the plesure of Syculus the kynge to tormente men therin â—eâ—llus was the fyrst that was tormentyd therin folio C lxxv How dyonyse yaue â—his ghâ—sâ—ys to â—e deueured and eten of his horses and in syke wyse hercules gaue dyonyse to be eten of the same horses fo C lxxvi How lychaon gaue mannes flesâ—he to be eten wherfore he was transformed in to a wulfe folio C lxxvi How a leon spareth men that lyeth doun prostrate folio C lxxvi How spertachus spared none but slewe them that were ouercome aâ—d in lyke wyse after he was not spared but was drowned in blood folio C lxxvi Though a prynce ought not be ouer cruel in lyke wyse he ought not to be ouer pusillanymous ne â—ymereus folio C lxxvii How gedeon with thre hondred men onely ouercame fyue kynges wyth four score and ten thousand men folio C lxxviii How a kynge is bounden to slee by ryght his aduersaryes somtyme as it sheweth by Saul bycause he slewe not agag he was put out of the kyngdom of Israel and his heyres also folio C lxxix How dauyd commaunded to salamon to slee joab wythout ony remyssyon folio C lxxix How salamon axed wysdom of god for to rule his people and alle other goodes came to hym wyth alle folio C lxxix How lucyus the emperour axed of his secrete couÌ„ceyllours what men sayd of hym and how they answerd and what his foole sayd folio C lxxx How roboas by cause he dyd after his yonge counceyl and refused the couÌ„ceyl of olde men loste ten trybus of Israel attones folio C lxxx A questyon whether hit is better to haue a wyse prynce with euyl counceyl or a folysshe prynce wyth good counceyl folio C lxxxi How antonyus by ensaumple of Sâ—â—pyon had leuer to saue one of hys owne people than slee an hondred of his enemyes folio C lxxxi Here treteth Arystotle of the fyfthe polecye of a kynge whiche is named chastyte telleth what clennes it obserueth folio C lxxxi How sardanapallus became alle feme nyn and lefte for the loue of wymmen the warre wherfore he loste hys roya me folio C lxxxii How Dauyd for the loue of wymmen lefte not the werre ne the exerase of armes folio C lxxxii How cirus kynge of perse coude not ouercome the lyddes but he dyssymyled by whiche his enemyes were dysused and after thenne sodeynly he ranne on them and vaynquysâ—hed them folio C lxxxiii How amelech sente wynmen to the he brewes by whome he ouercame them folio C lxxxiii How salamon for loue of his coucuâ—y nes worshypped false goddes folio C lxxxiii How achyas the prophete â—ut his man tel in to twelue partyes and gaue ten of them to jeroboas fo C lxxxiiii How Arrous sone of Tarquyne by falâ—ehede deceyued the gabyens and caused the towne to be taken folio C lxxxiiii How the said arâ—ous came to Rome and fraudulently oppressyd Lucresse wyf of collatyn wherfore she slewe hir self folio C lxxxvi How a knyght vyrgyneus slowe his owne doughter by cause she shold not lese hir vyrgynyte folio C lxxxviii Howâ—the seuen husbondes of Sarra were sleyne the fyrst nyght of theyr maryage and how thobye was preserued by thaungel folio C lxxxix Thus endeth the seuenth book Here begynneth the viii last book Here telleth the confessor of them that in loues cause do on ageynst nature as in theyr kynrede and sybrede folio C lxxxx How calygula laye and rauysshed his owne thre susters and afterward exyled them folio C lxxxxi How amon sone of dauyd rauysshed â—is suster thamar folio C lxxxxi How Loth after that his wyf was torned in to a saltstone laye by hys â—â—o doughters and gate on them two sâ—nes one â—oab and that other amon folio C lxxxxi How kyng anthyochus defouled hys doughter aud of the probleme that he â—ut forth to them that desyred and of appellynus answer and his merueylous aduersytâ—es and how it torned al wel in th ende folio C lxxxxi How vpon loues cause genyus the confessor enioyned after the confesson made to the amant tho thynges which been meste holsom and expedyente folio CC iii Here speketh he of the conirauersyes bytwene the confessor and the amant folio CC iiii The forme of a suppâ—cacoÌ„n of thamaÌ„tes partâ— delyuerd by Genyus vnto Venue folio CC iiii Here is shewed how venus after the 〈◊〉 of the suppâ—â—cacion of the louer wythout delaye answereth to euery thynge folio CC v Here is shewed how venus beholdyng â—e jnâ—â—â—mytce of the seek louer exhorted hym by many e ensaumples to leâ—e hyr courte folio CC v How the amant was fallen deuÌ„ as he had ben deed and cupyde with a grete multitude of lâ—uers came and behelde hym folio CC vi Of the namâ—s of them that tofore had loued somme yonge and somme olde of whom the olde prayed specyally to the god and goddesse of loue for hym folio CC vi How venus â—â—â—â—te out fro the amant the fyry crewe and Venus took a colde ornemente and enoynted hym and how he sawe in a myrrour hys age and jnhabyâ—â—te folio CC viii How venus â—ad hym to praye for the pees and hynge aboute his necke a payre of bedes blacke as sable folio CC viii Here in the ende he treteth that al loue whyche is not in veray charite is of no valewe for he that abydeth in charyte abydeth in god folio CC ix The enuâ—ye of his book fynnssâ—yng of the same folio CC x Explicit Prologue tOrpor hebes seusus scola ê‘ua labor minimusque Causant quo minimus ipse minora canam Qua tum eugisti lingua canit insula bruti Anglica carmente metra iuuante loquar Ossibus ergo carens que conterit ossa loquelis Absit et jnterpres stet procul oro malus â–ª Hic in principio libri declarat qualiter in Anno Regis Ricardi Secundi Sextodecimo Iohannes Gower presentem litellum conposuit et finaliter compleuit quem streunuissimo domino suo Domino Henrico De Lancastria tunc Derbie Comiti cum omni reuerencia sp â—â—ialiter destinauit oF hem that wryten vs to fore The bookes duesbe we therfore Ben taught of that was wryten thoo For thy good is that we also In our tyme amoÌ„g vs here Do wryte of newe somme mater Ensampled of the old wyse So that it myght in suche a wyse Whan we be dede and elles where Beleue to the worlde 's ere In tyme comend after this But for men seyn sâ—the it is That who that al of wysedom wryte It dulleth ofte a mannes wytte To hym that shal it alâ—ay rede For thylke cause yf that ye rede I wol goo the myddel wey And wryte a book bytwene the twey Somwhat of luste somwhat of lore That of the lasse or of the more SoÌ„me man may lyke of that I wryte And for that fewe men en dyte In oure en glysshe for to make A book for englondes sake The
netheles thou shalt be lerned That wyl shold be gouerned Of reson more than of kynde Wherof a tale wryte I fynde hIc ponit CoÌ„sessoz ExeÌ„pluÌ„ ê™ oiÌ„s Impetuosa voluÌ„tas sit discrecionis moderamine gubernanda Et narrat quaâ—â—ter Dyogenes qui motus sui ammiracione subiugauerat Regem alexandrum sub isto facto sibi opponente plenins informauit a Phylosopher whylome men told That whylome by dayes old And Dyogenes than he hyght So old he was that he ne myght The worldes trauayll for the best He shope for to take his rest And duellyth at home in suche a wyse That nyhe his hous he lete deuyse Endelong vp an extre To set a Tonne in suche degre He it myght torne about Wherof an ende was taken out For therin sytte he shold And torne hym self as he wold And take the eyer see the heuene And deme of the planetes seuene As he whiche couthe moche what And thus ful ofte there he sat To muse in his philosophye Sool withoute companye So that vpon a morow tyde A thyng whiche shold so betyde When he was set where hym lyst To loke vpon the sonne vpryst Wherof the propyrtees he syghe It felle there cam rydynge nyghe Kyng Alysander with a route And as he cast his eye aboute He sawe this Tonne what it ment He wold wyte thyder sent A knyght by whome he myght know And he hym self that ylke throwe Abode houeth ther stylle This knyght after the kynges wylle With spore made his hors to gone And to the Tonne he cam anone Where that he fond a man of age And to hym told the message Suche as the kyng hym had bede And axeth within thylk stede The Tonne stood what it was And he whiche vnderstood the cas Sat stylle spak no word ageyne The knyght bad speke sayd vyleyne Thou shalt me telle or that I goo It is thy kyng which axeth soo My kyng quod he that were vnryght What is he than sayd the knyght Is he thy man that say I nought Quod he but as I am bythought My mannes man how that he is Thou lyest fals chorl Iwys The knyÈt hym said was ryÈt wroth And to the kyng ayene he goth And told hym how this man ansuerd The kyng when he this tale herd Bad that they shold alle abyde For he hym self wold thyder ryde And when he cam to fore the Tonne He hath this tale thus bygonne Al heyl he seyth what man art thou Quod he suche one as thou seest now The kynge whiche had wordes wyse His age wold not despyse But sayth fadre I the praye That thou wolt me the cause saye How that I am thy mans man Syre kyng quod he that I can Yf thou wylt yes seyth the kyng Quod he this is the soth thyng Syth I fyrst reason vnderstood And knewe that was euyll good The wyl whiche of my body moueth Who 's werkes that the god reproueth I haue restreyned euer more As hym that stant vnder the lore Of reson whos subiect he is So that he may not do amys And thus by weye of couenaunt Wyll is my man my seruaunt And euer hath be euer shal And wyl is thy pryncipal And the lordship of thy wyt So that thou couthest neuer yet Take a day rest of thy laboure But for to be a Conqueroure Of worldes good whiche may not last Thou hyghest euer a lyche fast Where thou no reason hast to wynne Thus thy wylle is cause of synne And is thy lord to whome thou seruest Wherof thou lytel thank deseruest The kyng of that he thus ansuerd Was no thyng wroth but when he herd The hyghe wordes whiche he sayde With gooodly wordes thus he prayde That he hym wold telle his name I am quod be thylk same Whiche men Dyogenes calle Tho was the kyng ryght glad with alle For he had herd ofte to fore What man he was so that therfore He sayde O wyse Dyogene Now shal thy grete wyt be sene For thou shalt of my yefte haue What worldes good that thou wolt craue Quod he than houe out of my sonne And lete it shyne in to my Tonne For thou bynemest me thylk