Prede que largitor pax in orbe timor d Estatu cleri vt dicunt secundum spiritualia videlicet tempore Ro â—â—th Gilbonensis qui nomen clemeÌ„tis â—â—â—â—tus est sibi tunc Antipape O thynk vpon the dayes old The lyf of clerkys to be hold Men seyn how that they were tho Ensample 〈◊〉 wle of al tho Which of wysedom the vertue souÈten Vnto the god fyrst they bysoughten As to the substaunce of here scole That they ne shold not be fole Her witte vpon none erthly werkes Which were ayene the astate of clerkis And that they myghten flee the vyce Whiche Symon hath in his offyce Wrerof he takyth gold in honde For thyke tyme I vnderstoÌ„de The lumbard made none exchaunge The bisshopryches for to chauÌ„ge Ne yet a letter for to send For dignyte ne for prouende Or curyd or without cure The chirche kay in aduenture Of armes of brigantaylle Stode no thyng thenne vpon bataylle To fyght or for to make cheste Yet thought hem then not honeste But of symplycyte and pacyence They maden thenne no defence The court of worldly regaille To hem was thenne no bataylle The veyne honour is nought desyryd Whiche hath the proud herte fyred The humylyte was tho withholde And pryde was a vyce holde Of holy chirche the largesse Yafe thenne dyde grete almesse The poure men that had nede They were eke chast in word dede Wherof the peple ensample toke Her lust was al vpon the boke Or for to preche or for to pray To wyse men the ryght waye Of suche as stoode the trouth vnlered Lo thus is petrus barge stered Of hem that ylke tyme were And thus cam fyrste to mannys ere The feyth of cryst al good Thurgh hem that then ware good And sobre chast large wyse And now men seyn is other wyse Symon the cause hath vnder take The worldes swerd in hond is take And that is wonder netheles Whan crist hym self hath bode pees And set it in his testament How now that holy chirche is went Of that her lawe posyzyf Hath set to make werre stryf For wordly goodes which may not laste God wote the cause to the last Of euery ryght wronge also But whyle the lawe is rewlyd so That clerkes to the werre intende I not how that they shal amend The woful world in other thynges To make pees bytwene kynges After the lawe of charyte Whiche is the propre dewte Belonged vnto the preesthode But as it thynketh to make manhode â–ª The heuen is for the world is nyghe And vayne glorye is eke to sleygh Whiche couetyse hath now withhold That they none other thynge behold But only that they myghten wynne And thus the werres they begynne Wherof the holy chirche is taxed That in the poynt as it is axed The dysme goth to the bataylle As though crist myght not auayle To do hem ryght by other waye In to the swerd the chirche kaye Is torned and the holy bede In to cursyng and euery stede Whiche shold stonde vpon the feyth And to this cause an ere leyth Astonyd is of the quarell That shold be the worldes heele Is now men sayn the pestyle nce Whiche hath expellyd pacyence Fro the clerge in specyal And that is shewyd oueral In euery thyng whan they be greuyd But yf gregory be beleuyd As it is in the bokes wryte He doth vs somdele to wete The cause of thylke Prelacye Where god is nought of companye For euery werke as it is foundyd Shal stonde or els be confoundid Who that only for cristes sake Desyreth care for to take And nought for pryde of thylk astate To bere a name of a prelate He shal by reson do proufyte In holy chirche vpon the plyte That he hath set his coÌ„scyence But in the worldes reuerence Ther be of suche many gladde Whan they to sylke astate be made Nought for the meryte of the charge But for they wold hem self discharge Of pouerte become grete And for pompe for beyete The scryâ—e eke the pharysee Of moyses vpon the see In the chayre on hygh ben sette Wherof the feyth is ofte lette Whiche is bytake hem to kepe In crystes â–ª cause al day they slepe But of the world is nought foryete For wele is hym that now maye gete Offyce in court to be honouryd The strong Coffre hath al deuouryd Vnder the kaye of auaryce The tresour of the benefyce Wherof the poure shulne clothe And â–ª ete drynke house bothe The charyte goth al vnknowe For they no greyne of pyte knowe And slouthe kepyth the lybrarye Whiche longeth to the sayntuarye To study vpon the worldes lore Suffisith noâ—ght without more Delycacye his swete tothe Hath it suffryd so that it fordoth Of abstynence al that ther is And for to loken ouer this If ethna brenne in the clergye Al openly to the mannes eye At Auynyon they peryence Therof hath youen an euydence Of that men seyn hem so deuyded And yet the cause is nought decyded But it is sayd euer shal Bytwene twoo stoles lyth the fall Whan that men wenen best to sytte In holy chirche of suche a flytte Is for to rewe vnto vs alle God graunte it mote wel byfalle Towardes hym whiche hath the trouth But ofte is seen that mochel slouth Whan men ben drynke of the cuppe Doth moche harme whaÌ„ the fire is vppe But yf somwho the flamme stauÌ„che And so to speke vpon this brauÌ„che Which proud enuye hath made to spring Of scysme causeth for to bringe This newe secte of lollardye And also many an heresye Among the clerkes in hem selue It were better dyke delue And stonde vpon the ryght feyth Than knowe al that the byble sayth And erre as som clerkes do Vpon an hond to were a sho And set vpon the foote a gloue Acordeth not to the behoue Of resonable mannes vse If men bebelden the vertuse That crist in erthe taught hyere They sholde not in suche maner Among hem that be hold wyse The papacye so desguyse Vpon dyuers electyon Whiche stant after thaffection Of sendry londes al aboute But whan god wol it shal weve oute Fâ—â— trouthe mote stande atte last But yet they argumenten fast Vpon the pope his astate Wherof they fallen in grete debate This clâ—rk sayd ye that other nay And thys â—â—ey dryue forth the daye And eche of hem hym self amendeth â—â— worldes good but none entendeth To if at whiche comyn proufyte were They seyen that god is myghty there And shal ordeyne what he wylle Ther make they none other skylle Where is the peryll of the feyth But euery clerke his herte leyth To kepe his world in specyal And of the cause general Whiche vnto holy chirche longeth Is none of hem that vnderfongeth To shapen ony resystence And thus the ryght hath noo defence But ther I loue ther I hold â—o thus to broke is Cristes fold Wherof the
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
cleped in philosophy Wherof touchyng this party Is Rethoryke the scyence Appropred to the reuerence Of wordes that ben resonable And for this arte shalle be vaylable With goodly wordes for to lyke It hath grammer it hath logyke That seruen bothe vnto the speche Gramer hath first for to teche To speke vpon congruyte Logyke hath eke in his degre Bitwene the trouthe and the falshede The pleyne wordes for to shede So that no thynge shal goo beside That he the right shall not decyde Wherof full many a grete debate Reformed is to good estate And pees susteyned vpon lofte With easy wordes and with softe Where strengthe shold lete it falle The philosophre amonges alle For they commenden this scyence Whiche hath the rewle of eloquence In stone and gras vertu ther is But yet the bookes tellen this That worde about al erthely thynges Is vertuous in his doynges Where so it be euylle or good For yf the wordes semen good And ben wel spoke at mannes ere Whan that there is no trouthe there They done ful ofte ful grete deceyte For when the word to the conceyte Discordeth in so double wyse Suche Rethoryke is to despyse In euery place and for to drede For Plyxes thus I rede And in the booke of Troye is founde His eloquence and his faconde Of goodly wordes whiche he told Hath made that Anthenor hym sold The towne whiche he with treson wan Worde hath begyled many a man With word the wyld beest is dauÌ„ted With worde the serpent is enchaunted Of worde amonge the men of armes Ben woundes heled with the charmes Wordes ben vertuous and fyne Where lacketh other medycyne Of sorcery the carectes The wordes ben of sondry sectes Of euylle and eke of good also The wordes maken frende and foo Of foo a frende and pees of werre And werre of pees and oute of herre The word the worldes cause entryketh And reconcyleth whome hym lyketh The word vnder the cope of heuen Set euery thynge or odde or euen With word the hyhe god is plesyd With worde the worldes ben apesed The softe worde the lowde stylleth Where lacketh good that word futfylloth To make amendes for the wronge Whan wordes medlen with the songe It doth plesaunce wel the more But for to loke vpon this lore How Tullius his Rethoryke Compouneth there a man may pyke How that he shalle his wordes set How he shalle loose how he shall knet And in what wyse he shall pronounce His tale pleyne withoute frounce Wherof ensample yf thou wylt seche Take hede and rede whiâ—ome the speche Nota de eloquencia Iulij in causa Cateline contra Tilenum et alios tunc vrbis Romane continentes oF Iulius and Cithero Which consul was of rome tho Of Caton eke and Tillene Beholde the wordes hem bit wene When the treson of Catelyne Discouered was and the couyne Of hem that were of his assent Was knowe and spoke in parlement And asked how and in what wyse Men shold done hem to Iewyse Cillenus first his tale tolde And as he was to trouthe beholde The comyn proufite for to saue â–ª He said treson shold haue A cruel deth â–ª and thus they speke The consull bothe Caton eke And saiden that for suche a wronge There may no peyne be to strong But Iulius with wordes wyse His tale told al other wyse As he whiche wold his deth respite And foundeth how he myght excyte The Iuges thorugh his eloquence Fro dethe to torne the sentence And set hir hertes to pyte Now tolde they now cold he They speken playne after the lawe But he the wordes of his sawe Coloured in another wey Spekyng and thus bitwene the swey To trece vpon this Iugement Made eche of hem his argument Wherof the tales for to lere There may a man the scole here Of Rethoryke the eloquence Whiche is the second of scyence Touchyng to philosophye Wherof a man shalle justifye His wordes in disputacion And knytt vpon conclusion His argument in suche a forme Which may the pleyne trouth enforme And the subtile cautele abate Whiche euery trewe man shalle debate Peacticat quemqÈ statum pars tercia philosophie Ad regimen recte donec in orbe vie Set quanto maior rex est tanto magis ipsum â–ª Ex scola concernit qua sua regna regat Hic tractat de tercia parte philosophie que practica vocatur â–ª cuius species sunt tres scilicet Ethica Iconomia et policia quarum doctrina regia inagestas in suo regimine ad honoris magnificenciam per singula dirigitur tHe first whiche theoryk And the second Rethoryke Scyences of philosophy I haue hem tolde as in party So as the philosophre it told To Alysander and now I wold Telle of the thirdde what it is The whiche practyke cleped is Practyke stant vpon thre thynges To ward the gouernaunce of kynges Wherof the first Etyke is named The whoo 's seyence stant proclamed To trehe of vertu thylke rule How that a kynge hym self shal rule Of his moral condicion With worthy disposicion Of good lyuyng in his persone Whiche is the chyef in his corone It maketh a kyng also to lerne How he his body shall gouerne How he shalle wake how he shall slepe How that he shalle his he le kepe In mete in drynke in clothynge eke There is no wisedome for to seke As for the reule of his persone Whiche this scyence al one Ne techeth as by wey of kynde That there nothyng leue behynde That other poynt whiche to practyke Belongeth to Iconomyke Whiche techeth thylke honeste Thorugh whiche a kynge in his degre His wyf and child shalle rule gy So ferforth all the company Whiche in his houshold shold abyde And his estate on euery syde In suche manere for to lede That he his houshold not myslede Practyke hath yet the thyrdde appryse Whiche techeth how and in what wyse Thorugh hyhe purueyed ordynaunce A kynge shalle set in gouernannce His reame and that is pollycye Whiche longeth vnto regalye In tyme of werre in tyme of pees To worship and to god encrees Of clerke of knyght of Marchaunte And so forth of the remenaunt Of all the comyn peple aboute Within borgh and eke withoute Of hem that ben artificers Whiche vsen craft and mysters Whoo 's arte is cleped Mathematyke And though they be not all lyke Yet neuertheles how so it falle One lawe mote gouerne hem alle Or that they lese or that they wyn After the state that they ben in Loo thus the worthy yong kyng Was fully laught of euery thyng Whiche myght yeue entendement Of good rule and of good regemâ—t Is suche a worthy prynce as he But of verry necessite The philosophre hym hath bitake Fyue poyntes which he hath vndertaâ—e Toke and hold in obseruaunce â—fore the worthy gouernaunce Whiche longeth to his regalye After the rule of polycye Moribus ornatus regit hic qui regâ—â— moderna Tercius exspectat cepâ—â—â—
