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
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
So cruel wende I not your herte ywys To slee me thus alas your name of trouthe Is nowe fordon and that is al my routhe was there none other broche you lyste lete To feffe wyth your newe loue quod he But thylke broche that I wyth teeres wete You yaue as for a remembraunce of me None other cause alas ne had ye But for dispyte and eke for that ye mente Al vtterly to shewen your entent Through which I se that clene out of your minde Ye haue me cast I ne can nor may For al this worlde within mine herte fynde To vnlonen you a quarter of a daye In cursed tyme I borne was welaway That you that done me al thys wo endure Yet loue I best of any creature Nowe god ê™ he me sende yet the grace That I may meten with this Diomede And trewly yf I haue myght and space Yet shal I make I hope his sydes blede Nowe god ê™ he that oughtest taken hede To forthren trouth and wronges to punice why nylt thou don a vengeauÌ„ce of thys vice O Pandarus that in dremes for to tryst Me blamed hast wont arte ofte vpbreyde Now mayst thou sene thy selfe yf that y e lyst How trew is now thy nece bryght Creseyde In sondry formes god it wote he seyde The goddes shewen both ioye and tene In slepe and by my dreame it is nowe sene And certaynly withouten more speche From hence forth as ferforth as I may Myne owne deth in armes wol I seche I retche nat howe soone be the daye But trewly Creseyde swete maye whom I haue with al my might yserued That ye thus done I haue it not deserued This PaÌ„darus that al these thynges herde And wyste wel he sayd as soth of this He not a worde ayen to hym answerde For sory of his frendes sorowe he is And shamed for his nece hath done amys And stante astonyed of these causes tway As styl as stone o worde ne coulde he say But at the laste thus he spake and seyde My brother dere I may do the no more what shuld I sayne I hate ywys Creseyde And god it wote I wol hate her euermore And that thou me besoughtest done of yore Hauyng vnto myne honour ne my reste Ryght no regarde I dyd al that the leste If I dyd aught that myght lyken the It is me lefe and of this treason nowe God wote that it a sorowe is to me And dredelesse for hertes ease of you Ryght fayne I wold amend it wyst I how And fro this worlde almyghty god I pray Delyuer her soone I can no more say Great was the sorow playnt of Troylus But forthe her course fortune aye gan holde Creseyde loueth the sonne of Tydeus And Troylus mote wepe in cares colde Such is this worlde who so it can beholde In eche estate is lytle hertes reste God leue vs to take it for the beste In many cruel batayle out of drede Of Troylus thys ylke noble knyght As men may in these olde bokes rede was sene hys knygthod his great might And dredelesse hys yre day and nyght Ful cruelly the grekes aye abought and alway most this Diomede he sought And ofte tyme I fynde that they mette with bloody strokes with wordes greate Assayeng howe her speares weren whette And god it wote wyth many a cruel heate Gan Troylus vpon his helme to beate But nathlesse fortune it nought ne wolde Of outher hande that eyther dyen shulde And yf I had ytaken for to write The armes of this ylke worthy man Than wolde I of his battaylles endyte And for that I to writen fyrst began Of hys loue I haue sayd as I can Hys worthy dedes who so hem lyste here Rede Dares he can tel hem al yfere Besechyng euery lady bryght of hewe And euery gentle woman what she be Al be it that Creseyde was vntrewe That for that gylt ye be nat wroth with me Ye may her gylt in other bokes se And gladder I wol write yf you lest Penelopes trouth and good Alcest Ne I say not thys al only for these men But moste for women that betrayed be ThrouÈ false folke god yeue heÌ„ sorow ameÌ„ That wyth her great wyt and subtylte Betrayen you and thys meneth me To speke and in effecte you al I pray Beth ware of men herkeneth what I say Go lytle boke go my lytel tragedy There god thy maker yet er that I dye So sende me might to make some comedye But lytle boke make thou none enuye But subiecte ben vnto al poesye And kysse the steppes wher as y u seest pace Of Vergil Ouide Homer Lucan Stace And for there is so great diuyrsite In englyshe and in writyng of our tonge So pray I to god that none miswrite the Ne the mysse metre for defaute of tonge And redde where so thou be or els songe That thou be vnderstonde god I beseche But yet to purpose of my rather speche The wrath as I began you for to sey Of Troylus the grekes boughten dere For thousandes hys handes maden dey As he that was wothouten any pere Saue in hys tyme Hector as I can here But welaway saue onely goddes wyl Dispytously him slough the feirse Achyl And whaÌ„ that he was slaine in this manere His lyght goste ful blisfully is went Vp to the holownesse of the seuenth spere In hys place letyng eueryche element And there he sawe wyth ful auysement The arratykes sterres herkenyng armonye wyth sownes ful of heuenysse melodye And downe from thence faste he gan auyse This lytle spotte of erth that wyth the see Enbraced is and fully gan dispise Thys wretched worlde and helde al vanite To respecte of the playne felicite That is in heuen aboue and at the last Ther he was slayn his loking down he cast And in him selfe he lough ryght at the wo Of hem that wepten for hys â—erh so fast And dampned al our werkes y t foloweth so The blynde lust whych that maye nat last And shulden al our herte on heuen cast And forth he went shortly for to tel There as Mercurie sorted him to dwel Such fyne hathe lo this Troylus for loue Such fyne hath al his greate worthynesse Such fyne hath hys estate royal aboue such fine his lust such fyne hath his noblesse Such fyne hath false worldes brotelnesse And thus began his louyng of Creseyde As I haue tolde and in thys wyse he deyde O yonge freshe folkes he or she In which y e loue vp groweth with your age Repayreth home from worldly vanite And of your hertes vp casteth the visage To thylke god that after his ymage You made and thynketh all nys but a fayre This world y t passeth sone as floures fayre And loueth him y t which that right for loue Vpon a crosse our soules for to bey Fyrst starfe rose and syt in heuen aboue For he nyl falsen no wyght dare I sey That wol his herte al
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
hert that wol depart Eueryche shal haue but lytel parte But of hym drede I me right nought That in one place setteth his thought Therfore in o place it sette And lette it neuer thens flette For if thou yeuest it in lenyng I holde it but a wreched thyng Therfore yeue it hole and quyte And thou shalt haue the more meryte If it be lent than after soone The bounte and the thanke is done But in Loue free yeuen thyng Requireth a great guerdonyng yeue it in yeft al quyte fully And make thy gyfte debonairly For men that yefte holde more dere That yeuen is wyth gladsome chere That gyfte nought to praysen is That man yeueth maugre his whan thou haste yenen thyne hert as I Haue sayd the here openly Than auentures shall the fall whych harde and heuy bene wyth all For oft whan thou bethynkest the Of thy louynge where so thou be From folke thou must depart in hye That none perceyue thy malady But hyde thyne harme thou must alone And go forth sole and make thy mone Thou shalt no whyle be in o state But whylom colde and whylom hate Nowe reed as Rose now yelowe and fade Such sorowe I trowe thou neuer hade Cotidien ne quarteyne It is nat so full of peyne For often tymes it shall fall In loue amonge thy paynes all That thou thy selfe al holy Foryeten shalt so vtterly That many tymes thou shalt be Styl as an ymage of tree Dome as a stone wythout steryng Of fote or hande wythout spekyng Than sone after al thy payne To memorye shalt thou come agayne A man abashed wonder sore And after syghen more and more For wytte thou wele wythouten wene In such estate ful ofte haue I bene That haue the yuel of loue assayde wher through thou arte so dismayde AFter a thought shal take the so That thy loue is to ferre the fro Thou shalte saye God what maye thys be That I ne may my lady se Myne hert alone is to her go And I abyde al sole in wo Departed fro myne owne thought And wyth myne eyen se ryght nought Alas myne eyen sene I ne may My carefull hert to conuay Myne hertes gyde but they be I prayse nothyng what euer they se Shulde they abyde than nay But gone and visiten wythout delay That myne herte desyreth so For certaynly but yf they go A foole my selfe I may wel holde whan I ne se what myne hert wolde wherfore I wol gone her to sene Or eased shal I neuer bene But I haue some tokenyng Than gost thou forth wythout dwelling But oft thou faylest of thy desyre Er thou mayst come her any nere And wastest in vayne thy passage Than fallest thou in a newe rage For want of syght thou gynnest mourne And homewarde pensyfe thou dost returne In greate mischefe than shalt thou be For than agayne shall come to the Syghes and playntes wyth newe wo That no itchynge prycketh so who wote it nought he may go lere Of hem that byen loue so dere No thyng thyne herte appesen maye That ofte thou wolt gone and assaye If thou mayst sene by auenture Thy lyues ioye thyne hertes cure So that by grace yf thou myght Attayne of her to haue a syght Than shalt thou done none other dede But wyth that syght thyne eyen fede That fayre freshe whan thou mayst se Thyne herte shal so rauyshed be That neuer thou woldeste thy thankes lete Ne remoue for to se that swete The more thou seest in sothfastnesse The more thou couytest of that swetnesse The more thyne hert brenneth in fyre The more thyne hert is in desyre For who consydreth euerydele It may be lykened wonder wele The payne of loue vnto a fere For euermore thou neyghest nere Thought or who so that it be For very soth I tel it the The hotter euer shalt thou brenne As experience shal the kenne where so comest in any coste who is next fyre he brenneth moste And yet forsoth for al thyne hete Thoughe thou for loue swelte and swete Ne for no thynge thou felen maye Thou shalt not wyllen to passe awaye And though thou go yet must the nede Thynke al day on her fayre hede whom thou behelde wyth so good wyll And holde thy selfe begyled yll That thou ne haddest none hardyment To shewe her ought of thyne entent Thyne hert full sore thou wolte dispise And eke repreue of cowardyse That thou so dull in euery thyng were dome for drede wythout spekyng Thou shalt eke thynke thou dydest folye That thou were her so fast bye And durst not auntre the to say Some thyng er thou come away For thou haddeste no more wonne To speke of her whan thou begonne But yet she wolde for thy sake In armes goodly the haue take It shuld haue bene more worth to the Than of treasour great plente Thus shalte thou mourne eke cōplayne And get encheson to gone agayne Vnto thy walke or to thy place where thou behelde her fleshely face And neuer for false suspection Thou woldost fynde occasion For thou gone vnto her house So arte thou than desyrouse A syght of her for to haue If thou thyne honour myghtest saue Or any erande myghtest make Thyder for thy loues sake Ful fayne thou woldest but for drede Thou goest not leest that men take hede wherfore I rede in thy goyng And also in thyne agayne commyng Thou be wel ware that men ne wyt Feyne the other cause than it To go that waye or fast bye To heale wel is no folye And yf so be it happe the That thou thy loue there mayst se In seker wyse thou her salewe wherwyth thy colour wol transmewe And eke thy bloude shall all to quake Thy hewe eke chaungen for her sake But worde and wytte wyth chere full pale Shal wante for to tell thy tale And yf thou mayst so ferforth wynne That thou reason durst begynne And woldest sayne thre thynges or mo Thou shalt ful scarsly sayne the two Though thou bethynke the neuer so wele Thou shalt foryete yet somdele BVt yf thou deale wyth trecherye For false louers mowe all folye Saine what the lust wtoutē drede They be so double in her falshede For they in herte can thynke o thynge And sayne another in her spekynge And whan thy speche is ended all Ryght thus to the it shall befall If any worde than come to mynde That thou to saye haste lefte behynde Than thou shalt brenne in great martyre For thou shalt brenne as any fyre Thys is the stryfe and eke the affraye And the batell that lasteth aye Thys bargayne ende maye neuer take But yf that she thy peace wyll make And whan the nyght is comen anon A thousande angres shall come apon To bedde as faste thou wolte the dyght where thou shalt haue but small delyght For whan thou wenest for to slepe So full of payne shalte thou crepe Sterte in thy bedde aboute full wyde And turne full often on euery syde
hym so bounden in a snare Al for the doughter of the kyng Admete That all hys craft ne coude hys sorowe bete Right so fare I vnhappy for me I loue one best and that me smerteth sore And yet parauenture can I reden the And nat my selfe repreue me no more I haue no cause I wot well for to sore As dothe an hauke that lysteth for to play But to thyne helpe yet somwhat can I say And of o thyng right syker mayst thou be That certayne for to dyen in the payne That I shall neuer mo discouer the Ne by my trouhe I kepe not restreyne The fro thy loue all though it were Heleyne That is thy brothers wyfe yf yche it wyste Be what she be and loue her as the lyst Therfore as frendfullyche in me assure And tell me platte what is thyn encheson And fynall cause of wo that ye endure For douteth nothyng myne entencion Nas nat to you of reprehensyon To speke as nowe for no wight may byreue A man to loue tyll that hym lyst to leue And weteth wel that both two ben vycis Mystrusten all or elles all leue But well I wot the meane of it no vyce is As for to trusten some wight is a preue Of trouth and for thy wold I fayne remeue Thy wronge coÌ„ceyte do y t som wight trust Thy wo to tell and tell me yf the lust The wyse eke sayth wo hym that is alone For and he fall he hath none helpe to ryse And sythe thou haste a felowe tell thy mone For thys nys nought certayne the next wyse To wynnen loue as techen vs the wyse To walowe and wepe as Niobe the quene whose teeres yet in marble ben ysene Let be thy wepyng and thy drerynesse And let vs lyssen wo wyth other speche So may thy wofull tyme seme lesse Delyte naught in wo thy wo to seche As don these fooles that her sorowes eche wyth sorowe whan they han misauenture And lusten nought to sechen other cure Men sayne to wretche is consolacion To haue another felawe in his payne That ought well ben our opinyon For bothe thou and I of loue playne 〈◊〉 full of sorowe am I sothe to sayne That certainly no more harde grace May syt on me for why there is no space If god woll thou art nought agast of me Lâ—ste I wolde of thy lady the begyle Thou wost thy selfe whoÌ„ that I loue parde As I best can gon sythen longe whyle And sythen thou wost I do it for no wyle And sythe I am he that thou trustest moste Crime somwhat sens al my wo thou woste ¶ Yet Troylus for al thys no word sayde But longe he lay styll as he deed were And after thys wyth sykyng he abrayde And to Pandarus voyce he lente hys eere And vp his ayen caste he and than in seere was Pandarus leste that in frenseye He shulde fall or els sone deye And said a wake ful wonderlyche sharpe what slombrest thou as in a lytargye Or arte thou lyke an asse to the harpe That hereth soun whaÌ„ men y t stringes ply But in hys mynde of that no melodye Maye synke him to gladen for that he So dull is in hys bestyalite And with this PaÌ„dare of his wordes stent But Troylus to hym no thyng answerde For why to tel was nought hys entent Neuer to no man for whom that he so ferde For it is sayd men maken ofte a yerde wyth whiche the maker is hym selfe ybeten In sondrie maner as these wyse treten And namelyche in hys counsayle tellyng That toucheth loue that ought ben â—eâ—re For of hym selfe it woll ynough out spryng But yf that it the bet gouerned be Eke somtyme it is crafte to seme slee For thyng whiche in effecte men hunteÌ„ faste All this gan Troylus in hys herte caste But nathelesse whaÌ„ he had herde him cry â–ª A wake he gan and syke wonder sore And sayd frende though that I styll lye I nam nat deefe nowe peace crye no more For I haue herde thy wordes and thy lore But suffre me my fortune to bewaylen For thy prouerbes may nought me auaylen Nor other cure canst thou none for me Eke I nyl not ben cured I woll dey what knowe I of the quene Niobe Let be thyne olde ensamples I the prey No frende ê™ Pandarus therfore I sey Suche is delyte of fooles to bewepe Her wo but seken boote they ne kepe Nowe knowe I that reson in the fayleth But tell me yf I wyste what she were For whom that the all misauenture ayleth Durste thou that I tolde it in her eere Thy wo sith thou darst not thy self for feere And her besought on the to han some routhe why nay ê™ he by God and by my trouthe What not as besily ê™ Pandarus As though myne owne lyfe lay in this nede why no parde sir ê™ thys Troylus And why for that thou shuldest neuer spede woste thou that well ye that is out of drede ê™ Troylus for al that euer ye conne She wol to no such wretche as I be wonne ê™ Pandarus alas what may this be That thou dispayred arte thus causelesse what lyueth nat thy lady benedicite Howe wost thou so that thou arte gracelesse Suche yuel is not alwaye botelesse why put nat impossible thus thy cure Sythe thyng to come is ofte in auenture I graunt wel that thou endurest wo As sharpe as dothe he Tesiphus in hel whose stomake foules tyren euer mo That hyghten vultures as bokes tell But I may not endure that thou dwell In so vnskylfull an opinyon That of thy wo nys no curacion But ones nyll thou for thy cowarde herte And for thyne ire folyshe wylfulnesse For wantrust tellen of thy sorowes smerte Ne to thyne owne helpe do besynesse As moche as speke a worde ye more or lesse But lyest as he that of lyfe nothyng retche what woman coude loue suche a wretche what may she demen other of thy dethe If thou thus dye and she not why it is But that for feare is yolden vp thy brethe For grekes han besieged vs ywis Lorde which a thaÌ„ke shalt y u haue thaÌ„ of this Thus woll she sayne all the towne atones The wretche is deed y e diuel haue his bones Thou mayst alone here wepe crye knele But loue a woman that she wote it nought And she wol quite it that thou shalte nat fele Vnknowe vnkyst and lost that is vnsought what many a man hath loue full dere abouÈt Twenty wynter that hys lady ne wyste That neuer yet hys ladys mouth he kyste what shuld he therfore fallen in dispayre Or be recreaunt for hys owne tene Or slayne hym selfe all be hys lady fayre Nay nay but euer in one be fresh and grene To serue and loue hys dere hertes quene And thynke it is a guerdone her to serue A thousande parte more than he can deserue And of that worde toke hede Troylus And thought anone what
Troylus is lorne Iwys so wolde I and I wyste howe Ful fayne ê™ she alas that I was borne Yee nece wol ye pullen out the thorne That stycketh in his herte ê™ Pandare Say al foryeue and stynt is al thys fare Yea that to me quod she ful leuer were Than al the good the sunne aboute goth And there wythal she swore him in hys eere Iwys my dere herte I am not wrothe Haue here my trouth many an other othe Nowe speke to me for it am I Creseyde but all for naught yet might he nat abreyde Therw t his ponce paumes of his handes They gan to frote wete his teÌ„ples twayn And to deliuer hym fro bytter bandes She ofte hym kyste shortly for to sayne Him to rewaken she dyd al her payne And at the last he gan his breth to drawe And of his swoune sone after that adawe And gan bet mynde and reason to hym take But wonder sore he was abashed ywys And with a sygh whan he gan bet awake He said O mercy god what thing is this why do ye wyth your seluen thus amys Quod tho Creseyde is this a mans game what Troylus woll ye do thus for shame And therwtal her arme ouer hym she sayde And al foryaue and oft tyme him keste He thonked her and to her spake and sayde As fyl to purpose for his hertes reste And she to that answerde hym as her leste And with her goodly wordes hym disporte She gan and ofte hys sorowes to comfort Quod Pandarus for aught I can espyen This light nor I ne seruen here of naught Lyght is not good for sycke folkes eyen But for the loue of god sens ye ben brought w t thus good plyte let now non heuy thouÈt Ben hangyng in the herts of you twey And bare the candel to the chymeney Soone after this though it no nede were whan she suche othes as her lyste deuyse Had of him take her thought tho no feere Ne cause eke none to byd hym thence ryse Yet lesse thyng than othes may suffyse In many a case for euery wyght I gesse That loueth wel meaneth but gentyllesse But in effecte she wolde wete anon Of what man and eke where and why He ialous was sens there was cause non And eke the signe that he toke it by She bade him that to tel her besyly Or els certayne she bare hym on honde That thys was done of malyce her to fonde wythouten more shortly for to sayne He must obey vnto thys ladyes heest And for the lasse harme he must fayne He sayd her whan she was at such a feest She myght on him haue loked at the leest Not I nat what al dere ynough a ryshe As he that nedes must a cause fyshe And she answerde swete al were it so what harme was y t sens I non yuell meane For by that god that bought vs both two In al thynge is myne entent cleene Such argumentes ne be not worth a beene wol ye the chyldyshe ialous counterfete Nowe were it worthy that ye were ybete Tho Troylus gan soroufully to syke lest she be wroth hym thouÈt hys hert deyde And sayde alas vpon my sorowes syke Haue mercy swete herte myne Creseyde And yf that in tho wordes that I seyde Be any wronge I wol no more trespace Doth what you lyst I am al in your grace And she answerde of gylte mysericorde That is to sayne that I foryeue al thys And euermore on thys nyght you recorde And bethe wel ware ye do nomore amys Nay dere herte myne ê™ he ywys And now ê™ she that I haue you do smerte For yeue it me myne owne swete herte This Troylus with blisse of that supprised Put al in goddes hande as he that mente Nothyng but wel and sodaynly auysed He her in armes faste to hym hente And Pandarus with a ful good entente Layde him to slepe and sayde yf ye be wyse Sweueneth not now lest mo folke aryse what might or may the sely larke say whan the sperhauke hath him in his fote I can no more but of these ylke tway To whom thys tale sugre be or sote Though I tarye a yere somtyme I mote After myne auctour tellen her gladnesse As wel as I haue tolde her heuynesse Creseyde which that felte her thus ytake As writen clerkes in her bokes olde Ryght as an aspen leefe she gan to quake whan she hym felte her in hys armes folde But Troylus al hole of cares colde Gan thanken tho the blysful goddes seuen through soÌ„dry paines to bring folke to heueÌ„ This Troylus in armes gan her straine And sayd swete as euer mote I gone Now be ye caught here is but we twayne Nowe yeldeth you for other boote is none To that Creseyde answerde thus anone Ne had I er nowe my swete herte dere Ben yolde ywys I were nowe nat here O soth is sayd that healed for to be As of a feuer or other great sicknesse Men must drynken as we ofte se Ful bytter drynke and for to haue gladnesse Men drynken oft payne and great distresse I meane it here by as for thys auenture that through a paine hath fouÌ„de al his cure And nowe swetnesse semeth more swete That bytternesse assayed was byforne For out of wo in blysse nowe they flete None such they felten sens they were borne Nowe is thys bet than both two be lorne For loue of god take euery woman hede To werken thus yf it come to the nede Creseyde al quite from euery drede and tene As she that iust cause had him to tryste Made him such feest it ioye was to sene whan she his trouth and cleue entent wyst And as about a tre wyth many a twyste Bytrent and writhe the swete wodbynde Can eche of hem in armes other wynde And as the newe abashed nyghtyngale that stynteth fyrst whaÌ„ she beginnneth sing whan that she hereth any heerdes tale Or in the hedges any wyght steryng And after syker doth her voice out ryng Ryght so Creseyde whan her drede stent Opened her hert and tolde him her entent And right as he y t seeth hys deth yshapen And dyen mote in aught that he may gesse And sodaynly rescous doth him escapen And from his deth is brought in sykernesse For al this worlde in such present gladnesse was Troylus and hath his lady swete wyth worse happe god let vs neuer mete Her armes smal her streyght backe soft Her sydes longe fleshly smoth and whyte He gan to stroke good thrifte bade full oft Her snowysse throte her brestes round lite Thus in thys heuen he gan him to delyte And therwithal a thousande tymes her kyst That what to done for ioye vnneth he wyst Than sayd he thus O loue O charite Thy mother eke Citheria the swete That after thy selfe next heryed be she Venus I meane the wel wylly planete And next that I meneus I the grete For neuer man was to you
which with humble true pitous hert A thousande tymes mercy I you praye So reweth on myne aspre paynes smert And doth somwhat as that I shall you say And let vs steale away betwyxt vs tway And thinke y t foly is whaÌ„ a man maye chese For accident his substaunce for to lese I meane thus that syns we nowe or day well steale awaye and ben togyther so what wyt were it to putten it in assaye In case ye shulden to your father go If that ye myghten come ayen or no Thus meane I that were a great folly To put that sykernesse in ieopardy And vulgarly to speken of substaunce Of treasour may we both with vs lede Ynough to lyue in honour and pleasaunce Tyl vnto tyme that we shal ben deed And thus we may eschewen al this drede For euery other waye ye can recorde Myne hert ywys may therwith nat accorde And hardely ne dredeth no pouertie For I haue kyn and frendes els where That though we comen in our bare sherte Vs shulde neyther lacke golde ne gere But ben honoured whyle we dwelten there And go we anon for as in myne intent This is the best yf that ye woll assent Creseyde with a sygh ryght in this wyse Answerde ywys my dere herte true we maye wel steale away as ye deuyse And fynden suche vnthryftye wayes newe But afterwarde full sore it woll vs rewe And helpe me god so at my moost nede As causelesse ye suffren all this drede For thylke day that I for cherysshyng Or drede of father or for any other wyght Or for estate delyte or for weddyng Be false to you my Troylus my knyght Saturnus doughter Iuno through her migh As wode as AchamaÌ„t do me dwel Eternally with styx in the pyt of hell Ad this on euery god celestiall I sweare it you and eke on eche goddesse On euery nymphe and deitie infernall On Satiry and Fauny more and lesse That halfe goddes ben of wyldernesse And Attrapos my threde of lyfe to brest If I be false now trowe me yf ye lest And thou Synoys that as an arowe clere Thrugh Troy reÌ„nest aye dounward to y e se Be wytnesse of this worde y t sayd is here That ylke daye that I vntrue be To Troylus myne owne hert free That thou returne bakwarde to thy well And I with body and soule synke to hell But that ye speke away thus for to go And leten al your frendes god forbede For any woman that ye shulden so And namly syns Troy hath now such nede Of helpe and eke of o thyng taketh hede Yf this were wist my lyfe laye in balaunce And your honour god shylde vs from myschaunce And yf so be that peace herafter betake As all daye heppeth after angre game why lorde y e sorowe wo ye wolden make That ye ne durst come ayen for shame And er that ye ieoparden so your name Beth nat to hasty in this hote fare For hasty man ne wanteth neuer care what trowe ye the people eke al about wolde of it say it is ful lyght to arede They wolden say and swere it out of dout That loue ne draue you nat to do this dede But lust voluptuous and cowarde drede Thus were all lost iwys myne hert dere Your honour which y t now shyneth clere And also thynketh on myne honestie That floureth yet how foul I shuld it sheÌ„d And with what fylth it spotted shulde be If in this forme I shoulde with you wende Ne though I lyued vnto the worldes ende My name shulde I neuer ayenwarde wyn Thus wer I lost and y t were routh synne And for thy slee with reason al this hete Men sayne the suffraunt ouercoÌ„meth parde Eke who so wol haue lefe he lefe mote lete Thus maketh vertue of necessitie By pacience and thynke that lorde is he Of fortune aye y t nought wol of her retche And she ne dauÌ„teth no wight but a wretche And trusteth this that certes hert swete Or Phebus suster Lucina the shene The Lyon passe out of this Ariete I wol ben here withouten any wene I mene as helpe me Iuno heuens quene The tenth day but if that death me assayle I woll you sene withouten any fayle And now so thus be soth quod Troylus I shall well suffre vnto the tenth daye Syns that I se that nedes it mote be thus But for the loue of god yf it be maye So let vs stelen priuely away For euer in one as for to lyuen in rest Myne hert sayth that it woll be the best O mercy god what lyfe is this ê™ she Alas ye slee me thus for very tene I se well now that ye mystrusten me For by your wordes it is well ysene Now for the loue of Scithia the shene Mistrust me nat thus causelesse for routh Sis to be tru I haue you plight my trouth And thynketh wel that soÌ„tyme it was wyt To spende a tyme a tyme for to wyn Ne parde lorne I nat fro you yet Though that we ben a daye or two a twyn Driue out tho fantasyes you within And trusteth me leaueth eke your sorowe Or here my trouth I wyl nat lyue tyll morowe For if ye wyst how sore it doth me smerte Ye wold not cesse of this for god thou wost The pure spyrit wepeth in myne herte To sene you wepen which y t I loue moost And that I mote gon vnto the grekes host Yea nere it that I wyst a remedye To come ayen ryght here I wolde dye But certes I am not so nyce a wyght That I ne can ymagynen away To come ayen that daye that I haue hyght For who may holden a thyng y t wol awaye My father nought for all his queynt playe And by my thrift my wendyng out of Troy An other daye shall turne vs all to ioye For thy with all myne hert I you beseke Yf that you lyst done ought for my prayer And for y e loue which that I loue you eke That er that I departe fro you here That of so good a comfort and a chere I may you sene that ye may bring at rest Myne herte which is at poynt to brest And ouer all this I praye you ê™ she tho Myne owne hertes sothfast suffysaunce Syth I am thyne all hole withouten mo That whyle that I am absent no plesauÌ„ce Of other do me fro your remembraunce For I am euer agast for why men rede That loue is thyng aye ful of besy drede For in thys worlde there leueth lady none If that I were vntrewe as god defende That so betrayed were or wo begone As I that al trouth in you entende And doutlesse yf that iche other wende I were but deed and er ye cause fynde For goddes loue so beth me naught vnkind To this answered Troylus and seyde Now god to whoÌ„ there nys no cause ywrie Me glade as wys I neuer vnto Creseyde Sith thylke day I saw her fyrst wyth eye was
