reche not a bene Though I come after hym with Haubake I speke in prose and let hym rymes make And with that worde he with a sobre chere Began hys tale as ye shullen after here ¶ Here endeth the man of lawes Prologue and here foloweth hys tale O Hateful harme condycioÌ„ of pouert With thurst with colde with huÌ„gre so coÌ„fouÌ„ded To asken helpe the shameth in thyn hert If thou non aske w t nede thou art so wounded that very nede vnwrapeth al thy wouÌ„des hid Maugry thyn heed thou must for indygence Or stele or begge or borowe thy dispence Thou blamest Christ and sayest ful bytterly He misdeparteth rychesse temporall Thy neyghbour thou wytest synfully And sayest tyou haste to lytel he hath all Parfay sayst thou somtyme he reken shall whan that his tayle shal brenne in glede For he nought helpeth nedeful in her nede Herken what is the sentence of the wyse Better is to dyen than to haue indygence Thyne selfe neygbour wol the dispyse If thou be poore farwel thy reuerence Yet of the wyse man take thys sentence Al the dayes poore men ben wycke Beware therfore or thou come to the pricke If thou be poore thy brother hateth the And al thy frendes fleeth fro the alas O ryche marchauntes ful of we le be ye O noble prudent folke as in this caas Your bagges ben not fylde with ambes aas But w t cyse synke y t renneth for your chauÌ„ce At Christenmasse mery may ye daunce Ye seken loude see for your wynnynges As wyse folke ye knowen al the state Of reignes ye ben fathers of tidynges And tales bothe of peace and debate I was right nowe of tales desolate Nere that a marchant gone is many a yere Me taught a tale whiche ye shullen here IN Surrey whiloÌ„ dwelte a company Of chapmen rych and therto sad and trewe That wyde were senten her spicery Clothes of golde and satten ryche of hewe Her chafare was so thryfty and so newe That euery wight hath deyntie to chafare Wyth hem and eke to sellen hem her ware Nowe fel it that the maisters of that sorte Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende Were it for chapmanhode or for disporte NoÌ„ other messangere wold the thyder sende But comeÌ„ hem selfe to Rome thys is y e ende And in suche place as thought heÌ„ auauntage For her entent they taken her herbygage Soiourned haÌ„ these marchauÌ„tes in y e town Certayne tyme as fel to her pleasaunce But so byfel that the excellent renowne Of the emperours doughter dame CustauÌ„ce Reported was with euery cyrcumstaunce Vnto these surreyn marchauÌ„tes in such wise Fro day to day as I shal you deuyse This was the comen voyce of euery man Our emperour of Rome god hym se A doughter hath y t sythen the worlde began To rekeÌ„ as wel her goodnesse as her beaute Nas neuer suche a nother as is she I pray to god in honour her sustene And wolde she were of al Europe the quene In her is hye beautie without pride Youthe without grenhede or folye To al her werkes vertu is her gyde Humblesse hath slayne in her al tyrannye She is a myrrour of al curtesye Her herte is very chambre of holynesse Her honde mynistre of fredom and almesse And al this voyce was soth as god is trew But now to our purpose let vs turne agayn These marchaÌ„tes han doÌ„ fret her ships new And whaÌ„ they han this blisful mayden seyn Home to Surrey ben they went ageyn And done her nedes as they han done yore And lyuen in welth I can say no more Now fel it y t these marchaÌ„tes stodeÌ„ in grace Of hym that was the Soudon of Surrye For whaÌ„ y t they came froÌ„ any straunge place He wolde of hys benygne curtesye Maken hem good chere besyly aspye Tydynges of sondry realmes for to lere The wonders that they might seen or here Amonge other thynges specially These marchantes haue hym tolde of dame Custaunce So gret noblesse in ernest ceryously That this SoudoÌ„ hath cauÈt so great plesaÌ„ce To han her fygure in hys remembraunce And al his luste and al hys besy cure was for to loue her whyle his lyfe may dure Parauenture in that ylke large boke Which that cleped is the heueÌ„ twritten was with sterres whan that he his byrthe toke That he for loue shulde han his dethe alas For in the sterres clerer than is the glas Is written god wot who so coude it rede The dethe of euery man withouten drede In sterres many a wynter there byfore was written the deth of Hector of Achilles Of Pompey and Iulius or they were bore The stryfe of Thebes and of Hercules Of Sampson Turnus and of Socrates The dethe but that mens wyttes ben so dull That no wyght can wel rede it at the full This SoudoÌ„ for his priue counsayle sene And shortly of thys mater for to pace He hath to hem declared al hys entent And said heÌ„ certain but yf he might haue grace To haue CustauÌ„ce withyn a lytel space He nas but deed and charged hem to hye To shapen for his lyfe some remedye Diuers men diuersly they sayden The argument they casten vp and doun Many a subtell reason forthe they layden They speken of Magike and abusyoun But finally as in conclusyoun They can not seen in that non auauntage Ne in non other way saue in maryage Than sawe they therin suche difficulte By way of reason to speke al playne Bycause that there was suche diuersyte Bitwene her bothe lawes that they sayne They trow y t no christen prince wolde fayne wedden hys chylde vnder our lawes swete That vs was taught by Mahounde our prophete And he answerde rather than I lese Custaunce I wol be christen doutels I mote ben hers I may non other chese I pray you holde your argumentes in pees Saueth my lyfe and be not recheles To getten her that hath my lyfe in cure For in thys wo I may not long endure what nedeth greater delatatyon I say by treatie and ambassadrye And by the popes meditation And al the chirche and al the cheualry That in distruction of Maumetry And in encrease of Christes lawe dere They ben accorded as ye shal here Howe that the Soudon and his baronage And al hys lieges shulde ichristned be And he shal han Custaunce in mariage And certayne golde I not what quantite And her to fynde sufficient surete The same accord was sworne on eyther syde Now fayre CustauÌ„ce almyghty god y e gyde Nowe woldeÌ„ som men waiten as I gesse That I shulde tellen al the purueyaunce That the Emperour of hys noblesse Hath shapen for hys daughter dame CustaÌ„ce Wel may men knoweÌ„ that so gret ordynaÌ„ce May no man tellen in a lytell clause As was arayde for so hyghe a cause Bishoppes ben shapeÌ„ with her for to weÌ„de Lordes and ladies and knightes of renown And other folke ynowe this is the ende
Frankeleyns tale IN Armorike y e called is britain There was a knyght that loued and dyd hys payne To serue ladyes in hys best wyse And many a labour many a great empryse He for hys lady wrought er she were wonne For she was one the fayrest vnder sonne And eke therto coÌ„men of hye kynrede That wel vnneth durst thys knyÈt for drede Tel her hys wo hys payne and his dystresse But at the laste she of her worthynesse And namely for hys meke obeysaunce Hath suche a pyte caught of hys penaunce That priuely she fyl of hys accorde To take hym for her husbonde her lorde Of such lordship as meÌ„ haue ouer her wiues And for to lede in the more blysse her lyues Of hys fre wyl he swore her as a knyght That neuer in al her lyfe daye ne nyght Ne shulde he take vpon hym no maystry Agayne her wyl ne kythe her ielousye But her obeye and folowe her wyl in al As any louer to hys lady shal Saue that the name of soueraynte That wolde he haue for shame of his degre She thaÌ„ked him with ful great humblesse She sayd syr syth of your gentylnesse Ye profred me to haue so large a rayne Ne wolde god neuer betwyxte vs twayne As in my gylt were it eyther warre or stryfe Syr I wol be your trewe humble wyfe Haue here my trouth tyl that my herte breste Thus ben they both in quiete and in reste For one thynge syrs safely dare I seyne That frendes eueryche other must obeyne Yf they wol longe holden companye Loue wol not be constrayned by maystry when maystry coÌ„meth the god of loue anone Beateth hys wynges farewel he is gone Loue is a thynge as any spirite free women of kynde desyren lyberte And not to be constrayned as a thral And so done men yf I sothe say shal Loke who that moste pacient is in loue He is at hys auauntage al aboue Pacience is an hye vertue certayne For it vaynquysheth as these clerkes sayne Thynges that rygour shal neuer attayne For euery word meÌ„ may not chyde or playne Lerneth to suffre or els so mote I gone Ye shal it lerne whether ye wol or none For in thys world certayn â—o wyght ther is That he ne doth or sayeth somtyme amys Ire sycknesse or constellacion wyne wo or chaungynge of complection Causeth ful often to done amysse or speken On euery wronge a maÌ„ may not be wreken After the tyme must be temperaunce To euery wight that can of gouernaunce And therfore hath this worthy wyse knight To lyue in ease suffraunce her hight And she to hym ful wysely gan swere That neuer shulde there be defaut in here Here may men se humble and wyse accorde Thus hath she take her seruant her lorde Seruaunt in loue and lorde in mariage Than was he bothe in lordship and seruage Seruage nay but in lordshyp aboue Sythen he hath both his lady and his loue His lady certes and his wyfe also The which that lawe of londe accordeth to And whan he was in this prosperite Home with his wife he goth in to his couÌ„tre Nat fer fro DeÌ„marke ther his dwelling was where as he lyueth in ioye and in solas who coude tel but he had wedded be The ioye the ease and the prosperite That is bitwixt an husbande his wyfe Euermore lasted this blysful lyfe Tyl that this knyght of which I speke thus That of Caere Iuda was cleped Arueragus Shope him to dwel a yere or twayne In Englande that cleped was Britayne To seken in armes worship and honour For al his lust he sette in suche labour And dwelt there two yere the boke saith thus ¶ Nowe wol I stynt of this Arueragus And speke I wol of Dorâ—gen his wyfe That loueth her husbonde as her hertes lyfe For his absence wepeth she and syketh As don these noble wyues whan hem lyketh She mourneth wayleth fasteth playneth Desyre of his presence her so constrayneth That al this wyde worlde set she at nought Her frendes whiche knewe her heuy thouÈt Conforten her in al that euer they may They prechen her and tellen her night day That causeles she slewe her selfe alas And euery comfort possyble in this caas They don to her with al her busynesse And al for to maken her leue her heuynesse ¶ By processe as ye knoweÌ„ euerychone Men mowen so longe grauen in a stone Tyl some fygure therin printed be So longe han they comforted her tyl she Receyued hath by hope and by reson The enprintyng of her constellacion Through which her great sorow gaÌ„ aswage She may not alway induren suche a rage And eke Aruyragus in al this care Hath sent his letters home of his welfare And that he wol come hastely agayne Or els had this sorowe her herte slayne Her frendes sawe her sorowe gan to slake And prayden her on knees for goddes sake To come and romen in her companye Away to driuen her derke fantasye And fynally she graunted that requeste For wel she sawe it was for the beste ¶ Nowe stode her castel faste by the see And ofte with her frendes walked she Her to disporte on the bankes hey where as she may shyppes and barges sey Salyng her course where hem lyst go But yet was that a parcel of her wo For to her selfe ful ofte alas sayd she Is there no shyppe of so many as I se wol bring home my lorde â–ª thaÌ„ were my herte warished of these bytter paynes smerte ¶ Another tyme wolde she sytte and thynke And caste her eyen downward fro the brinke But whan she sawe the grysly rockes blake For very feare so wolde her herte quake That on her fete she myght not her sustene Than wolde she sytte adown vpon the grene And pitously in to the see beholde And say right thus with sorouful sykes colde ¶ Eterne god that through thy purueyauÌ„ce Ledest this worlde by certayne gouernauÌ„ce In ydle as meÌ„ sayn doste thou nothing make But lorde these grisly fendely rockes blake That semen rather a foule confusyon Of werke than a fayre creacion Of suche a parfyte god wyse and ful stable why haue ye wrouÈt this werke vnresonable For by this werke northe south west ne este There nys fostred man byrde ne beste It dothe no good but anoyeth Se ye not lorde howe maÌ„kinde it distroyeth An hundred thousande bodyes of mankynde Haue rockes issayn al be they not in mynde Sin maÌ„kind is so fayre aparte of thy werke That thou it madest like thyn owne werke Than semed it ye had a great cherte Towarde maÌ„kynde but how thaÌ„ may it be That ye suche menes maken it to distroyen which menes don no good but euer anoyen ¶ I wote wel clerkes wol sayne as hem lest By argumentes that al is for the best Though I ne can not the causes wel knowe But thilke god y t made the wynde to blowe As kepe my lorde this is
a foole forsoth it apperteyneth not vnto a wyse man to maken suche a sorowe Youre doughter wyth the grace of God shall waryshe and escape And all were it so that she ryght now were deed ye ne oughte not as for her death your selfe distroye Seneke saythe the wyse man shal not take to gret discomforte for the dethe of hys children but certes he shuld suffre it in pacieÌ„ce as wel as he abydeth y e deth of hys owne proper person ¶ Thys Mellebeus answerde anon and sayd what man ê™ he shuld of hys wepynge stynt that hath so great a cause for to wepe Iesus hym selfe our lorde wepte for y e dethe of Lazarus hys frende Prudence answerd certes wel I wote a temperate wepynge is nothyng defended to hym that sorouful is amonge folke in sorowe but it is rather grauÌ„ted hym to wepe The apostel Poule vnto y e Romans writeth men shuld reioyce with heÌ„ that maketh ioye and wepe with suche folke as wepen But though a temperate wepyng be graunted certes outragyous wepynge is defended Mesure of wepyng shulde be coÌ„sydred after the lore that techeth vs Sencke Whan that thy frende is deed ê™ he let not thyne eyen to moist ben of teeres ne to moch drie although teeres comen to thyn eyen let hem not fal And whan thou hast forgon thy frende do diligence to gette a nother frende and this is more wisdom thaÌ„ for to wepe for thy frende which thou hast lorne for therin is no bote And therfor yf ye gouerne you by sapience put away sorowe out of your herte Remembreth you that Iesus Sirake sayth a man that is ioyus and glad in herte it him conserueth storishyng in hys age but sothely a sorowful here maketh hys bones drie He sayth eke thus that sorowe in herte sleeth ful manye a man Salomon sayth that right as moughthes in the shepes sleyse anoyeth the clothes and the smale wormes y t tree ryght so anoyeth sorowe the hert of man wherfore vs ought as wel in the dethe of our children as in the losse of our temporal goodes haue pacience Remembre you vpon pacient Iobe whaÌ„ he had loste hys children and hys temporal substaunce and in hys body endured and receyued ful many a greuous trybulacion yet sayde he thus Oure lorde it sent to me oure lorde hath byrafte it me right so as our lorde wold right so it be done iblessed be the name of our lorde To these forsayd thinges Melibeus vnto hys wyfe Prudence answerd Al thy wordes ê™ he ben true and therto profytable but truely myn herte is troubled with this sorow so greuously that I not what to do Let cal ê™ Prudence youre true frendes al and thy lynage which that ben wyse telleth to hem your case herkeneth what they say in counsaylyng and gouerne you after her sentence Salomon saythe werke all thy thynges by counsayle thou shalte neuer rue Than by couÌ„sayle of his wife PrudeÌ„ce this Melibeus let caule a great congrygacion of people as surgyens physicions olde folke and yong some of hys olde enemyes reconciled as by her semblant to hys loue and to hys grace And therwithal ther came some of his neighbours that dyd hym reuereÌ„ce more for drede thaÌ„ for loue as it happeth oft There comen also ful many subtyl flaterers wyse aduocates lerned in the law And whaÌ„ these folke togyders assembled were this Melibeus in sorowfull wyse shewed hem his case and by the maner of his speche it semed that in herte he bare a cruel yre redy to don vengeaunce vpon hys foos sodainly he desyred y t weâ—e shulde begyn but nathelesse yet asked he counsayle vpon this mater A surgyen by lycence and assent of suche as were wyse vp rose and vnto Melibeus sayd as ye shal here ¶ Sir ê™ he as to vs surgiens apertayneth that we do to euery wight the best that we can where as we ben withholdeÌ„ to our pacient that we don no damage wherfore it happeth many tyme ofte that whan two men haue eueriche wounded other one surgyen healeth hem both wherfore vnto oure arte it is not pertineÌ„t to norishe werre ne parties to supporte But certes as to the warysshyng of your doughter al be it so that perilously she be wounded we shal do so tentyfe besynesse fro day to night that with y e grace of god she shal ben hole and sounde as sont as is possible Almost right in the same wyse the physiciens answerd saue that they sayde a fewe wordes more That ryght as maladies ben by her contraries cured right so shal man warisshe werre by peace Hys neyghbours full of enuye hys fayned frendes that semed reconciled and his flatterers maden semblauÌ„ce of wepyng enpayred and agrutched moche of this mater in praysinge greatly Melibe of might of power of richesse and of frendes dispysing the power of his aduersaries and sayd vtterly that he anon shulde wreken hym on hys foos and begyn warre Vp rose then an aduocat that was wyse byleue and by counsayle of other that were wyse and sayd The nede for the whych we bene assembled in thys place is a full heuye thynge a great mater bycause of y e wronge and of the wyckednesse that hath be done eke by reason of great damages that in tyme commynge ben possyble to fallen for y e same and eke by reason of the great rychesse and power of the partyes both for the whyche reasons it were a full greate peryll to erren in thys matter Wherfore Melibeus thys is oure sentence we counsayle you abouen all thynge that ryghte anone thou do thy delygence in kepynge of thy proper persone in suche a wyse that thou ne wante none espye ne watche thy bodye for to saue And after that we counsayle that in thyne house thou â—et suffycieÌ„t garryson so as they may as well thy bodye as thy house defende but certes to mouen warre or to done sodeynly vengeauÌ„ce we maye not deme in so lytel tyme y t it were profytable wherfore we aske leyser space to haue delyberacion in thys case to deme for the commen prouerbe sayeth thus He that sone demeth sone shall repente And eke men sayne thylke iudge is wyse that sone vnderstandeth a matter and iugeth by leyser For all be it taryenge be noyfull algate it is not to be reproued in yeuynge of iudgemente ne in vengeaunce takynge when it is sufficyent and resonable And that shewed oure Lorde Iesu Christe by ensample for when the woman was takeÌ„ in auoutry and was brought in hys presens to knowen what shulde be done of her persone al be it that he wyst wel hym self what he wold answere yet ne wold he not answere sodeynly but he wolde haue delyberacion and in the grounde he wrote twyse and by thys cause we asken delyberation and we shall then by the grace of God couÌ„sayle you y t thynge that shal be profytable Vp sterte then the yonge folke at ones y e
folowynge be workes by them selfe THe dreme of Chaucher F. cc.lxvij The assemble of foules F. cc.lxxiij The flour of Curtesy F. cc.lxxviij Howe Pyte is deed and beryed in a gentyll herte Fol. cc.lxxix La belle dame sans mercy Fol. cc.lxxx Annelyda and false Arcyte Fol. cc.lxxxvi The assemble of Ladyes Fol. eodem The cōclusion of thastrolaby Fol. cc.xci The cōplaynt of the blacke knight Fol. ccc A preyse of women Fol. ccc.iiij ¶ The house of Fame is deuyded in to thre bookes ¶ The fyrst boke begynneth Fol. ccc.v. The seconde boke begynneth Fol. ccc.viii The thyrde boke begynneth Fol. ccc.xi ¶ Explicit the house of Fame ¶ The Testament of Loue is deuyded in to thre bokes ¶ The fyrst boke begynneth Fol. ccc.xv The seconde boke begynneth Fol. ccc.xxv The thyrde boke begynneth Fol. ccc.xlj ¶ All these workes folowynge be workes by them selfe THe lamentacyon of Marye Magdalayne Fol. ccc.l The remedy of Loue Fol. ccc.lv The cōplaynt of Mars venus fol. ccc.lviij The complaynt of Mars alone Fol. ccc.lix The complaynt of Venus alone Fol. ccc.lx. The letter of Cupyde Fol. ccc.lx. A balade of our lady Fol. ccc.lxiij A balade of kyng H. the fourth Fol. ccc.lxiiij Of y e cuckowe y e nyghtingale Fol. ccc.lxvij Scogan vnto the yonge lordes and gentylmen of the kynges house Fol. ccc.lxix Dyuers other balades of Chaucer c. ¶ Thus endeth the table of all the workes ¶ Eyght goodly questions with theyr aunsweres SOmtyme in Grece that noble region There were eightclerkes of grete science Philosophers of notable discretion Of whom was asked to proue theyr prudence Eyght questions of derke intellygence To whiche they answered after theyr entent As here dothe appere playne and euydent ¶ The fyrst questyon what erthly thyng Is best and to god moost commendable The first clerke answered without tarying A mannes soule euer ferme and stable In ryght from trouthe nat varyable But nowe alas full sore may we wepe For couetyse hath brought trouthe a slepe ¶ The seconde what thing is moost odious A double man sayd the philosophre wyth a virgyn face and a tayle venomous wyth a fayre vieu and a false profre A corrupte caryen in a golden tree It is a monster in natures lynage One man to haue a double vysage ¶ The thyrde what is the best dower That maye be to a wyfe appropriate A clene lyfe was the cleckes aunswer wythout synne chast and inuyolate From all disceytes and speches inoruate Or countenaunce whyche shall be to dispyse No fyre make and no smoke woll aryse ¶ The fourth questyon what maydē may Be called clene in chastyte The fourth clerke answerd whiche alway Euery creature is a shamed on to lye Of whom euery man reporteth gret honeste Good maydens kepe your chastyte forthe And remēbre that good name is gold worth ¶ Who is a poore man euer full of wo A couetouse man whyche is a nygon He that in his herte can neuer saye ho The more good the lesse distributyon The richer the worse of condityon Men in this cost clepen him a nygarde Sir Guy the bribour is hys stewarde ¶ Whiche is a ryche man withouten fraude He that can to hys good suffyse what soeuer he hath he yeueth god the lande And kepeth hym clene from all couetyse He desyreth nothyng in vngoodly wyse His body is here hys mynde is aboue He is a ryche man for god dothe hym loue ¶ Who is a foole is the seuenth demaunde He that wolde hurte and hath no powere Myght he mykell moche wolde he cōmaūde His malyce great his myght nought were He thretteth full faste full lytell may he dere Thynketh nat howe men haue sayd beforne God sendeth a shrewde cowe a shorte horne ¶ Who is a wyse man is the eyght question He that myght noye and dothe no noyaūce Myght punyshe and leaueth punyssyon A man mercyfull without vengeaunce A wyse man putteth in remembraunce Sayeng had I venged all myne harme My cloke had nat be furred halfe so warme ¶ Explicit ¶ To the kynges most noble grace and to the lordes and knyghtes of the garter TO you wele of honour and of worthynesse Our Christen kyng the heire and successour Vnto Iustinians deuout tendernesse In faythe of Iesu our redemptour And to you lordes of the garter floure Of cheualry as men you clepe and cal The lorde of vertue and of grace authour Graunt the frute of your rose neuer appal O liege lorde that haue eke the lykenesse Of Constantyne thensample and myrrour To princes all in humble buxumnesse To holy churche o veray sustaynour And pyller of our fayth and werryour Agayne the heresyes bytter galle Do forthe do forthe contynue your socour Holde vp Christes baner lette it nat falle This yle or this had ben but hethnesse Nad be of your fayth the force and vigour And yet this day the fendes crabbydnesse weueth fully to catche a tyme and hour To haue on vs your lieges a sharpe shoure And to hys seruytude vs knytte and thralle But aye we trust in you our protectour On your constaunce we awayten alle Cōmaundeth that no wight haue hardinesse O worthy kyng our Christen Emperour Of the fayth to dispute more or lesse Openly amonge people Her errour Spryngeth all day and engendreth rumour Maketh such lawe and for ought may befal Obserue it wele there to be ye dettour Doth so and god in glorye shall you stall Ye lordes eke shynyng in noble fame To whiche appropred is the mayntenaunce Of Christes cause in honour of hys name Shoue on and put his foes to vttraunce God wolde so so wolde eke your legiaunce To tho two prycketh you your duite who so nat kepeth this double obseruaunce Of meryte and honour naked is he Your style sayth ye be foes to shame Nowe kyth of your fayth the perseueraunce In whiche an hepe of vs be halte and lame Our christen kyng of Englande of Fraūce And ye my lordes wyth your alyaunce And other faythfull people that there be Trust I to god shal quench al this noysaūce And this lande sette in hyghe prosperite Conquest of hyghe prowesse is for to tame The wylde woodnesse of these myscreaunce Ryght to the rote repe ye that same Slepe nat this but for goddes plesaunce And hys mother and in sygnifyaunce That ye ben of saynt Georges lyuere Doth hym seruyce and knyghtly obeysaunce For Christes cause is hys well knowen ye Stiffe stand in that ye shal greue grame The foe to peace the norice of distaunce That nowe is ernest tourne it in to game Nowe kythe of your beleue the constaunce Lorde liege lordes haue remembraunce Lorde of all is the blysfull Trinyte Of whose vertue the mighty habundaunce You herte and strength in faythfull vnyte ¶ Explicit WHan faythe fayleth in preestes sawes And lordes hestes are holden for lawes And robbery is holden purchace And lechery is holden solace Than shall the londe of Albyon Be brought to great confusyon It falleth for euery
was fee symple to hym in effecte Hys purchasynge myght not be to hym suspecte Nowhere so besy a man as he there nas And yet he semed besyer then he was In termes had he case and domes all That fro the tyme of kynge Wylliam was fall Therto he could endyte and maken a thynge There coude no wyght pynche at hys wrytynge And euery statute coude he playne by rote He rode but homely in a medley cote Gyrte wyth a seynt of sylâ—â— with barres smale Of hys arraye tell I no lenger tale ¶ The Frankeleyn x. A Frankeleyn there was in hys companye Whyte was hys berde as is the deysye And of hys complexion he was sanguyne Well loued he by the morowe a soppe in wyne To lyuen in delyte was euer hys wonne For he was Epycures owne sonne That helde opinion that playne delyte Was very felicitye perfyte An housholder and that a great was he Saynt Iulian he was in hys countre Hys breed hys ale was alwaye after one A better byended man was no where none Wythout bake meate was neuer hys house Of fyshe and fleshe and that so plenteous It shewed in hys house of meate and drynke Of all deyntes that men coude thynke After the sondrye seasons of the yere So chaunged he hys meate and hys suppere Full many afaâ—â—e parâ—ryche had he in mewe And many a dreme and many a lâ—â—e in stewe Wo was hys coke but hys â—â—uce were Poynante and sharpe and redy all hys gere Hys table dorâ—naunt in hys hall alwaye Stode redy couered all the longe daye At cessions there was he lorde and syre Full ofte tyme he was knyght of the shyre An anelace and a gepsere all of sylke Hynge at hys gyrdell whyte as morowe mylke A shyryfe had he bene and a countour Was nowhere suche a worthy vauesour ¶ The Haberdassher xi An Haberdassher there was and a carpenter A webbe a dyer and a tapyser All they were yclothed in o lyuere Of a solempne and a great fraternyte Full fresshe and newe her geare ipyked was Her knyues ychaped nere not wyth bras But all with syluer wrought ful clene and wele Her gyrdels and her pouches euerydele Wel semed eueryche of hem a fayre burgeys To sytten at a yelde hal on the hye deys Eueryche for the wysdome that he can Was shape lyche for to ben an alderman For catayle had they ryght ynough and rent And eke her wyues wolde it well assent And els certayne they were to blame It is full fayre to ben yeleped madame And gon to vigylles al before And haue a mantel royall yche ybore ¶ The Coke xii A Coke they had wyth hem for the nones To boyle the chykens and the mary bones And pouder merchaunt tarte and galyngale Well coude he knowe a draught of London ale He couthe rosthe sethe boyâ—e and frye Make morâ—reys and wel bake a pye But great harme was it as it thought me That on hys shynne a mormal had he And blynke manger made he wyth the beste ¶ The Shypman xiij A Shipman was ther wonnyng fer by west For aught I wete he was of Detchemouthe He rode vpon a rowney as he couthe In a gowne of faldyng to the kne A dagger hangyng by a lace had he Aboute hys necke vnder hys arme downe The hote sommer had made his hew a browne And certayne he was a good felawe Full many a draught of wyne had he drawe From Burdeux ward whiles y e chapmen slepe Of nyce conscience toke he no kepe If that he faught and had the hygher honde By water he sent hem home to euery londe But of hys crafte to recken wel hys tydes Hys streames and his daungers hym besydes Hys herbrough hys moone hys lodemanage There was none suche from Hul to Cartage Hardy he was and wyse to vndertake Wyth many a tempest had hys berde be shake He knewe all the hauens as there were Fro Scotlande to the Cape de fenestere And euery creke in Britayne and in Spayne Hys barge was called the Maudelayne ¶ De doctour of Phisyke xiiij Wyth vs there was a doctour of phisyke In thys worlde ne was there none hym lyke To speke of phisyke and of surgerye For he was grounded in Astronomye He kepte hys pacyent a full great del In houres by hys magyke naturel Wel couthe he fortune the assendent Of hys ymage for hys pacyent He knewe the cause of euery maladye Were it of colde hete moyste or drie And wherof engendred what humour He was a very perfyte practysour The cause yknowe and of hys harme the rote A none he gaue to the sycke man his bote Full redy had he hys apotecaries To sende hym dregges and hys lectuaries For eche of hem made other for to wynne Her frendshyp was not newe to begynne Wel knewe he the olde Esculapius And Dioscorides and eke Ruffus Olde Hippocrates Haly and eke Gallen Serapion Rasis and also Auicen Auerroys Damasceue and Constantyn Bernarde Gatisden and Gylbertyn Of hys dyete meserable was he For it was of no superfluyte But of great nourysshynge and digestyble Hys study was but lytel on the Byble In sangwyne and in perce he clad was al Lyned wyth Taffata and wyth sendal And yet he was but easy of dispence He kepte that he wanne in tyme of pestylence For golde in Physyke is a cordyal Therfore he loued golde in specyal ¶ The wyfe of Bathe .xv. A good wyfe there was besyde Bathe But she was somdel dese and that was scathe Of clothe makynge she had suche an haunte She passed hem of Ipre or of Gaunte In all the parysshe wyfe ne was there none That to the offrynge before her shulde gone And yf there dyd certayn ryght wrothe was she That she was al out of charite Her kerchers ful fyne were of grounde I durst swere they wayden ten pounde That on a Sonday were vpon her heed Her hosen were of fyne scarlet reed Full strayte ystrayned and shoesful newe Bolde was her face and reed was her hewe She was a worthy woman al her lyue Husbandes at the churche dore had she fyue Withouten other company in youthe But therof nedeth not to speke as nouthe And thryse had she ben at Hierusalem She had passed many a stronge streme At Rome had she ben and at Boloyne In Galys at saynt Iames and at Coloyne She couth moche of wandrynge by the waye Gat tothed was she sothely for to saye Vpon an ambler easely she sat Ywympled well and on her heed an hat As brode as is a bokeler or a targe A foot mantel aboute her hyppes large And on her fete a payre of spurres sharpe In felyshyp well couth she laughe and carpe Of remedyes of loue she coude perchaunce For the couth of that arte the olde daunce ¶ The Person xvi A Good man there was of relygyoun And was a poore person of a toun But riche he was of holye thought and werke He was also a lerned man
it a gentle courser of Poyle were For certes fro hys tayle to hys ere Nature ne arte coude hym not amende In no degre as al the people wende But euermore her moste wonder was Howe that it couth gon and was of bras It was of fayrie as the people semed Dyuers folke dyuersly they demed As many heedes as many wyttes there ben They murmure as doth a swarme been And made of skylles after her fantesyes Rehersynge of the olde poetryes And sayden it was ylyke the Pegase The horse that had wynges for to flee Or els it was the Grekes horse Synon That brought Troye to dystruccion As men in thys olde bokes rede Myne herte ê™ one is euermore in drede I trowe some men of armes ben therin That shapen hem thys cytie for to wyn It were right good y t such thynges were know An other rowned to his felow low And sayd he lyed for it is rather ylyke An apparence made by some magyke As iogglours playen at these feastes grete Of sondry thoughtes thus they iaÌ„gle trete As leude people demeth comenly Of thynges that ben made more subtelly Then they can in her leudnesse comprehende They demen gladly to the badder ende And some of them wondren on y e myrrour That borne was vp to the mayster toure Howe men myght in it such thynges se And other answerd certes it myght wel be Naturally by composicyons Of angels and of slye reflections And sayden in Rome was suche on They speken of Alocen and Vitilion And Aristote that wryteth in her lyues Of queynte myrrours and of prospectiues As knowen they that han her bokes herde And other folke han woÌ„dred on y e sworde That wolde perce through euery thynge And fel in speche of Telophus the kynge And of Achylles for hys queynte spere For he couth wyth it heale and dere Right in such wyse as meÌ„ may w t the swerde Of which right now ye haue your selueÌ„ herd They speken of sondry hardyng of metal And speken of medycyns eke wythal And how and when it shulde hardened be whych is vnknowe algate to me ¶ Tho speake they of Canaces rynge And sayden al that suche a wonder thynge Of crafte of rynges herde they neuer non Saue that Moses and kynge Salomon Had a name of connynge of such arte Thus sayen the people draweÌ„ hem aparte But nathelesse some sayden that it was wonder to maken oâ— serue ashen glas And yet is glas not â—yke ashen of ferne But so they han knowen it so ferne Therfore they sesen her iaÌ„glyng her woÌ„der As sore wondren some on cause of thoÌ„der On ebbe fludde on gossomer and on myste And on al thynge tyl the cause is wyste Thus ianglen they and demeÌ„ and deuyse Tyl that the kyng gan fro hys borde aryse ¶ Phebus hath lefte the angle merydional And yet ascendyng was the beest royal The gentle Lyon with his Aldrian Whan that this tartre Kyng Cambuscan Rose from his borde there as he sate ful hye Byforne hym gothe the loude mynstralcye Tyl he came to hys chambre of paramentes There as they sownen dyuers instrumeÌ„tes That is lyke an heuen for to here Nowe dauncen lusty Venus chyldreÌ„ dere For in the fyshe her lady sate ful hye And loketh on hem with a frendly eye ¶ This noble kyng is sette vpon hys trone This straunge knyght is fet to hym ful sone And in the daunce he gothe with Canace Here is the reuel and the iolyce That is not able a dul man to deuyse He must hau knowe loue and her seruyse And ben a feestlyche man as fresshe as May That shulde you deuyse suche araye ¶ who coulde you tellen the forme of dauÌ„ces So vncouth and so fresh countenaunces Suche subtyll lokynges and dissimulinges For drede of ialouse mens apperceyuynges No man but Lancelot and he is deed Therfore I passe ouer al this lusty heed I say no more but in this iolynesse I lete hem tyl men to supper dresse ¶ The steward byddeth spyces for to hye And eke the wyne in al this melodye The vshers and the squyers ben ygone The spyces and the wyne is comen anone They eten dronkeÌ„ whaÌ„ this had an ende Vnto the temple as reason was they wende The seruyce is done they soupen al by day what nedeth it to rehersen her array Eche man wot wel that at a kynges feest Is plenty to the moste and to the leest And deyntes mo than ben in my knowynge And after supper gothe this noble kynge To seen this horse of brasse with al his route Of lordes and of ladyes hym aboute Such woÌ„drig ther was on his hors of bras That sythen the great siege of Troye was There as men wondred on an horse also He was there such a wondring as was tho But fynally the kyng asketh the knyght The vertue of thys horse and the myght And prayde him to tellen of his gouernauÌ„ce The horse anon gan to tryppe and daunce whaÌ„ y t this knightlayde honde on hys rayne And sayd syr there is no more to sayne But whan you lyste to ryden any where Ye mote tryll a pyn stante in hys ere whiche I shal tel you bytwene vs two Ye mote nempne hym to what place also Or to what countre you lyst to ryde And whan ye come there you lyste abyde Bydde hym discende and trylle a nother pyn For therin lyeth the effecte of al the gyn And he wol downe discende don your wyl And in that place he wol abyde styl Though al y e world had the coÌ„trary sworne He shal not thens be ythrowe ne yborne Or yf you lyst bydde hym thens gon Tryl thys pyn and he wol vanyshe anon Out of the syght of euery maner wyght And come ayen be it day or nyght whan that you lyst to clepen hem agayne In suche a gyse as I shal to you sayne Bytwyxt you and me and that ful sone Ryde whaÌ„ you lyst ther nis no more to done ¶ Enfourmed whaÌ„ y e kyng was of y e knyght And hath conceyued in hys wytte aright The maner and the forme of al thys thyng Ful glad and ful blythe the noble kyng Repayreth to hys reuel as byforne The brydel is in to the toure yborne And kept amonge his iewels lese and dere The horse vanysshed I not in what manere Out of her syght ye get no more of me But thus I lete in luste and iolyte This Cambyscan hys lordes festyng Tyl wel nye the day began to spryng ¶ Explicit prima parsâ—et se quitur pars secunda THe nortee of digestyon the slepe Gan on hem wynke bad hem take kepe That myrth drinke labour wol haue reste And with a galping mouthe hem al he keste And sayd it was tyme to lye adoun For blode was in hys domynacyoun Cherysseth blode natures frende ê™ he They thankeÌ„ him galpyng by two by thre And euery wight gan drawe him to his reste As slepe hem
