¶ The workes of Geffray Chaucer newlye printed wyth dyuers workes whych were neuer in print before As in the table more playnly doth appere Cum Priuilegio ad imprimendum Solum ¶ Printed by Wyllyam Bonham dwellynge at the sygne of the Kynges armes in Pauls Churchyarde 1542. ¶ To the Kynges hyghnesse my moost gratious soueraigne lorde Henry the eyght by the grace of God Kynge of Englande Fraunce and Irelande defendour of the Fayth and in erth supreme heed of the church of Englande and Irelande AMonges all other excellencies moste gratious soueraigne lorde wher with almyghty God hathe endowed mankynde aboue the resydue of erthly creatures as an outward declaration of reason or reasonablenesse wherin consysteth the symilitude of man vnto Angels and the dyfference betwene the same and brute beestes I veryly suppose that speche or langage is not to be reputed amonges the smallest or inferiours For therby is expressed the conceyte of one to another in open and playne sentence whych in the resydue of lyuely creatures lacketh and is not shewed amonges them but by certayn couert and derke sygnes and that in sewe thynges hauynge course and operacion onely of nature Thys speche or langage after the confusyon of tonges sente by goddes punyshment for pryde and arrogance of people hath bene be a certayne instyncte and dysposytion naturall dyuysed and inuented in sondry partes of the worlde as felowshyppes or coÌ„panyenges of folkes one wyth another chaunced moche to the outward expressynge of the thynge in worde or sounde accordynge to that wherof it had meanynge or sygnificacyon But in processe of tyme by dilygence or policy of people after dyuers fourmes fygures and impressyons in metal barkes of trees other mater vsed for memorie and knowlege of thinges then present or passed sondry letters or carectes were first amonges the Phenices dyuysed and founde wyth suche knyttynges and ioynynges of one to another by a marueylous subtilte and crafte as counterueyled was and is equiuaualent to the same langages So as the conceyte of mannes mynde whyche at the begynnynge was vsed to be declared by mouthe onely came to suche poynt that it was as sensybly and vyuely expressed in wrytynge Hervpon ensewed a great occasyon and corage vnto them that shulde wryte to compone and adorne the rudenesse and barbariete of speche and to forme it to an eloquent and ordynate perfection where vnto many and many greate poetes and oratours haue hyghly employed theyr studyes and corages leauynge therby notable renoume of them selues and exsample perpetuel to theyr posterite Amonges other the Grekes in all kyndes of sciences semed so to preuayle and so to ornate theyr tonge as yet by other of ryght noble langages can not be perfytelye ymitated or folowed The Latyns by exsample of the Grekes haue gotten or wonne to them no small glorie in the fourmynge order and vttrynge of that tonge Out of the whyche two yf it be well serched that is to saye Greke and Latin though by corruption of speche it shulde seme moche otherwyse haue bene deryued y e resydue of the langages that be wrytten wyth the letters or carectes of eyther of them bothe But of all speches those whyche moost approche to the latinite be the Italian and Spaynyshe tonges of whome the one by corruption of the Gothes and Longobardes hadde her begynnynge as latyn spoken by straungers of a barbare vnderstondyng The other beinge also latyn was by Vandales Gothes Moores Saracenes and other so many tymes blemyshed as maruayle it is to se nowe vnto what perfection these two formed out of the latyn barbare speches be reduced Next vnto them in similitude to the latyn is the French tonge whyche by diligence of people of the same is in fewe yeares passed so amended as well in pronunciation as in wrytynge that an Englyshe man by a smale tyme exercysed in that tonge hath not lacked grounde to make a grammer or rule ordynarye therof Though of trouth whyche some shall scarselye beleue the