yifte Which lyeth not in thy myÈt to shyfte None other good of the me nedeth The kyng whome euery couÌ„trey dredeth Lo thus he was enformed there Wherof my sone thou myght lere How that thy wylle shal not beleued Where it is of no wyt releued And thou hast sayd thy self or this How there thy wyl thy mayster is Thorugh whiche thyn hertes thought within Is euer of contak to begynne So that it is gretely to drede That it no homycyde brede For loue is of a wondre kynde And hath his wyttes ofte blynde That they fro mannes reason falle But whan that it is so byfalle That wylle shal the courage lede In loues cause it is to drede Wherof I fynde ensample wryte Whiche is behouely for to wyte Ic in amoris causa ponit Confes sor Exemplum contra illos qui in sua dampna nimis accelerantes ex impetuositate ipsos multocieÌ„s offenduÌ„t Et narrat qualiter Piramus cum ipse Tisbe amicam suam in loco inter eosdeÌ„ deputato tempore aduentus sui promptam non inuenit animo impetuoso se ip sum pre dolore extracto gladio mortaliter transfodit qui postea infra breue teÌ„pus veniens cum ipsum sic mortuum inuenisset eciam et illa in sui ipsiê° mortem impetuose festinans eiusdem gladio cuspide sui cordis intima per mediuÌ„ penetrauit I Rede a tale telle thys The Cyte whiche Semeramis Enclosed hath with walle aboute Of worthy folk with many a route Was inbabyted here there Among the whiche two ther were Abouen al other noble grete Duellyug tho within a strete So nyghe to gedre as it was sene There was no thyng hem bytwene But wow to wow walle to wal This one lord hath in specyal A sone a lusty bachyler In al the Towne was none his pyer That other bad a doughter eke In al the Towne that for to seke Men wysten none so fayre as she And felle so that it shold be This fayre doughter nye this sone As they to geder than wone Cupyde hath so the thynges shape That they ne myght the hand escape That his fyre on hem ne cast And so it felle at the last To folowe his lore sewe Whiche neuer man myghte eschewe And that was loue as it is shaped Whiche hath hyr hertes ouerthraped That they by alle weyes seche How that they myght wynne a speche Her woful peyne for to lysse Who loueth wel it maye not mysse And namely when ther be two Of one accord how so it goo But yf that they som weye fynde For loue is euer of suche a kynde And hath his folk so wel affayted That how so that it be awayted There may no man the purpoos let
yere xvj of kyng Richard What shal byfalle here afterward God wote for now vpon this tyde Man see the world on euery syde In sondry wyse so dyuersed That it wel nygh stant al reuersed Al 's for to speke of tyme a goo The cause why it chaungeth so It nedeth nought to specyfye The thyng so open is at the â—ye That euery man it may behold And netheles by dayes old Whan that the bookes weren leuer Wrytyng was byloued euer Of hem that weren vertuous For here in erthe among vs Iâ— noman wryte how it stode â—he prys of hem that were good Shold as who sayth a grete partye Be lost so for to magnyfye The worthy prynces that tho were The bookes shewen here there Wherof the world ensampled is And tho that dyden then ne amys Though tyrannye cruelte Ryght us they stonden in degre So waâ— the wrytyng of the werk Thus I whiche am a borell clerk Purpose for to wryte a book After the world that whylome toke Long tyme in old dayes passyd But for men seyn it is now lassed In wers plyght than it was tho â— thenke for to touche also The world whiche neweth euery daye So as I can so as I may Though I sekenesse haue vpon hond And long haue had yet wol I fonde To wryte do my besynesse That in som partye so as I gesse The wyse man may be aduysed For this prologue is so assised That it to wysedome al bylongeth That wyse man that it vnderfongeth He shal drawe in to remembraunce The fortune of the worldes chaunce The whiche noman in his persone May knowe but the god allone Whan the prologue is so dispended The book shal afterward be ended Of loue whiche doth many a wondre And many a wise maÌ„ hath put vnder And in this wyse I thenke trele Toward them that now be grete Betwene the vertu the vyce Whiche longeth vnto this offyce But for my wyttes ben to smale To telle euery mannys tale This book vpon amendement To stond at his commauÌ„dement With whome myn hert is of acorde I send vnto myn owne lord Whiche of lancastre is henry named The hyghe god hath hym proclamed Ful of knyghthode al grace So wold I now this werk embrace With hoole trust hoole byleue God graunte I mote it wel acheue t Empus preteritum presens fortuna beatum Liquit antiquas vertit in vrbe vias Progenuit veterem concors dilectio pacem Dum facies hominis nuncia mentis erat Legibus vnicolor tunc temporis aura refulsit Iusticiâ— plane tunc que fuere vie Nunc que latens odium vul tum depingit amoris Pace que sub ficta tempus ad arma tegit Instar ex varijs mutoble Cameliontis Lex ge rit regnis sunt noua iura noius Climata que fuerant solidissima sic que per orbem Soluuntur nec eo centra qietis habent E statu regnoque vt dicunt secundnm temporalia videlicet tempore Regis Ricardi secundi Auno Regni sui Sextodecimo i Shal drawe in to my mynde â–ª The tyme passed than I fynde The world stoode in al his welthe Tho was the lyf of maÌ„ in helth To was plente tho was Ry chesse Tho was fortune tho was prowesse Tho was knyghthode in prys by name Wherof the wide worldes fame Wryte in Cronycles is yet withhold Iustyce of lawe tho was holde The pryuelege of Regalye Was fast al the Baronye Worshiped was in his astate â–ª The Cytees knewe no debate The peple stood in obeysaunce Vnder the reule of gouernaunce And pees with rightwysenesse keste With charyte tho stood in reste Of mannys hert the courage Was shewed thenne in the vysage The word was lyche to the conceyte Wtthout semblaunt of deceyte Tho was ther vnenuyed loue Tho was vertu set aboue And vyce was put vnder foote Now stant the crop vnder the rote The world is chaunged oueral And therof moost in specyal That loue is falle in to discord And that I take in to record Of euery â–ª lond for his partye The comyn voys â–ª whiche may not lye Nought vpon one but vpon alle Is that men now clepe calle And seyne that regnes ben deuyded In stede of loue is hate guyded The werre wol no pees purchace And lawe hath take hyr double face So that Iustyce oute of the way With ryghtwysenes is gone awey And thus to loke on euery halue Men seen the soore without salue Whiche al the world hath ouertake Ther is no reygne of al out take For euery clymat hath his dyele After the tornynge of the whele Whiche blyude fortune ouerthroweth Wherof the certayne noman knoweth The heuene wote what is to done But we that duelle vnder the mone Stond in this world vppon a were And namely but the power Of hem that ben the worldes guydes With good counseylle on euery sides Ben kept vpright in suche a wyse That hate breke nought thassise Of loue whiche is al the chyef To kepe a reygne oute of meschyef For al reson wold this That vnto hym whiche the heued is The membres buxom shal bo we And he sholde eke her trouth alowe With al his hert and make hem chere For good counseyl is good to here Al though a man be wyse hym selue Yet is the wysedom more of tivelue And yf they stonde both in one To both it were thenne anone That god his grace wold sende To make of thylk werre an ende Whiche euery day now groweth newe And that is gretely for to rewe In specyal for cristes sake Whiche wold his owne lyf forsake Amonge the men to yeuen pees But now men tellen netheles That loue is from the world departed So stant the pees vneuene parted With hem that lyuen now a dayes But for to loke at al assayes To hym that wold reson seche After the comon worldes speche It is to wonder of thylk werre In which none wote who hath that werre For lond hym self deceyueth And of dysese his parte receyueth And yet take men no kepe But thylk lord whiche al may kepe To whome no counseyl may be hyd Vpon the world whiche is be tyd Amende that wherof men pleynen With trewe hertes with pleyne And reconsyle loue ayene As he whiche is kyng souerayne Of al the worldes gouernaunce And of his hygh purucaunce Afferme pees bytwene the londes And take here cause in to his hondes So that the world may stande appesed And his godbeede also be plesed Quas coluit moises vetus aut nouus Ipse Iohannes Hesternas leges vix colit ista dies Sic prius ecclesia bina virtute rokta Nunc magis inculta pâ—llet vtraque via Pacificam petri vagi nam mucro resumens Horruit â—â—d xâ—i verba cruoris Iter NuÌ„c tamen assiduo gladium de sangiune tinctum Viâ—rat auaricia bege repente sacra Sic lupus â—â—t pastor pater hostis mors miscrator
