celestine And yet also the perfect phisyke Whiche appertcyneth well to the bodye Dothe well resemble vnto the musyke When the inwarde intrailes turneth contrary That nature can not worke dyrectly Then dothe phisyke the partes interiall In order set to their originall But yet phisyke can not be liberall As the seuen scyences by good aucthoritie Whiche leadeth the soule the way in speciall By good doctrine to dame eternitie Onely of phisike it is the propertie To ayde the body in euery sickenes That is right fraile and full of brittlenes And because phisike is appendant Unto the body by helpe of medicine And to the soule nothing apportenaunt To cause the body for to encline In eternall health so the soule to domine For to the body the sciences seuen Dothe teache to leade the soule to heauen And musyke it selfe is melodious To reioyce the eares and comfort the braine Sharpyng the wittes with sound ' solacious Deuoydyng bad thoughtes whiche did remayne It gladdeth the hart also well certaine Length the lyfe with dulcet armonye As is good recreation after study She cōmaūded her minstrels right anone to play Mamours the swete and the gentle daunce With la bell Pucell that was fayre and gay She me recommended with all pleasaunce To daunce true measure withoute variaunce O lorde God howe glad then was I So for to daunce with my swete ladye By her proper hande soft as any silke With due obeysaunce I did her then take Her skynne was white as whales bone or mylke My thoughtes was rauished I might not aslake My brennyng hart she the fire did make These daunces truely musyke hath me taught To lute or daunce but it auayled nought For the fyre kindled and waxed more and more The dauncyng blewe it with her beauty cleare My hart sickened and began to waxe sore A minute vi houres and. vi houres a yere I thought it was so heauy was my chere But yet for to couer my great loue aryght The outwarde coūtenaunce I made glad light And for feare mine eyes should mine hart bewray I toke my leaue and to a temple went And all alone I to my selfe did saye Alas what fortune hath me hither sent To deuoyde my ioye and my hart torment No man can tell howe great a paine it is But if he will fele it as I do iwysse Alas O lady howe cruell art thou Of piteous doloure for to builde a nest In my true hart as thou doest ryght nowe Yet of all ladyes I must loue the best Thy beauty therto did me surely arest Alas with loue when that it dothe the please Thou maiest cease my care my payne sone ease Alas howe sore may I nowe bewayle The piteous chaunce whiche did me happe My ladyes lokes did me so assayle That sodaynely my harte was in a trappe By Uenus caught and with so sore a clappe That throughe the great stroke did perse Alas for wo I coulde not reuerse Farewell all ioye and all perfect pleasure Fare well my lust and my likyng For wo is comen with me to endure Nowe must I leade my life in mournyng I may not lute or yet daunce or syng O la bell Pucell my lady glorious You are the cause that I am so dolorous Alas faire lady and mine owne swete hart With my seruyce I yelde me to your will You haue me fettred I may not astart At your pleasure you maye me saue or kyll Because I loue you wyll you me spyll Alas it were a piteous case in dede That you with death shoulde rewarde my mede A a that I am right wo begone For I of loue dare not to you speake For feare of nay that may encrease my mone Anay of you might cause my hart to breake Alas I wretche and yet vnhappy peke Into suche trouble misery and thought With sight of you I am into it brought And to my selfe as I made complaint I spied a man right nere me beforue Whiche right anone did with me acquaynt Me thinke he sayed that ye are neare forlorne With inwarde payne that your hart hath borne Be not to pensyfe call to mynde agayne Howe of one sorowe ye do nowe make twayne Mine inwarde sorowe ye begyn to double Go your way quod I for ye can not me ayde Tell me he sayed the cause of your trouble And of me nowe be nothing afrayed Me thynke that sorowe hath you ouerlayed Driue of no lenger but tell me your mynde It may me happe a remedy to fynde A a quod I it vayleth not your speache I wyll wyth you neuer haue medlyng Let me alone the most vnhappy wretche Of all the wretches that is yet liuyng Suche is the chaunce of my bewaylyng Go on your waye you are nothing the better To me to speake to make my sorowe greater For so the he sayed remember thinges thre The first is that ye may sorowe long Unto your selfe or that you ayded be And secondly in great paynes stronge To muse alone it myght turne you to wrong The thirde is it myght you well ease truely To tell your mynde to a frende ryght trusty It is a iewell of a frende of trust As at your nede to tell your secretenes Of all your payne and feruent lust His councell sone may helpe and redresse Your paynefull wo and mortall heauines Alone is nought for to thinke and muse Therfore good sonne do me not refuse And sythe that you are plunged all in thought Beware the pytte of dolorous dispayre So to complayne it vayleth you right nought It may so fortune ye loue a ladye fayre Whiche to loue you will nothing repayre Or els ye haue lost great lande or substaunce By fatall chaunce of fortunes ordinaunce Tell me the cause thoughe that it be so In case you loue I knowe it by experience It is a payne engendryng great wo And harde it is for to make resistaunce Agaynst suche loue of feruent vyolence The loue is dreadfull but neuertheles There is no sore nor yet no syckenes But there is a salue and remedy therfore So for your payne and your sorowe great Councell is medicine whiche may you restore Unto your desire without any let If ye will tell me where your harte is set In thy chayre of sorowe no great doubt it is To fynde a remedye for your payne I wys A phisition truely can little decerne Ony maner sickenes without sight of vryne No more can I by good counsaile you learne All suche wofull trouble for to determine But if you mekely will to me enclyne To tell the cause of your great greuousnes Of your inwarde trouble and wofull sadnes Then I began with all my diligence To heare him speake so grounded on reason And in my minde did make aduertence Howe it was holesome in tribulation To saue a good and a true companion For to knowe my sorowe and wofull grefe It might me comforte and right well relefe And of him then I asked this question What was his name I prayed him