Germayns haue so fourmed the order of theyr langage that in the same is both as moch plentie as nere concordauÌ„ce to the phrase of the latyn as the Frenche tonge hath And verely lyke as all these and the rest haue ben thus vigilant and studious to meliorate or amende theyr langages so hath there not lacked amonges vs Englyshe men whych haue ryghte well and notablye endeuoured and emploied them selues to the beautifyenge and betterynge of thenglyshe tonge Amonges whome moost excellent prince my most redoubted and gracious soueraigne lorde I your moost humble vassall subiecte and seruaunt Willyam Thynne chefe clerke of your kechyn moued by a certayne inclinacion and zele whych I haue to heare of anye thynge soundynge to the laude and honoure of thys your noble realme haue taken great delectation as the tymes and laysers myght sustre to rede heare the bokes of that noble famous clerke Geffray Chaucer in whose workes is so manyfest comprobacion of hys excellent lernynge in all kyndes of doctrines and sciences suche frutefulnesse in wordes well accordynge to the mater and purpose so swete and pleasaunt sentences such perfection in metre the composition so adapted such freshnesse of inuention compendiousnesse in narration suche sensyble â—nd open style lackynge neyther maiesty ne mediocrite couenable in dysposition suche sharpnesse or quycknesse in conclusyon that it is moch to be maruayled howe in hys tyme when doutlesse al good letters were layde a slepe throughoute the worlde as the thynge whyche eyther by the dysposition and influence of the bodyes aboue or by other ordinaunce of God semed lyke and was in daunger to haue vtterly peryshed suche an excellent poete in our tonge shuld as it were nature repugnyng sprynge and aryse For thoughe it had ben in Demosthenes or Homerus tymes wheÌ„ al learnyng and excellency of sciences floryshed amonges the Grekes or in y e season that Cicero prince of eloquence amonges latyns lyued yet had it ben a thynge ryght rare and straunge and worthye perpetuall laude that any clerke by lernynge or wytte coulde then haue framed a tonge before so rude and imperfyte to such a swete ornature and composition lykely yf he had lyued in these dayes beynge good letters so restored and reuyued as they be yf he were not empeched by the enuye of suche as maye tollerate nothynge whyche to vnderstande theyr capacite doth not exteÌ„de to haue brought it vnto a full and fynall perfection Wherfore gracious soueraygne lord taking suche delyte and pleasure in the workes of thys noble clerke as is afore mencioned I haue of a longe season moche vsed to rede vysite the same as bokes of dyuers impryntes came vnto my handes I easely and with out great studye myght and haue deprehended in them many errours falsyties and deprauations whych euidently appered by the contrarietees and alteracions founde by collacion of the one wyth the other wherby I was moued and styred to make diligeÌ„t serch where I myght fynde or
folowynge be workes by them selfe THe dreme of Chaucher F. cc.lxvij The assemble of foules F. cc.lxxiij The flour of Curtesy F. cc.lxxviij Howe Pyte is deed and beryed in a gentyll herte Fol. cc.lxxix La belle dame sans mercy Fol. cc.lxxx Annelyda and false Arcyte Fol. cc.lxxxvi The assemble of Ladyes Fol. eodem The cōclusion of thastrolaby Fol. cc.xci The cōplaynt of the blacke knight Fol. ccc A preyse of women Fol. ccc.iiij ¶ The house of Fame is deuyded in to thre bookes ¶ The fyrst boke begynneth Fol. ccc.v. The seconde boke begynneth Fol. ccc.viii The thyrde boke begynneth Fol. ccc.xi ¶ Explicit the house of Fame ¶ The Testament of Loue is deuyded in to thre bokes ¶ The fyrst boke begynneth Fol. ccc.xv The seconde boke begynneth Fol. ccc.xxv The thyrde boke begynneth Fol. ccc.xlj ¶ All these workes folowynge be workes by them selfe THe lamentacyon of Marye Magdalayne Fol. ccc.l The remedy of Loue Fol. ccc.lv The cōplaynt of Mars venus fol. ccc.lviij The complaynt of Mars alone