hadde swowned with a deedly cheere That it was routhe for to seen and here 915 She seyde Lord to whom Fortune hath yeuen Victorie and as a conquerour to lyuen Noght greueth vs youre glorie and youre honour But we biseken mercy and socour Haue mercy on oure wo and oure distresse 920 Som drope of pitee thurgh thy gentillesse 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 Now be we caytyues as it is wel seene 925 Thanked be Fortune and hir false wheel That noon estaat assureth to be weel Now certes lord to abiden youre presence Here in this temple of the goddesse Clemence We haue been waytynge al this fourtenyght 930 Now help vs lord sith it is in thy myght I wrecche which that wepe and waille thus Was whilom wyf to kyng Cappaneus That starf at Thebes cursed be that day And alle we that been in this array 935 And maken al this lamentacioun We losten alle oure housbondes at that toun Whil that the sege ther aboute lay And yet now the olde Creon weylaway That lord is now of Thebes the citee 940 Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee He for despit and for his tyrannye To do the dede bodyes vileynye Of alle oure lordes whiche that been slawe Hath alle the bodyes on an heep ydrawe 945 And wol nat suffren hem by noon assent Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent But maketh houndes ete hem in despit And with that word with#outen moore respit They fillen gruf and criden pitously 950 Haue on vs wrecched wommen som mercy And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte This gentil duc doun from his courser sterte With herte pitous whan he herde hem speke Hym thoughte that his herte wolde breke 955 Whan he saugh hem so pitous and so maat That whilom weren of so greet estaat And in his armes he hem alle vp hente And hem conforteth in ful good entente And swoor his ooth as he was trewe knyght 960 He wolde doon so ferforthly his myght Vpon the tiraunt Creon hem to wreke That al the peple of Grece sholde speke How Creon was of Theseus yserued As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserued 965 And right anoon with#outen moore abood His baner he desplayeth and forth rood To Thebesward and al his hoost bisyde No neer Atthenes wolde he go ne ryde Ne take his ese fully half a day 970 But onward on his wey that nyght he lay And sente anoon Ypolita the queene And Emelye hir yonge suster sheene Vnto the toun of Atthenes to dwelle 974 And forth he rit ther is namoore to telle The rede statue of Mars with spere and targe So shyneth in his white baner large That alle the feeldes gliteren vp and doun And by his baner born is his penoun Of gold ful riche in which ther was ybete 980 The Mynotaur which that he wan in Crete Thus rit this duc thus rit this conquerour And in his hoost of chiualrye the flour Til that he cam to Thebes and alighte Faire in a feeld ther as he thoghte to fighte 985 But shortly for to speken of this thyng With Creon which that was of Thebes kyng He faught and slough hym manly as a knyght In pleyn bataille and putte the folk to flight 989 And by assaut he wan the citee after\ And rente adoun bothe wal and sparre and rafter And to the ladyes he restored agayn The bones of hir freendes that were slayn To doon obsequies as was tho the gyse But it were al to long for to deuyse 995 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 Doth to the ladyes whan they from hym wente 1000 But shortly for to telle is myn entente Whan that this worthy duc this Theseus Hath Creon slayn and wonne Thebes thus Stille in that feeld he took al nyght his reste And dide with al that contree as hym leste 1005 To ransake in the taas of the bodies dede Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede The pilours diden bisynesse and cure After the bataille and disconfiture And so bifel that in the taas they founde 1010 Thurgh$girt with many a greuous blody wounde Two yonge knyghtes liggynge by and by Bothe in oon armes wroght ful richely Of whiche two Arcita highte that oon And that oother knyght highte palamon 1015 Nat fully quyk ne fully dede they were But by hir cote$armures and by hir gere The heraudes knew hem best in special As they that weren of the blood roial Of Thebes and of sustren two yborn 1020 Out of the taas the pilours han hem torn And han hem caried softe vnto the tente Of Theseus and he ful soone hem sente To Atthenes to dwellen in prisoun Perpetuelly he nolde no raunsoun 1025 And whan this worthy duc hath thus ydoon He took his hoost and hom he ryt anoon With laurer crowned as a conquerour And ther he lyueth in ioye and in honour Terme of his lyf what nedeth wordes mo 1030 And in a tour in angwissh and in wo Dwellen this Palamon and eek Arcite For euere moore ther may no gold hem quyte This passeth yeer by yeer and day by day Til it fil ones in a morwe of May 1035 That Emelye that fairer was to sene Than is the lilie vpon his stalke grene And fressher than the May with floures newe For with the rose colour stroof hir hewe I noot which was the fairer of hem two 1040 Er it were day as was hir wone to do She was arisen and al redy dight For May wol haue no slogardye anyght The sesoun priketh euery gentil herte And maketh it out of his sleep to sterte 1045 And seith arys and do thyn obseruaunce This maketh Emelye haue remembraunce To doon honour to May and for to ryse Yclothed was she fressh for to deuyse Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse 1050 Bihynde hir bak a yerde long I gesse And in the gardyn at the sonne vpriste She walketh vp and doun and as hir liste She gadreth floures party white and rede To make a subtil gerland for hir hede 1055 And as an aungel heuenysshly she song The grete tour that was so thikke and strong Which of the castel was the chief dongeoun Ther as the knyghtes weren in prisoun Of which I tolde yow and tellen shal 1060 Was euene ioynant to the gardyn wal Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyynge Bright was the sonne and cleer that morwenynge And Palamon this woful prisoner As was his wone by leue of his gayler 1065 Was risen and romed in a chambre an heigh In which he al the noble citee seigh And eek the gardyn ful of braunches grene Ther as the fresshe Emelye the shene Was in hir walk and romed vp and doun1070 This sorweful prisoner this Palamoun Gooth in the chambre romyng to and fro And to hymself compleynyng of his wo That he was born ful ofte he seyde allas And so bifel by auenture or cas 1075 That thurgh a wyndow thikke of many a barre Of iren greet and square as any sparre He caste his eye vpon Emelya And ther with al he bleynte and cride A As thogh he stongen were vnto the herte 1080 And with that cry Arcite anoon vp sterte And seide Cosyn myn what eyleth thee That art so pale and deedly on to see Why cridestow who hath the doon offence For Goddes loue take al in pacience 1085 Oure prisoun for it may noon oother be Fortune hath yeuen vs this aduersitee Som wikke aspect or disposicioun Of Saturne by som constellacioun Hath yeuen vs this al thogh we hadde it sworn 1090 So stood the heuene whan that we were born We mote endure it this is the short and playn This Palamon answerde and seide agayn Cosyn for sothe of this opinioun Thou hast a veyn ymaginacioun 1095 This prisoun caused me nat to crye But I was hurt right now thurghout myn eye Into myn herte that wol my bane be The fairnesse of that lady that I se Yond in the gardyn romen to and fro 1100 Is cause of al my cryynge and my wo I noot wher she be womman or goddesse But Venus is it soothly as I gesse And ther with al on knees doun he fil And seide Venus if it be thy wil 1105 Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure Bifore me sorweful wrecched creature Out of this prisoun help that we may scape And if so be my destynee be shape By eterne word to dyen in prisoun 1110 Of oure lynage haue som compassioun That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye And with that word Arcite gan espye Wher as this lady romed to and fro And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so 1115 That if that Palamon was wounded soore Arcite is hurt as muche as he or moore And with a sigh he seyde pitously The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly Of hire that rometh in the yonder place 1120 And but I haue hir mercy and hir grace That I may seen hire at the leeste weye I nam but deed ther nys namoore to seye This Palamon whan he tho wordes herde Despitously he loked and answerde 1125 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 It were to thee quod he no greet honour 1130 For to be fals ne for to be traytour 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 Til that the deeth departe shal vs tweyne 1135 Neither of vs in loue to hyndre oother Ne in noon other caas my leeue brother But that thow sholdest trewely forthre me In euery caas as I shal forthre thee This was thyn ooth and myn also certeyn 1140 I woot right wel thou darst it nat withseyn Thus artow of my counseil out of doute And now thow woldest falsly been aboute To loue my lady whom I loue and serue And euere shal til that myn herte sterue 1145 Now certes false Arcite thow shalt nat so I loued hire first and tolde thee my wo As to my counseil and my brother sworn To forthre me as I haue told biforn For which thou art ybounden as a knyght 1150 To helpe me if it lay in thy myght Or elles artow fals I dar wel seyn This Arcite ful proudly spak ageyn Thow shalt quod he be rather fals than I But thou art fals I telle thee outrely 1155 For par amour I loued hire first er thow What wiltow seyen thow woost nat yet now Wheither she be a womman or goddesse Thyn is affeccioun of holynesse And myn is loue as to a creature 1160 For which I tolde thee myn auenture As to my cosyn and my brother sworn I pose that thow louedest hire biforn Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe That who shal yeue a louere any lawe 1165 Loue is a gretter lawe by my pan Than may be yeue to any erthely man And therfore positif lawe and swich decree Is broke al day for loue in ech degree A man moot nedes loue maugree his heed 1170 He may nat fleen it thogh he sholde be deed 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 For wel thow woost thy seluen verraily 1175 That thow and I be 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 Ther cam a kyte whil they were so wrothe 1180 That bar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe And therfore at the kynges court my brother Ech man for hymself ther is noon oother Loue if thee list for I loue and ay shal And soothly leue brother this is al 1185 Here in this prisoun moote we endure And euerich of vs take his auenture Greet was the stryf and long bitwixe hem tweye If that I hadde leyser for to seye But to th+effect it happed on a day 1190 To telle it yow as shortly as I may A worthy duc that highte Parotheus That felawe was vnto duc Theseus Syn thilke day that they were children lite Was come to Atthenes his felawe to visite 1195 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 ageyn So wel they loued as olde bookes seyn That whan that oon was deed soothly to telle 1200 His felawe wente and soghte hym doun in helle But of that storie list me nat to write Duc Parotheus loued wel Arcite And hadde hym knowe at Thebes yeer by yere And finally at requeste and prayere 1205 Of Parotheus with#outen any raunsoun Duc Theseus hym leet out of prisoun Frely to goon wher that hym liste oueral In swich a gyse as I yow tellen shal This was the forward pleynly for t+endite 1210 Bitwixen Theseus and hym Arcite That if so were that Arcite were yfounde Euere in his lyf by day or nyght or stounde In any contree of this Theseus And he were caught it was acorded thus 1215 That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed Ther nas noon other remedye ne reed But taketh his leue and homward he hym spedde Lat hym be war his nekke lith to wedde How greet a sorwe suffreth now Arcite 1220 The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte He wepeth wayleth crieth pitously To sleen hym#self he waiteth pryuely He seyde allas the day that I was born Now is my prisoun worse than biforn 1225 Now is me shape eternally to dwelle Noght in purgatorie but in helle Allas that euere knew I Parotheus For elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus Yfetered in his prisoun eueremo 1230 Thanne hadde I been in blisse and nat in wo Oonly the sight of hire whom that I serue Thogh that I neuere hir grace may deserue Wolde haue suffised right ynogh for me O deere cosyn Palamon quod he 1235 Thyn is the victorie of this auenture Ful blisfully in prisoun maistow dure In prisoun certes nay but in paradys Wel hath fortune yturned thee the dys That hast the sight of hire and I th+absence 1240 For possible is syn thow hast hir presence And art a knyght a worthy and an able That by som caas syn fortune is chaungeable Thow mayst to thy desir som tyme atteyne But I that am exiled and bareyne 1245 Of alle grace and in so greet despeir That ther nys erthe water fyr ne eyr Ne creature that of hem maked is That may me helpe or doon confort in this Wel oghte I sterue in wanhope and distresse 1250 Farewel my lyf my lust and my gladnesse Allas why pleynen folk so in comune On purueiaunce of god or of fortune That yeueth hem ful ofte in many a gyse Wel bettre than they kan hem self deuyse 1255 Som man desireth for to haue richesse That cause is of his moerdre or greet siknesse And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn That in his hous is of his meynee slayn Infinite harmes been in this matere 1260 We woot nat what thyng that we prayen heere We faren 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 And to a dronke man the wey is slider 1265 And certes in this world so faren we We seken fast after felicitee But we goon wrong ful often trewely Thus may we seyen alle and nameliche I That wende and hadde a greet opinioun 1270 That if I myghte scapen from prisoun Than hadde I been in ioye and parfit heele Ther now I am exiled fro my wele Syn that I may nat seen yow Emelye I nam but deed ther nys no remedye 1275 Vpon that oother syde Palamon Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon Swich sorwe he maketh that the grete tour Resouneth of his yowlyng and clamour The pure fettres of his shynes grete 1280 Were of his bittre salte teres wete Allas quod he Arcite cosyn myn Of al oure strif God woot the fruyt is thyn Thou walkest now in Thebes at thy large And of my wo thou yeuest litel charge 1285 Thou mayst syn thou hast wisdom and manhede Assemblen alle the folk of oure kynrede And make a werre so sharp on this citee That by som auenture or som tretee Thou mayst haue hire to lady and to wyf 1290 For whom that I moste nedes lese my lyf For as by wey of possibilitee Sith thou art at thy large of prisoun free And art a lord greet is thyn auauntage Moore than is myn that sterue here in a cage 1295 For I moot wepe and waille whil I lyue With al the wo that prisoun may me yeue And eek with peyne that loue me yeueth also That doubleth al my torment and my wo 1299 Ther#with the fyr of ialousie vpsterte With#inne his brest and hente hym by the herte So woodly that he lyk was to biholde The box tree or the asshen dede and colde Thanne seyde he O cruel goddes that gouerne This world with byndyng of youre word eterne 1305 And writen in the table atthamaunt Youre parlement and youre eterne graunt What is mankynde moore vnto yow holde Than is the sheep that rowketh in the folde For slayn is man right as another beest 1310 And dwelleth eek in prisoun and areest And hath siknesse and greet aduersitee And ofte tymes giltlees pardee What gouernaunce is in this prescience That giltlees tormenteth innocence 1315 And yet encreseth this al my penaunce That man is bounden to his obseruaunce For Goddes sake to letten of his wille Theras a beest may al his lust fulfille And whan a beest is deed he hath no peyne 1320 But after his deeth man moot wepe and pleyne Though in this world he haue care and wo Withouten doute it may stonden so The answere of this lete I to diuynis But wel I woot that in this world greet pyne is 1325 Allas I se a serpent or a theef That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef Goon at his large and wher hym list may turne But I moot been in prisoun thurgh Saturne And eek thurgh Iuno ialous and eek wood 1330 That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood Of Thebes with his waste walles wyde And Venus sleeth me on that oother syde For ialousie and feere of hym Arcite Now wol I stynte of Palamon a lite 1335 And lete hym in his prisoun stille dwelle And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle The somer passeth and the nyghtes longe Encresen double wise the peynes stronge Bothe of the louere and the prisoner 1340 I noot which hath the wofuller myster For shortly for to seyn this Palamoun Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun In cheynes and in fettres to been deed And Arcite is exiled vpon his heed 1345 For euere mo as out of that contree Ne neuere mo he shal his lady see Yow loueris axe I now this questioun Who hath the worse Arcite or Palamoun That oon may seen his lady day by day 1350 But in prisoun moot he dwelle alway That oother wher hym list may ryde or go But seen his lady shal he neuere mo Now demeth as yow list ye that kan For I wol telle forth as I bigan <=Explicit prima pars\> <=Sequitur pars secunda\> 1355 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 So muchel sorwe had neuere creature 1360 That is or shal whil that the world may dure His sleep his mete his drynke is hym biraft That lene he wex and drye as is a shaft Hise eyen holwe and grisly to biholde His hewe falow and pale as asshen colde 1365 And solitarie he was and euere allone And waillynge al the nyght makynge his mone And if he herde song or instrument Thanne wolde he wepe he myghte nat be stent So feble eek were his spiritz and so lowe 1370 And chaunged so that no man koude knowe His speche nor his voys though men it herde And in his gere for al the world he ferde Nat oonly lyk the loueris maladye Of Hereos but rather lyk manye 1375 Engendred of humour malencolyk Biforn his celle fantastyk And shortly turned was al vp$so$doun Bothe habit and eek disposicioun Of hym this woful louere daun Arcite 1380 What sholde I al day of his wo endite Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two This cruel torment and this peyne and wo At Thebes in his contree as I seyde Vpon a nyght in sleep as he hym leyde 1385 Hym thoughte how that the wynged god Mercurie Biforn hym stood and bad hym to be murye His slepy yerde in honde he bar vp righte An hat he wered vpon his heres brighte Arrayed was this god as he took keep 1390 As he was whan that Argus took his sleep 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 Now trewely how sore that me smerte 1395 Quod he to Atthenes right now wol I fare Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare To see my lady that I loue and serue In hir presence I recche nat to sterue And with that word he caughte a greet mirour 1400 And saugh that chaunged was al his colour And saugh his visage al in another kynde And right anoon it ran hym in his mynde That sith his face was so disfigured Of maladie the which he hadde endured 1405 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 And cladde hym as a poure laborer 1410 And al allone saue oonly a squyer That knew his pryuetee and al his cas Which was disgised pourely as he was To Atthenes is he goon the nexte way And to the court he wente vpon a day 1415 And at the gate he profreth his seruyse To drugge and drawe what so men wol deuyse And shortly of this matere for to seyn He fil in office with a chamberleyn The which that dwellyng was with Emelye 1420 For he was wys and koude soone espye Of euery seruant which that serueth here Wel koude he hewen wode and water bere For he was yong and myghty for the nones And therto he was strong and byg of bones 1425 To doon that any wight kan hym deuyse A yeer or two he was in this seruyse Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte And Philostrate he seyde that he highte But half so wel biloued a man as he 1430 Ne was ther neuere in court of his degree He was so gentil of condicioun That thurgh#out al the court was his renoun They seiden that it were a charitee That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree 1435 And putten hym in worshipful seruyse Theras he myghte his vertu excercise And thus withinne a while his name is spronge\ Bothe of his dedes and his goode tonge That Theseus hath taken hym so ner 1440 That of his chambre he made hym a squier 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 But honestly and sleighly he it spente 1445 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 eek in werre Ther was no man that Theseus hath derre And in this blisse lete I now Arcite 1450 And speke I wol of Palamon a lite In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun This seuen yeer hath seten Palamoun Forpyned what for wo and for distresse Who feeleth double soor and heuynesse 1455 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 Who koude ryme in englissh proprely 1460 His martirdom for sothe it am noght I Therfore I passe as lightly as I may It fil that in the seuenthe yeer of May The thridde nyght as olde bokes seyn That al this storie tellen moore pleyn 1465 Were it by auenture or destynee As whan a thyng is shapen it shal be That soone after the mydnyght Palamoun By helpyng of a freend brak his prisoun And fleeth the citee faste as he may go 1470 For he had yeue his gailler drynke so Of a clarree maad of a certeyn wyn With nercotikes and opye of Thebes fyn That al that nyght thogh that men wolde hym shake The gailler sleep he myghte noght awake 1475 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 ther bisyde With dreedful foot thanne stalketh Palamoun 1480 For shortly this was his opynyoun 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 On Theseus to helpe hym to werreye 1485 And shortly outher he wolde lese his lyf Or wynnen Emelye vnto his wyf This is th+effect and his entente pleyn Now wol I turne to Arcite ageyn That litel wiste how neigh that was his care 1490 Til that fortune had broght hym in the snare The bisy larke messager of day Salueth in hir song the morwe gray And firy Phebus riseth vp so brighte That al the orient laugheth of the lighte 1495 And with his stremes dryeth in the greues The siluer dropes hangynge on the leues And Arcita that in the court roial With Theseus his squyer principal Is risen and looketh on the murye day 1500 And for to doon his obseruaunce to May Remembrynge on the poynt of his desir He on a courser startlynge as the fir Is riden into the feeldes hym to pleye Out of the court were it a myle or tweye 1505 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 And loude he song ayein the sonne shene 1510 May with alle thy floures and thy grene Welcome be thow faire fresshe May In hope that I som grene gete may And from his courser with a lusty herte Into the groue ful hastily he sterte 1515 And in a path he rometh vp and doun Theras by auenture this Palamoun Was in a bussh that no man myghte hym se For soore afered of his deeth was he Nothyng ne knew he that it was Arcite 1520 God woot he wolde haue trowed it ful lite But sooth is seyd gon sithen many yeres That feeld hath eyen and the wode hath eres It is ful fair a man to bere hym euene For al day meeten men at vnset steuene 1525 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 And songen al the roundel lustily 1530 Into a studie he fil sodeynly As doon thise loueres in hir queynte geres Now in the croppe now doun in the breres Now vp now doun as boket in a welle Right as the Friday soothly for to telle 1535 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 Selde is the Friday al the wike ylike 1540 Whan that Arcite hadde songe he gan to syke And sette hym doun withouten any moore Allas quod he that day that I was bore How longe Iuno thurgh thy crueltee Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee 1545 Allas ybroght is to confusioun The blood roial of Cadme and Amphioun Of Cadmus which that was the firste man That Thebes bulte or first the toun bigan And of the citee first was crowned kyng 1550 Of his lynage am I and his ofspryng By verray ligne as of the stok roial And now I am so caytif and so thral That he that is my mortal enemy I serue hym as his squyer pourely 1555 And yet doth Iuno me wel moore shame For I dar noght biknowe myn owene name But ther as I was wont to highte Arcite Now highte I Philostrate noght worth a myte Allas thou felle Mars allas Iuno 1560 Thus hath youre ire oure lynage al fordo Saue oonly me and wrecched Palamoun That Theseus martireth in prisoun And ouer al this to sleen me outrely Loue hath his firy dart so brennyngly 1565 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 Of al the remenant of myn oother care 1570 Ne sette I noght the mountaunce of a tare So that I koude doon aught to youre plesaunce And with that word he fil doun in a traunce A longe tyme and afterward he vp sterte This Palamoun that thoughte that thurgh his herte 1575 He felte a cold swerd sodeynliche 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 He sterte hym vp out of the buskes thikke 1580 And seyde Arcite false traytour wikke 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 counseil sworn As I ful ofte haue told thee her#biforn 1585 And hast byiaped here duc Theseus And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus I wol be deed or elles thow shalt dye Thow shalt nat loue my lady Emelye But I wol loue hire oonly and namo 1590 For I am Palamon thy mortal foo And thogh that I no wepne haue in this place But out of prisoun am astert by grace I drede noght that outher thou shalt dye 1594 Or thou 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 leoun pulled out his swerd And seyde thus by God that sit aboue 1600 Nere it that thow art syk and wood for loue And eek that thow no wepne hast in this place Thow sholdest neuere out of this groue pace That thow ne sholdest dyen of my hond 1604 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 forasmuche thow art a worthy knyght 1609 And wilnest to darreyne hire by bataille Haue here my trouthe tomorowe I wol nat faille With#outen wityng of any oother wight That here I wol be founden as a knyght And bryngen harneys right ynogh for thee And chees the beste and leue the worste for me 1615 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 slee me in this wode ther I am inne Thow mayst wel haue thy lady as for me 1620 This Palamon answerde I graunte it thee And thus they been departed til amorwe Whan ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe O Cupide out of alle charitee O regne that wolt no felawe haue with thee 1625 Ful sooth is seyd that loue ne lordshipe Wol noght his thankes haue no felaweshipe Wel fynden that Arcite and Palamoun Arcite is riden anon vnto the toun And on the morwe er it were dayes light 1630 Ful pryuely two harneys hath he dight Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne And on his hors allone as he was born He carieth al this harneys hym biforn 1635 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 hunters in the regne of Trace That stondeth at the gappe with a spere 1640 Whan hunted is the leoun or the bere And hereth hym come russhyng in the greues And breketh bothe bowes and the leues And thynketh here cometh my mortal enemy Withoute faille he moot be deed or I 1645 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 of hem oother knewe Ther nas no good day ne no saluynge 1650 But streight withouten word or rehersynge Euerich of hem heelp for to armen other As frendly as he were his owene brother And after that with sharpe speres stronge They foynen ech at other wonder longe 1655 Thou myghtest wene that this Palamoun In his fightyng were a wood leoun And as a cruel tigre was Arcite As wilde bores gonnen they to smyte That frothen whit as foom for ire wood 1660 Vp to the anclee foghte they in hir blood And in this wise I lete hem fightyng dwelle And forth I wol of Theseus yow telle The destinee ministre general That executeth in the world oueral 1665 The purueiaunce that God hath seyn biforn So strong it is that thogh the world had sworn The contrarie of a thyng by ye or nay Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day That falleth nat eft withinne a thousand yeer 1670 For certeynly oure appetites heer 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 That for to hunten is so desirus 1675 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 For in his huntyng hath he swich delit 1680 That it is al his ioye and appetit To been hymself the grete hertes bane For after Mars he serueth now Diane Cleer was the day as I haue told er this And Theseus with alle ioye and blis 1685 With his Ypolita the faire quene And Emelye clothed al in grene On huntyng been they riden roially And to the groue that stood ful faste by In which ther was an hert as men hym tolde 1690 Duc Theseus the streighte wey hath holde 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 This duc wol han a cours at hym or tweye 1695 With houndes swiche as that hym list comaunde And whan this duc was come vnto the launde Vnder the sonne he loketh and anon He was war of Arcite and Palamon That foghten breme as it were boles two 1700 The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro So hidously that with the leeste strook It semed as it wolde felle an ook But what they were nothyng he ne woot This duc his courser with his spores smoot 1705 And at a stert he was bitwix hem two And pulled out a swerd and cried ho Na moore vp peyne of lesyng of youre heed By myghty Mars he shal anon be deed That smyteth any strook that I may seen 1710 But telleth me what myster men ye been That been so hardy for to fighten here Withouten iuge or oother officere As it were in a lystes roially This Palamon answerde hastily 1715 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 And as thow art a rightful lord and iuge 1720 Ne yeue vs neither mercy ne refuge But slee me first for seinte charitee But slee my felawe eek as wel as me Or slee hym first for thogh thow knowest it lite This is thy mortal foo this is Arcite 1725 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 gate And seyde that he highte Philostrate Thus hath he iaped thee ful many a yeer 1730 And thow hast maked hym thy chief squyer And this is he that loueth Emelye For sith the day is come that I shal dye I make pleynly my confessioun That I am thilke woful Palamoun 1735 That hath thy prisoun broken wikkedly I am thy mortal foo and it am I That loueth so hoote Emelye the brighte That I wol dye present in hir sighte Wherfore I axe deeth and my iuwise 1740 But slee my felawe in the same wise For bothe haue we deserued to be slayn This worthy duc answerde anoon agayn And seyde this is a short conclusioun Youre owene mouth by youre confessioun 1745 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 Gan for to wepe and so dide Emelye 1750 And alle the ladyes in the compaignye Greet pitee was it as it thoughte hem alle That euere swich a chaunce sholde falle For gentil men they were of greet estaat And nothyng but for loue was this debaat 1755 And sawe hir blody woundes wide and soore And alle cryden bothe lasse and moore Haue mercy lord vpon vs wommen alle And on hir bare knees adoun they falle And wolde haue kist his feet theras he stood 1760 Til at the last aslaked was his mood For pitee renneth soone in gentil herte And thogh he first for ire quook and sterte He hath considered shortly in a clause\ The trespas of hem bothe and eek the cause 1765 And althogh that his ire hir gilt accused Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused As thus he thoghte wel that euery man Wol helpe hymself in loue if that he kan And eek deliuere hymself out of prisoun 1770 And eek his herte had compassioun Of wommen for they wepten euere in oon And in his gentil herte he thoghte anoon And softe vnto hymself he seyde fy Vpon a lord that wol haue no mercy 1775 But be a leoun 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 That lord hath litel of discrecioun 1780 That in swich caas kan no diuisioun But weyeth pryde and humblesse after oon And shortly whan his ire is thus agoon He gan to loken vp with eyen lighte And spak thise same wordes al on highte 1785 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 cleped a god for his miracles For he kan maken at his owene gyse 1790 Of euerich herte as that hym list deuyse Lo here this Arcite and this Palamoun That quitly weren out of my prisoun And myghte haue lyued in Thebes roially And witen I am hir mortal enemy 1795 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 Who may been a fool but if he loue 1800 Bihoold for goddes sake that sit aboue 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 And yet they wenen for to be ful wyse 1805 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 She woot namoore of al this hoote fare 1810 By god than woot a cokkow of an hare But al moot been assayed hoot and coold A man moot been a fool or yong or oold I woot it by myself ful yore agoon For in my tyme a seruant was I oon 1815 And therfore syn I knowe of loues peyne And woot how sore it kan a man distreyne As he that hath been caught ofte in his laas I yow foryeue al hoolly this trespaas At requeste of the queene that kneleth here 1820 And eek of Emelye my suster dere And ye shal bothe anoon vnto me swere That neuere mo ye shal my contree dere Ne make werre vpon me nyght nor day But been my freendes in al that ye may 1825 I yow foryeue this trespas euerydel And they hym sworen his axyng faire and wel And hym of lordshipe and of mercy preyde And he hem graunteth grace and thus he seyde To speke of roial lynage and richesse 1830 Thogh that she were a queene or a princesse Ech of yow bothe is worthy doutelees To wedden whan tyme is but nathelees I speke as for my suster Emelye For whom ye haue this stryf and ialousye 1835 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 This is to seyn she may nat now haue bothe 1840 Al be ye neuere so ialous ne so wrothe 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 Lo here youre ende of that I shal deuyse 1845 My wyl is this for plat conclusioun Withouten any replicacioun If that yow liketh take it for the beste That euerich of yow shal goon wher hym leste Frely withouten raunsoun or daunger 1850 And this day fifty wykes fer ne ner Euerich of yow shal brynge an hundred knyghtes Armed for listes vp at alle rightes Al redy to darreyne hire by bataille And this bihote I yow withouten faille 1855 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 Sleen his contrarie or out of listes dryue 1860 Thanne shal I yeue Emelye to wyue To whom that fortune yeueth so faire a grace The lystes shal I maken in this place And God so wisly on my soule rewe As I shal euene iuge been and trewe 1865 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 This is youre ende and youre conclusioun 1870 Who looketh lightly now but Palamoun Who spryngeth vp for ioye but Arcite Who koude telle or who koude it endite The ioye that is maked in the place Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace 1875 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 with herte blythe They take hir leue and homward gonne they ryde 1880 To Thebes with olde walles wyde <=Explicit secunda pars\> <=Sequitur pars tercia\> I trowe men wolde deme it necligence If I foryete to tellen the dispence Of Theseus that gooth so bisily To maken vp the listes roially 1885 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 Round was the shap in maner of compas 1890 Ful of degrees the heighte of sixty paas 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 Westward right swich another in the oposit 1895 And shortly to concluden swich a place Was noon in erthe as in so litel space For in the lond ther was no crafty man That geometrie or ars$metrik kan Ne purtreyour ne keruer of ymages 1900 That Theseus ne yaf mete and wages The theatre for to maken and deuyse And for to doon his ryte and sacrifise He estward hath vpon the gate aboue In worship of Venus goddesse of loue 1905 Doon make 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 And northward in a touret on the wal 1910 Of alabastre whit and reed coral An oratorie riche for to see In worship of Dyane of chastitee Hath Theseus doon wroght in noble wyse But yet hadde I forgeten to deuyse 1915 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 Wroght on the wal ful pitous to biholde 1920 The broken slepes and the sykes colde The sacred teerys and the waymentynge The firy strokes of the desirynge That loues seruantz in this lyf enduren The othes that hir couenantz assuren 1925 Plesance and hope desir foolhardynesse Beautee and youthe baudrye richesse Charmes and force lesynges flaterye Despense bisynesse and ialousye That wered of yelowe gooldes a gerland 1930 And a cokkow sittyng on hir hand Festes instrumentz caroles daunces Lust and array and alle the circumstaunces Of loue whiche that I rekned and rekne shal By ordre weren peynted on the wal 1935 And mo than I kan make of mencioun For soothly al the mount of Citheroun Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellynge Was shewed on the wal in purtreyynge With al the gardyn and the lustynesse 1940 Nat was foryeten the porter ydelnesse Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon Ne yet the folie of kyng Salomon Ne yet the grete strength of Ercules Th+enchauntementz of Medea and Circes 1945 Ne of Turnus with the hardy fiers corage The riche Cresus caytif in seruage Thus may ye seen that wisdom ne richesse Beautee ne sleighte strengthe hardynesse Ne may with Venus holde champartie 1950 For as hir lust the world than may she gye Lo al thise folk so caught were in hir laas Til they for wo ful ofte seyde allas Suffiseth here ensamples oon or two And though I koude rekne a thousand mo 1955 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 A citole in hir right hand hadde she 1960 And on hir heed ful semely for to se A rose gerland fressh and wel smellynge Aboue hir heed hir dowues flikerynge Biforn hire stood hir sone Cupido Vpon his shuldres wynges hadde he two 1965 And blynd he was as it is ofte sene A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene Why sholde I nat as wel eek telle yow al The purtreyture that was vpon the wal Withinne the temple of myghty Mars the rede 1970 Al peynted was the wal in lengthe and brede Lyk to the estres of the grisly place That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace In thilke colde frosty regioun Theras Mars hath his souereyn mansioun 1975 First on the wal was peynted a forest In which ther dwelleth neither man ne best With knotty knarry bareyne trees olde Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde In which ther ran a rumbel in a swough 1980 As thogh a storm sholde bresten euery bough And dounward from an hil vnder a bente Ther stood the temple of Mars armypotente Wroght al of burned steel of which the entree Was long and streyt and gastly for to see 1985 And ther#out 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 Thurgh which men myghten any light discerne 1990 The dore was al of athamant eterne Yclenched ouerthwart and endelong With iren togh and for to make it strong Euery piler the temple to sustene Was tonne$greet of iren bright and shene 1995 Ther say I first the derke ymagynynge Of felonye and al the compassynge The cruel ire reed as any gleede The pikepurs and eek the pale drede The smylere with the knyf vnder the cloke 2000 The shepne brennyng with the blake smoke The tresoun of the mordryng in the bed The open werre with woundes al bibled Contek with blody knyf and sharp manace Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place 2005 The sleere of hymself yet saugh I ther His herte$blood hath bathed al his heer The nayl ydryuen in the shode anyght The colde deeth with mouth gapyng vpright Amyddes of the temple sat meschaunce 2010 With disconfort and sory contenaunce Yet saugh I woodnesse laughyng in his rage Armed compleynt outhees and fiers outrage The caroyne in the bussh with throte ycorue A thousand slayn and noght of qualm ystorue 2015 The tiraunt with the praye by force yraft The toun destroyed ther was nothyng laft Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres The hunte strangled with the wilde beres The sowe freten the child right in the cradel 2020 The cook yscalded for al his longe ladel Naught was forgeten by the infortune of Marte The cartere ouerryden with his carte Vnder the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun Ther were also of Martes deuysioun 2025 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 With the sharpe swerd ouer his heed 2030 Hangynge by a subtil twynes threed Depeynted was the slaughtre of Iulius Of grete Nero and of Anthonius Al be that thilke tyme they were vnborn Yet was hir deeth depeynted ther#biforn 2035 By manasynge of Mars right by figure So was it shewed in that purtreyture As is depeynted in the sertres aboue Who shal be slayn or ellis deed for loue Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde 2040 I may nat rekne hem alle thogh I wolde The statue of Mars vpon a carte stood Armed and loked grym as he were wood And ouer his heed ther shynen two figures Of sterres that been cleped in scriptures 2045 That oon Puella that oother Rubeus This god of armes was arrayed thus A wolf ther stood bifore hym at his feet With eyen reed and of a man he eet With subtil pencel was depeynted this storie 2050 In redoutynge of Mars and of his glorie Now to the temple of Diane the chaste As shortly as I kan I wol me haste To telle yow al the descripcioun Depeynted been the walles vp and doun 2055 Of huntyng and of shamfast chastitee Ther saw I how woful Calistopee Whan that Diane agreued was with here Was turned from a womman til a bere And after was she maad the lodesterre 2060 Thus was it peynted I kan seye yow no ferre Hir sone is eek a sterre as men may see Ther saw I Dane yturned to a tree I mene nat the goddesse Diane But Penneus doghter which that highte Dane 2065 Ther saw I Attheon an hert ymaked For vengeaunce that he saw Diane al naked I saugh how that his houndes haue hym caught And freten hym for that they knewe hym naught Yet peynted was a litel forther moor 2070 How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor And Meleagree and many another mo For which Diane wroghte hym care and wo Ther saugh I many another wonder storie The which me list nat drawen to memorie 2075 This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet With smale houndes al aboute hir feet And vndernethe hir feet she hadde a moone Wexynge it was and sholde wanye soone In gaude grene hir statue clothed was 2080 With bowe in honde and arwes in a cas Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun A womman trauaillyng was hir biforn But for hir child so longe was vnborn 2085 Ful pitously Lucyna 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 Now been thise listes maad and Theseus 2090 That at his grete cost arrayed thus The temples and the theatre euery del Whan it was doon hym liked wonder wel But stynte I wol of Theseus a lite And speke of Palamon and of Arcite 2095 The day approcheth of hir retournynge That euerich sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge The bataille to darreyne as I yow tolde And til Atthenes hir couenant for to holde Hath euerich of hem broght an hundred knyghtes 2100 Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes And sikerly ther trowed many a man That neuere sithen that the world bigan As for to speke of knyghthod of hir hond As fer as god hath maked see and lond 2105 Nas of so fewe so noble a compaignye For euery wight that loued chiualrye And wolde his thankes han a passant name Hath preyed that he myghte been of that game And wel was hym that ther to chosen was 2110 For if ther fille tomorwe swich a cas Ye knowen wel that euery lusty knyght That loueth paramours and hath his myght Were it in Engelond or elles where They wolde hir thankes wilnen to be there 2115 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 Som wol ben armed in an haubergeoun 2120 And in a brestplate and in a light gypoun And som wol haue a peire plates large And som wol haue a Pruce sheeld or a targe Som wol be armed on his legges weel And haue an ax and som a mace of steel 2125 Ther nys no newe gyse that it nas old Armed were they as I haue yow told Euerich after his opinyoun Ther maystow seen comynge with Palamoun Lygurge hymself the grete kyng of Trace 2130 Blak was his berd and manly was his face The cercles of his eyen in his heed They gloweden bitwixen yelow and reed And lyk a griffoun loked he aboute With kempe heres on his browes stoute 2135 His lymes grete his brawnes harde and stronge His shuldres brode his armes rounde and longe And as the gyse was in his contree Ful hye vpon a chaar of gold stood he With foure white boles in the trays 2140 In stede of cotearmure ouer his harnays With nayles yelwe and brighte as any gold He hadde a beres skyn colblak for old His longe heer was kembed bihynde his bak As any rauenes fethere it shoon for blak 2145 A wrethe of gold arm$greet of huge wighte Vpon his heed set ful of stones brighte Of fyne rubyes and of dyamauntz Aboute his chaar ther wente white alauntz Twenty and mo as grete as any steer 2150 To hunten at the leoun or the deer And folwed hym with mosel faste ybounde Colered of gold and turrettes filed rounde An hundred lordes hadde he in his route Armed ful wel with hertes sterne and stoute 2155 With Arcita in stories as men fynde The grete Emetrius the kyng of Inde Vpon a steede bay trapped in steel Couered in clooth of gold dyapred weel Cam ridynge lyk the god of armes Mars 2160 His cote$armure was of clooth of Tars Couched with perles white and rounde and grete His sadel was of brend gold newe ybete A mantelet vpon his shulder hangynge Bret ful of rubies rede as fyr sparklynge 2165 His crispe heer lyk rynges was yronne And that was yelow and glitred as the sonne His nose was heigh his eyen bright citryn His lippes rounde his colour was sangwyn A fewe fraknes in his face yspreynd 2170 Bitwixen yelow and somdel blak ymeynd And as a leoun he his lookyng caste Of fyue and twenty yeer his age I caste His berd was wel bigonne for to sprynge His voys was as a trompe thonderynge 2175 Vpon his heed he wered of laurer grene A gerland fressh and lusty for to sene Vpon his hand he bar for his deduyt An egle tame as any lilie whyt An hundred lordes hadde he with hym there 2180 Al armed saue hir heddes in al hir gere Ful richely in alle manere thynges For trusteth wel that dukes erles kynges Were gadred in this noble compaignye For loue and for encrees of chiualrye 2185 Aboute this kyng ther ran on euery part Ful many a tame leoun and leopart And in this wise thise lordes alle and some Been on the Sonday to the citee come Aboute pryme and in the toun alight 2190 This Theseus this duc this worthy knyght Whan he had broght hem into his citee And inned hem euerich at his degree He festeth hem and dooth so gret labour To esen hem and doon hem al honour 2195 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 The riche array of Theseus paleys 2200 Ne who sat first ne last vpon the deys What ladyes fairest been or best daunsynge Or which of hem kan daunsen best and synge Ne who moost felyngly speketh of loue What haukes sitten on the perche aboue 2205 What houndes liggen on the floor adoun 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 The Sonday nyght er day bigan to sprynge 2210 Whan Palamon the larke herde synge Althogh it nere nat day by houres two Yet song the larke and Palamon right tho With holy herte and with an heigh corage He roos to wenden on his pilgrymage 2215 Vnto the blisful Citherea benygne I mene Venus honurable and digne And in hir hour he walketh forth a paas Vnto the lystes ther hir temple was And doun he kneleth and with humble cheere 2220 And herte soor he seyde as ye shal heere Faireste of faire o lady myn Venus Doghter to Ioue and spouse to Vulcanus Thow gladere of the mount of Citheron For thilke loue thow haddest to Adoon 2225 Haue pitee of my bittre teeres 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 Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye 2230 I am so confus that I kan noght seye But mercy lady bright that knowest wele My thoght and seest what harmes that I feele Considre al this and rewe vpon my soore As wisly as I shal for eueremoore 2235 Emforth my myght thy trewe seruaunt be And holden werre alwey with chastitee That make I myn avow so ye me helpe I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe Ne I ne axe noght tomorwe to haue victorie 2240 Ne renoun in this cas ne veyne glorie Of prys of armes blowen vp and doun But I wolde haue fully possessioun Of Emelye and dye in thy seruyse Fynd thow the maner how and in what wyse 2245 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 Youre vertu is so greet in heuene aboue 2250 That if yow list I shal wel haue my loue Thy temple wol I worshipe eueremo And on thyn auter wher I ryde or go I wol doon sacrifice and fyres beete And if ye wol noght so my lady sweete 2255 Than praye I thee tomorwe with a spere That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere Thanne rekke I noght whan I haue lost my lyf Thogh that Arcita wynne hire to his wyf This is th+effect and ende of my prayere 2260 Yif me my loue thow blisful lady deere Whan the orisoun was doon of Palamon His sacrifice he dide and that anon Ful pitously with alle circumstaunces Al telle I nat as now his obseruaunces 2265 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 2269 Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his boone And with glad herte he wente hym hoom ful soone The thridde hour inequal that Palamon Bigan to Venus temple for to gon Vp roos the sonne and vp roos Emelye And to the temple of Diane gan hye 2275 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 The hornes ful of meeth as was the gyse 2280 Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifise Smokynge the temple ful of clothes faire This Emelye with herte debonaire Hir body wessh with water of a welle But how she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle 2285 But it be anythyng in general And yet it were a game to heren al To hym that meneth wel it were no charge But it is good a man be at his large Hir brighte heer was kembed vntressed al 2290 A corone of a grene ook cerial 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 In Stace of Thebes and thise bokes olde 2295 Whan kyndled was the fyr with pitous cheere Vnto Diane she spak as ye may heere O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene To whom bothe heuene and erthe and see is sene Queene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe 2300 Goddesse of maydens that myn herte hast knowe Ful many a yeer and woost what I desire As keep me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire That Attheon aboughte cruelly Chaste goddesse wel wostow that I 2305 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 And for to walken in the wodes wilde 2310 And noght to been a wyf and be with childe 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 And Palamon that hath swich loue to me 2315 And eek Arcite that loueth me so soore This grace I preye thee withoute moore As sende loue and pees bitwix hem two And fro me turne awey hir hertes so That al hir hote loue and hir desir 2320 And al hir bisy torment and hir fyr Be queynt or turned in another place And if so be thow wolt noght do me grace Or if my destynee be shapen so That I shal nedes haue oon of hem two 2325 As send me hym that moost desireth me Bihoold goddesse of clene chastitee The bittre teeres that on my chekes falle Syn thow art mayde and kepere of vs alle My maydenhode thow kepe and wel conserue 2330 And whil I lyue a mayde I wol thee serue The fyres brenne vpon the auter clere Whil Emelye was thus in hir prayere But sodeynly she saugh a sighte queynte For right anon oon of the fyres queynte 2335 And quyked agayn and after that anon That oother fyr was queynt and al agon And as it queynte it made a whistlynge As doon thise wete brondes in hir brennynge And at the brondes ende out ran anoon 2340 As it were blody dropes many oon For which so soore agast was Emelye That she was wel neigh mad and gan to crye For she ne wiste what it signyfied But oonly for the fere thus hath she cried 2345 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 Among the goddes hye it is affermed 2350 And by eterne word writen and confermed Thou shalt be wedded vnto oon of tho That han for thee so muche care and wo But vnto which of hem I may nat telle Farewel for I ne may no lenger dwelle 2355 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 Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge 2360 And forth she wente and made a vanysshynge For which this Emelye astoned was And seyde what amounteth this allas I putte me in thy proteccioun Diane and in thy disposicioun 2365 And hoom she gooth anoon the nexte weye This is th+effect ther is namoore to seye The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this Arcite vnto the temple walked is Of fierse Mars to doon his sacrifise 2370 With alle the rytes of his payen wise With pitous herte and heigh deuocioun Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun O stronge god that in the regnes colde Of Trace honoured art and lord yholde 2375 And hast in euery regne and euery lond Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond And hem fortunest as thee list deuyse Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise If so be that my youthe may deserue 2380 And that my myght be worthy for to serue 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 In which thow whilom brendest for desir 2385 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 Whan Vulcanus had caught thee in his laas 2390 And foond thee lyggyng by his wyf allas For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte Haue routhe as wel vpon my peynes smerte I am yong and vnkonnyng as thow woost And as I trowe with loue offended moost 2395 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 I moot with strengthe wynne hire in the place 2400 And wel I woot withouten help or grace Of thee ne may my strengthe noght auaille Thanne help me lord tomorwe in my bataille For thilke fyr that whilom brente thee As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me 2405 And do that I tomorwe 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 In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge 2410 And in thy temple I wol my baner honge And alle the armes of my compaignye And eueremo vnto that day I dye Eterne fyr I wol bifore thee fynde And eek to this avow I wol me bynde 2415 My berd myn heer that hangeth long adoun That neuere yet ne felte offensioun Of rasour ne of shere I wol thee yiue And been thy trewe seruaunt whil I lyue Now lord haue routhe vpon my sorwes soore 2420 Yif me the victorie I axe thee namoore The prayere stynt of Arcita the stronge The rynges on the temple dore that honge And eek the dores clatereden ful faste Of which Arcita somwhat hym agaste 2425 The fires brenden 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 And moore encens into the fyr he caste 2430 With othere rytes mo and at the laste The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk rynge And with that soun he herde a murmurynge Ful lowe and dym and seyde thus victorie For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie 2435 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 For thilke grauntyng in the heuene aboue 2440 Bitwixe Venus the goddesse of loue And Mars the sterne god armipotente That Iuppiter was bisy it to stente Til that the pale Saturnus the colde That knew so many of auentures olde 2445 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 Men may the olde atrenne and nat atrede 2450 Saturne anoon to stynten stryf and drede Al be it that it is agayn his kynde Of al this stryf he gan remedie fynde My deere doghter Venus quod Saturne My cours that hath so wyde for to turne 2455 Hath moore power than woot any man Myn is the drenchyng in the see so wan Myn is the prisoun in the derke cote Myn is the stranglyng and hangyng by the throte The murmur and the cherles rebellyng 2460 The groynyng and the pryuee empoysonyng I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun Whil I dwelle in the signe of the leoun Myn is the ruyne of the hye halles The fallyng of the toures and of the walles 2465 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 My lokyng is the fader of pestilence 2470 Now weep namoore I shal doon diligence That Palamon that is thyn owene knyght Shal haue his lady as thow hast hym hight Thogh Mars shal helpe his knyght yet nathelees Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees 2475 Al be ye noght of o complexioun That causeth al day swich diuisioun I am thyn aiel redy at thy wille Weep now namoore I wol thy lust fulfille Now wol I stynten of the goddes aboue 2480 Of Mars and of Venus goddesse of loue And telle yow as pleynly as I kan The grete effect for which that I bigan <=Explicit tercia pars\> <=Sequitur pars quarta\> Greet was the feeste in Atthenes that day And eek the lusty sesoun of that May 2485 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 Erly for to seen the grete fight 2490 Vnto hir reste went they at nyght And on the morwe whan the day gan sprynge Of hors and harneys noyse and claterynge Ther was in hostelryes al aboute And to the paleys rood ther many a route 2495 Of lordes vpon steedes and palfreys Ther maistow seen deuysynge of harneys So vnkouth and so riche and wroght so weel Of goldsmythrye of browdyng and of steel The sheldes brighte testeres and trappures 2500 Gold hewen helmes hauberkes cote armures Lordes in parementz on hir coursers Knyghtes of retenue and eek squyers Naylynge the speres and helmes bokelynge Gyggynge of sheeldes with layners lasynge 2505 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 Yemen on foote and communes many oon 2510 With shorte staues thikke as they may goon Pipes trompes nakers clariounes That in the bataille blowen blody sounes The paleys ful of peple vp and doun Heer thre ther ten holdynge hir questioun 2515 Dyuynynge of thise Thebane knyghtes two Somme seyden thus somme seyde it shal be so Somme helden with hym with the blake berd Somme with the balled somme with the thikke herd Somme seyde he looked grym and he wolde fighte 2520 He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte Thus was the halle ful of deuynynge Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge The grete Theseus that of his sleep awaked With mynstralcye and noyse that was maked 2525 Held yet the chambre of his paleys riche Til that the Thebane knyghtes bothe yliche Honoured weren into the paleys fet Duc Theseus is at a wyndow set Arrayed right as he were a god in trone 2530 The peple preeseth thiderward ful soone 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 Til al the noyse of the peple was ydo 2535 And whan he say the peple of noyse al stille Thus shewed he the myghty dukes wille The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun Considered that it were destruccioun To gentil blood to fighten in the gyse 2540 Of mortal bataille now in this emprise Wherfore to shapen that they shal noght dye He wol his firste purpos modifye No man therfore vp peyne of los of lyf No maner shot ne polax ne short knyf 2545 Into the lystes sende or thider brynge Ne short swerd for to stoke with poynt bitynge No man ne drawe ne bere it by his syde Ne no man shal vnto his felawe ryde But o cours with a sharp ygrounde spere 2550 Foyne if hym list on foote hymself to were And he that is at meschief shal be take And noght slayn but be broght vnto the stake That shal been ordeyned on either syde But thider he shal by force and ther abyde 2555 And if so falle the chiefteyn be take On either syde or ellis sleen his make No lenger shal the turneyinge laste God spede yow go forth and ley on faste With long swerd and with maces fighteth your fille 2560 Go now youre wey this is the lordes wille The voys of peple touched the heuene So loude cride they with mury steuene God saue swich a lord that is so good He wilneth no destrucioun of blood 2565 Vp goon the trompes and the melodye And to the lystes rit the compaignye By ordinaunce thurgh out the citee large Hanged with clooth of gold and noght with sarge Ful lyk a lord this noble duc gan ryde 2570 Thise two Thebans vpon either syde And after rood the queene and Emelye And after that another compaignye Of oon and oother after hir degree And thus they passen thurgh#out the citee 2575 And to the lystes come they bityme It nas nat of the day yet fully pryme Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye Ypolita the queene and Emelye And othere ladyes in degrees aboute 2580 Vnto the setes preeseth al the route And westward thurgh the gates vnder Marte Arcite and eek the hundred of his parte With baner reed is entred right anon And in that selue moment Palamon 2585 Is vnder Venus estward in the place With baner whit and hardy cheere and face In al the world to seken vp and doun So euene with#outen variacioun Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye 2590 For ther was noon so wys that koude seye That any hadde of oother auauntage Of worthynesse ne of estaat ne age So euene were they chosen for to gesse And in two renges faire they hem dresse 2595 Whan that hir names rad were euerichon That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon Tho were the gates shet and cried was loude Do now your deuoir yonge knyghtes proude The heraudes lefte hir prikyng vp and doun 2600 Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun Ther is namoore to seyn but west and est In goon the speres ful sadly in tharest In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde Ther seen men who kan iuste and who kan ryde 2605 Ther shyueren shaftes vpon sheeldes thikke He feeleth thurgh the herte$spoon the prikke Vp spryngen speres twenty foot on highte Out goon the swerdes as the siluer brighte The helmes they to hewen and to shrede 2610 Out brest the blood with sterne stremes rede With myghty maces the bones they to breste He thurgh the thikkest of the throng gan threste Ther stomblen steedes stronge and doun gooth al He rolleth vnder foot as dooth a bal 2615 He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun And he hym hurtleth with his hors adoun He thurgh the body is hurt and sithen ytake Maugree his heed and broght vnto the stake As forward was right ther he moste abyde 2620 Another lad is on that oother syde And somtyme dooth hem Theseus to reste Hem to refresshe and drynken if hem leste Ful ofte a day haue thise Thebanes two Togydre ymet and wroght his felawe wo 2625 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 lite So cruel on the hunte as is Arcite For ialous herte vpon this Palamoun 2630 Ne in Belmarye ther nys so fel leoun That hunted is or for his hunger wood Ne of his praye desireth so the blood As Palamon to sleen his foo Arcite The ialous strokes on hir helmes byte 2635 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 This Palamon as he faught with Arcite 2640 And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte And by the force of twenty is he take Vnyolden and ydrawen to the stake And in the rescus of this Palamoun The stronge kyng Lygurge is born adoun 2645 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 His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught 2650 He moste abyde whan that he was caught By force and eek by composicioun Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte And whan that Theseus had seen this sighte 2655 Vnto the folk that foghten thus echon He cryde hoo namoore for it is doon I wol be trewe iuge and nat partie Arcite of Thebes shal haue Emelye That by his fortune hath hir faire ywonne 2660 Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne For ioye of this so loude and heigh withalle It semed that the lystes sholde falle What kan now faire Venus doon aboue What seith she now what dooth this queene of loue 2665 But wepeth so for wantyng of hir wille Til that hir teeres in the lystes fille She seyde I am ashamed doutelees Saturnus seyde doghter hoold thy pees Mars hath his wille his knyght hath al his boone 2670 And by myn heed thow shalt been esed soone The trompours with the loude mynstralcye The heraudes that ful loude yelle and crye Been in hir wele for ioye of daun Arcite But herkneth me and stynteth noyse a lite 2675 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 Lokyng vpward vpon this Emelye 2680 And she agayn hym caste a freendlich eye (For wommen as to speken in comune They folwen al the fauour of fortune) And was al his cheere as in his herte Out of the ground a furye infernal sterte 2685 From Pluto sent at requeste of Saturne 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 2690 That in the place he lay as he were deed His brest to brosten with his sadel$bowe As blak he lay as any cole or crowe So was the blood yronnen in his face Anon he was yborn out of the place 2695 With herte soor to Theseus paleys 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 2700 Duc Theseus with al his compaignye 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 2705 Men seyde eek that Arcite shal nat dye He shal been heled of his maladye And of another thyng they were as fayn That of hem alle was ther noon yslayn Al were they sore yhurt and namely oon 2710 That with a spere was thirled his brest$boon To oothere woundes and to broken armes Somme hadden salues and somme hadden charmes Fermacies of herbes and eek saue They dronken for they wolde hir lymes haue 2715 For which this noble duc as he wel kan Conforteth and honoureth euery man And made reuel al the longe nyght Vnto the straunge lordes as was right Ne ther was holden no disconfitynge 2720 But as a iustes or a tourneyinge For soothly ther was no disconfiture For fallyng nys nat but an auenture Ne to be lad by force vnto the stake Vnyolden and with twenty knyghtes take 2725 O persone allone with#outen mo And haryed forth by arm foot and too And eek his steede dryuen forth with staues With footmen bothe yemen and eek knaues It nas arretted hym no vileynye 2730 Ther may no man clepe it cowardye For which anoon duc Theseus leet crye To stynten alle rancour and enuye The gree as wel of oo syde as of oother And either syde ylyk as otheres brother 2735 And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree And fully heeld a feeste dayes three And conueyed the kynges worthily Out of his toun a iournee largely And hoom wente euery man the righte way 2740 Ther was namoore but farewel haue good day Of this bataille I wol namoore endite But speke of Palamon and of Arcite Swelleth the brest of Arcite and the soore Encreeseth at his herte moore and moore 2745 The clothered blood for any lechecraft Corrupteth and is in his bouk ylaft That neither veyne$blood ne ventusynge Ne drynke of herbes may been his helpynge The vertu expulsif of animal 2750 Fro thilke vertu cleped natural Ne may the venym voyden ne expelle The pipes of his longes gan to swelle And euery lacerte in his brest adoun Is shent with venym and corrupcioun 2755 Hym gayneth neither for to gete his lyf Vomyt vpward ne dounward laxatyf Al is to brosten thilke regioun Nature hath no dominacioun And certeinly ther nature wol nat werche 2760 Farewel phisik go ber the man to cherche 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 2765 Nat may the woful spirit in myn herte Declare o point of alle my sorwes smerte To yow my lady that I loue moost But I byquethe the seruyce of my goost To yow abouen euery creature 2770 Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure Allas the wo allas the peynes stronge That I for yow haue suffred and so longe Allas the deeth allas myn Emelye Allas departyng of oure compaignye 2775 Allas myn hertes queene allas my wyf Myn hertes lady endere of my lyf What is this world what axeth men to haue Now with his loue now in his colde graue Allone withouten any compaignye 2780 Farewel my swete foo myn Emelye And softe take me in your armes tweye For loue of God and herkneth what I seye I haue heer with my cosyn Palamon Had strif and rancour many a day agon 2785 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 2790 Wisdom humblesse estaat and heigh kynrede 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 ben loued as Palamon 2795 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 2800 The coold of deeth that hadde hym ouercome 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 2805 Gan faillen whan the herte felte deeth Dusked his eyen two and failled breeth But on his lady yet caste he his eye His laste word was mercy Emelye His spirit chaunged hous and wente ther 2810 As I cam neuere I kan nat tellen wher 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 2815 Arcite is coold ther Mars his soule gye Now wol I speken forth of Emelye Shrighte Emelye and howleth Palamon And Theseus his suster took anon Swownynge and baar hire fro the corps away 2820 What helpeth it to tarien forth the day 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 2825 Or ellis fallen in swich a maladye That at the laste certeinly they dye Infinite been the sorwes and the teeres Of olde folk and folk of tendre yeeres In al the toun for deeth of this Theban 2830 For hym ther wepeth bothe child and man So greet wepyng was ther noon certayn Whan Ector was ybroght al fressh yslayn To Troye allas the pitee that was ther Cracchynge of chekes rentyng eek of heer 2835 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 2840 As he hadde seyn it vp and doun 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 2845 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 2850 And ouer al this yet seyde he muchel moore 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 2855 Of good Arcite may best ymaked be And eek moost honurable in his degree And at the laste he took conclusioun That theras first Arcite and Palamoun Hadden for loue the bataille hem bitwene 2860 That in the selue groue swoote and grene Theras he hadde his amorouse desires His compleinte and for loue his hote fyres He wolde make a fyr in which the office Funeral he myghte al acomplice 2865 And leet anoon comaunde to hakke and hewe The okes olde and leyen hem on a rewe In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne His officers with swifte feet they renne And ryde anoon at his comandement 2870 And after this Theseus hath ysent 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 2875 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 Ther#with he weep that pitee was to heere And for the peple sholde seen hym alle 2880 Whan it was day he broghte hym to the halle That roreth of the cryyng and the soun Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun With flotry berd and ruggy asshy heerys In clothes blake ydropped al with teerys 2885 And passyng othere of wepyng Emelye The rufulleste of al the compaignye Inasmuche as the seruyce sholde be The moore noble and riche in his degree Duc Theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge 2890 That trapped were in steel al gliterynge And couered with the armes of daun Arcite Vpon thise steedes grete and white Ther seten folk of which oon baar his sheeld Another his spere vp#on his hondes heeld 2895 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 Toward the groue as ye shul after heere The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were 2900 Vpon hir shuldres carieden the beere With slakke paas and eyen rede and wete Thurgh#out the citee by the maister strete That sprad was al with blak and wonder hye Right of the same is the strete ywrye 2905 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 2910 And after that cam woful Emelye With fyr in hande as was that tyme the gyse To do the office of funeral seruyse Heigh labour and ful greet apparaillynge Was at the seruyce and the fyr$makynge 2915 That with his grene top the heuene raughte And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte This is to seyn the bowes were so brode Of stree first ther was leyd many a lode But how the fyr was maked vpon highte 2920 Ne eek the names how the trees highte As ook fir birch asp alder holm popler Wylow elm plane assh box chestayn lynde laurer Mapul thorn beech hasyl ew whippultree How they were feld shal nat been told for me 2925 Ne how the goddes ronnen vp and doun Disherited of hir habitacioun In which they woneden in reste and pees Nymphes fawnes and Amadrides Ne how the beestes and the briddes alle 2930 Fledden for fere whan the wode was falle Ne how the ground agast was of the light That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree And than with drye stikkes clouen a three 2935 And thanne with grene wode and spicerye And thanne with clooth of gold and with perrye And gerlandes hangynge with ful many a flour The mirre th+encens with al so greet odour Ne how Arcite lay among al this 2940 Ne what richesse aboute his body is Ne how that Emelye as was the gyse Putte in the fyr of funeral seruyse Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr Ne what she spak ne what was hir desir 2945 Ne what iuels men in the fyr caste Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste Ne how somme caste hir sheeld and somme hir spere And of hir vestimentz whiche that they were And coppes ful of milk and wyn and blood 2950 Into the fyr that brente as it were wood Ne how the Grekes with an huge route Thries ryden al the fyr aboute Vpon the left hand with a loud shoutynge And thries with hir speres claterynge 2955 And thries how the ladyes gonne crye And how that lad was homward Emelye Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde Ne how that lychewake was yholde Al thilke nyght ne how the Grekes pleye 2960 The wake$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 2965 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 stynted is the moornynge and the terys Of Grekes by oon general assent 2970 Thanne semed me ther was a parlement At Atthenes vpon a certeyn point and caas Among the whiche pointes yspoken was To haue with certeyn contrees alliaunce And haue fully of Thebans obeisaunce 2975 For which this noble Theseus anon Leet senden after gentil Palamon Vnwist of hym what was the cause and why But in his blake clothes sorwefully He cam at his comandement in hye 2980 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 from his wise brest His eyen sette he theras was his lest 2985 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 2990 Wel wiste he why and what therof he mente For with that faire cheyne of loue he bond The fyr the eyr the water and the lond In certeyn boundes that they may nat flee That same prince and that same moeuere quod he 2995 Hath stabliced in this wrecched world adoun Certeine dayes and duracioun To al that is engendred in this place Ouer the whiche day they may nay pace Al mowe they yet tho dayes abregge 3000 Ther nedeth noon auctoritee to allegge 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 3005 Wel may men knowe but it be a fool That euery part diryueth 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 3010 Descendynge so til it be corrumpable And therfore for his wise purueiaunce He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce That speces of thynges and progressiouns Shullen enduren by successiouns 3015 And noght eterne with#outen any lye This maistow vnderstonde and seen at eye Lo the ook that hath so long a norisshynge Fro the tyme that it first bigynneth sprynge And hath so long a lyf as ye may see 3020 Yet at the laste wasted is the tree Considereth eek how that the harde stoon Vnder oure feet on which we trede and goon Yit wasteth it as it lyth by the weye The brode ryuer somtyme wexeth dreye 3025 The grete townes se we wane and wende Than ye se that al this thyng hath ende Of man and womman se we wel also That nedes in oon of thise termes two This is to seyn in youthe or elles age 3030 He moot be deed the kyng as shal a page 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 3035 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 deryued sooth to telle And heer$agayns no creature on lyue 3040 Of no degree auailleth for to stryue 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 3045 And who#so 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 3049 Whan he is siker of his goode name Thanne hath he doon his freend ne hym no shame And gladder oghte his freend been of his deeth Whan with honour yolden is his breeth Than whan his name appalled is for age For al forgeten is his vasselage 3055 Thanne is it best as for a worthy fame To dyen whan he is best of name The contrarie of this is wilfulnesse Why grucchen we why haue we heuynesse That goode Arcite of chiualrie flour 3060 Departed is with duetee and honour Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf Why grucchen heere his cosyn and his wyf Of his welfare that loueth hem so weel Kan he hem thank nay god wot neuer a deel 3065 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 3070 And er we departen from this place I rede we make of sorwes two O parfit ioye lastynge euere mo And loketh now wher moost sorwe is herinne Ther wol I first amenden and bigynne 3075 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 wille herte and myght And euere hath doon syn ye first hym knewe 3080 That ye shul of youre grace vpon hym rewe And taken hym for housbonde and for lord Lene me youre hond for this is oure accord Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee He is a kynges brother sone pardee 3085 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 considered leueth me For gentil mercy oghte passen right 3090 Thanne seyde he thus to Palamon the knyght I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng To make yow assente to this thyng Com neer and taketh youre lady by the hond Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond 3095 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\3100 Sende hym his loue that hath it deere aboght For now is Palamon in alle wele Lyuynge in blisse in richesse and in hele And Emelye hym loueth so tendrely And he hir serueth so gentilly 3105 That was ther no word hem bitwene Of ialousie or any oother tene Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye And God saue al this faire compaignye <%heere folwen the wordes bitwene the hoost and the millere%> Whan that the knyght had thus his tale ytold 3110 In al the compaignye nas ther yong ne old 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 3115 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 quyte with the knyghtes tale 3120 The miller that for dronken was al pale So that vnnethe vpon his hors he sat He nolde aualen neither hood ne hat Ne abyden no man for his curteisye But in Pilates voys he gan to crye 3125 And swoor by armes and by blood and bones I kan a noble tale for the nones With which I wol now quyte the knyghtes tale Oure hoost saugh that he was dronke of ale And seyde abyde Robyn leeue brother 3130 Som bettre man shal telle vs first another Abyde and lat vs werken thriftily By goddes soule quod he that wol nat I For I wol speke or elles go my wey Oure hoost answerde tel on a deuel wey 3135 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 soun And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye 3140 Wite it the ale of Southwerk I preye For I wol telle a legende and a lyf Both of a carpenter and of his wyf How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe The reue answerde and seyde stynt thy clappe 3145 Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye It is a synne and eek a greet folye To apeyren any man or hym defame And eek to bryngen wyues in swich fame Thow mayst ynow of othere thynges seyn 3150 This dronken millere spak ful sone ageyn And seyde leue brother Osewold Who hath no wyf he is no cokewold But I seye nat therfore that thow art oon Ther been ful goode wyues many oon 3155 \And euere a thousand goode ayeyns oon badde That knowestow wel thyself but if thow madde\ Why artow angry with my tale now I haue a wyf pardee as wel as thow Yet nolde I for the oxen in my plough 3160 Take vpon me moore than ynough As demen of my self that I were oon I wol bileue wel that I am noon An housbonde shal noght been inquisityf Of goddes pryuetee nor of his wyf 3165 So he may fynde goddes foyson there Of the remenant nedeth noght enquere What sholde I moore seyn but this millere He nolde his wordes for no man forbere But tolde his cherles tale in his manere 3170 M+athynketh that I shal reherce it here And therfore euery gentil wight I preye Demeth noght for goddes loue that I seye\ Of yuel entente but for I moot reherse Hir tales alle be they bet or werse 3175 Or elles falsen som of my matere And therfore whoso list it noght yhere Turne ouer the leef and chese another tale For he shal fynde ynowe grete and smale Of storial thyng that toucheth gentillesse 3180 And eek moralitee and holynesse Blameth noght me if that ye chese amys The millere is a cherl ye knowe wel this So was the reue eek and othere mo And harlotrye they tolden bothe two 3185 Auyseth yow and put me out of blame And eek men shal noght make ernest of game <%heere bigynneth the millere his tale%> Whilom ther was dwellyng in Oxenford A riche gnof that gestes held to bord And of his craft he was a carpenter 3190 With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler Had lerned art but al his fantasie Was turned for to lerne astrologye And koude a certeyn of conclusions To demen by interrogacions 3195 If that men axed hym in certein houres Whan that men sholde haue droghte or ellis shoures Or if men axed hym what sholde bifalle Of euerythyng I may nat rekene hem alle This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas 3200 Of derne loue he koude and of solas And therto he was sleigh and ful pryuee And lyk a mayden meke for to see A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye Allone withouten any compaignye 3205 Ful fetisly dight with herbes swoote And he hymself as swete as is the roote Of licorys or any cetewale His Almageste and bokes grete and smale His astrelabye longynge for his art 3210 His augrym stones layen faire apart On shelues couched at his beddes heed His presse ycouered with a faldyng reed And al aboue ther lay a gay sautrye On which he made anyghtes melodye 3215 So swetely that al the chambre rong And =Angelus ad virginem\ he song And after that he song the kynges note Ful often blessed was his murye throte And thus this swete clerk his tyme spente 3220 After his frendes fyndyng and his rente This carpenter had wedded newe a wyf Which that he loued moore than his lyf Of xviij yeer she was of age Ialous he was and heeld hire narwe in cage 3225 For she was wilde and yong and he was old And demed hymself been lyk a cokewold He knew nat Catoun for his wit was rude That bad men sholde wedde his similitude Men sholde wedden after hir estaat 3230 For youthe and elde is often at debaat But sith that he was fallen in the snare He moste endure as oother folk his care Fair was this yonge wyf and therwithal As any wesele hir body gent and smal 3235 A ceynt she wered barred al of silk A barmcloth as whit as morne mylk Vpon hir lendes ful of many a goore Whit was hir smok and broyden al bifore And eek bihynde on hir coler aboute 3240 Of colblak silk withinne and eek withoute The tapes of hir white voluper Were of the same sute of hir coler Hir filet brood of silk and set ful hye And sikerly she hadde a likerous eye 3245 Ful smale ypulled were hir browes two And tho were bent and blake as any slo She was ful moore blisful on to see Than is the newe perionette tree And softer than the wolle is of a wether 3250 And by hir girdel heng a purs of lether Tasseled with silk and perled with latoun 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 3255 Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe Than in the tour the noble yforged newe But of hir song it was as loude and yerne As any swalwe sittyng on a berne Therto she koude skippe and make game 3260 As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame Hir mouth was swete as bragot or the meeth Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth Wynsyng she was as is a ioly colt Long as a mast and vpright as a bolt 3265 A broche she bar vpon hir loue coler As brood as is the boos of a bokeler Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye She was a prymerole a piggesnye For any lord to leggen in his bedde 3270 Or yet for any good yeman to wedde Now sire and eft sire so bifel the cas That on a day this hende Nicholas Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye Whil that hir housbonde was at Oseneye 3275 As clerkes been ful subtil and ful queynte And pryuely he caughte hire by the queynte And seyde ywis but if ich haue my wille For derne loue of thee lemman I spille And heeld hire harde by the haunche$bones 3280 And seyde lemman loue me al atones Or I wol dyen also god me saue And she sprong as a colt doth in the traue And with hir heed she wryed faste awey She seyde I wol nat kisse thee by my fey 3285 Wy lat be quod ich lat be Nicholas Or I wol crye out harrow and allas Do wey youre handes for youre curteisye This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye And spak so faire and profred hym so faste 3290 That she hir loue hym graunted atte laste And swoor hir ooth by seint Thomas of Kent That she wolde been at his comaundement Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie Myn housbonde is so ful of ialousie 3295 That but ye wayte wel and be pryuee I woot right wel I nam but deed quod she Ye moste been ful derne as in this cas Nay therof care thee noght quod Nicholas A clerk had litherly biset his while 3300 But if he koude a carpenter bigyle And thus they been acorded and ysworn To waite a tyme as I haue told biforn Whan Nicholas had doon thus euerydel And thakked hire aboute the lendes wel 3305 He kiste hir swete and taketh his sautrye And pleyeth faste and maketh melodye Thanne fil it thus that to the parissh chirche Cristes owene werkes for to wirche This goode wyf wente on an haliday 3310 Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day So was it wasshen whan she leet hir werk Now was ther of that chirche a parissh clerk The which that was ycleped Absolon Crul was his heer and as the gold it shoon 3315 And strouted as a fanne large and brode Ful streight and euene lay his ioly shode His rode was reed his eyen greye as goos With Poules wyndow coruen on his shoos In hoses rede he wente fetisly 3320 Yclad he was ful smal and proprely Al in a kirtel of a light waget Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes set And thervpon he hadde a gay surplys As whit as is the blosme vpon the rys 3325 A mery child he was so god me saue Wel koude he laten blood and clippe and shaue And maken a chartre of lond or aquitaunce In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce After the scole of Oxenforde tho 3330 And with his legges casten to and fro And pleyen songes on a smal rubible Therto he song somtyme a loud quynyble And as wel koude he pleye on a gyterne In al the toun nas brewhous ne tauerne 3335 That he ne visited with his solas Ther any gaylard tappestere was But sooth to seyn he was somdel squaymous Of fartyng and of speche daungerous This Absolon that ioly was and gay\3340 Goth with a sencer on the haliday Sensynge the wyues of the parisshe faste And many a louely look on hem he caste And namely on this carpenteres wyf To loke on hire hym thoughte a mery lyf 3345 She was so propre and swete and likerous I dar wel seyn if she had been a mous And he a cat he wolde hir hente anon This parisshe clerk this ioly Absolon Hath in his herte swich a loue$longynge 3350 That of no wyf took he noon offrynge For curteisye he seyde he wolde noon The moone whan it was nyght ful brighte shoon And Absolon his gyterne hath ytake For paramours he thoghte for to wake 3355 And forth he goth iolyf and amorous Til he cam to the carpenteres hous A litel after cokkes hadde ycrowe And dressed hym vp by a shot$wyndowe That was vpon the carpenteres wal 3360 He syngeth in his voys gentil and smal Now dere lady if thy wille be\ I preye yow that ye wol rewe on me Ful wel acordant to his giternynge This carpenter awook and herde hym synge 3365 And spak vnto his wyf and seyde anon What Alison herestow noght Absolon That chaunteth thus vnder oure boures wal And she answerde hir housbonde therwithal Yis god wot Iohn I here it euerydel 3370 This passeth forth what wol ye bet than wel Fro day to day this ioly Absolon So woweth hire that hym is wo bigon He waketh al the nyght and al the day He kembeth his lokkes brode and made hym gay 3375 He woweth hire by menes and brocage And swoor he wolde been hir owene page He syngeth brokkyng as a nyghtyngale He sente hir pyment meeth and spiced ale And wafres pipyng hoot out of the glede 3380 And for she was of towne he profred mede For som folk wol be wonnen for richesse And som for strokes and som for gentilesse Som tyme to shewe his lightnesse and maistrye He pleyeth Herodes vpon a scaffold hye 3385 But what auailleth hym as in this cas She loueth so this hende Nicholas That Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn He ne had for his labour but a scorn And thus she maketh Absolon hir ape 3390 And al his ernest turneth til a iape Ful sooth is this prouerbe it is no lye Men seith right thus alwey the nye slye Maketh the ferre leeue to be looth For thogh that Absolon be wood or wrooth 3395 Bycause that he fer was from hir sighte This nye Nicholas stood in his lighte Now bere thee wel thow hende Nicholas For Absolon may waille and synge allas And so bifel it on a Saterday 3400 This carpenter was goon til Osenay And hende Nicholas and Alisoun Acorded been to this conclusioun That Nicholas shal shapen hem a wyle This sely ialous housbonde to bigyle 3405 And if so be the game wente aright She sholde slepen in his arm al nyght For this was hir desir and his also And right anoon withouten wordes mo This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie 3410 But doth ful softe vnto his chambre carie Bothe mete and drynke for a day or tweye And to hir housbonde bad hir for to seye If that he axed after Nicholas She sholde seye she nyste wher he was 3415 Of al that day she seigh hym noght with eye She trowed that he was in maladye For for no cry hir mayde koude hym calle He nolde answere for nothyng that myghte falle This passeth forth al thilke Saterday 3420 That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay And eet and sleep or dide what hym leste Til Sonday that the sonne gooth to reste This sely carpenter hath greet meruaille Of Nicholas or what thyng myghte hym aille 3425 And seyde I am adrad by seint Thomas It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas God shilde that he deyde sodeynly This world is now ful tikel sikerly I saugh today a corps yborn to chirche 3430 That now on Monday last I saugh hym wirche Go vp quod he vnto his knaue anoon Clepe at his dore or knokke with a stoon Loke how it is and tel me boldely This knaue gooth hym vp ful sturdily 3435 And at the chambre dore whil that he stood He cride and knokked as that he were wood What how what do ye maister Nicholay How may ye slepen al the longe day But al for noght he herde nat a word 3440 An hole he fond ful lowe vpon a bord Theras the cat was wont in for to crepe And at that hole he looked in ful depe And atte laste he hadde of hym a sighte This Nicholas sat euere capyng vprighte 3445 As he had kiked on the newe moone Adoun he gooth and tolde his maister soone In what array he saugh this ilke man This carpenter to blessen hym bigan And seyde help vs seinte Frideswyde 3450 A man woot litel what hym shal bityde This man is falle with his astromye In som woodnesse or in som agonye I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be Men sholde noght knowe of goddes pryuetee 3455 Ye blessed be alwey a lewed man That noght but oonly his bileue kan So ferde another clerk with astromye He walked in the feeldes for to prye Vpon the sterres what ther sholde bifalle 3460 Til he was in marle$pit yfalle He saw nat that but yet by seint Thomas Me reweth sore of hende Nicholas He shal be rated of his studiyng If that I may by Iesus heuene kyng 3465 Get me a staf that I may vnder spore Whil that thow Robyn heuest vp the dore He shal out of his studiyng as I gesse And to the chambre dore he gan hym dresse His knaue was a strong carl for the nones 3470 And by the haspe he haf it vp atones Into the floor the dore fil anoon This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon And euere caped vpward into the eyr This carpenter wende he were in despeyr 3475 And hente hym by the shuldres myghtily And shook hym harde and cride spitously What Nicholay what how loke adoun Awake and thenk on Cristes passioun 3479 I crouche thee from elues and fro wightes Therwith the nyght$spel seyde he anon$rightes On foure halues of the hous aboute And on the thresshfold on the dore withoute Iesu Crist and seint Benedight Blesse this hous from euery wikked wight 3485 For the nyghtes uerye the white Pater$noster Where wentestow seint Petres soster And at the laste this hende Nicholas Gan for to sike soore and seyde allas Shal al the world be lost eftsones now 3490 This carpenter answerde what seistow What thenk on god as we doon men that swynke This Nicholas answerde fecche me drynke And after wol I speke in pryuetee Of certein thyng that toucheth me and thee 3495 I wol telle it noon oother man certayn This carpenter gooth doun and comth agayn And broghte of myghty ale a large quart And whan that ech of hem had dronke his part This Nicholas his dore faste shette 3500 And doun the carpenter by hym he sette And seyde Iohn myn hoost lief and deere Thou shalt vpon thy trouthe swere me heere That to no wight thou shalt this counseil wreye For it is Cristes counseil that I seye 3505 And if thou telle it man thou art forlore For this vengeaunce thow shalt haue therfore 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 3510 Ne thogh I seye I nam nat lief to gabbe Sey what thow wolt I shal it neuere telle To child ne wyf by hym that harwed helle Now Iohn quod Nicholas I wol noght lye I haue yfounde in myn astrologye 3515 As I haue looked in the moone bright That now a Monday next at quarter nyght Shal falle a reyn and that so wilde and wood That half so greet was neuere Noes flood This world he seyde in lasse than in an hour 3520 Shal al be dreynt so hidous is the shour Thus shal mankynde drenche and lese hir lyf This carpenter answerde allas my wyf And shal she drenche allas myn Alisoun For sorwe of this he fil almoost adoun 3525 And seyde is ther no remedie in this cas Why yis for gode quod hende Nicholas If thow wolt werken after loore and reed Thow mayst noght werken after thyn owene heed For thus seith Salomon that was ful trewe 3530 Werk al by conseil and thow shalt noght rewe And if thow werken wolt by good consayl I vndertake withouten mast or sayl Yit shal I saue hire and thee and me Hastow nat herd how saued was Noe 3535 Whan that oure lord had warned hym biforn That al the world with water sholde be lorn Yis quod this carpenter ful yore ago Hastow nat herd quod Nicholas also The sorwe of Noe with his felaweshipe 3540 Er that he myghte gete his wyf to shipe Hym had leuere I dar wel vndertake At thilke tyme than al hise wetheres blake That she hadde had a ship hirself allone And therfore wostow what is best to done 3545 This axeth haste and of an hastyf thyng Men may noght preche or maken tariyng Anon go gete vs faste into this in A knedyng$trogh or ellis a kemelyn For ech of vs but looke that they be large 3550 In which we mowen swymme as in a barge And han ther#inne vitaille suffisaunt But for a day fy on the remenaunt The water shal aslake and goon away Aboute pryme vpon the nexte day 3555 But Robyn may nat wite of this thy knaue Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat saue Axe noght why for thogh thou axe me I wol noght tellen goddes pryuetee Suffiseth thee but if thy wittes madde 3560 To han as greet a grace as Noe hadde Thy wyf shal I wel sauen out of doute Go now thy wey and speed thee heer#aboute But whan thou hast for hire and thee and me Ygeten vs thise knedyng$tubbes thre 3565 Thanne shaltow hange hem in the roof ful hye That no man of oure purueiaunce espye And whan thow thus hast doon as I haue seyd And hast oure vitaille faire in hem yleyd And eek an ax to smyte the corde atwo 3570 Whan that the water cometh that we may go And breke an hole an heigh vpon the gable Vnto the gardynward ouer the stable That we may frely passen forth oure wey Whan that the grete shour is goon awey 3575 Thanne shaltow swymme as murye I vndertake As doth the white doke after his drake Thanne wol I clepe how Alison how Iohn Be murye for the flood wol passe anon And thou wolt seyn hail maister Nicholay 3580 Good morwe I see thee wel for it is day And thanne shal we be lordes al oure lyf 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 3585 That we been entred into shippes bord That noon of vs ne speke noght a word Ne clepe ne crye but been in his preyere For it is goddes owene heste deere Thy wyf and thow mote hange fer atwynne 3590 For that bitwixe yow shal be no synne Namoore in lookyng than ther shal in dede This ordinaunce is seyd go god thee spede Tomorwe at nyght when men been alle aslepe Into oure knedyng$tubbes wol we crepe 3595 And sitten ther abidyng goddes grace Go now thy wey I haue no lenger space To make of this no lenger sermonyng Men seyn thus sende the wise and sey no thyng Thow art so wys it nedeth thee nat teche 3600 Go saue oure lyf and that I thee biseche This sely carpenter gooth forth his wey Ful ofte he seyde allas and weylawey And to his wyf he tolde his pryuetee And she was war and knew it bet than he 3605 What al this queynte cast was for to seye But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye And seyde allas go forth thy wey anon Help vs to scape or we been dede echon I am thy trewe verray wedded wyf 3610 Go deere spouse and help to saue oure lyf Lo which a greet thyng is affeccioun Men may dye of ymaginacioun So depe may impressioun be take This sely carpenter bigynneth quake 3615 Hym thynketh verrailiche that he may se Noes flood come walwyng as the see To drenchen Alison his hony deere He wepeth waileth maketh sory cheere He siketh with ful many a sory swogh 3620 And gooth and geteth hym a knedyng trogh And after a tubbe and a kymelyn And pryuely he sente hem to his in And heeng hem in the roof in pryuetee His owene hand he made laddres thre 3625 To clymben by the ronges and the stalkes Vnto the tubbes hangyng in the balkes And hem vitailled bothe trogh and tubbe With breed and chese and good ale in a iubbe Suffisynge right ynogh as for a day 3630 But er that he had maad al this array He sente his knaue and eek his wenche also Vpon his nede to Londoun for to go And on the Monday whan it drogh to nyght He shette his dore with outen candel$lyght 3635 And dressed alle thyng as it sholde be And shortly vp they clomben alle thre They seten stille wel a furlong way Now Pater$noster clum seyde Nicholay And clum quod Iohn and clum seyde Alisoun 3640 This carpenter seyde his deuocioun And stille he sit and biddeth his prayere Awaitynge on the reyn if he it heere The dede sleep for wery bisynesse Fil on this carpenter right as I gesse\3645 Aboute corfew$tyme or litel moore For trauaille of his goost he groneth soore And eft he routeth for his heed