And netheles yf thou wolt wyte In the maner as thou hast preyde I shal the telle hou it is seyde Nota qualiter aureum vellus in pardes Insule Colchos primo deuenit Athemas Rex philen habiut coniugem 〈◊〉 qua Faxum genuit et Hellen Mortua autem Hellen Athemas Iunonem Regis Cadmi filiam postea 〈◊〉 vxorem dnxit que more Nouerce diâ—tos infaÌ„tes in tantum recollegit odiâ—que ambos in mari proici penes Regem procurauit Vnde Iuno compaciens quemdam Arietem grandem aureo vestitum vellere ad litus natantem destinauitâ— super cuius dorsum pueros apponi iussit quo facto Aries super vndas regressus cum solo Frixo sibi adherente in Colchos applicuit vbi Iuno dictum Arietem cuÌ„suo vellere prout in alijs canitur â—coniâ—is sub aâ—ta custodia collocauit tHe fame of thylk shepes felle Which in Colchos as it bifelle was al of gold shal neuer deye Wherof I thynke for to seye Hou he cam fyrst in to that I le There was a kyng in thylk whyle To wardes grece and Athemas The Cronyke of his name was And had a wyf whiche Phylen hyght By whome so as fortune it dyght He had of chyldren yong two Fayâ—s the fyrst was of tho A man chylde ryght fayre with all A doughter eke whiche men call Hellen he hade by this wyf But for ther may no mans lyf Endure vpon this erthe here This worthy quene as thou myÈt here Er that the chyldren were of age Took of her ende the passage With grete worshyp was bygraue What thyng it lyketh god to haue It is grete reason to ben his For thy thys kyng so as it is With grete suffrauÌ„ce it vnderfongeth And afterward as hym belongeth When it was tyme for to wedde A newe wyf he toke to bedde Whiche Iuo hyght was a mayde And eke the doughter as men sayde Of Cadme whiche a kyng also Was holde in thylke dayes tho When Iuo was the kynges make She cast hou that she myght make These chyldre to hyr fadre loth And shope a wyle ayene hem both Which vnto the kyng was at vnknow A yere or two she sete doo sowe The lond with soden whete aboute Wherof no corn may spryngen oute And thus by sleyghte by couyne Aroos the derthe the famyne Thorugh oute the lond in suche a wyse Soo that the kyng a sacryfyce Vpon the poynt of this dyserrsse To Ceres whiche is the goddesse Of corne hath shape hym for to yeue To loke yf it may be foryeue The meschyef whiche was in his lond But she whiche knewe to fore the hond The cyraimstaunce of al thys thyng Ageyn the comynge of the kyng In to the Temple hath shape soo Of hyr acord that al tho Whiche of the Temple prestes were Haue sayd ful declared there Vnto the kyng but yf so be That he desyuer the countre Of Fryxus of hellen bothe With whome the goddes ben so wrothe That whyle tho chyldre ben within Suche tylthe shal no man begyn Wherof to gete hym ony corn Thus was it sayd thus was it sworn Of al the prestes that there are And she whiche causeth al this fare Seyd eke therto what that she wolde And euery man than after tolde Soo as the quene had hem preyd The kyng whiche bath his ere leyd And leueth al that euer he herde Vnto here tale thus ansuerde And seyth that leuer is hym to chese His chyldren bothe for to lese Than hym al the remenaunt Of hem whiche are apperdendunt Vnto the lond whiche he shal kepe And bade his wyf to take kepe In What manere is best to done That they delyuerd were sone Oute of the world she anone Two men ordeyneth for to gone But fyrst she made hem for to swere That they the chyldren shold here Vnto the see that none it knowe And hem therin both throwe The children to the see ben lad Where in the wyse as Yuo bad These men be redy for to doo But the goddesse whiche Iuno Is hote appereth in the stede And hath vnto the men forbede That they the chyldren not ne slee â–ª But bad hem loke in to the see And taken hede of that they syghen There swam a sheepe to fore hyr eyen Whoo 's flees of burned gold was al And this goddesse forth with al Comaundeth that withoute let They shold anone the chyldre set Aboue vpon the shepes bak And al was do ryght as she spak Wherof the men gone home ageyne And felle so as the bokes seyne Hellen the yong mayden tho Whiche of the see was wo bego For pure drede hyr hert hath lore That fro the shepe whiche hath hyr bore As she that was swounend feynt And felle hyr self deeynt Frixus this shepe forth swam Tyl he to the I le of Colchos cam Where Iuno the goddesse he fond Whiche toke the shepe to the lond And sâ—tte it there in suche a wyse As thou to fere hast herd deuyse Wherof camâ—after al the wo Why Iason was forswore soo Vnto medeâ— as it is spoke My fader who that hath to broke His trouth as ye haue here told about He is not worthy for to loue Ne be beloued as me semeth But euery loue ne we quemeth To hym whiche newe fangle is And netheles now after this If that thou lyst to taken hede Vpon my shryfte to procede In loues cause ayene the vyce Of couetyse and Auoryce What there is more I wold wyte My sone this fynde I wryte There is yet one of thylk brood Whiche only for the worldes good To make a Tresoure of moneye Put al conscyence a weye Wherof in thy Confessyon The name and the condycyon I shal here afterwarde declare Whiche maketh one ryche another bare Plus capit vsura sibi quam debetur et illud Fraude colocata sepe latenter agit Sic amoz excessus quam sepe suos vt cuarus Spirat et viuus tres capit ipse loco Hic tractat de illa specie Auaricie que vsura dicitur cuius creditor in pecunia tantum numerata plus quam sibi de iure debetur incrementum lucri ad auget â—Pon the benche syttend on hyÈ With auaryce vsure I syghe Ful clothed of his owne sute Whiche after good maketh chase sute With his brocours that renne aboute Lyche vnto ratches on a route Suche lucre is none aboue ground Whiche is not of the ratches founde For where they see beyete sterte That shal hem in no wyse asterde But they it dryue in to the net Of lucre whiche vsure hath set Vsure with the ryche duelleth To al that euer he byeth selleth He hath ordeyned of his sleyghte Mesureâ— double double weyghte Outward he selleth by the lasse And with the more he maketh his tasse Wherof his hous is ful withynne He retcheth nought be soo he wynne Though that he lese ten or twelue His loue is al toward
al women lothe So was there no comparyson As toward his condycyon This yong lord Marcizus hyght No strengthe of loue to we myght His hert whiche is vnafyled But at the last he was begyled For the goddes purueaunce It felle hym a day per chaunce That he in al his proud fare Vnto the forest gan to fare Among other that ther were To hunte disporte hym there And whan he cam in to the place Where that he wold make his chace The houÌ„des were within a throwe Vncoupled the hornes blowe The grete hert anone was founde With swyfte feet set on grounde And he with spore in hors syde Hym hasteth fast for to ryde Tyl al men be left behynde And as he wod vnder a lynde Besyde a roche as I the telle He sawe where sprong a lusty welle The day was wonder hote with alle And such a thurst was on hym falle That he must other dye or drynke And doune he lyeth by the brynke And tyde his hors vnto a braunche And leyd hym lowe for to staunche His thurst as he cast his look And to the welle heed took He sawe the lyke of his vysage And wende there were an ymage Of suche a nymphe as tho was say Wherof his loue his hert assay Bygan as it after was sene Of his stoye made hym wene It were a woman that he syghe The more that he the welle cam nyghe The ner cam she hym ageyne So wyst he neuer what to seyne For whan he wepte he sawe hyr wepe And when he cryed he toke good kepe The same word she cryed also And thus bygan the newe wo That whilome was to hym so strauÌ„ge Tho made hym loue herte eschaunge To set his herte to begynne Thyng which he myght neuer wynne And euer among he gan to loute And praith that she to hym come oute And other while he goth a ferre And other whyle he draweth nerre And euer he fond her in a place He wepeth he cryeth he axeth grace There as he myght gete none So that ayene a roche of stone As he that knewe none other rede He smote hym self tyl he was deede Wherof the Nymphes of the welles And other that ther weren elles Vnto the wodes bylongend The body whiche was dede lyggend For pure pyte that they haue Vnder graue they be graue And than oute of his sepulture There sprong anone parauenture Of floures suche a wonder syght That men ensample take myght Vpon the dedes whiche he dede And tho was sene in other stede For in the wynter fressh fayre The floures ben whiche is contrayre To kynde so was the folye Whiche felle of his surquedrye Thus he whiche loue had in disdeyn Werst of al other was byseyn And as he set his pryce most hyghe He was lest worthy in loues eye And most beiaped in his wyt Wherof the remembraunce is yet So that thou myght ensample take And eke al other for his sake Amans My fadre as touchend of me This vyce I thynke for to flee Whiche of his wenynge euer tro weth And namlich of thing which groweth In loues cause or wel or wo Yet pryded in me neuer so But wold that grace sende That toward me my lady wende As towardes hyr I wene My loue shold so bysene Ther shold go no pryde a place But I am fer fro thylk grace As for to speke of tyme now So mote I suffre and praye yow That ye woâ— axe on other syde If ther be ony poynt of pryde Wherof it nedeth me to be shryue Confessor My sone God it the foryeue Yf thou haue thyng mysdoo Touchend of this for euermo Ther is another yet of pryde Whiche coude neuer his wordes hyde That he ne wold hym self auaunt There may nothynge his tonge dauÌ„t That he ne clappeth as a belle Wherof yf thou wolt that I telle It is behouely for to here So that thou myght thy tonge stere Toward the world stande in grace Whiche lakketh ofte in many a place To hym that can not sytte stylle Whiche elles shold haue his wylle Magniloque propriaÌ„ minuit iactancia lingue FamaÌ„ quam stabilem firmat honore alens Ipse sui laudem meriti non percipit vnde Se sua per verba iactat in orbe palam Est que viri culpa iactancia que rubifactas In muliere reas cansat habere genas hIc loqitur de quarta specie super bie que iactancia dicitur ex cuiê° natura causatur vt homo de se ipso testi monium perhilens suarum vtrtutum merita de laude in culpam transferre et suam famam cum extollere vellet IlluÌ„ proprio ore subuertit Sed venus in amoris causa de isto vicio maculatos a sua curia super omnes alios abhotrens expellit vt eorum multiloquiuÌ„ verecundia detestatur vnde Confesso Amanti opponens materiam pleuius declarat tHe Vyce cleped auauntauÌ„ce With pryde hath take his acque intauÌ„ce So that his owne pryce he las seth When he suche mesure ouerpasseth That he his owne herauld is That fyrst was wel is than amys That was thaÌ„k worthy is than blame And thus the worship of his name Thorugh pryde of his auauntrye He wineth in to vylonye I vede how that this pronde vyce Hath thylk wynde in his offyce Thorugh which the blastys that he bâ—o weth The mans name he ouerthro weth Of vertu whiche shold elles sprynge Vnto the worldes knoulechynge But he fordeth it al to sore And ryght of suche manere lore Ther ben louers for thy yf thou Art one of hem trlle say hou Whan thou hast take ony thyng Of loues ryght or ouche or ryng Or take vpon the for the colde SoÌ„me goodly worde as the wâ—s tolde Or frendly chere or tokene or letter Wherof thyn hert was the better Of that she sent the gretyng Hast thou for pryde of thy lykyng Made thyn auannt where the lyst I Wold fadre that ye wyst My Conseyence lyeth not here Yet had I neuer suche matere Wherof myght myn hert amende Not of so moche as she sende By mouthe said grete hym wele And thus for that ther is no delo Wherof to make myn auaunt It is to reson accordaunt That may neuer but I lye Of loue make auauntrye I wote not what I shold haue do If that I had encheson so As ye haue sayd here many one But I fonde cause neuer none But dauÌ„ger whiche me welny slough Therof I couthe telle ynough And none other auantaunce Thus nedeth me no repentaunce Now axe fadre forther of my lyf For thewf am I not gyltyf Confessor My sone I am wel payd with al For wyto wel in specyal That loue of his vevay Iustyce A louen al other ayene this vyce At al tymes most debateth With al his hert most he hateth And eke in al maner wyse Auauntrye is most to despyse By ensample thou myght wyte Whiche
