This is the dyalogus or cōmunyng betwxt the wyse king Salomon and Marcolphus.
¶Here begynneth the dyalogus or comynicacion betwixt Salomon the king of jherusalē and Marcolphus that right rude and great of body was bnt right subtyll & wyse of wyt / and full of vndrestādyng. as thereafter folowyng men shall here.
VPon a season hertofore asking salomō full of wisdome and richesse: sate vpō the kinges sete or stole that was his fadres davyd: sawe comyng a mā out of theste that was named marcolphus. of vysage greatly myshapen and fowle nevyrthelesse he was right talkatyf elloquend & wyse. His wif had he wyth hym whiche was more ferefull and rude to beholde And as they were bothe comen before kīg Salomō / he behelde thaym well This marcolꝭ wa [...] of short stature and thykke Th [...] [...]hede had he great: a brode for hede rede and full of wrinkelys or frouncys: his erys hery ād to the myd dys of cheky hangyng. great yes and rēnyng. his nether lyppe hāgyng lyke an horse. A berde harde and fowle lyke vnto a goet. The handes short ād blockyssh His fyngres great and thyc ke Rownde feet. & the nose thycke and croked. a face lyke an asse: ād the here of hys heed lyke the heer ef a goet: his shoes on his fete: were ovyrmoche chorlysh and rude: and his clothys fowle and dyrty. a shorte kote to the buttockys his ha [Page] syn hynge. full of wrynkelys and alle his clothes Were of the moost sowle coloure. his wyf was of short stature and she was out of mesure thycke wyth great brestys: and the here of hyr hede clustred lyke thystelys. She had longe wyndebrowes lyke brostelys of a swyne. Longe crys lyke an asse. Rēning yen: berdyd lyke a goet hyr vysage and skyn blacke and full of wrynkelys /and vpon hyr great brestys she had of span brode: a broche of leed: She had short fyngres. full of yreuryngys. Se had right great nosethrylles Hyr leggys short. and hery lyke a bere hyr clothes were rough and broken / of suche a woman or of an othre lyke vnto hyre: a yongeman hath made thies verses folowyng
Femina deformis tenebrarū subdita formis
Cum turpifacie transit abs (que) die.
Est mala res multum turpi concedere cultum
Sed turpis nimirum turpe ferat vicium
That is to saye an evyll favouryd and a fowle blacke wyf behovyth to shewe the dayes lyght.
It is to oure yes medycyne to se that fayre is ād fyne
Askyng salomō thies two persones thus had seen / & beholdē: he demaūded of thaym of whēs they weryn & of what lynage they were comyn Marcolphꝰ thereo āsweryd. Saye furste to vs youre kynrede & genleagie & of youre fadres & than shall I shewe & declare yon of oures / Salomon. [Page] I am of the xij. kyndredes of patryarkes. that is to wete that iudas gate phares. phares gat esron. Esron gat aron Aron genderyd aminadab Aminadab gat naazon Naazon gat salmō Salmō gat boos / Boosgatobeth Obethgat ysay. ysay gat davyd king Dauid gat salomō the king & that am I. Marcolfꝰ answeryd I am of the xij. kindred of Chorlys. Rusticꝰ gat rustam Rusta gat rustum / Rustus gat rusticellū. Rusticellꝰ gat tarcum Tarcꝰ gat tarcol. Tarcol gat pharsi Pharsi gat marcuel Marcuel gat marquat / Marquat gat marcolphū & that is I. And my wyf is comen of the blood and .xij. kyndredes of vntydy wyues. That is to knowe of lupica tha gat lupicana. Lupicanagat ludibrac Ludibrac gat bonestrūg Bonestrung gat boledrut Boledrut gat paldrut. Paldrut gat lordan Lordangat curta. Curta gat Curtula. Curtula gat Curtella. Curtella gat polica Polica gat polycana. & thys is my wyf Polycana. Salomon sayde I haue herd of the that thou kanst right wele clatre and speke / and that thou art subtyle of wyt-although that thou be mysshapyn ād chorlyssh: Lete vs have betwene vs altercacon. I shal make questyons to the and thou shalt therto answere. Marcolphus answeryd he that singyth worste hegynne furste.
If thou kāst unswere to alle my questyons I shall make the ryche and be named above alle othre withyn [Page] my reaume
The phisician promysyth the seeke folke helthe whan he hath no power
I haue iuged betwixt two light women whiche dwellyd in oon house and forlaye a chylde.
Were erys are there are causes. where women be there are wordys
God yawe wysdam in my mouth. for me lyke is none in alle partys of the worlde
He that hath evyll neighborys praysyth hym self
The wykkydman fleyth. nomā folwyng
Whan the kydde rennyth: men may se his ars
A good wyf and a fayre. is to hir husbonde a pleasure
A potfull of mylke muste be kept wele from the katte
A wyse woman byldeth an house: and she that vnwyse and a fool is: distroyeth with hir handes that the fyndeth made
A pot that is wele baken may best endure and that clene is browyn that may they fayre drinken
A ferdefull woman shabbe praysed.
A Latte that hath a good skyn shalbe flayne
A shamefast wyf and a fayre is mekyll to be belovyd
To pore men whyte mete are to be kept.
A woman stronge in doyng good who shall fynde.
Who shal fynde a catte trewe in kepyng mylke
Noon
And a woman seldom.
A fayre womā and an honest: is to be praysed above alle rychesse that a man fynde may
A fat woman and a great is larger in yevyng than othre.
A whyt kerchyf becomth wele a womās hede.
It standyth wryten: that the furre is not all lyke the s [...]evys. and vndre a whyte cloth often are hyd mothys
He that sowyth wyckydnesse. shal repe euyll.