myslay Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay And Alisoun ful softe adoun she spedde 3650 Withouten wordes mo they goon to bedde Theras the carpenter is wont to lye Ther was the reuel and the melodye And thus lyth Alison and Nicholas In bisynesse of myrthe and in solas 3655 Til that the belle of laudes gan to rynge And freres in the chauncel gonne synge This parissh clerk this amorous Absolon That is for loue alwey so wo$bigon Vpon the Monday was at Oseneye 3660 With compaignye hym to disporte and pleye And axed vpon cas a cloisterer Ful pryuely after Iohn the carpenter And he drogh hym a part out of the cherche And seyde I noot I saugh hym here noght werche 3665 Sith Saterday I trowe that he be went For tymber ther oure abbot hath hym sent For he is wont for tymber for to go And dwellen at the graunge a day or two Or ellis he is at his hous certeyn 3670 Wher that he be I kan noght soothly seyn This Absolon ful ioly was and lyght And thoughte now is tyme to wake al nyght For sikerly I saugh hym noght stirynge Aboute his dore syn day bigan to sprynge 3675 So mote I thryue I shal at cokkes crowe Ful pryuely knokken at his wyndowe That stant ful lowe vpon his boures wal To Alison now wol I tellen al My loue$longyng for yit I shal nat mysse 3680 That at the leeste wey I shal hir kisse Som maner confort shal I haue parfay My mouth hath icched al this longe day That is a signe of kissyng atte leeste Al nyght me mette eek I was at a feeste 3685 Therfore I wol go slepe an houre or tweye And al the nyght than wol I wake and pleye Whan that the firste cok hath crowe anon Vp rist this ioly louere Absolon And hym arrayeth gay at poynt$deuys 3690 But first he cheweth greyn and likorys To smellen swete er he hadde kembd his heer Vnder his tonge a trewe$loue he beer For therby wende he to be gracious He rometh to the carpenteres hous 3695 And stille he stant vnder the shot$wyndowe Vnto his brest it raughte it was so lowe And softe he cougheth with a semy soun What do ye honycomb swete Alisoun My faire bryd me swete cynamome 3700 Awaketh lemman myn and speketh to me Wel litel thynken ye vpon my wo That for youre loue I swete ther I go No wonder is thogh that I swelte and swete I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete 3705 Ywis lemman I haue swich loue$longyng That lyk a turtel trewe is my moornyng I may nat ete namoore than a mayde Go fro the wyndow Iakke fool she sayde As help me god it wol nat be com$pa$me 3710 I loue another and ellis I were to blame Wel bet than thee by Iesu Absolon Go forth thy wey or I wol caste a stoon And lat me slepe a twenty deuelwey Allas quod Absolon and weilawey 3715 That trewe loue was euere so yuel biset Thanne kys me syn it may be no bet For Iesus loue and for the loue of me Woltow thanne go thy wey therwith quod she Ye certes lemman quod this Absolon 3720 Thanne make thee redy quod she I come anon And vnto Nicholas she seyde stille Now hust and thou shalt laughen al thy fille This Absolon doun sette hym on his knees And seyde I am a lord at alle degrees 3725 For after this I hope ther cometh moore Lemman thy grace and swete bryd thyn oore The wyndow she vndoth and that in haste Haue do quod she com of and speed thee faste Lest that oure neighebores thee espye 3730 This Absolon gan wipe his mouth ful drye 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 But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers 3735 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 long yherd And seyde fy allas what haue I do 3740 Tehee quod she and clapte the wyndow to And Absolon gooth forth a sory paas A berd a berd quod hende Nicholas By goddes corpus this gooth faire and wel This sely Absolon herde euery del 3745 And on his lippe he gan for anger byte And to hym self he seyde I shal thee quyte Who rubbeth now who froteth now his lippes With dust with sond with straw with clooth with chippes But Absolon that seith ful ofte allas 3750 My soule bitake I vnto Sathanas But me were leuere than al this toun quod he Of this despit awreken for to be Allas quod he allas I ne hadde ybleynt His hote loue was coold and al yqueynt 3755 For fro that tyme that he had kist hir ers Of paramours he sette noght a kers For he was heeled of his maladye Ful ofte paramours he gan defye And weep as dooth a child that is ybete 3760 A softe paas he wente ouer the strete Vntil a smyth men clepen daun Gerueys That in his forge smythed plough$harneys He sharpeth shaar and cultour bisily This Absolon knokketh al esily 3765 And seyde vndo Gerueys and that anon What who artow it am I Absolon What Absolon what Cristes swete tree Why rise ye so rathe ey benedicitee What eyleth yow som gay gerl god it woot 3770 Hath broght yow thus vpon the viritoot By seint Note ye woot wel what I mene This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene Of al his pley no word agayn he yaf He hadde moore tow on his distaf 3775 Than Gerueys knew and seyde freend so deere That hoote cultour in the chymenee heere As lene it me I haue ther#with to doone I wol brynge it thee agayn ful soone Gerueys answerde certes were it gold 3780 Or in a poke nobles al vntold Thow sholdest haue as I am trewe smyth Ey Cristes foo what wol ye do therwith Therof quod Absolon be as be may I shal wel telle it thee tomorwe day 3785 And caughte the cultour by the colde stele Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele And wente vnto the carpenteres wal He cogheth first and knokketh therwithal Vpon the wyndowe right as he dide er 3790 This Alison answerde who is ther That knokketh so I warante it a theef Why nay quod he god woot my swete lief I am thyn Absolon thy derelyng Of gold quod he I haue thee broght a ryng 3795 My moder yaf it me so god me saue Ful fyn it is and ther to wel ygraue This wol I yeuen thee if thow me kisse This Nicholas was risen for to pisse And thoghte he wolde amenden al the iape 3800 He sholde kisse his ers er that he scape And vp the wyndow dide he hastily And out his ers he putteth pryuely Ouer the buttok to the haunche$bon And therwith spak this clerk this Absolon 3805 Spek swete brid I noot noght wher thow art This Nicholas anoon leet fle a fart As greet as it hadde been a thonder$dent That with the strook he was almoost yblent And he was redy with his iren hoot 3810 And Nicholas in the ers he smoot Of gooth the skyn an hand$brede aboute The hoote cultour brende so his toute That for the smert he wende for to dye As he were wood for wo he gan to crye 3815 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 He sette hym vp withoute wordes mo 3820 And with his ax he smoot the corde atwo And doun gooth al he fond neither to selle Ne breed ne ale til he cam to the celle Vpon the floor and there aswowne he lay Vp stirte hire Alison and Nicholay 3825 And criden out and harrow in the strete The neighebores bothe smale and grete In ronnen for to gauren on this man That aswowne lay bothe pale and wan For with the fal he brosten hadde his arm 3830 But stonde he moste vnto his owene harm For whan he spak he was anon bore doun With hende Nicholas and Alisoun They tolden euery man that he was wood He was agast so of Nowelys flood 3835 Thurgh fantasie that of his vanytee He hadde yboght hym knedyng$tubbes thre And hadde hem hanged in the roof aboue And that he preyed hem for goddes loue To sitten in the roof par compaignye 3840 The folk gan laughen at his fantasye Into the roof they kiken and they cape And turned al his harm vnto a iape For what so that this carpenter answerde It was for noght no man his reson herde 3845 With othes grete he was so sworn adoun That he was holden wood in al the toun For euery clerk anon$right heeld with oother They seyde the man was wood my leue brother And euery wight gan laughen at this stryf 3850 Thus swyued was the carpenteres wyf For al his kepyng and his ialousye And Absolon hath kist hir nether eye And Nicholas is scalded in the toute This tale is doon and god saue al the route <%the prologe of the reues tale%> 3855 Whan folk had laughen at this nyce cas Of Absolon and hende Nicholas Diuerse folk diuersely they seyde But for the moore part they loughe and pleyde Ne at this tale I saugh no man hym greue 3860 But it were oonly Osewold the Reue Bycause he was of carpenteres craft A litel ire is in his herte ylaft He gan to grucche and blamed it a lite So the ik quod he ful wel koude I thee quyte 3865 With bleryng of a proud milleres eye If that me liste speke of rybaudye But ik am oold me list not pleye for age Gras tyme is doon my fodder is now forage This white top writeth myne olde yerys 3870 Myn herte is also mowled as myne herys But if I fare as dooth an openers That ilke fruyt is euer lenger the wers Til it be roten in mullok or in stree We olde men I drede so fare we 3875 Til we be roten kan we noght be rype We hoppen alwey whil that the world wol pipe For in oure wyl ther stiketh euere a nayl To haue an hoor heed and a grene tayl As hath a leek for thogh oure myght be goon 3880 Oure wil desireth folie euere in oon 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 Auauntyng lyyng anger coueitise 3885 Thise foure sparkles longen vnto eelde Oure olde lymes mowe wel been vnweelde But wil ne shal noght faillen that is sooth And yet ik haue alwey a coltes tooth As many a yeer as it is passed henne 3890 Syn that my tappe of lyf bigan to renne For sikerlik whan I was bore anon Deeth drough the tappe of lyf and leet it goon And euere sith hath so the tappe yronne Til that almoost al empty is the tonne 3895 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 Whan that oure hoost had herd this sermonyng 3900 He gan to speke as lordly as a kyng He seyde what amounteth al this wit What shal we speke al day of holy writ The deuel made a reue for to preche Or of a soutere a shipman or a leche 3905 Sey forth thy tale and tarie noght the tyme Lo Depeford and it is half$wey pryme Lo Grenewych ther many a shrewe is inne It were al tyme thy tale to bigynne Now sires quod this Osewold the Reue 3910 I pray yow alle that ye noght yow greue Thogh I answere and somdel sette his howue For leueful is with force force of$showue This dronken millere hath ytold vs heer How that bigiled was a carpenter 3915 Parauenture in scorn for I am oon And by youre leue I shal hym quyte anoon Right in his cherles termes wol I speke I pray to god his nekke mote to$breke He kan wel in myn eye seen a stalke 3920 But in his owene he kan noght seen a balke <%heere bigynneth the reues tale%> At Trompyngtoun nat fer fro Cantebrigge Ther gooth a brook and ouer that a brigge Vpon the whiche brook ther stant a melle And this is verray sooth that I yow telle 3925 A millere was ther dwellyng many a day As any pecok he was proud and gay Pipen he koude and fisshe and nettes beete And turne coppes and wel wrastle and sheete Ay by his belt he baar a long panade 3930 And of a swerd ful trenchaunt was the blade A ioly poppere baar he in his pouche Ther was no man for peril dorste hym touche A Sheffeld thwitel baar he in his hose Round was his face and camuse was his nose 3935 As piled as an ape was his skulle He was a market$betere atte fulle Ther dorste no wight hand vpon hym legge That he ne swoor he sholde anon abegge A theef he was forsothe of corn and mele 3940 And that a sleigh and vsant for to stele His name was hoten deynous Symkyn A wif he hadde comen of noble kyn The person of the toun hir fader was With hire he yaf ful many a panne of bras 3945 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 ynorisshed and a mayde To sauen his estaat of yemanrye 3950 And she was proud and peert as is a pye A ful fair sighte was it vpon hem two On halidayes biforn hire wolde he go With his tipet wounde aboute his heed And she cam after in a gyte of reed 3955 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 But if he wolde be slayn of Symkyn 3960 With panade or with knyf or boydekyn For ialous folk been perilouse eueremo Algate they wolde hir wyues wenden so And eek for she was somdel smoterlich She was as digne as water in a dich 3965 As 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 A doghter hadde they bitwix hem two 3970 Of twenty yeer withouten any mo 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 3974 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 feir In purpos was to maken hir his heir Bothe of his catel and his mesuage 3980 And straunge he made it of hir mariage His purpos was for to bistowe hir hye Into som worthy blood of auncetrye For holy chirches good moot been despended On holy chirches blood that is descended 3985 Therfore he wolde his holy blood honoure Thogh that he holy chirche sholde deuoure Greet soken hath this millere out of doute With whete and malt of al the land aboute And nameliche ther was a greet collegge 3990 Men clepen the soler halle at Cantebregge Ther was hir whete and eek hir malt ygrounde And on a day it happed in a stounde Syk lay the maunciple on a maladie 3994 Men wenden wisly that he sholde dye For which this millere stal bothe mele and corn An hundred tyme moore than biforn For ther biforn he stal but curteisly But now he was a theef outrageously For which the wardeyn chidde and made fare 4000 But therof sette the millere noght a tare 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 Testyf they were and lusty for to pleye 4005 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 4009 And hardily they dorste leye hir nekke The millere sholde noght stele hem half a pekke Of corn by sleighte ne by force hem reue And at the laste the wardeyn yaf hem leue Iohn highte that oon and Aleyn highte that oother Of oon toun were they born that highte Strother 4015 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 With good swerd and with bokeler by hir syde 4020 Iohn knew the wey hym neded no gyde And at the mille the sak adoun he layth Aleyn spak first al hayl Symond in fayth How fares thy faire doghter and thy wyf Aleyn welcome quod Symkyn by my lyf 4025 And Iohn also how now what do ye here By god quod Iohn Symond nede has na peere Hym bihoues serue hym#self that has na swayn Or ellis he is a fool as clerkes sayn Oure maunciple I hope he wol be deed 4030 Swa werkes ay the wanges in his heed And therfore is I come and eek Alayn To grynde oure corn and carie it ham agayn I pray yow speed vs heythen that ye may It shal be doon quod Symkyn by my fay 4035 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 How that the hoper wagges til and fra 4040 Aleyn answerde Iohn wiltow swa Thanne wol I be byneth by my croun And se how that the mele falles doun Into the trogh that sal be my desport For Iohn in faith I may been of youre sort 4045 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 bigyle But by my thrift yet shal I blere hir eye 4050 For al the sleighte in hir philosophye The moore queynte crekes that they make The moore wol I stele whan I take In stede of flour yet wol I yeue hem bren The grettest clerkes been noght wisest men 4055 As whilom to the wolf thus spak the mare Of al hir art counte I noght a tare Out at the dore he gooth ful pryuely Whan that he saugh his tyme softely He looketh vp and doun til he hath founde 4060 The clerkes hors ther as it stood ybounde Bihynde the mille vnder a leefsel And to the hors he gooth hym faire and wel He strepeth of the bridel right$anon And whan the hors was laus he gynneth gon 4065 Toward the fen ther wilde mares renne And forth with wehe thurgh thikke and thenne This millere gooth agayn no word he seyde But dooth his note and with the clerkes pleyde Til that hir corn was faire and wel ygrounde 4070 And whan the mele is sakked and ybounde This Iohn gooth out and fynt his hors away And gan to crye harrow and weilaway Oure hors is lost Aleyn for goddes banes Step on thy feet com of man al at anes 4075 Allas oure wardeyn has his palfrey lorn This Aleyn al forgat bothe mele and corn Al was out of his mynde his housbondrye What whilk wey is he gane he gan to crye The wyf cam lepyng inward with a ren 4080 She seyde allas youre hors gooth to the fen With wilde mares as faste as he may go Vnthank come on his hand that bond hym so And he that bettre sholde haue knyt the reyne Allas quod Iohn Aleyn for Cristes peyne 4085 Lay doun thy swerd and I wol myn alswa I is ful wight god waat as is a ra By goddes hert he sal nat scape vs bathe Why ne had thow pit the capul in the lathe Il hail by god Aleyn thow is a fonne 4090 This sely clerkes han ful faste yronne Toward the fen bothe Aleyn and eek Iohn And whan the millere saugh that they were gon He half a busshel of hir flour hath take And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake 4095 He seyde I trowe the clerkes were aferd Yet kan a millere make a clerkes berd For al his art ye lat hem goon hir weye Lo where he gooth ye lat the children pleye They gete hym noght so lightly by my croun 4100 Thise sely clerkes rennen vp and doun With keep keep stand stand Iossa warderere Ga whistle thow and I sal kepe hym here But shortly til that it was verray nyght They koude noght thogh they dide al hir myght 4105 Hir capul cacche he ran alwey so faste Til in a dich they caughte hym at the laste Wery and weet as beest is in the reyn Comth sely Iohn and with hym comth Aleyn Allas quod Iohn the day that I was born 4110 Now ar we dryuen til hethyng and til scorn Oure corn is stole men wil vs fooles calle Bathe the wardeyn and oure felawes alle And namely the millere weilawey Thus pleyneth Iohn as he gooth by the wey 4115 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 Of herberwe and of ese as for hir peny 4120 The millere seide agayn if ther be eny Swich as it is yet shal ye haue youre part Myn hous is streit but ye han lerned art Ye kan by argumentz make a place A myle brood of twenty foot of space 4125 Lat se now if this place may suffise Or make it rowm with speche as is youre gyse Now Symond seyde this Iohn by seint Cutberd Ay is thou myrie and that is faire answerd I haue herd seye men sal taa of twa thynges 4130 Swilk as he fyndes or taa swilk as he brynges But specially I pray thee hoost deere Get vs som mete and drynk and make vs cheere And we wol payen trewely atte fulle With empty hand men may na haukes tulle 4135 Lo here oure siluer redy for to spende This millere into toun his doghter sende For ale and breed and rosted hem a goos And bond hir hors it sholde namoore go loos And in his owene chambre hem made a bed 4140 With shetes and with chalons faire yspred Noght from his owene bed ten foot or twelue His doghter hadde a bed al by hirselue Right in the same chambre by and by It myghte be no bet and cause why 4145 Ther was no rowmer herberwe in the place They soupen and they speke hem to solace And drynken euere strong ale at the beste Aboute mydnyght wente they to reste Wel hath this millere vernysshed his heed 4150 Ful pale he was for dronken and noght reed He yexeth and he speketh thurgh the nose As he were on the quake or on the pose To bedde he gooth and with hym goth his wyf As any iay she light was and iolyf 4155 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 To bedde wente the doghter right$anon 4160 To bedde gooth Aleyn and also Iohn Ther nas namoore hem neded no dwale This millere hath so wisly bibbed ale That as an hors he fnorteth in his sleep Ne of his tayl bihynde he took no keep 4165 His wyf bar hym a burdon a ful strong Men myghte hir routyng heren a furlong The wenche routeth eek par compaignye Aleyn the clerk that herde this melodye He poked Iohn and seyde slepestow 4170 Herdestow euere slyk a sang er now Lo swilk a couplyng is ymel hem alle A wilde fyr on thair bodyes falle Wha herkned euere slik a ferly thyng Ye they sal haue the flour of il$endyng 4175 This lange 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 Som esement has lawe yshapen vs 4180 For Iohn ther is a lawe that says thus That if a man in a point be agreued That in another he sal be releued Oure corn is stolen soothly it is na nay And we han had an ille fit to#day 4185 And syn I sal haue nan amendement Agayn my los I wil haue esement By goddes saule it sal nan other be This Iohn answerde Aleyn auyse thee The millere is a perilous man he sayde 4190 And if that he out of his sleep abrayde 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 This wenche lay vpright and faste slepte 4195 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 This Iohn lith stille a furlong wey or two 4200 And to hymself he maketh routhe and wo 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 He has the milleris doghter in his arm 4205 He auntred hym and has his nedes sped And I lye as a draf$sak in my bed And whan this iape is tald another day I sal been halden a daffe a cokenay I wil arise and auntre it by my fayth 4210 Vnhardy is vnsely thus men sayth 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 Soone after this the wyf hir routyng leet 4215 And gan awake and wente hir out to pisse And cam agayn and gan hir cradel mysse And groped heer and ther but she fond noon Allas quod she I hadde almoost mysgoon I hadde almoost goon to the clerkes bed 4220 Ey benedicite thanne had I foule ysped And forth she gooth til she the cradel fond She gropeth alwey forther with hir hond And fond the bed and thoghte noght but good Bycause that the cradel by it stood 4225 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 And on this goode wyf he leyth on soore 4230 So mury a fit ne hadde she nat ful yoore 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 Aleyn wax wery in the dawenynge 4235 For he had swonken al the longe nyght And seyde farewel Malyn swete wight The day is come I may no lenger byde But eueremo wher so I go or ryde I is thyn awen clerk so haue I sel 4240 Now deere lemman quod she go farewel 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 Thow shalt a cake of half a busshel fynde 4245 That was ymaked of thyn owene mele Which that I heelp my sire for to stele And goode lemman god thee saue and kepe And with that word almoost she gan to wepe Aleyn vprist and thoghte er that it dawe 4250 I wol go crepen in by my felawe 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 That maketh me that I go noght aright 4255 I woot wel by the cradel I haue mysgo Here lyth the millere and his wyf also And forth he gooth a twenty deuelway Vnto the bed ther as the millere lay He wende haue cropen by his felawe Iohn 4260 And by the millere in he creep anoon 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 For by that lord that called is seint Iame 4265 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 A false traytour false clerk quod he 4270 Thou shalt be deed by goddes dignytee Who dorste be so bold to disparage My doghter that is come of swich lynage And by the throte$bolle he caughte Alayn And he hente hym despitously agayn 4275 And on the nose he smoot hym with his fest Doun ran the blody streem vpon his brest And in the floor with nose and mouth tobroke They walwen as doon two pigges in a poke And vp they goon and doun agayn anoon 4280 Til that the millere sporned at a stoon And doun he fil bakward vpon his wyf That wiste nothyng of this nyce stryf For she was falle aslepe a litel wight With Iohn the clerk that waked hadde al nyght 4285 And with the fal out of hir sleep she breyde Help holy cros of Brom holm she seyde =In manus tuas\ lord to thee I calle Awake Symond the feend is on me falle Myn herte is broken help I nam but ded 4290 Ther lyth oon vpon my wombe and on myn heed 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 To fynde a staf and she sterte vp also 4295 And knew the estres bet than dide this Iohn And by the wal a staf she fond anon And saugh a litel shymeryng of a light For at an hole in shoon the moone bright And by that light she saugh hem bothe two 4300 But sikerly she nyste who was who But as she saugh a whit thyng in hir eye And whan she gan this white thyng espye She wende the clerk hadde wered a voluper And with the staf she drow ay ner and ner 4305 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 And greithen hem and took hir hors anon 4310 And eke hir mele and on hir wey they gon And at the mille yet they toke hir cake Of half a busshel flour ful wel ybake Thus is the proude millere wel ybete And hath ylost the gryndyng of his whete 4315 And payed for the soper euerydel Of Aleyn and of Iohn that bette hym wel His wyf is swyued and his doghter als Lo swich it is a millere to be fals And therfore this prouerbe is seyd ful sooth 4320 Hym thar nat wene wel that yuele dooth A gylour shal hym self bigiled be And god that sitteth heighe in magestee Saue al this compaignye grete and smale Thus haue I quyt the millere in my tale <%the prologe of the cokes tale%> 4325 The cook of Londoun whil the reue spak For ioye hym thoughte he clawed hym on the bak Ha ha quod he for Cristes passioun This millere hadde a sharp conclusioun Vpon his argument of herbergage 4330 Wel seyde Salomon in his langage Ne bryng nat euery man into thyn hous For herberwyng by nyghte is perilous Wel oghte a man auysed for to be Whom that he broghte into his pryuetee 4335 I pray to god so yeue me sorwe and care If euer sith I highte Hogge of Ware Herde I a millere bettre yset a#werk He hadde a iape of malice in the derk But god forbede that we stynten heere 4340 And therfore if ye vouche$sauf to heere A tale of me that am a poure man I wol yow telle as wel as euere I kan A litel iape that fil in oure citee Oure hoost answerde and seyde I graunte it thee 4345 Now tel on Roger look that it be good For many a pastee hastow laten blood And many a Iakke$of$Douer hastow soold That hath been twies hoot and twies coold Of many a pilgrym hastow Cristes curs 4350 For of thy persely yet they fare the wors That they han eten with thy stubbul goos For in thy shoppe is many a flye loos Now telle on gentil Roger by thy name But yet I praye thee be nat wrooth for game 4355 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 And ther#fore Herry Bailly by thy feith Be thou nat wrooth er we departen heer 4360 Thogh that my tale be of an hostileer But nathelees I wol nat telle it yit But er we parte ywis thow shalt be quyt And ther#with#al he lough and made cheere And seyde his tale as ye shal after heere <%heere bigynneth the cookes tale%> 4365 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 With lokkes blake ykembd ful fetisly 4370 Dauncen he koude so wel and iolily That he was cleped Perkyn Reuelour He was as ful of loue and paramour As is the hyue ful of hony swete Wel was the wenche with hym myghte mete 4375 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 Til that he hadde al the sighte yseyn 4380 And daunced wel he wolde noght come ageyn And gadred hym a meynee of his sort To hoppe and synge and maken swich disport And ther they setten steuene for to meete To pleyen at the dys in swich a streete 4385 For in the toune nas ther no prentys That fairer koude caste a paire of dys Than Perkyn koude and ther to he was free Of his dispense in place of pryuetee That fond his maister wel in his chaffare 4390 For ofte tyme he foond his box ful bare For sikerly a prentys reuelour That haunteth dys ryot or paramour His maister shal it in his shoppe abye Al haue he no part of the mynstralcye 4395 For thefte and riot they been conuertible Al konne he pleye on gyterne or ribible Reuel and trouthe as in a lowe degree They been ful wrothe al day as men may see This ioly prentys with his maister bood 4400 Til he were neigh out of his prentyshood Al were he snybbed bothe erly and late And som#tyme lad with reuel to Newgate But atte laste his maister hym bithoghte Vpon a day whan he his paper soghte 4405 Of a prouerbe that seith this same word Wel bet is roten appul out of hord Than that it rotie al the remenaunt So fareth it by a riotous seruaunt It is ful lasse harm to lete hym pace 4410 Than he shende al the seruantz in the place Ther#fore his maister yaf hym acquitaunce And bad hym go with sorwe and with meschaunce And thus this ioly prentys hadde his leue Now lat hym riote al the nyght or leue 4415 And for ther is no theef with#oute 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 Vnto a compeer of his owene sort 4420 That loued dys and reuel and disport And hadde a wyf that held for contenaunce A shoppe and swyued for hir sustenaunce <%the wordes of the hoost to the compaignye%> Oure hoost saugh wel that the brighte sonne The ark of his artificial day hath ronne The ferthe part and half an houre and moore And thogh he were nat depe ystert in loore 5 He wiste it was the xviijthe day Of Aprill 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 10 And therfore by the shadwe he took his wit That Phebus which that shoon so clere and brighte Degrees was fyue and fourty clombe on highte And for that day as in that latitude It was ten at the clokke he gan conclude 15 And sodeynly he plighte his hors aboute 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 20 Lordynges the tyme wasteth nyght and day 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 25 Wel kan Senec and many a philosophre 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 with#outen drede 30 Namoore than wol Malkyns maydenhede Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse Lat vs nat mowlen thus in ydelnesse Sire man of lawe quod he so haue ye blis Tel vs a tale anon as forward is 35 Ye been submytted thurgh youre free assent To stonden in this cas at my iuggement Acquiteth yow nowe of youre biheste Thanne haue ye doon youre deuoir atte leste Hoost quod he =depardieux\ ich assente 40 To breke forward is nat myn entente 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 hym#self vsen it by right 45 Thus wol oure text but nathelees certeyn 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 50 Of olde tyme as knoweth many a man And if he haue nat seyd hem leeue brother In o book he hath seyd hem in another For he hath told of louers vp and doun Mo than Ouide made of mencioun 55 In his epistles that been ful olde What sholde I tellen hem syn they been tolde In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcione And sithen hath he spoke of euerychone Thise noble wyues and thise loueres eke 60 Who#so that wol his large volume seke Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupide Ther may he seen the large woundes wyde Of Lucresse and of Babilan Tesbee The swerd of Dido for the false Enee 65 The tree of Phillis for hir Demophon The pleinte of Dianire and of Hermyon Of Adriane and of Isiphilee The bareyne ile stondynge in the see The dreynte Leandre for his Erro 70 The teeris of Eleyne and eke the wo Of Brixseyde and of the Ladomya The crueltee of the queene Medea The litel children hangyng by the hals For thy Iason that was of loue so fals 75 O Ypermystra Penolopee Alceste Youre wifhode he comendeth with the beste But certeinly no word ne writeth he Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee That loued hir owene brother synfully Of swiche cursed stories I sey fy 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 85 Whan he hir threw vp#on the pauement And ther#fore he of ful auysement Nolde neuere write in noon of his sermons Of swiche vnkynde abhominacions Ne I wol noon reherce if that I may 90 But of my tale how shal I doon this day Me were looth be likned doutelees To Muses that men clepe Pierides =Methamorphosios\ woot what I mene But nathelees I recche noght a bene 95 Thogh I come after hym with hawe bake 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 <%the prologe of the mannes tale of lawe%> 99 O hateful harm condicion of pouerte With thurst with cold with hunger so confoundid To asken help thee shameth in thyn herte If thou noon aske with nede artow so woundid That verray nede vnwrappeth al thy wounde hid Maugree thyn heed thou most for indigence 105 Or stele or begge or borwe thy despence Thou blamest Crist and seist ful bitterly He mysdeparteth richesse temporal Thy neighebore thow witest synfully And seist thow hast to lite and he hath al 110 Parfay seistow som#tyme he rekne shal Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the gleede For he noght helpeth nedefulle in hir nede Herkne what is the sentence of the wise Bet is to dyen than haue indigence 115 Thy selue neighebore wol thee despise If thow be poure farewel reuerence Yet of the wise man tak this sentence Alle the dayes of poure men been wikke Be war ther#fore er thow come to that prikke 120 If thou be poure thy brother hateth thee 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 124 Youre bagges been noght filled with =ambes as\ But with =sys cynk\ that renneth for youre chaunce 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 130 And tales bothe of pees and of debat 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 <%heere bigynneth the man of lawe his tale%> In Surrye whilom dwelte a compaignye 135 Of chapmen riche and ther#to sadde and trewe That wyde#where senten hir spicerye Clothes of gold and satyns riche of hewe Hir chaffare was so thrifty and so newe That euery wight hath deyntee to chaffare 140 With hem and eek to sellen hem hir ware Now fil it that the maistres of that sort Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende Were it for chapmanhode or for disport Noon oother message wolde they thider sende 145 But comen hem#self to Rome this is the ende And in swich place as thoughte hem auauntage For hir entente they take hir herbergage Soiourned han thise marchauntz in that toun A certein tyme as fil to hir plesaunce 150 But so bifel that the excellent renoun Of themperours doghter dame Custaunce Reported was with euery circumstaunce Vnto thise Surryen marchauntz in swich wise Fro day to day as I shal yow deuyse 155 This was the commune voys of euery man 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 160 I pray to god in honour hir sustene And wolde she were of al Europe the queene In hire is heigh beautee with#oute pryde Youthe with outen grenehede or folye To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde 165 Humblesse hath slayn in hir al tirannye She is mirour of alle 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 170 But now to purpos lat vs turne agayn 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 175 And lyuen in wele I kan sey yow namoore Now fil it that thise marchauntz stode in grace Of hym that was the sowdan of Surrye For whan they come from any straunge place He wolde of his benygne curteisye 180 Make hem good cheere and bisily espye Tidynges of sondry regnes for to leere The wondres that they myghte seen or heere Amonges othere thynges specially Thise marchauntz han hym told of dame Custaunce 185 So greet noblesse in ernest ceriously 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 hire whil his lyf may dure 190 Parauenture in thilke large book 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 195 Is writen god woot who#so koude it rede The deeth of euery man with#outen drede In sterres many a wynter ther biforn Was writen the deeth of Ector Achilles Of Pompei Iulius er they were born 200 The stryf of Thebes and of Hercules 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 pryuee conseil sente 205 And shortly of this matere for to pace He hath to hem declared his entente And seyde hem certein but he myghte haue grace To han Custaunce with inne a litel space He nas but deed and charged hem in hye 210 To shapen for his lyf som remedye Diuerse men diuerse thynges seyden They argumenten casten vp and doun Many a subtil reson forth they leyden They speken of magyk and abusioun 215 But finally as in conclusioun They kan nat seen in that noon auauntage Ne in noon oother wey saue mariage Thanne sawe they ther#inne swich difficultee By wey of reson for to speke al playn 220 By cause that ther was swich diuersitee Bitwene hir bothe lawes that they seyn They trowe that no cristen prince wolde fayn Wedden his child vnder oure lawes swete That vs was taught by Mahoun oure prophete 225 And he answerde rather than I lese Custaunce I wol be cristned doutelees I moot been hires I may noon oother chese I pray yow hold youre argumentz in pees Saueth my lyf and beth noght recchelees 230 To geten hire that hath my lyf in cure For in this wo I may nat longe endure What nedeth gretter dilatacioun I seye by tretys and embassadrye And by the popes mediacioun 235 And al the chirche and al the chiualrie That in destruccioun of Maumetrie And in encrees of Cristes lawe deere They been acorded so as ye shal heere How that the sowdan and his baronage 240 And alle his lieges sholde ycristned be And he shal han Custaunce in mariage And certeyn gold I noot what quantitee And heer#to founden sufficient seuretee This same acord was sworn on either syde 245 Now faire Custaunce al myghty god thee gyde 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 250 Wel may men knowen that so greet ordinaunce May no man tellen in a litel clause As was arrayed for so heigh a cause Bisshopes been shapen with hire for to wende Lordes ladies knyghtes of renoun 255 And oother folk ynowe this is th+ende And notified is thurgh#out the toun That euery wight with greet deuocioun Sholde preyen Crist that he this mariage Receyue in gree and spede this viage 260 The day is comen of hir departynge I seye the woful day fatal is come That ther may be no lenger tariynge But forthward they hem dressen alle and some Custaunce that was with sorwe al ouercome 265 Ful pale arist and dresseth hire to wende For wel she seeth ther is noon oother ende Allas what wonder is it thogh she wepte That shal be sent to straunge nacioun Fro freendes that so tendrely hir kepte 270 And to be bounden vnder subieccioun Of oon she knoweth noght his condicioun Housbondes been alle goode and han been yoore That knowen wyues I dar sey yow namoore Fader she seyde thy wrecched child Custaunce 275 Thy yonge doghter fostred vp so softe 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 280 Ne shal I neuere seen yow moore with eye 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 his hestes to fulfille 285 I wrecche womman no fors thogh I spille Wommen are born to thraldom and penaunce And to been vnder mannes gouernaunce I trowe at Troye whan Pirrus brak the wal Or Ylion brende Thebes the citee 290 Nat Rome for the harm thurgh Hanybal 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 wher#so she wepe or synge 295 O firste moeuyng cruel firmament With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay And hurlest al from est til occident That naturelly wolde holde another way Thy crowdyng set the heuene in swich array 300 At the bigynnyng of this fiers viage 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 305 O Mars o Atazir as in this cas O fieble moone vnhappy been thy pas Thow knyttest thee ther thow art nat receyued Ther thow were wel fro thennes artow weyued Inprudent emperour of Rome allas 310 Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun 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 315 Allas we been to lewed or to slowe To ship is broght this woful faire mayde Solempnely with euery circumstaunce Now Iesu Crist be with yow alle she sayde Ther nys namoore but fare wel faire Custaunce 320 She peyneth hire to make good contenaunce And forth I lete hir saille in this manere And turne I wol agayn to my matere The moder of the sowdan welle of vices Espied hath hir sones pleyn entente 325 How he wol lete his olde sacrifices And right anon she for hir conseil sente And they ben come to knowen what she mente And whan assembled was this folk in#feere She sette hir doun and seyde as ye shal heere 330 Lordes quod she ye knowen euerychon 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 335 The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte Or Makometes lawe out of myn herte What sholde vs tyden of this newe lawe But thraldom to oure bodies and penaunce And afterward in helle to be drawe 340 For we reneyed Mahoun oure creaunce But lordes wol ye maken assuraunce As I shal seyn assentyng to my loore And I shal make vs sauf for euere moore They sworen and assenten euery man 345 To lyue with hire and dye and by hir stonde And euerich in the beste wise he kan To strengthen hire shal alle his freendes fonde And she hath this emprise ytake on honde Which ye shal heren that I shal deuyse 350 And to hem alle she spak right in this wise 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 355 For thogh his wyf be cristned neuer so white She shal haue nede to wasshe awey the rede Thogh she a font#ful water with hir lede O sowdanesse roote of iniquitee Virago thow Semyrame the secounde 360 O serpent vnder femynynytee 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 365 O Sathan enuyous syn thilke day 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 370 Thyn instrument so weylawey the while Makestow of wommen whan thou wolt bigile This sowdanesse whom I thus blame and warye Leet pryuely hir conseil goon hir way What sholde I in this tale lenger tarye 375 She rideth to the sowdan on a day And seyde hym that she wolde reneye hir lay And cristendom of preestes handes fonge Repentynge hir she hethen was so longe Bisekyng hym to doon hire that honour 380 That she moste han the cristen folk to feste To plesen hem I wol do my labour The sowdan seith I wol doon at youre heste And knelynge thanketh hire of that requeste So glad he was he nyste what to seye 385 She kiste hir sone and hom she gooth hir weye <=Explicit prima pars\> <=Sequitur pars secunda\> 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 390 And seyde his wyf was comen out of doute And preyde hire for to ryde agayn the queene The honour of his regne to sustene Greet was the prees and riche was th+array Of Surryens and Romayns met yfeere 395 The moder of the sowdan riche and gay Receyueth hire with al so glad a cheere As any moder myghte hir doghter deere And to the nexte citee ther bisyde A softe paas solempnely they ryde 400 Naught trowe I the triumphe of Iulius Of which that Lucan maketh swich a boost Was roialler ne moore curyus Than was th+assemblee of this blisful oost But this scorpion this wikked goost 405 The sowdanesse for al hir flaterynge 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 blis 410 And thus in myrthe and ioye I lete hem dwelle 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 415 Ordeyned hath this feste of which I tolde 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 420 But al to deere they boghte it er they ryse O sodeyn wo that euere art successour To worldly blisse spreynd with bitternesse The ende of the ioye of oure worldly labour Wo occupieth the fyn of oure gladnesse 425 Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse Vpon thy glade day haue in thy mynde The vnwar wo or harm that comth bihynde  For shortly for to tellen at o word The sowdan and the cristen euerichone 430 Been al to hewe and stiked at the bord But it were oonly dame Custaunce allone This olde sowdanesse cursed crone Hath with hir freendes doon this cursed dede For she hir#self wolde al the contree lede 435 Ne ther nas Surryen noon that was conuerted 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 440 They han hir set and bidde hir lerne saille 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 445 And forth she sailleth in the salte see 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 450 Vnto the croys of Crist thus seyde she 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 455 That day that I shal drenchen in the depe 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 460 Flemere of feendes out of hym and here On which thy lymes feithfully extenden Me kepe and yeue me myght my lyf t+amenden Yeres and dayes fleet this creature Thurghout the see of Grece vnto the strayte 465 Of Marrok as it was hir auenture 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 470 Men myghten asken why she was noght slayn 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 475 Was with the leoun frete er he asterte No wight but god that he bar in his herte God liste to shewe his wonderful myracle In hire for we sholde seen his myghty werkes Crist which that is to euery harm triacle 480 By certein menes ofte as knowen clerkes 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 485 Who kept hire fro the drenchyng in the see Who kepte Ionas in the fisshes mawe Til he was spouted vp at Nynyuee Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he That kepte peple Ebrayk from hir drenchynge 490 With drye feet thurgh#out the see passynge Who bad the foure spiritz of tempest That power han tanoyen lond and see Bothe north and south and also west and est Anoyeth neither see ne land ne tree 495 Soothly the comandour of that was he 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 Thre yeer and moore how lasteth hir vitaille 500 Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the caue Or in the 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 505 She dryueth forth into oure occian Thurghout oure 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 510 That thennes wolde it noght of al a tyde The wyl of Crist was that she sholde abyde The constable of the castel doun is fare To seen this wrak and al the ship he soghte And foond this wery womman ful of care 515 He foond also the tresor that she broghte 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 maner Latyn corrupt was hir speche 520 But algates therby was she vnderstonde This 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 525 For foul ne fair thogh that she sholde deye She seyde she was so mazed in the see That she forgat hir mynde by hir trouthe The constable hath of hire so greet pitee And eek his wyf that they wepen for routhe 530 She was so diligent with#outen slouthe To serue and plese euerich in that place That alle hir louen that looken on hir face This constable and dame Hermengyld his wyf Were payens and that contree euerywhere 535 But Hermengyld loued hire right as hir lyf 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 that place 540 In al that land no cristen dorste route 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 545 Of olde Britons dwellyng in this ile 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 550 And neigh the castel swiche ther dwelten thre 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 555 For which the constable and his wyf also 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 560 Croked and old with eyen faste yshette In name of Crist cride this blynde Britoun Dame Hermengyld yif me my sighte agayn This lady weex affrayed of the soun Lest that hir housbonde shortly for to sayn 565 Wolde hire for Iesu Cristes loue han slayn 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 And seide what amounteth al this fare 570 Custaunce answerde sire it is Cristes myght 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 574 Conuerteth and on Crist made hym bileue This constable was no thyng lord of this place Of which I speke ther he Custaunce fond But kepte it strongly many wyntres$space Vnder Alla kyng of al Northumberlond That was ful wys and worthy of his hond 580 Agayn the Scottes as men may wel heere But turne I wol agayn to my matere Sathan that euere vs waiteth to bigile Saugh of Custaunce al hir perfeccioun 584 And caste anon how he myghte quite hir while And made a yong knyght that dwelte in that toun Loue hire so hote of foul affeccioun That verraily hym thoughte he sholde spille But he of hire myghte ones haue his wille He woweth hire but it auailleth noght 590 She wolde do no synne by no weye And for despit he compassed in his thoght To maken hire on shameful deeth to deye He wayteth whan the constable was aweye And pryuely vpon a nyght he crepte 595 In Hermengildes chambre whil she slepte Wery forwaked in hir orisons Slepeth Custaunce and Hermengild also This knyght thurgh Sathans temptacions Al softely is to the bed ygo 600 And kitte the throte of Hermengild atwo And leyde the blody knyf by dame Custaunce And wente his wey ther god yeue hym meschaunce Soone after cometh this constable hom agayn And eek Alla that kyng was of that lond 605 And saw his wyf despitously yslayn 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 610 To kyng Alla was told al this meschaunce And eek the tyme and where and in what wise That in a ship was founden this Custaunce As her#biforn that ye han herd deuyse The kynges herte of pitee gan agryse 615 Whan he saw so benygne a creature Falle in disese and in mysauenture For as the lomb toward his deeth is broght So stant this innocent bifore the kyng 619 This false knyght that hath this treson wroght Bereth hire on hond that she hath doon this thyng 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 hire euere so vertuous 625 And louyng Hermengild as hir lyf 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 630 Depper in this a trouthe for to lere 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 635 So be thy stronge champion this day For but if Crist open miracle kythe Withouten gilt thow shalt been slayn as swythe She sette hir doun on knees and thus she sayde Inmortal god that sauedest Susanne 640 Fro fals blame and thow merciful mayde 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 645 Haue ye nat seyn som tyme a pale face 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 650 Amonges alle the faces in that route So stant Custance and looketh hire aboute O queenes lyuynge in prosperitee Duchesses and ye ladies euerichone Haueth som routhe on hir aduersitee 655 An emperoures doghter stant allone She hath no wight to whom to make hir mone O blood roial that stondest in this drede Fer ben thy freendes at thy grete nede This Alla kyng hath swich compassioun 660 As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee 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 665 Whom that we wole that shal been oure iustise A Briton book writen with Euangiles Was fet and on this book he swoor anoon She gilty was and in the mene whiles An hand hym smoot vpon the nekke$boon 670 That doun he fel atones as a stoon And bothe his eyen broste out of his face In sighte of euerybody in that place A voys was herd in general audience And seyde thow hast disclaundred giltelees 675 The doghter of holy chirche in heigh presence 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 680 Greet was the drede and eek the repentaunce Of hem that hadden wrong suspecioun Vpon this sely innocent Custaunce And for this miracle in conclusioun And by Custances mediacioun 685 The kyng and many another in that place 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 690 And after this Iesus of his mercy Made Alla wedden ful solempnely This holy mayden that is so bright and shene And thus hath Crist ymaad Custance a queene But who was woful if I shal nat lye 695 Of this weddyng but Donegild and namo 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 700 So straunge a creature vnto his make Me list nat of the chaf ne of the stree Maken so long a tale as of the corn What sholde I tellen of the roialtee At mariage or which cours gooth biforn 705 Who bloweth in a trompe or in an horn 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 For though that wyues been ful holy thynges 710 They moste take in pacience at nyght Swich maner necessaryes 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 715 On hire he gat a knaue$child anon And to a bisshop and his constable eke He took his wyf to kepe whan he is gon To Scotlondward his foomen for to seke Now faire Custaunce that is so humble and meke 720 So longe is goon with childe til that stille She halt hir chambre abidyng Cristes wille The tyme is come a knaue$child she beer Mauricius at the font$stoon they hym calle This constable dooth forth come a messager 725 And wroot vnto his kyng that cleped was Alle How that this blisful tidynge is bifalle And othere tidynges speedful for to seye He tath the lettre and forth he goth his weye This messager to doon his auauntage 730 Vnto the kynges moder rideth swithe And salueth hire ful faire in his langage Madame quod he ye may be glad and blithe And thanketh god an hundred thousand sithe My lady queene hath child withouten doute 735 To ioye and blisse of al this regne aboute Lo here the lettres seled of this thyng That I moot bere with al the haste I may If ye wol aught vnto youre sone the kyng I am youre seruaunt bothe nyght and day 740 Donegild answerde as now at this tyme nay But here al nyght I wol thow take thy reste Tomorwe wol I seye thee what me leste This messager drank sadly ale and wyn And stolen were his lettres pryuely 745 Out of his box whil he sleep as a swyn And countrefeted was ful subtilly Another lettre wroght ful synfully Vnto the kyng direct of this matere Fro his constable as ye shal after heere 750 The lettre spak the queene deliuered was Of so horrible a fendlich creature That in the castel noon so hardy was That any while dorste ther endure The moder was an elf by auenture 755 Ycomen by charmes or by sorcerye And euerich hateth hir compaignye Wo was this kyng whan he this lettre had seyn But to no wight he tolde his sorwes soore But of his owene hond he wroot ageyn 760 Welcome the sonde of Crist for euere moore To me that am now lerned in his loore Lord welcome be thy lust and thy plesaunce My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce Kepeth this child al be it foul or feir 765 And eek my wyf vnto myn hom$comynge 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 770 And forth he goth ther is namoore to doone O messager fulfild of dronkenesse Strong is thy breeth thy lymes faltren ay And thow biwreyest alle secrenesse Thy mynde is lorn thow ianglest as a iay 775 Thy face is turned in a new array Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route Ther is no conseil hid withouten doute O Donegild I ne haue noon Englissh digne Vnto thy malice and thy tirannye 780 And therfore to the feend I thee resigne Lat hym enditen of thy traitorie Fy mannyssh fy o nay by god I lye Fy feendlich spirit for I dar wel telle Thogh thow heere walke thy spirit is in helle 785 This messager comth fro the kyng agayn 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 790 He slepeth and he fnorteth in his gyse 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 795 Vp peyne of hangyng and on heigh iuyse That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse Custance in#with his regne for t+abyde Thre dayes and a quarter of a tyde But in the same ship as he hir fond 800 Hire and hir yonge sone and al hir geere He sholde putte and crowde hir fro the lond And charge hire that she neuere eft come there O my custaunce wel may thy goost haue fere And slepyng in thy dreem been in penaunce 805 Whan Donegild caste al this ordinaunce 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 810 Ful ofte he seyde allas and weilawey 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 Sith thow art rightful iuge how may it be 815 That thow wolt suffren innocentz to spille And wikked folk regnen in prosperitee O goode Custaunce allas wo is me That I moot be thy tormentour or deye On shames deeth ther is noon oother weye 820 Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that place 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 825 The wyl of Crist and knelyng on the stronde 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 from harm and eek fro shame 830 In salte see althogh I se noght how 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 835 And knelyng pitously to hym she seyde Pees litel sone I wol do thee noon harm With that hir couerchief of hir hed she breyde And ouer his litel eyen she it leyde And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste 840 And into heuene hir eyen vp she caste Moder quod she and mayde 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 845 Thy blisful eyen sawe al his torment Thanne is ther no comparison bitwene Thy wo and any wo man may sustene Thow saw thy child yslayn bifore thyne eyen And yet now lyueth my litel child parfay 850 Now lady bright to whom alle woful cryen Thow glorie of wommanhod thow faire may Thow hauen of refut brighte sterre of day Rewe on my child that of thy gentillesse Rewest on euery rewful in distresse 855 O litel child allas what is thy gilt 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 860 And if thow darst noght sauen hym for blame So kys hym ones in his fadres name Therwith she looketh bakward to the londe And seyde farewel housbonde routhelees And vp she rist and walketh doun the stronde 865 Toward the ship hir folweth al the prees 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 870 Habundantly for hire ful longe space 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 875 But in the see she dryueth forth hir weye <=Explicit secunda pars\> <=Sequitur pars tercia\> Alla the kyng comth hom soone after this Vnto his castel of the which I tolde And axeth where his wyf and his child is The constable gan aboute his herte colde 880 And pleynly al the manere he hym tolde 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 Vp peyne of deeth so haue I doon certein 885 This messager tormented was til he 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 890 The hond was knowe that the lettre wroot 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 895 For that she traytour was to hir ligeaunce Thus endeth olde Donegild with meschaunce The sorwe that this Alla nyght and day Maketh for hir wyf and for his child also Ther is no tonge that it telle may 900 But now wol I vnto Custaunce go 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 905 Of which the name in my text noght I fynde 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 eft soone 910 In point to spille as I shal telle yow soone Doun from 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 915 A theef that hadde reneyed oure creaunce Cam into ship allone and seyde he sholde Hir lemman be wher#so she wolde or nolde Wo was this wrecched womman tho bigon Hir child cride and she cride pitously 920 But blisful Marie heelp hire right anon 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 925 O foule lust of luxurie lo thyn ende Nat oonly that thow 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 930 That noght for werk somtyme but for th+entente 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 935 How myhgte Dauid make thee so maat 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 940 To sleen hym Olofernus in his tente 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 945 So sente he myght and vigour to Custaunce Forth gooth hir ship thurgh out the narwe mouth Of Iubaltare and Septe dryuyng ay Somtyme west and somtyme north and south And somtyme est ful many a wery day 950 Til Cristes moder blessed be she ay Hath shapen thurgh hir endelees goodnesse To make an ende of al hir heuynesse Now lat vs stynte of Custaunce but a throwe And speke we of the Romayn emperour 955 That out of Surrye hath by lettres knowe 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 960 For which this emperour hath sent anon 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 965 Ful many a day but shortly this is th+ende 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 970 In which Custaunce sit ful pitously 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 hire to Rome and to his wyf 975 He yaf hire and hir yonge sone also 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 980 In holy werkes euere as was hir grace 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 985 That for his wyf wepeth and siketh soore I wol retourne and lete I wole Custaunce Vnder the senatours gouernaunce Kyng Alla which that hadde his moder slayn Vpon a day fil in swich repentaunce 990 That if I shortly tellen shal and playn To Rome he comth 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 995 The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is born 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 1000 As wel to shewen his heighe magnificence 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 1005 And so bifel that in a day or two 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 1010 This senatour hath lad this child to feste I may nat tellen euery 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 1015 The child stood lookyng in the kynges face 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 1020 A moder he hath but fader hath he non That I of woot and shortly in a stounde He tolde Alla how that this child was founde But god wot quod this senatour also So vertuous a lyuere in my lyf 1025 Ne saw I neuere as she ne herde of mo 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 1030 Now was this child as lyk vnto Custaunce 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 1035 That is his wyf and pryuely he sighte 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 wyf is deed 1040 And afterward he made his argument What woot I if that Crist haue hider sent My wyf by see as wel as he hir sente To my contree fro thennes that she wente And after noon hom with the senatour 1045 Goth Alla for to seen this wonder chaunce This senatour dooth Alla greet honour And hastily he sente after Custaunce But trusteth wel hir liste noght to daunce Whan that she wiste wherfore was that sonde 1050 Vnnethe vpon hir feet she myghte stonde 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 1055 And she for sorwe as domb stant as a tree So was hir herte shet in hir distresse Whan she remembred his vnkyndenesse Twies she swowneth in his owene sighte He weep and hym excuseth pitously 1060 Now god quod he and his halwes brighte 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 1065 Long was the sobbyng and the bitter peyne 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 1070 I may nat telle hir wo vntil tomorwe 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 1075 And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem two 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 1080 In relief of hir longe pitous pyne That he wolde preye hir fader specially That of his magestee he wolde enclyne To vouche$sauf som day with hym to dyne She preyde hym eek he sholde by no weye 1085 Vnto hir fader no word of hir seye Som men wolde seyn how that the child Maurice Dooth this message vnto this emperour But as I gesse Alla was noght so nyce To hym that was of so souereyn honour 1090 As he that is of cristen folk the flour Sente any child but it is bet to deme He wente hymself and so it may wel seme This emperour hath graunted gentilly To come to dyner as he hym bisoghte 1095 And wel rede I he looked bisily 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 1100 The morwe cam and Alla gan hym dresse And eek his wyf this emperour to meete And forth they ryde in ioye and in gladnesse And whan she saugh hir fader in the strete She lighte doun and falleth hym to feete 1105 Fader quod she youre yonge child Custaunce 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 1110 Was put allone and dampned for to dye Now goode fader mercy I yow crye Sende me namoore vnto noon hethenesse But thonketh my lord heere of his kyndenesse Who kan the pitous ioye tellen al 1115 Bitwix hem thre syn they be thus ymette 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 1120 A thousand fold wel moore than I kan telle 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 1125 Of Custaunce is my tale specially In the olde Romayn gestes may men fynde Maurices lyf I bere it noght in mynde This kyng Alla whan he his tyme say With his Custaunce his holy wyf so swete 1130 To Engelond been they come the righte way Wheras 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 day it chaungeth as the tyde 1135 Who lyued euere in swich delit a day That hym ne moeued outher conscience Or ire or talent or som kynnes affray Enuye or pryde or passion or offence I ne seye but for this ende this sentence 1140 That litel while in ioye or in plesaunce 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 1145 For whom Custance hath ful greet heuynesse Now lat vs prayen god his soule blesse And dame Custaunce fynally to seye Toward the toun of Rome gooth hir weye To Rome is come this holy creature 1150 And fyndeth hire freendes hoole and sounde Now is she scaped al hir auenture And whan that she hir fader hath yfounde Doun on hir knees falleth she to grounde Wepynge for tendrenesse in herte blithe 1155 She herieth god an hundred thousand sithe In vertu and holy almes 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 1160 Now Iesu Crist that of his myght may sende Ioye after wo gouerne vs in his grace And kepe vs alle that been in this place <%\the man of law's end-link\%> Our hoost vp#on his stiropes stood anoon And seyde gode men herkneth euerichoon 1165 This was a thrifty tale for the nones Sire parisshe prest quod he for goddes bones Tel vs a tale as was thy forward yore I se wel that ye lerned men in lore Kan muche good by goddes dignytee 1170 The persoun hym answerde benedicite What eyleth the man so synfully to swere Our hoost answerde O Iankyn be ye there I smelle a loller in the wynd quod he Now gode men quod our hoost herkneth me 1175 Abydeth for goddes digne passioun For we shal han a predicacioun This loller heer wil prechen vs som#what Nay by my fader soule that shal he nat Seyde the somnour heer shal he nat preche 1180 He shal no gospel glosen heer ne teche We leue alle in the grete god quod he He wolde sowen som difficultee Or spryngen cokkel in our clene corn And therfor hoost I warne thee biforn 1185 My ioly body shal a tale telle And I shal clynken yow so mery a belle That I shal waken al this compaignye But it shal nat ben of philosophye Ne phislyas ne termes queynte of lawe 1190 Ther is but litel Latyn in my mawe <%the prologe of the wyues tale of bathe%> Experience thogh noon auctoritee Were in this world is right ynogh for me To speke of wo that is in mariage For lordynges sith I twelue yeer was of age 5 Thonked be god that is eterne on lyue Housbondes at 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 10 That sith that Crist ne wente neuere but onys 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 15 Bisyde a welle Iesus god and man Spak in repreeue of the Samaritan Thow hast yhad fyue housbondes quod he And that ilke man that now hath thee Is nat thyn housbonde thus he seyde certeyn 20 What that he mente ther#by I kan nat seyn But that I axe why that the fifthe man Was noon housbonde to the Samaritan How manye myghte she haue in mariage Yet herde I neuere tellen in myn age 25 Vpon this nombre diffinicioun Men may dyuyne and glosen vp and doun But wel I woot expres with#outen lye God bad vs for to wexe and multiplye That gentil text kan I wel vnderstonde 30 Eek wel I woot he seyde myn housbonde Sholde lete fader and moder and take to me But of no nombre mencioun made he Of bigamye or of octogamye Why sholde men thanne speke of it vileynye 35 Lo here the wise kyng daun Salomon I trowe he hadde wyues mo than oon As wolde god it leueful were to me To be refresshed half so ofte as he Which yifte of god hadde he for alle his wyuys 40 No man hath swich that in this world alyue is God woot this noble kyng as to my wit The firste nyght had many a murye fit With ech of hem so wel was hym on lyue Blessed be god that I haue wedded fyue 44a Of whiche I haue pyked out the beste Bothe of here nether purs and of here cheste Diuerse scoles maken parfyt clerkes And diuerse practyk in many sondry werkes Maken the werkman parfit sekirly 44f Of fyue husbondes scoleiyng am I 45 Wel#come the sixte whan that euere he shal For sith I wol nat kepe me chaast in al Whan myn housbonde is fro the world ygon Som cristen man shal wedde me anon For thanne th+apostle seith that I am free 50 To wedde a goddes half wher it liketh me 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 55 I woot wel Abraham was an holy man 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 60 That heighe god defended mariage By expres word I pray yow telleth me Or where comanded he virginitee I woot as wel as ye it is no drede Th+apostle whan he speketh of maydenhede 65 He seyde that precept ther of hadde he noon Men may conseille a womman to be oon But conseillyng is no comandement He put it in oure owene iuggement For hadde god comanded maydenhede 70 Thanne hadde he dampned weddyng with the dede And certes if ther were no seed ysowe Virginitee thanne wher of sholde it growe Poul dorste nat comanden at the leeste A thyng of which his maister yaf noon heeste 75 The dart is set vp for virginitee Cacche who#so may who renneth best lat se But this word is noght take of euery wight But ther as god list yeue it of his myght I woot wel that th+apostle was a mayde 80 But nathelees thogh that he wroot and sayde He wolde that euery wight were swich as he Al nys but conseil to virginitee And for to been a wyf he yaf me leue Of indulgence so is it no repreue 85 To wedde me if that my make dye With#oute excepcioun of bigamye Al were it good no womman for to touche He mente as in his bed or in his couche For peril is bothe fyr and tow t+assemble 90 Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble This al and som he heeld virginitee Moore parfit than weddyng in freletee Freletee clepe I but if that he and she Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee 95 I graunte it wel I haue noon enuye 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 100 Ne hath nat euery vessel al of gold 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 105 Virginitee is greet perfeccioun And continence eek with deuocioun But Crist that of perfeccioun is welle Bad nat euery wight he sholde go selle Al that he hadde and yeue it to the poore 110 And in swich wise folwe hym and his foore He spak to hem that wolde 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 115 Telle me also to what conclusioun Were membres maad of generacioun And of so parfit wys a wight ywroght Trusteth right wel they were nat maad for noght Glose who#so wole and seye bothe vp and doun 120 That they were maad for purgacioun Of vryne and oure bothe thynges smale Was eek to knowe a femele from a male And for noon oother cause sey ye no Th+experience woot wel it is noght so 125 So that the clerkes be nat with me wrothe I sey this that they maked been for bothe That is to seye for office and for ese Of engendrure ther we nat god displese Why sholde men ellis in hir bokes sette 130 That man shal yelde to his wyf hir dette Now wher#with 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 135 But I seye noght that euery wight is holde 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 140 And many a seynt sith that the world bigan Yet lyued they euere in parfit chastitee I nyl enuye no virginitee Lat hem be breed of pured whete$seed And lat vs wyues hote barly$breed 145 And yet with barly$breed Mark telle kan Oure lord Iesu refresshed many a man In swich estat as god hath cleped vs I wol perseuere I nam nat precius In wyfhode wol I vse myn instrument 150 As frely as my makere hath it sent If I be daungerous god yeue me sorwe Myn housbonde shal it haue bothe eue and morwe Whan that hym list com forth and paye his dette An housbonde wol I haue I wol nat lette 155 Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral And haue his tribulacioun with#al Vpon his flessh while that I am his wyf I haue the power duryng al my lyf Vpon his propre body and nat he 160 Right thus th+apostle tolde it vnto me 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 165 Ye been a noble prechour in this cas 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 Abyde quod she my tale is nat bigonne 170 Nay thow shalt drynken on another tonne Er that I go shal sauoure wors than ale And whan that I haue toold forth my tale Of tribulacioun in mariage Of which I am expert in al myn age 175 This is to seye my self hath been the whippe Thanne maystow chese whether 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 180 Who#so that nyl be war by othere men By hym shal othere men corrected be Thise same wordes writeth Protholome Rede in his Almageste and take it there Dame I wolde praye yow if youre wil were 185 Seyde this pardoner as ye bigan Telle forth youre tale spareth for no man And teche vs yonge men of youre praktyke Gladly quod she sith it may yow lyke But that I praye to al this compaignye 190 If that I speke after my fantasye 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 and ale 195 I shal seye sooth tho housbondes that I hadde As three of hem were goode and two were badde The thre men were goode and riche and olde Vnnethe myghte they the statut holde In which that they were bounden vnto me 200 Ye woot wel what I mene of this pardee 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 205 Me neded nat do lenger diligence 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 hire euere in oon 210 To gete hir loue ye ther as she hath noon But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hond And sith 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 215 I sette hem so awerke by my fey 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 220 That ech of hem ful blisful was and fawe 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 225 Ye wise wyues that konne vnderstonde Thus sholde ye speke and bere hem wrong on honde For half so boldely kan ther no man Swere and lyen as a womman kan I sey nat this by wyues that ben wyse 230 But if it be whan they hem mysauyse A wys wyf if that she kan hir good Shal beren hym on hond the cow is wood And take witnesse of hir owene mayde Of hir assent but herkneth how I sayde 235 Sire olde kaynard is this thyn array Why is my neighebores wyf so gay She is honoured ouer al ther she goth I sitte at hoom I haue no thrifty cloth What dostow at my neighebores hous 240 Is she so fair artow so amorous What rowne ye with oure mayde benedicite Sire olde lechour lat thy iapes be And if I haue a gossib or a freend With#outen gilt ye chiden as a feend 245 If that I walke or pleye vnto his hous Thow comest hoom as dronken as a mous And prechest on thy bench with yuel preef Thow seyst to me it is a greet meschief To wedde a poure womman for costage 250 And if that she be riche of heigh parage 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 hire haue 255 She may no while in chastitee abyde That is assayled vpon ech a syde Thow seyst som folk desire vs for richesse Somme for oure shap and somme for oure fairnesse And somme for she kan either synge or daunce 260 And somme for gentillesse and daliaunce 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 assailled been ouer al 265 And if that she be foul thow seyst that she Coueiteth euery man that she may se For as a spanyel she wol on hym lepe Til that she fynde som man hir to chepe Ne noon so grey goos goth ther in the lake 270 As seistow wol be with#oute make And seyst it is an hard thyng for to welde A thyng that no man wol his thankes helde Thus seistow lorel whan thow goost to bedde And that no wys man nedeth for to wedde 275 Ne no man that entendeth vnto heuene With wilde thonder$dynt and firy leuene Moote thy welked nekke be to broke Thow seyst that droppyng houses and eek smoke And chidyng wyues maken men to flee 280 Out of hir owene houses a benedicitee What eyleth swich an old man for to chide Thow seyst we wyues wil oure vices hide Til we be fast and thanne we wol hem shewe Wel may that be a prouerbe of a shrewe 285 Thow seist that oxen asses hors and houndes They been assayed at diuerse stoundes Bacynes lauours er that men hem bye Spoones stooles and al swich housbondrye And so be pottes clothes and array 290 But folk of wyues maken noon assay 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 295 And but thow poure alwey vpon my face 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 300 And to my chambrere with#inne my bour 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 305 And for he squyereth me bothe vp and doun Yet hastow caught a fals suspecioun I wil hym nat thogh thow were deed to morwe But tel me this why hidestow with sorwe The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me 310 It is my good as wel as thyn pardee What wenestow make an ydiot of oure dame Now by that lord that called is seint Iame Thou shalt noght bothe thogh thow were wood Be maister of my body and of my good 315 That oon thow shalt forgo maugree thyne eyen What helpeth it of me enquere and spyen I trowe thow woldest loke me in thy chiste Thow sholdest seye wyf go wher thee liste Taak youre disport I nyl leue no talys 320 I knowe yow for a trewe wyf dame Alys We loue no man that taketh kepe or charge Wher that we goon we wol been at oure large Of alle men yblessed moot he be The wise astrologen daun Protholome 325 That seith this prouerbe in his Almageste 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 330 How myrily that othere folkes fare 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 candel at his lanterne 335 He shal han neuer the lasse light pardee 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 340 And yet with sorwe thow most enforce thee\ 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 345 As perles ne with gold ne clothes riche After thy text ne after thy rubriche I wol nat werke as muchel as a gnat Thow seydest this that I was lyk a cat But who#so wolde senge a cattes skyn 350 Than wolde the cat wel dwellen in his in 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 355 This is to seye if I be gay sire shrewe I wol renne out my borel for to shewe Sire olde fool what helpeth thee t+espyen Thogh thow preye Argus with his hundred eyen To be my warde$corps as he kan best 360 In feith he shal nat kepe me but me lest Yet koude I make his berd so moot 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 365 O leeue sire shrewe Iesu shorte thy lyf 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 370 But if a sely wyf be oon of tho 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 375 To consume euery thyng that brent wol be 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 380 Bar i* stifly myne olde housbondes on honde 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 peyne I dide hem and the wo 385 Ful giltlees by goddes swete pyne For as an hors I koude byte and whyne I koude pleyne and I was in the gilt Or elles often tyme I hadde been spilt Who so that first to mille comth first grynt 390 I pleyned first so was oure werre stynt They were ful glad to excusen hem ful blyue Of thyng of which they neuere agilte hir lyue Of wenches wolde I beren hem on honde Whan that for syk they myghte vnnethe stonde 395 Yet tikled I his herte for that he Wende that I hadde of hym so greet chiertee I swoor that al my walkyng out by nyghte Was for to espye wenches that he dighte Vnder that colour hadde I many a myrthe 400 For al swich wit is yeuen vs in oure birthe Deceite wepyng spynnyng god hath yeue To wommen kyndely whil they may lyue And thus of o thyng I auaunte me Atte ende I hadde the bet in ech degree 405 By sleighte or force or by som maner thyng As by continuel murmur or grucchyng Namely abedde hadden they meschaunce Ther wolde I chide and do hem no plesaunce I Wolde no lenger in the bed abyde 410 If that I felte his arm ouer my syde Til he hadde maad his raunceon vnto me Thanne wolde I suffre hym do his nycetee And ther fore euery man this tale I telle Wynne who#so may for al is for to selle 415 With empty hond men may none haukes lure 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 420 For thogh the pope had seten hem bisyde 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 425 I ne owe hem nat a word that it nys quyt I broghte it so aboute by my wit That they moste yeue it vp as for the beste Or elles hadde we neuere been in reste For thogh he looked as a wood leoun 430 Yet sholde he faille of his conclusioun 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 435 And han a swete spiced conscience Sith ye so preche of Iobes pacience Suffreth alwey syn ye so wel kan preche And but ye do certeyn we shal yow teche That it is fair to han a wyf in pees 440 Oon of vs two moste bowen doutelees 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 445 Wy taak it al lo haue it euery del 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 450 Ye be to blame by god I sey yow sooth 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 455 And I was yong and ful of ragerye Stibourne and strong and ioly as a pye How koude I daunce to an harpe smale And syng ywys as any nyghtyngale Whan I had dronke a draughte of swete wyn 460 Metellyus the foule cherl the swyn 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 465 For also siker as coold engendreth hayl 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 470 Vpon my youthe and on my iolytee 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 475 Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith Lat go far wel the deuel go ther#with The flour is goon ther is namoore to telle The bren as I best kan now moste I selle But yet to be right murye wol I fonde 480 Now wol I tellen of my ferthe housbonde 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 485 Nat of my body in no foul manere But certeynly I made folk swich cheere That in his owene grece I made hym frye For angre and for verray ialousye By god in erthe I was his purgatorie 490 For which I hope his soule be in glorie For god it woot he sat ful ofte and song Whan that his shoo ful bitterly hym wrong Ther was no wight saue god and he that wiste In many wise how soore I hym twiste 495 He deyde whan I cam fro Ierusalem And lyth ygraue vnder the roode#beem Al is his toumbe noght so curyous As was the sepulcre of hym Daryus Which that Appelles wroghte subtilly 500 It nys but wast to burye hym preciously 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 505 And yet was he to me the mooste shrewe That feele I on my ribbes al by rewe And euere shal vnto myn endyng$day But in oure bed he was so fressh and gay And ther#with#al so wel koude he me glose 510 Whan that he wolde han my =bele chose\ 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 515 We wommen han if that I shal nat lye In this matere a queynte fantasye Wayte what thyng we may nat lightly haue Ther#after wol we crye al day and craue Forbede vs thyng and that desiren we 520 Preesse on vs faste and thanne wol we fle With daunger oute we al oure chaffare Greet prees at market maketh deere ware And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys This knoweth euery womman that is wys 525 My fifthe housbonde god his soule blesse Which that I took for loue and no richesse He som#tyme was a clerk of Oxenford And hadde laft scole and wente at hom to bord With my gossyb dwellyng in oure toun 530 God haue hir soule hir name was Alisoun She knew myn herte and eek my pryuetee Bet than oure parissh preest so mote I thee To hire biwreyed I my conseil al For hadde myn housbonde pissed on a wal 535 Or doon a thyng that sholde haue cost his lyf 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 540 That made his face often reed and hoot For verray shame and blamed hym#self 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 545 For euere yet I loued to be gay And for to walke in March Auerill and May From hous to hous to here sondry tales That Iankyn clerk and my gossyb dame Alys And I my#self into the feeldes wente 550 Myn housbonde was at Londoun al that Lente 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 555 Ther#fore I made my visitacions To vigilies and to processions To prechyng eek and to thise pilgrymages To pleyes of myracles and of mariages And wered vpon my gaye scarlet gytes 560 Thise wormes ne thise moththes ne thise mytes Vpon my peril frete hem neuere 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 565 Til trewely we hadde swich daliaunce 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 570 Yet was I neuere with#outen purueiaunce Of mariage n+of othere thynges eek I holde a mouses herte nat worth a leek That hath but oon hole for to sterte to And if that faille thanne is al ydo 575 I bar hym on honde he hadde enchanted me My dame taughte me that soutiltee And eek I seyde I mette of hym al nyght He wolde han slayn me as I lay vpright And al my bed was ful of verray blood 580 But yet I hope that ye shal do me good For blood bitokeneth gold as me was taught And al was fals I dremed of it right naught But as I folwed ay my dames loore As wel of that as of othere thynges moore 585 But now sire lat me se what shal I seyn A ha by god I haue my tale ageyn Whan that my fourthe housbonde was on beere I weep algate and made sory cheere As wyues mooten for it is vsage 590 And with my couerchief couered my visage But for that I was purueyed of a make I wepte but smal and that I vndertake To chirche was myn housbonde born amorwe With neghebores that for hym maden sorwe 595 And Iankyn oure clerk was oon of tho As help me god whan that I saw hym go\ After the beere me thoughte he hadde a paire Of legges and of feet so clene and faire That al myn herte I yaf vnto his hoold 600 He was I trowe twenty wynter oold And I was fourty if I shal seye sooth But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth Gat$tothed I was and that bicam me weel I hadde the preente of seynt Venus seel 605 As help me god I was a lusty oon And fair and riche and yong and wel$bigoon And trewely as myne housbondes tolde me I hadde the beste =quonyam\ myghte be For certes I am al Venerien 610 In feelyng and myn herte is Marcien Venus me yaf my lust my likerousnesse And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardynesse Myn ascendent was Taur and Mars ther#inne Allas allas that euere loue was synne 615 I folwed ay myn inclinacioun By vertu of my constellacioun That made me I koude noght withdrawe My chambre of Venus from a good felawe Yet haue I Martes mark vpon my face 620 And also in another pryuee place For god so wysely be my sauacioun I loued neuere by no discrecioun But euere folwed myn appetit Al were he short long blak or whit 625 I took no kepe so that he liked me How poure he was ne eek of what degree What sholde I seye but at the monthes ende This ioly clerk Iankyn that was so hende Hath wedded me with greet solempnytee 630 And to hym yaf I al the lond and fee That euere was me yeuen ther bifore But afterward repented me ful sore He nolde suffre no#thyng of my list By god he smoot me ones on the lyst 635 For that I rente out of his book a leef That of the strook myn ere wex al deef Stibourne I was as is a leonesse And of my tonge a verray iangleresse And walke I wolde as I hadde doon biforn 640 From hous to hous al#thogh he hadde it sworn For which he often tymes wolde preche And me of olde Romayn gestes teche How he Symplicius Gallus lafte his wif And hire forsook for terme of al his lif 645 Noght but for open$heueded he hir say Lokyng out at his dore vpon a day Another Romayn tolde he me by name That for his wyf was at a someres game With#outen his wityng he forsook hire eke 650 And thanne wolde he vpon his Bible seke That ilke prouerbe of Ecclesiaste Where he comandeth and forbedeth faste Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule aboute Thanne wolde he seye right thus with#outen doute 655 Who#so that buyldeth his hous al of salwes And priketh his blynde hors ouer the falwes And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes Is worthy to ben hanged on the galwes But al for noght I sette noght an hawe 660 Of his prouerbes n+of his olde sawe Ne I wolde nat of hym corrected be I hate hym that my vices telleth me And so doo mo god woot of vs than I This made hym with me wood al outrely 665 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 For which he smoot me so that I was deef He hadde a book that gladly nyght and day 670 For his disport he wolde rede alway He cleped it Valerie and Theofraste At which book he lough alwey ful faste And eek ther was som#tyme a clerk at Rome A cardynal that highte seint Ierome 675 That made a book agayn Iouinian In which book eek ther was Tertulan Crisippus Trotula and Helowys That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys And eek the Parables of Salomon 680 Ouydes art and bokes many on And alle thise were bounden in o volume And euery nyght and day was his custume Whan he hadde leyser and vacacioun From oother worldly occupacioun 685 To reden in this book of wikked wyues He knew of hem mo legendes and lyues Than been of goode wyues in the Bible For trusteth wel it is an inpossible That any clerk wol speke good of wyues 690 But if it be of holy seintes lyues N+of noon oother womman neuer the mo Who peynted the leoun tel me who By god if wommen hadde writen stories As clerkes han with+inne hir oratories 695 They wolde han writen of men moore wikkednesse Than al the mark of Adam may redresse The children of Mercurie and Venus Been in hir wirkyng ful contrarius Mercurie loueth wysdam and science 700 And Venus loueth riot and dispence And for hir diuerse disposicioun Ech falleth in otheres exaltacioun And thus god woot Mercurie is desolat In Pisces wher Venus is exaltat 705 And Venus falleth ther Mercurie is reysed Ther#fore no womman of no clerk is preysed The clerk whan he is old and may noght do Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho Thanne sit he doun and writ in his dotage 710 That wommen kan nat kepe hir mariage But now to purpos why I tolde thee That I was beten for a book pardee Vpon a nyght Iankyn that was oure sire Redde on his book as he sat by the fire 715 Of Eua first that for hir wikkednesse Was al mankynde broght to wrecchednesse For which that Iesu Crist hym self was slayn That boghte vs with his herte blood agayn Lo here expres of wymmen may ye fynde 720 That womman was the los of al mankynde Tho redde he me how Sampson loste his heres Slepynge his lemman kitte it with hir sheres Thurgh which tresoun loste he bothe his eyen Tho redde he me if that I shal nat lyen 725 Of Hercules and of his Dianyre That caused hym to sette hym#self afyre No thyng forgat he the care and the wo That Socrates hadde with his wyues two How Xantippa caste pisse vpon his heed 730 This sely man sat stille as he were deed He wipte his heed namoore dorste he seyn But er that thonder stynte comth a reyn Of Phasipha that was the queene of Crete For shrewednesse hym thoughte the tale swete 735 Fy spek namoore it is a grisly thyng Of hir horrible lust and hir likyng Of Clitermystra for hir lecherye That falsly made hir housbonde for to dye He redde it with ful good deuocioun 740 He tolde me eek for what occasioun Amphiorax at Thebes loste his lyf Myn housbonde hadde a legende of his wyf Eriphilem that for an ouche of gold Hath pryuely vnto the Grekes told 745 Wher that hir housbonde hidde hym in a place For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace Of Lyma tolde he me and of Lucye They bothe made hir housbondes for to dye That oon for loue that oother was for hate 750 Lyma hir housbonde on an euen late Empoysoned hath for that she was his fo Lucya likerous loued hir housbonde so That for he sholde alwey vpon hir thynke She yaf hym swich a maner loue$drynke 755 That he was deed er it were by the morwe And thus algates housbondes han sorwe Thanne tolde he me how oon Latumyus Compleyned vnto his felawe Arrius That in his gardyn growed swich a tree 760 On which he seyde how that his wyues thre Honged hem#self for hertes despitus O leeue brother quod this Arrius Yif me a plante of thilke blessed tree And in my gardyn planted shal it be 765 Of latter date of wyues hath he red That somme han slayn hir housbondes in hir bed And lete hir lechour dighte hire al the nyght Whan that the corps lay in the floor vpright 769 And somme han dryuen nayles in hir brayn Whil that they sleep and thus they han hem slayn Somme han hem yeuen poysoun in hir drynke He spak moore harm than herte may bithynke And ther#with#al he knew of mo prouerbes Than in this world ther growen gras of herbes 775 Bet is quod he thyn habitacioun Be with a leoun or a foul dragoun Than with a womman vsyng for to chide Bet is quod he hye in the roof abyde Than with an angry wyf doun in the hous 780 They been so wikked and contrarious They haten that hir housbondes loueth ay He seyde a womman cast hir shame away Whan she cast of hir smok and forther mo A fair womman but she be chaast also 785 Is lyk a gold ryng in a sowes nose Who wolde wene or who wolde suppose 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 790 Al sodeynly thre leues haue I plyght Out of his book right as he radde and eke\ I with my fist so took hym on the cheke That in oure fyr he fil bakward adoun And he vp stirte as dooth a wood leoun 795 And with his fest he smoot me on the heed That in the floor I lay as I were deed And whan he saugh how stille that I lay He was agast and wolde han fled his way Til atte laste out of my swough I brayde 800 O hastow slayn me false theef I sayde And for my land thus hastow mordred me Er I be deed yet wol I kisse thee And neer he cam and kneled faire adoun And seyde deere suster Alisoun 805 As help me god I shal thee neuere smyte That I haue doon it is thy#self to wyte Foryeue it me and that I thee biseke And yet eft soones I hitte hym on the cheke And seyde theef thus muchel am I wreke 810 Now wol I dye I may no lenger speke But at the laste with muchel care and wo We fille acorded by vs#seluen two He yaf me al the brydel in myn hond To han the gouernaunce of hous and lond 815 And of his tonge and of his hond also And made hym brenne his book anon$right tho And whan that I hadde geten vnto me By maistrye al the soueraynetee And that he seyde myn owene trewe wyf 820 Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf Keep thyn honour and keep eek myn estaat After that day we hadden neuere debaat God help me so I was to hym as kynde As any wyf from Denmark vnto Inde 825 And also trewe and so was he to me I pray to god that sit in magestee So blesse his soule for his mercy deere Now wol I seye my tale if ye wol here The frere logh whan he hadde herd al this 830 Now dame quod he so haue I ioye or blis This is a long preamble of a tale And whan the somnour herde the frere gale Lo quod the somnour goddes armes two A frere wol entremette hym euere mo 835 Loo goode men a flye and eek a frere Wol falle in euery dyssh and matere What spekestow of preambulacioun What amble or trotte or pees or go sit doun Thow lettest oure disport in this manere 840 Ye woltow so sir somnour quod the frere Now by my feith I shal er that I go Telle of a somnour swich a tale or two That al the folk shal laughen in this place Now elles frere I wol bishrewe thy face 845 Quod this somnour and I bishrewe me But if I telle tales two or three Of freres er I come to Sydyngborne That I shal make thyn herte for to morne For wel I woot thy pacience is gon 850 Oure hoost cride pees and that anon And seyde lat the womman telle hir tale Ye fare as folk that dronken ben of ale Do dame tel forth youre tale and that is best Al redy sire quod she right as yow lest 855 If I haue licence of this worthy frere Yis dame quod he tel forth and I wol here <%here bigynneth the tale of the wyf of bathe%> In th+olde dayes of the kyng Arthour Of which that Britons speken greet honour Al was this land fulfild of fairye 860 The elf$queene with hir ioly compaignye Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede This was the olde opynyoun as I rede I speke of many hundred yeres ago But now kan no man se none elues mo 865 For now the grete charitee and prayeres Of lymytours and othere holy freres That serchen euery lond and euery streem As thikke as motes in the sonne$beem Blessynge halles chambres kichenes boures 870 Citees burghes castels hye toures Thropes bernes shipnes dayeryes This maketh that ther been no fairyes For ther as wont to walken was an elf Ther walketh now the lymytour hymself 875 In vndermeles and in morwenynges And seith his matyns and his holy thynges As he gooth in his lymytacioun Wommen may go saufly vp and doun In euery bussh or vnder euery tree 880 Ther is noon oother incubus but he And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour And so bifel that this kyng Arthour Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler That on a day cam ridyng fro ryuer 885 And happed that allone as he was born He say a mayde walkynge hym biforn Of which mayde anoon maugree hir hed By verray force he rafte hir maydenhed For which oppressioun was swich clamour 890 And swich pursuyte vnto the kyng Arthour That dampned was this knyght for to be deed By cours of lawe and sholde han lost his heed Parauenture swich was the statut tho But that the queene and othere ladyes mo 895 So longe preyden the kyng of grace Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place And yaf hym to the queene al at hir wille To chese wheither she wolde hym saue or spille The queene thanked the kyng with al hir myght 900 And after this thus spak she to the knyght Whan that she saugh hir tyme vpon a day 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 905 What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren Be war and keep thy nekke#boon from iren And if thow kanst nat tellen it me anon Yet wol I yeue thee leue for to gon A twelf#monthe and a day to seche and lere 910 An answere suffisant in this matere And suretee wol I han er that thow pace 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 915 And atte laste he chees hym for to wende And come agayn right at the yeres ende With swich answere as god wolde hym purueye And taketh his leue and wendeth forth his weye He seketh euery hous and euery place 920 Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace To lerne what thyng wommen louen moost But he ne koude arryuen in no coost Where as he myghte fynde in this matere Two creatures acordyng in feere 925 Somme seyden wommen louen best richesse Somme seyde honour somme seyde iolynesse Somme riche array somme seyden lust abedde And ofte tyme to be wydwe and wedde Somme seyde that oure herte is moost esed 930 Whan that we been yflatered and yplesed He gooth ful ny the sothe I wol nat lye A man shal wynne vs best with flaterye And with attendaunce and with bisynesse Been we ylymed bothe moore and lesse 935 And somme seyn that we louen best For to be free and do right as vs lest And that no man repreue vs of oure vice But seye that we be wise and no thyng nyce For trewely ther is noon of vs alle 940 If any wight wol clawe vs on the galle That we nyl kike for he seith vs sooth Assay and he shal fynde it that so dooth For be we neuere so vicious with#inne We wol be holden wise and clene of synne 945 And somme seyn that greet delit han we For to be holden stable and eek secree And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle And nat biwreye thyng that men vs telle But that tale is nat worth a rake$stele 950 Pardee we wommen konne no thyng hele Witnesse on Mida wol ye heere the tale Ouyde amonges othere thynges smale Seyde Mida hadde vnder his longe heres Growynge vpon his heed two asses eres 955 The whiche vice he hidde as he best myghte Ful sotilly from euery mannes sighte That saue his wyf ther wiste of it namo He loued hire moost and trusted hire also He preyed hire that to no creature 960 She sholde tellen of his disfigure She swoor hym nay for al this world to wynne She nolde do that vileynye or synne To make hir housbonde han so foul a name She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame 965 But nathelees hir thoughte that she dyde That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde Hir thoughte it swal so soore aboute hir herte That nedely som word hir moste asterte And sith she dorste telle it to no man 970 Doun to a marys faste by she ran Til she cam there hir herte was afyre And as a bitore bombleth in the myre She leyde hir mouth vnto the water doun Biwrey me nat thow water with thy soun 975 Quod she to thee I telle it and namo Myn housbonde hath longe