large feld Where the baners ben displayed He hath anone his men arrayed And when that he was enbataylled He goth hath the feld assaylled And slough took al that he fonde Wherof the Macedonye londe Which thurgh kyng alisaÌ„der is honoured Long tyme stood was than deuoured To Perse al infortune â—â—â—y wyte so that the comune Of al the lond his heyre exyle And he dyspeyred for the whyle Desguysed in a power wede To Rome goth ther for nede The â—â—aft whiche thylk tyme was To worken in lawnÌ„ in bras He lerneth for his sustenaunce Suche was the sones purueaunce And of his fadre it is sayd In strong pryson that he was layd In Albe where that he was dede For honger for defaulte of brede The hounde was token of prophecye That lyche an hound he shold dye Whiche lyche was of condycyon Whan he with detractyon Bark on his broder so behynde Coufessor Lo what proufyde a man may fynde Whiche hyndre wol another wyght For thy with al thyn hool myght My sone eschewe thylk vyce Amans My fadre elles were I nyce For ye therof so wel haue spoke That it is in myn hert loke And euer shal but of enuye If ther be more in his baylye Towardes loue say me what My sone as gyle vnder the hat With sleyghtes of a Tregetour Is hyd enuye of suche colour Hath yet the fourth deceyuaunt The whiche is cleped fals semblaunt Wherof the mater the forme Now herkne I the shal enforme Nil bilinguis aget nisi duplo conci tat ore Dumque diem loquitur vox sua vota tegit Vultus habet lucem tenebras mens sermo salutem Actus sed morbum dat suus esse grauem Pox tibi quam spondet magis est prenostica guerre Comoda si dederit disce subesse dolum Qnodque patet esse fides in eo fraus est que positi Pâ—ncipium pacti finis habere negat O qmÌ„ condicio talis deformat amantein Qui magis apparens est in amore nichil hIc tractat Confessor super quarta specie Inuidie que dissimulacio dicitur cuius vultus quanto maio ris amicicie apparenciam ostendit taÌ„to subtilioris doli fallacias ad decipien duÌ„ mens ymaginatur oF fals seÌ„blauÌ„t yf I shall telle Aboue al other it is the welle Out of that which deceyt floweth There is no man so wyse that knoweth Of thylkf lood whiche is the tyde Ne how he shold hym self guyde To take sauf passage there And yet the wynd to mans ere Is softe as it semeth oute It maketh clere weder al aboute But though it seme it is not soo For fals semblaunt hath euer moo Of his counseyl in companye The derke vntrewe Ipocrysye Whoo 's word destroyeth in his thouÈt For thy they be to gyder brought Of one couyne of one houshold As it shal after ward thus be told Of fals semblaunt it nedeth nought To telle of old ensamples ought For al day in experyence A man may see thylk euydence Of fayre wordes whiche he hereth But yet the barge of enuye stereth And halt it euer from the londe Whiche fals seÌ„blauÌ„t with oore in hond It roweth wol not arryue But lete it on the wawes dryue In grete tempest grete debate Wherof that loue his estate Empeyreth therfore I rede My sone that thou flee drede This vyce what that other seyn Lete thy semblaunt be trewe pleyn For fals semblaunt is thylk vyce Whiche neuer was withoute offyce Where that enuye thynketh to gyle He shal byfore that ylke whyle Of pryue counseylle be messagere For when his semblaunt is most clere Than is he most derke in his thought Though man hym se they knowe hym nouÈt But as it sheweth in the glas Thyng whiche theryn neuer was So sheweth it in his vysage That neuer was in his courage Thus doth al his thyng with sleyght Now laye thy conscyence in weyght My good soue shryue the here If thou were euer customere To fals semblaunt in ony wyse For ought I can me yet auyse My good fadre certes no For I for loue haue do so Now axe I wold pray yow For elles I wote neuer bow Of fals semblauÌ„t how that I haue gyâ—t My sone sethyn that thou wylt That I shal axe gabbe nought But telle yf euer was thy thought With fals semblaunt couerture To wyte of ony creature How that he was with loue stad So wery or sory or he were glad Whan thou wystyst how it were Al that he rouneth in thyn ere Thou toldest forth in other place To setten hym fro loues grace Of that woman that hym best lyst Theryn no man his counseyll wyst But thou by whome he was deceyue â–ª Of loue from his purpoos weyued And thoughtest at his dysturbaunce Thyn owne cause shold auaunce As who seyth I am so secrete There may no mans pryuete Behâ—led halue so wel as myn Art thou my sone of suche engyn Telle on My good fadre nay As for the more party I say But of somdele I am byknowe That â–ª I may stonde in thylk rowe Among hem that saundres vse I wol me not therof excuse That I with suche colour ne steyne When I my best semblaunt feyne Telle my fela we of that I wote Al his counseylle both cold hote For by that cause I make hym chere Tyl I his loue knowe here And yf so be myn herte soucheth That ought vnto my lady toucheth Of loue that he wold me telle Anone I renne vnto the welle And cast water in to the fyre So that his carte amyd the fyre By that I haue his counseyll knowe Ful ofte syth I ouerthrowe When that he weneth best to stonde But this I do yow to vnderstonde Yf that a man loue elles where So that my lady be nought there And he me telle he wol it hyde There shal no word escape asyde Forth with deceypt of no semblaunt To hym breke I none couenaunt Me lyketh not in other place To let no man of his grace Ne for to be Inquesytyâ— To knowe another mans lyf Where that he loue or loue nought That toncheth no thyng to my thouÈt But al it passeth thorugh myn ere Ryght as a thyng that neuer were And is foryete layd asyde But yf it toucheth ony syde My lady as I haue er spoken Myn ere 's be than nought loken For certes whan that by tyt My wyl myn hert al my wyt Ben fully set to herken spere What ony man wol saye of here Thus haue I feyned companye Ful ofte for I wold aspye What thyng it is that ony man Telle of my worthy lady can And for two causes I do this The fyrst cause wherof is At that I myght herken seke That ony man of her myspeke I wol excuse hyr so fully That when she wyst it veryly Myn hope shold be the more To hane hyr
miamque furoris malencolia preuentê° dictam filiam cum partu dolorosissimo câ—su interfeci diiudicauit â—Her was a kyng whiche Eolus Was hote it befel hym thus That he two children had fayre The sone cheped was Machayre The doughter Canace hyght By day both este by nyght Whyle they be yong of comon wone In chaÌ„mbre they to geder come And as they shold pleyd hem ofte Tyl they be growen vp alofte In the yongthe of lusty age When kynde assaylleth the courage With loue doth hym for to lowe That he no reson can allowe But halt the lawes of nature For whome that loue hath vnder câ—re And he is blynd hym self ryghtso â–ª He maketh his â—lyent blynde also In suche maner as I yow telle As they al day to geder duelle This broder myght not asterte That he with al his hoole herte His loue vpon his suster cast And soo it fel hem at the last So that this Machayre with Canace When they were in a preuy place Cupyde bad hem fyrst to â—rysse And after she whiche is maystrysse In kynde techeth euery lyf Withoute lawe posytyf Of whiche she taketh no maner chargÌ„e But kepeth her lawes al at large Nature took hem in to lore And taught hem soo that ouermore She hath hem in suche a wyse daâ—iâ—â—d That they were as who saith enchauÌ„â—ed And as the blynde another ledeth And tyll they falle nothynge dredeth Ryght so they had none insyght But as a byrd whiche wol a lyght And seeth the mete not the netâ—e Whiche in deceyt of hym is setâ—â— These yong folk no perylle syghe But that was lykyng in her eye In that they felle vpon the chaunce Where wyt hath lore his remembrauÌ„ce So long they to geder assemble The woÌ„be aâ—â—os she gan to tremble And held hyr in hir chambre cloos For drede it shold be discloos And come vnto hyr fadre ere Wherof the sone had also fere And feynend cause for to ryde For long durst he not abyde In aunâ—et yf men wol seyn That he his suster hath forleyn For yet she had it not be knowe Who 's was the child at thylke throwe Machayre goth Canace abyt The whiche was not delynerd yet But ryght sone after that she was Now lest herkne a woful cas The soth whiche may not ben hyd Was at the last knowe kyd Vnto the kyng how that it stood And when that he it vnderstood Anone in to Melenoolye As though it were a frenesye He felle as he whiche no thyng couthe How mayster ful loue is yougthe And for he was to loue straunge He wold not his herte chaunge To be benigne fauourable To loue but vnmerciable Bytwene the wawe of wode wroth In to his doughter chambre be goth And sawe the child was late bore Wherof he hath his oth swore That she it shal ful sore abye And she bygan mercy for to crye Vpon hyr barâ— knâ—â—s prayde And to hyr fadre thus she sayde Haue mercy fadre thenke I am Thy child of thy blode I cam That I mysdede yongthe it made And m the flodes bad me wade Where that I sawe no peryl tho But now it hath byfalle so Mercy my fadre do no wreche And wtth that word she lost hyr speche And felle swounend at his fote As she for sorowe nedes mote But his â–ª horryble cruelte That myght attempre no pyâ—â— Oute of her chambre forth he â–ª went And fnl of wrath in his entent And took the counseyl in his herte That she shal not the deth asterte And he whiche is Melanâ—â—lyenÌ„ Of pacyence hath no lyenÌ„ Wherof he may his wrath restreyne And in