He that sowyth chaf shal porely mowe.
Out of the mouth of a holy man shal come good lernyng & wysedom
The asse behovyth to be all weye where he fedyth. for ther it growyth: where he eryth congres: there growe xl. ayen where he dungyth: there it fattyth: where he pyssyth there makyth he wete and where he wallowyth there brekyth he the strawe.
Lete an othre preyse the
yf I shulde my self dyspreyse nomā shall I please.
Thou shalt ete moche ony.
That beys dryve lykke faste theyre fyngres
In an evyll wylled herte the spyryt of wysedome shall not entre.
As ye smyte wyth au ave in an hard tre beware that the chippes falle not in yourcye.
It it is hard to spurne avenst the sharp prykyl.
The ov that drawyth bacwarde shalbe twyse prycked.
Fede vp youre children & from thayre youthe lerne thaym to do well.
He that fedyth well is cowe etyth often of the mylke.
Allmaner kyndes turne ayen to theyre furste nature:
A worne tabyll cloth turnyth ayē to his [Page] furste kynde Sal What the iuge knowyth of right & trouthe that spekyth he out.
A bisshop that spekyth not is made a porter of a yate
Honoure is to be yeuē to the maistre and the rodde to be feryd
He that is wonte to anoīte the iuges hādes oftyn tymes he makyth his asse lene
A yenst a strōgr & myghty mā thau shalt not fyghte ne stryve ayēst the streme
The vultier takyth the skyn of stronge fowles & makyth thaym neked of theyr fethrs / Salo Lete vs amēde vs in good that vnwythyngly we have mys done
As a mā wypyth his ars he doth nothing ellys
Wylthonn of disceyue any man wyth fayre word.
By wyt he etyth that gretyth the ether:
wyth brawlyng people holde no cōpanye
/ It is reson that he of the swyne ete that medlyth amonge te bren /
There be many that kan have no shame /
/ They lyve vndre the mē that are lyke to howndes.
There are many that to theyr good doers do evyl for good
He that yevyth bred to an othre many shownde shall have no thanke
It is no frende that dureyth not in frendeshyp
The dung of a calf stynkyth not longe /
He sekyth many occasiōs that woll departe from his maist /
/ A woman that woll not cōsente. seyth thath she hat a skabbyd arse.
A kynges worde shulde be vnchaungeable or stedfaste /
[Page] he is sone wery that plowyth wyth a wolf.
The radissh rotys are good mete but they stynke in the Connsell.
He that etyth Radyssh rotys coughyth above and vndyr.
It is lost that is spokyn a fore people that vndrestade not what they here. Mr. Helesyth his shafte that shetyth in the sande: Sal. He that stoppyth his crys from the crying of the pore people. oure lord god shall not here hym
He that wepyth afore a iuge lesyth his terys:
Ryse vp thou northren wynde and come forth thou southren wynde and blowe through my gardeyne and the wele smellyng herbys shall growe and multiplie:
Whan̄ the northren wyndes blowe than ben the high howses in great trouble and daunger:
The deth nor povertye wyll not be hyd
A man that is brostyn and hyde it they growe the moee / Sal. As thou syttyst at a Richemans table beholde diligently what comyth afore the:
Alle metys that is ordeyned for the body / muste through the bely: and it goth in the stomak:
Whan thou syttyst at the tabyll beware that thou taste not furst:
He that syttyth in the hyghest sete / he holdyth the vppermost place
As the stronge the weyke wynneth / he takyth all that he hath:
The catte seeth wele whoos verde she lycke shall:
That he wycked feryth that fallyth hym oftē:
He that doth evyll [Page] and hopyth good is disceyvyd in thaym bothe
For the colde the slouthfull wolde not go to plough be heggyd his brede: and no man wolde hym yepe
A nakyd ars no man kan robbe or dispoyle
Studye makyth a maystre welewylled
Thandys that are vsyd in the fyre fere not the ketyll.
Brawlers and janglers are to be kaste out of alle good cōpanye
An angry ho wsewyf / the smoke / the ratte and a broken plater / are osten tymes vnprofytable in an howse
For goddys love men are bownden to love othre /
/ If thou love hym that lovyth not the thou lesyth thyn loue
Saye not to thy frende come to morowe I shal yeve the / that thou maiste forth wyth yeve hym
He sayth an othre tyme he shall doo it that hath noth wherwyth redy for to do it with alle
He that is wyne dronkē: holdyth nothing that he sayth
An opyn arse hath no lord Salo / Many coveyte to have rychesse that with povertye are holdē vn dre /
Ete that ye have / and se what shall remaigne
There are many that susteyne hungyr aud yet fede they theyre wyves
The pore had ne breed ād yet he bought an hownde
The fole answeryth aftyr hys folisshnes / for that / he shulde not be knowyn wyse /
/ what the stone heryth / that shall te oke answere
wrathe hath no mercy / & trefore [Page] he that angrely spekyth / beyth evyle or shrewdly /
/ Saye not in thyn angre to thy frende no evyl / lest thou forthynke it astreward
The mouthe of an ennemye kan saye no good. ne hys lyppys shall sownde no trouthe:
he that lovyth me not / doth not diffame me /
Slepe as ye have nede /
/ He that leyth hym downe to stepe & kan not / is not at his hertys ease
We haue well fyllyd oure beliys lete vs thanke god
As the owsell whystelyth so answeryth the thrusshe the hūgery and the sulle synge not oon songe
Lete vs ete ād drinke we shall alle deye
The hungery dyeth aswele as the full fedd: As a man playeth vpō an harpe he kan not wele īdicte
So whā the hownde shytyth he berkyth noth
The wretchyd wombe is full go we now to bedde.