of enuye as wel in loue as after the properte of the vyce folio xliâ— How the vertu of charite is ageynsâ— enuye and telleth of constantyn sone of he layn shold haue be heled of hye lepre by blood of chyldren whyche he pardoned wherfore he was heled bâ— myracle folio xlix Here endeth the second book And here begynneth the thyrd book How the â—onfessor treteth of the synne of yre and of hys fyue spyâ—â— of whyche the fyrst is called malencâ—â— colye folio 〈◊〉 How macharye sone of kynge Eolus gate his suster Canace wyth chylde wherfore hyr fader Iuged hyr to dâ—â—â— folio â—â—â— How tyresyas for departynge of two serpentes engendryng was transformed in to a woman folio liiij Here he treteth of the second spyce of yre named cheste or stryf and telleth his nature and what harme comeâ—â— therof folio liiij How pacyence is a vertu ageynst vyâ—â— and telleth how Socrates wyf powded waâ—â—â— vpon hyâ— husbondes â—â—ed and how he suffred pacyently folio lv Of a questyon bytwene Iuâ—yter and Iuno whether a man or a woman were moste bâ—â—nâ—â—ng in concupyscence and ordeyned â—yresyas to be Iuge folio lvj How phebus transformed the crowe which was whyte in to blacke by cause she tolde hyr ladyes counceyl folio lvj How Iupyter cut of the tongue of â—aaâ— bycause she tolde that he laye by â—uâ—â—â—ne folio lvj Of the thyrd spyce of yre named hate â— of his nature folio lvij How whaÌ„ palamides was sleyne trai â—â—â—â—slye of the syege of troyee Namâ—â—â—â— in his contre made certeyn signes to deceyue the shyppes of grece â—â—myng homeward to auenge hys â—oâ—â—â— deâ—â—â— folio lviij Of the fourth and fyfthe spyces of 〈◊〉 whiche ben contâ—â—â— homycyde ◠〈◊〉 theyr nature how they kepe not 〈◊〉 folio lviij How dyogynes sitiyng in a tonne answerd alexandre folio lix Of â—â—e hystorye of â—â—ramus and â—yâ— be and how eche slewe hym self for loue of eche other folio lx Of the loue of pheâ—â—s that he had to daphne and how the hoâ—â—er that he loued hyr the coâ—â—â—â— she was folio lxij Of the vengeaunce of athemas and demephon in theyr contre after they had retorned fro troye of the pacyence of kyng nestor folio lxij How clymesâ—â—a by the counceyl of egyste slewe Agamenon slepyug in his bedde and how his sone horâ—â—stes toke vengeaunce therof folio lxiij Here he telleth ageynste the moeuers of warre whiche is not onely cause of homycyde but desolacyon of alle the world folio lxv How the grekes werryd in euery contre that was ryche and fertyle but archade by cause it was bareyn poure it abode in pees folio lxv Of a see rouer taken in the see and brought to alysaundre whyche sayd yf he were myÈty as he was he shold be callyd aÌ„ conquerour but for he stale but lyâ—â—l he was called a theef folio lxvj Of a byrde hauyng the vysage of a man whiche whan he hath sleyne by his praye a man and after seeth in the water that he hath slayn one lyke hym self anone he deyeth for sorowe folio lxvij How achylles wyth Thelaphus foughte ageynst Tencer and whan Tencer was caste doun achylles wold haue slayn hym but thelaphus by his pyte saued hym folio lxvij Thus endeth the thyrd book And here begynneth the fourth book Here the confessor speketh of the syune of slouthe and of hys spyces of whyche the fyrst is latchesse telleth his propertee folio lxviij How eneas lefte Dydo bâ—hyâ—â— hym at cartage and how she slewe â—â—r self folio lxâ—â— How Penolope wrote an epystle to vlyxes to troye blamyngâ— hym for his latches and longe taryeng folio lxix How an astrologyen had made â—n Ingenyous werke by the space of vij yere And for latches of a momente loste it alle folio lxx And also of the fyue folysshe virgyns for theyr latchesse entred not with the spouse in to weddyng folio lxx Here he speketh of puyssyllamyte of his nature folio lxx How pygmaleon by his contynuall prayers caused an yuory ymage to wexe quycke and to haue flesshe and blood folio lxxj How kyng lygdâ—s menaced his wyf yf she had a doughter it shold be sleyn and how by the goddesse yâ—â—s she was transformed in to a man folio lxxj Of the vyde of forgetyng and of hys nature folio lxxij Of demophon and phillis and how phillis henge her self for loue folio lxxiij Of the vice of negligence and of his nature folio lxxiiij How pheâ—â—n sone of the sonne ladde his faders carte seâ—â—â— al the world a fyre and fyll in the sea and was drowned folio lxxv Of dedalus and yâ—harus his sone how they flyâ—â— in thayer and how ycharus for neclygenâ—e â–ª was throwen to the grounde folio lxxv Here telleth the confessor of that spice of slouthe which is named ydlenesse And sheweth the naturâ— â–ª therof folio lxxv How the doughter of the kynge of armonye meâ—â—e on a tyme a companye of the fayrye and fonde one folowyng beâ—yng the halters of thother fo lxxvj How â—epte had auowed to make sacrefyse to god the fyrst that came to welcome hym home and it was his doughter whyche desyred to bewayle hir vyâ—â—ynyte folio lxxviij How for the cause of loue â—alyaunce of chyualrye shold not leue hys exercyse folio lxxviij Here alledgeth the amant for hys excusasyon how achylles for the loue of polyxene lefte to do armes at troye folio lxxix How vlyxes was taken by the grekes for to goo to troye where hâ— wold fayne haue abyden wyth penolope his wyf folio lxxx How prothesalaus settyng his wyues connseyl â— part had leuer dye by honour at troye than tabide at home in ydlenes folio lxxx How kyng saul not wythstondyng samuel and the phitâ—nysse whiche told hym â–ª he shold be slayn yf he went to bataylle yet he preferred the same of chyualrye folio lxxx How achilles was in his yongthe encoraged by chiro a centaure for to be hardy bad hyâ— to take lyoÌ„s suche other bestes and spare them that fled fro hym folio lxxxj How hercules conquerd achelous for loue of deyanyre folio lxxxj How paÌ„tasilâ—a quene of amozone cam to troye for loue of hector And in hyr persone refused not to â—â—re armes folio lxxxij How phylomenys for â—ame of chyual rye came to troye and gate yerely to haue thre maydens fro the royame of Amozone folio lxxxij How eneas ouercame turâ—us in batayle by whiche he gate the loue of lauyne subdued the royame of yâ—alye folio lxxxij How gentylnes is preferred ofte and what gentilnes is folio lxxxij Of the dylygence of our predecessours their doctryne folio lxxxiij Of the thre stones that the phylosophres made that is to saye veâ—etâ— Anymal myneral foâ—â—o lxxxiiij Here he trâ—teth of sompnolence whyche is chamberleyn to sâ—outhe and telleth of his nature properte folio lxxxv Of the kyng Ceyx kyng of trocynye and â—â—ceon his wyf how for loue Alceon lepte in to the see to her husbond
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
flok withoute guyde Deuoured is on euery syde In lak of hem that be vnwar Shepeherdes which her wyttes beware Vpon the world in other halue The sharp pryk in stede of salue They vsen now wherof the hele They hurte of that they shold hele What shepe that is ful of wulle Vpon his bak they tose pulle Whyle ther is ony thyng to pylle And though there be none other skylle But only for they wold wynne They leue nought whan they begynne Vpon hir acte to procede Whiche is no good shepeherdes dede And vpon this also men seyn That fro the lese whiche is pleyn In to the breres they forcatche Here of for that they wolden lache With suche duresse and so bereue That shal vpon the thornes leue Of wolle whiche the brere hath tore Wherof the shepe ben al to tore Of that the herdes make hem lese â—o how they feynen chalk for chese For though they speke teche well They done â—em self therof no dele For yf the wolf come in the wey Here goostly staf is thenne aweye Wherof they shold here flok defende But yf the poure shepe offende In ony thyng though it be lyte They ben al â–ª redy for to smyte And thus how euer that they tale The strokes falle vpon the smale And vpon other that ben grete Hem lacketh hert for to bete So that vnder the clerkes lawe Men seen the merel al mysdrawe I wol not saye in general For ther be somme in specyal In whome that al vertue duelleth And tho ben as thappostel telleth Qiu vocatur a deo tanquam Aaron That god of his electyon Hath cleped to perfectyon In the maner as Aawn was They be nothyng in thylk caas Of Symon whiche the foldes gate Hath lete goth in other gate But they gone in the ryght weye Ther ben also somme as men saye That folowen Symon atte heles Who 's carte goth vpon wheles Of couetyse worldes pryde And holy chirche goth besyde Whiche she weth out ward a vysage Of that is nought in the courage For yf men loke in holy chirche Bitwene the word that they werche Ther is a ful grete difference They prechen vs in audyence That noman shal his soule empeyre For al is but a chery feyre This worldes good so as they telle Also they fayen ther is an helle Whiche vnto mannys synne is due And bydden vs therfor eschewe That wykked is and do the good Who that here wordes vnderstode It thenketh they wold do the same But yet bytwene ernest and game Ful oftyme it torned other wyse With holy tales they deuyse How merytory is thylke dede Of charyte to clothe fede The poure folk for to parte The worldes good but they departe Noo thyng nought for that they haue Also they feyn good is to saue With penaunce with abstynence Of chastyte the contynence But pleynly for to speke of that I not how that ylke body fat Whiche with that deynte metes kepe And leyen it softe for to slepe Whan it hath elles al his wylle With chastyte shal stonde stylle And netheles I can not say In aunter that I myssay Touchend of this â–ª how euer it stonde I here wyl nought vnderstonde For therof haue I nought to done But he that made fyrst the mone The highe god of his goodnes If ther be cause he it redresse But what as ony man can accuse This may reson of trouthe excuse The vyce of hem that ben vngood Is no repreef to the good For euery man his owne werkes Shal bere and thus as of the clerkes The good men ben to coÌ„mende And al these other god amende For they be to the worldes eye The myrrour of examplarye To reulen taken hede Bet wene the men the godbede Vulgaris populê° regali lege subactê° Dum iacet vt mitis digna subibit onê° Si caput extollat lex sua frena relax at Vbi sibi velle iubet rigridis Instar habet Ignis aqua dominans duo suÌ„t pietate carentes Ira tamen plebis est violenta magis dEstatu plebis vt diaint secuÌ„duÌ„ actidencia mutabilia nOw for to speke of that comune It is to drede of that fortune which hath bifalle in soÌ„dry loÌ„ des But ofte for defaute of bondes Al sodenlyche or it be wyst A tonue whan his lye aryst To breken ronne al aboute Whiche endles shold nought gone out And eke ful ofte a lytel skare Vpon a bank or men be ware â—ete in the streme which with grete peynÌ„ If euery man it shal restreyne where lawe faylleth errour groweth He is not wyse who that ne troweth For it hath proued ofte er this And thus the comyn clamour is In euery lond where peple duelleth And eche in his compleynt telleth How that the world is myswent And therupon his Iugement Yeueth euery man in sondry wyse But what man wold hym self auyse His conseyence nought mysuse He may wel at the fyrst excuse His god whiche euer stant in one In hym ther is defaute none So must it stonde vpon vs â—elue Nought only vpon ten ne twelue But plenerlyche vpon vs alle For men is cause that shal byfalle Nota contra hoc qd aliqâ—a sortem fortune aliqui influenciam planetaruÌ„ penunt per quod vt dicitur reruâ—â— euentus necessario contingit Sed pocius di cendum est qd ea que nos prosâ—er◠〈◊〉 aduersa in hoc mundo vocamus secuÌ„dum merita et demerita hominum dig no der iudicio proueniunt aNd netheles somme men wryte And sayn fortune is to wyte And som men holde oppinion That it is constellacion Whiche causeth al that a man dothe God wâ—te of bothe whiche is sothe The world as of his propre kynde Was euer vntre w as the blynde Inproperlyche he demeth fame He blameth that is nought to blame And preyfeth that is nought to preyse Thus whan he shal the thynges peyse Ther is deceyt in his balaunce And al is that the varyaunce Of vs that shold vs better auyse For after that we falle ryse The world aresteth and fallith with al So that the man is ouer al His owne cause of wele wo That we fortune clepe soo â–ª Out of the man hym self it groweth And who that otherwyse troweth Beholde the peple of Israel For euer whyle they dyden wel Fortune was hem debonayre And whan they dyden the contrayre Fortune was contraryende So it proueth wele at the ende Why that the world is wonderful And may no whyle stande ful Though that it seme wel beseyn For euery worldes thyng is vayne And euer goth the whele about And euer stant a man in doute Fortune stant no while stylle So hath ther no man his wylle Al 's fer as ony man maye knowe Ther lasteth noo thyng but a throwe Boecius O qmÌ„ dulâ—edo humane vite multa amaritudine aspersa est He world staÌ„nt euer vpon debate So may be
Empyre As he that was lord Syre And held thorugh his chyualrye Of al the world the monarchye And was the fyrst of that honour Whiche taketh name of the Emperour De seculo ferreo quod in tibeis de signatum est a tempore Iulij Cesaris vsque in Regnum Carosâ— magni Regis Franâ—orum wHere Rome than wold assaylle Ther myÈt no thyng contreuaâ—â—â—e But euery contrey must obeye Tho goth the regne of bras aweye And comen is the world of steel And stode aboue vpon the whelâ— As steel is hardest in his kynde Aboue al other that men fynde Of metalles suche was Rome tho The myghtyest last so Longe tyme among the Romayns Tyl they bycome so vyleyns That the fals emperour leo With ConstauÌ„ce his sone also The patâ—monâ—â— the Rychesse Whiche to syluester in pure Almesse The fyrst Constantinus lefte Fro holy chirche they be refte But Adryan whiche pope was And sawe the meschyef of this caas Goth in to FrauÌ„ce for to playne And prayth the grete Charâ—emayne For Crystes sake soule helâ— That he wold take the quarele Of holy chirche in his defence And Charles for the reuerence Of god the cause hath vndertake And with his hoost the waye take Ouer the MouÌ„tes of Lumbardye Of Rome al the Tyrannye With bbody swerd he ouercome And the strengthe of the Cyte nome In suche a wyse ther he wrought That holy chirche ayene he brought In to Fraunchyse dâ—thr restore The popes lust yaf hym more And thus whan he his god hath serued He toke as he hath wel deseruyd The dyademe was â—orouned Of Rome thus was abandouned Th empyre whiche cam neuer agayne In to the honâ— of no Romayn But a long tyme it sâ—oode stylle Vnder the Frensâ—he kynges wylle Til that fortune hir whele so lad That afterward the lumbardes it had NouÈt by the swerd but by the suffrauÌ„ce Of hym that was kyng of Fraunce Whiche Carl Caluuâ— clepyd was And resygned in this caas Th empyre of Rome vnto Lowys His Cosyn whiche a lumbard is And so it last in to the yere Of Alberte of Berenger De seculo nouâ—ssimis iam temporibus ad similitudinem pedum in discordiam lapso et diuiso quod post decessuÌ„ ipsius Caroli cum Imperium Roma norum in manus Longobardorum ê‘uenerat tempore Alberti Berengarij incepit Nam ob eorum diuisioneÌ„ contingit vt Almani Imperatoriam adepti sunt Magestatem in cuius soâ—â—uÌ„ quenda in principem Theonicum Otho nem nomine sublimari prinâ—tus constituerunt bVt than vpâ—n discencion