me To be refreshed halfe so ofte as he which a gifte of god had he for al hys wyuis No man hath such y t in this worlde a lyue is God wotte this noble kynge as to my wytte The fyrst nyght had many a mery fytte with eche of hem so wel was hym lyue Blessed be god I haue had fyue welcome the syxte whan euer he shal For sothe I wol not kepe me chaste in al whan myne husbonde is fro the world ygon Some crysten man shal wedde me anon For than the apostel saythe that I am fre To wedde a godde shal be where it lyketh me He saythe that to be wedded is no synne Better is to be wedded then to brynne What recketh me though folke say villany Of shrewde Lameth and of hys bigamy ¶ I wotte wel Abraham was an holy man And Iacob eke as fer as euer I here can And eche of hem had wyues mo than two And many another holy man also Where can ye say in any maner age That euer god defended mariage By expresse wordes I pray you tel me Or where coÌ„maunded he virginyte I wotte as wel as ye it is no drede The Apostel whan he spake of maydenhede He sayd therof precept had he none Men may counsayle a woman to be one But counsaylyng is no coÌ„maundement He put it in our owne iugement For had god coÌ„maunded maydenheoe ThaÌ„ had he dampned weddyng out of drede And certes yf there were no sede ysowe Virginite than wherof shulde it growe Poule durst not comaunde at the leste I thing of which his maister yafe none heste The darte is set vp for virgynite Catche who so may who renneth beste let se But thys worde is not take of euery wight But there as god lyst yeue it of his might I wotte wel that the apostel was a mayde But nathelesse though that he wrote sayde He wolde that euery wight were suche as he Al nys but counsayle to virginite And for to ben a wyfe he yaue me leue Of indulgence so it be not to repreue To wedde me yf that my make dye without exception of bygamye Al were it good no woman for to touche He ment as in hys bedde or in hys couche For peryl is bothe fyre and towe to assemble Ye knowe what this ensample may resemble This is al and some he helde virginite More parfyte than weddyng in freelte ¶ Freelte clepe I but yf that he and she wolde lede her lyfe al in chastyte I graunt it wel I haue none enuye Though maydenhede preferre bygamye It lyketh hem to be clene in body and goste Of myne estate I wol make no boste For wel ye know a lorde in his housholde Hath nat euery vessel al of golde Some ben of tree and don her lorde seruyce God clepeth folke to hym in sondry wyse And eueriche hath of god a proper gifte Some this some that as hym lyketh shifte Virginyte is great perfection And contynence eke with deuocion But Christ that of perfection is wel Badde nat euery wight he shulde go sel Al that he had and gyue it to the poore And in suche wise folowe hym and his lore He spake to hem that wolde lyue parfitly And lordinges by your leaue that am nat I I wol bestowe the floure of al myne age In the actes and frute of mariage Tel me also to what conclusyon were membres made of generation And of so parfite wise a wight iwrought Trusteth wel they were nat made for nouÈt Glose who so wol and saye vp and doun That they were made for purgatioun Of vryne and other thynges smale And eke to knowe a female from a male And for non other cause what say ye no The experience wotte wele it is nat so So that the clerkes be nat with me wroth I saye that they were maked for bothe This is to sayn for offyce and for ease Of engendrure there we nat god displease why shulde men els in her bokes sette That man shulde yelde to hys wyfe her dette Now wherwith shuld he pay his paymeÌ„t It he ne vsed his sely instrument Than were they made vpon a creature To purge vryn and eke for engendrure But I say nat that euery wight is holde That hath suche harnesse as I to you tolde To gon and vsen hem in engendrure Than shulde men take of chastite no cure Christ was a mayde and shapen as a man And many a saynt sythen the worlde began Yet lyued they euer in parfyte chastite I nyl enuy no virginyte Lette heÌ„ with bredde of pure whete be fedde And lette vs wyues eate barly bredde And yet with barly bred Marke tel can Our lorde Iesu refreshed many a man In suche a state as god hath cleped vs I wol perseuer I nam nat precious In wifehode wol I vse myn instrument As frely as my maker hath it sent If I be daungerous god gyue me sorowe My husboÌ„d shal it haue both euyn morow whan that him lyst come forth pay his det An husbande wol I haue I wol nat let whiche shal be bothe my dettour my thral And haue his tribulation with al Vpon his fleshe while that I am hys wyfe I haue the power duryng al my lyfe Vpon his proper body and nat he Right thus the apostle tolde to me And badde our husbondes for to loue vs wel Al this sentence me lyketh euery del ¶ Vp stert the Pardoner and that anon Nowe dame ê™ he by god by saynt Iohn Ye ben a noble prechour in thys caas I was about to wedde a wyfe alas what shulde I bye it on my fleshe so dere Yet had I leuer wedde no wyfe to yere Abyde ê™ she my tale is not begon Nay thou shalt drynke of another ton Er that I go shal sauer worse then ale And when that I haue tolde forth my tale Of tribulation that is in mariage Of whych I am expert in al myne age Thys is to say my selfe haue ben the whyp Then mayst thâ—u chese whyther y u wylt syp Of thylke tonne that I shal set abroche Beware of it er thou to nere aproche For I shal tel ensamples mo then ten who so wol not beware by other men By hym shal other men corrected be These same wordes wryteth Ptholome Rede in hys almagest and take it there Dame I wol pray you yf your wyll were Sayd thys pardoner as ye began Tel forth your tale spareth for no man And teache vs yonge men of your practycke Gladly ê™ she yf it may you lyke But that I praye to al thys company Yf that I speake after my fantasy As taketh not agrefe of that I say For myne entent is not but to play Now syrs then shal I tel forth my tale As euer mote I drynke wyne or ale I shal say soth tho husbondes that I had Thre of hem were good and two were bad The thre good men were ryche and olde Vnnethes myght they the
To done at home as sone as it may be The labour which that longeth to me And than may I at leyser it beholde If she the way to the castel holde And as she wolde ouer the thresholde gon The Markes came and gan her for to call And she sette downe her water potte anon Besyde the thresholde of the ore stal And downe vpon her knees she gan to fal And with sadde countenaunce kneled styl Tyl she had herde what was the lordes wyl This thoughtful Markes spake to y e mayd wel soberly and sayd in this manere where is your father Grisylde he sayd And she with reuerence and meke chere Answerde lorde he is al redy here And in she gothe without lenger lette And to the Markes she her father fette He by the honde than toke this olde man And sayd thus whan he had hym asyde Ianycola I neyther may ne can Lenger the pleasaunce of myne herte hyde If that thou vouchsafe what so euer betyde Thy doughter wol I take or that I wende As for my wyfe to my lyues ende Thou louest me I wotte wel certayne And arte my faythful liege man ybore And al that lyketh me I dare wel sayne It lyketh the and specially therfore Tel me that poynte that I haue said before If that thou wolt to this purpose drawe To take me for thy sonne in lawe ¶ This sodayne case the man astoned so That reed he wext abashed al quakyng He stode ne vnneth sayd he wordes mo But onely thus ê™ he lorde my wyllyng Is as ye wol ne ayenst your lykyng I wol nothyng ye be my lorde so dere Right as you lyste gouerne this matere Than wol I thus ê™ this Markes sothly That in thy chambre I you and she Haue a collation and wost thou why For I wol aske her yf her wyl be To be my wyfe and rule her after me And al this shal she done in thy presence I wol not speke out of thyn audyence And in the chambre while they were about The treties whiche ye shal after here The people came into the house without And wondred hem in how honest manere So tentifly she kept her father dere But vtterly Grisylde wonder myght For neuer erste sawe she suche a syght No wonder is though she be astoned To se so great a gest come into that place She was neuer to suche gestes woned For which she loked with ful pale face But shortly fro this mater for to pace These weren the wordes y t the Markes sayd To this benygne and very faythful mayde ¶ Grisylde he said ye shal wel vnderstonde It lyketh vnto your father and me That I you wedde and eke it may so stonde As I suppose that ye wol that it so be But these demaundes I aske fyrst ê™ he That sythen it shal be done in hasty wyse wol ye therto assent or els you auyse I say thus be ye redy with good herte To al my luste and that I frely may As me best liketh though ye laugh or smerte And neuer ye to grutche nyght ne day whan I say ye that ye say not ones nay Neyther in word ne by frowning couÌ„tenaÌ„ce Swere this here I swere our aliaunce ¶ WoÌ„dryng vpoÌ„ these wordes quakyng for drede She said lorde indigne vnworthy Am I to thylke honour that ye me bede But right as ye wol so wol I And here I swere that neuer wyllyngly In word werke ne thouÈt I nil you disobey For to be deed though me were loth to dey ¶ This is ynough Grisylde myne ê™ he And forthe he gothe with a sobre chere Out at the dore and after came she And to the people he said in this manere This is my wyfe ê™ he that stondeth here Honoureth her loueth her I you pray who so me loueth there nys no more to say And for that no thyng of her olde gere She shulde bring in to his house he badde That women shulde dispoyle her right there Of which these ladyes were nothing gladde To haÌ„dle her clothes in which she was clad But nathelesse thys mayden bright of hewe Fro foote to heed they clothed han al newe Her heer han they kembed y t laye vntressed Ful rudely and with her fyngres smale A crowne on her heed they han idressed And set it ful of ouches great and smale Of her array what shulde I make a tale Vnneth the people her knew for her fairnesse whan she transfourmed was in such richesse ¶ This Markes hath her spoused w t a ringe Bought for the same cause than her set Vpon an horse snowe white wel amblynge And to his paleys or he lenger let with ioyful people that her ladde and met Conueyed her thus the day they spende In reuel tyl the sonne gan discende And shortly forthe this tale for to chace I saye that to this newe Markessesse God hath ysent suche fauour of hys grace That it semed not as by her lykelynesse That she was borne and fedde in rudenesse As in a cote or in an oxe stal But norished in an emperoures hal To euery wight she woxen is so dere And worship ful y e folke ther as she was bore And fro her byrthe knewe her yere by yere Vnneth trowed they but durst haue swore That to Ianycola of whiche I spake before She doughter nas for as by coniecture Hem thought she was a nother creature For though that euer vertuous was she She was encreased in suche excellence Of thewes good set in hye bounte And so discrete and fayre of eloquence So benygne and digne of reuerence And coulde the peoples hertes so enbrace That eche her loued that loked in her face Not onely of Saluce in the town Publyshed was the bountie of her name But eke besyde in many a regioun If one sayd wel an other sayd the same So spradde of her bountie the same That men women bothe yonge and olde Gone to Saluces her to beholde ¶ This walter lowly and ful royally Wedded hath wyth fortunate honeste In goddes peace lyueth ful easely At whom outwarde grace ynough had he And for he sawe that vnder lowe degre was honest vertue hyd the people him helde A prudent man and that is sene wel selde ¶ Not only this Grisylde through her wyt Couthe al the feate of wyfely humblesse But eke whan the case required it The comen profyte coulde she redresse There nas discorde rancour ne heuynesse In al the londe that she ne couthe apese And bring hem al wysely in rest and ese Though her husbond absent were or none If gentylmen or other of her countre were wrothe she wolde bring hem at one So wyse and rype wordes had she And iugement of so great equite That she fro heuen sent was as men wende People to saue euery wronge to amende ¶ Not longe tyme after this Grisylde Was wedded she a doughter had ybore Al had she leuer haue borne a man chylde
ful besely Ryght so the see desyreth naturally To folowen her that is goddesse Both of the see and ryuers more and lesse wherfore lorde Phebus thys is my request Do thys myracle or do myne herte brest That nowe nexte at thys opposicion which in sygne shal be the lyon As prayeth her so great a floode to brynge That fyue fadome at the lest it ouer sprynge The hyest rocke in Armoryke Britayne And let thys floode dure yeares twayne Then rertes to my lady may I saye Holdeth your heste the rockes ben awaye Thys thynge may ye lyghtly done for me Pray her to gone no faster course then ye I say thus prayeth your sâ—ster that she go No faster course then ye in yeres two Then shal she be at the ful alway And spryng floode lastyng both nyght day And but she vouchsafe in suche manere To graunt me my souerayne lady dere Pray her to synken euery rocke adoun In to her owne darke regioun Vnder the grounde there pluto dwelleth in Or neuer more shal I my lady wyn Thy teÌ„ple in Delphos wol I barefote seke O lorde Phebus se the teres on my cheke And on my payne haue some compassioun And wyth y e worde in swoune he fel adoun And longe tyme he lay in a traunce His brother which y t knew of his penauÌ„ce Vp caught hym and to bed hym brought Dyspayred in thys turmeÌ„t this thought Lette I thys woful creature lye Chese he whether he wol lyue or dye ¶ Aruyragus wyth heale and great honour As he that was of chyualry the floure Is comen home and other worthy men O blysful arte thou nowe Dorigen That hast thy lusty husboÌ„de in thyne armes That freshe knight y e worthy man of armes Thot loueth the as hys owne hertes lyfe Nothynge lyst hym to be ymaginatyfe Yf any wyght had spokeÌ„ while he was out To her of loue therof had he no dout He entendeth not to suche matere But daÌ„ceth lusteth maketh her good chere And thus in ioye blysse let hym dwel And of woful Aurelius wol I tel ¶ In langour and in tourment dyspitous Two yere and more lay wretched Aurelius Er any fote on erth he myght gone Ne comforte in thys tyme had he none Saue of hys brother whych was a clerke He knewe of al thys wo and al thys werke For to none other creature certayne Of thys mater durst he no worde sayne Vnder hys brest he bare it more secre Then euer dyd Pamphilus for Galathe Hys brest was hole wythout for to sene But in hys herte aye was the arowe kene And wel ye knowen that of a sursanure In surgery is perlous the cure But meÌ„ myght touch y e arow or come therby Hys brother wepeth and wayleth priuely Tyl at the last hym fel in remembraunce That whyle he was at OrliauÌ„ce in FrauÌ„ce As these clerkes yonge that ben lykerous To reden artes they ben curiouse Seken in euery halke and in euery herne Perticuler science for to lerne He hym remembred that vpon a dey At Orliaunce in studye a boke he sey Of magyke naturel whych hys felawe That was in that tyme a bacheler of lawe Al were he there to lerne another crafte Had priuely vpon hys dere ylafte whych booke spake of mochel aperacions Touchynge the .xxiiij. mansions That longen to the moone and such folye As in our dayes is not worth a flye For holy church sayeth in our byleue Ne sustreth none illusyon vs to greue And when thys boke was in his remeÌ„brauÌ„ce Anone for ioye hys hyrte gan daunce And to hym selfe he sayd priuely My brother shal be waryshed sykerly For I am syker that there be sciences By whych men maken dyuers aparences Suche as these subtel tregetores play For ofte at feestes haue I wel herde say That tragetors wythin an hal large Haue made come in water and a barge And in the hall rowen vp and doun Somtyme hath semed a grym lyoun And somtyme floures sprynge as in a meede Somtyme a vyne and grapes whyte rede Somtyme a castel of lyme and stone And when hym lyked voyden hem anone Thus semed it to euery mannes syght ¶ Now then conclude I thus yf y t I myght At Orliaunce some olde felowe fynde That had this moones mansions in mynde Or other magyke naturel aboue He shuld wel make my brother haue his loue For wyth an apparaunce a clerke may make To mannes syght that al the rockes blake Of Britayne were yuoyded euerychone And shyppes by the brynke to comen gone And in such forme enduren a yere or two Then were my brother waryshed of hys wo Then muste she nedes holde her behest Or els he shal shame her at the lest ¶ what shuld I make a lenger tale of thys Vnto hys brothers bedde he comen is And suche comforte he yaue hym for to gone To Orliaunce that he vp sterte anone And on hys way then is he forth yfare In hope to ben lessed of hys care ¶ when they were comen almoste to y e cyte But yf it were a two furlonge or thre A yonge clerke roming by him selfe they met whych that in latyn thryftely hem gret And afterwarde he sayd a wonder thynge I knowe the cause of your coÌ„mynge And er they farther any foote wente He tolde hem al that was in her entente ¶ Thys Breton clerke asked him of felowes The whych he had knowen in olde dayes He answered hym that they deed were For whych he wept ofte ful many a tere ¶ Downe of his horse Aurelius light anone And wyth this magicien forth is he gone Home to hys house made hym wel at ese Hem lacked no vytaile that hem might plese So wel arayed an house as there was one Aurelius in hys lyfe sawe neuer none ¶ He shewed hym or he went to suppere Forestes and parkes ful of wylde dere He sawe there hertes wyth her hornes hye The greatest that euer were sene wyth eye He se of hem an hundred slaine with houÌ„des And some of arowes bled w t bytter wouÌ„des He sawe when voyded were the wylde dere These fauconers vpon a fayre ryuere That wyth the haukes han the heron slayne Tho saw he knightes iustyng in a playne And after thys he dyd hym suche pleasaunce That he hym shewed hys lady in a daunce On which him selfe dauÌ„ced as hym thought And whaÌ„ this maister y t this magike wrouÈt Sawe it was tyme he clapped his hoÌ„des to And farwel our reuel al was ago And remeued neuer out of his house whyle they sawe al this syght merueylouse But in his studye there his bokes be They saten styl no wight but they thre ¶ To him this maister called his squyer And sayd hym thus is redy our supper Almost an hour it is I vndertake Sythen I you bade our supper redy make whan that these worthy men went with me Into my studye there as my bokes be ¶ Sir ê™ the squier whan it lyketh you
For al the worlde they stynken as a gote Her sauour is so rammysh so hote That though a man a myle from hem be The sauour wol enfecte hym trusteth me Lo thus by smellyng by thred bare aray Yf that men lyst thys folke knowe they may And yf a man wol aske hem priuely why they be clothed so vnthryftely Ryght anone they wol rowne in hys ere And sayne yf that they aspyed were Men wolde hem slee bycause of her science Lo thus these folke bytrayen innocence Passe ouer thys I go my tale vnto ¶ Er that the potte be on the fyre ydo Of metalles wyth a certayne quantyte My lorde hem tempreth no man but he Nowe he is gone I dare saye boldely For as men sayne he can do craftely Algate I wotte wel he hath suche a name And yet ful ofte he renneth in the blame And wote ye howe ful ofte it happeth so The potte to breketh and farewel al is go These metalles ben of so great violence Our walles may not make hem resystence But yf they were wrought of lime and stone They percen so through the wal they gone And some of hem synken in to the grounde Thus haue we lost by tymes many a pouÌ„de And some are scatered al the floore aboute Some lepen into the rofe wythouten doute Tho y t the fende not in our syght hym shewe I trowe that he with vs be that ylke shrewe In hel where that he is lorde and syre Ne is there no more wo ne angre ne yre when that our potte is broke as I haue sayd Euery man chyte holte hym yuel apayde Some sayd it was longe of the fyre makyng Some sayd nay it was on the blowyng Then was I ferde for that was myn offyce ¶ Strawe ê™ the thyrde ye ben leude nyce It was not tempred as it ought to be ¶ Nay ê™ the fourth stynte herken me Bycause our fyre was not made of beche That is the cause and none other so theche I can not tel wheron it is alonge But wel I wote great stryfe is vs amonge what ê™ my lord ther nys no more to done Of these perylles I wol beware efte sone I am ryght syker that the potte was crased Be as be maye be ye not amased As vsage is let swepe the floore as swythe Plucke vp your hert and be glad and blythe The mullocke on an heape yswepte was And on the floore caste a canuas And al thys mulloke in a syue ythrowe And ysyfted and aplucked many a throwe Parde ê™ one somwhat of our metall Yet is there here though we haue not all And tho this thyng mishapped hath as now An other tyme it may ben wel ynow we more put our good in auenture A marchaunt parde maye not aye endure Trusteth me wel in hys prosperite Somtyme hys good is drowned in the see And somtyme it cometh safe vnto the londe Peace ê™ my lord y e next tyme I wol fonde To brynge our crafte al in an other plyte And but I do syrs let me haue the wyte There was defaute in somwhat wel I wote ¶ An other sayd the fyre was ouer hote But be it hote or colde I dare saye this That we concluden euer more amys we faylen of that whych we wolde haue And in our madnesse euer more we raue And when we be together euerychon Euery man semeth as wyse as Salomon But al thyng whych that shyneth as y e golde Is not golde as I haue herde tolde Ne euery appel that is fayre at eye Nys not good what so men clappe or crye ¶ Ryght so it fareth amonge vs He that semeth the wysest by Iesus Is moost foole when it cometh to the prefe And he that semeth truest is a thefe That shal ye know er that I from you weÌ„de By that I of my tale haue made an ende ¶ There was a chanon of religioun Amonges vs wolde enfecte al a toun Though it as great were as Niniue Rome Alysaundre Troye and other thre Hys sleyght and hys infinite falsnesse There couth no man wryten as I gesse Though that he might lyue a thousand yere In al thys worlde of falsnesse nys hys pere For in hys termes he wol hym so wynde And speake hys wordes in so slye a kynde when he comen shal wyth any wyght That he wol make hym dote anone ryght But it a fende be as hym selfe is Ful many a man hath he begyled er thys And mo wol yf that he may lyue a whyle And yet men ryden gone ful many a myle Hym for to seke and haue aquayntaunce Not knowynge of hys false gouernaunce And yf ye lust to gyue me audience I wol it tellen here in your presence ¶ But worshypful chanons religiouse Ne demeth not that I sclaunder your house Al though my tale of a chanon be Of euery ordre some shrewe is parde And god forbyd that al a companye Shulde rue a syngler mannes folye To slaunder you is not myne entente But to correcte that mysse is mente Thys tale was not only tolde for you But eke for other mo ye wote wel howe That amonge Christes apostles twelue Ther was no traytour but Iudas hym selue Then why shulde the remnauÌ„t haue blame That gyltlesse were by you I saye the same Saue only thys yf ye wol herken me Yf any Iudas in your couent be Remeueth hym betyme I you rede Yf shame or losse may causen any drede And be nothynge dyspleased I you praye But in thys case herkeneth what I saye In Londen was a preest annuellere That therin had dwelt many a yere whych was so pleasaunt and so seruysable Vnto the wyfe where he was at table That she wolde suffre hym nothynge to pay For borde ne clothyng went he neuer so gay And spendynge syluer had he ryght ynowe Therof no force I wol procede as nowe And tel forth my tale of the chanon That brought thys preest to confusyon ¶ Thys false chanon came vpon a daye Vnto thys preestes chambre where he laye Besechynge hym to leue hym a certayne Of golde and he wolde quyte hym ayen Leueth me a marke ê™ he but dayes thre And at my daye I wol quyte it the And yf it so be chat thou fynde me false Another daye hange me by the halfe This prest toke him a marke that swyth And thys chanon hym thanked ofte syth And toke hys leaue and went forth hys wey And at thyrde daye brought hys money And to thys preest he toke thys golde acyen wherof thys preest was glad and fayn ¶ Certes ê™ he nothynge anoyeth me To leue a man a noble two or thre Or what thynge were in my possession when he so trewe is of condicion That in no wyse he breke wol hys daye To suche a man I can neuer saye naye what ê™ this chanon shulde I be vntrewe Nay that were thynge fallen of newe Trouth is a thynge that I wol euer kepe Vnto
stone For I wol make it of the same shappe That an yngot is yf I maye haue happe And brynge eke wyth you a bolle or a panne Ful of water and ye shal se thanne Howe that our busynesse shal happe preue And yet for ye shal haue no mysbeleue Ne wronge conceyte of me in your absence I wol not ben out of your presence But go wyth you come wyth you agayne The chambre dore shortly to sayne They opened shette went forth her wey And forth wyth hem they caryed the key And comen ayen wythouten any delaye what shulde I tarye al the longe daye He toke the chalke and shope it in the wyse Of an yngot as I shal you deuyse I saye he toke out of hys owne sleue A teyne of syluer yuel mote he cheue whych that was but an vnce of weyght And taketh hede nowe of hys cursed sleyght He shope hys yngot in lenght and in brede Of the teyne wythouten any drede So slyly that the preest it not aspyde And in hys sleue agayne he gan it hyde And from the fyre toke vp hys matere And in to the yngot it put wyth mery chere And into the water vessel he it caste when that hym lyst bad the preest as faste Loke what ther is put in thyn haÌ„de grope Thou shalt fynde there syluer as I hope what dyuel of hel shulde it els be Shauynge of syluer syluer is parde He put in hys hande and toke vp a reyne Of syluer fyne and glade in euery vayne was thys preest when he sawe it was so Goddes blyssynge and hys mothers also And al hallowes haue ye syr chanon Sayd thys preest and I her malyson But and ye vouchsafe to teche me Thys noble crafte and thys subtelte I wol be yours in al that euer I may ê™ the Chanon yet wol I make assay The seconde tyme that ye mowe take hede And ben expert of thys and in your nede Another daye assay in myne absence Thys dysciplyne and thys crafty science Lette take another ounce ê™ he tho Of quycke syluer wythouten wordes mo And done therwyth as I haue done er thys wyth that other whych that nowe syluer is ¶ Thys preest hym besyeth in al that he can To done as thys Chanon thys cursed man Commaunded hym and faste blewe the fyre For to come to the effecte of his desyre And this chanon right in the mean while Al redy was this preest efte to begyle And for a countynaunce in his honde bare An holowe sticke take kepe and beware In th ende of which an vnce and no more Of syluer lymaile putte was al before was in his cole and stopped with wexe wele For to kepen in his lymaile euery dele And whiles this peest was in his besynesse This chanon with his sticke gan him dresse To hym anon and his pouder cast in As he dyd erst the deuyl out of hys skyn Him torne I praye to god for his falshede For he was euer false in thought and dede And with his sticke aboue the crosselette That was ordayned with that false iette He styrreth the coles tyl al relent gan The waxe agayne the fyre as euery man But he a fole be wot wel it mote nede And al that in the hole was out yede And into the crosselet hastely it fel The preest supposed nothynge but wel But besyed hym faste was wonder fayne Supposyng nought but trouth soth to sayn He was so glad that I can nat expresse In no manere hys myrthe and his gladnesse And to the chanon he profered efte sone Body and good ye ê™ the chanon anone Tho I be poore crafty thou shalt me fynde I warne the yet is there more behynde Is there any coper here within sayd he ¶ Ye syr ê™ the preest I trowe there by Els go bye some and that aswythe Nowe good syr go forth thy way hythe ¶ He went his way with y e coper he came And this Chanon in his honde it name And of that coper wayed out but an vnce Al to symple is my tonge to pronounce As to minystre of my wytte the doublenesse Of this chanon rote of al cursydnesse He semed freÌ„dly to hem y t knew him nought But he was fendly both in werke thought It weryeth me to tel of hys falsenesse And nathelesse yet wol I it expresse To the entent that men may beware therby And for none other cause truely ¶ He put this vnce of coper into the crosselet And on the fyre as swythe he hath it sette And cast in pouder made y e preest to blowe And in his workyng for to stoupe lowe As he dyd erste and al nas but a iape Ryght as hym lyst y e preest he made hys ape And afterwarde in the yngot he it caste And in the panne put it at the laste Of water and in he put hys owne honde And in hys sleue as ye beforehonde Herde me tel he had a syluer teyne He slily toke it out thys cursed heyne Vnwetynge thys preest of hys false crafte And in the pannes botome he hath it lafte And in the water rombleth to and fro And wonder priuely toke vp also The coper teyne not knowynge thys preest And hyd it and hent hym by the brest And to hym spake thus sayd in hys game Stoupeth adowne by god ye be to blame Helpeth me nowe as I dyd you wylere Put in your honde and loketh what is there ¶ This preest toke vp this syluer teyne anon And then sayd the chanon let vs gon with these thre teines which we han wrouÈt To some goldsmyth and wete yf it be ought For by my fayth I nolde for my hoode But yf it were syluer fyne and good And that as swyth proued shal be ¶ Vnto y e goldsmyth with these teynes thre They went and put them in assaye So fyre and haÌ„mer might no man say naye But they were as them ought for to be This sotted prest who was gladder theÌ„ he was neuer byrde gladder ayenst the day Ne nyghtyngale ayenst the ceson of May was neuer none that lyste better to synge Ne lady lustyer in carollynge And for to speake of loue and womanhede Ne knyght in armes to don a hardy dede To standen in grace of hys lady dere Then had thys preest thys crafte to lere And to the chanon thus he spake and sayd For the loue of God that for vs al deyd And as I may deserue it vnto you what shal this receit cost telleth me nowe ¶ By our lady ê™ thys chanon it is dere I warne you wel saue I and a frere In Englande there can no man it make No force ê™ he nowe syr for goddes sake what shall I paye tel me I you praye I wys ê™ he it is ful dere I saye Syr at one worde yf that ye lyst it haue Ye shal pay fourty pounde so god me saue And nere the frendshyp that ye dyd er thys To me
ye shal be counsayled of and folowe it nowe woll I teche you howe ye shal examyne your counsayle After the doctryne of Tullius in examenynge of youre counsayloures ye shall consydere manye thynges Fyrst thou shalt coÌ„syder thylke thyng that thou purposest and vpon that thynge y t thou wolt haue counsayle that very trouth be said and coÌ„serued this is to say tel truely thy tale for he that sayth false may not well be counsayled in that case of whiche he lyeth After this thou shalte consyder the thynges that acorden to that thou purposest for to do by thy couÌ„saylours if reason accorde therto and eke yf thy might maye attayne therto and if the more parte and the better parte of your counsaylours accorden therto or no. Than shalte Thou consyder what thynge shal folowe of her couÌ„saylinge As hate peace werre grace profyte or damage and many other thinges and in al thynges thou shalte chose the beste and weyue al other thynges ThaÌ„ shalt thou consyder of what rote is engendred the mater of thy counsayle and what fruite it maye conceyue and engender Thou shalt eke consyder al thy causes frome whence they be spronge And whan thou hast examyned thy counsayle as I haue sayd and whiche party is the better and more profytable and haste approued it by many wyse folke olde than thou shalt consyder yf thou mayste performe it make of it a good ende For certes reson wol not that any maÌ„ shal begyn a thyng but yf he myght performe it as hym ought ne no wight shuld take vpon hym so heuy a charge but that he might beare it For the prouerbe sayth he that to moch enbraceth distrayneth lytel And Caton saythe assay to do such thinges as thou haste power to done leste the charge oppresse the to sore that the behoueth weyue the thyng that thou haste begon And yf so be that thou be in dout whether thou mayst perfourme a thynge or none chose rather for to suffre than to begynne And Peter Alphons saythe yf thou haste myght to do a thynge of whiche thou muste repente it is better holde thy tonge styl than for to speke Than mayst thou vnderstonde by stronger resons that yf thou haste power to perfourme a werke of which thou shalt repente the than is it better thou suffre than begyn Wel sayne they that defenden euery wyght to assaye a thyng of which he is in doute whether he may performe it or none And after whan ye haue examined your counsayle as I haue sayde before and know wel that ye maye performe your emprise conferme it thaÌ„ sadly tyl it be at an ende ¶ Nowe it is reason tyme that I shewe you whan wherfore that ye maye chaunge your counsayle wythouten reprofe Sothly a man may chaunge hys purpose and hys counsayle yf the cause ceaseth or whan a newe case betydeth For the lawe sayth that vpon thinges that newly betyden behoueth newe counsayle And Seneke saythe yf thy counsayle is come to the eeres of thyne enemyes chaunge thy counsayle Thou mayste also chaunge thy couÌ„sayle yf so be thou fynde that by errour or by anye other cause harme or damage may betyde Also yf thy counsayle be dyshonest other els come of dyshonest cause chaunge thy counsayle For the lawe saythe that al behestes that be dishonest ne ben of no value And eke yf so be that it be vnpossyble or may not gladly be parformed or kepte And take thys for a general rule that euery counsayle that is enfourmed so strongly that it may not be chaunged for no condycion that may betyde I say that ilke counsayle is wycked MElibeus whan he hadde herde the doctryne of hys wife dame PrudeÌ„ce answerde in thys wyse Dame ê™ he as yet vnto this tyme ye han well taught me as in gouernayle howe I shall gouerne me in the chosynge and in the wytholdynge of my counsayle but nowe wolde I fayne y t ye wolde condiscende in especial howe that ye semeth by our counsaylours that we haue chose in this present nede ¶ My lorde ê™ she I beseche you in all humblesse that ye wol not wylfully replye ayenst my reasons ne distemper youre herte though I speke the thynge y t you displese for god wote as in myne entent I speke it as for your beste and for your honoure and profyte eke and sothly I hope that your benygnyte wol take it in pacience And trusteth me wel that your counsayle in this case ne shuld not as to speke properly be called a counsaylyng but a mocion or a mouynge of folye in which counsayle ye haue erred in many a sondrie wyse Fyrst ye haue erred in the assemblynge of your counsaylours For fyrst ye shulde haue cleped a fewe folke to your counsayle and after ye might haue shewed it to mo yf it had be nede But ye haue cleped to your counsayl a great multytude of people ful chargeous and ful noyous for to here Also ye haue erred for there as ye shulde haue onely cleped to your counsayle your trewe frendes olde and wyse ye haue cleped straunge folke yonge folke false flatterers and enemyes reconcyled and folke that done you reuereÌ„ce withouten loue And eke ye haue erred for ye haue brought with you to your counsayle ire couetyse and hastynesse the which thre thynges ben contrary to euerye good counsayle honest and profytable the whiche thre thynges ye haue not distroyed neyther in youre selfe â—e in your counsaylours as ye ought Ye haue erred also for ye haue shewed to your counsaylours your talent and your affectioÌ„s to make werre anon for to do vengeaunce they haue espyde by your wordes to what thyng ye ben enclyned therfore haue they rather counsayled you to your talente than to your profite Ye han erred eke for it semeth that you suffyseth to haue be counsayled by these counsailours onely and with lytel auysement where as in so hye and in so great a nede it had ben necessary mo counsaylours and more delyberacion to performe your emprise Ye haÌ„ erred also for ye haue not examyned your counsayle in the forsayd maters ne in dewe maner as the case requireth Ye haue erred also for ye made no diuision bytwene your true frendes your fayned couÌ„saylours ne ye haue not knoweÌ„ y e wil of your trew couÌ„saylours frendes olde wyse but ye haue caste al her wordes in an hochepot encyned your herte to the more parte and to the gretter nombre of fooles than of wyse men And therfore the counsaylynges that ben at congregacions and multitudes of folke there as men take more regarde to the nomber than to the sapieÌ„ce of persons ye sene wel that in such counsaylinges fooles han the maistrye Melibe answerde and sayd ayen I graunt wel that I haue erred but there as thou hast tolde me here byforne y t he nys not to blame that chaungeth his couÌ„sayle in certayne case and for certayne and iuste cause I am al redy
