thus they haue hem slain Some haue yeue hem poyson in her drynke He spak more harm than herte may thynke And thâ—rwith al he coude mo prouerbis Than in this worlde growe gras or herbis Bettir is quod he thyn habitacion Be with a lioun or with a dragon Than with a woman vsynge forto chyde Beâ—tir is quod he high in his roof abyde Than with an angry wyf duellinge in his hous They be so wickid and so contrarious They haten that her husbondis loue ay Hâ— sayde a woman cast her shame away Whan she cast of her smok and ferther mo A fair woman but she be chast also Ys lik a goldryng on a sowys nose Who wolde leue or who wolde suppose The wo that in myn herte wâ—s and pyne And whan I saw that he wolde neuer fyne To redyn on his cursid book alnyght Al sodenly thre leuys haue I plight Out of his book right as he redde and eek I with my fist so took hym on the cheek That in our fyre he fyl bacward a doun And he vp stert as doth awood lioun And with his fist he smot me on the hed That in the flore I lay as I hadde be ded And whan he saw how stylle that I lay He was agast and wolde haue fled away Til atte last I out of my swowne abreid O hast thou slayn me fals theef I seid And for my lond thus hast thou murdred me Or I be ded zit wol I onys kisse the And neer he cam knelid faire adoun And sayde dere fuster swete alisoun As helpe me god I shal the neuir smyte That y haue do it is thy self to wite Foryeue it me and that I the beseke And zit eft sonys I hitte him on the cheke And saide theef thus muche I am be wreke Now wol I dy I may no lenger speke But atte laste wyth muche care and woo We fil accordid be our self yn two He yaf me the bridil in my hond To haue the gouernaunce of hons lond And aâ—tir of his tunge of his hond also And made him brenne his book anon to And thanne whan I hadde gotyn vnto me The maistrie eek the souereynte And thanne he saide myn owen trew wif Doth as you list al the terme of your lyf Kepe thin honour and eke myn astate And after that day we hadde neuer debaat God helpe me so I was to hym as kynde As eny wyff fro denmark in to ynde And also trewe and so was he to me I pray to god yat sittith in mageste So blisse his sonle for his mercy dere Now wol I say my tale yf ye wol here THe frere lowgh whan he hadde herd al this Now dame quod he so haue I ioye and blis This is a longe preambil of a tale And when the sompnour herde the frere gale Lo quod the Sompnour for goddes armys two A frere wol entremete hym euermo Lo gode men a flye and eek a frere Wol falle in euery mannys dissh and matere What spekist thou of preambulacion What ambyl or trot go pysse or syt a doun Thou lettyst our disport in this matere Ye wolt thou so sir Sompnour quod the frere Now be my feith I shal or that I go Telle of a Sompnour suche a tale or two That alle folk shal lawghe in this place Now ellis frere y be shrewe thy face Quod this sompnour and I beshrewe me But yf I telle taâ—is two or thre Of â—reris or that I come to Sidyngbourne That I shal make the forto morne For wel y woot thy pacience is goon Our oâ—te cryde pees and that anon And sayde let the woman telle her tale Ye faren as folk that dronke been of ale Gode dame tel forth your tale and that is best Al redy syâ—e quod she right as you list Yf I haue licence of this worthy frere Yes dame quod he tel forth and I wol here Here endith the wyff of Bathes prologe And here begynnyth her tale IN olde dayes of kyng Artur Of whiche britous spekith gret honour Al was this lond fulfilled of fayrye The elf quene with her ioly companye Daunced ful ofte in meny a greue mede This was the olde oppinion as I rede I speke of many an hundrid yeris a goo But now can noman se elphis mo For now the grete charite and praiers Of limytours and eke of othir freris That serchen euery lond and euery streme As thicke as motis in the sonne beem Blissinge hallis chambris kechens and bowris Citees Burghis castellis and eek touris Shoppis bernys Shepens and deyries This makith that ther be no feyries For there as wont was to walke an elf There walkith now the limytour hym self Iâ— vndermelis and in mornyngis And seith his matyns and his thingis As he goth forth in his limytacion A woman may go sauely vp and doun Vnder euery bussh or vnder euery tre There is none other incubus but he And he ne wolde do hem ony dishonour And so befil that this kyng Artour Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler That on a day com ridynge from the ryuere And happid that allone as he was born He saw a mayde walkynge hym beforn Of whiche mayde anon magre her hed Be verry force byrefte her her maydenhed For whiche oppression was suche clamour And suche pursute vnto kyng Artour That dampned was this knyght to be ded Be cours of lawe he sholde haue lost his hed Parauenture suche was the statut tho But that the quene and other ladyes mo So longe praiden the kyng of grace Til â—e his liff grauntid in that place And yaf hym to the quene al at her wille To chese whethir she wolde hym saue or spylle The quene thankid the kyng with al her might And aftir thus spak she to the knyght When she sawe her tyme vp on a day Thou stondist yet in suâ—he aray Thâ—t of thy lyf yet hast thou no â—uerte I graunte thy lyf yf thou canst telle me What thing it is that women most desiren Bewaar and keep thy necke from iren And yf thou canst not telle it anon I shal the yeue yet leue forto goon A twelfmonthe and a day to seche and to lere An answere suâ—ficiâ—unt in this matere And suerte wol I haue or that thou passe Thy body forto yâ—ldyn in this place Woo was this knyght and sorowful he sighith But he may not do al as hym likith And atte laste he chaas hym forto wende And come ayeen right at the yeris ende With suche answer as god wolde hym purueye And takith his leue wendith forth his weye He sekith euery hous and euery place Where as he hopith forto fynde grace To wite what thing women loued most But he coude arryue in no cost There as he myght fynde in this matere Two creaturis accordinge in feâ—e Some sayde women loued best richesse Some sayde honour som sayde
place The sleer of hym yet saw I there His herte blood hath bated al his chere The nayl I dryue in the shode an highte The colde deth with mouth gapynge vp right A myddyl of the tempil sat myschaunce With discomfort and sory contenaunce Yet saw I woodnesse lawghyng in his rage The hunter strangled with the wilde boris corage The sowe fretyng the child in the cradil The cook I scalded for his longe ladil Nought foryetyn was the infortune of Mars The carter ouer riden with his owen hors Vnder the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun There were also of martirs destructioun The barbour the boteler and the smyth That forged sharpe swerdis in the stith And al aboue depeynted in a tour The high conquest sittynge in gret honour With the sharp swerd ouer his hed Hangynge be a subtil twyned thred Depeynted was there the slaughtir of Iulius O grete Nero and of antomus Al be that tyme they were vnbornÌ„ Yet was her deth peynted there befornÌ„ Be manassynge of Marce right be figure So was it shewd right be portreture As it is depaynted in the serâ—lis aboue Who shal be sleyn or ded for loue Suffiseth on ensampyl in storyes olde I may not rekene alle though I wolde The statu of Marâ—e vp on a carte stood Armyd and lokyd grym as he were wood And ouer his hed ther shynen two figurys Lyke vnto the figure of virgynys That one puella hight that othir Iulius Thies god of armys was arayd thus A wolf ther stood beforn hym at his feet With yen rede and of aman he eet With subtile pensel was peyntyd this story In redowndynge of Marce and of his glory Now to the tempyl of dyane the chaste As shortly as I can I wyl me haste To â—elle yow al the descripcion