Fol. ccc.lix The complaynt of Venus alone Fol. ccc.lx. The letter of Cupyde Fol. ccc.lx. A balade of our lady Fol. ccc.lxiij A balade of kyng H. the fourth Fol. ccc.lxiiij Of y e cuckowe y e nyghtingale Fol. ccc.lxvij Scogan vnto the yonge lordes and gentylmen of the kynges house Fol. ccc.lxix Dyuers other balades of Chaucer c. ¶ Thus endeth the table of all the workes ¶ Eyght goodly questions with theyr aunsweres SOmtyme in Grece that noble region There were eightclerkes of grete science Philosophers of notable discretion Of whom was asked to proue theyr prudence Eyght questions of derke intellygence To whiche they answered after theyr entent As here dothe appere playne and euydent ¶ The fyrst questyon what erthly thyng Is best and to god moost commendable The first clerke answered without tarying A mannes soule euer ferme and stable In ryght from trouthe nat varyable But nowe alas full sore may we wepe For couetyse hath brought trouthe a slepe ¶ The seconde what thing is moost odious A double man sayd the philosophre wyth a virgyn face and a tayle venomous wyth a fayre vieu and a false profre A corrupte caryen in a golden tree It is a monster in natures lynage One man to haue a double vysage ¶ The thyrde what is the best dower That maye be to a wyfe appropriate A clene lyfe was the cleckes aunswer wythout synne chast and inuyolate From all disceytes and speches inoruate Or countenaunce whyche shall be to dispyse No fyre make and no smoke woll aryse ¶ The fourth questyon what maydē may Be called clene in chastyte The fourth clerke answerd whiche alway Euery creature is a shamed on to lye Of whom euery man reporteth gret honeste Good maydens kepe your chastyte forthe And remēbre that good name is gold worth ¶ Who is a poore man euer full of wo A couetouse man whyche is a nygon He that in his herte can neuer saye ho The more good the lesse distributyon The richer the worse of condityon Men in this cost clepen him a nygarde Sir Guy the bribour is hys stewarde ¶ Whiche is a ryche man withouten fraude He that can to hys good suffyse what soeuer he hath he yeueth god the lande And kepeth hym clene from all couetyse He desyreth nothyng in vngoodly wyse His body is here hys mynde is aboue He is a ryche man for god dothe hym loue ¶ Who is a foole is the seuenth demaunde He that wolde hurte and hath no powere Myght he mykell moche wolde he cōmaūde His malyce great his myght nought were He thretteth full faste full lytell may he dere Thynketh nat howe men haue sayd beforne God sendeth a shrewde cowe a shorte horne ¶ Who is a wyse man is the eyght question He that myght noye and dothe no noyaūce Myght punyshe and leaueth punyssyon A man mercyfull without vengeaunce A wyse man putteth in remembraunce Sayeng had I venged all myne harme My cloke had nat be furred halfe so warme ¶ Explicit ¶ To the kynges most noble grace and to the lordes and knyghtes of the garter TO you wele of honour and of worthynesse Our Christen kyng the heire and successour Vnto Iustinians deuout tendernesse In faythe of Iesu our redemptour And to you lordes of the garter floure Of cheualry as men you clepe and cal The lorde of vertue and of grace authour Graunt the frute of your rose neuer appal O liege lorde that haue eke the lykenesse Of Constantyne thensample and myrrour To princes all in humble buxumnesse To holy churche o veray sustaynour And pyller of our fayth and werryour Agayne the heresyes bytter galle Do forthe do forthe contynue your socour Holde vp Christes baner lette it nat falle This yle or this had ben but hethnesse Nad be of your fayth the force and vigour And yet this day the fendes crabbydnesse weueth fully to catche a tyme and hour To haue on vs your lieges a sharpe shoure And to hys seruytude vs knytte and thralle But aye we trust in you our protectour On your constaunce we awayten alle Cōmaundeth that no wight haue hardinesse O worthy kyng our Christen Emperour Of the fayth to dispute more or lesse Openly