Section 9 (Fragment VI, Group C)

Here bigynneth the phisiciens Tale.                                     f.191v

9. 0001  Ther was, as telleth Titus Liuius,
9. 0002  A knyght that called was Virginius
9. 0003  Fulfild of honour and of worthynesse.
9. 0004  And strong of freendes and of greet richesse.
9. 0005    This knyght a doghter hadde by his wif:
9. 0006  No children hadde he mo in al his lif.
9. 0007  Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee
9. 0008  Abouen euery wight that man may see,
9. 0009  For nature hath with souereyn diligence
9. 0010  Yformed hir in so greet excellence
9. 0011  As thogh she wolde seyn: 'Lo I, nature,
9. 0012  Thus kan I forme and peynte a creature
9. 0013  Whan that me list. Who kan me countrefete?
9. 0014  Pigmalion noght, thogh he ay forge and bete
9. 0015  Or graue or peynte. For I dar wel seyn
9. 0016  Apelles, Zanzis sholde werche in veyn
9. 0017  Outher to graue or peynte or forge or bete
9. 0018  If they presumeden me to countrefete.
9. 0019  For he that is the former prinicipal
9. 0020  Hath maked me his vicaire general
9. 0021  To forme and peynten erthely creaturis
9. 0022  Right as me list. And ech thyng in my cure is
9. 0023  Vnder the moone that may wane and waxe.
9. 0024  And for my werk right nothyng wol I axe.
9. 0025  My lord and I been ful of oon acord.
9. 0026  I made hire to the worship of my lord;
9. 0027  So do I alle myne othere creatures
9. 0028  What colour that they han or what figures.'
9. 0029  Thus semeth me that nature wolde seye.
9. 0030    This mayde of age xij yeer was and tweye
9. 0031  In which that nature hadde swich delit.
9. 0032  For right as she kan peynte a lilye whit
9. 0033  And reed a rose, right with swich peynture
9. 0034  She peynted hath this noble creature,
9. 0035  Er she were born, vpon hir lymes free
9. 0036  Wher as by right swiche colours sholden be.
9. 0037  And Phebus dyed hath hir tresses grete
9. 0038  Lyk to the stremys of his burned hete.
9. 0039  And if that excellent was hir beautee
9. 0040  A thousandfold moore vertuous was she.
9. 0041  In hire ne lakked no condicioun
9. 0042  That is to preyse as by discrecioun.
9. 0043  As wel in goost as body chaast was she
9. 0044  For which she floured in virginitee
9. 0045  With all humilitee and abstinence,
9. 0046  With all atemperance and pacience,
9. 0047  With mesure eek of beryng and array.
9. 0048  Discreet she was in answeryng alway
9. 0049  Thogh she were wise Pallas, dar I seyn;
9. 0050  Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn.
9. 0051  No countrefeted termes hadde she
9. 0052  To seme wys; but after hir degree
9. 0053  She spak, and alle hir wordes moore and lesse
9. 0054  Sownynge in vertu and in gentilesse,
9. 0055  Shamefast she was in maydens shamefastnesse,
9. 0056  Constant in herte, and euere in bisynesse






9. 0057  To dryue hir out of ydel slogardye.
9. 0058  Bacus hadde of hir mouth right no maistrye,
9. 0059  For wyn and youthe dooth Venus encreesse
9. 0060  As men in fyr wol casten oille or gresse.
9. 0061  And of hir owene vertu, vnconstreyned
9. 0062  She hath ful ofte tyme syk hir feyned
9. 0063  For that she wolde fleen the compaignye
9. 0064  Where likly was to treten of folye
9. 0065  As is at festes, reuels, and at daunces
9. 0066  That been occasions of daliaunces.
9. 0067  Swich thyng maken children for to be
9. 0068  To soone rype and boold, as men may se,
9. 0069  Which is ful perilous and hath be yoore.
9. 0070  For al to soone may they lerne loore
9. 0071  Of boldnesse, whan she woxe is a wyf.
9. 0072    And ye maistresses in youre olde lyf
9. 0073  That lordes doghtres han in gouernance
9. 0074  Ne taketh of my wordes no displesance.
9. 0075  Thenketh that ye been set in gouernynges
9. 0076  Of lordes doghtres oonly for two thynges:
9. 0077  Owther for ye han kept youre honestee
9. 0078  Or ellis ye han falle in freletee
9. 0079  And knowen wel ynow the olde daunce
9. 0080  And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce
9. 0081  For eueremo. Therfore for Cristes sake
9. 0082  To teche hem vertu looke that ye ne slake.
9. 0083    A theef of venyson that hath forlaft
9. 0084  His likerousnesse and al his olde craft
9. 0085  Kan kepe a forest best of any man.
9. 0086  Now kepeth wel, for if ye wole ye kan.
9. 0087  Looke wel that ye vnto no vice assente
9. 0088  Lest ye be dampned for youre wikke entente.
9. 0089  For whoso dooth, a traytour is certeyn.
9. 0090  And taketh kepe of that that I shal seyn:
9. 0091  Of alle tresoun souerayn pestilence
9. 0092  Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.
9. 0093    Ye fadres and ye modres eek also,
9. 0094  Thogh ye han children be it oon or mo,
9. 0095  Youre is the charge of al hir surueaunce
9. 0096  Whil that they been vnder youre gouernaunce.
9. 0097  Beth war if by ensample of youre lyuynge
9. 0098  Or by youre necligence in chastisynge
9. 0099  That they perisse, for I dar wel seye
9. 0100  If that they doon ye shul it deere abeye.
9. 0101  Vnder a shepherde softe and necligent
9. 0102  The wolf hath many a sheep and lomb torent.
9. 0103  Suffiseth oon ensample now as heere
9. 0104  For I moot turne agayn to my matere.
9. 0105    This mayde, of which I wol this tale expresse,
9. 0106  So kepte hirself hir neded no maistresse.
9. 0107  For in hir lyuyng maydens myghten rede
9. 0108  As in a book euery good word or dede
9. 0109  That longeth to a mayden vertuous.
9. 0110  She was so prudent and so bounteuous
9. 0111  For which the fame out sproong on euery syde,
9. 0112  Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountee wyde,
9. 0113  That thurgh that land they preysed hir echone
9. 0114  That loued vertu, saue enuye allone
9. 0115  That sory is of oother mennes wele
9. 0116  And glad is of his sorwe and his vnheele --






9. 0117  The doctor maketh this discripcioun.
9. 0118    This mayde vpon a day wente in the toun
9. 0119  Toward a temple with hir moder deere
9. 0120  As is of yonge maydens the manere.
9. 0121  Now was ther thanne a iustice in that toun
9. 0122  That gouernour was of that regioun.
9. 0123  And so bifel this iuge hise eyen caste
9. 0124  Vpon this mayde, auysynge hym ful faste
9. 0125  As she cam forby ther as this iuge stood.
9. 0126  Anoon his herte chaunged and his mood
9. 0127  So was he caught with beautee of this mayde.
9. 0128  And to hymself ful pryuely he sayde:
9. 0129  'This mayde shal by myn for any man.'
9. 0130  Anon the feend into his herte ran
9. 0131  And taughte hym sodeynly that he by slyghte
9. 0132  This mayden to his purpos wynne myghte.
9. 0133  For certes by no force ne by no meede
9. 0134  Hym thoughte he was nat able for to speede
9. 0135  For she was strong of freendes; and eek she
9. 0136  Confermed was in swich souerayn bountee
9. 0137  That wel he wiste he myghte hir neuere wynne
9. 0138  As for to make hir with hir body synne.
9. 0139    For which by greet deliberacioun
9. 0140  He sente after a cherl was in the town
9. 0141  Which that he knew for subtil and for bold.
9. 0142  This iuge vnto this cherl his tale hath told
9. 0143  In secree wise and made hym to ensure
9. 0144  He sholde telle it to no creature;
9. 0145  And if he dide he sholde lese his heed.
9. 0146  Whan that assented was this cursed reed,
9. 0147  Glad was this iuge, and maked hym gret cheere
9. 0148  And yaf hym yiftes preciouse and deere.
9. 0149    Whan shapen was al hir conspiracie
9. 0150  Fro point to point how that his lecherie
9. 0151  Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly,
9. 0152  As ye shul heere it after openly,
9. 0153  Hom goth the cherl that highte Claudius.
9. 0154  This false iuge that highte Apius
9. 0155  (So was his name for this is no fable
9. 0156  But knowen for historial thyng notable:
9. 0157  The sentence of it sooth is out of doute),
9. 0158  This false iuge gooth now faste aboute
9. 0159  To hasten his delit al that he may.
9. 0160  And so bifel soone after on a day
9. 0161  This false iuge, as telleth vs the storie,
9. 0162  As he was wont sat in his consistorie
9. 0163  And yaf his domes vpon sondry cas.
9. 0164    This false cherl cam forth a ful gret pas
9. 0165  And seyde: 'Lord, if that it be youre wille
9. 0166  As dooth me right vpon this pitous bille
9. 0167  In which I pleyne vpon Virginius.
9. 0168  And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus,
9. 0169  I wol it preue and fynde good witnesse
9. 0170  That sooth is that my bille wol expresse.'
9. 0171    This iuge answerde: 'Of this in his absence
9. 0172  I may nat yeue diffynytif sentence.
9. 0173  Lat do hym calle and I wol gladly heere.
9. 0174  Thow shalt haue al right and no wrong heere.'
9. 0175    Virginius cam to wite the iuges wille
9. 0176  And right-anon was rad this cursed bille.






9. 0177  The sentence of it was as ye shul heere:
9. 0178  'To yow, my lord sire Apius so deere,
9. 0179  Sheweth youre poure seruant Claudius
9. 0180  How that a knyght called Virginius
9. 0181  Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitee
9. 0182  Holdeth expres agayn the wyl of me
9. 0183  My seruant which that is my thral by right,
9. 0184  Which fro myn hous was stole vpon a nyght
9. 0185  Whil that she was ful yong. This wol I preue
9. 0186  By witnesse, lord, so that it nat yow greue.
9. 0187  She nys his doghter nat, whatso he seye.
9. 0188  Wherfore to yow, my lord the iuge, I preye:
9. 0189  Yeld me my thral, if that it be youre wille.'
9. 0190  Lo, this was al the sentence of his bille.
9. 0191    Virginius gan vpon the cherl biholde.
9. 0192  But hastily, er he his tale tolde
9. 0193  And wolde haue proued it as sholde a knyght
9. 0194  And eek by witnessynge of many a wight
9. 0195  That it was fals that seyde his aduersarie,
9. 0196  This cursed iuge wolde nothyng tarie
9. 0197  Ne here a word moore of Virginius,
9. 0198  But yaf his iuggement and seyde thus:
9. 0199  'I deme anon this cherl his seruant haue.
9. 0200  Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir saue.
9. 0201  Go bryng hir forth and put hir in oure warde.
9. 0202  The cherl shal han his thral; this I awarde.'
9. 0203    And whan this worthy knyght Virginius
9. 0204  Thurgh sentence of this iustice Apius
9. 0205  Moste by force his deere doghter yeuen
9. 0206  Vnto the iuge in lecherie to lyuen,
9. 0207  He goth hym hom and sette hym in his halle
9. 0208  And leet anoon his deere doghter calle.
9. 0209  And with a face deed as asshen colde
9. 0210  Vpon hir humble face he gan biholde
9. 0211  With fadres pitee stikyng thurgh his herte,
9. 0212  Al wolde he from his purpos nat conuerte.
9. 0213    'Doghter,' quod he, 'Virginia by thy name,
9. 0214  Ther been two weyes, outher deeth or shame,
9. 0215  That thow most suffre. Allas that I was bore,
9. 0216  For neuere thow deseruedest wherfore
9. 0217  To dyen with a swerd or with a knyf.
9. 0218  O deere doghter, endere of my lyf,
9. 0219  Which I haue fostred vp with swich plesance
9. 0220  That thow were neuere out of my remembrance.
9. 0221  O doghter which that art my laste wo
9. 0222  And in my lyf my laste ioye also!
9. 0223  O gemme of chastitee, in pacience
9. 0224  Tak thow thy deeth for this is my sentence:
9. 0225  For loue and nat for hate thow most be deed.
9. 0226  My pitous hand moot smyten of thyn heed.
9. 0227  Allas that euere Apius thee say;
9. 0228  Thus hath he falsly iugged thee today.'
9. 0229  And tolde hir al the cas, as ye bifore
9. 0230  Han herd. Nat nedeth for to telle it moore.
9. 0231    'O mercy, deere fader,' quod this mayde.
9. 0232  And with that word she bothe hir armes layde
9. 0233  Aboute his nekke as she was wont to do.
9. 0234  The teeris borste out of hir eyen two.
9. 0235  And seyde: 'Goode fader, shal I dye?
9. 0236  Is ther no grace? Is ther no remedye?'






9. 0237    'No certes deere doghter myn,' quod he.
9. 0238    'Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn,' quod she,
9. 0239  'My deeth for to compleyne a litel space.
9. 0240  For pardee Iepte yaf his doghter grace
9. 0241  For to compleyne er he hir slowe allas --
9. 0242  And god it woot, nothyng was hir trespas
9. 0243  But for she ran hir fader for to se
9. 0244  To welcome hym with greet solempnytee.'
9. 0245  And with that word she fil aswowne anon.
9. 0246  And after whan hir swownyng is agon
9. 0247  She riseth vp and to hir fader sayde:
9. 0248  'Blessed be god that I shal dye a mayde.
9. 0249  Yif me my deeth er that I haue a shame.
9. 0250  Dooth with your child youre wyl a goddes name.'
9. 0251  And with that word she preyed hym ful ofte
9. 0252  That with his swerd he wolde smyte softe.
9. 0253  And with that word aswowne doun she fil.
9. 0254    Hir fader with ful sorweful herte and wil
9. 0255  Hir heed of smoot and by the top it hente
9. 0256  And to the iuge he gan it to presente
9. 0257  As he sat yet in doom in consistorie.
9. 0258  And whan the iuge it saw, as seith the storie,
9. 0259  He bad to take hym and anhange hym faste.
9. 0260  But right-anon a thousand peple in thraste
9. 0261  To saue the knyght for routhe and for pitee,
9. 0262  For knowen was the false iniquitee.
9. 0263  The peple anon hadde suspect in this thyng
9. 0264  By manere of the cherles chalangyng
9. 0265  That it was by the assent of Apius.
9. 0266  They wisten wel that he was lecherus.
9. 0267  For which vnto this Apius they gon
9. 0268  And caste hym in a prison right-anon
9. 0269  Ther as he slow hymself. And Claudius
9. 0270  That seruant was vnto this Apius
9. 0271  Was demed for to hange vpon a tree,
9. 0272  But that Virginius of his pitee
9. 0273  So preyde for hym that he was exiled
9. 0274  And ellis certes he hadde been bigyled.
9. 0275  The remenant were anhanged moore and lesse
9. 0276  That were consentant of this cursednesse.
9. 0277    Heere may men seen how synne hath his merite.
9. 0278  Beth war, for no man woot whom god wol smyte
9. 0279  In no degree ne in which manere wise.
9. 0280  The worm of conscience may agrise
9. 0281  Of wikked lyf, thogh it so pryuee be
9. 0282  That no man woot therof but god and he.
9. 0283  For be he lewed man or ellis lered
9. 0284  He noot how soone that he shal been afered.
9. 0285  Therfore I rede yow this conseil take:
9. 0286  Forsaketh synne er synne yow forsake.


ere endeth the phisiciens tale.


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

9. 0287  Oure hoost gan to swere as he were wood:
9. 0288  'Harrow,' quod he, 'by nayles and by blood
9. 0289  This was a fals cherl and a fals iustise!






9. 0290  As shameful deeth as herte may deuyse
9. 0291  Come to thise iuges and hir aduocatz.
9. 0292  Algate this sely mayde is slayn allas!
9. 0293  Allas to deere boghte she beautee!
9. 0294  Wherfore I seye alday that men may se
9. 0295  That yiftes of fortune and of nature
9. 0296  Been cause of deeth to many a creature;
9. 0297  Of bothe yiftes that I speke of now
9. 0298  Men han ful ofte moore for harm than prow.
9. 0299    'But trewely, myn owene maister deere,
9. 0300  This is a pitous tale for to heere.
9. 0301  But nathelees passe ouer; is no fors.
9. 0302  I pray to god so saue thy gentil cors
9. 0303  And eek thyne vrynals and thy iurdones,
9. 0304  Thyn ypocras and eek thy galyones,
9. 0305  And euery boyste ful of thy letuarie --
9. 0306  God blesse hem and oure lady seinte Marie.
9. 0307  So mote I then thow art a propre man
9. 0308  And lyk a prelat by seint Ronyan.
9. 0309  Seyde I nat wel? I kan nat speke in terme
9. 0310  But wel I woot thow doost myn herte to erme
9. 0311  That I almoost haue caught a cardynacle.
9. 0312  By corpus bones but if I haue triacle
9. 0313  Or ellis a draghte of moyste and corny ale
9. 0314  Or but I heere anon a murye tale,
9. 0315  Myn herte is lost for pitee of this mayde.
9. 0316    'Thow beel amy, thow pardoner,' he sayde,
9. 0317  'Tel vs som myrthe or iapes right-anon.'
9. 0318    'It shal be doon,' quod he, 'by seint Ronyon.
9. 0319  But first,' quod he, 'heere at this ale-stake
9. 0320  I wol bothe drynke and eten of a cake.'
9. 0321    And right-anon thise gentils gonne to crye:
9. 0322  'Nay. Lat hym telle vs of no ribawdye.
9. 0323  Tel vs som moral thyng that we may leere
9. 0324  Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly heere.'
9. 0325    'I graunte ywis,' quod he. 'But I moot thynke
9. 0326  Vpon som honeste thyng whil that I drynke.'

ere bigynneth the prologe of the pardoners tale.

9. 0327  'Lordynges,' quod he, 'in chirches whan I preche
9. 0328  I peyne me to han an hauteyn speche
9. 0329  And rynge it out as round as gooth a belle
9. 0330  For I kan al by rote that I telle.
9. 0331  My theme is alwey oon and euere was:
9. 0332  Radix malorum est cupiditas.
9. 0333    'First I pronounce whennes that I come.
9. 0334  And thanne my bulles shewe I alle and some.
9. 0335  Oure lige-lordes seel on my patente,
9. 0336  That shewe I first my body to warente
9. 0337  That no man be so boold ne preest ne clerk
9. 0338  Me to destourbe of Cristes holy werk.
9. 0339  And after that thanne telle I forth my tales.
9. 0340  Bulles of popes and of cardynales,
9. 0341  Of patriarkes and bisshopes I shewe.
9. 0342  And in Latyn I speke a wordes fewe
9. 0343  To saffron with my predicacioun
9. 0344  And for to stire hem to deuocioun.
9. 0345    'Thanne shewe I forth my longe, cristal stones
9. 0346  Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones:






9. 0347  Relikes been they as wenen they echon.
9. 0348  Thanne haue I in a latoun a shulder-bon
9. 0349  Which that was of an holy Iewes sheep.
9. 0350  'Goode men,' I seye, 'tak of my wordes keep.
9. 0351  If that this boon be wasshe in any welle,
9. 0352  If cow or calf or sheep or oxe swelle
9. 0353  That any worm hath ete or worm ystonge,
9. 0354  Taak water of that welle and wassh his tonge
9. 0355  And it is hool anoon. And forthermoor
9. 0356  Of pokkes and of scabbe and euery soor
9. 0357  Shal euery sheep be hool that of this welle
9. 0358  Drynketh a draughte. Taak kepe eek what I telle:
9. 0359  If that the goode man that the bestes oweth
9. 0360  Wol euery wike er that the cok hym croweth
9. 0361  Fastynge drynken of this welle a draghte,
9. 0362  As thilke holy Iew oure eldres taghte,
9. 0363  Hise bestes and his stoor shal multiplie.
9. 0364    'And, sire, also it heeleth ialousie.
9. 0365  For thogh a man be falle in ialous rage,
9. 0366  Lat maken with this water his potage
9. 0367  And neuere shal he moore his wyf mystriste
9. 0368  Thogh he the soothe of hir defaute wiste,
9. 0369  Al hadde she taken preestes two or thre.
9. 0370      Heere is a miteyn eek that ye may se.
9. 0371  He that his hand wol putte in this mitayn,
9. 0372  He shal haue multiplyyng of his grayn
9. 0373  Whan he hath sowen be it whete or otes -
9. 0374  So that he offre pens or ellis grotes.
9. 0375    'Goode men and wommen, o thyng warne I yow:
9. 0376  If any wight be in this chirche now
9. 0377  That hath doon synne horrible that he
9. 0378  Dar nat for shame of it yshryuen be
9. 0379  Or any womman be she yong or old
9. 0380  That hath ymaked hir housbond cokewold
9. 0381  Swich folk shal haue no power ne no grace
9. 0382  To offren to my relikes in this place.
9. 0383  And whoso fyndeth hym out of swich blame
9. 0384  He wol come vp and offre a goddes name,
9. 0385  And I assoille hym by the auctoritee
9. 0386  Which that by bulle ygraunted was to me.'
9. 0387    'By this gaude haue I wonne yeer by yeer
9. 0388  An hundred mark sith I was pardoner.
9. 0389  I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet
9. 0390  And whan that lewed peple is doun yset,
9. 0391  I preche so as ye han herd bifore
9. 0392  And telle an hundred false iapes more.
9. 0393  Thanne peyne I me to strecche forth the nekke
9. 0394  And est and west vpon the peple I bekke
9. 0395  As dooth a dowue sittyng on a berne.
9. 0396  Myne handes and my tonge goon so yerne
9. 0397  That it is ioye to se my bisynesse.
9. 0398  Of auarice and of swich cursednesse
9. 0399  Is al my prechyng for to make hem free
9. 0400  To yeuen hir pens and namely vnto me.
9. 0401  For myn entente is nat but for to wynne
9. 0402  And nothyng for correccioun of synne.
9. 0403  I rekke neuere whan that they been beryed
9. 0404  Thogh that hir soules goon a blakeberyed.
9. 0405  For certes many a predicacioun
9. 0406  Comth ofte tyme of yuel entencioun:






9. 0407  Som for plesance of folk and flaterye
9. 0408  To been auanced by ypocrisie,
9. 0409  And som for veyne glorie, and som for hate.
9. 0410    'For whan I dar noon ootherweyes debate,
9. 0411  Thanne wol I stynge hym with my tonge smerte
9. 0412  In prechyng so that he shal nat asterte
9. 0413  To been diffamed falsly, if that he
9. 0414  Hath trespased to my bretheren or to me.
9. 0415  For though I telle noght his propre name
9. 0416  Men shal wel knowe that it is the same
9. 0417  By signes and by othere circumstances.
9. 0418  Thus quyte I folk that doon vs displesances.
9. 0419  Thus spete I out my venym vnder hewe
9. 0420  Of holynesse, to seme holy and trewe.
9. 0421  But shortly myn entente I wol deuyse:
9. 0422  I preche of nothyng but for coueitise.
9. 0423  Therfore my theme is yet and euere was
9. 0424  Radix malorum est cupiditas.
9. 0425    'Thus kan I preche agayn that same vice
9. 0426  Which that I vse, and that is auarice.
9. 0427  But though myself be gilty in that synne,
9. 0428  Yet kan I make oother folk to twynne
9. 0429  From auarice and soore to repente;
9. 0430  But that is nat my principal entente.
9. 0431  I preche nothyng but for coueitise.
9. 0432  Of this matere it oghte ynow suffise.
9. 0433    'Thanne telle I hem ensamples many oon
9. 0434  Of olde stories longe tyme agoon,
9. 0435  For lewed peple louen tales olde:
9. 0436  Swiche thynges kan they wel reporte and holde.
9. 0437  What trowe ye that whiles I may preche
9. 0438  And wynne gold and siluer for I teche
9. 0439  That I wol lyue in pouerte wilfully?
9. 0440  Nay, nay. I thoghte it neuere trewely,
9. 0441  For I wol preche and begge in sondry landes.
9. 0442  I wol nat do no labour with myne handes
9. 0443  Ne make baskettes and lyue therby
9. 0444  By cause I wol nat beggen ydelly.
9. 0445  I wol none of the apostles countrefete.
9. 0446  I wol haue moneye, wolle, chese, and whete,
9. 0447  Al were it yeuen of the pouerest page
9. 0448  Or of the pouereste widwe in a village
9. 0449  Al sholde hir children sterue for famyne.
9. 0450  Nay. I wol drynke licour of the vyne
9. 0451  And haue a ioly wenche in euery toun.
9. 0452    'But herkneth, lordynges, in conclusioun,
9. 0453  Youre likyng is that I shal telle a tale.
9. 0454  Now haue I dronke a draghte of corny ale.
9. 0455  By god I hope I shal yow telle a thyng
9. 0456  That shal by resoun been at youre likyng,
9. 0457  For thogh myself be a ful vicious man
9. 0458  A moral tale yet I yow telle kan
9. 0459  Which I am wont to preche for to wynne.
9. 0460  Now holde youre pees, my tale I wol bigynne.'

ere bigynneth the pardoners tale.

9. 0461  In Flandres whilom was a compaignye
9. 0462  Of yonge folk that haunteden folye,
9. 0463  As riot, hasard, stewes, and tauernes,






9. 0464  Where as with harpes, lutes, and gyternes
9. 0465  They daunce and pleyen at dees bothe day and nyght
9. 0466  And ete also and drynke ouer hir myght,
9. 0467  Thurgh which they doon the deuel sacrifise
9. 0468  Withinne that deueles temple in cursed wise
9. 0469  By superfluytee abhomynable.
9. 0470  Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable
9. 0471  That it is grisly for to heere hem swere.
9. 0472  Oure blissed lordes body they totere.
9. 0473  Hem thoughte that Iewes rente hym noght ynough.
9. 0474  And eech of hem at otheres synne lough.
9. 0475  And right-anon thanne coomen tombesteres,
9. 0476  Fetys and smale, and yonge frutesteres,
9. 0477  Syngeris with harpes, baudes, waufereres,
9. 0478  Whiche been the verray deueles officers
9. 0479  To kyndle and blowe the fyr of lecherye
9. 0480  That is annexed vnto glotonye.
9. 0481  The holy writ take I to my witnesse
9. 0482  That luxure is in wyn and dronkenesse.
9. 0483  Lo how that dronken Loth vnkyndely
9. 0484  Lay by his doghtres two vnwityngly.
9. 0485  So dronke he was he nyste what he wroghte.
9. 0486  Herodes, whoso wel the stories soghte,
9. 0487  Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste
9. 0488  Right at his owene table he yaf his heste
9. 0489  To sleen the Baptist Iohn ful giltelees.
9. 0490    Senec seith a good word doutelees.
9. 0491  He seith he kan no difference fynde
9. 0492  Bitwix a man that is out of his mynde
9. 0493  And a man which that is dronkelewe,
9. 0494  But that woodnesse yfallen in a sherewe
9. 0495  Perseuereth lenger than dooth dronkenesse.
9. 0496  O glotonye ful of cursednesse,
9. 0497  O cause first of oure confusioun,
9. 0498  O original of oure dampnacioun
9. 0499  Til Crist hadde boght vs with his blood agayn.
9. 0500  Lo how deere shortly for to sayn
9. 0501  Aboght was thilke cursed vileynye.
9. 0502  Corrupt was al this world for glotonye.
9. 0503  Adam oure fader and his wyf also
9. 0504  Fro paradys to labour and to wo
9. 0505  Were dryuen for that vice, it is no drede.
9. 0506  For whil that Adam fasted as I rede
9. 0507  He was in paradys, and whan that he
9. 0508  Eet of the frut defended on a tree
9. 0509  Anon he was out cast to wo and peyne.
9. 0510  O glotonye, on thee wel oghte vs pleyne.
9. 0511     O wiste a man how manye maladies
9. 0512  Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes
9. 0513  He wolde been the moore mesurable
9. 0514  Of his diete sittyng at his table.
9. 0515  Allas the shorte throte, the tendre mouth
9. 0516  Maketh that est and west and north and south
9. 0517  In erthe, in eyr, in water men to swynke
9. 0518  To gete a gloton deyntee mete and drynke.
9. 0519  Of this matere, o Paul, wel kanstow trete:
9. 0520  Mete vnto wombe and wombe eek vnto mete
9. 0521  Shal god destroyen bothe, as Paulus seith.
9. 0522  Allas a foul thyng is it by my feith
9. 0523  To seye this word, and fouler is the dede






9. 0524  Whan man so drynketh of the white and rede
9. 0525  That of his throte he maketh his pryuee
9. 0526  Thurgh thilke cursed superfluite.
9. 0527    The apostle wepyng seith ful pitously:
9. 0528  Ther walken manye of whiche yow toold haue I,
9. 0529  I seye it now wepyng with pitous voys.
9. 0530  Ther been enemys of Cristes croys
9. 0531  Of whiche the ende is deth: wombe is hir god.
9. 0532    O wombe, o bely, o stynkyng cod
9. 0533  Fulfilled of dong and of corrupcioun;
9. 0534  At either ende of thee foul is the soun.
9. 0535  How greet labour and cost is thee to fynde.
9. 0536  Thise cokes how they stampe and streyne and grynde
9. 0537  And turnen substance into accident
9. 0538  To fulfillen al the likerous talent.
9. 0539  Out of the harde bones knokke they
9. 0540  The mary, for they caste nat awey
9. 0541  That may go thurgh the golet softe and soote
9. 0542  Of spicerie of lief and bark and roote
9. 0543  Shal been his sauce ymaked by delit
9. 0544  To make hym yet a newer appetit.
9. 0545  But certes he that haunteth swiche delices
9. 0546  Is deed whil that he lyueth in tho vices.
9. 0547    A lecherous thyng is wyn, and dronkenesse
9. 0548  Is ful of stryuyng and of wrecchednesse.
9. 0549    O dronke man, disfigured is thy face,
9. 0550  Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace,
9. 0551  And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the soun
9. 0552  As thogh thou seydest ay 'Sampsoun, Sampsoun.'
9. 0553  And yet god woot Sampson drank neuere no wyn!
9. 0554  Thou fallest as it were a stiked swyn.
9. 0555  Thy tonge is lost and al thyn honest cure,
9. 0556  For dronkenesse is verray sepulture
9. 0557  Of mannes wit and his discrecioun.
9. 0558  In whom that drynke hath domynacioun
9. 0559  He kan no conseil kepe it is no drede.
9. 0560  Now kepe yow fro the white and fro the rede
9. 0561  And namely fro the white wyn of Lepe
9. 0562  That is to selle in Fisshstrete or in Chepe.
9. 0563  This wyn of Spaigne crepeth subtilly
9. 0564  In othere wynes growynge faste by,
9. 0565  Of which ther riseth swich fumositee
9. 0566  That whan a man hath dronken draghtes thre
9. 0567  And weneth that he be at hom in Chepe
9. 0568  He is in Spaigne right at the toune of Lepe,
9. 0569  Nat at the Rochel ne at Burdeux toun --
9. 0570  And thanne wol he seyn 'Sampson, Sampsoun.'
9. 0571    But herkneth, lordynges, o word I yow preye:
9. 0572  That alle the souereyn actes, dar I seye,
9. 0573  Of victories in the olde testament
9. 0574  Thurgh verray god that is omnipotent
9. 0575  Were doon in abstinence and in prayere.
9. 0576  Looketh the Bible and ther ye may it leere.
9. 0577    Looke Attilla, the grete conquerour,
9. 0578  Deyde in his sleep with shame and dishonour
9. 0579  Bledyng at his nose in dronkenesse;
9. 0580  A capitayn sholde lyue in sobrenesse.
9. 0581    And oueral this auyseth yow right wel
9. 0582  What was comaunded vnto Lamwel --
9. 0583  Nat Samuel but Lamwel seye I.






9. 0584  Redeth the Bible and fynd it expresly
9. 0585  Of wyn-yeuynge to hem that han iustise.
9. 0586  Namoore of this for it may wel suffise.
9. 0587    And now that I haue spoken of glotonye,
9. 0588  Now wol I yow defende hasardrye.
9. 0589  Hasard is verray moder of lesynges
9. 0590  And of deceite and cursed forswerynges,
9. 0591  Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre, and wast also
9. 0592  Of catel and of tyme. And forthermo
9. 0593  It is reproue and contrarie of honour
9. 0594  For to ben holden a commune hasardour.
9. 0595  And euere the hyer he is of estaat
9. 0596  The moore is he holden desolat.
9. 0597  If that a prynce vseth hasardrye,
9. 0598  In alle gouernance and policye
9. 0599  He is as by commune opynyoun
9. 0600  Yholde the lasse in reputacioun.
9. 0601    Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour,
9. 0602  Was sent to Corynthe in ful gret honour
9. 0603  Fro Lacedomye to make hir alliaunce.
9. 0604  And whan he cam, hym happed parchaunce
9. 0605  That alle the gretteste that were of that lond
9. 0606  Pleiynge at the hasard he hem fond.
9. 0607  For which as soone as it myghte be
9. 0608  He stal hym hom agayn to his contree
9. 0609  And seyde: 'Ther wol I nat lese my name
9. 0610  N'Y wol nat take on me so greet defame
9. 0611  Yow for to allie vnto none hasardours.
9. 0612  Sendeth othere wise embassadours,
9. 0613  For by my trouthe me were leuere dye
9. 0614  Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye.
9. 0615  For ye that been so glorious in honours
9. 0616  Shal nat allye yow with hasardours
9. 0617  As by my wyl ne as by my tretee.'
9. 0618  This wise philosophre thus seyde he.
9. 0619    Looke eek that to the kyng Demetrius
9. 0620  The kyng of Parthes, as the book seith vs,
9. 0621  Sente hym a paire of dees of gold in scorn
9. 0622  For he hadde vsed hasard therbiforn.
9. 0623  For which he heeld his glorie or his renoun
9. 0624  At no value or reputacioun.
9. 0625  Lordes may fynden oother manere pley
9. 0626  Honeste ynow to dryue the day awey.
9. 0627    Now wol I speke of oothes false and grete
9. 0628  A word or two, as olde bokes trete.
9. 0629  Greet sweryng is a thyng abhomynable
9. 0630  And fals sweryng is yet moore repreuable.
9. 0631  The heighe god forbad sweryng at al,
9. 0632  Witnesse on Mathew. But in special
9. 0633  Of sweryng seith the holy Ieremye:
9. 0634  Thow shalt swere sooth thyne othes and nat lye,
9. 0635  And swere in doom and eek in rightwisnesse;
9. 0636  But ydel sweryng is a cursednesse.
9. 0637    Bihoold and se that in the firste table
9. 0638  Of heighe goddes hestes honurable
9. 0639  How that the seconde heste of hym is this:
9. 0640  Take nat my name in ydel or amys.
9. 0641  Lo rather he forbedeth swich sweryng
9. 0642  Than homycide or many a cursed thyng.
9. 0643  I seye that as by ordre thus it standeth.






9. 0644  This knoweth that hise hestes vnderstandeth
9. 0645  How that the seconde heste of god is that.
9. 0646  And fortherouer I wol thee telle al plat
9. 0647  That vengeance shal nat parten from his hous
9. 0648  That of hise othes is to outrageous:
9. 0649  'By goddes precious herte' and 'By his nayles'
9. 0650  And 'By the blood of Crist that is in Hayles,
9. 0651  Seuene is my chance and thyn is cynk and treye',
9. 0652  'By goddes armes if thow falsly pleye
9. 0653  This dagger shal thurghout thyn herte go'.
9. 0654  This frut cometh of the bicche bones two:
9. 0655  Forsweryng, ire, falsnesse, homycide.
9. 0656  Now for the loue of Crist that for vs dyde
9. 0657  Lete youre othes bothe grete and smale.
9. 0658  But, sires, now wol I telle forth my tale.
9. 0659    Thise riotours thre of whiche I telle
9. 0660  Longe erst er pryme ronge of any belle
9. 0661  Were set hem in a tauerne to drynke.
9. 0662  And as they sat, they herde a belle klynke
9. 0663  Biforn a cors was caryed to his graue.
9. 0664  That oon of hem gan callen to his knaue:
9. 0665  'Go bet,' quod he, 'and axe redily
9. 0666  What cors is this that passeth heer forby.
9. 0667  And looke that thow reporte his name wel.'
9. 0668    'Sire,' quod this boy, 'it nedeth neuer-a-del.
9. 0669  It was me told er ye cam heer two houres.
9. 0670  He was pardee an old felawe of youres,
9. 0671  And sodeynly he was yslayn tonyght
9. 0672  Fordronke as he sat on his bench vpright.
9. 0673  Ther cam a priuee theef men clepeth deeth
9. 0674  That in this contree al the peple sleeth
9. 0675  And with his spere he smoot his herte atwo
9. 0676  And wente his wey withouten wordes mo.
9. 0677  He hath a thousand slayn this pestilence.
9. 0678  And, maister, er ye come in his presence
9. 0679  Me thynketh that it were necessarie
9. 0680  For to be war of swich an aduersarie.
9. 0681  Beeth redy for to meete hym eueremoore:
9. 0682  Thus taughte me my dame. I sey namoore.'
9. 0683    'By seinte Marie,' seyde this tauerner,
9. 0684  'The child seith sooth, for he hath slayn this yer
9. 0685  Henne ouer a myle withinne a greet village
9. 0686  Bothe man and womman, child and hyne and page.
9. 0687  I trowe his habitacioun be there.
9. 0688  To been auysed greet wisdom it were
9. 0689  Er that he dide a man a dishonour.'
9. 0690    'Ye goddes armes,' quod this riotour,
9. 0691  'Is it swich peril with hym for to meete?
9. 0692  I shal hym seke by wey and eek by strete,
9. 0693  I make avow to goddes digne bones.
9. 0694  Herkneth, felawes. We thre been al ones.
9. 0695  Lat ech of vs holde vp his hand to oother
9. 0696  And ech of vs bicome ootheres brother
9. 0697  And we wol sleen this false traytour deeth.
9. 0698  He shal be slayn, he that so manye sleeth,
9. 0699  By goddes dignytee er it be nyght.'
9. 0700    Togidres han thise thre hir trouthes plyght
9. 0701  To lyue and dyen ech of hem with oother
9. 0702  As thogh he were his owene ybore brother.
9. 0703  And vp they stirte al dronken in this rage






9. 0704  And forth they goon towardes that village
9. 0705  Of which the tauerner hadde spoke biforn.
9. 0706  And many a grisly ooth thanne han they sworn
9. 0707  And Cristes blessed body they torente:
9. 0708  Deeth shal be deed if they may hym hente.
9. 0709    Whan they han goon nat fully half a myle,
9. 0710  Right as they wolde han treden ouer a style
9. 0711  An old man and a poure with hem mette.
9. 0712  This olde man ful mekely hem grette
9. 0713  And seyde thus: 'Now, lordes, god yow se.'
9. 0714    The proudeste of thise riotours thre
9. 0715  Answerde agayn: 'What, carl with sory grace,
9. 0716  Why artow al forwrapped saue thy face?
9. 0717  Why lyuestow so longe in so greet age?'
9. 0718    This olde man gan looke in his visage
9. 0719  And seyde thus: 'For I ne kan nat fynde
9. 0720  A man, thogh that I walked into Inde,
9. 0721  Neither in citee ne in no village
9. 0722  That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn age.
9. 0723  And therfore moot I han myn age stille
9. 0724  As longe tyme as it is goddes wille.
9. 0725  Ne deeth allas ne wol nat haue my lyf.
9. 0726  Thus walke I lyk a restelees caytyf
9. 0727  And on the ground which is my modres gate
9. 0728  I knokke with my staf bothe erly and late
9. 0729  And seye: 'Leeue moder, leet me in.
9. 0730  Lo how I vanysshe flessh and blood and skyn.
9. 0731  Allas whan shal my bones been at reste.
9. 0732  Moder, with yow wolde I chaunge my cheste
9. 0733  That in my chambre longe tyme hath be,
9. 0734  Ye for an heyre-clowt to wrappe me.'
9. 0735  But yet to me she wol nat do that grace,
9. 0736  For which ful pale and welked is my face.
9. 0737    'But, sires, to yow it is no curteisye
9. 0738  To speken to an old man vileynye
9. 0739  But he trespase in word or ellis in dede.
9. 0740  In holy writ ye may yourself wel rede:
9. 0741  Agayns an old man hoor vpon his heed
9. 0742  Ye shal arise. Wherfore I yeue yow reed:
9. 0743  Ne dooth vnto an old man noon harm now
9. 0744  Namoore than that ye wolde men dide to yow
9. 0745  In age, if that ye so longe abyde.
9. 0746  And god be with yow wher ye go or ryde,
9. 0747  I moot go thider as I haue to go.'
9. 0748    'Nay, olde cherl, by god thow shalt nat so,'
9. 0749  Seyde this oother hasardour anon.
9. 0750  'Thow partest nat so lightly by seint Iohn.
9. 0751  Thow speeke right now of thilke traytour deeth
9. 0752  That in this contree alle oure freendes sleeth.
9. 0753  Haue here my trouthe as thow art his espye.
9. 0754  Tel wher he is or thow shalt it abye
9. 0755  By god and by the holy sacrament.
9. 0756  For soothly thow art oon of his assent
9. 0757  To sleen vs yonge folk, thow false theef.'
9. 0758    'Now, sires,' quod he, 'if that yow be so leef
9. 0759  To fynde deeth, turn vp this croked wey
9. 0760  For in that groue I lafte hym by my fey
9. 0761  Vnder a tree and ther he wol abyde.
9. 0762  Nat for youre boost he wol hym nothyng hyde.
9. 0763  Se ye that ook, right ther ye shal hym fynde.






9. 0764  God saue yow, that boghte agayn mankynde,
9. 0765  And yow amende.' Thus seyde this olde man.
9. 0766    And euerich of thise riotours ran
9. 0767  Til he cam to that tree, and ther they founde
9. 0768  Of floryns fyne of gold ycoyned rounde
9. 0769  Wel ny an viij busshels, as hem thoughte.
9. 0770  No lenger thanne after deeth they soughte,
9. 0771  But ech of hem so glad was of the sighte
9. 0772  For that the floryns been so faire and brighte
9. 0773  That doun they sette hem by this precious hoord.
9. 0774    The worste of hem, he spak the firste word:
9. 0775  'Bretheren,' quod he, 'taak kepe what that I seye,
9. 0776  My wit is greet thogh that I bourde and pleye.
9. 0777  This tresor hath fortune vnto vs yeuen
9. 0778  In myrthe and iolitee oure lyf to lyuen.
9. 0779  And lightly as it cometh so wol we spende.
9. 0780  Ey goddes precious dignytee! Who wende
9. 0781  Today that we sholde han so fair a grace?
9. 0782  But myghte this gold be caried fro this place
9. 0783  Hoom to myn hous or ellis vnto youres
9. 0784  (For wel ye woot that al this gold is oures),
9. 0785  Thanne were we in heigh felicitee.
9. 0786  But trewely by daye it may nat be.
9. 0787  Men wolde seyn that we were theues stronge
9. 0788  And for oure owene tresor doon vs honge.
9. 0789  This tresor moste ycaried be by nyghte
9. 0790  As wisly and as sleyly as it myghte.
9. 0791  Therfore I rede that cut amonges vs alle
9. 0792  Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol falle.
9. 0793  And he that hath the cut with herte blithe
9. 0794  Shal renne to towne and that ful swithe
9. 0795  And brynge vs breed and wyn ful priuely.
9. 0796  And two of vs shal kepen subtilly
9. 0797  This tresor wel. And if he wol nat tarye,
9. 0798  Whan it is nyght we wol this tresor carye
9. 0799  By oon assent wher as vs thynketh best.'
9. 0800    That oon of hem the cut broghte in his fest
9. 0801  And bad hem drawe and looke wher it wol falle.
9. 0802  And it fel on the yongeste of hem alle.
9. 0803  And forth toward the town he wente anon.
9. 0804  And also soone as that he was agon,
9. 0805  That oon of hem spak thus vnto that oother:
9. 0806  'Thow knowest wel thow art my sworn brother,
9. 0807  Thy profit wol I telle thee anon.
9. 0808  Thow woost wel that oure felawe is agon
9. 0809  And heere is gold and that ful greet plentee
9. 0810  That shal departed been among vs thre.
9. 0811  But nathelees if I kan shape it so
9. 0812  That it departed were among vs two,
9. 0813  Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?'
9. 0814    That oother answerde: 'I noot how that may be;
9. 0815  He woot that the gold is with vs tweye.
9. 0816  What shal we doon? What shal we to hym seye?'
9. 0817    'Shal it be conseil?' seyde the firste shrewe.
9. 0818  'And I shal telle in a wordes fewe
9. 0819  What we shul doon and brynge it wel aboute.'
9. 0820    'I graunte,' quod that oother, 'out of doute
9. 0821  That by my trouthe I wol thee nat biwreye.
9. 0822    'Now,' quod the firste, 'thow woost wel we be tweye
9. 0823  And two of vs shul strenger be than oon.






9. 0824  Looke whan that he is set, that right-anon
9. 0825  Arys as though thow woldest with hym pleye
9. 0826  And I shal ryue hym thurgh the sydes tweye
9. 0827  Whil that thow strogelest with hym as in game;
9. 0828  And with thy daggere looke thow do the same.
9. 0829  And thanne shal al this gold departed be,
9. 0830  My deere freend, bitwixe thee and me.
9. 0831  Thanne may we bothe oure lustes al fulfille
9. 0832  And pleye at dees right at oure owene wille.'
9. 0833  And thus acorded been thise sherewes tweye
9. 0834  To sleen the thridde as ye han herd me seye.
9. 0835    This yongeste which that wente to the toun,
9. 0836  Ful ofte in herte he rolleth vp and doun
9. 0837  The beautee of thise floryns newe and brighte.
9. 0838  'O lord,' quod he, 'if so were that I myghte
9. 0839  Haue al this tresor to myself allone,
9. 0840  Ther is no man that lyueth vnder the trone
9. 0841  Of god that sholde lyue so myrie as I.'
9. 0842  And at the laste the feend oure enemy
9. 0843  Putte in his thoght that he sholde poyson beye
9. 0844  With which he myghte sleen his felawes tweye;
9. 0845  Forwhy the feend foond hym in swich lyuynge
9. 0846  That he hadde leue hym to sorwe brynge,
9. 0847  For this was outrely his ful entente
9. 0848  To sleen hem bothe and neuere to repente.
9. 0849    And forth he goth, no lenger wolde he tarye.
9. 0850  Into the toun vnto a pothecarye
9. 0851  And preyed hym that he hym wolde selle
9. 0852  Som poyson that he myghte his rattes quelle.
9. 0853  And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe
9. 0854  That, as he seyde, his capons hadde yslawe.
9. 0855  And fayn he wolde wreke hym if he myghte
9. 0856  On vermyn that destroyed hym by nyghte.
9. 0857    The pothecarie answerde: 'And thow shalt haue
9. 0858  A thyng that, also god my soule saue,
9. 0859  In al this world ther is no creature
9. 0860  That ete or dronke hath of this confiture
9. 0861  Nat but the montaunce of a corn of whete
9. 0862  That he ne shal his lyf anoon forlete.
9. 0863  Ye sterue he shal, and that in lasse while
9. 0864  Than thow wolt goon a paas nat but a myle,
9. 0865  The poyson is so strong and violent.'
9. 0866    This cursed man hath in his hand yhent
9. 0867  This poyson in a box and sith he ran
9. 0868  Into the nexte strete vnto a man
9. 0869  And borwed hym large botels thre.
9. 0870  And in the two his poison poured he,
9. 0871  The thridde he kepte clene for his drynke,
9. 0872  For al the nyght he shoop hym for to swynke
9. 0873  In cariyng of the gold out of that place.
9. 0874  And whan this riotour with sory grace
9. 0875  Hadde filled with wyn hise grete botels thre,
9. 0876  To hise felawes agayn repaireth he.
9. 0877    What nedeth it to sarmone of it moore,
9. 0878  For right as they hadde cast his deeth bifore
9. 0879  Right so they han hym slayn and that anon?
9. 0880  And whan this was doon thus spak that oon:
9. 0881  'Now lat vs sitte and drynke and make vs merye.
9. 0882  And afterward we wol his body berye.'
9. 0883  And with that word it happed hym par cas






9. 0884  To take the botel ther the poyson was
9. 0885  And drank and yaf his felawe drynke also,
9. 0886  For which anon they storuen bothe two.
9. 0887    But certes I suppose that Auycen
9. 0888  Wroot neuere in no canon ne in no fen
9. 0889  Mo wonder signes of empoysonyng
9. 0890  Than hadde thise wrecches two er hir endyng.
9. 0891  Thus ended been thise homicides two
9. 0892  And eek the false empoysoner also.
9. 0893     O cursed synne of alle cursednesse,
9. 0894  O traytours homicide, o wikkednesse,
9. 0895  O glotonye, luxure, and hasardrye,
9. 0896  Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileynye
9. 0897  And othes grete of vsage and of pryde.
9. 0898  Allas mankynde, how may it bityde
9. 0899  That to thy creatour which that thee wroghte
9. 0900  And with his precious herte-blood the boghte
9. 0901  Thow art so fals and so vnkynde allas?
9. 0902    Now, goode men, god foryeue yow youre trespas
9. 0903  And ware yow fro the synne of auarice.
9. 0904  Myn holy pardoun may yow alle warisse
9. 0905  So that ye offre nobles or starlynges
9. 0906  Or ellis siluer broches, spones, rynges.
9. 0907  Boweth your heed vnder this holy bulle.
9. 0908  Cometh vp, ye wyues, offreth of youre wolle.
9. 0909  Youre name I entre here in my rolle anon:
9. 0910  Into the blisse of heuene shul ye gon.
9. 0911  I yow assoille by myn heigh power,
9. 0912  Ye that wol offre, as clene and eek as cler
9. 0913  As ye were born. And lo, sires, thus I preche.
9. 0914  And Iesu Crist that is oure soules leche
9. 0915  So graunte yow his pardoun to receyue,
9. 0916  For that is best I wol yow nat deceyue.
9. 0917    'But, sires, o word forgat I in my tale:
9. 0918  I haue relikes and pardon in my male
9. 0919  As faire as any man in Engelond
9. 0920  Whiche were me yeuen by the popes hond.
9. 0921  If any of yow wol of deuocioun
9. 0922  Offren and han myn absolucioun,
9. 0923  Com forth anon and kneleth here adoun
9. 0924  And mekely receyueth my pardoun.
9. 0925  Or ellis taketh pardoun as ye wende
9. 0926  Al newe and fressh at euery myles ende,
9. 0927  So that ye offren alwey newe and newe
9. 0928  Nobles or pens whiche that been goode and trewe.
9. 0929  It is an honour to euerich that is heer
9. 0930  That ye mowe haue a suffisant pardoner
9. 0931  T'assoille yow in contree as ye ryde
9. 0932  For auentures whiche that may bityde.
9. 0933  Parauenture ther may falle oon or two
9. 0934  Doun of his hors and breke his nekke atwo.
9. 0935  Looke which a seuretee is it to yow alle
9. 0936  That I am in your felaweship yfalle
9. 0937  That may assoille yow bothe moore and lasse
9. 0938  Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe.
9. 0939  I rede that oure hoost shal bigynne
9. 0940  For he is moost envoluped in synne.
9. 0941  Com forth, sire hoost, and offre first anon
9. 0942  And thow shalt kisse the relikes euerychon;
9. 0943  Ye for a grote vnbokele anon thy purs.'






9. 0944    'Nay, nay,' quod he, 'thanne haue I Cristes curs.
9. 0945  Lat be,' quod he. 'It shal nat be, so thee ich.
9. 0946  Thow woldest make me kisse thyn olde breech
9. 0947  And swere it were a relyk of a seint
9. 0948  Thogh it were with thy fondement depeynt.
9. 0949  But by the croys which that seint Eleyne foond
9. 0950  I wold I hadde thy coylons in myn hond
9. 0951  In stide of relikes or of seintuarie.
9. 0952  Lat cutte hem of: I wol thee hem carie.
9. 0953  They shul be shryned in an hogges toord.'
9. 0954    This pardoner answerde nat a word.
9. 0955  So wrooth he was no word ne wolde he seye.
9. 0956    'Now,' quod oure hoost, 'I wol no lenger pleye
9. 0957  With thee ne with noon oother angry man.'
9. 0958    But right-anon the worthy knyght bigan
9. 0959  Whan that he saugh that al the peple lough:
9. 0960  'Namoore of this for it is right ynough.
9. 0961  Sire pardoner, be glad and murye of cheere.
9. 0962  And sire hoost that been to me so deere,
9. 0963  I pray yow that ye kisse the pardoner.
9. 0964  And, pardoner, I pray thee drawe thee neer.
9. 0965  And as we diden lat vs lawe and pleye,'
9. 0966    Anon they kiste and ryden for= hir weye.

Here is ended the pardoners tale.



                                2
SECTION 10 (Fragment VII, Group B )


Here bigynneth the shipmannes tale.                            f.204

10. 0001  A marchant whilom dwelled at Seint Denys
10. 0002  That riche was, for which men helde hym wys.
10. 0003  A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee
10. 0004  And compaignable and reuelous was she,
10. 0005  Which is a thyng that causeth moore dispence
10. 0006  Than worth is al the cheere and reuerence
10. 0007  That men hem doon at festes and at daunces:
10. 0008  Swiche salutacions and contenances
10. 0009  Passen as dooth a shadwe vpon the wal.
10. 0010  But wo is hym that payen moot for al!
10. 0011  The sely housbonde algate he moot paye.
10. 0012  He moot vs clothe and he moot vs arraye
10. 0013  Al for his owene worship richely:
10. 0014  In which array we dauncen iolily.
10. 0015  And if that he noght may parauenture
10. 0016  Or ellis list no swich dispense endure
10. 0017  But thynketh it is wasted and ylost,
10. 0018  Thanne moot another payen for oure cost
10. 0019  Or lene vs gold and that is perilous.
10. 0020  This noble marchant heeld a worthy hous,
10. 0021  For which he hadde alday so greet repair
10. 0022  For his largesse and for his wyf was fair
10. 0023  That wonder is. But herkneth to my tale.
10. 0024    Amonges alle hise gestes grete and smale
10. 0025  Ther was a monk, a fair man and a bold,
10. 0026  I trowe a thritty wynter he was old,
10. 0027  That euere in oon was drawyng to that place.
10. 0028  This yonge monk that was so fair of face
10. 0029  Aqueynted was so with the goode man
10. 0030  Sith that hir firste knewliche bigan
10. 0031  That in his hous as famulier was he
10. 0032  As it is possible any freend to be.
10. 0033  And for as muchel as this goode man
10. 0034  And eek this monk, of which that I bigan,
10. 0035  Were bothe two yborn in o village
10. 0036  The monk hym claymeth as for cosynage.
10. 0037  And he agayn he seith nat ones nay,
10. 0038  But was as glad therof as fowel of day
10. 0039  For to his herte it was a gret plesance.
10. 0040  Thus been they knyt with eterne alliance:
10. 0041  And ech of hem gan oother for t'assure
10. 0042  Of bretherhede whil that hir lyf may dure.
10. 0043    Free was daun Iohn and manly of dispence
10. 0044  As in that hous, and ful of diligence
10. 0045  To doon plesance and also greet costage.
10. 0046  He nat forgat to yeue the leeste page
10. 0047  In al that hous; but after hir degree
10. 0048  He yaf the lord and sith al his meynee,
10. 0049  Whan that he cam, som manere honeste thyng.
10. 0050  For which they were as glad of his comyng
10. 0051  As fowel is fayn whan that the sonne vp riseth.
10. 0052  Namoore of this as now for it suffiseth.
10. 0053    But so bifel this marchant on a day
10. 0054  Shoop hym to make redy his array






10. 0055  Toward the town of Brugges for to fare
10. 0056  To byen there a porcion of ware;
10. 0057  For which he hath to Parys sent anon
10. 0058  A messager, and preyed hath daun Iohn
10. 0059  That he sholde come to seint Denys and pleye
10. 0060  With hym and with his wyf a day or tweye
10. 0061  Er he to Brugges wente in alle wise.
10. 0062    This noble monk, of which I yow deuyse,
10. 0063  Hath of his abbot as hym list licence,
10. 0064  By cause he was a man of heigh prudence
10. 0065  And eek an officer, out for to ryde
10. 0066  To seen hir granges and hir bernes wyde,
10. 0067  And vnto seint Denys he comth anon.
10. 0068  Who was so welcome as my lord daun Iohn,
10. 0069  Oure deere cosyn ful of curteisye?
10. 0070  With hym broghte he a iubbe of maluesye
10. 0071  And eek another ful of fyn vernage
10. 0072  And volatil as ay was his vsage.
10. 0073  And thus I lete hem ete and drynke and pleye,
10. 0074  This marchant and this monk, a day or tweye.
10. 0075    The thridde day this marchant vp ariseth
10. 0076  And on his nedes sadly hym auyseth.
10. 0077  And vp into his countour-hous goth he
10. 0078  To rekene with hymself, wel may be,
10. 0079  Of thilke yeer how that it with hym stood
10. 0080  And how that he despended hadde his good
10. 0081  And if that he encressed were or noon.
10. 0082  Hise bokes and his bagges many oon
10. 0083  He leyth biforn hym on his countyng-bord.
10. 0084  Ful riche was his tresor and his hord,
10. 0085  For which ful faste his countour-dore he shette.
10. 0086  And eek he nolde that no man sholde hym lette
10. 0087  Of his acountes for the mene tyme.
10. 0088  And thus he sit til it was passed prime.
10. 0089    Daun Iohn was risen in the morwe also
10. 0090  And in the gardyns walketh to and fro
10. 0091  And hath his thynges seyd ful curteisly.
10. 0092  This goode wyf cam walkyng priuely
10. 0093  Into the gardyn ther he walketh softe
10. 0094  And hym salueth as she hath doon ofte.
10. 0095  A mayde-child cam in hir compaignye
10. 0096  Which as hir list she may gouerne and gye,
10. 0097  For yet vnder the yerde was the mayde.
10. 0098    'O deere cosyn myn, daun Iohn,' she sayde,
10. 0099  'What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse?'
10. 0100    'Nece,' quod he, 'it oghte ynow suffise
10. 0101  Fyue houres for to slepe vpon a nyght,
10. 0102  But it were for an old, apalled wight
10. 0103  As been thise wedded men that lye and dare
10. 0104  As in a forme sit a wery hare
10. 0105  Were al forstraught with houndes grete and smale.
10. 0106  But, deere nece, why be ye so pale?
10. 0107  I trowe certes that oure goode man
10. 0108  Hath yow laboured sith the nyght bigan
10. 0109  That yow were nede to resten hastily.'
10. 0110  And with that word he lough ful myrily,
10. 0111  And of his owene thoght he weex al reed.
10. 0112    This faire wyf gan for to shake hir heed
10. 0113  And seyde thus: 'Ye, god woot al,' quod she.
10. 0114  'Nay, cosyn myn, it stant nat so with me,






10. 0115  For by that god that yaf me soule and lyf
10. 0116  In al the reawme of France is ther no wyf
10. 0117  That lasse lust hath to that sory ple
10. 0118  For I may synge allas and weilawey
10. 0119  That I was born. But to no wight,' quod she,
10. 0120  'Dar I nat telle how that it stant with me.
10. 0121  Wherfore I thynke out of this land to wende
10. 0122  Or ellis of myself to make an ende,
10. 0123  So ful am I of drede and eek of care.'
10. 0124    This monk bigan vpon this wyf to stare
10. 0125  And seyde: 'Allas, my nece, god forbede
10. 0126  That ye for any sorwe or any drede
10. 0127  Fordo yourself. But telleth me your grief.
10. 0128  Parauenture I may in youre meschief
10. 0129  Conseille or helpe, and therfore telleth me
10. 0130  Al youre anoy for it shal been secree.
10. 0131  For on my porthors I make an oth
10. 0132  That neuere in my lif for lief or loth
10. 0133  Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye.'
10. 0134    'The same agayn to yow,' quod she, 'I seye.
10. 0135  By god and by this porthors I swere
10. 0136  Thogh men me wolde al into peces tere
10. 0137  Ne shal I neuere for to gon to helle
10. 0138  Biwreye a word of thyng that ye me telle,
10. 0139  Nat for no cosynage ne alliance
10. 0140  But verraily for loue and affiance.'
10. 0141  Thus been they sworn and hervpon they keste
10. 0142  And ech of hem tolde oother what hem leste.
10. 0143    'Cosyn,' quod she, 'if that I hadde a space
10. 0144  As I haue noon, and namely in this place,
10. 0145  Thanne wolde I telle a legende of my lyf
10. 0146  What I haue suffred sith I was a wyf
10. 0147  With myn housbonde, al be he youre cosyn.'
10. 0148    'Nay,' quod this monk, 'by god and seint Martin
10. 0149  He is namore cosyn vnto me
10. 0150  Than is this leef that hangeth on the tree.
10. 0151  I clepe hym so by seint Denys of France
10. 0152  To han the moore cause of aqueyntance
10. 0153  Of yow, which I haue loued specially
10. 0154  Abouen alle wommen. Sikerly
10. 0155  This swere I yow on my professioun.
10. 0156  Telleth youre grief lest that he come adoun
10. 0157  And hasteth yow, and goth awey anon.'
10. 0158    'My deere loue,' quod she, 'o my daun Iohn,
10. 0159  Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde.
10. 0160  But out it moot; I may namoore abyde.
10. 0161    'Myn housbonde is to me the worste man
10. 0162  That euere was sith that the world bigan.
10. 0163  But sith I am a wyf it sit nat me
10. 0164  To tellen no wight of oure priuetee
10. 0165  Neither abedde ne in noon oother place.
10. 0166  God shilde I sholde it tellen for his grace!
10. 0167  A wyf ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde
10. 0168  But al honour, as I kan vnderstonde.
10. 0169  Saue vnto yow thus muche I tellen shal:
10. 0170  As help me god he is noght worth at al
10. 0171  In no degree the value of a flye.
10. 0172  But yet me greueth moost his nygardye.
10. 0173  And wel ye woot that wommen naturelly
10. 0174  Desiren thynges vj as wel as I:






10. 0175  They wolde that hir housbondes sholde be
10. 0176  Hardy and wise and riche and therto free
10. 0177  And buxom vnto his wyf and fressh abedde.
10. 0178  But by that ilke lord that for vs bledde,
10. 0179  For his honour myself for to arraye
10. 0180  A Sonday next I moot nedes paye
10. 0181  An hundred frankes or ellis am I lorn.
10. 0182  Yet were me leuere that I were vnborn
10. 0183  Than me were doon a sclaundre or vileynye.
10. 0184  And if myn housbonde eek myghte it espye
10. 0185  I nere but lost, and therfore I yow preye
10. 0186  Lene me this somme or ellis moot I deye.
10. 0187  Daun Iohn, I seye lene me thise hundred frankes.
10. 0188  Pardee I wol noght faile yow my thankes
10. 0189  If that yow list to doon that I yow praye,
10. 0190  For at a certeyn day I wol yow paye
10. 0191  And doon to yow what plesance and seruyse
10. 0192  That I may doon, right as yow list deuyse.
10. 0193  And but I do, god take on me vengeance
10. 0194  As foul as euere hadde Genelon of France.'
10. 0195    This gentil monk answerde in this manere:
10. 0196  'Now trewely, myn owene lady deere,
10. 0197  I haue,' quod he, 'on yow so gret a routhe
10. 0198  That I yow swere and plighte yow my trouthe
10. 0199  That whan youre housbonde is to Flandres fare
10. 0200  I wol deliuere yow out of this care,
10. 0201  For I wol brynge yow an hundred frankes.'
10. 0202  And with that word he caughte hir by the flankes
10. 0203  And hir embraceth harde and kiste hir ofte.
10. 0204  'Goth now youre wey,' quod he, 'al stille and softe
10. 0205  And lat vs dyne as soone as that ye may,
10. 0206  For by my chilyndre it is pryme of day.
10. 0207  Goth now and beth as trewe as I shal be.'
10. 0208    'Now ellis god forbede, sire,' quod she.
10. 0209  And forth she goth as iolif as a pye
10. 0210  And bad the cokes that they sholde hem hye
10. 0211  So that men myghte dyne and that anon.
10. 0212  Vp to hir housbonde is his wyf ygon
10. 0213  And knokketh at his countour boldely.
10. 0214    'Who ther?' quod he. 'Peter it am I,'
10. 0215  Quod she. 'What, sire, how longe wol ye faste?
10. 0216  How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste
10. 0217  Youre sommes and youre bokes and youre thynges?
10. 0218  The deuel haue part on alle swiche rekenynges!
10. 0219  Ye haue ynogh pardee of goddes sonde.
10. 0220  Com doun today and lat youre bagges stonde.
10. 0221  Ne be ye nat ashamed that daun Iohn
10. 0222  Shal fastynge al this day elenge gon.
10. 0223  What, lat vs heere a masse and go we dyne.'
10. 0224    'Wyf,' quod this man, 'litel kanstow deuyne
10. 0225  The curious bisynesse that we haue,
10. 0226  For of vs chapmen (also god me saue
10. 0227  And by that lord that clepid is seint Yue)
10. 0228  Scarsly amonges xij x shul thryue
10. 0229  Continuelly lastyng vnto oure age.
10. 0230  We may wel make cheere and good visage
10. 0231  And dryue forth the world as it may be
10. 0232  And kepen oure estat in pryuetee
10. 0233  Til we be dede or ellis that we pleye
10. 0234  A pilgrymage or goon out of the weye.