drede myne house to aproch To this sentence answerde anon Prudence Warnishyng ê™ she of hye toures of hye edyfices is with great costages and with great trauayle and whan that they ben accoÌ„plished yet ben they not worth a strawe but yf they ben defended with trew frendes that ben olde and wyse And vnderstondeth wel that y e greatest and the stroÌ„gest garnyson that ryche men maye haue as wel to kepen her parsone as her goodes is y t they be byloued with her subiectes and with her neyghbours For thus saythe Tullius that there is a maner garryson that no man may venquishe ne discomfyte and that is a lorde to be byloued of his cytezyns of his people ¶ Nowe sir as to the thyrde poynte where as your olde and wyse counsaylours sayde that ye ought not sodainly ne hastely procede in this nede â–ª but that ye oughten puruayen and aparayle you in this case with great dylygence and delyberacion Verily I trowe y t they sayde right trewly and ryght sothe For Tullius sayth In euery dede or thou begyn it apparayle the with great dyligence Than say I in vengeaunce takyng in werre in batayle and in warnestoryng or thou begyn I rede that thou apparayle the therto and do it with great delyberacioÌ„ For Tullius saith The longe apparelynge to fore the batayle maketh shorte victorie And Cassidorus saith The garryson is stronger whan it is longe tyme auysed But nowe let vs speke of the counsayle that was acorded by your neyghbours suche as don you reuerence withouteÌ„ loue your olde enemyes reconciled your flatterers that counsayled you certayne thynges priuely and openly counsayled you the contrarye The yong folke also that counsayled you to venge you to make werre anon Certes syr as I haue sayde byfore ye haue greatly erred to clepe suche maner of folke to youre counsayle whiche counsaylours ben ynoughe reproued by the resons a forsayd But nathelesse let vs nowe discende to the special Ye shul fyrste procede after the doctryne of Tullius Certes the trouthe of thys mater or of thys counsayle nedeth not dyligently to enquire for it is wel wyste which they ben that han done you this trespas and vilanye and howe many trespasours and in what maner they haue done al thys wronge to you and al this vilanye And after thys than shul ye examyne the seconde condicion whiche Tullius addeth in thys mater For Tullius putteth a thyng whiche that he clepeth consentyng this is to say who ben they and whiche ben they and howe manye that coÌ„senten to thy counsayle in thy wylfulnesse to done hasty vengeaunce And let vs consyder also who ben they and howe manye they ben that consented to youre aduersaries As to the fyrst poynt it is wel knowen whiche folke they be that coÌ„sented to your hasty wylfulnesse For trewly al tho that counsayl you to maken sodayne werre ne be not your frendes Let se nowe whiche ben they that ye holden so greatly your freÌ„des as to your person For al be it so that ye be mighty rich certes ye ben but alone for trewly ye ne haue no chyld but a doughter ne ye haue no brethern ne cosyns germayns ne none other nye kynrede wherfore your enemyes shuld stynte to plede with you ne to distroye your person Ye knowe also that youre rychesse mot be dispended in dyuers parties And whaÌ„ that euery wight hath his parte they wollen take but lytell regarde to venge your dethe But thyne enemyes ben thre they haue manye brethern children cosyns other nye kynred though so were that thou haddest slayne of hem two or thre yet dwelleth ther ynowe to auenge her dethe and to slee thy person And though so be that your kynrede be more stedfaste and syker than the kyn of your aduersaryes yet neuer the lesse your kynrede is but after kynrede for they ben but lytel sybbe to you and the kynne of your enemyes ben nye sybbe to hem And certes as in that her condicion is better than is yours Than let vs consyder also of the counsaylynge of hem that counsayled you to take sodayne vengeaunce whether it acorde to reson or non And certes ye know wel nay for as by ryght and reson there maye no man take vengeaunce of no wight but the iuge that hath iurisdiction of it whan it is graunted hym to take vengeaunce hastely or attemperatly as the lawe requireth And yet more ouer of thylke worde that Tullius clepeth coÌ„sentynge thou shalte coÌ„sent yf that thy might and thy power may consente and suffyse to thy wilfulnesse and to thy counsaylours And certes thou mayste wel saye naye for sykerly as for to speke properly we may do nothyng but suche thynge as we may done ryghtfully and certes righfully ye may take no vengeaunce as of your own propre auctorite Than maye ye se that youre power ne consenteth not ne accordeth not with your wylfulnesse Nowe let vs examyne the thyrde poynt that Tullius clepeth consequence Thou shalte vnderstonde that the vengeaunce y t thou purposest for to take is consequent and therof foloweth an other vengeaunce peryl and werre and other damages withouten nombre of whiche we be not ware as at this tyme. And as touchynge the fourth poynte y t Tullius clepeth engendring thou shalte consyder that this wrong whiche that is done to the is engendred of y e hate of thyne enemyes and of y e vengeaunce takyng vpon hem that wolde engender a nother vengeaunce and mochel sorowe wastyng of rychesse as I sayde ere Nowe sir as touchyng the fylte poynte that Tully clepeth causes whiche is the laste poynte thou shalte vnderstonde that the wronge that thou haste receyued hathe certayne causes whiche that clerkes callen orien and efficien and causa longinqua and causa propinqua that is to saye the ferre cause and the nyghe cause The ferre cause is almyghty God that is cause of al thynges The nere cause is the thre enemyes The cause accidental was hate The cause material ben the fyue woundes of thy doughter The cause formal is the maner of theyr werkynge that brought ladders and clambe in at thy wyndowes The cause fynal was for to sle thy doughter it letted not in as moche as in them was But for to speke of y u ferre cause as to what ende they shulde come or fynally what shal betyde of them in thys case ne canne I not deme but by coniectynge and supposynge for we shall suppose that they shall come to a wycked ende bycause that the boke of decrees saythe Selde or wyth greate payne ben causes brought to a good ende whan they ben badly begonne Now sir yf men wolde aske me why that god suffred men to do you this villanye truly I can not wel answere as for no sothfastnesse For the Apostel saythe that the scyences and the iugementes of our lorde God almighty ben ful depe there may no man comprehende ne serche hem Nathelesse by certayne presumpcyous
and coniectynges I holde and byleue that God whyche that is ful of iustyce and of rightwisnesse hathe suffred thys betyde by iuste cause resonable ¶ Thy name is Melibee this is to saye a man that drinketh hony Thou haste dronke so moche hony of swete temporel rychesses and delyces of honours of this worlde that thou arte dronke and haste forgoten Iesu Christ thy creatour Thou ne haste not done to hym suche honoure and reuerence as the ought ne thou ne haste not taken kepe to the wordes of Ouide that sayth Vnder y e hony of the goodes of thy body is hyd the venym that sleeth thy soule And Salomon sayth If it so he that thou hast founde hony eete of the same hony that that suffyseth For yf so be that thou eete of y e same hony out of mesure thou shalte spewe and also be nedy and poore And parauenture almyghty God Iesu Christ hath the in dispyte and hathe turned awaye fro the hys face and his eeres of myserycorde mercye And also he hath suffred gyue lycence that thou thus shuldest be punished chastised in y e maner that thou haste trespased and offended Thou hast done synne agaynst our lorde Christ for certes the thre enemyes of mankynde that is to say the fleshe the fende and the worlde thou haste suffred hem entre into thyne herte wylfully by the wyndowes of thy body and hast not defended thy selfe suffyciently agaynst their assautes their temptacions so that they haue wounded thy soule in fyue places this is to shy The deedly synnes that ben entred in to thy hert by thy fyue wyttes And in the same maner oure lorde Christ hathe wolde and suffred that thy thre enemyes beÌ„ entred in to thy house by y e wyndowes and haue wounded thy doughter in the forsayd maner Truely ê™ Melibee I se well that ye enforce you moche by wordes to ouercome me in suche maner that I shall not venge me on myn enemyes shewynge me the perilles and the yuels that myght fal of this vengeaunce but who so wolde consyder in al vengeaunces the perils and yuels that myght sâ—e of vengeaunce takyng a man wolde neuer take vengeaunce and that were harme For by y e vengeaunce takynge ben the wycked men disceuered from the good men And they that haue wyll to do wickednesse restrayn theyr wycked purpose whan they se the ponishyng and chastysyng of y e trespasours And yet say I more that ryght as a synguler person synneth in takynge vengeaunce of a nother mâ— ryght so synneth the iuge yf he do no vengeauÌ„ce of hem that haue deserued For Seneke saythe thus That mayster he saythe is good that preueth shrewes And as Cassyodor saythe A man dredeth to do outrages whan he wote and knoweth that it dyspleaseth to the iuges soueraynes And an other saythe The iuge that dredeth to do ryght maketh men shrewes And saynt Poule the Apostle saythe in hys Epystle whan he wryteth vnto the Romayns that the iuges beare not the speere wythout cause but they beare it to punyshe the shrewes mysdoers for to defende the good men ¶ Yf ye woll then take vengeaunce of your enemies ye shul returne and haue your recourse to the iuge that hath the iurisdyction vpon hem and he shall punyshe hem as the lawe asketh and requyreth A ha sayd Melibee thys veÌ„geauÌ„ce lyketh me nothynge I bethynke me nowe and take hede howe that fortune hathe nouryshed me fro my childhode and hath holpe me to passe many a stronge paas Nowe I woll assaye her trowynge wyth goddes helpe that she shall helpe me my shame for to auenge TRuely said PrudeÌ„ce yf ye wol werke by my counsayle ye shal not assay for â—â—ne by no waye ne ye shall not lene or bowe vnto her after the worde of Senek For thynges that bene foolyshlye done and that bene done in hope of fortune shal neuer come to good ende And as the same Seneke sayeth The more clere the more shynynge that fortune is the more brytel and the soner broke she is Trusteth not in her for she is not stedfast ne stable For when thou trowest to be moste sure and stedfaste of her helpe she woll fayle and dysceyue the. And where as ye saye that fortune hath nouryshed you fro youre chyldhode I saye that in so moche ye shall the lesse truste in her and in her wytte For Seneke sayeth what man that is noryshed by fortune she maketh him a great foole Nowe then syth ye desyre and aske veÌ„geauÌ„ce and the vengeaunce that is done after the lawe and before the iuge ne lyketh you not and the vengeaunce that is done in hope of fortune is peryllous vncertaine then haue ye none other remedye but for to haue your recourse vnto the soueraine iuge that veÌ„geth all vylanyes and wronges And he shal veÌ„ge you after that hym selfe wytnesseth where as he sayeth Leaue the vengeaunce to me and I shall do it Melibee answered yf I ne venge me of the villany that men haue done to me I soÌ„mmoÌ„ or warne hem that haue done to me that vyllanye and al other to do me an other vyllanye For it is wrytten Yf thou take no vengeauÌ„ce of an olde vyllany thou soÌ„monest thyne aduersaryes to do the a newe vyllany And also for my suffrauÌ„ce men wolde do me so moche vyllany that I myght neither bere it ne sustayne it and so shulde I be put holden ouer lowe For men sayne in mykel sufferyng shal many thynges fal vnto the which thou shalt not mowe suffre Certes ê™ Prudence I graunt you that ouer moch suffraunce is not good but yet ne foloweth it not therof that euery persone to whome men do vyllanye shulde take of it veÌ„geaunce for that appertayneth and longeth all only to iuges for they shulde venge y e vyllanyes and iniuryes And therfore those two authorities that ye haue sayd afore bene only vnderstande in the iuges For when they suffre ouer moche the wroÌ„ges and vyllanyes to be done wythout punyshment they sommon not a man all only for to do newe wronges but they coÌ„maunde it Also a wyse man sayeth that the iuge that correcteth not y e synner coÌ„maundeth and byddeth hym do synne And y e iuges and souerayns myght in theyr lande so moch suffre of the shrewes mysdoers that they shulde by such suffrauÌ„ce by processe of tyme wexe of such power and myght that they shulde put out the iuges and the soueraynes froÌ„ theyr places and at laste make hem lese her lordshyppes But let vs now suppose that ye haue leue to venge you I saye ye be not of myght and power as nowe to venge you for yf ye woll make comparyson vnto the myghte of youre aduersaryes ye shulde fynde in many thynges that I haue shewed you er thys y t theyr condicyon is better then yours and therfore saye I that it is good as nowe that ye suffre and be pacient Furthermore ye knowe well that after
her husbande auaunt hym of hys rychesse and hys money dyspraysynge y e power of hys aduersaryes she spake and sayd in thys wyse Certes dere syr I graunt you that ye be ryche myghty and that y e rychesse is good to hem that haue well gotten hem and that well can vse hem For ryght as the body of a man may not lyue wythout the soule no more may it lyue with out the temporel goodes and by ryches may a man get hym great frendes And therfore sayeth Pamphillus Yf a nerthes doughter he sayth be riche she may chefe of a thousand men whyche she woll take to her husbande for of a thousande one woll not forsake her ne refuse her And thys Pamphillus sayeth also Yf thou be ryght happy that is to say yf thou be ryche thou shalte fynde a greate nombre of felowes frendes And yf thy fortune chaūge farewel frendshyp felowshyp for thou shalte be alone wythout any cōpany but yf it be the companye of poore folke And yet sayeth thys Pamphillus more ouer that they that bene bonde and thrall of lynage shall be made worthye and noble by the rychesses And ryghte so as by the rychesses there come many goodnesses ryghte so by pouertie come there many harmes and yuels for greate pouertie cōstrayneth a man to do many yuels And therfore calleth Cassiodor pouertye the mother of ruyne that is to saye the mother of ouerthrowynge or of fallynge downe And therfore sayeth Peter Alfonce One of the greatest aduersyties of thys worlde is when a free man by kynde or of byrth is constrayned by pouerty to eat the almesse of hys enemye And the same sayeth Innocent in one of hys bokes He sayeth that sorowfull and myshappy is the condicion of a poore begger for yf he aske not hys meate he dyeth for honger and yf he aske he dyeth for shame and algates necessite constrayneth hym to aske And therfore sayeth Salomon that better is to dye then for to haue suche pouerte And as the same Salomon sayeth Better it is to dye of bytter deth then for to lyue in suche wyse By these reasons that I haue said vnto you by many other reasons that I coulde say I graunt you that rychesses ben good to hem y t getten hem well and to hem that wel vsen tho rychesses And therfore wol I shewe you howe ye shal behaue you in gatherynge of rychesses and in what maner ye shullen vse hem Fyrst ye shall get hem wythout great desyre by good leyser sokynglye and not ouerhastelye for a man that in to desyrynge to get rychesse habandoneth hym fyrste to thefte and to all other yuels And therfore sayeth Salomon He that hasteth hym to besely to waxe ryche he shall be none innocent He sayeth also that the rychesse that hastely cometh to a man sone and lyghtly goeth and passeth from a man but that rychesse that cometh lytel lytel wexeth alwaye and multiplyeth And syr ye shall gette rychesse by your wyte and by your trauayle vnto your profyte and that wythout wronge or harme doynge to any other persone For the lawe sayeth there maketh no mā him selfe riche yf he do harme to an other wyght thys is to say that nature defendeth and forbyddeth by ryghte that no man make hym selfe ryche vnto the harme of an other person And Tullius sayeth that no sorowe ne no drede of death ne nothing that maye fall vnto a man is so moche ayenst nature as a man to encreace hys owne profyte to the harme of an other mā And though the great myghty mē get rychesses more lyghtly then thou yet shalte thou not be ydell ne slowe to do thy profyte for thou shalte in all wyse flye ydelnesse For Salomon sayeth y e ydelnesse teacheth a man to do many yuels And the same Salomon sayeth that he that trauayleth and besyeth hym to tylth his lāde shall eate breed but he that is ydell casteth hym to no besynesse ne occupacion shal fal in to pouerte and dye for honger And he that is ydell and slowe can neuer fynde couenable tyme for to do hys profyte For there is a versyfyer sayeth that the ydel man excuseth him in wynter bycause of the greate colde and in sommer bycause of the heete For these causes sayeth Caton waketh and enclyne you net ouer moche for to slepe for ouer moche reste nourysheth and causeth many vyces And therfore sayeth saynt Ierom do some good dedes that the deuell whyche is our enemye ne fynde you not vnoccupyed for the dyuel ne taketh not lyghtly vnto his wer kynge suche as he fyndeth occupyed in good werkes Then thus in gettynge rychesses ye must flye ydelnesse And afterward ye shul vse the rychesses whyche ye haue gote by your wyte and by youre trauayle in suche maner that men holde you not to scarce ne to sparyng ne foole large that is to say ouer large a spēder For ryghte as men blame an auaricious mā bycause of hys scarcite and chynchery in the same wyse is he to blame that spendeth ouer largelye And therfore sayeth Caton Vse sayeth he the rychesses that thou haste gotten in suche maner that men maye haue no mater ne cause to call the nother wretche ne chynche For it is greate shame to a man to haue a poore herte and a ryche purse He sayeth also the goodes that thou haste gote vse them by measure that is to saye spende mesurably for they that foolyshly waste and dyspende the goodes that they haue when they haue no more propre of her owne then they shape hem to take y e goodes of an other man I saye then that ye shall flye auaryce vsynge youre rychesse in suche maner that men saye not that youre rychesses bene buryed but that ye haue hem in your myghte and in youre weldynge For a wyse man repreueth the auaricyous man and sayeth thus in thys verses two Wherto and why buryeth a man hys goodes by hys great auaryce and knoweth well that nedes he muste dye for death is the ende of euerye man ▪ as in thys presente lyfe And for what cause or encheson ioyneth he hym or knytteth he hym so faste vnto hys goodes that all hys wyttes mowe not dysceuer hym ne departe hym fro hys goodes and knoweth well or ought to knowe that when he is deade he shall nothynge beare wyth hym out of thys worlde And therfore sayeth saynt Augustyne that the auaricyous mā is lykened vnto hell that the more it swaloweth the more desyre it hathe to swalowe and deuoure And as well as ye wolde eschewe to be called an auaricyous man or chynche as well shulde ye kepe and gouerne you in such a wyse that men call you not foole large Therfore sayeth Tullius The goodes of thyne house ne shulde not be hydde ne kepte so close but that they myghte be opened by pyte and debonayrte that is to saye to yeue hem parte that haue greate nede Ne thy goodes shulde not be so
dyspleased of y e thynge that I saye for ye knowe well that I am angrye and wroth that is no wonder and they that be wrothe wote not well what they do ne what they saye Therfore the prophete sayeth that troubled eyen haue no clere syght But saye coūsayle me as you lyketh for I am ready to do ryght as ye wol desyre And yf ye reprefe me of my folye I am the more holden to loue prayse you For Salomō sayeth that he that repreueth hym that doth foly he shall fynde greater grace then he that dysceyueth him by swete wordes Then sayde dame Prudence I make no semblaunt of wrath ne of anger but for your great profyte For Salomon sayeth He is more worth that repreueth or chydeth a fole for hys folye shewynge hym semblaunt of wrath then he that supporteth him and prayseth hym in hys mysdoynge and laugheth a◠hys folye And thys same Salomon sayeth afterwarde That by the sorowfull vysage of a man that is to saye by the sorye and heuy countenaunce of a man the foole correcteth and amendeth hym selfe Then sayde Milibee I shall not con answere vnto so many fayre reasons as ye put to me and shewe saye shortly your wyl and youre counsayle and I am all readye to performe and fulfyll it ¶ Then dame prudence dyscouered all her wyll vnto hym and sayde I counsayle you sayd she aboue al thynges that ye make peace bytwene God and you and be reconsyled vnto hym and to hys grace for as I haue sayd you here before god hath suffred you to haue thys tribulation and dysease for your synnes and yf ye do as I saye you God wyl sende youre aduersaryes vnto you and make hem fall at your fete ready to do youre wyll and your commaundement For Salomon sayeth when the condicion of man is pleasaūt and lykynge to god he chaūgeth the hertes of the mans aduersaries and constrayneth hem to beseche hym of peace of grace And I praye you let me speke with your aduersaryes priuelye for they shal not knowe that it be of your wyll or your assent And then when I knowe theyr wyll and theyr entente I maye counsayle you the more surely Dame sayde Melibee dothe youre wyll and your lykynge for I put me holy in your dysposicion and ordynaunce Then dame Prudence when she sawe the good wyll of her husbonde delybered toke aduyse in her selfe thynkyng how she myght brynge thys nede vnto a good conclusion and to a good ende And when she sawe her tyme she sente for these aduersaries to come vnto her in a priue place And shewed wisely vnto hem y e great goodes that come of peace and the greate harmes and peryls that bene in warre and sayd to hem in a goodly maner howe that hem ought haue great repentaūce of the iniury and wronge that they had done to Melibeus her lorde and vnto her and to her doughter And when they herde y e goodly wordes of dame Prudence they were so supprysed and rauyshed and had so great ioye of her that wonder was to tel ¶ Ah ladye sayde they ye haue shewed vnto vs the blessyng of swetnesse after the sayeng of Dauid the prophete For the reconsyling which we be nat worthy to haue in no manere But we ought require it with great cōtricion and humilite that ye of your goodnesse haue presented vnto vs. Now se we wel that the science and cōnyng of Salomon is ful trewe for he saith That swete wordes multiply and encreace frendes and maketh shrewes to be debonaire and meke Certes sayd they we put our dede and al our mater cause al holy in your goodwyl and been redy to obey at the cōmaundement of oure lorde Melibeus And therfore dere and benygne lady we praye and beseche you as mekely as we can and maye that it lyke vnto your great goodnesse to fulfyll in dede your goodly wordes For we consyder and knowe that we haue offended and greued oure lorde Melibeus out of measure so forforth that we be nat of power to make hym amendes And therfore we oblige and bynde vs and our frendes for to do all at hys wyll and commaundement but parauenture he hath suche heuynesse and suche wrathe to vs warde bycause of our offence that he woll enioyn vs suche a payne as we mowe nat beare ne sustayne And therfore noble lady we besech your womanly pyte to take suche aduysement in thys nede that we ne our frēdes be nat disherited ne distroyed through our foly Certes sayd Prudence It is an harde thynge and ryght perilous that a man put him al vtterly in arbytration and iugement and in the might and power of hys enemye For Salomon saythe leueth me and yeueth credence to that I shal saye Ne yeueth neuer the power ne gouernaunce of thy goodes to thy son to thy wyfe to thy frende ne to thy brother ne yeue thou neuer might ne mastry ouer thy body while thou liuest Nowe syth he defendeth that a man shulde nat yeue to his brother ne to his frende the might of his body By a stronger reason he defendeth and forbedeth a man to yeue hym selfe to his enemy And nathelesse I counsaile you that ye mystrust nat my lorde for I wot wel and know verily that he is debonair meke large curteys and nothynge desirous ne couitous of goodes ne ryches For there is nothynge in this worlde that he desyreth saue onely worshyp and honoure Ferthermore I knowe and am ryght sure that he shal nothyng do in thys nede without my coūsayle and I shall so worke in thys case that by the grace of our lorde god ye shal be reconsyled vnto vs. Than sayd they with one voyce worshypful lady we put vs and oure goodes all fully in your wyl and disposycion and ben redy to come what day that it lyketh vnto your noblesse to lymyte vs or assyne vs for to make our oblygacion bonde as stronge as it lyketh vnto your goodnes that we mowe fulfyl the wyl of you and of my lorde Melibe Whan dame Prudence had herde the answere of these men she bad hem go ayen priuely and she returned to her lorde Melibe tolde hym howe she founde hys aduersaries ful repentaunt knowlegynge ful lowly her synnes and trespas and how they were redy to suffre al payne requiryng and prayīg him of mercy and pyte Than sayde Melibe he is wel worthy to haue pardon and foryeuenesse of hys synne that excuseth not hys synne but knowlegeth and repenteth hym askyng indulgynce For Seneke sayth there is the remission and for yeuenesse where as the confessyon is for confessyon is neyghbour to innocence And therfore I assent and confyrme me to haue peace but it is good that we do nought wtout the assente and wyl of our frendes Than was Prudence ryght gladde and ioyful and sayde Certes sir ye haue wel and goodly answered for ryght as by the counsayle assent and helpe of your frendes ye
haue be steered to venge you and make werre Right so without her counsayle shall ye not accorde you ne haue peace with your aduersaries For the lawe sayth There is nothyng so good by waye of kynde as a thyng to be vnbounde by him that it was ybounde Than dame Prudence wythout delay or taryenge sent anone her messanger for her kynsfolke and her olde frendes whyche that were trewe and wise and told hem by order in the presence of Melibe al the mater as it is aboue expressed and declared And prayed hem that they wolde saye theyr aduyse and counsayle what best were to do in this nede And whan Melibeus frendes had taken her aduyse and delyberacion of the forsayd mater and had examyned it by great busynesse and dilygence They yaue ful counsaile for to haue peace and rest and that Melibee shulde receyue wyth good hert hys aduersaris to foryeuenesse and mercy And whan dame Prudence had herd thassent of her lorde Melibee and the counsayle of hys frendes accorde with her wyl and her entencion she was wondersly gladde in her hert and sayde There is an olde prouerbe sayd she That y e goodnesse that thou maist do this day do it and abyde it nat ne delay it nat tyl the next daye And therfore I counsayle that ye sende your messengers suche as be discrete and wyse vnto your aduersaries tellyng hem on your behalf that yf they wol treat of peace and accorde that they shape heÌ„ wyth out delay or taryeng to come vnto vs whyche thyng performed was in dede And whan these trespasours and repentyng folke of her folies that is to say the aduersaries of Melibeus had herde what these messangers sayd vnto hem they were ryght gladde and ioyful and answered ful mekely and benygnely yeldyng grace and thankes to her lorde Melibeâ— and to al hys companye and shope hem without delaye to go wyth the messangers and obeyed to the commaundement of her lorde Melibeus And ryght anone they toke her way to the courte of Melibe toke with hem some of their true freÌ„des to make faythe for hem for to be her borowes And whaÌ„ they were comen to the presence of Melibee he sayd to hem these wordes It stondeth thus sayde Melibee and soth it is that causelesse without skyl and reson ye haue done great iniuries and wronges to me and my wyfe Prudence and to my doughter also for ye haue entred in to my house by violence and haue done suche outrage that all men knowe wel that ye haue deserued dethe And therfore woll I knowe and wete of you whether ye woll put the punishynge and the chastylyng and the vengeaunce of thys outrage in the wyl of me and of my wyfe or ye wol not Than the wysest of hem thre answerd for hem al and sayd Sir sayd he we know wel that we ben vnworthy to come to the courte of so great a lorde and so worthy as ye be for we haue so gretly mistaken vs and haue offended and agylted in such wyse agayn your hygh lordshyp that truely we haile deserued the dethe but yet for the great goodnesse and debonairte that al the worlde wytnesseth of your person we submytte vs to y e excelleÌ„cye and benygnytye of your gracious lordeshyp and ben redy to obey to al your commaundementes besechynge you that of your merâ—iable pyte ye wel consyder oure great repentaunce and lowe submyssyon and graunt vs foryeuenesse of our outragyous trespace and offence For wel we knowe that your liberal grace and mercye stretcheth ferther in to the goodnesse than don oure outragious gyltes and trespaces in to the wyckednesse Al be it that cursedly and damnably we haue agilted agaynst your hygh lordshyp THan Melibee tooke hem vp fro the grounde ful benygnely and receyued her oblygacions and her bondes by her othes vpon her pledges and borowes and assyned hem a certayne day to retourne vnto hys courte for to receyue and accept the sentence and iugement that Melibeus wolde coÌ„maunde to be don on hem by the causes aforsayd which thynges ordayned euery man returned to hys house And whan dame PrudeÌ„ce sawe her tyme she fayned and asked her lorde Melibe what vengeaunce he thought to take on hys aduersaries To whyche Melibe answerde and sayde â–ª Certes sayde he I thynke and purpose me fully to disherit theÌ„ of al that euer they haue and for to putte them in exile for euer Certes sayd dame Prudence thys were a cruel sentence and moche ayenst reason For ye be rich ynough and haue no nede of other mennes riches And ye might lyghtly in this wyse gete you a couetous name whiche is a vicious thyng and ought be eschewed of euery good man For after the sayeng of the apostel Couetise is rote of al harmes And therfore it wer better to you to lese so moch good of your owne than for to take of theyr good in thys maner For better it is to lese good with worship than to wyn good with vilanye and shame And euerye man ought to do his dilygence and his busynesse to gette him a good name And yet shal he not onely busy him in kepyng hys good name but he shal al so enforce hym alwaye to do some thynge by whiche he may renewe hys good name For it is writteÌ„ that the old good lose of a maÌ„ or good name is soone gone and past whan it is not renewed And as touchynge that ye say that ye wol exile your aduersaries that thynketh me moche ayenst reason and out of measure consydringe the power that they haue yeue you vpon them selfe And it is wrytten that he is worthy to lese hys pryuilege that mysuseth y e might and power that is gyuen hym And I sette case ye might enioyne hem y t payne by right lawe whiche I trowe ye maye nat do I saye ye myghte not put it to execution for parauenture than it were lyke to tourne to y e werre as it was before And therfore yf ye woll that men do you obeysaunce ye muste demean you more curteisly that is to saye ye muste yeue more easy sentences and iugement For it is wrytten he that most curteisly commaundeth to hym men moost obey And therfore I praye you that in thys necessyte and in thys nede ye caste you to ouercome youre hert For as Senet sayth he that ouercometh hys herte ouercometh twise And Tully sayth there is nothyng so commendable in a great lorde as whan he is debonaire and meke and apeseth hym lyghtly And I praye you that ye woll nowe forbere to do vengeaunce in suche a maner that youre good name maye be kepte and conserued and that men may haue cause and mater to prayse you of pyte and mercye and that ye haue no cause to repent you of thynge that is done For Senecke saythe he ouercometh in an yuel manere that repenteth hym of hys victorie Wherfore I praye you let mercy be in your hert to theffecte
Mette he not that he satte vpon a tree whiche signifyed he shulde honged be Lo Adromeda that was Hectors wyfe That day that Hector shulde lefe his lyfe She dremed in the same night beforne Howe the lyfe of Hector shulde be lorne Yf that day he went vnto bataile She warned him but it might nat auayle He wente for to fyght neuerthelesse But he was slayne anon of Achilles But that tale is to long to tel And eke it is nigh day I may nat dwel Shortely I say as for conclusyon That I shal haue of this auision Aduersyte and I say farthermore That I ne tel of laxatyues no store For they ben venemous I wote it wele I hem defye I loue hem neuer a dele But let vs speke of myrthe stynte al this Madame Pertelot so haue I blys Of one thyng god hath me sent large grace For whan I se the beautie of your face Ye be so scarlet reed aboute your eyen It maketh al my drede for to dyen For also syker as In principio Mulier est hominis confusio ¶ Madame the sentence of this latyn is woman is mannes ioye and his blys For whan I fele on night your softe syde Al be it that I may not on you ryde For that our perche is made so narowe alas I am so ful of ioye and of solas That I defye bothe sweuen and dreme And with y e worde he flew down fro y e beme For it was day and eke the hennes al And with a chucke he gan hem for to cal For he had founde a corne lay in the yerde Royal he was and no more a ferde He feddred Pertelot twenty tyme And tradde her eke as oft er it was prime He loketh as he were a grymme lyoun And on his toes he romed vp and doun Him deyned not to set his fete to the grounde And chucked whan he had a corne ifounde And to him than ran his wyues al As royal as a prince in his hal Leaue I this Chaunteclere in his pasture And after wol I tel of his auenture ¶ whan y e monthe in whiche y e worlde begaÌ„ That hight Marche that god first made maÌ„ was complete and passed were also Sythe Marche began twenty dayes two Befyl that Chauntecler in al his pride His seuen wyues walkyng him besyde Caste vp his eyen to the bright sonne That in the sygne of Taurus was ironne Fourty degrees one and somwhat more He knewe by kynde and by none other lâ—â—e That it was prime crew w t a blisful steueÌ„ The sunne he sayd is clombe vp to the heuen Fourty degrees one soÌ„what more iwys Madame Pertelot my worldes blysse Herken howe this blisful byrdes synge And se the freshe floures howe they sprynge Ful is myne hert of reuel and solas But sodainly him fel a sorouful caas For euer the later ende of ioye is wo God wote worldly ioye is soone ago And if a rethore coude faire endite He in a cronycle myght sauely write As for a souerayne notabilyte Nowe euery wyse man herken to me This storie is also trewe I vndertake As is the boke of Launcelot du Lake That women holde in ful great reuerence Nowe wol I turne ayen to my sentence ¶ A col foxe ful of sleyght and iniquite That in the groue had wouned yeres thre By hygh ymagynacion a forne caste The same nyght through the hedge braste In to the yerde there ChauÌ„teclere the fayre was wonte and eke his wyues to repayre And in a bedde of wortes styl he lay Tyl it was passed vndren of the day waytyng his tyme on Chaunteclere to fal As gladly done these homycides al That in a wayte lye to murdre men O false murdrer ruckyng in thy den O newe Scariot and newe Genylion False dissymuler O greke Synon That broughtest Troy vtterly to sorowe O Chauntecler acursed be the morowe That thou in thy yerde flewe from y e bemes Thou were ful wel warned by thy dremes That ilke day was peryllous to the But what y t god afore wote must nedes be After the opynion of certayne clerkes witnesse of him that any clerke is That in schole is great altercation In this mater and great disputation And hath ben of an hundred thousande men But I ne can not boulte it to the bren As can the holy doctour saynt Austyn Or Boece or the byshop Bradwardyn whether that goddes worthy forewetyng Strayneth me nedely to do a thyng Nedely clepe I symple necessyte Or yf the fre choyce be graunted me To do that same thyng or do it nought Though god forwote it or it was wrought Or yf his wetyng strayneth neuer a dele But by necessyte condycionele I wol not haue to done of suche matere My tale is of a cocke as ye shal here That toke his couÌ„sayle of his wife w t sorow To walke in the yerde vpon the morowe That he had met the dreme as I you tolde womens counsayles ben ful ofte colde Womens counsayle brought vs fyrst to wo And made Adam fro paradise to go There as he was ful mery and well at eâ—â—â— But for I not whom I myght displease If I counsayle of women wolde blame Passe ouer I sayd it in my game Redeth authors wher they trete of such matere And what they say of women ye inowe here These ben the cockes wordes and not myne I can of women no harme deuyne ¶ Faire in the sonde to bathe her merily Lieth Perteloe and al her susters by Ayenst the sunne and Chaunteclere so free Songe meryer than the Mermayde in y e see For Phisiologus saythe vtterly Howe that they syngen wel and merily And so befyl as he cast his eye Among the wortes on a butterflye He was ware of this foxe that laye ful lowe Nothyng than lyst hym for to crowe But cried cocke cocke and vp he stert As one that was affrayde in his hert For naturally beestes desyreth to flye Fro her contrary yf he may it se Tho he neuer erst had seen it with his eye This Chaunteclere whan he gan hym espye He wolde haue fledde but the foxe anone Sayd gentil sir alas what wol ye done Be ye afrayde of me that am your frende Nowe certes I were worse than a fende Yf I to you wolde harme or villany I am not come your counsayle to espye But trewly the cause of my commyng was onely to here howe ye syng For sothly ye haue as mery a steuen As any angel hath that is in heuen Therwith ye haue of musyke more felyng Than had Boece or any that can syng My lorde your father god his soule blesse And eke your mother of her gentylnesse Haue in my house ben to my great ease And certes sir ful fayne wolde I you please But for men speken of syngyng I wol sey So mote I broken wel myn eyen twey â—â—ue you ne herde I neuer man so synge As dyd your father in the mornynge Certes