asses erys two Now is myn herte al hool now is it oute I myghte no lenger kepe it out of doute Heere may ye see thogh we a tyme abyde 980 Yet out it moot we kan no conseil hyde The remenant of the tale if ye wol heere Redeth Ouyde and ther ye may it leere This knyght of which my tale is specially Whan that he say he myghte nat come ther#by 985 This is to seye what wommen louen moost With#inne his brest ful sorweful was the goost But hom he gooth he myghte nat soiourne The day was come that homward moste he torne And in his wey it happed hym to ryde 990 In al this care vnder a forest#syde Wher as he say vpon a daunce go Of ladyes foure and twenty and yet mo Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne In hope that som wisdom sholde he lerne 995 But certeynly er he cam fully there Vanysshed was this daunce he nyste where No creature saugh he that bar lyf Saue on the grene he say sittynge a wyf A fouler wight ther may no man deuyse 1000 Agayn the knyght this olde wyf gan ryse And seyde sire knyght heer forth ne lyth no wey Tel me what ye seken by youre fey Par auenture it may the bettre be Thise olde folk konne muchel thyng quod she 1005 My leeue moder quod this knyght certeyn I nam but deed but if that I kan seyn 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 1010 The nexte thyng that I requere thee Thow shalt it do if it lye in thy myght And I wol telle it yow er it be nyght Haue here my trouthe quod the knyght I graunte Thanne quod she I dar me wel auaunte 1015 Thy lyf is sauf for I wole stonde ther#by Vpon my lyf the queene wol seye as I Lat see which is the proudeste of hem alle That wereth on a couerchief or a calle That dar seye nay of that I shal thee teche 1020 Lat vs go forth with#outen lenger speche Tho rowned she a pistel in his ere 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 1025 And redy was his answere as he sayde Ful many a noble wyf and many a mayde And many a widwe for that they ben wise The queene hir#self sittyng as iustise Assembled been his answere for to here 1030 And afterward this knyght was bode appere To euery wight comanded was silence 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 1035 But to his questioun anon answerde With manly voys that al the court it herde My lige lady generally quod he Wommen desiren to haue souereyntee As wel ouer hir housbonde as hir loue 1040 And for to been in maistrie hym aboue This is youre mooste desir thogh ye me kille Dooth as yow list I am here at youre wille In al the court ne was ther wyf ne mayde Ne wydwe that contraried that he sayde 1045 But seyden he was worthy han his lyf And with that word vp stirte that olde wyf Which that the knyght say sittyng on the grene Mercy quod she my souereyn lady queene Er that youre court departe do me right 1050 I taughte this answere vnto the knyght For which he plighte me his trouthe there The firste thyng I wolde hym requere He wolde it do if it laye in his myght Bifore the court thanne preye I thee sire knyght 1055 Quod she that thow me take vnto thy wyf For wel thow woost that I haue kept thy lyf If I seye fals sey nay vpon thy fey This knyght answerde allas and weylawey I woot right wel that swich was my biheste 1060 For goddes loue as chees a newe requeste Taak al my good and lat my body go 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 1065 That vnder erthe is graue or lith aboue But if thy wyf I were and eek thy loue My loue quod he nay my dampnacioun Allas that any of my nacioun Sholde euere so foule disparaged be 1070 But al for noght th+ende is this that he Constreyned was he nedes moste hir wedde And taketh his olde wyf and goth to bedde Now wolden som men seye par auenture That for my necligence I do no cure 1075 To tellen yow the ioye and al th+array That at the feste was that ilke day To which thyng shortly answere I shal I seye ther nas no ioye ne feste at al Ther nas but heuynesse and muche sorwe 1080 For pryuely he wedded hire on morwe And al day after hidde hym as an owle 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 abedde ybroght 1085 He walweth and he turneth to and fro His olde wyf lay smylyng euere mo And seyde o deere housbonde benedicite Fareth euery knyght thus with his wyf as ye Is this the lawe of kyng Arthures hous 1090 Is euery knyght of his thus daungerous I am youre owene loue and youre wyf I am she which that saued hath youre lyf And certes yet ne dide I yow neuere vnright Why fare ye thus with me this firste nyght 1095 Ye faren lyk a man hadde lost his wit What is my gilt for goddes loue tel it And it shal ben amended if I may Amended quod this knyght allas nay nay It wol nat ben amended neuere mo 1100 Thow art so loothly and so old also And ther#to comen of so lowe a kynde 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 1105 Ye certeynly quod he no wonder is Now sire quod she I koude amende al this If that me liste er it were dayes thre So wel ye myghte bere yow vnto me But for ye speken of swich gentilesse 1110 As is descended out of old richesse That therfore sholden ye be gentil men Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen Looke who that is moost vertuous alway Pryuee and apert and moost entendeth ay 1115 To do the gentil dedes that he kan Taak hym for the gretteste gentil man Crist wol we clayme of hym oure gentillesse Nat of oure eldres for hir old richesse For thogh they yeue vs al hir heritage 1120 For which we clayme to been of heigh parage Yet may they nat biquethe for no thyng To noon of vs hir vertuous lyuyng That made hem gentil men ycalled be And bad vs folwen hem in swich degree 1125 Wel kan the wise poete of Florence That highte Dant speken in this sentence Lo in swich maner rym is Dantes tale Ful selde vp riseth by his braunches smale Prowesse of man for god of his prowesse 1130 Wol that of hym we clayme oure gentillesse For of oure eldres may we no thyng clayme But temporel thyng that man may hurte and mayme Eek euery wight woot this as wel as I If gentillesse were planted naturelly 1135 Vnto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne Pryuee and apert thanne wolde they neuere fyne To doon of gentilesse the faire office They myghte do no vileynye or vice Taak fyr and bere it in the derkeste hous 1140 Bitwix this and the mount Kaukasous And lat men shette the dores and go thenne Yet wol the fyr as faire lye and brenne As twenty thousand men myghte it biholde His office naturel ay wol it holde 1145 Vp peril of my lyf til that it dye Here may ye se wel how that genterye Is nat annexed to possessioun Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun Alwey as dooth the fyr lo in his kynde 1150 For god it woot men may wel often fynde A lordes sone do shame and vileynye And he that wol han prys of his gentrye For he was born of a gentil hous And hadde his eldres noble and vertuous 1155 And nyl hym#seluen do no gentil dedis Ne folwen his gentil auncestre that deed is He nys nat gentil be he duc or erl For vileyns synful dedes make a cherl For gentilesse nys but renomee 1160 Of thyn auncestres for hir hye bountee Which is a straunge thyng for thy persone Thy gentilesse cometh fro god allone Thanne comth oure verray gentilesse of grace It was no thyng biquethe vs with oure place 1165 Thenketh how noble as seith Valerius Was thilke Tullius Hostillius That out of pouerte roos to heigh noblesse Redeth Senek and redeth eek Boece Ther shul ye seen expres that no drede is 1170 That he is gentil that dooth gentil dedis And therfore leue housbonde I thus conclude Al were it that myne auncestres were rude Yet may the hye god and so hope I Graunte me grace to lyuen vertuously 1175 Thanne am I gentil whan that I bigynne To lyuen vertuously and weyue synne And ther as ye of pouerte me repreue The hye god on whom that we bileue In wilful pouerte chees to lyue his lyf 1180 And certes euery man mayden or wyf May vnderstonde that Iesus heuene$kyng Ne wolde nat chese a vicious lyuyng Glad pouerte is an honeste thyng certeyn This wol senek and othere clerkes seyn 1185 Who#so that halt hym payd of his pouerte I holde hym riche al hadde he nat a sherte He that coueiteth is a poure wight For he wolde han that is nat in his myght But he that noght hath ne coueiteth to haue 1190 Is riche al thogh ye holde hym but a knaue Verray pouerte is synne proprely Iuuenal seith of pouerte myrily The poure man whan he gooth by the weye Biforn the theues he may synge and pleye 1195 Pouerte is hateful good and as I gesse A ful greet bryngere out of bisynesse A greet amendere eek of sapience To hym that taketh it in pacience Pouerte is this al#thogh it seme alenge 1200 Possessioun that no wight wol chalenge Pouerte ful often whan a man is lowe Maketh his god and eek hym#self to knowe Pouerte a spectacle is as thynketh me Thurgh which he may his verray freendes se 1205 And ther#fore sire syn that I noght yow greue Of my pouerte namoore ye me repreue Now sire of elde ye repreue me And certes sire thogh noon auctoritee Were in no book ye gentils of honour 1210 Seyn that men sholde an old wight doon fauour And clepe hym fader for youre gentilesse And auctours shal I fynden as I gesse Now ther ye seye that I am foul and old Thanne drede yow noght to been a cokewold 1215 For filthe and elde also mote I thee Been grete wardeyns vpon chastitee But nathelees syn I knowe youre delit I shal fulfille youre worldly appetit Chees now quod she oon of thise thynges tweye 1220 To han me foul and old til that I deye And be to yow a trewe humble wyf And neuere yow displese in al my lyf Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair And take youre auenture of the repair 1225 That shal be to youre hous by cause of me Or in som oother place may wel be Now chees your#seluen wheither that yow liketh This knyght auyseth hym and soore siketh But atte laste he seyde in this manere 1230 My lady and my loue and wyf so deere I putte me in youre wise gouernaunce Cheseth youre#self which may be moost plesaunce And moost honour to yow and me also I do no fors the wheither of the two 1235 For as yow liketh it suffiseth me Thanne haue I gete of yow maistrye quod she 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 1240 For by my trouthe I wol be to yow bothe This is to seyn ye bothe fair and good 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 1245 And but I be to#morn as fair to sene As any lady emperice or queene 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 1250 And whan the knyght sey verraily al this That she so fair was and so yong ther#to For ioye he hente hire in his armes two His herte bathed in a bath of blisse A thousand tyme a#rewe he gan hir kisse 1255 And she obeyed hym in euery thyng That myghte do hym plesance or likyng And thus they lyue vnto hir lyues ende In parfit ioye and Iesu Crist vs sende Housbondes meke yonge and fressh abedde 1260 And grace t+ouerbyde hem that we wedde And eek I praye Iesu shorte hir lyues That noght wol be gouerned by hir wyues And olde and angry nygardes of dispence God sende hem soone verray pestilence <%the prologe of the freres tale%> 1265 This worthy lymytour this noble frere He made alwey a maner louryng cheere Vpon the somnour but for honestee No vileyns word as yet to hym spak he But atte laste he seyde vnto the wyf 1270 Dame quod he god yeue yow right good lyf Ye han heer touched also mote I thee In scole$matere greet difficultee Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel I seye But dame here as we ryden by the weye 1275 Vs nedeth nat to speken but of game And lete auctoritees on goddes name To prechyng and to scole of clergye But if it like to this compaignye I wol yow of a somnour telle a game 1280 Pardee ye may wel knowe by the name That of a somnour may no good be sayd I praye that noon of yow be yuel apayd A somnour is a rennere vp and doun With mandementz for fornicacioun\1285 And is ybet at euery tounes ende Oure hoost tho spak a sire ye sholde be hende And curteys as a man of youre estaat In compaignye we wol no debaat Telleth youre tale and lat the somnour be 1290 Nay quod the somnour lat hym seye to me What so hym list whan it comth to my lot By god I shal hym quyten euery grot I shal hym telle which a gret honour It is to be a flaterynge lymytour 1295 And of many another manere cryme Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme And his office I shal hym telle ywys Oure hoost answerde pees namoore of this And after this he seyde vnto the frere 1300 Tel forth youre tale leeue maister deere <%heere bigynneth the freres tale%> Whilom ther was dwellynge in my contree An erchedekene a man of heigh degree That boldely dide execucioun In punysshynge of fornicacioun 1305 Of wicchecraft and eek of bawderye Of diffamacioun and auoutrye Of chirche$reues and of testamentz Of contractes and of lakke of sacramentz Of vsure and of symonye also 1310 But certes lecchours dide he grettest wo They sholde syngen if that they were hent And smale tytheres were foule yshent If any persone wolde vpon hem pleyne Ther myghte asterte hym no pecunyal peyne 1315 For smale tithes and smal offrynge He made the peple pitously to synge\ For er the bisshop caughte hem with his hook They weren in the erchedekenes book And thanne hadde he thurgh his iurisdiccioun 1320 Power to doon on hem correccioun He hadde a somnour redy to his hond A slyer boy was noon in Engelond For subtilly he hadde his espiaille That taughte hym wher hym myghte auaille 1325 He koude spare of lecchours oon or two To techen hym to foure and twenty mo For theigh this somnour wood were as an hare To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare For we been out of his correccioun 1330 They han of vs no iurisdiccioun Ne neuere shullen terme of alle hir lyues Peter so been wommen of the styues Quod the somnour yput out of my cure 1334 Pees with myschaunce and with mysauenture Thus seyde oure hoost and lat hym telle his tale Now telleth forth thogh that the somnour gale Ne spareth nat myn owene maister deere This false theef this somnour quod the frere Hadde alwey baudes redy to his hond 1340 As any hauk to lure in Engelond That tolde hym al the secree that they knewe For hir aqueyntance was nat come of newe They weren hise approwours pryuely He took hym#self a greet profit ther#by 1345 His maister knewe nat alwey what he wan Withouten mandement a lewed man He koude somne on peyne of cristes curs And they were glade for to fille his purs And make hym grete festes atte nale 1350 And right as Iudas hadde purses smale And was a theef right swich a theef was he 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 1355 He hadde eek wenches at his retenue That wheither that sir Robert or sir Hewe Or Iakke or Rauf or who#so that it were That lay by hem they tolde it in his ere Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent 1360 And he wolde fecche a feyned mandement And somne hem to chapitre bothe two And pile the man and lete the wenche go Thanne wolde he seye freend I shal for thy sake Do stryke hire out of oure lettres blake 1365 Thee thar namoore as in this cas trauaille I am thy freend ther I thee may auaille Certeyn he knew of bryberyes mo Than possible is to telle in yeres two For in this world nys dogge for the bowe 1370 That kan an hurt deer from an hool knowe Bet than this somnour knewe a sly lecchour Or an auouter or a paramour And for that was the fruyt of al his rente Ther#fore on it he sette al his entente 1375 And so bifel that ones on a day This somnour euere waityng on his pray For to somne an old widwe a ribibe Feynynge a cause for he wolde brybe Happed that he say bifore hym ryde 1380 A gay yeman vnder a forest syde A bowe he bar and arwes bright and kene He hadde vpon a courtepy of grene An hat vpon his heed with frenges blake Sire quod this somnour hayl and wel atake 1385 Welcome quod he and euery good felawe Where ridestow vnder this grene$wode shawe Seyde this yeman wiltow fer to day This somnour hym answerde and seyde nay Here faste by quod he is myn entente 1390 To ryden for to reysen vp a rente That longeth to my lordes duetee Artow thanne a bailly ye quod he He dorste nat for verray filthe and shame Seye that he was a somnour for the name 1395 =Depardieux\ quod this yeman deere brother Thow art a bailly and I am another I am vnknowen as in this contree Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee And eek of bretherhede if that yow leste 1400 I haue gold and siluer in my cheste If that thee happe to comen in oure shire Al shal be thyn right as thow wolt desire Graunt mercy quod this somnour by my feith Euerich in ootheres hond his trouthe leith 1405 For to be sworn bretheren til they deye In daliaunce they ryden forth and pleye This somnour which that was as ful of iangles As ful of venym been thise waryangles And euere enqueryng vpon euery thyng 1410 Brother quod he where is now youre dwellyng Another day if that I sholde yow seche This yeman hym answerde in softe speche Brother quod he fer in the north contree Where as I hope som#tyme I shal thee see 1415 Er we departe I shal thee so wel wisse That of myn hous ne shaltow neuere mysse 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 1420 Som subtiltee and tel me feithfully In myn office how I may moost wynne And spareth nat for conscience ne synne But as my brother tel me how do ye Now by my trouthe brother deere seyde he 1425 As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale My wages been ful streyte and ful smale My lord is hard to me and daungerous And myn office is ful laborous And therfore by extorcions I lyue 1430 For sothe I take al that men wol me yeue Algate by sleighte or by violence Fro yeer to yeer I wynne al my dispence I kan no bettre tellen feithfully Now certes quod this somnour so fare I 1435 I spare nat to taken god it woot But if it be to heuy or to hoot What I may gete in conseil pryuely No manere conscience of that haue I Nere myn extorcioun I myghte nat lyuen\1440 Ne of swich iapes wol I nat be shryuen Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon I shrewe thise shrifte fadres euerychon Wel be we met by god and by seint Iame But leeue brother tel me thanne thy name 1445 Quod this somnour in this mene while This yeman gan a litel for to smyle Brother quod he woltow that I thee telle I am a feend my dwellyng is in helle And here I ryde aboute my purchasyng 1450 To wite wher men wol yeue me any thyng My purchas is th+effect of al my rente Looke how thow rydest for the same entente To wynne good thow rekkest neuere how Right so fare I for ryde wold I now 1455 Vnto the worldes ende for a preye A quod this somnour benedicite what sey ye I wende ye were a yeman trewely Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I Han ye a figure thanne determynat 1460 In helle ther ye been in youre estat Nay certeynly quod he ther haue we noon But whan vs liketh we kan take vs oon Or elles make yow seme we ben shape Som tyme lyk a man or lyk an ape 1465 Or lyk an aungel kan I ryde or go It is no wonder thyng thogh it be so A lousy iogelour kan deceyue thee And pardee yet kan I moore craft than he Whi quod this somnour ryde ye thanne or goon 1470 In sondry shap and nat alwey in oon For we quod he wol vs swiche formes make As moost able is oure preyes for to take What maketh yow to han al this labour Ful many a cause leue sire somnour 1475 Seyde this feend but alle thyng hath tyme The day is short and it is passed pryme And yet ne wan I no thyng in this day I wol entende to wynnyng if I may And nat entende oure wittes to declare 1480 For brother myn thy witte is al to bare To vnderstonde al#thogh I tolde hem thee But for thow axest why labouren we For som#tyme we been goddes instrumentz And meenes to doon his comandementz 1485 Whan that hym list vpon his creatures In diuers art and in diuerse figures With#outen hym we han no myght certayn If that hym lyst to stonde ther#agayn And som tyme at oure preyere han we leue 1490 Oonly the body and nat the soule greue Witnesse on Iob whom that we diden wo And som tyme han we myght of bothe two This is to seyn of soule and body eke And som tyme be we suffred for to seke 1495 Vpon a man and do his soule vnreste And nat his body and al is for the beste Whan he with standeth oure temptacioun It is a cause of his sauacioun Al be it that it was nat oure entente 1500 He sholde be sauf but that we wolde hym hente And som tyme be we seruant vnto man As to the erchebisshop seint Dunstan And to the apostles seruant eek was I Yet tel me quod the somnour feithfully 1505 Make ye yow newe bodyes thus alway Of elementz the feend answerde nay Som tyme we feyne and som tyme we aryse With dede bodyes in ful sondry wyse And speke as renably and faire and wel 1510 As to the Phitonissa dide Samuel And yet wol som men seye it was nat he 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 1515 Thow shalt her afterwardes my brother deere Come there thee nedeth nat of me to lere For thow shalt by thyn owene experience Konne in a chayer rede of this sentence Bet than Virgile whil he was on lyue 1520 Or Dant also now lat vs ryde blyue For I wol holde compaignye with thee Til it be so that thow forsake me Nay quod this somnour that shal nat bityde I am a yeman knowen is ful wyde 1525 My trouthe wol I holde as in this cas For though thow were the deuel sathanas 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 1530 And bothe we goon abouten oure purchas Taak thow thy part what that men wol thee yeue 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 1535 I graunte quod the deuel by my fey And with that word they ryden forth hir wey And right at the entryng of the tounes ende To which this somnour shoop hym for to wende They saye a cart that charged was with hey 1540 Which that a cartere droof forth in his wey Deep was the wey for which the carte stood This cartere 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 1545 As ferforthly as euere were ye foled So muche wo as I haue with yow tholed The deuel haue al bothe hors and cart and hey This somnour seyde heer shul we han a pley And neer the feend he drough as noght ne were 1550 Ful pryuely and rowned in his ere Herkne my brother herkne by thy feith 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 1555 Nay quod the deuel god woot neuer a del It is nat his entente trust me wel Axe hym thy#self if thow nat trowest me Or ellys stynt a while and thow shalt se This cartere thakketh his hors vpon the croupe 1560 And they bigonne to drawen and to stoupe Heyt now quod he ther Iesu Crist yow blesse And al his handwerk bothe moore and lesse That was wel twight myn owene lyard boy I pray god saue thee and seint Loy 1565 Now is my cart out of the slow pardee Lo brother quod the feend what tolde I thee Heer may ye se myn owene deere brother The carl spak o thyng but he thoghte another Lat vs go forth abouten oure viage 1570 Heere wynne I no thyng vpon cariage Whan that they comen som#what out of toune This somnour to his brother gan to roune Brother quod he here woneth an old rebekke That hadde almoost as leef to lese hir nekke 1575 As for to yeue a peny of hir good I wol han xij pens thogh that she be wood Or I wol somoune hire vnto oure office And yet god wot of hire knowe I no vice But for thow kanst nat as in this contree Wynne thy cost taak heer ensample of me This somnour clappeth at the wydwes gate Com out quod he thow olde viritrate I trowe thow hast som frere or preest with thee Who clappeth seyde this wyf benedicite 1585 God saue yow sire what is youre swete wille I haue quod he of somonce a bille Vp peyne of cursyng looke that thow be To#morn bifore the erchedeknes knee T+answere to the court of certeyn thynges 1590 Now lord quod she crist Iesu kyng of kynges So wisly helpe me as I ne may 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 1595 May I nat axe a libel sire somnour And answere there by my procuratour 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 1600 I shal no profit han ther by but lyte My maister hath the profit and nat I Com of and lat me ryden hastily Yif me xij pens I may no lenger tarye Twelf pens quod she now lady seinte Marie 1605 So wisly help me out of care and synne This wyde world thogh that I sholde wynne Ne haue I nat xij pens with inne myn hoold Ye knowen wel that I am poure and oold 1609 Kythe youre almesse on me poure wrecche Nay thanne quod he the foule feend me fecche If I th+excuse though thow shul be spilt Allas quod she god woot I haue no gilt Pay me quod he or by the swete seint Anne As I wol bere awey thy newe panne 1615 For dette which thow owest me of oold Whan that thow madest thyn housbonde cokewold I payde at hom for thy correccioun Thow lixt quod she by my sauacioun Ne was I neuere er now wydwe ne wyf 1620 Somoned vnto youre court in al my lyf Ne neuere I nas but of my body trewe Vnto the deuel blak and rough of hewe Yeue I thy body and my panne also And whan the deuel herde hire cursen so 1625 Vpon hir knees he seyde in this manere Now Mabely myn owene moder dere 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 1630 Nay olde stot that is nat myn entente Quod this somnour for to repente me 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 1635 Thy body and this panne been myne by right Thow shalt with me to helle yet to#nyght Wher thow shalt knowen of oure pryuetee Moore than a maister of dyuynytee And with that word this foule feend hym hente 1640 Body and soule he with the deuel wente Wher as that somnours han hir heritage And god that made after his ymage Mankynde saue and gyde vs alle and some 1644 And leue thise somnours goode men bycome Lordynges I koude han told yow quod this frere Hadde I had leyser for this somnour heere After the text of Crist Poul and Iohn And of oure othere doctours many oon Swiche peynes that youre hertes myghte agryse 1650 Al be it so no tonge may deuyse Thogh that I myghte a thousand wynter telle The peynes of thilke cursed hous of helle But for to kepe vs fro that cursed place Waketh and preyeth Iesu for his grace 1655 So kepe vs fro the temptour Sathanas Herketh this word beth war as in this cas The leoun sit in his awayt alway To sle the innocent if that he may Disposeth ay youre hertes to withstonde 1660 The feend that yow wolde make thral and bonde He may nat tempte yow ouer youre myght For Crist wol be youre champion and knyght And prayeth that this somnour hym repente Of his mysdedes er that the feend hym hente <%the prologe of the somonours tale%> 1665 This somnour in his stiropes hye stood Vpon this frere his herte was so wood That lyk an aspen$leef he quook for ire Lordynges quod he but o thyng I desire I yow biseke that of youre curteisye 1670 Syn ye han herd this false frere lye As suffreth me I may my tale telle This frere bosteth that he knoweth helle And god it woot that it is litel wonder Freres and feendes been but lyte a#sonder 1675 For pardee ye han ofte tyme herd telle How that a frere rauysshed was to helle In spirit ones by a visioun And as an aungel ladde hym vp and doun To shewen hym the peynes that ther were 1680 In al the place saugh he nat a frere Of oother folk he saugh ynowe in wo 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 1685 Yis quod this aungel many a milioun And vnto Sathanas he ladde hym doun And now hath Sathanas seith he a tayl Brodder than of a carryk is the sayl Hold vp thy tayl thow Sathanas quod he 1690 Shewe forth thyn ers and lat the frere se Where is the nest of freres in this place And er that half a furlong wey of space Right so as bees out swarmen of an hyue Out of the deueles ers they gonne dryue 1695 Twenty thousand freres on a route And thurgh#out helle swarmeden al aboute And comen agayn as faste as they may gon And in his ers they crepten euerychon He clapte his tayl agayn and lay ful stille 1700 This frere whan he looked hadde his fille Vpon the tormentz of this sory place His spirit god restored of his grace Vnto his body agayn and he awook But nathelees for fere yet he quook 1705 So was the deueles ers ay in his mynde That is his heritage of verray kynde God saue yow alle saue this cursed frere My prologe wol I ende in this manere <%heere bigynneth the somonour his tale%> Lordynges ther is in Yorkshire as I gesse 1710 A mersshy contree called Holdernesse In which ther wente a lymytour aboute 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 1715 And specially abouen euery thyng Excited he the peple in his prechyng To trentals and to yeue for goddes sake Wher#with men myghten holy houses make Ther as dyuyne seruice is honoured 1720 Nat ther as it is wasted and deuoured Ne ther it nedeth nat for to be yeue As to possessioners that mowen lyue Thanked be god in wele and habundaunce Trentals seyde he delyuereth from penaunce 1725 Hir freendes soules as wel olde as yonge Ye whan that they been hastily ysonge Nat for to holde a preest ioly and gay He syngeth nat but o masse in a day Delyuereth out quod he anon the soules 1730 Ful hard it is with flessh$hook or with oules To been yclawed or to brenne or bake Now spede yow hastily for cristes sake And whan this frere hadde seyd al his entente 1734 With =qui cum patre\ forth his wey he wente Whan folk in chirche hadde yeue hym what hem leste He wente his wey no lenger wolde he reste With scrippe and tipped staf ytukked hye In euery hous he gan to poure and prye And beggeth mele and chese or ellis corn 1740 His felawe hadde a staf tipped with horn A peyre of tables al of yuory And a poyntel polysshed fetisly And wroot the names alwey as he stood Of alle folk that yaf hem any good 1745 Ascaunces that he wolde for hem preye Yif vs a busshel whete malt or reye A goddes kechyl or a tryp or chese Or ellis what yow list we may nat chese A goddes hal peny of a masse$peny 1750 Or yif vs of youre brawn if ye haue any A dagoun of youre blanket leeue dame Oure suster deere lo heere I write youre name Bacoun or beef or swich thyng as ye fynde A sturdy harlot wente hem ay bihynde\1755 That was hir hostes man and baar a sak And what men yaf hem leyde it on his bak And whan that he was out atte dore anon He planed awey the names euerichon That he biforn hadde writen in his tables 1760 He serued hem with nyfles and with fables Nay ther thow lixt thow somnour quod the frere 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 1765 So longe he wente hous by hous til he Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be Refresshed moore than in an hundred placis Syk lay the goode man whos the place is Bedred vpon a couche lowe he lay 1770 =Deus hic\ quod he O Thomas freend good day Seyde this frere curteisly and softe Thomas quod he god yelde yow ful ofte Haue I vpon this bench faren ful wel Heere haue I eten many a murye mel 1775 And fro the bench he droof awey the cat And leyde adoun his potente and his hat And eek his scrippe and sette hym softe adoun His felawe was go walked into toun Forth with his knaue into that hostelrye 1780 Wher as he shoop hym thilke nyght to lye O deere maister quod this syke man How han ye fare sith that March bigan I saw yow noght this fourtenyght or moore God woot quod he laboured I haue ful soore 1785 And specially for thy sauacioun Haue I seyd many a precious orisoun And for oure othere freendes god hem blesse I haue to day been at youre chirche at messe And seyd a sermon after my symple wit 1790 Nat al after the text of holy writ For it is hard to yow as I suppose And ther#fore wol I teche yow al the glose Glosyng is a glorious thyng certeyn For lettre sleeth so as we clerkes seyn 1795 Ther haue I taught hem to be charitable And spende hir good ther it is resonable And ther I say our dame a where is she Yond in the yerde I trowe that she be Seyde this man and she wol come anon 1800 Ey maister wel$come be ye by seint Iohn Seyde this wyf how fare ye hertely The frere ariseth vp ful curteisly And hire embraceth in his armes narwe And kiste hir swete and chirketh as a sparwe 1805 With his lippes dame quod he right wel As he that is youre seruant euery del Thanked be god that yow yaf soule and lyf Yet saugh I nat this day so fair a wyf In al the chirche god so saue me 1810 Ye god amende defautes sire quod she Algates wel$come be ye by my fey 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 1815 I wol with Thomas speke a litel throwe Thise curatz been ful necligent and slowe To grope tendrely a conscience In shrift in prechyng is my diligence And studie in Petres wordes and in Poules 1820 I walke and fisshe cristen mennes soules To yelden Iesu crist his propre rente To sprede his word is set al myn entente Now by youre leeue o deere sire quod she Chideth hym wel for seinte Trinitee 1825 He is as angry as a pissemyre Thogh that he haue al that he kan desire Thogh I hym wrye a#nyght and make hym warm And on hym leye my leg outher myn arm He groneth lyk oure boor lith in oure sty 1830 Oother disport right noon of hym haue I I may nat plese hym in no maner cas O Thomas =Ie vous dy\ Thomas Thomas This maketh the feend this moste been amended Ire is a thyng that hye god defended 1835 And ther#of wol I speke a word or two Now maister quod the wyf er that I go What wol ye dyne I wol go ther aboute Now dame quod he now =Ie vous dy sanz doute\ Haue I nat of a capoun but the lyuere 1840 And of youre softe breed nat but a shyuere And after that a rosted pigges heed But that I nolde no beest for me were deed Thanne hadde I with yow homly suffisaunce I am a man of litel sustenaunce 1845 My spirit hath his fostryng in the Bible My body is ay so redy and penyble To wake that my stomak is destroyed I pray yow dame ye be nat anoyed Thogh I so freendly yow my conseil shewe 1850 By god I wolde nat telle it but a fewe Now sire quod she but o word er I go My child is deed with#inne thise wykes two Soone after that ye wente out of this toun His deeth saugh I by reuelacioun 1855 Seyde this frere at hom in oure dortour I dar wel seyn that er that half an hour After his deeth I saugh hym born to blisse In myn avisioun so god me wisse So dide oure sexteyn and oure fermerer 1860 That han been trewe freres fifty yeer They may now god be thanked of his lone Maken hir iubilee and walke allone And vp I roos and al oure couent eke With many a tere trillyng on my cheke 1865 With#outen noyse or clateryng of belles =Te deum\ was oure song and no thyng elles Saue that to Crist I seyde an orisoun Thankynge hym of my reuelacioun For sire and dame trusteth me right wel 1870 Oure orisons been moore effectuel And moore we seen of Cristes secree thynges Than burel folk al thogh they weren kynges We lyue in pouerte and in abstinence And burel folk in richesse and dispence 1875 Of mete and drynk and in hir foul delit We han this worldes lust al in despit Lazar and Diues lyueden diuersly And diuerse guerdoun hadde they ther#by Who#so wol praye he moot faste and be clene 1880 And fatte his soule and make his body lene We fare as seith th+apostle clooth and foode Suffiseth vs thogh they be nat ful goode The clennesse and the fastyng of vs freres Maketh that Crist accepteth oure prayeres 1885 Lo Moyses fourty dayes and fourty nyght Fasted er that the heighe god of myght Spak with hym in the mount of Synay With empty wombe fastynge many a day Receyued he the lawe that was writen 1890 With goddes fynger and Elye wel ye witen In mount Oreb er he hadde any speche With hye god that is oure lyues leche He fasted longe and was in contemplaunce Aaron that hadde the temple in gouernaunce 1895 And eek the othere preestes euerichon Into the temple whan they sholde gon To preye for the peple and do seruyse They nolden drynken in no maner wyse No drynke which that myghte hem dronke make 1900 But there in abstinence preye and wake Lest that they deyden tak hede what I seye But they be sobre that for the peple preye War that I seye namoore for it suffiseth Oure lord Iesu as holy writ deuyseth 1905 Yaf vs ensample of fastyng and prayeres Ther#fore we mendynantz we sely freres Been wedded to pouerte and continence To charitee humblesse and abstinence To persecucioun for rightwisnesse 1910 To wepyng misericorde and clennesse And ther#fore may ye se that oure prayeres I speke of vs we mendynantz we freres Be to the hye god moore acceptable Than youres with youre festes at the table 1915 Fro paradys first if I shal nat lye Was man out chaced for his glotonye And chaast was man in paradys certeyn But herkne now Thomas what I shal seyn I ne haue no text of it as I suppose 1920 But I shal fynde it in a maner glose That specially oure swete lord Iesus 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 1925 Wher it be likker oure professioun Or hirs that swymmen in possessioun Fy on hir pompe and on hir glotonye And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye Me thynketh they been lyk Iouynyan 1930 Fat as a whale and walkyng as a swan Al vynolent as botel in the spence Hir preyere is of ful greet reuerence Whan they for soules seye the psalm of Dauit Lo buf they seye =cor meum eructauit\ 1935 Who folweth Cristes gospel and his foore But we that humble been and chaast and poore Werkers of goddes word nat auditours Therfore right as an hauk vp at a sours Vp spryngeth into th+eyr right so prayeres 1940 Of charitable and chaste bisy freres Maken hir sours to goddes eres two Thomas Thomas so mote I ryde or go And by that lord that clepid is seint Yue Nere thow oure brother sholdestow nat thryue 1945 In oure chapitre praye we day and nyght To Crist that he thee sende heele and myght Thy body for to welden hastily God woot quod he no thyng ther of feele I As help me Crist as I in fewe yeres 1950 Haue spended vpon diuerse manere freres Ful many a pound yet fare I neuere the bet Certeyn my good haue I almoost biset Farwel my gold for it is al ago The frere answerde o Thomas dostow so 1955 What nedeth yow diuerse freres seche What nedeth hym that hath a parfit leche To sechen othere leches in the toun Youre inconstance is youre confusioun Holde ye than me or ellis oure couent 1960 To preye for yow been insufficient Thomas that iape nys nat worth a myte Youre maladye is for we han to lyte A yif that couent half a quarter otes A yif that couent foure and twenty grotes 1965 A yif that frere a peny and lat hym go Nay nay Thomas it may no thyng be so What is a ferthyng worth parted in twelue Lo ech thyng that is oned in hym selue Is moore strong than whan it is to scatered 1970 Thomas of me thow shalt nat been yflatered Thow woldest han oure labour al for noght The hye god that al this world hath wroght Seith that the werkman worthy is his hire Thomas noght of youre tresor I desire 1975 As for my#self but that al oure couent To praye for yow is ay so diligent And for to buylden cristes owene chirche Thomas if ye wol lernen for to wirche Of buyldyng vp of chirches may ye fynde 1980 If it be good in Thomas lyf of Inde Ye lye heere ful of anger and of ire With which the deuel set youre herte a fire And chiden heere this sely innocent Youre wyf that is so meke and pacient 1985 And ther#fore Thomas trowe me if thee leste Ne stryue nat with thy wyf as for thy beste And bere this word awey now by thy feith Touchynge swich thyng lo what the wise man seith With#inne thyn hous ne be thow no leoun 1990 To thy subgitz do noon oppressioun Ne make thyne aqueyntance nat for to flee And Thomas yet eft$soones I charge thee Be war from hire that in thy bosom slepeth War fro the serpent that so sleighly crepeth 1995 Vnder the gras and styngeth subtilly Be war my sone and herkne paciently 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 2000 What nedeth yow Thomas to maken stryf Ther nys ywis no serpent so cruel Whan man tret on his tayl ne half so fel As womman is whan she hath caught an ire Vengeance is thanne al that they desire 2005 Ire is a synne oon of the grete of seuene Abhomynable vnto the god of heuene And to hym#self it is destruccioun This euery lewed viker or persoun Kan seye how ire engendreth homicide 2010 Ire is in sooth executour of pride I koude of ire seye so muche sorwe My tale sholde laste til to#morwe And ther#fore praye I god bothe day and nyght An irous man god sende hym litel myght 2015 It is greet harm and certes greet pitee To sette an irous man in heigh degree Whilom ther was an irous potestat As seith Senek that durynge his estat Vpon a day out ryden knyghtes two 2020 And as fortune wolde that it were so That oon of hem cam hoom that oother noght Anon the knyght bifore the iuge is broght That seyde thus thow hast thy felawe slayn For which I deme thee to the deeth certeyn 2025 And to another knyght comanded he Go lede hym to the deeth I charge thee And happed as they wente by the weye Toward the place ther he sholde deye The knyght cam which men wenden had be deed 2030 Thanne thoghten they it were the beste reed To lede hem bothe to the iuge agayn They seyden lord the knyght ne hath nat slayn His felawe heere he standeth hool alyue Ye shul be deed quod he so moot I thryue 2035 This is to seyn bothe oon and two and thre And to the firste knyght right thus spak he I dampned thee thou most algate be deed And thow also most nedes lese thyn heed For thow art cause why thy felawe deyth 2040 And to the thridde knyght right thus he seyth Thow hast nat doon that I comanded thee And thus he dide do sleen hem alle thre Irous Cambises was eek dronkelewe And ay delited hym to been a shrewe 2045 And so bifel a lord of his meynee That loued vertuous moralitee Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right thus A lord is lost if he be vicious And dronkenesse is eek a foul record 2050 Of any man and namely in a lord Ther is ful many an eighe and many an ere Awaityng on a lord and he noot where For goddes loue drynk moore attemprely Wyn maketh man to lesen wrecchedly 2055 His mynde and eek his lymes euerychon The reuers shaltow se quod he anon And preue it by thyn owene experience That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich offence Ther is no wyn bireueth me my myght 2060 Of hond ne foot ne of myne eyen sight And for despit he drank ful muchel moore An hundred part than he hadde doon bifore And right anon this irous cursed wrecche Leet this knyghtes sone bifore hym fecche 2065 Comandynge hym he sholde bifore hym stonde And sodeynly he took his bowe in honde 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 2070 Quod he is al my myght and mynde agoon Hath wyn byreued me myn eyen$sight What sholde I telle th+answere of the knyght His sone was slayn ther is namoore to seye Beth war ther#fore with lordes how ye pleye 2075 Syngeth =Placebo\ and I shal if I kan But if it be vnto a poure man To a poure man men sholde his vices telle But nat to a lord thogh he sholde go to helle Lo irous Cirus thilke Percien 2080 How he destroyed the ryuer of Gysen For that an hors of his was dreynt ther#inne Whan that he wente Babiloyne to wynne He made that the ryuer was so smal That wommen myghte wade it ouer al 2085 Lo what seyde he that so wel teche kan Ne be no felawe to an irous man Ne with no wood man walke by the weye Lest thee repente I wol no ferther seye Now Thomas leeue brother leue thyn ire 2090 Thow shalt me fynde as iust as is a squyre Hoold nat the deueles knyf ay at thyn herte Thyn angre dooth thee al to soore smerte But shewe to me al thy confessioun Nay quod the sike man by seint Symoun 2095 I haue be shryuen this day at my curat I haue hym toold hoolly al myn estat 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 2100 Quod he for many a muscle and many an oystre Whan othere men han been ful wel at eyse Hath been oure foode oure cloystre for to reyse And yet god woot vnnethe the fundement Parfourmed is ne of oure pauement 2105 Nys nat a tyle yet with#inne oure wones By god we owen fourty pound for stones Now help Thomas for hym that harwed helle Or ellis mote we oure bookes selle And if yow lakke oure predicacioun 2110 Thanne gooth the world al to destruccioun For who#so fro this world wolde vs bireue So god me saue Thomas by youre leue He wolde bireue out of this world the sonne For who kan teche and werchen as we konne 2115 And that is nat of litel tyme quod he But sith Elye was or Elise Han freres been that fynde I of record In charitee ythanked be oure lord Now Thomas help for seinte charitee 2120 And doun anon he set hym on his knee This sike man wex wel neigh wood for ire He wolde that the frere hadde been a#fire With his false dissimulacioun Swich thyng as is in my possessioun 2125 Quod he that may I yeue and noon oother Ye sey me thus how that I am youre brother Ye certes quod the frere trusteth wel I took oure dame oure lettre with oure seel Now wel quod he and som#what shal I yeue 2130 Vnto youre holy couent whil I lyue And in thyn hand thow shalt it han anon On this condicioun and oother noon That thow departe it so my deere brother That euery frere haue as muche as oother 2135 This shaltow swere on thy professioun With#outen fraude or cauelacioun I swere it quod this frere vpon my feith And ther#with#al his hand in his he leith Lo here my feith in me shal be no lak 2140 Now thanne put thyn hand doun by my bak Seyde this man and grope wel bihynde Bynethe my buttok ther shaltow fynde A thyng that I haue hyd in pryuetee A thoghte this frere that shal go with me 2145 And doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte In hope for to fynde there a yifte And whan this sike man felte this frere Aboute his tuwel grope there and heere Amydde his hand he leet the frere a fart 2150 Ther nys no capul drawyng in a cart That myghte han late a fart of swich a soun 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 2155 Thow shalt abye this fart if that I may His meynee which that herden this affray 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 2160 He looked as it were a wilde boor He grynt with his teeth so was he wrooth A stordy paas doun to the court he gooth Wher as ther woned a man of greet honour To whom that he was alwey confessour 2165 This worthy man was lord of that village This frere cam as he were in a rage Where as this lord sat etyng at his bord Vnnethe myghte the frere speke a word Til atte laste he seyde god yow see 2170 This lord gan looke and seyde benedicitee What frere Iohn what maner world is this I se wel that som thyng ther is amys Ye loken as the wode were ful of theuys Sit doun anon and tel me what youre grief is 2175 And it shal been amended if I may I haue quod he had a despit to#day God yelde yow adoun in youre village That in this world ther nys so poure a page That he nolde haue abhomynacioun 2180 Of that I haue receyued in youre toun And yet ne greueth me no thyng so soore As that this olde cherl with lokkes hoore Blasphemed hath oure hooly couent eke Now maister quod this lord I yow biseke 2185 No maister sire quod he but seruytour Thogh I haue had in scole that honour God liketh nat that Raby men vs calle Neither in market nyn youre large halle No force quod he but tel me al youre grief 2190 Sire quod this frere an odious meschief This day bityd is to myn ordre and me And so =per consequens\ to ech degree Of holy chirche god amende it soone Sire quod the lord ye woot what is to doone 2195 Distempre yow noght ye be my confessour Ye been the salt of the erthe and the sauour For goddes loue youre pacience ye holde Tel me youre grief and he anon hym tolde As ye han herd biforn ye woot wel what 2200 The lady of the hous ay stille sat Til she hadde herd what the frere sayde Ey goddes moder quod she blisful mayde Is ther aught elles tel me feithfully 2204 Madame quod he how thynketh yow ther#by How that me thynketh quod she so god me spede I seye a cherl hath doon a cherles dede What sholde I seye god lat hym neuere thee His sike heed is ful of vanytee I holde hym in a manere frenesye 2210 Madame quod he by god I shal nat lye But I on oother wise may be wreke I shal diffame hym ouer al wher I speke The false blasphemour that charged me To parte that wol nat departed be 2215 To euery man yliche with meschaunce The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce And in his herte he rolled vp and doun How hadde this cherl ymaginacioun To shewe swich a probleme to the frere 2220 Neuere erst er now herde I of swich matere I trowe the deuel putte it in his mynde In ars metrik shal ther no man fynde Biforn this day of swich a questioun Who sholde make a demonstracioun 2225 That euery man sholde han ylyke his part As of a soun or sauour of a fart O nyce proude cherl I shrewe his face Lo sires quod the lord with harde grace Who euere herde of swich a thyng er now 2230 To euery man ylike tel me how It is an inpossible it may nat be Ey nyce cherl god lat hym neuere thee The rumblyng of a fart and euery soun Nys but of eyr reuerberacioun 2235 And ther it wasteth lite and lite awey Ther nys no man kan deme by my fey If that it were departed equally What lo my cherl lo yet how shrewedly Vnto my confessour to#day he spak 2240 I holde hym certeyn a demonyak Now ete youre mete and lat the cherl go pleye Lat hym go hange hym#self a deuel weye Now stood the lordes squyer at the bord That carf his mete and herde word by word 2245 Of alle thyng of which I haue yow sayd My lord quod he be ye nat yuele apayd I koude telle for a gowne$clooth To yow sire frere so ye be nat wrooth How that this fart sholde euene ydeled be 2250 Among youre couent if it liked me Tel quod the lord and thow shalt haue anon A gowne$clooth by god and by seint Iohn My lord quod he whan that the weder is fair With#outen wynd or parturbynge of air 2255 Lat brynge a cartwheel heere into this halle But looke that it haue his spokes alle Twelue spokes hath a cartwheel comunly And brynge me thanne twelue freres woot ye why For thrittene is a couent as I gesse 2260 Youre confessour heere for his worthynesse Shal perfourne vp the nombre of this couent Thanne shal they knele adoun by oon assent And to euery spokes ende in this manere Ful sadly leye his nose shal a frere 2265 Youre noble confessour ther god hym saue Shal holde his nose vpright vnder the naue 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 2270 Vpon the naue and make hym lete a fart And ye shal seen vp peril of my lyf By preeue which that is demonstratyf That equally the soun of it wol wende And eek the stynk vnto the spokes ende 2275 Saue that this worthy man youre confessour By cause he is a man of greet honour 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 2280 And certeynly he hath it wel disserued He hath to#day taught vs so muchel good With prechyng in the pulpit ther he stood That I may vouche#sauf I seye for me He hadde the firste smel of fartes three 2285 And so wolde al his couent hardily He bereth hym so faire and holily The lord the lady and ech man saue the frere Seyden that Iankyn spak in this matere As wel as Euclyde or Protholomee 2290 Touchynge the cherl they seyde subtiltee And heigh wit made hym speken as he spak He nys no fool ne no demonyak And Iankyn hath ywonne a newe gowne My tale is doon we been almoost at towne <%heere folweth the prologe of the clerkes tale%> <%of oxenford%> 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 youre tonge a word 5 I trowe ye studie aboute som sophyme 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 10 For what man that is entred in a pley He nedes moot vnto the pley assente But precheth nat as freres doon in Lente To make vs for oure olde synnes wepe Ne that thy tale make vs nat to slepe 15 Tel vs som murye thyng of auentures Youre termes youre colours and youre 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 20 That we may vnderstonde what ye seye This worthy clerk benygnely answerde Hoost quod he I am vnder youre yerde Ye han of vs as now the gouernaunce And therfore wol I do yow obeisaunce 25 As fer as reson asketh hardily I wol yow telle a tale which that I Lerned at Padwe of a worthy clerk As preued by his wordes and his werk He is now deed and nayled in his cheste 30 I pray to god so yeue his soule reste Fraunceys Petrak the laureat poete Highte this clerk whos rethoryk swete Enlumyned al Ytaille of poetrie As Lynyan dide of philosophie 35 Or lawe or oother art particuler But deeth that wol nat suffre vs dwellen heer But as it were a twynklyng of an eye Hem bothe hath slayn and alle shul we dye But forth to tellen of this worthy man 40 That taughte me this tale as I bigan I seye that first with heigh stile he enditeth Er he the body of his tale writeth A prohemye in the which discryueth he Pemond and of Saluces the contree 45 And speketh of Appenyn the hilles hye That been the boundes of Westlumbardye And of mount Vesulus in special Wher as the Poo out of a welle smal Taketh his firste spryngyng and his sours 50 That estward ay encresseth in his cours 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 inpartinent 55 Saue that he wole conueyen his matere But this his tale which that ye shal heere <%heere bigynneth the tale of the clerk of oxenford%> Ther is at the west syde of Ytaille Doun at the roote of Vesulus the colde A lusty playne habundant of vitaille 60 Wher many a tour and toun thow mayst biholde 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 65 As were his worthy eldres hym bifore And obeisant 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 70 Bothe of his lordes and of his commune Ther#with he was to speke as of lynage The gentileste yborn of Lumbardye A fair persone and strong and yong of age And ful of honour and of curteisye 75 Discret ynogh his contree for to gye Saue in somme 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 80 But on his lust present was al his thoght 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 85 Oonly that point his peple bar so soore 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 90 Or ellis koude he shewe wel swich matere He to the markys seyde as ye shal heere O noble markys youre humanitee Assureth vs and yeueth vs hardynesse As ofte as tyme is of necessitee 95 That we to yow mowe telle oure heuynesse Accepteth lord now of youre gentillesse That we with pitous herte vnto yow pleyne And lat youre erys noght my voys desdeyne Al haue I noght to doone in this matere 100 Moore than another man hath in this place 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 105 And ye my lord to doon right as yow leste For certes lord so wel vs liketh yow And al youre werk and euere han doon that we Ne kouden nat vs#self deuysen how We myghte lyuen in moore felicitee 110 Saue o thyng lord if it youre wille be That for to been a wedded man yow leste Thanne were youre peple in souereyn hertes reste Boweth youre nekke vnder that blisful yok Of souereynetee noght of seruyse 115 Which that men clepe spousaille or wedlok And thenketh lord among youre thoghtes wyse How that oure dayes passe in sondry wyse For thogh we slepe or wake or rome or ryde Ay fleeth the tyme it nyl no man abyde 120 And thogh youre grene youthe floure as yit 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 125 That we shul dye as vncerteyn we alle 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 130 Chese yow a wyf in short tyme at the leeste 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 135 And tak a wyf for hye goddes sake For if it so bifelle as god forbede That thurgh youre deeth youre lyne sholde slake And that a straunge successour sholde take Youre heritage o wo were vs alyue 140 Wher#fore we pray yow hastily to wyue Hir meke prayere and hir pitous cheere Made the markys herte han pitee Ye wol quod he myn owene peple deere To that I neuere erst thoghte streyne me 145 I me reioysed of my libertee That selde tyme is founde in mariage Ther I was free I moot been in seruage But nathelees I se youre trewe entente And truste vpon youre wit and haue doon ay 150 Wher#fore of my free wyl I wol assente To wedde me as soone as euere I may But ther as ye han profred me to day To chese me a wyf I yow relesse That choys and pray yow of that profre cesse 155 For god it woot that children ofte ben Vnlyk hir worthy eldres hem bifore Bountee comth al of god nat of the stren Of which they been engendred and ybore I truste in goddes bountee and therfore 160 My mariage and myn estat and reste 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 yow pray and charge vpon youre lyf 165 What wyf that I take ye me assure To worshipe hire whil that hir lyf may dure In word and werk bothe here and euerywhere As she an emperoures doghter were And ferther moore this shal ye swere that ye 170 Agayn my choys shal neither grucche ne stryue 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 175 I pray yow speketh namoore of this matere With hertly wyl they sworen and assenten 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 180 Of his spousaille as soone as euere he may For yet alwey the peple som#what 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 185 And seyde he dide al this at hir requeste 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 her vpon he to his officers 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 195 And ech of hem dooth al his diligence To doon vnto the feste reuerence <=Explicit prima pars\> <=Incipit secunda pars\> Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable Wher as this markys shoop his mariage Ther stood a throop of site delitable 200 In which that poure folk of that village Hadden hir bestes and hir herbergage And of hir labour toke hir sustenance After that the erthe yaf hem habundance Among thise poure folk ther dwelte a man 205 Which that was holden pourest of hem alle But hye god som#tyme sende can His grace into a litel oxes stalle Ianicula men of that throop hym calle A doghter hadde he fair ynogh to sighte 210 And Grisildis this yonge mayden highte But for to speke of vertuous beautee Thanne was she oon the faireste vnder sonne For poureliche yfostred vp was she No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte yronne 215 Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne 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 220 Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage And in greet 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 225 And whan she homward cam she wolde brynge Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir lyuynge And made hir bed ful hard and no thyng softe And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on#lofte 230 With euery obeisance and diligence 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 235 And whan it fil that he myghte hire espye He noght with wantowne lookyng of folye His eyen caste on hire but in sad wyse Vpon hir cheere he wolde hym ofte auyse Commendynge in his herte hir wommanhede 240 And eek hir vertu passyng any wight Of so yong age as wel in cheere as dede For thogh the peple haue no greet insight In vertue he considered ful right Hir bountee and disposed that he wolde 245 Wedde hire oonly if euere he wedden sholde 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 pryuetee 250 Wol nat oure lord yet leue his vanytee Wol he nat wedde allas allas the while Why wol he thus hym#self and vs bigyle But nathelees this markys hath doon make Of gemmes set in gold and in asure 255 Broches and rynges for Grisildis sake And of hir clothyng took he the mesure Of a mayde lyk to hir stature And eek of othere ornamentes alle That vnto swich a weddyng sholde falle 260 The tyme of vndren of the same day Approcheth that this weddyng sholde be And al the paleys put was in array Bothe halle and chambres ech in his degree Houses of office stuffed with plentee 265 Ther maystow seen of deynteuous vitaille That may be founde as fer as last Ytaille This roial markys richely arrayed Lordes and ladyes in his comaignye The whiche that to the feste were yprayed 270 And of his retenue the bachelrye With many a soun 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 275 That for hire shapen was al this array To fecchen water at a welle is went And cometh hoom as soone as euer she may For wel she hadde herd seyd that thilke day The markys sholde wedde and if she myghte 280 She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte 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 hoom as soone as it may be 285 The labour which that longeth vnto me And thanne I may at leyser hir biholde If she this wey vnto the castel holde And as she wolde ouer hir thresshfold gon The markys cam and gan hire for to calle 290 And she sette doun hir water pot anon 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 295 This thoghtful markys spak vnto this mayde 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 300 And in she goth with#outen lenger lette 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 305 Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde If that thow vouche$sauf what so bityde Thy doghter wol I take er that I wende As for my wyf vnto my lyues ende Thow louest me I woot it wel certeyn 310 And art my feithful lige man ybore And al that liketh me I dar wel seyn It liketh thee and specially ther#fore Tel me that point that I haue seyd bifore If that thow wolt vnto that purpos drawe 315 To take me as for thy sone$in$lawe The sodeyn cas this man astoneyd so That reed he wax abayst and al quakyng He stood vnnethe seyde he wordes mo But oonly thus lord quod he my willyng 320 Is as ye wole ne ayeins youre likyng I wol no thyng 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 325 Haue a collacioun and wostow why For I wol aske if it hir wille be To be my wyf and rule hire after me And al this shal be doon in thy presence I wol noght speke out of thyn audience 330 And in the chambre whil they were aboute Hir tretys which as ye shal after heere The peple cam vnto the hous with#oute And wondred hem in how honeste manere And tentifly she kepte hir fader deere 335 But outrely Grisildis wondre myghte For neuere erst ne saw she swich a sighte No wonder is thogh that she were astoned To seen so greet a gest come in that place She neuere was to swiche gestes woned 340 For which she looked with ful pale face But shortly forth this matere for to chace Thise arn the wordes that the markys sayde To this benygne verray feithful mayde Grisilde he seyde ye shal wel vnderstonde 345 It liketh to youre fader and to me 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 350 Wol ye assente or ellis yow auyse 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 355 And eek whan I sey ye ne sey nat nay Neither by word ne frownyng contenance Swere this and here I swere oure alliance Wondrynge vpon this word quakyng for drede She seyde lord vndigne and vnworthy 360 I am to thilke honour that ye me bede But as ye wol your#self right so wol I And heere I swere that neuere willyngly In werk ne thoght I nyl yow disobeye For to be deed thogh me were looth to deye 365 This is ynogh Grisilde myn quod he 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 370 Honureth hire and loueth hire I preye Who#so me loueth ther is namoore to seye And for that no thyng of hir olde gere She sholde brynge into his hous he bad That wommen sholde dispoylen hir right there 375 Of which thise ladyes were noght right glad To handle hir clothes wher#inne 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 380 Ful rudely and with hir fyngres smale A corone on hir heed they han ydressed And sette hire ful of nowches grete and smale Of hir array what sholde I make a tale Vnnethe the peple hir knew for hir fairnesse 385 Whan she translated was in swich richesse This markys hath hire spoused with a ryng Broght for the same cause and thanne hir sette Vpon an hors snow$whit and wel amblyng And to his paleys er he lenger lette 390 With ioyful peple that hir ladde and mette Conveyed 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 395 God hath swich fauour sent hire of his grace That it ne semed nat by liklynesse That she was born and fed in rudenesse As in a cote or in an oxe$stalle But norissed in an emperoures halle 400 To euery wight she woxen is so deere And worshipful that folk ther she was bore And from hir birthe knewe hire yeer by yeere Vnnethe trowed they but dorste han swore That to Ianicle of which I spak bifore 405 She doghter were for as by coniecture Hem thoughte she was another creature For thogh that euere vertuous was she She was encressed in swich excellence Of thewes goode yset in heigh bountee 410 And so discreet and fair of eloquence So benygne and so digne of reuerence And koude so the peples herte embrace That ech hir louede that looked on hir face Noght oonly of Saluces in the toun 415 Publissed was the bountee of hir name But eek bisyde in many a regioun If oon seyde wel another seyde the same So spradde of hir heighe bountee the fame That men and wommen as wel yonge as olde 420 Goon to Saluce vp#on hire to biholde Thus Walter lowely nay but roially Wedded with fortunat honestetee In goddes pees lyueth ful esily At hom and outward grace ynow hadde he 425 And for he saugh that vnder lowe degree Was ofte vertu hid the peple hym helde A prudent man and that is seyn ful selde Noght oonly this Grisildis thurgh hir wit Koude al the feet of wyfly humblenesse 430 But eek whan that the cas required it The commune profit koude she redresse Ther nas discord rancour ne heuynesse In al that land that she ne koude apese And wisly brynge hem alle in reste and ese 435 Thogh that hir housbond absent were anon If gentil men or othere of hir contree Were wrothe she wolde bryngen hem aton So wise and rype wordes hadde she And iuggementz of so greet equytee 440 That she from heuene sent was as men wende Peple to saue and euery wrong t+amende Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild Was wedded she a doghter hath ybore Al had hir leuere haue born a knaue child 445 Glad was the markys and the folk ther#fore For thogh a mayde child coome al bifore She may vnto a knaue$child atteyne By liklyhede syn she nys nat bareyne <=Explicit secunda pars\> <=Incipit tercia pars\> Ther fil as it bifalleth tymes mo 450 Whan that this child had souked but a throwe 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 merueillous desir his wyf t+assaye 455 Nedelees god woot he thoghte hire for t+affraye He hadde assayed hire ynow bifore And fond hire euere good what neded it Hir for to tempte and alwey moore and moore Thogh som men preyse it for a subtil wit 460 But as for me I seye that yuele it sit T+assaye a wyf whan that it is no nede And putten hire in angwyssh and in drede For which this markys wroghte in this manere He cam allone a#nyght ther as she lay 465 With steerne face and with ful trouble cheere And seyde thus Grisilde quod he that day That I yow took out of youre poure array And putte yow in estat of heigh noblesse Ye haue nat that forgeten as I gesse 470 I seye Grisilde this present dignitee 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 your#seluen knowe 475 Tak hede of euery word that I yow seye Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye Ye woot your#self wel how that ye cam heere Into this hous it is nat longe ago And thogh to me that ye be lief and deere 480 Vnto my gentils ye be no thyng so They seyn to hem it is greet shame and wo For to be subgetz and been in seruage To thee that born art of a smal village And namely sith thy doghter was ybore 485 Thise wordes han they spoken doutelees 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 490 Nat as I wolde but as my peple leste And yet god woot this is ful looth to me But nathelees with#outen youre wityng I wol nat doon but this wol I quod he That ye to me assente as in this thyng 495 Shewe now youre pacience in youre wirkyng That ye me highte and swore in youre village That day that maked was oure mariage Whan she hadde herd al this she noght ameued Neither in word or cheere or contenaunce 500 For as it semed she was nat agreued She seyde lord al lith in youre plesance My child and I with hertly obeisance Been youres al and ye mowe saue or spille Youre owene thyng werketh after youre wille 505 Ther may no thyng god so my soule saue Liken to yow that may displese me Ne I desire no thyng for to haue Ne drede for to lese saue oonly ye This wyl is in myn herte and ay shal be 510 No lengthe of tyme or deth may this deface Ne chaunge my corage to another 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 515 Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go Soone after this a furlong wey or two He pryuely hath told al his entente Vnto a man and to his wyf hym sente A maner sergeant was this pryuee man 520 The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde 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 525 Into the chambre he stalked hym ful stille 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 530 They mowe wel been biwailled or compleyned 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 535 Despitously and gan a cheere make As thogh he wolde han slayn it er he wente Grisildis moot al suffren and al consente And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille And leet this cruel sergeant doon his wille 540 Suspecious was the diffame of this man 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 slawen it right tho 545 But nathelees she neither weep ne syked Conformynge hire to that the markys liked But at the laste speken she bigan And mekely she to the sergeant preyde 549 So as he was a worthy gentil man That she moste kisse hir child er that it deyde And in hir barm this litel child she leyde With ful sad face and gan the child to blisse And lulled it and after gan it kisse And thus she seyde in hir benygne voys 555 Fare wel my child I shal thee neuere see 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 560 For this nyght shaltow dyen for my sake I trowe that to a norice in this cas It hadde been hard this routhe for to se Wel myghte a moder than han cryd allas But nathelees so sad stedefast was she 565 That she endured al aduersitee 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 570 That but my lord forbad yow at the leste Burieth this litel body in som place That bestes ne no briddes it to race But he no word wol to that purpos seye But took the child and wente vpon his weye 575 This sergeant cam vnto his lord agayn And of Grisildis wordes and hir cheere He tolde hym poynt for poynt in short and playn And hym presenteth with his doghter deere Som what this lord hath routhe in his manere 580 But nathelees his purpos held he stille 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 585 And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe But vpon peyne his heed of for to swappe That no man sholde knowe of his entente Ne whennes he cam ne whider that he wente But at Boloigne to his suster deere 590 That thilke tyme of Panyk was countesse He sholde it take and shewe hire this matere Bisekynge hire to doon hir bisynesse This child to fostre in al gentilesse And whos child that it was he bad hire hyde 595 From euery wight for aught that may bityde 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 600 Or by hir word aperceyue that she Were chaunged but he neuere hir koude fynde But euere in oon ylike sad and kynde As glad as humble as bisy in seruyse And eek in loue as she was wont to be 605 Was she to hym in euery maner wise Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she Noon accident for noon aduersitee Was seyn in hire ne neuere hir doghter name Ne nempned she in ernest ne in game <=Explicit tercia pars\> <=Sequitur pars quarta\> 610 In this estat ther passed ben foure yeer 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 615 Nat oonly he but al his contree merye Was for this child and god they thanke and herye Whan it was two yeer old and fro the brest Departed of his norice on a day This markys caughte yet another lest 620 To tempte his wyf yet ofter if he may 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 625 My peple sikly berth oure mariage 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 myn erys comth the voys so smerte 630 That it wel neigh destroyed hath myn herte Now sey they thus whan Walter is agon Thanne shal the blood of Ianicle succede And been oure lord for oother haue we noon Swiche wordes seith my peple out of drede 635 Wel oghte I of swich murmur taken hede 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 640 As I his suster serued by nyghte Right so thenke I to serue hym pryuely This warne I yow that ye nat sodeynly Out of your#self for no wo sholde outraye Beth pacient and ther#of I yow praye 645 I haue quod she seyd thus and euere shal I wol no thyng ne nyl no thyng 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 650 I haue nat had no part of children tweyne But first siknesse and after wo and peyne Ye ben oure lord dooth with youre owene thyng Right as yow list axeth no reed of me For as I lefte at hom al my clothyng 655 Whan I first cam to yow right so quod she Lefte I my wyl and al my libertee And took youre clothyng wherfore I yow preye Dooth youre plesance I wol youre lust obeye And certes if I hadde prescience 660 Youre wyl to knowe er ye youre lust me tolde I wolde it doon with#outen necligence But now I woot youre lust and what ye wolde Al youre plesance ferme and stable I holde For wiste I that my deeth wolde doon yow ese 665 Right gladly wolde I dyen yow to plese Deeth may nat make no comparisoun Vnto youre loue and whan this markys say The constance of his wyf he caste adoun His eyen two and wondreth that she may 670 In pacience suffre al this array And forth he goth with drery contenance But to his herte it was ful gret plesance This vgly sergeant in the same wyse That he hir doghter caughte right so he 675 Or worse if men kan worse deuyse 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 680 Saue this she preyde hym that if he myghte Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe graue His tendre lymes delicat to sighte Fro foweles and fro bestes for to saue But she noon answere of hym myghte haue 685 He wente his wey as hym no thyng ne roghte But to Boloigne he tendrely it broghte This markys wondreth euer lenger the moore Vpon hir pacience and if that he Ne hadde soothly knowen ther bifoore 690 That parfitly hir children loued she 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 hym#self certayn 695 She loued hir children best in euery wise But now of wommen wolde I asken fayn If thise assayes myghte nat suffise What koude a sturdy housbond moore deuyse To preue hir wifhod and hir stedfastnesse 700 And he contynuynge euere in sturdynesse But ther ben folk of swich condicioun That whan they haue a certeyn purpos take They kan nat stynte of hir entencioun But right as they were bounden to that stake 705 They wol nat of that firste purpos slake 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 710 But neuere koude he fynde variance She was ay oon in herte and in visage And ay the ferther that she was in age The moore trewe if that it were possible She was to hym in loue and moore penyble 715 For which it semed thus that of hem two Ther nas but o wyl for as Walter leste The same lust was hir plesance also And god be thanked al fil for the beste She shewed wel for no worldly vnreste 720 A wif as of hir#self no thyng ne sholde Wille in effect but as hir housbond wolde The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde spradde That of a cruel herte he wikkedly For he a poure womman wedded hadde 725 Hath mordred bothe his children pryuely Swich murmur was among hem comunly No wonder is for to the peples ere Ther cam no word but that they mordred were 729 For which wher as his peple ther#bifore Hadde loued hym wel the sclaundre of his diffame Made hem that they hym hated therfore To ben a mordrere is an hateful name But nathelees for ernest ne for game He of his cruel purpos nolde stente 735 To tempte his wyf was set al his entente Whan that his doghter twelue yeer 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 740 As to his cruel purpos may suffise 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 745 That he hath leue his firste wyf to lete As by the popes dispensacioun To stynte rancour and dissencioun Bitwixe his peple and hym thus seyde the bulle The which they han publissed at the fulle 750 The rude peple as it no wonder is 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 euere mo 755 Disposed was this humble creature Th+aduersitee of fortune al t+endure Abidynge euere his lust and his plesance To whom that she was yeuen herte and al As to hir verray worldly suffisance 760 But shortly if this storie telle I shal 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 765 Wedded his suster preyde he specially 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 770 Sholde nat telle whos children that they were But seye the mayden sholde ywedded be Vnto the markys of Saluce anon And as this erl was preyed so dide he For at day set he on his wey is gon 775 Toward Saluce and lordes many oon 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 780 Hir brother which that seuen yeer was of age 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\> <=Sequitur pars quinta\> 785 Among al this after his wikke vsage 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 790 He on a day in open audience Ful boistously hath seyd hire this sentence Certes Grisilde I hadde ynogh plesance To han yow to my wyf for youre goodnesse As for youre trouthe and for youre obeisance 795 Noght for youre lynage ne for youre richesse 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 800 My peple me constreyneth for to take Another wyf and crien 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 805 My newe wyf is comynge by the weye Be strong of herte and voyde anon hir place And thilke dowere that ye broghten me Tak it agayn I graunte it of my grace Retourneth to youre fadres hous quod he 810 No man may alwey han prosperitee With euene herte I rede yow tendure The strook of fortune or of auenture And she agayn answerde in pacience My lord quod she I woot and wiste alway 815 How that bitwixen youre magnificence 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 youre wyf no ne youre chambrere 820 And in this hous ther ye me lady made 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 825 And euere shal whil that my lyf may dure 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 830 That thonke I god and yow to whom I preye 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 835 Til I be deed my lyf ther wol I lede 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 840 Another man to housbond or to make And of youre newe wyf god of his grace So graunte yow wele and prosperitee For I wol gladly yelden hire my place In which that I was blisful wont to be 845 For sith it liketh yow my lord quod she 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 850 It were my wrecched clothes no thyng faire The whiche to me were hard now for to fynde O goode god how gentil and how kynde Ye semed by youre speche and youre visage The day that maked was oure mariage 855 But sooth is seyd algate I fynde it trewe 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 the cas it shal nat be 860 That euere in word or werk I shal repente 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 865 To yow broght I noght ellis out of drede But feith and nakednesse and maydenhede And here agayn my clothyng I restore And eek my weddyng ryng for euere moore The remenant of youre iewels redy be 870 Inwith youre chambre dar I saufly sayn 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 875 That I smoklees out of youre paleys wente 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 880 Lat me nat lyk a worm go by the weye Remembre yow myn owene lord so deere I was youre wyf thogh I vnworthy weere Wherfore in gerdoun of my maydenhede Which that I broghte and noght agayn I bere 885 As voucheth$sauf to yeue me to my mede But swich a smok as I was wont to were That I ther#with may wrye the wombe of here That was youre wyf and here I take my leue Of yow myn owene lord lest I yow greue 890 The smok quod he that thow hast on thy bak 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 hir#seluen strepeth she 895 And in hir smok with heed and foot al bare 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 900 Ne in this tyme word ne spak she noon Hir fader that this tidynge herd anon Curseth the day and tyme that nature Shoop hym to be a lyues creature For out of doute this olde poure man 905 Was euere in suspect of hir mariage 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 910 And voyden hire as soone as euere he myghte 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 915 But on hir body myghte he it nat brynge 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 920 That neither by hir wordes ne hir face 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 925 No wonder is for in hir grete estat Hir goost was euere in pleyn humylitee No tendre mouth noon herte delicat No pompe no semblant of realtee But ful of pacient benygnytee 930 Discreet and pridelees ay honurable And to hir housbonde euere meke and stable Men speke of Iob and moost for his humblesse As clerkes whan hem lest kan wel endite Namely of men but as in soothfastnesse 935 Thogh clerkes preyse wommen but a lite 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 940 Of which the fame vp sprong to moore and lesse And to the peples eres alle and some Was kouth eek that a newe markisesse He with hym broghte in swich pompe and richesse That neuere was ther seyn with mannes eye 945 So noble array in al Westlumbardye 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 950 Nat with no swollen thoght in hir corage Cam at his heste and on hir knees hir sette And reuerently and wysly she hym grette Grisilde quod he my wille is outrely This mayden that shal wedded been to me 955 Receyued be tomorwe as really As it possible is in myn hous to be And eek that euery wight in his degre Haue his estat in sittyng and seruyse And heigh plesance as I kan best deuyse 960 I haue no wommen suffisant certayn The chambres for t+arraye 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 965 Though thyn array be badde and yuel biseye 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 970 With#outen feyntyng and shal euere mo Ne neuere for no wele ne no wo Ne shal the goost with#inne myn herte stente To loue yow best with al my trewe entente And with that word she gan the hous to dighte 975 And tables for to sette and beddes make And peyned hire 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 980 Hath euery chambre arrayed and his halle 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 985 And thanne at erst amonges hem they seye That Walter was no fool thogh that hym leste To chaunge his wyf for it was for the beste For she is fairer as they demen alle Than is Grisilde and moore tendre of age 990 And fairer fruyt bitwene hem sholde falle And moore plesant for hire heigh lynage Hir brother eek so fair was of visage That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesance Commendynge now the markys gouernance 995 O stormy peple vnsad and euere vntrewe Ay vndiscreet and chaungynge as a vane Delitynge euere in rumbul that is newe For lyk the moone ay wexe ye and wane 999 Ay ful of clappyng deere ynow a iane Youre doom is fals youre constance yuele preueth 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 1005 To han a newe lady of hir toun 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 1010 That to the feste was apertinent Right noght was she abayst of hir clothyng Thogh it were rude and somdel eek to rent But with glad cheere to the yate is she went With oother folk to greete the markysesse 1015 And after that dooth forth hir bisynesse With so glad cheere his gestes she receyueth And so konnyngly euerich in his degree That no defaute no man aperceyueth But ay they wondren what she myghte be 1020 That in so poure array was for to se 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 1025 With al hir herte in ful benygne entente So wel that no man koude hir pris 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 1030 Grisilde quod he as it were in his pley 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 1035 And so hope I that he wol to yow sende 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 don mo 1040 For she is fostred in hir norissynge Moore tendrely and to my supposynge She koude nat aduersitee endure As koude a poure fostred creature And whan this Walter saw hir pacience 1045 Hir glade cheere and no malice at al And he so ofte had doon to hire offence And she ay sad and constant as a wal Continuynge euere hir innocence ouer#al This sturdy markys gan his herte dresse 1050 To rewen vpon hir wifly stedfastnesse 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 1055 In greet estat and poureliche arrayed 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 1060 She ferde as she hadde stirt out of a sleep Til she out of hir mazednesse abreyde Grisilde quod he by god that for vs deyde Thow art my wyf noon oother I haue 1064 Ne neuere hadde as god my soule saue This is thy doghter which thow hast supposed To be my wyf that oother feithfully Shal be myn heir as I haue ay disposed Thow bare hym in thy body trewely At Boloigne haue I kept hem pryuely 1070 Tak hem agayn for now maistow nat seye That thow hast lorn noon of thy children tweye And folk that oother weys han seyd of me I warne hem wel that I haue doon this dede For no malice ne for no crueltee 1075 But for t+assaye in thee thy wommanhede 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 She bothe hir yonge children to hire calleth And in hir armes pitously wepynge Embraceth hem and tendrely kissynge Ful lyk a moder with hir salte teres 1085 She bathed bothe hir visage and hir heres O which a pitous thyng it was to se Hir swownyng and hir humble voys to heere Graunt mercy lord god thanke it yow quod she That ye han saued me my children deere 1090 Now rekke I neuere to been ded right heere Sith I stonde in youre 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 stedfastly 1095 That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne 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 1100 And in hir swough so sadly holdeth she Hir children two whan she gan hem t+embrace That with greet sleighte and greet difficultee The children from hir arm they gonne arace O many a teer on many a pitous face 1105 Doun ran of hem that stoden hir bisyde Vnnethe abouten hire 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 1110 Til she hath caught agayn hir contenaunce 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 1115 Han taken hire and into chambre goon And strepen hire out of hir rude array 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 1120 And ther she was honured as hir oghte 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 1125 For moore solempne in euery mannes syght 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 1130 And richely his doghter maried he Vnto a lord oon of the worthieste Of al Ytaille and thanne in pees and reste His wyues fader in his court he kepeth Til that the soule out of his body crepeth 1135 His sone succedeth in his heritage In reste and pees after his fader day And fortunat was eek in mariage Al putte he nat his wyf in gret assay This world is nat so strong it is no nay 1140 As it hath been in olde tymes yore 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 1145 But for that euery wight in his degree Sholde be constant in aduersitee As was Grisilde therfore Petrak writeth This storie which with heigh stile he enditeth For sith a womman was so pacient 1150 Vnto a mortal man wel moore vs oghte Receyuen al in gree that god vs sent For greet skile is he preue that he wroghte But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte As seith seint Iame if ye his pistel rede 1155 He preueth folk al day it is no drede 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 1160 Er we were born knew al oure freletee 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 1165 In al a toun Grisildis thre or two For if that they were put to swiche assayes The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes With bras that thogh the coyne be fair at eye It wolde rather breste atwo than plye 1170 For which heere for the wyues loue of Bathe Whos lyf and al hir secte god mayntene In heigh maistrie and elles were it scathe I wol with lusty herte fressh and grene Seye yow a song to glade yow I wene 1175 And lat vs stynte of ernestful matere Herkneth my song that seith in this manere Grisilde is deed and eek hir pacience And bothe atones buryed in Ytaille For which I crie in open audience 1180 No wedded man so hardy be t+assaille 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 1185 Ne lat no clerk haue cause or diligence To write of yow a storie of swich meruaille As of Grisildis pacient and kynde Lest Chichiuache yow swelwe in hir entraille Folweth Ekko that holdeth no silence 1190 But euere answereth at the countretaille Beth nat bidaffed for youre innocence But sharply tak on yow the gouernaille Emprenteth wel this lessoun in youre mynde For commune profit sith it may auaille 1195 Ye archewyues stondeth at defense Syn ye be strong as is a greet camaille Ne suffreth nat that men yow doon offense And sklendre wyues fieble as in bataille Beth egre as a tigre yond in Ynde 1200 Ay clappeth as a mille I yow consaille Ne dreed hem nat dooth hem no reuerence For thogh thyn housbond armed be in maille The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence Shal perce his brest and eek his auentaille 1205 In ialousie I rede eek thow hym bynde And thow shalt make hym couche as dooth a quaille If thow be fair ther folk ben in presence Shewe thow thy visage and thyn apparaille If thow be foul be fre of thy dispence 1210 To gete thee freendes ay do thy trauaille Be ay of cheere as light as leef on lynde And lat hym care and wepe and wrynge and waille 1212a This worthy clerk whan ended was his tale Oure hoost seyde and swoor by goddes bones Me were leuere than a barel ale My wyf at hom had herd this legend ones This is a gentil tale for the nones As to my purpos wiste ye my wille 1212g But thyng that wol nat be lat it be stille <%the prologe of the marchantes tale%> Wepyng and waylyng care and oother sorwe I knowe ynogh on euen and amorwe 1215 Quod the marchant and so doon othere mo That wedded been I trowe that it be so For wel I woot it fareth so with me I haue a wyf the worste that may be For thogh the feend to hire ycoupled were 1220 She wolde hym ouermacche I dar wel swere What sholde I yow reherce in special Hir hye malice she is a shrewe at al Ther is a long and a large difference Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience 1225 And of my wyf the passyng crueltee Were I vnbounden also moot I thee I wolde neuere eft come in the snare We wedded men lyue in sorwe and care Assaye who#so wol and he shal fynde 1230 That I seye sooth by seint Thomas of Ynde As for the moore part I sey nat alle God shilde that it sholde so bifalle A goode sire hoost I haue ywedded be Thise monthes two and moore nat pardee 1235 And yet I trowe he that al his lyue Wyflees hath been though that men wolde hym ryue Vnto the herte ne koude in no manere Tellen so muchel sorwe as I now heere 1239 Koude tellen of my wyues cursednesse Now quod oure hoost marchaunt so god yow blesse Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art Ful hertely I pray yow telle vs part Gladly quod he but of myn owene soore For sory herte I telle may namoore %heere bigynneth the marchantes tale% 1245 Whilom ther was dwellynge in Lumbardye A worthy knyght that born was of Pauye In which he lyuede in greet prosperitee And sixty yeer a wiflees man was he And folwed ay his bodily delit 1250 On wommen ther as was his appetit As doon thise fooles that been seculer And whan that he was passed sixty yeer Were it for holynesse or for dotage I kan nat seye but swich a greet corage 1255 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 1260 That is bitwix an housbonde and his wyf And for to lyue vnder that holy bond With which that first god man and womman bond Noon oother lyf seyde he is worth a bene For wedlok is so esy and so clene 1265 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 1270 Thanne is a wyf the fruyt of his tresor Thanne sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir Oh which he myghte engendren hym an heir And lede his lyf in ioye and in solas Wher as thise bacheleres synge allas 1275 Whan that they fynde any aduersitee In loue which nys but childissh vanytee And trewely it sit wel to be so That bachileres haue ofte peyne and wo On brotil ground they bilde and brotilnesse 1280 They fynde whan they wene sikernesse They lyue but as a bryd or as a beest In libertee and vnder noon areest Ther as a wedded man in his estat Lyueth a lyf blisful and ordynat 1285 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 1290 For wele or wo she wol hym nat forsake She nys nat wery hym to loue and serue Thogh that he lye bedrede til he sterue And yet som clerkes seyn it nys nat so Of whiche he Theofraste is oon of tho 1295 What force thogh Theofraste liste lye Ne take 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 1300 For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf 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 doon many a da 1305 And if thow take a wyf 1306 This sentence and an hundred thynges worse Writeth this man ther god his bones curse But take no kepe of al swich vanytee 1310 Diffye Theofraste and herke me A wyf is goddes yifte verraily Alle othere manere yiftes hardily As londes rentes pasture or comune Or moebles alle been yiftes of fortune 1315 That passen as a shadwe vpon a wal But drede nat if pleynly speke I shal A wyf wol laste and in thyn hous endure Wel lenger than thee list parauenture Mariage is a ful greet sacrament 1320 He which that hath no wyf I holde hym shent He lyueth helplees and al desolat I speke of folk in seculer estat And herke why I sey nat this for noght That womman is for mannes help ywroght 1325 The hye god whan he hadde Adam make God of his grete goodnesse seyde than Lat vs now make an help vnto this man Lyk to hym$self and thanne he made hym Eue 1330 Here may ye see and here by may ye preeue 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 1335 O flessh they been and o flessh as I gesse Hath but oon herte in wele and in distresse A wyf a seinte Marie benedicite How myghte a man han any aduersitee That hath a wyf certes I kan nat seye 1340 The blisse which that is bitwix hem tweye 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 1345 She seith nat ones nay whan he seith ye Do this seith he al redy sire seith she O blisful ordre of wedlok precious Thow art so murye and eek so vertuous And so commended and approued eek 1350 That euery man that halt hym worth a leek 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 1355 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 beren vp his heed They been so trewe and ther#with#al so wyse 1360 For which if thow wolt werken as the wyse Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede Lo how that Iacob as thise clerkes rede By good conseil of his moder Rebekke Boond the kydes skyn aboute his nekke 1365 For which his fadres benysoun he wan Lo Iudith as the storie eek telle kan By wys conseil she goddes peple kepte And slow hym Olofernus whil he slepte Lo Abigayl by good conseil how she 1370 Saued hir housbonde Nabal whan that he 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 1375 Ther nys no thyng in gree superlatyf As seith Senek aboue an humble wyf Suffre thy wyues tonge as Caton bit She shal comaunde and thow shalt suffren it And yet she wol obeye of curteisye 1380 A wyf is kepere of thyn housbondrye Wel may the sike man biwaille and wepe Ther as ther nys no wyf the hous to kepe I warne thee if wisly thow wolt wirche Loue wel thy wyf as Crist loued his chirche 1385 If thow louest thy#self thow louest thy wyf No man hateth his flessh but in his lyf He fostreth it and ther#fore bidde I thee Cherisse thy wyf or thow shalt neuere thee Housbonde and wyf what so men iape or pleye 1390 Of worldly folk holden the siker weye 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 in with his dayes olde 1395 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 1400 He seyde freendes I am hoor and old And almoost god woot on my pittes brynke Vpon my soule somwhat moste I thynke I haue my body folily despended Blessed be god that it shal been amended 1405 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 1410 And I wol fonde t+espien on my syde 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 beste were to allien 1415 But o thyng warne I yow my freendes deere I wol noon old wyf han in no manere She shal nat passe twenty yeer certeyn Old fissh and yong flessh wolde I haue feyn Bet is quod he a pyk than a pykerel 1420 And bet than old boef is the tendre veel I wol no womman thritty yeer of age It is but benestraw and greet forage And eek thise olde widwes god it woot They konne so muchel craft on Wades boot 1425 So muchel broken harm whan that hem leste That with hem sholde I neuere lyue in reste For sondry scoles maken subtile clerkis Womman of many scoles half a clerk is But certeinly a yong thyng may men gye 1430 Right as men may warm wex with handes plye 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 1435 Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye And streight to the deuel whan I dye Ne children sholde I noon vpon hire geten Yet were me leuere houndes hadde me eten Than that myn heritage sholde falle 1440 In straunge hand and this I telle yow alle I dote nat I woot the cause why Men sholde wedde and ferther moore woot I Ther speketh many a man of mariage That woot namoore of it than woot my page 1445 For whiche causes man sholde take a wyf If he ne may nat lyuen chast his lyf Take hym a wyf with greet deuocioun By cause of leueful procreacioun Of children to th+onour of god aboue 1450 And nat oonly for paramour or loue 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 1455 And lyue in chastitee ful holily But sires by youre leue that am nat I For god be thanked I dar make auaunt I feele my lymes stark and suffisaunt To do al that a man bilongeth to 1460 I woot my#seluen best what I may do Thogh I be hoor I fare as dooth a tree That blosmeth er that fruyt ywoxen be And blosmy tree nys neither drye ne deed I feele me nowher hoor but on myn heed 1465 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 wil ye wol assente Dyuerse men diuersely hym tolde 1470 Of mariage manye ensamples olde Somme blamed it somme preised it certeyn But at the laste shortly for to seyn As alday falleth altercacioun Bitwixe freendes in disputisoun 1475 Ther fil a stryf bitwix his bretheren two Of which that oon was cleped Placebo\ Iustinus soothly called was that oother Placebo seyde o Ianuarie brother Ful litel nede hadde ye my lord so deere 1480 Conseil to axe of any that is heere But that ye been so ful of sapience That yow ne liketh for youre heigh prudence To weyuen fro the word of Salomon This word seyde he vnto vs euerichon 1485 Werk alle thyng by conseil thus seyde he And thanne shaltow nat repente thee But thogh that Salomon spak swich a word Myn owene deere brother and my lord So wisly god my soule brynge at reste 1490 I holde your owene conseil is the beste 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 1495 Abouten lordes in ful greet estat Yet hadde I neuere with noon of hem debat I neuere hem contraried trewely I woot wel that my lord kan moore than I What that he seith I holde it ferme and stable 1500 I seye the same or ellis thyng semblable 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 1505 Nay lordes been no fooles by my fay Ye han your seluen shewed heer to#day So heigh sentence so holily and weel That I consente and conferme euery deel Youre wordes alle and youre opynyoun 1510 By god ther nys no man in al this toun 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 1515 To take a yong