They felle in dyuysyon AmoÌ„g hem self that were grete So that they lost the beyete Of worship of Worldes pees But m prouerbe netheles Men seyn â–ª ful selde is that welthe Can suffre his owne astate in helthe And that was in the lumbardes seen Suche comon stryf was hem bytween Thorough couetyse thorugh ennye That euery man drough his partye Whiche myght lede ony route Within Burgh and eke withoute The comen ryght hath no feloowe So that the gouernaunce of lawe Was lâ—st for necessyte Of that they stode m suche degre Al only thurgh deuysyon Hem nedeth in conclusion Of straunge londes helpe beside And thus for they hem self deuyde And standen oute of reâ—le vneuen Of Almayne Prynces seuen â—â—â— chosen m this condycyon That vpon her electyon Th empyre of Rome shold stondâ— And thus they left it out of honde For lak of grace and it forsoke That Almayns vpon hem toke And to confermen here astate Of that they stoden in debate They toke it the possession After the composicion Among hem self and therupon They made an Emperour that anon Who 's name the Cronycle telleth Wae Othee and so forâ—â— it duelleth For fro thylk day yet vnto this Th empyre of Rome hath be is To thalamans in this wyse As to fore ye hane herde deuyse How Danyel the sweuene expouneth Of that ymage whome he foundeth The world whiche afterward shold falle Comen is the last token of alle Vpon the feete of erthe stele So stant the world now euery dele Departed whiche bygan ryght tho Whan Rome was deuyded soâ— And that is for to rewe sore For alwey syth more more The world empeyreth euery day Wherof the soth she we may At Rome yf we begynne The walle the Cyte withynne Stand m ruyne in decaas The feld is where the paleys was The tonne is wast ouer that If we behold thylke astate Whiche whylome was of the romayns Of knyghthode of Cytezeyne To peyse now with that byforne The chaf is tâ—ke from the corne And for to speke of Romes myght Vnnethes stant ther ought vpryght Of worship or of worldes good As it byfore tyme stode And why the worship is away If that a man the sothe say The cause hath ben deuysyon Whiche moder of confusyon Is where she comyth oueral Nought only of the â—â—mporal But of the spyrytual also The dede proueth it ie so And hath do many a day or this Thorugh venym which that medled is In holy chirche of erthely thynge For Cryst hym self maketh knowlechyng That nomaÌ„ may to geder serue God the world bnt he swerue Froward that one stond vnstable And Crystes word may not be falle The thyng so open is at the eye It nedeth nought to specyfye Or speke ought more in this mater And in this wyse a man may tere How that the world is gone aboute The whiche wel nyghe is wered oute After the forme of that fygure Whiche danyel in his scupture Expowned as to fore is told Of bras of syluer of gold â–ª The world is passed a gone And now vpon his old tone It stant of brutel erthe stele The whiche acorden neuer a dele So mote it nedes swerue a syde A thyng whiche men seen deuyde Hic dicit secunduÌ„ aplÌ„m ê™ nos sumê° In quos fines seculi deuenerunt â–ª tHappostel writeth vnto vs alle And saith that vpoÌ„ vs is falle Th ende of the world so may we knowe This ymage is nyghe ouerthrowe By which this world was sygnefyed That whysome so was magnyfyed And now is old feble vyle Ful of meschyef of perylle And stant deuyded eke also Lyche to the feet that were so As I told of the statue aboue And thus men seyn for lak of loue Where as the lond deuyded is It more algace fare amys And now to loke on euery syde A man may see the world deuyde The werres â—en-so general Among the Crystene oueral That euery man now secheth wreche And yet these clerkes alday preche And seyn good dedes may none be Whiche stant nought vpon charyte I not how charyte shold stonde Where dedely werre is taken on honde But al this wo is cause of man The whiche that wytte reson can And in tokne in wytnesse That eche ymage bare lykensse
Of man none other beeste Fro fyrst vnto the mannys heste Was euery creature ordeyned But afterward was restreyned Whan that he felle they fellen eke Whan he was seke they wexen seke For as the man hath passyon Of sekenes in comparyson So suffryn other creatures Lo fyrst the heuenly fygures hIc scribit quod ex diuisionis passione singula creata detrimentum corruptibile paciuntur tHe sonne the mone eclypsen to the And ben with mannys synne wroth The purest eyre for synne alofte Hath be is corrupt ful ofte Ryght now the highe wyndes blowe And anon after they ben lowe Now cloudy and now clere it is So maye it wel prouen by this A mannes synne is for to hate Whiche maketh the welken to debate And for to see the properte Of euery thyng m his degre Bynethe here among vs here Al stant a lyche in this mater The see now ebbeth now it floweth The loÌ„d now welketh now groweth Now the trees â–ª with leues grene Now they be bare nothyng sene Now be ther lusty somer floures Now be ther stormy wynter shoures Now be the dayes now be the nyÈtes So stant ther no thynge vpryghtes Now is it lyght now is it derke And thus stant al the worldes werke After the disposicion Of man his condycyon For thy Gregory in his moral Seyth that a man in specyal The lasse world is properly And that he proueth redyly For a man of soule resonable Is to an Angel resemblable And lyche to beste he hath felyng And lyche to trees he hath growyng The stones ben so is he Thus of his propre qualyte The man as tellyth the Clergye Is a world in his partye And whan this world mystorneth The a rete world al ouertorneth The lond the set the fyrmament They axen alle jugement Ayene the man make hym warre Ther whyle hym stant al out of harre The remenaunt wold nought acord And in this wyse as I record The man is cause of al woo Why this world is deuyded so Dyuysyon the gospel sayth One how 's vpon an other layâ—h Tyl that the Reygne ouerthrowe And thus many a man doth knowe Dynysyon abouen alle Is thyng whiche maketh the world â—alle â–ª And euer hath syth it began It may fyrst proue vpon a man Quod ex sue complexionis mate 〈◊〉 diuisus homo mortalis existat tHe whiche for his coÌ„plexyon Is made vpon deuysyon Of colde hote moyst drye He mote by verray kynde deye For the contrarye of his estate Stant euermore in suche debate Tyl that a part be ouercome Ther may no fynal pees be nome But â—therwyse yf a man were Made al to geder of one mater Withoute jnterupcion Ther shold no corrupcion Engen dyr vpon that vnyte But for ther is dyuersyte Within hym self he may not last That he ne dyeth at the last But in a man yet ouer this Ful grete dyuysyon ther is Thorugh which that he is euer in strif Whyle that hym last ony lyf Quod homo ex corporis anime condicione diuisus sicut saluacionis ita dampnacionis aptitudinem ingredituz tHe body the soule also Among hem ben deuyded so That what thyng that the body hateth The soule loueth debateth But netheles ful ofte is sene Of werre whiche is hem bytwene The feble bath the vyctorye And who so draweth in to memorye Qualiter Adam a statu innocen cie diuisus a Paradiso voluptatis in terram laboris peccator proiectus est wHat hath bifalle of old new He may that werreâ—sore rewe Whiche fyrst bygaÌ„ in paradys For ther was proued what it is And dysese ther is wrought For thylke werre tho forth brought The vyce of al dedly synne Thorugh whiche dyuysyon cam ynne Qualiter populi per vniuersum orbem a cultura dei diuisi Noe cum sua sequela duntaxat exceptis diluâ—io interierunt aMonge the men in erth here And was the cause the mater Why god the grete flodes sende Of al the world made an ende But Noe with his felauship Whiche only was sauf by shyp And ouer that thorugh synne it come That Nembroth syth th empyre nome Qualiter in edificacione Turris Babilonis quam in dei contemptum Nembroth erexit lingua prius hebreica in varias linguas celica vindicta di uidebatur wHan the toure babylon hyÈt Lat make as he that wold fiÈt Ayene the high goddes myÈt Wherof deuyded anon ryÈt Was the langage in suche eutent Ther wyst none what other ment So that they myght nought procede And thus it stant of euery dede Where synne taketh the caas on hond It may vpryght not long stonde For synne of hir condycyon Is moder of al deuysyon Qualiter mundus qui in statu diuisionis quali cotidianis presenti tempore vexatur flagellis a lapide superuenien te id est a diuina potencia vsque ad resolucionem omnis carnis subito contere tur aNd tokne whan the world shal fayle For so sayth crist without â—nyle That nyghe the worldes ende Pees acord a wey shal wende And al charyte shal seace Among the men hate encrece And whan these tokenes falle Al sodenly the stone shal falle As Danyel it hath byknowe Whiche al this world shal ouerthrowe And euery man shal than aryse To ioye or elles to iuise Where that he shal for euer duelle Or streyt to heuen or streyt to helle In heuen is pees al acorde But helle is ful of suche discorde That ther may be no loue day For thy good is whyle a man may Echone to sette pees with other And louen as his owne broder So may he wynne worldes welthe And afterward his soule helthe hIc narrat exemplum de concordia et vnitate inter homines pro uocanda Et dicit quida in ArionÌ„ uuâ— Citharista ex sui cantus Cithare que consonam melodiaÌ„ tante virtutis extiterat vt ipsum non solum virtum cum viro Sed eciam Leonem cum Cerua LupuÌ„ cum agno Canem cum lepore jpsum audientes vnanimiter absque vlla discor dia ad inuicem pacificauit bUt wold god that now were one Another suche as Aryone Whiche had anâ—harp of suche tempâ—ire And therto of so good mesure He songe that the bestes wylde Made of his note tame mylde The hynde in pees with the lyon The wolf in pees with the Motoâ— The hare in pees stood with the houÌ„d And euery man vpon this ground Whiche Aryon that tyme herde As wel the lord as the Shepeherde He brought hem al in good acord So that the Comon with the lord And lord with the Comon also He set in loue bothe two And put a wey melancolye That was a lusty melodye Whan euery man with other louz And yf ther were suche one nowe Whiche coude harpe as he dyde He myght auayle in many a stede To make pees where now is hate For whan
sheweth eke how he can worche Among the wyde furred hodes To gete hem the worldly goodes And they hem self by thylke same That setten moost the world in blame But yet in contrarye of his lore Ther is nothyng they louen more So that semed of lyght they werke The dedes whiche are inward derke And thus this double ypocrysye Whiche is deuoute apparancye A byser set vpon his face Wherof toward the worldes grace He semeth to be wel ryght thewed And yet his herte is al beshrewed But netheles he stant byleued And hath his purpoos ofte acheued Of worship of worldes welthe And takyth it as who sayd by stelthe Thorugh couerture of his fallas And ryght so in semblable caas This vyce hath eke his offycers Among these other seculeres Of grete men for of the sinale As for to accompte he set no tale But they that passe the comune With suche hem lyke to comune And where he sayth he wold socoure The peple there he wol deuoure For now a day is many one Whiche speketh of Peter of Iohn And thynketh Iudas in his hert Ther shal no worldes good astert His hand and yet he geueth Almesse And fasteth ofte hereth messe With mea culpa whiche he seyth Vpon his breste ful ofte he leyth His hond case vp ward his eye As though Crystes face he syghe Soo that it semeth at the syght As he alone al other myght Rescue with his holy dede But yet his hert in other stede Among his bedys moost deuoute Goth in the worldes cause aboute How that he myght his waryson Encrese in coÌ„paryson hIc tractat confessor cum amaÌ„te super illa jpocrisia que sub amoris facie fraudulenter lati tando mulieres ipsiê° ficticijs credulas sepissime decepit innocentes tHer be louers of suche a sort That feyneÌ„ hem an huÌ„ble port And al is ypocrysye Whiche with deceyte flaterye Hath many a worthy wyght begyled For whan he hath his tonge be fyled With softe speche with lesyng Forth with his fals pytous lokyng He wold make a woman wene To gone vpon the fayre grene Whan that she fallyth in the myre For he may haue his desyre How so falleth on the remenaunt He halt no word of couenaunt But or the tyme that helspede Ther is no sloygthe in thylk deede Whiche ony lones faytour may That he ne put it in assay As hym belonged for to done The colour of the reyny mone With medycyne vpon his face He set and than he axeth grace As he whiche hath sykenes feyned Whan his vysage was so desteyned With eye vp cast on her he syketh And many a contenaunce he pyketh To bryngen hyr in to byleue Of thyng whiche that he wold acheue Wherof he bereth the pale hewe And for he wold seme trewe And maketh him seke whaÌ„ he is heyle But whan he berest lowest seyle Than is he swyfeest to begyle The woman whiche that ylke whyle Set vpon hym fayth or credence mY sone yf thou thy conseyence Entamed hast in such a wyse In shryfte thou myght the auyse And telle it me yf it be so Amans mYn holy fadre certes no And for to feyne suche sykenesse It nedeth nought for this wytnesse I take to god that my courage Hath be more seke than my vysage And eke thus wel I may auowe So lowe couthe I neuer bo we To feyne humylyte withoute That me lyst better to loute With al the thoughtes of myn herte For that thyng shal me neuer sterte I speke as to my lady dere To make hyr ony feyned chere God Wote wel ther I lye nought My chere hath be suche as my thought For in good feith this leueth wele My wyll was better a thousand dele Than ony chere that i couthe But Syre I haue in my yougthe Done otherwyse in other place I put me therof in your grace For this excusen i ne shal That I haue elles oueral To loue and to his companye Be pleyne withoute ypocrysye But ther is one whiche that I serâ—e Al though I may no thank deserue To whome yet neuer vnto this daye I sayd onlyche ye or nay But yf it so were in my thought As touchend other say I nought That I am somdele for to wyte Of that ye clepe an Ipocryte Confessor mY sone it syt wel euery wyght To kepe his thonÈt in trouth vp ryght Towardes loue in al wyse For