he nedes mote To geten his lyues fode Tho thought hym cold gras goode That whilome ete the hotâ— spyces Thus was he torned from delyces The wyn was wonte to drynke He took thenne of the welles brynke Or of the pyt or of the slough It thought hym then good ynough In stede of chambres wel arayed He was than of a busshe wel payed The hard ground he lay vpon For other pylowes had he non The stormes the raynes falle The wyndes blowe vpon hym alle He tormented day nyght Suche was the hyghe goddes myght Tyl seuen yere an ende toke Vpon hym self tho gan he loke In stede of mete grâ—s treys In stede of handes long cleys In stede of man a beste lyke He sawe than he gan to syke For cloth of gold of perrye Whiche hym was wonte to magnyâ—ye When he byheld his cote of here 's He wepte with woful teres Vp to the heuen he cast his chere Wepend thought in this manere Though he no wordes may wynne Thus sayd his hert spak withynne O myghty god that al hast wrought And al myÈt brynge ageyne to nouÈt Now knowe I but al of the This world hath no prosperyte In thyn aspect ben al alyche The poure man eke the ryche Withoute the ther may no wyght And thou aboue al other myght O myghty lord to ward my vyce Thy mercy medle with Iustyce And I wol make a couenaunt That of my lyf the remenaunt I shal it by the grace amende And in thy lawe so dispende That veyn glorye I shal eschewe And bowe vnto thyn heste sewe Humylyte that I vowe And so thenkend he gan doune bowe And though hym lacke boys speehe He gan with his fete areche And wenend in his beestly steuene He made his pleynt vnto the heuene He kneleth in his wyse brayeth To seche mercy assayeth His god whiche made hym nothyng strauÌ„ge When that he saw his pride chaÌ„ge Anone as he was huÌ„ble tame He fond toward his god the same And in a twynkelyng of a look His mannes forme ageyne he took And was reformed to the Reygne In which that he was wont to reygne So that the pryde of veyn glorye Euer afterward oute of memorye He lete it passe thus it shewed What is to ben of pryde vnthe wed Ageyne the hyghe goddes lawe To whome no man may be felawe For thy my sone take good hede So for to lede thy manhede That thou be not lyke a beste But yf thy lyf shal be honeste Thou must humblesse take on honde For than myght thou syker stonde And for to speke in other wyse A proud man can not assise For thouÈ a womaÌ„ wold hym please His pryde can not ben at ease Ther may noman to mochel blame A vyce whiche is for to blame For thy men shulden nothyng hyde That myght falle in blame of pryde Whiche is the worst vyce of alle Wherof so as it was byfalle The tale I thynke of a Cronyque To telle yf it may the lyke So that thou myght humblesse sewe And eke the vyce of pryde eschewe Wherof the glorye is fals veyne Which god hym self hath in dysdeyne That though it mounte for athrowe It shall falle doune ouerthrowe Est virtê° humilis per quam deus altus ad yma Sed tulit nostre viscera carnis habet Sic humibis superest et amâ—â— sibi subditur omnis Cuius habet nulla sorte superbus opem Odit eum tetra celum defecit et ipsum Sedibus interm stat que receptus ibi hIc narrat Confessor ExeÌ„plum contra superbiam Et dicit ê™ nuper quidam Rex famose prudencie cuidam Militi suo super questionibus vt inde certitudinis responsioneÌ„ daret subpena capitalis seutencie terminum pre fixit Primo quid minoris indigencie ab inhabitantibê° orbem auxilium maius obtinuit Secundo quid maioris valencie meritum continens minoris expense reprisas exiguÌ„t Tercio qid oiÌ„a bona diminuens ex sui proprietate nichil penitus valuit Quarum vero questionnm quedam virgo dicti militis filia nomine patris solucionem aggredi ens taliter Regi respondit Ad primaÌ„ dixit quod terra nullius indiget quaÌ„ tnÌ„ adiuuare cotidianis laboribê° omnes intendunt Ad secundam dixit ê™ humi litas omnibus virtutibus preualet qÌ„ tamen nullius prodegalitatis expensis meÌ„suram excedit Ad terciam dixit ê™ suê‘bia omnia tam corporis qmÌ„ anime bona deuastans maiorum expensarum excessus inducit aKing was whilom yoÌ„g wise The which of his wit set grete pryce Of depe ymagynacyoÌ„s And straunge Interpretacions Problemes demauÌ„des eke His wysedom was to fynde seke Wherof he wold in sondry wyse Opposen hem that were wyse But none of hem it myght vere Vpon his word to yeue ansuere Out taken one whiche was a knyght To hym was euery thyng so lyght That also sone as he hem herde The kynges wordes ansuerde What thyng the kynge axe wolde Ther anone the trouthe he tolde The kyng somdele had an enuye And thouÈt he wold his wyttes plye To set som conclusyon Whiche shold be confusyon Vnto this knyght so that the name And of wysedome the hyghe fame To ward hym self