wyf by my fader kyn Youre herte hangeth on a ioly 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 1520 Right in this wise he to Placebo answerde Now brother myn be pacient I preye Syn ye han seyd and herkneth what I seye Senek amonges othere wordes wise Seith that a man oghte hym right wel auyse 1525 To whom he yeueth his lond or his catel And syn I oghte auysen me right wel To whom I yeue my good awey fro me Wel muchel moore I oghte auysed be To whom I yeue my body for alwey 1530 I warne yow wel it is no childes pley To take a wyf withouten auysement Men moste enquere this is myn assent Wher she be wys or sobre or dronkelewe Or proud or ellis oother weys a shrewe 1535 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 1540 But nathelees it oghte ynogh suffise 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 1545 Ful pryuely syn that I hadde a wyf Preyse who so 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 neighebores aboute 1550 And namely of wommen many a route Seyn that I haue the mooste stedefast wyf And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf But I woot best where wryngeth me my sho Ye mowe for me right as yow liketh do 1555 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 1560 Is bisy ynow to bryngen it aboute To han his wyf allone trusteth me Ye shul nat plesen hire fully yeres thre This is to seyn to doon hire ful plesance A wyf axeth ful many an obseruance 1565 I pray yow that ye be nat yuele apayd Wel quod this Ianuarie and hastow ysayd Straw for thy Senek and for thy prouerbes I counte nat a panyer ful of herbes Of scole termes wiser men than thow 1570 As thow hast herd assenteden right now 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 1575 And been assented fully that he sholde Be wedded whan hym liste and wher he wolde Heigh fantasie and curious busynesse Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse Of Ianuarie aboute his mariage 1580 Many fair shap and many a fair visage Ther passeth thurgh his herte nyght by nyght As who#so tooke a mirour polisshed bright And sette it in a commune market place Thanne sholde he se ful many a figure pace 1585 By his mirour and in the same wis 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 1590 Another stant so in the peples grace For hir sadnesse and hir benygnytee That of the peple grettest voys hath she And somme were riche and hadden badde name But nathelees bitwix ernest and game 1595 He atte laste apoynted hym on oon And leet alle othere from his herte goon And chees hire of his owene auctoritee For loue is blynd alday and may nat see And whan that he was in his bed ybroght 1600 He purtreyde in his herte and in his thoght Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre Hir myddel smal hir armes longe and sklendre Hir wise gouernance hir gentilesse Hir wommanly beryng and hir sadnesse 1605 And whan that he on hire was condescended Hym thoughte his choys myghte nat ben amended For whan that he hym#self concluded hadde Hym thoughte ech oother mannes wit so badde That impossible it were to replye 1610 Agayn his choys this was his fantasie 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 1615 Nedeth namoore for hym to go ne ryde He was apoynted 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 1620 Agayn the purpos which that he hath take 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 1625 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 hire al 1630 That no wight his blisse parten shal And preyde hem to labouren in this nede And shapen that he faille nat to spede For thanne he seyde his spirit was at ese Thanne is quod he no thyng may me displese 1635 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 1640 For thogh he kepe hym fro the synnes seuene And eek from euery branche of thilke tree Yet is ther so parfit felicitee And so greet ese and lust in mariage That euere I am agast now in myn age 1645 That I shal lede now so murye a lyf So delicat with#outen wo and stryf That I shal han myn heuene in erthe heere For sith that verray heuene is boght so deere 1649 With tribulacioun and greet penance How sholde I thanne that lyue in swich plesance As alle wedded men doon with hir wyuys Come to the blisse ther Crist eterne on lyue is This is my drede and ye my bretheren tweye Assoileth me this question I preye 1655 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 1660 Oother than this god of his hye myracle 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 1665 And elles god forbede but he sente A wedded man hym grace to repente Wel ofte rather than a sengle man And ther#fore sire the beste reed I kan Dispeire yow noght but haue in youre memorie 1670 Paraunter she may be youre purgatorie She may be goddes mene and goddes whippe Thanne shal youre soule vp to heuene skippe Swifter than dooth an arwe out of a bowe I hope to god heer#after shul ye knowe 1675 That ther nys noon so greet felicitee In mariage ne neuere mo shal be That yow shal lette of youre saluacioun So that ye vse as skile is and resoun The lustes of youre wyf attemprely 1680 And that ye plese hire nat to amorously And that ye kepe yow eek from oother synne My tale is doon for my wit is thynne Beth nat agast her of my brother deere But lat vs waden out of this matere 1685 The Wyf of Bathe if ye han vnderstonde Of mariage which we haue 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 1690 Han take hir leue and ech of hem of oother 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 1695 Shal wedded be vnto this Ianuarie I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie 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 1700 But fynally ycomen is the day That to the chirche bothe be they went For to receyue the holy sacrament Forth comth the preest with stole aboute his nekke And bad hire be lyk Sarra and Rebekke 1705 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 1710 And at the feste sitteth he and she 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 1715 Biforn hem stoode 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 Ioab for to heere 1720 Ne he Theodomas yet half so cleere At Thebes whan the citee was in doute Bacus the wyn hem shenketh al aboute And Venus laugheth vpon euery wight For Ianuarie was bicome hir knyght 1725 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 sey this 1730 Ymeneus that god of weddyng is Say neuere his lyf so murye a wedded man Hoold thow thy pees thou poete Marcian That writest vs that ilke weddyng murye Of hire Philologie and hym Mercurie 1735 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 1740 Assayeth it your#self than may ye witen 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 1745 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 1750 This Ianuarie is rauysshed in a traunce 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 1755 But nathelees yet hadde he gret pitee That thilke nyght offenden hire moste he And thoghte allas o tendre creature Now wolde god ye myghte wel endure Al my corage it is so sharp and kene 1760 I am agast ye shul it nat sustene But god forbede that I dide al my myght Now wolde god that it were woxen nyght And that the nyght wolde lasten euere mo I wolde that al this peple were ago 1765 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 1770 And spices al aboute the hous they caste 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 1775 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 bar it dauncyng in hir hond And to his bed he wente hym hastily 1780 Namoore of hym at this tyme speke I 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 1785 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 1790 Thyn owene squyer and thy born man Entendeth for to do thee vileynye God grante thee thyn homly fo t+espye For in this world nys worse pestilence Than homly fo alday in thy presence 1795 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+emysperie aboute 1800 For which departed is this lusty route Fro Ianuarie with thank on euery syde 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 1805 Soone after that this hastif Ianuarie Wol go to bedde he wol no lenger tarie He drynketh ypocras clarree and vernage Of spices hoote t+ncressen his corage And many a letuarie hadde he ful fyn 1810 Swich as the cursed monk daun Constantyn Hath writen in his book =de coitu\ To eten hem alle he nas no thyng eschu And to his pryuee freendes thus seyde he For goddes loue as soone as it may be 1815 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 1819 And whan the bed was with the preest yblessed Out of the chambre hath euery wight hym dressed And Ianuarie hath faste in armes take His fresshe May his paradys his make He lulleth hire he kisseth hire ful ofte With thilke bristles of his berd vnsofte 1825 Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh sharp as brere For he was shaue al newe in his manere He rubbeth hire aboute hir tendre face And seyde thus allas I moot trespace To yow my spouse and yow gretly offende 1830 Er tyme come that I wol doun descende But natheles considereth this quod he Ther nys no werkman what so euere he be That may bothe werke wel and hastily This wol be doon at leyser parfitly 1835 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 1840 Ne hurte hym#seluen with his owene knyf For we han leue to pleye vs by the lawe 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 1845 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 1850 Whil that he song so chaunteth he and craketh 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 1855 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 1860 Heeld hir chambre vnto the fourthe day As vsage is of wyues for the beste For euery labour som tyme moot han reste Or ellis longe may he nat endure This is to seyn no lyues creature 1865 Be it of fissh or bryd or beest or man Now wol I speke of woful Damyan That langwisseth for loue as ye shul heere Ther#fore I speke to hym in this manere I seye o sely Damyan allas 1870 Answere to my demaunde as in this cas 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 1875 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 pryuely a penner gan he borwe 1880 And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe In manere of a compleynt or a lay 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 1885 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 1890 A bryde shal nat eten in the halle Til dayes foure or thre dayes atte leeste Ypassed ben thanne lat hir go to feeste The fourthe day complet from noon to noon Whan that the heighe masse was ydoon 1895 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 this be 1900 That Damyan entendeth nat to me Is he ay syk or how may this bityde His squyers whiche that stooden ther bisyde Excused hym by cause of his siknesse Which letted hym to doon his bisynesse 1905 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 secree 1910 As any man I woot of his degree And ther to manly and eek seruysable\ And for to be a thrifty man right able But after mete as soone as euere I may I wol my#self visite hym and eek May 1915 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 1920 Dame quod this Ianuarie tak good hede At after$mete ye with youre wommen alle Whan ye han been in chambre out of this halle That alle ye go to see this Damyan Dooth hym disport he is a gentil man 1925 And telleth hym that I wol hym visite Haue I no thyng 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 calle 1930 A squier that was marchal of his halle 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 1935 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 with#outen moore 1940 Saue that he siketh wonder depe and soore And softely to hire 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 1945 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 hire and kisseth hire ful ofte And leyde hym doun to slepe and that anon 1950 She feyned hire as that she moste gon 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 1955 Who studieth now but faire fresshe May Adoun by olde Ianuarie she lay That sleep til that the coughe hath hym awaked Anon he preyde hire strepen hire al naked He wolde of hire he seyde han som plesaunce 1960 He seyde hir clothes dide hym encombraunce And she obeyeth be hir lief or looth But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth How that he wroghte I dar nat to yow telle Or wheither hir thoughte it paradys or helle 1965 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 1970 The heuene stood that tyme fortunat Was for to putte a bille of Venus werkes For alle thyng hath tyme as seyn thise clerkes To any womman for to get hir loue I kan nat seye but grete god aboue 1975 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 take swich impressioun that day Of pitee of this syke Damyan 1980 That from hir herte she ne dryue kan 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 1985 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 1990 That hath an herte as hard as any stoon Which wolde han lete hym 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 1995 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 2000 For it shal be right as he wol deuyse And whan she saw hir tyme vpon a day To visite this Damyan goth May And subtilly this lettre doun she threste 2004 Vnder his pilwe rede it if hym leste 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 2010 Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe He kembeth hym he preyneth 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 2015 He is so plesant vnto euery man For craft is al who#so that do it kan That euery wight is fayn to speke hym good And fully in his lady grace he stood Thus lete I Damyan aboute his nede 2020 And in my tale forth I wol procede 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 2025 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 2030 So fair a gardyn woot I nowher noon 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 2035 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 2040 Disporten hem and maken melodye Aboute that welle and daunced as men tolde 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 2045 Saue he hym#self 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 2050 And May his wyf and no wight but they two 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 2055 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 2060 Thy tayl is deeth thurgh thyn enuenymynge 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 2065 Why hastow Ianuarie thus deceyued That haddest hym for thy ful freend receyued And now thow hast biraft hym bothe his eyen For sorwe of which desireth he to dyen Allas this noble Ianuarie free 2070 Amydde his lust and his prosperitee Is woxen blynd and that al sodeynly He wepeth and he waileth pitously And ther#with#al the fyr of ialousye Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye 2075 So brente his herte that he wolde fayn That som man bothe hire 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 2080 Soul as the turtle that lost hath hir make But atte laste after a monthe or tweye His sorwe gan aswage sooth to seye For whan he wiste it may noon oother be He paciently took his aduersitee 2085 Saue out of doute he may nat forgoon That he nas ialous euere moore 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 2090 He nolde suffre hire for to ryde or go 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 2095 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 2100 Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe May As to his purpos of no swich matere But if that Ianuarie moste it heere That hadde an hand vpon hire euere mo But nathelees by writyng to and fro 2105 And pryuee signes wiste he what she mente And she knew eek the fyn of his entente O Ianuarie what myghte it thee auaille Thogh thow myghtest se as fer as shippes saille For as good is blynd deceyued be 2110 As to be deceyued whan a man may se 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 2115 Passe ouer is an ese I sey namoore This fresshe May that I spak of so yoore In warm wex hath emprented the clyket That Ianuarie bar of the smale wyket By which into his gardyn ofte he wente 2120 And Damyan that knew al hir entente The clyket countrefeted pryuely Ther nys namoore to seye but hastily Som wonder by this clyket shal bityde Which ye shul heren if ye wol abyde 2125 O noble Ouyde sooth seistow god woot What sleighte is it thogh it be long and hoot That he nyl fynde it out in som manere By Pyramus and Thesbe may men lere Thogh they were kept ful longe streyte oueral 2130 They been acorded rownyng thurgh a wal 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 2135 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 2140 The wynter is goon with his reynes wete 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 2145 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 disport I chees thee for my wyf and my confort Swiche olde lewed wordes vsed he 2150 On Damyan a signe made she That he sholde go biforn with his clyket This Damyan thanne hath opened the wyket And in he stirte and that in swich manere That no wight myghte it se neither yheere 2155 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 2160 Now wyf quod he here nys but thow and I That art the creature that I best loue For by that lord that sit in heuene aboue Leuere ich hadde to dyen on a knyf Than thee offende trewe deere wyf 2165 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 2170 Thre thynges certes shal ye wynne ther#by First loue of Crist and to your#self honour And al myn heritage toun and tour I yeue it yow maketh chartres as yow leste This shal be doon tomorwe er sonne reste 2175 So wisly god my soule brynge in blisse I pray yow first in couenant ye me kisse And thogh that I be ialous wyte me noght Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght That whan I considere youre beautee 2180 And ther#with#al the vnlikly elde of me I may nat certes thogh I sholde dye Forbere to been out of youre compaignye For verray loue this is with#outen doute 2184 Now kys me wyf and lat vs rome aboute 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 2190 And of my wifhod thilke tendre flour Which that I haue assured in youre hond Whan that the preest to yow my body bond Wher#fore I wol answere in this manere By the leue of yow my lord so deere 2195 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 2200 Do strepe me and put me in a sakke And in the nexte ryuer do me drenche I am a gentil womman and no wenche Why speke ye thus but men been euere vntrewe And wommen haue repreue of yow ay newe 2205 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 coughen she bigan And with hir fynger signes made she 2210 That Damyan sholde clymbe vpon a tree 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 2215 For in a lettre she hadde told hym al Of this matere how he werken shal And thus I lete hym sitte vpon the pyrie And Ianuarie and May romynge myrie Bright was the day and blew the firmament 2220 Phebus hath of gold his stremes doun sent 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 2225 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 2230 Which that he rauysshed out of Proserpyna Whil that she gadered floures in the mede In Claudyan ye may the stories rede How in his grysly carte he hire fette This kyng of fairye thanne a doun hym sette 2235 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 preueth euery day The treson which that womman dooth to man 2240 Ten hundred thousand telle I kan Notable of youre vntrouthe and brotelnesse O Salomon wys and richest of richesse Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie 2245 To euery wight that wit and reson kan Thus preiseth 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 2250 And Iesus =filius\ Syrak as I gesse Ne speketh of yow but selde reuerence A wilde fyr and corrupt pestilence So falle vpon youre bodyes yet to#nyght Ne se ye noght this honurable knyght 2255 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 2260 That he shal haue ayein his eyen syght Whan that his wyf wolde doon hym vileynye Thanne shal he knowen al hir harlotrye Bothe in repreue of hire and othere mo Ye shal quod Proserpyne wol ye so 2265 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 hem#self excuse 2270 And bere hem doun that wolde hem accuse For lakke of answere noon of hem shal dyen Al hadde man seyn a thyng with bothe his eyen Yet shal we wommen visage it hardily And wepe and swere and chide subtilly 2275 So that ye men shul been as lewed as gees What rekketh me of youre auctoritees I woot wel that this Iew this Salomon Fand of vs wommen fooles many oon But thogh that he ne fand no good womman 2280 Yet hath ther founde many another man Wommen ful trewe ful goode and vertuous Witnesse on hem that dwelle in Cristes hous With martirdom they preued hir constaunce The Romayn geestes eek maken remembraunce 2285 Of many a verray trewe wyf also But sire ne be nat wrooth al be it so Thogh that he seyde he foond no good womman I pray yow take the sentence of the man He mente thus that in souerayn bountee 2290 Nys noon but god but neither he ne she 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 2295 So made he eek a temple of false goddis 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 2300 And if god ne hadde as seith the book 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 2305 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 2310 To speke hym harm that wolde vs vileynye 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 ageyn My word shal stonde I warne yow certeyn 2315 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 her of make For sothe I wol no lenger yow contrarie 2320 Now lat vs turne agayn to Ianuarie That in the gardyn with his faire May Syngeth ful murier than the papeiay Yow loue I best and shal and oother noon So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon 2325 Til he was come agayns thilke pyrie Wher as this Damyan sitteth ful myrie Anheigh among the fresshe leues grene This fresshe May that is so bright and shene Gan for to syke and seyde allas my syde 2330 Now sire quod she for aught that may bityde 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 2335 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 2340 For I am blynd ye sire no fors quod she But wolde ye vouche$sauf 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 2345 So I my foot myghte sette vpon youre bak Certes quod he ther#on shal be no lak Myghte 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 2350 Ladyes I pray yow that ye be nat wroth I kan nat glose I am 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 2355 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 euere mo 2360 Vp to the tree he caste his eyen two And say that Damyan his wyf had dressed In swich manere it may nat ben expressed But if I wolde speke vncurteisly And vp he yaf a roryng and a cry 2365 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 2370 I haue yow holpe on bothe youre eyen blynde Vp peril of my soule I shal nat lyen As me was taught to heele with youre eyen Was no thyng bet to make yow to se Than strugle with a man vpon a tree 2375 God woot I dide it in ful good entente Strugle 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 2380 Thanne is quod she my medicyne fals 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 2385 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 2390 Now dame quod he lat al passe out of mynde Com doun my lief and if I haue myssayd God help me so as I am yuele apayd But by my fader soule I wende haue seyn How that this Damyan hadde by thee leyn 2395 And that thy smok hadde leyn vpon his brest Ye sire quod she ye may wene as yow lest But sire a man that waketh out of his sleep He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep Vpon a thyng ne seen it parfitly 2400 Til that he be adawed verraily Right so a man that longe hath blynd ybe Ne may nat sodeynly so wel yse First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn As he that hath a day or two yseyn 2405 Til that youre sighte ysatled be a while Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigile Beth war I prey yow for by heuene kyng Ful many a man weneth to se a thyng And it is al another than it semeth 2410 He that mysconceyueth he mysdemeth And with that word she leep doun fro the tree This Ianuarie who is glad but he He kisseth hire and clippeth hire ful ofte And on hir wombe he stroketh hire ful softe 2415 And to his palays hom he hath hire 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 <%\the Merchant+s end-link\%> Ey goddes mercy seyde oure hoost tho 2420 Now swich a wyf I prey god kepe me fro Lo whiche sleightes and subtiltees In wommen ben for ay as bisy as bees Ben they vs sely men for to deceyue And from a sooth euere wol they weyue 2425 By this marchauntes tale it preueth weel But doutelees as trewe as any steel I haue a wyf thogh that she poore be But of hir tonge a labbyng shrewe is she And yit she hath an heep of vices mo 2430 Ther#of no fors lat alle swiche thynges go But wite ye what in conseil be it seyd Me reweth soore I am vnto hire teyd For and I sholde rekenen euery vice Which that she hath ywis I were to nyce 2435 And cause why it sholde reported be And toold to hire of somme of this meynee Of whom it nedeth nat for to declare Syn wommen konnen oute swich chaffare And eek my wit suffiseth nat ther to 2440 To tellen al wherfore my tale is do <%the prologe of the squieres tale%> Squyer com neer if it youre wille be And sey som#what of loue for certes ye Konnen ther#on as muche as any man Nay sire quod he but I wol seye as I kan 5 With hertly wyl for I wol nat rebelle Agayn youre lust a tale wol I telle Haue me excused if I speke amys My wyl is good and lo my tale is this <%heere bigynneth the squieres tale%> At Sarray in the land of Tartarye 10 Ther dwelte a kyng that werreyed Russye Thurgh which ther deyde many a doghty man This noble kyng was cleped Cambyuskan Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun That ther was nowher in no regioun 15 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 And ther#to he was hardy wys and riche 20 And pitous and iust alwey yliche Sooth of his word benygne and honurable Of his corage as any centre stable Yong fressh and strong in armes desirous As any bachiler of al his hous 25 A fair persone he was and fortunat And kepte alwey so wel roial estat That ther was nowher swich another man This noble kyng this Tartre Cambyuskan Hadde two sones on Elpheta his wyf 30 Of whiche the eldeste highte Algarsyf That oother sone was cleped Cambalo A doghter hadde this worthy kyng also That yongest was and highte Canacee But for to telle yow al hir beautee 35 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 That koude hise colours longyng for that art 40 If he sholde hire discryuen euery part I am noon swich I moot speke as I kan And so bifel that whan this Cambyuskan Hath twenty wynter born his dyademe As he was wont fro yeer to yeer I deme 45 He leet the feste of his natiuitee Doon crien thurgh out Sarray his citee The laste Idus of March after the yeer Phebus the sonne ful iolyf was and cleer For he was ny his exaltacioun 50 In Martes face and in his mansioun In Aries the colerik hote signe Ful lusty was the weder and benygne For which the foweles agayn the sonne shene What for the sesoun and the yonge grene 55 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 In roial vestyment sit on his deys 60 With diademe ful hye in his paleys 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+rray Thanne wolde it occupie a someres day 65 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 heronsewes Eek in that land as tellen knyghtes olde 70 Ther is som mete that is ful deyntee holde 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 And for it is no fruyt but los of tyme 75 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 Biforn hym at the bord deliciously 80 In at the halle$dore al sodeynly 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 And by his syde a naked swerd hangyng 85 And vp he rydeth to the heighe bord 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 This straunge knyght that cam thus sodeynly 90 Al armed saue his heed ful richely Salueth kyng and queene and lordes alle By ordre as they seten in the halle With so heigh reuerence and obeisaunce As wel in speche as in contenaunce 95 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 He with a manly voys seide his message 100 After the forme vsed in his langage With#outen vice of silable or of lettre And for his tale sholde seme the bettre Acordant to his wordes was his cheere As techeth art of speche hem that it leere 105 Al be that I kan nat sowne his style Ne kan nat clymben ouer so heigh a style Yet seye I this as to commune entente Thus muche amounteth al that euere he mente If it so be that I haue it in mynde 110 He seyde the kyng of Arabe and of Inde My lige lord on this solempne day Salueth yow as he best kan and may And sendeth yow in honour of youre feste By me that am al redy at youre heste 115 This steede of bras that esily and weel Kan in the space of o day naturel This is to seyn in foure and twenty houres Wher#so yow list in droghte or ellis shoures Beren youre body into euery place 120 To which youre herte wilneth for to pace With#outen wem of yow thurgh foul or fair Or if yow list to flee as hye in the air As dooth an egle whan hym list to soore This same steede shal bere yow eueremoore 125 With#outen harm til ye be ther yow leste 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 He wayted many a constellacioun 130 Er he hadde doon this operacioun 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 Whan ther shal fallen any aduersitee 135 Vnto youre regne or to youre#self 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 If he be fals she shal his tresoun see 140 His newe loue and al his subtiltee So openly that ther shal no thyng hyde Wher#fore agayn this lusty someres tyde This mirour and this ryng that ye may see He hath sent to my lady Canacee 145 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 Ther is no fowel that fleeth vnder the heuene 150 That she ne shal wel vnderstonde his steuene And knowe his menyng openly and pleyn And answere hym in his langage ageyn And euery gras that groweth vpon roote She shal eek knowe and whom it wol do boote 155 Al be his woundes neuere so depe and wyde This naked swerd that hangeth by my syde Swich vertu hath that what man so ye smyte Thurgh#out his armure it wol kerue and byte Were it as thikke as is a braunched ook 160 And what man that is wounded with the strook Shal neuere be hool til that yow list of grace To stroke hym with the platte in thilke place Ther he is hurt this is as muche to seyn Ye moote with the platte swerd ageyn 165 Stroke hym in the wounde and it wol close This is a verray sooth with#outen glose It failleth nat whiles it is in youre hold And whan this knyght hath thus his tale ytold He rideth out of halle and doun he lighte 170 His steede which that shoon as sonne brighte Stant in the court stille as any stoon This knyght is to his chambre lad anoon And is vnarmed and to mete yset The presentes been ful realliche yfet 175 This is to seyn the swerd and the mirour And born anon into the heighe tour With certein officers ordeyned ther#fore And vnto Canacee the ryng is bore Solempnely ther she sit at the table 180 But sikerly with#outen any fable The hors of bras that may nat be remewed It stant as it were to the ground yglewed Ther may no man out of the place it dryue For noon engyn of wyndas or polyue 185 And cause why for they kan nat the craft And ther#fore in the place they han it laft Til that the knyght hath taught hem the manere To voyden hym as ye shal after heere Greet was the prees that swarmeth to and fro 190 To gauren on this hors that stondeth so 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 Ther#with so horsly and so quyk of eye 195 As it a gentil Poyleys courser were For certes fro his tayl vnto his ere Nature ne art ne koude hym nat amende In no degree as al the peple wende But euere moore hir mooste wonder was 200 How that it koude goon and was of bras It was a fairye as the peple semed Dyuerse folk dyuersely han demed As many heuedes as many wittes ther been They murmured as dooth a swarm of been 205 And maden skiles after hir fantasies Rehersynge of thise olde poetries And seyden it was lyk the Pegasee The hors that hadde wynges for to flee Or ellis it was the Grekes hors Synoun 210 That broghte Troye to destruccioun As men in thise olde gestes rede Myn herte quod oon is euere moore in drede I trowe som men$of$armes been ther#inne 214 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 As iogelours pleyen at thise festes grete 220 Of sondry doutes thus they iangle and trete As lewed peple demeth comunly Of thynges that been maad moore subtilly Than they kan in hir lewednesse comprehende They demen gladly to the badder ende 225 And somme of hem wondred 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 Naturelly by composiciouns 230 Of anglis and of sly reflexiouns And seiden that in Rome was swich oon They speke of Alocen and Vitulon And of Aristotle that writen in hir lyues Of queynte mirours and of perspectyues 235 As knowen they that han hir bookes herd And oother folk han wondred on the swerd That wolde percen thurgh#out euery thyng And fille in speche of Thelophus the kyng And of Achilles for his queynte spere 240 For he koude with it bothe heele and dere Right in swich wise as men may with the swerd Of which right now ye han your seluen herd They speke of sondry hardyng of metal And speke of medicynes ther#with#al 245 And how and whanne it sholde yharded be Which is vnknowe algates vnto me Tho speeke they of Canacees ryng And seyden alle that swich a wonder thyng Of craft of rynges herde they neuere non 250 Saue that he Moyses and kyng Salomon Hadde a name of konnyng in swich art Thus seyn the peple and drawen hem apart But natheless somme seyden that it was Wonder to maken of fern#asshen glas 255 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 On ebbe on flood on gossomer and on myst 260 And alle thyng til that the cause is wist Thus ianglen they and demen and deuyse Til that the kyng gan fro the bord aryse Phebus hath laft the angle meridional And yet ascendyng was the beest roial 265 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 Til he cam to his chambre of parementz 270 There as ther sownen diuerse instrumentz That it is lyk an heuene for to heere Now dauncen lusty Venus children deere For in the fissh hir lady sat ful hye And looketh on hem with a freendly eye 275 This noble kyng is set vp#on 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 That is nat able a dul man to deuyse 280 He moste han knowe loue and his seruyse And been a festlich man as fressh as May That sholde yow deuysen swich array Who koude telle yow the forme of daunces So vnkouthe and swiche fresshe contenaunces 285 Swich subtil lookyng and dissimulynges For drede of ialous mennes aperceyuynges No man but Launcelot and he is deed Ther#fore I passe of al this lustiheed I seye namoore but in this iolynesse 290 I lete hem til men to the soper dresse The styward bit spices for to hye And eek the wyn in al this melodye The vsshers and the squyers been ygon 294 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 Ech man woot wel that at a kynges feste 300 Hath plentee to the meeste and to the leeste And deyntees mo than been in my knowyng At after$soper gooth this noble kyng To seen this hors of bras with al a route Of lordes and of ladyes hym aboute 305 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 But fynally the kyng axeth this knyght 310 The vertu of this courser and the myght And preyed hym to telle his gouernaunce This hors anon bigan to trippe and daunce Whan that this knyght leyde hand vpon his reyne And seyde sire ther is namoore to seyne 315 But whan yow list to ryden any where Ye moten trille a pyn stant in his ere Which I shal telle yow bitwix vs two Ye mote nempne hym to what place also Or to what contree that yow list to ryde 320 And whan ye come ther as yow list abyde Bid hym descende and trille another pyn For ther#inne lith th+effect of al the gyn And he wol doun descende and doon youre wille And in that place he wol abiden stille 325 Though al the world the contrarie hadde yswore He shal nat thennes be ydrawe nor ybore Or if yow list bidde hym thennes gon Trille this pyn and he wol vanysshe anon Out of the sighte of euery maner wight 330 And come agayn be it day or nyght 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 Ryde whan yow lust ther is namoore to doone 335 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 blithe this noble doghty kyng Repeireth to his reuel as biforn 340 The brydel is vnto the tour yborn And kept among his iewels lief and deere The hors vanysshed I noot in what manere Out of hir sighte ye gete namoore of me But thus I lete in lust and iolitee 345 This Cambyuskan his lordes festeyynge Til wel neigh the day bigan to sprynge <=Explicit prima pars\> <=Sequitur pars secunda\> The norice of digestioun the sleep Gan on hem wynke and bad hem take keep That muche drynk and labour wol haue reste 350 And with a galpyng mouth hem alle he keste And seyde that it was tyme to lye adoun For blood was in his domynacioun Cherisseth blood natures freend quod he They thanken hym galpynge by two by three 355 And euery wight gan drawe hym to his reste As sleep hem bad they tooke it for the beste Hir dremes shul nat now been told for me Ful were hir hedes of fumositee That causeth dreem of which ther is no charge 360 They slepen til that it was pryme large The mooste part but it were Canacee She was ful mesurable as wommen be For of hir fader hadde she take leue To goon to reste soone after it was eue 365 Hir liste nat appalled 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 Bothe of hir queynte ryng and hir mirour 370 That twenty tyme she chaunged hir colour And in hir sleep right for impressioun Of hir mirour she hadde a visioun Wher#fore er that the sonne gan vp glyde She cleped vp on hir maistresse hir bisyde 375 And seyde that hir liste for to ryse Thise olde wommen that been gladly wyse As is hir maistresse answerde hir anon And seyde madame whider wole ye gon Thus erly for the folk been alle on reste 380 I wol quod she aryse for me leste No lenger for to slepe and walke aboute Hir maistresse clepith wommen a gret route And vp they rysen wel a ten or twelue Vp riseth fresshe Canacee hir selue 385 As rody and bright as dooth the yonge sonne That in the ram is foure degrees vp ronne Noon hyer was he whan she redy was And forth she walketh esily a pas Arrayed after the lusty seson soote 390 Lightly for to pleye and walke on foote Nat but with fyue or sixe of hir meynee And in a trench forth in the park goth she The vapour which that fro the erthe glood Made the sonne to seme rody and brood 395 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 For right anon she wiste what they mente 400 Right by hir song and knew al hir entente The knotte why that euery tale is told If it be taried til that lust be cold Of hem that han it after herkned yoore The sauour passeth euer lenger the moore 405 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 Amydde a tree fordrye as whit as chalk 410 As Canacee was pleyynge in hir walk Ther sat a fawkon ouer hir heed ful hye That with a pitous voys so gan to crye That al the wode resowned of hir cry Ybeten hadde she hir#self so pitously 415 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 hir#seluen so she prighte That ther nys tygre ne noon so cruel beest 420 That dwelleth outher in wode or in forest 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 If that I koude a faukon wel discryue 425 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 Of fremde land and euere moore as she stood 430 She swowned now and now for lakke of blood Til wel neigh is she fallen fro the tree This faire kynges doghter Canacee That on hir fynger baar the queynte ryng Thurgh which she vnderstood wel euery thyng 435 That any fowl may in his ledene sayn And koude answere hym in his ledene agayn Hath vnderstonden what this faukon seyde And wel neigh for the routhe almoost she deyde And to the tree she goth ful hastily 440 And on this faukon looketh pitously And heeld hir lappe abrood for wel she wiste The faukon moste fallen fro the twiste Whan that it swowned next for lakke of blood A longe while to wayten hir she stood 445 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 Quod Canacee vnto this hauk aboue 450 Is this for sorwe of deeth or los of loue For as I trowe thise been causes two That causen moost a gentil herte wo Of oother harm it nedeth nat to speke For ye your#self vpon your#self yow wreke 455 Which proueth 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 your#seluen grace Or what may been youre help for west ne est 460 Ne saw I neuere er now no bryd ne beest That ferde with hym#self so pitously Ye sleen me with youre sorwe verraily I haue of yow so greet compassioun For goddes loue com fro the tree adoun 465 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 As wisly helpe me grete god of kynde 470 And herbes shal I right ynowe fynde To heele with youre hurtes hastily Tho shrighte this faukon yet moore pitously Than euer she dide and fil to ground anon And lyth aswowne deed and lik a ston 475 Til Canacee hath in hir lappe hir take Vnto the tyme she gan of swow awake And after that she of swow gan abreyde Right in hir haukes ledene thus she seyde That pitee renneth soone in gentil herte 480 Feelynge his similitude in peynes smerte Is preued al day as men may it see As wel by werk as by auctoritee For gentil herte kitheth gentillesse I se wel that ye han of my distresse 485 Compassion my faire Canacee Of verray wommanly benygnytee That nature in youre principles hath set But for noon hope for to fare the bet But for to obeye vnto youre herte free 490 And for to maken othere be war by me As by the whelp chasted is the leoun Right for that cause and for that conclusioun Whil that I haue a leyser and a space Myn harm I wol confessen er I pace 495 And euere whil that oon hir sorwe tolde That oother weep as she to water wolde Til that the faukon bad hire to be stille And with a syk right thus she seyde hir wille Ther I was bred allas that ilke day 500 And fostred in a roche of marbul gray So tendrely that no thyng eyled me I nyste nat what was aduersitee Til I koude fle ful hye vnder the sky Tho dwelte a tercelet me faste by 505 That semed welle of alle gentillesse Al were he ful of treson and falsnesse It was so wrapped vnder humble cheere And vnder hewe of trouthe in swich manere Vnder plesaunce and vnder bisy peyne 510 That no wight koude han wend he koude feyne 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 Right so this god of loues ypocrite 515 Dooth so his cerymonyes and obeysaunces And kepeth in semblaunt alle hise obseruaunces That sownen into gentilesse of loue As in a tombe is al the faire aboue And vnder is the corps swich as ye woot 520 Swich was this ypocrite bothe cold and hoot 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 And many a yeer his seruice to me feyned 525 Til that myn herte to pitous and to nyce Al innocent of his crowned malice For fered of his deeth as thoughte me Vpon his othes and his seuretee Graunted hym loue vpon this condicioun 530 That euere mo myn honour and renoun Were saued bothe pryuee and apert This is to seyn that after his desert I yaf hym al myn herte and my thoght God woot and he that oother wise noght 535 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 thenken nat oon And whanne he saw the thyng so fer ygon That I hadde graunted hym fully my loue 540 In swich a gise as I haue seyd aboue And yeuen hym my trewe herte as fre As he swoor he yaf his herte to me Anoon this tygre ful of doublenesse Fil on his knees with so deuout humblesse 545 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 Iason certes ne noon oother man 550 Syn Lameth was that alderfirst bigan To louen two as writen folk biforn Ne neuere syn the firste man was born Ne koude man by twenty thousand part Countrefete the sophymes of his art 555 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 Til any womman were she neuer so wys 560 So peynted he and kembde at poynt$deuys As wel his wordes as his contenaunce And I so loued hym for his obeisaunce And for the trouthe I demed in his herte That if so were that any thyng hym smerte Al were it neuer so lite 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 This is to seyn my wyl obeyed his wil 570 In alle thyng as fer as reson fil Kepynge the boundes of my worship euere Ne neuere hadde I thyng so lief ne leuere As hym god woot ne neuere shal namo This laste lenger than a yeer or two 575 That I supposed of hym noght but good But fynally thus at the laste it stood That fortune wolde that he moste twynne Out of that place which that I was inne Wher me was wo that is no questioun 580 I kan nat make of it discripcioun For o thyng dar I tellen boldely I knowe what is the peyne of deeth ther#by Swich harm I felte for he ne myghte bileue So on a day of me he took his leue 585 So sorwefully eek that I wende verraily That he hadde feeled as muche harm as I Whan that I herde hym speke and saw his hewe But nathelees I thoughte he was so trewe And eek that he repeire sholde agayn 590 With#inne a litel while sooth to sayn And reson wolde eek that he moste go For his honour as ofte happeth so That I made vertu of necessitee And took it wel syn that it moste be 595 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 Beth swich as I to yow haue been and shal What he answerde it nedeth nat reherse 600 Who kan seyn bet than he who kan doon werse Whan he hath al wel seyd thanne hath he doon Ther#fore bihoueth hire a ful long spoon That shal ete with a feend thus herde I seye So at the laste he moste forth his weye 605 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 Gladeth hym#self thus seyn men as I gesse 610 Men louen of propre kynde newfangelnesse As bryddes doon that men in cages fede For though thow nyght and day take of hem hede And strawe hir cage faire and softe as silk And yeue hem sugre hony breed and milk 615 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 newefangel been they of hir mete And louen nouelries of propre kynde 620 No gentilesse of blood may hem bynde So ferde this tercelet allas the day Thogh he were gentil born and fressh and gay And goodlich for to seen and humble and free He saw vpon a tyme a kyte flee 625 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 And I am lorn with#outen remedye 630 And with that word this faukon gan to crye And swowned eft in Canacees barm Greet was the sorwe for the haukes harm That Canacee and alle hir wommen made They nyste how they myghte the faukon glade 635 But Canacee hom bereth hire in hir lappe And softely in plastres gan hir wrappe Ther as she with hir beek hadde hurt hir#selue Now kan nat Canacee but herbes delue Out of the ground and maken saues newe 640 Of herbes preciouse and fyn of hewe 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 mewe And couered it with veluettes blewe 645 In signe of trouthe that is in wommen sene And al with#oute the mewe is peynted grene In which were peynted alle thise false fowles As been thise tydyues tercelettes and owles Right for despit were peynted hem bisyde 650 And pyes on hem for to crye and chyde 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 How that this faukon gat hir loue ageyn 655 Repentant as the storie telleth vs By mediacioun of Cambalus The kynges sone of which I yow tolde But hennes forth I wol my proces holde To speke of auentures and of batailles\ 660 That neuere yet was herd so grete meruailles First wol I telle yow of Cambyuskan That in his tyme many a citee wan And after wol I speke of Algarsyf How that he wan Theodora to his wyf 665 For whom ful ofte in greet 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 For Canacee er that he myghte hir wynne 670 And ther I lefte I wol ayein bigynne <=Explicit secunda pars\> <=Incipit pars tercia\> Appollo whirleth vp his chaar so hye Til that the god Mercurius hous the slye <%heere folwen the wordes of the frankeleyn to the squier%> <%and the wordes of the hoost to the frankeleyn%> In feith squyer thow hast thee wel yquyt And gentilly I preise wel thy wit 675 Quod the frankeleyn considerynge thy youthe So feelyngly thow spekest sire I allowthe As to my doom ther is noon that is heere Of eloquence that shal be thy peere If that thow lyue god yeue thee good chaunce 680 And in vertu sende thee continuaunce For of thy speche I haue gret deyntee I haue a sone and by the Trinitee I hadde leuere than twenty pound worth lond Thogh it right now were fallen in myn hond 685 He were a man of swich discrecioun As that ye ben fy on possessioun But if a man be vertuous with#al I haue my sone snybbed and yit shal For he to vertu listeth nat entende 690 But for to pleye at dees and to despende And lese al that he hath is his vsage He hath leuere talken with a page Than to commune with any gentil wight Wher he myghte lerne gentillesse aright 695 Straw for youre gentillesse quod oure hoost What frankeleyn pardee sire wel thow woost That ech of yow moot tellen atte leste A tale or two or breken his biheste That knowe I wel sire quod the frankeleyn 700 I prey yow haueth me nat in desdeyn Thogh to this man I speke a word or two Telle on thy tale with#outen wordes mo Gladly sire hoost quod he I wol obeye Vnto youre wyl now herkneth what I seye 705 I wol yow nat contrarien in no wise As fer as that my wittes wol suffise I prey to god that it may plesen yow Thanne woot I wel that it is good ynow <%the prologe of the frankeleyns tale%> Thise olde gentil Britons in hir dayes 710 Of diuerse auentures maden layes Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge Whiche layes with hir instrumentz they songe Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce And oon of hem haue I in remembraunce 715 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 I lerned neuere rethorik certeyn 720 Thyng that I speke it moot be bare and pleyn I sleep neuere on the mount of Parnaso Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Scithero Colours ne knowe I none with#outen drede But swich colours as growen in the mede 725 Or ellis swiche as men dye or peynte Colours of rethoryk ben to queynte My spirit feeleth nat of swich matere But if yow list my tale shul ye heere <%heere bigynneth the frankeleyns tale%> 729 In Armorik that called is Britayne Ther was a knyght that loued and dide his payne 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 For she was oon the faireste vnder sonne 735 And eek ther to come of so heigh kynrede That wel vnnethes dorste this knyght for drede Telle hire his wo his peyne and his distresse But atte laste she for his worthynesse And namely for his meke obeysaunce 740 Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce That pryuely she fel of his acord To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord Of swich lordshipe as men han ouer hir wyues And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyues 745 Of his fre wyl he swoor hire 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 hire ialousye But hire obeye and folwe hir wyl in al 750 As any louere to his lady shal Saue that the name of soueraynetee That wolde he haue for shame of his degree She thanked hym and with ful gret humblesse She seyde sire sith of youre gentilesse 755 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 youre humble trewe wyf Haue heer my trouthe til that myn herte breste 760 Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste For o thyng sires saufly dar I seye That freendes euerich oother moot obeye If they wol longe holden compaignye Loue wol nat be constreyned by maistrye 765 Whan maistrie comth the god of loue anon Beteth hise wynges and farwel he is gon Loue is a thyng as any spirit free Wommen of kynde desiren libertee And nat to been constreyned as a thral 770 And so doon men if I sooth seyn shal Looke who that is moost pacient in loue He is at his auantage al aboue Pacience is an heigh vertu certeyn For it venquysseth as thise clerkes seyn 775 Thynges that rigour sholde neuere atteyne For euery word men may nat chide or pleyne Lerneth to suffre or elles so moot I gon Ye shul it lerne wher so ye wole or non For in this world certeyn ther no wight is 780 That he ne dooth or seith som tyme amys Ire siknesse or constellacioun Wyn wo or chaungyng of complexioun Causeth ful ofte to doon amys or speken On euery wrong a man may nat be wreken 785 After the tyme moste be temperaunce To euery wight that kan on gouernaunce And ther#fore hath this wise worthy knyght To lyue in ese suffraunce hire bihight And she to hym ful wisly gan to swere 790 That neuere sholde ther be defaute in here Here may men seen an humble wys acord Thus hath she take hir seruant and hir lord Seruant in loue and lord in mariage Thanne was he bothe in lordshipe and seruage 795 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 And whan he was in this prosperitee 800 Hom with his wyf he gooth to his contree Nat fer fro Pedmark ther his dwellyng was Wher as he lyueth in blisse and in solas Who koude telle but he hadde wedded be The ioye the ese and the prosperitee 805 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 cleped Arueragus Shoop hym to goon and dwelle a yeer or twayne 810 In Engelond that cleped was eek Britayne 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 Now wol I stynte of this Arueragus 815 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 She moorneth waketh waileth fasteth pleyneth 820 Desir of his presence hir so destreyneth That al this wide world she set at noght Hir freendes whiche that knewe hir heuy thoght Conforten hire in al that euer they may They prechen hire they telle hire nyght and day 825 That causelees she sleeth hir#self allas And euery confort possible in this cas They doon to hire with al hir bisynesse Al for to make hire leue hir heuynesse By proces as ye knowen euerichoon 830 Men may so longe grauen in a stoon Til som figure ther#inne emprented be So longe han they conforted hire til she Receyued hath by hope and by resoun The emprentyng of hir consolacioun 835 Thurgh which hir grete sorwe gan aswage She may nat alwey duren in swich rage And eek Arueragus in al this care Hath sent hire lettres hom of his welfare And that he wol come hastily agayn 840 Or ellis hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn Hir freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to slake And preyde hire on knees for goddes sake To come and romen hire in compaignye Awey to dryue hir derke fantasye 845 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 Hir to disporte vpon the bank anheigh 850 Wher as she many a ship and barge seigh Seillynge hir cours wher as hem liste go But thanne was that a parcel of hir wo For to hir#self ful ofte allas seith she Is ther no ship of so manye as I se 855 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 dounward fro the brynke But whan she seigh the grisly rokkes blake 860 For verray fere so wolde hir herte quake That on hir feet she myghte hir noght sustene Thanne wolde she sitte adoun vpon the grene And pitously in#to the see biholde And seyn right thus with sorweful sikes colde 865 Eterne god that thurgh thy purueiance Ledest the world by certeyn gouernance In ydel as men seyn ye no thyng make But lord thise grisly feendly rokkes blake That semen rather a foul confusioun 870 Of werk than any fair creacioun 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 Ther nys yfostred man ne bryd ne beest 875 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 Which mankynde is so fair part of thy werk 880 That thow it madest lyk to thyn owene merk Thanne semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee Toward mankynde but how thanne may it be That ye swiche menes make it to destroyen Whiche menes do no good but euere anoyen 885 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 As kepe my lord this my conclusioun 890 To clerkes lete I al disputisoun But wolde god that alle thise rokkes blake Were sonken into helle for his sake Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the feere Thus wolde she seyn with many a pitous teere 895 Hir freendes sawe that it was no disport To romen by the see but disconfort And shopen for to pleyen som#wher elles They leden hire by ryuers and by welles 899 And eek in othere places delitables They dauncen and they pleyen at ches and tables So on a day right in the morwe$tyde Vnto a gardyn that was ther bisyde In which that they hadde maad hir ordinance Of vitaille and of oother purueiance 905 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 And craft of mannes hond so curiously 910 Arrayed hadde this gardyn trewely That neuere was ther gardyn of swich prys But if it were the verray Paradys The odour of floures and the fresshe sighte Wolde han maked any herte lighte 915 That euere was born but if to greet siknesse Or to greet sorwe helde it in distresse So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce At after$dyner gonne they to daunce And synge also saue Dorigen allone 920 Which made alwey hir compleynt and hir mone For she ne saugh hym on the daunce go That was hir housbonde and hir loue also But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde 925 Vpon this daunce amonges othere men Daunced a squier bifore Dorigen That fressher was and iolyer of array As to my doom than is the monthe of May He syngeth daunceth passyng any man 930 That is or was sith that the world bigan Ther#with he was if men sholde hym discryue Oon of the beste farynge man on lyue Yong strong right vertuous and riche and wys And wel biloued and holden in gret prys 935 And shortly if the sothe I tellen shal Vnwityng of this Dorigen at al This lusty squier seruant to Venus Which that ycleped was Aurelius Hadde loued hire best of any creature 940 Two yeer and moore as was his auenture But neuere dorste he tellen hire his greuance With#outen coppe he drank al his penance He was despeyred no#thyng dorste he seye Saue in his songes som#what wolde he wreye 945 His wo as in a general compleynyng He seyde he louede and was biloued no thyng Of swich matere made he many layes Songes compleyntes roundels virelayes How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle 950 But langwissheth as a furye dooth in helle 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 Ne dorste he nat to hire his wo biwreye 955 Saue that parauenture som tyme 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 But no thyng wiste she of his entente 960 Nathelees it happed er they thennes wente By cause that he was hir neighebour And was a man of worship and honour And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore They fille in speche and forth moore and moore 965 Vnto his 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 youre herte glade I wolde that day that youre Arueragus 970 Wente ouer the see that I Aurelius 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 Madame reweth vpon my peynes smerte 975 For with a word ye may me sleen 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 She gan to looke vpon Aurelius 980 Is this youre wil quod she and sey ye thus 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 Ne shal I neuere been vntrewe wyf 985 In word ne werk as fer as I haue wit I wol been his to whom that I am knyt Taak this for fynal answere as of me But after that in pleye thus seyde she Aurelie quod she by heighe god aboue 990 Yet wolde I graunte yow to been youre loue Syn I yow se so pitously complayne Looke what day that endelong Britayne Ye remoeue alle the rokkes stoon by stoon That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon 995 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 Is ther noon oother grace in yow quod he 1000 No by that lord quod she that maked me For wel I woot that it shal neuere bityde Lat swiche folies out of youre herte slyde What deyntee sholde a man han in his lyf For to go loue another mannes wyf 1005 That hath hir body whan so that hym liketh Aurelius ful ofte soore siketh Wo was Aurelie whan that he this herde And with a sorweful herte he thus answerde Madame quod he this were an inpossible 1010 Thanne moot I dye of sodeyn deth horrible And with that word he turned hym anon Tho coome hir othere freendes many oon And in the aleyes romeden vp and doun And no thyng wiste of this conclusioun 1015 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 And hoom they goon in ioye and in solas 1020 Saue oonly wrecched Aurelius allas 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 Vp to the heuene his handes he gan holde 1025 And on his knowes bare he sette hym doun And in his rauyng seyde his orisoun For verray wo out of his wit he breyde He nyste what he spak but thus he seyde With pitous herte his pleynt hath he bigonne 1030 Vn#to the goddes and first vn#to the sonne He seyde Appollo god and gouernour Of euery plaunte herbe tree and flour That yeuest after thy declynacioun To ech of hem his tyme and his sesoun 1035 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 With#outen gilt but thy benygnytee 1040 Vp#on my dedly herte haue som pitee For wel I woot lord Phebus if yow lest Ye may me helpen saue my lady best Now voucheth$sauf that I may yow deuyse How that I may been holpen and in what wyse 1045 Youre blisful suster Lucyna the shene That of the see is chief goddesse and queene Thogh Neptunus haue deitee in the see Yet emperesse abouen hym is she Ye knowen wel lord that right as hir desir 1050 Is to be quyked and lighted of youre fyr For which she folweth yow ful bisily Right so the see desireth naturelly To folwen hire as she that is goddesse Bothe in the see and ryuers moore and lesse 1055 Wher#fore 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 leoun As preyeth hire so greet a flood to brynge 1060 That fyue fadme at the leeste it ouersprynge The hyeste rok in Armoryk Britayne And lat this flood endure yeres twayne Thanne certes to my lady may I seye Holdeth youre heste the rokkes been aweye 1065 Lord Phebus dooth this myracle for me Prey hire she go no faster cours than ye I seye thus preyeth youre suster that she go No faster cours than ye thise yeres two Thanne shal she been euene at the fulle alway 1070 And spryng flood lasten bothe nyght and day And but she vouche#sauf in swich manere To graunte me my souereyn lady deere Pray hire to synken euery rok adoun In#to hir owene dirke regioun 1075 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 And of my peyne haue som compassioun 1080 And with that word in swowne he fil adoun And longe tyme he lay forth in a traunce His brother which that knew of his penaunce Vp caughte hym and to bedde he hath hym broght Dispeired in this torment and this thoght 1085 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 Is comen hom and othere worthy men 1090 O blisful artow now thow Dorigen That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyn armes The fresshe knyght the worthy man$of$armes That loueth thee as his owene hertes lyf No thyng list hym to been ymagynatyf 1095 If any wight hadde spoke whil he was oute\ To hire of loue he hadde of it no doute He noght entendeth to no swich matere But daunceth iusteth maketh hir good cheere And thus in ioye and blisse I lete hem dwelle 1100 And of the syke Aurelius wol I telle In langour and in torment furyus Two yeer and moore lay wrecche Aurelius Er any foot he myghte on erthe gon Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon 1105 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 Vnder his brest he baar it moore secree 1110 Than euere dide Pamphilus for Galathee His brest was hool with#oute for to sene But in his herte ay was the arwe kene And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure 1114 In surgerye is perilous the cure But men myghte touche the arwe or come ther#by His brother weep and wayled pryuely Til at the laste hym fil in remembraunce That whiles he was at Orliens in Fraunce As yonge clerkes that been lykerous 1120 To reden artes that been curious Seken in euery halke and euery herne Particuler sciences for to lerne He hym remembred that vp#on a day At Orliens in studie a book he say 1125 Of magyk naturel which his felawe That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe Al were he ther to lerne another craft Hadde pryuely vp#on his desk ylaft Which book spak muchel of the operaciouns 1130 Touchynge the eighte and twenty mansiouns That longen to the moone and swich folye As in oure dayes is nat worth a flye For holy chirches feith in oure bileue Ne suffreth noon illusioun vs to greue 1135 And whan this book was in his remembraunce Anon for ioye his herte gan to daunce And to hym#self he seyde pryuely My brother shal be warisshed hastily For I am siker that ther be sciences 1140 By whiche men make diuerse apparences Swiche as thise subtile tregetours pleye For ofte at festes haue I wel herd seye That tregetours with#inne an halle large Haue maad come in a water and a barge 1145 And in the halle rowen vp and doun Som#tyme hath semed come a grym leoun And som#tyme floures sprynge as in a mede Som#tyme a vyne and grapes white and rede Som#tyme a castel al of lym and stoon 1150 And whan hym lyked voyded it anoon Thus semed it to euery mannes sighte Now thanne conclude I thus that if I myghte At Orliens som old felawe yfynde That hadde thise moones mansions in mynde 1155 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 Of Britaigne were yvoyded euerichon 1160 And shippes by the brynke comen and gon And in swich forme enduren a day or two Thanne were my brother warisshed of his wo Thanne moste she nedes holden hir biheste Or ellis he shal shame hire at the leeste 1165 What sholde I make a lenger tale of this Vn#to his brotheres bed he comen is And swich confort he yaf hym for to gon To Orliens that he vp stirte anon And on his wey forthward thanne is he fare 1170 In hope for to been lissed of his care Whan they were come almoost to that citee But if it were a two furlong or thre A yong clerk romyng by hym#self they mette Which that in Latyn thriftily hem grette 1175 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 This Britoun clerk hym asked of felawes 1180 The whiche that he hadde knowe in olde dawes And he answerde hym that they dede were For which he weep ful ofte many a teere Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte anon And with this magicien forth is he gon 1185 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 He shewed hym er he wente to sopeer 1190 Forestes parkes ful of wilde deer Ther saw he hertes with hir hornes hye The gretteste that euere were seyn with eye He saw of hem an hundred slayn with houndes And somme with arwes blede of bittre woundes 1195 He saw whan voyded were thise wilde deer Thise fauconers vp#on a fair ryuer That with hir haukes han the heron slayn Tho saugh he knyghtes iustyng in a playn And after this he dide hym swich plesaunce 1200 That he hym shewed his lady on a daunce On which hym#self he daunced as hym thoughte And whan this maister that this magyk wroughte Saugh it was tyme he clapte his handes two And farwel al oure reuel was ago 1205 And yet remoeued they neuere out of the hous Whil they saugh al this sighte merueillous But in his studie ther as his bookes be They seten stille and no wight but they thre To hym this maister called his squyer 1210 And seide hym thus is redy oure soper Almoost an hour it is I vndertake Sith I yow bad oure soper for to make Whan that thise worthy men wenten with me In#to my studie ther as my bookes be 1215 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 som tyme mote han hir reste At after$soper fille they in tretee 1220 What somme sholde this maistres gerdoun be To remoeuen alle the rokkes of Britayne And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of Sayne He made it straunge and swoor so god hym saue Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde nat haue 1225 Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat gon Aurelius with blisful herte anon Answerde thus fy on a thousand pound This wyde world which that men seye is round I wolde it yeue if I were lord of it 1230 This bargayn is ful dryue for we ben knyt Ye shal be payed trewely by my trouthe But looketh now for no necligence or slouthe Ye tarie vs heer no lenger than tomorwe Nay quod this clerk haue heer my feith to borwe 1235 To bedde is goon Aurelius whan hym leste And wel neigh al that nyght he hadde his reste What for his labour and his hope of blisse His woful herte of penaunce hadde a lisse Vp#on the morwe whan that it was day 1240 To Britayne tooke they the righte way Aurelius and this magicien bisyde And been descended ther they wolde abyde And this was as thise bookes me remembre The colde frosty seson of Decembre 1245 Phebus wax old and hewed lyk latoun That in his hote declynacioun Shoon as the burned gold with stremes brighte But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte Wher as he shoon ful pale I dar wel seyn 1250 The bittre frostes with the sleet and reyn Destruyed hath the grene in euery yerd Ianus sit by the fyr with double berd And drynketh of his bugle$horn the wyn Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn 1255 And Nowel crieth euery lusty man Aurelius in al that euere he kan Dooth to this maister cheere and reuerence And preyeth hym to doon his diligence 1259 To bryngen hym out of his peynes smerte Or with a swerd that he wolde slitte his herte 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 This is to seyn to make illusioun 1265 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 Or ellis they were sonken vnder grounde 1270 So at the laste he hath his tyme yfounde To maken his iapes and his wrecchednesse Of swich a supersticious cursednesse His tables tolletanes forth he broght Ful wel corrected ne ther lakked noght 1275 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 For hise equacions in euery thyng 1280 And by his eighte speere in his wirkyng He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was shoue Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries aboue That in the nynthe speere considered is Ful subtilly he kalkuled al this 1285 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 euerydel And knew ful wel the moones mansioun 1290 Acordaunt to his operacioun And knew also hise othere obseruaunces For swiche illusiouns and swiche meschaunces As hethen folk vseden in thilke dayes For which no lenger maked he delayes 1295 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 Awaiteth nyght and day on this myracle 1300 And whan he knew that ther was noon obstacle That voyded were thise rokkes euerichon Doun to his maistres feet he fil anon And seyde I woful wrecche Aurelius Thanke yow lord and lady myn Venus 1305 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 saugh his tyme anon$right he With dredful herte and with ful humble cheere 1310 Salued hath his souerayn lady deere My righte lady quod this woful man Whom I moost drede and loue as I best kan And lothest were of al this world displese Nere it that I for yow haue swich disese 1315 That I moste dyen heer at youre foot anon Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne Ye sleen me giltlees for verray peyne But of my deeth thogh that ye haue no routhe 1320 Auyseth yow er that ye breke youre trouthe Repenteth yow for thilke god aboue Er ye me sleen by cause that I yow loue For madame wel ye woot what ye han hight Nat that I chalange any thyng of right 1325 Of yow my souereyn lady but youre grace But in a gardyn yond at swich a place Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me And in myn hand youre trouthe plighten ye To loue me best god woot ye seyde so 1330 Al be that I vnworthy am ther#to Madame I speke it for the honour of yow Moore than to saue myn hertes lyf right now I haue do so as ye comaunded me And if ye vouche$sauf ye may go se 1335 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 He taketh his leue and she astoned stood 1340 In al hir face nas a drope of blood She wende neuere haue come in swich a trappe Allas quod she that euere this sholde happe For wende I neuere by possibilitee That swich a monstre or merueille myghte be 1345 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 And swowneth that it routhe was to se 1350 But why it was to no wight tolde she For out of towne was goon Arueragus But to hir#self she spak and seyde thus With face pale and with ful sorweful cheere In hir compleinte as ye shal after heere 1355 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 dishonour Oon of thise two bihoueth me to chese 1360 But nathelees yet haue I leuere to lese My lyf than of my body to haue a shame Or knowe my#seluen fals or lese my name And with my deeth I may be quyt ywis Hath ther nat many a noble wyf er this 1365 And many a mayde yslayn hir#self allas Rather than with hir body doon trespas Yis certes lo thise stories beren witnesse Whan thritty tirauntz ful of cursednesse Hadde slayn Phidon in Atthenes atte feste 1370 They comaunded his doghtren for t+areste And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit Al naked to fulfille hir foul delit And in hir fadres blood they made hem daunce Vp#on the pauement god yeue hem myschaunce 1375 For which thise woful maydens ful of drede Rather than they wolde lese hir maydenhede They pryuely been stirt in#to a welle And dreynte hem#seluen as the bokes telle They of Mecene leete enquere and seke 1380 Of Lacedomye fifty maydens eke On whiche they wolden doon hir lecherye But was ther noon of al that compaignye That she nas slayn and with a good entente Chees rather for to dye than assente 1385 To been oppressed of hir maydenhede Why sholde I thanne to dye been in drede Lo eek the tiraunt Aristoclides That loued a mayden heet Stymphalides Whan that hir fader slayn was on a nyght 1390 Vn#to Dianes temple gooth she right And hente the ymage in hir handes two Fro which ymage wolde she neuere go No wight ne myghte hir handes of it arace Til she was slayn right in the selue place 1395 Now sith that maydens hadden swich despit To been defouled with mannes foul delit Wel oghte a wyf rather hir#seluen slee Than be defouled as it thynketh me What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf 1400 That at Cartage birafte hir#self hir lyf For whan she saw that Romayns wan the toun She took hir children alle and skipte adoun In#to the fyr and chees rather to dye Than any Romayn dide hire vileynye 1405 Hath nat Lucresse yslayn hir#self allas At Rome whan she oppressed was Of Tarquyn for hir thoughte it was a shame To lyuen whan she hadde lost hir name The seuene maydens of Milesie also 1410 Han slayn hem#self for verray drede and wo Rather than folk of Gawle hem sholde oppresse Mo than a thousand stories as I gesse Koude I now telle as touchyng this matere Whan Habradate was slayn his wyf so deere 1415 Hir#seluen slow and leet hir blood to glyde In Habradates woundes depe and wyde And seyde my body at the leeste way Ther shal no wight defoulen if I may What sholde I mo ensamples her of sayn 1420 Sith that so many han hem#seluen slayn Wel rather than they wolde defouled be I wol conclude that it is bet for me To sleen my#self than ben defouled thus I wol be trewe vn#to Arueragus 1425 Or rather sle my#self in som manere As dide Democionis doghter deere By cause that she wolde nat defouled be O Cedasus it is ful greet pitee To reden how thy doghtren deyde allas 1430 That slowe hem#self for swich maner cas As greet a pitee was it or wel moore The Theban mayden that for Nichanore Hir#seluen slow right for swich manere wo Another Theban mayden dide right so 1435 For oon of Macedonye hadde hire oppressed She with hir deeth hir maydenhed redressed What shal I seyn of Nycerates wyf That for swich cas birafte hir#self hir lyf How trewe eek was to Alcibiades 1440 His loue that rather for to dyen chees Than for to suffre his body vnburyed be Lo which a wyf was Alceste quod she What seith Omer of goode Penolopee\ Al Grece knoweth of hir chastitee 1445 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 With#oute Brutus koude she nat lyue 1450 To whom she hadde al hool hir herte yeue The parfit wifhod of Arthemesye Honoured is thurgh al the Barbarye O Teuta queene thy wifly chastitee To alle wyues may a mirour bee 1455 The same thyng I seye of Bilyea Of Rodogone and eek Valeria Thus pleyned Dorigene a day or tweye Purposynge euere that she wolde deye But nathelees vp#on the thridde nyght 1460 Hoom cam Arueragus this worthy knyght And asked hire why that she weep so soore 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 1465 And tolde hym al as ye han herd bifore 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 1470 Nay nay quod she god help me so as wys This is to muche and it were goddes wille Ye wyf quod he lat slepen that is stille It may be wel parauenture yet to#day Ye shul youre trouthe holden by my fay 1475 For god so wisly haue mercy vp#on me 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 1480 But with that word he brast anon to wepe And seyde I yow forbede vp peyne of deeth That neuere whil thee lasteth lyf ne breeth To no wight tel thow of this auenture As I may best I wol my wo endure 1485 Ne make no contenance of heuynesse That folk of yow may demen harm or gesse And forth he cleped a squyer and a mayde Goth forth anon with Dorigen he sayde And bryngeth hire to swich a place anon 1490 They take hir leue and on hir wey they gon But they ne wiste why she thider wente He nolde no wight tellen his entente Parauenture an heep of yow ywis Wol holden hym a lewed man in this 1495 That he wol putte his wyf in iupartie Herkneth the tale er ye vp#on hire crie She may haue bettre fortune than yow semeth And whan that ye han herd the tale demeth This squyer which that highte Aurelius 1500 On Dorigen that was so amorus Of auenture happed hir to meete Amydde the toun right in the quykkest strete As she was boun to goon the wey forth right Toward the gardyn ther as she had hight 1505 And he was to the gardynward also For wel he spyed whan she wolde go Out of hir hous to any maner place But thus they mette of auenture or grace And he salueth hire with glad entente 1510 And asked of hire whiderward she wente And she answerde half as she were mad Vn#to the gardyn as myn housbond bad My trouthe for to holde allas allas Aurelius gan wondren on this cas 1515 And in his herte hadde greet compassioun Of hire and of hir lamentacioun And of Arueragus the worthy knyght 1518 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 Considerynge the beste on euery syde That fro his lust yet were hym leuere abyde Than doon so heigh a cherlyssh wrecchednesse Agayns franchise and alle gentillesse 1525 For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus Madame seyeth to youre lord Arueragus 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 1530 Than ye to me sholde breke thus youre trouthe I haue wel leuere euere to suffre wo Than I departe the loue bitwix yow two I yow relesse ma dame in to youre hond Quyt euery serement and euery bond 1535 That ye han maad to me as heer biforn Sith thilke tyme which that ye were born My trouthe I plighte I shal yow neuere repreue Of no biheeste and here I take my leue As of the treweste and the beste wyf 1540 That euere yet I knew in al my lyf But euery wyf be war of hir biheste On Dorigene remembreth at the leste Thus kan a squyer doon a gentil dede As wel as kan a knyght with#outen drede 1545 She thonketh hym vp#on hir knees al bare And hom vn#to hir housbond is she fare 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 1550 What sholde I lenger of this cas endite Arueragus and Dorigene his wyf In souereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf Neuere eft ne was ther angre hem bitwene He cherisseth hire as thogh she were a queene 1555 And she was to hym trewe for euere moore Of thise two folk ye gete of me namoore Aurelius that his cost hath al forlorn Curseth the tyme that euere he was born Allas quod he allas that I bihighte 1560 Of pured gold a thousand pound of wighte Vn#to this philosophre how shal I do I se namoore but that I am for#do Myn heritage moot I nedes selle And been a beggere here may I nat dwelle 1565 And shamen al my kynrede in this place But I of hym may gete bettre grace But nathelees I wol of hym assaye At certeyn dayes yeer by yeer to paye And thonke hym of his grete curteisye 1570 My trouthe wol I kepe I wol nat lye With herte soor he gooth vn#to his cofre And broghte gold vn#to this philosophre The value of fyue hundred pound I gesse And hym bisecheth of his gentillesse 1575 To graunte hym dayes of the remenant And seyde maister I dar wel make auant I failled neuere of my trouthe as yit For sikerly my dette shal be quyt Towardes yow how euer that I fare 1580 To goon abegged in my kirtel bare But wolde ye vouche$sauf vp#on seuretee Two yeer or thre for to respiten me Thanne were I wel for ellis moot I selle Myn heritage ther is namoore to telle 1585 This philosophre sobrely answerde And seyde thus whan he thise wordes herde Haue I nat holden couenant vn#to thee Yis certes wel and trewely quod he Hastow nat had thy lady as thee liketh 1590 No no quod he and sorwefully he siketh What was the cause tel me if thow kan Aurelius his tale anon bigan And tolde hym al as ye han herd bifore It nedeth nat to yow reherce it moore 1595 He seyde Arueragus of gentillesse Hadde leuere dye in sorwe and in distresse 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 1600 And that she leuere had lost that day hir lyf And that hir trouthe she swoor thurgh innocence She neuere erst hadde herd speke of apparence That made me han of hire so greet pitee And right as frely as he sente hir me 1605 As frely sente I hire to hym agayn This al and som ther is namoore to sayn This philosophre answerde leeue brother Euerich of yow dide gentilly til oother Thow art a squyer and he is a knyght 1610 But god forbede for his blisful myght But if a clerk koude doon a gentil dede As wel as any of yow it is no drede Sire I relesse thee thy thousand pound As thow right now were cropen out of the ground 1615 Ne neuere er now ne haddest knowen me For sire I wol nat take a peny of thee For al my craft ne noght for my trauaille Thow hast ypayed wel for my vitaille It is ynogh and fare wel haue good day 1620 And took his hors and forth he goth his way Lordynges this questioun than wol I aske now 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 <%heere folweth the phisiciens tale%> 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 5 This knyght a doghter hadde by his wif 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 10 Yformed hire in so greet excellence 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 15 Or graue or peynte for I dar wel seyn 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 formere principal 20 Hath maked me his vicaire general 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 no thyng wol I axe 25 My lord and I been ful of oon acord 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 30 This mayde of age twelf yeer was and tweye 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 35 Er she were born vp#on hir lymes free Wher as by right swiche colours sholde be And Phebus dyed hath hir tresses grete Lyk to the stremes of his burned hete And if that excellent was hir beautee 40 A thousand fold moore vertuous was she In hir 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 45 With alle humilitee and abstinence With alle attemperance and pacience With mesure eek of beryng and array Discreet she was in answeryng alway Thogh she were wys Pallas dar I seyn 50 Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn 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 gentillesse 55 Shamefast she was in maydens shamefastnesse Constant in herte and euere in bisynesse To dryue hire out of ydel slogardye Bacus hadde of hir mouth right no maistrye For wyn and youthe dooth Venus encresse 60 As men in fyr wol casten oille or gresse 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 65 As is at festes reuels and at daunces That been occasions of daliaunces Swiche thynges maken children for to be To soone rype and boold as men may se Which is ful perilous and hath ben yoore 70 For al to soone may they lerne loore Of boldnesse whan she woxen is a wyf And ye maistresses in youre olde lyf That lordes doghtres han in gouernaunce Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce 75 Thenketh that ye been set in gouernynges Of lordes doghtres oonly for two thynges Outher for ye han kept youre honestee Or elles ye han falle in freletee And knowen wel ynow the olde daunce 80 And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce For euere mo therfore for Cristes sake To teche hem vertu looke that ye ne slake A theef of venysoun that hath forlaft His likerousnesse and al his olde craft 85 Kan kepe a forest best of any man Now kepeth wel for if ye wole ye kan Looke wel that ye vn#to no vice assente Lest ye be dampned for youre wikke entente For who#so dooth a traytour is certeyn 90 And taketh kepe of that that I shal seyn Of alle tresoun souereyn pestilence Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence Ye fadres and ye modres eek also Thogh ye han children be it oon or mo 95 Youre is the charge of al hir surueaunce 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 100 If that they doon ye shul it deere abeye Vnder a shepherde softe and necligent The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to rent Suffiseth oon ensample now as heere For I moot turne agayn to my matere 105 This mayde of which I wol this tale expresse So kepte hir#self hir neded no maistresse For in hir lyuyng maydens myghten rede As in a book euery good word and dede That longeth to a mayden vertuous 110 She was so prudent and so bounteuous For which the fame out sprong on euery syde Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde That thurgh that land they preysed hire echone That loued vertu saue enuye allone 115 That sory is of oother mennes wele And glad is of his sorwe and his vnheele The doctour maketh this discripcioun This mayde vp#on a day wente in the toun Toward a temple with hir moder deere 120 As is of yonge maydens the manere Now was ther thanne a iustice in that toun That gouernour was of that regioun And so bifel this iuge hise eyen caste Vp#on this mayde auysynge hym ful faste 125 As she cam forby ther as this iuge stood Anoon his herte chaunged and his mood\ So was he caught with beautee of this mayde And to hym#self ful pryuely he sayde This mayde shal be myn for any man 130 Anon the feend in#to his herte ran And taughte hym sodeynly that he by slyghte The mayden to his purpos wynne myghte For certes by no force ne by no meede Hym thoughte he was nat able for to speede 135 For she was strong of freendes and eek she Confermed was in swich souereyn bountee That wel he wiste he myghte hire neuere wynne As for to make hire with hir body synne For which by greet deliberacioun 140 He sente after a cherl was in the toun Which that he knew for subtil and for bold This iuge vn#to this cherl his tale hath told In secree wise and made hym to ensure He sholde telle it to no creature 145 And if he dide he sholde lese his heed 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 150 Fro point to point how that his lecherie Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly As ye shul heere it after openly Hoom goth the cherl that highte Claudius This false iuge that highte Apius 155 So was his name for this is no fable But knowen for historial thyng notable The sentence of it sooth is out of doute This false iuge gooth now faste aboute To hasten his delit al that he may 160 And so bifel soone after on a day This false iuge as telleth vs the storie As he was wont sat in his consistorie And yaf his domes vp#on sondry cas This false cherl cam forth a ful gret pas 165 And seyde lord if that it be youre wille As dooth me right vp#on this pitous bille In which I pleyne vp#on Virginius And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus I wol it preue and fynde good witnesse 170 That sooth is that my bille wol expresse The 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 175 Virginius cam to wite the iuges wille 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 180 How that a knyght called Virginius 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 vp#on a nyght 185 Whil that she was ful yong this wol I preue By witnesse lord so that it nat yow greue She nys his doghter nat what so he seye Wher#fore to yow my lord the iuge I preye Yeld me my thral if that it be youre wille 190 Lo this was al the sentence of his bille Virginius gan vp#on the cherl biholde But hastily er he his tale tolde And wolde haue preued it as sholde a knyght And eek by witnessynge of many a wight 195 That al was fals that seyde his aduersarie This cursed iuge wolde no thyng tarie Ne here a word moore of Virginius But yaf his iuggement and seyde thus I deme anon this cherl his seruant haue 200 Thow shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir saue Go bryng hire forth and put hire in oure warde The cherl shal haue his thral this I awarde And whan this worthy knyght Virginius Thurgh sentence of this iustice Apius 205 Moste by force his deere doghter yeuen Vn#to the iuge in lecherie to lyuen He gooth hym hoom and sette hym in his halle And leet anoon his deere doghter calle And with a face deed as asshen colde 210 Vp#on hir humble face he gan biholde With fadres pitee stikynge 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 215 That thow most suffre allas that I was bore 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 plesaunce 220 That thow were neuere out of my remembraunce 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 225 For loue and nat for hate thow most be deed My pitous hand moot smyten of thyn heed Allas that euere Apius thee say Thus hath he falsly iuged thee to#day And tolde hire al the cas as ye bifore 230 Han herd nat nedeth for to telle it moore 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 235 And seyde goode fader shal I dye Is ther no grace is ther no remedye No certes deere doghter myn quod he Thanne yif me leyser fader myn quod she My deeth for to compleyne a litel space 240 For pardee Iepte yaf his doghter grace For to compleyne er he hir slow allas And god it woot no#thyng was hir trespas But for she ran hir fader to see To welcome hym with greet solempnytee 245 And with that word she fil aswowne anon 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 250 Dooth with youre child youre wyl a goddes name 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 255 Hir heed of smoot and by the top it hente 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 260 But right anon a thousand peple in thraste To saue the knyght for routhe and for pitee For knowen was the false iniquitee The peple anon had suspect in this thyng By manere of the cherles chalangyng 265 That it was by the assent of Apius They wisten wel that he was lecherus For which vn#to this Apius they gon And caste hym in a prisoun right anon Ther as he slow hym#self and Claudius 270 That seruant was vn#to this Apius Was demed for to hange vp#on a tree But that Virginius of his pitee So preyde for hym that he was exiled And elles certes he hadde been bigyled 275 The remenant were anhanged moore and lesse That were consentant of this cursednesse Heere may men seen how synne hath his merite Beth war for no man woot whom god wol smyte In no degree ne in which manere wise 280 The worm of conscience may agrise Of wikked lyf thogh it so pryuee be That no man woot ther of but god and he For be he lewed man or ellis lered He noot how soone that he shal been afered 285 Ther#fore I rede yow this conseil take Forsaketh synne er synne yow forsake <%the wordes 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 290 As shameful deeth as herte kan deuyse 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 295 That yiftes of fortune and of nature Been cause of deeth to many a creature 299 Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now Men han ful ofte moore for harm than prow But trewely myn owene maister deere This is a pitous tale for to heere But nathelees passe ouer is no fors I pray to god so saue thy gentil cors 305 And eek thyne vrinals and thy iurdones Thyn Ypocras and eek thy Galiones And euery boyste ful of thy letuarie God blesse hem and oure lady seinte Marie So mote I then thow art a propre man 310 And lyk a prelat by seint Ronyan Seyde I nat wel I kan nat speke in terme But wel I woot thow doost myn herte to erme That I almoost haue caught a cardynacle By corpus bones but I haue triacle 315 Or elles a draghte of moyste and corny ale Or but I heere anon a myrie tale Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde Thow beel amy thow pardoner he sayde Tel vs som myrthe or iapes right anon 320 It shal be doon quod he by seint Ronyon But first quod he heere at this ale stake I wol bothe drynke and eten of a cake But right anon thise gentils gonne to crye Nay lat hym telle vs of no ribaudye 325 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 Vp#on som honeste thyng whil that I drynke <%heere folweth the prologe of the pardoners tale%> <=Radix malorum est Cupiditas Ad Thimotheum sexto\> Lordynges quod he in chirches whan I preche 330 I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche\ And rynge it out as round as gooth a belle For I kan al by rote that I telle My theme is alwey oon and euere was =Radix malorum est cupiditas\ 335 First I pronounce whennes that I come And thanne my bulles shewe I alle and some Oure lige$lordes seel on my patente That shewe I first my body to warente That no man be so boold ne preest ne clerk 340 Me to destourbe of Cristes holy werk And after that thanne telle I forth my tales Bulles of popes and of cardynales Of patriarkes and bisshopes I shewe And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe 345 To saffron with my predicacioun And for to stire hem to deuocioun Thanne shewe I forth my longe cristal stones Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones Relikes been they as wenen they echon 350 Thanne haue I in latoun a shulder$bon Which that was of an holy Iewes sheep Goode men I seye tak of my wordes keep If that this boon be wasshe in any welle If cow or calf or sheep or oxe swelle 355 That any worm hath ete or worm ystonge Taak water of that welle and wassh his tonge And it is hool anoon and forther moor Of pokkes and of scabbe and euery soor Shal euery sheep be hool that of this welle 360 Drynketh a draughte taak kepe eek what I telle If that the goode$man that the bestes oweth Wol euery wyke er that the cok hym croweth Fastynge drynken of this welle a draughte As thilke holy Iew oure eldres taughte 365 Hise bestes and his stoor shal multiplie And sire also it heeleth ialousie For thogh a man be falle in ialous rage Lat maken with this water his potage And neuere shal he moore his wyf mystriste 370 Thogh he the soothe of hir defaute wiste Al hadde she taken preestes two or thre Heere is a miteyn eek that ye may se He that his hand wol putte in this mitayn He shal haue multiplyyng of his grayn 375 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 If any wight be in this chirche now That hath doon synne horrible that he 380 Dar nat for shame of it yshryuen be Or any womman be she yong or old That hath ymaked hir housbond cokewold Swich folk shal haue no power ne no grace To offren to my relikes in this place 385 And who so fyndeth hym out of swich blame They wol come vp and offre a goddes name And I assoille hym by the auctoritee Which that by bulle ygraunted was to me By this gaude haue I wonne yeer by yeer 390 An hundred mark sith I was pardoner I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet And whan the lewed peple is doun yset I preche so as ye han herd bifore And telle an hundred false iapes more 395 Thanne peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke And est and west vp on the peple I bekke As dooth a dowue sittyng on a berne Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne That it is ioye to se my bisynesse 400 Of auarice and of swich cursednesse Is al my prechyng for to make hem free To yeuen hir pens and namely vn to me For myn entente is nat but for to wynne And no thyng for correccioun of synne 405 I rekke neuere whan that they been beryed Thogh that hir soules goon a blakeberyed For certes many a predicacioun Comth ofte tyme of yuel entencioun Som for plesance of folk and flaterye 410 To been auanced by ypocrisye And som for veyne glorie and som for hate For whan I dar noon oother weyes debate Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte In prechyng so that he shal nat asterte 415 To been defamed falsly if that he Hath trespased to my bretheren or to me For thogh I telle noght his propre name Men shal wel knowe that it is the same By signes and by othere circumstances 420 Thus quyte I folk that doon vs displesances Thus spitte I out my venym vnder hewe Of holynesse to seme holy and trewe But shortly myn entente I wol deuyse I preche of no#thyng but for coueityse 425 Ther#fore my theme is yet and euere was =Radix malorum est cupiditas\ Thus kan I preche agayn that same vice Which that I vse and that is auarice But though my#self be gilty in that synne 430 Yet kan I maken oother folk to twynne From auarice and soore to repente But that is nat my principal entente I preche no#thyng but for coueitise Of this matere it oghte ynow suffise 435 Thanne telle I hem ensamples many oon Of olde stories longe tyme agoon For lewed peple louen tales olde Swiche thynges kan they wel reporte and holde What trowe ye that whiles I may preche 440 And wynne gold and siluer for I teche That I wol lyue in pouerte wilfully Nay nay I thoghte it neuere trewely For I wol preche and begge in sondry landes I wol nat do no labour with myne handes 445 Ne make baskettes and lyue ther by By cause I wol nat beggen ydelly I wol noon of the apostles countrefete I wol haue moneye wolle chese and whete Al were it yeuen of the pouereste page 450 Or of the pouereste widwe in a village Al sholde hir children sterue for famyne Nay I wol drynke licour of the vyne And haue a ioly wenche in euery toun But herkneth lordynges in conclusioun 455 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 That shal by resoun been at youre likyng For thogh my#self be a ful vicious man 460 A moral tale yet I yow telle kan Which I am wont to preche for to wynne Now holde youre pees my tale I wol bigynne <%heere bigynneth the pardoners tale%> In Flaundres whilom was a compaignye Of yonge folk that haunteden folye 465 As riot hasard stewes and tauernes Where as with harpes lutes and gyternes They daunce and pleyen at dees bothe day and nyght And ete also and drynke ouer hir myght Thurgh which they doon the deuel sacrifise 470 With#inne that deueles temple in cursed wise By superfluytee abhomynable Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable That it is grisly for to heere hem swere Oure blissed lordes body they to tere 475 Hem thoughte that Iewes rente hym ynough And ech of hem at otheres synne lough And right anon thanne comen tombesteres Fetys and smale and yonge frutesteres Syngeres with harpes baudes wafereres 480 Whiche been the verray deueles officeres To kyndle and blowe the fyr of lecherye That is annexed vn#to glotonye The holy