10. 0235  And therfore haue I gret necessitee
10. 0236  Vpon this queynte world t'auyse me,
10. 0237  For eueremo we mote stonde in drede
10. 0238  Of hap and fortune in oure chapmanhede.
10. 0239    'To Flandres wol I go tomorwe at day
10. 0240  And come agayn as soone as euere I may.
10. 0241  For which, my deere wyf, I thee biseke
10. 0242  As be to euery wight buxom and meke;
10. 0243  And for to kepe oure good be curious
10. 0244  And honestly gouerne wel oure hous.
10. 0245  Thow hast ynow in euery maner wise
10. 0246  That to a thrifty houshold may suffise.
10. 0247  Thee lakketh noon array ne no vitaille.
10. 0248  Of siluer in thy purs shaltow nat faille.'
10. 0249    And with that word his countour-dore he shette
10. 0250  And doun he goth, no lenger wolde he lette.
10. 0251  But hastily a masse was ther seyd
10. 0252  And spedily the tables were yleyd.
10. 0253  And to the dyner faste they hem spedde
10. 0254  And richely this monk the chapman fedde.
10. 0255    At after-dyner daun Iohn sobrely
10. 0256  This chapman took apart and priuely
10. 0257  He seyde hym thus: 'Cosyn, it standeth so
10. 0258  That wel I se to Brugges wol ye go.
10. 0259  God and seint Austyn spede yow and gyde.
10. 0260  I pray yow, cosyn, wysly that ye ryde.
10. 0261  Gouerneth yow also of youre diete
10. 0262  Atemprely and namely in this hete.
10. 0263  Bitwix vs two nedeth no strange fare.
10. 0264  Farewel, cosyn, god shilde yow fro care.
10. 0265  And if that any thyng by day or nyght
10. 0266  If it lye in my power and my myght
10. 0267  That ye me wol comande in any wise,
10. 0268  It shal be doon right as ye wol deuyse.
10. 0269    'O thyng, er that ye goon, if it may be:
10. 0270  I wold preye yow for to lene me
10. 0271  An hundred frankes for a wyke or tweye
10. 0272  For certeyn bestes that I moste beye
10. 0273  To store with a place that is oures.
10. 0274  God help me so, I wolde it were youres.
10. 0275  I shal nat faille seurely of my day,
10. 0276  Nat for a thousand frankes a myle way.
10. 0277  But lat this thyng be secree I yow preye,
10. 0278  For yet tonyght thise bestes moot I beye.
10. 0279  And fare now wel, myn owene cosyn deere.
10. 0280  Grant mercy of youre cost and of youre cheere.'
10. 0281    This noble marchant gentilly anon
10. 0282  Answerde and seyde: 'O cosyn myn, daun Iohn,
10. 0283  Now sikerly this is a smal requeste.
10. 0284  My gold is youres whan that it yow leste,
10. 0285  And nat oonly my gold but my chaffare.
10. 0286  Tak what yow list, god shilde that ye spare.
10. 0287  But o thyng is, ye knowe it wel ynow,
10. 0288  Of chapmen that hir moneye is hir plow.
10. 0289  We may creance whil we han a name,
10. 0290  But goldlees for to been it is no game.
10. 0291  Pay it agayn whan it lyth in youre ese.
10. 0292  After my myght ful fayn wol I yow plese.'
10. 0293    Thise hundred frankes he fette forth anon
10. 0294  And priuely he took hem to daun Iohn.






10. 0295  No wight in al this world wiste of this lone
10. 0296  Sauyng this marchant and daun Iohn allone.
10. 0297  They drynke and speke and rome a while and pleye
10. 0298  Til that daun Iohn rideth to his abbeye.
10. 0299    The morwe cam and forth this marchant rydeth
10. 0300  To Flandresward; his prentys wel hym gydeth
10. 0301  Til he cam into Brugges murily.
10. 0302  Now goth this marchant faste and bisily
10. 0303  Aboute his nede and byeth and creaunceth.
10. 0304  He neither pleyeth at the dees ne daunceth,
10. 0305  But as a marchant shortly for to telle
10. 0306  He let his lyf. And ther I lete hym dwelle.
10. 0307    The Sonday next the marchant was agon
10. 0308  To Seint Denys ycomen is daun Iohn
10. 0309  With crowne and berd al fressh and newe shaue.
10. 0310  In al the hous ther nas so litel a knaue
10. 0311  Ne no wight ellis that he nas ful fayn
10. 0312  That my lord daun Iohn was come agayn.
10. 0313  And shortly to the poynt right for to gon
10. 0314  This faire wyf acorded with daun Iohn
10. 0315  That for thise hundred frankes he sholde al nyght
10. 0316  Haue hire in his armes bolt vpright.
10. 0317  And this acord parfourned was in dede.
10. 0318  In myrthe al nyght a bisy lyf they lede
10. 0319  Til it was day, that daun Iohn wente his way
10. 0320  And bad the meynee farewel, haue good day.
10. 0321  For noon of hem ne no wight in the town
10. 0322  Hath of daun Iohn right no suspecioun.
10. 0323  And forth he rydeth hom til his abbeye
10. 0324  Or where hym list. Namoore of hym I seye.
10. 0325    This marchant whan that ended was the faire,
10. 0326  To Seint Denys he gan for to repaire.
10. 0327  And with his wyf he maketh feste and cheere
10. 0328  And telleth hir that chaffare is so deere
10. 0329  That nedes moste he make a cheuyssance,
10. 0330  For he was bounden in a reconyssance
10. 0331  To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon.
10. 0332  For which this marchant is to Parys gon
10. 0333  To borwe of certeyne freendes that he hadde
10. 0334  A certeyn frankes, and somme with hym he ladde.
10. 0335  And whan that he was come into the town,
10. 0336  For greet chiertee and greet affeccioun
10. 0337  Vnto daun Iohn he first goth hym to pleye
10. 0338  Nat for to axe or borwe of hym moneye,
10. 0339  But for to wite and seen of his welfare
10. 0340  And for to tellen hym of his chaffare
10. 0341  As freendes doon whan they been met yfeere.
10. 0342  Daun Iohn hym maketh feste and murye cheere.
10. 0343  And he hym tolde agayn ful specially
10. 0344  How he hadde wel yboght and graciously,
10. 0345  Thanked be god, al hool his marchandise
10. 0346  Saue that he moste in alle maner wyse
10. 0347  Maken a cheuyssance as for his beste
10. 0348  And thanne he sholde been in ioye and reste.
10. 0349    Daun Iohn answerde: 'Certes I am fayn
10. 0350  That ye in heele ar comen hom agayn.
10. 0351  And if that I were riche, as haue I blisse
10. 0352  Of twenty thousand sheeld sholde ye nat mysse.
10. 0353  For ye so kyndely this oother day
10. 0354  Lente me gold; and as I kan and may






10. 0355  I thanke yow by god and by seint Iame.
10. 0356  But nathelees I took vnto oure dame,
10. 0357  Yowre wyf at hom, the same gold agayn
10. 0358  Vpon youre bench, she woot it wel certayn
10. 0359  By certeyn toknes that I kan yow telle.
10. 0360  Now by youre leue I may no lenger dwelle:
10. 0361  Oure abbot wol out of this town anon
10. 0362  And in his compaignye moot I gon.
10. 0363  Greet wel oure dame, myn owene nece swete,
10. 0364  And farewel, deere cosyn, til we meete.'
10. 0365  This marchant which that was ful war and wys
10. 0366  Creanced hath and payed eek in Parys
10. 0367  To certeyn Lombardes redy in hir hond
10. 0368  The somme of gold and gat of hem his bond
10. 0369  And hoom he gooth murye as a papyniay,
10. 0370  For wel he knew he stood in swich array
10. 0371  That nedes moste he wynne in that viage
10. 0372  A thousand frankes abouen al his costage.
10. 0373  His wyf ful redy mette hym at the gate
10. 0374  As she was wont of old vsage algate.
10. 0375  And al that nyght in myrthe they bisette,
10. 0376  For he was riche and cleerly out of dette.
10. 0377    Whan it was day this marchant gan embrace
10. 0378  His wyf al newe and kiste hir on hir face.
10. 0379  And vp he goth and maketh it ful tough.
10. 0380  'Namoore,' quod she, 'by god ye haue ynough.'
10. 0381  And wantownely agayn with hym she pleyde
10. 0382  Til at the laste this marchant seyde:
10. 0383    'By god,' quod he, 'I am a litel wroth
10. 0384  With yow, my wyf, althogh it be me looth.
10. 0385  And woot ye why? By god as that I gesse
10. 0386  That ye han maad a manere strangenesse
10. 0387  Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun Iohn.
10. 0388  Ye sholde han warned me er I had gon
10. 0389  That he yow hadde a hundred frankes payed
10. 0390  By redy tokne; and heeld hym yuele apayed
10. 0391  For that I to hym spak of cheuyssance -
10. 0392  Me semed so as by his contenance.
10. 0393  But nathelees by god oure heuene-kyng
10. 0394  I thoghte nat to axe of hym nothyng.
10. 0395  I pray thee, wyf, ne do namoore so.
10. 0396  Tel me alwey er that I fro thee go
10. 0397  If any dettour hath in myn absence
10. 0398  Ypayed thee, lest thurgh thy necligence
10. 0399  I myghte hym axe a thyng that he hath payed.'
10. 0400    This wyf was nat afered ne afrayed,
10. 0401  But boldely she seyde and that anon:
10. 0402  'Marie, I diffye the false monk, daun Iohn.
10. 0403  I kepe nat of his toknes neuer-a-del:
10. 0404  He took me certeyn gold, this woot I wel.
10. 0405  What yuel thedam on his monkes snowte!
10. 0406  For god it woot I wende withouten dowte
10. 0407  That he hadde yeue it me by cause of yow
10. 0408  To doon therwith myn honour and my prow
10. 0409  For cosynage and eek for bele cheere
10. 0410  That he hath had ful ofte tymes heere.
10. 0411    'But sith I se it stant in this disioynt
10. 0412  I wole answere yow shortly to the poynt:
10. 0413  Ye han mo slakker dettours than am I
10. 0414  For I wol paye yow wel and redily






10. 0415  Fro day to day. And if so be I fayle,
10. 0416  I am youre wyf: score it vpon my tayle.
10. 0417  And I shal paye as soone as euere I may.
10. 0418  For by my trouthe I haue on myn array
10. 0419  And nat in wast bistowed euery del.
10. 0420  And for I haue bistowed it so wel
10. 0421  For youre honour, for goddes sake I seye
10. 0422  As be nat wrooth; but lat vs laughe and pleye.
10. 0423  Ye shal my ioly body han to wedde.
10. 0424  By god I wol noght paye yow but abedde.
10. 0425  Forgyue it me, myn owene spouse deere.
10. 0426  Turn hiderward and maketh bettre cheere.'
10. 0427    This marchant saugh ther was no remedye,
10. 0428  And for to chide it nere but folye
10. 0429  Syn that the thyng may nat amended be.
10. 0430  'Now, wyf,' he seyde, 'and I foryeue it thee.
10. 0431  But by thy lyf ne be namoore so large.
10. 0432  Keep bet thy good: this yeue I thee in charge.'
10. 0433    Thus endeth my tale and god vs sende
10. 0434  Taillynge ynough vnto oure lyues ende.

Here endeth the shipmannes tale.








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

10. 0435  'Wel seyd by corpus dominus,' quod oure hoost.
10. 0436  'Now longe moote thow saille by the coost,
10. 0437  Thow gentil maister, gentil maryner.
10. 0438  God yeue the monk a thousand last quaad yeer.
10. 0439  A ha felawes, beth war of swich a iape.
10. 0440  The monk putte in the mannes hood an ape
10. 0441  And in his wyues eek by seint Austyn.
10. 0442  Draweth no monkes moore into youre in.
10. 0443    'But now passe ouer and lat vs seke aboute
10. 0444  Who shal now telle first of al this route
10. 0445  Another tale.' And with that word he sayde
10. 0446  As curteisly as it hadde been a mayde:
10. 0447  'My lady prioresse, by youre leue
10. 0448  So that I wiste I sholde yow nat agreue
10. 0449  I wolde demen that ye telle sholde
10. 0450  A tale next, if so were that ye wolde.
10. 0451  Now wol ye vouche it sauf, my lady deere?'
10. 0452  'Gladly,' quod she; and seyde as ye shal heere.







The proheme of the prioresse tale.

   Domine dominus noster







10. 0453  'O lord, oure lord, thy name how merueilous
10. 0454  Is in this large world ysprad,' quod she,
10. 0455  'For nat oonly thy laude precious
10. 0456  Parfourned is by men of dignytee,
10. 0457  But by the mouth of children thy bountee
10. 0458  Parfourned is, for on the brest soukynge
10. 0459  Somtyme shewen they thyn heryynge.

10. 0460  'Wherfore in laude as I best kan or may
10. 0461  Of thee and of the white lilye-flour,
10. 0462  Which that the bar and is a mayde alway,
10. 0463  To telle a storie I wol do my labour -
10. 0464  Nat that I may encressen hir honour,
10. 0465  For she hirself is honour and the roote
10. 0466  Of bountee, next hir sone, and soules boote.

10. 0467  'O moder-mayde, o mayde-moder free,
10. 0468  O bussh vnbrent brennyng in Moyses sighte,
10. 0469  That rauysedest doun fro the deitee
10. 0470  Thurgh thyn humblesse the goost that in th'alighte,
10. 0471  Of whos vertu whan he thyn herte lighte
10. 0472  Conceyued was the fadres sapience,
10. 0473  Help me to telle it in thy reuerence.

10. 0474  'Lady, thy bountee, thy magnificence,
10. 0475  Thy vertu, and thy grete humylitee,
10. 0476  Ther may no tonge expresse in no science.
10. 0477  For somtyme, lady, er men praye to thee
10. 0478  Thow goost biforn of thy benygnytee
10. 0479  And getest vs the light of thy prayere
10. 0480  To gyden vs vnto thy sone so deere.

10. 0481  'My konnyng is so wayk, o blisful queene,
10. 0482  For to declare thy grete worthynesse
10. 0483  That I ne may the weighte nat sustene,
10. 0484  But as a child of twelue-month old or lesse
10. 0485  That kan vnnethe any word expresse
10. 0486  Right so fare I. And therfore I yow preye
10. 0487  Gideth my song that I shal of yow seye.'

Explicit prohemium.


Here bigynneth the prioresse tale of Alma redemptoris mater.

10. 0488  Ther was in Asye in a greet citee
10. 0489  Amonges cristen folk a iewerye,
10. 0490  Sustened by a lord of that contree
10. 0491  For foul vsure and lucre of vileynye,
10. 0492  Hateful to Crist and to his compaignye.
10. 0493  And thurgh this strete men myghte ryde and wende
10. 0494  For it was free and open at either ende.

10. 0495  A litel scole of cristen folk ther stood
10. 0496  Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther weere
10. 0497  Children an heep, ycomen of cristen blood,
10. 0498  That lerned in that scole yeer by yere
10. 0499  Swich manere doctrine as men vsed there,
10. 0500  This is to seyn to syngen and to rede






10. 0501  As smale children doon in hir childhede.

10. 0502  Among thise children was a wydwes sone,
10. 0503  A litel clergeon vij yeer of age,
10. 0504  That day by day to scole was his wone.
10. 0505  And eek also wher as he say th'ymage
10. 0506  Of Cristes moder hadde he in vsage,
10. 0507  As hym was taught, to knele adoun and seye
10. 0508  His Aue Marie as he goth by the weye.

10. 0509  Thus hath this wydwe hir litel sone ytaught
10. 0510  Oure blisful lady, Cristes moder deere,
10. 0511  To worshipe ay, and he forgat it naught
10. 0512  For sely child wol alwey soone lere.
10. 0513  But ay whan I remembre on this matere,
10. 0514  Seint Nicholas stant euere in my presence
10. 0515  For he so yong to Crist dide reuerence.

10. 0516  This litel child his litel book lernynge
10. 0517  As he sat in the scole at his prymer,
10. 0518  He Alma redemptoris herde synge
10. 0519  As children lerned hir antiphoner.
10. 0520  And as he dorste, he drow hym ner and ner
10. 0521  And herkned ay the wordes and the note
10. 0522  Til he the firste vers koude al by rote.

10. 0523  Nat wiste he what this Latyn was to seye
10. 0524  For he so yong and tendre was of age.
10. 0525  But on a day his felawe gan he preye
10. 0526  T'expounden hym this song in his langage
10. 0527  Or telle hym why this song was in vsage.
10. 0528  This prayde he hym to construen and declare
10. 0529  Ful ofte tyme vpon his knees bare.


10. 0530  His felawe which that elder was than he
10. 0531  Answerde hym thus: 'This song I haue herd seye
10. 0532  Was maked of oure blisful lady free
10. 0533  Hir to salue and eek hir for to preye
10. 0534  To been oure help and socour whan we deye.
10. 0535  I kan namoore expounde in this matere;
10. 0536  I lerne song: I kan but smal gramere.'

10. 0537  'And is this song maked in reuerence
10. 0538  Of Cristes moder?' seyde this innocent.
10. 0539  'Now certes I wol do my diligence
10. 0540  To konne it al er Cristemasse is went.
10. 0541  Thogh that I for my prymer shal be shent
10. 0542  And shal be beten thries in an houre,
10. 0543  I wol it konne oure lady for to honoure.'

10. 0544  His felawe taughte hym homward priuely
10. 0545  Fro day to day til he koude it by rote.
10. 0546  And thanne he soong it wel and boldely
10. 0547  Fro word to word acordyng with the note.
10. 0548  Twyes a day it passed thurgh his throte:
10. 0549  To scoleward and homward whan he wente.
10. 0550  On Cristes moder set was his entente!

10. 0551  As I haue seyd, thurghout the iuerye






10. 0552  This litel child as he cam to and fro
10. 0553  Ful murily wolde he synge and crye
10. 0554  O Alma redemptoris eueremo.
10. 0555  The swetnesse his herte perced so
10. 0556  Of Cristes moder, that to hir to preye
10. 0557  He kan nat stynte of syngyng by the weye.

10. 0558  Oure firste foo, the serpent Sathanas,
10. 0559  That hath in Iewes herte his waspes nest,
10. 0560  Vp swal and seyde: 'O Hebrayk peple, allas
10. 0561  Is this to yow a thyng that is honest
10. 0562  That swich a boy shal walken as hym lest
10. 0563  In youre despit and synge of swich sentence
10. 0564  Which is agayns oure lawes reuerence?'

10. 0565  Fro thennesforth the Iewes han conspired
10. 0566  This innocent out of this world to chace.
10. 0567  An homycide therto han they hired
10. 0568  That in an aleye at a priuee place;
10. 0569  And as the child gan forby for to pace
10. 0570  This cursed Iew hym hente and heeld hym faste
10. 0571  And kitte his throte and in a pit hym caste.


10. 0572  I seye that in a wordrobe they hym threwe
10. 0573  Wher as thise Iewes purgen hir entraille.
10. 0574    O cursed folk of Herodes al newe,
10. 0575  What may youre yuel entente yow auaille?
10. 0576  Mordre wol out. Certeyn it wol nat faille,
10. 0577  And namely ther as th'onour of god shal sprede.
10. 0578  The blood out cryeth on youre cursed dede.


10. 0579    O martir souded to virginitee,
10. 0580  Now maystow syngen folwyng euere in oon
10. 0581  The white lamb celestial (quod she),
10. 0582  Of which the grete euaungelist, seint Iohn,
10. 0583  In Pathmos wroot, which seith that they that gon
10. 0584  Biforn this lamb and synge a song al newe
10. 0585  That neuere flesshly womman they ne knewe.

10. 0586  This poure wydwe awaiteth al that nyght
10. 0587  After hir litel child, but he cam noght.
10. 0588  For which as soone as it was dayes lyght
10. 0589  With face pale of drede and bisy thoght-
10. 0590  She hath at scole and elliswhere hym soght,
10. 0591  Til fynally she gan so fer espie
10. 0592  That he last seyn was in the iewerie.

10. 0593  With modres pitee in hir brest enclosed
10. 0594  She goth as she were half out of hir mynde
10. 0595  To euery place wheras she hath supposed
10. 0596  By liklyhede hir litel child to fynde.
10. 0597  And euere on Cristes moder meke and kynde
10. 0598  She cryde, and at the laste thus she wroghte:
10. 0599  Among the cursed Iewes she hym soghte.


10. 0600  She frayneth and she prayeth pitously
10. 0601  To euery Iew that dwelte in thilke place






10. 0602  To telle hir if hir child wente oght forby.
10. 0603  They seyde nay. But Iesu of his grace
10. 0604  Yaf in hir thought inwith a litel space
10. 0605  That in that place after hir sone she cryde
10. 0606  Wher he was casten in a pit bisyde.

10. 0607  O grete god that parfournest thy laude
10. 0608  By mouth of innocentz, lo here thy myght|
10. 0609  This gemme of chastitee, this emeraude,
10. 0610  And eek of martirdom the ruby bright,
10. 0611  Ther he with throte ycoruen lay vpright
10. 0612  He Alma redemptoris gan to synge
10. 0613  So loude that al the place gan to rynge.

10. 0614  The cristen folk that thurgh the strete wente
10. 0615  In coomen for to wondre vpon this thyng,
10. 0616  And hastily they for the prouost sente.
10. 0617  He cam anon withouten tariyng
10. 0618  And herieth Crist that is of heuene kyng
10. 0619  And eek his moder, honour of mankynde,
10. 0620  And after that the Iewes leet he bynde.

10. 0621  This child with pitous lamentacioun
10. 0622  Vp taken was syngynge his song alway.
10. 0623  And with honour of greet processioun
10. 0624  They carien hym vnto the nexte abbay.
10. 0625  His moder swownyng by his beere lay.
10. 0626  Vnnethe myghte the peple that was there
10. 0627  This newe Rachel bryngen fro his beere.

10. 0628  With torment and with shameful deth echon
10. 0629  This prouost dooth thise Iewes for to sterue
10. 0630  That of this mordre wiste and that anon.
10. 0631  He nolde no swich cursednesse obserue:
10. 0632  Yuel shal haue that yuel wol disserue.
10. 0633  Therfore with wilde hors he dide hem drawe
10. 0634  And after that he heeng hem by the lawe.

10. 0635  Vpon his beere ay lyth this innocent
10. 0636  Biforn the chief auter whil the masse laste.
10. 0637  And after that the abbot with his couent
10. 0638  Han sped hem for to buryen hym ful faste.
10. 0639  And whan they holy water on hym caste,
10. 0640  Yet spak this child whan spreynd was holy water
10. 0641  And song O alma redemptoris mater.

10. 0642  This abbot which that was an holy man,
10. 0643  As monkes ben or ellis oghten be,
10. 0644  This yonge child to coniure he bigan
10. 0645  And seyde: 'O deere child, I halsen thee
10. 0646  In vertu of the holy trinitee
10. 0647  Tel me what is thy cause for to synge
10. 0648  Sith that thy throte is kit to my semynge.'


10. 0649  'My throte is kit vnto my nekke-boon,'
10. 0650  Seyde this child, 'and as by wey of kynde
10. 0651  I sholde haue dyed ye longe tyme agoon.
10. 0652  But Iesu Crist, as ye in bokes fynde,
10. 0653  Wol that his glorie laste and be in mynde,






10. 0654  And for the worship of his moder deere
10. 0655  Yet may I synge O alma loude and clere.


10. 0656  'This welle of mercy, Cristes moder swete,
10. 0657  I loued alwey as after my konnynge.
10. 0658  And whan that I my lyf sholde forlete
10. 0659  To me she cam and bad me for to synge
10. 0660  This antheme verraily in my deiynge
10. 0661  As ye han herd. And whan that I had songe.
10. 0662  Me thoughte she leyde a greyn vpon my tonge.

10. 0663  'Wherfore I synge and synge moot certeyn
10. 0664  In honour of that blisful mayden free
10. 0665  Til fro my tonge of taken is the greyn.
10. 0666  And after that thus seyde she to me:
10. 0667  'My litel child, now wol I fecche thee
10. 0668  Whan that the greyn is fro thy tonge ytake.
10. 0669  Be nat agast, I wol thee nat forsake.'

10. 0670  This holy monk, this abbot hym mene I,
10. 0671  His tonge out caughte and took awey the greyn.
10. 0672  And he yaf vp the goost ful softely.
10. 0673  And whan this abbot hadde this wonder seyn
10. 0674  His salte teerys trikled doun as reyn
10. 0675  And gruf he fil al flat vpon the grounde
10. 0676  And stille he lay as he hadde leyn ybounde.

10. 0677  The couent eek lay on the pauement
10. 0678  Wepynge, and heryen Cristes moder deere.
10. 0679  And after that they ryse and forth been went
10. 0680  And toke awey this martir from his beere.
10. 0681  And in a toumbe of marbilstones cleere
10. 0682  Enclosen they this litel body swete.
10. 0683  Ther he is now, God lene vs for to meete.

10. 0684  O yonge Hugh of Lyncoln, slayn also
10. 0685  With cursed Iewes, as it is notable
10. 0686  For it is but a litel while ygo,
10. 0687  Preye eek for vs, we synful folk vnstable,
10. 0688  That of his mercy god so merciable
10. 0689  On vs his grete mercy multiplie
10. 0690  For reuerence of his moder Marie. Amen.


Here endeth the prioresse tale.






Bihoold the myrie talkyng of the hoost to Chaucer.

10. 0691  Whan seyd was al this myracle, euery man
10. 0692  As sobre was that wonder was to se
10. 0693  Til that oure hoost iapen to bigan.
10. 0694  And thanne at erst he looked vpon me
10. 0695  And seyde thus: 'What man artow?' quod he.
10. 0696  'Thow lookest as thow woldest fynde an hare






10. 0697  For euere vpon the ground I se thee stare.

10. 0698  'Approche neer and looke vp myrily.
10. 0699  Now war yow, sires, and lat this man haue place.
10. 0700  He in the wast is shape as wel as I:
10. 0701  This were a popet in an arm t'enbrace
10. 0702  For any womman smal and fair of face.
10. 0703  He semeth eluyssh by his contenance
10. 0704  For vnto no wight dooth he no daliance.

10. 0705  'Sey now somwhat syn oother folk han sayd.
10. 0706  Telle vs a tale of myrthe and that anon.'
10. 0707  'Hoost,' quod I, 'ne beth nat yuele ypayd,
10. 0708  For oother tale certes kan I noon
10. 0709  But of a rym I lerned longe agoon.'
10. 0710  'Ye that is good,' quod he. 'Now shul we heere
10. 0711  Som deyntee thyng me thynketh by his cheere.'

Here bigynneth Chaucers tale of Thopas.

10. 0712  Listeth, lordes, in good entent
10. 0713  And I wil telle verrayment
10. 0714    Of myrthe and of solas,
10. 0715  Al of a knyght was fair and gent
10. 0716  In bataille and in tornament.
10. 0717    His name was sir Thopas.

10. 0718  Yborn he was in fer contree,
10. 0719  In Flaundres al biyonde the see,
10. 0720    At Poperyng in the place.
10. 0721  His fader was a man ful free
10. 0722  And lord he was of that contree
10. 0723    As it was goddes grace.

10. 0724  Sire Thopas wax a doghty swayn.
10. 0725  Whit was his face as payndemayn,
10. 0726    His lippes reed as rose,
10. 0727  His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn.
10. 0728  As I yow telle in good certayn
10. 0729    He hadde a semely nose.


10. 0730  His heer, his berd was lyk safrown
10. 0731  That to his girdel raughte adown;
10. 0732     His shoon of cordewane.
10. 0733  Of Brugges were his hosen brown,
10. 0734  His robe was of syklatown
10. 0735     That coste many a iane.

10. 0736  He koude hunte at wilde deer
10. 0737  And ride an hawkyng for ryuer
10. 0738     With grey goshauk on honde.
10. 0739  Therto he was a good archier;
10. 0740  Of wrastlyng was ther noon his pier
10. 0741     Ther any ram shal stonde.


10. 0742  Ful many mayde bright in bour,
10. 0743  They moorne for hym paramour
10. 0744     Whan hem were bet to slepe.






10. 0745  But he was chaast and no lechour
10. 0746  And swete as is the brambel-flour
10. 0747     That bereth the rede hepe.

10. 0748  And so it fel vpon a day,
10. 0749  For sothe as I yow telle may,
10. 0750     Sire Thopas wolde out ryde.
10. 0751  He warth vpon his steede gray,
10. 0752  And in his hand a launcegay,
10. 0753     A long swerd by his syde.

10. 0754  He priketh thurgh a fair forest
10. 0755  Therinne is many a wilde best,
10. 0756     Ye bothe bukke and hare.
10. 0757  And as he priketh north and est,
10. 0758  I telle it yow hym hadde almest
10. 0759     Bitydde a sory care.

10. 0760  There spryngen herbes grene and smale
10. 0761  The licorys and cetewale,
10. 0762     And many a clowe-gylofre,
10. 0763  And notemuge to putte in ale,
10. 0764  Wheither it be moyste or stale,
10. 0765     Or for to leye in cofre.

10. 0766  The bryddes synge it is no nay,
10. 0767  The sparhauk and the popyniay,
10. 0768     That ioye it was to here;
10. 0769  The thurstelcok made eek his lay,
10. 0770  The wodedowue vpon the spray,
10. 0771     She sang ful loude and clere.

10. 0772  Sire Thopas fil in loue-longynge
10. 0773  Al whan he herde the thrustel synge,
10. 0774     And pryked as he were wood.
10. 0775  His fayre steede in his prikynge
10. 0776  So swatte that men myghte hym wrynge,
10. 0777     Hys sydes were al blood.

10. 0778  Sire Thopas eek so wery was
10. 0779  For prikyng on the softe gras,
10. 0780     So fiers was his corage,
10. 0781  That doun he leyde hym in the plas
10. 0782  To make his steede som solas
10. 0783     And yaf hym good forage.

10. 0784  'O seinte Marie, benedicite
10. 0785  What eyleth this loue at me
10. 0786     To bynde me so soore?
10. 0787  Me dremed al this nyght pardee
10. 0788  An elf-queene shal my lemman be
10. 0789     And slepe vnder my gore.

10. 0790  'An elf-queene wol I haue ywys,
10. 0791  For in this world no womman is
10. 0792     Worthy to be my make
10. 0793          In towne.
10. 0794  Alle othere wommen I forsake
10. 0795  And to an elf-queene I me take
10. 0796     By dale and eek by downe.







10. 0797  Into his sadel he clamb anoon
10. 0798  And priketh ouer style and stoon
10. 0799     An elf-queene for t'espye,
10. 0800  Til he so longe hath riden and goon
10. 0801  That he foond in a pryuee woon
10. 0802     The contree of fairye
10. 0803         So wylde.
10. 0804  For in that contree was ther noon
10. 0805  That to hym dorste ryde or goon,
10. 0806     Neither wyf ne childe,


10. 0807  Til that ther cam a greet geaunt,
10. 0808  His name was sire Olifaunt,
10. 0809     A perilous man of dede.
10. 0810  He seyde: 'Child, by Termagaunt
10. 0811  But if thow pryke out of myn haunt
10. 0812     Anon I sle thy steede
10. 0813         With mace.
10. 0814  Heere is this queene of fairye
10. 0815  With harpe and pipe and symphonye
10. 0816     Dwellyng in this place.'

10. 0817  The child seyde: 'Als mote I thee
10. 0818  Tomorwe wol I meete thee
10. 0819     Whan I haue myn armowre.
10. 0820  And yet I hope par ma fay
10. 0821  That thow shalt with this launcegay
10. 0822     Abyen it ful sowre.
10. 0823          Thy mawe
10. 0824  Shal I percen if I may
10. 0825  Er it be fully pryme of day,
10. 0826     For here shaltow ben slawe.'


10. 0827  Sire Thopas drow abak ful faste:
10. 0828  This geant at hym stones caste
10. 0829     Out of a fel staf-slynge.
10. 0830  But faire escapeth child Thopas,
10. 0831  And al it was thurgh goddes graas
10. 0832     And thurgh his fair berynge.


10. 0833  3et lesteth lordes to my tale
10. 0834  Murier than the nyghtyngale.
10. 0835     I wol yow rowne
10. 0836  How sire Thopas with sydes smale
10. 0837  Prikyng ouer hyll and dale
10. 0838     Is come agayn to towne.

10. 0839  Hys murye men comanded he
10. 0840  To make hym bothe game and glee,
10. 0841     For nedes moste he fighte
10. 0842  With a geant with heuedes thre
10. 0843  For paramour and iolitee
10. 0844     Of oon that shoon ful brighte.

10. 0845  'Do come,' he seyde, 'my mynstrales
10. 0846  And gestours for to tellen tales






10. 0847     Anon in myn armyng
10. 0848  Of romances that been reales,
10. 0849  Of popes and of cardynales
10. 0850     And eek of loue-likyng.'

10. 0851  They fette hym first swete wyn
10. 0852  And mede eek in a maselyn
10. 0853     And real spicerye
10. 0854  Of gyngebred that was ful fyn
10. 0855  And lycorys and eek comyn
10. 0856     With sugre that is trye.


10. 0857  He dide next his white leer
10. 0858  Of clooth of lake fyn and cleer
10. 0859     A breech and eek a sherte;
10. 0860  And next his sherte an aketoun-
10. 0861  And ouer that an haubergeoun
10. 0862     For percyng of his herte;

10. 0863  And ouer that a fyn hauberk,
10. 0864  Was al ywroght of Iewes werk,
10. 0865     Ful strong it was of plate;
10. 0866  And ouer that his cote-armour
10. 0867  As whit as is a lilie-flour
10. 0868     In which he wol debate.

10. 0869  His sheeld was al of gold so reed
10. 0870  And therinne was a bores heed,
10. 0871  A charbocle by his syde.
10. 0872  And there he swoor on ale and breed
10. 0873  How that the geant shal be deed
10. 0874  Bityde what bityde.

10. 0875  Hise iambeux were of quyrboily,
10. 0876  His swerdes shethe of yuory,
10. 0877  His helm of laton bright,
10. 0878  His sadel was of rewel-bon,
10. 0879  His brydel as the sonne shon
10. 0880  Or as the moone-light.

10. 0881  His spere was of fyn cipres
10. 0882  That bodeth werre and nothyng pes,
10. 0883  The heed ful sharp ygrounde.
10. 0884  His steede was al dappel-gray,
10. 0885  It goth an ambel in the way
10. 0886  Ful softely and rounde
10. 0887  In londe.
10. 0888  Lo lordes myne, here is a fit,
10. 0889  If ye wole any moore of it
10. 0890  To telle it wol I fonde.

10. 0891  Now hoold youre mouth par charitee,
10. 0892  Bothe knyght and lady free,
10. 0893  And herkneth to my spell.
10. 0894  Of bataille and of chiualry
10. 0895  And of ladyes loue-drury
10. 0896  Anon I wol yow tell.
10. 0897  Men speken of romances of pris,
10. 0898  Of Horn child and of Ypotys,






10. 0899    Of Beves and sir Gy,
10. 0900  Of sire Lybeux and Playndamour;
10. 0901  But sire Thopas he bereth the flour
10. 0902    Of real chiualry.

10. 0903  His goode steede al he bystrood,
10. 0904  And forth vpon his wey he glood
10. 0905    As sparcle out of the bronde.
10. 0906  Vpon his creest he bar a tour
10. 0907  And therinne stiked a lilie-flour.
10. 0908    God shilde his cors fro shonde.


10. 0909  And for he was a knyght auntrous
10. 0910  He nolde slepen in noon hous
10. 0911    But liggen in his hode.
10. 0912  His brighte helm was his wonger.
10. 0913  And by hym bayteth his destrer
10. 0914    Of herbes fyne and goode.

10. 0915  Hymself drank water of the well
10. 0916  As dide the knyght, sir Percyuell,
10. 0917    So worly vnder wede,
10. 0918  Til on a day ...






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

10. 0919  'Namoore of this for goddes dignytee '
10. 0920  Quod oure hoost, 'for thow makest me
10. 0921  So wery of thy verray lewednesse
10. 0922  That, also wisly god my soule blesse,
10. 0923  Myne erys aken of thy drasty speche.
10. 0924  Now swich a rym the deuel I biteche;
10. 0925  This may wel be rym dogerel,' quod he.
10. 0926    'Why so?' quod I. 'Why wiltow lette me
10. 0927  Moore of my tale than another man
10. 0928  Syn that it is the beste rym I kan?'
10. 0929    'By god,' quod he, 'for pleynly at o word
10. 0930  Thy drasty rymyng is nat worth a tord.
10. 0931  Thow doost noght ellis but despendest tyme.
10. 0932  Sire, at o word thow shalt no lenger ryme.
10. 0933  Lat se wher thow kanst tellen aught in geste
10. 0934  Or tel in prose somwhat at the leeste
10. 0935  In which ther be som myrthe or som doctrine.'
10. 0936    'Gladly,' quod I. 'By goddes swete pyne
10. 0937  I wol yow telle a litel thyng in prose
10. 0938  That oghte like yow, as I suppose,
10. 0939  Or ellis certes ye be to daungerous.
10. 0940  It is a moral tale vertuous,
10. 0941  Al be it toold somtyme in sondry wise
10. 0942  Of sondry folk, as I shal yow deuyse.
10. 0943    'As thus: ye woot that euery euaungelist
10. 0944  That telleth vs the peyne of Iesu Crist
10. 0945  Ne seith nat alle thyng as his felawe dooth,
10. 0946  But nathelees hir sentence is al sooth.






10. 0947  And alle acorden as in hir sentence
10. 0948  Al be ther in hir tellyng difference.
10. 0949  For somme of hem seyn moore and somme seyn lesse
10. 0950  Whan they his pitous passion expresse
10. 0951  (I mene of Mark, Mathew, Luk and Iohn),
10. 0952  But doutelees hir sentence is al oon.
10. 0953    'Therfore, lordynges alle, I yow biseche
10. 0954  If that ye thynke I varie as in my speche
10. 0955  As thus, thogh that I telle somwhat moore
10. 0956  Of prouerbes than ye han herd bifore
10. 0957  Comprehended in this litel tretys heere
10. 0958  To enforcen with th'effect of my matere
10. 0959  And thogh I nat the same wordes seye
10. 0960  As ye han herd, yet to yow alle I preye
10. 0961  Blameth me nat for as in my sentence
10. 0962  Shul ye nowher fynden difference
10. 0963  Fro the sentence of this tretys lite
10. 0964  After the which this myry tale I write.
10. 0965  And therfore herkneth what that I shal seye,
10. 0966  And lat me tellen al my tale I preye.'


Here bigynneth Chaucers tale of Melibeus.



10.  967  (967&2157) A yong man whilom called Melibeus myghty and riche bigat vpon
10.  967  his wif that called was Prudence a doghter which that called was Sophie./
10.  968    Vpon a day bifel that he for his desport is went into the feeldes hym to pleye./
10.  969  His wif and eek his doghter hath he laft inwith his hous of which the dores
10.  969  weren faste yshette. /
10.  970  (970&2160) Thre of his olde foos han it espied and setten
10.  970  laddres to the walles of his hous and by wyndowes ben entred/
10.  971  and betten his
10.  971  wif and wounded his doghter with fyue mortal woundes in fyue sondry places;/
10.  972  this is to seyn in hir feet, in hir handes, in hir erys, in hir nose, and in hir
10.  972  mouth. And leften hir for deed and wenten awey./
10.  973    Whan Melibeus retourned was into his hous and seigh al this meschief he
10.  973  lyk a madman rentynge his clothes gan to wepe and crye./
10.  974  Prudence his wyf
10.  974  as ferforth as she dorste bisoughte hym of his wepyng for to stynte. /
10.  975  (975) But
10.  975  nat forthy he gan to crye and wepen euere lenger the moore./
10.  976    This noble wif Prudence remembred hire vpon the sentence of Ouyde in his
10.  976  book that cleped is The Remedie of Loue wher as he seith:/
10.  977  He is a fool that
10.  977  destourbeth the moder to wepe in the deth of hir child til she haue wept hir
10.  977  fille as for a certeyn tyme;/
10.  978  and thanne shal man doon his diligence with
10.  978  amyable wordes hir to reconforte and preye hir of hir wepyng for to stynte./
10.  979  For which reson this noble wyf Prudence suffred hir housbonde for to wepe
10.  979  and crye as for a certeyn space. /
10.  980  (980&2170) And whan she say hir tyme she
10.  980  seyde hym in this wise: 'Allas my lord,' quod she, 'why make ye yourself for to
10.  980  be lyk a fool?/
10.  981  For sothe it aperteneth nat to a wys man to maken swich a
10.  981  sorwe./
10.  982  Yowre doghter with the grace of god shal warisshe and escape./
10.  983  ?f.2 16v!
10.  983  And al were it so that she right now were deed, ye ne oghte nat as for hir






10.  983  deth yourself to destroye./
10.  984  Senec seith: The wise man shal nat take to greet
10.  984  disconfort for the deth of his children: /
10.  985  (985) but certes he sholde suffren it in
10.  985  pacience as wel as he abideth the deth of his owene propre persone.'/
10.  986    This Melibeus answerde anon and seyde: 'What man,' quod he, 'sholde of
10.  986  his wepyng stynte that hath so gret a cause for to wepe?/
10.  987  Iesu Crist oure lord
10.  987  hymself wepte for the deth of Lazarus, his freend.'/
10.  988    Prudence answerde: 'Certes wel I woot attempree wepynge is nothyng
10.  988  defended to hym that sorweful is amonges folk in sorwe, but it is rather
10.  988  graunted hym to wepe./
10.  989  The apostle Poul vnto the Romayns writeth: Man
10.  989  shal reioysse with hem that maken ioye and wepen with swich folk as wepen./
10.  990  (990&2180) But thogh attempree wepyng be graunted, outrageous wepyng
10.  990  certes is defended./
10.  991  Mesure of wepyng sholde be considered after the loore that
10.  991  techeth vs Senec:/
10.  992  Whan that thy freend is deed (quod he) lat nat thyne eyen
10.  992  to moyste ben of terys ne to muche drye. Althogh the teerys come to thyne
10.  992  eyen lat hem nat falle./
10.  993  And whan thou hast forgoon thy freend, do diligence
10.  993  to geten another freend: and this is moore wysdom than for to wepe for thy
10.  993  freend which that thou hast lorn, for therinne is no boote./
10.  994  And therfore if ye
10.  994  gouerne yow by sapience put awey sorwe out of youre herte. /
10.  995  (995) Remembre
10.  995  yow that Iesus Syrak seith: A man that is ioyous and glad in herte it hym
10.  995  conserueth florisshynge in his age, but soothly sorweful herte maketh his bones
10.  995  drye./
10.  996  He seith eek thus that sorwe in herte sleeth ful many a man./
10.  997  Salomon
10.  997  seith that right as moththes in the shepes flees anoyep to the clothes and the
10.  997  smale wormes to the tree, right so anoyeth sorwe to the herte./
10.  998  Wherfore vs
10.  998  oghte as wel in the deth of oure children as in the losse of oure goodes temporels
10.  998  haue pacience./
10.  999  Remembre yow vpon the pacient Iob whan he hadde lost his
10.  999  children and his temporel substance and in his body endured and receyued
10.  999  ful many a greuous tribulacion, yet seide he thus: /
10. 1000  (1000&2190) Oure lord hath
10. 1000  yeuen it me; oure lord hath biraft it me; right so as oure lord hath wold,
10. 1000  right so it is doon. Yblessed be the name of oure lord'./
10. 1001    To thise forseyde thynges answerde Melibeus vnto his wif Prudence: 'Alle
10. 1001  thy wordes,' quod he, 'been sothe and therto profitable. But trewely myn herte
10. 1001  is troubled with this sorwe so greuously that I noot what to doon.'/
10. 1002    'Lat calle,' quod Prudence, 'thy trewe freendes alle and thy lynage whiche
10. 1002  that ?f.217! ben wise. Telleth youre cas and herkneth what they seye in
10. 1002  conseylynge; and yow gouerne after hir sentence./
10. 1003  Salomon seith: Werk alle
10. 1003  thy thynges by conseil and thow shalt neuere repente.'/
10. 1004    Thanne by the conseil of his wyf Prudence this Melibeus leet callen a greet
10. 1004  congregacioun of folk, /
10. 1005  (1005) as sirurgiens, phisiciens, olde folk and yonge,
10. 1005  and somme of hise olde enemys reconsiled as by hir semblant to his loue and
10. 1005  into his grace./
10. 1006  And therwithal per coomen somme of hise neghebores that diden
10. 1006  hym reuerence moore for drede than for loue, as it happeth ofte./
10. 1007  Ther coomen
10. 1007  also ful manye subtile flaterers and wise aduocatz lerned in the lawe./






10. 1008  And
10. 1008  whan this folk togydre assembled weren, this Melibeus in sorweful wise shewed
10. 1008  hem his cas./
10. 1009  And by the manere of his speche it semed that in herte he baar
10. 1009  a cruel ire redy to doon vengeance vpon his foos and sodeynly desired that the
10. 1009  werre sholde bigynne. /
10. 1010  (1010&2200) But nathelees yet axed he hir conseil vpon
10. 1010  this matere./
10. 1011    A sirurgien, by licence and assent of swiche as were wise, vp roos and vnto
10. 1011  Melibeus seyde as ye may heere./
10. 1012  'Sire,' quod he, 'as to vs sirurgiens aperteneth
10. 1012  that we do to euery wight the beste that we kan where as we be withholden
10. 1012  and to oure pacientz that we do no damage;/
10. 1013  wherfore it happeth many tyme
10. 1013  and ofte that whan twey men han euerich wounded oother, o same sirurgien
10. 1013  heeleth hem bothe./
10. 1014  Wherfore vnto oure art it is nat pertinent to norice werre
10. 1014  ne parties to supporte. /
10. 1015  (1015) But certes as to the warisshynge of youre doghter,
10. 1015  al be it so that she perilously be wounded we shullen do so ententif bisynesse
10. 1015  fro day to nyght that with the grace of god she shal be hool and sound as
10. 1015  soone as is possible.'/
10. 1016    Almoost right in the same wise the phisiciens answerden saue that they
10. 1016  seyden a fewe wordes moore,/
10. 1017  that right as maladyes ben cured by hir contraries
10. 1017  right so shal man warisshe werre by vengeance./
10. 1018    Hise neghebores ful of enuye, hise feyned freendes that semeden reconsiled,
10. 1018  hise flaterers/
10. 1019  maden semblant of wepyng and empeyred and agregged muchel
10. 1019  of this matere in preisynge gretly Melibe of myght, of power, of richesse and of
10. 1019  freendes, despisynge the power of hise aduersaries; /
10. 1020  (1020&2210) and seyden
10. 1020  outrely that he anon sholde wreke hym on hise foos and bigynne werre./
10. 1021    Vp roos thanne an aduocat that was wys, by leue and by conseil of othere
10. 1021  that weren wise, and seyde:/
10. 1022  'Lordynges, the nede for the which we ben
10. 1022  assembled in this place is ful heuy thyng and an ?f.217v! heigh matere/
10. 1023  by cause
10. 1023  of the wrong and of the wikkednesse that hath be doon and eek by reson of
10. 1023  the grete damages that in tyme comynge been possible to fallen for the same
10. 1023  cause,/
10. 1024  and ek by reson of the grete richesse and power of the parties bothe;/
10. 1025  (1025) for the whiche resons it were a ful greet peril to erren in this matere./
10. 1026  Wherfore, Melibeus, this is oure sentence. We conseile yow abouen alle thyng
10. 1026  that right-anon thow do diligence in kepynge of thy propre persone in swich
10. 1026  a wise that thow ne wante noon espye ne wacche thy body for to saue./
10. 1027  And
10. 1027  after that we conseille that in thyn hous thow sette suffisant garnyson so that
10. 1027  they may as wel thy body as thyn hous defende./
10. 1028  But certes for to moeue werre
10. 1028  ne sodeynly for to doon vengeance we may nat deme in so litel tyme that it
10. 1028  were profitable./
10. 1029  Wherfore we axen leyser and espace to haue deliberacioun
10. 1029  in this cas to deme; /
10. 1030  (1030&2220) for the commune prouerbe seyth this: He that
10. 1030  soone demeth soone shal repente./
10. 1031  And eek men seyn that thilke iuge is wys
10. 1031  that soone vnderstondeth a matere and iuggeth by leyser./
10. 1032  For al be it so that
10. 1032  al taryyng be anoyful, algates it is nat to repreue in yeuyng of iuggement ne in






10. 1032  vengeance-takyng whan it is suffisant and resonable;/
10. 1033  and that shewed oure
10. 1033  lord Iesu Crist by ensample. For whan that the womman that was taken in
10. 1033  auoutrye was broght in his presence to knowen what sholde be doon with hir
10. 1033  persone, al be it that he wiste wel hymself what that he wolde answere yet ne
10. 1033  wolde he nat answere sodeynly. But he wolde haue deliberacioun and in the
10. 1033  ground he wroot twies./
10. 1034  And by thise causes we axen deliberacion and we shul
10. 1034  thanne by the grace of god conseille thee thyng that shal be profitable.'/
10. 1035    (1035) Vp stirten thanne the yonge folk atones, and the mooste partie of that
10. 1035  compaignye han scorned this olde wise man and bigonnen to make noyse and
10. 1035  seyden that/
10. 1036  right so as whil that iren is hoot men sholde smyte, right so sholde
10. 1036  men wreken hir wronges whil that they been fresshe and newe. And with loud
10. 1036  voys they criden: 'Werre, werre.'/
10. 1037    Vp roos tho oon of thise olde wise and with his hand made contenance that
10. 1037  men sholde holden hem stille and yeuen hym audience./
10. 1038  'Lordynges,' quod
10. 1038  he, 'ther is ful many a man that crieth werre, werre that woot ful litel what
10. 1038  werre amounteth./
10. 1039  Werre at his bigynnyng hath so greet an entree and so large
10. 1039  ?f.218! that euery wight may entre whan hym liketh and lightly fynde werre./
10. 1040  (1040&2230) But certes what ende that therof shal falle it is noght light to
10. 1040  knowe./
10. 1041  For soothly whan that werre is ones bigonne, ther is ful many a child
10. 1041  vnborn of his moder that shal sterue yong by cause of thilke werre or ellis
10. 1041  lyue in sorwe and dye in wrecchednesse./
10. 1042  And therfore er that any werre be
10. 1042  bigonne men moste haue gret conseil and gret deliberacioun.'/
10. 1043  And whan this
10. 1043  olde man wende to enforcen his tale by resons, wel neigh all atones bigonne
10. 1043  they to rise for to breken his tale and beden hym ful ofte hise wordes for to
10. 1043  abregge./
10. 1044  For sothly he that precheth to hem that listen nat heren hise wordes,
10. 1044  hys sarmon hem anoyeth. /
10. 1045  (1045) For Iesus Syrak seith that musyk in wepynge
10. 1045  is anoyous thyng. This is to seyn, as muche auaileth to speken biforn folk to
10. 1045  whiche his speche anoyeth as it is to synge biforn hym that wepeth./
10. 1046  And whan
10. 1046  this wise man say that hym wanted audience, al shamefast he sette hym doun
10. 1046  agayn./
10. 1047  For Salomon seith: Ther as thow ne mayst haue non audience, enforce
10. 1047  thee nat to speke./
10. 1048  'I se wel,' quod this wise man, 'that the comune prouerbe
10. 1048  is sooth that good conseil wanteth whan it is moost nede.'/
10. 1049    Yet hadde this Melibeus in his conseil many folk that priuely in his ere
10. 1049  conseiled hym certeyn thyng and conseiled hym the contrarie in general
10. 1049  audience. /
10. 1050  (1050&2240) Whan Melibeus hadde herd that the gretteste party of
10. 1050  his conseil were acorded that he sholde make werre, anon he consented to hir
10. 1050  conseilyng and fully affermed hir sentence./
10. 1051    Thanne dame Prudence whan that she say how that hyr housbonde shoop
10. 1051  hym for to wreke hym on his foos and to bigynne werre, she in ful humble
10. 1051  wise whan she say hir tyme seyde hym thise wordes./
10. 1052  'My lord,' quod she,
10. 1052  'I you biseche as hertely as I dar and kan, ne haste yow nat to faste, and for
10. 1052  alle gerdons as yif me audience./
10. 1053  For Piers Alfonce seith: Whoso that dooth to
10. 1053  thee outher good or harm haste thee nat to quiten it, for in this wise thy freend
10. 1053  wol abyde and thyn enemy shal the lenger lyue in drede./






10. 1054  The prouerbe seith:
10. 1054  He hasteth wel that wysly kan abide. And in wikked haste is no profit.'/
10. 1055    (1055) This Melibe answerde vnto his wyf Prudence: 'I purpose nat,' quod
10. 1055  he, 'to werken by thy conseil for many causes and resons, for certes euery
10. 1055  wight wolde holde me thanne a fool;/
10. 1056  this is to seyn if I for thy conseilyng
10. 1056  wolde chaunge ?f.218v! thynges that ben ordeyned and affermed by so manye
10. 1056  wise./
10. 1057  Secoundly I seye that alle wommen ben wikke and noon good of hem
10. 1057  alle, for of a thousand men (seith Salomon) I foond o good man, but certes
10. 1057  of alle wommen good womman foond I neuere./
10. 1058  And also certes if I gouerned
10. 1058  me by thy conseil, it sholde seme that I hadde yeue to thee ouer me the maistrie
10. 1058  and goddes forbode that it so were./
10. 1059  For Iesus Syrak seith that if the wyf haue
10. 1059  maistrie she is contrarious to hir housbonde. /
10. 1060  (1060&2250) And Salomon seith:
10. 1060  Neuere in thy lyf to thy wyf ne to thy child ne to thy freend ne yif no power
10. 1060  ouer thyself, for bettre it were that thy children axen of thy persone thynges
10. 1060  that hem nedeth than thow see thyself in the handes of thy children./
10. 1061  And
10. 1061  also if I wolde werke by thy conseilyng certes my conseil moste somtyme be
10. 1061  secree til it were tyme that it moste be knowe, and this ne may nat be.'/
10. 1062  ?1062--3&2252--3 missing!/
10. 1063  ?1062--3&2252--3 missing!/
10. 1064    (1064&2254) Whan dame Prudence ful debonairly and with gret pacience
10. 1064  hadde herd al that hir housbonde liked for to seye, thanne axed she of hym
10. 1064  licence for to speke and seyde in this wise. /
10. 1065  (1065) 'My lord,' quod she, 'as to
10. 1065  youre firste reson certes it may lightly been answered, for I seye that it is no
10. 1065  folie to chaunge conseil whan the thyng is chaunged or ellis whan the thyng
10. 1065  semeth ootherweys than it was biforn./
10. 1066  And mooreouer I seye that thogh that ye
10. 1066  han sworn and bihight to parfourne youre emprise and nathelees ye weyue to
10. 1066  parfourne thilke same emprise by iuste cause, men sholde nat seyn therfore
10. 1066  that ye were a lyer ne forsworn./
10. 1067  For the book seith that the wise man maketh
10. 1067  no lesyng whan he turneth his corage to the bettre./
10. 1068  And al be it so that youre
10. 1068  emprise be establissed and ordeyned by gret multitude of folk, yet thar ye nat
10. 1068  accomplice thilke same ordinance but yow like,/
10. 1069  for the trouthe of thynges and
10. 1069  the profit ben rather founde in fewe folk that ben wise and ful of reson than
10. 1069  by gret multitude of folk ther euery man crieth and clatereth what that hym
10. 1069  liketh. Soothly swich multitude is nat honeste./
10. 1070    (1070&2260) 'And to the seconde resoun wher as ye seyn that alle wommen
10. 1070  ben wikke, saue youre grace certes ye despise alle wommen in this wyse; and
10. 1070  he that al despiseth al displeseth, as seith the book./
10. 1071  And Senec seith that whoso
10. 1071  wole haue sapience shal no man dispreise, but he shal gladly teche the science
10. 1071  that he kan withoute presumpcion or pride;/
10. 1072  and swiche thynges as he noght
10. 1072  ne kan he shal nat ben ashamed to lerne hem and enquere ?f.219! of lasse folk
10. 1072  than hymself./
10. 1073  And, sire, that ther hath be ful many a good womman may
10. 1073  lightly be preued./
10. 1074  For certes, sire, oure lord Iesu Crist wolde neuere han
10. 1074  descended to be born of a womman if alle wommen hadde be wikke. /
10. 1075  (1075)
10. 1075  And after that for the grete bountee that is in wommen oure lord Iesu Crist






10. 1075  whan he was risen fro deth to lyf appered rather to a womman than to his
10. 1075  apostles./
10. 1076  And though that Salomon seith that he ne foond neuere womman
10. 1076  good, it folweth nat therfore that alle wommen ben wikke./
10. 1077  For thogh that he
10. 1077  ne foond no good womman, certes many another man hath founde many a
10. 1077  womman ful good and trewe./
10. 1078  Or ellis parauenture the entente of Salomon
10. 1078  was this that as in souereyn bountee he foond no womman;/
10. 1079  this is to seyn that
10. 1079  ther is no wight that hath souereyn bountee saue god allone as he hymself
10. 1079  recordeth in his euaungelie. /
10. 1080  (1080&2270) For ther nys no creature so good that
10. 1080  hym ne wanteth somwhat of the parfeccioun of god that is his makere./
10. 1081    'Youre thridde reson is this. Ye seyn that if ye gouerne yow by my conseil,
10. 1081  it sholde seme that ye hadde yeue me the maistrie and the lordshipe ouer
10. 1081  youre persone./
10. 1082  Sire, sauf youre grace it is nat so, for if so were that no man
10. 1082  sholde be conseiled but oonly of hem that hadde lordshipe and maistrie of his
10. 1082  persone men wolde nat ben conseiled so ofte./
10. 1083  For soothly thilke man that
10. 1083  axep conseil of a purpos, yet hath he free choys wheither he wole werke by that
10. 1083  conseil or noon./
10. 1084    'And as to youre ferpe reson ther ye seyn that the ianglerye of wommen
10. 1084  kan hide thynges that they woot nat, as who seith that a womman kan nat
10. 1084  hide that that she woot. /
10. 1085  (1085) Sire, thise wordes been vnderstonde of wommen
10. 1085  that ben iangleresses and wikked./
10. 1086  Of whiche wommen men seyn that thre
10. 1086  thynges dryuen a man out of his hous, that is to seyn smoke, droppyng of reyn,
10. 1086  and wikked wyues./
10. 1087  And of swiche wommen seith Salomon that it were bettre
10. 1087  dwellen in desert than with a womman that is riotous./
10. 1088  And, sire, by youre
10. 1088  leue that am nat I./
10. 1089  For ye han ful ofte assayed my grete silence and my grete
10. 1089  pacience and eek how wel that I kan hiden and hele thynges that men oghten
10. 1089  secrely to hyde./
10. 1090    (1090&2280) 'And soothly as to youre fifthe reson wher as ye seyn that in
10. 1090  wikked conseil wommen venquysse men, god woot thilke reson stant heere in
10. 1090  no stede./
10. 1091  For vnderstond now ye axen conseil to do wikkednesse./
10. 1092  And if ye wol
10. 1092  werke wikkednesse and youre wyf restreyne= =ilke ?f.219v! wikked purpos and
10. 1092  ouercometh yow by reson and by good conseil,/
10. 1093  certes youre wyf oghte rather
10. 1093  be preysed than yblamed./
10. 1094  Thus sholde ye vnderstonde the philosophre that
10. 1094  seith: In wikked conseil wommen venquyssen hir housbondes./
10. 1095    (1095) 'And ther as ye blamen alle wommen and hir resons I shal shewe by
10. 1095  manye ensamples that many a womman hath be ful good and yet ben, and
10. 1095  hir conseils holsom and profitable./
10. 1096  Eke som men han seyd that the
10. 1096  conseilyng of wommen is outher to deere or ellis to litel of prys./
10. 1097  But al be it so
10. 1097  that ful many a womman is badde and hir conseil vile and noght worth, yet
10. 1097  han men founde ful many a good womman and ful discrete and wys in
10. 1097  conseilynge./
10. 1098  Lo Iacob by conseil of his moder Rebekka wan the beneyson of
10. 1098  Ysaak his fader and the lordshipe ouer alle his bretheren./






10. 1099  Iudith by hir good
10. 1099  conseil deliuered the citee of Bethulye in which she dwelled out of =e handes of
10. 1099  Olofernus that hadde it biseged and wolde it al destroye. /
10. 1100  (1100&2290) Abigail
10. 1100  deliuered Nabal hir housbonde fro Dauid the kyng that wolde han slayn hym
10. 1100  and apaised the ire of the kyng by hir wit and by hir good conseilyng./
10. 1101  Hester
10. 1101  by hir good conseil enhaunced gretly the peple of god in the regne of Assuerus
10. 1101  the kyng./
10. 1102  And the same bountee in good conseilyng of many a good womman
10. 1102  may men telle./
10. 1103  And mooreouer whan that oure lord hadde creat Adam oure
10. 1103  forme-fader he seyde in this wise:/
10. 1104  'It is nat good to be a man allone; make
10. 1104  we to hym an help semblable to hymself.' /
10. 1105  (1105) Heere may ye se that if that
10. 1105  wommen were nat goode and hir conseil good and profitable,/
10. 1106  oure lord god of
10. 1106  heuene wolde neither han wroght hem ne called hem help of man but rather
10. 1106  confusion of man./
10. 1107  And ther seyde ones a clerk in two vers: What is bettre
10. 1107  than gold? Iaspre. What is bettre than iaspre? Wisdom./
10. 1108  And what is bettre
10. 1108  than wisdom? Womman. And what is bettre than good womman? Nothyng./
10. 1109  And, sire, by manye of othere resons may ye seen that manye wommen ben
10. 1109  goode and hir conseil good and profitable. /
10. 1110  (1110&2300) And therfore, sire, if
10. 1110  ye wol truste to my conseil I shal restore yow youre doghter hool and sound,/
10. 1111  and eek I wol doon to yow so muche that ye shul haue honour in this
10. 1111  cause.'/
10. 1112    Whan Melibe hadde herd the wordes of his wyf Prudence, he seyde thus:/
10. 1113  'I se wel that the word of Salomon is sooth. He seith that wordes that ben
10. 1113  spoken discretly by ordinance beth honycombes, for they yeue swetnesse to the
10. 1113  soule and holsomnesse to the body./
10. 1114  And, wyf, by cause of the swete ?f.220!
10. 1114  wordes and eek for I haue assayed and preued thy grete sapience and thy
10. 1114  grete trouthe, I wol gouerne me by thy conseil in alle thyng./
10. 1115    (1115) 'Now sire,' quod dame Prudence, 'and syn ye vouchesauf to been
10. 1115  gouerned by my conseil, I wol enforme yow how ye shal gouerne yow self
10. 1115  in chesynge of youre conseilours./
10. 1116  Ye shal first in alle youre werkes mekely
10. 1116  biseken to the heighe god that he wol be youre conseillour,/
10. 1117  and shapeth yow
10. 1117  to swich entente that he yeue yow conseil and confort as taughte Thobie his
10. 1117  sone./
10. 1118  At alle tymes thow shalt blesse god and praye hym to dresse thy weyes
10. 1118  and looke that alle thy conseils ben in hym for eueremoore./
10. 1119  Seint Iame eek
10. 1119  seith: If any of yow haue nede of sapience, axe it of god. /
10. 1120  (1120&2310) And
10. 1120  afterward thanne shal ye take conseil in yourself and examyne wel youre
10. 1120  thoghtes of swiche thynges as yow thynketh that is best for youre profit./
10. 1121  And thanne shal ye dryue fro youre herte thre thynges that been contrariouse
10. 1121  to good conseil;/
10. 1122  that is to seyn, ire, coueitise, and hastynesse./
10. 1123    'First he that axeth conseil of hymself, certes he moste be withouten ire
10. 1123  for many causes./
10. 1124  The firste is this. He that hath greet ire and wrathe in
10. 1124  hymself he weneth alwey that he may do thyng that he may nat do. /
10. 1125  (1125)






10. 1125  And secoundly he that is irous and wro=, he ne may nat wel deme./
10. 1126  And he
10. 1126  that may nat wel deme may nat wel conseille./
10. 1127  The thridde is this that he that
10. 1127  is irous and wro=, as seith Senek, ne may nat speke but blameful thynges./
10. 1128  And with hise viciouse wordes he stireth oother folk to angre and to ire./
10. 1129  And
10. 1129  eek, sire, ye moste dryue coueitise out of youre herte. /
10. 1130  (1130&2320) For the
10. 1130  apostle seith that coueitise is the roote of alle harmes./
10. 1131  And trust wel that a
10. 1131  coueitous man ne kan nat deme ne thenke but oonly to fulfille the ende of his
10. 1131  coueitise./
10. 1132  And certes that ne may neuere been acompliced, for euere the moore
10. 1132  habundance that he hath of richesse the moore he desireth./
10. 1133  And, sire, ye moste
10. 1133  also dryue out of youre herte hastifnesse, for certes/
10. 1134  ye may nat deme for =e
10. 1134  beste a sodeyn thoght that falleth in youre herte, but ye moste auyse yow on
10. 1134  it ful ofte. /
10. 1135  (1135) For as ye herde herbiforn the comune prouerbe is this that
10. 1135  he that soone demeth soone repenteth./
10. 1136    'Sire, ye ne ben nat alwey in lyke disposicioun:/
10. 1137  for certes som thyng that
10. 1137  somtyme semeth to yow that it is good for to do, another tyme it semeth to yow
10. 1137  the contrarie,/
10. 1138  whan ye han taken conseil in yourself and han demed by good
10. 1138  deliberacioun swich thyng as yow semeth best./
10. 1139    'Thanne rede I yow that ye kepe it secree. /
10. 1140  (1140&2330) Biwrey nat youre
10. 1140  conseil to no persone, but if so be that ye wenen ?f.220v! sikerly that thurgh
10. 1140  yowr bywreyyng youre condicioun shal ben to yow moore profitable./
10. 1141  For
10. 1141  Iesus Syrak seith: Neither to thy foo ne to thy freend discouere nat thy secree
10. 1141  ne thy folie;/
10. 1142  for they wol yeue yow audience and lokyng and supportacioun
10. 1142  in thy presence and scorne thee in thyn absence./
10. 1143  Another clerk seith that
10. 1143  scarsly shaltow fynden any persone that may kepe conseil secrely./
10. 1144  The book
10. 1144  seith: Whil that thow kepest thy conseil in thyn herte, thow kepest it in thy
10. 1144  prison. /
10. 1145  (1145) And whan thow biwreyest thy conseil to any wight he holdeth
10. 1145  thee in his snare./
10. 1146  And therfore yow is bettre to hide youre conseil in youre
10. 1146  herte than preyen hym to whom ye haue biwreyed youre conseil that he wol
10. 1146  kepen it cloos and stille./
10. 1147  For Seneca seith: If so be that thou ne mayst nat
10. 1147  thyn owene conseil hyde, how dorstow preyen any oother wight thy conseil
10. 1147  secrely to kepe?/
10. 1148  But nathelees if thow wene sikerly that thy biwreyyng of thy
10. 1148  conseil to a persone wol maken thy condicion to stonden in the bettre plyt,
10. 1148  thanne shaltow telle hym thy conseil in this wise./
10. 1149  First thow shalt make no
10. 1149  semblant wheither thee were leuere pees or werre or this or that, ne shewe
10. 1149  hym nat thy wyl and thyn entente. /
10. 1150  (1150&2340) For trust wel that comunely
10. 1150  thise conseillours ben flaterers,/
10. 1151  namely the conseillours of grete lordes/
10. 1152  for they