he wold wynne And thus of al his wyt to wynne The kyng bygan to study muse What straunge mater be myght vse The knyghtes wyttes to confounde And at last he hath it founde And for the knyght anone he sent That he shal telle what he ment Vpon the poyntes of the mater Of questions as thou shalt here The fyrst poynt of al thre Was this What thyng in al degre Of al this World hath nede lest And yet men helpe it alther mest The second What most is worth And of costage is lest put forth The thyrd is whiche is of most coste And lest is worth goth to loste The kyng these thre demauÌ„des axeth To the knyght this lawe he taxeth That he shal gone come ageyne The thyrd weke telle hym pleyne To euery poynt what it amounteth And yf so be that he myscounteth To make in his ansuere a faylle Ther shal none other thyng faylle The kyng sayth that he shal be dede And lese his goodes his hede The knyght was sory of this thynge And wold excuse hym to the kyng But he ne wold hym not forbere And thus this knyght of his ansuere Goth home to take auyfement But after his entendement The more he cast his wytte aboute Therof he stant the more in doute Tho wyst he wel the kynges hert That he the deth ne shold astert And suche a sow we has to hym take That gladship he hath forsake He thought fyrst vpon his lyf And after that vpon his wyf Vpon his childee eke also Of whiche he had doughters two The yongest of hem had in age Fourtene yere of vysage She was ryght
and how they were torned in to byrdes foâ—â—o lxxxvj How cerhalus by wakyng gate Auroram his loue desyred the sonne the mone to lengthe theyr â—â—â—â—rs folâ—o lxxxviij How yo was transformed in to a â—â—wâ— â—ut to the kepyng of argus by â—uno but mercuryns brought hym a slepe slewe hym foliâ— lxxxix How yphys the sone of Tencer louyd a mayde and couâ—e not gete hyr by prayers ne yefdes hynge hym self at his faders gate and the goddes torned the mayde therfore in to an harde sâ—one folio lxxxx Thus endeth the fourth book Here begynneth the fyfthe book Here entendeth the confessor to trede of coueâ—yse and aueryce which is rote of al euyls of his spyces folio lxxxx How myda kyng of frigye herâ—erowed Cillenum the preest of bachus wherfore bachus bâ—d hym demaunde what 〈◊〉 wold and he shold haue vndyscreteâ—y he desyred that alle that he touched shold be golde folio lxxxxâ— Of the vyce of â—alousye whyche eneâ— hath suspecyoâ—n without cause ymagyneth corrupcion folio lxxxxiij How vulcanus fonde venus a bedde with mars wherupon he called all the felawshyp of goddes to see them and they laughed hym to scorne folio lxxxxiiij Of the false sectes of goddeâ— how they began by the paynyms and fyrst of the secte of the caldees foâ— lxxxxv The epystle of Dyndymus kynge of bragmans sente to kynge Alysaunder folio lxxxxix Of the fyrst culture in worshyppyng to ydolles folio lxxxxix Of the Synagoge of the hebrewes or â—ewes which fayled whaÌ„ the chirche of crysâ—e began folio C Of crysten feythe in which is ineffabyly byleued the complement of the mysterye of the holy sacrament fundament of our sauacion folio C How thoas the hygh preest of the temple of mynerue corupte by golde torned his face â— syde wytyngfy whiles Anthenor toke aweyâ— the palladyum folio Cj Saynt gregore sayth whan peâ—re shal come with the Iurye Andrewe wyth achaye Thomas with ynde Paule with the gentyles what shall we now sayâ— folio C j Here the confessor tredeth on the spyce of auaâ—yce named â—ouetyse sheweth it to the amaunt in the cause of loue folio C ij Of craâ—â—us the Emperour for couetyse lete ouerthrowe the myrrour of virgile in which the romayns myâ—t see what hurte shold come to them folio C ij Of hem that serue in prynces courâ—es grutche for theyr rewarde folio C iiij Of frederyke themperour how he herde two ponre men stryuâ—ng one sayenâ—â— that he may be wel ryche whome the kyng wyl that other said who that god wyl shal be ryche to preue it the kyng made two pastyees fâ— C vj Here he treteth of the spyce that is called false wytnesse and periurye the nature therof folio C vij How theâ—ys clothed achylles hir sone in câ—othyng of a mayde and sâ—nt hym to kyng lychomede where he laye wyth his doughter and gate hyr wyth chylde folio C viij How â—ason gate the golden flees and after falsed medea for loue of crusa forsoke hyr and was forsworen folio C ix How medea made eson his fader yoÌ„ge ageyn folio C xiij How the golden flees came fyrst in to colchos folio C xv Here he treteth of the spyce of Auaryce callyd vsure and of hys nature folio C xvj How Iuno auengyd hyr on Ecâ—â— for lâ—r bawdrye folio C xvij Here he tredeth of the vyce of scarcenes which wyl not departe to god ne to man folio