writ take I to my witnesse That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse 485 Lo how that dronken Loth vnkyndely Lay by his doghtres two vnwityngly So dronke he was he nyste what he wroghte Herodes who so wel the stories soghte Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste 490 Right at his owene table he yaf his heste To sleen the Baptist Iohn ful giltelees Senec seith a good word doutelees He seith he kan no difference fynde Bitwix a man that is out of his mynde 495 And a man which that is dronkelewe But that woodnesse yfallen in a shrewe Perseuereth lenger than dooth dronkenesse O glotonye ful of cursednesse O cause first of oure confusioun 500 O original of oure dampnacioun Til Crist hadde boght vs with his blood agayn Lo how deere shortly for to sayn Aboght was thilke cursed vileynye Corrupt was al this world for glotonye 505 Adam oure fader and his wyf also Fro Paradys to labour and to wo Were dryuen for that vice it is no drede For whil that Adam fasted as I rede He was in Paradys and whan that he 510 Eet of the fruyt defended on the tree Anon he was out cast to wo and peyne O glotonye on thee wel oghte vs pleyne O wiste a man how manye maladies Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes 515 He wolde been the moore mesurable Of his diete sittyng at his table Allas the shorte throte the tendre mouth Maketh that est and west and north and south In erthe in eyr in water men to swynke 520 To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and drynke Of this matere o Paul wel kanstow trete Mete vn#to wombe and wombe eek vn#to mete Shal god destroyen bothe as Paulus seith Allas a foul thyng is it by my feith 525 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 Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee The apostle wepyng seith ful pitously 530 Ther walken manye of whiche yow toold haue I I seye it now wepyng with pitous voys Ther been enemys of Cristes croys Of whiche the ende is deth wombe is hir god O wombe o bely o stynkyng cod 535 Fulfilled of donge and of corrupcioun At either ende of thee foul is the soun How greet labour and cost is thee to fynde Thise cokes how they stampe and streyne and grynde And turnen substaunce in#to accident 540 To fulfillen al thy likerous talent Out of the harde bones knokke they The mary for they caste noght awey That may go thurgh the golet softe and soote Of spicerie of leef bark and roote 545 Shal been his sauce ymaked by delit To make hym yet a newer appetit But certes he that haunteth swiche delices Is deed whil that he lyueth in tho vices A lecherous thyng is wyn and dronkenesse 550 Is ful of stryuyng and of wrecchednesse O dronke man disfigured is thy face Sour is thy breeth foul artow to embrace And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun As thogh thou seydest ay Sampsoun Sampsoun 555 And yet god woot Sampsoun drank neuere no wyn Thou fallest as it were a stiked swyn Thy tonge is lost and al thyn honeste cure For dronkenesse is verray sepulture Of mannes wit and his discrecioun 560 In whom that drynke hath dominacioun He kan no conseil kepe it is no drede Now kepe yow fro the white and fro the rede And namely fro the white wyn of Lepe That is to selle in Fisshstrete or in Chepe 565 This wyn of Spaigne crepeth subtilly In othere wynes growynge faste by Of which ther riseth swich fumositee That whan a man hath dronken draghtes thre And weneth that he be at hoom in Chepe 570 He is in Spaigne right at the toune of Lepe Nat at the Rochel ne at Burdeux toun And thanne wol he seyn Sampsoun Sampsoun But herkneth lordynges o word I yow preye That alle the souereyn actes dar I seye 575 Of victories in the olde testament Thurgh verray god that is omnipotent Were doon in abstinence and in prayere Looketh the Bible and ther ye may it leere Looke Attila the grete conquerour 580 Deyde in his sleep with shame and dishonour Bledyng at his nose in dronkenesse A capitayn sholde lyue in sobrenesse And ouer al this auyseth yow right wel What was comaunded vn#to Lamwel 585 Nat Samuel but Lamwel seye I Redeth the Bible and fynd it expresly Of wyn$yeuyng to hem that han iustise Namoore of this for it may wel suffise And now that I haue spoken of glotonye 590 Now wol I yow defenden hasardrye Hasard is verray moder of lesynges And of deceite and cursed forswerynges Blaspheme of Crist manslaughtre and wast also Of catel and of tyme and forther mo 595 It is repreue and contrarie of honour For to ben holde a commune hasardour And euere the hyer he is of estaat The moore is he holden desolat If that a prynce vseth hasardrye 600 In alle gouernaunce and policye He is as by commune opynyoun Yholde the lasse in reputacioun Stilbon that was a wys embassadour Was sent to Corynthe in ful gret honour 605 Fro Lacedomye to make hire alliaunce And whan he cam hym happed par chaunce That alle the gretteste that were of that lond Pleiynge atte hasard he hem fond For which as soone as it myghte be 610 He stal hym hoom agayn to his contree And seyde ther wol I nat lese my name Ny wol nat take on me so greet defame Yow for to allie vn#to none hasardours Sendeth othere wise embassadours 615 For by my trouthe me were leuere dye Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye For ye that been so glorious in honours Shal nat allye yow with hasardours As by my wyl ne as by my tretee 620 This wise philosophre thus seyde he Looke eek that to the kyng Demetrius The kyng of Parthes as the book seith vs Sente hym a paire of dees of gold in scorn For he hadde vsed hasard ther biforn 625 For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun At no value or reputacioun Lordes may fynden oother manere pley Honeste ynow to dryue the day awey Now wol I speke of oothes false and grete 630 A word or two as olde bokes trete Greet sweryng is a thyng abhomynable And fals sweryng is yet moore repreuable The heighe god forbad sweryng at al Witnesse on Mathew but in special 635 Of sweryng seith the holy Ieremye Thow shalt swere sooth thyne othes and nat lye And swere in doom and eek in rightwisnesse But ydel sweryng is a cursednesse Bihoold and se that in the firste table 640 Of heighe goddes hestes honurable How that the seconde heste of hym is this Take nat my name in ydel or amys Lo rather he forbedeth swich sweryng Than homycide or many a cursed thyng 645 I seye that as by ordre thus it standeth This knowen that hise hestes vnderstandeth How that the seconde heste of god is that And forther ouer I wol thee telle al plat That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous 650 That of hise othes is to outrageous By goddes precious herte and by his nayles And by the blood of Crist that is in Hayles Seuene is my chaunce and thyn is cynk and treye By goddes armes if thow falsly pleye 655 This daggere shal thurgh out thyn herte go This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones two Forsweryng ire falsnesse homycide Now for the loue of Crist that for vs dyde Lete youre othes bothe grete and smale 660 But sires now wol I telle forth my tale Thise riotours thre of whiche I telle Longe erst er pryme rong of any belle Were set hem in a tauerne to drynke And as they sat they herde a belle clynke 665 Biforn a cors was caried to his graue That oon of hem gan callen to his knaue Go bet quod he and axe redily What cors is this that passeth heer forby And looke that thow reporte his name wel 670 Sire quod this boy it nedeth neuer#a#del It was me told er ye cam heer two houres He was pardee an old felawe of youres And sodeynly he was yslayn to$nyght Fordronke as he sat on his bench vp right 675 Ther cam a pryuee theef men clepeth deeth That in this contree al the peple sleeth And with his spere he smoot his herte atwo And wente his wey with#outen wordes mo He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence 680 And maister er ye come in his presence Me thynketh that it were necessarie For to be war of swich an aduersarie Beth redy for to meete hym euere moore Thus taughte me my dame I sey namoore 685 By seinte Marie seyde this tauerner The child seith sooth for he hath slayn this yer Henne ouer a myle with#inne a greet village Bothe man and womman child and hyne and page I trowe his habitacioun be there 690 To been auysed greet wisdom it were Er that he dide a man a dishonour Ye goddes armes quod this riotour Is it swich peril with hym for to meete I shal hym seke by wey and eek by strete 695 I make avow to goddes digne bones Herkneth felawes we thre been al ones Lat ech of vs holde vp his hand til oother And ech of vs bicome otheres brother And we wol sleen this false traytour deeth 700 He shal be slayn he that so manye sleeth By goddes dignytee er it be nyght Togidres han thise thre hir trouthes plight To lyue and dyen ech of hem for oother As thogh he were his owene ybore brother 705 And vp they stirte al dronken in this rage And forth they goon towardes that village Of which the tauerner hadde spoke biforn And many a grisly ooth thanne han they sworn And Cristes blessed body they to rente 710 Deeth shal be deed if that they may hym hente Whan they han goon nat fully half a myle Right as they wolde han treden ouer a stile An old man and a poure with hem mette This olde man ful mekely hem grette 715 And seyde thus now lordes god yow se The proudeste of thise riotours thre Answerde agayn what carl with sory grace Why artow al forwrapped saue thy face Why lyuestow so longe in so greet age 720 This olde man gan looke in his visage And seyde thus for I ne kan nat fynde A man thogh that I walked in#to Inde Neither in citee ne in no village That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age 725 And therfore moot I han myn age stille As longe tyme as it is goddes wille Ne deeth allas ne wol nat han my lyf Thus walke I lyk a restelees caytyf And on the ground which is my modres gate 730 I knokke with my staf bothe erly and late And seye leeue moder leet me in Lo how I vanysshe flessh and blood and skyn Allas whan shul my bones been at reste Moder with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste 735 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 For which ful pale and welked is my face But sires to yow it is no curteisye 740 To speken to an old man vileynye But he trespase in word or elles in dede In holy writ ye may your#self wel rede Agayns an old man hoor vp#on his heed Ye sholde arise wherfore I yeue yow reed 745 Ne dooth vn#to an old man noon harm now Namoore than that ye wolde men dide to yow In age if that ye so longe abyde And god be with yow wher ye go or ryde I moot go thider as I haue to go 750 Nay olde cherl by god thow shalt nat so Seyde this oother hasardour anon Thow partest nat so lightly by seint Iohn Thow spak right now of thilke traytour deeth That in this contree alle oure freendes sleeth 755 Haue here my trouthe as thow art his espye Telle wher he is or thow shalt it abye By god and by the holy sacrament For soothly thow art oon of his assent To sleen vs yonge folk thow false theef 760 Now sires quod he if that yow be so leef To fynde deeth turn vp this croked wey For in that groue I lafte hym by my fey Vnder a tree and ther he wol abyde Nat for youre boost he wol hym no thyng hyde 765 Se ye that ook right ther ye shal hym fynde God saue yow that boghte agayn man kynde And yow amende thus seyde this olde man And euerich of thise riotours ran Til they came to that tree and ther they founde 770 Of floryns fyne of gold ycoyned rounde Wel ny an eighte busshels as hem thoughte No lenger thanne after deeth they soughte But ech of hem so glad was of the sighte 774 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 I seye My wit is greet thogh that I bourde and pleye This tresor hath fortune vn#to vs yeuen 780 In myrthe and iolitee oure lyf to lyuen And lightly as it cometh so wol we spende By goddes precious dignytee who wende To$day that we sholde han so fair a grace But myghte this gold be caried fro this place 785 Hoom to myn hous or ellis vn#to youres For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures Thanne were we in heigh felicitee But trewely by daye it may nat be Men wolde seyn that we were theues stronge 790 And for oure owene tresor doon vs honge This tresor moste ycaried be by nyghte As wisly and as slyly as it myghte Wher#fore I rede that cut among vs alle Be drawe and lat se wher the cut wol falle 795 And he that hath the cut with herte blithe Shal renne to toune and that ful swithe And brynge vs breed and wyn ful pryuely And two of vs shul kepen subtilly This tresor wel and if he wol nat tarie 800 Whan it is nyght we wol this tresor carie By oon assent wher as vs thynketh best That oon of hem the cut broghte in his fest And bad hem drawe and looke wher it wol falle And it fil on the yongeste of hem alle 805 And forth toward the toun he wente anon And also soone as that he was agon That oon of hem spak thus vn#to that oother Thow knowest wel thow art my sworn brother Thy profit wol I telle thee anon 810 Thow woost wel that oure felawe is agon And heere is gold and that ful greet plentee That shal departed been among vs thre But nathelees if I kan shape it so That it departed were among vs two 815 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 What shal we doon what shal we to hym seye Shal it be conseil seyde the firste shrewe 820 And I shal tellen in a wordes fewe What we shul doon and brynge it wel aboute I graunte quod that oother out of doute That by my trouthe I wol thee nat biwreye Now quod the firste thow woost wel we be tweye 825 And two of vs shul strenger be than oon Looke whan that he is set that right anoon Arys as though thow woldest with hym pleye And I shal ryue hym thurgh the sydes tweye Whil that thow strogelest with hym as in game 830 And with thy daggere looke thow do the same And thanne shal al this gold departed be My deere freend bitwixe me and thee Thanne may we bothe oure lustes al fulfille And pleye at dees right at oure owene wille 835 And thus acorded been thise shrewes tweye To sleen the thridde as ye han herd me seye This yongeste which that wente to the toun Ful ofte in herte he rolleth vp and doun The beautee of thise floryns newe and brighte 840 O lord quod he if so were that I myghte Haue al this tresor to my#self allone Ther is no man that lyueth vnder the trone Of god that sholde lyue so myrie as I And atte laste the feend oure enemy 845 Putte in his thoght that he sholde poyson beye With which he myghte sleen his felawes tweye For why the feend foond hym in swich lyuynge That he hadde leue hym to sorwe brynge For this was outrely his ful entente 850 To sleen hem bothe and neuere to repente And forth he goth no lenger wolde he tarie In#to the toun vn#to a pothecarie And preyed hym that he hym wolde selle Som poysoun that he myghte his rattes quelle 855 And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe\ That as he seyde his capouns hadde yslawe And fayn he wolde wreke hym if he myghte On vermyn that destroyed hym by nyghte The pothecarie answerde and thow shalt haue 860 A thyng that also god my soule saue In al this world ther is no creature That ete or dronke hath of this confiture Nat but the montaunce of a corn of whete That he ne shal his lyf anoon forlete 865 Ye sterue he shal and that in lasse while Than thow wolt goon a paas nat but a myle The poysoun is so strong and violent This cursed man hath in his hond yhent This poysoun in a box and sith he ran 870 In#to the nexte strete vn#to a man And borwed hym large botels thre And in the two his poyson poured he The thridde he kepte clene for his drynke For al the nyght he shoop hym for to swynke 875 In cariyng of the gold out of that place And whan this riotour with sory grace Hadde filled with wyn hise grete botels thre To hise felawes agayn repaireth he What nedeth it to sermone of it moore 880 For right as they hadde cast his deeth bifore Right so they han hym slayn and that anon And whan that this was doon thus spak that oon Now lat vs sitte and drynke and make vs merye And afterward we wol his body berye 885 And with that word it happed hym par cas To take the botel ther the poysoun was And drank and yaf his felawe drynke also For which anon they storuen bothe two But certes I suppose that Auycen 890 Wroot neuere in no canon ne in no fen Mo wonder signes of empoysonyng Than hadde thise wrecches two er hir endyng Thus ended been thise homicides two And eek the false empoysonere also 895 O cursed synne of alle cursednesse O traytours homicide o wikkednesse O glotonye luxurie and hasardrye Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileynye And othes grete of vsage and of pryde 900 Allas mankynde how may it bityde That to thy Creatour which that thee wroghte And with his precious herte$blood the boghte Thow art so fals and so vnkynde allas Now goode men god foryeue yow youre trespas 905 And ware yow fro the synne of auarice Myn holy pardoun may yow alle warice So that ye offre nobles or sterlynges Or elles siluer broches spones rynges Boweth youre heed vnder this holy bulle 910 Cometh vp ye wyues offreth of youre wolle Youre name I entre here in my rolle anon In#to the blisse of heuene shul ye gon I yow assoille by myn heigh power Yow that wol offre as clene and eek as cler 915 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 For that is best I wol yow nat deceyue But sires o word forgat I in my tale 920 I haue relikes and pardon in my male As faire as any man in Engelond Whiche were me yeuen by the Popes hond If any of yow wol of deuocioun Offren and han myn absolucioun 925 Com forth anon and kneleth here adoun And mekely receyueth my pardoun Or ellis taketh pardoun as ye wende 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 931 It is an honour to euerich that is heer That ye mowe haue a suffisant pardoner T+assoille yow in contree as ye ryde For auentures whiche that may bityde 935 Perauenture ther may falle oon or two Doun of his hors and breke his nekke atwo Looke which a seuretee is it to yow alle That I am in youre felaweship yfalle That may assoille yow bothe moore and lasse 940 Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe I rede that oure hoost shal bigynne For he is moost envoluped in synne Com forth sire hoost and offre first anon And thow shalt kisse the relikes euerychon 945 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 theech Thow woldest make me kisse thyn olde breech And swere it were a relyk of a seint 950 Thogh it were with thy fundement depeynt But by the croys which that seint Eleyne fond I wolde I hadde thy coylons in myn hond In stede of relikes or of seintuarie Lat kutte hem of I wol thee helpe hem carie 955 They shul be shryned in an hogges toord This pardoner answerde nat a word So wrooth he was no word ne wolde he seye Now quod oure hoost I wol no lenger pleye With thee ne with noon oother angry man 960 But right anon the worthy knyght bigan Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough Namoore of this for it is right ynough Sire pardoner be glad and murye of cheere And ye sire hoost that been to me so deere 965 I pray yow that ye kisse the pardoner And pardoner I pray thee drawe thee neer And as we diden lat vs laughe and pleye Anon they kiste and ryden forth hir weye <%heere bigynneth the shipmannes tale%> A marchant whilom dwelled at Seint$Denys That riche was for which men helde hym wys A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee And compaignable and reuelous was she 1195 Which is a thyng that causeth moore dispence Than worth is al the cheere and reuerence That men hem doon at festes and at daunces Swiche salutacions and contenaunces Passen as dooth a shadwe vp#on the wal 1200 But wo is hym that payen moot for al The sely housbonde algate he moot paye He moot vs clothe and he moot vs arraye Al for his owene worship richely In which array we dauncen iolily 1205 And if that he noght may parauenture Or ellis list no swich dispence endure But thynketh it is wasted and ylost Thanne moot another payen for oure cost Or lene vs gold and that is perilous 1210 This noble marchant heeld a worthy hous For which he hadde alday so greet repair For his largesse and for his wyf was fair That wonder is but herkneth to my tale Amonges alle hise gestes grete and smale 1215 Ther was a monk a fair man and a bold 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 1220 Sith that hir firste knoweliche bigan That in his hous as famulier was he 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 1225 Were bothe two yborn in o village The monk hym claymeth as for cosynage And he agayn he seith nat ones nay But was as glad ther of as fowel of day For to his herte it was a gret plesaunce 1230 Thus been they knyt with eterne alliaunce And ech of hem gan oother for t+assure Of bretherhede whil that hir lyf may dure Free was daun Iohn and namely of dispence As in that hous and ful of diligence 1235 To doon plesaunce and also greet costage He nat forgat to yeue the leeste page In al that hous but after hir degree He yaf the lord and sithen al his meynee Whan that he cam som manere honeste thyng 1240 For which they were as glad of his comyng As fowel is fayn whan that the sonne vp riseth 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 toun of Brugges for to fare To byen there a porcioun 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 1250 With hym and with his wyf a day or tweye Er he to Brugges wente in alle wise 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 1255 And eek an officer out for to ryde To seen hir graunges and hir bernes wyde And vn#to Seint$Denys he comth anon Who was so welcome as my lord daun Iohn Oure deere cosyn ful of curteisye 1260 With hym broghte he a iubbe of Maluesye And eek another ful of fyn Vernage And volatil as ay was his vsage And thus I lete hem ete and drynke and pleye This marchant and this monk a day or tweye 1265 The thridde day this marchant vp ariseth And on his nedes sadly hym auyseth\ And vp in#to his countour$hous goth he To rekene with hym#self wel may be Of thilke yeer how that it with hym stood 1270 And how that he despended hadde his good And if that he encressed were or noon Hise bokes and hise bagges many oon He leyth biforn hym on his countyng$bord 1274 Ful riche was his tresor and his hord For which ful faste his countour$dore he shette 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 pryme Daun Iohn was risen in the morwe also 1280 And in the gardyn walketh to and fro And hath his thynges seyd ful curteisly This goode$wyf cam walkyng pryuely In#to the gardyn ther he walketh softe And hym salueth as she hath doon ofte 1285 A mayde$child cam in hir compaignye 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 1290 Nece quod he it oghte ynow suffise Fyue houres for to slepe vp#on a nyght But it were for an old apalled wight As been thise wedded men that lye and dare 1294 As in a forme sit a wery hare Were al forstraught with houndes grete and smale 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 1300 And with that word he lough ful myrily And of his owene thoght he wex al reed 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 1305 For by that god that yaf me soule and lyf In al the reawme of France is ther no wyf That lasse lust hath to that sory pley For I may synge allas and weylawey That I was born but to no wight quod she 1310 Dar I nat telle how it stant with me Wher#fore I thynke out of this land to wende Or elles of my#self to make an ende So ful am I of drede and eek of care This monk bigan vp#on this wyf to stare 1315 And seyde allas my nece god forbede That ye for any sorwe or any drede Fordo youre#self but telleth me youre grief Parauenture I may in youre meschief Conseille or helpe and therfore tellett me 1320 Al youre anoy for it shal been secree For on my porthors I make an oth That neuere in my lif for lief ne loth Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye The same agayn to yow quod she I seye 1325 By god and by this porthors I swere Thogh men me wolde al in#to 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 1330 But verraily for loue and affiance Thus been they sworn and her#vp#on they kiste And ech of hem tolde oother what hem liste Cosyn quod she if that I hadde a space As I haue noon and namely in this place 1335 Thanne wolde I telle a legende of my lyf 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 Martyn He is namore cosyn vn#to me 1340 Than is this leef that hangeth on the tree I clepe hym so by seint Denys of Fraunce To han the moore cause of aqueyntaunce Of yow which I haue loued specially Abouen alle wommen sikerly 1345 This swere I yow on my professioun Telleth youre grief lest that he come adoun And hasteth yow and goth awey anon My deere loue quod she o my daun Iohn Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde 1350 But out it moot I may namoore abyde Myn housbonde is to me the worste man That euere was sith that the world bigan But sith I am a wyf it sit nat me To tellen no wight of oure pryuetee 1355 Neither abedde ne in noon oother place 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 1360 As help me god he is noght worth at al In no degree the value of a flye But yet me greueth moost his nygardye But wel ye woot that wommen naturelly Desiren thynges sixe as wel as I 1365 They wolde that hir housbondes sholde be Hardy and wise and riche and ther#to free And buxom vn#to his wyf and fressh abedde But by that ilke lord that for vs bledde For his honour my#self for to arraye 1370 A Sonday next I moste nedes paye An hundred frankes or ellis am I lorn Yet were me leuere that I were vnborn Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileynye And if myn housbonde eek myghte it espye 1375 I nere but lost and ther#fore I yow preye Lene me this somme or ellis moot I deye Daun Iohn I seye lene me thise hundred frankes Pardee I wol noght faille yow my thankes If that yow list to doon that I yow praye 1380 For at a certeyn day I wol yow paye And doon to yow what plesaunce and seruyse That I may doon right as yow list deuyse And but I do god take on me vengeance As foul as euere hadde Geneloun of France 1385 This gentil monk answerde in this manere Now trewely myn owene lady deere I haue quod he on yow so greet a routhe That I yow swere and plighte yow my trouthe That whan youre housbond is to Flaundres fare 1390 I wol delyuere yow out of this care For I wol brynge yow an hundred frankes And with that word he caughte hire by the flankes And hire embraceth harde and kiste hire ofte Goth now youre wey quod he al stille and softe 1395 And lat vs dyne as soone as that ye may For by my chilyndre it is pryme of day Goth now and beth as trewe as I shal be Now elles god forbede sire quod she And forth she goth as iolif as a pye 1400 And bad the cokes that they sholde hem hye So that men myghte dyne and that anon Vp to hir housbonde is this wyf ygon And knokketh at his countour boldely Qui la quod he Peter it am I 1405 Quod she what sire how longe wol ye faste 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 1410 Com doun to$day and lat youre bagges stonde Ne be ye nat ashamed that daun Iohn Shal fastynge al this day elenge gon What lat vs heere a masse and go we dyne Wyf quod this man litel kanstow deuyne 1415 The curious bisynesse that we haue For of vs chapmen also god me saue And by that lord that clepid is seint Yue Scarsly amonges twelue ten shul thryue Continuelly lastyng vn#to oure age 1420 We may wel make cheere and good visage And dryue forth the world as it may be And kepen oure estat in pryuetee Til we be dede or elles that we pleye A pilgrymage or goon out of the weye 1425 And therfore haue I gret necessitee Vp#on this queynte world t+auyse me For euere mo we mote stonde in drede Of hap and fortune in oure chapmanhede To Flaundres wol I go tomorwe at day 1430 And come agayn as soone as euere I may For which my deere wyf I thee biseke As be to euery wight buxom and meke And for to kepe oure good be curious And honestly gouerne wel oure hous 1435 Thow hast ynow in euery manere wise That to a thrifty houshold may suffise Thee lakketh noon array ne no vitaille Of siluer in thy purs shaltow nat faille And with that word his countour$dore he shette 1440 And doun he goth no lenger wolde he lette But hastily a masse was ther seyd And spedily the tables were yleyd And to the dyner faste they hem spedde And richely this monk the chapman fedde 1445 At after$dyner daun Iohn sobrely This chapman took a part and pryuely He seyde hym thus cosyn it standeth so That wel I se to Brugges wol ye go God and seint Austyn spede yow and gyde 1450 I pray yow cosyn wisely that ye ryde Gouerneth yow also of youre diete Atemprely and namely in this hete Bitwix vs two nedeth no strange fare Farewel cosyn god shilde yow fro care 1455 And if that any thyng by day or nyght If it lye in my power and my myght That ye me wol comande in any wise It shal be doon right as ye wol deuyse O thyng er that ye goon if it may be 1460 I wolde preye yow for to lene me An hundred frankes for a wyke or tweye For certeyn bestes that I moste beye To store with a place that is oures God help me so I wolde it were youres 1465 I shal nat faille surely of my day Nat for a thousand frankes a myle way But lat this thyng be secree I yow preye For yet to$nyght thise bestes moot I beye 1469 And fare now wel myn owene cosyn deere Graunt mercy of youre cost and of youre cheere This noble marchant gentilly anon Answerde and seyde o cosyn myn daun Iohn Now sikerly this is a smal requeste My gold is youres whan that it yow leste 1475 And nat oonly my gold but my chaffare Take 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 creaunce whil we han a name 1480 But goldlees for to been it is no game Pay it agayn whan it lyth in youre ese After my myght ful fayn wolde I yow plese Thise hundred frankes he fette forth anon And pryuely he took hem to daun Iohn 1485 No wight in al this world wiste of this lone 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 Flaundres$ward his prentys wel hym gydeth Til he cam in#to Brugges murily Now goth this marchant faste and bisily Aboute his nede and byeth and creaunceth He neither pleyeth at the dees ne daunceth 1495 But as a marchant shortly for to telle He let his lyf and ther I lete hym dwelle The Sonday next the marchant was agon To Seint$Denys ycomen is daun Iohn With crowne and berd al fressh and newe yshaue 1500 In al the hous ther nas so litel a knaue Ne no wight elles that he nas ful fayn That my lord daun Iohn was come agayn And shortly to the poynt right for to gon 1504 This faire wyf acorded with daun Iohn That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al nyght Haue hire in hise 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 1510 And bad the meynee fare$wel haue good day For noon of hem ne no wight in the toun Hath of daun Iohn right no suspecioun And forth he rydeth hoom to his abbeye Or where hym list namoore of hym I seye 1515 This marchant whan that ended was the faire To Seint$Denys he gan for to repaire And with his wyf he maketh feste and cheere And telleth hire that chaffare is so deere That nedes moste he make a cheuyssaunce 1520 For he was bounden in a reconyssaunce To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon 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 1525 And whan that he was come in#to the toun For greet chiertee and greet affeccioun Vn#to 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 1530 And for to tellen hym of his chaffare As freendes doon whan they been met yfeere Daun Iohn hym maketh feste and murye cheere And he hym tolde agayn ful specially How he hadde wel yboght and graciously 1535 Thanked be god al hool his marchandise 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 1540 That ye in heele ar comen hom agayn And if that I were riche as haue I blisse Of twenty thousand sheeld sholde ye nat mysse For ye so kyndely this oother day Lente me gold and as I kan and may 1545 I thanke yow by god and by seint Iame But nathelees I took vn#to oure dame Youre wyf at hom the same gold agayn Vp#on youre bench she woot it wel certayn By certeyn tokenes that I kan yow telle 1550 Now by youre leue I may no lenger dwelle Oure abbot wol out of this toun anon And in his compaignye moot I gon Grete wel oure dame myn owene nece swete 1554 And fare wel deere cosyn til we meete This marchant which that was ful war and wys Creanced hath and payed eek in Parys To certeyn Lumbardes redy in hir hond The somme of gold and gat of hem his bond And hoom he gooth murye as a papyniay 1560 For wel he knew he stood in swich array That nedes moste he wynne in that viage A thousand frankes abouen al his costage His wyf ful redy mette hym atte gate As she was wont of old vsage algate 1565 And al that nyght in myrthe they bisette For he was riche and cleerly out of dette Whan it was day this marchant gan embrace His wyf al newe and kiste hire on hir face And vp he goth and maketh it ful tough 1570 Namoore quod she by god ye haue ynough And wantownely agayn with hym she pleyde Til atte laste this marchant seyde By god quod he I am a litel wroth With yow my wyf al#thogh it be me looth 1575 And woot ye why by god as that I gesse That ye han maad a manere straungenesse Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun Iohn Ye sholde han warned me er I had gon That he yow hadde an hundred frankes payed 1580 By redy tokene and heeld hym yuele apayed For that I to hym spak of cheuyssaunce Me semed so as by his contenaunce But nathelees by god oure heuene$kyng I thoghte nat to axe of hym no#thyng 1585 I prey thee wyf ne do namoore so Tel me alwey er that I fro thee go If any dettour hath in myn absence Ypayed thee lest thurgh thy necligence I myghte hym axe a thyng that he hath payed 1590 This wyf was nat afered ne affrayed But boldely she seyde and that anon Marie I deffye the false monk daun Iohn I kepe nat of his tokenes neuer$a$del He took me certeyn gold this woot I wel 1595 What yuel thedam on his monkes snowte For god it woot I wende with#outen doute That he hadde yeue it me by cause of yow To doon ther#with myn honour and my prow For cosynage and eek for bele cheere 1600 That he hath had ful ofte tymes heere But sith I se I stonde in this disioynt I wol answere yow shortly to the poynt Ye han mo slakker dettours than am I For I wol paye yow wel and redily 1605 Fro day to day and if so be I faille I am youre wyf score it vp#on my taille And I shal paye as soone as euere I may For by my trouthe I haue on myn array And nat on wast bistowed euerydel 1610 And for I haue bistowed it so wel For youre honour for goddes sake I seye As be nat wrooth but lat vs laughe and pleye Ye shal my ioly body haue to wedde By god I wol noght paye yow but abedde 1615 Forgyue it me myn owene spouse deere Turne hiderward and maketh bettre cheere This marchaunt saugh ther was no remedye And for to chide it nere but folye Sith that the thyng may nat amended be 1620 Now wyf he seyde and I foryeue it thee But by thy lyf ne be namoore so large Keep bet thy good this yeue I thee in charge Thus endeth my tale and god vs sende Taillyng ynough vn#to oure lyues ende <%bihoold the murie wordes of the hoost to the shipman%> <%and to the lady prioresse%> 1625 Wel seyd by corpus dominus quod oure hoost Now longe moote thow saille by the coost Sire gentil maister gentil maryner God yeue the monk a thousand last quade yeer A ha felawes beth war of swich a iape 1630 The monk putte in the mannes hood an ape And in his wyues eek by seint Austyn Draweth no monkes moore in#to youre in But now passe ouer and lat vs seke aboute Who shal now telle first of al this route 1635 Another tale and with that word he sayde As curteisly as it hadde been a mayde My lady prioresse by youre leue So that I wiste I sholde yow nat greue I wolde demen that ye tellen sholde 1640 A tale next if so were that ye wolde Now wol ye vouche$sauf my lady deere Gladly quod she and seyde as ye shal heere <=Explicit\> <%the prologe of the prioresses tale%> <=Domine dominus noster\> O lord oure lord thy name how merueillous Is in this large worlde ysprad quod she 1645 For nat oonly thy laude precious Parfourned is by men of dignytee But by the mouth of children thy bountee Parfourned is for on the brest soukynge Som tyme shewen they thyn heriynge 1650 Wher#fore in laude as I best kan or may Of thee and of the white lilye$flour Which that the bar and is a mayde alway To telle a storie I wol do my labour Nat that I may encressen hir honour 1655 For she hir#self is honour and the roote Of bountee next hir sone and soules boote O moder$mayde o mayde$moder free O bussh vnbrent brennyng in Moyses sighte 1659 That rauysedest doun fro the deitee Thurgh thyn humblesse the goost that in th+alighte Of whos vertu whan he thyn herte lighte Conceyued was the fadres sapience Help me to telle it in thy reuerence Lady thy bountee thy magnificence 1665 Thy vertu and thy grete humylitee Ther may no tonge expresse in no science For som tyme lady er men praye to thee Thow goost biforn of thy benygnytee And getest vs the light of thy prayere 1670 To gyden vs vn#to thy sone so deere My konnyng is so wayk o blisful queene For to declare thy grete worthynesse That I ne may the weighte nat sustene But as a child of twelf$month old or lesse 1675 That kan vnnethe any word expresse Right so fare I and ther#fore I yow preye Gydeth my song that I shal of yow seye <=Explicit\> <%heere bigynneth the prioresses tale%> Ther was in Asye in a greet citee Amonges cristen folk a Iewerye 1680 Sustened by a lord of that contree For foul vsure and lucre of vileynye Hateful to Crist and to his compaignye And thurgh this strete men myghte ryde and wende For it was free and open at eyther ende 1685 A litel scole of cristen folk ther stood Doun at the ferther ende in which ther were Children an heep ycomen of cristen blood That lerned in that scole yeer by yere Swich manere doctrine as men vsed there 1690 This is to seyn to syngen and to rede As smale children doon in hir childhede Among thise children was a wydwes sone A litel clergeoun seuen yeer of age That day by day to scole was his wone 1695 And eek also wher as he say th+ymage 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 1700 Oure blisful lady Cristes moder deere To worshipe ay and he forgat it naught For sely child wol alwey soone lere But ay whan I remembre on this matere Seint Nicholas stant euere in my presence 1705 For he so yong to Crist dide reuerence 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 1710 And as he dorste he drow hym ner and ner And herkned ay the wordes and the note Til he the firste vers koude al by rote Noght wiste he what this Latyn was to seye For he so yong and tendre was of age 1715 But on a day his felawe gan he preye T+expounden hym this song in his langage Or telle hym why this song was in vsage This preyde he hym to construen and declare Ful ofte tyme vp#on his knowes bare 1720 His felawe which that elder was than he Answerde hym thus this song I haue herd seye Was maked of oure blisful lady free Hire to salue and eek hire for to preye To been oure help and socour whan we deye 1725 I kan namoore expounde in this matere 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 1730 To konne it al er Cristemasse be went Thogh that I for my prymer shal be shent And shal be beten thries in an houre I wol it konne oure lady for to honoure His felawe taughte hym homward pryuely Fro day to day til he koude it by rote And thanne he song 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 1740 On Cristes moder set was his entente As I haue seyd thurgh#out the Iuerye This litel child as he cam to and fro Ful murily wolde he synge and crye =O Alma redemptoris\ euere mo 1745 The swetnesse his herte perced so Of Cristes moder that to hire 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 1750 Vp swal and seyde o Hebrayk peple allas Is this to yow a thyng that is honest That swich a boy shal walken as hym lest In youre despit and synge of swich sentence Which is agayns oure lawes reuerence 1755 Fro thennes forth the Iewes han conspired This innocent out of the world to chace An homycide ther#to han they hired That in an aleye hadde a pryuee place And as the child gan for by for to pace 1760 This cursed Iew hym hente and heeld hym faste And kitte his throte and in a pit hym caste I seye that in a wardrobe they hym threwe Wher as thise Iewes purgen hir entraille O cursed folk of Herodes al newe 1765 What may youre yuel entente yow auaille Mordre wol out certeyn it wol nat faille And namely ther as th+onour of god shal sprede The blood out crieth on youre cursed dede O martir souded to virginitee 1770 Now maystow syngen folwyng euere in oon The white lamb celestial quod she Of which the grete euangelist seint Iohn In Pathmos wroot which seith that they that gon Biforn this lamb and synge a song al newe 1775 That neuere flesshly wommen they ne knewe 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 1780 She hath at scole and elles where hym soght Til fynally she gan so fer espie 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 1785 To euery place wher she hath supposed 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 1790 She frayneth and she preyeth pitously To euery Iew that dwelte in thilke place To telle hire if hir child wente oght forby They seyde nay but Iesu of his grace Yaf in hir thought in with a litel space 1795 That in that place after hir sone she cryde 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 1800 And eek of martirdom the ruby bright Ther he with throte ykoruen lay vpright He =Alma redemptoris\ gan to synge So loude that al the place gan to rynge The cristen folk that thurgh the strete wente 1805 In coomen for to wondre vp#on this thyng And hastily they for the prouost sente He cam anon with#outen tariyng And herieth Crist that is of heuene kyng And eek his moder honour of mankynde 1810 And after that the Iewes leet he bynde This child with pitous lamentacioun Vp taken was syngynge his song alway And with honour of greet processioun They carien hym vn#to the nexte abbay 1815 His moder swownyng by his beere lay\ 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 1820 That of this mordre wiste and that anon He nolde no swich cursednesse obserue Yuel shal haue that yuel wol deserue Ther#fore with wilde hors he dide hem drawe And after that he heng hem by the lawe 1825 Vp#on this beere ay lith this innocent Biforn the chief auter whil the masse laste And after that the abbot with his couent Han sped hem for to burien hym ful faste 1829 And whan they holy water on hym caste Yet spak this child whan spreynd was holy water And song =O Alma redemptoris mater\ This abbot which that was an holy man As monkes ben or elles oghten be This yonge child to coniure he bigan 1835 And seyde o deere child I halsen thee 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 vn#to my nekke boon 1840 Seyde this child and as by wey of kynde I sholde haue dyed ye longe tyme agoon 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 1845 Yet may I synge =O Alma\ loude and clere 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 1850 This anteme verraily in my deiynge As ye han herd and whan that I had songe Me thoughte she leyde a greyn vp#on my tonge Wher#fore I synge and synge moot certeyn In honour of that blisful mayden free 1855 Til fro my tonge of taken is the greyn 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 1860 This holy monk this abbot hym mene I His tonge out caughte and took awey the greyn And he yaf vp the goost ful softely And whan this abbot hadde this wonder seyn His salte teerys trikled doun as reyn 1865 And gruf he fil al plat vp#on the grounde And stille he lay as he hadde been ybounde The couent eek lay on the pauement Wepynge and herying Cristes moder deere And after that they ryse and forth been went 1870 And toke awey this martir from his beere And in a tombe of marbilstones cleere Enclosen they this litel body swete Ther he is now god leue vs for to meete O yonge Hugh of Lyncoln slayn also 1875 With cursed Iewes as it is notable For it is but a litel while ago Preye eek for vs we synful folk vnstable That of his mercy god so merciable On vs his grete mercy multiplie 1880 For reuerence of his moder Marie Amen <%bihoold the murye wordes of the hoost to chaucer%> Whan seyd was al this myracle euery man As sobre was that wonder was to se Til that oure hoost iapen to bigan And thanne at erst he looked vp#on me 1885 And seyde thus what man artow quod he Thow lookest as thow woldest fynde an hare For euere vp#on the ground I se thee stare Approche neer and looke vp myrily Now war yow sires and lat this man haue place 1890 He in the wast is shape as wel as I This were a popet in an arm t+enbrace For any womman smal and fair of face He semeth eluyssh by his contenaunce For vn#to no wight dooth he daliaunce 1895 Sey now som#what syn oother folk han sayd Telle vs a tale of myrthe and that anon Hoost quod I ne beth nat yuele apayd For oother tale certes kan I noon But of a rym I lerned longe agoon 1900 Ye that is good quod he now shul we heere Som deyntee thyng me thynketh by his cheere <=Explicit\> <%heere bigynneth chaucers tale of thopas%> Listeth lordes in good entent And I wol telle verrayment Of myrthe and of solas 1905 Al of A knyght was fair and gent In bataille and in tornament His name was sire Thopas Yborn he was in fer contree In Flaundres al biyonde the see 1910 At Poperyng in the place His fader was a man ful free And lord he was of that contree As it was goddes grace Sire Thopas wax a doghty swayn 1915 Whit was his face as payndemayn Hise lippes rede as rose His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn And I yow telle in good certeyn He hadde a semely nose 1920 His heer his berd was lyk safroun That to his girdel raughte adoun His shoon of Cordewane Of Brugges were his hosen broun His robe was of syklatoun 1925 That coste many a iane He koude hunte at wilde deer And ride an haukyng for ryuer With grey goshauk on honde Ther#to he was a good archeer 1930 Of wrastlyng was ther noon his peer Ther any ram shal stonde Ful many a mayde bright in bour They moorne for hym paramour Whan hem were bet to slepe 1935 But he was chaast and no lechour And swete as is the brambel$flour That bereth the rede hepe And so bifel vp#on a day For sothe as I yow telle may 1940 Sire Thopas wolde out ryde He worth vp#on his steede gray And in his hand a launcegay A long swerd by his syde He priketh thurgh a fair forest 1945 Ther#inne is many a wilde best Ye bothe bukke and hare And as he priketh north and est I telle it yow hym hadde almest Bitydde a sory care 1950 There spryngen herbes grete and smale The licorys and the cetewale And many a clowe$gylofre And notemuge to putte in ale Wheither it be moyste or stale 1955 Or for to leye in cofre The briddes synge it is no nay The sparhauk and the popyniay That ioye it was to here The thrustelcok made eek his lay 1960 The wodedowue vp#on the spray She sang ful loude and clere Sire Thopas fil in loue longynge Al whan he herde the thrustel synge And pryked as he were wood 1965 His faire steede in his prikynge So swatte that men myghte hym wrynge His sydes were al blood Sire Thopas eek so wery was For prikyng on the softe gras 1970 So fiers was his corage That doun he leyde hym in the plas To make his steede som solas And yaf hym good forage O seinte Marie =benedicite\ 1975 What eyleth this loue at me To bynde me so soore Me dremed al this nyght pardee An elf$queene shal my lemman be And slepe vnder my goore 1980 An elf queene wol I loue ywys For in this world no womman is Worthy to be my make In towne Al othere wommen I forsake 1985 And to an elf$queene I me take By dale and eek by downe In#to his sadel he clamb anoon And priketh ouer stile and stoon An elf$queene for t+espye 1990 Til he so longe hath riden and goon That he foond in a pryuee woo The contree of Fairye So wilde For in that contree was ther noon That to hym dorste ryde or goo Neither wyf ne childe Til that ther cam a greet geaunt His name was sire Olifaunt A perilous man of dede 2000 He seyde child by Termagaunt But if thow prike out of myn haun Anon I sle thy steede With mace Heere is the queene of Fairye 2005 With harpe and pipe and symphonye Dwellyng in this place The child seyde also mote I thee Tomorwe wol I meete thee Whan I haue myn armoure 2010 And yet I hope =par ma fay\ That thow shalt with this launcegay Abyen it ful soure Thy maw Shal I percen if I may 2015 Er it be fully pryme of day For here thow shalt be slawe Sire Thopas drow abak ful faste This geant at hym stones caste Out of a fel staf$slynge 2020 But faire escapeth child Thopas And al it was thurgh goddes gras And thurgh his fair berynge Yet listeth lordes to my tale Murier than the nyghtyngale 2025 I wol yow rowne How sire Thopas with sydes smale Prikyng ouer hill and dale Is come agayn to towne His murye men comanded he 2030 To make hym bothe game and glee For nedes moste he fighte With a geaunt with heuedes thre For paramour and iolitee Of oon that shoon ful brighte 2035 Do come he seyde my mynstrales And gestours for to tellen tales Anon in myn armynge Of romances that been reales Of popes and of cardynales 2040 And eek of loue$likynge They fette hym first swete wyn And mede eek in a maselyn And real spicerye Of gyngebred that was ful fyn 2045 And lycorys and eek comyn With sugre that is trye He dide next his white leere Of clooth of lake fyn and cleere A breech and eek a sherte 2050 And next his sherte an aketoun And ouer that an haubergeoun For percyng of his herte And ouer that a fyn hauberk Was al ywroght of Iewes werk 2055 Ful strong it was of plate And ouer that his cote$armour As whit as is a lilie$flour In which he wol debate His sheeld was al of gold so reed 2060 And ther#inne was a bores heed A charbocle by his side And there he swoor on ale and breed How that the geaunt shal be deed Bityde what bityde 2065 Hise iambeux were of quyrboily His swerdes shethe of yuory His helm of latoun bright His sadel was of rewel$bon His brydel as the sonne sho 2070 Or as the moone$light His spere was of fyn cipres That bodeth werre and no#thyng pes The heed ful sharp ygrounde His steede was al dappel$gray 2075 It gooth an ambel in the way Ful softely and rounde In londe Lo lordes myne here is a fit If ye wole any moore of it 2080 To telle it wol I fonde %now% holde youre mouth =par charitee\ Bothe knyght and lady free And herkneth to my spelle Of bataille and of chiualry 2085 And of ladyes loue$drury Anon I wol yow telle Men speken of romances of pris Of Hornchild and of Ypotys Of Beves and sire Gy 2090 Of sire Lybeux and Pleyn$damour But sire Thopas he bereth the flour Of real chiualry His goode steede al he bystrood And forth vp#on his wey he glood 2095 As sparcle out of the bronde Vp#on his creest he bar a tour And ther#inne stiked a lilie$flour God shilde his cors fro shonde And for he was a knyght auntrous 2100 He nolde slepen in noon hous But liggen in his hoode His brighte helm was his wonger And by hym baiteth his destrer Of herbes fyne and goode Hym#self drank water of the well As dide the knyght sire Percyuell So worthy 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 2110 Quod oure hoost for thow makest me So wery of thy verray lewednesse That also wisly god my soule blesse Myne erys aken of thy drasty speche Now swich a rym the deuel I biteche 2115 This may wel be rym dogerel quod he 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 2120 Thy drasty rymyng is nat worth a tord Thow doost noght ellis but despendest tyme Sire at o word thow shalt no lenger ryme Lat se wher thow kanst tellen aught in geste Or telle in prose somwhat at the leeste 2125 In which ther be som myrthe or som doctryne Gladly quod I by goddes swete pyne I wol yow telle a litel thyng in prose That oghte liken yow as I suppose Or elles certes ye be to daungerous 2130 It is a moral tale vertuous Al be it toold som tyme in sondry wise Of sondry folk as I shal yow deuyse As thus ye woot that euery euaungelist That telleth vs the peyne of Iesu Crist 2135 Ne seith nat alle thyng as his felawe dooth 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 2140 Whan they his pitous passioun expresse I mene of Mark Mathew Luk and Iohn But doutelees hir sentence is al oon Ther#fore lordynges alle I yow biseche If that ye thynke I varie as in my speche 2145 As thus thogh that I telle somwhat moore 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 2150 As ye han herd yet to yow alle I preye Blameth me nat for as in my sentence Shul ye nowher fynden difference Fro the sentence of this tretys lite After the which this myrie tale I write 2155 And ther#fore herkneth what that I shal seye And lat me tellen al my tale I preye <=Explicit\> <%heere bigynneth chaucers tale of melibee%> A yong man called Melibeus myghty and riche bigat vp# on his wif that called was Prudence a doghter which that called was Sophie / Vp#on a day bifel that he for his desport is went in#to the feeldes hym to pleye / His wif and eek his doghter hath he laft inwith his hous of which the dores weren faste yshette / Thre of his olde foos han it espied and setten laddres to the walles of his hous and by wyndowes ben entred \2160\ / 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 left- en hire for deed and wenten awey / Whan Melibeus retourned was in#to his hous and seig al this meschief he lyk a mad man rentynge his clothe gan to wepe and crye / Prudence his wyf as ferforth a she dorste bisoughte hym of his wepyng for to stynte / but nat for thy he gan to crye and wepen euere lenger the moore \2165\ This noble wif Prudence remembred hire vp#on the sen- tence of Ouyde in his book that cleped is the remedie of loue where as he seith / He is a fool that destourb eth the moder to wepe in the deth of hir child til sh haue wept hir fille as for a certeyn tyme / and thanne shal man doon his diligence with amyable wordes hire to reconforte and preye hire of hir wepyng for to stynte / For which resoun this noble wyf Prudence suffred hir housbonde for to wepe and crye as for a certeyn space / and whan she say hir tyme she seyde hym in this wise Allas my lord quod she why make ye youre#self for to be lyk a fool \2170\ / For sothe it aperteneth nat to a wys man to maken swich a sorwe / youre doghter with the grace of god shal warisshe and escape / And al were it so that she right now were deed ye ne oghte nat as for hir det youre#self to destroye / Senek seith the wise man sha nat take to greet disconfort for the deth of his chil- dren / but certes he sholde suffren it in pacience a wel as he abideth the deth of his owene propre persone \2175\ / This Melibeus answerde anon and seyde What man quod h sholde of his wepyng stynte that hath so greet a cause for to wepe / Iesu Crist oure lord hym#self wepte for the deth of Lazarus his freend / Prudence answerde Certes wel I woot attempree wepyng is no#thyng defended to hym that sorweful is amonges folk in sorwe but it is rather graunted hym to wepe / The Apostle Poul vn#to the Romayns writeth Man shal re- ioyse with hem that maken ioye and wepen with swich folk as wepen / But though attempree wepyng be graunted out- rageous wepyng certes is defended \2180\ / Mesure of wepyng sholde be considered after the loore that techeth vs Senek / Whan that thy freend is deed quod he lat nat thyne eyen to moyste ben of teerys ne to muche drye al# thogh the teerys come to thyne eyen lat hem nat falle / and whan thou hast forgoon thy freend do diligence t geten another freend and this is moore wysdom than for to wepe for thy freend which that thou hast lorn for ther# inne is no boote / and therfore if ye gouerne yow by sa- pience put awey sorwe out of youre herte / 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 \2185\ / He seith eek thus that sorwe in herte sleeth ful many a man / Salomon seith that right as moththes in the shepes flees anoyeth to the clothes and the smale wormes to th 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 vp#on the pacient Iob whan he hadde lost his childre and his temporel substance and in his body endured and receyued ful many a greuous tribulacion yet seide he thus / 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 \2190\ To thise forseide thynges answerde Melibeus vn#to his wif Prudence Alle thy wordes quod he been sothe and ther# to profitable but trewely myn herte is troubled with this sorwe so greuously that I noot what to doone / Lat calle quod Prudence thy trewe freendes alle and thy lynage whiche that ben wise telleth youre cas and herkneth what they seye in conseillynge and yow gouerne after hire sentence / Salomon seith werk alle thy thynges by conseil and thow shalt neuere repente / Thanne by the conseil of his wyf Prudence this Meli- beus leet callen a greet congregacioun of folk / as si- rurgiens phisiciens olde folk and yonge and somme of his olde enemys reconsiled as by hir semblaunt to his loue and in to his grace \2195\ / And ther with al ther coomen somme of hise neighebores that diden hym reuerence moore for drede than for loue as it happeth ofte / Ther coomen also ful manye subtile flatereres and wise aduocatz lerned in the lawe And whan this folk togydre assembled weren this Meli- beus 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 vengeaunce vp#on his foos and sodeynly desired that the werre sholde bigynne / but nathelees yet axed he hir conseil vp#on this matere \2200\ / A sirurgien by licence and assent of swiche as weren wise vp roos and vn#to 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 ben with#holden and to oure pacientz that we do no damage wher#fore it happeth many tyme and ofte that whan twey men han euerich wounded oother o same sirurgien heeleth hem bothe / wher#fore vn#to oure art it is nat pertinen to norice werre ne parties to supporte / 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 \2205\ / Almoost right in the same wise the phisiciens answerde saue that they seyden a fewe wordes moore / that right as maladies ben cured by hir contraries right so shal man warisshe werre by vengeaunce / Hise neighebores ful of enuye hise feyned freendes tha semeden reconsiled and hise flaterers / maden semblan of wepyng and empeired and agregged muchel of this ma- tere in preisynge gretly Melibe of myght of power of richesse and of freendes despisynge the power of hise aduersaries / and seiden outrely that he anon sholde wreke hym on hise foos and bigynne werre \2210\ Vp roos thanne an aduocat that was wys by leue and by conseil of othere that weren wise and seide / Lordynges the nede for the which we ben assembled in this place is ful heuy thyng and an heigh matere / by cause of th wrong and of the wikkednesse that hath be doon and eek by resoun of the grete damages that in tyme comynge bee possible to fallen for the same cause / and eek by re- soun of the grete richesse and power of the parties bothe / for the whiche resouns it were a ful greet peril to erren in this matere \2215\ / Wher#fore Melibeus this is oure sentence We conseille yow abouen alle thyng that right anon thow do thy diligence in kepynge of thy propre persone in swich a wise that thow ne wante noon espie ne wacche thy body for to saue / and after that we conseille that in thyn hous thow sette suffisant garnysoun so that they may as wel thy body as thyn hous defende / But cer- tes for to moeue werre ne sodeynly for to doon vengeaunce we may nat deme in so litel tyme that it were profit able / Wher#fore we axen leyser and espace to haue de liberacioun in this cas to deme / for the commune pro- uerbe seith thus He that soone demeth soone shal repent \2220\ / 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 tariyng 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 know- en what sholde be doon with hir persone al be it that he wiste wel hym#self what that he wolde answere yet ne wolde he nat answere sodeynly but he wolde haue deliber acioun and in the ground he wroot twies / and by this causes we axen deliberacioun and we shul thanne by the grace of god conseille thee thyng that shal be profita- ble / Vp stirten thanne the yonge folk atones and th mooste partie of that compaignye han scorned this olde wise man and bigonnen to make noyse and seyden tha \2225\ / right so as whil that iren is hoot men shold smyte right so sholde men wreken hir wronges whil that they been fresshe and newe and with loud voys they cri- den Werre Werre / Vp roos tho oon of thise olde wise and with his han made contenaunce that men sholde holden hem stille and yeuen hym audience / Lordynges quod he ther is ful man a man that crieth werre werre that woot ful litel wha werre amounteth / Werre at his bigynnyng hath so greet an entryng and so large that euery wight may entre whan hym liketh and lightly fynde werre / But certes what ende that shal ther of bifalle it is nat light to knowe \2230\ / for soothly whan that werre is ones bigonn ther is ful many a child vnborn of his moder that shal sterue yong by cause of thilke werre or ellis lyue i sorwe and dye in wrecchednesse / and ther#fore 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 alle atones bigonne they to rise for t breken his tale and beden hym ful ofte hise wordes for to abregge / For soothly he that precheth to hem that listen nat heren hise wordes his sarmon hem anoyeth / For Iesus Syrak seith that musik in wepyng is anoyous thyng This is to seyn as much auailleth to speken biforn folk to whiche his speche anoyeth as it is to synge bi- forn hym that wepeth \2235\ / 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 commune prouerbe is sooth that good conseil wanteth whan it is moost nede Yet hadde this Melibeus in his conseil many folk that pryuely in his ere conseilled hym certeyn thyng and con- seilled hym the contrarie in general audience Whan Melibeus hadde herd that the gretteste partie of his conseil were acorded that he sholde make werre anon he consented to hir conseilyng and fully affermed hir sentence \2240\ / Thanne dame Prudence whan that she say how that hir housbonde shoop hym for to wreke hym on his foos and to bigynne werre she in ful humble wise whan she say hir tyme seide hym thise wordes / My lord quod she I yow bi- seche as hertely as I dar and kan ne haste yow nat to faste and for alle gerdons as yif me audience / For Pier Alfonce seith Who so 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 profite This Melibe answerde vn#to 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 fool \2245\ / this is to seyn if I for thy conseillyng wolde chaunge 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 wom- men good womman foond I neuere / And also certes if 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 / And Salo mon seith Neuere in thy lyf to thy wyf ne to thy child ne to thy freend ne yeue no power ouer thy#self for bet- tre it were that thy children axen of thy persone thynges that hem nedeth than thow see thy#self in the handes o thy children \2250\ / And also if I wolde werke by th conseillyng certes my conseil moste som#tyme be secree til it were tyme that it moste be knowe and this ne may nat be \2251\ / Whan dame Prudence ful debonairly and with gret pa- cience hadde herd al that hir housbonde liked for to seye thanne axed she of hym licence for to speke and seyde i this wise \2254\ / 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 elles whan the thyng semeth oother weyes than it was biforn \2255\ / And moore#ouer I seye that though ye han sworn and bihight to perfourne youre emprise an nathelees ye weyue to perfourne thilke same emprise b iuste cause men sholde nat seyn ther#fore that ye wer a lyere ne forsworn / for the book seith that the wis man maketh no lesyng whan he turneth his corage to the bettre / And al be it so that youre emprise be establis sed and ordeyned by gret multitude of folk yet thar ye nat accomplice thilke ordinaunce but yow like / for th 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 hon- este / And to the seconde resoun where 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 disples- eth as seith the book \2260\ / And Senec seith that who# so wole haue sapience shal no man dispreise but he shal gladly teche the science that he kan with#oute presump- cion or pride / and swiche thynges as he noght ne kan h shal nat ben ashamed to lerne hem and enquere of lasse folk than hym#self / 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 / and af- ter that for the grete bountee that is in wommen our lord Iesu Crist whan he was risen fro deeth to lyf ap pered rather to a womman than to his apostles \2265\ / And though that Salomon seith that he ne foond neuere womman good it folweth nat therfore that alle wommen ben wikke / for though that he ne foond no good womman cer- tes many another man hath founde many a womman ful good and trewe / Or elles par auenture 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 hym self recordeth in hi Euaungelie / for ther nys no creature so good that hym ne wanteth som#what of the perfeccioun of god that is his makere \2270\ / Youre thridde reson is this Ye seyn that if ye gouern yow by my conseil it sholde seme that ye hadde yeue me the maistrie and the lordshipe ouer youre persone / Sire saue 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 conseille so ofte / for soothly thilke man that axeth conseil o a purpos yet hath he free choys wheither he wole werke by that conseil or noon / And as to youre ferthe 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 she woot / Sire thise wordes been vnderstonde of wommen that ben iangleresses and wikked \2275\ / 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 dwel- len in a desert than with a womman that is riotous / An sire by youre leue that am nat I / for ye han ful oft assayed my grete silence and my grete pacience and eek how wel that I kan hiden and hele thynges that men oghte secreely to hyde And soothly as to youre fifthe reson where as ye seyn that in wikked conseil wommen venquysse men god woot thilke reson stant heere in no stede \2280\ / For vnder- stond now ye axen conseil to do wikkednesse / and if ye wole werke wikkednesse and youre wif restreyneth thilke wikked purpos and ouercometh yow by reson and by good conseil / certes youre wyf oghte rather to be preised than yblamed / Thus sholde ye vnderstonde the philosophre that seith In wikked conseil wommen venquyssen hir hous- bondes / And ther as ye blamen alle wommen and hir resons I shal shewe by manye ensamples that many a womman hath ben ful good and yet ben and hir conseils holsom an profitable \2285\ / Eke som men han seyd that the con seilyng of wommen is outher to deere or elles to litel of pris / but al be it so that ful many a womman is badde and hir conseil vile and noght worth yet han men founde ful many a good womman and ful discrete and wise in con- seilynge / Lo Iacob by conseil of his moder Rebekka wa the benysoun 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 the handes of Olofernus that hadde it biseged and wolde it al destroye / Abigail delyuered Nabal hir housbonde fro Da- uid the kyng that wolde han slayn hym and apaised the ire of the kyng by hir wit and by hir good conseillyng \2290\ Hester by hir good conseil enhaunced gretly the peple of god in the regne of Assuerus the kyng / and the same bountee in good conseillyng of many a good womman may men telle/ And moore#ouer 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 semblabl to hym#self / Heere may ye se that if that wommen wer nat goode and hir conseil good and profitable \2295\ / oure lord god of heuene wolde neither han wroght hem ne called hem help of man but rather confusioun of man / And ther seyde oones a clerk in two vers What is bettre than gold Iaspre What is bettre than iaspre Wisdom / And what is bettre than wisdom Womman And what is bettre than a good womman No#thyng / And sire by manye othere resons may ye seen that manye wommen ben goode and hir conseil good and profitable / And ther#fore sire if ye wol truste to my conseil I shal restore yow youre doghter hool an sound \2300\ / 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 ordinaunce beth honycombes for they yeue swetnesse to the soule and holsomnesse to the body / And wyf by cause of thy swete wordes and eek for I haue assayed and preue thy grete sapience and thy grete trouthe I wol gouerne me by thy conseil in alle thyng Now sire quod dame Prudence and syn ye vouche$sauf to been gouerned by my conseil I wol enforme yow how ye shal gouerne youre#self in chesynge of youre conseillour \2305\ / Ye shal first in alle youre werkes mekely bi- seken to the heighe god that he wol be youre conseil- lour / 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 euere moore / Seint Iame eek seith If any of yow haue nede of sapience axe it of god / and afterward thanne shal ye take conseil in youre#self and examyne wel youre thoghtes of swiche thynges as yow thynketh that is bes for youre profit \2310\ / 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 hym#self certes he moste ben with#outen ire for many causes / The firste is this he that hath greet ire and wrathe in hym self he weneth alwey that he may do thyng that he may nat do / And sec- oundly he that is irous and wroth he ne may nat we deme \2315\ / and he that may nat wel deme may nat wel conseille / The thridde is this that he that is irou and wroth as seith Senek ne may nat speke but blameful thynges / and with hise viciouse wordes he stireth oothe folk to angre and to ire / And eek sire ye moste dryue coueitise out of youre herte / for the apostle seith that coueitise is the roote of alle harmes \2320\ / and trus wel that a coueitous man ne kan nat deme ne thynke but oonly to fulfille the ende of his coueitise / and certe that ne may neuere been acompliced for euere the moore habundaunce that he hath of richesse the moore he desir- eth / And sire ye moste also dryue out of youre herte hastifnesse for certes / ye may nat deme for the best a sodeyn thought that falleth in youre herte but ye most auyse yow on it ful ofte / for as ye herde here bifor the commune prouerbe is this that he that soone demeth soone repenteth \2325\ / Sire ye be nat alwey in lyke disposicioun / for certes som#thyng that som#tyme semeth to yow that it is good for to do another tyme it semet to yow the contrarie Whan ye han taken conseil in youre#self and han deme by good deliberacioun swich thyng as yow semeth best / thanne rede I yow that ye kepe it secree / Biwrey na youre conseil to no persone but if so be that ye wenen sikerly that thurgh youre bywreyyng youre condicioun shal ben to yow the moore profitable \2330\ / For Iesus 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 secre- ly / The book seith Whil that thow kepest thy conseil in thyn herte thow kepest it in thy prison / and whan thow biwreyest thy conseil to any wight he holdeth thee i his snare \2335\ / And ther#fore yow is bettre to hide youre conseil in youre herte than preyen hym to whom ye han 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 darstow preyen any oother wight thy conseil secrely to kepe But nathelees if thow wene sikerly that thy biwreyyn of thy conseil to a persone wol make thy condicioun 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 wille and thyn entente / for trust wel that comunely thise conseillours ben flaterere \2340\ / 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 hym#self / And after that thow shalt considere thy freendes and thyne enemys / And as touchynge thy freendes thow shalt considere whiche of hem been moost feithful and moost wise and eldest and moost approued in conseillyng \2345\ and of hem shaltow axe thy conseil as the cas requireth / I seye that first ye shul clepe to youre conseil youre freendes that ben trewe / For Salomon seith that righ 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 no thyng be likned to the trewe freend / for certes gold ne siluer ben nat so muche worth as the goode wyl of a trewe freend \2350\ And eek he seith that a trewe freend is a strong defense who#so that it fyndeth certes he fyndeth a gret tresor / Thanne shul ye eek considere if that youre trew freendes been discrete and wise for the book seith Axe alwey thy conseil of hem that been wise / And by this same reson shul ye clepen to youre conseil of your freendes that ben of age swiche as han seighen and ben expert in manye thynges and ben approued in conseil- lynges / for the book seith that in olde men is the sa- pience and in longe tyme the prudence / And Tullius seith that grete thynges ne ben nat ay acompliced by strength ne by delyuernesse of body but by good conseil by auc- toritee of persones and by science the whiche thre thyng- es ne been nat fieble by age but certes they enforcen and encressen day by day \2355\ / And thanne shal ye kepe this for a general reule 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 th 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 con seillours haue thilke thre condicions that I haue seyd birore that is to seye that they be trewe wise and o old experience / And werk nat alwey in euery nede by conseillour allone for som#tyme bihoueth it to be con- seiled by manye \2360\ / for Salomon seith Saluacion of thynges is wher as ther ben manye conseillours 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 n kan nat conseille but after his owene lust and his af feccioun / The book seith that the propretee of a fool is this he troweth lightly harm of euery wight and light- ly troweth alle bountee in hym#self Thow shalt eek eschue the conseillyng of alle flater ers swiche as enforcen hem rather to preise youre per- sone by flaterye than for to telle yow the soothfastness of thynges \2365\ / Wher#fore Tullius seith among alle the pestilences that been in frendshipe the gretteste is flaterie and ther#fore 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 flaterere is a snare to cacchen in- nocentz / He seith also that he that speketh to his freend wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce setteth a net biforn his feet to cacchen hym / And ther#fore seith\ Tullius Enclyne nat thyne eres to flatereres ne take n conseil of wordes of flaterye \2370\ / And Caton seith Auyse thee wel and eschue wordes of swetnesse and of plesaunce / And eek thow shalt eschue the conseillyng of thyne olde enemys that ben reconsiled / The book seith that no wight retourneth saufly in#to the grace of his olde ene- my / And Ysope seith Ne trust nat to hem to whiche thow hast had som#tyme werre or enmytee ne telle hem nat thy conseil / And Seneca telleth the cause why It may nat be seith he that where as greet fyr hath longe tyme en- dured that ther ne dwelleth som vapour of warmnesse \2375\ / And ther#fore seith Salomon In thyn olde fo trust neuere / for sikerly though thyn enemy be recon- siled and maketh thee cheere of humylitee and louteth t thee with his heed ne trust hym neuere / for certes he maketh thilke feyned humylitee moore for his profit tha for any loue of thy persone by cause that he demeth to haue victorie ouer thy persone by swich feyned contenance 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 peruert- en it in#to wikkednesse / And eek thou most eschue the conseillyng of hem tha ben thy seruantz and beren thee gret reuerence for par auenture they seyn it moore for drede than for loue \2380\ / And ther#fore 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 / Ye shal also han in suspect the conseillyng of swich fol as conseille yow a thyng priuely and conseille yow the contrarie openly \2385\ / For Cassiodorie seith that i is a manere sleighte to hyndre whan he sheweth to doon a thyng openly and werketh pryuely the contrarie / Thow shalt also haue in suspect the conseillyng of wikked folk for the book seith The conseillyng of wikked Folk is alwey ful of fraude / And Dauid seith Blisyul is that man that hath nat folwed the conseilyng of shrewes / Thow shalt also eschue the conseillyng of yong folk for hir conseil is nat rype Now sire sith I haue shewed yow of which folk ye shu take youre conseil and of which folk ye shul folwe the conseil \2390\ / now wol I teche yow how ye shul examyne youre conseil after the doctrine of Tullius / In the ex- amynynge thanne of youre conseillour ye shul considere many thynges / Alderfirst thou shalt considere that in thilke thyng that thow purposest and vp#on what thyng thow wolt hau 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 / And after this thow shalt considere the thynges that acorden to that thow purposest for to do by thy con seillours if resoun acorde ther#to \2395\ / and eek if thy myght may atteyne ther#to and if the moore part and the bettre part of thy conseillours acorde ther#to o no / Thanne shaltow considere what thyng shal folwe of that conseillyng as hate pees werre grace profit or dam- age and many othere thynges / And in alle thise thynges thow shalt chese the beste and weyue alle othere thyng- es / Thanne shaltow considere of what roote is engendred the matere of thy conseil and what fruyt it may conceyue and engendre / Thow shalt eek considere alle thise caus- es fro whennes they ben sprongen \2400\ / 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 resoun wol nat that any ma sholde bigynne a thyng but if he myghte parforme it as hym oghte / ne no wight sholde take vp#on hym so heuy a charge that he myghte nat beren it / For the prouerbe seith He that to muche embraceth distreyneth litel \2405\ And Caton seith Assay to do swich thyng as thow hast power to doon lest that the charge oppresse thee s 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 / Thanne may ye vnderstonde by strenger resons that i thow hast power to parforme a werk of which thow shalt repente thanne is it bettre that thow suffre than bi gynne \2410\ / 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 tha ye may parforme youre emprise conferme it thanne sadl 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 with#oute youre repreue / Soothly a man may chaungen his purpos and his conseil if the cause cesseth or whan a newe cas bitideth / for the lawe seith that vp#on thynges that newely bitideth bihoueth newe conseil \2415\ / And Sen- eca seith If thy conseil is come to the eris 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 con seil be dishoneste or elles cometh of dishoneste caus chaunge thy conseil / for the lawes seyn that alle bi- hestes that ben dishoneste ben of no value / and eek if it so be that it be inpossible or may nat goodly be par- formed or kept \2420\ / And take this for a general reule that euery conseil that is affermed so strongly that it may nat be chaunged for no condicioun that may bityde I seye that thilke conseil is wikked / This Melibeus whan he hadde herd the doctrine of hi wyf dame Prudence answerde in this wise / Dame quod h as yet in to this tyme ye han wel and couenably taugh me as in general how I shal gouerne me in the chesynge and in the withholdyng of my conseillours / But now wolde I fayn that ye wolde condescenden in especial / and telle me how liketh yow or what semeth yow by oure conseillours that we han chosen in oure present nede \2425\ My lord quod she I biseke yow in al humblesse that ye wol nat wilfully replie agayn 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 pa- cience / Trusteth me wel quod she that youre conseil as in this cas ne sholde nat as to speke proprely be calle a conseillyng but a mocioun or a moeuyng of folie / in which conseil ye han erred in many a sondry wise \2430\ First and forward ye han erred in the assemblyng of youre conseillours / for ye sholde first han cleped a fewe folk to youre conseil and after ye myghte han shewed it to mo folk if it hadde be nede / But certes ye han so- deynly cleped to youre conseil a gret multitude of peple ful chargeant and ful anoyous for to heere / Also ye han erred for there as ye sholde oonly han cleped to youre conseil youre trewe frendes olde and wise / ye han yclep ed straunge folk yong folk false flatereres and enemy reconsiled and folk that doon yow reuerence with#outen loue \2435\ / 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 ha nat anientissed or destroyed hem neither in youre#self ne in youre conseillours as ye oghte / Ye han erred also for ye han shewed to youre conseillours youre talent an youre affeccioun to make werre anon and for to do ven geance / They han espied by youre wordes to what thyng ye ben enclyned \2440\ / And ther#fore han they con- seilled 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 conseillours oonly and with litel auys / where#as in so gret and so heigh a nede it hadd ben necessarie mo conseillours and moore deliberacioun to parforme youre emprise / Ye han erred also for ye han nat examyned youre conseil in the forseyde manere ne in due manere as the cas requireth / Ye han erred also for ye han maked no diuisioun bitwixe youre conseillours this is to seyn bitwixe youre trewe freendes and youre feyned conseillours \2445\ / ne ye han nat knowe the wil of youre trewe freendes olde and wise / but ye han cast alle hir wordes in an hochepot and enclyned youre herte t the moore part and to the gretter nombre and there ben ye condescended / and sith ye woot wel that men shal alwey fynde a gretter nombre of fooles than of wis men / and ther#fore the conseils that ben at congrega- cions and multitudes of folk ther as men take moore re- ward to the nombre than to the sapience of persones / ye se wel that in swiche conseillynges fooles han the maistrie \2450\ / Melibeus answerde agayn and seyde I graunte wel tha I haue erred / but ther as thow hast toold me heer bi- forn that he nys nat to blame that chaungeth his con- seillours in certeyn cas and for certeyne iuste causes / I am al redy to chaunge my conseillours right as thow wolt deuyse / The prouerbe seith that for to do synn is mannyssh but certes for to perseuere longe in synn is werk of the deuel To this sentence answerde anon dame Prudence and sey- de \2455\ / Examyneth quod she youre conseil and lat vs se the whiche of hem han spoken moost resonably an taught yow best conseil / And for as muche as that the examinacioun is necessarie lat vs bigynne at the sirur giens and at the phisiciens that first speeken in this matere / I sey yow that the sirurgiens and phisicien han seyd yow in youre conseil discretly as hem oghte and in hir speche seyden ful wisely that to the office of hem aperteneth to doon to euery wight honour and profit and no wight to anoye / and after hir craft to doon gret diligence vn#to the cure of hem whiche tha they han in hir gouernaunce \2460\ / And sire right as they han answered wisely and discreetly / right so red I that they be heighly and souereynly gerdoned for hir noble speche / and eek for they shullen do the moore en- tentif bisynesse in the curacioun of thy doghter deere For al be it so that they ben youre freendes ther#fore shal ye nat suffren that they serue yow for noght / but ye oghte the rather gerdone hem and shewen hem youre largesse \2465\ And as touchynge the proposicioun which that the phi siciens encresceden in this cas this is to seyn / tha in maladies that oon 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 / that right as they han doon me a contrarie right so sholde I doon hem another \2470\ / for right as they han venged hem on me and doon me wrong right so shal I venge me vp#on hem and doon hem wrong / and thanne haue I cured oon contrarie by another Lo lo quod dame Prudence how lightly is euery man en clyned to his owene desir and to his owene plesaunce Certes quod she the wordes of the phisiciens ne sholde nat han ben vnderstonden in that wise / for certes wik- kednesse is nat contrarie to wikkednesse ne vengeance to vengeance ne wrong to wrong but they ben semblable \2475\ / and therfore o vengeance is nat warisshed by another vengeance ne o wrong by another wrong / but eu- erich of hem encresceth and aggreggeth oother / But cer- tes the wordes of the phisiciens sholde ben vnderstonde in this wise / for good and wikkednesse ben two contra- ries and pees and werre vengeance and suffrance discor and acord and many othere thynges / But certes wikked- nesse shal be warisshed by goodnesse discord by acord werre by pees and so forth of othere thynges \2480\ / and her to acordeth seynt Poul the apostle in many places / He seith Ne yeldeth noght harm for harm ne wik- ked speche for wikked speche / but do wel to hym that dooth thee harm and blesse hym that seith to thee harm / and in manye othere places he amonesteth pees and acord / 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 \2485\ / that seyden alle by oon acord as ye han herd bifore / that ouer alle thynges ye shal do youre dili- gence 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 / ye shul vnderstonde that he that hath werre shal euere moore deuoutly and mekely preyen biforn alle thynges \2490\ / that Iesus Crist of his mercy wol han hym in his proteccioun and ben his souereyn helpyng at his nede / For certes in this world ther is no wight that may be conseilled ne kept suf- fisantly with#oute the kepyng of oure lord Iesu Crist / To this sentence acordeth the prophete Dauid that seith / If god ne kepe the citee in ydel waketh he that it kep- eth / Now sire thanne shul ye committe the kepyng of youre persone to youre trewe freendes that been approue and yknowe \2495\ / 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 thann shul ye kepe yow fro alle straunge folk and fro lyeres and haue alwey in suspect hir compaignye / For Piers Al- fonce seith Ne taak no compaignye by the weye of a straunge man but if so be that thow haue knowe hym of a lenger tyme / And if so be that he falle in#to thy com- paignye par auenture with#outen thyn assent \2500\ / en- quere thanne as subtilly as thow mayst of his conuersa cioun and of his lyf bifore and feyne thy wey Sey that thow wolt go thider as thow wolt nat go / And if he ber- eth a spere hoold thee on the right syde and if he bere a swerd hoold thee on the left syde / And after this tha shal ye kepe yow in swich manere that for any presump cioun of youre strengthe that ye ne despise nat ne at- tempte nat the myght of youre aduersarie so lite tha ye lete the kepyng of youre persone for youre presump- cioun \2505\ / for euery wys man dredeth his enemy / And Salomon seith Weleful is he that of alle hath drede / for certes he that thurgh the hardynesse of his herte and thurgh the hardynesse of hym#self hath to gret pre- sumpcioun hym shal yuel bityde / Thanne shal ye euere mo countrewayte emboyssementz and alle espialle / for Senek seith that the wise man that dredeth harmes escheweth harmes \2510\ / ne he ne falleth in#to perils that per ils escheweth / And al be it so that it seme that thow art in siker place yet shaltow alwey do thy diligence i kepyng of thy persone / this is to seyn ne be nat nec- ligent to kepe thy persone nat oonly fro thy grettest enemys but fro thy leeste enemy / Senek seith a man tha is wel auysed he dredeth his leste enemy / Ouyde seith that the litel wesele wol slee the grete bole and the wilde hert \2515\ / And the book seith a litel thorn may prikke a kyng ful soore and an hound wol holde the wild 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 the from the compaignye of scorneres / for the book seith With scorneres make no compaignye but flee hire wordes as venym \2520\ / Now as to the seconde point where as youre wise con seillours conseilled yow to warnestore youre hous wit gret diligence / I wolde fayn knowe how that ye vnder- stonde 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 toure swiche as han castelles and othere manere edifices an armure and artelries / by whiche thynges I may my per- sone and myn hous so kepen and defenden that myne enemys shul been in drede myn hous for to approche / To this sentence answerde anon Prudence Warnestoryng quod she of heighe toures and of grete edifices aperten eth som#tyme to pride \2525\ / and eek men make heigh toures and grete edifices with grete costages and wit gret trauaille and whan that they been accompliced ye be they nat worth a stree but if they been defended by trewe freendes that been olde and wise / And vnderstonde wel that the gretteste and the strongeste garnysoun that a riche 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 garnesoun that no man may venquysse ne discomfite and that is / a lord to be biloued of his citezeins and of his peple \2530\ / Now sire as to the thridde poynt where as youre old and wise conseillours seiden that yow ne oghte nat so deynly ne hastily proceden in this nede / but that yow oghte purueyen and apparailen yow in this cas with gree deliberacioun / trewely I trowe that they seyden right wisely and right sooth / for Tullius seith In euery nede er thow bigynne it apparaile thee with greet diligence / Thanne seye I that in vengeance takynge in werre in ba taille and in warnestorynge \2535\ / er thow bigynne I rede that thow apparaile thee ther to and do it with greet deliberacioun / for Tullius seith that long appar- ailynge biforn the bataille maketh short victorie / And Cassidorus seith the garnesoun is strenger whan it is long tyme auysed / But now lat vs speken of the conseil that was acorded by youre neighebores swiche as doon yow reuerence with# outen loue / youre olde enemys reconsiled youre flater- ers \2540\ / that conseileden yow certeyne thynges pryue- ly and openly conseileden yow the contrarie / the yonge folk also that conseileden yow to venge yow and mak werre anoon / And certes sire as I haue seyd biforn ye han greetly erred to han cleped swich maner folk to youre conseil / whiche conseillours been ynow repreued by the resons aforeseyd / But nathelees lat vs now descende to the special Ye shuln first proceden after the doctryne of Tullius \2545\ Certes the trouthe of this matere or of this conseil ned eth nat diligently enquere / for it is wel wist whiche they been that han doon to yow this trespas and vileyn- ye / and how manye trespassours and in what manere they han to yow doon al this wrong and al this vileynye / And after this thanne shul ye examyne the seconde con dicioun which that the same Tullius addeth in this ma- tere / for Tullius put a thyng which that he clepeth con- sentynge this is to seyn \2550\ / who been they and whiche been they and how manye that consenten to thy con- seil 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 aduersa- ries / And certes as to the firste poynt it is wel knowe whiche folk been they that consenteden to youre hastif wilfulnesse / for trewely alle tho that conseileden yow to make sodeyn werre ne been nat youre freendes / Lat vs now considere whiche been they that ye holde so greetly youre freendes as to youre persone \2555\ / for al be it so that ye be myghty and riche certes ye been but al- lone / for certes ye ne han no child but a doghter / ne ye ne han bretheren ne cosyns germayns ne noon oother ny kynrede / wherfore that youre enemys for drede sholde stynte to plede with yow or destroye youre persone / Y knowen also that youre richesses moten be dispended in diuerse parties \2560\ / and whan that euery wight hat his part they ne wollen take but litel reward to venge thy deeth / but thyne enemys been thre and they han manye children bretheren cosyns and oother ny kynrede / and though so were that thow haddest slayn of hem two or thre yet dwellen ther ynowe to wreken hir deeth and to sle thy persone / and though so be that youre kynrede b moore siker and stedefast than the kyn of youre aduer sarie / yet nathelees youre kynrede nys but a fer kyn- rede they been but litel syb to yow \2565\ / and the kyn of youre enemys been ny syb to hem and certes as in that hir condicioun is bet than youres / Thanne lat vs considere also if the conseillyng of hem that conseileden yow to taken sodeyn vengeance wheither it acorde to resoun / and certes ye knowe wel nay / fo as by right and resoun ther may no man taken vengeance on no wight but the iuge that hath the iurisdiccioun o it / whan it is ygraunted hym to take thilke vengeance hastily or attemprely as the lawe requireth \2570\ And yet more#ouer of thilke word that Tullius clepeth consentynge / Thow shalt considere if thy myght and thy power may consente and suffise to thy wilfulnesse and to thy conseillours / and certes thow mayst wel seyn that nay / for sikerly as for to speke proprely we may do no# thyng but oonly swich thyng as we may do rightfully / and certes rightfully ne mowe ye take no vengeance as of youre propre auctoritee \2575\ / Thanne mowe ye seen that youre power ne consenteth nat ne acordeth nat with youre wilfulnesse / Lat vs now examyne the thridde poynt that Tullius clep- eth consequent / Thow shalt vnderstande that the ven- geance that thow purposest for to take is the conse- quent / and ther#of folweth another vengeance peril an werre and othere damages with#oute nombre of whiche we been nat waar as at this tyme / And as touchynge the ferthe poynt that Tullius clepeth engendrynge \2580\ / thow shalt considere that this wron which that is doon to thee is engendred of the hate o thyne enemys / and of the vengeance takynge vp#on that wolde engendre another vengeance and muchel sorwe and wastynge of richesses as I seyde / Now sire as to the poynt that Tullius clepeth cause which that is the laste poynt / thow shalt vnderstonde that the wrong that thow hast receyued hath certeyne causes / whiche that clerkes clepen =Oriens\ and =Efficiens\ and =Causa longinqua\ and =Causa propinqua\ this is to seyn the fer cause and the ny cause \2585\ / The fer cause is almyghty god that is cause of alle thynges / The neer cause is thy thre enemys / The cause accidental wa hate / The cause material been the fyue woundes of thy doghter / The cause formal is the manere of hir werkynge that broghten laddres and clomben in at thy wyndowe \2590\ / The cause final was for to sle thy doghter it letted 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 o with greet peyne been causes ybroght to good ende whan they been baddely bigonne / Now sire if men wolde axe me why that god suffred men to do yow this vileynye certes I kan nat wel answere as for no soothfastnesse \2595\ / for the apostle seith that the sciences and the iugementz of oure lord god almyght 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 / Thy name is Melibe this is to seyn a man that drynketh hony \2600\ / Thow hast ydronke so muchel 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 ytaken kepe to the wordes of Ouyde that seith / Vnder the hony of the goodes of the body is hyd th venym that sleeth the soule \2605\ / 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 needy and poore / and par auenture Crist hath thee in despit and hath turned awey fro thee his face and his erys of misericorde / and also he hath suffred that thow hast been punysshed in the manere that thow hast ytres- pased / Thow hast doon synne agayn oure lord Crist \2610 for certes the thre enemys of mankynde that is to sey the flessh the feend and the world / thow hast suffre hem entre in#to thyn herte wilfully by the wyndowes of thy body / and hast nat defended thy#self suffisantly agayns hir assautes and hir temptacions so that they ha wounded thy soule in fyue places / this is to seyn the dedly synnes that been entred in#to thyn herte by thy fyue wittes / and in the same manere oure lord Crist hath wold and suffred that thy thre enemys been entred in#to thyn hous by the wyndowes \2615\ / and han ywounded thy doghter in the forseyde manere / Certes quod Melibe I se wel that ye enforce yow muchel by wordes to ouercome me in swich manere that I shal nat venge me of myne enemys / shewynge me the perils and th yueles that myghten falle of this vengeance / But who# so wolde considere in alle vengeances the perils and yueles that myghten sewe of vengeance takynge / a man wolde neuere take vengeance and that were harm \2620\ / for by the vengeance$takynge been the wikked men dis- seuered fro the goode men / and they that han wil to d wikkednesse restreyne hir wikked purpos whan they seen the punysshynge and the chastisynge of trespassours \2622\ And yet seye I moore that right as a singuler persone synneth in takynge vengeance of another man \2625\ right so synneth the iuge if he do no vengeance of hem that it han disserued / For Senek seith thus That mais- ter he seith is good that preueth shrewes / And as Cas sidore seith A man dredeth to do outrages whan he woot and knoweth that it displeseth to the iuges and the sou ereyns / And another seith The iuge that dredeth to do right maketh men shrewes / And seint Poule th+apostl seith in his epistle whan he writeth vn#to the Romayns that the iuges beren nat the spere with#outen caus \2630\ / but they beren it to punysshe the shrewes and mysdoers and for to defende the goode men / If ye wo thanne take vengeance of youre enemys ye shul retourn or haue youre recours to the iuge that hath the iuris- diccioun vp#on hem / and he shal punysshe hem as the lawe axeth and requireth / A quod Melibe this vengeance liketh me no#thyng / I bithenke me now and take hede how fortune hath norisshe me fro my childhode and hath holpen me to passe many a strong paas \2635\ / Now wol I assayen hire 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 assaye fortune by no wey / ne ye shul nat lene or bowe vn#to 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 / 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 \2640\ Trusteth nat in hire for she nys nat stedefast ne sta- ble / for whan thow trowest to be moost seur or siker of hir help she wol faile thee and deceyue thee / And where as ye seyn that fortune hath norisshed yow fro your childhode / I seye that in so muchel shal ye the lasse truste in hire and in hir wit / for Senek seith What ma that is norisshed by fortune she maketh hym to greet a fool \2645\ / Now thanne syn ye desire and axe vengeance and the ven geance 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 vn# to the souereyn iuge that vengeth alle vileynyes and wronges / and he shal venge yow After that hym#self wit nesseth where as he seith / Leueth the vengeance to me and I shal do it \2650\ / 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 muchel vileynye that I myghte neither bere it ne sustene / and so sholde I been put and holden ouer lowe \2655\ / for men seyn In muchel suffrynge shul manye thynges falle vn#to thee whiche thow shalt nat mowe suffre / Certes quod Prudence I graunte yow that ouer muchel suffraunce is nat good / but yet ne folweth it nat ther# of that euery persone to whom men doon vileynye take of it vengeance / for that aperteneth and longeth al oonl to the iuges for they shul venge the vileynyes and in- iuries / And therfore tho two auctoritees that ye han seyd aboue been oonly vnderstonden in the iuges \2660\ for whan they suffren ouer muchel the wronges and vil- eynyes to be doon with#outen punysshynge / they somn nat a man al oonly for to do newe wronges but they co- manden it / Also a wys man seith that the iuge that cor- recteth nat the synnere comandeth and biddeth hym do synne / and the iuges and souereyns myghten in hir land so muchel suffre of the shrewes and mysdoers / 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 atte laste maken hem lese hir lordshipes \2665\ 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 comparisoun vn#to the myght of youre aduersaries ye shul fynde in manye thynges that I haue shewed yow er this that hir condicioun is bettre than youres / and ther#fore seye I that it is good as now that ye suffre and be pacient \2670\ / Forther#moore ye knowen wel that after the commune sawe it is a wood- nesse a man to stryue with a strenger or a moore myght man than he is hym#self / and for to stryue with a man of euene strengthe that is to seyn with as strong a ma as he is it is peril / and for to