10. 1152  enforcen hem alwey rather to speke plesante wordes enclynynge to the lordes
10. 1152  lust than wordes that ben trewe or profitable./
10. 1153  And therfore men seyn that
10. 1153  the riche man hath selde good conseil but if he haue it of hymself./
10. 1154  And after
10. 1154  that thow shalt considere thy freendes and thyne enemys. /
10. 1155  (1155) And as
10. 1155  touchynge thy freendes thow shalt considere whiche of hem that been moost
10. 1155  feithfull and moost wise and eldest and moost approued in conseillyng./
10. 1156  And
10. 1156  of hem shaltow axe thy conseil as the cas requyreth./
10. 1157    'I seye that first ye shul clepe to youre conseyl youre freendes that ben
10. 1157  trewe./
10. 1158  For Salomon seith that right as the herte of a man deliteth in sauour
10. 1158  that is soote, right so the conseil of trewe freendes yeueth swetnesse to the
10. 1158  soule./
10. 1159  He seith also: Ther may nothyng be likned to the trewe freend. /
10. 1160  (1160&
10. 1160  2350) For certes gold ne siluer ben noght so muche worth as the goode wyl
10. 1160  of a trewe freend./
10. 1161  And eek he seith that a trewe freend is a strong defense:
10. 1161  whoso that it fyndeth certes he fyndeth a gret tresor./
10. 1162  Thanne shul ye eek
10. 1162  considere if that youre trewe freendes been discrete and wise; for the book
10. 1162  seith: Axe alwey thy conseil of hem that been wise./
10. 1163  And by this same ?f.221!
10. 1163  reson shul ye clepen to youre conseil of yowre freendes that ben of age swiche
10. 1163  as han seighen and ben expert of manye thynges and ben approued in
10. 1163  conseilynges./
10. 1164  For the book sei= that in olde men is the sapience and in longe
10. 1164  tyme the prudence. /
10. 1165  (1165) And Tullius seith that grete thynges ne ben nat ay
10. 1165  acompliced by strengthe ne by delyuernesse of body but by good conseil, by
10. 1165  auctoritee of persones, and by science. The whiche thre thynges ne been nat
10. 1165  fieble by age, but certes they enforcen and encressen day by day./
10. 1166  And thanne
10. 1166  shal ye kepe this for a general rule: first shal ye clepe to youre conseil a fewe
10. 1166  of youre freendes that ben especiale./
10. 1167  For Salomon seith: Manye freendes haue
10. 1167  thow, but among a thousand chees thee oon to be thy conseillour./
10. 1168  For al be
10. 1168  it so that thow first ne telle thy conseil but to a fewe, thow mayst afterward
10. 1168  telle it to mo folk if it be nede./
10. 1169  But looke alwey that thy conseillours haue
10. 1169  thilke thre condicions that I haue seyd bifore; that is to seye, that they be
10. 1169  trewe, wise, and of old experience. /
10. 1170  (1170&2360) And werk nat alwey in euery
10. 1170  nede by o conseillour allone, for somtyme bihoueth it to be conseiled by
10. 1170  manye./
10. 1171  For Salomon seith: Saluacion of thynges is wher as ther ben manye
10. 1171  conseilours./
10. 1172    'Now sith that I haue told yow of which folk ye sholde be conseilled, now
10. 1172  wol I teche yow which conseil ye oghte eschue./
10. 1173  First ye shul eschue the
10. 1173  conseillyng of fooles. For Salomon seith: Take no conseil of a fool for he ne kan
10. 1173  nat conseille but after his owene lust and his affeccioun./
10. 1174  The book seith that
10. 1174  the propretee of a fool is this: He trowe= lightly harm of euery wight and lightly
10. 1174  troweth alle bountee in hymself. /
10. 1175  (1175) Thow shalt eek eschue the conseillyng






10. 1175  of alle flaterers swiche as enforcen hem rather to preise youre persone by flaterye
10. 1175  than for to telle yow the soothfastnesse of thynges./
10. 1176  Wherfore Tullius seith:
10. 1176  Among alle the pestilences that been in frendshipe the gretteste is flaterye.
10. 1176  And therfore is it moore nede that thow eschue and drede flaterers than any
10. 1176  oother peple./
10. 1177  The book seith: Thow shalt rather drede and flee fro the swete
10. 1177  wordes of flaterynge preiseres than fro the egre wordes of thy freend that seith
10. 1177  thee thy sothes./
10. 1178  Salomon seith that the wordes of a flaterer is a snare to cacchen
10. 1178  innocentz./
10. 1179  He seith also that he that speketh to his freend wordes of swetnesse
10. 1179  and of ?f.221v! plesance setteth a net biforn his feet to cacchen hym. /
10. 1180  (1180&
10. 1180  2370) And therfore seith Tullius: Enclyne nat thyne erys to flatereres ne tak no
10. 1180  conseil of wordes of flaterye./
10. 1181  And Caton seith: Auyse thee wel and eschue
10. 1181  wordes of swetnesse and of plesance./
10. 1182  And eek thow shalt eschue the conseillyng
10. 1182  of thynne olde enemys that ben reconsiled./
10. 1183  The book seith that no wight
10. 1183  retourneth saufly into the grace of his olde enemy./
10. 1184  And Ysope seith: Ne trust
10. 1184  nat to hem to whiche thow hast had somtyme werre or enemytee, ne telle
10. 1184  hem nat thy conseil. /
10. 1185  (1185) And Seneca telleth the cause why. It may nat
10. 1185  be (seith he) that wher as greet fyr hath longe tyme endured that ther ne
10. 1185  dwelleth som vapour of warmnesse./
10. 1186  And therfore seith Salomon: In thyn olde
10. 1186  foo trust neuere./
10. 1187  For sikerly thogh thyn enemy be reconsiled and maketh
10. 1187  thee cheere of humylitee and louteth to thee with his heed, ne trust hym
10. 1187  neuere./
10. 1188  For certes he maketh thilke feyned humylitee moore for his profit
10. 1188  than for any loue of thy persone by cause that he demeth to haue victorie
10. 1188  ouer thy persone by swich feyned continance; the which victorie he myghte
10. 1188  nat haue by strif or werre./
10. 1189  And Peter Alfonce seith: Make no felaweshipe
10. 1189  with thyne olde enemys for if thow do hem bountee they wol peruerten it
10. 1189  into wikkednesse. /
10. 1190  (1190&2380) And eek thou most eschue the conseillyng of hem
10. 1190  that ben thy seruantz and beren thee gret reuerence, for parauenture they
10. 1190  seyn it moore for drede than for loue./
10. 1191  And therfore seith a philosophre in this
10. 1191  wise: Ther is no wight parfitly trewe to hym that he to soore dredeth./
10. 1192  And
10. 1192  Tullius seith: Ther nys no myght so gret of any emperour that longe may
10. 1192  endure but if he haue moore loue of the peple than drede./
10. 1193  Thou shalt also
10. 1193  eschue the conseillyng of folk that ben dronkelewe for they ne kan no conseil
10. 1193  hyde./
10. 1194  For Salomon seith: Ther is no priuetee ther as regneth dronkenesse./
10. 1195  (1195) Ye shal also han in suspect the conseilyng of swich folk as conseile yow
10. 1195  a thyng priuely and conseille yow the contrarie openly./
10. 1196  For Cassiodorie seith
10. 1196  that it is a maner sleighte to hyndre whan he sheweth to doon a thyng openly
10. 1196  and werketh pryuely the contrarie./
10. 1197  Thow shalt also haue in suspect the
10. 1197  conseilyng of wikked folk. For the book seith: The conseilyng of wikked folk
10. 1197  is alwey ful of fraude./






10. 1198  And Dauid seith: Blisful is that man that hath nat
10. 1198  folwed the conseilyng of sherewes./
10. 1199  Thow shalt also eschue ?f.222! the
10. 1199  conseilyng of yong folk for hir conseil is nat rype./
10. 1200    (1200&2390) 'Now, sire, sith I haue shewed yow of which folk ye shul take
10. 1200  youre conseil and of which folk ye shul folwe the conseil,/
10. 1201  now wol I teche
10. 1201  yow how ye shul examyne youre conseil after the doctrine of Tullius./
10. 1202  In the
10. 1202  examynynge thanne of youre conseillour ye shul considere many thynges./
10. 1203  Alderfirst thou shalt considere that in thilke thyng that thow purposest and
10. 1203  vpon what thyng thow wolt haue conseil that verray trouthe be seyd and
10. 1203  conserued; this is to seyn, telle trewely thy tale./
10. 1204  For he that seith fals may nat
10. 1204  wel be conseiled in that cas of which he lyeth. /
10. 1205  (1205) And after this thow
10. 1205  shalt considere the thynges that acorden to that thow purposest for to do
10. 1205  by thy conseillours if reson acorde therto,/
10. 1206  and eek if thy myght may atteyne
10. 1206  therto, and if the moore part and the bettre part of thy conseillours acorde
10. 1206  therto or no./
10. 1207  Thanne shaltow considere what thyng shal folwe of that
10. 1207  conseilyng as hate, pees, werre, grace, profit, or damage, and many othere
10. 1207  thynges./
10. 1208  And in alle thise thynges thow shalt chese the beste and weyue alle
10. 1208  othere thynges./
10. 1209  Thanne shaltow considere of what roote is engendred the
10. 1209  matere of thy conseil and what fruyt it may conceyue and engendre. /
10. 1210  (1210&
10. 1210  2400) Thow shalt eek considere alle thise causes from whennes they ben
10. 1210  sprongen./
10. 1211    'And whan ye haue examyned youre conseil as I haue seyd and which partie
10. 1211  is the bettre and moore profitable and han approued it by manye wise folk
10. 1211  and olde,/
10. 1212  thanne shaltow considere if thou mayst parforme it and maken of
10. 1212  it a good ende./
10. 1213  For reson wol nat that any man sholde bigynne a thyng but
10. 1213  if he myghte parforme it as hym oghte./
10. 1214  Ne no wight sholde take vpon hym
10. 1214  so heuy charge that he myghte nat beren it. /
10. 1215  (1215) For the prouerbe seith:
10. 1215  He that to muche embraceth destreyneth litel./
10. 1216  And Caton seith: Assay to do
10. 1216  swich thyng as thow hast power to doon, lest that the charge oppresse thee
10. 1216  so soore that thee bihoueth to weyue thyng that thow hast bigonne./
10. 1217  And if
10. 1217  so be that thow be in doute wheither thow mayst parfourne a thyng or noon,
10. 1217  chees rather to suffre than bigynne./
10. 1218  And Peter Alfonce seith: If thow hast
10. 1218  myght to doon a thyng of which thow most repente, it is bettre nay than ye;/
10. 1219  this is to seyn that thee is bettre to holde thy tonge stille than for to speke./
10. 1220  (1220&2410) Thanne may ye vnderstonde by strenger resons that if thow hast
10. 1220  power to ?f.222v! parforme a werk of which thow shalt repente, thanne is it
10. 1220  bettre that thow suffre than bigynne./
10. 1221  Wel seyn they that defenden euery
10. 1221  wight to assaye a thyng of which he is in doute wheither he may parforme
10. 1221  it or no./
10. 1222  And after whan ye haue examyned youre conseil as I haue seyd
10. 1222  biforn and knowen wel that ye may parforme youre emprise, conferme it
10. 1222  thanne sadly til it be at an ende./






10. 1223    'Now is it resoun and tyme that I shewe yow whanne and wherfore that ye
10. 1223  may chaunge youre conseillours withoute youre reproue./
10. 1224  Soothly man may
10. 1224  chaungen his purpos and his conseil if the cause cesseth or whan a newe cas
10. 1224  bitideth. /
10. 1225  (1225) For the lawe seith that vpon thynges that newely bitideth
10. 1225  bihoueth newe conseil./
10. 1226  And Seneca seith: If thy conseil is come to the erys
10. 1226  of thyn enemy, chaunge thy conseil./
10. 1227  Thow mayst also chaunge thy conseil
10. 1227  if so be that thou fynde that by errour or by oother cause harm or damage
10. 1227  may bityde./
10. 1228  Also if thy conseil be deshoneste or ellis cometh of deshoneste
10. 1228  cause chaunge thy conseil./
10. 1229  For the lawes seyn that alle bihestes that ben
10. 1229  deshoneste ben of no value; /
10. 1230  (1230&2420) and eek if it so be that it be inpossible
10. 1230  or may nat goodly be parformed or kept./
10. 1231  And take this for a general rule that
10. 1231  euery conseil that is affermed so strongly that it may nat be chaunged for no
10. 1231  condicion that may bityde, I seye that thilke conseil is wikked.'/
10. 1232    This Melibeus whan he hadde herd the doctrine of his wyf dame Prudence
10. 1232  answerde in this wise./
10. 1233  'Dame,' quod he, 'as yet into this tyme ye han wel
10. 1233  and couenably taught me as in general how I shal gouerne me in chesynge and
10. 1233  in the withholdyng of my conseillours./
10. 1234  But now wolde I fayn that ye wolde
10. 1234  condescenden in especial /
10. 1235  (1235) and telle me how liketh yow or what semeth
10. 1235  yow by oure conseillours that we han chosen in oure present nede.'/
10. 1236    'My lord,' quod she, 'I biseke yow in al humblesse that ye wol nat wilfully
10. 1236  replye ayein my resons ne distempre youre herte thogh I speke thyng that
10. 1236  yow displese./
10. 1237  For god woot that as in myn entente I speke it for youre beste,
10. 1237  for youre honour, and for youre profit eke./
10. 1238  And soothly I hope that youre
10. 1238  benygnytee wol taken it in pacience./
10. 1239  Trusteth me wel,' quod she, 'that youre
10. 1239  conseil as in this cas ne sholde nat, as to speke proprely, be called a conseilyng
10. 1239  but a mocioun or a moeuyng of folie. /
10. 1240  (1240&2430) In which conseil ye han erred
10. 1240  in many a sondry wise./
10. 1241    'First and forward ye han erred in the assemblyng of youre conseillours./
10. 1242  For ye sholde first han clepid a ?f.223! fewe folk to youre conseil and after ye
10. 1242  myghte han shewed it to mo folk if it hadde be nede./
10. 1243  But certes ye han
10. 1243  sodeynly clepid to youre conseil a gret multitude of peple ful chargeant and ful
10. 1243  anoyous for to heere./
10. 1244  Also ye han erred for ther as ye sholde oonly han clepid
10. 1244  to youre conseil youre trewe freendes olde and wise, /
10. 1245  (1245) ye han yclepid
10. 1245  straunge folk, yong folk, false flatereres, and enemys reconsiled, and folk that
10. 1245  doon yow reuerence withouten loue./
10. 1246  And eek also ye han erred for ye han
10. 1246  broght with yow to youre conseil ire, coueitise, and hastifnesse,/
10. 1247  the whiche
10. 1247  thre thynges ben contrariouse to euery conseil honeste and profitable./
10. 1248  The
10. 1248  whiche thre thynges ye han nat anientissed or destroyed hem neither in
10. 1248  yourself ne in youre conseillours as ye oghte./






10. 1249  Ye han erred also for ye han
10. 1249  shewed to youre conseillours youre talent and youre affeccioun to make werre
10. 1249  anon and for to do vengeance. /
10. 1250  (1250&2440) They han espied by youre wordes
10. 1250  to what thyng ye ben enclyned./
10. 1251  And therfore han they conseilled yow rather
10. 1251  to youre talent than to youre profit./
10. 1252  Ye han erred also for it semeth that yow
10. 1252  suffiseth to han ben conseilled by thise conseilours oonly and with litel auys,/
10. 1253  wher as in so gret and so heigh a nede it hadde ben necessarie mo conseilours
10. 1253  and moore deliberacion to parforme youre emprise./
10. 1254  Ye han erred also for ye
10. 1254  ne han nat examyned youre conseil in the forseyde manere ne in due manere
10. 1254  as the cas requyreth. /
10. 1255  (1255) Ye han erred also for ye han maked no diuision
10. 1255  bitwixe youre conseilours; this is to seyn bytwixe youre trewe freendes and
10. 1255  youre feyned conseilours./
10. 1256  Ne ye ne haue nat knowe the wyl of youre trewe
10. 1256  freendes olde and wise,/
10. 1257  but ye han cast alle hir wordes in an hochepot and
10. 1257  enclyned youre herte to the moore part and to the gretter nombre, and ther
10. 1257  be ye condescended./
10. 1258  And sith ye woot wel that men shal alwey fynde a gretter
10. 1258  nombre of foolis than of wise men,/
10. 1259  and therfore the conseils that ben at
10. 1259  congregacions and multitudes of folk ther as men take moore reward to the
10. 1259  nombre than to the sapience of persones /
10. 1260  (1260&2450) ye se wel that in swyche
10. 1260  conseillynges foolis han the maistrie.'/
10. 1261    Melibeus answerde agayn and seyde: 'I graunte wel that I haue erred./
10. 1262  But ther as thow hast toold me herbiforn that he ne is nat to blame that
10. 1262  chaungeth his conseillours in certeyn cas and for certeyne iuste causes,/
10. 1263  I am
10. 1263  al redy to chaunge my conseilours right as thow wolt deuyse./
10. 1264  The prouerbe
10. 1264  seith that for to do synne is mannyssh, but certes for to perseuere longe in
10. 1264  synne ?f.223v! is werk of the deuel.'/
10. 1265    (1265) To this sentence answerde anon dame Prudence and seyde:/
10. 1266  'Ex-
10. 1266  amyneth,' quod she, 'youre conseil and lat vs se the whiche of hem han spoken
10. 1266  moost resonably and taught yow best conseil./
10. 1267  And for as muche as that the
10. 1267  examinacion is necessarie lat vs bigynne at the sirurgiens and at the phisiciens
10. 1267  that first speeken in this matere./
10. 1268  I sey yow that the sirurgiens and phisiciens
10. 1268  han seyd yow in youre conseil descretly as hem oghte./
10. 1269  And in hir speche
10. 1269  seyden ful wysly that to the office of hem aperteneth to doon to euery wight
10. 1269  honour and profit and no wight to anoye, /
10. 1270  (1270&2460) and after hir craft to
10. 1270  doon gret diligence vnto the cure of hem whiche that they han in hir gouern-
10. 1270  ance./
10. 1271  And, sire, right as they han answered wysly and discretly,/
10. 1272  right so rede
10. 1272  I that they be heighly and souereynly gerdoned for hir noble speche,/
10. 1273  and
10. 1273  eek for they shullen do the moore ententif bisynesse in the curacioun of thy
10. 1273  doghter deere./
10. 1274  For al be it so that they ben youre freendes, therfore shal ye
10. 1274  nat suffren that they serue you for noght, /






10. 1275  (1275) but ye oghte the rather gerdone
10. 1275  hem and shewen hem youre largesse./
10. 1276  And as touchynge the proposicioun
10. 1276  which that the phisiciens encresceden in this cas, this is to seyn/
10. 1277  that in maladies
10. 1277  that a contrarie is warisshed by another contrarie,/
10. 1278  I wolde fayn knowe how
10. 1278  ye vnderstande thilke text and what is youre sentence.'/
10. 1279    'Certes,' quod Melibeus, 'I vnderstonde it in this wise /
10. 1280  (1280&2470) that right
10. 1280  as they han doon me a contrarie, right so sholde I doon hem another./
10. 1281  For
10. 1281  right as they han venged hem on me and doon me wrong, right so shal I
10. 1281  venge me vpon hem and doon hem wrong;/
10. 1282  and thanne haue I cured a contrarie
10. 1282  by another.'/
10. 1283    'Lo, lo,' quod dame Prudence, 'how lightly is euery man enclyned to his
10. 1283  owene desir and to his owene plesance./
10. 1284  Certes,' quod she, 'the wordes of the
10. 1284  phisiciens ne sholde nat han ben vnderstonden in that wise. /
10. 1285  (1285) For certes
10. 1285  wikkednesse is nat contrarie to wikkednesse, ne vengeance to vengeance, ne
10. 1285  wrong to wrong; but they ben semblable./
10. 1286  And therfore o vengeance is nat
10. 1286  warisshed by another vengeance ne o wrong by another wrong,/
10. 1287  but euerich
10. 1287  of hem encresceth and aggreggeth oother./
10. 1288  But certes the wordes of thise
10. 1288  phisiciens sholde an vnderstonde in this wise,/
10. 1289  for good and wikkednesse ben
10. 1289  two contraries, and pees and werre, vengeance and suffrance, discord and
10. 1289  acord, and many othere thynges. /
10. 1290  (1290&2480) But certes wikked shal be
10. 1290  warisshed by goodnesse, discord by acord, werre by pees, and so forth of othere
10. 1290  thynges./
10. 1291  And herto acordeth seynt ?f.224! Poul the Apostle in many places./
10. 1292  He seith: Ne yeldeth noght harm for harm ne wikked speche for wikked
10. 1292  speche,/
10. 1293  but do wel to hym that dooth to thee harm and blesse hym that seith
10. 1293  to thee harm./
10. 1294  And in manye othere places he amonesteth pees and acord./
10. 1295    (1295) 'But now wol I speke to yow of the conseil which that was yeuen
10. 1295  to yow by the men of lawe and the wise folk/
10. 1296  that seyden alle by oon acord,
10. 1296  as ye han herd bifore/
10. 1297  that ouer alle thynges ye shal do youre diligence to kepe
10. 1297  youre persone and to warnestore youre hous./
10. 1298  And seyden also that in this cas
10. 1298  ye oghten for to werke ful auysely and with greet deliberacioun./
10. 1299  And, sire,
10. 1299  as to the firste point that toucheth to the kepyng of youre persone /
10. 1300  (1300&2490)
10. 1300  ye shul vnderstonde that he that hath werre shal euere moore deuoutly and
10. 1300  mekely preyen byforn alle thynges/
10. 1301  that Iesus Crist of his mercy wol han hym
10. 1301  in his proteccion and ben his souereyn helpyng at his nede./
10. 1302  For certes in
10. 1302  this world ther is no wight that may be conseilled ne kept suffisantly withoute
10. 1302  the kepyng of oure lord Iesu Crist./
10. 1303  To this sentence acordeth the prophete






10. 1303  Dauid that seith:/
10. 1304  If god ne kepe citee, in ydel waketh he that it kepeth. /
10. 1305  (1305)
10. 1305  Now, syre, thanne shul ye committe the kepyng of youre persone to youre
10. 1305  trewe freendes that been approued and yknowe./
10. 1306  And of hem shul ye axen
10. 1306  help youre persone for to kepe. For Catoun seith: If thou hast nede of help
10. 1306  axe it of thy freendes,/
10. 1307  for ther nys noon so good a phisicien as thy trewe
10. 1307  freend./
10. 1308  And after this thanne shul ye kepe yow fro alle straunge folk and fro
10. 1308  lyeres and haue alwey in suspect hir compaignye./
10. 1309  For Piers Alfonce seith:
10. 1309  Ne taak no compaignye by the wey of a straunge man but if so be that thow
10. 1309  haue knowe hym of a lenger tyme. /
10. 1310  (1310&2500) And if so be that he falle into
10. 1310  thy compaignye, parauenture withouten thyn assent,/
10. 1311  enquere thanne as
10. 1311  subtilly as thow mayst of his conuersacioun and of his lyf bifore. And feyne thy
10. 1311  wey: Sey that thow wolt go thider as thow wolt nat go./
10. 1312  And if he bereth a spere
10. 1312  hoold thee on the right syde. And if he bere a swerd hoold thee on the left
10. 1312  syde./
10. 1313  And after this thanne shal ye kepe yow wysly from al swich maner peple
10. 1313  as I haue seyd bifore and hem and hir conseil eschewe./
10. 1314  And after this thanne
10. 1314  shal ye kepe yow in swich manere /
10. 1315  (1315) that for any presumpcion of youre
10. 1315  strengthe that ye ne despise nat ne attempte nat the myght of youre aduersarie
10. 1315  so lite that ye lete the kepyng of youre persone for youre presumpcioun,/
10. 1316  for euery wys man dredeth his enemy./
10. 1317  And Salomon seyth: ?f.224v! Weleful
10. 1317  is he that of all hath drede./
10. 1318  For certes he that thurgh the hardynesse of his
10. 1318  herte and thurgh the hardynesse of hymself hath to gret presumpcioun, hym
10. 1318  shal yuel bityde./
10. 1319  Thanne shal ye eueremo countrewayte emboyssementz and
10. 1319  al espiaille. /
10. 1320  (1320&2510) For Senek seith that the wise man that dredeth harmes
10. 1320  escheweth harmes;/
10. 1321  ne he ne falleth into perils that perils escheweth./
10. 1322  And
10. 1322  al be so that it seme that thow art in siker place, yet shaltow alwey do thy
10. 1322  diligence in kepyng of thy persone;/
10. 1323  this is to seyn, ne be nat necligent to kepe
10. 1323  thy persone nat oonly fro thy grettest enemys but fro thy leeste enemy./
10. 1324  Senek
10. 1324  seith: A man that is wel auysed he dredeth his leste enemy. /
10. 1325  (1325) Ouyde seith
10. 1325  that the litel wesele wol slee the grete bole and the wilde hert./
10. 1326  And the book
10. 1326  seith: A litel thorn may prikke a kyng ful soore, and an hound wol holde the
10. 1326  wilde boor./
10. 1327  But nathelees I sey nat thow shalt be so coward that thow doute
10. 1327  ther wher as is no drede./
10. 1328  The book seith that som folk haue gret lust to deceyue
10. 1328  but yet they dreden hem to be deceyued./
10. 1329  Yet shaltow drede to been
10. 1329  empoysoned; and kepe thee from the compaignye of scorneres. /
10. 1330  (1330&2520)






10. 1330  For the book seith: With scorneres make no compaignye, but flee hir wordes
10. 1330  as venym./
10. 1331    'Now as to the seconde point where as youre wise conseilours conseiled yow
10. 1331  to warnestore youre hous with gret diligence,/
10. 1332  I wolde fayn knowe how that ye
10. 1332  vnderstonde thilke wordes and what is youre sentence.'/
10. 1333    Melibeus answerde and seyde: 'Certes I vnderstonde it in this wise that I
10. 1333  shal warnestore myn hous with toures swiche as han castelles and othere manere
10. 1333  edifices and armure and artelries,/
10. 1334  by whiche thynges I may my persone and
10. 1334  myn hous so kepen and defenden that myne enemys shul been in drede myn
10. 1334  hous for to approche.'/
10. 1335    (1335) To thys sentence answerde anon Prudence. 'Warnestoryng,' quod
10. 1335  she, 'of heighe toures and of grete edifices apperteyneth somtyme to pryde./
10. 1336  And eek men make heighe toures and grete edifices with grete costages and with
10. 1336  gret trauaille, and whan that they been accompliced yet be they nat worth a
10. 1336  stree but if they been defended by trewe freendes that been oolde and wise./
10. 1337  And vnderstonde wel that the gretteste and the strengeste garnysoun that ryche
10. 1337  man may haue as wel to kepen his persone as his goodes is/
10. 1338  that he be biloued
10. 1338  with his subgetz and with his neighebores./
10. 1339  For thus seith Tullius that ther is
10. 1339  a manere garneson that no man may venquyse ne discomfite and that ?f.225!
10. 1339  is /
10. 1340  (1340&2530) a lord to be biloued of his citezeins and of his peple./
10. 1341    'Now, sire, as to the iije poynt wher as youre olde and wise
10. 1341  conseilours seiden that yow ne oghte nat sodeynly ne hastily proceden in this
10. 1341  nede,/
10. 1342  but that yow oghte purueien and apparailen yow in this cas with greet
10. 1342  diligence and greet deliberacioun,/
10. 1343  trewely I trowe that they seyden right
10. 1343  wisely and right sooth./
10. 1344  For Tullius seith: In euery nede er thow bigynne it,
10. 1344  apparayle thee with greet diligence. /
10. 1345  (1345) Thanne seye I that in vengeance-
10. 1345  takynge, in werre, in bataile, and in warnestorynge,/
10. 1346  er thow bigynne I rede
10. 1346  that thow apparaile thee therto and do it with greet deliberacioun./
10. 1347  For Tullius
10. 1347  seith that long apparailynge biforn the bataile maketh short victorie./
10. 1348  And
10. 1348  Cassidorus seith: The garneson is strenger whan it is long tyme auysed./
10. 1349    'But now lat vs speke of the conseil that was acorded by youre neighebores
10. 1349  swiche as doon yow reuerence withouten loue, /
10. 1350  (1350&2540) youre olde enemys
10. 1350  reconsiled, youre flaterers,/
10. 1351  that conseileden yow certeyne thynges pryuely and
10. 1351  openly conseileden yow the contrarie;/
10. 1352  the yonge folk also that conseileden
10. 1352  yow to venge yow and make werre anoon./
10. 1353  And certes, sire, as I haue seyd
10. 1353  biforn ye han greetly erred to han clepid swich maner folk to youre conseil./
10. 1354  Whiche conseilours been ynow repreued bi the resons foreseyd. /
10. 1355  (1355) But
10. 1355  nathelees lat vs now descende to the special. Ye shuln first proceden after the
10. 1355  doctryne of Tullius./
10. 1356  Certes the trouthe of this matere or of this conseil nedeth
10. 1356  nat diligently enquere,/
10. 1357  for it is wel wist whiche they been that han doon to
10. 1357  yow this trespas and vileynye,/






10. 1358  and how manye trespasours and in what manere
10. 1358  they han to yow doonal this wrong and al this vileynye./
10. 1359    'And after this thanne shulle ye examyne the ije condicioun which
10. 1359  that the same Tullius addeth in this matere, /
10. 1360  (1360&2550) for Tullius put a thyng
10. 1360  which that he clepeth consentynge; this is to seyn,/
10. 1361  who been they and whiche
10. 1361  been they and how manye that consenten to thy conseil in thy wilfulnesse
10. 1361  to do hastif vengeance./
10. 1362  And lat vs considere also who been they and how
10. 1362  manye been they and whiche been they that consenteden to youre aduersaries./
10. 1363  And certes as to the firste poynt it is wel knowen whiche folk been they that
10. 1363  consenteden to youre hastif wilfulnesse./
10. 1364  For trewely alle tho that conseileden
10. 1364  yow to maken sodeyn werre ne been nat youre freendes. /
10. 1365  (1365) Lat vs now
10. 1365  considere whiche been they that ye holde so greetly youre freendes as to youre
10. 1365  persone./
10. 1366  For al be it so that ye be myghty and ryche, certes ye ne been but
10. 1366  ?f.225v! allone./
10. 1367  For certes ye ne han no child but a doghter;/
10. 1368  ne ye ne han
10. 1368  bretheren ne cosyns germayns ne noon oother ney kynrede,/
10. 1369  wherfore that
10. 1369  youre enemys for drede sholden stynte to plede with yow or destroye youre
10. 1369  persone. /
10. 1370  (1370&2560) Ye knowe also that youre richesses moten be despended
10. 1370  in diuerse parties,/
10. 1371  and whan that euery wight hath his part they ne wollen
10. 1371  take but litel reward to venge thy deeth./
10. 1372  But thyne enemys been iije and
10. 1372  they han manye children, bretheren, cosyns, and oother ney kynrede./
10. 1373  And
10. 1373  thogh so were thow haddest slayn of hem ijo or iije, yet dwellen ther ynowe
10. 1373  to wreken hir deeth and to sle thy persone./
10. 1374  And thogh so be that youre
10. 1374  kynrede be moore syker and stedefast than the kyn of youre aduersarie,/
10. 1375  (1375) yet nathelees youre kynrede nys but a fer kynrede, they been but litel
10. 1375  syb to yow./
10. 1376  And the kyn of youre enemys been ney syb to hem. And certes
10. 1376  as in that hir condicion is bet than youres./
10. 1377  Thanne lat vs considere also if the
10. 1377  conseilynge of hem that conseileden yow to taken sodeyn vengeance wheither
10. 1377  it acorde to reson./
10. 1378  And certes ye knowe wel nay./
10. 1379  For as by right and reson
10. 1379  ther may no man take vengeance on no wight but the iuge that hath the
10. 1379  iurisdiccioun of it, /
10. 1380  (1380&2570) whan it is ygraunted hym to take thilke
10. 1380  vengeance hastily or attemprely as the lawe requereth./
10. 1381  And yet moreouer
10. 1381  of thilke word that Tullius clepith consentynge,/
10. 1382  thow shalt considere if thy
10. 1382  myght and thy power may consente and suffise to thy wilfulnesse and to thy
10. 1382  conseilours./
10. 1383  And certes thow mayst wel seyn that nay./
10. 1384  For sikerly as for to
10. 1384  speke proprely we may do nothyng but oonly swich thyng as we may do
10. 1384  rightfully. /
10. 1385  (1385) And certes rightfully ne mowe ye take no vengeance as of






10. 1385  youre propre auctoritee./
10. 1386  Thanne mowe ye seen that youre power ne
10. 1386  consenteth nat ne acordeth nat with youre wilfulnesse./
10. 1387    'Lat vs now examyne the iije poynt that Tullius clepith consequent./
10. 1388  Thow
10. 1388  shalt vnderstande that the vengeance that thow purposest for to taken is the
10. 1388  consequent./
10. 1389  And therof folweth another vengeance, peril and werre and othere
10. 1389  damages withoute nombre, of whiche we been nat waar as at this tyme./
10. 1390  (1390&2580) And as touchynge the iiije poynt that Tullius clepith en-
10. 1390  gendrynge,/
10. 1391  thow shalt considere that this wrong which that is doon to thee
10. 1391  is engendred of the hate of thyne enemys;/
10. 1392  and of the vengeance-takynge vpon
10. 1392  that wolde engendre another vengeance and muchil sorwe and wastynge of
10. 1392  richesses, ?f.226! as I seyde./
10. 1393    'Now, sire, as touchynge to the poynt that Tullius clepith causes, which
10. 1393  that is the laste poynt,/
10. 1394  thow shalt vnderstonde that the wrong that thow hast
10. 1394  receyued hath certeyne causes /
10. 1395  (1395) whiche that clerkes clepen oriens and
10. 1395  efficiens and causa longinqua and causa propinqua, this is to seyn the fer cause and
10. 1395  the ny cause./
10. 1396  The fer cause is almyghty god that is cause of alle thynges;/
10. 1397  the neer cause is thy thre enemys;/
10. 1398  the cause accidental was hate;/
10. 1399  the cause
10. 1399  material been the v woundes of thy doghter; /
10. 1400  (1400&2590) the cause formal is
10. 1400  the manere of hir werkynge that broghten laddres and clomben in at thy
10. 1400  wyndowes;/
10. 1401  the cause final was for to sle thy doghter. It lettyd nat in as muche
10. 1401  as in hem was./
10. 1402  But for to speke of the fer cause as to what ende they shul
10. 1402  come or what shal finally bityde of hem in this cas, ne kan I nat deme but
10. 1402  by coniectynge and by supposynge./
10. 1403  For we shuln suppose that they shul come
10. 1403  to a wikked ende/
10. 1404  by cause that the Book of Decrees seith: Selden or with greet
10. 1404  peyne been causes ybroght to good ende whan they been baddely bigonne./
10. 1405    (1405) 'Now, sire, if men wolden axe me why that god suffrede men to do
10. 1405  yow this vileynye, certes I kan nat wel answere as for no soothfastnesse./
10. 1406  For
10. 1406  the apostle seith that the sciences and the iugementz of oure lord god almyghty
10. 1406  been ful depe;/
10. 1407  ther may no man comprehende ne serchen hem suffisantly./
10. 1408  Nathelees by certeyne presumpcions and coniectynges I holde and bileue/
10. 1409  that
10. 1409  god which that is ful of iustice and of rightwisnesse hath suffred this bityde
10. 1409  by iuste cause resonable./
10. 1410    (1410&2600) 'Thy name is Melibe; this is to seyn a man that drynketh hony./
10. 1411  Thow hast ydronke so muchil hony of swete temporel richesses and delices and
10. 1411  honours of this world,/
10. 1412  that thow art dronken and hast forgeten Iesu Crist thy
10. 1412  creatour./
10. 1413  Thow ne hast nat doon to hym swich honour and reuerence as thee
10. 1413  oghte,/
10. 1414  ne thow ne hast nat wel taken kepe to the wordes of Ouyde that seith:/
10. 1415  (1415) Vnder the hony of the goodes of the body is hyd the venym that sleth
10. 1415  the soule./






10. 1416  And Salomon seith: If thow hast founden hony ete of it that suffiseth,/
10. 1417  for if thow ete of it out of mesure thow shalt spewe and be nedy and poore./
10. 1418  And parauenture Crist hath thee in despit and hath torned awey fro thee his
10. 1418  face and his erys of misericorde./
10. 1419  And also he hath suffred that thow ?f.226v!
10. 1419  hast been punysshed in the manere that thow hast ytrespased. /
10. 1420  (1420&2610)
10. 1420  Thow hast doon synne agayn oure lord Crist./
10. 1421  For certes the iije enemys of
10. 1421  mankynde, that is to seyn the flessh, the feend and the world,/
10. 1422  thow hast suffred
10. 1422  hem entre into thyn herte wilfully by the wyndowes of thy body/
10. 1423  and hast
10. 1423  nat defendid thyself suffisantly agayns hir assautes and hir temptacions so that
10. 1423  they han woundid thy soule in v places;/
10. 1424  this is to seyn, the dedly synnes that
10. 1424  been entred into thyn herte by thy v wittes. /
10. 1425  (1425) And in the same manere
10. 1425  oure lord Crist hath wold and suffred that thy iije enemys been entred into
10. 1425  thyn hous by the wyndowes/
10. 1426  and han ywoundid thy doghter in the forseyde
10. 1426  manere.'/
10. 1427    'Certes,' quod Melibe, 'I se wel that ye enforce yow muchil by wordes to
10. 1427  ouercome me in swich a manere that I shal nat venge me of myne enemys,/
10. 1428  shewynge me the perils and the yueles that myghten falle of this vengeance./
10. 1429  But whoso wolde considere in alle vengeances the perils and yueles that
10. 1429  myghten sewe of vengeance-takynge, /
10. 1430  (1430&2620) a man wolde neuere take
10. 1430  vengeance and that were harm./
10. 1431  For by the vengeance-takynge been the
10. 1431  wikked men disseuered fro the goode men,/
10. 1432  and they that han wil to do
10. 1432  wikkednesse restreyne hir wikked purpos whan they seen the punysshynge and
10. 1432  chastisynge of trespassours./
10. 1433  ?1433-4&2623-4 missing!/
10. 1434  ?1433-4&2623-4 missing!/
10. 1435    (1435) 'And yet seye I moore that right as a singuler persone synneth in
10. 1435  takynge vengeance of another man,/
10. 1436  right so synneth the iuge if he do no
10. 1436  vengeance of hem that it han disserued./
10. 1437  For Senek seith thus: That maister (he
10. 1437  seith) is good that preueth shrewes./
10. 1438  And as Cassidore seith: A man dredeth
10. 1438  to do outrages whan he woot and knoweth that it displeseth to the iuges and
10. 1438  the souereyns./
10. 1439  And another seith: The iuge that dredeth to do right maketh
10. 1439  men shrewes. /
10. 1440  (1440&2630) And seint Poul th'apostle seith in his epistle whan
10. 1440  he writeth vnto the Romayns that the iuges beren nat the spere withouten
10. 1440  cause,/
10. 1441  but they beren it to punysshe the shrewes and mysdoers and for to
10. 1441  defende the goode men./
10. 1442  If ye wol thanne take vengeance of youre enemys ye
10. 1442  shul retourne or haue youre recours to the iuge that hath the iurisdiccioun
10. 1442  vpon hem,/
10. 1443  and he shal punysshe hem as the lawe axeth and requereth.'/
10. 1444    'A,' quod Melibe, 'this vengeance liketh me nothyng. /
10. 1445  (1445) I bithenke me
10. 1445  now and take hede how fortune hath norisshed me fro ?f.227! my childhode
10. 1445  and hath holpen me to passe many a strong paas./






10. 1446  Now wol I assayen hir,
10. 1446  trowynge with goddes help that she shal helpe me my shame for to venge.'/
10. 1447    'Certes,' quod Prudence, 'if ye wol werke by my conseil ye shul nat assayen
10. 1447  fortune by no wey/
10. 1448  ne ye shul nat lene or bowe vnto hire, after the word of
10. 1448  Senek,/
10. 1449  for thynges that been folily doon and that been in hope of fortune
10. 1449  shullen neuere come to good ende. /
10. 1450  (1450&2640) And as the same Senek seith:
10. 1450  The moore cleer and the moore shynynge that fortune is, the moore brotil
10. 1450  and the sonner broke she is./
10. 1451  Trusteth nat in hir for she nys nat stedefast ne
10. 1451  stable./
10. 1452  For whan thow trowest to be moost seur or syker of hir help, she wol
10. 1452  faile thee and deceyue thee./
10. 1453  And wher as ye seyn that fortune hath norisshed
10. 1453  yow fro youre childhode,/
10. 1454  I seye that in so muchil shul ye the lasse truste in
10. 1454  hire and in hir wit. /
10. 1455  (1455) For Senek seith: What man that is norisshed by
10. 1455  fortune, she maketh hym to greet a fool./
10. 1456  Now thanne syn ye desire and axe
10. 1456  vengeance and the vengeance that is doon after the lawe and bifore the iuge
10. 1456  ne liketh yow nat,/
10. 1457  and the vengeance that is doon in hope of fortune is
10. 1457  perilous and vncerteyn,/
10. 1458  thanne haue ye noon oother remedie but for to haue
10. 1458  youre recours vnto the souereyn iuge that vengeth alle vileynyes and wronges./
10. 1459  And he shal venge yow after that hymself witnesseth wher as he seith: /
10. 1460  (1460&
10. 1460  2650) Leueth the vengeance to me and I shal do it.'/
10. 1461    Melibe answerde: 'If I ne venge me nat of the vileynye that men han doon
10. 1461  to me,/
10. 1462  I somne or warne hem that han doon to me that vileynye and alle
10. 1462  othere to do me another vileynye./
10. 1463  For it is writen: If thow take no vengeance
10. 1463  of an old vileynye thow somnest thyne aduersaries to do thee a newe vileynye./
10. 1464  And also for my suffrance men wolden do me so muchil vileynye that I myghte
10. 1464  neither bere it ne sustene, /
10. 1465  (1465) and so sholde I been put and holden
10. 1465  ouerlowe./
10. 1466  For men seyn: I muchil suffrynge shul manye thynges falle vnto
10. 1466  thee whiche yow shalt nat mowe suffre.'/
10. 1467    'Certes,' quod Prudence, 'I graunte yow that ouermuchil suffrance is nat
10. 1467  good./
10. 1468  But yet ne folweth it nat therof that euery persone to whom men don
10. 1468  vileynye take of it vengeance,/
10. 1469  for that aperteneth and longeth al oonly to the
10. 1469  iuges for they shul venge the vileynyes and iniuries. /
10. 1470  (1470&2660) And therfore
10. 1470  tho two auctoritees that ye han seyd aboue been oonly vnderstonden in the
10. 1470  iuges/
10. 1471  ?f.227v! for whan they suffren ouermuchil the wronges and vileynyes to
10. 1471  be doon withouten punysshynge,/
10. 1472  they somne nat a man al oonly for to do
10. 1472  newe wronges; but they comanden it./
10. 1473  Also a wys man seith that the iuge that
10. 1473  correcteth nat the synnere comandeth and biddeth hym do synne./
10. 1474  And the
10. 1474  iuges and souereyns myghten in hir land so muchil suffre of the shrewes and






10. 1474  mysdoerys /
10. 1475  (1475) that they sholden by swich suffrance by proces of tyme wexen
10. 1475  of swich power and myght that they sholden putte out the iuges and the
10. 1475  souereyns from hir places/
10. 1476  and at the laste maken hem lese hir lordshipes./
10. 1477    'But lat vs now putte that ye haue leue to venge yow./
10. 1478  I seye ye be nat of
10. 1478  myght and power as now to venge yow./
10. 1479  For if ye wol maken comparison
10. 1479  vnto the myght of youre aduersaries, ye shul fynde in manye thynges that I
10. 1479  haue shewid yow er this that hir condicioun is bettre than youres. /
10. 1480  (1480&2670)
10. 1480  And therfore seye I that it is good as now that ye suffre and be pacient./
10. 1481    'Forthermoore ye knowen wel that after the comune sawe it is a woodnesse
10. 1481  a man to stryue with a strenger or a moore myghty man than he is hymself./
10. 1482  And for to stryue with a man of euene strengthe, that is to seyn with as strong
10. 1482  a man as he is, it is peril./
10. 1483  And for to stryue with a wayker man, it is folye./
10. 1484  And therfore sholde a man fle stryuynge as muchil as he myghte. /
10. 1485  (1485) For
10. 1485  Salomon seith: It is a greet worship to a man to kepen hym fro noyse and
10. 1485  stryf./
10. 1486  And if it so bifalle or happe that a man of gretter myght and strengthe
10. 1486  than thow art do thee greuance,/
10. 1487  studie and bisie thee rather to stille the same
10. 1487  greuance than for to venge thee./
10. 1488  For Senek seith that he putteth hym in greet
10. 1488  peril that stryueth with a gretter man than he is hymself./
10. 1489  And Catoun seith:
10. 1489  If a man of hyer estaat or degree or moore myghty than thow do thee anoy or
10. 1489  greuance, suffre hym; /
10. 1490  (1490&2680) for he that ones hath greued thee may
10. 1490  another tyme releue thee and helpe./
10. 1491    'Yet sette I cas ye haue bothe myght and licence for to venge yow./
10. 1492  I seye
10. 1492  that ther be ful manye thynges that shul restreyne yow of vengeance-takynge/
10. 1493  and make yow for to enclyne to suffre and for to han pacience in the wronges
10. 1493  that han been doon to yow./
10. 1494  First and foreward if ye wol considere the defautes
10. 1494  that been in youre owene persone, /
10. 1495  (1495) for whiche defautes god hath suffred
10. 1495  yow haue this tribulacioun as I haue seyd yow herbiforn./
10. 1496  For the poete seith
10. 1496  that we oghten paciently taken the tribulacions that comen to vs whan that
10. 1496  we thynken and consideren that we han disserued to haue hem./
10. 1497  And ?f.228!
10. 1497  seint Gregorie seith that whan a man considereth wel the nombre of his defautes
10. 1497  and of his synnes,/
10. 1498  the peynes and the tribulaciouns that he suffreth semen the
10. 1498  lesse vnto hym./
10. 1499  And in as muche as hym thynketh his synnes moore heuy
10. 1499  and greuous, /
10. 1500  (1500&2690) in so muche semeth his peyne the lighter and the
10. 1500  esier vnto hym./
10. 1501  Also ye owen to enclyne and bowe youre herte to take the
10. 1501  pacience of oure lord Iesu Crist, as seith seint Peter in hise epistles./
10. 1502  Iesu Crist
10. 1502  (he seith) hath suffred for vs and yeuen ensample to euery man to folwe and
10. 1502  sewe hym,/
10. 1503  for he dide neuere synne ne neuere cam ther a vileynous word out






10. 1503  of his mouth./
10. 1504  Whan men cursed hym, he cursed hem noght; and whan men
10. 1504  betten hym, he manaced hem noght. /
10. 1505  (1505) Also the grete pacience which
10. 1505  seintes that been in paradys han had in tribulacions that they han ysuffred
10. 1505  withouten hir desert or gilt/
10. 1506  oghte muchil stire yow to pacience./
10. 1507  Forthermoore
10. 1507  ye sholde enforce yow to haue pacience/
10. 1508  considerynge that the tribulacions of
10. 1508  this world but litel while endure and soone passed been and goon./
10. 1509  And the ioye
10. 1509  that a man seketh to haue by pacience in tribulaciouns is pardurable after that the
10. 1509  apostle seith in his epistle. /
10. 1510  (1510&2700) The ioye of god (he seith) is pardurable;
10. 1510  that is to seyn euerelastynge./
10. 1511  Also troweth and bileueth stedefastly that he
10. 1511  nys noght wel ynorisshed ne wel ytaught that kan nat haue pacience or wol
10. 1511  nat receyue pacience./
10. 1512  For Salomon seith that the doctrine and the wit of a man
10. 1512  is knowen by pacience./
10. 1513  And in another place he seith that he that is pacient
10. 1513  gouerneth hym by greet prudence./
10. 1514  And the same Salomon seith: The angry
10. 1514  and wrathful man maketh noyses and the pacient man attempreth hem and
10. 1514  stilleth. /
10. 1515  (1515) He seith also: It is moore worth to be pacient than for to be
10. 1515  right strong/
10. 1516  and he that may haue the lordshipe of his owene herte is moore
10. 1516  to preyse than he that by his force or strengthe taketh grete citees./
10. 1517  And therfore
10. 1517  seith seint Iame in his epistle that pacience is a greet vertu of parfeccioun.'/
10. 1518    'Certes,' quod Melibe, 'I graunte yow, dame Prudence, that pacience is a
10. 1518  greet vertu of parfeccioun,/
10. 1519  but euery man may nat haue the parfeccioun that
10. 1519  ye seken, /
10. 1520  (1520&2710) ne I nam nat of the nombre of right parfite men./
10. 1521  For
10. 1521  myn herte may neuere be in pees vnto the tyme it be vengid./
10. 1522  And al be it
10. 1522  so that it was greet peril to myne enemys to do me a vileynye in takynge
10. 1522  vengeance vpon me,/
10. 1523  ?f.228v! yet token they noon hede of the peril but fulfilden
10. 1523  hir wikked wyl and hir corage./
10. 1524  And therfore me thynketh men oghten nat
10. 1524  repreue me thogh I putte me in a litel peril for to venge me /
10. 1525  (1525) and thogh
10. 1525  I do a greet excesse; that is to seyn that I venge oon outrage by another.'/
10. 1526    'A,' quod dame Prudence, 'ye seyn youre wil and as yow liketh,/
10. 1527  but in no
10. 1527  caas of the world a man sholde nat do outrage ne excesse for to vengen hym./
10. 1528  For Cassidore seith that as yuele dooth he that vengeth hym by outrage as he
10. 1528  that dooth the outrage./
10. 1529  And therfore ye shul venge yow after the ordre of
10. 1529  right; that is to seyn, by the lawe and nat by excesse ne by outrage. /
10. 1530  (1530&
10. 1530  2720) And also if ye wol venge yow of the outrage of youre aduersaries in oother
10. 1530  manere than right comandeth, ye synnen./
10. 1531  And therfore seith Senek that a man
10. 1531  shal neuere venge shrewednesse by shrewednesse./






10. 1532  And if ye seye that right
10. 1532  axeth a man to defende violence by violence and fightynge by fightynge,/
10. 1533  certes
10. 1533  ye seye sooth whan the defense is doon anon withouten interualle or withouten
10. 1533  taryynge or delay/
10. 1534  for to defenden hym and nat for to vengen hym. /
10. 1535  (1535)
10. 1535  And it bihoueth that a man putte swich attemperance in his defense/
10. 1536  that men
10. 1536  haue no cause ne matere to repreuen hym, that defendeth hym, of excesse
10. 1536  and outrage./
10. 1537  Pardee ye knowe wel that ye maken no defense as now for to defende
10. 1537  yow but for to venge yow,/
10. 1538  and so seweth it that ye han no wyl to do youre
10. 1538  dede attemprely./
10. 1539  And therfore me thynketh that pacience is good, for Salomon
10. 1539  seith that he that is nat pacient shal haue greet harm.'/
10. 1540    (1540&2730) 'Certes,' quod Melibe, 'I graunte yow that whan a man is
10. 1540  inpacient and wrooth of that that toucheth hym nat and that aperteneth nat
10. 1540  vnto hym thogh it harme hym it is no wonder./
10. 1541  for the lawe seith that he is
10. 1541  coupable that entremetteth hym or medleth with swich thyng as aperteneth
10. 1541  nat vnto hym./
10. 1542  And Salomon seith that he that entremeteth of the noyse or
10. 1542  stryf of another man is lyk to hym that taketh an hound by the erys;/
10. 1543  for right
10. 1543  as he that taketh a straunge hound by the erys is outherwhile biten with the
10. 1543  hound,/
10. 1544  right in the same wise is it resoun that he haue harm that by hys
10. 1544  inpacience medleth hym of the noyse of another man wher as it aperteneth
10. 1544  nat vnto hym. /
10. 1545  (1545) But ye knowe wel that this dede, that is to seyn my
10. 1545  grief and my desese, ?f.229! toucheth me right ny./
10. 1546  And therfore thogh I be
10. 1546  wrooth and inpacient, it is no meruaille./
10. 1547  And sauynge youre grace I kan nat
10. 1547  se that it myghte greetly harme me thogh I tooke vengeance,/
10. 1548  for I am richer
10. 1548  and moore myghty than myne enemys been./
10. 1549  And wel knowen ye that by
10. 1549  moneye and by hauynge grete possessions been alle the thynges of this world
10. 1549  gouerned.  /
10. 1550  (1550&2740) And Salomon seith that alle thynges obeyen to
10. 1550  moneye.'/
10. 1551    Whanne Prudence hadde herd hir housbonde auanten hym of his richesse
10. 1551  and of his moneye dispreisynge the power of his aduersaries, she spak and seyde
10. 1551  in this wise:/
10. 1552  'Certes, deere sire, I graunte you that ye been riche and myghty/
10. 1553  and that the richesses been goode to hem that han wel ygeten hem and that
10. 1553  wel konne vsen hem./
10. 1554  For right as the body of a man may nat lyue withoute
10. 1554  the soule, namoore may it lyue withoute the temporel goodes. /
10. 1555  (1555) And by
10. 1555  richesses may a man gete hym grete frendes./
10. 1556  And therfore seith Pamphilles:
10. 1556  If a netherdes doghter (he seith) be riche, she may chese of a thousand men
10. 1556  which she wol take to hir housbonde,/
10. 1557  for of a thousand men oon wol nat
10. 1557  forsaken hir ne refusen hir./
10. 1558  And this Pamphilles seith also: If thow be right






10. 1558  happy, that is to seyn if thow be right riche, thow shalt fynde a greet nombre
10. 1558  of felawes and freendes,/
10. 1559  and if thy fortune chaunge that thow wexe poore,
10. 1559  farwel freendshipe and felaweshipe /
10. 1560  (1560&2750) for thow shalt been al allone
10. 1560  withouten any compaignye but if it be the compaignye of poore folk./
10. 1561  And
10. 1561  yet seith this Pamphilles mooreouer that they that been thralle and bonde
10. 1561  of lynage shuln be maad worthy and noble by the richesses;/
10. 1562  and right so as
10. 1562  by richesses ther comen manye goodes, right so by pouerte come ther manye
10. 1562  harmes and yueles./
10. 1563  For greet pouerte constreyneth a man to do manye yueles./
10. 1564  And therfore clepeth Cassidore pouerte the moder of ruyne,/
10. 1565  (1565) that is to
10. 1565  seyn the moder of ouerthrowynge or fallynge down./
10. 1566  And therfore seip1 Piers
10. 1566  Alfonce: Oon of the gretteste aduersitees of this world is /
10. 1567  whan a free man
10. 1567  by kynde or of burthe is constreyned by pouerte to eten the almesse of his
10. 1567  enemy./
10. 1568  And the same seith Innocent in oon of his bookes.  He seith that
10. 1568  sorweful and myshappy is the condicioun of a poore beggere,/
10. 1569  for if he axe
10. 1569  nat his mete he dyeth for hungir. [f.229]/
10. 1570  (1570&2760) And if he axe he dyeth
10. 1570  for shame; and algates necessitee constreyneth hym to axe./
10. 1571  And therfore seith
10. 1571  Salomon that bettre is to dye than for to haue swich pouerte./
10. 1572  And as the same
10. 1572  Salomon seith: Bettre it is to dye of bitter deeth than for to lyuen in swich
10. 1572  wise./
10. 1573  By thise resons that I haue seyd vnto yow and by manye othere resons
10. 1573  that I koude seye /
10. 1574  I graunte yow that richesses been goode to hem that geten
10. 1574  hem wel and to hem that wel vsen tho richesses./
10. 1575  (1575) And therfore wol I
10. 1575  shewe yow how ye shul haue yow and how ye shul bere yow in gaderynge of
10. 1575  richesses and in what manere ye shul vsen hem./
10. 1576     'First ye shul geten hem withouten greet desir by good leiser sekyngly and
10. 1576  nat ouerhastily,/
10. 1577  for a man that is to desirynge to geten richesses abandoneth
10. 1577  hym first to thefte and to alle othere yueles./
10. 1578  And therfore seith Salomon:  He
10. 1578  that hasteth hym to bisily to wexe riche shal be noon innocent./
10. 1579  He seith also
10. 1579  that the richesse that hastily cometh to a man soone and lightly gooth and
10. 1579  passeth from a man./
10. 1580  (1580&2770)But that richesse that cometh litel and litel
10. 1580  wexeth alwey and multiplieth./
10. 1581  And, sire, ye shullen gete richesses by youre
10. 1581  wit and by youre trauaille vnto youre profit /
10. 1582  and that withouten wrong or
10. 1582  harm-doynge to any oother persone./
10. 1583  For the lawe seith that ther maketh no
10. 1583  man hymself riche if he do harm to another wight;/
10. 1584  this is to seyn that nature
10. 1584  defendeth and forbedeth by right that no man make hymself riche vnto the
10. 1584  harm of another persone./
10. 1585  (1585)And Tullius seith that no sorwe ne no drede






10. 1585  of deeth ne nothyng that may falle vnto a man /
10. 1586  is so muchel ageyns nature
10. 1586  as a man to encresse his owene profit to the harm of another man./
10. 1587  And thogh
10. 1587  the grete men and the myghty men geten richesses moore lightly than thow,/
10. 1588  yet shaltow nat be ydel ne slow to do thy profit for thow shalt in alle wise
10. 1588  fle ydelnesse./
10. 1589  For Salomon seith that ydelnesse techeth a man to do manye
10. 1589  yueles. /
10. 1590  (1590&2780) And the same Salomon seith that he that trauaileth and
10. 1590  bisie= hym to tilien his lond shal ete breed,/
10. 1591  but he that is ydel and casteth
10. 1591  hym to no bisynesse ne ocupacioun shal falle into pouerte and dye for hunger./
10. 1592  And he that is ydel and slow kan neuere fynde couenable tyme for to do his
10. 1592  profit./
10. 1593  For ther is a versifiour seith that the ydel man excuseth hym in wynter
10. 1593  by cause of the grete coold and in somer by encheson of the hete./
10. 1594  For thise
10. 1594  causes seith Caton: Waketh and enclineth yow nat ouermychel for to slepe,
10. 1594  for ouermychel ?f.230! reste norissheth and causeth manye vices. /
10. 1595  (1595) And
10. 1595  therfore seith seint Ierome: Dooth somme goode dedes that the deuel which
10. 1595  is oure enemy ne fynde yow nat vnocupied,/
10. 1596  for the deuel ne take= nat lightly
10. 1596  vnto his werkynge swiche as he fyndeth ocupied in goode werkes./
10. 1597    'Thanne thus in getynge richesses ye mosten fle ydelnesse,/
10. 1598  and afterward ye
10. 1598  shul vse the richesses whiche ye haue geten by your wit and by youre trauaille/
10. 1599  in swich a manere that men holde yow nat to scars ne to sparynge ne to fool-
10. 1599  large; that is to seyn, ouerlarge a spender. /
10. 1600  (1600&2790) For right as men blamen
10. 1600  an auarous man by cause of his scarsitee and chyncherie,/
10. 1601  in the same wise
10. 1601  is he to blame that spendeth ouerlargely./
10. 1602  And therfore seith Catoun: Vse
10. 1602  (he seith) thy richesses that thow hast ygeten/
10. 1603  in swich a manere that men haue
10. 1603  no matere ne cause to calle thee neither wrecche ne chynche,/
10. 1604  for it is greet
10. 1604  shame to a man to haue a poore herte and a riche purs. /
10. 1605  (1605) He seith also:
10. 1605  The goodes that thow hast ygeten, vse hem by mesure; that is to seyn, spende
10. 1605  mensurably./
10. 1606  For they that folily wasten and despenden the goodes that they
10. 1606  han,/
10. 1607  what they han namoore propre of hir owene they shapen hem to take the
10. 1607  goodes of another man./
10. 1608  I seye thanne that ye shal fle auarice,/
10. 1609  vsynge youre
10. 1609  richesses in swich manere that men seye nat that youre richesses been ybiryed/
10. 1610  (1610&2800) but that ye haue hem in youre myght and in youre weldynge./
10. 1611  For a wys man repreueth the auaricious man and seith thus in two vers:/
10. 1612  Wherto and why biryeth a man his goodes by his grete auarice and knoweth wel
10. 1612  that nedes moste he dye,/
10. 1613  for deeth is the ende of euery man as in this present lyf?/
10. 1614  And for what cause or encheson ioyneth he hym or knytteth he hym so faste
10. 1614  vnto his goodes /
10. 1615  (1615) that alle hise wittes mowen nat disseueren hym or
10. 1615  departen hym fro hise goodes,/
10. 1616  and knoweth wel or oghte knowe that whan he






10. 1616  is deed he shal nothyng bere with hym out of this world?/
10. 1617  And therfore seith
10. 1617  seint Austyn that the auaricious man is likned vnto helle,/
10. 1618  that the moore it
10. 1618  swolweth the moore desir it hath to swolwe and deuoure./
10. 1619  And as wel as ye
10. 1619  wolde eschewe to be called an auaricious man or chynche, /
10. 1620  (1620&2810) as wel
10. 1620  sholde ye kepe yow and gouerne yow in swich a wise that men calle yow nat
10. 1620  fool-large./
10. 1621  Therfore seith Tullius: The goodes (he seith) of thyn hous sholde nat
10. 1621  been hidde ne kept so cloos but that they myghte been opned by pitee and
10. 1621  debonairetee;/
10. 1622  that is to seyn, ?f.230'! to yeue hem part that han greet nede;/
10. 1623  ne thy goodes sholden nat be so open to be euery mannes goodes./
10. 1624    'Afterward in getyng of youre richesses and in vsynge hem ye shul alwey haue
10. 1624  thre thynges in youre herte; /
10. 1625  (1625) that is to seyn, oure lord god, conscience,
10. 1625  and good name./
10. 1626  First ye shul haue god in youre herte,/
10. 1627  and for no richesse
10. 1627  ye shullen do nothyng which may in any manere displese god that is youre
10. 1627  creatour and maker./
10. 1628  For after the word of Salomon: It is bettre to haue a litel
10. 1628  good with the loue of god/
10. 1629  than to haue mychel good and tresor and lese the
10. 1629  loue of his lord god. /
10. 1630  (1630&2820) And the prophete seith that bettre it is to
10. 1630  been a good man and haue a litel good and tresor,/
10. 1631  than to be holden a shrewe
10. 1631  and haue grete richesses./
10. 1632  And yet seye I ferthermoore that ye sholden alwey
10. 1632  doon youre bisynesse to gete yow richesses/
10. 1633  so that ye gete hem with good
10. 1633  conscience./
10. 1634  And th'apostle seith that ther nys thyng in this world of which we
10. 1634  sholden haue so greet ioye as whan oure conscience bereth vs good witnesse./
10. 1635  (1635) And the wise man seith: The substance of a man is ful good whan synne
10. 1635  is nat in mannes conscience./
10. 1636  Afterward in getynge of youre richesses and in
10. 1636  vsynge of hem/
10. 1637  yow moste haue greet bisynesse and greet diligence that youre
10. 1637  goode name be alwey kept and conserued./
10. 1638  For Salomon seith that bettre it is
10. 1638  and moore it auaileth a man to haue good name than for to haue grete
10. 1638  richesses./
10. 1639  And therfore he seith in another place: Do greet diligence (seith
10. 1639  Salomon) in kepynge of thy freend and of thy goode name, /
10. 1640  (1640&2830) for it
10. 1640  shal lenger abyde with thee than any tresor be it neuer so precious./
10. 1641  And
10. 1641  certes he sholde nat be called a gentil man that after god and good conscience
10. 1641  alle thynges left ne dooth his diligence and bisynesse to kepen his goode name./
10. 1642  And Cassidore seith that it is signe of a gentil herte whan a man loueth and
10. 1642  desireth to haue a good name./
10. 1643  And therfore seith seint Austyn that ther been
10. 1643  two thynges that arn necessarie and nedefulle,/
10. 1644  and that is good conscience
10. 1644  and good loos; /
10. 1645  (1645) that is to seyn, good conscience to thyn owene persone