who that wolde hym wel aduyse What hath byfalle in this matere He shold nought with feyned chere Deceyue loue in no degre To loue is enery hert fre But in deceyt of that thou feynest And therupon thy lust atteynest That thou hast wonne with thy wyle Though it be lyke for a whyle Thou shalt it afterward repente And for to proue myn entente I fynde ensample in a Cronyque Of hem that loue so beswyke Quod Ipocrisia sit in amore pericu losa narrat exemplum qualiter sub reg no Tiberij Imperatoris quidam miles nomine Mundns qui RomanoruÌ„ dux milicie tune prefuit Dominam Paulinam pulcherrimaÌ„ castitatis â— famosissimam mediantibus duobus falsis Presbiteris in Templo Isys domini sui se esse fingens sub ficâ—e sauctitatis Ipocrisi nocturno tempore viciaâ—â—t vnÌ„ idem dux in exilium presbiteri in mortem ob sui criminis enormitatem damp nati extiterant IT byfesse by old dayes thus Whylome the emperour Tiberius The Monarche of Rome thus lad Ther was a worthy Romayn had A wyf she Pauline hyght Whiche was to euery mannys syght Of al the Cyte the fayrest And as men sayden eke the lest It is hath ben euer yet That so strong is that no mans wyt Whiche thurgh beaute ne may be with drawe To loue vnder the lawe Of thylke frele bore kynde Whiche maketh the hert eyen blynde Where no reson may be comuned And in this wyse so fortuned This tale of whiche I wol mene This wyf whiche in her lustes grene Was fresshe tendre of age She may not let the courage Of hym that wol on hyr assote Ther was a duk he was hote Mundus whiche had in his bayllye To lede alle the chyualrye Of Rome was a worthy knyght But he was nought of suche myght The strengthe of loue not to withstoÌ„de That he ne was brought to honde That maulgry where he wold or no This yong wyf he loueth so That he hath put al his assay To wynne thyng whiche he ne may Gete of hyr graunt in no maner By yefte of gold ne by prayer And whan he sa we that by no mede Toward her loue he myght spede By sleyght feyned than he wrought And therupon he hym bythought How that ther was in the Cyte A temple of suche auctoryte To whiche with grete deuocyon The noble women of the toune Most comonlyche on pylgremage Gone for to pray thylke ymage Whiche the goddesse of Chyldyng is And cleped was by name Isys And in her
wele They ben doune throwe at the last Than am I fed of that I fast And laughe when I see hem loure And thus of that â–ª they brewe loure I drynke swete am wel â—sed Of that they wote they ben dysesed But this whiche I telle here Is only for my lady dere That for none other that I knowe Me reheth not to ouerthrowe Ne who that stonde in loue vpryght But be he squyer or be he â—nyght Whiche to my lady ward pursueth The more he leseth of that he seweth The more than I thynke wynne And am the more glad withynne Of that I wote hym sorowe endute For euer vpon suche auenture It is a comfort as men seyn To see another in his peyn So that they both may compleyne Of hem that is so wo beseyne Where I my self may notâ—auayle To sene another mannes trauayle I am ryght glad he be let And though I fare not the let Hie sow we is to myn hert a game Whan that I knowe it is the same Whiche to my lady stant enclyned And hath his loue not termyned I am ryght ioyeful in my thought Of suche enuye greueth nought As I â—e knowe me culpable Ye that be wyse resonable My fadre telle youre aduyse Confessor My sone enuye to no pryse Of suche a forme I vnderstonde Ne myght by no reson stonde For this enuye hath suche a kynde That he wol set hym self behynde To hynder with another wyght And gladly lese his owne ryght To make another lese his And for to knowe â–ª how it so is A tale lyche to this matere I thenke telle yf thou wolt here To shewe propyrly the vyce Of this ennye the malyce hIc ponit Confessor exemplum coÌ„ tra â–ª illum qui sponte sui ipsius de trimâ—tum in alterius penam maicâ—ein patitur Et narrat ê™ cum Iupiter an gelum suum in forma hominis vt homi num condiaones exploraret ab exceâ—â—o in terram misit contigit ê™ ipse angelê° duos homines quorum vnus cupidê° alter inuidus erat itinevando spacio spacio quasi vniê° diâ—i committabatur Et cum sero factum esset Angelus corum se ipsum tunâ— manifestans diâ—it ê™ quidquid alter eâ—rum ab ipso dona ri sibi pecierit â–ª Illud statim obtinebit ê™ socio suo secum comutanti affixmat duplicaÌ„duÌ„ super quo cupidus impeditê° auaricia sperans sibi diiucias carpere duplicatas primo petere recusauit Od cum inuidê° animiaduerteret naturam sui vicij concernens ita vt socius suus vtroque lumine prâ—uaretur se ipsum mo notulum fieri constanter primus ab Angelo postulabat Et sic vnius inui dâ—a alteriuâ— auariciam maculauit oF Iubitex thus I find y write That whiloÌ„ how he wold wite Vpon the pleynt which he herd Among the men how that it ferd And of her wrong condycyon To do Iustyfycacyon And for that cause doune he sent An Aungel whiche aboute went That he the soth knowe may So it byfelle vpon a day This angel which hym shold enforme Was clothed in a mans forme And ouertook I vnderstonde Two men that wenten ouer bonde Thorugh whiche he thought to aspye His cause goth in companye This Aungel with his wordes wyse Opposeth hem in sondry wyse Now lowde wordes now softe That made hem to desputen ofte And eche of hem his wason had And thus with tales he hem lad With good examynacyon Tyl he knewe the condycyon What men they were bothe two And sawe also wel at the last tho That one of hem was coueytâ—us And his fe lawe was enuyous And thus whan he hath knowlechyng Anone he feyned departyng And sayd he mote algate wende But herken now what fell at ende For than he made hem vnderstonde That he was of goddes sonde And sayd them for the kyndeship That they haue done hym felauship He wold do som grace ageyne And bad that one of hem shold seyne What thyng is hym leuest to craue And he it shal of yefde haue And ouer that eke forth with al He sayth that other haue shal The double that his felawe axeth And thus to them his grace he taxeth The concytous was wondre glad And to that other man he had And seyth that he fyvst axâ— sholde For he supposeth that he wolde Make his axyng of worldes good For than he knewe wel how it stood If that hym self by double wyght Shal after take thus by sleyght By cause that he wolde wynne He â—ad his felawe fyrst begynne This enuyous though it be late When that he sawe he motâ— algate Make his axynges fyrst he thought If he worship or proufyte sought It shal be double to his fere That wold he chese in no manere But than he sheweth what he was Toward enuye in this â—as Vnto this Angel thus he seyd And for his yefâ—e thus he preyd To make hym blynde on his owne eye So that his felawe no thyng syghe This word was not so sone spoke That his owne eye was loke â–ª And his felawe forth with also Was blynde on both his eyen two Tho was that other glad ynough That one wepte that other â—ough And he set his onâ— tye at no cost Wherof that other two hath lost Of thylke ensample whiche felle tho Men telle now ful ofte so The world empeyreth comonly And yet wote none the cause why For it acordeth nought to kynde Myn owne harme to sâ—che fynde Of that I shal my brother greue I myght neuer wel acheue What sâ—yst thou sone of my folye My fadre but yf I shold lyâ— Vpon the poynt whiche ye haue sayd Yet was myn hert neuer layd But in the wyse as I haue told But ouermore yf that ye wold Ought elles to my shryft saye Touchand enuye I wold praye â—â—â—â—die pars est detractio pâ—ssima pestem Qne magis infamein fla â—â—bue oâ—â— agit â—ingua venenato sermone reperâ—utit aures Sic vt in alteteris scandala fâ—ma volat Morsibus a â—rge quos inficit ipsa fideles Vulneris ignoti sâ—pe salute carent Sed ge neâ—â—sue amor â—â—nguam coÌ„seruat vt eiê° â—erbum qd loquitur nulla sinistra ge â—â—t hIc Tractat Confessor de tercia spe 〈◊〉 Iuiudie que detractio dicitur 〈◊〉 â—â—â— mâ—â—sus viperos lesa qmÌ„ sepe fama deâ—langit tOnâ—hend of enuyoê° brood I wote not one of al good But netheles such as they be Yet ther is one that is he Whiche â—lâ—ped is detractyon And to conferme his actyon He hath with holde male bouche Whoos tonge neuer crosse ne crouche May here so that he prouounce A pleyne good word withoute frouÌ„ce O where behynde a mans bak For though he prâ—yse he fynt som lak Whiche of his tale is ay the last That al the pryce shal ouer cast And though ther be no cause why Yet wol he iangle not for thy As he that was which
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
the dede And comonlyche at euery nede The worst speche is rathest herd And leued tyl it be ansuerd The kynges the lordes grete Begonne Horestes for to threâ—â— To putten hym out of his regne He is not worthy for to regne The child whiche slough his moder soo They sayde therupon also The lordes of comon assent The tyme sett of parlement And to Athenys kyng lord To gederâ—come of one acord To knowe how the sothe was So that Horestes in this cas They senden after they come Kyng Men â—lay the wordes nome And axeth hym of this matere And he that al it myght here Ansuerd told his tale at large And how the goddes in his charge Commaunded hym in suche a wyse His owne hond to do Iuyse With this tale a Duk arose Whiche was a worthy knyght of lose His name was Menesteus And sayd vnto the lordes thus The wreche whiche Horestes dede At was thyng of the goddes â—edâ— And no thynge of his ocuelte And yf there were of ony degre An al this plaâ—â— suche a knyght That wol seyn it was no ryght I wol it with my body proue And therupon he cast his gloue And eke this noble duk Alleyde Ful many another skylle he seyde She had wel deserued wreche Fyrst for the cause of spouse breche And after wrought in suche a wyse That al the world it ought agryse When that she for so foul a vyce Was of her owne lord Mordryce They sytten al stylle herde But therto was noman ansuerde At ought hem alle he sayd skylle There is noman wythsey it wylle When they vpon the reson musen Horestes alle they â—â—cusen So that with grete solempnyte He was vnto his dygnyde Receyned coroned kyng And tho byfel a wondre thyng Egyona when she it wyst Whiche was the doughter of Egyst And suster on the modre syde To thys Horeste at thylaÌ„ tyde When she herd ho whis broder sped For pure sorowe whiche her led That he had len â—xyled She bath her owne lyf begyled Anone henge hyr self tho At hath shal be euermo To mordre who that wol assente He may not fayle to repente This fals Egyona was one Whiche to mordre Agamenone Yaue her acord her assent So that by goddes Augement Though none other man it wolde She took her Iuyse as she sholde And as she to another wrought Vengeaunce vpon her self she thought And hath of hyr vnhappy wyt A mordre with a mordre quyt Suche is of mordre the vengeaunce For thy my sone in remembraunce Of this ensample take good frede For who that thynketh his loue spede With mordre he shal with worldes shame Hym self eke his loue shame My fadre of this auenture Whiche ye haue told A yow assure Myn hertiâ— fory for to here But only for A Bold here What is to done what to leue And ouer this by your leue That ye me wold telle A prâ—y Af there be leful ony weye Withoute synne a man to slee My sone in sondry wyse ye What man that is of Traytorye Of mordre or elles Robberye Atteynt the Iuge shal not bet But he shal sleen of pure def And doth grete syune yf that he woÌ„de For who that lawe hath vpon honde And spareth for to do Iustyce For mercy doth not his offyce That he his mercy so be wareth When for one shrewe whiche he spareth A thousand good men he greueth Which suche mercy as who that bileueth To please god he is deceyned Or elles more reson be weyued The lawe stood or we were bore How that a kynges swerd is bore An sygne that he shal defende His peple make an ende Of suche as wolden hem deuoure Lo thus my sone to socoure The lawe comon ryght to wynne A man may shee withoute synne Aud therof a grete almesse So for to kepe ryght wyseuesse And ouer this for this contre An tyme of werre a man is fee Hym self his â—ous eke his lond Defende with his owne hond And slayne yf that he maye no bet After the lawe whiche is set Now fadre than A you byseche Of hem that dedely werres seche An worldes cause shedâ—n lobod Af suche an homycyde is good Confessor My sone vpon thy questyon The trouthe of myn oppynyon Ale ferforth as my wyt arecheth And as the pleyn lawe techeth A wold the telle in euydence To reule with thy conscyence Quod creat iyse deê° nâ—eat hoc homicida creatum â—ltor humano sanguine sâ— git humum Vt pecoris sic est hominis cruor heu hoÌ„ fusus Victa iacet pietas furoâ— vrget opus Angelus in term pax dixit vltima Cristi Verba so nent pacem quam mâ— guerra fugat Hic sequitur contra â—â—otoâ—â—s guerre que non solum homicidij sed vniuer se mnndi desolacionis mater existit tHe hyghe god of his iustyce That ylke foule horryble vyce Of Homycyde he hath forbede By Moyses as it was bede When goddes sone also was bore He sente his Aungel doune therfore Whome the shepeherdes herde synge â—â—es to the men of welwyllynge In erthe among vs here So for to speke in this matere After the lawe of charyte There shal no dayly werre be And eke nature it hath defended And in hyr lawe pees comended Whiche is the chyef of mannes welthe Of mannes lyf of mannes helthe But dedely werre hath this couyne Of pestylence of famyne Of pouerte of al woo Wherof this world we blamen so Whiche now the werre hath vnderfote Tyl god hym self therof do bote For al thyng whiche god hath wrouÈt In erthe werre it bryngeth to nought The chirche is brent the prest is slayn The wyf the mayde is the forlayn The lawe is lord god vnserued I not what mede he hath deserued That suche werres ledeth Inne If that he do it for to wynne Fyrst to acompte his grete cost Forth with the folk that he hath losâ— As to the worldes rekenyng There shal he fynde no wynnyng And yf he do it to purchace The heuen mede of suche a grace I can not speke netheles Cryst hath commaunded loue peâ—â— And who that worcheth the reuers I trowe his mood is ful dyuersâ— And sythen â–ª that â–ª we fynde The werres in her owne kynde Ben toward god of no deserte And eke they bryngen in pouertâ— Of worldes good it is merueyle Among the men what it maye eyle That they vs a pees ne conne set I trowe synne be the let And euery mede of synne is deth So wote I neuer how it geth But we that be of one byleue Among oure self this world I leue That better it were pees to chese Than so by double weye lese I not yf that it now so stonde But this a man may vnderstonde Who that these old lokes redeth That one is Couetyse whiche ledeth And brought the fyrst werres inne At grece yf that I shal begynne