C xvij How eroceus large and lyberalle deceyued babyon strayte and auaricious of the loue of vyole by hys large yâ—ftes folio C xviij Here he speketh of the spyce of auarice callyd â—ngraâ—ytude or vnkyndenesse whiche is in condycyon abhomynable folio C xix Of adryan sâ—natour whiche fyl in a pytte and how bardue pulled hym out and also thre bestes whiche bestes rewarded hym how the sayd adrian â—â—â—s vnkyndâ— folio C xix Of the vnkyndenes of theseus to adryan whiche had saued his lyf how he lefte hir and â—oke phedra her suster folio C xxj Here he treteth of the spyce of auarice named 〈◊〉 whos moder is extorcion of his nature folio Cxxiij Of proygne and phylomene susterâ— how they were dysceyued by Terâ—us And of theyr tâ—ansformacyon in to byrdes folio C xxiij Here speketh of the vyce of auaryce called thefte folio C xxvj How neptuno wold haue oppressyd a vyrgyn walkyng by the see syde And Pallas delyuerd hyr fro hys handes folio C xxvâ— How Iupiter in symplitude of a mayde rauysâ—hed by thefte the vyrgynyte of calistone and gate on hyr Archas folio C xxvij How phirynus the fayrest yong man of rome put out his owne eyen by â—ause he wold sâ—me abhomynable in the syght of wymmen that desyred hym folio C xxviij How valentynyan the emperour had more ioye that he had kepte his virgynyte thaÌ„ of al the conquest that he had subdued to rome folio C xxviij Here he treteth of the vice called secre â—e thefte or mycherye and hys nature folio C xxix Of lenchotoe whom phebus defloured vnwytyng the moder wherfore hyr fader dyd do burye hyr quycke out of whos tombe groweth an â—â—be callyd goldes folio C xxx Of hercules and Eole and how that eche of them waâ—â— others clothes and how fawnus came to hercules bedde in stode of eole whom herculeâ— threwe to the grownde folio C xxxj Here he treteth vpon the laste spyce of coueâ—yse and is called sacrylege which is to stele holy thynges and in holy places folio C xxxij Here he telleth of thre sacreleges one made anthiochus another nabuzardaâ— the third nabugodonosor â—o C xxxij How parys of troye rauysshed out of the temple heleyn wyfe to kynge menelaus wherfore after alle Croye was destroyed folio C xxxij Here he speketh of the vertu of largesse whiche stondeth bytwene lyâ—e raâ—â—te prodegalite folio C xxxv Thus endeth the fyfthe book And bere begynneth the syxthe book Here the confessor trâ—teth of the synne of â—lâ—tonye and telleth onelye of two his vyces that is dronkenshyp and delycacyr of theyr nature folio C xxxvj How Iupyter hath in his selere two â—unnes in the fyrst of which is moste swâ—te lycâ—ur and the second is ful of â—ytder fyâ—ur folio C xxxviij How at the reâ—uâ—sâ—â— of baâ—hus whan became fro a lutayle â—ut of the orryent and câ—ude fynde no maner drynke Iubyter sente hym a weder whiche with hys fode smote the greunde and there anone sprange a welle folio C xxxviij Here he telleth how Trystram for the drynke that brangweyn gaue to hym he was asâ—â—tâ—d dronken in the loue of â—â—le ysoâ—de folio C xxx x How the centauri â–ª whan they were dronke wexyd wood and in theyr woodnes rauâ—sshed â—potacye fro pyro thâ—s hir husbond folio C xxxix How galba vytellus were â—uged to doth chees for to be dronkeÌ„ when they shold deye teschewe the more the peyne of deth folio C xxxix Here he
Nay sayd Florent that may not be Ryde then forth thy wey quod she And yf thou go forth withoute rede Thou shalt be sekerlyche dede Florent behyght good ynough Of lond of rent of parke of plough But al that she compteth nought Tho felle this knyÈt in mochel thouÈt Now goth heâ— forth now cometh ayene He not what is best to seyne And thought as he rode to fro That chose he mote one of the two Or for to take hyr to his wyf Or elles to lese his lyf And than he cast his auauntage That she was of so grete an age That she may lyue but a whyle And thought to put her in an I le Where that noman her shold knowe Tyl she with deth were ouerthrowe And thus this yong lusty â–ª knyght Vnto this old lothely wyght Tho sayd yf that none other chaunce May make my delyueraunce But only thylke same speche Whiche as thou â—eyst thou shalt me teche Haue here myn hoÌ„d I shal the Wedde And thus his trouth he leid to Weddeâ— With that she frouÌ„ceth vp that browe This couenaunt wol I alowe She sayth yf ony other thyng But that thou hast of my techyng Fro deth thy body may respyte I wol the of thy trouthe acquyte And elles by none other weye Now herken me what I shal seye Whan thou art come in to the place Where now they maken grete manace And vpon thy comyng abyde They wol anone the same tyde Oppose the of thyne ansuere I wote thou wolt no thyng forbere Of that thou wenest be thy