He turnyth and walowyth & stepyth evyl that hath not for to ete.
Dyspyse thou not a lytyll yifte that is yeven the of a trewe frē de
That a Geldyd man hath that yevyth he to his neighborwes /
/ Go thou not wyth the cvyll man or the brawelyng: lest thou suffre evyll for hym or peryle
A dede bee makyth no hony /
If thou make frēdeship̄ with a false and evylwylled man. it shall hyndre the more than proffyte:
What the wolf doth / that pleasyth the wolfesse
He that answeryth afore [Page] he is demaundyd she wyth hym self a fole:
Whan a man tredyth drawelto you youre fete
Evry thing chesyth his lyke:
/ Where a skabbyd horse is / he sekyth his lyke and eyther of thaym gnappyth othre
A meycyfull mā doth wele to his sowle /
He dyspyseth a great yifte that knowyth not hym self.
He that skapyth te wolf / metyth the lyon /
colfus From evyll into worse / as the Looke to a bakere:
Ware that no man do the non evyll / if he do / do it not ayen
/ The stylle stā dyng watyr / & the man that spekyth but lytyll / beleve thaym not
We may not alle be lyke
/ It standeth wryten in a boke / he that hath no horse muste go onfote.
A Chylde of an hundred yere is cursyd
It is to late an olde hounde in a bande to lede.
He that hath shalbe yeuen / & shall flowe.
Woo to that man that hath frendes & no breed / Salom̄ / whoo to that man that hath a do wble herte / ād inbothe weyes wyll wādre.
He that / wall two weyes go muste eythre his ars or his breche tere / Salom̄ / Of habundaunce of therte the mouth spekyst /
Out of a full wōbe thars trompyth /
/ Two ovē in one pocke draw̄ lyke:
Two veynes go lyke to oon ars.
A fayre woman is to belovyd of hire husbande /
/ In the necke is she whyte as a dove, and in the ars blacke and derke lyke a molle. [Page]
Out of the generaciō of inda is my moost kyndrede / n̄ the lord of my fadre hath made gouernoure ovyr his people:
I knowe wele a tabylcloth: and of what werke it is made.
Nede makyth a right wyse mā to do evyll
The wolf that is takyn ād fet fast / eythre he byteth or shytyth.
Were it so that god al le the world vndre my power had set / it shulde suffyse me /
Men kan not yeve the katte somoche / but that she woll hyr tayle wagge.
He that late comyth to dyner his parte is leest in the mete
The glouton kan not se or renne alaboute /
Though it be so that thy wif be sowre fere hir not.
The shephde that wakyth well: ther shall the wolf no wolle shyte:
It becōth no foles to speke or to brynge forth any wyse reason.
It becomyth not a dogge to bere asadyll /
/ whyles the children are lytyll: reighte theyre lymmes: & maners /
He that kyssyth the lambe lovyth the shepe?
Alle reyght pathys goō to wardes don weye:
/ So done alle the veynes renne towardes the ars:
Of a good man comth a good wyf:
Of a good mele comyth a great torde that men wyth theyre fete trede So muste mē also / alle the bestyall wynes trede vndre fote /
A fayre wyf becomyth well by hir husbād /
A pot full wyth wyne becomth well by the thrusty /
wel becomyth [Page] a fayre sworde by mysyde.
/ Wel becomth my hegge a great hepe of stonys
The gretter that ye be the more meke shulde ye be in alle thyngys /
/ he rydyth well that ridyth wyth his felawes /
The wyse chylde gladyth the fadyr: & the folyssh childe is a sor we to the modyr /
They synge not al oon sōge the glad & the sory:
he that sowyth wyth skaerstye / repyth skaersty:
The more it fry seth the more it vyndeth:
do alle thynges by coūsell & thou shalt not astre forthinke it.
/ he is sekeynough that the sekenesse drawyth or folowyth:
Alle thinges have theyre seasōs & tyme:
Now daye to morwe daye. sayde the oxe: that the hare chacyd.
I am wery of spekyug: lete vs therefore reste
Therfore shall not y leue my clapping:
j may no more Mar / yf ye maye no more yelde youre self ouyr comē: & yeue me that ye have promysed Wyth that spake to maacolf Hanany as the sone of joiade: and zabus the kinges frende: and adonias the sone of abde whiche hadden the charge and gouernan̄ee ovyr the kyges tribute / and sayde: Thou shalt not therefore be the thyrdde in the kī gedome of oure soueraigne lord Mē shall rather put bothe thyn worst yen out of thy moost vyle hede: for it becomyth the bettyr to lye amonge verys: than to be exal ted to any dignyte or honour / Than marcolphus sayde wherfor hath [Page] the king than ꝓmysed Than sayde the kinges vij. prouostes / that is to wyte Neuthur Benadachar Benesya Bena Benanides Banthabar Athurady Bominia / Iosephus Semes ād Samer / Wherto comth this fole oure soveraign lorde althus to trouble and mocke Why dryue ye hym not out / wyth stavys of his fyghte Tho sayde salomon / not so but yeue hym wele to ete and drinke / and lete hym thau goo in pease To spak marcolphus goyug his weye to the king I suffre ynough what that ye haue sayde I shall alweyes saye There is no king were no lawe is
Onys vpon a tyme the king rode an huntyng wyth his hunterys and ho wndes aud fortunyd hym to come by the house of marcolf: And turnyd hym self thid rewardes wyth his horse and demaunded wyth his hede inclyned vndre the dorre bowe. who was wythin̄. Marcolf āsweryd to the king: wythin is an hool, man & an half. & an horse hede / & the more that they ascende the more they downe falle To that spak salomō what menyst thou therwithall / Tho āsweryd marcolphus The hole man is my self syttyng wythin / ye are the half man syttyng wythoute vpon youre horse lokyng in wyth youre hede declynedy. And the horse hede is the hede of youre horse that ye sytte on: Than Salomon demauuded of Marcolphus what they [Page] were that clymē vp and fallyn downe.