herte fyred Vpon his wyf when he this herd Nought one word there ayeue ansuerd But torneth hym haluyng ashamed And within hym self so tamed His herte that al the sotyâ— Of loue for chyualrye He left be hym leef or loth To Troye with hem forth be goth That he myght not excuse Thus stant it yf a knyght refuse The lust of armes to trauayle There may no worldes ease auayle But yf worshyp be with al And that shewed hath oueral For it syt wel in al wyse A knyght to be of hyghe empryse And put al drede aweye For in this wyse I haue herd seye hIc narrat super eodeÌ„ qualiter La adomia Regis Prothesalai vxor volens ipsum a bello Troiano secum re â—inere fatam sibi mortem in portu troie prenunciauit â–ª sed ipse miliciam poaâ—e quam ocia affectans Troiam adijt vbi sue mortis prâ—câ—o perpetue laudis Troniâ—m ademit The worthy kyng Prothesalay On his passage where he lay Toward Troye thylk syege She whiche was his owne lyege â—â—â—domye his lusty wyf Whiche for his loue was pensyf As she whiche al hyr herte he had Vpon a thyng whiche sheâ—drad A letter for to make hym duelle Fro Troye send hym thus to telle Hou she hath axed of the wyse Touchend of hym in suche a wyse That they haue done to vnderstond Toward other hou so it stonde The destyne it hath so shape That he shal not the deth escape â—n câ—â—â— that he atâ—yue at Troye For thy as to theyr worldes ioye With al hyr herte she hym preyde And many another cause alleyde That he with hyr at home abyde But he hath cast hyr letter a syde As â—e whiche tho no maner hede Took of hyr wommans drede And forth he goth as nought ne were To Troye was the fyrst there Whiche â—ondeth took arâ—yuayle For hym was leuer in the bataylle He seyth to deyen as aÌ„ knyght Than for to lyue in al his myght And be reproued of his name Lo thus vpon the worldes fame Knyghthode hath euer yet beset Whiche with no cowardye is let Adhnâ— super eodem quaâ—iler Rex Saul non obstante quam per Samuelem a Phitonissa suscitatum et coniuâ—atum responsum quamâ—pse in bello moreretur accepisset hostes tamen suos aggredens miâ—icie famam cunctis huius vite blaÌ„ dimentis preposuit oF kyng Saul also I fynde When samuel out of his kinde Thorugh that the phiâ—â—nes hath lered In Samarye was aâ—â—â—ed Long tyme after that he was dede The kyng Saul hym axeth dede If he shal goo fyght or none And Samuel hym sayd anone The fyrst day of the bataylle Thou shalt be slayn withoute faylle And Ionathas thy sone also But hou as euer it felle soo This worthy knyght of his courage Hath vndertake the vyage And wold nought his knyghthode let For no perylle he couthe set Wherof that bothe his sonne â—e Vpon the Mount of Gelâ—oe Assemblen with here enemyes For they knyghthode of suche a prys By old dayes thenne helden That they none other thyng behâ—lden And thus the fader for worshyp Forth with his sonne of felaushyp Thorugh lust of armes weren dede As men may in the byble rede There whos knyghthode is yet in mynd And shal be to the worldes â—nde â—Ic loquitur ê™ miles 〈◊〉 suis primordijâ— ad audaciam prouocâ—re deâ—et Et narrat qualitar Cyro Centaurues Athillem qui secum ab infancia in moÌ„ tem Pileon educauit vt audaâ— efficeretur primitus edocuiâ— quam cum ipse venacionibus insisteret â—eoues Tigrides huiusmodique animalia resistencia nulla alia fugitiua agitaret â–ª et sic Achilles in iuuentute animatus famosis sime milicie probitate in postâ—odum ad optauit aNd for to loken ouermore It hath shal le euermore That of knyÈthode that prowesse Is grounded vpon hardynesse Of hym that he wol vndertake And who that wold ensample take Vpon the forme of knyghtes â—awe Hou that Achilles was forth deawe With Chyro whiche Centaurus hyÈtâ— Of many a wonder lere he myghtâ— For it stood thylk tyme thus That this Chyro this Centaurus Within a large wyldernesse Where was lyon Leoness The leopard and the Tygre also With hert hynd buk and doo Hath his duellyng as tho byfelle Of Pyleon vpon the helle Wherof was than mochel speche There hath Chyro this child to teche What tyme he was ofâ—â— twelue yere age Wherfore to maken his courage The more hardy by other weye In the forest tho to hunte pleye What tyme Achilles walke wold Centâ—nrus bad that he ne shold After no beest make his chaas Whiche wold fleen oute of his place As baâ—â— doo herte Hynde With whiche he may no weâ—â—e fynde But tho that wold hym withstonde There shold he with his dart on honde Vpon the Tygre and the Lyon Purchace take his venysoâ— As to a knyght is acordaunt And therupon a couenaunt This Chyro with Achilles set That euery day withoute lett He shold seche a cruel best Or fle or wounden at the lest So that he myght a tokne brynge Of blood vpon his home comyng Thus that of Chyro hym taught Achilles suche an herte caught That he no more a lyon drad When be his dart on hond â—ad Than yf a lyon were an asse And that hath made hym for to passe Al other knyghtes of his dede When it cam to the grete nede As it was afterward wel knowe Confessor â—o thus my sone thou myghte knowe That the courage of hardyesse Is of knyghthode the prowesse Whiche is to loue suffysaunt Abouen al the remenaunt That vnto loues court pursuâ— But who that wold no slouth eschewe Vpon knyghthode not trauayle I not what loue hym shold auayle But euery labour aâ—eth why Of somme reward wherof that I Ensamples couthe telle ynough Of hem that toward loue dâ—ough By old dayes as they sholde My fadre therof here I wold My sone it wold be resonable In place whiche is honourable If that a man his herte sett That than he for no slouthe leâ—t To do what longeth to manhode For yf thou wolt the bokes rede Of â—auncelet other mo There myght thou seen how it waâ— tâ—â— Of armes for they wold atteyne To loue whiche is withouten peâ—nâ— May not be gete of Pelnesse And that I take to wytnesse An old Cronyâ—â—e in specyal The whiche in to memoryal Is wryte for his loues sake Hou that a knyght shal vndertake Hic dicit ê™ Miles priusquam amoris amplexu dignitatis efficiatur euentus bellicos victoriosus amplecteve debet et narrat qualiter Hercules et achillous propter Deâ—anitam Calidonie Regis Filiam singulare duellum ad inuicem â—merunt â–ª aâ—us victor Hercules existen tiâ— armorum meâ—tis amorem virginie â—audabiliter conquestauit hHer was a kyng wich Oâ—neâ— Was hote he vnder pees Held Calydonye in his empire And had a dâ—ughter Deyanyre Mâ—n wyst
she for drede shame esche weth And as she shold toke hede To saue kepe hyr womanhede And the thyng stood in debate Bytwene his lust here estate He yaue he send he spak by mouth But yet for ought that euer he couth Vnto his spede he fond no weye So that he cast his hope aweye Within his hert he gan dyspeyre Fro day to day soâ— empeyre That he hath lost al his delyte Of lust of slepe of appetyte That he thurgh strength of sone lasseth His wyt reson ouer passeth As he whiche of his lyf ne tought His deth vpon hym self he sought So that by nyght his weye he nam That wyst none where he bycam The nyght was derk the mone shone To fore the gates he cam sone Where that this yong mayde was And with this woful word allas His dedely pleyntes he bygan So stylle that there was noman It herde than he sayde thus O thou Cupyde O thou Venus Fortuned by whoo 's ordenaunce Of loue is euery mans chaunce Ye knowen al myn hole hert That I ne may your hondes asterte On you is euer that I crye And yet you deyneth not to plye Ne toward me your ere enclyne Thus for I see noo medycyne To make an ende of my quarele My deth shal be in stede of hele Ha thou my woful lady dere Whiche duellest with thy fadre here And slepest in thy bed at ese Thou wotest no thyng of my dysese How thou I be now vnmete A lord what sweuene shalt thou mete What dremes hast thou now on hond Thou slepest there here I stond Though I no deth to the deserue Here shal I for thy loue sterue Here shal I a kynges sone â–ª deye For loue for no felonye Whether thou therof haue ioye or sorow Here shalt thou me see dede to morowe O hard hert abouen alle This deth whiche shal to me falle For that thou wolt not do me grace It shal be told in many place That I am dede for loue trouthe In thy defaulte in thy slouthe Thy daunger shal to many mo Ensample be for euermo When they the woful deth recorde And with that word he took a corde With whiche vpon the gate tre He henge hym self that was pyte The morowe cam the nyght is gone Men come oute syghe anone Where that this yonge lord was dede There was an hous withoute dede For noman knewe the cause why There was wepyng ther was cry This mayden when she it herde And sawe this thyng hou it mysferd Auone she wyst what it mente And al the cause hou it wente To al the world she told it oute And preyth hem that were aboute To take of her the wngeaunce For she was cause of thylk chaunce Why that this kynges sone is spyâ—t She taketh vpon hyr self the gylt And is al redy to the peyne Whiche ony man hyr wol ordeyne But yf ony other wold She sayth that hyr self she shold Doo wreche with hyr owne hond Thorugh oute the world in â–ª euery loÌ„d That euery lyf therof shal speke Hou she hyr self it shold wreke She wepeth she cryeth she swouneth oft She cast hyr eyen vp alofte And sayd among ful pytously A god thou wost wel it am I For Iphis is thus byseyn Ordeyne so that many may seyn A thousand wynter after this Hou suche a mayden dyd amys And so as I dyde do to me For I ne dyde noo pyte To hym whiche for my loue is lore Doo no pyte to me therfore And with this word she felle to grosid A swoune there she lay astound The goddes whiche her pleyntes herde And sawe hou wofully she ferde Here lyf awey they took anone And shopen here in to a stone After the forme of hyr ymage Of body bothe of vysage And for the meruaylle of this thyng Vnto the place cam the kyng And eke the quene many mo And when they wysten it was foo As I haue told it here aboue Hou that Iphys was dede for loue Of that he had be refused They helden al men excused And wondren vpon the vengeaunce And for to kepe remembraunce This fayre ymage mayden lyche With companye noble ryche With torches with grete solempnyte To Salamyne the Cyte They lede carye forth with all This dede corps seyn it shall Besyde thylk Image haue His sepulture be begraue This corps this Image thus In to the Cyte to Venus Where that goddesse her Temple had To geder bothe forth they lad Thylke Image as for myracle Was sette vpon an hyghe pynacle That al it myght knowe And vnder that they maden lowe A tombe ryche for the nones Of marble eke of Iaspre stones Wheryn this Iphys was byloken That euermore it shal be spoken And for men shal the sothe wyte They haue here Epytaphe wryte As thyng whiche shold abyde stable The lettres granen in a Table Of marble were sayd thys Here lyeth which slouÈ hym self Iphis For loue of Araxarathen And in eusample of tho women That suffren men to dyen soo His forme a man may seen also Hou it is torned flesshe bone In the fygure of a stone He was to nesshe she hard Beware for thy here afterward Ye men women bothe two Ensampleth you of that was tho Loo thus my sone as I the seye It greueth by dyuers weye In despeyr a man to falle Whiche is the last braunche of alle Of slouthe as thou hast herd deuyse Wherof that thou thy self auyse Good is or that thou be deceyued Wherof the hope of grace is weyued My fadre hou so that it stonde Nou haue I pleynly vnderstonde Of slouthes court the propyrte Wherof touchend in my degre For euer I thynk to be ware But ouer this so as I dare With al myn hert I yow byseche That ye me wold enforme teche What there is more of youre apryse In loue al 's wel as other wyse So that I may me clene shryue Confessor My sonne whyle thou art alyue And hast also thy ful mynde Among the vyces whiche I fynde There is yet one suche of the seuene Whiche al this world hath set vneuene And causeth many tymes wrong Where he the cause hath vnderfong Wherof here after thou shalt here The forme both the matere Expliat Liber Quartus Incipit Liber Quintus oâ—stat Auaricia nature legibus et que Largue amor poscit strictâ—â—e illa vetat Omne ê™ est nimium vi câ—osum dicitur auruÌ„ Vellera sicut oues seruat auarus opes Non decet vt soli serâ—abitur os sed amori Debet homo so lam solus habere suam fIrst when the hyghe god begaÌ„ This world and that the kynde of man Was falle in to no grete encrees For worldes good was tho no prees But al was set to the comune They speken than of no fortune Or for to lese or for to wynne Tyl Auaryce brought
