name cleped hate That suffceth not within his gate That there cam other loue or pes For he wol make no reles Of no debate whiche is byfalle Now speke yf thou art one of alle That with the vyce hast be witholde And â—yet for ought that ye me tolde My fadre I not what it is In good feyth sone I too we yis My fadre nay but ye me leue Now lest my sone thou shalt here Haâ—â— is a wrath not shewend But of loug tyme gaderend And duelleth in the hert loken Tyl he see tyme to be wroken And than he sheweth his tempest More sodeyn than the wylde best Whiche wote no thyng what mercy is My sone art thou knowen of this My good fadee as I wene Now wote I sonidele what ye mene But I dare saufly make an othe My lady was me neuer loth I wol not swere netheles That I of hate am gylteles For when I to my lady plye Fro day to day mercy crye And she no mercy on me leyth But shrote wordes to me seyth Though I my lady loue algate Tho wordes mote I nedes hate And wold they were al dyspent Or so fer oute of londe went That I hereafter shold hem not here And yet loue I my lady dere Thus is there hate as ye may see Bytwene my lady word me The word I hate hyr I loue What so shal me betyde of loue But forthermore I wol me shryue That I haue hated al my lyue These ianglers whiche of her enuye Ben euer redy for to lye For with her fals compassement Ful often they haue made me shent And hyndred me ful oftyme When they no canse wyste â—yme But onlyche of hyr owne thought And thus ful ofte haue I bought The lye dranke not of the wyn I wold her happe were suche as myn For how so that I be now shryue Them ne may I not foryeue Tyl that I see them at debate With loue than myn estate They myghten by her owne deme And loke how wel it shold hem queme To hyndre a man that loueth sore And thus I hate hem euermore Tyf loue on hem wol do his wreche For that I shal alâ—â—cy byseche Vnto the myghty Cupydo That he so moche wolde doo So as he is of loue a god To smyâ—â— with the same rod With whiche I am of loue smyten So that they myght knowe wyten How hyndryng is a woful peyne To hym that loue wold atâ—â—ynâ— Thus euer on hem I wayte hope Tyl I may seen hem lepe a lope And halten on the same sore Whiche I do now for euermore I wold than do my myght So for to stonden in her lyght That they ne sholden haue aweye To that they wolden put aweye â–ª I wold hem put oute of the stâ—de Fro loue ryght as they me dede With that they spoke of me by mouth So wold I do yf that I â—â—uth Of hem this so god me saue Is al the hate that I haue Toward the Ianglers euery dele I wold al other ferd wele Thus haue I fader sayd my wylle Saye forth now for I am stylle My sone of that thou hast me sayd I hold me nought fully payd That thou wolt hatâ—n ony man To that acorden I ne can Though he haue hyndred to fore But this I telle the therfore Thou myght vpon my benyson Wel haten the condycyon Of tho Ianglers as thou me toldest But forthermore yf that thou woldest Hem hyndre in ony other wyse Suche haâ—â— is euer to despyse For thy my sone I wold the rede That thou drawe in by frendelyhede That thou ne myght not do by hate So myght thou gete loue algate And set the my sone in rest For thou shalt fynde it for the best And ouer this so as I dare I â—â—dâ— that thou be ryght ware Of other mens haâ—â— aboute Whiche euery wyse man shold doute For hate is euer vpon a wayte And as the fyssher on his bayte Sleeth when he seeth the fysshes fastâ— So when he seeth tyme at the last That he may worche an other woo Shal no man torne hym ther fro That hate nyl his felonye Fulfylle feyne companye Yet netheles for falâ— semblaunt Is toward hym of couenaunt Witholde so that vnder bothe The preuy wrath can hym clothe That he shal seme a grete byleue But ware the wel that thou ne loue Al that thou seest afore thyn eye So as the Gregoys whylome syghe The book of Troye who so â—â—de There maye he fyude ensample in dede hIc ponit Confesso exemplum â—oÌ„ tra illos qui cum ire sue odiuÌ„ aê‘te vindicare non possint ficta dissimuâ—acione vindictam subdole assequentur Et narrat ê™ cum Palamides princepâ— Grecorum in obsidione Troye a quibus dam suis Emulis proditorie interfectê° fuisset pater que suus Rex Namplus in patria sua tunâ— existens huiusmodi euentus certitudinem sciâ—usset grecos in sui cordis odium super omnia râ—â—â—llegit vnde contigit ê™ cum greci deuicta Troia per altum mare versus Greciam nauigio remeantes obscurissimo noctis tempore nimia ventorum tempestate iac tabantur Rex Namplus in terra sua contra litus maris vbi mâ—ioca saxoruÌ„â—minebant pericula super cacumina moÌ„cium grandissimos noctanter fecit ignes quos greci aspicientes saluum poâ— tum ibidem inuenire certissime putabant Et terram approximâ—ntes diruâ—â—is nauibus magna pars grecorum 〈◊〉 riclitabatur sOne after the destructyon When troye was al bete doun And slayn was â—amê° the king The gregoys whiche of al this thyng Ben cause tornen home ageyn There may no man his hop wythseyn It hath ben seen felt ful ofte The hard tyme after the softe By see forth as they homeward went A rage of grete tempest hem hent Iuno lete bende her party bowe The sâ—y was derk the wynd gan blowe The fyry welken bygan to thonder As though the world shold al a sonder From heuen oute of the water gates The reyny storme fel doune algates And al her tacle made vnwelde That noman myght hym self byheldâ— There may men here shipmen crye That stood in aunter for to dye He that behynde sat to stere May not the for sterne here The ship arose ageyne the wawes The lodesman hath lost his lawes The see on bete on euery syde They nysten what fortune abyde But setten hem al at goddes wylle Where he wold hem self saue or spylle And thylk tyme felle thus There was a kyng whiche Namplus Was hote he a sone had At Troye whiche the gregoys â—ad As he that was made prynce of alle Tyl that fortune lete hym falle His name was palamydes But thorugh an hate netheles Of somme of hem his deth was caste And he by treson ouer caste His fadee when he herd it telle He swore yf euer his tyme felle He wold hym venge yf that he myght
tHis book is intituled confessio amantie that is to saye in englysshe the confessyon of the louer maad and compyled by Iohan Gower squyer borne in walys in the tyme of kyng richard the second which book treteth how he was confessyd to Genyus preest of venus vpon the causes of loue in his fyue wyttes and suum dedely synues as in thys sayd book al alonge appyereth and by cause there been comprysed therin dyuers hystories and fables towchyng euery matere I haue ordeyned a table here folowyng of al suche hystoryes and fables where and in what book and leef they stande in as here after foloweth Fyrst the prologue how Iohan goldeâ— in the xvj yere of kyng rychard the second beâ—â—n to make thys book and dyrected to haâ—â—â— of lancastre thenne erle of derby folio ij Of the state of the royames temporally the sayd yere folio iij Of the state of the clergye the tyme of robert gyllonensis namyng hym self elemente thenne antipope folio iij Of the estate of the comyn people folio v How he treteth of the ymage that nabugodonosor save in his sleep hauyng 〈…〉 d of 〈…〉 a breste of syluer a â—â—â—y of 〈…〉 legges of yron and â—eet 〈…〉 halfe erthe folio vj Of the 〈…〉 tacion of the dreme and how the world was fyrst of golde after alwey worse werse folio vj Thus endeth the prologue Here begynneth the book â— And fyrst the auctor nameth thys book confessio amantis that is to say the shryfte of the louer wheron alle thys book shal shelâ—e not onely the loue humayn but also of alle lyuyng beestys naturally folio ix How cupydo smote Iohan Gower with a fyry arowe and wounded hym so that venus commysed to hym genyus hyr preest for to here hys confessyon folio x How Genyus beyng sette the loueâ— knelyng tofore hym prayeth the sayd confessor to appose hym in his confessyon folio xj The confessyon of the amant of two of the pryncipalâ—st of his fyue â—oyttes folio xi How atheon for lokyng vpon Deane was turned in to an herte folio xj Of phorâ—eus and hys thre doughters whiche had but one eye how phorâ—eus slelâ—e them folio xij How the serpente that bereth the charbuneâ—e stoppeth his one ere wyth hys tayle and that other wyth the erthe whan he is â—nchaunted folio xij How vlyxes esâ—â—ped fro the marmaâ—dens by stoppyng of hys eerys folio xij How foloweth that there ben vij dedely synnes of whome the fyrste is pryde hauyng dyuerse spices and the fyrst is ypocresye â—â—hos properte the confessor declareth to the amant folio xiij Here treateth the confessor with the amant how somme there be that deceyue fraudulently by ypocresye â—fâ—e Innocente wymmen fâ—â—â—o xiiij How a knyght of Rome named mun â—us by fayned ypocresye defowled one â—aulyne the most chaste wyf of rome by the mene of two false preestys folio xiiij How by â—â—e colour of sacrefyse the gre â—â—s â—an â—râ—ye in offryng of an hors of â—ms by whiche the cyte was destâ—â—yedâ— and tâ—ynâ—â— by tantes sleyâ—e â—â—â—e vnder fayned ypocresye â—o xvj Here â—e telleth of the second spyce of pryde named Inobedyence declareth the nature of this vyce folio xvij â—â— two vyces longyng to Inobedyence whiche serue to hym as secrete mynysâ—â—â— and they ben murmur and com 〈◊〉 folio xviij â—◠〈◊〉 neuewe to the Empereu◠〈◊〉 â—â—â— obedyence deformed the kynges 〈◊〉 of Secyle whyche 〈◊〉 her 〈◊〉 â—ad been transformed 〈◊〉 xviij Here â—e speketh of the thyrd spyce of 〈◊〉 whiche is surquedrye and declareth it to the amant folio xxj Of the kâ—â—ygâ—â— Campaneus whyche was for his surquedrye â—â—ente by fyre â—â—mâ—ng fro heuen at the syege of thefes folio xxj Here he telleth an ensaunmple of a kyng of hungarye whiche humbled hym to â—oure men wherof his â—â—â—der rebuked hym and how the kynge by hys merueylous wysdom chastysed hys â—â—â—der folio xxij How narasus after his huntyng had grete thyrste and dranke of a welle wherin he sawe his owne face on whiche he enamoâ—red wenyng it had ben a nymphe and how for his beaute â—e deyed folio xxiij Here he speketh of the fourth spyce of pryde named auantance and sheweth the nature of thys vyce folio xxiiij How albyne kynge of the lombardes after he had sleyne gurmonde a kyng he maad a cuppe of the seulle of hys heed and toke Rosemunde hys doughter in mariage and after he maad hyr for to drynke of the cuppe maad of hyr faders sâ—ulle wherfore he was afterward sleyne folio xxiiij Here the coÌ„fessor speketh of the fifthe spyce of pryde whyche is called vayne glorye and sheweth the nature of the vyce in the cause of loue to the amant folio xxvj How Nabugodonosor beyng in hys moste glorye god châ—sâ—yâ—â—d his pride and transformed hym in to a beeâ—â— â—â—yng heye and soo abode seuen yere or he was restored to hys helthe and royame folio xâ—â—â—â— How a prudent kyngâ— demaunded thre questyons of one of hys knyghtes vpon hys heed whiche were assoyled by hys doughter and for her wysdom the kyng wedded hyr folio xxviij Here endeth the fyrst book And here foloweth the second book Here the confessor â—eâ—â—th of the synne of enuye and of his spytes of whiche the fyrste is sorowe of another maÌ„nes we le folio xxxj How polyphemus for enuye that he sawe Aâ—â— spekynge wyth galathe threwe and caste on acis a grete roche and slewe hym and whan he wold haue rauysshed Galathe Neptunus kepte hyr fro polyphem folio xxxj Of the second spyce of enuye whyche is ioye of other mennes sorowe and telleth of the nature of the vice in cause of loue folio xxxij How Iupiter sente his aungel to two enuyous men one couetous and that other enuyous folio xxxij Of the thyrd spyce of enuye named detraccion folio xxxij How constaunce the doughter of the emperour was sente to the sowdan of surrye and of her meruaylous aduentures folio xxxiij Of the enuye and detraccion betwene perseus and Demetryus sones of phelyp kyng of maâ—edone and how that one caused that other to be slayne folio xl Here treteth the confessor of the fourth spyce of enuye whyche is callyd dyâ— symylacyon and telleth his nature folio xlj How hercules wyth deyanyra was deceyued of nessus at a ryuer in beryng aweye Deyanyra and of the sherte by whiche herculâ—â—â— after had his deth folio xliij Here he treteth of the fyfthe spyce of 〈◊〉 called supplantacion and telleth of his nature folio xliiij Of geta and amphytrion folio xlv How an emperours sone of rome was suppâ—◠〈◊〉 by his felowe of the sow dan◠〈◊〉 by tellyng to hym hys 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 xlv How 〈◊〉 â—â—pe boneface supplanted 〈◊〉 celestyn his predecessour wherfor afterward he was in grete myserye of hunger and thurste 〈◊〉 folio xlvij How Ioab capeteyn of the hoost of dauyd slewe abner and Achytofel for enuye that he had that câ—usy was preferred henge hym self folio xlix How the confessor wryteth the naturâ—
