oâ— this cause he was respited 〈◊〉 that the death hym was acquited 〈…〉 â—ll that he was exyled Yâ—â— he his loue had so begyled â—hat he shall neuer come ayene yâ—â— hâ— that is to trouth vnpleyne He may not faylen of vengeaunce And eke to take remembraunce Of that hypocrisie hath wrought On other halue men shulden nought To lyghtly leue all that they here But than shulde a wyseman stere The shyp whan suche wyndes blowe For fyrst though they begynne lowe At ende they be nought meuable But all to broke mast and cable So that the shyp with sodayne blast whan men leste wene to ouercast As nowe full often a man may se And of olde tyme howe it hath be I fynde a great experyence wherof to take an euydence Good is and to beware also Of the peryll or hym be woo ¶ Hic vsterius ponit exemplum de issa etiam hipocrisia / que inter virum et virum deciptens periculo sissima consistit / Si narrat qualiter Gâ—eci in obsidione ciuitatis Troie cum ipsam vi apprehendere nullatenus potuerut fallaci animo cum Troianis pacem vt dicunt pro perpetuo statuebant et super hoc quendam equm mire grassionis de ere fabricatum ad sacrificaÌ„dum in tempso Minerue confingentes Of them that ben so derke within At Troye also if we begynne Hypocrisie it hath betrayde For whan the grekes had all assayed And fonde that by no batayle Ne by no syege it myght auayle The towne to wynne through prowesse This vice fayned of symplesse Through sleyght of Cale as of Cryse It wanne by suche a maner wyse An horse of brasse they lette do forge Of suche entayle and of suche a forge That in this worlde was neuer man That suche an other werke began The crafty werkeman Epius It made and for to telle thus The grekes that thoughten to begyle The kynge of Troye in thylke whyle with Antenor and with Ence That were bothe of the citie And of the counsell the wysest The rychest / and the myghtiest In priue place so they treate with fayre behestes and yeftes greate Of golde / that they than haue engined To gether / and whan they be couined They feynen for to make peace And vnder that neuer the lesse They shopen the destruction Bothe of the kyng and of the towne And thus the fals peace was take Of them of Grece and vndertake And thervpon they fonde awey where strength myght not awey That sleyght shulde helpe than And of an ynche a large spanne By colour of the peace they made And tolden howe they were gladde Of that they stonden in accorde And for it shall ben of recorde Vnto the kynge the grekes sayden By way of loue and thus they prayden As they that wolde his thanke deserue A sacrifyce vnto Mynerue The peace to kepe in good intent They must offre or that they went The kynge counsayled in the case By Antenor and Eneas Therto hath youen his assent So was the playne trouthe blent Through counterfete hypocrisie Of that they shulden sacrifye The grekes vnder the holynes Anone with all besynesse Theyr hors of brasse lette faire dight whiche was to sene a wonder syght For it was trapped of hym selue And had of smale wheles twelue Vpon the whiche men inough with craft toward the towne it drougb And goth glystrende ayenst the sonne Tho was there ioye inough begonne For Troye in great deuocion Came also with procession Ayenst this noble sacrifyce with great honour and in this wyse Vnto the gates they it brought But of theyr entre whan they soughte The gates weren all to smale And therupon was many a tale But for the worshyppe of Mynerue To whome they comen for to serue They of the towne whiche vnderstode That all this thyng was done for good For peace wherof that they be gladde The gates that Neptunus made A thousande wynter ther to fore They haue anone to broke and tore The stronge walles downe they bet So that in to the large strete This horse with great solemnite was brought within the citie And offered with great reuerence whiche was to Troye an euidence Of loue and peace for euermo The grekes token leaue tho with all the hole felaushyppe And forth they wenten in to shyppe And crossen sayle and made hem yare Anone as though they wolden fare But whan the blacke wynter nyghte without mone or sterre lyght Bederked hath the water stronde All priuely they gone to londe Full armed out of the nauye Symon whiche was made their espie within Troy as was conspired whan tyme was a token fyred And hath with that their waye holden And comen right as they wolden There as the gate was to broke The purpose was full take and spoke Er any man may take kepe whyle that the citie was a slepe They slowen all that was within And token what they myghten wynne Of suche good as was suffisaunt And brenden vp the remenaunt And thus come out the trechery whiche vnder false hypocrisie was hydde and they that wened peace Tho myghten fynde no release Of thilke swerde whiche al deuoureth Full ofte and thus the swete soureth whan it is knowe to the taste He spylleth many a worde in waste That shall with suche a people trete For whan he weneth moste beyete Than is he shape mooste to lese And ryghte so if a woman chese Vpon the wordes that she hereth Som man when he most true appereth Than is be forthest fro the trouth But yet full ofte and that is routh They speden that be moost vntrue And louen euery day a newe wherof the lyfe is after lothe And loue hath cause to be wrothe But what man his luste desyreth Of loue and thervpon conspireth with wordes feyned to deceyue He shall not fayle to receyue His peyne as it is ofte sene Confessor ¶ For thy my sonne as I the mene It fytte the well to take hede That thou eschewe of thy manhede Hâ—pocrisie and his semblaunt That thou ne nought be deceyuaunt To make a woman to beleue Thynge whiche is not in thy beleue 〈◊〉 suche feynt hypocrisie O◠〈◊〉 is all the trecherye Through whiche Loue is deceiued ofte 〈◊〉 fâ—â—â—ed semblaunt is so softe 〈◊〉 â—â—hes loue maye beware 〈◊〉 thy sonne as I well dare â—â—â—ge the to flee that vyce â—â—at many a woman hath made nyce 〈◊〉 loke thou deale not with all Amans 〈◊〉 father nomore I shall Confessor Nowe son kepe that thou hast swore â—or this that thou haste herde before 〈◊〉 â—â—yd the fyrst poynt of pryde 〈…〉 vpon that other syde 〈◊〉 â—â—yue and speake ouer this Touchande of pryde yet there is The poynte seconde I the behote whiche Inobedience is hote 〈◊〉 quaÌ„ frangi melius reputatur et olle 〈…〉 â—â—ad cacabium pugna â—alere nequit 〈…〉 lex hoim neque lex diuina valebit 〈◊〉 multotiens corde reflectit amor 〈◊〉 fleâ—tir amor noÌ„ est
tolde the trouth of his foole fo eodem ¶ Howe Roboas by enclyning to yonge counsayle and refusynge of olde lost .x. partes of his kyngedome fo eodem ¶ whether were beter a wise prince with yuell counsayle or a folisshe prince with good counseyle fo clxvi ¶ Of Anthonius whiche by example of Scipio sayde he had leauer to saue o 〈…〉 his owne people than slee an L. of 〈◊〉 â—emes fo eodem ¶ Of â—he fyfte polycie belongynge to a prynce called chastite fo eodem ¶ Howe a prynce to reioyce his mynde ought some tyme to beholde beautyfull women fo clxvii ¶ Howe Sardanapaulus became all womanliche wherby he was subdued and lost his realme fo eodem ¶ Howe kynge Dauid for the loue of women lefte not of the exercise of knighthode fo eodem ¶ How Cirus the kinge of Perse coude not subdue the Lydes tyll by disceyte be caused them to falle to lykinges of flesshely lustes fo eodem ¶ Howe Amoleche by counsayle of Balaam sent feyre women to the hebrewes whiche were cause that the hebrewes were ouercome and discomfite fo clxviii ¶ Howe Salomon was ouercome with carnall concupiscence and howe by then ticiment of his concubines he dyd worshyppe false goddes fo eodem ¶ Howe Achias the prophet shewed before vnto Ieroboas the son of Nabal that after Salomons deth he shulde reigne ouer .x. tribes of Israell fo eodem ¶ Howe Arrous the sonne of Tarquine by a false imagination deceyued and subdued the Gabiens fo clxix ¶ How and vnder what maner Arrous rauished Lucrece fo eodem ¶ Howe the worthy knyght Virginius slough his owne doughter because she shulde not lese her virginite fo clxxii ¶ A ryght notable example bowe the delite and lust in maryage ought to be moderate by the seuen husbondes of Sara the doughter of Raguelis which were slayne the fyrst night of their mariage by a fende called Asmodius And howe Thoby was preseruedde by the counseile of the angel Raphael fo eodeÌ„ ⧠The contentis of the eyght boke ¶ Howe some in loues cause do against nature as in theyr kynred and syâ—rede both contrary to the lawes of reasone and of the churche fo clxxiii ¶ Howe Caius Calygula lay by his owne thre sisters and afterwarde exiled them And howe Amon also ageynste kinde rauished his owne syster Tâ—amar the whiche dede he dere a bought â—fterwarde fo clxxiiii ¶ How Loth lay by his owne two doughters and gote on them two sonnes of the which the one was called Moab and the other Amon fo clxxv ¶ A wretched example of a king named Antiochus whiche defouled his owne doughter and of the probleme that he put to them that desyred to haue her vnto wyfe fo eodem ¶ Howe Appolyn of Tyre came to Antioche and desyred the kinges doughter and howe he assoyled the kynges probleme fo eodem ¶ what the question was that the kyng Antiochus put to them that desyred to haue his doughter fo clxxvi ¶ Howe Appolyn for feare of the great and cruelle kynge Antiochus fledde aweye and durste not abyde in his owne propre countrey fo clxxvii ¶ Howe the kynge Antiochus sente a â—â—â—ht pryuely to Tyre to slee Appolyne 〈◊〉 poyâ—â—n fo eodem ¶ Howe Appolyn arriued in the hauen