hyr lyst hyr selue commaÌ„de So that it nedeth no demaunde To aske of me yf I haue be scarse To loue for I to that parse Wylle answere and sey no My sone that is ryght wel doo For of tyme 〈◊〉 â—â—â—rcenesse It hath ben sene that fore the lesse Is lost the more as thou shalt â—eâ—e A tale lyke to this matere Hic loquitur contra istos qui auaricia stricti largitans beneficium in amo ris causa confundunt Et ponit exemplum quaâ—â—cer Croseus larguâ— et hilaris babionem auarum et tenacione de amore viole qui pulcherrima fuit dono largissimus circumuenit â— Carcenes loue acord neuer ffor euery thyng is wel that leueâ— When that a maÌ„ hath bouÈt it dere And for to speke in this matere For sparyng of a lytel cost Ful oftyme a man is lost The large cote for the hode What man that scarse is of his gode And wylle not gyue he shall not take With gyfte a man may vndertakâ— The hyghe god to plese queme With gyft a man the world may deme For euery creature y bore If thou yeue hym is glad therfore And euery gladship as I fyndâ— Is comfort vnto loues kynde And causes of man to spedâ— So was he wise that first gaf meâ—â— For mede kepeth loue in how 's But when the men ben couetouâ— And space to gyue a parte They knowe not of Cupides aâ—â—â— For his fortune and his apryse Deceyueth al couetyse And hateth al negardry And for to loke on this partyâ— A sooth ensample that it is sâ—â— I fynde wryten of Babeo That had a loue of his menage There was no fayter of hyr age And hyght vyota by name The whiche ful of youthe of game Was of hyr seft large and fre But suche another Chynche as â—e Men wise not m al the londe And had afaited to his honde His seruaunt whiche Spodius Was called and in this wise thus The worldes good of suffysaunce Was had but lykyng plesaunâ—â— Of that that longeth to Rycâ—esse Of loue stood in grete dystresse Soo that this yong lusty wyght Of the thyng that felle to louâ—s right Was euer serued ouerall That she was so begone with al Tyl that Cupyde and â—oenus eâ—â—e A medycyn for to seke Ordeyne wold in this câ—â—s Ryght as fortune than was Of loue vpâ—on the dâ—stene It felle ryght as it shold bâ— A fresshe a fre lusty man That nought of auaryâ—â— can The whiche crocius by name hyght And was lyberall al oute ryght And ther as she was he cam in presence She sawe hym large of his dispense And amerous and glad of there So that hyr lyked wel to here The goodly wordes that he said And therupon of loue he prayd It was of loue al that he mâ—nt And for that she shold to loue assâ—â—â— He gaf hyr gyftes euer among But for men seyen that mede is strong Hit was wel sene that same tyde For as it shold of ryght â—etyde This vpolâ— largesse bath take And the negard she dyde forsake Of bicâ—â—us she wyll no more For he was gratchyng and euer more There was with hym none other fare But for to pynche for to spare Of worldes mukke to gete encrees So goth the wretche loueles Beiaped for his scarcyte And he that large was and free And set his herte to dispend This Crocius his to we hath bende The which Venus took him for to hold And shot as oft as he wold Loo thus departeth loue his al we That what man wol not be felawe To gyue spend as I the telle He is not worthy for to dwelle In loues Courte to be releued For thy my sone yf I be leued Thou shalt be large of thy dispence My fader in my conscyence If there be ony thyng amys I wylle amend it after this Toward my loue namely My sone wel redyly Thou saist so that wel paid with al I am and ferthermore I shall Vnto thy shryft specyfye Of auaryâ—â— the progenye That vyce sueth after this Thou shalt haue wonder how hit iâ— Among the folk in many Regne That suche a vyce myght regne That is comune to alle assayes As men may fynde now a dayes Cuncta creatum deus et qui cuncta câ—â—â—uit Dampnant ingrati dicta quam facto viu Non dolor a longe stat quo siâ—i tâ—â—is amiâ—am Traxit et in fine deserit esse suam Hic â—â—quitur super illa aborta specie auaricie que ingratitudo dicta esâ—cuius coÌ„dicioni non â—â—lum creator sed it cuncte creature abhominabilem detestantur tHe vyce lyke vnto the fende That neuer yet was maÌ„s freÌ„de And cleped is vnkyndeship Of Couyne of felauship With auaryce he is witholde And thynketh that he shold be bolde Vnto the moder that hym bare Of hym may neuer man beâ—â— are He wol not haue the meryte For that he wold not acquyte That in this world is moche vsed And fewe ben there excused To telle of hym is endeles And thus I saye neuertheles Where as this vyce cometh to sonde There taketh no maÌ„ his thoÌ„ke oâ—â— hoÌ„de Though he with al his myghtes serue He shall of hem no thyng deserue He taketh what ony man may gyue But whyle he hath one day to lyue He wylle nothyng reward agâ—yne He grutcheth to gyue ageyne Where he hath a berne fulle That maketh a kynde herte dulle To sey his trust in suche frendship There as he fyndeth no kyndeship And for to speke wordes pleyne Thus here I many a man compleyne That now on dayes thou shalt fynde At nede fewe frendes kynde In what thou hast done for hem bifore It is forgeten as it were lore The bookes speken of this vyce And tellen how that god of his Iustice By wey of kynde also of nature And euery lyuynge creature And the lawe also who that it can They dampne an vnkynde man Ars et natura Cristus sit omnia iura DampnaÌ„t ingratum lamentantur fore natum Hit is all one to sâ—y vnkynde Aâ—â—hynge that done is ageyne kynde For it with kynde neuer stood A man to yelde euylle for goode For he that wold take hede A beste is glad of a goood dede And loueth that creature After the lawe of his nature The whiche doth hym ese for to seâ— Of this mater auctoryte Ful oftyme it hath befalle Wâ—â—rof a tale among vs alle The whiche of old â—â—samplaryâ— I thynke it for to specyfye Hic narrat quod bestie in suis benefiâ—ns hominem ingratum naturaliter preceâ—â—unt â–ª Et ponit Exemplum de aâ—â—â—no Rome senature qui in quadam forâ—sta venacionis insistens dum predicta inseaucretur in cisternam profuÌ„â—â— nestia familia corâ—uit vbi peruenieÌ„s auidam pauper nomine Bardus inâ—â—ssa cordula putans hominem extrax 〈◊〉 primo Simeam extraxit Secundo serpentem Tercio Adrianum qui paupâ—rem despiciens aliquid pro benefacto reddere recusabat
tho But not vpon his wyt bygete But els where he myght hem get Of whiche he had knowe Suche was the world that ylk throwe And so he was of children ryche And therof was no man hym lyche Of parlement the day was come There ben the lordes al some Tho was prouounced purposed And all the cause hem was disclosed How Anthenor in grece ferde They sytten ay stylle and herde And tho spak euery man aboute There was alledged many a doute And many a prowde word spoke also But for the moost partye as tho They wysten not what was the best Or for to werre or for to rest But he that was withoute fere Hector among the lordes there His tale told in suche a wyse And said lordes ye ben wyse Ye knowen this as wel as I Aboue al other moost worthy Stant now in grete manhode Of worthynes and of knyghthode For who so will it wel agrope To hem bylongeth al Europe Whiche is the thyrd parte euen Of alle the world vnder the heuen And we be but folke a fewe So were it reson to eschewe The perylle or we falle therin Better is to leue than to bygyn Thyng whiche may not be acheued He is not wyse that fynde hym greued And doth so that his greue be more For who that loketh all to fore And wylle not see what is behynde He may ful ofte his harmes fynde Wyck is to strif haue the worse We haue encheson for to corse This wote I wel for to hate The grekes but or we debate With hem that ben of suche a myght It is ful good that euery wyght Be of hym self ryght wel bythought But as for me thus sey I nought For whyle that my lyf may stonde If that ye taken werre in honde Falle it to the best or to the werst I shall my seluen be the ferst To greue hem what euer I may I stylle not ones say nay To thyng which that your coūceil demeth For vnto me more wel it quemeth The werre certes than the pees But this I say netheles As me belongeth for to say Now shape ye the best way Whan Hector had said his deuyse Next after hym tho spak paryse Whiche was his broder and alyed When hym best thought thus he seid Strong thyng it is to suffer wrong And suffre shame is more stronge But we haue suffred both the two And for al that yet haue we doo What soo we myght to reforme This wrong shame in better forme Sente Anthenor as ye wel knowe And they hir grete wordes blowe Vppon hir wrongfull dedes eke And who that wol not hym self meke To pees lyst no reson take Men seyn Reson wyll hym forsake For in the multitude of men Is not the strengthe for with ten It hath be sene in trewe quarele Ayene an honderd haluendele And hath the better by goddes grace Thus hath befalle in many place And yf it lyke vnto yow alle I wylle assay how so it bifalle Oure enemy yf I may greue For I haue caught a grete byleue Vpon a pleyne poynt I wol declare This yonder day as I gan fare To hunte vnto the grete herte Whiche was to fore my houndes sterte And euery man went on his syde Hym to pursewe and I to ryde Bigan to chase sooth to say Within a whyle oute of my way I rode nyst where I was And slope me caught on the grasse Beside a welle I leyd me doune To slepe and in a vysyoun To me the god Mercurye came Goddesses thre with hym he name Mynerue Venus and Iuno And in his hond an Appel tho He held of gold with lettres wryte And thus he dyd me to wyte How that they put hem vpon me That to the fayrest of hem thre Of gold that Appel shold I gyue With eche of hem I was shryue And echone faire me behyght But Venus said yf that she myght That Appel of my gyfte gete She wold it neuermore forgete And said how that in grece londe She wold brynge in to my honde Of al this erthe the fayrest So that me thought it for the best To hyr and yaf that appel tho Thus hope I well yf that I goo But she for me wylle so ordeyne That they matere for to pleyne Shal haue or that I come ageyne Now haue ye herd that I wold seyne Saye ye what stont in youre auyse And euery man tho said his And sondry causes they recorde But at the last they acorde That parys shall to grece wende And thus the parlement took an ende Cassandre when she herd of this The whiche to parys suster is Anone she gan to wepe and wayle And said alas what may vs ayle Fortune with hir blynd whele Ne wylle not lete vs stonde wele For this I dare wel vndertake That yf parys his wey take As it is seid that he shal doo We ben euer than fordoo This mayden Cassandre hyght In al the world as it bereth syght In bookes as men fynde wryte Is that Sybell of whome ye wyte That al men yet clepen sage Whan that she wyst of this vyage How Parys shold to grece fare No woman myght werse fare Ne sorowe more than she dyde And ryght so in the same stede Ferd Helenus whiche was hir broder Of prophecy and suche another And al was holde but a iape So that purpoos whiche was shape Or were hem leef or were hem lothe Was holde and in to grece goth This parys with his retenaunce And as it felle vpon his chaunce Of grece he londeth in an yle And hym was told that same whyle Of folk whiche he began to freyne Tho wás in that yle quene Eleyne And eke of countrees there aboute Of ladyes many a lufty rowte With mochel worthy peple also And why they comen thedertho The cause stood in suche a wyse For worship and for sacryfyse That they to Venus wold make As they to fore had vndertake Some of good wyll some of biheste For than was hir hyhe feste Within a Temple whiche was there Whan parys wyst what they were Anone he shope his ordynaunce To gone te done his obeysaunce To Venus on hir hooly day And dyd vpon his best aray With grete rychesse he hym behongeth As it to suche a lord longeth He was not armed netheles But as it were in londe of pees And thus he gothe oute of ship And taketh with hym his felauship In suche maner as I yow say Vnto the temple he hold his way Tydyng whiche gothe oueral To grete smal forth with all Come to the quenes ere told How parys come that he wold Doo sacryfyce vnto Venus And whan she herd telle thus She thought how that euer it be That she wylle hym abyde and see Forth cometh parys with glad vysage In to the temple on pylgremage Where vnto Venus the goddesse He yeueth offreth grete rychesse And prayeth hyr that he pray wold On that other syde he
tho Vnto Vlixes all the caas How that Cyrces his moder was And so forth seid hym euery dele How that his moder grete hym wele And in what wyse she hym sent Tho wist Vlixes what it ment And tooke gym in his armes softe And al bledyng kyst hym ofte And said sone whyles I lyue This infortune I the foryeue After his other sone in hast He sente he bigan hym hasâ—s And cam vnto his fader tyâ—e But when he saw hym in suche plyte He wold haue ronnen vpon that other Anone slayne his owne broder Ne had ben that Vlixes Bitwene hem made acord peâ—s And to his heyre thelamacus He had that he Thelogonus With al his power shold kepe Till he were of his woundes depe Al hole and than he shold hym yâ—â—â— Londe where vpon to lyue Thelamacus when he this herde Vnto his fadâ—â— he answerd And said he wold done his wylle So dwellen they to geder stylle These bretheren and the fader sterueth Lo wherof sorcery serueth Thorugh sorcerye his lust he wan Thorugh sorcery his wo bygan Thorugh sorcerye his loue he chese Thorugh sorcerye his lyf he lese The child was getâ— in sorcerye Whiche dyd all this felonye Thyng which was ayene kynde wroÈt Vnkyndely it was bought The child his owne fader slough That was vnkyndeship ynough For thy take heede how that it is So for to wynne loue amys Whiche endeth â—l his ioye in wo For al this arte I fynde also That hath be doâ— for loues sake Where thou myght ensample take A grete Cronycle Emperyall Whiche euer in memoryall Among the men how so it wende Shal dwelle vnto the worldes ende Hic nâ—rrâ—t Exemplum quâ—â—â—ter Nectanabus ab Egiptâ— in Macedoniam fugitiâ—â—s Olimpiadem philippi re gis ibidem tunc absentis vxorem arte magiâ— decipâ—ens câ—m ipsa concubuitâ— magnum quam ex ea Alexandrum sortelogus genuit qui natus pâ—stea cum ad erudiendum sub custodia Nectanabi patrem suum ab altitudine cuiusdam turris in fossam profundam percipiens interfecit Et sic sortilâ—gus ex suo sortilegio infortunij sortem sortitus est tHe hye Creatoure of thynges Whiche is kyng of al kynges Ful many worldes chaunce Lâ—te slyde vnder his sufferaunce There wote noman the cause why But he whiche is al myghty And that proued whilome thus When that the kyng Nectanabus Whiche had Egypte for to lede But for he sey before the dede Thorugh magyke of his sorcerye Wherof he couthe a grete partye His enemyes to hym comende Fro whome he myght not hym defende Oute of his owne londe he fledde And in the wyse as he hym dredde It felle for al his wytchecraft So that Egypte was hym beraft And he desguysed fledde awey By ship held the ryght wey To Macedoyne where that he Arâ—yueth at the chyef Cyte Thre yomen of his Chambre there All only for to serue hym were The whiche he trusteth wonder wele For they were trewe as ony stele And hapneth that they with hym lad Parte of the best good he had They toke lodgyng