treteth on the spyce of glotonye callid dellicacye folio C xlj Here he telleth the ensaumple of dyues lazare which is expressid in the gospel of luke folio C xlij Of the delycacye of new folio C xlij How the Impressyons ymagyned in the mynde gladeth maketh the hertes of louers delicate folio C xliij Here he treteth how detycacye dronkenesse bryngen a man to the promocion of carnal concupyscence and causen magyke folio C xliiij The names of the aucâ—â—nrs of the bookes of natural superstycyons magyke nygromanâ—ye folio C xliiij How vâ—xes a grete magicyen comyng fro troye arâ—yued in the ysle of Cylly where the grete wytche circes was on whom he gate a sâ—ne which afterward slewe his fader folio C xliiij How neetâ—nalus descâ—â—ued olympyas by his crafte and gate on hyr AlysauÌ„der the grete conquerâ—ur fo C xlvij How Zorasâ—â—s the fyâ—ste magycyâ—n laughed at his byrth whâ—m the kyng of syrye slâ—we folio C l Thus endeth the syxthe book And here begynneth the seuenth book In thys vij book thauctor entendeth to telle the doctryne of arystotle which he taughte to Alysaunder touchyngâ— astrologye and phylâ—sofye deuydeth it in to thrâ— partyes that is thâ—orik rethoryke practyke folio C lj Here he telleth first of theoryke which is endewed with thre scyences that is theologye ffysyke and methama â— tyke folio C lj Of threfold essence folio C lj The second parte of theorike callyd 〈◊〉 physyke folio Clj The thyrd parte of theoryk callyd mathematyke folio C lj Of musike folio lij Of geometrye folio C lij Of the creacion of the foure elementis and of theyr natures and propyrtees folio C lij Of the erthe that is the fyrst elemente folio C lij Of the water whiche is the second elemente folio C lij Of the aâ—â—r the iij element folio C lij Of the peryferyes of the ayeâ— fo C lij Of the fyres fleyng in the ayer by nyght of their names folio C liij Of the fyre whiche is the fourth elemente folio C liij How after the nature of the four elementes ben four complexyons in man nes body whiche ben malencolye fflewme blood colere folio C liij How the foure complexyons haue iiij mancyons in mannes body fo C liâ—ij Wherfore the stomake serueth fo C liiij Here he speketh of the dyuysyon of the erthe whiche was departed after the flood to the thre sones of noe that is asye affryke europe folio C liiij How the see is called the occeane folio C lv Here he speketh of the fourth spyce of mathematyke whyche is called astronomye and his felowe is astroâ—â—â—â—ye and of the seuen planetâ—s folio C liiij Here he speketh of the mone the netherest planete folio C lv The ij is mercurye folio C lvj The thyrd planete is called Venus folio C lvj The fourth planete is the sonne of his cours his apparayl folio C lvj The â—yfthe planeâ—e is mars fo C lvj The syxthe planete is Iupyter foâ—o C lvij The vij planete is Saturnus fo C lvij Of the twelue sygnes and effectys in twelue monethes folio C lviij Of the doctryne of nectanabus that he taughte to alysaundre of xv pryncypal sterres wyth theyr stones herbes conuenyent to the natural operacion in arte magyke folio C lx Of thauctours of astronomyâ— and the bookes therof made folio C lxâ— Here the confessor speketh of the second parte of phylosophye which is rethoryke and maketh men facounde and of his two spyces that is gramer and logyâ—ue by whos doctryne the rethour preferreth his wordes folio C lxij Of the eloquence of Iulyus Cezar in the cause of catelyne ageynst cyllene other folio C lxij Here hâ— treteth of the thyrd parte of phylosophyâ— whiche is called practyke And hath thre spyces that is ethyca yconomya polycya folio C lxiij How after polecâ—â— he treteth of fyue artycules byâ—ongyng to the rule of a kyng and the fyrst is trouthe folio C lxiij How daryus demaunded his cubyculers who was strengest the kyng the wyne or the woman folio C lxiiij Of thâ— strengthe of loue whiche was bytwene cirus kyng of perse apemen doughter of besazys folio C lxiiij Of the trouthe of alceste wyf of amete which chaas to deyâ— to haue hyr husbond to lyue folio C lxiiij Here he treteth of the second polecye of the magestee of a kyng whyche is called largesse folio C lxv How arystotle made exaumple to alysaundre by the exaccions of the kyng of chaldees folio C lxvj How Iulyus cesar releued suche knyghtes as were noble and valyaunt folio C lxvj How a kyng shold reward and gyue by dyscrescion folio C lxvj Hâ—w the state of a kyng ought to be supportâ—d of his treâ—â—e lyeges folio C lxvi How prodegalite of a kyng bryngeth in comyn pouerte folio C lxvi How flaterers in pâ—ynces courtes offende thre manere wyse folio C lxvii How arisippus repreuyd dyogynes by cause he wold not dwelle in courte and how dyogynes answerd hym folio C lxvii Here he puâ—â—eth an ensaâ—imple ayenst flaterers and telleth what is said to suche as take theyr tryumphe in rome folio C lxviii How whan an emperour is jnâ—renony sed in his estate a masen shal demaunde hym of what stone he wyl haue his temâ—e made folio C lxviii Of somme that make them self wyse ben feuÌ„de in th ende foles folio C lxix How kyng achab resused trewe prophetes and byleued slaterers folio C lxix Here he treteth of the thyrd polecye of a kynge whiche is called justyce which â—â—ndreth euery man that he ought to haue folio C lxx An emperours mageste ought not to be deffended eneâ—y â—y armes but also â—y â—usâ—yce folio C lxx How maxymyn â–ª the â—mpereur wold knowe the fame of a man or he wold sâ—tte hym in â—ny offyce folio C lxxi How gayus fabryaus refused yeftes â—nd wold not be corupte for golde folio C lxxi How carmyde tayre for kepyng of his sâ—atute sleâ—â—e hym self folio C lxxi How cambyses dyd doo flee a false juge and made his sone to fytte on his faders skyn to auyse hym how he juged folio C lxxii Of the names that first made lawes folio C lxxii Here treteth the confessor of the fourth polecye of a kynge whiche is named pyte folio C lxxiii How kyng alysaunder juged a knyght to deth he appeled his sentence fro hys yre to hys pyte folio C lxxiii How a jewe and a saresyn mette how the jewe deceyued the paynym wherfore a lyon slewe hym folio C lxxiiij How codâ—â—s kynge of athenes chaas to be sleyne hym self in the batayle for to saue his peple folio C lxxv How pompeyus after he had taken the kyng of armenye in batayle â—â—te hym goo quyte sayeng it is more noble to make a kyng thenne to depose a kyng folio C lxxv How leoncyus â—ut of the nose lippes of justynyan and how it was after auengyd folio C lxxv How one berillus maad a bulle of bras for
yere xvj of kyng Richard What shal byfalle here afterward God wote for now vpon this tyde Man see the world on euery syde In sondry wyse so dyuersed That it wel nygh stant al reuersed Al 's for to speke of tyme a goo The cause why it chaungeth so It nedeth nought to specyfye The thyng so open is at the â—ye That euery man it may behold And netheles by dayes old Whan that the bookes weren leuer Wrytyng was byloued euer Of hem that weren vertuous For here in erthe among vs Iâ— noman wryte how it stode â—he prys of hem that were good Shold as who sayth a grete partye Be lost so for to magnyfye The worthy prynces that tho were The bookes shewen here there Wherof the world ensampled is And tho that dyden then ne amys Though tyrannye cruelte Ryght us they stonden in degre So waâ— the wrytyng of the werk Thus I whiche am a borell clerk Purpose for to wryte a book After the world that whylome toke Long tyme in old dayes passyd But for men seyn it is now lassed In wers plyght than it was tho â— thenke for to touche also The world whiche neweth euery daye So as I can so as I may Though I sekenesse haue vpon hond And long haue had yet wol I fonde To wryte do my besynesse That in som partye so as I gesse The wyse man may be aduysed For this prologue is so assised That it to wysedome al bylongeth That wyse man that it vnderfongeth He shal drawe in to remembraunce The fortune of the worldes chaunce The whiche noman in his persone May knowe but the god allone Whan the prologue is so dispended The book shal afterward be ended Of loue whiche doth many a wondre And many a wise maÌ„ hath put vnder And in this wyse I thenke trele Toward them that now be grete Betwene the vertu the vyce Whiche longeth vnto this offyce But for my wyttes ben to smale To telle euery mannys tale This book vpon amendement To stond at his commauÌ„dement With whome myn hert is of acorde I send vnto myn owne lord Whiche of lancastre is henry named The hyghe god hath hym proclamed Ful of knyghthode al grace So wold I now this werk embrace With hoole trust hoole byleue God graunte I mote it wel acheue t Empus preteritum presens fortuna beatum Liquit antiquas vertit in vrbe vias Progenuit veterem concors dilectio pacem Dum facies hominis nuncia mentis erat Legibus vnicolor tunc temporis aura refulsit Iusticiâ— plane tunc que fuere vie Nunc que latens odium vul tum depingit amoris Pace que sub ficta tempus ad arma tegit Instar ex varijs mutoble Cameliontis Lex ge rit regnis sunt noua iura noius Climata que fuerant solidissima sic que per orbem Soluuntur nec eo centra qietis habent E statu regnoque vt dicunt secundnm temporalia videlicet tempore Regis Ricardi secundi Auno Regni sui Sextodecimo i Shal drawe in to my mynde â–ª The tyme passed than I fynde The world stoode in al his welthe Tho was the lyf of maÌ„ in helth To was plente tho was Ry chesse Tho was fortune tho was prowesse Tho was knyghthode in prys by name Wherof the wide worldes fame Wryte in Cronycles is yet withhold Iustyce of lawe tho was holde The pryuelege of Regalye Was fast al the Baronye Worshiped was in his astate â–ª The Cytees knewe no debate The peple stood in obeysaunce Vnder the reule of gouernaunce And pees with rightwysenesse keste With charyte tho stood in reste Of mannys hert the courage Was shewed thenne in the vysage The word was lyche to the conceyte Wtthout semblaunt of deceyte Tho was ther vnenuyed loue Tho was vertu set aboue And vyce was put vnder foote Now stant the crop vnder the rote The world is chaunged oueral And therof moost in specyal That loue is falle in to discord And that I take in to record Of euery â–ª lond for his partye The comyn voys â–ª whiche may not lye Nought vpon one but vpon alle Is that men now clepe calle And seyne that regnes ben deuyded In stede of loue is hate guyded The werre wol no pees purchace And lawe hath take hyr double face So that Iustyce oute of the way With ryghtwysenes is gone awey And thus to loke on euery halue Men seen the soore without salue Whiche al the world hath ouertake Ther is no reygne of al out take For euery clymat hath his dyele After the tornynge of the whele Whiche blyude fortune ouerthroweth Wherof the certayne noman knoweth The heuene wote what is to done But we that duelle vnder the mone Stond in this world vppon a were And namely but the power Of hem that ben the worldes guydes With good counseylle on euery sides Ben kept vpright in suche a wyse That hate breke nought thassise Of loue whiche is al the chyef To kepe a reygne oute of meschyef For al reson wold this That vnto hym whiche the heued is The membres buxom shal bo we And he sholde eke her trouth alowe With al his hert and make hem chere For good counseyl is good to here Al though a man be wyse hym selue Yet is the wysedom more of tivelue And yf they stonde both in one To both it were thenne anone That god his grace wold sende To make of thylk werre an ende Whiche euery day now groweth newe And that is gretely for to rewe In specyal for cristes sake Whiche wold his owne lyf forsake Amonge the men to yeuen pees But now men tellen netheles That loue is from the world departed So stant the pees vneuene parted With hem that lyuen now a dayes But for to loke at al assayes To hym that wold reson seche After the comon worldes speche It is to wonder of thylk werre In which none wote who hath that werre For lond hym self deceyueth And of dysese his parte receyueth And yet take men no kepe But thylk lord whiche al may kepe To whome no counseyl may be hyd Vpon the world whiche is be tyd Amende that wherof men pleynen With trewe hertes with pleyne And reconsyle loue ayene As he whiche is kyng souerayne Of al the worldes gouernaunce And of his hygh purucaunce Afferme pees bytwene the londes And take here cause in to his hondes So that the world may stande appesed And his godbeede also be plesed Quas coluit moises vetus aut nouus Ipse Iohannes Hesternas leges vix colit ista dies Sic prius ecclesia bina virtute rokta Nunc magis inculta pâ—llet vtraque via Pacificam petri vagi nam mucro resumens Horruit â—â—d xâ—i verba cruoris Iter NuÌ„c tamen assiduo gladium de sangiune tinctum Viâ—rat auaricia bege repente sacra Sic lupus â—â—t pastor pater hostis mors miscrator
And felle he shold go to fyght Ageyne Amon the cruel kyng And for to speke vpon this thyng within his hert he made a vowe To god sayd O lord yf thou Wol graunte vnto my men vyctorye I shal in tokne of thy memorye The fyrst lyf that I may see Or man or womman where it be Anone as I come home ageyne To the whiche art god souereyne Sleen in thy name sacryfye And thus with his chyualrye He goth hym forth where that he sholde when be had wonne what he wolde And ouercam his fomen alle May noman knowe that shal falle This duk a lusty doughter had And fame whiche the world sprad Hath brought vnto this ladyes ere How that her fadre hath do there She wayteth vpon his comynge with daunsyng with carolyng As she that wold be to fere Al other so she was therfore In masphat at her fadres gate The fyrst when he cometh ther ate And sawe his doughter he to brayde His clothes wepend he sayde O myghty god amonge vs here Now wote I not in what manere This worldes ioye may be pleyne I had al that I couthe seyne Ayene my fomen by thy grace So when I cam to ward this place There was no gladder man than I But now my lord al sodenly My ioye is torned in to sorowe For I my doughter shal to morowe To heâ—e brenne in thy seruyce To louynge of thy sacryfyce Though myn auowe so as it is The mayden when she wyst of this And sawe the sorow hyr fader made So as she maye with wordes glade Comforted hym bad hym holde His couenaunt as he was beholde Towardes god as he behyght But netheles hyr hert aflyght Of that she sawe hyr deth comend And than vnto the ground knelend To fore hyr fadre she is falle And sayth so as it is falle Vpon this poynt that she shal dye Of one thyng first she wold hym prey That fourty dayes of respyte He wold hyr graunt vpon this plyÈt That she the while may be wepe Hyr maydenhede whiche she kepe So long hath had not beset Wherof her youthe is let That she no children hath forth drawe In maryage after the lawe So that the peple is not encreced But that it myght be releced That she her tyme hath lore so She wold by his leue go With other maydens to complâ—yne And after ward vnto the peyne Of doth she wold come ageyne The fader herd his doughter seyn And therupon of one assent The maydens were anone assent That sholden with this mayden wende So for to speke vnto this ende They gone the dounes the dales With wepyng woful tales And euery with hyr maydenhode Compleyneth vpon thilk nede That she no childer had bore Wherof she hath hyr youthe lore Whiche neuer she recouere may For so fel that hyr last day Was come in whiche she shold take Her deth whiche she may not forsake â—â— thus she deyde a woful mayde For thylk cause whiche I sayde As thou hast vnderstonde aboue My fader as toward the loue Of maydens