of the good workes that he hathe begonne Than cometh Magnifycence that is to saye whan a man dothe and parformeth great workes of goodnesse that he hath begon and that is th ende why that men shuld do good workes For in the accomplishyng of good workes lyeth the great guerdon ThaÌ„ is there Constance that is stablenesse of corage and thys shulde be in hert by stedfast faythe and in mouthe in beâ—ynge in chere and in dede Also there ben mo specyall remedyes ayenst accidie in dyuers workes as in coÌ„syderatyoÌ„ of y e paynes of hell the ioyes of heuen and in truste of the grace of the holy ghoost that wyll yeue hym myght to performe his good entent ¶ De Auaricia AFter Accidie woll I speke of Auarice and of couetyse Of whych syn saynt Poule sayth the rote of al harmes is couetyse ad Timoth. vi For sothly whan the hert of man is coÌ„founded in it selfe and troubled and that the soule hath lost the confort of god than seketh he an ydell solace of worldlye thynges Auarice after the discryption of saynt Augustyn is a lycorousnesse in hert to haue erthly thynges Some other folke saye that auaryce is for to purchace many erthely thynges nothynge to yeue to hem that haue nede And vnderstonde that auarice stoÌ„deth nat onely in londe ne catel but somtyme in scieÌ„ce and glorye in euerye maner of outragious thynges is Auaryce And couetyse is thys Couetyse is for to coueit suche thynges that thou hast nat And auarice is to with holde kepe suche thynges as thou haste wythout right Sothly this auarice is a synne that is ful daÌ„pnable for al holy writ curseth it speketh ayenst y e vice for it doth wrong to Iesu christ for it taketh fro him the loue that men to hym owe tourneth it backeward ayenst al reason and maketh that the auarycious man hath more hoope in hys catell than in Iesu Christ and dothe more obseruaunce in kepyng of hys treasour than he dothe in the seruyce of Iesu Christ And therfore saythe saynt Poule ad Ephesios quinto That an auarycious man is the thraldome of idolatrye What dyfference is there betwyxt an ydolaster and an auaricyous man But that an ydolaster perauenture ne hathe nat but a mawmet or two the auaricious man hath many For certes euery floreyn in hys coâ—re is his maumet And certes the synne of maumetry is the fyrste that God defended as in the .x. commauÌ„dements it beareth wytnesse in Exodi Capitu. xx Thou shalte haue no false goddes before me ne thou shalte make to the no graue thynge Thus is an auaricious man that loueth hys treasour before God an idolaster And through this cursed synne of Auyryce and Couetyse cometh these harde lordeshyppes through whyche they ben streyned by tyllages customes and cariages more than her duetye or reason is or elles take they of her bondmen amercyamentes whyche myght more resonablye be called extortions than mercyamentes Of whiche amerciamentes or raunsomynge of bondmen some lordes stewardes say that it is rightful for as moche as a churle hath no temporel thynge that it ne is his lordes as they saye But certes these lordshyppes do wrong that bereue theyr bondmen thynges that they neuer yaue hem Augustinus de Ciuitate dei Libro ix Sothe is that the conditioÌ„ of thraldom and the fyrst cause of thraldome was for synne Thus may ye se that th offence deserued thraldome but nat nature Wherfore these lordes ne shulde not moche glorifye hem in her lordeshyps sythe that they by natural coÌ„dycion ben not lordes ouer thralles but for that thraldome came fyrste by the deserte of synne And more ouer there as the law sayth that temporel goodes of bonde folke ben the goodes of her lorde ye that is for to vnderstonde the goodes of the Emperour to defende hem in her ryght but not to robbe hem ne reue hem Therfore saythe Seneca thy prudence shulde lyue benygnly with y e thralles Those that thou callest thy thralles ben goddes people and for humble people ben Christes frendes they ben contubernyall w t the lordes Thynke also that of suche sede as chorles sprynge of suche sede spryng lordes as wel may the chorle be saued as the lorde The same dethe that taketh the chorle suche dethe taketh the lorde Wherfore I rede do right so with the chorle as thou woldest that thy lorde dyd wyth the yf thou were in hys plyght Euery synful man is a chorle to syn I rede the lorde certes that thou werke in suche wyse with thy chorles that they rather loue the thaÌ„ drede the. I wote wel that there is degree aboue degree as reson is and skyll is that men do her deuoyre there as it is due But certes extorcions and dispyte of your vnderlynges is dampnable And ferthermore vnderstonde wel that these conquerours or tyrauntes make ful ofte thralles of hem that ben borne of as royal bloode as ben they that hem conquere This name of thraldom was neuer erst knowe tyl that Noe sayd that his sonne Canam shulde be thral to his brethern for hys synne What saye we than of heÌ„ that pyl and do extorcions to holy church Certes the swerde that men yeue fyrste to a knyght whan he is newe dubbed sygnyfyeth that he shulde defende holy churche and not robbe and pyl it and who so doth he is traytour to Chryst And as saythe saynt Austyn they ben the dyuels woulues that strangle the shepe of Iesu christ and done worse than woulues for sothely whan the woulfe hathe full hys wombe he stynteth to strangle shepe But sothlye the pyllours and dystroyers of holy church goodes ne do not so for they ne stynte neuer to pyll Nowe as I haue sayde sythe so is that synne was fyrste cause of thraldom than is it thus that at the tyme that all thys world was in synne thaÌ„ was al this worlde in thraldom and in subiection but certes syth the tyme of grace came god ordayned y t some folke shulde be more hye in estate and in degre and some folke more lowe and that eche shulde be serued in hys astate And therfore in some couÌ„treys there they be thralles whaÌ„ they haue turned hem to y e faythe they make her thralles free out of thraldome and therfore certes the lorde oweth to hys man that the man oweth to the lorde The pope calleth hym selfe seruaunte of the seruauntes of God but for as the estate of holy churche ne might not haue ben ne the comen profyte myght not haue be kept ne peace ne reste in erthe but yf god had ordayned that some maÌ„ had hier degree and some men lower Therfore was soueraynte ordayned to kepe mayntayne and defende her vnderlynges and her subiectes in reason as ferforth as it lyeth in her power and not to distroye ne confounde hem Wherfore I say that those lordes that ben lyke wolues that deuour the possessyons or the catel of poore folkes wrongfully with out
ben your subiecte at your wyll Shulde ye therfore wyllen hym yll Ye shulde hym spare more all out Than hym that is bothe proude and stout Curtesy woll that ye socure Hem that ben meke vnder your cure Hys hert is harde that woll nat meke whan men of mekenesse hym beseke THys is certayne sayd Pyte we se ofte that humylyte Bothe yre and also felony Venquysheth and also melancoly To stonde forthe in suche duresse Thys cruelte and wyckednesse wherfore I pray you sir Daungere For to mayntene no lenger here Suche cruell werre agayne your man As holly yours as euer he can Nor that ye worchen no more wo Vpon thys caytife that languysheth so whyche woll no more to you trespace But put hym holly in your grace Hys offence ne was but lyte The god of Loue it was to wyte That he your thrall so greatly is And yf ye harme hym ye done amys For he hath had full harde penaunce Sythe that ye reste hym thaqueyntaunce Of Bialacoil hys moste ioye whyche all hys paynes myght acoye He was before anoyed sore But than ye doubled hym well more For he of blysse hath ben full bare Sythe Bialacoil was fro hym fare Loue hath to hym great distresse He hath no nede of more duresse Voydeth from hym your yre I rede Ye may not wynnen in thys dede Maketh Bialacoil repayre agayne And haueth pyte vpon hys payne For Franchyse woll and I Pyte That mercyfull to hym ye be And sythe that she and I accorde Haue vpon hym misâ—â—icorde For I you pray and eke mouâ—ste Nought to refusen our requeste For he is harde and fell of thought That for vs two woll do right nought Daunger ne might no more endure He meked hym vnto mesure I Wol in no wyse saythe Daungere Deny that ye haue asked here It were to great vncurtesye I woll ye haue the companye Of Bialacoil as ye deuyse I woll hym let in no wyse To Bialacoil than went in hye Fraunchyse and sayde full curteslye Ye haue to longe be deignous Vnto thys louer and daungerous Fro hym to withdrawe your presence whyche hath do to hym great offence That ye not wolde vpon hym se wherfore a soroufull man is he Shape ye to paye hym and to please Of my loue yf ye woll haue case Fulfyll hys wyll sythe that ye knowe Daunger is daunted and brought lowe Through helpe of me and of Pyte You dare no more aferde be I shall do right as ye wyll Saythe Bialacoil for it is skyll Sythe Daunger woll that it so be Than Fraunchyse hath hym sent to me BYalacoil at the begynnyng Salued me in hys coÌ„myng No strauÌ„genesse was in him sene No more thaÌ„ he ne had wrathed bene As fayre semblaunt than shewed he me And goodly as aforne dyd he And by the honde without done wythin the haye ryght all about He ladde me wyth right good chere All enuyron the vergere That Daunger hadde me chased fro Nowe haue I leaue ouer all to go Nowe am I raysed at my deuyse Fro hell vnto paradyse Thus Bialacoil of gentylnesse wyth all hys payne and besynesse Hathe shewed me onely of grace The eftres of the swote place I sawe the Rose whan I was nygh was greatter woxen and more high Fresshe roddy and fayre of hewe Of coloure euer yliche newe And whan I hadde it longe sene I sawe that through the leues grene The Rose spredde to spaunyshinge To sene it was a goodly thynge But it ne was so sprede on brede That men within myght knowe the sede For it couert was and close Bothe with the leues and with the rose The stalke was euen and grene vpright It was theron a goodly syght And wel the better without wene For the seed was nat sene Ful fayre it spradde the god of blesse For suche another as I gesse Aforne ne was ne more vermayle I was abawed for marueyle For euer the fayrer that it was The more I am bounden in loues laas Longe I abode there sothe to saye Tyl Bialacoil I ganne to praye whan that I sawe him in no wyse To me warnen his seruyce That he me wolde graunt a thynge whiche to remembre is wel syttynge This is to sayne that of his grace He wolde me yeue leysar and space To me that was so desyrous To haue a kyssynge prectous Of the goodly freshe Rose That so swetely smelleth in my nose For if you displeased nought I wolde gladly as I haue sought Haue a cosse therof freely Of your yeft for certainly I wol none haue but by your leue So lothe me were you for to greue HE sayd frende so god me spede Of Chastite I haue suche drede Thou shuldest nat warned be for me But I dare nat for Chastyte Agayne her dare I nat mysdo For alwaye byddeth she me so To yeue no louer leaue to kysse For who therto maye wynnen ywisse He of the surplus of the praye My lyfe in hoope to gette some daye For who so kyssynge maye attayne Of loues payne hath sothe to sayne The best and most auenaunt And ernest of the remenaunt OF hys answere I sighed sore I durst assaye him tho no more I hadde suche drede to greue hym aye A maÌ„ shuld nat to moche assaye To chafe hys frende out of measure Nor putte hys lyfe in auenture For no man at the fyrst stroke Ne maye nat fel downe an oke Nor of the reysyns haue the wyne Tyll grapes be rype and well a fyne Be sore empressed I you ensure And drawen out of the pressure But I forpeyned wonder stronge Though that I abode right longe After the kysse in payne and wo Sythe I to kysse desyred so Tyll that rennynge on my distresse There come Venus the goddesse whyche aye werryeth Chastite Came of her grace to socour me whose myght is knowe ferre and wyde For she is mother of Cupyde THe God of Loue blynde as stone That helpeth louers manye one This lady brought in her right honde Of brennynge fyre a blasyng bronde wherof the flame and hote fyre Hath many a lady in desyre Of Loue brought and sore hette And in her seruyce her hert is sette Thys lady was of good entayle Right wonderfull of apparayle By her atyre so bryght and shene Men myght perceyue well and sene She was nat of Relygioun Nor I nyll make mencioun Nor of robe nor of tresour Of broche neyther of her riche attour Ne of her gyrdell about her syde For that I nyll nat longe abyde But knoweth well that certaynly She was arrayed richely Deuoyde of pride certayne she was To Bialacoil she went a paas And to hym shortely in a clause She sayd sir what is the cause Ye ben of porte so daungerous Vnto thys louer and daynous To graunt hym nothyng but a kysse To warne it hym ye done amysse Sythe well ye wotte howe that he Is loues seruaunt as ye maye se And hath beaute wherthrough is worthy of loue to haue the blys Howe he is semely
estate and also his renowne His wyt his shap and eke his gentyllesse But most her fauour was for his distresse was al for her thought it were a routh To sleen suche one yf that he ment trouthe ¶ Now myght some enuyous iangle thus This was a sodayn loue how might it be That she so lyghtly loued Troylus Ryght for the fyrst syght yea parde Now whoso sayd so mote he neuer the For euery thynge a gynnyng hath it nede Er al be wrought withouten any drede For I saye nat that she so sodaynly Yafe hym her loue but that she gan enclyne To lyken hym tho I haue tolde you why And after that his manhod and his pyne Made that loue within her gan to myne For which by processe and by good seruyce He wan her loue and in no sodayne wyse And also blysfull Venus wele arayed Sat in her seuenth house of heuen tho Disposed wele and with aspectes payed To helpe sely Troylus of his wo And soth to sayne she nas nat al a fo To Troylus in his natiuitie God wote that wele the sooner sped he Now let vs stynt of Troylus a throwe That rydeth forth and let vs turne fast Vnto Creseyde y t henge her heed full lowe There as she sat alone and gan to cast wheron she wolde apoynt her at the last If it so were her Eme ne wolde cesse For Troylus vpon her for to presse And lorde so she gan in her thought argue In this matter of which I haue you tolde And what to don best wer what to eschue That plyted she full oft in many solde Now was her hert warme now was it cold And what she thought soÌ„what shal I write As myne autor lysteth for tendyte She thought fyrst that Troylus persone She knewe by syght eke his gentelnesse And thus she sayd al wer it nought to don To grauÌ„t him loue yet for his worthynes It wer honour with play with gladnesse In honestie with suche a lorde to dele For myne estate and also for his heale Eke wel wot I my kynges sonne is he And syth he hath to se me suche delyte Yf I wolde vtterlyche his syght flye Peraduenture he might haue me in despite Through which I miÈt stoÌ„d in worse plyte Now were I wyse me bate to purchace without nede there I may stonde in grace In euery thyng I wot there lyeth mesure For though a man forbyd dronkenesse He nought forbyddeth that euery creature Be dâ—â—nlesse for alwaye as I gesse Eke syth I wot for me is his distresse I ne ought nat for that thyng hym despyse Syth it is so he meaneth in good wyse And eke I knowe of longe tyme agone His thewes good and that he nys nat nyce No vauntour sayne men certayn he is non To wyse is he to done so great a vyce Ne al 's I nyl hym neuer so cherice That he shall make auaunt by iust cause He shall me neuer bynde in suche a clause Now set I case the hardest is iwys Men myght demen that he loueth me what dishonour were it vnto me this May iche him let of that why nay parde I knowe also and alwaye here and se Men louen women al this towne about Be they the werse â–ª why nay without dout I thynke eke how he worthy is to haue Of al this noble towne the thryftyest That woman is yf she her honour saue For out and out he is the worthyest Saue onely Hector which that is the best And yet his lyfe lyeth al nowe in my cure But suche is loue and eke myne auenture Ne me to loue a wondre is it nought For well wot I my selfe so god me spede All woll I that none wyst of this thought I am one the fayrest out of drede And goodlyest whoso that taketh hede And so men sayne in al the towne of Troye what woÌ„der is though he of me haue ioye I am myne owne woman well at ease I thanke it god as after myne estate Right yonge stond vntyed in lusty lese withouten ielousye and suche debate Shal no husbond sayne to me checke mate For eyther they ben full of ielousye Or masterfull or louen nouelry what shal I don to what fyne lyue I thus Shal I nat loue in case yf that me lest what pardieux I am not religious And though that I myne hert set at rest Vpon this knyght that is the worthyest And kepe alway myne honour my name By all ryght it may do me no shame But right as whan the son shyneth bright In Marche y t chaungeth oft tyme his face And that a cloude is put w t wynde to flight which ouersprat the sonne as for a space A cloudy thought gaÌ„ through her soul pace That ouersprad her bryght thoughtes all So that for feare almoost she gan to fall That thouÈt was this Alas syth I am fre Sulde I now loue and put in ieopardye My sykernesse and thrallen lybertye Alas how durst I thynken that follye May I not well in other folke aspye Her dredful ioy her constreynt her payne There loueth non that she ne hath waye to playne For loue is yet the most stormy lyfe Ryght of hym selfe that euer was begon For euer some mystrust or nyce stryfe There is in loue some cloude ouer the sun Therto we wretched womeÌ„ nothing coÌ„ whan vs is wo but wepe and syt thynke Our wrech is this our owne wo to drynke Also wycked tonges bene so prest To speke vs harme eke men be so vntrue That ryght anon as cessed is her lest So cesseth loue and forth to loue anewe But harme ydo is done whoso it rewe For thouÈ these meÌ„ for loue hem first to reÌ„de Full sharpe begynnyng breketh oft at ende How ofte tyme maye men rede and sene The treson that to women hath be do To what fyne is suche loue I can not sene Or where becommeth it whan it is go There is no wyght that wote I trowe so wher it becoÌ„meth lo no wiÈt on it sporneth That erst was nothynge into nought tourneth How besy yf I loue eke must I be To plesen hem that iangle of loue demen And coyen hem that they say no harm of me For though ther be no cause yet hem semen Al be for harme y t folke her frendes quemen And who may stoppen euery wycked tonge Or sowne of bels whyle y t they ben ronge And after that her thought gan for to clere And sayd he which y t nothyng vndertaketh Nothyng acheueth be hym loth or dere And w t an other though her hert quaketh ThaÌ„ slepeth hope and after drede awaketh Now hote now cold but thus betwixeÌ„ twey She rysle her vp and went her to pley Adowne the stayre anonryght tho she went Into her gardyn with her neces thre And vp and downe they madeÌ„ many a went Flexippe she Tarbe and Antigone To playen that it ioye was to se And other of her women a great
route Her folowed in the garden all about This yerd was large rayled all the aleyes shaddowed wel w t blosomy bowes grene And benched newe and soÌ„ded al the wayes In which she walketh arm in arme betwene Tyll at the last Antigone the shene Gan on a Troyan songe to syngen clere That it an heuen was her voyce to heare She said O loue to whom I haue shall Ben humble subiect trewe in myne entent As I best can to you lorde yeue yche all For euermore my hertes lust to rent For neuer yet thy grace no wyght sent So blysfull cause as me my lyfe to lede In al ioye and suretie out of drede The blysful god hath me so wel beset In loue iwys that all that bereth lyfe Ymagynen ne coulde how to be bet For lorde withouten ielousye or stryfe I loue one which that moost is ententyfe To seruen wel vntweryly or vnfayned That euer was lest with harme distayned As he that is the well of worthynesse Of trouth ground myrrour of godlyheed Of wyt Apollo stone of sykernesse Of vertue roote of lust fynder and heed Through which is all sorowe fro me deed Ywys I loue hym best so doth he me Now good thrift haue he whersoeuer he be whom shulde I thaÌ„ken but you god of loue Of all this blysse in which to bath I gynne And thanked be ye lorde for that I loue This is the ryght lyfe that I am in To flemen al maner vyce and synne This doth me so to vertue for to entende That daye by day I in my wyll amende And who that sayth y e for to loue is vyce Or thraldome though he felt in it distresse He eyther is enuyous or ryght nyce Or is vnmyghty for his shreudnesse To louen for suche maner folke I gesse Diffamen loue as nothyng of him knowe They speken but they bent neuer his bowe what is the sonne worse of kynde ryght Though y t a man for feblenesse of his eyen May nat endure on it to se for bryght Or loue the worse that wretches on it cryen No wele is worth y t may no sorowe dryen And for thy who that hath a heed of verre Fro cast of stones ware hym in the werre But with al myne hert and al my myght As I haue sayde wol loue vnto my last My dere hert and all myne owne knyght In which myne hert growen is so fast And his in me that it shall euer last All dredde I fyrst loue hym to begyn Now wot I well there is no peryll in And of her songe right w t the worde she stent And therwithal nowe nece ê™ Creseyde who made this song now w t so good entent Antygone answerde anone and sayde Madame ywys the goodlyest mayde Of great estate in al the towne of Troye And led her lyfe in moost honour and ioye For soth so semeth it by her songe Quod tho Creseyde gan therwtih to sike And said Lorde is there such blysse amonge These louers as they can fayre endite Yea wysse quod freshe Antygone the whyte For al the folke that haue or bene on lyue Ne conne wel the blysse of loue discryue But wene ye that euery wretche wote The parfyte blysse of loue why nay ywys They wenen al be loue yf one be hote Do way do way they wote nothing of this Menne mote asken of sayntes yf it is Ought faire in heueÌ„ why for they can tell And aske fendes yf it be foule in hell Creseide vnto the purpose naught answerde But sayd ywys it wol be nyght as faste But euery word which that she of her herde She gan to printen in her herte faste And aye gan loue her lasse for to agaste Than it dyd erst and synken in her herte That she waxe somwhat able to conuerte The dayes honour and the heuens eye The night foe al thys clepe I the sunne Gan westren fast downwarde for to wrie As he that had hys dayes course yrunne And whyte thinges woxen dymme donne For lacke of lyght and sterres for to apere That she and al her folke in went yfere So whan it lyked her to gone to reste And voyded weren they that voyden oughte She sayd that to slepen well her leste Her women sone tyl her bed her broughte whaÌ„ al was hust thaÌ„ lay she styl thoughte Of al thys thynge the maner and the wyse Reherce it nedeth nat for ye bene wyse A nyghtyngale vpon a Cedre grene Vnder the chamber wal there as she lay Ful loude songe ayen the mone shene Parauenture in hys byrdes wyse a lay Of loue that made her herte freshe and gaye That herkened she so longe in good entente Tyl at the last the deed slepe her hente And as she slept anon ryght tho her mette Howe that an Egle fethered white as bone Vnder her brest hys longe clawes sette And out her hert he rent and that anone And dyd his hert in to her brest to gone of which she nought agrose ne nothiÌ„g smert And forthe he flyeth with hert lefte for herte Nowe let her slepe we our tales holde Of troylus that is to paleys rydden Fro the scarmyshe of whych I tolde And in hys chambre sate and hath abydden Tyl two or thre of his messangers yeden For Pandarus and soughten him ful fast Tyl they him found brought him at y e last Thys Pandarus came leapyng in at ones And sayd thus who hath bene wel ybete To daye wyth swerdes and slonge stones But Troylus that hath caught him an hete And gan to iape sayd Lorde ye sweete But ryse and let vs soupe and go to reste And he answerde him do we as the leste wyth al the hast goodly as they myght They spedde hem fro the souper to bedde And euery wyght out of the dore him dyght And whyder him lyst vpoÌ„ his way him sped But Troylus thought that his herte bledde For wo tyl that he herde some tydynge And sayd frende shall I now wepe or synge Quod Pandarus be styll and let me slepe And do on thyne hoode thy nedes spedde be And chese yf thou wolt syng daunce or lepe At short wordes thou shalte trowe me Sir my nece wol done wel by the And loue the beste by god by my trouthe But lacke of pursute make it in thy slouthe For thus forforth I haue thy werke begon Fro day to daye tyl this day by the morowe Her loue of frendshyp haue I to the won and therfore hath she laid her faith to borow Algate a foote is hameled of thy sorowe what shulde I lenger sermon of it holde As ye haue herde before al he him tolde But right as floures through the colde of night I closed stoupen in her stalkes low Redressen hem ayen the sunne bryght And spreden in her kynde course by rowe Ryght so gan tho his eyen vp to throwe Thys Troylus and sayd O Venus dere Thy myght thy grace yheryed
liber secundus O Blysfull lyght of which the bemes clere Adorneth all the thyrde heuen fayre O sonnes lese o Ioues doughter dere Pleasaunce of loue o goodly debonayre In gentyll hertes aye redy to repayre O very cause of heale and of gladnesse Yheryed be thy myght and thy goodnesse In heauen and hell in erthe and salte see Is felte thy myght yf that I well dyscerne As man beest fyshe herbe and grene tree The fele in tymes wyth vapour eterne God loueth and to loue woll naught werne And in thys worlde no lyues creature wythouten loue is worth or maye endure Ye Ioues fyrst to thylke affectes glade Through whych that thynges lyuen al be CoÌ„menden and amorous hem made On mortall thynge and as you lyst aye ye Yeue hem in loue ease or aduersyte And in a thousand formes downe hym sente For loue in erth whom you lyste he hente Ye fyrce Marce apeasen of hys yre And as you lyst ye maken hertes dygne Algates hem that ye woll set afyre They dreden shame and vyces they resygne Ye done hem curteys be freshe benigne And hye or lowe after a wyght entendeth The ioyes y t he hath your myght it sendeth Ye holden reygne and house in vnite Ye soth fast cause of frendshyp ben also Ye knewen all thylke couered qualyte Of thynges whych that folke wondren so when they can not construe howe it may go She loueth hym or why he loueth here As why this fyshe not that cometh to were Ye folke a lawe haue set in vniuerse And thys knowe I by hem that louers be That who so stryueth w t you hath y e werse Nowe lady bryght for thy benignite At reuerence of hem that seruen the whose clerke I am so techeth me deuyse Some ioye of that is felt in thy seruyce Yea in my naked herte sentement I hylde and do me shewe of thy swetnesse Calâ—ope thy voyce be nowe present For â—â—we is nede seest thou not my dystresse Howe I mote tell anone ryght the gladnesse Of Troylus to Venus heriynge To whych who nede hath god hym brynge ¶ Incipit liber tertius LAy all thys meane whyle Troylus Recordynge hys lesson in thys manere Mafey thought he thus wol I say and thus Thus woll I playne vnto my lady dere That worde is good thys shal be my chere Thys nyll I not foryeten in no wyse God lene hym werken as he can deuyse And lorde so that hys herte gan to quappe Herynge her come and shorte for to syke And Pandarus that ledde her by the lappe Came nere and gan in at the curteyn pyke And sayd god do bote on all syke Se who is here you comen to vysyte Lo here is she that is your death to wyte Therwyth it semed as he wepte almoste A a quod Troylus so routhfully where me be wo o myghty god thou woste who is all there I se not truly Syr ê™ Creseyde it is Pandare and I Ye swete herte alas I maye not ryse To knele and do you honoure in some wyse And dressed hym vpwarde she ryght tho Gan both her hondes softe vpon hym ley O for the loue of god do ye not so To me quod she ey what is thys to sey Syr comen am I to you for causes twey Fyrst you to thanke and of your lordshyp eke Continuaunce I wolde you beseke Thys Troylus that herde hys lady praye Of lordship him woxe neither quicke ne deed Ne myght o worde for shame to it saye All though men shulden smyten of hys heed But lorde so he woxe sodeynlyche reed And syr hys lesson that he wende conne To prayen her is through hys wyt yronne Creseyde all thys aspyed well ynough For she was wyse loued hym neuer y t lasse All nere he in all aperte or made it tough Or was to bolde to synge a foole a masse But when hys shame gan somwhat to passe hys resons as I may my rymes holde I woll you tell as techen bokes olde In chauÌ„ged voyce ryght for hys very drede whych voyce eke quoke therto hys manere Goodly abasht and nowe hys hewes rede Nowe pale vnto Creseyde hys lady dere wyth loke downe cast humble iyoldeÌ„ chere Lo the alderfyrst worde that hym after was twyse mercy mercy swete herte And stynt a while wheÌ„ he might out bring The next worde was god wote for I haue As faythfully as I haue had konnynge Ben yours all god so my soule saue And shal tyl that I wofull wyght be graue And though I dare ne can vnto you playne Iwys I suffre not the lasse payne Thus moch as nowe ah womaÌ„lyche wyfe I maye out brynge and yf thys you dysplese That shall I wreke vpon myne owne lyfe Ryght sone I trowe and do your hert an ese Yf wyth my death your herte maye apese But sens that ye han herde me somwhat sey Nowe retche I neuer howe sone that I dey Therwyth hys manly sorowe to beholde It myght haue made an hert of stone to rew And Pandare wept as he to water wolde And poked euer hys nece newe and new And sayd wo begon ben hertes trewe For loue of god make of thys thinge an ende Or slee vs both at ones er that ye wende I what ê™ she by God and by my trouth I not nat what ye wylne that I sey Ey what ê™ he that ye haue on hym routh For goddes loue and doth hym not to dey Nowe then thus ê™ she I wolde hym prey To tell me the fyne of hys entente Yet wyst I neuer well what that he mente what that I meane O swete herte dere Quod Troylus o goodly freshe free That wyth the stremes of your eyen clere Ye wolden somtyme frendly on me se And then agreen that I may ben he wythouten braunche of vyce on any wyse In trouth alwaye to do you my seruyse As to my lady ryght and chefe resorte wyth all my wytte and all my diligence And to haue ryght as you lyst comforte Vnder your yerde egall to myne offence As death yf that I breake your defence And that ye deygne me so moche honour Me to coÌ„maunden aught in any hour And I to ben your very humble trewe Secrete and in my paynes pacient And euer to desyren freshly newe To seruen and to ben aye ylike dilygent And with good herte al holy your talent Receyuen wel howe sore that me smerte Lo this meane I myne owne swete hert Quod Pandarus lo here an hard request And reasonable a lady for to warne Nowe nece myne by Natall Ioues feeste were I a god ye shulde sterue as yerne That heren wel this man wol nothyng yern But your honour sene him almost sterue And ben so lothe to suffre him you to serue wyth that she gan her eyen on him cast Full easely and full debonairly Auysyng her and hyed not to fast wyth neuer a worde but sayd hym softely Myn honour safe
clepe hem what That hem auaunte of women and by name That yet behyght hem neuer this ne that Ne knowe hem more than myne olde hat No wonder is so god me sende heele Though womē dreden with vs men to deele I say nat thys for no mistrust of you Ne for no wyse men but for fooles nyce And for the harme that in y e worlde is nowe As wel for folye ofte as for malyce For wel wote I in wyse folke that vyce No woman dredeth yf she be well auysed For wyse ben by fooles harme chastysed But nowe to purpose leue brother dere Haue all this thyng y t I haue sayd in mynde And kepe the close and be now of good chere For all thy dayes thou shalt me trewe fynde I shall thy processe set in suche a kynde And god toforne that it shall the suffyse For it shall be right as thou wolte deuyse For wel I wote thou meanest well parde Therfore I dare this fully vndertake Thou woste eke what thy lady graunted the And day is set the chartres to make Haue now good night I may no lēger wake And byd for me syth thou arte now in blysse That god the sende dethe or soone lysse Who might tellen halfe the ioye or feest whych that the soule of Troylus tho felte Heryng theffect of Pandarus beheest His olde wo that made his herte swelte Gan tho for ioye wasten and to melte And all the richesse of his syghes sore At ones fledde he felte of hem no more But right so as these holtes these hayis That han in wynter deed ben and drie Reuesten hem in grene whan that may is whan euery lusty lysteth to play Right in that selfe wyse sothe to say woxe sodainly his herte full of ioye That gladder was there neuer mā in Troye And gan his loke on Pandarus vp caste Ful soberly and frendly on to se And sayd frende in April the laste As well thou woste yf it remembre the Howe nyghe y t dethe for wo thou founde me And howe thou dyddest all thy besynesse To knowe of me the cause of my distresse Thou woste how longe I it forbare to say To the that arte the man that I best tryst And peryll none was it to the to bewray That wyst I well but tel me yf the lyste Sythe I so loth was that thy selfe it wyste Howe durste I mo tellen of this matere That quake nowe no wight may vs here But nathelesse by that god I the swere That as him lyst may al this world gouerne And yf I lye Achylles wyth his spere Myne herte cleaue al were my lyfe eterne As I am mortal yf I late or yerne wolde it bewray or durst or shulde conne For al the good that god made vnder sonne That rather dye I wolde and determyne As thynketh me nowe stocked in prison In wretchydnesse in fylthe and in vermyne Captyfe to cruell kyng Agamenon And this in all the temples of this towne Vpon the goddes all I woll the swere To morowe day yf that the lyketh here And that thou haste so moche ydon for me That I ne may it neuer more deserue This know I well all might I now for the A thousande tymes on a morowe sterue I can no more but that I woll the serue Ryght as thy slaue whyther so thou wende For euer more vnto my lyues ende But here with al myn herte I the beseche That neuer in me thou deme suche folye As I shall sayne me thought by thy speche That this whiche thou me doest for cōpanye I shulde wene it were a baudrye I am nat woode all yf I leude be It is nat so that wot I well parde But he that gothe for golde or for rychesse On suche messages call him what ye lyste And this that thou doest call it gentylnesse Compassyon and felawshyp and tryste Departe it so for wyde where is wyste Howe that there is dyuersyte required Betwixen thynges lyke as I haue lered And y t thou knowe I thynke nat ne wene That thys seruyce a shame be or iape I haue my fayre suster Polixene Cassandre Heleyne or any of the frape Be she neuer so fayre or well yshape Tel me whiche thou wylte of euerychone To haue for thyne and let me than alone Buth syth y t thou hast done me this seruyce My lyfe to saue and for non hope of mede So for the loue of god this great emprise Parfourme it out nowe is the moste nede For hygh and lowe withouten any drede I wol alway thyne hestes al kepe Haue nowe good nyght let vs bothe slepe Thus helde hem eche of other well apayde That all the worlde ne might it bet amende And on the morowed whā they were arayde Eche to hys owne nedes gan entende But Troylus though as the fyre he brende For sharpe desyre of hope and of pleasaunce He nat forgate his good gouernaunce But in him selfe w t māhode gan restreyne Eche rakel dede and eche vnbridled chere That all that lyuen sothe to sayne Ne shulde haue wyst by word or by manere what that he mente as touching this matere From euery wyght as ferre as is the cloude He was so wyse and wel dissymulen coulde And al y e whyle which that I now deuyse Thys was hys lyfe with all his full myght By day he was in Martes hyghe seruyce That is to sayne in armes as a knyght And for the more parte the longe nyght He lay and thought how that he might serue His lady best her thanke for to deserue Nyll I nat sweare all though he lay softe That in his thought he nas somwhat disesed Ne that he turned on his pillowes ofte And wolde of that him missed haue ben eased But in suche case men be nat alwaye pleased For naught I wot no more than was he That can I deme of possibylyte But certayne is to purpose for to go That in this whyle as written is in geste He sawe his lady somtyme and also She wyth him spake whā y t she durst leste And by her bothe auyse as was the beste Apoynteden ful warely in this nede So as they durste howe they wold procede But it was spoken in so shorte a wyse In suche awayte alway and in suche fere Leste any wight deuynen or deuyse wolde of hem two or to it lay an eere That all this worlde so lefe to hem ne were As that Cupyde wolde hem grace sende To maken of her speche right an ende But thylke lytel that they spake or wrought Hys wyse goste toke aye of all suche hede It semed her he wyste what she thought withouten worde so that it was no nede To bydde hym aught to dō or aught forbede For which she thought y t loue al come it late Of al ioye had opened her the yate And shortly of thys processe for to pace So wel his werke and wordes he besette That he so ful stode in his ladys grace