â—eâ—â—yntyd on the wallis vp and doun Of huntynge and of shamefast chastite There saw I how woful Calistope Whan that dyane greuyd was with here Was turned fro womman in to a bere And aftir was she maad the lood sterre Thus was â—t peynted I can say no ferre Her sone is eke a sterre as men may se There saw I dyane turned vntil a tre I mene not the goddesse dyane But Penâ—â—s doughter whiche that highte dyane There saw I atheon an hert I makyd For vengeaunce that he saw dyane al nakyd I saw how that houndis haue hym caught And fretyn hym for that they knew hym nought Yet I peynted was a lityl furthermore How athalante huntyd the wylde bore And meliager and meny other moo For whiche Diane wroughte hym care wo There saw I many another wonder story The whiche me list not drawe in memory This goddesse on an hert high is sete With smale houndis aboute her fete And vndernethe hir feet shâ— hadde a mone Wexynge it was and sholde wane sone In gawdy grene her statu clothed was With bowe in hond and arowes in caas Here yen cast she ful lowe a doun There pluto hath his derk regioun A womman trauelynge was here befornÌ„ But for hir child so longe was vnbornÌ„ Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle And sayde help for thou maist best of alle Wel coude he peynte liuely that it wâ—oughte With meny a floreyn he thyse huwis boughte NOw ben thise listis maad Theseus That at his grete cost hath arayd thus The templis and the auters eueridel Whan it was donÌ„ it likyd hym wel But stynte I wil of Theseus alite And speke of Palamon and of arcite The day approchith in here attourneyynge That euerich sholde an hundrid knightes brynge The bateylle to darreyne as I you tolde And til Theseus here couenaunt forto holde Hath euerich of hem brought an hundrid knightes Wel I armed for the werre at al rightes And sikirly ther trowed many aman That neuyr sithnes the worlde began As forto speke of knyghthood of her hond As fer as god hath made see and lond Nas of so fewe so nobyl acompany For euery wight that loued chyualrye And wolde his thankys haue passing name He prayde that he myghte be of that game And wel was hym that therto chosyn was For yf ther fyl to morow suche a caas Ye knowe wel that euery lusty knyght That loueth paramouris and hath his might Were â—t in engelond or ellis where They wolde her thankys willen to be there To fight for a lady a benedicite Hit were a lusty sâ—ghte forto se And right so ferthe they with Palamon With hym ther wente knyghtis many â—on Some wolde be armed in habergeon Some in brest place and in bright gippon And some wol haue a pâ—â—r of platis large And some wolde haue spruse sheldis targe Some wolde be armed on his leggis wele And haue an ax and a mace of steel Ther is no newe gyse but it was hold Armed were they as I haue told Eueriche aftir his owen oppinion There maist thow se comyng with Palamon Ligurge hym self the kyng of trace Blak was his berd manly was his face The cerclis of his yen in hes heed They glowdenÌ„ betwix yelow and reed And lyke a griffyn loked he aboute With kempt heris in his browis stoute His lymes grete his brawnÌ„ hard strong His shuldres brode his armes round long And as the gyse was in his contre Ful high vp on a chare of gold stood he With four white bolis in the trace In stede of Cote armure in his harnase With naylis yelow bright as ony golde He hadde a bere skyn cool blak for olde His longe heris were kempt behynd his bak As ony rauen fethir it shoonÌ„ for blak A wrethe of gold arme grete of huge weyghte Vp on his hed sat with many a stone bright Of fyn rubyes and of fyn diamantee Aboute his chare ther wâ—â—te alauntes Twenty and mo as grete as ony steer To honte atte lioun or ellis at the deer And folowed hym with mosel faste I bounde Colers of gold and torettis filyd rounde An hundrid lordis he hadde in his rowte Armed well as knyghtis sterne stoute WIth arcite as men in story fynde The stronge Emetrus the kyng of Inde Vp on abay stede I trappid al in steell Armed with a cloth of gold I diapred well Cam ridynge the god of armys Marce His cote armur was of cloth of tarce Cowchid with perlis white rounde and grete His sadyl was of brent gold newe y bete A mantelet on his shuldris hangynge Bret ful of rubyys bright as fyre spryngyng His brighte cryspe heris lyke ryngys were ronne And that was yelow glitered as the sonne His nose was high his yen bright and grym His lippis rounde his colour sanguyn A fewe frakelis in his face were spreynt Betwix yelow and somdeel blak meynt And as alioun he lokyd aboute faste Of xâ—v yeer of age I hym caste His berd was wel begonne forto sprynge His throte was as a trompe sownynge Vp on his â—ed he weryd of laurer grene A
garlond fressh and lusty forto sene Vpon his hed he baar for his dedwyte An egle as ony lily whit An hundred knyghtes hadde he with hym thâ—re Al armed sane her hedis and al her gere Were richely arayed in alle maner thingis Trustith wel that erlis dukes and kyngis Were gadred in this nobyl companye For loue and â—ncrece of cheualrye Aboute this kyng ther ronnen on euery part Wel many tame liouns and libart And in this wyse the lordis alle and som Been on the sunday to the cyte com Aboute prime in the town a light This Theseus this duke this worthy knyght When he hadde brought hem in to the cyte And ynned hem euerich at his degre He festith hem and doth hem gret labour To ese hem and to do hem al honour That man ne woman ne no maner wight Of none astat so coude amende it The mynstralcye the seruise at the feste The grete giftis to the most and lest The riche aray of Theseus Paleys Ne who fat first ne last vp on the deys Or what feirest or best daunsynge Or whiche of theym can best daunce or synge Ne who most felingly speketh of loue What hawkys sitte on the perchis aboue What houndis lyen in the slour adoun Of all this make I no mencionÌ„ But of the effect that thynketh me best Now comyth to the poynt herken yf ye list THe sonday at night or day began to springe Whan Palamon herde the larke synge Al that it were not day be houris two Vnto the temple purposeth he to go With hool herte and with an high corage Is risen to wende on his pilgremage To the blisful Sithea benigne I mene venus honourable and digne And in her houre he walked forth a pace Vnto the listis there the temple was And doun he knelith and with humble chere And with herte sore he sayde as ye shul here Feyrest of feyre o lady myn venus Doughter to Iouis and spouse to vlcanus That gladdest al the mounte of sitheon For that loue that thou haddest to a doun Haue pyte on my bitter teris smert And take myn humble prayer at thy hert All as I haue no lengthe forto telle The effâ—ct ne the turment of myn helle Mâ—n herte may not myn harmys be wreye I am so sorowful that I can not seye But lady bright that knowest wel My thought and seest the harmys that I fele Considere this and vewe vp on my sore As wisly as I shal for euermore Enforce my myght thy trewe seruaunt to be And holde werre lady with chastite That I make myn awwe so ye me helpe I kepe not of armys forto yelpe Ne I axe to morw forto haue victory Ne renoun in this caas ne veynglorye Of pryse of armys to blowe vp and doun But I wolde fully haue possession Of Emely and dye in thy seruise Fynd thou the manere how and what wyse I recche not but yf it may better be To haue victory of them or they of me So that I haue my lady in myn armys For though so be þ â— mars be grete god of armys Your vertu is so greet in heuene aboue That yf yow list I shal haue my loue Thy tempyl wol I worship euermo And on an auter were I ryde or go I wil do sacrefice and firis bete And yf ye wil not so my lady swete Than praye I the to morow with a spere That arcite me thorow the herte bere Than recke I nat whan