for to telle trouthe Ye haue thylk vyce of slouthe Me thynketh wonder wel declared That ye the women haue not spared Of hem that tary so behynde But yet it falleth in my mynde Toward the men hou that ye speke Of hem that wol no trauayl seke In cause of loue vpon desert To speke in wordes so couuert I not what trauayl that ye ment My sone after myn entent I wol the telle hou that I thought Hou whilome men her loues bought Thorugh grete trauail in strauÌ„ge loÌ„des Where that they wrought with her hoÌ„des Of armes many a worthy dede In sondry places as men may rede Quem probat armorum probitas venus approbat que in Torpor habet reprobuÌ„ reprobat illa virum Vecors segnicies insignia nescit amoris Nam piger ad brauium tardius ipse venit Hic loquitur quod in amoris causa milicie probitas ad armorum laboris eyercicium nullatenus torpescat tHat euery loue of pure kynde Is fyrst forth drawe wel I fynde But netheles yet ouer this Deserte doth so that it is The rather had â–ª in many place For thy who so seche loues grace Where that these worthy women arâ— He maye not than hym selue spare Vpon his trauayle for to serue Wherof that he may thank deserue These men of armes ther as they be Somtyme ouer the grete see So that by lond eke by shyp He mote trauayle for worshyp And make many hasty rodes SoÌ„tyme in pruys somtyme in Rodes And somtyme in to Tartarye So that these herauldes on hym crye Vaylant Vaylant lo where he goth And he yeueth hem gold clothe So that his name myght sprynge And to his lady ere brynge Somme tydyng of his worthynesse So that she myght of his prowesse Of that she herd men recorde The better vnto his loue acorde And daunger put oute of her mood When al men recorden good And that she wote wel for her sake That 〈◊〉 no trauayl wold forsake My sone of this trauayle I mene Now shryue the for it shal be sene If thou art ydel in this cas My fader ye and euer was For as me thynketh truly That euery man doth more than I And of this poynt yf so is That I haue ought done or this It is so lytel of acompte As who sayth it may not amonnte To wynne of loue his lusty yiftâ— For this I telle you in shryftâ— That me were leuer her loue wynne Than Prayre al that is therynne And for to slee the hethen alle I not what good ther myght falle So moche blood though ther were shad This fynde j so wryten that Cryst bad That no man other shold sle What shold I wynne ouer the see If I my lady left at home But passe they the salt fome To whome cryst bad shold preche To al the world his feyth teche But now they rucken in her nest And resten as hem lyketh best In al the swetenes of delyces Thus they defenden vs the vyces And sytten hem self al amyâ—de To slee fyghte they vs bydde Hem whome they shold as â— boke seith Connerten vnto Crystes feyth But here of haue I grete meruayle Hou they wold me byd trauayle A Saâ—â—syn yf I slee shal I slee the soule forth with al And that was neuer Crystes lote But now hoo therof I saye nomore Hic allegat Amans in sui excusacionem qualiter Achilles apud Troiam propter amorem â—olixeneâ—â— arma sua per aliquod tempus dimisit But I wol speke vpon my shriâ—â—â— And to Cupyde I make a yefte That who as euer pryce deserue Of Armes I wol loue serue As though I shold hem bothe kepe As wel wold I take kepe When it were tyme to abyde As for to trauayle for to ryde For hou as euer a man laboure Cupyde hath euer his houre For
bee For to the reson yf we se Of mans byrthe the mesure It is so comon of nature That it yâ—ueth euery man alyche As wel to the poure as to the ryche For naked they ben bore bothe The lord hath no more to clothe As of hym self that ylk thro we Than hath the pourest of the rowe And when they shal bothe passe I not of hem whiche hath the lasse Of worldes good but of charge The lord is more for to charge When he shal his compte here For he hath had his lustes here But of the body whiche shal deye Al though there be dyuers weye To deth yet is ther but one ende To whiche that euery man wende As wel the begger as the lord Of one nature of one acord She whiche oure elder moder is The erthe bothe that and this Receyueth al alyche denoureth That she to nother part fauoureth So wote I noo thynge after kynde Where I may gentylnes fynde For lak of vertu lak of grace Wherof Rychesse in many place When men wene best to stonde Al sodenly goth oute of honde But vertu set in the courage There may noo world be so saluage Whiche myght it take done aweye Tyl when that the bodye deye Then he shal be ryched soo So that may fayle neuermo That it may wel be gentylnesse Whiche yeueth so grete a sykernesse For after the condycyon Of resonable intencyon The whiche oute of the soule groweth And the vertu from vyce knoweth Wherof a man the vyce escheweth Withoute slouthe vertu seweth That is very gentylman And no thyng elles whiche he can Ne whiche he hath ne whiche he maye But for al that yet now a daye In loues court to taken hede The poure vertu shal not spede That where the ryche vyce woweth For selde it is that loue alloweth The gentylman withoute good Though his condycyon be good But yf a man of bothe two Be ryche vertuous also Than is he wel the more worth But yet to put hym self forth He muse done his besynesses For nother good ne gentylnesse May helpen hem whiche ydel be But who that woâ— in his degre Trauayle so as it belongeth It happeth ofte that he fongeth Worship ease both two For euer yet it hath be so That loue honest in sondry weye Profyteth for it doth aweye The vyce as the bookes seyn It maketh curteys of the vyleyn And to the Coward hardyesse It yeueth so that very prowesse Is caused vpon loues reule To hym that can manhood reule And eke toward the womanhede Who that therof wold taken hede For they the better affayted be In euery thyng as men may see For loue both euer his lustes grene In gentyl folk as it is sene Whiche thyng ther may no kynde arest I trowe that there is no best That he with loue shold acqueynte That he ne wold make it queynte As for the whyle that it last And thus conclude at the last That they ben ydel as me semeth Whiche vnto thyng that loue demeth For slouthen that they shold do And ouer this my sone also To speke of loue yf I shal seke After the vertu moral eke Among the hooly bokes wyse I fynde wryte in suche a wyse Who loueth not is here as dede For loue aboue al other is hede Whiche bath the vertues for to lede Of al that vnto mannes dede Belongeth for of ydelshyp He hateth al the felaushyp For slouthe is euer to despyse Whiche in dysdeyne hath al appryse And that acordeth not to man For he that wyt reson can It syt hym wel that he trauayle Vpon som thyng whiche myÈt auaile For ydelshyp is not comended But euery lawe it hath defended And in ensamples therupon The noble wyse Salamon Whiche had of euery thyng insyght Seyth as the byrdes to the flyght Be made so the man is bore To labour whiche is nought forlore To hem that thynken for to thryue For we whiche are now alyue Of hem that besy whylome were As wel in scoles as elles where Now euery day ensample take That yf it were now to make Thyng whiche fyrst they founden out It shold not be brought aboute Her lyues thenne were longg Here wyttes grete her myghtes strong Here vertues ful of besynesse Wherof the worldes redynesse In body bothe in courage Stant euer vpon his auauntage And for to drawe in to memorye Her names bothe her storye Vpon the vertu of hyr dede In sondry bokes thou myght rede Expedit in manibus labor vt de cotidiams â–ª Actibus et vita viueâ—â— poseit homo Sed qui doctrine causa fert men te labores Preualet et merita perpetu ata parat Hic loquitur centra â—ciosos quoscuÌ„que et mayime coÌ„tra istos qui excelleÌ„tis prudencie ingenium habeÌ„tes absque fructu operum torpescunt Et ponit exeÌ„pluÌ„ de diligencia predecessorum qui ad tociâ—â— humani geneis doctrinam et auxiâ—â—um suis centinuis laboribus studne gracia mediante diuina artes sci encâ—as primitus inuenerunt oF euery wysedome the parfyt The hyghe god of his spyryt Yafe to the men in erthe here Vpon the forme the matere Of that he wolde make hâ—m wyse And thus cam in the fyrst apryse Of goodes and of al good Thorugh hem that whylome vnderstode The lore whiche to hem was yeue Wherof these other that now lyue But euery day to lerne newe But al the tyme that men sewe And that the labour forth it brought There was no corn though meÌ„ it souÈt In none of al the feldes oute And or the wysedome cam aboute Of hem that fyrst tho bokes wryte This may euery wyse man wyte There was grete laboure â—â—e also Thus was none ydel of the two That on the plough hath vndertake The laboure whiche the lond hath take That other took to studye muse As he whiche wolde not refuse The labour of his wyttes alle And in this wyse it is befalle Of labour what that they bygonne We be now â—ought of that we conne Here besynes is yet sene That it stant euer alyche grene Al be it so the body deye The name of hem shal neuer aweye In the Cronyke as I fynde C ham whos labour is yet in mynde Was he whiche fyrst the lettres fonde And wrote in bebrewe with his honde Of naturel philosophye He fonde fyrst also the clergye Cadmus the lettres of gregoys Fyrst made vpon his owne choys Theges of thyng that shal byfalle He was the fyrst angnrre of alle And Philemenon by the vysage Fonde to descryue the courage Cladius Eldras Sulpyces Telmegis Panulf Frigidylles Menander Epyloquorus Solius Pandar and Iosephus The fyrst were of endytours Of olde Cronyke eke auctours And Heredot in his scyence Of metre of Ryme and of Cadence The fyrste was whiche men note And of Musyke also the note In mans voys or softe or sharp That fende Iubal of the harpe The mery
it trete But yet they faylen of beyete For of to moche or of to lyte There is algate found a wyte Soo that they folowe not the lyne Of the parfyte medycyne Whiche grounded is vpon nature But they that wryten the scrypture Of Greke Arabe Caldee They were of suche auctoryte That they fyrst founden oute the weye Of al that thou hast herd me seye Wherof the Cronyke of her lore Shal stonde in pryce for euermore But toward oure marches here Of the latyns yf thou wolt here Of hem that whylome vertuous Were and therto laboryous Carment made of here engyne The fyrst lettres of latyne Of whiche the tonge Romayne cam Wherof that Arystarchus nam Forth with Donat and Dyndymus The fyrst reule of scole thus How that latyn shal be compowued And what wyse it shal be souned That euery word in his degre Shal stonde vpon congruyte And thylk tyme of Rome also Was Tullyus with Cythero That wryten vpon Rethoryke How that men shal the wordes pyke After the forme of eloquence Whiche is men seyn a grete prudence And after that oute of he breâ—â—e Ierome Whiche the langage knewe The byble in whiche the lawe is closed In to latyn he hath transposed And many another wryter eke Oute of Caldee Arabe Greke With grete labour the bokes wyse Ttanslateden another wyse The latyns of hem self also Here studye at thylk tyme so With grete trauayl of scole took In sondry forme for to look That we may take here euydence Vpon the lore of the scyence Of craftes bothe of clergye Among the whiche in poesye To the louers Ouyde wrote And taught of loue to be hote In what maner it shold akele Confessor For thy my sone yf that thou fele That loue brynge the tofore Behold Ouyde take his lore My fadre yf they myght spede My loue I wold his bokes rede And yf they techen to restreyne My loue it were an ydel peyne To lerne a thyng whiche may not be For lyche vnto a grene tre If that men took his rote aweye Ryght so my herte shold deye If that my loue be withdrawe Wherof touchend vnto this sawe There is but only to pursewe My loue ydelshyp to esche we My good sonne soth to seye If there be syker ony weye To loue thou hast seyd the best For who that wol haue al his rest And doo noo treuayle at nede It is no reson that he spede In loues cause for to wynne For he Whiche dare no thyng begynne I not what thyng he shold â—cheue But ouer this thou shalt byleue So as it syt the wel to knowe That there ben other vyces slowe Whiche vnto loue done grete let Is thou thyn hert vpon hem set â—erdit homo causam linquene sua iuâ—â— seperi Et quasi dimidtum pars suâ— mortis habet Est in amore vigil venus et quam habet vigilanti Obsequium thalamis fert vigilata suis Hic loquitur de Sompnelencia que Acâ—idie Cameraria dicta est cuius natura semunortua alicuius negocij vigi lâ—as obserâ—are seperi fero torpere recusâ—r vnde quatenus amorem concernit Confessor Amanti diligencius opponit tOward the slowe progenye There is yet one of CoÌ„panye And he is cleped SoÌ„pnoleâ—ice Whiche deth to slouthe his reuerence â—â— he whiche is his Chamberleyn That many an honderd tyme hath leyn To slepe when he sheld wake He hath with loue treâ—â—es take That wake who so wake wylle If he may couche a deune his bylle He hath al what hym lyst That ofte he goth to bedde vnkyst And sayth that for no druerye â—â— wol not leue his sluggardye For though that noman it wold allowe To slepe leuer than to wowe Is his maner thus on nyghtes When he seeth the lusty knyghtes Reâ—â—len where these women are Awey he seulketh as an hare And goth to â—â—dde leyth hym softe And of his sleuthe â—e dremeth ofte Hou that he siyketh in the myre And hou he sytteth by the fyre And claweth on his bare shankes And hou he clymeth vp the bankes And fallyth in the slades depe But than who so taketh kepe When he is falle in suche a dreme Ryght as a shyp ageynst the streme He routeth with a slepy noyse And brustleth as a monkes froyse When it is throwe in to the panne And other whyle selde whanne That he may dreme a lusty sweuene Hym thynketh as though he were in heuene And as the world were holy his And than he speketh of that this And maketh his exposycyon After his dysposycyon Of that he wolde in suche a wyse He doth to loue al his seruyce I not what thank he shal deserue But sone but yf thou wolt loue serue I rede that thou do not so A good fadre certes noo I had leuer by my trouthe Er I were set on suche a slouthe And bere suche a slepy snoute Bothe eyen of my hede were oute For me were better fully deyâ— Than I of suche sluggardye Had ony name god me shelde For when my modre was with chilâ—e As I lay in hyr wombe cloos I wold rather Antropos Whiche is goddesse of deth Anone as I had ony breth Me had fro my moder cast But now I am no thyng agast I thanke god for lachesys â—e cleto whiche here felawe is Me shopen no suche destyne When they at my Natyuyte My werdes setten as they wold But they shopen that they shold Eschewe of slepe the truandyse Soo that I hope in suche a wyse To loue for to ben excused That I no sompnolence haue vsed For certes fadre Genius Yet vnto now it hath be thus At al tyme yf it befelle So that I myght come duelle In place there my lady were I was not sloâ—â—e ne slepy there For than I dar wel vndertake That when hyr lyst on nyghtes wake In chambre as to carole daunce Me thynketh it may me more auaunce If I may gone vpon hyr honde Than yf I wynne a kynges lond For when I may hâ—r hond beclyppe With suche gladnes I dauÌ„ce skyppe Me thynketh I touche not the floor The Roo whiche renneth on the moor Is than nought so lyght as I So mowe ye wyten al for thy That for the tyme slepe I hate And than it fallyth other gate Soo that her lyketh not to daunce But on the dyes to caste the chaunce Or axe of loue somme demaunde Or elles that her lyst commaunde To rede here of Troylus Ryght as she wol or so or thus I am alredy to consente And yf so is that I may hente Somtyme among a good leyser So as I dar of my desyre I telle a part but when I preye Anone she byddeth me go my weye And seyth it is ferre in the nyght And I swere it is euen lyght But as it falleth at the last There may no worldes ioye last So mote I nedes fro hyr wende And of my watche