stryue with a weyker man it is folye / And ther#fore sholde a man flee stryu- ynge as muchel as he myghte / for Salomon seith It is a greet worship to a man to kepen hym fro noyse and stryf \2675\ / And if it so bifalle or happe that a man o gretter myght and strengthe than thow art do thee gre- uaunce / studie and bisie thee rather to stille the same greuaunce than for to venge thee / For Senek seith that he putteth hym in greet peril that stryueth with a gret- ter man than he is hym#self / And Catoun seith If a man of hyer estaat or degree or moore myghty than thow do thee anoy or greuaunce suffre hym / for he that ones hath greued thee may another tyme releue thee and helpe \2680\ / 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 defaute that been in youre owene persone / for whiche defautes god hath suffred yow haue this tribulacioun as I hau seyd yow heer biforn \2685\ / For the poete seith tha we oghten paciently taken the tribulaciouns that comen to vs whan that we thynken and consideren that we han disserued to haue hem / And 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 vn#to hym / and in as much as hym thynketh his synnes moore heuy and greuous / in so muche semeth his peyne the lighter and the esier vn to hym \2690\ / 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 seit 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 vileyns word out of his mouth / Whan men curs- ed hym he cursed hem noght and whan men betten hym he manaced hem noght / Also the grete pacience which seint- es that been in paradys han had in tribulaciouns that they han ysuffred with#outen hir desert or gilt \2695\ / oghte muchel stire yow to pacience / Forther#moore ye sholde enforce yow to haue pacience / considerynge that the tribulaciouns 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 tribu laciouns is pardurable after that the apostle seith in his epistle / The ioye of god he seith is pardurable that is to seyn euere lastynge \2700\ / Also troweth an bileueth stedefastly that he nys nat wel ynorisshed ne wel ytaught that kan nat haue pacience or wol nat re- ceyue 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 angr and wrathful man maketh noyses and the pacient man at- tempreth hym and stilleth / He seith also It is moore worth to be pacient than for to be right strong \2705\ / and he that may haue the lordshipe of his owene herte is moore to preyse than he that by his force or strength taketh grete citees / And therfore seith seint Iame in his epistle that pacience is a greet vertu of perfec- cioun / Certes quod Melibe I graunte yow dame Prudence that pacience is a greet vertu of perfeccioun / but euery man may nat haue the perfeccioun that ye seken / ne I am nat of the nombre of right parfite men \2710\ / for myn herte may neuere be in pees vn#to the tyme it be venged / And al be it so that it was greet peril to myne enemys to do me a vileynye in takynge vengeance vp#on me / yet toke they noon hede of the peril but fulfilleden hir wikked wyl and hir corage / And therfore me thynketh men oghten nat repreue me though I putte me in a litel peril for to venge me / and though I do a greet excesse that i to seyn that I venge oon outrage by another \2715\ / A quod dame Prudence ye seyn youre wil and as yow liketh But in no caas of the world a man sholde nat doon out- rage 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 / And also if ye wol venge yow of the outrage of youre aduersaries in oother manere than right comandeth ye synnen \2720\ / 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 fight- ynge / certes ye seye sooth whan the defense is doon anon with#outen interualle or with#outen tariynge or de- lay / for to defenden hym and nat for to vengen hym And it bihoueth that a man putte swich attemperance in his defense \2725\ / that men haue no cause ne mater to repreuen hym that defendeth hym of excesse and out- rage for ellis were it agayn resoun / Pardee ye know wel that ye maken no defense as now for to defende yo but for to venge yow / and so seweth it that ye han no wyl to do youre dede attemprely / and therfore me thynk- eth that pacience is good for Salomon seith that he that is nat pacient shal haue greet harm / Certes quod Melibe I graunte yow that whan a man i inpacient and wrooth of that that toucheth hym nat and that aperteneth nat vn#to hym though it harme hym it i no wonder \2730\ / For the lawe seith that he is coup able that entremetteth hym or medleth with swich thyng as aperteneth nat vn#to hym / And Salomon seith that he that entremeteth hym 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 his inpa- cience medleth hym of the noyse of another man where#as it aperteneth nat vn#to hym / But ye knowe wel that this dede that is to seyn my grief and my disese toucheth me right ny \2735\ / and therfore though I be wrooth an inpacient it is no meruaille / And sauynge youre grace I kan nat se that it myghte greetly harme me though I tooke vengeaunce / for I am richere and moore myghty than myne enemys been / and wel knowen ye that by money and by hauynge grete possessions been alle the thynges of this world gouerned / And Salomon seith that alle thynges obeyen to moneye \2740\ / Whanne Prudence hadde herd hir housbonde auanten hym of his richesse and of his moneye dispreisynge the power of hise aduersaries she spak and seyde in this wise Certes deere sire I graunte yow that ye been riche an 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 with#oute the soule namoore may it lyue with#oute temporel goodes / and by richesses may a man gete hym grete freendes \2745\ 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 hire ne refusen hire / And this Pam- philles seith also If thow be right happy that is to seyn if thow be right riche thow shalt fynde a greet nom- bre of felawes and freendes / and if thy fortune chaunge that thow wexe poore farewel freendshipe and felawe- shipe / for thow shalt be allone with#outen any compaign- ye but if it be the compaignye of poore folk \2750\ / And yet seith this Pamphilles moore#ouer that they that been thralle and bonde of lynage shuln be maad worthy and no- ble by the richesses / And right so as by richesses the comen manye goodes right so by pouerte come ther manye harmes and yueles / for greet pouerte constreyneth a man to do manye yueles / And therfore clepeth Cassidore po- uerte the moder of ruyne / that is to seyn the moder of ouerthrowynge or fallynge doun \2755\ / And therfore seith Piers Alfonce Oon of the gretteste aduersitees of this world is / whan a free man by kynde or of burthe is constreyned by pouerte to eten the almesse of his en- emy / And the same seith Innocent in oon of hise bookes He seith that sorweful and myshappy is the condicioun of a poore beggere / for if he axe nat his mete he dyeth for hunger / and if he axe he dyeth for shame and algates necessitee constreyneth hym to axe \2760\ / And therfore seith Salomon that bettre is to dye than for to haue swich pouerte / And as the same Salomon seith Bettre it is to dye of bitter deeth than for to lyuen in swich wise / By thise resons that I haue seid vn#to yow and by manye othere resons that I koude seye / I graunte yow that richesses been goode to hem that geten hem wel and to hem that wel vsen tho richesses / And therfore wol I shewe yow how ye shul haue yow and how ye shul bere yow in gaderynge of richesses and in what manere ye shul vsen hem \2765\ / First ye shul geten hem with#outen greet desir by good leiser sokyngly and nat ouer hastily / for a man that i to desirynge to gete richesses abandoneth hym first to thefte and to alle othere yueles / And therfore seith Salomon He that hasteth hym to bisily to wexe riche shal be noon innocent / He seith also that the richesse that hastily cometh to a man soone and lightly gooth and passeth from a man / but that richesse that cometh litel and litel wexeth alwey and multiplieth \2770\ / And sire ye shullen gete richesses by youre wit an by youre trauaille vn#to youre profit / and that with outen wrong or harm$doynge to any oother persone / For the lawe seith that ther maketh no man hym#self riche if he do harm to another wight / This is to seyn that nature defendeth and forbedeth by right that no man mak hym#self riche vn#to the harm of another persone / An Tullius seith that no sorwe ne no drede of deeth ne n thyng that may falle vn#to a man \2775\ / is so muche ageyns nature as a man to encresse his owene profit to the harm of another man / And thogh the grete men and the myghty men gete richesses moore lightly than thow / yet shaltow nat be ydel ne slow to do thy profit for thow shalt in all wise flee ydelnesse / For Salomon seith that ydelnesse techeth a man to do manye yueles / And the same Salomon seith that he that trauaileth and bisieth hym to tilien his lond shal ete breed \2780\ / but he that is ydel and casteth hym to no bisynesse ne occupacioun shal fall in#to pouerte and dye for hunger / And he that is yde and slow kan neuere fynde couenable tyme for to do his profit / For ther is a versifiour seith that the yde man excuseth hym in wynter by cause of the grete coold and in somer by encheson of the hete / For thise causes seith Catoun waketh and enclyneth yow nat ouer muchel for to slepe for ouer muchel reste norissheth and caus- eth manye vices / And therfore seith seint Ierome Dooth somme goode dedes that the deuel which is oure enemy ne fynde yow nat vnocupied \2785\ / for the deuel ne taketh nat lightly vn#to his werkynge swiche as he fyndeth oc- upied in goode werkes / Thanne thus in getynge richesses ye mosten flee ydelnesse / And afterward ye shul vse the richesses whiche ye hau geten by youre 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 ouer large a spendere / For right as men blamen an auaricious man by cause o his scarsitee and chyncherie \2790\ / in the same wise is he to blame that spendeth ouer largely / And therfor 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 / He seith also The goodes that thow hast y- geten vse hem by mesure that is to seyn spende mesur- ably \2795\ / for they that folily wasten and despenden the goodes that they han / whan they han namoore propr of hir owene they shapen hem to take the goodes of an- other man / I seye thanne that ye shul flee auarice / vsynge your richesses in swich manere that men seye nat that your richesses been yburyed / but that ye haue hem in your myght and in youre weldynge \2800\ / For a wys man re- preueth the auaricious man and seith thus in two vers / Wher#to and why burieth 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 knyt teth he hym so faste vn#to his goodes / that alle hise wittes mowen nat disseueren hym or departen hym from hise goodes \2805\ / and knoweth wel or oghte knowe that whan he is deed he shal no thyng bere with hym out of this world / And ther#fore seith seint Austyn that the auari- cious man is likned vn#to 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 auari- cious man or chynche as wel sholde ye kepe yow and gou- erne yow in swich a wise that men calle yow nat fool$ large \2810\ / Ther fore seith Tullius The goodes he seith of thyn hous sholde nat been hid ne kept so cloos but that they myghte been opned by pitee and debonaire tee / that is to seyn to yeuen hem part that han greet nede / ne thy goodes sholden nat be so open to be euery mannes goodes Afterward in getynge of youre richesses and in vsynge hem ye shul alwey haue thre thynges in youre herte / that is to seyn oure lord god conscience and good name \2815\ / First ye shul haue god in youre herte / and for no richesse ye shullen do no#thyng which may in any manere displese god that is youre creatour and makere / For af- ter the word of Salomon It is bettre to haue a litel good with the loue of god / than to haue muchel good and tresor and lese the loue of his lord god / And the pro- phete seith that bettre it is to been a good man and haue litel good and tresor \2820\ / than to be holden a shrewe and haue grete richesses / And yet seye I ferther moore 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 gree ioye as whan oure conscience bereth vs good witnesse / And the wise man seith The substance of a man is ful good whan synne is nat in mannes conscience \2825\ Afterward in getynge of youre richesses and in vsynge of hem / yow moste haue greet bisynesse and greet dili- gence that youre goode name be alwey kept and conserued / For Salomon seith that bettre it is and moore it auail- eth a man to haue a good name than for to haue gret richesses / And ther#fore he seith in another place Do greet diligence seith Salomon in kepyng of thy freend and of thy goode name / for it shal lenger abide wit thee than any tresor be it neuere so precious \2830\ / And certes he sholde nat be called a gentil man that af ter 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 ther#fore seith seint Austyn that ther been two thynges that arn necessarie and nedefulle / and that is good conscience and good loos / that is to seyn good con science to thyn owene persone inward and good loos for thy neighebore outward \2835\ / And he that trusteth hy so muchel in his goode conscience / that he displeseth and setteth at noght his goode name or loos and rekket noght thogh he kepe nat his goode name nys but a cruel cherl / Sire now haue I shewed yow how ye shul do in getynge richesses and how ye shullen vsen hem / and I se wel that for the trust that ye han in youre richesses ye wo moeue werre and bataille / I conseille yow that ye bi gynne no werre in trust of youre richesses for they ne suffisen noght werres to mayntene \2840\ / And ther#fore seith a philosophre That man that desireth and wole al gates han werre shal neuere haue suffisaunce / 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 despen- dours he hath / And deere sire al be it so that for youre richesses ye mowe haue muchel folk / yet bihoueth it nat ne it is nat good to bigynne werre where as ye mowe in oother ma nere haue pees vn#to youre worship and profit \2845\ / for the victorie of batailles that been in this world lith nat in greet nombre or multitude of peple ne in the vertu of man / but it lith in the wyl and in the hand of oure lord god almyghty / And ther#fore Iudas Machabeus which was goddes knyght / whan he sholde fight ageyn his aduersarie that hadde a gretter nombre and a gretter multitude of folk and strenger than was the pe- ple of Machabee / yet he reconforted his litel compaigny and seyde right in this wise \2850\ / 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 cometh from 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 naught af- ter that Salomon seith / ther#fore euery man sholde greetly drede werres to bigynne \2855\ / And by cause that in batailles fallen manye perils / and happeth ou ther while that as soone is the grete man slayn as the litel man / and as it is ywriten in the seconde book of Kynges The dedes of batailles been auenturouse and no thyng certeyne / for as lightly is oon hurt with a spere as another / And for ther is greet peril in werre ther# fore sholde a man flee and eschewe werre in as muche as a man may goodly \2860\ / 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 thyng / but I haue nat yet herd youre conseil how I shal do in this nede / Certes quod she I conseile yow that ye acorde with youre aduersaries and that ye haue pees with hem \2865\ For seint Iame seith in hise epistles that by concord and pees the smale richesses wexen grete / and by debaat and discord the grete richesses fallen doun / And ye knowen wel that oon of the gretteste and moost souereyn thyng that is in this world is vnitee and pees / And ther#fore seyde oure lord Iesu Crist to hise apostles in this wise / Wel happy and blessed been they that louen and purchacen pees for they been called children of god \2870\ / A quod Melibe now se I wel that ye louen nat myn honour ne my worshipe / Ye knowen wel that myne aduersaries han bigonnen this debaat and brige by hire outrage / and ye se wel that they ne requeren ne preyen me nat of pees ne they asken nat to be reconsiled / Wol ye thann that I go and meke me and obeye me to hem and crie hem mercy / For sothe that were nat my worship \2875\ / for right as men seyn that ouer greet homlynesse engendreth dispreisynge 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 honour and youre profit as I do myn owene and euere haue doon / ne ye ne noon oother syen neuere the contrarie / And yet if I hadde seyd that ye sholde han purchace the pees and the reconsiliacioun I ne hadde nat muchel mystake me ne seyd amys \2880\ / For the wise man seith The dissensioun bigynneth by another man and the recon- silyng bigynneth by thy self / And the prophete seith Flee shrewednesse and do goodnesse / seke pees and folwe it as muchel as in thee is / Yet seye I nat that ye shul rather pursue to youre aduersaries for pees than they shuln to yow / for I knowe wel that ye been so hard herted that ye wol do no thyng for me \2885\ / And Salo- mon seith that he that hath ouer hard an herte atte laste he shal myshappe and mystyde / Whanne Melibe hadde herd dame Prudence make semblan 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 won- der / and they that been wrothe witen nat wel what they doon ne what they seyn \2890\ / Therfore the prophete seith that troubled eyen han no cleer sighte / But sei- eth 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 to loue yow and to preise yow / For Salomon seith that he that repreueth hym that dooth folie / he shal fynde gretter grace than he that de- ceyueth hym by swete wordes \2895\ / Thanne seide dame Prudence I make no semblant of wrathe ne of angir but for youre grete profit / For Sa- lomon seith He is moore worth that repreueth or chidet 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 Sa lomon seith afterward that by the sorweful visage of a man that is to seyn by the sory and heuy contenaunce of a man / the fool correcteth and amendeth hym#self \2900\ Thanne seyde Melibe I shal nat konne answere to 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 to hym and seyde / I conseille yow quod she abouen alle thynges that ye make pees bitwene god and yow / and beth recon- siled vn#to hym and to his grace \2905\ / for as I hau seyd yow heer biforn 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 vn#to yow / and maken hem falle at youre feet redy to do youre wyl and youre comandementz / For Salomon seith Whan the condicioun of man is plesaunt and likynge to god / he chaungeth the hertes of the mannes aduersaries and constreyneth hem to biseken hym of pees and of grace \2910\ / And I prey yow lat me speke 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 / for I putte me hoolly in youre disposicioun and ordi- naunce \2915\ / Thanne dame Prudence whan she say the goode wyl of hir housbonde she delibered and took auys in hir#self thynkynge how she myghte brynge this nede vn#to a good conclusioun and to a good ende / And whan she saugh hir tyme she sente for thise aduersaries to come vn#to hir in#to a pryuee place / and shewed wisely vn#to hem th grete goodes that comen of pees / and the grete harmes and perils that been in werre \2920\ / and seyde to he in a goodly manere how that hem oughten haue greet re- pentaunce / of the iniurie and wrong that they hadden doon to Melibe hir lord and to hire and to hir doghter / And whan they herden the goodliche wordes of dame Pru dence / they weren so surprised and rauysshed and had den so greet ioye of hire that wonder was to telle / lady quod they ye han shewed vn#to vs the blessynge of swetnesse after the sawe of Dauid the prophete \2925\ / for the reconsilynge which we been nat worthy to haue in no manere / but we oghten requeren it with greet con- tricioun and humylitee / ye of youre grete goodnesse haue presented vn#to vs / Now se we wel that the science and the konnynge of Salomon is ful trewe / for he seith that swete wordes multiplien and encressen freendes an maken shrewes to be debonaire and meke \2930\ / Certes quod they we putten oure dede and al oure matere and cause al hoolly in youre goode wyl / and been redy to obeye to 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 vn#to youre grete goodnesse to fulfille in dede youre goodliche wordes / for we consideren and knowe- lichen that we han offended and greued my lord Melibe out of mesure \2935\ / 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 par auenture he hath swich heuynesse and swich wrathe to vsward by cause of oure offense / that he wole enioyne vs swich a peyne as we mowe nat bere ne sustene / and therfore noble lady we biseke to youre wommanly pitee \2940\ / to taken swich auysement in thi nede that we ne oure freendes be nat desherited ne de- stroyed thurgh oure folie / Certes quod Prudence it is an hard thyng and right perilous / that a man putte hym al outrely in the arbi- tracioun and iuggement and in the myght and power of hise enemys / For Salomon seith Leeueth me and yeueth credence to that I shal seyn I seye quod he ye peple folk and gouernours of holy chirche / to thy sone to thy wyf to thy freend ne to thy brother \2945\ / ne yeue thow neuere myght ne maistrie of thy body whil thow lyu est / Now sithen he defendeth that man sholde nat yeue to his brother ne to his freend the myght of his body / by a strenger resoun he defendeth and forbedeth a man to yeue hym#self to his enemy / And nathelees I conseill yow that ye mystruste nat my lord / for I woot wel and knowe verraily that he is debonaire and meke large cur- teys \2950\ / and no thyng desirous ne coueitous of goo ne richesse / for ther nys no thyng in this world that he desireth saue oonly worship and honour / Forther# moore I knowe wel and am right seur that he shal no#thyng do in this nede with#outen my conseil / and I shal so werken in this cause that by the grace of oure lord god ye shul be reconsiled vn#to vs / Thanne seyden they with o voys Worshipful lady we put- ten vs and oure goodes al fully in youre wyl and dispo- sicioun \2955\ / and been redy to come what day that i like vn#to youre noblesse to lymyte vs or assigne vs / for to maken oure obligacioun and boond as strong as it liketh vn#to youre goodnesse / that we more 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 pryuely / and she retourned t hir lord Melibe and tolde hym how she fand hise aduer saries ful repentant \2960\ / knowelechynge ful lowel hir synnes and trespas and how they weren redy to suf fren al peyne requerynge and preiynge 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 knowelecheth and repenteth hym axinge indul- gence / For Senek seith There is the remissioun and for yifnesse where as the confessioun is \2965\ / for con- fessioun is neighebore to innocence / And he seith i another place He is worthy to haue remyssyoun and for yifnesse that hath shame of his synne and knowelecheth it And therfore I assente and conferme me to haue pees / but it is good that we do it nat with#outen th+assent an wil of oure freendes / Thanne was Prudence right glad and ioyeful and seyde / Certes sire quod she ye han wel and goodly answerd \2970\ for right as by the conseil assent and help of youre frendes ye han ben stired to venge yow and make werre / right so with#outen hire conseil shul ye nat acorde yow ne haue pees with youre aduersaries / For the lawe seith Ther nys no thyng so good by wey of kynde as a thyng to be vnbounde by hym that it was ybounde And thanne dame Prudence with#outen delay or tariynge sente anon hir messages for hir kyn and for hire olde freendes whiche that were trewe and wise / and tolde hem by ordre in the presence of Melibe al this matere as it is aboue expressed and declared \2975\ / and preyde hem that they wolde yeuen hire auys and conseil what best were to do in this nede / And whan Melibees freendes hadde taken hire auys and deliberacioun of the forseyde matere / and hadden ex- amyned it by greet bisynesse and greet diligence / the yaue ful conseil for to haue pees and reste / and tha Melibe sholde receyue with good herte hise aduersaries to foryifnesse and mercy \2980\ And whanne dame Prudence hadde herd the assent of hir lord Melibe and the conseil of his freendes / acorde with hire wyl and hire entencioun / she was wonderl glad in hire herte and seyde / Ther is an old prouerbe quod she seith that the goodnesse that thow maist do this day do it / and abide nat ne delaye it nat til to- morwe \2985\ / And therfore I conseille that ye sende youre messages swiche as been discrete and wise / vn#t youre aduersaries tellynge hem on youre bihalue / that if they wol trete of pees and of acord / that they shape hem with#outen delay or tariynge to come vn#to vs / which thyng parfourned was in dede \2990\ / And whanne thise trespassours and repentynge folk of hire folies that is to seyn the aduersaries of Melibe / hadden herd what thise messagers seyden vn#to hem / the weren right glad and ioyeful and answereden ful mekel and benygnely / yeldynge graces and thankynges to hire lord Melibe and to al his compaignye / and shopen he with#outen delay to go with the messagers and obeye t the comandement of hire lord Melibe \2995\ / And righ anon they tooken hire wey to the court of Melibe / and tooken with hem somme of hir trewe freendes to make feith for hem and for to been hire 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 / causelees and with#outen skile and resoun \3000\ / han doon grete iniuries and wronges to me and to my wyf Prudence and to my doghter also / for ye han entred in to myn hous by violence / and haue doon swich outrage that alle men knowen wel that ye han deserued the deeth / and therfore wol I knowe and wit of yow / wheither ye wol putte the punysshynge and the chastisynge and the vengeance of this outrage in the wil of me and of my wyf dame Prudence or ye wol nat \3005\ / Thanne the wiseste of hem thre answerde for hem alle and seyde / Sire quod he we knowen wel that we been vn worthy to comen vn#to the court of so greet a lord and so worthy as ye been / for we han so gretly mystaken v and han offended and agilt in swich a wise ageyn youre heye lordshipe / that trewely we han deserued the deeth / but yet for the grete goodnesse and debonairetee that a the world witnesseth of youre persone \3010\ / we sub- mitten vs to the excellence and benygnytee of youre gra- cious lordshipe / and ben redy to obeye to alle youre comandementz / bisekynge yow that of youre merciabl pitee ye wol considere oure grete repentaunce and lowe submissioun / and graunten vs foryeuenesse of oure out- rageous trespas and offense / for wel we knowen that youre liberal grace and mercy strecchen ferther in#to goodnesse than doon oure outrageouse giltes and trespas in#to wikkednesse \3015\ / al be it that cursedly and dampnablely we han agilt ageyn youre hey lordshipe Thanne Melibe took hem vp fro the ground ful benygne- ly / and receyued hir obligaciouns and hir bondes by hir othes vp#on hir plegges and borwes / and assigned hem a certeyn day to retourne vn#to his court / for to accepte and receyue the sentence and iugement that Melibe wolde comande to be doon on hem by the causes aforeseyd \3020\ whiche thynges ordeyned euery man retourned to his hous And whan that dame Prudence saugh hir tyme she feyned and axed hir lord Melibe / what vengeance he thoughte to taken of hise aduersaries / To which Melibe answerde and seyde Certes quod he I thynke and purpose me fully / to disherite hem of al that euere they han and for to putte hem in exil for euere \3025\ / Certes quod dame Prudence this were a cruel sentence and muchel ageyn resoun / for ye been riche ynow and ha no nede of oother mennes good / and ye myghten lightly in this wise gete yow a coueitous name / which is a vi- cious thyng and oghte been eschewed of euery good man for after the sawe of the word of th+apostle Coueitis is roote of alle harmes \3030\ / And ther#fore it were bettre for yow to lese so muchel good of youre owene than for to take of hire good in this manere / for bet- tre it is to lese good with worshipe than it is to wynne good with vileynye and shame / and euery man oghte t do his diligence and his bisynesse to geten hym a good name / and yet shal he nat oonly bisie hym in kepynge of his goode name / but he shal also enforcen hym alwey to do som#thyng by which he may renouelle his goode name \3035\ / For it is writen that the olde goode loo or good name of a man is soone goon and passed whan it is nat newed ne renouelled / And as touchynge that ye seyn ye wol exile youre ad- uersaries / that thynketh me muchel agayn resoun and out of mesure / considered the power that they han yeuen yow vp#on hem#self / And it is writen that he is worthy to lesen his priuilege that mysvseth the myght and the power that is yeuen hym \3040\ / 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 par auenture / and thanne were it likly to retourne to the werre as it was biforn / And ther#fore if ye wole that men do yow obeisance y moste deme moore curteisly \3045\ / 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 ther#fore I prey yow that i this necessitee and in this nede ye caste yow to ouer- come youre herte / For Senek seith that he that ouer- cometh his herte ouercometh twies / And Tullius seit Ther is no thyng so commendable in a greet lord \3050\ as whan he is debonaire and meke and appeiseth hym lightly / And I prey yow that ye wol forbere now to do ven geance / in swich a manere that youre good name may be kept and conserued / and that men may haue cause and matere to preise yow of pitee and of mercy / and that ye haue no cause to repente yow of thyng that ye doon \3055\ / For Senek seith He ouercometh in an yuel manere that repenteth hym of his victorie / Wherfore I prey yo lat mercy be in youre herte / to th+effect and entent that god almyghty haue mercy on yow in his laste iuge- ment / For seint Iame seith in his epistle Iugement with# oute mercy shal be doon to hym that hath no mercy of another wight / Whanne Melibe hadde herd the grete skiles and resons of dame Prudence and hir wise informaciouns and tech ynges \3060\ / 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 good- nesse that hym sente a wyf of so greet discrecioun / And whan the day came that hise aduersaries sholde appieren in his presence / he spak to hem ful goodly and seyde in this wise \3065\ / Al be it so that of your pride and hie presumpcioun and folie and of youre nec ligence and vnkonnynge / ye haue mysborn yow and tres- pased vn#to me / yet for as muche as I se and biholde youre grete humylitee / and that ye been sory and re pentant of youre giltes / it constreyneth me to do yow grace and mercy \3070\ / Wherfore I receyue yow to my grace / and foryeue yow outrely alle the offenses iniur- ies and wronges that ye haue doon ageyn me and myne / to this effect and to this ende that god of his endelees mercy / wole at the tyme of oure dyynge foryeuen vs oure giltes that we han trespassed to hym in this wrecched world / For doutelees if we be sory and repentant of the synnes and giltes whiche we han trespased in the sight of oure lord god \3075\ / he is so free and so mercia- ble / that he wole foryeuen vs oure giltes / and bryng- en vs to the blisse that neuere hath ende Amen <%the murye wordes of the hoost to the monk%> Whan ended was my tale of Melibee 3080 And of Prudence and hire benygnytee Oure hoost seyde as I am feithful man And by that precious =corpus Madrian\ I hadde leuere than a barel ale That Goodelief my wyf hadde herd this tale 3085 For she nys no#thyng of swich pacience As was this Melibeus wyf Prudence By goddes bones whan I bete my knaues She bryngeth me the grete clobbed staues And crieth slee the dogges euerichon 3090 And breke hem bothe bak and euery bon And if that any neighebore of myne Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne Or be so hardy to hire to trespace Whan she cometh hoom she raumpeth in my face 3095 And crieth false coward wrek thy wyf 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 I was shape 3100 To wedden a milksop or a coward ape That wol been ouerlad with euery wight Thow darst nat stonden by thy wyues right This is my lif but if that I wol fighte And out at dore anon I moot me dighte 3105 Or elles I am but lost but if that I Be lyk a wilde leoun fool$hardy 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 3110 Al be it that I dar nat hire withstonde For she is big in armes by my feith That shal he fynde that hire mysdooth or seith But lat vs passe awey fro this matere My lord the monk quod he be myrie of cheere 3115 For ye shul telle a tale trewely Lo Rouchestre stant heer faste by Ryd 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 3120 Or daun Thomas or elles daun Albon Of what hous be ye by youre fader kyn 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 3125 Vp#on my feith thow art som officer 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 3130 But a gouernour wily and wys And ther#with#al of brawnes and of bones A wel farynge persone for the nones I prey to god yeue hym confusioun That first thee broghte vn#to religioun 3135 Thow woldest han been a tredefoul aright Haddestow as greet a leue as thow hast myght To parfourne al thy lust in engendrure Thow haddest bigeten many a creature Allas why werestow so wyd a cope 3140 God yeue me sorwe but and I were a pope Nat oonly thow but euery myghty man Thogh he were shore ful hye vp#on his pan Sholde haue a wyf for al the world is lorn Religioun hath take vp al the corn 3145 Of tredyng and we borel men been shrympes 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 3150 Religious folk for they mowe bettre paye Of Venus paiementz than may we God woot no lussheburghes payen ye But be nat wrooth my lord thogh that I pleye Ful ofte in game a sooth I haue herd seye 3155 This worthy monk took al in pacience And seyde I wol doon al my diligence As fer as sowneth in#to honestee To telle yow a tale or two or three And if yow list to herkne hiderward 3160 I wol yow seyn the lyf of seint Edward Or ellis first tragedies wol I telle Of whiche I haue an hundred in my celle Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storie As olde bokes maken vs memorie 3165 Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee And is yfallen out of heigh degree In#to myserie and endeth wrecchedly And they been versified comunly Of sixe feet whiche men clepen =exametron\ 3170 In prose eek been endited many oon And eek in metre in many a sondry wise Lo this declaryng oghte ynogh suffise Now herkneth if yow liketh for to heere But first I yow biseke in this matere 3175 Though I by ordre telle nat thise thynges 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 to my remembraunce 3180 Haue me excused of myn ignoraunce <=Explicit\> <%heere bigynneth the monkes tale%> <%de casibus virorum illustrium%> I wol biwaille in manere of tragedie The harm of hem that stoode in heigh degree And fillen so that ther nas no remedie To brynge hem out of hire aduersitee 3185 For certeyn whan that fortune list to flee Ther may no man the cours of hire withholde Lat no man truste on blynd prosperitee Be war by thise ensamples trewe and olde <=Lucifer\> At Lucifer thogh he an aungel were 3190 And nat a man at hym I wol bigynne For thogh fortune may noon aungel dere From heigh degree yet fel he for his synne Doun in#to helle where as he yet is inne O Lucifer brightest of aungels alle 3195 Now artow Sathanas that mayst nat twynne Out of miserie in which thou art falle <=Adam\> Lo Adam in the feeld of Damyssene With goddes owene fynger wroght was he And nat bigeten of mannes sperme vnclene 3200 And welte al paradys sauyng o tree Hadde neuere worldly man so heigh degree As Adam til he for mysgouernaunce Was dryue out of his hye prosperitee To labour and to helle and to meschaunce <=Sampson\> 3205 Lo Sampson which that was anunciat By the aungel longe er his natiuitee And was to god almyghty consecrat And stood in noblesse whil he myghte se Was neuere swich another as was he To speke of strengthe and ther with hardynesse 3211 But to hise wyues tolde he his secree Thurgh which he slow hym#self for wrecchednesse Sampson this noble almyghty champioun With#outen wepne saue hise hondes tweye 3215 He slow and al to rente 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 Vn#to his foos his conseil gan biwreye 3220 And hym forsook and took another newe Thre hundred foxes took Sampson for ire And alle hir tayles he togydre bond And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire For he on euery tayl hadde knyt a brond 3225 And they brende alle the cornes in that lond And alle hire olyueris and vynes eke A thousand men he slow eek with his hond And hadde no wepne but an asses cheke Whan they were slayn so thursted hym that he 3230 Was wel ny lorn for which he gan to preye That god wolde on his peyne haue som pitee And sende hym drynke or elles moste he deye And of this asses cheke that was dreye Out of a wang tooth sprang anon a welle 3235 Of which he drank ynogh shortly to seye Thus heelp hym god as =Iudicum\ kan telle By verray force at Gazan on a nyght Maugree Philistiens of that citee The gates of the toun he hath vp plight 3240 And on his bak ycaried hem hath he 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 In al this world ne hadde been thy peere 3245 This Sampsoun neuere ciser drank ne wyn Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne shere By precept of the messager dyuyn For alle hise strengthes in hise heres were And fully twenty wynter yeer by yere 3250 He hadde of Israel the gouernaunce But soone shal he wepe many a teere For wommen shul hym bryngen to meschaunce Vn#to his lemman Dalida he tolde That in his heeris al his strengthe lay 3255 And falsly to his foomen she hym solde And slepynge in hir barm vp#on a day She made to clippe or shere his heer away And made his foomen al this craft espien And whan that they hym fond in this array 3260 They bounde hym faste and putten out his eyen But er his heer was clipped or yshaue Ther was no bond with which men myghte hym bynde But now is he in prisoun in a caue Where as they made hym at the querne grynde 3265 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 The ende of this caytif was as I shal seye 3270 His foomen made a feste vp#on a day And made hym as hire fool bifore hem pleye And this was in a temple of greet array But atte laste he made a foul affray For he two pilers shook and made hem falle 3275 And doun fil temple and al and there it lay And slow hym#self and eek his foomen alle This is to seyn the prynces euerychon And eek thre thousand bodies were ther slayn With fallyng of the grete temple of stoon 3280 Of Sampson now wol I namoore sayn 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 If that it touche hir lymes or hir lyues <=Hercules\> 3285 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 He of Centauros leyde the boost adoun 3290 He Arpies slow the cruel briddes felle He golden apples rafte of the dragoun He drow out Cerberus the hound of helle He slow the cruel tyrant Busirus And made his hors to frete hym flessh and bon 3295 He slow the verray 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 He slow the grisly boor and that anoon 3300 And bar the heuene on his nekke longe Was neuere wight sith that this world bigan That slow so manye monstres as dide he Thurgh#out this wide world his name ran What for his strengthe and for his heigh bountee 3305 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 A lemman hadde this noble champioun 3310 That highte Dianira fressh as May And as thise clerkes maken mencioun She hath hym sent a sherte fressh and gay Allas this sherte allas and weylaway Enuenymed was so subtilly with alle 3315 That er that he hadde wered it half a day It made his flessh al from hise bones falle But nathelees somme clerkes hire excusen By oon that highte Nessus that it maked Be as be may I wol hire noght accusen 3320 But on his bak this sherte he wered al naked Til that his flessh was for the venym blaked And whan he say noon oother remedie In hote coles he hath hym#seluen raked For with no venym deigned hym to dye 3325 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 Ful wys is he that kan hym seluen knowe 3330 Beth war for whan that fortune list to glose Thanne waiteth she hir man to ouerthrowe By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose <=Nabugodonosor\> The myghty trone the precious tresor The glorious ceptre and roial maiestee 3335 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 At Babiloigne was his souereyn see 3340 In which his glorie and his delit he hadde The faireste children of the blood roial Of Israel he leet do gelde anon And maked ech of hem to been his thral Amonges othere Danyel was oon 3345 That was the wiseste child of euerychoon For he the dremes of the kyng expowned Wher as in Chaldeye clerk ne was ther noon That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned This proude kyng leet make a statue of gold 3350 Sixty cubites long and seuene in brede To which ymage bothe yonge and old Comanded he to loute and haue in drede Or in a fourneys ful of flambes rede He shal be brend that wolde noght obeye 3355 But neuere wolde assente to that dede Danyel ne hise yonge felawes tweye This kyng of kynges proud was and elat He wende that god that sit in magestee Ne myghte hym nat bireue of his estat 3360 But sodeynly he loste his dignytee And lyk a beest hym semed for to be And eet hey as an oxe and lay ther#oute In reyn with wilde beestes walked he Til certeyn tyme was ycome aboute 3365 And lyk an egles fetheres wax hise heres Hise nayles lyk a briddes clawes weere Til god relessed hym a certeyn yeres And yaf hym wit and thanne with many a teere He thanked god and euere his lyf in feere 3370 Was he to doon amys or moore trespace And til that tyme he leyd was on his beere He knew that god was ful of myght and grace <=Balthasar\> His sone which that highte Balthasar That heeld the regne after his fader day 3375 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 But fortune caste hym doun and ther he lay 3380 And sodeynly his regne gan dyuyde A feste he made vn#to hise lordes alle Vp#on a tyme and made hem blithe be And thanne hise officers gan he calle Gooth bryngeth forth the vessels quod he 3385 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 His wyf hise lordes and hise concubynes 3390 Ay dronken whil hire appetites laste 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 For feere of which he quook and siked soore 3395 This hand that Balthasar so soore agaste Wroot =Mane techel phares\ and namoore In al that land magicien was noon That koude expounde what this lettre mente But Danyel expowned it anoon 3400 And seyde kyng god to thy fader sente Glorie and honour regne tresor rente And he was proud and no thyng god ne dradde And therfore god greet wreche vp#on hym sente And hym birefte the regne that he hadde 3405 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 That god of heuene hath domynacioun 3410 Ouer euery regne and euery creature And thanne hadde god of hym compassioun And hym restored his regne and his figure Eek thow that art his sone art proud also And knowest alle thise thynges verraily 3415 And art rebel to god and art his fo Thow drank eek of his vessels boldely Thy wyf eke and thy wenches synfully Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynys And heriest false goddes cursedly 3420 Therfore to thee yshapen ful greet pyne is 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 Dyuyded is thy regne and it shal be 3425 To Medes and to Perses yeuen quod he And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe And Darius occupieth his degree Though he ther#to hadde neither right ne lawe Lordynges ensample heer by may ye take 3430 How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse For whan fortune wol a man forsake She bereth awey his regne and his richesse And eke hise freendes bothe moore and lesse For what man that hath freendes thurgh fortune 3435 Mishap wol make hem enemys I gesse This prouerbe is ful sooth and ful commune <=Cenobia\> Cenobia of Palymerie queene As writen Persiens of hir noblesse So worthy was in armes and so keene 3440 That no wight passed hire in hardynesse Ne in lynage ne in oother gentilesse Of kynges blood of Perce is she descended I sey nat that she hadde moost fairnesse But of hir shap she myghte nat been amended 3445 From hire 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 She was so swift that she anoon hem hente 3450 And whan that she was elder she wolde kille Leons leopardes and beres al to rente And in hir armes welde hem at hir wille She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke And rennen in the montaynes al the nyght 3455 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 no thyng in hir armes stonde She kepte hir maydenhede from euery wight 3460 To no man deigned hire for to be bonde But atte laste hir freendes han hire maryed To Onedake a prynce of that contree Al were it so that she hem longe taryed And ye shal vnderstande how that he 3465 Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she But nathelees whan they were knyt in feere They lyued in ioye and in felicitee For ech of hem hadde oother lief and deere Saue o thyng that she wolde neuere assente 3470 By no wey that he sholde by hire lye But ones for it was hir pleyn entente To haue a child the world to multiplye And also soone as that she myghte espye 3474 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 Namoore sholde he pleyen thilke game Til fully fourty dayes weren past 3480 Thanne wolde she ones suffre hym do the same Al were this Onedake wilde or tame He gat namoore of hire for thus she seyde It was to wyues lecherie and shame In oother cas if that men with hem pleyde 3485 Two sones by this Onedake hadde she The whiche she kepte in vertu and lettrure But now vn#to oure tale turne we I seye so worshipful a creature And wys ther#with and large with mesure 3490 So penyble in the werre and curteis eke Ne moore labour myghte in werre endure Was noon thogh al this world men sholde seke Hir riche array ne myghte nat be told As wel in vessel as in hire clothyng 3495 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 To lerne bookes was al hir likyng 3500 How she in vertu myghte hir lyf despende And shortly of this storie for to trete So doughty was hire housbonde and eek she That they conquered manye regnes grete In th+orient with many a fair citee 3505 Appertenant vn#to the magestee Of Rome and with strong hond held hem ful faste Ne neuere myghte hir foomen doon hem flee Ay whil that Onedakes dayes laste Hir batailles who#so list hem for to rede 3510 Agayn Sapor the kyng and othere mo And how that al this proces fil in dede Why she conquered and what title ther#to And after of hire meschief and hire wo How that she was biseged and ytake 3515 Lat hym vn#to my maister Petrak go That writ ynow of this I vndertake Whan Onedake was deed she myghtily The regnes heeld and with hire propre hond Agayns hir foos she faught so cruelly 3520 That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond That he nas glad if he that grace fond That she ne wolde vp#on his lond werreye With hire they made alliance by bond To been in pees and lete hire ryde and pleye 3525 The emperour of Rome Claudius Ne hym biforn the Romayn Galien Ne dorsten neuere been so corageus Ne noon Ermyn ne noon Egipcien 3529 Ne Surryen ne noon Arabien With#inne the feelde that dorste with hire fighte Lest that she wolde hem with hir handes slen Or with hire meynee putten hem to flighte In kynges habit wente hire sones two As heires of hir fadres regnes alle 3535 And Hermanno and Thymalao Hir names were as Persiens hem calle But ay fortune hath in hire hony galle This myghty queene may no while endure Fortune out of hir regne made hire falle 3540 To wrecchednesse and to mysauenture Aurelian whan that the gouernaunce Of Rome cam in#to hise handes tweye He shoop vp#on this queene to doon vengeance And with his legions he took his weye 3545 Toward Cenobie and shortly for to seye He made hire flee and atte laste hire hente And fettred hire and eek hire children tweye And wan the land and hoom to Rome he wente 3549 Amonges othere thynges that he wan Hir chaar that was with gold wroght and perree This grete Romayn this Aurelian Hath with hym lad for that men sholde it see Biforn his triumphe walketh she With gilte cheynes on hire nekke hangynge 3555 Corowned was she as after hire degree And ful of perree charged hir clothynge Allas fortune she that whilom was Dredeful to kynges and to emperoures Now gaureth al the peple on hire allas 3560 And she that helmed was in starke stoures And wan by force townes strong and toures Shal on hire heed now were a vitremyte And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures Shal bere a distaf hire cost for to quyte <=De Petro Rege Ispannie\> 3565 O noble o worthy Petro glorie of Spayne 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 3570 Thow were bitraysed and lad vn#to his tente Where 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 ther#inne Caught with the lymerod coloured as the glede 3575 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 Genyloun Olyuer corrupt for mede 3580 Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike <=De Petro Rege de Cipro\> 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 3585 And for no thyng 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 <=De Barnabo de Lumbardia\> Of Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte 3590 God of delit and scourge of Lumbardye 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 3595 With#inne his prisoun made thee to dye But why ne how noot I that thow were slawe <=De Hugelino Comite de Pize\> Of the erl Hugelyn of Pize the langour Ther may no tonge telle for pitee But litel out of Pize stant a tour 3600 In which tour in prisoun put was he 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 3605 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 vp#on hym rise And putten hym to prisoun in swich wise 3610 As ye han herd and mete and drynke he hadde So smal that wel vnnethe it may suffise And ther#with#al it was ful poure and badde And on a day bifel that in that hour Whan that his mete wont was to be broght 3615 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 3620 Ther#with the teeris fillen from hise eyen His yonge sone that thre yeer was of age Vn#to hym seyde fader why do ye wepe Whanne wol the gayler bryngen oure potage Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe3625 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 no thyng but breed that me were leuere Thus day by day this child bigan to crye 3630 Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay 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 3635 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 3640 But rather ete the flessh vp#on vs two Oure flessh thow yaf vs taak oure flessh vs fro And ete ynow right thus they to hym seyde And after that with#inne a day or two They leyde hem in his lappe adoun and deyde 3645 Hym#self despeired eek for hunger starf Thus ended is this myghty Erl of Pize From heigh estat fortune awey hym carf Of this tragedie it oghte ynogh suffise Who#so wole heere it in a lenger wise 3650 Redeth the grete poete of Ytaille That highte Dant for he kan al deuyse Fro point to point nat o word wol he faille <=Nero\> Al thogh that Nero were as vicius As any feend that lith ful lowe adoun 3655 Yet he as telleth vs Swetonius This wide world hadde in subieccioun Bothe Est and West North and Septemtrioun Of rubies saphires and of perles white Were alle hise clothes brouded vp and doun 3660 For he in gemmes greetly gan delite Moore delicat moore pompous of array Moore proud was neuere emperour than he That ilke clooth that he hadde wered o day After that tyme he nolde it neuere see 3665 Nettes of gold$threed hadde he greet plentee To fisshe in Tybre whan hym liste pleye Hise lustes were al lawe in his decree For fortune as his freend hym wolde obeye He Rome brende for his delicacie 3670 The senatours he slow vp on a day To heere how that men wolde wepe and crye And slow his brother and by his suster lay His moder made he in pitous array For he hire wombe slitte to biholde 3675 Where he conceyued was so weilaway That he so litel of his moder tolde 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 3680 Be domesman of hire dede beautee The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he And drank anoon noon oother wo he made Whan myght is ioyned vn#to crueltee Allas to depe wol the venym wade 3685 In youthe a maister hadde this emperour To teche hym lettrure and curteisye For of moralitee he was the flour As in his tyme but if bookes lye And whil this maister hadde of hym maistrye 3690 He maked hym so konnyng and so souple That longe tyme it was er tirannye Or any vice dorste in hym vncouple This Seneca of which that I deuyse\ By cause Nero hadde of hym swich drede 3695 For he fro vices wolde hym ay chastise Discretly as by word and nat by dede Sire wolde he seyn an emperour moot nede Be vertuous and hate tirannye For which he in a bath made hym to blede 3700 On bothe hise armes til he moste dye This Nero hadde eek of acustumance In youthe agayns his maister for to rise Which afterward hym thoughte a greet greuance Ther#fore he made hym dyen in this wise 3705 But nathelees this Seneca the wise Chees in a bath to dye in this manere Rather than han another tormentise And thus hath Nero slayn his maister deere Now fil it so that fortune liste no lenger 3710 The hye pride of Nero to cherice For thogh that he was strong yet was she strenger 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 3715 By god out of his sete I wol hym trice Whan he leest weneth sonnest shal he falle The peple roos vp#on hym on a nyght For his defaute and whan he it espied Out of his dores anon he hath hym dight 3720 Allone and there he wende han been allied He knokked faste and ay the moore he cried The faster shette they the dores alle Tho wiste he wel he hadde hym#self mysgyed And wente his wey no lenger dorste he calle 3725 The peple cried and rombled vp and doun That with hise erys herde he how they seyde Where is this false tiraunt this Neroun For fere almoost out of his wit he breyde And to hise goddes pitously he preyde 3730 For socour but it myghte noght bityde For drede of this hym thoughte that he deyde And ran in#to a gardyn hym to hyde And in this gardyn foond he cherles tweye That seten by a fyr greet and reed 3735 And to thise cherles two he gan to preye To sleen hym and to girden of his heed That to his body whan that he were deed Were no despit ydoon for his defame Hym#self he slow he koude no bettre reed 3740 Of which fortune lough and hadde a game <=De Oloferno\> Was neuere capitayn vnder a kyng That regnes mo putte in subieccioun Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thyng As in his tyme ne gretter of renoun 3745 Ne moore pompous in heigh presumpcioun Than Oloferne which fortune ay kiste 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 3750 For lesynge of richesse or libertee But made euery man reneye his lawe Nabugodonosor was god seyde he Noon oother god sholde adoured be Agayns his heste no wight dorste trespace 3755 Saue in Bethulia a strong citee Where Eliachym a preest was of that place But tak kepe of the deeth of Oloferne Amydde his hoost he dronke lay a#nyght With#inne his tente large as is a berne 3760 And yet for al his pompe and al his myght Iudith a womman as he lay vpright Slepynge his heed of smoot and from his tente Ful pryuely she stal from euery wight And with his heed vn#to hir toun she wente <=De Rege Anthiocho Illustri\> 3765 What nedeth it of kyng Anthiochus To telle his hye roial magestee His hye pride hise werkes venymus For swich another was ther noon as he Rede which that he was in Machabee 3770 And rede the proude wordes that he seyde And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee And in an hill how wrecchedly he deyde Fortune hym hadde enhaunced so in pride That verraily he wende he myghte attayne 3775 Vn#to the sterres vp#on euery syde And in a balance weyen ech montayne 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 3780 Wenynge that god ne myghte his pride abate And for that Nichanore and Thymothee With Iewes weren venquysshed myghtily Vn#to the Iewes swich an hate hadde he That he bad greithe his chaar ful hastily 3785 And swoor and seyde ful despitously Vn#to Ierusalem he wolde eftsoone 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 3790 With invisible wounde ay incurable That in hise guttes carf it so and boot That hise peynes weren inportable And certeynly the wreche was resonable For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne 3795 But from his purpos cursed and dampnable For al his smert he wolde hym nat restreyne But bad anon apparaillen his hoost\ And sodeynly er he was of it war God daunted al his pride and al his boost 3800 For he so soore fil out of his char That it hise lymes and his skyn totar So that he neither myghte go ne ryde But in a chayer men aboute hym bar Al forbrused bothe bak and syde 3805 The wreche of god hym smoot so cruelly That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte And ther#with#al he stank so horribly That noon of al his meynee that hym kepte Wheither so he wook or ellis slepte 3810 Ne myghte noght the stynk of hym endure In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte And knew god lord of euery creature To al his hoost and to hym#self also Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his careyne 3815 No man ne myghte hym bere to ne fro And in this stynk and this horrible peyne He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne Thus hath this robbour and this homycide That many a man made to wepe and pleyne 3820 Swich gerdon as bilongeth vn#to pride <=De Alexandro\> The storie of Alisaundre is so commune That euery wight that hath discrecioun Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune This wide world as in conclusioun 3825 He wan by strengthe or for his hye renoun They were glad for pees vn#to hym sende The pryde of man and beest he leyde adoun Where#so he cam vn#to the worldes ende Comparisoun myghte neuere yet ben maked 3830 Bitwixe hym and another conquerour For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked He was of knyghthod and of fredom flour Fortune hym made the heir of hire honour Saue wyn and wommen no#thyng myghte aswage 3835 His hye entente in armes and labour So was he ful of leonyn corage What prys were it to hym thogh I yow tolde Of Darius and an hundred thousand mo Of kynges prynces dukes erles bolde 3840 Whiche he conquered and broghte hem in#to wo I seye as fer as man may ride or go The world was his what sholde I moore deuyse For thogh I write or tolde yow euere mo Of his knyghthode it myghte nat suffise 3845 Twelf yeer he regned as seith Machabee Philippes sone of Macidoyne he was That first was kyng in Grece the contree O worthy gentil Alisandre allas That euere sholde fallen swich a cas 3850 Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thow weere Thy =sys\ fortune hath turned in to =aas\ And for thee ne weep she neuere a teere Who shal me yeue teeris to compleyne The deeth of gentilesse and of franchise 3855 That al the world welded in his demeyne And yet hym thoughte it myghte nat suffise So ful was his corage of heigh emprise Allas who shal me helpe to endite False fortune and poyson to despise 3860 The whiche two of al this wo I wyte <=De Iulio Cesare\> By wisdom manhede and by greet labour From humble bed to roial magestee Vp roos he Iulius the conquerour That wan al th+occident by land and see 3865 By strengthe of hond or elles by tretee And vn+to Rome made hem tributarie And sith of Rome the emperour was he Til that fortune weex his aduersarie O myghty Cesar that in Thessalie 3870 Agayn Pompeus fader thyn in lawe That of th+orient hadde al the chiualrie As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe Thow thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe Saue fewe folk that with Pompeus fledde 3875 Thurgh which thow puttest al th+orient in awe Thanke fortune that so wel thee spedde But now a litel while I wol biwaille This Pompeus this noble gouernour Of Rome which that fleigh at this bataille 3880 I seye oon of hise men a fals traitour His heed of smoot to wynnen hym fauour Of Iulius and hym the heed he broghte Allas Pompeie of th+orient conquerour That fortune vn#to swich a fyn thee broghte 3885 To Rome agayn repaireth Iulius With his triumphe lauriat ful hye But on a tyme Brutus Cassius That euere hadde of his hye estat enuye Ful pryuely hath maad conspiracie 3890 Agayns this Iulius in subtil wise And caste the place in which he sholde dye With boydekyns as I shal yow deuyse This Iulius to the Capitolie wente Vp#on a day as he was wont to goon 3895 And in the Capitolie anon hym hente This false Brutus and hise othere foon And stiked hym with boydekyns anoon With many a wounde and thus they lete hym lye But neuere gronte he at no strook but oon 3900 Or elles at two but if his storie lye So manly was this Iulius of herte And so wel louede estatly honestee That thogh hise deedly woundes so soore smerte His mantel ouer his hipes caste he 3905 For no man sholde seen his pryuetee And as he lay dyyng in a traunce And wiste verraily that deed was he Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce Lucan to thee this storie I recomende 3910 And to Swetoun and to Valerius also That of this storie writen word and ende How that to thise grete conquerours two Fortune was first freend and sitthe foo No man ne truste vp#on hire fauour longe 3915 But haue hire in awayt for euere mo Witnesse on alle thise conquerours stronge <=Cresus\> This riche Cresus whilom kyng of Lyde Of which Cresus Cirus soore hym dradde Yet was he caught amyddes al his pryde 3920 And to be brent men to the fyr hym ladde But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde 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 3925 Whanne he escaped was he kan nat stente For to bigynne a newe werre agayn 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 3930 And eek a sweuene vp#on a nyght he mette Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn That in vengeance he al his herte sette Vp#on a tree he was as that hym thoughte Ther Iuppiter hym wessh bothe bak and syde 3935 And Phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte To drye hym with and ther#fore wax his pryde And to his doghter that stood hym bisyde Which that he knew in heigh sentence habounde He bad hire telle hym what it signyfide 3940 And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde The tree quod she the galwes is to mene And Iuppiter bitokneth snow and reyn And Phebus with his towaille so clene Tho been the sonnes stremes for to seyn 3945 Thow shalt an hanged be fader certeyn Reyn shal thee wasshe and sonne shal thee drye Thus warned hym ful plat and ful pleyn His doghter which that called was Phanye An hanged was Cresus the proude kyng 3950 His roial trone myghte hym nat auaille Tragedies noon oother manere thyng 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 3956 And couere hire brighte face with a clowde <=Explicit Tragedia\> <%the prologe of the nonnes preestes tale%> Ho quod the knyght good sire namoore of this That ye han seyd is right ynow ywis And muchel moore for litel heuynesse 3960 Is right ynow to muche folk I gesse I seye for me it is a greet disese Wher as men han been in greet welthe and ese To heeren of hir sodeyn fal allas And the contrarie is ioye and greet solas 3965 As whan a man hath been in poure estaat And clymbeth vp and wexeth fortunat And ther abideth in prosperitee Swich thyng is gladsom as it thynketh me And of swich thyng were goodly for to telle 3970 Ye quod oure hoost by seint Poules belle Ye seye right sooth this monk he clappeth loude He spak how fortune couered with a cloude I noot neuere what and also of a tragedie Right now ye herde and pardee no remedie 3975 It is for to biwaille ne compleyne That that is doon and als it is a peyne As ye han seyd to heere of heuynesse Sire monk namoore of this so god yow blesse Youre tale anoyeth al this compaignye 3980 Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye For ther#inne is ther no desport ne game Wher#fore sire monk daun Piers by youre name I prey yow hertely telle vs som#what elles For sikerly nere clynkyng of youre belles 3985 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 Al#thogh the slough hadde neuere ben so deep Thanne hadde youre tale al be toold in veyn 3990 For certeynly as that thise clerkes seyn Where as a man may haue noon audience Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence And wel I woot the substaunce is in me If any thyng shal wel reported be 3995 Sire sey som#what 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 And seyde vn#to the nonnes preest anon 4000 Com neer thow preest com hider thow sire Iohn Telle vs swich thyng as may oure hertes glade Be blithe though thow ryde vp#on a iade What though thyn hors be bothe foul and lene If he wol serue thee rekke nat a bene 4005 Looke that thyn herte be murye euere mo 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 And thus he seyde vn#to vs euerichon 4010 This sweete preest this goodly man sire Iohn <=Explicit\> <%heere bigynneth the nonnes preestes tale of the cok%> <%and hen chauntecleer and pertelote%> A poure widwe som#del stape in age Was whilom dwellynge in a narwe cotage Biside a groue stondyng in a dale This widwe of which I telle yow my tale 4015 Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf For litel was hire catel and hire rente By housbondrye of swich as god hire sente She foond hire#self and eek hire doghtren two 4020 Thre large sowes hadde she and namo Thre kyn and eek a sheep that highte Malle Ful sooty was hire bour and eek hire halle In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel Of poynaunt sauce hir neded neuer$a$deel 4025 No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte Hir diete was acordant to hir cote Repleccioun ne made hire neuere syk Attempree diete was al hir phisyk And excercise and hertes suffisaunce 4030 The goute lette hire no#thyng for to daunce Napoplexie shente nat hir heed No wyn ne drank she neither whit ne reed Hir bord was serued moost with whit and blak Milk and broun breed in which she foond no lak 4035 Seynd bacoun and som#tyme 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 with#oute In which she hadde a cok heet Chauntecleer 4040 In al the land of crowyng nas his peer His voys was murier than the myrie orgon On massedayes that in the chirche gon Wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge Than is a clokke or any abbey$orlogge 4045 By nature he knew ech ascensioun Of the equinoxial in thilke toun For whan degrees fiftene were ascended Thanne krew he that it myghte nat ben amended His comb was redder than the fyn coral 4050 And batailled as it were a castel$wal 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 And lyk the burned gold was his colour 4055 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 Of whiche the faireste hewed on hire throte 4060 Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote Curteys she was discreet and debonaire And compaignable and bar hir#self so faire Syn thilke day that she was seuen nyght oold That trewely she hath the herte in hoold 4065 Of Chauntecleer loken in euery lith He loued hire so that wel was hym ther#with But swich a ioye was it to here hem synge Whan that the brighte sonne gan to sprynge In swete acord my leef is faren in londe 4070 For thilke tyme as I haue vnderstonde Beestes and briddes koude speke and synge And so bifel that in a dawenynge As Chauntecleer among hise wyues alle Sat on his perche that was in the halle 4075 And next hym sat this faire Pertelote This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his throte As man that in his dreem is drecched soore And whan that Pertelote thus herde hym rore She was agast and seyde herte deere 4080 What eyleth yow to grone in this manere Ye ben a verray slepere fy for shame And he answerde and seyde thus madame I prey yow that ye take it nat agrief By god me mette I was in swich meschief 4085 Right now that yet myn herte is soore afright Now god quod he my sweuene recche aright And kepe my body out of foul prisoun Me mette how that I romed vp and doun With#inne oure yeerd where as I say a beest 4090 Was lyk an hound and wolde han maad areest Vp#on my body and han had me deed His colour was bitwixe yelow and reed And tipped was his tayl and bothe hise erys With blak vnlik the remenaunt of hise herys 4095 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 Allas quod she for by that god aboue 4100 Now han ye lost myn herte and al my loue I kan nat loue a coward by my feith For certes what so any womman seith We alle desiren if it myghte be To han housbondes hardy wise and fre 4105 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 vn#to youre loue That any thyng myghte make yow aferd 4110 Haue ye no mannes herte and han a berd Allas and konne ye ben agast of sweuenys No#thyng god woot but vanytee in sweuene is Sweuenes engendren of replexions And ofte of fume and of complexions 4115 Whan humours ben to habundant in a wight Certes this dreem which ye han met to#nyght Comth of the grete superfluytee Of youre rede colera pardee Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes 4120 Of arwes and of fyr with rede lemes Of rede bestes that they wol hem byte Of contek and of whelpes grete and lyte Right as the humour of malencolie Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie 4125 For fere of blake beres or boles blake Or elles blake deueles wol hem take Of othere humours koude I telle also That werken many a man in sleep ful wo But I wol passe as lightly as I kan 4130 Lo Catoun Which that was so wys a man Seyde he nat thus ne do no fors of dremes Now sire quod she whan we fle fro the bemes For goddes loue as taak som laxatif Vp peril of my soule and of my lif 4135 I conseille yow the beste I wol nat lye That bothe of colere and of malencolye Ye purge yow and for ye shal nat tarye Thogh in this toun is noon apothecarye 4139 I shal my#self to herbes techen yow That shul ben for youre heele and for youre prow And in oure yerd tho herbes shal I fynde The whiche han of hire propretee by kynde To purge yow bynethe and eek aboue Foryet nat this for goddes owene loue 4145 Ye ben ful colerik of complexioun Ware the sonne in his ascensioun Ne fynde yow nat replet of humours hote And if it do I dar wel leye a grote That ye shul haue a feuere terciane 4150 Or an agu that may be youre bane A day or two ye shul haue digestyues Of wormes er ye take youre laxatyues Of lauriol centaure and fumetere Or elles of ellebor that groweth there 4155 Of katapuce or of gaitrys 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 Dredeth no dreem I kan sey yow namoore 4160 Madame quod he graunt mercy of youre loore But nathelees as touchyng daun Catoun That hath of wisdom swich a gret renoun Thogh that he bad no dremes for to drede By god men may in olde bokes rede 4165 Of many a man moore of auctoritee Than euere Catoun was so mote I thee That al the reuers seyn of his sentence And han wel founden by experience That dremes ben significaciouns 4170 As wel of ioye as of tribulaciouns That folk enduren in this lyf present Ther nedeth make of this noon argument The verray preeue sheweth it in dede Oon of the gretteste auctor that men rede 4175 Seith thus that whilom two felawes wente On pilgrymage in a ful good entente And happed so they coomen in a toun Where as ther was swich congregacioun Of peple and eek so streit of herbergage 4180 That they ne founde as muche as a cotage In which they bothe myghte ylogged be Wherfore they mosten of necessitee As for that nyght departen compaignye And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye 4185 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 As was his auenture or his fortune 4190 That vs gouerneth alle as in commune And so bifel that longe er it were day This man mette in his bed ther as he lay How that his felawe gan vp#on hym calle And seyde allas for in an oxes stalle 4195 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 But whan that he was wakned of his sleep 4200 He turned hym and took of this no keep Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanytee Thus twies in his slepyng dremed he And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe Cam as hym thoughte and seyde I am now slawe 4205 Bihoold my blody woundes depe and wyde Arys vp erly in the morwe$tyde And at the west gate of the toun quod he A carte ful of donge ther shaltow se In which my body is hid ful pryuely 4210 Do thilke carte aresten boldely My gold caused my mordre sooth to seyn And tolde hym euery poynt how he was slayn With a ful pitous face pale of hewe And truste wel his dreem he fond ful trewe 4215 For on the morwe as soone as it was day To his felawes in he took the way And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle After his felawe he bigan to calle The hostiler answerde hym anon 4220 And seyde sire youre felawe is agon As soone as day he wente out of the toun This man gan fallen in suspecioun Remembrynge on hise dremes that he mette And forth he gooth no lenger wolde he lette 4225 Vnto the westgate of the toun and fond A dong$carte wente as it were to donge lond That was arrayed in the same wise As ye han herd the dede man deuyse And with an hardy herte he gan to crye 4230 Vengeaunce and iustice of this felonye My felawe mordred is this same nyght And in this carte heere he lyth gapyng vpright I crye out on the mynystres quod he That sholden kepe and reulen this citee 4235 Harrow allas heere lith my felawe slayn What sholde I moore vn#to this tale sayn The peple out sterte and caste the cart to grounde And in the myddel of the dong they founde The dede man that mordred was al newe 4240 O blisful god that art so iust and trewe Lo how that thow biwreyest mordre alway Mordre wol out that se we day by day Mordre is so wlatsom and abhomynable To god that is so iust and resonable 4245 That he ne wol nat suffre it heled be Though it abyde a yeer or two or thre Mordre wol out this is my conclusioun And right anon ministres of that toun Han hent the cartere and so soore hym pyned 4250 And eek the hostiler so soore engyned That they biknewe hir wikkednesse anon And were an hanged by the nekke$bon Heere may men seen that dremes ben to drede And certes in the same book I rede 4255 Right in the nexte chapitre after this I gabbe nat so haue I ioye or blys Two men that wolde han passed ouer see For certeyn cause in#to a fer contree If that the wynd ne hadde ben contrarie 4260 That made hem in a citee for to tarie That stood ful myrie vp#on an hauen syde But on a day agayn the euen$tyde The wynd gan chaunge and blew right as hem leste Iolif and glad they wente vn#to reste 4265 And casten hem ful erly for to saille But herkneth to that o man fil a greet meruaille That oon of hem in slepyng as he lay Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day Hym thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde 4270 And hym comanded that he sholde abyde 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 And preyde hym his viage to lette 4275 As for that day he preyde hym to abyde 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 That I wol lette for to do my thynges 4280 I sette nat a straw by thy dremynges For sweuenes ben but vanytees and iapes Men dreme alday of owles and of apes And of many a maze ther#with#al Men dreme of thyng that neuere was ne shal 4285 But sith I see that thow wolt here abyde And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tyde God woot it reweth me and haue good day And thus he took his leue and wente his way But er that he hadde half his cours yseyled 4290 Noot I nat why ne what meschaunce it eyled But casuelly the shippes botme rente And ship and man vnder the water wente In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde That with hem seyled at the same tyde 4295 And therfore faire Pertelote so deere By swiche ensamples olde maystow leere That no man sholde been to recchelees Of dremes for I sey thee doutelees That many a dreem ful soore is for to drede 4300 Lo in the lyf of seint Kenelm I rede That was Kenulphus sone the noble kyng Of Mercenrike how Kenelm mette a thyng A lite er he was mordred on a day His mordre in his auysioun he say 4305 His norice hym expowned euery del His sweuene and bad hym for to kepe hym wel For traisoun but he nas but seuene yeer old And therfore litel tale hath he told Of any dreem so holy was his herte 4310 By god I hadde leuere than my sherte That ye hadde rad his legende as haue I Dame Pertelote I sey yow trewely Macrobeus that writ the auysioun In Affrike of the worthy Cipioun 4315 Affermeth dremes and seith that they ben Warnynge of thynges that men after sen And forther#moore I pray yow looketh wel In the olde testament of Danyel If he heeld dremes any vanytee 4320 Rede eek of Ioseph and there shul ye see Wher dremes be som#tyme I sey nat alle Warnynge of thynges that shul after falle Looke of Egipte the kyng daun Pharao His bakere and his butiller also 4325 Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes Who#so wol seke actes of sondry remes May rede of dremes many a wonder thyng Lo Cresus which that was of Lyde kyng Mette he nat that he sat vp#on a tree 4330 Which signified he sholde an hanged be Lo heere Andromacha Ectores wyf That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf She dremed on the same nyght biforn How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn 4335 If thilke day he wente in#to 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 4340 And eek it is ny day I may nat dwelle Shortly I seye as for conclusioun That I shal han of this auysioun Aduersitee and I seye forther#moor That I ne telle of laxatyues no stoor 4345 For they ben venymes I woot it wel I hem deffye I loue hem neuer$a$del Now lat vs speke of myrthe and stynte al this Madame Pertelote so haue I blis Of o thyng god hath sent me large grace 4350 For whan I se the beautee of youre face Ye ben so scarlet reed aboute youre eyen It maketh al my drede for to dyen For also siker as =In principio\ =Mulier est hominis confusio\ 4355 Madame the sentence of this Latyn is Womman is mannes ioye and al his blis For whan I feele a nyght youre softe syde Al be it that I may nat on yow ryde For that oure perche is maad so narwe allas 4360 I am so ful of ioye and of solas That I deffye bothe sweuene and dreem And with that word he fley doun fro the beem For it was day and eke hise hennes alle And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle 4365 For he hadde founde a corn lay in the yerd Real he was he was namoore aferd He fethered Pertelote twenty tyme And trad as ofte er it was pryme He looketh as it were a grym leoun 4370 And on hise toos he rometh vp and doun Hym deyned nat to sette his foot to grounde He chukketh whan he hath a corn yfounde And to hym rennen thanne hise wyues alle Thus real as a prince is in his halle 4375 Leue I this Chauntecleer 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 Was complet and passed were also 4380 Syn March bigan thritty dayes and two Bifel that Chauntecler in al his pryde Hise seuene wyues walkyng hym bisyde Caste vp hise eyen to the brighte sonne That in the signe of Taurus hadde yronne 4385 Twenty degrees and oon and som#what 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 vp#on heuene Fourty degrees and oon and moore ywis 4390 Madame Pertelote my worldes blis Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they synge And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge Ful is myn herte of reuel and solas But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas 4395 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 As for a souereyn notabilitee 4400 Now euery wys man lat hym herkne me This storie is also trewe I vndertake As is the book of Launcelot de Lake That wommen holde in ful gret reuerence Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence 4405 A colfox ful of sly iniquitee That in the groue hadde woned yeres three By heigh ymaginacioun forncast The same nyght thurgh#out the hegges brast In#to the yerd ther Chauntecleer the faire\4410 Was wont and eek hise wyues to repaire And in a bed of wortes stille he lay Til it was passed vndren of the day Waitynge his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle As gladly doon thise homycides alle 4415 That in awayt liggen to mordre men O false mordrour lurkynge in thy den O newe Scariot newe Genyloun False dissimilour o Greek Synoun That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe 4420 O Chauntecleer acursed be that morwe That thow in#to the yerd flaugh fro the bemes Thow were ful wel ywarned by thy dremes That thilke day was perilous to thee But what that god forwoot moot nedes be 4425 After the opynyoun of certeyn clerkis Witnesse on hym that any parfit clerk is That in scole is greet altercacioun In this matere and greet disputisoun And hath ben of an hundred thousand men 4430 But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren As kan the holy doctour Augustyn Or Boece or the bisshop Bradwardyn Wheither that goddes worthy forewityng Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thyng 4435 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 it was wroght Or if his wityng streyneth neuer#a#del 4440 But by necessitee condicionel 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 To walken in the yerd vp#on that morwe 4445 That he hadde met the dreem that I yow tolde Wommens conseils ben ful ofte colde Wommanes conseil broghte vs first to wo And made Adam fro paradys to go Ther as he was ful myrie and wel at ese 4450 But for I noot to whom it myghte displese If I conseil of wommen wolde blame Passe ouer for I seyde it in my game Rede auctours where they trete of swich matere And what they seyn of wommen ye may heere 4455 Thise ben the cokkes wordes and nat myne I kan noon harm of no womman deuyne Faire in the sond to bathe hire myrily Lith Pertelote and alle hir sustres by Agayn the sonne and Chauntecleer so free 4460 Song myrier than the mermayde in the see For Phisiologus seith sikerly How that they syngen wel and myrily And so bifel that as he caste his eye Among the wortes on a boterflye 4465 He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe No#thyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe But cryde anon cok cok and vp he sterte As man that was affrayed in his herte For naturelly a beest desireth flee 4470 Fro his contrarie if he may it see Though he neuere erst hadde seyn it with his eye This Chauntecleer whan he gan hym espye He wolde han fled but that the fox anon Seyde gentil sire allas wher wol ye gon 4475 Be ye affrayed 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 But trewely the cause of my comynge 4480 Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge For trewely ye han as myrie a steuene As any aungel hath that is in heuene Ther#with ye han in musyk moore feelynge Than hadde Boece or any that kan synge 4485 My lord youre fader god his soule blesse And eek youre moder of hire gentillesse Han in myn hous yben to my greet ese And certes sire ful fayn wolde I yow plese But for men speke of syngynge I wol seye 4490 So mote I brouke wel myne eyen tweye Saue ye I herde neuere man so synge As dide youre fader in the morwenynge Certes it was of herte al that he song 4494 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 tiptoon ther#with#al And strecche forth his nekke long and smal And eek he was of swich discrecioun 4500 That ther nas no man in no regioun That hym in song or wisdom myghte passe I haue wel rad in daun Burnel the Asse Among his vers how that ther was a cok For a preestes sone yaf hym a knok 4505 Vp#on 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 Of youre fader and of his subtiltee 4510 Now syngeth sire for seinte charitee Lat se konne ye youre fader countrefete This Chauntecleer hise wynges gan to bete As man that koude his traysoun nat espie So was he rauysshed with his flaterie 4515 Allas ye lordes many a fals flatour Is in youre court and many a losengeour That plesen yow wel moore by my feith Than he that soothfastnesse vn#to yow seith Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye 4520 Beth war ye lordes of hir trecherye This Chauntecler stood hye vp#on his toos Strecchynge his nekke and heeld hise eyen cloos And gan to crowe loude for the nones And daun Russell the fox stirte vp atones 4525 And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer And on his bak toward the wode hym beer For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed O destynee that mayst nat ben eschewed Allas that Chauntecler fleigh fro the bemes 4530 Allas his wif ne roghte nat of dremes And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce O Venus that art goddesse of plesaunce Syn that thy seruant was this Chauntecleer And in thy seruyce dide al his power 4535 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 With shot compleynedest his deth so soore 4540 Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy loore The Friday for to chide as diden ye For on a Friday soothly slayn was he Thanne wolde I shewe yow how that I koude pleyne For Chauntecleres drede and for his peyne 4545 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 And slayn hym as seith vs Eneydos 4550 As maden alle the hennes in the cloos Whan they hadde seyn of Chauntecleer the sighte But souereynly dame Pertelote shrighte Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf Whan that hire housbonde hadde lost his lyf 4555 And that the Romayns hadden brend Cartage She was so ful of torment and of rage That wilfully in#to the fyr she sterte And brende hir#seluen with a stedefast herte O woful hennes right so cryden ye 4560 As whan that Nero brende the citee Of Rome cryden senatours wyues For that hir housbondes losten alle hire lyues With#outen gilt this Nero hath hem slayn Now wol I turne to my tale agayn 4565 The sely widwe and eek hire doghtres two Herden thise hennes crye and maken wo And out atte dores stirten they anon And syen the fox toward the groue gon And bar vp#on his bak the cok away 4570 And criden out harrow and weilaway Ha ha the fox and after hym they ran And eek with staues many another man Ran Colle oure dogge and Talbot and Gerland And Malkyn with a distaf in hire hand 4575 Ran cow and calf and eek the verray hogges So fered for berkyng of the dogges And showtynge of the men and wommen eek They ronne so hem thoughte hir herte breek They yelleden as fendes doon in helle 4580 The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle The gees for feere flowen ouer the trees Out of the hyue cam the swarm of bees So hydous was the noyse a =benedicitee\ Certes he Iakke Straw and his meynee 4585 Ne made neuere shoutes half so shrille Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille As thilke day was maad vp#on the fox Of bras they broghten bemes and of box Of horn of boon in whiche they blewe and powped 4590 And ther#with#al they skryked and they howped It semed as that heuene sholde falle Now goode men I prey yow herkneth alle Lo how fortune turneth sodeynly The hope and pryde eek of hire enemy 4595 This cok that lay vp#on the foxes bak In al his drede vn#to the fox he spak And seyde sire if that I were as ye Yit sholde I seyn as wys god helpe me Turneth agayn ye proude cherles alle 4600 A verray pestilence vp#on yow falle Now I am come vn#to this wodes syde Maugree youre heed the cok shal here abyde I wol hym ete in feith and that anon The fox answerde in feith it shal be don 4605 And as he spak that word al sodeynly This cok brak from his mouth delyuerly And hye vp#on a tree he fley anon And whan the fox say that he was gon Allas quod he o Chauntecleer allas 4610 I haue to yow quod he ydoon trespas In as muche as I maked yow aferd Whan I yow hente and broghte out of the yerd But sire I dide it in no wikke entente Com doun and I shal telle yow what I mente 4615 I shal seye sooth to yow god help me so Nay thanne quod he I shrewe vs bothe two And first I shrewe my#self bothe blood and bones If thow bigile me any ofter than ones Thow shalt namoore thurgh thy flaterye 4620 Do me to synge and wynke with myn eye For he that wynketh whan he sholde see Al wilfully god lat hym neuere thee Nay quod the fox but god yeue hym meschaunce That is so vndiscreet of gouernaunce 4625 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 As of a fox or of a cok and hen 4630 Taketh the moralitee goode men 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 Now goode god if that it be thy wille 4635 As seith my lord so make vs alle goode men And brynge vs to his heye blisse Amen <%\the words of the host\%> Sire Nonnes Preest oure hoost seyde anoon Yblessed be thy breche and euery stoon This was a myrie tale of Chauntecleer 4640 But by my trouthe if thow were seculer Thow woldest haue been a tredefoul aright For if thow haue corage as thow hast myght Thee were nede of hennes as I wene Ya mo than seuene tymes seuentene 4645 See whiche braunes hath this gentil preest So greet a nekke and swich a large breest He looketh as a sparhauk with hise eyen Hym nedeth nat his colour for to dyen With brasile ne with greyn of Portyngale 4650 Now sire faire falle yow for youre tale And after that he with ful myrie cheere Seide vn#to another as ye shullen heere <%the prologe of the seconde nonnes tale%> The ministre and the norice vn#to vices Which that men clepe in Englissh ydelnesse That porter of the gate is of delices To eschuen and by hir contrarie hire oppresse 5 That is to seyn by leueful bisynesse 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 10 Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye 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 15 And thogh men dradden neuere for to dye Yet seen men wel by resoun doutelees That ydelnesse is roten slogardye Of which ther neuere comth no good n+encrees And syn that slouthe hir holdeth in a lees 20 Oonly for to slepe and ete and drynke And to deuouren al that othere swynke And for to putte vs from swich ydelnesse That cause is of so greet confusioun I haue here doon my feithful bisynesse 25 After the legende in translacioun Right of thy glorious lyf and passioun Thow with thy gerland wroght of rose and lilie Thee mene I mayde and martir Seinte Cecilie <=Inuocacio ad Mariam\> And thow that flour of virgines art alle 30 Of whom that Bernard list so wel to write To thee at my bigynnyng first I calle Thow confort of vs wrecches do mendite Thy maydens deeth that wan thurgh hir merite The eternal lyf and of the feend victorie 35 As man may after reden in hir storie Thow mayde and moder doghter of thy sone Thow welle of mercy synful soules cure In whom that god for bountee chees to wone Thow humble and heigh ouer euery creature 40 Thow nobledest so ferforth oure nature That no desdeyn the makere hadde of kynde His sone in blood and flessh to clothe and wynde With#inne the cloistre blisful of thy sydis Took mannes shap the eternal loue and pees 45 That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is 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 50 Assembled is in thee magnificence With mercy goodnesse and with swich pitee That thow that art the sonne of excellence Nat oonly helpest hem that prayen thee But ofte tyme of thy benygnytee 55 Ful frely er that men thyn help biseche 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 60 That whelpes eten somme of the crommes alle 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 with#outen werkis 65 So for to werken yif me wit and space 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 with#outen ende is songe Osanne 70 Thow Cristes moder doghter deere of Anne And of thy light my soule in prison lighte That troubled is by the contagioun Of my body and also by the wighte Of erthely lust and fals affeccioun 75 O hauene o refut o sauacioun Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresse Now help for to my work I wol me dresse Yet praye ich yow that reden that I write Foryeue me that I do no diligence 80 This ilke storie subtilly t+endite For bothe haue I the wordes and sentence Of hym that at the seintes reuerence The storie wroot and folwe hir legende And pray yow that ye wol my werk amende <=Interpretacio nominis Cecelie quam ponit frater Iacobus Ianuensis in legenda aurea\> 85 First wolde I yow the name of Seinte Cecilie Expowne as men may in hir storie se It is to seyn in Englissh heuenes lilie For pure chastnesse of virginitee Or for she witnesse hadde of honestee 90 And grene of conscience and of good fame 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 95 Is ioyned by a manere conioinynge Of heuene and lia and here in figurynge The heuene is set for thoght of holynesse And lia for hir lastyng bisynesse Cecile may eek be seyd in this manere 100 Wantynge of blyndnesse for hir grete light Of sapience and for hir thewes clere Or elles lo this maydenes name bright Of heuene and leos comth for which by right Men myghte hire wel the heuene of peple calle 105 Ensample of goode and wise werkes alle For leos peple in Englissh is to seye 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 110 Sayen of feith the magnanymytee 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 115 Right so was faire Cecilie the white 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 <=Explicit\> <%heere bigynneth the seconde nonnes tale% %of the lyf of seinte cecile%> 120 This mayden bright Cecilie as hir lyf seith Was come of Romayns and of noble kynde And from hir cradel vp fostred in the feith Of Crist and bar his gospel in hir mynde She neuere cessed as I writen fynde 125 Of hir prayere and god to loue and drede Bisekyng hym to kepe hir maydenhede And whan this mayden sholde vn#to a man Ywedded be that was ful yong of age Which that ycleped was Valerian 130 And day was comen of hir mariage She ful deuout and humble in hir corage Vnder hir robe of gold that sat ful faire Hadde next hir flessh yclad hire in an haire And whil the organs maden melodie 135 To god allone in herte thus song she O lord my soule and eek my body gye Vnwemmed lest that I confounded be And for his loue that deyde vp#on a tree Euery seconde and thridde day she faste 140 Ay biddyng in hir orisons ful faste The nyght cam and to bedde moste she gon With hire housbonde as ofte is the manere And pryuely to hym she seyde anon O swete and wel$biloued spouse deere 145 Ther is a conseil and ye wolde it heere Which that right fayn I wolde vn#to yow seye So that ye swere ye shul it nat biwreye Valerian gan faste vn#to hir swere That for no cas ne thyng that myghte be 150 He sholde neuere mo biwreyen here And thanne at erst to hym seyde she I haue an aungel which that loueth me That with gret loue wher so I wake or slepe Is redy ay my body for to kepe 155 And if that he may feelen out of drede 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 160 He wol yow loue as me for youre clennesse And shewen yow his ioye and his brightnesse Valerian corrected as god wolde Answerde agayn if I shal trusten thee Lat me that aungel seen and hym biholde 165 And if that it a verray aungel be 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 anon right in this wise 170 If that yow list the aungel shal ye se So that ye trowe on Crist and yow baptise Goth forth to Via Apia quod she That fro this toun ne stant but miles thre And to the poure folkes that ther dwelle 175 Sey hem right thus as that I shal yow telle Telle hem that I Cecile yow to hem sente 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 that I to yow tolde 181 And whan that he hath purged yow fro synne Thanne shal ye seen that aungel er ye twynne Valerian is to the place gon And right as hym was taught by his lernynge 185 He foond this holy olde Vrban anon Among the seintes buryels lotynge And he anon with#outen tariynge Dide his message and whan that he it tolde Vrban for ioye hise handes gan vp holde 190 The teeris from hise eyen leet he falle Almyghty lord o Iesu Crist quod he Sowere of chaast conseil hierde of vs alle The fruyt of thilke seed of chastitee That thow hast sowe in Cecile taak to thee 195 Lo lyk a bisy bee with#outen gyle Thee serueth ay thyn owene thral Cecile For thilke spouse that she took but now Ful lyk a fiers leoun she sendeth heere As meke as euere was any lamb to yow 200 And with that word anon ther gan appeere An old man clad in white clothes cleere That hadde a book with lettres of gold in honde And gan biforn Valerian to stonde Valerian as deed fil doun for drede 205 Whan he hym say and he vp hente hym tho And on his book right thus he gan to rede O lord o feith o god with#oute mo O cristendom and fader of alle also Abouen alle and oueral euerywhere 210 Thise wordes al with gold ywriten were Whan this was rad thanne seyde this olde man 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 215 Vnder the heuene no wight thynke may Tho vanysshed this olde man he nyste where And Pope Vrban hym cristned right there Valerian goth hoom and fynt Cecilie With#inne his chambre and with an aungel stonde 220 This aungel hadde of roses and of lilie 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 225 With body clene and with vnwemmed thoght 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 230 Ne neuere wight shal seen hem with his eye 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 235 I haue a brother quod Valerian tho 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 240 And bothe with the palm of martirdom Ye shullen come vn#to 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 245 With#inne his herte he gan to wondre faste And seyde I wondre this tyme of the yere Whennes that swote sauour cometh so Of rose and lilies that I smelle heere For thogh I hadde hem in myne handes two 250 The sauour myghte in me no depper go 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 255 Which that thyne eyen han no myght to se And as thow smellest hem thurgh my prayere So shaltow seen hem leue brother deere If it so be thow wolt with#outen slouthe Bileue aright and knowen verray trouthe 260 Tiburce answerde seistow this to me In soothnesse or in dreem I herkne this In dremes quod Valerian han we be Vn#to this tyme brother myn ywis But now at erst in trouthe oure dwellyng is 265 How wostow this quod Tiburce and in what wyse 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 elles naught 270 And of the myracle of thise corones tweye 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 275 Seinte Cecile fulfild of goddes yifte The world and eek hir chambre gan she weyue Witnesse Tiburces and Cecilies shrifte To whiche god of his bountee wolde shifte Corones two of floures wel smellynge 280 And made his aungel hem the corones brynge The mayde hath broght thise men to blisse aboue The world hath wist what it is worth certeyn Deuocioun of chastitee to loue Tho shewed hym Cecile al open and pleyn 285 That alle ydoles nys but a thyng in veyn For they been dombe and ther#to they been deue And charged hym hise ydoles for to leue Who#so that troweth nat this a beest he is Quod tho Tiburce if that I shal nat lye 290 And she gan kisse his brest that herde this 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 295 Lo right so as the loue of Crist quod she Made me thy brotheres wyf right in that wise Anon for myn allye heere take I thee Syn that thow wolt thyne ydoles despise Go with thy brother now and thee baptise 300 And make thee clene so that thow mowe