10. 1645  inward and good loos for thy neighebore outward./
10. 1646  And he that trusteth
10. 1646  hym so muchil in his goode conscience/
10. 1647  that he displeseth and setteth at noght
10. 1647  his goode name or loos and rekketh noght thogh he kepe nat hys goode name
10. 1647  nys but a cruwel cherl./
10. 1648    'Sire, now haue I shewed yow how ye shul do in getynge richesses and how
10. 1648  ?f.231! ye shullen vsen hem./
10. 1649  And I se wel that for the trust that ye han in
10. 1649  youre richesses ye wol moeue werre and bataille. /
10. 1650  (1650&2840) I conseile yow
10. 1650  that ye bigynne no werre in trust of youre richesses for they ne suffisen noght
10. 1650  werres to mayntene./
10. 1651  And therfore seith a philosophre that man that desireth
10. 1651  and wole algates han werre shal neuere haue suffisance,/
10. 1652  for the richer that
10. 1652  he is the gretter despenses moste he make if he wol haue worship and victorie./
10. 1653  And Salomon seith that the gretter richesses that a man hath the mo
10. 1653  despendours he hath./
10. 1654  And, deere sire, al be it so that for youre richesses ye
10. 1654  mowe haue muchel folk, /
10. 1655  (1655) yet bihoueth it nat ne it is nat good to bigynne
10. 1655  werre wher as ye mowe in oother manere haue pees vnto youre worship and
10. 1655  profit,/
10. 1656  for the victorie of batailles that been in this world lyth nat in greet
10. 1656  nombre or multitude of peple ne in the vertu of man,/
10. 1657  but it lyth in the wyl
10. 1657  and in the hand of oure lord god almyghty./
10. 1658  And therfore Iudas Machabeus
10. 1658  which was goddes knyght/
10. 1659  whan he sholde fighte ageyn his aduersarie that
10. 1659  hadde a gretter nombre and a gretter multitude of folk and strenger than was
10. 1659  the peple of this Machabe, /
10. 1660  (1660&2850) yet he reconforted his litel compaignye
10. 1660  and seyde right in this wise:/
10. 1661  'Als lightly,' quod he, 'may oure lord god
10. 1661  almyghty yeue victorie to fewe folk as to manye folk,/
10. 1662  for the victorie of a
10. 1662  bataile cometh nat by the grete nombre of peple,/
10. 1663  but it come fro oure lord
10. 1663  god of heuene.'/
10. 1664  And, deere sire, for as muchel as ther is no man certeyn if
10. 1664  it be worthy that god yeue hym victorie or naght after that Salomon seith,/
10. 1665  (1665) therfore euery man sholde greetly drede werres to bigynne./
10. 1666  And by
10. 1666  cause that in batailles fallen manye perils/
10. 1667  and happeth outherwhile that as
10. 1667  soone is the grete man slayn as the litel man./
10. 1668  And as it is ywriten in the
10. 1668  Seconde Book 0f Kynges: The dedes of batailles been auenturouse and nothyng
10. 1668  certeyne,/
10. 1669  for as lightly is oon hurt with a spere as another. /
10. 1670  (1670&2860) And
10. 1670  for ther is greet peril in werre therfore sholde a man fle and eschewe werre
10. 1670  in as muchel as a man may goodly./
10. 1671  For Salomon seith: He that loueth peril
10. 1671  shal falle in peril.'/
10. 1672    After that dame Prudence hadde spoken in this manere, Melibe answerde
10. 1672  and seyde:/
10. 1673  'I se wel, dame Prudence, that by youre faire wordes and by youre






10. 1673  resons that ye han shewed me that the werre liketh yow no ?f.231v! thyng/
10. 1674  but I
10. 1674  haue nat yet herd youre conseil how I shal do in this nede.'/
10. 1675    (1675) 'Certes,' quod she, 'I conseile yow that ye acorde with youre
10. 1675  aduersaries and that ye haue pees with hem./
10. 1676  For seint Iame seith in hise
10. 1676  epistles that by concord and pees the smale richesses wexen grete,/
10. 1677  and by
10. 1677  debaat and discord the grete richesses fallen doun./
10. 1678  And ye knowen wel that
10. 1678  oon of the gretteste and moost souereyn thyng that is in this world is vnitee
10. 1678  and pees./
10. 1679  And therfore seyde oure lord Iesu Crist to hise apostles in this wise:/
10. 1680  (1680&2870) Wel happy and blessed been they that louen and purchacen pees
10. 1680  for they been called children of god.'/
10. 1681    'A,' quod Melibe, 'now se I wel that ye louen nat myn honur ne my
10. 1681  worshipe./
10. 1682  Ye knowen wel that myne aduersaries han bigonnen this debaat and
10. 1682  brige by hir outrage,/
10. 1683  and ye se wel that they ne requeren ne preyen me nat
10. 1683  of pees ne they asken nat to be reconsiled./
10. 1684  Wol ye thanne that I go meke me
10. 1684  and obeye me to hem and crye hem mercy? /
10. 1685  (1685) For sothe that were nat my
10. 1685  worship./
10. 1686  For right as men seyn that ouergreet homlynesse engendreth
10. 1686  despisynge, so fareth it by to greet humylitee or mekenesse.'/
10. 1687    Thanne bigan dame Prudence to maken semblant of wrathe and seyde:/
10. 1688  'Certes, sire, sauf youre grace I loue youre honur and your profit as I do myn
10. 1688  owene and euere haue doon,/
10. 1689  ne ye ne noon oother syen neuere the contrarie./
10. 1690  (1690&2880) And yet if I hadde seyd that ye sholde han purchaced the pees
10. 1690  and the reconsiliacioun, I ne hadde nat muchel mystake me ne seyd amys./
10. 1691  For the wise man seith: The dissensioun bigynneth by another man and the
10. 1691  reconsilyng bigynneth by thyself./
10. 1692  And the prophete sei=: Fle shrewednesse and
10. 1692  do goodnesse./
10. 1693  Seke pees and folwe it as muchel as in thee is./
10. 1694  Yet seye I nat
10. 1694  that ye shul rather pursue to youre aduersaries for pees than they shuln to yow./
10. 1695  (1695) For I knowe wel that ye been so hard-herted that ye wol do nothyng
10. 1695  for me./
10. 1696  And Salomon seith that he that hath ouerhard an herte, atte laste
10. 1696  he shal myshappe and mystyde.'/
10. 1697    Whanne Melibe hadde herd dame Prudence make semblant of wrathe, he
10. 1697  seyde in this wise./
10. 1698  'Dame, I pray yow that ye be nat displesed of thynges that
10. 1698  I seye,/
10. 1699  for ye knowe wel that I am angry and wrooth and that is no wonder./
10. 1700  (1700&2890) And they that been wrothe witen nat wel what they doon ne what
10. 1700  they seyn./
10. 1701  Therfore the prophete seith that troubled eyen han no cleer sighte./
10. 1702  But seieth and conseileth me as yow liketh, for I am redy to do right as ye
10. 1702  wol desire./
10. 1703  And if ye repreue me of my folie, I am the moore holden ?f.232!
10. 1703  to loue yow and to preise yow./
10. 1704  For Salomon seith that he that repreueth hym
10. 1704  that dooth folie, /
10. 1705  (1705) he shal fynde gretter grace than he that deceyueth
10. 1705  hym by swete wordes.'/






10. 1706    Thanne seyde dame Prudence: 'I make no semblant of wrathe ne of angir
10. 1706  but for youre grete profit./
10. 1707  For Salomon seith: He is moore worth that repreueth
10. 1707  or chideth a fool for his folie, shewynge hym semblant of wrathe,/
10. 1708  than he that
10. 1708  supporteth hym and preiseth hym in his mysdoynge and laugheth at his folie./
10. 1709  And this same Salomon seith afterward that by the sorweful visage of a man,
10. 1709  that is to seyn by the sory and heuy contenance of a man, /
10. 1710  (1710&2900) the
10. 1710  fool correcte= and amendeth hymself.'/
10. 1711    Thanne seyde Melibe: 'I shal nat konne answere vnto so manye resons as ye
10. 1711  putten to me and shewen./
10. 1712  Seieth shortly youre wil and youre conseil and I
10. 1712  am al redy to fulfille and parfourne it.'/
10. 1713    Thanne dame Prudence discouered al hir wyl vnto hym and seyde./
10. 1714  'I
10. 1714  conseile yow,' quod she, 'abouen alle thynges that ye make pees bitwene god
10. 1714  and yow /
10. 1715  (1715) and beth reconsiled vnto hym and to his grace./
10. 1716  For as I haue
10. 1716  seyd yow heerbiforn god hath suffred yow to haue this tribulacioun and disese
10. 1716  for youre synnes./
10. 1717  And if ye do as I seye yow, god wol sende youre aduersaries
10. 1717  vnto yow/
10. 1718  and maken hem falle at youre feet redy to do youre wyl and youre
10. 1718  comandementz./
10. 1719  For Salomon seith: Whan the condicion of man is plesant and
10. 1719  likynge to god, /
10. 1720  (1720&2910) he changeth the hertes of the mannes aduersaries
10. 1720  and constreyneth hem to biseken hym of pees and of grace./
10. 1721  And I pray yow
10. 1721  lat me speken with youre aduersaries in pryuee place,/
10. 1722  for they shal nat knowe
10. 1722  that it be of youre wyl or youre assent./
10. 1723  And thanne whan I knowe hir wyl and
10. 1723  hir entente I may conseille yow the moore seurly.'/
10. 1724    'Dame,' quod Melibe, 'dooth youre wyl and youre likynge, /
10. 1725  (1725) for I putte
10. 1725  me hoolly in youre disposicion and ordinance.'/
10. 1726    Thanne dame Prudence whan she say the goode wyl of hir housbonde, she
10. 1726  delyueride and took auys in hirself/
10. 1727  thynkynge how she myghte brynge this
10. 1727  nede vnto a good conclusioun and to a good ende./
10. 1728  And whan she saugh hir
10. 1728  tyme she sente for thise aduersaries to come vnto hir into a priuee place/
10. 1729  and
10. 1729  shewed wysly vnto hem the grete goodes that comen of pees /
10. 1730  (1730&2920) and
10. 1730  the grete harmes and perils that been in werre./
10. 1731  And seyde to hem in a goodly
10. 1731  manere how that hem oghten haue greet repentance/
10. 1732  of the iniurie and wrong
10. 1732  that they hadden doon to Melibe hir lord and vnto hir and to hir doghter./
10. 1733    And whan they herden the goodliche wordes of dame Prudence/
10. 1734  they weren
10. 1734  so supprised and rauysshed and hadden so ?f.232'! greet ioye of hir that wonder
10. 1734  was to telle. /
10. 1735  (1735) 'A, lady,' quod they, 'ye han shewid vnto vs the blessynge
10. 1735  of swetnesse after the sawe of Dauid the prophete;/
10. 1736  for the reconsilynge which






10. 1736  we ne been nat worthy to haue in no manere,/
10. 1737  but we oghten requeren it with
10. 1737  greet contricioun and humylitee,/
10. 1738  ye of youre grete goodnesse haue presented
10. 1738  vnto vs./
10. 1739  Now se we wel that the science and the konnynge of Salomon is ful
10. 1739  trewe, /
10. 1740  (1740&2930) for he seith that swete wordes multiplien and encressen
10. 1740  freendes and maken shrewes to be debonaire and meke./
10. 1741    'Certes,' quod they, 'we putten oure dede and al oure matere and cause
10. 1741  al hoolly in youre goode wyl/
10. 1742  and been redy to obeye vnto the speche and
10. 1742  comandement of my lord Melibe./
10. 1743  And therfore, deere and benygne lady, we
10. 1743  preyen yow and biseken yow as mekely as we konne and mowen/
10. 1744  that it like
10. 1744  vnto youre grete goodnesse to fulfille in dede youre goodliche wordes, /
10. 1745  (1745)
10. 1745  for we consideren and knowelichen that we han offendid and greued my lord
10. 1745  Melibe out of mesure/
10. 1746  so ferforth that we been nat of power to maken his
10. 1746  amendes./
10. 1747  And therfore we oblige and bynde vs and oure freendes for to do
10. 1747  al his wyl and his comandementz./
10. 1748  But parauenture he hath swich heuynesse
10. 1748  and swich wrathe to vsward by cause of oure offense/
10. 1749  that he wole enioyne
10. 1749  vs swich peyne as we mowe nat bere ne sustene. /
10. 1750  (1750&2940) And therfore,
10. 1750  noble lady, we biseken to youre wommanly pitee/
10. 1751  to taken swich auisement in
10. 1751  this nede that we ne oure freendes be nat desherited and destroyed thurgh oure
10. 1751  folie.'/
10. 1752    'Certes,' quod Prudence, 'it is an hard thyng and right perilous/
10. 1753  that a man
10. 1753  putte hym al outrely in the arbitracioun and iuggement and in the myght
10. 1753  and power of hise enemys./
10. 1754  For Salomon seith: Leeueth me and yeueth credence
10. 1754  to that that I shal seyn; I seye (quod he), ye peple and gouernours and
10. 1754  gouernours of holy chirche, /
10. 1755  (1755) to thy sone, to thy wyf, to thy freend, ne
10. 1755  to thy brother,/
10. 1756  ne yeue thow neuere myght ne maistrie of thy body whil =ow
10. 1756  lyuest./
10. 1757  Now sithen he defendeth that man sholde nat yeue to his brother ne
10. 1757  to his freend the myght of his body,/
10. 1758  by a strenger reson he defendeth and
10. 1758  forbedeth a man to yeue hymself to his enemy./
10. 1759  And nathelees I conseille yow
10. 1759  that ye mystruste nat my lord /
10. 1760  (1760&2950) for I woot wel and knowe verraily
10. 1760  that he is debonaire and meke, large, curteys/
10. 1761  and nothyng desirous ne
10. 1761  coueitous of good ne richesse,/
10. 1762  for ther nys nothyng in this world that he desireth
10. 1762  saue oonly worship and honour./
10. 1763  Forthermoore I knowe wel and am right seur
10. 1763  that he shal nothyng do in this nede withouten my conseil/
10. 1764  and I shal so werken
10. 1764  in this ?f.233! cause that by the grace of oure lord god ye shul be reconsiled






10. 1764  vnto vs.'/
10. 1765    (1765) Thanne seyden they with o voys: 'Worshipful lady, we putten vs and
10. 1765  oure goodes al fully in youre wyl and disposicioun/
10. 1766  and been redy to come what
10. 1766  day that it like vnto youre noblesse to lymyte vs or assigne vs/
10. 1767  for to maken
10. 1767  oure obligacion and boond as strong as it liketh vnto youre goodnesse/
10. 1768  that we
10. 1768  mowe fulfille the wyl of yow and of my lord Melibe.'/
10. 1769    Whanne dame Prudence hadde herd the answeres of thise men, she bad
10. 1769  hem go agayn priuely. /
10. 1770  (1770&2960) And she retourned to hir lord Melibe and
10. 1770  tolde hym how she fand hise aduersaries ful repentant,/
10. 1771  knowelichynge ful
10. 1771  lowely hir synnes and trespas and how they weren redy to suffren al peyne,/
10. 1772  requerynge and prayynge hym of mercy and pitee./
10. 1773    Thanne seyde Melibe: 'He is wel worthy to haue pardoun and foryifnesse
10. 1773  of his synne that excuseth nat his synne,/
10. 1774  but knowelicheth and repenteth hym
10. 1774  axinge indulgence. /
10. 1775  (1775) For Senek seith: Ther is the remissioun and
10. 1775  foryifnesse where as the confessioun is,/
10. 1776  for confessioun is neighebore to
10. 1776  innocence./
10. 1777  And he seith in another place: He is worthy to haue remyssyoun
10. 1777  and foryifnesse that hath shame of his synne and knowelicheth it. And therfore
10. 1777  I assente and conferme me to haue pees./
10. 1778  But it is good that we do it nat with-
10. 1778  outen th'assent and wil of oure freendes.'/
10. 1779    Thanne was Prudence right glad and ioyeful and seyde: /
10. 1780  (1 780&2970) 'Certes,
10. 1780  sire,' quod she, 'ye han wel and goodly answerd,/
10. 1781  for right as by the conseil,
10. 1781  assent and help of youre frendes ye han ben stired to venge yow and make
10. 1781  werre,/
10. 1782  right so withouten hir conseil shul ye nat acorde yow ne haue pees with
10. 1782  youre aduersaries./
10. 1783  For the lawe seith: Ther nys nothyng so good by wey of
10. 1783  kynde as a thyng to been vnbounde by hym that it was ybounde.'/
10. 1784    And thanne dame Prudence withouten delay or taryynge sente anon
10. 1784  messages for hir kyn and for hir olde freendes whiche that were trewe and wise/
10. 1785  (1785) and tolde hem by ordre in the presence of Melibe al this matere as it
10. 1785  is aboue expressed and declared./
10. 1786  And preyde hem that they wolde yeuen hir
10. 1786  auys and conseil what best were to do in this nede./
10. 1787  And whan Melibees
10. 1787  freendes hadde taken hir auys and deliberacioun of the forseyde matere/
10. 1788  and
10. 1788  hadden examyned it by greet bisynesse and greet diligence,/
10. 1789  they yaue ful
10. 1789  conseil for to haue pees and reste /
10. 1790  (1790&2980) and that Melibe sholde receyue
10. 1790  with good herte hise aduersaries to foryifnesse and mercy./
10. 1791    And whanne dame Prudence hadde herd the assent of hir ?f.233'! lord
10. 1791  Melibe and the conseil of his freendes/
10. 1792  acorde with hir wyl and hir entencioun,/
10. 1793  she was wonderly glad in herte and seyde:/
10. 1794  'Ther is an old prouerbe,' quod she,
10. 1794  'seith that the goodnesse that thow maist do this day, do it /
10. 1795  (1795) and abide






10. 1795  nat ne delaye it nat til tomorwe./
10. 1796  And therfore I conseille that ye sende youre
10. 1796  messages swiche as been discrete and wise/
10. 1797  vnto youre aduersaries tellynge hem
10. 1797  on your bihalue/
10. 1798  that if they wol trete of pees and of acord/
10. 1799  that they shape
10. 1799  hem withouten delay or taryynge to come vnto vs.' /
10. 1800  (1800&2990) Which thyng
10. 1800  parfourned was in dede./
10. 1801  And whanne thise trespassours and repentynge folk
10. 1801  of hir folies, that is to seyn the aduersaries of Melibe,/
10. 1802  hadden herd what thise
10. 1802  messagers seyden vnto hem,/
10. 1803  they weren right glad and ioyeful and answereden
10. 1803  ful mekely and benygnely,/
10. 1804  yeldynge graces and thankynges to hir lord Melibe
10. 1804  and to al his compaignye. /
10. 1805  (1805) And shopen hem withoute delay to go with
10. 1805  the messagers and obeye to the comandement of hir lord Melibe./
10. 1806    And right-anon they tooken hir wey to the court of Melibe/
10. 1807  and tooke with
10. 1807  hem somme of hir trewe freendes to make feith for hem and for to been hir
10. 1807  borwes./
10. 1808  And whan they were come to the presence of Melibe, he seyde hem
10. 1808  thise wordes./
10. 1809  'It standeth thus,' quod Melibe, 'and sooth it is that ye, /
10. 1810  (1810&
10. 1810  3000) causelees and withouten skile and resoun,/
10. 1811  han doon grete iniuries and
10. 1811  wronges to me and to my wyf Prudence and to my doghter also./
10. 1812  For ye han
10. 1812  entred into myn hous by violence/
10. 1813  and haue doon swich outrage that alle men
10. 1813  knowen wel that ye han deserued the deeth./
10. 1814  And therfore wol I knowe and wite
10. 1814  of yow /
10. 1815  (1815) wheither ye wol putte the punysshynge and chastisynge and the
10. 1815  vengeance of this outrage in the wil of me and of my wyf or ye wol nat.'/
10. 1816    Thanne the wiseste of hem thre answerde for hem alle and seyde:/
10. 1817  'Sire,'
10. 1817  quod he, 'we knowen wel that we been vnworthy to comen vnto the court
10. 1817  of so greet a lord and so worthy as ye been,/
10. 1818  for we han so gretly mystaken
10. 1818  vs and han offendid and gilt in swich a wise ageyn youre hey lordshipe/
10. 1819  that
10. 1819  trewely we han deserued the deeth. /
10. 1820  (1820&3010) But yet for the grete goodnesse
10. 1820  and debonairetee that al the world witnesseth of youre persone,/
10. 1821  we submitten
10. 1821  vs to the excellence and benygnytee of youre gracious lordshipe/
10. 1822  and ben redy
10. 1822  t'obeye to alle youre comandementz,/
10. 1823  bisekynge yow that of youre merciable
10. 1823  pitee ye wol considere oure grete repentance and lowe submissioun/
10. 1824  and
10. 1824  graunten vs foryeuenesse of oure outrageous trespas and offense, /
10. 1825  (1 825) For wel
10. 1825  we knowen that youre liberal grace and mercy strecchen ferther into goodnesse
10. 1825  than ?f.234! doon oure outrageouse giltes and trespas into wikkednesse,/






10. 1826  al be
10. 1826  it that cursedly and dampnablely we han agilt ageyn youre hey lordshipe.'/
10. 1827    Thanne Melibe took hem vp fro the ground ful benygnely/
10. 1828  and receyued
10. 1828  hir obligaciouns and hir bondes by hir othes vpon hir plegges and borwes,/
10. 1829  and assigned hem a certeyn day to retourne vnto his court /
10. 1830  (1830&3020) for to
10. 1830  accepte and receyue the sentence and iugement that Melibe wolde comande
10. 1830  to be doon on hem by the causes aforeseyd./
10. 1831  Whiche thynges ordeyned, euery
10. 1831  man retourned to his hous./
10. 1832    And whanne that dame Prudence saugh hir tyme she freyned and axed
10. 1832  hir lord Melibe/
10. 1833  what vengeance he thoghte to taken of hise aduersaries./
10. 1834  To
10. 1834  which Melibe answerde and seyde: 'Certes,' quod he, 'I thynke and purpose
10. 1834  me fully /
10. 1835  (1835) to disherite hem of al that euere they han and for to putte
10. 1835  hem in exil for euere.'/
10. 1836    'Certes,' quod dame Prudence, 'this were a cruel sentence and muchel ageyn
10. 1836  reson,/
10. 1837  for ye been riche ynow and han no nede of oother mennes good./
10. 1838  And ye myghten lightly in this wise geten yow a coueitous name,/
10. 1839  which is a
10. 1839  vicious thyng and oghte been eschewid of euery man. /
10. 1840  (1840&3030) For after the
10. 1840  sawe of the word of th'apostle: Coueitise is roote of alle harmes./
10. 1841  And therfore
10. 1841  it were bettre for yow to lese so mychel good of youre owene than for to take
10. 1841  of hir good in this manere./
10. 1842  For bettre it is to lese good with worshipe than
10. 1842  it is to wynne good with vileynye and shame./
10. 1843  And euery man oghte do his
10. 1843  diligence and his bisynesse to geten hym a good name./
10. 1844  And yet shal he nat
10. 1844  oonly bisien hym in kepynge his goode name /
10. 1845  (1845) but he shal also enforcen
10. 1845  hym alwey to do som thyng by which he may renouelle his goode name./
10. 1846  For
10. 1846  it is writen that the olde goode loos or good name of a man is soone goon and
10. 1846  passed whanne it is nat newed ne renoueled./
10. 1847  And as touchynge that ye seyn
10. 1847  ye wol exile youre aduersaries/
10. 1848  that thynketh me muchel agayn resoun and out
10. 1848  of mesure,/
10. 1849  considered the power that they han yeuen yow vpon hemself./
10. 1850  (1850&3040) And it is writen that he is worthy to lesen his priuilege that
10. 1850  mysvseth the myght and the power that is yeuen him./
10. 1851  And I sette cas ye
10. 1851  myghte enioyne hem that peyne by right and by lawe,/
10. 1852  which I trowe ye mowe
10. 1852  nat do,/
10. 1853  I seye ye myghte nat putte it to execucioun parauenture/
10. 1854  and thanne
10. 1854  were it likly to retorne to the werre as it was biforn. /
10. 1855  (1 855) And therfore if ye wole
10. 1855  that men do yow obeisance yow ?f.234v! moste deme moore curteisly;/
10. 1856  this is
10. 1856  to seyn, ye moste yeue moore esy sentences and iugementz/
10. 1857  For it is writen






10. 1857  that he that moost curteisly commandeth, to hym men moste obeyen./
10. 1858  And
10. 1858  therfore I pray yow that in this necessitee and in this nede ye caste yow to
10. 1858  ouercome your herte./
10. 1859  For Senek seith that he that ouercome= his herte ouer-
10. 1859  come= twies. /
10. 1860  (1860&3050) And Tullius seith: Ther is nothyng so commendable
10. 1860  in a greet lord/
10. 1861  as whan he is debonaire and meke and apeiseth hym lightly./
10. 1862  And I pray yow that ye wol forbere now to do vengeance/
10. 1863  in swich a manere
10. 1863  that youre good name may be kept and conserued,/
10. 1864  and that men mowe haue
10. 1864  cause and matere to preise yow of pitee and of mercy, /
10. 1865  (1865) and that ye haue
10. 1865  no cause to repente yow of thyng that ye doon./
10. 1866  For Senek seith: He ouercometh
10. 1866  in an yuel manere that repenteth hym of his victorie./
10. 1867  Wherfore I prey yow
10. 1867  lat mercy be in youre herte/
10. 1868  to th'effect and entente that god almyghty haue
10. 1868  merci on yow in his laste iugement./
10. 1869  For seint Iame seith in his epistle: Iugement
10. 1869  withoute mercy shal be doon to hym that hath no mercy of another wight.'/
10. 1870    (1870&3060) Whanne Melibe hadde herd the grete skiles and resons of dame
10. 1870  Prudence and hir wise informaciouns and techynges,/
10. 1871  his herte gan enclyne to
10. 1871  the wyl of his wyf considerynge hir trewe entente,/
10. 1872  conformed hym anon and
10. 1872  assented fully to werken after hir conseil,/
10. 1873  and thonked god, of whom procedeth
10. 1873  al vertu and al goodnesse, that hym sente a wyf of so greet discrecion./
10. 1874  And
10. 1874  whanne the day cam that hise aduersaries sholde appieren in his presence,/
10. 1875  (1875) he spak to hem ful goodly and seyde in this wise:/
10. 1876  'Al be it so that of
10. 1876  youre pride and by presumpcioun and folie and of youre necligence and
10. 1876  vnkonnynge/
10. 1877  ye haue mysborn yow and trespased vnto me,/
10. 1878  yet for as muchel
10. 1878  as I se and biholde youre grete humylitee/
10. 1879  and that ye been sory and repentant
10. 1879  of youre giltes, /
10. 1880  (1880&3070) it constreyneth me to do yow grace and mercy./
10. 1881  Wherfore I receyue yow to my grace/
10. 1882  and foryeue yow outrely alle the offenses,
10. 1882  iniuries and wronges that ye haue doon ageyns me and myne/
10. 1883  to this effect
10. 1883  and to this ende that god of his endelees mercy/
10. 1884  wole atte tyme of oure dyynge
10. 1884  foryeuen vs oure giltes that we han trespassed to hym in this wrecched world./
10. 1885  (1885) For doutelees if we be sory and repentant of the synnes and giltes whiche
10. 1885  we han trespased in the sighte of oure lord god,/
10. 1886  he is so free and so merciable/
10. 1887  that he wole foryeuen vs oure giltes/
10. 1888  and bryngen vs to the blisse that neuere
10. 1888  hath ende.'/

Here is endid Chaucers tale of Melibe.










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

10. 1889  Whan ended was my tale of Melibee
10. 1890  And of Prudence and hir benygnitee,
10. 1891  Oure hoost seyde: 'As I am feithful man
10. 1892  And by that precious corpus Madrian
10. 1893  I hadde leuere than a barel ale
10. 1894  That goode lief my wyf hadde herd this tale.
10. 1895  She nys nothyng of swich pacience
10. 1896  As was this Melibeus wif, Prudence.
10. 1897  By goddes bones whan I bete my knaues
10. 1898  She bryngeth me the grete clobbed staues
10. 1899  And crieth: 'Slee the dogges euerichon,
10. 1900  And breke hem bothe bak and euery bon.'
10. 1901  And if that any neighebore of myne
10. 1902  Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne
10. 1903  Or be so hardy to hir to trespace,
10. 1904  Whan she cometh she raumpeth in my face
10. 1905  And crieth: 'False coward, wrek thy wyf.
10. 1906  By corpus bones I wol haue thy knyf
10. 1907  And thow shalt haue my distaf and go spynne.'
10. 1908  Fro day to nyght right thus she wol bigynne:
10. 1909  'Allas,' she seith, 'that euere that I was shape
10. 1910  To wedden a milksop or a coward ape
10. 1911  That wol been ouerlad of euery wight.
10. 1912  Thow darst nat stonden by thy wyues right.'
10. 1913  This is my lif but if that I wol fighte,
10. 1914  And out at dore anoon I moot me dighte,
10. 1915  Or ellis I am but lost but if that I
10. 1916  Be lyk a wilde leoun foolhardy.
10. 1917  I woot wel she wol do me sle som day
10. 1918  Som neighebore and thanne go my way,
10. 1919  For I am perilous with knyf in honde
10. 1920  Al be it that I dar nat hir withstonde
10. 1921  For she is big in armes. By my feith
10. 1922  That shal he fynde that hir mysdooth or seith.
10. 1923  But lat vs passe awey fro this matere.
10. 1924    'My lord the monk,' quod he, 'be myrie of cheere
10. 1925  For ye shul telle a tale trewely.
10. 1926  Lo Rouchestre stant heer faste by.
10. 1927  Ride forth, myn owene lord, brek nat oure game.
10. 1928  But by my trouthe I knowe nat youre name.
10. 1929  Wher shal I calle yow, my lord: daun Iohn
10. 1930  Or daun Thomas or ellis daun Albon?
10. 1931  Of what hous be ye by youre fader kyn?
10. 1932  I vow to god thow hast a ful fair skyn.
10. 1933  It is a gentil pasture ther thow goost,
10. 1934  Thow art nat lyk a penaunt or a goost.
10. 1935  Vpon my feith thow art som officer,
10. 1936  Som worthy sexteyn or som celerer.
10. 1937  For by my fader soule as to my doom
10. 1938  Thow art a maister whan thou art at hom,
10. 1939  No poure cloistrer ne no novys,
10. 1940  But a gouernour wily and wys,
10. 1941  And therwithal of brawnes and of bones
10. 1942  A welfarynge persone for the nones.
10. 1943  I prey to god yeue hym confusioun






10. 1944  That first thee broghte vnto religioun:
10. 1945  Thow woldest han been a tredefoul aright!
10. 1946  Haddestow as greet a leue as thow hast myght
10. 1947  To parfourne al thy lust in engendrure,
10. 1948  Thow haddest bigeten ful many a creature.
10. 1949  Allas why werestow so wyd a cope?
10. 1950  God yeue me sorwe but and I were a pope,
10. 1951  Nat oonly thow but euery myghty man
10. 1952  Thogh he were shore ful hye vpon his pan
10. 1953  Sholde haue a wyf, for al the world is lorn.
10. 1954  Religion hath take vp al the corn
10. 1955  Of tredyng and we borel men been shrympes.
10. 1956  Of feble trees ther comen wrecched ympes.
10. 1957  This maketh that oure heires beth so sklendre
10. 1958  And feble that they may nat wel engendre.
10. 1959  This maketh that oure wyues wole assaye
10. 1960  Religious folk, for ye mowe bettre paye
10. 1961  Of Venus paiementz than may we.
10. 1962  God woot no lussheburgh payen ye.
10. 1963  But be nat wrooth, my lord, thogh that I pleye,
10. 1964  Ful ofte in game a sooth I haue herd seye.'
10. 1965    This worthy monk took al in pacience
10. 1966  And seyde: 'I wol doon al my diligence
10. 1967  As fer as sowneth into honestee
10. 1968  To telle yow a tale or two or three.
10. 1969  And if yow list to herkne hiderward
10. 1970  I wol yow seyn the lyf of seint Edward.
10. 1971  Or ellis first tragedies wol I telle
10. 1972  Of whiche I haue an hundred in my celle.
10. 1973  Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storie
10. 1974  As olde bokes maken vs memorie
10. 1975  Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee
10. 1976  And is yfallen out of heigh degree
10. 1977  Into myserie and endeth wrecchedly.
10. 1978  And they been versified comunly
10. 1979  Of vj feet whiche men clepyn exametron.
10. 1980  In prose eek been endited many oon
10. 1981  And eek in metre in many a sondry wise.
10. 1982  Lo this declaryng oghte ynogh suffise.
10. 1983    'Now herkneth if yow liketh for to heere.
10. 1984  But first I yow biseke in this matere
10. 1985  Though I by ordre telle nat thise thynges,
10. 1986  Be it of popes, emperours or kynges,
10. 1987  After hir ages as men writen fynde,
10. 1988  But telle hem som bifore and som bihynde
10. 1989  As it now cometh vnto my remembrance.
10. 1990  Haueth me excused of myn ignorance.'

Here bigynneth the monkes tale

10. 1991  I wol biwaille in manere of tragedie
10. 1992  The harm of hem that stoode in heigh degree
10. 1993  And fillen so that ther nas no remedie
10. 1994  To brynge hem out of hir aduersitee.
10. 1995  For certeyn whan that fortune list to flee
10. 1996  Ther may no man the cours of hir withholde.
10. 1997  Lat no man triste on blynd prosperitee.
10. 1998  Beth war by thise ensamples trewe and olde.








10. 1999    At Lucifer, thogh he an aungel were
10. 2000  And nat a man, at hym I wol bigynne.
10. 2001  For thogh fortune may noon aungel dere,
10. 2002  From heigh degree yet fil he for his synne
10. 2003  Doun into helle where as he yet is inne.
10. 2004    O Lucifer, brightest of aungels alle,
10. 2005  Now artow Sathanas that mayst nat twynne
10. 2006  Out of miserie in which that thou art falle.

10. 2007    Lo Sampson, which that was anunciat
10. 2008  By the aungel longe er his natiuitee
10. 2009  And was to god almyghty consecrat
10. 2010  And stood in noblesse whil he myghte see
10. 2011  Was neuere swich another as was he
10. 2012  To speke of strengthe and therwith hardynesse.
10. 2013  But to hise wyues tolde he his secree
10. 2014  Thurgh which he slow hymself for wrecchednesse.


10. 2015  Sampson, this noble, almyghty champioun,
10. 2016  Withouten wepne saue hise hondes tweye
10. 2017  He slow and al torente the leoun
10. 2018  Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye.
10. 2019  His false wyf koude hym so plese and preye
10. 2020  Til she his conseil knew, and she vntrewe
10. 2021  Vnto his foos his conseil gan biwreye
10. 2022  And hym forsook and took another newe.

10. 2023  Thre hundred foxes took Sampson for ire
10. 2024  And alle hir tayles he togydre bond
10. 2025  And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire
10. 2026  For he on euery tayl hadde knyt a brond.
10. 2027  And they brende alle the cornes in that lond
10. 2028  And alle hir olyueris and vynes eke.
10. 2029  A thousand men he slow with his hond
10. 2030  And hadde no wepne but an asses cheke.

10. 2031  Whan they were slayn, so thursted hym that he
10. 2032  Was wel ny lorn for which he gan to preye
10. 2033  That god wolde on his peyne haue som pitee
10. 2034  And sende hym drynke or ellis moste he deye.
10. 2035  And of this asses cheke that was dreye,
10. 2036  Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle
10. 2037  Of which he drank ynogh shortly to seye.
10. 2038  Thus heelp hym god as Iudicum kan telle.

10. 2039  By verray force at Gazan on a nyght
10. 2040  Maugree Philistiens of that citee
10. 2041  The gates of the toun he hath vp plight
10. 2042  And on his bak ycaried hem hath he
10. 2043  Hye on an hill wher as men myghte hem se.
10. 2044  O noble, almyghty Sampsoun, leef and deere,
10. 2045  Had thow nat toold to wommen thy secree
10. 2046  In al this world ne hadde been thy peere.

10. 2047  This Sampsoun neuere ciser drank ne wyn
10. 2048  Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne shere
10. 2049  By precept of the messager deuyn,
10. 2050  For alle his strengthes in his herys were.
10. 2051  And fully xx wynter yeer by yere






10. 2052  He hadde of Israel the gouernance.
10. 2053  But soone shal he wepe many a teere
10. 2054  For wommen shul hym bryngen to meschaunce.

10. 2055  Vnto his lemman, Dalida, he tolde
10. 2056  That in his herys al his strengthe lay.
10. 2057  And falsly to his fomen she hym solde.
10. 2058  And slepynge in hir barm vpon a day
10. 2059  She made to clippe or shere his heer away
10. 2060  And made his fomen al this craft espien.
10. 2061  And whan that they hym fond in this array,
10. 2062  They bounde hym faste and putten out his eyen.

10. 2063  But er his heer was clipped or yshaue
10. 2064  Ther was no bond with which men myghte hym bynde.
10. 2065  But now is he in prisone in a caue
10. 2066  Wher as they made hym at the querne grynde.
10. 2067  O noble Sampsoun, strengest of mankynde,
10. 2068    O whilom iuge in glorie and in richesse,
10. 2069  Now maystow wepen with thyne eyen blynde
10. 2070  Sith thow fro wele art falle in wrecchednesse.


10. 2071  The ende of this caytif was as I shal seye.
10. 2072  His fomen made a feste vpon a day
10. 2073  And made hym as hir fool bifore hem pleye,
10. 2074  And this was in a temple of greet array.
10. 2075  But atte laste he made a foul affray
10. 2076  For he two pilers shook and made hem falle
10. 2077  And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay,
10. 2078  And slow hymself and eek his fomen alle.


10. 2079  This is to seyn the prynces euerychon
10. 2080  And eek thre thousand bodies were ther slayn
10. 2081  With fallyng of the grete temple of stoon.
10. 2082  Of Sampson now wol I namoore sayn.
10. 2083  Beth war by this ensample old and playn
10. 2084  That no men telle hir conseil til hir wyues
10. 2085  Of swich thyng as they wolde han secree fayn,
10. 2086  If that it touche hir lymes or hir lyues.

10. 2087     Of Hercules, the souereyn conquerour,
10. 2088  Syngen hise werkes laude and heigh renoun,
10. 2089  For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour.
10. 2090  He slow and rafte the skyn fro the leoun;
10. 2091  He of centauros leyde the boost adown;
10. 2092  He arpies slow, the cruel briddes felle;
10. 2093  He golden apples rafte of the dragoun;
10. 2094  He drow out Cerberus, the hound of helle.

10. 2095  He slow the cruel tyrant Busirus
10. 2096  And made his hors to frete hym flessh and bon;
10. 2097  He slow the firy serpent venymus;
10. 2098  Of Achilois two hornes he brak oon;
10. 2099  And he slow Cakus in a caue of stoon;
10. 2100  He slow the geant Antheus the stronge-
10. 2101  He slow the grisly boor and that anon;
10. 2102  And bar the heuene on his nekke longe.







10. 2103  Was neuere wight sith that this world bigan
10. 2104  That slew so manye monstres as dide he.
10. 2105  Thurghout this wide world his name ran
10. 2106  What for his strengthe and for his heigh bountee;
10. 2107  And euery reawme wente he for to se:
10. 2108  He was so strong that no man myghte hym lette.
10. 2109  At bothe the worldes endes, seith Trophee,
10. 2110  In stede of boundes he a piler sette.


10. 2111  A lemman hadde this noble champioun
10. 2112  That highte Dianira, fressh as May.
10. 2113  And as thise clerkes maken mencion,
10. 2114  She hath hym sent a sherte fressh and gay.
10. 2115  Allas this sherte, allas and weylaway,
10. 2116  Enuenymed was so subtilly withalle
10. 2117  That er that he hadde wered it half a day
10. 2118  It made his flessh al from hise bones falle.


10. 2119  But natheles somme clerkes hir excusen
10. 2120  By oon that highte Nessus that it maked.
10. 2121  Be as be may, I wol hir noght accusen.
10. 2122  But on his bak the sherte he wered al naked
10. 2123  Til that his flessh was for the venym blaked.
10. 2124  And whan he say noon oother remedie,
10. 2125  In hote coles he hath hymseluen raked
10. 2126  For with no venym deigned hym to dye.

10. 2127  Thus starf this worthy, myghty Hercules.
10. 2128  Lo who may truste on fortune any throwe?
10. 2129  For hym that folweth al this world of prees
10. 2130  Er he be war is ofte yleyd ful lowe.
10. 2131  Ful wys is he that kan hymseluen knowe.
10. 2132  Beth war, for whan that fortune list to glose
10. 2133  Thanne waiteth she hir man to ouerthrowe
10. 2134  By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose.

10. 2135    The myghty trone, the precious tresor,
10. 2136  The glorious ceptre and roial maiestee
10. 2137  That hadde the kyng Nabugodonosor,
10. 2138  With tonge vnnethe may discryued be.
10. 2139  He twies wan Ierusalem the citee;
10. 2140  The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde.
10. 2141  At Babiloigne was his souereyn see
10. 2142  In which his glorie and his delit he hadde.


10. 2143  The faireste children of the blood roial
10. 2144  Of Israel he leet do gelde anon
10. 2145  And maked ech of hem to been his thral.
10. 2146  Amonges othere Danyel was oon
10. 2147  That was the wiseste child of euerychoon,
10. 2148  For he the dremes of the kyng expowned,
10. 2149  Ther as in Chaldeye clerk ne was ther noon
10. 2150  That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned.


10. 2151  This proude kyng leet make a statue of gold,
10. 2152  Sixty cubites long and seuene in brede,






10. 2153  To which ymage he bothe yong and old
10. 2154  Comanded to loute and haue in drede
10. 2155  Or in a fourneys ful of flambes rede
10. 2156  He shal be brend that wolde noght obeye.
10. 2157  But neuere wolde assente to that dede
10. 2158  Danyel ne hise yonge felawes tweye.


10. 2159  This kyng of kynges proud was and elat-
10. 2160  He wende that god that sit in magestee
10. 2161  Ne myghte hym nat bireue of his estat.
10. 2162  But sodeynly he loste his dignytee
10. 2163  And lyk a beest hym semed for to be,
10. 2164  And eet hey as an oxe and lay theroute
10. 2165  In reyn; with wilde beestes walked he
10. 2166  Til certeyn tyme was ycome aboute.


10. 2167  And lyk an egles fetheres wax hise herys,
10. 2168  Hise nayles lyk a briddes clawes weere,
10. 2169  Til god relessed hym a certeyn yerys
10. 2170  And yaf hym wit. And thanne with many a teere
10. 2171  He thanked god and euere his lyf in feere
10. 2172  Was he to doon amys or moore trespace.
10. 2173  And til that tyme he leyd was on his beere
10. 2174  He knew that god was ful of myght and grace.

10. 2175    His sone which that highte Balthasar
10. 2176  That heeld the regne after his fader day,
10. 2177  He by his fader koude noght be war
10. 2178  For proud he was of herte and of array
10. 2179  And eek an ydolastre was he ay.
10. 2180  His hye estat assured hym in pryde;
10. 2181  But fortune caste hym down, and ther he lay,
10. 2182  And sodeynly his regne gan dyuyde.

10. 2183  A feste he made vnto hise lordes alle
10. 2184  Vpon a tyme and made hem blithe be,
10. 2185  And thanne hise officers gan he calle.
10. 2186  'Gooth bryngeth forth the vessels,' quod he,
10. 2187  'Whiche that my fader in his prosperitee
10. 2188  Out of the temple of Ierusalem birafte.
10. 2189  And to oure hye goddes thanke we
10. 2190  Of honour that oure eldres with vs lafte.'

10. 2191  His wyf, hise lordes and hise concubynes
10. 2192  Ay dronken, whil hir appetites laste,
10. 2193  Out of thise noble vessels sondry wynes.
10. 2194  And on a wal this kyng hise eyen caste
10. 2195  And say an hand armlees that wroot ful faste,
10. 2196  For feere of which he quook and siked soore.
10. 2197  This hand that Balthasar so soore agaste
10. 2198  Wroot 'Mane, techel, phares' and namoore.

10. 2199  In al that land magicien was noon
10. 2200  That koude expounde what that lettre mente.
10. 2201  But Danyel expowned it anoon
10. 2202  And seyde: 'Kyng, god to thy fader lente
10. 2203  Glorie and honour, regne, tresor, rente.
10. 2204  And he was proud and nothyng god ne dradde.






10. 2205  And therfore god greet wreche vpon hym sente
10. 2206  And hym birefte the regne that he hadde.

10. 2207  'He was out cast of mannes compaignye.
10. 2208  With asses was his habitacioun
10. 2209  And eet hey as a beest in weet and drye
10. 2210  Til that he knew by grace and by resoun
10. 2211  That god of heuene hath domynacioun
10. 2212  Ouer euery regne and euery creature.
10. 2213  And thanne hadde god of hym compassioun
10. 2214  And hym restored his regne and his figure.


10. 2215  'Eke thow that art his sone art proud also
10. 2216  And knowest alle thise thynges verraily,
10. 2217  And art rebel to god and art his fo.
10. 2218  Thow drank eek of his vessel boldely --
10. 2219  Thy wyf eke and thy wenches synfully
10. 2220  Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynys --
10. 2221  And heriest false goddes cursedly.
10. 2222  Therfore to thee yshapen ful greet pyne is.

10. 2223  'This hand was sent fro god that on the wal
10. 2224  Wroot 'Mane, techel, phares'. Truste me
10. 2225  Thy regne is doon, thow weyest noght at al.
10. 2226  Dyuyded is thy regne and it shal be
10. 2227  To Medes and to Perses yeuen,' quod he.
10. 2228  And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe,
10. 2229  And Darius occupieth his degree
10. 2230  Though he therto hadde neither right ne lawe.

10. 2231  Lordynges, ensample heerby may ye take
10. 2232  How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse,
10. 2233  For whan fortune wol a man forsake
10. 2234  She bereth awey his regne and his richesse
10. 2235  And eke hise freendes bothe moore and lesse.
10. 2236  For what man that hath freendes thurgh fortune,
10. 2237  Mishap wol make hem enemys, I gesse.
10. 2238  This prouerbe is ful sooth and ful commune.

10. 2239    Cenobia, of Palymerie queene,
10. 2240  As writen Persiens of hir noblesse
10. 2241  So worthy was in armes and so keene
10. 2242  That no wight passed hir in hardynesse
10. 2243  Ne in lynage ne oother gentilesse.
10. 2244  Of kynges blood of Perce is she descended.
10. 2245  I sey nat that she hadde moost fairnesse,
10. 2246  But of hir shap she myghte nat been amended.


10. 2247  From hir childhede I fynde that she fledde
10. 2248  Office of wommen and to wode she wente
10. 2249  And many a wilde hertes blood she shedde
10. 2250  With arwes brode that she to hem sente.
10. 2251  She was so swift that she anoon hem hente.
10. 2252  And whan that she was elder she wolde kille
10. 2253  Leons, leopardes and beres al torente,
10. 2254  And in hir armes welde hem at hir wille.

10. 2255  She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke






10. 2256  And rennen in the montaynes al the nyght
10. 2257  And slepen vnder the bussh. And she koude eke
10. 2258  Wrastlen by verray force and verray myght
10. 2259  With any yong man, were he neuer so wight.
10. 2260  Ther myghte nothyng in hir armes stonde.
10. 2261  She kepte hir maydenhede from euery wight;
10. 2262  To no man deigned hir for to be bonde.


10. 2263  But atte laste hir freendes han hir maryed
10. 2264  To Onedake, a prynce of that contree,
10. 2265  Al were it so that she hem longe taryed.
10. 2266  And ye shal vnderstande how that he
10. 2267  Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she.
10. 2268  But nathelees whan they weere knyt in feere
10. 2269  They lyued in ioye and in felicitee
10. 2270  For ech of hem hadde oother lief and deere.

10. 2271  Saue o thyng that she wolde neuere assente
10. 2272  By no wey that he sholde by hir lye
10. 2273  But ones, for it was hir pleyn entente
10. 2274  To haue a child the world to multiplye.
10. 2275  And also soone as that she myghte espye
10. 2276  That she was nat with childe with that dede,
10. 2277  Thanne wolde she suffren hym doon his fantasye
10. 2278  Eft soone and noght but ones out of drede.

10. 2279  And if she were with childe at thilke cast
10. 2280  Namoore sholde he pleyen thilke game
10. 2281  Til fully xl wykes weren past,
10. 2282  Thanne wolde she ones suffre hym do the same.
10. 2283  Al were this Onedake wilde or tame
10. 2284  He gat namoore of hire, for thus she seyde
10. 2285  It was to wyues lecherie and shame
10. 2286  In oother cas if that men with hem pleyde.

10. 2287  Two sones by this Onedake hadde she
10. 2288  The whiche she kepte in vertu and lettrure;
10. 2289  But now vnto oure tale turne we.
10. 2290  I seye so worshipful a creature
10. 2291  And wys therwith and large with mesure,
10. 2292  So penyble in the werre and curteis eke,
10. 2293  Ne moore labour myghte in werre endure
10. 2294  Was noon, thogh al this world men sholde seke.


10. 2295  Hir riche array ne myghte nat be toold
10. 2296  As wel in vessel as in hire clothyng,
10. 2297  She was al clad in perree and in gold.
10. 2298  And eek she lafte noght for noon huntyng
10. 2299  To haue of sondry tonges ful knowyng
10. 2300  Whan that she leyser hadde; and for to entende
10. 2301  To lerne bookes was al hir likyng:
10. 2302  How she in vertu myghte hir lyf despende.

10. 2303  And shortly of this storie for to trete
10. 2304  So doughty was hir housbonde and eek she
10. 2305  That they conquered manye regnes grete
10. 2306  In th'orient with many a fair citee
10. 2307  Appartenant vnto the magestee






10. 2308  Of Rome, and with strong hond heeld hem ful faste;
10. 2309  Ne neuere myghte hir fomen doon hem flee
10. 2310  Ay whil that Onedakes dayes laste.

10. 2311  Hir batailles whoso list hem for to rede
10. 2312  Agayn Sapor the kyng and othere mo,
10. 2313  And how that al this proces fil in dede,
10. 2314  Why she conquered and what title therto,
10. 2315  And after of hir meschief and hir wo
10. 2316  How that she was biseged and ytake,
10. 2317  Lat hym vnto my maister Petrak go
10. 2318  That writ ynow of this I vndertake.


10. 2319  Whan Onedake was deed, she myghtily
10. 2320  The regnes heeld and with hir propre hond
10. 2321  Agayns hir foos she faught so cruelly
10. 2322  That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond
10. 2323  That he nas glad if he that grace fond
10. 2324  That she ne wolde vpon his land werreye.
10. 2325  With hir they made alliance by bond
10. 2326  To been in pees and lete hir ryde and pleye.

10. 2327  The emperour of Rome, Claudius,
10. 2328  Ne hym biforn the Romayn Galien
10. 2329  Ne dorsten neuere been so corageus
10. 2330  Ne noon Ermyn ne noon Egipcien
10. 2331  Ne Surryen ne noon Arabien
10. 2332  Withinne the feeldes that dorste with hir fighte,
10. 2333  Lest that she wolde hem with hir handes slen
10. 2334  Or with hir meynee putten hem to flighte.

10. 2335  In kynges habit wenten hir sones two
10. 2336  As heires of hir fadres regnes alle,
10. 2337  And Hermanno and Thymalao
10. 2338  Hir names weere as Persiens hem calle.
10. 2339  But ay fortune hath in hir hony galle:
10. 2340  This myghty queene may no while endure.
10. 2341  Fortune out of hir regne made hir falle
10. 2342  To wrecchednesse and to mysauenture.

10. 2343  Aurelian whan that the gouernance
10. 2344  Of Rome cam into hise handes tweye,
10. 2345  He shoop vpon this queene to doon vengeance.
10. 2346  And with his legions he took his weye
10. 2347  Toward Cenobie, and shortly for to seye
10. 2348  He made hire flee and atte laste hir hente
10. 2349  And fettred hir and eek hir children tweye
10. 2350  And wan the land and hoom to Rome he wente.

10. 2351  Amonges othere thynges that he wan
10. 2352  Hir chaar that was with gold wroght and perree
10. 2353  This grete Romayn, this Aurelian,
10. 2354  Hath with hym lad for that men sholde it see.
10. 2355  Biforn his triumphe walketh she
10. 2356  With gilte cheynes on hir nekke hangynge;
10. 2357  Corowned was she as after hir degree
10. 2358  And ful of perree charged hir clothynge.

10. 2359  Allas fortune, she that whilom was






10. 2360  Dredeful to kynges and to emperoures,
10. 2361  Now gawreth al the peple on hir allas!
10. 2362  And she that helmed was in starke stoures
10. 2363  And wan by force townes stronge and toures
10. 2364  Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte;
10. 2365  And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures
10. 2366  Shal bere a distaf hir cost for to quyte.


10. 2367    Although that Nero were vicius
10. 2368  As any feend that lyth ful lowe adown,
10. 2369  Yet he, as telleth vs Swetonius,
10. 2370  This wide world hadde in subieccioun
10. 2371  Bothe est and west, south and septemtrioun.
10. 2372  Of rubies, saphires, and of perles white
10. 2373  Were alle hise clothes browded vp and doun,
10. 2374  For he in gemmes greetly gan delite.

10. 2375  Moore delicat, moore pompous of array,
10. 2376  Moore proud was neuere emperour than he:
10. 2377  That ilke clooth that he hadde weryd o day
10. 2378  After that tyme he nolde it neuere see;
10. 2379  Nettes of gold-threed hadde he greet plentee
10. 2380  To fisshen in Tybre whan hym liste pleye.
10. 2381  Hise lustes were al lawe in his decree
10. 2382  For fortune, as his freend, hym wolde obeye.


10. 2383  He Rome brende for his delicacie;
10. 2384  The senatours he slow vpon a day
10. 2385  To heere how that men wolde wepe and crye;
10. 2386  And slow his brother and by his suster lay;
10. 2387  His moder he made in pitous array
10. 2388  For he hir wombe slytte to biholde
10. 2389  Where he conceyued was, so weilaway
10. 2390  That he so litel of his moder tolde!

10. 2391  No teere out of hise eyen for that sighte
10. 2392  Ne cam, but seyde a fair womman was she.
10. 2393  Greet wonder is how that he koude or myghte
10. 2394  Be domesman of hir dede beautee.
10. 2395  The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he
10. 2396  And drank anoon -- noon oother wo he made.
10. 2397  Whan myght is ioyned vnto crueltee
10. 2398  Allas to depe wol the venym wade!

10. 2399  In youthe a maister hadde this emperour
10. 2400  To teche hym lettrure and curteisye
10. 2401  For of moralitee he was the flour
10. 2402  As in his tyme but if bookes lye.
10. 2403  And whil this maister hadde of hym maistrye
10. 2404  He maked hym so louyng and so souple
10. 2405  That longe tyme it was er tirannye
10. 2406  Or any vice dorste in hym vncouple.

10. 2407  This Seneca of which that I deuyse,
10. 2408  By cause Nero hadde of hym swich drede
10. 2409  For he fro vices wolde hym ay chastise
10. 2410  Discretly as by word and nat by dede --
10. 2411  'Sire,' wolde he seyn, 'an emperour moot nede






10. 2412  Be vertuous and hate tirannye' --
10. 2413  For which he in a bath made hym to blede
10. 2414  On bothe hise armes til he moste dye.

10. 2415  This Nero hadde eek of acustumance
10. 2416  In youthe agayns his maister for to rise,
10. 2417  Which afterward hym thoughte a greet greuance:
10. 2418  Therfore he made hym dyen in this wise.
10. 2419  But nathelees this Seneca the wise
10. 2420  Chees in a bath to dye in this manere
10. 2421  Rather than han another tormentrise;
10. 2422  And thus hath Nero slayn his maister deere.

10. 2423  Now fil it so that fortune liste no lenger
10. 2424  The hye pride of Nero to cherice,
10. 2425  For thogh that he was strong, yet was she strenger.
10. 2426  She thoghte thus: 'By god I am to nyce
10. 2427  To sette a man that is fulfild of vice
10. 2428  In heigh degree and emperour hym calle;
10. 2429  By god out of his sete I wol hym trice:
10. 2430  Whan he leest weneth sonnest shal he falle.'

10. 2431  The peple roos vpon hym on a nyght
10. 2432  For his defaute; and whan he it espied
10. 2433  Out of his dores anon he hath hym dight
10. 2434  Allone. And there he wende han been allyed
10. 2435  He knokked faste, and ay the moore he cryed
10. 2436  The faster shette they the dores alle.
10. 2437  For drede of this hym thoughte that he dyed
10. 2438  And wente his wey; no lenger dorste he calle.

10. 2439  The peple cryde and rombled vp and doun
10. 2440  That with hise erys herde he how they seyde
10. 2441  'Where is this false tirant, this Neroun.'
10. 2442  For fere almoost out of his wit he breyde
10. 2443  And to hise goddes pitously he preyde
10. 2444  For socour, but it myghte noght bityde.
10. 2445  For drede of this hym thoughte that he deyde
10. 2446  And ran into a gardyn hym to hyde.


10. 2447  And in this gardyn foond he cherles tweye
10. 2448  That seten by a fyr greet and reed.
10. 2449  And to thise cherlis two he gan to preye
10. 2450  To sleen hym and to girden of his heed
10. 2451  That to his body whan that he were deed
10. 2452  Were no despit ydoon for his defame.
10. 2453  Hymself he slow, he koude no bettre reed;
10. 2454  Of which fortune lough and hadde a game.


10. 2455    Was neuere capitayn vnder a kyng
10. 2456  That regnes mo putte in subieccioun
10. 2457  Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thyng
10. 2458  As in his tyme ne gretter of renoun
10. 2459  Ne moore pompous in heigh presumpcioun
10. 2460  Than Oloferne, which fortune ay kiste
10. 2461  So likerously and ladde hym vp and doun
10. 2462  Til that his heed was of er that he wiste.







10. 2463  Nat oonly that this world hadde hym in awe
10. 2464  For lesynge of richesse or libertee,
10. 2465  But made euery man reneyen his lawe:
10. 2466  Nabugodonosor was god (seyde he),
10. 2467  Noon oother god sholde adoured be.
10. 2468  Agayns this heste no wight dorste trespace
10. 2469  Saue in Bethulia a strong citee
10. 2470  Where Eliachym a preest was of that place.

10. 2471  But tak kepe of the deeth of Oloferne:
10. 2472  Amydde his oost he dronke lay a nyght
10. 2473  Withinne his tente large as is a berne;
10. 2474  And yet for al his pompe and al his myght
10. 2475  Iudith a womman, as he lay vpright,
10. 2476  Slepynge his heed of smoot; and from his tente
10. 2477  Ful pryuely she stal from euery wight
10. 2478  And with his heed vnto hir toun she wente.

10. 2479    What nedeth it of kyng Anthiochus
10. 2480  To telle his hye roial magestee,
10. 2481  His hye pryde, hise werkes venymus,
10. 2482  For swich another was ther noon as he?
10. 2483  Reed which that he was in Machabee
10. 2484  And reed the proude wordes that he seyde
10. 2485  And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee
10. 2486  And in an hill how wrecchedly he deyde.


10. 2487  Fortune hym hadde enchaunted so in pride
10. 2488  That verraily he wende he myghte attayne
10. 2489  Vnto the sterres vpon euery syde
10. 2490  And in balance weyen ech montayne
10. 2491  And alle the floodes of the see restrayne.
10. 2492  And goddes peple hadde he moost in hate:
10. 2493  Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne
10. 2494  Wenynge that god ne myghte his pryde abate.

10. 2495  And for that Nichanore and Thymothe
10. 2496  Of Iewes weren venquysshed myghtily,
10. 2497  Vnto the Iewes swich an hate hadde he
10. 2498  That he bad greithe his chaar ful hastily
10. 2499  And swoor and seyde ful despitously
10. 2500  Vnto Ierusalem he wolde eftsoone
10. 2501  To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly;
10. 2502  But of his purpos he was let ful soone.

10. 2503  God for his manace hym so soore smoot
10. 2504  With invisible wounde ay incurable
10. 2505  That in hise guttes carf it so and boot
10. 2506  That hise peynes weren inportable.
10. 2507  And certeinly the wreche was resonable
10. 2508  For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne.
10. 2509  But from his purpos cursed and dampnable
10. 2510  For al his smert he wolde hym nat restreyne.

10. 2511  But bad anon apparaillen his hoost;
10. 2512  And sodeynly er he was of it war
10. 2513  God daunted al his pride and al his boost,
10. 2514  For he so soore fil out of his char
10. 2515  That it hise lymes and his skyn totar






10. 2516  So that he neither myghte go ne ryde;
10. 2517  But in a chayer men aboute hym bar
10. 2518  Al forbrused bothe bak and syde.


10. 2519  The wreche of god hym smoot so cruelly
10. 2520  That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte,
10. 2521  And therwithal he stank so horribly
10. 2522  That noon of al his meynee that hym kepte,
10. 2523  Wheither so he wook or ellis slepte,
10. 2524  Ne myghte noght for stynk of hym endure.
10. 2525  In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte
10. 2526  And knew god lord of euery creature.

10. 2527  To al his hoost and to hymself also
10. 2528  Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his careyne:
10. 2529  No man ne myghte hym bere to ne fro.
10. 2530  And in this stynk and this horrible peyne
10. 2531  He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne.
10. 2532  Thus hath this robbour and this homycide
10. 2533  That many a man made to wepe and pleyne
10. 2534  Swich gerdon as bilongeth vnto pryde.


10. 2535    The storie of Alisandre is so commune
10. 2536  That euery wight that hath discrecioun
10. 2537  Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune.
10. 2538  This wide world as in conclusioun
10. 2539  He wan by strengthe or for hys hye renoun:
10. 2540  They were glad for pees vnto hym sende.
10. 2541  The pryde of man and beest he leyde adoun
10. 2542  Whereso he cam vnto the worldes ende.

10. 2543  Comparison myghte neuere yet ben maked
10. 2544  Bitwixe hym and another conquerour,
10. 2545  For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked --
10. 2546  He of knyghthod and of fredom flour.
10. 2547  Fortune hym made the heir of hir honour.
10. 2548  Saue wyn and wommen nothyng myghte aswage
10. 2549  His hye entente in armes and labour
10. 2550  So was he ful of leonyn corage.

10. 2551  What prys were it to hym thogh I yow tolde
10. 2552  Of Darius and an hundred thousand mo
10. 2553  Of kynges, prynces, dukes, erles bolde
10. 2554  Whiche he conquered and broghte hem into wo?
10. 2555  I seye as fer as man may ride or go
10. 2556  The world was his. What sholde I moore deuyse?
10. 2557  For thogh I write or tolde yow eueremo
10. 2558  Of his knyghthode, it myghte nat suffise.


10. 2559  Twelf yeer he regned, as seith Machabee
10. 2560  Philippes sone of Macidoyne he was
10. 2561  That first was kyng in Grece the contree.
10. 2562  O worthy, gentil Alisandre, allas
10. 2563  That euere sholde fallen swich a cas:
10. 2564  Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thow weere!
10. 2565  Thy sys fortune hath turned into aas --
10. 2566  And for thee ne weep she neuer a teere.







10. 2567  Who shal me yeue teeris to compleyne
10. 2568  The deeth of gentilesse and of franchise
10. 2569  That al this world weldid in his demeyne?
10. 2570  And yet hym thoughte it myghte nat suffise
10. 2571  So ful was his corage of heigh emprise.
10. 2572  Allas who shal me helpe to endite
10. 2573  False fortune and poyson to despise,
10. 2574  The whiche two of al this wo I wyte?

10. 2575    By wisdom, manhede, and by greet labour
10. 2576  From humble bed to roial magestee
10. 2577  Vp roos he Iulius the conquerour,
10. 2578  That wan al the occident by land and see
10. 2579  By strengthe of hond or ellis by tretee
10. 2580  And vnto Rome made hem tributarie,
10. 2581  And sith of Rome the emperour was he
10. 2582  Til that fortune weex his aduersarie.

10. 2583    O myghty Cesar that in Thessalie
10. 2584  Agayn Pompeus fader thyn in lawe
10. 2585  That of th'orient hadde al the chiualrie
10. 2586  As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe,
10. 2587  Thow thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe
10. 2588  Saue fewe folk that with Pompeus fledde
10. 2589  Thurgh which thow puttest al th'orient in awe,
10. 2590  Thanke fortune that so wel thee spedde.

10. 2591  But now a litel while I wol biwaille
10. 2592  This Pompeus, this noble gouernour
10. 2593  Of Rome, which that fleigh at this bataille.
10. 2594  I seye oon of hise men, a fals traitour,
10. 2595  His heed of smoot to wynnen hym fauour
10. 2596  Of Iulius, and hym the heed he broghte.
10. 2597  Allas, Pompeie of th'orient conquerour,
10. 2598  That fortune vnto swich a fyn thee broghte!


10. 2599  To Rome agayn repaireth Iulius
10. 2600  With his triumphe lauriat ful hye.
10. 2601  But on a tyme Brutus Cassius,
10. 2602  That euere hadde of his heighe estat enuye,
10. 2603  Ful pryuely hath maad conspiracie
10. 2604  Agayns this Iulius in subtil wise
10. 2605  And caste the place in which he sholde dye
10. 2606  With boydekyns, as I shal yow deuyse.

10. 2607  This Iulius to the Capitolie wente
10. 2608  Vpon a day as he was wont to goon;
10. 2609  And in the Capitolie anon hym hente
10. 2610  This false Brutus and hise othere foon
10. 2611  And stiked hym with boydekyns anon
10. 2612  With many a wounde, and thus they lete hym lye.
10. 2613  But neuere gronte he at no strook but oon
10. 2614  Or ellis at two, but if his storie lye.

10. 2615  So manly was this Iulius of herte
10. 2616  And so wel louede estatly honestee,
10. 2617  That thogh hise deedly woundes so sore smerte,
10. 2618  His mantel ouer his hipes caste he






10. 2619  For no man sholde seen his pryuetee.
10. 2620  And as he lay of dyyng in a traunce
10. 2621  And wiste verraily that deed was he,
10. 2622  Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce.


10. 2623  Lucan to thee this storie I recomende
10. 2624  And to Sweton and to Valerius also
10. 2625  That of this storie writen word and ende
10. 2626  How that to thise grete conquerours two
10. 2627  Fortune was first freend and siththe a foo.
10. 2628  No man ne triste vpon hir fauour longe
10. 2629  But haue hire in awayt for eueremo:
10. 2630  Witnesse on alle thise conquerours stronge.

10. 2631    This riche Cresus whilom kyng of Lyde,
10. 2632  Of which Cresus Cirus soore hym dradde,
10. 2633  Yet was he caught amyddes al his pryde
10. 2634  And to be brent men to the fyr hym ladde.
10. 2635  But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde
10. 2636  That slow the fyr and made hym to escape.
10. 2637  But to be war no grace yet he hadde
10. 2638  Til fortune on the galwes made hym gape.