of â—haâ—â—â— and was lodged with Stranâ—â—â—â— fo eodem ¶ Howe one Hilcane a citezen of Tyre 〈◊〉 â—o Tharse and howe he knewe Apâ—â—â—â—â— and warned hym of Antiochus 〈◊〉 and howe Appolyn therfore for 〈◊〉 â—â—â—rfe and sayled to Pentapolyn 〈◊〉 â—â—we he dydde behaue hym selfe 〈◊〉 fo clxxvij ¶ Howe the kynges doughter of Penâ—â—â—â— loued Appolyn and forsoke all 〈◊〉 â—â—r his sake that offered to marye 〈◊〉 â—â—d howe atte laste he maryed 〈◊〉 fo eodem ¶ Howe Appolinus wyfe trauayled on the 〈◊〉 and howe she there dyed and of the great calamites that felle to hym afterwarde fo clxxix ¶ How Appolyn delyuered his doughter to nource and of the wretched chances that she had fo clxxx ¶ Of the dole and beuynes that Appolâ—â— made whaÌ„ he thought his doughter hadde ben deed and howe at laste he sonde her fo clxxx iij. ¶ Howe Apolyn mette with his wyfe that he for deade before hadde cast in to the see fo clxxxiiij ¶ Howe Apolin toke wreche on Strangulio and Dionyse his wyfe for theyr falsheed fo eodem ¶ Howe the louer for a fynal conclusion of his confession desyred counsayle of his confessor fo clxxxv ¶ Howe fynally Genius enioyneth the louer these thynges that be bolsome for hym fo eodem ¶ The controuersye that felle betwen the confessor and the louer in the ende of his confession fo clxxxvi ¶ The fourme of a supplication that Genius in the louers behalfe delyuered to Venus fo eodem ¶ The aunswere that Venus made to the same supplication after she hadde resceyued it fo clxxxvij ¶ Howe Venus scorneth them which that in theyr olde age sette theyr hartes to be louers fo eodem ¶ Howe the mockynge exhortation of Venus had almost slayne the louer for sorowe fo eodem ¶ The names of the ioly louers bothe yonge and olde that came to comforte this louer in his dedly peyne fo eodem ¶ Howe Cupyde whan he had serched the bowels of the louer and fonde that he was wetheredde awey by age drewe out of hym his fyry darte fo clxxxix ¶ Howe the state of manne is compared to the monthes of the yere fo Lxc. ¶ Here in the ende he maketh a recapitulation on that that he promysed touchynge loues cause in the begynnynge of the boke for he concludeth that all delectation of loue out of Charite is nothynge fo Lxci ¶ Thus endeth the table of this warke entitled Gower de Confessione Amantis ¶ To the moste victorious / and our moste gracious soueraigne lorde kynge Henry the .viii. kynge of Englande and of France / Defender of the feyth / and lorde of Irelande c. PLutarke wryteth / whan Alexander had discoÌ„fyte Darius the kynge of Perse / amonge other iewels of the sayde kynges there was founde a curyous lyttell cheste of great value / whiche the noble kynge Alexander beholdynge / sayde This same shall serue for Homere whiche is noted for the great loue and fauour / that Alexander had vnto lernynge But this I thynke veryly / that his loue and fauour therto / was not so great as your gracis whiche caused me / moost victorious / and most redoubted souerayne lorde / after I had printed this warke / to deuyse with my selfe / whether I myght be so bolde to presente your hyghnesse with one of them / and so in your gracis name putte them forthe your moste hygh and most princely maieste abasshed and cleane discouraged me so to do / both bicause the present as concernynge the value was farre to symple / as me thought / and bycause it was none other wyse my acte / but as I toke some peyne to prynte it more correctly than it was before And though I shulde
you this Of these louers that louen streyte And for that poynt which they coueyte Beâ— pursuauntes from yere to yere In loues court when I may here How that they clymbe vpon the whele And whan they wene all shall be wele They ben downe throwe at laste Than am I fed of that faste And laugh of that I se them loure And thus of that they brewe soure I drynke swete and am well eased Of that I wote they ben diseased But this whiche I you telle here Is onely for my lady dere That for none other that I knowe Me recheth not who ouerthrowe Ne who that stonde in loue vpryght But be he squyer be he knyght whiche to my lady warde pursueth The more he leseth of that he seweth The more me thynketh that I wynne And am the more gladde within Of that I wote hym sorowe endure For euer vpon suche auenture It is a comforte as men seyne To hym the whiche is wo beseyne To sene an other in his peyne So that they bothe may complayne where I my selfe may not auayle To sene an other mannes trauayle I am ryght gladde if he be lette And though I fare not the bet His sorowe is to myn herte a game whan that I knowe it is the same whiche to my lady stant inclyned And hath his loue not termyned I am ryght ioyfull in my thought If suche enuye greueth ought As I beknowe me culpable ye that be wyse and resonable My fader telleth your aduyse Confessor My sonne enuye in to no pryse Of suche a forme I vnderstonde Ne myght by no reason stonde For this enuye hath suche a kynde That he woll set hym selfe behynde To hynder with a nother wyght And gladly lese his owne ryght To make another lese his And for to knowe howe it so is A tale lyche to his mater I thynke telle if thou wylte here To shewe properly the vyce Of this enuye and the malyce ¶ Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illum / qui sponte sui ipsius detrimentum in alterius penam maiorem patitur / Et narrat / quod cum Iupiter angelum suum in forma hominis / vt hominum condiciones exploraret ab excelso in terram misit / contigit / ê™ ipse angelus duos homines / quorum vnus cupidus et alter inuidus erat itinet ando spacio quasi vnius diei coÌ„mitabatur Et cum sero factum esset Angelus eorum noticie se ipsum tunc manifestans dixit / ê™ quid quid alter eoruÌ„ ab ipso donari sibi peci erit illud statim obtinebit / ê™ et socio suo secum comitanti affirmat duplicandum Super quo cupidus impeditus auaricia sperans sibi diuicias carpete duplicatas primo petere recusauit Quod cum inuidus animi aduerteret naturam sui vicii concernens ita vt socius suus vtroque sumine priuare tur se ipsum monoculum fieri constantur primus ab Angelo postulabat Et sic vnius inuidia alterius auariciam maculanit Of Iubiter thus I fynde ywrite How whylom that he wolde wyte Vpon the pleyntes whiche he harde Amonge the men howe that it ferde As of her wronge condycion To do iustifycacyon And for that cause downe he sent An Aungell whiche aboute went That he the soth knowe may So it befelle vpon a day This angell which hym shuld enforme was clothed in a mans forme And ouertoke I vnderstonde Two men that wenten ouer londe Through whiche he thought to aspye His cause and goth in companye This Aungell with his wordes wyse Opposeth hem in sondry wyse Nowe lowde wordes and nowe softe That made hem to desputen ofte And eche of hem his reason hadde And thus with tales be hem ladde with good examynacyon Tyll he knewe the condicion what men they were bothe two And sawe wel at last tho That one of hem was coueytous And his felawe was enuyous And thus whan he hath knowlechyng Anone he feyned departynge And sayde he mote algate wende But herken nowe what fell at ende For than he made hem vnderstonde That he was there of goddes sonde And sayd them for the kyndship That they haue done him felauship He wolde do some grace agayn And bad that one of hem shuld sayne what thynge is hym leuest to craue And he it shall of yefte haue And ouer that eke forth with all He sayth that other haue shall The double of that his felawe axeth And thus to them his grace he taxeth The coueytous was wonder gladde And to that other man he badde And seyth that he fyrste axe shulde For he supposeth that he wolde Make his axinge of worldes good For than he knewe well howe it stood If that hym selfe by double weyght Shall after take and thus by sleyght By cause that he wolde wynne He badde his felawe fyrste begynne This enuyous though it be late whan that he sawe be mote algate Make his axinge fyrste he thought If he worship or profyte soughte It shall be double to his fere That wold he chese in no manere But than he sheweth what he was Towarde enuye and in this cas Vnto this angel thus he sayde And for his yefte this be preyde To make hym blynde on his owne eye So that his felawe no thynge sye This worde was not so so ne spoke That his one eye anone was loke And his felawe forth with also was blynde on both his eyen two Tho was that other gladde inough That one wept and that other lough He set his one eye at no cost wherof that other two hath lost Of thylke ensample whiche fell tho Men telle nowe full ofte so The worlde empeyreth comonly And yet wote none the cause why For it accordeth nought to kynde Myn owne harme to seche and fynde Of that I shall my brother greue I myght neuer wel acheue what seyst thou sonne of this foly My fader but I shulde lye Vpon the poynt which ye haue sayde yet was myn hert neuer layde But in this wyse as I you tolde But euermore if that ye wolde Ought elles to my shryft saye Touch and enuye I wolde praye My sonne that shall well be do Nowe harken and lay thyn care to Iâ—â—â—e pars est detractio pessima pestem Quâ— magis infamem flatibus oris agit Lâ—â—gua venenato sermone repercurit auris Sic vâ—in alterius scandala fama volat Mortibus a tergo quos inficit ipsa fideles 〈◊〉 ignori sepe salute carent 〈◊〉 generosus amor linguam coÌ„seruat vt cius 〈◊〉 â—um quod loquitur nulla sinistra gerat ¶ 〈◊〉 â—â—â—tat Confessor de tercia specie inuidie 〈◊〉 â—â—tio dicitur cuius morsus vipereos lesa 〈◊〉 â—â—ma deplangit â—ouchend as of enuyous brood I â—â—te not one of all good â—ut netheles suche as they be 〈◊〉 there is one and that is he â—â—che cleped is Detractyon 〈◊〉 to confirme his actyon 〈◊〉 hath withholde Malcbouche 〈◊〉 tonge nother pill