endued With so muche beauty and dame Grace also Your vertuous maners hath so muche renued Exile disdayne and let her from you go And also straungenes vnto loue the foe And let no couetise your true hart subdue But that in ioye ye may your youthe ensue For I of loue the Goddesse dame Uenus Right well do knowe that in the worlde is none That vnto you shalbe more ioyous Then graunde Amoure that loueth you alone Sythe he so did it is many dayes agone Who euer sawe a faire yong hart so harde Whiche for her sake would se her true loue marde And so shall he without ye take good hede Ifhe so be ye be cause of the same For loue with death will ye rewarde his mede And if ye do ye be to muche to blame To loue vnloued ye knowe it is no game Wherfore me thinke ye can do no lesse But with your loue his paynes to redresse If ye do not this may be his songe Wo worthe the time that euer he you mette Wo worthe your harte so doyng him wronge wo worthe the houre that his true hart was set wo worthe disdayne that woulde his purpose let wo worthe the flower that can do no boote Wo worthe you that perst him at the roote Wo worthe my loue the cause of my sorowe Wo worthe my lady that will not it release wo worthe fortune bothe euen and morowe wo worthe trouble that shall haue no peace Wo worthe cruelty that may neuer cease Wo worthe youthe that will no pitie haue Wo worthe her that will not her loue saue Wo worthe the trust without assuraunce Wo worthe loue rewarded with hate wo worthe loue replete with variaunce wo worthe loue without a frendly mate wo worthe the hart with loue at debate wo worthe the beauty whiche toke me in snare wo worthe her that will not cease my care Wo worthe her maners and her goodlines Wo worthe her eyes so cleare and amiable wo worthe suche cause of my great sickenes wo worthe pitie on her not tendable wo worthe her minde in disdaine so stable wo worthe her that hath me fettred fast And wo worthe loue that I do spende in waste Wherfore of right I pray you to remember All that I write vnto you right nowe Howe your true loue is of age but tender His humble seruice we praye you alowe And he him selfe shall euermore enprowe You for to please and geue the soueraintie Howe can you haue a more true loue then he And fare ye well there is no more to saye Under our signet in our courte royall Of September the. xxii daye She closed the letter and to her did call Cupide her sonne so deare in speciall Commaundyng him as fast as he might To la bell Pucell for to take his flyght So did Cupide with the letter flye Unto la bell Pucels domination There that he sped full well and wondersly As I shall after make relation But to my matter with breuiacion A turtle I offred for to magnifye Dame Uenus hye estate to glorifye She me exhorted for to be right hardy Forthe on to trauaile and to dreade nothing I toke my leaue of her full humbly And on my way as I was ridyng This Godfrey gobilyue came rennyng With his little nagge and cried tary tary For I wyll come and beare you company Capit. xxxii ANd forbicause that I was then full sadde And by the way he made me good game To haue his company I was somwhat glad I was not proude I toke of him no shame He came to me and saied ye are to blame So to ride louryng for a womans sake Unto the deuill I do them all betake They be not stedfast but chaunge as the mone When one is gone they loue another sone Who that is single and will haue a wife Right out of ioye he shall be brought in strife Thus when Godfrey did so merye make There did a lady vs sone ouertake And in her hande she had a knotted whippe At euery yerke she made Godfrey to skipe Alas he saied that euer I was borne Nowe am I take for all my mocke and scorne I loked about when that I hearde him crye Seyng this lady on her palfrey ride hye Madame I saied I pray you me tell Your proper name and where that ye dwell My name quod she is called Correction And the tower of chastice is my mancion This strong thefe called false report With vilayne courage and an other sort And vile perlers false coniecture All these I had in prison full sure But this false report hath broken prison With his subtill craft and euill treason And this iourney priuely to spede He hath cladde him in this foles wede Nowe haue I aunswered you your question And I pray you of a like solution You seme me thinke for to be a knyght I pray you tell me first your name aright My name quod I is la graunde Amoure A well quod she you are the perfite floure Of all true louers as I do well knowe You shall attayne la bell Pucell I trowe I knowe right well ye are aduenturous Onwarde your way to the tower perillous And for as muche as the night is neare I humbly pray you for to take the cheare That I may make you in my tower this night It is here by you shall of it haue sight And I pray you to helpe me to bynde This false reporte as you shoulde do by kinde What Godfrey quod I will ye chaung your name Nay nay qood he it was for no shame But alas for wo that she hath me taken I must obey it can not be forsaken His fete were fettred vndernethe his nagge And bounde his handes behinde to his bagge Thus Correction with her whippe did driue The little nagge wyth Godfrey gobilyue Till at the last we gan to approche Her royall tower vpon a craggy roche The night was come for it was right late Yet right anone we came to the gate Where we were let in by dame Measure That was a faire and a goodly creature And so Correction brought me to the hall Of gete well wrought glased with cristall The roufe was golde and amiddes was set A carbuncle that was large and great Whose vertue cleare in the hall so bright About did cast a great marueylous lyght So forthe we went into a chamber faire Where many ladyes did them selues repayre And at our commyng then incontinent They welcomed vs as was conuenient But of Correction they were very glad Whiche false report againe taken had There was quene Panthasile with Penalape Quene Helene and quene Menelape Quene I thesyle and quene Proserpyne The lady Meduse and yong Polixyne With many moe that I do not rehearse My time is shorte I muste fro them reuerce And dame Correction into a chamber ledde Me right anone for to go to my bedde What nede I shewe of my great cheare and rest I wanted nought but had all of the best And so I