10. 2639  Whanne he escaped was he kan nat stente
10. 2640  For to bigynne a newe werre agayn
10. 2641  He wende wel for that fortune hym sente
10. 2642  Swich hap that he escaped thurgh the rayn
10. 2643  That of his foos he myghte nat be slayn.
10. 2644  And eek a sweuene vpon a nyght he mette
10. 2645  Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn
10. 2646  That in vengeance he al his herte sette.

10. 2647  Vpon a tree he was as that hym thoughte
10. 2648  Ther Iuppiter hym wessh bothe bak and syde
10. 2649  And Phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte
10. 2650  To drye hym with; and therfore wax his pryde,
10. 2651  And to his doghter that stood hym bisyde,
10. 2652  Which that he knew in heigh sentence habounde,
10. 2653  He bad hir telle hym what it signyfide.
10. 2654  And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde.

10. 2655  'The tree,' quod she, 'the galwes is to mene,
10. 2656  And Iuppiter bitokneth snow and reyn,
10. 2657  And Phebus with his towaille so clene
10. 2658  Tho been the sonnes stremes for to seyn.
10. 2659  Thow shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn:
10. 2660  Reyn shal thee wasshe and sonne shal thee drye.'
10. 2661  Thus warned hym ful plat and ful pleyn
10. 2662  His doghter which that called was Phanye.


10. 2663  Anhanged was Cresus, the proude kyng:
10. 2664  His roial trone myghte hym nat auaille.
10. 2665  Tragedies noon oother maner thyng
10. 2666  Ne kan in syngyng crye ne biwaille,
10. 2667  But that fortune alwey wole assaille
10. 2668  With vnwar strook the regnes that been proude.
10. 2669  For whan men trusteth hire, thanne wol she faille
10. 2670  And couere hir brighte face with a clowde.







10. 2671      O noble, o worthy Petro, glorie of Spayne
10. 2672  Whom fortune heeld so heighe in magestee,
10. 2673  Wel oghten men thy pitous deeth complayne.
10. 2674  Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee
10. 2675  And after at a sege by subtiltee
10. 2676  Thow were bitraysed and lad vnto his tente
10. 2677  Wher as he with his owene hand slow thee,
10. 2678  Succedynge in thy regne and in thy rente.

10. 2679  The feeld of snow with th'egle of blak therinne
10. 2680  Caught with the lymrod coloured as the glede,
10. 2681  He brew this cursednesse and al this synne.
10. 2682  The wikked nest was werkere of this nede.
10. 2683  Noght Charles Olyuer that took ay hede
10. 2684  Of trouthe and honour, but of Armorike
10. 2685  Genylon Olyuer corrupt for mede
10. 2686  Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike.

10. 2687      O worthy Petro, kyng of Cipre, also
10. 2688  That Alisaundre wan by heigh maistrie,
10. 2689  Ful many an hethen wroghtestow ful wo
10. 2690  Of which thyne owene liges hadde envie.
10. 2691  And for nothyng but for thy chiualrie
10. 2692  They in thy bed han slayn thee by the morwe.
10. 2693  Thus kan fortune hire wheel gouerne and gye
10. 2694  And out of ioye brynge men to sorwe.

10. 2695    Of Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte
10. 2696  God of delit and scourge of Lumbardye,
10. 2697  Why sholde I noght thyn infortune acounte
10. 2698  Sith in estat thow clombe were so hye?
10. 2699  Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye
10. 2700  For he thy nevew was and sone-in-lawe,
10. 2701  Withinne his prisoun made thee to dye.
10. 2702  But why ne how noot I that thow were slawe.

10. 2703    Of the erl Hugelyn of Pize the langour
10. 2704  Ther may no tonge tellen for pitee.
10. 2705  But litel out of Pize stant a tour,
10. 2706  In which tour in prisoun put was he
10. 2707  And with hym been hise litel children thre,
10. 2708  The eldeste scarsly fyue yeer was of age.
10. 2709  Allas fortune, it was greet crueltee
10. 2710  Swiche briddes for to putte in swich a cage!

10. 2711  Dampned was he to dyen in that prisoun,
10. 2712  For Roger which that bisshop was of Pize
10. 2713  Hadde on hym maad a fals suggestioun
10. 2714  Thurgh which the peple gan vpon hym rise
10. 2715  And putten hym to prison in swich wise
10. 2716  As ye han herd. And mete and drynke he hadde
10. 2717  So smal that wel vnnethe it may suffise,
10. 2718  And therwithal it was ful poure and badde.


10. 2719  And on a day bifel that in that hour
10. 2720  Whan that his mete wont was to be broght
10. 2721  The gayler shette the dores of the tour.
10. 2722  He herde it wel, but he spak right noght,






10. 2723  And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght
10. 2724  That they for hunger wolde doon hym dyen.
10. 2725  'Allas,' quod he, 'allas that I was wroght.'
10. 2726  Therwith the teeris fillen from hise eyen.

10. 2727  His yonge sone that thre yeer was of age
10. 2728  Vnto hym seyde: 'Fader, fader, why do ye wepe?
10. 2729  Whanne wol the gayler bryngen oure potage?
10. 2730  Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe?
10. 2731  I am so hungry that I may nat slepe.
10. 2732  Now wolde god that I myghte slepen euere,
10. 2733  Thanne sholde noght hunger in my wombe crepe!
10. 2734  Ther is nothyng but breed that me were leuere.'

10. 2735  Thus day by day this child bigan to crye
10. 2736  Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay
10. 2737  And seyde: 'Farewel, fader, I moot dye.'
10. 2738  And kiste his fader and deyde the same day.
10. 2739  And whan the woful fader deed it say,
10. 2740  For wo hise armes two he gan to byte
10. 2741  And seyde: 'Allas fortune and weylaway,
10. 2742  Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte!'

10. 2743  Hise children wende that it for hunger was
10. 2744  That he hise armes gnow and nat for wo,
10. 2745  And seyden: 'Fader, do nat so allas.
10. 2746  But rather ete the flessh vpon vs two.
10. 2747  Oure flessh thow yaf, taak oure flessh vs fro,
10. 2748  And ete ynow.' Right thus they to hym seyde.
10. 2749  And after that withinne a day or two
10. 2750  They leyde hem in his lappe adoun and deyde.


10. 2751  Hymself despeired eek for hunger starf.
10. 2752  Thus ended is this myghty erl of Pize;
10. 2753  From heigh estat fortune awey hym carf.
10. 2754  Of this tragedie it oghte ynogh suffise.
10. 2755  Whoso wole heere it in a lenger wise
10. 2756  Redeth the grete poete of Ytaille
10. 2757  That highte Dant, for he kan al deuyse
10. 2758  Fro point to point; nat o word wol he faille.

Here is ended the monkes tale.




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


10. 2759  'Ho,' quod the knyght, 'good sire, namoore of this.
10. 2760  That ye han seyd is right ynow ywis
10. 2761  And muchel moore, for litel heuynesse
10. 2762  Is right ynow to muche folk I gesse.
10. 2763  Youre tales doon vs no desport ne game.
10. 2764  Wherfore, sir monk, o daun Piers by youre name,
10. 2765  I prey yow hertely telle vs somwhat ellis:
10. 2766  For sikerly nere clynkyng of youre bellis
10. 2767  That on youre bridel hange on euery syde
10. 2768  By heuene kyng that for vs alle dyde






10. 2769  I sholde er this haue fallen doun for sleep,
10. 2770  Althogh the slow hadde neuere ben so deep.
10. 2771  Thanne hadde youre tale al be toold in veyn!
10. 2772  For certeynly as that thise clerkes seyn
10. 2773  Where as a man may haue noon audience
10. 2774  Naught helpeth it to tellen his sentence.
10. 2775  And wel I woot the substaunce is in me
10. 2776  If anythyng shal wel reported be
10. 2777  Sire, sey somwhat of huntyng I yow preye.'
10. 2778  'Nay,' quod this monk, 'I haue no lust to pleye.
10. 2779  Now lat another telle as I haue toold.'
10. 2780  Thanne spak oure hoost with rude speche and boold
10. 2781  And seyde vnto the nonnes preest anon:
10. 2782  'Com neer, thow preest, com hider, thow sir Iohn.
10. 2783  Telle vs swich thyng as may oure hertes glade.
10. 2784  Be blythe though thow ryde vpon a iade.
10. 2785  What though thyn hors be bothe foul and lene!
10. 2786  If he wol serue thee rekke nat a bene.
10. 2787  Looke that thyn herte be murye eueremo.'
10. 2788  'Yis, sire,' quod he, 'yis, hoost, so mote I go.
10. 2789  But I be murye ywis I wol be blamed.'
10. 2790  And right-anon his tale he hath attamed.
10. 2791  And thus he seyde vnto vs euerichon,
10. 2792  This sweete preest, this goodly man sir Iohn.

explicit.

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

10. 2793  A poore widwe somdel stape in age
10. 2794  Was whilom dwellynge in a narwe cotage
10. 2795  Biside a groue, stondyng in a dale.
10. 2796  This widwe of which I telle yow my tale
10. 2797  Syn thilke day that she was last a wyf
10. 2798  In pacience ladde a ful symple lyf,
10. 2799  For litel was hir catel and hir rente.
10. 2800  By housbondrye of swich as god hir sente
10. 2801  She foond hirself and eek hir doghtren two.
10. 2802  Thre large sowes hadde she and namo,
10. 2803  Thre kyn and eek a sheep that highte Malle.
10. 2804  Ful sooty was hir bour and eek hir halle
10. 2805  In which she eet ful many a sklendre meel.
10. 2806  Of poynaunt sawce hir neded neuer-a-deel;
10. 2807  No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte:
10. 2808  Hir diete was acordant to hir cote.
10. 2809  Repleccioun ne made hir neuere syk.
10. 2810  Attempree diete was al hir phisyk
10. 2811  And excercise and hertes suffisaunce.
10. 2812  The gowte lette hir nothyng for to daunce,
10. 2813  N'apoplexie shente nat hir heed.
10. 2814  No wyn ne drank she, neither whit ne reed.
10. 2815  Hir bord was serued moost with whit and blak,
10. 2816  Milk and broun breed in which she foond no lak,
10. 2817  Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or tweye
10. 2818  For she was as it were a maner deye.
10. 2819    A yeerd she hadde enclosed al aboute
10. 2820  With stikkes and a drye dych withoute
10. 2821  In which she hadde a cok heet Chauntecler.
10. 2822  In al the land of crowyng nas his peer!






10. 2823  His voys was murier than the myrie orgon
10. 2824  On massedayes that in the chirche gon.
10. 2825  Wel sikerer was his crowyng in his logge
10. 2826  Than is a clokke or any abbey-orlogge.
10. 2827  By nature he krew ech ascencioun
10. 2828  Of equinoxial in thilke town:
10. 2829  For whan degrees xv were ascended
10. 2830  Thanne krew he that it myghte nat ben amended.
10. 2831  His komb was redder than the fyn coral
10. 2832  And batayled as it were a castel-wal.
10. 2833  His byle was blak and as the ieet it shoon,
10. 2834  Lyk asure were hise legges and his toon.
10. 2835  Hise nayles whitter than the lylye-flour
10. 2836  And lyk the burned gold was his colour.
10. 2837  This gentil cok hadde in his gouernaunce
10. 2838  Seuene hennes for to doon al his plesaunce,
10. 2839  Whiche were hise sustres and his paramours
10. 2840  And wonder lyke to hym as of colours.
10. 2841  Of whiche the faireste hewed on hire throte
10. 2842  Was clepid faire damoysele Pertelote.
10. 2843  Curteys she was, discret and debonaire,
10. 2844  And compaignable, and bar hirself so faire
10. 2845  Syn thilke day that she was seuen nyght oold
10. 2846  That trewely she hath the herte in hoold
10. 2847  Of Chauntecler, loken in euery lyth.
10. 2848  He loued hir so that wel was hym therwith.
10. 2849  But swich a ioye was it to here hem synge,
10. 2850  Whan that the brighte sonne gan to sprynge,
10. 2851  In swete acord: 'My leef is faren in londe';
10. 2852  For thilke tyme as I haue vnderstonde
10. 2853  Beestes and briddes kouden speke and synge.
10. 2854    And so bifel that in a dawenynge,
10. 2855  As Chauntecler among hise wyues alle
10. 2856  Sat on his perche that was in the halle
10. 2857  And next hym sat this faire Pertelote,
10. 2858  This Chauntecler gan gronen in his throte
10. 2859  As man that in his dreem is drecched soore.
10. 2860    And whan that Pertelote thus herde hym rore
10. 2861  She was agast, and seyde: 'Herte deere,
10. 2862  What eyleth yow to grone in this manere?
10. 2863  Ye ben a verray sleper, fy for shame!'
10. 2864    And he answerde and seyde thus: 'Madame,
10. 2865  I prey yow that ye take it nat agrief.
10. 2866  By god me mette I was in swich meschief
10. 2867  Right now that yet myn herte is soore afright.
10. 2868  Now god,' quod he, 'my sweuene recche aright
10. 2869  And kepe my body out of foul prisoun.
10. 2870  Me mette how that I romed vp and doun
10. 2871  Withinne oure yeerd where as I say a beest
10. 2872  Was lyk an hound and wolde han maad arest
10. 2873  Vpon my body and han had me ded.
10. 2874  His colour was bitwixe yelow and red
10. 2875  And tipped was his tayl and bothe hise erys
10. 2876  With blak, vnlik the remenaunt of hise herys.
10. 2877  His snowte smal with glowyng eyen tweye.
10. 2878  Yet of his look for fere almoost I deye.
10. 2879  This caused me my gronyng doutelees.'
10. 2880    'Avoy,' quod she, 'fy on yow hertelees.
10. 2881  Allas,' quod she, 'for by that god aboue
10. 2882  Now han ye lost myn herte and al my loue.






10. 2883  I kan nat loue a coward by my feith!
10. 2884  For certes whatso any womman seith,
10. 2885  We alle desiren if it myghte be
10. 2886  To han housbondes hardy, wise and fre,
10. 2887  And secree and no nygard ne no fool,
10. 2888  Ne hym that is agast of euery tool,
10. 2889  Ne noon auauntour. By that god aboue
10. 2890  How dorste ye seyn for shame vnto youre loue
10. 2891  That anythyng myghte make yow aferd?
10. 2892  Haue ye no mannes herte and han a berd?
10. 2893  Allas and konne ye ben agast of sweuenys?
10. 2894    'Nothyng, god woot, but vanytee in sweuene is.
10. 2895  Sweuenes engendren of replexions
10. 2896  And ofte of fume, and of complexions
10. 2897  Whan humours ben to habundant in a wight.
10. 2898  Certes this dreem which ye han met tonyght
10. 2899  Comth of the grete superfluitee
10. 2900  Of youre rede colera pardee,
10. 2901  Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes
10. 2902  Of arwes and of fyr with rede lemes,
10. 2903  Of rede bestes that they wol hem byte,
10. 2904  Of contek and of whelpes grete and lyte;
10. 2905  Right as the humour of malencolie
10. 2906  Causeth ful many a man in sleep to crie
10. 2907  For fere of blake beres or boles blake,
10. 2908  Or ellis blake deueles wol hem take.
10. 2909  Of othere humours koude I telle also
10. 2910  That werken many a man in sleep ful wo,
10. 2911  But I wol passe as lightly as I kan.
10. 2912  Lo Catoun which that was so wys a man
10. 2913  Seyde he nat thus: Ne do no fors of dremes?
10. 2914    'Now, sire,' quod she, 'whan we fle fro thise bemes
10. 2915  For goddes loue as taak som laxatif.
10. 2916  Vp peril of my soule and of my lif
10. 2917  I conseile yow the beste, I wol nat lye,
10. 2918  That bothe of coler and of malencolye
10. 2919  Ye purge yow. And for ye shal nat tarye,
10. 2920  Thogh in this town is noon apothecarye,
10. 2921  I shal myself to herbes techen yow
10. 2922  That shul ben for youre heele and for youre prow.
10. 2923  And in oure yerd tho herbes shal I fynde
10. 2924  The whiche han of hir propretee by kynde
10. 2925  To purge yow bynethe and eek aboue.
10. 2926  Foryet nat this for goddes owene loue!
10. 2927  Ye ben ful colerik of complexioun:
10. 2928  Ware the sonne in his ascencioun
10. 2929  Ne fynde yow nat replet of humours hote.
10. 2930  And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote
10. 2931  That ye shul haue a feuere terciane
10. 2932  Or an agew that may be youre bane.
10. 2933  A day or two ye shul han degestyues
10. 2934  Of wormes, er ye take youre laxatyues
10. 2935  Of lauriol, centaur, and fumetere,
10. 2936  Or ellis of ellebor that groweth there,
10. 2937  Of katapuce or of gaytrys beryis,
10. 2938  Of herbe-yue growyng in oure yerd ther merye is.
10. 2939  Pekke hem vp right as they growe and ete hem in.
10. 2940  Be myrie, housbonde, for youre fader kyn!
10. 2941  Dredeth no dreem. I kan sey yow namoore.'
10. 2942    'Madame,' quod he, 'grant mercy of youre loore.






10. 2943  But nathelees as touchyng daun Catoun
10. 2944  That hath of wisdom swich a gret renoun
10. 2945  Thogh that he bad no dremes for to drede,
10. 2946  By god men may in olde bokes rede
10. 2947  Of many a man moore of auctoritee
10. 2948  Than euere Caton was, so mote I thee,
10. 2949  That al the reuers seyn of his sentence
10. 2950  And han wel founden by experience
10. 2951  That dremes ben signyficaciouns
10. 2952  As wel of ioye as tribulaciouns
10. 2953  That folk enduren in this lyf present.
10. 2954  Ther nedeth make of this noon argument
10. 2955  The verray preue sheweth it in dede.
10. 2956    'Oon of the gretteste auctour that men rede
10. 2957  Seith thus: that whilom two felawes wente
10. 2958  On pilgrymage in a ful good entente;
10. 2959  And happed so they coomen in a town
10. 2960  Where as ther was swich congregacioun
10. 2961  Of peple and eek so streit of herbergage
10. 2962  That they ne founde as muche as o cotage
10. 2963  In which they bothe myghte ylogged be.
10. 2964  Wherfore they mosten of necessitee
10. 2965  As for that nyght departe compaignye;
10. 2966  And ech of hem gooth to his hostelrye
10. 2967  And took his loggyng as it wolde falle.
10. 2968  That oon of hem was logged in a stalle
10. 2969  Fer in a yeerd with oxen of the plow.
10. 2970  That oother man was logged wel ynow
10. 2971  As was his auenture or his fortune
10. 2972  That vs gouerneth alle as in commune.
10. 2973  And so bifel that longe er it were day
10. 2974  This man mette in his bed ther as he lay
10. 2975  How that his felawe gan vpon hym calle
10. 2976  And seyde: 'Allas for in an oxes stalle
10. 2977  This nyght I shal be mordred ther I lye.
10. 2978  Now help me, deere brother, or I dye.
10. 2979  In alle haste com to me,' he sayde.
10. 2980    'This man out of his sleep for feere abrayde.
10. 2981  But whan that he was wakned of his sleep
10. 2982  He turned hym and took of this no keep:
10. 2983  Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanytee.
10. 2984  Thus twies in his slepyng dremed he,
10. 2985  And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe
10. 2986  Cam as hym thoughte and seyde: 'I am now slawe.
10. 2987  Bihoold my blody woundes depe and wyde.
10. 2988  Arys vp erly in the morwe-tyde
10. 2989  And atte west gate of the town,' quod he,
10. 2990  'A carte ful of donge ther shaltow se
10. 2991  In which my body is hyd ful priuely.
10. 2992  Do thilke cart aresten boldely.
10. 2993  My gold caused my mordre sooth to seyn,'
10. 2994  And tolde hym euery poynt how he was sleyn
10. 2995  With a ful pitous face pale of hewe.
10. 2996  And truste wel his dreem he fond ful trewe,
10. 2997  For on the morwe as soone as it was day
10. 2998  To his felawes in he took the way;
10. 2999  And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle
10. 3000  After his felawe he bigan to calle.
10. 3001    'The hostiler answerde hym anon
10. 3002  And seyde: 'Sire, youre felawe is agon.






10. 3003  As soone as day he wente out of the town.'
10. 3004    'This man gan fallen in suspecioun
10. 3005  Remembrynge on hise dremes that he mette.
10. 3006  And forth he goth, no lenger wolde he lette,
10. 3007  Vnto the west gate of the town and fond
10. 3008  A dong-carte wente as it were to donge lond
10. 3009  That was arrayed in that same wise
10. 3010  As ye han herd the dede man deuyse.
10. 3011  And with an hardy herte he gan to crye
10. 3012  'Vengeaunce and iustice of this felonye.
10. 3013  My felawe mordred is this same nyght
10. 3014  And in this cart heere he lyth gapyng vpright.
10. 3015  I crye on the mynystres,' quod he,
10. 3016  'That sholde kepe and rulen this citee:
10. 3017  Harrow, allas heere lyth my felawe slayn.'
10. 3018  What sholde I moore vnto this tale sayn?
10. 3019  The peple vp sterte and caste the cart to grounde.
10. 3020  And in the myddel of the dong they founde
10. 3021  The dede man that mordred was al newe.
10. 3022    'O blisful god that art so iust and trewe,
10. 3023  Lo how that thow biwreyest mordre alway.
10. 3024  Mordre wol out, that se we day by day.
10. 3025  Mordre is so wlatsom and abhomynable
10. 3026  To god, that is so iust and resonable,
10. 3027  That he ne wol nat suffre it helyd be
10. 3028  Though it abyde a yeer or two or thre.
10. 3029  Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun
10. 3030  And right-anon ministres of that town
10. 3031  Han hent the cartere and so soore hym pyned
10. 3032  And eek the hostiler so sore engyned
10. 3033  That they biknewe hir wikkednesse anon
10. 3034  And were anhanged by the nekke-bon.
10. 3035  Heere may men sen that dremes ben to drede.
10. 3036    'And certes in the same book I rede
10. 3037  Right in the nexte chapitre after this
10. 3038  (I gabbe nat so haue I ioye or blys!)
10. 3039  Two men that wolde han passed ouer see
10. 3040  For certeyn cause into a fer contree
10. 3041  If that the wynd ne hadde ben contrarie
10. 3042  That made hem in a citee for to tarie
10. 3043  That stood ful myrie vpon an hauen-syde.
10. 3044  But on a day agayn the euen-tyde
10. 3045  The wynd gan chaunge and blew right as hem leste.
10. 3046  Iolif and glad they wenten vnto reste
10. 3047  And casten hem ful erly for to sayle.
10. 3048  But herkneth, to that o man fil a gret meruaille.
10. 3049    'That oon of hem in slepyng as he lay
10. 3050  Hym mette a wonder dreem agayn the day.
10. 3051  Hym thoughte a man stood by his beddes syde
10. 3052  And hym comanded that he sholde abyde.
10. 3053  And seyde hym thus: 'If thow tomorwe wende,
10. 3054  Thow shalt be dreynt. My tale is at an ende.'
10. 3055    'He wook and tolde his felawe what he mette
10. 3056  And preyde hym his viage to lette.
10. 3057  As for that day he preyde hym to byde.
10. 3058    'His felawe that lay by his beddes syde
10. 3059  Gan for to laughe and scorned hym ful faste.
10. 3060  'No dreem,' quod he, 'may so myn herte agaste
10. 3061  That I wol lette for to do my thynges.
10. 3062  I sette nat a straw by thy dremynges






10. 3063  For sweuenes ben but vanytees and iapes.
10. 3064  Men dreme al day of owles or of apes,
10. 3065  And of many a maze therwithal.
10. 3066  Men dreme of thyng that neuere was ne shal.
10. 3067  But sith I see that thow wolt here abyde
10. 3068  And thus forslewthen wilfully thy tyde,
10. 3069  God woot it reweth me and haue good day.'
10. 3070  And thus he took his leue and wente his way.
10. 3071  But er that he hadde half his cours yseyled,
10. 3072  Noot I nat why ne what meschaunce it eyled
10. 3073  But casuelly the shippes botme rente
10. 3074  And ship and man vnder the water wente
10. 3075  In sighte of othere shippes it bisyde
10. 3076  That with hem seyled at the same tyde.
10. 3077    'And therfore, faire Pertelote so deere,
10. 3078  By swiche ensamples olde maystow leere
10. 3079  That no man sholde ben to recchelees
10. 3080  Of dremes, for I sey thee doutelees
10. 3081  That many a dreem ful soore is for to drede.
10. 3082    'Lo in the lyf of seint Kenelm I rede,
10. 3083  That was Kenulphus sone, the noble kyng
10. 3084  Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thyng
10. 3085  A lite er he was mordred on a day.
10. 3086  His mordre in his auysion he say.
10. 3087  His norice hym expowned euery del
10. 3088  His sweuene and bad hym for to kepe hym wel
10. 3089  For traysoun. But he nas but vij yeer old
10. 3090  And therfore litel tale hath he told
10. 3091  Of any dreem, so holy was his herte.
10. 3092  By god I hadde leuere than my sherte
10. 3093  That ye hadde rad his legende as haue I.
10. 3094  Dame Pertelote, I sey yow trewely
10. 3095  Macrobeus, that writ the auysioun
10. 3096  In Affrike of the worthy Cipioun,
10. 3097  Affermeth dremes and seith that they ben
10. 3098  Warnynge of thynges that men after sen.
10. 3099    'And forthermoore I pray yow looketh wel
10. 3100  In the Olde Testament of Danyel
10. 3101  If he heeld dremes any vanytee.
10. 3102  Rede eek of Ioseph and there shul ye see
10. 3103  Wher dremes be somtyme, I sey nat alle,
10. 3104  Warnynge of thynges that shul after falle.
10. 3105  Looke of Egipte the kyng, daun Pharao,
10. 3106  His bakere and his butiller also
10. 3107  Wher they ne felte noon effect in dremes.
10. 3108    'Whoso wol seke actes of sondry remes
10. 3109  May rede of dremes many a wonder thyng.
10. 3110  Lo Cresus which that was of Lyde kyng
10. 3111  Mette he nat that he sat vpon a tree
10. 3112  Which signyfide he sholde anhanged be.
10. 3113  Lo here Andromacha, Ectores wyf,
10. 3114  That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf
10. 3115  She dremed on the same nyght biforn
10. 3116  How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn
10. 3117  If thilke day he wente into bataille.
10. 3118  She warned hym but it myghte nat auaille:
10. 3119  He wente for to fighte nathelees;
10. 3120  But he was slayn anon of Achilles.
10. 3121    'But thilke tale is al to long to telle,
10. 3122  And eek it is ney day; I may nat dwelle.






10. 3123  Shortly I seye as for conclusioun
10. 3124  That I shal han of this auysioun
10. 3125  Aduersitee. And I seye forthermoor
10. 3126  That I ne telle of laxatyues no stoor,
10. 3127  For they ben venymes I woot it wel.
10. 3128  I hem deffie; I loue hem neuer-a-del.
10. 3129    'Now lat vs speke of myrthe and stynte al this.
10. 3130  Madame Pertelote, so haue I blys
10. 3131  Of o thyng god hath sent me large grace:
10. 3132  For whan I se the beautee of youre face
10. 3133  Ye ben so scarlet reed aboute youre eyen
10. 3134  It maketh al my drede for to dyen.
10. 3135  For also siker as In principio
10. 3136  Mulier est hominis confusio --
10. 3137  Madame, the sentence of this Latyn is:
10. 3138  Womman is mannes ioye and al his blys.
10. 3139  For whan I feele a nyght youre softe syde,
10. 3140  Al be it that I may nat on yow ryde
10. 3141  For that oure perche is maad so narwe allas,
10. 3142  I am so ful of ioye and of solas
10. 3143  That I deffie bothe sweuene and dreem.'
10. 3144    And with that word he fley doun fro the beem
10. 3145  For it was day, and eke hise hennes alle,
10. 3146  And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle
10. 3147  For he hadde founde a corn lay in the yerd.
10. 3148  Real he was: he was namoore aferd.
10. 3149  He fethered Pertelote twenty tyme
10. 3150  And trad as ofte er it was pryme.
10. 3151  He looketh as it were a grym leoun.
10. 3152  And on hise toos he rometh vp and doun.
10. 3153  Hym deyned nat to sette his foot to grounde
10. 3154  And chukketh whan he hath a corn yfounde
10. 3155  And to hym rennen thanne hise wyues alle.
10. 3156  Thus real as a prince is in his halle
10. 3157  Leue I this Chauntecler in his pasture,
10. 3158  And after wol I telle his auenture.
10. 3159    Whan that the monthe in which the world bigan,
10. 3160  That highte March whan god first maked man,
10. 3161  Was complet and passed were also
10. 3162  Syn March bigan 30 dayes and two,
10. 3163  Bifel that Chauntecler in al his pryde
10. 3164  Hise seuene wyues walkyng hym bisyde
10. 3165  Caste vp hise eyen to the brighte sonne
10. 3166  That in the signe of Taurus hadde yronne
10. 3167  xx degrees and oon and somwhat moore,
10. 3168  And knew by kynde and by noon oother loore
10. 3169  That it was pryme and krew with blisful steuene.
10. 3170  'The sonne,' he seyde, 'is clomben vpon heuene
10. 3171  40 degrees and oon and moore ywis.
10. 3172  Madame Pertelote my worldes blys,
10. 3173  Herkneth thyse blisful bryddes how they synge.
10. 3174  And se the fresshe floures how they sprynge.
10. 3175  Ful is myn herte of reuel and solas.'
10. 3176    But sodeynly hym fil a sorweful cas,
10. 3177  For euere the latter ende of ioye is wo.
10. 3178  God woot that worldly ioye is soone ago!
10. 3179  And if a rethor koude faire endite,
10. 3180  He in a cronycle saufly myghte it write
10. 3181  As for a souereyn notabilitee.
10. 3182  Now euery wys man lat hym herkne me:






10. 3183  This storie is also trewe I vndertake
10. 3184  As is the book of Launcelot de Lake
10. 3185  That wommen holde in ful gret reuerence.
10. 3186  Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence.
10. 3187    A colfox ful of sley iniquitee
10. 3188  That in the groue hadde woned yeres thre,
10. 3189  By heigh ymaginacioun forncast
10. 3190  The same nyght thurghout the hegges brast
10. 3191  Into the yerd ther Chauntecler the faire
10. 3192  Was wont and eek hise wyues to repaire;
10. 3193  And in a bed of wortes stille he lay
10. 3194  Til it was passed vndren of the day
10. 3195  Waitynge his tyme on Chauntecler to falle
10. 3196  As gladly doon thise homycides alle
10. 3197  That in awayt liggen to mordre men.
10. 3198    O false mordrour lurkynge in thy den,
10. 3199    O newe Scariot, newe Genylon,
10. 3200  False dissimilour, o Greek Synoun
10. 3201  That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe.
10. 3202  O Chauntecler acursed be that morwe
10. 3203  That thow into the yerd flaugh fro the bemys!
10. 3204  Thow were ful wel ywarned by thy dremys
10. 3205  That thilke day was perilous to thee.
10. 3206  But what that god forwoot moot nedes be
10. 3207  After the opynyoun of certeyn clerkis.
10. 3208  Witnesse on hym that any parfit clerk is
10. 3209  That in scole is gret altercacioun
10. 3210  In this matere and gret disputisoun
10. 3211  And hath ben of an hundred thousand men.
10. 3212  But I ne kan nat bulte it to the bren
10. 3213  As kan the holy doctour Augustyn
10. 3214  Or Boece or the bisshop Bradwardyn
10. 3215  Wheither that goddes worthy forewityng
10. 3216  Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thyng
10. 3217  (Nedely clepe I symple necessitee);
10. 3218  Or ellis if fre choys be graunted me
10. 3219  To do that same thyng or do it noght
10. 3220  Though god forwoot it er that I was wroght;
10. 3221  Or if his wityng streyneth neuer-a-del
10. 3222  But by necessitee condicionel.
10. 3223  I wol nat han to do of swich matere:
10. 3224  My tale is of a cok, as ye may heere,
10. 3225  That took his conseil of his wyf with sorwe
10. 3226  To walken in the yerd vpon that morwe
10. 3227  That he hadde met the dreem that I yow tolde.
10. 3228  Wommens conseils be ful ofte colde;
10. 3229  Wommannes conseil broghte vs first to wo
10. 3230  And made Adam fro paradys to go
10. 3231  Ther as he was ful myrie and wel at ese.
10. 3232  But for I noot to whom it myghte displese
10. 3233  If I conseil of wommen wolde blame
10. 3234  Passe ouer, for I seyde it in my game.
10. 3235  Rede auctours where they trete of swich matere
10. 3236  And what they seyn of wommen heere;
10. 3237  Thise ben the cokkes wordes and nat myne.
10. 3238  I kan noon harm on no womman deuyne.
10. 3239    Faire in the sond to bathe hir myrily
10. 3240  Lyth Pertelote and alle hir sustres by
10. 3241  Agayn the sonne. And Chauntecler so free
10. 3242  Song myrier than the mermayde in the see,






10. 3243  For Phisiologus seith sikerly
10. 3244  How that they syngen wel and myrily.
10. 3245    And so bifel that as he caste his eye
10. 3246  Among the wortes on a boterflye
10. 3247  He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe.
10. 3248  Nothyng ne liste hym thanne for to crowe,
10. 3249  But cryde anon 'Cok, cok', and vp he sterte
10. 3250  As man that was affrayd in his herte,
10. 3251  For naturelly a beest desireth flee
10. 3252  Fro his contrarie if he may it see
10. 3253  Though he neuere erst hadde seye it with his eye.
10. 3254  This Chauntecler whan he gan hym espye,
10. 3255  He wolde han fled but that the fox anon
10. 3256  Seyde: 'Gentil sire, allas wher wol ye gon?
10. 3257  Be ye affrayd of me that am youre freend?
10. 3258  Now certes I were worse than a feend
10. 3259  If I to yow wolde harm or vileynye.
10. 3260  I am nat come youre conseil for t'espye,
10. 3261  But trewely the cause of my comynge
10. 3262  Was oonly for to herkne how that ye synge:
10. 3263  For trewely ye han as myrie a steuene
10. 3264  As any angel hath that is in heuene.
10. 3265  Therwith ye han in musyk moore feelynge
10. 3266  Than hadde Boece or any that kan synge.
10. 3267  My lord youre fader (god his soule blesse!)
10. 3268  And eek youre moder of hir gentillesse
10. 3269  Han in myn hous yben to my gret ese.
10. 3270  And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow plese.
10. 3271    'But for men speke of syngynge I wol seye,
10. 3272  So mote I browke wel myne eyen tweye,
10. 3273  Saue ye I herde neuere man so synge
10. 3274  As dide youre fader in the morwenynge.
10. 3275  Certes it was of herte al that he song.
10. 3276  And for to make his voys the moore strong
10. 3277  He wolde so peyne hym that with bothe hise eyen
10. 3278  He moste wynke, so loude he wolde cryen,
10. 3279  And stonden on his typton therwithal
10. 3280  And strecche forth his nekke long and smal.
10. 3281  And eek he was of swich discrecioun
10. 3282  That ther nas no man in no regioun
10. 3283  That hym in song or wisdom myghte passe.
10. 3284  I haue wel rad in daun Burnell the asse
10. 3285  Among hise vers how that ther was a cok,
10. 3286  For a preestes sone yaf hym a knok
10. 3287  Vpon his leg whil he was yong and nyce
10. 3288  He made hym for to lese his benefice.
10. 3289  But certeyn ther nys no comparisoun
10. 3290  Bitwix the wisdom and discrecioun
10. 3291  Of youre fader and of his subtiltee.
10. 3292  Now syngeth, sire, for seynte charitee.
10. 3293  Lat se konne ye youre fader countrefete.'
10. 3294    This Chauntecler hise wynges gan to bete
10. 3295  As man that koude his trayson nat espie,
10. 3296  So was he rauysshed with his flaterie.
10. 3297    Allas ye lordes, many a fals flatour
10. 3298  Is in youre court and many a losengeour
10. 3299  That plesen yow wel moore by my feyth
10. 3300  Than he that soothfastnesse vnto yow seith.
10. 3301  Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye.
10. 3302  Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye.






10. 3303    This Chauntecler stood hye vpon his toos
10. 3304  Strecchynge his nekke and heeld hise eyen cloos
10. 3305  And gan to crowe lowde for the nones.
10. 3306  And daun Russell the fox stirte vp atones
10. 3307  And by the gargat hente Chauntecler
10. 3308  And on his bak toward the wode hym beer
10. 3309  For yet ne was ther no man that hym sewed.
10. 3310     O destynee that mayst nat ben eschewed
10. 3311  Allas that Chauntecler fly fro the bemes.
10. 3312  Allas his wif ne roghte nat of dremes.
10. 3313  And on a Friday fil al this meschaunce.
10. 3314     O Venus that art goddesse of plesaunce,
10. 3315  Syn that thy seruant was this Chauntecler
10. 3316  And in thy seruyce dide al his power
10. 3317  Moore for delit than world to multiplie,
10. 3318  Why woldestow suffre hym on thy day to dye?
10. 3319      O Gaufred, deere maister souerayn,
10. 3320  That whan thy worthy kyng Richard was slayn
10. 3321  With shot compleynedest his deth so soore,
10. 3322  Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and thy loore
10. 3323  The Friday for to chide as diden ye,
10. 3324  For on a Friday soothly slayn was he?
10. 3325  Thanne wolde I shewe yow how that I kowde pleyne
10. 3326  For Chaunteclerys drede and for his peyne.
10. 3327    Certes swich cry ne lamentacioun
10. 3328  Was neuere of ladyes maad whan Ylioun
10. 3329  Was wonne and Pirrus with his streite swerd
10. 3330  Whanne he hadde hent kyng Priam by the berd
10. 3331  And slayn hym, as seith vs Eneydos,
10. 3332  As maden alle the hennes in the cloos
10. 3333  Whan they hadde seyn of Chauntecler the sighte.
10. 3334  But souereynly dame Pertelote shrighte
10. 3335  Ful louder than dide Hasdrubales wyf
10. 3336  Whan that hire housbonde hadde ylost his lyf
10. 3337  And that the Romayns hadden brend Cartage.
10. 3338  She was so ful of torment and of rage
10. 3339  That wilfully vnto the fyr she sterte
10. 3340  And brende hirseluen with a stedefast herte.
10. 3341      O woful hennes, right so cryden ye
10. 3342  As, whan that Nero brende the citee
10. 3343  Of Rome, cryden the senatours wyues
10. 3344  For that hir housbondes losten all hir lyues;
10. 3345  Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn.
10. 3346  Now wol I turne to my tale agayn.
10. 3347    The sely widwe and eek hire doghtres two
10. 3348  Herden thise hennes crye and maken wo.
10. 3349  And out at dores stirten they anon
10. 3350  And seyen the fox toward the groue gon
10. 3351  And bar vpon his bak the cok away
10. 3352  And criden 'Out, harrow and weilaway,
10. 3353  Ha, ha, the fox.' And after hym they ran,
10. 3354  And eek with staues many another man.
10. 3355  Ran Colle oure dogge and Talbot and Gerland
10. 3356  And Malkyn with a distaf in hir hand.
10. 3357  Ran cow and calf and eek the verray hogges
10. 3358  So fered for berkynge of the dogges
10. 3359  And showtynge of the men and wommen eek:
10. 3360  They ronne so hem thoughte hir herte breek.
10. 3361  They yelleden as fendes doon in helle.
10. 3362  The dokes cryden as men wolde hem quelle.






10. 3363  The gees for feere flowen ouer the trees.
10. 3364  Out of the hyue cam the swarm of bees.
10. 3365  So hydous was the noyse, a benedicite
10. 3366  Certes he, Iakke Straw, and his meynee
10. 3367  Ne made neuere showtes half so shrille
10. 3368  Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille
10. 3369  As thilke day was maad vpon the fox.
10. 3370  Of bras they broghten bemys and of box,
10. 3371  Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe and powped
10. 3372  And therwithal they skryked and they howped.
10. 3373  It semed as that heuene sholde falle.
10. 3374    Now, goode men, I prey yow herkneth alle
10. 3375  Lo how fortune turneth sodeynly.
10. 3376  The hope and pryde eek of hire enemy,
10. 3377  This cok that lay vpon the foxes bak,
10. 3378  In al his drede vnto the fox he spak
10. 3379  And seyde: 'Sire, if that I were as ye
10. 3380  Yit sholde I seyn, as wys god helpe me:
10. 3381  'Turneth ayein, ye proude cherles alle,
10. 3382  A verray pestilence vpon yow falle!
10. 3383  Now I am come vnto this wodes syde,
10. 3384  Maugree youre heed the cok shal here abyde.
10. 3385  I wol hym ete in feith and that anon.''
10. 3386    The fox answerde: 'In feith it shal be don.'
10. 3387  And as he spak that word, al sodeynly
10. 3388  This cok brak from his mouth delyuerly
10. 3389  And hye vpon a tree he fley anon.
10. 3390    And whan the fox say that he was gon,
10. 3391  'Allas,' quod he, 'o Chauntecler, allas
10. 3392  I haue to yow,' quod he, 'ydon trespas
10. 3393  In as muche as I maked yow aferd
10. 3394  Whan I yow hente and broghte into this yerd.
10. 3395  But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente.
10. 3396  Com doun and I shal telle yow what I mente.
10. 3397  I shal seye sooth to yow god help me so.'
10. 3398    'Nay, thanne,' quod he, 'I shrewe vs bothe two.
10. 3399  And first I shrewe myself bothe blood and bones,
10. 3400  If thow bigile me any ofter than ones.
10. 3401  Thow shalt namoore thurgh thy flaterye
10. 3402  Do me to synge and wynken with myn eye.
10. 3403  For he that wynketh whan he sholde see
10. 3404  Al wilfully, god lat hym neuere thee.'
10. 3405    'Nay,' quod the fox, 'but god yeue hym meschaunce
10. 3406  That is so vndiscret of gouernaunce
10. 3407  That iangleth whan he sholde holde his pees.'
10. 3408    Lo swich it is for to be recchelees
10. 3409  And necligent and truste on flaterye.
10. 3410  But ye that holden this tale a folye
10. 3411  As of a fox or of a cok and hen,
10. 3412  Taketh the moralitee, goode men.
10. 3413  For seint Poul seith that al that writen is
10. 3414  To oure doctryne it is ywrite ywis.
10. 3415  Taketh the fruyt and lat the chaf be stille.
10. 3416  Now goode god, if that it be thy wille,
10. 3417  As seith my lord so make vs alle goode men
10. 3418  And brynge vs to his heye blisse. Amen.

Here is ended the nonnes preestes tale.












Section 11 (Fragment IX, Group H)


And here folweth the prologe of the manciples tale.


11. 0001  Woot ye nat where ther stant a litel town,
11. 0002  Which that clepid is Bobbe-vp-and-down,
11. 0003  Vnder the Blee in Caunterbury weye?
11. 0004  Ther gan oure hoost for to iape and pleye
11. 0005  And seyde: 'Sires, what Don is in the myre!
11. 0006  Is ther no man for preyere ne for hyre
11. 0007  That wole awake oure felawe al bihynde?
11. 0008  A theef myghte hym ful lightly robbe and bynde.
11. 0009  Se how he nappeth. Se how for cokkes bones
11. 0010  That he wol falle from his hors atones.
11. 0011  Is that a cook of Londoun with meschaunce?
11. 0012  Do hym come forth. He knoweth his penaunce
11. 0013  For he shal telle a tale by my fey,
11. 0014  Al thogh it be nat worth a botel hey.
11. 0015  Awake, thow cook,' quod he. 'God yeue thee sorwe,
11. 0016  What eyleth thee to slepe by the morwe?
11. 0017  Hastow had fleen al nyght? Or artow dronke?
11. 0018  Or hastow with som quene al nyght yswonke
11. 0019  So that thow mayst nat holden vp thyn heed?'
11. 0020    This cook that was ful pale and nothyng reed
11. 0021  Seyde to oure hoost: 'So god my soule blesse
11. 0022  As ther is falle on me swich heuynesse,
11. 0023  Noot I nat why, that me were leuere slepe
11. 0024  Than the beste galoun wyn in Chepe.'
11. 0025    'Wel ' quod the manciple 'if it may don ese
11. 0026  To thee, sir cook, and to no wight displese
11. 0027  Which that here rideth in this compaignye
11. 0028  And that oure hoost wole of his curteisye,
11. 0029  I wole as now excuse thee of thy tale.
11. 0030  For in good feith thy visage is ful pale,
11. 0031  Thyne eyen daswen eek, as that me thynketh,
11. 0032  And wel I woot thy breth ful soure stynketh:
11. 0033  That sheweth wel thow art nat wel-disposed.
11. 0034  Of me certeyn thow shalt nat ben yglosed:
11. 0035  Se how he ganeth, lo this dronken wight,
11. 0036  As though he wolde swolwe vs anon-right.
11. 0037  Hoold cloos thy mouth, man, by thy fader kyn -
11. 0038  The deuel of helle sette his foot theryn! --
11. 0039  Thy cursed breeth infecte wol vs alle.
11. 0040  Fy, stynkynge swyn, fy! Foule mote thee falle!
11. 0041  A, taketh hede, sires, of this lusty man.
11. 0042  Now, swete sire, wol ye iusten atte fan?
11. 0043  Therto me thynketh ye ben wel yshape!
11. 0044  I trowe that ye dronken han wyn-ape
11. 0045  And that is whan men pleyen with a straw.'
11. 0046    And with his speche the cook wax wroth and wraw
11. 0047  And on the manciple bigan he nodde faste
11. 0048  For lakke of speche. And doun the hors hym caste
11. 0049  Wher as he lay til that men vp hym took.
11. 0050  This was a fair chyuachee of a cook.
11. 0051  Allas he nadde yholde hym by his ladel!
11. 0052  And er that he agayn were in his sadel,
11. 0053  Ther was gret showuyng bothe to and fro,
11. 0054  To lifte hym vp, and muchel care and wo






11. 0055  So vnweldy was this sory, palled goost.
11. 0056  And to the manciple thanne spak oure hoost:
11. 0057    'By cause drynke hath domynacioun
11. 0058  Vpon this man, by my sauacioun
11. 0059  I trowe he lewedly telle wolde his tale.
11. 0060  For were it wyn or old or moisty ale
11. 0061  That he hath dronke, he speketh in his nose
11. 0062  And fneseth faste and eek he hath the pose.
11. 0063  He hath also to do moore than ynow
11. 0064  To kepen hym and his capil out of the slow.
11. 0065  And if he falle from his capil eftsoone,
11. 0066  Than shal we alle haue ynow to doone
11. 0067  In liftynge vp his heuy, dronken cors.
11. 0068  Telle on thy tale. Of hym make I no fors.
11. 0069  But yet, manciple, in feith thow art to nyce
11. 0070  Thus openly repreue hym of his vice.
11. 0071  Another day he wole parauenture
11. 0072  Reclayme thee and brynge thee to lure --
11. 0073  I mene he speke wole of smale thynges
11. 0074  As for to pynchen at thy rekenynges.
11. 0075  That were nat honeste if it cam to preef!'
11. 0076    'No,' quod the manciple, 'that were a gret mescheef.
11. 0077  So myghte he lightly brynge me in the snare.
11. 0078  Yet hadde I leuere payen for the mare
11. 0079  Which he rit on than he sholde with me stryue.
11. 0080  I wol nat wrathe hym also mote I thryue.
11. 0081  That that I spak I seyde it in my bourde.
11. 0082  And wite what? I haue here in a gourde
11. 0083  A draughte of wyn, ye of a rype grape;
11. 0084  And right-anon ye shul seen a good iape:
11. 0085  This cook shal drynke therof if I may;
11. 0086  Vp peyne of deeth he wol nat seye me nay.'
11. 0087    And certeynly to tellen as it was,
11. 0088  Of this vessel the cook drank faste. Allas
11. 0089  What neded it? He drank ynow biforn.
11. 0090  And whan he hadde powped in this horn,
11. 0091  To the manciple he took the gourde agayn.
11. 0092  And of that drynke the cook was wonder fayn
11. 0093  And thanked hym in swich wise as he kowde.
11. 0094    Thanne gan oure hoost to laughen wonder lowde
11. 0095  And seyde: 'I se wel it is necessarie
11. 0096  Where that we goon good drynke we with vs carye,
11. 0097  For that wol turne rancour and disese
11. 0098  T'acord and loue and many a wrong appese.
11. 0099  O Bacus, yblessed be thy name
11. 0100  That so kanst turnen ernest into game.
11. 0101  Worship and thank be to thy deitee.
11. 0102  Of that matere ye gete namoore for me.
11. 0103  Telle on thy tale, manciple, I the preye.'
11. 0104    'Wel, sir,' quod he, 'now herkneth what I seye.'


Here bigynneth the manciples tale of the crowe.

11. 0105  Whan Phebus dwelled here in this erthe adoun,
11. 0106  As olde bokes maken mencioun,
11. 0107  He was the mooste lusty bachiler
11. 0108  In al this world and eek the beste archer.
11. 0109  He slow Phitoun the serpent as he lay
11. 0110  Slepynge agayn the sonne vpon a day;






11. 0111  And many another noble, worthy dede
11. 0112  He with his bowe wroghte as men may rede.
11. 0113  Pleyen he koude on euery mynstralcye
11. 0114  And syngen that it was a melodye
11. 0115  To heren of his clere voys the soun.
11. 0116  Certes the kyng of Thebes, Amphioun
11. 0117  That with his syngyng walled that citee,
11. 0118  Koude neuere syngen half so wel as he.
11. 0119  Therto he was the semelieste man
11. 0120  That is or was sith that the world bigan.
11. 0121  What nedeth it hise fetures to discryue
11. 0122  For in this world was noon so fair on lyue?
11. 0123  He was therwith fulfild of gentillesse,
11. 0124  Of honour and of parfit worthynesse.
11. 0125    This Phebus that was flour of bachelrye
11. 0126  As wel in fredom as in chiualrye
11. 0127  For his desport, in signe eek of victorie
11. 0128  Of Phitoun so as telleth vs the storie,
11. 0129  Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe.
11. 0130  Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a crowe
11. 0131  Which in a cage he fostred many a day
11. 0132  And taughte it speke as men teche a iay.
11. 0133  Whit was this crowe as is a snow-whit swan.
11. 0134  And contrefete the speche of euery man
11. 0135  He kowde, whan he sholde telle a tale.
11. 0136  Therwith in al this world no nyghtyngale
11. 0137  Ne koude by an hondred thousand deel
11. 0138  Syngen so wonder myrily and weel.
11. 0139    Now hadde this Phebus in his hous a wyf
11. 0140  Which that he louede moore than his lyf,
11. 0141  And nyght and day dide euere his diligence
11. 0142  Hire for to plese and doon hir reuerence
11. 0143  Saue oonly that, the sothe if I shal sayn,
11. 0144  Ialous he was and wolde han kept hire fayn,
11. 0145  For hym were looth byiaped for to be.
11. 0146  And so is euery wight in swich degree --
11. 0147  But al for naught for it auaileth noght.
11. 0148  A good-wyf that is clene in werk and thoght
11. 0149  Sholde nat be kept in noon awayt certayn.
11. 0150  And trewely the labour is in vayn
11. 0151  To kepe a shrewe, for it wol nat be.
11. 0152  This holde I for a verray nycetee
11. 0153  To spille labour for to kepe wyues.
11. 0154  Thus writen olde clerkes in hir lyues.
11. 0155    But now to purpos as I first bigan.
11. 0156  This worthy Phebus dooth al that he kan
11. 0157  To plesen hire, wenynge for swich plesaunce
11. 0158  And for his manhode and his gouernaunce
11. 0159  That no man sholde han put hym from hir grace.
11. 0160  But god it woot ther may no man embrace
11. 0161  As to destreyne a thyng which that nature
11. 0162  Hath naturelly set in a creature.
11. 0163    Take any bryd and put it in a cage
11. 0164  And do al thyn entente and thy corage
11. 0165  To fostre it tendrely with mete and drynke
11. 0166  Of alle deyntees that thow kanst bithynke
11. 0167  And kepe it also clenly as thow may,
11. 0168  Although his cage of gold be neuer so gay
11. 0169  Yet hath this bryd by xx thousand fold
11. 0170  Leuere in a forest that is rude and cold






11. 0171  Gon ete wormes and swich wrecchednesse.
11. 0172  For euere this bryd wol doon his bisynesse
11. 0173  To eschape out of his cage if he may;
11. 0174  His libertee this bryd desireth ay.
11. 0175    Lat take a cat and fostre hym wel with milk
11. 0176  And tendre flessh and make his couche of silk,
11. 0177  And lat hym seen a mous go by the wal
11. 0178  Anon he weyueth milk and flessh and al
11. 0179  And euery deyntee that is in that hous,
11. 0180  Swich appetit hath he to ete a mous.
11. 0181  Lo heere hath lust his domynacioun
11. 0182  And appetit flemeth discrecioun.
11. 0183    A she-wolf hath also a vileyns kynde.
11. 0184  The lewedeste wolf that she may fynde
11. 0185  And leest of reputacioun, that wol she take
11. 0186  In tyme whan hir lust to han a make.
11. 0187    Alle thise ensamples speke I by thise men
11. 0188  That ben vntrewe, but nothyng by wommen.
11. 0189  For men han euere a likerous appetit
11. 0190  On lower thyng to parformen hir delit
11. 0191  Than on hire wyues, be they neuer so faire
11. 0192  Ne neuer so trewe ne so debonaire.
11. 0193  Flessh is so newfangel with meschaunce
11. 0194  That we ne konne in nothyng han plesaunce
11. 0195  That sowneth into vertu any while.
11. 0196    This Phebus which that thoughte vpon no gile
11. 0197  Deceyued was for al his iolitee,
11. 0198  For vnder hym another hadde she,
11. 0199  A man of litel reputacioun
11. 0200  Nat worth to Phebus in comparisoun.
11. 0201  The moore harm is it happeth ofte so,
11. 0202  Of which ther cometh muchel harm and wo.
11. 0203  And so bifel whan Phebus was absent
11. 0204  His wyf anon hath for hire lemman sent --
11. 0205  Hir lemman, certes this is a knauyssh speche!
11. 0206  Foryeueth it me and that I yow biseche.
11. 0207  The wise Plato seith as ye may rede:
11. 0208  The word moot nede acorde with the dede;
11. 0209  If men shal telle proprely a thyng,
11. 0210  The word moot cosyn be to the werkyng.
11. 0211  I am a boystous man. Right thus seye I:
11. 0212  Ther nys no difference trewely
11. 0213  Bitwix a wyf that is of heigh degree
11. 0214  If of hire body deshoneste she be
11. 0215  And a poore wenche, oother than this
11. 0216  (If it so be they werke bothe amys)
11. 0217  But that the gentile in estat aboue,
11. 0218  She shal be clepid his lady as in loue,
11. 0219  And for that oother is a poore womman
11. 0220  She shal be clepid his wenche or his lemman.
11. 0221  And god it woot, myn owene deere brother,
11. 0222  Men leyn that oon as lowe as lyth that oother.
11. 0223    Right so bitwix a titlelees tiraunt
11. 0224  And an outlawe or a theef erraunt
11. 0225  The same I seye; ther is no difference.
11. 0226  To Alisandre was told this sentence
11. 0227  That for the tiraunt is of gretter myght
11. 0228  By force of meyne for to sleen doun right
11. 0229  And brennen hous and hoom and make al playn,
11. 0230  Lo therfore is he clepid a capitayn.






11. 0231  And for the outlawe hath but smal meynee
11. 0232  And may nat doon so gret an harm as he
11. 0233  Ne brynge a contree to so gret meschief,
11. 0234  Men clepen hym an outlawe or a theef.
11. 0235  But for I am a man noght textuel
11. 0236  I wol noght telle of textes neuer-a-del.
11. 0237  I wol go to my tale as I bigan.
11. 0238    Whan Phebus wyf hadde sent for hire lemman,
11. 0239  Anon they wroghte al hire lust volage.
11. 0240  The white crowe that heng ay in the cage
11. 0241  Biheld hir werk and seyde neuer a word.
11. 0242  And when that hoom was come Phebus the lord
11. 0243  This crowe sang: 'Cokkow, cokkow, cokkow.'
11. 0244    'What, bryd,' quod Phebus, 'what song syngestow?
11. 0245  Ne were thow wont so myrily to synge
11. 0246  That to myn herte it was a reioysynge
11. 0247  To here thy voys? Allas what song is this?'
11. 0248    'By God ' quod he 'I synge nat amys.
11. 0249  Phebus,' quod he, 'for al thy worthynesse,
11. 0250  For al thy beautee and thy gentillesse,
11. 0251  For al thy song and al thy mynstralcye,
11. 0252  For al thy waityng, blered is thyn eye
11. 0253  With oon of litel reputacioun,
11. 0254  Nat worth to thee in comparisoun
11. 0255  The montaunce of a gnat, so mote I thryue.
11. 0256  For in thy bed thy wif I sey hym swyue.'
11. 0257    What wol ye moore? The crowe anon hym tolde
11. 0258  By sadde toknes and by wordes bolde
11. 0259  How that his wyf hadde doon hire lecherye
11. 0260  Hym to gret shame and to gret vileynye
11. 0261  And tolde hym ofte he say it with hise eyen.
11. 0262    This Phebus gan aweyward for to wryen
11. 0263  And thoughte his sorweful herte brast atwo.
11. 0264  His bowe he bente and sette therinne a flo,
11. 0265  And in his ire his wyf thanne hath he slayn.
11. 0266  This is th'effect. Ther nys namoore to sayn.
11. 0267  For sorwe of which he brak his mynstralcye,
11. 0268  Bothe harpe and lute and gyterne and sawtrye.
11. 0269  And eek he brak hise arwes and his bowe.
11. 0270  And after that thus spak he to the crowe:
11. 0271    'Traytour,' quod he, 'with tonge of scorpioun,
11. 0272  Thow hast me broght to my confusioun.
11. 0273  Allas that I was wroght! Why nere I ded?
11. 0274  O deere wyf, o gemme of lustihed,
11. 0275  That were to me so sad and eek so trewe!
11. 0276  Now lystow ded with face pale of hewe
11. 0277  Ful giltlees, that dorste I swere ywys.
11. 0278    O rakel hand to doon so foule amys!
11. 0279    O trouble wit, o ire recchelees
11. 0280  That vnauysed smytest giltlees!
11. 0281  O wantrust ful of fals suspecioun,
11. 0282  Where was thy wit and thy discrecioun?
11. 0283  O euery man, be war of rakelnesse
11. 0284  Ne trowe ye nothyng withouten strong witnesse.
11. 0285  Smyt nat to soone er that ye witen why.
11. 0286  And beth auysed wel and sobrely
11. 0287  Er ye do any execucioun
11. 0288  Vpon youre ire for suspecioun.
11. 0289  Allas a thousand folk hath rakel ire
11. 0290  Fully fordoon or broght hem in the myre.






11. 0291  Allas for sorwe I wol myseluen sle!'
11. 0292    And to the crowe, 'O false theef,' seyde he,
11. 0293  'I wol thee quyte anon thy false tale.
11. 0294  Thow songe whilom lyk a nyghtyngale.
11. 0295  Now shaltow, false theef, thy song forgon
11. 0296  And eek thy white fetheres euerichon,
11. 0297  Ne neuere in al thy lyf ne shaltow speke.
11. 0298  Thus shal men on a traytour ben awreke!
11. 0299  Thow and thyn ofspryng euere shul be blake.
11. 0300  Ne neuere swete noyse shul ye make,
11. 0301  But euere crye agayn tempest and rayn
11. 0302  In tokenynge that thurgh thee my wyf is slayn.'
11. 0303    And to the crowe he stirte and that anon
11. 0304  And pulled hise white fetheres euerichon
11. 0305  And made hym blak, and refte hym al his song
11. 0306  And eek his speche, and out at dore hym slong
11. 0307  Vnto the deuel, which I hym bitake.
11. 0308  And for this cas ben alle crowes blake.
11. 0309    Lordynges, by this ensample I yow preye
11. 0310  Beth war and taketh kepe what I seye:
11. 0311  Ne telleth neuere no man in youre lyf
11. 0312  How that another man hath dight his wyf;
11. 0313  He wol yow haten mortally certeyn.
11. 0314    Daun Salomon, as wise clerkes seyn,
11. 0315  Techeth a man to kepen his tonge wel.
11. 0316  But, as I seyde, I nam nat textuel.
11. 0317  But nathelees thus taughte me my dame:
11. 0318  'My sone, thenk on the crowe a goddes name.
11. 0319  My sone, keep wel thy tonge and kepe thy freend:
11. 0320  A wikke tonge is worse than a feend.
11. 0321  My sone, from a feend men may hem blesse.
11. 0322  My sone, god of his endelees goodnesse
11. 0323  Walled a tonge with teeth and lippes eke
11. 0324  For man sholde hym auyse what he speeke.
11. 0325  My sone, ful ofte for to muche speche
11. 0326  Hath many a man ben spilt, as clerkes teche.
11. 0327  But for litel speche auysely
11. 0328  Is no man shent, to speke generally.
11. 0329  My sone, thy tonge sholdestow restreyne
11. 0330  At alle tymes, but whan thow doost thy peyne
11. 0331  To speke of god in honour and prayere.
11. 0332  The firste vertu, sone, if thow wolt leere,
11. 0333  Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge.
11. 0334  Thus lernen children whan that they ben yonge.
11. 0335  My sone, of muchel spekyng yuele auysed,
11. 0336  Ther lasse spekyng hadde ynow suffised,
11. 0337  Comth muchel harm. Thus was me told and taught.
11. 0338  In muchel speche synne wanteth naught.
11. 0339  Wostow wherof a rakel tonge serueth?
11. 0340  Right as a swerd forkitteth and forkerueth
11. 0341  An arm atwo, my deere sone, right so
11. 0342  A tonge kitteth frendship al atwo.
11. 0343  A ianglere is to god abhomynable:
11. 0344  Rede Salomon so wys and honurable;
11. 0345  Rede Dauid in his psalmes; rede Senekke.
11. 0346  My sone, spek noght, but with thyn hed thow bekke.
11. 0347  Dissimule as thow were deef, if that thow heere
11. 0348  A ianglere speke of perilous matere.
11. 0349    'The Flemyng seith, and lerne it if thee leste,
11. 0350  That litel ianglyng causeth muchel reste.






11. 0351  My sone, if thow no wikked word hast seyd,
11. 0352  Thee thar nat drede for to be biwreyd.
11. 0353  But he that hath mysseyd, I dar wel sayn
11. 0354  He may by no wey clepe his word agayn.
11. 0355  Thyng that is sayd is seyd, and forth it gooth
11. 0356  Though hym repente or be hym leef or looth.
11. 0357  He is his thral to whom that he hath sayd
11. 0358  A tale of which he is now yuele apayd.
11. 0359  My sone, be war and be noon auctour newe
11. 0360  Of tidynges, wher they ben false or trewe.
11. 0361  Wherso thow come amonges heye or lowe,
11. 0362  Kepe wel thy tonge and thynk vpon the crowe.'


Here is ended the manciples tale of the crowe.

SECTION 12 (Fragment X, Group I)

The prologe of the persons tale.               f.235

12. 0001  By that the maunciple hadde his tale al ended
12. 0002  The sonne fro the south lyne is descended
12. 0003  So lowe that he nas nat to my sighte
12. 0004  Degrees 29 as of highte.
12. 0005  Four of the clokke it was so as I gesse
12. 0006  For xj foot and litel moore or lesse
12. 0007  My shadwe was at thilke tyme as there,
12. 0008  Of swiche feet as my lengthe parted weere
12. 0009  In 6 feet equal of proporcioun.
12. 0010  Therwith Saturnes exaltacioun
12. 0011  (I mene Libra) alwey gan ascende
12. 0012  As we were entryng at a thropes ende.
12. 0013  For which oure hoost, as he was wont to gye
12. 0014  As in this cas oure ioly compaignye,
12. 0015  Seyde in this wise: 'Lordynges euerichon,
12. 0016  Now lakketh vs no tales mo than oon.
12. 0017  Fulfild is my sentence and my decree:
12. 0018  I trowe that we han herd of ech degree.
12. 0019  Almoost fulfild is al myn ordinaunce.
12. 0020  I pray to god so yeue hym right good chaunce
12. 0021  That telleth this tale to vs lustily.
12. 0022    'Sire preest,' quod he, 'artow a vicary
12. 0023  Or arte a person? Sey sooth by thy fey.
12. 0024  Be what thow be, ne breke thow nat oure pley
12. 0025  For euery man saue thow hath toold his tale.
12. 0026  Vnbokele and shewe vs what is in thy male
12. 0027  For trewely me thynketh by thy cheere
12. 0028  Thow sholdest knette vp wel a greet matere.
12. 0029  Telle vs a fable anon for cokkes bones.'
12. 0030    This person answerde al atones:
12. 0031  'Thow getest fable noon ytoold for me,
12. 0032  For Poul that writeth vnto Thymothe
12. 0033  Repreueth hem that weyuen soothfastnesse
12. 0034  And tellen fables and swich wrecchednesse.
12. 0035  Why sholde I sowen draf out of my fest
12. 0036  Whan I may sowen whete if that me lest?
12. 0037  For which I seye, that if yow list to heere
12. 0038  Moralitee and vertuous matere
12. 0039  And thanne that ye wol yeue me audience,
12. 0040  I wole ful fayn at Cristes reuerence
12. 0041  Do yow plesance leueful as I kan.
12. 0042  But trusteth wel I am a Southren man,
12. 0043  I kan nat geste rom ram ruf by lettre,
12. 0044  Ne god woot rym holde I but litel bettre.
12. 0045  And therfore, if yow lest, I wol nat glose:
12. 0046  I wol yow telle a myrie tale in prose
12. 0047  To knytte vp al this feste and make an ende.
12. 0048  And Iesu for his grace wit me sende
12. 0049  To shewe yow the wey in this viage
12. 0050  Of thilke parfit, glorious pilgrymage
12. 0051  That highte Ierusalem celestial.
12. 0052  And if ye vouchesauf, anon I shal
12. 0053  Bigynne vpon my tale; for which I preye
12. 0054  Telle youre auys. I kan no bettre seye.
12. 0055  But nathelees this meditacioun
12. 0056  I putte it ay vnder correccioun
12. 0057  Of clerkes, for I am nat textuel;
12. 0058  I take but the sentence, trusteth wel.
12. 0059  Therfore I make protestacioun
12. 0060  That I wol stonde to correccioun.'
12. 0061    Vpon this word we han assented soone,
12. 0062  For as it semed it was for to doone
12. 0063  To enden in som vertuous sentence
12. 0064  And for to yeue hym space and audience,
12. 0065  And bede oure hoost he sholde to hym seye
12. 0066  That alle we to telle his tale hym preye.
12. 0067    Oure hoost hadde the wordes for vs alle.
12. 0068  'Sire preest,' quod he, 'now faire yow bifalle,
12. 0069  Sey what yow list and we wol gladly heere.'
12. 0070  And with that word he seyde in this manere.
12. 0071  'Telleth,' quod he, 'youre meditacioun;
12. 0072  But hasteth yow, the sonne wole adoun.
12. 0073  Beth fructuous and that in litel space,
12. 0074  And to do wel god sende yow his grace.'