And tell to that by nyghtes tyde This knyght without felaushyp Hath take a boote and came to shyppe And thought of her his lust to take And swore if she hym daunger make That certaynly she shulde deye She sawe there was none other wey And sayde he shulde her well comforte That he fyrst loke out at porte That no man were nygh the stede whiche myght knowe what they dede And than he may do what he wolde He was ryght glad that she so tolde And to the port anone be ferde She prayeth god and he her herde And sodeinly he was out throwe And dreynt and tho began to blowe wynde meuable fro the londe And thus the myghty goddes honde Her hath conueyed and defended And whan thre yere ben full dispended ¶ Qualiter Nauicula Constanâ—ie quodam die ê‘ altum mare vagans inter copiosam namuÌ„ multudinem dilapsa est quarum Arcennius Romanorum conful dux et capitaneus ipsam ignotam suscipiens vsque ad Romam fecum perduxit vbi equalemvxori sue Elene permansuraÌ„ reuerenter affociauit nec non et eiusdem filjum Mauricium in omni habundantia quasi proprium educauit ¶ Her ship was driue vpon a daye where that a great nauye laye Of shippes all the worlde at ones And as god wolde for the nones Her ship goth in amonge hem all And stynt not er it be by fall And hath that vessell vnder gete whiche mayster was of all the flete But there it resteth and abode This great shyp on anker rode The lord come forth and when he sygh That other ligge on borde so nyghe He wondreth what it myght be And badde men to go in and se This lady tho was crope a syde As she that wolde her seluen hyde For she newyst what they were They sought about and fond her there And broughten vp her chylde and her And therupon this lorde to sper Began fro whens that she came And what she was Quod she I am A woman wofully bestadde I hadde a lorde and thus he badde That I sorth with my lytell sonne Vpon the wawes shulde wonne But why the cause wote I nought But he whiche all thynges wrought yet ay I thanke hym of his myght My childe and me so kepte vpryght That we be saufe bothe two This lorde her asketh euermo Howe she beleueth and she seyth I leue and trust in Christes feyth whiche dyed vpon the roode tre what is thy name tho quod he My name is Coust she hym sayde But furthermore for nought he prayde Of her astate to knowe playne She wolde hym nothynge els sayne But of her name whiche she fayned All other thynges she restrayned That o worde more she ne tolde This lorde than asketh if she wolde with hym abyde in companye And sayde he came from Barbarye To Rome warde and home he went Tho she supposeth what it ment And sayth she wolde with hym wende And dwelle vnto her lyues ende Be so it be to his pleasaunce And thus vpon her acqueyntaunce He tolde her playnly as it stode Of Rome howe that the gentill blode In Barbarye was betrayed And therupon he hath assayed By warre and take suche vengeaunce That none of thylke allyaunce By whome the treson was compassed Is from the swerde alyue passed But of Constaunce howe it was That couthe he knowe by no cas where she bycame so as be sayd Her ere vnto his worde she leyde But forther made she no chere And netheles in this mattere It happed that ylke tyme so This lord with whome she shulde go Of Rome was the senatour And of her father the emperour His brother doughter hath to wyfe whiche hath her father eke on lyue And was Salustes cleped tho His wyfe Eleyne hyght also To whome Constaunce was cosyne Thus to the seke a medicine Hath god ordeyned of his grace That forthe in the same place This senatour his trouth plyght For euer whyle he lyue myght To kepe her in worshyp and in welth Be so that god woll gyue her helth This lady whiche fortune hym sende And thus by shyppe forth say lende Her her childe to Rome be broughte And to his wyfe tho he besought To take her in to companye And she whiche couth of curtosye All that a good wyfe shulde conne was inly gladde that she hath wonne The felowshyp of so good one This emperours doughter Custe Forth with the doughter of Saluste was kept but no man redely Knewe what she was and not for thy They thoughten well she hadde be In her estate of hyghe degre And euery lyfe her loueth we le ¶ Qualiter rex Alle iniâ—a pace cum Scoâ—â—â— a guerris rediens et non inuenta vxore sua causam exilu diligencius perscrutans cum matrem suam Domildam inde culpubilem sciniffet ipsam in igne proiciens conburi fecit ¶ Nowe herke thylke vnstable whele whiche euer torneth wente aboute The kynge Alle while he was out As thou to fore hast herde the cas Deceyued through his modre was But whan that he come home agayne He axeth of his chamberlayne And of the bysshop eke also where they the quene had do And they answerde there he badde And haue hym thylke letter rad whiche he them sent for warrant And tolde hym playnly as it stante And sayne it thought hem great pyte To se a worthy one as she with suche a childe as there was bore So sodenly to be forlore He asketh hem what child it wer And they hym sayde that no where In all the world though men it sought was neuer woman that forth brought A fayrer childe than it was one And than he axeth hem anone why they ne hadden wryten so They tolden so they hadden do He sayde nay They sayden yis The letter shewed radde it is whiche they forsoken euery dele Tho was it vnderstonde wele That there is treson in the thynge The messenger tofore the kynge was brought and sodenly opposede 〈◊〉 thynge hath yet supposede 〈◊〉 welâ— began to saye 〈◊〉 no where vpon the waye 〈◊〉 but onely in a stede 〈…〉 why that he so dede 〈◊〉 he went to and fro 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—esburgh by nyghtes two 〈◊〉 â—ges moder made hym dwelle 〈…〉 the kynge it herd telle 〈◊〉 his hert he wyâ—â—e al 's faste 〈…〉 whiche his mother caste 〈◊〉 â—hought he wolde not abyde 〈◊〉 ryght in the same tyde 〈…〉 and rode anone 〈◊〉 in there ryde many one 〈…〉 â—â—burgh and forth they wente 〈◊〉 the fyre which thonder hente 〈◊〉 a rage as feyth the boke His mother sodeneche he toke And sayde vnto her in this wyse O 〈◊〉 of helle in what gyse 〈…〉 deseruede for to deye That haste so falsely put a weye with treson of thy backbitynge The trewest at my knolechynge Of wyues and the most honest But I wol make this by hest It shall be vengede or I go And lete a fyre do make tho And badde men for to caste her ynne But fyrste she tolde
felde where the baners ben displayed He hath anone his men arrayde And whan that he was enbatayled He goth and hath the felde assayled And slough and toke all that he fonde wherof the Macedonye londe which through king Alisander honored Longe tyme stode was tho deuoured To Perse and all that infortune They wyte so that the comune Of all the londe his heyre exile And he dispeyred for the whyle Disguysed in a poore wede To Rome goth and there for nede The crafte whiche thylke tyme was To worken in latouÌ„ and in bras He lerneth for his sustenaunce Suche was the sonnes purueyaunce And of his father it is sayde In stronge prison that he was leyde In Albe where that he was deade For honger and defaulte of breade The hounde was token and prophecie That lyche an hounde he shulde dye whiche lyche was of condition whan he with his detraction Barke on his brother so behynde Confessor To what profyte a man may fynde whiche hyndre woll an other wyght For thy with all thyn hole myght My sonne eschewe thylke vice Amans My father elles were I nyce For ye therfore so well haue spoke That it is in myn herte loke And euer shall but of enuye If there be more in his bailye Towardes loue say me what ¶ My sonne as gyle vnder the hat with sleyghtes of a Tregetour Is hyd enuye of suche colour Hath yet the fourthe deceyuaunt The whiche is cleped fals Semblaunt wherof the mater and the forme Nowe herken and I the shall enforme Nil bilinguis aget nisi duplo concinat ore Dumque diem loquitur nox sua vota tegit Vultus habet luceÌ„ tenebias mens sermo saluteÌ„ Actus sed morbum dat suus esse grauem Pax tibi quaÌ„ spoÌ„det magis est prenostica guerre Commoda si dederit disce subesse dolum Quod pater esse fides in eo fraus estque politi Principium pacti finis habere negat O quem condicio talis deâ—ormat amantem Qui magis apparens est in amore nihil ¶ Hic tractat Conffessor super quarta specie inâ—â—â—â—e / que Dissimulacio dicitur cuius vustus quanto maioris amicicie apparenciam oftendit / â—â—â—te subtisioris dosi fallacias ad decipiendum mâ—nâ— maginatur ¶ Of fals Semblaunt if I shall tell Aboue all other it is the welle Out of the whiche deceyt floweth There is no man so wyse that knoweth Of thylke flode whiche is the tyde He howe he shulde hym selfe n guyde To take saufe passage there And yet the wynde to mans ere Is softe and as it semeth oute It maketh clere weder all aboute But thought it seme it is not so For fals Sâ—mblaunt hath euer mo Of his counsayll in companye The derke vntrewe hipocrysye whose worde discordeth to his thought For thy they ben to gyder brought Of one couyne of one hous holde As it shall after this be tolde Of fals Semblaunt it nedeth nought To telle of olde ensamples ought For all day in experyence A man may see thylke euydence Of fayre wordes whiche he hereth But yet the barge enuye stereth And halt it euer fro the londe which fals SemblauÌ„t with ore in hond It roweth and