I haue lost my lif Though that arcite wynne here to his wyf This is the effect and the ende of my prayer Yeue me my lif my blissed lady dere Whan that the orison was don of palamonÌ„ His sacrefice he did and that anonÌ„ Ful petously with alle circumstaunces Alle telle I not as now his obseruaunces And al the statu of venus shoke And made a signe wherby he took That his prayer acceptid was that day For though the figure shewde delay Yet wiste he wel that grauntyd was his bone And with glad herte he wente hym hom sone The thirde hour equal that PalamonÌ„ Began to venus tempil forto gon VP roos the sonne vp roos Emely And to the tempil of diane gan hye Her maidens that with hir thider were lad Ful redely with hem fair clothis they had Theseus clothis and the â—enuaunt al That to the sacrifise longyn shal The hornes ful of methe as was the gyse There lackyd nought to don hir sacrifise Smokyng the tempyl ful of clothis feir This Emely with hert deboneir Her body with water in a welle But how she did there I dar not telle But hit be ony thing in general And yet it were a game to here it al To hym that meneth wel it were no charge But it is good aman to be at his large Her bright â—eer was kempt and vntressed al And a crowne of grene oke serial Vp on her hed set ful fair and mete Two firis on the anter gan she bete And dyde here thynges as men may be holde In state of Thebes and in bokis olde When kyndeled was the fyue with pitous chere Vnto dycine she spak as ye may here O chast goddesse of the wode grene To whom bothe heuene and erthe see is sene Quene of the regne of pluto derk and lowe Goddesse of maydens that my hert hast knowe Ful many a yeer and wotist what I desire As keep me fro the vengeaunce of thy fyre That atheon aboughte trewly Chast goddesse wel wotist thou that I Desire to be amaiden al my lyf Ne neuer wol I be loue ne wyf I am thou wotist yet of thy company Amaiden and loue huntyng and venory And forto walâ—yn in the wodis wilde And not to be a wyf and be with childe Nought wil I knowe no companye of man Now help me lady sithnes thou may and can For the thre fourmes that thou hast in the And Palamon that hath suche loue to me And eke arcite that loueth me so sore This grace I pray the withouten more As sende loue and pees betwix hem two And fro me turne awey hert hertis so That al hir hote loue and her desire And al her besy turment and al hir fire Be queynt or turned in another place And if so be thou wilt do me no grace Or yf my destenye be shapen so That I shal nedis haue on of hem two As send me hym that most desireth me Beholde goddesse my clene chastite The bittir teris that on my â—hekis fulle Sithnes thou art a maide keper of vs alle My maidenhed thou kepe wel conserue And whiles I lyue a maiden wil I the serue Thise firis brenne vp on thâ— auters cleer While Emely was thus in hir praiere But sodenly she saw a sighte queynt For right anon on of the fyris queynt And quyckyd agayn and aftir that anon That oher fyre was queynt and al agon And as it queynt it made a whisshing
kyng of heuen with his woundis newe The whyte lamb that hurt was with a spere Flemer of fendis out of hym and of here Of whiche thy lymes feithfully extende Me kepe and yeue me myght to amende Yeris and dayes fleet this creature Thorow out the se of greek in to the streyte Of Marrok as it was her auenture O many a sory meel may she beyte Aftir her deth ful ofte may she wayte Or that the wilde wawes wolde her dryue Vnto the place where that she shal arryue Men myghte aske why she was not slayn And ek atte feste who myghte her body saue And I answere to that demaunde agayn Who sauyd Daniel in the horrible Caue There euery wight were he maistir or knaue Was with the lioun fret or he a stert No wight but god that he baar in his hert God lust to shewe his wondirful miracle In here for she sholde se his mighty werkis Crist that is of euery harm triacle Be certayn menys as knowen clerkis Doth thingis that for certeyn ende ful derk is To mannys wit that for our ignoraunce Ne can not knowe his prudent purueaunce Now sith that she nas at the feste y slawe Who kepte her fro drenching in the see Who kepte Ionas in the fisshis mawe Tyl he was spowted out at nynyue Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he That kepte the pepyl of Ebrew fro drenching With drye foot thorugh out the see passinge Who hath the foure spiritis of tempeste That power haue to annoyen londe and see Bothe Noâ—th and south west and Est Annoyeth neyther lond hous ne tre Sothly the comaunder of that was he That fro the tempest ay this woman kepte As wel whan she wook as whan she slepte Where myghte this woman mete drynk haue Thre yere and more lastith her vitaylâ— Who fedde the Egipcian Mary in the Caue Or in desert non but crist sauns faylle Fyur thousand folk it was a gret meruaylle With louys fyue and fisshis two to fede God halpe her alwey in her nede She dryueth foâ—th in to our occian Thorow out our wyde se til at the laste Vndir an hold that nemene I ne can Fer in Northumbirland the wawys her cast And in the sond the ship stickid so faste That thens wolde it not al that tyde The wil of crist was there she shulde abyde The constabil of the castel doun is fare To se this wrakke and al the ship he soughte And fond this doutif womman ful of care He fond also the tresour that she broughte In her langage mercy she be soughte The lif out her body forto wynne Her to deliuer out of the wo that she was ynne Amaner latyn corupt was her speche But algatis ther by was she vnderstonde The Constabil whan hym lift no lenger seche This woful womman brought he to londe She knelith doun and thankith cristis sonde But what she was she wold noman sey For foul ne fair tâ—ough she sholde dye She said she was so masid in the se That she forgat her mynde by her trowth The Constabil hath of hir so gret pyte And eke his wyf that wepen sore for rowth She was so diligent withoute slowthe To serue and plese euerich in that place That al her loue that lokyn in her face The Constabyl and dame hermegild his wyf Were paynemys and that contre euery where But hermegild louyd her as her lyf And CustanÌ„ce hath so longe I soiourned there In orisoun with many a bittir tere Tyl Ihesus hath conuertid thorough his grace Dame hermegilde the Constablis wyf of þ â— place In al that lond no cristen durste route Alle cristen men be fled fro that contre Thorough paynemes that conquered al aboute The royame as wel by londe as by see To wales thenne fledde the Cristianite Of olde britons duellyng in that I le Ther was no refute for the mene whyle But yet nere cristen britons so exyled That ther nas som in her priuyte Honouryd crist and hethen folk begilyd And nygh the castel suche ther dwellid thre That one of hem was blynd myght not se But it were with thicke yen of his mynde With whiche they seen aftir men be blynde Bright was the sonne as in a somers day For whiche the Constabyl and his wyf also And Custaunce hath take the right way Toward the see a furlong wey or two To pleyen and to romen to and fro And in this walk the blynde men they mette Crokid and olde with yen faste I shette In the name of crist cryde this briton Dame Hermegilde yeue me my sighte ageyn This lady wax afrayd of that soun Lest that her husbond shortly forto seyn Wolde here for Ihesus cristis lore haue sleyn Til custaunce made her bolde bad her wirche The wil of criste as doughter of holy chirche The constabil wexte abasshid of that sighte And sayde what amountith al this fare Custaunce answerde sire it is cristis myght That helpith folk out of the fendis snare And so ferforth she gan our lawe declare That she the Constable or it were eue Conuerted hath and on crist made hym beleue This Constable was no thing