Explicit prohemium.

Here bigynneth the persons tale.                      f.236

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

12.   75  (75) Ovre swete lord god of heuene, that no man wole perisse but wole that
12.   75  we comen alle to the knoweliche of hym and to the blisful lyf that is pardur-
12.   75  able,/
12.   76   amonesteth vs by the prophete Ieromie that seith in this wise:/
12.   77   Stondeth
12.   77  vpon the weyes and seeth and axeth of olde pathes (that is to seyn of olde
12.   77  sentences) which is the goode wey/
12.   78   and walketh in that wey and ye shal fynde
12.   78  refresshynge for youre soules etc./
12.   79   Manye been the weyes espirituels that leden
12.   79  folk to oure lord Iesu Crist and to the regne of glorie. /
12.   80  (80) Of whiche weyes
12.   80  ther is a ful noble wey and a ful couenable which may nat faile to man ne to
12.   80  womman that thurgh synne hath mysgoon fro the righte wey of Ierusalem
12.   80  celestial./
12.   81   And this wey is clepid penitence, of which men sholde gladly herknen
12.   81  and enquere with al his herte/
12.   82   to wite what is penitence and whennes it is clepid
12.   82  penitence and in how manye maneres been the accions or werkynges of
12.   82  penitence,/
12.   83  and how manye spices ther ben of penitences, and whiche thynges
12.   83  apertenen and bihouen to penitence, whiche thynges destourben penitence./
12.   84    Seint Ambrose seith that penitence is the pleynynge of man for the gilt that
12.   84  he hath doon and namoore to doon any thyng for which hym oghte to pleyne./
12.   85  (85) And som doctour seith: Penitence is =e waymentynge of man that sorweth
12.   85  for his synne and pyneth hymself for he hath mysdoon./
12.   86   Penitence with certeyne
12.   86  circumstances is verray repentance of a man that halt hymself in sorwe and
12.   86  oother peyne for hise giltes./
12.   87   And for he shal be verray penitent he shal first
12.   87  biwailen the synnes that he hath doon and stedefastly purposen in his herte
12.   87  to haue shrift of mouthe and to doon satisfaccioun,/
12.   88   and neuere to doon thyng
12.   88  for which hym oghte moore to biwaile or to compleyne and to continue in
12.   88  goode werkes -- or ellis his repentance may nat auayle./
12.   89   ?f.236v! For as seith se1nt
12.   89  Isydre: He is a iapere and a gabber and no verray repentant that eftsoone dooth
12.   89  thyng for which hym oghte repente. /
12.   90  (90) Wepynge and nat for to stynte to do
12.   90  synne may nat auaile./
12.   91   But nathelees men shal hope that at euery tyme that
12.   91  man falleth be it neuer so ofte that he may arise =urgh penitence if he haue
12.   91  grace, but certeynly it is greet dowte./
12.   92   For as seith seint Gregorie: Vnnethe
12.   92  ariseth he out of his synne that is charged with the charge of yuel vsage,/
12.   93  and therfore repentant folk that stynte for to synne and forlete synne er that
12.   93  synne forlete hem, holy chirche halt hem siker of hir sauacion;/
12.   94   and he that
12.   94  synneth and verraily repenteth hym in his laste, holy chirche yet hopeth his
12.   94  sauacion by the grete mercy of oure lord Iesu Crist for his repentance. But taak
12.   94  the siker wey./
12.   95    (95) And now sith that I haue declared yow what thyng is penitence, now
12.   95  shul ye vnderstonde that ther been iij accions of penitence./
12.   96  The firste is that
12.   96  if a man be baptised after that he hath synned./
12.   97   Seint Augustyn seith: But
12.   97  he be penitent for his olde, synful lyf, he may nat bigynne the newe, clene
12.   97  lyf./
12.   98   For certes if he be baptised withoute penitence of his olde gilt, he receyueth
12.   98  the mark of baptesme but nat the grace ne the remissioun of hise synnes til
12.   98  he haue repentance verray./
12.   99   Another defaute is this that men doon deedly
12.   99  synne after that they han receyued baptesme. /
12.  100  (100) The thridde defaute is
12.  100  that men fallen in venyal synnes after hir baptesme fro day to day./
12.  101   Therof
12.  101  seith seint Augustyn that penitence of goode and of humble folk is the penitence
12.  101  of euery day./
12.  102    The speces of penaunce been iij: that oon of hem is solempne, another is
12.  102  commune, and the thridde is priuee./
12.  103   Thilke penaunce that is solempne is 1n
12.  103  two maneres as to be put out of holy chirche in Lente for slaughtre of children
12.  103  and swich manere thyng./
12.  104   Another is whan man hath synned openly, of which
12.  104  synne the fame is openly spoken in the contree, and thanne holy chirche by
12.  104  1ugement destreyneth hym for to doon open penance. /
12.  105  (105) Commune
12.  105  penaunce is that preestes enioynen men communly in certeyn cas as for to goon
12.  105  parauenture naked in pilgrymage or barefoot./
12.  106   Pryuee penaunce is thilke that
12.  106  men doon alday for priuee synnes, of whiche we shryue vs pryuely and receyue
12.  106  pryuee penance./
12.  107    Now shaltow vnderstande what bihoueth and is necessarie to verray, parfit
12.  107  penitence. And this stant on iij thynges:/
12.  108   contricioun of herte, confessioun of
12.  108  mouth, and satisfaccioun./
12.  109   For which seith seint Iohn Crisostomus: ?f.237!
12.  109  Penitence destreyneth man to accepte benygnely euery peyne that hym is
12.  109  enioyned with contricioun of herte, and shrift of mowthe, with satisfaccioun,
12.  109  and in wirkynge of alle manere humylitee. /
12.  110  (110) And this is fruytful penitence
12.  110  agayn iij thynges in whiche we wrathe oure lord Iesu Crist,/
12.  111   this is to seyn
12.  111  by delit in thynkynge, by recchelesnesse in spekynge, by wikked synful
12.  111  wirkynge./
12.  112   And agayns thise wikkede giltes is penitence that may be likned
12.  112  vnto a tree./
12.  113    The roote of this tree is contricioun that hideth hym in the herte of hym
12.  113  that is verray repentant right as the roote of a tree hideth hym in the erthe./
12.  114  Of the roote of contricioun spryngeth a stalke that bereth branches and leues
12.  114  of confessioun and fruyt of satisfaccioun. /
12.  115  (115) For which Crist seith in his
12.  115  gospel: Dooth digne fruyt of penitence. For by this fruyt may men knowe this
12.  115  tree and nat by the roote that is hyd in the herte of man ne by the branches
12.  115  ne the leues of confessioun./
12.  116   And therfore oure lord Iesu Crist seith thus: By
12.  116  the fruyt of hem shul ye knowe hem./
12.  117   Of this roote eek spryngeth a seed of
12.  117  grace, the which seed is moder of sikernesse, and this seed is egre and hoot./
12.  118  The grace of thys seed spryngeth of god thurgh remembrance on the day of
12.  118  dome and on the peynes of helle./
12.  119   Of this matere seith Salomon that in the
12.  119  drede of god man forleteth his synne. /
12.  120  (120) The hete of thys seed is the loue
12.  120  of god and the desirynge of the ioye pardurable./
12.  121   This hete draweth the herte
12.  121  of man to god and dooth hym hate his synne./
12.  122   For soothly ther is nothyng that
12.  122  sauoureth so wel to a child as the mylk of his norice ne nothyng is to hym moore
12.  122  abhomynable than thilke mylk whan it is medled with oother mete./
12.  123   Right so
12.  123  the synful man that loueth his synne hym semeth it is to hym moost swete
12.  123  of any thyng;/
12.  124   but fro that tyme that he loueth sadly oure lord Iesu Crist
12.  124  and desireth the lyf pardurable, ther nys to hym nothyng moore abhomynable./
12.  125  (125) For soothly the lawe of god is the loue of god, for which Dauid the
12.  125  prophete seith: I haue loued thy lawe and hated wikkednesse and hate. He
12.  125  that loueth god kepeth his lawe and his word./
12.  126   This tree saugh the prophete
12.  126  Daniel in spirit vpon the auysion of Nabugodonosor whanne he conseiled hym
12.  126  to do penitence./
12.  127   Penance is the tree of lyf to hem that it receyuen, and he that
12.  127  holdeth hym in verray penitence is blessed after the sentence of Salomon./
12.  128    In this penitence or contricioun man shal vnderstonde iiij thynges: that is
12.  128  to seyn what is contricioun, and whiche ben the causes that moeuen a man
12.  128  to contricioun, and how he ?f.237v! sholde be contrit, and what contricioun
12.  128  auaileth to the soule./
12.  129   Thanne is it thus that contricioun is the verray sorwe
12.  129  that a man receyueth in his herte for hise synnes with sad purpos to shryue
12.  129  hym and to do penance and neuere moore to do synne. /
12.  130  (130) And this sorwe
12.  130  shal ben in this manere as seith seint Bernard: It shal ben heuy and greuous
12.  130  and ful sharp and poynaunt in herte,/
12.  131   first for man hath agilt his lord and his
12.  131  creatour; and moore sharp and poynaunt for he hath agilt his fader celestial;/
12.  132  and yet moore sharp and poynaunt for he hath wrathed and agilt hym that
12.  132  boughte hym that with his precious blood hath delyuered vs fro the bondes
12.  132  of synne and fro the creweltee of the deuel and fro the peynes of helle./
12.  133    The causes that oghten moeuen a man to contricioun been vj. First a man shal
12.  133  remembren hym of hise synnes./
12.  134   But looke that thilke remembrance ne be to
12.  134  hym no delit by no wey but gret shame and sorwe for his gilt. For Iob seith:
12.  134  Synful men doon werkes worthy of confessioun. /
12.  135  (135) And therfore seith
12.  135  Ezechie: I wol remembre me alle the yeris of my lyf in bitternesse of myn herte./
12.  136  And god seith in the Apocalips: Remembre yow fro whennes that ye ben falle,
12.  136  for biforn that tyme that ye synned ye were the children of god and lymes
12.  136  of the regne of god./
12.  137   But for youre synne ye ben woxe thral and foul and
12.  137  membres of the feend, hate of aungeles, sclaundre of holy chirche, and foode
12.  137  of the false serpent, perpetuel matere of the fyr of helle;/
12.  138   and yet moore foul
12.  138  and abhomynable for ye trespasen so ofte tyme as dooth the hound that
12.  138  retorneth to ete his spewyng./
12.  139   And yet be ye fouler for youre longe contynuynge
12.  139  in synne and youre synful vsage for which ye been roten in youre synne as a
12.  139  beest in his donge. /
12.  140  (140) Swiche manere of thoughtes maken a man haue
12.  140  shame of his synne and no delit as god seyth by the prophete Ezechiel:/
12.  141  Ye shal remembre yow of youre weyes and they shullen displese yow soothly.
12.  141  Synnes been the weyes that leden folk to helle./
12.  142    The seconde cause that oghte make a man to han desdeyn of synne is this
12.  142  that as seith seint Peter: Whoso that dooth synne is thral of synne and synne
12.  142  put a man in greet thraldam./
12.  143   And therfore seith the prophete Ezechiel: I
12.  143  wente sorweful in desdayn of myself. Certes wel oghte a man haue desdayn of
12.  143  synne and withdrawe hym fro that thraldom and vileynye./
12.  144   And lo what seith
12.  144  Seneca in this matere; he seith thus: Though I wiste that neither god ne man
12.  144  ne sholde neuere knowe it, yet ?f.238! wolde I haue desdayn for to do synne./
12.  145  (145) And the same Seneca also seith: I am born to gretter thynges than to
12.  145  be thral to my body or than for to maken of my body a thral./
12.  146   Ne a fouler
12.  146  thral may no man ne womman make of his body than for to yeue his body
12.  146  to synne./
12.  147   Al were it the fouleste cherl or the fouleste womman that lyueth
12.  147  and leest of value, yet is he thanne moore foul and moore in seruitute./
12.  148   Euere
12.  148  fro the hyer degree that man falleth, the moore is he thral and moore to god
12.  148  and to the world vil and abhomynable./
12.  149   O goode god, wel oghte man haue
12.  149  greet desdayn of synne sith that thurgh synne ther he was fre now is he maked
12.  149  bonde. /
12.  150  (150) And therfore seith seint Augustyn: If thow hast desdayn of thy
12.  150  seruant if he agilte or synne, haue thow thanne desdayn that thow thyself
12.  150  sholdest do synne./
12.  151   Take reward of thy value that thow ne be to foul to thyself./
12.  152  Allas wel oghten they thanne haue desdayn to ben seruantz and thralles to
12.  152  synne and soore ben ashamed of hemself,/
12.  153   that god of his endelees goodnesse
12.  153  hath set hem in heigh estat or yeuen hem wit, strengthe of body, heele, beautee,
12.  153  prosperitee,/
12.  154   and boghte hem fro the deeth with his herte-blood that they so
12.  154  vnkyndely agayns his gentilesse quyten hym so vileynsly to slawghtre of hir
12.  154  owene soules. /
12.  155  (155) O goode god, ye wommen that been of so greet beautee,
12.  155  remembreth yow of the prouerbe of Salomon. He seith:/
12.  156   Likneth a fair
12.  156  womman that is a fool of hir body lyk to a ryng of gold that were in the groyn
12.  156  of a sowe,/
12.  157   for right as a sowe wroteth in euerich ordure so wroteth she hir
12.  157  beaute in stynkynge ordure of synne./
12.  158    The thridde cause that oughte moeue a man to contricion is drede of the
12.  158  day of dome and of the horrible peynes of helle./
12.  159  For as seint Ierome seith:
12.  159  At euery tyme that me remembreth of the day of dome I quake, /
12.  160  (160) for
12.  160  whan I ete and drynke or whatso that I do, euere semeth me that the trompe
12.  160  sowneth in myn ere:/
12.  161   Riseth ye vp that ben dede and cometh to the iugement./
12.  162  O goode god, muchel oghte a man to drede swich a iugement ther as we shullen
12.  162  ben alle, as seith seint Poul, biforn the sete of oure lord Iesu Crist,/
12.  163   wher
12.  163  as he shal maken a general congregacioun wher as no man may ben absent./
12.  164  For certes there ne auaileth noon essoyne ne excusacioun. /
12.  165  (165) And nat oonly
12.  165  that oure defautes shullen be iuged, but eek that alle oure werkes shullen
12.  165  openly be knowe./
12.  166   And as that seith seint ?f.238'! Bernard: Ther ne shal no
12.  166  pletynge auaile ne no sleighte; we shullen yeue rekenynge of euerich ydel word./
12.  167  There shul we han a iuge that may nat ben deceyued ne corrupt. And why?
12.  167  For certes alle oure thoghtes ben descouered as to hym, ne for prayere ne for
12.  167  mede he wol nat ben corrupt./
12.  168   And therfore seith Salomon: The wrathe of god
12.  168  ne wol nat spare no wight for prayere ne for yifte. And therfore at the day of
12.  168  dome ther nys noon hope to escape./
12.  169   Wherfore as seith seint Anselme: Ful
12.  169  gret anguisse shullen the synful folk haue at that tyme. /
12.  170  (170) Ther shal the
12.  170  stierne and wrothe iuge sitte aboue, and vnder hym the horrible pit of helle
12.  170  open to destroye hym that moot biknowen hise synnes, whiche synnes openly
12.  170  ben shewed biforn god and biforn euery creature./
12.  171   And on the left syde mo
12.  171  deueles than herte may bithynke for to harye and drawe the synful soules
12.  171  to the pyne of helle./
12.  172   And withinne the hertes of folk shal be the bityng
12.  172  conscience and withoute forth shal be the world al brennynge./
12.  173   Whider shal
12.  173  thanne the wreched synful man fle to hyde hym? Certes he may nat hyde
12.  173  hym: he moste come forth and shewe hym./
12.  174   For certes as seith seint
12.  174  Ierome: The erthe shal caste hym out of hym and the see also and the eyr
12.  174  also, that shal ben ful of thonder-clappes and lightnynges. /
12.  175  (175) Now soothly
12.  175  whoso wel remembreth hym of thise thynges. I gesse that his synne shal nat
12.  175  torne hym in delit, but to gret sorwe for drede of the peyne of helle./
12.  176   And
12.  176  therfore seith Iob to god: Suffre, lord, that I may a while biwayle and
12.  176  wepe er I go withoute returnynge to the dirke lond couered with the
12.  176  derknesse of deeth,/
12.  177   to the lond of mysese and of derknesse where as is the
12.  177  shadwe ofdeeth, where as ther is noon ordre or ordinaunce but grisly drede that
12.  177  euere shal laste./
12.  178   Lo here may ye seen that Iob preyde respit a while to biwepe
12.  178  and wayle his trespas, for soothly o day of respit is bettre than al the tresor
12.  178  of this world./
12.  179   And for as muche as a man may acquyte hymself biforn god
12.  179  by penitence in this world and nat by tresor, therfore sholde he preye to god
12.  179  to yeue hym respit a while to biwepe and biwaylen his trespas. /
12.  180  (180) For certes
12.  180  al the sorwe that a man myghte make fro the bigynnyng of the world nys
12.  180  but a litel thyng at regard of the sorwe of helle./
12.  181    The cause why that Iob clepeth helle the lond of derknesse?/
12.  182   Vnderstondeth
12.  182  ?f.239! that he clepeth it lond or erthe, for it is stable and neuere shal faile
12.  182  dirk, for he that is in helle hath defaute of light material./
12.  183   For certes the derke
12.  183  light that shal come out of the fyr that euere shal brenne shal turne hym al
12.  183  to peyne that is in helle, for it sheweth hym to the horrible deueles that hym
12.  183  tormenten./
12.  184   Couered with the derknesse of deeth, that is to seyn that he that
12.  184  is in helle shal haue defaute of the sighte of god, for certes the sighte of god is
12.  184  the lyf pardurable. /
12.  185  (185) The derknesse of deeth ben the synnes that the
12.  185  wrecched man hath doon, whiche that destourben hym to se the face of god
12.  185  right as a dirk clowde bitwixe vs and the sonne./
12.  186   Lond of myseise by cause
12.  186  that ther ben iij manere of defautes agayns iij thynges that folk of this world
12.  186  han in this present lyf, that is to seyn honours, delices and rychesses./
12.  187   Agayns
12.  187  honour han they in helle shame and confusion,/
12.  188   for wel ye woot that men clepen
12.  188  honour the reuerence that man dooth to man. But in helle is noon honour
12.  188  ne reuerence, for certes namoore reuerence shal be doon to a kyng than to a
12.  188  knaue./
12.  189   For which god seith by the prophete Ieremye: Thilke folk that me
12.  189  despisen shulle ben in despit. /
12.  190  (190) Honour is eek clepid greet lordshipe. Ther
12.  190  shal no wight seruen oother but of harm and torment. Honour is eek clepid
12.  190  greet dignytee and heighnesse, but in helle shul they ben al fortroden of
12.  190  deueles./
12.  191   As god seith: The horrible deueles shullen goon and comen vpon
12.  191  the heuedes of dampned folk. And this is for as muche as the heyer that
12.  191  they were in this present lyf, the moore shulle they ben abated and defouled
12.  191  in helle./
12.  192   Agayns the richesse of this world shul they han myseyse of pouerte.
12.  192  And this pouerte shal be in iiij thynges./
12.  193   In defaute of tresor, of which that
12.  193  Dauid seith: The riche folk that embraceden and oneden al hir herte to tresor
12.  193  of this world shulle slepen in the slepynge of deeth and nothyng ne shal they
12.  193  fynden in hir handes of al hir tresor./
12.  194   And mooreouer the misayse of helle shal
12.  194  ben in defaute of mete and drynke. /
12.  195  (195) For god seith thus by Moyses: They
12.  195  shul ben wasted with honger and the bryddes of helle shul deuouren hem
12.  195  with bitter deeth, and the galle of the dragon shal ben hire drynke, and the
12.  195  venym of the dragon hir morsels./
12.  196   And fortherouer hire miseyse shal ben in
12.  196  defaute of clothyng for they shullen ben naked in body as of clothyng saue
12.  196  the fyr in which they brenne and othere filthes./
12.  197   And naked shul they ben of
12.  197  soule, of alle manere vertues which that is the clothyng of soule. Where
12.  197  ?f.239v! ben thanne the gaye robes and the softe shetes and the smale shertes?/
12.  198  Lo what seith god of hem by the prophete Ysaye that vnder hem shul ben
12.  198  strawed moththes and hir couertures shullen ben of wormes of helle./
12.  199   And
12.  199  fortherouer hir miseyse shal ben in defaute of frendes for he is nat pouere that
12.  199  hath goode frendes. But there is no freend, /
12.  200  (200) for neither god ne no creature
12.  200  shal ben freend to hem, and euerich of hem shal haten oother with deedly hate./
12.  201  The sones and the doghtren shullen rebellen agayns fader and moder, and
12.  201  kynrede agayns kynrede, and chiden and despisen euerich of hem oother bothe
12.  201  day and nyght. As god seith by the prophete Michias:/
12.  202   And the louynge
12.  202  children that whilom loueden so flesshly euerich oother wolden euerich of hem
12.  202  eten oother if they myghte./
12.  203   For how sholde they louen hem togidre in the peyne
12.  203  of helle whan they hateden euerich ofhem oother in the prosperitee of this lyf?/
12.  204  For truste wel hire flesshly loue was dedly hate, as seith the prophete Dauid:
12.  204  Whoso that loueth wikkednesse he hateth his soule. /
12.  205  (205) And whoso hateth
12.  205  his owene soule certes he may loue noon oother wight in no manere./
12.  206   And
12.  206  therfore in helle is no solas ne no frendshipe, but euere the moore flesshly
12.  206  kynredes that ben in helle the moore cursynges, the moore chidynges, and the
12.  206  moore dedly hate ther is among hem./
12.  207   And fortherouer they shul haue defaute
12.  207  of alle manere delices, for certes delices ben after the appetites of the
12.  207  v wittes as sighte, herynge, smellynge, sauorynge and touchynge./
12.  208   But in
12.  208  helle hir sighte shal be ful of dirknesse and of smoke, and therfore ful of teerys;
12.  208  and hir herynge ful of waymentynge and of gryntynge of teeth, as seith Iesu
12.  208  Crist:/
12.  209   Hire nosethirles shul ben ful of stynkynge stynk. And as seith Ysaye the
12.  209  prophete: Hir sauorynge shal be ful of bitter galle. /
12.  210  (210) And touchynge of al
12.  210  hir body ycouered with fyr that neuere shal quenche and with wormes that
12.  210  neuere shul dyen, as god seith by the mowth of Ysaye./
12.  211    And for as muche as they shul nat wene that they may dyen for peyne and
12.  211  by hir deeth fle fro peyne, that may they vnderstonde in the word of Iob that
12.  211  seith there as is the shadwe of de=./
12.  212   Certes a shadwe hath the liknesse of the
12.  212  thyng of which it is shadwe, but shadwe is nat the same thyng of which it is
12.  212  shadwe./
12.  213   Right so fareth the peyne of helle. It is lyk deeth for the horrible
12.  213  angwissh. And why? For it peyneth ?f.240! hem euere as thogh men sholde
12.  213  dye anon. But certes they shal nat dye./
12.  214   For as seith seint Gregorie: To wrecche
12.  214  kaityues shal be deeth withoute deeth and ende withouten ende and defaute
12.  214  withoute failynge; /
12.  215  (215) for hir deeth shal alwey lyuen, and hire ende shal
12.  215  eueremo bigynne, and hir defaute shal nat faile./
12.  216   And therfore seith seint Iohn
12.  216  the euaungelist: They shullen folwe deeth and they shal nat fynde hym, and
12.  216  they shul desiren to dye and deeth shal fle fro hem./
12.  217    And eek Iob seith that in helle is noon ordre of rewle./
12.  218   And al be it so that
12.  218  god hath creat alle thynges in right ordre and nothyng withouten ordre, but
12.  218  alle thynges ben ordeyned and nombred, yet nathelees they that ben dampned
12.  218  ben nothyng in ordre ne holden noon ordre,/
12.  219   for the erthe ne shal bere hem
12.  219  no fruyt. /
12.  220  (220) For as the prophete Dauid seith: God shal destroye the
12.  220  fruyt of the erthe as fro hem, ne water ne shal yeue hem no moysture, ne the
12.  220  eyr no refresshyng, ne fyr no light./
12.  221   For as seith seint Basile: The brennynge
12.  221  of the fyr of this world shal god yeuen in helle to hem that ben dampned,/
12.  222  but the light and the cleernesse shal he yeuen in heuene to hise children right
12.  222  as the goode man yeueth flessh to hise children and bones to hise houndes./
12.  223    And for they shullen haue noon hope to escape, seith seint Iob atte laste that
12.  223  ther shal horrour and grisly drede dwelle withouten ende./
12.  224   Horrour is alwey
12.  224  drede of harm that is to come and this drede shal euere dwelle in the hertes
12.  224  of hem that ben dampned and therfore han they lorn al hire hope for vij
12.  224  causes. /
12.  225  (225) First for god that is hir iuge shal be withoute mercy to hem, ne
12.  225  they may nat plese hym ne noon of hise halwes, ne they ne may yeue nothyng
12.  225  for hir raunsoun,/
12.  226   ne they haue no voys to speke to hym, ne they may nat fle
12.  226  fro peyne, ne they haue no goodnesse in hem that they may shewe to delyuere
12.  226  hem fro peyne./
12.  227   And therfore seith Salomon: The wikked man die= and whan
12.  227  he is deed he shal haue noon hope to escape fro peyne./
12.  228   Whoso thanne wolde
12.  228  wel vnderstonde thise peynes and bithynke hym wel that he hath disserued
12.  228  thilke peynes for hise synnes, certes he sholde haue moore talent to siken and
12.  228  to wepe than for to syngen and to pleye./
12.  229   For as that seith Salomon: Whoso
12.  229  that hadde the science to knowe the peynes that ben establised and ordeyned
12.  229  for synne, he wolde make sorwe. /
12.  230  (230) Thilke science, as seith seint Augustyn,
12.  230  maketh a man to waymente in his herte./
12.  231    The iiije poynt that ?f.240v! oghte make a man haue contricioun is the
12.  231  sorweful remembrance of the good that he hath left to doon here in erthe and
12.  231  eek the good that he hath lorn./
12.  232   Soothly the goode werkes that he hath left
12.  232  either they ben the goode werkes that he wroghte er he fil into deedly synne
12.  232  or ellis the goode werkes that he wroghte whil he lay in synne./
12.  233   Soothly the
12.  233  goode werkes that he dide biforn that he fil in synne ben al mortefied and
12.  233  astoned and dulled by the ofte synnynge./
12.  234   That othere goode werkes that he
12.  234  wroghte whil he lay in dedly synne, they ben outrely dede as to the lyf
12.  234  pardurable in heuene. /
12.  235  (235) Thanne thilke goode werkes that ben mortefied
12.  235  by ofte synnyng, whiche goode werkes he dide while he was in charitee, ne
12.  235  mowe neuere quyken agayn withoute verray penitence./
12.  236   And therof seith god
12.  236  by the mowth of Ezechiel that if the rightful man returne agayn from his right-
12.  236  wisnesse and werke wikkednesse, shal he lyue?/
12.  237   Nay, for alle the goode werkes
12.  237  that he hath wroght ne shulle neuere ben in remembrance, for he shal dye in
12.  237  his synne./
12.  238   And vpon thilke chapitre seith seint Gregorie thus that we shul
12.  238  vnderstonde this principally/
12.  239   that whan we doon dedly synne it is for nawght
12.  239  thanne to reherse or drawen into memorie the goode werkes that we han wroght
12.  239  biforn. /
12.  240  (240) For certes in the werkynge of the dedly synne ther is no trust to
12.  240  no good werk that we han doon biforn, that is to seyn as for to haue therby
12.  240  the lyf pardurable in heuene./
12.  241   But nathelees the goode werkes quyken agayn
12.  241  and comen agayn and helpen and auaylen to haue the lyf pardurable in heuene
12.  241  whan we han contricion./
12.  242   But soothly the goode werkes that men doon whil
12.  242  that they been in dedly synne for as muche as they weren doon in dedly synne
12.  242  they may neuere quyken agayn./
12.  243   For certes thyng that neuere hadde lyf may
12.  243  neuere quyken. And natheles al be it that they ne auayle noght to han the
12.  243  lyf pardurable, yet auaylen they to abreggen of the peyne of helle or ellis to
12.  243  gete temporal richesses,/
12.  244   or ellis that god wole the rather enlumyne and lighte
12.  244  the herte of the synful man to han repentance. /
12.  245  (245) And eek they auailen for
12.  245  to vsen a man to doon goode werkes that the feend haue the lasse power of
12.  245  his soule./
12.  246   And thus the curteys lord Iesu Crist ne wole that no good werk
12.  246  be lost for in somwhat it shal auayle./
12.  247   But for as muche as the goode werkes
12.  247  that men doon whil they ben in good lyf ben al amortised by synne folwynge
12.  247  and eek sith that alle the ?f.241! goode werkes that men doon whil they ben
12.  247  in dedly synne ben outrely dede as for to han the lyf pardurable,/
12.  248   wel may
12.  248  that man that no good werk ne dooth synge thilke newe Frenshe song l'ay tout
12.  248  perdu mon temps et mon labour./
12.  249   For certes synne bireueth a man bothe goodnesse
12.  249  of nature and eek the goodnesse of grace. /
12.  250  (250) For soothly the grace of the
12.  250  holy goost fareth lyk fyr that may nat ben ydel, for fyr faileth anon as it
12.  250  forleteth his werkynge, and right so grace faileth anon as it forleteth his
12.  250  werkynge./
12.  251   Thanne leseth the synful man the goodnesse of glorie that oonly
12.  251  is bihight to goode men that labouren and werken./
12.  252   Wel may he be sory thanne
12.  252  that oweth al his lyf to god as longe as he hath lyued and eek as longe as he
12.  252  shal lyue that no goodnesse ne hath to paye with his dette to god to whom he
12.  252  oweth al his lyf./
12.  253   For truste wel he shal yeue acountes, as seith seint Bernard,
12.  253  of alle the goodes that han ben yeuen hym in this present lyf and how he
12.  253  hath hem despended,/
12.  254   nat so muche that ther shal nat perisse an heer of his
12.  254  heed ne a moment of an houre ne shal nat perisse of his tyme that he ne shal
12.  254  yeue of it a rekenynge./
12.  255    (255) The vthe thyng that oghte moeue a man to contricioun is remembrance
12.  255  of the passion that oure lord Iesu Crist suffred for oure synnes./
12.  256   For as seith
12.  256  seint Bernard: Whil that I lyue I shal haue remembrance of the trauailes that
12.  256  oure lord Iesu Crist suffred in prechynge,/
12.  257   his werynesse in trauailynge, hise
12.  257  temptacions whan he fasted, hise longe wakynges whan he preyed, hise teerys
12.  257  whan that he weep for pitee of good peple,/
12.  258   the wo and the shame and the
12.  258  filthe that men seyden to hym, of the foule spittyng that men spitte on his
12.  258  face, of the buffettes that men yaue hym, of the fowle mowwes and of the
12.  258  repreues that men to hym seyden,/
12.  259   of the nayles with whiche he was nayled
12.  259  to the croys, and of al the remenant of his passioun that he suffred for my
12.  259  synnes and nothyng for his gilt./
12.  260    (260) And ye shal vnderstonde that in mannes synne is euery manere ordre
12.  260  of ordinance turned vp-so-down./
12.  261   For it is soo= that god and reson and
12.  261  sensualitee and the body of man ben so ordeyned that euerich of thise iiij
12.  261  thynges sholde haue lordshipe ouer that oother /
12.  262   as thus: god sholde haue
12.  262  lordshipe ouer resoun, and resoun ouer sensualitee, and sensualitee ouer the
12.  262  body of man./
12.  263   But soothly whan man synneth al this ordre or ordinance is
12.  263  turned vp-so-down./
12.  264   And therfore ?f.241v! thanne for as muche as the reson of
12.  264  man ne wol nat be subget ne obeisaunt to god that is his lord by right,
12.  264  therfore leseth it the lordshipe that it sholde haue in sensualitee and eek
12.  264  ouer the body of man. /
12.  265  (265) And why? For sensualitee rebelleth thanne agayns
12.  265  resoun and by that wey leseth reson the lordshipe ouer sensualitee and ouer
12.  265  the body./
12.  266   For right as reson is rebel to god, right so is bothe sensualitee rebel
12.  266  to reson and the body also./
12.  267    And certes this desordinaunce and this rebellioun oure lord Iesu Crist
12.  267  aboghte vpon his precious body ful deere. And herkneth in which wise./
12.  268   For
12.  268  as muche thanne as reson is rebel to god, therfore is man worthy to haue sorwe
12.  268  and to be deed./
12.  269   This suffred oure lord Iesu Crist for man after that he hadde be
12.  269  bitraysed of his disciple and destreyned and bounde so that the blood brast
12.  269  out at euery nayl of hise handes, as seith seint Augustyn. /
12.  270  (270) And fortherouer
12.  270  for as muchel as reson of man ne wol nat daunte sensualitee whan it may,
12.  270  therfore is man worthy to han shame. And this suffrede oure lord Iesu Crist
12.  270  for man whan they spette in his visage./
12.  271   And fortherouer for as muche thanne
12.  271  as the kaytif body of man is rebel bothe to resoun and to sensualitee, therfore
12.  271  is it worthy the deeth./
12.  272   And this suffred oure lord Iesu Crist for man vpon
12.  272  the croys wher as ther nas no part of his body free withoute gret peyne and
12.  272  bitter passioun./
12.  273   And al this suffred Iesu Crist that neuere forfeted: To muchel
12.  273  am I peyned for the thynges that I neuere deserued and to muche defouled
12.  273  for shendshipe that man is worthy to haue./
12.  274   And therfore may the synful man
12.  274  wel seye as seith seint Bernard: Acursed be the bitternesse of my synne for
12.  274  which ther moste be suffred so muche bitternesse. /
12.  275  (275) For certes after the
12.  275  diuerse discordaunces of oure wikkednesses was the passioun of Iesu Crist
12.  275  ordeyned in diuerse thynges,/
12.  276   as thus: certes synful mannes soule is bitraysed
12.  276  of the deuel by coueitise of temporel prosperitee and scorned by deceyte whan
12.  276  he cheseth flesshly delices, and yet is it tormented by inpacience of aduersitee
12.  276  and byspet by seruage and subieccioun of synne, and atte laste it is slayn
12.  276  fynally./
12.  277   For this desordenaunce of synful man was Iesu Crist first bitraysed and
12.  277  after that was he bownde that cam for to vnbynde vs of synne and of peyne./
12.  278  Thanne was he biscorned that oonly sholde ben honoured in alle thynges of alle
12.  278  thynges./
12.  279   Thanne was his visage, that oghte be desired to be seyn of all
12.  279  mankynde in which visage angels desiren to looke, vileynsly bispet. /
12.  280  (280)
12.  280  Thanne was he skourged that nothyng hadde agilt. And fynally thanne was
12.  280  he crucefied and slayn./
12.  281   Thanne was acompli?f.242!ced the word of Ysaie:
12.  281  He was wounded for oure mysdedes and defouled by oure felonyes./
12.  282   Now sith
12.  282  that Iesu Crist took vpon hymself the peyne of alle oure wikkednesses muchel
12.  282  oghte synful man wepe and biwayle that for hise synnes goddes sone of heuene
12.  282  sholde al this peyne endure./
12.  283    The vjthe thyng that oghte moeue a man to contricioun is the hope of iij
12.  283  thynges, that is to seyn foryeuenesse of synne, and the yifte of grace wel for to
12.  283  do, and the glorie of heuene with which god shal gerdone man for hise goode
12.  283  dedes./
12.  284    And for as muche as Iesu Crist yeueth vs thise yiftes of his largesse and of
12.  284  his souereyn bountee, thefore is he clepid Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum. /
12.  285  (285)
12.  285  Iesu is for to seyn saueour or sauacioun, on whom men shal hope to haue
12.  285  foryifnesse of synnes which that is proprely sauacion of synnes./
12.  286   And therfore
12.  286  seyde the aungel to Ioseph: Thow shalt clepe his name Iesus that shal saue
12.  286  his peple of hir synnes./
12.  287   And heerof seith seint Peter: Ther is noon oother name
12.  287  vnder heuene that is yeue to any man by which a man may be saued but oonly
12.  287  Iesus./
12.  288   Nazarenus is as muche for to seye as florissynge, in which a man shal
12.  288  hope that he that yeueth hym remissioun of synnes shal yeue hym eek grace wel
12.  288  to do, for in the flour is hope of fruyt in tyme comynge and in foryifnesse of
12.  288  synnes hope of grace wel to do./
12.  289   I was at the dore of thyn herte (seith Iesus)
12.  289  and clepede for to entre. He that opneth to me shal haue foryifnesse of synne./
12.  290  (290) I wol entre into hym by my grace and sowpe with hym by the goode
12.  290  werkes that he shal doon, whiche werkes ben the foode of god, and he shal
12.  290  sowpe with me by the grete ioye that I shal yeue hym./
12.  291   Thus shal man hope
12.  291  that for hise werkes of penance god shal yeue hym his regne as he byheteth hym
12.  291  in the gospel./
12.  292    Now shal man vnderstonde in which manere shal ben his contricioun. I
12.  292  seye that it shal ben vniuersal and total, this is to seyn a man shal be verray
12.  292  repentaunt for alle hise synnes that he hath doon in delit of his thoght, for
12.  292  delit is ful perilous./
12.  293   For ther ben two manere of consentynges: that oon of hem
12.  293  is clepid consentynge of affeccion whan a man is moeued to do synne and
12.  293  thanne deliteth hym longe for to thynke on that synne./
12.  294   And his reson
12.  294  aperceyueth wel that it is synne agayns the lawe of god, and yet his resoun
12.  294  refreyneth nat his fool delit or talent though he seeth wel apertly that it is
12.  294  agayns the reuerence of god although his resoun ne consente nat to doon the
12.  294  ?f.242v! synne in dede. /
12.  295  (295) Yet seyn somme doctours that swich delit that
12.  295  dwelle= longe, it is ful perilous al be it neuer so lite./
12.  296   And also a man sholde
12.  296  sorwe, namely for al that euere he hath desired agayn the lawe of god with
12.  296  parfit consentynge of his resoun, for therof is no doute that it is dedly synne
12.  296  in the consentynge./
12.  297   For certes ther is no dedly synne that it nas first in mannes
12.  297  thoght and after that in his delit and so forth into consentynge and into dede./
12.  298  Wherfore I seye that many men ne repenten hem neuere of swyche thoghtes
12.  298  and delites ne neuere shryuen hem of it, but oonly of the dede of grete synnes
12.  298  outward./
12.  299   Wherfore I seye that swiche wikked delites and wikked thoghtes ben
12.  299  subtil bigyleris of hem that shullen ben dampned./
12.  300    (300) Mooreouer man oghte to sorwen for hise wikked wordes as wel as hise
12.  300  wikked dedes. For certes the repentance of a singuler synne and nat repente
12.  300  of alle hise othere synnes or ellis repente hym of alle hise othere synnes and nat
12.  300  of a syngler synne may nat auayle./
12.  301   For certes god almyghty is al good, and
12.  301  therfore outher he foryeueth al or ellis right noght./
12.  302   And herof seith seint
12.  302  Augustyn:/
12.  303   I woot certeynly that god is enemy to euerich synnere. And how
12.  303  thanne he that obserueth o synne, shal he haue foryeuenesse of the remenant
12.  303  of hise othere synnes? Nay./
12.  304    And fortherouer contricioun sholde be wonder sorweful and anguissous and
12.  304  therfore yeueth hym god pleynly his mercy. And therfore whan my soule was
12.  304  anguissous withinne me I hadde remembraunce of god that my prayere myghte
12.  304  come to hym./
12.  305    (305) Fortherouer contricioun moste be continuel and that man haue
12.  305  stedefast purpos to shryue hym and for to amende hym of his lyf./
12.  306   For soothly
12.  306  whil contricion lasteth man may euere haue hope of foryeuenesse. And of this
12.  306  cometh hate of synne that destroyeth synne bothe in hymself and eek in othere
12.  306  folk at his power./
12.  307   For which seith Dauid: Ye that louen god hateth wikked-
12.  307  nesse, for trusteth wel to loue god is for to loue that he loueth and hate that
12.  307  he hateth./
12.  308    The laste thyng that men shal vnderstonde in contricioun is this: wherof
12.  308  auaileth contricioun. I seye that somtyme contricioun delyuereth man fro
12.  308  synne./
12.  309   Of which that Dauid seith: I seye (quod Dauid), that is to seyn I
12.  309  purposed fermely, to shryue me and thow lord relessedest my synne. /
12.  310  (310)
12.  310  And right so as contricioun auaileth nat withouten sad purpos of shrifte if man
12.  310  haue oportunytee, right so litel worth is shrifte or satisfaccioun withoute
12.  310  contricioun./
12.  311   And mooreouer contricion destroyeth the prisoun of helle ?f.243!
12.  311  and maketh wayk and feble the strengthes of the deueles and restoreth the
12.  311  yiftes of the holy goost and of alle goode vertues,/
12.  312   and it clenseth the soule of
12.  312  synne and delyuereth the soule fro the peyne of helle and fro the compaignye
12.  312  of the deuel and fro the seruage of synne, and restoreth it to alle goodes
12.  312  espirituels and to the compaignye and communyoun of holy chirche./
12.  313   And
12.  313  fortherouer it maketh hym that whilom was sone of ire to be sone of grace.
12.  313  And alle thise thynges be preued by holy writ./
12.  314   And therfore he that wolde
12.  314  sette his entente to thise thynges, he were ful wys; for soothly he ne sholde nat
12.  314  thanne in al his lyf haue corage to synne but yeue his body and al his herte
12.  314  to the seruyce of Iesu Crist and therof doon hym hommage. /
12.  315  (315) For certes
12.  315  oure swete lord Iesu Crist hath sparid vs so debonairly in oure folies that if
12.  315  he ne hadde pitee of mannes soule a sory song we myghten alle synge./
12.  316  Explicit prima pars penitencie et incipit secunda pars eiusdem.
12.  316  The seconde partie of penitence is confessioun that is signe of contricioun./
12.  317  Now shul ye vnderstonde what is confessioun and wheither it oghte nedes be
12.  317  doon or noon and whiche thynges ben couenable to verray confessioun./
12.  318    First shaltow vnderstonde that confession is verray shewynge of synnes to the
12.  318  preest./
12.  319   This is to seyn verray, for he moot confesse hym of alle the condiciouns
12.  319  that bilongen to his synne as ferfor= as he kan. /
12.  320  (320) Al moot be seyd and
12.  320  nothyng excused ne hid ne forwrapped, and nat auaunce hym of hise goode
12.  320  werkes./
12.  321   And fortherouer it is necessarie to vnderstonde whennes that synnes
12.  321  spryngen and how they encressen and whiche they ben./
12.  322    Of the spryngynge of synnes as seith seint Paul in this wise that right as by
12.  322  a man synne entred first into this world and thurgh that synne deth, right so
12.  322  thilke deth entred into alle men that synneden./
12.  323   And this man was Adam by
12.  323  whom synne entred into this world whan he brak the comandementz of god./
12.  324  And therfore he that first was so myghty that he sholde nat haue deyed bicam
12.  324  swich oon that he moste nedes dye wheither he wolde or noon and al his
12.  324  progenye that is in this world that in thilke man synneden. /
12.  325  (325) Looke that
12.  325  in th'estat of innocence whan Adam and Eue naked weren in paradys ?f.243v!
12.  325  and nothyng ne hadden shame of hir nakednesse,/
12.  326   how that the serpent that was
12.  326  moost wily of alle othere bestes that god hadde maked seyde to the womman:
12.  326  'Why comanded god to yow ye sholde nat eten of euery tree in paradys?'/
12.  327    The womman answerde: 'Of the fruyt,' quod she, 'of the trees in paradys
12.  327  we feden vs, but soothly of the fruyt of the tree that is in the myddel of paradys
12.  327  god forbad vs for to ete ne nat touche it list parauenture we sholde dyen.'/
12.  328    The serpent seyde to the womman: 'Nay, nay, ye shul nat dyen of deth. For
12.  328  sothe god woot that what day that ye eten therof youre eyen shulle opne and
12.  328  ye shul ben as goddes konnynge good and harm.'/
12.  329    The womman saugh that the tree was good to fedynge and fair to the eyen
12.  329  and delitable to sighte. She took of the fruyt of the tree and eet it and yaf
12.  329  it to hir housbonde and he eet and anon the eyen of hem bothe opnede./
12.  330  (330) And whan that they knewe that they were naked they sowed of fyge-leues
12.  330  in manere of breches to hiden hire membres./
12.  331   Here may ye seen that dedly synne
12.  331  hath first suggestioun of the feend as sheweth heere by the naddre, and after-
12.  331  ward the delit of the flessh as sheweth heere by Eua, and after that the
12.  331  consentynge of resoun as sheweth heere by Adam./
12.  332   For truste wel thogh so
12.  332  were that the feend tempted oon that is to seyn the flessh and the flessh hadde
12.  332  delit in the beautee of the fruyt deffended, yet certes til that reson, that is to
12.  332  seyn Adam, consented to the etyng of the fruyt yet stood he in the estat of
12.  332  innocence./
12.  333   Of thilke Adam toke we thilke synne original, for of hym flesshly
12.  333  descended be we alle and engendred of vile and corrupt matere./
12.  334   And whan
12.  334  the soule is put in oure body, right-anoon is contract original synne; and that
12.  334  that was erst but oonly peyne of concupiscence is afterward bothe peyne and
12.  334  synne. /
12.  335  (335) And therfore be we alle yborn sones of wraththe and of
12.  335  dampnacioun pardurable, if it nere baptesme that we receyuen which
12.  335  bynyme= vs the culpe. But for sothe the peyne dwelleth with vs as to
12.  335  temptacioun, which peyne highte concupiscence./
12.  336   And this concupiscence
12.  336  whan it is wrongfully disposed or ordeyned in man, it maketh hym coueite
12.  336  by coueitise of flessh flesshly synne by sighte of hise eyen as to erthely thynges
12.  336  and eek coueitise of heynesse by pryde of herte./
12.  337    Now as to speke of the firste coueitise, that is concupiscence after the lawe
12.  337  of oure membres that weren lawefulliche ymaked and by rightful iugement of
12.  337  god,/
12.  338   I seye for as muche as man is nat obeisaunt to god that is his lord, therfore
12.  338  is the flessh to hym desobeisaunt ?f.244! thurgh concupiscence which that yet
12.  338  is clepid norissynge of synne and occasioun of synne./
12.  339   Therfore al the while
12.  339  that a man hath in hym the peyne of concupiscence it is impossible but he
12.  339  be tempted somtyme and moeued in his flessh to synne. /
12.  340  (340) And this thyng
12.  340  may nat faile as longe as he lyueth. It may wel wexe feble and faile by vertu
12.  340  of baptesme and by the grace of god thrugh penitence./
12.  341   But fully ne shal it
12.  341  neuere quenche that he ne shal somtyme be moeued in hymself but if he were
12.  341  al refreided by siknesse or by malefice of sorcerye or colde drynkes./
12.  342   For lo
12.  342  what seith seint Paul: The flessh coueiteth agayn the spirit and the spirit agayn
12.  342  the flessh. They ben so contrarie and so stryuen that a man may nat alwey
12.  342  do as he wolde./
12.  343   The same seynt Paul after his grete penaunce in water and
12.  343  in londe, in water by nyght and by day in gret peril and in gret peyne, in
12.  343  londe in famyn and thurst, in cold and clothlees and ones stooned almoost to
12.  343  the deth,/
12.  344   yet seyde he: Allas I kaytif man, who shal delyuere me fro the prison
12.  344  of my kaytif body? /
12.  345  (345) And seint Ierom whanne he longe tyme hadde woned
12.  345  in desert where as he hadde no compaignye but of wilde bestes, wher as he
12.  345  hadde no mete but herbes and water to his drynke, ne no bed but the naked
12.  345  erthe for which his flessh was blak as an Ethiopen for hete and ney destroyed
12.  345  for cold,/
12.  346   yet seyde he that the brennynge of lecherye boylede in al his body./
12.  347  Wherfore I woot wel sikerly that they ben deceyued that seyn that they ne be nat
12.  347  tempted in hire body./
12.  348   Witnesse on seint Iame the apostel that seith that euery
12.  348  wight is tempted in his owene concupiscence, that is to seyn that euerich of vs
12.  348  hath matere and occasioun to be tempted of the norissynge of synne that is in
12.  348  his body./
12.  349   And therfore seith seint Iohn the euaungelist: If that we seyn that
12.  349  we be withoute synne, we deceyuen vsselue and trouthe is nat in vs./
12.  350    (350) Now shul ye vnderstonde in what manere that synne wexeth and
12.  350  encresceth in man. The firste thyng is thilke norissynge of synne of which I spak
12.  350  biforn, thilke flesshly concupiscence./
12.  351   And after that comth the subieccioun of
12.  351  the deuel, this is to seyn the deueles bely with which he bloweth in man the
12.  351  fyr of flesshly concupiscence./
12.  352   And after that a man bythynketh hym wheither
12.  352  he wol doon or no thilke thyng to which he is tempted./
12.  353   And thanne if that
12.  353  a man withstonde ?f.244v! and wayue the firste entisynges of his flessh and of
12.  353  the feend, thanne is it no synne. And if so be that he do nat so, thanne
12.  353  feeleth he anon a flawmbe of delit./
12.  354   And thanne is it good to be war and kepe
12.  354  hym wel or ellis he wol falle anon into consentynge of synne, and thanne wol
12.  354  he do it if he may haue tyme and place. /
12.  355  (355) And of this matere seith
12.  355  Moyses by the deuel in this manere: The feend seith: 'I wol chace and pursue
12.  355  the man by wikked suggestioun, and I wol hente hym by moeuyng or stiryng
12.  355  of synne, and I wol departe my prise or my preye by deliberacioun and my lust
12.  355  shal ben acompliced in delit, I wol drawe my swerd in consentynge;/
12.  356   for certes
12.  356  right as a swerd departeth a thyng in two peces, right so consentynge departeth
12.  356  god fro man, and thanne wol I sle hym with myn hand in dede of synne;'
12.  356  thus seyth the feend./
12.  357   For certes thanne is a man al deed in soule and thus
12.  357  is synne acompliced by temptacioun, by delit and by consentynge, and thanne
12.  357  is the synne clepid actuel./
12.  358    For sothe synne is in two maneres: outher is it venyal or dedly synne. Soothly
12.  358  whan man loueth any creature moore than Iesu Crist oure creatour, thanne
12.  358  is it dedly synne; and venial synne is it if man loue Iesu Crist lasse than hym
12.  358  oghte./
12.  359   For sothe the dede of this venial synne is ful perilous, for it amenuseth
12.  359  the loue that men sholde han to god moore and moore. /
12.  360  (360) And therfore if
12.  360  a man charge hymself with manye swiche venial synnes, certes but if so be that
12.  360  he somtyme descharge hym of hem by shrifte they mowe ful lightly amenuse
12.  360  in hym al the loue that he hath to Iesu Crist./
12.  361   And in this wise skippeth venial
12.  361  into dedly synne, for certes the moore that a man chargeth his soule with venial
12.  361  synnes the moore is he enclyned to falle in dedly synne./
12.  362   And therfore lat vs
12.  362  nat be necligent to deschargen vs of venial synnes, for the prouerbe seith that
12.  362  manye smale maketh a greet./
12.  363   And herkne this ensample. A greet wawe of the
12.  363  see comth somtyme with so greet a violence that it drencheth the ship; and the
12.  363  same harm doon somtyme the smale dropes of water that entreth thurgh a
12.  363  litel creuesse into the thurrok and in the botme of the ship, if men be so necligent
12.  363  that men ne descharge hem nat by tyme./
12.  364   And therfore althogh ther be a
12.  364  difference bitwixe thise two causes of drenchynge, algates the ship is dreynt./
12.  365  (365) Right so fareth it somtyme of dedly synne and of anoyouse venials synnes
12.  365  whan they multiplie in a man so gretly that thilke worldly thynges that he
12.  365  loueth thurgh which he synneth venially is as gret in his herte as the loue of
12.  365  ?f.245! god or moore./
12.  366   And therfore the loue of euery thyng that is nat byset
12.  366  in god ne doon principally for goddes sake, al that a man loue it lasse than
12.  366  god yet is it venial synne;/
12.  367   and dedly synne whan the loue of any thyng weyeth
12.  367  in the herte of man as muche as the loue of god or moore./
12.  368   Dedly synne, as
12.  368  seith seynt Augustyn, is whan man turneth his herte fro god which that is verray
12.  368  souereyn bowntee that may nat chaunge and yeueth his herte to a thyng that
12.  368  may chaunge and flitte -- /
12.  369   and certes that is euerythyng saue god of heuene.
12.  369  For sooth is that if a man yeue his loue, the which that he oweth al to god
12.  369  with al his herte, vnto a creature, certes as muche of his loue as he yeueth
12.  369  to thilke creature so muche he bireueth fro god. /
12.  370  (370) And therfore dooth he
12.  370  synne for he that is dettour to god ne yeldeth nat to god al his dette, that is to
12.  370  seyn al the loue of his herte./
12.  371    Now sith man vnderstondeth generally which is venial synne, thanne is it
12.  371  couenable to tellen specially of synnes whiche that many a man parauenture
12.  371  ne demeth hem nat synnes and ne shryueth hym nat of the same thynges and
12.  371  yet nathelees they been synnes./
12.  372   And soothly as thise clerkes writen, this is to
12.  372  seyn that euery tyme that man eteth or drynketh moore than suffiseth to the
12.  372  sustenaunce of his body, in certeyn he dooth synne./
12.  373   And eek whan he speketh
12.  373  moore than it nedeth, it is synne. Eek whan he herkneth nat benygnely =e
12.  373  compleynte of the pouere./
12.  374   Eek whan he is in heele of body and wol nat faste,
12.  374  whan oother folk fasten, withouten cause resonable. Eek whan he slepeth moore
12.  374  than nedeth or whan he comth by thilke encheson to late to chirche or to othere
12.  374  werkes of charitee. /
12.  375  (375) Eek whan he vseth his wyf withoute souereyn desir
12.  375  of engendrure to honour of god or for the entente to yelde to his wyf the dette
12.  375  of his body./
12.  376   Eek whan he wol nat visite the syke and the prisoner if he may.
12.  376  Eek if he loue wyf or child or oother worldly thyng moore than reson requereth.
12.  376  Eek if he flatre or blaundise moore than hym oghte for any necessitee./
12.  377   Eek if
12.  377  he amenuse or withdrawe the almesse of the pouere. Eek if he apparaileth his
12.  377  mete moore deliciously than nede is or ete it to hastily by likerousnesse./
12.  378   Eek
12.  378  if he tale vanytes at chirche or at goddes seruyce or that he be a talker of ydel
12.  378  wordes of folye or of vileynye, for he shal yelde acounte of it at the day of dome./
12.  379  Eek whan he biheteth or assureth to do thynges that he ne may nat parfourne.
12.  379  Eek whan that he by lightnesse or folye mysseyth or scorneth his neighebore.
12.  379  ?f.245v! /
12.  380  (380) Eek whan he hath any wikked suspecioun of thyng ther he ne
12.  380  woot of it no soothfastnesse./
12.  381   Thise thynges and mo withoute nombre ben
12.  381  synnes, as seith seint Augustyn./
12.  382    Now shal men vnderstonde that al be it so that noon erthely man may
12.  382  eschewe alle veniale synnes, yet may he refreyne hem by the brennynge loue
12.  382  that he hath to oure lord Iesu Crist and by preyeres and confession and othere
12.  382  goode werkes so that it shal but litel greue./
12.  383   For as sei= seint Augustyn: If a
12.  383  man loue god in swich manere that al that euere he dooth is in the loue of
12.  383  god or for the loue of god verraily for he brenneth in the loue of god,/
12.  384   looke
12.  384  how muche that a drope of water that falleth in a furneys ful of fyr anoyeth
12.  384  or greueth, so muche anoyeth a venial synne vnto a man that is parfit in the
12.  384  loue of Iesu Crist. /
12.  385  (385) Men may also refreyne venial synne by receyuynge
12.  385  worthily of the precious body of Iesu Crist,/
12.  386   by receyuynge eek of holy water,
12.  386  by almesdede, by general confession of Confiteor at masse and at complyn, and
12.  386  by blessynge of bisshopes and of preestes, and by othere goode werkes./
12.  387  De septem peccatis mortalibus
12.  387  Now is it bihouely thyng to telle whiche ben dedly synnes, that is to seyn
12.  387  chief taynes of synnes. Alle they renne in o lees but in dyuerse manere. Now
12.  387  ben they clepid chieftaynes for as muche as they ben chief and sprynge of alle
12.  387  othere synnes./
12.  388   Of the roote of thise vij synnes thanne is pryde the general roote
12.  388  of alle harmes, for of this roote spryngen certeyn braunches as ire, enuye, accidie
12.  388  or sleuthe, auarice or coueitise to commune vnderstondynge, glotonye, and
12.  388  lecherye./
12.  389   And euerich of thise chief synnes hath hise braunches and hise
12.  389  twigges, as shal be declared in hire chapitres folwynge./
12.  390    (390) And though so be that no man kan outrely tellen the nombre of twigges
12.  390  and of the harmes that comen of pryde, yet wol I shewe a partie of hem as ye
12.  390  shul vnderstande./
12.  391   Ther is inobedience, auantynge, ypocrisye, despit, arro-
12.  391  gaunce, inpudence, swellynge of herte, insolence, elacioun, inpacience, stryf,
12.  391  contumacie, presumpcioun, inreuerence, pertinacie, veyne glorie, and many
12.  391  another twig that I kan nat declare./
12.  392   Inobedient is he that desobeieth for
12.  392  despit to the comandementz of god and to hise souereins and to his goostly
12.  392  fader./
12.  393   Auantour is he that bosteth of the ?f.246! harm or of the bowntee that
12.  393  he hath doon./
12.  394   Ypocrite is he that hideth to shewe hym swich as he is and
12.  394  sheweth hym swich as he nawght is. /
12.  395  (395) Despitous is he that hath desdeyn
12.  395  of his neighebore, that is to seyn of his euenecristen, or hath despit to doon
12.  395  that hym oghte to do./
12.  396   Arrogaunt is he that thynketh that he hath thilke
12.  396  bountees in hym that he hath nat or weneth that he sholde haue hem by hise
12.  396  desertes or ellis he demeth that he be that he nys nat./
12.  397   Impudent is he that
12.  397  for his pryde hath no shame of his synne./
12.  398   Swellynge of herte is whan man
12.  398  reioyseth hym of harm that he hath doon./
12.  399   Insolent is he that despiseth in
12.  399  his iugement all oother folk as to regard of his value and of his konnynge and
12.  399  of his spekynge and of his berynge. /
12.  400  (400) Elacioun is whan he ne may neither
12.  400  suffre to haue maister ne felawe./
12.  401   Inpacient is he that wol nat ben ytaught ne
12.  401  vndernome of his vice, and by stryf werreieth trouthe wityngly and deffendeth
12.  401  his folye./
12.  402   Contumax is he that thurgh his indignacioun is agayns euerich
12.  402  auctoritee or power of hem that ben hise souereyns./
12.  403   Presumpcioun is whan
12.  403  a man vndertaketh an emprise that hym oghte nat do or ellis that he may
12.  403  nat do and that is called surquydie. Inreuerence is whan men do nat
12.  403  honour ther as hem oghte to doon and waiteth to be reuerenced./
12.  404   Pertinacie
12.  404  is whan a man deffendeth his folye and trusteth to muche to his owene wit./
12.  405  (405) Veyne glorie is for to haue pompe and delit in thise temporel heynesses
12.  405  and glorifie hem in worldly estatz./
12.  406   Ianglynge is whan a man speketh to muche
12.  406  biforn folk and clappeth as a melle and taketh no kepe what he seith./
12.  407    And yet is ther a pryuee spice of pryde that waiteth first to be salewed er
12.  407  he wole salewe al be he lasse worthy than that oother is parauenture; and eek he
12.  407  wayteth or desireth to sitte or ellis to goon aboue hym in the weye or kisse
12.  407  pax or ben ensensed or goon to offrynge biforn his neighebore,/
12.  408   and swiche
12.  408  semblable thynges agayns his duetee parauenture but that he hath his
12.  408  herte and his entente in swich a proud desir to be magnyfied and honoured
12.  408  biforn the peple./
12.  409    Now ben ther two maneres of pryde, that oon of hem is withinne the herte
12.  409  of man and that oother is withoute. /
12.  410  (410) Of whiche soothly thise forseyde
12.  410  thynges and mo than I haue seyd aperte?f.246v!nen to pryde that is in the herte
12.  410  of man, and that othere speces of pride ben withoute./
12.  411   But natheles that oon
12.  411  of thise speces of pride is signe of that oother right as the gaye leuesel atte
12.  411  tauerne is signe of the wyn that is in the celer./
12.  412   And this is in manye thynges
12.  412  as in speche and contenaunce and in outrageous array of clothyng./
12.  413   For certes
12.  413  if ther ne hadde be no synne in clothyng Crist wolde nat so soone haue noted
12.  413  and spoke of the clothyng of thilke riche man in the gospel./
12.  414   And as seith
12.  414  seint Gregorie that precious clothyng is cowpable for the derthe of it and for
12.  414  his softnesse and for his straungenesse and degisynesse and for the superfluitee
12.  414  or for the inordinat scantnesse of it. /
12.  415  (415) Allas may man nat seen as in oure
12.  415  dayes the synful costlewe array of clothynge and namely in to muche
12.  415  superfluitee or ellis in to desordinat scantnesse./
12.  416    As to the firste synne that is in superfluitee of clothynge, which that maketh
12.  416  it so deere to harm of the peple,/
12.  417   nat oonly the cost of enbrawdynge, the degyse
12.  417  endentynge, or barrynge, owndynge, palynge, or bendynge, and semblable
12.  417  wast of clooth in vanytee,/
12.  418   but ther is also the costlewe furrynge in
12.  418  hir gownes, so muche pownsonynge of chisel to maken holes, so muche
12.  418  daggynge of sheris,/
12.  419   forth with the superfluitee in lengthe of the forseyde
12.  419  gownes trailynge in the dong and in the myre on horse and eek on foote as
12.  419  wel of man as of womman that al thilke trailynge is verraily as in effect wasted,
12.  419  consumed thredbare and roten with dong rather than it is yeuen to the pouere
12.  419  to gret damage of the forseide pouere folk /
12.  420  (420) and that in sondry wise, this
12.  420  is to seyn that the moore that clooth is wasted the moore moot it coste to the
12.  420  peple for the scarsnesse./
12.  421   And fortherouer if so be that they wolde yeue swich
12.  421  pownsonyd and dagged clothynge to the pouere folk, it is nat conuenient to
12.  421  were for hir estat ne suffisant to beete hire necessitee to kepe hem fro the
12.  421  destemperance of the firmament./
12.  422   Vpon that oother syde to speke of the
12.  422  horrible desordynat scantnesse of clothyng as ben thise kutted sloppes or
12.  422  hanselyns that thurgh hir shortnesse ne keuere nat the shameful membres of a
12.  422  man to wikke entente./
12.  423   Allas somme of hem shewen the shap and the boce of
12.  423  hir horrible, swollen membres that semeth lik the maladie of hirnia in the
12.  423  wrappynge of hir hoses,/
12.  424   and eek the buttokes of hem, that faren as it were the
12.  424  hyndre part of a she-ape in the fulle of the moone. /
12.  425  (425) And mooreouer the
12.  425  wrecched, swollen membres that they shewe thurgh degisynge in departynge
12.  425  of hire hoses in whit and reed semeth that half hir shameful pryuee membres
12.  425  weren flayn./
12.  426   ?f.247! And if so be that they departen hire hoses in othere colours
12.  426  as is whit and blew or whit and blak or blak and reed and so forth,/
12.  427   thanne
12.  427  semeth it as by variaunce of colour that half the partie of hire pryuee membres
12.  427  ben corrupt by the fyr of seint Antony or by cancre or othere swiche
12.  427  meschaunces./
12.  428   Yet of the hyndre part of hire buttokes it is ful horrible for to
12.  428  se, for certes in that partie of hir body ther as they purgen hir stynkynge ordure,/
12.  429  that foule partie shewe they to the peple proudly in despit of honestetee, which
12.  429  honestetee that Iesu Crist and hise frendes obseruede to shewen in his lyue./
12.  430  (430) Now as of the outrageous array of wommen, god woot that thogh the
12.  430  visages of somme of hem seme ful chaste and debonaire, yet notifie they in hire
12.  430  array of atyr likerousnesse and pride./
12.  431   I seye nat that honestetee in clothynge of
12.  431  man or womman is vncouenable, but certes the superfluitee or the desordinat
12.  431  skantitee of clothynge is reprouable./
12.  432    Also the synne of aornement or of apparaille as in thynges that apertenen
12.  432  to ridynge as in to manye delicat horses that ben holden for delit that they ben
12.  432  so faire, fatte and costlewe,/
12.  433   and also many a vicious knaue mayntened by cause
12.  433  of hem, and in to curious harneys as in sadeles, in croupers, peytrels, and
12.  433  brydles couered with precious clothyng and riche barres and plates of gold and
12.  433  of siluer./
12.  434   For which god seith by Zakarie the prophete: I wol confounde the
12.  434  ryderes of swiche horses. /
12.  435  (435) Thise folk taken litel reward of the ridynge of
12.  435  goddes sone of heuene and of his harneys whan he rood vpon an asse and ne
12.  435  hadde noon oother harneys but the pouere clothes of hise disciples. Ne we ne