best And yf thou myght so fynde rest Wel is for than is ther more And elles this shal be my lore That thou shalt say vpon this molde That al women leuest wolde Be souerayne of mannes loue For what woman is so aboue She sayth as who sayth al her wylle And elles may she nought fulfylle What thyng were here leuest haue With this ansuer thou shalt saue Thy self otherwyse nought And whan thou hast thy ende wrouÈt Come here ayene thou shalt me fynde And lete nothyng oute of thy mynde He goth hym forth with heuy chere As â—e that not in what manere He may this worldes Ioye atteyne For yf he dye he hath a peyne And yf he lyue he mote hym bynde To suche a wytche of old kynde Of women the vnsemelyest Thus wote he not what is the best But be hym lyef or be hym â–ª loth Vnto the Castel forth he goth His ful ansuere for to yeue Or for to dye or for to lyue Forth with his counseyll cam the lord The thynges stonden of record He send vp for the lady sone And forth she cam that old mone In presence of the remenaunt The strengthe of al the couenaunt Tho was reherced openly And to Florent she bad par dy That shal tellen his auys As he that wote what is the prys Florent sayth al that euer he couthe But suche word cam none to mouthe That he for yefte or for byheste Myght ony wyse his deth areste And thus he taryeth long late Tyl this lady bad algate That shal for the dome fynal Yeue his ansuere in specyal Of that she had fyrst opposed And than he hath truly supposed That he hym may of nothyng yelpe But yf so be tho wordes helpe Whiche as the woman hath hym tauÈt Wherof he hath an hope caught That he shal be excused so And told oute pleyne his wylle tho And whan this matrone herd The maner how this knyght ansuerd She sayd treson wo the be That hast thus told the pryuyte Whiche al women most desyre I wold that thou were on fyre But netheles in suche a plyght Florent of his ausuer is quyt And tho bygan his soro we newe For he mote gone or be vntrewe To her whiche his trouthe had But he whiche al shame drad Goth forth in stede of his penaunce And taketh the fortune of his chauÌ„ce As he that was with trouth affayted This olde wyght hym hath awayted In place where â–ª as he her in â–ª lefte Florent his woful hede vp lyfte And sawe this where that she sytte Which was the lothest wyghte That euer man cast on his eye Here noseâ—baas â–ª her browes hyghe Hyr eyen smal depe sett Hyr chekes ben with teres weet And ryuelyn as in an empty skyn Hangyng doune vnto the chyn Her lyppes ben shronken for age Ther â–ª was no grace in her vysage Hyr front was narwe hir lockes hore She loketh forth as doth a more Her neck is short her shulders courbe That myght a mannes lust distourbe Here body grete no thyng small And shortly for to descryue hyr all She hath no lyth withoute a lak But lyche vnto the wolle sak She profereth hyr vnto this knyght And bad hym as he behyght So as she bath by his warrant That he hyr helde couenaunt And by the brydel she hym seseth But god wote how that she hym pleseth Of suche wordes as she speketh Hym thynketh wel nyghe his hert bre keth â–ª For sorowe that he may fle But yf he wold vntrewe be Loke how a seke man for his hele Taketh baldemony with canele And with the myrre the sucre Ryght on suche maner lucre Stant Florent in this dyete He drynketh the bitter with the swete He medleth sorowe with lykyng And lyueth as who sayth deyng His thought shal be cast awey Vpon suche one as that the wey Is old lothly oueralle But nede he mote that nede shalle He wold algate his trouthe holde As euery knyght therto is holde What hap so euer to hym is falle Though she be foulest of alle The honour of womanhede Hym thought he shold take heede So that for pure gentilnesse As he couthe hyr best adresse In ragges as she was to tore He set hir on his hors to fore And forth he taketh his weye softe No wonder though he sygheth ofte But as an oule fleeth by nyght Out of al other byrdes syght Ryght so this knyght on dayes brode In close hym helde shope his rode On nyghtes tyme tyll the tyde That he come ther he wold abyde And pryuely withoute noyse He bryngeth this foule grete coyse To his Castel in suche a wyse That noman myght her shap auyse Tyl she in to chambre came Where he his preuy counseylle name Of suche men as he most trust And told hem that he nedes must This beste wedde vnto his wyf For elles he had lost his lyf The pryue women were assent That shold be of his assent Her ragges they anone of drawe And as it was that tyme lawe She had bath she had rest And was arrayed to the best But with no craft of combes brode They myght dâ—esse her lockes shode And she ne wold not be shore For no counseyl therfore With suche a tyre as tho was vsed Ordeynen that it was excused And had so crafte lyche aboute That noman myght seen hem oute But whan she was fully