lord of this place Of whiche I spak ther he Custaunce fonde But kepte it strongly many wyntris space Vndir alla kyng of al Northumbirlond That was ful wyse and worthy of his hond Ayens the scottis as men may wel here But turne ayen I wil to my matere Sathan that euer vs waytith to begyle Saw of Custaunce al the perfection And caste anon how he mighte quyte her while And made a yong knight dwelling in þ e toun Loue here so hote of foul affection That verily hym toughte he shal spille But he of here onys mighte haue his wille He wowith hir but it auaylith nought She wolde do no synne be no way And for despit he compassid in his thought To make here on shamful deth to day He waytith whan the Constabyl is away And priuely on a nyght he crepte In hermegildis chambir whylis she slepte Wery forwakid in her orisons Slepith hermegilde and Constaunce also This knyght thorough sathans temptacions Al softly is to the bed y goo And kuâ—te the throte of hermegild a twoo And leyde the blody knyf be dame Custaunce And wente his wey there god yeue him mischanÌ„â—e Sone aftir comyth the Constabyl hom ayeen And eke alla that was kyng of the lond And saw his wyf dispitously sleyn For whom he wepte and wrong his hond And in the bed the blody knyf he fonde Be dame Custaunce allas what might she say For verray wo her wit was al a way To kyng alla was told al this myschaunce And the tyme and where and eke the wyse That in a ship was founde this Custaunce As here before ye me haue herd deuyse The kyngis herte of pyte gan aryse When he saw the benigne creature Falle in disese and in mysauenture For as the lomb
toward his deth is brought So stant this Innocent a fore the kyng This fals knight that hath this treson wrought Bereth hir in hond she haâ—h do this thyng But natheles there was gret mornyng Among the pepyl and sayden they can gesse That she hadde not do so gret a wickednesse For they haue seye here euyr so vertuous And louyng hermegild right as her lyf Of this baar witnesse euerich in that hous Saue he that slow hermegild with the knyf This gentil kyng hath caught a gret motif Of this witnesse thoughte he wolde enquyre Deppere in this aias and trowthe forto lere Allas custaunce thou hast no champion Ne fighte cans thou not so wel away But he that for our redempcion Bond sathan and yet lith there he lay He be thy strong champion this day For but crist open myracle kithe Withoute gilt thou shalt be slayn as swithe She sette hir doun on her knees thus she sayde Immortal god that sauedist â—usanne Fro fals blame and thou mercyful mayde Mary I mene doughtir of saint anne Before whos child aungelis syng Osanne If I begiltles of this felonye My socour be or ellis I shal dye Haue ye not se sum tyme a pale face Of hym that hath be lad in a prees Toward his deth where he getith no grace And suche a colour in the knyghtis face chees Men myghte knowe his face in all the prees Among al the faces that was in that Route So stant Custaunce and lokith here aboute O quenes lynage whilom in prosperite Duchesse and ladyes euerichone Haue som rowthe on hir aduersite An Emperours doughter stont allone She woot not to whom to make her mone O ryal lady that stondist in this drede Fer ben thy frendes at thy greet nede This Alla hath suche compassion As gentil herte is fulfillyd of pyte That from his yen ran the watir doun Now hastely go fet a book quod he And yf that this knyght wol swere that she Hath this woman slayn yet wyl we vs auyse Whom that we wyl shal be our Iustise A briton book writen with euangelies Was fet and there on he swoor anon She gilty was and in the mene whyles An hond hym smoot vp on the necke boon That doun he fyl at onys as a stoon And bothe his yen brest out of his face In sighte of euery body of that place A boys was herd in general audience And sayde thou hast disclaundryd giltlees The doughter of holy chirche in high presence Thus hast thou doon and yet I holde my pees Of this meruayll agast was al the prees As masid folk they stonden euerichon For drede of wreche saue Custaunce alone Greet was the drede and eke the repentaunce Of hem that hadde wrong suspection Vp on this sely Innocente Custaunce And for this mirakil in conclusion And by Custaunces mediacion The kyng and many another in that place Conuertid was thankid be cristis grace This fals knight was slayn for his vntrouthe By Ingement of the kyng alla hastely And yet hadde Custaunce of his deth gret routhe And aftir Ihesus of his mercy Made alla to wedde hir solemly This holy maiden that is so bright and shore And thus hath crist maad Custaunce a quâ—â—e But who was woful yf I shal nat ly Of this weddyng but donygelde and nomo The kyngis modir ful of tirannye Her thoughte her cursid herte brast a two She nolde not her sone hadde so do Her thoughte a despyt that he sholde take So straunge a creature vnto his make Me list not of the chaf ne of the sâ—re Make so long a tale as of the corn What sholde I telle of the ryalte Of this mariage or whiche cors goth beforn Who bloweth in a trompe or who in a horn The fruyt of euery tale is for to sey They â—et and drank daunce synge and pley They go to bedde as it is skyl and right For though that wyuys be ful holy thyngis They muste take in pacient a nyght Suche maner of necessaries as been plesingis To folk that haue weddid hem with ringis And sey a litil her holynesse a syde As for the tyme it may non other betyde On here he begate a man child anon And to a bisshop and to his Constable eke He took his wyf to kepe when he is gon To scotlond ward his fomen forto seke Now faire Custaunce that is so humble so meke So long is gon with childe in that stylle She kepte her chambir abydyng cristis wyll The tyme is come a man child she beer Mauricius at the fontstoone they hym calle This Constabyl doth forth come a messanger And wroot vnto this kyng þ t clepyd was alle How that this blisful tidingis is be falle And othir thing whiche was nedeful to saye He takith his lettre and forth he goth his waye This messanger to do his auauntage Vnto the kynges moder ridith he swythe And salueth here fayre in his langage Madame quod he ye may be glad and blythe And thanken god an hundrid thousand sithe My lady the quene hath child withouten doute To ioye and blisse of al this regne aboute Lo here the lettres sealid of this thing That I muste here in al the haste I may Yf ye wil ought to your sone the kyng I am your seruaunt bothe nyght and day Dame donegelde answerde al this tymÌ„ nay But here al nyght I wol thou take thy rest To morow I wol sey the what me leste This messanger drank sadly ale and wyne And stolen were his lettres priuely Out of his box whilis he slepte as a swyn And countrefetyd was ful subtilly Anothir lettre wrought ful synfully Vnto the kyng directyd of this matere Fro his Constabil as ye may aftir here The lettre spak the quene deliuered was Of so horrible a fendly creature That in the Castel non so hardy was There no while ony wighte myghte endure The modir was an elphe be auenture I comyn be charmes or be sorcerye And euery wight hateth hir in companye Wo was the kyng whan he this lettre had seâ—n But to no wight he tolde his sorowis sore But of his owen hond he wroot ayâ—â—n Welcome the sonde of crist for euermore To me that am lerned in this lore Lord welcome be thy lust thy pleasaunce My lust I put al in thy ordenaunce Kepe this child al be it foul or fair And eke my wyf vnto myn hoom comynge Crist whan hym list may make me an heir More agreabyl than this to my likynge This lettir he selith pryuely wepynge Whiche to the messanger was y take sone And forth he goth there is nomore to doon O messanger fulfillid with dronkenes Straunge is thy breth thy lymys flateryn ay And thou bewreyest al secretnes Thy mynde is lore thou iangesist as a Iay Thy face is turned as in a newe aray There dronkenesse reygneth in ony rowte There is no counsel it is no doute O donegelde I