fro louers lefte and al forlayne whan thys was sayd downe in an extasy Rauyshed in sprite in a dreame she fel And by apparaunce herde where she dyd lye Cupide the kyng tynkyng a syluer bel which men myght here fro heuen in to hel At whose sounde before Cupide aperes the seueÌ„ planets discendyng fro their speres which hath power of all thyng generable To rule and stere by their great influence weder and wynde and course variable And fyrste of al Saturne gaue hys sentence which gaue to Cupide lytle reuerence But as a boystous churle in hys manere Came crabbedly wyth austryne loke chere His face frounced his lere was lyke y e leed Hys teth chattred sheuered wyth the chyn His eyen drouped hole sonken in hys heed Out at his nose the myldrop fast gan ryn with lyppes blo chekes leaue and thyn The yse yekels y t fro hys heer downe honge was wonder great as a speare as longe Attour hys belte his lyarte lockes lay Feltred vnfayre ouerfret wyth frostes hore His garment and his gate fal gay of gray His widdred wede fro hiÌ„ y e winde out wore A boustous bow within his hande he bore Vnder his gyrdel a fashe of felone flayns Feddred with yse heeded wyth holstayns Than Iupiter ryght fayre and amiable God of the sterres in the fyrmament And norice to al thyng generable Fro hys father Saturne farre different with burly face and browes bryght brent Vpon hys heed a garlonde wonders gaye Of floures fayre as it had ben in Maye his voice was clere as christal was his eien As golddeÌ„ wier so glettring was his heare His garmente and his gyte ful gay of grene wyth golden lystes gylte on euery geare A burly brande aboute his myddle he beare In his ryght hande he had a groundeÌ„ spere Of hys father the wrath fro vs to bere Next after him came Mars the god of yre Of stryfe debate and all discentioun To chyde and fyght as feirse as any fyre In harde harnesse hewmoÌ„de habergioun And on his haunch a rousty fel fauchoun And in his hande he had a rousty sworde writhyng his face with many angry worde Shaking his brande befor Cupide he come with reed visage grisely glowyng eyen And at his mouth a blubber stode of fome Lyke to a boore whettinge his tuskes keyn Right tulsure lyke but temperaunce in tene An horne blew w t many boustous bragge which al this world w t warre hath made to wagge ThaÌ„ fayre Phebus lanterne laÌ„pe of lyght Of man beest both frute and florishyng Tender norice and banysher of nyght And of the worlde causyng by his mouyng And influence lyfe in al erthly thyng without coÌ„forte of whom of force to nought Must go dye y t al this world hath wrought As kyng royal he rode vpon a chare The which Phiton soÌ„tyme gyded vnright the bryghtnesse of hys face whaÌ„ it was bare Non might beholde for persing of his sight This golden carte with firy beames bright Foure yoked stedes ful different of hewe But bayt or tyring through the speres drew The first was sord w t mane as reed as rose Called Eoye in to the orient The seconde stede to name hight Ethyose whitely and pale and some dele ascendent The thyrde Perose right hote eke feruent The fourth was blacke called Phelologee which rolleth Phebus downe in to the see Venus was there present that goddes gay Her sonnes quarel to defende and make his owne complaynt cladde in a nyce aray the one halfe grene thother halfe sable blake white heer as golde kembet shed a bake But in her face semed great variaunce whyle parfite trouth whyles incoÌ„staunce Vnder smylyng she was dissimulate Prouocatyue with blynkes amorous And sodaynly chaunged and alterate Angry as any serpent venomous Ryght pungityue with wordes odious Thus variauÌ„t she was who lyst take kepe with one eye laugh and with y e other wepe In tokenyng that al flesshly paramour which Venus hath in rule gouernaunce Is somtyme swete somtyme bytter sour Ryght vnstable and full of variaunce Mynged with careful ioy false pleasauÌ„ce Now hote now colde now blythe now full of wo now grene as lefe now widred ago with boke in hand than come Mercurious Ryght eloquent and full of rethorye with polyte termes and delicious with penne and ynke to report all readye Settyng songes and syngen merely His hode was red hecled attour his crown Lyke tyll a poete of the olde fassyoun Bores he bare with fyne electuares And sugred syropes for digestion Spyces belongyng to the potiquares with many holsome swete confectioun Doctor in phisyke cled in a scarlet gowne And furred wele as such one ought to be Honest good and nat a worde couth lye Next after him come lady Synthia The last of al and swyftest in her spere Of colour blacke busked with hornes twa And in the nyght she lysteth best tapere Hawe as the leed of colour nothyng clere For al the light she boroweth at her brother Tytan for of her self she hath none other Her gyte was gray and full of spottes blak And on her breest a churle paynted full euen Bearyng a bush of thornes on his backe which for his theft miÈt clime no ner y e heueÌ„ Thus whaÌ„ they gadred wer y e goddes seueÌ„ Mercurius they chosed with one assent To be forespeker in the parlyment who had ben there and lykyng for to here His facondetonge and termes exquisyte Of rethorike the practyke he myght lere In brefe sermon a preignauÌ„t sentence write Before Cupide valyng his cappe alyte Sper is the cause of that vacatioun And he anon shewed his ententioun Lo ê™ Cupide who wol blaspheme y e name Of his owne god eyther in worde or dede To all goddes he doth both losse and shame And shulde haue bytter paynes to his mede I say this by yonder wretche Creseyde The which thrugh me was soÌ„tyme flour of loue Me my mother she statelye gan reproue Saying of her great infelicitie I was the cause and my mother Venus She called a blynde goddes myght nat se with sclaunder and defame iniurious Thus her lyuyng vnclene and lecherous She wolde retort in me and my mother To whoÌ„ I shewed my grace aboue al other And syth ye are al seuen delicate Participant of deuyne sapience This great iniure done to our hye estate Me thiÌ„k w t payn we shulde make recoÌ„pence was neuer to goddes done such violence As well for you as for my selfe I saye Therfore go helpe to reuenge I you praye Mercurius to Cupide gaue answere And sayd syr kyng my couÌ„sayle is that ye Referre you to the hyest planet here And take to him the lowest of degree The payne of Creseyde for to modefye As god Saturne with hym take Synthia I am coÌ„tent ê™ he to take they twa Than thus proceded Saturne the moone whan they the matter rypely had degest For the despyte to
Phi. The thynges than ê™ she that ne bene no goodes whan they bene diuers whan they begynnen to be al one thyng than bene they goodes ne cometh it not thaÌ„ by the gettyng of vnyte that they be maked goodes Boece So semeth it quod I Philo. But al thynge that is good ê™ she graunteste thou that it be good by the participation of good or no Boece I graunt it quod I Philoso Than must thou grauÌ„ted quod she by semblable reason that one and good be one same thynge For of thynges of whyche the effecte nys not naturelly diuers nedes her substaunce must be one same thyng Boece I ne maye not denye it quod I Philoso Haste thou not knowen well ê™ I that all thynge that is hath so longe hys dwellyng and his substaunce as longe as it is one but whan it forletteth to bene one it muste nedes dyen and corrumpen togyther B. In which maner ê™ I Philo. Ryght as in beestes quod she whan the soule and the bodye bene conioyned in one and dwellen togyther it is cleped a beest and whan her vnite is distroyed by the dysceuerauÌ„ce of that one from that other than sheweth it wel y t it is a deed thing and it is no lenger no beast And the body of a wight whyle it dwelleth in one fourme by coniunction of membres it is well sene that it is a fygure of mankynde And yf the partyes of the bydye be deuyded and disceuered that one from that other that they distroye the vnite y e body forleteth to be that it was beforne And who so wold renue in the same maner by all thynges he shulde sene y t without dout euery thynge is in hys substaunce as longe as it is one And whan it forleteth to be one it dyeth and perisheth Boece whaÌ„ I consyder quod I manye thynges I se none other Philoso Is there any thyng ê™ she that in as muche as it lyueth naturelly that forleteth the talent or the apetyte of his beynge and desyreth to come to deathe and to corruption Boece If I consyder quod I the beastes that haue anye maner nature of wyllyng and nyllyng I ne fynde no beest but yf it be constrayned fro wythout forthe that forleteth or dyspyceth the entencion to lyuen and to duren or that wyll hys thankes hasten hym to dyen For euerye beaste trauayleth hym to defende and kepe the sauacion of hys lyfe and escheweth death and dystruction But certes I doute me of herbes and trees that ne haue no felynge soules ne no naturell workynges seruynge to appetytes as beastes haue whether they haue appetyte to dwelle and to duren Philosoph Certes quod she therof dare the not doute Nowe loke vpon the herbes and trees for they wexen fyrste in suche place as bene couenable to hem in whyche places they mowe not dyen ne dryen as longe as her nature maye defende hem For some of hem wexen in feldes some wexen in mouÌ„taignes and other wexe in mareys and other cleauen on rockes and some wexen pleÌ„teous in sondes And yf any wyght enforce hym to beare hem in to other places they wexen drye For nature yeueth to euerye thynge that is conueniente to hym and trauayleth that they ne dye as longe as they haue power to dwellen and to lyuen what wylte thou sayne of thys that they drawen all her nouryshynges by her rootes ryghte as they haddeÌ„ her mouthes yplouÌ„ged within the earthes and sheaden by her maryes her wodde and her barke And what wylte thou sayne of thys that thylke thynge that is ryghte softe as the marye is that is alwaye hydde in the seate all within and that is defended from wythoute by the stedfastnesse of wodde and that the vttereste barkes is put ayenst the distemperaunce of the heauen as a defendoure myghtye to suffrâ—â— harme And thus certes mayste thou well sene howe great is the dyligence of nature For all thynges renouelen and publyshed hem wyth seede ymultyplyed Ne there nys no man that ne wote well that they ne bene ryghte as a foundemente and edefyce for to duren not onely for a tyme but ryghte as for to dure perdurably by generatioÌ„ And y t thinges eke that men went ne haue no soules ne desyre they not by semblable reason to kepen that is hys that is to sayne that is accordynge to her nature in conseruation of her beyng and enduryng For wherfore els beareth lyghtnesse the flambes vp and the weyghte presseth the earth adowne but for as muche as thylke places and thylke mouinges be couenable to eueryth of hem And forsothe euery thynge kepeth thylke that is accordynge propre to hym ryght as thynges that bene contraryous and enemies corrumpen hem And yet the harde thinges as stones cleauen and holden her parties togyther right fast harde and defenden hem in withstaÌ„dyng that they ne departen lyghtly and yeuen place to hem that breaken or deuydeÌ„ hem but nathlesse they retournen ayen soone in to the sam thynges from whence they be araced But fyre fâ—eeth and refuseth all deuysyon Ne I ne treate not nowe here of wylful mouinges of the soule that is knowyng but of naturell entention of thynges as thus Ryght as we swalowen the meate that we receyuen and ne thynke not on it and as we draw our breath in slepyng that we weten whyle we slepen For certes in the beestes the loue of her lyuynges ne of her beynges ne cometh not of the wylnynges of the soule but of the begynnynges of nature for certes thoroughe constraynynge causes wyll desyreth embraseth ful oft tymes the deth that nature dredeth that is to sayn as thus that a man maye be constrayned so by some cause that his wyl desyreth and taketh the deathe whyche that nature hateth dredeth full sore And some tyme we sene the contrary as thus y t the wyll of a wyght disturbeth and constrayneth that that nature alwaye desyreth and requyreth that is to say y t werkes of generacion by the which generacion onely dwelleth and is susteyned the longe durabylite of mortall thynges as thus Thys charite and this loue that euery thynge hathe to hym selfe ne cometh not of the mouynge of the soule but of the entencion of nature For the purueyaunce of God hathe yeuen to thynges that bene create of hym thys that is a full great cause to lyuen and to duren for whyche they desyren naturelly her lyfe as longe as euer they mowen for whych thou mayst not dreden by no maner that all thynges that bene anye where that they ne requireÌ„ naturelly the ferme stablenesse of perdurable dwellyng and eke the eschewyng of distruction Boece I coÌ„fesse ê™ I that I se wel now and certaynly withouten dout the thinges that a whyle ago semeden vncertaine to me Philoso But ê™ she thylke thynge that desyreth to be and dwell perdurablye he desyreth to bene one for yf that one were distroyed certes beynge shulde there none dwellen to no wyght Boece That is
the sterre ycleped the Beer that enclyneth his rauyshing courses abouten the souerayne heyght of thys worlde Ne the same sterre Vrsa nys neuer mo wasshen in the depe westren see ne coueiteth not to dyen his flambes in the see of the Occian although it se other sterres yplouÌ„ged in the see And Hesperus the sterre boodeth telleth alway the late nightes and Lucifer the sterrre bryngeth agayne the clere daye And thus maketh loue enterchauÌ„geable y e perdurable courses thus is discordable batayle yput out of the couÌ„trey of the sterres This accordaunce atempreth by euynlike maners the elementes that the moyst thynges sleyuyng wyth the drye thinges yeuen place by stoundes and that the colde thinges ioynen hem by fayth to the hote thynges and that the lyght fyre aryseth in to heyghte and the heuy erthes aualen by her weyghtes by the same causes the flourye yere yeldeth swete smelles in the fyrste somer season warming and the hote somer dryeth the cornes Autumpne cometh ayen heuye of apples the fletyng rayne bedeweth the wynter this attemperaunce nourisheth and bringeth forth al thynges that bereth lyfe in thys worlde and thylke same attemperaunce rauyshyng hydeth benymeth and drencheth vnder the laste deathe all thynges yborne Amonges these thynges sytteth the hyghe maker king and lorde we le and begynnyng law wyse iuge to done equyte and gouerneth and enclyneth the brydles of thinges And tho thinges that he stereth to gone by mouynge he wythdraweth and aresteth and affermeth the mouable or wandrynge thynges For yf that he ne called not ayen the ryght goynge of thinges And if that he ne coÌ„streyned hem nat eftsones in to roundnesses enclyned the thynges y t bene nowe coÌ„tynued by stable ordynaunce they shulde departen froÌ„ her wele that is to sayne from her begynnynge fallen that is to sayne tournen into naught This is the coÌ„mune loue to al thynges all thynges asken to bene holden by the fyne of good for els ne myghten they not lasten yf they ne come not eftesones ayen by loue retourned to the cause that hath yeue hem beyng that is to sayne God IaÌ„ne igitur vides quid hec omnia qÌ„ diximus coÌ„sequantur Quid nam inquit Omnem inquit c. SEest thou not than what thing foloweth al the thinges that I haue sayd Boece what thynge quod I P. Certes quod she all vtterly that fortune is good Boe. And howe maye that be ê™ I Nowe vnderstande ê™ she So as al fortune wheder so it be ioyful fortune or aspre fortune is yeueÌ„ eyther bycause of guerdonyng or els of exercisyng of good folkes or els bycause to punyshen or els chastisen shrewes Than is all fortune good the whyche fortune is certayn that it be eyther ryghtful or els profytable Boe. Forsoth this is a ful very reason ê™ I And yf I consyder the pourueyaunce the destyne that thou taughteste me alytle here beforne thys sentence is sustayned by stedfaste reasons But yf it lyke vnto the let vs nombren hem among thylke thynges of which thou saydest a litle here beforne that they ne were not able to bene wened to the people P. why so ê™ she B. For that the coÌ„mune worde of men ê™ I misuseth this maner speach of fortune and sayne ofte tymes that the fortune of some wyght is wicked Philoso wylte thou than quod she that I approche a lytle to the wordes of the people so that it seme not to hem that I be not ouer much departed as fro the vsage of maÌ„kinde Boece As thou wolte quod I Philo. wenest thou not quod she that all thynge that profiteth is good Boece Yes quod I Phi. Certes all thynge that exerceth or corrigeth it profyteth Boece I confesse wel quod I Philoso Than it is good quod she Boece why not quod I Philoso But thys is the fortune quod she of hem that eyther be put in vertue bataylen ayenst aspre thynges or els of hem that enclynen and declinen fro vyces and taken the waye of vertue Boece Thys ne may I not denye quod I Philo. But what sayest thou of the merye fortune that is yeuen to good people in guerdon demeth ought the people that it be wycked B Naye forsoth quod I but they demen as it is sothe that it is ryght good Philo. what sayest thou of the other fortune ê™ she that all thoughe that it be aspre and restrayneth the shrewes by ryghtfull tourment weneth aught the people that it be good Boe. Nay ê™ I but the people demeth that is mooste wretched of all thynges y t maye be thought Philoso ware now and loke wel quod she leste we in folowyng the opinion of the people haue confessed and coÌ„cluded thing which that is vnable to bene wened to the people Boece what is that quod I Philoso Certes quod she it foloweth or cometh of thinges that bene grauÌ„ted that al fortune what so euer it be of hem that bene eyther in possession of vertue or in the encrease of vertue or elles in the purchasynge of vertue that the ylke fortune is good and that all fortune is right wicked to hem that dwellen in shrewednesse as who sayeth and thus weneth not the people Boece That is sothe ê™ I Albe it so that no man dare confesse it ne knowe it Philoso why so quod she For ryght as the stronge man ne semeth not to a bashen or disdayneÌ„ as oftime as he heareth the noyse of baytayle Ne also it semeth not to the wyse man to bearen it greuouslye as oft as he is ledde in to stryfe of fortune For bothe to that one man and eke to that other thylke dyffyculte is the matter to that one manne of encrease of his gloryouse renome and to that other man to conserue hys sapyence that is to saye to the asprenesse of hys estate for therfore is it called vertue for that it sustayneth enforceth by hys strengthes so that it nys not ouercomen by aduersyties Ne certes thou that art put in encrease or in the heyghte of vertue ne haste not comen to fleten wyth delyces and for to walken in bodyly luste Thou sowest or plantest a full eygre batayle in thy corage ayenst euerye fortune For that the soroufull fortune coÌ„found the not ne that the mery fortune ne corruÌ„pe the not occupye the meane by stedfast streÌ„gthes For all that euer is vnder the meane or al that ouerpasseth the meane dyspyceth welefulnesse as who sayeth it is vicious ne hath no mede of hys trauayle for it is set in your hande as who sayth it lyeth in your power what fortune you is leuest that is to saye good or yuel for al fortune that semeth sharpe or aspre if it ne be exercise not y e good folke ne chastyse the wycked folke it punysheth Bella bis binis operatus annis Vltor atrides phrigierumis c. THe werker atrides that is to sayne Agamemnon y e wroÈt and contynued the batayle by ten yeare recouerd
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
that Theseus hath der And in thys blysse lette I nowe Arâ—yte And speke I woll of Palamon a lyte In derknesse horryble and stronge prison Thys seuen yere hath sytten thys Palamon Forpyned what for wo and distresse who feleth double sore and heuynesse But Palamon that loue distrayneth so That wode out of hys wit he gothe for wo And eke therto he is a prisonere Perpetuall and not onely for a yere Who coude ryme in Englysshe properly Hys martyrdom â–ª forsoth it am nat I Therfore I passe as lyghtly as I may It befell that in the seuenth yere in May The thyrde nyght as olde bokes sayne That all thys story tellen more playne were it by auenture or by destayne As whan a thyng is shapen it shall be That soon after mydnight Palamon By helpyng of a frende brake hys prison And fleethe the cyte as fast as he may go For he had yeue hys gayler drynke so Of a clarrey made of certen wyne Wyth narcotise and opye of Thebes fyne That al y t night thogh meÌ„ wolde hym shake The gayler slept he mught nat awake And thus he fleeth as fast as he may The nyght was short fast by the day That nedes cost he mote hym selfe hyde And to a groue faste there besyde with dredfull foote than stalketh Palamon For shortly thys was hys opinyon That in y t groue he wolde hym hyde al day And in the nyght then wold he take his way To Thebes warde hys â—rendes for to prey On Theseus to helpe hym to warrey And shortly eyther he wolde lese hys lyfe Or wynne Emelye vnto hys wyfe Thys is theffecte and hys entent playne ¶ Nowe woll I torne to Arcite agayne That lytell wyst howe nye was hys care Tyl y t fortune had brought hym in her share The mery larke messanger of day Saleweth in her songe the morowe gray And firy Phebus aryseth vp so bright That all the orisoâ—â— laugheth of the syght And with hys streames drieth in the greues The syluer dropes hangyng in the leues And Arcite that in the courte ryall with Theseus hys squier principall Is rysen and loketh on the mery day And for to don hys obseruaunces to May Remembryng on the poynt of hys desyre He on hys courser startlyng as the fyre Is rydden in to the feldes hym to play Out of the court were it a myle or twey And to the groue of whyche I you tolde By auenture hys way he gan holde To maken hym a garlonde of the greues were it of wodbynde or of hauthorn leues And loude he songe ayenst the sonne shene May wyth all thy floures and thy grene welcom be thou fayre fresshe May I hope that I some grene get may And from hys courser wyth a lusty herte In to the groue full hastely he sterte And in a pathe he romed vp and doun There as by auenture thys Palamon was in a busshe that no man myght hym se For sore aferde of hys dethe was he Nothyng ne knewe he that it was Arcite God wote he wolde haue trowed full lyte But sothe is sayd go sythen many yeres That felde hath eyen and wodde hath ere 's It is full fayre a man to beare hym euyn For al day men mete at vnset steuyn Full lytell wote Arcyte of hys felawe That was so nyghe to herken of hys sawe For in the busshe sytteth he nowe full styll Whan that Arcyte had romed all hys fyll And songen all the roundell lustely In to a study he fell sodenly As don these louers in theyr quyent gyres Now in the croppe now down in y e brires Nowe vp nowe downe as boket in a well Ryght as the friday sothly for to tell Nowe it rayneth nowe it shyneth fast Ryght so gan gery Venus ouer cast The hertes of her folke ryght as her day Is geryfull ryght so chaungeth she aray Selde is the friday all the weke tlyke Whan y e Arcite had songe he gan to syke And set hym downe wythouten any more Alas ê™ he the day that I was bore Howe longe Iuno through thy cruelte Wylt thou warren Thebes the cyte â–ª Alas ybrought is to confusyon The blode ryall of Cadmus and Amphyon Of Cadmus whiche was the fyrst man That Thebes buylt or fyrst the town began And of the cyte fyrst was crowned kyng Of hys lynage am I and of hys ofspring By very lyne as of the stocke ryall And nowe I am so caytise and so thrall That he that is my mortal enemy I serue hym as hys squire poorly And yet dothe me Iuno well more shame For I dare not be knowe myne owne name But there as I was wont to hyght Arcyte Now hyght I Philostrat nat worth a myte Alas thou fell Mars alas thou Iuno Thus hath your yre our lynage all for do Saue only me and wretched Palamon That Theseus martreth in pryson And ouer all thys to sleen me vtterly Loue hath hys firy darte so bremyngly I stycked through my true carefull herte That shapen was my deth erst my sherte Ye sleen me wyth youre eyen Emelye Ye ben the cause wherfore I dye Of all the remenaunt of myne other care Ne set I nat the mountaunce of a tare So y t I coude do ought to your plesaunce And with y t worde he fell down in a traunce A longe tyme and afterwarde he vp stort This Palamon thought y e thrugh his hert He felte a colde sworde sodenly glyde For yre he quoke no lenger wolde he abyde And whan that he had herde Arcites tale As he were wood with face deed and pale He sterte hym vp out of the busshes thycke And sayd Arcyte false traytour wycke Nowe art thou hent that louest my lady so For whom that I haue thâ—â— payne and wo And art my bloode to my counsell sworn As I haue full ofte tolde the here beforn And hast be taped here duke Theseus And falsly hast chaunged thy name thus I wyll be deed or els thou shalt dye Thou shalt nat loue my lady Emelye But I woll loue her onely and no mo For I am Palamon thy mortall for Though y t I haue no weapen in thys place But out of pryson am assert by grace I drede not that eyther thou shalt dye Or thou ne shalt not louen Emelye These which thou wilt or y e shalt not assert This Arcite with full dispytous hert Whan he hym knewe had hys tale herde As sters as a lyon pulled out his swerde And sayd By god that sytteth aboue Ne were it y t thou art syck wood for loue And eke y t thou no wepen hast in thys place Thou shuldest neuer out of this groue pace That thou ne shuldest dyen of myne honde For I defye the sâ—â—etie and the bonde Whiche y t thou sayst y t I haue made to the What very fole thynke wel that loue is fre And I wyl loue her maugre all thy myght But for as moche as thou arte a
bade they toke it for the beste Her dremes shul not now ben it olde for me Ful were her heedes of fumosyte That causeth dremes of whyche ther is no charge They slepen tyl it was pryme large The moste parte but it were Canace She was ful mesurable as women be For of her father had she take her leue To gon to rest sone alter it was eue Her lyst not appalled for to be Nor on the morowe vnfestlyche for to se And slept her fyrst slepe and awoke For suche a ioy she in her herte toke Both of her queynt Rynge of her myrrour That twenty tymes she chaunged her colour And in her slepe ryght for impressyon Of her myrrour she had a visyon Wherfore or the sonne vp gan glyde She cleped her maistresses her besyde And sayd her luste for to aryse ¶ These olde women that ben gladly wyse As is her maystresse answerde her anon And sayd madame whither wol ye gon Thus erly◠for folke ben al in reste ¶ I wol quod she aryse for me leste No lenger for to slepe but walken aboute Her maystresse cleped wome a great route And vp they ryse wel ten or twelue Vp ryseth fresshe Canace her selue As ioly and bright as the yonge sonne That in the Ram is four degrees vp ronne No hygher was he whan she redy was And sorthe she walketh an easye paas Arrayed after the lusty season sote Lightly for to playen to walken on fete Nought but fyue or sixe of her meyne And in a trenche fer in the parke gethe she ¶ The vapour whiche y t fro the erth glode Maketh the sonne to seme ruddy and brode But nathelesse it was so fayre a syght That it made al her hertes for to lyght What for the ceason and for the morownyng And for the soules that she herde synge For right anon she wyste what they ment Right by her songe and knewe al her entent ¶ The knotte why that euery tale is tolde If it be taryed tyl luste be colde Of hem that han it herkened after yore The sauour passeth euer lenger the more For fulsomnesse of prolixite And by the same reason thynketh me I shulde vnto the same knot condiscende And make of her walkyng sone an ende ¶ Amydde a ti◠for drye as whyt as chalke As Canace was playeng in her walke There sate a fauron ouer her heed ful hye That with a pytous voyce gan to crye That al the wodde resowned of her cry And beaten had her selfe so pytously With bothe her wynges tyl the reed blode Ran endelonge the tre there as she stode And euer in one she cryed and shright And with her becke her seluen so she pyght That there nas Tygre ne cruel beste That dwelleth in wodde eyther in foreste That nolde hā wept yf that they wepe coude For sorowe of her she shright alway so loude For there nas neuer yet man on lyue If that he couthe a faucon wel discryue That herde of suche another of fayrenesse As wel of plumage as of gentylnesse Of shappe of al that might trekened be A faucon peregryn than semed she Of scrude londe euermore as she stoode She swouned now now for lacke of blood Tyl welny is she fal fro the tree ¶ This fayre kynges doughter this Canace That on her fynger bare the queynte rynge Thrugh which she vnderstod wel euery thīg That any foule may in hys leden sayne And coude answere hym in his leden agayne Hath vnderstande what this faucon seyde And welny for routhe almost she deyde And to the tre she gothe ful hastely And on this faucon loketh ful pytously And helde her lappe abrod for wel she wyste The faucon muste fallen from the twyste Whā y t she swouned next for lacke of bloode A longe whyle to wayten there she stoode Tyl at the laste she spake in this manere Vnto the hauke as ye shalen after here ¶ What is the cause yf it be for to tell That ye ben in this furyal payne of hell Quod Canace vnto this hauke aboue Is thys for sorowe of dethe or losse of loue For as I trowe these ben causes two That causen most a gentyll hert wo Of other harme it nedeth not to speke For ye vpon your selfe you wreke Whiche proueth wel that eyther ire or drede Mote ben encheson of your cruell dede Syu that I se none other wyght you chace For the loue of god so doth your selfe grace Or what may be your helpe for west or est Ne sawe I neuer er now no byrde ne beest That farde with hym selue so pytously Ye slee me with your sorowe veryly I haue of you so great compassioun For goddes loue come fro the tre adowne And as I am a kynges doughter trewe If that I veryly the causes knewe Of your disease yf it lay in my myght I wolde amende it certes or it be nyght As wysely helpe me great god of kynde And herbes shal I right ynowe fynde To hele with your hurtes hastely Tho shright this faucon yet more spitously Than euer she dyd fell to grounde anone And lyeth a swoune deed as is a stone Tyl Canace hath in her lappe itake Vnto the tyme she gan of swoune awake And after that she of swoune gan abreyde Ryght in her haukes leden thus she sayde That pite renneth soone in gentyl herte Felyng his semilitude in paynes smerte Is proued al day as men may se As wel by werke as by authorite For gentle hert kepeth gentilnesse I se wel that ye haue of my distresse Campassyon my fayre Canace Of very womanly benignyte That nature in your principles hath sette But for none hope for to fare the bette But for to obey vnto your hert free And for to make other beware by me As by the whelpe chastised is the Lyon Right for that cause and for that conclusyon Whyle that I haue a leyser and a space Myne harm I wol confessen or I pace And euer while that one her sorowe tolde That other wepte as she to water wolde Tyl that the Faucon badde her to be styl And with a sike thus she sayd her tyl ¶ There I was bredde alas that ilke day And fostred in a roche of marble gray So tenderly that nothyng eyleth me I ne wist not what was aduersyte Tyl I coude flye ful hye vnder the skye There dwelte a Terselet me fast by That semed wel of al gentylnesse Al were he ful of trayson and of falsnesse It was so wrapped vnder humble chere And vnder hewe of trouth in suche manere Vnder pleasaunce and vnder busy payne That no wight coud haue wede he coud fain So depe in greyne he dyed his colours Right as a serpent hideth him vnder flours Tyl he may se hys tyme for to byte Right so this God of loues ipocrite Dothe so hys serymones and obeysaunce with his dissimulynge fayre assemblaunce That sowneth vnto gentilnesse of loue
fornication Of withcrafte and eke of baudrie Of defamacion and aduoutrie Of churche reues and of testamentes Of contractes and lacke of sacramentes Of vsure and of symonye also But certes lechours dyd he moche wo They shulden synge yf they weren hente And smale tythers they were foule ishent If any person wolde vpon hem playne There might asterte hem no pecunyal payne For smale tythes and smal offrynge He made the people pitously to synge For er the bishop caught hem with hys hoke They were in the archedekens booke And than had he through hys iurdictyon Power to done on hem correction He had a Sompner redy to his honde A slyer boye was there none in Englonde For subtelly he had his espiayle That taught hym where he myght auayle He couthe spare of lechours one or two To techen hym to foure and twenty mo For thogh this soÌ„pner wode were as an hare To tel his harlotrye I wol not spare For we ben out of hys correction They haue of vs no iurdiction Ne neuer shullen terme of al her lyues ¶ Peter so ben women of the stewes ê™ this Sompner yput out of our cure Peace with mischauÌ„ce with misauenture Sayd our hoste and let hym tel hys tale Now telleth forthe let the Sompner gale Ne spareth not myne owne maister dere ¶ This fals thefe this SoÌ„pner ê™ the frere Had alway baudes redy to hys honde As any hauke to lure in Englonde That telleth hym al the secre that they knew For her aquayntauÌ„ce was not come of newe They weren his aprouers priuely He toke hym selfe a great profyte therby His maister knewe not alway what he wan Without maundement a leude man He coude sommon on payne of christes curse And they were glad to fyllen hys purse And made hym great feestes at the nale And right as Iudas had purses smale And was a thefe right suche thefe was he His maister had but halfe his deutie He was yf I shal yeuen hym hys laude A thefe a sompner and eke a baude He had eke wenches of hys retinue That whether syr Roberde or syr Hue Or Iohan or Rafe or who so that it were That lay by hem they tolde it in his eere Thus were y e wenches and he of one assent And he wolde fetche a fayned maundement And sommon hem to the chapitre bothe two And pylle the man and let the wenche go Than wolde he say frende I shal for thy sake Do stryken the out of our letters blake The dare no more as in this case trauayle I am thy frende there I may the auayle Certayne he knewe of bribries mo Than possible is to tel in yeres two For in this worlde nys dogge for the bowe That can an hurte dere from an hole knowe Bet than the Sompner knewe a slye lechour Or auoutrer or els any paramour For that was the fruite of al hys rente Therfore on it he sette al hys entent And so befyl that ones on a day This Sompner waytynge euer on his pray Rode for to sommoÌ„ an old wedowe a ribybe Faynyng a cause for he wolde haue a bribe And happed that he sawe beforn hym ryde A gay yoman vnder a forest syde A bowe he bare and arowes bright shene He had vpon him a courtpye of grene An hatte vpon his heed with strynges blake Sir ê™ this sompner haile and wel ytake ¶ Welcome ê™ he and euery good felawe whider ridest y u vnder this grenwode shawe Sayd this yoman wolte thou ferre to day This sompner hym answerd and sayd nay Here fast by ê™ he is myne entent To ryden for to reysen vp a rent That longeth to my lordes dewte Arte thou than a bayly ye ê™ he He durst nat than for very fylth and shame Say that he was a Sompner for the name Depardieur ê™ this yoman lefe brother Thou arte a bayly and I am another I am vnknowen as in this countre Of thyne acqueyntaunce I wol pray the And eke of brotherhed yf that thou list I haue golde and syluer in my chist Yf that ye happe to come in our shyre Al shal be thyne right as thou wolt desyre GrauÌ„t mercy ê™ this sompner by my faithe Euerich in other his trouthe laythe For to be sworne brethern tyl they dey And with y t worde they riden forth her wey This sompner w t that was as ful of iaÌ„gles As ful of venym as ben these wariangles And euer enquyring vpon euery thyng Brother ê™ he where is your dwellyng Another day yf that I shulde you seche This yoman hym answerde in soft speche Brother ê™ he ferre in the North countre where as I hope somtyme I shal the se Or we departe I shal the so wel wysse That of myne house thou shalte neuer mysse Now brother ê™ this sompner I you pray Teche me while we ryden by the way Sith that ye ben a baylye as am I Some subtelte tel me faithfully In myne offyce howe I may most wynne And spareth nat for conscience ne for synne But as my brother tel me howe don ye Nowe by my trouth brother dere sayd he As I shal tellen the a faithful tale My wages ben ful straite and smale My lorde is harde to me and daungerous And myne offyce ful laborous And therfore by extortion I leue Forsothe al that men wol me yeue Algate by sleyght or by violence From yere to yere I wyn al my dispence I can no better tellen faithfully Nowe certes ê™ this sompnour so fate I I spare nat to take god it wote But yf it be to heuy or to hote That I may getten in counsayle priuely No maner conscience of that haue I Nere myne extorcion I myght not lyuen Of suche iapes wol I nat be shriuen Stomake ne conscience knowe I non I shrewe al these shrift fathers euerichon wel be we met by god and swete saynt Iame But lefe brother tel me thy name Quod this sompner in thys mean while This yoman gan a lytel for to smyle ¶ Brother ê™ he wolte thou that I the tel I am a fende my dwellyng is in hel And here I ride about my purchasyng To wete where I may gete any thyng My purchase is theffecte of al my rent Loke howe thou ridest for the same entent To wyne good thou reckest neuer howe Right so fare I for ride wol I nowe Vnto the worldes ende for a pray Ah ê™ this sompner benedicite what ye say I wende ye were a woman trewly Ye haue a mannes shappe as wel as I Haue ye a fygure than determynate In hel there ye ben in your estate Nay certaynly ê™ he there haue we non But whan vs lyketh we can take vs one Or els make you seme we ben shape Somtyme lyke a man or lyke an ape Or lyke an Angel can I ryde or go It is no wonder thyng though it be so A lousy iuggler can disceyue the And parde yet can I more crafte than he why ê™