rockes hye I loked about and on the hill abode Till in the vale I sawe full hastely To me come ridyng a lady sikerly I well behelde the hye waye so vsed But of this lady right often I mused Till at the last we did mete together Madame I saied the hye God you saue She thanked me and did aske me whither That I so rode and what I woulde haue Truely quod I nothing els I craue Of the hye God but to be so fortunate La bell Pucell to haue to my mate What is your name then saied she La graunde amoure for sothe madame quod I Then was she glad as any one might be And saied she was sent fro mine owne ladye Tidynges I saied I praye you hartely Your lady quod she is in perfect health And woulde be glad to heare of your wealth She promised you in a garden grene To loue you best of any creature So do the she yet as I thinke and wene Though that disdayne brought her to her lure But of her hart nowe you shall be sure Be of good chere and for nothing dismaye I spake with her but nowe this other day And she my selfe vnto you hath sent My name is called dame Perceueraunce A little before that I from her went To her came Cupide with great circumstaunce And brought a letter of Uenus ordinaunce Whiche vnto her he did anone present When she it reade and knewe the entent All inwardly full wondersly dismaied Withouten worde she did stande right well Her harded hart was full well delayed What for to do she knewe not good or yll You for to helpe or let you so spyll Disdayne and Strangenes did stand then therby Seing her countenaunce they gan to drawe nye Madame quod they why are ye so sadde Alas quod she it is no maruaile why Right nowe of Cupide a letter I had Sent from Uenus full right marueilously By whiche I haue perceyued vtterly That a yong knight called graunde amoure Dothe for my sake suffer suche doloure That of constraint of wo full heauines He is nere deade all onely for my sake Shall he nowe dye or shall I him relese Of his great wo and to my mercy take Abide quod Strangenes and your sorowe slake Haue you him sene in any time before Yes yes quod she that dothe my wo restore At penticost no we many dayes agone Musike to heare at great solemnitie To and fro he walked him selfe all alone In a great temple of olde antiquitie Till that by fortune he had espied me And right anone or that I was ware To me he came I knewe nought of his care He semed gentle his maners right good I behelde right well all his condicion Humble of chere and of goodly mode But I thought nothing of his affliction But his behauoure shewed the occasion Of feruent loue as then in mine entent I oft did deme and geue a iudgement So after this I did then sone depart Home to my countrey where I did abide When I was gone full heauy was his hart As Cupide saieth I must for him prouide A gentle reamedy at this sodayne tide And for my sake he is aduenturous To subdue mine enemies to me contrarious A quod Disdayne knowe ye his substaunce Why will you loue suche a one as he Though he seme gentle and of good gouernaunce You shall haue one of farre hier degree He is nothing mete as it semeth me To be your fere your fauoure to attaine What is it to you thoughe he suffer payne Coulde your selfe let his eyen to haue a sight Of your beauty or his hart to be set What skilleth you though that he dye this night You called him not when he with you mette And he will loue you you can not him let Be as be may ye shall haue mine assente Him for to forsake as in most expedient Alas madame then saied dame Strangenes When he cometh hither your courage abate Loke hye vpon him beware of mekenes And thinke that you shall haue an hye estate Let not graunde amoure say to you chekmate Be straunge vnto him as ye know nothing The perfite cause of his true commyng And in meane while came to her presence Dame Peace and Mercy and to her they saied Alas madame consider your excellence And howe your beauty hath him so arayed If you haue him ye may be well apayed And doubt you not if that ye loue for loue God will sende riches to come to you aboue Will you for loue let him dye or perishe Whiche loueth you so with feruent desyre And you your selfe may his sorowe minishe That with your beauty set his hart a fire Your swete lokes did his hart enspire That of fine force he must to you obey To liue or dye there is no more to say Alas quod Peace will ye let him endure In mortall payne withouten remedy Sithen his harte you haue so tane in cure Your hastye dome loke that ye modefy Exile Disdaine and Strangenes shortly And sende Perceueraunce as fast as ye may To comfort him in his troublous iourney Then in her minde she gan to reuolue The louyng wordes of Mercy and Peace Her hardy hart she gan for to dissolue And inwardly she did to me release Her perfite loue your great payne to cease And did exile then from her to wildernes Bothe dame disdayne and eke dame strangenes And did me sende to you incontinent With this goodly shelde that ye shoulde it were For her swete sake as is conuenient It is sure ye shall not nede to feare The stroke of swerde or yet the grate of spere She prayeth you for to be of good chere Aboue all men ye are to her most deare Nowe sayed Perceueraunce I pray you repose This long nyght with my cosen comfort A gentle ladye as any may suppose She can you tell and also well exhort Of la bell Pucell with a true report I thanked her of her great goodnes And so we rode with ioye and gladnes Tyll that we came vnto a manour place Moted about vnder a woode side Alight she saied for by right long space In payne and wo you did euer abide After an ebbe there cōmeth a flowyng tide So downe I light from my goodly stede After my paine to haue rest for my mede Then dame Perceueraunce on the way me ledde Into the place where did vs gentillye mete The lady Comfort without any dredde With countenaunce that was demure and swete In goodly maner she did vs then grete Leadyng vs to a chamber precious Dulcet of odoure and most solacious And priuely she asked a question Of Perceueraunce what I called was La graunde amoure without abusion Cosen quod she he dothe all louers passe Like as dothe Phebus in the pure glasse So dothe his dedes extolle the soueraintie Of the darke gyaunres by highe acthoritie When she it knewe she was of me ryght fayne Nothing I lacked that was to my pleasaunce After my trauayle and my wofull