woll not arryue But let it on the wawes dryue In great tempest and great debate wherof that loue and his estate Empeyreth And therfore I rede My sonne that thou fle and drede This vyce and what that other seyn Let thy semblaunt be trewe and pleyn For fals Semblaunt is thylke vice whiche neuer was without office where that enuye thynketh to gyle He shall be for that ylke whyle Of pryue counsayll messagere For whan his semblaunt is moste clere Than is he moste derke in his thought Thought men hym se they knowe hym nought But as it sheweth in the glas Thynge whiche therin neuer was So sheweth it in his vysage That neuer was in his courage Thus doth he all his thing by sleyghte ¶ Nowe lay thy conseyence in weyght My good sonne and shryue the here If thou were euer customere To fals Semblaunt in any wyse ¶ For ought I can me yet auyse My good father certes no If I for loue haue don so Nowe asketh I wolde pray yowe For elles I wot neuer howe Of fals semblaunt that I haue gylt ¶ My sonne and sethin that thou wylt That I shall aske gab nought But telle if euer was thy thought with fals Semblaunt and Couerture To wytte of any creature Howe that he was with loue ladde So were he sory were he gladde whan that thou wystyst howe it were All that he rouneth in thyn ere Thou toldest forth in other place To setten hym fro loues grace Of what woman that the best lyste There as no man his counseyll wyst But thou by whome he was deceyued Of loue and from his purpose weyued And thoughtest that his disturbaunce Thyn owne cause shulde auaunce As who sayth I am so selce There may no mannes priuete Ben heled halue so well as myn Arte thou my sonne of suche engyn Telle on My good father nay As for the more parte I saye But of somedele I am beknowe That I may stonde in thylke rowe Amonge hem that slaundres vse I woll not me therof excuse That I with suche colour ne steyne whan I my best semblant feyne To my felowe tyll that I wote All his counseylle bothe colde and hote For by that cause I make hym chere â—â—ll I his loue knowe and here And if so be myn hert soucheth 〈◊〉 ought vnto my lady toucheth 〈◊〉 that he woll me telle 〈…〉 I renne vnto the welle 〈…〉 water in the fyre 〈…〉 his carre amyd the myre 〈…〉 I haue his counsayle knowe 〈…〉 syth I ouerthrowe 〈…〉 he weneth best to stonde 〈◊〉 this I do you vnderstonde 〈…〉 man loue elles where 〈…〉 my lady be nought there 〈…〉 tell I wyll it hyde 〈…〉 no worde escape asyde 〈…〉 disceyte of no semblaunt 〈…〉 bâ—cke I no couenaunt 〈…〉 â—â—keth â—at in other place 〈…〉 no man of his grace 〈…〉 to be inquisitife 〈◊〉 â—â—â—we an other mans lyfe where that he loue or loue nought That toucheth nothing to my thought 〈…〉 it passeth through myn care 〈…〉 as a thynge that neuer were 〈…〉 foryete and layde besyde 〈◊〉 if it touche on any syde My lady as I haue er spoken My neâ—â—es ben nought than loken For certes whan that betyt My wyll myn herte and all my wytte Ben fully sette to herken and spere â—hat any man woll speke of her Thus haue I feyned company Full ofte for I wolde aspye what thynge it is that any man Telle of my worthy lady can And for two causes I do this The fyrste cause wherof is If that I myght herken and seke That any man of her mysspeke I woll excuse her so fully That whan she wyst it inderly Myn hope shulde be the more To haue her thanke for euermore That other cause I you assure Is why that I
and of fals enuye Full ofte medled with disease But thylke loue is well at ease whiche sette is vpon mariage For that dare shewen the vysage In alle places openly A great meruayle it is for thy Howe that a mayde woll lette That she her tyme ne besette To haste vnto thylke feste wherof the loue is all honeste Men may recouer losse of good But so wyse a man yet neuer stode whiche may recouer tyme ylore So may a mayden well therfore Ensample take of that she straungeth Her loue longe or that she chaungeth Her herte vpon her lustes grene To mariage as it is sene For thus a yere two or thre She lefte er that she wedded be whyle she the charge myght beare Of children whiche the worlde forbere Ne may but if it shulde fayle But what mayden that in her spousaile wolde tarie whan she take may She shall perchaunce an other day Be let whan that her leuest were wherof a tale vnto thyn eare whiche is culpable vpon this dede I thynke telle of that I rede ☞ Hic ponit exemplum super eodem Et narrat de filia Iepte / que cum ex sui patris voio in holocaustum deo occidi et offerri deberet ipsa pro eo / quod virgo fuit et prolem ad augmentationem populi dei nondum genuisset .xl. dierum spacium vt cum suis sodalibus virginibus suam defleret virginitatem priusquam moreretur / in exemplum asiorum a patre postulauit ¶ Amonge the iewes as men tolde There was whylom by dayes olde A noble duke whiche Iepte hyght And felle he shulde go to fyght Agayne Amon the cruell kynge And for to speke vpon this thynge within his herte he made a vowe To god and sayd A lorde if thou wolte graunt vnto thy man victorie I shall in token of thy memorie The fyrste lyfe that I may se Of man or woman where it be Anone as I come home ageyne To the whiche arte god souereyne Sleen in thy name and sacrifie And thus with his chiualrie He goth hym forth so as he shulde And wanne all that he wynne wolde And ouercame his fomen alle May no man knowe that shall falle This duke a lusty doughter had And fame whiche the worldes sprad Hath brought vnto this ladyes eare Howe that her father hath do there She wayteth vpon his comynge with daunsynge and with carolynge As she that wolde be tofore All other and so she was therfore In masphat at her fathers gate The fyrst and whan he cometh ther at And sygh his doughter he to brayde His clothes and wepende he sayde * O myghty god amonge vs here Nowe wote I that in no manere This worldes ioy may be playne I had all that I couth sayne Ayene my fomen by thy grace So whan I came towarde this place There was no gladder man than I But nowe my lorde all sodeynly My ioye is tourned in to sorowe For I my doughter shall to morowe To hewe and brenne in thy seruice To louynge of thy sacrifice Through myn auowe so as it is The mayden whan she wyst of this And sawe the sorowe her fatheer made So as she may with wordes glade Comforted hym and had hym holde His couenant as he was beholde Towardes god as he behyght But netheles his herte aflyght Of that she sawe her deathe comende And than vnto the grounde knelende Tofore her father she is falle And sayth so as it is falle Vpon this poynt that she shall deye Of one thinge fyrst she wolde hym prey That forty dayes of respyte He wolde hir graunt vpon this plyght That she the whyle may bewepe Her maydenhode whiche she to kepe So longe hath kept and not be set wherof her lusty youth is lette That she no children hath forth drawe In mariage after the lawe So that the people is not encreased But that it myght be released That she her tyme hath lore so She wolde by his leue go with other maydens to complayne And afterwarde vnto the payne Of death she wolde come ageyne The father herde his doughter seyne And thervpon of one assent The maydens were anone assent That shulden with this mayden wende So for to speake vnto this ende They gone the downes and the dales with wepynge and with wofull tales And euery wyght her maydenhede Complayneth vpon thilke nede That she no children hadde bore wherof she hath her youth lore whiche neuer she recouer maye For so felle that her laste daye was come in whiche she shulde take Her dethe whiche she may not forsake Lo thus she deyde a wofull mayde For thylke cause whiche I sayde As thou hast vnderstonde aboue ¶ My father as towarde the loue Of maydens for to telle trouthe ye haue thylke vice of slouthe Me thinketh ryght woÌ„der wel declared That ye the women haue not spared Of hem that taryen so behynde But yet it falleth in my mynde Towarde the men howe that ye speke Of hem that woll no trauayle seke In cause of loue vpon deserte To speke in wordes so couerte I not what trauayle that ye ment ¶ My sonne and after myn entent I woll the telle what I thought Howe whylom men her loues boughte Through great trauaile in strange loÌ„des where that they wrought with her hondes Of armes many a worthy dede In sondry places as men may rede QueÌ„ ê“bat armoruÌ„ ê“bitas Venus ap ê“bat er queÌ„ Torpor habet reprobum reprobat illa uiruÌ„ Vecors segnicies insignia nescit amoris Nam piger ad brauium tardius ipse uenit ☞ Hic loquitur quod in amoris causa militie probitas ad armorum laboris exercitium nullatenus torpescat ¶ That euery loue of pure kynde Is fyrst forth drawe well I fynde But nethelesse yet ouer this Deserte dothe so that it is The rather had in many place For thy who secheth loues grace where that these worthy women are He may not than hym selue spare Vpon his trauayle for to serue wherof that he may thanke deserue where as these men of armes be Sometyme ouer the great see So that by londe and eke by ship He mote trauayle for worshyp And make many hasty rodes Somtime in Pruys somtyme in Rodes And some tyme in to Tartarye So that these herauldes on hym crie Vaylant vaylant lo where he goth And than he yeueth hem golde cloth So that his fame myght sprynge And to his ladyes eare brynge Some tydynge of his worthynesse So that she myght of his prowesse Of that she herde men recorde The better vnto his loue accorde And daunger put out of her mood whan all men recorden good And that she wote well for her sake That be no trauayle woll forsake My â—â—â—ne of this trauayle I mene Now shryue the for it shall be sene If thou arte ydell in this cas ¶ My father ye and euer was For as me thynketh truely That euery man doth more than I As of this poynt