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
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
but God made woman of the rybbe of Adam for woman shulde be felowe vnto man Man shulde beare hym to hys wyfe in fayth ▪ in trouth and in loue as sayth saynt Paule that a man shulde loue hys wyfe as Christ loueth holye churche that loued it so well that he dyed for it so shulde a man for hys wyfe yf it were nede Nowe howe that a woman shulde be subiecte to her husbande that telleth saynte Peter fyrst in obedience And also as sayth the decree A womā that is a wyfe as long as she is a wyfe she hath none auctoritye to swere ne beare witnes without leaue of her husbande y t is her Lorde alwaye he shulde be so by reason She shulde also serue hym in al honestye be attēpperate of her array I woll well that they shulde set her entent to please her husbādes but not be queintise of her araye S. Ierom sayeth wiues y t be apparelled in sylke and precious purple ne mowe nat clothe hem in Iesu Christe Saynt Greg. sayeth also that no wyghte seketh precious aray but only for vaynglory to be honoured the more of the people It is great foly a woman to haue great araye outwarde and in her selfe be foule inwarde A wyfe shulde also be mesurable in lokynge in bearyng and in laughing and discrete in al her wordes and her dedes and aboue all worldelye thynges she shulde loue her husbande wyth al her herte and to hym be true of her bodye So shulde an husbande be to hys wyfe For sythe that all the body is the husbandes so shuld her hert be or els there is betwixte hem two as in that no perfyte mariage Than shall men vnderstande that for thre thynges a man and hys wyfe fleshly may assemble The first is for th entent of engendrure of chyldren to the seruice of god for certes that is the cause finall of matrimony Another cause is to yelde ech of hem to other y e dettes of her bodyes for neyther of hem hath power of ther owne bodyes The thyrde is to eschew lechery and vyllanye The fourthe is forsoth deedlye synne As to the fyrste is meritorye the seconde also for as sayeth the decre that she hath meryte of chastite that yeldeth to her husbande the dette of her body yee thought it be ayenst her lykynge and the luste of her herte The thyrde maner is venyall synne and truelye scarscely may anye of these be wythout venyal synne for the corruption and for the delyte The fourth maner is for to vnderstand if they assemble only for amorous loue and for none of the forsayde causes but for to accomplyshe the brennynge delyte they recke not howe ofte sothlye it is deedly sinne and y t wyth sorowe some folke woll payne hem more to do then to her appetyte suffiseth The seconde maner of chastitye is for to be a clene wydowe and eschew the enbrasynges of a man and desyre the enbrasynge of Iesu Christe These bene those that haue bene wyues and haue forgote her husbandes and also women that haue done lecherye and bene receyued by penitence And certes yf that a wyfe coulde kepe her all chaste by licence of her husbande so that she yeue neuer none occasion that he offende it were to her a greate meryte Thys maner of woman that obserueth chastitie in clothynge in countenaunce abstinent in eatinge drinkyng in spekyng and in dede she is the vessel or the boxe of the blessed Maudelayne y e fulfylleth holy church of good ordour The thyrde maner of chastitie is virginitie and it behoueth that she be holye in herte clene of body than is she spouse of Iesu Christe and she is the life of aungels she is the pray synge of thys worlde she is as these martyrs in regaly she hath in her y t tonge maye not tell ne herte thynke Virginitie bare our Lorde Iesu Christe and virgyn was hym selfe Another remedy ayenst lechery is speciallye to withdrawe suche thynges as yeue occasyon to that vylanye as ease eatynge and drinkyng For certes whan the potte boylleth stronglye the best remedy is to wyth draw the fyre Slepyng longe in great quiete is also a great nouryce to lecherye Another remedy ayenst lechery is that a man or a woman eschew the company of hem by whiche he douteth to be tēpted For all be it so that the dede is withstande yet is there great temptation Sothly a whyte walle all thoughe it ne brenne not fullye by stickyng of the candell yet is the wal blacke of the flame Ful oft tyme I rede that no mā trust in hys owne perfection but he be stronger than Sampson or holyer than Daniel or wyser than Salomon Nowe after that I haue declared you as I can the seuyn deedly sinnes and some of her braūches wyth her remedies Sothly yf I coulde I wolde tel you the ten commaundementes but so hye doctrine I put to diuines Nathlesse I hope to God they ben touched in this treatise eche of hem ¶ Sequitur secunda pars penitentie NOwe for asmuche as the seconde parte of penitence stont in confession of mouth as I be gan in the fyrste chap I saye saynte Austen sayeth Sinne is euery worde and euery dede and all that men coniecte agaynst the lawe of Iesu Christe and thys is for to synne in hert in mouth and in dede by the fyne wyttes which ben syght hearyng smellyng tastyng or sauour felynge Nowe it is good to vnderstande that that agredgeth muche euery sinne Thou shalt consider what thou art that doste the syn whether thou be male or female yonge or olde gentyll or thrall free or seruaunt hole or sicke wedded or single ordred or vnordred wyse or fole clerke or seculer yf she be of thy kynrede bodilye or gostly or no yf any of thy kynred haue synned wyth her or no many mo thynges Another circumstaunce is this whether it be done in fornicacion or in aduoutry or no in maner of homiced or no horrible great synnes or smal how long thou hast cōtinued in synne The thyrde circumstaunce is the place there thou hast done synne wheder in other mennes houses or in thyne owne in felde in church or in churchyarde in church dedecate or no. For yf the churche be halowed man or woman spyl his kinde within that place by way of sinne or wicked tēptation the churche is enterdited the preest that dyd such a villany the terme of all hys life he shulde no more synge masse and if he did he shulde do deedly synne at euery tyme y t he so songe masse The fourth circūstaūce is by which mediatours or by which messēgers or for enticement or for cōsentment to beare cōpany with felowshyp For manye a wretche for to beare cōpanye wol go to the dyuel of heel wherfore they that egge or cōsent to the sinne ben parteners of the sinne of the temptation of the synner The fyfth circumstaunce is howe many times that he hath
Nowe downwarde grosse nowe vpright And walowe in wo the longe nyght Thyn armes shalte thou sprede a brede As man in werre were forwerede Than shall the come a remembraunce Of her shappe and her semblaunce wherto none other maye be pere And wete thou well wythout were That the shall se somtyme that nyght That thou haste her that is so bryght Naked betwene thyne armes there All sothfastnesse as though it were Thou shalte than make castels in Spayne And dreme of ioye al but it vayne And the delyten of ryght nought whyle thou so slombrest in that thought That so swete and delytable The whyche in soth nys but a fable For it ne shall no whyle laste Than shalte thou syghe and wepe faste And saye dere god what thynge is this My dreme is turned all amys whyche was ful swete and apparent But nowe I wake it is all shent Nowe yede thys mery thought away Twenty tymes vpon a day I wolde thys thought wolde come agayne For it alegeth well my payne It maketh me full of ioyefull thought It sleeth me that it lasteth nought Ah lorde why nyll ye me socoure The ioye I trowe that I langoure The deth I wolde me shulde slo whyle I lye in her armes two Myne harme is harde wythouten wene My great vnease full ofte I mene BVt wolde loue do so I myght Haue fully ioye of her so bryght My payne were quitte me richly Alas to greate a thynge aske I It is but folye and wronge wenyng To aske so outragious a thyng And who so asketh folyly He mote be warned hastely And I ne wote what I maye say I am so ferre out of the way For I wolde haue full great lykyng And full greate ioye of lasse thyng For wolde she of her gentylnesse withouten more me ones kesse It were to me a greate guerdon Relece of al my passion But it is harde to come therto All is but foly that I do So hygh I haue myne herte sette where I maye no comforte gette I wote not where I saye wel or nought But thys I wote well in my thought Thet it were better of her alone For to stynte my wo and mone A loke on her I cast goodly That for to haue all vtterly Of an other all hole the play Ah lorde where I shal byde the day That euer she shal my lady be He is full cured that maye her se A god whan shall the dawnyng sprynge To lyggen thus is an angry thynge I haue no ioye thus here to lye whan that my loue is not me bye A man to lyen hath great disese whyche may not slepe ne rest in ese I wolde it dawed and were now day And that the nyght were went away For were it daye I wolde vp ryse Ah slowe sunne shewe thyne enprise Spede the to sprede thy beemes bryght And chace the derkenesse of the nyght To put away the stoundes stronge whych in me lasten al to longe The nyght shalte thou contynue so wythout rest in payne and wo yf euer thou knewe of loue distresse Thou shall mowe lerne in that sickenesse And thus endurynge shalte thou lye And ryse on morowe vp erly Out of thy bedde and harneys the Er euer dawnyng thou mayst se Al priuely than shalte thou gone what whyder it be thy selfe alone For reyne or hayle for snowe for slete Thyder she dwelleth that is so swete The whiche may fall a slepe be And thynketh but lytle vpon the Than shalte thou go ful foule aferde Loke yf the gate be vnsperde And wayte wythout in wo and payne Ful yuel a coulde in wynde and rayne Than shalt thou go the dore before If thou mayst fynde any shore Or hole or refte what euer it were Than shalte thou stoupe and laye to eerâ— If they wythin a slepe be I meane al saue thy lady free whom wakynge yf thou mayst aspye Go put thy selfe in inpardye To aske grace and the bymene That she may wete wythout wene That thou nyght no reste haste had So sore for her thou were bestad women well ought pytie to take Of hem that sorowen for her sake And loke for loue of that relyke That thou thynke none other lyke For whan thou hast so great annoy Shal kysse the er thou go awey And holde that in ful great deynte And for that no man shal the se Before the house ne in the way Loke thou begone agayne er day Such commyng and such goyng Such heuynesse and such walkyng Maketh louers wythouten any wene Vnder her clothes pale and lene For loue leaueth coloure ne cleernesse who loueth trewe hath no fatnesse Thou shalt well by thy selfe se That thou must nedes assayed be For men that shape hem other way Falsely her ladyes for to betray It is no wonder though they be fatte wyth false othes her loues they gatte For ofte I se suche losengeours Fatter than Abottes or priours Yet wyth o thynge I the charge That is to saye that thou be large Vnto the mayde that her doth serue So best her thanke thou shalt deserue yeue her gyftes and get her grace For so thou may thanke purchace That she the worthy holde and fre Thy lady and al that may the se Also her seruauntes worshyp aye And please as much as thou maye Great good through hem maye come to the Bycause wyth her they bene priue They shal her tell howe they the fande Curreys and wyse and wel doande And she shal preyse wel the more Loke out of lande thou be not fore And yf such cause thou haue that the Behoueth to gone out of countre Leaue hole thyne hert in hostage Tyl thou agayne make thy passage Thynke longe to se the swete thyng That hath thyne herte in her kepyng Nowe haue I tolde the in what wyse A louer shal do me seruice Do it than yf thou wolte haue The mede that thou after craue WHan loue al thys had boden me I sayd hym sir howe may it be That louers may in such manere Endure y e paine ye haue said here I meruayle me wonder faste Howe any man may lyue or laste In such payne and such brennyng In sorowe and thought and such syghyng Aye vnrelesed wo to make whether so it be they slepe or wake In such anoy continually As helpe me god this meruayle I Howe man but he were made of stele Myght lyue a month such paynes to fele THe God of loue than sayde me Frende by the fayth I owe to the May no man haue good but he it bye A man lyueth more tenderlye The thyng that he hath bought moste dere For wete thou well wythout were In thanke that thinge is taken more For whych a man hath suffred sore Certes no wo ne may attayne Vnto the sore of loues payne None yuell therto ne may amounte No more than a man counte The droppes that of the water be For drye as wel the greate see Thou myghtest as the harmes tell Of hem that wyth loue dwell In seruice
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
ne founde frowarde ne fell But toke agree all hole my playe But loue is of so harde assaye That all at ones he reued me when I wente best abouen to haue be It is of loue as of fortune That chaungeth ofte and nyll contune whych whylom woll on folke smyle And glombe on hem another whyle Nowe frende nowe foe shalt her fele For a twynclynge tourneth her whele She can wrythe her heed awaye Thys is the concourse of her playe She can areyst that doth mourne And whirle adowne and ouertourne who sytteth hyghest but as her lust A foole is he that woll her trust For it is I that am come downe Through charge and reuolutioun Syth Bialacoil more fro my twyne Shette in the prison yonde wythinne Hys absence at myne herte I fele For all my ioye and all myne hele was in hym and in the Rose That but you woll whych hym doth close Open that I maye hym se Loue woll not that I cured be Of the paynes that I endure Nor of my cruell auenture AH Bialacoil myne owne dere Though thou be nowe a prisonere Kepe at leest thyne herte to me And suffre not that it daunted be Ne let not Ielousye in hys rage Putten thyne herte in no seruage All though he chastyce the wythout And make thy body vnto hym lout Haue herte as harde as diamaunt Stedfast and naught plyaunt In prison though thy body be At large kepe thyne herte free A trewe herte woll not plye For no manace that it maye drye If Ielosye doth the payne Quyte hym hys whyle thus agayne To venge the at leest in thought Yf other waye thou mayst nought And in thys wyse subtelly worche and wynne the maystry But yet I am in great affraye Lest thou do not as I saye I drede thou canst me great maugre That thou enprysoned arte for me But that not for my trespas For through me neuer dyscouered was Yet thynge that ought by secret well more annoye is in me Then is in the of thys myschaunce For I endure more harde penaunce Then any can sayne or thynke That for the sorowe almost I synke when I remembre me of my wo Full nyghe out of my wytte I go Inwarde myne herte I fele blede For comfortlesse the death I drede Owe I not well to haue dystresse when false through her wyckednesse And traytours that arne enuyous To noyen me be so coragious Ah Bialacoil full well I se That they hem shape to dysceyue the To make the buxome to her lawe And wyth her corde the to drawe where so hem lust ryght at her wyll I drede they haue the brought there tyll wythout comforte thought me slethe Thys game woll brynge me to my dethe For yf I your good wyll lese I more be deed I maye not chese And yf that thou foryete me Myne herte shall neuer in lykynge be Nor elswhere fynde solace Yf I be put out of your grace As it shall neuer ben I hope Then shulde I fall in wanhope Alas in wanhope naye parde For I woll neuer dyspeyred be Yf hope me fayle then am I Vngratious and vnworthy In hope I woll conforted be For Loue when he betaught her me Sayd that hope where so I go Shulde aye be relees to my wo But what and she my bales bete And be to me curteys and swete She is in nothynge full certayne Louers she put in full great payne And maketh hem wyth wo to dele Her fayre behest dysceyueth fele For she woll behote sykerly And faylen after vtterly Ah that is a full noyous thynge For many a louer in louynge Hangeth vpon her and trusteth fast whych lese her trauayle at the last Of thyng to cōmen she wote ryght nought Therfore yf it be wysely sought Her counsayle foly is to take For many tymes when she woll make A full good sylogysme I drede That afterwarde there shall in dede Folowe an yuell conclusyoun This put me in confusioun For many tymes I haue it sene That many haue begyled bene For truste that they haue set in hope whych fell hem afterwarde a slope BVt nathelesse yet gladlye she wolde That he that woll hym wyth her holde Had altymes her purpose clere wythout dysceyte or any were That she desyreth sykerly when I her blamed I dyd foly But what auayleth her good wyll when she ne may staunche my stounde yll That helpeth lytell that she may do Outtake behest vnto my wo And heest certayne in no wyse wythout yefte is not to prayse WHen heest and dede a sondre vary They done a great contrary Thus am I possed vp and downe wyth doole thought and confusyoun Of my dysease there is no nombre Daungere and shame me encombre Drede also and Ielousye And wycked Tonge full of enuye Of whych the sharpe and cruel Ire Full ofte me put in great martyre They haue my ioye fully lette Syth Bialacoil they haue beshette Fro me in pryson wyckedly whome I loue so entierly That it woll my bane be But I the sooner maye hym se And yet more ouer worst of all There is set to kepe foule her befall A Rympled vecke ferre roune in rage Frownynge and yelowe in her vysage whych in awayte lyeth daye and nyght That none of hem maye haue a syght NOwe mote my sorow enforsed be Full soth it is that Loue yafe me Thre wonder yeftes of hys grace whych I haue lorne now in thys place Syth they ne may wythout drede Helpen but lytell who taketh hede For here auayleth no Swete thought And swete Speche helpeth ryght nought The thyrde was called Swete Lokynge That nowe is lorne wythout lesynge YEftes were fayre but not for thy They helpe me but symply But Bialacoil loosed be To gone at large and to be free For hym my lyfe lyeth all in doute But yf he come the rather oute Alas I trowe it woll not bene For howe shulde I euermore hym sene He maye not out and that is wronge Bycause the Toure is so stronge Howe shulde he out or by whose prowesse Of so stronge a forteresse By me certayne it nyll be do God wotte I haue no wytte therto But well I wote I was in rage when I to Loue dyd homage who was in cause in sothfastnesse But her selfe dame Idelnesse whych me conueyd through fayre prayere To entre in to that fayre vergere She was to blame me to leue The whych nowe doth me sore greue A fooles worde is nought to trowe Ne worthe an apple for to lowe Menne shulde hym snybbe bytterly At pryme temps of hys foly I was a foole and she me leued Through who I am ryght nought releued She accomplyshed all my wyll That nowe me greueth wonder yll REason me sayd what shulde fall A foole my selfe I maye well call That loue asyde I had not layde And trowed that dame Reason sayde Reason had both skyll and ryght when she me blamed wyth all her myght To medle of loue that hath me shent But certayne nowe I
That many a false leasyng hath thought That meueth youre foole eloquence That iangleth euer in audience And on the folke areyseth blame And doth hem dâ—shonour and shame For thyng that maye haue no preuyng But lykelynesse and contryuyng For I dare sayne that reason demeth It is not al soth thynge that semeth And it is synne to controue Thyng that is to reproue Thys wote ye wele and syr therfore Ye arne to blame the more And nathlesse he recketh lyte He yeueth nat nowe therof a myte For yf he thought harme parfaye He wolde come and gone al daye He coulde him selfe not abstene Nowe cometh he not and that is sene For he ne taketh of it no cure But yf it be through auenture And lasse than other folke algate And thou her watchest at the gate wyth speare in thyne arest alwaye There muse musarde al the daye Thou wakest nyght and daye for thought Iwys thy traueyle is for nought And Ielosy wythouten fayle Shal neuer quyte the thy trauayle And skath is that fayre welcomyng wythout any trespassyng Shal wrongfully in prison be There wepeth and languysheth he And though thou neuer yet ywys Agyltest man no more but thys Take not a grefe it were worthy To put the out of thys bayly And afterwarde in prison lye And fettre the tyl that thou dye For thou shalt for thys synne dwelle Ryght in the dyuels arse of helle But yf that thou repent the Mafaye thou lyest falsely quod he what welcome with mischaunce now Haue I therfore herbered you To saye me shame and eke reproue with sory hap to your behoue Am I today your harbegere Go herber you els where than here That han a lyer called me Two tregeturs art thou and he That in myne house do me this shame And for my sothe sawe ye me blame Is this the sermon that ye make To all the deuyls I me take Or els god thou me confounde But er men dydden this castell founde It passeth not ten dayes or twelue But it was tolde ryght to my selue And as they sayd ryght so tolde I He kyst the rose priuyly Thus sayd I now and haue sayd yore I not where he dyd any more why shulde men saye me such a thynge Yf it had ben gabbynge Ryght so sayd I and woll say yet I trowe I lyed not of it And with my bemes I woll blowe To all neyghbours arowe How he hath both coÌ„men and gone Tho spake false semblaunt ryght anon All is not gospell out of dout That men sayne in the towne about Laye no deefe ere to my speakyng I swere you syr it is gabbyng I trowe ye wot well certaynly That no man loueth hym tenderly That sayth hym harme yf he wote it All be he neuer so poore of wyt And sothe is also sykerly This knowe ye syr as well as I That louers gladly woll vysiten The places there her loues habyten This man you loueth and eke honoureth This man to serue you laboureth And clepeth you his frende so dere And this man maketh you good chere And euery where that you meteth He you salweth and he you greteth He preseth not so oft as ye Ought of his commyng encombred be There presen other folke on you Full ofter than he doth nowe And yf his hert hym strayned so Vnder the Rose for to go Ye shulde hym sene so oft nede That ye shulde take hym with the dede He coude his commyng not forbeare Though he hym thrilled with a speare It nere nat than as it is nowe But trusteth well I swere it you That it is clene out of his thought Syr certes he ne thynketh it nought Nomore ne doth Fayre welcomyng That sore abyeth all this thynge And yf they were of one assent Full soone were the Rose hent The maugre yours wolde be And syr of o thyng herkeneth me Syth ye this man that loueth you Han sayd suche harme and shame now wytteth well yf he gessed it Ye maye well demen in your wyt He noulde nothynge loue you so Ne callen you his frende also But nyght and daye he wol wake The castel to destroye and take Yf it were soth as ye deuyse Or some man in some maner wyse Myght it warne hym euery dele Or by hym self perceyue wele For syth he myght not come and gone As he was whylom wont to done He myght it soone wyte and se But nowe all otherwyse wot he Than haue we syr all vtterly Deserued hell and iolyly The deth of hell doutlesse That thrallen folke so gyltlesse FAlse semblaunte so proueth this thynge That he canne none answerynge And seeth alwaye suche apparaunce That nygh he fell in repentaunce And sayd hym syr it maye well be Semblaunt a good man semen ye And Abstinence full wyse ye seme Of o talent you both I deme what counsayle woll ye to me yeuen Ryght here anon thou shalt be shryuen And say thy synne without more Of this shalt thou repent sore For I am prest and haue poste To shryue folke of moost dignitie That ben as wyde as worlde may dure Of al this worlde I haue the cure And that had neuer yet persoun Ne vicarie of no maner toun And god wot I haue of the A thousande tymes more pytye Than hath thy prest parochial Though thy frende be specyall I haue auauntage in o wyse That your prelates ben not so wyse Ne halfe so lettred as am I I am lycenced boldly In diuinitie for to rede And to confessen out of drede Yf ye woll you nowe confesse And leaue your synnes more and lesse without abode knele downe anon And you shall haue absolucion FINIS ¶ Here endeth the Romaunt of the Rose And here foloweth the boke of Troylous and Creseyde ¶ Troylus and Creseyde THe double sorow of Troilus to tellen That was kynge Priamus sonne of Troy In louyng how his aduentures fellen From woo to wele and after out of ioye My purpose is er that I parte froye Thou Thesiphon thou helpe me for tendite These woful verses that wepen as I write To the I clepe thou goddesse of tourment Thou cruel furye sorowyng euer in payne Helpe me that am the sorowful instrument That helpeth louers as I can complayue For well syt it the soth for to sayne I woful wyght to haue a drerie fere And to a sorouful tale a sorye â—here For I that god of loues seruauntes serue Ne dare to loue for myne vnlykelynesse Prayen for spede al shulde I therfore sterue So farre am I fro his helpe in derkenesse But nathelesse if this maye done gladnesse To any louer and his cause aueyle Haue he my thaÌ„ke and myne be the trauyle But ye louers that bathen in gladnesse Yf any drope of pytie in you be Remembreth you of passed heuynesse That ye haue felte and on the aduersitie Of other folke and thynketh how that ye Han felt that loue durst you displease Or ye han won hym with to great an ease And prayeth for hem that ben in
ye lyuen by my trouth And also thynke wel that this is no gaude For me were leuer thou I and he wer haÌ„ged than I shuld be his baude As hygh as men myght on vs all yse I am thyne Eme the shame were to me As well as the yf that I shulde assent Thrugh myne abet that he thyne honoure shent Now vnderstoÌ„d for I you nought requyre To bynde you to hym through no behest Saue only that ye make hym better chere Than ye han done er this more feest So that his lyfe saued at the leest This all and some and playnly our entent God helpe me so I neuer other ment Lo this request is nought but skyll iwys Ne dout of reson parde is there none I set the worst that ye dreden this Men wold woÌ„dre to sene hym come gone Therayenst answer I this anon That euery wight but he be foole of kynde wol deme it loue of freÌ„dship in his mynde what who woll demen though he se a man To temple gon that he the ymages eeteth Thynke eke howe wel and wysely y t he can Gouerne hym selfe y t he nothinge foryeteth That where he coÌ„meth he pris thoÌ„k hiÌ„ getteth And eke therto he shal com here so seld what force were it though all the towne be helde Such loue of frendes reigneth al this toun And wrye you in that mantell euermo And god so wys be my sauacion As I haue sayd your best is to do so But good nece alway to stynt his wo So let your daunger sugred ben alyte That of his death ye be nat all to wyte ¶ Creseyde which y t herd hym in this wyse Thought I shal feleÌ„ what he meneth iwis Now Eme ê™ she what wolde ye deuyse what is your rede I shulde done of this That is well sayd ê™ he certayne best is That ye hym loue ayen for his louyng As loue for loue is skylfull guerdonynge Thynke eke how elde wasteth euery houre In eche of you a parte of beautye And therfore er that age the deuoure Go loue for olde there woll no wyght of y e Let this prouerbe a lore vnto you be To late yware ê™ bautie whan it past And elde counteth daunger at the last The kynges foole is wont to crye loude whaÌ„ y t him thinketh a womaÌ„ bereth her hye So longe mote ye loue and all proude Tyll crowes feet growe vnder your eye And send you than a myrrour in to prye In which y t ye maye se your face a morowe Nece I byd wysh you nomore sorowe with this he stynt and cast downe the heed And she began to brest a wepe anon And sayd alas for wo why nere I deed For of this worlde the fayth is all agone Alas what shulden straunge to me done whan he that for my best frende I wende Rate me to laue and shulde it me defende Alas I wolde haue trusted doutlesse That yf that I thrugh my disaduenture Had loued eyther hym or Achilles Hector or any maner creature Ye nolde haue had no mercy ne measure On me but alwaye had me in repreue This false worlde alas who may it leue what is this all the ioye and all the feest Is this your rede is this my blysful caas Is this the very mede of your behest Is all this paynted processe sayd alas Ryght for this fyne O lady myne Pallas Thou in this dredefull case for me purueye For so astonyed am I that I dye with that she gan full sorowfully to syke Ne may it be no bet quod Pandarus By god I shal nomore come here this weke And god toforne that am mystrusted thus I se well nowe ye setten lyght of vs Or of our death alas I wofull wretche Myght he yet lyue of me were nought to retche O cruell god O dispytous Marte O suries thre of hell on you I crye So let me neuer out of this house departe Yf that I ment harme or vyllanye But syth I se my lorde mote nedes dye And I with hym here I me shryue and sey That wyckedly ye done vs both dey But syth it lyketh you that I be deed By Neptunus that god is of the see Fro this forth shall I neuer eten breed Tyll I myne owne hert bloude maye se For certayne I woll dye as sone as he And vp he stert on his waye he raught Tyll she agayne hym by the lappe caught Creseyde which y e welnygh starfe for feare So as she was the fearfullest wyght That might be and herde eke with her care And sawe the sorowful ernest of the knight And in his prayer sawe eke none vnryght And for the harme eke that might fall more She gan to rewe dred her wonder sore And thought this vnhappes fallen thycke All day for loue and in suche maner caas As men ben cruell in hem selfe and wicke And yf this man slee here hym selfe alaas In my presence it nyl be no solace what men wolde of it deme I can nat saye It nedeth me ful slyghly for to playe And with a sorowfull sygh she sayd thrye Ah lorde what me is tyd a sory chaunce For myne astate lyeth in a ieopardye And eke myne emes lyfe lyeth in balaunce But nathelesse with gods gouernaunce I shall so done myne honour shal I kepe And eke his lyfe and stynt for to wepe Of harmes two the lesse is for to chese Yet had I leuer maken hym good chere In honour than myne emes lyfe to lese Ye sayne ye nothyng els me requere No wys ê™ he myne owne nece dere Now wel ê™ she I wyll do my payne I shal myne hert ayen my lust constrayne But y t I nyll nat holden hym in honde Ne loue a man that can I nought ne maye Ayenst my wyll but els wol I fonde Myn honor saue pleseÌ„ him from day today Therto nolde I nat ones haue sayde naye But that I dred as in my fantasye But cesse cause aye cesseth maladye But here I make a protestation That in his processe yf ye deper go That certaynly for no sauacion Of you though that ye steruen both two Though all the worlde on a day be my so Ne shall I neuer on hym haue other routh I grauÌ„t wel ê™ Pandare by my trouth But maye I trust wel to you quod he That of this thyng y t ye han hyght me here Ye woll it holde truly vnto me yea doutlesse quod she myne vncle dere Ne that I shal haue cause in this matere Quod he to playne or ofter you to preche why no parde what nedeth more speche Tho fyll they in other tales glade Tyll at the last O good eme quod she tho For loue of god which that vs both made Tell me how fyrst ye wysten of his wo wot none of it but ye he sayd no Can he wel speke of loue ê™ she I prey Tel me for I the bet me shal puruey Tho Pandarus a lyte gan to smyle And sayd
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
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