the shryfte of thy matere Thou shalt of hem the soth here And vnderstonde now wel the caaâ— Venus Saturnus doughter was Whiche al daunger put awey Of loue fond to lust a wey So that of her in sondry place Dyuerse men fâ—lle in to grace And suche a lusty lyf she lade That she dyuers children hade Now one by this now one by that Of hyr it was that maâ—s bygat A childe whiche cleped was Armenâ— Of hyr also cam Andragene To whome mercurye fader was Anchyses bygate Eneas Of hyr also and Herycon Byten bygat and therupon When that she sawe ther was none other By Iupyter her owne broder She lay he bygat Cupyde And thylke sone vpon a tyde When he was come vnto his age He had a wonder fayr vysage And fonde his moder amerous And was also lecherous So when they werâ— bothe alone As he whiche eyen had none To reson his moder kyst And she also that nothyng wyst But that whiche vnto his lust bylongeth To ben her loue hym vnder fongeth Thus was he blynde she vnwys But neuertheles this cause it is Whiche cupyde is the god of loue For he his moder durst loue And she whiche thouÈt her lustes foÌ„de Dyuers loues took on honde Wel more than I the told here And for she wold hyr self skere She made comon that dysport And set â— lawe of suche a port That euery woman myght take What man her lyst nought forsake To ben as comon as she wold She was the fyrst also whiche told That women shold her body selle Semyramys so as men telle Of Venus kepte thylk apryse And so dyde in the same wyse Of Rome fayre Neabolye Whiche solde her body to Regolye She was to euery man felawe And held the lust of thylk lawe Whiche Venus of her self began Wherof that she the name wan Why men hyr clepen the goddesse Of loue eke of gentylnesse Of worldes lust of plesaunce See nowe the foule myscreauncâ— Of grekes in thylk tyme tho When Venus took her name soo There was no caâ—se vnder the mone Of the whiche they hadden tho to done Of wel or woo where so it was That they noo token in that caâ— A god to helpe or a goddesse Wherof to take my wytnesse Nota de epistola Dindimi Regis Bragmannorum Alexandro magno directa vbi dicit ê™ Greci tunc ad corpo ris conseruacionem pro singulis membris singulos deds specialiter appropri ari credunt The kynge of BragmaÌ„s Dyndymus Wrote vnto Alysander thus In blamyng of the grekes feyth And of the mysbyleue he seyth How they for euery membre hadden A sondry god to whome they spradden Here armes of helpe besoughten Mynerue for the hede they soughten For she was wyse of a man The wytte reson that he can As in the celles of the brayn Wherof they made her souerayn Mercurye which was in his daweâ— A grete speker of fals lawes On hym the kepyng of the tonge They layde when they speke or songe For Bachus was a gloton eke Hym for the throte they byseke That he it wolde wasshen ofte With soote drynkes with softe The god of shulders of armes Was hercules for he in armes The myghiyest was to fyght To hym the â—ymmes they behyght The god whome they cleâ—â—n mart The brâ—â—t to kepe hath for his part For with the herte in his ymage That he adresse to his courage And of the galle the goddesse For she was ful of hastynesse Of wrath lyght to greue also They made sayd it was Iuno Cupyde whiche the brond of fyre Bare in his hond he was the syre Of the stomack whiche boyleth euer Wherof the lustes ben the leuer To the Goddesse Cereâ—es whiche of the corne yafe her encrees Vpon the feyth that tho was take The wombes cure was betake And Venus thorugh the lecherye For whiche they her deyfye She kept al doune the remenaunt The whiche be to thylke offyce appertenaÌ„unt Nota de prima Idolorum cultura que ex tribus precipue statuis exorta eÌ„ quarum prima fuit illa quam in filij sui memoriam quidam Panceps noiÌ„â— Cirophanes a Sculptore Promotheo fabricari constituit Thus was dyspers in sondry wyse The mysbyleue as I deuyse with many an Image of entaylle Of suche as myght not hem auayle For they withoute lyues chere Vnmyghty be to see or here Or speke or do or elles fele And yet the fooles to hem knele whiche is her owne hande werke A lord hou this byleue is derke And fer frâ— resonable wyt And netheles they done it yet That was this day a raggyd trâ— To morowe vpon his mageste Stant in the Temple wel beseyne How myght a mans reson seyne That suche a stok may helpe or greue But they be of suche byleue And vnto suche goddes calle It shal to hem ryght so byfalle And faylâ— hem at moost nede But yf the lyst to taken heede And of the fyrst Image wyte Petorynuâ— therof hath wryte And eke Nygagorus also And they afferme wryte so That promotheus was to fore And fonde the fyrst craft therfore And Cyre phanes as they tâ—lle Thurgh couÌ„scil which was take in hell In remembraunce of his lygnage Lete setten vp the fyrst Image Of Cyrophanes seyth the book That he for sorowe whiche he took Of that he sawe his sone dede Of comfort kne we none other rede But lete do make in remembraunce A fayre Image of his semblaunce And set it in the market place Whiche openly to fore his face Stood euery dâ—y to dene hym case And they that than wold please The fader shold it obeye When that they comen thylk weyâ— Staâ—nda siatua fuit illâ—â—uaÌ„ ad sui patris â—eli culture in Rex Ninus â—â—eri et adorari decreuit Etsic de nomiÌ„e â—â—li posica Bel Belzebub Idolum â—â—â—â—â—uit And of Ninus kyng of Assyvr Arede hou that in his Empyre â—e was noet after the second Of hem that fyrst Images found For he ryght in semblable caas Of Belus whiche hyr fader was From Nembroth in the ryght lyne Lete make of gold stones fyne A precyous Image ryche After his fader evenlyche And therupon a lawe he sette That euery man of pure dette With sacryfyce with truage Honour shold thylk Image So that within tyme it felle Of Belus cam the name of Belle Of Bel can Belsabub so The mysbyleue went tho Tercia statua fuit illa que ad honorem Apis Regis Grecorum sculpta fu it cui nomen postea Scrapis inponentes quasi deum pagani coluerunt The thyrd Image next to this When the kyng of Grece Apys Was dede they made a fygure In resemblaunce of his stature Of this kyng Apys seyth the book That Serapys his name took In whome thorugh long contynuauÌ„ce Of mysbyleue a grete creaunce They hadden and the reuerence Of sacryfyce and of encence To hym
they tretâ— And at last among the grete â–ª They fellen vnto his acord That Phorâ—eus of his record Whiche was an Astronomyen And eke a grete magycyen â–ª Shold of his calculacyon Serche after constellacyon Hou they the cyte myghten gete And he whiche had nought foryetâ— Of that belongeth to a clerk His study set vpon this werk So long aboute his wytte he cast Tyl that he fond outeâ—at last But yf they hadden Achylles Hereâ—werre shal be endeles And oner that he told hem pleyn In what manere he was byseyn And in what place he shal be founde Soo that within a lytel stounde Vlyxes forth with Dyomede Vpon this poynt to Lychomedâ— Agamen on to geder sent But vlyxes or he forth went Whiche was one of the moost wyse Ordeyned hath in suche a wyse That he the moost rychest aray Wherof a woman may be gay With hym he took manyfolde And ouermore as is told An harnoys for a lusty knyght Whiche burued was as syluer bryght Of swerde of plate eke of mayle As though he shold doo batayle He took also with hym by shyp And thus to geder in felaushyp Forth this Dyomede he In hope tyl they myghten see The place where Achylles is The wynde stood not than â—mys But euery topseyle cole it blewe Tyl Vlyxes the marches knewe Where Lychomede his regne had The styresman so wel hym lad That they be comen sauf to londe Where they gone oute vpon the stronde In to the burgh where that they fouÌ„d The kyng he whiche hath facounde Vlyxes dyd the message But the counseyl to his courage Why that he cam he told nought But vndernethe he was bethought In what maner he myght aspye Achilles from Deydamye And fro these other that there were Ful many a lusty lady there They pleyd them there a day or two And as it was fortuned so It fel that tyme in suche a wyse To Bachus that a sacryfyce These yong ladyes shold make And so the straunge mennes sake That come fro the syege of Troye They maden wel the more ioye There was reuel there was daunsyng And euery lyf whiche couthe syng Of lusty women in the route A fresshe carolle hath songe aboute But for al this netheles The grekes vnknowe of Achilles So weren that m no degre They â—outhen wyte whiche was he Ne by his voys ne by his paas Vlyxes than vpon this caas A thyng of high prudence hath wrouÈt For thylk aray whiche he hath bouÈt To yeue among the women there He letâ— do fetten al the gere Forth with a knyghtes harnoys eke In al a countre for to seke Men sholden nought a fayâ—er see And euery thyng in his degre Endelong vpon a boorde he leyde To Lychomede than he preyde That euery lady chesâ— sholde What thyng of al that she wold And take it as by wey of yefte For they hem self it shold shefte He sayde after her owne wylle Achylles than stood nought stylle When he the bryght helâ—e beheld The swerde the hauberk the shelde His hert felle therto anone Of al â–ª that other wold he none The knyghtes geâ—e he vnderfongeth And thylk array whiche that beloÌ„geth Vnto the women he forsoke And in this wyse as seyth the booke They knowen than whiche he was For he goth forth the grete paas In to the chambre where he lay Anone made no delay He armeth hym in knyghtely wyse That better can no man deuyse And as fortune sholde falle He cam forth to fore hem alle As he whiche tho was glad Inough But Lychomede no thyng lough When that he sawe how that it ferde And than he wyst wel herde His doughter had be forleyn But that he was so ouerseyn The wonder ouergoth his wyt For in Cronyke is wreton yet Thyng whiche shal neuer be foryete Hou that Achilles hath bygeâ—e Pyrrus vpon Deydamye Wherof cam oute the trecherye Of fals wytnes when they sayde Hou Achylles was a mayde But that was no thyng sene tho For he is to the syege go Forth with Vlyxes and Dyoinede Loo thus was proued m the dede And fully spoke at thylk whyle If one woman another begyle Where is there ony sekyrnesse When Thetys whiche was the goddesse Deydamye hath so beiaped I not hou it shal ben escaped With tho women whos Innocence Is now al day thorugh suche credence Deceyued ofte as it is sene With men that suche vntrouthe mene For they ben slye in suche a wyse That they by sleyghte by queyntyse Of fals wytnesse bryngen Inne That doth hem ofte for to wynne Where they be not worthy therw For thy my sone doo not soo My fader as of fals wytnesse The trouthe the maner expresse Touchend of loue hou it bath ferd As ye haue told I haue wel herd But for ye sayden otherwyse Hou thylk vyce of couetyse Hath yet periure of his acord If that thou lyst of som record To telle another tale also In loues cause of tyme ago What thyng it is to be forswore I wolde preye you therfore Wherof I myght ensample take My good sone for thy sake Touchand of this I shal fulfylle Thyn axyng at thyne owne wylle And the matere I shal declare How the women deceyued are When they so tender herbe be re Of that they here men so swere But when it cometh to thassay Ther fynde it fals another day As Iason dyde to Medee Whiche stant yet of auctoryte In tokne in memoryal Wherof the tale in specyal Is in the book of Troye wryte Whiche I shal do the for to wyte hIc in amoris causa ponit exemplum contra perinros Et narrat qualiter Iason priusquam ad Insulam col chos pro aureo vellere ibidem conquestando transmearet in amorem couiugium Regis Othonis filie iuramento firmius se astrinxit sed suo postea completo negocio cuÌ„ ipsaÌ„ secuÌ„ nauigio iÌ„ greciaÌ„ perduxisset vbi illa senectaÌ„ patris sui Esonis in floridam iuuentutem mirabili sciencia reformauit Ipse Iason fidei sue ligamento alijs que beneficijs post positis dictam Medeam pro quadam causa Regis Creontis filia periurus dereliquit IN grece whylome was a kyng Of whom the fame knoulechyng Byleueth yet peleus He hyghte but it felle hym thus That his fortune hyr whele so lad That he no chylde his owne had To regne after his decesse He had a broder netheles Who 's ryght name was Eson And he hath the worthy knyght Iason Bygoten in whiche in euery lond Al other passed of his hond In armes so that he the best Was named the worthyest He sought worshyp oueral Now herkne I the telle shal An auenture that he sought Whiche afterward ful dere he bought There was an Ile whiche Colchos Was cleped therof awos Grete speche in londe aboute That suche meruayle was none oute In al the wyde world nowhere As tho in that I