it belongeth But slouthe no lyfe vnderfongeth whiche is to loue appertenaunt ¶ My fader vpon the couenaunt I dare wel make this auowe Of all my lyfe in to nowe Al 's ferforth as I can vnderstonde yet took I neuer slepe on hond whan it was tyme for to wake For though myn eye it wolde take Myn herte is euer there ageyne But netheles to speke it pleyne All this that I haue sayde you here Of my wakynge as ye may here â—t toucheth to my lady swete For other wyse I you byhete In straunge place whan I go Me lyst no thynge to wake so For whan the women lysten playe And I her se not in the waye Of whome I shulde myrthe take Me lyst not longe for to wake But if it be for pure shame Of that I wolde eschewe a name That they ne shuld haue cause none To seye A lo where suche one That hath forlore his contenaunce And thus amonge I synge and daunce And feyne lust there none is For ofte syth I fele this Of thought which in min herte falleth whan it is nyght myn hede appallyth And that is for I se her nought whiche is the waker of my thought And thus as tymelyche as I may Fâ—loâ—tâ— â–ª whan it is brode daye I 〈◊〉 of all these other leue And go my wey and they beleue That seen per cas her loues there Aâ—d I go forth as nought ne were Vâ—to my bed so that alone I may there lygge syghe and grone â—â—d wysshen all the longe nyght 〈◊〉 that I se the dayes lyght I not if that be sompnolence But vpon your conscience Myn holy fader demeth ye ¶ My sonne I am well payd with the Of slepe that thou the sluggardye By nyght in loues companye Eschewe hast and do thy payne So that thy loue dare not pleyne For loue vpon his lust wakende Is euer and wold that none ende wherof the longe nyght is sette wherof that thou beware the bette To telle a tale I am bethought Howe loue and slepe acorden nought ⧠Hic dicit ê™ vigilia in amantibus / et non sompnolencia laudanda est Et ponit exemplum de Cephalo filio Phebi / qui nocturno silencio auroram amicam suam diligencius amplectene Solem et Lunam interpellabat / videlicet ê™ sol in circulo ab oriente distantiori curruÌ„ cuÌ„ luce sua retardaret et quod Luna sphera sua longissima orbem circuens noctem continuaret / ita vt ipsum Cephalam amplexibus Aurore volutuÌ„ priusquaÌ„ dies illucesceret suis deliciis adquiescere diutius permittere dignarentur ⧠For loue who that lyst to wake By nyght he may ensample take Of Cephalus whan that he lay with Aurora the swete may In armes all the longe nyght But whan it drough towarde the lyght That he within his herte sye The day whiche was the morowe nye Anone vnto the Sonne he preyde For lust of loue and thus he sayde O Phebus whiche the dayes lyght Gouernest tyl that it be nyght And gladdest euery creature After the lawe of thy nature But netheles there is a thynge whiche onlyche to thy knowlechynge Belongeth as in pryuete To loue and to his dute whiche asketh not to ben a pert But in sylence and in couert Desyreth for to be beshadyd And thus whan that the lyght is faded And vesper sheweth hym alofte And that the nyght is longe and softe Vnder the clowdes derke and stylle Than hath this thyng most of his wille For thy vnto thy myghtes hye As thou whiche art the dayes eye Of loue and myght no counseyl hyde Vpon this derke nyghtes tyde with all myn herte I the beseche That I pleasaunce myght seche with her whiche lyeth in myn armes withdrawe the baner of thyn armes And lete thy lyghtes ben vnborne And in the sygne of Capricorne The hous appropred to Saturne I preye the that thou wolt soiourne where ben the nyghtes derke and longe For I my loue haue vnderfonge whiche lyeth here by my syde naked As she whiche wolde ben awaked And me lyst no thynge for to slepe So were it good to take kepe Nowe at this nede of my prayer And that the lyke for to stere Thy fyry â—art and so ordeyne That thou thy swyft hors restrayne Lowe vnder erthe in occident That they toward thoryent By sercle go the longe weye And eke to the Dyane I preye whiche cleped art of thy noblesse The nyghtes mone and the Goddesse That thou to me be gracyous And in Cancro thyn owne hous Ayene Phebus in opposite Stond at this tyme and of delyte Beholde Venus with a gladde eye For than vpon Astronomye Of due constellacyon Thou makest prolifycacion And dost that chyldren ben begete whiche grace if that I myght gete with all myn herte I woll serue By nyght and thy vygylle obserue Lo thus this lusty Cephalus Prayed vnto Phebe and to Phebus The nyght in lengthe for to drawe So that he myght do the lawe In thylke poynt of loues beste whiche cleped is the nyghtes feste with outen slepe of sluggardye whiche Venus oute of companye Hath put awey as thylke same which lustles fer from game In chambre doth full ofte wo A bedd whean it falleth so That loue shulde ben awayted But slouthe whiche is euyl affayted with slepe hath made his retenue That what thinge is to loue due Of all his dette he payeth none The wote not howe the nyght is gone Ne howe the daye is come aboute But onely for to slepe and route Tyl hyghe mydday that he aryse But Cephalus dyd otherwyse As thou my sonne hast herd aboue ¶ My fader who that hath his loue A bedde naked by his syde And wold than his eyen hyde with slepe I not what man is he But certes as touchend of me That felle me neuer yet er this But other whyle whan so is That I may catche slepe on honde Lyggend alone than I fonde To dreme a mery sweuen or day And if so falle that I may My thought with suche a sweuen plese Me thynke I am somdele at ese For I none other comfort haue So nedeth nought that I shall craue The Sonnes carte for to tary Ne yet the Mone that she carye Her cours a longe vpon the heuen For I am nought the more in euen Towardes loue in no degre But in my slepe yete than I se Somwhat in sweuen of that me lyketh whiche afterward myn herte entryketh whan that I fynde it other wyse So wote I not of what seruyce That slepe to mans case doth ¶ My sonne certes thou sayst soth But onely that it helpeth kynd Somtyme in Physyk as I fynde whan it is take by mesure But he which can no slepe mesure Vpon the reule as it belongeth Fulofte of sodeyne chaunce he fongeth Suche infortune that hym greueth But who these olde bokes leueth Of sompnolence howe it is wryte There may aman the sothe wyte If that he wolde
a mayden were Let clothen in the same gere whiche longeth vnto womanhede And he was yonge and toke none bede But suffreth all that she hym dede wherof she hath her women bede And chargeth by her othes alle Howe so it afterward byfalle That they discouer nought this thynge But feyne and make a knowlegynge Vpon the counseyle whiche was nome In euery place where they come To telle and to witnesse this Howe he hyr ladys doughter is And ryght in suche a maner wyse She had they shuld her don seruyse So that Achilles vnderfongeth As to a yong lady belongeth Honoure seruyce and reuerence For Thetys with great dylygence Hym hath so taught and so affayted That howe so that he were awayted with sobre and goodly contenaunce He shuld his womanhede auaunce That none the soth knowe myght But that in euery mans syght He shuld seme a pure mayde And in suche wyse as she hym sayde Achylles whiche that ylke whyle was yonge vpon hym selfe to smyle Began whan he was so beseyn And thus after the bokes seyn with frette of perle vpon his hede All fresshe betwene the whyte and rede As he whiche tho was tender of age Stode the colour in his visage That for to loke vpon his cheke And seen his chyldy maner eke He was a woman to beholde And than his moder to hym tolde That she hym had so begone By cause that she thought gone To Lichomede at thylke tyde where that she sayde be shulde abyde Amonge his doughters for to dwelle Achylles hâ—â—d his moder telle And wyst no â—ght the cause why And netheles full buxomly He was redy to that she had wherof his moder was ryght glad To Lychomede and forth they went And whan the kyng knewe her entent And sawe this yonge doughter there And that it came vnto his ere Of suche record of suche wytnesse He had ryght a great gladnesse Of that he both sygh and herde As he that wote not howe it ferde Vpon the counseyl of the nede But for all that kynge Lychomede Hath toward hym his doughter take And for Thetys his moder sake He put her in to companye To dwelle with Deydamye His owne doughter the eldest The fayrest and the comlyest Of al his doughters whiche he had Lo thus Thetys the cause lad And lefte there Achylles feyned As be which hath hym selfe restreyned In all that euer be may and can O ute of the maner of a man And toke his womanysshe chere wherof vnto his bedfere Deydamye he hath by nyght where kynde wolde hym selue ryght After the Philosophers seyn There may no wight be there ageyn And that was thylke tyme sene The longe nyghtes hem bytwene Nature whiche may not forbere Hath made hem bothe for to stere They kyssen fyrst and ouermore The hyghe wey of loues lore They gone and all was done in dede wherof lost is the may denhede And that was afterward well knowe For it befell that ylke throwe At Troye where the syege lay Vpon the cause of Menelay And of his quene dame Eleyne The gregoys badden mochel peyne All day to fyght and to assayle But for they myght nought auayle So noble a cyte for to wynne A preuy counsayle they begynne In sondry wysewhere they treat And at laste amonge the great They fellen vnto