thre heads serpentine And like a fende his bodye semblable For his pride auarice and also rapyne The morall sence can sone illumine The fatall picture to be exuberaunt And to our syght cleare and not variaunt Also rehearsed the cronicles of Spaine Howe redoubted Hercules by puyssaunce Fought with an Ydre ryght great certayne Hauyng seuen heades of full great mischannce For when that he wyth all his valeaunce Had stricken of an heade right shortly An other anone arose ryght sodaynely Seuen sophims full harde and fallacious Thys Ydre vsed in preposition Unto the people and was full rygorious To deuoure them where lacked responsion And when one reason had conclusion An other reason then incontinent Began againe with subtyll argument For whiche cause the Poetes couertly With seuen heades dothe this Ydre depaynt For these seuen sophims full ryght closely But of rude people the wittes are so faynt That with their cunnyng they can not acquaynt But who that list their science to learne Their obscure fygures he shall well decerne O redolent well of famous poetrye O cleare fountayne replete with swetenes Refleryng out the dulcet delicacye Of foure ryuers in marueylous wydenes Fayrer then Tygrys or yet Eufrates For the first ryuer is vnderstandyng The seconde riuer close concludyng The thirde riuer is called nouelrye The fourth ryuer is called carbuncles Amiddes of whom the tower is so goodly Of Uyrgill standeth most solacious Where he is entyred in stones precious By thys fayre tower in a goodly grene This well dothe spryng both bryght and shene To vnderstandyng these iiii accident Doctrine perseueraunce and exercise And also therto is equipolent Euermore the perfite practise For first doctrine in all goodly wise The perseuerant trouthe in his booth of wil In vnderstandyng for to knowe good from yll So famous poetes did vs endoctrine Of the ryght way for to be intellectife Their fables they did ryght so ymagyne That by example we may voyde the strife And without mischefe for to leade our life By the aduertence of their stories olde The fruite wherof we may full well beholde Depaynted on arras howe in antiquitie Destroyed was the great citye of Troye For a little cause grounded on vanitye To mortal ruyne they turned their ioye Their vnderstandyng they did then occoy Nothing prepensyng how they did prepare To scourge them selues bryng them in a snare Who is opprest with a little wrong Reuengyng it he may it sone encrease For better it is for to suffer among An iniury as for to kepe the peace Then to begyn whiche he shall neuer cease Warre once begon it is harde to knowe Who shall abide and who shall ouerthrow The hyghe power honoure and noblenesse Of the mighty Romayns to whose excellence All the wide worlde so muche of greatnes Unto their empyre was in obedience Suche was their famous porte and preeminence Tyll win them selues there was a contrauersy Makyng them lese their worthy sygneoury It is euer the grounde of Sapience Before that thou accomplyshe outwardly For to reuolue vnderstandyng and prepence All in thy selfe full often inwardely The beginnyng and the middle certainelye With the ende or thou put it in vre And worke with councell that thou maiest be sure And who that so dothe shall neuer repent For his dedes is founded on a perfect ground And for to fall it hath none impediment Wyth surenes it is so hyghe walled rounde In wealth and riches it must nedes abounde On euery syde it hath suche ordinaunce That nothyng can do it anoyaunce Thus the Poetes conclude full closelye Their fruitefull probles for reformation To make vs lerne to lyue dyrectly Their good entent and true construction Shewyng to vs the whole affection Of the way of vertue wealth and stablenes And to shutte the gate of mischeuous entres And euermore they are ymaginatyue Tales newe from day to daye to fayne The erryng people that are retractiue As to the ryght way to bryng them agayne And who that list their sentence retayne It shall hym profite if he wyll apply To do therafter full conuenientlye Carbuncles in the moste darke nyght Dothe shyne fayre wyth cleare radiant beames Exilyng darkenes wyth his rayes lyght And so these Poetes wyth their golden streames Deuoyde our rudenes wyth great fyery leames Their centencious verses are refulgent Encensyng out the odoure redolent And is their worke also extinguishible Nay truely for it dothe shyne ryght cleare Throughe cloudes darke vnto the odible To whom truely it may nothyng appeare Where cunnynge fayleth the scyence so deare Ignoraunce hateth with feruent enuy And vnto cunnyng is mortall enemy O ygnoraunce with slouthe so opprest Open thy curtayne so ryght dymme and darke And euermore remember the behest Of thy laboure to vnderstande thy warke Of many a noble and ryght famous clarke Fy vpon slouth the nourisher of vyce Whiche vnto youthe dothe often preiudyce Who in youthe lyst nothyng to learne He wyll repent him often in hys age That he the cunnyng can nothyng decerne Therfore nowe youthe with lusty courage Rule thy fleshe and thy slouthe asswage And in thy youthe the scyence engender That in thine age it may the worshyp render Cunnyng is lyght and also pleasaunt A gentle burden wythout greuousnes Unto hym that is ryght well appliaunt For to beare it with all his busines He shall attaste the welle offruitefulues Whiche Uirgyll clarified and also Tullius With latyn pure swete and delicious From whence my master lidgate derified The depured rethorike in Englyshe language To make our tongue so clearely purified That the vyle termes shoulde nothing arage As like a pye to chatter in a cage But for to speake with rethorike formally In the good order withouten vylany And who his bokes list to heare or see In them he shall finde elocution With as good order as any maye be Kepyng full close the moralization Of the trouthe of his great intencion Whose name is regestred in remembraunce For to endure by long continuaunce Nowe after this for to make relation Of famous rethorike so in this party As to the fourthe part pronunciation I shall it shewe anone ryght openly With many braunches of it sykerly And howe it taketh the whole effect In euery place degre and aspect Capitu. xii WHen the matter is founde by inuention Be it merye or yet of great sadnes Set in a place by the disposition And by elocucions famous clearenes Exornate well and ready to expresse Then pronunciacion w t chere and countenaunce Conueniently must make the vtteraunce With humble voyce and also moderate Accordyng as by him is audience And if there be a ryght hye estate Then vnder honoure and obedience Reasonably done vnto his excellence Pronouncyng his matter so facundious In all due maner to be sentencious For thoughe a matter be neuer so good I fit be tolde with tongue of barbary In rude maner without the discrete mode It is disturbaunce to a whole company For to se them so rude