Answeryd & sayde: they are the benys boyllyng in the pott Salom̄ / where is thy fadyr: thy modyr / thy Sustyr / and thy brothyr /
My fadyr is in the felde and makyth of oon harme two My modyr is goon and dooth to hir neighborwe that she nevyr more shall do / my brothyr lytting wythoute the house steyth alle that he fyndeth My sustyr syttyth in hire. Chambre & be wepyth that a fore tyme she laughyd.
What betokenth they
My fadyr is ī the felde and puttyth or settyth thornys in a foot path / & comyng men they make an othre path therby / & so he makyth of oon harme two My modyr is goon and closyth the yes of hir neyghborwe deying the whiche she shall hevyr more do My brothyr sytting withoute the house ī the sonne & lo wsyth & alle that he fyndeth he sleyth My sustyr / the laste yere lovyd a yonge man ād wyth kyssyng / laughīg / tastyng: japyng & playing: she was getyn wyth chylde: whereof she now travayllyth / and that now she bewepyth sore:
How comyth to the alle this wysdome & subtyltye /
In the tyme of king dauid youre fadyr there was a yongemā his phisiciā. & as he onys had takyn a vulture for to occupye in his me dicins / and had takyn therof that was to hym expedyēt So toke youre modyr Barsebea the herte & leyde it vpon a [Page] cruste of breed and rostyd it vpon the fayre / ād yave you the herte to ete / and I thāne beyng in the kechī she kast at my hede the cruste through moysted wyth therte of the vulture: & that ete j and therof I suppose is comē to me my subtiltie lyke as to you is comen by etyng of therte wysedom.
As verelȳ god helpe the. jn gabaa good appiercyd to me & fulfylled me wyth sapiē ce: Marcolphꝰ He is holdyn wyse that reputyth hym self a fole:
Haste thou not herde what rychesse god hath yevyn me aboven that wysedome
I have herde it And i knowe well that where god woll / there reynyth if. To that sayd salomō all laughyngly / my folkys wayte / vpon me withoute j may no leugyr wyth the talke / but saye to thy modyr that she sende me of hir beste cowe a pot full of mylke and that the pot of the same cowe be coveryd & bringe thou it to me:
It shalbe done. King salomon wyth his companye rydyng to wardys ierusalē was honourably receyvyd as a riche and moost puyssāt king. And whan floscemy a marcolphꝰ modyr was comyn home to hir house / he dede to hir the kīges message Thā she takīg a pot full wyth mylke of hir cowe / and coveryd it wyth a flawne of the same mylke made. and sent it so forth to the king by hir sone as marcolphꝰ went ovyr the felde the wethir was warme of the sō ne sawe lying there a drye bakyn cowe torde: & [Page] for haste he vnnethe cowde set downe the pot to the erthe but that he had etyn the fsawne / ād toke vp the cowe torde. and therwyth covyrd the pot: And so covyrd presentyd it before the king. and he askyd why is the pot thus covyrd.
My lord have not ye cōmaunded that the milke shulde becovyrd of the same cowe / Salo. I cōmaunded not so to be done:
Thus I vndyrstode /
It had ben bettyr coveryd wyth a fsawne made wyth the mylke of the same Lowe.
So was it furste done / but hū gyr chamigyd wyt
How:
I wyste wele that ye had no nede of mete / and I havyng great hūgyr ete the fsawne wyth mylke anyonted and for that wyth wyt chungyd the pot I have thus coveryd wyth a cowe torde.
now leve me all this. and yf that thou thys nyght wake not aswele as I: thou mayste haue no truste to morne of thy hede. Salomō & maccolph consentyd bothe. & wythin a lytyll whyle aftyr marcolph began to rowte / Salo. sayde marcolf thou stepyst:
answeryd. Lord I do not I thinke /
/ what thinkyst thon /
I thinke that there are as many joyntys in the tayle of an hare / as I hire chyne:
if thou ꝓve not that to morne thou arte worthy to deye Salomon beyng stylle / began marcolph to slepe: ayen and sayde to hym / thou slepyst And he answeryd I do not / for I thynke /
what [Page] thynkest thou /
/ I thynke that the pye hath as many whyte fethrys as blacke.
But thou also prove that trewe thou shalt lefe thyn hede / As salomon ayen began to be styl le
Marcolph began ayen terowte and to blowe And Salomō sayd to hym thou slepyst /
Nay I thinke /
/ What thinkest thou /
I thinke that vndre therhe is no clerer thing than the / daye
Is the daye clerer than mylke /
Ie / Salomō That muste thou prore. Anone hervpon began marcolphus to slepe.
Thou slepyst
/ I slepe not but I muse
What musyst thou.
I muse how that men may not surely truste the women.