ended Al redy was the bord cloth The kyng vnto his souper goth Among the lordes to the halle And when they had souped alle They when leue forth they go The kyng bythought hym seluen tho Hou he his broder may chastye That he thought his surquedrye Took vpon hond to dispreyse Humylyte whiche is to preyse And therupon yaf suche counseylle Toward his kyng that was vnheyle Wherof to be the better lered Hym thynketh to make hym afered It felle so that in thylke dawe Ther was ordeyned by the lawe A Trompe with a sterne breth Whiche was cleped the Trompe of deth And in the Court where the kyng was A certeyne man a Trompe of bras Hath in kepyng therof serueth That whan a lord his deth deserueth He shall this dredefull Trompe blowe To fore his gate make it knowe How that the jugement is yeue Of deth whiche shal not be foryeue The kyng when it was nyght anone This man assent bad hym gone To trompen at his broders gate And he whiche mote done algate Goth forth doth the kynges heste This lord whiche herd this tempeste That he to fore his gate blewe Tho wyst he by the lawe knewe That he was sekerlyche dede And as of helpe he wyst no rede But sende for his frendes alle And told hem how it is byfalle And they hym axe cause why But he the soth not for thy Ne wyst ther was sow we tho For it stode thylk tyme so This Trompe was of suche sentence That ther ayene no resystence They coude ordeyne by no weye That he ne mote algate deye But yf so be he may purchace To gete his lyege lordes grace Here wyttes therupon cast And len appoynted at last This lord a worthy lady had Vnto his wyf whiche also drad Her lordes deth childre fyue Bytwene hem two they had on lyne That weren yong tendre of age And of stature of vysage Ryght fayr lusty to see Tho casten they that he she Forth with her childre on the morowe As they that were full of sorowe Al naked but of smok shyrte To tendre with the kynges herte His grace shold go to seche And pardon of deth biseche Thus passen they that wofull nyght And erly when it was lyght They gone hem forth in suche a wyse As thou to fore hast herd deuyse All naked but hyr shyrtes one They wepte made mochel mone Hyr here hanged aboute hyr ere 's With sobbyng with sory terys This lord goth then an humble pas That whylome proud noble was Wherof the Cyte sore a flyght Of hem that sawen that ylke syght And netheles al openly With suche wepyng suche cry Forth with his children his wyf He goth to pray for his lyf Vnto the court whan thry be come And men therin hath hyed nome There was no wyght yf he hem syghe From water myght kepe his eye For sow we they maden tho The kyng supposyth of this wo And feyneth as he nought ne wyst But netheles at his vpryst Men told hym how it ferde And whan that he this wonder herde In hast he goth in to the halle And al attones doune they falle If ony pyte may be founde The kyng which seth hem fell to grouÌ„de Hath axed hem what is the fere Why be ye so dispoylled there His broder sayd A lord mercy I wote none other cause why But only that this nyght ful late The Trompe of deth was at my gate In tokene that I shold dye Thus we be come for to preye That ye my worldes deth respyte Ha foole thou thou art for to wyte The kyng vnto his broder seyde That thou art of so lytel freyd That only for a Trompes soune Hath gone dispoilled thorugh the toune Thou thy wyf in suche manere Forth with thy children that ben here In syght of all men aboute For that thou sayst thou art in doute Of deth whiche stant vnder the lawe Of man man may it withdrawe So that it may per chaunce faylle Now shalt thou not for thy meruaylle That I doune from my chare alyght When I behelde to fore my syght In hem that were of so grete age Myn owne deth thorugh her ymage Which god hath set by lawe of kynde Wherof I may no bote fynde For well I wote suche as they be Ryght suche am I in my degre Of flesshe blood so shal deye And thus though I that lawe obeye Of whiche that kynges be put vnder It ought be wel the lesse wonder Then thou whiche art withoute nede For lawe of lond in suche a drede Whiche for to accompt is but a iape As thyng which thou myÈt ouerscape For thy my broder after this I rede that sethyn that so is That thou canst drede a man so sore Drede god with al thyne hert more For al shal dye al shal passe As wel a lyon as an asse As wel a begger as a lord Toward deth in one acord That shal stonde in this wyse The kyng with his wordes wyse His broder taught al foryeue Confessor For thy my sone yf thou lyue In vertu thou must vyce eschewe And with lowe hert