me tell Councell quod he the whiche solucion In my wofull minde I liked right well And priuely I did his lesson spell Saiyng to him my chaunce and destiny Of all other is the most vnhappy Why so quod he thoughe fortune be straunge To you a while turnyng of her face Her louryng chere she may right sone chaung And you accept and call vnto her grace Dispayre you not for in good time and space Nothing there is but wisdome may it wâ—â— To tell your mynde I praye you to begyn Unto you quod I with all my whole assent I will tell you trouthe and you will not bewraye Unto none other my matter and entent Nay nay quod he you shall not se that daye Your whole affiaunce and trust well ye may Into me put for I shall not vary But kepe your councell as a secretary And then to him in the maner folowyng I did complayne with sighyng teares depe Alas quod I you shall haue knowlegyng Of my heauy chaunce that causeth me to wepe So wo I am that I can neuer slepe But wallowe and tumble in the trappe of care My hart was caughte or that I was ware It happened so that in a temple olde By the tower of musike at great solemnitie La bell pucell I did right well beholde Whose beauty cleare and great humilitie To my hart did cast the darte of amitie After whiche stroke so harde and feruent To her excellence I came incontinent Beholdyng her chere and louely countenaunce Her garmentes riche and her propre stature I regestered well in my remembraunce That I neuer sawe so fayre a creature So well fauouredly create by nature That harde it is for to wryght with ynke All her beautie or any harte to thinke Fayrer she was then was quene Helene Proserpyne Cresyde or yet Ypolyte Medea Dydo or yong Polexyne Alcumena or quene Menelape Or yet dame Rosamonde in certaintie None of all these can haue the preeminence To be compared to her highe excellence Duryng the feast I stode her neare by But then her beauty encreased my paine I coulde nothing resist the contrary She wrapt my hart in a brennyng chayne To the musicall tower she went then againe I went after I coulde not be behinde The chaine she haled whiche my hart did binde Till that we came into a chamber gaye Where that musike with all her minstrelsy Diuers base daunces most swetely did playe That them to here it was great melody And dame musike commaunded curteously La bell pucell with me then to daunce Whom that I toke with all my pleasaunce By her swete hande beginnyng the trace And long did daunce till that I might not hide The painefull loue whiche did my hart embrace Bicause wherof I toke my leaue that tide And to this temple where I do abide Forth then I went alone to bewaile My mortall sorowe without any faile Nowe haue I tolde you all the very trouth Of my wofull chaunce and great vnhappines I pray you nothing with me to be wrothe Whiche am drowned in careful wretchednes By fortune plunged full of doublenes A a said councell doubt ye neuer a deale But your disease I shall by wisedome heale Remember you that neuer yet was he That in this worlde did leade all his life In ioye and pleasure without aduersitie No worldly thing can not be without strife For vnto pleasure paine is affirmatife Who will haue pleasure he must first apply To take the payne with his cure busely To deserue the ioye which after doth ensue Rewardyng paine for the great busines No doubt your Lady wil vpon you rue Seyng you apply all your gentlenes To do her pleasure and seruice doubtles Harde is the harte that no loue hath felt Nor for to loue will then encline and melt Remember ye that in olde antiquitie Howe worthy Troylus that mighty champion What paine he suffered by great extremitie Offeruent loue by a great long season For his lady Cresyde by great tribulation After his sorowe had not he great ioye Of his lady the fayrest of all Troy And the famous knight yclipped Ponthus Whiche loued Sydoyne so moche entirely What paine had he and what care dolorous For his lady with loue so marueylously Was not her hart wounded right wofully After his paine his ladie did her cure To do him ioye honoure and pleasure Who was with loue more wofully arayed Then were these twaine and many other mo The power of loue had them so asayed That and I liste I coulde rehearse also To whom true loue hath wrought mykle wo And at the ende haue had their desire Of all their sorowe for to quenche the fire Languishe no more but plucke vp thy hart Exile dispayre and liue a while in hope And kepe your loue all close and couert It may so fortune that your lady wil grope Somewhat of loue for to drynke a sope Thoughe outwardely she dare not let you knowe But at the last as I beleue and trowe She can not kepe it so priuye and close But that somewhat it shall to you appeare By countenaunce howe that her loue arose If that she loue you the loue it is so deare When you come to her she wil make you chere With countenaunce according vnto loue Full priuely for to come to her aboue Sending of loue the messenger before Whiche is her eyes with louelye lokes swete For to beholde you then euer more and more After the time that you together mete With louing wordes she wil you then grete Sorowe no more for I thinke in my minde That at the last she will be good and kinde Alas quod I she is of hye degre Borne to great lande treasure and substaunce I feare to sore I shal disdayned be The whiche will trouble all my greuannce Her beautie is the cause of my penaunce I haue no great lande treasure and riches To winne the fauoure of her noblenes What thoughe quod he drawe you not backe For she hath inough in her possession For you bothe for you shall neuer lacke If that ye order it by good reason And so in perfect consideration She will with loue her grene flouryng age Passe forthe in ioye pleasure and courage Youthe is alway of the course right light Hote and moyst and full of lustines Moste of the ayre it is ruled by ryght And her complexion hath chiefe intresse Upon sanguine the ayres holesomenes She is not yet in all aboue xviii yere Of tender age to pleasure most deare Golde or siluer in any maner of wise For sanguyne youth it is all contrary So for to couet for it dothe arise Onely engendred vpon the malencoly Which is drye colde and also earthly In whiche the golde is truely nutrified Farre from the ayre so clearely purified Thus couetise shall nothing surmount Your yong ladies hart but onely nature Shall in her minde make her to account The great losse of youthe her speciall treasure She knoweth she is a right faire creature No