TWenty thousande tymes er she lette She tonked god she euer with hym mette So coulde he hym gouerne in suche seruyce That al the worlde ne might it bet deuyse For she founde him so discrete in all So secrete and of suche obeysaunce That well she felte he was to her a wall Of steele and shelde of euery displesaunce That to ben in hys good gouernaunce So wyse he was she was nomore afered I meane as ferre as ought ben required And Pandarus to quicke alway the fyre was euer ylyke prest and dyligent To ease his frende was set al hys desyre He shone aye on he to and fro was sent He letters bare whan Troylus was absent That neuer man as in hys frendes nede Ne bare hym bet than he withouten drede But now paraueÌ„ture som maÌ„ wayteÌ„ wold That euery worde or sonde loke or chere Of Troylus that I rehercen shulde In all this whyle vnto hys lady dere I trowe it were a longe thyng for to here Or of what wight y t stante in suche disioynte His wordes al or euery loke to poynte For sothe I haue nat herde it done er this In storye none ne no man here I wene And though I wolde I coulde nat ywys For there was some epystel hem betwene That wold as saith myn auctour wel coÌ„tene Nye half this boke of which hiÌ„ lyst nat write Howe shulde I than a lyue of it endyte But to the great effecte than say I thus That stondyng in concorde and in quyete Thys ylke two Creseyde and Troylus As I haue tolde and in this tyme swete Saue onely often might they nat mete Ne leyser haue her speches to fulfell That it befyl ryght as I shall you tel That Pandarus that euer dyd his might Right for the fyne that I shall speke of here As for to bryngen to his house some nyght His fayre nece and Troylus yfere where as at leyser al thys hygh matere Touchyng her loue were at y e ful vp bounde Had out of doute a tyme to it founde For he with great delyberation Had euery thyng that therto might auayle Forne caste and put in execution And neyther lefte for coste ne for trauayle Come yf hem lyste hem shuld nothyng fayle And for to ben in aught aspyed there That wyste he wel an inpossyble were Dredelesse it clere was in the wynde Of euery pye and euery let game Nowe all is wel for al the worlde is blynde In this mater bothe fremed and tame This tymber is al redy vp to frame Vs lacketh naught but that weten wolde A certayne houre in which she comen shulde And Troylus that all this purueyaunce Knewe at the full and wayted on it aye And here vpon eke made great ordynaunce And founde hys cause therwith his aray If that he were myssed nyght or day There whyle he was aboute this seruyce That he was gone to done hys sacrifyce And muste at suche a temple alone wake Answered of Apollo for to be And fyrst to sene the holy laurer quake Er that Apollo spake out of the tree To tell hym next whan grekes shulde flye And for thy let hym no man god forbede But pray Apollo helpe in thys nede Nowe is there lytell more for to done But Pandare vp and shortly for to sayne Right sone vpon the chaungyng of y e moone whaÌ„ lightlesse is y e world a night or twayne And that the welken shope hym for to rayne He streyght a morowe vnto hys nece wente Ye haue well herde the fyne of hys entente WhaÌ„ he was comeÌ„ he gan anon to playe As he was wonte and of hym selfe to iape And fynally he swore and gan her say By this and that she shulde hym nat escape No lenger done hym after her to cape But certaynly she muste by her leue Come soupen in hys house wyth hym at eue At which she lough gan her fyrst excuse And sayd it rayneth lo howe shulde I gone Let be ê™ he ne stonde nat thus to muse This mote be done ye shal come there anone So at the laste herof they fell at one Or els faste he swore her in her eere He nolde neuer comen there she were Sone after this she to hym gan rowne And asked hym yf Troylus were there He swore her nay for he was out of towne And sayd nece I pose that he were there You durste neuer haue the more feere For rather than men might hym there aspye Me were leuer a thousande fold to dye Naught lyst myne auctour fully to declare what that she thought whan he sayd so That Troylus was out of towne yfare And yf he sayd therof sothe or no But that wythouten awayte with him to go She grauÌ„ted him syth he her that besought And as hys nece obeyed as her ought But nathelesse yet gan she hym beseche All though w t him to gone it was no feere For to beware of gofyshe peoples speche That dreme thynges which that neuer were And well auyse him whom he brought there And sayd him eme sens I muste on you tryst Loke al be wel and do nowe as you lyst He swore her this by stockes and by stones And by the goddes that in heuen dwell Or els were him leauer soule and bones wyth Pluto kyng as depe ben in hell As Tantalus what shulde I more tell whan al was well he rose and toke his leue And she to souper came whan it was eue wyth a certayne of her owne men And with her fayre nece Antigone And other of her women nyne or ten But who was glad nowe who as trowe ye But Troylus that stode and myght it se Throughout a lytel wyndowe in a stewe There hebeshet sith midnight was in mewe Vnwyst of euery wight but of Pandare But to the poynt nowe whan y t she was coÌ„e wyth all ioye and all frendes fare Her eme anone in armes hath her nome And than to the supper all and some whan tyme was ful softe they hem sette God wote there was no deynte ferre to fette And after supper gannen they to ryse At ease well with hert freshe and glade And wel was him that coude best deuyse To lyken her or that her laughen made He songe she playde he tolde a tale of wade But at the laste as euery thyng hath ende She toke her leaue and nedes wolde wende But o fortune executrice of wyerdes O influentes of these heuens hye Sothe is that vnder god ye ben our hierdes Though to vs beestes ben the causes wrie This mene I now for she gaÌ„ homward hye But execute was al besyde her leue At the goddes wil for which she muste bleue The bente moone with her hornes pale Saturnus and Ioue in CaÌ„câ—o ioyned were That suche a rayne from heuen gan auale That euery maner woman that was there Had of that smoky rayne a very feere At whiche Pandare tho lough sayd thenne Nowe were it tyme a lady to gon henne But good
The play y e laughter meÌ„ were wont to fynd On her and eke her ioyes euerychone Ben fledde and thus lyeth Creseyde alone Aboute her eyen two a purpre rynge Bytrent in sothfast tokenynge of her payne That to beholde it was a deedly thynge For whych Pandare myght not restrayne The teeres from hys eyen for to rayne But nathelesse as he best myght he seyde From Troylus these wordes to Creseyde Lo nece I trowe ye han herde al howe The kynge wyth other lordes for the beste Hath made eschaunge of Antenor and you That cause is of thys sorowe thys vnrest But howe thys case doth Troylus moleste Thys may none earthly mannes tonge say For very wo hys wytte is all away For whych we haue so sorowed he and I That into lytell it had vs both slawe But through my counsayle thys daye fynaly He somwhat is fro wepynge wythdrawe And semeth me that he desyreth fawe wyth you to ben all nyght for to deuyse Remedye of thys yf there were any wyse This shorte playne theffect of my message As ferforth as my wytte can comprehende For ye that ben of turment in suche rage May to no longe prologe as nowe entende And hervpon ye maye answere hym sende And for the loue of God my nece dere So leaue thys wo or Troylus be here Great is my wo ê™ she and syghed sore As she that feleth deedly sharpe dystresse But yet to me hys sorowe is mokell more That loue hym bet then he hym selfe I gesse Alas for me hath he such heuynesse Can he for me so pytously complayne Iwys thys sorowe doubleth al my payne Greuous to me god wot is for to twynne Quod she but yet it harder is to me To sene that sorowe whych that he is inne For well wote I it wol my bane be And dye I wol in certayne tho quod she But byd hiÌ„ come er deth y t thus me threteth Driue out y t gost whych in myne hert beteth These wordes sayd she on her armes two Fyll gruffe and gan to wepen pytously Quod Pandarus alas why do ye so Sens ye well wote the tyme is fast by That he shall come aryse vp hastely That he you not bewopen thus ne fynde But ye wol haue him wode out of his minde For wyst he that ye farde in thys manere He wolde hym selfe flee and yf I wende To haue thys fare he shulde not come here For all the good that Priam maye dyspende For to what fyne he wolde anone pretende That knowe I well and for thy yet I sey So leaue this sorowe or plainly he wol dey And shapeth you hys sorowe for to abredge And not encrease lefe nece swete Beth rather to hym cause of plat then edge And w t some wysedom ye hys sorowes bete what helpeth it to wepen full a strete Or though ye both in salte teeres dreynte Bet is a tyme of cure aye then of pleynte I meane thus wheÌ„ I hym hether brynge Sens ye be wyse and both of one assent So shapeth howe to distourbe your goynge Or come ayen sone after ye be went women ben wyse in short auysement And let sene howe your wyt shall auayle And what that I may helpe it shal not fayle Go quod Creseyde and vncle truely I shall done all my myght me to restrayne From wepynge in hys syght and besely Hym for to glad I shall done all my payne And in my herte seken euery vayne Yf to thys sore there maye ben founden salue It shall not lacke certayne on myne halue Goth Pandarus and Troylus he sought Tyll in a temple he founde hym al alone As he that of hys lyfe no lenger rought But to the pytouse goddes euerychone Full tendrely he prayed and made hys mone To done hym sone out of thys world to pace for wel he thought ther was non other grace And shortly all the soth for to seye He was so fallen in dyspayre that day That vtterly he shope him for to deye For ryght thus was hys argument alway He sayd he nas but lorne welaway For all that cometh cometh by necessite Thus to be lorne is my destyne For certaynly thys wote I well he sayd That forsyght of diuyne purueyaunce Had sene alwaye me to forgone Creseyde Sens god seeth euery thing out of doutauÌ„ce And hem dysposeth through hys ordynauÌ„ce In hys merytes sothly for to be As they shull comen by predestyne But nathelesse alas whom shall I leue For there ben great clerkes many one That destynie through argumentes preue And some sayne that nedely there is none But that free choyce is yeuen vs euerychone O welawaye so slygh arne clerkes olde That I not whose opinion I maye holde For some men sayne y e god seeth al byforne Ne god maye not dysceyued ben parde ThaÌ„ mote it fallen though meÌ„ had it sworne That purueiaunce hath sene beforne to be wherfore I saye that from eterne yf he Hath wyst beforn our thouÈt eke as our dede we haue no fre choyce as these clerkes rede For other thought nor other dede also Myght neuer ben but suche as purueyaunce whych maye not ben dysceyued neuer mo Hath feled byforne wythouten ignoraunce For yf there myght ben a variaunce To wrythen out fro goddes purueynge There nere no prescience of thynge coÌ„mynge But it were rather an opinion Vncertayne and no stedfast foreseyng And certes that were an abusyon That god shuld haue no parfite clere weting More then we men y t haue doutous wening But such an errour vpon god to gesse were false foule and wycked cursednesse Eke thys is an opinion of some That haue her top ful hygh smoth yshore They sayn right thus y t thing is not to come For that the prescience hath sene before That it shall come but they sayne y t therfore That it shall come therfore the purueyaunce wote it beforne wythouten ignoraunce And in thys maner thys necessyte Returneth in hys parte contrary agayne For nedefully behoueth it not to be That thylke thynges fallen in certayne That beÌ„ purueyed but nedfully as they sayn Behoueth it that thynges whych that fall That they in certayne ben puruayed all I meane as though I laboured me in this To enquyre which thiÌ„ge cause of which thiÌ„g be As whether that the prescieÌ„ce of god is The certayne cause of the necessite Of thynges that to comen be pardy Or of necessite of thynge comynge Because certayne of the purueyeng But now ne enforce I me not in shewyng How y e ordre of y e causes staÌ„t but wel wote I That it behoueth that the befallyng Of thynges wyst before certaynly Be necessary all seme it not therby That prescience put fallynge necessayre To thynge to come all fall it foule or fayre For yf there syt a man yonde on a see That by necessite behoueth it That certes thyne opinion soth be That wenest or coniectest that he syt And further ouer nowe ayenwarde yet Lo ryght
false ne neuer shal tyl that I dye At shorte wordes wel ye may me leue I can no more it shal be founde at preue GrauÌ„t mercy it good hert myn ywis ê™ she And blysful Venus let me neuer sterue Er I may stonde at pleasaunce in degre To quyte him wel that so wel can deserue And whyle y t god my wyt wyl me conserue I shal so done so trewe I haue you founde That aye honour to me ward shall rebound For trusteth wel that your estate royal Ne veyne delyte nor onely worthynesse Of you in werre or turuay marcial Ne pompe array nobley or eke rychesse Ne made me to rewe on your distresse But moral vertue grounded vpon trouth that was y e cause I first had on you routh Eke gentyl hert and manhede that ye had And that ye had as me thought in dispyte Euery thyng that sowned in to bad And rudenesse and peoplyshe appetyte And that your reason bridled your deiyte This made abouen euery creature y t I was yours shal while I may endure And thys may lengthe of yeres nat fordo Ne remnable fortune deface But Iupitter that of his myght may do The sorouful to be glad so yeue vs grace Er nyghtes ten to meten in this place So that it may your hert and myn suffyse And fareth now wel for time is that ye ryse And after that they longe yplayned had And ofte ykyst and strayte in armes folde The day gan ryse and Troylus him clad And rufully his lady gan beholde As he that felte dethes cares colde And to her grace he gan hym recoÌ„maunde where he was wo this holde I no demauÌ„d For mannes heed ymaginen ne can Ne entendement consyder ne tonge tel The cruel paynes of this sorouful man That passen euery torment downe in hel For whan he sawe that she ne might dwel which that his soule out of his herte rent withouteÌ„ more out of the chambre he went ¶ Explicit li. iiii Et incipit li.v. AProchen gan the fatall destyne That Ioues hathe in disposytioun And to you angrye Parcas sustren thre Committeth to done execusioun For which Creseyde must out of the toun And Troylus shal dwel forth in pyne Tyl Lachesis his threde no lenger twyne The golde tressed Phebus hyghe on loste Thrise had al with his beames clere The snowes molt and zephyrus as ofte Ybrought ayen the tender leaues grene Sens that the sonne of Eccuba the quene Began to loue her first for whoÌ„ his sorowe was al that she departe shulde a morowe Ful redy was at prime Diomede Creseyde vnto the grekes hoost to leed For sorowe of which she felte her hert blede As she that nyste what was best to reed And trewly as men in bookes reed Men wyst neuer woman haue the care Ne was so lothe out of a towne to fare Thys Troylus wythouten rede or lore As man that hath his ioyes eke forlore was waytyng on hys lady euer more As she that was sothfast croppe and more Of al his lust or ioyes here tofore But Troylus now fare wel al thy ioye For shalte thou neuer sene her efte in Troye Sothe is y t whyle he bade in this manere He gan his wo ful manly for to hyde That wel vnneth it sene was in his chere But at the yate there she shulde out ryde with certayne folke he houed her to abyde So wo begon al wolde he not him playne That on hys horse vnneth he sate for payne For ire he quoke so his herte gnawe whan Diomede on horse gan him dyght And sayd vnto him selfe thys ylke sawe Alas ê™ he thus foule a wretchydnesse why suffre I it why nyl I it redresse were it nat bet atones for to dye Than euermore in langour thus to crye why nyl I make at ones ryche and poore To haue ynough to done er that she go why nyl I brynge al Troye vpon a roore why nyl I â—â—een thys Diomede also why nyl I rather wyth a man or two Steale her away why wol I this endure why nyl I helpen to myne owne cure But why he nolde done so fel a dede That shal I sayne why hym lyste it spare He had in herte alway a maner drede Leste that Creseyde in rumour of thys fare Shulde haue ben slayn lo this was all hys care And els certayne as I sayd yore He had it done withouten wordes more Creseyde whan she redy was to ryde Ful soroufully she syghed and sayd alas But forth she mote for aught y t may betyde And forth she rydeth ful soroufully a paas There is none other remedye in this caas wat wonder is though that her sore smerte whan she forgoth her owne swete herte Thys Troylus in gyse of curtesye wyth hauke on hande with an huge route Of knyghtes rode and dyd her companye Passyng al the valey ferre wythout And ferther wold haue rydden out of doute Ful fayne and wo was hym to gon so sone But turne he must and it was eke to done And ryght wyth that was Antenor ycome Out of the grekes hoste and euery wyght was of hym glad sayd he was welcome And Troylus al nere hys herte lyght He payned hym wyth al hys ful myght Hym to wythholde of wepyng at leste And Antenor he kyste and made feste And therwythal he must his leaue take And cast his eyes vpon her pytously And nere he rode hys cause for to make To take her by the honde al sobrely And lorde so she gan wepen tenderly And he ful softe and slyghly gan her sey Now holde your day and do me not to dey with that hys courser turned he aboute wyth face pale and vnto Diomede No worde he spake ne none of al his route Of which the sonne of Tydeus toke hede As he that kouth more than the crede In such a crafte and by the rayne her hente And Troylus to Troye homwardes went This Diomede that ladde her by the bridel whan that he saw the folke of Troye away Thought al my labour shal not ben on ydel If that I may for somwhat shal I say For at the worste it shorte may our way I haue herde say eke tymes twyse twelue He is a foole that wol foryete hym selue But nathlesse thys thought he wel ynough That certaynly I am about nought If that I speke of loue or make it thought For doutelesse yf she haue in her thought Him that I gesse he may not ben ybrought So sone away but I shal fynde a meane That she shal not yet wete what I meane Thus Diomede as he that coulde his gode whaÌ„ this was don gan falleÌ„ forth in speche Of this and that and aske why she stode In such disease and gan her eke beseche That yf that he encreasen myght or eche wyth any thyng her ease that she sholde CoÌ„maund it him and sayd he done it wolde For trewly he swore her as a knyght y t ther nas thyng w t which
god my counsayle is quod Pandarus To ryde playe vs wyth king Sarpedoun So longe of this they speken vp and doun Tyl Troylus gan at the laste assent To ryse forth to Sarpedon they went Thys Sarpedon as he that honourable was euer his lyue and ful of hye prowesse wythal that myght yserued bene on table That deyntie was al cost it great rychesse He fed hem day by day that suche noblesse As sayden both the moost and eke the leest was neuer er that daye wyst at any feest Nor in this worlde ther is none instrument Delicious through wynd or touch on corde As ferre as any wyght hath euer ywent That tonge tell or herte maye recorde But at that feest it nas wel herde recorde Ne of ladyes eke so fayre a companye On daūce er tho was neuer ysene with eye But what auayleth thys to Troylus That for his sorowe nothyng of it rought But ruer in one as hert pytous Ful besily Creseyde his lady sought On her was al that euer his hert thought Now thys nowe that so fast ymaginyng That glad ywys can him no festyng These ladyes eke that at thys feest ben Sens that he sawe his lady was a wey It was his sorowe vpon hem for to seen Or for to here on instrumentes pley For she that of hys herte hath the key was absent lo thys was his fantasye That no wyght shulde make melodye Nor there nas houre in al the day or nyght whā he was ther as no mā myght him here That he ne sayd O louesom lady bryght Howe haue ye faren sens that ye were there welcome ywys myne owne lady dere But welaway al this nas but a mase Fortune his houe entended bet to glase The letters eke that she of olde tyme Had hym ysent he wolde alone rede An hundred sythe atwixte noone and prime Refiguryng her shappe her womanhede wythin his hert and euery worde and dede that passed was thus he droue to an ende The fourth day and sayd he wol wende And sayd leue brother Pandarus Intendest thou that we shal here bleue Tyl Sarpedon woll forthe conueyen vs Yet were it fayrer that we toke our leue For goddes loue let vs nowe sone at eue Our leaue take and homwarde let vs turne For trewly I nyl not thus soiourne Pandare answerde be we comen hyther To fetchen fyre and rennen home agayne God helpe me so I can not tellen whyther we myght gone yf I shall sothly sayne There any wyght is of vs more fayne Then Sarpedon and yf we hence hye Thus sodeynly I holde it vylanye when that we sayden we wolde bleue wyth hym a weke and nowe thus sodaynly The fourth daye to take of hym our leue He wolde wondren on it truely Let vs holden forth our purpose fermely And sens that ye behyghten hym to abyde Holde forewarde nowe after let vs ryde Thys Pandarus wyth all pyne and wo Made hym to dwell and at the wekes ende Of Sarpedon they toke her leaue tho And on her way they spedden hem to wende Quod Troylus now lorde me grace sende That I may fynde at myne home cōmynge Creseyde comen and therwyth gan he synge Ye haselwode thought thys Pandare And to hym selfe full softely he seyde God wote refroyden may thys hotte fare Er Calkas sende Troylus Creseyde But natheles he iaped thus and seyde And swore ywys hys hert him wel behyght She wold come as sone as euer she myght when they vnto the palays were ycomen Of Troylus they downe of horse alyght And to y e chābre her way haue they nōmen And vnto tyme that it gan to nyght They speken of Creseyde the lady bryght And after thys when hem both leste They spedde hem fro the supper vnto reste On morowe as sone as daye began to clere Thys Troylus gan of hys slepe to abreyde And to Pandarus hys owne brother dere For loue of god full pytously he seyde As go we sene the paleys of Creseyde For sens we yet may haue no more feest So let vs sene her paleys at the leest And therwythall hys meyne for to blende A cause he fonde in towne for to go And to Creseydes house they gone wende But lorde thys sely Troylus was wo Hym thought his sorowful hert brast in two For when he sawe her dores sperred all wel nyg for sorowe adowne he gan to fall Therwith whē he was ware gan beholde Howe shet was euery wyndowe of the place As frost hym thought hys herte gan to colde For whych wyth chaunged deedly pale face wythouten worde he forth by gan to pace And as god welde he gan so faste ryde That no wyght of hys countenaunce aspyde Then sayd he thus O paleys desolate O house of houses whylom best yhyght O paleys empty and dysconsolate O thou lanterne of whych queynt is y e light O paleys whylom daye y t nowe art nyght well oughtest thou to fall and I to dye Sens she is went that wont was vs to gye O paleys whylom crowne of houses all Enlumyned wyth sunne of blysse O rynge of whych the rubie is out fall O cause of wo that cause haste ben of blysse Yet sens I maye no bet fayne wolde I kysse Thy colde doores durst I for thys route And farwel shryne of which the saynt is out Therwyth he cast on Pandarus hys eye wyth chaunged face and pytous to beholde And when he myght hys tyme aryght aspye Aye as he rode to Pandarus he tolde Hys newe sorowe and eke hys ioyes olde So pytously and wyth so deed an hewe That euerywight might on his sorow rewe Fro thence forth he rydeth vp and downe And euery thynge came him to remēbraunce As he rode forth by the places of the towne In whych he whylom had all hys plesaunce Lo yonder sawe I myne owne lady daunce And in that temple wyth her eyen clere Me kaught fyrst my ryght lady dere And yonder haue I herde full lustely My dere herte laugh and yonder play Sawe I her ownes eke full blysfully And yonder one 's to me gan she saye Nowe good swete loue me well I praye And yonde so goodly gan she me beholde That to the death myne herte is to her holde And at the corner in the yonder house Herde I myne alderleuest lady dere So womanly wyth voyce melodyouse Syngen so well so goodly and so clere That in my soule yet my thynketh I here The blysfull sowne and in that yonder place My lady fyrst me toke vnto her grace Thē thought he thus o blysful lorde Cupide when I the processe haue in memorye Howe thou me haste weryed on euery syde Men myght a boke make of it lyke a storye what nede is the to seke on me vyctorye Sens I am thyne and holy at thy wyll what ioye hast thou thyn owne folke to spyl wel hast thou lord ywroke on me thyn yre Thou myghty god and dredfull for to greue Nowe mercy
harme was al aboute his herte Priam full ofte and eke his mother dere His bretherne his sustren gan him frayne why he so soroufull was in all his chere And what thyng was y e cause of al his payne But al for naught he nolde hys cause playne But sayd he felte a greuous maladye Aboute his herte and fayne he wolde dye So on a day he laye him downe to slepe And so byfell that in slepe him thought That in a forest faste he walked to wepe For loue of her y t him these paynes wrought And vp and downe as he that forest sought He mette he sawe a bore with tuskes greate That slept ayenst the bright sonnes heate And by this bore faste in her armes folde Lay kyssyng aye his lady bright Creseyde For sorow of which whan he it gan beholde And for dispyte out of his slepe he breyde And loude he cryed on Pandarus and seyde O Pandarus nowe knowe I croppe roote I nam but deed there nys non other boote My lady bright Creseyde hath me betrayde In whom I trusted moste of any wight She els where hath nowe her herte apayde The blyfful goddes through her gret might Haue in my dreame yshewed it full right Thus in my dreme Creseyde haue I behold And all this thyng to Pandarus he tolde O my Creseyde alas what subtylte what newe lust what beaute what science what wrathe of iuste cause haue ye to me what gylte of me what fel experience Hath me rafte alas thyne aduertence O trust o faythe o depe assuraunce who hath me rafte Creseyde all my plesauÌ„ce Alas why let I you from hence go For which wel nigh out of my wyt I breyde who shall nowe trowe on any othes mo God wote I wende o lady bright Creseyde That euery worde was gospel that ye seyde But who may bet begyle yf hym lyste Than he on whom men wenen best to tryste What shall I done my Pandarus alas I fele nowe so sharpe a newe payne Sens that there is no remedye in this caas That bet were it I with myn hoÌ„des twayn My seluen slowe than alway thus to playn For throgh y e deth my wo shuld haue an end Ther euery day with lyfe my selfe I shende Pandare answerde sayd alas the whyle That I was borne haue I nat sayd er thys That dreames many a maner man begyle And why for folke expounden hem amys Howe darste thou sayne that false thy lady is For any dreame right for thyn owne drede Let be this thought y u canst no dremes rede ParaueÌ„ture there thou dreamest of this bore It may so be that it may signifye Her father whiche that olde is and eke hore Ayen the sonne lythe on poynte to dye And she for sorowe gynneth wepe and crye And kysseth him there he lythe on y e grounde Thus shuldest y u thy dreme aright expounde Howe might I than done ê™ Troylus To knowe of this yea were it neuer so lyte Now sayest thou wisely ê™ this Pandarus My rede is this sens thou canst wel endyte That hastely a letter thou her write Through which y u shalt well bringen about To knowe a sothe of that thou arte in doute And se nowe why for this I dare wel sayne That yf so is that she vntrewe be I can nat trowen that she wol write agayne And yf she write thou shalt ful sone yse As whether she hath any lyberte To come ayen or els in some clause If she be let she woll assygne a cause Thou hast nat writteÌ„ to her sens y t she went Nor she to the and this I durste lay There may suche cause ben in her entente That hardely thou wolt thy seluen say That her abode the best is for you tway Nowe write her than thou shalt fele sone A sothe of all there is no more to done Acorded ben to this conclusyoun And that anon these ylke lordes two And hastely sate Troylus adoun And rolleth in his herte to and fro Howe he may best discryuen her his wo And to Creseyde his owne lady dere He wrote right thus sayd as ye may here ¶ The copy of the letter RIght freshe floure whose I haue ben and shall WithouteÌ„ parte of els where seruyce Wyth herte body lyfe luste thought and all I wofull wight in euery humble wyse That tonge can tel or herte may deuyse As ofte as mater occupyeth place Me recommaunde vnto your noble grace Lyketh it you to weten swete herte As ye wel knowe howe longe tyme agon That ye me left in aspre paynes smerte whan that ye went of whiche yet bote non Haue I non had â–ª but euer worse bygon Fro day to day am I and so mote dwell whyle it you lyst of we le and wo my well For which to you with dredeful hert trewe I write as he that sorowe driueth to write My wo that euery houre encreaseth newe Complaynyng as I dare or can endyte And that defaced is that may ye wyte The teares which that froÌ„ myne eyen rayne That wolden speke yf y t they durste playne You fyrst beseche I that your eyen clere To toke on this defouled ye nat holde And ouer al this that ye nat lady dere wol vouchsafe this letter to beholde And by the cause eke of my 〈◊〉 colde That sleeth my wyt yf aught amys me sterte Foryeue it me myne owne swete herte If any seruaunt durst or ought of ryght Vpon his lady pitously complayne Than wene I that I ought be that wyght CoÌ„sydred this that ye these monthes twayn Haue taryed there ye sayden sothe to sayn But ten dayes ye nolde in hoste soiourne But in two monthes yet ye nat retourne But for as moche as me mote nedes lyke All that you lyst I dare nat playne more But humbly with soroufull syghes syke You write I myne vnresty sorowes sore Fro day to day desyryng euer more To knowen fully yf your wyll it were Howe ye haue fared don while ye be there Whose welfare and heale eke god encrease In honour suche that vpwarde in degree It growe alway so that it neuer cease Right as your herte aye can my lady free Deuyse I pray to god so mote it be And graunt it that ye soone vpon me rewe As wisely as in all I am to you trewe And yf you lyketh knowen of the fare Of me whose wo ther may no wiÈt discryue I can no more but chest of euery care At writyng of this letter I was on lyue Al redy out my wofull gost to dryue whiche I delay and holde him yet in honde Vpon the syght of mater of your sonde Myne eyen two in vayn with which I se Of soroufull teares salte arn woxen wellis My songe in playnt of myne aduersyte My good in harm myn ease eke woxeÌ„ hell is My ioye in wo I can sey nowe nought ellis But turned is for whiche my lyfe I wary Euery ioye prease in his contrary
thou were any other thyng quod she No quod I Nowe wel know I quod she other cause of thy malady and that ryght great Thou hast left for to knowen thy selfe what thou art thorow whych I haue playnly founden the cause of thy maladye or els the entre of recouerynge of thy heale For why For thou arte confounded wyth foryetynge of thy selfe For thou soroudeste that thou arte exiled of thy propre goodes And y u ne wyste what is th ende of thinges for thy demeste thou that felonous and wycked mē be myghty and welful and for thou haste foryeten by whyche gouernementes the worlde is gouerned for thy wenest thou that these mutacions of fortune fleten wythout gouernour These ben the causes not onlye to maladye but certes greate causes to deathe But I thanke the auctour and the maker of heale that nature hathe not al forleten the. I haue great nouryshing of thyne heale and that is the soth sentence of gouernaunce of the worlde that thou byleuest that the gouernyng of it is not subiect ne vnderput to the foly of these happes auēturous but to the reasonne of god and therfore dout the nothing for of this lytle sparke thyne heate of lyfe shall shyne But for as moch as it is not time yet of faster remedies and the nature is of thoughtes thus disceyued that as ofte as they caste away soth opinions they clothen hem in false opinions Of the whych false opinions the darkenesse of perturbacion wexeth vp that cōfoundeth the very insyght And that derkenesse shal I somwhat assaye to makē thynne and weake by lyght and meanelyche remedyes so that after that the darkenesse of disceyuyng thinges be done away thou may know the shynyng of very lyght Nubibus atris cōdita nullum fundere possunt sydera lumen Si mare voluens turbidus auster misceat estū Vitrea dudum parque serenis c. THe sterres couered with blacke cloudes ne mowe yeten adoun no lyght yf the trouble wynde that hight Auster turning and walowyng the see medleth the heate that is to sayne the boylynge vp from the bottome The wawes that were whylom clere as glasse lyke to the fayre bryght dayes withstant anone the syghtes of men by the filth and ordure that is resolued And the fleting streme that reyleth downe diuersly from hygh mountaygnes is arrested and resisted oft time by thencoūtryng of a stone that is departed and fallen from some rocke And for thy if thou wylt loken deme sothe wyth clere lyght and holden the way wyth a right path weyue thou ioy driue fro drede fleme thou hope ne let no sorowe approche that is to sayne Let none of these foure passions ouercome or blende the. For cloudye darke is thylke thoughte and bounde wyth brydels where as these thynges reignen ¶ Explicit liber primus POst hec paulisper obticuit atque vbi attentionem meam modesta taciturnitate collegit sic exorsa est Si penitus egritudinis tuc causas habitumque c. The seconde boke of Boecius AFter thys she stynte alytell after that she had gadered by a temper stylnesse myne attētion as who so myght sayne thus After these thynges she stynt a lytle and she aperceyued by a temper stylnesse that I was ententyfe to heren her she began to speake in thys wyse Yf I quod she haue vnderstāden and knowen vtterly the causes and the habite of thy malady thou languyshest and art defected for desyre talent of thy rathar fortune She that ylke fortune onely that is chaunged as thou faynest to the warde hathe peruerted the clerenesse and the estate of thy courage I vnderstonde the fele or manyfolde colours and disceytes of thylke merueylous monstre fortune and she vseth full flateryng familiaryte wyth hem that she enforceth to begyle so longe tyl that she confounde with vnsufferable sorowe hem that she hath lefte in dispayre vnpurueyed And if thou remembrest wel the kynde the maners and the deserte of thylke fortune thou shalt well know that as in her thou neuer ne haddest ne hast ylost any fayre thynge But as I trowe I shal not greatly trauaylen to done the remēbren on these thynges For thou were wont to hurtelen dispysen her wyth many wordes whan she was blandyshynge and present and pursudeste her with sentences that weren drawen oute of myne entre that is to say of myn enformacyon but no sodayne mutation ne betydeth not wythout a maner chaūgyng of corages And so it is befal that thou art a lytyl departed fro the peace of thy thought but nowe is time that thou drynke and ataste some softe and delytable thinges so y t whan they be entred wythin the it mowen make waye to strenger drynkes of medictus Come nowe forth therfore the suasion of swetnesse rethoryen whych that goth onelye the ryght waye whyle she forsakethe not myne estatutes And wyth Rethoryke come forthe musyke a damosel of our house that syngeth nowe lyghter modes or prolacions and nowe heuyer What ayleth the man ▪ what is it that hath cast the into murnyng and in to wepyng I trowe that thou haste sene some newe thynge and vncouthe Thou wenest that fortune be chaūged ayen me ▪ but thou weneste wronge yf that thou wene alway tho ben her maners She hath rather kepte as to the warde her proper stablenesse in the chaungynge of her selfe ryght suche was she flatterde the and dysceyued the wyth vnlefull lykynges and false welefulnesse Thou haste nowe knowen and atteynte the doubtous or double vysage of thylke blynde goddesse fortune She that yet couerethe and wymplethe her to other folke hathe shewed her selfe euerye deale to the If thou apporuest her and thinkest that she is good vse her maners and playne the not and thou agryfeste her false trechexye dispyse and caste awaye her that playeth so harmefullye for she that is nowe cause of so muche sorow to the shulde be to the cause of peace and of ioy She hath forsaken the forsothe the which that neuer man maye be syker that she ne shall forsaken hym Glose But nathlesse some bokes haue the text thus Forfoth she hathe forsaken the ne there nys no man syker that she ne hathe not forsaken Holdeste thou than thylke welefulnesse precyous to the that shall passen and is present deare worthe to the whyche that nys not fayethfull for to dwell and whan she gothe awaye that she bryngeth a wyght in sorow For sens she maye not be wyth holden at a mannes wyll she makethe hym a wretche whan she depertethe fro hym what other thynge is styttyng fortune but a maner shewynge of wretchenesse that is to come Ne it sufficeth not onely to loken on thyng that is present before the eyen of a man but wisdome loketh and measureth th ende of thynges and the same chaungynge from one to another that is to sayne from aduersyte in to prosperyte makethe that the manaces of fortune ne bene not for to dreden ne the