And that of the shawe provyd Anon aftyr as Salomon was srylle began marcolf ayen to blowe and to slepe. Salomo Thou slepyst.
do not but I thinke /
What thinkest thou
I thinke howe that nature goth afore lernyng:
If thou prove not that trewe thou shalt lese thyn hede / A ftyr that the nyght was ovyr passyd and salomon very of waking put hym self to reste Than marcolf lefte the king and ran hastely to hys sustyr Fudasa: and fayned hymself forwefull. and hevy. and sayde to hyre: The king Salomon is ayenst me / and I may not bere hys threytys and ininries: and [Page] but I shall take this knyf / & hyde it secretly vndyr my clothes / ād there wyth thys daye all pryuely he not knowyng I shall smyte hym to therte and sle hym: now good dere sustyr I praye the accuse me not but iu any wyse kepe it secrete ne shewe it not to myn owne brothyr Bufrydo / Fudasa answeryd my dere and leevest brothyr Marcolf put no doubtes therin I had levyr dye and be brent at a stake rather tha I shulde discovre it or accuse the / Aftyr that retouruyd marcolf all pryvely towardys the kynges Courte The sōne rysyng & spredyng hyr beamys ovyr ther the jllnmined & fulfyllyd the kīgys palayce: and salamon rysyng from his bed wente and sat in the trone or sete of his palayce Than commaunded he to bringe to fore hym an hare. and asmany joyntes iu his tayle as in hys chyne were fownden by marcolph and nombredys ¶ Thanne was there apye brought before the king / and asmany whyte fethrys as black were fownden by marcolph And thāne toke marcolph a great panne wyth mylke ād set it in the kinges bed chambre all pryvely. aud closd to alle the wyndowes that no lyght myght in come Thanne kallyd he the king into the chābre / And as he come in he stumblyd at the panne & was nygh fallyn therin Tho was the king angry and displeasyd/ & sayd thou fowle evyl body / what is it that thou doost
āsweryd [Page] ye ought not herefore to be angry. For haue ye not sayd that milke is clerer than the daye How is it that ye se not aswele by the clerenesse of the mylke as ye do bi the clerenesse of the daye juge egaly and ye shall fynde that I haue nothyng mysdone vnto you
God foryene the. my clothys be all wyth mylke sprongyn And nygh I had my necke brokyn and yet thou haste me nothing trespasyd
Marcolphus āsweryd āothre tyme se bettyr to fore youlnevyrhtelesse sytte downe and do me justyce vpon a mater that I shall shewe afore you: Whan he was set Marcolph complayned and shewyd Lord I have a sustyr that hath to name Fudasa and she hath yeuen hyrself to horedam and is wyth childe wherwyth she shamyth and dishonesty dalle oure bloode and lynage: and yet wolde she parte wyth me in my fathres good and herytage Thanne sayde Salomon Lete hyr come a fore vs: And we shall here hyr what she woll saye herto. As Salomon sawe hyr come from ferre sayde all laughyngly Thys may wele be Marcolphus sustyr This fudasa was short ād thyeke and therto was she great wyth chylde and thus was she thycker thā she was of lenghthe She had thycke leggys and short. and went on bote lame / wyth vysage / yen and stature lycke to Marcolph. Salomon sayde to Marcolph / [Page] What complaynest or askyst thou af thy sustyr. Marcolph answeryd My lord I complayne ād shewe opynly afore you of my sustyr that she is a stronge harlot and a strumpet ād is wyth chylde. as ye may se and alle oure blood and kynrede by hyr is shamyd. that wythstandyng she wolde dele and parte wyth me in my fathres good and herytage Wherefore I requyre you of iustyce. and that ye commaunde hire that she take no parte ne make no clayme therto. This heryng Fudas [...] replete wyth angre and woednesse cryed on hygh and sayde: Thou fowle mysshapyn harlot wherefore shulde not I have my parte in oure fadres good and herytage. and is not Floscemya moder to vs bote:
Thou shalt not have any dele or parte therin For thin offēse iugeth the clerely therfro / Fudasa Therfore I may not lese myn herytage. For have j mysdone I shall amende it / but oon thyng I promyse the and swere by god and all hys myght. yf thou wylt not lete me be in pease: and suffre me to haue my parthe in the land. I shall shewe suche a thyng of the. that the king or it be nyght shall do the to behangyd:
Thou fowle stynkyng hore. what kanst thou saye of me I haue no man mysdone / saye thy worste I dyffye the / thou haste moche misdone thou fowle facyd knave and rybaulde that thou art. For thou gladly woldyst sle the king / and yf ye beleve not [Page] me seke vndyr his cote & ye shall fynde the knyf Tho was the knyf sought by the kinges seruaū tys and it was not fownde-Sayde marcolph to the king and to the aboutestanders. And have I not sayde trouthe: that men shulde not put ovyrmoche truste or cōfidēce in the womē. wyth that they alle begā to laughē
Tho sayd salomō. Marcolph Thou doost alle thy thynges by crafte and subtyltye Marcolph āsweryd Lord it is no subtyltye. but that my sustyr had promysed me to have kept it secrete / & she hath falsely discoverd it as though it had ben of a trouthe. Salomon / wherefore haste thou sayd that arte or nature. goth before lernyng Marcolph Take pacyence a lytyll and afore or ye go to bedde I shal shewe you The daye passyd ovyr and the tyme of souper cam on. The king sat to sowper and othre. Wyth whom sat marcolph. and had alle pryvely put unto hys sleve thre quyk myse There was norysshyd in the kinges house a Catte▪ that every nyght as the king sat at sowper. was wont to holde betwyxt hyre fore feet a brennyng kā dell vpon the tabyll. Thanne lete marcolphoon of the myse go out of his sleve. As the catte that saugh she wolde have lept aftyr: but the king ya uc hyr a wynke or countenaunce that she bode stylle syttyng and removyd not. and in lyke wyse dede she of the secunde mowse / Thanne lete marcolph the thrydde mowse go: and as the katte [Page] sawe he cowde no lenger abyde. but kaste the kādell awaye and lept aftyr the mowse and toke it And as marcolph that sawe: sayde to the king Here I have now provyd before you that nature goth afore lernyng: Tho commaunded Salomon his seruauntes. have thys man out of my syghte: and if he come hythre any more / set my howndes vpon hym.