honour may haue and he plesaunce For I am here al in your gouernaunce That is wel sayd ê™ he my nece dere There good thryfte on that wyse geÌ„tyl hert But lyggeth styl taketh hym ryght here It nedeth not no ferther for hym stert And ech of you easeth other sorowes smert For loue of god and Venus I the herye For sone hope I that we shal ben merye This Troylus ful sone on knees him sette Ful sobrely ryght by her beddes heed And in his best wyse hys lady grette But lorde she wore sodaynlyche reed Ne thoughe men shulde smyten of her heed She colde not a worde aright out brynge So sodaynly for hys sodayne comyng But Pandarus that so wele coulde fele In euery thyng to play anon began And said nece se how this lorde can knele Nowe for your trouth se thys gentyll man And with that word he for a quyshen ran And said kneleth now whyle that you leste There god your hertes brynge sone at reste Can I naught sayn for she bad him nat rise If sorowe it put out of her remembraunce Or els that she toke it in the wyse Of duetie as for his obseruaunce But wel fynde I she did hym this plesauÌ„ce That she hym kyst al though she syked sore And bade him sytte adowne withouteÌ„ more Quod Pandarus now wol ye well begyn Nowe doth him sytte good nece dere Vpon your beddes syde al therwythin That eche of you the bet may other here And w t that worde he drew him to the fyere And toke a light fonde his countenaunce As for to loke vpon an olde romaunce Creseyde that was Troylus ladye ryght And clere stode in a grounde of sykernesse Al thought she her seruaunt her knyght Ne shulde non vntrouth in her gesse That nathlesse consydred hys distresse And that loue is in cause of such foly Thus spake she to hym of his ialousy Lo hert myne as wolde the excellence Of loue ayenst the which that no man may Ne ought eke goodly maken resistence And eke bycause I felte wel and say Your great trouth and seruyce euery day And y t your hert al myn was soth to sayne This droue me for to rew vpon your payne And your goodnes haue I fouÌ„deÌ„ alway yet Of which my dere hert and all my knyght I thanke it you as ferre as I haue wyt Al can I not as moche as it were ryght And I emforth my coÌ„nyng and my myght Haue aye shal howe sore that me smert Ben to you trewe hole wythall myne hert And dredelesse that shal be founden at preue But herte myne what al thys is to sayne Shal wel be told so y t ye nought you greue Though I to you right on your self coÌ„plain For there wyth meane I finally payne That halte your hert and mine in heuynesse Fully to slayne and euery wronge redresse My good myne not I for why ne howe That ielousy alas that wycked wyuere Thus causelesse is cropen in to you The harme of which I wold faine deliuere Alas that he al hole or of him slyuere Shulde haue hys refute in so digne a place That Ioue him sone out of your hert race But O thou O auctour of nature Is thys an honour to thy dignyte That folke vngylty suffre here iniure And who that gylty is al quyte goth he O were it leful for to playne of the That vndeserued suffrest ialousy O that I wolde vpon the playne and crye Eke al my wo is this that folke nowe vsen To sayne ryght thus yee ialousy is loue And wolde a bushel of venym al excusen For whaÌ„ that a graine of loue is on it shoue But wote hygh Ioue that sytte aboue If it be lyker loue hate or grame And after that it ought beare hys name But certayne is some maner ialousye Is excusable more than some ywys As whan cause is and some such fantasye wyth pyte so wel expressed is That it vnneth doth or sayth amys But goodly drynketh vp al hys distresse And that excuse I for the gentyllesse And some so full of furye is and dispyte That it surmounteth hys repression But hert myne ye be nat in that plyte That thonke I god for which your passion I wyl not cal it but illusion Of habundaunce of loue and besy cure That doth your herte this disese endure Of which I am sory but not wroth But for my deuoure and your hertes resâ— where so you lyst by ordal or by othe By sorte or in what wyse so you leste For loue of god let preue it for the best And yf that I be gylty do me dey Alas what myght I more done or sey wyth that a fewe bryght teeres newe Out of her eyen fel and thus she seyde now god y u wost in thouÈht ne dede vntrew To Troylus was neuer yet Creseyde with y t her heed downe in the bed she leyde And with the shete it wrigh syghed sore held her peace nat a word spake she more But now help god to quench all this sorow So hope I that he shal for he best may For I haue sene of a ful misty morowe Folowen ful ofte a mery sommers day And after wynter foloweth grene Mayâ— Men sene alday and reden eke in stories That after sharpe shoures bene victories Thys Troylus whan he her wordes herde Haue ye no care him lyste not to slepe For it thought hym no strokes of a yerde To here or se Creseyde hys lady wepe But wel he felte aboute hys herte crepe For euery teare whych that Creseyde a stert The craÌ„pe of dethe to strayne him by y e hert And in hys mynde he gan the tyme acurse That he came there and that he was borne For nowe is wycke turned in to worse And al that labour he hath done beforne he wend it lost he thought he nas but lorne O Pandarus thought he alas thy wyle Serueth of naught so welaway the whyle And there withal he hynge adown his heed And fel on knees and sorowfully he syght what might he saine he felt he nas but deed For wroth was she y t shuld his sorowes liÈt But nathelesse whan that he speken myght ThaÌ„ saide he thus god wot y t of this game whan al is wyst than am I not to blame Therwyth the sorowe of his hert shette That from hys eyen fyl there nat a teere And euery spyrit his vygour in knette So they astonyed or oppressed were The felyng of sorowe or of hys feere Or of aught els fledde were out of towne Adowne he fyl al sodaynly in swoune Thys was no lytle sorowe for to se But al was hushte Pandarus vp as faste O nece peace or we be lost ê™ he Bethe not agaste but certayne at laste For thys or that he in to bedde hym caste And sayd O thefe is this a mannes herte And he rent al to his bare sherte And sayd nece but ye helpe vs nowe Alas your owne
by might It shulde nat ben suffred me to erre As it stonte nowe ne done so great vnright I shulde haue also blame of euery wight My fathers graunt yf that I so withstode Sens she is chaunged for the townes gode I haue eke thought so it were her assent To aske her at my father of hys grace Then thynke I thys were her accusement Sens well I wote I may her not purchace For sens my father in so hygh a place As parlyment hath her eschaunge ensealed He nyll for me hys lettre be repealed Yet drede I moste her herte to perturbe wyth violence yf I do suche a game For yf I wolde it openly dysturbe It muste be dysclaundre to her name And me were leuer dye then her defame As nolde god but I shulde haue Her honour leuer then my lyfe to saue Thus am I loste for aught that I can se For certayne is that I am her knyght I muste her honour leuer haue then me In euery case as louer ought of ryght Thus am I with desyre and reason twyght Desyre for to dystourben her me redeth And reason nyll not so myne herte dredeth Thus wepynge that he could neuer cease He sayd alas how shall I wretch fare For well fele I alwaye my loue encrease And hope is lasse and lasse Pandare Encreasen eke the causes of my care So welawaye why nyll myne herte breste For as in loue there is but lytell reste Pandare answerd frende thou mayst for me Done as the lyst but had I it so hote And thyne estate she shulde go wyth me Tho al this towne cryed on thys thynge by note I nolde set at al that noyse a grote For wheÌ„ meÌ„ haue cryed theÌ„ woll they ronne Eke woÌ„der last but .ix. dayes neuer in tonne Deuyne not in reason aye so depe Ne curtesly but helpe thy selfe anone Bet is that other then thy seluen wepe And namely sens ye two ben all one Ryse vp for by myne heed she shall not gone And rather be in blame a lytell yfounde TheÌ„ sterue here as a gnat withouteÌ„ wouÌ„de It is no shame vnto you ne no vyce Her to wyth holden that ye loueth moste Parauenture she myght holde the for nyce So letten her go thus vnto the grekes hoste Thinke eke fortune as wel thy seluen woste Helpeth hardy man vnto hys empryse And weyueth wretches for her cowardyse And though thy lady wolde alyte her greue Thou shalt thy selfe thy peace herafter make But as to me certayne I can not leue That she wolde it as nowe for yuell take why shulde then for feare thyne herte quake Thynke howe Paris hath y t is thy brother A loue why shalt thou not haue another And Troylus o thynge I dare the swere That yf Creseyde whych that is thy lefe Nowe loueth the as well as thou doste here God helpe me so she nyll not take a grefe Though y u do boote anone in this myschefe And yf she wylneth fro the for to passe Then is she false so loue her well the lasse For thy take hert thynke ryght as a knight Through loue is broken aldaye euery lawe Kyth now somwhat thy corage thy myght Haue mercy on thy selfe for any awe Let not this wretched wo thyne hert gnawe But manly set the worlde on syxe seuen And yf thou dye a marter go to heuen I wol my selfe ben wyth the at thys dede Though I and all my kyn vpon a stounde Shulde in a strete as dogges lyggen deede Through gyrte wyth many a bloody wouÌ„de In euery case I woll a frende be founde And yf the lysteth here steruen as a wretche Adieu the deuell spede hym that retche Thys Troylus gan w t tho wordes quicken And sayd frende graunt mercy I assent But certaynly thou mayst not so me prycken Ne payne none ne may me so turment That for no case it is not myne entent At short wordes though I dyen sholde To rauyshen her but yf her selfe it wolde why so meane I ê™ PaÌ„darus al this day But tel me then hast thou her well assayde That sorowest thus he answerde him nay wherof arte thou ê™ PaÌ„dare theÌ„ dysmayde That nost not that she woll ben euel apayde To rauysheÌ„ her sens thou hast not ben there But yf that Ioue tolde it in thyne eere For thy ryse vp as nought ne were anone And washe thy face to y e kynge thou weÌ„de Or he may wondren whyther thou art gone Thou must w t wysedome hym other blede Or vpon case he may after the sende Or thou beware and shortly brother dere Be glad let me werke in thys matere For I shall shape it so that sekerly Thou shalt this night soÌ„time in some maner Come speken wyth thy lady priuely And by her wordes eke as by her chere Thou shalt full sone aperceyue wel here Of her entent and in thys case the beste And fare nowe wel for in this poynt I reste The swyfte fame whych y t false thinges Equall reporteth lyke the thynges trewe was throughout Troy isled w t prestwinges Fro man to man and made hys tale al newe How Calcas doughter with her bright hew At parlyment wythout wordes more I graunted was in chaunge of Antenore The whych tale anone ryght as Creseyde Had herde she whych y t of her father rought As in thys case right nauÈt ne wheÌ„ he deyd Ful busely to Iupiter besought Yeue hem myschauÌ„ce y t thys tretys brought But shortly leste these tales soth were She durste at no wyght asken it for fere As she that had her herte al her mynde On Troylus yset so wonder faste That al this world ne miÈt her loue vnbynd Ne Troylus out of her herte caste She wold beÌ„ hys whyle y t her lyfe may last And she thus brenneth both in loue drede So that she nyst what was best to rede But as men sene in towne and all aboute That women vsen her frendes to visyte So to Creseyde of women came a route For pitous ioye and wenden her delyte And wyth her tales dere ynough a myte These women whych that in the cyte dwell They set hem downe sayd as I shall tell Quod fyrst that one I am glad trewly Bycause of you that shall your father se Another sayd ywys so am not I For all to lytle hath she wyth vs be Quod tho the thyrd I hope ywys that she Shall bryngen vs the peace on euery syde That wheÌ„ she goeth almyghty god her gyde Tho wordes tho womannyshe thynges She herd heÌ„ ryght as though she theÌ„ce were For god it wote her hert on other thynge is Although the body sat amonge hem there Her aduertence is alwaye els where For Troylus full faste her soule sought wythouteÌ„ worde on hym alway she thought These women that thus wendeÌ„ her to plese About naught gonne all her tales spende Suche vanite ne can done her none ese As she that all thys meane whyle
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
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
Which w t your coÌ„myng home ayeÌ„ to Troy Ye may redresse and more a thousande sythe Than euer I had encressen in me ioy For was there neuer herte yet so blythe To haue his lyfe as I shall ben as swythe As I you se and though no maner routhe Can meuen you yet thinketh on your trouthe And yf so be my gylte hath dethe deserued Or yf you lyst no more vpon me se In guerdon yet of that I haue you serued Beseche I you myn owne lady fre That her vpon ye wolden write me For loue of god my right lode sterre That deth may make an ende of al my werre If other cause aught doth you for to dwel That with your letter ye may me recomforte For though to me your absence is an hell wyth pacience I woll my wo comforte And with your lettre of hope I wol disporte Now writeth swete let me thus nat playn with hope or dethe delyuereth me fro payne Iwys myne owne dere herte trewe I wote that whan ye next vpon me se So loste haue I myn heale eke myn hewe Creseyde shall nat conne knowen me Iwys myne hertes day my lady fre So thursteth aye myne herte to beholde Your beaute that vnneth my lyfe I holde I say no more all haue I for to sey To you wel more than I tell may But whether that ye do me lyue or dey Yet pray I god so yeue you right good day And fareth wel goodly fayre fresh may As ye that lyfe or dethe me may commaunde And to youre trouthe aye I me recoÌ„maunde Wyth heale suche that but ye yeuen me The same heale I shal none heale haue In you lythe whan you lyst that it so be The day in which me clothen shal my graue And in you my lyfe in you might for to saue Me fro disease of all paynes smerte And fare nowe well myne owne swete herte Le vostre T. This lettre forth was sent vnto Creseyde Of whiche her answere in affecte was thys Full pitously she wrote ayen and seyde That also sone as she myght ywis She wold come mende al that was amys And fynally she wrote and sayd then She wolde come ye but she nyste when But in her letter made she suche feestes That woÌ„der was swore she loued him best Of which he founde but botomlesse byhestes But Troylus thou mayst nowe eest west Pype in an Iuy leefe yf that the lest Thus gothe the worlde god shylde vs fro mischaunce And euery wight that meneth trouth auauÌ„ce Encreasen gan the wo fro day to nyght Of Troylus for taryeng of Creseyde And lessen gan his hope and eke his myght For which al down he in his bedde him leyd He ne ete dronke ne slept ne worde seyde Imagynyng aye that she was vnkynde For which wel nigh he wext out of his mind This dreme of which I told haue eke beforn May neuer come out of his remembraunce He thought aye well he had his lady lorne And that Ioues of hys purueyaunce Hym shewed had in slepe the signyfiaunce Of her vntrouth and his disauenture And that the bore was shewed him in fygure For whiche he for Sybille his suster sente That called was Cassandre eke all aboute And all his dreame he tolde her er he stente And her besought assoylen him the doute Of the stronge boore with tuskes stoute And fynally within a lytell stounde Cassandre him gan thus hys dreme expouÌ„de She gan first smyle sayd o brother dere If thou a soth of this desyrest to knowe Thou muste a fewe of olde stories here To purpose howe that fortune ouerthrowe Hath lordes old through which wtin a throw Thou shalt this bore know of what kynde He comen is as men in bookes fynde Diane which that wroth was and in yre For grekes nolde done her sacrifyce Ne encens vpon her aulter sette on fyre She for that grekes gonne her so dispyse wrake her in a wonder cruel wyse For with a bore as great as oxe in stall She made vp frete her corne and vynes all To slee the bore was al y e countrey reysed Amonge whiche there came this bore to se A mayd one of this worlde the best ypraysed And Meleager lorde of that countre He loued so this freshe mayden fre That with his manhode er he wolde stente This bore he slough and her y e heed he sente Of whiche as olde bokes tellen vs There rose a conteke and a great enuye And of this lorde discended Tideus By lygne or els olde bokes lye But howe this Meleager gan to dye Through his mother woll I you nat tell For all to longe it were for to dwell She tolde eke howe Tideus er she stente Vnto the stronge cyte of Thebes To claymen kyngdom of the cyte went For his felawe dan Polimites Of whiche the brother dan Ethiocles Ful wrongfully of Thebes helde y e strentgh This tolde she by processe all by length She tolde eke howe Hemonydes asterte whan Tydeus slough fyfty knightes stoute She tolde eke all the prophesies by herte And howe that seuen kynges with her route Besiegeden the cyte all aboute And of the holy serpent and the well And of the furyes al she gan hym tell Associat profugum Tydeus primo Polimidem Tidea legatum docet insidiasque secundis Tertius Hermodien canit et vates latitantes Mors furie Leuine quinto narrantur et angues Quartus habet reges ineuntes prelia septem Archynon bustum sexto ludique leguntur Dat Graios Thebes vatem septimis vmbris Octauo cecidit Tibeus spes vita pelagis Ipomedon nono moritur cum Parthonepeo Fulmine percusso decimo Canapus superatur Vndecimo lese perimunt per vulnera fratres Argiuam flentem narrant duodenis et ignem Of Archinories buryeng and the playes And how Amphiorax fyll through y e grouÌ„de Howe Tideus was slayne lorde of Argeyes And howe Hypomedon in a lytell stounde was dreynte deed Parthonepe of wounde And also howe Campaneus the proude wyth thoÌ„der dynte was slayne y e cryed loude He gaÌ„ eke tel him how that eyther brother Ethiocles and Polimites also At a scarmyshe eche of hem slough other And of Argynes wepyng and her mo And how y e town was brent she told eke tho And tho discended downe from iestes olde To Diomede and thus she spake and tolde This ylke bore betokeneth Diomede Tideus sonne that downe discended is Fro Meleager that made the bore to blede And thy lady where so she be ywis This Diomede her herte hath and she hys wepe yf thou wolte or leaue for out of doute This Diomede is in and thou arte oute Thou sayest nat soth ê™ he thou sorceresse wyth all thy false goste of prophecie Thou wenest ben a great deuyneresse Nowe seest thou nat this foole of fantasye Paynen her on ladyes for to lye Away ê™ he there Ioues yeue the sorowe Thou shalt be fals paraueÌ„ture yet to morow As wel thou
that She ryst her vp wyth a full drery herte And in a caue wyth dredfull foote she sterte For by the moone she sawe it well wythall And as she ran her wymple let she fall And toke no hede so sore she was a whaped And eke so glad that she was escaped And thus she sate and lurketh wonder styll when that thys lyonesse hath dronke her fyll Aboute the well gan she for to wynde And ryght anone the wymple gan she fynde And wyth her blody mouth it all to rente when thys was done no lenger she ne stente But to y e wodde her way theÌ„ hath she nome And at the last thys Piramus is come But all to longe alas at home was he The moone shone men myght well yse And in hys way as that he come full faste Hys eyen to the grounde adowne he caste And in the sonde as he behelde adoun He sawe the steppes brode of a lyoun And in hys herte he sodeynly agrose And pale he wexte therwyth hys herte arose And nere he came fouÌ„de the wymple torne Alas quod he the daye that I was borne Thys o nyght wyll both vs louers slee Howe shulde I asken mercy of Tisbee when I am he that haue you slayne alas My byddynge hath you slayne in thys caas Alas to bydde a woman gone by nyght In place there as peryll fallen myght And I so slowe alas I ne had be Here in thys place a furlonge way crye Nowe what lyoun that is in thys foreste My body mote he rente or what beste That wylde is gnawen mote he myne herte And with that worde he to y e wymple sterte And kyst it ofte and wept on it full sore And sayd wymple alas there nys nomore But thou shalt fele as well the bloode of me As thou haste felte the bledynge of Tisbe And wyth y t worde he smote hym to y e herte The bloode out of the wouÌ„de as brode sterte As water when the conduyt broken is Nowe Tisbe whych that wyst not thys But syttynge in her drede she thought thus Yf it so fall that my Piramus Be comen hether and may me not yfynde He may me holden false and eke vnkynde And out she cometh after hym gan espyen Both wyth her herte and wyth her eyen And thought I woll hym tellen of my drede Both of the lyonesse and of my dede And at the laste her loue then hath she fouÌ„de Beatynge wyth hys heeles on the grouÌ„de All blody and therwythall abacke she sterte And lyke the wawes quappe gan her herte And pale as boxe she woxe and in a throwe Auysed her and gan hym well to knowe That it was Piramus her herte dere who coulde wryte whych a deedly chere Hath Tisbe nowe how her heere she rente And howe she gan her selfe to turmente And how she lyeth swouneth on y e grouÌ„de And how she wept of teeres full his wouÌ„de How medleth she his bloode w t her coÌ„plaint How w t his bloode her seluen gan she paynt Howe clyppeth she the deed corse alas Howe doth thys wofull Tisbe in thys caas Howe kysseth she hys frosty mouthe so colde who hath don this who hath ben so bold To sleen my lefe o speake Piramus I am thy Tisbe that the calleth thus And therwythall she lyfteth vp hys heed Thys wofull maÌ„ that was not fully deed when that he herde the name of Tisbe cryen On her he cast hys heuy deedly eyen And downe agayne yeldeth vp the goost Tisbe ryst vp wythout noyse or boost And sawe her wymple and hys empty sheth And eke hys swerde y t hym hath don to deth Then spake she thus thy woful haÌ„de ê™ she Is stronge ynough in such a werke to me For loue shall yeue me strength hardynesse To make my wounde large ynough I gesse I woll the folowen deed and I woll be Felowe and cause eke of thy dethe ê™ she And though y t nothynge saue the deth only Myght the fro me departe truely Thou shalt no more departe nowe fro me Then fro the deth for I woll go wyth the And nowe ye wretched ielouse fathers our we that weren whylom chyldren your we prayen you wythouten more enuye That in o graue we moten lye Sens loue hath brought vs this pitous end And ryghtwyse God to euery louer send That loueth truly more prosperite Then euer had Piramus and Tisbe And let no gentyll woman her assure To putten her in suche an auenture But god forbyd but a woman can Ben as trewe and louynge as a man And for my parte I shall anone it kyth And wyth y e word his swerd she toke swyth That warme was of her loues blode hote And to the herte she her seluen smote And thus are Tisbe and Piramus ygo Of trewe men I fynde but fewe mo In all my bokes saue thys Piramus And therfore haue I spoken of hym thus For it is deynte to vs men to fynde A man that can in loue be trewe and kynde Here maye ye sene what louer so he be A woman dare and can as well as he ¶ Here endeth the legende of Tysbe of Babilon and here foloweth the legende of Dido quene of Cartage GLorie and honoure Virgyle Mantuan Be to thy name and I shall as I can Folowe thy lanterne as thou goest byforne Howe Eneas to Dido was forsworne In thyne Eneyde and Naso woll I take The tenour and the great effectes make when Troye brought was to dystruction By grekes sleyght and namely by Synon Faynynge the horse offred vnto Minerue Through which y t many a troyaÌ„ must sterue And Hector had after hys death apered And fyre so wode it myght not ben stered In all the noble toure of Ilion That of the cytie was the chefe dongeon And all the countre was so lowe ybrought And Priamus the kynge fordone nought And Eneas was charged by Venus To flyen awaye he toke Ascanius That was his son in his right haÌ„de fledde And on hys backe he bare wyth hym ledde His olde father cleped Anchyses And by the way hys wyfe Creusa he lees And mokell sorowe had he in hys mynde Er that he coulde his felawshyp fynde But at the laste whan he had hem founde He made hym redy in a certayne stounde And to the see ful faste he gan hym hye And sayleth forthe with all hys companye Towarde Itayle as wolde destynee But of his auentures in the see Nys nat to purpose for to speke of here For it acordeth nat to my matere But as I sayd of hym and of Dido Shall be my tale tyll that I haue do So longe he sayled in the salte see Tyll in Libye vnneth arryued he So was he wyth the tempest all to shake And whan that he the hauen had ytake He had a knight was called Achatees And hym of all hys felawshyp he thees To gone wyth hym the countrey for tespye He toke wyth hym nomore companye But forth
I wolde well suffre the lasse greuously For why in suche an vnprofytable man myne ententes were nothyng endamaged But ye wythdrawen fro me this man that hathe ben nourysshed in my studyes or scholes of Eleaticis and of Achademicis in Grece But goth nowe rather awaye ye mermaydens whyche that ben swete tyll it be at the laste and suffreth thys man to be cured and heled by my muses that is to saye by my notefull sciences And thus thys companye of muses yblamed tasten wrothly the chere downwarde to the erthe and shewynge by reednesse her shame they passedâ—n soroufully the thressholde And I of whome the syght plounged in teeres was derked so that I ne might nat knowe what that woman was of so imperyall auctorite I woxe all abasshed and stonyed and cast my syght downe to the erthe and began styll for to abyde what she wolde done afterwarde Than came she nere and set her downe vpon the vtterest corner of my bedde and she beholdynge my chere that was caste to the erthe heauy and greuous of wepyng coÌ„playned wyth these wordes that I shall sayne the perturbacion of my thought Heu quam precipiti mersa profundo Mens hebet propria luce relicta Tendit ad externas ire tenebras Terrenis quoties flatibus acta Crescit in immensum noxia cura Hic quondam celo liber aperto c. ALas how the thought of this man dreynt in ouerthrowyng depnesse dulleth forletteth his propre clerenesse mynting to gone in to forayne derkenesse as ofte as hys anoyous busynes wexeth without mesure that is driuen wyth worldely wyndes This man that whylom was free to whom the heuen was open and knowen and was wonte to gone in heuenly pathes and sawe the lightnesse of the reed sunne and behelde the sterres of the colde moone and whiche sterre in heauen vseth wandrynge recourses yflytte by dyuers spheres Thys man ouercomer had comprehended all this thynge by nombre of acomptyng in astronomye And ouer this he was wont to seken the causes whence y e sownyng wyndes mouen and besyen the smothe water of the see And what spyrite tourneth the stable heuen And why the sterre ryseth out of the reed este to fallen in the westren wawes And what attempreth the lusty houres of the fyrst sommer ceason and hyghteth and apparayleth the erth wyth rosy floures And who maketh the plentuous Autumpne in full yeres fleten wyth heuy grapes And eke thys man was wonte to tell the dyuers causes of nature that were hydde Alas howe lightly is empted the lyght of hys thought and hys necke is pressed wyth heuy cheynes and beareth hys chere enclyned a downe for the great weight and is constrayned to loken on the fole erthe Sed magis medicine inquit tempus est quam querele Boe. TuÌ„ vero totis in me intenta luminibus Philo. Tune ille es aâ—t qui nostro quondam lacte nutritus nostriseducaius alimeÌ„tis iÌ„ virilis animi robur cuaseras â–ª c. BVt tyme is nowe of medicine ê™ she more thaÌ„ complaynte Forsothe than she entendyng to me warde wyth all the lokyng of her eyen sayde Arâ—e not thou he ê™ she that whylom I nourished with my mylke and fostred wyth my metes were escaped and comen to the corage of a parfayte man Certes I yaue the suche armures that yf thou thy selfe ne haddest fyrste caste hem awaye they shulden haue defended the in sykernesse that may nat be ouercomen Knowest thou not me why art thou stil is it for shame or for astonyeng It were me leuer it were for shame but it semeth me that astonyenge hathe oppressed the. And whan she sawe me not onely styll but rather wythout offyce of tonge and all dombe she layde her hande softely vpon my breste and sayde Here is no peryll ê™ she he is fallen in to a lytarge whiche that is a comune sycknesse to hertes that ben disceyued He hath a lytell foryeten him selfe But certes he shall lightly remembren hym selfe yf so be that he hath knowen me or nowe And that he maye doone so I wyll wype hys eyen a lytell that be derked by the cloude of mortall thynges These wordes sayd she and wyth the lappe of her garnemeÌ„â— yplited in a frouÌ„ce she dried myne eyen that weren full of the wawes of my wepynges Tunc me discussa liquerunt nocte tenebre Luminibusque prior redit vigor Vt cum precipiti glomerantur sidera choro Nimbosisque polus stetit imbribus Sol latet ac non dum celo venientibus astris c. THus whan that nyght was discussed away derkenesse for lete me and to myne eyen repayred agayn her first streÌ„gth And right as by ensample as the sonne is hydde whan the sterres ben couerde with cloudes by a swyfte wynde that hyght Chorus and the firmament stante derked by wete plungy cloudes And that the sterres not aperen vpon the heuen so that the nyght semeth sprad vpon the erthe If than the wynde that hight Boreas ysent out of the caue of the couÌ„trey of Trace beateth thys nyght that is to sayne chaseth it awaye and discouereth the closed daye than shyneth Phebus yshaken with sodayne lyght and smyteth with hys beames in marueylyng eyen Haud aliter tristicie nebulis dissolutis hausi celum ad cognoscendaÌ„ medicantis faciem mentem recepi Itaque vbi in eaÌ„ deduxi oculos intuitumque defixi respicio nutricem meam iâ— cuius ab adolescentia c. RIght so and no other wyse y e cloudes of sorowe dissolued done away I toke heuen and receyued mynde to knowen the face of my phisycien so that I sette myne eyen vpon her and fastned my lokyng I behelde my norice Philosophie in whose house I had conuersed fro my youthe and I sayde thus O thou maystresse of al vertues discended from the souerayne sete why art thou comen in to this solitary place of myne exile Arte thou comen for thou arte made coulpable wyth me of false blames O quod she my norice shulde I forsake the nowe and shulde I not parten with the by comen trauayle y e charge that thou haste suffred for enuy of my name Certes it were not lefull ne syttyng to Philosophie to leten wythout company the way of him y t is innocent Shuld I than redoute my blame and agrise as though there were befallen a new thyng For trowest thou that Philosophie be nowe alder fyrste assayled in peryls by folke of wycked maner Haue I not stryuen wyth full great stryfe in olde tyme before the age of my Plato ayenst the foolehardynesse of folye And eke the same Plato lyuyng hys mayster Socrates deserued victorie of vnryghtfull dethe in my presence The herytage of the whyche Socrates the heritage is to sayne the doctryne of the whyche Socrates in hys opinyon of felycite that I cleape welefulnesse whan that the people of Epycuriens and Stoiciens many other enforced them to go rauishe euery man for hys parte that is to sayne
neadeth of full many helpynges to kepen the dyuersities of precious hostilementes And sothe it is that of many thynges they haue nede that many thynges haue And ayenwarde of lytle thynge nedeth hym that measureth his fyll after the nede of kynde and not after thoutrage of couetise It is so than that ye men haue no propre good sette in you for suche ye moten seke outwarde in forayne and subiect thynges So is than the condicion of thynges turned vp so downe that a man that is a deuyne beest by meryte of his reason thynketh that hym selfe nys neither fayre ne noble but yf it be through possessioÌ„ of hostilimeÌ„tes that ne han no soules And certes all other thynges ben apayed of her owne beauties But ye men that be semblable to god by your reasonable thought desyren to apparaylen your excellent kynde of y e loweste thynges Ne ye vnderstonden not how greate a wronge is done to your creatoure For he wolde that mankynde were most worthy and noble of any erthly thingâ— and ye thresten downe youre dignityes benethen the lowest thynges For yf that all the good of euerye thynge be more precyous than is thylke thynge whose that the good is syth ye demen that the foulest thynges ben youre goodes than submytten ye and put your selueÌ„ vnder the foulest thynges by your estimation and certes this betydeth not without youre deserte For certes suche is the condition of all man kynde that onelye whan it hath knowynge of it selfe than passeth it in noblesse all other thynges And whan it forletteth the knowinge of it selfe than it is broughte benethen all beestes For why all other lyuynge beestes han of kynde to knowen nat hem selfe but whan that men letten the knowynge of hem selfe it commeth hem of vyce But how brode sheweth the erroure and the follye of you men that wenen that any thynge maye ben apparayled with straunge apparelmentes â–ª but forsoth that maye not be done For yf a wyght shyneth with thynges that ben put to hym As thus Yf thylke thynges shynen with whiche a man is apparelled Certes thylke thynges been commended and praysed with whiche he is apparelled but nathelesse thynge that is couered and wrapped vnder that dwelleth in his fylth And I denye that thylke thyng be good that anoyeth hym that hath it Gab I of this Thou wolt saye naye Certes ryches haue anoyed full oft hem that han had tho rychesse sytht that euerye wycked shrewe is for his wyckednesse the more gredye after other folkes rychesses wheresoeuer it be in any place be it golde or precious stones and weneth him onlye most worthy that hath hem Thou thaÌ„ that so besy dredrest now the swerde and the speare yf thou haddest entred in the pathe of this lyfe auoyde wayfaryng man than woldest thou syng beforne the thefe as who saith a poore man that beareth no rychesse on him by the waye may boldly syng beforne theues for he hath nat wherof to be robbed O precyous and ryght clere is the blysfulnesse of mortall richesse that whan thou hast goten it than hast thou lorne thy sekernesse Felix nimium prioretas Contenta fidelibê° aruis Nec inerti perdita luxu Facili que sera solebat Ieiunia soluete glande Nec bacchia munera norat Liquido confundere melle Nec lucida vellera serum c. BLysfull was the fyrste age of men they helden hem apayde wyth the metes that y e trewe feldes broughten forth they ne destroyed nor disceyued nat hem selfe wyth outrage they weren wonte lyghtlye to slaken her hunger at euyn wyth â—â—rhornes of okes they ne coude nat medel y u yefte of Bacchus to the clere hony that is to sayne they coulde make no piement or clarre Ne they coude nat medell the bryght fleeces of the countre of Seryens wyth the venym of Tiry thys is to sayn they coude nat dyen whyte fleâ—es of Syrien couÌ„tre with the blode of a maner shelfyssh that men fynden in Tyrie wyth which blode men dyen purple they slepten holsome slepes vpon the grasse and dronken of the rennyng waters and lyen vnder the shadowes of the hye Pyne trees Ne no geste or straunger ne carfe yet the hye see wyth oores or wyth shyppes ne they ne hadden seyn yet no newe strondes to leden marchaundyse in to dyuers countrees Tho weren the cruel claryons full hust and full styl Ne blode yshad by egre hate ne had deyed yet armures For where to or whiche woodnesse of enemyes wolde fyrst mouen armes whan they sawen cruell woundes ne none meedes be of blode yshad I wolde that oure tymes shulde turne ayen to tholde maners But the anguishous loue of hauyng in folke burneth more cruellye than the mountayn of Ethna that ay breÌ„neth Alas what was he that first dalfe vp the gobbettes or the weyghtes of golde couered vnder erthe and the precious stones that wolden haue be hydde He dalfe vp precious peryls that is to sayne that he that hem fyrst vp dalfe he dalfe vp a precious peryll for why for the preciousnesse of suche thyng hath many man ben in peryll Quid autem de dignitatibus potentiaque disseram quas vos vere dignitatis ac potestatis inscii celo exequatis Que si in improbissimum quemque ceciderint c. BVt what shall I saye of dignytees powers the whiche ye men that neyther knowen very dignyte ne very power areysen hem as hyghe as the heuen â–ª the whyche dignytes and powers yf they comen to any wycked maÌ„ they done as great domages and distructions as dothe the flambe of the mountayne Ethna whaÌ„ the flambe waloweth vp ne no deluuy ne dothe so cruell harmes Certes ye remembre wel as I trow that thylke dignyte that men cleape the imperye of counsaylours the whyche whylom was begynnyng of fredom your elders coueyted to haue done away that dignyte for the pryde of the counsaylours And ryght for that same youre elders before that tyme had done awaye out of the cyte of Rome the kynges name that is to sayne they nolde haue no lenger no Kynge But nowe yf so be that dignytees powers ben yeuen to good men the whyche thyng is full selde what agreable thynges is there in tho dignytees powers but onely the goodnesse of folke that vsen hem And therfore is it thus that honour cometh not to vertue bycause of dignyte and ayenwarde honoure cometh to dygnyte for cause of vertue But whiche is thylke your dereworth power that is so clere and so requyrable O ye erthlye beestes consyder ye not ouer whyche thynge that it semeth that ye haue power Nowe yf thou sawe a mouse amonge other myce that chalenged to hym selfwarde right and power ouer all other myce howe greate scorne woldest thou haue of it Glosa So fareth it by men the bodye hathe power ouer the body for yf thou loke well vpon the body of a wight what thyng shalt thou fynd more freel than is mankynde