this wylde wode peyne When al his reson was vntame A knyght he â—leped by his name And toke hym as by wey of sonde A naked swerd to bere on honde And sayd hym that he shold go And telle vnto his doughter so In the manere as be hym bad How she that sharp swerdes blad Receyue shold do with al So that she woâ—â— where to she shal Forth in message goth the knyght â–ª Vnto this woful yong wyght This sharp swerde to hyr â—e took Wherof that al her bodye quook For wel she wyste what it ment And that it was to thylke entent That she hyr seluen shold sle And to the knyght she sayd ye Now that I wote my fadres wylle That I shal in this wyse spylle I wolâ—oâ—eye me ther to And as he wol it shal â—e â—â— But now this thyng â–ª may be none other I wol a letter vnto my broder Soo as my feble hand may wryte With al my wofull hert endyte She took a penne on honde tho Fro poynt to poynt al the wo As ferforth as hyr self it wote Vnto hyr dedely frend she wrote And told how that hyr fadre grace She myght for no thyng purchace And ouer that as thou shalt here She wrote sayd in this manere O thou my sorowe my gladnes O thou my hele my sekenesse O thou my wanhope my trust O thou my dysese al my lust O thou my wele O thou my woo O thou my frend O thou my foo O thou my lone O thou my hate For the more I be dede algate Thylk deth maye I not asterte And with al myn hole herte Whyst that me lasteth ony birth I wol the loue in to my deth But of oo thyng I shal the preye If that my lytel son deye â—ete hym be buryed in my graue Besyde me so shalt thou haue Vpon vs both remembraunce For thus it stondeth of my grenaunce Now at this tyme as thou shalt wite With 〈◊〉 with ynke wryte This letter I haue in carâ—â— cold In my ryght hond my penne I hold And in my left my swerd I kepe And in my barme ther lyeth to wepe Thy child myn whiche sobbeth faste Now am I come vnto my laste Fare wel for I shal sone dye And thynke how I thy loue abye The pomel of the swerd to gronnd She set with the poynt a wound Thorugh out hyr hert anone she made And foâ—th with that al pale fade She felle doune dede fro ther she stood The child lay bathend in her blood Out rolled fro the modre barme And for the blood was hâ—te warme He basked hym aboute therin There was no bote for to wynne For whiche he â—an no pyte knowe The kyng cam in the same throwe And sawe how that his doughter dyed And how this baby al blody cryed But al that myght hym not suffyse That he ne bad to do â—uyse Vpon the child bere hym oute And seche in the foâ—â—st aboute So in wylde place that it were To cast hym oute of honde there So that som beste hym may deuouâ—â— Where as no man hym shall socoure Al that he â—ad was done in dede A who herd euer synge oâ— rede Of suche a thyng as tho was done But he
There was it proued how it stood To Perse whiche was ful of good They maden werre in especyal Anâ— soo they dyden oâ—eral Where grete rychesse was in lond So that they left no thyng stond â—n werred but only Archade Nota ê™ greci omnem terram deâ—ellabant fertilem sed tantum ArchadiaÌ„ pro eo quam pauper et steriâ—â—s fuit pacifiâ—â— dimiserunt For there they no werres made By cause it was bareyn pouer Wherof they myght not recouer And thus pouerte was forbore He that nought had nought â–ª hath lore But yet it is â–ª a wondre thyng When that a ryche worthy kynge Or other lord what so he be Wol axe clayme propyrte In thyng whiche he hath no ryght But only of his grete myght For this may euery man wel wyte That bothe kynde lawe wryte Expressely stonde there ageyn But he mote nedes somwhat seyn Al though â–ª there be no reson ynne Whiche seche cause â–ª for to wynne For wyt that his wyl oppressed When couetyse hym hath redressed And al reson put awey He can wel fynde suche a wey To werre where as euer he lyketh Wherof that he the word entryketh That many a man of hym coÌ„pleyneth But yet alwey somme cause he feyneth And of his wrongful hert hath demed That al is wel that euer hym semed Br so he may wynne ynough For as the trewe man to the plough Only to the gaygnage entendeth Ryght so the werryour dyspendeth His tyme hath no conscyence And in this poynt for euydence Of hem that suche werres make Thou myght a grete ensample take How they hyr tyrannye excusen Of that they wrongful werres vsen And they stonde of one acord The Sâ—udyour forth with the lord The poure man forth with the ryche As of courage they ben lyche To make werres to pyle For lucre for none other skyle Wherof a propyr tale I rede As it whylome byfell in dede hIc declarat per Exemplum coÌ„tra istos principes seu alios quos cumque illicite guerre motores Et narrat de quodam Pirata in partiâ—ê° mari nis spoliatore qui cum captus fuisset in iudicium coram Rege Alexandro productus de latricinio accusatê° dixit O Alexandre vere quia cum pau cis socijs spoliorum causa naues tantuÌ„ exploro â–ª ego latrunculus vâ—ooâ— tu auteÌ„ qâ—â—a cum infinita bellatorum multitu dine vniuersam terram subiuganâ—o spoliasti Imperator diceres Ita quam sta tus tuus a statu meo differt sed eodeÌ„ animo condicionem paâ—â—lem habemus Alexander vero eius audaciam in responsione comprobans penes se familiarem retinuit Et sic bellicosus bellatori complaâ—â—t oF hym al this erthe drad When he the world so ouerlad Thurgh werre as it fortuned is Kyng Alysaunder I rede this How in a marche where he lay It felle par chaunce vpon a day A Rouer of the see was nome Whiche many a man had ouercome And slayn take her good awaye This Pylour as the boks saye A famous man in sondry stede Was of the werkes whiche he dede This prysoner afore the kyng Was brought therupon this thyng In audyence was he accused And he his dede hath nought excused And praid the kyngÌ„ to done hym ryÈt And seyd Syre yf I were of myght I haue an hert lyche vnto thyn For yf thy power were myn My wylle is moost in especyal To ryfle to gete oueral The large worldes good aboute But for I lede a poure route And am as who sayth at meschyef The name of Pylour of thyef I bere thou whiche Routes grete Maye lede take thy beyete And dost ryght as I wold doo Thy name is nothyng cleped so But thou art named Emperour Oure dedes ben of one colour And in effect of one deserte But thy Rychesse my pouerte They be not taken euen lyche And nethâ—lâ—â— he that â—s ryche This day to morowe he may by poure And in contrary also receuer A pouer man to grete ryches Men seyn for thy ryghtwysenes Be peyced euen in the balaunce The kyng his hardy contenaunce Behelde his wordes wyse And sayd vnto hym in this wyse Thyne ansuere I haue vnderstonde Wherof my wyl â—e that thou stonde In my seruyce stylle abyde And forth with al the same tyde He hath hym â—â—â—me of lyf witholde The more for he shal beholde He made hym knyght yaf hym lond Whiche afterward was of his hond Aâ— orped knyght in many a stede And grete prowesse of armes dede As the Cronyke it recorden And in this wyse they acorden The whiche of one â—â—ndycyâ—n Be sett vpon destructyon Suche Capytayne suche retenue But for to see what yssue The kyng befallyth at the laste In his grete wondre what men caste Her â—â—â—t vpon suche wrong to wynne Where no beâ—â—â—e may be Inne And deth dyâ—â—se on euery syde But when reson is put a syde And wylle gâ—nerneth the courage The fauâ—â—n with that fleeth ramage And suffreth no thyng in the weye Wherof that he may take his preye Is not more set vpon rauyne Than ylk man whiche his couyne Hath set in suche maner wyse For al the world ne may suffyse To wyl whiche is not resonable Wherof ensample concordable Lyche to this poynt of whiche I mene Was vpon Alysander sene Whiche had set al his entent So as fortune with hym went That the reson myÈt hym not gouerne But of his wylle he was so sterne That al the world he ouerâ—an And what hym lyst he took wan In inde the superyour When that he was ful conquerour And had his wylful purpoos wonne Of al this erthe vnder the sonne This kyng homeward to Macedoyne When that he cam to Babyloyne And wende moost in â–ª his empyre As he whiche was lord syre In honour for to be receyued Moost sodenlyche he was deceyued And with strong poyson enuenynâ—â—d And as he hath the world mystymed Not as he shold with his wyt Not as he wold it was acquyt Thus was he slayn that whylome slongh And he whiche ryche was ynough This day to morowe had nought And in suche wyse as he was wrouÈt In dysturbaunce of worldes pees His werre he fonde than endeles In whiche for euer dyscomfyte He was â–ª lo now for what proufyte Of werre it helpeth for to ryde For couetyse worldes pryde To slee the worldes men aboute As bestes whiche gone ther oute For ony lyf whiche reson can Ought wel â–ª to knowe that a man Ne shold thorugh no tyrannye Lyche to these other bestes dye Tyl kynde wold for hym sende I not how he it myght amende Whiche taketh awey for euermore The lyf that he may not restore For thy my sone in al weye Be wel auysed I the preye Of slaught or that thou be culpable Withoute cause resonable My fadre vnderstonde it is That ye haue sayd but ouer this I pray you