and to the world also He doth Reson to both the two The poure folk of his almesse Releued ben in distresse Of thurst of honger of colde The yeft of hym was neuer solde But frely yeue and netheles The myghty god of his encrces Reward hym of double grace The â—â—uen â—e doth hym to purchace And yeueth hym eke the worldis good And thus the cete for the hoode â—orgesse taketh yet no synne â—â—â—â—th bow so that euer he wynne What man hath horse men yeue hors And who none hath of hym no forâ— For he may than on foote goo Tâ—e world hath euer stond so But for to loken of the twey A man to go the syker wey Better is to yeue than to take With yeft a man may frendes make But who that taketh outher grete or small He taketh a charge forth with all And stant not fre till it be quyte So for to deme in mannes wyt It helpeth more a man to haue His owne good for to craue Of other men and make hym bonde Where els he may stonde vnbonde Seneca Si res tue tibi non sufficiunt fac vt rebus tuis sufficias Seneca counceyled in this wyse And seyth but yf thy good suffyce Vnto the lykyng of thy wylle Withdrawe thy lust and hold the stylle And be to thy good suffysaunt For that thynge is appertynaunt To trouthe causeth to be fre After the rule of charyte Whiche first begynneth of hym self For thou richest other twelf Wherof thou shalt thy self be pouer I not what thonk thou myght recoueâ— Whyle that a man hath good to yeâ—e With grete rentes he may leue And hath his frendes oneral And eueryche of hem telle shall The whiche he hath his ful pak They say a good felawe is Iack And whan it foyleth at the last Anone his pryce they ouercast For than is there none other lawe But Iak was a good felawe Whan they hym poure and nedy seâ— They lete hym passe fare wel he Al that he wende of companye Is than torned to folye But now to speke in other kynde Of loue a man may suche fynde That where they come in euery rowâ—â— They cast and wast hir loue aboute Tyl all her tyme is ouergone And than haue they loue none For who that loueth oueral It is no reson that he shal Of loue haue ony propyrâ—e For thy my sone auyse the If thou of loue hast ben to large For suche a man is not to charge And yf so be that thou hast Dyspended al thy tyme in wast And set thy loue in sondry place Though thou the substauÌ„ce of thy grace Lese at the last it is no wonder For he that put hym seluen vnder As who saith comyn ouer alle He leseth the loue specialle Of ony one yf she be wyse For loue shal not bere the pryse By reson when it passeth one So haue I sene many one That were of loue wel at ese Whiche after felle in grete dysese Thorugh wast of loue that they spent In sondry places where they went Ryght so my sone I aske of the If thou with prodegalyte Hast here or there thy loue wasted My fader nay but I haue tasted In many a place where I haue goo And yet loue I neuer one of tho But for to dryue forth the day For leueth well my herte is ay Withouten mo for euermore All vpon one for I no more Desyre but hir loue allone So make I many a pryue mone For wel I fele I haue dispended My long loue not amended My spede for ought I fynde yet If this be wast to youre wyt Of loue and prodegalyte Now good fader demeth ye But of one thyng I wyll me shrâ—â—â— That I shal for no loue thryue But yf hir self wyl me releue My sone that may wel I leue And netheles me semeth so For ought that thou bast yet mysdo Of tyme whiche thou hast myspendyd It may with grace be amendyd For thyng which may be worth the coâ—â— Per chaunce is newther wast ne loâ—â— â—â—â— what thyng stont in auenture That can no worldes creature Telle in certeyne how it shall ende Tyl he there of may see an ende So that I note as yet therfore If thou my sonne hast wonne or lore For oftyme as it is sene Whan somer hath lost al his grene And is with wynter wast bare That hym is left no thyng to spare Al is recouerd in a throwe The cold wynter is ouer blowe And styl ben the sharp showres And sodenly ayenst his flowres The somer happeneth is ryche And so per caas thy grace lyche My sone though thou be now pouer Of loue yet thou myght recouer My fader certes graunt mercy Ye haue me taught so redyly That euer whyle I lyue shall The better I may beware with all Of thyng whiche ye haue said or this But euermore how that it is Toward my shryft as it belongeth To wyte of other poyntes me longeth Wherof that ye me wolden teche With all my herte I yow byseche Explicit liber quintus Sequitur liber Sextus Incipit â—iter Sextus â— St gula quam nostrâ—m maculauit pama pâ—â—â—tum Ex veti to pomo quo do let omnis home Hec agit vt corpus anime contâ—ana spirat Quo cawsit crassa spâ—â—tuatâ—êª maâ—â—r Intus exterins si que vir tutis habentur Potibus ebrietas conuiaâ—ta â—uit â–ª Mersa sapore lebis que ba â—â—â—s inebriat hospes Indignata venus oscula caro premit hIc in sextu libro tractare intendit de illo capitali vicio quod gu la dicitur neâ— nen et eiusdem duabus soluÌ„ modo speciebns videlicet ebrietate delicacia ex quibus humane concupis â—nae oblectamentum habuÌ„dancius argumentatur tHe grete synne orygenal Whiche euery maÌ„ in gouernal Vpon his byrthe hath enemyed In paradys it was mystymed When Adam of thylk Appel bote His swete morcelle was so hote Whiche dedely made the kynde In the bookes as I fynde This vyce whiche so oute of rule Hath set vs al is cleped gule Of the whiche the brauÌ„ches ben so grete That of hem all I wol not irete But only as touchyng to two I thynke to speke of no mo Wherof the fyrst is dronkeship Whiche bereth the cuppe felauship Ful many a wonder doth that vyce He can of a wyseman make a nyce And of a foole that hym shal seme That he can al the lawe deme And yeue euery Iugement Whiche longeth to the fyrmament Bothe of the sterreâ— of the mone And â–ª thusâ— maketh a gret clerk soone Of hym that is a lewde man There is no thyng that he ne can Whyle he hath dronkeship on honde He knoweth the see he knoweth the loÌ„de He is a noble man of armes And yet no strengthe is in his armes There he was strong ynowe to fore With dronkeship it is forlore And al is chaunged his estate And wexeth anone soo feble and maâ—e
hath his herte set He lede neuer to fare bet Ne wyte of other heuen more My sone yf thou of suche a lore Hast ben or thie I rede the leue Amans My holy fader by youre leue Of al that ye haue spoken here Whiche tâ—uchith vnto this matere To telle the soothe right as I wene I wote not one word what ye mene I wille not sey yf that I couthe That I nold in my lusty youthe Binethe in helle eke aboue To wyn with my lady loue Done al that euer that I myght For therof haue I none insight Where afterward that I bycome So that I wynne ouercome Hir loue whiche I coueyte My sone that gothe wonder streyte For this I may wel telle soothe There is noman whiche so doth For al the craft that he can cast That he ne byeth it at the last For ofte he that wol begyle Is gyled with the same gyle And thus the gylour is begyled I fynde in a book compyled To this matere an old hystorye Whiche cometh now to memorye And is of grete ensamplerye Ageynst the vyce of sorcerye Wherof none ende may be good But whylome how therof stood A tale whiche is good to knowe To the my sone I shal beknowe Nota hic contra istos ob amoris causam sortologos vbi narrat Exemplum quod cum Vlixes a subuersione Troie repatriare nanigio voluisset ipsum in Insula Cilli vbi illa expertissima ma ga nomine Cyrces regnauit coÌ„tigit applicuisse quem vt in sui amoris concupiscenciam exardesceret Circes oÌ„nibus suis incaÌ„tacionibus vincere conabatur Vlixes tamen Magica potencior ipsam in amore subegit Ex qua filium nomine thelogonum genuit qui postea patrem suum interfecit et sic contra fidei naturam geâ—â—tus contra generacionis naturam patricidium operatus est â— MoÌ„ges whiche at Troye were Vlixes at the syege there Was one by name in special Of whome yet the memoryall Abydeth for whyle ther is a mouthe For euer his name shal be couthe He was a worthy knyght and kyng And clerk knowyng of euery thyng He was a grete rethoryen He was a grete magycyen Of tullius the Rethoryk Of kyng Zorastes the magyke Of tholome the Astronomye Of plato the philosophye Of danyel the slepy dremes Of neptune eke the water stremes Of Salamon the prouerbis Of mater at the strengthe of herbes And the phisike of ypocras And lyche vnto pyctagoras Of surgerye he knewe the cures But somwhat of his auentures Whiche to my mater shal acorde To the my sone I wylle recorde This kyng of whiche thou hast herd seyne From Troye as he goth home ageyne By ship he found the see dyuerse With many wyndy storme reuerse But he thorugh wysedom that he shapeth Ful many grete perylle he escapeth Of whiche I thynk telle one How that mangre the nedel stone Wynde dryue he was al sodenly Vpon the strondes of Cylly Where that he must abyde a whyle Two quenes weren in that yle Calypha named aud Cyrces And when they herd how Vlixes Is londed therupon the Ryue For hym they senden also blyue With hym suche as he wold name And to the Courte to hem he came The quenâ—s weren as two goddesses Of art magyke sorceresses That what lord cometh to that ryuage They make hym loue in suche a rage That vpon hem assote soo That they wol haue oâ—â— that he goâ— Al that he hath of worldes good â—lixes wel this vnderstood They couthe moche he couthe more They shape cast ayenst hym sore And wrought many a subtyle wyle But yet they myght hym not â—egy But of the men of his nauye They two forshope a grete partye May none of hem withstond her hestes Some parte they shopen in to beestes Some parte they shopen in to fowles To beres tygres apes and oules Or els by some other way There myght no thyng hem disobeye Suche crafte they had aboue kynde But that arte couthe they not fynde Of whiche Vlixes was deceyued That he ne hath hem all weyued And broughte hem in to suche a rote That vpon hym they both assote And thurgh the scyences of his arte He took of hem so wel his parte That he bigate Cyrces with childe He kept hym sobre made hym wyld He set hym self so aboue That with hir good with hir loue Who that therof be leef or lothe Al quyte in to his ship he gothe Cyrces to swelle bothe sides He lefte wayted on the tydes And streyght thorugh the salt fome He taketh his cours cometh home Where as he fonde penelope A better wyf there may none be And yet there ben ynowe of good But who hir goodlyship vnderstood Fro first she wyfehode tooke How many loues she forsoke And how she bare hir al aboute Ther whyles that hir lord was oute Sâ—e myght take grete auaunt Amonges all the remenaunt That she was one of all the rest Wel myght he set his herte in rest This kyng whan he fouÌ„d hir al in bele For as he couthe in wysedom dele So couthe she in womanhede And when she sawe withoute drede Hir lord vpon his owne ground That â—e was come sauf and sonude In al the world ne myght be A gladder woman than was she The fame whiche may not be hydde Thorugh oute the lond is sone kydde â—ir kyng is come home ageyne There may no man the ful seyne How that they weren al glade So mechâ—â—â—oye of hem they made Tâ—◠〈…〉 euery day â—e newed He was with gyftes al be sewed The peple was of hym so glade Tâ—â—t â—â—â—ugh none other maÌ„ hym bade Tâ—â—â—ge vpon hem self they sette And as it were of pure dette Tâ—â—y yâ—ue her goodes to the kyng This was a glad welhome comyng Thus both Vlyxes what he wold His wyf was suche as she sholde His peple was to hym subiect As they shold be withoute lette But fortune is of suche a sleyght That whan a man is moost of myght Sâ—â— maketh hym rathest for to falle There no man wote what shall befalle The happes ouer mannâ—â— hede Bâ—â— hanged with a tendre threde That proued was on Vlyxes For whan he was moost in his pâ—â—s For 〈◊〉 sone gan to meke hym werre And set hie welthe oute of herre Vpon a day as he was mery As 〈…〉 there myÈt hym no thynge 〈…〉 when nyght was come â–ª he goth to â—â—dde with slâ—pe bothe his â—yen fedde And whyle he slepte he met a sweuen Hym thought he sawe a statue euen Whiche bryghter than sonne shenâ— A man it semeth was it none But as it was in fygure Moost lyche to mannes creature But as of beaute henenlyche It was moost to an Aungel lyche And thus bytwene Angel and man Beholden it this kyng began And suche a lust took of the syght That fayne he wold yf that he myght The forme of that figure embrace And goth hym forth toward the place Where