also mote we graunten that suffisaunce power noblesse reuereÌ„ce and gladnesse be onelye dyuers by names but her substaunce hath no diuersitie Boece It mote nedelye be so quod I Philosophia Thylke thynge than quod she that is one and symple in hys nature the wyckednesse of men departeth and deuydeth it And whan they enforcen hem to getten partye of a thynge that ne hath no part they ne getten hem neyther thylke partye that nys none ne the thynge all the whole that they desyre Boece In whiche manere quod I. Philosphia Thilke man quod she that seâ—heth rychesse to flyen pouertie he ne trauayleth hym not for to get power for he hath leauer be darke and vyle and eke with draweth from hym selfe manye naturell delytes for he nolde leese the moneye that he hath asseÌ„bled But certes in this maner he ne getteth hym no suffysaunce y t power for letteth and that molestie prycketh and that fylthe maketh outcaste and that darkenesse hydeth And certes he that desyreth onelye power wasteth and scattreth rychesse and despyseth delyces and eke honour that is w t out power ne he ne prayseth glory nothyng Certes thus seest thou wel that many thinges faylen to hym For he hath somtyme default of many necessities and many anguisshes byten hym And whan he may not don tho defautes away he forleteth to be mightye and that is the thyng that he most desyreth And ryght thus maye I make semblable reasons of honour of glory and of delytes For so euerye of these forsayde thynges is the same that these other thynges bene that is to sayne all one thynge whosoeuer seketh to getten that one of these and not y t other he ne getteth not that he desyreth B. what sayest thou that yf that a man couete to getten all these thynges togyther P. Certes ê™ she I wolde saye that he wolde get hym souerayne blysfulnesse but that shal he fynde in tho thynges that I haue shewed that mowe not yeuen that they beheten B. Certes no ê™ I Philo. Than quod she ne shullen men not by no way seken blysfulnes in suche thynges as men wenen that they ne mowe gyuen but one thynge syngulerly of all that men seken Boece I graunt well ê™ I ne none sother thyng may be sayd P. Now hast thou than ê™ she the fourme and the cause of false welefulnesse Nowe turne and flyt agayn to thy thought for ther shalt thou sene anon thylke very blysfulnesse that I haue behyght the. B. Certes quod I it is clere and open though it were to a blinde man And that shewedst thou me a litle here beforne whan thou enfâ—rcedest the to shewe me the causes of the false welefulnesse For but yf I be begyled than is thylk very blisfulnesse and parfyte that perfytely maketh a man suffysaunt myghty honourable noble and full of gladnesse And for thou shalt well knowe that I haue wel vnderstanden these thynges within my hert I know wel that thylke blysfulnesse that men verelye yeuen one of the forsayde thynges syns they bene all one I knowe doutlesse that thylke thynge is ful of blysfulnesse P. O my norice quod she by this opynyon I say that thou arte blysfull yf thou put this therto that I shall sayne B. what is that quod I Phy. Trowest thou that there be anye thynge in this erthly mortall tomblyng thynges that maye bryngen this estate Bo. Certes quod I I trowe it not and thou hast shewed me well that ouer thylke good ther nis nothing more to ben desyred P. These thynges thaÌ„ quod she that is to sayne erthly suffysauÌ„ce and power and suche thynges erthlye they semen likenesse of very good or els it semeth that they yeuen to mortall folke a maner of goodnesse that ne be not parfyte but thylke good that is very and parfyt that may they not yeuen B. I accorde me well ê™ I Phi. Than ê™ she for as moch as thou hast knowen which is thilke verye blysfulnesse and eke which thylke thynges ben that lyen falslye blysfulnesse that is to saye that by disceyte semen very goodes Nowe behoueth the to know whence and where thou mow seke thylke very blysfulnesse B. Certes ê™ I that desyre I greatly and haue abydeÌ„ loÌ„ge tyme to herken it P. But for as moch quod she as it lyketh to my disciple Plato in hys boke of Thimeo that in ryght lytle thinges men shulden beseche the help of God what iudgest thou that be nowe to doone so that we may deserue to fynde the seate of thylke soueraygne god B. Certes ê™ I I deme that we shullen clepe to the father of al godges for withouten hym nys there nothyng founded aryght P. Thou sayest aryght ê™ she and began anon to syngen ryght thus O qui perpetua mundum ratione gubernas Terrarum celique sator qui tempus ab euo ire iubes stablisque manens das cuncta moueri Quem non externe pepulerunt fingere cause c. O Thou father soueraygne and creatour of heuen and of erthes that gouernest this worlde by perdurable reason that commaundest the tymes to gone syth that age had begynnynge Thou that dwellest thy selfe aye stedfast and stable and yeuest all other thynges to be meued ne foreyne causes ne cesseden y t neuer to compoun werke of flottring mater but only the forme of soueraygne good yset within the withoute enuye that meued the frely Thou that art alderfayrest bearynge the fayre worlde in thy thought formedest this world to thy lykenesse semblable of the fayre worlde in thy thought Thou drawest all thynge on thy soueraygn enampler and commaundest that this worlde perfetlyche ymaked haue frely and absolute his perfyte partyes Thou byndest the elementes by noÌ„bres proporcionables that the colde thynges mowen accorden wyth the hoote thynges and the drye thynges with the moyste That the fyre that is purest ne fle not ouerhye ne that the heuynesse ne drawe notte adowne ouerlow the erthes that be plonged in the waters Thou knyttest togyther the meane soule of treble kynde mouyng al thinges and deuidest it by membres acccording And whan it is thus deuyded it hath assembledde amouynge into roundes it goeth to turne agayne to hym selfe and enuyroneth a full depe thought and turneth the heauen by semblable ymage Thou by euen lyke causes enhauncest the soules and the lesse lyues and hablynge hem to heyght by lyght waynes or cartes Thou sowest hem into heuen and into erth and whan they be conuerted to the by thy benigne lawe thou makest hem retourne ayen to the by ayen leding fyre O father yeue thou to the thought to styen vp into thy strayte sete and grauÌ„t him to enuyronne the well of good And y e lyght ysounde graunt hym to fyxen the clere syghtes of his corage in the and scatre thou and to breake the weyghtes and the cloudes of erthly heuynesse shyne thou by thy brightnesse for thou clerensse art thou arte pesyble rest to debonayre folke thou thy selfe art begynnynge
iuste ryght kepyng of equite the contrary of that semeth to the dyuine purueyaunce that all wote And Lucan my familyer telleth that the victorious cause lyked to the gods the causes ouercome lyketh to Caton Thanne what so euer thou maist sene that is done in this worlde vnhoped or els vnknowen certes it is the right ordre of thinges but as to thy wicked opinion it is a confusion But I suppose y e some man be so wel thewed that the dyuine iugement the iugemeÌ„t of mankynde accorden hem togyther of him but he is so vnstedfast of corage that if any aduersite come to him he wol forleten peraueÌ„ture to contynue innocencie by the whyche he ne may not withholden fortune than the wyse dispensacion of god spareth hym the which man aduersite myghte enpayren for y e God wyl not hym to trauayle to whoÌ„ y t trauayle â—â—s not couenable An other man is perfyte in al vertues and is an holy man nygh to God so that the purueyaunce of God wold deme that it were a felony that he were touched with anye aduersytees so that he woll â—â—â—â—re that suche a man be wyth any bodyly malady moued But so as sayd the philosophie y t more excellent is by me said in great that vertues haue edifyed the body of the holyman ofte tyme it betydeth that y e suÌ„me of thynges that bene to done is taken to gouerne to good folke for y t the malice habouÌ„daunt of shrewes shulde bene abated And god yeueth and departeth to other folke prosperitees and aduersitees medled to heape after the qualyte of her corages and remordethe some folke by aduersitees for they ne shulde not waxen proude by longe welefulnes And other folke he suffreth to be trauayled wyth harde thinges for that they shulde conâ—ermen the vertues of corage by the exerâ—â—tacioÌ„ of vsage of pacience And other folke dreden more than they oughten the whyche they myghten wel bearen and some dispyse that they mowe not beare and thylke folke God leadeth in to experience of hem selfe by aspre and soroufull thynges And manye other folke haue bought honourable renome of this worlde by the price of gloriouse deth And some men that ne mowe not bene ouercomen by tourment haue yeuen ensample to other folke that vertue maye not bene ouercomen by aduersitees And of all these thynges there nys no dout that they ne ben done rightfully and ordaynly to the parfite good of hem to whom we sene these thynges betyde For certes that aduersities cometh soÌ„tyme to shrewes and somtyme that they desyren it cometh of these forsayd causes And of sorouful thinges that betiden to shrewes certes no maÌ„ ne wondreth for all men wene that they haue deserued it that they bene of wicked merite Of which shrewes the turmente agasteth somtyme other to done felonyes and somtyme it amendethe hem that suffreth the tourmentes And the prosperyte that is yeueÌ„to shrewes sheweth a great argumente to good peple what thynge they shulde demen of thylke welfulnesse whyche prosperite meÌ„ sene ofte serue to shrewes In whyche thinge I trow that God dispenseth for parauenture the nature of some maÌ„ is so ouerthrowyng to yuell and so vncouenable y e the nedy pouerte of hys housholde myght rather agreue hym to done felonyes and to the maladye of hym God putteth remedy to yeuen hym richesse And some other man beholdeth hys coÌ„science defouled wyth synnes and maketh coÌ„paryson of thys fortune and of hym selfe and dredethe parauenture that the blysfulnesse of whyche the vsage is ioyfull to hym that the lesynge of thylke blysfulnesse ne be not sorowfull to hym therfore he wolde chaunge hys maners and for he dredeth to lese hys fortune he forletethe hys wyckednesse To other folkes welfulnesse is yeuen vnworthylye the whyche ouerthroweth hem in to destructioÌ„ that they han deserued and to some other folke is yeueÌ„ power to punisheÌ„ for that it shal be cause of contynuacyon and exercysynge to good folkes and cause of turmeÌ„t to shrewes For so as there nys none aliaunce bitwene good folkes and shrewes ne shrewes ne mowen not accorden amonge hem selfe why not For y t shrewes discorden of hem selfe by her vices the which vices al to renden her coÌ„sciences and done oft tyme the thinges which thynges whan they haue doone hem they deme that tho thynges ne shuld not haue be done for whyche thynge the souerayne purueyaunce hath maked ofte tyme myracle so that shrewes haue maked shrewes to bene good men For whaÌ„ that some shrewes sene that they suffre wroÌ„gfully felonyes of other shrewes they waxen eschaufed in to hate of hem that annoyed hem and retourneÌ„ to the fruite of vertue Than they studyen to be vnlike to hem that they haue hated Certes onely is thys the dyuyne myght to the whyche myght yuels bene than good whan it vseth the yuels couenably and draweth out the effecte of any good as who sayeth that yuell is good onely to the myghte of God for the might of god ordeyneth thylke yuel to good For one ordre enbraceth all thynges so that what wyghte departeth from the reason of â—hylke ordre that is assygned to hym algates yet he slydeth in to another ordre so that nothyng is lefull to foly in the realme of dyuyne purueyaunce as who sayeth nothyng is wythout ordynaunce in the realme of dyuyne pourueaunce syth that the ryght stroÌ„g God gouerneth all thynges in thys worlde for it is not leful for men to comprehende by wyt ne vnfolden by worde all the subtyl ordynaunce and the dysposycyon of the diuine entent for only it ought to suffyse to haue loked that God hym selfe maker of al natures ordayneth all thynges to good whyle that he hasteth to wythholde the thinges that he hath maked in to his semblaunce that is to say for to wythholden y e thinges in to good for he him selfe is good He chaseth out al yuels fro the bounde of hys comynaltyes by y e ordre of the necessyte destynable for which it foloweth y t yf thou loke the purueyaunce ordeynynge the thinges that men wenen be outragyous or aboundaunt in erthes thou shalte not sene in no place nothynge of yuell But I se nowe that thou art charged wyth the weyght of the questyon and wery with length of my reason and that thou abydeste some swetenes of song take thaÌ„ this drauÈt and whan thou art wel refreshed and refect thou shalt be more stedfast to stye in to high er questyons or thynges Si vis celsi inra tonantis Plura solers cernere meÌ„te Aspice summi culmina celi IF thou wyse wolte demen in thy pure thought y e rightes or the lawes of the hye thonder that is to sayne of God loke thou beholde the heyghtes of the souerayne heuen There kepen the sterres by rightful alyauÌ„ce of thinges her olde peace The suÌ„ne ymoued by his roody fyre ne dystourbeth not the colde circle of the mone ne
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
it and endyte This foresayde Affrikan me hente anone And forth with him to a gate brought Ryght of a parke walled wyth grene stone and ouer y e gate with letters large ywroÈt There were verse ywritten as me thought On eyther halfe of full great difference of which I shal you say the playne sentence Through me men gone into y e blysful place Of hertes heale and deedly woundes cure Through me men gon into the wel of grace There grene lusty May shall euer endure Thys is the waye to all good auenture Be glad thou reder and thy sorowe of cast Al open am I passe in and spede the fast Through me meÌ„ gon thaÌ„ spake y e other syde Vnto the mortal strokes of the speere Of which disdayne daunger is the gyde There neuer tree shall frute ne leaues beere this streme you ledeth to the sorouful weere There as the fyshe in prison is all drye The eschewyng is onely the remedye These verses of gold asure ywritten were Of whych I gan astouyed to beholde For with that one encreased al my feare And with that other gan my herte to bolde That one me hette that other dyd me colde No wytte had I for errour for to chese To entre or slye or me to saue or lese Ryght as betwene Adamantes two Of euyn weyght a pece of yron set Ne hath no myght to moue to ne fro For what that one may hale that other let So fared I that I nyst where me was bet To entre or leaue tyl Affrikan my gyde Me hente and shoue in at the gates wyde And sayd it standeth writen in thy face Thyne errour though thou tell it not me But drede the not to come into thys place For thys writtyng is nothinge ment by the Ne by none but he loues seruaunte be For thou of loue hast lost thy tast I gesse As sycke man hath of swete and bytternesse But nathlesse although thou be dul That thou caust not do yet mayst thou se For many a man that may not stande a pul Yet lyketh it hym at the wrestlyng for to be And demeth yet whether he do bet or he And yf thou haddest connyng for tendyte I shal the shewe matter of to wryte And wyth y t my hande in hys he toke anone Of whych I comfort caught went in fast But lorde so I was glad and wel begon For ouer al where I myne eyen cast were trees clad wyth leues y t aye shall last Eche in hys kynde w t colour fresh grene As Emeraude that ioye it was to sene The bylder Oke and eke the hardy ashe The pyller elme the coffer vnto carayne The boxe pype tre holme to whyppes lashe The saylynge fyrre y e cypres deth to playne The shoter ewe the aspe for shaftes playne The Oliue of peace and eke y t dronken vine The victor Palme the laurer to dyuyne A gardeyne saw I full of blosomed bowis Vpon a ryuer in a grene mede There as swetnesse euermore ynough is wyth floures whyte blew yelow and rede And colde wel stremes nothynge dede That swoÌ„men ful of smal fyshes lyght with synnes rede and scales syluer bryght On euery bough the byrdes herde I synge with voyce of aungel in her armony that busyed hem her byrdes forth to brynge The lytle prety conyes to her playe gan hy And further al aboute I gan espy The dredeful Roe y e bucke the hart hynde Squyrels beestes small of gentyl kynde Of instrumentes of strynges in accorde Herde I so playe a rauyshynge swetnesse That God that maker is of al and lorde Ne herde neuer better as I gesse Therwyth a winde vnneth it might be lesse Made in the leaues grene a noyse softe Accordaunt to the foules songe on lost The ayre of the place so atteÌ„pre was That neuer was there greuaunce of hote ne colde There was eke euery holsome spyce grace Ne no man may there waxe sycke ne olde yet was there more ioy a thousande folde Than I can tell or euer coude or myght There is euer clere day and neuer nyght Vnder a tree besyde a well I sey Cupyde our lorde his arowes forge fyle And at hys fete hys bowe al redy ley And wel his doughter teÌ„pred al the whyle The heedes in the wel with her wyle She couched hem after as they shuld serue Some to slee some to wounde and carue Tho was I ware of pleasauÌ„ce anone right And of aray lust beaute and curtesy And of the crafte that can hath the myght To done beforce a wyght to done foly Disfygured was she I wyl not lye And by hym selfe vnder an oke I gesse Saw I delyte that stode wyth gentylnesse Than sawe I beaute wyth a nyce atyre And youth ful of game and iolyte Folehardenesse flatery and desyre Messagery mede and other thre Her names shal not here be tolde for me And vpon pyllers great of Iasper longe I saw a temple of brasse yfounded stronge And aboute the temple daunced alway women ynowe of whych some there were Fayre of hem selfe some of hem were gay In kyrtyls al disheueled went they there That was theyr offyce euer fro yere to yere And on the temple sawe I whyte and fayre Of downes sitting many a thousand payre And before the temple dore ful soberly Dame peace satte a curteyne in her honde And her besyde wonder dyscretly Dame Pacience syttynge there I founde wyth face pale vpon an hyl of sonde And alther nexte wythin and wythout Behest and arte and of her folke a rout wythin the temple of syghes hote as fyre I herde a swough that gan aboute ren whych syghes were engendred wyth desyre That made euery herte for to bren Of newe flambe and wel espyed I then That al the cause of sorowes y t they drye Come of the bytter goddes ialousye The god Pyriapus sawe I as I went wythin the temple in soueraine place stonde In such arraye as whan the asse hym shent with crye by nigt and with sceptre in honde Ful busely men gan assay and sonde Vpon hys heed to sette of sondry hewe Garlandes ful of freshe floures newe And in a preuy corner in disporte Founde I Venus and her porter Rychesse That was ful noble and hauten of her port Derke was that place but after lyghtnesse A sawe a lyte vnnethes it myght be lesse And on a bed of golde she lay to rest Tyll that the hote sunne gan to west Her gylte heere 's wyth a golde threde Ybounde were vntressed as she lay And naked from the brest vnto the hede Men myght her se and sothly for to say The remenaunt couered wel to my pay Ryght wyth a lytle kerchefe of valence There was no thycker cloth of defence The place gaue a thousande sauours sote And Bacchus god of wyne sate her besyde And Ceres nexte that doth of hunger bote And as I sayd a myddes lay Cupyde To whom on knees the yonge
empresse and gyde Of euery thynge lyst to prouyde But man alone alas the harde stounde Full cruelly by kyndes ordynaunce Constrayned is and by statute bounde And debarred from all suche plesaunce what meneth this what is this purueyaūce Of god aboue agayne all ryght of kynde wythout cause so narow man to bynde Thus maye I sene and playne alas My wofull houre and my dysauenture That doulfully stonde in the same caas So ferre behynde from all health and cure My wounde abydeth lyke a sursanure For me fortune so felly lyst dyspose My harme is hyd that I dare not dysclose For I my herte haue set in suche a place where I am neuer lykely for to spede So ferre I am hyndred from her grace That saue daunger I haue none other mede And thus alas I not who shall me rede Ne for myne helpe shape remedye For Male bouche and for false enuye The whiche twayne aye stōdeth in my wey Malyciously and false suspection Is very cause also that I dey Gynnyng and rote of my distruction So that I fele in conclusyon with her traynes that they wol me shende Of my labour that deth mote make an ende Yet or I dye with herte wyl and thought To god of loue this auowe I make As I best can howe dere that it be bought where so it be that I slepe or wake whyle Boreas dothe the leaues slake As I haue heyght plainly tyl I sterue For wel or wo that I shal her serue And for her sake nowe this holy tyme Saynt Valentyne somwhat shal I write Al though so be that I can not ryme Nor curyously by no crafte endyte Yet leuer I haue that she put the wyte In vnconnynge then in negligence what euer I saye of her excellence what euer I saye it is of dute In sothfastnesse and no presumpcion Thys I ensure to you that shall it se That it is all vnder correction what I reherce in cōmendacion Of her that I shall to you as blyue So as I can her vertues here dyscryue ¶ Ryght by example as the somer sonne Passeth the sterre wyth hys beames shene And Lucyfer amonge the skyes donne A morowe sheweth to voyde nyghtes tene So verely wythouten any wene My lady passeth who so taketh hede All tho alyue to speake of womanhede And as the Ruby hath the soueraynte Of ryche stones and the regalye And the rose of swetenesse and beaute Of freshe floures wythout any lye Ryght so in sothe wyth her goodly eye She passeth all in bounty and fayrenesse Of maner eke and of gentylnesse For she is both the fayrest and the beste To reken all in very sothfastnesse For euery vertue is in her at reste And furthermore to speake of stedfastnesse She is the rote and of semelynesse The very myrrour and of gouernaunce To all example wythouten variaunce Of porte benygne and wonder glad of chere Hauynge euermore her trewe aduertence Alwaye to reason so that her desyre Is brydeled aye by wytte and prouydence There to of wytte and of hye prudence She is the welle aye deuoyde of pryde That vnto vertue her seluen is the gyde And ouer thys in her daliaunce Lowly she is dyscrete and wyse And goodly gladde by attemperaunce That euery wyght of hygh and lowe degre Are glad in herte wyth her for to be So that shortly yf I shall not lye She named is the Floure of Curtesye And there to speake of femynyte The leste mannyshe in comparison Goodly abashed hauynge aye pyte Of hem that ben in tribulacion For she alone is consolacion To all that arne in myschefe and in nede To comforte hem of her womanhede And aye in vertue is her besy charge Sadde and demure and but of wordes fewe Dredefull also of tonges that ben large Eschewynge aye hem that lysten to hewe Aboue her heed her wordes for to shewe Dyshonestly to speke of any wyght She deedly hateth of hem to haue a syght The herte of whom so honest is and clene And her entent so faythfull and entere That she ne may for all the worlde sustene To suffre her eeres any worde to here Of frende nor foe neyther ferre ne nere Amysse resonynge y t hinder shulde his name And yf she do she wexeth reed for shame So trewly in menynge she is in sette wythout chaungynge or any doublenesse For bountie and beautie are together knette In her persone vnder faythfulnesse For voyde she is of newfanglenesse In herte aye one for euer to perseuer There she is sette and neuer to dysseuer I am to rude her vertues euerychone Connyngly to dyscryue and wryte For well ye wote colour haue I none Lyke her dyscrecion craftely to endyte For what I saye all it is to lyte wherfore to you thus I me excuse That I aqueynted am not wyth no muse By rethoryke my style to gouerne In her prayse and cōmendacyon I am to blynde so hylye to dyscerne Of her goodnesse to make dyscripcion Saue thus I saye in conclusion Yf that I shall shortly commende In her is naught that nature can amende For good she is lyke to Polycene And in fayrenesse to the quene Helayne Stedfast of herte as was Dorigene And wyfely trouth yf I shall not fayne In constaunce eke fayth she may attayne To Cleopatre and therto as setrone As was of Troye the whyte Antygone As Hester meke lyke Iudith of prudence Kynde as Alcest or Marcia Catoun And to Grisylde lyke in pacience And Arladne of dyscrecioun And to Lucrece that was of Rome toun She may be lykened as for honeste And for her fayth vnto Penelope To fayre Phyllis and to Hipsiphiles For innocence and for womanhede For semelynesse vnto Canace And ouer thys to speke of goodlyhede She passeth all that I can of rede For worde and dede that she nought ne fall Acorde in vertue and her werkes all For though that Dido wyth wytte sage was in her tyme stedfast to Enee Of hastynesse yet she dyd outrage And so for Iason dyd also Medee But my lady is so auysee That boūty beautye both in her demeyne She maketh bountye alwaye souerayne This is to meane bountye goeth afore Lad by prudence and hath the souerainte And beautye foloweth ruled by her lore That she ne sende her in no degre So that in one thys goodly freshe fre Surmountynge al wythouten any were Is good and fayre in one persone yfere And though that I for very ignoraunce Ne maye dyscryue her vertues by and by Yet on thys daye for a remembraunce Onely supported vnder her mercy wyth quakynge honde I shall full humbly To her hynesse my rudenesse for to quyte A lytell balade here byneth endyte Euer as I can suppryse in myne herte Alwaye wyth feare betwyxte drede shame Leste out of lose any worde asterte In thys metre to make it seme lame Chaucer is deed that had suche a name Of fayre makynge that wythout wene Fayrest in our tonge as the Laurer grene we maye assaye
reclaymed to the lure So wel lerned hem to wythholde also And al to chaūg whā loue shuld best endure Lamant Whan one hath set his hert in stable wyse In such a place as is both good and trewe He shulde not flyt but do forth his seruice Alway withouten chaunge of any newe As sone as loue begynneth to remewe Al plesaunce goth anone in lytle space As for my partye that shal I eschewe whyle the soule abydeth in hys place La dame To loue truely there as it ought of right Ye may not be mystaken doutlesse But ye be foule dysceyued in your syght By lyght vnderstandyng as I gesse yet may ye wel repele your busynesse And to reason haue some attendaunce Moch better thā to abyde by foly simplenes The feble socour of disperaunce Lamant Reason coūsayle wysedome good aduise Bene vnder loue arested euerychone To which I can accorde in euery wyse For they be not rebel but styl as a stone Theyr wyl and myne be medled al in one And therwyth bouden w t so strong a cheyne That as in hem departyng shal be none But pyte breke the myghty bonde atwayne La dame Ye loue not your selfe what euer ye be That in loue stande forgete in euery place And of your wo yf ye haue no pyte Others pite beleue ye not to purchace But be fully assured as in thys case I am alway vnder one ordynaunce To haue better trust not after grace And al that leueth take to your plesaunce Lamant Haue my hope so sure and so stedfast That such a lady shulde not lacke pyte But nowe alas it is shyt vp so fast That daunger sheweth on me hys cruelte And yf she se the vertue fayle in me Of true seruice though she do fayle also No wonder were but thys is my surete I must suffre whych way that euer it go La dame Leue chys purpose I rede you for the best For the lenger ye kepe it is in vayne The lesse ye gete as of your hertes rest And to reioyce it shal you neuer attayne whā ye abyde good hope to make you fayne Ye shal be founde asotted in dotage And in the ende ye shal knowe for cartayne Hope shal pay the wretches for her wage Lamant Ye say as falleth moost for your plesaunce And your power is great al thys I se But hope shal neuer out of my remēbraunce By whych I fele so great aduersite For whan nature hath set in you plente Of al goodnesse by vertue and by grace He neuer assembled hem as semed me To put pyte out of hys dwellynge place La dame Pyte of ryght ought to be resonable And to no wight do no great disauauntage There as is nede it shulde be profytable And to the pytous shewynge no damage If a lady wyl do so great outrage To shewe pyte and cause her owne debate Of such pyte cometh dispitous rage And of such loue also ryght deedly hate Lamant To comforte hem that lyue al comfortlesse That is no harme but cōforte to your name But ye that haue a herte of such duresse And a fayre lady I must affirme the same If I dust say ye wynne all thys defame By cruelte whych sytteth you full yl But yf pyte whych may al thys attaine In your hygh herte may rest and tary styll La dame what euer he be that sayth he loueth me And perauenture I leue wel it be so Ought he be wroth or shulde I blamed be Though I did not as he wolde haue me do If I medled wyth such or other mo It myght be called pyte mercylesse And afterwarde yf I shulde lyue in wo Than to repent it were to late I gesse Lamant O marble hert and yet more harde parde whych mercy may not perce for no labour More strong to bowe than is a myghty tre what auayleth you to shew so great rygour Pleaseth you more to se me dye thys hour Before your eyen for your disport and play Than for to shewe some cōforte and socour To respyte death whych chaseth me alway La dame Of your disease ye may haue allegeaunce And as for myne I let it ouer slake Also ye shal not dye for my pleasaunce Nor for your heale I can not surety make I wyl not hurt my selfe for others sake wepe they laugh they or synge they I warant For this mater so wyl I vndertake That none of hem shal make therof auaunt Lamant I can not skyl of loue by god alone I haue more cause to wepe in your presence And wel ye wote auauntour am I none For certaynly I loue better scilence One shulde not loue by hertes credence But he were sure to kepe it secretly For a vauntour is of no reuerence whan that his tonge is his moost enemy La dame Male bouch in court hath great cōmaundement Eche man studyeth to say the worst he may These false louers in this time now present They serue best to iangle as a Iay The moost secrete ywys yet some men say Howe he mistrusted is in some partyse wherfore to ladyes whā so men speke or say It shulde be byleued in no wyse Lamant Of good and yl shal be and is alway The worlde is such the erth is not al plaine They y t be good y e profe sheweth euerye day And otherwyse great villony certayne It is reason though one his tonge distayne with cursed spech to do hym selfe a shame That such refuse shuld wrōgfully remayne Vpon the good renomed in theyr fame La dame Suche as be nought whan they here tidynges newe That eche trespas shal lightly haue pardon They that pursuen to be good and trewe wyl not set by none yl disposition To contynewe in euery good condicion They are the first that fallen in damage And ful frely the hertes habandon To lytle fayth wyth soft and fayre langage Lamant Nowe knowe I wel of very certaynte If one do truely yet shal he be shente Syth al maner of iustice and pyte Is banished out of a ladyes entente I can not se but al is at one stente The good the yl the vice and eke the vertue Such as be good such haue y e punyshment For the trespas of hem that lyue vntrue La dame I haue no power you to do greuaunce Nor to punyshe none other creature But to eschewe the more encomberaunce To kepe vs from you al I holde it sure False semblaunce hath a face ful demure Lyghtly to catche these ladyes in a wayte wherfore we must yf we wyl here endure Make ryght good watche lo this is my cōceyte Lamant Syth that of grace a goodly worde not one May now be had but alwaye kepte in store I appele to god for he may here my mone Of the duresse whych greueth me sore And of pyte I complayne furthermore which he forgate in al hys ordinaunce Or els my lyfe to haue ended before which so sone am put out of remembraunce La dame My herte nor I