now for certayne I knowe and may saye that where as the hede is seke and evyll at ease / there is no lawe
As marcolph was thns out dryven: he seyde to hym self / neythre so nor so shall the wyse Salomon of marcolf be quyte. on the next mornyng folowyng as he was out of his couche or kenel rysen he bethoughte hym in his mynde how he myght beste gete hym ayen into the kinges courte wythout hurte or devouryng of the howndes he wēt & bought a quyk hare & put it vndre his clothis & yede ayen to the courte And whan the kinges seruauntes had syghte of hym they let vpon hym alle the howndes & forthwyth he caste the hare from hym: and the howndes aftre. & lefte marcolph. and thus came he ayen be the king And as he sawe hym he askyd who had letyn hym in / Marcolph āsweryd wyth great sutyltie am j in comē. Sal Beware that thys daye thou spytte not but vpon the bare grownde: The palayce was all coveryd wyth tapettys. & the walles hāgyd wyth riche clothys. Marcof wythin [Page] short space aftyr / wyth his talkyng & clateryng wyth othre his mouth was full of spytyll began to cough and reche vp / beholdyng alaboute hym where he myght best spytte & cowd fynde no bare erthe: sawe a ballyd man stondyng by the kīg barehedyd and spatyld evyn vpon his forehede. The ballyd man was therwyth ashamyd made clene his forehede: and fyll on kneyes before the kingys fete and made a complaynt vpon marcolph. Salomō Wherefore haste thou made fowle the forehede of this man. Mar. I have not made it fowle but j have dungyd it or made it fat. for on a bareyne grownde. it behovyth dū ge to be layde. that the corne that is therō so wyn may the bettyr growe and multiplye. Saolmon What is that to this man. Mar. My lord have ye not forbedyn me that this daye I shulde not spytte but vpon the bare erthe & I sawe his forehede all bare of herys: and thynkyng it [...] vare erthe. and therefore I spyttyd vpon it The king shall not be angry for this thing for i have done it for the manys proffyte for and if his so rehede were thus vsyd to be made fat the herys shulde aven encrease & multiplye. Salo. God yeue the shame for the ballyd men aught to be abouē othre men in honure. for balyōnesse is no shame but a begynnyng. of worship̄. Marcolphus / Balydnesse is a flyes nest Beholde j not fyre how the flyes folowe more hie forehede thā alle the [Page] othre that ben wythin thys house. for why they trowē that it be a vessell turnyng full wythsom good drīke or ellys to be a stone anoynted wyth any swete thyng. and therfore they haste thaym to his bare forehede To this sayd the ballyd mā afore the kīg: Wherto is this moost vyle rybaulde sufferyd in the kinges presence vs to rebuke and shame. lete hym be kast out. Marcolph / and be it pease in thy vertu / and j shalbe stylle. herewythall come yn two women bryngyng wyth thaym a lyving chylde / for the wyche they afore the king began to stryve: For the oon sayde it be lōgyd to hyre / but the oō of thaym had forlayne hyre chylde slepyng So that they were mstryre for the levying chylde / Salomō sayd to oon of his servauntis: take a sworde & departe thys chylde in two pecys: and yeve eyther of thaym the oon half / That heryng the naturall bodyr of the lyvyng chylde: sayde to the king Lord j beseche you jeve it to that woman all hool lyvyng / for the his the verraye modyr therof. Than sayde Salomō that she was the modyr of the chylde▪ and yave it to hire / Marcolph demaūded of the king how he the modyr knewe. Salomon By chaungyng of hir colure and affection and by effusyō of tetys / Marcolphus ye myghthe so bedisceyved / for beleue ye the wepyng of the womē / and are so wyse and knowe the crafte of thaym no bettyr / whyllys a woman wepyth she laughyth [Page] wyth therte / They kan wepe wyth oon yie / ād lawgh wyth the othyr. They make contenan̄ce wyth the vysage that they thinke not They speke wyth the tūge that they mene not wyth therte They promyse many tymes that they parforme not-bnt they chaunge theyre contenaunces as theyre myndes renne / The women have innumerable craftes / Salomon As many craftes as they have / so many good condicyons and propyrtyes they haue / Marcolphꝰ Saye not good condicyons or propyrtyes. but saye shrewdnessys and decepcyons. Salomon Surely she was an hore that bare snche a sone. Marcolph Wherefore saye ye so▪ Salomon For thou blamyst alle women / and they are honest chaste meke lovyng and curtayse / Marcolf To that myght ye adde & saye that they are brotyll and mutable. Salomō If they be brotyll: that have they of manys condicyō / yf they be chaunge able that have they by delectacioū: Womā is though made of mānys rybbe / and yeven vnto hym for his helpe and comfort For womā is asmoche to saye as a weyke erthe or a weyke thynge / Mar: jn likewyse it is asmoche to saye as a softe erroure / Sal There lyest thou false kaytyf Thou muste nedys be cryll and onhappy▪ that sayst so moche shame and harme of women For of womē we are alle comen / and therfore he that seyth evyll of the kynde of women is greatly to be blamyd [Page] for what is rychesse / wat is kingdomes / what is possessiōs what is goold what is sylver what is costely clothyng or p̄ciouse stonys▪ what is costely metys or drinkes. what is good cōpanye or solace what is myrthe whitoute women. On trouthe they may kalle wele the world deed that from women are exiled or banysshed For women muste bere the chyldrē they fede & norysshe thaym vp / and love thaym well She desyryth thayre helthys She gouernyth the household. She forwyth the helthe of hyr husband & household. women is the dilectacōn of alle thinges: she is the swetnesse of youthe She is the solace of joye of