tho Vnto Vlixes all the caas How that Cyrces his moder was And so forth seid hym euery dele How that his moder grete hym wele And in what wyse she hym sent Tho wist Vlixes what it ment And tooke gym in his armes softe And al bledyng kyst hym ofte And said sone whyles I lyue This infortune I the foryeue After his other sone in hast He sente he bigan hym hasâ—s And cam vnto his fader tyâ—e But when he saw hym in suche plyte He wold haue ronnen vpon that other Anone slayne his owne broder Ne had ben that Vlixes Bitwene hem made acord peâ—s And to his heyre thelamacus He had that he Thelogonus With al his power shold kepe Till he were of his woundes depe Al hole and than he shold hym yâ—â—â— Londe where vpon to lyue Thelamacus when he this herde Vnto his fadâ—â— he answerd And said he wold done his wylle So dwellen they to geder stylle These bretheren and the fader sterueth Lo wherof sorcery serueth Thorugh sorcerye his lust he wan Thorugh sorcery his wo bygan Thorugh sorcerye his loue he chese Thorugh sorcerye his lyf he lese The child was getâ— in sorcerye Whiche dyd all this felonye Thyng which was ayene kynde wroÈt Vnkyndely it was bought The child his owne fader slough That was vnkyndeship ynough For thy take heede how that it is So for to wynne loue amys Whiche endeth â—l his ioye in wo For al this arte I fynde also That hath be doâ— for loues sake Where thou myght ensample take A grete Cronycle Emperyall Whiche euer in memoryall Among the men how so it wende Shal dwelle vnto the worldes ende Hic nâ—rrâ—t Exemplum quâ—â—â—ter Nectanabus ab Egiptâ— in Macedoniam fugitiâ—â—s Olimpiadem philippi re gis ibidem tunc absentis vxorem arte magiâ— decipâ—ens câ—m ipsa concubuitâ— magnum quam ex ea Alexandrum sortelogus genuit qui natus pâ—stea cum ad erudiendum sub custodia Nectanabi patrem suum ab altitudine cuiusdam turris in fossam profundam percipiens interfecit Et sic sortilâ—gus ex suo sortilegio infortunij sortem sortitus est tHe hye Creatoure of thynges Whiche is kyng of al kynges Ful many worldes chaunce Lâ—te slyde vnder his sufferaunce There wote noman the cause why But he whiche is al myghty And that proued whilome thus When that the kyng Nectanabus Whiche had Egypte for to lede But for he sey before the dede Thorugh magyke of his sorcerye Wherof he couthe a grete partye His enemyes to hym comende Fro whome he myght not hym defende Oute of his owne londe he fledde And in the wyse as he hym dredde It felle for al his wytchecraft So that Egypte was hym beraft And he desguysed fledde awey By ship held the ryght wey To Macedoyne where that he Arâ—yueth at the chyef Cyte Thre yomen of his Chambre there All only for to serue hym were The whiche he trusteth wonder wele For they were trewe as ony stele And hapneth that they with hym lad Parte of the best good he had They toke lodgyng in the towne After the disposicioun Where as hym thought best to dwelle He axeth than herd telle How that the kyng was oute go Vpon a werre he had tho But in that cyte than was The quene whiche Olympias Was hoote with solempnyte The feste of hir natyuyte As it be fell was than holde And for hir lust to biholde And prayd of the people aboute She shope hir for to ryde oute And after mete al openly Anone were al men redy And that was in the Monethe of may This lusty quene on good aray Was set vpon a mule whyte To sene it was a grete delyte The ioye that the Eyte made With fresshe thynges with glade The noble tâ—une was al behonged And euery wyght was sore alonged To sâ—e this lusty lady ryde There was grete myrthe on euery side Where as passeth by the strete Thâ—re was full many tymbre bete And many a mayde carolyng And thus thurgh out that tâ—un playeng This quene vnto a pleyne rode Where that she houed and abode To see dyuerse gâ—me pley The lusty folk Iust and torney And so forth euery other man Whiche play couthe â—is playe bigan To plese with this noble quene Nectanabus came to the grene Amonges other drough hym nyghe But when that he this lady syghe And of hir beaute hede tooke He â—â—uthe not withdrawe his loke To see nought elles in the felde But stood only hir biheld Of his clothyng of his chere He was al vnlyche other there So that it hapneth at the last The quene vpon hym hir eye cast And knewe that he was sâ—rauÌ„ge anone But he biheld hir euer in one Withoute blemysshyng of his cheere She took good â—ede of hâ—s manere And wondreth why he dyd so And bad men sheld for hym goo He came dyd hir reuerence And she axeth in sylence From whome he came what he wold And he with sobre wordes told And seyth madame a Clerke I am To yow and in message I cam The whiche I may not tellen here But yf it lyke yow to here It must be said al pryuely Where none shal be but ye and I Thus for the tyme he tooke his leue The day goth forth till it was eue That euery man mote lete his werk And she thought euer vpon this clerk What thyng it is that he wold mens And in this wyse abode the quene It passeth ouer thylk nyght Till it was on the moro we lyght She send for hym and he came With hym his Astrolahe he name Whiche was of fyne gold precious With poyntes and cercles merueylous And eke the heuenly fygures Wronght in a book full of peyntures He took this lady for to shewe And told of eche of hem by rewe The cours and the condycyon And she with grete affectyon Sate stylle herd what he wold And thus when he seeth tyme he told And feyneth with his wordes wyse A tale and seyth in suche a wyse Madame but a whyle agoo Where I was in Egypte tho And radde in scole of this scyence It felle in to my conscyence That I in to the temple went And there with all my hole entent As I my sacryfice dede One of the goddes hath me â—edâ— That I yow warne pryuely So that ye make yow redy And that ye be no thyng agaste For he suche loue hath to yow cast That ye shall ben his owne dere And he shall be youre bedfere Til ye conceyue be with child And with that word â–ª she wex al myldâ— And somdele bicame for shame And axrth hym that goddes name Whiche so wol done her companye And he seid amos of luby And she said that may I not leue But yf I see a better preue Madame quod Nectanabus In token that it shal be thus This nyght for enformacion Ye shall hane a vysyon That Amos shall to
shall specyfye So as the philosophre told Now herken kepe that thou it holde Prima creatorem dat scire sciencia summi Qui capit agnoscit sufficit illud ei â–ª Plura vires quaÌ„doqÈ iuuat nescire set illud Qd videt ex pediens sobrius ille sapit Hic tractat de prima parte philosophie que theorica dicitur cuius natura triplici dotata est sciencia scilicet Theologia Phisica et Mathematica Set primo illam partem Theoryce declarabit t F Theoryk pryncipalle The philosopher in specialle The propyrtees hath determyned And thylk whiche is enlumyned Of wysedom of hyhe prudence Abone al other in his scyence And stant experte vpon thre The first of whiche in his degree Is cleped in philosophye The scyence of Theologye That other named is phisik The thyrd is seid Mathematyk Theologye is that scyence Whiche vnto man yeueth euydence Of thyng whiche is not bodely Wherof men knowen redyly The hyhe almyghty trynyte Whiche is one god in vnyte Withouten ende and begyunyng And creatoure of al thyng Of heuen of erthe and eke of helle Wherof as olde bookes telle The philosophre in his reson Wrote vpon his conclusion And of his wrytynge in a clause He cleped god the first cause Whiche of hym self this ylke goode Withouten whome is nothyng good Of whiche that euery creature Hath his beyng his nature After the beyng of the thynges There ben the formes of beynges Nota qd triplex est essencia prima temporalis que incipit et desinit Secunda perpetuo que incipit et noÌ„ desinit Tercia sempiterna que nec incipit nec desimt Thyng whiche bygan and ende shal That thyng to cleped temporall There is also by other wey Thyng which bigan shall not deye As sowles that ben spirituell Here beyng is perpetuel But there is one aboue the sonne Whoos tyme was neuer bigonne And endeles shal euer be That is the god whoo 's mageste Al other thynges shall gouerne And his beyng is sempyterne The god to whome al honoure Belongeth he is creatoure And other ben his creatures The god commaunded the natures That they to hym obeyen alle Withouten hym what soo bifalle Here myght is none he may alle The god was ener euer shalle And they begonne of his assent The tymes al be present To god and to hem al vnknowe But what hym lyketh that they know Thus bothe an Angel and man The whiche of al that god hygan Be chyef obeyen to goddes myght And he stont endeles vp ryght To this seyence ben pryue The clerkes of dyuynyte The whiche to the peple prechen The feythe of hooly chirche and techen Whiche in one caas of bileue Stant more than they conne preue By wey of argument sensyble But netheles it is credyble And doth a man grete mede haue To hym that thynketh hym self to saue Theology in suche a wyse Of hyhe seyence and hyhe pryse Aboue al other stant vnlyke And is the first of theoryk Nota de secunda parte Theoryce que Phisica dicitur â–ª Phisike is after the second Thurgh which the philosophre hath foÌ„de To techen sondry knowbechynges Vpon the lodelyche thynges Of man of beest of erthe of stone Of fisshe of fowle of euerychone That ben of dedely substaunce The nature and the circumstaunce Thorugh this scyence it is ful softe Which vaileth not which vaileth ofte Nota de tercia parte Theorice que Mathematica dicitur cuius condicio quatuor in se continet intelligencies scilicet Ausmetricam Musicam Geometriam et Astronomiam Sed primo de Ausmetrice natura dicere intendit tHe third poynt of Theoryk Whiche cleped is Mathematyk Deuyded is in soudry wyse And stant vpon dyuerse appryse The first of whiche is ars metryk And the second is said Musik The thyrd is eke gemetrye Also the fourth astronomye Of ars metryk the matere Is that of whiche a man may lere What Algarysme in nombre amouÌ„teth When that the wyse man acompteth After the formuel propyrte Of Algarysmes A b c By whiche mnltyplycacion Is made and deuysyon Of sommes by experyence Of this arte this scyence â–ª Nota de Musica que secunda pars artis Mathematice dicitur The second of Mathematyk Whiche is the scyence of Musik That techeth vpon armony A man to make melody By voyce soune and InstruÌ„ment Thorugh notes of acordement The whiche men pronounce alofte Now sharp notes now softe Now hye notes now lowe As by gammuth a man may knowe Whiche techeth the prolacion Of note and the condycion Nota de tercia specie artis Mathematice quam geometriam vocant Mathematik of his scyence Hath the thyrd ntellygence Ful of wysedom and of clergy And cloped is Geometye Thorugh which a maÌ„ hath thylk sleiÈt Of length of brede of depth of heyÈt To knowe the proporcion Of very calculacion Of this scyence in this wyse As these old philosophres deuyse Of al this worldes erthe round How large how thyk was the grouÌ„d Contryued by this experyence The Cercle and the circumference Of euery thyng vnto the heuen They setten poynte mesure euen Mathematik aboue the erthe Of hye scyence aboue the ferth Whiche speketh vpon Astronomye And techeth of the sterres hyhe Begynnyng vp ward fro the mone But first as it was for to done This Aristotles in other thyng Vnto this worthy yong kyng The kynde of euery element Whiche stonden vnder the firmament How it is made and in what wyse Fro poynt to poynt he can deuyse Quatuor omnipotens elementa creauit origo Quatuor et venti partibus ora dabat Nostra qâ— quadruplici coÌ„plexis sorte creatur Corpore sic qy suo stat variatus homo Hic interim tractat de creacione qua tuor elementorum scilicet terre Aque aeris et ignis Nec non et eorum naturis nam et singÌ„ulis proprietates singule attribuuntur tO fore the creaÌ„cion Of ony worldes stacion Of heueÌ„ of erth eke of helles So as these olde bookes telles As sone to fore the songe is set And yet to geder knyt Ryght so the hyghe purueaunce Tho had vnder his ordynaunce A grete substaunce a grete matere Of whiche he wold in his manere This other thyng make and forme For yet withouten ony storme Was that mater vnyuersall Whiche his ylem in special Of Ilem as I am enformed These elementes ben made fourmed Of ylem elementes they hote After the scole of Aristote Of whiche yf more I shal reherce Foure elementes there ben dyuerse Nota de terra quod est primum elementum The first of hem erthe men calle Whiche is the lowest of them alle And in his forme is shape round Substancialle stronge sadde sounde As that whiche made is suffysaunt To bere alle the remenaunt For as the poynte in a compas Stant euen amyddes ryght so was This erthe set shal abyde That it may swerue to no
what thyng is vycyoâ—â—s Touchyng for that lawe There may no maner man withdrawe The whiche Veneryen is bore By wey of kynde and therfore Venus of loue the goddesse Is cleped but of wantonnesse The clymate of hir lecherye Is moost comune in lumbardye Nota de sole qui medio planetaram residens Astrorum principatum obtinet Next vnto the planetes of loue The bryght sonne stont aboue Whiche is the hynderer of the nyght And fâ—rthereth of the dayes lyght As he whiche is the worldes â—ye Thorugh whome the lusty companye Of fowles by the morolâ—e synge The fresshe floures sprede and spryng The hye tree the ground beshadeth And euery mans herte gladeth For it is the hede planete Now that he sytteth in his sete Of what rychesse and what nobleye These bookes telle and thus they seye Nota de curru solis necnon de eius dem apparatu oF gold glispering spole whele The sonne his carte hath fayr we le In which he sytteth is coroned With bryght stones enuyroned Of whiche yf that I speke shal There be to fore in specialle Set in the frounte of his corone Hâ—â— stones whiche no persone Hath vpon erthe and the fyrst is By name cleped Lycuthis That other two ben cleped thus Astryces and Seramyus In his Corone also behynde By old bookes as I fynde There ben of worthy stones thre Set eche of his degre Wherof a Cristal is that one Whiche that Coroune it set vpone The second is an admaunt The thyrd is noble and aduenaunt Whiche cleped is ydryates And ouer this yet netheles â—oâ—â—n the sydes of the werk After the wrytyng of the clerk There syt â— stones â—â—o The smaragdyne is one of tho â—osâ—â—s and Elithropius And dendydes and Iacinctus Loo thus the Corowne is byset Wherof it shyneth wel the bet And in suche wyse his lyght to sprede Syt with his Dyademe on his hede The sonne shynyng in his carte And for to lede hym swythe smarte After the bryght dayes lawe There ben ordeyned for to drawe Four horses his chare hym with all Wherof the names telle I shall Ertheus the first is hote The whiche is tede shynyng hote The second acteos the bryght Lampes the thyrde hors hyght And philogeus is the ferth That bryngeth lyght in to this erthe And gone so swyft vpon the heuen In foure twenty houres euen The carte with the bryght sonne They drawe so that ouer ronne They haue vnder the Cercles hyghe Al myddel erthe in suche an hyghe And thus the sonne is oueral The chyef planete Imperiall Aboue hym and bynethe hym thre And thus bitwene tweyne renneth he As he that hath the myddel place Among the seuen of the face Be glad al erthely creatures And taken after the natures Here ease and recreacion And in his Constellacion He that is bore in speciall Of good wylle of lyberall He shalle â—e founde in al place And also stonden in myddel grace Toward the lordes for to serue And grete profyte thonke deserue Aud ouer that it causeth yet A man to be subtyle of wytte To worche in gold to be wyse In euery thyng that is of pryse But for to speken in what Coost Of al this erthe he regneth moost As for wysedom it is in grece Where is appropred thylke spece Nota de quinta planeta que mars dicitur Mars the planete batayllous Next to the sonne