me that ye called your maystresse Your souerayne lady in this worlde here Alas is there neyther worde ne chere Ye vouchsafe vpon myne heuynesse Alas your loue I bye it all to dere Now certes swete though that ye Thus causelesse the cause be Of my deedly aduersitie Your manly reason ought it to respyte To slee your frende and namely me That neuer yet in no degree Offended you as wisly he That all wot of wo my soule quyte But for I was so playne Arcyte In all my workes moche and lyte And was so besy you to delyte Myne honour saue meke kynde and free Therfore ye put in me this wyte Alas ye retche not a myte Though that the swerde of sorowe byte My wofull hert through your crueltie My swete fo why do ye so for shame And thynke ye y e furthred be your name To loue anewe and ben vntrue aye And put you in slaundre now and blame And do to me aduersitie and grame That loue you moost god thou wost alway Yet turne ayen and yet be playne somedaye And than shal this y t now is mys ben game And all foryeue whyle I lyue maye Lo hert myne al this is for to sayne As whether shall I praye or els playne which is the way to done you to be trewe For eyther mote I haue you in my chayne Or with the deth ye mote depart vs twayn There beth none other meane wayes newe For god so wysely on my soule rewe As verely ye sleen me with the payne That mow ye sene vnfayned on myne hew For thus ferforth haue I my deth sought My selfe I murdre with my priuy thought For sorowe routh of your vnkyndnesse I wepe I wayle I fast al helpeth nought I voyde ioye that is to speke of ought I voyde company I flye gladnesse who may auaunt her better of heuynesse ThaÌ„ I and to this plyte haue ye me brouÈt without gylte me nedeth no wytnesse And shulde I pray weyuen womanhed Nay rather deth than do so foule a dede And aske mercy and gyltlesse what nede And yf I playne what lyfe I lede You recketh not y t knowe I out of drede And yf I vnto you myne othes bede For myne excuse a scorne shal be my mede Your chere floureth but it wyll not sede Ful longe agone I myght haue takeÌ„ hede For though I had you to morowe agayne I myght as well holde Apryll from rayne As holde you to maken stedfast Almyghty god of trouth the souerayne wher is y e trouth of man who hath it slayne She y t hem loueth shal hem fynde as fast As in a tempest is a rotten mast Is that a tame beest that is aye fayne To renne away whan he is lest agast Now mercy swete yf I missay Haue I ought sayde out of the way I not my wyt is all away I fare as doth y e songe of chaunteplure For now I playne and now I pley I am so mased that I dey Arcyte hath borne away the key Of al my worlde my good auenture For in this worlde there nis no creature walkyng in more discomfyture Than I ne more sorowe endure For yf I slepe a furlonge way or twey Than thynketh me that your fygure Before me stant clad in asure Efte to profre a newe assure For to ben true and mercy me to prey The longe nyght this wondre syght ydrye That on the day for suche a fraye I dye And of al this right nought twys ye retche Ne neuermore myne eyen two ben drye And to your routh to your trouth I crye But welaway to ferre ben they to fetche Thus holdeth me my destenie a wretche But me to rede out of this drede or gye Ne may my wyt so weke is it not stretche Than ende I thus syth I maye do nomore I yeue it vp for now and euermore For I shall neuer efte putten in balaunce My sykernesse ne lerne of loue the lore But as y e swan I haue herde saye full yore Ayenst his deth woll synge in his penauÌ„ce So synge I here the desteny and chaunce How that Arcyte Annelyda so sore Hath thrilled w t the poynt of remembrauÌ„ce whan that Anneleda this wofull quene Hath of her hande wrytten in this wyse with face deed betwixt pale and grene She fell a swoune and sythe she gan to ryse And vnto Mars avoweth sacrifyce within the temple with a sorowful chere That shapen was as ye may playnly here ¶ Explicit ¶ The assemble of Ladyes IN Septembre at the fallyng of the lefe The fresh season was all togyther done And of the corne was gathered the shefe In a garden about .ii. after none Ther wer ladyes walking as was her won Foure in noÌ„bre as to my mynde doth fall And I the fyfth the symplest of hem all Of gentlewomen fayre there were also Disportyng hem eueryche after her gyse In crosse alleyes walkyng by two and two And some alone after her fantasyese Thus occupyed we were in dyuers wyse And yet in trouth we were not all alone Ther were knightes squyres many one wherof I serued one of hem asked me I sayd ayen as it fell in my thought To walke about the mase in certayntie As a woman that nothyng rought He asked me ayen whom that I sought And of my colour why I was so pale Forsoth ê™ I and therby lyth a tale That must we wete ê™ he and that anon Tel on let se and make no taryinge Abyde ê™ I ye ben a hasty one I let you wete it is no lytle thynge But for bycause ye haue a great longyng In your desyre this processe for to here I shal you tell the playne of this matere It happed thus that in an after noone My feloushyp and I by one assent whan all other besynesses were done To passe our tyme into this mase we went And toke our wayes eche after our entent Som weÌ„t inward weÌ„t they had gon out Some stode in y e mid and loked all about And soth to say som wer full ferre behynde And ryght anon as ferforth as the best Other there were so mased in her mynde Alwaies wer good for hem both eest west Thus went they forth had but lytle rest And some her corage dyd hem sore assayle For very wrath they dyd step ouer y e rayle And as they sought hem selfe to and fro I gate my selfe a lytle auauntage All forweryed I myght no ferther go ThouÈ I had won right great for my viage So came I forth into a strayte passage which brouÈt me to an herber fayre grene Made with benches full crafty and clene That as me thought ther myght no creature Deuyse a better by a due proporcioun Safe iâ— was closed well I you ensure with masonry of compasse enuyroun Ful secretly with stayres going doun In myddes y e place w t turnyng whele certayne And vpon that a pot of margelayne with margaretes growing in ordinaunce To shew
hede what shall I saye of yonge Piramus Of trewe Tristram for al hys hye renowne Of Achylles or of Antonius Of Arcite or of hym Palamowne what was the ende of her passyoune But after sorowe deth and then her graue Lo here the guerdon that these louers haue But false Iason wyth hys doublenesse That was vntrewe at Calkos to Medee And Theseus rote of vnkyndnesse And wyth these two eke the false Enâ—e Lo thus the false aye in one degre Had in loue her lust and all her wyll And saue fashode there was none other skyll Of Thebes eke the false Arcyte And Demephoon eke for his slouthe They had her lust al that myght delyte For al her falshode and great vntrouthe Thus euer loue alas and that is routhe His false lieges forthereth what he may And sleeth the trewe vngoodly day by day For trewe Adon was slayne with the bore Amydde the forest in the grene shade For Venus loue he felte al the sore But Vulcanus wiht her no mercy made The foule chorle had many nyghtes glade where Mars her knyght and her man To fynde mercy comforte none he can Also the yonge fresshe vpomedes So lusty fre as of his courage That for to serue with al his herte he ches Athalans so fayre of her vysage But loue alas quitte hym so his wage with cruell daungere playnly at the last That wyth the deth guerdonlesse he past Lo here the fyne of loues seruyse Lo how that loue can hys seruauntes quyte Lo howe he can hys faythfull men dyspyse To slee the trewe men and false to respyte Lo howe he doth the swerde of sorowe byte In hertes such as moost hys lust obey To saue the false and do the trewe dey For fayth nor othe worde ne assuraunce Trewe meanynge awayte or busynesse Styll porte ne faythfull attendaunce Manhode ne myght in armes worthynesse Pursute of worshyp nor hye prowesse In straunge lande rydynge ne trauayle Ful lytell or nought in loue doth auayle Peryll of deth nor in see ne lande Hunger ne thurste sorowe ne syckenesse Ne great empryses for to take on hande Shedynge of bloode ne manfull hardynesse Ne ofte woundynge at sautes by dystresse Nor in partynge of lyfe nor deth also Al is for nought loue taketh no hede therto But lesynges wyth her flaterye Through her falshed with her doublenesse wyth tales newe and many fayned lye By false semblaunt and couÌ„trefete huÌ„blesse Vnder colour depaynte wyth stedfastnesse wyth fraude couered vnder a pytous face Accepte be nowe rathest vnto grace And can hym selfe nowe best magnifye wyth fayned porte and presumpcion They haunte her cause wyth false surquidre Vnder meanynge of double entencion To thynke one in her opinion And saye another to set hym selfe alofte And hynder trouth as it is sene full ofte The which thynge I bye nowe al to dere Thanked be Venus and the God Cupide As it is sene by myne oppressed chere And by hys arowes that stycken in my syde That saue deth I nothynge abyde Fro daye to daye alas the harde whyle when euer his darte that hym lyst to fyle My wofull herte for to ryue a two For taute of mercy and lacke of pyte Of her that causeth all my payne and wo And lyst not ones of grace for to se Vnto my trouth through her cruelte And moste of al I me complayne That she hath ioye to laugh at my payne And wylfully hath my deth sworne All gyltlesse and wote no cause why Saue for the trouth that I had aforne To her alone to serue faythfully O god of loue vnto the I cry And to thy blende double deyte Of thys great wronge I complayne me And vnto thy stormy wylfull variaunce Yment wyth chauÌ„ge and great vnstablenesse Now vp now down so reÌ„nyng is thy chauÌ„ce That the to trust may be no sekernesse I wyte it nothynge but thy doublenesse And who that is an archer and is blynde Marketh nothynge but shoteth by wynde And for that he hath no dyscrecion wythout aduyse he let hys arowe go For lacke of syght and also of reason In hys shotynge it happeth ofte so To hurte hys frende rather then hys fo So doth thys god wyth hys sharpe flone The trewe sleeth and letteth the false gone And of hys woundyng thys y u worst of al when he hurteth doth to so cruell wreche And maketh the sycke for to crye and call Vnto hys foe for to be hys leche And harde it is for a man to seche Vpon the poynte of dethe in ieopardye Vnto hys foe to fynde remedye Thus fareth it nowe euen by me That to my foe y t gaue myne herte a wouÌ„de Mote aske grace mercy and pyte And namely there where none may be fouÌ„de For nowe my sore my leche wyll confounde And god of kynde so hath set myne vre My lyues foe to haue my wounde in cure Alas the whyle now that I was borne Or that I euer sawe the bryght sonne For nowe I se that full longe aforne Or I was borne my desteny was sponne By Parcas systerne to slee me yf they conne For they my dethe shopen or my sherte Onely for trouth I may it not asterte The myghty goddesse also of nature That vnder god hath the gouernaunce Of worldly thynges coÌ„mytted to her cure Dysposed haue throgh her wyse purueiauÌ„ce To gyue my lady so moche suffysaunce Of all vertues and therwythall puruyde To murdre trouth hath take dauÌ„ger to gyde For bounte beaute shappe and semelyhed Prudence wyt passyngly fayrnesse Benygne porte glad chere wyth lowlyhed Of womanhede ryght plenteous largenesse Nature dyd in her fully impresse when she her wrought alther last disdayne To hinder trouth she made her chaÌ„berlayne when mystrust also and false suspection wyth mysbyleue she made for to be Chefe of counsayle to thys conclusyon For to exyle trouth and eke pyte Out of her court to make mercy flee So y t dyspyte nowe holdeth forth her reyne Through hasty byleue of tales y t men feyne And thus I am for my trouth alas Murdred slayne w t wordes sharpe kene Gyltlesse god wote of all trespas And lye and blede vpon this colde grene Nowe mercy swete mercy my lyues quene And to your grace of mercy yet I preye In your seruyce that your man maye deye But yf so be that I shall dye algate And that I shall none other mercy haue Yet of my deth let thys ben the date that by your wyl I was brouÈt to my graue Or hastely yf that you lyst me saue My sharpe woundes that ake so and blede Of mercy charme and also of womanhede For other charme playnly is there none But onely mercy to helpe in thys case For though my woundes blede euer in one My lyfe my deth standeth in your grace And though my gylte be nothynge alas I aske mercy in all my best entente Redy to dye yf that ye assente For there agaynst shall I neuer stryue In worde ne werke
thy lyfe All the Troyan bloode Ren and crye as thou were woode On Eolus the god of wyndes To blowen out of all kyndes So loude that he shulde drenche Lorde lady grome and wenche Of all the Troyans nacyon wythout any of her sauacion There sawe I suche tempest aryst That euery herte myght agryse To se it paynted on the wall There sawe I eke grauen wyth all Venus howe ye my lady dere wepynge wyth full wofull chere Prayenge Iupyter on hye To saue and kepe that nauye Of that Trogian Eneas Sythe that he her sonne was There sawe I Ioues Venus kysse And graunted was of the tempest lysse There sawe I howe the tempest stente And howe wyth all pyne he wente And pryuely toke a ryuage In to the countre of Cartage And on the morowe howe that he And a knyght that hyght Achate Metten wyth Venus that day Goyng in a queynte aray As she had be an hunteresse wyth wynde blowyng vpon her tresse And howe Eneas began to playne whan he knewe her of hys payne And howe hys shyppes dreynt were Or els ylost he nyst where Howe she gan hym comforte tho And bade hym to Cartage go And there he shulde hys folke fynde That in the see were lefte behynde And shortly of thys thyng to pace She made Eneas so in grace Of Dydo quene of that countre That shortly for to tellen she Became hys loue and let hym do All that weddyng longeth to what shulde I speke it more quaynte Or payne me my wordes to paynte To speke of loue it well nat be I can nat of that faculte And eke to tellen of the manere Howe they fyrst acquaynted were It were a longe processe to tell And ouer longe for you to dwell There sawe I graue howe Eneas Tolde to Dydo euery caas That hym was tyde vpon the see And efte grauen was howe that she Made of hym shortly at a worde Her lyfe her loue her lust her lorde And dyd to hym all reuerence And layde on hym all the dispence That any woman myght do wenyng it had all be so As he her swore and hereby demed That he was good for he suche semed Alas what harme dothe apparence whan it is false in existence For he to her a traytour was wherfore she slowe her selfe alas Lo howe a woman dothe amys To loue hym that vnknowen is For by Christ lo thus it fareth It is nat all golde that glareth For also brouke I well myne heed There may be vnder goodlyheed Couered many a shreude vyce Therfore be no wyght so nyce To take a loue onely for chere Or speche or for frendly manere For this shall euery woman fynde That some man of his pure kynde wol shewen outwarde the fayrest Tyl he haue caught that what him lest And than woll he causes fynde And swere howe she is vnkynde Or false or priuy or double was Al thys saye I by Eneas And Dydo and her nyce lest That loued al to soone a gest wherfore I wol saye o prouerbe That he that fully knoweth the herbe Maye safely laye it to hys eye wythoutyn drede thys is no lye But let vs speke of Eneas Nowe he betrayed her alas And lefte her full vnkyndely So whan she sawe al vtterly That he wolde her of Trouth fayle And wenden from her into Itayle She gan to wrynge her handes two Alas quod she that me is wo Alas is euery man thus trewe That euery yere wol haue a newe If it so longe tyme endure Or els that parauenture And thus of one he woll haue fame In magnifyeng of hys owne name Another for frenshyp sayth he And yet there shal the thyrde be That is taken for delyte Lo or els for synguler profyte In such wordes gan complayne Dydo of her great payne As me mette dremyng redyly None other authour allege wol I Alas quod she my swete herte Haue pyte on my sorowes smerte And slee me not go not away O woful Dydo welaway Quod she vnto her selfe tho O Eneas what wol ye do O that your loue ne your bonde That ye swore with your ryght honde Ne my cruel deth quod she Maye holde you styl here wyth me O haue ye of my deth no pite Iwys myne owne dere herte ye Knowe full wel that neuer yet As farre as euer I had wyt Agylte you in thought ne in dede O haue ye men such goodlyhede In speche and neuer a dele of trouth Alas that euer had routh Any woman on a false man Nowe I se wel and tel can we wretched women can no arte For certayne for the more parte Thus we bene serued euerychone Howe sore that ye men can grone Anone as we haue you receyued Certaynly we bene disceyued For though your loue lest a season wayte vpon the conclusyon And eke howe ye determyne And for the more parte defyne O welawaye that I was borne For through you my name is lorne And myne actes redde and songe Ouer al thys lande in euery tonge O wycked fame for there nys Nothynge so swyfte lo as she is O soth is euery thynge is wyst Though it be couerde with the myst Eke though I myght duren euer That I haue done recouer I neuer That it ne shall be sayd alas I shamed was through Eneas And that I shal thus iuged be Lo ryght as she hath done nowe she wol done eftesones hardely Thus saye the people priuely But that is done nys not to done But all her complaynt ne her mone Certayne auayled her not a stre And whan she wyst sothly he was forth into his shyp agone She into chambre went anone And called on her suster Anue And gan her to complayne thanne And sayde that she cause was That she fyrst loued him alas And fyrst counsayled her therto But what whan thys was sayd and do She rofte her seluen to the herte And dyed through the woundes smerte But al the maner howe she deyde And al the wordes howe she seyde who so to knowe it hath purpose Rede Virgyle in Eneydos Or the pystles of Ouyde what that she wrote or that she dyde And nere it to longe to endyte By god I wolde it here wryte But welawaye the harme and routh That hath betydde for such vntrouth As men maye ofte in bokes rede And aldaye sene it yet in dede That for to thynken it tene is Lo Demophon duke of Athenys Howe he forswore him falsely And trayed Phyllis wyckedly That kynges doughter was of Thrace And falsely gan his terme pace And whan she wyst that he was false She honge her selfe ryght by the halfe For he had done her suche vntrouth Lo was not thys a wo and routh Eke loke howe false and recheles was to Briseyda Achilles And Parys to Oenone And Iason to Hipsyphile And efte Iason to Medea And Hercules to Dyanira For he lefte her for Iolee That made him take his deth parde Howe false was eke Theseus That as the storye telleth vs Howe
thou hast feare and wonder I am dwellyng wyth the god of thonder whych men callen Iupiter That doth me styen ful ofte fer To do al thys commaundement And for thys cause he hathe me sent To the Herke nowe by thy trouth Certayne he hath of the routh That thou hast so truely Longe serued ententyfely Hys blynde neuewe Cupido And fayre Venus also wythout guerdon euer yet And netheles hast set thy wyt Although in thy heed full lytle is To make bokes songes and ditees In ryme or els in cadence As thou best canst in reuerence Of loue and of hys seruauntes eke That haue his seruyce sought and seke And paynest the to prayse his arte Although thou haddest neuer parte wherfore also god me blesse Iouis halte it great humblesse And vertue eke that thou wylt make A nyght full ofte thyne heed to ake In thy studye so thou wrytest And euermore of loue endytest In honour of him and praysynges And in hys folkes furtherynges And in her matter al deuysest And not hym ne his folke dispisest Although thou mayst go in the daunce Of hem that hym lyst not auaunce wherfore as I sayd ywys Iupiter consydereth wel thys And also beausyre of other thynges That is thou hast no tydynges Of loues folke yf they be glade Ne of nothynge els that god made And not onely fro farre countre That no tydynges comen to the Not of thy very neyghbours That dwellen almoost at thy dores Thou herest neyther that ne thys For whan thy labour al done is And hast made all thy rekenynges In stede of rest and of newe thynges Thou goest home to thyne house anone And also dombe as a stone Thou syttest at another boke Tyl fully dased is thy loke And lyuyst thus as an Hermyte Although thyne abstinence is lyte And therfore Iouis through hys grace wyl that I bere the to a place whiche that hyght the house of Fame And to do the sporte and game In some recompensatioun Of thy labour and deuotioun That thou hast had lo causeles To god Cupido the recheles And thus thys god through hys meryte wyl wyth some maner thynge the quyte So that thou wylte be of good chere For trust well that thou shalt here whan we be comen there as I saye Mo wonder thynges dare I laye And of loues folke mo tydynges Both sothsawes and leasynges And mo loues newe begon And longe serued tyl loue is won And mo louers casuelly That bene betydde no man wote why But as a blynde man starteth an Hare And more iolyte and welfare whyle they fynde loue of stele As thynke men and ouer all we le Mo discordes and mo ialousyes Mo murmures and mo nouelryes And also mo dissimulacions And eke feyned reperations And mo berdes in two houres wythout rasour or sysoures Ymade than graynes be of sandes And eke mo holdyng in mo handes And also mo renouelaunces Of olde forleten acqueyntaunces Mo louedayes and mo accordes Than on instumentes bene cordes And eke of loue mo exchaunges Than euer corne were in graunges Vnneth mayst thou trowen thys Quod he no so me helpe god as wys Quod I No why quod he for it were impossible to my wyt Though fame had all the pyes In al a realme and al espyes Howe that yet he shulde here al thys Or they espyen O yes yes Quod he to me that can I preue By reason worthy for to leue So that thou gyue thyne aduertence To vnderstande my sentence Fyrst shal thou here where she dwelleth Ryght so as thyne owne boke telleth Her palays standeth as I shall say Ryght euen amyddes of the way Bytwene heuen erth and see That what so euer in all these thre Is spoken in pryue or apperte The way therto is so ouerte And stante eke in so iuste a place That euery sowne mote to it pace Or what so cometh from any tonge Be it rowned redde or songe Or spoken in surete or drede Certayne it mote thyther nede Nowe herken wel for why I wyl Tellen the a proper skyl And a worthy demonstration In myne ymaginacyon Geffray thou wottest wel thys That euery kyndly thynge that is Hath a kyndly stede there he Maye best in it conserued be Vnto whiche place euery thynge Through his kyndly enclynynge Meueth for to come to whan that it is awaye therfro As thus Lo howe thou mayst al day se Take any thynge that heuy be As stone or leed or thyng of weyght And bere it neuer so hye on heyght Let go thyne hande it falleth downe Ryght so say I by fyre or sowne Or smoke or other thynges lyght Alwaye they seke vpwarde on heyght Lyght thyngs vp downwarde charge whyle eueryche of hem be at large And for thys cause thou mayst well se That euery ryuer vnto the see Enclyned is to go by kynde And by these skylles as I fynde Haue fyshes dwellyng in flode and see And trees eke on the erth be Thus euery thynge by hys reason Hath his owne proper mansion To whiche he seketh to repeyre There as it shulde not appeyre Lo thys sentence is knowen couth Of euery philosophers mouth As Aristotle and dan Platone And other clerkes many one And to confirme my reasoun Thou wost wel that speche is sowne Or els no man might it here Nowe herke what I wyl the lere Sowne is not but eyre ybroken And euery speche that is spoken Loude or pryue foule or fayre In hys substaunce is but eyre For as flame is but lyghted smoke Ryght so is sowne eyre ybroke But thys maye be in many wyse Of whych I wyl the deuyse As sowne cometh of pype or harpe For whan a pype is blowen sharpe The eyre is twyst wyth violence And rent Lo thys is my sentence Eke whan men harpe strynges smyte whether it be muche or lyte Lo wyth the stroke the eyre to breketh And ryght so breketh it whan men speketh Thus wost thou well what thing is speche Nowe hensforth I wyl the teche Howe euery speche voyce or sowne Throughe his multiplycacyowne Thoughe it were pyped of a mouse Mote nedes come to Fames house I proue it thus take hede nowe By experience for yf that thou Threwe in a water nowe a stone well wost thou it wyl make anone A lytle roundle as a cercle Parauenture as brode as a couercle And ryght anone thou shalte se well That whele cercle wyl cause another whele And that the thyrde and so forthe brother Euery cercle causynge other Broder than hym selfe was And thus fro roundel to compas Eche aboute other goynge Causeth of others sterynge And multeplyeng euermo Tyl it be so farre go That it at bothe brynkes be Al thoughe thou may it not se Aboue yet gothe it alway vnder Though thou thynke it a greate wonder And who so saythe of trouthe I vary Bydde hym proue the contrary And right thus euery worde ywys That loud or pryue yspoken is Moueth first an eyre aboute And of his mouynge out of doute
wherfore we praye you on a rowe That our fame be suche yknowe In al thing ryght as it is I graunt it you quod she ywys But what arte thou that sayest this tale That wearest on thy hose a pale And on thy typpet suche a bell Madame ê™ he sothe to tell I am that ylke shrewe ywis That brent the temple of Isydis In Aâ—henes lo that cyte And wherfore dyddest thou so ê™ she By my trouthe ê™ he madame I wolde sayne haue had a name As other folke had in the towne Although they were of great renowne For her vertue and her thewes Thought I as great fame haue shrewes Though it be naught for shreudnesse As good folke haue for goodnesse And sythen I may nat haue that one That other nyll I nat forgone As for to get a fame here The temple sette I all on fyre Nowe don our loos be blowe swythe As wysly be thou euer blythe Gladly ê™ she thou Eolus Herest thou not what they prayen vs Madame yes full well ê™ he And I wyll trumpen it parde And toke hys blacke trumpe fast And gan to puffen and to blaste Tyll it was at the worldes ende Wyth that I gan aboute wende For one that stode ryght at my bake Me thought full goodly to me spake And sayd frende what is thy name Arte thou come hyder to haue fame Nay for sothe frende ê™ I I come nat hyther grant mercy For no suche cause by my heed Suffyseth me as I were deed That no wyght haue my name in honde I wote my selfe best howe I stonde For what I drie or what I thynke I woll my selfe all it drynke Certayne for the more parte As ferforthe as I can myne arte what doest thou here than ê™ he ê™ I that woll I tell the The cause why I stande here Some newe tydynges for to lere Some newe thyng I not what Tydinges eyther thys or that Of loue or suche thynges glade For certaynly he that me made To come hyder sayd to me I shulde bothe here and se In this place wonder thynges But these be no suche tidynges As I ment of No ê™ he And I answerde no parde For well I wote euer yet Sythe that fyrst I had wyt That some folke han desyred fame Diuersly and loos and name But certaynly I nyst howe Ne where that Fame dwelled or nowe Ne eke of her discripcion Ne also her condycion Ne the order of her dome Knewe I nat tyll I hyder come Why than be lo these tydynges That thou nowe hyther brynges That thou haste herde ê™ he to me But nowe no force for well I se what thou desyrest for to lere Come forthe and stande no lenger here And I woll the wythout drede In to suche another place lede There thou shalt here many one Tho gan I forthe wyth hym gone Out of the castell sothe to sey Tho sawe I stande in a valey Vnder the castell faste by An house that domus Dedaly That Laborintus ycleped is Nas made so wonderly iwys Ne halfe so queyntly ywrought ☞ And euermo as swyfte as thought Thys queynt house aboute went That neuermo it styll stent And there came out so great a noyse That had it stonde vpon Oyse Men myght haue herde it easely To Rome I trowe sikerly And the noyse whyche that I herde For all the worlde ryght so it ferde As dothe the routyng of the stone That fro thengyn is letyn gone And all thys house of whyche I rede was made of twygges falowe rede And grene eke and some were whyte Suche as men to these cages twhyte Or maken of these panyers Or els hutches or dossers That for the swough and for the twygges Thys house was also full of gygges And also full eke of chyrkynges And of many other workynges And eke this house hath of entrees As many as leues ben on trees In sommer whan they ben grene And on the rofe yet men may sene A thousande holes and well mo To letten the sowne out go And by day in euery tyde Ben all the dores open wyde And by nyght eche one vnshette Ne porte is there none to lette No maner tidynges in to pace ☞ Ne neuer rest is in that place That it nys fylled full of tidynges Eyther loude or of whysperynges And euer all the houses angles Is full of rownynges and of iangles Of werres of peace of maryages Of restes and of labour of vyages Of abode of dethe and of lyfe Of loue of hate accorde of stryfe Of losse of lore and of wynnynges Of heale of sycknesse or of lesynges Of fayre wether and eke of tempestes Of qualme of folke and of beestes Of dyuers transmutacions Of estates and eke of regyons Of trust of dred of ialousy Of wytte of wennyng of foly Of plentie and of great famyne Of chepe of derthe and of ruyne Of good or misgouernment Of fyre and of dyuers accydent And lo this house of whiche I write Syker be ye it nas nat lyte For it was sixtie myle of length Al was the tymbre of no strength Yet it is founded to endure whyle that it lyst to Auenture That is the mother of tydinges As the see of welles and springes And it was shapen lyke a cage Certes quod I in al myn age Ne sawe I suche an house as this And as I wondred me ywis Vpon this house tho ware was I Howe myne Egle faste by was perched hye vpon a stone And I gan streight to hym gone And sayd thus I pray the That thou a whyle abyde me For goddes loue and let me sene what wonders in that place bene For yet peraunter I may lere Some good therin or somwhat here That lefe me were or that I went Peter that is nowe myn entent Quod he to me therfore I dwel But certayne one thyng I the tel That but I bringe the therin Ne shal thou neuer conne the gyn To come in to it out of doute So faste it whyrieth lo aboute But sythe that I Ioues of his grace As I haue sayd wyl the solace Finally with these thynges Vncouthe syghtes and tidynges To passe with thyne heuynesse Suche routhe hath he of thy distresse That thou suffredest debonairly And woste thy seluen vtterly Desperate of al blysse Sythe that fortune hath made a mysse The swote of al thyn hertes rest Languysshe and eke in poynte to brest But he through his myghtie meryte wyl do the ease al be it lyte â—aue in expresse conmaundement To whyche I am obedyent To forther the wyth all my myght And wysse and teche the a ryght where thou mayste moste tidynges here Thou shalte here many one lere Wyth thys worde he ryght anone Hent me vp bytwene hys tone And at a wyndowe in me brought That in thys house was as me thought And there wythall me thought it stent And nothyng it aboute went And me sette in the floore adoun But suche a great congregacioun Of folke as I sawe rome aboute Some wythin and
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
a deynous chere ye coÌ„maunden it to auoyde but god forbyd that any worde shulde of you sprynge to haue so lytel routh Parde pyte mercy in euery Margarite is closed by kynde amoÌ„ges many other vertues by qualites of comforte but comfort is to me ryght naught worth wythouten mercy pyte of you alone whych thynges hastely god me grauÌ„t for his mercye REhersynge these thinges and many other wythout tyme or moment of rest me semed for anguyshe of dysease that altogether I was rauished I can not tell howe but holy all my passyons felynges weren loste as it semed for the tyme and sodaynly a maner of drede lyght in me all at ones nought such feare as folke haue of an enemy that were myghty wolde hem greue or done hem dysease For I trowe thys is wel knowe to many persones that otherwhyle yf a man be in hys soueraynes presence a maner of ferdnesse crepeth in hys herte not for harme but of goodly subiection namely as men reden that aungels ben aferde of our sauyour in heuen And pardy there ne is ne may no passyoÌ„ of disease be but it is to meane that angels ben adrade not by frendes of drede sytheÌ„ they ben perfytly blyssed as affection of woÌ„derfulnesse by seruice of obedience such ferde also han these louers in presence of theyr loues subiectes aforne theyr soueraynes Ryght so wyth ferdenesse myne herte was caught And I sodaynly astonyed there entred into the place there I was lodged a ladye the semelyest and moost goodly to my syght that euer to forne apered to any creature and truly in the blustryng of her loke she yaue gladnesse and comforte sodaynlye to all my wyttes and ryghte so she dothe to euery wyght that cometh in her presence And for she was so goodlye as me thought myne herte beganne somdele to be enbolded and wexte a lytel hardy to speake but yet wyth a quakynge voyce as I durste I salued her and enquyred what she was and why she so worthy to syghte dayned to entre in to so foule a douÌ„geon and namelye a pryson wythout leaue of my kepers For certes althoughe the vertue of dedes of mercye stretchen to vysyten the poore prisoners and hem after that faculties ben had to comfort me semed that I was so ferre falleÌ„ into myserye and wretched hyd caytyfnesse that me shulde no precious thynge nyghe and also that for my sorowe euery wyght shulde ben heauy and wyshe my recouery But when thys lady had somdele aperceyued as wel by my wordes as by my chere what thought beâ—yed me wythin wyth a good womanly couÌ„tenaunce she sayd these wordes O my nory wenyst thou that my maner be to foryet my frendes or my seruauntes naye quod she it is my full entente to vysyte and comforte al my frendshyppes and alyes as well in tyme of perturbation as of moost propertye of blysse in me shall vnkyndnesse neuer be founden And also sythen I haue so fewe especyal trewe nowe in these dayes wherfore I maye well at more leysar come to hem that me deseruen and yf my comynge maye in any thynge auayle wete wel I woll come often Now good lady quod I that art so fayre on to loke reynynge honny by thy wordes blysse of paradyse arne thy lokynges ioy and comforte are thy mouynges What is thy name how is it that in you is so mokel werkynge vertues enpyght as me semeth and in none other creature that euer sawe I wyth myne eyen My dyscyple ê™ she me woÌ„dreth of thy wordes and on the y t for a lytel disease haste foryeten my name woste thou not well that I am Loue that first the brought to thy seruyce O good lady quod I is thys worshyp to the or to thyne excellence for to come into so foule a place Parde somtyme tho I was in prosperite and wyth foreyne goodes enuolued I had mokel to done to drawe the to myne hostel yet many wernynges thou madest er thou lyste fullye to graunt thyne home to make at my dwellyng place nowe thou comest goodly by thyne owne vyse to comforte me wyth wordes and so there thoroughe I gynne remembre on passed gladnesse Trewly ladye I ne wotte whether I shal say welcome or none sythen thy comyng wol as moch do me tene and sorowe as gladnesse and myrthe se why For that me comforteth to thinke on passed gladnesse that me anoyeth efte to be in doynge Thus thy comynge bothe gladdeth and teneth and that is cause of moche sorowe Lo ladye howe then I am comforted by your commyng and with that I gan in teeres to dystylle and tenderlye wepe Nowe certes quod loue I se well and that me ouerthynketh that wytte in the fayleth and arte in poynte to dote Trewly quod I that haue ye maked and that euer woll I rue Wottest thou nat wel quod she that euery shepeherde ought by reson to seke hys sperkelande shepe that arne ronne in to wyldernesse amonge bushes and peryls and hem to theyr pasture ayen bringe and take on hem priuy besy cure of kepynge and tho the vnconnyng shepe scattred wolde ben loste rennyng to wyldernesse and to desertes drawe or els wolden put hem selfe to the swalowynge wolfe yet shal the shepherd by busynesse and trauayle so put hym forth that he shall nat let hem be loste by no waye A good shepeherd putteth rather hys lyfe to ben loste for hys shepe But for thou shalte not wene me beynge of werse condicyon truly for euerych of my folke and for all tho that to me warde be knyt in any condicion I wil rather dye than suffre hem through erroure to ben spylt For me lyst and it me lyketh of all myne a sheperdesse to be cleped â–ª wottest thou not well I fayled neuer wyght but he me refused and wolde neglygently go with vnkyndnesse and yet parde hauâ— I manye such holp and releued and they haue oft me begyled but euer at the ende it discendeth in theyr owne neckes Hast thou not radde how kynde I was to Parys Priamus son of Troye How Iason me falsed for all hys false behest how Sesars sonke I left it for no tene tyll he was troned in my blysse for his seruyce â–ª what ê™ she most of all maked I not a louedaye betwene God and mankynde and chese a mayde to be nompere to put the quarell at ende Lo how I haue trauayled to haue thanke on all sydes and yet lyst me not to rest I myght fynde on whoÌ„ I shulde werche but truly myne owne dysciple bycause I haue the founde at all assayes in thy wyll to ben readye mye hestes to haue folowed and hast ben true to that margaryte peerle that ones I the shewed and she alway ayenwarde hath made but daungerous cheare I am come in propre person to put the out of errours and make the glad by wayes of reason so that sorowe ne dysease shall nomore hereafter the amaystrye wherethrough I hope thou shalte