age. She is gladnesse of childre: She is joye of the daye She is solace of the nyght She is the gladynd of laboure. of alle hevynesses. she is the forgeter She servyth whithoute grutchyng And she shall watche my goyng out and myn incomyng. Thervpon answeryd marcolphus. he seyth trouthe. that thinkyth wyth his herte. as he spekyth wyth his mowth. ye haue the women in great favoure / & therfore ye prayse thaym. Rychesse nobylnesse / fayrenesse & wysedom be in you. and therfore it behovyth you to love women. but y assure you one thyng albe it that ye now prayse thaym ovyr moche / or ye slepe ye shal dysprayse thaym as faste. Salomō Therof thou shalt lye / for alle my lyve dayes I have lovyd women & shall duryng my lyf. But [Page] now go frō me / & se wele to. that before me thou nevyr speke evyll of women Than marcolphus goyng out of the kynges palayce. kallyd to hym the womā that had hir childe to hyre yeven a yē by the king and sayd to hyre knowyst thou not what is done & concluded in the kingys coūsell to daye. She answeryd my chylde is yevyn me ayē alyve / what ellys there is done. that knowe not I. Tho sayd marcoph the king hath cōmaū ded & is vttyrly det (er)myned that to morwe thou and thy felawe shall come ayen afore hym: and that thou shalt have the one half of thy chylde & thy felawe the othre half Thā sayde the womā O what evyll king / & what false & vntrewe sentēce yevyth he. Marcoph sayde yet shall j shewe the grettyr matiers & more chargeable & of grettyr weyghte The kīg & his coūseyle hath ordeyned that evyr man shall have vij. wyves therfor remembre & thinke what therin is best to be done. for as one man hath vij. wyves. so shall ther nevyr. more be reste or pease in thouse. one shalbe belovyd an othre shall displease hym for hir that he lovyth shalbe moost wyth hym: and the othre nevyr or seldom She shalbe wele clothyd & the othre shalbe forgetyn: hyr that he lovyth best shall haue ryngys jo wellys goold sylvyr furres & were fylkys She shal kepe tije keyes of alle the house She shalbe honouryd of alle the servauntys and be kallyd mastres Alle his goodes [Page] shall falle to hire: what shall thau saye the othre vj. And yf he love tweryne: what shall the othre v. saye & yf he love thre what shal saye the othre iii. & yf he love iiij▪ what shall the othre iij. do &c̈. That he lovyth best he shall alwayes have by hym & kysse hire and halfe hyre The othyr shall mowe saye that they are neythre wydowes nor weddyd nor yit vnweddyd. nor wythoute husbande They shal mowe well forthynke that they have theyre mayndehede loste There shall evyr stryff angre envye and brawelyng reigne & if there be not fownde a remedy herefore many great inconvenyencys shall growe there of And by cause that thou arte a woman and well acqueynted wyth the condicyons of womē: haste the and shewe thys to alle the ladyes and womē wythin this citie ād advyse thaym that they [...] sente not to it in any wyse. but wythstande it. ād saye ayenst the king and his counseyll. Marcolf retourned ād went ayen to the courte & pryvely hyd hym in a corner And the womā trowyd his wordys to be trewe. rāne trough the citie & clappyd hire handys to gydre and cryed wyth opyn mowthe & shewyd all that she had herd ād more And eche neyghborwe or gossyp saide it forth to an othre / So that in short tyme there was a great assemble or gaderyng of women wel nigh that alle the women that weren wythin the [Page] Citie. and se gadred went to the kynges palayse well by the nombre of .vj.M [...]. women / and brak vp dorys and ovyr wēt the kyng and his counsell wyth great malyce and lowde crying: The king as he this herde / avyd what the cause was of thayre gaderyng. To that oon woman that wyser and more eloquent than the othre: sayde vnto the king. Moost myghty prynce to whom goold / sylver▪ preciouse stones and alle rychesse of the world tho you are brought ye do ane thyng as ye woll. and non ayensayth youre pleasure: ye have a Quene and many Quenys. and oryr that ye have cōcubynes or paramours wythoute nombre or as asmany as you pleasyth for ye have all that ye wol: So may not every man d [...] Salomon answeryd God hath anoynted and made me king in jsrahel may I not than do and accomplyssh all my wylle Do youre wylle wy [...] youre owne. and medle not wyth vs. We are of the noble blood of Abraham and holde moyses lawe / Wherfore woll ye thane that chaunge and altre ye are bownden to do right and iustyce. wherefore do ye vnryght. Tho sayde Salomō wyth great vnpacyence. Thou sham full wyf what vnright or wronge do y She āswryd: as great vnright do ye as kā be thought or ymagined For ye haue ordeyned that every mā shall haue mowe lawefully vij. wynes / & certaynli that shall not be: For there is not that prynce / duke / [Page] or erle / that so riche and puyssaunt is / but that oō womā alone shall mow fullfylle. alle his desyres and wylle. what thanne shulde he do wyth .vij. wyves: it is aboven any mannys myght or power: It were bettyr ordeyned that oon womā shulde have vij. husbondes Than sayd Salomō all laughyngly I had not trowed that of men had ben fewer in nombre than of women Tho kryed alle the women as mad people wyth oute any reason / ye are anevyle king & youre sentences ben false aud vnrightfull Now may we wel here & se that it is trouthe that we have herd of you: and that ye have of vs sayde evyll: and therto ye skorue & mocke vs before oure vysages that we se it O lord god who was so evyle as saule that regnyd ouyr vs furste yet davyd was worse / and now this Salomō werst of alle than the king beyng full of wrathe sayde There is no hede more worse than the serpent / and there is