cast vnder by many paryls Askest thou glorye â–ª thou shalte ben so distracte by aspre thynges that thou shalt forgone sikernesse And yf thou woldest leden thy lyfe in delytes euery wight shall despisen the forleeÌ„ the as thou y t art thrall to thyng y t is ryght foule bryttel y t is to sayne seruaunt to thy bodye Nowe is it than well ysene how lytle and howe bryttel possessyon they coueyten that putten the goodes of the bodye aboue her owne reason For mayst thou surmounten these olyfauntes in greatnesse or in weyght of body or mayst thou be streÌ„ger than the bull Mayest thou be swyfter than the tygre Beholde the spaces and the stablenesse and y e swyfte course of heauen stynt somtime to wondren on foule thinges The which heauen certes nis not rather for these thynges to be wondred vpon than for the reason by which it is gouerned But the shynyng of thy fourme that is to sayne the beautye of thy bodye howe swyftly passing is it and howe transitorie certes it is more flyttynge than the mutabylitie of floures of the sommer season For so as Aristotel telleth that yf that men hadde eyen of a beaste that hyght lynx so that the lokynge of folke myght peercen thorowe tho thynges that withstonden it who so loked than in then trayles of the body of Alcibiades that was full fabre in the superfycie without it shuld seme ryght foule And for thy yf thou semest fayre thy nature ne maketh not that but the disceiuauÌ„ce of feblenesse of the eyen that looken But prayse the goodes of the body as moche as euer y e lyst so y t thou knowe algates y t what so it be that is to sayne of the goodes of the bodye whyche that thou wondreste vpon maye bene destroyed or els dissolued by the heate of a feuer of thre dayes Of which for sayd thinges I may reducen this shortly in a summe that these wordly goodes which y t ne mowen yeuen y t they behighten ne ben not parfyte by the congregation of all goodes that they ne be not wayes ne pathes y t bryngen men to blysfulnesse ne maken men to be blysfull Heu heu qÌ„ miseros tramite deuios abducit ignorantia Non aurum in viridi queritis arbore c. ALas which follye and whiche ignoraunce mysleadeth wandryng wretches from the path of very good Certes ye seken no gold in grene trees ne ye gadren not precyous stones in vynes ne ye ne hyden not your gynnes in hye mountaynes to catchen fysh of the which ye maye maken ryche feestes And yf ye lyke to hunt to Roes ye ne go not to the foordes of the water that hyght Thyrene And ouer this men know wel the crekes and the cauernes of the see yhid in y e sloudes knowen eke which water is most plenteous of white perles knowen which water aboundeth most of red purpure that is to sayne of a maner shelfysh with which men dyen purpure and knowen which stroÌ„des abounden moost of tendre fysshes or of sharpe fysshes that hyght Echynes But folke suffren hem selfe to ben so blynde that hem ne retchen not to knowe where thylke goodes ben yhid whiche that they coueten but plungen hem in earth and seken there thylke good that surmounteth the heauen that beareth the sterres what prayer maye I maken that be digne to the nyce thoughtes of men But I praye that they coueyten rychesse and honoures so that whan they haue gotten tho false goodes wyth greate trauayle that therby they mowen knowen the very goodes Hactenus mendacis formam felici tatis ostendisse sufficerit ê™ si perspicaciter intuearis ordo est deinceps c IT suffyseth that I haue sayde hytherto the fourme of false welefulnesse so y t yf thou loke now clerely the ordre of myne entention requyreth from heÌ„ce forth to shewen the very welfulnesse B. For sothe ê™ I I se well now that suffysaunce maye not coÌ„men by riches ne power by realmes ne reuerence by dignities ne gentlesse by glory ne ioye by delyces Phi. And haste thou well knowen the causes ê™ she why it is Boece Certes me semeth ê™ I that I se hem ryght as though it were through a lytle clyfte But me were leauer knowen hem more openly of the. P. Certes ê™ she the reason is alreadye For thylke thyng that symply is one thynge without anye deuysyon the errour and folly of mankynde deuydeth and departeth it mysleadeth it and transporteth from very and parfyte good to goodes that be false and vnparfyte But say me this wenest thou that he that hath nede of power that hym ne lacketh nothynge B. Nay ê™ I P. Certes ê™ she y u sayst aryght for yf so be that there is a thing that in any parte be febler of power certes as in that it mote nedes be nedy of forayne helpe Bocce Ryght so it is ê™ I Phi. Suffisaunce and power ben of one kynde B. So semeth ê™ I Philoso And demest thou quod she that a thynge that is of this maner that is to say suffysaunt and myghtye ought been dispysed or els that it be ryght digne of reuerence aboue all thynges B. Certes ê™ I it is no dout that it is ryght worthye to be reuerenced P. Let vs adden ê™ she reuerence to suffysaunce and to power so that we demen y t these thre thynges he all one thynge B. Certes quod I let vs adden it yf we wyl grauÌ„t the soth P. what demest thou ê™ she than is that a darke thyng and not noble that is suffysauÌ„t reuerent and myghty or els that it is ryght noble and ryght clere by celebrat of renoume CoÌ„sydre thaÌ„ ê™ she as we haue graunted here beforne that he that ne hath no nede of nothyng and is moost myghtye and most digne of honour yf hym nedeth any clerenesse of renoume which clerenesse he myght not graunten of hym selfe so for lack of thylke clearenesse he myght semen the febler on any syde or the more outcaste Glose That is to saye naye For who so that is suffysaunt myghtye and reuerente clearenesse of renoume foloweth of the forsayde thynges he hath it all readye of hys suffysaunce B. I may not quod I denye it but I mot graunten as it is that this thynge is ryght celebrable by clerenesse of renoume and noblesse Phil. Than foloweth quod she that we adden clerenesse of renoume to the foresayde thynges so that there be amonges hem no dyfferencee Boece This is a consequence ê™ I Philoso This thinge than ê™ she that ne hath nede of no forayne thynge and that maye doo all thynge by hys strengthes and that is noble and honourable is it not a mery thyng and ioyfull Boece But whence quod I that anye sorowe myghte come to this thynge that is suche certes I maye not thynke Philosop Than mote we graunten ê™ she that this thynge be full of gladnesse yf the forsayde thynges be sothe And certes
que sit vel felicitas vel miseria in ipsis proborum atque improborum meritis constituta Sed in hac ipsa fortuna populari c. THys I se well ê™ I eyther what blisfulnesse or els what vnselynesse is establysshed in the desertes of good men and of shrewes But in thys ylke fortune of the people I se somwhat of good and somwhat of yuell For no wyse man had not leuer be exiled poore and nedye and namelesse than for to dwellen in hys cyte and stouren of rychesse and be redoutable of honour and stronge of power For in thys wyse more clerelye and wytnesfullye is the offyce of wyse men treated than the blysfulnesse of power and gouernours is as it were shadde amoÌ„ges the people that be neyghbours and subiectes sythe that namely pryson lawe and these other tourmentes of laufull paynes be rather owed to felonous cytezyns for the whyche felonous cytezyns the paynes be establyshed more thaÌ„ for good people Boe. than I meruayle greatly ê™ I why that the thynges be so mysse entrechaunged that tourmentes of felonyes pressen and confounden good people shrewes rauyshen medes of vertue and ben in honours and great estates And I desyre eke for to weten of the what semeth the to be the reason of thys so wrongfull a conclusyon For I wolde wonder well the lasse yf I trowed that all thynges were medled wyth fortunous hap But nowe crepeth and encreaseth myn astonyenges god gouernour of thynges that so as god yeueth oftymes to good men goodes and myrthes and to shrewes yuels and aspre thynges and yeueth ayen to good folke hardenesse and to shrewes he grauÌ„teth hem her wyll and that they desyren What dyfference maye there be bytwene that that god dothe happe of fortune yf men knowe not the cause why it is Philo. Ne it is no meruayle ê™ she though that men wenen that there be somwhat folysshe and confuse whan the reason of the ordre is vnknowen but although that thou ne knowe not the cause of so great a dysposycion nathelesse for as moche as god the good gouernour attempreth and gouerneth the world ne doute the not but all thynges ben don aryght Si quis Areturisidera nescit Mergatque seras equore flammas Propin quasummo cardine labi Cum nimis seleris explicet ortus Cur legat tardus plausâ—ra Bootes c. WHo so that knowe not the sterres of Arcture turned to y e souerayn centre or poynte that is to sayne tourned nyghe to the souerayne pole of the fyrmament and wote not why the sterre Bootes passeth or gathereth hys waynes dreucheth hys late â—â—â—bes in y e see and why that Bootes the steâ—â—e vnfoldeth hys ouerswyfte arysynges than shall he wondreÌ„ of the lawe of the hygh 〈◊〉 And eke yf that be ne know not why that the hornes of the full moone waren pale and infecte by the boundes of the derke nyght and howe the moone derke and confuse discourreth the sterres that she had couered by her clere vysage The comune erroure moueth folkes and maketh wery her basyns of brasse by thylke strokes that is to saye that there is a maner people that hyght Coribantes that wenen that whaÌ„ the moone is in the eclypse that it be enchaunted and therfore for to â—â—srue the moone they beaten bee baâ—â—ns wyth thylke strokes Ne no man ne wondreth whâ— the blastes of the wynde Chorus beten the strondes of the see by quakyng flodes Ne no man ne wondreth whan the weyght of the snowe harded by the colde is resolued by the brennynge heate of Phebus the sonne for here sene men redily the causes But the causes yhydde that is to sayne in heuen 〈◊〉 the brestes of men The mouable people is astonyed of all thynges that comen selde and sodaynly in oure age but the troubly erroure of oure ignoraunce departeth fro vs so that yf they wysten the cause why that suche thynges betyden ceetes they shulde cease to seâ—â—â— wonders Ita est inquam Sed cum tui muneris sit latentium rerum causas euoluere velatasque caligine explicare rationes queso vti hinc decernas c. THus it is ê™ I but so as thou haste yeuen or beheyght me to vnwrap the hydde causes of thynges and to discouer me y e reasons couered w t derknesse â–ª I praye the that thou deuyse and iuge me of thys mater and that thou do me to vnderstande it for this myracle of this wondre troubleth me right greatly And thaÌ„ she a lytell what smylynge sayde Thou cleapest me ê™ she to tell that is greatest of all thynges that mowen ben asked and to the which questioÌ„ vnneth is there aught ynough to lauen it as who saith vnneth is there any thyng to answere perfetely to thy questyon for the mater of it is such that whan o doute is determyned and cutte awaye there waxen other doutes wythout nombre ryght as the â—eedes of Idre the serpent waxen the which serpent Hercules slough ne there ne were no â—â—â—ere ne none ende but yf a wight coÌ„strayned the doutes by a ryght lyuely and quycke fyre of thought that is to sayne by vygoure and strength of wytte For in this mater men weren wonte to maken questyoÌ„s of the symplicite of the purueyaunce of god and of the ordre of destyne and of sodeyne hap of knowenge of predestynacyon diuyne And of the liberte of frewyll the whiche thynges thou the self apperceyuedest wel of what weight 〈◊〉 ben But for as moch as the knowinges of these thynges is a maner porcyon or meâ—â—â—â—… to y t all be it so that I haue lytel tyme to doone it yet neuerthelesse I wolde enforcen me to sheweÌ„ somwhat of it but al though the norysshynges of dyte of musyke delyteth the thou muste suffren and forbearen a lytell of thylke delyte whyle that I wene to the resons knytte by ordre Boe. As it lyketh to the ê™ I so do Philo. Tho spake she ryght as by another begynnyng and sayd right thus The engendryng of all thynges ê™ she and all the progressyons of mouable nature and 〈◊〉 that moueth in any maner taketh his causes hys ordre and hys fourmes of the stablenesse of diuyne thought And thylke diuyne thought that is set and put in the toure that is to sayne in the heyght of the symplicyte of god stablysheth manye maner gises to the thynges that ben to done the whyche maner whan that men loken it in the pure clennesse of the dyuyne intellygence is cleaped purâ—â—yaunce But whan thylke maner is referred by men to thynges that it moueth or disponeth than of olde men it was cleaped destenye the whyche thynges yf that anye might loketh wel in hys thouÈt the strength of that one and of that other he shall lyghtly mowe sene that these two thynges ben diuers For pourueyaunce is thylke dyuyne reason that is establyshed in the souerayne prynce of thynges the whych pourueyaunce dysponeth all thynges But certes
to prayen But by the pryce of ryghtousnesse of very mekenesse we deseruen the guerdon of diuyne grace whiche y t is inestimable that is to say that is so gret that it ne may not ben ful praysed this is only the maner that is to saye hope prayers For which it semeth that meÌ„ woll speke with god and by reason of supplication beÌ„ conioyned to thylke clerenesse that nys not approchen no rather or that men sekeÌ„ it and impetren it And yf men ne wene not y e hope ne prayers ne haue no strengthes by the necessitie of thynges to comen receyued what thing is there than by which we mowen beÌ„ conioyned and cleauen to thylke souerayne prince of thynges For which it behoueth by necessitie that the lignage of mankynde as thou songe a litle here beforne be departed and vnioyned from hys well and faylen of his begynnynge that is to sayne God Que nam discors fe dera rerum Causa resoluit quis tanta deus WHat dyscordable cause hathe to rent and vnioyned the byndyng or the alyaunce of thinges that is to sayne the coniunctions of God and of man which god hath establyshed so great batayl betwene these two sothfast or very thinges that is to sayne betwene the purueyaunce of god and free wyl that they ben syngular and deuyded ne that they ne wollen not ben medled ne coupled togyther But there nys no discorde to the very thynges but they cleuen away certayn to hem self But y e thouÈt of man confounded and ouerthroweÌ„ by the darke membres of the body ne maye not by fyre of his darked lokynge that is to sayne by the vigour of his insyght whyle y e soule is in the bodye knowen the thyn subtel knyttynges of thinges But wherfore eschaufeth it so by so great loue to fynden thylke notes of soth ycouered that is to sayne wherfore eschaufeth the thought of man by so greate desyre to knowe thylke notifications that ben yhid vnder the couertures of soth wote it ought thylke thynhes that it anguyshous desyreth to knowe As who sath naye For noman ne trauayleth for to weten thynges that he wot and therfore y e text sayth thus But who trauayleth to weten thynges yknowe and yf that he ne knoweth hem not what seketh thylke blynde thought what is he that desyreth any thynges of whyche he wot ryght nought As who sayeth who so desyrech any thinges nedes somwhat he knoweth of it or els he ne coude not desyren it or who maye folowe thynges y t ne bene not ywyste though y t he seke the thynges where shal he fynde hem what wyght that is all vnconnyng and ignoraunt may know the forme that is yfounde But whan the soule beholdeth seeth the hye thought y t is to sayn god thaÌ„ knoweth it togyther the sum and singuralities that is to sayne the principles euerych of hem by him selfe But now while the soule is hid in the cloude and in the darkenesse of the meÌ„bres of the bodye it ne hath not all foryeten it selfe but it wtholdeth the sum of thynges and leseth the singularities Than who so y e seketh sothenesse he nys in neyther nother habyte for he wote not all ne he ne hath nat all foryeten but yet hym remembreth y e sum of thinges that he withholdeth and asketh counsayle and retreateth deplyche thynges ysene beforne that is to sayne the greate summe in his mynde so that he mowe adoeÌ„ the partes that he hathe foryeten to thylke partyes that he hath withholden Tum illa Vetus inquit hec est de prouideÌ„tia qÌ„rela Marcoque Tullio c THan sayd she this is ê™ she the olde question of the purueyauÌ„ce of God And Marcus Tullius whan he deuyded the deuynacyons that is to sayne in hys bokes that he wrote of deuynacions he moued greatly this questyon and thou thy self hast ysought it moche and vtterly and loÌ„ge but yet ne hath it not bene determyned ne espyed fermely and diligently of any of you and the cause of this darkenesse and of thys difficultie is for that the mouyng of the reason of mankynde ne may not mouen to that is to sayne applien or ioynen the simplicitie of the deuyne prescience the which simplicitie of the deuyne prescience yf that meÌ„ mighten thynkeÌ„ it in any maner That is to sayn that yf men myghten thynke and compreheÌ„den the thynges y t god seeth hym selfe than there dwelled vtterly no dout the which reson and cause of difficulties I shal assay at last to shewe and to speden whan I haue fyrst yspenden and answered to thy reasons by whiche thou art moued for I aske why thou wenest that thylk reasons of hem that assoylen this question ne be nat spedefull ynough ne sufficieÌ„t the which solucyoÌ„ or the which reasoÌ„ for y t it demeth that the prescience is not of necessitie of thynges to come as who sayth any other way thaÌ„ thus but that thylke thynges that the prescience wot beforne ne maye not vnbetyden that is to sayne that they moten betyde But than yf that prescience ne putteth no necessitie to thiÌ„ges to comen as thou thy selfe haste confessed it and be knowe a lytle here beforn what cause or what is it as who sayth ther may no cause be by which that the endes voluntary of thynges myghten be constrayned to certayne betydyng For by grace of position so that thou may the better vnderstaÌ„de this that foloweth I suppose that there ne be no prescience Than aske I ê™ she in as moche as apperteyneth to that shulden than thynges that comen of free wyll be constrayned to betyding by necessitie Boece Nay ê™ I Phi. Than ayenwarde ê™ she I suppose y t there be prescience but that it ne putteth no necessitie to thinges than trow I that thilk same fredome of wyll shall dwellen all hole and absolute and vnboundeÌ„ But thou wilt sayne that al be it so that prescience nis not cause of the necessitie of betyding to thinges to comen algates yet it is a signe that the thynges bene to betyden by necessitie By this maner than althoughe the prescience had neuer be yet algates or at lest way it is certayne thyng that endes of betydynges of thynges to comen shulden be necessarye For euery thynge sheweth and signifyeth onely what the thinge is but it ne maketh not the thyng that it signifyeth For which it behoueth fyrste to shewe that nothynge ne betydeth that it ne betydeth by necessitie so that it maye appere that the prescience is sygne of necessitie or els yf there nere no necessitye certes thylke prescyence ne myght not be signe of thynge that nys not But certes it is now certayne that the proue of this ysusteyned by stedfast reason ne shall not bene lad ne proued by sygnes ne by argumentes taken fro without but by causes couenable and necessarye But thou mayst sayne how maye it be that the thynges ne betyden not that bene
ne note in it Glose But nowe argueth Boece agaynst that opynion sayth thus But yf the thryuynge soule ne implyteth nothyng â–ª that is to sayne ne doth thyng by his propre mouynge but suffreth lyeth subiecte to the fygures to the notes of bodyes withoutforth and yeldeth ymages ydel euyl vayne in the maner of a myrrour whence thryueth than or whence commeth thilke knowynge in our soule y e discerneth beholdeth all thynges and wheÌ„ce is thilke streÌ„gth that beholdeth the synguler thinges or els wheÌ„ce is the strength that dyuydeth thynges yknowe thylke strength that gathered togyther thynges deuyded streÌ„gth that choseth the entrechaunged waye For somtyme it heaueth the heed that is to say that it heaueth vp the ententioÌ„ to ryght hyghe thynges and somtyme it descendeth into ryght lowe thynges and whan it returneth into hym selfe it reproueth and destroyeth the false thynges by the true thynges Certes this strength is cause more effycient and moche more myghty to sene and to knowen thynges than thylke cause that suffreth and receyueth the notes and fygures impressed in maner of mater Algates the passyon that is to saye the suffraunce or the wyt in the quycke body goth before exciting and monyng the strengthes of the thought ryghte so as whan that clearenesse smyteth the eyen and moueth hem to sene or ryghte so as voyce or sowne hourleth to the eares and coÌ„moueth hem to hearken than is the strength of the thought moued and excyted cleapeth forthe to semblable mouynges the speces that it halte within it selfe and addeth the speces to the notes and to thynges withoutforth and meddleth the ymages of thynges withoutforth to thinges hyd with in hym selfe Quod si in corporibus sencieÌ„dis quaÌ„ nis efficiant instrumenta sensuum c. BVt what is that in bodyes to be seled that is to say in the takyng and in the knowing of bodyly thynges And all be it so y t the qualities of bodyes that be obiect fro withoutforth mouen and entalenten the instrumentes of the wyttes and all be it so that the passyon of the body that is to sayne the wyt or the suffraunce goeth beforne the strength or the worchynge corage the which passyon or suffrauÌ„ce clepeth forth the dede of the thought in it selfe and moueth and excyteth in this meane whyle the fourmes that resten withinforth and insensyble bodyes as I haue sayde our corages nis not taught or emprynted by passyon to knowe these thynges but demeth and knoweth of his owne streÌ„gth the passion or suffraunce subiect to the body moche more thaÌ„ tho thynges ben absolute and quyte fro all talentes or affections of bodyes as god or his aungels ne folowen not in decernynge thynges obiect fro wtoutforth but they accoÌ„plyssheÌ„ and speden the dedes of her thought By this reason than there comen many maner of knowynges to dyuers and to differrynge substaunces For the wyt of the body the which wyt is naked and dispoyled of all other knowynge thylke wyt coÌ„meth to beestes the whiche ne mowen not mouen hem selfe here and there as oysters and muskels and other suche shelfysh of the see that cleueÌ„ ben norysshed to rockes but y e ymaginacion coÌ„meth of remuable beestes that semen to haue talent to flyen or to desireÌ„ any thing But reason is alonelye the lynage of mankynde ryght as intelligence is alonly the diuine nature of which it foloweth that thilk knowynge is more worthe than is eyther syns it knoweth by his propre nature not onelye his subiecte as who sayth it ne kneweth not alonely that appertayneth properly to his knowyng but it knoweth the subiectes of al other knowynges But how shal it than be yf that wyt and ymaginacion stryuen ayen reasonynge and sayne that of thylke vniuersall thynge that reason weneth to sene y t it nis ryght nought for wyt and ymaginacion sayne that that is sensyble or ymagynable it ne maye not ben vniuersall Than is there either the iugement of reason sothe ne that there nys no thynge sensyble or els for that reason wote well that many thynges be subiecte to wyt and to ymaginacyon than is the conceptioÌ„ of reason vaine and false which that loketh and comprehendeth that that is sensyble synguler as vniuersall And yf that the reason wolde answer ayenst these two that is to saye to wyt and ymaginacion and saye that sothly she her selfe that is to sayne reason loketh and comprehendeth by reason of vniuersalitie both that that is sensible and that that is ymaginable and thylke two y t is to sayne wyt and ymaginacion ne mowen not stretchen hem selfe to the knowing of vniuersalitie for that the knowynge of hem ne maye not exceaden ne surmounten the bodyly fygures Certes of the knowyng of thynges men oughten rather yeuen more credence to the more stedfast and to y e more perfyte iudgement in this maner stryuyng than we that haue streÌ„gth of reasoning and of ymagynacion and of wytte that is to say by reason and by ymaginacion we wolde rather prayse the cause of reason as who sayth than the cause of wytte and of ymagynacion Semblable thyng is it that the reson of maÌ„kynde ne weneth not that the diuyne intellygeÌ„ce beholdeth or knoweth thynges to come but right as the reason of maÌ„kynde knoweth hem for thou arguyst thus that yf that it ne seme not to men that some thynges haue certayne betydinges they ne maye not be wyste before certaynly to betyden and than is there no prescience of thylke thynges yf we trow that prescience be in these thynges than is there nothing that betydeth by necessyte But yf we myght haue iugement of the diuyne thought as we ben parteners of reson right so as we haue demed that it behoueth by ymagynacion and wytte and beneth reason ryght so wolde we demen that it were rightfull thing that mans reason ought to submyt it selfe to be beneth the diuyne thought for whyche yf we may as who sayth that yf we may I counsayle that we enhaunce vs in the heyght of thylke souerayne intellygence for there shal reason wel sene that that it ne may not behold in it selfe and certes that is thus in what maner the prescience of god seeth al thynges and diffynysheth all though they haue no certayne betydynges ne this is none opynyon but rather the symplicite of the souerayne science that is not shette wythin no maner of boundes Quam variis terras animalia per meant â—iguris Namque alia extento sunt corpore c. THe beestes passen by y e erthes by ful diuers figures for some of heÌ„ haue her bodyes strauÈt and crepen in the duste drawen after hem a trace or a forough contynued that is to saye as nedders and snayles other beestes by the wandrynge lyghtnesse of her wynges beaten the wyndes and ouer swymmen the spaces of the longe ayre by most flyeng And other beestes gladen hem selfe to dyggen her traces or her steppes in the crthe
from you fro no mo Fortune wyll thys that I for wele or wo My lyfe endure your mercy abydynge And very ryght wyll that I thynke also Of your worshyp aboue all other thynge La dame To your worshyp se well for that is nede That ye spende nat your season all in vayne As touchynge myne I rede you take no hede By your folly to put your selfe in payne To ouercome is good and to restrayne An herte whyche is disceyued follyly For worse it is to breke than bowe certayne Better bowe than to fall sodaynly Lamant Nowe fayre lady thynke syth it fyrst began That loue hath set myn herte vnder his cure It neuer myght ne truely I ne can None other serue whyle I shall here endure In most fre wyse therof I make you sure which may not be withdrawe this is no nay I must abyde all maner aduenture For I may neyther put to nor take away La dame I holde it for no gyfte in sothfastnesse That one offreth where it is forsake For suche a gyfte is abandonynge expresse That wyth worship ayen may not be take He hath an herte full fell that lyst to make A gyfte lyghtly that put is to refuse But he is wyse that suche conceyte wyl slake So that hym nede neyther to study ne muse Lamant He shulde nat muse y t hath hys seruyce spent On her whyche is a lady honourable And yf I spende my tyme to that entent Yet at the lest I am not reprouable Of fayned herte to thynke I am vnable Or I mystoke whan I made thys request By whiche loue hath of entreprise notable So many hertes gotten by conquest La dame If that ye lyste do after my counsayle Seche a fayrer and of more hygher fame whych in seruyce of loue wyll you preuayle After your thought accordynge to the same He hurteth both hys worshyp and hys name That follyly for twayne hī selfe wyl trouble And he also leseth his after game That surely can not set hys poyntes double Lamant This your counsayle by ought that I can se Is better sayd than done to myne aduyse Though I byleue it not forgyue it me Myne herte is such so hole without feyntyse That I ne may gyue credence in no wyse To thyng which is not sowning vnto truth Other counsayle I se be but fantasyse Saue of your grace to shewe pyte and ruth La dame I holde hym wyse that worketh no foly And whan hym lyst can leue parte therfro But in connynge he is to lerne truely That wolde hym selfe conduyte can not so And he that wyll not after counsayle do His sute he putteth in to dysperaunce And all the good that shulde fall hym to Is lost and deed clene out of remembraunce Lamant Yet wyl I sewe thys matter faythfully whyles I lyue what euer be my chaunce And yf it hap that in my truth I dye Than deth shal do me no displeasaunce But whan that I by your harde suffraunce Shall dye so true with so great a payne Yet shal it do me much the lesse greuaūce Than for to lyue a false louer certayne La dame Of me get ye ryght nought thys is no fable I wyl to you be neyther harde nor strayte And ryght wyl not no man customable To thynke ye shulde be sure of my conceyte who secheth sorowe his be the receyte Other counsayle can I not fele nor se Nor for to lerne I cast me not to awayte who wyll therof let hym assaye for me Lamant Ones must it be assayde that is no nay wyth suche as be of reputacyon And of true loue the ryght honour to pay Of free hertes gotten by dewe raunsome For frewyl holdeth thys opinion That it is great duresse and discomforte To kepe a herte in so strayte a prison That hath but one body for his disporte La dame I knowe so many causes meruaylous That I must nede of reason thynke certaine That such auenture is wonder peryllous And yet wel more the coming backe againe Good or worshyp therof is seldome sene where I ne wyll make suche araye As for to fynde a pleasaunce but a barayne whan it shal cost so dere the fyrst assaye Lamant Ye haue no cause to dout of this mater Nor you to mene with no such fantasyse To put me farre al out as a straunger For your goodnesse can thinke wel aduyse That I haue made a pryse in euery wyse By whiche my truth sheweth open euidence My longe abydyng and my trewe seruyce Maye well be knowen by playne experience La dame Of very ryght he may be called trewe And so must he be take in euery place That can discerne and set as he ne knewe And kepe the good yf he it may purchace For who y t prayeth or swereth in any case Right wel ye wote in y t no trouth is preued Such hath there bene are that getē grace And lese it sone whan they haue it acheued Lamant If truth me cause by vertue souerayne To shewe good loue alway fynde cōtrary And cherish y t which sleeth me with y e paine This is to me a louely aduersary whan y e pyte which longe on slepe doth tary Hath set the fyne of al my heuynesse Yet her comforte to me moost necessary Shal set my wyll more sure in stablenesse La dame The wofull wight what maye he thynke or say The contrary of al ioy and gladnesse A sicke bodye his thought is alway From hem that felen no sore nor sickenesse Thus hurtes bene of diuers busynesse which loue hath put to great hyndraunce And truth also put in forgetfulnesse whan they ful sore begyn to sigh askaunce Lamant Now god defende but he be harmelesse Of al worship or good that may befall That to werst tourneth by his lewdnesse A gyfte of grace or any thinge at all That his ladie vouchsafe vpon him call Or cherisheth him in honorable wise In that defaute what euer he be that fall Deserueth more than deth to suffre twyse La dame There is no iuge yset on suche trespace By whych of right loue may recouered be One curseth fast another doth manace Yet dyeth none as farre as I can se But kepe her course alway in one degre And euermore theyr labour doth encrease To brynge ladies by theyr great subtelte For others gylte in sorowe and disease Lamant Albeit so one doth so great offence And is not deed nor put to no iustyce Right well I wote him gayneth no defence But he must ende in ful mischeuous wyse And all euer sayd god wyl him dispyse For falshed is euer ful of cursedenesse that his worshyp may neuer haue interprise where it reygneth hath the wylfulnesse La dame Of that haue they no great fere now a daise Such as wyl say and maynteyne it therto That stedfast truth is nothing for to prayse In hem that kepe it longe in wele or wo Theyr busye hertes passen two and fro They be so wel