be contrarious But what for that your selfe in speciall Remember there is no loue so ioyous As is your owne to you most precious Will you geue your youthe and your flouryng age To them against your minde in mariage Pucell Against my ininde of that were I lothe To wedde for feare as them to obey Yet had I rather they were somewhat wrothe For I my selfe do beare the locke and keye Yet of my minde and will do many a daye Mine owne I am what that I list to do I stande vntied there is no ioye therto Amoure O swete lady the good perfect starre Of my true hart take ye nowe pitie Thinke on my paine whiche am tofore you here With your swete eyes beholde you and se Howe thought and wo by great extremitie Hath chaunged my hue into pale and wanne It was not so when I to loue began Pucell So me thinke it dothe right well appeare By your coloure that loue hath done you wo Your heuy countenaunce your doleful cheare Hath loue suche might for to aray you so In so short a space I maruell muche also That ye woulde loue me so sure in certayne Before ye knew that I woulde loue agayne Amoure My good deare hart it is no maruaile why Your beauty cleare and lonely lokes swete My hart did perce with loue so sodainely At the firste time that I did you mete In the olde temple when I did you grete Your beauty my hart so surely assayed That sithe that time it hath to you obeyed Capitu. xix Pucell YOur wo and paine all your languishyng Continuaily ye shall not spende in vayne Sithē I am cause of your great morning Nothinge exile you shall I by disdaine Your hart and mine shall neuer part in twaine Thoughe at the first I woulde not condescende It was for feare ye did some yll entende Amoure With thought of yll my minde was neuer mixt To you madame but alway cleane and pure Bothe day and night vpon you whole perfixt But I my minde yet durst nothing discure Howe for your sake I did suche wo endure Till nowe this houre with dredfull hart so faint To you swete hart I haue made my complaint I demed oft you loued me before By your demenoure I did it espye And in my minde I iudged euermore That at the last ye woulde full secretely Tell me your minde of loue right gentlely As ye haue done so my mercy to craue In all worship you shall my true loue haue Amoure O lorde God then howe ioyfull was I She loked on me with louely countenaunce I kiste her once or twise right swetely Her depured vysage repleate with pleasaunce Reioyced my hart with amerous purueyaunce O lady cleare that perst me at the rote O floure of comfort all my heale and bote O gemme of vertue and lady excellent Aboue all other in beauteous goodlines O eyen bright as starre refulgent O profounde cause of all my sickenes Nowe all my ioye and all my gladnes Woulde God that we were ioyned in one In mariage before this daye were gone Pucell A a saied she ye must take payne a while I must depart by the compulcion Of my frendes I will not you begile Thoughe they me leade to a farre nacion My hart shalbe without variacion With you present in perfite sikernes As true and stable without doublenes To me to come is harde and daungerous When I am there for gyantes vgly With monsters also blacke and tedious That by the way awaite full cruelly For to destroye you yll and vtterly When you that waye do take the passage To attaine my loue by hye aduauntage Amoure All that madame was to me certified By good dame Fame at the beginnyng When she to me of you well notified As she came from the tower of learnyng Of all suche enemies the might excluding I promise vnto you here full faithfully When I depart from dame astronomy That I will to the tower of chiualry And for your sake become aduenturous To subdue all enemies to me contrary That I may after be right ioyous With you my lady most swete and precious Wo worthe the cause of your departynge Whiche all my sorowes is in renuyng Alas what pleasure and eke without disport Shall I now haue when that ye be gone Ha ha truely nowe without good comfort My dolorous hart shalbe left alone Without your presence to me is none For euery houre I shall thinke a yere Till Fortune bryng me vnto you more neare Yet after you I will not be right long But haste me after as fast as I may In the tower of chiualry I shall make me strong And after that passe shortly on my way With diligent labour on my iourney Spite of your enemies I shall me so spede That in short time ye may reward my mede I thanke you quod she with my hart entire But yet with me ye shall make couenaunte As I to you am right lefe and deare Unto no person ye shall so aduaunte That I to loue you am so attendaunt For any thing your councell not bewraye For that full sone might vs bothe betray And to tell me I pray you hartely Yonder is councell howe were you acquainted He is bothe honest and true certainely Dothe he not knowe how your hart is fainted With feruent loue so surely attainted If he so do yet I nothing repent He is so secrete and true of entent Truely madame because ye are contente I shall you tell howe the matter was When that your beauty clearely spendent Into my hart full wondersly did passe Like as fayre Phebus dothe shine in the glasse All alone with inwarde care so rent Into a temple forthe on my way I wente Where that I walked plunged in the pitte Of great dispayre and he then me mette Alas he saied me thinke ye lose your witte Tell me the trouthe nowe without any let Why ye demeane suche mortall sorowe great Auoyde quod I you shall nothing it knowe You can not helpe me in the case I trowe But he suche reason and fruitefull sentence Did for him laye that I tolde him all When he it knewe with all his diligence He did me comfort then in speciall Unto my minde he bade me to call Who spareth to speake he to spede dothe spare Go tell your lady the cause of your care By whose councell grounded in wisdome To the entent I shoulde spede the better And right shortly I did then to you come But dreade alway made my sorow greater After great paine the ioyes is the sweter For who that tasteth painefull bitternes The ioye to him is double swetenes And therwithall I did vnto her bryng Councell my frende and full right meke Did him receiue as he was comming And of all thinges she did him beseke After her parting the same weke To haste me forwarde to my iourneyes ende Thereto quod I I do well condescende Fare well quod she I may no lenger tarye My frendes will come of