that aftir the thridde cours Whyle that this kyng sat in his high nobleye Herkenyng his mynstrallis here thing pleye Beforn hym at his bord deliciously In atte the halle dore sodeynly Ther cam a knyght vpon a stede bras And in his hond a brood myrrour of glas And on his thombe he hadde of gold a ryng And be his side a nakid swerd hanging And vp he ridith to the high borde In al the halle ne was ther spoke a word For meruayll of this knyght hym to be holde And bisely they wayten yonge and olde The straunge knyght that cam so sodenly Al armed saue his hed ful richely He saluyd the kyng quene lordis alle By ordre as they sitten in the halle With so high reuerence and obeisaunce As wel in speche as in contenaunce That Gawen with his olde curtesie Though he com ayeâ—n out of feirye Ne coude hym amende with a worde And aftir this before the high lord He with manly voys sayde his message Aftir the fourme vsed in his langage Withoute faylle of sillabyl or lettir And for his tale sholde seme the bettir Accordyng to his word was his chere As techith art of speche hem that it lere Al be it that y can not sowne his styl Ne y can not clymbe on so high an hille Than say I thus to the comyn â—ntent Thus muche amountith that he ment If it so be I haue it in mynde He sayde the kyng of arabye and of ynde My liege lord on this solempne day Saleweth yow as he best can and may And sendith you honour at your feste Be me that am al redy at your heste This stede of bras that esely and wel Can in the space of a day naturel This is to say in .xxiiij. houris Where you liste in drougthe or in showris Bere your body to euery place To whiche your herte willith forto pase Withoute wem of you thorough out foul or fair Or yf you list to fle as high in the ayer As doth an egil whan hym list to sore This same stede shal bere you euermore Withoute harm til ye be there ye list Though that ye slepe on his baâ— or reste And turne ayeen with wringyng of a pyn He that it wroughte knoweth many a gyn He waytid many a constellacion Or he hadde wrought this operacion And knew meny a skyl meny abonde This myrrour eke that I haue in myn hond Hath suche a myght that men may in it se When ther shal falle ony aduersite Vnto your regne or vnto your self also And openly who is your frend or foo And ouer al this if ony lady bright Hath set her herte in ony maner wight If he be fals she shal his treson se His newe loue and al his subtilite So openly that ther shal no thing hyde Wherfore agayns this lusty someris tyde This myrrour and this ring as ye may se He sente hath to my lady Canace Your excellent doughter that is here The vertu of this ring yf ye wol here Is this yf that her list it forto were Vp on here thombe or in her purs it bere There is no foul that fleeth vnder heuyn That she ne shal vnderstonde his steuyn And knowe his menyng openly playn And answere hym in his langage agayn And euery gras that growith vpon the rote She shal knowe and whom it wol do bote Al be his wounde neuer so deep or wyde This nakid swerd that hangith be my side Suche vertu hath what man ye smyte Thorow out his armure it wol kerue byte Were it as thicke as a braunchid ook And what man it woundith with the strook He shal neuer be hool til ye list of grace To stroke hym with the plat in the same place There he is hurt that is as mykyl to sayn Ye moot with the plat swerd agayn Stroke hem in the wounde and it wol close This is a verray soth withouten glose It fayleth not whylis it is in your holde And when the knyght hath thus his tale told He roood out of the halle and doun he lighte His stede whiche that shoon as the sonne bright Stont in the court stille as ony stoon This knyght in to the chambir is led anon And is vnarmed and to mete y sette The presentis be right richely kept This is to say the swerd and the myrour Been born anon in to the tour With certeyn officers ordeyned therfore And vnto Canace this ring is bore Solempuly there she sat at the tabyl But sikrâ—ly withouten ony fabyl The hors of bras that may not be remeâ—yd It stont as it were in the grounde y cleuyd For none engynys wyndas ne polyue They may hit out of the place dryue And cause why for they con not the craft And therfore in the place they haue it laft Til that the knyght haue taught hem the manere To widen hym as ye shul aftir here Greet was the prees that swermyd to fro To gawrin on the hors that stood so For it so high was so brood so long So wel proporcioned to be strong Right as it were a stede of lumbardye Therwith so horsly and so quyk of ye As it a gentil polin courser were For certis from his tayl vnto his ere Nature ne art coude hym not amende In no degre as al the pepyl wende But euermore her most wonder was How that it coude go and was of bras It was of feire as al the pepyl semyd Dyuerse folk diuersly demede As meny hedes as meny wittis ther been They mormedyn as doth a swarm of been And maken skillys aftir hir fantesie Rehersynge of the olde poetrie And sayde it was like the pegase The hors that hadde wyngis forto fle Or ellis it was the grekis hors Symon That brought grekis vnto destruction As men in thyse olde gestis rede Myn herte quod oon is euermore in drede I trow sum men of armys be therynne That shape hem this cyte forto wynne It were right good þ â— al suche thing were knowe Another rowned to his felow lowe And sayde he lied for it was rathir lik An apparence maad be som magik As iogelours pleyn at the festis grete Of sondry thoughtis thus they iangil trete As lewd pepyl demen alday comonly Of thingis that been maad more subtilly Than they konne in here boundis comprehende They demyn gladly to the badder ende And some of theym wondrid on the myrour That born was vp in to the maistir tour How men myghte in it suche thingâ—s se An other answerde and sayde it may wel be Naturelly made by composicions Of aungelis and of sly reflections And sayde that in rome was suche on They spak of alteon and of vitelon And of Aristotill that writin in her liuys Of queynte myrours and of prospectatiuis As knowe they that haue her bokis herd And othir folk haue wondrid on the swerd That wol perissh thorough
euery thing And fil in speche of Thelephus the kyng And of Achilles for his queynte spere For he coude with it bothe hele and dere Right in suche wyse as men may with the swerd Of whiche right now ye haue your self herd They speken of sâ—ndry hardyng of metal And speken of medicines therwith al And how and whan it sholde hardid be Whiche vnknowe is algate to me To speke than of Canaces ryng And sayde that al suche wonder thing Of craft of ringis herde they neuer non Saue that be moyses and be kyng Salamon Hadde a maner connynge of suche an art Thus seyn the pepyl and drawen hem apart But neuertheles some sayde that it was Wonder to make of fern glas And yet is glas not lik assâ—en of fern But for they haue knowe it so fern Therfore secith her iangelinge her wonder As sore wondre som be cause of the thundir On ebbe on flood on gossomer on myste And on al thing til the cause is wyst Thus iangelyn they and demyn deuyse Til that the kyng gan from his bord aryse Phebus hath lost the angil meredional And yet ascendyng was the bâ—st ryal The gentil lioun with his aldryan Whan that this tartir kyng Cambuscan Roos from his bord there he sat ful hye Beforn hym goth the lowde mynstralcye Tyl that he cam to his chambir of parementis There as they sownyn dyners instrumentis That is lik an heuen for to here Now daunsen lusty venus children dere For in the fish her lady sat ful hye And lokith on hem with a frendly ye This nobil kyng is set vp on