in the towne After the disposicioun Where as hym thought best to dwelle He axeth than herd telle How that the kyng was oute go Vpon a werre he had tho But in that cyte than was The quene whiche Olympias Was hoote with solempnyte The feste of hir natyuyte As it be fell was than holde And for hir lust to biholde And prayd of the people aboute She shope hir for to ryde oute And after mete al openly Anone were al men redy And that was in the Monethe of may This lusty quene on good aray Was set vpon a mule whyte To sene it was a grete delyte The ioye that the Eyte made With fresshe thynges with glade The noble tâ—une was al behonged And euery wyght was sore alonged To sâ—e this lusty lady ryde There was grete myrthe on euery side Where as passeth by the strete Thâ—re was full many tymbre bete And many a mayde carolyng And thus thurgh out that tâ—un playeng This quene vnto a pleyne rode Where that she houed and abode To see dyuerse gâ—me pley The lusty folk Iust and torney And so forth euery other man Whiche play couthe â—is playe bigan To plese with this noble quene Nectanabus came to the grene Amonges other drough hym nyghe But when that he this lady syghe And of hir beaute hede tooke He â—â—uthe not withdrawe his loke To see nought elles in the felde But stood only hir biheld Of his clothyng of his chere He was al vnlyche other there So that it hapneth at the last The quene vpon hym hir eye cast And knewe that he was sâ—rauÌ„ge anone But he biheld hir euer in one Withoute blemysshyng of his cheere She took good â—ede of hâ—s manere And wondreth why he dyd so And bad men sheld for hym goo He came dyd hir reuerence And she axeth in sylence From whome he came what he wold And he with sobre wordes told And seyth madame a Clerke I am To yow and in message I cam The whiche I may not tellen here But yf it lyke yow to here It must be said al pryuely Where none shal be but ye and I Thus for the tyme he tooke his leue The day goth forth till it was eue That euery man mote lete his werk And she thought euer vpon this clerk What thyng it is that he wold mens And in this wyse abode the quene It passeth ouer thylk nyght Till it was on the moro we lyght She send for hym and he came With hym his Astrolahe he name Whiche was of fyne gold precious With poyntes and cercles merueylous And eke the heuenly fygures Wronght in a book full of peyntures He took this lady for to shewe And told of eche of hem by rewe The cours and the condycyon And she with grete affectyon Sate stylle herd what he wold And thus when he seeth tyme he told And feyneth with his wordes wyse A tale and seyth in suche a wyse Madame but a whyle agoo Where I was in Egypte tho And radde in scole of this scyence It felle in to my conscyence That I in to the temple went And there with all my hole entent As I my sacryfice dede One of the goddes hath me â—edâ— That I yow warne pryuely So that ye make yow redy And that ye be no thyng agaste For he suche loue hath to yow cast That ye shall ben his owne dere And he shall be youre bedfere Til ye conceyue be with child And with that word â–ª she wex al myldâ— And somdele bicame for shame And axrth hym that goddes name Whiche so wol done her companye And he seid amos of luby And she said that may I not leue But yf I see a better preue Madame quod Nectanabus In token that it shal be thus This nyght for enformacion Ye shall hane a vysyon That Amos shall to
To god he yeueth the heuen ryche The world yeueth onely but a name Which stante vpon the good fame Of hem that done the good dede And in this wyse double mede Receyuen that done wel here Wherof yf that thou list to here After the fame as it is blowe Ther myght thou wel the soth knowe How thilke honest besynesse Of hem that first of rightwysnesse Emonge the men the lawes made May neuer vpon this erthe fade For euer while there is a tonge Her name shal be redde songe And hole in the cronyke write So that the men shullen wyte To speke good as they wel oughten Of hem that first the lawes soughten In forderyng of the worldes pees Vnto thebrewes was moyses The first the Egypciens Mercurius to troiens First was ne wma pompilius To athenes ligurius Yaue first the lawe vnto gregoys Foroneus hath thylke voyce And romulus of romayns For suche men as ben vylayns The lawe in suche a wyse ordeyneth That what man the lawe pleyneth By so the juge stonde vp right He shal be serued of his right And so ferforth it is befalle That lawe is comune emonge vs alle God lene it moâ—e wel be holde As euery kyng therto is holde For thynge whiche is of kynges sette With kynges ought it not to be lette What kyng of lawe taketh no kepe By lawe he may no royame kepe Do lawe aweye what is a kynge Where is the right of ony thynge If that there be no lawe in londe This ought a kyng wel vnderstonde As he which is to lawe sworne That yf the lawe be forlorne Withouten execusyoun Hit maketh a londe torne vp so dou n Which is vnto the kyng sclaundre For thy vnto kyng alisaundre The wyse philosophre hadde That he hym self first be ladde Of lawe than forth with alle To doo justyse in generalle That al the wyde londe aboute The iustyce of his lawe doubte And than shal he stonde in reste For therto lawe is one the beste Aboue al other erthely thynge To make a liege drede his kynge But how a kyng shal gete hym loue Toward the hygh god aboue And eke a man in erthe This nexte poynte whiche is the ferthe Of aristotles lore it techeth Wherof who the soole secheth What polecye that it is The book reherceth after this Nil racionis habens vbi vel tiraÌ„ni 〈◊〉 regna Stringit amor populi transiet exul ibi Set pietas regnum que conseruabit in euum Non tantum po pulo set placet illa deo Hic tractat de quarta principum re giminis policia que pietatis dicta est per quam principes erga populum mi serioordes effecti misericordiam altissimi consecuntur iT nedeth not that I debate The prynce which preised is algate And hath ben euer euer shal Wherof to speke in special It is the vertu of pyte Thorough which the hye mageste Was sterred whan his sone alyght And in pyte the world to right Toke of the mayde flesshe blood Pyte was cause of thylke good Wherof that we ben all saue Wel oughte a man pyte to haue And the vertu to sette in price Whan he hym self which is al wyse Hath shewed why it shal be preysed Pyte may not be counterpeysed Of tyrannye with no peyse For pyte maketh a man curteyse Bothe in his worde in his dede It sit wel euery liege to drede His kyng to his heste obeye And right so by the same weye It sit a kyng to be pytous Toward his peple gracious Vpon the rule of gouernaunce So that he worche no vengeauuce Whiche may be cleped cruelte Iustyce which doth equyte Is dredeful for he no man spareth But in the lâ—nde where pyte fareth The kyng may neuer fayle of loue â–ª For pyte thorough the grace aboue So as the phylosophre affermeth His reygne in good estate confermeth The appostle iames in this wyse Sâ—yth what man that shold do iuyse And hath not pyte forth wyth all The dome of hym whiche demeth all He may hym self ful sore drede That hym shal lacke vpon the nede To fynde pyte whan he wolde For who that pyte wyl beholde It is a poynte of cristes love And for to loken ouermore It is behouely as we fynde To reson to lawe of kynde Tassyodre in his aprise telleth The royame is sauf where pite dwelleth And tullyus this tale auoweth And saith what kyng to pite boweth And with pyte stonte ouercome He hath that shelde of grace nome Whichâ— vnto kynges yeueth victoryâ— Of alisannder in his hystorye I rede how a worthy knyght Of sodeyn wrath not of right Foriuged bath he appeleth And with that word the kyng quareleth And said none is aboue me That wote I wel my lord ad he Fro thy lordshyp appele I nought But fro thy wrath in al my thouÈt To thy pyte stante myn appele The kyng which vnderstode hym wele Of pure pyte gaue hym grace And eke I rede in another place Constantinus imperator ait vere se dominum esse â–ª comprobat qui seruum pietatis se facit Thus said whilom constantyne What emperour that is enclyne To pyte for to be seruaunte Of al the worldes remenaunte He is worthy to ben a lorde In olde bookes of recorde Traiâ—nus ait qd cum ipse subditos suos solite pietatis fauore magis quaÌ„ austeritatis rigore regere corum que be neuolenciam pocius quam timorem penes se attractare proponebat tHis fynde I write of ensauÌ„playr Traian the worthy debonayr By whome that rome stode gouerned Vpon a tyme as he was lerned Of that he was to famulyer He said vnto that counceller That for to be an emperour His wylle was not for veyne honour Ne yet for reddour of Iustyce But yf he myght in his offyce His lord his peple plese Hym thought it were a grete ease With loue her hertes to hym drawe Than with the drede of ony lawe For whaÌ„ a thynge is done for doubte Ful ofte it cometh the wers aboute But where a kynge is pytous He is the more gracious That mykel thrist hym shal leiyde Whiche ellis shold torne a syde Qualiter Iudeus predester cum pa â— gaue equitante itinerauit per desertum et ipsum de fide sua interrogauit tO do pite supporte grace The phiâ—â—sophre vpon a place In his writyng of dayes olde A tale of grete ensaumble tolde Vnto the kyng of macedoyne How bytwene cayr babyloyne Whan comen is the somer hete It happened two men for to mete As they shold entre in to a paas Where that the wyldernes was And as they wente forth spekende Vnder the large wodes ende That one man axeth of that other What man art thou my lyef broder Which is thy creaunce thy feyth I am a paynym that other seyth And by the lawe which I vse I shal not in my feyth refuse To louen al men y
stoÌ„de note where I shal lyue or dey For though resoÌ„ ageyn my wyl debate I may not flee that I ne loue algate Vpon my self this ylke tale come How whiloÌ„ Pan which is the god of kynde with sâ—ue wrestled and was euercome For euer I wrasile euer I am behynde That I no strengthe in al my herte fynde wherof I may ston den ony trowe Soo ferre my wytte with loue is ouerthrowe Whom nedeth helpe he mote helpe craue Or helpeles he shal his nede spylle Pleynly thorugh sought my wyttes al I haue But none of hem can helpe after my wylle But also wel I myght sitte stylle As praye vnto my lady of ony helpe Thus wote I not wherof my self to helpe Vnto the grete Ioue yf it byd To do me grace of thylke swete tonne which vnder key in his sâ—lere aâ—yd Lyeth couched that fortune is ouercoÌ„me But of the bitter cuppe I haue begeÌ„ne I note how ofte thus I fynde no game For euer I aske it is the same I see the world stoÌ„deth vpoÌ„â—schauÌ„ge Now wynde lowde â—ow the weder softe I may see eke the grete mone chaunge And thynge whiche now is lowe is â—fto in â—ofte The dredeful wer res in to pees ful ofte They torne euer is daunger in one place whiche wil not chauÌ„ge his wil to do me grace But vpon this grete clerke ouyde Of loue when he maketh his remembrauÌ„ce He saith ther is the blynde cupide The which hath loue vnder his gouernaunce And with his hande many a fyry launce He woundeth ofte there he wyl not hâ—â—e And that somdele is cause of my quarele Ouyde sayth eke that loue to parfourme Stante in the hoâ—de of venus the goddesse But whan she taketh hir counceyl with satourne There is no grace and in that tyme I gesse Began my loue of which myn heuynesse Is now euer shal but I spede So wote I not my self what is to rede For thy to you cupyde venus bothe with al my hertes obeysaunce I praye If ye were atte fyrst tyme wrothe whan I began to loue I you say Now stynte do thilke fortune away So that daunger whiche stondeth of retynewe wyth alle my lady hys place may renewe O thou cupyde god of loues lawe That with thy darte brennyng hast sette a fyre My herte so that wounde wythdrawe Or yeue me salue suche as I desyre For seruyce in thy courte wythouten hyre To me whiche euer yet hath kepte thyn heste May neuer be to loues lawe honeste O thou gentyl venus loues kynde quene without gylte thou doest oâ— me thy wreche Thou wotest my peyn is euer elyche grene For loue yet I may it not areche Thus wolde I for my laste word byseche That thou my loue acquyte as I deserue Or ellys do me playnly for to sterue Hic loquitur qualiter venus accepta amantis supplicacione indilate ad singula respondit wHen I thys supplicacion With good deliberacion In suche a wyse as ye now wyte Had after myn enteute wryte Vnto cupyde venus This preest which hyght Genyus It toke on honde to presente On my message forth he wente To venus for to wyte hir wylle And I bode in the place stylle And bode there but a lytel whyle Not fully the mountenauÌ„ce of a myle Whom I behelde sodeynly I sawe where venus stode me by So as I myght vnder a tree To grounde I felle vpon my kneâ— And preyed hir for to do me grace She cast hir chere vpon my face And as it were haluyng a game She axeth me what was my name Madame I said Iohan gower Now Iohan qd she in my power Thou must as of thy loue stonde For I thy wylle haue vnderstonde In which to cupyde to me Somdele thou hast compleyned the And somdele to nature also But that shal stonde emonge ye two For therof haue I not to done For nature is vnder the mone Maystresse of euery lyues kynde But yf so be that she may fynde SoÌ„me holy man that wil withdrawe His kyndely lust ageyn her lawe But selde whan it falleth so For fewe men ther ben of tho But of thyse other ynough there be Which of her owne nycete Ageyn nature hir offyce Delyten hem in sondry wyse Whâ—rof that she ful ofte hath pleyned And eke my courte it hath dysdeyned And euer shal for it recâ—yueth None suche that kynde so dysceyueth For al onelyâ—he on genty â—loue My court stont al courtes aboue And taketh not in toâ—retinewe But thynge whiche is to kynde delbe For ellys it shal be refused Wherof I holde the excused For it is many dayes gone That thou emonge hem were oue Which of my courte hast be withholde So that the more I am beholde For thy dyscase to comune And to renewe that fortune Which many dayes hath the greued But of my counceyl may be leued Thou shalt be esed or thou goo Of thylke vnsely ioly woo Wherof than sayest thyn herte is fyred But of that thou hast desyred After the sentence of thy bylle Thâ—u must â—o therof at my wylle And I therof me wyl aduyse And be thou hole it shal suffyse My medecyn is not to seke Tâ—â— which is holsem to the seke Not al perchaunce as ye it wolde But so as ye by reson sholde Accordaunt vnto loues kynde For in the plyte which I the fynde So as my courte it hath awarded Thou shalt be duely rewarded And yf thou woldest more craue It is no right that thou it haue Qui cupit id quod habere nequit sua tempora perdit Est vbi non posse bâ—lle salute caret Non estatis opus geâ—â—dis hirsuta capillos Cum calor abcâ—ssit equiparabit hiemps Sicut habet mayus non dat natura decembri Nec poterit compar floribus esse lutuÌ„ Sic neqÈ decrepita senium iuuenile vo luptas Floret in obsequium quod venus ipsa petit Coueniens igitur foret nec qd â—â—ua senectus Attigit veterius corpora casta colâ—nt Hic coÌ„tra quoscuÌ„qÈ viros inue teratos amoris concupiscenciam affectans loqÌ„tur venus huius qÈ amantis confessi suppstcationem quasi deridens ipsum ê“ eo qd senexit debilis est multis exortutionibus insufficientem redargu it vEnê° which stonte with out lawe In none certeyn but as men drawe Of ragman vpon the chaunce She leyeth no peyse in the balaunce But as hir lyketh for to weye The trewe man ful ofte alle weye She put which hath hir grace bede And sette an vntrewe in his stede Lo thus blyndely the world she demeth In loues cause as to me semeth I note what other men shold seyn But I algate am so beseyn And stonde as one emongest alle Which am out of his grace falle It nedeth take no wytnesse For she which said is the goddesse To whether parte of loue it weâ—de Hath set me for a fynal ende The poynte wherto that I shal holde