amonge people Her errour Spryngeth all day and engendreth rumour Maketh such lawe and for ought may befal Obserue it wele there to be ye dettour Doth so and god in glorye shall you stall Ye lordes eke shynyng in noble fame To whiche appropred is the mayntenaunce Of Christes cause in honour of hys name Shoue on and put his foes to vttraunce God wolde so so wolde eke your legiaunce To tho two prycketh you your duite who so nat kepeth this double obseruaunce Of meryte and honour naked is he Your style sayth ye be foes to shame Nowe kyth of your fayth the perseueraunce In whiche an hepe of vs be halte and lame Our christen kyng of Englande of Fraūce And ye my lordes wyth your alyaunce And other faythfull people that there be Trust I to god shal quench al this noysaūce And this lande sette in hyghe prosperite Conquest of hyghe prowesse is for to tame The wylde woodnesse of these myscreaunce Ryght to the rote repe ye that same Slepe nat this but for goddes plesaunce And hys mother and in sygnifyaunce That ye ben of saynt Georges lyuere Doth hym seruyce and knyghtly obeysaunce For Christes cause is hys well knowen ye Stiffe stand in that ye shal greue grame The foe to peace the norice of distaunce That nowe is ernest tourne it in to game Nowe kythe of your beleue the constaunce Lorde liege lordes haue remembraunce Lorde of all is the blysfull Trinyte Of whose vertue the mighty habundaunce You herte and strength in faythfull vnyte ¶ Explicit WHan faythe fayleth in preestes sawes And lordes hestes are holden for lawes And robbery is holden purchace And lechery is holden solace Than shall the londe of Albyon Be brought to great confusyon It falleth for euery
and hys hallowes bryght So wylly on my soule haue mercy That of your harme as gyltlesse am I As is Maurice my sonne so lyke your face Els the fende me fetch out of thys place Longe was y e sobbyng the bytter payne Or that her woful herte myght cese Great was the pyte to here hem complayne Thrugh which plaintes gan her wo encrese I pray you al my laboure to relese I may not tel her wo tyl to morowe I am so wery to speake of her sorowe But fynally when that y e soth is wyste That Alla gyltlesse was of her wo I trowe an hundred tymes ben they kyste And such a blysse is there bytwyxt hem two That saue the ioye that lasteth euermo There is no lyke that any creature Hath seyen or shal whyle y e world may dure Tho prayed she her husbande mekely In relesynge of her pytous payne That he wolde praye her father specially That of hys maiesty he wolde enclyne To vouchsafe somdaye wyth hym to dyne She prayed hym eke he shulde by no waye Vnto her father no worde of her to saye Some meÌ„ wold say y t the chyld Maurice Doth thys message vntyl thys Emperour But as I gesse Alla was not so nyse To hym that was of so soueraygne honour As he that is of christen folke the flour Sent any chylde but it is bette to deme He went hym selfe and so it may wel seme Thys Emperour graunted gentelly To come to dyner as he hym bysought That al was redy he loked besely Vpon this chyld an his doughter thought Alla goeth to hys ynne and as hym ought Arrayde for thys feest in euery wyse As farforth as hys connynge may suffyce The morow came Alla gan hym dresse And eke his wyfe the Emperour for to mete And forth they ryde in ioye and in gladnesse And when she sawe her father in the strete She lyght a downe and falleth hym to fete Father ê™ she your yonge chylde Custaunce Is nowe ful clene out of your remembrauÌ„ce I am your doughter Custaunce ê™ she That whylom ye han sent into Surrye It am I father that in the salte see was put alone and dampned for to dye Nowe good father I you mercy crye Sende me no more into hethennesse But thanken my lorde here of hys kyndnesse who can the pytous ioye tellen al Bytwyxt hem three syn they beÌ„ thus ymette But of my tale make an ende I shal The day goth fast I wol no longer lette Thys glad folke to dyner ben sette In ioye and blysse at meate I let hem