his trone This straunge knyght is fet to hym ful sone And on the daunce he goth with Canace There is the reuel and the Iolite That is nat abil adul man to deuyse He muste haue knowe loue and his seruise And be as festliche man as fresh may That shul you deuysen suche aray Who coude you telle the fourme of daunses So vncouthe and so fressh contenaunces And therto suche subtil lokyngis For drede of Ielosie of mennys preysinges No man but Launcelot and he is ded Therfore I passe ouer of al this lustihede I say nomore but in this iolynesse I lete hem til men to sopper hem dresse The stiward biddith spicis forto hye And â—ke the wyne in al this melodye The vsshers and the squiers ben gon The spicis and the wyne is comen anon They ete and drynke whan this was at ende Vnto the tempyl as reson was they wende The seruise don they haue that day What nedith you to reherce here aray Eche man wo ot wee l that a kyngis feste Hath plente to the moste and to the leste And deyntees mo than be in my knowyng And aftir sopper goth this nobyl kyng To se this hors of bras with al the route Of lordis and of ladies hym aboute Suche wondryng was therof this hors of bras That â—ethen the grete sege of troye was There as men saw suche an hors also Ne was ther suche a wondryng as was tho But finally the kyng asked the knyght The vertu of this courser and the myght And prayde to telle hym his gouernanuce The hors anon gan to trippe and daunce Whan that this knyght leyde hond on his reyne And sayde sire ther is nomore to sayne But if yow list to riden ony where Ye muste trille a pyn that stont in his ere Whiche I shal you telle betwix vs two Ye moot nempne hym to what place also Orto what cuntre ye list to ryde And whan ye come there ye list abyde Byd hym descende and trille another pyn For there ynne lith the effect of al the gyn And he wol doun descende and do al your wil And in that place he wolde abyde stil Theygh al the worlde hadde the contrary swore He shal not thens be drawe ne bore And or if you liâ—t bidde hym thens goon Trille this pynne and he wol vanysshe anon Out of the sighte of euery maner wight And come ayen be it be day or nyght What that yow list clepyn hym aycen In â—uche a gyse as I shal to you seyn Betwene me and you and that right sone Ride when you list ther is nomore to done Enfourmed whan the kyng was of the knyght And hath conceyued in his wit a right The maner and the fourme of al this thing Ful glad and blithe was this nobyl kyng Repeyryng vnto his reuel as beforn The bridyl is in to the tour yborn And kept among his iewels leef and dere Tâ—e hors vanysshed I not in what manere Out of her sighte ye gete nomore of me But thus y lete in lust and in iolite This Cambuscan his lordis festeyng Tyl wel nygh the day be gan to sprynge THe noryce of digestiouns the sleep Gan on hem wynke bad hem take kepe That muche mete and labour wol haue reste And with a galpyng â—â—â—uth he hem alle keste And sayde it was tyme to lye a doun For blood was in his domination Cherisshed blood natures frend quod he They thankyn hym galpynge by two by thre And euery wight gan drawe hym to his rest As sleep hem bad and took it for the best Here dremys shul not be told for me Ful where here heedes of fumosite That causith drewe of whiche ther is no charge They slepyn til it was pryme large The moste part but yf it were Canace She was ful mesurable as wommen be For of her fader hadde she take her leue To go to reste sone aftir it was eue Here list not appalled forto be Ne on the morow vnfestliche for to se And slept her firste sleep and a wook For â—uche â—oye she in hir mirrour took Bothe of here ring and of hir myrrour That twenty tyme she chaungith colour And in her sleep for here impression Of hir mirrour she hadde a visionÌ„ Wherfore or the sonne gan vp glide She clepid vp her maistresse here beside And sayde that her lust forto aryse Thyse olde wommen that ben gladly wyse As her maistres answerde here anon And sayde Madame whethir wol ye goon Thus erly for folk been alle in râ—ste I wool quod she aryse for me leste No lengir slepe but walken aboute Her maistresse clepith wommen a greet route And vp they rysen wel ten or twelue Vp risith fresh Canace her selue As rody and bright as the yong sonne That in the ram is ten degrees y ronne No higher was she whan she redy was And forth she walkith esely a paas Arayd aftir the lusty seson sote Lightly forto plâ—y and walkyn on fote Not but .v. or vj. of her meyne And in a trenche ferre in a park goth she The vapour whiche fro the erthe glode Makith the sonne to seme rody and brood But neuerthelesse it was fair of sighte That it made alle her hertis for to lighte What for the seson and the Mornynge And for the fowlis
bene For wedlok is so esy and so clene That in this worlde it is a paradise Thus sayde this olde knyght that was so wyse And certeinly as soth as god is kyng To take a wyf it is a glorious thing And namely whan a man is old and hoor Then is a wyf the fruyt of his tresoor Than sholde he take a yong wyf a feir On whiche he myghte engendre hym an heir And lede his lif in ioye and in solace Where as thyse bachelers syngen allas When that they fynde ony aduersite In loue whiche that is but childis vanite And trewly it sit wel to be so That bachelers haue ofte peyne and woo On brotil ground they bilde brotilnesse They fynde freelte whan they wene sikirnesse They lyue but as a brid or as a best In liberte and vnder non areest There as a weddid man is in astaat Liueth his lif blisful and ordinate Vnder the yok of mariage I bounde Wel may his herte in ioye blisse haboundâ— For who can be so buxum as a wyf Who is so trewe who is so tentif To kepe hym seek and hool and is his make For wee l or woo she wol nat hym forsake She is nat wery hym to loue and serue Though he lye bedrede til he sterue And yet some clerkis sayn it is not so Of whiche Theophraste is on of tho What fo rs theygh Theophraste doth lye Ne take no wyf quod he for husbondrye As forto spare in housholde thyn expence A trewe seruaunt doth more diligence Thy good to kepe than doth thy self wyf For she wol clayme half part al her lif And yf that thow be seek so god me saue Thy verey frendis or a trewe knaue Wol kepe the bet than she that waytith ay Aftir thy good and hath do meny a day But take no kepe of suche vanyte Do fy Theophraste and herken me A wyf is goddis ziste verily Al other maner zistis hardely As londis rentis pasturis and comÌ„une Or othir yeftis meuable of fortune That passen as a shadow on a wal But drede not yf I playnly speke shal A wyf wil laste and in thy hous endure Wel lenger than the liste ê‘auenture Mariage is a ful greet sacrament Who that hath no wyf is but shent He liuyth helples and is al desolat I speke of folk in seculer astat And herken why y say not this for nought The womman is for mannys help y wrought The high god whan he hadde Adam makid And saw hym allone bely nakid God of his grete goodnesse sayde than Let vs now make an help to this man Lik to hym self and than he made eue Here may ye se and here by preue That a wyf is mannys help his comfort His paradyse terrestre and his disport So buxum and so vertuous is she They muste nedis liue in vnite O flessh they be and of o blood I gesse Not but one herte in wyl and in distresse A wyf a saynte mary benedicite How mighte aman haue ony aduersite That hath a wyf certis I can not sey The blisse that is betwix hem twey Ther may no tunge telle it or herte thynke If he be poure she helpith hym to swynke She kepith his good wastith it neuer a deel And al that her husbond lust she likith wee l She saith not onys nay whan he saith ye Do this saith he al redy sire saith she O blisful ordre o wedlok precious Thou art so mery and â—ek so Ioyous