Inne And that was when the world was woye Of man of hore of shepe of Oxe And that men knewen the money Tho went pees oute of the weye And werre came on euery syde Whiche al loue leyd asyde And of comon his propre made So that in stede of shouel spade The sharp was take on honde And in this wyse it cam to londe Wherof that men made dyches depe And hyghe walles for to kepe The gold whiche auaryce encloseth But al to lytel hym supposeth Though he myÈt al the world purchace For that thyng that may embrace Of gold of catel or of lond Lete it neuer oute of his hond But gete hym more halt it fast As though the world sholde euer last So is he lyche vnto the helle For as these bokes telle What cometh ther in lasse or more It shal departe neuermore Thus when he hath his Cofer loken It shal not after ben vnstoken But when hym lyst to haue a syght Of gold hou it shyneth bryght That he theron may loke muse For other wyse he dare not vse To take his part or lesse or more So is the power for euermore Hym lakketh that he hath Inough An oxe draweth in the plough Of that hym self hath no profyte A shepe ryght in the same plyte His wulle bereth vpon a day Another taketh the flees aweye Thus hath he that he nought ne hath For he therof his part ne tath To seye hou suche a man hath good Who so that reson vnderstood It is inproperlyche sayd That good hath hym halt hym taid That he ne gladeth nought with alle But is vnto his good a thralle And as a subget thus serueth he Where that he shold Mayster be Suche is the kyng of Thauarous My sone as thou art amerous Telle yf thou farest of loue soo My fadre as it semeth no That auarous yet neuer I was So as ye setten me the caas For as ye tolden here aboue In ful possessyon of loue Yet was I neuer here to fore Soo that me thynketh wel therfore I may excuse wel my dede But of my wylle withoute drede Yf I that tresour myght gete It shold neuer be foryete That I ne wold faste holde Tyl god of loue hym selue wolde That deth vs shold departe a two For leueth wel I loue her so That euen with myn owne lyf If I that swete lusty wyf Myght ones welden at my wylle For I wold holde hyr stylle And in this wyse taketh kepe If I her had I wold her kepe And yet no frydaye wold I fast Though I her kepte holde fast Fy on the bagges in the kyst I had ynough yf I her kyst For certes yf she were myn I had her leuer than a myn Of gold for al this worlde ryche Ne me myght make so ryche As she that is so Inly good I set nought of other good For myght I gete suche a thynge I had Tresour for a kynge And though I wold it faste holde I were therto mochel byholde But I myÈt pype now with lasse And suffre that it ouerpasse Not with my wyll for thus I wold Ben auarous yf that I shold But fadre I you herd sey Hou the auarous hath yet somme wey Wherof he may be glad for be May when hym lyst his tresour se And grope fele it al aboute But I ful ofte am shet ther oute There as my worthy Tresour is So is my lyf lyche vnto this That me tolden here to fore Hou that an Oxe his yok hath bore For thyng that shold hym not auayle And in this wyse I me trauayle For who that euer hath the welfare I wote wel that I haue the care And I am as who sayth loues knaue For I am had nought ne haue Now deme in your owne thought Yf this be auaryce or nought My sone I haue of the no wonder Thongh thou to serue be put vnder With loue whiche to kynde acordeth But soo as euery book recordeth At is to kynde no plesaunce That man aboue his sustenaunce Vnto the gold shal serue bowe For that may no reason auowe But Auaryce netheles If he may geten his encrees Of gold that wold he serue kepe For he taketh of nought elles kepe But for to fylle of his bagges large And al is to hym but a charge For he ne parteth nought with al But kepeth as a seruaunt shal And thus though that he multyplye His gold withoute Tresorye He 〈◊〉 for man is nought amended With gold but yf it be dyspended To mans vse wherof I rede A tale take therof good heede Of that byfelle by old tyde As telleth vs the câ—erk Ouyde â— Achus whiche is god of wyn Acordannt to his dyuyn A preest whiche Cillenus hiÈt He had fel so that he by nyght Thâ—â— preest was druÌ„ke goth a straid â—â—â—rof the men were euyl apayd â—â— Frygâ—â—ond where as he went â—â—â— at the last a chorle hym hent 〈…〉 strengthe of other felaushyp â—â— that vpon his drunkeshyp 〈…〉 bounden hym with cheynes fast And forth they lad hym also fast â—â—to the kyng whiche hyght Myde But he that wold his vyce hyde 〈…〉 curtoys kyng toke of hym hede And bad that men sholde hym lede â—â— to a chambre for to kepe â—â—â—â—e of leyser had a slepe And tho this preest was sone vnbouÌ„d And vpon a couche fro the ground To slepe 〈◊〉 was leâ—d softe Inough And when he woke that kyng hym drouÈ To his presence dyd hym chere So that this preest in suche manere Whâ—se that hym lyketh there he duelleth And al this he to Bachus telleth When that he cam to hym ageyne And when that Bachus herd seyn Hou myde hath done this curtesye Hym thynketh it were â— vylonyâ— But he reward hym for his dede So as he myght of his godhede Vnto this kyng this god appereth And clepeth that other hereth This god to Myde thanketh fayre Of that he was soo debonayre Toward his prest bad hym seyâ— What thyng it were he wold preye He shold it haue of worldly good This kyng was glad stylle stood And was of his axyng in doute And al the world he casteth aboute What thyng was best for his â—state And with hym self stood at debate Vpon thre poyntes whiche I fynde Ben leuest vnto mannes kynde The fyrst of hem it is delyte The two ben worshyp profyte And than he thought yf that I craue Delyte though I delyte may haue Delyte shal passen in my age That is no syker auauntage For euery ioye bodely Shal ende in woo delyte for thy Wol I not chese yf I worshyp Axe of the world lordshyp That is an occupacyon Of proude Imagynacyon Whiche maketh an hert veyn within There is no certeyne for to wynne For lorde knaue is al one weye When they be bore when they deye And yf I profyte axe wolde I not in what maner I sholde Of worldes good haue sykernesse For
euery theef vpon rychesse A wayteth for to robbe stele Suche â—â—ood is cause of harmes fele And also though a man at ones Of al the world within his wones The Tresour myght haue euery deele Yet had he but one mans dele Toward hym self so as I thynke Of clothynge of mete of drynke For more oute take vanyte There hath no lord in his degre And thus vpon the poyntes dyuerse Dyuersly he gan reherce What poynt hym thought for the best But pleynly for to gete hym rest He can no syker weye cast And netheles yet at the last He felle vpon the couetyse Of gold than in sondry wyse He thought as I haue sayd to fore How Tresour may be sone forlore And had an Inly grete desyre Touchend of suche recouer Hou that he myght his cause auayle To gete hym gold withoute fayle Within his hert thus he preyseth The gold sayth hou that he peyseth Aboue al other metal most The gold he sayth may lede an hoost To make werre ayene a kyng The gold put vnder al thyng And set whome hym lyst aboue The gold can make of hate loue And werre of pees ryght of wrong And long to short short to long Withoute gold may be no fest Gold is the lorde of man beste And may hem both bye selle Soo that a man may sothely telle That al the world to gold obeyeth For thy this kyng to bachus preyth To graunte hym gold but he excedeth Mesure more than hym nedeth Men tellen that the maladye Whiche callyd is Ioropesyâ— Resembled is to this vyce By weye of kynde Auaryce The more Idropesye drynketh The more thyrsteth for hym thynketh That he may not drynke his fylle Soo that there may no thyng fulfylle The lustes of his appetyte And ryght in suche maner plyte Stant euer Auaryce euer stood The more he hath of worsdes good The more he wolde kepe streyte And euer more and more coueyte And ryght in suche condicyon Wythoute good discrecyon This kyng with auaryce is smete That al the worlde it myght wete For he to Bachus then preyd That wherupon his honde he leid It sholde thorugh his touche anone Become gold therupon This god hym graunteth as he bad Tho was this kyng of Fryge glad And for to put it in assaye With al the hast that he maye He toucheth that he toucheth this And in his hond al gold it is The stone the tre the leef the gras The Floure the fruyte al gold it was Thus toucheth he while he may last But hongre att the last Hym took soo that he mote nede By wey of kynde his hongre fede The clothe was leyd the boord was set And alle was forth byfore hym set His dissh his drink his cuppe his meet But when he wold drynk or ete As to his mouth anone cam nyghe It was al gold then he syghe Of Auayrce the folye And he with that bygnne to crye And preyde Bachus to foryeue His gylt suffre hym for to lyue And be suche as he was to fore Soo that he were nought forlore This god whiche of this greuaunce Herd toke routhe vpon his repentauÌ„ce And bad hym goo forth redyly Vnto a flood was fast by Whiche paceole than hyght In whiche as sone as euer he myght He sholde hym wasshe oueral And said hym than he shal Recouere hys fyrst astate ageyn This kyng right as he herd seyn In to the flood goth fro the lond And wesshe hym bothe fote hond And so forth al the remenaunt As hym was set in â—â—uendunt And than he sawe meruayles strauÌ„ge The flood his coloure gan to chaunge The grauel with the smal stones To gold they torne al attones And he was quyte of that he had And thus fortune his chaunge lad And when he sawe his touche gone He goth hym home ryght forth soone And lyueth forth as he dyde er And put al Auaryce a fer And the ryches of gold despyseth And seyth that mete clothe suffyseth Thus hath this kyng experyence Hou fooles done the reuerence To gold whiche of his owne kynde Is lasse worth than is the rynde To sustenaunce of mans fode Then he made lawes goode And al his thyng set vpon skylle He lede his people for to tylle Her lâ—nd lyue vnder the lawe And they also shold forth drawe Bestayl seche none encrees â—f gold whiche is the breche of pees For this a man may fynde wryte To fere the tyme that gold was smyte In coygne that men the floren knewe There was wel nyhe noman vntrewe There was nother shelde ne spere Ne dedely wepen for to be bere Tâ—o was the toune withoute walle The whiche now is closed ouer alle Tho was there no broâ—â—ge in lond Whiche now taketh euery cause on hoÌ„d So may that man knowe hou the floreyn Was moder fyrst of malengyn And brynger in of alle werre Wherof this world stant oute of herre Thorugh the counseyl of auaryâ—â— Whiche of his owne propre vyce Whiche as the helle wonderful For it may neuermore be ful That what as euer cometh therynne Awey it ne may neuer wynne But sone myn do thou not so Late al suche auaryce go And take thy part of that thou hast I byd not that thou do wast But hold largesse in mesure And yf thou see a creature Whiche thorugh pouert is falle in nede Yeue hym somme good for this I rede To hym that wol not yeuen here What peyne he shal haue elles where There is a peyne among al Bynethe in helle whiche men calle The woful peyne of Tantaly Of whiche I shal the redely Deuyse hou theryn men stond In helle thou shalt vnderstâ—nd There is a flood of thylk offyce Whiche serueth al for auaryce What man that stonde shal therin He stant vp euen to the chynne Aboue his hede also there hougeth A fruyt whiche to that peyne longeth And that fruyt toucheth euer in one His ouerlyppe and therupon Suche thyrst honger hym assayleth That neuer his appetyte ne fayleth But when he wende his hongar fede The fruyt withdraweth hym at nede And though he haue his hede on hyghe The fruyt is euer alyche nyghe So is the honger wel the more And also though hym thurst sore And to the water bowe adoune The flood in suche condycyon Aualeth that his drynke areche He may not loo now whiche a wreche That mete drynk is hym so couthe And yet ther comth none in his mouth Lyche to the peynes of this flood Stant Auaryce in worldes good He hath Inough yet hym nedeth For his scarcenes it hym forbedeth And euer his honger after more Trauayleth hym alyche sore So is he peyned oueral For thy thy goodes oueral My sone loke that thou dyspende Wherof thou myght thy self amende Bothe here eke in other place And also yf thou wolt purchace To be loued thou must vse Largesse for yf thou refuse To yeue for thy