biholde The aungeles face of which thy brother tolde Tiburce answerde and seyde brother deere First tel me whider I shal and to what man To whom quod he com forth with right good cheere 305 I wol thee lede vn#to the Pope Vrban 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 310 That is so ofte dampned to be deed 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 315 And we also to bere hym compaignye And whil we seken thilke diuinitee That is yhid in heuene pryuely Algate ybrend in this world shul we be To whom Cecile answerde boldely 320 Men myghten dreden wel and skilfully This lyf to lese myn owene deere brother If this were lyuyng oonly and noon oother But ther is bettre lyf in oother place That neuere shal be lost ne drede thee noght 325 Which goddes sone vs tolde thurgh his grace 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 with#outen any drede 330 By word and by myracle heigh goddes sone 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 335 Ther nys but o god lord in sothfastnesse 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 340 So in o beynge of diuinytee 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 345 How goddes sone in this world was withholde To doon mankynde pleyn remyssioun That was ybounde in synne and cares colde Al this thyng she vn#to Tiburce tolde And after this Tiburce in good entente 350 With Valerian to Pope Vrban he wente That thanked god and with glad herte and light He cristned hym and made hym in that place Parfit in his lernynge goddes knyght And after this Tiburce gat swich grace 355 That euery day he say in tyme and space The aungel of god and euery maner boone That he god axed it was sped ful soone It were ful harde by ordre for to seyn How many wondres Iesu for hem wroghte 360 But at the laste to tellen short and pleyn The sergeantz of the toun 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 365 And seyde who#so wol nat sacrifise 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 370 Hem hente and whan he forth the seintes ladde Hym#self 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 with#oute moore 375 And with hir prechyng er that it were eue They gonnen fro the tormentours to reue And fro Maxime and fro his folk echone The false feith to trowe in god allone Cecilie cam whan it was woxen nyght 380 With preestes that hem cristned alle yfeere 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 385 And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse Ye han for sothe ydoon a greet bataille 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 390 Shal yeue it yow as ye han it deserued 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 395 They nolde encense ne sacrifise right noght 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 400 This Maximus that say this thyng bityde With pitous teeris 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 405 For which Almachius dide hym so bete With whippe of leed til he his lyf gan lete Cecile hym took and buryed hym anon By Tiburce and Valerian softely With#inne hir buryyng$place vnder the stoon 410 And after this Almachius hastily Bad hise ministres fecchen openly Cecile so that she myghte in his presence Doon sacrifise and Iubiter encense But they conuerted at hir wise loore 415 Wepten ful sore and yauen ful credence Vn#to hir word and cryden moore and moore Crist goddes sone with#outen difference Is verray god this is al oure sentence That hath so good a seruant hym to serue 420 This with o voys we trowen thogh we sterue Almachius that herde of this doynge Bad fecchen Cecile that he myghte hir se And alderfirst lo this was his axynge What maner womman artow quod he 425 I am a gentil womman born quod she I axe thee quod he thogh it thee greue Of thy religioun and of thy bileue Ye han bigonne youre question folily Quod she that wolden two answeres conclude 430 In o demande ye axed lewedly Almache answerde vn#to 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 435 Almachius seyde ne takestow noon hede 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 440 For with a nedles point whan it is blowe May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe Ful wrongfully bigonne thow quod he And yet in wrong is thy perseueraunce Wostow nat how oure myghty princes free 445 Han thus comanded and maad ordinaunce That euery cristen wight shal han penaunce But if that he his cristendom with seye And goon al quyt if he wol it reneye Youre prynces erren as youre nobleye dooth 450 Quod tho Cecile and with a wood sentence Ye make vs gilty and it 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 455 Ye putte on vs a cryme and eek a blame But we that knowen thilke name so For vertuous we may it nat withseye Almache answerde chees oon of thise two Do sacrifice or cristendom reneye 460 That thow mowe now escapen by that weye At which the holy blisful faire mayde Gan for to laughe and to the iuge sayde O iuge confus in thy nycetee Wiltow that I reneye innocence 465 To maken me a wikked wight quod she 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 470 Han noght oure myghty princes to me yeuen Ye bothe power and auctoritee To maken folk to dyen or to lyuen Why spekestow so proudly thanne to me I speke noght but stedefastly quod she 475 Nat proudly for I seye as for my syde 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 480 Thow seist thy prynces han thee yeuen myght Bothe for to sleen and for to quyken a wight Thow that ne mayst but oonly lyf bireue Thow hast noon oother power ne no leue But thow mayst seyn thy prynces han the maked 485 Ministre of deeth for if thow speke of mo 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 490 For I kan suffre it as a philosophre But thilke wronges may I nat endure That thow spekest of oure goddes here quod he Cecilie answerde o nyce creature Thow seydest no word syn thow spak to me 495 That I ne knew ther#with thy nycetee And that thow were in euery maner wise\ A lewed officer and a veyn iustise Ther lakketh no thyng to thyne outter eyen That thow n+art blynd for thyng that we seen alle 500 That is a stoon that men may wel espien That ilke stoon a god thow wolt it calle I rede thee lat thyn hand vp#on it falle And taste it wel and stoon thow shalt it fynde Syn that thow seest nat with thyne eyen blynde 505 It is a shame that the peple shal So scornen thee and laughe at thy folye For comunly men woot it wel ouer#al That myghty god is in hise heuenes hye And thise ymages wel thow mayst espye 510 To thee ne to hem#self mowe noght profite 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 515 Brenne hire right in a bath of flambes rede And as he bad right so was doon the dede For in a bath they gonne hire faste shetten And nyght and day greet fyr they vnder betten The longe nyght and eek a day also 520 For al the fyr and eek the bathes hete She sat al coold and feeled no wo It made hir nat a drope for to swete But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete For he Almachius with a ful wikke entente 525 To sleen hire in the bath his sonde sente Thre strokes in the nekke he smoot hire tho The tormentour but for no maner chaunce He myghte noght smyte al hir nekke atwo And for ther was that tyme an ordinaunce 530 That no man sholde doon man swich penaunce The ferthe strook to smyten softe or soore This tormentour ne dorste do namoore But half$deed with hir nekke ycoruen there He lefte hir lye and on his wey he went 535 The cristen folk whiche that aboute hire were With shetes han the blood ful faire yhent Thre dayes lyued she in this torment And neuere cessed hem the feith to teche That she hadde fostred hem she gan to preche 540 And hem she yaf hir moebles and hir thyng And to the Pope Vrban bitook hem tho And seyde I axed this of heuene kyng To han respit thre dayes and namo To recommende to yow er that I go 545 Thise soules lo and that I myghte do werche Here of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche Seint Vrban with hise deknes pryuely The body fette and buryed it by nyghte Among hise othere seintes honestly 550 Hir hous the chirche of Seinte Cecilie highte Seint Vrban halwed it as he wel myghte In which in#to this day in noble wyse Men doon to Crist and to his seinte seruyse <%the prologe of the chanouns yemannes tale%> Whan ended was the lyf of seinte Cecile 555 Er we hadde riden fully fyue mile At Boghtoun$vnder$Blee vs gan atake A man that clothed was in clothes blake And vnder that he hadde a whit surplys His hakeney that was al pomely grys 560 So swatte that it wonder was to see It semed he hadde priked myles three The hors eek that his yeman rood vp#on So swatte that vnnethe myghte he gon Aboute the peitrel stood the foom ful hye 565 He was of foom al flekked as a pye A male tweyfolde on his croper lay It semed that he caried lite array Al light for somer rood this worthy man And in myn herte wondren I bigan 570 What that he was til that I vnderstood How that his cloke was sowed to his hood For which whan I longe hadde auysed me I demed hym som chanoun for to be His hat heeng at his bak doun by a laas 575 For he hadde riden moore than trot or paas He hadde ay priked lik as he were wood A clote$leef he hadde vnder his hood For swoot and for to kepe his heed from hete But it was ioye for to seen hym swete 580 His forheed dropped as a stillatorie Were ful of plantayne and of paritorie And whan that he was come he gan to crye God saue quod he this ioly compaignye Faste haue I priked quod he for youre sake 585 By cause that I wolde yow atake To ryden in this myrie compaignye His yeman eek was ful of curteisye And seyde sires now in the morwe tyde Out of youre hostelrie I saugh yow ryde 590 And warned here my lord and my souerayn Which that to riden with yow is ful fayn For his desport he loueth daliaunce Freend for thy warnyng god yeue thee good chaunce Thanne seyde oure hoost for certeyn it wolde seme 595 Thy lord were wys and so I may wel deme He is ful iocunde also dar I leye Kan he oght telle a myrie tale or tweye With which he glade may this compaignye Who sire my lord ye ye with#outen lye 600 He kan of myrthe and eek of iolitee Nat but ynogh also sire trusteth me And ye hym knewe as wel as do I Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily He koude werke and that in sondry wise 605 He hath take on hym many a greet emprise Which were ful hard for any that is heere To brynge aboute but they of hym it leere As hoomly as he rit amonges yow If ye hym knewe it wolde be for youre prow 610 Ye wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce For muchel good I dar leye in balaunce Al that I haue in my possessioun He is a man of heigh discrecioun 614 I warne yow wel he is a passyng man Wel quod oure hoost I pray thee telle me than Is he a clerk or noon telle what he is Nay he is gretter than a clerk ywis Seyde this yeman and in wordes fewe Hoost of his craft som#what I wol yow shewe 620 I seye my lord kan swich subtiltee But al his craft ye may nat wite at me And som#what helpe I yet to his werkyng That al this ground on which we been ridyng Til that we come to Caunterbury toun 625 He koude al clene turnen vp$so$doun And paue it al of siluer and of gold And whan this yeman hadde thus ytold Vn#to oure hoost he seyde =benedicitee\ This thyng is wonder merueillous to me 630 Syn that thy lord is of so heigh prudence By cause of which men sholde hym reuerence That of his worship rekketh he so lite His ouersloppe nys nat worth a myte As in effect to hym so moot I go 635 It is al baudy and to#tore also Why is thy lord so sluttissh I thee preye And is of power bettre cloth to beye If that his dede acorde with thy speche Telle me that and that I thee biseche 640 Why quod this yeman wher to axe ye me God help me so for he shal neuere thee But I wol nat avowe that I seye And ther#fore kepe it secree I yow preye He is to wys in feith as I bileue 645 That that is ouerdoon it wol nat preue Aright as clerkes seyn it is a vice Wherfore in that I holde hym lewed and nyce For whan a man hath ouer greet a wit Ful ofte hym happeth to mysusen it 650 So dooth my lord and that me greueth soore God it amende I kan seye yow namoore Ther of no fors good yeman quod oure hoost Syn of the konnyng of thy lord thow woost Telle how he dooth I pray thee hertely 655 Syn that he is so crafty and so sly Where dwellen ye if it to telle be In the suburbes of a toun quod he Lurkynge in hernes and in lanes blynde Where as thise robbours and thise theues by kynde 660 Holden hir pryuee fereful residence As they that dar nat shewen hir presence So faren we if I shal seye the sothe Now quod oure hoost yet lat me talke to the Why artow so discoloured of thy face 665 Peter quod he god yeue it harde grace I am so vsed in the fyr to blowe That it hath chaunged my colour I trowe I am nat wont in no myrour to prie But swynke soore and lerne multiplie 670 We blondren euere and pouren in the fir And for al that we faille of oure desir For euere we lakken oure conclusioun To muchel folk we doon illusioun And borwe gold be it a pound or two 675 Or ten or twelue or manye sommes mo And make hem wenen at the leeste weye That of a pound we koude make tweye Yet is it fals and ay we han good hope It for to doon and after it we grope 680 But that science is so fer vs biforn We mowen nat al thogh we hadde it sworn It ouertake it slit awey so faste It wol vs maken beggers atte laste 684 Whil this yeman was thus in his talkyng This chanoun drough hym neer and herde al thyng Which this yeman spak for suspecioun Of mennes speche euere hadde this chanoun For Catoun seith that he that gilty is Demeth al thyng be spoke of hym ywis 690 That was the cause he gan so ny hym drawe To his yeman to herknen al his sawe And thus he seyde vn#to his yeman tho Hoold thow thy pees and speke no wordes mo For if thow do thow shalt it deere abye 695 Thow sclaundrest me heere in this compaignye And eek discouerest that thow sholdest hyde Ye quod oure hoost telle on what so bityde Of al this thretyng rekke nat a myte In feith quod he namoore I do but lyte 700 And whan this chanoun saw it wolde nat bee But his yeman wolde telle his pryuetee He fledde awey for verray sorwe and shame A quod the yeman heere shal arise game Al that I kan anon now wol I telle 705 Syn he is goon the foule feend hym quelle For neuere heer after wol I with hym mete For peny ne for pound I yow bihete He that me broghte first vn#to that game Er that he dye sorwe haue he and shame 710 For it is ernest to me by my feith That feele I wel what so any man seith And yet for al my smerte and al my grief For al my sorwe labour and meschief I koude neuere leue it in no wise 715 Now wolde god my wit myghte suffise To tellen al that longeth to that art But nathelees yow wol I tellen part Syn that my lord is gon I wol nat spare Swich thyng as I knowe I wol declare <%heere bigynneth the chanouns yeman his tale%> 720 With this chanoun I dwelt haue seuen yeer And of his science am I neuere the neer Al that I hadde I haue ylost ther#by And god woot so hath many mo than I Ther I was wont to be right fressh and gay 725 Of clothyng and of oother good array Now may I were an hose vp on myn heed And wher my colour was bothe fressh and reed Now is it wan and of a leden hewe Who#so it vseth soore shal he rewe 730 And of my swynk yet blered is myn eye Lo which auantage is to multiplie That slidynge science hath me maad so bare That I haue no good wher that euere I fare And yet I am endetted so ther#by 735 Of gold that I haue borwed trewely That whil I lyue I shal it quyte neuere Lat euery man be war by me for euere What maner man that casteth hym ther#to If he continue I holde his thrift ydo 740 For so helpe me god ther#by shal he nat wynne But empte his purs and make his wittes thynne And whan he thurgh his madnesse and folye Hath lost his owene good thurgh iupartye Thanne he exciteth oother folk ther#to 745 To lese hir good as he hym#self hath do For vn#to shrewes ioye it is and ese To haue hir felawes in peyne and disese Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk Of that no charge I wol speke of oure werk 750 Whan we been ther as we shul excercise Oure eluysshe craft we semen wonder wise Oure termes been so clergial and so queynte I blowe the fyr til that myn herte feynte What sholde I tellen ech proporcioun 755 Of thynges whiche that we werche vp#on As on fyue or sixe ounces may wel be Of siluer or som oother quantitee And bisye me to telle yow the names Of orpyment brent bones iren squames 760 That in#to poudre grounden been ful smal And in an erthen pot how put is al And salt yput in and also papeer Biforn thise poudres that I speke of heer And wel ycouered with a lampe of glas 765 And of muche oother thyng which that ther was And of the pot and glasses enlutyng That of the eyr myghte passe out no#thyng And of the esy fyr and smerte also Which that was maad and of the care and wo 770 That we hadde in oure matires sublymyng And in amalgamyng and calcenyng Of quyk siluer yclept Mercurie crude For alle oure sleightes we kan nat conclude Oure orpiment and sublymed Mercurie 775 Oure grounden litarge eek on the porfurie Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn Noght helpeth vs oure labour is in veyn Ne eek oure spirites ascencioun Ne oure matires that lyen al fix adoun 780 Mowe in oure werkyng no#thyng vs availle For lost is al oure labour and trauaille And al the cost a twenty deuel weye Is lost also which we vp#on it leye Ther is also ful many another thyng 785 That is vn#to oure craft apertenyng Thogh I by ordre hem nat reherce kan By cause that I am a lewed man Yet wol I telle hem as they come to mynde Thogh I ne kan nat sette hem in hir kynde 790 As bole armonyak verdegrees boras And sondry vessels maad of erthe and glas Oure vrynals and oure descensories Violes crosletz and sublymatories Cucurbites and alembikes eek 795 And othere swiche deere ynogh a leek Nat nedeth it to reherce hem alle Watres rubifiyng and boles galle Arsenyk sal armonyak and brymstoon And herbes koude I telle eek many oon 800 As egremoyne valerian and lunarie And othere swiche if that me liste tarie Oure lampes brennyng bothe nyght and day To brynge aboute oure craft if that we may Oure fourneys eek of calcinacioun 805 And of watres albificacioun Vnslekked lym chalk and gleyre of an ey Poudres diuerse asshes donge pisse and cley Cered poketz sal peter vitriole And dyuers fyres maad of wode and cole 810 Sal tartre alkaly and sal preparat And combust matires and coagulat Cley maad with hors or mannes heer and oyle Of tartre alum glas berm wort argoyle Resalgar and othere matires embibyng 815 And eek of oure matires encorporyng And of oure siluer citrinacioun Oure cementyng and fermentacioun Oure ingottes testes and many mo I wol yow telle as was me taught also 820 The foure spirites and the bodies seuene By ordre as ofte I herde my lord neuene The firste spirit quyk siluer called is The seconde orpyment the thridde ywis Sal armonyak and the ferthe brymstoon 825 The bodyes seuene eek lo hem heer anoon Sol gold is and Luna siluer we threpe Mars iren Mercurie quyk siluer we clepe Saturnus leed and Iuppiter is tyn And Venus coper by my fader kyn 830 This cursed craft who#so wol excercise He shal no good han that hym may suffise For al the good he spendeth ther#aboute He lese shal ther#of haue I no doute Who#so that listeth outen his folie 835 Lat hym com forth and lerne multiplie And euery man that hath oght in his cofre Lat hym appere and wexe a philosophre Ascaunce that craft is so light to lere Nay nay god woot al be he monk or frere 840 Preest or chanoun or any oother wight Thogh he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght In lernyng of this eluyssh nyce loore Al is in veyn and parde muchel moore To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee 845 Fy spek nat ther#of for it wol nat be And konne he lettrure or konne he noon As in effect he shal fynde it al oon For bothe two by my sauacioun Concluden in multiplicacioun 850 Ylike wel whan they han al ydo This is to seyn they faillen bothe two Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille Of watres corosif or of lymaille And of bodies mollificacioun 855 And also of hir induracioun Oilles ablucioun and metal fusible To tellen al wolde passen any bible That owher is wher#fore as for the beste Of alle thise names now wol I me reste 860 For as I trowe I haue yow told ynowe To reyse a feend al looke he neuere so rowe A nay lat be the philosophres stoon Elixir clept we sechen faste echoon For hadde we hym thanne were we siker ynow 865 But vn#to god of heuene I make avow For al oure craft whan we han al ydo And al oure sleighte he wol nat come vs to He hath ymaad vs spende muchel good For sorwe of which almoost we wexen wood 870 But that good hope crepeth in oure herte Supposynge euere thogh we soore smerte To be releued by hym after ward Swich supposyng and hope is sharp and hard I warne yow wel it is to seken euere 875 That futur temps hath maad men to disseuere In trust ther of from al that euere they hadde Yet of that art they kan nat wexen sadde For vn#to hem it is a bittre swete So semeth it for nadde they but a shete 880 Which that they myghte wrappe hem in a nyght And a brat to walke in by day light They wolde hem selle and spenden on this craft They kan nat stynte til no#thyng be laft And euere moore wher that euere they goon 885 Men may hem knowe by smel of brymstoon For al the world they stynken as a goot Hir sauour is so rammyssh and so hoot That thogh a man from hem a myle be The sauour wol infecte hym trusteth me 890 Lo thus by smellyng and threedbare array If that men liste this folk they knowe may And if a man wol aske hem pryuely Why they been clothed so vnthriftily They right anon wol rownen in his ere 895 And seyn if that they espied were Men wolde hem slee by cause of hir science Lo thus this folk bitrayen innocence Passe ouer this I go my tale vn#to Er that the pot be on the fyr ydo 900 Of metals with a certeyn quantitee My lord hem tempreth and no man but he Now he is goon I dar sey boldely For as men seyn he kan doon craftily Algate I woot wel he hath swich a name 905 And yet ful ofte he renneth in a blame And wite ye how ful ofte it happeth so The pot tobreketh and fare wel al is go Thise metals been of so greet violence Oure walles mowe nat make hem resistence 910 But if they weren wroght of lym and stoon They percen so and thurgh the wal they goon And somme of hem synken in#to the ground Thus han we lost by tymes many a pound And somme ar scatered al the floor aboute 915 Somme lepe in#to the roof with#outen doute Thogh that the feend noght in oure sighte hym shewe I trowe he with vs be that ilke shrewe In helle wher that he is lord and sire Nys ther moore wo ne moore rancour ne ire 920 Whan that oure pot is broke as I haue sayd Euery man chit and halt hym yuele apayd Somme seyde it was long on the fir makyng Somme seyde nay it was on the blowyng 924 Thanne was I fered for that was myn office Straw quod the thridde ye been lewed and nyce It was nat tempred as it oghte be Nay quod the ferthe stynte and herkne me By cause oure fyr was nat maad of beech That is the cause and oother noon so thee+ch 930 I kan nat telle wher#on it was long But wel I woot greet stryf is vs among What quod my lord ther is namoore to doone Of thise perils I wol be war eft soone I am right siker that the pot was crased 935 Be as be may be ye no#thyng amased As vsage is lat swepe the floor as swithe Plukke vp youre hertes and beeth glad and blithe The mullok on an heep ysweped was And on the floor ycast a canevas 940 And al this mullok in a syve ythrowe And sifted and ypiked many a throwe Pardee quod oon som#what of oure metal Yet is ther heere thogh that we han nat al And thogh this thyng myshapped haue as now 945 Another tyme it may be wel ynow Vs moste putte oure good in auenture A marchant pardee may nat ay endure Trusteth me wel in his prosperitee Som#tyme his good is drowned in the see 950 And som#tyme comth it sauf vn#to the londe Pees quod my lord the nexte tyme I wol fonde To brynge oure craft al in another plite And but I do sires lat me han the wite Ther was defaute in som#what wel I woot 955 Another seyde the fyr was ouer$hoot But be it hoot or coold I dar seye this That we concluden euere moore amys We faille of that which that we wolden haue And in oure madnesse euere moore we raue 960 And whan we been togidres euerichon Euery man semeth a Salomon But al thyng which that shyneth as the gold Nys nat gold as that I haue herd told Ne euery appul that is fair at eye 965 Ne is nat good what so men clappe or crye Right so lo fareth it amonges vs He that semeth the wisest by Iesus Is moost fool whan it comth to the preef And he that semeth trewest is a theef 970 That shul ye knowe er that I fro yow wende By that I of my tale haue maad an ende <=Explicit prima pars Et sequitur pars secunda\> Ther is a chanoun of religioun Amonges vs wolde infecte al a toun Thogh it as greet were as was Nynyuee 975 Rome Alisaundre Troye and othere three His sleightes and his infinite falsnesse Ther koude no man writen as I gesse Thogh that he myghte lyue a thousand yeer In al this world of falshede nys his peer 980 For in hise termes he wol hym so wynde And speke hise wordes in so sly a kynde Whan he commune shal with any wight That he wol make hym doten anon#right But it a feend be as hym#seluen is 985 Ful many a man hath he bigiled er this And wol if that he lyue may a while And yet men ryde and goon ful many a myle Hym for to seke and haue his aqueyntaunce Noght knowynge of his false gouernaunce 990 And if yow list to yeue me audience I wol it tellen here in youre presence But worshipful chanons religious Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre youre hous Al#thogh my tale of a chanoun be 995 Of euery ordre som shrewe is pardee And god forbede that al a compaignye Sholde rewe a synguler mannes folye To sclaundren yow is no#thyng myn entente But to correcten that is mys I mente 1000 This tale was nat oonly told for yow But eek for othere mo ye woot wel how That among Cristes apostles twelue Ther was no traytour but Iudas hym#selue Thanne why sholde the remenant haue a blame 1005 That giltlees were by yow seye I the same Saue oonly this if ye wol herkne me If any Iudas in youre couent be Remeueth hym by tymes I yow rede If shame or los may causen any drede 1010 And beth no#thyng displesed I yow preye But in this cas herkeneth what I shal seye In London was a preest an annueleer That ther#inne dwelled hadde many a yeer Which was so plesaunt and so seruisable 1015 Vn#to the wyf wher as he was at table That she wolde suffre hym no thyng for to paye For bord ne clothyng wente he neuere so gaye And spendyng siluer hadde he right ynow Ther#of no fors I wol procede as now 1020 And telle forth my tale of the chanoun That broghte this preest to confusioun This false chanoun cam vp#on a day Vn#to this preestes chambre wher he lay Bisechyng hym to lene hym a certeyn 1025 Of gold and he wolde quyte it hym ageyn Lene me a marke quod he but dayes three And at my day I wol it quyten thee And if so be that thow fynde me fals 1029 Another day hange me by the hals This preest hym took a marke and that as swithe And this chanoun hym thanked ofte sithe And took his leue and wente forth his weye And at the thridde day broghte his moneye And to the preest he took this gold agayn 1035 Wher#of this preest was wonder glad and fayn Certes quod he no#thyng anoyeth me To lene a man a noble or two or thre Or what thyng were in my possessioun Whan he so trewe is of condicioun 1040 That in no wise he breke wol his day To swich a man I kan neuere seye nay What quod this chanoun sholde I be vntrewe Nay that were thyng yfallen al of newe Trouthe is a thyng that I wol euere kepe 1045 Vn#to that day in which that I shal crepe In#to my graue and ellys god forbede Bileueth this as siker as youre crede God thanke I and in good tyme be it sayd That ther was neuere man yet yuele apayd 1050 For gold ne siluer that he to me lente Ne neuere falshede in myn herte I mente And sire quod he now of my pryuetee Syn ye so goodlych han been vn#to me And kithed to me so greet gentillesse 1055 Som#what to quyte yow with youre kyndenesse I wol yow shewe and if yow list to lere I wol yow teche pleynly the manere How I kan werken in philosophye Taketh good heed ye shul wel seen at eye 1060 That I wol doon a maistrie er I go Ye quod the preest ye sire and wol ye so Marie ther#of I pray yow hertely At youre comandement sire trewely Quod the chanoun and ellis god forbede 1065 Lo how this theef koude his seruyse bede Ful sooth it is that swich profred seruyse Stynketh as witnessen thise olde wyse And that ful soone I wol it verifie In this chanoun roote of al trecherie 1070 That euere moore delit hath and gladnesse Swiche feendly thoghtes in his herte impresse How Cristes peple he may to meschief brynge God kepe vs from his false dissymulynge Noght wiste this preest with whom that he delte 1075 Ne of his harm comynge he no#thyng felte O sely preest o sely innocent With coueitise anon thow shalt be blent O gracelees ful blynd is thy conceit No#thyng artow war of the deceit 1080 Which that this fox yshapen hath to thee Hise wily wrenches thow ne mayst nat flee Wher#fore to go to the conclusioun That refereth to thy confusioun Vnhappy man anon I wol me hye 1085 To tellen thyn vnwit and thy folye And eek the falsnesse of that oother wrecche As ferforth as my konnyng wol strecche This chanoun was my lord ye wolden wene Sire hoost in feith and by the heuenes queene 1090 It was another chanoun and nat he That kan an hundred fold moore subtiltee He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme Of his falsnesse it dulleth me to ryme Euere whan I speke of his falshede 1095 For shame of hym my chekes wexen rede Algates they bigynnen for to glowe For reednesse haue I noon right wel I knowe In my visage for fumes dyuerse Of metals which ye han herd me reherce 1100 Consumed and wasted han my reednesse Now tak heed of this chanons cursednesse Sire quod he to the preest lat youre man goon For quyk siluer that we it hadde anoon And lat hym bryngen vnces two or three 1105 And whan he comth as faste shul ye see A wonder thyng which ye sey neuere er this Sire quod the preest it shal be doon ywis He bad his seruant fecchen hym this thyng And he al redy was at his biddyng 1110 And wente hym forth and cam anon agayn With this quyk siluer shortly for to sayn And took thise ounces thre to the chanoun And he hem leyde faire and wel adoun And bad the seruant coles for to brynge 1115 That he anon myghte go to his werkynge The coles right anon weren yfet And this chanoun took out a crosselet Of his bosom and shewed it the preest This instrument quod he which that thow seest 1120 Taak in thyn honde and put thy#self ther#inne Of this quyk siluer an ounce and heer bigynne In the name of Crist to wexe a philosofre Ther been ful fewe whiche that I wolde profre To shewen hem thus muche of my science 1125 For ye shul seen heer by experience That this quyk siluer I wol mortifye Right in youre sighte anon with#outen lye And make it as good siluer and as fyn As ther is any in youre purs or myn 1130 Or elles wher and make it malliable And elles holdeth me fals and vnable Amonges folk for euere to appeere I haue a poudre heer that coste me deere Shal make al good for it is cause of al 1135 My konnyng which that I yow shewen shal Voydeth youre man and lat hym be ther#oute And shette the dore whiles we been aboute Oure pryuetee that no man vs espye Whils that we werke in this philosophye 1140 Al as he bad fulfilled was in dede This ilke seruant anon$right out yede And his maister shette the dore anon And to hir labour spedily they gon This preest at this cursed chanons biddyng 1145 Vp#on the fyr anon sette this thyng And blew the fyr and bisied hym ful faste And this chanoun in#to the crosselet caste A poudre noot I wher#of that it was Ymaad outher of chalk outher of glas 1150 Or som#what elles was nat worth a flye To blynde with this preest and bad hym hye The coles for to couchen al aboue The crosselet for in tokenyng I thee loue Quod this chanoun thyne owene handes two Shul werche al thyng which that shal here be do Graunt mercy quod the preest and was ful glad And couched coles as the chanoun bad And whil he bisy was this feendly wrecche This false chanoun the foule feend hym fecche 1160 Out of his bosom took a bechen cole In which ful subtilly was maad an hole And ther#inne put was of siluer lymaille An ounce and stopped was with#outen faille This hole with wex to kepe the lymaille in 1165 And vnderstondeth that this false gyn Was nat maad ther but it was maad bifore And othere thynges I shal telle moore Her afterward which that he with hym broghte Er he cam ther hym to bigile he thoghte 1170 And so he dide er that they wente atwynne Til he hadde terued hym koude he nat blynne It dulleth me whan that I of hym speke On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke If I wiste how but he is here and ther 1175 He is so variaunt he abit no wher But taketh heed now sires for goddes loue He took his cole of which I spak aboue And in his hand he baar it pryuely And whils the preest couched bisily 1180 The coles as I tolde yow er this This chanoun seyde freend ye doon amys This is nat couched as it oghte be But soone I shal amenden it quod he Now lat me medle ther#with but a while 1185 For of yow haue I pitee by seint Gyle Ye been right hoot I se wel how ye swete Haue here a clooth and wipe awey the wete And whils that the preest wiped his face This chanoun took his cole with sory grace 1190 And leyde it aboue vp#on the myddeward Of the crosselet and blew wel afterward Til that the coles gonne faste brenne Now yeue vs drynke quod the chanoun thenne As swithe al shal be wel I vndertake 1195 Sitte we doun and lat vs myrie make And whan that this chanons bechen cole Was brent al the lemaille out of the hole In#to the crosselet fil anon adoun And so it moste nedes by resoun 1200 Syn it so euene abouen couched was But ther of wiste the preest no thyng allas He demed alle the coles yliche good For of the sleighte he no#thyng vnderstood And whan this alkamystre saugh his tyme 1205 Rys vp quod he sire preest and stondeth by me And for I woot wel ingot haue ye noon Goth walketh forth and bryngeth a chalk stoon For I wol make it of the same shap That is an ingot if I may han hap 1210 And bryngeth eek with yow a bolle or a panne Ful of water and ye shul se wel thanne How that oure bisynesse shal thryue and preue And yet for ye shul han no mysbileue Ne wrong conceite of me in youre absence 1215 I ne wol nat been out of youre presence But go with yow and come with yow ageyn The chambre$dore shortly for to seyn They opened and shette and wente hir weye And forth with hem they carieden the keye 1220 And come agayn with#outen any delay What sholde I tarien al the longe day He took the chalk and shoop it in the wise Of an ingot as I shal yow deuyse I seye he took out of his owene sleue 1225 A teyne of siluer yuele moot he cheue Which that ne was nat but an ounce of weighte And taketh heed now of his cursed sleighte He shoop his ingot in lengthe and in brede Of this teyne with#outen any drede 1230 So slyly that the preest it nat espide And in his sleue agayn he gan it hide And fro the fyr he took vp his matere And in th+yngot putte it with myrie cheere 1234 And in the water$vessel he it caste Whan that hym lyste and bad the preest as faste Look what ther is put in thyn hand and grope Thow fynde shalt ther siluer as I hope What deuel of helle sholde it elles be Shauyng of siluer siluer is pardee 1240 He putte his hand in and took vp a teyne Of siluer fyn and glad in euery veyne Was this preest whan he sey it was so Goddes blessyng and his modres also And alle halwes haue ye sire chanoun 1245 Seyde the preest and I hir malisoun But and ye vouche$sauf to techen me This noble craft and this subtiltee I wol be youre in al that euere I may Quod the chanoun yet wol I make assay 1250 The seconde tyme that ye may taken hede And been expert of this and in youre nede Another day assaye in myn absence This disciplyne and this crafty science Lat take another ounce quod he tho 1255 Of quyk siluer with#outen wordes mo And do ther#with as ye han doon er this With that oother which that now siluer is This preest hym bisieth in al that he kan To doon as this chanoun this cursed man 1260 Comaunded hym and faste blew the fir For to come to th+effect of his desir And this chanoun right in the mene while Al redy was this preest eft to bigile And for a countenance in his hande he bar 1265 An holwe stikke taak keep and be war In the ende of which an ounce and namoore Of siluer lymaille put was as bifore Was in his cole and stopped with wex weel For to kepe in his lymaille euery deel 1270 And whil this preest was in his bisinesse This chanoun with his stikke gan hym dresse To hym anon and his poudre caste in As he dide er the deuel out of his skyn Hym terue I pray to god for his falshede 1275 For he was euere fals in thoght and dede And with his stikke aboue the crosselet That was ordeyned with that false get He stired the coles til relente gan The wex agayn the fyr as euery man 1280 But it a fool be woot wel it moot nede And al that in the stikke was out yede And in the crosselet hastilych it fel Now gode sires what wol ye bet than wel Whan that this preest thus was bigiled ageyn 1285 Supposynge noght but trouthe sooth to seyn He was so glad that I kan nat expresse In no manere his myrthe and his gladnesse And to the chanoun he profred eftsone Body and good ye quod the chanoun sone 1290 Thogh poure I be crafty thow shalt me fynde I warne thee yet is ther moore bihynde Is ther any coper her#inne seyde he Ye quod the preest sire I trowe wel ther be Elles go bye vs som and that as swithe 1295 Now goode sire go forth thy wey and hy the He wente his wey and with this coper cam And this chanoun it in hise handes nam And of that coper weyed out but an ounce Al to symple is my tonge to pronounce 1300 As ministre of my wit the doublenesse Of this chanoun roote of al cursednesse He semed freendly to hem that knewe hym noght But he was feendly bothe in werke and thoght It werieth me to telle of his falsnesse 1305 And nathelees yet wol I it expresse To th+entente that men may be war ther#by And for noon oother cause trewely He putte this ounce of coper in the crosselet 1309 And on the fyr as swithe he hath it set And caste in poudre and made the preest to blowe And in his werkyng for to stoupe lowe As he dide er and al nas but a iape Right as hym liste the preest he made his ape And afterward in th+yngot he it caste 1315 And in the panne putte it at the laste Of water and in he putte his owene hond And in his sleue as ye biforn#hond Herde me telle he hadde a siluer teyne He slyly took it out this cursed heyne 1320 Vnwityng this preest of his false craft And in the pannes botme he hath it laft And in the water rumbled to and fro And wonder pryuely took vp also The coper teyne noght knowyng this preest 1325 And hidde it and hym hente by the breest And to hym spak and thus seyde in his game Stoupeth adoun by god ye be to blame Helpeth me now as I dide yow whil er Putte in youre hond and looketh what is ther 1330 This preest took vp this siluer teyne anon And thanne seyde the chanoun lat vs gon With thise thre teynes which that we han wroght To som goldsmyth and wite if they been oght For by my feith I nolde for myn hood1335 But if they were siluer fyn and good And that as swithe preued shal it be Vn#to the goldsmyth with thise teynes thre They wente and putte thise teynes in assay To fyr and hamer myghte no man seye nay 1340 But that they weren as hem oghte be This sotted preest who was gladder than he Was neuere brid gladder agayn the day Ne nyghtyngale in the sesoun of May Was neuere noon that lyste bet to synge 1345 Ne lady lustier in carolynge Or for to speke of loue and wommanhede Ne knyght in armes to doon an hardy dede To stonde in grace of his lady deere Than hadde this preest this sory craft to leere 1350 And to the chanoun thus he spak and seyde For the loue of god that for vs alle deyde And as I may deserue it vn#to yow What shal this receyt coste telleth now By oure lady quod this chanoun it is dere 1355 I warne yow wel for saue I and a frere In Engelond ther kan no man it make No fors quod he now sire for goddes sake What shal I paye telleth me I preye Ywis quod he it is ful deere I seye 1360 Sire at o word if that thee list it haue Ye shul paye fourty pound so god me saue And nere the freendshipe that ye dide er this To me ye sholde paye moore ywis This preest the somme of fourty pound anon 1365 Of nobles fette and took hem euerichon To this chanoun for this ilke receit Al his werkyng nas but fraude and deceit Sire preest he seyde I kepe han no loos Of my craft for I wolde it kept were cloos 1370 And as ye loue me kepeth it secree For and men knewen al my soutiltee By god they wolden han so greet enuye To me by cause of my philosophye I sholde be deed ther were noon oother weye 1375 God it forbede quod the preest what sey ye Yet hadde I leuere spenden al the good Which that I haue and elles wexe I wood Than that ye sholden falle in swich mescheef For youre good wil sire haue ye right good preef 1380 Quod the chanoun and fare wel grant mercy He wente his wey and neuere the preest hym sy After that day and whan that this preest sholde Maken assay at swich tyme as he wolde Of this receit fare$wel it wolde nat be 1385 Lo thus byiaped and bigiled was he Thus maketh he his introduccioun To brynge folk to hir destruccioun Considereth sires how that in ech estaat Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat 1390 So ferforth that vnnethes is ther noon This multiplying blent so many oon That in good feith I trowe that it be The cause grettest of swich scarsetee Philosophres speken so mystily 1395 In this craft that men kan nat come ther#by For any wit that men han now$a$dayes They mowe wel chiteren as doon iayes And in hire termes sette hir lust and peyne But to hir purpos shul they neuere atteyne 1400 A man may lightly lerne if he haue aught To multiplie and brynge his good to naught Lo swich a lucre is in this lusty game A mannes myrthe it wol turne in#to grame And empten also grete and heuy purses 1405 And maken folk for to purchasen curses Of hem that han hir good ther to ylent O fy for shame they that han been brent Allas kan they nat flee the fyres hete Ye that it vse I rede ye it lete 1410 Lest ye lese al for bet than neuere is late Neuere to thryue were to long a date Thogh ye prolle ay ye shul it neuere fynde Ye been as boold as is Bayard the blynde That blondreth forth and peril casteth noon 1415 He is as boold to renne agayn a stoon As for to goon bisides in the weye So faren ye that multiplie I seye If that youre eyen kan nat seen aright Looke that youre mynde lakke noght his sight 1420 For thogh ye looke neuere so brode and stare Ye shul no thyng wynne on that chaffare But wasten al that ye may rape and renne Withdrawe the fyr lest it to faste brenne Medleth namoore with that art I mene 1425 For if ye doon youre thrift is goon ful clene And right as swithe I wol yow tellen here What that the philosophres seyn in this matere Lo thus seith Arnold of the Newe Toun As his Rosarie maketh mencioun 1430 He seith right thus with#outen any lye Ther may no man Mercurie mortifye But it be with his brother knowlechyng How that he which that first seyde this thyng Of philosophres fader was Hermes 1435 He seith how that the dragon doutelees Ne dieth nat but if that he be slayn With his brother and that is for to sayn By the dragon Mercurie and noon oother He vnderstood and brymstoon by his brother 1440 That out of Sol and Luna were ydrawe And ther for seyde he tak heed to my sawe Lat no man bisy hym this art for to seche But if that he th+entencioun and speche Of philosophres vnderstonde kan 1445 And if he do he is a lewed man For this science and this konnyng quod he Is of the secree of secretes pardee Also ther was a disciple of Plato That on a tyme seyde his maister to 1450 As his book Senior wol bere witnesse And this was his demande in soothfastnesse Tel me the name of the pryuee stoon And Plato answerde vn#to hym anoon Take the stoon that Titanos men name 1455 Which is that quod he Magnasia is the same Seyde Plato ye sire and is it thus This =ignotum per ignocius\ What is Magnasia good sire I yow preye It is a water that is maad I seye 1460 Of elementes foure quod Plato Telle me the roote good sire quod he tho Of that water if it be youre wille Nay nay quod Plato certeyn that I nylle The philosophres sworn were euerichoon 1465 That they sholden discouere it vn#to noon Ne in no book it write in no manere For vn#to Crist it is so leef and deere That he wol nat that it discouered be But wher it liketh to his deitee 1470 Men for t+enspire and eek for to defende Whom that hym liketh lo this is the ende Thanne conclude I thus sith that god of heuene Ne wol nat that the philosophres neuene How that a man shal come vn#to this stoon 1475 I rede as for the beste lat it goon For who#so maketh god his aduersarie As for to werken any thyng in contrarie Of his wyl certes neuere shal he thryue Thogh that he multiplie terme of his lyue 1480 And ther a poynt for ended is my tale God sende euery trewe man boote of his bale <%heere folweth the prologe of the maunciples tale%> Woot ye nat where ther stant a litel toun Which that ycleped is Bobbe$vp$and$doun Vnder the Blee in Caunterbury weye Ther gan oure hoost for to iape and pleye 5 And seyde sires what Don is in the myre Is ther no man for preyere ne for hyre That wol awake oure felawe al bihynde A theef myght hym ful lightly robbe and bynde Se how he nappeth se how for cokkes bones 10 That he wol falle from his hors atones Is that a cook of Londoun with meschaunce Do hym com forth he knoweth his penaunce For he shal telle a tale by my fey Al#thogh it be nat worth a botel hey 15 Awake thow cook quod he god yeue thee sorwe 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 20 This cook that was ful pale and no#thyng reed 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 25 Wel quod the manciple if it may doon ese To thee sire cook and to no wight displese Which that here rideth in this compaignye And that oure hoost wol of his curteisye I wol as now excuse thee of thy tale 30 For in good feith thy visage is ful pale Thyne eyen dawsen eek as that me thynketh And wel I woot thy breeth ful soure stynketh That sheweth wel thow art nat wel disposed Of me certeyn thow shalt nat been yglosed 35 Se how he ganeth lo this dronken wight As thogh he wolde swolwe vs anon#right Hoold cloos thy mouth man by thy fader kyn The deuel of helle sette his foot ther#yn Thy cursed breeth infecte wol vs alle 40 Fy stynkynge swyn fy foule moot thee falle A taketh hede sires of this lusty man Now swete sire wol ye iusten atte fan Ther#to me thynketh ye been wel yshape I trowe that ye dronken han wyn ape 45 And that is whan men pleyen with a straw And with his speche the cook wax wrooth and wraw And on the manciple he gan nodde faste For lakke of speche and doun the hors hym caste Wher as he lay til that men hym vp took 50 This was a fair chyuachee of a cook 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 55 So vnweldy was this sory palled goost And to the manciple thanne spak oure hoost By cause drynke hath domynacioun Vp#on this man by my sauacioun I trowe he lewedly telle wolde his tale 60 For were it wyn or old or moisty ale 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 capul out of the slow 65 And if he falle from his capul eft soone 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 70 Thus openly repreue hym of his vice Another day he wole par auenture Reclayme thee and brynge thee to lure I mene he speke wole of smale thynges As for to pynchen at thy rekenynges 75 That were nat honeste if it cam to preef 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 80 I wol nat wrathe hym also mote I thryue That that I spak I seyde it in my bourde And wite ye what I haue here in a gourde A draghte of wyn ye of a ripe grape And right anon ye shul seen a good iape 85 This cook shal drynke ther#of if I may Vp peyne of deeth he wol nat seye me nay And certeynly to tellen as it was Of this vessel the cook drank faste allas What neded it he drank ynow biforn 90 And whan he hadde pouped in this horn 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 koude Thanne gan oure hoost to laughen wonder loude 95 And seyde I se wel it is necessarie Where that we goon good drynke with vs carie For that wol turne rancour and disese T+acord and loue and many a wrong appese O Bacus yblessed be thy name 100 That so kanst turnen ernest in#to game Worship and thank be to thy deitee Of that matere ye gete namoore of me Telle on thy tale manciple I the preye Wel sire quod he now herkneth what I seye <%heere bigynneth the maunciple's tale of the crowe%> 105 Whan Phebus dwelled here in this erthe adoun As olde bookes 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 110 Slepynge agayn the sonne vp#on a day 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 115 To heren of his clere voys the soun Certes the kyng of Thebes Amphioun That with his syngyng walled that citee Koude neuere syngen half so wel as he Ther to he was the semelieste man 120 That is or was sith that the world bigan What nedeth it hise fetures to discryue For in this world was noon so fair on$lyue He was ther#with fulfild of gentillesse Of honour and of parfit worthynesse 125 This Phebus that was flour of bachelrye As wel in fredom as in chiualrye 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 130 Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a crowe 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$whit swan And countrefete the speche of euery man 135 He koude whan he sholde telle a tale Ther#with in al this world no nyghtyngale Ne koude by an hondred thousand deel Syngen so wonder myrily and weel Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a wyf 140 Which that he louede moore than his lyf And nyght and day dide euere his diligence Hire for to plese and doon hire reuerence Saue oonly if the sothe that I shal sayn Ialous he was and wolde han kept hire fayn 145 For hym were looth byiaped for to be And so is euery wight in swich degree But al for naught for it auailleth noght A good$wyf that is clene of werk and thoght Sholde nat be kept in noon awayt certayn 150 And trewely the labour is in vayn 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 155 But now to purpos as I first bigan This worthy Phebus dooth al that he kan To plesen hire wenynge by swich plesaunce And for his manhode and his gouernaunce That no man sholde han put hym from hire grace 160 But god it woot ther may no man embrace 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 165 To fostre it tendrely with mete and drynke Of alle deyntees that thow kanst bithynke And kepe it al so clenly as thow may Al#though his cage of gold be neuer so gay Yet hath this bryd by twenty thousand fold 170 Leuere in a forest that is wilde and cold Goon ete wormes and swich wrecchednesse For euere this brid wol doon his bisynesse To eschape out of his cage if he may His libertee this brid desireth ay 175 Lat take a cat and fostre hym wel with milk 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 180 Swich appetit hath he to ete a mous Lo heere hath lust his dominacioun And appetit flemeth discrecioun A she$wolf hath also a vileyns kynde The lewedeste wolf that she may fynde 185 Or leest of reputacioun that wol she take In tyme whan hir lust to han a make Alle thise ensamples speke I by thise men That ben vntrewe and no thyng by wommen For men han euere a likerous appetit 190 On lower thyng to parformen hir delit Than on hire wyues be they neuer so faire Ne neuer so trewe ne so debonaire Flessh is so newefangel with meschaunce That we ne konne in no#thyng han plesaunce 195 That sowneth into vertu any while This Phebus which that thoghte vp#on no gile Deceyued was for al his iolitee For vnder hym another hadde she A man of litel reputacioun 200 Nat worth to Phebus in comparisoun 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 hir lemman sent 205 Hir lemman certes this is a knauyssh speche 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 210 The word moot cosyn be to the werkyng I am a boystous man right thus seye I Ther nys no difference trewely Bitwix a wyf that is of heigh degree If of hir body dishoneste she be 215 And a poure wenche oother than this If it so be they werke bothe amys But that the gentile in estat aboue She shal be cleped his lady as in loue And for that oother is a poure womman 220 She shal be cleped his wenche or his lemman 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 225 The same I seye ther is no difference To Alisandre was told this sentence That for the tiraunt is of gretter myght By force of meynee for to sleen doun right And brennen hous and hoom and make al playn 230 Lo therfore is he cleped a capitayn 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 235 But for I am a man noght textuel 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 wroghten al hire lust volage 240 The white crowe that heng ay in the cage Biheld hir werk and seyde neuer a word And whan that hoom was come Phebus the lord This crowe sang cokkow cokkow cokkow What bryd quod Phebus what song syngestow 245 Ne were thow wont so myrily to synge 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 250 For al thy beautee and thy gentillesse 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 as in comparisoun 255 The montaunce of a gnat so moot I thryue For on 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 260 Hym to gret shame and to gret vileynye And tolde hym ofte he sey it with hise eyen This Phebus gan aweyward for to wryen Hym thoghte his sorweful herte brast atwo His bowe he bente and sette ther#inne a flo 265 And in his ire his wyf thanne hath he slayn This is th+effect ther nys namoore to sayn For sorwe of which he brak his mynstralcye Bothe harpe and lute gyterne and sawtrye And eek he brak hise arwes and his bowe 270 And after that thus spak he to the crowe Traitour 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 275 That were to me so sad and eek so trewe Now lystow deed 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 o recchelees 280 That vnauysed smytest giltlees O wantrust ful of fals suspecioun Where was thy wit and thy discrecioun O euery man be war of rakelnesse Ne trowe no#thyng with#outen strong witnesse 285 Smyt nat to soone er that ye witen why And beth auysed wel and sobrely Er ye doon any execucioun Vp#on youre ire for suspecioun Allas a thousand folk hath rakel ire 290 Fully fordoon or broght hem in the myre Allas for sorwe I wol my seluen sle And to the crowe o false theef seyde he I wol thee quyte anon thy false tale Thow songe whilom lyk a nyghtyngale 295 Now shaltow false theef thy song forgon And eek thy white fetheres euerichon Ne neuere in al thy lyf ne shaltow speke Thus shal men on a traytour been awreke Thow and thy ofspryng euere shul be blake 300 Ne neuere swete noyse shul ye make 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 305 And made hym blak and rafte hym al his song And eek his speche and out at dore hym slong\ Vn#to the deuel which I hym bitake And for this cas ben alle crowes blake Lordynges by this ensample I yow preye 310 Beth war and taketh kepe what ye seye 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 315 Techeth a man to kepen his tonge wel But as I seyde I am 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 320 A wikked tonge is worse than a feend 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 325 My sone ful ofte for to muche speche 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 330 At alle tymes but whan thow doost thy peyne To speke of god in honour and preyere The firste vertu sone if thow wolt leere Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge Thus lernen children whan that they ben yonge 335 My sone of muchel spekyng yuele auysed Ther lasse spekyng hadde ynow suffised Comth muchel harm thus was me told and taught In muchel speche synne wanteth naught Wostow wher#of a rakel tonge serueth 340 Right as a swerd forkutteth and forkerueth An arm atwo my deere sone right so A tonge kutteth frendship al atwo A ianglere is to god abhomynable Rede Salomon so wys and honurable 345 Rede Dauid in his psalmes rede Senekke My sone spek noght but with thyn heed 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 350 That litel ianglyng causeth muchel reste 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 355 Thyng that is seyd is seyd and forth it gooth Thogh hym repente or be hym neuere so looth He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd A tale of which he is now yuel apayd My sone be war and be noon auctour newe 360 Of tidynges wheither they been false or trewe Wher#so thow come amonges hye or lowe Kepe wel thy tonge and thynk vp#on the crowe <%heere folweth the prologe of the persouns tale%> By that the maunciple hadde his tale ended The sonne fro the south lyne was descended So lowe that he nas nat to my sighte Degrees nyne and twenty as of highte 5 Ten of the clokke it was so as I gesse For elleuene foot or litel moore or lesse My shadwe was at thilke tyme as there Of swiche feet as my lengthe parted were In sixe feet equal of proporcioun 10 Ther#with the mones exaltacioun 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 15 Seyde in this wise lordynges euerichon 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 20 I pray to god so yeue hym right good chaunce That telleth this tale to vs lustily Sire preest quod he artow a vicary Or artow a person sey sooth by thy fey Be what thow be ne breke thow nat oure pley 25 For euery man saue thow hath toold his tale Vnbokele and shewe vs what is in thy male For trewely me thynketh by thy cheere Thow sholdest knytte vp wel a greet matere Telle vs a fable anon for cokkes bones 30 This person answerde al atones Thow getest fable noon ytoold for me For Poul that writeth vn#to Thymothe Repreueth hem that weyuen soothfastnesse And tellen fables and swich wrecchednesse 35 Why sholde I sowen draf out of my fest Whan I may sowen whete if that me lest For which I seye if that yow list to heere Moralitee and vertuous matere And thanne that ye wol yeue me audience 40 I wole ful fayn at Cristes reuerence Do yow plesaunce 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 45 And therfore if yow lest I wol nat glose 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 50 Of thilke parfit glorious pilgrymage That highte Ierusalem celestial And if ye vouche$sauf anon I shal Bigynne vp#on my tale for which I preye Telle youre auys I kan no bettre seye 55 But nathelees this meditacioun I putte it ay vnder correccioun Of clerkes for I am nat textuel I take but the sentence trusteth wel Therfore I make protestacioun 60 That I wol stonde to correccioun Vp#on 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 65 And bede oure hoost he sholde to hym seye 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 70 And with that word he seyde in this manere 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\> <%heere bigynneth the persouns tale%> <=Ier. 6@. State super vias et videte et interrogate de viis antiquis que sit via bona et ambulate in ea et in- uenietis refrigerium animabus vestris etc.\> Oure swete lord god of heuene that no man wole perisse but wole that we comen alle to the knoweleche of hym and to the blisful lyf that is perdurable \75\ / amonesteth vs by the prophete Ieremie that seith in this wise / Stondeth vp#on 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 re- fresshynge for youre soules etc. / Manye been the weyes espirituels that leden folk to oure lord Iesu Crist and to the regne of glorie / of whiche weyes ther is a ful noble wey and a ful convenable which may nat faile to man ne to womman that thurgh synn hath mysgoon fro the righte wey of Ierusalem celestial \80\ / and this wey is cleped Penitence of which man sholde gladly herknen and enquere with al his herte / to wite what is penitence and whennes it is cleped penitenc and in how manye maneres been the accions or werkynges of penitence / and how manye spices ther ben of penitence and whiche thynges apertenen and bihouen to penitence and whiche thynges destourben penitence / Seint Ambrose seith that penitence is the pleynynge o man for the gilt that he hath doon and namoore to doon any thyng for which hym oghte to pleyne / And som doctou seith Penitence is the waymentynge of man that sorweth for his synne and pyneth hym#self for he hath mysdoo \85\ / Penitence with certeyne circumstances is verray repentance of a man that halt hym#self in sorwe and oo ther 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 com- pleyne and to continue in goode werkes or elles his re- pentance may nat auaille / For as seith Seint Isidre h is a iapere and a gabbere and no verray repentant that eft soone dooth thyng for which hym oghte repente / wep- ynge and nat for to stynte to do synne may nat auaile \90\ / But nathelees men shal hope that at euery tym that man falleth be it neuer so ofte that he may arise thurgh penitence if he haue grace but certeynly it is greet doute / for as seith Seint Gregorie vnnethe ariset he out of his synne that is charged with the charge of yuel vsage / and ther#fore repentant folk that stynte for to synne and forlete synne er that synne forlete hem holy chirche halt hem siker of hire sauacion / and he that synneth and verraily repenteth hym in his laste hol chirche yet hopeth his sauacioun by the grete mercy of oure lord Iesu Crist for his repentaunce but taak the siker wey / And now sith I haue declared yow what thyng is peni tence now shul ye vnderstonde that ther been three ac- cions of penitence \95\ / 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 bi- gynne the newe clene lyf / for certes if he be baptise with#outen 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 de- faute is this that men doon deedly synne after that they han receyued baptesme / The thridde defaute is that men fallen in venyal synnes after hir baptesme fro day to day \100\ / Ther of seith Seint Augustyn that penitence of goode and humble folk is the penitence of euery day The spices of penitence been three that oon of hem is solempne another is commune and the thridde is priuee / Thilke penaunce that is solempne is in two maneres as to be put out of holy chirche in Lente for slaughtre o children and swich maner thyng / Another is whan a man hath synned openly of which synne the fame is openly spoken in the contree and thanne holy chirche by iugement destreyneth hym for to doon open penaunce / Commune pen- aunce is that preestes enioynen men communly in certeyn cas as for to goon parauenture naked in pilgrymage or barefoot \105\ / Pryuee penaunce is thilke that men doo alday for pryuee synnes of whiche we shryue vs pryuely and receyue pryuee penance / Now shaltow vnderstande what is bihouely and necessarie to verray parfit penitence and this stant on three thyng- es / Contricioun of herte Confessioun of mouth and Satis- faccioun / for which seith Seint Iohn Crisostom Penitence destreyneth man to accepte benygnely euery peyne that hym is enioyned with contricioun of herte and shrift of mouth with satisfaccioun and in wirkynge of alle manere humyl- itee / and this is fruytful penitence agayn three thynges in whiche we wrathe oure lord Iesu Crist \110\ / this is to seyn by delit in thynkynge by recchelesnesse in spek- ynge by wikked synful wirkynge / and agayns thise wikkede giltes is penitence that may be likned vn#to 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 braunches and leues of confessioun and fruyt of satisfaccioun / for which Crist seith in his gospel dooth digne fruyt of penitence for by this fruyt may men knowe this tree an nat by the roote that is hyd in the herte of man ne by the braunches ne by the leues of confessioun \115\ / 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 this see spryngeth of god thurgh remembrance of the day of dome and on the peynes of helle / Of this matere seith Salo mon that in the drede of god man forleteth his synne / The heete of this seed is the loue of god and the desir- yng of the ioye perdurable \120\ / This heete drawet the herte of man to god and dooth hym hate his synne / for soothly ther is no#thyng that sauoureth so wel to a child as the mylk of his norice ne no#thyng 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 that it is to hym moost swete of any thyng / but fro that tyme that he loueth sadly oure lor Iesu Crist and desireth the lyf perdurable ther nys to hym no#thyng moore abhomynable / 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 \125\ / This tree saugh the prophete Daniel in spirit vp#on the auy- sioun of Nabugodonsor whan he conseiled hym to do peni- tence / Penance is the tree of lyf to hem that it re- ceyuen and he that holdeth hym in verray penitence is blessed after the sentence of Salomon In this penitence or contricioun man shal vnderstonde foure thynges that is to seyn what is contricioun an whiche ben the causes that moeuen a man to contricioun and how he sholde be contrit and what contricioun auail- eth to the soule / Thanne is it thus that contricioun is the verray sorwe that a man receyueth in his hert for his synnes with sad purpos to shryue hym and to do penance and neuere moore to do synne / and this sorwe shal been in this manere as seith Seint Bernard It shal ben heuy and greuous and ful sharp and poynaunt in herte \130\ / first for man hath agilt his lord and his Creatour and moore sharp and poynaunt for he hath agil his fader celestial / and yet moore sharp and poynaun for he hath wrathed and agilt hym that boghte hym that with his precious blood hath deliuered vs fro the bonde of synne and fro the crueltee of the deuel and fro the peynes of helle / The causes that oghten moeuen a man to contricioun been sixe First a man shal remembre hym of hise synnes / but looke that thilke remembraunce 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 / And therfore seith Ezechie I wol remembre me alle the yeres of my lyf in bitternesse of myn herte \135\ / And god seith in the Apocalips 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 woxen thral and foul and membre of the feend hate of aungels sclaundre of holy chirch and foode of the false serpent perpetuel matere of the fir of helle / and yet moore foul and abhomynable fo ye trespassen so ofte tyme as dooth the hound that re- tourneth to eten 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 / Swiche manere of thoughtes maken a man to haue shame of his synne and no delit as god seith by the prophete Ezechiel \140\ / ye shal remembre yow of youre weyes and they shuln displese yow soothly synnes been the weyes that leden folk to helle / The seconde cause that oghte make a man to han desdey of synne is this that as seith Seint Peter Who#so that dooth synne is thral of synne and synne put a man in greet thraldam / And therfore seith the prophete Eze- chiel I wente sorweful in desdayn of my#self 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 go neither god ne man ne sholde neuere knowe it yet wolde I haue desdayn for to do synne / 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 \145\ ne a fouler thral may no man ne womman maken of his body than for to yeue his body to synne / al were it the foul- este cherl or the fouleste womman that lyueth and lees of value yet is he thanne moore foul and moore in ser- uitute / 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 des- dayn of synne sith that thurgh synne ther he was free now is he maked bonde / And ther#fore seith Seint Au- gustyn If thow hast desdayn of thy seruant if he agilte or synne haue thow thanne desdayn that thow thy#self sholdest do synne \150\ / take reward of thy value tha thow ne be to foul to thy#self / Allas wel oghten they thanne haue desdayn to ben seruantz and thralles to synne and soore ben ashamed of hem#self / that god of his endelees goodnesse hath set hem in heigh estat o yeuen hem wit strengthe of body heele beautee prosper- itee / and boghte hem fro the deeth with his herte$ blood that they so vnkyndely agayns his gentilesse quyten hym so vileynsly to slaughtre of hir owene soul es / O goode god ye wommen that been of so greet beau tee remembreth yow of the prouerbe of Salomon He seith \155\ / likneth a fair womman that is a fool of hire body lyk to a ryng of gold that were in the groyn o a sowe / for right as a sowe wroteth in euerich ordure so wroteth she hire beautee in stynkynge ordure of synne / The thridde cause that oghte moeue a man to contri- cioun 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 / for whan I ete or drynke or what so that I do euere semeth me that the trompe sowneth in myn ere \160\ / Riseth ye vp that ben dede and cometh to the iugement / O goode god muchel oghte a man to drede swich a iugemen ther as we shullen ben alle as Seint Poul seith biforn the sete of oure lord Iesu Crist / where as he shal make a general congregacioun where as no man may ben absent / for certes there auaileth noon essoyne ne excusacioun / and nat oonly that oure defautes shullen be iuged but eek that alle oure werkes shullen openly be knowe \165\ And as seith Seint Bernard ther ne shal no pledynge auaille ne no sleighte we shullen yeue rekenynge of eu- erich ydel word / there shul we han a iuge that may nat ben deceyued ne corrupt and why for certes alle oure thoghtes ben discouered as to hym ne for preyere ne for mede he shal nat ben corrupt / And therfore seith Salo- mon 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 angwissh shul- len the synful folk haue at that tyme / ther shal the stierne and wrothe iuge sitte aboue and vnder hym the horrible pit of helle open to destroyen hym that moot biknowen hise synnes whiche synnes openly ben shewed bi- forn god and biforn euery creature \170\ / and on the left syde mo deueles than herte may bithynke for to har ye and drawe the synful soules to the peyne of helle / and with#inne the hertes of folk shal be the bitynge conscience and with#oute forth shal be the world al bren- nynge / Whider shal thanne the wrecched synful man flee to hyde hym certes he may nat hyde hym he moste com forth and shewe hym / for certes as seith Seint Ierome the erthe shal caste hym out of hym and the see also and the eyr also that shal be ful of thonder$clappes an lightnynges / Now soothly who#so wel remembreth hym of thise thynges I gesse that his synne shal nat turne hym in delit but to gret sorwe for drede of the peyne of helle \175\ / And therfore seith Iob to god Suffre lord that I may a while biwayle and wepe er I go with#oute returnynge to the dirke lond couered with the derknesse of deeth / to the lond of mysese and of derknesse where as is the shadwe of deeth where#as ther is noon ordre or ordinaunce but grisly drede that euere shal laste / Lo here may ye seen that Iob preyde respit awhile 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 hym#self biforn god by peni- tence 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 / for certes al the sorwe that man myghte make fro the bigynnyng of the world nys but a litel thyng at regard of the sorwe of helle \180\ / The cause why that Iob clepeth helle the lond of derk nesse / vnderstondeth that he clepeth it lond or erthe for it is stable and neuere shal faille 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 tor- menten / couered with the derknesse of deeth that is t seyn that he that is in helle shal haue defaute of the sighte of god for certes the sighte of god is the lyf perdurable / The derknesse of deeth ben the synnes that the wrecched man hath doon whiche that destourben hym to see the face of god right as a derk clowde bitwixe vs and the sonne \185\ / Lond of myseise by cause that the ben three maneres of defautes agayn three thynges that folk of this world han in this present lyf that is to seyn honours delices and richesses / Agayns honour han they in helle shame and confusioun / for wel ye woot that men clepen honour the reuerence that man doth to man but in helle is noon honour ne reuerence for certe namoore reuerence shal be doon there to a kyng than to a knaue / for which god seith by the prophete Ieremye Thilke folk that me despisen shulle ben in despit / Honour is eek cleped greet lordshipe ther shal no wight seruen oother but of harm and torment Honour is eek cleped greet dignytee and heighnesse but in helle shul- len they ben al for troden of deueles \190\ / As go seith the horrible deueles shulle goon and comen vp on the heuedes of dampned folk and this is for as muche as the hyer 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 mys- eyse of pouerte and this pouerte shal be in foure thyng- es / In defaute of tresor of which that Dauid seith Th riche folk that embraceden and oneden al hire herte to tresor of this world shulle slepen in the slepynge of deeth and no#thyng ne shal they fynden in hire handes of al hire tresor / And moore#ouer the myseyse of hell shal ben in defaute of mete and drynke / for god seith thus by Moyses They shul ben wasted with hunger and the briddes of helle shul deuouren hem with bitter deeth and the galle of the dragon shal ben hire drynke and the venym of the dragon hire morsels \195\ / And for ther ouer hire miseyse shal ben in defaute of clothyng for they shullen be 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 ben thanne the gaye robes and the softe shetes and the smale shert- es / Loo what seith god of hem by the prophete Ysaye that vnder hem shul ben strawed motthes and hire couer tures shulle ben of wormes of helle / And forther ouer hire myseyse shal ben in defaute of frendes for he is nat pouere that hath goode frendes but there is no freend / for neither god ne no creature shal ben freend to hem and euerich of hem shal haten oother with deedly hate \200\ / 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 of hem oother in th prosperitee of this lyf / for truste wel hire flesshly loue was deedly hate as seith the prophete Dauid Who#s that loueth wikkednesse he hateth his soule / and who# so hateth his owene soule certes he may loue noon oothe wight in no manere \205\ / and therfore in helle is no solas ne no frendshipe but euere the moore flesshly kyn- redes that ben in helle the moore cursynges the moore chidynges and the moore deedly hate ther is among hem And forther ouer they shul haue defaute of alle manere delices for certes delices ben after the appetites of the fyue wittes as sighte herynge smellynge sauoryng and touchynge / but in helle hir sighte shal be ful of derknesse and of smoke and therfore ful of teeres and hire herynge ful of waymentynge and of gryntynge of teeth as seith Iesu Crist / hire nosethirles shullen b ful of stynkynge stynk And as seith Ysaye the prophete hire sauorynge shal be ful of bitter galle / and touch ynge of al hir body ycouered with fyr that neuere shal quenche and with wormes that neuere shul dyen as god seith by the mouth of Ysaye \210\ / And for as muche as they shul nat wene that they may dyen for peyne and by hire deeth fle fro peyne that ma they vnderstonde in the word of Iob that seith ther as is the shadwe of deth / Certes a shadwe hath the lik nesse of the thyng of which it is shadwe but shadwe is nat the same thyng of which it is shadwe / Right s fareth the peyne of helle it is lyk deeth for the hor- rible angwissh and why for it peyneth hem euere as thog men sholde dye anon but certes they shal nat dye / for as seith Seint Gregorie To wrecche kaityues shal b deeth with#oute deeth and ende with#outen ende and de- faute with#oute failynge / for hire deeth shal alwey lyuen and hir ende shal euere mo bigynne and hir defaute shal nat faile \215\ / And therfore seith Seint Ioh the Euaungelist They shullen folwe deeth and they shul 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 no#thyng with#outen ordre but alle thynges ben ordeyned and nombred yet nathelees they that ben dampned ben no thyng in ordre ne holden noon ordre / for the erthe ne shal bere hem no fruyt / For as the prophete Dauid seith god shal destroye the fruyt of th erthe as fro hem ne water shal yeue hem no moysture ne the eyr no refresshyng ne fyr no light \220\ / for as seith Seint Basilie 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 be yeuen in heuene to hise children right as the goode man yeueth flessh t 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 with#outen ende / Horrour is alwey drede of harm that is to come an this drede shal euere dwelle in the hertes of hem that ben dampned and therfore han they lorn al hire hope fo seuene causes / First for god that is hir iuge shal be with#outen mercy to hem ne they may nat plese hym ne noon of hise halwes ne they ne may yeue no#thyng for hire raunsoun \225\ / 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 dieth and whan he is deed he shal haue noon hope to escape fro peyne / Who# so thanne wolde wel vnderstonde thise peynes and bithynke hym wel that he hath deserued thilke peynes for his syn nes certes he sholde haue moore talent to siken and to wepe than for to syngen and to pleye / for as that seith Salomon Who#so that hadde the science to knowe the peynes that ben establised and ordeyned for synne he wolde make sorwe / Thilke science as seith Seint Augustyn maketh a man to waymente in his herte \230\ / The fourthe poynt that oghte make a man haue contri- cioun is the sorweful remembrance of the good that he hath left to doon here in erthe and eek the good that h hath lorn / Soothly the goode werkes that he hath lef either they ben the goode werkes that he wroghte er he fil in#to deedly synne or elles 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 synnyng / The othere goode werkes that he wroghte whil he lay in dedly synne they ben outrely dede as to the lyf perdurable in heuene Thanne thilke goode werkes that ben mortefied by ofte synnyng whiche goode werkes he dide while he was in char- itee ne mowe neuere quyken agayn with#outen verray peni- tence \235\ / And ther of seith god by the mouth of Eze- chiel that if the rightful man returne agayn from hi rightwisnesse and werke wikkednesse shal he lyue / nay for alle the goode werkes that he hath wroght ne shulle neuere ben in remembraunce for he shal dye in his synne / And vp#on thilke chapitre seith Seint Gregorie thus that we shul vnderstonde this principally / that whan we doon dedly synne it is for noght thanne to reherce or drawen in#to memorie the goode werkes that we han wroght biforn / 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 ther#by the lyf perdurable in heuene \240\ / but nathelees the goode werkes quyken agayn and comen agayn and helpen and auaillen to haue the lyf per- durable in heuene whan we han contricioun / but soothl the goode werkes that men doon whil they been in dedly synne for as muche as they were doon in dedly synne the may neuere quyken agayn / for certes thyng that neuer hadde lyf may neuere quyken and natheles al be it tha they ne auaille noght to han the lyf perdurable yet a- uailen they to abreggen of the peyne of helle or elles to gete temporal richesse / or elles that god wole the ra- ther enlumyne and lightne the herte of the synful man to han repentance / and eek they auailen for to vsen a man to doon goode werkes that the feend haue the lasse power of his soule \245\ / And thus the curteys lord Iesu Crist ne wole that no good werk be lost for in som#what it shal auaille / but for as muche as the goode werkes that men doon whil they ben in good lyf ben al mortified by synne folwynge and eek sith that alle the goode werkes tha men doon whil they ben in dedly synne ben outrely dede as for to haue the lyf perdurable / wel may that man that no good werk ne dooth synge thilke newe frenshe song =Iay tout perdu mon temps et mon labour\ / For certes synne bireueth a man bothe goodnesse of na- ture and eek the goodnesse of grace / For soothly the grace of the holy goost fareth lyk fyr that may nat be ydel for fyr faileth anon as it forleteth his werkynge and right so grace faileth anon as it forleteth his werk- ynge \250\ / thanne leseth the synful man the goodnesse of glorie that oonly is bihight to goode men that la- bouren and werken / Wel may he be sory thanne that owet 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 pres- ent 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 / The fifthe thyng that oghte moeue a man to contricioun is remembrance of the passion that oure lord Iesu Crist suffred for ouer synnes \255\ / for as seith Seint Ber- nard 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 preyde hise teeres whan that he weep for pitee of good peple / the wo an the shame and the filthe that men seyden to hym of th foule spittyng that men spitte in his face of the buf fettes that men yaue hym of the foule mowes 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 no# thyng for his gilt And ye shal vnderstonde that in mannes synne is euery manere of ordre or ordinaunce turned vp$so$doun \260\ for it is sooth that god and reson and sensualitee and the body of man ben so ordeyned that euerich of this foure thynges sholde haue lordshipe ouer that oother / as thus god sholde haue lordshipe ouer resoun and resoun ouer sensualitee and sensualitee ouer the body of man / but soothly whan man synneth al this ordre or ordinance is turned vp$so$doun / And therfore 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 th lordshipe that it sholde haue ouer sensualitee and eek ouer the body of man / and why for sensualitee rebelleth thanne agayns resoun and by that wey leseth reson the lordshipe ouer sensualitee and ouer the body \265\ / for right as reson is rebel to god right so is bothe sensu- alitee rebel to reson and the body also / And certes this desordinaunce and this rebellioun oure lord Iesu Crist aboghte vp#on his precious body ful deere and herkneth in which wise / For as muche thanne as re- son is rebel to god therfore is man worthy to haue sorw 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 his blood brast out at eu- ery nayl of hise handes as seith Seint Augustyn / And forther ouer for as muchel as reson of man ne wol nat daunte sensualitee whan it may therfore is man worth to han shame and this suffred oure lord Iesu Crist fo man whan they spette in his visage \270\ / And forther ouer for as muche thanne as the caytyf 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 vp#on the croys where as ther was no part of his body free with#oute 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 de- serued and to muche defouled for shendshipe that man is worthy to haue / And therfore may the synful man we seye as seith Seint Bernard Acursed be the bitternesse of my synne for which ther moste be suffred so muche bitternesse / for certes after the diuerse discordaunces of oure wikkednesses was the passioun of Iesu Crist or- deyned in diuerse thynges \275\ / as thus Certes synfu 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 in- pacience of aduersitee and byspet by seruage and subiec- cioun of synne and atte laste it is slayn fynally / For this disordynaunce of synful man was Iesu Crist firs bitraysed and after that was he bounde that cam for to vnbynde vs of synne and of peyne / thanne was he biscorn- ed that oonly sholde ben honoured in alle thynges and o alle thynges / thanne was his visage that oghte be de- sired to be seyn of alle mankynde in which visage angels desiren to looke vileynsly bispet / thanne was he scourg ed that no thyng hadde agilt and fynally thanne was he crucified and slayn \280\ / Thanne was acompliced th word of Ysaye He was wounded for oure mysdedes and de- fouled by oure felonyes / Now sith that Iesu Crist took vp#on hym#self the peyne of alle oure wikkednesses muchel oghte synful man wepen and biwayle that for hise synnes goddes sone of heuene sholde al this peyne endure The sixte thyng that oghte moeue a man to contricioun is the hope of three 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 therfore is he cleped =Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum\ / Iesu is to seyn Saueour or Sauacioun on whom men shal hope to haue for yifnesse of synnes which that is proprely sauacioun o synnes \285\ / and therfore seyde the aungel to Ioseph thow shalt clepen his name Iesus that shal saue his pe- ple of hire synnes / And heer of 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 Iesus / =Nazarenus is as muche for to seye as florisshynge in which a ma 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 atte dore of thyn herte seith Iesus and cleped for to entre he that open eth to me shal haue foryifnesse of synne / I wol entre in to hym by my grace and soupe with hym by the goode werkes that he shal doon whiche werkes been the foode o god and he shal soupe with me by the grete ioye that shal yeue hym \290\ / Thus shal man hope that for his werkes of penaunce god shal yeue hym his regne as he by- heteth 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 con sentynges That oon of hem is cleped consentynge of af- feccion whan a man is moeued to do synne and 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 foul delit or tal- ent though he se wel apertly that it is agayns the reu- erence of god al#though his resoun ne consente nat t doon that synne in dede / Yet seyn somme doctours that swich delit that dwelleth longe it is ful perilous al be it neuer so lite \295\ / And also a man sholde sorwe namely for al that euere he hath desired agayn the law of god with parfit consentynge of his resoun for ther of is no doute that it is dedly synne in consentynge For certes ther is no dedly synne that it nas first i mannes thoght and after that in his delit and so forth in#to consentynge and in#to dede / Wher#fore I seye tha many men ne repenten hem neuere of swiche 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 bi- gyleres of hem that shullen ben dampned Moore#ouer man oghte to sorwen for hise wikked worde as wel as for hise wikked dedes for certes the repent aunce of a singuler synne and nat repente of alle his othere synnes or elles repente hym of alle hise othere synnes and nat of a synguler synne may nat auaile \300\ for certes god almyghty is al good and therfore he for- yeueth al or elles right noght / And her of 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 syn- nes nay / And forther ouer contricioun sholde be wonder sorwefu and anguissous and therfore yeueth hym god pleynly his mercy and therfore whan my soule was anguissous with# inne me I hadde remembraunce of god that my prayere myghte come to hym / Forther ouer contricioun moste be continuel and that man haue stedefast purpos to shryue hym and for to a- mende hym of his lyf \305\ / for soothly whil contri- cioun lasteth man may euere haue hope of foryeueness and of this cometh hate of synne that destroyeth synne bothe in hym#self and eek in oother 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 contri cioun is this Wher#of auaileth contricioun I seye that som#tyme 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 / And right so as contricioun auaileth nat with# outen sad purpos of shrifte if man haue oportunitee right so litel worth is shrifte or satisfaccioun with#outen contricioun \310\ / And moore#ouer contricion destroyeth the prisoun of helle and maketh wayk and feble alle the strengthes of the deueles and restoreth the yiftes of the holy goost and of alle goode vertues / and it clens- eth the soule of synne and delyuereth the soule fro th 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 forther ouer it maketh hym that whilom wa sone of ire to be sone of grace and alle thise thynges ben preued by holy writ / And therfore he that wold sette his entente to thise thynges he were ful wys for soothly he ne sholde nat thanne in al his lyf haue cor age to synne but yeue his body and al his herte to the seruyce of Iesu Crist and ther#of doon hym hommage / for certes oure swete lord Iesu Crist hath spared vs so de- bonairly in oure folies that if he ne hadde pitee of man- nes soule a sory song we myghten alle synge \315\ / <=Explicit prima pars Penitentie et sequitu secunda pars eiusdem\> The seconde partie of penitence is confessioun tha is signe of contricioun / Now shul ye vnderstonde what is confessioun and wheither it oghte nedes be doon or noon and whiche thynges ben conuenable to verray confes- sioun / First shaltow vnderstonde that confession is verray shewynge of synnes to the preest / this is to seyn ver ray for he moste confessen hym of alle the condiciouns that bilongen to his synne as ferforth as he kan / a moot be seyd and no#thyng excused ne hid ne forwrapped and nat auaunte hym of hise goode werkes \320\ / And forther ouer it is necessarie to vnderstonde when- nes that synnes spryngen and how they encressen and whiche they ben / Of the spryngynge of synnes seith Seint Paul in this wise that right as by a man synne entred first in#to this world and thurgh that synne deth right so thilke deth entred in#to alle men that synneden / and this man was Adam by whom synne entred in#to this world whan he brak the comaundementz of god / and ther#fore he that first was so myghty that he sholde nat haue dyed bicam swich oon that he moste nedes dye wheither he wolde or noon and al his progenye in this world that in thilke man synneden / Looke that in th+estat of innocence whan Adam and Eue naked weren in Paradys and no#thyng ne had- den shame of hir nakednesse \325\ / how that the serpent that was moost wily of alle othere bestes that god hadde maked seyde to the womman why comaunded god to yow ye sholde nat eten of euery tree in Paradys / The womma 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 touchen it lest 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 ther#of youre eyen shulle opene and ye shul ben as goddes knowynge good and harm / The womman thanne saugh that the tree was good to fedyng and fair to the eyen and delitable to sighte she took of the fruyt of the tree and eet it and yaf to hire housbonde and he eet and anon the eyen o hem bothe opneden / and whan that they knewe that they were naked they sowed of figge$leues a manere of breches to hiden hire membres \330\ / There may ye seen that dedly synne hath first suggestioun of the feend as shew eth heere by the naddre and afterward the delit of th flessh as sheweth heere by Eua and after that the con- sentynge of resoun as sheweth heere by Adam / for truste wel though so were that the feend tempted Eue 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 estaat of innocence / Of thilke Ad- am toke we thilke synne original for of hym flesshl 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 / and therfore be we alle yborn sones of wratthe and of dampnacioun perdurable if it nere bap tesme that we receyuen which bynymeth vs the culpe bu for sothe the peyne dwelleth with vs as to temptaciou which peyne highte concupiscence \335\ / And this con- cupiscence whan it is wrongfully disposed or ordeyned in man it maketh hym coueite by coueitise of flessh flessh- ly synne by sighte of hise eyen as to erthely thynges and eek coueitise of heynesse by pride of herte Now as to speken of the firste coueitise that is con- cupiscence 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 desobeisaun thurgh concupiscence which yet is cleped 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 som#tyme and moeued in his flessh to synne / 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 thurgh penitence \340\ but fully ne shal it neuere quenche that he ne shal som tyme be moeued in hym#self but if he were al refreyded by siknesse or by malefice of sorcerye or colde drynkes/ For lo what seith Seint Paul the flessh coueiteth agay the spirit and the spirit agayn the flessh they ben s contrarie and so stryuen that a man may nat alwey doo as he wolde / The same Seint Paul after his grete pen- aunce in water and in londe in water by nyght and by da in gret peril and in gret peyne in londe in famyne and thurst in coold and clothlees and ones stoned almoost to the deth / yet seyde he Allas I kaytif man who shal de lyuere me fro the prison of my kaytif body / And Seint Ierom whan he longe tyme hadde woned in desert where a he hadde no compaignye but of wilde bestes where as h 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 \345\ / yet seyde he that the brennynge of lecherye boyled in al his body / wherfore I woot wel sikerly that they ben de- ceyued that seyn that they ne be nat tempted in hir body/ Witnesse on Seint Iame the Apostel that seith that euer 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 with#oute synne we deceyue vs#selue an trouthe is nat in vs / Now shal ye vnderstonde in what manere that synne wex- eth and encresceth in man The firste thyng is thilke norissynge of synne of which I spak biforn thilke flessh ly concupiscence \350\ / and after that comth the sub ieccioun of the deuel this is to seyn the deueles bely with which he bloweth in man the fyr of flesshly concu- piscence / and after that a man bithynketh hym wheither he wol doon or no thilke thyng to which he is tempted / and thanne if that a man withstonde and wayue the firste entisynge of his flessh and of the feend thanne is it n synne and if so be that he do nat so thanne feeleth h anoon a flawmbe of delit / and thanne is it good to b war and kepe hym wel or elles he wole falle anon in#t consentynge of synne and thanne wol he do it if he may haue tyme and place / 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 moeuynge or stirynge 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 \355\ / for certes right as a swerd departeth a thyng in two peces right so consentynge departeth god fro man and thanne wol I sleen hym with myn hand in dede of synne thus seith 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 clep- ed actuel For sothe synne is in two maneres outher it is venyal or dedly synne Soothly whan man loueth any creature moor than Iesu Crist oure creatour thanne is it dedly synne and venial synne is it if man loue Iesu Crist lasse tha hym oghte / For sothe the dede of this venial synne i ful perilous for it amenuseth the loue that men sholde han to god moore and moore / and therfore if a man charg hym#self with manye swiche venial synnes certes but i so be that he som#tyme descharge hym of hem by shrifte they mowe ful lightly amenuse in hym al the loue that he hath to Iesu Crist \360\ / and in this wise skippeth ve nial in#to 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 ther#fore lat vs nat be necligent to deschargen vs of venial synnes for the prouerbe seith that manye smale maken a greet / And herkne this ensample A greet wawe of the see comth som# tyme with so greet a violence that it drencheth the ship and the same harm sooth som#tyme the smale dropes of water that entren thurgh a litel creuace in#to the thur- rok and in the botme of the ship if men be so necligent that they ne descharge hem nat by tyme / and therfor al#thogh ther be a difference bitwixe thise two causes of drenchynge algates the ship is dreynt / Right so far eth it som#tyme of dedly synne and of anoyouse veniale synnes whan they multiplie in a man so gretly that thilk worldly thynges that he loueth thurgh which he synnet venially is as gret in his herte as the loue of god or moore \365\ / and therfore the loue of euery thyng that is nat byset in god ne doon principally for goddes sake al#thogh that a man loue it lasse than god yet is it ve- nial synne / and dedly synne whan the loue of any thyn weyeth in the herte of man as muche as the loue of go or moore / Dedly synne as seith Seint Augustyn is whan a man turneth his herte fro god which that is verray souereyn bountee that may nat chaunge and yeueth his herte to thyng that may chaunge and flitte / and certes that is euery thyng 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 vn#to a creature certes as muche of his loue as he yeueth to thilke creature so muche he bi- reueth fro god / 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 \370\ / Now sith man vnderstondeth generally which is venial synne thanne is it couenable to tellen specially of syn- nes whiche that many a man per auenture ne demeth he nat synnes and ne shryueth hym nat of the same thynges and yet nathelees they been synnes / Soothly as this clerkes writen this is to seyn that at euery tyme tha man eteth or drynketh moore than suffiseth to the sus- tenaunce 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 benygnly the compleynte of the pouere / eek whan he is in heele of body and wol nat faste whan oother folk fasten with#outen cause resonabl eek whan he slepeth moore than nedeth or whan he comth by thilke encheson to late to chirche or to othere werk- es of charitee / eek whan he vseth his wyf with#oute souereyn desir of engendrure to the honour of god or for the entente to yelde to his wyf the dette of his body \375\ / eek whan he wol nat visite the syke and the pris- oner if he may eek if he loue wyf or child or oother worldly thyng moore than reson requireth eek if he flat- ere or blandise moore than hym oghte for any necessitee/ eke if he amenuse or withdrawe the almesse of the poure eke if he apparaileth his mete moore deliciously tha nede is or ete it to hastily by likerousnesse / eek if he tale vanytees at chirche or at goddes seruice or tha he be a talkere of ydel wordes of folye or of vileynye for he shal yelde acountes of it at the day of dome eek whan he biheteth or assureth to do thynges that he may nat parfourne eek whan that he by lightnesse or folye mysseyeth or scorneth his neighebore / eek wha he hath any wikked suspecioun of thyng ther he ne woot of it no soothfastnesse \380\ / Thise thynges and mo with#oute nombre ben synnes as seith Seint Augustyn / Now shal men vnderstonde that al be it so that noon erthely man may eschewe alle venial synnes yet may he refreyne hym by the brennynge loue that he hath to oure lord Iesu Crist and by preyeres and confessioun and othere goode werkes so that it shal but litel greue for as seith Seint Augustyn If a man loue god in swich manere that al that euere he dooth is in the loue o 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 vn#to a man that is parfit in the loue of Iesu Crist / Men may also refreyne venial synne by receyuynge worthily of the precious body of Iesu Crist \385\ / by receyuynge eek of holy water by almes dede by general confession of =Confiteor\ a masse and at complyn and by blessynge of bisshopes and of preestes and by othere goode werkes / <=Explicit secunda pars Penitentie\> <=Sequitur de septem peccatis mortalibus et eorum dependencijs circumstancijs et speciebus\> <=De Superbia\> Now is it bihouely thyng to telle whiche ben deedl synnes that is to seyn chieftaynes of synnes alle they renne in o lees but in dyuerse maneres Now ben they cleped chieftaynes for as muche as they ben chief an spryngen of alle othere synnes / Of the roote of thise seuene synnes thanne is Pryde the general roote of all harmes for of this roote spryngen certeyn braunches as Ire Enuye Accidie or Slewthe Auarice or Coueitise t commune vnderstondynge Glotonye and Lecherye / and eu- erich of thise chief synnes hath hise braunches and hise twigges as shal be declared in hire chapitres folwynge / And thogh so be that no man kan outrely telle the nom- bre of the twigges and of the harmes that comen of Prid yet wol I shewe a partie of hem as ye shul vnderstonde \390\ / Ther is Inobedience Auauntynge Ypocrisye Despit Arrogance Impudence Swellynge of herte Insolence