leaues as any baume swete Tyl fyry Tytan wyth his persaunt hete Had dryed vp the lusty lycour newe Vpon the herbes in the grene mede And that the floures of manye diuers hewe Vpon her stalkes gonne for to sprede And for to splaye out her leaues in brede Agayne the sunne golde burned in his spere That down to hem cast he his beames clere And by a ryuer forth I gan costey Of water clere as byrell or crystall Tyll at the laste I founde a lytell wey Towarde a parke enclosed wyth a wall In compace rounde and by a gate small who so that wolde frely myght gone In to thys parke walled wyth grene stone And in I went to here the byrdes songe whych on the braūches both in plaine vale So loude sange that all the woode ronge lyke as it shulde shyuer in peces smale And as me thought that the nyghtyngale with so great might her voyce gan out wrest Ryght as her herte for loue wolde brest The soyle was plaine smothe wōder softe All ouersprad wyth tappettes that Nature Had made her selfe couered eke alofte wyth bowes grene the floures for to cure That in her beautye they may longe endure From all assaute of Phebus feruent fere whych in hys sphere so hote shone and clere The eyre attempre and the smoth wynde Of zepherus amonge the blosomes whyte So holsome was and so norishing by kynde That smale buddes rounde blosomes lyte In maner gan of her brethe delyte To yeue vs hope there frute shall take Ayenst Autumpne redy for to shake I sawe the Daphene closed vnder rynde Grene Laurer and the holsome Pyne The Myrre also that wepeth euer of kynde The Cedres hye vpryght as a lyne The Fylberte eke that lowe doth enclyne Her bowes grene to the erthe adoun Vnto her knyght called Demophoun There sawe I eke the freshe hauthorne In whyte motley that so swote doth smel Ashe fyrre oke wyth many a yonge acorne And many a tree mo then I can tell And me beforne I sawe a lytell well That had hys course as I gan beholde Vnder an hyll wyth quycke streames colde The grauell golde the water pure as glasse The bankes rounde the well enuyronynge And softe as veluet the yonge grasse That therupon lustely came spryngynge The sute of trees about compasynge Her shado we caste closyng the wel r◠And al the herbes growyng on the g◠The water was so holsome and so vert◠Thorowe might of herbes growyng bes◠Not lyke the welle where as Narcisu◠Yslayne was thorowe vengeance of 〈◊〉 where so couertly he dyd hyde The grayne of dethe vpon eche brinke That deth mote folowe who y e euer d◠Ne lyke the pytte of the Pegace Vnder Pernaso where poetes slepte Nor lyke the welle of pure chastyte whiche that Diane with her nymphes kept whan she naked in to the water lepte That slowe Acteon with her hondes fel Onely for he came so nyghe the wel But this welle that I here reherce So holsome was that it wolde aswag◠Bollen hertes and the venym peerce Of pensyfeheed with al the cruel rage And ouermore refesshe the vysage Of hem that were in any werynesse Of great labour or fallen in distresse And I that had thorowe daunger dis◠So drie a thrust thought I wolde assa◠To taste a draught of this welle or t◠My bytter langour if it might alaye And on the banke anon downe I laye And with myn heed vnto the welle I ra◠And of the water dranke I a good drau◠wherof me thought I was refresshed Of the brennyng that sate so nye my he◠That verily anon I gan to fele An huge parte released of my smerte And therwithal anon vp I sterte And thought I wolde walke and sem◠Forthe in the parke and in the holtes h◠And through a launde as I yed a pace And gan aboute faste to beholde I founde anon a delectable place That was beset with trees yonge and 〈◊〉 whose names here for me shal not be tol◠Amydde of whiche stoode an herber gre◠That beched was with colours new clene Thys herber was full of floures gende Into the whych as I beholde gan Betwyxe an hulfere and a wodbende As I was ware I sawe where lay a man in blacke and whyte coloure pale and wan And wonder deedly also of hys hewe Of hurtes grene and freshe woundes newe And ouermore dystrayned wyth sycknesse Besyde all thys he was full greuouslye For vpon hym he had an hote accesse That daye by daye hym shoke full pytously So that for constraynynge of hys malady And hetly wo thus lyenge all alone It was a dethe for to here hym grone wherof astonyed my fote I gan wythdrawe Greatly wondrynge what it myght be That he so laye and had no felawe Ne that I coude no wyght wyth hym se wherof I had routh and eke pyte And gan anone so softely as I coude Amonge the bushes priuely me to shroude Yf that I myght in any wyse aspye what was the cause of hys deedly wo Or why that he so pytously gan crye On hys fortune and on vre also wyth all my myght I layde an eere to Euery worde to marke what he sayd Out of hys swough amonge as he abrayde But fyrst yf I shulde make mencion Of hys person and playnly hym dyscryue He was in sothe wythout excepcion To speake of manhode one the best on lyue There maye no man ayen trouth stryue For of hys tyme and of hys age also He proued was there men shulde haue ado For one the best therto of brede and length So well ymade by good proporcion Yf he had be in hys delyuer strength But thought and sycknesse were occasyon That he thus laye in lamentacion Gruffe on the grounde in place desolate Sole by hym selfe awhaped and amate And for me semeth that it is syttyng Hys wordes al to put in remembraunce To me that herde all hys complaynyng And all the grounde of hys wofull chaunce Yf there wythall I may you do pleasaunce I woll to you so as I can anone Lyke as he sayd reherce euerychone But who shall helpe me nowe to complayne Or who shall nowe my style gye or lede O Niobe let nowe thy teeres rayne Into my penne and helpe eke in nede Thou wofull Mirre y t felest myn hert blede Of pytous wo and myne hande eke quake when that I wryte for thys mannes sake For vnto wo accordeth complaynynge And dolefull chere vnto heuynesse To sorowe also syghynge and wepyng And pytous mournynge vnto drerynesse And who that shall wryte of dystresse In party nedeth to knowe felyngly Cause and roote of all such malady But I alas that am of wytte but dull And haue no knowynge of suche matere For to dyscryue and wryte at the full The wofull cōplaynte whych y t ye shal here But euen lyke as doth a skryuenere That can nomore what that he shall wryte But as hys mayster besyde dothe endyte Ryght
sake full ofte they suffre sore wythout women were all our ioye lore wherfore we ought all women to obey In all goodnesse I can no more say This is well knowen and hath ben or thys That women ben cause of al lyghtnesse Of knighthode norture eschewyng al malis Encrease of worshyp and of al worthynesse Therto curteys and meke and grounde of all goodnesse Glad and mery and trewe in euery wyse That any gentyl herte can thynke or deuyse And though any wold trust to your vntruth And to your fayre wordes wold aught assent In good fayth me thinketh it were gret ruth That other women shold for her gylt be sheÌ„t That neuer knew ne wist nouÈt of her enteÌ„t Ne lyste not to here y e fayre wordes ye write whyche ye you payne fro day to day tendyte But who may be ware of your tales vntrew That ye so busyly paynt and endyte For ye wyll swere that ye neuer knewe Ne sawe the woman neyther moche ne lyte Saue onely her to whom ye had delyte As for to serue of all that euer ye sey And for her loue muste ye nedes dey ThaÌ„ wyl ye swere that ye knew neuer before what loue was ne his dredfull obseruaunce But nowe ye fele that he can wounde sore wherfore ye put you in to her gouernaunce whoÌ„ loue hath ordeyned you to serue do plesauÌ„ce w t all your miÈt your lytel lyues space whyche endeth sone but yf she do you grace And than to bedde wyll ye soone drawe And sone sicke ye wyll you than fayne And swere fast your lady hath you slawe And brouÈt you sodeynly in so hygh a payn That fro your deth may no maÌ„ you restrayn wyth a daungerous loke of her eyen two That to your dethe must ye nedes go Thus wyl ye morne thus wyll ye syghe sore As though your herte anon iÌ„ two wold brest And swere fast that ye may lyue no more Myne owne lady that myght yf ye lest Brynge myne herte somdele in to rest As yf you lyst mercy on me to haue Thus your vntrouth wyll euer mercy craue Thus wol ye playne tho ye nothyng smerte These innocent creatures for to begyle And swere to hem so wounded is your herte For her loue that ye may lyue no whyle Scarsly so longe as one might go a myle So hyeth dethe to brynge you to an ende But yf your souerayn lady lyst you to ameÌ„de And yf for routh she coÌ„forte you in any wyse For pyte of your false othes sere So y e innocent weneth y t it be as you deuyse And weneth your herte be as she may here Thus for to coÌ„fort somwhat do you chere Than woll these ianglers deme of her ful yl And sayne that ye haue her fully at your wyl Lo howe redy her tonges ben and prest To speke harme of women causelesse Alas why might ye not as wel say the best As for to deme hem thus gyltlesse In your herte ywis there is no gentylnesse that of your own gylte lyst thus womeÌ„ fame Now by my trouth me thynk ye be to blame For of women cometh this worldly wele wherfore we ought to worship heÌ„ euermore And though it mishap one we ouÈt for to hele For it is all through our false lore That day and night we payne vs euermore wyth many an othe these women to begyle wyth false tales and many a wycked wyle And yf falshede shulde be reckened and tolde In women iwys full trouthe were Not as in men by a thousande folde Fro all vyces twys they stande clere In any thyng that euer I coude of here But yf entysyng of these men it make That hem to flatteren connen neuer slake I wold fayne were wher euer ye coude here without mens tising what womeÌ„ dyd amys For ther ye may get heÌ„ ye lye fro yere to yere And many a gabbynge ye make to hem iwys For I coude neuer here ne knowen er thys where euer ye coude fynde in any place That euer women besought you of grace There ye you payne with al your ful might wyth all your herte and all your besynesse To pleasen hem bothe by day and nyght Prayeng hem of her grace and gentylnesse To haue pyte vpon your great distresse And y e they wolde on your payne haue routh And slee you not sens ye meane but trouh Thus may ye se that they ben fautelesse And innocent to all your werkes slye And all your craftes that touche falsnesse They know hem not ne may hem not espye So sweare ye that ye must nedes dye But yf they wolde of her womanheed Vpon you rewe er that ye be deed And than your lady and your hertes quene Ye call hem and therwyth ye sygh sore And say my lady I trowe that it be sene In what plyte that I haue lyued full yore But nowe I hope that ye woll no more In these paynes suffre me for to dwell For of all goodnesse iwys ye be the well Lo whiche a paynted processe can ye make These harmlesse creatures for to begyle And whan they slepe ye payne you to wake And to bethink you on many a wycked wyle But ye shal se the day y t ye shal curse y e whyle That ye so besily dyd your entent Hem to begyle that falshede neuer ment For this ye knowe wel though I wolde lye In women is all trouthe and stedfastnesse For in good faythe I neuer of hem sye But moche worshyp bounte and gentilnesse Right commyng fayre and ful of mekenesse Good and glad and lowly you ensure Is thys goodly angelyke creature And yf it happe a man be in disease She dothe her busynesse and her full payne wyth all her might him to comforte please If fro hys disease she might hym restrayne In worde ne dede iwys she wol not fayne But with al her might she doth her besinesse To brynge hym out of hys heuynesse Lo what gentyllesse these women haue If we coude knowe it for our rudenesse Howe besy they be vs to kepe and saue Bothe in heale and also in sycknesse And alway ryght sory for our distresse In euery maner thus shewe they routhe That in hem is all goodnesse and trouthe And syth we fynd in hem geÌ„tilnesse trouth worshyp bounte and kyndenesse euermore Let neuer this geÌ„tilesse through your slouth In her kynde trouthe be aught forlore That in woman is and hath ben ful yore For in reuerence of the heuens quene we ought to worshyp all women that bene For of all creatures y t euer were get borne This wote ye well a woman was the best By her was recouered y e blysse y t we had lorn And through y t woman shal we come to rest And ben ysaued yf that our selfe lest wherfore me thynketh yf that we had grace we oughten honour women in euery place Therfore I rede that to our lyues ende Fro thys tyme forth whyle y t we haue space
That we haue trespaced pursue to amende Prayenge our lady well of all grace To brynge vs vnto that blysfull place There as she all good womeÌ„ shal be in fere In heuen aboue amonge the angels clere ¶ Explicit The house of Fame GOd tourne vs euerye dreme to good For it is woÌ„der thyng by the rood To my wytte what causeth sweuenes On the morowe or on euenes And why the effecte foloweth of some And of some it shall neuer come why that it is an auysion And why thys a reuelacyon why thys a dreme why that a sweuen And nat to euery man lyche euen why this a fantome why that oracles I not but who so of these myracles The causes knowe bette than I Defyne he for I certaynly Ne can hem nat ne neuer thynke To busy my wytte for to swynke To knowe of her signifycations The gendres ne distynctions Of the tymes of hem ne the causes Or why this is more than that is Or yeue folkes complexions Make hem dreme of reflexions Or els thus as other sayne For the great feblenesse of her brayne By abstynence or by sycknesse Pryson stryfe or great distresse Or els by dysordynaunce Or naturall accustomaunce That some men be to curyous In studye or melancolyous Or thus so inly full of drede That no man may hym bote rede Or els that deuocion Of some and contemplacyon Causen suche dremes ofte Or that the cruell lyfe vnsofte Of hem that loues leden Ofte hopen moche or dreden That purely her impressyons Causen hem to haue visyons Or yf spyrites han the myght To make folke to dreame on nyght Or yf the soule of proper kynde Be so perfyte as men fynde That it wote what is to come And that he warneth all and some Of eueryche of her auentures By auysyons or by fygures But that our flesshe hath no myght To vnderstande it a ryght For it is warned to derkely But why the cause is not wote I well worthe of thys thynge clerkes That treaten of that and of other werkes For I of none opynyon Nyll as nowe make mencyon But only that the holye Rood Tourne vs euery dreame to good For neuer sythe I was borne Ne no man els me beforne Mette I trowe stedfastly So wonderfull a dreame as I. The tenthe day nowe of Decembre The whyche as I can remembre I woll you tellen euery dele But at my begynnyng trusteth wele I woll make inuocation wyth a deuoute specyall deuocyon Vnto the god of slepe anone That dwelleth in a caue of stone Vpon a streme that cometh fro Lete That is a fludde of hell vnswete Besyde a fulke that men clepe Cymery There slepeth aye this god vnmery wyth hys slepy thousande sonnis That alway to slepe her won is And to thys god that I of rede Praye I that he woll me spede My sweuen for to tell a ryght If euery dreme stande in hys myght And he that mouer is of all That is and was and euer shall So gyue hem ioye that it here ⧠Or all that they dreme to yere And for to stande al in grace Of her loues or in what place That hem were leuest for to stonde And shelde hem frome pouerte and shonde And frome euery vnhappe and disease And sende hem that may hem please That taketh well and scorneth nought Ne it misdeme in her thought Through malycious entencion And who so through presumpcion Or hate or scorne or through enuy Dispyte or â—ape or felony Mysdeme it pray I Iesus good Dreme he barefote or dreme he shood That euery harme that any man Hath had sythe the worlde began Befall hym therof or he sterne And graunt that he may it deserue Lo wyth ryght suche a conclusyon As had of hys auisyon Cresus that was kyng of Lyde That hygh vpon a gybet dyde This prayer shall he haue of me I am no bette in charyte NOwe herken as I haue you sayde What that I mette or I abrayde Of Decembre the tenthe day Whan it was nyght to slepe I lay Right as I was wonte to doone And fyll a slepe wonder soone As he that was wery forgo On pylgrimage myles two To the corps of saynt Leonarde To maken lythe that erst was harde But as I slepte me mette I was wythin a temple ymade of glas In whyche there were mo ymages Of golde standyng in sondrie stages In mo ryche tabernacles And wyth perre mo pynnacles And mo curyous portratures And queynt maner of fygures Of golde worke than I sawe euer But certaynly I nyst neuer where that it was but well wyst I It was of Venus redely This temple for in purtreture I sawe anone ryght her fygure Naked fletyng in a see And also on her heed parde Her rose garlande whyte and rede And her combe to kembe her hede Her dounes and dan Cupido Her blynde sonne and Vulcano That in hys face was full browne But as I romed vp and downe I founde that on the wall there was Thus written on a table of bras I woll nowe synge yf that I can The armes and also the man That fyrst came through hys destyne Fugityfe fro Troye the countre In to Itayle wyth full moche pyne Vnto the strondes of Lauyne And tho began the storie anone As I shall tellen you echone Fyrst sawe I the distruction Of Troye through the greke Synon wyth hys false vntrewe forswerynges And wyth hys chere and hys lesynges Made a horse brought in to Troy By whyche Troyans loste all her ioy And after thys was graued alas Howe Ilyons castell assayled was And wone and kyng Priamus slayne And Polytes hys sonne certayne Dispytously of dan Pyrrus And next that sawe I howe Venus whan that she sawe the castell brende Downe frome heuen she gan discende And bade her sonne Eneas to flye And howe he fledde and howe that he Escaped was frome all the prees And toke hys father olde Anchyses And bare hym on hys backe away Cryeng alas and welaway The whyche Anchyses in hys hande Bare tho the goddes of the lande Thylke that vnbrenned were Than sawe I next all in fere Howe Crusa dan Eneas wyfe whom that he loued all hys lyfe And her yonge sonne Iulo And eke Askanyus also Fledden eke wyth drery chere That it was pyte for to here And in a forest as they went At a tournyng of a went Howe Crusa was yloste alas That rede nat I howe that it was Howe he her sought and howe her goste Bade hym slye the grekes hoste And sayd he muste in to Itayle As was hys destyne sauns fayle That it was pyte for to here whan her spyrite gan appere The wordes that she to hym sayde And for to kepe her sonne hym prayde There sawe I grauen eke howe he Hys father eke and hys meyne wyth hys shyppes gan to sayle Towarde the countre of Itayle As streyght as they myghten go There sawe I eke the cruell Iuno That arte dan Iupyters wyfe That haste yhated all
fantasyes in suche wordes as we lerneden of our dames tonge And although thys boke be lytel thanke worthy for the leudnesse in trauayle yet such wrytynges exciten men to thylke thynges y t bene necessarie for euery mā therby maye as by a perpetual myrrour sene the vyces or vertues of other in which thynge lyghtly may be cōceyued to eschewe peryls and necessaries to catche after as auētures haue fallen to other people or persons Certes y e soueraynst thing of desyre and moste creature reasonable haue or els shulde haue ful appetyte to theyr perfection vnresonable beestes mowen not syth reason hath in hem no werkynge Then reasonable that wol not is comparysoned to vnresonable and made lyke hem Forsothe the moste souerayne and fynall perfection of mā is in knowynge of a soth wythouten any entent dysceyuable and in loue of one very god that is inchaungeable that is to knowe and loue hys creatour ¶ Nowe principally the meane to brynge in knowlegyng and louyng hys creatour is the consyderacion of thinges made by the creatour wherthrough be thylke thynges that bene made vnderstādynge here to our wyttes arne the vnsene priuytees of god made to vs sightful knowing in our cōtemplacion vnderstandyng These thinges then forsoth moch bryngen vs to y e ful knowlegynge sothe and to the parfyte loue of the maker of heauenly thynges Lo Dauid sayeth thou haste delyted me in makynge as who sayeth to haue delite in y e tune how god hath lent me in cōsyderation of thy makynge wherof Aristotle in the boke de Animalibus sayeth to naturel philosophers It is a great lykynge in loue of knowynge theyr creatour and also in knowynge of causes in kyndelye thynges consydred Forsothe the formes of kyndly thynges y e shap a great kyndly loue mē shulde haue to the werkman y t hem made The crafte of a werkman is shewed in the werke Herefore truly the philosophers with a lyuely studye many noble thynges ryghte precious and worthy to memory wrytten by a great swet ande trauayle to vs leften of causes the properties in natures of thynges To whyche therfore Phylosophers it was more ioye more lykynge more herty lust in kyndly vertues maters of reason y e perfection by busy study to knowe thē to haue had al the treasure al the rychesse al y e vaynglory y t the passed Emperours prynces or kynges hadden Therfore y e names of hem in y e boke of perpetual memory in vertue peace arne wrytten and in the contrary that is to sayne in stixe y e foule pytte of helle arne thilke pressed that suche goodnesse hated And bycause thys boke shall be of loue and the pryme causes of sterynge in that doynge with passyons and dyseases for wantynge of desyre I wyll that this boke be cleped y e Testamēt of loue But now thou reder who is thylke y e wyl not in scorne laughe to here a dwerfe or els halfe a man say he wyll rende out the swerd of Hercules handes also he shulde set Hercules gades a myle yet ferther and ouer that he had power of strength to pul vp the spere that Alisander y e noble myght neuer wegge And that passyng al thynge to ben master of Fraunce by myght there as the noble gracious Edwarde the thyrde for all hys greate prowes in vyctories ne myght al yet cōquere Certes I wote wel ther shal be made more scorne iape of me that I so vnworthely clothed altogether in the cloudy cloude of vncōnynge wyl puttē me in prees to speke of loue or els of the causes in that mater sythen all y e greatest clerkes han had ynough to done and as who sayth gathered vp clene toforne hem wyth theyr sharpe sythes of connynge all mowen and made therof great rekes and noble full of all plentyes to fede me and many another Enuye forsothe cōmendeth nought hys reason y t he hath in hayne be it neuer so trusty And although these noble repers as good workmen and worthy theyr hyer haue al drawe and bounde vp in y e sheues made many shockes yet haue I ensample to gather the smale crōmes and fullē my walet of tho that fallen from the borde among◠the smale houndes notwythstandynge the trauayle of the almoygner y t hath drawe vp in the cloth al the remyssayles as trenchours and the relyfe to bere to the almesse Yet also haue I leue of y e noble husbonde Boece although I be a straunger of connynge to come after his doctrine and these great workmē and glene my handfuls of the shedynge after theyr handes if me fayle ought of my ful to encrease my porcion with that I shal drawe by priuytyes out of the shocke a slye seruaunt in hys owne helpe is often moche cōmēded knowyng of trouth in causes of thīges was more hardyer in the fyrst sechers and so sayth Aristotle lyghter in vs y t hath folowed after For theyr passyng study han freshed our wyttes and our vnderstandynge han excyted in cosyderacion of trouth by sharpnesse of theyr reasons Vtterly these thinges be no dremes ne iapes to throwe to hogges it is lyfelyche meate for chyldren of trouth and as they me betyden whē I pylgrimaged out of my kyth in wynter when the wether out of measure was boystous the wylde wynde Borias as hys kynde asketh wyth dryenge coldes maked the wawes of the Occian see so to aryse vnkyndely ouer the cōmune bankes that it was in poynte to spyl al the earth ¶ Thus endeth the prologue and here after foloweth the fyrst boke of the Testament of Loue. ALas Fortune alas I that somtyme in delycious houres was wont to enioy blysful stoundes am nowe dryue by vnhappy heuynes to bewayle my sondry yuels in tene Trewlye I leaue in myne herte is wryte of perdurable letters al the entencions of lamentacion that now ben ynempned for any maner dysease outwarde in sobbynge maner sheweth sorowfull yexynge from wythin Thus from my comforte I gynne to spylle syth she that shulde me solace is ferre fro my presence Certes her absence is to me an hell my sternyng deth thus in wo it myneth y t endelesse care is throughe out myne herte clēched blysse of my ioye that ofte my murthed is turned into galle to thynke on thynge that maye not at my wyll in armes me hent Myrth is chaunged into tene when swynke is there continually that reste was wonte to soiourne and haue dwellynge place Thus wytlesse thoughtfull syghtlesse lokinge I endure my penaunce in this derke prysone caytisned fro frendshyp and acquaintaunce and forsaken of all y e any worde dare speke Straunge hath by waye of intrucyon made hys home there me shuld be yf reason were herde as he shulde Neuerthelater yet hertely lady precious Margarit haue mynd on thy seruaunt and thynke on hys dysease howe lyghtles he lyueth sythe the beames brēnende in loue of thyne eyen arne so be wēt that worldes and cloudes atwene vs tweye
and wordes as stones stones out throw wherfore my couÌ„sayle is euer more openlye and apertelye in what place thou syt countreplete therrours and meaninges in as farre as thou hem wystyst false and leaue for no wyghte to make hem be knowe in euery bodyes eare and be alwaye paciente and vse Iacobes wordes what so euer menne of the clappen I shall sustayne my ladyes wrathe whyche I haue deserued so longe as my Margaryte hathe rightwysed my cause And certes quod she I wytnesse my selfe yf thou thus conuerted soroweste in good meanynge in thyne herte wolte from all vanytie parfytelye departe in consolatioun of al good plesaunce of that Margaryte whiche that thou desyreste after wyl thyne herte in a maner of a mothers pytie shull fully accepte the in to grace For ryghte as thou rentest clothes in open syght so openlye to sowe hem at hys worshyppe wythouten reprofe commended Also ryght as thou were ensample of muche folde erroure ryghte so thou muste be ensample of manyfolde correction so good sauoure to forgoynge all erroure distroyeng causeth dilygent loue with many playted praysinges to folowe and than shal all the fyrst errours make the folowynge worshyppes to seme hugely encreased blacke and whyte sette togyder euerye for other more semeth and so dothe euery thynges contrary in kynde But infame that gothe alwaye to fore and praysynge worshyppe by any cause folowing after maketh to ryse thylke honoure in double of welth and that queÌ„cheth the spotte of the fyrst enfame why wenist I saye these thynges in hyndrynge of thy name Naye naye god woâ—te but for pure encreasing worship thy ryghtwysnesse to coÌ„mende thy trouth to seme the more â–ª wost not wel thy selfe that thou in fourme of makynge passeth not AdaÌ„ that ete of the apple Thou passeth not the stedstastnesse of Noe y e eatynge of the grape become dronke Thou passeth not the chastyte of Lothe that laye by hys doughter Eke the nobley of Abraham whoÌ„ god reproued by hys pryde Also Dauides mekenesse whyche for a woman made Vrye be slawe What also Hector of Troye in whome no defaute myght be founde yet is he reproued that he ne hadde wyth manhode not suffered the warre begonne ne Parys to haue wente into Grece by whome ganne all the sorowe for trewly hym lacketh no venyme of pryue consentynge whyche that openlye leaueth a wronge to wythsaye Lo eke an olde prouerbe amoÌ„ges many other he that is styll semeth as he graunted Now by these ensamples thou myght fully vnderstonde that these thynges ben wryte to your lernynge in ryghtwysenesse of tho persones as thus To euery wyght hys defaute coÌ„mitted made goodnesse afterwardes done be the more in reuereÌ„ce and in open she wynge for ensample is it not songe in holye church Lo howe necessary was AdaÌ„s synne Dauyd the kynge gat SalomoÌ„ the kynge of her that was Vries wyfe Truly for reprofe is none of these thinges wrytte Right so tho I reherce thy before dede I repreue y t neuer the more ne for no vyllany of the are they rehersed but for worshyppe so tâ—â—u contynue well here after and for profyte of thy selfe I rede thou on hem thynke Then sayd I ryght thus Lady of vnyte and accorde enuye and wrathe lurken there thou comest in place ye weteÌ„ well your selue and so done many other that whyle I adminystred the offyce of coÌ„men doynge as in rulynge of the stablyshmentes amoÌ„ges the people I defouled neuer my conscience for no maner dede but euer by wytte and by counsayle of the wysest the maters were drawen to theyr ryght endes And thus trewlye for you ladye I haue desyred suche cure and certes in youre seruyce was I not ydell as ferre as suche doynge of my cure stretcheth That is a thynge quod she that may draweÌ„ many hertes of noble and voyce of coÌ„mune in to glorye and fame is not but wretched and fyckle Alas that mankynde coueyteth in so leude a wyse to be rewarded of any good dede sith glorye of fame in this worlde is not but hyndrynge of glorye in tyme coÌ„mynge And certes quod she yet at the hardest such fame in to heauen is not the erthe but a centre to the cercle of heuen And prycke is woÌ„der lytell in respecte of al y e cercle and yet in al this prycke may no name be borne in maner of peersyng for many obstacles as waters and wyldernesse and straunge langages and not onely names of men ben stylled and holden oute of knowlegynge by these obstacles but also cyties realmes of prosperite ben letted to be know and theyr reason hyndred so that they mow not ben parfytly in mennes proper vnderstandynge Howe shulde then the name of a synguler londenoys passe the gloryous name of London whyche by many it is commended and by many it is lacked and in many mo places in erthe not knowen then knowen for in many countrees lytel is London in knowyng or in speche and yet among one maner of people may not suche fame in goodnesse come for as many as praysen comenly as many lacken Fye then on suche maner fame slepe and suffre hym that knoweth preuyte of hertes to dele suche fame in thylke place there nothynge ayenst a sothe shal neyther speake ne dare appere by atturney ne by other maner Howe many great named and many greate in worthynesse losed han be tofore thys tyme that now out of memorie are slydden and clenely forgetten for defaute of wrytynges and yet scriptures for great elde so ben defased y t no perpetualte maye in hem ben iuged But yf thou wolte make comparison to euer what ioy mayst thou haue in erthlye name it is a fayre lykenesse a pees or one grayne of wheate to a thousand shyppes ful of corne charged What nombre is betwene the one and thother and yet mowe both they be nombred and ende in rekenyng haue But trewly all that maye be nombred is nothyng to recken as to thylke that maye not be nombred for ofte thynges ended is made comparyson as one lytel another great but in thinges to haue an ende and another no ende suche comparyson maye not be founden wherfore in heauen to ben losed wyth God hath none ende but endlesse endureth and thou canste nothynge done aryght but thou desyre the rumoure therof be healed and in euerye wyghtes eare and that dureth but a prycke in respect of the other And so thou sekest rewarde of folkes smale wordes and of vayne praysynges Trewly therin thou lesest the guerdon of vertue and lesest the greatest valoure of conscience and vphap they renome euerlastyng Therfore boldely renome of fame of the erthe shuld be hated and fame after deth shulde be desyred of werkes of vertue asketh guerdoning and the soule causeth al vertue TheÌ„ the soule delyuered out of prisone of erthe is most worthy suche guerdone amonge to haue in the euerlastynge fame not the body that causeth all mannes yuels OF tweye thynges arte thou answered as me
the not of tyme to come but yeuen the coÌ„fort in hope of well doing and of gettyng agayne the double of thy lesynge w t encreasyng loue of thy Margarite perle therto For this hytherto y u hast had al her ful dauÌ„ger and so thou myght amende all that is mysse and all defautes that somtyme thou dyddest and that nowe in all thy tyme to that ylke Margaryte in full seruyce of my lore thyne herte hath contynued wherfore she ought moch the rather enclyne fro hâ—t daungerous sete These thynges ben yet â—â—yt by the holdynge anker in thy lyue holden mote they To god I praye all these thynges at full ben performed For whyle thys anker holdeth I hope thou shalte safely escape and whyle thy trew meanyng seruice aboute brynge in dispyte of all false meaners that the of newe haten for this trew seruyce thou arte nowe entred CErtayne ê™ I amonge thynges I asked a question which was y e way to the knot Trewly lady howe so it be I teÌ„pt you wyth questions and answers in spekyng of my fyrst seruyce I am now in full purpose in the pricke of the hert y t thilke seruice was an enprisonmeÌ„t alway bad naughty in no maner to be desyred Ne y t in gettyng of the knot may it nothyng auayle A wyse gentyll hert loketh after vertue non other bodily ioyes alone And bycause toforne this iÌ„ tho wayes I was sette I wote wel my selfe I haue erred of the blysse fayled so out of my waye hugely haue I ron Certes ê™ she y t is sothe there thou hast myswent eschew that path froÌ„ hens forwarde I rede Wonder I trewly why the mortal folke of this worlde seche these wayes outforth it is preued in youre selfe Lo howe ye ben coÌ„founded with errour folly The knowyng of very cause waye is goodnesse vertue Is there any thyng to the more precious than thy selfe Thou shalt haue in thy power y t thou woldest neuer lese and that in no way may be taken fro the and thilk thyng is that is cause of this knot And yf dethe mow it nat reue more thaÌ„ an erthly creature thilke thing than abydeth with thy selfe soule so our conclusion to make suche a knot thus getten abydeth with this thyng with the soule as long as they last a soule dieth neuer vertue goodnesse euermore w t y e soule endureth this knot is perfite blysse ThaÌ„ this soule in this blysse endlesse shal enduren Thus shul hertes of a trewe knot ben eased thus shul their soules beÌ„ pleased thus perpetually in ioye shul they synge In good trouth ê™ I here is a good begynnyng yeue vs more of this way Quod she I sayd to y e nat longe sythen that resonable lyfe was one of thre thynges it was proued to the soule euerye soule of reason hath two thynges of steryng lyfe one in vertue and another in the bodily workynge and whan the soule is the maister ouer the body than is a man maister of hym selfe a maÌ„ to be a maister ouer him selfe lyueth in vertue and in goodnesse as reson of vertue techeth so the soule the body worchyng vertue togider lyuen resonable lyfe which clerkes clepen felycite in lyueng and theryn is the hye way to this knot these olde philosophers that hadden no knowyng of diuyne grace of kyndly reason alone wenden that of pure nature wythouteÌ„ any helpe of grace me might haue yshoued thother lyuenges resonablye haue I lyued and for I thynke herafter yf god woll I haue space thylk grace after my leude knowyng declare I leaue it as at thys tyme. But as I sayd he that outforth loketh after y e wayes of this knotte connyng with which he shulde know the way inforth slepeth for the tyme wherfore he that wol this way knowe must leaue the lokyng after false wayes outforth opeÌ„ the eyen of hys conscience and vnclose hys herte Seest nat he that hath trust in the bodily lyfe is so besy bodily wouÌ„des to anoynt in kepynge frome smert for all out may they nat be healed that of woundes in hys true vnderstandynge he taketh no hede the knowynge euenforth slepeth so harde but anone as in knowyng a wake than gynneth y e preuy medicines for healyng of his trewe enteÌ„t inwardes lightly healeth conscience yf it be wel handled Than must nedes these wayes come out of the soule by steâ—yng lyfe of the body els maye no man come to perfyte blysse of this knotte and thus by this waye he shal come to the knot and to the perfyte selynesse that he wende haue had in bodilye goodes outforthe Yea ê™ I shall he haue botâ—e knotte riches power dignite and renome in this maner waye Ye ê™ she y t shall I shewe the. Is he nat riche that hath suffisaunce and hath the power that no man may amaistrieÌ„ Is nat gret dignite to haue worshyp and reuereÌ„ce hath he nat glorie of renome whose name perpetuall is duryng and out of nombre in comparation These be thynges that men wenen to getten out forth ê™ I Ye ê™ she they that loken after a thyng that nouÈt is therof in al ne in partie longe mowe they gapen after That is soth ê™ I therfore ê™ she they that sechen gold in grene trees â–ª and wene to gader precyous stones amonge vynes and layne her nettes in mountaynes to fysh thynkeÌ„ to hunt in depe sees after hart hynde and sechen in erth thylke thynges that surmouÌ„teth heuen what may I of hem say but folyshe ignoraunce mysledeth wandryng wretches by vncouth wayes that shulden be forleten and maketh hem blynde fro the ryght pathe of trewe way that shuld ben vsed Therfore in generall erroure in mankynde departeth thylke goodes by mysse sechynge whyche he shulde haue hole and he sought by reason Thus gothe he begyled of that he sought in hys hode men haue blowe a iape Nowe ê™ I yf a man be vertuous all in vertue lyueth howe hathe he all these thynges That shall I prouen ê™ she what power hathe anye man to let another of lyueÌ„g in vertue for prisonmeÌ„t or any other disese he taketh it paciently discoÌ„fyteth he nat the tyraunt ouer hys soule no power maye haue Than hathe that man so tourmented suche power that he nyll be discoÌ„fit ne ouercome may he nat ben sythen pacience in hys soule ouercometh and as nat ouercomen Suche thyng that may nat be a maistred he hath nede to nothyng for he hath suffisaunce ynowe to helpe him selfe And thylke thyng that thus hath power and suffysaunce no tyrant may it reue hath dignyte to sette at nought all thynges here it is a great dignite that deth may a maistry Wherfore thilk power suffisaunce so enclosed wyth dignyte by all reson renome must haue Thys is thylke ryches w t suffisance ye shulde loke after thys is thilke worshipful dignite ye shulde coueyt this is thylke