12.  435  rede nat that euere he rood on oother beest./
12.  436   I speke this for the synne of
12.  436  superfluitee and nat for resonable honestetee whan resoun it requereth./
12.  437    And fortherouer certes pride is gretly notified in holdynge of gret meynee
12.  437  whan they ben of litel profit or of right no profit,/
12.  438   and namely whan that
12.  438  meynee is felonous and damageous to the peple by hardynesse of hey lordshipe
12.  438  or by wey of offices./
12.  439   For certes swiche lordes sellen thanne hir lordship to the
12.  439  deuel of helle whan they sustenen the wikkednesse of hir meynee. /
12.  440  (440) Or ellis
12.  440  whan thise folk of lowe degree as thilke that holden hostelries sustenen the
12.  440  thefte of hir hostelers, and that is in many manere of deceites./
12.  441   Thilke manere
12.  441  of folk ben the flyes that folwen the hony or ellis the houndes that folwen the
12.  441  careyne. Swich forseide folk stranglen spiritually hir lordshipes./
12.  442   For which thus
12.  442  ?f.247v! seith Dauid the prophete: Wikked deth mote come vpon thilke lord-
12.  442  shipes and god yeue that they mote descende into helle adown, adown, for in
12.  442  hire houses been iniquitees and shrewednesses and nat god of heuene./
12.  443   And
12.  443  certes but if they doon amendement right so as god yaf his benysoun to Laban
12.  443  by the seruyce of Iacob and to Pharao by the seruyce of Ioseph right so god
12.  443  wol yeue his malisoun to swiche lordshipes as sustenen the wikkednesse of hir
12.  443  seruantz but they come to amendement./
12.  444    Pride of the table apeere= eek ful ofte, for certes riche men ben clepid to
12.  444  festes and pouere folk ben put awey and rebuked. /
12.  445  (445) Also in exces of diuerse
12.  445  metes and drynkes and namely swiche manere bakemetes and disshmetes
12.  445  brennynge of wilde fyr and peynted and castelled with papir and semblable
12.  445  wast so that it is abusioun for to thynke./
12.  446   And eek in to gret preciousnesse of
12.  446  vessel and curiositee of mynstralcie by whiche a man is stired the moore to
12.  446  delices of luxure./
12.  447   If so be that he sette his herte the lasse vpon oure lord
12.  447  Iesu Crist, certeyn it is a synne and certeynly the delices myghte ben so grete
12.  447  in the cas that man myghte lightly fallen by hem into dedly synne./
12.  448    The especes that sourden of pride soothly whan they sourden of malice
12.  448  ymagyned and auysed and forncast or ellis of vsage ben dedly synnes it is no
12.  448  doute./
12.  449   And whan they sourde by freletee vnauysed sodeynly and sodeynly
12.  449  withdrawe agayn al be they greuouse synnes, I gesse that they ne be nat dedly./
12.  450  (450) Now myghte men axe wherof that pryde sourdeth and spryngeth. And
12.  450  I seye somtyme it spryngeth of the goodes of nature and somtyme of the
12.  450  goodes of fortune and somtyme of the goodes of grace./
12.  451   Certes the goodes of
12.  451  nature stonden outher in goodes of body or goodes of soule./
12.  452   Certes goodes of
12.  452  body been heele of body, strengthe, delyuernesse, beautee, genterie, franchise./
12.  453  Goodes of nature of the soule ben good wit, sharp vnderstondynge, subtil
12.  453  engyn, vertu naturel, good memorie./
12.  454   Goodes of fortune ben richesses, hey
12.  454  degrees of lordshipes, preisynges of the peple. /
12.  455  (455) Goodes of grace ben science,
12.  455  power to suffre spiritual trauaille, benygnytee, vertuous contemplacioun, with-
12.  455  stondynge of temptacion and semblable thynges./
12.  456   Of whiche forseyde goodes
12.  456  certes it is a ful gret folie a man to pryden hym in any of hem alle./
12.  457   Now as
12.  457  for to speke of goodes of nature, god woot that somtyme we han hem in nature
12.  457  as muche to oure damage as to oure profit./
12.  458   As for to speke of heele of ?f.248!
12.  458  body certes it passeth ful lightly and eek it is ful ofte enchesoun of the siknesse
12.  458  of the soule, for god woot the flessh is a ful greet enemy to the soule; and therfore
12.  458  the moore that the body is hool the moore be we in peril to falle./
12.  459   Eke for to
12.  459  pryde hym in hys strengthe of body it is an heigh folye, for certes the flessh
12.  459  coueiteth agayn the spirit - and ay the moore strong that the flessh is the
12.  459  sorier may the soule be. /
12.  460  (460) And ouer al this strengthe of body and worldly
12.  460  hardynesse causeth ful ofte many man to peril and meschaunce./
12.  461   Eke for to
12.  461  pryde hym of his genterye is ful gret folie, for ofte tyme the genterie of the
12.  461  body bynymeth the genterie of the soule and eek we ben alle of o fader and of
12.  461   o moder and alle we ben ofo nature roten and corrupt bothe riche and pouere./
12.  462  For sothe o manere gentilrye is for to preise that apparayleth mannes corage
12.  462  with vertues and moralitees and maketh hym Cristes child./
12.  463   For truste wel
12.  463  that ouer what man that synne hath maistrye he is verray cherl to synne./
12.  464    Now ben ther general signes of gentilesse as eschewynge of vice or rybaudye
12.  464  and seruage of synne in word, in werk and contenaunce, /
12.  465  (465) and vsynge
12.  465  vertu, curteisye and clennesse and to be liberal, that is to seyn large by mesure
12.  465  for thilke that passeth mesure is folye and synne./
12.  466   Another is to remembre hym
12.  466  of bounte that he of oother folk hath receyued./
12.  467   Another is to ben benygne
12.  467  to hise goode subgetz. Wherfore as seith Senek: Ther is nothyng moore
12.  467  couenable to a man of heigh estat than debonairetee and pitee./
12.  468   And therfore
12.  468  thise flyes that men clepe bees whan they maken hire kyng they chesen oon
12.  468  that hath no prikke wherwith he may stynge./
12.  469   Another is a man to haue a
12.  469  noble herte and a diligent to attayne to hye vertuouse thynges. /
12.  470  (470) Certes
12.  470  also who that prydeth hym in the goodes of fortune he is a ful gret fool, for
12.  470  somtyme is a man a gret lord by the morwe that is a kaytif and a wrecche er
12.  470  it be nyght./
12.  471   And somtyme the richesse of a man is cause of his deeth. Somtyme
12.  471  the delices of a man ben cause of the greuous maladie thurgh which he dyeth./
12.  472  Certes the commendacioun of the peple is somtyme ful fals and ful brotil for
12.  472  to triste: this day they preise, tomorwe they blame./
12.  473   God woot desir to haue the
12.  473  commendacioun eek of peple hath caused deth to many a bisy man./
12.  474   Now certes
12.  474  a man to pr1de hym in the goodes of grace is eek an outrageous folye for thilke
12.  474  yiftes of grace that sholde haue turned hym to goodnesse ?f.248v! and to
12.  474  medicine turneth hym to venym and to confusioun, as seyth seint Gregorie./
12.  475    (475) Now sith that so is that ye han vnderstonde what is pryde and
12.  475  whiche ben the speces of it and whennes pryde sourdeth and spryngeth,/
12.  476   now
12.  476  shul ye vnderstonde which is the remedie agayns pride and that is humylitee
12.  476  or mekenesse /
12.  477   that is a vertu thurgh which a man hath verray knoweleche of
12.  477  hymself and holdeth of hymself no pris ne deyntee as in regard of hise desertes
12.  477  considerynge euere his freletee./
12.  478   Now ben ther iij maneres of humylitee,
12.  478  as humylitee in herte, another humylitee is in mouth, the thridde in hise
12.  478  werkes./
12.  479   The humylitee in herte is in iiij maneres. That oon is whan a man
12.  479  holdeth hymself as naught worth biforn god of heuene. Another is whan he ne
12.  479  despiseth noon other man. /
12.  480  (480) The thridde is whan he ne rekketh nat thogh
12.  480  men holde hym noght worth. The ferthe is whan he nys nat sory of his
12.  480  humyliacioun./
12.  481   Also the humylitee of mouth is in iiij thynges: in atempree
12.  481  speche and in humblesse of speche, and whan he biknoweth with his owene
12.  481  mouth that he is swich as hym thynketh that he is in his herte. Another is
12.  481  whan he preiseth the bountee of another man and nothyng therof amenuseth./
12.  482  Humylitee eek in werk is in iiij maneres. The firste is whan he putteth othere
12.  482  men biforn hym. The seconde is to chese the loweste place oueral. The thridde
12.  482  is gladly to assente to good conseil./
12.  483   The ferthe is gladly to stonde to the award
12.  483  of his souereyn or of hym that is hyer in degree. Certeyn this is a gret werk of
12.  483  humylitee./
12.  484  Inuidia
12.  484  After pryde wol I speke of the foule synne of enuye which that is, as by the
12.  484  word of the philosophre, sorwe of oother mannes prosperitee, and after the word
12.  484  of seint Augustyn it is sorwe of oother mennes wele and ioye of oother mennes
12.  484  harm. /
12.  485  (485) This foule synne is platly agayns the holy goost; al be it so that
12.  485  euery synne is agayn the holy goost, yet nathelees for as muche as bountee
12.  485  aperteneth proprely to the holy goost and enuye cometh proprely of malice
12.  485  therfore is proprely agayns the bountee of the holy goost./
12.  486   Now hath malice ij
12.  486  speces, that is to seyn hardnesse of herte in wikkednesse or ellis the flessh of a
12.  486  man is so blynd ?f.249! that he considereth nat that he is in synne or rekketh
12.  486  nat that he is in synne which is the hardnesse of the deuel./
12.  487   That other spece
12.  487  of enuye is whan that a man werreyeth trouthe whan he woot that it is trouthe
12.  487  and eek whan he werreyeth the grace that god hath yeue to his neighebore,
12.  487  and al this is by enuye./
12.  488   Certes thanne is enuye the worste synne that is, for
12.  488  soothly alle othere synnes ben somtyme agayns o special vertu./
12.  489   But certes
12.  489  enuye is agayns alle vertues and agayns alle goodnesses for it is sory of alle the
12.  489  bountees of his neighebore, and in this manere it is dyuers from alle othere
12.  489  synnes. /
12.  490  (490) For wel vnnethe is ther any synne that it ne hath som delit in
12.  490  hymself saue oonly enuye that euere hath in hymself angwissh and sorwe./
12.  491    The speces of enuye ben thise. Ther is first sorwe of oother mennes good-
12.  491  nesse and of hir prosperitee; and prosperitee is kyndely matere of ioye, thanne
12.  491  is enuye a synne agayns kynde./
12.  492   The seconde spece of enuye is ioye of oother
12.  492  mannes harm, and that is proprely lyk to the deuel that euere reioyseth hym of
12.  492  mannes harm./
12.  493   Of thise ij speces comth bakbitynge and this synne of
12.  493  bakbitynge or detraccion hath certeyn speces as thus. Som man preiseth his
12.  493  neighebore by a wikked entente,/
12.  494   for he maketh alwey a wikked knotte atte
12.  494  laste ende. Alwey he maketh a but at the laste ende that is digne of moore blame
12.  494  than worth is al the preisynge. /
12.  495  (495) The seconde spece is that if a man be good
12.  495  and dooth or seith a thyng to good entente, the bakbiter wol turne al thilke
12.  495  goodnesse vp-so-down to his shrewede entente./
12.  496   The thridde is to amenuse the
12.  496  bountee of his neighebore./
12.  497   The ferthe spece of bakbitynge is this that if men
12.  497  speke goodnesse of a man, thanne wol the bakbitere seyn: Parfey swich a man
12.  497  is yet bet than he in despreisynge of hym that men preise./
12.  498   The fifthe spece
12.  498  is for to consente gladly and herkne gladly the harm that men speke of oother
12.  498  folk. This synne is ful greet and ay encreseth after the wikked entente of the
12.  498  bakbitere./
12.  499    After bakbitynge comth grucchynge or murmuracioun and somtyme it
12.  499  spryngeth of inpacience agayns god and somtyme agayns man. /
12.  500  (500) Agayns
12.  500  god is it whan a man gruccheth agayn the pyne of helle or agayns pouerte
12.  500  or los of catel or agayn reyn or tempest, or ellis gruccheth that shrewes han
12.  500  prosperitee or ellis for that goode men han aduersitee./
12.  501   And alle thise thynges
12.  501  sholde men suffre paciently for they comen by the rightful iugement and
12.  501  ordinaunce ?f.249v! of god./
12.  502   Somtyme cometh grucchynge of auarice, as Iudas
12.  502  grucched agayns the Magdeleyne whan she enoynte the heued of oure lord
12.  502  Iesu Crist with hire precious oynement./
12.  503   This manere of murmure is swich
12.  503  as whan men grucchen of goodnesses that hemselue doon or that othere folk
12.  503  doon of hir owene catel./
12.  504   Somtyme comth murmur of pryde, as whan Symon
12.  504  the pharisee grucched agayn the Magdeleyne whan she approched to Iesu
12.  504  Crist and weep at his feet for hir synnes. /
12.  505  (505) And somtyme it sourdeth of
12.  505  enuye whan men discoueren a mannes harm that was pryuee or bereth hym
12.  505  on hand thyng that is fals./
12.  506   Murmur eek is ofte amonges seruantz that grucchen
12.  506  whan hir souereyns bidden hem to doon leueful thynges,/
12.  507   and for as muche as
12.  507  they dar nat openly withseye the comandementz of hir souereyns yet wol they
12.  507  seyn harm and grucche and murmure pryuely for verray despit./
12.  508   Whyche
12.  508  wordes men clepe the deueles Pater Noster, though so be that the deuel ne
12.  508  hadde neuere Pater Noster but that lewed folk yeuen it swich a name./
12.  509  Somtyme it comth of ire or pryuee hate that norisseth rancour in herte as after-
12.  509  ward I shal declare. /
12.  510  (510) Thanne comth eek bitternesse of herte thurgh which
12.  510  bitternesse euery good dede of his neighebore semeth to hym bitter and
12.  510  vnsauoury./
12.  511   Thanne comth discord that vnbyndeth alle manere of frendshipe.
12.  511  Thanne comth scornynge of his neighebore al do he neuer so wel./
12.  512   Thanne
12.  512  comth accusynge as whan man seketh occasioun to anoyen his neighebore,
12.  512  which that is lyk the craft of the deuel that wayteth bothe nyght and day to
12.  512  accusen vs alle./
12.  513   Thanne comth malignitee thurgh which a man anoyeth his
12.  513  neighebore pryuely if he may./
12.  514   And if he nat ne may, algate his wikked wil
12.  514  ne shal nat wante as for to brennen his hous pryuely or enpoysone or sleen hise
12.  514  bestes and semblable thynges./
12.  515    (515) Now wol I speken of the remedye agayns this foule synne of enuye.
12.  515  First is the loue of god principal and louynge of his neighebore as hymself
12.  515  for soothly that oon ne may nat ben withouthen that oother./
12.  516   And truste wel
12.  516  that in the name of thy neighebore thow shalt vnderstonde the name of thy
12.  516  brother, for certes alle we haue o fader flesshly and o moder, that is to seyn
12.  516  Adam and Eue, and eek o fader spirituel, that is god of heuene./
12.  517   Thy neighebore
12.  517  artow holden for to loue and wilne hym alle goodnesse, and therfore seith god:
12.  517  Loue thy neighebore as thyself, that is to seyn to sauacion bothe of lyf and
12.  517  soule./
12.  518   And moore?f.250!ouer thow shalt loue hym in word and benygne
12.  518  amonestynge and chastisynge and conforte hym in hise anoyes and preye for
12.  518  hym with al thyn herte./
12.  519   And in dede thow shalt loue hym in swich wise that
12.  519  thow shalt doon to hym in charitee as thow woldest that were doon to thyn
12.  519  owene persone. /
12.  520  (520) And therfore thow ne shalt doon hym no damage in
12.  520  wikked word ne harm in his body ne in his catel ne in his soule by entisynge
12.  520  of wikked ensample./
12.  521   Thow shalt nat eek desiren his wyf ne none of hyse
12.  521  thynges. Vnderstoond eek that in the name of neighebore is comprehended
12.  521  his enemy./
12.  522   Certes man shal loue his enemy for the comandement of god and
12.  522  soothly thy freend shaltow loue in god./
12.  523   I seye thyn enemy shaltow loue for
12.  523  goddes sake by his comandement, for if it were resoun that man sholde hate
12.  523  his enemy for sothe god nolde nat receyuen vs to his loue that ben hise enemys./
12.  524  Agayns iij manere of wronges that his enemy dooth to hym he shal doon iij
12.  524  thynges as thus. /
12.  525  (525) Agayns hate and rancour of herte he shal loue hym in
12.  525  herte. Agayns chidynge and wikked wordes he shal preye for his enemy. Agayns
12.  525  the wikked dede of his enemy he shal doon hym bountee./
12.  526   For Crist seith:
12.  526  Loueth youre enemys and preieth for hem that speke yow harm and eek for
12.  526  hem that yow chacen and pursuen and dooth bountee to hem that yow haten.
12.  526  Lo thus comandeth vs oure lord Iesu Crist to do to oure enemys./
12.  527   For soothly
12.  527  nature dryueth vs to louen oure frendes, and parfey oure enemys han moore
12.  527  nede to loue than oure frendes; and they that moore nede haue, certes to hem
12.  527  shal men doon goodnesse./
12.  528   And certes in thilke dede haue we remembraunce
12.  528  of the loue of Iesu Crist that deyde for hise enemys./
12.  529   And in as muche as thilke
12.  529  loue is the moore greuous to parfourne so muche is the moore gret the merite,
12.  529  and therfore the louynge of oure enemy hath confounded the venym of the
12.  529  deuel. /
12.  530  (530) For right as the deuel is desconfited by humylitee, right so is he
12.  530  wownded to the deth by the loue of oure enemy./
12.  531   Certes thanne is loue the
12.  531  medicyne that chaceth out the venym of enuye fro mannes herte./
12.  532   The speces
12.  532  of this pas shullen ben moore largely declared in hir chapitres folwynge./
12.  533  Ira
12.  533  After enuye wol I discryuen the synne of ire, for soothly whoso that hath enuye
12.  533  vpon his neighebore ?f.250v! anon he wole communely fynde hym matere of
12.  533  wraththe in word or in dede agayns hym to whom he hath enuye./
12.  534   And as
12.  534  wel comth ire of pride as of enuye, for soothly he that is proud or enuyous
12.  534  is lightly wroth./
12.  535    (535) This synne of ire, after the discryuyng of seint Augustyn, is wikked wil
12.  535  to ben auenged by word or by dede./
12.  536   Ire after the philosophre is the feruent
12.  536  blood of man yquyked in his herte thurgh which he wole harm to hym that he
12.  536  hateth./
12.  537   For certes the herte of man by eschawfynge and moeuynge of his blood
12.  537  wexeth so trouble that he is out of alle iugement of resoun./
12.  538   But ye shal
12.  538  vnderstonde that ire is in two maneres: that oon of hem is good and that oother
12.  538  is wikke./
12.  539   The goode ire is by ialowsie of goodnesse thurgh which a man is
12.  539  wrooth with wikkednesse and agayns wikkednesse and therfore seith a wys man
12.  539  that ire is bet than pley. /
12.  540  (540) This ire is with debonairetee and it is wroth
12.  540  withoute bitternesse; nat wroth agayns the man, but wroth with the mysdede
12.  540  of the man as seith the prophete Dauid: Irascimini et nolite peccare./
12.  541    Now vnderstondeth that wikked ire is in ij maneres, that is to seyn sodeyn
12.  541  ire or hastif ire withoute auysement and consentynge of his reson./
12.  542   The menyng
12.  542  and the sens of this is that the reson of a man ne consente nat to thilke sodeyn
12.  542  ire and thanne is it venyal./
12.  543   Another ire is ful wikked that comth of felonye
12.  543  of herte auysed and cast bifore with wikked wil to do vengeaunce and therto
12.  543  his resoun consenteth; and soothly this is dedly synne./
12.  544   This ire is so displesant
12.  544  to god that it troubleth his hous and chaceth the holy goost out of mannes
12.  544  soule and wasteth and destroyeth the liknesse of god, that is to seyn the vertu
12.  544  that is in mannes soule, /
12.  545  (545) and put in hym the liknesse of the deuel and
12.  545  bynymeth the man fro god that is his rightful lord./
12.  546   This ire is a ful gret
12.  546  plesaunce to the deuel for it is the deueles forneys that is eschawfed with the
12.  546  fyr of helle./
12.  547   For certes right so as fyr is moore myghty to destroye erthely
12.  547  thynges than another element, right so ire is myghty to destroye alle spirituel
12.  547  thynges./
12.  548   Looke how that fyr of smale gleedes that ben almoost dede vnder the
12.  548  asshen wolen quyke agayn whan they ben touched with brymston. Right so
12.  548  ire wole eueremo quyke agayn whan it is touched by the pryde that is couered
12.  548  in mannes herte./
12.  549   For certes fyr ne may nat come out of nothyng but if it
12.  549  were first in the same thyng naturelly as fyr is drawen out of flyntes with steel./
12.  550  (550) And right so as pryde is ofte tyme matere of ire, right so is rancour
12.  550  norice and kepere of ire./
12.  551   Ther is a manere tree as seith seint Ysidre ?EI f.222!
12.  551  that whan men maken fir of thilke tree and couere the coles of it with asshen,
12.  551  soothly the fir of it wol lasten al a yeer or moore./
12.  552   And right so fareth it of
12.  552  rancour: whan it is ones conceyued in the hertes of som men, certein it wol
12.  552  lasten parauenture from oon Estreday vnto another Estreday and moore./
12.  553   But
12.  553  certes thilke man is ful fer fro the mercy of god in thilke while./
12.  554    In this forseyde deueles fourneys ther forgen iij shrewes: pride that ay bloweth
12.  554  and encreesseth the fir by chidynge and wikked wordes; /
12.  555  (555) thanne stant
12.  555  enuye and holdeth the hoote iren vpon the herte of man with a peire of longe
12.  555  toonges of long rancour;/
12.  556   and thanne stant the synne of contumelie or strif
12.  556  and cheeste and batereth and forgeth by vileyns repreuynges./
12.  557   Certes this
12.  557  cursed synne anoyeth ?f.222v! bothe to the man hymself and eek to his
12.  557  neighebore, for soothly almoost al the harm that any man dooth to his
12.  557  neighebore comth of wratthe./
12.  558   For certes outrageous wratthe dooth al that
12.  558  euere the deuel hym comaundeth, for he ne spareth neither Crist ne his sweete
12.  558  mooder./
12.  559   And in his outrageous anger and ire, allas, allas ful many oon at
12.  559  that tyme feeleth in his herte ful wikkedly bothe of Crist and of alle hise halwes./
12.  560  (560) Is nat this a cursed vice? Yis certes. Allas it bynymeth from man his
12.  560  wit and his resoun and al his debonaire lif espiritueel that sholde kepen his
12.  560  soule./
12.  561   Certes it bynymeth eek goddes due lordshipe and that is mannes soule
12.  561  and the loue of hise neighebores. It stryueth eek alday agayn trouthe; it reueth
12.  561  hym the quiete of his herte and subuerteth his soule./
12.  562    Of ire comen thise stynkynge engendrures: first hate, that is oold wratthe;
12.  562  discord thurgh which a man forsaketh his olde freend that he hath loued ful
12.  562  longe;/
12.  563   and thanne cometh werre and euery manere of wrong that man dooth
12.  563  to his neighebore in body or in catel./
12.  564   Of this cursed synne of ire cometh eek
12.  564  manslaughtre. And vnderstonde wel that homycide, that is manslaughtre, is in
12.  564  diuerse wise. Som manere of homycide is spiritueel and som is bodily. /
12.  565  (565)
12.  565  Spiritueel manslaughtre is in iij thynges. First by hate as seint Iohn seith: He
12.  565  that hateth his brother is homycide./
12.  566   Homycide is eek by bakbitynge, of whiche
12.  566  bakbiteres seith Salomon that they han two swerdes with whiche they sleen hir
12.  566  neighebores. For soothly as wikke is to bynyme his good name as his lyf./
12.  567  Homycide is eek in yeuynge of wikked conseil by fraude, as for to yeuen conseil
12.  567  to areysen wrongful custumes and taillages./
12.  568   Of whiche seith Salomon: Leon
12.  568  rorynge and bere hongry been like to the crueel lordshipes in withholdynge or
12.  568  abreggynge of the shepe or the hyre or of the wages of seruauntz or elles in
12.  568  vsures or in withdrawynge of the almesse of poure folk./
12.  569   For which the wise man
12.  569  seith: Fedeth hym that almoost dyeth for honger, for soothly but if thow feede
12.  569  hym thou sleest hym. And alle thise been deedly synnes. /
12.  570  (570) Bodily
12.  570  manslaughtre is whan thow sleest him with thy tonge in oother manere, as
12.  570  whan thou comandest to sleen a man or elles yeuest hym conseil to sleen a man./
12.  571  Manslaughtre in dede is in iiij maneres. That oon is by lawe, right as a
12.  571  iustice dampneth hym that is coupable to the deeth. But lat the iustice be war
12.  571  that he do it rightfully and that he do it nat for delit to spille blood but for
12.  571  kepynge of rightwisnesse./
12.  572   Another homycide is that is doon for necessitee
12.  572  as whan o man sleeth another in his defendaunt and that he ne may noon oother-
12.  572  wise escape from his owene deeth./
12.  573   But certeinly if he may escape withouten
12.  573  manslaughtre of his aduersarie and sleeth hym, he dooth synne and he shal
12.  573  bere penance as for deedly synne./
12.  574   Eek if a man by caas or auenture shete an
12.  574  arwe or caste a stoon with which he sleeth a man, he is homycide. /
12.  575  (575) Eek
12.  575  if a womman by necligence ouerlyeth hir child in hir slepyng, it is homycide
12.  575  and deedly synne./
12.  576   Eek whan man destourbeth concepcioun of a child and
12.  576  maketh a womman outher bareyne by drynkynge venenouse herbes thurgh
12.  576  which she may nat conceyue or sleeth a child by drynkes wilfully or elles
12.  576  putteth certeine material thynges in hir secree places to slee the child,/
12.  577   or elles
12.  577  dooth vnkyndely synne by which man or womman shedeth hir nature in
12.  577  manere or in place ther as a child may nat be concei?f.223!ued or elles if a
12.  577  woman haue conceyued and hurt hir child and sleeth the child, yet it is
12.  577  homycide./
12.  578   What seye we eek of wommen that mordren hir children for drede
12.  578  of worldly shame? Certes an horrible homicide!/
12.  579   Homycide is eek if a man
12.  579  approcheth to a womman by desir of lecherie thur| which the child is perissed
12.  579  or elles smyteth a womman wityngly thurgh which she leseth hir child. Alle
12.  579  thise been homycides and horrible deedly synnes./
12.  580    (580) Yet comen ther of ire manye mo synnes as wel in word as in thoght
12.  580  and in dede, as he that arretteth vpon god or blameth god of thyng of which
12.  580  he is hymself gilty or despiseth god and alle hise halwes, as doon thise cursede
12.  580  hasardours in diuerse contrees./
12.  581   This cursed synne doon they whan they feelen
12.  581  in hir hertes ful wikkedly of god and of hise halwes./
12.  582   Also whan they treten
12.  582  vnreuerently the sacrement of the auter, thilke synne is so greet that vnnethe
12.  582  may it been releessed but that the mercy of god passeth alle hise werkes; it is
12.  582  so greet and he so benigne./
12.  583   Thanne comth of ire attry angre. Whan a man is
12.  583  sharply amonested in his shrifte to forleten his synne,/
12.  584   thanne wole he be angry
12.  584  and answeren hokerly and angrily and deffenden or excusen his synne by
12.  584  vnstedefastnesse of his flessh; or elles he dide it for to holde compaignye with
12.  584  hise felawes; or elles he seith the feend enticed hym; /
12.  585  (585) or elles he dide it
12.  585  for his youthe; or elles his conpleccioun is so corageous that he may nat forbere;
12.  585  or elles it is his destinee, as he seith, vnto a certein age; or elles he seith it
12.  585  cometh hym of gentillesse of hise auncestres; and semblable thynges./
12.  586   Alle this
12.  586  manere of folk so wrappen hem in hir synnes that they ne wol nat deliuere
12.  586  hemself. For soothly no wight that excuseth hym wilfully of his synne may nat
12.  586  been deliuered of his synne til that he mekely biknoweth his synne./
12.  587    After this thanne cometh sweryng that is expres agayn the comandement of
12.  587  god, and this bifalleth ofte of anger and of ire./
12.  588   God seith: Thow shalt nat take
12.  588  the name of thy lord god in veyn or in ydel. Also oure lord Iesu Crist seith
12.  588  by the word of seint Mathew:/
12.  589   Ne wol ye nat swere in alle manere, neither
12.  589  by heuene for it is goddes trone, ne by erthe for it is the bench of his feet,
12.  589  ne by Ierusalem for it is the citee of a greet kyng, ne by thyn heed for thou
12.  589  mayst nat make an heer whit ne blak. /
12.  590  (590) But seyeth by youre word 'Ye, ye'
12.  590  and 'Nay, nay', and what that is moore it is of yuel, thus seith Crist./
12.  591   For
12.  591  Cristes sake ne swereth nat so synfully in dismembrynge of Crist by soule, herte,
12.  591  bones and body. For certes it semeth that ye thynke that the cursede Iewes ne
12.  591  dismembred nat ynough the preciouse persone of Crist but ye dismembre hym
12.  591  moore./
12.  592   And if so be that the lawe compelle yow to swere, thanne rule yow
12.  592  after the lawe of god in youre sweryng, as seith Ieremye 4 c: Thou shalt
12.  592  kepe iij condicions: thou shalt swere in trouthe, in doom and in rightwisnesse./
12.  593  This is to seyn thou shalt swere sooth, for euery lesynge is agayns Crist, for
12.  593  Crist is verray trouthe. And thynk wel this that euery greet swerere nat
12.  593  compelled lawefully to swere, the wounde shal nat departe from his hous whil
12.  593  he vseth swich vnleueful sweryng./
12.  594   Thou shalt sweren eek in doom whan thou
12.  594  art constreyned by thy domesman to witnessen the trouthe. /
12.  595  (595) Eek ?f.223v!
12.  595  thow shalt nat swere for enuye ne for fauour ne for meede, but for rightwisnesse
12.  595  and for declaracioun of it to the worship of god and helpyng of thyne
12.  595  euenecristene./
12.  596   And therfore euery man that taketh godes name in ydel or
12.  596  falsly swereth with his mouth or elles taketh on hym the name of Crist to be
12.  596  called a cristene man and lyueth agayns Cristes lyuynge and his techynge,
12.  596  alle they taken goddes name in ydel./
12.  597   Looke eek what seint Peter seith Act 4:
12.  597  Non est aliud nomen sub celo etc.: Ther nys noon oother name (seith seint Peter)
12.  597  vnder heuene yeuen to men in which they mowe be saued, that is to seyn
12.  597  but the name of Iesu Crist./
12.  598   Take kepe eek how that in the precious name of
12.  598  Crist, as seith seint Paul ad Philipenses 2: In nomine Iesu etc: That in the name
12.  598  of Iesu euery knee of heuenely creatures or erthely or of helle sholden bowe,
12.  598  for it is so heigh and so worshipful that the cursede feend in helle sholde
12.  598  tremblen to heeren it ynempned./
12.  599   Thanne semeth it that men that sweren so
12.  599  horriblely by his blessed name that they despise hym moore booldely than dide
12.  599  the cursede Iewes or elles the deuel that trembleth whan he heereth his name./
12.  600    (600) Now certes sith that sweryng, but if it be lawefully doon, is so heighly
12.  600  deffended, muche worse is forsweryng falsly and yet nedelees./
12.  601   What seye we
12.  601  eek of hem that deliten hem in sweryng and holden it a gentrie or a manly dede
12.  601  to swere grete othes? And what of hem that of verray vsage ne cesse nat to
12.  601  swere grete othes al be the cause nat worth a straw? Certes it is horrible synne./
12.  602  Swerynge sodeynly withoute auysement is eek a synne./
12.  603   But lat vs go now to
12.  603  thilke horrible sweryng of adiuracioun and coniuracioun as doon thise false
12.  603  enchauntours or nigromanciens in bacyns ful of water or in a bright swerd in a
12.  603  cercle or in a fir or in a shulderboon of a sheep./
12.  604   I kan nat seye but that they
12.  604  doon cursedly and dampnablely agayns Crist and al the feith of hooly chirche./
12.  605    (605) What seye we ofhem that bileeuen in diuynailes as by flight or by noyse
12.  605  of briddes or of beestes or by sort, by geomancie, by dremes, by chirkynge of
12.  605  dores, or crakkynge of houses, by gnawynge of rattes and swich manere
12.  605  wrecchednesse?/
12.  606   Certes al this thyng is deffended by god and by al hooly
12.  606  chirche. For which they been acursed til they come to amendement that on
12.  606  swich filthe setten hir bileeue./
12.  607   Charmes for woundes or maladie of men or of
12.  607  beestes, if they taken any effect it be parauenture that god suffreth it
12.  607  for folk sholden yeue the moore feith and reuerence to his name./
12.  608    Now wol I speken of lesynges which generally is fals signyficacion of word in
12.  608  entente to deceyuen his euenecristene./
12.  609   Som lesynge is of which ther comth
12.  609  noon auantage to no wight, and som lesynge turneth to the ese and profit of
12.  609  o man and to disese and damage of another man. /
12.  610  (610) Another lesynge, for
12.  610  to sauen his lyf or his catel, comth of delit for to lye in which delit they wol
12.  610  forge a long tale and peynten it with alle circumstaunces where al the ground of
12.  610  the tale is fals./
12.  611   Som lesynge ?f.224! comth for he wole sustene his word, and
12.  611  som lesynge comth of reccheleesnesse withouten auisement and semblable
12.  611  thynges./
12.  612    Lat vs now touche the vice of flaterynge, which ne comth nat gladly but for
12.  612  drede or for coueitise./
12.  613   Flaterye is generally wrongful preisynge. Flatereres been
12.  613  the deueles norices that norissen hise children with milk of losengerie./
12.  614   For sothe
12.  614  Salomon seith that flaterie is wors than detraccioun. For somtyme detraccion
12.  614  maketh an hauteyn man be the moore humble for he dredeth detraccion; but
12.  614  certes flaterye that maketh a man to enhauncen his herte and his contenaunce./
12.  615  (615) Flatereres been the deueles enchauntours, for they make a man to wene
12.  615  of hymself be lyk that he nys nat lyk./
12.  616   They been lyk to Iudas that bitraysed
12.  616  a man to sellen hym to hise enemy, that is to the deuel./
12.  617   Flatereres been the
12.  617  deueles chapelleyns that syngen euere placebo./
12.  618   I rekene flaterie in the vices
12.  618  of ire, for ofte tyme if o man be wrooth with another, thanne wole he flatere
12.  618  som wight to sustene hym in his querele./
12.  619    Speke we now of swich cursynge as comth of irous herte. Malisoun generally
12.  619  may be seyd euery maner power or harm. Swich cursynge bireueth man fro
12.  619  the regne of god, as seith seint Paul. /
12.  620  (620) And ofte tyme swich cursynge
12.  620  wrongfully retorneth agayn to hym that curseth as a bryd that retorneth agayn
12.  620  to his owene nest./
12.  621   And ouer alle thyng men oghten eschewe to cursen hir
12.  621  children and yeuen to the deuel hir engendrure as ferforth as in hem is. Certes
12.  621  it is greet peril and greet synne./
12.  622    Lat vs thanne speken of chidynge and reproche whiche been ful grete
12.  622  woundes in mannes herte, for they vnsowen the semes of freendshipe in mannes
12.  622  herte./
12.  623   For certes vnnethes may a man pleynly been accorded with hym that
12.  623  hath hym openly reuyled and repreued in disclaundre. This is a ful grisly synne
12.  623  as Crist seith in the gospel./
12.  624   And taak kepe now that he that repreueth his
12.  624  neighebor outher he repreueth hym by som harm of peyne that he hath on
12.  624  his body, as 'mesel', 'croked harlot', or by som synne that he dooth. /
12.  625  (625)
12.  625  Now if he repreue hym by harm of peyne thanne turneth the repreue to Iesu
12.  625  Crist for peyne is sent by the rightwys sonde of god and by his suffrance, be
12.  625  it meselrie or maheym or maladie./
12.  626   And if he repreue hym vncharitably of
12.  626  synne as 'thou dronkelewe harlot' and so forth, thanne aperteneth that to the
12.  626  reioysynge of the deuel that euere hath ioye that men doon synne./
12.  627   And certes
12.  627  chidynge may nat come but out of a vileyns herte. For after the habundance
12.  627  of the herte speketh the mouth ful ofte./
12.  628   And ye shul vnderstonde that looke by
12.  628  any wey whan any man shal chastise another that he be war from chidynge
12.  628  and repreuynge. For trewely but he be war he may ful lightly quyken the
12.  628  fir of angre and of wratthe which that he sholde quenche, and parauenture
12.  628  sleeth hym which that he myghte chastise with benignitee./
12.  629   For as seith
12.  629  Salomon: The amyable tonge is the tree of lyf, that is to seyn of lyf espiritueel.
12.  629  And soothly a deslauee tonge sleeth the spirites of hym that repreueth and eek
12.  629  of hym that is repreued. /
12.  630  (630) Loo what seith seint Augustyn: Ther is nothyng
12.  630  so lyk the deueles child as he that ofte chideth. Seint ?f.224v! Paul seith eek:
12.  630  I, seruant of god, bihoueth nat to chide./
12.  631   And how that chidynge be a vileyns
12.  631  thyng bitwixe alle manere folk, yet is it certes moost vncouenable bitwixe a man
12.  631  and his wyf, for there is neuere reste. And therfore seith Salomon: An hous
12.  631  that is vncouered and droppynge and a chidynge wyf been lyke./
12.  632   A man that
12.  632  is in a droppynge hous in manye places though he eschewe the droppynge in
12.  632  o place, it droppeth on hym in another place. So fareth it by a chydynge wyf:
12.  632  but she chide hym in o place, she wol chide hym in ano=er./
12.  633   And therfore
12.  633  bettre is a morsel of breed with ioye than an hous ful of delices with chidynge,
12.  633  seith Salomon./
12.  634   Seint Paul seith: O ye wommen, be ye subgetes to youre
12.  634  housbondes, and ye men loueth youre wyues. Ad Colonisenses 3/
12.  635    (635) Afterward speke we of scornynge which is a wikked synne and namely
12.  635  whan he scorneth a man for hise goode werkes./
12.  636   For certes swiche scorneres
12.  636  faren lyk the foule tode that may nat endure to smelle the soote sauour of the
12.  636  vyne whanne it florissheth./
12.  637   Thise scorneres been partyng felawes with the
12.  637  deuel, for they han ioye whan the deuel wynneth and sorwe whan he leseth./
12.  638  They been aduersaries of Iesu Crist for they haten that he loueth, that is to
12.  638  seyn saluacioun of soule./
12.  639    Speke we now of wikked conseil, for he that wikked conseil yeueth is a
12.  639  traytour. He deceyueth hym that trusteth in hym vt Achitofel ad Absolonem. But
12.  639  nathelees yet is his wikked conseil first agayn hymself. /
12.  640  (640) For as seith the
12.  640  wise man: Euery fals lyuynge hath his propertee in hymself that he that wole
12.  640  anoye another man he anoyeth first hymself./
12.  641   And men shul vnderstonde that
12.  641  man shal nat taken his conseil of fals folk nor of angry folk or greuous folk
12.  641  that louen specially to muchel hir owene profit ne to muche worldly folk,
12.  641  namely in conseilynge of soules./
12.  642    Now comth the synne of hem that sowen and maken discord amonges folk,
12.  642  which is a synne that Crist hateth outrely. And no wonder is for he deyde for to
12.  642  make concord./
12.  643   And moore shame do they to Crist than dide they that hym
12.  643  crucifiede, for god loueth bettre that freendshipe be amonges folk than he dide
12.  643  his owene body the which that he yaf for vnitee. Therfore been they likned to
12.  643  the deuel that euere been aboute to maken discord./
12.  644    Now comth the synne of double-tonge swiche as speken faire byforn folk and
12.  644  wikkedly bihynde. Or elles they maken semblant as though they speeke of good
12.  644  entencioun or elles in game and pley, and yet they speke of wikked entente./
12.  645    (645) Now comth biwreying of conseil thurgh which a man is defamed;
12.  645  certes vnnethe may he restoore the damage./
12.  646    Now comth manace that is an open folye, for he that ofte manaceth he
12.  646  threteth moore than he may parfourne ful ofte tyme./
12.  647    Now cometh ydel wordes that is withouten profit of hym that speketh tho
12.  647  wordes and eek of hym that herkneth tho wordes. Or elles ydel wordes been
12.  647  tho that been nedelees or withouten entente of natureel profit./
12.  648   And al be it
12.  648  that ydel wordes been somtyme venial synne, yet sholde men douten hem for
12.  648  we shul yeue rekenynge of hem bifore god./
12.  649    Now comth ianglynge that may nat been withoute synne. And as seith
12.  649  Salomon: It is a synne of apert folye. /
12.  650  (650) And therfore a philosophre seyde
12.  650  whan men axed hym how ?f.225! that men sholde plese the peple and he
12.  650  answerde: Do manye goode werkes and spek fewe iangles./
12.  651    After this comth the synne of iaperes that been the deueles apes, for they
12.  651  maken folk to laughe at hir iaperie as folk doon at the gawdes of an ape.
12.  651  Swiche iaperes deffendeth seint Paul./
12.  652   Looke how that vertuouse wordes and
12.  652  hooly wordes conforten hem that trauaillen in the seruice of Crist, right so
12.  652  conforten the vileyns wordes and knakkes of iaperis hem that trauaillen in the
12.  652  seruice of the deuel./
12.  653   Thise been the synnes that comen of the tonge that comen
12.  653  of ire and of othere synnes mo./
12.  654  Sequitur remedium contra peccatum ire
12.  654    The remedie agayns ire is a vertu that men clepen mansuetude, that is
12.  654  debonairetee, and eek another vertu that men callen pacience or suffrance./
12.  655    (655) Debonairetee withdraweth and refreyneth the stirynges and the
12.  655  moeuynges of mannes corage in his herte in swich manere that they ne skippe
12.  655  nat out by angre ne by ire./
12.  656   Suffrance suffreth swetely alle the anoyaunces
12.  656  and =e wronges that men doon to man outward./
12.  657   Seint Ierome seith thus of
12.  657  debonairetee that it dooth noon harm to no wight ne seith, ne for noon harm
12.  657  that men doon or seyn he ne eschawfeth nat agayns his resoun./
12.  658   This vertu
12.  658  somtyme comth of nature, for as seith the philosophre: A man is a quyk thyng
12.  658  by nature debonaire and tretable to goodnesse, but whan debonairetee is
12.  658  enformed of grace thanne is it the moore worth./
12.  659    Pacience that is another remedie agayns ire; it is a vertu that suffreth swetely
12.  659  euery mannes goodnesse and is nat wrooth for noon harm that is doon to hym./
12.  660  (660) The philosophre seith that pacience is thilke vertu that suffreth
12.  660  debonairely alle the outrages of aduersitee and euery wikked word./
12.  661   This vertu
12.  661  maketh a man lyk to god and maketh hym goddes owene deere child as seith
12.  661  Crist. This vertu disconfiteth thyn enemy. And therfore seith the wise man:
12.  661  If thow wolt venquysse thyn enemy lerne to suffre./
12.  662   And thou shalt vnderstonde
12.  662  that man suffreth iiij manere of greuances in outward thynges, agayns the
12.  662  whiche iiij he moot haue iiij manere of paciences./
12.  663    The firste greuance is of wikkede wordes. Thilke suffrede Iesu Crist
12.  663  withouten grucchyng ful paciently whan the Iewes despised and repreued hym
12.  663  ful ofte./
12.  664   Suffre thou therfore paciently for the wise man seith: If thou stryue
12.  664  with a fool, though the fool be wrooth or though he laughe, algate thou shalt
12.  664  haue no reste. /
12.  665  (665) That oother greuance outward is to haue damage of thy
12.  665  catel. Theragayns suffred Crist ful paciently whan he was despoyled of al that
12.  665  he hadde in this lyf and that nas but hise clothes./
12.  666   The thridde greuance is a
12.  666  man to haue harm in his body. That suffred Crist ful paciently in al his
12.  666  passioun./
12.  667   The fourthe greuance is in outrageous labour in werkes. Wherfore
12.  667  I seye that folk that maken hir seruantz to trauaillen to greuously or out of
12.  667  tyme, as on haly dayes, soothly they do greet synne./
12.  668   Heeragayns suffred
12.  668  Crist ful paciently and taughte vs pacience whan he baar ?f.225v! vpon his
12.  668  blissed shulder the croys vpon which he sholde suffren despitous deeth./
12.  669   Heere
12.  669  may men lerne to be pacient for certes noght oonly cristen men been pacient
12.  669  for loue of Iesu Crist and for gerdoun of the blisful lyf that is pardurable, but
12.  669  certes the olde payens that neuere were cristene commendeden and vseden the
12.  669  vertu of pacience./
12.  670    (670) A philosophre vpon a tyme that wolde haue beten his disciple for his
12.  670  grete trespas for which he was greetly amoeued and broghte a yerde to scoure
12.  670  with the child./
12.  671   And whan this child saugh the yerde he seyde to his maister:
12.  671  'What thenke ye do?'
12.  671    'I wol bete thee,' quod the maister, 'for thy correccioun.'/
12.  672    For sothe,' quod the child, 'ye oghten first correcte youreself that han lost
12.  672  al youre pacience for the gilt of a child.'/
12.  673    'For sothe,' quod the maister al wepynge, 'thow seyst sooth. Haue thow the
12.  673  yerde, my deere sone, and correcte me for myn inpacience.'/
12.  674    Of pacience comth obedience, thurgh which a man is obedient to Crist and
12.  674  to alle hem to whiche he oghte to been obedient in Crist. /
12.  675  (675) And vnderstond
12.  675  wel that obedience is parfit whan that a man dooth gladly and hastily with
12.  675  good herte entierly al that he sholde do./
12.  676   Obedience generally is to parfourne
12.  676  the doctrine of god and of his souereyns to whiche hym oghte to ben obeisaunt
12.  676  in alle rightwisnesse./
12.  677  Sequitur de accidia
12.  677    After the synne of enuye and of ire now wol I speken of the synne of accidie.
12.  677  For enuye blyndeth the herte of man and ire troubleth a man and accidie
12.  677  maketh hym heuy, thoghtful and wrawful./
12.  678   Enuye and ire maken bitternesse in
12.  678  herte, which bitternesse is mooder of accidie and bynymeth hym the loue of
12.  678  alle goodnesse. Thanne is accidie the angwissh of troubled herte. And seint
12.  678  Augustyn seith: It is anoy of goodnesse and ioye of harm./
12.  679   Certes this is a
12.  679  dampnable synne for it dooth wrong to Iesu Crist in as muche as it bynymeth
12.  679  the seruice that men oghte doon to Crist with alle diligence, as seith Salomon./
12.  680  (680) But accidie dooth no swich diligence. He dooth alle thyng with anoy
12.  680  and with wrawnesse, slaknesse and excusacioun and with ydelnesse and vnlust.
12.  680  For which the book seith: Acursed be he that dooth the seruice of god
12.  680  necligently./
12.  681   Thanne is accidie enemy to euerich estaat of man, for certes the
12.  681  estaat of man is in iij maneres./
12.  682   Outher it is th'estaat of innocence as was
12.  682  th'estaat of Adam biforn that he fil into synne, in which estaat he was holden
12.  682  to wirche as in heriynge and adowrynge of god./
12.  683   Another estaat is estaat of
12.  683  synful men, in which estaat men been holden to laboure in preiynge to god
12.  683  for amendement of hir synnes and that he wole graunte hem to arysen out of
12.  683  hir synnes./
12.  684   Another estaat is th'estaat of grace in which estaat he is holden
12.  684  to werkes of penitence. And certes to alle thise thynges is accidie enemy and
12.  684  contrarie for he loueth no bisynesse at al. /
12.  685  (685) Now certes this foule swyn
12.  685  accidie is eek a ful greet enemy to the liflode of the body for it ne hath no
12.  685  purueaunce agayn temporeel necessitee for it forsleweth and forsluggeth and
12.  685  destroyeth alle goodes temporeles by ?f.226! reccheleesnesse./
12.  686    The fourthe thyng is that accidie is lyk to hem that been in the peyne of
12.  686  helle by cause of hir slouthe and of hir heuynesse, for they that been dampned
12.  686  been so bounde that they ne may neither wel do ne wel thynke./
12.  687   Of accidie
12.  687  comth first that a man is anoyed and encombred for to doon any goodnesse,
12.  687  and maketh that god hath abhomynacion of swich accidie./
12.  688    Now comth slouthe that wol nat suffre noon hardnesse ne no penaunce,
12.  688  for soothly slouthe is so tendre and so delicaat, as seith Salomon, that he wol
12.  688  nat suffre noon hardnesse ne penaunce and therfore he shendeth al that he
12.  688  dooth./
12.  689   Agayns this rotenherted synne of accidie and slouthe sholde men
12.  689  excercise hemself to doon goode werkes, and manly and vertuously cacchen
12.  689  corage wel to doon, thynkynge that oure lord Iesu Crist quiteth euery good
12.  689  dede be it neuer so lite. /
12.  690  (690) Vsage of labour is a greet thyng for it maketh,
12.  690  as seith seint Bernard, the laborer to haue stronge armes and harde synwes,
12.  690  and slouthe maketh hem feble and tendre./
12.  691   Thanne comth drede to bigynne
12.  691  to werke anye goode werkes, for certes he that is enclyned to synne hym
12.  691  thynketh it is so greet an emprise for to vndertake to doon werkes of goodnesse /
12.  692  and casteth in his herte that the circumstaunces of goodnesse been so greuouse
12.  692  and so chargeaunt for to suffre that he dar nat vndertake to do werkes of
12.  692  goodnesse, as seith seint Gregorie./
12.  693    Now comth wanhope that is despeir of the mercy of god that comth somtyme
12.  693  of to muche outrageous sorwe and somtyme of to muche drede, ymaginynge
12.  693  that he hath doon so muche synne that it wol nat auaillen hym though he
12.  693  wolde repenten hym and forsake synne./
12.  694   Thurgh which despeir or drede he
12.  694  abaundoneth al his herte to euery maner synne, as seith seint Augustin. /
12.  695  (695)
12.  695  Which dampnable synne, if that it continue vnto his ende, it is cleped synnyng
12.  695  in the hooly goost./
12.  696   This horrible synne is so perilous that he that is despeired
12.  696  ther nys no felonye ne no synne that he douteth for to do, as sheweth wel by
12.  696  ludas./
12.  697   Certes abouen alle synnes thanne is this synne moost displesant to Crist
12.  697  and moost aduersarie./
12.  698   Soothly he that despeireth hym is lyk the coward
12.  698  champioun recreant that seith 'creant' withoute nede. Allas, allas nedelees is he
12.  698  recreant and nedelees despeired./
12.  699   Certes the mercy of god is euere redy to
12.  699  euery penitent and is abouen alle hise werkes. /
12.  700  (700) Allas kan a man nat
12.  700  bithynke hym on the gospel of seint Luc 15 where as Crist seith that as wel
12.  700  shal ther be ioye in heuene vpon a synful man that dooth penitence than vpon
12.  700  90 and 9 rightful men that neden no penitence?/
12.  701   Looke forther in the same
12.  701  gospel the ioye and the feeste of the goode man that hadde lost his sone whan
12.  701  his sone with repentaunce was retourned to his fader./
12.  702   Kan they nat remembren
12.  702  hem eek, that as seith seint Luc 23, how that the theef that was hanged bisyde
12.  702  Iesu Crist seyde: 'Lord, remembre of me whan thow comest into thy regne'?/
12.  703    'For sothe,' seyde Crist, 'I seye to thee: Today shaltow been with me in
12.  703  paradys.'/
12.  704    Certes ther is noon so horrible synne of man that it ne may in his lyf be
12.  704  destroyed by penitence thurgh vertu of the passion and of the deeth of Crist./
12.  705  (705) Allas what nedeth man thanne to been despeired sith that his mercy so
12.  705  redy is and large? Axe and haue./
12.  706    Thanne cometh sompnolence that is sloggy slombrynge which maketh a man
12.  706  be ?f.266v! heuy and dul in body and in soule; and this synne comth of
12.  706  slouthe./
12.  707   And certes the tyme that by wey of resoun men sholde nat slepe,
12.  707  that is by the morwe, but if ther were cause resonable./
12.  708   For soothly the morwe-
12.  708  tyde is moost couenable a man to seye hise preyeres and for to thynken on god
12.  708  and for to honoure god and to yeuen almesse to the poure that first cometh in
12.  708  the name of Crist./
12.  709   Lo what seith Salomon: Whoso wolde by the morwe awaken
12.  709  and seke me, he shal fynde. /
12.  710  (710) Thanne cometh necligence or recchelees-
12.  710  nesse that rekketh of nothyng. And how that ignoraunce be mooder of alle
12.  710  harm, certes necligence is the norice./
12.  711   Necligence ne dooth no fors whan he shal
12.  711  doon a thyng wheither he do it weel or baddely./
12.  712    Of the remedie of thise two synnes as seith the wise man that he that dredeth
12.  712  god he spareth nat to doon that him oghte doon./
12.  713   And he that loueth god,
12.  713  he wol doon diligence to plese god by hise werkes and abaundone hymself with
12.  713  al his myght wel for to doon./
12.  714    Thanne comth ydelnesse that is the yate of alle harmes. An ydel man is lyk
12.  714  to a place that hath no walles: the deueles may entre on euery syde and sheten
12.  714  at hym at discouert by temptacion on euery syde. /
12.  715  (715) This ydelnesse is the
12.  715  thurrok of alle wikked and vileyns thoghtes and of alle iangles, trufles and of
12.  715  alle ordure./
12.  716   Certes the heuene is yeuen to hem that wol labouren and nat to
12.  716  ydel folk. Eek Dauid seith that they ne been nat in the labour of men ne they
12.  716  shul nat been whipped with men; that is to seyn in purgatorie./
12.  717   Certes thanne
12.  717  semeth it they shul be tormented with the deuel in helle but if they doon
12.  717  penitence./
12.  718    Thanne comth the synne that men clepen tarditas, as whan a man is to
12.  718  laterede or tariynge er he wole turne to god; and certes that is a greet folie.
12.  718  He is lyk to hym that falleth in the dych and wol nat arise./
12.  719   And this vice
12.  719  comth of a fals hope that he thynketh that he shal lyue longe; but that hope
12.  719  faile= ful ofte./
12.  720    (720) Thanne comth lachesse, that is he that whan he biginneth any good
12.  720  werk anon he shal forleten it and stynten, as doon they that han any wight
12.  720  to gouerne and ne taken of hym namoore kepe anon as they fynden any
12.  720  contrarie or any anoy./
12.  721   Thise been the newe sheepherdes that leten hir sheep
12.  721  wityngly go renne to the wolf that is in the breres, or do no fors of hir owene
12.  721  gouernaunce./
12.  722   Of this comth pouerte and destruccioun bothe of spiritueel and
12.  722  temporeel thynges. Thanne comth a manere cooldnesse that freseth al the herte
12.  722  of a man./
12.  723   Thanne comth vndeuocioun thurgh which a man is blent, as seith
12.  723  seint Bernard, and hath swich langour in soule that he may neither rede ne
12.  723  singe in hooly chirche ne heere ne thynke of no deuocioun ne trauaille with
12.  723  hise handes in no good werk that it nys hym vnsauory and al apalled./
12.  724   Thanne
12.  724  wexeth he slough and slombry, and soone wol be wrooth and soone is enclyned
12.  724  to hate and to enuye. /
12.  725  (725) Thanne comth the synne of worldly sorwe which
12.  725  as is cleped tristicia that sleeth man, as seint Paul seith./
12.  726   For certes swich sorwe
12.  726  werketh to the deeth of the soule and of the body also, for therof comth that a
12.  726  man is anoyed of his owene lif./
12.  727   Wherfore swich sorwe shorteth ful ofte the lif
12.  727  of man er that his tyme be come by wey of kynde./
12.  728   ?f.227!
12.  728  Remedium contra peccatum accidie
12.  728  Agayns this horrible synne of accidie and the branches of the same ther is a
12.  728  vertu that is called fortitudo or strengthe, that is an affeccioun thurgh which a
12.  728  man despiseth anoyouse thinges./
12.  729   This vertu is so myghty and so vigerous that
12.  729  it dar withstonde myghtily, and wisely kepen hymself fro perils that been
12.  729  wikked, and wrastle agayn the assautes of the deuel. /
12.  730  (730) For it enhaunceth
12.  730  and enforceth the soule right as accidie abateth it and maketh it fieble. For
12.  730  thisfortitudo may endure by long suffraunce the trauailles that been couenable./
12.  731    This vertu hath manye speces, and the firste is cleped magnanimitee, that
12.  731  is to seyn greet corage. For certes ther bihoueth greet corage agains accidie
12.  731  lest that it ne swolwe the soule by the synne of sorwe or destroye it by wanhope./
12.  732  This vertu maketh folk to vndertake harde thynges and greuouse thynges by
12.  732  hir owene wil wesely and resonably./
12.  733   And for as muchel as the deuel fighteth
12.  733  agayns a man moore by queyntise and by sleighte than by strengthe, therfore
12.  733  men shal withstonden hym by wit and by resoun and by discrecioun./
12.  734   Thanne
12.  734  arn ther the vertues of feith and hope in god and in hise seintes to acheue and
12.  734  acomplice the goode werkes in the whiche he purposeth fermely to continue./
12.  735  (735) Thanne comth seuretee or sikernesse and that is whan a man ne douteth
12.  735  no trauaille in tyme comynge of the goode werkes that a man hath bigonne./
12.  736  Thanne comth magnificence, that is to seyn whan a man dooth and par-
12.  736  fourneth grete werkes of goodnesse, and that is the ende why that men sholde
12.  736  do goode werkes for in the acomplissynge of grete goode werkes lith the grete
12.  736  gerdoun./
12.  737   Thanne is ther constaunce that is stablenesse of corage, and this
12.  737  sholde been in herte by stedefast feith and in mouth and in berynge and in
12.  737  chiere and in dede./
12.  738   Eke ther been mo speciale remedies agains accidie in
12.  738  diuerse werkes and in consideracioun of the peynes of helle and of the ioyes
12.  738  of heuene and in trust of the grace of the holy goost that wole yeue hym myght
12.  738  to parfourne his goode entente./
12.  739  Sequitur de auaricia
12.  739  After accidie wol I speke of auarice and of coueitise of which synne seith seint
12.  739  Paul that the roote of alle harmes is coueitise, Ad Thimotheum 6 /
12.  740  (740)
12.  740  For soothly whan the herte ofa man is confounded in itselfand troubled and that
12.  740  the soule hath lost the confort of god, thanne seketh he an ydel solas of
12.  740  worldly thynges./
12.  741    Auarice, after the descripcion of seint Augustyn, is likerousnesse in herte to
12.  741  haue erthely thynges./
12.  742   Som oother folk seyn that auarice is for to purchacen
12.  742  manye erthely thynges and nothyng yeue to hem that han nede./
12.  743   And vnder-
12.  743  stoond that auarice ne stant nat oonly in lond ne catel, but somtyme in science
12.  743  and in glorie; and in euery manere of outrageous thyng is auarice and coueitise./
12.  744  And the difference bitwixe auarice and coueitise is this. Coueitise is for to
12.  744  coueite swiche thynges as thou hast nat, and auarice is for to withholde and
12.  744  kepe swiche thynges as thou hast withoute rightful nede. /
12.  745  (745) Soothly ?f.227'!
12.  745  this auarice is a synne that is ful dampnable for al hooly writ curseth it and
12.  745  speketh agayns that vice, for it dooth wrong to Iesu Crist./
12.  746   For it bireueth
12.  746  hym the loue that men to hym owen and turneth it bakward agayns alle
12.  746  resoun /
12.  747   and maketh that the auaricious man hath moore hope in his catel
12.  747  than in Iesu Crist, and dooth moore obseruance in kepynge of his tresor than he
12.  747  dooth to seruice of Iesu Crist./
12.  748   And therfore seith seint Paul ad Ephesios 5 that
12.  748  an auaricious man is the thraldom of ydolatrie./
12.  749    What difference is bitwixe an ydolastre and an auaricious man but that an
12.  749  ydolastre parauenture ne hath but o mawmet or two and the auaricious man
12.  749  hath manye? For certes euery floryn in his cofre is his mawmet. /
12.  750  (750) And
12.  750  certes the synne of mawmettrie is the firste thyng that god deffended in the
12.  750  ten comaundementz as bereth witnesse in Exodi c 20:/
12.  751   Thou shalt
12.  751  haue no false goddes bifore me ne thou shalt make to thee no graue thyng.
12.  751  Thus is an auaricious man that loueth his tresor biforn god an ydolastre /
12.  752   thurgh
12.  752  this cursed synne of auarice.
12.  752    Of coueitise comen thise harde lordshipes thurgh whiche men been
12.  752  distreyned by taylages, custumes and cariages moore than hir duetee or resoun
12.  752  is. And eek they taken of hir bonde-men amercimentz whiche myghten moore
12.  752  resonably ben cleped extorcions than amercimentz./
12.  753   Of whiche amercimentz
12.  753  and raunsonynge of boonde-men somme lordes stywardes seyn that it is rightful
12.  753  for as muche as a cherl hath no temporeel thyng that it ne is his lordes, as
12.  753  they seyn./
12.  754   But certes thise lordshipes doon wrong that bireuen hir bonde-folk
12.  754  thynges that they neuere yaue hem, Augustinus de ciuitate lio190. /
12.  755  (755) Sooth
12.  755  is that the condicioun of thraldom and the firste cause of thraldom is for synne,
12.  755  Genesis 9./
12.  756    Thus may ye seen that the gilt disserueth thraldom but nat nature./
12.  757   Wherfore
12.  757  thise lordes ne sholde nat muche glorifien hem in hir lordshipes sith that by
12.  757  natureel condicion they been nat lordes of thralles, but that thraldom comth
12.  757  first by the desert of synne./
12.  758   And fortherouer ther as the lawe seith that
12.  758  temporeel goodes of boonde-folk been the goodes of hir lordshipes, ye that
12.  758  is for to vnderstonde the goodes of the emperour, to deffenden hem in hir right
12.  758  but nat for to robben hem ne reuen hem./
12.  759   And therfore seith Seneca: Thy
12.  759  prudence sholde lyue benignely with thy thralles. /
12.  760  (760) Thilke that thou clepest
12.  760  thy thralles been goddes peple, for humble folk been Cristes freendes: they
12.  760  been contubernyal with the lord./
12.  761    Thynk eek that of swich seed as cherles spryngeth, of swich seed spryngen
12.  761  lordes. As wel may the cherl be saued as the lord./
12.  762   The same deeth that take=
12.  762  the cherl swich deeth taketh the lord. Wherfore I rede do right so with thy
12.  762  cherl as thou woldest that thy lord dide with thee if thou were in his plit./
12.  763  Euery synful man is a cherl to synne. I rede thee certes that thou lord werke
12.  763  in swich wise with thy cherles that they rather loue thee than drede./
12.  764   I woot
12.  764  wel ther is degree aboue degree as reson is, and skile it is that men do hir
12.  764  deuoir ther as it is due. But certes extorcions and ?f.228'! despit of youre
12.  764  vnderlynges is dampnable./
12.  765    (765) And fortherouer vnderstoond wel that thise conquerours or tirauntz
12.  765  maken ful ofte thralles of hem that been born of as roial blood as been they
12.  765  that hem conqueren./
12.  766   This name of thraldom was neuere erst kowth til that
12.  766  Noe seyde that his sone Canaan sholde be thral to hise bretheren for his synne./
12.  767  What seye we thanne of hem that pilen and doon extorcions in hooly chirche?
12.  767  Certes the swerd that men yeuen first to a knyght whan he is newe dubbed
12.  767  signifieth that he sholde deffenden hooly chirche and nat robben it ne pilen it --
12.  767  and whoso dooth is traitour to Crist./
12.  768   And as seith seint Augustyn: They been
12.  768  the deueles wolues that stranglen the sheep of Iesu Crist; and doon worse than
12.  768  wolues,/
12.  769   for soothly whan the wolf hath ful his wombe he stynteth to strangle
12.  769  sheep. But soothly the pilours and destroyours of goddes hooly chirche ne do
12.  769  nat so for they ne stynte neuere to pile. /
12.  770  (770) Now as I haue seyd sith so is that
12.  770  synne was first cause of thraldom thanne is it thus that thilke tyme that al this
12.  770  world was in synne thanne was al this world in thraldom and subieccioun./
12.  771  But certes sith the time of grace cam, god ordeyned that som folk sholde be
12.  771  moore heigh in estaat and in degree and som folk moore lough and that euerich
12.  771  sholde be serued in his estaat./
12.  772   And therfore in somme contrees ther they byen
12.  772  thralles, whan they han turned hem to the feith they maken hir thralles free
12.  772  out of thraldom. And therfore certes the lord oweth to his man that the man
12.  772  oweth to his lord:/
12.  773   the pope calleth hymself seruant of the seruauntz of god.
12.  773  But for as muche as the estaat of hooly chirche ne myghte nat han be ne the
12.  773  commune profit myghte nat han be kept ne pees and reste in erthe but if god
12.  773  hadde ordeyned that som men hadde hyer degree and som men lower,/
12.  774   therfore
12.  774  was souereyntee ordeyned to kepe and mayntene and deffenden hir vnder-
12.  774  lynges or hir subgetz in resoun as ferforth as it lith in hir power and nat to
12.  774  destroyen hem ne confounde. /
12.  775  (775) Wherfore I seye that thilke lordes that been