And so comendid and approued eke That euery man that holdeth hym worth a leek Vp on his bare knees oughte al his lif Thankin his god that hym sent a wyf Or ellis praye gâ—d hym forto sende A wyf to laste to his liues ende For than his lif is set in sikâ—cnesse He may not be disceyued as y gesse So that he worke aftir his wyues rede Than may he boldely bere vp his hede They be so trewe and therto eke so wyse For whiche yf thou wolt worche as the wyse Do alwey as the woman wol the rede Lo how Iacob as thyse clerkis rede Be good counsel of his moder rebek Bond the kiddiâ— skyn aboute his nek For whiche his fadris benyson he wan Lo Iudith as the story wel telle can Be wyse counsel she goddis pepil kepte And slew hym Olofernes whyle he slepte Lo how Abigayl be good counsel that she Saued her husbonde Nabal whan that he Shulde haue be slayn and loke hester also Be good counsel deliuered oâ—â— of wo The pepyl of god and made â—ardoche Of assuere enhaunced forto be Ther is no thing in gre superlatif As saith Senek aboue an humble wyf Suffre thy wyuys tunge as Caton bit She shal comaunde and thou shalt suffre it And yet she wylle obeye of curtesie A wyf is keper of thy husbondrye Wel may the seek man bewayle and wepe There as no wyf is the hous to kepe I warne the if thou wysely wilt wirche Loue wel thy wyf as crist loueth his chirche If thou louest thy self thou louest thy wyf Noman hatith his flessh but in his lif He suffrith it and therfore bidde I the Cherisshe thy wyf or thou shalt neuer the Husbonde and wyf what so men iape or pley Of wordly folk holden the right wey They been knyt ther may no harm be tide And namely on the wyuys side For whiche this Ianuary of whiche I tolde Considerith hath in his dayes olde The lusty lif the vertuous quyete That is in mariage hony swete And for his frendis on aday he sent To telle the effect of his entent With face sad he hath his tale to hem told He sayde frendis I am hoor and old And almost god woot at nâ—y pittis brynke Vp on my soule somwhat moste y thinke I haue my body folily dispendid I blissid be god it shal be amendid For I wol be certeyn a weddid man And that in al the haste that I can Vnto som mayde fair and tender of age I pray you shapith for my mariage Al sodenly for I wol not abyde And I wol fonde to aspye on my side To whem y may be weddid hastely But for as muche as ye be mo than I Ye shul rather suche a thing espyen Than I and where me list best alien But o thing I warne you my frendis dere I wyl noon old wyf haue in no manere She shal not passe .xvj. yeer certayn Old flessh wolde haue yong flessh fayn Bet is a pyke than a pykerel Better than olde beef is the tender veel I wol no woman of twenty yeer of age It is but bene straw and greet forage And eke thyse olde wydowes god it woot They conne so mykyl craft of wadis boot So mykyl harm what that hem list That with hem sholde I neuer lyue in rest For sondry scolis makith subtil clerkis Woman of many a scole half a clerk is But certeinly a yong thing may men gye
hidde hym as an owle So wo was hym his wif lokid so foule Gret was the wo that the knyght had in thought When he was with his wif a bedde y brought He walowith and he turnyth to and fro His olâ—e wif lay simylinge euer mo And sayde o dere husbonde benedicite Farith euery knyght with his wyf as ye Is this the lawe of kyng Artours hous Is euery knyght of his loue so daungerous I am your owen loue and eke yâ—ur wyf I am she whiche that saued hath your lyf And certis yet I dede you neuer vnright Why fare ye thus with me the firste nyght Ye fare lik a man hadde lost his wit What is my gilt for goddis loue tel me it And it shal be amended yf that I may Amendid qd this knyght alas nay nay It wol not be amendid neuer the mo Thow art so lothly and so olde also And therto comyn of so low a kynde That litil wonder is though I walow wynde So wolde to god quod he myn herte wolde breste Is this quod she the cause of your vnreste Ye certeyn quod he no wonder it is Now sire qd she I coude amende al this Yf that me list or hit be daies thre So wel ye mighte bere you vnto me But for ye spekyn of suche gentilnes As is descendid out of old riches That therfore ye shulbe gentilmen Suche arrogaunce is not worth an hen Loke who is most vertuous alwey Pryuy and apert and most entendith ay To do the gentilist dedis that he can Take hym for the grettist gentilman First wol we clayme of hym our gentilnes Not of our eldres for her olde riches For though they yeue vs al her heritage For whiche we claymen to be of here parage Yet may they bequede for no thing To none of vs her vertuous leuynge That made hem gentilmen callid to be And bad hem folowe vs in suche degre Well can the wyse Poet of Forence That hight daunte speke of this sentence Lo in suche manere ryme is dauntis tale Ful sâ—lde vp rysid be his braunchis smale Preuys of man for god of his goodnes Wol that of hym we clâ—yme our gentilnes For of our oldris may we no thing clayme But temporel thing that may hurte mayme Eke euery wight woot this as wel as I If gentilnes were plantid naturally Vnto a certeyn lynage doun the lyne Priuy and pert than wol they not fyne To do of gentilnes the feir office They mighte do no vilonâ— or vice Take fyre and bere it in to the derkist hous Betwix this and thâ— mounte of Cancasus And leet men shiâ—te the doris and go thenne Yet wol the fyre as fairly and brenne As twenty thousand men mighte it beholde His oâ—fice naturelly ay wol he holde Vp peril of my lif tyl that it dye Here may ye se how that gentrye Is not annexed to possessioun Suche folk ne doth her operacioun Alwey as doth the fyre in his kynde For god it woot men may ful ofte fynde A lordis sone do shame and velony And he that wol haue price of his genterye For he was born of a gentil hous And hadde his eldris nobil and vertuous And nyl hem self do no gentil dedis Ne folowen the dedis of his auncetrys He is not gentil be he duk be he erle Fy vileyns sinful dedis makyn a cherle For gentilnes nys but the renome Of thyn auncetris for her high bounte Whiche is a straunge thing to thy persone Thy gentilnes comyth fro god alone Than comyth our verry gentilnes of grace It was no thing be quedyn vs with our place Thynkith how nobil as seith valerius Was that romain Tullius Hostilius That out of pouert roâ—s to high noblesse Redith Senek and redith ek Boece There shul ye se expres that no drede is That he is gentil that doth gentil dedis And therfore lâ—ue husbonde thus I conclude Were it that myn auncetris were rude Yet may the hye god and so hope I Graunte me grace to lyue vertuously Than am I gentil when I begynne To lyue vertuously and do awey synne And there as ye of pouerte me repreue That high god on whom hoolly we beleue In ful hertis pouerte chees to lede his lyf And syns euery man mayden or wyf May vnderstonde that Ihesus our heuyn kyng Ne wolde not chese a uicyous lynynge Glad pouert is a ful honest thyng certeyn This wol Senec and other clerkis sayn Who so that holdith hym paid of his pouert I holde hym riche and he had not a shert He that coueytith he is a ful poure wight For he wolde haue that is not in his myght But he þ â— nought hath nought coueytith to haue Is riche al though ye holde hym but a knaue Verry pouerte is an high ioye properly Iuuenal spekith therof ful merily The poure man whan he goth be the wey Before the theuâ—s he may synge and pley Pouert is hateful good as I ges A ful gret brynger out of besynes A greet amender eke of sapience To hym that takith it in pacience Pouerte is this al thogh it seme elenge Possessioun that noman wolde gladly chalenge Pouerte ful ofte whan a man is lowe Makith his god and eke hym self to knowe Pouert a spectakil is as thinkith me Thorow whiche he may his very frendis