his accorde That Phorceus of his recorde whiche was an Astronomyen And eke a great magicien Shulde of his calculation Screbe of constellation How they the citie myghten gette And he whiche hadde nought foryete Of that belongeth to a clerke His study sette vpon this werke So longe his wyt about he cast Tyll that he fonde out at last But if they hadden Achilles Her werre shall ben endeles And ouer that he tolde hem pleyne In what maner he was beseyne And in what place he shall be founde Sâ— to at within a lytell stounde Vlâ—â—es forth with Dyomede Vpon this poynt to Lychomede Agamemnon to gether sente But Vlyxes er he forth went whiche was one of the most wyse Ordeyned hath in suche a wyse That he the most ryche aray wherof a woman may be gay with hym be toke manifolde And ouermore as it is tolde An harnoys as for a lusty knyght whiche burned was as syluer bryght Oâ— swerde of plate and cke of mayle As though he shulde do batayle He toke also with hym by shyp And thus to gether in felawshyp Forth gone this Dyomede and be In hope tyll they myghten se The place where Achilles is The wynde stode than nought amys But euery topsayle cole it blewe Tyll Vlyxes the marches knewe where Lychomede his reygne had The styresman so well him ladde That they be comen saufe to londe where they gone out vpon the stronde In to the burgh where that they fouÌ„de The kyng and he which hath facounde Vlyxes dyd the message But the counsayle of his courage why that he came he tolde nought But vnderneth he was bethought In what maner he myght aspie Achilles from Deidamye And fro these other that there were Full many a lusty lady there ¶ They plaide hem there a day or two And as it was fortuned so It fell that tyme in suche a wyse To Bacchus that a sacrifice These yonge ladies shulden make And for the straunge mennes sake That comen fro the siege of Troye They maden well the more ioye There was reuell there was daunsynge And euery lyfe whiche couth synge Of lusty women in the route A fresshe caroll hath songe about But for all this yet netheles The grekes vnknowe of Achilles So weren that in no degree They couthen wyte whiche was he Ne by his voys ne by his paas Vlyxes than vpon the caas A thing of high prudeÌ„ce hath wrought For thilk aray which he hath brought To yeue amonge the women there He lette do fetten all the geare Forth with a knyghtes harnoys eke In all the countrey for to seke Men shulden nought a fayrer se And euery thynge in his degre Endelonge vpon a bourde he layde So Lychomede and than he preyde That euery lady chese shulde what thynge of all that she wolde And take it as by way of yefte For they hem selfe it shulde sheft He sayde after her owne wylle Achilles than stode nought stylle whan he the bryght helme behelde The swerde the hauberke the shelde His herte felle therto anone Of all that other wolde he none The knyghtes gere he vnderfongeth And thylke array whiche that beloÌ„geth Vnto the women he forsoke And in this wyse as sayth the boke They knowen than whiche he was For he goth forth the grete paas In to the chambre where he lay Anone and made no delay He armeth hym in knyghtly wyse That better can no man deuise And as fortune shulde falle He came so forth tofore hem alle As he whiche tho was glad inough But Lychomede nothyng lough whan that he sigh howe that it ferde For than he wyst well and herde His doughter
gloue So nygh the weder they wyll houe As who sayth she shall not foryet Nowe I this token of her haue gete Thus halowe they the hye feste Suche thefte may no churche areste For all is lefull that hem lyketh To whome that elles it myslyketh And eke ryght in the selfe kynde In great cytees men may fynde This lusty folke that make hem gay And wayte vpon the holy day In churches and in mynstres eke They gon the women for to seke And where that suche one goth about To fore the fayrest of the route where as they sytten all a rewe There wylle he moste his body shewe His croked kempt and therupon set An ouche with a chapelet Or elles one of grene leues whiche late come oute of the greues All for he shulde seme fressh And thus he loketh on his flesshe Ryght as an hauke which hath a syght Vpon the fowle there he shall lyght And as he were a fayrye He sheweth hym to for her eye In holy place where they sytte Al for to make her hertes flytte His eye no where woll abyde But loke and pry on euery syde On her and her as hym best lyketh And other whyle a monge he syketh Thynketh one of hem that was for me And so there thynken two or thre And yet he loueth none of all But where as euer his schaunce falle And netheles to sey a soth The cause why that he so doth Is for to stele an herte or two Out of the churche er that he go And as I sayd it here aboue All is that sacrylege of loue For well may be that he steleth awey That he neuer after yeld may Telle me for thy my sonne anone Hast thou do sacrylege or none As I haue sayd in this manere ¶ My fader as of this matere I wyll you telle redyly what I haue do but truly I may excuse myn entent That I neuer yet to churche went In suche maner as ye me shryue For no woman that is on lyue The cause why I haue it last May be for I vnto that crafte Am nothynge able for so stele Though there be women not so fele But yet wylle I not sey this whan I am there my lady is In whom lyeth holy my quarele And she to churche / or to chappele woll go to matens or to messe That tyme I wayte welle and gesse â—o churche I come and there I stonde Aâ—â— though I take a boke on honde 〈◊〉 countenaunce is on the boke 〈◊〉 toward her is all my loke 〈◊〉 is falle that I pray Vnto my god an somwhat say Of pater noster or of crede 〈◊〉 is for that I wolde spede So that my bede in holy churche There myght som myracle wirche â—y ladys herte for to chaunge whiche euer hath he to me so straunge So that all my deuocion And all my contemplacion with all myn herte and my corage Is onely set on her ymage And euer I wayte vpon the tyde If she loke any thynge asyde That I me may of her auyse Anone I am with couetyse So smyte that me were lefe To be in holy churche a thefe But not to stele a vestement For that is nothyng my talent But I wolde stele if that I myght A glad worde or a goodly syght And euer my seruice I profere And namely whan she woll gone offre For than I lede hir if I may For somwhat wolde I stele away whan I beclyppe hir on the wast Yet at lest I stele a tast And other whyle grant mercy She saith and so wynne I therby A lusty touche a good worde eke But all the remenant to seke Is fro my purpos wonder ferre So may I say as I sayde erre In holy churche if that I wowe My conscience I wolde allowe Be so that vp amendement I myght gete assygnement where for to spede in other place Suche sacrilege I holde a grace And thus my father soth to say In churche ryght as in the way If I myght ought of loue take Suche hansell haue I nought forsake But fynally I me confesse There is in me no holynesse whyle I hir se in holy stede And yet for ought that euer I dede No sacrilege of hir I toke But if it were of worde or loke Or els if that I her frede whan I towarde offrynge hir lede Take therof what I take may For els bere I nought away For though I wolde ought els haue All other thynges bene so saue And kepte with suche a priuilege That I may do no sacrilege God wote my wyl netheles Though I must nedes kepe pees And maugre myn so let it passe My wyll therto is not the lasse If I myght other wyse away For thy my father I you pray Tell what you thynketh therupon 〈◊〉 I therof haue gylte or none ¶ Thy wyll my sonne is for to blame The remenant is but a game That I haue the tolde as yet â—ut take this lore in to thy wyt That all thynge hath tyme and stede The churche serueth for the bede The chambre is of an other speche But if thou wystest of the wreche Howe sacrilege it hath abought Thou woldest bettre be bithought And for thou shalte the more amende A tale I wyll on the dispende ¶ Hic in amoris causa super istius vicii articulo ponit exemplum Et narrat pro eo quod Parys Priami regis filius Helenam Menelai vxorem in quadam Grecie Insula a templo Veneris sacriligus abduxit illa Troie famosiffima obsidia ê‘ vniuersa orbis climita diuulgata precipue cansabat ita quod huiusmodi sacrilegium non solum ad ipsius regis Pitami omniumque fuorum interitum / sed ad perpetuam vrbis desolacionem vindicte fomitem ministrabat ¶ To all men as who sayth knowe It is and in the worlde through blowe Howe that of Troye Lamedon To Hercules and to Iason whan toward Colchos out of Grece By se seylend vpon a pece Of londe of Troye reste preyde But he wrothfully comeyde And for they found hym soo vylleyne whan they came into grece ageyne with power that they get myght Towardes Troye they hem dyght And there they toke suche vengeaunce wherof stant yet the remembraunce For they destroyed kynge and all And leften but the brent walle The grekes of Troyens many slowe And prisoners they toke inowe Amonge the whiche there was one The kynges doughter Lamedon Essiona the faire thynge whiche vnto Thelamon the kynge By Hercules and by thassent Of all the holle parliament was at his wylle yeue graunted And thus hath Grece Troy daunted And home they tourne in suche manere But after this nowe shalt thou here The cause why this tale I telle Vpon the chaunces that befelle ¶ Kynge Lamedon whiche deide thus He had a sonne one Priamus which was nought thilke tyme at home But whan he herde of this he come And fonde howe the citie was falle whiche he began anon to walle And made