with not wyllynge by no waye mowe accorde And although this louynge woll come in myne hert by frenesse of arbytrement as in this boke fully is shewed yet owe I not therfore as moche alow my free wyll as grace of that Margaryte to me leaned for neyther myght I without grace to fornegoinge and afterwarde folowyng thylke grace get ne kepe and lese shal I it neuer but yf frewyll it make as in wyllyng otherwyse than grace hath me graunted For ryght as whan any person taketh wyllynge to be sobre and throweth that awaye wyllynge to be dronke or els taketh wyll of drynkynge oute of measure whiche thyng anon as it is doone maketh thorowe his owne gylte by free wyll that leseth hys grace In which thyng therfore vpon the nobley of grace I mote trusten and my busye cure set thylke grace to kepe that my frewyl otherwyse than by reason it shulde werche cause not my grace to voyde for thus must I both loke to frewyll to grace For right as naturall vsage in engendrynge of chyldren maye not bene withoute father ne also but with the mother for neyther father ne mother in begettynge maye it lacke ryght so grace and frewyll accorden and without hem both maye not louynge wyll in no partye ben getten But yet is not frewyl in gettynge of that thyng so mokell thanke worthy as is grace ne in the kepynge thereof so moche thanke deserueth and yet in gettyng and kepynge both done they accorde Trulye oftentyme grace frewyll helpeth in foredoinge of contrarye thynges that to wyllynge loue not accorden and strengthe wyll aduersities to withsytte wherfore all togyther to grace oweth to bene accepted that my wyllynge deserueth Frewyll to louynge in this wyse is accorded I remembre me well howe all this boke who so hede taketh consydreth all thynges to werchynges of mankynde euenlye accordeth as in tournynge of thys worde loue into trouth or els ryghtwisnesse whether that it lyke For what thynge that falleth to man in helpynge of free arbytremēt thylke ryghtwysnesse to take or els to kepe thorowe whiche a man shall be saued of whiche thyng all this booke mencyon hath maked in euery poynt thereof grace oweth to be thanked wherfore I saye euerye wyght hauynge this ryghtfulnes ryghtfull is and yet therfore I sey not in my concyence that to all ryghtfull is behoten the blysse euerlastynge but to hem that ben ryghtfull withouten any vnryghtousnesse Some man after som degree maye ryghtfully ben accompted as chaste men in lyuynge and yet ben they ianglers and full of enuye pressed to hem shal this blysse neuer bene delyuered For ryght as verye blysse is withoute all maner nede ryght so to noman shal it be yeuen but to the ryghtful voyde from all maner vnryghtfulnesse founde so noman to her blysse shal ben folowed but he be ryghtfull and wyth vnryghtfulnesse not bounde and in that degre fully be knowe This ryghtfulnesse in as moche as in hym selfe is of none euyll is it cause and of all maner goodnesse truly it is mother This helpeth the spyrite to withsyt the leude lustes of fleshly lykyng This strēgtheth and mayntayneth the lawe of kynde and yf that otherwhyle me weneth harme of this precyous thyng to folowe therethorowe is nothynge the cause of somwhat els commeth it aboute who so taketh hede By rightfulnesse forsoth werne many holy sayntes good sauour in swetnesse to god almightye but that to some folkes they weren sauour of deth into deedly ende that come not of the saynctes ryghtwysnesse but of other wycked mens badnesse hath proceded Truly the ilke wyl whiche that the ladye of loue me lerned affectiō of wyl to nempne which is in wyllyng of profytable thynges euel is it not but whan to fleshly lustes it cōsenteth ayenst reason of soule But that this thyng more clerely be vnderstand it is for to know whence and how thylke wyll is so vycious and so readye euyll dedes to perfourme Grace at the gynnyng ordeyned thylke wyl ingoodnesse euer to haue endured and neuer to badnesse to haue assented Men shoulde not beleue that God thylke wyll made to be vycious Our fyrst father as Adam Eue for vycyous appetytes and vycious wyll to such appetytes consentyng ben not one thīg in kynde other thyng is done for the other And howe this wyll fyrst into man fyrst assented I holde it profytable to shewe but if the fyrste condicyon of reasonable ceeature wol be consydred and apertly loked lyghtly the cause of suche wyll maye ben shewed Intention of God was that ryghtfully and blyssed shulde reasonable nature ben maked hym selfe for to kepe but neyther blysfull ne ryghtfull myght it not be withouten wyl in them bothe wyll of ryghtfulnesse is thylke same rightfulnesse as heretoforne is shewed but wyll of blysse is not thylke blysse for euery man hath not thylke blysse in whome the wyll therof is abydynge In this blysse after euery vnderstandyng is suffysaunce of couenable commodityes without anye maner nede whether it be blysse of aungelles or els thylke that grace fyrst in paradyse suffered Adam to haue For although aungelles blysse be more than Adams was in Paradyse yet may it not be denyed that Adam in Paradyse ne hadde suffysaunce of blysse for ryght as great herte is without al maner of coldnesse and yet maye an other herte more heate haue ryght so nothyng defruded Adā in Paradyse to bene blessed without al maner nede Although aungels blysse be moche more forsothe it foloweth not lasse than an other to haue therefore hym nedeth but for to wante a thynge whiche that behoueth to ben had that may nede ben cleped and that was not in Adam at the fyrst gynnynge God and the Margaryte weten what I meane Forsothe where as is nede there is wretchednesse good withoute cause to fornegoinge made not resonable creature wretched for hym to vnderstand and loue had he fyrst maked God made therfore mā blyssed with out al maner indigēce togyther and at ones toke reasonable creature blysse and wyll of blyssednesse and wyl of rightfulnesse which is ryghtfulnesse it selfe and lybertye of arbitrement that is free wyl with which thilke ryghtfulnesse may he kepe and lese So and in that wyse ordayned thylke two that wyl which that instrument is cleped and here to forne mencyon is maked shoulde vse thylke ryghtfulnesse by teachynge of hys soule to good maner of gouernaunce in thought and in wordes and that it shulde vse the blysse in obedyent maner withouten any incommoditie Blysse forsothe into mannes profyte and ryghtwysnesse into his worshyppe god delyuered at ones but ryghtfulnes so was yeuen that man myght it lese whiche yf he not loste hadde not but continuallye haue it kepte he shulde haue deserued the auauncement into the felowshyp of angels in which thinge yf he that loste neuer by hym selfe forwarde shuld he it mowe ayenward recouer and as well the blysse that he was in as angels blysse that to himwardes was coming shulde be nome
he hynge nat there alone For Cum iniquis deputatus est Nat lyke a man but lyke a leprous beest A blynde knyght men called Longias wyth a speare aproched vnto my souerayne Launsyng his syde full pytously alas That his precious herte he claue in twayne The purple bloode eke fro the hertes vayne Down rayled right fast in moste ruful wyse wyth christal water brought out of paradyse whan I behelde thys wofull passyon I wote nat howe by sodayne auenture My herte was peersed with very compassyō That in me remayned no lyfe of nature Strokes of dethe I felte wythout measure My dethes woūde I caught w t wo opprest And brought to poynt as my hert shuld brest The woūde hert and blood of my darlyng Shall neuer slyde fro my remoriall The bytter paynes also of tourmentyng wythin my soule be grauen principall The speare alas that was so sharpe withall So thrilled my herte as to my felyng That body and soule were at departyng As sone as I might I releued vp agayne My brethe I coude nat very well restore Felyng my selfe drowned in so great payne Both body soul me thought were al to tore Vyolent falles greued me right sore I wepte I bledde with my selfe I fared As one that for his lyfe nothyng had cared I lokyng vp to that rufull Roode Sawe first the vysage pale of that fygure But so pytous a syght spotted wyth bloode Sawe neuer yet no lyueng creature So it exceded the boundes of measure That mānes mynd with al his wyttes fyue Is nothynge able that payne for to diseryue Than gan I there myne armes to vnbrace Vp lyftyng my handes full mournyngly I syghed and sore sobbed in that place Both heuen erth might haue herde me crye wepyng and sayd alas incessauntly Ah my swete herte my gostly paramour Alas I may nat thy body socour O blessed lorde howe feirse and howe cruell These cursed wightes nowe hath the slayne Kernyng alas thy body euerydell woūde within woūd ful bytter is thy payne Nowe wolde that I might to the attayne To nayle my body fast vnto thy tree So that of this payne thou might go free I can nat reporte ne make no rehersayle Of my demenyng wyth the cyrcumstaunce But wel I wote the speare with euery nayle Thirled my soule by inwarde resemblaunce whiche neuer shall out of my remembraunce Duryng my lyfe it woll cause me to wayle As ofte as I remembre that batayle Ah ye iewes worse than dogges rabyate what moued you thus cruelly him to aray He neuer displeased you nor caused debate Your loue and true hertes he coueyted aye He preched he teched he shewed y e right way wherfore ye lyke tyrantes wode wayward Now haue him thus slayne for his rewarde Ye ought to haue remēbred one thing special His fauour his grace and his magnifycence He was your prince borne and lorde ouer all Howe be it ye toke him in small reuerence He was full meke in suffryng your offence Neuertheles ye deuoured him w t one assent As hungry wolues dothe the lambe innocēt where was your pyte o people mercylesse Armyng your self with falsheed and treason On my lord ye haue shewed your woodnesse Lyke no men but beestes without reason Your malyce he suffred all for the season Your payne wol come thynke it nat to slacke Man without mercy of mercy shall lacke O ye traytours mayntayners of madnesse Vnto your folly I ascribe all my payne Ye haue me depriued of ioye and gladnesse So dealyng with my lorde and souerayne Nothyng shulde I nede thus to complayne If he had lyued in peace and tranquillyte whom ye haue slayne through your iniquite Farwel your noblenesse y t sōtyme dyd rayne Farewel your worshyp glorie and fame Here after to lyue in hate and disdayne Maruayle ye nat for your trespas blame Vnto shame is turned all your good name Vpon you nowe woll wonder euery nacion As people of most vyle reputacion These wycked wretches these hoūdes of hel As I haue tolde playne here in this sentence were nat content my dere loue thus to quell But yet they muste embesyle his presence As I perceyue by couert vyolence They haue him conueyed to my displesure For here is lafte but naked sepulture Wherfore of truthe and rightfull iugement That their malyce agayne may be acquyted After my verdyte and auysement Of false murder they shall be endyted Of thefte also whiche shall nat be respyted And in all haste they shal be hanged drawe I woll my selfe plede this cause in the lawe Alas yf I with true attendaunce Had styll abydden with my lordes corse And kept it styll wyth trewe perceueraunce Than had nat befall thys wofull deuorse But as for my payne welcome and no force This shall be my songe where so euer I go Departyng is grounde of all my wo I se right wel nowe in my paynes smerte There is no wounde of so greuous dolour As is the wounde of my carefull herte Sythe I haue loste thus my paramour All swetnesse is tourned in to sour Myrthe to my herte nothyng may conuey But he that beareth therof bothe locke key The ioye excellent of blyssed paradyse Maye me alas in no wyse recomforte Songe of angell nothyng may me suffyse As in myne herte nowe to make disporte All I refuse but that I might resorte Vnto my loue the well of goodlyheed For whose longyng I trowe I shal be deed Of paynfull labour and tourment corporall I make therof none exceptioun Paynes of hell I woll passe ouer all My loue to fynde in myne affectioun So great to him is my dilectatioun A thousande tymes martred wolde I be His blyssed body ones yf I might se About this worlde so large in all compace I shall nat spare to renne my lyfe duryng My fete also shall nat rest in one place Tyll of my loue I may here some tidyng For whose absence my hādes now I wryng To thinke on him cease shal neuer my mynd O gentyll Iesu where shall I the fynde Ierusalem wol I sertche place fro place Syon the vale of Iosophath also And yf I fynde hym nat in all this space By mount Olyuet to Bethany woll I go These wayes woll I wander and many mo Nazareth Bethleem Mountana Iude No traueyle shall me payne hym for to se His blyssed face yf I might se and fynde Sertche I wolde euery coste and countrey The fardest parte of Egipt or hote Inde Shulde be to me but a lytell iourney Howe is he thus gone or taken away Yf I knewe the full trouthe and certente Yet from this care released might I be In to wyldernesse I thynke best to go Sith I can no more tidynges of him here There may I my lyfe lede to and fro There may I dwell and to no man appere To towne ne vyllage woll I come nere Alone in woodes in rockes in caues depe I may at myne own wil both wayle wepe Myne
they the kepe Vnto thyne herte leste her wordes crepe In his boke where I take my most grounde And in hys prouerbes sage Solomon Telleth a tale whych is playnly founde In the fyfth chapiter wheder in dede don Or mekely feyned to our instruction Let clerkes determyne but thus I am sure Much lyke thyng I haue had in vre At my wyndowe sayth he I loked out Fayre yonge people where I sawe many Amonge hem all as I loked about To a yonge man fortuned I lent myne eye Estraunged from his mynde it was lykely By y e strete at a corner nygh his owne hous He went about wyth eye ryght curyous whaÌ„ that the day his lyght gan wythdrawe And the nyght approched in the twynlyght Howe a woman came and met him I sawe Talkyng with him vnder shade of the night Nowe blyssed be god ê™ she of his myght whych hath fulfylled myne hertes desyre Aslaked my paines which were hote as fire And yet myne auctour as it is skyl To folowe I must tel her arayment She was ful nyce soules lyke to spyl As nyce in countenaunce yet as in garment For ianglyng she was of rest impacient wandryng styl in no place she stode But restlesse nowe and nowe out she yode Nowe in the house nowe in the strete Nowe at a corner she stondeth in awayte Incessauntly besy her praye for to gete To brynge to the lure whom she dothe layte Now where I left vnto my mater strayte I wol turne agayne howe she hym mette Swetely kyssed and frendly hym grette With wordes of curtesy many and diuerse Ryght as in parte I haue before tolde Nowe as I can I purpose to reherse How she flateryng sayd wyth vysage bolde I haue made vowes offringes manifolde For thy sake O myne hert O my loue dere This day I thaÌ„ke god al perfourmed were Therfore I came out and made thus astert Very desyrous your welfare to se Now I haue sene you pleased is myne hert In fayth shall none haue my loue but ye As trewe as I am to you be to me I praye you hertely dere herte come home No man shulde be to me so welcome And in good fayth the soth for to say Your comynge to me ranne in my thought Harke in your care my bed freshe and gay I haue behanged w t tapettes newe bought FroÌ„ Egypt from ferre countrees brought Steyned wyth many a lusty freshe hue Excedyng golde or Iasper in value My chaÌ„bre is strowed with myrre ensence with sote sauoring aloes with synamome Breathyng an aromatyke redolence Surmountyng olybane in any mans dome Ye shall betwene my brestes rest yf ye come Let vs haue our desyred halsyng For we maye safe be tyl in the mornyng Myne husbonde is not at home he is went Forth in hys iourney a ferre way hence A bagge with money he hath w t him hent As hym thought nedeful for hys expence Vnto my worde gyue fayth and credence Nowe is the mone yonge of syght dulle Er he come home it woll be at the fulle Thus craftely hath she hym besette wyth her lyme roddes panter and snare The sely soule caught in her nette Of her sugeed mouth alas nothyng ware Thus is he lefte gracelesse and bare Of helpe comforte and goostly socour And furthermore as sayth myne auctour As a beest ledde to hys deth doth pant Thys yonge man foloweth her in y e stouÌ„de And as a wanton lambe ful ignorant Howe he is pulled and drawen to be bouÌ„de Vnto the tyme he hath his dethes wounde And lyke a byrde that hasteth to the grynne Not knowyng the peryll of his lyfe therin Now gentle soÌ„ne saith Salomon take hede My wordes in thy brest kepe and make fast Let her not thy minde in her wayes mislede Be not disceyued lese not thy tast Many hath she wouÌ„ded many downe cast Many stronge by her hath lost theyr breth Her wayes wayes of hel leadyng to deth And in thys lytle naration precident The womans manyfolde gylt I attende The yonge man alas howe she hath shent Disceyued her husbaÌ„de her owne next freÌ„de In these both her God she doth offende To breke her spousayle to her is of no weiÈt furdermore to shew womans craft sleight A woman at her dore sate on a stal To se folkes passe by stretes of the cite wyth eye countenaunce eke she gan cal If there be any prety one come nere to me Come hyther ye pygges nye ye lytlel abe At last she sayd to a yonge man hertelâ—sse Of her disceyte vnware and defencelesse Much swetter she sayth more acceptable Is drynke whan it is stolen priuely Than whaÌ„ it is taken in fourme auowable Breed hyd and gotten ieoperdously Must nedes be swete and semblably Venyson stolne is aye the swetter The ferther the narower fette the better And whoÌ„ thys womaÌ„ sayth SolomoÌ„ festes The yong maÌ„ woteth not whoÌ„ she doth fede Of the derke depenesse of hel bene her gestes Beware yonge man therfore I the rede And howe be it chefely for thy good spede This werke to coÌ„pile I haue take in charge I must of pyte my charyte enlarge wyth the sely man which is thus begyled Her husband I meane I wol wepe wayle His payneful infortune wherby reuyled Causelesse he is neuer to conuayle Euery man yonge olde wyl hym assayle with wordes of occasyon with y e loth name And alas good soule he nothynge to blame But she that coude so yl do and wolde Hers be the blame for her demeryte And leaue that opprobrous name cokolde To apropre to hym as in dispyte Ransake yet we wolde yf we myght Of thys worde the trewe ortography The very discent and ethymology The wel and grounde of the fyrst enuention To knowe the ortography we must deryue whych is coke and colde in composicion By reason as nyghe as I can contryue Than howe it is written we knowe belyue But yet lo by what reason and grounde was it of these two wordes compounde As of one cause to gyue very iugement Themylogy let vs fyrst beholde Eche letter an hole worde doth represent As C put for colde and O for olde K is for knaue thus diuers men holde The fyrst part of thys name we haue fouÌ„de Let vs ethymologyse the secounde As the fyrst fynder mente I am sure C for calot for of we haue O L for leude D for demeanure The crafte of the inuentour ye may se lo Howe one name signifyeth persons two A colde olde knaue cokolde him selfe wening And eke a calot of leude demeanyng The seconde cause of thymposycion Of thys forsayde name was ielousye To be ielouse is greatest occasyon To be cokolde that men can aspye And though the passyon be very fyrye And of coutynuel feruence and hete The pacient aye suffreth colde on hys fete And who that is ielous and aye in a drede Is ful of melancoly and gally yre Hys wyues nose yf she misse trede He wolde cutte of
warres made wher be they now bethinke wel in thy mood The day is gone the nyght is derke fade Hir cruelte whych made hem then glade They soroweÌ„ now yet haue nauÈt y e more The blode is shad whych no maÌ„ may restore The warre is mother of the wronges all It sleeth the preest in holy church at masse Forlyth the mayde doth her flour to fall The warre maketh the great cyte lasse And doth the lawe hys rules ouerpasse Ther is nothiÌ„g wherof myschefe may grow whych is not caused of the warre I trowe The warre bringeth in pouerte at hys heles wherof the coÌ„men people is sore greued The warre hath set his cart on thylk wheles where that fortune may not be beleued For when men wene best to haue acheued Full ofte it is all newe to begyn The warre hath nothyng syker tho he wyn For thy my worthy prince in Christes halue As for aparte whose faith thou hast be gyde Ley to this olde sore a newe salue And do the warre away what so betyde Purchace peace and set it by thy syde And suffre not thy people be deuoured So shal thy name euer after staÌ„de honoured Yf any man be nowe or euer was Ayen the peace thy preuy counsaylour Let god be of thy counsayle in thys caas And put away the cruel warryour For god whych is of man the creatour He wolde not men slough hys creature wythout cause of deedly forfayture where nedeth most behoueth most to lokâ— My lorde howe so thy warres be wythout Of tyme passed who that hede toke Good were at home to se ryght wel about For euermore the worst is for to doute But yf thou myghtest parfyte peace attayne There shulde be no cause for to playne About a kyng good counsayle is to preyse Aboue al other thynges moste vaylable But yet a kynge wythin hym selfe shal peyse And sene the thynges that be resonable And thervpon he shall hys wyttes stable Amonge the men to sette peace in euen For loue of hym whych is the kyng of heuen A well is hym that shedde neuer blode But yf it were in cause of ryghtwysenesse For yf a kyng the peryl vnderstode what is to slee the people then I gesse The deedly warres and the heuynesse wherof peace dystourbed is full ofte Shulde at some tyme cesse and wexe softe O kyng fulfylled of grace and knyghthode Remembre vpoÌ„ this poynt for Christes sake Yf peace be profered vnto thy manhode Thyne honour saue let it not be forsake Though y u the warres darste wel vndertake After reason yet temper thy courage For lyke to peace there is none auauntage My worthy lorde thynke well how so befall Of thylke lore as holy bokes sayne Christ is the heed and we be membres all As well the subiecte as the souerayne So syt it wel that charite be playne whych vnto god hym selfe moste accordeth So as the lore of Christes worde recordeth In tholde lawe or Christ him selfe was bore Amonge the .x. coÌ„maundementes I rede Howe that manslaughter shulde be forbore Suche was the wyl that tyme of y e godhede But afterward wheÌ„ Christ toke hys maÌ„hede Peace was the fyrst thynge he let do crye Ayenst the worldes rancour and enuy And or Christ went out of thys erth here And slyghed to heuen he made hys testameÌ„t where he bequath to hys dyscyples there And yaue hys peace which is the fouÌ„demeÌ„t Of charite wythout whose assent The worldes peace may neuer wel be tryed Ne loue kepte ne lawe iustifyed The iewes wyth y e paynyms hadden werre But they amoÌ„ge hem self stode euer in peace why shulde then our peace stande out of erre which christ hath those to his owne encrese For Christ is more then was Moses And Christ hath set the parfyte of the lawe The whych shuld in no wyse be wythdrawe To yeue vs peace was cause why christ dyde wythout peace may nothynge staÌ„de auayled But nowe a man may se on euery syde Howe Christes fayth is euery daye assayled wyth the paynems destroyed so batayled That for defaute of helpe and of defence Vnneth hath Christ hys due reuerence The ryght fayth to kepe of holy churche The fyrst poynt is named of knyghthode And euery man is holde for to wurche Vpon the poynt that stante to hys manhode But nowe alas the fame is spred so brode That euery man thys thynge complayneth And yet is there no maÌ„ that helpe ordayneth The worldes cause is wayted ouer all There be the warres redy to the full But Christes owne cause in speciall There ben the swerdes and the speres dull And wyth the sentence of the popes bul As for to done the folke payne obey The churche is turned all another wey It is wonder aboue any mannes wyt wout warre howe Christes fayth was won And we that be vpon thys erth yet Ne kepe it not as it was fyrst begon To euery creature vnder the sonne Christ badde hym selfe that we shulde preche And to the folke hys Euangely teche More lyght it is to kepe then to make But that we founden made to fore honde we kepe not but lette it lyghtly slake That peace of christ hath all to broke his boÌ„de we rest our selfe and suffren euery londe To slee eche other as thyng vndefended So stant the warre peace is not amended But though the heed of holy church aboue Ne do not al hys hole busynesse Amonge the people to set peace and loue These kynges oughten of her rightwysnesse Her owne cause amonge hem selfe redresse Tho Peters shyp as now hath loste his stere It lyeth in hem the barge for to stere Yf holy churche after the dewte Of Christes worde ne be not all auysed To make peace accorde and vnite Amonge the kynges that be nowe deuysed Yet natheles the lawe stante assysed Of mannes wytte to be so resonable wythout that to stande hym selfe stable Of holy church we ben chyldren all And euery chylde is holde for to bowe Vnto the mother howe that euer it fall Or els he muste reason dysalowe And for that cause a knyght shal first auowe The ryght of holy church to defende That no man shal the priuylege offende Thus were it good to sette al in euen The worldes princes and the prelates both For loue of hym which is the kynge of heuen And yf men shuld algate waxen wrothe The Sarazins whych vnto Christ ben loth Let men be armed ayenst hem to fyght So may the knyght hys dede of armes right VpoÌ„ thre pointes staÌ„t Christes peace oppressed Fyrst holy church in her selfe deuyded whych ought of reason fyrst to be redressed But yet so hygh a cause is not desyded And thus when humble pacience is pryded The remnaunt whych that they shulde rule No wonder is though it stande out of rule Of that the heed is syck the lymmes aken These reignes that to Christes peace beloÌ„geÌ„ For worldes good these deedly warres makeÌ„ whych helplesse as in
balaunce hongen The heed aboue hem hath not vnderfongen To sette peace but euery man sleeth other And in thys wyse hath charite no brother The two defautes bryngen in the thyrde Of myscreauntes that sene howe we debate Betwene the two they fallen in amydde where nowe al daye they fynde an open gate Lo thus the deedly werre slante algate But euer I hope of kynge Henries grace That he it is whych shal the peace embrace My worthy noble prynce and kynge anoynt whome god hath of hys grace so preserued Beholde and se the worlde vpon this poynt As for thy part that Christes peace be serued So shal thy hygh mede be deserued To hym whych all shall quyte at laste For thys lyfe here may no whyle laste Se Alexander Hector and Iulius Se Machabeus Dauid and Iosue Se Charlemayne Godfray and Arthus Fulfylled of warre and of mortalite Her fame abytte but all is but vanite For deth whych hath the warres vnder fote Hath made an ende of whych ther is no bote So many a maÌ„ the soth wete and knowe That peace is good for euery kynge to haue The fortune of the warre is euer vnknowe But where peace is ther is the marches saue That nowe is vp to morow is vnder graue The myghtye god hath all grace in hande wythout hym men may not longe stande Of the tennes to wynne or lese a chace May no lyfe wete or that the bal be ronne Al stant in god what thing meÌ„ shal purchace Th ende is in hym or that it be begonne Men sayne the wolle when it is well sponne Doth that the cloth is stronge profytable And els it maye neuer be durable The worldes chaunces vpon auenture Ben euer sette but thylke chaunce of pees Is so behouely to the creature That is aboue al other peerles But it may not beget natheles Amonge the men to laste any whyle But where the herte is playne without gyle The peace is as it were a sacrament Tofore the god shall wyth wordes playne wythout any double entendement Be treated for the trouth can not fayne But yf the men wythin hem selfe ben vayne The substauÌ„ce of the peace may not be â—rewâ— But euery day it chaungeth vpon newe But who that is of charite parfyte He voydeth al sleyghtes ferre awaye And sette hys worde vpon the same plyte where that his hert hath fouÌ„de a syker waye And thus when conscience is trewly waye And that these ben handled wyth the wyâ—e It shall abyde and stande in all wyfe The Apostle sayth ther may no lyfe be good whych is not grounded vpon charite For charite ne shedde neuer blood So hath the warre as there no properte For thylke vertue whych is sayd pyte wyth charite so ferforth is acquaynted That in her may no false seÌ„blant be paynted Cassodore whose wrytynge is authorised Sayth where that pyte reygneth is grace Thrugh whych y e peace hath al his welth assysed So y t of warre he dredeth no manace where pyte dwelleth in the same place There maye no deedly cruelte soiourne wherof that mercy shulde hys way tourne To se what pyte forth wyth mercy doth The cronique is at Rome in thylke empyre Of Constantyne whych is a tale sothe when hym was lyuer hys owne deth desyre Then do the yonge chyldren to martyre Of crueltie he lefte the quarele Pyte he wrought and pyte was hys hele For thylke mannes pyte whych he dede God was pytous and made hym hole at all Syluester came and in the same stede Yaue hym baptyme fyrst in special whych dyd awaye the synne origynall And all hys lepre it hath so purifyed That hys pyte for euer is magnifyed Pyte was cause why thys Emperour was hole in body and in soule bothe And Rome also was sette in thylke honour Of Christes fayth so that the leue of loth whych hadden be wyth Christ tofore wroth Receyued were vnto Christes lore Thus shall pyte be praysed euermore My worthy liege lorde Henry by name whych Englande haste to gouerne ryght Men ought well thy pyte to proclame whych openlyche in all the worldes syght Is shewed wyth the helpe of god almyght To yeue vs peace which loÌ„g hath be debated wherof thy pryse shal neuer be abated My lorde in whom hath euer yet be founde Pyte wythout spotte of violence Kepe thylke peace alwaye wythin bounde whych god hath planted in thy conscience So shall the cronyque of thy pacience Amonge the sayntes be taken into memorye To the legende of perdurable glorye And to thyne e rt hely pryse so as I can whych euery man is holde to coÌ„mende I Gower whych am all thy liege man Thys letter vnto thyne excellence I sende As I whych euer vnto my lyues ende woll pray for the state of thy persone In worshyppe of thy sceptre and thy throne Not onely to my kynge of peace I wryte But to these other prynces christen all That eche of hem hys owne herte endyte And sese the warre or more myschefe fall Sette eke the ryghtful puppe vpon hys stall Kepe charite and drawe pyte to hande Mainteyn lawe and so the pence shal stande Explicit carmeÌ„ de pacis coÌ„meÌ„datione quod ad laudem et memoriaÌ„ serenissimi principis domini regis Henrici Quarti suns humilis orator Iohannes Gower composuit Electus Christi pie rex Henrice fuisti Qui bene venisti cum propria regna petisti Tu mala vicistique bonis bona restituisti Et populo tristi noua gaudia contribuisti Est mihi spes lata qd adhuc per te renouata Succedent fata veteri probitate beata Est tibi nam grata gratia sponte data Henrici quarti primus regni fuit annus Quo mihi defecit bisus ad acta mea Oia teÌ„pus habent finem natura ministrat Quem virtute sua frangere nemo potest Vltra posse nihil quaÌ„uis mihi velle remansit Amplius vt seribam non mihi posse manet Du potui scripsi sed nuÌ„c quia curua senectus Turbauit sensus scripta relinquo scolis Scribat qui veniet post me discretior alter Ammodo namque manus er mea penna silent Hoc tamen in fine verborum queso meorum Prospera quod statuat regna futura deus Explicit Of the Cuckow the nightyngale THe god of loue ah benedicite How myghty and howe great a lorde is he For he can make of lowe hertes hye And of hye lowe lyke for to dye And harde hertes he can maken free He can make within a lytle stounde Desycke â—â—lke hole fresh and sounde And of hole he can make seke He can byndâ— and vnbynden eke That he woâ— haue bounden or vnbounde To tel his myght my wyt may not suffyse For he can make of wyse folke ful nyce For he may do al that he wol deuyce And lythy folke to destroyen vyce And proude hertes he can make agryse Shortly all that euer he wol he may
my conclusyon To clerkes let I al thys dysputacion And wolde God that al these rockes blake were sonken in to hel for hys sake These rockes slee myne herte for feare Thus wolde she say w t many a pytous teare Her frendes sawe it was for her no dysport To romen by the see but dyscomfort And shapen hem to playen somwhere elles They leden her by ryuers and by welles And eke in other places delytables They dauncen and they playen at the tables So on a daye ryght in the morowe tyde Vnto a gardeyne that was there besyde In which that they had made her ordinauÌ„ce Of vytayles and other purueyaunce They gone and playen hem al the longe day And thys was in the syxte morowe of May which May hath paited w t his softe shoures Thys gardayne ful of leues and of floures And crafte of mannes hande so curiously Arayed had thys garden truely That neuer nas there garden of such pryse But yf it were the very paradyse The odour of floures and the freshe syght wolde haue made any herte lyght That euer was borne but yf to gret sicknesse Or to great sorowe helde it in dystresse So was it ful of beautye wyth pleasaunce And after dyner gone they daunce And synge also saue Dorigene alone That yet vnto her selfe made her mone For she ne sey hym on the daunce go That was her husbande and her loue also But nathelasse she muste her tyme abyde And wyth good hope let her sorowe slyde ¶ Vpon thys daunce amonge other men Daunced a squyer before Dorigen That fresher was and iolyer of aray As to my dome then is the moneth of May He syngeth daunseth passynge euery man That is or was sythen the worlde began And therwythal men shulde hym dyscriue One of the best farynge men on lyue Yonge stronge vertuouse ryche and wyse And welbeloued and holden of great pryse And shortly yf I the soth tel shal Vnwetynge of thys Dorigene at al Thys lusty squyer seruaunt to Venus whych yclypped was Aurelius Had loued her beste of any creature Two yere and more as was hys auenture But neuer durst he tel her hys greuaunce wythouten cuppe he dronke al hys penaunce He was dyspayred nothynge durst he say Saue in hys soÌ„ges somwhat wold he wray Hys wo as in general complayninge He said he loued and was beloued nothinge Of whych matter made he many layes Songes complayntes roundels verilayes Howe that he durste not hys sorowe tel But languyshe as doth a fury in hel And dye he muste he sayd as dyd Ecco For Narcissus that durst not tel hys wo ¶ In other maner then ye herde me say Ne durst not he to her hys wo bewray Saue perauenture somtyme at daunces There yonge folke kepen her obseruaunces It maye wel be he loked on her face In suche a wyse as men that asken grace But nothynge wyst she of hys entent Nathelesse it happed er they thence went Bycause that he was her neyghbour And was a man of worshyppe and honour And had knowen hym of tymes yore They fel in speche so forth more more Vnto hys purpose then drowe Aurelius And when he sawe hys tyme he sayd thus ¶ Madame ê™ he by god y t this world made So y t I wyste y t I myght your herte glade I wolde that day that your Aruyragus went ouer the see that I Aurelius Had went ther y t I shuld neuer come agayne For wel I wote my seruyce is in vayne My guerdon nys but bresting of myne herte Madame rueth vpon my paynes smerte For with one worde ye may me slee or saue Here at your foote god wold y t I were graue I ne haue as nowe no leyser more to sey Haue mercy swete or ye wol do me dey ¶ She gan to loke vpon Aurelius Is thys your wyl ê™ she and saye ye thus Neuer erste ê™ she ne wyst I what ye mente But nowe I knowe Aurelius your entente By thylke god that yaue me soule and lyfe Ne shal I neuer be vntrewe wyfe In word ne iÌ„ wâ—rke as ferre as I haue wyt I wol be hys to whom I am knyt Take thys for a fynal answere of me But after thys in play thus sayd she ¶ Aurelius ê™ she by god aboue Yet wol I graunt you to ben your loue Sythen I se you so pytously complayne Loke what daye that endelonge Britayne Ye remeue al the rockes stone by stone That they ne let shyppe ne bote to gone I say wheÌ„ ye haue made these costes so clene Of rockes that there nys no stone ysene Then wol I loue you best of any man Herâ— haue my trouth in al that euer I can Is there none other grace in you ê™ he ¶ No by that lorde ê™ she that maked me For wel I wote that it shal neuer betyde Let suche foly out of your herte glyde what deyntye shulde a man haue in hys lyfe For to go loue another mannes wyfe That hath her body wheÌ„ so that hym lyketh ¶ Aurelius ful ofte sore syketh Wo was Aurely when he thys herde And w t a sorowful chere he thus answerde ¶ Madame ê™ he thys were impossible Then mote I dye on sodayne death horrible And wyth that worde he turned hym anone ¶ Tho come her other frendes euerychone And in the aleyes romeden vp and doun And nothynge wyst of thys conclusioun But sodeynly began to reuel newe Tyl that the bryght sonne loste hys hewe For the orizont hath reâ—te the sonne his light Thys is as much to saye as it was nyght And home they gone in ioye and in solas Saue onely wretched Aurelius alas He to hys house is gone with sorowful harte He sayd he myght not from hys death astarte Hym semed that he felte hys herte colde Vp to heuen hys handes gan he holde And on hys knees bare he set hym adoun And in hys rauynge sayd thys orisoun For very wo out of hys wytte he brayde He ne wyst what he spake but thus he sayde with pitous hert hath his coÌ„playnt begonne Vnto the goddes and fyrst vnto the sonne He sayd God Appollo and gouernour Of euery plante herbe tre and flour That yeuest after thy declinacion To ylke of hem hys tyme and ceson As thyne herberowe chaungeth lowe hye Lorde Phebus caste thy merciable eye On wretched Aurelius whych am but lorne Lo lorde my lady hath my death ysworne wythout gylte but thy benignite Vpon my deadly herte haue some pyte For wel I wote lorde Phebus yf ye leste Ye maye me helpe saue my lady beste Nowe vouche ye saue that I you deuyse Howe that I may be holpen in what wyse ¶ Your blysful suster Lucina the shene That of the see is goddesse and quene Though Neptunus hath deite in the see Yet empresse abouen hym is she Ye knowen wel lorde ryght as her desyre Is to be quyckened and lyghted of your fyre For whych that she foloweth you