dwell A thousande folde welmore then I can tel This chyld Mauris was sythin emperour Made by the pope and lyued christenly To Christes churche he dyd great honour But I let al thys story passen by Of Custaunce is my tale specially In olde Romayne iestes men may fynde Maurys lyfe I beare it not in mynde This kynge Alla when he hys tyme sey wyth thys CustauÌ„ce his holy wyfe so swete To Englande ben they come the ryght wey where as they lyue in ioye and in quyete But lytel whyle it lasteth I you hete Ioye of this worlde for tyme wol not abyde Fro daye to nyght it chaungeth as the tyde Who lyued euer in such delyte a daye That he ne meued eyther in conscience Or yre or tallent of some kyn affraye Enuye or pryde or passion or offence I ne saye but for thys ende thys sentence That lytel whyle in ioye or in pleasaunce Lasteth the blysse of Alla wyth Custaunce For deth y t taketh of hye lowe his rente when passed was a yere euen as I gesse Out of thys worlde kynge Alla he hente For whom CustauÌ„ce hath ful gret heuynesse Nowe let vs prayen god hys soule blesse And dame Custaunce fynally to say Towarde y e towne of Rome goeth her way To Rome is come thys holy creature And fyndeth her father hole and sounde Nowe is she skaped al her auenture And when that she her father hath yfounde Downe on her knees goeth she to grounde wepynge for tendernesse in herte blythe She heryeth god an huÌ„dred thousand sythe In vertue and holy almesdede They lyuen al and neuer a sonder wende Tyl death departen hem thys lyfe they lede And fareth nowe wel my tale is at an ende Now Iesu christ y t of his myght may sende Ioye after wo gouerne vs in hys grace And kepe vs al that ben in thys place ¶ Thus endeth the man of lawes tale and here foloweth the Squyers prologue OVr hoost on hys styroppes stode anone And sayd good men herkeneth euerychone Thys was a thryfty tale for the nones Syr parysh preest ê™ he for goddes bones Tel vs a tale as was thy forwarde yore I se wel that ye lerned men in lore Can moche good by goddes dignite The parson hym answerde benedicite what cyleth the man so synfully to swere ¶ Our host answerd O Ienkyn be ye there Now good meÌ„ ê™ our host herkeneth to me I smel a loller in the wynde ê™ he Abydeth for goddes dygne passion For we shall haue a predication Thys loller here wol prechen vs somwhat ¶ Nay by my fathers soule that shal he nat Sayd the Squyer here shal he not preche Here shal he no gospel glose ne teche we leueth al in the great god quod he He wolde sowen some dyffyculte Or sprynge cockel in our clene corne And therfore hoost I warne the byforne My lolly body shal a tale tel And I shal ryngen you so mery a bel That I shal waken al thys companye But it shal not ben of philosofye Ne phisyke ne termes queynte of lawe There is but lytel laten in my mawe ¶ Here endeth the Squyers prologue and hereafter foloweth hys tale AT Sarra in the laÌ„de of Tartary There dwelt a kynge that warred Surry Thrugh which ther died many a douÈty maÌ„ Thys noble kynge was called CambuscaÌ„ Whych in hys tyme was of so great renoun That there nas no where in no regioun So excellent a lorde in al thynge Hym lacked naught that longed to a kynge As of the secte of whych he was borne He kept hys laye to whych he was sworne And therto he was hardy wyse and ryche And pytous and iuste alwaye ylyche Trewe of his worde benygne honorable Of hys corage as any centre stable Yonge freshe stronge in armes desyrous As any bacheler of al hys hous A fayre person he was and fortunate And kept alwaye so royal astate That there nas no where such another man This noble kyng this tartre this CaÌ„buscaÌ„ Had two sonnes by Eltheta hys wyfe Of whych the eldest hyght Algarsyfe That other was cleped Camballo ¶ A doughter had thys worthy kynge also That yongest was and hyght Canace But for to tel you al her beaute It lyeth not in my tonge ne in my connynge I dare not vndertake so hye a thynge Myne Englyshe eke is vnsufficient It muste be a rethor