huÌ„blesse sewe So that thou be not Surquedous Amans My fadre I am amerous Wherof I wold you beseche That ye me ensample teche Whiche myÈt in loues cause stonde Confessor My sene thou shalt vnderstonde In loue other thynges alle If that Surquedrye falle It may to hym not wel be tyde Whiche vseth thylk vyce pryde Whiche torneth wysedome to wenyng And sothfastnesse in to lesyng Though foule ymagynacyon And for thyn enformacyon That thou thre vyce as I the rede Esche we shalt a tale I rede Whiche felle whilome by dayes olde So that the clerk Ouyde tolde hIc in specyaali tractat Confessor aâ— in Amante contra illos qui de propri a formositate presumeÌ„te amorem Mu hens dedignantur Et narrat Exemplum qualiter cuiusdam principis filiê° Nomine Narcizus estiuo tempore cum ipse venacionis causa quendam ceruuÌ„ selue cuÌ„ suis canibus exagitaret in gra uem sitim incurrens necessitate coÌ„pulsus ad bibendum de quodam fonte pro mis incâ—nauit vbi Ipse faciem suam pulchirrimam in aqua percipieÌ„s putabat se per hoc illam Nimpham quam Poete Ekko woont in flumine coram suis oculis conspeyisse de cuius amore confestim laqucatus vt Ipse ad se de fente extra haberet pluriâ—ê° blandicijs adâ—sabatur sed cum illud nullatenus perfiâ—ere poit pre nimio languore deficiens coÌ„tra lapides ibidem adiacentre caput exuerferans cerebruÌ„ effudit â— He was whilom a lords soÌ„ne Which of his pride a vice woÌ„ne Hath caught that worthy to his lyche To sechen al the worldes riche 〈◊〉 was no woman for to loue So â—â—ghe he set hym self aboue Of stature of beaute bothe That hym thought
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
stood Wherof for sorowe well nyhe woode Vnto hir moder thus he said Loo what is to kepe a mayd To Phebus dare I no thyng speke But vpon this I shall be wreke Soo that these maydens after this Mowe take ensample what it is To suffre her maydenhede to be stole Where that she the deth may thole And bad with that go make a pytte Wherin he hath his doughter sette As he that wold no pyte haue So that she was al quyck be graue And deed anone in his presence But Phebus for the reuerence Of that she had ben his loue Hath wrouÈt thoruÈ his power aboue That she sprong vp oute the molde In to a floure was named gold Whiche stonte gouerneth of the sonne And thus when loue is euyll wonne Ful ofte it cometh to repentayle My fader that is no meruayle When that the counceyll is be wreyed And oftyme loue hath pleyed And stole many a pryue game Whiche neuer yet cam to blame What that he thynketh weren hydde But in youre tale as betydde Venus disturbed all the caas And eke also brode daye it was When Phebus suche a fylthe wrought Wherof the maide in blame brought That afterward she was so fore But for ye seyden now to fore How stelth of loue goth by nyght And doth his thynges oute of syght Therof me lust also to here A tale lyche to the matere Wherof I myght ensample take My good sone for thy sake So as it befelle by dayes olde And so as the poete it told Vpon the nyghtes mycherye Now herken a tale of Poesye Hic ponit â—yemplum super eodem quod de notte contingit â–ª Et narrat qualiter Hercules cum Eola in quadam spelunca nobili Thophis dicta sub moÌ„te thimolo ibi silua bachi eÌ„ hospicio pernoctarunt Et cum ipsi varijs lectis seperatim iacentes dormiâ—runt contigit lectum Herculis vestimentis Eole lectum qÈ Eole pelle leonis contra Hercules induebatur operari super quo fobnns a silua descendeus speluncam subintrauit temptans si forte cum Eola sue concupiscencie voluptatem nesciente Hercules furari posset Et cum ad lectum Herculis muliebri palpata veste ex casu peruenisset putans Eolam fuisse cubiculum nudo corpore ingreditur quem senciens Hercules manibus appreheÌ„sum ipsum ad terraÌ„ ita fortiter al lisit vt inpotens sui corporis effectus vsaÈ mane ipsum requieuit vbi Saba cum Nymphis siluestribus superue niens ipsum sic illusum deridebat tHe myghtyest of all men When hercules with Eolen Whiche was the loue of his courage To geder vpon a pylgremage Toward Rome sholden goo It felle hem by the way so That they vpon a day the caue Within a roche founden haue Whiche was ryall gloryous And of entayle curious By name Thopis it was hote The sonne shone tho wonder hote As it was in somer tyde This Hercules whiche by his syde Hath Eolen his loue there When they at thylk caue were He seid it thought it for the best That she three for hir reste All thylk day and thylke nyght And she that was a lusty wyght In euery thyng to hym obeydâ— â—it lyketh hir al that he seide The long day so befelle This caue was vnder the hylle Of thymolus whiche was â—â—growe With wetâ—es at thylk throwe Fanus with Saba the goddesse And