day he set in workyng The bodies aboue to haue their mouyng In the. xii signes them selues to domifye Some rethrogarde and some directly The fift daye he did fishes make In the sea the great stormy flowde To and fro their courses for to take And in the water for to haue their fode Like to the same colde alway their bloude The sirt daye beastes with fowles sensatiue And man also with soule intellectyue The seuenth day he rested of his worke Nothing constrayned as of werines As writeth many a right famous clarke But that he had accomplished doubtles His purposed purpose by infinite prowes As to vs dothe most plainely discure The perfect grounde of holy scripture Thus God him selfe is chefe astronomer That made all thing accordyng to his will The sunne the mone and euery little starre To a good entent and for no maner of yll Withouten vayne he did all thing fulfyll As astronomy dothe make apparaunce By reason he weyed all thinges in balaunce Capitulo xxiii ANd for as muche that he made nature First of all to haue domination The power of her I shall anone discure Howe that she taketh her operation And where vpon is her foundation I simple and rude opprest with negligence Shall discriue the might of her preeminence For thoughe that aungell be inuincible In palpable and also celestiall Without substaunce as incencible Yet haue they nature whiche is angelicall For nature naturyng naturate made all Heauen and earth and the bodies aboue By course of nature for to worke and moue On man or beast without any misse She worketh directly after the aspect Of the matter be it more or lesse I wisse And dothe therof the whole forme direct After the qualitie it dothe take effect If there be more then may one suffise A by member she will then more deuise As that in vre ye may it dayly se Upon one hande some hath thombes twayne And other also sometime armes thre The superstuitie is cause therof certayne Whiche that dame nature dothe constrayne So for to do for she leseth nought Of the matter but hath it wholy wrought And in likewise where is not sufficient Of the matter for the whole formation There lacketh a member by great impediment So that there can be no perfite fashion As may be iudged by perfite reason After the qualitie of the matter lackyng So lacketh they of natures formyng Some lacketh a legge some an arme also Some a finger and some more or lesse All these causes with many other mo Nature worketh so directly doubtles Upon the matter as I do expresse After the qualitie in many a sundry wise The kinde of her we ought nothing despise Some be fayre and replete with grace Some be fayre and yet right vnhappy Some be foule and can sone purchase Landes and possessions to them shortly Some be fooles and some be right wittye Wherupon I shal shewe a difference Of the. v. wittes by good experience Capit. xxiiii THe eyen the eares and also the nose The mouth hands inward wits are none But outward offices as ye may suppose To the inward wittes whiche do iudge alone For vnto them all thinges haue gone By these outward gates to haue the knowleging By the inwarde wittes to haue decernyng These are the fiue wittes remouyng inwardly First commen witte and then ymagination Fantasy and estimation truely And memory as I make narration Eche upon other hath occupation First the commen witte vnto the front applied Dothe thinke decerne it may not be denied Of the eyen the office onely is the syght To se the fayre the lowe or altitude The white or blacke the heauy or the light The litle or great the weake or fortitude The vgly fauoure or yet the pulcritude This is the vse of the eyen enteare To se all thinges whiche may well appeare But of them selues they can decerne nothing One from an other but the commen witte Decerneth coloures by spirituall cunning To the fiue inwarde wittes it is so well knitte Nothing is sene but it dothe iudge it It dothe decerne the good from badnes The hye the lowe the foule the fairenes The nose also euery ayre dothe smell But yet it hath nothing aucthoritie If it be swete for to iudge and tell But the commen witte dothe it in certainetie Decernyng sauours in euery degre Knowyng the swete ayre from the stinkyng When that the nose therof hath smellyng The eares also ryght well geue audience Unto a tale hearyng it right perfectly But they can not discerne the sentence To knowe wherupon it dothe so ratifie Upon great wisdome or els vpon foly Thus whether the tale be ryght good or badde By the commen witte the knowledge is had Foly hath eares as well as Sapience But he can not determine by his hearyng What tale it is for lacke of intelligence For the commen witte is all vnderstandyng And that he lacketh to geue him knowyng Wherfore the eares are but an intresse To the cōmen witte that sheweth the perfectnes The mouthe tasteth bothe swete and bitternes But the commen witte decerneth properly If it be soure or replete with swetenes Nor yet the handes fele nothing certainely But the commen witte decerneth subtilly Whether it be harde moist or of drynes Hote heauy soft or yet colde doubtles Thus commen witte worketh wondersly Wpon the. v. gates whiche are receptatyue Of euery thing for to take inwardely By the commen witte to be affirmatyue Or by decernyng to be negatiue The commen witte the first of wittes all Is to decerne all thinges in generall And then secondly ymagination When the commen witte hath the thing elect It worketh by all due inclinacion For to bryng the matter to the whole affect And fantasy then hath the whole aspect The ymagined matter to bring to finishment With good desire and inwarde iudgement And estimacion dothe well comprehende The space the place and all the purueyaunce At what tyme the power myght entende To bryng the cause vnto perfect vtteraunce Often it weygheth the cause in balaunce By estimation any thing is numbred By lengthe or shortnes howe it is accombred Fiftely the mynde when the fourth haue wrought Retayned all tyll the mynde haue made An outwarde knowledge to the matter thought Because nothing shall decline and fade It kepeth the matter nothinge rethrogarde But dyrectly till the minde haue proued All suche matters whiche the. iiii haue moued Plato the cunnyng and famous clarke That well experte was in Philosophy Dothe ryght rehearse vpon natures warke Howe that she worketh vpon al wondersly Bothe for to minishe and to multiplye In sundry wise by great direction After the matter with all the whole affection In my natiue language I will not expresse More of her worke for it is obscure Who will therof knowe all the perfectnes In philosophy he shall finde it ryght sure Whiche all the trouth can to him discure No man can attayne perfect runnyng But by long study and diligent learnyng Capit. xxv THe