qui in amoris causa tardantes delinquunt Et narrat quali ter Dido Regina Eartaginis Eneam ab Incendijs Troie fugitiuum in amo rem suum gaiusa suscepit qui cum postea in partes Italie a Cartagine bella turum se transtulit ninuam que ibidem moram faciens tempus redditus sui ad Didonem vltra modum tardauit Ipsa intolieravili gaudio concussa sui cordis intima gladio transfodit aGeyne lachesse in loues caas I fynde how whylom Eneas Whome Anchyses to sone had With greete nauye which he lad Fro Troye arryueth at Eartage Where fo a while his herbergage He took betyd soo With hyr whiche was quene tho Of the Cyte his acqueyntaunce He wan whos name in remembrauÌ„ce Is yet Dydo she was hote Whiche loueth Eneas soo hote Vpon the wordes whiche he sayd That al hyr herte on hym she layd And dyd al holy what he wolde But after that as it be sholde Fro then he goth to Itayle By shyp thew his arryuayle Hath take shope hym for to ryde But she whiche may not long abyde The hote payne of loues throwe Anone within a lytel throwe A setter vnto hyr knyght hath wryte And dyde hym pseynsy for to wyte If he made ony tarying To dretche of his ayene comyng That she ne myght hym fele see She shold stonde in suche degree As whylome stood a swan to fore Of that she had hyr make â—ore For sorowe a fether in to her brayne She shoof hath hyr self slayn As kyng Menander in a lay The soth hath fonde where she lay Spraulend with her wynges tweye As she whiche shold than deye For loue of hym which was her make And so shal I do for thy sake This quene sayde wel I wote Lo to Enee thus she wrote With many another word of coÌ„pleynt But he which had his thoughtes feint Towardes loue ful of slouthe â—â—s tyme let that was routhe For she whiche loueth hym to fore 〈◊〉 euer more more And when she sawe hym tarye so Hyr hert was so ful of wo That compleynend manyfolde She hath hyr owne tale tolde Vnto her self thus she spack A who fonde euer suche a lack Of slouthe in ony worthy knyght Now wote I wel my deth is dyght Thurgh hym whiche shold haue be my â—yf But for to stynten al this stryf Thus when she syghe none other bote Ryght euen vnto her hert rote A naked sword anone she threste And thus she got hyr self reste In remembraunce of al slowe Wherof my sone thou myght knowe Hou taryeng vpon the nede In loues cause is for to drede And that hath Dydo sore abought Whoo 's deth shal euer be bethought And euermore yf I shal seche In this maner another speche In a Cronyke I fynde wryte A tale whiche is good to wyte His loquitur super eodem qualiter â—enolope vlixum maritum suum in obsidione Troie diucius morantem ob ipsius ibidem tardacionem epistola sua redargiut aT Twye when kyng Vlyxes Vpon the sege among the pres Of hem the worthy kniÈtes were Abode longe tyme stylle there In thylke tyme a man may see Hou goodly that Penolope Whiche was to hym his trewe wyf Of his lachesse waâ— pleyntyf Wherof to Troye she hym sende Hyr wylle by letter thus spekende My worthy loue lorde alsso It is hath be euer soo That where a woman is alone At maketh a man in his persoue The more hardy for to wowe In hope that she wolde bowe To suche thyuge as his wylle werr Whyle that here lord were elles where And of my self I telle this For it so long passed is Syth fyrste that ye from home went That we le nyhe euery man is went To come there I am whyle ye be oute And besyly eche of hem aboute Whiche loue can my loue secheth With grete prayer me bysecheth And somme maken grete manace That yf they myght come in place Where that they myght here wyl haue There is no thyng me shold saue That they ne wold worche thynges And somme telle me tydynges That ye he dede somme seyn That certeynly ye be beseyn To loue a newe leue me But holle as euer that it be I thanke vnto the goddes alle As yet for ought that is byfalle May no man do my chekes rede But netheles it is to drede That lachesse in contynuaunce Fortune myght werke suche aâ—chaunce Whiche nomanâ— after shal amende Loo thus thys lady compleynend A letter vnto hyr lord hath wryte And prayd hym that he wold wyte And thynke how that she was al his And that he tarye not in this But that he wold his loue acquyte To her ayeneward not wryte But come hym self in al hast That he none other paper wast Soo that he kepe holde his trouthe Withoute let of ony slouthe Vnto her lord loue lyege To Troye where the grete syege Was leyd this letter was conueyd And he whiche wysedom hath purueyd Of al that to reson belongeth With gentyl hert it vnderfongeth And when he hath it ouer rad In part he was ryght Inly glad And eke in part he was dysesed But loue his hert hath thorugh sesed With pure ymagynacyon That for none occupacyon Whiche he gan take on other syde He may not flyt his hert asyde For that his wyf hym had enformed Wherof he hath hym self conformed With al the wyl of his courage To shape take the â—yage Homeward what tyme that he may Soo that hym thynketh one day A thousand yere tyl he may see The â—ysage of Penolope Whiche he desyreth moost of alle And when the tyme was so byfalle That Troye was destroyed brent He made no delayment But goth hym home in al hyghe Where that he fond to fore his eye His worthy wyf in good estate And thus was seced the debate Of loue slouthe was excused Which doth gret harme where it is bsed And hyndreth many a cause honest Nota ad huc de quodam Astrologo super eodem qui quondam opê° ingeniosum quasi ad complementum septennius perducens vnius momenti tardacione omnem sui operis diligenciam pe nitus feustrauit For of the grete clerk Grostest I rede how redy that he was Vpon clergyr an hede of bras To make forge it for to telle Of suche thynges as befelle And seuen yeres besynesse He layde but for the lachesse Of half a mynute of an houre Fro fyrst that he began laboure He lost al that he had do And other whyle it fareth soo In loues cause who is slowe That he withoute vnder the wowe By nyght fue ofte stant a colde Whiche myght yf that he had wolde His tyme haue kept haue ben Inne Nota ad huc contra tardacionem de virginibus fatuis que niâ—â—iam moraÌ„ facientes intrante sponso ad nupaâ—â—s cum ipso non introterunt But slouthe may no profyt wynne But he may
And thus he profereth hym to sweâ—e Tâ— seâ—uen euer tyl he deye And al is very trecherye For when the soth hym self tryeth The more he swâ—reth the more he lyeth When he his feyth maketh al ther mâ—st Then may a woman truste hym lest For tyl he may his wylle acheue He is no lâ—nger for to leue Thus is the trouthe of loue exyled Anâ— maâ—y a good woman begyled And eke to speke of fals wytnesse There be now suche many I gâ—sse That lyche vnto the prouysours They make hem her preuy procura tours To telle hou there is suche a man Whiche is worthy to loue can Al that a good man sholde conne Soo that with lesyng he hath bygoÌ„ne The cause in whiche he wol procede And also syker as the crede They make of that they knowen fals And thus ful ofte aboute the hals Loue is of fals men embraced But loue whiche is so purchaced Come afterward to lytel pryse For thy my sone yf thou be wyse Now thou hast herd this euydence Thou myght thyne owne conscyence Oppose yf thou hast be suche one Nay god wote fader I am none Ne neuer was for as men seyth When that a man shal make his feyth His herte tonge must acorde For yf so be that they dyscorde Then is he fals elles nought And I dare say as of my thought In loue it is not dyscordable Vnto my word but aâ—ordablo And m this wyse fader I May ryght wel swere saufly That I my lady loue wel For that acordeth euery del It nedeth nought to my soth sawe That I wytnesse shold drawe In to this day for neuer yett Ne myght it synke in to my wyt That I my counseyl shold seye To ony wyght or me bewreye To sechen helpe in suche manere But only of my lady dere And though a thousand men it wysâ— That I her loue than â—em lyst With me to swerâ— to witnesse Yet were that no fals wytnesse For I dare vnto this trouthe dwelle I loue her more than I can telle Thus am I fader gylteles As ye haue herd and netheleâ— In your dome I put it al My sone wyte in specyal It shal not comonlyche fayle Al though it for a tyme faylle That fals wytnesse his cause spede Vpon the poynt of his falsheede It shal afterward be kyd Wherof so as it is betyd Ensample of suche thynges blynde In Cronyke wryte I fynde Hic ponit Exemplum de illis qui falsum testificantes amoris Innocenciam circumuâ—niunt Et narrat qualiter Theâ—is Achillem filium suum adolesceÌ„ tem muliebri vestitum apparatu asserens esse puellam inter Regis Lichomedis filias ad educandum produxit Et siâ— Achilles dâ—cepto Rege filie sue Deidamie socia et cubicularia effectus super Ipsam Pirâ—um geniut â–ª qui poste a mire probitatis milÌ„iciam assecutus mortem patris sui apud Troiam Polix ene Tirannice vindicauit tHe goddesse of the see Thetis She had a sone his name is Achilles whom to kepe warde Whyle he was yong in to ward She thought hym saufly to be take As she whiche drad for his sake Of that was sayd in prophecye That he at Troyâ— shold dye When that the cytâ— was byleyn For thy so as the bokes seyn She cast hyr wyt in sondry wyfe Hou she hym myght so desguyse That no man shold his body knowe And so byfâ—lle that ylke throwe Whyle that she thouâ—t vpon this dede There was a kyng whiche Lychomede Was hote he was wel begone With fayre doughters many one And duelt fâ—r oute in an yle Now shalt thou here a wonder wyle This quene whiche the moder was Of Achilles vpon this cas Hyr sâ—â—e as a mayden were Lete clothâ—â— in the same gere Whiche longeth vnto womanhede As he was yong a toke noâ—â— hede But suffreth al â—hat she hym dede Wherof she hath hyr women bede And chargeth by her otheâ— alle Hou so it afterward byfalle That they dyscouer nought this tâ—â—ng But feyne make a knoulechyng Vpon the counseyl whiche was nomâ— In euery place where they come To telle to wytnesse this How he hyr lady doughter is And ryght in suche a maner wise She bad they shold done her seruyse So that Achilles vnderfongeth As to a yong lady belongeth Honoure seruyce reuerence For Thetys with grete dylygenâ—â— Hym hath so taught affayted That hou so 〈◊〉 were awayted With sobre goâ—tely contenaunce He shold his womanhede auaunce That none the soth knowe myght But that in euery mans syght He shold seme a pure maide And m suche wise as she hym saide Achilles whiche that Ilke while Was yong vpon hym to smyle Bigan when he was so besein And thus after the bokes sein With frette of perle vpon his hede Al fresshe bitwene the white rede As she whiche tho was tendre of age Stood the colour in his visage That for to loke vpon his cheke And seen his childy maner eke He was a woman to beholde And than his moder to him tolde That she him had soo begone By cause that she thought gone To Lichomede at thilke tyde Where that she sayd he shold abyde Among his doughters for to duelle Achilles herd his moder telle And wyst nonght the cause why And netheles ful buxoâ—â—ly He was redy to that sâ—e bad Wherof his modeâ— was ryght glad To Lychomede forth they went And wheâ—â—he kyng knewe her entent And sâ—we this youg doughter there And that it cam vnto his ere Of suche record of suche wytnesse He had ryght a grete gladnesse Of that he soth sawe herde And he that wote not hou it ferde Vpon the counseyl of the nede But for al that kyng Lychomede Hath toward hym his doughter take And for Thetys his moder sake He put hyr in to companye To duelle with Deydamye His owne doughter the eldest The fayrest the comlyest Of al his doughters whiche he had Loo thus Thetys the cause lad And left ther Achilles feyned As he whiche hath hym self restreyned In al that euer he may can Oute of the maner of a man And took his womannyssh chere Wherof vnto his bedfere Deydamye he hath by nyght Where kynde wold hym selue â—yght After the Philosophers seyn There may no wyght be ther ageyn And that was thylk tyme sene The long nyghtes hem bytwene Nature whiche may not forbere Hath made hem bothe for to stere They kyssen fyrst ouermore The hyghe wey of loues lore They gone al was done in dede Whorof lost is the maydenhede Aud that was afterward wel know For it byfel that ylk throwe As at Troye where the syege lay Vpon the cause of Menelay And of his quene Dame Eleynâ— The gregâ—ys hadden moche pâ—yne Al day to fyght and to assayle But for they myght nought auayle Soo noble a cyte for to wynne A pryue counseyll they begynne In sondry wyse where