Ela- cioun Inpacience Stryf Contumacie Presumpcioun Irreuer- ence 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 souereyn and to his goostly fader / Auantour is he that bostet of the harm or of the bountee that he hath doon / Ypo- crite is he that hideth to shewe hym swich as he is and sheweth hym swich as he noght is / Despitous is he that hath desdeyn of his neighebore that is to seyn of hi euene cristen or hath despit to doon that hym oghte to do \395\ / Arrogant is he that thynketh that he hat thilke bountees in hym that he hath nat or weneth tha he sholde haue hem by hise desertes or elles he demeth that he be that he nys nat / Impudent is he that for his pride hath no shame of hise synnes / Swellynge o herte is whan a 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 kon- nynge and of his spekynge and of his berynge / Elacioun is whan he ne may neither suffre to haue maister ne fel- awe \400\ / Inpacient is he that wol nat ben ytaught ne vndernome of his vice and by strif werreieth trouthe wityngly and deffendeth his folye / Contumax is he that thurgh his indignacioun is agayns euerich auctoritee o power of hem that ben hise souereyns / Presumpcioun is whan a man vndertaketh an emprise that hym oghte nat do or elles that he may nat do and that is called surquidie Irreuerence is whan men do nat honour there as hem oghte to doon and waiten to be reuerenced / Pertinacie is whan a man deffendeth his folye and trusteth to muche to his owene wit / Veyne glorie is for to haue pompe and delit in temporel heynesse and glorifie hym in worldly estaat \405\ / Ianglynge is whan a man speketh to muche biforn folk and clappeth as a mille and taketh no kepe what he seith / And yet is ther a pryuee spice of pride that waiteth first to be salewed er he wole salewe al be he lasse wor- thy than that oother is par auenture and eek he waitet or desireth to sitte or elles to goon aboue hym in the weye or kisse pax or ben encensed or goon to offrynge bi- forn his neighebore / and swiche semblable thynges agayn his duetee par auenture but that he hath his herte an his entente in swich a proud desir to be magnyfied and honoured biforn the peple / Now ben ther two maneres of pride that oon of hem is with#inne the herte of man and that oother is with#oute of whiche soothly thise forseyde thynges and mo than I haue seyd apertenen to pride that is in the herte of man and that othere speces of pride ben with#oute \410\ / but natheles that oon of thise speces of pride is signe of that oother right as the gaye leuesel atte tauern 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 n 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 tha precious clothyng is cowpable for the derthe of it and for his softenesse and for his straungenesse and degis- ynesse and for the superfluitee or for the inordinat scantnesse of it / Allas may man nat seen as in oure dayes the synful costlewe array of clothynge and namely in to muche superfluitee or elles in to desordinat scantnesse \415\ / As to the firste synne that is in superfluitee o clothynge which that maketh it so deere to harm of the peple / nat oonly the cost of embrawdynge the degise en- dentynge or barrynge owndynge palynge wyndynge or bend- ynge and semblable wast of clooth in vanitee / but ther is also costlewe furrynge in hire gownes so muche pown- sonynge of chisel to maken holes so muche daggynge o sheris / forth with the superfluitee in lengthe of the forseide gownes trailynge in the dong and in the myre o horse and eek on foote as wel of man as of womman that al thilke trailynge is verraily as in effect wasted con sumed thredbare and roten with donge rather than it is yeuen to the pouere to gret damage of the forseyde pouere folk / and that in sondry wise this is to seyn that th moore that clooth is wasted the moore moot it coste to the peple for the scarsnesse \420\ / And forther ouer if so be that they wolde yeuen swich pownsoned and dag- ged clothynge to the pouere folk it is nat conuenient to were for hir estaat ne suffisant to beete hire neces- sitee to kepe hem fro the distemperance of the firmament Vp#on that oother syde to speken of the horrible dis- ordinat scantnesse of clothyng as ben thise kutted sloppes or hanselyns that thurgh hire shortnesse ne cou- ere nat the shameful membres of man to wikked entente Allas somme of hem shewen the shap and the boce of the horrible swollen membres that semeth lik the maladie of hirnia in the wrappynge of hire hoses / and eek the but- tokes of hem that faren as it were the hyndre part of she$ape in the fulle of the moone / And moore#ouer th wrecched swollen membres that they shewe thurgh degis- ynge in departynge of hire hoses in whit and reed semeth that half hire shameful pryuee membres weren flayn \425\ 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 o colour that half the partie of hire pryuee membres be corrupt by the fyr of Seint Antony or by cancre or oo- ther swich meschaunce / Of the hyndre part of hire but tokes it is ful horrible for to see for certes in tha partie of hire body ther as they purgen hire stynkynge ordure / that foule partie shewe they to the peple proudly in despit of honestetee which honestetee tha Iesu Crist and hise frendes obseruede to shewen in hir lyue / Now as of the outrageous array of wommen god woo that thogh the visages of somme of hem seme ful chaast and debonaire yet notifie they in hire array of atyr likerousnesse and pride \430\ / I sey nat that honeste- tee in clothynge of man or womman is vncouenable but certes the superfluitee or desordinat scantitee of clothynge is repreuable / 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 ben so faire fatte and costlewe / and also many a vicious knaue that is sustened by cause of hem in to curious harneys as i sadeles in crouperes peytrels and bridles couered with precious clothyng and riche barres and plates of gold and of siluer / for which god seith by Zakarie the pro- phete I wol confounde the rideres of swiche horses Thise folk taken litel reward of the ridynge of goddes sone of heuene and of his harneys whan he rood vp#on the asse and ne hadde noon oother harneys but the pouer clothes of hise disciples ne we ne rede nat that euere he rood on oother beest \435\ / I speke this for th synne of superfluitee and nat for resonable honestetee whan reson it requireth / And forther ouer certes pride is gretly notified in holdynge of greet meynee whan they been of litel profi 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 hire meynee / or elles whan thise folk of lowe degree as thilke that holden hos telries sustenen the thefte of hire hostilers and tha is in many manere of deceites \440\ / Thilke manere of folk ben the flyes that folwen the hony or elles the houndes that folwen the careyne Swich forseide fol stranglen spiritually hire lordshipes / for which thus seith Dauid the prophete Wikked deth mote come vp#o thilke lordshipes and god yeue that they mote descend in#to helle al doun for in hire houses been iniquitees and shrewednesses and nat god of heuene / And certes but if they doon amendement right as god yaf his benysoun to Pharao by the seruyce of Iacob and to Laban by the seruyce of Ioseph right so god wol yeue his malisoun to swiche lordshipes as sustenen the wikkednesse of hire seruauntz but they come to amendement / Pride of the table appeereth eek ful ofte for certe riche men ben cleped to festes and pouere folk ben put awey and rebuked / Also in excesse of diuerse metes an drynkes and namely swiche manere bake metes and dissh metes brennynge of wilde fyr and peynted and castelled with papir and semblable wast so that it is abusioun for to thynke \445\ / And eek in to gret preciousnesse of vessel and curiositee of mynstralcye by whiche a man i stired the moore to delices of luxurie / If so be that he sette his herte the lasse vp#on oure lord Iesu Cris certeyn it is a synne and certeynly the delices myghte ben so grete in this cas that man myghte lightly fallen by hem in#to dedly synne / The especes that sourden of pride soothly whan they sourden of malice ymagyned auysed and forncast or elles of vsage ben dedly synnes it is no doute / and whan they sourden by freletee vnauysed sodeynly and sodeynly with- drawe ageyn al be they greuouse synnes I gesse that they ne be nat dedly / Now myghte men axe wher#of that pride sourdeth and spryngeth and I seye som#tyme it spryngeth of the goodes of nature and som#tyme of the goodes of fortune and som# tyme of the goodes of grace \450\ / Certes the goodes of nature stonden outher in goodes of body or goodes of soule / Certes goodes of body been heele of body strengthe delyuernesse beautee gentrice franchise / Goodes of nature of the soule ben good wit sharp vnder- stondynge subtil engyn vertu naturel good memorie / Goodes of fortune ben richesses hey degrees of lord- shipes preisynges of the peple / Goodes of grace be science power to suffre spiritual trauaille benygnytee vertuous contemplacioun withstondynge of temptacioun and semblable thynges \455\ / of whiche forseyde goodes certes it is a ful gret folye a man to priden hym i any of hem alle / Now as for to speke of goodes of na- ture god woot that som#tyme we han hem in nature as muche to oure damage as to oure profit / As for to speke o heele of body certes it passeth ful lightly and eek it is ful ofte enchesoun of the siknesse of oure soule for god woot the flessh is a ful greet enemy to the soul and therfore the moore that the body is hool the moore be we in peril to falle / Eke for to pride hym in his 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 / and ouer al this strengthe of body and worldly hardynesse causeth ful ofte many a man to peril and meschaunce \460\ Eke for to pride hym of his gentrie is ful gret folie fo ofte tyme the gentrie of the body bynymeth the gentrie of the soule and eek we ben alle of o fader and of o mo- der and alle we ben of o nature roten and corrupt both riche and poure / For sothe o manere gentrye is for to preise that apparailleth mannes corage with vertues and moralitees and maketh hym Cristes child / for truste wel that ouer what man that synne hath maistrye he is a ver- ray cherl to synne / Now ben ther general signes of gentilesse as eschew ynge of vice and ribaudye and seruage of synne in word in werk and contenaunce / and vsynge vertu curteisye and clennesse and to be liberal that is to seyn large by me sure for thilke that passeth mesure is folye and synne \465\ / Another is to remembre hym of bounte that he of oother folk hath receyued / Another is to be benygne to hise goode subgetz Wher#fore seith Senek ther is no#thyng moore couenable to a man of heigh estaat than debonaire- tee and pitee / and therfore thise flyes that men clepe bees whan they maken hire kyng they chesen oon that hath no prikke wher#with he may stynge / Another is a man to haue a noble herte and a diligent to attayne to hye ver- tuouse thynges / Now certes a man to pride hym in the goodes of grace is eek an outrageous folye for thilke yiftes of grace that sholde haue turned hym to goodnesse and to medicine turneth hym to venym and to confusioun as seith Sein Gregorie \470\ / Certes also who#so prideth hym in the goodes of fortune he is a ful gret fool for som#tyme is a man a gret lord by the morwe that is a kaytif and a wrecche er it be nyght / and som#tyme the richesse of a man is cause of his deeth som#tyme the delices of a man is cause of the greuous maladye thurgh which he dyeth / Certes the commendacioun of the peple is som#tyme fu fals and ful brotel for to triste this day they preis to#morwe they blame / god woot desir to haue commenda cioun eek of the peple hath caused deth to many a bisy man / <=Remedium contra peccatum Superbie\> Now sith that so is that ye han vnderstonde what is pride and whiche ben the speces of it and whennes prid sourdeth and spryngeth \475\ / Now shul ye vnderstonde which is the remedie agayns pride and that is humylite or mekenesse / that is a vertu thurgh which a man hath verray knoweleche of hym#self and holdeth of hym#self no pris ne deyntee as in regard of hise desertes consider- ynge euere his freletee / Now ben ther three maneres of humylitee as humylitee in herte another humylitee in his mouth the thridde in hise werkes / The humylitee in herte is in foure maneres That oon is whan a man holdeth hym#self as naught worth biforn god of heuene Another is whan he ne despiseth noon oother man / The thridde is whan he rekketh nat though men holde hym noght worth The ferthe is whan he nys nat sory of his humyliacioun \480\ Also the humylitee of mouth is in foure thynges In atem pree speche and in humblesse of speche and whan he bi- knoweth 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 no#thyng ther# of amenuseth / Humylitee eek in werkes is in foure man- eres The firste is whan he putteth othere men biforn hym The seconde is to chese the loweste place ouer a The thridde is gladly to assente to good conseil / Th ferthe is to stonde gladly to the award of hise souer- eyns or of hym that is in hyer degree Certeyn this is a greet werk of humylitee / <=Sequitur de Inuidia\> After Pride wol I speken of the foule synne of Enuye which that is as by the word of the philosophre sorwe of othere mennes prosperitee and after the word of Sein Augustyn it is sorwe of othere mennes wele and ioye o othere mennes harm / This foule synne is platly agayns the holy goost al be it so that euery synne is agayns the holy goost yet nathelees for as muche as bounte aperteneth proprely to the holy goost and enuye cometh proprely of malice therfore it is proprely agayns the bountee of the holy goost \485\ / Now hath malice two speces that is to seyn hardnesse of herte in wikkednesse or elles the flessh of man is so blynd that he consider- eth nat that he is in synne or rekketh nat that he is in synne which is the hardnesse of the deuel / That oother spece of enuye is whan that a man werreyeth trouthe whan that he woot that it is trouthe and eek whan he werrey eth 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 som# tyme oonly 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 / for we vnnethe is ther any synne that it ne hath som delit in it#self saue oonly enuye that euere hath in it#self angwissh and sorwe \490\ / The speces of enuye ben thise Ther is first sorwe of othere mennes goodnesse and of hir prosperitee and pros- peritee 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 two speces comth bakbitynge and this synne of bakbitynge or detraccion hath certeyne speces as thus Som man preiseth his neighebore by a wikked entente / for he maketh alwey a wikked knotte atte laste ende al wey he maketh a but at the laste ende that is digne of moore blame than worth is al the preisynge / The seconde spece is that if a man be good and dooth or seith a thyng to good entente the bakbitere wol turne al thilke good- nesse vp$so$doun to his shrewed entente \495\ / The thridde is to amenuse the bountee of his neighebore / The ferthe spece of bakbitynge is this that if men speke goodnesse of a man thanne wol the bakbitere seyn parfey swich a man is yet bet than he in dispreisynge of hym that men preise / The fifte spece is this for to consent gladly and herkne gladly to the harm that men speke of oother folk this synne is ful greet and ay encreseth af- ter the wikked entente of the bakbitere / After bakbitynge cometh grucchynge or murmuracioun an som tyme it spryngeth of inpacience agayns god and som tyme agayns man / Agayns god it is whan a man gruccheth agayn the pyne of helle or agayns pouerte or los of catel or agayn reyn or tempest or elles gruccheth that shrewes han prosperitee or elles for that goode men han aduersi- tee \500\ / and alle thise thynges sholde men suffre pa- ciently for they comen by the rightful iugement and or- dinaunce of god / Som#tyme cometh grucchynge of auarice as Iudas grucched agayns the Magdeleyne whan she enoynte the heued of oure lord Iesu Crist with hire precious oy- nement / This manere murmure is swich as whan man grucch- eth of goodnesse that hym#self dooth or that oother folk doon of hire owene catel / Som#tyme comth murmure of pride as whan Symon the Pharisee grucched agayn the Mag- deleyne whan she approched to Iesu Crist and weep at his feet for hire synnes / And som#tyme it sourdeth of enuye whan men discoueren a mannes harm that was pryuee or bereth hym on hond thyng that is fals \505\ / Murmure eek is ofte amonges seruauntz that grucchen whan hir souereyns bidden hem to doon leueful thynges / and for as muche as they dar nat openly with seye the comaunde- mentz of hire souereyns yet wol they seyn harm an grucche and murmure pryuely for verray despit / whiche wordes men clepen the deueles =Pater$noster\ though so b that the deuel ne hadde neuere =Pater$noster\ but that lewed folk yeuen it swich a name / Som tyme it comth of ire or pryuee hate that norisseth rancour in herte as afterward I shal declare / Thanne comth eek bitternesse of herte thurgh which bitternesse euery good dede of his neighebore semeth to hym bitter and vnsauory \510\ / Thanne comth discord that vnbyndeth alle manere of frend- shipe 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 th craft of the deuel that waiteth bothe nyght and day t accusen vs alle / Thanne comth malignitee thurgh which a man anoyeth his neighebore pryuely if he may / and if he nat may algate his wikked wil ne shal nat wante as for to brennen his hous pryuely or empoysone or sleen hise bestes and semblable thynges / <=Remedium contra peccatum Inuidie\> 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 hym#self for soothly that oon ne may nat ben with#oute that oother \515\ / 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 neighe bore artow holden for to loue and wilne hym alle good- nesse and therfore seith god loue thy neighebore as thy# self that is to seyn to sauacion bothe of lyf and o soule / And moore#ouer thow shalt loue hym in word and in 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 i were doon to thyn owene persone / and therfore thow n shalt doon hym no damage in wikked word ne harm in his body ne in his catel ne in his soule by entisynge o wikked ensample \520\ / Thow shalt nat desiren his wyf ne none of hise thynges Vnderstoond eek that in the name of neighebore is comprehended his enemy / certes man shal loue his enemy by the comandement of god and sooth- ly thy freend shaltow loue in god / I seye thyn enem shaltow loue for goddes sake by his comandement for if it were resoun that man sholde haten his enemy for sothe god nolde nat receyuen vs to his loue that ben hise en- emys / Agayns three manere of wronges that his enemy dooth to hym he shal doon three thynges as thus / Agayns hate and rancour of herte he shal loue hym in herte Agayn chidynge and wikked wordes he shal preye for his enemy Agayns the wikked dede of his enemy he shal doon hym bountee \525\ / 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 Loo thus comaundeth 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 a thilke loue is the moore greuous to perfourne so muche is the moore gret the merite and therfore the louyng of oure enemy hath confounded the venym of the deuel / for right as the deuel is disconfited by humylitee right so is he wounded to the deeth by loue of oure enemy \530\ Certes thanne is loue the medicyne that casteth out the venym of enuye fro mannes herte / The speces of this paas shullen be moore largely declared in hire chapitres folwynge / <=Sequitur de Ira\> After Enuye wol I discryuen the synne of Ire for sooth ly who#so hath enuye vp#on his neighebore anon he wole comunly fynde hym a matere of wratthe 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 en- uyous is lightly wrooth / This synne of ire after the discryuyng of Seint Augustyn is wikked wil to ben aueng- ed by word or by dede \535\ / 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 re- soun / But ye shal vnderstonde that ire is in two maneres that oon of hem is good and that oother is wikked / The goode ire is by ialousie of goodnesse thurgh which a man is wrooth with wikkednesse and agayns wikkednesse and ther#fore seith a wys man that ire is bet than pley / This ire is with debonairetee and it is wrooth with#oute bitternesse nat wrooth agayns the man but wrooth with the mysdede of the man as seith the prophete Dauid =Iras- cimini et nolite peccare\ \540\ / Now vnderstondeth that wikked ire is in two maneres that is to seyn sodeyn ire or hastif ire with#oute auisement and consentynge of re- son / the menyng and the sens of this is that the reson of a man ne consente nat to thilke sodeyn ire and thann is it venial / Another ire is ful wikked that comth of felonye of herte auysed and cast biforn with wikked wi to do vengeaunce and ther#to his resoun consenteth and soothly this is deedly synne / This ire is so displesan 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 / and put in hym the liknesse of the deue and bynymeth the man fro god that is his rightful lord \545\ / 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 any oother element right so ire is myghty to destroye alle spirituel thynges / Looke how that fyr of smale gleedes that ben almoost dede vnder asshen wolen quyke agayn whan they ben touched with brymstoon right so ire wole euere mo quyke agayn whan it is touched by the pride that is couered in manne herte / for certes fyr ne may nat come out of no thyng but if it were first in the same thyng naturelly as fyr is drawen out of flyntes with steel / and right so as pride is ofte tyme matere of ire right so is rancour nor ice and kepere of ire \550\ / Ther is a manere tree as seith Seint Ysidre that whan men maken fyr of thilke tree and couere the coles of it with asshen soothly th fyr 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 certeyn it wol lasten parauenture from oon Estre day vn#to another Estre day and moore / but certes thilke man is ful fer fro the mercy of god al thilke while / In this forseyde deueles fourneys ther forgen thre shrewes Pride that ay bloweth and encreseth the fyr by chidynge and wikked wordes / Thanne stant En- uye and holdeth the hoote iren vp#on the herte of man with a peire of longe toonges of long rancour \555\ / And thanne stant the synne of contumelie or strif and cheeste and batereth and forgeth by vileyns repreuynges / Certes this cursed synne anoyeth bothe to the man hym# self and eek to his neighebore For soothly almoost a 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 neithe Crist ne his swete moder / And in his outrageous anger and ire allas allas ful many oon at that tyme feleth in his herte ful wikkedly bothe of Crist and eek of alle hise halwes / Is nat this a cursed vice yis certes alla it bynymeth from man his wit and his resoun and al his debonaire lif espirituel that sholde kepen his soule \560\ / Certes it bynymeth eek goddes due lordshipe and that is mannes soule and the loue of his 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 forsak eth his olde freend that he hath loued ful longe / an 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 manslaughtr is in dyuerse wise Som manere of homycide is spirituel and som is bodily / Spirituel manslaughtre is in sixe thynges First by hate as seith Seint Iohn he that hateth his brother is homycide \565\ / Homycide is eek by bak- bitynge of whiche bakbiteres seith Salomon that they han two swerdes with whiche they sleen hire neighebores fo soothly as wikke is to bynyme hym his good name as his lyf / Homycide is eek in yeuynge of wikked conseil by fraude as for to yeuen conseil to areysen wrongful cus- tumes and taillages / of whiche seith Salomon Leoun ror- ynge and bere hongry ben like to the cruel lordshipe in withholdynge or abreggynge of the shepe or the hyre or of the wages of seruauntz or elles in vsure or i withdrawynge of the almesse of pouere folk / for which the wise man seith Fedeth hym that almoost dyeth for honger for soothly but if thow fede hym thow sleest hym and alle thise ben dedly synnes / Bodily manslaughtre is whan thow sleest hym with thy tonge in oother manere as whan thow comandest to sleen a man or elles yeuest hym conseil to sleen a man \570\ / Manslaughtre in dede is in foure 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 spill blood but for kepynge of rightwisnesse / Another homy- cide is doon for necessitee as whan a man sleeth another in his defendaunt and that he ne may noon ootherwise escape from his owene deeth / but certeynly if he may escape with#outen slaughtre of his aduersarie and sleeth hym he dooth synne and he shal bere penance as for deed- ly synne / Eek if a man by caas or auenture shete a arwe or caste a stoon with which he sleeth a man he is homycide / Eek if a womman by necligence ouerlyeth hire child in hir slepyng it is homycide and deedly synne \575\ / Eek whan man destourbeth concepcioun of a child and maketh a womman outher bareyne by drynkynge of ven- emouse herbes thurgh whiche she may nat conceyue or sleeth a child by drynkes or elles putteth certeyne ma- terial thynges in hire secree places to slee the child / or elles dooth vnkyndely synne by which man or womman shedeth hire nature in manere or in place ther as a child may nat be conceyued or elles if a womman haue conceyued and hurt hir#self and sleeth the child yet is it homycide / What seye we eek of wommen that mordren hir children for drede of worldly shame certes an horri- ble homycide / Homycide is eek if a man approcheth to a womman by desir of lecherie thurgh which the child is perissed or elles smyteth a womman wityngly thurgh which she leseth hir child Alle thise been homycides and hor- rible dedly synnes / Yet comen ther of ire manye mo synnes as wel in word as in thoght and in dede as he that arretteth vp#on god or blameth god of thyng of which he is hym#self gilty or despiseth god and alle hise halwes as doon thise cur- sede hasardours in dyuerse contrees \580\ / This cursede synne doon they whan they felen in hir herte ful wikked- ly of god and hise halwes / Also whan they treten vnreu- erently the sacrement of the auter thilke synne is so greet that vnnethe may it ben releessed but that the mercy of god passeth alle hise werkes it is so greet and he so benygne Thanne comth of ire attry angre whan a man is sharply amonested in his shrifte to forleten synne / thanne wole he be angry and answeren hokerly and angrily and def fenden or excusen his synne by vnstedefastnesse of his flessh or elles he dide it for to holde compaignye wit hise felawes or elles he seith the feend enticed hym / or elles he dide it for his youthe or elles his complec cioun is so corageous that he may nat forbere or elles it is his destynee as he seith vn#to a certeyn age or elles he seith it cometh hym of gentillesse of hise aun- cestres and semblable thynges \585\ / Alle thise manere of folk so wrappen hem in hir synnes that they ne wol nat delyuere hem#self For soothly no wight that excuseth hym wilfully of his synne may nat be delyuered 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 ange 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 thow mayst nat make an heer whit ne blak / but seyeth by youre word ye ye and nay nay and what that is moore it is of yuel thus seith Crist \590\ / For Crist- es sake ne swereth nat so synfully in dismembrynge o Crist by soule herte bones and body For certes it sem- eth that ye thynke that the cursede Iewes ne dismembred nat ynough the preciouse persone of Crist but ye dis membre 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 =quarto capitulo\ Tho shalt kepe thre condicions Thow shalt swere in trouthe in doom and in rightwisnesse / This is to seyn thow shalt swere sooth for euery lesynge is agayns Crist fo Crist is verray trouthe And thynke wel this that euery greet swerere nat compelled lawefully to swere the wound shal nat departe from his hous whil he vseth swich vn- leueful sweryng / Thow shalt sweren eek in doom whan thow art constreyned by thy domesman to witnessen the trouthe / Eek thow shalt nat swere for enuye ne for fa- uour ne for mede but for rightwisnesse for declarynge of it to the worship of god and helpyng of thyne euene$ cristene \595\ / And therfore euery man that taketh god- des name in ydel or falsly swereth with his mouth or el- les taketh on hym the name of Crist to be called a cris- tene man and lyueth agayns Cristes lyuynge and his tech- ynge alle they taken goddes name in ydel / Looke eek what seith Seint Peter =Actuum quarto Non est aliud no- men 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 the precious name of Iesu Crist as seith Seint Paul =ad Philipenses secundo 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 heren it ynempned / Thanne sem eth it that men that sweren so horribly by his blessed name that they despise it moore boldely than dide the cursede Iewes or elles the deuel that trembleth whan he hereth his name / Now certes sith that sweryng but if it be lawefully doon is so heighly deffended muche worse is forsweryng falsly and yet nedelees \600\ / What seye w 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 gret othes al be the cause nat worth a straw certes this i horrible synne / Swerynge sodeynly with#oute auysement is eek a synne But lat vs go now to thilke horrible sweryng of adiu racioun and coniuracioun as doon thise false enchaunt- ours or nygromanciens in bacyns ful of water or in a bright swerd in a cercle or in a fyr or in a shulder boon of a sheep / I kan nat seye but that they doon cur- sedly and dampnably agayns Crist and al the feith of ho- ly chirche / What seye we of hem that bileeuen on dyuy- nailes as by flight or by noyse of briddes or of beestes or by sort by nygromancye by dremes by chirkynge of dore or crakkynge of houses by gnawynge of rattes and swich manere wrecchednesse \605\ / certes al this thyng is def- fended by god and by holy chirche for which they been acursed til they come to amendement that on swich filth setten hire bileue / Charmes for woundes or maladie of men or of bestes if they taken any effect it may be par- auenture that god suffreth it for folk sholden yeue the moore feith and reuerence to his name / Now wol I speke of lesynges which generally is fals signyfiaunce of word in entente to deceyuen his euene cristene / Som lesynge is of which ther comth noon auan tage to no wight and som lesynge turneth to the ese o profit of o man and to damage of another man / Another lesynge is for to sauen his lyf or his catel Another les ynge 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 \610\ / Som les- ynge comth for he wole sustene his word And som lesynge comth of reccheleesnesse with#outen auisement and sembla- ble thynges Lat vs now touche the vice of flaterye which ne comth nat gladly but for drede or for coueitise / Flaterye is generally wrongful preisynge Flatereres ben the deueles norices that norissen hise children with milk of losen- gerie / For sothe Salomon seith that flaterie is wors than detraccioun for som#tyme detraccioun maketh an hau teyn man be the moore humble for he dredeth detraccion but certes flaterye maketh a man to enhauncen his herte and his contenaunce / Flatereres ben the deueles en- chauntours for they make a man to wene of hym#self be lyk that he nys nat lyk \615\ / they ben lyk to Iudas that bitraysed a man to sellen hym to his enemy that is to the deuel / Flatereres ben the deueles chapelleyn that syngen euere =Placebo\ / I rekene flaterie in th vices of ire for ofte tyme if o man be wrooth with an- other 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 of harm Swich cursynge bireueth man fro the regne of god as seith Seint Paul / And ofte tyme swich cursynge wrongfully re- torneth agayn to hym that curseth as a bryd that retorn- eth agayn to his owene nest \620\ / And ouer alle thyng men oghten eschewe to cursen hire children and yeuen to the deuel hire engendrure as ferforth as in hem is cer- tes it is greet peril and greet synne / Lat vs thanne speken of chidynge and reproche which ben ful grete woundes in mannes herte for they vnsowen the semes of frendshipe in mannes herte / For certes vn- nethes may a man pleynly ben accorded with hym that hath hym openly reuyled and repreued and disclaundred This is a ful grisly synne as Crist seith in the gospel / And taak kepe now that he that repreueth his neighebore ou- ther 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 / Now if he repreue hym by harm of peyne thann turneth the repreue to Iesu Crist for peyne is sent by the rightwys sonde of god and by his suffrance be it me- selrie or mayme or maladie \625\ / And if he repreue hym vncharitably of synne as thow holour thow dronkelewe harlot and so forth thanne aperteneth that to the re- ioysynge 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 anothe that he be war from chidynge or repreuynge for trewely but he be war he may ful lightly quyken the fyr of angre and of wratthe which that he sholde quenche and parauen- ture sleeth hym that he myghte chastise with benygnytee/ For as seith Salomon the amyable tonge is the tree of lyf that is to seyn of lyf espirituel and soothly a de slauee tonge sleeth the spirites of hym that repreuet and eek of hym that is repreued / Loo what seith Seint Augustyn Ther is no thyng so lyk the deueles child a he that ofte chideth Seint Paul seith eek I seruant of god bihoueth nat to chide \630\ / And how that chidynge be a vileyns thyng bitwixe alle manere folk yet is i certes moost vncouenable bitwixe a man and his wyf for there is neuere reste and ther#fore seith Salomon An hous that is vncouered and droppynge and a chidynge wyf ben 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 chid- ynge wyf but she chide hym in o place she wol chide hy in another / And ther#fore 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 sub- getes to youre housbondes as bihoueth in god and ye men loueth youre wyues =Ad Colossenses 3@\/ Afterward speke we of scornynge which is a wikke synne and namely whan he scorneth a man for hise goode werkes \635\ / for certes swiche scorneres faren ly the foule tode that may nat endure to smelle the soote sauour of the vyne whanne it florissheth / Thise scorn- eres ben partyng felawes with the deuel for they ha ioye whan the deuel wynneth and sorwe whan he leseth they ben aduersaries of Iesu Crist for they haten that he loueth that is to seyn sauacioun of soule / Speke we now of wikked conseil for he that wikked con- seil yeueth is a traytour for he deceyueth hym that trusteth in hym =vt Achitofel ad Absolonem\ But nathelees yet is his wikked conseil first agayn hym#self / For as seith the wise man euery fals lyuynge hath his propretee in hym#self that he that wole anoye another man he anoy- eth first hym#self \640\ / And men shul vnderstonde that man shal nat taken his conseil of fals folk ne of angry folk or greuous folk ne of 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 cru- cifiede for god loueth bettre that frendshipe be amonge folk than he dide his owene body which that he yaf for vnitee Therfore ben they likned to the deuel that euere is aboute to maken discord / Now comth the synne of double tonge swiche as speken faire byforn folk and wikkedly bihynde or elles the maken semblant as though they speke of good entenciou or elles in game and pley and yet they speke of wikked entente / Now comth biwreying of conseil thurgh which a man is defamed certes vnnethe may he restore the damage \645\ / Now comth manace that is an open folye for he that ofte manaceth he threteth moore than he may perfourne ful ofte tyme / Now cometh ydel wordes that is with#outen profit of hym that speketh tho wordes and eek of hym that herk- neth tho wordes Or elles ydel wordes ben tho that be nedelees or with#outen entente of naturel profit / And al be it that ydel wordes ben som#tyme venial synne yet sholde men douten hem for we shul yeue rekenynge of hem bifore god / Now comth ianglyng that may nat been with oute synne And as seith Salomon it is a sygne of apert folye / An therfore a philosophre seyde whan men axed hym how men sholde plese the peple and he answerde Do manye goode werkes and spek fewe iangles \650\ / After this comth the synne of iaperes that ben the deu- eles apes for they maken folk to laughen at hire iaperi as folk doon at the gawdes of an ape swiche iapes def- fendeth Seint Paul / Looke how that vertuouse wordes and holy conforten hem that trauaillen in the seruyse of Crist right so conforten the vileyns wordes and knakkes of iaperis hem that trauaillen in the seruice of the deuel / Thise ben the synnes that comen of the tonge that com- en of ire and of othere synnes / <=Sequitur remedium contra peccatum Ire\> The remedie agayns Ire is a vertu that men clepen Man- suetude that is debonairetee and eek another vertu that men clepen pacience or suffraunce 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 ir \655\ / Suffrance suffreth swetely alle the anoyaunces and the wronges that men doon to man outward / Seint Ie- rome seith thus of debonairetee that it dooth noon har to no wight ne seith ne for noon harm that men doon ne seyn he ne eschawfeth nat agayns his resoun / This vertu som#tyme 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 is a vertu that suffreth swetely euery mannes goodnesse and is nat wrooth for noon harm that is doon to hym / The philoso phre seith that pacience is thilke vertu that suffreth debonairely alle the outrages of aduersitee and euer wikked word \660\ / This vertu maketh a man lyk to go 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 thow shalt vnderstonde that man suffreth foure ma nere of greuances in outward thynges agayns the whiche foure he moot haue foure manere of paciences / The firste greuance is of wikkede wordes thilke suffrede Iesu Crist with#outen grucchyng ful paciently whan the Iewes despis- ed hym and repreued hym ful ofte / Suffre thow therfor paciently for the wise man seith If thow stryue with fool though the fool be wrooth or though he laughe al- gate thow shalt haue no reste / That oother greuance out- ward is to haue damage of thy catel Ther agayns suffred Crist ful paciently whan he was despoyled of al that he hadde in this lyf and that nas but hise clothes \665\ The thridde 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 / Heer#agayns suffred Crist ful paciently and taughte vs pacience whan he baar vp#on his blissed shulder the croys vp#on which he sholde suf- fren despitous deth / Heer may men lerne to be pacient for certes noght oonl cristen men ben pacient for the loue of Iesu Crist and for gerdoun of the blisful lyf that is pardurable but certes the olde payens that neuere were cristene commend- eden and vseden the vertu of pacience / A philosophre vp# on a tyme that wolde haue beten his disciple for his grete trespas for which he was greetly amoeued and broghte a yerde to scoure the child \670\ / and whan the child saugh the yerde he seyde to his maister What thenke ye to do I wol bete thee quod the maister for thy correc- cioun / For sothe quod the child ye oghten first correcte youre#self that han lost al youre pacience for the gilt of a child / For sothe quod the maister al wepynge tho seyst sooth haue thow the yerde my deere sone and cor- recte me for myn inpacience / Of Pacience comth Obedience thurgh which a man is obe- dient to Crist and to alle hem to whiche he oghte to ben obedient in Crist / And vnderstond wel that obedience is parfit whan that a man dooth gladly and hastily with good herte entierly al that he sholde do \675\ / Obedience generally is to parfourne the doctrine of god and of hi souereyns to whiche hym oghte to ben obeisaunt in alle rightwisnesse / <=Sequitur de Accidia\> After the synnes of Enuye and Ire now wol I speken o the synne of Accidie for Enuye blyndeth the herte of a man and Ire troubleth a man and Accidie maketh hym heuy thoghtful and wrawe / Enuye and Ire maken bitternesse in herte which bitternesse is moder of Accidie and bynymeth hym the loue of alle goodnesse thanne is Accidie the angwissh of a trouble herte And Seint Augustyn seith i is anoy of goodnesse and anoy 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 / but Accidi 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 seruyce of god necligently \680\ / Thanne is Accidie enemy to euerich estaat of man for certes the estaat of man is in thre maneres / Outher it is th+estaat of innocence as was th+estaat of Adam biforn that he fil in#to synne in which estaat he was holden to wirche as in heriynge and adowrynge of god / Anothe estaat is the estaat of synful men in which estaat men ben holden to laboure in preiynge to god for amendement of hire synnes and that he wole graunte hem to risen out of hir synnes / Another estaat is th+estaat of grace in which estaat he is holden to werkes of penitence an certes to alle thise thynges is Accidie enemy and con- trarie for he loueth no bisynesse at al / Now certes this foule synne Accidie is eek a ful greet enemy to th liflode of the body for it ne hath no purueaunce agayn temporel necessitee for it forsleweth and forsluggeth and destroyeth alle goodes temporels by recchelees- nesse \685\ The fourthe thyng is that Accidie is lyk hem that ben in the peyne of helle by cause of hir slouthe and of hi heuynesse for they that ben dampned ben so bounde that they ne may neither wel do ne wel thynke / Of Accidie comth first that a man is anoyed and encom- bred for to doon any goodnesse and maketh that god hath abhomynacioun of swich Accidie as seith Seint Iohn / No comth Slouthe that wol nat suffre noon hardnesse ne no penaunce for soothly slouthe is so tendre and so delica as seith Salomon that he wol nat suffre noon hardnesse ne penaunce and therfore he shendeth al that he dooth Agayns this roten$herted synne of Accidie and Slouth sholde men excercise hem#self to doon goode werkes and manly and vertuously cacchen corage wel to doon thynkynge that oure lord Iesu Crist quyteth euery good dede be it neuer so lite / 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 \690\ / Thanne comth drede to bigynne to werke any goode werkes for certes he that is enclyned to synne hym thynketh i is so greet an emprise for to vndertake to doon werkes of goodnesse / and casteth in his herte that the circum- staunces of goodnesse ben 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 som#tyme of to muche outrageous sorwe and som tyme 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 Augustyn / which dampnable synne if tha it contynue vn#to his ende it is cleped synnyng in the holy goost \695\ / 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 shewed wel by Iudas / Cer tes abouen alle synnes thanne is this synne moost dis- plesant to Crist and moost aduersarie / Soothly he that despeireth hym is lyk the coward champioun recreant tha seith creant with#oute nede Allas allas nedelees is he recreant and nedelees despeired / Certes the mercy of god is euere redy to the penytent and is abouen alle hise werkes / Allas kan nat a man bithynke hym on the gospel of Seint Luc 15 where as Crist seith that as wel shal ther be ioye in heuene vp#on a synful man that dooth pen- itence than vp#on nynety and nynetene rightful men that neden no penitence \700\ / Looke forther in the same gos- pel the ioye and the feeste of the goode man that hadde lost his sone whan his sone with repentaunce was retourn- ed to his fader / Kan they nat remembren hem eek that a seith Seint Luc 23@ how that the theef that was hanged bisyde Iesu Crist seyde Lord remembre of me whan thow comest in#to thy regne / For sothe seyde Crist I seye to thee to#day shaltow be with me in Paradys / Certes the is noon so horrible synne of man that it ne may in hi lyf be destroyed by penitence thurgh vertu of the pas sion and of the deeth of Crist / Allas what nedeth ma thanne to ben despeired sith that his mercy so redy is and large Axe and haue \705\ / Thanne comth Sompnolence that is sloggy slombrynge which maketh a man be 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 Who#so wol by the morwe awaken and seke me he shal fynde Thanne cometh Necligence or reccheleesnesse that rek- keth of no thyng And how that Ignoraunce be moder of alle harm certes Necligence is the norice \710\ / Necligence ne doth no fors whan he shal doon a thyng wheither he do it wel or baddely / Of the remedie of thise two synnes as seith the wise man that he that dredeth god he spareth nat to doon tha hym oghte to doon / and he that loueth god he wol doon diligence to plese god by hise werkes and abaundone hym# self 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 or sheten at hym at dis couert by temptacion on euery syde / This ydelnesse is the thurrok of alle wikked and vileyns thoughtes and o alle iangles trufles and of alle ordure \715\ / Certes the heuene is yeuen to hem that wol labouren and nat to ydel folk Eek Dauid seith that they ne be nat in the labour of men ne they shul nat be 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\ a whan a man is so laterede or tariynge er he wole turne to god and certes that is a greet folie he is lyk 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 failleth ful ofte / Thanne comth Lachesse that is he that whan he bigyn neth any good werk anon he wol 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 \720\ / Thise ben the newe sheepherdes that leten hir sheep wityngly go renne to the wolf that i in the breres or do no fors of hir owene gouernaunce / of this comth pouerte and destruccioun bothe of spirit- uel and temporel thynges Thanne comth a manere cooldnesse that freseth al the herte of man / Thanne comth vndeuocioun thurgh which a man is so blon as seith Seint Bernard and hath swich langour in soule that he may neither rede ne synge in holy chirche n heere ne thynke of no deuocioun ne trauaille with his handes in no good werk that it nys to 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 / Thanne comth the synne of worldly sorwe swich as i cleped =tristicia\ that sleeth man as seith Seint Paul \725\ / For swich sorwe werketh to the deeth of the soule and of the body also for ther of comth that a man is a noyed of his owene lyf / wherfore swich sorwe shorteth ful ofte the lif of a man er that his tyme be come by wey of kynde / <=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 des- piseth anoyouse thynges / This vertu is so myghty and so vigorous that it dar withstonde myghtily and wisely kepen hym#self fro perils that ben wikked and wrastle agayn the assautes of the deuel / for it enhaunceth and enforc- eth the soule right as Accidie abateth it and maketh it feble For this =fortitudo\ may endure by long suffraunce the trauailles that ben couenable \730\ / This vertu hath manye speces The firste is cleped Mag nanymitee that is to seyn greet corage for certes ther bihoueth greet corage agayns Accidie lest that it ne swolwe the soule by the synne of sorwe or destroye it by wanhope / This vertu maketh folk vndertake harde thynges and greuouse thynges by hir owene wil wisely and resonably / and for as muchel as the deuel fighteth a gayns a man moore by queyntise and by sleighte than by strengthe ther#fore a man shal withstonden hym by wi and by resoun and by discrecioun / Thanne arn ther the\ vertues of feith and hope in god and in hise seintes t acheue and acomplice the goode werkes in the whiche he purposeth fermely to contynue / Thanne comth seuretee or sikernesse and that is whan a man ne douteth no trau- aille in tyme comynge of the goode werkes that a man hath bigonne \735\ / Thanne comth Magnificence that is to sey whan a man dooth and perfourneth grete werkes of good- nesse that he hath bigonne 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 i ther Constaunce that is stablenesse of corage and this sholde ben in herte by stedefast feith and in mouth an in berynge and in cheere and in dede / Eke ther ben m speciale remedies agayns Accidie in dyuerse werkes and in consideracioun of the peynes of helle and of the ioyes of heuene and in the trust of the grace of the holy goost that wole yeue hym myght to perfourne his goode entente / <=Sequitur de Auaricia\> After Accidie wol I speke of Auarice and of Coueitis of which synne seith Seint Paul that the roote of alle harmes is coueitise =Ad Thimotheum sexto\ / For soothly whan the herte of a man is confounded in it#self and troubled and that the soule hath lost the confort of god thanne seketh he an ydel solas of worldly thynges \740\ Auarice after the descripcion of Seint Augustyn is a likerousnesse in herte to haue erthely thynges / Som oother folk seyn that auarice is for to purchacen manye erthely thynges and no#thyng yeue to hem that han nede And vnderstond that auarice ne stant nat oonly in lond ne catel but som#tyme in science and in glorie and i euery manere of outrageous thynges is auarice and cou eitise / And the difference bitwixe auarice and couei- tise is this Coueitise is for to coueite swiche thynges as thow hast nat and auarice is for to withholde and kepe swiche thynges as thow hast with#oute rightful nede / Soothly this auarice is a synne that is ful dampnable for al holy writ curseth it and speketh agayns that vice for it dooth wrong to Iesu Crist \745\ / for it bireueth hym the loue that men to hym owen and turneth it bak- ward 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 the seruyse of Iesu Crist / And ther#fore seith Seint Paul =ad Ephesios quinto\ that an auaricious man i the thraldom of ydolatrie / What difference is bitwixe an ydolastre and an auaricious man but that an ydolastre per auenture ne hath but o mawmet or two and the auari- cious man hath manye For certes euery floryn in his cofre is his mawmet / And certes the synne of Mawmettrie is the firste thyng that god deffended in the ten comaunde- mentz as bereth witnesse in =Exodi capitulo 20@ \750\ / Thow shalt haue no false goddes bifore me ne thow shalt make to thee no graue thyng Thus is an auaricious man that loueth his tresor biforn god an ydolastre / thurgh his cursed synne of Auarice Of Coueitise comen thise harde lordshipes thurgh whiche men ben distreyned by taylages custumes and cariage moore than hire duetee or resoun is and eek taken they of hire bonde men amercimentz whiche myghten moore reson- ably ben cleped extorcions than amercimentz / Of whiche amercimentz and raunsonynge of bonde$men somme lordes stywardes seyn that it is rightful for as muche as cherl hath no temporel thynge that it ne is his lordes as they seyn / but certes thise lordshipes doon wrong that bireuen hire bonde$folk thynges that they neuere yaue hem =Augustinus de Ciuitate libro nono\ / Sooth is that the condicioun of thraldom and the firste cause of thraldom is for synne =Genesis 9@\ \755\ / Thus may ye seen that the gilt disserueth thraldom but nat nature / Wherfore thise lordes ne sholde nat muche glo rifien hem in hir lordshipes sith that by naturel con- dicioun they ben nat lordes ouer thralles but that thraldom comth first by the desert of synne / And for- ther ouer ther as the lawe seith that temporel goodes o bonde$folk ben the goodes of hir lordshipes ye that is for to vnderstonde the goodes of the Emperour to def fenden hem in hir right but nat to robben hem ne reuen hem / And ther#fore seith Seneca thy prudence sholde lyu benignely with thy thralles / thilke that thow clepest thy thralles ben goddes peple for humble folk ben Crist- es freendes they ben contubernyal with the lord \760\ / 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 taketh the cherl swic deeth taketh the lord Wherfore I rede do right so wit thy cherl as thow woldest that thy lord dide with the if thow were in his plit / euery synful man is a cherl to synne I rede thee certes that thow lord werke i swich wise with thy cherles that they rather loue thee than drede thee / I woot wel ther is degree aboue degree as reson is and skile is that men do hir deuoir ther as it is due but certes extorcions and despit of youre vn- derlynges is dampnable / And forther ouer vnderstond wel that conquerours or tirauntz maken ful ofte thralles of hem that ben born of as roial blood as ben they that hem conqueren \765\ / This name of thraldom was neuere erst kouth 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 extor- cions to holy chirche Certes the swerd that men yeuen first to a knyght whan he is newe dubbed signifieth that he sholde deffenden holy chirche and nat robben it ne pilen it and who#so dooth is traitour to Crist / And as seith Seint Augustyn they ben the deueles wolues that stranglen the sheep of Iesu Crist and doon worse than wolues / For soothly whan the wolf hath ful his wombe h stynteth to strangle sheep but soothly the pilours an destroyours of goodes of holy chirche ne do nat so for they ne stynte neuere to pile / Now as I haue seyd sith so is that synne was first cause of thraldom thanne is it thus that thilke tyme tha al this world was in synne thanne was al this world in thraldom and subieccioun \770\ / But certes sith the tyme of grace cam god ordeyned that som folk sholde be moor heigh in estaat and in degree and som folk moore lough and that euerich sholde be serued in his estaat / an therfore in somme contrees ther they ben thralles whan they han turned hem to the feith they maken hire thral- les free out of thraldom And therfore certes the lord oweth to his man that the man oweth to his lord / the Pope calleth hym#self seruant of the seruauntz of god but for as muche as the estaat of holy 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 tha som men hadde hyer degree and som men lower / therfor was souereyntee ordeyned to kepe and mayntene and def- fenden hire vnderlynges or hire subgetz in resoun as fer- forth as it lith in hire power and nat to destroyen he ne confounde / Wherfore I seye that thilke lordes that ben lyk wolues that deuouren the possessiouns or the cat el of poure folk wrongfully with#outen mercy or mesure \775\ / 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 marchaunt And thow shalt vnderstonde that marchandise is in manye man- eres 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 i leueful and honeste is this that there as god hath or deyned that a regne or a contree is suffisaunt to hym# self thanne is it honeste and leueful that of habundaunc of this contree that men helpe another contree that i moore nedy / and ther#fore ther moote ben marchantz to bryngen fro that o contree to that oother hire marchan- dise / That oother marchandise that men haunten with fraude and trecherie and deceite with lesynges and false othes is cursed and dampnable \780\ / Espirituel marchandise is proprely Symonye that is ententif desir to byen thyng espirituel that is thyng that aperteneth to the seintuarie of god and to the cure of the soule / This desir if so be that a man do his diligence to perfournen it al be it that his desir ne take noon effect yet is it to hym a deedly synne and if he be ordred he is irreguler / Certes Symonye is clepe of Simon Magus that wolde han boght for temporel catel the yifte that god hadde yeuen by the holy goost t Seint Peter and to the apostles / and ther#fore vnder- stond that bothe he that selleth and he that beyeth thynges espirituels been cleped Symonyals be it by cat- el be it by procurynge or by flesshly preyere of hise freendes flesshly freendes or spirituel freendes / 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 \785\ / That oother manere is whan man or womman preyen for folk to auauncen hem oonly for wikked flesshly affeccioun that they han vn#to the persone and that is foul Symonye / But certes in seruice for which men yeuen thynges espirituels vn#to hi seruantz it moot ben vnderstonde that the seruice moot ben honeste and elles nat and eek that it be with#outen 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 of An- tecrist / 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 ben nat digne / for they putten in theues that stelen the soules of Iesu Crist and destroyen his patrimoyne \790\ / By swiche vndign preestes and curates han lewed men the lasse reuerence of the sacrementz of holy chirche and swiche yeueres of chirches putten out the children of Crist and putten in# to the chirche the deueles owene sone / they sellen the soules that lambes sholde kepen to the wolf that strang leth 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 chidynge and alle rauynes blasphemynge and reneiynge of god and hate of hise neighebores wast of goodes mysspendynge of tyme and som#tyme manslaughtre / Certes hasardours n mowe nat ben with#outen greet synne whiles they haunte that craft / Of auarice comen eek lesynges thefte fals witnesse and false othes And ye shul vnderstonde that thise ben grete synnes and expres agayn the comaundementz of god as I haue seyd \795\ / Fals witnesse is in word and eek in dede In word as for to bireue thy neighebores goode name by thy fals wit- nessyng or bireuen hym his catel or his heritage by thy fals witnessyng whan thow for ire or for mede or for en- uye berest fals witnesse or accusest hym or excusest hym by thy fals witnesse or elles excusest thy#self falsly / Ware yow questemongeres and notaries Certes for fals witnessyng was Susanna in ful greet sorwe and peyne and many another mo The synne of thefte is eek expres agayns goddes heste and that in two maneres corporel and spirituel / as for to take thy neighebores catel agayn his wyl be it by force or by sleighte be it by met or by mesure / By stel yng eek of false enditementz vp#on hym and in borwynge of thy neighebores catel in entente neuere to payen and semblable thynges \800\ / Espirituel thefte is sacrileg that is to seyn hurtynge of holy thynges or of thynges sacred to Crist in two maneres by reson of the holy plac as chirches or chirche hawes / for which euery vileyns synne that men doon in swich places may be cleped sacri- lege or euery violence in the semblable places Also the that withdrawen falsly the rightes that longen to holy chirche / And pleynly and generally sacrilege is to reuen holy thyng fro holy place or vnholy thyng out of holy place or holy thyng out of vnholy place / <=Releuacio contra peccatum Auaricie\> Now shul ye vnderstonde that the releuynge of Auaric is misericorde and pitee largely taken And men myghte axe why that misericorde and pitee is releuynge of Au- arice / 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 releu- ynge of his euene cristene And therfore speke I first of Misericorde \805\ 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 / Vp#on which misericorde folweth pitee in parfournynge of charitable werkes of miseri- corde / And certes thise thynges moeuen a man to miseri- corde of Iesu Crist that yaf hym#self for oure gilt and suffred deeth for misericorde and forgaf vs oure origi- nale synnes / and ther#by 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 / The speces of misericorde ben as for to lene an for to yeue and to foryeuen and relesse and for to han pitee in herte and compassioun of the meschief of his euene cristene and eek to chastise ther as nede is \810 Another manere of remedie agayns auarice is resonable largesse but soothly here bihoueth the consideraciou of the grace of Iesu Crist and of hise temporel goodes and eek of the goodes perdurables that Crist yaf vs / and eek to han remembrance of the deeth that he shal re- ceyue he noot whanne and eek that he shal forgoon al that he hath saue oonly that he hath despended in goode werkes / But for as muche as som folk ben vnmesurabl 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 yeu- eth for veyne glorie as to mynstrals and to folk for to beren his renoun in the world he hath synne and noon almesse / Certes he leseth foule his good that ne seketh with the yifte of his good no#thyng but synne \815\ / 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 dome to hem that shullen ben dampned / <=Sequitur de Gula\> After Auarice comth Glotonye which is expres eek agay the comandement of god Glotonye is vnmesurable appetit to ete or to drynke or elles to doon ynogh to the vn- mesurable appetit and desordeynee coueitise to ete 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 / Manye seith Seint Paul goon of whiche I haue ofte seyd to yow and now I seye i wepynge that they ben the enemys of the croys of Cris of which the ende is deeth and of whiche hire wombe is hire god and hire glorie in confusioun of hem that so deuouren erthely thynges \820\ / He that is vsaunt to this synne of glotonye he ne may no synne withstonde he moot ben 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 an therfore whan a man is dronken he hath lost his resou 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 trauailled 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 dronke- nesse bireueth hym the discrecioun of his wit / The thridde spece of glotonye is whan a man deuoureth his mete and hath no rightful manere of etynge / The ferthe is whan thurgh the grete habundaunce of his mete the hu- mours in his body ben destempred / The fifthe is foryet- elnesse by to muchel drynkynge for which som#tyme a man foryeteth er the morwe what he dide at euen or on the nyght biforn / In oother manere ben distinct the speces of glotonye after Seint Gregorie The firste is for to ete biforn tyme to ete The seconde is whan a man gete hym to delicat mete or drynke / The thridde is whan men taken to muche oue mesure The fourthe is curiositee with greet entente to maken and apparaillen his mete The fifthe is for to ete to gredily / Thise ben the fyue fyngres of the deueles hand by whiche he draweth folk to synne \830\ <=Remedium contra peccatum Gule\> Agayns Glotonye is the remedie Abstinence as seith Ga- lien but that holde I nat meritorie if he do it oonly for the hele of his body Seint Augustyn wole that Absti nence be doon for vertu and with pacience / Abstinence he seith is litel worth but if a man haue good wil ther# to and but it be enforced by pacience and by charitee and that men doon it for goddes sake and in hope to hau the blisse of heuene / The felawes of Abstinence ben Attemperaunce that hold- eth the mene in alle thynges Eek Shame that eschueth alle\ deshonestee Suffisance that seketh no riche metes ne drynkes ne dooth no fors of to outrageous apparaillynge of mete / Mesure also that restreyneth by resoun the deslauee appetit of etynge Sobrenesse also that restreyn- eth the outrage of drynke / Sparynge also that restreyn- eth the delicat ese to sitte longe at his mete and softe- ly wherfore som folk stonden of hir owene wyl to eten at the lasse leyser \835\ / <=Sequitur de Luxuria\> After Glotonye thanne comth Lecherie for thise two syn- nes ben so ny cosyns that ofte tyme they wol nat departe / god woot this synne is ful displesaunt thyng to god for he seyde hym#self do no lecherie and ther#fore he putte grete peynes agayns this synne in the olde lawe / If wom man$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 bissh- opes doghter she sholde be brent by goddes comandement / Forther ouer by the synne of lecherie god dreynte al the world at the diluue And after that he brente fyue citees with thonder$leyt and sank hem in#to helle / 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 \840\ Seint Iohn seith that Auowtiers shullen ben in helle in a stank brennynge of fyr and of brymston in fyr for lech erie in brymston for the stynk of hire ordure / Certe the brekynge of this sacrement is an horrible thyng it was maked of god hym#self in paradys and confermed by Iesu Crist as witnesseth Seint Mathew in the gospel A ma shal lete fader and moder and taken hym to his wif and they shullen be two in o flessh / This sacrement bitok- neth the knyttyng togidre of Crist and of holy chirche / And nat oonly that god forbad auowtrie in dede but eek he comanded that thow sholdest nat coueite thy neighebores wyf / In this heste seith Seint Augustyn is forboden alle manere coueitise to doon lecherie Lo what seith Seint Mathew in the gospel that who#so seeth a womman to coueitise of his lust he hath doon lecherie with hire in his herte \845\ / here 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 hire soule for he obligeth it t synne and to peyne of deeth that is perdurable / Vn#to the body anoyeth it greuously also for it dreyeth hym and wasteth hym and shent hym and of his blood he maketh sacrifice to the feend of helle it wasteth eek 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 vp#on men hir catel and substaunce / 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 ther by wynneth he the mooste partie of this world \850\ / And right a a marchant deliteth hym moost in chaffare that he hath moost auantage of right so deliteth the feend in this ordure / This is that oother hand of the deuel with fyue 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 folwet the coueitise of the herte / The seconde fynger is the vileyns touchynge in wikked manere and therfore seith Salomon That who#so toucheth and handleth a womman he fareth lyk hym that handleth the scorpioun that styngeth and sodeynly sleeth thurgh his envenymynge as who#so toucheth warm pych it shent his fyngres / The thridde is foule wordes that fareth lyk fyr that right anon brenneth the herte \855\ / The ferthe 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 foole ben they that kissen in vileynye for that mouth is the mouth of helle and namely thise olde dotardes holours yet wol they kisse thogh they may nat do and smatre hem / Certes they ben lyk to houndes for an hound whan he comth by the roser or by othere beautees thogh 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 doth with his wyf cer tes that opynyon is fals god woot a man may sleen hym# self with his owene knyf and make hym#seluen dronken of his owene tonne / 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 \860\ / Man sholde louen his wyf by discrecioun paciently and atemprely and thanne is she as thogh she were his suster / The fifthe fynger of the deueles hand is the stynkynge dede of leccherie / Certes the fyue fyngres of glotonye the feend put in the wombe of a man and with hise fyue fyngres of lecherie he grip- eth hym by the reynes for to throwen hym in#to the four- neys of helle / ther as they shul han the fyr and th wormes that euere shul lasten and wepynge and wailynge sharp hunger and thurst grislynesse of deueles that shullen al to#trede hem with#outen respit and with#outen ende / Of leccherie as I seyde sourden dyuerse speces As For- nicacioun that is bitwixe man and womman that ben nat maried and this is deedly synne and agayns nature \865\ 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 lecch erie And Seint Paul yeueth 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 mayden- hede for he that so dooth certes he casteth a mayden ou of the hyeste degree that is in this present lif / and bireueth hire thilke precious fruyt that the book clepeth the hundred fruyt I ne kan seye it noon oother weyes i Englissh but in Latyn it highte =Centesimus fructus\ / Certes he that so dooth is cause of manye damages and vileynyes mo than any man kan rekene right as he som#tym is cause of alle damages that beestes don in the feeld that breketh the hegge or the closure thurgh which h destroyeth that may nat been restored / For certes na- moore may maydenhede be restored 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 neu- ere shal it be that she nas corrupt / And al be it so that I haue spoken somwhat of Auowtri 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 / Of this synne as seith the wise man folwen manye harmes First brekynge of feith and certes in feith is the keye of Cristendom \875\ / and whan that feith is broken and lorn soothly Cristendom stant veyn and with# outen fruyt / This synne is eek a thefte for thefte gen- erally 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 hire 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 / 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 a that he hath in this world ne no#thyng of hise thynges is out of my power but oonly ye that ben his wyf \880\ / And how sholde I thanne do this wikkednesse and synne so horrible agayns god and agayns my lord god it forbede 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 gret- ter synne for to breken it for god made mariage in Para- dys in the estaat of innocence to multiplye man kynde to the seruice of god / And therfore is the brekynge ther# of moore greuous of which brekynge comen false heires ofte tyme that wrongfully occupien folkes heritages and therfore wol Crist putte hem out of the regne of heuene that is heritage to goode folk / of this brekynge comth eek ofte tyme that folk vnwar wedden or synnen with hire 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 hire ordure \885\ What seye we eek of putours that lyuen by the horribl synne of putrie and constreyne wommen to yelden to hem a certeyn rente of hire bodily puterie ye somtyme of his owene wyf or his child as doon thise bawdes certes thise ben cursed synnes / Vnderstond eek that Auowtrie is se gladly in the ten comandementz bitwixe thefte and man- slaughtre for it is the gretteste thefte that may be for it is thefte of body and of soule / And it is lyk t 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 th womman that was founden in auowtrie and sholde han ben 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 / Soothly the vengeaunce of auowtrie is awarded to the peynes of helle but if it be destourbed by penitence \890\ / Yet ben ther mo speces of this cursed synne as wha that oon of hem is religious or elles bothe or of folk that ben entred in#to ordre as subdekne dekne or prees or hospitaliers and euere the hyer that he is in ordre the gretter is the synne / The thynges that gretly agreg- gen hire synne is the brekynge of hire auow of chastitee whan they receyued the ordre / And forther ouer sooth is that holy ordre is chief of al the tresor of god and his especial signe and mark of chastitee to shewe that they ben ioyned to chastitee which that is the moost precious lyf that is / And thise ordred folk ben specially titled to god and of the special meignee of god for which whan they doon deedly synne they ben the special traytours of god and of his peple for they lyuen of the peple to preye for the peple and whil they ben swiche traytours hi preyeres auaillen nat to the peple / Preestes ben aun geles as by the dignytee of hir mysterye but for sothe Seint Paul seith that Sathanas transformeth hym in an aungel of light \895\ / Soothly the preest that haunteth deedly synne he may be likned to the aungel of derkness transformed in the aungel of light he semeth aungel o light but for sothe he is aungel of derknesse / Swich preestes ben the sones of Belie as sheweth in the book of Kynges that they weren the sones of Belial that is th deuel / Belial is to seyn with#outen iuge and so faren they hem thynketh they ben free and han no iuge namoore than hath a free bole that taketh which cow that hy 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 / 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 \900\ / Certes so thise shrewes ne holden hem nat apayed of roosted flessh and sode flessh with which the peple feden hem in greet reuerence but they wole haue raw flessh of folkes wyues and hir doghtres / And certes thise wommen that consenten to hire harlotrie doon greet wrong to Crist and to holy chirche and alle halwes and to alle soules for they bi- reuen alle thise hym that sholde worshipe Crist and holy chirche and preye for cristene soules / And therfore han swiche preestes and hire lemmanes eek that consenten to hir leccherie the malisoun of al the court cristien 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 hire assemblynge but oonly to hire flesshly delit as seit Seint Ierome / and ne rekken of no thyng but that the ben assembled by cause that they ben maried al is good ynough as thynketh to hem \905\ / but in swich folk hath the deuel power as seyde the aungel Raphael to Thobie for in hire assemblynge they putten Iesu Crist out of hire herte and yeuen hem#self to alle ordure The fourthe spece is the assemblee of hem that ben of hire kynrede or of hem that ben of oon affynytee or el les 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 certe parentele is in two maneres outher goostly or flesshly goostly as for to delen with hise godsibbes / For righ so as he that engendreth a child is his flesshly fader right so is his godfader his fader espirituel for which a womman may in no lasse synne assemblen with hire god- sib than with hire owene flesshly brother 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 \910\ / This cursednesse doon men and wommen in diuerse entente and in diuerse manere but though that holy writ speke of horrible synn certes holy writ may nat ben defouled namoore than the sonne that shyneth on the mixne / Another synne aperteyneth to leccherie that comth in slepynge and this synne comth ofte to hem that ben may- denes and eek to hem that ben corrupt and this synne me clepen polucioun that comth in foure maneres / Somtyme of langwissynge of body for the humours ben to ranke and habundaunt in the body of man Somtyme of infermetee for the feblesse of the vertu retentif as phisik maketh men cion Somtyme for surfeet of mete and drynke / And som- tyme of vileyns thoghtes that ben enclosed in mannes mynde whan he gooth to slepe which may nat ben with#oute synne for which men moste kepen hem wisely or elles may men synnen ful greuously / <=Remedium contra peccatum Luxurie\> Now comth the remedie agayns leccherie and that is gen- erally Chastitee and Continence that restreyneth alle the desordeynee moeuynges that comen of flesshly talentes \915\ / 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 as- semblynge 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 sac- rement god maked it as I haue seyd in Paradys and wolde hym#self be born in mariage / and for to halwen mariage he was at a weddynge where as he turned water in#to wyn which was the firste miracle that he wroghte in erthe biforn hise disciples / Trewe effect of mariage clenseth fornicacioun and replenysseth holy chirche of good lynage for that is the ende of mariage and it chaungeth deedly synne in#to venial synne bitwixe hem that ben ywedded and maketh the hertes al oon of hem that ben ywedded as wel as the bodies \920\ This is verray mariage that was establissed by god er that synne bigan whan naturel 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 Augus- tyn by manye resouns / First for mariage is figured bi- twixe Crist and holy chirche And that oother is 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 mo heuedes than oon and that were an horrible thyng biforn god and eek a womman ne myghte nat plese to many folk at ones And also ther ne sholde neuere be pees ne reste amonges hem for euerich wolde axen hi owene thyng / And forther ouer no man sholde knowe his owene engendrure ne who sholde haue his heritage and the womman sholde ben the lasse biloued fro the tyme that she were conioynt to many men Now comth how that a man sholde bere hym with his wif and namely in two thynges that is to seyn in suffraunce and in reuerence as shewed Crist whan he made first wom- man \925\ / For he ne made hire 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 much des- ray ther neden none ensamples of this the experience o day by day oghte suffise / Also certes god ne made nat womman of the foot of Adam for she ne sholde nat ben holden to lowe for she kan nat paciently suffre but god made womman of the ryb of Adam for womman sholde be felawe vn#to 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 holy chirche that loued it so wel that he deyde for it so sholde a man for his wyf if it were nede / Now how that a womman sholde be subget to hire hous- bonde that telleth Seint Peter First in Obedience \930\ And eek as seith the decree a womman that is a wyf as longe as she is a wyf she hath noon auctoritee to swere ne to bere witnesse with#oute leue of hir housbonde that is hire lord algate he sholde be so by resoun / She sholde eek seruen hym in alle honestee and ben attempree of hir array I woot wel that they sholde setten hire entente to plesen hir housbondes but nat by hire queyn tise of array / Seint Ierome seith that wyues that be apparailled in silk and in precious purpre ne mowe nat clothen hem in Iesu Crist Loke what seith Seint Iohn eek in this matere / Seint Gregorie eek seith that no wight seketh precious array but oonly for veyne glorie to ben honoured the moore biforn the peple / It is a greet folye a womman to haue a fair array outward and in hir#self be foul inward \935\ / A wyf sholde eek be mesurable in lookynge and in berynge and in lawghynge and discreet in alle hire wordes and hire dedes / and abouen alle worldly thynges she sholde louen hire housbonde with al hire 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 hire herte ben or elles ther is bitwixe hem two as in that no perfit 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 go For certes that is the cause final of matrimoyne / An- other cause is to yelden euerich of hem to oother the dette of hire bodies for neither of hem hath power o his owene body The thridde is for to eschewe leccherye and vileynye The ferthe is for sothe deedly synne \940\ As to the firste it is meritorie the seconde also for as seith the decree that she hath merite of chastitee that yeldeth to hire housbonde the dette of hir body ye though it be agayn hir likynge and the lust of hire herte / Th thridde manere is venyal synne and trewely scarsly ma any of thise be with#oute venial synne for the corrup cioun 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 sooth- ly it is deedly synne and yet with sorwe somme folk wol peynen hem moore to doon than to hire appetit suffiseth The seconde manere of chastitee is for to ben a clene wydewe and eschue the embracynges of man and desiren the embracynge of Iesu Crist / thise ben tho that han ben wyues and han forgoon hire housbondes and eek wommen that han doon leccherie and ben releued by Penitence \945\ And certes if that a wyf koude kepen hire al chaast by licence of hir housbonde so that she yeue neuere noon occasion that he agilte it were to hire a greet merite / Thise manere wommen that obseruen chastitee moste be clene in herte as wel as in body and in thought and mesurable in clothyng and in contenaunce abstinent in etynge and drynkynge in spekynge and in dede and thanne is she the vessel or the boyste of the blissed Magdalene that fulfilleth holy chirche of good odour / The thridde manere of chastitee is virginitee and it bihoueth that she be holy in herte and clene of body thanne is she spouse to Iesu Crist and she is the lyf of aungels / She is the preisynge of this world and she is as thise martirs in egalitee she hath in hire that tonge may nat telle / Virginitee baar oure lord Iesu Crist and virgine was hym#selue \950\ / Another remedie agayns leccherie is specially to with- drawen swiche thynges as yeue occasion to thilke vileynye as ese etynge and drynkynge for certes whan the pot boyl- eth strongly the beste remedie is to withdrawe the fyr / Slepynge longe in greet quiete is eek a greet norice t leccherie / Another remedie agayns leccherie is that a man or a womman eschue the compaignye of hem by whiche h douteth to be tempted for al be it so that the dede be withstonden yet is ther greet temptacioun / Soothly a whit wal al#though it ne brenne noght fully by stikynge of a candele yet is the wal blak of the leyt / Ful ofte tyme I rede that no man truste in his owene perfecciou but he be stronger than Sampsoun holier than Dauid and wiser than Salomon \955\ / Now after that I haue declared yow as I kan the seuene deedly synnes and somme of hire braunches and hire reme- dies soothly if I koude I wolde telle yow the ten coman- dementz / but so heigh a doctrine I lete to dyuynes na thelees I hope to god they ben touched in this tretice euerich of hem alle / Now for as muche as the seconde partie of Penitence stant in Confessioun of mouth as I bigan in the Chapitre I seye Seint Augustyn seith / Synne is euery word and eu- ery dede and al that men coueiten agayn the lawe of Iesu Crist and this is for to synne in herte in mouth and in dede by thy fyue wittes that ben sighte herynge smellynge tastynge or sauourynge and feelynge Now is it good to vnderstonde the circumstaunces that agreggen muchel euery synne \960\ / Thow shalt considere what thow art that doost the synne wheither thow be male or female yong or old gentil or thral free or seruan hool or syk wedded or sengle ordred or vnordred wys or fool clerk or seculer / if she be of thy kynrede bodily or goostly or noon if any of thy kynrede haue synned with hire or noon and manye mo thynges / Another circum staunce 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 thow hast contynued in synne / The thridde circumstaunce is the place ther thow hast do synne whei- ther in oother mennes hous or in thyn owene in feeld or in chirche or in chirchehawe in chirche dedicat or noon / For if the chirche be halwed and man or womman spille his kynde in with that place by wey of synne or by wik- ked temptacioun the chirche is entredited \965\ / 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 ferthe circumstaunce is by whiche mediatours or by whiche messagers as for enticement or for con- sentement to bere compaignye with felaweshipe for many wrecche for to bere compaignye wole go to the deuel of helle / For they that eggen or consenten to the synne ben parteners of the synne and of the dampnacioun of the synnere / The fifthe circumstaunce is how manye tyme that he hath synned if it be in his mynde and how oft that he hath falle / for he that ofte falleth in synne he despiseth the mercy of god and encreseth his synne and is vnkynde to Crist and he wexeth the moore feble t withstonde synne and synneth the moore lightly \970\ / and the latter ariseth and is the moore eschew for t shryuen hym and 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 ou- trely or elles they departen hir shrift in dyuerse places but soothly swich departed shrift deserueth no mercy of god of hise synnes / The sixte circumstaunce is why that a man synneth as by temptacioun and if hym#self procure thilke temptacioun or by the excitynge of oother folk or if he synne with a womman by force or by hire owene as- sent / or if the womman maugree hir heed hath ben af- forced or noon this shal she telle for coueitise or for pouerte and if it was hire procurynge or noon and swic manere harneys / The seuenthe circumstaunce is in what manere he hath doon his synne or how that she hath suf- fred that folk han doon to hire \975\ / And the same shal the man telle pleynly with alle circumstaunces and whei- ther he hath synned with comune bordel wommen or noon / or doon his synne in holy tymes or noon in fastyng tymes or noon or biforn his shrifte or after his latter shrift / and hath per auenture broken therfore his pen- ance enioyned by whos help and whos conseil by sorcerie or craft al moste be toold Alle thise thynges after that they ben grete or smale engreggen the conscience of man And eek the preest tha is thy iuge may the bettre ben auysed of his iuggement in yeuynge of thy penaunce and that is after thy contri- cioun / For vnderstond wel that after tyme that a ma hath defouled his baptesme by synne if he wole come t sauacioun ther is noon oother wey but by penitence and shrifte and satisfaccioun \980\ / and namely by the two if ther be a confessour to which he may shryuen hym and the thridde if he haue lyf to perfournen it / Thanne shal man looke and considere that if he wole maken a trewe and a profitable confessioun ther moste b foure condiciouns / First it moot ben in sorweful bit- ternesse of herte as seyde the kyng Ezechiel 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 first is that confessioun moste be shamefast nat for to couere ne hide his synne for he hath agilt his god and defouled his soule / And here of 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 \985\ / Swich was the confessioun of the Publican that wolde nat heuen vp hise eyen to heuene for he hadde offended god of heuene for which shamefast- nesse he hadde anon the mercy of god / And ther of seit Seint Augustyn that swich shamefast folk ben next for- yeuenesse and remissioun / Another signe is humylitee in confessioun of which seith Seint Peter Humbleth yow vn- der the myght of god the hond of god is myghty in confes sioun for ther by god foryeueth thee thy synnes for h allone hath the power / and this humylitee shal ben in herte and in signe outward for right as he hath humylite to god in his herte right so sholde he humble his body outward to the preest that sit in goddes place / Fo which in no manere sith that Crist is souereyn and the preest meene and mediatour bitwixe Crist and the synnere and the synnere is the laste by wey of resoun \990\ thanne sholde nat the synnere sitte as hye as his con- fessour but knele biforn hym or at his feet but if mala- die destourbe it For he shal nat taken kepe who sit there but in whos place that he sitteth / A man that hath tres- pased to a lord and comth for to axe mercy and maken his accord and set hym doun anon by the lord men wolde holden hym outrageous and nat worthy so soone for to haue remis- sioun ne mercy / The thridde signe is 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 The fourthe signe is that he ne lette nat for shame to shewen his confessioun \995\ / Swich was the confessioun of the Magdalene that ne spared for no shame of hem tha weren atte feste for to go to oure lord Iesu Crist an biknowe to hym hire synne / The fifthe signe is that a man or a womman be obeisant to receyuen the penaunce that hym is enioyned for certes Iesu Crist for the giltes of o 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 hym#self th moore wolde it corrupte and haste hym to his deeth and eek the wounde wolde be the wors for to hele / And righ so fareth synne that longe tyme is in a man vnshewed / Certes a man oghte hastily shewen hise synnes for many 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 draweth in another \1000\ / and eek the lenger that he tarieth the ferther he is fro Crist And if he abide to his laste day scars- ly 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 hath nat in his lyf herkned Ies 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 four thynges Thy 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 with the speces and circumstances / and that he haue comprehended in his mynde the nombre and the greet- nesse of hise synnes and how longe that he hath leyn in synne / and eek that he be contrit of hise synnes and in stedefast purpos by the grace of god neuere eft to falle in synne and eek that he drede and countrewait hym#self that he fle the occasiouns of synne to whiche he is enclyned \1005\ / Also thow 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 confes- sioun as for shame or drede for it nys but stranglynge of thy soule / For certes Iesu Crist is entierly al good in hym is noon imperfeccioun and therfore outher he for- yeueth al parfitly or elles neuer$a$deel / I seye nat that if thow be assigned to the penitauncer for certeyn synne that thow art bounde to shewen hym al the remenaunt of thy synnes of whiche thow hast be shryuen of thy cu- raat but if it like thee of thyn humylitee this is no departynge of shrifte / ne I seye nat ther as I speke o dyuysioun of confessioun that if thow 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 hym of alle thy synnes / but lat no blotte be bihynde lat no synne ben vntoold as fe as thow hast remembraunce \1010\ / And whan thow shal be shryuen to thy curaat telle hym eek alle the synnes that thow hast doon syn thow were last yshryuen this is no wikked entente of dyuysioun of shrifte / Also the verray shrifte axeth certeyne condicioun First that thow shryue thee by thy free wil noght con streyned ne for shame of folk ne for maladie ne swiche thynges for it is resoun that he that trespaseth by his free wyl that by his free wyl he confesse his trespas / noon oother man shal telle his synne but he hym#self ne he shal nat nayte ne denye his synne ne wratthe hym agayn the preest for his amonestynge to lete synne / The sec- onde condicioun is that thy shrift be laweful that is to seyn that thow that shryuest thee and eek the preest that hereth thy confessioun ben verraily in the feith of holy chirche / and that a man ne be nat despeired of the mercy of Iesu Crist as Caym or Iudas \1015\ / And eek a ma moot accusen hym#self of his owene trespas and nat an- other but he shal blame and wyten hym#self and his owen malice of his synne and noon oother / but nathelees i that another man be occasioun or enticere of his synne or the estaat of a persone be swich thurgh which his synne is agregged or elles that he may nat pleynly shry- uen hym but he telle the persone with which he hath syn- ned thanne may he telle it / so that his entente be nat to bakbite the persone but oonly to declaren his confes- sioun / Thow ne shalt nat eek make no lesynges in thy confessioun for humylitee par auenture to seyn that thow hast doon synnes of whiche thow were neuere gilty / For Seint Augustyn seith If thow by cause of humylitee makest lesynges on thy#self thogh thow ne were nat in synne bi- forn yet artow thanne in synne thurgh thy lesynges \1020\ Thow most eek shewe thy synne by thyn owene propre mouth but thow be woxe dombe and nat by no lettre for thow that hast doon the synne thow shalt haue the shame / Thow shalt nat eek peynte thy confessioun by faire subtil wordes to couere the moore thy synne for thanne bigil- estow thy#self and nat the preest thow most tellen it platly be it neuere so foul ne so horrible / Thow shalt eek shryue thee to a preest that is discreet to con- seille thee and eek thow shalt nat shryue thee for veyne glorie ne for ypocrisye ne for no cause but oonly for the doute of Iesu Crist and the heele of thy soule / Thow shalt nat eek renne to the preest sodeynly to tel- len hym lightly thy synne as who#so telleth a iape or a tale but auysely and with greet deuocioun / And generally shryue thee ofte If thow ofte falle ofte thow arise by confessioun \1025\ / And though thow shryue thee ofter than ones of synne of which thow hast be shryuen it is the moore merite And as seith Seint Au gustyn thow shalt haue the moore lightly relessyng and grace of god bothe of synne and of peyne / And certes ones a yeere atte leeste wey it is laweful for to be housled for soothly ones a yeere alle thynges renouel- len / Now haue I toold of verray confessioun that is the sec- onde partie of Penitence / <=Explicit secunda pars Penitencie Et sequitur tercia pars eiusdem\> The thridde partie of Penitence is Satisfaccioun and that stant generally in almesse and in bodily peyne Now ben ther thre manere of almesse Contricioun of herte where a man offreth hym#self to god Another is to han pitee of the defaute of hise neighebores The thridde is in yeuynge of good conseil and comfort goostly an bodily where men han nede and namely in sustenaunce of mannes foode \1030\ / And tak kepe that a man hath nede\ of thise thynges generally he hath nede of foode he hath nede of clothyng and herberwe he hath nede of charitable conseil and visitynge in prisone and maladie and sepul- ture of his dede body / And if thow mayst nat visite th nedeful with thy persone visite hym by thy message and thy yiftes / Thise ben general almesses or werkes of charitee of hem that han temporel richesse or discrecioun in conseilynge Of thise werkes shaltow heren at the day of doome / Thise almesses shaltow doon of thyne owen propre thynges and hastily and pryuely if thow mayst / but nathelees if thow mayst nat doon it pryuely thow shalt nat forbere to doon almesse though men seen it so that it be nat doon for thank of the world but oonly for thank of Iesu Crist \1035\ / For as witnesseth Seint Mathew =capitulo quinto\ A citee may nat ben hyd that i set on a montayne ne men lighte nat a lanterne and put it vnder a busshel but men sette it on a candelstikke to lighten 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 wakynges in fastynges in vertuouse techynges of ori- sons / 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 harme and to han thynges espirituel and durable and som#tyme temporel thynges of whiche orisouns certes in the orison of the =Pater noster\ hath Iesu Crist enclosed moost thyng- es / Certes it is pryuyleged of thre thynges in his dig- nytee for which it is moore digne than any oother preyere for that Iesu Crist hym#self maked it \1040\ / and it is short for it sholde be koud the moore lightly and for t withholden it the moore esily in herte and helpen hym# self 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 com- prehendeth in it self alle goode preyeres / the exposi- cioun of this holy 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 t thee be ful wel war that thow be nat out of charitee / This holy orisoun amenuseth eek venyal synne and therfore it aperteneth specially to penitence / This preyere most 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 \1045\ / This orisoun moste eek ben seyd with greet hum- blesse and ful pure honestly and nat to the anoyaunce of any man or womman It moste eek ben continued with the werkes of charitee / It auayleth eek agayn the vices of the soule for as seith Seint Ierome By fastynge ben saued the vices of the flessh and by preyere the vices of the soule / After this thow shalt vnderstonde that bodil peyne stant in wakynge for Iesu Crist seith waketh and preyeth that ye ne entre in wikked temptacioun Ye shul vnderstanden also that fastynge stant in thr thynges In forberynge of bodily mete and drynke and in forberynge of worldly iolitee and in forberynge of deed ly synne this is to seyn that a man shal kepen hym fr deedly synne with al his myght / And thow shalt vnder standen eek that god ordeyned fastynge and to fastynge apertenen foure thynges \1050\ / Largenesse to poure folk gladnesse of herte espirituel nat to ben angry ne anoye ne grucche for he fasteth and also resonable houre for to ete by mesure that is for to seyn a man shulde nat ete in vntyme ne sitte the lenger at his table for he fast- eth Thanne shaltow vnderstonde that bodily peyne stant in disciplyne or techynge by word or by writynge or in en- sample Also in werynge of heyres or of stamyn or of haubergeons on hire naked flessh for Cristes sake an swiche manere penaunces / but war thee wel that swiche manere penaunces on thy flessh ne make nat thyn hert bitter or angry or anoyed of thy#self for better is to caste awey thyn heyre than for to caste awey the swete- nesse of Iesu Crist / And ther#fore seith Seint Paul Clothe yow as they that ben chosen of god in herte of misericorde debonairetee suffraunce and swich manere of clothynge of which Iesu Crist is moore apayed than of heyres or haubergeouns or hauberkes Thanne is discipline eek in knokkynge of thy brest in scourgynge with yerdes in knelynges in tribulaciouns \1055\ / in suffrynge paciently wronges that ben 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 foure maneres that is drede shame hope and wanhope that is desperacioun / And for to speke first of drede for which he weneth that he may suffre no penaunce / ther agayns is remedie for to thynke that bodily penaunce is but short and litel a regard of the peyne of helle that is cruel and so long that it lasteth with#outen ende / Now agayn the shame that a man hath to shryuen hym and namely thise ypocrites that wolden ben holden so parfite that they han no nede to shryuen hem \1060\ / Agayns that shame sholde a man thynke that by wey of resoun that he that hath nat ben ashamed to doon foule thynges certes hym oghte nat ben ashamed to do faire thynges and that is confessiouns / A man sholde eek thynke that go seeth and woot alle hise thoghtes and alle hise werkes to hym may no#thyng ben hyd ne couered / Men sholden eek remembren hem of the shame that is to come at the day o doome to hem that ben nat penitent and shryuen in this present lyf / For alle the creatures in heuene in erthe and in helle shullen seen apertly al that they hyden in this world Now for to speken of the hope of hem that ben so nec- ligent and slowe to shryuen hem it stant in two maneres \1065\ / 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 he may as hym semeth tymely ynough come to shrifte / Another is of surquidrie that he hath in Cristes mercy / Agayns the firste vice he shal thynke that oure lif is in no siker nesse and eek that alle the richesse in this world be in auenture and passen as a shadwe on the wal / And as seith Seint Gregorie that it aperteneth to the gret 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 perpetuel wil to do synne shul they han perpetuel peyne / 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 \1070\ / 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 thynk that as ofte as he falleth he may arise agayn by peni tence and though he neuere so longe haue leyn in synne the mercy of Crist is alwey redy to receyuen hym to mer- cy / Agayns the wanhope that he demeth that he sholde nat longe perseuere in goodnesse he shal thynke that th feblesse of the deuel may no#thyng doon but if men wol suffren hym / and eek he shal han strengthe of the help of god and of al holy chirche and of the proteccioun of aungels if hym list \1075\ Thanne shal men vnderstonde what is the fruyt of pen- aunce And after the word of Iesu Crist it is the endelee blisse of heuene / ther ioye hath no contrarioustee of wo ne greuaunce ther alle harmes ben passed of this pres- ent lyf ther as is the sikernesse fro the peyne of helle ther as is the blisful compaignye that reioysen hem eu- eremo 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 an feble and mortal is inmortal and so strong and so hool that ther may no thyng apeyren it / ther as ne is neither hunger thurst ne coold but euery soule replenyssed with the sighte of the parfit knowynge of god / This blisful regne may men purchace by pouerte espirituel and the glo- rie by lowenesse the plentee of ioye by hunger and thurst and the reste by trauaille and the lyf by deeth and mor- tificacioun of synne \1080\ / Now preye I to hem alle that herkne this litel tretys or rede that if ther be any thyng in it that liketh he that ther of they thanken oure lord Iesu Crist of who procedeth al wit and al goodnesse / And if ther be an thyng that displese hem I preye hem also that they ar- rette it to the defaute of myn vnkonnynge and nat to my wyl that wolde fayn haue seyd bettre if I hadde had kon- nynge / 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 / and namely of my translacions and endit- ynges of worldly vanitees the whiche I reuoke in my re tracciouns \1085\ / 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 parle- ment of briddes The tales of Caunterbury thilke that sownen in#to synne / The book of the Leoun and many an- other book if they were in my remembrance and many a song and many a leccherous lay that Crist for his grete merc foryeue me the synne / But of the translacioun of Boece de consolacione and othere bookes of legendes of seintes and Omelies an moralitee and deuocioun / that thanke I oure lord Iesu Crist and his blisful moder and alle the seintes of heu- ene / bisekynge hem that they from hennes forth vn#to my lyues ende sende me grace to biwayle my giltes and to studie to the sauacioun of my soule and graunte me grace of verray penitence confessioun and satisfaccioun to doon in this present lyf \1090\ / thurgh the benigne grace o hym that is kyng of kynges and preest of alle preeste that boughte vs with the precious blood of his herte / so that I may ben oon of hem at the day of doome that shulle be saued =Qui cum patre etc.\