slept tyll that aurora cleare Began to shine amiddes her golden spere Then vp I rose and my verlet also Whiche made me ready and to my stede did go And dame Correction at this morowe tyde Did me entreate a while to abide And right anone my breakefast was brought To make me cheare there wanted right nought And after this dame Correction Did leade me to a marueylous dongeon And first she ledde me to the vpper warde Where shamefastnes did vs well regarde For he was iaylour and had at his charge Euery rebell not for to go at large In the first warde there went to and fro Bothe men and women that might no furder go But yet they hoped for to haue releue Of their enprison whiche did them so greue These prisoners when true loue was meued They woulde driue of and not release the greued And for this cause by equall iudgement Like as they did here haue they punishment And shamefastnes lower did vs bryng Where we sawe men that were in tormentyng With many ladies that their mouthes gagged And false reporte on me his heade wagged Then right anone a lady gan to scrape His furred tonge that he cried like an ape And vyle Peller in like wise also His tonge was scraped that he suffred wo And yet we went into a deper vale Where I sawe men that were in great bale In hollowe bushes they did hange alofte Their heades downewarde for to fall vnsoft And two ladyes did their bodies bete With knotted whippes in the fleshe to frete That the desire it shoulde sone aswage And specially of the vylayne courage These men with sugred mouthes so eloquent A maydens hart coulde right sone relent And these yong maydens for to take in snare They fayne great wo and for to suffer care The folyshe maydens did beleue they smarted That to their will the men them conuerted Thus when that they had them so begiled And with their fraude these maydens defiled They cast them of they toke no lenger kepe Go where ye list thoughe they crye and wepe Therfore these ladyes wyth their whippes harde Their bodies beate that their bodies hath marde And euery man as he hath deserued A payne there is whiche is for him obserued Thus when I had all the pryson sene With the torment of many a one I wene And forthe we went agayne to the hall My stede was ready and brought to the wall And of the ladyes cleare in excellence I toke my leue with all due reuerence And thanked Correction with my hart entire Of my repose and of her louyng chere To me she saied remember you well Of the swete beauty of la bell Pucell When you her hart in fetters haue chayned Let her haue yours in likewise retayned Loke that your hart your worde countenaunce Agree all in one withouten variaunce It the for pitye do release you your payne Consider it and loue her best againe Be true and secrete and make none aduaunt When you of loue haue a perfite graunte And if ye will come vnto your wyll Bothe here and see and then holde you styll Dreadc you nothing but take a good harte For right sone after you from hence depart Right high aduentures vnto you shall fall In time of fyght vnto your minde then call If you preuayle you shall attayne the fame Of hye honoure to certifie the same And therwith I light vpon my stede Madame I saied I praye God do you mede Fare well she saied for you must nowe hence Adue quod I with all my diligence ¶ Howe graunde Amoure discomfited the Gyaunt with three heades and was receiued of three fayre Ladyes Capi. xxxiii WHen golden Phebus in the Capricorne Gan to ascende fast vnto Aquary And Ianus bifrus the croune had worn With his frosty bearde in Ianuary When cleare Dyana ioyned with Mercury The cristall ayre and assured firmament Were all depured without encumbrement Forthe then I rode at mine owne aduenture Ouer the mountaines and the craggy rockes To beholde the countres I had great pleasure Where corall growed by ryght hye stockes And the Popingayes in the tree toppes Then as I rode I sawe me beforne Beside a well hang bothe a shelde and a horne When I came there adowne my stede I light And the faire bugle I right well behelde Blasyng the armes as well as I myght That was so grauen vpon the goodly shelde First all of siluer did appeare the felde With a rampyng Lyon of fine golde so pure And vnder the shelde there was this scripture If any knight that is aduenturous Of his great pride dare the bugle blowe There is a gyaunt bothe fierce and rigorious That with his might shall him sone ouerthrow This is the waye as ye shall nowe knowe To la bell Pucell but withouten faile The sturdy gyaunt will geue you battaile When I the scripture once or twise had reade And knewe therof all the whole effect I blewe the horne without any dreade And toke good hart all feare to abiect Makyng me ready for I did suspect That the great gyaunt vnto me woulde haste When he had hearde me blowe so loude a blast I alite anone vpon my gentle stede About the well then I rode to and fro And thought right well vpon the ioyfull mede That I shoulde haue after my payne and wo And of my lady I did thinke also Tyll at the last my verlet did me tell Take hede quod he here is a fende of hell My greyhoundes leaped and my stede did start My spere I toke and did loke about With hardy courage I did arme my hart At last I sawe a sturdy gyaunt stoute Twelue fote of length to leare a great route Thre heades he had and he armed was Bothe heades and bodye all aboute with brasse Upon his first heade in his helmet crest There stode a fanc of the silke so fine Where was written with letters of the best My name is falshode I shall cause encline My neighbours goodes for to make them myne Alway I get their lande or substaunce With subtile fraude deceypt or variaunce And when a knight with noble chyualry Of la bell Pucell shoulde attayne the grace With my great falshode I worke so subtilly That in her hart he hath no dweilyng place Thus of his purpose I do let the case This is my power and my condicion Loue to remoue by a great illusion And of the seconde heade in a silken tassell There I sawe written ymagination My crafty witte is withouten fayle Loue for to bring in perturbacion Where la bell Pucell woulde haue affection To graunde amoure I shall a tale deuise To make her hate him and him to despise By my false witte so muche ymaginatife The trouthe full oft I bryng in disease Where as was peace I cause to be strife I will suffer no man for to liue in ease For if by fortune he will be displease I shall of hym ymagen suche a tale That out of ioye it