se And therfore sir sith therin ye be greued Of my pouert late me nomore be repreued Now sire of elde also ye repreuyd me And certis â—ire though non auctorite Were in the book the gentil of hauour Sayn that men sholde an olde wyf do honour And clepid fader for their gentilnes And auctours shal I fynde as I ges Now there as ye say I am foul and old Than drede ye not to be made Cokeold For filthe elde and foul so mot I the Been grete wardeyns vpon chastite But natheles sith I knowe your delit I shal fulfille your wordly appetit Chees now qd she on of thyse thingis tweye To haue me olde and foul til that I deye And be to you a trewe humble wyff And neuer you displese in al my lyff Or ellis ye shal haue me yong and feyr And take your auenture of the repeyr That to your hous shal be by cause of me Or in som other place may wel be Now chees whether that ye likith This knyght auysith hym and sikith But at the laste he sayde in this manere My lady my loue and my wyf so dere I put me fully in your wyse gouernaunce Chese it your self whiche may be more plesaunce And most honour to you and to me also I do no force whethir of the two But as you likith it suffisith to me Than I haue gote of you the maistrye quod she Syn I may chese and gouerne you as me list Ye certis wyf quod he I holde it for the best Kys me quod she we be no lengir wroth For be my trouthe quod she I wol
caas or auenture shete an arowe or cast a stoon with which he sleeth a man it is homicyde Eke yf a woman by neclygence ouer lyeth her chylde in slepyng it is homicyde and dedely synne Eke whan a man destroyeth concepcion of a child or makyth a woman bareyne by drynkes of venymous herbis thurgh whiche she may not conceyue Or sleeth her chyld by drynkis or ellis putteth certayn materyal thyng in her secrete place to sle her chyld or ellis doth vnkynde synne by whiche man or woman shedeth his nature in place ther as a child may not be conceyued or ellis yf a woman haue conceyued and hurt her self and sleeth her chyld yet is it homicyde What saye we eke of women that murdren her children for drede of worldly shame Certes it is eke an horryble homycyde Eke yf a man approche to a woman by desyre of lecherye thurgh whiche the childe is perysshed ellys smyteth a woman wetyngly by whyche her chylde is slayn Alle thyse ben homycydes and dedely horryble synnys yet comyn of Ire many mo synnys as In word in thought in dede as wel as he that aretteth vpon god or blasphemyth god of whiche he is hym self gilty or dispiseth god and alle his halowis as don thyse cursid hasourdours in diuerse contrees This cursed synne do they whan they felen in her herte ful wickedly of god and his halowis Also whan they tretyn vnworthyly the sacrament of the awter Thilk synne is so grete that vnnethe may it be relecyd but that the mercy of god passyth his werkis whyche mercy is grete and benygne Ther cometh also of Ire a tery anger Whan a man is sharply amonesshed in his shryfte to forlete his synne Than wil he be angry and answere â—okirly angerly to defende or excusyn his synne by vnstedfastnes of his flesh or ellis he dyde hit for to holde company with his felaws or ellis he saith the fende entised hym or ellis he dyde hit for his yongth or els his compleâ—ion is so corageous that he may not forbere ellis it is desâ—yne as he saith vnto a certayn age or ellis he saith it comyth hym of gentilnes of his auncetryes and semblable thingis Alle thyse maner of folk so wrappen hem in her synnys that they wil not delyuer hem self For sothly no wight that excusith hym wilfully of his synne may be deliuerd of his synne til he mekely beknoweth his synne After thenne cometh sweryng that is expres ayenst the comaundement of god and this befallyth of anger and of Ire God saith thou shalt not take the name of thy lord in ydil Also our lord Ihesu Crist saith by the word of seynt mathew ne wille ye to swere in alle maner neyther by heuen for hit is goddis Trone neyther by erthe for it is the benche of his feet ne by Iherusalem for it is the Cyte of a grete kynge ne by thyn hede for thou ne maist make an heer whyte ne black but your oth shal be ye ye nay nay And what that is more euyl thus saith Crist For cristes sake swere ye not so synfully in dismembryng of Crist. by soule herte bonys and body For ye thinke that the cursid Iewis dismembrid hym not ynowh but ye dismembre hym more And yf so be the lawe compelle you to swere thenne rewle you after the lawe of god in your sweryng As saith seynt Iherome the .iiij. chapitre Thou shalt kepe thre condicions Thou shalt swere in trouth in dome and in rightwisnes This is to saye thou shalt swere soth For euery lesing is ayenst Crist for crist is very trouthe And thinke wel this that euery grete swerer not compellid lawfully to swere the plaghe of vengeance shal not parte from his hous whiles he vseth suche vnlawful swering Thou shalt â—ke swere in dome whenne thou art compellid by thy domes man to witnesse the trouthe Eke thou shalt not swere for enuye for fauour for mede but for rightwisnes for declaring of trouth to the worship of god to helpyng of thyn euen cristen And therfore euery man that taketh goddes name in ydle or falsly swerith with his mouth or ellis taketh on hym the name of Crist to be a callid a Cristen man liueth ayenst cristen liuyng his teching alle they take goddis name in ydle Loke eke what saith seynt Petir Actuum quarto Ther is none other name vnder heuen yeuen to man in whiche thâ—y moot be sauyd That is to saye but in the name of Ihesu Crist Take kepe eke hou that precyous name of Ihesu Crist As saith seynt Poule at philipenses c In nomine Ihesu c That in the name of Ihesu euery kne of heuenly creature or erthely or of helle shold howen For hit is so high and so worshipful that the corsid fende in helle shold tremble for to here it named Than semeth it that men that swere so horribly his blessid name that they despyse it more boldly than dyde the cursid Iewys that tremeleden whan they herd his name Now certes fith that sweryng but it be do al lawfully is so hoolly defended muche werse is for to swere falsely and eke nedeles what saye we eke of them that delyten them in sweryng and holde it a gentrye or manly dede to swere grete othis And what of hem that of very vsage ne cesse not to swere grete othes Al the cause not worth a straw Cerâ—es this is horryble synne Sweryng also withoute auisement is eek synne But late vs goo now to that cursid and horrible swering of adiuracion and coniuracion as don thyse fals enchauntours and nygromancers in basyns ful of water or in a bright swerd in a cercle or in a fyre or in a sholdre boon of a sheep I can not saye but they do cursidly and dampnably ayenst Crist and al the faith of holy chirche what saye by them that bileuyn in dym naylis as by flight or by noyse of birdis of beestis or by sorte by nygromancye by dremes By chirchyng of dooris by gnawyng of rattis or crakyng of housis and suche maner of wrecchidnes Certis all this thing is defendid by god and eke holy chirche for whiche they be cursid til they come to amendement that on suche fylthe sette their byleue Charmys for woundis and maladyes of men or of bestis yf they take ony effect it may be perauenture that god fussreth it for men shold gyue the more feith and reuerence to his name Now wil I speke of lesynges whiche generally is fals significacion of word with entent to disceyue his euen Cristen Som lesing ther is of whiche cometh none auauntage to no wight And som lesing torneth to the ese and prouffit of a man and to domage of another man Another lesing for to saue his lif or caâ—el Another lesing comyth of delyte They wil forge a long tale and peynte it with al circumstancis wherof alle the ground is fals SomÌ„e lesing