other Nimphus of hir kyndenesse In thylke tyme stood gouerned Were in a place as I am lerned Nyghe by whiche bachus woode hyÈt This fanus took a grete insight Of câ—len that was nyghe For whan thâ—t he hir beaute syghe â—ute of his wyt he was assoted And in his herte he hath so noted That he forsoke the Nymphes alle And said he wold how so it falle Assay another for to wynne So that his herte thought withynne He set cast how that he myght Of loue pyke awâ—y by nyght That be by day in other wyse To stele myght not suffyse And therupon his tyme he waytâ—th Now take gode bâ—de how loue affaâ—teth Hym which is with loue al oueroome Faire Eolen when she was come With Hercules in to the caue Sâ—â— said that soâ— wold haue His 〈◊〉 of fire bothe And echâ— of hem sheld other clothe And all was doo right as she bade He hath hir in his clothes clade And cast on hir his gypyon Whiche of the skyn of a lyon Was made he vpon the wey It slough euer thus to pley She took his grete mace also And knytted at hir gyrdel the So was she lyche to man awyd And Hercules hath than assayd To clothen hym in her array And thus they iape forth the day Till that hir souper redy weâ—â— And when they hadden souped there They shopen hem to goo to rest And as it thought hem for the best They bad as for thylke nyght Two sondry beddes shold be dyght For they â—e geder lygge nold By cause that they offre wold Vpon the morowe hir sacryfice The seruaunte dyn her offyce And sondey beddes made anonâ— Where in that they to rest gone Eche by hem self in sondry place Fair Eolen hath set the mace Besides her beddes bede aboue And with the clothes of hir loue She hylled all hir bedde aboute And he whiche had of no thyng douts Hir wympel wonde aboute his chekâ— Hir kyrtel hir mantell eke Abrode vpon his bedde spredde And thus they slepen bothe a bedde And what of trauayle what of wyn The seruaunt lyke to a dronken swyn Bygan for to rowte fast This Fanus whiche his stelthe cast Was than comen to the caue And fonde they were al saue Withoute noyse in he went The derk nyght his syght blent And yet it happed hym to god Where Eolen a bed tho Was leyd alone for to slepe But for he wold take kepe Whoo 's bed it was he made assayâ— And of a lyon where he lay The cote he found eke he feleth The mace than his herte keâ—eth That there durst he not abyde But stalketh vpon euery side And sought aboute with his hondâ— That other bed till he fond Where lay wympled a vysage Tho was he glad in his courage For he hyr kyrtell fonde also And eke hir mantell bothe two Bespred â—pon a â—ed aâ—oft He made hym naked than soft In the bed vnware he crepte Where Hercules that tyme slept And wende well it were she And thus in stede of Eole Anone be profereth hym loue And he whiche felt a man aboue This Hercules hym threwe to ground So sore that they haue hym fond Lyggend therupon the morowe And tho was not a lytel sorowe That fanus of hym self made â—nt els they were al glade And loghen hym to scorne aboute Saba with Nympâ—â—s all the route â—am doune to loke how that he ferd And when that they the sooth herde He was beiaped oueral My sone be thou ware with al To vse suche
grete vnderstondyng is In mans soule resonable I thynke to telle is no fable Hic ponit exemplum contra istos de licatos Et narrat de diuite et LaÈaro quorum gestns m euangelio lucasuidencius describit oF Cristes worde who wil it rede How that this vyce is for to drede In the euangely it telleth pleyne wiche must algate be certeyne For crist hym self bereth wytnesse And though the clerk the clergesse In latyn tong it rede and synge Yet for the more knowlechyng Of trouthe whiche is good to wyte I shall declare as I it wrâ—te In Englysâ—he for thus it bigan Crist seith there was a ryche man A myghty lord of grete estate And he was eke so delycate Of his clothyng that euery day Of purpir bice he made hym gay And ete and drank to his fylle After the lustes of his wylle As he whiche stood al in delyce And took no hede of thylk vyce And as it shold so betyde A poure LaÈar vpon a tyde Came to the gate axeth mete But there myght he no thyng gete His dedely honger for to staunche But he whiche had his ful paunche Of all lustes at the bord Ne deyneth not to speke a word Onlyche a Cromme for to yeue Wherof the peure myght leue Vpon the yeft of his almesse Thus lay this poure in grete distresse Acâ—lde hongred at the gate For whiche he myght goo no gate So was he woful besene That there as he lay on the grene The houndes comen fro the halle Where that this sike man was falle And as he lay there for to dye The woundes of his maladye They lyeken for to done hym ese But he was full of suche dysese That he may not