glorious Aboue stant doth meruaylles Vpon the fortune of batayles The Conquerours by dayes olde Were vnto this planete holde But who that his natyuyte Hath taken vpon the propyrte Of Martes disposicion By weye of constellacion He shall be fers and ful hastyf And desirous of werre and strif But for to telle redyly In what clymate moost contynuelly That this planete hath his affect Said is that he hath his aspect Vpon the hooly londe so cast That there is no pees stedfaste Nota de sexta planeta que Iubiter dicitur Aboue mars vpon the heuen The sixthe planete of the seuen Stant Iubiter he delycate Whiche causeth pees and no debate For he is cleped that planete Whiche of his kynde cold heete Attempreth all that to hym longeth And whom this planete vnderfongeth To stonde vpon his rayment He shall be meke and pacyent And fortunate to marchaundye And lusty to delycacye In euery thyng whiche he shal dâ— This Iubiter is cause also Of the scyence of highe werkes And in this wyse tellen clerkes He is the planete of delyces But in Egypt of his offices He renneth moost in specialle For there be lustes oueralle Of al that to this lyf befalleth For there no stormy weder falleth Whiche myght greue man or beest And â—â—e the londe is so honest That it is plentyuous and pleyne There is no ydell ground in veyne And vpon suche felycite Stant Iubiter in his degre De septima planeta que reliquis celcior Saturuus dictus est The hyest and abouen alle Stant the planete whiche men calle Saturnus whos complexion Is cold and his condicion Causeth malyce and cruelte To hym whoo 's natyuyte Is set vnder his gouernaunce For al his werkes ben greuaunce And enemy to mans hele In what degre that he shalle dele His clement is the oryent Where that he is moost vyolent Of the planetes by by How that they stonde vpon the sky Fro poynt to poynt as thou myÈt here Was Alysander made to lere But ouer this touchyng his lore Of thyng that they hym taught more Vpon the scoles of Clergy Now herken the philosophy Postquam dictum est de septem planetâ—s quibus sigule septimane dies sin gulariter attitulantur dicendum est â—aÌ„ de duodecim signis per quem duodecim meÌ„ses anni varijs temporibus effectus varijs assecuutur He whiche departed day fro nyght That one derk that other lyght Of seuen dayes made a wyke A moneth of foure wekes eke He hath ordeyned in his lawe Of monethes xij eke forth drawe He hath also the long yere And as he sette of his powere Accordaunt to the dayes seuen Planetes seuen vpon the heuen As thou to fore host herde deuyse To speke right in suche a wyse To euery moneth by hym selue Vpon the heuen of signes twelue He hath after his ordynalle Assigned one in specialle Wherof so as I shall reherce The tydes of the yere dyuerse But pleynly for to make it knowe How that the signes set arowe Eche after other by degre In substaunce and in propyrte The ydyote comprehendeth Within his Cercle it appendeth Nota hic de primo signo quod Aries diatur cuius meÌ„sis specialiter mar 〈◊〉 appropriatus est Quo deus in primo produxit adesse creata The whiche of the fyrst netheles By name is cleped Aryes Whiche lyche a wether of stature Resembled is in his figure And as it is seyd in almageste Of sterres twelue vpon the beste Bene set wherof in his degre The wâ—â—e
cleped in philosophy Wherof touchyng this party Is Rethoryke the scyence Appropred to the reuerence Of wordes that ben resonable And for this arte shalle be vaylable With goodly wordes for to lyke It hath grammer it hath logyke That seruen bothe vnto the speche Gramer hath first for to teche To speke vpon congruyte Logyke hath eke in his degre Bitwene the trouthe and the falshede The pleyne wordes for to shede So that no thynge shal goo beside That he the right shall not decyde Wherof full many a grete debate Reformed is to good estate And pees susteyned vpon lofte With easy wordes and with softe Where strengthe shold lete it falle The philosophre amonges alle For they commenden this scyence Whiche hath the rewle of eloquence In stone and gras vertu ther is But yet the bookes tellen this That worde about al erthely thynges Is vertuous in his doynges Where so it be euylle or good For yf the wordes semen good And ben wel spoke at mannes ere Whan that there is no trouthe there They done ful ofte ful grete deceyte For when the word to the conceyte Discordeth in so double wyse Suche Rethoryke is to despyse In euery place and for to drede For Plyxes thus I rede And in the booke of Troye is founde His eloquence and his faconde Of goodly wordes whiche he told Hath made that Anthenor hym sold The towne whiche he with treson wan Worde hath begyled many a man With word the wyld beest is dauÌ„ted With worde the serpent is enchaunted Of worde amonge the men of armes Ben woundes heled with the charmes Wordes ben vertuous and fyne Where lacketh other medycyne Of sorcery the carectes The wordes ben of sondry sectes Of euylle and eke of good also The wordes maken frende and foo Of foo a frende and pees of werre And werre of pees and oute of herre The word the worldes cause entryketh And reconcyleth whome hym lyketh The word vnder the cope of heuen Set euery thynge or odde or euen With word the hyhe god is plesyd With worde the worldes ben apesed The softe worde the lowde stylleth Where lacketh good that word futfylloth To make amendes for the wronge Whan wordes medlen with the songe It doth plesaunce wel the more But for to loke vpon this lore How Tullius his Rethoryke Compouneth there a man may pyke How that he shalle his wordes set How he shalle loose how he shall knet And in what wyse he shall pronounce His tale pleyne withoute frounce Wherof ensample yf thou wylt seche Take hede and rede whiâ—ome the speche Nota de eloquencia Iulij in causa Cateline contra Tilenum et alios tunc vrbis Romane continentes oF Iulius and Cithero Which consul was of rome tho Of Caton eke and Tillene Beholde the wordes hem bit wene When the treson of Catelyne Discouered was and the couyne Of hem that were of his assent Was knowe and spoke in parlement And asked how and in what wyse Men shold done hem to Iewyse Cillenus first his tale tolde And as he was to trouthe beholde The comyn proufite for to saue â–ª He said treson shold haue A cruel deth â–ª and thus they speke The consull bothe Caton eke And saiden that for suche a wronge There may no peyne be to strong But Iulius with wordes wyse His tale told al other wyse As he whiche wold his deth respite And foundeth how he myght excyte The Iuges thorugh his eloquence Fro dethe to torne the sentence And set hir hertes to pyte Now tolde they now cold he They speken playne after the lawe But he the wordes of his sawe Coloured in another wey Spekyng and thus bitwene the swey To trece vpon this Iugement Made eche of hem his argument Wherof the tales for to lere There may a man the scole here Of Rethoryke the eloquence Whiche is the second of scyence Touchyng to philosophye Wherof a man shalle justifye His wordes in disputacion And knytt vpon conclusion His argument in suche a forme Which may the pleyne trouth enforme And the subtile cautele abate Whiche euery trewe man shalle debate Peacticat quemqÈ statum pars tercia philosophie Ad regimen recte donec in orbe vie Set quanto maior rex est tanto magis ipsum â–ª Ex scola concernit qua sua regna regat Hic tractat de tercia parte philosophie que practica vocatur â–ª cuius species sunt tres scilicet Ethica Iconomia et policia quarum doctrina regia inagestas in suo regimine ad honoris magnificenciam per singula dirigitur tHe first whiche theoryk And the second Rethoryke Scyences of philosophy I haue hem tolde as in party So as the philosophre it told To Alysander and now I wold Telle of the thirdde what it is The whiche practyke cleped is Practyke stant vpon thre thynges To ward the gouernaunce of kynges Wherof the first Etyke is named The whoo 's seyence stant proclamed To trehe of vertu thylke rule How that a kynge hym self shal rule Of his moral condicion With worthy disposicion Of good lyuyng in his persone Whiche is the chyef in his corone It maketh a kyng also to lerne How he his body shall gouerne How he shalle wake how he shall slepe How that he shalle his he le kepe In mete in drynke in clothynge eke There is no wisedome for to seke As for the reule of his persone Whiche this scyence al one Ne techeth as by wey of kynde That there nothyng leue behynde That other poynt whiche to practyke Belongeth to Iconomyke Whiche techeth thylke honeste Thorugh whiche a kynge in his degre His wyf and child shalle rule gy So ferforth all the company Whiche in his houshold shold abyde And his estate on euery syde In suche manere for to lede That he his houshold not myslede Practyke hath yet the thyrdde appryse Whiche techeth how and in what wyse Thorugh hyhe purueyed ordynaunce A kynge shalle set in gouernannce His reame and that is pollycye Whiche longeth vnto regalye In tyme of werre in tyme of pees To worship and to god encrees Of clerke of knyght of Marchaunte And so forth of the remenaunt Of all the comyn peple aboute Within borgh and eke withoute Of hem that ben artificers Whiche vsen craft and mysters Whoo 's arte is cleped Mathematyke And though they be not all lyke Yet neuertheles how so it falle One lawe mote gouerne hem alle Or that they lese or that they wyn After the state that they ben in Loo thus the worthy yong kyng Was fully laught of euery thyng Whiche myght yeue entendement Of good rule and of good regemâ—t Is suche a worthy prynce as he But of verry necessite The philosophre hym hath bitake Fyue poyntes which he hath vndertaâ—e Toke and hold in obseruaunce â—fore the worthy gouernaunce Whiche longeth to his regalye After the rule of polycye Moribus ornatus regit hic qui regâ—â— moderna Tercius exspectat cepâ—â—â—
for vengeaunce as god it wolde Antyochus as men may wyte With fire lyghtenyng is al to smyte His doughter hath the same chaunce So ben they bothe in one balaunce For thy our lyege lord we the seye In name of al the londe and preye That lefte al other thynge to done It lyke you to come sone And see your owne lyege men With other that ben of your ken That lyuen in longyng desyre Tyl ye be come ageyn to tyre This tole after the kyng it had Pentapolyn al ouer it sprad There was no ioye for to seche For euery man it had in speche And sayden al of one acoorde A worthy kyng shal ben our lorde That thouÈt vs first an heuynesse Is shape vs now to grete gladnesse Qualiter appollino cum vxore sua imprignata a pentapoli versus tyrum nauigantiê° contigit vxorem mortis artiaâ—â— angustiatam in naui filiam que postea thaysies vocabatur patere tThus goeth the tydyng ouer al But nede he must that nede shal Appollynus his leue took To god he al that bonde bytook With al the peple longe brode That he no lenger there abode The kyng quene sorow made But yet somdele they were glade Of suche thynge as they herde tho And thus bytwene the we le woo To shyp he goeth his wyf with childe The which was euer meke mylde And wold not departe hym fro Suche loue was bytwene hem two Lycho rida for hir offyce Was take which was a norice To wende with this yonge wyf To whom was shape a wooful lyf Within a tyme as it betyd When they were in the see amyd Out of the northe they see a cloude The storme awos the wyndes loud They blewen many a dredesul blaste The welken was al ouer caste The derke nyght the sonne hath vnder Ther was a grete tempest of thondre The mone eke the sterres bothe In blacke clowdes they hem clothe Wherof their bright loke they hyde This yonge lady wepte cryde To whom no comforte myght auayle Of chylde she began to trauayle Where she laye in a caban choos This wooful lord fro hir awos And that was longe or ony morowe So that in anguysshe in sorowe She was delyuerd al by nyght And dede in euery mannes syght But nethelesse for al this woo A mayde chylde was boren tho Qualiter appollinus mortem vxoris sue planxit Appollynus when he thys kuewe A swowne he hym self ouerthrewe That no man wyst in hym no lyf And when he woke he said a wyf My ioye my lust my desyre My welth my recoueryre Why shal I lyue thou shalt dye Ha thou fortune I the defye Now hast thou do to me thy werste A herte why ne wyl thou breste That forth with hir I myght passe My paynes were moche the lasse In suche wepyng suche crye His dede wyf which laye hym bye A thousand sythes he hir kyste Was neuer man that sawe ne wyste A sorowe to his sorowe lyche Was euer emonge vpon the lyche He fyl swownyng as he that thouÈt His owne deth which he besought Vnto the goddes al aboue With many a pytous worde of loue But suche wordes as tho were Herde neuer no mannes eere But onely thylke which he sayed The mayster shypman came prayed With other suche as ben therin And sayn that he may no thyng wyn Ageyn the deth but they hym rede He be wel ware take hede The see by weye of his nature Receyue may no creature Within hym self as for to holde The which is dede for thy they wolde As they counceyllen al aboute The deed body casten oute For better it is they sayden alle That it of hir so byfalle Than yf they sholden al spylle The kyng which vnderstode her wylle And knewe her counceyl was trewe Began ageyn his sorowe newe With pytous herte thus to seye It is al reson that ye preye Qualiter suadentibuâ— nautis corpus vxoris sue mortue in quadam cista plumbo et ferro obtusa circumligata apoolinus cum magno thesauro vna cuÌ„ quadam littera sub eius capite scripta reludi in mari proiti fecit IAm ad he but one allone So wold I not for my persone There fel suche aduersite But whan it may no better be Doth than thus vpon my worde â—ete make a coofere stronge of borde That it be fyrme with lede pytche Anone was made his coofre suche Al redy brought vnto his honde And whan he sawe redy fonde This cooffre made wel englued The deed body was besewed In cloth of golde leyed therin And for he wold vnto hir wyn Vpon somme coste a sepulture Vnder hir heed in aduenture Of golde he leyed sommes grete And of Iuels stronge byyete Copia littere capiti vxoris sue supposite Forthwith a lettre said thus Kyng of tyre Appollynus Doeth al men to wyte That heereth seeth this lettre wryte That helpeles without rede Here lâ—eth a kynges doughter dede And who that happeth hir to fynde For charite take in his mynde And do so that she begraue With that tresour that she haue Thus whan the lettre was ful spoke A none they haue the coofre sâ—oke And bounden it with yron faste So that it may with wawes laste And stoppen it by suche a weyâ— That it shal be within dreye So that no water myght it greue And thus in hope good beleue Of that the corps sâ—â—l nâ—l aryâ—e They caste it ouer borde as blyue Qualiter appoâ—â—â—ê° vxoris sue corâ—e in â—â—are proiecto Tirum reâ—â—nguens cursuÌ„â—â—um versus tharsim nauigio dolens arripuit The shippes forth on the wawes went The prynce hath chaunged his entent And saith he wyl not come at tyre As thenne but al his desyre Is first to saylen vnto tharse The wyndy storme began to scarse The sonne aryseth the weder clereth The shâ—â—man which behynde stereth Whan that he sawe the wyndes softe Toward tharse his cours he sought Qualiter corâ—us predicte deffun â—â—e super â—â—ttus apud ephesim quidem medicus nomine Cerimon cum aâ—â—auâ—â—us suis dscipulâ—s inuenit quod in hospicium â—ortans et extra cistam 〈◊〉 â— neÌ„s spirâ— cuâ—o vite in ca inuento ipsam plene sanitati restituit bâ—t now to my matere agâ—yn To telle as olde bookes seyn This dede corps of which ye knowe With wynde water was forthrowe Now here now there tyl atte laste At ephesym the see vp caste The cooffre al that was therin Of grete meruayle now begyn May hâ—re who that sâ—te stylle That god wyl saue may not spylle Right as the corps was throwe on loÌ„de There came walkyng by the stronde A worthy clerke surgyen And eke a grâ—te physycien Of that londe the wysest one Which hyght mayster Ciâ—â—mone Ther was of his dysaples somme This maistre is to the â—â—offre come He poyseth ther was somwhat in And bade hym bere it