12.  775  lyk wolues that deuouren the possessiouns or the catel of poure folk wrongfully
12.  775  withouten mercy or mesure,/
12.  776   they shul receyuen, by the same mesure that they
12.  776  han mesured to poure folk, the mercy of Iesu Crist but if it be amended./
12.  777    Now comth deceite bitwixe marchaunt and marchant. And thow shalt
12.  777  vnderstonde that marchandise is in manye maneres. That oon is bodily and
12.  777  that oother is goostly; that oon is honeste and leueful and that oother is
12.  777  deshoneste and vnleueful./
12.  778   Of thilke bodily marchandise that is leueful and
12.  778  honeste is this: that there as god hath ordeyned that a regne or a contree is
12.  778  suffisaunt to hymself, thanne is it honeste and leueful that of habundaunce
12.  778  of this contree that men helpe another contree that is moore nedy./
12.  779   And
12.  779  therfore ther moote been marchantz to bryngen fro that o contree to that oother
12.  779  hir marchandises. /
12.  780  (780) That oother marchandise that men haunten with
12.  780  fraude and trecherie and deceite, with lesynges and false othes is cursed and
12.  780  dampnable./
12.  781   Espiritueel marchandise is proprely symonye, that is ententif desir
12.  781  to byen thyng espiritueel that is thyng that aperteneth to the seintuarie of god
12.  781  and to cure of the soule./
12.  782   This desir if so be that a man do his diligence to
12.  782  parfournen it al be it that his desir ne take noon ?f.229v! effect, yet is it to
12.  782  hym a deedly synne, and if he be ordred he is irreguleer./
12.  783   Certes symonye is
12.  783  cleped of Simon Magus that wolde han boght for temporeel catel the yifte
12.  783  that god hadde yeuen by the hooly goost to seint Peter and to the apostles./
12.  784  And therfore vnderstoond that bothe he that selleth and he that beyeth thynges
12.  784  espirituels been cleped symonyals, be it by catel, be it by procurynge or by
12.  784  flesshly preyere of hise freendes, flesshly freendes or espiritueel freendes. /
12.  785  (785)
12.  785  Flesshly in two maneres as by kynrede or othere freendes. Soothly if they praye
12.  785  for hym that is nat worthy and able, it is symonye if he take the benefice,
12.  785  and if he be worthy and able, ther nys noon./
12.  786   That oother manere is whan a
12.  786  man or womman preyen for folk to auauncen hem oonly for wikked flesshly
12.  786  affeccioun that they han vnto the persone; and that is foul symonye./
12.  787   But
12.  787  certes in seruice for which men yeuen thynges espirituels vnto hir seruantz, it
12.  787  moot been vnderstonde that the seruice moot been honeste, and elles nat; and
12.  787  eek that it be withouten bargaynynge and that the persone be able./
12.  788   For as
12.  788  seith seint Damasie: Alle the synnes of the world at regard of this synne arn
12.  788  as thyng of noght. For it is the gretteste synne that may be after the synne of
12.  788  Lucifer and Antecrist./
12.  789   For by this synne god forleseth the chirche and the soule
12.  789  that he boghte with his precious blood by hem that yeuen chirches to hem
12.  789  that been nat digne. /
12.  790  (790) For they putten in theues that stelen the soules of
12.  790  Iesu Crist and destroyen his patrimoyne./
12.  791   By swiche vndigne preestes and
12.  791  curates han lewed men the lasse reuerence of the sacrement of hooly chirche,
12.  791  and swiche yeueres of chirches putten out the children of Crist and putten into
12.  791  the chirche the deueles owene sone./
12.  792   They sellen the soules that lambes sholde
12.  792  kepen to the wolf that strangleth hem. And therfore shul they neuere han part
12.  792  of the pasture of lambes, that is the blisse of heuene./
12.  793    Now comth hasardrie with hise apurtenaunces as tables and rafles, of which
12.  793  comth deceite, false othes, chidynges and alle rauynes, blasphemynge and
12.  793  reneiynge of god, and hate of hise neighebores, wast of goodes, mysspendynge
12.  793  of tyme, and somtyme manslaughtre./
12.  794   Certes hasardours ne mowe nat been
12.  794  withouten greet synne whiles they haunte that craft./
12.  795  (795) Of auarice comen eek lesynges, thefte, fals witnesse, and false othes.
12.  795  And ye shul vnderstonde that thise been grete synnes and expres agayn the
12.  795  comaundementz of god, as I haue seyd./
12.  796   Fals witnesse is in word and eek in
12.  796  dede. In word as for to bireue thy neighebores goode name by thy fals
12.  796  witnessyng or bireuen hym his catel or his heritage by thy fals witnessyng,
12.  796  whan thou for ire or for meede or for enuye berest fals witnesse or accusest
12.  796  hym or excusest hym by thy fals witnesse or elles excusest thyself falsly./
12.  797   Ware
12.  797  yow questemongeres and notaries. Certes for fals witnessyng was Susanna in
12.  797  ful gret sorwe and peyne and many another mo./
12.  798   The synne of thefte is eek
12.  798  expres agayns goddes heeste and in two maneres, corporeel or espiritueel./
12.  799  Corporeel as for to take thy neighebores catel agayn his wyl, be it by force
12.  799  or by sleighte, be it by met or by mesure; /
12.  800  (800) by stelyng eek of false
12.  800  enditementz vpon hym and in borwynge of thy neighebores catel in entente
12.  800  neuere to payen it agayn, ?f.229'! and semblable thynges./
12.  801   Espiritueel thefte is
12.  801  sacrilege, that is to seyn hurtynge of hooly thynges or of thynges sacred to
12.  801  Crist in two maneres: by reson of the hooly place as chirches or chirche-hawes /
12.  802  for which euery vileyns synne that men doon in swiche places may be cleped
12.  802  sacrilege or euery violence in the semblable places; also they that withdrawen
12.  802  falsly the rightes that longen to hooly chirche./
12.  803   And pleynly and generally
12.  803  sacrilege is to reuen hooly thyng fro hooly place or vnhooly thyng out of hooly
12.  803  place or hooly thyng out of vnhooly place./
12.  804  Releuacio contra peccatum auaricie
12.  804  Now shul ye vnderstonde that the releeuynge of auarice is misericorde and
12.  804  pitee largely taken. And men myghten axe why that misericorde and pitee is
12.  804  releeuynge of auarice. /
12.  805  (805) Certes the auaricious man sheweth no pitee ne
12.  805  misericorde to the nedeful man for he deliteth hym in the kepynge of his
12.  805  tresor and nat in the rescowynge ne releeuynge of his euenecristene. And
12.  805  therfore speke I first of misericorde./
12.  806   Thanne is misericorde, as seith the
12.  806  philosophre, a vertu by which the corage of a man is stired by the mysese of
12.  806  hym that is mysesed./
12.  807   Vpon which misericorde folweth pitee in parfournynge
12.  807  of charitable werkes of misericorde./
12.  808   And certes thise thynges moeuen a man
12.  808  to misericorde of Iesu Crist, that he yaf hymself for oure gilt and suffred deeth
12.  808  for misericorde and forgaf vs oure originale synnes/
12.  809   and therby relessed vs fro
12.  809  the peynes of helle and amenused the peynes of purgatorie by penitence and
12.  809  yeueth grace wel to do and atte laste the blisse of heuene. /
12.  810  (810) The speces
12.  810  of misericorde been as for to lene and for to yeue, and to foryeuen and relesse,
12.  810  and for to han pitee in herte and compassioun of the meschief of his
12.  810  euenecristene, and eek to chastise there as nede is./
12.  811   Another manere of remedie
12.  811  agayns auarice is resonable largesse. But soothly heere bihoueth the con-
12.  811  sideracioun of the grace of Iesu Crist and of hise temporeel goodes and eek of
12.  811  the goodes pardurables that Crist yaf to vs,/
12.  812   and to han remembrance of the
12.  812  deeth that he shal receyue he noot whanne, where ne how; and eek that he shal
12.  812  forgon al that he hath saue oonly that he hath despended in goode werkes./
12.  813    But for as muche as som folk been vnmesurable, men oghten eschue fool-
12.  813  largesse that men clepen wast./
12.  814   Certes he that is fool-large ne yeueth nat his
12.  814  catel, but he leseth his catel. Soothly what thyng that he yeueth for veyne
12.  814  glorie as to mynstrals and to folk for to beren his renoun in the world he hath
12.  814  synne therof and noon almesse. /
12.  815  (815) Certes he leseth foule his good that ne
12.  815  seketh with the yifte of his good nothyng but synne./
12.  816   He is lyk to an hors that
12.  816  seketh rather to drynken drouy or trouble water than for to drynken water of
12.  816  the clere welle./
12.  817   And for as muchel as they yeuen ther as they sholde nat yeuen,
12.  817  to hem aperteneth thilke malisoun that Crist shal yeuen at the day of doome
12.  817  to hem that shullen been dampned./
12.  818   ?f.229v!
12.  818  Sequitur de gula
12.  818    After auarice comth glotonye which is expres eek agayn the comandement
12.  818  of god. Glotonye is vnmesurable appetit to ete or to drynke, or elles to doon
12.  818  ynogh to the vnmesurable appetit and desordeynee coueitise to eten or to
12.  818  drynke./
12.  819   This synne corrumped al this world as is wel shewed in the synne of
12.  819  Adam and of Eue. Looke eek what seith seint Paul of glotonye: /
12.  820  (820) Manye
12.  820  (seith saint Paul) goon, of whiche I haue ofte seyd to yow and now I seye it
12.  820  wepynge, that been the enemys of the croys of Crist, of whiche the ende is
12.  820  deeth and of whiche hir wombe is hir god and hir glorie in confusioun of
12.  820  hem that so deuouren erthely thynges./
12.  821   He that is vsaunt to this synne of
12.  821  glotonye, he ne may no synne withstonde. He moot been in seruage of alle
12.  821  vices, for it is the deueles hoord ther he hideth hym and resteth./
12.  822    This synne hath manye speces. The firste is dronkenesse that is the horrible
12.  822  sepulture of mannes resoun, and therfore whan a man is dronken he hath lost
12.  822  his resoun -- and this is deedly synne./
12.  823   But soothly whan that a man is nat wont
12.  823  to strong drynke and parauenture ne knoweth nat the strengthe of the
12.  823  drynke or hath feblesse in his heed or hath trauailed thurgh which he drynketh
12.  823  the moore, al be he sodeynly caught with drynke, it is no deedly synne but
12.  823  venyal./
12.  824   The seconde spece of glotonye is that the spirit of a man wexeth al
12.  824  trouble, for dronkenesse bireueth hym the discrecioun of his wit. /
12.  825  (825) The
12.  825  thridde spece of glotonye is whan a man deuoureth his mete and hath no
12.  825  rightful manere of etynge./
12.  826   The fourthe is whan, thurgh the grete habundaunce
12.  826  of his mete, the humours in his body been destempred./
12.  827   The fifthe is foryetel-
12.  827  nesse by to muchel drynkynge, for which somtyme a man foryeteth er the
12.  827  morwe what he dide at euen or on the nyght biforn./
12.  828    In oother manere been distinct the speces of glotonye after seint Gregorie.
12.  828  The firste is for to ete biforn tyme to ete. The seconde is whan a man get hym
12.  828  to delicaat mete or drynke./
12.  829   The thridde is whan men taken to muche ouer
12.  829  mesure. The fourthe is curiositee with greet entente to maken and apparaillen
12.  829  his mete. The fifthe is for to eten to gredily. /
12.  830  (830) Thise been the fyue fyngres
12.  830  of the deueles hand by whiche he draweth folk to synne./
12.  831  Remedium contra peccatum gule
12.  831  Agayns glotonye is the remedie abstinence as seith Galien, but that holde I
12.  831  nat meritorie if he do it oonly for the heele of his body. Seint Augustyn wole
12.  831  that abstinence be doon for vertu and with pacience./
12.  832   Abstinence (he seith)
12.  832  is litel worth but if a man haue good wil therto and but it be enforced by
12.  832  pacience and by charitee and that men doon it for godes sake and in hope
12.  832  to haue the blisse of heuene./
12.  833    The felawes of abstinence been attemperaunce that holdeth the meene in
12.  833  alle thynges; eek shame that eschueth alle deshonestee; suffisance that seketh no
12.  833  riche metes ne drynkes ne dooth no fors of to outrageous apparai?f.230!lynge
12.  833  of mete;/
12.  834   mesure also that restreyneth by resoun the deslauee appetit of etynge;
12.  834  sobrenesse also that restreyneth the outrage of drynke; /
12.  835  (835) sparynge also that
12.  835  restreyneth the delicaat ese to sitte longe at his mete and softely, wherfore
12.  835  som folk stonden of hir owene wyl to eten at the lasse leyser./
12.  836  Sequitur de luxuria
12.  836  After glotonye thanne comth lecherie for thise two synnes been so ny cosyns
12.  836  that ofte tyme they wol nat departe./
12.  837   God wcot this synne is ful displesaunt
12.  837  thyng to god, for he seyde hymself: Do no lecherie. And therfore he putte grete
12.  837  peynes agayns this synne in the olde lawe:/
12.  838   if womman-thral were taken in
12.  838  this synne she sholde be beten with staues to the deeth; and if she were a gentil
12.  838  womman she sholde be slayn with stones; and if she were a bisshopes doghter
12.  838  she sholde been brent by goddes comandement./
12.  839   Fortherouer by the synne of
12.  839  lecherie god dreynte al the world at the diluge. And after that he brente v
12.  839  citees with thonder-leyt and sank hem into helle./
12.  840    (840) Now lat vs speke thanne of thilke stynkynge synne of lecherie that
12.  840  men clepe auowtrie of wedded folk, that is to seyn if that oon of hem be wedded
12.  840  or elles bothe./
12.  841   Seint Iohn seith that auowtiers shullen been in helle in a stank
12.  841  brennynge of fyr and of brymston for the stynk of hir ordure./
12.  842   Certes the
12.  842  brekynge of this sacrement is an horrible thyng. It was maked of god hymself
12.  842  in paradys and confermed by Iesu Crist as witnesseth seint Mathew in the
12.  842  gospel: A man shal lete fader and mooder and taken hym to his wif and they
12.  842  shullen be two in o flessh./
12.  843   This sacrement bitokneth the knyttynge togidre of
12.  843  Crist and of hooly chirche./
12.  844   And nat oonly that god forbad auowtrie in dede,
12.  844  but eek he comanded that thou sholdest nat coueite thy neighebores wyf. /
12.  845  (845)
12.  845  In this heeste (seith seint Augustyn) is forboden alle manere coueitise to doon
12.  845  lecherie. Lo what seith seint Mathew in the gospel, that whoso seeth a womman
12.  845  to coueitise of his lust he hath doon lecherie with hir in his herte./
12.  846   Heere may
12.  846  ye seen that nat oonly the dede of this synne is forboden but eek the desir
12.  846  to doon that synne./
12.  847   This cursed synne anoyeth greuousliche hem that it
12.  847  haunten. And first to hir soule, for he obligeth it to synne and to peyne of deeth
12.  847  that is pardurable./
12.  848   Vnto the body anoyeth it greuously also for it dreyeth hym
12.  848  and wasteth and shent hym, and of his blood he maketh sacrifice to the feend
12.  848  of helle. It wasteth his catel and his substaunce./
12.  849   And certes if it be a foul
12.  849  thyng a man to waste his catel on wommen, yet is it a fouler thyng whan
12.  849  that for swich ordure wommen dispenden vpon men hir catel and substaunce./
12.  850  (850) This synne, as seith the prophete, bireueth man and womman hir goode
12.  850  fame and al hir honour, and it is ful plesaunt to the deuel for therby wynneth
12.  850  he the mooste partie of this world./
12.  851   And right as marchant deliteth hym
12.  851  moost in ?f.230v! chaffare that he hath moost auantage of, right so deliteth
12.  851  the feend in this ordure./
12.  852    This is that oother hand of the deuel with v fyngres to cacche the peple
12.  852  to his vileynye./
12.  853   The firste fynger is the fool lookynge of the fool womman and
12.  853  of the fool man that sleeth right as the basilicok sleeth folk by the venym of
12.  853  his sighte; for the coueitise of eyen folweth the coueitise of the herte./
12.  854   The
12.  854  seconde fynger is the vileyns touchynge in wikkede manere. And therfore seith
12.  854  Salomon that whoso toucheth and handleth a womman, he fareth lyk hym that
12.  854  handleth the scorpioun that styngeth and sodeynly sleeth thurgh his
12.  854  enuenymynge; as whoso toucheth warm pych it shent hise fyngres. /
12.  855  (855) The
12.  855  thridde is foule wordes that fareth lyk fyr that right-anon brenneth the herte./
12.  856  The fourthe fynger is the kissynge, and trewely he were a greet fool that wolde
12.  856  kisse the mouth of a brennynge ouene or of a fourneys./
12.  857   And moore fooles been
12.  857  they that kissen in vileynye, for that mouth is the mouth of helle, and namely
12.  857  thise oldes dotardes holours: yet wol they kisse though they may nat do, and
12.  857  smatre hem./
12.  858   Certes they been lyk to houndes, for an hound whan he comth by
12.  858  the roser or by othere beautees, though he may nat pisse yet wole he heue vp
12.  858  his leg and make a contenaunce to pisse./
12.  859   And for that many man weneth that
12.  859  he may nat synne for no likerousnesse that he dooth with his wyf; certes that
12.  859  opinion is fals. God woot a man may sleen hymself with his owene knyf and
12.  859  make hymseluen dronken of his owene tonne. /
12.  860  (860) Certes be it wyf, be it child
12.  860  or any worldly thyng that he loueth biforn god, it is his mawmet and he is an
12.  860  ydolastre./
12.  861   Man sholde louen hys wyf by discrecioun paciently and atemprely,
12.  861  and thanne is she as though it were his suster./
12.  862   The fifthe fynger of the deueles
12.  862  hand is the stynkynge dede of leccherie./
12.  863   Certes the v fyngres of glotonie the
12.  863  feend put in the wombe of a man and with hise v fyngres of lecherie he gripeth
12.  863  hym by the reynes for to threwen hym into the fourneys of helle,/
12.  864   ther as they
12.  864  shul han the fyr and the wormes that euere shul lasten, and wepynge and
12.  864  wailynge, sharp hunger and thurst, and grymnesse of deueles that shullen al
12.  864  totrede hem withouten respit and withouten ende./
12.  865    (865) Of leccherie, as I seyde, sourden diuerse speces as fornicacioun that is
12.  865  bitwixe man and womman that been nat maried - and this is deedly synne
12.  865  and agayns nature./
12.  866   Al that is enemy and destruccioun to nature is agayns
12.  866  nature./
12.  867   Parfay the resoun of a man telleth eek hym wel that it is deedly
12.  867  synne for as muche as god forbad leccherie. And seint Paul yeue= hem the regne
12.  867  that nys dewe to no wight but to hem that doon deedly synne./
12.  868   Another synne
12.  868  of leccherie is to bireue a mayden of hir maydenhede, for he that so dooth
12.  868  certes he casteth a mayden out of the hyeste degree that is in this present lif/
12.  869  and bireue= hir thilke precious fruyt that the book clepeth the hundred fruyt.
12.  869  I ne kan seye it noon ootherweyes in Englissh, but in Latyn it highte centesimus
12.  869  fructus. /
12.  870  (870) Certes he that so dooth is cause of manye damages and vileynyes
12.  870  mo than any man kan rekene, right as he somtyme is cause of alle damages
12.  870  that beestes don in the feeld that breketh the hegge or the closure, thurgh
12.  870  which he ?f.231! destroyeth that may nat been restoored./
12.  871   For certes namoore
12.  871  may maydenhede be restoored than an arm that is smyten fro the body may
12.  871  retourne agayn to wexe./
12.  872   She may haue mercy, this woot I wel, if she do
12.  872  penitence, but neuere shal it be that she nas corrupt./
12.  873    Al be it so that I haue spoken somwhat of auowtrie, it is good to shewen
12.  873  mo perils that longen to auowtrie for to eschue that foule synne./
12.  874   Auowtrie
12.  874  in Latyn is for to seyn approchynge of oother mannes bed, thurgh which tho
12.  874  that whilom weren o flessh abawndone hir bodyes to othere persones. /
12.  875  (875)
12.  875  Of this synne, as seith the wise man, folwen manye harmes. First brekynge of
12.  875  feith -- and certes in feith is the keye of cristendom./
12.  876   And whan that feith is
12.  876  broken and lorn, soothly cristendom stant veyn and withouten fruyt./
12.  877   This
12.  877  synne is eek a thefte, for thefte generally is for to reue a wight his thyng agayns
12.  877  his wille./
12.  878   Certes this is the fouleste thefte that may be whan a womman steleth
12.  878  hir body from hir housbonde and yeueth it to hire holour to defoulen hir, and
12.  878  steleth hir soule fro Crist and yeueth it to the deuel./
12.  879   This is a fouler thefte
12.  879  than for to breke a chirche and stele the chalice, for thise auowtiers breken
12.  879  the temple of god spiritually and stelen the vessel of grace, that is the body
12.  879  and the soule, for which Crist shal destroyen hem as seith seint Paul. /
12.  880  (880)
12.  880  Soothly of this thefte douted gretly Ioseph whan that his lordes wyf preyed
12.  880  hym of vileynye whan he seyde: 'Lo my lady, how my lord hath take to me
12.  880  vnder my warde al that he hath in this world, ne nothyng of hise thynges is
12.  880  out of my power but oonly ye that been his wyf./
12.  881   And how sholde I thanne
12.  881  do this wikkednesse and synne so horrible agayns god and agayns my lord?
12.  881  God it forbeede.' Allas al to litel is swich trouthe now yfounde./
12.  882   The thridde
12.  882  harm is the filthe thurgh which they breken the comandement of god and
12.  882  defoulen the auctour of matrimoyne that is Crist./
12.  883   For certes in so muche as the
12.  883  sacrement of mariage is so noble and so digne, so muche is it gretter synne for
12.  883  to breken it, for god made mariage in paradys in the estaat of innocence to
12.  883  multiplye mankynde to the seruice of god./
12.  884   And therfore is the brekynge moore
12.  884  greuous, of which brekynge comen false heires ofte tyme that wrongfully
12.  884  ocupien folkes heritages. And therfore wol Crist putte hem out of the regne
12.  884  of heuene that is heritage to goode folk. /
12.  885  (885) Of this brekynge comth eek
12.  885  ofte tyme that folk vnwar wedden or synnen with hir owene kynrede, and
12.  885  namely thilke harlotes that haunten bordels of thise fool wommen that mowe
12.  885  be likned to a commune gonge where as men purgen hir ordure./
12.  886   What seye
12.  886  we eek of putours that lyuen by the horrible synne of putrie and constreyne
12.  886  wommen to yelden to hem a certeyn rente of hir bodily puterie, ye somtyme of
12.  886  his owene wyf or his child as doon this bawdes? Certes thise been cursede
12.  886  synnes./
12.  887   Vnderstoond eek that auowtrie is set gladly in the ten comandementz
12.  887  bitwixe thefte and manslaughtre, for it is the gretteste thefte that may be, for
12.  887  it is thefte of body and of soule./
12.  888   And it is lyk to homycide for it kerueth atwo
12.  888  and breketh atwo hem that first were maked o flessh. And therfore by the
12.  888  olde lawe of god they sholde be slayn./
12.  889   But nathelees by the lawe of Iesu Crist
12.  889  that is lawe of pitee whan he seyde to the ?f.231v! womman that was founden
12.  889  in auowtrie and sholde han been slayn with stones after the wyl of the Iewes
12.  889  as was hir lawe: Go (quod Iesu Crist) and haue namoore wyl to synne, or wille
12.  889  namoore to do synne. /
12.  890  (890) Soothly the vengeaunce of auowtrie is awarded
12.  890  to the peynes of helle but if so be that it be destourbed by penitence./
12.  891   Yet
12.  891  been ther mo speces of this cursed synne as whan that oon of hem is religious
12.  891  or elles bothe, or of folk that been entred into ordre as subdekne or preest or
12.  891  hospitaliers. And euere the hyer that he is in ordre the gretter is the synne./
12.  892  The thynges that gretly agreggen hir synne is the brekynge of hir auow of
12.  892  chastitee whan they receyued the ordre./
12.  893   And fortherouer sooth is that hooly
12.  893  ordre is chiefofal the tresorie of god and his especial signe and mark ofchastitee
12.  893  to shewe that they been ioyned to chastitee which that is moost precious lyf
12.  893  that is./
12.  894   And thise ordred folk been specially titled to god and of the special
12.  894  meignee of god, for which whan they doon deedly synne they been the
12.  894  special traytours of god and of his peple; for they lyuen of the peple, to preye
12.  894  for the peple, and while they ben suche traitours here preyer auaileth nat to
12.  894  the peple. /
12.  895  (895) Preestes been aungeles as by the dignitee of hir mysterye, but
12.  895  for sothe seint Paul seith that Sathanas transformeth hym in an aungel oflight./
12.  896  Soothly the preest that haunteth deedly synne he may be likned to the aungel
12.  896  of derknesse transformed in the aungel of light. He semeth aungel of light,
12.  896  but for sothe he is aungel of derknesse./
12.  897   Swiche preestes been the sones of Helie
12.  897  as sheweth in the Book of Kynges that they weren the sones of Belial that is
12.  897  the deuel./
12.  898   Belial is to seyn withouten iuge, and so faren they. Hem thynketh they
12.  898  been free and han no iuge namoore than hath a free bole that taketh which
12.  898  cow that hym liketh in the town./
12.  899   So faren they by wommen. For right as a
12.  899  free bole is ynough for al a toun, right so is a wikked preest corrupcioun ynough
12.  899  for al a parisshe or for al a contree. /
12.  900  (900) Thise preestes, as seith the book,
12.  900  ne konne nat the mysterie of preesthode to the peple ne god ne knowe they
12.  900  nat. They ne holde hem nat apayd, as seith the book, of soden flessh that was
12.  900  to hem offred, but they tooke by force the flessh that is rawe./
12.  901   Certes so thise
12.  901  shrewes ne holden hem nat apayed of roosted flessh and sode flessh with which
12.  901  the peple fedden hem in greet reuerence, but they wole haue raw flessh of
12.  901  folkes wyues and hir doghtres./
12.  902   And certes thise wommen that consenten to hir
12.  902  harlotrie doon greet wrong to Crist and to hooly chirche and alle halwes and
12.  902  to alle soules, for they bireuen alle thise hym that sholde worshipe Crist and
12.  902  hooly chirche and preye for cristene soules./
12.  903   And therfore han swiche preestes
12.  903  and hir lemmanes eek that consenten to hir leccherie the malisoun of al the
12.  903  court cristiene til they come to amendement./
12.  904    The thridde spece of auowtrie is somtyme bitwixe a man and his wyf and
12.  904  that is whan they take no reward in hir assemblynge but oonly to hire flesshly
12.  904  delit, as seith seint Ierome, /
12.  905  (905) and ne rekken of nothyng but that they been
12.  905  assembled; by cause that they been maried al is good ynough as thynketh to
12.  905  hem./
12.  906   But in swich folk hath the deuel power, as seyde the aungel Raphael
12.  906  to Thobie, for in hir assemblynge they putten Iesu Crist out of hir herte and
12.  906  yeuen hemself to alle ordure./
12.  907    The fourthe spece is the assemblee of hem that been ?f.232! of hir kynrede
12.  907  or of hem that been of oon affynytee or elles with hem with whiche hir fadres
12.  907  or hir kynrede han deled in the synne of lecherie. This synne maketh hem lyk
12.  907  to houndes that taken no kepe to kynrede./
12.  908   And certes parentele is in two
12.  908  maneres outher goostly or flesshly; goostly as for to deelen with hise godsibbes./
12.  909  For right so as he that engendreth a child is his flesshly fader, right so is his
12.  909  godfader his fader espiritueel for which a womman may in no lasse synne
12.  909  assemblen with hir godsib than with hir owene flesshly brother./
12.  910  (910) The fifthe spece is thilke abhomynable synne of which that no man
12.  910  vnnethe oghte speke ne write, nathelees it is openly reherced in holy writ./
12.  911  This cursednesse doon men and wommen in diuerse entente and in diuerse
12.  911  manere. But though that hooly writ speke of horrible synne, certes hooly writ
12.  911  may nat been defouled namoore than the sonne that shyneth on the mixne./
12.  912  Another synne aperteneth to leccherie that com= in slepynge and this synne
12.  912  cometh ofte to hem that been maydenes and eek to hem that been corrupt.
12.  912  And this synne men clepen polucioun that comth in iiij maneres: somtyme
12.  912  of langwissynge of body for the humours been to ranke and habundaunt in
12.  912  the body of man; somtyme of infermetee for the fieblesse of the vertu retentif,
12.  912  as phisik maketh mencion; somtyme for surfeet of mete and drynke;/
12.  913   and
12.  913  somtyme of vileyns thoghtes that been enclosed in mannes mynde whan he
12.  913  gooth to slepe which may nat been withoute synne, for which men moste kepen
12.  913  hem wisely or elles may men synnen ful greuously./
12.  914  Remedium contra peccatum luxurie/
12.  915  (915) Now comth the remedie agayns leccherie and that is generally chastitee
12.  915  and continence that restreyneth alle the desordeynee moeuynges that comen of
12.  915  flesshly talentes./
12.  916   And euere the gretter merite shal he han that moost
12.  916  restreyneth the wikkede eschawfynges of the ordure of this synne. And this is
12.  916  in two maneres, that is to seyn chastitee in mariage and chastitee of widwehode./
12.  917  Now shaltow vnderstonde that matrimoyne is leefful assemblynge of man and
12.  917  of womman that receyuen by vertu of the sacrement the boond thurgh which
12.  917  they may nat be departed in al hir lyf that is to seyn whil that they lyuen
12.  917  bothe./
12.  918   This, as seith the book, is a ful greet sacrement. God maked it, as I
12.  918  haue seyd, in paradys and wolde hymself be born in mariage./
12.  919   And for to
12.  919  halwen mariage he was at a weddynge where as he turned water into wyn
12.  919  which was the firste miracle that he wroghte in erthe biforn hise disciples. /
12.  920  (920)
12.  920  Trewe effect of mariage clenseth fornicacioun and replenysseth hooly chirche
12.  920  of good lynage, for that is the ende of mariage. And it chaungeth deedly
12.  920  synne into venial synne bitwixe hem that been ywedded and maketh the hertes
12.  920  al oon of hem that been ywedded as wel as the bodies./
12.  921  This is verray mariage that was establissed by god er that synne bigan whan
12.  921  natureel lawe was in his right poynt in paradys and it was ordeyned that o
12.  921  man sholde haue but o womman and o womman but o man, as seith seint
12.  921  Augustyn by manye resouns./
12.  922   First for mariage is figured bitwixe Crist and
12.  922  holy chirche. And that oother is ?f.232v! for a man is heued of a womman,
12.  922  algate by ordinaunce it sholde be so./
12.  923   For if a womman hadde mo men than
12.  923  oon, thanne sholde she haue moo heuedes than oon and that were an horrible
12.  923  thyng biforn god. And eek a womman ne myghte nat plese to many folk at
12.  923  oones. And also ther ne sholde neuere be pees ne reste amonges hem, for
12.  923  euerich wolde axen his owene thyng./
12.  924   And fortherouer no man ne sholde
12.  924  knowe his owene engendrure ne who sholde haue his heritage, and the
12.  924  womman sholde been the lasse biloued fro the tyme that she were conioynt
12.  924  to many men./
12.  925    (925) Now comth how that a man sholde bere hym with his wif and namely
12.  925  in two thynges, that is to seyn in suffraunce and reuerence as shewed Crist
12.  925  whan he made first womman./
12.  926   For he ne made hir nat of the heued of Adam
12.  926  for she sholde nat clayme to greet lordshipe./
12.  927   For ther as the womman hath
12.  927  the maistrie she maketh to muche desray. Ther neden none ensamples of this,
12.  927  the experience of day by day oghte suffise./
12.  928   Also certes god ne made nat
12.  928  womman of the foot of Adam for she ne sholde nat been holden to lowe, for
12.  928  she kan nat paciently suffre. But god made womman of the ryb of Adam for
12.  928  womman sholde be felawe vnto man./
12.  929   Man sholde bere hym to his wyf in
12.  929  feith, in trouthe and in loue, as seith seint Paul, that a man sholde louen
12.  929  his wyf as Crist loued hooly chirche, that loued it so wel that he deyde
12.  929  for it. So sholde a man for his wyf if it were nede./
12.  930    (930) Now how that a womman sholde be subget to hir housbonde, that
12.  930  telleth seint Peter. First in obedience./
12.  931   And eek as seith the decree a womman
12.  931  that is wyf as longe as she is a wyf she hath noon auctoritee to swere ne
12.  931  bere witnesse withoute leue of hir housbonde that is hir lord, algate he sholde
12.  931  be so by resoun./
12.  932   She sholde eek seruen hym in alle honestee and been
12.  932  attempree of hir array. I woot wel that they sholde setten hir entente to plesen
12.  932  hir housbondes, but nat by hir queyntise of array./
12.  933   Seint Ierome seith that
12.  933  wyues that been apparailled in silk and in precious purpre ne mowe nat clothen
12.  933  hem in Iesu Crist. What seith seint Iohn eek in thys matere?/
12.  934   Seint Gregorie
12.  934  eek seith that no wight seketh precious array but oonly for veyne glorie to
12.  934  been honoured the moore biforn the peple. /
12.  935  (935) It is a greet folye a womman
12.  935  to haue a fair array outward and in hirself foul inward./
12.  936   A wyf sholde eek
12.  936  be mesurable in lookynge and in berynge and in lawghynge and discreet in
12.  936  alle hir wordes and hir dedes./
12.  937   And abouen alle worldly thyng she sholde
12.  937  louen hir housbonde with al hir herte and to hym be trewe of hir body./
12.  938   So
12.  938  sholde an housbonde eek be to his wyf. For sith that al the body is the
12.  938  housbondes, so sholde hir herte been or elles ther is bitwixe hem two as in that
12.  938  no parfit mariage./
12.  939   Thanne shal men vnderstonde that for thre thynges a
12.  939  man and his wyf flesshly mowen assemble. The firste is in entente of engendrure
12.  939  of children to the seruice of god, for certes that is the cause final of matrimoyne./
12.  940  (940) Another cause is to yelden euerich of hem to oother the dette of hir
12.  940  bodies, for neither of hem hath power ouer his owene body. The thridde is
12.  940  for to eschewe leccherye and vileynye. The ferthe is for sothe deedly synne./
12.  941  As to the ?f.233! firste it is meritorie; the seconde also, for as seith the decree
12.  941  that she hath merite of chastitee that yeldeth to hir housbonde the dette of
12.  941  hir body, ye though it be agayn hir likynge and the lust of hir herte./
12.  942   The
12.  942  thridde manere is venyal synne and trewely scarsly may ther any thise be
12.  942  withoute venial synne for the corrupcion and for the delit./
12.  943   The fourthe manere
12.  943  is for to vnderstonde if they assemble oonly for amorous loue and for noon of
12.  943  the forseyde causes but for to accomplice thilke brennynge delit, they rekke
12.  943  neuere how ofte, soothly it is deedly synne, and yet with sorwe somme folk
12.  943  wol peynen hem moore to doon than to hir appetit suffiseth./
12.  944    The seconde manere of chastitee is for to been a clene wydewe and eschue
12.  944  the embracynges of man and desiren the embracynge of Iesu Crist. /
12.  945  (945)
12.  945  Thise been tho that han been wyues and han forgoon hir housbondes and
12.  945  eek wommen that han doon leccherie and been releeued by penitence./
12.  946   And
12.  946  certes if that a wyf koude kepen hir al chaast by licence of hir housbonde so
12.  946  that she yeue neuere noon occasion that he agilte, it were to hir a greet merite./
12.  947  Thise manere wommen that obseruen chastitee in clothynge and in conten-
12.  947  aunce, and been abstinent in etynge and drynkynge, in spekynge and in dede,
12.  947  they been the vessel or the boyste of the blissed Magdalene that fulfilleth hooly
12.  947  chirche of good odour./
12.  948   The thridde manere of chastitee is virginitee and it
12.  948  bihoueth that she be hooly in herte and clene of body. Thanne is she spouse
12.  948  to Iesu Crist and she is the lyf of angeles./
12.  949   She is the preisynge of this world
12.  949  and she is as thise martirs in egalitee. She hath in hir that tonge may nat telle
12.  949  ne herte thynke. /
12.  950  (950) Virginitee baar oure lord Iesu Crist and virgine was
12.  950  hymselue./
12.  951    Another remedie agayns leccherie is specially to withdrawen swiche thynges
12.  951  as yeue occasion to thilke vileynye, as ese, etynge and drynkynge. For certes
12.  951  whan the pot boyleth strongly, the beste remedie is to withdrawe the fyr./
12.  952  Slepynge longe in greet quiete is eek a greet norice to leccherie./
12.  953    Another remedie agayns leccherie is that a man or a womman eschue the
12.  953  compaignye of hem by whiche he douteth to be tempted. For al be it so that
12.  953  the dede is withstonden, yet is ther greet temptacioun./
12.  954   Soothly a whit wal
12.  954  although it ne brenne noght fully by stikynge of a candele, yet is the wal blak
12.  954  of the leyt. /
12.  955  (955) Ful ofte tyme I rede that no man truste in his owene par-
12.  955  feccioun but he be stronger than Sampson and hoolier than Danyel and wiser
12.  955  that Salomon./
12.  956    Now after that I haue declared yow as I kan the seuene deedly synnes and
12.  956  somme of hir braunches and hir remedies, soothly if I koude I wolde telle
12.  956  yow the ten comandementz./
12.  957   But so heigh a doctrine I lete to diuines. Nathelees
12.  957  I hope to god they been touched in this tretice euerich of hem alle./
12.  958  Sequitur secunda pars penitencie.
12.  958  Now for as muche as the seconde partie of penitence stant in confessioun of
12.  958  mouth as I bigan in the firste chapitre, I seye seint Augustyn seith:/
12.  959   Synne
12.  959  is euery word and euery dede and al that men coueiten agayn the lawe of
12.  959  Iesu Crist and this is for to synne in herte, in mouth and in dede by thy fyue
12.  959  wittes that been sighte, herynge, smellynge, tastynge or sauourynge, and
12.  959  feelynge. /
12.  960  (960) Now is it good to vnderstonde that that agreggeth muchel
12.  960  ?f.233v! euery synne./
12.  961   Thow shalt considere what thow art that doost the synne,
12.  961  wheither thou be male or female, yong or oold, gentil or thral, free or seruant,
12.  961  hool or syk, wedded or sengle, ordred or vnordred, wys or fool, clerk or
12.  961  seculeer;/
12.  962   if she be of thy kynrede, bodily or goostly or noon; if any of thy
12.  962  kynrede haue synned with hir or noon; and manye mo thinges./
12.  963    Another circumstaunce is this wheither it be doon in fornicacioun or in
12.  963  auowtrie or noon; incest or noon; mayden or noon; in manere of homicide
12.  963  or noon; horrible grete synnes or smale; and how longe thou hast continued
12.  963  in synne./
12.  964   The thridde circumstaunce is the place ther thou hast do synne,
12.  964  wheither in oother mennes hous or in thyn owene; in feeld or in chirche or in
12.  964  chirchehawe; in chirche dedicaat or noon. /
12.  965  (965) For if the chirche be halwed
12.  965  and man or womman spille his kynde inwith that place by wey of synne or by
12.  965  wikked temptacioun the chirche is entredited /
12.  966   and the preest that dide swich a
12.  966  vileynye. To terme of al his lif he sholde namoore synge masse, and if he dide
12.  966  he sholde doon deedly synne at euery tyme that he so songe masse./
12.  967   The fourthe
12.  967  circumstaunce is by whiche mediatours or by whiche messagers as for
12.  967  enticement or for consentement to bere compaignye with felaweshipe, for many
12.  967  a wrecche for to bere compaignye shal go to the deuel of helle./
12.  968   Wherfore
12.  968  they that eggen or consenten to the synne been parteners of the synne and of
12.  968  the temptacioun of the synner./
12.  969    The fifthe circumstaunce is how manye tymes that he hath synned if it be
12.  969  in his mynde and how ofte that he hath falle. /
12.  970  (970) For he that ofte falleth
12.  970  in synne he despiseth the mercy of god and encreesseth hys synne and is
12.  970  vnkynde to Crist, and he wexeth the moore fieble to withstonde synne and
12.  970  synneth the moore lightly,/
12.  971   and the latter ariseth and is the moore eschew for
12.  971  to shryuen hym namely to hym that is his confessour./
12.  972   For which that folk
12.  972  whan they falle agayn in hir olde folies outher they forleten hir olde confessours
12.  972  al outrely or elles they departen hir shrift in diuerse places. But soothly swich
12.  972  departed shrift deserueth no mercy of god of hise synnes./
12.  973   The sixte circum-
12.  973  staunce is why that a man synneth, as by temptacioun and if hymself procure
12.  973  thilke temptacioun, or by the excitynge of oother folk; or if he synne with a
12.  973  womman by force or by hir owene assent;/
12.  974   or if the womman maugree hir
12.  974  hed hath been afforced or noon: this shal she telle; for coueitise or for pouerte
12.  974  and if it was hir procurynge or noon; and swich manere harneys. /
12.  975  (975) The
12.  975  seuenthe circumstaunce is in what manere he hath doon his synne or how
12.  975  that she hath suffred that folk han doon to hir./
12.  976   And the same shal the man
12.  976  telle pleynly with alle circumstaunces, and wheither he hath synned with
12.  976  comune bordel wommen or noon;/
12.  977   or doon his synne in hooly tymes or noon;
12.  977  in fastyng tymes or noon; or biforn his shrifte or after his latter shrifte;/
12.  978   and
12.  978  hath parauenture broken therfore his penance enioyned; by whos help and
12.  978  whos conseil; by sorcerie or craft; al moste be toold./
12.  979   Alle thise thynges after
12.  979  that they been grete or smale engreggen the conscience of man. And eek the
12.  979  preest that is thy iuge may the bettre been auysed of his iuggement in yeuynge
12.  979  of thy penaunce and that is after thy contricioun. /
12.  980  (980) For vnderstond wel
12.  980  that after tyme that a man hath defouled his baptesme by synne, if he wole
12.  980  come to ?f.234! saluacioun ther is noon oother wey but by penitence and shrifte
12.  980  and satisfaccioun:/
12.  981   and namely by the two if ther be a confessour to which
12.  981  he may shriuen hym, and the thridde if he haue lyf to parfournen it./
12.  982    Thanne shal man looke and considere that if he wole maken a trewe and
12.  982  a profitable confessioun ther moste be iiij condiciouns./
12.  983   First it moot been in
12.  983  sorweful bitternesse of herte, as seyde the kyng Ezechias to god: I wol remembre
12.  983  me alle the yeres of my lif in bitternesse of myn herte./
12.  984   This condicioun of
12.  984  bitternesse hath fyue signes. The firste is that confessioun moste be shamefast
12.  984  nat for to couere ne hyden his synne for he hath agilt his god and defouled
12.  984  his soule. /
12.  985  (985) And therof seith seint Augustyn: The herte trauailleth for shame
12.  985  of his synne, and for he hath greet shamefastnesse he is digne to haue greet
12.  985  mercy of god./
12.  986   Swich was the confessioun of the puplican that wolde nat heuen
12.  986  vp hise eyen to heuene for he hadde offended god of heuene. For which shame-
12.  986  fastnesse he hadde anon the mercy of god./
12.  987   And therof seith seint Augustyn
12.  987  that swich shamefast folk been next foryeuenesse and remissioun./
12.  988   Another
12.  988  signe is humylitee in confession, of which seith seint Peter: Humbleth yow vnder
12.  988  the myght of god. The hond of god is myghty in confessioun for therby god
12.  988  foryeueth thee thy synnes for he allone hath the power./
12.  989   And this humylitee
12.  989  shal been in herte and in signe outward, for right as he hath humylitee to god
12.  989  in his herte right so sholde he humble his body outward to the preest that sit
12.  989  in goddes place. /
12.  990  (990) For which in no manere sith that Crist is souereyn and
12.  990  the preest meene and mediatour bitwixe Crist and the synner and the synnere
12.  990  is the laste by wey of resoun,/
12.  991   thanne sholde nat the synner sitte as heighe as
12.  991  his confessour but knele biforn hym or at his feet but if maladie destourbe it.
12.  991  For he shal nat taken kepe who sit there but in whos place that he sitteth./
12.  992  A man that hath trespased to a lord and comth for to axe mercy and maken
12.  992  his accord and set him doun anon by the lord, men wolde holden hym out-
12.  992  rageous and nat worthy so soone for to haue remissioun ne mercy./
12.  993   The thridde
12.  993  signe is how that thy shrift sholde be ful of teeris if man may, and if man may
12.  993  nat wepe with hise bodily eyen lat hym wepe in herte./
12.  994   Swich was the confession
12.  994  of seint Peter for after that he hadde forsake Iesu Crist he wente out and weep
12.  994  ful bitterly. /
12.  995  (995) The fourthe signe is that he ne lette nat for shame to shewen
12.  995  his confessioun./
12.  996   Swich was the confessioun of the Magdalene that ne spared
12.  996  for no shame of hem that weren atte feeste for to go to oure lord Iesu Crist
12.  996  and biknowe to hym hir synnes./
12.  997   The fifthe signe is that a man or a womman
12.  997  be obeisant to receyuen the penaunce that hym is enioyned for hise synnes,
12.  997  for certes Iesu Crist for the giltes of a man was obedient to the deeth./
12.  998    The seconde condicioun of verray confession is that it be hastily doon. For
12.  998  certes if a man hadde a deedly wounde, euere the lenger that he taried to
12.  998  warisshe hymself the moore wolde it corrupte and haste hym to his deeth;
12.  998  and eek the wounde wolde be the wors for to heele./
12.  999   And right so fareth synne
12.  999  that longe tyme is in a man vnshewed. /
12. 1000  (1000) Certes a man oghte hastily
12. 1000  shewen hise synnes for manye causes, as for drede of deeth that cometh ofte
12. 1000  sodeynly and no certeyn what tyme it shal be ne in what place; and eek the
12. 1000  drecchynge of o synne drawe= in another;/
12. 1001   and eek the lenger that he tarieth,
12. 1001  the ferther he is fro Crist. ?f.234v! And if he abide to his laste day scarsly may
12. 1001  he shryuen hym or remembre hym of hise synnes or repenten hym for the
12. 1001  greuous maladie of his deeth./
12. 1002   And for as muche as he ne hath nat in his lyf
12. 1002  herkned Iesu Crist whanne he hath spoken, he shal crie to Iesu Crist at his
12. 1002  laste day and scarsly wol he herkne hym./
12. 1003   And vnderstond that this condicioun
12. 1003  moste han foure thynges. Thi shrift moste be purueyed bifore and auysed, for
12. 1003  wikked haste dooth no profit; and that a man konne shryue hym of hise synnes
12. 1003  be it of pride or of enuye and so forth of the speces and circumstances;/
12. 1004   and
12. 1004  that he haue comprehended in hys mynde the nombre and the greetnesse of
12. 1004  hise synnes and how longe that he hath leyn in synne; /
12. 1005  (1005) and eek that he
12. 1005  be contrit of hise synnes and in stidefast purpos by the grace of god neuere
12. 1005  eft to falle in synne; and eek that he drede and countrewaite hymself that he
12. 1005  fle the occasiouns of synne to whiche he is enclyned./
12. 1006   Also thou shalt shryue
12. 1006  thee of alle thy synnes to o man and nat a parcel to o man and a parcel to
12. 1006  another; that is to vnderstonde in entente to departe thy confessioun as for
12. 1006  shame or drede, for it nys but stranglynge of thy soule./
12. 1007   For certes Iesu Crist
12. 1007  is entierly al good: in hym nys noon inparfeccioun, and therfore outher he
12. 1007  foryeueth al parfitly or neuer-a-deel./
12. 1008   I seye nat that if thow be assigned to
12. 1008  the penitauncer for certein synne that thow art bounde to shewen hym al the
12. 1008  remenaunt of thy synnes, of whiche thow hast be shryuen to thy curaat, but if
12. 1008  it like to thee of thyn humylitee; this is no departynge of shrifte./
12. 1009   Ne I seye
12. 1009  nat ther as I speke of diuisioun of confessioun that if thou haue licence for
12. 1009  to shryue thee to a discreet and an honeste preest where thee liketh and by
12. 1009  licence of thy curaat that thow ne mayst wel shryue thee to him of alle thy
12. 1009  synnes. /
12. 1010  (1010) But lat no blotte be bihynde; lat no synne been vntoold as fer
12. 1010  as thow hast remembraunce./
12. 1011   And whan thou shalt be shryuen to thy curaat
12. 1011  telle hym eek alle the synnes that thow hast doon syn thou were last yshryuen -
12. 1011  this is no wikked entente of diuisioun of shrifte./
12. 1012    Also the verray shrifte axeth certeine condiciouns. First that thow shryue
12. 1012  thee by thy free wil, noght constreyened ne for shame of folk ne for maladie
12. 1012  ne swiche thynges. For it is resoun that he that traspaseth by his free wyl that
12. 1012  by his free wyl he confesse his trespas;/
12. 1013   and that noon oother man telle his synne
12. 1013  but he hymself; ne he shal nat nayte ne denye his synne, ne wratthe hym agayn
12. 1013  the preest for his amonestynge to leue synne./
12. 1014   The seconde condicioun is that
12. 1014  thy shrift be laweful, that is to seyn that thow that shryuest thee and eek the
12. 1014  preest that hereth thy confessioun been verraily in the feith of hooly chirche;/
12. 1015  (1015) and that a man ne be nat despeired of the mercy of Iesu Crist as Caym
12. 1015  or Iudas./
12. 1016   And eek a man moot accusen hymself of his owene trespas and nat
12. 1016  another, but he shal blame and wyten hymself and his owene malice of his
12. 1016  synne and noon oother./
12. 1017   But nathelees if that another man be occasioun or
12. 1017  enticer of his synne or the estaat of a persone be swich thurgh which his synne
12. 1017  is agregged or elles that he may nat pleynly shryuen hym but he telle the
12. 1017  persone with which he hath synned, thanne may he telle /
12. 1018   so that his entente
12. 1018  ne be nat to bakbite the persone but oonly to declaren his confessioun./
12. 1019    Thou ne shalt nat eek make no lesynges in thy confessioun for humylitee,
12. 1019  parauenture to seyn that thou hast doon synnes of whiche that thow were
12. 1019  neuere gilty. /
12. 1020  (1020) For seint Augustyn seith: If thou ?f.235! by cause of thyn
12. 1020  humylitee makest lesynges on thyself though thow ne were nat in synne biforn,
12. 1020  yet artow thanne in synne thurgh thy lesynges./
12. 1021   Thou most eek shewe thy synne
12. 1021  by thyn owene propre mouth but thow be woxe dowmb and nat by no lettre,
12. 1021  for thow that hast doon the synne thou shalt haue the shame therfore./
12. 1022   Thow
12. 1022  shalt nat eek peynte thy confessioun by faire, subtile wordes to couere the moore
12. 1022  thy synne, for thanne bigilestow thyself and nat the preest. Thow most tellen
12. 1022  it pleynly be it neuer so foul ne so horrible./
12. 1023   Thow shalt eek shryue thee to
12. 1023  a preest that is discreet to conseille thee, and eek thou shalt nat shryue thee
12. 1023  for veyne glorie ne for ypocriesye ne for no cause but oonly for the doute of
12. 1023  Iesu Crist and the heele of thy soule./
12. 1024   Thow shalt nat eek renne to the preest
12. 1024  sodeynly to tellen hym lightly thy synne as whoso telleth a iape or a tale, but
12. 1024  auysely and with greet deuocioun. /
12. 1025  (1025) And generally shryue thee ofte. If
12. 1025  thou ofte falle, ofte thou arise by confessioun./
12. 1026   And though thou shryue thee
12. 1026  ofter than ones of synne of which thou hast be shryuen, it is the moore merite.
12. 1026  And as seith seint Augustyn thow shalt haue the moore lightly relessyng and
12. 1026  grace of god bothe of synne and of peyne./
12. 1027   And certes oones a yeere atte leeste
12. 1027  wey it is laweful for to been housled, for certes oones a yeere alle thynges
12. 1027  renouellen./
12. 1028    Now haue I toold yow of verray confessioun that is the seconde'partie of
12. 1028  penitence./
12. 1029  explicit secunda pars penitencie. Et sequitur tercia pars eiusdem.
12. 1029  The thridde partie of penitence is satisfaccioun and that stant moost generally
12. 1029  in almesse and in bodily peyne. /
12. 1030  (1030) Now been ther thre manere of almesses:
12. 1030  contricion of herte where a man offreth hymself to god; another is to han pitee
12. 1030  of defaute of hise neighebores; and the thridde is in yeuynge of good conseil
12. 1030  goostly and bodily where men han nede and namely in sustenaunce of mannes
12. 1030  foode./
12. 1031   And tak kep that a man hath nede of thise thinges generally: he hath
12. 1031  nede of foode, he hath nede of clothyng and herberwe, he hath nede of
12. 1031  charitable conseil and visitynge in prisone and in maladie, and sepulture of his
12. 1031  dede body./
12. 1032   And if thow mayst nat visite the nedeful with thy persone, visite
12. 1032  hym by thy message and by thy yiftes./
12. 1033   Thise been generally almesses or werkes
12. 1033  of charitee of hem that han temporeel richesses or discrecioun in conseilynge.
12. 1033  Of thise werkes shaltow heren at the day of doome./
12. 1034    Thise almesses shaltow doon of thyne owene propre thynges and hastily and
12. 1034  priuely if thow mayst. /
12. 1035  (1035) But nathelees if thow mayst nat doon it priuely,
12. 1035  thow shalt nat forbere to doon almesse though men seen it so that it be nat
12. 1035  doon for thank ofthe world but oonly for thank of Iesu Crist./
12. 1036   For as witnesseth
12. 1036  seint Mathew ca 5: A citee may nat been hyd that is set on a montayne, ne
12. 1036  men lighte nat a lanterne and put it vnder a busshel but men sette it on a
12. 1036  candel-stikke to yeue light to the men in the hous./
12. 1037   Right so shal youre light
12. 1037  lighten bifore men that they may seen youre goode werkes and glorifie youre
12. 1037  fader that is in heuene./
12. 1038    Now as to speken of bodily peyne it stant in preyeres, in ?f.235v! wakynges,
12. 1038  in fastynges, in vertuouse techynges of orisons./
12. 1039   And ye shul vnderstonde that
12. 1039  orisouns or preyeres is for to seyn a pitous wyl of herte that redresseth it in god
12. 1039  and expresseth it by word outward to remoeuen harmes and to han thynges
12. 1039  espiritueel and durable and somtyme temporele thynges; of whiche orisouns
12. 1039  certes in the orison of the Pater Noster hath Iesu Crist enclosed moost thynges./
12. 1040  (1040) Certes it is priuyleged of thre thynges in his dignytee for which it is
12. 1040  moore digne than any oother preyere, for that Iesu Crist hymself maked it,/
12. 1041  and it is short for it sholde be koud the moore lightly and for to withholden
12. 1041  it the moore esily in herte and helpen hymself the ofter with the orisoun;/
12. 1042  and for a man sholde be the lasse wery to seyen it and for a man may nat
12. 1042  excusen hym to lerne it, it is so short and so esy; and for it comprehendeth in
12. 1042  itself alle goode preyeres./
12. 1043   The exposicioun of this hooly preyere that is so
12. 1043  excellent and digne I bitake to thise maistres of theologie, saue thus muchel
12. 1043  wol I seyn: that whan thow prayest that god sholde foryeue thee thy giltes as
12. 1043  thow foryeuest hem that agilten to thee, be ful wel war that thow ne be nat
12. 1043  out of charitee./
12. 1044   This hooly orison amenuseth eek venyal synne and therfore it
12. 1044  aperteneth specially to penitence./
12. 1045    (1045) This preyere moste be trewely seyd and in verray feith and that men
12. 1045  preye to god ordinatly and discreetly and deuoutly; and alwey a man shal
12. 1045  putten his wyl to be subget to the wille of god./
12. 1046   This orisoun moste eek been
12. 1046  seyd with greet humblesse and ful pure honestly, and nat to the anoyaunce of
12. 1046  any man or womman. It moste eek been continued with the werkes of charitee./
12. 1047  It auayleth eek agayn the vices of the soule, for as seith seint Ierome: By fastynge
12. 1047  been saued the vices of the flessh and by preyere the vertues of the soule./
12. 1048    After this thou shalt vnderstonde that bodily peyne stant in wakynge, for
12. 1048  Iesu Crist seith: Waketh and preyeth that ye ne entre in wikked temptacioun./
12. 1049  Ye shul vnderstanden also that fastynge stant in thre thynges: in forberynge of
12. 1049  bodily mete and drynke and in forberynge of worldly iolitee and in forberynge
12. 1049  of deedly synne, this is to seyn that a man shal kepen hym fro deedly synne with
12. 1049  al his myght./
12. 1050    (1050) And thou shalt vnderstanden eek that god ordeyned fastynge, and to
12. 1050  fastynge apertenen iiij thinges:/
12. 1051   largenesse to poure folk; gladnesse of herte
12. 1051  espiritueel, nat to been angry ne anoyed ne grucche for he fasteth; and also
12. 1051  resonable houre for to ete by mesure; that is for to seyn a man shal nat ete
12. 1051  in vntyme ne sitte the lenger at his table to ete for he fasteth./
12. 1052    Thanne shaltow vnderstonde that bodily peyne stant in disciplyne or
12. 1052  techynge by word and by writynge or in ensample; also in werynge of heyres
12. 1052  or of stamyn or of haubergeons on hir naked flessh for Cristes sake and swiche
12. 1052  manere penances./
12. 1053   But war thee wel that swiche manere penaunces on thy
12. 1053  flessh ne make thee nat or angry or anoyed of thyself, for bettre is to caste
12. 1053  awey thyn heyre than for to caste awey the sikernesse of Iesu Crist./
12. 1054   And therfore
12. 1054  seith seint Paul: Clothe yow, as they that been chosen of god, in herte of miseri-
12. 1054  corde, debonairetee, suffraunce and swich manere of clothynge; of which Iesu
12. 1054  Crist is moore apayed than of heyres or haubergeouns or hauberkes. ?f.236!/
12. 1055    (1055) Thanne is discipline eek in knokkynge of thy brest, in scourgynge
12. 1055  with yerdes, in knelynges, in tribulacions,/
12. 1056   in suffrynge paciently wronges that
12. 1056  been doon to thee and eek in pacient suffraunce of maladies or lesynge of
12. 1056  worldly catel or of wyf or of child or othere freendes./
12. 1057    Thanne shaltow vnderstonde whiche thynges destourben penaunce, and this
12. 1057  is in iiij maneres, that is drede, shame, hope and wanhope, that is desperacion./
12. 1058  And for to speke first of drede, for which he demeth that he may suffre no
12. 1058  penaunce./
12. 1059   Theragayns is remedie for to thynke that bodily penaunce is but
12. 1059  short and litel at regard of the peynes of helle, that is so crueel and so long
12. 1059  that it lasteth withouten ende./
12. 1060    (1060) Now again the shame that a man hath to shryuen hym and namely
12. 1060  thise ypocrites that wolden been holden so parfite that they han no nede to
12. 1060  shryuen hem,/
12. 1061   agayns that shame sholde a man thynke that by wey of resoun
12. 1061  that he that hath nat been shamed to doon foule thinges certes hym oghte nat
12. 1061  been ashamed to do faire thynges, and that is confessiouns./
12. 1062   A man sholde eek
12. 1062  thynke that god seeth and woot alle hise thoghtes and alle hise werkes; to hym
12. 1062  may nothyng been hyd ne couered./
12. 1063   Men sholden eek remembren hem of the
12. 1063  shame that is to come at the day of doome to hem that been nat penitent
12. 1063  and shryuen in this present lyf./
12. 1064   For alle the creatures in erthe and in helle
12. 1064  shullen seen apertly al that they hyden in this world./
12. 1065    (1065) Now for to speken of hope of hem that been necligent and slowe
12. 1065  to shryuen hem, that stant in two maneres./
12. 1066   That oon is that he hopeth for
12. 1066  to lyue longe and for to purchacen muche richesse for his delit and thanne he
12. 1066  wol shryuen hym; and as he seith hym semeth thanne tymely ynough to come
12. 1066  to shrifte./
12. 1067   Another is surquidrie that he hath in Cristes mercy./
12. 1068   Agayns the
12. 1068  firste vice he shal thynke that oure lif is in no sikernesse and eek that alle the
12. 1068  richesses in this world ben in auenture and passen as a shadwe on the wal./
12. 1069  And as seith seint Gregorie that it aperteneth to the grete rightwisnesse of god
12. 1069  that neuere shal the peyne stynte of hem that neuere wolde withdrawen hem
12. 1069  fro synne hir thankes but ay continue in synne. For thilke perpetueel wil to do
12. 1069  synne shul they han perpetueel peyne./
12. 1070    (1070) Wanhope is in two maneres: the firste wanhope is in the mercy of
12. 1070  Crist; that oother is that they thynken that they ne myghte nat longe perseuere
12. 1070  in goodnesse./
12. 1071   The firste wanhope comth of that he demeth that he hath synned
12. 1071  so greetly and so ofte and so longe leyn in synne that he shal nat be saued./
12. 1072  Certes agayns that cursed wanhope sholde he thynke that the passion of Iesu
12. 1072  Crist is moore strong for to vnbynde than synne is strong for to bynde./
12. 1073   Agayns
12. 1073  the seconde wanhope he shal thynke that as ofte as he falleth he may arise
12. 1073  agayn by penitence. And though he neuer so longe haue leyn in synne the mercy
12. 1073  of Crist is alwey redy to receiuen hym to mercy./
12. 1074   Agayns the wanhope that he
12. 1074  demeth that he sholde nat longe perseuere in goodnesse, he shal thynke that
12. 1074  the feblesse of the deuel may nothyng doon but if men wol suffren hym. /
12. 1075  (1075)
12. 1075  And eek he shal han strengthe of the help of god and of al hooly chirche and
12. 1075  of the proteccioun of aungels if hym list./
12. 1076    Thanne shal men vnder?f.236v!stonde what is the fruyt of penaunce, and
12. 1076  after the word of Iesu Crist it is the endelees blisse of heuene /
12. 1077   ther ioye hath
12. 1077  no contrarioustee of wo ne greuaunce; ther alle harmes been passed of this
12. 1077  present lyf; ther as is the sikernesse fro the peyne of helle; ther as is the blisful
12. 1077  compaignye that reioysen hem eueremo, euerich of otheres ioye;/
12. 1078   ther as the
12. 1078  body of man that whilom was foul and derk is moore cleer than the sonne;
12. 1078  ther as the body that whilom was syk, freele and fieble and mortal is inmortal,
12. 1078  and so strong and so hool that ther may nothyng apeyren it;/
12. 1079   ther as ne is neither
12. 1079  hunger, thurst ne coold, but euery soule replenyssed with the sighte of the
12. 1079  parfit knowynge ofgod. /
12. 1080  (1080) This blisful regne may men purchace by pouerte
12. 1080  espiritueel and the glorie by lowenesse, the plentee of ioye by hunger and thurst,
12. 1080  and the reste by trauaille, and the lyf by mortificacion of synne./
12. 1081  Heere taketh the makere of this book his leue.
12. 1081  (1081) Now preye I to hem alle that herkne this litel tretys or rede that if
12. 1081  ther be any thyng in it that liketh hem that therof they thanken oure lorde
12. 1081  Iesu Crist of whom procedeth al wit and al goodnesse./
12. 1082   And if ther be any
12. 1082  thyng that displese hem, I preye hem also that they arrette it to the defaute of
12. 1082  myn vnkonnynge and nat to my wyl that wolde ful fayn haue seyd bettre if I hadde
12. 1082  had konnynge./
12. 1083   For oure book seith: Al that is writen is writen for oure doctrine;
12. 1083  and that is myn entente./
12. 1084   Wherfore I biseke yow mekely for the mercy of god
12. 1084  that ye preye for me that Crist haue mercy on me and foryeue me my giltes,/
12. 1085  (1085) and namely of my translacions and enditynges of worldly vanitees the
12. 1085  whiche I reuoke in my retracciouns:/
12. 1086   as is the book of Troilus; the book also of
12. 1086  fame; the book of the xxv ladies; the book of the duchesse; the book of seint
12. 1086  Valentynes day of the parlement of briddes; the tales of Caunterbury thilke
12. 1086  that sownen into synne;/
12. 1087   the book of the leoun; and many another book if they
12. 1087  were in my remembrance and many a song and many a leccherous lay - that
12. 1087  Crist for his grete mercy foryeue me the synne./
12. 1088   But of the translacioun of
12. 1088  Boece de consolacion and othere bookes of legendes of seintes and omelies and
12. 1088  moralitee and deuocioun,/
12. 1089   that thanke I oure lord Iesu Crist and his blisful
12. 1089  mooder and alle the seintes of heuene, /
12. 1090  (1090) bisekynge hem that they from
12. 1090  hennesforth vnto my lyues ende sende me grace to biwayle my giltes and to
12. 1090  studie to the saluacioun of my soule and graunte me grace of verray penitence,
12. 1090  confessioun and satisfaccioun to doon in this present lyf /
12. 1091   thurgh the benigne
12. 1091  grace of hym that is kyng of kynges and preest ouer alle preestes, that boghte
12. 1091  vs with the precious blood of his herte,/
12. 1092   so that I may been oon of hem at the
12. 1092  day of doome that shulle be saued. Qui cum patre &c.

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