offendunt WHan Couetyse in poure estate Stondeth with hym self vpon debate Thurgh lack of mysgouernaunce That he vnto his sustenauÌ„ce Ne can none other wey fynde To gete hym good than as the blynde The whiche seeth not what shalle after falle That ylke vyce that which meÌ„ calle Of Robbery he taketh on honde Where thorugh the water the londe Of thyng that other men forswynke He geteth hym clothe mete drynke Hym retcheth not what to do he begyn Though theft soo that he may wyn For thy to make his purchaas He lyeth waytyng on the paas And what thyng that he seeth ther passe He taketh his paas more lasse If it be ought worth for to take He can the pakkes wel rensake So pryncly bereth none about His gold ne be it fyndeth oute Or other â—ewel what it be He taketh it as his propyrte In wodes in feldes eke Thus Robbery goth to seke Where as he may his purpoos fynde And right so in the same kynde My good sone as thou myght here To speke of loue in this matere And make a veray resemblaunce Right as a thefe maketh his cheuesaÌ„ce And robbeth mennes goodes aboute In woode in feld where he goth oute So ben there of these louers some In wylde stedes where they come And fynd there a woman able And therto space couenable Withoute let or that they fare They take a parte of that chaffare Ye though she were a shepeherdesse Yet wold the lord of wantonnesse Assay all though he be vâ—mete For other mennes good is sweâ—â— â–ª But therof wote nothyng the wyf At fâ—me the whiche loueth as hir lyf Hir lord and sytteth alwey wysshyug After hir lordes home comyng But whan he cometh home at eue Anone he maketh his wyf to leue For she not els shold knowe He telleth hir how his huÌ„te gan blowe And how his houndes haue wel ronne And how there shone a mery sonne And how his hawkes flowen wele But â—e wold telle hir neuer a dele How â—e to loue vntrewe was Of that â—e robbed in the pas And tooke his lust vnder the shawe Ageyne loue ageyne his lawe The which thyng my sene I the forbede For it iâ— an vngoodly dede For who that taketh by Robberye His loue â—e may not â—ustyfye His cause so ful oft sythe For onye that he hath ben blythe He shall be after sory thryes Examples for suche robberyes I fynde wryten as thou shalt here Acordynge vnto this matere Hic loquitur contra istos in amoÌ„â—s causa predones qui cum suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant fortuna in contraâ—uÌ„ operatur Et narrat quod cum Neptunus quandam virginem no mine Cornicem solam inxta more deaÌ„bulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset superueniens pallas ipsam de manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius lâ— beraâ—it I Rede how whilome wâ—s a mâ—id The fairest as Ouyde said That was in hir tyme tho And she was of the chambre also Of â—allas that is the goddesse Wyfe to mars of whome the prowesse Is gyuen to these worthy knyghtes For he is of so grete myghtes That he gouerneth the bataile Withoute hym may not auayle The strong honde but he it helpe There maye no knyght of armes yelpe But he fyght vnder his banere But now to speke of my matere This faire fresshe lusty may Alone as she went on a day Vpon the stronde for to play There cam Neptunus in the way The whiche hath the see in gouernauÌ„ce And in his herte suche plesaunce He tooke when he this maiden sygh That all his hert aroos on hyghe For he so sodenly vnware Beheld the beaute that she bare And cast anone in his herte That she shall hym no wey asterte But yf he take in auauntage From that mayden some â—â—lâ—ge Not of no broches ne of no thynges But of somme other smale thynges He thought to haue parte or that she weÌ„t And hir in bothe his armes hent And put his hond toward the Cofre Wherfor to robbe he made a profere That lusty tresour for to stele The whiche passeth other goodes feâ—â— That called is the mayâ—enhede The which is the floure of womanhede This mayde that Câ—â—nyx by name Was cleped dredyng al shame Sawe that she myght not debate And wel she wyst he wold algate Fulfylle his lust of Robberye Anone began to wepe cryeâ— And said O pallas noble quene Shewe now thy myght late be sent To kepe and saue myn honoure Help that I lese not my floure The whiche now vnder key is loken That worde was not so soone spoken When pallas shope recouyre After the wylle the desyre Of hir the whiche a mayden wâ—s And sodenly vpon this cas Oute of hir womans kynde In to a byrdes lykenes I fynde She was transformed forth with all So that Neptunus no thyng stall Of thyng that he wold haue stole With federes black as ony cole Oute of his armes in a throwe She flewe before his eyen a crowe The whiche was to hir more delyte To kepe hir maydenhede whyte Vnder the wede of fethers blake Than in perlys whyte to forsake That no lyf may restore ageyne But thus Neptune his hert in veyn Hath vppon robbery set The byrd was flowen he was let The fayr mayde is fro hym scaped So that for euer le was â—eiâ—â—ed And scoâ—â—â—d of that â—e hath â—ore My sone â—e thou ware therfore That thou no maydenhede stele Wherof men see dyseses fele Al day befalle in dyuerse wyse So as I shal the yet deuyse Another tale therupon That felle by old â—â—yes gone Hic ponit exâ—pluÌ„ coÌ„tra istos in causa virginitatis lese predonis et narrat qd cum Calistona Regis Lichoantis mire pulcritudinis filia suam virginitatem Dâ—ane conseruare castissimaâ— voluisset Et in sâ—luam que tegea dicitur inter alias â—hidem Nimphas moraturam se transtulit â–ª â—ubiter virginis castitatem subtili furto surripiens quendam filium qui postea Archas nominatus eÌ„ ex ea genuit vnde Iuno in CalistonaÌ„ semel eius pulcritudinem in vrse tur pissime deformitatem subito transfigurauit KYnâ— Lychaon vpon his wyf A doughter had a goodely lif And cleue mayden of worthy fame Calystona whoo 's right name Was cleped of many a lorde She was besought but hyr acorde To loue myght no man wyn As she that had no lust therin But swore in hyr herte said That she wold euer be a maid Wherfor to kepe hir self pees With suche as amadryades Were clexed were maydens tho And with the Nympâ—es eke also â–ª Vpon the spryng of fresshe welles She shope to dwelle nowhere ellâ—â— And thus cam this Calistona In to the wode to Tegea Where she vyrgynyte behyght Vnto Dyane therto plyghâ— Hir trouthe vpon the bowes gâ—â—ne To kepe hir maydenhede clene The whiche afterward vpon a day Was pryuely stolen away For Iubiter thorugh his queyntyse From hir it toke in suche a
when she it herd And knew the tokenes whiche he told She nyst what she sey shold But stoode abasshed as for the whyle Of his magyke and of his gyle She thought how she was deceyued That she hath of a man conceyued And wend a god it had be But netheles suche degree So as she myght hir honoure saue She shope the body was begraue And thus Nectanabus abought The sorcery whiche he wrought Though vpon the creatures Thorugh his carectis and figures The maystry and the power had His creatour to nought hym lad Ageyne whos law his crafde he vseth When he for lust his god refuseth And tooke hym to the deuyls â—aft Lo what profyte is hym belaft That thyng thurgh which he weÌ„de haue stoÌ„de First hym exiled out of londe Whiche was his owne froÌ„ a kyng Made hym to be an vnderlyng And sythen to deceyue a quene That torneth hym to mochel â—â—ne Thorugh lust of loue he gate hym hate That ende couthe he not abate His old sleyghtes whiche he cast Yong Alisander hyn ouercast His fader whiche hym mysbigat He slewe a grete myshappe was that But for one mys another mys Was yolde and so ful oft is Nectanabus his craft myswent And so it mysfell hym or that he went I note what helpeth that clergy Whiche maketh a man to doo foly And namelyche of Nygromaunce Whiche stont vpon the mysereaunce Nota qualiter rex Zorastes statim cuÌ„ ab vtero matris sue nasceretur gaudio magno risit in quo prenosticum doloris subsequentis signum figurabatur Nam et ipse detestabilis artis magica primus fuit inuentor quem postea rex Surrie dira morte trucidauit sic opus operarium consumpsit aNd for to see more euydence Zorastes which that experyence Of arte Magyke first forth drough â–ª Anon as he was bore he lough Whiche token was of woo sewyng For of his owne contreuyng He found Magyke taught it forth But al was hym lytell worth For of surry a worthy kyng Hym slewe and that was his endyng But yet thurgh hym this craft is vsed And he thorugh all the world accused For it shal neuer wel acheue Thei stont not ryght with the byleue But lyche to wulle is euyl sponne Who leseth hym self hath lytell wonne And the ende proueth euery thyng Saul whiche that was of Iewes kyng Vpon peyne of deth forbede this arte And yet he took therof his parte The phitonysse in Samary Yafe hym counceyll by sorcery Whiche after felle to moche srowe For he was slayn vpon the morowe To conne moche it helpeth But of to moche no man yelpeth So for to loke on euery