an heuen And seeth her nose streyte euen He seeth hir rude vpon hir cheke And seeth hir reed lyppes eke Hyr chynne acordeth to the face And that he seeth is full of grace He seeth hir necke round whyte And al this thyng withoute wyte He may see naked at the lest So is it wel the more feste And wel the more delycacye And to the fedyng of the eye He seeth hir shap forth with all Hir body round hir myddel small So wel bigone with good array Whiche passeth all the lust of may When he is moost with soft showres Ful clothed in lusty floures With suche sightes by and by Myn eye is fedde fnll fynally When he the porte the manere Seeth of hir womanlyche chere Than hath he suche delyte on honde He thynketh he myght stylle stonde And that he hath full suffysaunce Of lyueâ—â—de and of sustenaunce And to his parte euermo And yf it thought all other so Fro then wold he neuer wende But there vnto the worldes ende He wold abyde yf that he myght And feden hym vpon the syght For though I myght stonde ay In to the tyme of domes day And looke vpon hir euer in one Yet whan I shold fro hir gone Myn eye wold as though he faste Ben honger storuen also fast Til efte ayene that he hir sye Suche is nature of myn eye There is no lust so deyntefull Of whiche a man shold not be full Of that the stomak vnderfongeth But euer in one myn eye longeth For loke how that a goushauk tyreth Ryght so doth he whan he pyreth And tutyth on hir womanhede For he may neuer fully fede His lust but euer y lyche sore Hym hongreth so that he the more Desyreth to be fedde algate And thus my eye is made the gate Thugh which the deyntees of my thouÈâ— Of lust ben to myn herte brought Ryght as my eye with his look Is to myn herte a lusty Cook Oâ— loues fede delycate Ryght so my ere is in his estate Where as my eye may not serue Can wel myn ere 's thonk deserue And feden hym fro day to day With suche fode as he may For thus it is that oueral Where that I come in special I may here of my lady pryce I here one sey that she is wyse Another seith that she is good And somme men seyn of worthy blood That she is one is also So fayre that there is none soo And some preise hir goodly chere Thus euery thyng that I may here Whiche sowneth to my lady good Is to my herte a lusty foode And eke my ere hath ouer this A deynte feste when so is That I maye here hir selum speke For than anone my fast I breke On suche wordes as she seyth That ful of trouthe ful of feith They ben and of so good disporte That to my ere grete comforte They done as they that ben delices For al the metes and al the spyceâ— That ony Lumbard couthe make Ne be so lusty for to take Ne so ferforth restauratif I seye as for myn owne lif As ben the wordes of hir mouthe For as the wyndowes of the southe Ben moost debonaire of all debonairâ— So when hir lust to speke faire The vertu of hir goodly speche Is verily my hertes leche And if it so bifalle among That she carole vpon a songe When I it here I am so fedde That I am fro my lyf so ledde As though I were in paradys For certes as to myn auys When I here of hir vois the steuâ— Me thynketh it is a blysse of heuâ— And eke m other vois also Ful oftyme it falleth so Myn ere with a good petaunce Is fed of redyng of romaunce Of Ydome and of Amadas That whilome were in my cas And eke of other many a store That loueden long or I was bode For when I of hir loues redde Myn ere with the tale I fedde And with the lust of hir storye Somtyme I drewe it to memorye How sorowe maye not euer last And so cometh hope in at the last When I none other foode knowe And that endureth but a throwe Right as it were a chery feste But for to counten at the lest As for the while yet it eseth And somdele of my herte appeseth For what thyng to my ere spredeth Whiche is plesaunt somdele it eseth With wordes suche as she may gete My lust in stede of other mete Loo thus my fader as I sey Of lust the whiche my eye hath sey And eke of that my ere hath herd Ful ofte I haue the better ferd And the two bryngen in the thyrd The whiche hath in my herte amydde His place take to aray The lusty foode whiche assay I mete and namelyche on nyghtes When that me lacketh al sightes And that my heryng is awey Then is he redy in the wey My rere souper for to make Of whiche my hertes fode I take This lusty Cookes name is hoote Thought whiche hath euer his pottes hote Of loue boylyng on the fyre With fantasye and with desyre Of whiche full ofte or this she fedde My herte when I was a bedde And than he set vppon my lorde Bothe euery sight euery word Of lust whiche I haue herd or seyn But yet is not my fest all pleyn But all of wordes and of fisshes Therof I haue my full disshes But as of felyng and of taste Yet myght I neuer haue one repaste And thus as ye haue herd to forn I lycke hony on the thorne And as who seith vpon the brydell I chewe so that all is ydell As in effecte the fode I haue But as a man that wold hym saue When he is syke by medycyn Ryght so of loue the famyn I fond m all that euer I may To fede and drynke forth the day Til I may haue the gretter feste Whiche al my honger myght areste Loo suche ben my lustes thre Of that I thynke and here and see I take of loue my fedyng Withoute tastyng or felyng As the poure doeth of the heyre I lyue and am in good espyerâ— That for none suche delycacye I trowe I do no glotenye And netheles to youre auys My hooly fader that ben wys I recommaunde myn estate Of that I haue ben delycate My sone I vnderstonde well That thou hast told I here euerydele And as me thynketh by thy tale It ben delytes wonder smale Wherof thou takest thy loues foode But sone yf that thou vnderstood What is to ben delycious Thow woldest not be curyous Vpon the lust of thyn estate To ben to fore delycate Wherof that thou reson excede For in the bookes thou myght rede If mannes wysedome shall be shewed It ought wel to ben eschewed In loue as wel as other wey For as these hooly bookes sey The bodely delyces alle In euery poynt how so they falle Vnto the sowle done greuaunce And for to take in remembreunce A tale acordaunt vnto this wiche of
grete vnderstondyng is In mans soule resonable I thynke to telle is no fable Hic ponit exemplum contra istos de licatos Et narrat de diuite et LaÈaro quorum gestns m euangelio lucasuidencius describit oF Cristes worde who wil it rede How that this vyce is for to drede In the euangely it telleth pleyne wiche must algate be certeyne For crist hym self bereth wytnesse And though the clerk the clergesse In latyn tong it rede and synge Yet for the more knowlechyng Of trouthe whiche is good to wyte I shall declare as I it wrâ—te In Englysâ—he for thus it bigan Crist seith there was a ryche man A myghty lord of grete estate And he was eke so delycate Of his clothyng that euery day Of purpir bice he made hym gay And ete and drank to his fylle After the lustes of his wylle As he whiche stood al in delyce And took no hede of thylk vyce And as it shold so betyde A poure LaÈar vpon a tyde Came to the gate axeth mete But there myght he no thyng gete His dedely honger for to staunche But he whiche had his ful paunche Of all lustes at the bord Ne deyneth not to speke a word Onlyche a Cromme for to yeue Wherof the peure myght leue Vpon the yeft of his almesse Thus lay this poure in grete distresse Acâ—lde hongred at the gate For whiche he myght goo no gate So was he woful besene That there as he lay on the grene The houndes comen fro the halle Where that this sike man was falle And as he lay there for to dye The woundes of his maladye They lyeken for to done hym ese But he was full of suche dysese That he may not the deth escape But as it was that tyme shape The so wle fro the body passeth And he whome no thyng ouerpasseth The hyghe god vp to the heuen Hym took where he hath set hym euen In Abrahams barme on hyghe Where he the heuens ioyr sighe And had all that he haue wold And felle as it befalle shold This ryche man this same throwe With sodeyne deth was ouerblowe And forth withouten ony went In to helle streyght he went The fende in to the fire hym drough Where that he had peyne ynough Of flamme whiche that euer brenneth And as his eye aboute renneth Toward the heuen he cast his loke Where that he sawe hede tooke How LaÈar set was in his see As ferre as euer he myght see With Abraham than he prayde Vnto the patriarke and sayde Sende LaÈar doune fro thylk sete And doo that he his fynger wete In water so that he may droppe Vpon my tonge for to stoppe The grete hete in whiche I hrenne But Abraham auswerd thenne And seid to hym in this wyse My sone thou the myght auyse And take in thy remembraunce How Lalar had grete penaunce Whyles he was in that other lyf But thou in al thy lusty iolyf The bodely delytes soughtest For thy so as thou than wroughtest Now shalt thou take to thy reward Of dedely payne herafter ward In helle whiche shall ener last And this LaÈar now at the last The worldes payne is ouer ronnâ— In heuen he hath his lyf begonne Of ioye whiche is endeles But that thou praydest neuertheles That I shal LaÈar to the sende With water on his fyngers ende Thyne hote tonge for to kele Thou shalt not suche graces fele For in that folble place of synne For euer in whiche thou shalt ben Inne Cometh none out of this place thidder Ne none of yow maye come hydder Thus be ye parted now a two The ryche ayeneward cryed tho O Abraham sith hit soo is That laÈar may not doo me this Whiche I haue axed in this place I wold pray another grace For I haue yet of bretheren fyue That with my fader ben alyue To geder dwellen in one how 's To whome as thou arte gracious I pray that thou woldest sende LaÈar so that he myght wende To warne hem how the world is weÌ„t That afterward they be not shent Of suche peynes as I drye Loo this I pray this I crye That they may hem self amende The patriarke anone sende Of his prayer answer nay And said hym how that euery day His bretheren myght knowe here Of moyses in erthe here And of prophetes other mo What hem was best he said no But yf there myght a man aryse From deth to lyf in suche a wyse To tellen hem how that it were He seyd thenne of pure fere They sholden than beware therby Quod Abraham nay sikerly For yf they now wylle not obeye To suche as teche hem the wey And al day preche al day telle How that it stont of heuen helle They wylle not than taken hede Though it befelle so in dede That ony dede man so arered To ben of hym no better lered Than of another man on lyue If thou my sone canst descryue This tale as Cryst hym self told Thou shalt haue cause to be hold To see so grete an euydence There of the sooth experyence Hath shewed openlyche at the eye That bodely delycacye Of hym whiche yeueth no almesse Shal after falle in grete distresse And that was sene vpon the riche For he ne wold vnto his lyche A croÌ„me yeuen of his brede Than afterward when he was dede A droppe of water hym was werned Thus may a mannes wytte be lerned Of hem that so delytes taken When they with deth ben ouertaken That erst was swete is than sowre But he that is gouernoure Of worldes good yf he be wyse Within his herbe he set no pryce Of al the world yet he vseth The good that he nothyng refuseth As he whiche lord is of the thynges The ouches the ryche thynges The clothe of gold the perrye He taketh yet the delycacye He leueth though he were all this The best mete that there is He eteth drynketh the best drynke And taketh none hede to thynke Delycacye to put awaye As he whiche goth the right waye Not only for to fede clothe His body but his sowle bothe But they that taken otherwyse Her lustes ben none of the wyse And that whylome was shewed eke If thou these old bookes seke As wel by reson as by kynde Of old ensamples as men fynde Hic loquitur de desicacia Newnis qui corporalibus delicijs magis adherens spiritualia gaudia minus obtinuit tHat man that wold hym wel auise Delycacye is to despyse Whan kynde acordeth not with all Wherof ensample in special Of new whylome may be told Whiche ayens kynde many fold His lustes took till at the last That god hym wold all ouercast Of whome the Cronyke is so pleyne Me lust no more of hym to seyne And netheles for glotonye Of bodely delycacye To knowe his stomak how it ferd Of that no man to fore herd Whiche he wythin hym self bethought A wonder subtyle thyng