there a citie newe That they whiche other londes knewe Tho seyden that of lyme and stone In all the worlde so faire was none And on that o syde of the towne The kynge lette make Ilion That hygh toure that stronge place whiche was adrad of no manace Of quarcle nor of none engyne And though men wolden make a myne No mans crafte it myght approche For it was sette vpon a roche The walles of the towne about Hem stode of all the worlde no dout And after the proportion Sixe gates were there of the towne Of suche a forme of suche entayle That hem to se was great meruayle The dyches weren brode depe A fewe meirit myght kepe From all the worlde as semeth tho But if the goddes weren fo Great prees vnto that citie drough So that there was of people inough Of burgeys that therin dwellen There may no man 's tunge tellen Howe that citie was ryche and good ¶ whan all was made all well stode Kynge Priamus tho hym bethought what they of grece whilom wrought And what was of her sworde deuoured And howe his suster deshonoured with Thelamon away was lad And tho thynkende he waxte vnglad And sette anone a parliment To whiche the lordes were assent In many a wyse there was spoke Howe that they myghten bene a wroke But at the last netheles They saiden all accorde and pees To setten euery parte in rest It thought hem than for the best with reasonable amendement And thus was Anthenor forth sent To aske Esyona ageyne And witten what they wolde seyne So passeth he the see by barge To grece for to sey his charge The whiche he sayde redyly Vnto the lordes by and by But where he spake in grece aboute He herde not but wordes stoute And namelyche of Thelamon The mayden wolde he not forgone He sayde for no maner thynge And had hym gone home to his kynge For there gate he none amende For ought he couth do or sende This Anthenor ayene goth home Vnto his kynge and whan he come He tolde in grece of that be herde And howe that Thelamon answerde And howe they were at her aboue That they wol neither pees ne loue But euery man shall done his best But for men seyen that nyght hath rest The kyng bithought him all that nyght And erely whan the day was lyght He toke his councell of this matere And they accorde in this manere That he withouten any let A certeyne tyme shulde set A parlement to ben auysed And in this wyse it was auysed Of parlement he set a day And that was in the moneth of May This Priamus had in his yght A wyfe and Hecuba she byght By whom that tyme eke had he Sonnes fyue and doughters thre Besyden hem and thyrty mo And weren knyghtes also tho But not vpon his wyfe begete But els where he myght hem gete Of women whiche he had knowe Suche was the worlde that â—ilke thâ—â—â—â— So that he was of children ryche So therof was no man hym lyche Of parlement the day was come There bene lordes all and some Tho was pronounced and purposed And all the cause was hem disclosed Howe Anthenor in grece ferde They sytten all styll and herde And tho spake euery man aboute There was alledged many a doute And many a proude worde spoke also But for the moste parte as tho They wysten not what was the beste Or for to warre or for to reste But he that was without fere Hector amonge the lordes there His tale tolde in suche a wyse And sayde Lordes ye ben wyse Ye knowen this / as well as I Aboue all other most worthy Stant nowe in grece the manhod Of worthynes and of knyghthod For who so wyll it wel agrope To hem belongeth all Europe whiche is the thyrd parte euen Of all the worlde vnder the heuen And we be but of folke a fewe So were it reson for to eschewe The perel er we fall therin Better is to leue than begyn Thyng which as may not ben acheued He is not wyse / that fynde hym greued And doth so that his greue be more For who that loketh all tofore And woll not se what is behynde He may full ofte his harmes fynde wycke is to stryue and haue the worse we haue encheson for to corse This wote I well and for to hate The grekes but er that we debate with hem that ben of suche a myght It is full good that euery wyght Be of hym selfe ryght well bethought But as for me thus say I nought For whyle that my lyfe woll stonde If that ye take werre in honde Falle it to the best or to the werst I shall my seluen be the ferst To greuen hem what euer I may I wolle not ones say nay To thinge whiche that your couÌ„ceil demeth For vnto me welle more it quemeth The werre certes than the pees But this I saye netheles As me belongeth for to say Nowe shape ye the beste way ¶ whan Hector hath sayde his auyse Next after hym tho spake Paris whiche was his brother and aleyed what hym best thought thus he sayde Stronge thynge it is to suffer wronge And suffer shame is more stronge But we haue suffred both two And for all that yet haue we do what so we myght to reforme The pees whan we in suche a forme Sent Anthenor as ye wel knowe And they her gret wordes blowe Vpon her wrongfull dedes eke And who that woll not hym selfe meke To pees and lyst no reason take Men seyn reason wyl hym forsake For in the multitude of men Is not the strengthe for with ten It hath be sene in trewe quarele Ayene an bonderd false dele And had the better of goddes grace Thus hath befalle in many place And if it lyke vnto you all I wylle assay howe so it falle Our enemys if I may greue For I haue caught a gret beleue Vpon a poynt I wol declare This ender day as I gan fare To hunte vnto the great herte whiche was tofore myn houndes sterte And euery man went on his syde Hym to pursewe and I to ryde Began to chase and sooth to say within a whyle oute of my way I rode and nyst where I was And slepe me caught and on the grasse Besyde a welle I leyd me downe To slepe and in a vysyon To me the god Mercurye came Goddesses thre with hym he nam Minerue Venus and Iuno And in his honde an apple tho He helde of golde with letters wryte And this he dyd me to wyte Howe that they put hem vpon me That to the fayrest of hem thre Of golde that apple shulde I yeue with eche of hem tho was I shryue And eche one faire me behyght But Venus sayde if that she myght That apple of my yefte gette She wolde it neuermore foryete And sayde howe that in grece londe She wolde brynge in to myn honde Of all this erth the fayrest So that me thought it for the best
a prelate Shall be anoynte and sanctifyed He mote be more magnyfied For dignite of his corone Than shulde another lowe persone whiche is not of hygh emprise Therfore a prince hym shuld aduise Er that he fell in suche ryote And namely that he ne assoâ—e To chaunge for the womenhed The worthinesse of his manhed ¶ Nota de doctrina Aristotelis qualiter priceps vt animi sui locunditatem prouocet mulieres formosas crebro aspicere debet caueat tamen ne meÌ„s voluptuosa torpescens ex carnis fragilitate in vicium dilabatur ¶ Of Aristotle I haue well radde Howe he to Alysaunder badde That for to gladden his corage He shulde beholden the visage Of women whan that they ben fayre But yet he set an examplayre His body so to guye and rule That he ne passe mot the rule wherof that he him selfe begyle For in the woman is no gyle Of that a man him selfe by wapeth whan he is owne wytte beiapeth I can the woman wel excuse But what man wyl vpon hem muse After the folysshe Impression Of his ymaginacion within him selfe the fyre he bloweth wherof the woman nothinge knoweth So may she nothinge be to wyte For if a man him selfe excite To drenche and wil nought forbere The water shall no blame bere what may the golde though meÌ„ coueit If that a man wyll loue streyt The woman hath him nothinge bounde If he his owne hert wounde She may not let the folye And though so fyl of company That he might any thinge purchace Yet maketh a man the fyrst chace The woman fleeth and he purseweth So that by wey of skyl it sueth The man is cause bowe so befalle That he full ofte syth is falle where that he may not wel aryse And netheles ful many wyse Befooled haue hem selfe er this As nowe a dayes yet it is Amonge the men and euer was The stronge is febleste in this caas It syt a man by wey of kynde To loue but it is not kinde A man for loue his wyt to lese For if the month of Iule shall frese And that December shall be hote The yere mistorneth wel I wote To seen a man frome his estate Through his soty effemynate And leue that a man shall do It is as hose aboue the shoo To man whiche oughte not to be vsed But yet the worlde hath ofte accused Full great princes of this dede Howe they for loue hem selfe mislede wherof manhode stode behinde Of olde ensamples as men fynde ¶ Hic ponit exeÌ„plum qualiter pro eo quod Sardanapallus Assiriorum princeps muliebri oblectamento effeminatus sue coÌ„cupiscentie torporem quasi ex coÌ„suetudine adhibebat ab Arbacto rege medorum super hoc infidiante in sui feruoris maiori voluptate subitis mutationibus extinctus eft ⧠These olde gestes tellen thus That whylome Sardanapallus whiche helde all hole in his empyre The great kingdome of Assyre was through the slouth of his corage Falle in to the ylke fyry rage Of loue / whiche the men assoteth wherof hym selfe he so ryoteth And wexeth so ferforth womannysshe That ageyn kynde as if a fysshe Abyde wolde vpon the londe In women suche a luste he fonde That he dwelte euer in chambre stylle And onely wrought after the wylle Of women so as he was bede That seldome whan in other stede If that he wolde wenden oute To seen howe that it stode aboute But there he kiste / and there he played They taughten hym a lace to brayed And weue a purs and