lyghtlye come to the grace that thou longe hast desyred of thilke iewel Hast thou not herde many ensamples howe I haue comforted and releued the scholers of my lore who hathe worthyed kynges in the felde who hath honoured ladyes in boure by a perpetual myrroure of theyr trouthe in my seruyce who hath caused worthye folke to voyde vyce shame who hath holde cyties and realmes in prosperitie yf the lyste cleape ayen thyne olde remeÌ„braunce thou coudest euery poynt of this declare in especyall and saye that I thy maystresse haue be cause causyng these thynges and many mo other Nowe ywys madame quod I al these thinges I know well my selfe and that thyne excellence passeth the vnderstandynge of vs beestes and that nomans wyt erthly may comprehende thy vertues well than ê™ she for I se the in disease and sorow I wote wel thou art one of myne nories I maye not suffre the so to make sorow thyne owne selfe to shende but I my selfe come to be thy fere thyne heauye charge to make to seme the lesse for woo is hym that is alone And to the sory to beÌ„ moned by a sorowfull wyght it is greate gladnesse Right so with my sycke frendes I am sycke and with sorye I can not els but sorowe make tyll whan I haue hem releued in suche wyse that gladnesse in a maner of countrepaysyng shal restore as mokel in ioy as the passed heuynesse beforne dyd in tene And also ê™ she whan anye of my seruauntes ben alone in solitary place I haue yet euer busyed me to be with hem in comfort of theyr hertes and taught hem to make songes of playnte and of blysse and to endyten letters of rethorycke in queynt vnderstaÌ„dynges to bethynke hem in what wyse they mygt best theyr ladyes in good seruice plese and also to lerne maner in countenaunce in wordes in bearynge and to ben meke and lowlye to euery wyght his name fame to encrease and to yeue great yeftes and large that his renome may spryngen but the therof haue I excused for thy losse and thy great costages wherthrough thou art nedy arne nothynge to me vnknowen but I hope to god somtyme it shall ben amended as thus as I sayde In nortuoure haue I taught al myne and in curtesie made hem expert their ladyes hertes to wyn and yf any wolde endeynous or proude or be enuious or of wretches acquayntaunce hasteliche haue I such voyded out of my schole for all vyces trulye I hate vertues and worthynesse in all my power I auaunce Ah worthye creature ê™ I and by iuste cause the name of goddesse dignely ye mowe beare In the lyth y e grace through which any creature in this worlde hath any goodnesse truly all maner of blysse and precyousnesse in vertue out of the springen and wellen as brokes and ryuers proceden from theyr sprynges and lyke as all waters by kynde drawen to the see so all kyndly thynges thresten by full appetyte of desyre to draw after thy steppes and to thy presence approche as to theyr kyndely perfectioÌ„ How dare than beestes in this world ought forfayte ayenste thy deuyne purueyaunce Also ladye ye knowen all the pryuye thoughtes in hertes no counsayle may ben hydde from your knowynge wherfore I wot well lady that ye knowe youre selfe that I in my conscyence am and haue ben wyllyng to your seruyce al coulde I neuer do as I shulde yet forsothe fayned I neuer to loue otherwise thaÌ„ was in myne herte and yf I coulde haue made cheare to one and ythought an other as many other done all daye afore myne eyen I trowe it wolde not me haue vayled Certes quod she haddest thou so done I wold not now haue the here vysited Ye wete wel lady eke quod I that I haue not played racket nettyll in docke out and with the wethercock waued and truly there ye me sette by accorde of my conscience I wolde not flye tyll ye and reason by aperte strength made myne herte to tourne In good faythe quod she I haue knowe the euer of tho condicions and sytheÌ„ thou woldest in as moche as in the was a made me pryuy of thy counsayle and iuge of thy conscience though I forsoke it in tho dayes tyl I sawe better my tyme wold neuer god that I shulde now fayle but euer I wyll be ready wytnessynge thy soth in what place that euer I shall ayenste all tho that wol the contrary susteyne And for as moch as to me is nought vnknowen ne hydde of thy pryuy hert but al hast thou tho thinges made to me open at the full that hath caused my commynge into this prison to voyde the webbes of thyne eyen to make the clerly to se the erroures thou hast bene in and bycause that men bene of dyuers condicyons some adradde to saye a soth and some for a sothe anon readye to fyght and also that I maye not my selfe bene in place to withsaye thylke men that of the speaken otherwyse than the sothe I woll and I charge the in vertue of obedyence that thou to me owest to wryten my wordes and set hem in wrytynges that they mowe as my wytnessyng ben noted amonge the people For bookes wrytten neyther dreden ne shame ne stryue conne but only shewen the entent of the writer and yeue remembraunce to the hearer and yf anye woll in thy presence saye anye thynge to tho wryters loke boldlye truste on Mars to answer at the full For certes I shall hym enfourme of all the trouthe in thy loue with thy conscience so that of his help thou shalt not varye at thy nede I trowe the strongeste and the best that may be founde woll not transuers thy wordes whereof than woldest thou drede GReatlye was I tho gladed of these wordes and as who saith wexen somdele lyght in hert both for the auctoritie of wytnesse also for syckernesse of helpe of the forsayd be hest and sayd Trulye ladye now am I well gladded through coÌ„fort of your wordes be it now lykynge vnto your nobleye to shewe whiche folke defame your seruauntes syth your seruyce ought aboue all other thynges to bene commended Yet quod she I se well thy soule is not all out of the amased cloude the were better to here thynge y t the myght lyght out of thyne heuy charge and after knowynge of thyne owne heelpe than to styrr swete wordes suche reasons to here for in a thoughtfull soule and namelye suche one as thou arte woll not yet suche thynges synken Come of therfore and let me sene thyne heuye charge that I maye the lyghtlyer for thy comforte purueye Now certes ladye quod I the moost coÌ„fort I myght haue were vtterly to wete me be sure in herte of that Margaryte I serue and so I thynke to done wyth all myghtes whyle my lyfe dureth ThaÌ„ quod she mayest thou thereafter in suche wyse that myspleasaunce ne entre In good fayth quod I there shall no myspleasaunce be
countynaunce is the conysaunce of my lyuerye to al my retynue deliuered What wenyst thou that me lyste auaunce suche personnes as louen the fyrste syttynges at feestes the hyghest stoles in churches and in hal loutinges of peoples in markettes and fayres vnstedfaste to byde in one place anye whyle togyther wenynge hys owne wytte more excellent than other scornynge all maner deuyse but hys owne Naye naye God wotte these shul nothyng pertteyne of my blysse Truly my maner here toforne hathe ben wyrshyppe wyth my blysse Lyons in the felde and lambes in chambre Egles at assaute and maydens in halle foxes in counsayle styl in theyr dedes and theyr protection is grauÌ„ted redy to ben a brydge and theyr baner is arered like wolues in the felde Thus by these wayes shull men ben auaunced ensample of Dauid that from kepynge of shepe was drawen vp into the order of kyngly gouernaunce and Iupiter froÌ„ a bole to bene Europes fere and Iulius Cesar from the lowest degre in Rome to be mayster of all erthly princes and Eneas from hel to be kinge of the countre there Rome is nowe stondynge And so to the I saye thy grace by bearynge therafter maye sette the in suche plyghte that no ianglynge maye greue the lest tucke of thy heÌ„mes that are theyr ianghes is noughte to counte at a cresse in thy disauauntage EVer quod she hath the people in thys worlde desyred to haue had great name in worthynesse hated foule to bere anye fame and that is one of y e obiections thou alegest to be ayen thyn hertely desyre Ye forsothe quod I that so comenly the people wol lye and brynge about such enfame Now ê™ she yf men wyth leasynges put on enfame wenest thy selfe therby ben enpeyred â–ª that wenyng is wronge se why for asmuch as they lyen thy merite encreaseth and make the bene more worthy to hem that knowen of the soth by what thing thou art apeyred that in so mokyl thou arte encreased of thy beloued frendes and sothly a wounde of thy frend to the lasse harme ye syr and better than a false kyssyng in disceyuable glosynge af thyne enemye aboue that than to be wel with thy frende maketh such enfame Ergo thou art encreased and not apeyred Lady quod I somtyme yet yf a maÌ„ be in disease thestymacyon of the enuyouse people ne loketh nothyng to desertes of men ne to the merites of theyr doynges but only to the aueÌ„ture of fortune and therafter they yeuen theyr sentence and some loken the voluntarye wyll in his herte and therafter telleth hys iugement not takynge hede to reason ne to the qualyte of the doynge as thus If a maÌ„ be riche and fulfylled with worldly welefulnesse some commenden it and saine it is so lente by iuste cause and he that hath aduersyte they sayne he is weaked hathe deserued thylke anoye The coÌ„trary of these thynges some men holden also sayne that to the rych prosperyte is puruayed into his confusyon and vpon thys mater manye authorites of many and greate wytted clerkes they alegen And some men sayne thoughe all good estimacyon forsaken folke that han aduersyte yet it is meryte encrease of hys blysse so that these purposes arne so wonderfull in vnderstandynge that trewlye for myne aduersytie nowe I not howe the sentence of the indifferent people wylingen my fame Therfore quod she yf anye wyghte shulde yeue a trew sentence on such maters the cause of the disease mayste thou se well vnderstaÌ„de thervpon after what ende it draweth y t is to sayne good or badde so ought it to haue his fame or by goodnesse enfame by badnesse for euery reasonable person and namely of a wyse man his wytte ought not wtout reason toforne herde sodainly in a mater to iuge After the sawes of the wise thou shalt not iuge ne deme toforne thou knowe Lady ê™ I ye remembre wel that in moost laude and praysynge of certayne sayntes in holy churche is to rehersen their conuercyon from badde into good and that is so rehersed as by a perpetuall myrroure of remembraunce in worshypping of tho sayntes and good ensample to other misdoers in ameÌ„dement Howe turned the romayne zedeoreys fro the Romaynes to be wyth Hanyball ayenst hys kynde nacyon and afterwardes hym semyng the romaynes to be at the next degree of coÌ„fusyon turned to hys olde alyes by whose witte after was Hanibal discomfyted Wherfore to enfourme you Lady the maner why I meane se nowe in my youth I was drawe to bene assentaunt and in my myghtes helpinge to certayne coniuracions and other greate matters of rulynge of citezins and thylke thynges ben my drawers in exitours to tho maters werne so paynted and coloured that at the prime face me semed them noble gloryous to all the people I than wenynge mykel meryte haue deserued in furtherynge and mayntenaunce of tho thynges besyed and laboured wyth all my diligence in werkynge of thylke maters to the ende And trewlye lady to tell you the sothe me roughte lytell of anye hate of the myghty Senatours in thylke citie ne of comunes malyce for two skyllles One was I had comforte to bene in suche plyte that both profyte were to me and to my frendes Another was for coÌ„men profite in cominaltye is not but peace and tranquilytie wyth iust gouernaunce proceden from thylke profyte sythen by counsayl of myne in witte me thought the fyrste paynted thynges malyce and euell meanynge wythouten anye good auaylynge to any people of tyrannye purposed and so for pure sorow and of my medlynge and bad infame that I was in ronne tho teeres lashed oute of myne eyen were thus awaye washe than the vnder hyd malyce and the rancoure of purposynge enuye fornecaste and ymagined in distruction of mokyl people shewed so openly that had I bene blynde wyth myne hondes all the circumstaunce I myght well haue feled Now than tho personnes that such thynges haue caste to redresse for wrathe of my fyrste medlynge shopen me to dwell in this pynande prison tyll Lachases my threde no leÌ„ger wolde twine And euer I was sought yf me lyst to haue grace of my lyfe and frenesse of that prison I shulde openly confesse how peace myght ben endused to endeÌ„ al the fyrste rancours It was fully supposed my knowynge to be ful in tho maters Than lady I thoughte that euery man that by anye waye of ryght ryghtfully done maye helpe any comune help to ben saued which thyng to kepe aboue all thynges I am holde to mayntayne and namely in distroyenge of a wronge all shulde I therthroughe enpeche myne owne fere yf he were gylty and to do mysdede assentaunt and mayster ne frende may nought auayle to the soule of hym that in falsnesse dyeth also that I nere desyred wrathe of the people ne indignacyon of the worthy for nothynge that euer I wrought or dyd in any doynge my selfe els but in the mayntenaunce of these foresayd erroures in
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
doth not that other wherfore vnsely dothe not begyle Selynesse dysceyueth vnsely put awaye doute That one maketh men blynde that other openeth theyr eyen in shewyng of wretchednesse The one is ful of drede to lese that is not his owne that other is sobre and maketh men dyscharged of mokell heuynesse in burthen The one draweth a man from very good y e other haleth hym to vertue by the hookes of thoughtes And wenyst thou not that thy dysease hath done the mokel more to wynne then euer yet thou lostest and more then euer the contrary made the wynne Is not a greate good to thy thynkynge for to knowe the hertes of thy sothfast frēdes ▪ Pardy they ben proued to y e ful the trewe haue dysceuered from the false Trewly at the goynge of the ylke brotel ioy ther yede no more awaye then the ylke that was not thyne proper He was neuer from that lyghtly departed thyne owne good therfore leaueth it styl wyth the. Nowe good quod she for howe moche woldest thou somtyme haue boughte thys very knowyng of thy frendes from the flatterynge flyes that the glosed when thou thought thy self sely But thou that playnest of losse in rychesse hast founden the most dere worthy thynge that thou clepest vnsely hath made the moche thynge to wynnen And also for conclusion of all he is frende that nowe leaueth not hys herte frō thyne helpes And yf that Margarite denyeth nowe not to suffre her vertues shyne to the wardes wyth spreadynge beames as farre or farther then yf thou were sely in worldly ioye trewely I saye not els but she is somdele to blame Ah peace quod I and speake nomore of thys myne hert breaketh now thou touchest any suche wordes A well quod she then let vs syngen thou hearest no more of these thynges at thys tyme. ¶ Thus endeth the fyrste boke of the Testament of Loue and here after foloweth the seconde VEry welthe maye not be founden in al thys world and that is well sene Lo howe in my moost comforte as I wende moste supposed to haue hadde ful answere of my contrary thoughtes sodaynly it was vanysshed And all the workes of man faren in the same wyse when folke wenen beste her entente for to haue and wylles to perfourme anone chaungynge of the lyft syde to y e ryght halue tourneth it so clene into another kynde that neuer shall it come to the fyrste plyte in doynge O thys wrongful sterynge so soone other wysed out of knowynge but for my purpose was at my begynnynge and so dureth yet yf God of hys grace tyme woll me graunt I thynke to perfourme thys worke as I haue begonne in loue after as my thynne wytte with inspiracion of him that hildeth al grace woll suffre Greuously god wotte haue I suffred a great throwe that the romayne Emperour whyche in vnite of loue shulde accorde and euery wyth other in cause of other to auaunce and namely sythe thys empyre to be corrected of so many sectes in heresie of faith of seruyce o rule in loues religion Trewlye al were it but to shende errontous opinions I maye it no lenger suffre for many menne there ben that sayne loue to ben in grauel and sande that wyth see ebbynge and flowynge woweth as ryches that sodaynly vanysheth And some sayne that loue shuld be in wyndy blastes that stoundmele turneth as a phane and glorye of renome whyche after lustes of the varyaunt people is areysed or stylled Many also wenen that in the sonne and the moone and other sterres loue shulde ben foūden for amonge all other planettes moste soueraynly they shynen as dygnityes in reuerence of estates rather then good han and occupyen Ful many also there ben that in okes and in huge postes supposen loue to be groūded as in strength in might which mowen not helpen theyr owne wretchednesse when they gynne to fall But suche dyuersyte of sectes ayenst the ryghtfull byleue of loue these errours ben forth spredde that loues seruaūtes in trewe rule and stedfaste faythe in no place darne apere Thus irrecuperable ioy is went and anoy endlesse is entred for no man aryght reproueth suche errours but confyrmen theyr wordes and sayne that bad is noble good and goodnes is badde to whyche folke the prophet byddeth wo without ende Also many tonges of great false techinges in gylynge maner principally in my tymes not only wyth wordes but also wyth armes loues seruauntes and professe in hys religyō of trewe rule pursewen to confoūden and to dystroyen And for as moche as holy fathers that oure christen faythe aproued and strengthed to the iewes as to mē resonable and of dyuinite lerned proued thilke fayth with resones and wyth authorities of the olde testament of the newe her pertinacye to distroy But to paynyms that for beestes and houndes were holde to put hem out of theyr errour was myracles of god shewed These thynges were fygured by comynge of thāgel to the shepeherdes and by the sterre to paynyms kynges as who sayeth angel reasonable to resonable creature and sterre of myracle to people bestial not lerned werne sent to enforme But I louers clerke in all my connyng and with al my mightes truly I haue no such grace in vertue of myracles ne for to dyscomfyte falsheedes suffyseth not authorites alone sythen that suche heretykes and mayntenours of falsytes Wherfore I wote wel sythen that they ben men and reason is approued in hem the clowde of erroure hath her reason bewonde probable resons whych that catchende wyt rightfully may not with sytte By my trauaylynge studye I haue ordeyned hem wyth y e authorite mysglosed by mannes reason to graunt shall be enduced Now gynneth my penne to quake to thynken on the sentences of the enuyous people whych alwaye ben redy both ryder and goer to skorne and to iape thys leude boke and me for rancoure hate in theyr hertes they shullen so dyspyse that althoughe my booke be leude yet shall it ben more leude holden and by wycked wordes in many maner apayred Certes me thynketh the sowne of theyr bad speche ryght nowe is full both myne eares O good precious Margarite myne herte shulde wepe yf I wyste ye token hede of suche maner speche but trewly I wotte wel in that your wysedom shal not asterte For of god maker of kynde wytnesse I toke that for none enuy ne yuell haue I drawe thys matter together but onely for goodnesse to maintayne and errours in falsytees to destroye Wherfore as I sayde wyth reason I thynke thylke forsayd errours to distroye and dequace These reasons and suche other yf they enduce men in loues seruyce trewe to beleue of parfyte blysse yet to full fayth in credence of deserte fully mowe they not suffise sythen faythe hath no meryte of mede when mannes reason sheweth experience in doynge For vtterlye no reason the parfyte blysse of loue by no waye may make to be comprehended Lo what is a parcell of louers ioye
parfyte scyence in good seruyce of theyr desyre to comprehende in bodely doynge the lykyng of the soule not as by a glasse to haue contemplacyon of tyme comynge but thylke fyrste ymagyned and thought after face to face in beholdynge what herte what reason what vnderstandynge can make hys heuen to be feled and knowe wythout assaye in doynge certes none Sythen then of loue cometh suche fruyte in blysse and loue in him selfe is the moste amonge other vertues as clerkes sayne The sede of suche spryngynge in all places in all countreys in al worldes shulde ben sowe But o welawaye thylke sede is forsake mowen not ben suffred the lāde tyllers to see a werke wythout medlynge of cockle badde wedes whych somtyme stonken hath caught the name of loue amonge ydiotes and badde meanynge people Neuer the later yet how so it be that men cleape thylke kynge precyousest in kynde wyth many eke names that other thynges that the foule yeuen the ylke noble name it sheweth well that in a maner men haue a great lykynge in worshyppynge of thilke name wherfore thys worke haue I wryt and to the tytled of loues name I haue it auowed in a maner of sacrifice that where euer it be radde it mowe in merite by the excellence of thylke name the more wexe in authorite and worshyppe of takynge in hede and to what entente it was ordayned the infeeres mowen be moued Euery thynge to whome is owande occasyon done as for hys ende Aristotle supposeth that the actes of euery thynge ben in a maner hys fynall cause A fynal cause is noblerer or els euen as noble as thylke thynge that is fynally to thilke ende wherfore accion of thyng euerlastyng is demed to be eternal and not temporal sythen it is his fynal cause Ryght so the actes of my boke loue and loue is noble wherfore though my boke be leude the cause w t which I am stered and for whom I ought it done noble forsothe ben bothe But bycause that in connynge I am yonge and canne yet but crepe this leude A b c haue I sette in to lernyng for I can not passen the tellyng of thre as yet and yf god wyl in shorte tyme I shall amende this leudnesse in ioynyng syllables whyche thyng for dulnesse of wytte I maye not in thre letters declare For trewly I saye the goodnesse of my Margaryte perle wolde yeue mater in endityng to many clerkes certes her mercy is more to me swetter than any lyuynges wherfore my lyppes mowen not suffyse in spekyng of her full laude and worshyppe as they shulde But who is that in knowynge of the orders of heuen putteth his resones in the erthe I for sothe may not w t blere eyen the shynyng sonne of vertue in bright whele of this Margaryte behold therfore as yet I maye her nor discryue in vertue as I wolde In tyme comyng in another tretyse thorowe goddes grace this sonne in clerenesse of vertue to be knowe and howe she enlumyneth al this day I thynke to declare IN this meane whyle this cōfortable lady ganne syng a wōder mater of endityng in latyn but trewly the noble colours in rethorykwyse knytte were so craftely y t my connyng wol not stretche to remēbre but the sentence I trow somdele haue I in mynde Certes they were wōder swete of sowne and they were touched al in lamentacyon wyse and by no werbles of myrthe Lo thus ganne she synge in latyn as I may cōstrewe it in our englyshe tonge Alas that these heuenly bodyes their light and course shewen as nature yaue hem in cōmaundement at the gynnyng of the first age but these thynges in free choyce of reson han none vnderstondynge but man that ought to passe all thynge of doynge of ryght course in kynde ouer whelmed sothnesse by wrongfull tytle and hath drawē the sterre of enuye to gon by his syde that the clyps of me that shulde be his shynande sonne so ofte is seyl that it wened thilke errour thorowe hē come in shulde ben myne owne defaute Trewely therfore I haue me withdrawe made my dwellynge out of lande in an yle by my selfe in the occian closed and yet sayn there many they haue me harberowed but god wote they faylen These thynges me greuen to thynke and namely on passed gladnesse that in thys worlde was wonte me dysporte of hygh and lowe and nowe it is fayled they that woldē maystries me haue in thylke stoundes In heuen on hyghe aboue Saturnes sphere in seasonable tyme were they lodged but nowe come queynte consaylours that in no house woll suffre me soiourne wherof is pyte and yet sayne some that they me haue in celler wyth wyne shede in gernere there corne is layde couered wyth whete in sacke sowed with wolle in purse with money fast knytte amonge pannes mouled in a wyche in presse amonge clothes layde wyth ryche pelure arayed in stable among horse other beestes as hogges shepe and nete and in other manye wyse But thou maker of lyght in wynkynge of thyne eye the sonne is queynt wost ryght well that I in trewe name was neuer thus herberowed Somtyme to forne the sonne in the seuenth partye was smyten I bare bothe crosse and mytre to yeue it where I wolde With me the pope went a fote and I tho was worshypped of all holye churche Kynges baden me their crownes holdē The lawe was set as it shulde tofore the iuge as well the poore durste shewe hys grefe as the ryche for all hys money I defended tho taylages and was redy for the poore to pay I made gret feestes in my tyme noble sōges maryed damoselles of gētyl feture withouten golde or other rychesse Poore clerkes for wytte of schole I sette in churches and made such persones to preache and tho was seruyce in holy churche honest and deuoute in pleasaunce bothe of god and of the people But nowe the leude for symonye is auaunced and shendeth all holy churche Nowe is stewarde for his achates nowe is courtyour for hys debates nowe is eschetoure for hys wronges nowe is losell for hys songes personer and prouendre alone wyth whych manye thriftye shulde encrease And yet is thys shrewe behynde free herte is forsake and losengeour is take Lo it accordeth for suche there ben that voluntarye lustes haunten in courte with rybaudye that tyl midnight and more woll playe and wake but in the churche at matyns he is behynde for yuell disposycion of hys stomake therfore he shulde eate beane breed so dyd hys syre his estate therwith to strenghthen Hys auter is broke and lowe lythe in poynte to gone to the erth but hys horse muste ben easy and hye to beare hym ouer great waters Hys chalyce poore but he hath ryche cuppes No towayle but a shete there god shal ben handled And on his meate borde there shal ben borde clothes and towelles many payre At masse serued but a clergyon fyue squiers in hall Poore chaunsell open holes
mysturne it by falsenesse of wenyng And although mennes vnderstandynge be mysturned to knowe whyche shulde ben the way vnto my person and whyther it abydeth yet wote they there is a loue in euery wyght weneth by y t thyng that he coueyted moste he shulde come to thylke loue and that is parfyte blysse of my seruauntes but than fulle blysse may not be and there lacke anye thynge of that blysse in anye syde Eke it foloweth than that he that must haue full blysse lacke no blysse in loue on no syde Therfore ladye ê™ I tho thylke blysse I haue desyred and sothe toforne this my selfe by wayes of riches of dignite of power and of renome wenynge me in tho thrages had ben thylke blysse but ayenst the heere it turneth Whan I supposed beste thylke blysse haue get and come to the ful purpose of your seruyce sodaynly was I hyndred and throwen so fer abacke that me thynketh an impossyble to come there I lefte I woll well ê™ she therfore hast thou fayled for thou wentest not by the hye way a lytel misgoyng in the gynnynge causeth mykyll erroure in the ende wherfore of thylke blysse thou fayledest for hauynge of rychesse ne none of the other thynges thou nempnedest mowen nat make suche parfyte blysse in loue as I shall shew Therfore they be nat worthy to thylke blysse and yet somwhat muste ben cause and waye to thylke blysse Ergo there is some suche thyng and some way but it is lytell in vsage and that is nat openlye yknowe But what felest in thyne herte of the seruyce in whyche by me thou art entred wenest aught thy selfe yet be in the hye waye to my blysse I shall so shewe it to the thou shalte nat consaye the contrary Good lady ê™ I altho I suppose it in my herte yet wolde I here thyne wordes howe ye meanen in this mater Quod she that I shall wyth my good wyl Thylke blysse desyred some deale ye knoweÌ„ altho it be nat parfytly for kyndely entention ledeth you therto but in thre maner lyuenges is all suche ways shewed Euery wight in this world to haue thys blysse one of thylke thre wayes of lyues muste procede whyche after opynions of great clerkes arn by names cleaped bestiallich resonablich is vertuous manliche is worldelich bestialliche is lustes delytable nothynge restrayned by brydell of reason all that ioyeth and yeueth gladnesse to the hert and it be ayenst reason is lykened to bestyall lyueng whyche thynge foloweth lustes and delytes wherfore in suche thynge maye nat that precious blysse that is mayster of al vertues abyde You re fathers to forne you haue cleaped suche lusty lyuenges after the flesshe passyons of desyre whyche are innominable to fore god and man bothe Than after determination of suche wyse we accorden that suche passyons of desyre shull nat be nempned but holden for absolute frome all other lyuenges and prouynges and so lyueth in to lyuenges manlyche and resonable to declare the maters begonne But to make the fullye haue vnderstandynge in manlich lyuenges whiche is holden worldlich in these thynges so that ignoraunce be made no letter I woll ê™ she neÌ„pne these forsayd wayes be names and coÌ„clusions First riches dignyte renome and power shull in thys worke be cleped bodily goodes for in heÌ„ hath ben a gret throwe maÌ„nes trust of selynesse in loue as in riches suffysance to haue mayntayned that was begon by worldly catel in dignite honour reuereÌ„ce of hem that werne vnderput by maistry therby to obey In renome glorie of peoples praysyng after lustes in their hert with out hede takyng to qualite maner of doing and in power by trouth of lordshyps mayntenaunce thynk to procede forth in doynge In all whyche thynges a longe tyme mans coueytise in commune hath ben greatly grouÌ„ded to come to the blysse of my seruyce but trewely they were begyled and for the princypall muste nedes fayle and in helpynge mowe nat auaile Se why for holdest hym not poore that is nedy Yes parde ê™ I And hym for dishonored that moche folke deyne nat to reuerence That is soth ê™ I what hym that his mightes faylen and mowe nat helpen Certes ê™ I me semeth of al men he shuld be holden a wretch And wenest nat ê™ she that he that is lytell in renome but rather is out of the praysynges of mo men thaÌ„ a fewe be nat in shame For soth ê™ I it is shame and villany to hym that coueyteth renome that more folke nat praise in name thaÌ„ preyse Sothe ê™ she thou sayst soth but all these thynges are folowed of suche maner doynge wenden in ryches suffysaunce in power might in dignyte worshyp and in renome glorie wherfore they disceÌ„ded in to disceyuable wening in that seruice disceyte is folowed And thus in general thou al such other that so worcheÌ„ faylen of my blysse that ye longe han desyred wherfore truly in lyfe of reason is the hye way to thys blysse as I thynke more openly to declare herafter Neuer the later yet in a lytell to comforte thy herte in shewyng of what way thou arte entred thy selfe and that thy Margaryte maye know the set in the hye way I wol enforme the in this wise Thou hast fayled of thy first purpose bycause thou wentest wronge and leftest the hye way and on thy ryght syde as thus thou lokedest on worldly lyueng that thyng y e begyled lightly therfore as a lytel assay thou songedest but whan I turned thy purpose shewed the parte of the hye waye tho thou abode therin and no dethe ne ferdnesse of none enemy miÈt y e out of thilke way reue but euer one in thyn hert to come to the ylke blysse whan thou were arested and fyrst tyme enprisoned y u were loth to chaunge thy way for in thy hert thou wendest to haue beÌ„ there thou shuldest for I had routh to sene the miscaried wyst wel thyne ablenesse my seruyce to forther encrease I come my selfe wythout other mean to visyt thy person in comforte of thy hert and perdy in my coÌ„ming thou were greatly gladed after whiche tyme no disease no care no tene myght moue me out of thy herte And yet am I gladde and greatly enpited howe continually thou haddest me in mynde wyth good auysement of thy conscience whan thy Kyng and his princes by huge wordes and gret loked after variaunce in thy speche and euer thou were redye for my sake in plesaunce of that Margarite peerle and many mo other thy bodye to oblyge in to Marces doynge yf anye contraryed thy sawes stedfast way maketh stedfast herte wyth good hope in the ende Trewely I woll that thou it well knowe for I se the so set and not chaungyng hert haddest in my seruyce and I made thou haddest grace of thy kynge in foryeuenesse of mykell misdede to that gracious kyng arte thou mykell holden of whose grace and goodnesse somtyme