no malyce to the malyce of a woman: for it were bettyr to dvelle wyth serpentys and lyōs / thā wyth a wyckyd woman Alle evyll are but lytyl tho the cursydnesse: of a shrewd woman Alle wyckydnesse falle vpon women / as the sande fallyth in the shoes fo the oolde people goyng vp an hylle So a talkatyf woman and dishobedyēt is a great confusyon That wyf that is hlr husbondes maister is evyr cōtrarye to hym An evyl wyf makyth a pacient herte. and a sory vysage [Page] & if as plage of the deth A woman was the begynnyng of synne / and through hire we dye alle The woman that is luxuriouse may men knowen in the vppermest of hire yes. ād by hir browes For hire yes are wythoute revyrēce & ther nede nomā wondre although she forgete hir husbonde As the king althus had sayd. so spaknathan the prophete and sayde My lord why rebuke ye & shame ye thus alle thies women of iherusalē. Salomō have ye not herd what dishonoure they have sayd of me wythoute deservyng Na than answeryd he that woll wyth hys subgiettys lyve in reste & pease / he muste som tyme be blynde dūme. & deef. Salomō. it is to be āsweryd to a fole aftyr his folysshnes. Tho sprāge Marcolph out of the corner that he sat in / ād sayde to the king / now have ye spokyn aftyr myn intent. for ones thys daye ye praysed womē out of alle mesure / and now have ye dispraysed thaym asmoche. that is it that I sought: alwayes ye make my saying trewe: Salo. Thou fowle evyle body / knowyst thou of this cōmocion: Marcolph/ nay. nevyr thelesse ye shulde not yeue credence to alle thing that ye here Tho sayd the king salomō go from hens out of my syghte: & I charge the that j se the nomere betwixt the yes / forth with was marcolph kast out of the kinges palayse / Than̄ they that stodē by the king saydē: mylord speke to thiefe womē sumwhat that may please [Page] thaym to here. to thentēt that they may departe Than turnyd the king towardes thaym & sayd youre goodnesse shal vndrestande. that I am not to be blamyd in that: that ye laye to my charge / That evyl sayer marcolf / that ye here late sawe. hath out of hym self alle this matter surmysed & fayned: ād every man shall have hys owne wyf & hyr wyth faythe & honestie love and cherysshe That I have spokyn ayenst the wyves I haue not sayde it but ayenst the froward wyves who shulde of the good wyves speke any evyll For a good wyf makyth hyr husbande glad ād blythe wyth hyre goodnesse She is a parte the lyryng of hyre husbond vpon erthe. and hyr lernyng advauntagyth or forthryth hys body She is a yifte of god / A wyse wyf and a stylle is a grace abouen graces / A good shame fast and an honeste wyf is lyke the sonne clymmyng vp to god. A wyf of good condioyons is the ornament or apparayle of the house. She is a lyght shynyng bryghther / than the lyght of cādeliys: She is lyke the goolden pyller standyng vpon hir feet and an ovyr faste fnndament grwnded vpon a sure stone wythonte mutacions and the commande mantys of god evyr in hyr mynde / The heoly god of Israhel blesse you aud multiplye youre sede and kyndre bede / vnto the ende of the worlde Tho sayde they alle / amē: And toke leve of the [Page] king and went theyre weyes: Marcoph beryng in his mynde of the vnkyndnesse that the king had commanded hym that he shulde no more so hym betwixt the yes Thought in hymself. what was best to do. It happenyd that the next nyght folowyng fyll a great snowe Marcolphꝰ toke a lytyll Cyve or Temse in his oon hande & a foot of a bere in the othre hande: ād he turned hys shoes tyat stode forwardes vpon his feet bakward and vpon the mornyng erly he began to go lyke a beste vpon alle fowre feet through the strete. and whan he was comen a lytyll wythouthe the towne: he fownde an olde ovyn ād crept into it. And as the lyght of the daye was on comen. oon of the kingys seruauntys founde the footstappys of marcolph. and thougt that it was the trace or stappys of & merveylous beste & in alle haste wēt & shewyd it to the king Thā ne incontynent wyth huntres and howndes he wente to hunte and seke the sayd wondrefull beeste aud folowed it vnto they comen before the oven where they had loste and fownde no more of the steppys. The king Salomon discended from hys hors and began to loke into the oven. Marcolpus laye all crokyd hys vysage from hym wardes. had put downe hys breche into hys hammes that be myght se hys ars hole and alle hys othre fowle gere. As the kyng [Page] Salomō that seyng demawnded what laye there. Mar. āsweryd j am here: Sal wherefore lyest thou thus / Marcolf. for ye haue commannded me that ye shulde nomore se me betwyxt mynyes Now and ye woll not se me betwyxt mynyes: ye may se me betwene my buttockys in the myddes of myn arsehole: Than was the king sore meovyd cōmaunded his seruauntys to take hym & hange hym vpona tre / Mar. So takyn. sayde to the kyng: Mylord well it please you to yeve me leue to chose the tre whervpon that j shall hāge Salsayde be it as thou haste de syred / for it forcyth not on what tre that thou be hangyd / Than the kinges seruaūtes tokē & leddyn marcolph wythoute the citie / & through the vale of iosaphath & ovyr the hyghte of the hylle of olyuete from theus to ierirho. & cowde fynde no tre that marcolf wolde chese to be hanged on From thens went they ovyr the flome iordane and alle arabye through And so forth all the great wyldernesse vnto the rede see: And nevyrmore cowde marcolph fynde a tre that he wolde chese to hange on And thus he askapyd out of the dawnger & handes of king salomō / and turnyd ayen vnto hys howse / and levyd in pease & ioye And so mote we alle do aboven wyth the fadre of heven Amen
¶Emprentyd at andewerpe by me M. Gerardleen