side Magyk may not wel betyde For thy my sone I wol the rede That thou of these ensamples drede That for no lust of erthely loue Thou seche so to come aboue Wherof as in the worldes wonder Thou shalt euer be put vnder My good fader graunte mercy For euer I shall beware therby Of loue what so euer me bifalle Suche sorcery abouen alle Fro this day forth I wyll eschewe That so ne wylle I not pursewe My lust of loue for to seche But this I wold yow byseche â—â—eside that me stant of loue As I yow herd speke aboue How Asysandre was betaught Of Arystotle and so wel taught Of all that to a kyng belonged Wherof my herte sore longeth To wyte what it wold mene For by reson I wold wene That yf I herd of thynges straunge Yet for a tyme it shold chaunge My peyne lesse me somdele My good sone thou shalt wele For wysedom how that euer it stonde To hym that can it vnderstond Doth grete preue in sondry wyse But touchyng of so hyghe a pryse Whiche is not vnto Venus knowe I may it not my self knowe Whiche of her courte am al forth draw And can no thyng but of hir lawe But netheles to knowe more As wel as thou me longeth sore And for it helpeth to comune Of euery thynge in comune The scole of the philophye Yet thynk I for to specyfye In bookes as it is comprehended Wherof thou myghtest be amended For though I be not al connyng Vpon the forme of his wrytynge Somme parte therof yet I hane herde In this mater how it hath ferd Explicit liber sextus Sequitur Liber septimus â— Mnibus in causis sapiens doctrina saluteÌ„ CoÌ„sequitur nec habet quis nisi dectus opem Naturam superat doctrina viro quod et ortus Ingenij docilis non dedit ipsa dabit Non ita discretus hominuÌ„ per climata regnat QuaÌ„ magis vt sapiat indiget ipse scole Quia omnis doctrina bona huma no regno salutem confert in hoc septi mo libro ad instanciam amantis lang ueÌ„di intendit genius illam ex qua philosophi et Astrologi philosophie doctrinaÌ„ regem Allexandrum inbucrunt secun â— duÌ„ aliquid declarare diuidit enim philosophiam in tres partes quarum prima Theorica secunda Rethorica Tercia practica nuncupata est de quarum condicionibus subsequenter per singula tractabit Incipit liber Septimus I Genius the preest of loue My sone as thou hast praid aboue That I the scole shal declare Of Aristotle and eke the fare Of Alysaundre how he was taught I am somdele therof distraught For it is not the matere Of loue why we sytcen here To shryue as Menus bad But nenertheles for it is glad So as thou seest for thyn apryse To here of suche thynges wyse Wherof thou myght the tyme blysse So as I can I shall the wysse For wysedom is at euery throwe Aboue al other thyng to knowe In loues cause els where For thy my sone vnto thyn ere Though it be not in the Regystre Of Venus yet of that Calystre And Aristotle whylome wryte To Alysander thou shalt wyte But for the lores ben dynerse I thynk fyrst to the reherce The nature of the philosophy Whiche Aristotle of his clergy Wyse and experte in the seyence Declared thylke intellygence As of the poyntes in pryncipalle Wherof the first in specialle Is Theoryk whiche is grounded On hym whiche al the world hath fouÌ„ded Whiche comprehended al that lore And for to loken ouermore Next of seyence the second Is Rethoryk whoo 's facounde Aboue al other is eloquent To telle a tale in Iugement So wel can no man speke as he The last seyence of the thre Is practyke whoo 's offyce The vertu tryeth fro the vyce And techeth vppon good thewes To slee the company of shrewes Whiche stant in disposicion Of mannes fre election Practyke enformeth eke the rewle How that a worthy kyng shal rule His realme bothe in werre and pees Lo thys done Aristotles These thre scyrncrs hath deuyded And the nature also decydeed Wherof that eche of hem shall serue The first whiche is conserue And kepar of the remenaunt And that whiche is moost suffysaunt And chyef of the philosophye If I therof
to lawes of nature But to the mannes creature God gaue hym reson forth with alle Wherof that he nature shalle Vpon the causes modefye That he shal do no lecherye And yet he shal his lustes haue So ben the lawes bothe saue And euery thyng put out of sclauÌ„dre As whilom to kyng alâ—sanndre The wyse phylosophre taughte Whan he his first bore caughte Not onely vpon chastyte But onely vpon al honeste Wherof a kyng hym self may taste How trewe how large iust chastâ— Hym ought of reson for to be Forthwyth the vertu of pyte Thorugh whiche thonke deserue Toward his god that he preserue Hym his peple al in welthe Of his richesse henour helthe Here in this world ellis where eke My sone as we tofore speke In shrifte so as thou me saydest And for thyn ese as thou me preydest Thy louethroâ—bes for to asse That I the wold telle wysse The forme of aristotiles lore I haue it sayd somdele more Of other ensaumples for to assaye Yf â— thy paynes myght a laye Thorugh ony thynge that I can say Do weye my fader I you praye Of that ye haue to me tolde I thanke you a thousand folde The tales founden in myn ere But yet my herte is ellyâ— where I may my self not restreyne That I nam euer in loues peyne Suche lore coude I neuer gete Which myght make me foryete O â—oâ—nte but yf so were I slepte That I my tydes ay ne kepte To thynke on loue on his lalbe That â—erte can I not withdrawe For thy my good fader dere â—â—ue speke of my matere â—â—ucâ—yng of loue as we begonne Yf that ther be ought ouer ronne â—â— ought foryete or lefte behynde Which falleth vnto loues kynde Wherof it nedeth to be shryue Now axeth so that whyle I lyue I myght amende that is amys My good dere sone yis Thy shryfte for to make pleyne There ie yet nomore for to sayne Of loue which is vnaduysed But for thou shalt be wel aduysed Vnto thy shryfte as it bylongeth A poynte which vpon loue hongeth And is the laste of al tho I wyl the slewe and than ho Explicit liber septimus Incipit Liber octauâ—â— Que fauet ad vicium vetus heâ— modo regula coufert Nec non econtra qui docet ordo placet Ceâ—us amor dudum non dum sua lumina cepit Quo venus imposâ—tuÌ„ deuia fallit iter pOst quam ad instanciam amantis confessi confessor Genius suy hijs que aristotiles regem Aloxandrum edocint vna cum aliarum cronicaruÌ„ exemplis seriose tractauit Iam vltimo in isto oc cauo voluminead confessionem in amoris causa regrediens tracttare ê“ponit super hoc qd non vlli premordia nature ad â—ibitum voluptuose consequentes nullo humane racionis arbitrio sen ecclesie legum imposicione a suis excessi bus debite resrenantur vnde quatenus amorem conceruit amantis conscienciaÌ„ pro finali sui confessionis materia genius rimari conatur tHe myÈty god which vnbegon Stante of hym self hath begon Al other thynges at his wylle The heuen he lyste to fulfille Of al the ioye where as he Syt entronysed in his see And hath his aungels hym to serue Suche as hym lyketh to preserue So that he note forueye But lucyfer he put albeye With al the route apostasyed Which ben to hym alyed Which out of heuen in to helle From aungels in to fendes felle Where that there nys no ioye of light But derke as ony nyght The paynes shal be endelesse And yet of paynes nethelesse There is plente but they ben blake Wherof no syght may be take Thus whan the thynges ben by falle That lucyfers courte was falle Where dedely pryde hem hath conceyued A none forthwyth it was purueyed Thorugh hym which al thynges may He made adam the sixt day In paradyse to his make Hym lyketh one also to make And bade hem crece multeplye For of the mannes progenye Which of the woman shal be â—ore The noÌ„bre of auÌ„gels which was lore Whan they out fro the blysse felle He thought to restore felle In hauen thylke holy place Which stode tho wyde vpon his grace But as it is wel wyst knowe Adam eue but a throwe So as it shold of hem betyde In paradyse at thylke tyde Ne dwelten the cause why Is wryte in the book of genesye As who so al men haue herde How raphael the fyry swerde In honde toke droue hem out To gete her lyues foode aboute Vpon this wooful erthe here Metodre saith to this matere As he by truelacion It had vpon a vysyon How that adam â—ue also Vyrgynes comen bothe two In to the world were ashamed Tyl that nature hem hath reclamed To loue taught hem thylke lore That fyrst they kyst ouermore They done that is to kynde dewe Wherof they had fayr yssue A sone was the fyrst of alle Caym by name they hym calle A bell was after the seconde And in the geste as it is fonde Nature so the cause ladde Two doughters Eue had The fyrst cleped calmona Was that other delbora Thus was mankynde to begynne For thy that tyme it was no synne The suster for to take her broder Whan that there was of choyce none other To caym was calmana bytake And delbora hath abel take Of whom was gete nethelees The worldes fyrst encrees Men sayn that nede hath no lawe And so it was by thylke dawe And laste vnto the second age Tyl that the grete water rage Of noe which was said the flode The world which than in synne stode Hath dreynte out take lyues eyght Tho was mankynde of litel weyght Sem Cam Iaphâ—t of thyse thre That ben the sones of noe The world of mannes nacion In to multiplicacion Was tho restored newe ageyn So ferforth as the bookes seyn That of hem â—â—re of her yssue Ther was so large a retynue Of nacyons seuenty two In sondry places eche one of tho The wyde world haue eâ—hâ—byted But as nature hath than excyted They toke than litel hede The broder to the suster yede To wedde wyues tyl it came In to the tyme of abraham Whan the third age was bygonne That nede it was ouer ronne For ther was peple ynough in londe Thenne alte fyrst it came to honde That systerhode of mariage Was torned in to cosynage So after that the right lyne The â—â—syn wedded the cosyne For abraham or that he deyed The charge vpon his seruaunt leyed To hym in this wyse spake That he his sone ysaak Do wedde for no worldes good But onely to his owne blood Wherof the seruaunt as he â—adde Whan he was dede his sone hath ladde To baâ—huel where he rebecke Hath wedded with the whyt necke For she wyst wel syghe Was to the chylde â—â—syn nyghe And thus as abraham taught Whan ysaak was god bytaught