herafter I thynke the enforme whaÌ„ I shew the grounde where as morall vertue groweth Who brouÈt y e to werke who brouÈt thys grace aboute who made thy herte hardy Trewly it was I for haddest thou of me fayled than of this purpose had neuer taken in this wyse And therfore I say thou might well truste to come to thy blysse sythen thy gynnyng hath ben harde but euer graciously after thy hertes desyre hath proceded Syluer fyned wyth manye heates men knowen for trewe and safely men may trust to the alay in werkynge This diseases hath proued what waye hence forwarde thou thynkest to holde Nowe in good fayth ladye quod I tho I am nowe in me semeth it is the hye waye and the ryght Yea forsoth quod she and nowe I wol dysproue thy fyrste wayes by whyche many men wenen to gette thylke blysse But for as moche as euery herte that hath caught full loue is tyed wyth queynte knyttynges thou shalt vnderstande that loue and thylke forsayd blysse toforne declared in this prouinges shal hote the knot in the hert well ê™ I this inpossession I wol wel vnderstande Nowe also ê™ she for the knotte in the herte muste ben from one to another and I knowe thy desyre I woll thou vnderstande these maters to ben sayd of thy selfe in dysprouing of thy fyrst seruyce in strenghthynge of thylke that thou hast vndertake to thy Margaryte perle A goddes halfe ê™ I ryght well I fele that al thys case is possible and trewe and therfore I admitted al togither VnderstaÌ„den well ê™ she these termes and loke no contradiction thou graunt If God woll ê™ I of all these thynges wol I not fayle and yf I graunt contradiccyon I shulde graunte an impossible that were a foule inconuenience for whych thinges Ladye ywys herafter I thynke me to kepe WEll quod she thou knoweste hat euerye thynge is a cause wherthrough any thyng hath beynge that is cleped caused than yf rychesse causen knotte in herte thylke rychesse arne cause of thylke precious thyng beyng but after the sentence of Aristotle euerye cause is more in dignitie than hys thynge caused wherthrough it foloweth rychesse to bene more in dignitie thaÌ„ thilke knot but rychesses arne kindly naughty badde and nedy thylke knotte is thyng kyndely good mooste praysed and desyred Ergo thinge naughtye badde and nedye in kyndelye vnderstandynge is more worthye than thyng kyndely good most desyred and praysed the consequence is false nedes the antecedent mote bene of the same condition But that rychesses ben badde naughty and nedy y t woll I proue wherfore they mowe cause no such thyng that is so glorious and good The more rychesse thou hast the more nede haste thou of helpe hem to kepe Ergo thou nedeste in rychesse whyche nede thou shuldest not haue yf thou hem wantest Than must rychesse bene nedy that in theyr hauinge maken the nedy to helpes in suretie thy rychesse to kepeÌ„ wherthrough foloweth rychesse to bene nedy Euery thynge causyng yuels is badde and naughty but rychesse in one causen misease in another they mowen not euenly stretcheÌ„ al about wherof cometh plee debate thefte begylynges but rychesse to wynne whych thynges bene bad by richesse arne caused Ergo thylke ryches bene badde whych badnesse nede bene knytte in to rychesse by a maner of kyndely propertie and euery cause and caused accorden so that it foloweth thylke rychesse to haue the same accordaunce with badnesse nede that their cause asketh Also euery thyng hath hys beyng by his cause thaÌ„ yf y e cause be distroyed the beyng of caused is vanyshed And so if rychesse causen loue richesse weren distroyed the loue shulde vanyshe but thylke knot and it be trewe maye not vanyshe for no goynge of no richesse Ergo richesse is no cause of the knotte And many men as I sayd setten the cause of the knotte in rychesse thilke knytten the rychesse and nothynge the yuell thylke persons what euer they ben wenen that rychesse is most worthy to he had that make they the cause so wene they thylke rychesse be better thaÌ„ the person CoÌ„menly such askeÌ„ rather after the quantyte than after the qualyte and such wenen as well by hem selfe as by other that coniunction of hys lyfe and of hys soule is no more precious but in as mykel as he hath of riches Alas howe maye he holden such thynges precious or noble that neyther han lyfe ne soule ne ordynaunce of werchynge lymmes such richesse bene more worthy whan they ben in gatherynge in departing ginneth his loue of other mens praysyng And auerice gatheryng maketh be hated and nedy to many out helpes and whan leueth the possession of suche goodes they gynne vanysh than entreth sorow and tene in theyr hertes O badde strayte ben thylke that at theyr departing maketh men teneful and sory and in the gatheryng of hem make men nedy Moche folke at one 's mowen not togyder moch therof haue A good gest gladdeth his hoste and al hys meyny but he is a badde gest that maketh his host nedy to be aferde of hys gestes goyng Certes ê™ I me wondreth therfore that the comune opinion is thus He is worth no more than y t he hath in catell O ê™ she loke thou be not of that opinion for yf gold or money or other maner of richesse shinen in thy sight whose is that not thyne tho they haue a lytle beautye they be no thyng in coÌ„parison of our kynd therfore ye shulde not set your worthinesse in thyng lower thaÌ„ your self for the ryches the fayrenes the worthines of thylke goodes yf ther be any such preciousnesse in hem are not thine thou madest hem so neuer from other they come to the to other they shul from y t wherfore enbrasest y u other wightes goodes as tho they were thine â–ª kind hath draw hem by hem self It is soth the goodes of the erth bene ordayned in your fode and noryshynge but yf thou wolte holde the apayed wyth y e suffyseth to thy kynde thou shalte not be in daunger of no such ryches to kinde sufficeth lytle thynge who that taketh hede And yf thou wolte algates wyth superfluite of rychesse be a throted thou shalt hastelych be anoyed or elles yuell at ease And fayrnesse of feldes ne of habitations ne multytude of meyne maye not be rekened as rychesse that are thyne owne for if they be bad it is great sclaunder and vylany to the occupyer and if they be good or fayre y e mater of the workeman that hem made is to praise How shuld otherwyse bountie be coÌ„pted for thine thilke goodnesse fayrnesse be proper to tho thynges hem selfe thaÌ„ yf they be not thine sorow not whaÌ„ they wend ne glad the not in poÌ„pe and in pryde whan thou hem haste for their bountie their beauties cometh out of their owne kynde and not of thyne owne person as fayre bene
they in theyr not hauynge as whan thou haste hem they be not fayre for thou haste hem but thou hast geten hem for the fayrnesse of them selfe And ther the vaylance of men is demed in rychesse outforthe wenen men to haue no proper good in them selfe but seche it in straunge thynges trewly the condition of good wenyng is in y e mystourned to wene your noblenesse be not in your selfe but in the goodes and beautie of other thynges Pardy the beastes that han but felynge soules haue suffysaunce in their owne selfe and ye that bene lyke to God seken encrease of suffysaunce from so excellent a kind of so low thynges ye do great wroÌ„ge to hym that you made lordes ouer all erthly thynges and ye put your worthinesse vnder the nombre of the fete of lower thynges and foule whaÌ„ ye iuge thylke rychesse to be your worthynesse than put ye your self by estimacyon vnder thylke foule thynges and than leue ye the knowyng of yourselfe so be ye vyler thaÌ„ any dombe beest y e cometh of shreude vice Ryghte so thylke persons y t louen none yuel for dere worthynesse of the person but for straunge goodes and sayth the adornement in the knotte lyth in such thing hys errour is perylous and shreude and he wrieth muche venym with moch welth that knot moy not be good whaÌ„ he hath it getten Certes thus hath ryches wyth flyckeryng syght anoyed many often whan ther is a throw out shrew he coyneth al the golde al the precious stones that mowen be foundeÌ„ to haue in his bandon he weneth no wight be worthy to haue such thynges but he alone How many hast thou knowe nowe in late tyme y t in their riches supposed suffisaunce haue folowed nowe it is al fayled Ye lady ê™ I that is for mysse medlynge otherwyse gouerned thylke rychesse than they shulde Yee ê™ she tho had not the floode greatlye areysed and throwe to hemwarde both grauel sande he had made no medlyng And ryght as see yeueth flood so draweth see ebbe and pulleth ayen vnder wawe all the fyrste out throwe but yf good pyles of noble gouernauÌ„ce in loue in wel meanynge maner bene sadly grounded to which holde thylke gravel as for a while y e ayen lightly mow not it turne yf the pyles bene trewe the grauell and sande wol abyde And certes full warnyng in loue shalte thou neuer thorowe hem gette ne couer y t lightly with an ebbe er thou be ware it wol ayen meue In rychesse many meÌ„ haue had tenes and diseases which they shuld not haue had if therof they had fayled Thorowe whiche nowe declared partly it is shewed that for rychesse shulde the knotte in herte neyther ben caused in one ne in other trewly knott maye ben knytte and I trowe more stedfast in loue though rychesse fayled and els in rychesse is the knotte not in hert And than such a knotte is false whan the see ebbeth withdraweth the grauel that such rychesse voydeth thilke knotte wol vnknytte wherfore no trust no way no cause no parfyte beyng is in rychesse of no suche knotte therfore another way must we haue HOnoure in dignitie is wened to yeuen a ful knot Yee certes ê™ I of that opinion bene manye for they same dignitie wyth honour and reuerence causen hertes to encheynen and so abled to be knytte togyther for the excellence in soueraynte of such degrees Nowe ê™ she yf dignitie honour and reuerence causen thilke knot in herte this knot is good and profitable For euery cause of a cause is cause of thinge caused Than thus good thynges and profitable ben by dignite honour and reuerence caused Ergo they accorden and dignities bene good wyth reuerences and honoure but contraryes mowen not accorden wherfore by reason ther shuld no dignitie no reuereÌ„ce none honour accord wyth shrewes but y t is false they haue bene cause to shrewes in many shreudnesse for w t hem they accorden Ergo froÌ„ begynnyng to argue ayenwarde tyl it come to the last conclusyon they are not cause of the knot Lo all day at eye arne shrewes not in reuerence in honoure and in dignitie yes forsoth rather thaÌ„ the good ThaÌ„ foloweth it that shrewes rather thaÌ„ good shull ben cause of this knot But of this contrary of al louers is bileued and for a soth openly determyned to holde Nowe quod I fayne wolde I here how suche dignities accorden wyth shrewes O quod she that woll I shewe in manyfolde wise Ye wene quod she that dignites of office here in your ciite is as y e suÌ„ne it shyneth bryghte wythouten any cloude whiche thynge whan they comen in the handes of malycyouse tyrauntes there cometh muche harme and more greuaunce therof than of the wylde fyre though it brende all a strete Certes in dignite of office the werkes of the occupyer shewen the malice and the badnes in the personne wyth shrewes they maken manyfolde harmes and muche people shamen How often han rancours for malyce of the gouernoure shulde bene maynteyned Hath not than such dignities caused debate rumours and yuels yes God wote by such thynges haue bene trusted to make mennes vnderstaÌ„dyng encline to many queynt thynges Thou woteste well what I meane Ye quod I therfore as dignitie suche thyng in tene ywrought so ayenwarde the substauÌ„ce in dignitie chaunged relyed to brynge ayen good plyte in doyng Doway doway quod she if it so betyde but that is selde that such dignitie is betake in a good mannes gouernaunce what thynge is to recken in the dignities goodnesse parde the bountie goodnes is hers that vseÌ„ it in good gouernauÌ„ce and therfore cometh it that honoure and reuerence shulde bene done to dignitie bicause of encreasynge vertue in the occupyer and not to the ruler bicause of souerayntie in dignitie Sythen dignitie may no vertue cause who is worthy worship for such goodnesse noâ— dignitie but person y t maketh goodnesse in dignitie to shyne Thys is wonder thyng quod I for me thynketh as the person in dignitie is worthye honoure for goodnesse so tho a person for badnesse magre hath deserued yet the dignite leneth to be commended Let be quod she thou errest right foule dignite with badnes is helper to perfourme the felonous doynge pardy were it kyndly good or any propertie of kyndly vertue hadden in hem selfe shrewes shulde hem neuer haue wyth hem shulde they neuer accorde water and fyre that ben coÌ„trarious mowen not togyther bene assembled kynde wol not suffâ—e suche contraryes to ioyne sythen at eye by experieÌ„ce in doyng we sene that shrewes haue hem more often thaÌ„ good menne syker mayste thou be y e kyndly good in suche thynges is not appropred Pardy were they kyndly good as wel one as other shulden euenliche in vertue of gouernauÌ„ce ben worth but one faileth in goodnes another doth the contrary and so it sheweth kyndly goodnes in dignitie not be grounded And thys
same reason quod she maye be made in generall on all the bodily goodes for they comen ofte to throw out shrewes After this he is stroÌ„g that hath myght to haue great burthyns he is lyght and swyfte that hathe souerante in runnynge to passe other ryghte so he is a shrewe on whoÌ„ shreude thynges and badde han most wyrchyng And ryght as philosophy maketh philosophers my seruice maketh louers Ryghte so if dignities weren good or vertuous they shulde maken shrewes good and turne her malyce and make hem be vertuous but that do they not as it is proued but causeÌ„ rancour debate Ergo they be not good but vtterly badde Had Nero neuer bene Emperoure shulde neuer hys dame haue be slayn to maken open the priuitie of his engendrure Herodes for his dignitie slewe many chyldreÌ„ The dignite of king Pompey wolde haue distroyed al Italy Therfore mokyl wisedome goodnes both nedeth in a person the malyce in dignitie slyly to bridel and with a good bytte of arest to withdrawe in case it wolde praunce otherwise than it shulde trewly ye yeue to dignities wrongful names in your cleping They shulde hete not dignitie but moustre of badnes mayntenour of shrewes Pardy shyne the suÌ„ne neuer so bryght it brynge forth no heate ne sesonably the herbes brynge out of the erth but suffre frostes and colde and the erth baraine to lygge be time of his compas in circute aboute ye wolde wonder and dispreyse that sunne If the mone be at full and sheweth no lyghte but derke and dymme to your syghte appereth and make distruction of y e waters wol ye not suppose it be vnder cloude or in clips and that some priuy thing vnknowen to your wyttes is cause of suche contrarious doyng ThaÌ„ yf clerkes that han ful insight and knowyng of such impedimeÌ„tes enforme you of the sothe very idiotes ye bene but yf ye yeuen credence to thylke clerkes wordes yet it doth me tene to sene many wretches reioycen in such maner planets Trewly lytle con they on phylosophy or els on my lore that any desyre hauen such lightyng planettes in y t wyse any more to shew Good Ladye ê™ I tell ye me how ye meane in these thynges Lo quod she the dignities of your citie sunne mone nothyng in kynd shewe theyr shynyng as they shulde For the sunne made no breÌ„nyng hete in loue but fresed enuye in mennes hertes for feblenesse of shynynge hete and the mone was about vnder an olde cloude the lyuenges by waters to distroye Lady ê™ I it is supposed they had shined as they shulde Yee quod she but nowe it is proued at the full their beaute in kyndly shynynge fayled wherfore dignitye of hym seluen hath no beautie in fayrnesse ne dryueth nat awaye vices but encreaseth so be they no cause of the knot Now se in good trouth holde ye not such sonnes worthy of no reuerence and dignities worthy of no worshyp that maketh men to do the more harmes I not quod I No ê™ she and thou se a wyse good man for hys goodnesse and wysenesse wolte thou not do hym worship Therof he is worthy That is good skyl quod I it is dewe to suche both reuerence and worshyp to haue Than quod she a shrewe for hys shreudnesse all tho he be put forth to forne other for ferd yet is he worthy for shreudnes to be vnworshypped of reuerence no part is he worthy to haue to coÌ„trarious doyng belongeth and that is good skyl For righte as besmyteth the dignities thylke same thinge aycuwarde hym smyteth or els shulde smite And ouer this thou wost wel quod she that fyre in euery place heateth where it be water maketh wete why for kyndely werking is so yput in hem to do such thinges for euery kyndly in werkynge sheweth his kynde But though a wight had ben mayre of your citie manye wynter togyther and come in a straunge place ther he were not knowen he shuld for his dignite haue no reuerence ThaÌ„ neyther worshyppe ne reuerence is kyndelye propre in no dignitie sythen they shuldeÌ„ don theyr kynde in such doyng yf any were And yf reuerence ne worshyppe kyndly be not set in dignities they more therin bene shewed thaÌ„ goodnesse for that in dignitie is shewed but it proueth that goodnesse kyndly in hem is not grounded I wys neyther worshyppe ne reuerence ne goodnesse in dignitie doone none offyce of kynde for they haue none such propertie in nature of doenge but by false opinion of the people Lo how somtyme thilk that in your citie werne in dignitie noble yf thou lyst hem nempne they bene nowe ouerturned bothe in worshyppe in name and in reuerence wherfore suche dignities haue no kyndely werchynge to worshyppe and of reuerence he that hathe no worthynesse on it selfe Now it ryseth and nowe it vanysheth after the varyaunt opynyon in false hertes of vnstable people Wherfore yf thou desyre the knotte of thys iewell or els yf thou woldest suppose she shuld sette the knotte on the for such maner dignitie than thou weneste beautye or goodnesse of thylke somwhat encreaseth the goodnesse or vertue in the body But dignitye of hem selfe bene not good ne yeuen reuerence ne worshippe by their owne kynde howe shulde they than yeue to any other a thynge that by no waye mowe they haue hem selfe It is sene in dignitie of the Emperour and of many mo other that they mowe not of hem selue kepe theyr worshyp ne theyr reuerence that that in a lytle whyle it is now vp and now downe by vnstedfast hertes of the people what bouÌ„tie mow they yeue that wyth cloude lyghtlye leaueth hys shyning Certes to the occupier is mokyl appeyred sythen such doynge dothe vylany to hym that maye it not mayntayne wherfore thylke waye to the knotte is croked and yf anye desyre to come to the knotte he muste leane thys waye on his lefte syde or els shal he neuer come there AVayleth ought ê™ she power of myght in mayntenaunce of worthy to come to thys knot Parde ê™ I yee for hertes bene rauyshed from such maner thynges Certes ê™ she though a fooles hert is with thing rauished yet therefore is no generall cause of the powers ne of a syker parfyte herte to be loked after Was not Nero the moost shrewe one of thylke that men rede yet had he power to make senatours iustices princes of many landes was not that great power Yes certes quod I wel quod she yet myght he not help him selfe out of disease whaÌ„ heÌ„ gan fal How many ensamples canst thou remeÌ„bre of kynges great and noble and huge power holden yet they myghte not kepe hem selue from wretchednesse Howe wretched was kyng Henry Curtmantyll er he deyed he had not so moch as to couer w t hys membres and yet was he one of the greatest kinges of al the Normandes of sprynge most possession had O a noble thinge and clere is
is faylynge wythout deserte thylke fyrst mysse amendynge in correction of tho erroures and euen waye to brynge wyth comforte of welfare into amendement wexynge And in the thyrde ioye and blysse graunted to hym that well canne deserue it and hath sauour of vnderstandynge in the tyme of grace Thus in ioye of my thyrd boke shal the mater be tyl it ende But speciall cause I haue in my hert to make this processe of a Margarit peerle that is so precious a gēme with clere and lytel of which stones or iewel y e tōges of vs English people turneth y e right names clepeth hem Margery perles thus varieth our speche frō many other langages For trewly Latyn Frenche and many mo other langages cleapeth hem Margery perles the name Margarites or Margaryte perles wherfore in that denominacion I wol me acorde to other mēs tonges in that name clepyng These clerkes that treaten of kyndes studyen out the propertye there of thynges sayne the Margarit is a lytel whyte perle throughout holowe rounde and vertuous and on the see sydes in the more Britayne in muskel shelles of y e heauenly dewe the best ben engendred in which by experience ben founde thre fayre vertues One is it yeueth comforte to the felyng spirites in bodely persones of reason Another is good it is profytable helth ayenst passyons of sorye mēs hertes And the thyrd it is nedeful and noble in staunchyng of bloode there els to moche wolde out ren To whych perle and vertues me lyst to lyken at this tyme philosophie wyth her thre speces that is naturel and moral and resonable of whych thynges hereth what sayne these great clerkes Philosophye is knowyng of deuynly manly thinges ioyned wyth studye of good lyuyng and thys stante in two thynges that is connyng and opinion connynge is when a thynge by certaine reson is cōceyued But wretches and fooles and leude men many wyll conceyue a thynge and maynteyne it as forsoth though reson be in the contrarye wherfore connyng is a straūger Opinion is whyle a thynge is in none certayne and hydde from mens very knowlegynge and by no parfyte reson fully declared as thus yf the sonne be so moke◠as men wenen or els yf it be more then the erth For in sothnesse the certayne quantyte of that planet is vnknowen to erthly dwellers and yet by opinion of some men it is holden for more then mydle erthe The fyrst spece of philosophye is naturel whych in kyndely thynges treten and sheweth causes of heuen and strength of kyndely course as by arsmetryke geometry musyke by astronomye teacheth wayes and course of heuens of planetes and of sterres aboute heuen and erthe and other clemetes The seconde spece is morall which in order of lyuyng maners techeth and by reson proueth vertues of soule most worthy in our lyuyng whych ben prudence iustyce temperaunce and strength Prudence is goodlye wysedome in knowyng of thinges Strēgth voydeth al aduersitees alyche euen Temperaunce destroyeth beestial lyuyng wyth easy bearyng And iustyce ryghtfully iugeth and iugyng departeth to euery wyght that is his owne The thyrde spece turneth into reason of vnderstandynge al thynges to be said soth and dyscussed that in two thynges is deuyded one is art another is rethorike in which two al lawes of mans reason ben grounded or els mayntayned And for thys booke is all of loue and therafter beareth hys name and phylosophie and lawe muste here to acorden by theyr clergiall dyscripciōs as philosophie for loue of wysedome is declared Lawe for maynteynaunce of peace is holden and these with loue must nedes acordē therfore of hem in this place haue I touched Ordre of homly thynges honest maner of lyuyng in vertue with rightful iugemēt in causes profitable administracion in cōminaltyes of realmes cites by euenhed profitably to raigne not by synguler auaūtage ne by priue enuy ne by soleyn purpose in couetise of worship or of goodes ben dysposed in opē rule shewed by loue philosophy law yet loue toforne al other Wherfore as susterne in vnite they acordē one ende that is peace rest they causen noryshynge in the ioye maynteynen to endure Now then as I haue declared my boke acordeth with discripciō of thre thynges the Margarit in vertue is lykned to philosophie wyth her thre speces In whych maters euer twey ben acordaūt with bodely reason the thyrde with the soule But in cōclusion of my boke of thys Margarit peerle in knyttyng together lawe by thre sondry maners shal be lykened y t is to saye lawe ryght custome whych I wold declare all y t is lawe cometh of goddes ordynaūce by kyndly worchyng thylke thynges ordayned by mānes wyttes arne ycleped ryght which is ordained by many maners in constitucion wrytten but custome is a thynge that is accepted for ryghte or for lawe there as lawe and ryght faylen and there is no dyfferēce whether it come of scrypture or of reason Wherfore it sheweth that lawe is kyndly gouernaunce Ryght cometh out of mannes probable reason and custome is of cōmen vsage by length of tyme vsed and custome not wrytte is vsage and yf it be wrytte constitucion it is ywrytten and ycleped But lawe of kynde is cōmen to euery nation as coniunction of man and womā in loue succession of chyldren in heritaunce restitucyon of thynge by strength taken or lent and this lawe amōge al other halte the soueraynest gree in worshyp whych lawe began at the begynnynge of reasonable creature it varyed yet neuer for no chaungyng of tyme cause forfothe in ordaynynge of law was to constrayne mens hardynesse into peace and wythdrawyng his euell wyl turnynge malyce into goodnesse and that innocence sykerly withouten tenefull anoye amōge shrewes safely myght inhabyte by protection of safeconducte so that y e shrewes harme for harme by brydle of ferdenesse shulden restrayne But forsothe in kyndely lawe nothynge is cōmended but suche as goddes wil hath cōfyrmed ne nothyng denyed but cōtrarioustye of goddes wyl in heauen eke then all lawes or custome or els cōstitucion by vsage or wryting that cōtraryen lawe of kynde vtterly ben repugnaunt and aduersary to our goddes wyl of heuen Trewly lawe of kynde for goddes owne lusty wil is verely to mainteine vnder which lawe vnworthye both professe and reguler arne obediencer and bounden to this Margarite perle as by knotte of loues statutes and stablyshment in kynde whyche that goodlye may not ben wythsetten Lo vnder this bonde am I constrayned to abyde and man vnder lyuyng lawe ruled by that lawe oweth after desertes to be rewarded by payn or by mede but yf mercy weyue the payne so then be parte reasonfully maye be sey that mercy both ryght and lawe passeth th entent of al these maters is the lest clere vnderstandynge to wetē at th ende of this thyrde boke ful knowyng thorow goddes grace I thinke to make neuerthelater yet yf these thynges
Deiphebus woll ye gone Yf your wyll be as I you prayde To speake of the nedes of Creseyde Heleyne whych that by y e honde her helde Toke fyrst the tale and sayd go we blyue And goodly on Creseyde she behelde And sayd Ioues let hym neuer thryue That doth you harme ryue hym sone of lyue And ye me sorowe but he shall it rue Yf that I maye and all folke be true Tel thou thy neces case quod Deiphebus To Pandarus for thou canst best it tell My lordes and my ladyes it stante thus what shulde I lenger ê™ he do you dwell He ronge hem out a proces lyke a bell Vpon her foe that hyght Poliphete So heynous that men myght on it spete Answerd of this eche worse of hem theÌ„ other And Poliphete they gonnen thus to waryen An honged be suche one were he my brother And so he shall for it ne maye nought varien what shulde I lenger in thys tale taryen Pâ—aynlyche all at ones they her hyghten To ben her freÌ„de in all y t euer they myghten Spake then Heleyne and sayd Pandarus wote aught my lord my brother of thys mater I meane Hector or wote it Troylus He sayd yea but woll ye me nowe here Me thinketh thus syth that Troilus is here It were good yf that ye wolde assent She tolde hym her selfe all thys er she went For he woll haue the more her grefe at herte Bycause lo that she a lady is And by your wyl I woll but in ryght sterte And do you wete and that anone ywys Yf that he slepe or woll ought here of thys And in he lepte and sayd hym in hys eere God haue thy soule brought haue I thy bere To smylen of thys gan tho Troylus And Pandarus wythouten rekenynge Out went anone to Heleyne Deiphebus And sayd hem so there be no taryenge Ne more prease he woll well that ye brynge Creseyde my lady that is here And as he maye enduren he wol her here But well ye wote the chambre is but lyte And fewe folke may lyghtly make it warme Nowe loketh ye for I woll haue no wyte To bryng in prease y t might don him harme Or hym dyseasen for my better arme Yet were it bet she bydde tyll eftsoonis Nowe loke ye that knowen what to done is I saye for me best is as I can knowe That no wyght in ne wende but ye twey But it were I for I can in a throwe Reherce her case vnlyke that she can sey And after thys she maye ones hym prey To ben good lorde in shorte take her leue Thys maye not mokell of hys ease hym reue And eke for she is strauÌ„ge he woll forbere Hys ease whych that hym dare not for you Eke other thynge that toucheth not to her He woll it tell I wote it well ryght nowe That secrete is and for the townes prowe And they that knewe nothyng of hys entent wythout more to Troylus in they went Heleyne in all her goodly softe wyse Gan hym salue and womanly to playe And sayd ywys ye mote algate aryse Nowe fayre brother be all hole I praye And gan her arme ryght ouer his sholder lay And hym wyth all her wyt to recomforte As she best coulde she gan hym to dysporte So after thys ê™ she we you beseke My dere brother Deiphebus and I For loue of God and so doth Pandare eke To ben good lorde and frende ryght hertely Vnto Creseyde whych that certaynly Receiueth wroÌ„ge as wote wel here PaÌ„dare That can her case well bet then I declare This PaÌ„darus gan new his tonge affyle And all her case reherce and that anone when it was sayd sone after a whyle Quod Troylus as sone as I may gone I wol ryght fayne with al my might beÌ„ one Haue god my trouth her cause to sustene Now good thryft haue ye ê™ Heleyne the quene Quod Pandarus and it your wyll be That she maye take her leaue er that she go O els god forbyd it tho ê™ he Yf that she vouchsafe for to do so And wyth that worde ê™ Troylus ye two Deiphebus and my syster lefe and dere To you haue I to speake of a matere To ben aduysed by your rede the better And founde as hap was at his beddes heed The copye of a treatyse and a lettre That Hector had hym sent to asken reed Yf suche a man was worthy to ben deed wote I nought who but in a grysly wyse He prayde hem anone on it auyse Deiphebus gan thys lettre for to vnfolde In ernest great so dyd Heleyne the quene And romynge outward fast it gone beholde Downewarde a steyre into an herber grene Thys ylke thynge redden hem bytwene And largely the mountenauÌ„ce of an houre They gonne on it to reden and to pore Nowe let hem rede and turne we anone To Pandarus that gan full softe prye That all was well and out he gan to gone Into the great chambre and that in hye And sayd god saue all thys companye Come nece myne my lady quene Heleyne Abydeth you and eke my lordes tweyne Ryse take wyth you your nece Anâ—igone Or whome you lyst or no force hardely The lasse prease y t bet come forth wyth me And loke that ye thanken humbly Hem all thre and when ye maye goodly Your tyme yse taketh of hem your leue Lest we to longe hys restes hym byreue All innocent of Pandarus entente Quod tho Creseyde go we vncle dere And arme in arme inwarde w t him she weÌ„te Auysynge well her wordes and her chere And Pandarus in ernestfull manere Sayd all folke for goddes loue I praye Stynteth ryght here and softely you playe Auyseth you what folke bene here wythin And in what plyte one is god hym amende And inwarde thus full softely begyn Nece I coniure and hyghly you defende On hys halfe whych that soule vs al sende And in the vertue of corownes twayne Slee not thys maÌ„ y t hath for you this payne Fye on the deuell thynke whych one he is And in what plyte he lyeth come of anone Thynke all suche taryed tyde but lost it nys That woll ye both sayne when ye ben one Secondly there yet deuyneth none Vpon you two come of nowe yf ye conne whyle folke is blent lo all the tyme is woÌ„ne In tyterynge and pursute and delayes The folke deuyne at waggynge of a tree And though ye wolde han after mery dayes Then dare ye not and why for she and she Spake suche a worde thus loked he and he Lest tyme be lost I dare not wyth you dele Come of therfore and bryngeth hym to hele But nowe to you ye louers that ben here was Troylus not in a cankedorte That lay might y e whyspryng of hem here And thought o lorde ryght now reÌ„neth my sorte Fully to dye or haue anone comforte And was the fyrst tyme he shulde her pray Of loue O myghty god what shall he saye ¶ Explicit