to enfyle A perle And fell thylke whyle One Arbactus the prince of Mede Seeth the kynge in womanhede was falle fro chiualrie And gate hym helpe and companye And wrought so that at last This kynge out of his reigne he cast whiche was vndone for euer mo And yet men speaken of hym so That it is shame for to bere For thy to loue is in manere ☞ Nota qualiter Dauid amans mulieres propter hoc probitatem armorum non minus excercint ¶ Kynge Dauid had many a loue But netheles alway aboue Knyghthode he kepte in suche a wyse That for no flesshely couetyse Of lust to lygge in ladys armes He lâ—â—te not the luste of armes For where a prince his lustes sueth That he the warre not pursueth whan it is tyme to bene armed His countrie stant full ofte harmed whan the enemyes be waxe bolde That they defente none beholde Full many a londe hath so be lore As men may rede ofte tyme afore Of hem that so her cases soughten whiche after they full dere aboughten ¶ 〈◊〉 â—â—uitur qualiter regnum lasciuie volupta 〈…〉 de facili vincitur Et ponit exempluÌ„ 〈◊〉 rege Persarum qui cum Lidos mira pro 〈◊〉 fiteninssimos sibique in bello aduersantes 〈◊〉 â—â—do vincere potuit / cum ipsis tandem paâ—â—â—â—â—â—tatum dissimilans concordiaÌ„ finaleÌ„ stabiâ—◠〈◊〉 super quo Lydi postea per aliquod tem 〈◊〉 armis insoluti sub pacis tempore voluptatibus â—ntendebant Quod Cyrus percipiens in eos armatus subito irruit ipsos que inde sensibiles vinâ—â—ns suo imperio tributarios subiugauit ¶ To mochel ease is nothynge worthe For that setteth euery vice forthe And euery vertue put a backe wherof price turneth in to lacke As in cronylie I may reherse whiche telleth how the kynge of Perse That Lyrus hyght a warre hadde Ageynst the people whiche he dradde Of a countre whiche Lydos hyght But yet for ought that he do myght As in batayle vpon the warre He had of hem alway the warre And whan he sigh and wyst it wele That he by strength wanne no dele Than at laste he caste a wyle This worthy people to begyle And toke with hem a feyned pees whiche shulde lasten endelees So as he sayde in wordes wyse But he thought all in other wyse For it betyd vpon the caas whan that this people in rest was They token eses many folde And worldes ese as it is tolde By way of kynde is the noryce Of euery luste whiche toucheth vyce Thus whan they were in lustes fall The warres bene forgeten all was none whiche wolde the worshyp Of armes but in ydelshyp They putten businesse away And toke hem to daunce and play But most aboue all other thynges They token hem to the lykynges Of flesshely lustes that chastite Receyued was in no degree But euery man doth what hym lyste And whan the kynge of Pers it wyste That they vnto folye entenden with his power whan they leest wenden More sodeinly than doth the thonder He came for euer and put hem vnder And thus hath lechery lore The londe whiche had be tofore The beste of hem that were tho ¶ Nota qualiter facta bellica luxus infortunat Et narrat / quod cum rex Amolech hebrtis sibi insultantibus resistere nequit / consilio Balaam mulieres regni sui pulcherrimas in castro hebreorum misit / qui ab
cōmunis amor◠sed immoderatos Quae facit excessus non reputatur amans Sors tamen vnde Venus attractat corda videre Quae rationis erunt non ratione sinit ¶ Hic loquitur adhur contra incestuosos aniantū coitus / Et narrat mirabile exemplum de magno rege Antiocho qui vxore mortua propriam filiā violauit et quia filie matrimonium penes alios impedire voluit tale ab eo exiit edictum quod si quis eam in vxorem peterit nisi quoddam problema questionis quam ipse rex proposuerat / veraciter solueret capitali sentencia puniretur super quo veniens tandem discretus inuenis princepe Tyri Appolius questionem soluit / Nec tamen filiam habere potuit / sed rex indignatus ipsum propter hoc in mortis odium recoliegit Vnde Appolinus a facie regis fugiens quam plura prout inferius intitulātur propter amorē pericula possus est ¶ Of a cronyke in dayes gone The whiche is cleped Panteone In loues cause I rede thus Howe that the great Antiochus Of whom that Antioche toke His firste name as saith the boke was coupled to a noble quene And had a doughter hem betwene But such fortune cam to honde That deth which no king may withstōd But euery lyfe it mote obey This worthy quene toke awey The kynge whiche made mochel mone Tho stode as who saith all hym one without wyfe but netheles His doughter whche was pereles Of bewte dwelt about hym stylle But whan a man hath welth at wylle The flesshe is freel falleth ofte And that this mayde tendre softe whiche in her fathers chamber dwelte within a tyme wyst and felte For lykynge of concupiscence without insyght of conscyence The fader so with lustes blente That he cast all his holle entente His owne doughter for to spylle The kinge hath leyser at his wylle with strengthe and whan he tyme seye The yonge mayden he forleye And she was tender and ful of drede She couth not hir maydenhede Defende and thus she hath forlore The floure whiche she hath longe bore It helpeth not all though she wepe For they that shulde hir body kepe Of women were absent as than And thus this mayden goeth to man The wylde fader thus deuoureth His owne flessh whiche none socoureth And that was cause of mochel care But after this vnkynde fare Out of the chamber goeth the kinge And she lay styll and of this thinge within hir selfe suche sorowe made There was no wyght that myght hir glad For fere of thylke horrible vice with that came in the noryce whiche fro chyldhode hir had kepte And asketh if she had slepte And why hir chere was vnglad But she whiche hath ben ouerlad Of that she might not be wreke For shame couth vnnethis speke 〈◊〉 nethelesse mercy she prayed with wepynge eye and thus she sayed Alas my suster wel awaye That euer I sygh this ylke daye Thinge whiche my body fyrste begate In to this worlde onelych that My worldes worshyp hath berefte with that she swouneth nowe and efte And euer wissheth after deth So that welny hir lacketh breth That other whiche hir wordes herde In comfortynge of hir answerde To lete hir faders foule desyre She wyst no recoueryre whan thinge is do there is no bote So suffren they that suffren mote There was none other whiche it wyst Thus hath this kynge all that him lyste Of his lykinge and his plesaunce And last in suche a contynuance And suche delyte he toke there in Him thought that it was no syn And she durst him no thinge withseye But faine whiche goeth euery weye To sondry reignes all aboute The great beute telleth oute Of suche a mayde of bye parage So that for loue of maryage The worthy princes come and fende As they whiche all honour wende And knewe no thing howe that it stode The fader whan he vnderstode That they his doughter thus besought with all his wit he cast and sought Howe that he mighte fynde a lette And suche a statute then he sette And in this wise his lawe taxeth That what man his doughter axeth But if he couth his questyon Assoyle vpon suggestyon Of certeyn thinges that befelle The which he wolde vnto him telle He shulde in certeyn lese his hede And thus there were many dede / Her heedes stondinge on the gate Tyl at last longe and late For lacke of answere in this wyse The remenaunte that weren wyse Eschewden to make assay ¶ De aduentu Appolini in Antiochiam / vbi ipse filiam regis Antiochi in vxorem postulauit ⧠Tyl it befyl vpon a daye Appollynus the prince of Tyre whiche hath to loue a great desyre As he whiche in his high mode was lykinge of his hote blode A yonge a fresshe a lusty knyght As he laye musynge on a nyght Of the tydinges whiche he herde He thought assaye howe that it ferde He was with worthy companye Arayed and with good nauye To ship he goeth the winde him driueth And sayleth tyll that he aryueth Saufe in the porte of Antyoche He londeth and goeth to approche The kinges courte and his presence Of euery natural science whiche any clerke him couth teche Him couthe ynough and in his speche Of wordes he was eloquente And whan he sygh the kinge present He praieth he mote his doughter haue The kinge ageyne began to craue And tolde him the condycyon Howe fyrst vnto his questyon He mote answere and fayle nought Or with his beed it shall be bought And he him asketh what it was ¶ Questio regis Antiochi scelere vehor materna carne vescor quero patrem meum matris mee virum vxoris mee filium ¶ The kinge declareth him the caas with sterne worde and stordy chere To him and sayde in this manere with felony I am vp bore I ete and haue it not forlore My moders flessh whose husbond My fader for to seche I fonde whiche is the sonne eke of my wyfe Herof I am inquisytyfe And who that can my tale saue Al quyte he shall my doughter haue Of his answere and if he fayle He shall be deed withouten fayle For thy my sonne quod the kinge Be wel aduysed of this thinge whiche hath thy lyfe in ieopartye Appollynus for his partye whan he that questyon had herde Vnto the kinge he hath answerde And hath reherced one and one The poyntes and sayde therupon The question whiche thou hast spoke If thou wylte that it be vnloke It toucheth all the pryuyte Betwene thyn owne chylde and the And stonte all holle vpon you two The kinge was wondre sory tho And thought if that he sayd it oute Then were he shamed all aboute with sly wordes and with felle He sayth My sonne I shall the telle Though that thou be of lytell wytte It is no great meruayle as yet Thyn age may it not suffyse But loke wel thou nought despyse Thyn owne lyfe for of my grace Of thrytty