the deth escape But as it was that tyme shape The so wle fro the body passeth And he whome no thyng ouerpasseth The hyghe god vp to the heuen Hym took where he hath set hym euen In Abrahams barme on hyghe Where he the heuens ioyr sighe And had all that he haue wold And felle as it befalle shold This ryche man this same throwe With sodeyne deth was ouerblowe And forth withouten ony went In to helle streyght he went The fende in to the fire hym drough Where that he had peyne ynough Of flamme whiche that euer brenneth And as his eye aboute renneth Toward the heuen he cast his loke Where that he sawe hede tooke How LaÈar set was in his see As ferre as euer he myght see With Abraham than he prayde Vnto the patriarke and sayde Sende LaÈar doune fro thylk sete And doo that he his fynger wete In water so that he may droppe Vpon my tonge for to stoppe The grete hete in whiche I hrenne But Abraham auswerd thenne And seid to hym in this wyse My sone thou the myght auyse And take in thy remembraunce How Lalar had grete penaunce Whyles he was in that other lyf But thou in al thy lusty iolyf The bodely delytes soughtest For thy so as thou than wroughtest Now shalt thou take to thy reward Of dedely payne herafter ward In helle whiche shall ener last And this LaÈar now at the last The worldes payne is ouer ronnâ— In heuen he hath his lyf begonne Of ioye whiche is endeles But that thou praydest neuertheles That I shal LaÈar to the sende With water on his fyngers ende Thyne hote tonge for to kele Thou shalt not suche graces fele For in that folble place of synne For euer in whiche thou shalt ben Inne Cometh none out of this place thidder Ne none of yow maye come hydder Thus be ye parted now a two The ryche ayeneward cryed tho O Abraham sith hit soo is That laÈar may not doo me this Whiche I haue axed in this place I wold pray another grace For I haue yet of bretheren fyue That with my fader ben alyue To geder dwellen in one how 's To whome as thou arte gracious I pray that thou woldest sende LaÈar so that he myght wende To warne hem how the world is weÌ„t That afterward they be not shent Of suche peynes as I drye Loo this I pray this I crye That they may hem self amende The patriarke anone sende Of his prayer answer nay And said hym how that euery day His bretheren myght knowe here Of moyses in erthe here And of prophetes other mo What hem was best he said no But yf there myght a man aryse From deth to lyf in suche a wyse To tellen hem how that it were He seyd thenne of pure fere They sholden than beware therby Quod Abraham nay sikerly For yf they now wylle not obeye To suche as teche hem the wey And al day preche al day telle How that it stont of heuen helle They wylle not than taken hede Though it befelle so in dede That ony dede man so arered To ben of hym no better lered Than of another man on lyue If thou my sone canst descryue This tale as Cryst hym self told Thou shalt haue cause to be hold To see so grete an euydence There of the sooth experyence Hath shewed openlyche at the eye That bodely delycacye Of hym whiche yeueth no almesse Shal after falle in grete distresse And that was sene vpon the riche For he ne wold vnto his lyche A croÌ„me yeuen of his brede Than afterward when he was dede A droppe of water hym was werned Thus may a mannes wytte be lerned Of hem that so delytes taken When they with deth ben ouertaken That erst was swete is than sowre But he that is gouernoure Of worldes good yf he be wyse Within his herbe he set no pryce Of al the world yet he vseth The good that he nothyng refuseth As he whiche lord is of the thynges The ouches the ryche thynges The clothe of gold the perrye He taketh yet the delycacye He leueth though he were all this The best mete that there is He eteth drynketh the best drynke And taketh none hede to thynke Delycacye to put awaye As he whiche goth the right waye Not only for to fede clothe His body but his sowle bothe But they that taken otherwyse Her lustes ben none of the wyse And that whylome was shewed eke If thou these old bookes seke As wel by reson as by kynde Of old ensamples as men fynde Hic loquitur de desicacia Newnis qui corporalibus delicijs magis adherens spiritualia gaudia minus obtinuit tHat man that wold hym wel auise Delycacye is to despyse Whan kynde acordeth not with all Wherof ensample in special Of new whylome may be told Whiche ayens kynde many fold His lustes took till at the last That god hym wold all ouercast Of whome the Cronyke is so pleyne Me lust no more of hym to seyne And netheles for glotonye Of bodely delycacye To knowe his stomak how it ferd Of that no man to fore herd Whiche he wythin hym self bethought A wonder subtyle thyng